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Videos about debates and debating at all levels and in all formats. Provided by Debate Central http://debate.uvm.edu/
Monday, December 30, 2013
Lecture - General - Debating Gender - Sharmila Parmanand - US Air Force Academy 2013
Lecture - General - Debating Gender - Sharmila Parmanand - US Air Force Academy 2013 from Alfred Snider on Vimeo.
A lecture delivered by Sharmila Parmanand of the Philippines at the US Air Force Academy WUDC Debate Workshop held just before their tournament on September 27 2013.
This video is produced by DEBATE CENTRAL (http://debate.uvm.edu ) a debating website founded in 1994. DEBATE CENTRAL is a non-profit service of the World Debate Institute http://debate.uvm.edu/debateblog/wdi/Welcome.html , the Lawrence Debate Union http://debate.uvm.edu/debateblog/LDU/Team.html and the University of Vermont, and is designed to promote debating at all levels, in all languages, and all around the world. Our server is provided by the University of Vermont. The System Operator is Alfred C."Tuna" Snider. The Technical Advisors are Andrew Hendrickson and Wesley Wright. The Business Manager is Lionel Palardy.
Raw archive of debate videos for download are at
Posted by Alfred Charles Snider at 10:22 AM
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Good morning! The beginning of another week, wow this year really is flying by.
Today i'm sharing a 'just because' layout i did back in July when i had no internet for a couple of weeks. I'm entering it into 'This One's A Winner' for this month.
Used Kaisercraft 'Little Toot' collection, Prima & misc flowers, Green Tara velvet leaves, Kaisercraft bingo card and bird stamp, I cant remember who the title was from (!), twine, buttons & staples.
This pic was taken at Melbourne Zoo last year. We go there every year for Sophia's birthday, which is quickly approaching again! Can't wait to go again this year, with Hudson being a bit older.
Did a couple of layouts over the weekend, so i'll be back later to post.
Thanks for stopping by!

subset: commoncrawl


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Legends In Concert Finalizing Plans For New Las Vegas Home To Celebrate Its 30th Anniversary In 2013
LAS VEGAS, NV – (October 19, 2012) – Legends in Concert, the most acclaimed tribute show in entertainment history, announced today that after a record-breaking four-year engagement at Harrah's Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment and Legends have mutually agreed that the tribute spectacular's last performance at the casino hotel will take place Sunday, December 30, 2012.
"Legends in Concert would like to thank Caesars Entertainment for an incredible mutually beneficial partnership at Harrah's Las Vegas," said Brian Brigner, chief operating officer of On Stage Enterprises, producers of Legends. "We will continue to enjoy our extraordinary multi-year, multi-dimensional association at Bally's Atlantic City, while exploring other opportunities with them." Brigner added, "We are finalizing and will soon announce plans for the next chapter of our enduring success story, as the flagship version of our production selects its new Las Vegas home to celebrate its 30th anniversary in the Entertainment Capital of the World."
Many shows have come and gone, but the lasting success of the Legends in Concert brand is due in large part to the loyalty and commitment of the Las Vegas community. "It is the unwavering support of the local fans, ticket agents and brokers, concierges, entertainment publications and local and national media, whose consistent support has helped make Legends the longest-running independently owned production show in Las Vegas. We wish everyone at Harrah's Las Vegas well and best of luck in the future including all their current and future entertainment offerings," said Connie Clark, Assistant General Manager of Legends Las Vegas production. Clark added, "The Legends family is pleased to give back to the local community and to honor those who have long championed our show, with an array of wonderful festivities planned for next year during our pearl anniversary season.
" Legends' sensational fall 2012 line-up of tribute artists at Harrah's Las Vegas continues its previously announced line-up and schedule, including Adele, The Blues Brothers™, Whitney Houston, Barry White, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson and Elvis, performing at 7 and 9:30 p.m. nightly except Saturdays. Then dust off your Santa hat beginning November 23 and get ready to trim the tree, because Legends in Concert will once again be bringing the holly jolly spirit to the Las Vegas Strip with its annual holiday extravaganza.
For reservations, call (702) 369-5111. Visit www.harrahslasvegas.com or www.legendsinconcert.com
Hailed as a "Las Vegas Strip institution" by the Press of Atlantic City and the "Show of shows" by the International Press Association, Legends in Concert promises to continue to deliver the world's best celebrity tribute artists and offer the magnificent entertainment value that has dazzled Vegas audiences for three decades.


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Would you consider a monthly gift of $25.00 or more to help us provide care for those in need?
We hear the cries of seniors who need assistance. We desire always to be able to say "Yes"—but we need your help.
We are trying to raise up a great "Army of Care" whose monthly gift of $25.00 or more (the price of one family meal at a modest restaurant) could help provide for growing numbers of seniors who need assistance. Daily, seniors look to us to provide Christ-like care. Many seniors have limited resources. Our hearts ache that we cannot do more to help them.
Please consider enlisting in Christian Care's "Army of Care" with a $25.00 or more monthly donation. This donation will go directly to Charitable Care.


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I think this was spurred by the fact that Mother Nature has been teasing us so cruelly lately! I'm ready for warm weather, for summertime -- and yet, it's oh so far away. Here's how I escape:
One warm tranquil evening in the latter part of summer last, I was out on the lake with my familly, aboard our much loved ski boat, Daisy. Each of us were taking turns being pulled through the water, which was smooth as glass but for our towering wake which formed a peaked "V" behind the yellow and white craft.
There are six of us -- four kids and the parents -- and there is always ample seat space, especially when one of us is being towed. We sit and lounge, engine humming beneath us and wind flowing freely through our hair, as we watch each family member take their turn either skiing or wakeboarding. Cries of encouragement are shouted through the spray, and cheers of victory and congratulation echo across the water when a trick is landed or a good run completed. The skier will then climb in, first onto the stained teakboard then up onto the padded back seat, smiling and half-exhausted, laughing out of joy or exclaiming in excitement at the thrill of some certain feat. All of it shared with the family members, all of it mutual joy and enthusiasm. This fades only briefly before the next rider straps up and jumps into the water.
Such is the manner of such outings, and such was the feeling of this particular evening. We'd all had great runs, and were conversing contentedly with each other as the day wrapped itself up, the sun setting gold behind us. We idled in a cove, waiting for nothing; only savoring the stillness, the peace, the emanating joy.
That was the last time we'd go out that summer. But we need not worry, for the one to come was sure to hold many such memories -- and more.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2 comments:
- Becca said...
You are *blessed* to have such great memories, on stormy nights like tonight. I loved it. :)
- February 18, 2009 at 9:49 PM
- Kristine said...
- February 22, 2009 at 9:33 PM
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In 2011, Justin won 2 Emmy Awards for and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in his work on Saturday Night Live: Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga.
In 2009, Justin won another Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in his work on Saturday Night Live: Justin Timberlake/Ciara.
In 2007, Justin won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics in his work on Dick In A Box from Saturday Night Live: Justin Timberlake.
Justin appeared in a public service announcement along with several celebrities to encourage young people to vote in the 2008 US elections.
When filming The Love Guru, Justin needed to have his "package" digitally altered to reduce the size.
In Touch magazine voted Justin and Jessica Biel at the top of the 'Hottest Couples' list in May 2008.
At the 2007 American Music Awards, Justin was chosen as the 'Favorite Male Artist' for Pop or Rock category. His album "Future Sex/LoveSounds" was chosen as the 'Favorite Album' for Soul/R&B category.
At the 9th Annual GQ Men of the Year Awards, Justin was awarded "International Man" of the year for 2006.
In the Teen Choice Awards of 2007, Justin won both Choice Male Music Artist and Choice Music: Payback Track ("What Goes Around..."). He was also recognized as the "Ultimate Choice," TCA's version of a lifetime-achievement award.
Justin was chosen as one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive for 2007.
Justin was listed at #34 in Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100 of 2007.
Justin is currently dating actress Jessica Biel.
With his first two albums, Justin has sold over 15 million albums worldwide.
In May 2007, Justin revealed he was launching his own record label, Tennman Records. He will serve as chairman and CEO of the company.
In April 2007, it was revealed that Justin was collaborating with Madonna on her new album.
Justin is currently signed to Jive Records/Zomba Label Group (2007).
In February 2007, it was revealed that Justin has a fear of sharks, snakes and spiders, as well as dying unloved.
Since breaking up with Cameron Diaz, Justin was immediately linked with Scarlet Johannson. In mid-January 2007, he was also linked to Jessica Biel.
Justin and girlfriend Cameron Diaz broke up in December 2006.
Justin's best friends include Will.i.am from Black Eyed Peas and Timbaland, the producer. He is also good friends with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
Justin and his pal Trace Ayala have launched a clothing line called "William Rast" in 2006. They came up with the name by combining their respective grandfathers' names.
In 2006, Justin took voice lessons to learn how to speak in a deeper voice because he lost out on two acting roles because he sounded more like a boy than an "action hero."
Justin recently auctioned a snowboarding session with him to help benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The winning bidder paid $30,000! Who was the lucky winner? Justin's band-mate from *NSYNC, Lance Bass!
Justin is reportedly the only one in *NSYNC that doesn't want to make another album.
Justin has no plans for his music career in the near future, but he has been a star in several movies including Alpha Dog, Edison, and Shrek 3 (voice). He is planning to continue furthering his film career and has not announced any upcoming music projects.
Justin's video for Cry Me a River was voted the "22nd Greatest Music Video of All Time" in a Channel 4 (UK) poll.
Justin won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album (Justified) and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (Cry Me A River).
-Justified (2002)
-FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
Justin was featured on the hit single, Where Is The Love? by pop/rap group Black Eyed Peas; however, he was not present in the music video.
Justin dated pop superstar Britney Spears--his co-star on The Mickey Mouse Club--on and off for four years; they announced their final breakup in May 2002.
Justin is a fan of singer Björk.
Justin asked his celebrity peers to help him raise funds for the victim of Hurricane Katrina by signing a T-shirt. He donated a limited-edition "Dance My Way Back To Dixieland" shirt from his new William Rast clothing line to the MTV show Total Request Live so that the celebrities who appear on the daily program could autograph it.
Justin toured with former Mouseketeer mate Christina Aguilera in 2003 for their "Justified/Stripped Tour".
Justin was a member of the National Beta Club, an organization for children in grades 5-12 that promotes character and leadership skills.
Justin cites his greatest fears as dying unloved, snakes, sharks, spiders, and getting knocked unconscious at a concert by the items fans throw on stage.
Justin sang at the Grand Ole Opry when he was just ten years old.
Justin collects candles and sports jerseys.
Justin founded his own charity, the Timberlake Foundation.
Justin's favorite ice cream is Baskin Robin's Daquiri Ice.
Justin joined *NSYNC at the age of 14.
Justin was the first victiom of Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd show. He was duped into thinking his home was repossessed for back taxes.
Justin was born at 6:30pm on January 31, 1981.
Justin's parents are Lynn Harless and Randy Timberlake. He has two half-brothers, Jonathan and Steven; his step-mother's name is Lisa.
Justin is six feet, one inch tall.
Justin's solo disc "Justified" achieved triple platinum status.
Justin: My mother, I don't know how pregnant she was with me, but I know that she did a 10-year reunion recital with the people she used to take dance class with. I always joke around that my dance lesson was in the womb. I know that she used to say that. My father used to play in a band, and she used to say that I'd just sit there and bounce. I got my voice from my father.
Justin: (admitting he was so nervous when he met Michael Jordan, he wet himself) When I was young... I wanted to be Michael Jordan. It was weird, I heard (Gary Wright song) Dreamweaver in my head when he walked in the room. He was like, 'Hey man, my kids and I, we're big fans of your music,' and I was like, 'That's cool...' Up until the point where he walked away and I realised I had peed a little.
Justin: (upset that he is not recognised for the popularity of trucker caps) It's funny, I keep hearing Ashton Kutcher say how he was responsible for trucker caps. Me and my friend Trace Ayala were wearing them when we were seventeen.
Justin: Sexy, to me, is the way you carry what you have. I have a big nose, but I rock it.
Justin: (on hosting the 2008 ESPYs) I'm very excited to be hosting the 16th edition of The ESPYs. I can't wait for the day of the show as I'm truly a sports junkie. Since the last ESPYs, there have been amazing moments in sports and I'm looking forward to recapping all of them with ESPN's diehard fans.
Justin: (on inducting the Material Girl into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.) The world is full of Madonna wannabes. I might have even dated a couple. But there is truly only one Madonna.
Justin: I can play my music for millions of people, but I can't hit a golf ball in front of 20.
Justin: Christina Aguilera had that same voice when she was ten... She is, in my opinion, the best singer of my generation.
Justin: (On releasing his first solo album, JUSTIFIED) I have a little anxiety about doing this on my own, a little bit of a broken heart.
Justin: (on his and Britney's relationship) It was actually easier when people knew that me and Britney were together.
Justin: There's nothing wrong with shooting for the stars.
Justin: I'm not in this for the money because if I was, I would have jumped out after our first album.
Justin: There's nothing I've done that my mother doesn't know about.
Justin: (on his longevity) I could give you a bunch of analogies about why I'm still around that would sound like hippie self-help bullsh*t. I saw an opportunity and I took it. Sure there's a lot of luck involved. But on some level I have to believe in my ability. And I'm not apologising to anyone. I worked f**king hard to get here.
Justin: I grew up in Tennessee where you either play football or you don't do anything at all so I was a bit of a loner being interested in music. I was not cool. It was football or die! I would come to school, and was bit of an outcast but I wasn't bullied too much, thank God. But if I could say one thing to the kids who didn't think I was cool back then it would be, 'Eat it.'
Justin: I've had a good share of the spotlight. I don't feel I need too much of it right now. I want to write country music, because I grew up in Tennessee, and soul music.
Justin: (on his sex scene with Christina Ricci in "Black Snake Moan") The sex scene was pretty hot. I'm not going to say it doesn't feel weird pretending to f**k someone in front of a man with a sound boom, though.
Justin: (on celebrity magazines) I despise what they do. They create soap operas out of people's lives. ... It's a spin game, and I choose not to take part in it.
Justin: I've had girls pop out of hotel closets. It scared the s**t out of me. That was in my teenage days. Teenage girls are pretty crazy. Actually, no - older women are crazy too!
Justin: I was always removed from the whole idol thing. I cared so much about what I did that stuff didn't register. My parents instilled in me the mindset of always being humble, so I'd like to believe that all the teen idol stuff went in one ear and out of the other.
Justin: When I was 10 my stepfather bought me some shares in Wal-Mart. It was my first lesson in money. He taught me the right way to spend and save. I like nice things but when I'm in a store, I usually talk myself out of buying anything.
Justin & Cameron: (a joint statement released in January 2007) It has always been our preference not to comment on the status of our relationship, but, out of respect for the time we've spent together, we feel compelled to do so now, in light of recent speculation and the number of inaccurate stories that are being reported by the media. We have, in fact, ended our romantic relationship and have done so mutually and as friends, with continued love and respect for one another.
Justin: Love is the basis of everything. First you have good chemistry, and then you fall in love.
Justin: I don't like to have a bunch of people around me. My formula is to keep everything simple.
Justin: (On his and partner Trace Ayala's new clothing line) I love the way my grandfather looks--the way he stands up straight, with the respect that he's owed... Our grandfathers wear their clothes with dignity. And he would give me the shirt off his back, so I thought, we should just make him one.
Justin: Every relationship I've been in, I've overwhelmed the girl. They just can't handle all the love.
Justin: I had really awkward hair and terrible skin and I was really scrawny, I looked like a broccolini, not even a broccoli. I was long and skinny and my hair blossomed out on the top--I was a rally weird-looking kid.
Justin: I don't want to put too much pressure on myself but I'm getting itchy to be back on tour. I'm determined to find a way to juggle both careers.
Justin: Gossip is called gossip because it's not always the truth.
Justin: I've had bottles thrown at me--glass bottles full of piss--and I've had girls run on stage and try to tear my clothes off.
Justin: Everyone wants to know about my spirituality, and it's like, 'That's mine!'
Justin: I try to be humble about everything. I'm definitely blessed. I don't know how to analyse success, but I'm happy.
Justin: (on his best friend, Trace) We've been friends my whole life. A lot of people tell me everything is great, but Trace will tell me the truth. I admire that he's never changed who he is.
Justin: (on people changing when he became famous) I've seen people change. It's great if someone likes my music, but it doesn't mean they have to like me as a person, or the other way around.
Justin: (on getting drunk) I'm not going to hide it, but I'm not going to get belligerent and punch someone either.
Justin: (on pressure to be a role model) I don't think it's my job to be a role model. I think people look up to me, so if I do things that I wouldn't want younger kids to do I will do those things in private.
Justin: (the craziest fan experience he's had) I've had girls pop out of hotel closets and it scared the shit out of me. That was more in my teenage days, and teenage girls are crazy.
Justin: (on his mother asking for grandkids) I told her to adopt another kid from Ethiopia. [laughs]
Justin: (on why he won't buy an iPod) I'm technologically challenged. It's enough work having to shave!


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For those that were wondering how long it would take SAP to put the screws on Sybase after the US$ 5.8 billion deal was closed in May, well the answer is immediately.
Sybase (news, site) has just announced an upgrade to its mobile Unwired Platform as well as adding two mobile SAP (news, site) applications -- Sybase Mobile Sales for SAP CRM and Sybase Mobile Workflow for SAP Business Suite.
Extending Partner Ecosystem
After paying that amount of money it was always a certainty that developments would be quick in coming, but amongst the other interesting announcements that were made was that since the last quarter of 2009, Sybase has made more than 30 SAP-focused partnerships.
The partnerships, a statement said, significantly improved mobile productivity and customer service, while "addressing complex issues related to mobility deployments."
Probably not a surprise, then, that as soon as the ink had dried on the deal, Sybase was in a position to go to market with mobile solutions that would suit SAP, and in particular SAP's BusinessSuite.
The new version of the Unwired Platform is going to extend the reach of Sybase -- and SAP -- by providing a space where enterprise developers can build applications to connect mobile workers with data no matter where they happen to be.
Partners and Solutions
But more than that, the platform is feeding Sybase's partner ecosystem and extending not just its reach globally, but also the reach of SAP's applications that are already being mobilized. Amongst those partners are:
Bluefin Solutions
Bluefin has not only used the platform to expand its own products as services, but is also acting as a pilot customer for the Sybase Mobile Sales for SAP CRM by providing its sales staff with solutions that can access customer information on the go.
HCL Axon
HCL Axon, which already implements SAP solutions to other companies, is deploying the upgraded Sybase Unwired Platform to extend key capabilities of SAP solutions in industries such as utilities, travel and logistics, oil and gas, and financial services.
CRM consultant Maihiro has built its mobile CRM product using Sybase and SAP and has extended it to many device types including RIM BlackBerry, iPhone and Windows Mobile.
MSC Mobile
MSC Mobile has integrated the SAP ERP application to push data directly onto mobile devices and enable users to access that data online or offline.
And there are many more. In fact if you take the figure of 30 SAP focused partners that the companies have indicated, there should be a lot more announcements coming from this quarter in the near future.
SAP and Sybase Acquisition
And that's just the way SAP had explained the deal when it was first announced. By making its software mobile, SAP was looking for greater adoption of its products using the Sybase mobile platform, which enables business users integrate their non-SAP products with SAP.
It is still early days yet to judge, but SAP's in-memory technology is expected to greatly improve the mobile platform's analytic processing, while Sybase's database technology will also be enhanced by the in-memory technology to provide transactional and analytical abilities.
SAP's in-memory technology in combination with Sybase's database technology will revolutionize how transactional and analytic applications are built, benefiting all businesses. Further, by combining the market leader in enterprise applications with the market leader in enterprise mobility, companies around the world will be able to run their business from many devices," John Chen, CEO of Sybase said in May when the deal was announced.
The other thing that can be taken out of this announcement is that SAP has held true to its promise that it would support both companies' product roadmaps and develop current software products from each to ensure value -- and continuance -- of existing investments.


text: Hello possible buyers would you love you to have a Looting 3 or Effecency 5? Well if so then your on the right thread. Im selling Looting 3 and Effecency 5 Books. Looting 3 = 1800 and Effecency 5 = 2200. But remember u can always try to convince me to sell one for less but i dont know if i will bite on it lol.Hope you buy 1 of these. Contact H3021301 on Smp4 if im not on try another time.Thanks.I have plenty in stock.


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Ruth A Kneale
Systems Librarian
National Solar Observatory
Ruth Kneale is the systems librarian for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope project of the National Solar Observatory, in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to web content management systems, configuration management, and databases she also has a strong interest in the image of librarians in popular culture, and is always on the lookout for both positive and negative portrayals.
Internet Librarian 2016
Tuesday October 18, 2016
10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Transforming Our View of Roles & Services3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Internet Librarian 2013
Tuesday October 29, 2013
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.


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As hinted already in these pages, there were surprises good and bad over the holiday season. This is inevitable if you palm experiments off on guests instead of offering them someting tried and tested. Sorry to say we just like living dangerously. We learned that you have to have several alternatives up your sleeve though and this time, we needed them.
So here's the balance sheet:
L'Albore Spergola (see Blog entry)
Simonutti Pineau d'Aunis 2008
Biddenden Dornfelder 2009
Tbilvino Khvanchkara 2007
Strohmeier Blauer Wildbacher Lestoa Rot
Strohmeier Blauer Wildbacher Lestoa Rose
Col Sandago Blauer Wildbacher 2005
Margaretenhof Dornfelder 2006
Ch. Haut Chaigneau Lalande de Pomerol 1999
Bean & Beluga White
C'a Bruzzo, Tocai Rosso 2008
Domaine Grisard Cuvee Persan 2009
Niepoort Palomino
Hatzidakis Voudomato 2008
Strohmeier Rose
Bartucci Bugey Cerdon Sparkling Rose
Grafen Neipperg Schwarzriesling 2009
Bean & Beluga Red
Concerning the successes, the Biddenden Gribble Ridge Dornfelder was outstanding. The first English red we have ever had of which a case would be welcome. The Tbilvino was a semi-sweet blend of two varieties unknown to us: Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli. This was first brought to our attention by the 24 year old Georgian Verdi baritone Mikheil Kiria who told us that Kvanchkara was the best Georgian wine.
Here he is outside the Louvre (he's the one in the foreground).
We were told it resembled more a luscious New World red than a sweet wine as such and that description was quite right. We drank it as a Vino da Meditazione rather than with food which nonetheless would have been possible.
Blauer Wildbacher was the standout successful variety of the season. Even the Italian version from the Colli Trevigiani was excellent.
The Margaretenhof Rheinhessen Dornfelder was the house wine of the cafe at Dresden Airport
but that didn't prevent it from being delicious. Together with Blauer Wildbacher, Dornfelder really shone in these days.
As you see, we are already strayng into our German trip in the first days of January (of which more later) and here we list a wine which was given to us and not one we had bought in for the obscurty of its grapes. This was the phenominal Chateau Haut Chaigneau -
not only the very best Lalande de Pomerol we have ever tasted but in fact the very first really good one. All previous examples we had ever tasted had been disappointments to the extent that we had quite given up on this rather unloved Appellation. It just goes to show how things have improved in Bordeaux over the years. We believe there are such things as a good Cotes de Bourg or Blaye and even drinkable Boreaux Superieurs and plain Bordeaux!
The White Cuvee we tasted at the Semperoper bar was made by a new Gastronomie in Dresden called "Bean and Beluga" (geddit?) from local white varieties whch were explained to us but which we have forgotten. They may have included Goldriesling. At under 12%, this was excellent. Unfortunately their Red blend was not as successful, containing the first German Cabernet Sauvignon to pass our lips together with Merlot. This was 14% and didn't bode well for German Cabernet Sauvignons for which there is apparently something of a mode.
The other disappointments need some explanation because some of these wines have been highly praised in this blog. The C'a Bruzzo Tocai Rosso and Grisard Persan are both different vintages from those we were so happy to discover and we may not have given these particular wines enough time to breathe or may not even have stored correctly. The Niepoort Palomino definitely tasted oxidised or maybe we should say 'rancio'. We're not sure if that is how this sherry grape is meant to be or if it was just as a result of having been stored too long in our rather warm cellar.
Real disappointment came with the Hatzidakis Voudomato.
They warned us it was sweet but the sweetness of this beverage was such as to make it consumable only by dribbling it over Vanilla icecream. Our 50cl bottle sits on top of the fridge awaiting the odd occasion when it can be used. This may not come for a while! A pity because the vines are not only from the uber-obscure Voudomato variety but are said to be the world's most ancient at 500 years old.
Strohmeier's Rose was their only non-Blauer Wildbacher wine we tasted. It was a perfectly acceptable Schilcher but nothing as interesting as ther Lestoa Rose (made from Blauer Wildbacher).
We have enjoyed Grafen Neipperg's Schwarzriesling (Pinot Meunier) in the past but maybe 2009 was not a great year for this grape or perhaps it needed more bottle age.
Nothing wrong with the Bugey Cerdon Rose - just that we didn't realise it was Demi-Sec which was our fault because we were aware it was 8% alcohol - the same as wines like Moscato frizzante or Asti Spumante. That kind of thing is liable to get you into trouble when guests arrive and you offer them a sweet sparkling wine as an aperitif.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Report - Christmas and New Year 2010/11
Posted by Robert Slotover at 08:31
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Resell value can be hard to comprehend. As an example, in some areas a swimming pool in fact interferes with a house's value. In communities with connected, two-car garages, a single-car or detached garage could make the home less preferable. Your RE/MAX specialist can explain functions that injure or help resale value.
Rate the Residences you Explore
As we said above, keep in mind after analyzing each home and jot down both what you disliked and suched as about it. Developing a rating system can be a quick method to narrow the house purchasing field. Choose the residence you like best from the beginning and compare all other homes to it. Use the brand-new favorite as your standard if or when you discover a better one. Stay clear of trying to track more than four leading selections at one time as this can end up being frustrating.
Make an Offer
You will certainly need to get significant about the contractual and financial portion of the purchase when you've chosen your dream home. Karen Arbutine & Associates will guide you through this sensitive process. You need to depend on your RE/MAX agent's experience and know-how to help both the purchaser and seller reach their objectives and ultimately a favorable outcome.
Arrange For a House Examination
After your offer is accepted, have the house checked. Usual issues include dripping roofing systems, cracked walls, insect infestations and foundation issues. Fortunately, your REAL ESTATE AGENT ® can help discover a reliable inspector and might have the ability to negotiate to get you more for your money once the inspector's report is last. If repair services have actually been consisted of as part of the purchase, ask your property professional for a "walk through" before settling the home purchasing documents. Likewise, do not forget to ask about home security strategies, which might conserve you money in the future.
Before you close on your house, see to it you have actually made all necessary deposits and finished the documentation – including home mortgage, title, property owner's insurance coverage and any other documentation required by local or state governments. Your RE/MAX agent will exist to assist you complete your closing list and stay clear of any last-minute problems. We feel that you should have to take pleasure in every moment of your house purchasing process.
Get ready for Life in Your New Home
Before you purchase your moving truck, consider some moving basics: organizing for an alarm business, switching on water, gas and electricity, cleaning or replacing the carpeting, and informing the post office of your brand-new address. The best time for renovations is often before you move in.
Karen And Her Team At Remax Central Realty Of Lake Mary Florida Are Ready To Assist You


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Workshop Hints for small horsepower Rolls-Royce cars – Rolls-Royce 25/30: Overhaul of cooling system
Ownership of any Pre-1940 Rolls-Royce is a delight. Good cars of this period are elegant to look at, very comfortable, reasonably quiet and properly maintained are remarkably reliable. Each body style is different and people enjoy looking at and admiring cars of this vintage. Ours cars can give much pleasure.
Ownership of such fine cars naturally carries certain responsibilities. Owners are generally expected to be well behaved and courteous, but in exchange ownership bestows great privilege and access unobtainable to the ordinary motorist. Doors are opened simply because of the reputation of the car.
Each model has its own distinctive characteristics, but each type can make a superb touring car even in modern road conditions. The engines are tuned to emphasise flexibility and so the need to change gear is much reduced, whilst the controls are all relatively light, including the steering once on the move. It is thus perfectly possible to drive all day and feel no more tired than in a modern car. The driving position typically has plenty of space and the gear change falls conveniently to the right hand.
Performance of all the models, albeit leisurely by modern standards, is typically quite capable of keeping up with modern traffic especially on our increasingly speed restricted country roads both here and on the Continent of Europe. Only on mountainous roads, or on motorways, are you likely to be going noticeably slower than the surrounding traffic. Depending on the model, cruising speeds are in the range of 50 to 75 mph (80 to 120 kph). In towns and cities the accuracy of control and the respect typically afforded to the cars makes passage relatively trouble free.
Running costs are unlike those of a modern car. Once brought up to standard, the cars need regular lubrication but rarely need major overhaul and should not use much oil. Tyres are generally available and so the major cost is the petrol consumption which is rarely better than 20 mpg, unless driven very gently and on the large horse power cars is typically in the range of 10 to 12 mpg. Fuel used in all cars is 95 Octane unleaded, preferably with minimum ethanol content, as ethanol can attack copper and brass, both of which are used extensively in the fuel system. Unlike modern cars which depreciate rapidly, these cars tend to appreciate year on year, general prosperity and legislation allowing. In additon, they benefit by not being subject to road tax and, generally, enjoy very low insurance rates.
From 1907 to 1923 Rolls-Royce had a one model policy, making what was known initially as the 40/50 and later as the Silver Ghost. From then until 1939 the Company had a two model policy, the large horsepower 40/50 models of approximately 7 ½ litres, (Silver Ghost, Phantom I, Phantom II and Phantom III) and the small horsepower models of between 3 and 4 ¼ litres ( 20hp, 20/25, 25/30 and Wraith). Both types are tremendously pleasurable to own but are quite different in their appeal and to a degree this can affect their usage in modern times.
Large Horse Power cars are quite simply very large and impressive cars. So, one does not tend to use them for shopping trips or popping down to the pub. Instead they are ideal for the grand occasion or taking a break for a few days exploring the country, or even better going off for a long tour on the Continent. They instil great confidence,in that you can set off for anywhere you like and they will just run better and better until you arrive back safely after completing a very enjoyable tour. They are cars that have a long loping stride.
Small horse-power cars are more delicate and run with the precision and quietness of a well oiled sewing machine. Their engines are smaller and so run faster but very smoothly giving a very refined if slightly busy feel. They are nimbler cars and are easily maintained and are therefore highly suitable for more frequent and regular use on shorter journeys to go down to the pub or wherever. Given the higher cruising speeds possible on modern roads, it is quite common to find an overdrive has been fitted to the smaller horsepower models to improve their cruising ability at higher speeds. Fitted thus, some regularly cover long distances each year.
From inception, a wide variety of coachwork has been available on Rolls-Royce Motor cars depending on the role they were called on to play. At one end of the range would be two or light four seater cars that were the super cars of their day, causing a stir wherever they went and capable of a top speed twice that of a normal car. At the other end were the very large six or seven seat limousines designed to carry distinguished people in the style to which they were accustomed with absolute smoothness and reliability.
Our club contains all types, but the majority tend to favour open touring cars for cars built in the Edwardian period or the 1920s. These tend to be lighter and more manageable than the limousines, although inevitably both driver and passenger are more exposed to the elements! Four seater tourers are very usable for taking a couple and two friends or family members out on day trips, but equally make an ideal touring car for two with their luggage in the back. Cars built in the 1930's tend to be more capacious and open cars became full convertibles with wind up windows and proper weather protection. If closed bodywork is preferred, many chose saloons or coupes in preference to the large limousines, simply because they are more usable and manageable for touring.
One of the surprises of owning an early Rolls-Royce is the amount of regular maintenance, or more specifically lubrication, that was expected of the Chauffeur. Several things need to be attended to on a daily basis, with others weekly and yet more monthly. This is particularly so on a pre 1914 Silver Ghost. Thereafter, it gradually became easier as it became clear that particularly on the smaller horse power cars the car would be driven by the owner rather than by a chauffeur.
Most maintenance is pretty straightforward with no special skills required. It is just time consuming and the lubrication is inevitably a rather messy job! Fortunately in the 1930's cars were fitted with one shot lubrication which when working properly would lubricate the majority of the chassis points with a single pump on a foot pedal beside the clutch. All lubricants and oils are readily available from classic oil suppliers
Given proper lubrication, a good car should run for many years before the need arises for a visit to a skilled mechanic for a general check up of the brakes for wear or to tune the engine. Major components are remarkably reliable and go on and on for years without need for further attention once brought up to a high initial standard. Fortunately in England there are many expert restorers who can bring a car up to the desired standard. Thereafter the owner can very largely keep it there himself with a little effort and knowledge and the occasional bit of help from an expert. Fortunately the owner's manuals originally provided with the cars give very clear instructions on what is required and when. Reprints of these are available and originals often come up for auction.
Workshop Hints for small horsepower Rolls-Royce cars – Rolls-Royce 25/30: Overhaul of cooling system


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Fr. Albert Tesniére, S.S.S.
|Dominus Est!
The Eucharist is the Pledge and the Foretaste of Heaven.
Adore, behind the cloud of the sacred species, as in a heaven which has drawn nearer to earth, and where He wills to reside that He may be more accessible to us, the King of angels, the Sovereign who reigns radiant and triumphant in the heaven of His glory.
He is the same here in the sweet light of the Eucharistic cloud, so well suited to the weakness of our eyes, as in the splendor of His throne in the highest heaven. He is here to give us the pledge and the foretaste of what we shall possess in the heaven of His glory.
He is the pledge, that is to say, the promise, the assurance, the agreement to give us His Paradise. Has He not in fact said: "He who eats My flesh has eternal life;" "I am the Bread of heaven, he who believes in Me shall not die"? He has therefore taken an engagement upon Himself; the Eucharist guarantees the truth of His word; it publishes it everywhere, and keeps in violable its integrity.
Besides, having given Himself, as He does in the Eucharist, He gives Himself necessarily afterwards in heaven. What is heaven? The possession of Jesus, the perpetual and assured possession of Jesus, a mysterious reception of Jesus, without reserve and without end; He in us perfectly, we completely in Him behold heaven! But what is the Eucharist? The possession of Jesus, the permanent presence of Jesus; the sacramental reception of Jesus. The mode differs, it is true; here Jesus is veiled, and we are powerless to possess Him perfectly, and to be ever present with Him; and even in the eating, faith alone enjoys Him, whilst the senses remain outside His contact, often incommoding faith, clouding its glance, and impairing its flight. But, nevertheless, the foundation is the same, and Jesus gives Himself here as He does there, really.
Have we any reason then to be astonished that the Eucharist should be the pledge of heaven? Having bestowed on us this first gift, cannot the Saviour afterwards give Himself in heaven? Appreciate this truth, and adore Him who wills to engage Himself as irrevocably to us as we are inconstant to Him.
The foretaste - it is more than a pledge; it is an anticipated participation in the blessing promised and repeated; it is already a beginning of enjoyment of all of which the full possession is reserved for us. What is heaven from this point of view? The perfect possession of all good things. Do not the Scriptures call the Eucharist "the Bread which contains all delights"? And does not Jesus also say that it is the "Bread of heaven"? Cannot then the divine beatitude allow itself to be tasted in the Bread of God, seraphic joys in the Bread of Angels, something, finally, of what it is in heaven in the Bread of heaven?
Ah, it is not this food that is to blame for so much misery in this valley of tears, but only ourselves, whose faith allows itself to be obscured by the fascinations of earthly treasures, whose heart so soon becomes too much weakened by material pleasures, to be able to enjoy the pure delights of future blessings.
Adore, then, with gratitude, admiration, and confusion the "living Bread come down from heaven in order to make of this our earth the threshold of Paradise."
How great is the goodness of God, how earnest His love, how impatient He is to heap His mercy upon us! In truth, it might have seemed to be sufficient in order to prove to us more of love than we shall ever merit, to have promised us heaven as a recompense for our labors and our struggles, and to wait in order to give it until the measure of our merits should be filled.
No! The Saviour who acquired for us a right to heaven by His death, who delivers up to us the price of it in His blood, which all the Sacraments diffuse in us; who has taught us the path by His saving words, who has opened the gate of it by entering therein first Himself, and who is occupied in preparing our place for us in it, - this infinitely kind Saviour, this Jesus wills to come back to us to lead us there by the hand, as it were; He wills to give Himself up beforehand for us that He may guarantee the access to it for us; He wills to make us experience some of the delights which await us there in order to attach us to it forever, by separating us victoriously from the temporary but seductive good things of this world.
Oh God, what wouldst Thou not have done to bring me at last to heaven? And if I do not go there, how just and deserved will be my chastisement! Will it ever equal the love Thou hast shown to make me avoid it?
Oh Lord, my God, beauty without stain, sovereign goodness, life without end, substance of all happiness and of all good, how great is my shame when I recall to mind Thy promises, Thy calls, the pledge and the foretaste of heaven which Thou procures! for me by this heavenly Sacrament!
The fact is, that I hardly ever think of heaven except when I am unhappy and deprived of the joys which I had ardently sought after upon earth. Heaven then appears to me desirable only in proportion to what I suffer. But let human happiness shine upon me only a little, let me have the enjoyments which my heart and my senses call for, then immediately my eyes cease to be raised towards Thee; and if I think of heaven it is to supplicate Thee, alas! not to call me thither until I have completely emptied the cup which inebriates me.
Divine Sacrament of heaven, it is into this earthly, obscure, and filthy soul that Thou hast cast Thyself; I understand but too clearly that Thou art but little appredated therein, and that Thou remainest inert, powerless to excite the production of the holy desires, the sweet joys, the ardent impatience, the lofty aspirations of the Saints towards the heavenly country and towards Thee, who art all the treasure of it.
Let us make, at the foot of the Sacrament of heaven, the most urgent resolutions relative to the great duty of hope; let us make our daily prayers and frequent communion rest upon them; but let it be upon one condition: that we recall them to mind in each one of our thanksgivings, to examine if we are faithful to them.
There is no doubt but that this practice will disengage us from the ties of the flesh, will raise us above the frivolities of this world, will make us despise them and love eternity; it is then that we shall feel in the depths of our heart the assurance of heaven. It is then that we shall really experience how truly the Bread of life contains the foretaste of its eternal delights.
Ask at each Communion for final perseverance, and the desire for heaven. Each time, make a sacrifice of one of the things which might retard the possession of it for us.


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Sochaux sign Zambia duo Sunzu and Sinkala
Sochaux have signed Zambian internationals Stoppila Sunzu and Nathan Sinkala.
The duo will reunite with former boss Herve Renard, who led Zambia to triumph at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Defender Sunzu, who scored the winning penalty in Zambia's shootout triumph over Ivory Coast in the 2012 final, joins on a three-and-a-half-year deal from Congolese side TP Mazembe.
Meanwhile, midfielder Sinkala moves to the Stade Auguste Bonal on loan from Mazembe with a view to a permanent contract as Sochaux look to move out of the relegation zone in the second half of the Ligue 1 season.
Sochaux have survived relegation on the final day of the Ligue 1 campaign in each of the last two seasons and Sunzu is eager to help them repeat the feat.
"Herve Renard knows me well and knows how to manage me and how to motivate me," Sunzu said.
"We (Sunzu and Sinkala) arrived to save the club from relegation."
Sochaux are six points adrift of safety in 19th following their 2-1 win over Rennes in their final game before the mid-season break, a result that marked their first win in 11 league games.
Renard's men will look to boost their survival hopes on Saturday when Sochaux resume their league campaign at Lyon.


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I spent two years reading all the self-help books I could find. As of a year ago, I had read 340 self-help books. Because I�m insane.My conclusion from all that reading? 95% of self-help books are complete bullshit.
What is the solution ?
I must say that that there are a lot of non-proven theories and methods that doesn't works.
And even methods that works for one individual may not work for others , because self motivation is very individual.
So the finding effective method for own self motivation is simple - try methods that works for others and see if it works for you.
Also check out our RPG-like motivation game and leave feedback.


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Ok.... Like I need another source of projects. But have you seen Pinterest?? Of course I have several boards and will be starting more I know.
One of the projects in my file there was a cover for my Composition books. You know the kind with the black and white covers.
I have one for Quilting 2012, Soap making 2012 and Wool. But I needed to appeal to my aesthetic side. They, to me, were unsightly with their cardboard covers.
So......... I found several tutorials on Pinterest and combined them for my covers.
Couple things I like about them. One I can leave them on my shelf and they don't stand out as a modern book. Two they have a built in book mark and Three the flaps on the front and back are handy for storing papers that I write notes on until I can transfer them to the pages.
In my next ones I'm going to try and put in an envelope of some sort and a pen holder??? That may be too much for the book but we'll see.
The tutorials are found here on Pinterest


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I'm always reading the term "world leaders" in newspaper headlines like "Agenda Set For Summit Of World Leaders".
First of all, to have any "world leaders", it would first be necessary to acknowledge that we are all a single species living on a single planet, all subject to the same natural laws and all deserving of the same human rights.
We currently have no "world leaders", but rather, leaders of nations, or gangs, fighting only for their own turf and rewarding members who do the work of producing bodies to sacrifice for that purpose in the form of invading and/or conquering others' turf. This is called "patriotism". Flags are just a different form of color-coded symbols sported by other kinds of less socially acceptable gangs, like bandannas.
If we had real world leaders, these summits would be for identifying the needs of humanity as a whole and working out cooperative solutions for successfully meeting those needs. Military forces would be police forces doing the important work of protecting people from those who would enslave or exploit them.
I'd much rather see drone strikes carried out against businessmen who go to Thailand to purchase young children for sex, or companies that render water undrinkable and air no longer breathable than against Muslim wedding parties that include innocent children.
Since we are all paying to fund these drone strikes, what target would you consider most worthy of destroying with your tax dollars?
© Copyright Andrea Walker October 2014


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When M announced she wanted to be Amelia Jane for Book Week I was happy to go along with it. Amelia Jane by Enid Blyton is a 'proper' book & I always feel a tad embarrassed sending her to school in a Disney costume or a TV tie-in. Also, it was easy, and I have no talent for costume design.
She already owned a patchwork sundress so we made an oversized button from cardstock and then all I needed to do was buy some stripy socks and do her make up on the Friday morning. Doesn't she look cute?
The star of this layout was a Dear Lizzy die-cut 6x4 card. I used it as a stencil first with 3 shades of distress ink then backed it with some scrap paper from an unused Smash page and cut it into 2 to use in opposite corners of the design.
I used the same 3 inks to ink the edge of the cardstock (an effect I will definitely be using again) and to colour the foam Hobbycraft letters.
The rest of the layout came together easily with some scraps and I added texture with the Dovecraft ricrac, a couple of Flair and buttons and bows tied from the wool which was used to sew the button onto M's dress.
I had fun making this page and I love the colours.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Book Week Dress Up
Posted by Kirsty.A at 09:11
Labels: scrapping 2014
2 comments:
- Sian said...
It's easy to see you had fun making this page. It's lovely!
- 16 March 2014 at 09:00
- Nathalie said...
This is very cute and I wish they had Book Week in schools here! I love the concept!
- 30 March 2014 at 04:02
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Last December 2, I attended a press conference on the 11th Mega Balikbayan / OFW 2014 and the 2nd International Travel Festival at The Blackboard (5th Flr. The Podium)
11th Megabalikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX) will be happening this December 18-20, 2014 at SMX Convention Center.
ASEAN integration, that's the aim of the 11th Megabalikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX). As the longest running business expo, the event is focus for the preparation of the ASEAN integration in which local businesses will have more opportunities for regional expansion and productivity enhancement. It will showcase the following companies; Franchising, Dealership and Distribution, Health and Beauty, Bank and Finance, Technology and Transportation.
In addition, the 11th Mega Balikbayan OFW Expo (MBOX) will offer back to back event with the 2nd International Travel Festival (ITF), an event that offers travel sales and incentives from different participating tour operators, hotels, resorts, and venues.
Its aim is to contribute and jumpstart the first quarter travel and tour volume yearly of the country by providing promotion platform to travel and tour agencies, hotel, resorts and related tourism companies.
In addition, the 2nd International Travel Festival (ITF) aims to provide affordabletravel and tour packages to OFWs and Balikbayan that will be coming in the country this December.
As Mr. Orly Ballesteros, COO, Exlink Corporation said, "It's the best time of the year to invite our balikbayans because this is the time when they come home for the holidays. Maybe they would want to consider going into business, Majority of them go into food business. For OFWs who want to venture into business, we are ready to assist them. Perhaps they would want to spend part of their hard-earned cash into opening up their own business, With the ASEAN integration to go full blast in 2016, the business sector can now engage more in trade within and outside ASEAN to expand their production volume."
|Maria Luning "Dada Mary" Bebit
|Fernando Lachica
|Ronald Torres, Mark Eden Elaga and Fernando Lachica
|Ronald Torres and Mark Eden Ellaga
|Erbil Escano Jr. and Eliodoro Ranada
|Marsha Delos Santos-Brunswick
For more information, visit www.exlinkevents.com, www.megabalikbayanofexpo.com.ph, internationaltravelfestival.com.ph, or call 09209242532/ 643-3887/ 640-7439/ 640-1280
Like their Facebook page www.facebook.com/internationaltravelfestival and www.facebook.com/MegabalikbayanOfwExpo.


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Just in time for the summer, we finish off our series of reports on Pantone's top 10 colors for Spring 2011 with Silver Cloud, a light grey which is appropriate for any season. Our talented SATeam members are experts in all things silver. Click on the links below the pictures to learn more about their many shiny items:
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Starving Artists jewelry Team, the SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com and here on ArtFire.


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Being a memory error, we used Valgrind to locate any memory access violations.
try { const unsigned int SIZE = 1024; char *p = new char[SIZE]; //< SIGABRT here } catch(...) { //report memory allocation error }
When executed with Valgrind memory check tool, Valgrind reported many occurrences of invalid write/read – i.e. beyond memory allocated by operator new.
For example, for instances like these:
class ct;
ct *p = new ct;
Valgrind was reporting that operator
new had allocated only 103 bytes for *p, although
sizeof(ct) reported 112 bytes (as obtained by printing
sizeof(ct) in code and also in debugger).
#pragma pack(1)
pragma pack directive
Data alignment and structure padding
More on structure padding here: Data alignment: Straighten up and fly right
Changing the default packing
#pragma pack(2)
This tighter packing of bytes will obviously reduce the size of the structure objects, but at the cost of performance. Most processors can fetch an aligned word from memory (an atomic operation) faster than words that cross alignment boundaries. Misaligned memory requests cause multiple memory access cycles (therefore not an atomic operation) and this additional complexity adversely affects the performance of the application.
The solution
If the 'pragma pack' directive cannot be avoided at all (as in the case of a device driver), then the original packing scheme must be restored after the definition of the structures that require tight packing. i.e. the header file must be modified to something similar to:
//push current alignment rules to internal stack #pragma pack(push) //force 1-byte alignment boundary #pragma pack(1) //the above two lines can be merged to: //#pragma pack(push,1) /* definition of structures requiring tight packing */ //restore original alignment rules from stack #pragma pack(pop)
#pragma pack() to restore the original packing rule.


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Bush Stone-curlew
Range and abundance
The Bush Stone-curlew has previously been recorded in all but the most arid parts of mainland Australia. The species remains common in northern Australia and on many offshore islands (notably Kangaroo Island (SA) and Magnetic Island (QLD), even within towns. In southern Australia the species' range has declined significantly since European Settlement and today it is scarce or largely absent in many parts of its former range south and east of the Great Dividing Range. The total Australian population has been estimated at 10,000–15,000 individuals.
The Bush Stone-curlew is a charismatic bird with a distinctive, wailing call, which has been variously described as 'melancholy', 'mournful', 'frightening' and 'eerie'. The species is easily recognisable; it stands at 510–590 mm tall and has long legs, large eyes, a short dark bill and a slender body with cryptically-coloured plumage of mottled brown, white and grey. There are no obvious differences in appearance between the sexes.
The Bush Stone-curlew most commonly inhabits lightly timbered open forest and woodland. Key habitat components include fallen dead timber, leaf litter and an open ground layer. Individual curlews may live for 20–30 years and most birds form a monogamous pair and maintain a year-round, long-term bond. The species is an opportunistic forager that mostly consumes ground-dwelling invertebrates, but it will also feed on seeds, small reptiles and rodents. Females usually lay one or two clutches during the breeding season (July to January) consisting of two mottled eggs laid directly on the ground and incubated without the use of nest structures.
The main threats to the Bush Stone-curlew are loss and modification of habitat for agriculture and urban development, along with predation by foxes. The removal of fallen timber for firewood collection is a particular concern as it is likely to reduce the effectiveness of the curlews' camouflage strategy which it uses to avoid predators.
What is AWC doing?
AWC protects numerous remnant populations of the Bush Stone-curlew in northern Australia. In addition, during 2013 a reintroduction program was implemented in an attempt to re-establish the species in parts of its former range in southern Australia. Twenty captive-bred birds were released at Scotia (NSW) and a further 12 at Yookamurra (SA). These birds were fitted with radio-transmitters and their movements are being monitored regularly by AWC ecologists.


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You are who you are. This is a thing I know, and yet I keep waiting for things to be different. I keep waiting for circumstances to change and reveal the me that's been hanging out just waiting to make an appearance.
I went to New York for BlogHer this year. Blog conferences can feel a lot like high school. Where out on the street everyone was the same, inside these walls there are now groups. There's cool kids, of course, with pageviews and social media followers standing in for popularity. And like high school groups form based on similar interests or location. Then there are the people who float from group to group. I have always fallen in this last category, ever since high school.
That doesn't mean that I won't walk into every conference hoping this will be the one where I'll be at the center of a cozy group who checks in regularly and makes sure no one's ever going it alone.
This never happens. Of course it never happens. And it's not because the circumstances are holding me back, it's because that's not who I am.
If I had a group, I would probably be sneaking off to get some alone time or to say hi to someone I haven't seen in a long time or to go watch a musical with an ode to an old school butch lesbian.
I don't actually like being in a cozy group who does things together. When I'm in one I feel self-conscious. I start to worry that no one actually wants to hang out with me, that they're just humoring me. Or I can't help but focus on how different we are and how I don't really want to do what the group wants to do and I wish I was on my own.
It's really a grass-is-always-greener situation. But I always feel my lack of a group acutely when I'm on my own at a conference. That is the norm now, especially since I'm working at almost all of these conferences so I have my own schedule and my own room.
With all that said, BlogHer was kind of a turning point. It was the first big conference I ever went to, 3 years ago. Back then I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted out of blogging. I was still learning my way around all the trappings that went along with the writing and soul-baring, which was why I got into it in the first place.
But I've worked hard for the past 3 years. Really hard. I've even built a career.
It turns out, all that work means something. At BlogHer it meant that I would walk around for only a few minutes before I saw someone I knew or someone stopped me to say hello. That would've been unheard of to 2012 Me, whose only friends were people I'd met already in Boston or the small group of Autism parents I'd bonded with on Facebook. Even knowing two dozen people feels like knowing no one when you're in the giant crowds of BlogHer.
This year's conference experience was great, actually. I got to see the people I wanted to see. I had long conversations with people I'd just met. I skipped sessions that didn't excite me. I didn't worry about anything that wasn't important to me. And I didn't care if I looked silly when I was dancing. I got my Broadway fix, which was terribly overdue. I read books in bed. I had a drink or two or more if I wanted to.
People talk about their tribe when they talk about blog conferences, especially BlogHer. I don't have one tribe, but many. And that makes sense for me. It feels right, if I take the time to think about it. So for the next conference I think I'm just going to read this post again and remind myself that this is who I am.


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I was ever soooo lucky and was on Ravelry almost at the very second this gem came up for sale. I hit the Buy button before my reality told me not to! Well, I have been pondering it for quite some time and the price, as when I got my wheel when it was on a rare promotional sale! I think it is just destined to be mine!
Well, said gem of a find arrived today and I practically knocked my old mutha on her ass to get to it!
Since them, minus a few seconds to realize I strung it wrong...oh so THAT's what the hook was for!! I am thrilled with it and know it will get endless use! 2ply lace and 3ply DK here I COME!!!
Picture later...Blogger...had to log off then on again to upload these pics.


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While working on a side project that uses tesseract-ocr, I ran into a situation where it was extremely cumbersome to train the program for new environments and character sets via command-line. So, I developed a web interface for it called "Tesseract OCR Chopper"; without further ado:
Live test drive: https://pp19dd.com/tesseract-ocr-chopper/ (In beta...)
Live test drive with a preloaded sample image.
* You can use this sample file: https://pp19dd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sample1.png
Update March 2012: Interface has been updated for version 3 format (added page number to coordinates line.)
Not that the program (tesseract-OCR) itself is at fault - but - there wasn't a convenient interface to edit its boxfiles. There are linux tools for the project but they are a bit difficult (for some) to port to other operating systems. Lastly, I felt that this should be the new era of operating-system agnosticism.
The project included something called "PHP boxfile reader" but I found that the program - while perfectly functional - could use some updating.
Problems with boxfilereader.php (included in tesseract-ocr files):
- You must generate and provide boxfile to it via command line (can't interface with /usr/bin/tesseract)
- Limited to GD-supported file formats
- Interface clumsy - can't make box adjustments, results are spit out as an alert()
- In short, too much manual labor; still, better than nothing
As for the overall process of training- the input files had to be in uncompressed TIFF unless you could easily compile libtiff into it. And then, you'd still have to get input files into TIFF format. I'll let google search results for "tesseract libtiff" speak for itself.
My Version of the Program
So, I coupled imagemagick with some fancy web 2.0 and AJAX (I thought the 2.0 meme went out of fashion, but, apparently it didn't.) The end result is something that sounds like a biker club: "Tesseract OCR Chopper."
The immediate improvements are mostly interface based (GUI and process):
- It can interface directly with /usr/bin/tesseract and generate the boxfile
- Character boxes can be click-dragged into position - or resized
- Via sticky-select, you can select multiple characters quickly and hit the DEL key
- All coordinate updates are instantly reflected in the boxfile (right-hand side)
- Can upload all imagemagick format supported files (TIF, PNG, JPG, etc)
- When you either drag or click a box, keyboard is instantly focused so you can retype - correct its character
Bad quality, but, you can see the dynamic nature of the program in this video:
To be honest, there are some problems with this setup - namely performance with larger character sets. I ran this program with the included tesseract English OCR sample files and - unless you're using chrome - the interface was slow and would choke the JavaScript interpreter occasionally. On my machine I had found that 1,000 characters was a good performance limit so this demo is soft-limited to that amount. Future versions (yes I will continue development on this) will likely have a way to paginate between thousands of characters.
Firefox held its own but until the new release comes out it will be much slower in comparison. Having said that, I've only tested this program with Firefox.
But, don't let me tell you that. Give the program a live test drive. If you need a sample file to upload, use this:
- Sample file: https://pp19dd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/sample1.png
- Live test drive: https://pp19dd.com/tesseract-ocr-chopper/
- Live test drive with a preloaded sample image.
I'd love some feedback on this; tentatively my feature list will go along these lines:
- Pagination between larger character sets (1-1000, 1001-2000, etc)
- Switching the interface to the HTML5 <canvas>element
- Ability to actually chop the image and explode the characters; tesseract is limited in that it requires nicely spaced characters to train its algorithms for a new font set
- Ability to remote-scrape website images (instead of just uploading images)
- Creating a wizard for the entire train process


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One of our favorite local hikes is Mt. Gile and we hiked it on such a pretty day last week. I know it's going to be much harder to do family hikes once we have baby #3 (and once Josh gets busy with his new job) so we're trying to fit in as many hikes as we can.
If you look closely you can see Bryn and Josh peering over the top of the tower. It's actually a little nerve-racking climbing the tower with kids, so this time we actually didn't take Mya to the top. She was insisting on climbing the steps on her own and that just wasn't going to happen. So we took turns going to the top with Bryn.
I'm not sure what's going on with this pose :)
The panoramic view from the top of the tower is so pretty. You just see green, green, green in every direction.
My attempt at a panoramic picture of the view
These two walked hand in hand for a long stretch of the hike and it melted my heart. There is nothing better than sisters!


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|And a Ceviche Chef Will Lead Them: Renteria's short managerial
track record holds immense promise for the South Side.
I've been dragging my heels about getting this Manager Survey series started, but with the season kicking off today in remarkable fashion—a 6-3 pasting in nanook weather—well, perhaps it's time for a bit o' sunshine.
When Rick Renteria was the instantaneous hire to follow Robin Ventura, I shook my head. Under Ventura, the White Sox had suffered years of mediocrity and malaise under a manager whose personality made Jerry Manuel look like Ozzie Guillen.
Yet the same bizarre rationalizing used to hire Robin (among other things, then-GM Ken Williams mused that Ventura could have been a great military general) seemed to be repeating itself (GM Rick Hahn noted with unnerving confidence that had the White Sox not snapped up Renteria, another team would have hired him away. Yes, the bench coach. Of a 78-win team).
There was no harm in talking to a few candidates. After all, Guillen crashed Williams' 2004 managerial search at the last minute, and the feistmeister's hung-over bravado convinced Ken to switch his hire from the dulcet tones of Cito Gaston to all-brass, no-bass Ozzie. For all the criticism levied on Guillen—and 2011's charges are beyond reproach—Ozzie ended his tenure with the seventh-best winning percentage in White Sox history, and as the sixth-best manager overall (more on that in a minute).
But after engaging in a pretty exhaustive investigation of every managerial performance in White Sox history and slotting in (sample size alert!) Renteria's one year in the big chair (2014, with the Chicago Cubs), I'm a lot more comfortable.
Because in Renteria's one season managing the Cubs, before being jettisoned in rather ungainly fashion once everybody's favorite quirky badass grandpa, Joe Maddon, became available, Renteria tore it up.
Sorry, I know Cubs GM Theo Epstein is a genius and he poops inconceivably delicious Skittles, but his decision to can Renteria was 100% optics, 0% methodology. Yeah, yeah, he'll point to a manila folder bursting with dot matrix research dating back to his junior high years to support Maddon as a better choice than Renteria, but, nope.
(Maddon is basically a wash as a manager, costing his team 10.69 wins over the course of his 13-season, 1,833-game career. Bizarrely, in his 2015 season with the Cubs, Maddon had his best season as a manager, with a 7.5 WAR identical to that of Renteria in 2014. Must've been something in the water.)
Hell, after Renteria's food truck schtick stretched all winter, I'm not even convinced Maddon brings a higher "crazy uncle" factor to the table than his South Side counterpart.
How do I know Renteria projects to be a terrific manager? Because it's nearly impossible to manage better than Renteria did in 2014. Yup, those baby Cubbies who grew up to become World Series champeens won just 79 games—but by all accounts, they were lucky to crack 70.
Here's how great Renteria's season on the North Side was: By my measure of managerial WAR (jesus, I said more on that in a minute!), Renteria logged a 7.5 WAR helming the Cubs in 2014.
Want some perspective? You got it, bub.
Great 5th: Only three White Sox managers, over four total seasons, have logged better than a 7.5 WAR.
Predecessorily Speaking: Ventura cost the White Sox about two wins per year (-1.98 WAR) during his tenure. To give you an indication of how bad White Sox managers have been over time, that kind of career mark places Ventura in the top half—18 of 31—of White Sox managers.
Context, Baby: OK, so White Sox managers have generally sucked. But in my admittedly random survey of mangers in history (small sample size, ranging from a "Hall-of-Famer" like Bobby Cox to a, er, really good hitter like Ted Williams) finds just eight better seasons out of 187 I've studied so far.
Now, do these stats, particularly given Renteria's small sample size, mean anything? Dunno. But White Sox fans are being asked to accept Cody Asche as a major league designated hitter, so perhaps a pinch of slack should be offered here.
And now, for the fine print...
The Methodology
I'm going to keep my explanation basic.
I prefer to use something I'll call team WAR, which adds replacement WAR (~48 wins) to the sum total of player WAR, and subtract that from actual wins.
In Renteria's 2014, replacement WAR + team WAR added up to almost 72 wins. Subtract that from 79 actual wins, and Renteria's WAR is 7.072.
That's one half.
As a bit of a control to the above method, I do the same thing, but with the team's Pythagorean (generated by run differential) wins and subtracting them from its actual wins. Pythagorean WAR is less nuanced than the team WAR method, but again, I'm applying it as something of a control.
In 2014, the Cubs had 71 Pythagorean wins, so the team's win total under Rick, 79, gives him 8.0 WAR in my book.
So in combining both methods, I get a 7.5 WAR (actually 7.536) for Rick in 2014.
Renteria's 2014 is rare. Pythagorean WAR is almost always a more modest figure than the team WAR method.
Yeah, before you say it, I understand that manager WAR can be credited 100% to dumb luck. So if you choose to call this "lucky WAR" for managers, fine, go ahead a be a jerk about it.
I happen to believe a manager has a ton to do with performance on the field. Yes, he fills out the lineup and chooses his pitchers. But he's also creating a clubhouse culture, supporting his players, sensing when to give a guy a day off, juggling the batting order. And, for sure, whipping up some tasty queso.
A manager can benefit from trades or call-ups, health, weather, and hell, even a lack of travel delays. So you could term Managerial WAR something like "off-field WAR" instead, and spread the credit around.
But that's not my style. I'm crediting or debiting the manager, period.
Hahn may have been right in insisting he'd unlock greatness in Renteria. The new White Sox skipper may truly be a keeper.
Yeah, it's just one year to work off of, but lighten up, man. It's a bleak season ahead.
A Note About the Bleak Season Ahead
Yes, I plan to write more White Sox Managerial WAR articles, to discuss the best managers in White Sox history, who's had the best individual seasons managing the White Sox (indisputable, it's the same guy, in successive years!), and who's the worst manager in White Sox history (shockingly, it's not Terry Bevington). I'll get to it, someday, some way.


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if only i fly away
from this jungle civilized
would u not try me bring back
to the world of yours behind?
if only i say something
that not ur heart nor mind
may find any logic to agree
would u not to me be kind?
faces may prove deceptive
to you and me my friend!
but the soul"s voice remind still
that this is not the end..
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Posted by thegemconcealed at 4:46 AM
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Real Estate crowdfunding has changed the way property groups source the capital for their investments and subsequently, the way they interact with their investors. What was once a small network of Investors and pre-established relationships, Property Groups now have access to a wide range of investors spread across Australia.
Here are some ways Property Groups can build their relationship with Investors:
Providing detailed information about your company, past project experience and the executive team behind your company, builds trust with investors. In addition, it is important to provide in depth detail and documentation on the investments, including an Information Memorandum that contains information your company sees fit to provide. Investors want to know everything about what they are investing in. Documentation should highlight the opportunity, provide all necessary details about the investment, and express any risk clearly.
The most effective way to communicate with Investors is to provide reports on a regular basis. Reporting can contain details, photographs and progress reports, all of which are great ways to keep investors up to date with their investment and ensure they continue to feel a part of the process.
It is important to ensure that investors feel like valued contributors to your business. Consistent communication and interaction with investors ensure they know they can ask questions and that you will answer them.
CrowdfundUP enable property groups to list of equity-financing needs on the platform, such as equity and debt financing, and a network of investors to provide this financing via the pooling together of funds.
If you are looking for equity financing to fund your development project, visit CrowdfundUP's registration page or contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
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"Any advice provided on this blog is general in nature. Readers are urged to seek their own professional advice before making decisions."


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Myth 1: It will make my children illegitimate
This is perhaps the most common myth about annulment. Undoubtedly, the belief that a tribunal's declaration of nullity of a marriage would render the children of that marriage "illegitimate" after the fact has kept many Catholics from pursuing annulments. Beyond that, it has been the cause of much groundless hostility toward the Church from people who are rightfully offended by the concept. Thankfully, it is not true. In Church law, when at least one of the parties enters a marriage in good faith, the children of that marriage are always considered to be legitimate, even if the marriage is shown to be invalid later.
Myth 2: They will ask prying questions about my sex life
While occasionally a sexual issue may come into play as a ground for annulment (such as homosexuality, a refusal of one party to be open to children, or the inability or unwillingness of one spouse to consummate the union), this is not true for the vast number of annulment cases. And even in those circumstances, the judge is not interested in intimate details of what went on or didn't go on in the bedroom. While a question about the couple's sex life may be relevant in a particular case, the responses the judge is looking for wouldn't rank high at all on the blush meter. An annulment proceeding will be cause for introspection on the relationship but also on one's life leading up to the marriage. The sexual relationship may well be a factor in marital troubles, but unlikely to be sole grounds for an annulment.
Myth 3: It costs too much
The annulment process is not free, but it is not a bank breaker either by any means. Chances are your civil divorce cost many times more what your annulment proceeding will cost. Annulment cases are heard by diocesan tribunals. That means many combined hours of work by a judge, advocate and defender of the bond, as well as support staff time, office space, utilities, paperwork, postage, etc. Depending on the diocese, the cost could be anywhere between $500 and $1,000 (typically due in installments), but it's a safe bet your diocesan tribunal offers a sliding scale for those who do not have the means to pay. No one is turned away because of lack of finances, and the ability to pay has absolutely no impact on the final outcome of the case.
Myth 4: It's just a Catholic divorce
In truth, an annulment is nothing like a divorce. A divorce is the legal dissolution of a valid civil marriage, whether that marriage was solemnized in a church, at city hall or standing on a beach. An annulment will not be granted prior to a civil divorce. After an annulment, both parties are free to marry again in the Catholic Church. This would not be so if a divorce had not first been obtained. An annulment is a declaration by the Church that a valid marriage did not exist from the beginning (even though a legal civil marriage was indeed entered into) because something critical was missing that would have enabled both parties to give the full consent of will needed to instill the sacrament.
Myth 5: It takes too long
An annulment proceeding involves multiple steps: written and/or oral testimony of witnesses, a psychological evaluation, possible examination of medical records, contacting of the other spouse, compiling of documents, a written decision, an appeal process. In other words, it doesn't happen in a week. But given all that goes into it, the process is remarkably short. An annulment proceeding typically takes one year or less. It may take a little longer depending on some factors, such as the participation level of the other spouse. It is wise, therefore, for a divorced Catholic who may someday wish to remarry to initiate the process well before planning a future wedding.
Myth 6: My ex-spouse will never agree to it
Chances are, if your marriage has collapsed and you have gone through a divorce, you and your former spouse may not be on the best of terms. Nothing breeds animosity and discord, it seems, more than the divorce process. So if you are seeking an annulment, your ex may not be willing to jump through hoops to help you out. After all, it stands to reason that the one pursuing the annulment has moved beyond the breakup and is in a better emotional place than the one who has not. If you are seeking an annulment, chances are you have already entered into another relationship and are at least contemplating the idea of remarriage. This may not sit well with your former husband or wife, who may even try to create obstacles for you. Fortunately, your ex does not have to agree to the annulment or even participate in the process. The tribunal hearing your case will attempt to contact your former spouse and invite him or her to participate in the process. The person will be given a chance to have his or her side of the story heard. But you will not be forced to have contact with your spouse. Neither an absence of cooperation by your ex or his or her actively fighting it will prevent the case from proceeding. In the event of an affirmative ruling, your ex can exercise the right to appeal, which can delay a final result. But what it comes down to is this: If there are legitimate grounds for annulment, there is nothing your ex can do to ultimately prevent it.
Myth 7: I'm excommunicated because I'm divorced without annulment
Being civilly divorced has absolutely no bearing on your standing in the Church and you are free to receive holy Communion. If, however, you were to remarry civilly without benefit of an annulment from your first marriage, you would be committing the sin of adultery in the eyes of the Church and not in full communion with the Body of Christ. In this situation, you could not receive holy Communion until your marital situation was regularized through annulment and a Church wedding, as well as by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Myth 8: Only Catholic marriages need to be annulled
In short, the fact that you were not married the first time in the Catholic Church does not automatically absolve you from needing an annulment in order to remarry in the Catholic Church. "The Church presumes the validity of any marriage between two people who are free to marry at the time of their wedding," wrote canon lawyers Jacqueline Rapp and Peter Vere, in a 2003 article in Envoy magazine. Therefore, the reality is, "Anyone, Catholic or not, who was previously married and whose former spouse is still alive, and who wants to marry someone else in a Catholic ceremony needs some action or decision through a Catholic Church tribunal about the former marriage," according to the Diocese of Trenton's tribunal website.
Myth 9: Whether you get one depends on who you know
It's hard to pinpoint where this myth came from, except maybe to assume it is perpetuated by Catholics who are intimidated by the process or have some other beef with the Church. Needless to say, there is no truth to this. Diocesan tribunals, like any court, operate free of bias, and they are answerable to higher level tribunals, most immedi-ately their province's Metropolitan Tribunal. A tribunal judge isn't going to risk his career greasing an annulment for a friend or well-heeled donor, when the evidence is readily available for review by higher courts.
Myth 10: Annulments dredge up the past, causing undue pain for all involved
Rather than being painful, the annulment process can be healing in a way similar to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is an opportunity for personal growth and discovery, as it requires the petitioner to confront important traits, behavior patterns and other factors that, once recognized, often prove invaluable in navigating future relationships, including new marriages. For many Catholics, the annulment decision gives them closure in a much more profound way than the divorce. It can be a true moment of grace.
Read additional In Focus articles:
Clearing up annulment misconceptions
Misunderstanding of process yields to release, closure, elation
Copyright © 1996-2019 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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Don Fry Commentary on WYPR
As a former state senator and delegate, and now president of a private-sector business advocacy organization, I've been on both sides of the legislative process.
But a recent trip to Annapolis to urge the repeal of the state's computer services tax reminded me of the vastly contrasting perspectives between lawmakers and business executives.
A powerful committee chair noted that lawmakers are, in effect, the state's board of directors trying to deal with a slowing economy and declining state revenues, just as a private sector board would address a business slowdown.
While that metaphor is valid, contrasts between the legislative and business worlds are substantial.
Successful businesses have specific, focused missions based on their companies' unique strengths and customer needs. Lawmakers, faced with re-election prospects, all too often try to be all things to all people.
Businesses plans are based on detailed strategies for success. Tactics are crafted to fit the strategies. A Maryland lawmaker's world is exactly the opposite – it's a chaotic, tactics-first environment.
Long range planning on a particular issue is not easily accomplished in a 90-day session as lawmakers sift through 2,500 bills – a flood of disconnected tactics shaped by an incredibly broad range of competing agendas. Legislators are smart people who understand the importance of linking tactics to strategy. But they struggle to find time for meaningful in-depth, strategic analysis.
Facing price competition and fiscal challenges, business executives' instincts are to aggressively scrutinize operating budgets and find ways to cut expenses while preserving strategic priorities. It's their first, best option. State lawmakers are clearly reluctant to cut spending. Despite what many people suggest, individually, they don't like voting to raise taxes, either. But collectively, as recent history demonstrates, lawmakers seem to favor raising taxes over cutting a $15 billion general fund budget that they sincerely believe is devoid of fat.
This is probably the biggest single philosophical disconnect between the State House and the business sector.
If both sectors could manage to bridge this divide, the state would greatly benefit. A first step could be to work together on a comprehensive review of Maryland's revenue structure as it relates to the state's strategic priorities. The results of such a project could be both enlightening and beneficial for the State of Maryland.
For the Regional Business Report, this is Don Fry, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee, for 88.1 WYPR, your NPR news station.


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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Another Block Down
This is the fourth block in the Beginner's Quilt-Along. I think part of what worked so well with Block 3 was the balance of color/shade/scale. Lacking additional larger sized prints and low on darks, I did add in the blue spools (not sure what they are, I picked it up as a fat quarter at The Noble Quilter.) The yellow is from A Stitch in Time with Mother Goose by Amy Barickman.
Oh yeah, and I added machine applique too. I haven't used stabilizer before but I knew it might pucker so I ironed on some freezer paper. Worked fine!
Also, I have to say: What a day yesterday! I'm so glad to have visitors to And Chips and the comments are great. You all rock! In honor of this experience I added a Happy Blogger button from one of my favorites, Happy Loves Rosie. (If you haven't, check out her vintage caravan/camper - it is what my dreams are made of!) Thanks again for stopping by.
~MissEnota Minnesota
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Sisters Elle, 13, and Dakota Fanning, 17, grace the December 2011 issue of W magazine. In the magazine the girls talk about fame, courture and how they both love reality shows. Below are some highlights of the interview in the magazine. To read more of the interview head over to W Magazine here!
I'm an older sister, and my sister is always telling me how difficult it is to be a younger sister. But Dakota seems like a nice older sister.
She is a nice older sister. But it's not like we always get along. Now that she's going to college, it's different. I went into her room at home in California, and all her clothes were gone! Her closet was empty! I don't get to go in there and steal clothes anymore. It's really strange. It's sort of like she's off making a movie, but this time she's not coming back.
Your first part was playing Dakota as an infant in I Am Sam. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, you played the young Cate Blanchett.
I was 9 years old during Benjamin Button. I had to wear a long red wig because [Cate] had red hair in the movie. I remember that. I had a great time on set. The director did a lot of takes, and he would say, "Take 50," and I would just go do it again. I was only 9, so I thought that was fun.
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The region benefits from the presence of six higher education institutions – the universities of the Highlands and Islands, Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt and Stirling, the Glasgow School of Art and Scotland's Rural College.
Over the last 10 years, development of academic research has been a priority for HIE. For the knowledge based sectors of the regional economy such as life sciences, energy and digital to grow, the region needs to ensure the conditions that support innovation are in place.
HIE will work to improve the extent to which businesses and sectors interact with universities, leading to improved, productive relationships that stimulate knowledge exchange, innovation, product development and new business opportunities. Outcomes from this work will directly connect to the realisation of benefits from infrastructure investments across the region, including Inverness Campus and the European Marine Science Park in Argyll. In addition to accelerating business growth and innovation, this work will exploit the emerging potential from investments in broadband connectivity.
A central component of this work will be our engagement with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), an integral part of the region's academic, teaching and research infrastructure. We will work closely with UHI to align investment with the growth opportunities that exist across the region including as part of promoting the Highlands and Islands as a science region.
We will also work with all of Scotland's universities to ensure the expertise required to develop regional opportunities is available, as is evident in our Collaborative Campus work in life sciences, and by utilising the network of Scottish Innovation Centres through which business and academic interactions can be fostered.
The Creative Futures Partnership is our transformation partnership with the Glasgow School of Art. Investment of £10m over the next five years will secure a legacy of creative academic capability in our region and stimulate economic growth.