text:
Forestry on the Front Lines
By Richard Conniff
Early in August, before he rotated back to the States from Afghanistan, a civilian resource manager named Harry Bader ran a forest transect across the Tora Bora Mountains, the rugged border country notorious as the one-time hideout of Osama bin Laden. Bader was traveling in a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, with a second Black Hawk in support, flying the landscape 250 or 300 feet above the treetops at about 70 miles an hour, well within range of ground fire. The job was to inventory marketable timber by tree species, crown diameter and height. Smuggled across the Pakistan border, a single big cedar tree can sell for $1,000, more than most local households earn in a year.
U.S. and coalition military forces had been acting on the belief that trade in black-market timber, like trade in opium, was providing cash for the Taliban, al Qaeda and other insurgents. Worse, it was turning mountain villages away from the Afghan national government, which banned tree harvesting in 2006. Timber smuggling also got the blame for the widely reported destruction of the upland forests. Bader, who wears a Yale Forestry cap and jokes about leading the Yale forestry extension service in Afghanistan, was figuring out the details of that trade by traveling on foot and by air into areas his military escorts call "kinetic," meaning "extremely violent."
He was also working to use that knowledge to woo the timber-smuggling villages back to the side of the Kabul government. To that end, Bader and a small band of colleagues headquartered in Jalalabad were also organizing a civilian forestry corps that has become known as the Afghan tree army. While the military works to defeat insurgents with M-16s and Hellfire missiles, the ambition is for this tree army to defeat them with homemade Pulaski axes and Biltmore sticks, the tools of conventional forestry roughly a century ago.
Bader describes what he does as "natural resources counter-insurgency." It's an unfamiliar discipline even to many counter-insurgency (or COIN) experts. But it's one that is likely to get greater attention—and ratchet up the challenge for environmental managers—in a world where wars increasingly turn on environmental factors. Unlike conventional civilian development projects, the counterinsurgency focus puts the emphasis on results that are, if not immediate, at least pretty damn quick. "Nothing that I do is development, and nothing that my colleagues do is development," says Bader, who works for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). "We have a very limited view. What we do is nonlethal COIN in order to, in effect, be a force multiplier for lethal COIN." He also readily admits that "this is not the solution in the long term." It's just a way of buying time. What's really needed to restore stability in Afghanistan is long-term nation building—a commitment by world governments and the Afghan people to rebuild the civic and natural infrastructure, including reforestation, watershed restoration and agricultural development. But for now, Bader is using his forestry training "to defeat insurgencies long enough that these other things" can happen.
Harry Bader
The tree army was originally the brainchild of an Army civil affairs officer, Maj. Clint Hanna, and a senior State Department advisor, Dante Paradiso, Yale College Class of 1992, both working with Col. Randy George, then-commander of the U.S. Army's Task Force Mountain Warrior. What they had in mind was something like the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, deployed at hyperspeed. They brought in Bader as part of a joint military-civilian "natural resources counterinsurgency cell" and launched the tree army in May, with a five-week training program for a core group of 13 local forest supervisors, mostly graduates of Nangarhar University in Jalalabad.
In the field, despite these American antecedents (and about $2 million in American funding), the tree army will be entirely an Afghan operation. The 13 supervisors are now passing on their knowledge to 50 newly hired foremen, who will in turn recruit 250 workers this fall in mountain villages around Nangarhar province. If the Afghan tree army succeeds during the initial rollout, then Zorghun Afghanistan (Green Afghanistan, as it is known locally) could go nationwide. But no one is defining success according to the slow timetable of conventional forestry. Instead, says Clint Douglas, a Department of Defense consultant who is part of the Jalalabad counterinsurgency cell, the aim is to have a "significant impact" on the next fighting season, beginning in the spring, with tree armies in four northeastern provinces. (In addition to Nangarhar, they are Nuristan, Kunar and Laghman, where, by Bader's count, five separate insurgencies now operate.) The basic tactic is to "dry up the well," says Douglas, by employing the same young men of military age who would otherwise be most heavily recruited by the insurgents.
Status counts for everything in the mountain villages and, thus, also in the tree army. Discrimination by both gender and birth rank are the basic terms of doing business. "This program is limited to first, second and third sons, because these are the ones that the Taliban is after," says Bader, because they're the ones that the Taliban recruits as leaders. Conventional development programs are content "putting idle young men to work to keep them from becoming insurgents. But "those fifth, sixth and seventh sons" are bottom-of-the ladder foot soldiers, the $10-a-day Taliban. That's not who we're targeting, because that's not the group of people who are going to switch a village to the government. It's the first, second and sometimes third sons who have prominence, ability and respect." They have the potential to become what Afghans call "the social man," with the tree army giving them a way to earn that status "in a nonlethal manner" and by providing a service with high local value—forest and range management in the upper watershed, including construction of stacked-stone check dams, terraces and other forms of erosion control. "Everything will be built with natural materials on-site so that these villages can maintain them," says Bader. Flying in cement or steel by helicopter doesn't work because the villagers get no sense of ownership. Modern forestry tools are also out, says Bader, "because if one of our young men is walking around with something that's optical, or electrical, or has batteries or a GPS, they're going to get killed by the Taliban, because that's all material that can be used in IEDs," or improvised explosive devices. "So we had to rethink the curriculum. I have many books on my desk right now from Gifford Pinchot and others on how to do management and build using 1900's technologies. Instead of a wedge prism (for establishing fixed-radius plots in the field), we're using a small washer at the end of a string. We're using a modified Islamic Pashto Biltmore stick. Nothing we do is pretty, but it's practical. It's Gifford Pinchot's forestry, pure and simple."
In a war zone where not much else seems to work, can a tree army with such rudimentary equipment actually make a difference? Bader says the tree army has already earned sufficient prestige that even college graduates—almost always elder sons—are now vying for positions at $12 a day, though conventional development efforts often have trouble getting people to sign on at far higher wages. Then he recounts an incident this June, late in the training of the first group of supervisors, when they were discussing where to focus the tree army's first public project. "They unanimously stated that it had to occur in this one area under one particular tribe that had lately taken a major risk by entering into an agreement to cooperate with the U.S. military. "Somebody stood up and said, 'I hate this tribe. If they came to my area I would probably want to kill them. However, if the insurgency is to be defeated, this tribe must be the first to benefit.' That was the eureka moment, about creating that social man, the person who can rise above his tribe and see the larger picture."
But it is, of course, too soon to know if whole villages will follow.


text:
Artists' Books
Special Collections & Archives has a fine and growing collection of artists' books. Artists' books are hand-bound books which are important not only for their content but for their unique forms. Many include hand-made paper, original drawings or photographs, and unusual bindings. Many artists' books challenge the reader to think about the nature of the book and the act of reading in new ways.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It was 30 years ago that University of Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant died at age 69, but time has done nothing to erase the influence of Bryant in football — and outside of it.
TUSCALOOSA | It was 30 years ago that University of Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant died at age 69, but time has done nothing to erase the influence of Bryant in football — and outside of it.
Last week, Bryant's name was on sports pages again as a former assistant coach on his University of Alabama staff, Bruce Arians, was named the head coach of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
In the days before that, Bryant's name was invoked repeatedly in stories and columns comparing his success at Alabama with the recent, equally impressive run of championships assembled by current Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban.
Bryant's name and presence are always prominent in Tuscaloosa, from the stadium where Alabama plays to museums, bridges and schools.
But on the anniversary of his death, former players and coaches recalled a private Bryant and discussed memories away from the field, not simply his 323 victories or six national championships.
"I think there is a public coach Bryant and a private coach Bryant, to an extent," said Steadman Shealy, the quarterback of Bryant's final national championship team in 1979. "He taught me lessons that I still use 30 years later, not just what he did to prepare us as players, but what he did to prepare us for life. He prepared you to be a husband, a father, a businessman or whatever. And he lived that way."
Shealy, who went on to coach on Bryant's final staff as an assistant, also hosted the coach's Sunday television show in 1982, taking over the role previously held by Charley Thornton.
Shealy recalled a conversation he had with Bryant as they prepared to tape what would be the final edition of the show.
"He came to me and said, 'Steadman, I'm retiring. I feel like I am losing my edge, and I don't want to affect the team.' He didn't do it for himself, he did it for others.
"He did so much for others — helping out people who needed it, sneaking into hospitals to visit patients — and no one ever knew about it."
Both Shealy and former UA assistant coach Gene Stallings said they thought Bryant would still be a successful coach today.
"Coach Bryant was a motivator," Stallings said. "He wasn't so much about Xs and Os. Our game plan at Alabama might not have been any better than anyone else's, but he made the players believe it was better."
Shealy echoed that in his reminiscences.
"I think anyone who is at the top of the coaching profession has mastered something that no one else has," Shealy said. "Coach Saban has that with the way he recruits, the system he has implemented.
"With Coach Bryant, it was motivation. He motivated through competition, and he was a master at it."
Reach Cecil Hurt at email@example.com or 205-722-0225.


text:
If you're in New York City or nearby, there's something you've got to do by the end of the weekend. Head over to the Park Avenue Armory on 68th street, plunk down $12 and spend an hour or so swinging on swings as you create art.
The installation is called Ann Hamilton: The Event of a Thread. While there are parts of it that involve people reading esoteric prose and poetry next to caged pigeons and parts that involve live singing, the draw is the 40-something swings that are all tethered to a massive piece of cloth. Swing on the swings—each one seats two!—and your motions will cause the cloth to ripple. Play turns into art. Sound familiar?
It looks great from a balcony above.
Or lie down under the cloth and you'll get another lovely view.
I can't recommend this highly enough. So, go. Have fun. The piece will be up until the end of Sunday.
ANN HAMILTON: the event of a thread [Park Avenue Armory]


text:
The British Academy states that there are suitable glacial deposits south of the R Severn, that's about 180 miles nearer for man hauling than the Prescelis. I confess here that I have not seen these deposits myself, but then, I haven't seen the Pyramids either!
Come on chaps! Didn't you read this bit?


text:
Well, it's that time again: faced with another New Year's Eve upon us, I must share a complete broadcast of Louis Armstrong from a New Year's Eve of long ago. This is fourth time I've done this in case you're new here. If you want to read my 2008 post about Louis's 1967 Las Vegas New Year's Eve gig (featuring "What a Wonderful World" and a fantastic closing "Sleepy Time"), click here. In 2009, I shared a 15-minute broadcast from 1954 that ended with Louis playing a very straight, touching "Auld Lang Syne." Click here. And I closed 2010 with a broadcast from December 31, 1962 featuring Louis and the All Stars in fine form on a short set filled with the hits, a set that can be heard here.
The previous broadcasts I shared ranged between 15 and 30 minutes but today I'm going all out. 2011 was a helluva year for me, I think hands down the greatest of my life, and as it comes to a close, I'm just feeling thankful for all of you out there who have come to the blog, bought a book, e-mailed me, whatever, just to connect over Louis. So let's close the year out with a bang with a 47-minute broadcast of Louis and the All Stars from Yokohama Japan, December 31, 1953.
And these aren't any ordinary All Stars. The front line is Louis, Trummy Young and Barney Bigard, always a potent team (Barney hadn't quite given up yet but he was already starting to be overshadowed by Louis and Trummy). And the rhythm section features the recently joined Billy Kyle on piano and Kenny John on drums, as well as the legendary Milt Hinton on bass. Throw in Velma Middleton with two vocals and you can't go wrong.
This material (except for "That's My Desire") was actually commercially released not too long ago but after a quick internet search, it looks like it's only available in Europe these days. (Here's the link to find it on Amazon.co.uk.) If you want the individual tracks for your personal collection, seek that release out. For our purposes, I've thrown everything together as one long, long track; it's all here from start to finish. Here's the audio:
So, what's on the broadcast? Well, after the announcer's introduction (this was broadcast around the world on NBC), Louis naturally opens up with "When It's Sleepy Time Down South." At 5:05, Louis kicks into "Indiana," and even if you think you're sick of "Indiana," check this one out because this is one of my favorites. Louis was still in the process of setting his solo and he really uncorks some different ideas here. At 9:35, Louis changes the atmosphere with a slow, yet swinging version of "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" (the tempo would really slow on this one in later years).
Normally Louis would do a few more numbers but because this was a shortened broadcast, Louis probably wanted to let some of the other All Stars shine. So Barney is up first with "Tea for Two." This is usually one of my favorite Bigard features as the turbo-charged tempo usually let Barney generate some heat. But interestingly, when Kenny John joined the band, for some reason, Bigard's features on "Tea for Two" and "S'wonderful" decreased almost in half in terms of tempo. The groovier tempo swings (there's some great Hinton walking back there) but it also meant that Bigard's interplay with the drummer lasted twice as long. Thus, this feature goes on for almost nine minutes! It's still worth a listen and begins at 14:20.
At 22:40, Louis takes everyone to New Orleans for a stomping version of "The Bucket's Got a Hole In It." This song was still coming into its own in Louis's repertoire; surviving versions from the previous year are still on the slower side. But the 1953 versions elevated the tempo and the with the addition of Trummy's roaring trombone, this piece became one of the group's most exciting numbers.
At 26:00, Trummy steps into the spotlight for his feature from the Jimmie Lunceford days, "Margie." This number always broke it up, so much so that Louis gives Trummy two more encores to work the crowd into a frenzy. Listening, Louis just about steals the show but visually, I can attest that on those last encores, Trummy would play with his foot and eventually collapse on his back at the song's conclusion, always breaking up the crowd! We can't see that, but it's a lot of fun to listen to.
Velma Middleton comes on at 30:00 to do her blues (listen to the crowd go berserk at 31:30 as she does her split!). Then a real rarity at 33:15, "That's My Desire," which has never been commercially issued. It's a fine version and even if most of the people in the audience probably didn't understand every word, Louis and Velma's mannerisms clearly conveyed what the song was about.
Velma turns it back over to Louis at 38 for a quick run-through of Louis's Decca hit, "C'est Si Bon." This is probably the fastest surviving version of this tune and while it's a good one, it almost goes back too fast. At 40:15, Louis hands it over to Kenny John for the usual All Stars drummer feature, "Stompin' at the Savoy." John proved to be a problematic personality (as detailed in my book) and was ultimately let go in May 1954. But at this point, everything was still going well. In fact, on one of Louis's private tapes, he and Velma discuss this Yokohama broadcast. One of their friends recorded it (I think Velma says "Jack," so it could have been Jack Teagarden) and they discuss it backstage at the Chicago Theater in early 1954. Velma mentions how great Kenny's feature on "Savoy" was and Louis brags about how it broke it up. The good times wouldn't last long so this is a valuable, rare surviving feature for John.
And finally, at 45:50, the closing "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," with Louis wishing everyone around the world a Happy New Year (a moment that really touched Velma Middleton when they talked about it later). And that's the end of this terrific New Year's Eve broadcast. For Louis, though, it was the beginning of a pretty stressful couple of weeks: he, Lucille and the band left Japan that night and flew to Hawaii. On New Year's Day, they landed in Hawaii, where Lucille was arrested for marijuana possession. But for that story, well, it's in the book (sorry, I'm shameless!).
I hope you enjoyed this and again, thanks for making 2011 so memorable for me. Here's wishing a happy, healthy, safe, swingin' 2012 to all you Pops nuts out there!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
New Year's Eve 1953 - Louis Armstrong and His All Stars Live in Yokohama, Japan
Posted by Ricky Riccardi at 12/31/2011 12:00:00 AM
2 comments:
- Susan said...
Thank you, Ricky, for this delightful audio, it's a real treat to hear New Year's wishes from Pops. Satchmo Fest 2012 will be a highlight of the New Year for us! We're looking forward to seeing you there. Thank you for you fantastic work! And Happy New Year to you all.
- January 1, 2012 at 3:04 AM
- Filipe Castro said...
I am convinced that when I was a kid I saw a movie where Louis Armstrong played "When it's sleepytime down south" and "Chinatown, my Chinatown" in a bar, and another trumpet player popped in. It made a big impression on me, but I never found that movie again, and it's been more than 30 years... do you know if such a movie exists?
Thank you!
Filipe Castro
- January 7, 2012 at 12:23 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Veterans are being honored today for their personal sacrifice to our great country. Your ability to enjoy your various freedoms is because of the men and women willing to put it all on the line just for you.
So, today, businesses across our great country thank all our service people with a variety of discounts and freebies.
Our local area includes many of these special "thank you" deals.
Chili's, Applebee's, Olive Garden are all offering free meals from a selected menu to service people on Monday, November 11, 2013.
Olive Garden takes it a step further and will also offer 10% off the bill for the other people dining with the Veteran. You can see the specifics of each business by clicking on them off this blog.
Outback Steakhouse is offering a Free Blooming Onion and a beverage on Monday, and will offer a 10% discount from November 12 through the end of the year. Now that's nice!
For a little get up and go, Starbucks is offering to Veterans, Active Duty and Military Spouses a free tall coffee.
You can also enjoy complimentary haircuts and car washes.
So get out there today and enjoy the freedom of choice. Follow this link for a full listing of Veteran deals.
From all of us at Comfort Inn Middletown, NJ We thank you, Veterans, from the bottom of our hearts.


text:
John Podesta, co-chairman of Obama's transition team
The sister-in-law of John Podesta, President Obama's influential White House transition director, served as the lobbyist for a wind power firm that was just awarded a $135.8 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy.
The company is Brookfield Asset Management. It boasts a board of nine directors, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's long-term girlfriend.
The Energy Department's promise to Brookfield marks the latest in controversial massive alternative energy loans to companies with strong ties to the Obama White House and to top Democrat lawmakers.
Read about the "ballot box stuffers," "urban terrorists," "gangsters" and others who make up "Obama's favorite community organizing group," in "Subversion Inc."
Last month, the grant was finalized to build the 99 megawatt Granite Reliable wind project in New Hampshire's Coos County, making it the state's largest wind plant.
Seventy-five percent of the new wind project is owned by BAIF Granite Holdings, which was created earlier this year by Brookfield Renewable Power, a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management of New York.
Since 2009, Brookfield has been represented by the lobby firm Heather Podesta and Partners, LLC.
Podesta, a top financial bundler for Democrat politicians, is wife of lobbyist and art collector, Tony Podesta, who is the brother of John Podesta.
John Podesta is director of the Center for American Progress, which is reportedly highly influential in helping to craft White House policy.
A Time magazine article profiled the influence of Podesta's Center for American Progress in the formation of the Obama administration, stating that "not since the Heritage Foundation helped guide Ronald Reagan's transition in 1981 has a single outside group held so much sway."
The center is funded by billionaire George Soros. Its board includes Van Jones, Obama's former "green jobs" czar, who resigned in September 2009 after it was exposed he founded a communist revolutionary organization.
Heather Podesta and her husband this past July topped the FEC's lobbyist bundler database, raising more money in the six months prior than any other lobbyist by far. Their fund raising was largely for Democrats.
According to White House visitor logs, Heather Podesta visited the White House eight times in Obama's first six months alone.
Brookfield, meanwhile, is a Toronto, Ontario-based asset management company that manages a global portfolio of assets valued at over $120 billion. The firm's assets include not only renewable power generation but also real estate, including some of Manhattan's most famous skyline buildings.
Brookfield also happens to own Zuccotti Park, the park where the Occupy Wall Street protesters are currently holed up. The protesters have reportedly been making a mess of the park, which is named after Brookfield's co-chairman, John Zuccotti.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Brookfield wanted the protesters removed, but Bloomberg's New York Police Department urged the private company to allow the protests to stay in the park.
There isn't much Brookfield can do to evict the protesters, since the park's charter allows for 24-hour public access.
Earlier this week, WND was first to report that Mayor Bloomberg's long-term girlfriend, Dianna L. Taylor, serves as one of nine members of Brookfield's board of directors.
The loan to Brookfield is just the latest example of controversial handouts to "green" companies with White House ties.
Last month, WND broke the story that Obama's nominee for Commerce secretary, John Bruson, served as chairman of the board of a solar energy company that recently received a $1.37 billion federal loan guarantee – the largest the Department of Energy has ever given for a solar power project.
Now that company, BrightSource Energy, is attempting to build the world's largest solar power plant amid concerns such ventures may be too risky an investment for the federal government.
Also raising concerns about possible favors being pulled is a report from last month revealing that a $737 million government loan guarantee was given to a solar company in which Nancy Pelosi's brother-in-law has a stake.
The loan to Brookfield comes at a time when the entire solar energy enterprise is being questioned as overseas manufacturers, particularly China and Taiwan, have produced similar products and services at much lower prices.
Already, the cost of generating power with panels plunged about 37 percent in the past year, as Chinese factories cut prices. The price slashes pushed three U.S. makers, including Solyndra, into bankruptcy protection in the past quarter.
With research by Brenda J. Elliott


text:
Anthony Tuitavake appeared in all four matches for the Junior All Blacks in 2006, starting in three and scoring a team-leading four tries, including a hat-trick against Japan at Carisbrook. A fast attacking centre, Tuitavake not only finishes backline moves himself, but also has the vision to create space and scoring opportunities for his outsides. He had a great season in 2005 for both the Highlanders and North Harbour before turning out for the Blues in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14. He played for the world champion New Zealand Under 19 side in 2001 and for the New Zealand Under 21 team in 2002. Tuitavake is also a former New Zealand Sevens representative, winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2002 in Manchester and then a world title the following year. New Zealand Representative Teams New Zealand Under 19 in 2001 New Zealand Under 21 in 2002 New Zealand Sevens in 2002, 2003 Junior All Blacks in 2006 All Blacks in 2008 Career Notes • Scored four tries for the Blues in 2006, tied for second on the team. • Has represented New Zealand at 14 international Sevens tournaments. • Scored two tries for New Zealand Under 21, against the England and Wales Under 21 teams.
1.82m, 89kg
|Test Debut:
v Ireland 07 June 2008
|Test Points Breakdown:
|Test Points:
|Provincial Team:
North Harbour
|Super Rugby Team:
News 30.Apr.2010 See all news
News 19.Mar.2010 See all news
News 26.Feb.2010 See all news
News 01.Oct.2009 See all news
News 22.Aug.2009 See all news
News 20.Aug.2009 See all news
News 29.Mar.2007 See all news
News 12.Jan.2006 See all news
All Blacks Match Record by Year (+) = substitute; (-) = replaced 2008 7 June v Ireland at Wellington 21-11 (-) 14 Jun v England at Auckland 37-20 26 July v Australia at Sydney 19-34 2 Aug v Australia at Auckland 39-10 (+) 3 Sept v Samoa at New Plymouth 101-14 (-) 9 Nov v Scotland at Edinburgh 32-6 19 Nov v Munster at Limerick 18-16 (-) Stats - Below figures correct as at 1 July 2008 Provincial Caps 71 Provincial Points 115 (23t) Provincial Debut 2001 v Bay of Plenty Super Rugby Caps 41 Super Rugby Points 45 (9t) Super Rugby Debut 2005 v Blues (Highlanders)


text:
This question already has an answer here:
- Scrum for a single programmer? [closed] 11 answers
For a small start-up with only one or two programmers, is it possible to implement agile methods like Scrum? If NO, what is the minimum team size required?
I guess Scrum needs few programmers to be onsite as well?
Edited ** I think the Agile methods are meant for team collaboration and improve workflow so a single man may not benefit much.


text:
The Farmer and the Chef South Impresses with Dogfish Head and Local Farms Uniting for March of Dimes
Local beer, local produce and talented chefs—it doesn't get any better than this.
So what's better than local corn, peaches, apples and watermelon? One might say nothing, but pairing them with a variety of local Dogfish Head beer takes them to a new level. And at The Farmer and The Chef South event Thursday night at Baywood Greens, each local chef did just that.
Pairing Festina Peche, Tweason'ale, Theobroma and Red & White with pork, shrimp, tuna, crab, lamb and local produce made for refreshingly delicious pairings. Some highlights included Dogfish Head's crab and watermelon salad with grilled scamorza cheese and Theobroma gastrique; cornbread topped with a dried apple slice, shredded pork and peach sauce from Chef Mike Clampitt of Baywood Greens, who partnered with T.S. Smith & Sons; ceared ahi tuna over a corn salad with a grilled Brussels sprout and beet salad from chef Doug from SoDel Concepts. There wasn't a bad dish in the house, all of which would have been impossible without our local farms—a concept lost on no one enjoying this bountiful feast.
Even though I was incredibly stuffed, I couldn't pass up the Hopkins Farm Creamery stand. I sampled the "Delaware Fruit" flavor, a peach and blueberry mix, but also tasted apple pie, a recommended favorite. You could taste why this was a crowd favorite, with crumbled graham cracker pie crust, cinnamon and sliced apples, all blended in a sweet cream base.
Celebrity sightings included Sam and Mariah Calagione and 2013 Mar-Del Watermelon Queen, Chelsey Procino. Sam Calagione made his way from station to station, shaking hands and chatting with every chef about their dish and how they incorporated his local brews. It was amazing to sit back and watch the community of Delaware and some Maryland organizations mix and mingle, creating sustainable relationships between the farmer and the chef, all to raise money for the March of Dimes.
I can't wait to do it all over again on Sept. 19 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Click here for more details.


text:
Geoiplookup is included in the Maxmind C library that you will probably already have installed in case you are using any geoip related applications. This also includes the free GeoLite Country database that is used for the lookups.
In case you don't have the GeoIP C library already installed on a Debian system, you can install it very simple (you might have the libgeoip1 already installed but not geoip-bin; the later one includes the geoiplookup utility):
apt-get install libgeoip1 geoip-bin
Once installed you can use the geoiplookup utility from the command line to get the country of any IP (or hostname):
geoiplookup ipaddress|hostname
For example:
geoiplookup www.abc.com
GeoIP Country Edition: US, United States
This shows me in one command line where the IP that resolves to that particular hostname is located.
The GeoLite Country database is quite accurate, but you should update it (they make available a new release each month). To see when the database you are using was build:
geoiplookup -v
GEO-106FREE 20060601 Build 1 Copyright (c) 2006 MaxMind LLC All Rights Reserved


text:
Brian Jepson is editing the Lego book Wayne & Layne and I are working on (it's called Make: Lego and Arduino Projects) and he was faced with having to buy a ton of parts in order to test our models. Instead he decided to use his 3D printer to make his own!
Inspired by BitBeam's cool lasercut beams Brian created a version to be 3D printed. All you have to do is specify the number of holes, render it to an STL in OpenSCAD, and print! He calls them MyBeam.


text:
'Corenforce Bundle' offers you three awesome packs in one huge bundle for a very special price. "To give is more than to get" and Corenforce welcomes the forthcoming Christmas time with a present for everyone - the first 'Corenforce Bundle'. This is the best resource to find all harder samples in one place.
This wide ranged bundle includes all samples released on 'Collapsed Visions', 'Stress Generator' and 'Hard Drum Cluster', making it an outstanding collection of 1,280 samples and 1.25 GB of high quality samples.
This is simply a great opportunity to get the ultimate samples bundle for the creation of Hardcore and all its subgenres, Drum & Bass, Experimental Cinematic or Abstract Ambient video game effects.
Bundle Product Features:
Collapsed Visions:
- 420 files, total size 634 MB
- 42 Atmosphere sounds
- 24 Hardcore drums
- 16 One-shot hits
- 119 Industrial sounds
- 26 Distorted bass sounds
- 40 Pads
- 43 FX sounds
- 30 No-beat loops (150/160/170 BPM)
- 75 Drum loops in 3 different BPM categories (150/160/170 BPM)
Stress Generator:
- 560 WAV files, total size 585 MB
- 58 Atmosphere sounds
- 18 Bass sounds
- 66 Hardcore drums
- 124 FX sounds
- 13 Hoovers
- 54 Industrial sounds
- 46 Pads / Strings
- 14 Voices
Hard Drum Cluster:
- 171 Distorted kick drums
- 129 FX/Filtered drums
- 300 WAV drum samples, total size of 59 MB (44.1kHz / 24-Bit)
- 1.25 Gb Complete Pack Content.
- 24 bits / 44.1khz
- PC/MAC Compatible (Logic, Cubase, Live, Reason, SonyAcid, Fruity loops, GarageBand, etc...)
- Wav
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 "Add to Cart" BUY COMPLETE or "Add to cart" BUY SINGLE LOOPS. 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: Corenforce
Additional Previews:


text:
The Jackson County School System and the City of Jefferson School System will again be closed Tuesday, Jan. 11 due to the snow and ice and dangerous road conditions. All after-school and evening activities for Tuesday are also canceled, officials said.
The City of Jefferson will also be closed again Tuesday.
Road conditions are expected to be bad into Tuesday as freezing drizzle and sleet continues to fall on top of the 4-6 inches of snow in the area.
No major problems have been reported in Jackson County from EMA officials. Fears of icing causing power outages remain, but so far no major power problems have been reported.
Schools closed again Tuesday
No Trackbacks
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)


text:
Toshl.com Finance is a funky mobile financial asisstant that makes finance fun. The goal is to get personal finance past the boring spreadsheets and graphs. Toshl Finance brings fun and emotion to personal finance, thus lowering the barrier and making it truly mainstream, worldwide.
Venture Slogan: Know your finances. Save money. Worry less
Venture Link: Toshl.com
Source: Venturebin.com


text:
Jump to navigation
The Hagley Digital Archives provides online access to selected items from the Hagley Library's collection of images, documents, and publications related to the history of business, technology, and society.
Southern Pacific Depot, San Jose, Calif.
Location: 65 Cahill Street
Rieder, M.
Date built: 1935
Original Publisher ID: 4522
Railroad stations
San Jose (Calif.)
Southern Pacific Railroad Company
still image
1 postcard : color ; 3 x 5 in.
reformatted digital
Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library
Railroad postcards collection (Accession 1995.229)
Series V. California, Box 1
[Description and dates], Hagley ID, Box/folder number, Railroad postcards collection (Accession 1995.229), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807
Access to this item is provided for educational and research purposes only. The user assumes responsibility for obtaining permission from the copyright holder to publish or distribute this image. If you would like more information, please contact email@example.com


text:
Burbank police are warning motorists to expect delays in the area of Vanowen and Buena Vista streets on Wednesday and Thursday.
Signals at the intersection will be completely down while crews relocate them, so traffic will be controlled by posted stop signs and flaggers.
Police advised motorists to avoid the area.
--Jason Wells, Times Community News
Follow Jason Wells on Facebook, Google+ and on Twitter: @JasonBretWells.


text:
Humans have an insatiable hunger for answers and cures, and show great persistence in their searches, which may take them around the world and back. Yet in looking "out there," they overlook, dismiss, and even demean the obvious - the knowledge that lies within.
Experts and guides are valuable in all aspects of life. But the trouble comes when too much responsibility is shifted onto these experts, these doctors and teachers, and intuition and self-understanding are ignored. Giving away personal power to an ever-growing army of "professionals" puts us on the well-worn path to a power-robbed existence. Such reliance easily becomes a source of confusion when the advice of one specialist seems to contradict that of another.
One simple way to practice self-responsibility is to acknowledge what you already know about your own life and health. You have a basic sense of what's good for you and what isn't. By looking within and asking yourself some simple questions, you can access information for your own wellbeing. If you are currently seeing doctors or other helping professionals, share this additional, valuable information with them. It will help to move you out of the role of passive patient and into a partnership with a healing team.
John H. Knowles,
former president,
Rockefeller Foundation
In a classic study conducted by psychologists Ellen Langer of Harvard and Judith Rodin of Yale, elderly residents in a nursing home were given plants to care for and were encouraged to do more for themselves instead of letting the staff take over all their responsibilities. Another group of patients, of similar age and disability, received no such encouragement for self-responsibility. Within three weeks, there was significant improvement in the health and vitality levels of the first group. Eighteen months later, even more dramatic findings were revealed. The death rate in the "increased responsibility" group was half that of the other group.
This is only one example from a growing body of scientific research that supports the theory that individuals who have choices in managing and directing their own lives stay healthier, live longer, and heal faster than those who do not.
An Experience in Discovering
Love, Janet
Doing this kind of honest self-exploration will gradually reveal more of your own inner wisdom. This will give you the confidence to trust yourself as the expert on your own healing. You can begin to shape your life in new ways that promote greater health and wellness. You can speak self-reliantly to your doctor or other experts about what you know about yourself.
Take That First Step Today
Now that you are off to a good start by discovering what you already know, it is time to act on that knowledge. Please don't discourage yourself by attempting an instant overhaul of all of your life patterns. Habits have built up over years and will take time to change. What is one step that you can take today to encourage your wellness? Write it down. Do it. And give yourself a pat on the back for taking one small step toward health and wellbeing. For instance:
- Carlos Castaneda
The online version of Dr. Travis' Wellness Inventory may be accessed at (www.WellPeople.com). The Wellness Inventory may also be licensed by coaches, health and wellness professionals, and organizations.


text:
Todd Lineburger
Class of 1997
Major/Minor: English
Todd works for Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, DE.
Todd Lineburger '97 lives in Chester County, PA, with his wife Heather and two children, Ethan and Anna. After graduating from Washington College, Todd worked in public relations and fundraising for a Maryland nonprofit before returning to Washington College, where he served as Assistant to the Provost of the College for seven years and earned a master's degree. In his spare time, he continues to enjoy music, mountain biking, running, and hiking.


text:
Along with probability, upon which it is mostly based, statistics is a mathematical discipline which provides techniques for drawing conclusions from observed data. It is heavily relied upon in most scientific fields (experiments and observational studies), as well as in business and industry (marketing, operations management, economic analysis, quality control) and government (public polling, policy analysis). Appropriate application of statistics requires rigorous research methodology as well as some background in statistical analysis.
Statistics can be divided into two large subfields, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics:
- Descriptive statistics
- Numerical and graphical summaries of data — i.e., "charts and graphs". These are more in the public eye (think USA Today), but they can be used by unscrupulous sorts to mislead ("lies, damned lies, and statistics").
- Inferential statistics
- Probability-based analysis used to infer something about a larger, mostly unobserved, population based on what is seen in a sample from that population. While the results of statistical analyses are often reported in the mainstream media (medical studies and the like), the details of the statistics behind them are usually left out and can often only be found in academic journals.
Statistical significance[edit]
A central idea in inferential statistics that is widely misunderstood is statistical significance. In an experiment to test, say, whether a new drug to treat a disease is more effective than the old, standard treatment, the degree of improvement the new drug provides is said to be statistically significant if it is so large that it would be unlikely to occur in a similarly sized sample if, in fact, there is actually no overall benefit of the drug when given to the entire population of such patients. See the statistical significance article for more information.


text:
John Gray Centre No. 2
Note: colours viewed on a computer screen may appear significantly different to woven yarns. Please request physical samples where appropriate.
John Gray Centre No. 2
11oz (Light weight)
Pure New Wool
An exceptionally soft and smooth lightweight tartan - in our view the world's finest. It will be woven to order for you, using traditional methods, by the world's last artisan tartan weaving mill, deep in the Scottish borders. It's an ideal all-round fabric for ladies garments, accessories, and homewares, Or it can be used for a lightweight kilt as it has a full kilting selvedge. D.C. Dalgliesh is Scotland's last authentic artisan tartan weaver. Learn more about this remarkable mill and its products on the D. C. Dalgliesh web site. We recommend the video, which shows how your tartan is woven! Note that these images are mostly computer generated. The shades of yarn our expert weavers use to create something traditional and beautiful for you may differ. But it will be traditionally correct, and simply lovely. As this fabric is woven to order, a minimum order length of four metres applies.
Modern Palette
These are the yarn shades we recommend for this tartan. You may also select alternative yarns from our stock yarn range to create your own varient palette. Please enquire
Before the twentieth century, almost all dyeing used vegetable dyes. The advent of chemical dyes in the mid-1800s introduced the possibility of stronger and brighter shades, which became immediately popular, appealing to Victorian sensibilities with their liking for strong colour schemes. Tartans woven in 'Modern Colours' are characterised by darker and more vivid shades.
Ready in: 10 - 12 weeks
Please contact us for trade pricing
Custom Woven
|Pure New Wool
John Gray Centre No. 2 Specification
|Approx 15.2cm
|Pure New Wool
Other palettes for John Gray Centre No. 2 tartan
Ancient colours
Reproduction colours
We can also create a new palette varient to your own specification, using any shades from our stock yarns, or by dyeing to order to match your needs. Please enquire.


text:
Firearms Training
Firearms training for law enforcement demands more than mastering the fundamentals of marksmanship. It also must include a clearly defined set of priorities to guide police officers in the use of firearms.
In the New York State Police Firearms Training Program, these priorities are: Safety first, Accuracy second and Speed last.
State Police Firearms Training is a continuing process that begins with a 90-hour course in the Basic School and continues throughout one's career with semi-annual, in-service Field Firearms Training sessions of five hours each.
With guidance from trained firearms instructors, each trooper works to develop and maintain an appropriate level of "combat accuracy" under realistic time-constrained conditions; that is, the ability to perform quickly and efficiently without sacrificing safety.
Basic School Firearms Training
Basic School Firearms Training covers not only qualification with pistol and shotgun, but also tactical firearms training, the use of deadly force, which includes training on FATS (Firearms Training System), chemical agent training and practical "demonstrations" of the effects of oleoresin capsicum (OC or "pepper spray").
FATS is a state of the art training system which stimulates real life situations in a controlled atmosphere. This tool was designed to aid in decision-making skills, judgmental use of force and marksmanship training.
Basic School qualification requires the recruit to score 84% or higher on each of three consecutive runs of the pistol qualification course. Pistol qualification requires a minimum proficiency score of 84%, at specified distances and within established time limits; shotgun qualification requires 80% proficiency. In addition, all Basic School trainees must pass a comprehensive written examination with a minimum score of 80%.
Emphasis also is placed on "tactical" training, in which recruits are confronted with realistic situations specifically designed to reflect actual deadly force incidents troopers have faced in the line of duty. This begins even before the three-in-a-row standard has been achieved on the static range; once it is achieved, the qualification course is not revisited until semi-annual, in-service training in the field.
In-Service Field Firearms Training
In-service Field Firearms Training requires ongoing semi-annual qualification with pistol and shotgun. It also includes an array of ever-changing tactical courses. This training is decentralized and occurs locally in troops. All troopers must attend each training session.
The State Police train its own firearms instructors in a state-certified 63-hour Firearms Instructor Development Course. The minimum marksmanship standards for this course are increased to 92% for the pistol and 90% for the shotgun and written exam. Instructors also must complete an additional Instructor Development Course for General Police Topics.


text:
We look at toys all year long…we're always writing about new trends and new ways of sorting the toys (gender-free, green, multi-cultural, price, high-tech, etc. ). When we first started toyportfolio.com we had a Top Ten Worst Toy List — a list that probably didn't make us too many friends in toyland…but was a favorite with feature reporters. Our worst list came to mind when we received word of the new PETA list – naming Naughty and Nice Toys for 2009— yet another perspective on toyland. Take a look at their list.
I wonder whether the organization is in favor of all the fake animals…zhu zhu hamsters, furreal pets, etc?


text:
|Summary of 2 reviews :
|Room :
|Facilities :
|Service :
|Location :
|Hotel room status:
| Khaolak Wanaburee Resort,
a boutique village situated on the edge of lush rainforests facing a gorgeous secluded beach.
The hideaway location is tranquil and private yet easy to access only one hour drive from Phuket International Airport.
The charming villas are surrounded by mature parkland and a lagoon flourishing with flora and fauna, so whether you stay on the beachfront or amidst the trees you can hear the soothing sounds of the nature all around.
Designed in authentic Oriental style, the resort buildings use natural materials and neutral color tones to perfectly suit the surroundings. The meandering walkways make each journey to the beach, restaurant or large swimming pool a pleasant and relaxing stroll.
|Residential Area: The accommodations are all Eastern styled abodes raised on concrete stilts and are just as heavenly as the scenery and ranges in four types of styles.
The Estate (Deluxe), Lower Floor - Garden View & The Estate (Deluxe), Upper Floor - Seaview [40.36 Sq.m.]
If you're coming in a large group, three two-storey villas consisting of two bedrooms on each floor are available. The two rooms on each floor are connected only by a doorway which leaves the option of privacy open to those who desire it. These villas make for ample sleeping arrangements and keep the spacious feeling in tact especially with its great panoramic view of the entire lagoon and beyond.
The Manor Villa - Garden/Lagoon View & The Manor Villa - Seaview [46.98 Sq.m.]
The fourteen Manor rooms, which each villa there are two rooms sharing the same roof. Each one is called "Manor" are located along the lagoon or the in the mid of the tropical garden. There is a trail, which can lead you through the garden for a leisurely stroll to clear the mind while the lagoon suites provide you with the meditative trance water brings.
Every Manor has a touch of originality and heart as there's a different hand painting on the wall inside illustrating an aspect of the Southern Thai lifestyle. Coupled with flowers and plants gleaming in the sunlight radiating towards the garden adjacent to the room, the Manor is humble yet elegant soothing every human sensory organ. From the fragrance of the garden to the sight of handmade art or the grandeur view of the lagoon, the Manor will make you feel like a master.
The Rendezvous (Beach Front Villa) [52.4 Sq.m.]
These elegant "Home" suites include a bedroom with one king-size bed that is as fluffy and soft as cloud nine, which will make anyone's stay an unforgettably comfortable one. These lodges have a full beachside view, but the main feature is found in the private bathroom as it comes complete with the hot tub so you can soak in the candlelit night among the stars.
These suites are modern in design as the whole lodge is spacious room size with a wooden porch and a comfortable seat set out front perfect for that lazy mid morning coffee in front of the glistening lagoon.
The unfinished furnish gives off a minimalist appearance without losing the comfort of modern times and blends in smoothly with all the nature surrounding it.
The Casuarinas Suite [102 Sq.m.]
If you seek for the serene and privacy atmosphere. The casuarinas is what are you looking for. These cozy ambience suite are composed of 1 bedroom and 1 living room with the indoor Jacuzzi pool that affording the view of Andaman sea and beautiful sunset with the candle lighting.
The casuarinas is the ideal for those who wants to get the unforgettable vacation. There are 2 suite available.
|The resort offers a variety of
activities for you to do. The resort's poolside offers everything
the beach does, except the sand. From ordering drinks to sip in the
pool or just enjoying the view from the lounge chairs as the staff
waits on you like a king, you can't lose with these options.
The Wana Dalah restaurant offers Thai cuisine with the freshest seafood, prepared by the resident chef who's only love is to perfect the art of tasty home cooking. Depending on your mood and nature's element, you can choose to dine either indoors or outdoors at the restaurant, as both options are available to you.
The wana beach bar is stocked with every ingredient for every cocktail from Mai Tai's to Singapore Slings, so you don't have to go far for a brisk drink. The bar's atmosphere coincides with the rest of the rest of the resort with its open air.
The wana pristine is second swimming pools. Where the place for relax in minder resort.
|If a quiet day on the island or a swim in the pool
isn't enough to ease your muscles, try a Traditional Thai Massage at
the seaside pavilion. If you want to extend your vacation and need
to inquire about further traveling plans, go to the tour desk in the
lobby. Sometimes paradise can be too much for some people, so if you
ever need those city essentials like air conditioning, a hair dryer,
TV or satellite TV, it's all available. And for the long stay
vacationers who never want to leave this paradise, a laundry service
is available for your convenience.
Activities There's a plethora of things to do outside the resort, from deep sea snorkeling, hiking, to exploring caves. Park ranger guided treks along the coast or inland can be arranged by our local tour services in the area.
About 5km past Takua Thung on the way to Phang Nga is Wat Tham Suwankhuha, there's a cave shrine filled with Buddha images and exquisite natural rock formations. Other nearby caves can also be found in the province including Tham Reusisawan and Tham Phung Chang, both 3km south of Phang Nga. For a more water based activity, boats tours can easily be found and rented for snorkeling and navigating the scenic Phang Nga Bay, the same one used for the water scenes in James Bond's The Man With the Golden Finger.
|Swimming Pool
|Internet center


text:
A second storm landed in the Los Angeles region on Friday and with it the threat of mudslides and flooding.
The map above provides a look at the area most threatened by the storm. Homes in Azusa and Glendora are under evacuation due to the threat of mud flows after the foothills to the north were burned in the Colby Fire.
Having trouble viewing the map, then use this link: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zMFXeQWX93aY.k6SBfgnQAuZA


text:
View your full shopping cart for taxes and shipping.
As the growing incidence of obesity affects worldwide populations, it becomes ever more important to find successful ways to treat it. The behavioral approach relies on a collaboration between patient and provider to develop a program of lifestyle change.
[This is the eBook version of this book, delivered in the ePub format.To read this eBook, you will need Adobe Digital Editions installed on your machine. NOTE: Third party eBooks are not compatible with the Amazon Kindle Reader.] As the growing incidence of obesity affects worldwide populations, it is becoming ever more important to find successful ways to treat it. One of the more promising methodologies is the behavioral approach, which relies on a collaborative framework in which patient and provider develop a program of lifestyle change—together. In Behavioral Approaches to Treating Obesity, you will find strategies for supporting patients and equipping them for lifestyle change as well as practical advice, such as how to arrange the physical environment of your clinic to accommodate obese patients and build a program to meet the needs of patients in chronic-care treatment plans. ©2011 American Diabetes Association
No one has rated this yet. Why don't you be the first?
Share this item with your family and friends and join the millions to help Stop Diabetes®.
Sale Price: US $25.19
Your Price: US $10.00
Your Price: US $7.00


text:
NEW parameters on PrimeLab: ID162: Hyd. Perox. HR / ID163: Dissolved Oxygen**
"Balanced Water Kit" is a combination of the comparator and the special procedures range from Pool-i.d.
Depending on the equipment, the "Balanced Water Kit" set allows the measurement of Chlorine and pH, Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness using the Comparator-Method and Cyanuric Acid using the Tablet Count with the Nessler (Turbidity Method).
The summary of there parametrs in a set is the handiness and the needs of specific users, such asd the boiler industry,owed.


text:
The global economy, climate change, and a new World Bank Group strategy to tackle extreme poverty will be hot topics next week. That's when nearly 10,000 delegates, journalists and civil society representatives gather at the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings. But you don't have to be in Washington to take in 38 World Bank Group events that will be webcast Oct. 8-12. Several will be live-blogged or live-tweeted in multiple languages. You can also follow the conversation on Twitter with #wblive and other hashtags connected to events. We've compiled a sampling of events and hashtags below. Check out the full schedule or download the first-ever Annual Meetings app for Apple devices and Android smartphones.
Tuesday, Oct. 8
The Economic Case for Climate Action
Webcast and Live Blog
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. ET
World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and representatives from government, civil society, and the private sector discuss low-carbon, climate-resilient development.
In Arabic, English, French and Spanish
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive
Wednesday, Oct. 9
The End of Poverty. Really?
Webcast and Live Blog
9-10 a.m. ET
Can the world end extreme poverty in a generation? CNN's Richard Quest tackles this critical question in a live-streamed interview with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
In Arabic, English, French and Spanish
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive.
From Poverty to Prosperity
12-1:30 p.m. ET
What kinds of policies can boost incomes for the bottom 40% of people? A panel moderated by Financial Times Editor Martin Wolf looks at paths to shared prosperity.
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive
Inclusion Matters: The Foundation for Shared Prosperity
Webcast and Live Blog
2-3 p.m. ET
This round-table discussion brings together policy makers, activists, academics, and World Bank managers for a discourse about what inclusion means in the context of development, why it matters, and what can we do to achieve it.
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive and #inclusionmatters
Innovation in Systems: The Art and Science of Change, with President Jim Kim and Dr Atul Gawande
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m ET
World Bank Group President Kim and renowned surgeon, thinker and writer Dr. Atul Gawande will share insights on what it takes to drive organizational change and deliver better services to World Bank Group clients and partners. Moderated by USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page.
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive.
Thursday, Oct. 10
2013 Annual Meetings Press Briefing: World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim
8:45-9:30 a.m. ET
In Arabic, English, French and Spanish
Follow the press briefing live on Twitter with #wblive & #wbatgwu.
The Rise of the Middle Class and the Service Delivery Gap in Latin America and the Caribbean
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
This event, organized jointly by the World Bank Group and the global Spanish newspaper El País, brings together heads of state, ministers, and experts to debate the issue.
In English and Spanish
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive.
Boosting Shared Prosperity by Getting to Youth Employment Solutions (YES)
2-3:30 p.m. ET
How can young people find productive jobs? A panel of experts from the public and private sectors, civil society, and the World Bank Group launch a collaboration and open dialogue on how to fill the gaps in knowledge, tools, and actions for youth employment solutions.
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive.
Friday, Oct. 11
2013 Annual Meetings Plenary
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. ET
World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim reports on the Bank Group's progress and plans for next year during the October 11 plenary session of the Annual Meetings in Washington DC.
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive
Blessing or Curse? Making Earth's Riches Work for Poor and Fragile Countries
Webcast and Live Blog
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
A high-level panel of industry and transparency experts and representatives of resource-rich nations grapples with the challenges that will define poverty or prosperity.
Tackling Gender-Based Violence After 2015
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET
This high-level moderated armchair discussion will explore why gender, specifically gender-based violence, should be a standalone goal in the post-2015 framework.
A Conversation with Malala Yousafzai
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET
Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani school girl who survived an assassination attempt by the Talliban, joins World Bank President Kim on International Day of the Girl to speak about her passionate fight for girls' education. Malala is the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize; the winner will be announced Oct. 11.
Have a question for Malala? Ask now.
Follow the event live on Twitter with #IDG2013 & #askMalala
Igniting Innovation in Financial Access
2-3:30 p.m. ET
World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, and banking CEOs discuss how to increase financial inclusion at this event in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
Follow the Event Live on Twitter with #wblive & #igniteFI2013.
What Will It Take to Achieve Both Healthy Children and Healthy Economies?
2:30-4 p.m. ET
This World Bank-USAID forum brings together senior officials from the Bank and U.S. government and Hans Rosling, Founder of Gapminder Foundation.
Join the conversation at @worldbankhealth and @USAIDGH or follow #wblive.
Saturday, Oct. 12
2013 Annual Meetings Development Committee Press Briefing
5:30-6:15 p.m. ET
The World Bank Group Development Committee will address the media at the close of the 2013 Annual Meetings.
Follow the event live on Twitter with #wblive & #wbatgwu.
Join the Conversation
Dear Chairman of The World Bank
Mr KIM,
I am want to tell you the you are doing the best for the World,
like President Barack Obama, your friend, who was with you at
Harvard University.
You went to America at 5 years old, and now you are American.
President Barack Obama, who is the only one in the world,
Nobel Peace Prize, the firs year of his presidency, appointed
you as Chairman, because, he is man who want justice and peace.
Emegent countries wanted your job title, but from Bretton Woods in 1944, the Chairman is american. You are the firs one born asian, latin american or african.
It means that President Barack Obama is a man who want to ear people, who want the best for the world.
All people of the world need to listen to him.
Or, to try to know him, and not to criticize for all the time.
People of of the world, are now with a man doing well, et the world bank.
I wish the best for Annual Meetings, for all countries of the world(President Barack Obama's speech in Berlin june 2008)
Dear Chairman
Mr Kim,
I wish the best for you and your team.
Denis KASSA
Consultant Senior Manager
Expert in economy, finance and management
former Chief Financial Officer
former Editor in Chief and Chairman of a weekly newspaper
126, Av Clemeanceau
1070 Brussels, Belguim
Great Global Meeting for World Good development . Thanks to all .
Poverty can be eliminated if we allow local and the poor to be part of economic development. Locals should be in control of supply chain of most businesses. Example oil, mining, agriculture etc.
This could be achieved through an active agenda of local capacity building. Then wealth would be effectively distributed and poverty will be chased to the bush.
This is my strong opinion. Thank you. Further comments are welcomed.
[email protected]
Climate change is affected by the presidential decisions made in some developing countries without the general consensus of the population. For instance yesterday a reform on the use of soil of and other time protected area as a national park, has been changed to a protected area with the purpose of selling it to constructors and urban developers which will destroy one of the must important green areas in Estado de Toluca, Mexico. See note in Spanish at: http://www.animalpolitico.com/2013/10/epn-cancela-proteccion-al-nevado-…
I have so much interest in helping my people! Please how do I work with you people, my people really need help to be self employed because of the poverty rate here in my country.
Please remember this African Proverb
"A hungry stomach has no ears"
The end of poverty is possible. This is my recepie.
Nutrition ➡ Healthcare➡Education➡Work= PEACE=End of Poverty
Great wish you all the success


text:
All Boeing Dreamliners Are Grounded World-Wide
Regulators and airlines completed a global grounding of all Boeing Co. BA 4.50% 787 Dreamliners on Thursday, after a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration directive Wednesday evening in response to incidents involving two major battery malfunctions on the plane maker's flagship jets.
Related Video
The European Aviation Safety Agency, like other civil-aviation regulators around the world, followed the FAA's lead because the U.S. agency oversees Boeing and certified the Dreamliner. Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways also grounded their 787s, after similar moves by airlines in Japan, Chile, Poland and India on Wednesday.
"There is no Boeing 787 flying anywhere in the world at the moment," Dominique Fouda, a spokesman for the European air-safety regulator, said Thursday.
It is the first time in four decades that U.S. regulators have pursued such drastic action to effectively ground a major airliner. The FAA called for Boeing and its airline customers "to develop a corrective action plan."
The European safety agency's order affects two aircraft operated by LOT Polish Airlines SA, the regulator said. Poland's civil-aviation authority earlier took a similar measure.
In the U.S., flights could resume in as soon as a few days or at the beginning of next week, according to people familiar with matter. That could happen, they predict, if the FAA signs off quickly on various interim safety improvements Boeing has drafted.
Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney, who discussed the matter with FAA officials before the announcement, said the company "is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible."
Mr. McNerney added that Boeing is working "around the clock with its customers and the various regulatory and investigative authorities."
The Boeing statement also said "we are confident the 787 is safe, and we stand behind its overall integrity." The Chicago-based plane maker added that it "deeply regrets the impact" on airlines and passengers.
The FAA's emergency order came after an All Nippon Airways Co. ALNPY 1.06% 787 in Japan was forced to make an emergency landing and evacuation. In-flight alarms indicated overheating on the jet's main battery that caused a burning smell in the cabin, but apparently no smoke. The plane's computers warned of a battery fault prior to takeoff, according to a person familiar with the details, but the warning was displayed in part of the cockpit's data system that pilots don't routinely scan just before departure.
Japanese aviation-safety officials began their investigation of the incident on Thursday and said the inside of the battery appeared to be burned and swollen. "It was like charcoal," said Hideyo Kosugi, one of the five investigators of the Japan Transportation Safety Board dispatched to the landing site.
The FAA said that before further flight, Boeing must demonstrate to the agency that the 787's advanced lithium-ion batteries are safe. FAA officials said they would work with the company and carriers to allow flights "as quickly as possible," but the agency also said it is still trying to determine the root causes of two recent battery fires.
- FAA Statement
- Boeing's 787 Dreamliner: FAQ
- Japanese Government Ground Dreamliners
- Air India to Ground Dreamliners
- Japanese Airlines Ground Dreamliners (1/16/2013)
- JRT: The 20 Minutes Before Dreamliner Emergency Landing
- Keeping 787s on Schedule (1/13/13)
- Boeing Resisted FAA Review of 787 (1/11/13)
- Dreamliner Glitches Make Some Travelers Leery (1/11/13)
- Japanese Airlines Heavily Vested in Dreamliner (1/11/13)
- FAA and Boeing Speak Out on Dreamliner Investigation (1/11/13)
- FAA to Launch Review of 787 (1/10/13)
- Boeing Tries to Defuse Dreamliner Fears (1/09/13)
- Jet Glitches Bedevil Boeing (1/09/13)
- Officials Probe Dreamliner Fire (1/07/13)
U.S. regulators likely set the stage for months of debate over whether broader 787 design changes are necessary. Wednesday's announcement, which shocked the aerospace industry, came without either the FAA or Boeing publicly sketching out any clear path for what needs to be done to restore public confidence in the fleet of twin-engine jets.
The FAA's order applies only to U.S.-registered Dreamliners, meaning it will affect only the six 787s operated by United Airlines, a unit of United Continental Holdings Inc., UAL -1.52% which is currently the jet's only U.S. operator.
United said it would immediately comply with the FAA order and cooperate with the agency and Boeing "as we work toward restoring 787 service." It said it would substitute other planes on the routes currently flown by its 787s.
Both ANA and Japan Airlines 9201 1.49% —the first two global customers for the 787—grounded their fleets of Dreamliners after Wednesday's incident for at least two days. In addition to United, Chile's Lan Airlines, a unit of the LATAM Airlines Group , grounded its fleet of three Dreamliners. LOT Polish airlines, whose inaugural 787 service to Chicago was en route from Warsaw when the grounding was announced, canceled the return trip to Poland.
Air India, with six 787s, also said it grounded its fleet.
Boeing already has proposed some interim operational changes, enhanced battery-health checks and frequent inspections to U.S. and Japanese regulators, as a way to quickly get the jetliners back in the air, according to industry and government officials. FAA officials are reviewing those suggestions.
The last time the FAA issued this type of order grounding a jetliner model occurred after a DC-10 lost an engine and crashed in 1979, although it has ordered emergency inspections of other models since. Prior to Wednesday's announcement, U.S. officials had said they didn't think the 787s recent malfunctions posed an immediate safety risk.
From the Dreamliner's inception about a decade ago, Boeing officials, regulators, and safety experts focused significant attention on mitigating the hazards of overcharging the plane's two lithium-ion battery packs. Those concerns are now at the heart of the widening international probe into the Dreamliner.
No one was hurt in Wednesday's ANA incident, but it was the most serious in a series of Dreamliner problems. On Jan. 7, there was a fire in an auxiliary battery aboard a parked Japan Airlines Co. 787 in Boston. That incident prompted a broad review by the FAA into the design and manufacture of the Dreamliner.
Technical experts from the FAA and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board are scheduled to arrive in Japan Friday. Industry and government experts are saying much of the investigation is bound to concentrate on why elaborate safeguards—designed into the 787's electrical grid from the start—apparently failed to prevent the recent emergencies.
The grounded flights pose potentially severe problems for ANA and Japan Airlines. The two carriers have built their global strategies around the 787. ANA was operating 17 Dreamliners prior to the grounding, while JAL had five in service.
ANA plans a total Dreamliner fleet of 66 planes, while JAL intends to fly 33 of the aircraft by 2017, and 45 beyond that.
A JAL executive said Thursday that he expects earnings to be affected if the suspension drags on, adding that it is hard to predict now when the aircraft will resume operations. "If [the operation halt] gets prolonged and we see the impact, it is possible to feel the impact on earnings," Akira Yonezawa, a JAL executive officer, said at a news conference.
India's civil-aviation minister, Ajit Singh, said any decision by the country about restoring the 787s to service would be taken only after the FAA approves the safety of the jets.
Air India was among the early customers for the 787, ordering 27 Dreamliners in January 2006. It has received six so far.
A spokesman for Air India said the carrier is working on alternative arrangements to accommodate the passengers who were booked on Dreamliner flights. The options include using other planes on the routes served by the 787s, as well as shifting passengers to other carriers, he added. Air India operates 787s on three domestic routes as well as to Paris, Dubai and Frankfurt.
Ethiopian Airlines operates four Dreamliners and has an additional six on order, a representative for the carrier told Zawya Dow Jones.
Qatar Airways, with a fleet of five 787s, said it would resume Dreamliner service when the aircraft met U.S. safety standards.
Regardless of when flights resume, Boeing confronts the huge hurdle of shoring up airline support for the 787, which entered service in late 2011, three years later than expected, and faces continued production challenges. Airlines that invested billions of dollars to buy the aircraft, which so far has flown a total of about one million passengers without a fatal accident, face uncharted territory in trying to persuade rattled passengers that the planes are safe.
The 787, whose first commercial flights occurred in the fall of 2011, employs lightweight materials to reduce fuel usage, but also requires the high-power lithium batteries, which have caused fires aboard aircraft in the past.
The Dreamliner has two lithium ion batteries, each weighing about 63 pounds and measuring about 1½ feet long. One sits underneath the cockpit in a compartment known as the forward electrical equipment bay, which was where Wednesday's malfunction occurred, and a second in the aft bay under the wings, which was the site of last week's fire in Boston.
The reviews by regulators and by Boeing could result in a need for the company to make changes to the batteries, which could challenge its plans to double production of the plane to 10 a month by the end of this year. The company has delivered 50 Dreamliners to customers so far, and has booked orders for about 800 more.
During the introduction of most newly designed aircraft, typically "there are a certain number of things that get discovered early and are relatively easy to fix," said Richard Healing, a former member of the NTSB. But without advocating a redesign, he said safety issues raised by the 787 could take more time and effort to resolve.
"They need to be looked at very, very carefully," Mr. Healing said, including "reviewing how we got to where we are, and to see if there is something important that was missed."
The 787 has a number of redundant safety systems intended to prevent the batteries from overcharging or overheating, which creates unstable metallic lithium that can ignite and result in a thermal "runaway."
The announcement came even before FAA investigators had a chance to examine the battery on the second airliner that recently caught fire. But based on preliminary information, the FAA decided that continued flight was too dangerous in light of the "release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage and smoke" that resulted from the pair of incidents earlier this month.
Changing the battery wouldn't be as simple as swapping one out for another type, said a person directly familiar with the jet's design. The 787's integrated architecture is anchored around the quality of the power from the lithium-ion battery. Any change in supplier or design would be "a pretty significant challenge," the person said, requiring layers of modification from hardware to controlling software to adjust for a new battery.
"You start changing the variables the second you change the established and certified system, you have to change all the tentacles that are attached and that are reliant on that battery," says Carter Leake, a former airline pilot and senior equity research analyst for BB&T Capital Markets.
Boeing shares were down 18 cents at $74.16 at midday Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange, after a 3.4% decline to $74.34 at 4 p.m.Wednesday.
Years of tests and deliberations ended in 2007 with the FAA certifying the use of the powerful lithium batteries on 787s—a precedent-setting step for a jet—to power key onboard systems, including flight controls, emergency lighting and cockpit recorders. As in earlier jets, the agency wanted assurances that in the event of a battery emergency, the high temperatures wouldn't damage surrounding structures and any smoke or fumes would be sucked outside rather than into the cabin.
But final approval for the 787 also was contingent on Boeing, among other things, designing an automatic system able to disconnect the batteries from the plane's electrical grid in case of unexpected problems. The FAA also required Boeing to demonstrate that its design had a way "to prevent overheating or overcharging of lithium ion batteries" even if the automatic-disconnect system malfunctioned or failed.
As part of their investigation, Japanese and U.S. experts want to determine if an internal battery failure, or defective lithium-ion cell, was the ignition source in either of the two incidents. Laboratory tests have shown that such events can prompt nearby cells to quickly heat up and result in a fierce, high-temperature fire engulfing the battery and anything nearby.
Any change in the batteries would have to be incorporated into the Dreamliner's complex, globe-straddling supply chain. Japan's GS Yuasa Corp. manufactures the batteries, which are integrated by France's Thales SA with parts from companies including Securaplane Technologies, a unit of Meggitt PLC.
—Daniel Michaels,
Friedrich Geiger, Alex Delmar-Morgan, Doug Cameron
and Yoshio Takahashi
contributed to this article.
Write to Jon Ostrower at firstname.lastname@example.com, Andy Pasztor at firstname.lastname@example.com and Yoree Koh at email@example.com
Copyright ©2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Alpine Shop is a full service Ski, Snowboard, Bike & Tennis Shop. Since 1963, Alpine Shop has been helping Vermont outdoor enthusiasts keep their gear in tip top working condition. Stop by the Alpine Shop to have your Skis or Snowboard tuned, Tennis racquet re-strung or your bike tuned up for the summer. Check our events page for annual community events & contest page for prize giveaways!
We're updating this category. Please check back later!
Currently Shopping by:


text:
Martial Michel
"I wanted to extract more details from my pictures without the complexity associated with HDR work. I discovered Topaz Adjust which enabled me to express myself further, and have not looked back since. I have since been happy with every addition to the tools (Simplify, Clean and Detail) and keep using them on some special pictures." Martial MichelRead More
9 / 26


text:
English Bulldog Welcome Sign
$ 58.99 FREE U.S. Shipping over $100
English Bulldog - Welcome Sign
- Our unique selection of handpainted natural oak Dog Breed Welcome Signs are sure to please the most discriminating Dog Lover!
- The English Bulldog - Welcome Sign is a reproduction of an original woodcarving by Michael Park, a Master woodcarver, recognized worldwide for his detailed carvings and reproductions.
- Each welcome sign is hand routed and hand painted by master artists capturing a style of charm and warmth.
- This distinguished English Bulldog head is mounted on a hand routed 4 x 15 inches (4" by 15") wooden sign.
- The dog lover in you will appreciate the beauty of your very own custom natural oak hand-painted piece.
- Approximately 2 weeks to make (plus shipping time) and worth the wait! 2nd day air available after the welcome sign is made.
- Be the envy of everyone with this unique canine decor.
- Michael's passion and love for dogs are evident in his outstanding workmanship.
- This decorating accent will surely attract the interest of other dog lovers or those intrigued by the beautiful artisanship.
- Trustworthy, warm and proud like the breeds they represent, these dog decor collectables become unique gifts for yourself, your family or your friends.
- We have been creating custom made quality Dog Collectibles since 1987!
- Proudly made in the USA!


text:
This year is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, often thought of as the Civil War's most important battle probably because of the 273 words President Abraham Lincoln would utter there five months later.
This year is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, often thought of as the Civil War's most important battle probably because of the 273 words President Abraham Lincoln would utter there five months later.
It wasn't. Antietam, the bloodiest single day in American history, holds that distinction because, although a tactical draw, it was a significant strategic defeat for the South. Both France and England had been considering intervening on the side of the South. Antietam allowed Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which altered the aim of the war - from preserving the Union to ending slavery - and made foreign intervention impossible for either country.
It came at a horrific cost. Sept. 17, 1862, turned out to be the deadliest day in U.S. history. There were 23,000 casualties at Antietam that day, all of them Americans, including 3,654 killed. That's four times the casualties America suffered on D-Day 82 years later.
Beyond its significance as a turning point in American history, Antietam also introduced the world to modern. Mathew Brady's photographs of the battle's aftermath were a visual warning about the price of war.
Throughout our history many have paid that price. Since 1776, about 2.1 million Americans have been killed or wounded in the nation's armed conflicts. Included in that number are about 654,000 who were battle deaths. That's roughly the population of San Joaquin County.
Twice a year, we pause to remember those sacrifices. Each November on Veterans Day, we honor the more than 43 million American men and women who have served.
Today, Memorial Day, is reserved for those who died in that service.
Our bloodiest conflict, the Civil War, claimed more than 200,000 American lives in battle, closer to 700,000 if deaths attributed to diseases related to the war are added.
That was one reason in autumn 1863 that Lincoln stood on a hill near Gettysburg, Pa., to help dedicate a national cemetery. The site was near the battle that marked the Confederacy's northernmost push into the Union.
The Union would be preserved, thanks in no small part to the sacrifices of ordinary Americans who did extraordinary things.
"The world," said Lincoln that November day in Gettysburg, "will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."
Of course Lincoln was wrong about those memories. His 273 words stand beside Jefferson's Declaration of Independence as the framework of who we are and what we strive toward.
Without, as Lincoln said of the Gettysburg fallen, those "who ... gave their lives that this nation might live" the nation would not live. Imagine a United States where citizens did not answer the call and, if need be, give up their lives after events such as Pearl Harbor or Sept. 11, 2001.
It is impossible. It did not happen. It will never happen.
Just about every decade, this nation has sent its men and women into battle, about 30 armed conflicts during the 237 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. Today is no exception.
In all our wars, Americans have been asked to sacrifice, and some very special Americans have done just that, including giving their "last full measure of devotion."
We must never forget them or what they gave.


text: Clear the stage for a new generation of rock stars: the CLA Coupé. Hardly anyone has more followers. No wonder, for the sporty design has been sharpened once again. The athletic silhouette, the new 45.7 cm (18-inch) wheels and the sporty tail end with integral tailpipe trims and LED High Performance tail lights in a new design are there for all to see. Interplay with the road is virtuoso – thanks to powerful, efficient engines.


text:
Walking the Queen Charlotte Track
At the tip of the South Island, forested hills rise steeply from the sea and long, sheltered inlets glitter under sunny skies.
1 / 4
The Marlborough Sounds is an intricate collection of ancient, sunken river valleys that have been filled with water from the Pacific Ocean over thousands of years. The result is a myriad of long, sheltered inlets, isolated white-sand beaches and towering headlands; paradise for lovers of perfect coastline and emerald forests that ring with birdsong. Unsurprisingly, this coastal sanctuary is best explored on foot, and the 70-kilometre Queen Charlotte Track offers one of the most spectacular and serene walking journeys in the Sounds.
Walk as little or as much as you want to. The whole track takes between 4 – 5 days to complete, but water taxi services and boutique accommodation make it easy to walk a shorter, easier portion of the track that suits you. No matter the length of your Queen Charlotte walking adventure, you'll be rewarded with a collection of panoramic views over the sounds as well as pretty beaches and untouched coastal forests.
Birdsong, Beaches and Dolphins
Deep in the heart of the Sounds, the Queen Charlotte Track begins in historical Ship Cove and ends in the quaint coastal village of Anakiwa. Sub-tropical rainforested areas ring with the fluted calls of the tui and the bellbird as well as softly chattering fantails. As you walk, enjoy the attention of the inquisitive native weka, a flightless bird with a famously cheeky, outgoing personality. Perfect, white-sand beaches dot the track – favourites are the sheltered, east facing Resolution Bay as well as secluded, beautiful Mistletoe Bay. Between the months of December and April, the water in the Marlborough Sounds is temperate and beautifully refreshing after long walks. Keep an eye out for the pods of dolphins that frequent these waters – Bottlenose and Common dolphins are seen often here.
History and legends
The Marlborough Sounds is a part of New Zealand steeped in Maori legend and early history. According to Maori mythology, the Sounds were created when Kupe, the legendary Polynesian Explorer who was said to have discovered New Zealand, was chasing an Octopus. He finally caught the creature in the middle of the Cook Strait – the waterway that separates the North and South Island. A huge battle ensued, and lashing tentacles formed the towering headlands and narrow inlets of the Sounds.
Hundreds of years later, famous British explorer Captain Cook visited the Sounds for the first time in 1770, sailing into beautiful Ship Cove and making it his South Pacific base for the ensuing seven years.The first social interaction between the British and the South Island Maori took place on these shores, shaping New Zealand's early European history. The significance of Ship Cove is marked with a large monument, and it's also the beginning of the Queen Charlotte Track.
Food & Wine
A region world-famous for its top notch Sauvignon Blanc production and beautiful seafood, the food and wine of the Marlborough region is deliciously fresh and satisfying. Stopping in one of the cafe's along the track is a real treat for lunch. Enjoying a glass of intensely flavoured Sav in the sunshine along with a platter of fresh fish and mussels is a special kind of kiwi bliss.
Combining a few days on the Queen Charlotte track with a guided walking tour of the central South Island is the perfect way to experience New Zealand's beautiful coastline with the spectacular alpine beauty found further south. New Zealand Trails offers 11 or 13 day small group guided hiking tours that incorporate some of the best walks in the country. You'll experience the Milford, Hollyford and Routeburn tracks as well as hike in the National Parks of Arthur's Pass and Mount Cook. What's more, you'll enjoy 4 to 5 star accommodation, gourmet food & wine experiences and iconic New Zealand activities along the way.
We'd love to help you combine a Queen Charlotte Track experience with one of our South Island World Heritage walking tours – contact us now. For more information about our tours, please visit our website.
Artikel von
World Heritage Walking Tour - New Zealand Trails
The World Heritage Walking Tour, perfect for your trip of a lifetime. The best walks in New Zealand, iconic outdoor activities, 4-star accommodation and delicious food and wine - in a friendly small group led by expert 'Kiwi' guides.


text:
I love the two lace motifs so much that I think I will just leave them as they are, without further embellishments. But I'm leaving that decision for tomorrow. Now it is time to get busy making dinner for tonight and lunch for tomorrow. Rolling sleeves up and off to the kitchen.
Have a lovely afternoon, Everyone!


text:
WASHINGTONWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday signed a bill that brings U.S. trade relations with Russia into the 21st century but also ushers in a testy era in which the United States could publicly "name and shame" Russian human rights violators.
The measure, which Congress passed by an overwhelming margin, allows Obama to establish "permanent normal trade relations" - or PNTR - with Russia by lifting a Cold War-era restriction on trade.
It also directs Obama to bar Russian human rights violators from entering the United States and freeze any assets they have in U.S. banks. The provision is named in honor of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian anti-corruption lawyer many U.S. lawmakers believe was beaten to death in a Russian jail in 2009.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called the congressional approval of the bill "a purely political and unfriendly act."
"I don't get why they would sacrifice U.S.-Russia relations in order to get some political dividends at home," Putin said.
Moscow kept up the fiery rhetoric on Friday in a Foreign Ministry statement after Obama's signing. It called the law "shortsighted and dangerous" and an "overt interference into our internal affairs."
The statement put most of the blame for the Magnitsky measure on U.S. lawmakers, but said it regretted Obama could not "overcome those ... who see our country not as a partner but as an enemy."
U.S.-Russia relations have already been strained over the conflict in Syria and the treatment of critics of the Kremlin since Putin returned to the presidency in May.
Russia last week banned imports of U.S. pork and beef containing ractopamine, a widely used feed additive the United Nation's food agency in July said "had no impact on human health" if residues stay within recommended levels.
"Being a WTO member means Russia's import standards have to be based on sound science, but their plan to block U.S. beef and pork is anything but sound," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said, referring to the World Trade Organization, which Russia joined in August.
He urged Moscow to reverse the move.
The Magnitsky law directs Obama to publish the names of Russians deemed to be human rights violators, but allows him to keep some names classified if he decides that it is in the U.S. national security interest.
Congress is due to receive the first list in 120 days and Obama must explain in advance any names he decides to keep secret.
The new law will be "of great benefit to both us and to the Russians," U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said.
"We continue to call on Russia to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for the crimes committed against Mr. Magnitsky," he said.
But Russia considers the Magnitsky provision an insult. On Friday the lower chamber of its parliament gave preliminary approval to a measure barring Americans who violate the rights of Russians from entering the country.
It targets Americans involved in "unfounded or unjust" sentences against Russians - a nod to Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trader serving a 25-year prison term in the United States after what Moscow says was a politically motivated prosecution and an unfair trial.
The Russian bill, expected to be signed by Putin before the end of the year, also targets Americans accused of abusing Russian-born adopted children and U.S. judges or authorities deemed to have been too lenient in such cases.
Pro-Kremlin lawmakers have proposed the bill be named after Dima Yakovlev, a Russian-born boy who died at the age of 18 months after his adoptive U.S. family left him locked in a vehicle in Virginia in 2008.
"It stretches the imagination to see an equal or reciprocal situation here," Ventrell said. "The issue of adoption is one that we've worked very hard with the Russians, it is something we've looked at carefully. But we just reject any attempt at trying to make a reciprocal comparison."
Business groups pushed Congress for months to approve PNTR, which was needed to ensure U.S. companies get all the market-opening benefits of Russia's entry into the WTO.
Without it, U.S. companies such as Caterpillar, Ford, JPMorgan Chase and others feared they would be at a disadvantage to competitors in other countries that already have full WTO relations with Russia.
It was also needed to allow the United States to use the WTO dispute-settlement system to challenge any Russian actions it says unfairly restrict U.S. imports, although the two sides still need to formally establish full WTO relations in Geneva first.
(Additional reporting by Andrew Quinn in Washington and Steve Gutterman and Alissa de Carbonnel in Moscow; Editing by Xavier Briand and Mohammad Zargham)


text:
Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins has enhanced his advantage in the yellow jersey with a stunning victory on the road cycling event's individual time-trial at stage nine.
Wiggins (Team Sky) clocked 51 minutes 24 seconds to triumph on the 41.5-kilometre race against the clock from Arc-et-Senans to Besancon.
The triple Olympic champion, who on Saturday succeeded prologue winner Fabian Cancellara in the maillot jaune, began the day with a 10-second lead over defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and enters Tuesday's rest day with an advantage of 1min 53secs.
Evans placed sixth on the day in 53:07, as Team Sky celebrated a one-two on the stage, with Chris Froome second in 51:59. Olympic time-trial champion Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) was third in 52:21. Froome, who won stage seven, climbed into third place overall, 2:07 behind his team-mate and 14 seconds behind Evans.
The time-trial, coming ahead of the rest day, could be significant in the race for the maillot jaune, with this year's Tour featuring more than 100km of racing against the clock before the finish in Paris on July 22. Wiggins is now firmly in pole position to be the first British Tour winner - and Froome could join him on the podium.
The day's events were also a useful marker for the 44km August 1 Olympic time-trial at Hampton Court, when Wiggins hopes to add to his haul of three Olympic gold medals. Wiggins and Froome are Britain's Olympic time-trial selections.
As race leader, Wiggins started last, three minutes behind nearest rival Evans, who he was seeking to beat to Besancon, the watch-making centre of France. At the first time check, after 16.5km, Wiggins led the field in 21:05 and was beating Evans by 1:02. Froome was five seconds behind his team-mate.
Wiggins again led through the second time check, at 31.5km, in 39:02, 16 seconds faster than Froome and 1:19 ahead of Evans. The 32-year-old maintained his scintillating pace in the final quarter of the race to triumph by 35 seconds from Froome, with Cancellara a further 22 seconds behind.
David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) was 36th in 55:38 and Steve Cummings (BMC Racing) 39th, nine seconds further adrift. Mark Cavendish (Team Sky), the world road race champion, was 6:27 behind in 1:00.07.
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale), who began the day in third overall, 16 seconds behind, finished in 53:31 to place eight on the stage and fall to fourth place, 16 seconds behind Froome. Germany's Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), the world time-trial champion, clocked 53:40 to place 12th despite wearing a cast on his fractured wrist.


text:
"We know so much about the technology of the world. But what we need now is a new technology of the heart."
— Mel King, DUSP Professor Emeritus, February 2013
At Radius, our mission is to find that technology of the heart, the ethical center that holds us together in the midst of diversity and change.
Radius is not simply a series of programs. It is a community of scholars and citizens who care deeply about the role of science and technology in bringing about positive change. We invite creative, courageous thinking about how humans choose to use powerful technologies and whose interests these innovations serve.
Radius is an initiative of the Technology and Culture Forum, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014.


text:
Camera sliders - FloatCam
FloatCam company specializes in offering multi functional camera platforms (video camera sliders, cranes, jibs etc.) and camera stabilizing systems appreciated by professionals all over the world. We employ innovative solutions to enhance possibilities and solidity of each and every product created by us to improve the quality of your work. DollyCrane and DollyCrane HD can be used as i.e. video, DSLR camera slider, Mini Jib, crane or tower and offers vast range of possible angles and features which make it extremely functional as for example the Motion Control system.
FloatCam Pro – choose the best quality, functionality and unique solutions offered by our company.
NAB Las Vegas - Black Diamond Award and Technology Star