text:
Thursday night's BSO concert came to a sudden halt in the middle of the massive slow movement that crowns Mahler's Third Symphony, as a chorister fainted on stage, falling off a low riser into a small space behind the trombones. Conductor Daniele Gatti put down his baton and walked off stage as the orchestra fell silent, and Gatti returned a few minutes later to resume the performance. According to a BSO spokesman, the chorister hit her head but was OK and was being treated on site by paramedics.
The BSO's Mahler program follows on the heels of last week's all-Wagner program, and shared a certain affinity with it. Or as Pierre Boulez once put it: "Just as Wagner destroyed the artificial order of the opera in order to initiate a far more creative attitude to the drama, so Mahler revolutionized the symphony, ravaging its all too neatly ordered landscape and introducing his hallucinatory visions into the holy place where logic used to be worshipped."
No Mahler symphony expresses those visions as viscerally or as sprawlingly as the composer's Third: a panoramic view of the natural world in all its teeming Dionysian glory and the human place within it, capped by one of the composer's paeans to love itself, all encompassing, religious.
Thursday's night performance boasted many moments of brilliant ensemble work. Also striking were the beautifully noble off-stage posthorn solos of Thomas Rolfs, the sound drifting in as if from a distant world; the subtle trombone work of Toby Oft; and the smooth solo playing of violinist Elita Kang sitting as concertmaster. Mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter brought cool colorings and scrupulous musicianship to her solo work, joined effectively in the fifth movement by the PALS Children's Chorus and the women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (which Gatti unfortunately chose to leave standing during the long instrumental finale). At the end of the night the massed forces on stage received a robust ovation.
All of this said, I wish I could find more sympathy for Gatti's interpretations. The tightness with which he sculpted orchestral phrases in the first movement left the music at times sounding airless or came at the expense of a longer expressive arc.
The second and third movements were more successful, but the finale, even before its interruption, was taken at a tempo so slow that any sense of tension or emotive accumulation in the musical line was bafflingly lost.
So was the music's core sense of meaning. Other interpreters draw from this spiraling adagio a statement of enormous expressive power and spiritual generosity. What exactly Gatti hears in this concluding music I could not say.
Jeremy Eichler can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
This email just arrived in the Deadspin inbox:
Dear Deadspin,
My name is Brian Downing. As I'm sure you know, it's not easy being a Brian Downing this week. For the better part of forty years, the only minor inconvenience I've had associated with being a Brian Downing is when people ask me if I'm related to the baseball player of the same name. I'd politely say no and go about my day. Actually, that's not even an inconvenience. It's rather cool that people think I'm related to him.
But this week that all changed. People are still asking me about my name, alright, but it certainly doesn't pertain to any baseball player. Thanks to a particular douche from Alabama, my phone's been ringing off the hook. Friends call...co-workers call...people I don't even know call. They all have one grave concern about this Brian Downing.
It was funny at first, but then this morning it hit me: My dad reads Deadspin from time to time. If he reads it, what other people who once thought somewhat highly of me might read it? What are those people going to think? Some of them don't know how to contact me to ask me themselves. Some of them won't contact me for fear that it might be me who was in that video. How can I set the record straight?
I needed to come back to you, Deadspin, to help me out. Could you do me this one favor? Could you just publish this short letter to the many friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances that could very well be disgusted and sick to their stomachs at the thought that their Brian Downing was the guy on the news? Thank you so much for understanding and for helping a fella from Ohio out.
Dear Family, Friends, and anyone else who may know me,
In spite of what you may have read on Deadspin or saw on the news, I am not - nor have I ever been - an Alabama fan. I promise. Just the idea that recent events in New Orleans may have put that thought into your head makes me ill. I admit, I may not always be perfect, but even I would never stoop so low as to become a fan of the Crimson Tide. You can count on me for at least that much. I hope this clears things up and brings a sigh of relief to all of you.
Your Brian Downing.
Thank you, Deadspin. You're my only hope.
The other other Brian Downing.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Official Press Release
Spawn's 20th Anniversary is in full swing and what better way to show your hellspawn pride then to wear it proudly across your chest. Travis Barker, Blink 182 drummer and creator of the popular apparel company Famous Stars & Straps, has teamed up with comic book legend Todd McFarlane to release this new line of licensed Spawn t-shirts to celebrate 20 years of Spawn's!
The new line consists of eight Spawn t-shirt designs. All are currently available at Tilly's Stores Nationwide as well as Tilly's Online Store. T-shirts will also be available on the Famous Stars and Straps website.
To help promote the new line, Tilly's recently started a "Become a Spawn Character" contest on its company website where fans can enter for a chance to be drawn into an upcoming issue of the Spawn comic book.
The grand prize winner will also receive a trip for two to Tempe, AZ, to take a VIP tour of TMP offices and spend time with legendary Spawn creator Todd McFarlane. The prize includes airfare, lodging, and transportation.
There is no purchase necessary and the contest runs through March 26, 2012. Visit Tillys.com website for more details.
Stay tuned to www.spawn.com to get the latest TMP news and info on all your favorite McFarlane products.
We're Social, are you?
To stay in the know on all things McFarlane -- including exclusive content, behind-the-scene coverage, news, events, contests, and giveaways... "Follow Us" on Twitter or "Fan Us" on Facebook!


text:
|Mug shot of Adrian Peterson following Saturday's arrest. (Houston Police Department/Special to NFL.com)
Two days after Adrian Peterson's arrest for resisting arrest, it remains unclear what exactly happened leading up to the incident. It is becoming clearer, however, what sort of punishment Peterson might get.
Houston Police Department Spokesperson Kese Smith told NFL.com and NFL Network on Monday that he would probably end up with a fine because Peterson's charge is a misdemeanor.
Peterson is due back in court on Friday and has no known prior record. Smith said he'd believed that Peterson's case would be adjudicated quickly. Peterson's arrest document indicates he pushed a police officer and that Peterson knew the person was an officer.
Peterson is one of the league's biggest and brightest stars so a story like this deserves attention. Ultimately, it might not affect the 2012 Minnesota Vikings much. First-time offenders of the NFL's conduct policy are usually not suspended for something like resisting arrest.
The Vikings could also discipline Peterson, but that seems unlikely.


text:
With its watertight double seal and a secure transparent window on either side, your tablet's touchscreen will remain in use, even when submerged in up to 5 metres of water. You'll never have to worry about your device when you're around water, sand, and dirt thanks to the BeachBuoy waterproof case.
Tested and approved by the British Standards Institute after being submerged at 5 metres for an hour, the BeachBuoy Waterproof iPad Case passed BSI IP57 / IP58.
Dimensions: 265 x 200mm
- 100% waterproof case
- Window dimensions: 230 x 172mm
- Dimensions: 265 x 200mm
- Double seal and Velcro closure system
- BSI approved (IP57/IP58)
- Use your BeachBuoy to protect other valuables from water, sand and dust
- Lifetime Exchange Warranty
All items will be sent using Royal Mail, followed by your local postal service, absolutely free of charge..
Other faster options are also available:
The free 'standard shipping' option takes between 2-3 working days from the time of dispatch, although we usually find it takes less.
All of our international orders are sent by standard mail worldwide. However, if you would like your order to be tracked, we will happily arrange for it to be sent via other recorded means. You can select the delivery option you would like at the checkout.
Please be aware that your order must be placed before 1pm between Monday to Friday to take advantage of the Next Day delivery option.
Returns Address
To check full details of our returns policy, please visit our Help and Support pages
Recommended for you
Quick View
The BeachBuoy Collection - 100% Waterproof Cases for Smartphones
Regular Price: £14.95
Special Price: £12.71
Add to basket


text:
SendGrid Cabo Kickoff 2014Carly Brantz
I have been extremely fortunate to be with SendGrid for 2 1/2 years and to attend not one but all three SendGrid company kickoff events in Mexico. I am one lucky lady! I can confidently say that each one has been a special trip where I learned about the company, my coworkers, and our plans for the year.
Our first trip we traveled as a group of 50 to Cancun, last year was nearly 100 when we kicked off the year in Puerto Vallarta, and this year, we almost took over the entire resort as our group of 180 arrived to the Fiesta Americana resort in Cabo San Lucas.
The size of the trip alone should give you an indication of how tremendous the growth over the last few years has been for SendGrid and it was a treat to get all of our employees in one place. All offices, from Colorado, California, and Rhode Island were in attendance along with employees literally from across the globe in Japan, England, and Romania.
Our first night we had a dinner overlooking the beach and our CEO, Jim Franklin presented awards to employees who have really embodied our 4Hs throughout the year. This year, the awards were given to:
- Honest – Silvia Botros and Rishi Malik
- Hungry – Regan Peschel and Sam Nguyen
- Happy – Nick Quinlan and Ryan Harris
- Humble – Jon Verson and Joe Hamlet
After dinner we had the first of many SendGrid dance parties while our very own Brad Stouffer was our DJ for the evening.
Ken Apple, our Director of Technical Services, and I had the honors of hosting the meetings our second day. It was something like the "Ken and Carly show" where we heard inspiring stories from our founders about where SendGrid came from, learned the company vision from our CEO, Jim Franklin, and reviewed metrics and numbers from 2013 while looking ahead to forecasts for 2014.
We heard from each department with fun videos and we did interviews and panel discussions to hear what everyone has in store for 2014. Of course we also worked in our own version of the Family Feud and some entertaining Minute to Win It team building activities, which ended with one of our founders, Isaac Saldana, winning the two minute pushup, sit-up, and squat challenge to earn his team first place.
We spent our last day doing excursions including snorkeling, ATV rides, zip lining, spa treatments, and swimming with dolphins. We enjoyed a final dinner on the terrace of the resort looking out over the beautiful golf course, beach, and ocean. In true SendGrid fashion, the last night was an epic dance party that lasted for hours.
It is an honor to work for a company that values the culture of the company and the relationships that employees have to make the Mexico kickoff a yearly tradition. And I know my team members feel the same. Here's what a handful of them had to say:
"Bringing us all together fostered the opportunity to plan and meet with new teams and share 2014 goals. I'm excited, to get started and glad to know that I have buy-in and support from other teams as well."
"It was the best way to kick-off 2014. I came back to the office with new friendships and connections, feeling happy and relaxed. I am officially ready to hunker down and get some kick ass work done!"
"I feel more enabled than ever to make a difference in 2014."
"I made a lot of great connections with people in other offices that I wouldn't have otherwise."
"I left with a true understanding of our 2014 initiatives and a sense of unity amongst my team, my central office, and the entire company. Feels great to know we're all striving towards the same thing."
Finally, we crowdsourced the company to see what 1 word best described this year's kickoff…and we couldn't land on just one!
We're looking for energetic members to join our team, so check out our Careers page for our current openings.


text:
Sometime late last year I was approached by PhotoYou Magazine to contribute an article for their winter issue and give some tips on fashion photography. It's been out for a while now so with permission from my lovely editor Valerie Wee here's a repost for those who can't get their hands on a copy. I hope some of you will find it useful!
PhotoYou Winter 2010: Fashion Forward
Photos: Zhang Jingna
Words: Zhang Jingna and Valerie Wee
1. Look and Learn
Look at images every day. Whether it's photographs or paintings—looking, learning and observing are the key to creating an eye for arresting images. This will form the foundations of your aesthetics and style, from colour palette, lighting, framing, clothing, makeup to model choices.
Always find opportunities to shoot. If you're starting with a single kit lens, learn how the wider and longer ends of the lens differ in terms of effects to your photographs before moving on for more expensive gear. Does it distort the model's proportions? Does it make the scenery look vast and wide? Learn what works best for you, it will help develop give you confidence when working in different situations and also your choice in what you'll need when you buy your next lenses.
2. Simple is Always Best
Few people are blessed enough to start their photography career with a full team of fantastic stylists, hair and makeup artists. Fashion tests or your initial portfolio work often just need to be simple and classy. Keep the setting and look, such as makeup and styling, clean and light. Grasp the skill of taking really good simple shots before getting more experimental and elaborate in your set-up.
DIY Styling Tip:
Male models can go topless to make the shot work. For girls, get them into body-con outfits which will accentuate their figures—scoop neck tank tops, tights, high heels no shorter than 5 inches are all great basic items that can get you very strong looks. Alternatively, you can also try a crop jacket and pair of hot pants on her to add variety. Keep the hair simple – worn razor straight or simply pulled back into a bun. You'll be surprised how chic and sleek going simple can be.
3. Light and Shadows
Good lighting, like everything else, comes with experience. It doesn't have to be complicated, but play around with your settings and put together three to four different setups for different looks. To start, master just one light. This will help you go a long way. Always watch out for shadows when photographing. Our eyes catch on to highlights first, but unintended messy shadows can break a shot when reviewed later on. Train your eye to observe what you are shooting in its entirety.
4. Always Cast Your Models
The purpose of a model portfolio is to help them get jobs, but it can also be misleading.
Professional models usually start modelling from as young as 12 or 13 years of age. Imagine how much their faces and bodies will have changed by the time you see their portfolio photos. You may see bleached blonde hair but she may be sporting raven black when she turns up at your studio; you may be shooting a super skinny '20s flappers look and she's just put on 8 kilograms from a holiday in the last three months. You never know.
So always do a casting or, at the very least, request up-to-date polaroids from the model agency. If you're engaging a freelance model, you can do the same, or make arrangements to meet up for a casual coffee to assess his or her current look.
5. Supervise Hair & Makeup
Always be around when hair and makeup are being done. Knowing what the colour palettes are can help you determine how you set up your shot. Try to stay invisible and don't get in the way of your beauty team. Step in when something is off from your expectations or direction. You will learn and eventually know what works best for your shoots after a few sessions. And when you work with new teams on jobs, you'll be able to give direction, as well as learn new things at the same time.
6. Clothes Must Be Seen
Fashion photography is about aesthetics and trends.
Fashion is about selling the latest season's clothes and accessories. It's about making people covet what the model is wearing. Are you shooting a picture that makes you want the clothes for yourself, for your best girlfriends or for your boyfriend?
As a general rule in fashion photography, make sure your lighting always accentuates the texture and beauty of the materials—the lustre of silk, the sheerness of chiffon, the sparkles in gems and precious stones. These details will heighten the beauty and quality of an image itself.
7. Keep a Journal
It doesn't have to be a public blog, but you should have a place where you can jot down experiences from pre-productions, meetings and photoshoots.
You don't have to do it diligently, but whenever there's a good or bad shoot, there's something you're bound to have learnt.
Write down all the stuff you thought was cool, things you felt ruined an important shot or even the whole project; approaches you felt were bad initially but turned out great, the positive and negative experiences, miscommunications, oversights, joy, etc.
From time to time, go back and read up on these reflections. Sometimes it will send you harsh reminders of mistakes not to be repeated, and sometimes it will help you see things in a fresh perspective.
The best part is that it will help you realize and appreciate the extent to which you have progressed. And because we are always changing, and that sometimes we forget the rawness, newness and passion of our earlier days, it's a great way to look back at those times and perhaps be re-inspired once again.
8. Be Confident, Be Humble
Take advice and suggestions from others, but be confident of your vision. Everyone in your team looks to you to achieve the final product—the photograph. You may have a client, an art director, or an editor to turn to for opinions, but you must know deep down inside that you're the creator of your work.
Collaborate with people whom you respect and who respect you in return. Believe that no matter the circumstance, you will shine in the photograph because everybody sees the world differently, and is what will set your images apart from someone else's.
Remember there is always room for reinvention and newness, and only with a humble attitude and belief for constant learning will you keep moving forward. Always stay true to yourself, always keep learning.
Want to learn more? Check out my online course Artistic Portrait Photography.
More: photography articles, gear list
Last but not least here's a picture of me freezing in the Toronto cold. Photo by Conan Thai.
PS: If anyone's interested, I'll do a meetup this weekend?
PPS: Plugging for my SC2 clan, we're on NA server looking for good master players to practice with. Feel free to come to channel "iS" to hang out, see you there~ XD


text:
This week reminds us of what the game looked like for centuries.
From its inception in the 1400s until the creation of the British Open Championship in 1860, golf was a match-play sport pitting one player against another in a test of strategy and skill. Being able to look your opponent in the eye and react to what you saw was as critical to the game as showing up with clubs and balls.
In fact, par wasn't invented until the late 19th century. Until then, finishing a hole in three, four or five strokes was irrelevant as long as you played better than the guy you were trying to beat.
This week, the PGA Tour reminds us how much fun match play can be as 64 of the best golfers on the planet tee off in Arizona in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, a head-to-head format that turns early-week golf into must-see TV. What other event rivets viewers on a Thursday? Where else in our game can you see Cinderella upsets that rival NCAA March Madness?
Unfortunately, the answer is: Nowhere.
But that wasn't always the case. For 40 years, the PGA Championship was professional golf's only match-play major, a tournament that took the best elements of the U.S. and British Amateur championships and applied them to the professional game.
The few still around who remember those days speak glowingly of seeing Jackie Burke beat Ted Kroll 3&2 in the finals of the 1956 PGA Championship in Canton, Mass. And anyone who saw Byron Nelson beat Sam Snead 1 up at Hershey Country Club in 1940 had to know they were witnessing history.
The argument against match play has always been that you could get a snoozer for a final. What happens, for example, if all the "big names" get upset early in the week and you're left with a match no one cares to watch?
That, of course, is possible, but history shows it to be rare. Snead played in four PGA Championship match-play finals. Byron Nelson played in five. Ben Hogan only made it to the match-play finals of the PGA twice, but he won handily both times, beating Porky Oliver 6&4 in 1946 and Mike Turnesa 7&6 in 1948.
Imagine the drama of Henry Picard beating Nelson in 37 holes in 1939, or what it must have felt like to watch two years later as Vic Ghezzi denied Nelson again, this time taking Lord Byron to 38 holes before closing out the match.
Going back even further, Paul Runyan beat Craig Wood in 38 holes. Wood had won the Open Championship in 1933 and would go on to win the Masters and U.S. Open in 1941, but he never made it another final of the PGA Championship, which only adds to the allure the old match-play format provided.
Tommy Armour beat Gene Sarazen 1-up in 1930 in a match that must have been a treat for all who saw it. And in 1920 future Hall of Famer Jock Hutchison beat J. Douglas Edgar 1 up at Flossmore Country Club in Illinois after Edgar's putter failed him on the penultimate hole. Tragically, Edgar was murdered in Atlanta a year later, stabbed to death on West Peachtree Street in a crime that remains officially unsolved almost a century later, while Hutchison won the inaugural PGA Seniors Championship at Augusta National in 1937 and was the honorary starter of the Masters Tournament until 1973.
In last year's Accenture Match Play Championship, Rory McIlroy lost to Hunter Mahan in a match most considered an upset. Even so, no one who watched it could turn away.
That is the beauty of match play. It draws you in like a well-crafted drama with stories that ebb and flow and arc from the first shot until the last.
This is a week to appreciate the format; a week to remember its history and to recall the great champions who won major titles through match play.
And it is a week to reflect on what our game has become, and what has been lost when only one week a year we have a "novelty" event decided through matches.


text:
Meeting Notes 2009 11 24
- 1 Crew
- 2 Agenda Items
- 2.1 Announcements
- 2.2 Consensus items
- 2.3 Discussion Items
- 3 Notes
Moderator: John Magolske
Note-Taker: Danny O'Brien
Attendee Count: 25ish
Officers: Rachel, Mitch
I have volunteered to take the meetynge notes in the style of a 17th century essayist.
So up, and to Noisebridge, where I did attend the meetynge of the week, and was so pressganged there into beynge a recordist, and did solemnly type this at that time into my computationeristic automaton.
Agenda Items[edit]
Introduction and Names[edit]
John did so choose to run the meeting, and thus firstly encouraged others to prattle joyously with regard to their names and pursuits. Visitors were noted from HOPE's past, Europe, Upstate New York, and yonder areas of much lesser repute.
What Noisebridge is about[edit]
He did also repeat the Emperor's Pledge regardynge the duty unto Excellence fromall those attached to the NoiseBridge.
Treasurer's Report[edit]
In the absence of the Treasurer due to either Plague or Ague, Mitch did wisely and smartly report from his knowledge as ex-treasurer of our accounts. He did report a rounded amount of $24,000 in accounts, still money to pay for buildout, and we did offer that we doth have plentitude for three months runnynge in advance, and are therefore in Good Steade. There is a dearth of membership dues for November, however, and thus you are behoven to pay whowith for what is endebten.
Elections for Board Members[edit]
Rachel did carefully announce that next Thursday is the deadline for nominations for the board. If you do not know whither you are described by the Noisebridge in accounts to be Membere in Goode Standinge, talk unto a board member, such as the Secretary or Treasury to ascertain whether you may excecise the right of all such carbonne-based or sentiente lifeforms to vote in such election. You should also apply your mind to the voting systeme, which will be announced shortly.
Very brief primer on Noisebridge consensus process[edit]
Mitch was called upon to recite the Emperor's Wishes Regardynge Consensus, and the capability of members to block therein.
What's Going On at Noisebridge[edit]
John was then consumed with the spirit of seeynge into the far future, and did scry a list of events deducted only from his senses and the front page of the website, which he did summon usynge his computationeristic automaton:
One short sentence about each of the following:
- Circuit Hacking Mondays (7PM, 2169)
- Python Mondays (6:30 PM, 2169)
- Security group - Thursdays 8PM except when 5MoF happens
- Project Euler now on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
- First Aid/CPR class ?
- Mandarin corner is happening on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.
- Shop Friday still plans to come back when the shop is done...and it's getting done.
Project Updates[edit]
2169 Mission[edit]
- Electrical
- Library
Andy did mention the electonic card catalogue, which Stella was in charge of. The Room of Darke has proceeded apace, and Rubin and others have worked deciduously in order to effect this.
- Shop -- We have new tool-chests, more organization, and more organization is on the way. Interested in helping out? Talk to John Magolske.
- Network -- monkeybrains.net has donated some fine connectivity to Noisebridge.
MonkeyBrains is doynge a pilot project with KQED and the city for non-profits in the Myssione area. Up betimes they came and did put up their antenna, and $300 was paid for the install fee, and the first year was offered with no cost. Andy is seekynge contributions, as he did make good with them for said $300 out of his own purse. Yonder antenna for such service has been placed with others on the roof, and cabling comes in through the skylight, goes up through a vent (keepynge water out) and lands in ye Turynge Room -- netwyrk tests report 30Megabits down, 20Megabits up, which all agreed is mighty, but is bursty right now and not thus yet stabyle for our principalle network. If you have experience with wireless PtP, or have access to a analyzer of spectrums, that would be great, spake Andy. If anyone has a spare class-C IP network to gifte the Noisebridge, Monkey Brains would be happy to route that.
Past events were celebrated levitously, includyng the $500 from donations from Dorkbotte evynte was duly received, and our felicitations were granted to our Dorkbottique brethren. Fyve minutes of Ye Fame was likewise admired, as if it was a never before apprized beam from a beneficent Apollo.
- Kitchen buildout.
Ye new tile countertoppe was mightily appreciated by all and all did dine on a barrel of oysters in celebratione.
Consensus items[edit]
- Membership Binder
Xander was spoken about aforeaft his backe as he did wander the streets of Myssione, and none did declaim against his name, and so he did become a member forthwith, withstanding his dues and contact information.
He dyde return with many flagons of Corona, a variety of meade brewed with hoppes.
Discussion Items[edit]
Steven, a cabler from this parish, did offer to fixe the cabling in our place, and did offer so to put his plannyng unto the wiki, the builde mailynge list and discuss.
Knot-ty-inge on Sunday at 3 of the hour was mentioned, as was Jennyfere Granyck, a Lawyer who aideth those Hackeyres who fall on hard times, who will speak at the Noisebridge in Monday at 7pm.


text:
From what you describe I would say it is the timer.
... I wanted to check in with you guys before I ran out and spent $80 (non-refundable) on a new timer...MAVT634AWW
I have a copy of the Maytag Atlantis Manual that I will share with you.
Be sure and let us know if the timer actually solves this problem, as I am still convinced of a lid switch issue.
I believe there was mention of the timer going all the way through the cycle in the first post, and that it was necessary to restart the cycle again to make it work.


text:
The Yasawa Islands are remote, rugged and magnificent. You can cruise up through the Yasawas from Denarau and stop at off at fabulous Octopus Resort for a delicious lunch and some 'serious beach-time'!As remote as the Yasawas are, you can still experience them on a day cruise with South Sea Cruises. The journey up through the Yasawas on board a high-speed, comfortable catamaran is an unforgettable experience. It is nature at her best!
The islands rise high up out of the deep blue waters and many have spectacular rock formations as a result of their volcanic past. Each island is home to its own palm-fringed, golden sand beaches and coral lagoons. Waya Island, where Octopus Resort is situated is a perfect example of this.
Your day cruise will drop you off at Octopus Resort, where you'll have time to chill on the beach, swim in the cool pool or deliciously warm sea and relax over a delicious a la carte lunch, served beach-side.
Highlights- 4 hours on the island
- fantastic snorkelling and use of snorkelling gear
- swimming pool
- island massage available at extra cost
LunchA delicious a la carte lunch served at the beachside restaurant is included.
ContactSouth Sea Cruises day cruises to Octopus Resort depart daily from Denarau Marina. A free Nadi/Denarau hotel coach transfer to/from Denarau Marina is included.
PD052 Port Denarau Nadi


text:
The Week Ahead: Postseason races getting serious
It will be a week of races, of aces and quite possibly of old faces in new places.
The first full week of baseball following the All-Star break -- and the last one before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline -- gives us the opportunity to catch up on the standings, stats and stirrings and once again take stock in where we stand in this championship season of 2013.
It will be a week of races, of aces and quite possibly of old faces in new places.
The first full week of baseball following the All-Star break -- and the last one before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline -- gives us the opportunity to catch up on the standings, stats and stirrings and once again take stock in where we stand in this championship season of 2013.
A first look to the trickiest division in the Major Leagues, the American League East, shows that things are as clear as infield dirt after a two-hour rain delay.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays took advantage of yet another stellar start from another emerging ace, Chris Archer, and beat the Blue Jays, 4-3. Tampa Bay has won five in a row and 17 of its last 19 to move to 58-41 as it heads to Boston for a crucial four-game series against the first-place Red Sox, who are 60-40 and 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rays.
"Baseball's such a unique game," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "The turns and twists are incredible. That's the game we had been losing earlier in the year. Now, we're winning that same game."
The Rays will hope to win as many as they can at Fenway Park, since a sweep would put them in first place by 2 1/2 games. Matt Moore will get the ball for Tampa Bay, with rookie Brandon Workman pitching for Boston in the Monday lid-lifter.
Out West, the Dodgers continue their July joyride. Even though Yasiel Puig has cooled off and Matt Kemp was back out of Sunday's game with a turned ankle after another disabled-list stint, nothing seems to slow down Los Angeles these days.
The Dodgers are 20-5 since June 22 and have pulled within a half-game of the D-backs in the National League West.
Kemp said after the game he felt better and he didn't think the injury, which occurred in the ninth inning of Sunday's win over the Nationals, was anything serious. His teammates will hope that's true as they head to Toronto for a three-game Interleague set against the Blue Jays before returning to Chavez Ravine for a four-game weekend series against Cincinnati.
Meanwhile, the Reds could have used a win and a series sweep over Pittsburgh on Sunday to get closer in the NL Central, but they fell, 3-2. They're still only five back of division-leading St. Louis and three behind the Pirates as the new week dawns in perhaps the most intriguing race in baseball.
Pittsburgh looks more and more like a team that will finish with a winning record for the first time since 1992, and St. Louis' menacing offense still packs plenty of punch, even without outfielder Matt Holliday, who just went on the disabled list.
That means the Reds can't afford to squander chances to gain ground, especially as they depart for an 11-game road trip on the West Coast.
"It hurts when you have an opportunity," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "That's kind of been the offense most of the year."
Opportunity is a big word this time of year because it's still very much in play.
In the AL West, the A's and Rangers are looking strong up top, but the Seattle Mariners have won six games in a row to climb within six of the .500 mark. They've got a chance to make noise down the stretch with their mixture of youth and veteran leadership. They're also scoring tons of runs.
In fact, Seattle has the most runs and home runs in the Majors in July and has scored four or more runs in 16 of its last 17 games.
"This is about as good a stretch as we've had since I've been here in 2011," center fielder Dustin Ackley said. "This is a great feeling. It's not like we're doing it here or there. We've been doing it every day for the last couple weeks, so that's definitely an exciting thing."
Also exciting: Matt Harvey of the Mets, who sparkled Sunday, along with 40-year-old A's righty Bartolo Colon, who shut out the Angels.
Also exciting: The battle brewing in the AL Central, where the Indians simply won't go away and are trailing the defending AL champion Tigers by a mere 1 1/2 games.
The Atlanta Braves might be the only team making their division race an afterthought, with a 6 1/2-game lead on Philadelphia in the NL East, but hey, it's still plenty early with 64 games left on their schedule.
A lot can change. Like, for example, rosters. By July 31.
We're still waiting to see what the Cubs do with Matt Garza. The Rangers are believed to be in hot pursuit, but will the Red Sox join the fray? What about the Pirates and Orioles?
And who else is available? Reports are saying Yovani Gallardo, Jake Peavy and Francisco Rodriguez could be on the move soon. Soon could be this week.
Whatever happens, things are starting to sizzle again this week, with the All-Star Game behind us and October not too far ahead.
Because that's just the way we like it.
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DougMillerMLB.


text:
- Kiko Martinez v Carl Frampton, Super-bantamweight
Fantastic Frampton earns European title in the ninth
Carl Frampton came through the toughest test of his career to stop Kiko Martinez and claim the European super-bantamweight title on Saturday.
Frampton, undefeated as a professional boxer, was forced into the trenches at times against the gritty Spaniard, but his technique, footwork and speed advantage all made a difference as he eventually stopped his rival in the ninth round.
It was a short, sharp, right hook that ended the contest for the 25-year-old, who looks destined to be a star on the world stage. Martinez came to fight, and more pertinently came to make Frampton fight, but he simply did not have the class of the Northern Irishman.
Twice before the pair had been scheduled to meet, but on both occasions Martinez pulled out. Those 18 months only served to help Frampton improve, and his quality was a level above his foe.
After a cagey opening round edged by Frampton, Martinez cut off the ring much better in the second and landed two big hooks to concern the home crowd. Frampton responded in the next with a series of sharp combinations and he wobbled the champion in the fourth.
Martinez was carrying heavy swelling under one eye as technique continued to overcome brawn, although on occasion Frampton still got drawn into all-out wars - notably in the seventh when Martinez rallied again.
Frampton eased off in the eighth but then exploded again in the ninth, when the fight ended in fitting fashion. Martinez, pushing forward as always, walked onto a sharp right that dropped him to the mat, and when he attempted to get back to his feet he staggered backwards as Frampton clinched the European crown.
Earlier in the evening, Lee Selby delivered a solid defence of his British and Commonwealth featherweight title, outclassing Martin Lindsay for a unanimous 118-110 117-111 118-109 decision. Lindsay showed courage and heart but took a catalogue of heavy shots as Selby came close to finishing the bout in the latter stages.
Early on it was the body shots of Selby - digging into the ribs of Lindsay - that began to break the challenger's defences. He then mixed up his shots as Lindsay tired, inflicting heavy bruising to Lindsay's face as a series of hooks landed, and truthfully it was only the pride of the former champion that ensured the fight went the distance.


text:
Results 1 to 10 of 30
#1 Can PC journalists report truthfully about Muslims?
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
- Location
- Bavaria
- Posts
- 9,152
It's a grisly story: A husband and wife murdering their three young daughters, ages 19, 17 and 13, by drowning them, along with their stepmother. The couple was assisted by their 21-year-old son.
All were found guilty of first-degree murder in Ontario, Canada. They were sentenced to life in prison.
Mohammad Shafia and his wife, Tooba Yahya, immigrated to Canada from Afghanistan in 2007. Being Muslims, they believe in Shariah law, which in some cases allows so-called "honor killings" -- that is, if a family member deviates from strict Muslim teachings, other family members can execute them.
Of course, that's insane. But under the Taliban in Afghanistan and in some other parts of the world, "honor killings" are allowed.
In his eyes, Shafia's three daughters were guilty of becoming westernized, wearing nontraditional Muslim clothing and associating with the dreaded Christians. So this demented father ordered the girls killed, as well as his first wife, whom he believed was aiding them in their alleged transgressions.
Reporting on the story in America has been scant and strange. According to the Media Research Center, the initial Associated Press report made no mention of the fact that the convicted murderers are Muslim.
They were described as "Afghan." In fact, the only theology mentioned in the AP dispatch is Christianity, used while describing the boyfriend of one of the daughters.
On NBC's "Nightly News," anchor Brian Williams said this: "A verdict has been reached in a murder case that's gotten a lot of attention because it involved so-called honor killings of family members. In this case, an Afghan family living in Canada. It is a culture clash getting a lot of attention to our north."
Culture clash? Between whom? Afghans and Canadians? What is Williams talking about?
The reporter on the story, Kevin Tibbles, also avoided using the word "Muslim." He described the motivation for the violence as "a strict religious family that felt it had been disgraced."
What religion? Incredibly, the reporter didn't say.
This is no coincidence. The politically correct U.S. media are frightened by Muslim violence. They avoid the issue whenever they can.
Just think about what would happen if a Catholic father murdered his daughter for having an abortion. Would the AP and NBC News not have mentioned the religion involved? I think we all know the answer to that question.
Political correctness is dangerous because it obscures the truth. It allows certain people and groups to avoid scrutiny for destructive actions.
Today, the press in America is dominated by liberal editors who believe they are protecting "minorities" by failing to mention facts that might cast them in a negative light. Thus, honest reporting is becoming almost obsolete when certain groups are involved.
Shafia, his wife and his son are Muslim fanatics who believe they have the right to commit murder in the name of their religion. Somebody get that dispatch to the media.
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Posts
- 950
Liberals see this as a case of domestic violence. Any Christian could have done the same thing.
They don't seem to report truthfully on any story anymore, it get's harder and harder to evaluate topics because the news is tainted."If the Bible is true why don't we have any urns or vessels that like say expires 6/15/300 BC on the bottom?"
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
This is why the internet and alternative media are so critical, and also why the left goes after them whenever they can. When Dan Rather got caught trying to slander Bush in 2004, and was taken down by bloggers, the MSM saw a future in which they couldn't get away with the same tactics, and they are at a loss as to how to respond, which is why they have become even more blatantly partisan and shrill. This is actually a good thing, as it is turning off anyone who takes even the most minimal time to look at the facts of a story. Every lie, every omission, every dishonest insinuation that gets caught costs them viewers. Our mission should be to expose them whenever we can.--Odysseus
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
The guys at the Examiner should try Google. The family's religion is all over the place.
The Link
Afghan Family, Led by Father Who Called Girls a Disgrace, Is Guilty of Murder
By IAN AUSTEN
Published: January 29, 2012
OTTAWA It began with a puzzling and grisly discovery in 2009: a car submerged in a 19th-century canal lock with the bodies of three teenage girls and a middle-aged woman inside. On Sunday, the father, the mother and a brother of the girls were each convicted of four counts of first-degree murder.
The verdict concluded a complex, three-month trial in which prosecutors described the crimes as honor killings. The defendants Mohammad Shafia, 58; Tooba Yahya, 42; and their son Hamed, 21 and the victims belonged to a family of Afghans who had moved to Canada two years before the crime, in June 2007, under a program for affluent immigrants. Both the woman in the car, Rona Amir Mohammad, and Ms. Yahya were married to Mr. Shafia.
During the investigation of the deaths, police wiretaps recorded Mr. Shafia repeatedly expressing the view, often in graphic, vulgar language, that the girls had disgraced his family by dating and by wearing revealing clothing. Other evidence showed that at least one of the dead girls was so frightened of her father that she sought help from the police to escape the household and be placed in foster care with her sisters, without success.
Mr. Shafias solution, prosecutors said, was to murder three of his seven children and Ms. Amir Mohammad, and to try, improbably, to make it look like an auto accident; they presented evidence that the car in the canal, a Nissan Sentra, was pushed there using the familys Lexus, and that someone in the household had searched the Internet for advice on how to conduct a murder.
The jury delivered its verdict after 15 hours of deliberation. Afterward, Justice Robert L. Maranger of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice raised the cultural issues surrounding the case, which, while rarely mentioned directly in court, had become a widespread topic of discussion in Canada, particularly in Quebec, where the family lives.
It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous, more honorless crime, the judge told the defendants in a courtroom in Kingston, Ontario. The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honor, a notion of honor that is founded upon the domination and control of women.
All three defendants said they were innocent. Ms. Yahya said in court after the verdict: I am not a murderer and I am a mother a mother! Her lawyer, Andrew Crowe, said she would appeal.
Under Canadian law, first-degree murder carries a compulsory sentence of life in prison, with no chance of parole for the first 25 years.
A Parks Canada employee spotted the Sentra in the Rideau Canal when he arrived for work at a lock station near Kingston in June 2009. Inside were Zainab, Sahar and Geeti Shafia, ages 19, 17 and 13, and Ms. Amir Mohammad, 53, who entered Canada claiming to be Mr. Shafias cousin when in fact she was his other wife.
The family stopped in Kingston on the way back to their home in Montreal after a brief holiday trip to Niagara Falls; they bought the Sentra secondhand the day before the trip. Mr. Shafia and Ms. Yahya told police and reporters that Ms. Amir Mohammad and the girls had taken the car on a late-night joy ride organized by Zainab, who did not have a drivers license. But the police were immediately suspicious.
Evidence presented at trial did not establish exactly how the woman and three girls died. But there were indications that the four victims were already dead when the car went into the canal.
The prosecution built part of its case on conflicting statements and missteps by the defendants they booked accommodations for only six people in Kingston, even though the family numbered 10 before the killings but the most compelling evidence came from police wiretaps.
I say to myself, Would they come back to life a hundred times, for you to do the same again, Mr. Shafia said about his daughters on one recording. They violated us immensely. There can be no betrayal, no treachery, no violation more than this.
Defense lawyers argued that the remarks were prompted by the discovery days after the deaths of a photo album showing the girls with boys, although the family displayed what appeared to be the same album to television crews shortly after the deaths.
A diary kept by Ms. Amir Mohammad, who apparently could not bear children, indicated that Ms. Yahya treated her as a servant, and described beatings by Mr. Shafia and by his son Hamed when Mr. Shafia was away on business trips. Evidence at trial suggested that he was also brutal to the girls and feared by them.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: January 31, 2012
An article on Monday about guilty verdicts in a murder trial in Canada involving a family of Afghan immigrants quoted incorrectly from a comment by the trial judge, Justice Robert L. Maranger. The judge said, It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous, more honorless crime. He did not say more despicable, more heinous, more despicable, more honorless crime.
Yep, the one missing thing was the religion of the family. What's really funny is the WAPost article that came up in my search:
Canadian imams issue fatwa against honor killings
TORONTO Muslim clerics in Canada have issued a fatwa against so-called honor killings a week after three members of an Afghan family in Montreal were convicted of the murders of four relatives.
The religious decree only the third of its kind in Canada also prohibits domestic violence and hatred of women. It was issued on Saturday (Feb. 4) on the eve of Mawlid an-Nabi, the Prophet Muhammads birthday.
Soharwardy told reporters that a fatwa is not legally binding but it is morally binding. He said a very small minority of Muslims support honor killings, and they need to be corrected.
What's funny about it is that, while it talks about the Muslim clerics issuing the Fatwa, and that a "small minority" of Muslims support honor killings, it still never mentions that the killers were Muslims. One could read the entire article and come away wondering what the Fatwa had to do with the case.
You can read the entire article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...buQ_story.html--Odysseus
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
02-07-2012, 05:17 PM--Odysseus
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
However, the NPR interview with the CBC reporter did mention Muslims, in order to assure the reader that being Muslim had nothing to do with the honor killings.
It's a case that has shocked the conscience of Canada. And it ended yesterday when a jury in Ontario found three members of an Afghan family guilty of murder. The deaths have been referred to as honor killings. Yesterday, the judge described them as murders motivated by a completely twisted sense of honor; heinous, despicable, cold-blooded and shameful.
Here are the basics of the case. In June of 2009, a woman and three teenage sisters were found dead in a car, submerged in a canal. Those now convicted of their murder are the girls' father, his second wife - who is the girls' mother - and their son.
For more on the case, I'm joined by CBC Radio reporter Justin Hayward. And, Justin, at first this was thought to be a case of accidental drowning. But then, investigators started looking at the family and hearing troubling stories about the three girls - ages 19, 17 and 13 - and their situation at home. What did they hear?
JUSTIN HAYWARD: Well, of the 58 witnesses that came and spoke to the court, a number of them were there to illustrate the situation of the young women at home. There were teachers from their school, officials from youth protection here in Quebec. And if you take all of their testimony together, it paints a picture of three young women who were normal, relatively rebellious North American teenagers who were bumping up against sort of these more traditional beliefs that they should be more tightly controlled.
And the teachers were telling stories of sometimes seeing bruising on them. So, you certainly got a picture of a very controlling family, traditional family atmosphere that was at odds with what the average North American teenager wants to have as freedoms.
BLOCK: And I gather there was also physical evidence that indicated that this car didn't just fall into the canal, but that another car may have pushed it into the canal.
HAYWARD: Yeah. Police put together evidence that there was damage on the family Lexus that matched damage on a recently bought Nissan Sentra, which was the car that was found in the canal. And the police's theory that they pieced together with the damage from those two cars was that the Lexus pushed the Sentra into the canal.
BLOCK: Investigators ultimately put a wiretap in the family's minivan and got what turned out to be some damning evidence. They heard the father, Mohammad Shafia, say this about his daughters: Would they come back to life 100 times, you should do the same thing again. May the devil defecate on their graves. This is what a daughter should be. Would a daughter be such a whore?
How did the defense try to explain or account for what the father said?
HAYWARD: Yeah. That was extremely shocking evidence. And I remember being in court when they were playing it, and you could hear people audibly gasp when those translated tapes were played in court. What the defense did is they brought in an expert in Afghan culture who said that Afghans, when they're upset or grieving, will swear a lot. And this kind of swearing is not to be taken literally. For example, that quote that you just said, may the devil defecate on their graves. He said that that's no stronger than a North American saying, to hell with them, and that the father, Mohammad Shafia, was just trying to make himself feel better by blowing off steam.
BLOCK: Justin, this story has generated a lot of coverage there in Canada. Talk a bit about how it's been received by the Canadian people and this whole notion of honor killings.
HAYWARD: Yeah. It's certainly an ongoing debate. I mean, our House of Commons is just sitting again today for the first time since around Christmas. And we're expecting that this will probably come up in the House, that something will be said. But there hasn't been a lot of public forum other than radio call-in shows and the like. And you can imagine how vitriolic some people can be about this sort of thing.
Certainly, there's also a debate where cooler heads are prevailing, where they're trying to say - for example, even outside the court yesterday, there was an imam and there was a young Afghan who's a student at a nearby university to where the trial was taking place who came that day because they knew the media would be there en masse and they wanted to make sure that everyone understood that it's not all Afghans, it's not all Muslims that are like this.
BLOCK: And is that the fear, that there will be a backlash toward the Afghan-Canadian, the Muslim-Canadian community because of this?
HAYWARD: We've spoken to a number of people about that, and that's absolutely what they're concerned about. So, they're already out in the streets, so to speak, trying to make sure that that doesn't happen.
BLOCK: I've been talking with CBC Radio reporter Justin Hayward. Justin, thank you very much.
HAYWARD: My pleasure.
Copyright © 2012 National Public Radio®.
You were saying...?--Odysseus
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
|« Previous Thread | Next Thread »


text:
EUPACO-4: March or April 2009
EUPACO-4 will be held in Brussels, and will address two main topics:
- Part1: Software patents in Europe and elsewhere
- Part2: SMEs and patent litigation
An Internet Chat and audio streaming will provide the opportunity for participants that are not able to travel to Brussels to participate to the debate.
EUPACO-3: 3rd June 2008 in Brussels
EUPACO-3 will have a different format from previous 'traditional' conferences. The conference will give the floor for small presentations of 15 minutes each on 2 different common topics:
- Community Patent: EU in the EPO, or EU in the EPO?
- Patent Litigation in Europe: on the road to Texas?
An Internet Chat and audio streaming will provide the opportunity for participants that are not able to travel to Brussels to participate to the debate.
The EUPACO Report
We present a series of in-depth articles on the topic "Towards a New European Patent System" by past and future EUPACO participants. We provide these articles both in on-line and printable PDF formats. All articles are copyright by their authors, who have granted permission to reproduce these articles freely:
- Peer to patent by Christopher Wong
- Why Software Developers Should Support a New, Limited Patent - by Lee Hollaar
- Social Contingent Liabilities and Synthetic Derivative Options - by David Martin
- Patenting programs as machines - by Philip Leith
20 June 2007 in Strasbourg
Reception and Briefing for Parliamentarians on the future of Patents in Europe.
The European Green Alliance, IBM and EUPACO present the first in a series of briefings for key European Parliamentarians on the future of the European patent system.
The patent system, and the need for a balance between the disclosure of inventions and rights that are granted is of vital importance to the European economy. Parliamentarians must help to shape Europe's patent system and ensure that the right balance is struck; that real invention is rewarded while society benefits. It is crucial that Europe moves forward in developing its patent system within the fabric of European democracy.
Speakers: Dave Kappos, IBM's vice President for Intellectual Property, Ingrid Schneider, political scientist from the University of Hamburg, and Pieter Hintjens, EUPACO Chairman.
Open to all, location: c.2.1 (canal zone), time: 18h00-19h30. Please register online.
EUPACO-2: 15-16 May 2007 in Brussels
What is the future of the EPO and the national patent offices in an integrated Europe? How can Europe's patent system be re-engineered to overcome its fragmentation? On 15 and 16 May 2007 we bring together over 30 experts to discuss benefits and costs, quality, diversity in innovation, and institutions and innovation. As keynote speakers we present:
- William Kovacic, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission (U.S.). Mr. Kovacic previously served as General Counsel for the FTC at the time of its landmark study, To Promote Innovation, The Proper Balance of Competition and Patent Law and Policy.
- Ron Marchant, former Chief Executive and Comptroller General, The Patent Office (UK). During his tenure, the UK Patent Office became widely recognized as a leader among national offices for its innovative approach to operations and policy development.
- Mark Shuttleworth, President of the Ubuntu Foundation, Founder and CEO of Canonical, Ltd., Mr. Shuttleworth is widely recognized as an Internet pioneer and successful entrepreneur.
Why EUPACO?
Patents are moving from an isolated specialist area of law to center stage in the global political economy. Patent policy today is a matter of public debate with holds profound implications for innovation, economic growth, health, communications, and the generation, management, and dissemination of knowledge.
In Europe, there is unresolved controversy over software patents and the inability to reach political consensus on the community patent, EPLA, or other approaches to integrating the European patent system. However, debate among scholars, stakeholders, practitioners, and the public has provided insight into how the patent system of the future should look. Recent economic research raises questions about the relationship of patents to R&D in some fields, and there is growing concern about how SMEs can participate in a costly system.
Other events and news
- The European Parliament's Scientific Technology Options Assessment Panel (STOA) is holding a workshop on "Policy options for the improvement of the European patent system" in the European Parliament, on 14 June 2007 from 10am to 12.30pm.
- The EPIP association will hold its 2nd Annual Conference on September 20th and 21st 2007 at Lund University, Sweden, hosted by CIRCLE, Centre for Innovation, Research and Competence in the Learning Economy.
Stay updated
Subscribe to eupaco-news to get news and updates.
Congratulations on a VERY successful event! It was a pleasure and I was only sorry to have to miss the end. The conference provided one of the most engaging, critical but also enthusiastic forums for the Peer to Patent project and I'm happy we had a chance to discuss it.
— Prof. Beth Noveck, Peer-to-Patent Project, New York Law School
This was the first conference I have attended that was organized under your direction, and I am very impressed with the constructive atmosphere. Differences in opinion were clearly stated, but the overall atmosphere was not at all hostile. That may have to do with the choice of topics; but my understanding is that it also reflects a change in the organisation - which I welcome.
— Prof. Dietmar Harhoff, University of Munich
Very many congratulations to you and your team on the organisation and content of EUPACO 2. It was excellent. We look forward to helping with EUPACO 3 and beyond.
— Basil Cousins, OpenForum Europe, UK
When you are face-to-face and talking it is much harder to maintain entrenched positions and to ignore what other people are saying. It is hugely encouraging to see that representatives from industry, the FFII, the EPO and national patent offices, and the Commission will be sharing platforms at this event. The FFII deserves to be congratulated for this initiative which, hopefully, will get the support it deserves.


text:
BackupBuddy: ImportBuddy
Getting Started
Getting the ImportBuddy tool
The ImportBuddy tool can be downloaded in BackupBuddy.
- Navigate to the `Backup & Restore` page.
- Click on the `ImportBuddy` link or `Restore / Migrate` button depending on your version.
- Alternatively you may click the `Send` link beneath the `Restore / Migrate` button to directly send the tool to a remote destination.
- Save the script to your computer. (You will next upload this script to your destination server to begin using it)
Uploading ImportBuddy to your destination server
- Decide on the FTP directory that you would like to migrate or restore the backup to (using an empty directory is best) that corresponds to the web URL you want your destination site to be at.
- For example, if you want your new site's URL to be "http://your.com/mybuddy/" then your server directory MIGHT be something like this "/usr/skyler/public_html/mybuddy/"; this is the directory you will then put importbuddy.php into. The directory structure varies host to host but often follows a similar format.
- Upload importbuddy.php and the backup zip file (don't rename the zip file!) to that FTP directory that corresponds to the URL you want.
- Navigate to the importbuddy.php file in your web browser after it has been uploaded.
- Example: http://newsite.com/importbuddy.php
- Follow the directions provided for each ImportBuddy step.
- If you encounter problems note the logging information displayed on the problem step when contacting support.
Accessing the ImportBuddy tool
In your web browser go to the URL corresponding to the FTP directory you uploaded to. For example, if you uploaded importbuddy.php to /usr/skyler/public_html/undiscoveredcorner/importbuddy.php then your ImportBuddy URL MIGHT be http://your.com/undiscoveredcorner/importbuddy.php Upon going to this URL you will be prompted to log in to begin the import / restore process. Follow the on-screen directions.
Log In - Password Authentication
This step asks for the password associated with the importbuddy.php file. ImportBuddy requires this to protect unauthorized access to your site and backup files before you have finished restoring. This password was previously set by you (or someone) on BackupBuddy's Settings page.
Typical Usage
- Enter your password.
- Submit the form to continue. (Click the button to submit / continue to the next step)
Misc Notes:
- The password is encoded inside your importbuddy.php file when it is made, so:
- If you share this importbuddy.php file to another for usage with a backup file you will need to provide the corresponding password.
- If you change the password will need to download a new copy of importbuddy.php; changing the password will NOT change it in existing importbuddy.php files.
Step 1
On this step a listing of backup files that were found in the same directory as the importbuddy.php script are listed for your selection to restore / migrate. If you have not already uploaded your backup file along with the importbuddy.php file an upload feature is available for convenience. However, FTP is the best way to upload your backup archives (.zip files), especially for larger files..
Typical Usage
- Select the backup you want to restore or migrate to this destination.
- Select any optional advanced options if needed or directed by technical support.
- Submit the form to continue.
Advanced Troubleshooting Options
ImportBuddy automatically accounts for many server configurations and troubleshooting settings. However, when ImportBuddy cannot automatically account for some difficulty or cannot automatically assume to do so safely, you have the option to control server options and features which can aid with working around server problems or troubleshooting possible issues.
- Skip zip file extraction.
- If enabled then Step 2 of ImportBuddy will skip unzipping / extracting your backup ZIP file. You will need to manually unzip the file somehow, such as on your local system and then uploading all files, or with a server-side tool such as within your host's control panel file manager (if available).
- Wipe all database tables. - Use caution.
- This features wipes (erases / deletes) ALL tables within the database you will later select. Use extreme caution with this feature as it could release in permanent loss of data / sites / content in your database if used improperly. This is typically used to clear out a database and start fresh for this restored site. - Use caution.
- Wipe only database tables matching prefix.
- This feature is like the above EXCEPT it only erases tables with the same prefix you enter. Ie if you enter wp_ only tables starting with wp_ will be erased. Use caution. This is typically used to overwrite a single existing site.
- Skip import of database.
- Useful if you only want to restore files and not import anything into your current database. Note: Your database will still be migrated unless disabled below.
- Skip migration of database.
- Useful if you only want to migrate the data in the already imported database (ie: You already imported a database or have an existing one and just need things like URLs and paths migrated.) Note: Your database will still be imported unless disabled above.
- Error Logging to importbuddy.txt
- Ignore SQL errors & hide them. Rarely used option for hiding error messages. This can be used if your server is reporting incorrect errors/warnings caused by misconfiguration and it's preventing you from continuing the restore.
- Skip migration of .htaccess file.
- Rarely used for technical purposes only.
- Force medium speed compatibility mode (ZipArchive).
- Bypass attempting to use command line zip. Rarely needed; troubleshooting.
- Force slow speed compatibility mode (PCLZip).
- Bypass both high speed mode and medium speed mode, falling back all the way to PCLZip (slow speed). Rarely needed; troubleshooting.
- Show detailed PHP warnings.
- PHP Maximum Execution Time
- Setting this a little lower can help force importbuddy to chunk the importing and migration of the database into multiple steps if large
Step 2
The file extraction process occurs during this step. ImportBuddy attempts to unzip / extract your backup ZIP archive (.zip file) into the same directory as the importbuddy.php script.
ImportBuddy attempts to use the following techniques to unzip on your server:
- Command line zip on both Linux and Windows systems (if zip.exe is provided and properly granted security access to run). (Very fast and reliable) - BEST
- PHP's ZipArchive library. (decent speed; reliable) - MEDIUM LEVEL
- PCLZip (extracts the zip file using a PHP script; very low performance; relies on PHP memory limits which are commonly low) - WORST CASE
If you are having difficulties getting past this step it is often simplest to just manually unzip your site locally on your computer and upload the files to the destination directory by FTP (or using cpanel to unzip) and on Step 1 of ImportBuddy, select the 'Advanced troubleshooting option' to `Skip file extraction`. See the frequently seen support questions page if you want to troubleshoot why the unzip is failing.
Step 3
This step is used to set the URL and database connection information. The information shown in parentheses is what importbuddy sees the values where previously, useful for a restore when most if not all of the information will be the same.
- WordPress Address
- This field will be pre-set using the information for the current directory the user is restoring/migrating to.
- MySQL Server
- This is the address to the mySQL server where your database will be stored. 99% of the time this is localhost. The location of your mySQL server will be provided to you by your host if it differs.
- Database Name
- This is the name of the database you want to import your blog into. The database user must have permissions to be able to access this database. If you are migrating this blog to a new host you will need to create this database (ie using CPanel or phpmyadmin) and create a mysql database user with permissions.
- Database User
- This is the database user account that has permission to access the database name in the input above. This user must be given permission to this database for the import to work.
- Database Pass
- This is the password for the database user.
- Database Prefix
- This is the prefix given to all tables in the database. If you are cloning the site on the same server AND the same database name then you will want to change this or else the imported database will overwrite the existing tables.
- The most common prefix is wp_ which is fine to use but if you want to use something else that is fine.
After entering the database information there is a button labelled "test database settings" that will test the validity of that connection information.
Step 4
The database information is imported straight into the database. Your database with any old URLs / paths from the source server exist temporarily on the destination server. The next step will update this data in the database.
Step 5
If your destination URL and/or file paths need to be updating due to using a new site URL or server directory stucture then ImportBuddy will proceed to migrate various data inside your database. Importbuddy searches through the database and updates any URLs, paths, settings, etc. that match your source site's settings (BackupBuddy recorded these settings for you in the backup for this functionality to work). The wp-config.php information (such as any new database settings) is set.
- Use the link of the site provided to verify that the site is fully migrated and complete before continuing to step 6.
- Can choose which of the import files get deleted in next step if desired. By default is all of them.
Step 6
Cleanup step. This step attempts to delete any temporary files created by ImportBuddy or uploaded by you. If your restore is fully complete you can delete all of these files (assuming you have your backup zip stored elsewhere). Leaving these files could potentially be a security risk. If ImportBuddy is unable to delete these files please use your FTP client or web host's file management tools to delete them.
- Backup zip archive (.zip file)
- ImportBuddy Tool - importbuddy.php file (the tool you are using right now)
- Any temporary import files (db_1.sql, backupbuddy_dat.php, etc.)
- importbuddy-XXXXXXX.txt log file


text:
Marissa Gedman scored the second goal of the game for Harvard (Gil Talbot).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard women's ice hockey team (8-7-2, 7-3-2 ECAC) held off a late Clarkson (7-13-3, 4-6-1 ECAC) rally in a 3-2 victory to return above .500 on the season. With the win, Harvard swept the weekend home-stand against their North Country visitors.
Early into the final frame, Clarkson closed the gap to 2-1 on Carly Mercer's goal, scored in the midst of a scrum. Danielle Skirrow assisted on the play. With 10:55 remaining, Harvard responded with the eventual game-winner when Kate Buesser sent a hard wrister that squeezed through the five-hole. The goal was Buesser's sixth of the season, which ties her with Liza Ryabkina and Katharine Chute for the team lead in goals. Kelsey Romatoski and Ashley Wheeler assisted on the goal.
With less than three minutes remaining, Clarkson pulled netminder Lauren Dahm for an extra attacker and capitalized on Juana Baribeau's goal with 27 seconds remaining. Jamie Lee Rattray assisted on the goal. However, the late threat proved too late and too little, as Harvard held on for the 3-2 final score. The Crimson outshot the Golden Knights 31-15 in the game.
Although it took Harvard 6:48 to get its first shot, the Crimson made sure it counted. From behind the goal line, Lyndsey Fry's shot caromed off Dahm's leg pad, and appeared to cross the goal line, but the referee initially gave no signal. However, a review confirmed the goal, putting the Crimson up 1-0. In the remainder of the period, the Crimson dispelled any notion of a hangover from last night's victory, putting together 12 shots while limiting the Golden Knights to just four for the period.
Harvard padded the lead midway through the second period, at 10:54, when Marissa Gedman's slapper navigated through traffic to find the back of the net for a power-play goal. The goal, Gedman's second of the season, was assisted by Jillian Dempsey and Jackie Young, who also notched her first collegiate point with the assist. The second period saw the Crimson's continued offensive dominance, firing 12 shots on goal and holding Clarkson to just three.
The Crimson has a full slate next weekend as it hosts Rensselaer and Union and welcomes back a number of former skaters for its alumnae weekend and Olympian celebration. The puck drops between Harvard and RPI Friday at 7 p.m.