text:
Mayor Bloomberg, New York University President Sexton And MTA Chairman Lhota Announce Historic Partnership To Create New Applied Sciences Center In Downtown Brooklyn
Academic and Private-Sector Consortium Will Create the NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress in Downtown Brooklyn
Center Is the Next Step in the City's Applied Sciences NYC Initiative; New Research and Technologies Developed at Center Expected to Generate $5.5 Billion in Overall Economic Impact and 7,700 Jobs over the Next Three Decades
Bloomberg Administration Has Made $300 Million in Capital Investments in Downtown Brooklyn
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York University President John Sexton, Polytechnic Institute of New York University President Jerry M. Hultin and MTA Chairman Joseph J. Lhota today announced an historic agreement among the City, MTA, and a consortium of world-class academic institutions and private technology companies that will lead to the creation of the NYU Center For Urban Science and Progress, to be located in Downtown Brooklyn. The announcement is the next milestone in the City's groundbreaking Applied Sciences NYCinitiative, which seeks to increase New York City's capacity for applied sciences and dramatically transform the City's economy.
The Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) will be a partnership of top institutions from around the globe, led by NYU and NYU-Poly, and will focus on research and development of technology to address the critical challenges facing cities, including infrastructure, tech integration, energy efficiency, transportation congestion, public safety and public health. The consortium will also include other highly respected academic institutions, such as City University of New York, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Toronto, University of Warwick, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, as well as two leading companies IBM and Cisco, and will grant academic degrees in engineering and sciences.
NYU named Steven Koonin – a theoretical physicist who has served as Undersecretary of Energy for Science and as Provost of the California Institute of Technology – as CUSP's inaugural director. The Mayor will make the announcement at NYU-Poly in Downtown Brooklyn and will also be joined by MTA New York City Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, Economic Development Corporation President Seth Pinsky, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick Nigel Thrift, IBM Vice President of Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs Stan Litow, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, State Senator Dan Squadron, Council Member Steve Levin, Council Member Letitia James, Assembly Member Joan Millman, Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, Union Square Ventures Managing Partner Fred Wilson, Chair of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Alan Fishman, and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership President Tucker Reed.
"Over the next five years, 370 Jay Street will be transformed into a cutting-edge center for research and science that will give another huge boost to our city's economy," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our Administration has long seen the promise of Downtown Brooklyn, and we've made the investments needed to transform it into a thriving center for business. With the addition of this new campus, Brooklyn will be one of the most dynamic environments for entrepreneurs anywhere in the country."
"Being 'in and of the City' is part of NYU's DNA; at no point has that been truer than today," NYU President Sexton said. "New York itself has always been part of the educational experience at NYU; with CUSP, New York will also be a living laboratory, a source of research, a test-bed for new ideas, and the economic beneficiary of our researchers' discoveries. CUSP has drawn together an exceptional group of educational and industrial partners to develop technologies to address an increasingly urbanized world. Attracting partners of such caliber is a validation not only of CUSP's core idea, but also of the Mayor's vision to make New York a capital of science and technology. This is a great and proud day for New York and for NYU."
"For many years, 370 Jay Street served as the headquarters of the NYC Transit Authority," said MTA Chairman Lhota. "Everyone at the MTA is proud that the building will be repurposed as New York University's Center for Urban Science and Progress – a new business and science incubator in downtown Brooklyn."
The NYU proposal was selected through this highly competitive process due to its bold vision to provide solutions for the world's growing cities in the 21st century. CUSP will establish itself as a world leader in this important field of study, and will complement the City's many other leading institutions, including the previous Applied Sciences NYCselection of the partnership between Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, which will build a campus on Roosevelt Island. Collectively, these institutions along with other potential winners will further strengthen New York City's global competitiveness – including its growing technology sector – and ensure that the City establishes itself as a global hub of science, research, innovation and world-class urban solutions for the future.
As part of the agreement with the City, NYU has identified 370 Jay Street, a 460,000-square-foot City-owned office building in downtown Brooklyn that is currently partially occupied by the MTA and NYPD, as its preferred location for CUSP. After undertaking a six-month due diligence process to confirm the costs associated with renovation work and the timing of relocation of MTA and NYPD operations, NYU would begin a project to transform the currently underutilized commercial building, which has been predominantly vacant for more than a decade. The redevelopment would result in a leading, state-of-the-art academic center and economic engine that will benefit Downtown Brooklyn and the entire City for generations, with a projected completion date of 2017. CUSP will immediately begin operations by leasing and renovating 60,000 square feet in Downtown Brooklyn for Phase 1 of its program, which will accept its first class in September of 2013. This agreement is contingent on approval from the MTA board, which is scheduled to consider it Wednesday.
Approximately 150,000 square feet of the 370 Jay space will be designed for classrooms, offices and laboratory space, with an additional 40,000 square feet programmed for the creation of an incubator for businesses spun off by CUSP or CUSP-related research. The remaining building space may be used by NYU for the future expansion of CUSP, other academic uses or for commercial tenants who are seeking to locate near CUSP. If, after the six-month diligence period, NYU determines that redeveloping the 370 Jay Street site is not feasible, it will establish full operations of CUSP in alternate space in Downtown Brooklyn.
In order to offset a portion of the costs and to facilitate this significant private investment in Downtown Brooklyn, the City has allocated up to $15 million in benefits to NYU, which will include a combination of public funding sources and abatements of amounts otherwise payable, with the precise sources to be determined once a final location selection occurs. To facilitate Phase 1 commencement, $3.75 million of these benefits will be available to NYU.
NYU will begin the project and necessary due diligence immediately, including the required leasing of Downtown Brooklyn space for Phase 1 operations in time for classes to begin September 2013. Assuming a successful diligence period, the MTA and NYPD will begin relocating their operations and equipment from the 370 Jay Street in the fall of 2012. NYU will be responsible for the $50 million cost associated with the relocation of the MTA equipment and the up to $10 million cost associated with the relocation of the NYPD equipment. NYU would begin the first phase of their construction work on the 370 Jay Street building in the fall of 2014. The MTA would be expected to fully complete relocation in the spring of 2016 and NYU would be expected to complete the renovation of the building in the summer of 2017 for the first NYU CUSP class at Jay Street to begin by September of 2017.
In addition, there will be a Memorandum of Understanding between CUSP and the City that will establish the concept of New York as a "living laboratory" by facilitating CUSP's work with City agencies to identify targets for research, to collect data, and develop technologies and solutions to real world urban challenges.
According to a new economic impact analysis conducted by the Economic Development Corporation, CUSP will generate more than $5.5 billion (nominal) in overall economic activity over the course of the next three decades as well as $597 million in total tax revenue. The campus alone will help create up to 2,200 construction jobs and up to 900 permanent jobs. More importantly, the campus is expected to generate nearly 200 spin-off companies over this time period – projected to create up to an additional 4,600 permanent jobs.
Upon full build out of the program in Downtown Brooklyn, it is projected that approximately 530 graduate and doctoral students will attend CUSP, including approximately 430 Masters candidates and 100 PhD candidates. NYU has projected that 25 percent of doctoral students will spend all years of their study at CUSP; the remaining 75 percent will spend the first two to three years of their doctoral study at a partner university and the final two to three years of their doctoral study at CUSP. There will be 50 full-time faculty and researchers at CUSP comprised of tenured faculty, tenure-track faculty, contract faculty, research scientists, and senior researchers from industry. Between 40 and 60 percent of these individuals will be tenured and tenure-track. There will also be approximately 30 post-doctoral researchers.
Each of the academic partners of NYU and NYU-Poly – City University of New York, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Toronto, University of Warwick, and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay – are known for their strong applied science and engineering programs, and each has a solid track record of research commercialization, as well as industry collaborations and partnerships. CUSP's private industry partners include two Lead Founding Partners – technology giants IBM and Cisco – who each will provide $1 million a year in financial and in-kind support. There are also four Founding Corporate Partners – ConEdison, National Grid, Siemens, Xerox – who will provide $500,000 a year in financial and in-kind support to CUSP, and three Founding Consulting Partners – AECOM, Arup, and IDEO -who will provide up to $150,000 per year of consulting services at cost. CUSP will continue to seek to additional private partners as it begins operations.
In line with the City's focus on research and academic programs that ultimately lead to commercialization, NYU will set aside space for a business incubator at CUSP. NYU has also committed that startups joining incubators at CUSP will be required to maintain a significant operational presence in City for at least five years. These startups will also be required to submit annual Impact Reports certifying the company's number of jobs, projected job growth, annual revenues and new products or services. CUSP will immediately have access to the existing NYU Tech Transfer Office, which serves all of NYU, as well as access to the tech transfer offices of CUSP's Member Institutions. As part of Phase 2 of the project, in addition to continued access to the tech transfer offices of NYU and Member Institutions, CUSP will have its own tech transfer director and supporting staff. Students, faculty and alumni will also eligible to apply for startup funding from NYU's Innovation Fund. The Fund has a goal of raising $20 million through philanthropy by fiscal 2018.
Concentrating on the focus of community involvement and to provide opportunities for the next wave of talented students, local middle and high school students will have opportunities to work in CUSP labs as interns or in summer jobs. The i2e (Invention, Innovation and Entrepreneurship) Learning Center will encourage and support high school student participation in City, State and regional competition, establish a summer program for high school students and train public school teachers; CUSP will look to partner with a public school whose course of study focuses on the urban built environment.
CUSP will be a transformative project in Downtown Brooklyn that will anchor the next phase of economic development initiatives in the area, including the attraction of new commercial, tech and retail tenants. In 2004, the Bloomberg Administration spearheaded a comprehensive plan for Downtown Brooklyn that combined zoning changes as well as strategic infrastructure investments in order to create a dynamic area with increased job opportunities, desirable commercial space, new housing, retail, open space and improved transit connections. Since that time, the City has made more than $300 million in capital investments in Downtown Brooklyn and as a result, Downtown Brooklyn's population has grown by 30 percent in the past 10 years, with more than 150,000 shoppers now visiting the area each business day. 57,000 post-secondary students currently attend academic institutions in Downtown Brooklyn. In addition, City-sponsored development projects such as City Point and the 210 Joralemon Municipal Building are bringing new, first-class retail and commercial space to Fulton Mall and Court Street. The City's investment of $100 million in new cultural projects in the BAM cultural district is also helping to create a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood. Nearly a quarter-million square feet of new retail space is soon going up at the nearby Atlantic Yards development, the largest private sector project in the borough's history. CUSP solidifies Downtown Brooklyn's arrival as a world-class academic community and, coupled with recent investments in infrastructure and real estate, has the potential to attract hundreds of tech firms to the area.
"Under Mayor Bloomberg's leadership, Downtown Brooklyn has become one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic neighborhoods in New York City, and with the addition of NYU CUSP, we are confident that Downtown Brooklyn is now poised to become a global hub for innovation," Deputy Mayor Steel said. "NYU's commitment to and investment in Downtown Brooklyn is a strong sign of confidence in the future of the neighborhood and the City at large."
"We are honored to be part of this opportunity to deliver on the Mayor's Applied Sciences NYC initiative and welcome CUSP as our partner to Innovation Square, in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn," said NYU-Poly President Hultin. "As NYU's affiliated institute for engineering and technology, NYU-Poly's faculty and students are deeply committed to meeting society's needs -- and the future of cities is one of the most significant challenges we must address. America's cities need new, intelligent infrastructure, and around the world, over one billion people will move to cities in the next 30 years. The market for intelligent city systems alone is estimated to be $160 trillion in that same period. CUSP embodies NYU and NYU-Poly's commitment to invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship (i2e), and will enable us to further the economic diversity and resiliency of this great city."
"This exciting new partnership is another important piece of the Bloomberg Administration's efforts to create a stronger and more diversified economy for the future," said Economic Development Corporation President Pinsky. "Not only will it lead to research and technologies that will greatly benefit New York and other cities, it will also generate billions of dollars in economic impact for our City and create thousands of critical jobs over the next several decades, ensuring that we continue to grow as a global leader in innovation. We congratulate NYU and their partners on this significant investment in the City's future and look forward to more good news in the coming weeks."
"This exciting new applied sciences school will make sure that not just trees, but ideas, innovations and exciting new job-creating tech firms will grow in Brooklyn," said Senator Charles E. Schumer. "Adding world class engineering and applied science schools will only strengthen the city's position as a leader in high-tech, and a premier destination for the talented and ambitious young people looking to make their mark in the new global economy. As I have always said, we shouldn't stop at one engineering school and New York's decision to move forward with two schools represents exactly the sort of bold thinking that has always propelled our City forward into the future. Mayor Bloomberg deserves great credit for leading the charge, as does NYU and the MTA for forging this partnership, and I will do everything in my power to assist him in any way I can."
"This is another great step for New York City's future," said Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand. "I commend Mayor Bloomberg, MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota, and the leadership of NYU and NYU-Polytechnic for their vision and leadership in turning this great idea into a reality. A new applied science center in downtown Brooklyn will create a new hub for science and technology connected to Brooklyn's flourishing Digital District, spurring job growth and attracting the next generation of talent – using facilities we already have."
"I am thrilled about today's announcement and confident that the Center's unique collaborative model will lead to great innovation in both the classroom and marketplace that will help NYC continue to diversify its economy beyond our financial sector," said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. "I am especially excited that this is all taking place in downtown Brooklyn, one point of the Brooklyn Tech Triangle, where the City Council has been working foster and expand the area's growing tech industry. I want to thank the Bloomberg Administration, NYU, the MTA, and NYU-Poly for their continued dedication to putting more New Yorkers back to work."
"370 Jay Street—an eyesore in Downtown Brooklyn for far too long—will be the ideal site for an applied science campus, and I commend NYU-Poly for its ongoing commitment to Brooklyn with this exciting new venture as well as its leased space for labs, classrooms and faculty offices at 2 MetroTech Center," said Borough President Markowitz. "This world-class campus will create thousands of jobs for generations to come and give Brooklyn yet another name: College Town, USA! Downtown Brooklyn already has more college students than Cambridge,Massachusetts, and this will only add to Brooklyn's growing reputation as a center for higher education and innovation. And let's not stop here—NYU's expansion plans could include a future stand-alone campus in Brooklyn. Bravo to Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Robert Steel, EDC President Seth Pinsky, NYU President and Brooklyn's own John Sexton, NYU-Poly President Jerry Hultin, MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota, Forest City Ratner and Mary Anne Gilmartin, and all of the elected officials who joined me in pitching 370 Jay Street as the perfect location for the Center for Urban Science and Progress."
"An applied sciences campus at 370 Jay Street is nothing short of a game-changer for Downtown Brooklyn and all of New York City. For years we've pushed to put 370 Jay to use, and, since last fall, we've urged an agreement that would allow NYU and NYU-Poly to build a Center for Urban Science and Progress in the space," said State Senator Daniel Squadron. "Now, by bringing a world-class institute to Brooklyn, we'll be able to bring Brooklyn's dynamic talent and vibrant tech scene to the world. And by finally putting the nearly-abandoned 370 Jay to use, Downtown Brooklyn will take another huge step forward. Thank you to the MTA, the City, and NYU for reaching an agreement that has answered the community's calls and will allow New York to continue attracting the top talent that has made us a center of innovation."
"This is a great day for Brooklyn. For many years Borough President Marty Markowitz and I have advocated along with the residents of downtown Brooklyn to have 370 Jay Street redeveloped to be in line with the renaissance of Downtown Brooklyn," said Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman. "The Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP) will be at the epicenter of Brooklyn's new and thriving Tech Triangle which includes DUMBO and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The partnership of institutions lead by NYU-Poly will grant academic degrees in engineering and sciences, and I believe that this world-class applied sciences institute will cement the future of Brooklyn's Tech Triangle and increase the amount of tech companies that call Brooklyn home. "
"I am so thrilled that NYU and EDC were able to reach an agreement to open the CUSP campus at 370 Jay Street," said Council Member Stephen Levin. "The Brooklyn Tech Triangle is quickly becoming the envy of cities from here to Silicon Valley. With DUMBO on one corner and the Brooklyn Navy Yard on another, NYU CUSP joins NYU Poly and MetroTech Center to solidify the Downtown Brooklyn corner of the Tech Triangle."
"This is a major win for New York City and especially for Downtown Brooklyn," said Council Member Letitia James. "This center will allow the next generation of great minds to solve the problems cities like New York are currently facing, while at the same time creating important jobs and economic activity for our community. I applaud Mayor Bloomberg, President Sexton and all those involved for their commitment to the future of Downtown Brooklyn."
"The transformation of 370 Jay Street into NYU's applied science and engineering institute is a game changer for Downtown Brooklyn," said Alan Fishman, chair of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. "This takes the district's resurgence to a new level and will position Downtown Brooklyn to rival any college town in the country. Mayor Bloomberg once again has delivered for Downtown Brooklyn, and I thank his Administration on behalf of everyone working and living here. Every elected official in this district has gone to bat on reactivating this building and we thank them also."
"We are excited to learn that NYU and its partners will be joining the effort to realize Mayor Bloomberg's vision to place New York City at the vanguard of innovation," said Cornell University President David Skorton. "We will all benefit from the wisdom, creativity and engagement of all our colleagues across the City's rich higher education community."
"The business community is thrilled that NYU-Poly will develop a cutting edge, graduate engineering program focused on the application of technology and science to address changing needs and opportunities of urban centers," said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City. "This is a huge contribution to New York City and will help to insure our continued pre-eminence as a global center of innovation."
"The excitement around the growth of the greater Downtown Brooklyn technology sector is palpable," said Tucker Reed, President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. "From DUMBO to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, innovative firms are transforming our local economy. CUSP is a major anchor to build the Brooklyn Technology Triangle around. The dual benefit of reactivating 370 Jay Street with a world-class institution of 21st century education, signals Downtown Brooklyn's emergence as the New York's center for innovation and entrepreneurship."
"I am honored to join Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Steel, Seth Pinsky, and so many leaders of business, education and technology for this exciting announcement," said Chief Digital Officer Rachel Sterne (NYU BA, '05). "Today's milestone yet again illustrates Mayor Bloomberg's commitment to innovation and technology-driven economic development. It is an important step forward in the Mayor's digital roadmap for New York City, and helps to further fortify and grow the City's technology ecosystem."
"Warwick is a globally connected University and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work in and with New York, one of the world's most exciting and vibrant cities," Professor Nigel Thrift, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick. "The aims of the Center for Urban Sciences and Progress are closely aligned with many of Warwick's own research priorities of manufacturing, energy, food security and healthcare. These themes all have significant impacts on the lives of 21st Century city dwellers. Warwick already has significant experience in applying those research themes to the needs of cities and it is generating significant interest in that work from a range of policy-makers and city leaders. The University of Warwick also brings to this collaboration its long history of close working partnerships with businesses, which range from multinationals like Jaguar Land Rover through to small and medium-sized firms, all of which benefit from access to the University's technology and know-how and apply that knowledge to create new jobs and expand their businesses."
"A new institution with great promise needs a great purpose," said John Chambers, Chairman of Cisco. "There are cities all over the world looking for a new approach that brings to bear the huge potential of technology to make cities more livable, affordable, sustainable and economically vibrant. CUSP's open innovation approach of using the city as a living laboratory offers great promise to build on NYU's unique relationship with New York in a way that also brings to life a new vision for the role of universities in society. For that reason city leaders everywhere are looking to NYC, to NYU, and CUSP's superb network of partners to break new ground. Cisco is honored to be one of CUSP's two lead corporate partners."
"As long-time partners of NYU-Poly, we congratulate them on the selection of the CUSP program for the applied science initiative," said National Grid President Ken Daly (NYU MS'99). "This is a perfect fit from both a local and a global perspective. Here in Brooklyn, National Grid and NYU-Poly are MetroTech neighbors and this will help us further advance Brooklyn's leadership position in energy, academics, and innovation. And globally, this enables us to leverage National Grid's energy business in the United Kingdom and share energy best practices in both countries."
"Con Edison is pleased to be a sponsor of the future Center for Urban Science and Progress," said Kevin Burke, Chairman and CEO of ConEdison. "This is a unique and powerful public-private partnership that connects advanced education and research and development in areas that are priorities to Con Edison, including energy efficiency and infrastructure related technology, such as smart grid."
"The University of Toronto has a long and deep history of research into urban challenges and opportunities," said David Naylor, President of the University of Toronto. "We are thrilled to be part of CUSP's vital task of building successful cities that are innovative, efficient, and sustainable."
"CUSP is exciting on so many levels," said Fred Wilson, Managing Partner of Union Square Ventures. "I can't imagine a better place to study and do cutting edge research into Urban Science than downtown Brooklyn which embodies so many of the challenges and opportunities of the urban experience. But more than anything, I think CUSP will be a magnet to bring more entrepreneurship and startups into Brooklyn, which is already emerging as a world class startup hub in its own right."
"This announcement positions New York City to become a global innovation center for evolving smarter cities," said Tom Eich, Partner at IDEO and Head of the New York Studio. "We at IDEO, both here in our New York Studio as well as across our global network, are excited to use human-centered design to help CUSP create a vision for configuring the future of our urban landscape."
"The Center for Urban Science and Progress will foster collaborative innovation through joint industry and academic research," R.G. Conlee, Chief Innovation Officer for Xerox ITO/BPO Services. "The center's vision to observe, analyze and create model cities to provide better outcomes for their citizens and to grow the knowledge and skills required to address urban issues is commendable and aligns with Xerox's services innovation and commercialization strategy."
"As the builder and operator of the region's key transportation facilities, we are pleased to see the development of this academic center to focus on the real-world challenges we face each day," said Pat Foye, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. "We need new, out-of-the-box ideas to help provide solutions to traditional urban city problems, such as traffic congestion, and this center provides the appropriate forum to foster those discussions."
"Siemens Corporation congratulates NYU-Poly on its selection of the Center for Science and Progress for New York City's applied science initiative," said Michael Kruklinski, Head of Region Americas Siemens Real Estate. "CUSP will be at the forefront of the study of urban science and will contribute to the global knowledge base on issues critical to how cities operate in the 21st Century. Siemens has a long history of engineering urban solutions and we look forward to working with CUSP and its private and public sector partners to make cities better places to live and work."
"This unique partnership of leading universities will focus outstanding educators equipped with modern technology to develop cutting-edge research and practical solutions to issues facing urban environments in the 21st Century," said Chancellor Matthew Goldstein of the City University of New York. "We are very pleased that CUNY faculty will contribute their talents and expertise to this important initiative."
"As Senior Advisor and Head of Corporate Portfolio Ventures at the global private equity firm Coller Capital – and as a graduate of both NYU and Poly – I applaud the Mayor's selection of NYU-Poly and its research and corporate partners to create the Center for Urban Science and Progress," said Shelley A. Harrison, NYU Applied Scientist and Entrepreneur-in-Residence. "I am excited to assist CUSP and all its partners in the commercialization of emerging urban technologies and solutions with the creation of new companies and jobs for the New York region."
"Carnegie Mellon is pleased to bring its pioneering work in intelligent transportation systems and infrastructure research to this partnership," said Carnegie Mellon University President Jared L. Cohon. "Carnegie Mellon is using state-of-the-art computing and communication technologies to advance the safety and efficiency of transportation systems, as well as a number of other urban issues. We applaud Mayor Bloomberg's continued efforts and we congratulate all the partners who worked to get this done."
"CUSP is a powerful public-private consortium that will help bolster NYC's transformation as the world center for urban innovation and economic development," said Michael O'Boyle, IBM Managing Director for NY Public Sector. "IBM is excited about supporting and participating in CUSP to make it a resounding success."
"We are delighted to participate in this unique combination of New York City, academia and government that will enable New York City to research and develop Smarter Cities," said Katharine Frase, the VP of Industry Research at the IBM TJ Watson Research Center.
"The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay welcomes the inception of the Center for Urban Science and Progress with the support of the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the appointment of Prof. Steve Koonin as its first Director," said Devang Khakhar, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. "The Center presents a great new opportunity to address the challenges of megacities by the generation of new knowledge using New York City as its laboratory and by imparting education with a focus on the planning, building and managing megacities. The work of the Center will benefit New York City directly and will provide a template to address many issues of megacities. We look forward to contributing actively as a consortium member of the Center through the participation of our faculty who specialize in the fields of engineering and science related to urban studies. The issues of our home city, Mumbai, will provide unique new insights and will be a source of ideas for the work of the Center."
"At Etsy, we're excited about the Center for Urban Science & Progress in Downtown Brooklyn, and we would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg, the city, NYU-Poly and CUSP partner institutions for their commitment to support the continued growth of the technology industry in New York City by bringing a center of world-class talent and education right to our backyard," said Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson. "Etsy has doubled its staff in the past 18 months, we continue to grow rapidly and are always on the lookout for the kind of great talent this center will bring to Brooklyn."
"We look forward to contributing to the success of what is arguably the most significant educational initiative in the region," said Mahadev Raman, Regional Director of the Americas for ARUP.
Applied Sciences NYC was designed to capitalize on the considerable growth presently occurring within the science, technology and research fields in New York, and builds on the Bloomberg Administration's record of creating a better diversified and more competitive economy for the future. In the technology sector, employment in New York grew by nearly 30 percent between 2005 and 2010, with total employment now at nearly 120,000. Also, last year New York surpassed Boston to become the number two recipient of venture capital funding for technology companies, while in the third quarter of 2011, New York surpassed Boston in venture capital funding across all categories.
In July of 2011, NYCEDC issued the RFP seeking a university, institution or consortium to develop and operate a new or expanded campus in the City in exchange for City capital, access to City-owned land – at the Navy Hospital Campus at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the Goldwater Hospital Campus on Roosevelt Island, or on Governors Island – and the full support and partnership of the Bloomberg Administration. In October, the City received 7 responses from 17 world-class institutions from around the globe. In December of 2011, the City created its first partnership, providing a consortium led by Cornell and the Technion with land on Roosevelt Island and $100 million in City capital to build a $2 billion, 2 million square foot tech campus. When completed, the new Roosevelt Island campus will nearly double the number of full-time, graduate engineering students enrolled in leading New York City Master's and Ph.D. programs, with the new NYU CUSP project set to further increase the rapid influx of talent to New York City. Negotiations continue with other institutions who submitted Applied Sciences NYC proposals, including Columbia University and Carnegie Mellon University.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC's mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City's competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City's many opportunities. Find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or visit our blog to learn more about NYCEDC projects and initiatives.


text:
The Centres and Programmes Office oversees the administration of the Centre of South East Asian Studies. For further information about any event, or to propose a talk, contact the Centres & Programmes Office team.
The Centres and Programmes Office is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 16.30
Email Distribution List
If you would like to be added to the CSEAS email distribution list please send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com stating the Centre you wish to join, your email address and your First Name and Surname. Once you have joined the list you will receive emails informing you of seminars and events organized by the Centre, and news from other academic institutions that may be of interest to you.
Centre of South East Asian Studies
c/o Centres & Programmes Office
SOAS, University of London
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square
London WC1H 0XG

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I use Mac OS X... moving to free software...
by Matt Lee Contributions — Published on Jun 24, 2010 12:17 PM
You can install free software applications on your Mac and use them instead of proprietary software from Apple and others.
First steps
Get a feel for how free software can replace proprietary software that you're using...
- Adium — replaces iChat
- Burn -- Disc Burning -- GPLv2
- Camino -- Web Browser -- MPL/LGPL/GPL Tri-License
- Cyberduck -- FTP/SFTP/WebDAV Client -- GPLv2
- Thunderbird — replaces Apple Mail
- VLC — replaces iTunes and QuickTime
- Inkscape — replaces Adobe Illustrator
- GIMP — replaces Photoshop
- GrandPerspective -- Disk Visualizer --GPLv2
- Handbrake -- Video Encoder -- GPLv3
- Frostwire -- Gnutella Client -- GPLv3
- Miro -- Video Player -- GPLv2 or later; LGPL / BSD
- NeoOffice -- OS X Port of the OpenOffice Office Suite -- GPLv2
- LibreOffice -- -- LGPLv3
- Xiph QuickTime Components -- Plugin that allows QuickTime to play Ogg Theora / Vorbis -- LGPL
- Pomodoro -- Time Management -- BSD
- Q --Virtualization -- GPLv2
- QuickSilver -- Launcher -- Apache
- Stellarium -- Planetarium -- GPLv2
- Transmission -- BitTorrent Client -- GPLv2/MIT
- Blender -- 3D Creation Suite GPLv2 or later
- Seashore -- End-User Image Editing Based on the GIMP -- GPLv2
- Scribus -- Desktop Publishing -- GPLv2
- Audacity -- Audio Editor -- GPLv2
Trisquel 6.0 on MacBook Air
The installation process of the latest version of Trisquel has turned out to be relatively straightforward with only a few minor bumps along the way. Here are the steps for installing Trisquel 6.0 on MacBook Air MD231LL/A, based on Ubuntu instructions available at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MactelSupportTeam/AppleIntelInstallation
- First, install rEFIt, an EFI bootloader, or burn a rEFIt CD. You will need
rEFIt for synchronizing partitions once Trisquel installation is finished. For more
information about how to install and use rEFIt, see <http://refit.sourceforge.net>.
- Next, you need to repartition your hard drive. Log into MAC OS system and
use Disk Utility to shrink your OS X partition creating free space for Trisquel
at the end of the disk.
- Boot into a Trisquel LiveCD by holding down the ALT-key and selecting
"Windows" CD.
- Once you boot using the LiveCD, you can choose to install Trisquel in two
different modes: grapical mode or text mode. Select text mode and follow the
instructions of the installer.
- In the partitioning step of the install, make sure to select 'partition
manually' to create partitions for Trisquel in the space freed earlier.
- At the end of the installation process, I encountered the following problem
- with installing GRUB: "can't execute grub-probe- no such file or directory." In spite of this issue, however, the installation completed
- After finishing the installation, boot into rEFIt, select the "partition
tool" to sync your partition tables. With partition tables synced, you may
elect to uninstall rEFIt (again, see <http://refit.sourceforge.net> for
- To deal with the GRUB issue during install, boot live Trisquel environment
from a CD, chroot into the newly installed system to install and configure GRUB
- Finaly, restart and boot into Trisquel by holding down the ALT-key again and
selecting "Windows" (don't let that confuse you). When you see the Trisquel
Logo, dance and celebrate!


text:
Rules & Regulations
The following rules and regulations were established by the University as a standard for the parking programs. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are urged to read these regulations. The Parking Management Office may exercise discretion to deal with special circumstances not covered by these regulations.
In developing these regulations, Parking Management is guided by the Texas Motor Vehicle Laws and the Texas Education Code 51.202. The regulations apply to all vehicles on campus and are in effect at all times. The Parking Department along with the University Police Department has jurisdiction to enforce or impound any vehicle in violation of these regulations. The owner of the vehicle will be required to pay the cost of relocation and storing of the vehicle.
- All vehicles are required to display a valid PVAMU parking permit when parked on University parking.
- When a parking sign conflicts the parking map, the sign will always supersede.
- Any area not specifically designated for parking is considered a no parking zone and vehicles will be cited appropriately.
- Vehicles that are parked parallel must be parked within the flow of traffic and not more than 18 inches from the curb.
- These regulations apply on the streets, roads, alleys, sidewalks,walkways, parking spaces, fire lanes, and parking lots on all parts of the Prairie View A&M University campus. Traffic and Parking regulations are also enforced.
- Because parking on campus is limited, registrants may have only one vehicle on campus and occupy only one space at a time from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Vehicle parking is prohibited on campus in areas not specifically designated for parking. Parking areas within the University complex are marked. Any area not lined as a space or designated with a parking sign is a NO PARKING area. The absence of a "No Parking" sign or curb marking does not mean that parking is permissible.
- Parking lots are restricted Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. During restricted hours, registered motor vehicles may be parked only in their assigned parking areas.
- The following areas are strictly enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week: reserved parking spaces, Family Housing complex lots (83, 84, and 87), lots (17, 30, 34, 69 and 70), loading and service zones, timed spaces (2 hour spaces in Lots 102 & 29 B), vendor spaces, loading and unloading space adjacent to Lot 69, handicap parking spaces, fire lanes, NO PARKING areas, walkways, curbs, lawns, traffic islands, and unmarked areas. Vehicles parked in these areas are subject to being ticketed or towed at the owner's expense including nights and weekends.
- The person to whom a vehicle is registered is held fully responsible for all violations involving the vehicle, even if another person is using the vehicle at the time of the violation. When a registrant disposes of a vehicle through sale or trade-in, the permit should be removed and returned to Traffic & Parking so that the individual will no longer be responsible for tickets the vehicle might receive. OWNERSHIP OF A PERMIT IS NOT TRANSFERABLE. Replacement permits will not be issued without the return of the old permit and proof of sale, or verification that the vehicle was destroyed.
- Unregistered vehicles are prohibited in University lots, except when operated by visitors who are not affiliated with the University and parked in spaces designated for visitors, or during special events for which visitor parking has been prearranged through the Parking Management Office. Vehicle information must be updated when vehicles or license plates change. Vehicles that are not updated will be cited.
- Students who fail to register vehicles that they operate on campus are subject to disciplinary action by the Conduct Council. There is no grace period. Students, faculty members, or staff members who operate unregistered vehicles on campus, who accumulate tickets, and who are subsequently identified, will be charged through student-account billing or payroll deduction for the citations.
- Students who reside on PVAMU campus must stay parked at their residents from the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The only exception is students can go to the laundry mat or off campus but can not drive to classes.
- Motorcycles may park only in specially designated areas.
- The speed limit is 15 miles per hour in campus drives and parking lots, 10 miles per hour in garages. The speed limit for bicycles is 10 miles per hour.
- Double parking or obstructing drives, walkways, doors, refuse containers, or other vehicles is prohibited.
- Parking in a fire lane or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant is prohibited.
- Vehicles parked in authorized lots must be parked within the parking stripes and headed into the space.
- Parking or driving on curbs, lawns, landscaped areas, traffic islands, or walkways is prohibited. Any area not lined as a space, marked with a yellow/red curb, or designated with a parking sign is a NO PARKING area.
- Tampering with, destruction, or theft of parking lot signs, or markings used for the implementation of parking and traffic regulations may result in disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution and the violators being charged for replacement cost. Parking privileges may be suspended.
- Persons with physical disabilities require a special parking permit. This permit must be displayed along with the state issued hangtag. Sufficient documentation of disability must be provided by a physician to the Disability Services Office located in Evans Hall. The final decision to issue a special permit will be made by the Disability Services Office. The cost of the permit is the same as a regular faculty/staff or student permit.
- Alteration, reproduction, or transfer of any type of parking permit may result in disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution. There is an automatic fine of $200.
- Barricades, roped-off areas, and signs indicating parking for special events take precedence over general parking designations on the map. Because changes may occur after the map is printed, regulatory signs also take precedent over the map. Unauthorized vehicles in barricaded areas will be cited.
- Penalties for violations include ticketing and fines, towing, revocation of parking privileges, disciplinary action, and/or criminal prosecution.
- Parking in the direction opposing traffic is a safety hazard and is not permitted.


text:
THE ONE presents to you the Melbourne Bounce Bundle, a collection consisting of THE ONE: Melbourne Leads and THE ONE: Bounce Melodies merged into this powerful library for your bouncing tracks!
Feeling envious of how sweet the tracks from the professionals sound? Then this is your solution!
THE ONE: Melbourne Leads consists of 50 powerful NI Massive presets with full usability with cutting edge quality. This involves innovative sounddesign, as well as full usage of all 8 Macros, randomizing, and velocity controlling.
THE ONE: Bounce Melodies comes with 100 carefully created MIDI loops aimed towards lead synths for Melbourne Bounce production, and involves strong usage of velocity editing and setting perfect notelengths.
In this bundle we also include all of the bonus material coming from both soundbanks!
At THE ONE we really want you to sound like a real professional. You don't have to worry anymore about below average melodies or mediocre patches with beginner quality, with this bundle you have all the necessities to have strong melodies and lead sounds in your songs.
These melodies have been crafted by an experienced music producer who knows what's good and what's not, so you may expect top of the notch quality!
Hear the MP3 demosongs from the two different soundbanks and you'll hear the potential this gives your music - this could be the one thing that makes you break through the dense masses.
Bonus items:
- 7 extra Massive presets used in the demo
- 62 Wav loops (24-bit/44.1 kHz)
- Both demo songs as MP3
- PDF of what presets were used in the demo Melbourne Leads-demo, as well as info of which freeware thirdparty plugins that were used in both demos
NOTE: Massive version 1.4 and up is required. This product does not contain a copy of the synth Massive.
- 70 Mb Complete Pack Content.
- PC/MAC Compatible (Logic, Cubase, Live, Reason, SonyAcid, Fruity loops, GarageBand, etc...)
- Massive Presets
- Wav
- Midi
All of the content is 100% royalty-free. Once purchased, you can use these audio loops in your music releases, both commercial and underground, with no restrictions.
How to Order:
Simply click BUY "Add to Cart". When you finish your order, click "checkout". If you are a new costumer you need create an account, if you are a returning costumer only fill up the form. Your Download Link will be sent in you account in Loophunter immediately after your payment has been received.
For any problem send a email email@example.com
*Note: The previews are low resolution MP3s. The quality of the files you will receive will of course be much higher, uncompressed WAV-AIFF, stereo, 44k, 16-24 bit.
Producer: The One


text:
Free Rebootless Kernel Updates for current Ubuntu
Unless you have Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, you can get your kernel updated with security fixes without the need for rebooting at all. Remember how Windows needs or used to need a reboot for almost every software installation? Now you'll never have to reboot your Linux! Get Ksplice for Ubuntu here.
0 comments Link this Categories: linux, security
Windows Emulator
Check out these great comics by Shane Collinge about a woman writing a windows emulator.
0 comments Link this Categories: funny, links
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Supporters of keeping Veterans Affairs medical facilities open in Hot Springs have made their case directly to the agency's head.
The state's congressional delegation, Gov. Dennis Daugaard and representatives of the "Save the VA" group on Monday met with VA Secretary Eric Shinseki in Washington, D.C.
Save the VA spokesman Rich Gross tells the Rapid City Journal the group was encouraged that the meeting was scheduled for 45 minutes but lasted twice that long. Sens. Tim Johnson and John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem said in a statement they also were pleased with the meeting, though Shinseki made no decisions.
The VA says an economic analysis shows that restructuring its facilities in western South Dakota would be cheaper and more efficient than trying to fix aging facilities in Hot Springs.


text:
M.Rex - Life Of A Hustler (Webisode 3 of 7) [Unsigned Hype]
OT reports "M.REX brings you the remix to his hit "The Life of a Hustler" feat. Rico Law. Space Age: Lost N Space is available NOW @ datpiff.com FREE DOWNLOAD. In response to the success of his debut EP, M.REX is releasing Episode 2 as a full length LP. For more OT and M.REX check out www.myspace.com/mrexot
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
This Week in Golf -- May 16 through May 19
Philadelphia, PA – PGA TOUR - HP BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP, TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas - Jason Dufner returns to the scene of his second PGA Tour title this week.
Dufner will defend his title at the Byron Nelson Championship, while still searching for his next victory. Last year, Dufner and Dicky Pride matched rounds of 69-67 over the weekend, but it was the second-round 66 that moved Dufner ahead of Pride.
Dufner hung on for a 1-stroke win, which was his second in four weeks on the PGA Tour. He has not won since, and doesn't have a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour this year.
The field this week includes eight major champions, eight past winners of this event and four of this seasons champs.
Fourteen-year-old amateur Tian-lang Guan will make his third PGA Tour start. He made the cut in his previous two starts, including the Masters, where he tied for 58th.
Jordan Spieth will play this event for the third time in the last four years. In his first appearance as 16-year-old in 2010, the 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur champion was in contention after going 6-under par for the first three rounds.
However, he tripped to a 2-over 72 in the final round and slid into a share of 16th.
Golf Channel has coverage the first two days and early on the weekend before handing off to CBS for Saturday's and Sunday's afternoon coverage.
The PGA Tour remains in Texas next week for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where Zach Johnson rallied past Dufner for a 1-shot win last year.
VOLVO WORLD MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP, Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort, Kavarna, Bulgaria - The Volvo World Match Play Championship moves from Spain to Bulgaria for this year's event.
Nicolas Colsaerts, who was seeded 14th last year, beat fourth-seeded Graeme McDowell, 1-up, in last year's finals. Colsaerts escaped the round-robin round with an 0-1-1 record, but then cruised past Justin Rose and Brandt Snedeker to reach the semifinals.
Colsaerts needed 20 holes to get by Paul Lawrie to reach the final match. McDowell won his two round-robin matches, before beating Richard Finch (3 & 2) and Sergio Garcia (19 holes) to reach the quarters. McDowell beat Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello, 2-up, to advance to the finals.
The field of 24 players is split into eight three-man groups for the round robin. Two players from each group advance from there to the knockout rounds, where it is single elimination.
Bulgaria will be the 40th different country to host this event.
Among those in the field this week are three players from the winning 2012 European Ryder Cup team, Francesco Molinari, Peter Hanson, and Ian Poulter, who won this title in 2011.
Golf Channel will cover the action this week.
MADEIRA ISLAND OPEN, Clube de Golf Santo da Serra, Santo Antonio de Serra, Madeira, Portugal - For those that didn't qualify for the match play event, the rest of the European Tour will be in Portugal for the Madeira Islands Open.
Ricardo Santos fired a scorching 9-under 63 in the final round last year to rally for his first European Tour title. The victory helped Santos earn the tour's Rookie of the Year honors.
The Portugal native will be joined in the field by eight other former winners of this tournament, as well as three former European Ryder Cup players - Thomas Levet, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson.
The European Tour will be at the Wentworth Club next week for its' flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship. Luke Donald cruised to a 4-stroke win at that event last year.
MOBILE BAY LPGA CLASSIC, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (The Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove), Mobile, Alabama - Stacy Lewis returns to the scene of her second LPGA Tour title, and that was a title that helped propel her to becoming one of the best on tour.
Lewis carded four rounds in the 60s, including a final-round 69 to beat Lexi Thompson by a single stroke. Thompson fired a 65 in the final round to put the pressure on.
The win for Lewis was her second in as many years on the LPGA Tour. She has collected five more victories since, and was briefly the No. 1 player in the world. Lewis has since dropped behind Inbee Park in the rankings.
Beatriz Recari shared 31st place here last year and is riding a streak that has seen her make 43 consecutive cuts.
Golf Channel has coverage all four days.
The LPGA Tour heads to the Bahamas next week for a new event, the Pure Silk- Bahamas LPGA Classic.
BMW CHARITY PRO-AM, Thornblade Club, Greenville Country Club (Chanticleer Course), The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Greer, South Carolina - The Web.com Tour has its annual Pro-Am this week in the event that is modeled after the PGA Tour's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Nick Flanagan needed three extra holes last year to collect his fourth tour title. He closed with a 67, while Cameron Percy posted a 66 in the final round as they ended at 15-under 271.
Flanagan made par on the third playoff hole to deny Percy his first tour title. Flanagan is back in the field trying to become the first in tour history to successfully defend a title.
Golf Channel will cover the action all week.
The Web.com Tour heads to Mexico next week for the Mexico Championship, where Lee Williams won by one over Paul Haley II last year.


text: Puritan's Pride offers the finest quality vitamins and health supplements at the best value. Puritan's Pride remains true to its original commitment of providing the best for less. Thanks to the trust and continued loyalty of over six million customers, Puritan's Pride is the #1 way to shop at home for vitamins. Find discount prices and save with the latest Puritan's Pride coupons and coupon codes plus online .


text:
Design Studio™ Creations (formerly Naru®) Shower/Hand Shower System
Model 4105-PNL
Total List Price $1,964.70 USDAdd to Comparison
- Design Studio™ Creations (formerly Naru®) shower/hand shower system with lever handle
- Temptrol Pressure Balancing valve
- Adjustable stop screw to limit handle turn
- Wall connection
- Cradle for hand shower
- Separate two function diverter
- In-line vacuum breaker
- Flexible metal hose
- 3 mode hand shower
- 3 mode showerhead
- 2.5 gpm (9.5 L/min) standard
- Tub spout not included
- 14 week lead time
Documents & Downloads
Product Support
Design Studio™ Creations
Looking to bring the wow factor to your next project? Symmons Design Studio Creations (formerly "Extended Selection") provides product designs available for project-based work. Contact us or your sales representative with questions and to establish a job quote.About Design Studio™ Creations


text:
See Grand Lotto 6/55 PCSO Results (Saturday) draw on December 1, 2018. Get the 09:00PM Grand Lotto Result draw Today. See 6/55 Lotto Result History, PCSO 6/55 Result on each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
PCSO 6/55 Grand Lotto Result Today
Winning Numbers: 46-54-36-08-30-44
Here the latest update of the PCSO Grand Lotto 6/55 Hearing and the latest update from the PCSO.
Here you find the latest 6/55 Lotto Result with the live update from the PCSO official office. Here the mega prize money of P134,154,092 of grand lotto 6/55 having the exact number of the lottery which draw today.
Here you get the latest Grand lotto 6/55 Lotto Result draw on every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 09:00PM Philippine time. The draw mechanics of the Grand Lotto is same as the Super Lotto, Mega Lotto and 6/42. Grand Lotto 6/55 uses the larger of the two chambers of Power lotto Gem. The minimum prize money is P30, 000,000 and it also had the power Lotto's of 108,000,000 Pesos on its first draw. It produces the largest Jackpot of US$16,721,406 by a single better from Luzon on Non 2010.
Grand Lotto 6/55 Consolation Prizes
Ranging up P200,000 for correct 5 numbers after the lotto draw, while ranging up to P300 for 4 and P20 only for the 3. The mega Jackpot is P741,176,323 having the same 6 digits of the PCSO Lotto Draw.
Note: always check the PCSO payout chart before claiming your prize money of the Lottery. The actual prize money of the Lotto changes and depends on the number of winners after the Lotto. The winning money prize money is equally divided into the number of the players who won the lottery.


text:
Current Volunteers Volunteers || Number of Volunteers: 24
Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund
Volunteer vs Internship Programs
Nepal is prone and exposed to various types of natural disasters due to her rugged and fragile geophysical structure, very high peaks, and high angle of slopes, complex geology, variable climatic conditions and active tectonic processes. Hence every year the country has to bear the brunt of most common natural disaster claiming many human lives and huge economic loss.
Embark upon an adventure of a lifetime, accomplishsomething remarkable, immerse in a new culture, and discover what volunteering has to offer! Sounds like a dream? Perhaps, but this is what our volunteers and interns have told us of their experience while volunteering in Nepal with Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN). Why should I volunteer with VIN's teaching program? Just Select a Project and Click Apply Now to Begin Your Adventure Teaching Projects: Explore Buddhist Culture by Teaching English at a Buddhist Monastery Experience the unique opportunity to gain insight into Buddhist culture and practice. And no, you don't have to be a Buddhist. Just come with a smile, your desire to teach and learn, and you'll feel right at home. Volunteering as an English teacher to children in a Buddhist monastery is a deeply rewarding and unforgettable opportunity to give back. Read More Make Dreams Come True by Teaching English at a Community School Discover what it's like firsthand to teach English in at community / public schools in Nepal as a volunteer or intern. When you volunteer to teach English you'll be given an active role in the classroom. You'll put your valuable skills to use by supporting dreams of students eager to learn English from teachers like you.
The volunteers will be involved in the projects that VIN implements in the working sites like Okhaldhunga, Nuwakot and Kathmandu. Volunteers with special skills to suit the professional skills are encouraged to apply.
Experience a new culture through an adventure of a lifetime while developing and building a healthier, more sustainable, future for the world! You can, through any of Volunteer's Initiative Nepal's exciting Public Health Programs. Are you a health professional, student, animal lover, or a world-conscious and willing volunteer looking to get experience through hands-on opportunities? Then you've come to the right place. Why should I volunteer with VIN's Public Health Program? Choose a Public Health Project And Click Apply Now to Begin Your Adventure Public Health Projects: Empower Communities through Health, Sanitation & Hygiene Education Create awareness in local communities in Nepal while experiencing what it's like to teach and educate in rural communities abroad. Through VIN's Health, Sanitation, & Hygiene Education project, you have the opportunity to be a part of removing barriers to improved health, by providing basic sanitation and hygiene education. During your time as a volunteer you will experience local life in Nepal as you live with in a home stay with a Nepali family. Read More
Collaborate with the Local Rural Community, Conduct Major Research, Promote Sustainable, Profitable Practices to Meet Environmental Challenges While Experiencing Nepal's Colorful Culture! As a volunteer through Volunteers Initiative Nepal's challenging, yet rewarding Environment & Conservation projects you will work first-hand with the locals, on the field, conduct research, learn, and teach, while experience Nepali culture. You will bring lasting change to Nepal regardless of your skill level. Why should I volunteer with VIN's Environment & Conservation Program? Choose a Project and Click Apply Now to Get Started Environment & Conservation Projects: Improve Nepal's Water Resources by Conducting Water Research Do you like the adventure of working with the challenges of the unexpected? Do you also possess the relevant experience in water and sanitation research? As a volunteer in VIN's Water Research project you will conduct major research on water resources and sanitation, while collaborating with and creating awareness in the local community. One day you might be at the water source taking samples, another day you might be in the lab analyzing samples, another day you could be in the office creating data analysis reports of your findings. No matter what, you be busy learning, doing, and having a lot of fun!
We need volunteers and interns to join VIN's Youth Empowerment Program to inspire and encourage Nepal's youth. Engage them in community development or give them vital social and professional skills; you will help to bring positive change to their lives and to that of their community by participating in youth volunteer program. VIN launches Youth Club and Life Skills, English and Career Development, and Youth Entrepreneurship projects under Youth Empowerment program with an objective of developing skillful youth manpower in our community sites by the help of our local and international volunteers and encourage them to participate in socio-economic activities of the society. The youth of Nepal face significant challenges as they emerge into adulthood. Many leave school without their School Leaving Certificate (SLC); the national pass rate for 2013 being a miserable 41.57 percent, 6 percent lower than the previous year. Pass or fail, politically and economically unstable Nepal holds few prospects. Skilled and unskilled, many leave for foreign countries, casting a black shadow across the future of Nepal. VIN's overriding objective is the empowerment of marginalised communities, focusing on women and children. We have been working with Jitpurphedi Village Development Committee (VDC) since 2007 and have begun to initiate work in Okhaldhunga district, in the Everest region. We believe that youth empowerment of community is essential for the empowerment of the entire community. They are the immediate future, full of potential to support community programs, such as Children's Development and Women's Empowerment and to develop themselves, given training and skills. VIN seeks volunteers and interns to support on our youth volunteer programs and help to develop the social and professional skills of community youth, helping to build their confidence to deal with problematic situations and ensuring that they become active in the community, promoting change and empowerment.
VIN seeks committed volunteers or interns to join our diverse Public Interest Program. Whether your talents are in manual labour, planning, motivating or research, you can help VIN to make significant changes in Nepal's challenging public landscape. VIN operates Traffic Management, Research Initiative, Construction and Manual Work, Emergency Relief & Disaster Management, Civil Society Initiative, Volunteering and Hospitality Management, and Animal Care projects under Public Interest Program to bring public awareness in Nepalese society from voluntary works. Nepal has been a Federal Democratic Republic since 2008, having emerged from 10 years of civil war and abolished its monarchy. Yet, four coalition governments have consistently failed to write a meaningful constitution and much of the country remains in a state of flux. The issues of health, welfare, lack of infrastructure and susceptibility to natural disaster still overshadow the country, demonstrating the overwhelming distance that developing Nepal has yet to travel. VIN's overriding objective is the empowerment of marginalised communities, with the focus on women and children development. Within our integrated community development approach, we work on four main areas; education, health, the provision of tools for economic well-being and the provision of a basic infrastructure. We have been piloting this approach with Jitpurphedi Village Development Committee (VDC) since 2007 and now look forward to working with Okhaldhunga district, in the Everest region. Our aim is to bring about a sustainable increase in the quality of life of those living in marginalised communities, ultimately leading to independence. VIN seeks willing and positive volunteers or interns to assist with a wide range of Public Interest Program, operating in and outside of our focused communities. Help the Kathmandu Police in traffic management, work with local people to build vital village structures, such as schools and toilets, or pass on your skills and help develop a culture of caring for the elderly in Nepal.
At VIN we recognize that some people want to travel, experience new cultures and give something back using the skills they have developed through their professional lives. We also recognize that there is a huge wealth of expertise and skill, not available in Nepal, that can be gathered from these people and in response have set up our Management and Administration Program to facilitate this exchange of culture and skills. VIN runs Volunteer Coordinator, Editor Writer, Marketing Advisor, Fundraising and Grant Writing, Website & SEO Professional, and Human Resource Advisor projects under Management and Administration Programs to boost management and administrative knowledge in Nepalese community with the help of expert and specialized international volunteers. Here at VIN, our overriding objective is the empowerment of marginalized communities, with a focus on those most marginalized; women and children. We have been working with Jitpurphedi Village Development Committee (VDC) since 2007 and have recently begun work with Okhaldhunga district, Everest region. Our community work is based on the foundations of health, education, the acquisition of economic tools and the provision of basic infrastructure. On these foundations we believe we can build empowered, independent communities. Since our beginnings in 2007 VIN has continued to increase in size and complexity. We now have over 20 staffs and host hundreds of volunteers annually. However, to ensure the consistency of our projects, the job security of our staff and the provision of life enhancing volunteer placements we must continue to develop the ways in which we manage VIN. We must raise awareness of our work through our websites and social media for continued support. Our website is crucial to our visibility and we must continue to innovate and to safe guard it for the future. And, as a volunteer organization, we rely most heavily on people and must develop contemporary ways to care for this precious resource.
If you are planning a career in journalism – audio-visual, photographic or print – then VIN's Journalism Program can help you develop your experience and your resume. This is a perfect opportunity for those planning a gap year or career break and contemplating or already following a career in journalism or print media. VIN's Journalism Program enables interns or volunteers to develop a portfolio of work in an international context. The program is conducted in Nepal in partnership with national daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly publications. You can work in Photo Journalism, Print Journalism, and Film and Documentary Making projects under Journalism program. If you are already a practicing journalist, Journalism volunteering will broaden your experience and show you a different way of working in journalism against the backdrop of a dramatic country faced with political and social challenges. The opportunity not only allows you to produce professional work for a large publication but to gain an insight into how the publication is run. Whether you wish to work in print or celluloid you will gain invaluable experience as you traverse your career path. VIN is a non-commercial, charitable organisation whose overriding mission is the empowerment of marginalised, rural communities in Nepal, with a particular focus on women and children. Since early 2007, we have been implementing our integrated community development plan in rural communities of outskirt of Kathmandu valley and have begun implementation in Okhaldhunga, the Everest region. By taking part in our Journalism Program you will be supporting our efforts in these communities, helping to promote our relationships with partner organisations and raising our visibility. During your placement you will live with a Nepali host family, either in the working community or Kathmandu, dependent on your placement. Where ever you live you will become immersed in Nepali culture and language, which will enrich your experience and indirectly inform your work.
Economically, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and yet one of the richest in landscape, wildlife and culture. Nepal has been one of the top 10 destinations for the adventurers. Year upon year volunteers and trekkers come here to give their time and to experience all that Nepal has to offer. At VIN, we recognise that your time is precious and while you want to give it to help developing Nepal, you also do not want to miss the chance to explore. In response, we have designed the Adventure and Volunteer Programs, allowing you to volunteer and explore and trek safe in the knowledge that the staff at VIN have carefully arranged the details. VIN Adventure and Volunteer Program allow you to participate in natural based activities which has the power to enhance lives in unique and positive ways. You get chance to engage in Volunteer Trekking, and Volunteer Travel Tour under this program. It helps you in healthy character development and self-discovery through challenge and adventure. So you will be giving back to the community in need while exploring the natural beauty of the country. Nepal is home to eight of the ten highest mountains in the world. Since Nepal's borders were opened in 1949, this small, landlocked country has become the ultimate destination for trekking and volunteering to the adventurous global population. But the mountains are only one of the draws: explore the temples and stupas, for Nepal hosts some of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world; explore the great rivers by kayak or raft; fly above Everest and the Annapurnas; Paragliding in Pokhara or take a safari in the jungle landscape of Chitwan or enjoy the Himalaya from Nagorkot.


text:
Is the hacktivist group called Anon good or bad in your opinion?
As a member of Anon i would like peoples input and try to understand what the misconceptions that are out there.
Also check out my video's and blog on this subject in sure you will find many things there you like.
Views: 7365
if i understand you correctly then your saying our government is a open government as in they tells us all? and if that is the case then your next statement is WE know what our governemt is up too?
if that is correct i dont understand why your on this site. as our government is far from open. it has never told us THE people what it is up too. that bieng said, i would suggest you look into our cause a little harder and stay away fropm places like fox news machine, and the mass media, as they will obscure the truth to what ever corp is paying the light bill that week. ny secrets we have exposed were and still are for the good of the country, well lets just say it this way the good of THE PEOPLE. the same ones who are and have been lyed to by the government. our big issue is freedom of information, and freedom of speech with out censorship. all three of those things our government is guilty of everyday.
if i have misunderstood then please feel free to reaspond as i have been behind a comp for a little over 23 hours straight my processes arent so clear at the time im typing this.
I don't think you understood him correctly, he's praising you as an agent against the secrecy of government. :)
I think you missed this one specifically:
A foil is a person who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight various features of the main character's personality: to throw the character of the protagonist into sharper focus. ...
I have mixed views on Anonymous, I support it in some one ways, and disaprove of it in others. I agree with your groups causes in a 50-50 ratio. What I mainly like about this group, is that you choose to speak of what you believe in and do not hide so much. I can not say much about this group as it seems secretive in a way to me, but I understand this completely though. Most people see all of you as a bunch of hackers that want to take over the goverment. I don't know how much of this is actually true, but it sometimes seems to be this way. I do not like you unorganized ways, but maybe this is for the best in your guys situation.
What I don't like about this group, goes to the fact that you views seem somewhat more in your own groups interest and not in the worlds. If you are really goinng to fight, you must fight for the fear in the peoples hearts. I don't believe that you have captured this goal yet as you guys aren't showing yourselves how you really should be.
I honestly wished that I had known about this group in the beginning., but this is fine. I really didn't find out about Anonymous until I had heard about your first phase, this got me interested in your group. But long before I had heard of this group of yours, I had created one of my own. Obviously I am not with Anonymous entirely, as I have never been in contact with any of you, but I am in the sense of what I think of your group. My group is mainly for equality and a more fair enviorment for the young like myself, but as well as the old too. I will not give you our name, but if we our successful in our efforts, maybe I will not have too. We are no where near the size of Anonymous, but we are growing at a high rate everyday and are working to be as well known as this group. We do not wish to be in a immature contest of views and praise from the many supporters, but we do wish to be far greater than this group in the years to come. We are fresh and new, but we are strong and will not hold back.
I hope to hear more about this group in the near future, and I hope that the majority is of subjects that I agree on. I wish Anonymous the best of luck in your path, and that you may be very successful in your goals if they are well.
Also I hope to see more footwork and less of the hacking as my group is almost entirely footwork and I believe that this is the right way in handeling issues. Although times have changed, but we mush keep good use of the history that is not so ill.
I like some of what Anon does. Like Co$ and Op-Tunisia. I'm all for going after tyrant dictators who cheat people out of money and the ex-leaders of Tunisia.
Some I don't like. Like Op-Sony. So what, you closed down PSN for a few months. It kinda, sort of, maybe inconvenienced me, if you squinted really hard...I don't really care, because I got free shit out of the deal...
Now, with the whole 'November, November, the 5th of November. The Gunpowder Treason and Plot' deal...I really don't care. As long as I'm not inconvenienced, I really don't care. Don't like it? Welcome to the internet...
Have fun storming the Castle!
You are not a member of Anon. The point of Anon is there is no members. We are all Anon, and nobody is Anon. Just had to put it out there.
Also, as participant in some of Anons campaigns, I'd say: good.
I support them.
I believe you are convoluted.
You fight against government secrecy while being a secret organization.
You fight against suppression of speech by suppressing others speech.
You demand accountability while being anonymous.
Don't get me wrong, I know governments are corrupt. I also know gorilla tactics are effective.
I also know that both you and the government have the same mentality, so I do not see you as a Robin Hood, rather just as a "feel good" reflection of the bad in people that make the government bad in the first place.
To me anonymous has two sections, the hackers and the footman. For the hackers, I believe that they are in fact some sort of group and hack together. But for the footman, these people seem to just be followers of Anon and carry out their field work. Much like pawns in a chess game.
Now with Anon be our last hope, I would say yes and no to this. No, because they are just one of numerous organizations and people fighting against a world gone terribly wrong. But yes in the fact that they are definitely the strongest and most well known of these groups.
To say if Anon is good or bad could be argued for centuries. So to me, they are neither, but their final result will justify who they are.
Now if I am just pain wrong on the fact that Anon is its own private group with minor public sections as well. Well then that would technically mean that me and my group are also part of Anon, or at the least the idea of Anon. But either way, I am still half and half on my support for Anon, and I will continue to lead my own group into what we believe is the right way.
And finally, Anon to is a group that is based off on freedom, in which I agree on. But it still lacks overall purpose, and for that reason, I cannot put my full faith into this group. But I will make my own stronger as we have this purpose that Anon can never have.
"but their final result will justify who they are"
The ends justify the means is truly unjustifiable. Cheney and Bush used it to justify torture.
I am in general agreement with what I've seen so far. I can only hope that there is equal effort to hound corporations and lobby groups for their bad/secretive deeds as public institutions. Unfortunately, it's easier to prey on public institutions because the expectations of good behaviour are higher. But in terms of real power to effect change in society, I think hitting corporations/lobby groups is more powerful.
You could go back and forth making cases about the group itself being good or bad (in my personal opinion I would say they are GOOD!) So instead of making a shaky case proclaiming that 'they' are good or bad - I would just say with absolute confidence that it is definitely a GOOD thing that we have the presence of this group. Actually I thank god for anonymous...I'm so appreciative for the efforts of hacktivists and I just cringe whenever I hear about one being taken to jail. To me most of them are heroes. Like I said I truly thank god for them and for what they do.


text:
Nineteen white roses. Nineteen rings of a bell. Nineteen pairs of empty boots and lonely black helmets.
One by one, 19 fallen Arizona firefighters were today remembered as heroes by a crowd of several thousand packed inside a Prescott, Ariz., arena for a final farewell.
"They were protectors defending our communities, safeguarding our friends, family and strangers alike. They were 19 heroes gone at the turn of the wind," said Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.
The faces of each of the men, members of the elite Granite Mountain Hotshots crew, adorned posters that looked out hauntingly at the crowd. All were killed last week while fighting an out-of-control wildfire in the Yarnell hills northwest of Phoenix.
It was the single biggest loss of firefighters battling a wildfire in 80 years and the most killed in any single incident since Sept. 11, 2001.
"These men were some of the strongest, most disciplined, tenacious, physically fit men in the world. An elite unit in every sense of that phrase," said Vice President Joe Biden.
"The 19 who fell were not only heroes on Sunday, June 30, 2013, to you the families," Biden said. "They were heroes long before we knew their names."
President Obama, who spoke this year at memorial services for victims of other high-profile national tragedies, was not in attendance. White House spokesman Jay Carney explained that Biden's "personal experience" with firefighters made him the most "fitting representative of the administration."
Biden, who said he did not personally know any of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, described feeling a bond with the men through his past interactions with firefighters who "saved my life" and helped members of his family.
Other notable dignitaries in the crowd included Homeland Security Secretary and former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano; Interior Secretary Sally Jewell; Sen. John and Cindy McCain; Sen. Jeff Flake; and Rep. Paul Gosar.
The Hotshots were killed when shifting winds led to a rapid swirl of fire that trapped them on a hillside while fighting the flames. The men deployed their emergency shelters, but they were unable to withstand the severe heat and smoke. The men died of burns and inhalation problems, an initial autopsy found.
The bodies of the firefighters returned to Prescott on Sunday after a 125-mile procession from a Phoenix medical examiner's office through the state. A line of white hearses was greeted by thousands of people, who lined highways and overpasses with American flags.
One member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots survived the blaze. Brendan McDonough, 21, was acting as lookout for the crew. When the winds shifted over Yarnell, he warned his colleagues, but it was too late.
In a powerful conclusion to the service, McDonough recited the "Hot Shots Prayer" in memory of his fallen comrades.
"For if this day on the line, I should answer death's call," McDonough prayed, "Lord, bless my Hotshot crew, my family, one and all."
"Thank you. I miss my brothers," he said.
The fire they fought is now under control. The first of the 19 funerals are expected to begin later this week.


text:
Refuge System Is Establishing 7 Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships
As Floodwaters Rose, Service Rose To the Occasion
From the Director: Unsung Heroes of the Service
Chiefs Corner: In at the Start
Feral Horses: A Conundrum of Epic Proportions
If You Plant It, They Will Come
Seabirds Warn of Ocean Change
CrossCultural Collaboration at Tamarac Refuge
The Transformation of Santee Refuge
Community Support Is Key From the Start
Refuges Established Since 2000
Progress on the Prairie
Restoring the Grandfather Trees of the Woods
Prairie Partners: NRCS, TNC and Glacial Ridge Refuge
Rebuilding Trust at Vieques Refuge
Around the Refuge System
Road Culverts Improve Safety and Habitat Connectivity
A Look Back . . . Harold Benson
Refuge Update Archive
Refuge Update September/October 2013
Contact Us | Site Map


text:
Have a Blog?
Don't Have Time?
It's Time to Hire a Professional Blogger!
One of the best ways to keep your content fresh and keep your target audience/demographic in Thousand Oaks updated is to have a blog. But blogging the right way takes time – and you don't have that kind of time. Let a professional writer in Thousand Oaks do the blogging for you.
As a professional blogger and freelance writer, I know how to get to the point quickly, so your readers get the info you want them to get in a short time. Nobody wants to read a blog post that takes more than a couple of minutes. Plus, with freelance writing a blog, you renew your content regularly, making the search engines keep your high ranking. (Check out my blog by clicking on the Blog tab above. I do blogging on Wordpress.)
All I need from you to start my blogging services is some information about your industry, company and target audience/demographic, plus the style and tone you want for the blog, and I'll take care of the blog writing. Another key part of my blogging service: I write blogs that entertain and inform – two things blogging and freelance writing should do.
As part of my professional blogging services, I offer writing a blog with as many (or as few) posts as you would like. Get the information you want to your people. Contact me and let's discuss how hiring this professional blogger and freelance writer today can benefit you!
Lee Barnathan (818) 521-1675
Writer / Editor / Blogger / Storyteller
Website Designed and Developed by Tap Solutions
Blogging Services Thousand Oaks Blogging Services Topanga Blogging Services Torrance Blogging Services Tracy Blogging Services Tujunga Blogging Services Tulare Blogging Services Turlock Blogging Services Tustin Blogging Services Union Blogging Services Upland Blogging Services Vacaville Blogging Services Val Verde Blogging Services Valencia Blogging Services Vallejo Blogging Services Valley Village Blogging Services Van Nuys Blogging Services Venice Blogging Services Venice Beach Blogging Services Ventura Blogging Services Ventura County Blogging Services Vernon and surrounding areas


text:
Three months after offering to settle a three-year-old dispute over $76,500 in unpaid sewer tap fees, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night voted to sue the City of Auburn for the full amount. In a letter a couple of years ago, Mayor Linda Blechinger offered a compromise in which the city would pay half of the disputed amount over a period of five years. But county officials didn't show any interest in compromising until this spring, when on May 8 the BOC voted to accept the $38,250 offer but wanted it paid in full within 30 days. Auburn officials didn't pay the money. So Tuesday night, Commissioner Larry Joe Wilburn made a motion to turn the matter over to the county attorney for collections, saying he wanted Angela Davis to pursue the full amount of the tap fees since the county would incur legal costs to get the money.
For the full story, see the Aug. 15 issue of the Barrow Journal.
BOC to sue Auburn over debt
No Trackbacks
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)


text:
I was searching for a Chrome extension to make notes, specifically of genealogy-related websites that I'd come across that week. Every Friday I read other bloggers accounts of the stuff they've found, but can't be bothered to track back through my bookmarks to record mine. I've got Tomboy of course, but I was thinking more of something in my browser that would somehow let me click a button and record that site for quick retrieval at the end of the week.
Didn't find exactly what I had in mind, but I did find Pearltrees – "a place to collect, organize and share everything you like on the web". I signed for a free account, and installed the "pearler", an extension that adds a button to your toolbar allowing you to "pearl" or collect web pages. You can organise into trees, which are collections of pearls, and into sub-trees too if necessary.
The interface is simple, and uses click-and-drag to organise. You can search other users pearltrees, and work in teams if you wish.
This shows my main pearltree page – the items with a pale-blue avatar are pearltrees, which contain the pearls shown. Clicking "related interests" at the top left lets me search for items related to the pearl or pearltree which is focussed on at the moment, in this case my "Genealogy" pearltree.
This is a close-up of part of one of my pearltrees – you can easily see which site is linked to each pearl.
This panel appears with each pearltree, and shows how many pearls it contains, if anyone has commented on it or "picked" it (added it to their pearltree), and allows you to share. I haven't tried using the team function yet, but this lets you work in collaboration with others researching the same topics.
The FAQS page gives information about privacy, and on downloading your pearls and trees – you own the data, and if you decide pearltrees isn't for you, you can download in RDF. These files can be opened by Firefox and XML browsers on Mac, Linux and Windows.
I like using it, it's easy to learn to use, and fun. I find those qualities make me do things that I ought to do, but don't bother with if there's anything even slightly "hard work" about it. This is supposed to be a fun hobby for me, after all!


text:
The Sessions - DVD Review
Review by Rob Carnevale
TAKEN at face value The Sessions isn't an easy attraction given it's difficult, even uncomfortable story.
But thanks to some sensitive direction and some tremendous performances it emerges as an empowering piece of cinema that amuses and inspires even if it does still leave you sitting awkwardly at times.
Based on a true story, the film follows the fortunes of a man named Mark (John Hawkes), a 38-year-old who has been confined to an iron lung since contracting polio at the age of six. Up until this point, though, Mark has been able to lead a reasonably fulfilling life as a poet and writer until his latest assignment on sex and disability forces him to confront his own sexual desires.
Hence, with the blessing of his friend and priest (William H Macy) Mark engages a sex surrogate named Cheryl (Helen Hunt) whose services are limited to six sessions and who will help him make the transition to sexual activity.
Ben Lewin's film is actually based upon the autobiographical writings of Mark O'Brien and is all the more remarkable for it given its basis in truth.
But it would equally have been a difficult film to get wrong given its potential for mis-managing the comedy as well as the sex and nudity.
By taking a bold approach to both, however, Lewin has delivered a fearless piece of work that isn't afraid to confront the emotional and physical complexities of what's at play but which also isn't afraid to make you laugh with the characters rather than at their expense.
It's a very human piece of work that places character at the forefront. Hawkes is amazing, offsetting charisma with insecurity, while Hunt is fearless, tapping into the conflicted emotions she eventually feels in authentic, unshowy fashion.
You could argue that the film does her a disservice by making her the only one of the two to appear completely nude but Lewin may well argue that this speaks more to the attitudes of their respective characters to it.
William H Macy also deserves credit for the portrayal of the priest, a similarly conflicted man in many ways given the implications of his own religious oath, but someone who is able to consistently be upbeat and encouraging to his friend while only hinting at any angst with a sly look of despair.
At a time when disability awareness and rights are more in the news than ever, The Sessions further deserves praise for shining a spotlight on another little known story of triumph over adversity.
It's a charming, even poignant film that does inspire and which looks certain to feature prominently in the upcoming awards season.
Certificate: 15
Running time: 97mins
UK Blu-ray & DVD Release: May 20, 2013


text:
I started with the 1850 schedules for my Hannan relatives in Maine. I found my ggg-grandfather John Hannan and his son, my gg-grandfather Richard Hannan listed in the Liberty, Waldo, Maine Agriculture schedule, conveniently on the same page.
Each individual begins on the right hand-side page of a two-page spread, and continues on the next page. Here are the full pages for my Hannan ancestors.
So what do they say? John's farm is listed as being 100 acres, 20 of them improved (in use) with a cash value of $400. He lists 3 milch cows (milking), 4 working oxen, 2 other cattle, 12 sheep, and 1 swine (pig). The total value of the lifestock is reported as $200. He reports 30 bushels of indian corn, 15 bushels of oats, 25 pounds of wool, 4 bushels of peas and beans 15 bushels of barley, 150 pounds of butter and 15 tons of hay. Lastly, he reports $50 of home-made manufacture. The value of his slaughtered animals is $240. At this time in his life, John had been in the US about 38 years. He had 2 sons helping him with his farm.
Richard Hannan, John's son, is listed on the same page. He reports his farm as being 250 acres, 30 of which are improved. The cash value is $800. He lists 1 horse, 2 milch cows, 2 oxen, 2 other cattle, 9 sheep with a livestock value of $160. He also has 15 bushels of indian corn, 30 bushels of oats, 28 pounds of wool, 4 bushels of peas and beans, 20 bushels of barley, 50 pounds of butter, 12 tons of hay, $40 worth of home-made manufacture and $100 value of slaughtered animals. Richard was about 26 years old in 1850. He had married in 1849.
Both John's and Richard's farms seem about average in size and content compared to those in the same area. They are not the largest or most prosperous, neither are significantly poorer than those around them.
Next up, how did the farms appear in subsequent years. I also would like to locate the actual location of their farms. Interesting stuff!!


text:
ShadowKit – Working with Disk Images
Guide v1 – Mounting an image.
The easiest and best way to access Windows 7's Volume Shadow Copies with ShadowKitis an easy three step process that should work in 9 out of 10 cases.
Step 1
Export your image to a single raw image file (akadd). Do not split the file in to segments. Creating a single raw image can be done using numerous tools such as FTKImager or Encase among others. Just don't be a dope and try to make a single dd image on a fat32 partition.
*Why a single dd? See Tip 3 below.
Step 2
Run vhdtool.exe (free from Microsoft). This will alter the image so back it up if you want an unaltered version. vhdtool.exe will insert/append a footer in to your image so that it will now be recognized as a VHD image format by Windows 7.
The command to convert the image will look something like this:
The command to convert the image will look something like this:
"vhdtool.exe /convert image.dd"
Step 3
Mount the image by opening up the Management Console -> DiskManagement. Wait about 10-20 seconds for Disk Management to load up all the info about the current drives, until that time the VHD features will be greyed out (not selectable).
*If you don't like my guide for mounting VHD files there are numerous others available on the web.
Attach the image by right clicking on Disk Management and selecting Attach VHD. Be sure to check "Read-Only".
Voilà, the image is mounted and ready to be used in ShadowKit.
Some Tips
Tip 1
When you run ShadowKityou will see a drop-down with a list of computer names associated with the Shadow Copies. You can choose to filter out local shadow copies if you wish to avoid annoyance/confusion, after clicking the check box just choose refresh from the menu and local shadows will not be shown.
Tip 2
If you already have ShadowKit running before mounting an image just select refresh from the menu bar at the top.
Tip 3
Mounting an image with FTKImager or MountImagePro will not work properly. Anyone tested this with Encase Modules?
Tip 4
When you are done using the mounted VHD you can un-mount the image through Disk Management.


text:
The Great Frame Up
Hours And Locations for Newport News, Virginia
Category: Picture Frames-Dealers
Picture Frames-Dealers
Each The Great Frame Up location strives to provide high quality custom framing for your unique style and personality. With hundreds of mat and frame samples to choose from, we know making custom framing selections can sometimes be a little overwhelming - especially with your busy schedule. We offer a warm and welcoming environment for you, a seat at our design counter, and our knowledgeable and professional designers will walk you through your selections. With just a brief discussion about the home or office in which the finished art will hang, our designers and framers will create a unique d ...
There are over 90 The Great Frame Up locations in the US.
The Great Frame Up Hours And Locations for Newport News, Virginia VA
Picture Frames-Dealers
51 Jefferson Ave
Hours — Store Hours
Hours — Store Hours
Locations currently open are Green and those currently closed are Red.
As of:7:40 am (EDT) Sat Jul 20. [Change]
As of:7:40 am (EDT) Sat Jul 20. [Change]
See all The Great Frame Up locations nationwide.