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It's getting down to the wire: Will the Arctic ice cap's annual melt-off this year top last year's record?
In one sense, it's a trivial "horse race" question, because at this point in the summer, stats for the two years are sufficiently close and low to arch eyebrows yet again within the Arctic science community -- already out in force as part of the International Polar Year, which runs through next March.
So far, this year's decline has ensured that 2008 will at least rank as the second lowest year on record for summer sea-ice extent at the top of the world. Where Arctic scientists once spoke of virtually ice-free summers by 2070, and more recently by 2040, "the Arctic could be mainly ice free even earlier," according to Heinrich Miller, an Arctic scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany, in an ESA press release that accompanied the satellite images.
"Some notables had suggested '08 sea ice would probably not be another record-breaker or even close. What's going on up there now suggests the situation is indeed serious," writes Jonathan Overpeck, director of the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Arctic science is one of its specialties.
The data on the Arctic ice cap come from the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The European Space Agency chipped in today with a short "flip book" movie using images from its ENVISAT earth-observation satellite. Another useful website for taking part in Ice Watch 2008 lives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's dubbed The Cryosphere Today.
And the concerns extend beyond polar bears and caribou. For instance, David Lawrence, with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., published a study in the June 13 issue of Geophysical Research Letters suggesting that as the Arctic Ocean loses more of its reflective summer ice and the darker ocean captures more of the sun's warmth, those warmer waters can moderate temperatures over land as far as 900 miles inland. It's somewhat analogous to the Gulf Stream's effect on Europe's climate. Not surprisingly, during periods of rapid loss of sea ice, the modeling study suggested that temperatures over land would warm 3.5 times more than warming rates global climate models typically project for the 21 century. This additional warming could affect the amount of permafrost that melts, releasing CO2 and methane, the team noted.
Meanwhile, the loss of summer ice will open shipping lanes long dreamed of by many maritime countries. And it's already setting off a scramble for claims to natural resources under the UN Law of the Sea Treaty.
What's driving the Arctic to shed it's summer ice like this? Two major players, researchers say: Weather, and warmer water working its way into the ocean and under the ice from lower latitudes. These are reinforced by a shrinking amount of thick, multi-year ice, which serves as a foundation for the next winter's freeze. When the next spring arrives more of the existing ice is too thin to survive the spring and summer melt. But even the weather patterns feeding the trend look to have a climate-change connection, notes Joellen Russel, another University of Arizona researcher. She explains that in 2004, scientists at the University of Washington published work that tied heavy declines in sea ice to a mode of natural variation variously dubbed the Arctic Oscillation or the Northern Annular Mode. Essentially, when this mode gets stuck in overdrive, it strengthens prevailing-wind patterns in the Arctic in ways that help flush ice out into the North Atlantic. Other groups have since linked late-20th century trends toward this mode's more-muscular phase to global warming, perhaps with some help from an ozone hole that periodically sets up over the Arctic.
This year's great melt-off watch triggered something a tempest earlier this month when a blogger in Britain said he'd found a significant problem with the NSIDC's data that led the center to overestimate the melt-back. It triggered a round of hot bytes hurtling back and forth in the yes-it-is, no-it-isn't climate blogosphere. But said blogger retracted his conclusion after an NSIDC scientist pointed out the flaw in his analysis. The blogger now acknowledges that the NSIDC analysis is correct.
Note: Eoin O'Carroll is on vacation. He will return Sept. 2


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10 Ways to Stop Fleas from Biting Your Dog
Say No to Fleas
Ah, the joys of the outdoors. Swimming, hiking, and Frisbee in the park — all reasons to look forward to going outside. But fleas? Not so much. Not only are these blood-sucking parasites unsightly and creepy, they can also cause some serious diseases. So, how can you keep your dog flea-free year-round? Here are a few ideas to consider…
#10 Spot-On Treatment
While spot-on flea medications seem like they would only work on the spot they are applied to, they are actually very effective at covering the dog's entire body. The drops work by a process of translocation, by which the medication is spread over the body by way of the oil glands. They are not affected by bathing, swimming, or rain, and will kill and repel fleas for several weeks before reapplication. They may also work to interrupt the flea life cycle while it is in progress. Before choosing a particular spot-on product, read the label and choose one that is appropriate for your dog's age and size.
#9 Oral Medication
If you need help controlling a serious flea infestation, using oral medications along with spot-on treatments will help. Once a month flea control pills (in small tablet form) work to disrupt the life cycle of fleas, but do not kill adult fleas on contact. Some are made to be easy to administer, even for dogs that are difficult to medicate, with flavor added to make them more like treats so they are accepted gladly — or at least easier to hide in your dog's food.
#8 Flea Shampoo
Bathing your dog with a special medicated shampoo that kills fleas on contact can be an inexpensive (though labor-intensive) method of protecting your dog during flea season, or year-round. You will need to repeat the process more often, about every two weeks, as the effective ingredients in these flea shampoos won't last as long as a spot-on or oral medication.
#7 Flea Collar
Flea collars are another option, though their effectiveness may depend on the invasiveness of the fleas in your environment and the contact the flea collar makes with your dog's skin (in order to transfer the chemicals). Cut off any excess length of collar to prevent your dog from chewing on it, and watch for signs of discomfort (e.g., excessive scratching) in case an allergic reaction to the collar occurs. Before choosing a particular flea collar, read the label and choose one that is appropriate for your dog's age and size.
#6 Flea Dip
A flea dip is a concentrated chemical that needs to be diluted in water and applied to the dog's fur with a sponge, or poured over the back. This is not like a shampoo bath, so you will not rinse your dog off after applying the dip product. These chemical products can be very potent, ask your veterinarian if a flea dip is right for your dog.Misuse can lead to toxic reactions, in both pets and in the people treating them, so they are generally only used for severe infestations, and only infrequently.
#5 Powders & Sprays
Flea powders and sprays are relatively inexpensive methods of repelling fleas. Be cautious when applying these products, as the spray or fine powder can be irritating to the mouth and lungs if breathed in (for both dogs and humans). Also be sure to use caution around the eyes, nose, and mouth. As these products will wear off the skin faster than a spot-on treatment, you will need to reapply them more often. Always read labels carefully before using flea powders or sprays.
#4 Clean House
For any level of flea infestation, light or severe, you will need to do a thorough house cleaning, and you will need to clean daily until the situation has been brought under control. Vacuum in every corner and along the baseboards, and throw out the vacuum bag when you are finished. Wash all of your dog's bedding and toys with warm soapy water and vacuum the car too -- even if you do not take your dog into your car, since you may be carrying fleas on your shoes or pant-cuffs. Removing the majority of flea eggs and larvae present will help reduce the population of adults hatching in your home.
#3 Household Sprays & Foggers
To further treat your home, you can use sprays and/or foggers that will kill the adult fleas, as well as the larvae and eggs as they hatch. These products are available at your veterinarian's office or pet supply store. Care must be taken when using flea spray and foggers, as they can be toxic to fish, birds, cats and children. Read labels carefully and ask for advice from your veterinarian before attempting to use these products. In the face of a severe infestation, you may want to hire a professional exterminator to spray the house properly.
#2 Flea Traps
You can purchase ready-made "flea traps" from your local hardware store, or you can make your own. Sticky pads (some with lights attached) are laid on the floor, where the fleas become attached to the sheet while jumping around. This will help eliminate some of the adult fleas from the environment, but not the eggs or larvae. A home-made light trap is made by setting a small dish of soapy water on the ground near a light source at night (such as a small lamp or night light). Fleas are attracted to the warmth and light and will jump into the water, where they will drown.
#1 Clear the Yard
Keeping your lawn, bushes, and trees consistently trimmed back will help reduce the population of fleas in your backyard. If you still have a problem, consider using the various yard sprays or granular treatments that are available from your veterinarian, pet store, or local garden center. Or, you might consider hiring a pest control service for regular yard treatments. Just be careful when using these products, as they can be harmful to pets, fish, and humans.
Honorable Mention: Bathing
For light infestations, a simple lukewarm bath will often take care of the fleas that are on the body. The water and soap are enough to get rid of the fleas, and if used along with a flea comb, the situation can be brought under control with little fuss. Dogs in particular are often agreeable to bathing in the yard with a hose, which can make the chore a bit easier. This must be followed up by a thorough house cleaning and another method of repelling the fleas (see above solutions), otherwise the fleas that are hiding in the floor and furniture will jump back onto your dog.
Additional SlideshowsWhat's New Dog Cat
|5 Cat Cafés You Must Visit
|6 Best Dog Breeds for Extroverts
|8 Best Dog Breeds for Introverts
|7 Safe and Healthy Human Foods for Dogs That You Can Serve for the Holidays
|6 Pet Safety Tips for After a Hurricane Hits
|4 Things You MUST Consider Before Buying Flea and Tick Medicine for Dogs
|8 Common Tail Problems in Dogs
|5 Factors that Expose Your Pet to Dangerous Fleas and Ticks
|7 Things You Should NEVER Do to Your Dog
|11 Quiet Dog Breeds
|5 Signs of Renal Disease in Cats
|How to Identify Common Problems in Senior Cats
|What Does Made in the USA Mean for Pet Food?
|5 Dangerous Foods for Cats
|5 Ways to Get Your Cat with Mobility Issues Moving

subset: commoncrawl


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Speaking at a meeting of Quranic officials in Tehran on Sunday, Mohammad Hossein Mohammadzadeh said the contest will be held later in March for eight days.
The contenders' performances will be broadcast on the Quran TV every night from 9 PM to 10 PM, he noted.
Mohammadzadeh also said the Quran TV will make efforts for coverage of the events of the 35th International Quran Competition of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Awqaf and Charity Affairs Organization annually organizes the competition with the participation of Quran memorizers and reciters from various countries.
Like the 2017 edition, Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosalla (prayer hall) will likely host the 2018 Quran contest.
Concurrent with the 35th International Quran Competition, a number of other international Quran contests, including those for women, the visually-impaired and seminary students, will also be held in Tehran.


text:
Middle-office outsourcing solutions for your evolving needs
As investment strategies, regulations and technologies grow more complex, so does the need for efficient investment operations. Work with a provider who understands the changing demands for data governance, risk management, cost control and business growth.
As an experienced partner and market leader in investment operations outsourcing (IOO), Northern Trust offers full middle-office and component solutions for a complex range of products, markets and asset types.
Outsource your entire middle office or just the components you need. Northern Trust's IOO services are tailored to asset managers and never off-the-shelf.
Full middle-office outsourcing delivered across a single global platform
We provide end-to-end solutions to service all of your post-trade needs. Our global, pass-the-book operating model means your portfolio information is seamlessly transferred across regions, time zones, custodians and third parties.
Combined with a single application for aggregating data, analyzing risk and performance, valuing assets and managing reporting, you get a consistent experience that helps you balance risk, quality and cost. Our total middle-office solution:
Flexible outsourcing components tailored to your unique requirement
Increase operational efficiency and reduce risk by outsourcing key components of your non-core activities to Northern Trust. Our solutions are completely flexible and can be tailored to your precise requirements, with component services either bundled together or provided on a standalone basis.
Choose from a range of capabilities that includes:
Douglas Gee
Michael Slater
Michael has a dual responsibility as Chief Representative in NTGS Abu Dhabi representative office as well as for sales and marketing efforts in the Middle East and Africa for Northern Trusts Corporate & Institutional Services. Within these roles Michael is responsible for the ongoing strategic development of Northern Trust's activities in the Middle East and Africa.
Michael has 18 years of financial services experience within global custody, including operations, client services and relationship management in the US, UK and Middle East. Michael has been focused on the Middle East since 1997.
Sheldon W. Woldt
Sheldon W. Woldt is a Senior Vice President at The Northern Trust Company and its Head of the Middle East. In this role he is responsible for leading Northern Trust's continued growth in the region, working with regional management and drawing on its asset servicing, asset management and wealth management expertise to achieve this. Sheldon also works with sales and relationship managers to support their focus on client satisfaction, risk management and on bringing new ideas to clients.
Sheldon brings a wide variety of experience to his role including banking operations management, financial analysis instructor, and as relationship manager in commercial lending, treasury management, investment management and global custody. He has worked with a wide variety of entities including large corporations in various industries, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, and investment managers. Prior to relocating to the Middle East, Sheldon managed a team of relationship managers serving large corporations and before that he managed the Global Fund Services Practice, servicing investment managers around the world and their commingled fund products.
Woldt holds a B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, an M.M. degree in Finance and Marketing from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, is a Certified Cash Manager and a CFA charterholder.
Woldt is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a member of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians.
Operational and cost efficiencies for a competitive edge.
Customised and efficient solutions for your Global Custody needs.
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This material is directed to professional clients only and is not intended for retail clients. For Asia-Pacific markets, it is directed to institutional investors, expert investors and professional investors only and should not be relied upon by retail investors.


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January 30, 2013 01:00 ET
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Jan. 30, 2013) - Children's charity Fairplay has received a donation of £450 from Chesterfield-based law firm Spencers Solicitors. Fairplay provides support to disabled children, young people and their families across the whole of North Derbyshire. Their invaluable services include out of school play schemes, independent living groups for young adults, youth clubs, parent support and family activity days.
Sue Green, Centre Manager at Fairplay was delighted with the donation and said: "I am extremely grateful to Spencers Solicitors for their support. It is wonderful to receive the donation from a local business that understands and appreciates the work that we carry out for disabled people in the local community."
Spencers, who support a number of local Derbyshire based charities, raised the money by sending out Christmas e-cards to its business contacts rather than posting traditional Christmas cards.
Lee Foster, Section Head and Solicitor at Spencers Solicitors said: "We are always looking for ways to support the local community the money saved by sending e-Christmas cards means we can help Fairplay continue the invaluable work they do. Fairplay are a superb organisation with ambitious plans for 2013, and we are looking forward to getting involved and assisting wherever possible."
Notes to editors:
Fairplay supports children and young people with disabilities and additional needs, and their families, across North Derbyshire. It offers a wide range of services to meet the needs of the families, supporting children and young people, aged 0-25, and to parents and siblings. Fairplay offers services from its purpose built centre in Chesterfield and also from outreach venues in North East Derbyshire, Bolsover, High Peak and the Derbyshire Dales. http://www.fair-play.co.uk/
Spencers Solicitors are leading and innovative personal injury claim solicitors. Their team of experienced injury lawyers deal with the needs of injured people every day to provide them with comprehensive legal advice and no win no fee compensation.
Spencers SolicitorsJohn Spencer01246 266 email@example.com PartnershipJessica Evans020 7593 firstname.lastname@example.com
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On Friday, AT&T launched the Nokia Lumia 920, Lumia 820 and HTC 8X Windows Phones. To celebrate, Windows Phone Central held an impromtu contest where three readers who commented on our launch day post, would be selected at random to win a $50 gift card to the WPCentral Accessory Store.
While over 650 comments were posted and many readers were successful in finding their new AT&T Windows Phone, only three would walk away with the gift cards.
Our lucky winners are aln12483, cdbstl76 and rmichael75!
We've dispatched congratulatory emails to all three and will be generating gift codes shortly. We'd like to thank the Accessory Store for sponsoring this giveaway and everyone for participating. Stay tuned as we'll have more giveaway contests throughout the Holiday Season.


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Moving Levee A Possibility
City Pondering Options, Could Propose Moving It
With the deadline for Levee plans looming in the next five months, the Glasgow Levee committee that was set up in December has been working to take action and set plans in order to prevent consequences. The city must have plans to take care of several deficiencies by July to bring it up to Army Corps of Engineers standards.
Keeping those standards means being able to accept funds from FEMA to rebuild infrastructures and damage caused by a sever flood. If the list of items isn't taken care of it could also mean taxpayers would have to carry flood insurance. Due to several encroachments on the Levee from property owners the committee is thinking about proposing to move 1,875 feet of the Levee over and relocate an access road by 538 feet.
The committee met on Jan. 10 to discuss those options and had a phone conference on Jan. 23 with the Corps of Engineers and a few representatives from the DNRC (Department of National Resources and Conservation). They warned that moving the Levee could mean hiring engineers, geo-technical specialists, and making sure that EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements are met. The extra cost for those provisions could add up.
Former mayor Dan Carney is heading the Levee committee and exploring different options to make plans that cover all the problems with the Levee. He told the engineers that they had already taken actions on a few items, such as removing all the trees and brush mentioned around the Levee with the help of a county dozer. Mike Kaiser, a member of the committee explained that the encroachments on personal property is a big concern.
"The area that jogs in on other property is where we're looking at," Kaiser said at the meeting. "It cuts across around 15 people, people we need easements from. It would be easer to relocate leaving only to land owners we need easements from."
The committee had looked into the cost of a dirt moving company and got a ballpark figure on what the project could possibly cost. Around $330,000 to move the dirt for the Levee would be the estimate on the price per yard. That price may not be completely accurate, but it gave the committee an idea on what plans for moving the Levee could add up to. The portion of the Levee to move would be from 7th St. S. to 10th St. S., and could also mean moving the dike.
"We're looking at a lasting solution that we don't have to fool with anymore," Carney said. "We'll take each item and address them in the plan."
While the move of the Levee could potentially save the city from some lawsuits it could also mean taking several years to put the plans into play. The engineers out of Omaha explained that this would be a big plan and that there would be some hurdles to get across. They also said that the main focus is to finish just the plans on how to take care of issues with the Levee, mentioning that the city will need to give time frames on plans of completion.
Other issues the committee will have to look at and address are roads that might cross over the Levee and could be causing some rutting. Telephone poles and fences may also need to be removed in order to meet full compliance. By coming up with plans the city may be able to find grants and other money to complete some of the work that is required. Carney told the engineers that he may send in segments of the plans in hopes of suggestions or items to fix before they turn in the completed plans.
The city will have to partner with utility companies, property owners and the county on some portions of the work. The committee followed the conference with a short work session where they discussed resolutions on several of the items listed. They hope to meet again in a month to continue the process before the deadline arrives.


text: VM REPORTS: D.A.R.E. D.A.R.E. Judges By Staff Monday, September 9, 2013 12:08 AM RELATED CONTENT Making a Mark The PDA (Public Display of Attention) Award The Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Web Award The Seeing Green Award The Resistance is Futile Award The Sphere of Influence Award The Shop It Like It's Hot Award The "We the People" Readers' Vote Award KAREN GIBERSON, THE ACCESSORIES COUNCIL Giberson has over 20 years of experience in marketing, merchandising and public/media relations, including stints at QVC and Macy's. She is the president of The Accessories Council where she is responsible for over 16 events annually, including the ACE Awards. Giberson is also a partner in Fred Siegel Partners. She executive produced a television show/product line "Avec Eric," featuring chef Eric Ripert on PBS, as well as a partner in Hunter & Moss, a line of environmentally friendly handbags. Additionally, she has consulted for Always In(Style), Crown Consumer Brands, Elyse Ryan Jewelry, HCI Direct/Sculptz, Miramax and Tracy Reese, among others. CLODAGH NORTON, EYESTYLIST Norton is a British journalist who has worked in the optical sector for over 14 years. She is editorial director of 20/20 Europe and co-founder of the Eyestylist, The Fine Eyewear Design Review, a new site dedicated to the most beautiful, high-quality sunglass and spectacle designs. Since 2008, she has also worked as a communications consultant specializing in consumer PR for eyewear companies. CYNTHIA SHAPIRO, EUROPA INTERNATIONAL Shapiro is co-founder, CEO and creative director for Europa International and Cinzia Designs. She brings with her over 37 years of experience in the optical industry, and from the beginning has been directly responsible for overseeing all of Europa's marketing and advertising. Also chief among her many duties is overseeing product design and manufacturing. She carries with her a unique perspective of the eyewear industry shaped by her tireless research of style trends and her experience running a successful business within the fashion industry. DEIRDRE CARROLL, SENIOR EDITOR, VISION MONDAY Carroll is senior editor of Vision Monday magazine, where she's covered frames, sunwear and fashion accessories (including products, marketing initiatives, companies and brand licenses) as well as retail buying and merchandising trends for the past seven years. She is also the creator and editor of Style.Pages in print and Bold Face and High Visibility on VisionMonday.com. Carroll is also the chief community officer for SightNation, a social network community site for eyecare industry professionals. CATHERINE WOLINSKI, ASSISTANT EDITOR, VISION MONDAY Wolinski is Vision Monday's assistant editor and social media editor. For the past year, she has covered independent retail and professional associations for Vision Monday in print features such as Local Diary, Trending and In/Store and in web features on VisionMonday.com, along with managing Vision Monday's Twitter and Facebook social media properties. Additionally, Wolinski assists in web production of VMail e-newsletters and posts content for the eyecare industry social networking community, SightNation. MARGE AXELRAD, SR. VP/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, JOBSON OPTICAL GROUP A 25-year veteran in the optical industry, Axelrad is currently responsible for the overall editorial direction of Vision Monday including its print publication, VMail, its e-newsletters including CLICK, VisionMonday.com and special events including the VM Global Leadership Summit. Her focus is on general corporate and company news, industry developments and business trends for eyewear, lens and contact lens, retail and managed vision care companies. She is also the editorial liaison to Jobson Optical Research. Prior to her role at the Jobson Optical Group, Axelrad covered retail developments in the apparel, department store and home furnishings industries. ■


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text:
Thomas Friedman Reconfirmed
Wow, it's March already. What the heck happened to January and February? And, as the old yarn tell us, March starts like a lion and ends like a lamb. And, if there was any doubt in anybody's mind that we're now in a global economy, one need look no further than what happened on Wednesday with the Chinese stock market that then had the ripple effect on the world markets.My out of work focus of late has been on one Mr. Jack Earnhardt. One month old this coming Monday. He's going to live and grow up in a world very different from the one that we all live in today. With the collaborative tools that are being built and the solutions that are being offered and will be offered (over the network, of course) he's going to be able to have experiences and opportunities that you and I could never dream of.And, I may be drinking the Kool-Aid here, but without Cisco and our gear, most of these experiences and opportunities would not and will not exist. Our new advertising tagline is about "The Human Network." While I was at first skeptical about the ads (I'll be honest, I didn't fully understand what we were trying to accomplish), I have since come full circle and now think we are actually right on. Cisco is about connecting everyone, everwhere to everything. At its face, that sounds like a business proposition, but if you really think about it, it changes everything. There is an RSS feeder for this site. I think about the future of the human network as being able to subscribe to people (does that makes sense?). If Jack Earnhardt can access and collaborate with the best and the brightest as he grows and learns regardless if he is in Menlo Park or in Bangalore, then he is going to be playing at a much higher level than I or my wife ever could simply because we didn't have the same "access." Let me put it another way, I played tennis in high school and a few years in college. I always got better playing better players and losing, then playing weaker players and winning. Playing against someone better than yourself enables you to improve. In the future, through the Human Network, Jack and his peers will be able to collaborate and work with and learn from the best in the world, all over the world…making the world smaller and smaller and, as Friedman says, flatter and flatter. Because of this, the problems of today will slowly, but surely, disappear. Through collaboration on the network, we will live in a much better, safer world in the future than the one we live in today.
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.


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Fabolous - We Get High
Fabolous performs We Get High off his Soul Tape 2
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text:
Because my MMCplus card is not yet supported (will be in OZ 126.96.36.199 I've been told) I tried using an old 128MB SD card I used with my camera. Although problems with ext2 on SD have been reported I did mkfs.ext2 and weired things happened. (coudln't mount, partition table disappeared after removing and reinserting the card.)
Quickly decided to go back to fat (and use an ext2/cramfs/whatever image on FAT).
I used my camera to format the card, thought this to be safer then fdisk/mkdosfs. Afterwards I found a standard partition table and FAT partition, but things were still strange:
* After umount, mount *sometimes* fails (as corrupted)
* If mount didn't fail, the md5sum of files had changed.
* After removing/reinserting the card, *sometimes* no partition table was found (by neither the kernel nor fdisk)
My camera still likes the card. No failure, can read the photos from Zaurus or my USB card reader. I'm not going to use the card anymore for anything important, but I'd like to know:
* Did I 'destroy' the card by using ext2. (In that case I'd write an angry letter the manufacturer.) What I'm thinking of here is that I could have confused some proprietary 'secure' feature expecting FAT which now makes me 'pay for pirating' or whatever.
* Is the card at the end of its lifespan? (It was hardly used)
* Can I find out? Does it make sense to run badblocks or alike on a memory card or will it just cost write cycles?
In case you carre it's a "Pentacon Practica" made in Taiwan bought two years ago (new) for cheap.


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Judge to Appoint Receiver for Decker Funds
ST. CLOUD (AP) - A Stearns County judge will appoint a receiver to determine how much money has been donated to the family of a slain police officer, and how the money should be divided.
Cold Spring Officer Thomas Decker was killed in November. His widow and his ex-wife are at odds over how to divide the money.
Judge John Scherer told both sides Monday a receiver will determine how much money is available in at least four accounts set up after Decker's death. He says one way to decide how to divide that money could be to focus on the reason each account was set up.
The widow seeks half the money, with the other half divided equally between the officer's four children. The ex-wife says the widow and four children should each get 20 percent.


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The Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) released the results of a phone poll performed early in June that show the US public is strongly in favor of addressing many of the country's problems through scientific innovation. Although there were partisan differences on specific issues, majorities in both parties favor dedicating federal funding for scientific research, including that directed to climate change. The poll may help the organization's campaign to get Congressional and Presidential candidates to commit to positions on science policy issues.
The poll was conducted in mid-June, and involved a phone survey of over 1,000 US voters. Subjects were asked whether science policy issues, including education, health care, energy, and climate change would influence their votes. Candidates who were in favor of scientific solutions to these issues were more likely to receive the votes of a majority of those polled, in some cases much more likely.
Strong majorities (roughly 85 percent) favored candidates that supported science education efforts and research directed toward improving healthcare, with a majority of voters saying those candidates were much more likely to get their vote. Nearly 80 percent would support candidates that proposed handling energy issues through scientific research, and 70 percent had a similar opinion on the related issue of climate change. Perhaps most significantly, all of the questions were phrased specifically in terms of spending federal money. When asked more generally about federal funding of science, over 70 percent would support candidates that favored government research funding
In general, many Republicans are on record as being against government spending, and there were partisan splits on nearly every question, with independents lining up roughly in the middle. The smallest difference came in the area of education, where Republicans were about 10 percent less supportive than Democrats (80 vs. 92 percent). The split was in the area of 15-20 percent on the remaining issues, with the exception of climate change, where 84 percent of Democrats favored candidates who were willing to fund research on the issue; a slight majority of Republicans did. Still, that majority places the Republican electorate well in front of their federal representatives.
At a press conference announcing the poll, Lesley Stone, SEA's Executive Director, said the poll was decisive. "It's really clear to me from the poll that public policy decisions need to be based on science," she said, "that's what the public thinks." Shawn Otto, from Science Debate 2008 went further, suggesting that a preference for scientific solutions to issues have become, "an important part of the American psyche and the American way of life."
Vint Cerf was on hand as well, and he called the US' poor broadband service and the lack of a national policy an example of where a governmental focus on technology was holding the US back. He suggested candidates should be willing to take some bold steps: commit to a neutral 'Net and reevaluate the way regulations have fostered a market where there's no facilities-based competition.
Although the numbers look good for science, it's important to keep in mind that people responding to polls often do not rationalize their answers with their other beliefs; the public will happily decide to spend money on research, but will be less likely to favor actually paying for it through taxes. Similarly, it's one thing to favor an improved science education, but the public is very ambiguous about actually implementing a rigorous biology curriculum. As Neal Lane, a former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy put it, "the public thinks about the science differently depending on how the question is asked."
But the panelists generally agreed that the numbers from these polls make science and technology funding in line with other topics that the public cares deeply about, and that alone should be sufficient reason for candidates to spell out where they stand. Referring to a set of questions that Science Debate 2008 has sent to the Presidential candidates, Lane said, "a thoughtful answer to these questions can do an enormous amount of good in helping the electorate understand the issues and also know where they are relative to this particular candidate's view." To make it easier to pin a relevant candidate down on the Congressional level, the SEA has created a site that lets you find your candidates and send science-related questions on to them.
Further reading:
Science Debate 2008 has formulated 14 questions on science policy for the Presidential candidates.


text:
Originally Posted by phixer: For those who don't understand why am I being mean to this toothless idiot. He came into my thread which ahs a winning game already out of many - called my stuff bullshit and I can't even find his thread posting any picks. Then he went to NFL_Sharps thread and said that he considers himself a sharp and there are couple plays he does not agree with NFL_Sharp due to the fact that he himself - bobafett is sharp. IDIOT! Get a phix!
In that case I will double up on my Baltimore pick!
mite wanna fade baty next week......NYG!!!!!


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Jon and Marilyn Reifschneider, Arlington, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Reifschneider, to Andrew Francis Heimann, son of William and Teresa Heimann, Hays.
Grandparents are Charles Oscar and Leona McIntosh, Phyllis Reifschneider, the late Gerald Reifschneider, Paul and Mary Becker, and Harry and Cecilia Heimann.
The bride-elect is a 2009 graduate of Fairfield High School and graduated from Fort Hays State University. In the fall, she will attend school at Colby Community College, pursuing a degree in dental hygiene. She is a dental assistant at Hart Dentistry in Great Bend.
The prospective bridegroom is a 2010 graduate of Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. He has an associate's degree from Pratt Community College and is attending Fort Hays State University, pursuing a degree in nursing.
An Aug. 3, 2013, wedding is planned at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Hutchinson.


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Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis is calling on the state's top finance official to step down over comments he made blaming the people who take out so-called payday loans, saying they are at fault when they fall victim to lenders' predatory practices.
"People make decisions. There's nobody out there that forces anybody to take any kind of loan," said William J. White, the chair of the Finance Commission of Texas. "People are responsible for their decisions, just like in my life and in your life. When I make a wrong decision, I pay the consequences."
White, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2011, is also the vice president of Cash America, a payday lender hit last month with a $19 million fine from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for practices that trap customers in a cycle of debt.
Davis, a state senator who launched to national fame last summer with an eleventh-hour filibuster against a bill implementing tough restrictions on abortion clinics, called on White to resign his post, accusing him of being a fox in the henhouse.
"William White can't protect Texas consumers while he represents a predatory lending company on the side," she said in a statement. "Mr. White should resign from his post -- and if he won't, Governor Perry should remove him."
"It's really disgusting that an industry that profits from the poor by charging 1,000-plus interest is put at the head of the state's financial regulatory agency," Davis said. "It's saying, 'It's not only OK, but we're going to put them in charge.' "
Davis has been critical of White's appointment and payday lending practices, filing legislation attempting reform since 2009. But these bills, strongly opposed by the industry, who are also heavy political donors, have failed in the legislature.
[El Paso Times] [El Paso Times]


text:
dkaye needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 10 designs submitted by 3 freelance designers.
This logo will be used in a PowerPoint presentation by our CEO to congratulate our faculty, staff and administration for achieving an important enrollment goal.
US Education (which does not need to be in the logo) http://www.useducationcorp.com; also see Apollocollege.edu and westerncollege.edu.
I am creating a PowerPoint presentation for our CEO to deliver to our faculty, staff and administration (not to students) for achieving a goal of 10,000 students. We want to be able to congratulate all departments for their teamwork, dedication and focus on our students success.
Our slogan is We Create Success and we want to incorporate 10,000 with the slogan.
- We Create Success; and
- 10,000 Students; or
- 10k; or
- Ten Thousand; or
- We are open to other ideas of how to present this concept.
- Professional
- Celebratory
- Vector format like Photoshop & Illustrator
- Because we are 3 brands, we do not need to list the actaul College names. This logo will be a part of a PowerPoint presentation which will be on the slides.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Product Review: High Gear training suit
I recently tested the Blauer Tactical Systems High Gear training suit by Tony Blauer. The High Gear suit is a padded and articulated suit designed for close quarter training. This suit proved to be one of the most lightweight and maneuverable suits in the industry.
Back in the 1980s, officers were introduced to the S.P.E.A.R. (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response) system, a combative innovation by Tony Blauer that capitalizes on what a person does when reacting to a threat. The S.P.E.A.R system is unique because it simply augments natural behavior.
As the combative system evolved, Blauer Tactical Systems developed the High Gear suit. The design goal was to produce an effective training suit which allows natural movement and does not impede the peripheral senses.
Essentially, Blauer Tactical Systems developed the High Gear training suit. If Randy Couture uses one, I like it even more.
The High Gear suit consists of various body protectors and sections made of soft and semi rigid panels with articulation areas between the panels. Rather than use the approach of a fully impact resistant suit, it is designed so the user can feel the dissipated strikes. It does not offer complete coverage, which is not the intent of the design.
The advantage to the High Gear™ design is the ability to manipulate weapons, grapple and train using realistic scenarios and environments. Most of the protective areas shield natural defensive surfaces, like the forearm and the shin. The semi rigid areas offer striking protection without slowing the user down, which may cause training to operate at an unrealistic tempo.
I tested the High Gear suit by using several different testers who donned it and took it out for a spin. Originally, I thought the Blauer Tactical Systems folks had made a mistake. The fit chart said it would fit a person my size, but it appeared too tight on the first try. Actually, we were used to the closed cell foam types, which fit loosely and subsequently slide around a bit.
It did fit, and it fit my testers also. It was snug and moved naturally with body movement. It didn't slide around when practicing control holds, not did it shift when bending and twisting. Many similar products have issues like having the knee pad shifting after the user does a full squat, which means the scenario must be paused and the training value is lost.
I recommend wearing lightweight breathable material, like running gear, under this suit.
The High Gear suit allows training to be conducted at a realistic tempo. The fabric surface also skids a little, meaning it doesn't brake quickly on a foam mat or gym floor surface, a common source of injuries. At 7.5 pounds, it doesn't add or take away anything from the training plan at hand.
I tested this product for impact resistance and found it was less "dead" feeling than closed cell foam products. It is impossible to prevent strikes from making it through the spaces between the padding. The product has to maintain a balance between maneuverability and articulation and protection. The High Gear suit offered a moderate amount of protection and a lot of maneuverability, except in the front plates of the Torso Protector, which overlapped at the sternum. I could take a pretty deliberate baton (duty, not practice) strike there. There was confidence building protection at the head and neck, both from strangle holds and marking ammo penetration.
Let me be clear about this: A marking round or baton strike can get in the articulations of this product, which are lightly padded, except in vital areas, which are well reinforced. For me, this gives the training more training value.
The Combat Shorts component is a one piece stretch fabric knee length padded piece which could be pulled on by one person. Remember those training days where the instructor in the suit had to do a little planning in order to get a restroom break? Not necessary with this set up: It's a solo venture.
The Combat Gloves component allows for punching and grabbing. I liked the completely exposed fingertips, which allowed for realistic weapon manipulation. In fact, one can strap on a duty belt or sling a carbine with almost no interference.
The Head Gear for this system is a pretty complete solution, offering full combat coverage for marking products and face strikes. I am a big fan of Airsoft products for training and endorse the High Gear and Airsoft combination. The bonus is the fact that High Gear wear was designed to accommodate clothing and uniforms to be worn over the panels, kicking the combat thing up a notch. This is ideal for seamless scenarios which include vehicle stops, foot pursuits and force decision making.
Blauer Tactical Systems states that the High Gear training suit allows for proximity awareness during training. I felt that this was true with this product, except for the Head Gear. The Head Gear really protects the head without being bulky or damaging the limbs or fingers attacking the user. It allows for a large portion of peripheral vision and stereo hearing. However, training headwear will always be a compromise. I think Blauer Tactical Systems has produced a better compromise, but I had only moderate hearing with the Head Gear on.
This product agrees with many defensive philosophies, especially combative systems which recognize gross motor skill responses. The officer under duress often can use grappling rather than joint manipulation and limb trapping rather than complex maneuvers. This particular product allows for both.
The High Gear training suit is clearly a superior training product. It doesn't need a team to put it on or take it off. In fact, the wearer can put it on in minutes. It breathes and articulates better than closed cell foam products. It is lighter and more maneuverable, allowing for more realistic scenarios than many similar products. It has a proven and respected track record.
And, of course, Randy uses one.
Request product info from top Police Training Gear companies
Thank You!


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The Community Fitness and Wellness Facility at Frazier Rehab Institute, in collaboration with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network, provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to be 'fit for life.' This activity-based exercise program is designed specifically for individuals with physical disabilities to improve cardiovascular/aerobic fitness, muscular strengthening and flexibility. Frazier Rehab's Community Fitness Facility is fully accessible with state of the art equipment and professional staff trained to provide specialized activity-based exercise interventions.
Frazier Rehab's Community Fitness and Wellness facilty offers the following specialized equipment:
- HUR Easy Access Circuit - includes 8 strength machines that allow independent training for wheelchair users, those with other mobility and specialty needs, as well as non-disabled
- Locomotor Training Treadmill
- Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycles for upper and lower extremities
- Power Plate Pro 6
- Dual Cable Cross Strength Training Machines
- VitaGlide Pros
- NuStep Recumbent Stepper with bilateral leg stabilizers
- SCI Fit Upper Extremity Bike
- Versatrainer
- Easystand Standing Frame and Tilt Table
- Hi-lo mats, stability balls, kettle balls, etc.
Criteria for Joining the Community Fitness and Wellness Facility:
- Primary applicant must have a physical disability
- Have medical clearance from a primary care physician or health provider to participate
- Be committed to a minimum of three months of participation
- Possess a desire for improved health and quality of life
- Complete membership application, orientation, and assessment procedures
Membership Process:
- Complete a Client Information and Application Form
- Have your physician/health care provider complete the Medical Participation & Referral Form
- Schedule and complete a facility orientation and assessment
- Review the intervention options available and choose membership package
- Begin working towards fitness and wellness goals
Membership Packages and Interventions:
- Basic Membership
- Guided Exercise
- Locomotor Training
- Functional Electrical Stimulation - legs, trunk, and arms


text:
Like a young navy cadet, the Serge has the spirit of those kids who cannot refrain their imagination and are always dreaming of discovering new things. Featuring high-tech details borrowed from a sports jacket, it's ideal for boys' free time activities, in the great outdoors or in the city.
- Product details
Product details
- Carryover jacket in opaque two colour lightweight nylon, inside and out, with down padding
- Front fastening with black die-cast zip
- Pockets with enamelled press studs
- Fixed hood
- Cuffs, hem and hood trimmed with black tape
- Felt logo
- Short length
- Composition & Care
Item Composition & Care
CompositionEXTERIOR: 100% Polyamide / Nylon; LINING: 100% Polyamide / Nylon; HOOD LINING: 100% Polyamide / Nylon; PADDING: 90% Down, 10% Feather
Wash max 30°C - Very mild process; Do not bleach; Do not tumble dry; Ironing maximum temperature 110°C - without steam; Do not dry clean; Professional wet cleaning - very mild process; Dry flat; Wash separately; It is advisable to wash and iron the garment on reverse.
- Product Advice
Product AdviceOur style advisors are available for tips and information about this item from Monday to Friday, from 10am to 7pm CET
- Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We offer both Standard and Express shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at Checkout. We also provide free pick up for your returns: you have 15 days from delivery to follow our quick and easy return procedure. For further information visit the Returns and Refunds section.
Bright blue
Light blue


text:
Heiko brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 192 Designs von 56 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Right now, we need two stylish and vibrant logos to start with:
We need a logo for our company "tickfarm"which will be offering a bunch of different web appliactions for small and medium sized businesses.
A logo for our first web application "skillticks" is also needed. It is not part of the contest, but you should demonstrate that the main logo theme can be reused or somehow referenced in other logos, for example in the "skillticks" logo.
Tickfarm builds and offers easy to use web-based products as a hosted software service. We're aiming at businesses with between 5 and 500 employees - our goal is to provide simple and elegant solutions to issues and process inefficiencies common to small and medium businesses. The tickfarm is the place where we build and breed our nice little 'tick' appliactions.
Some tickfarm applications would be:
planticks... etc - you got the point.
NB The name is *not* derived from the blood-sucking nasty ticks ;-) but rather from the ticks you make when you tick something off your list...
We need a main logo and logos for the web-based products we'll be offering. Naturally, the designer of the successful main corporate logo will have a head start when it comes to designing the subsequent webapp logos.
From the skillticks product description:
We're all exited to announce skillticks, the first tickfarm service offering.
your team is in the professional services or consulting business,
chances are you already create and distribute professional skill
profiles for yourself and your team members. A skill profile is the
first impression a potential customer gets of you or your team members
- and we all know you never get a second chance to make a first
impression. And probably, you have already encountered some issues with
skill profiles. Are the skill profiles of all your team members up to
date when a potential customer calls? Do you have access to them when
you need them? Are the skills and categories used to group them
consistent or does everybody use their own system? Do you use
centralized project descriptions or does everybody have to make up
their own?
With skillticks, you can tick the creation and
distribution of your professional skill profiles off your list and
don't worry about those issues again.
- name and logo/icon should be usable in conjunction or standing alone
- we'd like to see an 'icon' part and a text part.
- since it is designed for the web, the logo should be transformable to a favicon and still be recognizable
- you *can* use a tick in the logo but you don't have to.
- clean
- web2.0ish (I'm not sure myself what that means)
- please use all lowercase for text
- no pastel colors or palette
- please do not use old-school fonts with serifs
- no blood-sucking ticks ;-)
- we're not a 37signals rip-off and the logo shouldn't be, either ;-)
- we decided we don't want designs which *only* have a tick integrated into the text. we'd like to see an 'icon' part of the logo as well as a text part.
- we don't like to see ".com" integrated into the logo/text. it could later be added but should not be part of the main logo.
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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The CCB (Caked Crusader's Brother), in one of his more inspired moments, challenged me to come up with my "10 Commandments of Cake & Desserts".
Never one to shy away from a challenge I came up with the following:
1. No low fat substitute products
2. Fruits should always be stoned or de-pipped
3. If you can't eat it, it shouldn't be on the plate
4. Always custard, never crème anglaise
5. Always make enough so everybody can have seconds
6. You can never have enough cake tins or recipe books
7. A mint sprig is a problem, not a garnish
8. Extract = good; essence = evil
9. Invest in a good spatula and use it often
10. Cake is a baton – pass it on
Now to expand on my views just so you know where I'm coming from with regard to these bold statements:
1. No low fat substitute products
Why would you? You've obviously decided you're having some cake/dessert so why spoil the treat? Would you go to the cinema and decide to sit with your eyes closed all through the film? Of course not; it would lessen the enjoyment you got from your treat. So why lessen the deliciousness of a cake/dessert by using something ghastly like low-fat cream cheese? Just typing "low fat" brings me out in a shiver.
2. Fruits should always be stoned or de-pipped
I don't care if you warn everyone the cherries still contain their stones – no one biting into a piece of something lovely wants to suddenly feel that their tooth has shattered on impact with a pip. Plus it creates problems – what are people meant to do with the pips they've got in their mouth? Spit them out? Leave them on the plate? Choke on them? Until I get some sort of commission deal in place with a local dentist all my fruits shall be de-pipped.
3. If you can't eat it, it shouldn't be on the plate
Birthday and Christmas decorations are lovely but, by the time a slice of something is served to a recipient, all such frippery should be removed. This also goes for artistic swirls of peel, stalks left on cherries and those wizened, crispy brown leaves that physalis (cape gooseberries) come in. On a side note, I always have to be careful when mentioning physalis as my instinct is to call them syphilis. Obviously, one should never serve anyone a plate of anything containing syphilis – not even Heston Blumenthal has tried that yet.
4. Always custard, never crème anglaise
I defy anyone to convince me that crème anglaise is anything other than a watered down version of custard - an ugly show pony that thinks just because it has a few vanilla seeds in it it's somehow haute cuisine. Trading standards punish pubs who sell watered down drinks, so why aren't they tackling the important issue of diluted custard? Where's a policeman when you need one? Officer – arrest this chef, a crime has been committed.
Custard is glorious and thick and yellow; it coats the spoon and creates a sense of wellbeing. Crème anglaise is mean and thin; it runs off the spoon like watery gruel. Do not allow it to taint your baking.
5. Always make enough so that everyone can have seconds….
….then, cajole everyone into having seconds. Aside from no cake (which is always the default worst position), there is nothing worse than being given a meagre slice of cake in the knowledge that there is no more. Further, if there are unexpected guests or you merely misjudge how many slices a cake will yield, someone will go without. View this CAFTA winner to see the misery this causes.
6. You can never have enough cake tins or recipe books
Despite what anyone tells you, even when your cupboards are packed tighter than a rush hour tube train and you're too afraid to open the door in case you cause a landslide of aluminium and steel, you do not have enough cake tins. You don't have to use them; picking them up occasionally and stroking them a la Gollum and the Ring is more than adequate reason to buy them.
Rev. Sydney Smith once said "there is no furniture so charming as books" and he was almost right. There is no furniture so charming as recipe books, particularly cake and dessert recipe books.
7. A mint sprig is a problem, not a garnish
Be honest now, when a dessert is put in front of you I bet the first thing you do is pick up the mint sprig and place it on the side of the plate. As far away from the main attraction as you can lest your spoon accidentally makes contact with it again. I know of but one person who has ever eaten the mint garnish (you know who you are!) and that was only because he had vowed to eat everything capable of being eaten on his plate for a week; even he found the mint garnish tough work. What is its purpose? It doesn't look pretty, it doesn't taste nice and – if eaten – overpowers everything else on the plate. Begone foul leaf!
8. Extract = good; essence = evil
The benefit of home baking is that you can control exactly what goes into your cakes/dessert. No additives, no nasty ingredients, no things beginning with E that sound like they shouldn't exist outside a laboratory. Extract comes directly from the actual item i.e. vanilla extract is made from vanilla beans, almond extract from almonds. Essence is padded out with water and alcohol and other nasties. Admittedly, extract is more expensive but you use less of it; further (and this is the clincher for me) the flavour of extract is far superior to any essence.
9. Invest in a good spatula and use it often
It breaks my heart to see cake batter left in the bowl or on beaters – even on TV shows where they claim they don't have the time to scrape it all out. The cake batter left in the bowl is identical to the batter in the cake tin so why leave it out? Suppose you had your cake batter in the tin, were just about to put it in the oven and I came along asking if I could take a tablespoon of mix out and throw it away? Apart from asking me how I got in your kitchen, I suspect you would say "no, that's good mix, I need it". Point made.
10. Cake is a baton – pass it on
Far too many people have never known the delight of home made cake or, if they have, it is a fond-yet-distant memory usually involving a grandma or two. If those of us who bake don't share the joy it brings or the divine results we cannot convert others. OK, this is starting to sound a bit cult-like. What I mean is offer to teach someone else how to bake – even if it's just a plain fairy cake – share your recipes, share your baking. Once people have tasted good home baking they will be more critical of shop bought cakes that use inferior ingredients and are not always made with care. We are cake evangelists and must spread the word!
So, that's my 10 Commandments. Are there any you disagree with or have I missed out on a key issue?
Thursday, 22 January 2009
The Caked Crusader's 10 Commandments of Cake & Desserts
The CCB (Caked Crusader's Brother), in one of his more inspired moments, challenged me to come up with my "10 Commandments of Cake & Desserts".
26 comments:
- Maria said...
I loved reading your commandments. These I can follow:)
- 22 January 2009 at 16:27
- trasha said...
These make so much more sense than those religious ones.
- 22 January 2009 at 16:46
I whole heartedly agree with your 10 Commandments. can i ask please, what is a Fairy Cake?
- 22 January 2009 at 22:33
- Passionate About Baking said...
I love your commandments, & how you elaborated each one of them. Couldn't agree more with home-made & seconds. I still like adding a sprig of mint though as I love the vibrancy fresh mint adds to visual appeal. My lad chomps the leaf down with much relish thankfully...
Cheers Deeba
- 23 January 2009 at 00:22
- Premyscakes said...
I really enjoyed reading your 10 commandments and i agree too.
- 23 January 2009 at 05:34
- The Caked Crusader said...
Hi Anonymous
A fairy cake is a cup cake. In the UK they always used to be called fairy cakes until we seemed to adopt the US name for them. Personally, I think fairy cakes sound far prettier!
- 23 January 2009 at 08:43
I'm sort of disappointed to learn what a fairy cake is. I've always thought of them as something impossibly light and small, a secret recipe, known only to the elite. Now I find I've been making them all my life....
- 23 January 2009 at 13:47
- Rhiannon said...
I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with the commandements. The one about the spatula made me smile especially though, as I can remember being told off by my mum in the beginning days of my cake obsession for "leaving half the cake in the bowl". Needless to say the spatula is now one of the most used pieces of equipment!
- 23 January 2009 at 17:36
Hello CC! Still no German recipes for translation?! I am waiting!! :-) You'll be pleased to hear that I kept up the baking and just had cake for breakfast! (Marble) I love your commandments, especially the caketin-avalanche, which I read out to other half. Sure it includes pie-dishes, brioche forms and stewpots? Please confirm, he does not agree... Just really writing to nominate Withnail and I for a CAFTA, demanding their right to cake (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6m6LhZJdCQY). Alas, no cake is ever actually shown.. will it count?
- 24 January 2009 at 10:17
- The Caked Crusader said...
Hi Anonymous
I have been pondering your question and can give the following answer:
1. Pie dishes and brioche forms are definitely included
2. Stewpots are only included if you use them, at least once, in a cake or dessert related way i.e. stewing fruit for a pie or making jam.
I hope this helps
Thanks for the CAFTA nomination - you raise an interesting point; can cake win if it doesn't appear. I shall ruminate on this and get back to you.
The Caked Crusader
PS. When I make a German recipe you shall be the first to know! Thanks
- 24 January 2009 at 11:01
- Trekkie said...
I'm going to print this post out and frame it - and immediately bin the recipe for 'low fat' New York Baked Cheesecake that I saw in an old Good Food magazine.
Please forgive me.
- 25 January 2009 at 09:15
- glamah16 said...
I will obey!
- 25 January 2009 at 18:16
- The Sugar Fairy said...
Haha, I love your commandments!
Since no one has really disagreed with any commandments I think I will disagree with No. 7! Mint sprigs do look good when added to the look of a dish, though i'd never eat them.
Having said that, I confess to using vanilla essence *hanging head in shame* and since you made extract sound so heavenly, it'll be in my shopping basket next week.
- 26 January 2009 at 01:12
- Katie said...
I found myslef nodding along in agreement with your commandments. One can never have enough cake tins :)
- 26 January 2009 at 09:05
- Margaret said...
I'm sure you know that I too have an addiction to cake tins!
Agree wholeheartedly with the commandments. A girl can't have too many spatulas - even these seem to have become an addiction.........!
- 26 January 2009 at 09:36
- Maria@TheGourmetChallenge said...
cult, new religion, whatever.....where do I sign up and start giving you all my money??
Great set of rules, EVERY single one makes sense!
- 27 January 2009 at 11:12
- Lisa said...
I agree that fairy cake is a much lovelier term than cupcake--but either way I'm diving in because I love me a little cake all my own.
May I add another commandment?
"Thou shalt not call homemade baked goods junk."
People who look at a plate of lovingly prepared brownies, fairy cakes, or cookies and say "Well, sorry, no, I don't eat junk food" should be walloped with a bag of limes (makes them easier to juice later). Junk is prepackaged, processed crap in a box; homemade baked goods bring joy.
Sorry, was that even a commandment? Perhaps I should get off my soapbox. :)
- 31 January 2009 at 15:46
- Ayls said...
I love the idea of personal commandments! I will (and mostly already do) gladly abide by all but one... as I'm a shameless mint fiend. I'm one of those uncouth diners who feasts on the mint garnish at the end of pudding. I wouldn't necessarily serve it to other people myself though, so maybe I'll scrape by and get into cake heaven after all?
- 7 May 2011 at 20:57
- Louise T said...
Whilst I can agree with your commandments I do have a slight issue with number 9. Yes it is a crime to leave cake batter in the bowl, as you say it is perfectly good batter. On the other hand it would be a crime not to lick the bowl out having placed masterpiece in the oven!
- 12 August 2011 at 22:24
Now the problem is you've given me an actual reason to indulge my addiction to buying more cake tins: the Cake Crusader commands it! I thought I was the only one who took them out and stroked them every now and then. "Walk past the cook shop, shut your eyes and just keep walking!" I tell myself, but it's hard.... Could not agree more about spatulas and mint garnish!
- 21 January 2012 at 11:42
- Jess-Blatch said...
Absolutely have one more to add.
We shall not pass off Margarine as Butter!!! Nope not once is it acceptable, I shudder at the thought that there are people out there who try it.
- 27 August 2012 at 03:24
- Hettie said...
Here Here! Well done for the 10 Commandments. Specially no. 3! I shall live by these now!
- 1 July 2013 at 22:15
Fairy cakes are vanilla sponge with water icing, usually dainty things. Cupcakes are deeper, bigger affairs with a mound of buttercream on top. Both nice in their own way but different.
- 23 April 2014 at 20:33
Amen to 6!
- 28 October 2015 at 18:36
- sensibilia said...
I was particularly interested in "spatula". I notice you make no reference to licking the bowl. Reading your words, my mouth was actually watering at the thought of all that lovely cake mix left in the bowl. I would have eaten it. Do you take a position on eating raw cake mixture? (I know that things have never been the same since Edwina Curry made her pronouncement on the dangers of uncooked egg, but greed overcomes caution in this house).
- 15 February 2016 at 06:49
- The Caked Crusader said...
Hi Sensibilia
I always have a little dip into the batter to taste but, if the cake has an ingredient such as bicarbonate of soda, the raw mix can sometimes be a bit icky! Mostly though, it is a thoroughly enjoyable activity!
- 15 February 2016 at 09:55


text: On Sun, 28 Oct 2007, Sandip Dev wrote: > I am totally new to clustering. It seems most clustering software like > OpenMosix need 2.4 kernel to work. Where can I get a older 2.4 kernel based > Linux? Any ideas. Also does MPICH and OpenMPI require 2.4 kernel to run or > do they run on 2.4? Also do these support 64 bit processors It's still easy to download 2.4 based distributions, but you should make certain that's what you need. If you are interested in performance, Mosix isn't the right place to start. Transparent process migration results in considerable performance loss during I/O and communication. This performance loss can be reduced by knowing about the migration, but then you've discarded the benefit of the "transparent" part, and should be using "directed" processes migration. More directly on topic, the tradeoff between 2.4 and 2.6 is The 2.4 kernel performs better on small configurations, and most 2.4-based distributions are much more memory efficient. This is important when running full installation on compute nodes with 1GB or less memory The 2.6 kernel has a better scheduler when running many processes, especially on SMPs. With the 2.4 kernel we got a significant performance advantage by running only compute processes on dedicated, lightweight compute nodes. This eliminated the opportunity for the processes scheduler to make bad decisions. We still see an advantage with lightweight compute nodes using a 2.6 kernel, but the O(1) scheduler and 8 core machines have eliminated the worst problems. (Well, except that a few daemons on workstation-oriented distributions are becoming Completely Evil Device support. This is the killer for using 2.4 on new machines. Most new motherboards have devices that you'll need a 2.6 kernel for. And not an old kernel, a pretty recent one. -- Donald Becker becker at scyld.com Penguin Computing / Scyld Software www.penguincomputing.com www.scyld.com Annapolis MD and San Francisco CA


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Pens aim to eliminate Isles in Game 6
A switch in net helped give the top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins an edge in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, and they'll try to end the series when they visit the New York Islanders for Saturday's Game 6 at Nassau Coliseum.
After Marc-Andre Fleury struggled through the first four games of this series, the Penguins decided to hand the reins to Tomas Vokoun in Game 5 and he recorded a shutout to help Pittsburgh grab a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Pittsburgh can advance to the conference semis with a win tonight, or else it will have to face the eighth-seeded Islanders in Sunday's decisive Game 7 at CONSOL Energy Center.
Playing in his first playoff game in six years, Vokoun stopped 31 shots for his second career playoff shutout while Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang each gave a goal and an assist to lead the Penguins in a 4-0 win over the visiting Islanders.
Vokoun hadn't been between the pipes in the postseason since 2007 with Nashville, but in Game 5 he successfully replaced an ineffective Fleury, who had given up 14 goals in the previous three games after posting a shutout in Game 1.
"I was a little bit nervous, to be honest, the whole day," said Vokoun. "I think you wouldn't be human if you weren't and I haven't played in a long time in the playoffs, so it's hard to remember some years ago what to expect."
Although Vokoun hasn't been officially declared the starter for Game 6, but it's a near certainty he'll be getting the call over Fleury again.
Also, the team benched Tanner Glass, Jussi Jokinen and Mark Eaton in Game 5, with Simon Despres, Tyler Kennedy and Joe Vitale taking their spots on the ice.
Kennedy, who had a rough regular season with just six goals and 11 points in 46 games, scored the first goal of the game while Douglas Murray also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who are trying to make it out of the opening round for the first time since 2010.
The Isles, meanwhile, need their offense to get back on track if they're going to stave off elimination in Game 6. New York scored six times in a 6-4 victory in Game 4 only to get blanked in Thursday's meeting in Pittsburgh.
Evgeni Nabokov was touched for all four goals on 27 shots in the loss for the Islanders. Kevin Poulin played the final 14 minutes after the fourth goal and stopped all four shots he faced.
"The last three games before tonight we've played the way we wanted to play," said Islanders defenseman Brian Strait. "We've got to make them work for it. After Game 1, we came back and played great, so this is the same thing."
Despite his struggles in Game 5, Nabokov will get the start in net on Saturday.
New York forward Frans Nielsen suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday's setback, but is expected to play in Game 6.
The Isles and the Penguins split Games 3 and 4 at Nassau Coliseum, where New York had a 10-11-3 record during the regular season. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, had identical 18-6-0 marks at home and on the road this season.
This is the fourth time the Penguins and Islanders are meeting in the playoffs. The Isles won the previous three series (1975, 1982, 1993) including an upset seven-game victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pens in the Patrick Division finals in '93, which was the last time the club won a playoff series.


text:
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Python necesitaba un nuevo diseño de impreso o envases y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 68 diseños de 14 diseñadores freelance.
We manufacture products that prevent tools from falling from elevated work areas.. We also provide training. Looking for eyecatching cover that really stands out.
Our target audience are the following industries: nuclear power plants, oil rigs, windmills, fossil hydro, new plant construction and bridge construction.
We need someone to take our FULL COLOR LOGO done by a designer through 99 designs and use it with the photo provided and make a front cover for our catalog. Please use our wording: Stop The Drop!
Don't find out on accident!! The back only reads Adapt,Connect,Capture. I will be sending an additional picture of someone wearing a bunch of our products. I will want this picture on the back page as well. I should have this picture available by Friday evening. I am looking for some creative genius to make our cover pop off of the page. Slate blue is used on the inside of the catalog so this might be a good color for the cover but i am totally open to other options. I am going to be increasing the payout and plan to guarantee the money as well.--For the back of the catalog I may not have a photo ready in time so please use the Adapt,Connect,Capture and correspond them with the front cover. Make the text of those three words connected- possibly a chain could be used to animate them.


text:
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Clean Up: The plovers are coming! The plovers are coming! Let's give them a great place to nest and rest, and do something great for mother earth. Join us for our Annual Spring Beach Clean-up! You bring the gloves and we'll supply the trash bags. All are welcome and the plovers thank you!
Meet at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Parking Lot 1.
Date: Saturday, Mar 27
Time: a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scout Level: Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador
Juliette Scouts in grades K-12 may also register.
Where: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport
Fee: $0


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This Is Gotta Be Animal Cruelty: How The Hell Do You Get A Dog This Fat!? "Obie, The Obese Dachshund"!
"Obie is a 5 year old standard dachshund who is on a mission to lose about 40 pounds. His current weight is 77lbs. His owners were no longer capable of caring for him and relinquished him. He is in a new home and on a weight loss program. His blood work is normal and he is otherwise healthy. Please follow his journey on FB; Biggest Loser, Doxie Edition" - nbvan
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