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HHS has compiled a listing of Presidential actions, executive orders, and memos related to Open Government for your reference.
The President's Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government
The President's first executive action, the Open Government Memorandum calls for more transparent, participatory, and collaborative government.
The Directive hardwires accountability, instructing every agency to open its doors and data to the American people.
Sharing Data While Protecting Privacy
The purpose of this Memorandum is to direct agencies to find solutions that allow data sharing to move forward in a manner that complies with applicable privacy laws, regulations, and policies.
Federal agencies are required to use "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use." Clear writing is essential to open government for transparency, public participation, and collaboration.
Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review
This executive order ensures that our regulatory system must allow for public participation and an open exchange of ideas, and that regulations are accessible, consistent, written in plain language, and easy to understand.
Improving records management will improve performance and promote openness and accountability by better documenting agency actions and decisions.
Guidance on Implementing the Plain Writing Act of 2010
This memorandum provides final guidance on implementing the Act and is designed to promote the goals of the President's Open Government Initiative.
Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research
John P. Holdren, Director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, issued this memorandum directing federal research funding agencies with R&D budgets of $100 million or more to develop a plan within six months to support increased public access to the results of research funded by the federal Government.
Making Open and Machine Readable the New Default for Government Information
To promote continued job growth, Government efficiency, and the social good that can be gained from opening Government data to the public, the default state of new and modernized Government information resources shall be open and machine readable.
Open Data Policy - Managing Information as an Asset
Agencies and departments are now required to collect and create information in a way that supports downstream processing and sharing, through the use of machine-readable and open formats, data standards, and common core and extensible metadata.
Next Steps in the Evidence and Innovation Agenda
This memo stresses the application of existing evidence as paramount to creating a government that is more responsive to the needs of its citizens. This memo offers suggestions to help agencies advance their evidence and evaluation practices.
2014 Agency Open Government Plans
This memorandum provides guidance to agencies as they update their Open Government Plans for 2014.
Guidance for Providing and Using Administrative Data for Statistical Purposes
Advice to agencies on how to share non-public administrative data for statistical purposes in responsible ways that protect confidentiality.


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Today, it's one of the most peaceful locations in the city. The gardens are beautifully landscaped and connected by long, low archways that are remnant of the Qing Dynasty's architecture. There are ponds, waterfalls, dragonflies; everything you might associate with traditional Chinese gardens.
But just less than two decades ago, the same soil was the foundation to a very different environment; a lawless territory that was born out of Hong Kong's identity crisis and foreign occupation. A 6.5 acre plot of land that was home to nearly 33,000 people and a collection of brothels, opium dens, casinos, cocaine parlors, and secret factories. Kowloon Walled City, or Hak Nam…the City of Darkness.
Beyond that, there was no governing body or police force; it was run by drug lords, organized crime syndicates, and unlicensed dentists that held practice in cramped apartment spaces.
The city started as a fort in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), to help defend against pirates and protect locally produced salt. The fort played a minor role in Hong Kong's existence until additional land in Hong Kong was handed to Britain in 1898. The Chinese excluded the Walled City from the treaty, with the intention to keep troops stationed in the fort.
However, when the British attacked the fort a year later, they found that the Chinese soldiers had deserted the fort, and thus claimed ownership of the land. The British left the city mostly intact until 1933, when they demolished nearly all of the buildings and compensated the 436 squatters that were evicted by giving them new homes.
With the events of World War II, and Japan's 3 year and eight month occupation of Hong Kong, Japanese immigrants began to occupy the Walled City. Even after Japan's surrender, the new residents resisted attempts by Britain to reclaim the city. Because of the 1898 treaty, the Hong Kong Police had no right to enter the grounds, and mainland China denied any responsibility to the area.
With both governments avoiding sovereignty of the area, an organized crime syndicate known as the Triads stepped in to rule the tract. As the Triads were overthrown from the city by a series of 3,000 police raids, the city plunged into lawlessness. It began to grown into a monolithic web of illegal activity, because it could go unregulated and unchecked. Slowly, modifications to the buildings were made by inexperienced construction workers, with no supervision from architects or engineers – further complicating the dense network of dwellings.
The Hong Kong government supplied basic services such as mail delivery and water piping, but applied a "hands off" policy to the rest of the dealings in the city. Oddly enough, the reported crime rate was lower than that of the rest of Hong Kong. However, the sanitary conditions were far inferior and poor living conditions eventually led to the Chinese and British governments agreeing to demolish the city and construct a park in its place.
The government spent 2.7 billion HKD to compensate nearly 33,000 residents and business that were located in the city. Evictions took place from 1991 to 1992, and in 1993, the city was demolished. The construction of the park began soon after, and was opened to the public in 1995.
Today, the center of the park is occupied by a beautiful restoration of the city's Yamen, where the main bureaucrat would live and work in ancient Chinese towns. There are several interactive pieces about the history of the City, and preservations of the original wall & South Gate.
As I walk the carefully pebbled paths through the gardens, I'm struck by how easily the chaos and lawlessness of the Walled City have been erased from the face of Hong Kong. I can't help but think of the Chungking Mansions, and its similar reputation for unlawful activity. I fear that a hub of culture and diversity like the Mansions might suffer the same fate as the Walled City in an effort to "clean up" and develop the Tsim Sha Tsui shore.
With that thought, I exit the park and hop on the MTR, destined for the Chungking Mansions to get my weekly fix of vindaloo curry.

subset: commoncrawl


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We've always found the comment moderation/management a bit weak (no wonder so many people are using the Disqus crutch). Our plugin Thoughtful Comments supercharges comment moderation by moving it into the front end (i.e. in context). It also allows banning by IP, email address or domain.
Unlike many comment plugins, Thoughtful Comments works hand in hand with Akismet, feeding all the information into Akismet as well as the existing WordPress whitelist and blacklist features.
What's cool about Thoughtful Comments is that you can add it to a WordPress site with no changes to existing comment moderation tables and you can remove it from a WordPress site with no loss of core functionality. I.e. I think Thoughtful Comments could be integrated into core with a minimum amount of pain. Thoughtful Comments works with all current Subscribe to Comment plugins as well. As we use all core functions and tables, Thoughtful Comments works with all current Subscribe to Comment plugins as well.
Thoughtful Comments is the most powerful and useful code we've ever written (we have four very popular plugins). It's integration into core would save many, many site owners the pain of Disqus.
Thoughtful Comments is entirely stable and active on some of the most heavily commented political and lifestyle sites in the world.
While Automattic has a horse in the ring (Intense Debate), we'd really like to see Thoughtful Comments included in core.
- Front-end comment moderation – for logged in users with required permission
- Unapproved comments shown in front-end – for logged in users with required permission
- Per-user moderation settings
- Comment caching – lightening PHP load and speeding up busy sites significantly – works with any WP cache plugin!
Support | Change Log | Installation | Usage
Theme compatibility
If you want to get the most correct display when deleting a comment and preserving it's replies, you need to use a theme which is using "cascade" display of the comments instead of "nested" display.
Thoughtful Comments assumes that each comment is contained in some HTML element with unique ID which is containing the comment ID, so it works with most of the themes.
Also, commenter name should not be in cite tag, so that the HTML highlight will appear properly and not as readable HTML (similar to code tag).
Just copy the plugin directory into your WordPress plugins directory (usually wp-content/plugins) and activate it in WordPress admin panel.
You can modify the CSS file in the plugin (/wp-content/plugins/thoughtful-comments/css/frontend.css) to change the styling of plugin action links and the highlights.
Συχνές Ερωτήσεις
Συνεισφέροντες & Προγραμματιστές
"FV Thoughtful Comments" είναι λογισμικό ανοιχτού κώδικα. Οι παρακάτω έχουν συνεισφέρει στη δημιουργία του.
ΣυντελεστέςΜεταφράστε το "FV Thoughtful Comments" στην γλώσσα σας.
Ενδιαφέρεστε για την ανάπτυξη;
Περιηγηθείτε στον κώδικα, ανατρέξτε στο αποθετήριο SVN ή εγγραφείτε στο αρχείο καταγραφής αλλαγών ανάπτυξης μέσω RSS .
Σύνοψη αλλαγών
- Fix "Reply link" function to disable HTML anchors for each comment reply for WordPress 5.1 and above
- Fix for PHP warnings in WordPress 5.5
- Fix for broken pending comment highlight in front-end in TwentyTwenty theme
- Fix for PHP warnings in WordPress 5.3
- Hiding cache file paths
- Link shortening improvements – shorten to "link to domains.com", 50 or 100 characters.
- performance improvements – fv_tc::comment_has_child() not used for front end, the thread buttons visibility is instead handled by JavaScript
- comment caching added – enable in plugin settings and gain considerably faster post load times for posts with high number of comments
- fix for comments going into moderation on websites with moderation disabled – caused by the permission check during the comment validation
- fixed frontend moderation for editor and author roles
- fix for broken "Trash and Ban IP" in wp-admin
- added auto-approving functionality for users, which have N comments already approved
- added possibility to change user nicename for administrator
- changed layout of admin screen
- removing comment-page-1 from comment links as it's not needed http://www.blindfiveyearold.com/wordpress-duplicate-content
- fix "Delete comment and Ban IP" button also report comment as spam if Akismet plugin is activated
- fix for unapproved commenter name in comment_author() template tag
- fix for plugin admin JS failing on some sites (uses simple current_user_can moderate_comments check)
- added support for translations
- improved AJAX handling (uses admin-ajax)
- link directly to new comment in comment notifications
- added plugin options page with two options: Link shortening and Reply link
- bugfix – check if plugin supporting class exists
- fix for Thesis (our links were not appearing bellow comments)
- unapproved comment count hilight bugfix
- bug fix of admin js
- more features coming in 0.3!
- better operation with trashed comments and parent – child comment relations (will preserve this relation even when restoring a trashed comment)
- fixed bug in unapproved comment hilight
- Minor bug fix
- Performance fix
- Better support for author user level
- Αρχική έκδοση


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9kmoviess.info is best website/platform for bollywood and hollywood full movies. Here we share various filesharing sites links for one movie in many quality like bluray, hdrip, brrip, web-dl etc.
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Ferrum to observe its 100th anniversary
Ferrum College will mark its 100th anniversary this weekend.
The Centennial and Homecoming festivities scheduled Friday through Sunday will recognize two former college presidents and the families of others, including the great-grandsons of Ferrum's founding president, Benjamin Beckham.
The celebration will include concerts, picnics, fireworks, a parade, exhibits, athletic events, a 5-K run/walk and a theater performance.
Joe Hart, the college's eighth president, and Ferrum's President Emeritus Jerry Boone, are scheduled to attend the event. The school's current president is Jennifer Braaten.
The first president, Beckham, was known for traveling the region recruiting donors and students in a Model T Ford. A similar Model T, donated to the college by Lanier Frantz, will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit observing the college's centennial at the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum.
Ferrum, located in the village of Ferrum in Franklin County, is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college with ties to the United Methodist Church. It has an enrollment of about 1,500 students


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Peta certified, vegan and Cruelty free, powder for dipping and acrylic.
This product is perfect for decor, with strong and pure pigments.
When dipped, the product lasts up to 3 weeks and is easy to remove.
Very gentle on the nails.
With acrylic and monomer, the product lasts even longer.


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Fiscal cliff: Republicans on wrong track if they help Obama raise taxes on the rich
| College Park, Md.
Higher taxes won't much improve Washington's finances and would likely wreck the economy. But as fiscal cliff talks intensify, a small group of Republican senators are prepared to help President Obama make the rich pay more – the facts notwithstanding.
Federal deficits are out of control – averaging $1.3 trillion over the last four years – but those are not the product of reckless Bush administration policies that must now be reversed, as Democrats relentlessly argue.
In 2007, the last year before the financial crisis, the deficit was only $161 billion – with the Bush tax cuts and the prescription drug plan for seniors in place and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq at full tilt.
The economy has achieved some recovery – GDP is up about $1.8 trillion from pre-recession levels. But tax revenues are down and spending in 2013 will be up a whopping $1 trillion from fiscal year 2007.
To accelerate recovery, Mr. Obama and Congress temporarily cut payroll taxes by two percentage points and enhanced some other credits and deductions in the tax code. Letting those expire on Jan. 1 would slice some $214 billion off the deficit.
Of the additional spending since the start of the financial crisis, only $360 billion was needed to accommodate inflation. More than $666 billion is new spending, originally promoted as "temporary" to deal with the recession, but now settling in to become permanent.
Merely letting the payroll tax reduction and other temporary provisions championed by Obama lapse on Jan. 1 and returning federal spending to pre-recession levels would erase nearly $900 billion from the deficit. The Bush tax cuts need not be touched, at least not to solve today's deficits.
The real problems are two-fold. Republicans such as Senators Saxby Chambliss, Lamar Alexander, and Lindsey Graham, who are prepared to validate Obama's spending spree by increasing tax revenue, would like their constituents to believe they are fiscal conservatives, when it seems they really have no stomach to curb spending the nation can't afford.
The nation has become dependent on big deficits to sustain even modest economic growth and keep unemployment from surging above 8 percent, because the Obama administration and Congress have not adequately addressed the structural problems that caused the recession and are now holding back growth:
- Unnecessary constraints on petroleum development in the Gulf of Mexico, off the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and in Alaska keep the nation woefully dependent on oil imports, despite an increase in onshore petroleum production in the lower 48 states.
- The US has competitiveness problems with China and other Asian juggernauts.
- The dysfunctions on Wall Street continue to starve small- and medium-sized businesses of the credit they need to expand.
Obama's solution includes hiking taxes on the rich. But raising taxes on the wealthy by about $160 billion a year would hardly dent the deficit. And pushing up federal and state taxes paid by many small- and mid-sized businesses well above the 50 percent that many of them pay now would greatly impair jobs creation.
Ultimately, in negotiations to avert the fiscal cliff, conservative members of the GOP in the House will extract at least an equal amount of spending cuts as they cede in revenue increases. But cutting the deficit without other policies to boost growth will likely thrust the economy into a second recession. Tax receipts would then fall, and spending on programs like unemployment insurance and Medicaid would increase further – hardly a prescription for progress on the budget or jobs.
What Obama and his new friends among the GOP need to understand is that the answer to the debt crisis is fostering private sector growth – by developing more domestic oil resources, attacking Chinese mercantilism head on, and requiring Wall Street's big banks to provide more credit to smaller and medium sized businesses and the community banks that service them.
This is the only real path to getting the country out of debt. Raising taxes on the rich is not the answer.
Peter Morici is an economist and professor at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, and a widely published columnist. Follow him on Twitter @pmorici1.


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In addition to announcing their freakishly tiny cinema camera, Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Production Camera 4K, a new high resolution 4K digital film camera with an innovative large Super 35 size sensor with professional global shutter, combined with precision EF mount optics and high quality Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) file recording for $3,995.
"The latest high end televisions and video projectors support Ultra HD, which is four times the resolution of regular HD video. The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K shoots to high quality compressed CinemaDNG RAW and ProRes 422 (HQ) files in 4K, giving customers a complete solution to shoot the most amazing high resolution music videos, episodic television production, television commercials, sports, documentaries, news stories, interviews and feature films.
"The new Blackmagic Production Camera 4K also supports the new 6G-SDI video connection out so it can be used on live video production.
"Blackmagic Production Camera 4K has been designed with portability and durability in mind. With standard connections and an internal battery packed inside a beautiful machined aluminum design, the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K will easily handle the rigors of location work. A high resolution LCD display shows settings such as shutter speed, color temperature, aperture and timecode in an easy to read status strip. The built in capacitive touchscreen offers direct access to menus with a touch of the finger and allows changing settings such as recording format, shutter angle and more. The touchscreen also allows users to enter important metadata that is compatible with popular video editing software including Final Cut Pro X.
"With a large Super 35 size sensor, cinematographers get familiar framing and behavior from the lenses they already own. This camera sensor features a global shutter and its large size allows minimal crop factor so cinematographers get nice wide angle shots from their wide angle lenses. When working in HD customers can use the high resolution images to reframe and zoom into shots without any quality loss.
"With the built in EF compatible lens mount there is a wide choice of optics to take advantage of the large Super 35 size sensor without cropping. Cinematographers get the choice of the world's most amazing optics from leading lens crafters like Canon, Zeiss and more, with full electronic control. The EF compatible lens mount means customers are not locked into a specific lens and even professional cinema lenses with EF mount with professional rails and follow focus accessories can be used.
"The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K easily captures 4K in compressed CinemaDNG RAW and ProRes 422 (HQ) using the built in high speed SSD recorder. Once the shoot has wrapped, the disk can be connected to a computer for editing or color correction of the shots straight from the disk, which can be formatted in either HFS+ or ExFAT for Mac and Windows compatibility. In addition to the regular CinemaDNG RAW format, Blackmagic Design will also implement a QuickTime wrapper for the open standard CinemaDNG and companion codec, allowing the camera to record in a format that allows RAW editing in popular editing software.
"The wide dynamic range of the Super 35 sized sensor can be mapped into the quantizing range of the file so you can color grade shots to allow greater detail in highlights and shadows. When working fast, the customer can also record to regular Rec. 709 video files.
"Blackmagic Production Camera 4K uses standard connections, so customers do not need to worry about sourcing custom cables. The camera features 6G-SDI output that can be down-converted to HD or used for amazing quality Ultra HD video. In addition, the device includes a built-in Thunderbolt port and UltraScope software for real time waveform monitoring. For audio you get 1/4" jack mic/line inputs plus 12V to 30V DC input, a 3.5mm headphone socket and LANC remote control. And with a built-in uncompressed audio recorder you can eliminate post audio synching altogether."
Blackmagic Production Camera 4K Key Features
- Large high resolution 4K Super 35 mm sized sensor with superior handing of image detail.
- Professional global shutter for smooth pans and image motion.
- Wide 12 stops of dynamic range allows capture of increased details for feature film look.
- Compatible with extremely high quality EF mount lenses.
- Built in SSD recorder allows long duration recording onto solid state disks.
- Open file formats compatible with popular NLE software, such as Apple ProRes and compressed CinemaDNG 12 bit RAW. No custom file formats.
- Features all standard connections, including jack mic/line audio in, 6G-SDI output for monitoring with camera status graphic overlay, headphone mini jack, Thunderbolt, LANC remote control and standard DC 12 power connection.
- Built in touch screen LCD for camera settings and metadata entry compatible with popular video editing software including Final Cut Pro X.
- Supports Ultra HD and 1080HD resolution capture in 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 fps.
- Includes UltraScope software for live scopes via the built in Thunderbolt connection.
- Includes DaVinci Resolve color grading software.
Availability and Price
Blackmagic Production Camera 4K will be available in July for $3,995.
[Via Blackmagic]


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A radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a cancerous prostate and certain surrounding tissue. The surgery may be performed as an open surgery or by robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery is one of the latest advancements in minimally invasive treatment options for prostate cancer. The da Vinci Surgical System used at NorthShore allows surgeons to perform a prostatectomy using dime-sized incisions. For most patients, this minimally invasive approach results in significantly less pain, less blood loss, shorter recovery periods and a quicker return to normal daily activities.
The da Vinci Surgical System consists of an ergonomically designed console at which the surgeon sits, a mobile patient-side cart with four interactive robotic arms, a high-resolution 3D vision system and robotically wristed instrumentation. The System is designed to seamlessly translate the surgeon's hand movements into corresponding micro-movements of the miniaturized instruments positioned inside the patient. The instruments have more range of motion than the human hand, and a 3D camera delivers a highly magnified view of the operative field, enabling the surgeon to perform delicate tissue dissection and suture with added precision, even in confined spaces.


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Mosenergo to expand commercial metering solution from Landis+Gyr
The AMM solution initially provided by Landis+Gyr includes system software, metering and communication devices. The solution consists of best-in-class grid meters for precise measurement as well as Landis+Gyr's Gridstream Converge for data processing. The goal was to automate measurement processes, validate and substitute data, and calculate the company's energy balance. To achieve this, data from 3,000 meters is acquired every three minutes and distributed to several third party systems from Mosenergo.
The implementation of the AMM solution was a key step to help Mosenergo detect where and how much energy is flowing, automate business processes to work on the wholesale market and simplify customer energy calculations. Due to the project's success, Mosenergo has planned to extend the solution further by adding new power generation stations to it as well as smart gas meters.
"Mosenergo is a true leader in energy efficiency in Russia and we are honoured to help them build up the country's smart metering infrastructure. By improving data management, the company can enhance energy efficiency and customer relations," says Andreas Brun Senior Vice President of Landis+Gyr.
Mosenergo is a distributed power generation company which has 19 substations situated in Moscow and the Moscow region and generates more than 60 billion kWh per year.
About Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr is the leading provider of integrated energy management solutions tailored to energy company needs. With a global presence and a reputation for quality and innovation, Landis+Gyr is unique in its ability to deliver true end-to-end advanced metering solutions. Today, the Company offers the broadest portfolio of products and services in the electricity metering industry, and is paving the way for the next generation of smart grid. With annualized sales of more than US$1.25 billion, Landis+Gyr operates in 30 countries across five continents, and employs over 5,000 people with the sole mission of helping the world manage energy better. For more information please see: www.landisgyr.eu
About Mosenergo:
Mosenergo is currently the largest generating company operating on fossil fuel. Its power plants of have electricity capacity of 10,600 MW and thermal capacity of 39,000 MW. Mosenergo is the largest thermal generation company in the world. For more information about Mosenegro please visit: www.mosenergo.ru
For more information please contact:
Stefan Rose, Landis+Gyr
Tel: +41 41 935 6605
Email: email@example.com


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If you could choose one person to work out with, who would it be and why?
I realize that this is kinda impossible, but if I could choose anybody it would be Michael Jackson. He could teach me how to dance, because that's one of the many things I'm not good at. And I could help him learn how to squat properly, as I always think he lifts his heels too much when he does.
What's your favorite workout routine?
I love any High-Intensity Interval Training. When it comes to favorites I can't decide between LES MILLS GRIT™ and LES MILLS SPRINT™, they are both cool for different reasons. I also love going for runs in the outdoors.
What does a cheat day look like for you?
When it comes to treats I don't really like the sweet stuff – in fact, when I go out for dinner I always skip desserts to add some extra meat! But I love potato chips like Pringles. I used to collect the cans when I was 16, but then by about the age of 17 I realized it was ridiculous.
If you had to choose your last meal, what would it be?
Boerenkool met worst, without a doubt. It's a typical Dutch meal where you mix kale, with potatoes and bacon. It's sooo good!
How do you relax, de-stress and chill out?
Well, in general, I don't think I do that very well! I always like to be doing stuff. But, on the rare occasions when I do take time out I like to watch series like The Walking Dead or hang with friends.
If you could change one thing about your appearance, what would it be?
When I was young I always wanted to be taller. But now I don't really care about that anymore as I've learned to jump high.
What characteristic do you most admire in other people?
I always admire people who are purposefully doing good and being kind to others. I think a lot of negative stuff is happening in the world every day, and we need people (lots of people) who lift other people up instead of bringing people down. That's why I think that being a Les Mills instructor is such a positive thing. We inject people with a positive vibe, healthy lifestyle and some really good music.
Name the last book you read, the last movie you watched, and the track you currently have on high rotate.
Book: Talk like TED by Carmine Gallo (to help me with my presentations).
Movie: War For The Planet Of The Apes (although watching this doesn't really match my last answer).
Track: Rollin by Calvin Harris (I heard it and loved it during BODYJAM in Amsterdam).
What social media can't you live without? Do you have any favorite feeds?
That has to be YouTube as I love to make videos – check out my channel, hit that thumbs-up button and don't forget to subscribe. YouTube is such a cool platform because it's where you find so many creative people doing some really cool stuff. I mainly watch the tech-channels with all the new gadgets #nerd-life.
If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?
I am already able to cook 1-minute rice in 58 seconds. So what other superpowers could I wish for?
What's the best non-physical thing about staying in shape?
Just feeling good. I love that feeling you get after a morning workout, you just feel ready for the day. I think that being fit gives you a big "buffer" to be able to handle everyday life better!
Who should play you in the movie based on your life?
Wait … What ...? Who thought this would make a good question
Bas Hollander is the Les Mills Japan Training Manager and a Les Mills International Master Trainer, which means he often travels the world inspiring and educating other instructors. He also has a key role in the creation of Les Mills' BORN TO MOVE children's programming.
Follow the freshest thinking @fitplanetmag.


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Snow Plows
We carry all latest models of snow removal equipment from Western, BOSS and SnowDogg. We have a large supply of repair and maintenance parts from Meyers and Fisher. Click for More Information.
Salt Spreaders
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Whether you have a simple salt application or service your customers, we have the product for you. We offer a line of ice melt and calcium chloride for your winter needs. Click for more information.
Parts & Service
Look to Burke Landscape Supply to provide you with OEM replacement parts form WESTERN, BOSS, SaltDogg, SnowDogg, Fisher and Meyer. We service and repair all manufacturers. Click for More Information.
We Have Your Materials Glenn Riddle 19063
After you remove the snow, treat the ground to prevent refreezing Glenn Riddle 19063 with Road Salt. At Burke Landscape Supply we have Road Salt in stock to help prevent refreeze. Burke Landscape Supply has great pricing on calcium chloride, bag salt, bulk salt, pellets, and sidewalk blends Glenn Riddle 19063. We offer your salt & de-icing materials in 50lb Bags or by the pallet at our Trainer and Clifton Heights locations.
Call us for Road Salt at our Trainer location at 610-494-9600.
For More Details About the Products We Carry, See Below
Calcium Chloride – Excel 50 Calcium Chloride Pellets melt ice and snow much faster than typical rock salt or blended melters. We offer 50lb bags of calcium cholride individually or by the pallet.
Bag Salt – The Old Salt – Halite Salt Crystals are rock salt. Halite rock salt is the naturally occurring mineral form of sodium chloride. It is often used in commercial and residential locations. We offer 50lb bags of bag salt individually or by the pallet.
Bulk Salt – Come pick up your bulk salt at our Trainer yard Glenn Riddle 19063. If you prefer, have us deliver bulk salt to your commercial or residential location. Call our Trainer yard at 610-494-9600 for more information Glenn Riddle 19063.
Many people ask, is there a difference between halite and rock salt? The simple answer is halite is a mineral, rock salt is a rock. It's like the difference between quartz and quartzite. Also, while halite is sodium chloride, rock salt can have any number of other salts present in it.
Calcium Chloride Pellets – Effective at cold temperatures down to -25F. We offer 50lb bags of calcium chloride pellets individually or by the pallet.
Sidewalk Deicer Blends – Sidewalk deicer blends combine the properties of multiple ice melter chemicals. We offer 50lb bags of sidewalk deicer blends individually or by the pallet.
De-Icer Precautions
- Do not over apply, follow instructions on the label.
- Clear snow first. Do not try to melt everything.
- Wear gloves. Ice melts are an irritant.
- Do not use on new concrete that has not fully cured.
- All products have some effect on the environment. Flush area with water if over-use is suspected or if damage appears on plants.
Visit Us at Our Two Convenient Locations for Magnesium
Burke Landscape Supply: 3813 West 9th St., Trainer, PA 19061
Phone: 610-494-9490 ♦ 610-494-9600 ♦ 610-494-4125
Burke Lawn Equipment: 300 East Madison Ave, Clifton Heights, PA 19018
Phone: 610-622-1271 ♦ 484-461-8032


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- Reduces Damaging
- Frequencies by 19 dB - Re-Usable
Whether you are a musician, attend concerts or are regularly exposed to music played at high levels, Earasers don't plug up your ears and muffle sound like more conventional earplugs. Manufactured by a 45+ year hearing aid company, and developed by their lead engineer - a musician for over 20 years - Earasers filter out loud noise while still allowing you to hear at a safe, comfortable level. Musicians have to be able to focus on the different layers of instrumentation. Earasers utilize a unique attenuation "V filter" to provide up to 19dB of protection in the frequencies you need it most. The result is the world's first flat frequency response earplugs.Most comfortable with improved sound. The Earasers soft silicone design is based on one of the most widely used hearing aid tips in the market. There is no need for expensive trips to a specialist to get custom ear molds. The Smart Seal technology conforms to the shape of your ear canal for a more comfortable fit that you can wear all day. Earasers can be cleaned and reused. Most adult women wear size small. Most adult men wear size Medium.


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Ideal Fertilizer for Garden Plants
A discussion on fertilizer for home gardening plants seems like a dated topic. Yet the importance is utmost as per the interest of growers and gardeners. For all the gardeners, the knowledge of using fertilizers and ways to apply them is crucial. For attaining the vigorous plant growth, you must know about the hardiness of plant zones. In order to grow the plants, we are continuing the brief discussion on why, how and what multivitamins should be applied on the plants.
All ideal fertilizer for garden plants carry three chief elements named as Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium.
- Nitren is important for promoting the leaf development and growth. It helps iogn the development of chlorophyll. Basically, it helps in converting sunlight into food.
- Phosphorous is very important for the growth of stems, roots, blossoms and fruits.
- Potassium is another important element helping your plants in digestion and making of food.
Why do they need Fertilizers?
Often, we may wonder that, all the important nutrients are available in soil and air, so fertilizers are important? Fertilizers act as a mediator as some plants cannot get complete access of soil nutrients. So, the choice of nutrients also depends on the type of soil, the plant is growing into. Some modern farming techniques, traffic and construction can disturb the soil's nutrient chemistry leading towards limited nutrient base. For such reasons, the gardeners must use fertilizers to help plants reach to their full nutrient capacity.
Some Homemade Options:
1. Seawood:
This fertilizer type has the long-held lineage of 1000+ years. It is considered as all-embracing organic option. However, it carries mannitol which can increase the plant's ability to absorb more nutrients. You can use fresh or dried seawood in this regard.
2. Fish Emulsion:
Fish emulsion works like a homemade option which is obtained from fish-waste. The results with this have been truly great. However, it works very gradually. Also, the smell can bother you a little more.
3. Aquarium Water:
The aquarium water while cleaning the tank also works as a great source of fish waste for plants. It is easy and anytime available option.
4. Coffee Grounds:
Used coffee grounds are a good source of two percent of nitrogen. It can also provide some phosphorous and potash. Let them dry and scatter lightly over your plants.
5. Egg Shells:
Egg shells can be the most ideal and practical fertilizer option. They carry calcium which makes an important element in cell growth. You can simply crush in grinder and sprinkle over the soil.
Fertilizer for home gardening plants needs to be applied on proper timing. Garden plant nutrition thrives, if the fertilizers are fed during early spring.


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By James Tracy
City College of San Francisco abruptly shut down its only campus in the Tenderloin neighborhood in January 2015 with less than a day's notice. The Civic Center campus primarily served recently arrived immigrants and offered nationally recognized English as a Second Language classes. Citing seismic safety concerns with the aging building, the college administration acted as if students would simply accept the loss of their classes, even though no dates for a rebuild were offered. They were wrong about that.
Several respected community organizations (La Voz Latina, Community Housing Partnership, the Vietnamese Youth Development Center and Glide Memorial Church) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2121 organized a rapid response to the closure. The coalition, which came to be known as the Central City Coalition for Public Education, followed a simple strategy: undermine the administration's messaging that portrayed the closure as an unfortunate but necessary safety measure.
The coalition organized a march from the campus to City Hall on March 5 that attracted more than 450 people. It used a hearing called by Supervisor Jane Kim to expose the fact that the seismic issues had been known for years. Instead of making plans to relocate the lost classes, the administration chose to close the campus with no consultation with staff or students. The hearing also revealed that while brass informally discussed some reconstruction plans, no concrete steps were in place to return the classes to the community.
Over the next month, the coalition continued with a series of actions, accountability sessions and press work designed to provide the outside game while Supervisor Kim directly negotiated with the college. In early April the college announced that it would reopen the campus nearby in a building owned by the Academy of Art. In Fall 2015, the new site opened up with a six-year lease, pending the completion of seismic work on the old campus.
For Sergio Lopez, an organizer with La Voz Latina, the campaign was very personal. Living near the campus allowed him to study English and other subjects and work at the same time. "It is a place where I go to practice and develop one of my important skills, to be a bilingual speaker to support the community in translations and communications in different levels. The City College has been a support place for my second language and the future for my work and the other students that are out there in the community."
Several factors led to this organizing victory. The foremost was that City College of San Francisco, still reeling from its accreditation crisis, needed to preserve political goodwill with members of the city's Board of Supervisors. It was a rare moment in organizing when bad publicity, together with the mobilization of sympathetic politicians, actually amounted to real leverage.
Another key to the win was the labor-community alliance. The community groups provided students willing to speak out and reframe the issue through the lenses of immigrant justice and bridging the digital divide. The union mobilized teachers and staff and dedicated a community organizer to the effort. There were some complications along the way, as one partner was reluctant to be seen in alliance with a labor union. But the coalition as a whole stayed together, and is still pressing the college for a voice in programming and supporting the union's current campaigns against downsizing and layoffs.
"City College has been so central to the experience of so many in our community," says La Voz Latina organizer Kelly Guajardo. "Particularly when you're looking at La Voz members who are largely low-income, immigrant families, City College presents an affordable and realistic opportunity to get ahead, to learn English, to get a degree. It's worth fighting for." ◼
James Tracy is a San Francisco housing activist, part-time teacher at City College of San Francisco, and author. His most recent book is Dispatches Against Displacement: Field Notes From San Francisco's Housing Wars (AK Press, 2014).


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Steve has a list of these predictions here.
John's blog is definitely worth checking out -- he's as close to a modern polymath as I've found. (He helped me by agreeing to read a recent article of mine in the draft phase, providing very helpful comments.) Lately he has turned some of his large attention to climate change.
He's one of the very first bloggers ever -- I first discovered his This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics back in the 1990s, via gopher.
(If you don't know what gopher is, you need to study your Internet history, son.)


text: The sleek and simple 365 backpack has everything you need and nothing you don't. The roomy main compartment features a non-padded laptop sleeve and the zippered front compartment holds all your smaller items. The 365 is ideal for everyday use thanks to padded shoulder straps and a durable padded bottom panel. This unisex pack is offered in all of our great colorways!


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Sunday, 7 June, 2009, 00:51 - SWAT
Posted by ned
This small mod alters the SWAT 4 reticle in both singleplayer and multiplayer. The various Weapons and equipment in the game have various reticles ranging from the weapons having a center dot with spread indicators to tools having a center dot inside a circle. This mod removes all reticle parts except the dot and makes this dot larger. I would have removed the reticle completely if the game had an aim-down-site function.Posted by ned
The reticle mod will work with:
-SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate
-many SWAT 4 Mods eg. Sheriff's Special Forces (SSF) Realism Mod
Thanks to the following!
Jaster (http://hot-swat-mods.com) - Editor info
Vetinari (http://phnc.net) - .dds editing
TOG Fox & TOG Carcas (http://theoldergamers.com) - testing and feedback
SWAT 4 reticle mod - link - 450KB


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Explore new ways to get creative with Wacom Intuos
Whatever you love to create, Wacom Intuos can help you find new ways to draw, paint and edit your photos. It's easy to setup and use, and up to three unique creative applications are included for you*.
*To get your complimentary software you need to sign-in or create a Wacom ID and register your Intuos. Number of available software depends on the model.
Bring your creativity to life, digitally
Our latest pen tablet technology has been designed for those who are drawing, painting and photo editing with their Mac or PC for the first time. Whether it's the light super-accurate pen, the stylish design, the simple setup or the applications and online tutorials, Wacom Intuos is all you need to get creative digitally.
Create what you want, the way you want
However you visually express yourself, there's a Wacom Intuos for you. A creative pen tablet that is designed entirely around your passion, it gives you all the tools you need to enhance your creativity. And its versatility and ease-of-use means you can customize Wacom Intuos to fit your own way of working. Whether you love to draw manga art, paint digital watercolors or add a dash of magic to your photos, you can tailor Wacom Intuos to suit your style, your way.
Take your skills to the next level with downloadable creative software
After choosing your Wacom Intuos, you'll have access to up to three creative applications that are free to download*. This software will help you reach the full potential of the pen tablet and get the best from your ability. Plus, with the Wacom Intuos being compatible with plenty of other software, there are so many ways for you to perfect your passion.
With this product, you receive 3 software packages for a single operating system:
- Corel® Painter® Essentials™ 6
- Corel® Aftershot™ 3
If you like to draw, sketch or paint, Corel® Painter® Essentials™ 6 is the software to help release your inner artist. With its wide variety of painting styles, award-winning Natural-Media® brushes and photo effects, it works with the pen to provide an authentic hand-painted look.
If capturing and enhancing real life is more your thing, aspiring photographers can opt for Corel® Aftershot™ 3. This software allows you to turn your passion into unforgettable photos in no time. It also enables you to make easy corrections and enhancements with powerful processing controls and presets that bring out the best in every image. Pair all that creative power with the artistic prowess of the pen, and greatness awaits.
CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO gives you a complete tool for drawing and painting the pages of your story. With intuitive features that include natural pen strokes, quick colouring, unlimited tones and even 3D figure templates, it powerfully combines with the pen to provide everything the budding comic-book artist needs to bring the action to life.
[Alternative UDM Paint paragraph for China]
Lastly there's UDM Paint for making your own manga masterpieces. It's the complete tool for drawing and painting the pages of your story. Delivering professional quality with features customized to creating manga, it adds colours quickly and beautifully, provides 3D materials and rulers, and has thousands of brushes and free downloadable pieces of content to help craft your creations – everything the budding comic-book artist needs to bring the action to life.
*To get your complimentary software you need to sign-in or create a Wacom ID and register your Intuos. Number of available software depends on the model.
Get creative from the get-go
Getting started is quick and easy. Just connect the pen tablet to your Mac or PC via USB, download and install the driver, complete the easy registration and you're good to go. And with online tutorials and free downloadable software*, you'll be creating in no time
*To get your complimentary software you need to sign-in or create a Wacom ID and register your Intuos. Number of available software depends on the model.
A natural partnership
The first thing you'll experience when using Wacom Intuos is how natural it feels.
For a start there's the 4k pressure-sensitive pen. Designed to suit both left- and right-handed users, its ergonomic design, low 7mm reading height, higher linearity and weight-balance calibration deliver better precision and control. This enables you to glide across the tablet with ease and accurately recreate your vision. It's just like pen on paper. In addition, it features two pen buttons for customized functionality and nib storage with three accessory nibs for different styles of drawing. And as the pen uses Electro-Magnetic Resonance Technology (EMR), it is battery-free and doesn't require any charging, there's no interruption when you're in full flow.
The pen is also fine-tuned for progressive scrolling so you can breeze through all your favourite web pages.
Then there are the tablet's features that make the whole experience hassle-free. These include its dynamic built-in pen tray design that stops the pen from rolling off the tablet, four ExpressKeys™ you can customize for short-cut controls and 4.2 Bluetooth* connectivity. *On select models
Strong and stylish
Wacom Intuos has a fresh and vibrant design. It's now super slim (as thin as your typical smartphone), ultra-light (Bluetooth model S size only 250g and M size only 410g) and easy to take anywhere. Its new streamlined look and feel means it hardly takes up any desk space too. But don't be fooled, this sleek and stylish pen tablet is still as durable and robust as ever. And no matter the décor of your studio, study or bedroom, Wacom Intuos is available in black, pistachio and berry colours that suit any surrounding.
Don't limit your imagination. Unleash it with Wacom Intuos.


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Protection Plans
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
Whether your car is brand new or new to you, the chances are that you'd like to keep it looking in showroom condition for as long as you can. When the keys get handed off your car will have been detailed inside and out, washed and probably waxed. One of the benefits of purchasing your vehicle from a dealer like 417 Nissan Hyundai is that we can help you protect the interior and exterior condition of your vehicle to keep it looking as close to showroom condition as possible.
Our climate in 417 Nissan can sometimes be unforgiving with strong UV rays, extreme temperature swings, excessive rain and snow. All of these are damaging to a vehicle's overall condition and function. The good news is that we offer several services to protect your vehicle against these conditions. And since these products are mostly chosen before finalizing your purchase, you can easily finance it along with the car itself.
Interior Protection
Fabric Protection
This treatment helps to maintain the quality and condition of your vehicle's upholstery. Our solution penetrates individual fibres in the fabric to create a protective barrier that prevents liquids and dirt from soaking into the fabric. This allows liquid spills to be easily wiped up, and helps deter against permanent stains. The treatment is odourless and does not change the colour or feel of the fabrics that it is applied to.
Leather/Vinyl Protection
This treatment conditions smooth surface interiors such as leather or vinyl. It protects against hardening and cracking of these surfaces by locking in the essential oils and pigments and prevents against colour fading by shielding the surfaces from powerful ultraviolet rays. As an example, when applied to a dashboard, this treatment leaves a flat satin finish and helps repel dust.
Paint Protection
Because the clearcoat on your vehicle's paint is uneven it traps dirt, pollutants, oils and moisture. These eventually ruin the finish of your vehicle over time. In addition, your vehicle's clear coat will only go so far in protecting your vehicle's paint from the sun's harmful rays. The combination of sun depreciation and road wear eventually work together to ruin the finish of your vehicle over time and dull the finish, lowering it's resale value. By sealing the vehicle's finish with Platinum Paint Protection you can extend the showroom finish of your vehicle, protect it's value and keep it looking pristine for longer.
The Paint Protection is a long lasting sealant that helps to seal in the peaks and valleys of your vehicle's clear coat. By doing this it makes the surface smoother and elimiates the nooks and crannies where dirt and contaminants get caught. In addition, this smoother service is more reflective and absorbs less of the sun's UV radiation while also giving your vehicle a freshly waxed shine.
This treatment guarantees against excessive fading, discoloration, or oxidation caused by the sun and road salt.
Rust & Corrosion Protection
Modern vehicles have many nooks and crannies that are hard to clean. This is where dirt and moisture collect over time, creating very ideal conditions for rust to form. Rust, sometimes referred to as corrosion, is any vehicle's worst enemy. Once rust starts it is very difficult to stop and as it progresses it can ruin your vehicle's performance, appearance and value. Since rust is of particluar concern for vehicles in 417 Nissan, we offer two solutions that help to keep rust at bay.
Rust Inhibitor Spray
The Rust inhibitor spray creates a physical barrier between your vehicle's metal parts and the elements. It is a synthetic spray that is applied to hard to reach areas of your vehicle where moisture and soil collect and eventually cause rust. The spray bonds to the metal on your car ensuring it doesn't drip or run off during application. The spray is applied using existing holes that allow access between interior and exterior panels so that no drilling or extra holes are required. This one time application can extend the life and preserve the value of your car.
The Rust Inhibitor Spray gurantees against rust perforation from the inside out.
Corrosion Control Module
One of the newer developments in the fight against rust, this technology offers an environmentally friendly and maintenance free solution to rust prevention. Using a simple microprocessor attached under the hood, an electrical current is sent to both the interior and exterior panels of your vehicle's sheet metal including the floor boards and above the window line. Aside from being a "one and done" solution, the Corrosion Control Module also protects more areas than other products including the roof and inseams.
The Corrosion Control Module gurantees against rust perforation from the inside out.
Undercoat Protection
Naturally, the undercarriage of your vehicle is exposed to the worst abuse from the road. Salt, mositure, dirt, debris and everything else you might encounter on the streets of 417 Nissan eventually erode and ruin the vital metal components in your vehicle's undercarriage. A novel solution to help combat this is our undercoat protection treatment. We apply a chemical treatment that is sprayed onto the undercarriage of your car to create a physical barrier between the metal and the elements.
Undercoat Protection Treatment
Our Undercoat Protection Treatment seals your vehicle's most vulnerable metal components from the elements. The treatment is specially formulated to be pliable so that it can expand and contract with changing temperatures and movement on the road. The treatment is guaranteed against cracks, peels and chips and will be re-sealed free of charge in the event that any perforations occur.
Like a blanket the Undercoat protection treatment helps to insulate against extreme temperatures while also deadening road noise and vibrations. The bottom line is that when you seal your under carriage, you get additional protection from harsh road conditions and a better ride overall.
Contact Us


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January 31, 2012 - DCA & NJ Historic Trust Launch Capital Needs Survey for New Jersey Historic Sites
DCA & NJ Historic Trust Launch Capital Needs Survey for New Jersey Historic Sites Survey Will Help Identify Repair, Restoration, and Improvement Needs of Historic Places |
TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Acting Commissioner Richard E. Constable III today announced the launch of a new Capital Needs Survey that will collect information on the repair, restoration and improvement needs of historic sites throughout the state. The New Jersey Historic Trust, a DCA affiliate, is leading the effort and encourages all publicly owned and nonprofit-managed sites to participate in the survey.
"The Historic Trust recognizes that even our state's most notable and celebrated historic sites and attractions have significant needs for repairs and improvements, all of which will ultimately serve the public better," said Acting Commissioner Constable. "This survey will help the Trust identify those specific needs and begin to quantify the costs associated with making these historic buildings relevant and useful in their communities."
The survey will begin on February 1, 2012, and run until May 1, 2012. It will pose questions about a building's use, repair needs, projected repair costs, and, if appropriate, its participation in heritage tourism development.
A "historic building" is defined as a structure that was built more than 50 years ago, or prior to 1962. A property does not need to be listed on the state or national Register of Historic Places to be included in the survey. Buildings that may participate include: historic residences, farmsteads, factories, theaters, museums, houses of worship, fire houses, libraries, railroad stations, schools and more. Buildings owned by private homeowners or businesses are not eligible for this survey.
This is the second Capital Needs Survey in the State of New Jersey. The first, in 1990, identified capital needs of more than $400 million. The results of the survey helped garner public support for four historic preservation bond referendums in the 1990s, and sustain historic preservation funding from the Garden Sate Preservation Trust from 2000 to 2010.
This year, the Historic Trust is hoping to attract more participants by making the survey accessible online.
"By using the Internet and making the survey easy to complete and submit, we hope to reach as many historic site stewards as possible," said Historic Trust Executive Director Dorothy Guzzo. "The broader the participation, the better picture we will have of the state's real need for historic preservation funding."
Upon completion of the survey, the data will be analyzed and the capital needs of the state's historic properties will be tallied and published by the end of the year. The Historic Trust will use the information to prioritize and/or revise criteria for its program, as well as to alert the community to begin thinking about their future stewardship needs.
"The Capital Needs Survey will provide New Jersey with important financial data to illustrate the continuing need for investment in the state's historic resources," said Historic Trust Chair Chris Perks. "Funding the preservation of existing buildings and structures helps make our communities more sustainable as well as enjoyable."
The Historic Trust administers grants from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund, the NJ Cultural Trust Capital Preservation Grant Program, the "Discover NJ History" License Plate Fund and the 1772 Foundation Grant Program for New Jersey. Since 1990, the Historic Trust has awarded more than $134 million in matching preservation grants to sites in every county of the state.
Established in 1967, the New Jersey Historic Trust is the only nonprofit historic preservation organization in New Jersey created by state law. Its mission is to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that saves the state's heritage and strengthens its communities.
For more information on the New Jersey Historic Trust, please visit http://www.njht.org. For more information on the Capital Needs Survey, log on to http://fs19.formsite.com/NJHT/CapitalNeedsSurvey/index.html.


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This innovative children's environmental education web site is an ongoing project and educational content and environmental/conservation facts will be added to it on a continuing basis.
The current programs of DITC Environmental Education Foundation, Inc. are Endangered Species Awareness and School Zone.
The first step of researching and writing fifty subjects on threatened or endangered species within a 150-mile radius of the U.S. Fish and Wildlifes National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is complete. We will continue to add endangered species from all over the United States as well as world-wide.
All of these subjects are available for viewing. We now invite the participation of students in a creative program set around the 50 species on the list, and we are in the process of identifying schools who would like to show case their school and students by getting the childrens work published on the web!
In 2012 we launched our School Zone. This fun and educational program invites children from schools around the world to research and write a subject of their own choice, having familiarized themselves with the format and content of the subjects on the website and we will publish their work on the website. Luc from New Jersey was our trail blazer and did a wonderful piece on the Cuttlefish.


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In the latest science fiction novel by Arthur D. Little (The Future of Urban Mobility 2.0, Imperatives to shape extended mobility ecosystems of tomorrow1), Stockholm stands out for having one of the best-developed networks of cycle paths. Stockholm ranks second out of 84 worldwide, first out of 19 in Western Europe and beats Copenhagen & Amsterdam. No more, no less.
Stockholm: 57.4 points, 2 out of 84 worldwide, 1 out of 19 in Western Europe. The Swedish capital stands out for having one of the best- developed networks of cycle paths: its bike lane network is the third most dense in the world, with 4,041km of lanes per 1,000 sq km. It has a high rate of public sector initiatives, and its multi-modal SL-Access smart card has a penetration of 0.64 cards per capita. As a result of this forward-thinking approach, it ranks above average for transport-related emissions, with one of the lowest concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulates (NO2 and PM10) in the air in the world. What's more, its traffic-related death rate is amongst the lowest in the survey.
The novel is a great read for anyone who likes fantasy fiction and Arthur D. Little is definitively a brilliant writer. One could almost believe the City of Stockholm made it to the first place just because it has the highest cycle path network density but I'm sure there is more to it and I can't wait for the sequel The Future of Urban Mobility 3.0! Until then I can only speculate on other possible reasons The Capital of Scandinavia rules (almost) the world.
To outperform the competition Stockholm must have a secret weapon that others don't. And I believe it to be the "felanmälan" (fault report). Simple as that: a powerful tool that solves all problems effortlessly. Imagine that.
You're riding (or trying to keep both wheels on the ground) and notice there's way too much ice on the cycle path. You take a picture and send it to the City of Stockholm. Answer: "if you aren't satisfied with the situation, please report this to us". You do so using the extensive fault report system and problem solved: you said there was ice!
Now let's say you're riding (or trying to stay alive on a narrow cycle path next to speeding motorists) and you notice a bus parked on what is supposed to be your safety zone. You take a picture and send it to the City of Stockholm. Answer: "if you aren't satisfied with the situation, please report this to us". You do so using the extensive fault report system and problem solved: this bus is gone and replaced by another one.
Stockholm might have the highest cycle path network density but it's not enough to make the city rank first in Western Europe. I'm sure Arthur D. Little must have some nice surprises waiting for us in the next chapter: could the "felanmälan" be one? What do you think? Have you got your own theory?
On a different note, a month ago I ordered a Stockholm City Bikes access card (the one that is supposed to be delivered within 3 days according to the computer screen) and I still haven't received it. I know the bicycle sharing system only runs from April to October (did Arthur D. Little know that?) so I guess the card has still plenty of time to reach the mailbox. Otherwise, "if I'm not satisfied with the situation…". I know, I know.
http://www.uitp.org/sites/default/files/members/140124%20Arthur%20D.%20Little%20%26%20UITP_Future%20of%20Urban%20Mobility%202%200_Full%20study.pdf ↩


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Cosmos is a unique astronomy reference written by research astronomers.
Our encyclopedia entries are for a general audience who wish to know detailed information on a wide range of astronomical topics. Cosmos is an evolving resource, with new entries being added all the time. Click here- for information on the production of Cosmos.
Starting point
Planck Length * Dust Grain * Asteroid * Moon * Planet * Star * Galaxy * Universe
Top Ten
Equator * Orbital Inclination * Solstice * Shooting Star * Meteorite * Seasons * Zenith * Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram * Sublimation * Reflection Nebula
With 3D capability
Ecliptic * Interacting Galaxies
Cosmos is used by …
Universe Today * Astronomy Cast * Astronomy Picture of the Day * timeanddate.com
Study Astronomy Online at Swinburne University
All material is © Swinburne University of Technology except where indicated.


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This spring the Margellos World Republic of Letters, an imprint of Yale University Press, took what has been seen as an unusual step. Following its 2015 publication of The Dirty Dust, Alan Titley's romp of a translation of Máirtin Ó Cadhain's seminal 1945 Irish-language work, Cré na Cille, Margellos has published a second translation of the novel, Liam Mac Con Iomaire and Tim Robinson's Graveyard Clay.
Intrigued by this 'stereophonic' project, I caught up with John Donatich, Director at YUP, to see if I could understand more about the thinking behind this dual publication.
The Margellos World Republic of Letters series was set up to identify and publish works of cultural and artistic significance previously unavailable in English, and to publish literature and philosophy requiring new translations, with the stated aim to "stimulate creative exchange". Publishing two different translations of the same book within a year of each other certainly adheres to this mission.
"I hope that the two volumes will stimulate debate on the virtues and problems of translation," says Donatich. "The translators have mentioned that the English language is impoverished in comparison to Irish when it comes to invective and insult. How many ways do we have to say 'duck-milker' or 'Toejam' or 'sitter in a sailor's lap'?"
The results, Donatich says, are "thrilling", the translators "riffing" on the book like they are performing "creative jazz".
The musical metaphor goes deep in the project, it seems. Written between 1945 and 1947, Cré na Cille, considered as possibly the most important work in modern Irish, is like an incredibly complex musical composition. Written entirely in dialogue, the book describes the concerns, squabbles, preoccupations and indignations of the dead lying in a graveyard in the region of Cois Fharraige in south Conamara during World War II. How to do this intricate and experimental work justice? Margellos had to find a way.
"The book was so difficult to translate in the first place. The stakes were made higher as this would most likely be the first exposure many global readers might have to this purported classic. We had to make sure to get it right. That said, we felt the book could stand two different kinds of interpretations, much like a great musical piece might stand several interpretations: a rigorous, elegant and faithful version and one that took more expressive risks."
Yale's marketing matches Donatich's description: Mac Con Iomaire and Robinson's Graveyard Clay achieves "a lofty goal: to convey Ó Cadhain's meaning accurately and to meet his towering literary standards". Titley's The Dirty Dust, on the other hand, is "vigorous", "full of the brio and guts of Ó Cadhain's original".
"When we decided to do the different versions we had to make distinctions between them," Donatich explains. "There was no point in commissioning two translations whose only difference would be modulations in tone and word choice. There had to be an interpretive aesthetic unique to either version from the start. So, it was more of a philosophical stance toward the work, an imagining of different readers and users of the texts, a positioning of voice and persona, an evocation of a specific world through musical registers."
For non-Irish speakers, however, it is difficult to know which is the more faithful translation. A comparative reading could suggest that Titley is more faithful to the spirit of the original while Mac Con Iomaire and Robinson are more faithful to the letter. And to some extent, Donatich agrees: "I think that is probably right, though 'spirit' is a tough thing to update to the contemporary moment. There's a medieval, theological sense of the word 'translation' that means something like the ability to convey unto heaven without dying. I think both versions manage that."
The translators were, of course, aware of each other's work. In the introduction to their translation, Mac Con Iomaire and Robinson describe Titley's "creative interpretation" of the original's "rich and savage demotic base". And Titley's does indeed feel like an earthier celebration of the original. Perhaps it was this savagery that prevented for so many years the full publication of an English-language Cré na Cille.
"O'Cadhain himself had an ambivalent ambition for the novel's translation. Some say he never wanted to give the English the satisfaction of reading it. Others say he was very hungry to be recognized. Alan's version is quite savage and funny; Tim and Liam's feels more vulnerable and tender – there is compassion for the hardship of the Irish matriarchy there. Alan's feels claustrophobic too; one senses the weight of the earth on the throat."
With two full translations now available, Cré na Cille should finally be able to take its rightful place: as an Irish book; as a modernist work; and as a work within the European pantheon.
"I hope it succeeds in all three. It's an historical document of a particular moment in Irish history. It's a modernist work in that it provides the subjective sense of being alive (or dead, actually!) in that particular historical moment, presented in an experimental format. And, as readers and writers study the book, it will begin to be understood within the European literary tradition."
And publishing two translations should teach the English-speaking world something about literary translation, shouldn't it?
"We've only just begun. I think the two versions of the book should be studied as a kind of case study in the choices translators have to make. It's an unusual situation, a gift in that sense."
Ó Cadhain was a great champion of the Irish language, and particularly of Irish speech. Now, English speakers have two ways to appreciate his great gift to literature.
By West Camel
This blog was originally published on ELit Literature House Europe website on 27 June 2016.


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Intel spins SpectraWatt outside!
Earlier this week, Intel Spins off Solar Energy Technology; Intel Capital Invests in SpectraWatt was the press mill news of the day. In a chat with SpectraWatt CEO Andrew Wilson, the Tech giant Intel joins IBM and Applied in big solar bet post by Neal Dikeman at the CNET news.com Green Tech Blog or the Cleantech Blog foreshadowed the first silicon announcement:
According to Andrew, they have a significant supply of silicon secured, and while he cannot say who the vendors are, at least one of those vendors will likely be announcing soon, as the Spectrawatt contract is a material event for them.
Per the June 18, 2008, press release, PV Crystalox Solar Plc – New Contract:
PV Crystalox Solar plc is pleased to announce the signing of a contract with newly formed Intel spin-off SpectraWatt. The agreement relates to the supply of multicrystalline wafers with a total output of 125 MW during the period 2009 -2013 and is structured with predetermined prices and volumes.
PV Crystalox Solar PLC (LON:PVCS) claims to be the largest pure play producer of multicrystalline wafers in the world. PV Crystalox is in the process of constructing an 1,800 MT (Metric Ton) solar grade silicon production facility in Bitterfeld, Germany to complement their existing silicon sources and expects to start production in 2009 with about 900 MT per year ramping to 1,800 MT by 2011.
SpectraWatt will focus on the production of multicrystalline (and monocrystalline?) silicon solar cells for solar module manufacturers, and:
expects to break ground on its manufacturing and advanced technology development facility in Oregon in the second half of 2008 with first product shipments expected by mid-2009.
In the June 17, 2008, Hot Comment, "Solar Investments Further Validated", Sr. Research Analyst Jesse Pichel and his Piper Jaffray & Co. Team said:
This factory is expected to have secured silicon supply to buy wafers to make 60MW in the first phase with future plans to expand into overseas markets with a targeted GW goal by 2012.
SpectraWatt had better have big plans to scale production. Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (OSL:REC) Invests NOK 13 billion in Singapore just announced expansion plans for their Singapore project Phase I that targets less than €1 per Watt-peak (Wp) silicon through module production costs and expands cumulative production to about 2.4 GWp (GigaWatt-peak) of wafers, 780 MWp (MegaWatt-peak) of cells, and 740 MWp of modules all by 2012. REC will decide on a Singapore Phase II expansion in 2009.
In the same Hot Comment, Mr. Pichel said:
Solon's stake in SpectraWatt is 16% and will be the majority customer of SpectraWatt near term.
If SpectraWatt has developed advanced technologies for high efficiency silicon solar cells, is it conceivable they will mount a challenge to SunPower's efficiency leadership?
Thanks to Martin LaMonica, also at the CNET news.com Green Tech Blog, for linking to my Stion post, Stion leaves Photovoltaic Patent Trail, in Green news harvest: 500-mile fuel cell car, Linux gets 'green flag'.