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Do you have a favorite movie star or television star? If you do, have you ever wondered what their personal life was like? If you have, you are definitely not alone. In today's society, it seems as if many individuals are interested in knowing the latest news or gossip surrounding today's most popular stars. In addition to who is dating who, a focus is also placed on celebrity fashions. In fact, where are many out there who wish that they could dress and look like one of their favorite celebrities. While this feeling is quite common, it often leaves many others wondering why.
When it comes to examining the celebrity fashion phenomenon it is actually difficult to come up with an answer as to why it is so popular. Different individuals like to look and dress like celebrities for different reasons, some of which are easier to explain than others. Just a few of the many reasons why the celebrity fashion phenomenon has gained such a following are touched on below.
The thing about celebrities is that they are popular and well-known. In fact, many celebrities cannot even leave their homes with out being recognized and prodded for autographs by fans. While many celebrities wish that they could change this, there are many "everyday", individuals who wish that they had their own fan following or wish that they were as popular. Although dressing a certain way or in a certain style of clothing isn't necessarily guaranteed to make you more popular, there are many individuals out there who think that it does. These are often the individuals who regularly checkout the latest in celebrity fashion trends.
Another one of the many reasons why the celebrity fashion phenomenon is continuing to increase in numbers is because celebrities are often well-known for their fashion choices. If you were to turn your television on to a fashion show or even just a news channel, read a fashion magazine, or visit an online celebrity gossip website, there is a good chance that you will find a celebrity being complimented in their good taste in clothing. Most everyday, individuals aren't always complimented on their clothing or fashion accessories, although many wish that they were. That is one of the many reasons why many individuals try to keep up with celebrity fashions and copy them, in any way possible.
Although there are some out there who view the celebrity fashion phenomenon as an unhealthy obsession, there is actually really nothing wrong with keeping up with the latest in celebrity fashions. What you need to remember though is that just because it looks good on a celebrity, it doesn't necessarily mean that the same thing will look good on you. You should also keep price in mind. Many celebrities have unlimited financial resources; therefore, the cost of clothing and fashion accessories isn't always an issue for them, but it may for you. Of course, you can dress like a celebrity if you want to, but you need to remember that celebrity fashions regularly change; therefore, there is no need for you to go broke trying to afford the "hottest" trends that may only last for a few weeks.
In short, the celebrity fashion phenomenon is one that regularly discussed by fashion experts, as well are product manufacturers and clothing designers. With the celebrity fashion phenomenon at its current state, it is not uncommon to find designers trying their best to get their latest fashions appearing on today's hottest celebrities.


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Arcam SACD/CD Player – CDS50
Our most advanced cd, digital audio and network streaming player yet
In a sense, digital audio doesn't exist. You'd have to be a particularly dull superhero to possess ears that can decode the millions of 1's and 0's that make up your CD collection or iTunes library. Whatever the source – be it a laptop, CD player, smartphone, USB stick – the result is just a vibration in your speakers. In other words, it all winds up analogue in the end.
Arguably, when playing from a digital format, the most vital component is the DAC, or Digital to Analogue Converter. We'll spare you the bulk of the science, but this is what translates that otherwise lifeless binary code into audible sound energy. Bit-depth, meanwhile, is a key measure of audio quality.
So, if you're listening to a 24-bit WAV copy of your favourite album through a DAC that only converts to 16-bit, there's a good chunk of detail going to waste right there. That's why we've included 32-bit DACs on the entire HDA range – the most commonly used bit-depth in digital recording – so you're guaranteed the full aural picture of whatever the artist intended.
Product Details
- Plays all disc formats, including SACD, CD-A, CD-R and CD-RW
- Supports audio file formats including FLAC, WAV, AIFF, OGG, MP3, AAC and WMA
- USB input
- Superb 32-bit DAC built in
- Streaming through the music life app
- Total harmonic distortion + noise = 0.002%

subset: commoncrawl


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The PSF is always thrilled to be able to help introduce young people to the world of programming. As such, Young Coders' Workshops (also see O'Reilly) are especially close to our hearts. Young Coders, for those of you who don't know, was started in 2013 at PyCon in Santa Clara by Katie Cunningham and Barbara Shaurette (see My Dinner with Katie). Kids ages 12-17 learn to code using Raspberry Pis, which they then get to keep.
Recently, the PSF has granted funding for PyOhio and for its Young Coders' Workshop. The conference will be held August 1st - 2nd on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Oh, while the YC workshop will take place on Sat August 1 (see PyOhio).
PyOhio serves as a regional conference for the Midwest with many attendees from surrounding states. Attendance at PyOhio has grown from 150 in 2010 to 400 in 2014. There will be 4 tracks of talks over 2 days and three days of sprints. This year's schedule include a keynote by Catherine Devlin and talks by Brandon Rhodes and Brian Curtin among others. Registration is free (see PyOhio)!
Brian Costlow, Chair of PyOhio, explains that the Young Coders Workshop targets kids who wouldn't otherwise get the opportunity. PyOhio organizers reach out to partners to get the word out to those beyond tech circles. They reserve 40% of workshop slots for their partner organizations' for kids from disadvantaged neighborhoods. Last year in 2014, the kids came from one of the most economically distressed neighborhoods in Columbus (see Demographic Info).
This year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus, OH is helping to recruit kids from poorer neighborhoods.
According to Brian,
We'll pull kids from more than one neighborhood this year, but the highest median household income is $32,000 and all of the neighborhoods have at least 15% of households below the poverty line. By way of contrast, the median income for the Greater Columbus Statistical Metropolitan area is $44,000, but if you exclude the distressed neighborhoods, the household median income is around $80,000 and only 2% are below the poverty line.
The PSF is happy to be able to help with funding for such a worthwhile event. Not only do the kids get to keep the Raspberry Pis, but they also go home with the keyboard, mouse, and cable. This is especially important for underprivileged kids who may not have access to computers outside of school.
Other sponsors of PyOhio and Young Coders include Level 12, Safari, and Caktus Group, to name a few (see Sponsors). But sponsors are still needed, so there is still an opportunity to help! Please visit Sponsor Prospectus.
I would love to hear from readers. Please send feedback, comments, or blog ideas to me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Changing a tire is likely easier than you think. By preparing and educating yourself, and following the steps below, you can fix your flat tire and get back on the road in no time.
1. Make sure you have everything you need
Before you hit the road, make sure you have these items stowed in your vehicle so you're ready to change your tire:
- Your vehicle's owner manual
- Your vehicle's tire kit, which should include a jack, lug nut wrench, and spare tire
- Wheel chock blocks or wedges
- Flashlight
- Tire pressure gauge
2. Find a safe tire-changing location
Whether your tire slowly deflates or pops, the last thing you want to do is abruptly brake or swerve. Drive cautiously and put your hazard lights on until you can find a safe place to pull over. Find a flat stretch of road so you can park on level ground—not on an incline or decline. It's better to drive on a flat tire for a little while to find flat land than it is to pull over in a hazardous area.
Once you've safely pulled over—leaving ample room between your car and the road—you're ready to change your flat tire.
3. Secure your vehicle
Turn your hazard lights on and apply your parking brake. Watch for passing traffic as you get out of your vehicle. Then, gather the items you'll need to change your tire. Start by placing your wheel chock blocks or wedges on the other tires to keep your vehicle in place.
4. Loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire
If your tire has a hubcap or wheel cover, pry it off—consult your vehicle's owner manual for the proper procedure. Typically, you can use the flat end of your lug wrench. Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts until they're loose enough to turn by hand, but don't loosen them completely or remove them.
5. Place the jack and lift your vehicle
Review your vehicle's owner manual to properly place the jack beside the flat tire. Your vehicle should have plastic molding along the bottom, with an area of exposed metal specifically designed for the jack. Use the jack to raise the vehicle until the flat tire is at least six inches off the ground.
- Keep the jack flat and perpendicular to the ground at all times.
- Never position any part of your body underneath the vehicle during the process.
6. Remove the lug nuts and the flat tire:
After you've lifted the flat tire, finish loosening and removing the lug nuts from the flat tire. With all lug nuts removed, grab the flat tire around the tread and remove it. The tire should come off gently. Place it on its side, away from the vehicle.
7. Install the spare tire:
To mount your spare tire on the hub, align the rim with the lug bolts or posts. Once they're aligned, push the tire as far onto the wheelbase as possible. The lug bolts should show through the rim of the tire.
8. Screw the lug nuts on by hand:
Tighten the lug nuts by hand, making sure the tire is evenly aligned—but don't tighten the lug nuts completely just yet.
9. Lower the vehicle so the spare tire touches the ground:
While the spare tire touches the ground, the body of the car should still be supported by the jack.
10. Tighten the lug nuts again:
Use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts as much as you can, while making sure the tire remains evenly aligned. It helps to alternate between every other lug nut.
11. Lower the vehicle:
Use the jack to completely lower the vehicle so it's all the way down, no longer supported by the jack. Remove the jack and give the lug nuts a final pull with the lug wrench to make sure they're fully tightened.
12. Stow your equipment:
You can now safely stow the equipment you needed to change your tire, along with the flat tire and hubcap or wheel cover if it doesn't fit on your spare.
13. Check the tire pressure:
Use your tire pressure gauge to check the spare tire. It should have at least 60 psi if it's a standard, T-type temporary spare, but less if it's a full-size spare—check your owner's manual to be sure of the recommended pressure. If the pressure is low, drive directly to a service station to fill it.
14. Get your flat tire checked immediately:
Remember, spares aren't meant to be used for long or at high speeds. Bring your flat tire to a mechanic as soon as you can so they can determine if it needs to be repaired or replaced.
How to avoid getting a flat tire
While you can't prevent all flat tires, you can maximize your tire life and reduce your risk of having a flat:
- Rotate your tires based on the manufacturer's suggested guidelines
- Periodically check your tire pressure
- Examine your tires for tread wear
Make each of these tips part of your annual vehicle checklist.
Related links
Now that you know how simple changing a flat tire can be, check out other DIY maintenance tips that'll help keep you safe on the road.
Interested in learning how you can customize your auto insurance to suit your vehicle and your priorities? Check out our auto insurance options.
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Welcome to Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails
Nestled in the five points of Crabapple's Historic District lies the distinctly unique Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails. With its comfortable & quaint setting, Milton's entices your senses with its inviting atmosphere and artful edge. Keeping with the rural character of North Fulton, the 150 year-old farmhouse & 1930's cottage were preserved and restored with classic elements and charming details.
Milton's brings a distinctly unique dining experience to the suburbs of North Fulton. With an energetic bar, fireplaces to warm the soul and intertwining outdoor deck & patio, the ambiance will bring your senses to life.
The restaurant features contemporary New Southern Cuisine that utilizes fresh, local ingredients to create regionally inspired comfort food with bold flavors that are artistically presented in a relaxed and friendly environment. Many of our ingredients come from our own on site garden, the "Milton's Acre."


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Stretch-In Wool Carpet 2nd Story
Spin Again
You'll have to take our word for it that the wheel landed on
Stretch-In Wool Carpet 2nd Story
. Your browser cannot display the wheel of choices. Please upgrade to a newer browser that supports HTML5 (most new ones do). Wheel Decide would normally show a wheel right here with choices that you can set (lunch, games, dinner, anything!). You can spin it to get a random decision. Make your own wheel of dinner, wheel of fortune, wheel of lunch, wheel of whatever you want now!


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Heads up!
To celebrate the Queen's Official Birthday in June, M&S will be launching their Summer Beauty Box. Spend £40 on M&S Beauty, Clothing or Home and customers can purchase the M&S Summer Beauty Box for just £10!
Available from 9th-13th June at M&S Stores Nationwide and at www.marksandspencer.co.uk.
This box is jam packed full of Summer beauty essentials and is worth over £120. You get 14 incredible products, either full sized or deluxe samples. I'm very impressed with the contents and this there are so many cult brands and products included. This is a beauty box not to be missed so make sure you get hold of one quickly because they are going to sell out fast! So included in this beauty box is,
- Swell Ultimate Protect & Renew Serum, 30ml.
- Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Tonic, 50ml.
- Philip Kingsley Citrus Sunshine Swimcap Cream, 50ml.
- Pure Instant Radiance Hot Cloth Cleanser, 50ml.
- REN Instant Firming Beauty Shot, 10ml.
- Island Escape Eau de Toilette, 25ml.
- Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil, 10ml.
- Ultrasun Face SPF30 Sun Protection, 25ml.
- PUR Correcting Primer Illuminate & Glow, 10ml.
- M&S Sun Smart Sun Lotion SPF30, 50ml.
- Leighton Denny Crystal Finish Quick Dry Top Coat, full size.
- Stila Lip Glaze Raspberry, full size.
- Nails Inc Gel One Coat Nail Polish in Chiltern Park, full size.
- Percy & Reed Volumising No Oil Oil, 30ml.
This M&S Beauty Box is worth over £120 and is available from today at M&S Stores Nationwide and at www.marksandspencer.co.uk remember all you need to do is – Spend £40 on M&S Beauty, Clothing or Home and you can purchase this M&S Summer Beauty Box for just £10.
I am most excited to try the Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Tonic, Nails Inc Gel One Coat Nail Polish in Chiltern Park and Stila Lip Glaze Raspberry. Although all 14 products are fab and ideal for taking away with you on your Summer holiday.
Let me know if you manage to get your hands on a box & Happy 90th Birthday Queenie.
*PR Sample


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By now, the vast majority of us have updated our antiquated technology. Cassette tapes gave way to CDs, which gave way to digital music, thanks to iTunes and MP3s. The clunky cell phones of the 1980s have fallen, and smaller, sleeker models have risen in their place. Today's computers make the models of even a few years ago look like dinosaurs.
The city of Indianapolis' Public Works Department underwent a similar transition with its wastewater collection network's supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. With some help from Frakes Eng., a certified member of the Control System Integrator Assn., the transition has been a smooth one.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works Wastewater Collection Div. is responsible for maintaining more than 250 sewer lift stations throughout its jurisdiction and ensuring the safety of the public waterways through monitoring the collection process. The original lift station monitoring system was an obsolete, homegrown alarm dialer that communicated through locally leased phone lines, providing only an alarm. Master controllers were notified when something went wrong at one of the monitored sites, but had no means of determining the problem or a way to predict potential future problems. Flow and pump condition data were non-existent, and overflows to streams could not be detected. In short, there was insufficient data within the system to provide good management decisions.
In 2003, the department approached engineering firm Donohue & Associates about the prospect of providing this system with a much-needed update. After two years of learning about the system and determining the correct approach, Donohue began the design phase in 2005 and selected a control and information system supplier (Rockwell Automation). It selected communications methodologies in 2006 and bid the project in 2007. Indianapolis-based Frakes was selected as the control and information systems integrator, under sub-contract to Divane Brothers Electric of Franklin Park, Ill.
The challenge was to implement a complete SCADA system to collect and process the status and data from more than 250 lift stations, spread over a 1,600-sq-mile area. Processing the data included requirements to immediately process alarms and dispatch service personnel, provide a graphical display overview of the entire system, historically store the data, trend data on demand, and provide a remote information window (Portal) for management to make intelligent decisions.
Remote Terminal Unit
At the basic level of a lift station, the system was designed with Allen Bradley Micrologix 1100 Ethernet-based processors with analog and digital inputs and outputs, communications modules (radio or telephone), two-hour-capability battery-backed uninterruptible power supply and surge protection in a stainless, drip-proof enclosure with outer and inner doors with front-mounted AB Panel view for a complete remote terminal unit (RTU).
The RTU was tightly coupled, but in a separate enclosure from the existing lift station pump control package. Interface to the existing pump controllers was a major task, as each had been supplied by different vendors and included various types of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and relay control schemes. Frakes developed a standard terminal interface for the electrical contractor and for future maintenance and troubleshooting. Therefore, all lift stations throughout the city now have the same control scheme wiring. Future installations must also match the control scheme as developed.
Getting the Data Home
With more than 250 individual lift stations connected on a citywide communications grid, every possible method was contemplated. The city of Indianapolis has an emergency notification system for fire, police and disaster alerts based on microwave towers communicating from various regions of the city—such as fire stations and other significant structures—to the Metropolitan Emergency Communications location on a redundant microwave ring that connects 10 regional communication towers. Each tower has a tail-end, spread-spectrum radio network connecting lift stations to the SCADA system through the microwave ring. Once data has been relayed to this downlink, an AT&T Optiman 100-MBPS link connects the radio system to the Belmont Advanced Treatment Plant. A 5.8-GHz radio link is in place between the downlink and the plant as a hot backup to the Optiman circuit.
Sites that cannot be reached with radio or are too critical for wireless communication are connected to the plant through an OC-3 SONET ring, also provided by AT&T. From there, communications are established to remote sites using everything from always on modem connectivity to 3G cellular to DSL circuits. The most critical remote sites have redundant communication paths to them.
Handling the Data
The communications methodology is a polling master with report-by-exception (RBE) alarm reporting. Communications with the remote sites are handled by four hardware control devices (HCDs) that are redundant Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLCs. In normal operation, each of the four HCDs handles a single quadrant of the city. Should one communication driver fail, the others will load balance to pick up the load.
Handling the number of tags required to manage a 1,600-sq-mile wastewater collection system requires a massive computer network. To isolate and protect critical public utility systems from the security problems that plague corporate networks, two domain controllers manage the process network. The process network includes 19 servers, eight work stations and 10 laptops used for data storage, retrieval, viewing, programming and analysis.
Control Room Software
The project was built around a Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk solution. By selecting a complete solution, the city was able to leverage many of the advantages of the Rockwell federated database, not least of which was the need to create tags only once. This was a major timesaver in a system with more than 25,000 historical tags and more than 30,000 display points.
Thinking communication systems will never fail would be poor engineering; therefore, the RTUs required contingencies for just such occurrences in order to prevent loss of data.
Data is retrieved from the remote sites in several ways. In normal operation, each site is polled and replies with the current status of the site and the flow and level trends for the period of time since the last poll cycle. If communications go down for a period of time, the remote site will store the trended data at a lower rate and, when communications are re-established, the remote site will backfill the data to the plant at a rate that does not interfere with the communications to the other sites. In the event of an alarm condition at any site, that site will use RBE to immediately notify the plant operations staff of an alarm condition, allowing them to respond quickly.
Originally, the specification called for data collection on a 10-minute basis. This was found to be not timely enough to give an accurate picture of flow data, and was later changed to a one-minute basis, which greatly improved the flow data trend charts. Upon loss of communications, the remote sites collect data and work in a store-and-forward mode to make certain critical data is never lost. One of the challenges was to "re-sync" the time stamps on alarms and events that occurred while communications were down. Normally, the FT Historian server software would apply a time stamp to any collected data based on the time received.
Because the data was collected on a one-minute basis and uploaded when polled on a three-hour basis, the collected data would all be stored in the Historian as of the time/date received; an unacceptable trend display would result. The time-date stamp is encoded in the data at the MicroLogix and with the help of an ACE tool, the software strips out the time-date stamp and re-presents it to the FT Historian.
The communication network includes another advantage over the old system—flexibility. Bob Neils, control systems engineer with Donohue, said the openness and adaptability of the communication system is a real asset. "We wanted to keep the system open as much as possible," Neils said. "Having the network Ethernet-based and having an open network allows for multiple options at each site. For example, if one or two sites can't use radio because of their location or other circumstances, the open network allows us to have other options, rather than being locked into only one solution."
This project was completed in early 2012.
Water System Central Control System Upgrade
A water company had developed a central control system (CCS) that consisted of a master distribution control room, connected to remote tanks, pumping stations, bleeder valves, and district pressure sites using tone telemetry communications. These sites consisted of tone transceivers at each end, with I/O hard wired into the CCS PLC-5 before connecting into the SCADA system. As the system grew over the years and decades, an assortment of other control systems had been implemented. Other sites had been upgraded to Allen Bradley PLCs and communicated with CCS via 4-wire lease line.
As the tone equipment got older it proved to be very maintenance intensive, requiring frequent calibration of the frequency scanners in use.
Frakes Eng. was hired to perform several projects in the design planning stages leading up to the upgrade. These included a study to assess the feasibility of replacing the tone telemetry equipment, conducting radio feasibility studies to evaluate the possibility of utilizing radio to replace portions of the existing phone modem network. The work culminated in a system replacement study outlining the best mix of technologies the water company could use to bring the system up to date and provide the reliability required of such a critical operation serving over 1 million people.
Frakes Eng. was awarded a two-year project to provide a turnkey solution based on the company's recommendations. This new system would utilize frame relay Ethernet communications, spread spectrum radio tail-end networks as well as CDMA cellular communications to connect all of the sites which stretch over a 1,600 sq mile area.
The heart of the system was built around Allen Bradley's ControlLogix Automation Controller. Redundancy was designed in from the start with redundant PLC racks, processors, power supplies and ControlNet communication channels to the gateway PLC rack, which would contain the Ethernet communication modules. While these modules remain as the only single point of failure, they are hot swappable and do not require the system be halted for repairs. To address disaster preparedness, the entire CCS was duplicated at an alternate command site, providing 100% control and monitoring redundancy and allowing the entire distribution system to be operated from the remote site in case of system wide failure at the primary CCS.
Select sites featuring tall structures, such as elevated tanks, were used as the head end for spread spectrum radio networks that would function as tail-end networks, connecting nearby sites, such as bleeder valves, district pressure recorders, to the network without the monthly overhead of frame relay connectivity.
Sites where connectivity to the frame relay network would be difficult were fitted with CDMA cellular modems manufactured by Airlink Communications. These sites communicate over the cellular data network with the ControlLogix Controller through redundant serial ports at the CCS.
Of primary concern during deployment was prevention of communication loss as each remote system was transferred from the existing system to the new system. Each site was converted on-line with our programmers modifying the existing Fix32 SCADA package to redirect communications through our new data concentrator while our field installation team removed old equipment, installed the new control panels and connected it to the frame relay network. This involved extensive coordination between the phone utility, Frakes Eng. and the customer to bring all resources together at the right time, making each transition transparent to the operators of the system.
This project was completed on schedule and without change orders. When completed, Frakes Eng. had either modified or replaced controls at more than 65 sites, including conversion of three major pump stations. The water quality to the city was never compromised and no loss of control was experienced, a major requirement of an on-line project such as this. The firm continues to provide both engineering control solutions to this customer.
Download: Here


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In computer programming, the term library refers to a well-documented collection of stable resources, which may include executable files, documentation, message templates, and written code.
The term may also refer to a collection of pre-written modules that when employed, perform a specific action or produce a particular output. The modules in the library can take the form of code, class definitions, procedures, scripts, and configuration data. This means that developers can call upon the modules in the library without having to rewrite the entire code for each module from scratch. In other words, they are able to reuse the behavior provided by other libraries instead of creating new modules themselves.
Libraries can be generalized for non-specialized usage (e.g., telling the time, basic mathematical operations) or highly specific for a particular use case (e.g., decoding sound file compression).
Therefore, using code libraries brings many advantages to developers and computer scientist. Some of them include the more efficient use of time and resources, making it easier for developers to develop and execute software.
One disadvantage of using code libraries is the so-called Black Box Effect where the developer is only able to see the input and output of its use, meaning they often have little to no understanding of what happens in between.


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Metronome settings are saved whenever you exit a page and become the new default settings for the metronome. Beginning with version 10.2, you can turn off this behavior using the Settings App, by disabling "Save Settings On Page Exit" which is enabled by default.
The metronome is disabled by default, to use the Metronome you must enable it by using the Settings App.
Metronome Options
- Tempo - Adjust tempo by tapping the -/+ buttons or enter a tempo number.
- Beats - Select the number of beats per measure by tapping the -/+ buttons or enter the number of beats. 4 beats per measure = 4/4, 3 beat per measure = 3/4, etc. The down beat has a different tone than other beats.
- Number of Bars - Select the number of bars for the metronome to beat before stopping by tapping the -/+ buttons or enter the number of bars. You can use this option to create a "count off" or "lead in" to set the tempo prior to playing. You can also use this option along with Next Page to trigger a page turn after the number of bars has been reached.
- Rhythm - Select the desired rhythm for each beat, each button indicates the type of rhythm played. Choose quarter notes, eight notes, eight note triplets, sixteenth notes, etc.
- Mute - Enable to silence the metronome but keep it running.
- Visible - When enabled, a black bar progresses across the top of the screen based on the beats per measure you have selected.
- Auto On - When enabled the metronome automatically starts when the PDF page appears.
- Next Page - When enabled and the number of bars has been reached a page turn is signaled.
- Scroll - When enabled, allows scrolling of the next page in a score. How To Scroll To The Next Page
- Tap Tempo - Tap to set the tempo.
- Start - Starts and stops the metronome.


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Presenting at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual science conference today
(13 July), Professor Michael Schneider describes a new approach to treating heart attack and cardiomyopathy using stem cells.
Professor Schneider, British Heart Foundation Professor at Imperial College London, said "Recent clinical trials using stem cells to treat heart damage have been successful in terms of safety but unfortunately the bone marrow stem cells used tend to give only a small improvement in how well the heart is pumping.
"We really want to use stem cells from the patients themselves that we know can give rise to beating heart cells and these are not found in bone marrow. The good news is that we're now finding ways to identify and purify such cells."
Around 1000 patients have been treated in approximately 20 trials worldwide, mostly using bone marrow stem cells or derivatives of bone marrow cells to repair damage caused by heart attack. There has also been a significant body of work looking at ways of producing beating heart cells from stem cells. The best proven approaches to creating new beating heart cells are using embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent cells and heart-derived stem cells.
Professor Schneider continued: "Using heart-derived stem cells to treat heart attack and cardiomyopathy has some advantages over embryonic and induced pluripotent cells as they are potentially safer. It's also notable that of these three cell types, it's only heart-derived cells that are in current human clinical trials for this sort of treatment.
"The biggest challenge is to make an ideal product for transplant, which would be either a mixture of heart muscle- and blood vessel-forming cells or a pure population of some sort of precursor that could give rise to both muscle and blood vessel cells."
Professor Schneider's team have discovered a way to identify heart stem cells so as to purify them for transplant. They first developed the method in mice and although the identifying markers are quite different in human cells, they have been able to successfully map their knowledge from mice onto humans. This research is funded by the British Heart Foundation, the European Research Council, the European Union (through the EU FP7 CardioCell consortium), the Leducq Foundation and the Medical Research Council.
Professor Schneider said "We've developed a method to identify cells that have three important characteristics: They are definitely stem cells; they have the right molecular machinery turned on in order to become heart muscle or blood vessel; and they don't yet have any of the full characteristics of heart muscle or blood vessel cells such as producing cardiac myosin – an important protein in heart muscle cells."
The next stage of the research is to develop this technique into a method for extracting, purifying and multiplying heart stem cells in the clinic to be used to repair heart damage arising from heart attack or cardiomyopathy. Professor Schneider's laboratory uses advanced robotics, automated microscopy and other high-throughput methods to screen many thousands of experimental conditions in order to devise the best ways to grow the cells and instruct them to go down the route of becoming heart muscle.


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Since the inception of the first industrial electric motors, manufacturers have been developing technology to produce better motors which use the least amount of energy possible. While perhaps increasing the efficiency of electric motors is not a relatively new phenomenon, the last several decades of technological advancements in motors, as well as manufacturing methods, has vastly improved the efficiency of electric motors.
As the energy crisis of the 70s peaked, the manufacturing sector began looking for better ways to save energy. What was discovered was that electric motors were consuming the lion's share of electricity in industrial facilities. While the news of the day continually reported about oil shortages and compact car development, electric motor manufacturers were quietly getting better at producing motors that consumed less electricity.
When these high efficiency and premium efficient motors entered the marketplace, organizations such as NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) and CEE (Consortium for Energy Efficiency) worked with motor manufacturers to develop standard levels of efficiency which motors were to be manufactured to. These standards were later adopted by the DOE (Department of Energy) as the benchmark for the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), which went into effect October 1997. This law mandated that general purpose TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) and ODP (open drip proof) motors, 1-200 Hp, were required to meet the energy efficient table as defined by NEMA.
Both the U.S. and Canada require motors to be tested for efficiency in a certified lab using specific test procedures such as IEEE 112 Method B or Canadian Standards Association CSA 390. Most NEMA members have their test labs certified. Although the IEC test method IEC 60034-2-1 has been harmonized with the IEEE and CSA methods, the EU does not require a certified test lab.
The most recent energy law, which broadened the scope of EPAct in the United States, was the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). This new law went into effect on December 19, 2010. The Canadian version of this law, enacted by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), went into effect on April 12, 2012. These new laws brought the original 1-200 Hp, 2-4-6 pole motors up to the premium efficient levels of table 12-12. A second group of motors was also added under this new legislation, which includes U-frame motors, close-coupled pump motors, footless motors, and 8 pole motors, to name a few. Complete details of the law and a complete listing of motor types affected can be found at www.baldor.com by clicking on the energy efficiency banner.
Understanding the laws and which motors are required to meet them is most of the battle. When one has developed a familiarity with these laws and what they mean, including the motor efficiency tables, it's a matter of checking this information against the motor manufacturer's nameplate to identify a motor's efficiency. It is important to note that if a motor was purchased and installed prior to the implementation of the energy law, the motor only had to meet the requirements of any law in place during the time of installation. If an old inefficient motor were to fail it can be repaired, but one must count the cost and decide if it would be more beneficial to invest the money toward a new, premium efficient motor. Additionally, if one has a motor in stock that was built prior the energy bill, the motor is also good to use as well as long as it was in the country prior to the energy bill implementation.
The energy efficiency laws in the U.S. and Canada are for both motors sold in commerce and motors embedded in machinery. If a company is importing a machine using covered electrical motors, those motors must be compliant with the laws.
Identifying and understanding the information on motor nameplates can be a bit tricky, especially given the fact that all motor nameplates do not always look the same. Two of the main things to look for are the NEMA nominal efficiency and the Certified Compliant (CC) mark for the U.S. and an NRCan mark for Canada. As other countries adopt Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards (MEPS), specific approvals and markings may be required.
The NEMA nominal efficiency is the nominal efficiency as defined by the NEMA tables for a particular motor enclosure, size, and speed. This efficiency is expressed in a percentage. For instance, if a motor's efficiency is labeled as 91 percent efficient, then that means the motor will convert 91percent of the electrical energy into mechanical energy, resulting in 9 percent of losses due to heat and other factors. For each respective NEMA nominal efficiency there is a NEMA guaranteed minimum efficiency based on a 10 percent variance in losses.
The CC mark is the number provided to each motor manufacturer after their motor line has been approved by the DOE. If this number is not present on the motor, it could be because that particular motor is exempt from law, was built prior to the law, or has not been properly submitted to the DOE for approval.
Another distinguishable feature to look for on motor nameplates is the NEMA Premium® logo. Although this logo is a registered trademark of NEMA, motor manufacturers can receive the license from NEMA to use this logo on their nameplates and marketing materials. One of the requirements of NEMA Premium® usage is for the manufacturer to annually submit their line of motors for efficiency testing to a certified third party lab facility.
If questions or concerns arise related to identifying the proper motor for an application, especially in regards to efficiency, one should contact their local motor sales representative. Any reputable motor manufacturer should be more than happy to back up their motor line with whatever data is necessary to demonstrate the performance of their motors. If a manufacturer makes excessive claims to promote its products, but can't back up their claims with the proper documentation, then they should be questioned or avoided. As the old saying goes, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.


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Guest Blogged By Michael Richardson
The more we peel away the layers of the onion, the more we find that it seems to stink to to high heaven. The latest chapter in our continuing series on the hidden world exposed by the recent failures of voting machine test lab CIBER to receive "interim accreditation" from the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission (EAC), is no exception.
The EAC's current Chair, Donetta Davidson, seems to have a long, storied and increasingly well-documented history of silence concerning electronic voting machine test laboratory problems and has been an active partner with EAC Executive Director Tom Wilkey --- whose roll in this mess we've examined in detail in previous articles (here, here and here to link to just a few of our reports in this continuing series) --- in keeping the public uninformed about failures in the secret test labs.
Wilkey is at the center of the controversy surrounding a failure to disclose to both the public and election officials around the nation that CIBER, Inc.,, the country's largest so-called "Independent Test Authority" (ITA), was banned last summer from further testing of voting machines. As previously reported by The BRAD BLOG, Wilkey kept test lab problems hidden from public scrutiny for years in his earlier duties at the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) where he was in charge of monitoring and qualifying the labs.
Davidson is now Wilkey's boss at the EAC where she landed after serving as Colorado's Secretary of State since 1999 where she was later tied to significant failures by that state in properly certifying electronic voting systems. A judge last year condemned the state's practices and ordered the state, effectively, to start over from scratch after the debacle. Over the years, the paths of Davidson and Wilkey have crossed many times because of their mutual roles in the hidden world of voting machine testing.
Davidson and Wilkey both have served together on the board of The Election Center, a non-profit group of mysterious background headed by R. Doug Lewis, which provided technical assistance, training, and lobbying support to NASED members. Lewis, a key player in test lab secrecy, mentored Davidson and Wilkey as they gained control of the ITA testing infrastructure.
Davidson has also served on NASED's Voting Standards Board, as chaired by Tom Wilkey, which qualified the test labs. The two kept in touch, Davidson in Colorado, Wilkey in New York, at conferences, via email, and over the phone. The conferences, often held in tourist destinations, were a special time for the two to get together...
BlackBoxVoting.org was able to obtain under Freedom of Information requests copies of some of the email traffic between Davidson and Wilkey [PDF] (see page 1) as they went about their official business.
On July 15, 2004, Wilkey emailed Davidson arranging a late-night rendezvous:
Two weeks later, after the nightcaps in New Orleans, Davidson sent Wilkey an email on July 29, 2004, that shows a deepening relationship between the two voting machine regulators. Davidson gushed:
A month after "Sis" pined to hear Wilkey's voice she forwarded to a staffer an email she and Wilkey received from Doug Lewis PDF (p.70) warning about the "crazies" who were critical of the Election Center's acceptance of conference support funds from the very same electronic voting machine manufacturers whose voting machines were being tested. Davidson and Wilkey closed ranks around the Election Center against the voting integrity "crazies". When Lewis took several weeks off from work for elective surgery Davidson and Wilkey [PDF] (p.28) dipped into their own flower fund for Lewis and shipped him a houseplant as a get-well gift with other Election Center board members.
When Lewis returned to work he fired off a "HEADS UP" notice [PDF] (p.35) to Davidson and Wilkey and others warning, "[T]he attacks are likely to escalate." This time the"crazie" was John Gideon, a respected voting integrity advocate, of VotersUnite.org as well as a frequent Guest Blogger here at The BRAD BLOG.
Gideon had written to the EAC cautioning about the Davidson-Wilkey-Lewis controlled Election Center. Gideon warned, "In accepting funds from the voting machine industry and putting on a program that is strongly sponsored by the same industry, Mr. Lewis and the Election Center are violating their own principles and standards of conduct."
That same summer, the U.S. House Science Environment Technology and Standards Subcommittee conducted a hearing on the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and "the role of testing and standards." Wilkey, who had battled to keep the ITA certification process out of federal control during debate on passage of HAVA, was a star witness. To help Wilkey promote their mutual self-interest, Davidson had an advance chat with U.S. Representative Mark Udall (D-UT) [PDF] (p.62) who served on the subcommittee to soften him up.
"Sis" and "New York Brother" made an effective team to protect their true role in monitoring the test labs. Now Wilkey was suddenly championing NASED's purported efforts in bringing NIST into the process.
Davidson, as Colorado's Secretary of State, had her own pipeline into the hidden test lab world and cannot deny her own personal longstanding knowledge of failures within the secret labs. In late 2003, J. Kenneth Blackwell, then-Secretary of State in Ohio, issued a report disclosing that an independent review of ITA approved voting machines by Compuware, had discovered 57 security flaws—after the test labs qualified the machines. Drew Durham, Davidson's HAVA compliance officer, sent her a pointed email memo [PDF] (pages 4-6):
Second, the ITAs need to be queried about what they are testing. New parameters need to be set.
Now, over three years later, Davidson is being asked similar questions by Senator Diane Feinstein as shocking details about the glaring errors and failures of the CIBER test lab continue to emerge from behind the wall of secrecy after a recent, scathing front page exposé by the New York Times.
This stinking onion may well be rotten to the core. Stay tuned as we continue to peel back each of its malodorous layers...


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Komondor Breed Standard
General AppearanceThe Komondor is characterized by imposing strength, dignity, courageous demeanor, and pleasing conformation. He is a large, muscular dog with plenty of bone and substance, covered with an unusual, heavy coat of white cords. The working Komondor lives during the greater part of the year in the open, and his coat serves to help him blend in with his flock and to protect him from extremes of weather and beasts of prey. Nature and Characteristics: The Komondor is a flock guardian, not a herder. Originally developed in Hungary to guard large herds of animals on the open plains, the Komondor was charged with protecting the herd by himself, with no assistance and no commands from his master. The mature, experienced dog tends to stay close to his charges, whether a flock or family; he is unlikely to be drawn away from them in chase, and typically doesn't wander far. Though very sensitive to the desires of his master, heavy-handed training will produce a stubborn, unhappy Komondor. While reserved with strangers, the Komondor is demonstrative with those he loves, selflessly devoted to his family and his charges, and will defend them against any attack. The combination of this devotion to all things dear to him and the desire to take responsibility for them produces an excellent guardian of herds or home, vigilant, courageous, and very faithful.
Size, Proportion, Substance Dogs 27½ inches and up at the withers; bitches 25½ inches and up at the withers. Dogs are approximately 100 pounds and up, bitches, approximately 80 pounds and up at maturity, with plenty of bone and substance. While large size is important, type, character, symmetry, movement and ruggedness are of the greatest importance and are on no account to be sacrificed for size alone. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers. Height below the minimum is a fault.
HeadThe head is large. The length of the head from occiput to tip of nose is approximately 2/5 the height of the dog at the withers. The skin around the eyes and on the muzzle is dark.
Eyes: Medium-sized and almond-shaped, not too deeply set. The iris of the eye is dark brown. Edges of the eyelids are gray or black. Light eyes are a fault. Blue eyes are a disqualification. Ears: In shape the ear is an elongated triangle with a slightly rounded tip. Medium-set and hanging and long enough to reach to the inner corner of the eye on the opposite side of the head. Erect ears or ears that move toward an erect position are a fault. Skull: The skull is broad with well-developed arches over the eyes. The occiput is fairly well-developed and the stop is moderate. Muzzle: The muzzle is wide, coarse, and truncated. Measured from inner corner of the eye to tip of nose the muzzle is 2/5 of the total length of the head. The top of the muzzle is straight and is parallel to the top of the skull. Underjaw is well-developed and broad. Lips are tight and are black in color. Ideally gums and palate are dark or black. Nose: Nose is wide and the front of the nose forms a right angle with the top of the muzzle. The nostrils are wide. The nose is black. A dark gray or dark brown nose is not desirable but is acceptable. A flesh-colored nose is a disqualification. Bite: Bite is scissors; a level bite is acceptable. A distinctly overshot or undershot bite is a fault. Any missing teeth is a serious fault. Three or more missing teeth is a disqualification.
NeckMuscular, of medium length, moderately arched, with no dewlap. The head erect.
ToplineThe back is level and strong.
BodyCharacterized by a powerful, deep chest, which is muscular and proportionately wide. The breast is broad and well-muscled. The belly is somewhat drawn up at the rear. The rump is wide, muscular, and slopes slightly towards the root of the tail. Softness or lack of good muscle tone is a fault.
TailA continuation of the rump line, hanging, and long enough to reach the hocks. Slightly curved upwards and/or to one side at its end. Even when the dog is moving or excited, the greater part of the tail is raised no higher than the level of the back. A short or curly tail is a fault.
ForequartersShoulders are well laid back. Forelegs straight, well-boned, and muscular. Viewed from any side, the legs are like vertical columns. The upper arms are carried close to the body, without loose elbows.
FeetStrong, rather large, and with close, well-arched toes. Pads are hard, elastic, and black or gray. Ideally, nails are black or gray, although light nails are acceptable.
HindquartersThe steely, strong bone structure is covered with highly-developed muscles. The legs are straight as viewed from the rear. Stifles are well-bent. Rear dewclaws must be removed.
CoatCharacteristic of the breed is the dense, protective coat. The puppy coat is relatively soft, but it shows a tendency to fall into cord-like curls. The young adult coat, or intermediate coat, consists of very short cords next to the skin which may be obscured by the sometimes lumpy looking fluff on the outer ends of the cords. The mature coat consists of a dense, soft, woolly undercoat much like the puppy coat, and a coarser outer coat that is wavy or curly. The coarser hairs of the outer coat trap the softer undercoat, forming permanent, strong cords that are felt-like to the touch. A grown dog is entirely covered with a heavy coat of these tassel-like cords, which form naturally. It must be remembered that the length of the Komondor's coat is a function of age, and a younger dog must never be penalized for having a shorter coat. Straight or silky coat is a fault. Failure of the coat to cord by two years of age is a disqualification. Short, smooth coat on both head and legs is a disqualification.
ColorColor of the coat is white, but not always the pure white of a brushed coat. A small amount of cream or buff shading is sometimes seen in puppies, but fades with maturity. In the ideal specimen the skin is gray. Pink skin is not desirable but is acceptable. Color other than white, with the exception of small amounts of cream or buff in puppies, is a disqualification.
GaitLight, leisurely and balanced. The Komondor takes long strides, is very agile and light on his feet. The head is carried slightly forward when the dog trots.
The foregoing is a description of the ideal Komondor. Any deviation should be penalized in direct proportion to the extent of that deviation. Extreme deviation in any part should be penalized to the extent that the dog is effectively eliminated from competition.
Disqualifications Blue eyes.Flesh-colored nose.Three or more missing teeth.Failure of the coat to cord by two years of age.Short, smooth coat on both head and legs.Color other than white, with the exception of small amounts of cream or buff in puppies.


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Engineers can accelerate product development time and more accurately predict in-flight icing to improve aircraft safety thanks to advancements ANSYS (NASDAQ: ANSS) has delivered with two new product releases. The most recent release of ANSYS® SpaceClaim™ and ANSYS® FENSAP™ dramatically enhances speed, efficiency and reliability – providing users with revolutionary workflows and unique capabilities.
As companies turn to rapid digitalization for every facet of product development, the ability to easily manipulate geometry for both design and manufacturing is crucial. ANSYS SpaceClaim 2016 transforms product development by empowering users to quickly and easily manipulate 3-D models across the entire product development cycle. SpaceClaim's unique approach delivers superior ease of use and productivity, providing the user with extreme flexibility within product workflows.
"Since day one, our focus has been to provide customers with a solution to quickly create, edit or repair geometries as needed in an open platform environment," said Frank DeSimone, senior director of product development at ANSYS. "For this release, we focused on solving challenges working with complex geometry, developing new tools like the Shrinkwrap and Skin Surface to decrease the time needed to reverse-engineer parts or prepare models for 3-D printing."
Whether creating designs, editing, cleaning geometries from other tools or reverse engineering existing products, SpaceClaim leapfrogs previous releases by delivering unprecedented results such as 10-times faster 3-D modeling compared to other products on the market. Start-up time is two to four times improved; large model save and load stages are 100 times their former speed; and some tools, such as imprint, result in a 200-times speed improvement. From machinist to simulation analyst, existing users will see vast improvements and users of other tools will be amazed by the novel approach to geometry.
A list of new and enhanced features can be found here. http://s3.amazonaws.com/images.spaceclaim.com/RSIMG/SPC+2016+Fact+Sheet_PRINT-FNL.pdf
Aerospace engineers who analyze aircraft icing can take immediate advantage of the comprehensive state-of-the-art capabilities with FENSAP-ICE and FENSAP-ICE Turbo. The new release — the first since ANSYS acquired this technology – provides improved integration with ANSYS CFX software, its class-leading turbomachinery fluid dynamics simulation software. The enhanced integration enables users to take advantage of the unique capabilities of FENSAP-ICE and FENSAP-ICE TURBO to optimize designs and improve safety by more accurately predicting ice formation in jet engines.
The new release adds numerous enhancements for users of these two systems, enabling them to predict in-flight icing for aircraft, engines, probes and components more efficiently and accurately. The FENSAP product family incorporates speed-up and efficiency gains, enabling the user to incorporate icing prediction in their simulation-driven product development processes.
"The new release delivers streamlined import and export of required data for more efficient and accurate exchange between the FENSAP products and ANSYS computational fluid dynamics solutions," said Andre Bakker, senior director of fluids business unit, ANSYS. "Maximizing the accuracy of icing simulation ensures that the engineering insight gained from analysis and the resulting design decisions made truly serve to improve flight safety."
The FENSAP release also includes a number of enhancements and extensions that further efficiency, including more flexible meshing options, faster solution algorithms, direct extraction of key simulation results and more powerful post-processing. These contribute to reducing the time and effort required to investigate and solve complex questions associated with icing.
A list of new and enhanced features can be found here. http://www.ansys.com/Products/Fluids/ANSYS+FENSAP-ICE
ANSYS, Inc.


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To minimise the risk of fraud, we use PAYPAL to receive card payments from our customers. If you would prefer to pay by cheque, please email your order to firstname.lastname@example.com and post payments to the address below (see contact details). Your order will be dispatched once we are in receipt of the cheque and monies have been cleared.
DELIVERY & returns
We will email you to confirm your order, and we will process the order as soon as payment has been received. We will email you again when your item has been dispatched (3-5 working days). We make every effort to ensure the site is as up to date as it can be, but should an item be out of stock after you have placed an order, we will email you within five working days to clarify when we can dispatch it. Delivery is by next day courier for large items and 1st class post (signed for) for smaller items. Shipping costs will be calculated automatically within the shopping basket. If your package is not signed for and is returned to us, we will re-charge your postage fees to dispatch again. Unfortunately, we cannot despatch items outside of the UK.
If you are unhappy with your purchase (faulty or damaged), providing you contact us within 5 working days of receiving it by phone or email (see below for contact details), we will offer a full refund, providing the item is un-used and in its original undamaged packaging. We recommend returning items to us by a recorded/signed for delivery method. If the item is faulty or damaged, we would cover the return carriage charges.


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Electro Breeze Air Cleaner Replacement Pads
The Electro-Breeze electronic air cleaner is 97% efficient down to 0.3 microns and consumes less than 1 watt of power. The Electro Breeze air cleaner panel is your best choice for whole house air cleaning with high efficiency, low energy usage, easy maintenance and low cost replacement media pads. The replacement pads will work in other brands of electronic air cleaners, such as Nature's Home® MicroPower Guard®, One Hour® Xenon Power Guard®, Dynamic® Air Cleaners, and more.


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Making Everyone a Criminal
From Atlas Shrugged:
Dr. Ferris smiled. . . . . ."We've waited a long time to get something on you. You honest men are such a problem and such a headache. But we knew you'd slip sooner or later - and this is just what we wanted."
[Hank Reardon:] "You seem to be pleased about it."
"Don't I have good reason to be?"
"But, after all, I did break one of your laws."
"Well, what do you think they're for?"
Dr. Ferris did not notice the sudden look on Rearden's face, the look of a man hit by the first vision of that which he had sought to see. Dr. Ferris was past the stage of seeing; he was intent upon delivering the last blows to an animal caught in a trap.
"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now, that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
Here is the same thing, Obama Administration style
Major U.S. corporations have broadly supported President Barack Obama's healthcare reform despite concerns over several of its elements, largely because it included provisions encouraging the wellness programs.
The programs aim to control healthcare costs by reducing smoking, obesity, hypertension and other risk factors that can lead to expensive illnesses. A bipartisan provision in the 2010 healthcare reform law allows employers to reward workers who participate and penalize those who don't.
But recent lawsuits filed by the administration's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), challenging the programs at Honeywell International and two smaller companies, have thrown the future of that part of Obamacare into doubt.
The lawsuits infuriated some large employers so much that they are considering aligning themselves with Obama's opponents, according to people familiar with the executives' thinking.
"The fact that the EEOC sued is shocking to our members," said Maria Ghazal, vice-president and counsel at the Business Roundtable, a group of chief executives of more than 200 large U.S. corporations. "They don't understand why a plan in compliance with the ACA (Affordable Care Act) is the target of a lawsuit," she said. "This is a major issue to our members."
At the exact same moment, one branch of the Administration is encouraging an activity that another branch is working to criminalize.


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Yvette Helin Studio provides custom costume design and costume building services for projects ranging from theater and film to fashion and advertising to special events and theme parks. The Studio specializes in custom made-to-order mascots, clothing, character costume design and creation, and works with costume designers, directors, event companies, fashion, marketing firms, ad agencies, and more to realize their costume needs. Contact us to discuss your costume needs and what we can do for you!


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Democrats and Republicans have long appeared to have an irreconcilable difference on tax policy: Democrats want more revenue, raised entirely from households with annual incomes over $250,000, while Republicans don't want any new revenue, particularly from higher tax rates on the rich.
But Diane Lim, chief economist for The Concord Coalition, says that beyond the partisan rhetoric, there is "room for optimism" that a deal can be reached.
"Republicans have begun to shed their single-minded devotion to anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist's 'no new taxes pledge'," she writes in a blog post today. "Notable examples are Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) along with Representative Peter King (R-NY)."
These Republicans recognize the economic difference between raising revenue by raising marginal tax rates, and raising revenue by broadening the tax base by reducing subsidies built into the tax code. The first approach increases the size and influence of government; the second reduces it.
"For any Republican who feels the same way that Corker, Chambliss, Graham and King do, the common ground they share with the Obama administration on tax policy and deficit reduction is actually very large," Lim writes.
Both Republicans and Democrats, she says, "seem to like this general principle of substituting a broader base for lower rates, and even the particular combination of limits on itemized deductions paired with continued, low marginal tax rates for most Americans."
But it is not helpful, she adds, for Republicans and Democrats "to keep emphasizing the tax policies they would each choose to implement if they were 'king of the world' – for example, Democrats insisting that tax rates on the rich must come up to pre-2001 levels or even higher, while Republicans keep arguing for just the opposite."
External links:
Chambliss Edges Away From Norquist Anti-Tax Pledge
Washington Post Op-Ed on Fiscal Reform by Sen. Bob Corker


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The Real Story Of Benghazi – Dick Morris TV: Lunch Alert!
In this video commentary, I discuss the real story of Benghazi. Tune in!
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Parshat Vaera
G-d tells Moshe to inform the Jewish People that He is going to take them out of Egypt. However, the Jewish People do not listen. G-d commands Moshe to go to Pharaoh and ask him to free the Jewish People. Although Aharon shows Pharaoh a sign by turning a staff into a snake, Pharaoh's magicians copy the sign, emboldening Pharaoh to refuse the request. G-d punishes the Egyptians and sends plagues of blood and frogs, but the magicians copy these miracles on a smaller scale, again encouraging Pharaoh to be obstinate. After the plague of lice, Pharaoh's magicians concede that only G-d could be performing these miracles. Only the Egyptians, and not the Jews in Goshen, suffer during the plagues. The onslaught continues with wild animals, pestilence, boils and fiery hail. However, despite Moshe's offers to end the plagues if Pharaoh will let the Jewish People leave, Pharaoh continues to harden his heart and refuses.
Name Calling
"…but with My Name 'Hashem' I did not make Myself known to them…" (6:3)
I write this less than a month after the passing of our beloved Rosh Yeshiva Rav Mendel Weinbach, zatzal.
Of all the qualities that distinguished Rav Mendel none was stronger than his mesirut nefesh – self-sacrifice – for his students and his staff.
A case in point. Rabbi Mordechai Perlman relates that during the difficult birth of one of his children, Rav Mendel came to visit him in the hospital in the early hours of the morning. He saw that Rabbi Perlman was saying Tehillim in a desperate fashion. Rav Mendel said to him, "Mordechai, did you have breakfast yet?" Rabbi Perlman replied in the negative. Rav Mendel said, "Go and get some breakfast. You're saying Tehillim out of desperation – and that's not good. You go and get some breakfast and I'll carry on with the Tehillim." And so he did, until a beautiful new life entered the world.
A member of the Ohr Somayach staff could not get his daughter into one of the 'Ivy League' girls' schools in Jerusalem because they had no family or contacts to vouch for them. Despite numerous phone calls and the passing of months, the girl still had no school. The beginning of the semester came and went. Two days into the semester the girl was still sitting at home, sinking not-too-slowly into depression. On the morning of the third day, Rav Mendel appeared at the family's home and said to the girl, "Come, let's go to school." Together they went to the school that had rejected her and Rav Mendel sat her down in the classroom and proceeded to sit in the chair next to her and would not leave until the school agreed to take her.
Moshe Rabbeinu had ten names: Moshe, Yered, Chaver, Yekutiel, Avigdor, Avi Socho, Avi Zanuach, Tuvia, Shemaya, and Halevi. Of all these names the only one that G-d used was Moshe, the name he was given by Pharaoh's daughter, Batya.
Why, of all Moshe's names, did G-d use the one name given to Moshe by an Egyptian princess? What was so special about this name?
The name Moshe comes from the word meaning 'to be drawn', for Moshe was drawn from the water by Batya. When Batya took Moshe out of the river she was flouting her father's will. Pharaoh's order was to kill all the Jewish male babies to stifle their savior. By rescuing Moshe, Batya was putting her life in grave danger. Because Batya risked her life to save Moshe, that quality was embedded in Moshe's personality and in his soul. It was this quality of self-sacrifice that typified Moshe more than all his other qualities, and for this reason Moshe was the only name that G-d would call him.
This is what made Moshe the quintessential leader of the Jewish People. For more than any other trait, a leader of the Jewish People needs self-sacrifice to care and worry over each one of his flock.
Another question – but with the same answer:
Of all the places that Moshe's mother, Yocheved, could have chosen to hide Moshe, why did she choose the river? Why not in a tunnel? Why not hide him in a barn, or any of the other numerous possible hiding places? Why did Yocheved choose to hide Moshe in the river?
Yocheved hoped that by putting Moshe into the river, the astrological signs would show that the savior of the Jews had been cast into the Nile, and Pharaoh would abandon the massacre of the baby boys. Yocheved was right. The Egyptian astrologers told Pharaoh the Jewish savior had been dispatched into the Nileand Pharaoh ordered the killing of the first born male children to cease.
It was not an easy thing for Yocheved to put her son into a wicker basket and abandon him to the eddies of the Nile. Before she placed Moshe into the water, Yocheved made a little canopy over the basket and said in sadness, "Who knows if I will ever see my son's 'chupa' (marriage canopy)?" Certainly there were safer places for a baby than a makeshift basket adrift in a river.
However, Yocheved chose a hiding place that may have not been the safest because it meant that she could save the lives of other Jewish children.
From two sides of the same event the quality of self-sacrifice was instilled into Moshe. By his real mother when she put him into the river, and also by his adopted mother when she drew him out from the river. If any quality epitomizes the essence of leadership, it is the ability to forget oneself and give up everything for the good of the people.
And so it was with Rav Mendel, zatzal.
- Based on the Midrash Shemot Rabba 1:24, 1:29; Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, Rabbi C. Z. Senter


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My name is Teri Abellán López, I have been practicing nautic sports and boating since 1968. Since then I have been qualified as a multisports instructor, and also national specialty instructor in water skiing, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and jst skiing. From the beginning I loved sailing and navigating in general, and in some occasion I have also collaborated on sailboats races as jury and referee.
It was in 1984 when I decided to run Nàutic Sóller, a school for nautical sports based in the bay or Port Sóller. My main goal was already to provide my help and advice - from beginner to expert skipper - for navigating at sea and initiating anybody willing to set off to explore safely the numerous corners and hiden coves of the beautiful coastline of Tramuntana.
With your family or between friends, in a safe way and always concerned about the environment, Nàutic Sóller will enable you to reach and enjoy secluded coves and idyllic spots. An unforgettable experience along the northwest coast of Mallorca!


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My American friends always tell me how they love Ireland. But when I stayed in Chicago in the 1990s, they described an Ireland I never knew existed. On a recent visit back, it seemed that little has changed.
Maybe a little self-awareness and education about how the Irish really live might help.
1. We don't live in thatched cottages anymore -- get real. We're an urbanized society and have the same living standards as the rest of the world.
2. We don't say "faith" and "begorrah" or chase leprechauns -- Hollywood has infected the brains of too many Irish Americans. We don't believe in fairies, banshees, or leprechauns, unless it is for gullible Americans.
3. We don't drink all day and fight all night. Too many showings of The Quiet Man have pickled some Irish American brains. We like a drink but we rarely fight.
4. We don't hate the British any more. Sure we did once, but we're best friends for years now since the peace process, and the Queen's visit was totally popular.
5. We generally don't like American Republicans. We are much more comfortable with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and their nuanced international world view than cowboys like George Bush and Ronald Reagan -- sorry all you Tea Party Irish.
6. We don't really think you are Irish, the same way as us. If you are not born here then by our definition you are not Irish.
7. We don't really like "Danny Boy" and all the sentimental songs. Sure, they are fine for a late night sing song for Americans but we are fed up of them.
8. We often tell jokes about you, usually about the phony Irish accents and Aran sweaters
9. We don't know the Murphys from Cork or the Sullivans from Kerry, there are thousands of them.
10. We don't want to hear any more Irish drinking jokes -- they are pathetic and demeaning to us for the most part.
*James Farrell is an Irish writer now living in Dublin


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Back then, some top online casinos do no impose any wagering requirements, you can get the bonus for free and automatically added to your casino account. But some bonus hunters and abusive casino players are going to make a multiple accounts and claiming the bonus and later one they gonna withdraw without playing in any casino games.
As a result, online casino strictly implemented the wagering requirements for every bonuses you can claim to prevent the bonus hunter and for players to play with them. As wagering requirement is now the important deal when claiming the bonuses. For you to understand how the bonuses work, let's cite some example; if you have $100 bonus of a $100 deposit you make and with a 20X wagering requirement, you have to bet for a bout $2,000 before you can withdraw.
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Casino is an efficiently writer of PlayCasino and Hollywood Celebrity Betting. Guiding you through the extensive world of online casino and how to get the best of it for your entertainment at online casino, celebrity poker players and more!


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Jimmie Allen's Wedding Is Next Month, and His Fiancee Made Him Redesign His Suit
Even though Jimmie Allen and his fiancee, Alexis Gale, are one month out from their wedding day, Gale made a major request that he couldn't say no to.
In an interview with Taste of Country Nights, Allen reveals that all the details are finalized for their May wedding — except for his suit. Allen, who designs all of his own awards show outfits, was ahead of the curve and had his wedding suit designed a year in advance; however, his soon-to-be-wife requested that he redesign it a month before the wedding.
"I designed a suit for the wedding and I had it last year and she told me a couple days ago, 'We still realize you need to get another suit,'" Allen explains. "I said, 'Did I pick your dress out? What if you show up in some funky dress and I don't like the dress you wear?'"
Allen ultimately gave in to her wishes, calling his best friend who is a stylist and sketching out a new suit design that he will walk down the aisle in. He's also making a matching suit for his 6-year-old son Aadyn, who will serve as the most adorable surrogate best man alongside Allen's best friend from college, Jermaine, who will be the official best man.
Allen and Gale got engaged during a trip to Disney World in 2019. The couple welcomed their daughter Naomi in March of 2020, just as his single "Make Me Want To" topped the charts and became his second consecutive No. 1 hit following "Best Shot."


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This week the primary season brings us to two very different states, each of which are a source of creative inspiration but in very different ways. The first of these states we will visit is Arizona.
We begin where we left of in Colorado. From Four Corners, we head west on US 160 through the Navajo Nation. The dry landscape is punctuated by red rock formations such as Baby Rocks, which can be seen along the highway.
[By Reinhard Schön (original photograph) and Andreas F. Borchert (postprocessing) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]
The shapes and textures of the rock formations and the sparseness of the landscape are what attract me to the southwest. The unique combinations of climate, water and rock composition lead to this landscape, and individual varieties of rock (many of which are different types of sandstone) lead to the distinctive shapes in different locations. Sometimes the most interesting can simply be found on the side of the road. But that does not detract from the many iconic parks in this state. Indeed, if we continue on US 160 west to its terminus at US 89, and then further west along State Highway 64, we come to the most iconic of all, the Grand Canyon.
[By Tobias Alt (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons]
It's quite hard to summarize the Grand Canyon in such a brief article, but to say that it is most defined by its vast size. One is not simply looking at a large rock formation, but an entire carved landscape that extends in all directions. The space left by the canyon is big enough to support the same atmospheric effects as the sky itself, such as the refraction that leads to a blue tint in the space. Sadly, this also makes it a magnet for air pollution. The scale also means that from a distance one sees the rough surface and curved lines of the overall topography, but not as many distinctive formations like the Baby Rocks described above. To see such details of the Grand Canyon, one must travel to the far sections of the rim or descend into the depths.
[Photo by Al_HikesAZ on flickr. (CC BY-NC 2.0)]
[Photo by Al_HikesAZ on flickr. (CC BY-NC 2.0)]
For many, places such as this are as much about recreation (rafting, hiking, climbing), but for me the interest in going back sometime soon is primarily about the visual landscape, touching feeling and breathing the desert air, and hearing both the sounds and the silences.
We head south from the Grand Canyon on US 180 to I-40 near Flagstaff. We take I-40 east to another of Arizona's iconic locations, the Petrified Forest National Park. The eponymous petrified trees were created by combination of trees and minerals that were deposited over long periods of time and the gradual replacement of the organic matter with minerals. The relatively soft and easily eroded sandstone have left a surprisingly large number of these artifacts in one location. The extreme erosion patterns of the area also gave rise to the colorful formations of the Painted Desert.
[By User:Moondigger (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons]
By Finetooth (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
Leaving the park, we turn back west on I-40 to Flagstaff, and then head southward on I-17 towards the Phoenix metropolitan area and a very different Arizona. But along the way, we pass by Arcosanti, an experimental town and "urban laboratory" that began construction is 1970. It was started by architect Paolo Soleri to experiment with ways of developing urban environments that minimized the impact on the natural environment. The architecture of Arcosanti is quite unique.
[By Cody from Phoenix, AZ (arcosanti western half) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons]
In addition to being an experimental project itself, it hosts a variety of events (including the annual Different Skies Music Festival).
[By Cody from Phoenix, AZ (arcosanti apse) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons]
And it's on to Phoenix. It's hard to conceptualize that in the middle of the desert is one of the largest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Yet there it is. The recent rapid growth of Phoenix and the entire "Valley of the Sun" and the relatively flat terrain have led to some rather impressive highway interchanges.
The rather complex tangle above is the interchange of I-10 (the Papago Freeway coming from downtown Phoenix), Arizona Loop 202 and Arizona State Highway 51, which is supposedly the busiest interchange in the state. A more elegant one (which I have in fact seen in a museum piece) can be found further east where AZ 202 meets US 60.
The lines and curves complement the desert terrain (disregarding the subdivisions for the moment). Indeed, the structures themselves have a reddish color reminiscent of the desert landscape.
Traveling up Arizona Loop 101 to Scottsdale in the northeast corner of the metropolitan are, one finds Taliesin West, the winter home and school of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright designed this home to reflect "Arizona's long, low, sweeping lines, uptilting planes", aspects of the natural landscape which we have explored in this article.
[I, Gobeirne [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons]
In ways, his goals predate and inform the work that continues at Arcosonti, although the latter has more of an urban focus.
Heading south and east on I-10, we come to Tucson and a very different but still quintessentially "Arizonan" landscape. Here the most distinctive features are not the rocks but the vegetation, especially the saguaro cactus. Like the Grand Canyon, the saguaro is a symbol of the state, and of the best preserved tracts of these and other cacti can be found in Saguaro National Park west of Tucson.
[By Saguaro Pictures (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]
Heading back west on I-10, we switch to I-8 through the southwest corner of this southwestern state. We turn south on State Highway 85 through relatively empty but rocky landscape. Highway 85 intersects with 86 at the small town of Why, named for the "Y" shape of the original intersection of the two highways. Because Arizona law required location names to have at least three letters, the name "Why" was used instead of "Y". Continuing south on 85, we eventually reach Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
[By Pretzelpaws at en.wikipedia [GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons]
Although this park is named for the organ pipe cactus (shown above), it contains many of the other varieties found in southern Arizona, such as the saguaro. However, the converse is not true. The organ pipe cactus only grows wild here. I visited in the winter of 2004-2005 and found this park to be quite sparse and peaceful. The landscape does not really have many of the monumental rock formations further north, but it does have interesting hillsides covered with rough crumbling stone and frequently punctuated by the cacti.
And I think the final desert sunset is an appropriate way to conclude this article. I of course know there is much more to consider in Arizona, and welcome thoughts and ideas from others as comments.


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Cybersecurity researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have helped close a security vulnerability that could have allowed hackers to steal encryption keys from a popular security package by briefly listening in on unintended "side channel" signals from smartphones.
The attack, which was reported to software developers before it was publicized, took advantage of programming that was, ironically, designed to provide better security. The attack used intercepted electromagnetic signals from the phones that could have been analyzed using a small portable device costing less than a thousand dollars. Unlike earlier intercept attempts that required analyzing many logins, the "One & Done" attack was carried out by eavesdropping on just one decryption cycle.
"This is something that could be done at an airport to steal people's information without arousing suspicion and makes the so-called 'coffee shop attack' much more realistic," said Milos Prvulovic, associate chair of Georgia Tech's School of Computer Science. "The designers of encryption software now have another issue that they need to take into account because continuous snooping over long periods of time would no longer be required to steal this information."
The side channel attack is believed to be the first to retrieve the secret exponent of an encryption key in a modern version of OpenSSL without relying on the cache organization and/or timing. OpenSSL is a popular encryption program used for secure interactions on websites and for signature authentication. The attack showed that a single recording of a cryptography key trace was sufficient to break 2048 bits of a private RSA key.
Results of the research, which was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will be presented at the 27th USENIX Security Symposium August 16th in Baltimore.
After successfully attacking the phones and an embedded system board – which all used ARM processors – the researchers proposed a fix for the vulnerability, which was adopted in versions of the software made available in May.
Side channel attacks extract sensitive information from signals created by electronic activity within computing devices during normal operation. The signals include electromagnetic emanations created by current flows within the devices computational and power-delivery circuitry, variation in power consumption, and also sound, temperature and chassis potential variation. These emanations are very different from communications signals the devices are designed to produce.
In their demonstration, Prvulovic and collaborator Alenka Zajic listened in on two different Android phones using probes located near, but not touching the devices. In a real attack, signals could be received from phones or other mobile devices by antennas located beneath tables or hidden in nearby furniture.
The "One & Done" attack analyzed signals in a relatively narrow (40 MHz wide) band around the phones' processor clock frequencies, which are close to 1 GHz (1,000 MHz). The researchers took advantage of a uniformity in programming that had been designed to overcome earlier vulnerabilities involving variations in how the programs operate.
"Any variation is essentially leaking information about what the program is doing, but the constancy allowed us to pinpoint where we needed to look," said Prvulovic. "Once we got the attack to work, we were able to suggest a fix for it fairly quickly. Programmers need to understand that portions of the code that are working on secret bits need to be written in a very particular way to avoid having them leak."
The researchers are now looking at other software that may have similar vulnerabilities, and expect to develop a program that would allow automated analysis of security vulnerabilities.
"Our goal is to automate this process so it can be used on any code," said Zajic, an associate professor in Georgia Tech's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "We'd like to be able to identify portions of code that could be leaky and require a fix. Right now, finding these portions requires considerable expertise and manual examination."
Side channel attacks are still relatively rare, but Prvulovic says the success of "One & Done" demonstrates an unexpected vulnerability. The availability of low-cost signal processing devices small enough to use in coffee shops or airports could make the attacks more practical.
"We now have relatively cheap and compact devices – smaller than a USB drive – that are capable of analyzing these signals," said Prvulovic. "Ten years ago, the analysis of this signal would have taken days. Now it takes just seconds, and can be done anywhere – not just in a lab setting."
Producers of mobile devices are becoming more aware of the need to protect electromagnetic signals of phones, tablets and laptops from interception by shielding their side channel emissions. Improving the software running on the devices is also important, but Prvulovic suggests that users of mobile devices must also play a security role.
"This is something that needs to be addressed at all levels," he said. "A combination of factors – better hardware, better software and cautious computer hygiene – make you safer. You should not be paranoid about using your devices in public locations, but you should be cautious about accessing banking systems or plugging your device into unprotected USB chargers."