text:
…Conference on Science and Skepticism, that is.
Yes, I'm back in San Diego after a week in New York City, where I served as on-stage host for the NECSS conference. This was our fifth NECSS – the Northeast Conference on Science & Skepticism – and as one of the organizers, I have been thoroughly engaged with its creation and year-to-year planning and programming since the start. This year garnered our largest attendance yet, and the second time we had two full days of programming plus a night-before performance event, and although the official feedback forms aren't in yet, the anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that every day in every way, things keep getting a little bit better. Success!
Not unlike at TAM, JREF's The Amazing Meeting, the NECSS audience is a mix of both experienced skeptics and repeat attendees, along with a strong component of first-timers and those relatively new to the movement. We try to always have a few skeptics-in-good-standing on the program – in the past we've had Randi, DJ Grothe, and Joe Nickell among others – and this year we were pleased to have my old friend and colleague Michael Shermer, who gave a thoughtful and provocative talk about the extent to which science can inform our ideas about ethics and values.
We also had Massimo Pigliucci present his own take on similar issues, and then, echoing their online exchange some months ago, they engaged in an onstage debate of sorts, moderated by journalist Julia Galef. (No wagering was permitted, but next year we may consider arm-wrestling.) Julia and Massimo regularly collaborate on both the Rationally Speaking blog and the podcast by the same name, and so also produced a live version of the podcast onstage at the conference.
NECSS is co-produced by both the New York City Skeptics and the New England Skeptical Society. Of course that means that Dr. Steve Novella is always a strong presence at NECSS, both onstage and behind the scenes, and as well, the Skeptics Guide to the Universe does an onstage episode every year at the conference, and a second one with a small audience that pays for the privilege to attend. For many of their countless fans, the chance to see the entire SGU gang up close and personal is a major feature. Steve also took part in an excellent panel on psychopathy, which included Jon Ronson, the author of New York Times bestsellers The Psychopath Test, Lost at Sea, and The Men Who Stare At Goats. Although perhaps I am biased, as one who has seen, appeared on, and moderated a great many panels over the years, I found this year's NECSS panels to be particularly engaging and informative.
We also like to talk science for its own sake at NECSS, and among other presenters, this year my friend Simon Singh, the British science writer, talked about the origins of the Big Bang, about which he wrote a marvelous book some years ago entitled, appropriately enough, "Big Bang." Simon is a terrific science communicator and can make complex subjects clear, with wit and style, but without any sense of "dumbing down" the content. I also did an onstage interview with Simon about his landmark libel case in the UK in which the British Chiropractic Association eventually failed in their suit against him for calling chiropractic "bogus" among other accurate terms. This case has since led in turn to an attempt at serious libel reform in the United Kingdom, which we hope will soon succeed and put an end to so-called "libel tourism."
I've often said (and I'm sure I'll say it again) that the greatest benefit of my life in skepticism is the great people I get to meet and the great friends I get to make. At last year's NECSS I met the physicist and science education promoter and activist, Dr. Deborah Berebichez. Although she was then relatively new to skepticism as a movement, in the year since she has been kind enough to get involved behind the scenes at NECSS and help us with programming, including moderating an interesting panel about storytelling, and what makes the skeptic "story" more or less appealing to people than the storylines of our cultural competitors. This panel was an eclectic group – including Mariette DiChristina, Editor in Chief of Scientific American; narrative and neuroscience researcher Cat Bohannon; business startup guru Nathalie Molina Niño; and Michael Shermer – and each brought a different and very specific expertise and take on the subject, and I found it extremely interesting.
Debbie Berebichez gave her own talk as well about the skeptic perspective, from a personal vantage of her own experience. This is the kind of talk that often resonates with skeptics and that many skeptics seek, because it helps to provide a context and comfort for the shared experience that skeptics are often faced with in, as Debbie put it, being "a lonely skeptic in a believer's world." Her talk included funny anecdotes, like being "fired" by an expensive life coach who did not share Debbie's rational worldview, and powerfully revealing moments as when she talked about the difficulty of dealing with her father's recent and unexpected death, and being repeatedly faced with the "helpful" assistance of so many who insisted that she seek comfort in a belief in her father's existence in the afterlife.
One of the great new friends I made was Sharon Hill, a geologist and skeptical activist who writes the "Doubtful" blog and edits Doubfulnews.com, a wonderful source of news about paranormal, pseudoscience and anomalies that I consult regularly. Sharon gave a fine talk about "Sounds Sciency," about which she writes a column for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) website), and which introduced me to her fabulous new word, "scientifical!" This is a talk that I hope all skeptics get to hear, as Sharon provided significant insights, both scientific and compassionate – and humorous – intended to help us understand why people believe in the paranormal and other pseudosciences, why it's difficult to change their minds about such beliefs, and why it's important to understand that believers are not simply stupid or crazy, as some skeptics are too oft inclined to assume.
There were two more talks that, while not presented by skeptical activists, were also particularly useful for skeptic audiences. Leonard Milodinow, physicist-cum-TV writer and best-selling author of The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives, gave a talk about the subject of his latest book, Subliminal: How Our Unconscious Mind Rules Our Behavior. Both informative and entertaining, I am looking forward to reading this and would enthusiastically recommend that skeptics seek it out, to learn about what a lousy job human brains often do of observing, creating, and reporting on events and experiences around us, and as well, how in fact our minds routinely fool us – and we often simply can't help but be fooled in these myriad of ways. As a professional magician I can tell you that anyone can be fooled, and not just by others but by ourselves as well. Leonard's talk (and book) is a spot-on lesson for skeptics, and one that is perhaps biblical in scope, to wit: Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Mathematician John Allen Paulos, the best-selling author of many titles including Innumeracy – Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences, spoke about "stories versus statistics," with many examples of how telling a good story is often at odds with communicating the mathematical facts, and with advice on how to get both elements right. If you haven't read Innumeracy or its sequel, whether you think you like math or perhaps even more importantly if you think you don't, I highly recommend these books.
While this is by no means a complete report or listing of all of the NECSS 2013 presenters and participants, I would be remiss if I overlooked some unusual performances, including the return of mezzo-soprano Hai-Ting Chinn who, accompanied by Matthew Schickile, sang "songs of science and skepticism," featuring among several other pieces, a number of quotations, by past and present science and skeptic writers, put to classical song – simultaneously witty, original, and beautiful.
And Friday night there was a well-attended separately ticketed event, "Stimulus/Response," conceived by George Hrab and Brian Wecht and produced with the support of NECSS. The three-part evening consisted of performances and discussions and concluded with a very effective performance of improv comedy, based on and beginning with an onstage interview of Jay Novella of SGU fame. Even if you missed this, you might want to read a bit more about the evening's concept here.
And that's my "gazette," as Cyrano might have said. Although my brief report can't do justice to the experience, it does give me the chance to consider the questions of why we work so hard to produce events like NECSS and TAM (both of which I am significantly involved with, onstage and off), and why we attend these gatherings.
We created NECSS because we felt there was a need for a regional skeptic conference in the Northeast, and because the parties involved, organizers and activists from two organizations, were intrigued by and attracted to the prospect of creating the concept and content of such an event. No matter how much work you might think it takes to produce an event of this size and scope, the reality is – it takes more than that! And it requires the investment of money and risk and time and the labors of countless invaluable and often all but invisible hands of folks busy finding and networking with potential speakers, booking travel plans and hotel stays, the invaluable assistance of onsite volunteer workers, stage and production crew, and on and on. The work is not always fun but it is rewarding, and the positive and grateful feedback from our attendees, both new and repeated, comprises our chief payment and satisfactions.
Personally, although the work can be challenging in countless ways, I love attending skeptic gatherings, and particularly those that while keeping to the skeptical side when it comes to activism, stretch beyond those subjects to also include interesting and informative explorations of science. Skeptics are essentially science buffs, and since I'm not a scientist but I like hanging out with them, skeptic conferences are an opportunity to learn about science firsthand from some of its leading practitioners and professionals, and sometimes share a drink afterwards in the bar.
Conferences also provide support and inspiration, encouraging people to join the cause, supporting their continuation of it, and lifting spirits to help face the never-ending battle for rational discourse. These are useful purposes as well and conference producers should not overlook these ambitious but important needs.
And perhaps even above all that comes the social aspect – the Drinking Skeptically and Skeptics in the Pub, the dinners and luncheons and speakers gatherings and fundraising meals, and just the casual conversations in the hallways during the breaks. Whether it's at Manhattan's Connolly's Pub on E. 47th Street into the wee hours, or hanging out in the Delmar Lounge into the even wee-er hours at TAM in Las Vegas, I rarely fail to reunite at such gatherings with welcome old friends, and meet and make new ones as well. As an ever growing and maturing movement, we skeptics have magazines and journals, podcasts, blogs – countless ways of informing ourselves and interacting around our common skeptical interests. But nothing – and I really do mean nothing – can compare with real live human interaction, the sharing of ideas and ideals among the smart quirky passionate eccentric committed bunch of folks who call ourselves skeptics, and have the delightful habit of getting together from time to time to talk about it and share the fun, folly and foibles of the skeptic racket. NECSS and TAM comprise some of my favorite days of the year, and I look forward to sharing many more of such days to come. I hope to see you at NECSS 2014 in New York City, and TAM 2013 this July in Las Vegas – and if you haven't yet registered for TAM – what are you waiting for?
Jamy Ian Swiss is Senior Fellow at the JREF. He blogs regularly at randi.org.


text:
AC/DC Exhibit To Open In Seattle
Stick around long enough and someone will put you in a museum. That old saying is true even when you've made it your life's mission to never slow down. On Saturday (April 28), the Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle will host the American premiere of 'AC/DC: Australia's Family Jewels,' an exhibit about the legendary band. The exhibit will run through September 29.
The exhibit, which features more that 400 pieces of memorabilia related to AC/DC, opened at the Arts Centre Melbourne in 2009. Since then, it has toured Australia and also been to Glasgow, Scotland, where Angus and Malcolm Young were born.
Among the artifacts on display are Angus' blue-velvet schoolboy uniform, his "Super Ang" costume (complete with red-and-gold satin cape) and a black leather jacket worn by original lead singer Bon Scott. The band's music plays throughout the exhibit, both in videos of famous concerts and on headphones.
Adding to the opening of 'AC/DC: Australia's Family Jewels' will be a discussion with author Anthony Bozza and the EMP's director of curatorial affairs, Jasen Emmons. And, because it's much more fun to listen to AC/DC's music rather than talk about it, the festivites will feature an all-female AC/DC tribute band called, naturally, "Hell's Belles."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ortiz's homer in ninth inning lifts Red Sox over Rangers
Boston, MA – David Ortiz launched a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
Jonny Gomes doubled off Michael Kirkman (0-2) to begin the home ninth. After Dustin Pedroia was intentionally walked, Ortiz drove the first pitch he saw from Kirkman to right field.
"He's got a niche for it," said Gomes about Ortiz's knack for getting the big home run. "He has the ability to get the job done."
Gomes and a returning Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston's No. 1 and 2 hitters, each finished 4-for-5. Ellsbury had missed the previous five games with a tight left groin.
Ortiz's 11th home run of the season made a winner out of Andrew Bailey (2-0), who retired three batters in a row after giving up a leadoff single to Jurickson Profar in the top of the ninth.
Boston had plenty of traffic on the base paths against Texas starter Derek Holland and the relief corps, but hits were elusive as the club finished just 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
"He wasn't at his best, but he found a way to hold the lead and keep us in the ball game," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "That's just the maturity of Derek Holland."
The Red Sox erased a 3-0 deficit and pulled even in the seventh after loading the bases with one out. Jason Frasor, however, couldn't clean up Robbie Ross' mess. He got a ground ball from Mike Napoli, but the Rangers failed to turn a double play. Ellsbury scored on the play after opening the frame with a double.
Jon Lester started for Boston and surrendered a two-run homer to Jeff Baker in the second before Adrian Beltre took him deep in the next inning.
The Red Sox got on the board in the bottom of the third when Pedroia delivered a two-out, two-run double off the center-field wall.
The fifth inning looked promising for Boston, which saw its first two batters reach base. Ellsbury hit a ground-rule double and Gomes followed with a single, but the threat was shut down. Holland escaped with help from Texas first baseman Lance Berkman, who picked a Pedroia chopper and threw Ellsbury out at home. Ortiz then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Game Notes
Lester gave up seven hits and walked three over six innings in his 200th career start. He became the third Red Sox left-hander to make 200 career starts, joining Mel Parnell (232) and Bruce Hurst (217) ... Boston notched its first series victory at home against Texas since April 20-22, 2010 ... The Rangers lost their first road series of more than two games this year (5-1-2) ... Beltre extended his hitting streak to 11 games, while Pedroia has now hit safely in 10 straight games ... Holland allowed two runs on nine hits in six frames. He had won five consecutive starts against Boston ... Texas was 2- for-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base ... The Rangers placed first baseman Mitch Moreland on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring and purchased the contract of first baseman Chris McGuiness from Triple-A Round Rock. To make room for McGuiness on the 40-man roster, the Rangers transferred pitcher Colby Lewis (elbow) to the 60-day DL.


text:
This blog has been moved
How to make more refactoring friendly data-bindings with C# 5
Imagine that we want to create a
Person business object for whose properties we desire a two-way data binding. The source-to-target data-binding can be triggered by implementing
INotifyPropertyChanged interface, like this:
public class Person : INotifyPropertyChanged
private string _name;
private double _age;
public string Name
return _name;
if (value != _name)
_name = value;
public double Age
return _age;
if (_age != value)
_age = value;
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
private void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
if (PropertyChanged != null)
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
See how the setters pass the property name in a
string. This is not nice, because whenever we change the property name through refactoring tools, the string value remains untouched and we have to manually change them as well (if we are lucky enough to get notified before run-time). Anyway we had to tolerate them for years…
C# 5 comes with a nice feature, which is addition of two attributes
[CallerFilePath] and
[CallerMemberName] in the
System.Runtime.CompilerServices namespace. If you decorate an optional string parameter of a method with one of these attributes, then the value of that parameter will be replaced with the caller's file name or the caller's member name at runtime, if no explicit value is passed for the optional parameter. They come very handy in logging scenarios, but we can use the latter for making our data-binding code nicer. This is how:
public class Person : INotifyPropertyChanged
private string _name;
private double _age;
public string Name
return _name;
if (value != _name)
_name = value;
public double Age
return _age;
if (_age != value)
_age = value;
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
private void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName]string propertyName = "")
if (PropertyChanged != null)
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
Now that string constants are removed from the setters we can more freely refactor our code. After being spoiled by automatic properties, this is still a very verbose way of defining properties; however it is much better than before.
How to serialize DataTable and DataSet objects with YAXLib
YAXLib 2.x does not support serializing
DataSet and
DataTable objects by default. Since they have public properties of their own type, one will receive a
YAXCannotSerializeSelfReferentialTypes exception. But it is quite possible to serialize them with custom serializers. Below is defined a custom serializer for
public class DataSetCustomSerializer : ICustomSerializer<DataSet>
public DataSet DeserializeFromElement(System.Xml.Linq.XElement element)
var child = element.Elements().FirstOrDefault();
if(child == null)
return null;
using (var xr = child.CreateReader())
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
var readMode = ds.ReadXml(xr);
return ds;
public void SerializeToElement(DataSet objectToSerialize, System.Xml.Linq.XElement elemToFill)
using (var xw = elemToFill.CreateWriter())
public DataSet DeserializeFromAttribute(System.Xml.Linq.XAttribute attrib)
throw new NotImplementedException();
public DataSet DeserializeFromValue(string value)
throw new NotImplementedException();
public void SerializeToAttribute(DataSet objectToSerialize, System.Xml.Linq.XAttribute attrToFill)
throw new NotImplementedException();
public string SerializeToValue(DataSet objectToSerialize)
throw new NotImplementedException();
And this is a custom serializer for
public class DataTableCustomSerializer : ICustomSerializer<DataTable>
public DataTable DeserializeFromElement(System.Xml.Linq.XElement element)
var dsElem = element.Elements().Where(x => x.Name.LocalName == "NewDataSet").FirstOrDefault();
if (dsElem == null)
return null;
using (var xr = dsElem.CreateReader())
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
var readMode = ds.ReadXml(xr);
if(ds.Tables.Count > 0)
return ds.Tables[0].Copy();
return null;
public void SerializeToElement(DataTable objectToSerialize, System.Xml.Linq.XElement elemToFill)
using (var xw = elemToFill.CreateWriter())
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
public DataTable DeserializeFromAttribute(System.Xml.Linq.XAttribute attrib)
throw new NotImplementedException();
public DataTable DeserializeFromValue(string value)
throw new NotImplementedException();
public void SerializeToAttribute(DataTable objectToSerialize, System.Xml.Linq.XAttribute attrToFill)
throw new NotImplementedException();
public string SerializeToValue(DataTable objectToSerialize)
throw new NotImplementedException();
Having the above custom serializers at hand, one can decorate the
DataSet and
DataTable properties (or fields) with the
YAXCustomSerializer attribute fed with the appropriate custom serializer type, as demonstrated below:
public class DataSerializationDemo
public DataTable TheDataTable { get; set; }
public DataSet TheDataSet { get; set; }
The following provides a sample instantiation for the above class:
public static DataSerializationDemo GetSampleInstance()
var dataTable = new DataTable("TableName", "http://tableNs/");
dataTable.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("Col1", typeof(string)));
dataTable.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("Col2", typeof(int)));
dataTable.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("Col3", typeof(string)));
dataTable.Rows.Add("1", 2, "3");
dataTable.Rows.Add("y", 4, "n");
var dataTable1 = new DataTable("Table1");
dataTable1.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("Cl1", typeof(string)));
dataTable1.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("Cl2", typeof(int)));
dataTable1.Rows.Add("num1", 34);
dataTable1.Rows.Add("num2", 54);
var dataTable2 = new DataTable("Table2");
dataTable2.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("C1", typeof(string)));
dataTable2.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("C2", typeof(int)));
dataTable2.Columns.Add(new DataColumn("C3", typeof(double)));
dataTable2.Rows.Add("one", 1, 1.5);
dataTable2.Rows.Add("two", 2, 2.5);
var dataSet = new DataSet("MyDataSet");
dataSet.Tables.AddRange(new[] { dataTable1, dataTable2 });
return new DataSerializationDemo
TheDataTable = dataTable,
TheDataSet = dataSet
And the following is the XML result for serializing the above object:
<TableName xmlns="http://tableNs/">
<TableName xmlns="http://tableNs/">
Please note that all the above steps are provided for YAXLib 2.x, which may require slight modifications in future versions of the library.
Different ways of generating new GUIDs
In C# Code
var newGuid = Guid.NewGuid();
In Visual Studio
Go to:
Tools > Create GUID
In SQL Server Management Studio
Execute either of the following queries:
None of the above
Go to newguid.com, and refresh the page as many times as you want.
T-SQL: remove or replace line breaks
Sometimes you might need to remove line breaks from a column value to make a one-line data. I prefer to replace line-breaks with a single space, rather than removing them. This is how to do it with Transact-SQL:
REPLACE(REPLACE(ISNULL( SomeTable.SomeColumn, ''), CHAR(13), ''), CHAR(10), ' ')
To remove line-breaks completely replace the final space string with an empty string.
T-SQL: checking if a string is empty or white-space
Consider a case where you want to bring through a
varchar column called
SomeColumn from table
SomeTable and replace its value with,
'Not Available' if the value is
NULL or an empty string. This is how it can be achieved in Transact-SQL:
SELECT ISNULL(NULLIF(SomeTable.SomeColumn, ''), 'Not Available')
FROM SomeTable
The above code is checking for
null or emptiness of the string. To check for being
null or white-space, use the following code instead:
SELECT ISNULL(NULLIF(LTRIM(RTRIM(SomeTable.SomeColumn)), ''), 'Not Available')
FROM SomeTable
An example for C# dynamic in action
Recently I was involved with enabling validation for a Windows Forms form containing several pages shown through a tree view. There were one user control defined for each page, therefore whenever a node in tree-view got activated, an instance of that user-control were shown. The user-controls did not have a common user-defined parent base-class or interface. The author of the existing code had defined a
Save method in each control separately which performed updating data with values entered in the forms.
First, I changed all
void Save() methods to
bool Save(), and performed the validation stuff in each control separately. Then in the parent form, I created an array of
Controls, so that I could loop through them, and call their
Save method. But wait,
Save is not inherited from any base-class or interface, so there's no polymorphism at hand. How can I call them through references of type
Well honestly, the best solution would be adding a new interface to the project, say
ISavableControl or something, add the
Save method to it, and let the controls implement that interface. But I wanted to make a quick fix to the problem without adding new files and types to the code. Here C#'s
dynamic comes into action.
dynamic keyword, one postpones binding methods, properties, and fields to run-time. In our scenario we know that the user-controls each have a method called
Save, which is not derived from a parent. Without
dynamic, I would need to have a reference explicitly from each user control's type, and I would have to call them one by one, as in:
bool succeeded = false; succeeded = userControl1.Save(); succeeded = succeeded || userControl2.Save(); succeeded = succeeded || userControl3.Save(); // ... succeeded = succeeded || userControln.Save();
However using
dynamic keyword, life gets a lot easier:
// objects are not inherited from a base class or interface, // therefore we cannot call Save using polymorphism bool succeeded = false; foreach(var ctrl in controlsArray) { dynamic dynCtrl = ctrl; succeeded = succeeded || dynCtrl.Save(); } // do something with the value of succeeded
Take care that binding the
Save methods to controls happen at runtime. Therefore if a control does not implement a
Save method, or if another one misspells
Save, as say
Svae, you will get no hints at compile time. So, try to avoid this style of coding, unless you have good reasons for doing so.
A JavaScript Primer
These are lessons learned when I tried to strengthen my JavaScript skills, by learning from these Koans:
- JavaScript Koans by Liam McLennan, hosted on GitHub
- JavaScript Koans by David Laing, again hosted on GitHub
I highly recommend learning from both of these Koans in the same order as specified above. The first one is easier to start with. While the second one is a smaller set of Koans, but gets more advanced, and contains an introduction to Underscore.js as well.
I come from a C#, Java, and C++ background, so that it's probable that my terminology is not consistent with those used by the JavaScript community; particularly when it comes to object oriented concepts.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"


text:
your bag
Your bag is empty.
Sorry, this product has sold out!
If you would like ARCHFASHION to try to and find it for you complete the form below.
This luxurious scarf is made from pure cashmere and features a soft, ribbed textured. Perfect accessory to any outfit. 100% cashmere. Dry clean only.
The great Heringbone Scarf White from Shresta has sold out. We did have it inWhite / One Size.
Start a "Find It For Me" to notify hundreds of Australian Boutiques that you're looking for it and then be notified if it comes back in stock.


text:
Venue: Deane Center, Grand Ballroom
The Wellsboro Men's Chorus practices are beginning on Thursday evening, Sept. 7 at 8:45pm and will continue weekly. Practices are held in the Grand Ballroom of the Deane Center and we are looking for new folks, young and old, to join us for great comraderie, fun and music. If you have any questions, you can contact Tom Reindl at 570-948-7389.


text:
Quality Care
Our goal at Washington Regional is to provide quality, compassionate care. Our Emergency Department is staffed by highly skilled physicians and nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you and your family if an emergency occurs.
Is it an Emergency?
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) offers a list of warning signs that indicate a medical emergency.
Children have unique medical problems and may display different symptoms than adults. Symptoms that are serious for a child may not be as serious for an adult. Always get immediate medical attention if you think your child is having a medical emergency.
If you think your medical condition is life-threatening or the condition will worsen on the way to the hospital, call 911.
How quickly you are seen by a physician depends on the triage process. When arriving at the Emergency Department, a triage nurse will perform a basic assessment of symptoms and determine the severity of illness. A patient's order of treatment in the Emergency Department is based on the severity of the illness, not on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Patients identified by our triage staff as having life-threatening conditions are taken directly into our Emergency Department for evaluation and treatment. Therefore, patients with illnesses or injuries identified as not life-threatening may experience a wait while more serious cases are treated.
Washington Regional Medical Center admits and treats all patients without regard to race, religion, sex, age, disability or ability to pay.
WRMC Emergency Department includes:
• Level II Trauma services – Only provider in Northwest Arkansas
• Comprehensive stroke care – Washington Regional partners with AR SAVES to ensure 24/7 access to stroke evaluation and treatment.
• LIFENET - first healthcare provider in Northwest Arkansas to offer a lifesaving technology for heart attack patients called LIFENET STEMI. Thanks to new web-based technology, ambulance patients are now able to receive quicker treatment at Washington Regional for severe heart attacks.
• Walker Heart Institute Chest Pain Center
• Accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI and Resuscitation
•For Non-Life-Threatening Emergencies, Washington Regional has two Urgent Care locations: in Fayetteville, located at 3 E Appleby Road Suite 101, open Monday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m..; and in Johnson, located at 3561 Johnson Mill Blvd Suite 102, open Monday-Sunday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Washington Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Emergency Department
Washington Regional Medical Center
3215 N. North Hills Blvd.
Fayetteville, AR 72703
Phone 479 713-1000
Map and Driving Directions


text:
Best Sellers
Celebrate Today!
Whether you're celebrating the birth of a child, kindness of a friend, the closing of a business deal or showing appreciation... Celebrate any occasion or brighten any day of the week with a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers! Don't they deserve a day that's all about them? Call WALLACE FLORAL SHOPPE or order online today.
Order within 9 hours 19 minutes for Same Day Delivery!
$70.00, $80.00, $90.00More Info
Shown at $80.00
Shown at $80.00
Shown at $80.00 More Info
Precious Purples
$55.00, $65.00, $75.00
Shown at $65.00
Brilliant Basket
$100.00, $110.00, $120.00
Shown at $110.00
Red Carpet Bouquet
Mixed Roses & Mini Roses
$145.00, $155.00, $170.00
Shown at $155.00
Chantilly Pink Roses
$75.00, $85.00, $100.00
Shown at $85.00
$55.00, $65.00, $75.00
Shown at $65.00
Out Of The Woods
Flower Basket
$50.00, $55.00, $65.00
Shown at $55.00
Brilliant Blue
Bouquet of Flowers
$50.00, $55.00, $60.00
Shown at $55.00
Happiness Grows
$50.00, $60.00, $70.00
Shown at $60.00
Gerb Appeal
$45.00, $55.00, $70.00
Shown at $55.00
Custom Flower Design
Let us create a custom flower arrangement for you.
Order within 9 hours 19 minutes for Same Day Delivery!
Browse our Best Sellers for great ideas when you want to send flowers. See what's trending in the Pittsburgh area. No matter what your occasion, these best selling flowers are perfect for any celebration. Whether you're sending flowers around the corner or across the country, WALLACE FLORAL SHOPPE can help!


text:
Belt, Giants down D-backs
Phoenix, AZ – Brandon Belt ripped a tie-breaking, two-run single in the top of the eighth inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday in the opener of a three- game set at Chase Field.
Belt also smacked a solo shot in the second, while Pablo Sandoval and Gregor Blanco added an RBI and a run scored apiece to help the Giants snap a five- game slide that started with back-to-back, extra-inning losses against Arizona.
Jean Machi (1-0) earned his first major league victory after pitching a perfect seventh in relief of starter Matt Cain, who remains in search of his first victory of the season after giving up four runs on five hits and four walks over six frames.
Sergio Romo worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to nail down his ninth save of the season.
Brad Ziegler (0-1) entered for Arizona starter Ian Kennedy to start the eighth and served up Belt's go-ahead single to absorb the loss. Kennedy allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks over seven innings.
"It's just one of those days," Kennedy said. "You give your team a chance to win and we just didn't."
All four of Arizona's runs came in the fourth, as Jason Kubel, Eric Chavez and Martin Prado each homered in the frame, but it wasn't enough for the Diamondbacks, who had won five of their last six coming into the contest.
With the game locked at 4-4 to start the eighth, Nick Noonan smacked a leadoff double before moving to third on Buster Posey's fly out.
Ziegler then got Hunter Pence to ground out, but issued back-to-back walks to Blanco and Brandon Crawford to load the bases for Belt, who smacked a 3-1 sinker back up the middle to plate a pair and give the Giants the lead.
Javier Lopez and Santiago Casilla combined to blank the Diamondbacks in the bottom half before Romo shut the door in the ninth.
The Giants broke through in their first at bat, as Marco Scutaro and Sandoval smacked back-to-back one-out singles before Posey walked to load the bases.
Scutaro scored on Pence's sacrifice fly before Sandoval crossed the plate on Blanco's single to left for a 2-0 lead.
Belt's leadoff blast in the second pushed the margin to 3-0, but Arizona clubbed a trio of homers off Cain in the fourth to jump in front.
After Cody Ross worked a leadoff walk, Kubel belted a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right-center field. Chavez then followed with an opposite- field blast to left to tie the game before Prado pounded a two-out solo shot to left-center field to give Arizona a 4-3 lead.
"As a pitcher, you're pissed that you give up the lead," Cain said. "It lifts you up big time when the guys come back out there and score another run the next inning."
The Giants countered with a run in the fifth to tie the game, as Scutaro stroked a one-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on Sandoval's base hit to center to make it 4-4.
Game Notes
San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was ejected in the top of the fifth inning after arguing a play at first base ... Sandoval left the game in the seventh with right elbow discomfort ... Posey extended his hitting streak to 10 games ... Arizona outfielder Gerardo Parra went 0-for-5 to snap his career-high 13- game hitting streak ... The Giants had gone winless in Cain's last six starts dating back to last season, with their last win coming against Arizona on Sept. 26 ... Cain allowed three home runs in an inning for the first time in his career.


text:
A Girl Called Fearless, A.S. King, Alexandra Penfold (Upstart), Annemarie O'Brien, Barbara Fisch, Berenson series, Blue Media Slip, Cafe Anna, Candlewick, Catherine Linka, Christine Dowd, Deb Gonzales, Elizabeth Bicknell, Heather Alexander (Pippin), Jacqui Lipton, Jessica Echeverria (Lee & Low), John Cusick, John Cusick (Greenhouse), Katherine Paterson, Kathi Appelt, Kelley Lamb, Lara's Gift, Lisa Doan, Louise Hawes, M.T. Anderson, Margaret Bechard, Marion Dane Bauer, Mikki Grimes, Rita Williams-Garcia, Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer (Rubin Pfeffer Content), Sarah Ellis, Sarah Shealy, The Dramatic Writer's Companion, THE STUFF OF STARS, VCFA, Will Dunne
Thirty-two MFA alumni from the VCFA Writing for Children & Young Adults Writing Program were once again warmly welcomed by faculty, students, and the administration this past weekend. While my fellow S3Q2 classmates were sorely missed for what would have been our 5th reunion, it was nice to see a good alumni showing celebrating their 10th anniversary under picture perfect blue skies and zero humidity.
Deb Gonzales (Cliffhangers '08) and Kelley Lamb, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs whipped up a stellar line-up of speakers: Marion Dane Bauer, Nikki Grimes, Margaret Bechard, and A.S. King. The dynamic duo also put together panels of editors, agents and publicists including: Jessica Echeverria (Lee & Low), Heather Alexander (Pippin), John Cusick (Greenhouse), Alexandra Penfold (Upstart), Rubin Pfeffer (Rubin Pfeffer Content), and Blue Slip Media publicity gurus, Barbara Fisch and Sarah Shealy.
What a lovely surprise it was to see LARA'S GIFT featured on The Table at the VCFA bookstore alongside some of my favorite writers! It was also displayed cover open in another prominent spot. Thank you, VCFA Bookstore!!
Highlight # 1 – Friends
I've been making the long haul from California to Vermont every year since I graduated in 2009 to visit with old friends and meet new ones. Cyber hugs can't beat the real thing and this girl likes to get her yearly fix.
Highlight # 2 – Nikki Grimes Lecture
Nikki Grimes delivered a Master Class on voice, poetry, and metaphor that inspired all of us. Some quotes I culled from her lecture include:
"If a reader loves a character, he will follow that character almost anywhere."
"Do a good job creating your characters and readers will talk about them like they are real people."
Highlight # 3 – Author Introductions
Nowhere in the world, but at VCFA, can you get an introduction worthy of a beloved King. Rita Williams-Garcia and Louise Hawes lived up to the VCFA tradition when they had the honor to introduce Nikki Grimes and Marion Dane Bauer, respectively.
Highlight # 4 – Reading by Marion Dane Bauer
Marion Dane Bauer dazzled us with a reading of a Sure-To-Become-World-Classic-Picture Book titled THE STUFF OF STARS recently acquired by Candlewick. Her agent, Rubin Pfeffer thought it was so good, he bought a dozen designer cupcakes and presented it in person to Editorial Director, Elizabeth Bicknell and her staff.
Highlight # 5 – Nikki Grimes Word Play Exercise
If the first words that come to you are cliché and you struggle to find something fresh to describe your characters or setting, what do you do? Look no further. Nikki Grimes, poet extraordinaire and award-winning author, offered a Word-Play Exercise to help you study a word from the inside out.
Close your eyes and think of a word. Hold it closely, but give yourself permission to play with it and as you do sift that word through your senses, and think about all of the possibilities of that word. What does that word taste like, sound like, look like, feel like, and smell like? When you're done, open your eyes, and write a poem about that word using poetic tools like metaphor, similes, alliteration, repetition and/or formats like haiku, cinquain, or rhyme to describe that word for someone who has never experienced that word.
Highlight # 6 – Lisa Doan's Reading
Lisa Doan, author of the BERENSON SERIES had all of us laughing during her alumni reading from her next book.
Highlight # 6 – Margaret Bechard's Lecture
Margaret Bechard gave a lecture on Questions and Answers and How it Relates to Tension in Typical-Witty-Brilliant-Margaret fashion. Her lecture was based largely on Will Dunne's book, THE DRAMATIC WRITER'S COMPANION—a book every serious writer should have in their library.
Some of Margaret's quotes include:
"The function of a story is to make the reader worry. Questions keep the reader in two places at once and engage your reader by what's happening in the now, as well as what's going to happen."
"When you have answered one question, you must immediately pose a new one. Furthermore, as you are in the process of answering a question, you should be setting up a new question."
"Music is not in the notes but in the silence between them. This kind of gap in your writing is the tension in your story."
"The million-dollar question for writers is: When do you pose and answer the questions in your story? The quick answer in building tension lies in the Goldilocks Rule: not too early, not too late, but at the just right moment."
Highlight # 7 – Nikki Grimes Metaphor Tip
Metaphor comes best from the images and words of your character, setting, or world. Be sure to use words and images related to the environment and the time-period of your own story.
Highlight # 8 – Café Anna
Café Ana was a pleasant surprise on campus and where most of us had an Earthy-Crunchy-Organic-Vermont-Breakfast each morning to start the day.
Highlight # 9 – Noble Lounge
VCFA has grown so big that the current students now meet in the Chapel leaving alumni with Noble Lounge. What a treat it was to go back in time to where we heard our first lectures and delivered our graduate lectures! Here I am at the podium lecturing on Content Marketing.
Highlight # 10 – Catherine Linka's Talk
Last, but certainly not least was the time we had with Catherine Linka, bookseller and author of A GIRL CALLED FEARLESS. She shared some tips on working with bookstores. She highlighted the important role that Edelweiss Above the Treeline plays in educating booksellers about our books and stressed that we must all take the marketing questionnaire that our publisher sends us seriously.
The 2014 AMR ended for me at Morse Farms in Christine Dowd's company with a soft serve maple ice cream cone. Delish!
Mark your calendar! The next AMR will NOT be held during the residency. It will be held from June 18-21, 2015 and the featured authors will be M.T. Anderson and Katherine Paterson!
And be sure to share your highlights in the comment section for VCFA alumni unable to make the trip home.


text:
Difference between revisions of "Java 1.5: Debian Make and Install"
(→Knowledge Well)
|Line 114:
|Line 114:
Revision as of 13:15, 7 March 2007
The purpose of this project is to create a Debian package of Java 1.5 so that it can be managed better than installing it manually.
- Debian is already installed
- Kurobox is accessible via FTP
- Key Debian packages are already installed
Needed Files
IBM Java for PPC
Select 32-bit iSeries/pSeries J2SE 5.0. As of writing this, the latest version is SR4. I'm not aware of anyway to detect what version is installed so just make a mental note of the service release number in case an update is needed for later. Yes, you will need to register to download this and yes, its a pain. When you finally reach the download page, download the .tgz version of the JRE.
On the Kurobox, create directory /opt and do a chmod on it
# mkdir /opt # chmod 777 /opt
Upload the .tgz file into the /opt directory and then do the following:
# chmod 777 /opt/ibm-java2-jre-5.0-4.0-linux-ppc.tgz
When you do an apt-get install java-package, you will get the latest "stable" version which is 0.24. Unfortunately, 0.24 is not able to make a Java 1.5 .deb file from IBM. (Specifically, the ibm-j2re.sh file does not have the parameters for it). Go ahead and get version 0.28. (Version 0.27 works as well.)
Upload to the Kurobox and do the following as root:
# dpkg -i java-package_0.27_all.deb
# dpkg -i java-package_0.28_all.deb
depending on which one you use
You can verify the version of java-package you have installed by typing
# apt-cache policy java-package
Should look something like this:
java-package: Installed: 0.27 Candidate: 0.27 Version Table: *** 0.27 0 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status 0.24 0 500 ftp://ftp.dti.ad.jp stable/contrib Packages
Remember that java file we downloaded from IBM? Java-Package does not recognize the file name that IBM gives it so we need to rename it to a more general name that it recognizes.
# mv /opt/ibm-java2-jre-5.0-4.0-linux-ppc.tgz /opt/ibm-java2-jre-50-linux-ppc.tgz
# apt-get install fakeroot
Nuff said
Preparing the Kurobox for brewing Java 1.5
At this point one could just and make the .deb package and see if it will work. However, there will be a plethora of warnings about not being to able find paths of various packages. So, to satisfy the make process without any warnings, install the following:
# apt-get install libgtk1.2 libxp6 libxtst6 libxt6 libgtk2.0-0 libglib2.0-0 libxmu6 unixodbc
It's been said on another Debian help page that the warnings mentioned above may not necessarily be a bad thing. As long as the .deb package is created, it should still work.
Making Debian Java
Make sure you are not root when doing this next step. In the /opt directory type:
# fakeroot make-jpkg ibm-java2-jre-50-linux-ppc.tgz
Be patient, it will take some time for the Kurobox to create the .deb package. If all went well, there should be a new file called ibm-j2re1.5_1.5.0_powerpc.deb in /opt.
Install and Verify
As root and still in the /opt directory type:
# dpkg -i ibm-j2re1.5_1.5.0_powerpc.deb
The .deb install doesn't take very long. Once you have a prompt back type the following to make sure you have 1.5 installed
# java -version
Multiple Versions Installed
If you have multiple JRE or JDK installed (e.g. 1.5.0 and 1.4.2) and want/need to switch between them, you can use update-alternatives to do so.
Example: Choosing which java executable to use:
# update-alternatives --config java
Example: Choosing which javac executable to use:
# update-alternatives --config javac
And so on in that fashion for the remaining executables related to Java. You can look in /etc/alternatives to see what one can configure with update-alternatives.
Removing Java 1.5
If it ever comes to where you need to remove Java 1.5, issue the following command:
# apt-get remove ibm-j2re1.5
Knowledge Well


text:
15.6' Core i3-2350M Asus X54HR за части !
Започната от
1 мнение в тази тема
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new account
Sign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now


text:
April 2010
Volume 2, Issue 4
Check Your Calendars!!
One Book South Dakota
throughout 2010
School Library Month
April 1-30, 2010
SD School Library Survey
April 1- May 31, 2010
National Library Week
April 11-17, 2010
El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day)
April 30, 2010
Children's Book Week
May 10-16, 2010
Featured e-Resources of the Month
Learning Express helps improve lives
Continuing Education Alert
Highlighting April Online Learning Opportunities
Welcome to the Cornerstone Archives. Find the current newsletter at sdslcornertsone.blogspot.com.
Welcome to the Cornerstone Archives. Find the current newsletter at sdslcornertsone.blogspot.com.
In this month's issue
Communities Thrive @ your Library
Celebrate National Library Week
April 11-17, 2010
Who do you think you are?
Find out in South Dakota State Library's AncestryLibrary Online
April Continuing Education Opportunities
- Braille & Talking Book Summer Reading Program begins June 7
- Author visits with Skype
- Promote YALSA's literary award winners
- Give a boost to your nonfiction collection
- 13,450 readers vote for Prairie Bud and Prairie Pasque awards
Featured eResources of the Month
Learning Express helps improve lives
- IMLS Native American Library Services Enhancement
- Toyota International Teacher Program
- The Walmart Foundation
- PLA Award sponsored by DEMCO, Inc.
In Focus: Kathleen Slocum
Meet the new Continuing Education Coordinator at the South Dakota State Library.
- Research goes beyond the border
- Board Talk: Friends and Foundations worth investigating for your library
- South Dakota Public Library Certification Standards
- School Library Survey opens April 1
- Authors in the Schools 2010 planning begins
- AASL School Libraries Count! survey needs your input
- Story Corps makes oral history more accessible
- More resources in the news
- What is Library Development reading?
- Weekly contest uses Web 2.0 tools
- Family Event not "average day" at Faith School and Community Library!
next: Library Headlines
Share |
The Cornerstone monthly e-newsletter is created by the South Dakota State Library. For more information on how to be a part of this newsletter, please contact us via e-mail with your questions and ideas.


text:
The 2008 Egyptian Event
A Celebration of the Egyptian Arabian Horse
By Beth Hunziker Mishek
Horses, horses, horses, Kentucky is a state that's all about horses. They even have a park that's dedicated to them. The Kentucky Horse Park is 1500 acres of heaven for those of us who loves these wonderful creatures. It welcomes everyone with its lush, green pastures, neatly painted fences, and cobble stone walk ways. The handsome buildings and barns are topped with classic cupolas and equine weather vanes. It's quiet, peaceful, and yet there is something that stirs the heart and gives a rush of excitement - it's the wonder and anticipation of seeing the horses. This is the setting for The Pyramid Society's annual Egyptian Event, the largest celebration in the world dedicated to the most historic breed and its nobility, the Egyptian Arabian horse.
This was the 28th year that The Pyramid Society brought together breeders from around the world to showcase their extraordinary horses. The Egyptian Event is much more than just a horse show - it's also an international, social, and educational event. In addition to the competition for straight Egyptian and Egyptian-sired horses, there were lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and parties, parties, and more parties. Ask anyone who has ever attended the Egyptian Event and chances are they will tell you that it's one of their favorite Arabian horse shows.
An important part of any Arabian horse show is the panel of judges. The officials for this year's Event were as international as the horses they evaluated. The panel for the regular classes included Majdi Al Saleh of Jordan, Scott Benjamin of Canada, and Marie Louise Van Wyk of South Africa. There was a separate set of judges for the Egyptian Breeders Challenge and they included Cecile Hetzel Dunn of the US, Ms. Dunn also judged the performance classes; Corky Sutton, also from the US; and Ann Norden of Sweden. The Saturday evening championships were judged by a combination of five of these judges.
In addition to the quality of the horses, one of the most remarkable aspects of the show was that the number of entries at this Event was actually higher than the previous year. Amidst all of the critical comments about the state of the breed, this was a wonderful testimony to the enduring commitment of Egyptian Arabian horse breeders.
The Egyptian Event truly is a show that's different than any other. It is a breeders' show which emphasizes the horses and their bloodlines. Unlike other shows, participants at this show more than likely know their horse's pedigree. At the Egyptian Event, the breeders and owners value the familial heritage of a horse equally as much as its quality, conformation, and type. These owners have a goal in mind and that is how to preserve, protect, and perpetuate horses of Egyptian bloodlines. With that in mind, here are some of the top winning horses, their breeders, and owners from the 2008 Egyptian Event....
Straight Egyptian Fillies and Mares....
The Reserve Junior Champion Filly and First Place Winner in the Futurity Finals for Straight Egyptian Yearling Fillies, Jan 1- Apr 15 wasNaadirah KA (Makhnificent KA x Isabella KA by Marquis I), bred and owned by Kehilan Bloodstock. The initials KA indicate that Kehilan Arabians bred not only the winning filly, Naadirah KA, but her sire and dam as well. It was a very successful pairing of stallion to mare and no doubt one that will be repeated. The strength of Naadirah KA's male line is doubled as both her sire, Makhnificent KA, and her maternal grandsire, Marquis I, are by Makhsous, thus repeating the family on both sides of her pedigree. Diversity and strength are gained through the mares in Naadirah KA's pedigree. Star Bint Hafiza, Antigua Dance, Dahmah Shahwaniah, and Bint Maisa El Saghira are just a few of the stars. Naadirah KA's tail female lines traces back 13 generations to the mare Roga El Beida.
The winner in the Futurity Finals for Straight Egyptian Yearling Fillies, Apr 16 - Dec 31 wasEtaya Sudan Zahra (Imperial Mistaar x Etaya Shai Zahra by Simeon Shai), bred and owned by Jennifer Parsons. Some of the most influential contemporary stallions in the pedigree of this winning filly include Imperial Baarez, PVA Kariim, Imperial Imdal, and of course the Canadian National, US National, and World Champion Stallion Simeon Shai. The mares in Etaya Sudan Zahra's pedigree are equally strong. Imperial Mistilll, BB Ora Kalilah, ATA Nile Mist, Simeon Safanad, Hanan, and 27 Ibn Galal all contributed to her genetic strength. The tail female line of Etaya Sudan Zahra traces back an amazing 17 generations to the mare Ghazieh.
The Reserve Supreme Champion Mare, Junior Champion Filly, and Winner of the Futurity Finals for Straight Egyptian Two-Year-Old Fillies was Desha Indeed (Al Adeed Al Shaqab x Asra Salaa by Salaa El Dine), bred and owned by Sandra and Hank DeShazer. Desha Indeed is an incredibly lovely filly. Her pedigree is brimming with beauty, but perhaps the most exotic among her family are the stallions including her sire, Al Adeed Al Shaqab, his sire, Ansata Halim Shah - he appears twice in the pedigree - and of course there's the wonderful Saala El Dine. Among the most influential females in the family are Sundar Alisayyah, Ansata Rosetta, Halima, Ansata Bint Bukra, Bint Magidaa, Hanan, and others. Desha Indeed's tail female line traces back 13 generations to the mare Rodania.
In the Extended Specialty for Straight Egyptian Three-Year-Old Mares the winner was Bint Al Riyahh (Thee Asil x Emperial Sparkle by Shahir), bred by Timothy Young and owned by Marion Daniel Head. Looking at the pedigree of this winning filly is like looking into a family album. It's full of familiar faces, and memories of those who have passed on but who have left an indelible mark that is passed from one generation to the next. Morafic, Shaikh Al Badi, Ruminaja Ali, Ansata Halim Shah, and Ansata Imperial - these genetic giants are gone, but the stallion line continues through Thee Asil. Many influential mares have also passed - Magidaa, Bint Magidaa, Hanan, but they too live on through their daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters. Bint El Riyahh traces back 12 generations on her tail female line to the mare Venus.
Winning the Extended Specialty for Straight Egyptian Four-Year-Old Mares wasMA Lexlina (Thee Desperado x Farralina by Farres), bred by Miars Enterprises LP and owned by DK Arabians. You don't have to look far to find where this filly got her winning good looks. Her sire, Thee Desperado, is universally respected as a sire. In fact many of the stallions in her pedigree are among the leading sires of the breed. Her dam, Farralina is by the Anaza El Farid son, Farres, and she is out of the PH Safina daughter, BB Orakalina. These individuals and their offspring are proven producers of champions and champion producers. MA Lexlina traces back 16 generations in her tail female line to the mare Jellabiet Feysul.
Egyptian Bred Fillies....
The First Place winner in the Futurity Finals for Egyptian Bred Yearling Fillies was Sanctuary Shahkirah (Thee Desperado x Passionate Bey by Bey Shah), bred and owned by Helen Calloway. This winning filly is every thing one would imagine considering her breeding. She has the exotic type of her sire as well as the charisma and carriage of her dam and maternal grandsire, Bey Shah, one of the all time leading sires of the breed.
Taking Top Honors in the Futurity Finals for Egyptian Bred 2-Year-Old Fillies was Fire Queen SMF (Ali Saourkh x Shaia by Simeon Shai), bred and owned by Christie and Henry Metz of Silver Maple Farm. Fire Queen SMF is a gorgeous young bay filly. Her sire, Ali Saroukh, is deeply Ansata bred. Her dam, U.S. National Reserve Champion Mare Shaia, is by the straight Egyptian triple-crown champion, Simeon Shai and out of the straight Spanish mare Bint Zlabiya, making her an example of the "Golden Cross", which is the blending of Egyptian and Spanish bloodlines - a cross recognized world wide for producing individuals of extreme type and extraordinary quality.
World Class Fillies and Mares....
Winning the World Class Yearling Fillies wasTF Laureyna (Botswana x Temima by ZT Faa'Iq), bred and owned by Allison Mehta. From the very beginning of the show, the name Botswana was like an echo it was repeated so often. Class after class his offspring made their presence known. It seems Botswana is doing an outstanding job consistently producing foals of exceptional type and quality. Some lesser known mares including Charm Of Halima, ZT Jamdusah, IES Sondusah, and SF Bint Sonbohla add diversity to this filly's pedigree. A further search reveals that this straight Egyptian filly traces back 12 generations in her tail female line to the mare Rodania.
The First Place winner in World Class Two-Year-Old Fillies was Bint Tasaqqara (Botswana x Tasaqqara by Ibn Morafic), bred by Duane Scudder and owned by Carol Penn. Bint Tasaqqara is another winner sired by the double The Minstril grandson, Botswana. She is a wonderful example of the quality that this sire line is able to produce.
But don't forget the mares - Bint Tasaqqara, Tasaqqara, Talshamah, Shamah, Rafica, Om El Saad - this filly comes from a long, strong line of mares. We can trace Bint Tasaqqara's tail female line back 11 generations to the mare Rodania.
First in World Class Three-Year-Old Mares wasGrace Of Sinan (Mishaal HP x Sammars Gift by The Minstril), bred by Frankie or Rick Laible, owned by Rebecca Lustig. The sire of the winning filly, Mishaal HP, is a German import that has many ties to the champion producing Ansata lines. Both of Sammars Gift's sire and dam were sired by Ruminaja Ali, so those lines are very strong. It is the mares in Grace of Sinan's pedigree that make a difference. Grace of Sinan, Sammars Gift, Alia Wanisa, Wanisa, Bint Omayma, Omayma, - the tail female line continues for 13 generations and traces back to the mare Rodania
Reserve Senior Champion Mare and Winner of the World Class Four and Five-Year-Old Mares was EE Bella Lucia (Hawkeye CC x LS Thee Desiree by Thee Desperado), bred by Marlis Amato, and owned by Jeffrey Lapoint. EE Bella Lucia's sire, Hawkeye CC, a son of the internationally influential sire Imperial Imdal, is also owned by Jeffrey LaPoint. Sons of Imperial Imdal are among the most prolific producers of international champions in the breed. They are the sires of choice for both straight Egyptian and outcross breeding program across the globe. The mares on both the sire side and the dam side of EE Bella Lucia's pedigree have all contributed to her quality, type and presence. LS Thee Desiree, AK Rafia, AK Rafica, Alnahr Mon Ami, and Bint Fada - this tail female line traces back a staggering 16 generations to the mare Jellabiet Feysul.
Supreme Champion Mare, Senior Champion Mare, and Winner of the World Class Mares Six to Nine-Years-Old was EHP Ayanna (Imperial Imdal x Dorian Fa Halima by Prince Fa Moniet), bred by Edna Poche, and owned by Hank and Sandy DeShazer. EHP Ayanna possesses beauty and breed-ability. Her sire, Imperial Imdal, has had a profound international influence. One of the most visible of his sons has been Laheeb IABS, a stallion that has contributed to the Polish breeding program at the Michalow State Stud, as well as to many straight Egyptian programs. On the female side of EHP Ayanna's pedigree, the first three dams are Dorian Farm bred mares, all well known for their beauty and quality. Dorian Fa Halima, Dorian Sha Halima, Dorian Shahwaniah, Kisra, Omnia - this is a mare line full of femininity and style. Ultimately Ayanna's tail female line traces back 13 generations to the wonderful mare Rodania.
Winning the World Class Mares Ten Years and Older wasShahara El Masr (Shahin El Masr x Ramses Elite by Prince Ibn Shaikh), bred by Shirley Buswell Or Kurt Fingal, and owned by Al Baydaa Egyptian Stud. There are many of the most influential Egyptian sires in Shahara El Masr's pedigree including Anaza El Nisr, a full brother to Anaza El Farid - sire of Gazal Al Shaqab and grand sire of Marwan Al Shaqab - two of the most influential sire in the breed today. However, the mares in Shahara El Masr's pedigree are equally well known, including the world-famous foundation mare Hanan this tail female line traces back nine generations to the foundation mare El Shahbaa.
Straight Egyptian Colts and Stallions....
Winning the Futurity Finals for Straight Egyptian Yearling Colts, Jan 1 - Apr 15, wasMVA Colour Me Cool (True Colours x SKF Tiaara by Imperial Baarez), bred and owned by Jane Washburn and Laurie Emery. The stallions in the pedigree of MVA Colour Me Cool include some that are rather rare and not found in many others - for example Dalul, Imperial Al Kamar, and El Hilal to name just a few. The mares in MVA Colour Me Cool's pedigree are proven champions and champion producers. Some of them include BB Ora Kalilah, PH Safina, Imperial Sonbesjul, Bint Magidaa, Mabrouka, and the historic Serenity Sonbolah. The tail female line of MVA Colour Me Cool traces back 14 generations to the mare El Dahma.
Junior Champion Colt and winner of the Futurity Finals for Straight Egyptian Yearling Colts, Apr 16 - Dec 31, wasJustynn (Alixir x Bint Bint Justina by Thee Desperado), bred and owned by Timothy Manring. This exotic black colt has more than just his good looks and exciting color going for him - Justynn has quality, type, and presence as well as a champion producing pedigree. Although Justynn's pedigree has a phenomenal roster of highly acclaimed straight Egyptian sires, including Thee Desperado, The Minstril, Ruminaja Ali, Shaikh Al Badi, Ibn El Mareek, Jamill, Ansata Ibn Halima, and others; his name reveals another source of his quality - his dam line. It begins with Justynn's dam, Bint Bint Justina, and continues with Alijamila, Ansata Justina, Ansata Judea, Ansata Jamila, Ansata Bint Sameh - this tail female traces all the way back 11 generations to the mare El Dahma.
Winning the Futurity Finals for Straight Egyptian Two-Year-Old Colts was
Rajah KA (Makhnificent KA x Rahimah KA by RA Jahim), by Kehilan Bloodstock and owned by Fanus Crous of New Zealand. Rajah KA is an exotic name which suits this exotic colt. Rajah KA's pedigree represents a unique group of stallions, some of which have not been found in the pedigree of others at this show. A few of those stallions include Ibn Dahmahn, Wahag, Ibn Hafiza, and Tuhotmos. Equally interesting are some of the mares in Rajah KA's pedigree. Some of those mares include AK Amiri, Fayrouz, Dahmah Shahwaniah, Bint El Nil, and Cleopatraa. The tail female line of Rajah KA's pedigree traces back 11 generations to the mare Rodania.
Reserve Supreme Champion Stallion, Reserve Senior Champion Stallion, and Winner of the Extended Specialty Straight Egyptian Three-Year-Old Stallions, was The Legend (Thee Desperado x Alia Shaniah by Shahir), bred by Wanda and Gary Kenworthy and owned by Donald Brandenburg. The Legend is a handsome and charismatic young stallion whose pedigree includes many of the legends of the breed: Thee Desperado, The Minstril, Ruminaja Ali, Shaikh Al Badi, Morafic, Ansata Halim Shah - each of these stallions are included in the list of all time leading sires. That's quite a tradition to uphold. The mares in The Legend's pedigree are highly regarded as well. Although they can not have the same influence as the stallions in terms of numbers of offspring, it is through the success of their sons and daughters that they earn their acclaim. AK Amiri Asmarr, Bahila, Imperial Imphayana, Bint Magidaa, Bint Mona, Hanan, Bint Maisa El Saghira, and Ansata Rosetta are all mares who have produced prolific, champion producing sons and they are all included in The Legend's pedigree. A further look at the dam line of Legend's pedigree shows that the tail female line traces back 15 generations to the mare Rodania.
The winner of the Extended Specialty for Straight Egyptian Four-Year-Old Stallions wasRadaar Love (Shahir x Semply Irazistabl, by Thee Infidel), bred and owned by Sydney Porter. Generally the quality of exotic beauty is associated with the females of the breed. However, in the case of Radaar Love the stallions in his pedigree are internationally regarded as sires of extreme type, especially Salaa El Dine and Ansata Halim Shah. The mares in the pedigree are equally esteemed as producers and are know around the world for their influential offspring - Hanan, Ansata Rosetta, Imperial Phanadah, Bint Magidaa, Pharrah, Bahila, and Bint Magida are among the most famous. The tail female line in Radaar Love's pedigree traces back eight generations to the mare Hind.
Egyptian Bred Colts....
Winning the class of Futurity Finals for Egyptian Bred Yearlings Colts wasTF Hassan (Botswana x SH Heumoresque by Euker), bred and owned by Allison Mehta. TF Hassan is a handsome individual that represents a blending of bloodlines. His sire, Botswana, is straight Egyptian and his dam, SH Heumoresque by Euker, carries Polish bloodlines. Although the idea of crossing Egyptian and Polish lines is not new, the Arabian industry has seen a tremendous revival of this concept. The results have been incredibly successful in creating champions and champion producers.
Reserve Junior Champion Colt and winner of the Futurity Finals for Egyptian Bred Two-Year-Old Colts wasPinnacle Desha (Richteous x Om El Shadina by Sanadik El Shaklan), bred and owned by Sandra and Hank DeShazer. Pinnacle Desha is a handsome, charismatic, and well bred colt. His sire, Richteous, by Richter MH and out of Bint Bint Magidaa, has a rich family history and includes many of the most influential straight Egyptian bloodlines. Pinnacle Desha's dam, Om El Shadina, is by Sanadik El Shaklan, a sire of numerous international champions, and she is out of Om El Shaina. Thus Om El Shadina has two crosses to the straight Spanish aristocratic mare, Estopa, a mare who has established numerous important and influential breeding programs around the world.
World Class Colts and Stallions....
Placing first in the class for World Class Yearling Colts was Thee Epitome RCA (The Sequel RCA x Imdala RCA by Thee Infidel), bred and owned by Rock Creek Arabians. The stallions in this colt's pedigree are some of the most influential and prolific sires of the breed - Thee Desperado, The Minstril, Ruminaja Ali, Shaikh Al Badi, Morafic, and Nazeer - it would be hard for anyone to find a stronger sire line. The tail female in the pedigree of Thee Epitome RCA traces back 15 generations to the mare Roga El Beida.
The First Place winner in World Class Two-Year-Old Colts was Shamas (Pimlico RCA x Minstrils Deseret by Thee Minstril), bred and owned by Bill James and Irma James. Shamas has a very interesting pedigree. Although he carries lines to The Minstril on both sides of his pedigree, and several lines to Ruminaja Ali and Shaikh Al Badi, he also has lines to the important sires Jamill, Galal, Alaa El Din and ultimately to Nazeer. Where would the breed be with out Nazeer? On the dam's side of Shamas' pedigree you will find Minstrils Deseret, Hannah BA, AK Karma, Tanta, Missouri, and others that trace back seven generations to the mare Mabrouka.
The winner of World Class Three-Year-Old Stallions wasThee Integrity (Thee Infidel x Thee Asriel Salam by Thee Desperado), bred by Carolyn and Doug Armstrong, and owned by Wanda and Gary Kenworthy. Every sire line in Thee Integrity's pedigree traces back to Nazeer through his son Morafic with the exception of one line that connects through his son, Alaa El Din. On his dam's side, Thee Integrity traces back 11 generations to the 1898 mare, Bint El Bahrein.
First Place in the World Class Stallions Four and Five-Years-Old was TF Afrikhan Shah (Botswana x Rohara Shahblee by Bey Shah), bred and owned by Curtis Westley. TF Afrikhan Shah is the first class winner with a pedigree that is a result of the blending of bloodlines. His sire, Botswana, is of course straight Egyptian and all of his sire lines trace to Nazeer through Morafic, Shaikh Al Badi, or The Egyptian Prince. TF Afrikhan Shah's dam side is predominantly Polish and Crabbet lines, all of which trace to desert bred horses, many of which originated in Egypt.
The Supreme Champion Stallion, Senior Champion Stallion, and Winner of the World Class Stallions Six to Nine-Years-Old wasArabest Samir (Akid Geshan x RA Amber Nabiel by Nabiel), bred by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Trapp, owned by Theron King and Susan King. In a world where family is everything, the name Arabest is highly regarded as a family of distinction. Arabest Arabians is owned by Pat and Bill Trapp, owners of the historically important sire Nabiel. Their efforts changed the face of the industry, especially for straight Egyptian breeders. In addition to Arabest Samir's obvious quality and type, this stallion offers breeders another very valuable asset. His pedigree makes him a wonderful option for mares with a high percentage of Nazeer blood because Arabest Samir has only four lines that trace to that important sire. The females in Arabest Samir's family are equally important, many are recognized for their contributions including the mares Magidaa, Fa Moniet, Moniet El Nefous, Mabrouka, and others. Arabest Samir's dam, Amber Nabiel's tail female line traces back 13 generations to the mare Rodania.
Taking the First Place in World Class Stallions Ten-Years and Older was Amiin+// (Ibn Morafic x Ajibah by Ibn Shaikh) bred by Thistlewood Farms and owned by Daniel Rupley and Summer Rupley. Amiin is a classic example of a well bred straight Egyptian stallion. In addition to the many influential sires that appear in his pedigree, the dam line is equally strong. Amiin traces back 11 generations to the mare Venus. Her daughter Hadba, by Saklawi I, was foaled in 1894 which illustrates the longevity of this historic line.
Egyptian Breeders Challenge Fillies....
Earning the First Place Award in Egyptian Breeders Challenge Fillies ATH was Sybella SMF (Majestic Noble SMF x Samura by Anaza El Farid), bred and owned by Christie and Henry Metz of Silver Maple Farm. This lovely filly combines the regal looks of her sire and the substance, character, and carriage of her spirited dam. Majestic Noble is a young stallion, but he is already proving his ability to sire foals of exceptional quality and extreme type. The mare Samura is everything one would expect from a daughter of Anaza El Farid; bay, exotic, and possessing a wonderful character and charisma. Sybella SMF traces in her tail female line 13 generations to the mare El Dahma.
Egyptian Breeders Challenge Colts....
In the Egyptian
Breeders Challenge Colts & Geldings ATH the First Place winner was Tamer Emir PG (Ansata Nile Emir x Backwind Tigris by Ansata Cairo Bey), bred and owned by Dennis and Bridgette Orwig. This winning colt is deeply Ansata bred on both the sire and dam sides of his pedigree. These bloodlines have produced national and international champions, and have become the foundation for other breeding programs around the world. Taher Emir PG traces back 15 generations to the mare Jellabiet Feysul.
It was a delight to attend this year's Egyptian Event. The horses were gorgeous, the seminars and discussions were informative and thought provoking, and the parties were a blast. But it was the people, the members and supporters of The Pyramid Society, who came together that really made the Egyptian Event so special. They created a welcoming, positive atmosphere that showcased their beautiful horses. You could feel the love and the pride, as well as the nervous excitement from the owners when the horses were being presented.
An interesting fact was revealed when a count was taken of the winners, breeders, and owners. Of the 28 champions and class winners discussed in this story, 15 of them - more than 50% - were bred by their owners. For many of the breeders, the horses they presented were second, third, and in some cases fourth generations of their programs. That fact illustrates the commitment of this particular group. For the past 28 years, the goals of The Pyramid Society have included preserving, protecting, and perpetuating straight Egyptian Arabian horses. With their high energy and deep commitment, it seems as though The Pyramid Society is doing all they can to achieve those goals and ensure a bright future for the Egyptian Arabian horse.
If you would like more information about Egyptian Arabian horses, the Egyptian Event, or The Pyramid Society, you are invited to visit their website at www.pyramidsociety.org


text:
Graduate Yazoo Recruitment jobs in Free State in Last Week
Yazoo Recruitment is a Closed Corporation that commenced operations in January 2003. Yazoo has established a dynamic reputation and enjoyed steady growth in the Call Centre, Insurance and Financial Services Industries in Cape Town. 2006 saw Yazoo branching out into the Gauteng & KwaZulu Natal areas. Yazoo has formed a solid network of connections in the recruitment industry and preferred market sectors by rendering top-flight service to clients and candidates alike. At Yazoo we strive to give personal attention and to provide service with integrity.
No results were found.


text:
Upon arriving in Washington, D.C. just hours before his swearing-in, Congressman-elect Joseph P. Kennedy III spoke about his upcoming term in Congress and how he'll work to reform the nation's gun laws.
Speaking with the Boston Herald, Massachusetts Congressman Kennedy said that in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy that gun legislation reform "is something I certainly feel strongly about."
"I know there's been a lot of leadership already on it. I'd love to support those efforts, and if that means taking a strong leadership role, I'd be honored to do it."
Kennedy said he supports reinstating the assault weapons ban, closing the gun-show loophole and making it harder for mentally ill criminals to get weapons.
"Obviously this country has had too many moments of late where these horrific tragedies — after which we say 'never again' — keep happening. We as a society have to take a long look and say, 'What can we do to prevent another tragedy from taking place?' "
Gun control hits a little closer to home for Kennedy, considering his grandfather Robert F. Kennedy and great-uncle President Kennedy were both killed by gunmen.
Aside from gun control, Kennedy also spoke to the recent drama in Congress regarding the 'fiscal cliff.' Said Kennedy, "Hopefully everybody can take a step back and learn from what's happened over the last 24-48 hours and the frustration so many members of the public and Congress felt."
"There's really no excuse for that. We know there are deadlines coming up."
With beginning his new term as Congressman, Kennedy is reviving the Kennedy legacy in Congress, one that has been empty since 2011 when his cousin Patrick Kennedy stepped down from his Rhode Island seat. Kennedy's father Joseph P. Kennedy II served as a Massachusetts congressman from 1987 to 1999.
Speaking to his famous political lineage, Kennedy said, "The lesson I've learned most from them and other members is there's absolutely no substitute for hard work."


text:
A child abuse allegation against Brad Pitt has triggered a "routine" investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles County, a source close to the agency told NBC News Thursday.
The investigation stems from a recent incident with a child on board a private plane flying from Europe to Los Angeles, the source said. The incident was anonymously reported to authorities several days later. Pitt has six children with actress Angelina Jolie, who filed for divorce from the actor on Monday.
According to the DCFS source, Pitt is not allowed to have contact with the child, which is usual in such cases, while the investigation is ongoing.
The Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI have not launched an investigation. An FBI spokeswoman, Laura Eimiller, said in a statement late Thursday that the agency is still evaluating whether to do its own investigation into the allegations.
Citing irreconcilable differences, Jolie filed for divorce "for the health of the family," her lawyer Robert Offer told The Associated Press. Jolie is asking for physical custody of their six children — Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8. The couple married on August 14, 2014 after a 12-year relationship.
"Angelina will always do what's in the best interest to protect her children," her manager Geyer Kosinski told E! News in a statement. "She appreciates everyone's understanding of their need for privacy at this time."
In a statement released to People Magazine, Pitt said his focus is also on the "well-being of our kids," adding that he is saddened by divorce and asking "the press to give [the children] the space they deserve during this challenging time."
Pitt was previously married to actress Jennifer Aniston in 2000, divorcing in 2005. This was the third marriage for Jolie, having previously been wed to Jonny Lee Miller in 1996 and Billy Bob Thornton in 2000.
The divorce was first reported by TMZ.


text:
mb_enterprises necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 44 diseños de 12 diseñadores freelance.
We need a logo for a new Customer Feedback Program we are launching to gather feedback from our retail customers. We are going to draw attention to the program by placing placards, stickers and post cards throughout all our retail locations. Our goal is to encourage as many shoppers as possible to use their mobile phones to call us and answer 3 short questions at point of sale.
Give a Hoot
Have you ever received bad service at a retail location that wanted to make you scream? We have and we don't want it to happen to our customers. Have you ever been so delighted by your service that you want to tell a manager? I know, it's rare, but it happens too and we want to hear about it.
We are launching a program to solicit feedback from all our customers. Every one of them if possible. We need a great, yet simple, design that will encourage people to call our toll free number. We think we have a number that is memorable 1 888 898 HOOT that will allow for creative designs.
Now we need an eye catching logo design that can communicate to a customer in five seconds and that they can call this toll free number and rate our service.
- It needs to say Rate My Service
- It needs to have the vanity number 1 888 898 HOOT and some combination of the regular number 1 888 898 4668. In other words, it needs to show people not familiar with vanity numbers that HOOT stands for dialing 4668.
- It could say Give a Hoot, but this is secondary
- We are open to creative designs, but the logo must communicate that we take customer service seriously
- No bright colors
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
Brazil and the World Trade Organization are dealing with a situation that bears little resemblance to real world conditions in the cotton market, Collin Peterson, chairman of the House Ag Committee, said during a farm bill field hearing Monday in Lubbock, Texas.
Peterson, commenting on the negotiations currently underway with Brazil to prevent retaliatory measures allowed by the WTO ruling against the U.S. cotton program, said the issue is based on situations that existed under previous farm bills. "It's about past history," he said. "Brazil is suing you over past history."
He also said future trade negotiations that don't include ag will not fly. "We will not live with it if agriculture is not (treated fairly). Without agriculture they will not get a deal."
He quipped that the only way U.S. agriculture could get a fair deal from the WTO was "to figure out a way to become a developing nation."
He said the next farm bill likely would include changes for cotton because of the WTO/Brazil case. "We'll have to do something but I'm not certain what. We're not sure what Brazil wants, but we will have to change. My interest is to protect the safety net for production agriculture so that it works for the producer."
Brad Heffington, a cotton producer from Lamb County, Texas, said the WTO/Brazil cotton case complicates discussions about the cotton program. "It's a complex program and the case was filed under two previous farm bills. Cotton acreage has decreased by about half since the case was first filed. We don't know what they want.
"Now, we have a foreign country dictating to our Congress what our laws should be. I don't believe cotton was ever the main issue, but other goods. I'm at a loss as to what we should do."
Representative Mike Rogers, R-Ala., asked Doyle Schniers, a cotton grower from San Angelo, Texas, what effect trade agreements and the loss of the domestic textile industry have had on cotton markets.
"Our primary markets now are Asian," Schniers said. "We are producing high-quality cotton in Texas and that's what Asian markets want."
Rogers said trade agreements are as important to cotton as they are for rice and wheat. "It's important that we keep the markets we have now."
L.G. Raun, a rice producer from El Campo, Texas, testified that rice has not been well represented in past trade agreements. "Rice was completely excluded from the free trade agreement with South Korea, foreclosing any new markets for U.S. rice producers in that country," he said.
Raun said the Columbia Free Trade agreement would "provide significant new market access for the Mid-South rice industry. But it is stalled."
He said the Doha Round of negotiations of the WTO concerns producers. "We have seen nothing in the Doha Round negotiations (that would change U.S. producers' disadvantage with foreign subsidies and tariffs). In fact, in many ways Doha would make matters worse."
He said trade agreements that phase in market access over many years but reduce the farm safety net immediately, are not fair trade and make no economic sense. "They don't cash flow at the bank."
Panelists also encouraged the committee to support a trade agreement with Cuba. Panelist David Cleavinger, a wheat, corn, cotton and grain sorghum producer from Wildorado, Texas, said a Cuban trade deal would mean an $18 million annual economic benefit to Texas.
Raun said Cuba was once "the number one export market for U.S. rice. We believe it is potentially a 400,000-ton to 600,000-ton market if normal commercial relations are established. We wish to commend Chairman Peterson and Congressman (Jerry) Moran (Kansas) for your leadership in introducing legislation to open agricultural trade as well as remove travel restrictions to Cuba."
Other panelists also expressed support for efforts to increase agricultural trade. "We support international trade policies that aggressively pursue expanded market access for U.S. beef, enforce trade agreements that are based on internationally recognized standards and guidelines and hold our trading partners accountable for international trade agreements," said Joe Parker, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Peterson said the Obama administration is "moving forward," with efforts to open livestock markets in Japan, Korea and Russia. "The administration has been as proactive as possible," on the issue, he said.
Cleavinger said swift approval of the Columbia Free Trade Agreement is critical for wheat producers. "The United States once boasted maintaining roughly 85 percent of the Columbian market," he said. "Estimates now show that our share could fall as low as 30 percent if Canada, one of our leading competitors, approves a free trade agreement before the United States. That is unacceptable."
Dan Smith, speaking for the national Sorghum Producers, said trade "is vital to our marketplace since 38 percent of U.S. grain sorghum is exported to Mexico, Japan, the European Union and other markets."
Other speakers urged the committee to maintain proven international marketing programs. "It is important for the United States to increase our share of markets," said Dee Vaughan, a corn grower from Dumas, Texas. "Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development funds help producer groups and others build and maintain markets. It is important that adequate funding be available through the farm bill."
He said the Corn Producers Association of Texas supports bi-lateral trade agreements pending for Panama, South Korea, and Columbia, but "has strong reservations about the U.S. offer to the WTO within the Doha Round of negotiations."
He said the language in the proposal is so ambiguous that it will make it difficult to create a commodity program that would be unchallenged by foreign competitors.
Panelists conceded that WTO rulings would affect the 2012 farm bill debate. "We encourage the committee to give careful consideration to trade matters that might result in increased exports of farm commodities and specifically support the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Fund," said Billy Bob Brown, testifying for the Texas Farm Bureau.
e-mail: email@example.com


text:
Good Morning everyone! Ready for NGS2012? Have a few last minute things to pack?
I've been running like a madwoman since I got into Cincinnati on Sunday. I managed to start processing two boxes of family photos and correspondence my cousin has, went to two cemeteries and got to the Cincinnati Library for about three hours yesterday to look at microfilm. I forgot to mention in my post yesterday (it's here) that I met another first time conference goer, named John, while we were looking at microfilm. He'd come in on Friday to do family research also, and though a bit shy about having his name in my little blog, he's definitely the typical (as I see it for myself) first time conference attendee: we want to cram as much into, and get as much out of, this week as we possibly can.
So as we were standing there fawning over the new microfilm machines, I mentioned that I was going to spend a bit more time going over the Conference schedule on the great app that they have for smartphones. He hadn't heard about it, and while I know I've seen it on my Twitter feed, I suspect it might not be as well publicized as it could be. I use an Android phone, but I believe the app is the same for an iPhone. So, without further ado:
Locate the place to find apps. You have to download an app called 'Guidebook'. Once you've downloaded and installed that, there's a page to 'Select a Guide to Download'. There are four options here, and by selecting the 'Trade Shows & Events' tab, it opens up everything that is available. You'll need to scroll through the list of available guides under the 'Soon' tab, but you can't miss the #NGS2012 logo! Select the tab for that, and the guide will begin to download. Be patient, it might take a minute.
There will now be a tab called 'My Guides'. In the future, there will be an icon on your phone called 'Guidebook' and when you select that, it immediately takes you to the 'My Guides' page. Select the 'NGS 2012 Family History Conference' tab and...Voila! You, my friend, have just opened up a world of great tools!
My favorite, right now, is the Exhibitors page. Not only can you see an alphabetical list of vendors, but by selecting a vendor, you go to a page that describes what they have AND the very best part? At the bottom, there is an 'Add to To-Do' selection. That's right! By selecting that link, it will add to your 'To-Do' list an item that says, 'Visit (insert vendor here)'. There are also pages for News Flash, Speakers, Maps, Photos, Twitter (#NGS2012...how awesome!), and the part I love the most, Schedules by Day, Level, and Tracks. Once you've added the sessions that you want, you can select 'My Schedule' to see a daily breakdown of everything you have planned.
THIS is going to be my number 1 tool while I'm at the Conference. A bit of a hint: there's another app called 'Juice Defender' that I recommend for anyone who worries about their battery running out of, well, juice. Especially for those of us who will be relying on our phones for blogging, tweeting, and all varieties of other social media during the conference, ensuring your battery is working at its most efficient is very important. I carry an additional battery and a credit card sized charger also.
So, are you ready? This is my first NGS conference. I'm nervous as...I'm really nervous. It's a good nervous. I'm hoping to meet lots and lots of people who share my passion for genealogy. I'm also excited to share my passion for preserving the work we do. If you're going...find me! I want to meet you. It's going to be a wonderful conference!
08 May 2012
Technology Tuesday - There's an App for That - NGS 2012
4 comments:
Thanks for keeping us in the loop!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the great tip on Juice Defender. I ended up still having issues with my battery power and started carrying my power cord around! Anyway, I totally agree that the App was a great way to keep organized at the conference. I loved the To Do's too!ReplyDeleteReplies
You know, I had issues with my phone as well...I think it just got as tired as I was! I'm certain without the App for the Conference by Thursday afternoon all would've been lost...LOL. Glad you had such a great time!Delete
Have a wonderful time - I really envy you! I wish we had cool conferences like that in Brisbane.ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
- ► 2013 (34)
- Wordless Wednesday - Golden Clue
- Amanuensis Monday - From Victor Wersel (1892-1963)...
- Thankful Thursday - I Passed the Test! DNA Results...
- Wordless Wednesday - Laura Louisa Greene Richards ...
- Sentimental Sunday - NGS2012 and Family
- Friday Funny - You're Supposed to USE What You Lea...
- Wisdom Wednesday - The Brain Trust at NGS 2012
- Technology Tuesday - There's an App for That - NGS...
- Madness Monday - The Insanity that is NGS 2012
- Follow Friday - I Can't Afford to Go to NGS2012 !!...
- ▼ May (10)


text:
Or download our app "Guided Lessons by Education.com" on your device's app store.
Verbs Relay Race!
In year two kids start to learn the difference between verbs ("action words") and nouns (objects, people, places). Help them take in this information with their whole bodies by playing a few boisterous rounds of this party or playground game.
What You Need:
- Index cards
- Pen
- Whistle or other snappy sound maker for the starting line
- Chalk
- A few energetic, enthusiastic first graders
What You Do:
- This is a version of the classic relay race, just like in the Olympics, where teams of kids will work together. Each child will take a leg of the race and the fastest team wins the round. There's just one catch: each "leg" will require a different action, and nobody can say it aloud. Racers must use their year two reading skills in order to know what to do.
- Make two stacks of index cards, and have the kids help you brainstorm action words that they can do on the move, such as skip, run, jump, hop, flap, tango. This is a great time to introduce some unusual or unexpected verbs to expand their vocabularies. Write each word on two cards and place one of each in a stack for each team.
- Divide your first graders into two teams, each with at least 2-3 racers. Then mark out a course that's a reasonable length for your little athletes. They'll need to be able to go up and back without dropping down exhausted!
- Now it's time for action-word reading action. Stand between each team and have the first player draw a card from that team's stack. On the count of three, start the race, and be ready for hilarity.
- While the first racer is in motion, the second one can grab a card and get ready for action. As soon as the first racer tags up, the second can go…and on down the line until the cards are used up.
Why it Works:First graders need endless practise with reading skills in all forms, but often these come on pencil and paper, or inside classrooms. Many kids benefit when they can get their full bodies in on the task. In teacher talk, it's called "kinesthetic" learning; in kid-world, it's usually called just plain fun.


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
The Product Club Disposable Eyeglass Guards 10ct, is a great product that helps insure the clients glasses to be well protected during a color treatment. Comes in 2 tones, black and silver. This item specifically protects the eye glasses arms during hair color application. This item allows clients to keep their eyewear on during their treatment while preventing staining or damage to the frames.
Product Club:
Product Club:
- Comes in 2 tones, black and silver
- Protects arms of glasses against stains during color treatment
- Allows clients to keep their glasses on during their color treatment
- 10 Disposable Eyeglass guards
Additional Info
|Product Club


text:
Perhaps the title to Judd Apatow's "This Is 40" has been shortened from the more accurate "This Is 40 Minutes too Long."
That's unlikely, though. Judd Apatow never shortens anything. In several alternate universes, the third act of "Funny People" still hasn't ended.
In what is either a sequel or a spinoff, the supporting characters that Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann played in "Knocked Up" have become the leads, and the marital problems and middle-age anxieties of Pete and Debbie are now front and center.
The ramshackle excuse for a story takes place during the week that Pete and Debbie both turn 40. Debbie's birthday comes first, and she wants everyone to believe she is holding at 38. She finds it difficult to maintain this deception with her husband openly turning the big four-oh a few days later.
The comedy is divided evenly between run of the mill fears about middle age and run of the mill marriage difficulties. Debbie, who is more paranoid about the age thing, insists the couple follow a healthier regimen. She has to stop sneaking smokes and he has to stop sneaking cupcakes.
As for the marriage issues, she complains he doesn't communicate anymore and he complains they don't have as much sex as they used to. They both worry they have lost control of their children. Anyone longing for an R-rated "Everybody Loves Raymond" can rejoice.
To reflect our economically dicey times, Pete and Debbie are overextended financially, although Debbie doesn't know it yet. While secretly giving money to his cranky father (Albert Brooks), Pete has missed the most recent mortgage payment. His self-owned record label is in dire straits and he is pinning everything on a Graham Parker comeback album (Parker plays himself and is pretty funny).
The lovely and charming Mann, as most viewers probably know, is Apatow's wife. Her roles in his films have grown in prominence, so it doesn't come as a surprise that she is on camera more often than Rudd.
Apatow and Mann's two daughters, Maude and Iris, play Pete and Debbie's two daughters, Sadie and Charlotte. The girls played the same roles in "Knocked Up," but back then they didn't have to do much besides romp in the backyard, play with bubbles and deliver cute, smart-alecky lines in the Hollywood tradition of cute, smart-alecky kids.
In "This Is 40," the daughters are integral to the story. While this produces some decent material, particularly Sadie's obsession with "Lost," several scenes with the girls are among the film's most awkward. They exist because Apatow wants to showcase his children, just as the film itself is largely an excuse to showcase his wife.
Since breaking through with "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," Apatow has become a prolific producer who has shepherded an empire of comedies (including "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Bridesmaids") featuring a stock company of actors and the same tone of affable vulgarity he perfected in "Knocked Up." In "This Is 40," which, believe it or not, is only the third film Apatow has directed since "Virgin," he goes adrift of the formula that has served him so well.
In those earlier films, the language was often crude but it remained believably in character. This time Apatow apparently encourage his players to not hold back and improvise the most disgustingly indecent dialogue they can imagine. They go far past the point of language human beings would conceivably say to each other in even impolite conversation. Apatow has placed the joke above the character, and is mining Kevin Smith's worst instincts for the shock value of language.
Apatow's supreme weakness as a filmmaker has been evident from the start. He loves his actors and their improvisational skills so much he cannot bear cut their performances. Even his first two films, heretofore known as "the good ones," are longer than they should be, but they make up for it by being funny from start to finish.
"This Is 40" is intermittently funny. Probably this is intentional. Apatow seems to be stretching himself towards Paul Mazursky's penchant for X-raying contemporary life. Even more than "Funny People" with its bloated final act, though, Apatow's latest could have used the most discipline in the editing suite.
Because the structure is so loose, and the style so observational and episodic, the cuts that should have been plain to Apatow are plain to the audience.
"This Is 40" has moments where vulgarity doesn't impede honesty and Apatow's desire to show off his children doesn't overshadow his depiction of a contemporary family. But these moments are separated by acres of guff, some of it painful to watch.