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TCM Userspace Design¶
TCM is another name for LIO, an in-kernel iSCSI target (server). Existing TCM targets run in the kernel. TCMU (TCM in Userspace) allows userspace programs to be written which act as iSCSI targets. This document describes the design.
The existing kernel provides modules for different SCSI transport protocols. TCM also modularizes the data storage. There are existing modules for file, block device, RAM or using another SCSI device as storage. These are called "backstores" or "storage engines". These built-in modules are implemented entirely as kernel code.
In addition to modularizing the transport protocol used for carrying SCSI commands ("fabrics"), the Linux kernel target, LIO, also modularizes the actual data storage as well. These are referred to as "backstores" or "storage engines". The target comes with backstores that allow a file, a block device, RAM, or another SCSI device to be used for the local storage needed for the exported SCSI LUN. Like the rest of LIO, these are implemented entirely as kernel code.
These backstores cover the most common use cases, but not all. One new use case that other non-kernel target solutions, such as tgt, are able to support is using Gluster's GLFS or Ceph's RBD as a backstore. The target then serves as a translator, allowing initiators to store data in these non-traditional networked storage systems, while still only using standard protocols themselves.
If the target is a userspace process, supporting these is easy. tgt, for example, needs only a small adapter module for each, because the modules just use the available userspace libraries for RBD and GLFS.
Adding support for these backstores in LIO is considerably more difficult, because LIO is entirely kernel code. Instead of undertaking the significant work to port the GLFS or RBD APIs and protocols to the kernel, another approach is to create a userspace pass-through backstore for LIO, "TCMU".
In addition to allowing relatively easy support for RBD and GLFS, TCMU will also allow easier development of new backstores. TCMU combines with the LIO loopback fabric to become something similar to FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace), but at the SCSI layer instead of the filesystem layer. A SUSE, if you will.
The disadvantage is there are more distinct components to configure, and potentially to malfunction. This is unavoidable, but hopefully not fatal if we're careful to keep things as simple as possible.
Design constraints¶
Good performance: high throughput, low latency
Cleanly handle if userspace:
never attaches
Allow future flexibility in user & kernel implementations
Be reasonably memory-efficient
Simple to configure & run
Simple to write a userspace backend
Implementation overview¶
The core of the TCMU interface is a memory region that is shared between kernel and userspace. Within this region is: a control area (mailbox); a lockless producer/consumer circular buffer for commands to be passed up, and status returned; and an in/out data buffer area.
TCMU uses the pre-existing UIO subsystem. UIO allows device driver development in userspace, and this is conceptually very close to the TCMU use case, except instead of a physical device, TCMU implements a memory-mapped layout designed for SCSI commands. Using UIO also benefits TCMU by handling device introspection (e.g. a way for userspace to determine how large the shared region is) and signaling mechanisms in both directions.
There are no embedded pointers in the memory region. Everything is expressed as an offset from the region's starting address. This allows the ring to still work if the user process dies and is restarted with the region mapped at a different virtual address.
See target_core_user.h for the struct definitions.
The Mailbox¶
The mailbox is always at the start of the shared memory region, and contains a version, details about the starting offset and size of the command ring, and head and tail pointers to be used by the kernel and userspace (respectively) to put commands on the ring, and indicate when the commands are completed.
version - 1 (userspace should abort if otherwise)
- flags:
indicates out-of-order completion is supported. See "The Command Ring" for details.
- cmdr_off
The offset of the start of the command ring from the start of the memory region, to account for the mailbox size.
- cmdr_size
The size of the command ring. This does not need to be a power of two.
- cmd_head
Modified by the kernel to indicate when a command has been placed on the ring.
- cmd_tail
Modified by userspace to indicate when it has completed processing of a command.
The Command Ring¶
Commands are placed on the ring by the kernel incrementing
mailbox.cmd_head by the size of the command, modulo cmdr_size, and
then signaling userspace via uio_event_notify()
. Once the command is
completed, userspace updates mailbox.cmd_tail in the same way and
signals the kernel via a 4-byte write(). When cmd_head equals
cmd_tail, the ring is empty -- no commands are currently waiting to be
processed by userspace.
TCMU commands are 8-byte aligned. They start with a common header containing "len_op", a 32-bit value that stores the length, as well as the opcode in the lowest unused bits. It also contains cmd_id and flags fields for setting by the kernel (kflags) and userspace (uflags).
Currently only two opcodes are defined, TCMU_OP_CMD and TCMU_OP_PAD.
When the opcode is CMD, the entry in the command ring is a struct tcmu_cmd_entry. Userspace finds the SCSI CDB (Command Data Block) via tcmu_cmd_entry.req.cdb_off. This is an offset from the start of the overall shared memory region, not the entry. The data in/out buffers are accessible via the req.iov[] array. iov_cnt contains the number of entries in iov[] needed to describe either the Data-In or Data-Out buffers. For bidirectional commands, iov_cnt specifies how many iovec entries cover the Data-Out area, and iov_bidi_cnt specifies how many iovec entries immediately after that in iov[] cover the Data-In area. Just like other fields, iov.iov_base is an offset from the start of the region.
When completing a command, userspace sets rsp.scsi_status, and rsp.sense_buffer if necessary. Userspace then increments mailbox.cmd_tail by entry.hdr.length (mod cmdr_size) and signals the kernel via the UIO method, a 4-byte write to the file descriptor.
If TCMU_MAILBOX_FLAG_CAP_OOOC is set for mailbox->flags, kernel is capable of handling out-of-order completions. In this case, userspace can handle command in different order other than original. Since kernel would still process the commands in the same order it appeared in the command ring, userspace need to update the cmd->id when completing the command(a.k.a steal the original command's entry).
When the opcode is PAD, userspace only updates cmd_tail as above -- it's a no-op. (The kernel inserts PAD entries to ensure each CMD entry is contiguous within the command ring.)
More opcodes may be added in the future. If userspace encounters an opcode it does not handle, it must set UNKNOWN_OP bit (bit 0) in hdr.uflags, update cmd_tail, and proceed with processing additional commands, if any.
The Data Area¶
This is shared-memory space after the command ring. The organization of this area is not defined in the TCMU interface, and userspace should access only the parts referenced by pending iovs.
Device Discovery¶
Other devices may be using UIO besides TCMU. Unrelated user processes may also be handling different sets of TCMU devices. TCMU userspace processes must find their devices by scanning sysfs class/uio/uio*/name. For TCMU devices, these names will be of the format:
where "tcm-user" is common for all TCMU-backed UIO devices. <hba_num> and <device_name> allow userspace to find the device's path in the kernel target's configfs tree. Assuming the usual mount point, it is found at:
This location contains attributes such as "hw_block_size", that userspace needs to know for correct operation.
<subtype> will be a userspace-process-unique string to identify the TCMU device as expecting to be backed by a certain handler, and <path> will be an additional handler-specific string for the user process to configure the device, if needed. The name cannot contain ':', due to LIO limitations.
For all devices so discovered, the user handler opens /dev/uioX and calls mmap():
mmap(NULL, size, PROT_READ|PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, fd, 0)
where size must be equal to the value read from /sys/class/uio/uioX/maps/map0/size.
Device Events¶
If a new device is added or removed, a notification will be broadcast over netlink, using a generic netlink family name of "TCM-USER" and a multicast group named "config". This will include the UIO name as described in the previous section, as well as the UIO minor number. This should allow userspace to identify both the UIO device and the LIO device, so that after determining the device is supported (based on subtype) it can take the appropriate action.
Other contingencies¶
Userspace handler process never attaches:
TCMU will post commands, and then abort them after a timeout period (30 seconds.)
Userspace handler process is killed:
It is still possible to restart and re-connect to TCMU devices. Command ring is preserved. However, after the timeout period, the kernel will abort pending tasks.
Userspace handler process hangs:
The kernel will abort pending tasks after a timeout period.
Userspace handler process is malicious:
The process can trivially break the handling of devices it controls, but should not be able to access kernel memory outside its shared memory areas.
Writing a user pass-through handler (with example code)¶
A user process handing a TCMU device must support the following:
Discovering and configuring TCMU uio devices
Waiting for events on the device(s)
Managing the command ring: Parsing operations and commands, performing work as needed, setting response fields (scsi_status and possibly sense_buffer), updating cmd_tail, and notifying the kernel that work has been finished
First, consider instead writing a plugin for tcmu-runner. tcmu-runner implements all of this, and provides a higher-level API for plugin authors.
TCMU is designed so that multiple unrelated processes can manage TCMU devices separately. All handlers should make sure to only open their devices, based opon a known subtype string.
Discovering and configuring TCMU UIO devices:
/* error checking omitted for brevity */ int fd, dev_fd; char buf[256]; unsigned long long map_len; void *map; fd = open("/sys/class/uio/uio0/name", O_RDONLY); ret = read(fd, buf, sizeof(buf)); close(fd); buf[ret-1] = '\0'; /* null-terminate and chop off the \n */ /* we only want uio devices whose name is a format we expect */ if (strncmp(buf, "tcm-user", 8)) exit(-1); /* Further checking for subtype also needed here */ fd = open(/sys/class/uio/%s/maps/map0/size, O_RDONLY); ret = read(fd, buf, sizeof(buf)); close(fd); str_buf[ret-1] = '\0'; /* null-terminate and chop off the \n */ map_len = strtoull(buf, NULL, 0); dev_fd = open("/dev/uio0", O_RDWR); map = mmap(NULL, map_len, PROT_READ|PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, dev_fd, 0); b) Waiting for events on the device(s) while (1) { char buf[4]; int ret = read(dev_fd, buf, 4); /* will block */ handle_device_events(dev_fd, map); }
Managing the command ring:
#include <linux/target_core_user.h> int handle_device_events(int fd, void *map) { struct tcmu_mailbox *mb = map; struct tcmu_cmd_entry *ent = (void *) mb + mb->cmdr_off + mb->cmd_tail; int did_some_work = 0; /* Process events from cmd ring until we catch up with cmd_head */ while (ent != (void *)mb + mb->cmdr_off + mb->cmd_head) { if (tcmu_hdr_get_op(ent->hdr.len_op) == TCMU_OP_CMD) { uint8_t *cdb = (void *)mb + ent->req.cdb_off; bool success = true; /* Handle command here. */ printf("SCSI opcode: 0x%x\n", cdb[0]); /* Set response fields */ if (success) ent->rsp.scsi_status = SCSI_NO_SENSE; else { /* Also fill in rsp->sense_buffer here */ ent->rsp.scsi_status = SCSI_CHECK_CONDITION; } } else if (tcmu_hdr_get_op(ent->hdr.len_op) != TCMU_OP_PAD) { /* Tell the kernel we didn't handle unknown opcodes */ ent->hdr.uflags |= TCMU_UFLAG_UNKNOWN_OP; } else { /* Do nothing for PAD entries except update cmd_tail */ } /* update cmd_tail */ mb->cmd_tail = (mb->cmd_tail + tcmu_hdr_get_len(&ent->hdr)) % mb->cmdr_size; ent = (void *) mb + mb->cmdr_off + mb->cmd_tail; did_some_work = 1; } /* Notify the kernel that work has been finished */ if (did_some_work) { uint32_t buf = 0; write(fd, &buf, 4); } return 0; }
A final note¶
Please be careful to return codes as defined by the SCSI specifications. These are different than some values defined in the scsi/scsi.h include file. For example, CHECK CONDITION's status code is 2, not 1.


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Top 15 TV Shows of 2011
15. The Walking Dead
It's a bit slow-moving and the acting is occasionally over-the-top, but The Walking Dead proved once again, even without zombies, it's pretty compelling television. The first half of Season 2 revolved around the increasingly hopeless search for a little girl who had gone missing, while characters battled each other, themselves, and the end of the world as we know it.
14. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Still hilarious after all these years, Sunny's seventh season introduced us to a new brutal board game called CharDee MacDennis, gave us a scenic tour of the Jersey Shore, and brilliantly tackled Mac's ongoing weight issue. Dennis is still creepy, Frank and Charlie are still eccentric, and Dee….well, I think the gang's driving her to the point of insanity.
13. 30 Rock
Don't call it a comeback – season 5 was a strong turning point for this aging series, which got a lot of flak for a hit-or-miss season 4. Even with a temporary absence from Tracy Morgan, who underwent emergency medical surgery during filming, the show remained sharp as the plot became focused on trying to find out where his character went missing.
12. Archer
Just when we thought we had the womanizing, James Bond-mocking Sterling Archer figured out, he gets cancer, falls in love, and leads us on a three-part getaway when his fiance is killed. Season 2 (and the aforementioned first three episodes of Season 3) were exciting, witty, daring, and, most importantly, pretty damn funny.
11. How I Met Your Mother
It feels like it's been a few seasons, but things are finally getting tackled on How I Met Your Mother. The character of Barney is slowly changing into a baby-lover. Robin has discovered an important revelation about the rest of her life. Marshall and Lily are adjusting to the realization of being future parents. Ted…well, does anyone care, really? The show is still irreverent, funny, and entertaining after all these years.
10. Modern Family
Modern Family isn't really a show trying new things, per se. We've all seen the family sitcom thing done over and over, lessons learned, etc. And we've seen the Office-esque mockumentary multi-camera style of filming. But this show's approach to it all continues to feel fresh and revolutionary week after week, even if the topics tackled aren't necessarily so.
9. South Park
I surmise The Book of Mormon reinvigorated Matt and Trey, because this was a surprisingly excellent season of South Park overall, especially after many consecutive hot-and-cold ones. The half-season finale gave us a potentially series-altering cliffhanger, but we should have known nothing would change. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Quite the opposite, actually.
8. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The Daily Show has completely changed from when Stewart took it over in 1999. Night after night, these guys do some heavy lifting, taking the day's political issues and giving them a hilarious, and simultaneously rational, take on them. With a barrage of idiot Republican candidates vying for the presidency this year, you can bet the writing staff had a lot of great material.
7. Louie
Louie is heartwarming, realistic, and very, very dark. Louis CK plays a straight man in his own corrupt version of New York that he created, holding his children's hands and guiding them through his cynical hell. The Seinfeld-esque standup bits put the eccentric short films all together for a strange, but hilarious, half-hour of TV.
6. Parks and Recreation
Parks works where the Office doesn't. The Office has tried a more ensemble cast approach with the absence of Steve Carell, and it's not working. Parks tried an Office-like approach in the beginning, making Leslie Knope a crazy Michael Scott clone. But now this show has found its true roots, with the whole crazy, lovable cast involved, and the results have been spectacular.
5. The Colbert Report
This year, for me, marks the first year the student became the master. Night after night, Colbert trumped Stewart on most bits, the interviews, the musical guests, and the overall quality. Colbert's ongoing mockery of the Supreme Court's ridiculous "corporations are people" ruling is daring and hilarious, as is the creation of the pointless Colbert SuperPAC.
4. Homeland
I started this show late, a few days before the finale, worrying I wouldn't catch up in time. Man, was I wrong. This is the best new show on TV, no contest. Thrilling, compelling, addictive. If I even begin to go on about this show, I'll just spoil it for you, so do yourself a favor and watch it. It will only take you a few days to get through it, I promise, because once you start, it will be hard to stop.
3. Boardwalk Empire
I suppose I should have seen it coming, as the season gradually progressed toward all the major cliffhangers of the finale, but wow….what an ending. Killing off a major character always marks a dramatic change, so we have to wonder, after only two seasons, where does Boardwalk go from here? You can bet, with an amazing cast and a stellar performance from Steve Buscemi, I'll be watching.
2. Community
It may be on the brink of cancellation, but for now, we can revel in the utter amazement of this show, which never ceases to amaze on a weekly basis. It's absurd, it's off-the-rails, it's hard to pin down. It's topical, it's smart, but it's also got heart. This season the character bonding of Season 1 met with the absurdity of Season 2 for the show's best yet. And hopefully they're not done.
1. Breaking Bad
After Season 4, any naysayers have to admit: not only is Breaking Bad the best show on television, it's one of the best shows ever made. Just when we think we've got a character pegged, they shock us. And no one shocked us more than Walter White, played by the incomparable Bryan Cranston. There's one season left, and there's only so far down that dark abyss these characters can crawl. There's no way this ends happily, and I don't know about you, but I can't wait.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dear Customer,
Please be informed that the BASSnet 2.11 Hotfix 5 (HF5) – 026 has been released on 23rd August 2023. The Release Notes for the hotfix is available for your reference: please click here to download the files from BASS CSS.
Should you be interested in applying this patch kit, please contact BASS Support or the Service Manager for further information.
Best Regards,
BASS CSS Administrator


text:
Have you been looking for free tracking services other than Statcounter? Here are some alternatives for you to think about.
When it comes to having your own blog or website, one of the fundamental tasks you should be doing is analyzing how your site is running.By looking into the details of who is visiting your site and other important stats such as where they are from, the times they come and how they behave when on your site is going to be very important so that you can give the right information, the right service and even the right product to fit your reader ( users) needs.
The reason for this post is because a question was asked by one our Adlandpro members ( BJ Williams) on the affiliate support group on Adlandpro, where the talk of tracking and free tracking services are being talked about.
BJ was wondering if there are other great free tracking services (systems on the web).


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A Game of Thrones superfan has forked out £5,000 to try and look like the shows' hit character Daenerys Targaryen. Obsessed Tabitha Lyons has even spent £4,000 creating 14ft-tall pet dragons which took her 700 hours to complete. (Photo by Tabitha Lyons/Barcroft Media)
03 Jul 2014 11:52:00,post received
0 comments


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text: White papers are source-based pieces of writing. Your project will use a range of sources: social media, news sources, grey literature, and academic sources will likely find their way into your white paper. For the purposes of this assignment, we want to make sure that you use at least three academic sources, but in "real world" white papers the sources are determined by who has the most useful knowledge about the problem, which may not necessarily be scholars.


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The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a brand-new, LEED Certified state-of-the-art facility located on two blocks in the historic West End District of Downtown Dallas. Originally founded in 1984 by a group of Dallas area Holocaust Survivors, the museum is dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Their now permanent location is comprised of over 55,000 square feet built with rich history, awareness and education and three permanent exhibitions. These include the Holocaust/Shoah Wing, the Human Rights Wing, and the Pivot to America Wing. The museum also encompasses traveling exhibition space, a performing arts auditorium, community lobby, reflection space, education spaces, library archives, administration offices, and a public plaza.
Designer, Dallas-based Omniplan wanted a clean, modern and progressive feel for the flooring surface that would maximize the space and be cohesive with the overall design. The Bomanite VitraFlor Polished Concrete System was selected for its industrial modernity, sustainable design and LEED qualities. Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite provided the Bomanite decorative concrete flooring completing approximately 28,000 square feet on several levels. The VitraFlor system consists of initial grinding of the original concrete slab to standards letting the natural aggregate color to shine. Zero VOC products to chemically harden such as Bomanite Stabilizer Pro, and Bomanite VitraFinish to hone and polish for final protection and stain resist finish the application. Bomanite VitraFlor allows for flexibility in design with different exposure of aggregates. The main lobby and walkways used a Class D large aggregate exposure with a level 3-1500 Grit Polish with some areas using a Polyurea Joint Filler in the color Gauntlet Gray. The Exhibit Hall polished surface was given a slightly different treatment with a Class B salt and pepper aggregate exposure and a level 3-1500 Grit Polish.
Bomanite VitraFlor provided a cost effective and low-maintenance polished concrete floor that is ideal for high traffic conditions. With over 80,000 visitors in 2018 in their previous location, the newly built facility will be able to handle even more guests as well as equipment for moving or changing of exhibits. Contributing to additional LEED accrual points for Optimized Energy Performance, Bomanite VitraFlor can reduce maintenance costs by as much as 80% over conventional flooring system such as carpet or VCT. Dramatically improving light reflectivity which reduces the amount of lighting required and therefore energy consumed was an intentional design attribute with the entrance floor to ceiling windows lending to its long-term sustainable features.
The Museum is one of just a few Holocaust-related museums or centers in the United States and the only Holocaust museum serving North Central Texas, as well as the adjacent states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. It has been recognized for its compelling and creative programming, internationally recognized exhibits, and world-class speakers. The new – modern, immersive and interactive technology captivates and educates visitors of all ages. To fully experience the designers plan visit https://www.omniplan.com/tangent/2020/03/behind-the-design-of-the-dallas-holocaust-and-human-rights-museum.html
Texas Bomanite earned the 2019 Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Project Honorable Mention Award for their precise application of the Bomanite VitraFlor System. Along with the floor installation, they also created the outdoor courtyard decorative sculpture base and walls showing their extreme craftsmanship in the Decorative Concrete Industry.


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Studying the networks of connections in the brains of people affected by schizophrenia, bipolar disease or depression has allowed Dr. Peter Williamson, from Western University, to gain a better understanding of the biological basis of these important diseases.
Dr. Williamson and colleagues have shown that different networks, found specifically in humans, are disrupted in different psychiatric diseases. These results were presented at the 2013 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, the annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience – Association Canadienne des Neurosciences (CAN-ACN).
Previously, researchers had attempted to use genetic approaches to help explain the biological basis of neuropsychiatric diseases, but genetics can only explain a small percentage of cases. Today researchers have begun using new imaging techniques to study connections in the brains of living patients, and this approach is revealing important differences between patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, and persons not affected by these disorders.
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are uniquely human diseases. Though some animal models exist for these diseases, animals cannot experience these diseases as we do, since they lack our language capacities, and the ability to represent feelings and ideas, their own and those of others, across time. These specifically human capabilities are encoded in specifically human neural networks, such as an emotional encoding network, found to be disrupted in mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, and the directed effort network which fails in schizophrenia.
Concluding quote from Dr. Williamson: "We are not likely to understand the extremely complex interactions between the hundreds of genes and environmental events that underlie neuropsychiatric disorders in our lifetimes. The challenge of our time is to find the final common pathways of these disorders"


text:
OptimizationWeek.comWebsite performance news and views™ |
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Issue 136 is out, featuring more PPC optimization tips and techniques, plus The Best Travel Tripod and Case Study: Teachthought.com Dedicated Server Upgrade. Jan. 3, 2018.
Issue 135 is out, featuring numerous PPC optimization articles on squeezing more leads out of your budget, including
Issue 134 is out, featuring three Wordpress speed optimization articles and details on Google's adding mobile responsiveness as a ranking factor. June 18, 2015.
Issue 133 is out, featuring Empirical Study of Web Site Speed on Search Engine Rankings, Case Study: Responsive Design of PhillyDentistry.com Results, Healthcare.gov One Year Performance Review, Case Study: PhiladelphiaOrthodontists.com Mobile Responsive Redesign, Case Study: Walkerworldtrade.com Server Upgrade, Form Conversion Rate Optimization, Upgrade to a Faster Server: Results, Feb. 25, 2015
Issue 132 is out, featuring a Velocity NYC Contest, HTTPS Ranking Factor, Website Speed & SEO, and Average Web Page Breaks 1600K, August 20, 2014
Issue #131 is out, featuring a discussion of design complexity and conversions, Avoid Mass Web Hosting, Install mod_pagespeed, and Beware HTTP Redirects, March 26, 2014.
Issue #130 is out, featuring Speedy Mobile Sites Impact Google Search Rankings, Use a Website Accelerator, and Velocity NYC Highlights, November 29, 2013.
Issue #129 is out, featuring Healthcare.gov Performance Review, Mexico Tops in Broadband Growth, Optimize Start Render Time, October 5, 2013.
Issue #128 is out, featuring Speed Up Your Netbook, and Broadband Trends, March 25, 2013.
Issue #127 is out, featuring Localize External Resources, Average Number of Web Page Objects Breaks 100, Average Web Page Size Triples Since 2008, FCC Tests Broadband Performance Among Large ISPs, Part II, FCC Tests Wired Broadband Performance Among Large ISPs, Part I, Newsletter Delivery Change, December 3, 2012.
Issue #126 is out, featuring Blocking JavaScript with Web Page Test, Blocking CSS with Web Page Test, 2012 Olympics to Strain Broadband Networks , and a newsletter devivery change, April 30, 2012.
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Jason Aldean and Son Memphis are Basically Becoming Twins
Fathers and sons always seem to share some sort of resemblance with one another. But, dang, Jason Aldean and his son Memphis are taking that theory to a whole new level!
It's hard to deny the sharp resemblance between the two in a photo shared on Aldean's wife Brittany's Instagram page Tuesday (July 30). The pic shows father and son, plus a little lovey that seems to go by the name of Hop Hop according to the caption. And yes, they look like twins! (The humans in the photo, that is. The stuffed animal has his own thing going on.)
In fact, many fans couldn't help but comment on the crazy resemblance. What was even cuter were the comments from family members who just can't get over how old Memphis looks in the pic, including his very own aunt.
"Mems is now a teenager...what the heck," wrote Aldean's sister Kasi, who recently married Chuck Wicks in a beautiful ceremony in Mexico.
There's just too much to rave over. The vintage Police t-shirt that Memphis is wearing? It doesn't get more adorable. And that kid's eyes? Well, let's just say that they are downright mesmerizing. In fact, those eyes have been downright undeniable in a series of pics shared by Brittany as of late.
While Aldean and Memphis sure look alike, he also shares quite a resemblance to his mama also, who captioned a recent pic with the simple word "twins."
Of course, its awesome that Aldean is getting to spend some precious time with his little boy, as the "Rearview Town" hit maker is currently out on his 2019 Ride All Night Tour alongside Kane Brown, Carly Pearce and Dee Jay Silver.
What Makes Jason Aldean Ugly Cry?
See Pictures of Jason Aldean in Concert


text:
Alena (ID: 15734)
- Age:42
- Date of birth:December 22, 1981
- Zodiac: Sagittarius
- Height:5' 4" (165 cm)
- Weight:110 lb (50 kg)
- Hair color:chestnut
- Eyes color:green
- Country:Ukraine
- City:Vinnitsa
- Religion:Russian Orthodox
- Marital status:single
- Children:No
- Smoke:no
- Alcohol:Never
- Profession:Manager
- Occupation:Manager
- Education:Higher
- English language:beginners' level
- Others foreign languages:No
- Seeks partner:42 - 55 years old
Hobbies and interests:
I like having fun. Sometimes I like to go to discos and night clubs. I like reading novels and detective stories. I want to keep my body fit and that's why I like sports, like shaping and swimming. I also like to play billiards.
About me:
I am very active, life loving and kind lady. My friends say that I am very honest, serious, romantic and sensitive girl. I adore travels. I am very communicative person and that's why I have many friends with whom i like to spend my free time somewhere in the fresh air near the lake.
Looking For Men Type:
I would like to find a decent, respectable and honest man. I want him to be generous and very kind. I just want to love and be loved and if I find such a man I will give him all my unexpended love and tenderness.
Customer support in Ukraine: +380-96-0751758
Comments or questions: email@example.com or Contact Us
Copyright 2003-2024 © letter-order-brides.com. All rights reserved.
NOK Group s.r.o. reg. 28539362, Brehova 202/4, Prague, Czech Republic


text:
Android is the hugely popular mobile OS from Google. Android is the most widely used mobile OS, being used around the world on a variety of smart phones and tablets, including the new Kindle Fire. Android is able to be customized and has thousands upon thousands of apps from both the Android Market and the Amazon App Store. But, how do you learn more about Android and Android devices? Here's some resources for you.
Android.com is the home page for Android. It just got a nice make over to make it more consumer friendly. The site has information about Android, links to explore it, link to the official Android app Market, and more. If you are a developer, or want to be one, this is also the place you want to go. If you use Android, or are curious about it and want to learn more, this is a great place to start.
AndroidCentral is part of the Smartphone Experts network of sites (sites about every smart phone OS. If you own a smart phone, check these sites out.). Android Central has news, help and tips, resources, links, reviews on apps and devices, accessory store and much more. The forums are great places to get help and get your questions answered. It is an indispensable resource. If you own an Android device, you need to read this site.
The official place to get Apps for your Android device. Search, scan, and check out all the great apps on your computer and send them to your device.
Amazon has an app store for Android too. Some of the apps here are the same as the ones in the official Android Market, but Amazon has a free app each day. I just got QuickOffice Pro for free (it is normally $19.99). You definitely want to check this site out each day to look for the free apps.
Android is a great OS that keeps growing. If you use Android, you'll want to use these resources to keep up to speed on everything.


text:
Batteries & Chargers
For reliable power supply
At first glance, chargers and batteries do not seem to be especially important accessories. Perhaps they do not seem worth paying attention to for quality or origin. Experience shows the opposite. Instruments and their electronics react sensitively and need a reliable power supply in all environmental conditions. Batteries and chargers are also exposed to these conditions - some will function, others might and some not for long or not at all, under certain conditions. That is why the quality and efficiency of the originals also counts for batteries and chargers.
Perfect batteries and chargers
Leica Geosystems offers you a wide palette of high-value chargers and batteries. For chargers, you have the choice between the Professional 5000 Series with high functionality and intelligence and the Professional 3000 and 1000 Series, the costeffective alternatives with less function, but outstanding quality and security.
Intelligent Charger
High-end charger, optimally designed for batteries used by Leica Geosystems.
Intelligent battery recognition and controlled charging for longest battery service life.
Charging and discharging cycles to refresh old cells.
Intelligent trickle charging ensures that fully charged batteries are always ready for use.
Through intelligent charging bay concept all Li-Ion batteries are fully backwards compatible.
Charge up to 4 batteries overnight.
Multi-functional Charger
Cost effective mains power supply to charge one battery at a time.
Built-in battery recognition for optimal charging.
Includes car adapter cable.
Simple Charger
Can be directly plugged into CS field controller or docking station in order to charge batteries without removal.
The benefits of the original
Chargers and batteries from Leica Geosystems are perfectly matched to each other and to the instruments, and reliably secure the power supply in the field. They achieve best values in regard to temperature tolerance, re-charging capability, operating time and cycle behaviour. Carefully and correctly handled, Leica Geosystems batteries achieve a maximum service life and are a guarantee that in decisive moments enough energy is available in the instrument, so that a measurement can be exactly and correctly completed.
Quality and safety requirements
- Only brand battery cells
- Integrated microchip for intelligent charging
- Integrated temperature sensor as protection against over-heating
- Integrated protection against short circuits
- Gold-coated contacts
- IP54 tested against rain and splash water
- Resilience against high mechanical influences
- Electronics protect against deep discharge and current peaks on charging, that could damage the batteries
GEB121 / GEB111 NiMh battery declaration
GEB171 NiMh battery declaration
GEB211 and GEB221 Li-Ion battery declaration
GEB212 LiIon battery declaration
GEB222, GEB242 LiIon battery declaration
GEB241 LiIon battery declaration
GEB271 LiIon battery declaration
GEB271 LiIon battery declaration
GEB331 LiIon battery declaration
GEB371 LiIon battery declaration
MSDS for GEB121 / GEB111 NiMh battery cells
MSDS for GEB171 battery
MSDS for GEB211 and GEB221 Li-Ion battery cells
MSDS for GEB212 LiIon battery cells
MSDS for GEB222 and GEB242 Li-Ion battery cells
MSDS for GEB223 Li-Ion battery cells
MSDS for GEB241 battery
MSDS for GEB271 LiIon battery cells
MSDS for GEB331 Li-Ion battery cells
MSDS for GEB371 Li-Ion battery cells
MSDS for GEB70 and GEB77 battery
SDS for GEB211 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB212 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB221 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB222 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB235 and GEB236 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB241 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB242 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB331 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB371 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB361 Li-Ion battery
SDS for GEB371 Li-Ion battery
733269_GEB211_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
772806_GEB212_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
733270_GEB221_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
793973_GEB222_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
971702_GEB223_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
793975_GEB242_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
971703_GEB243_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
799190_GEB331_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
799191_GEB361_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
818916_GEB371_UN38.3 Test Summary Report
GEB235 UN test summary_FZ-VZSU84A2U (N4HUNRA00085)
GEB235 UN test summary_FZ-VZSU84AU (N4HUNRA00068)
GEB236 UN test summary_FZ-VZSU88U (N4HUNTA00067)
GKL 32 User Manual
GKL112 User Manual
GKL211 User Manual
GKL221 User Manual
GKL311 QuickGuide
GKL341 User Manual
NiMH Batteries Info Folder
Accessories catalogue
Leica Geosystems Original Accessories catalogue
Conformity declaration
EU Conformity Declaration for Leica GKL311 & GKL312
EU Conformity Declaration for Leica GKL112
Batteries and chargers white paper


text:
David Ortiz shot in ambush at Dominican Republic bar
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) - Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot him in the back at close range Sunday night in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said.
Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte said Ortiz was at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo around 8:50 p.m. when the gunman approached from behind and shot him. Ortiz was taken to the Abel Gonzalez clinic, where he underwent surgery, and his condition was stable, Bautista said.
Ortiz's father, Leo, speaking to reporters outside the clinic, said his son was out of danger and there wasn't any collateral damage, meaning there was no damage to major organs. He said he had no idea why someone would have shot at his son.
"He is out of surgery and stable; he is resting," Leo Ortiz said. "Big Papi will be around for a long time."
The alleged gunman was captured and beaten by a crowd of people at the bar, Bautista said. He said police are waiting until the man undergoes treatment for his injuries before questioning him.
Investigators are trying to determine whether Ortiz was the intended target, Bautista said.
Two other people were wounded, Bautista said, including Jhoel López, a Dominican TV host who was with Ortiz. Bautista said police believe López was wounded by the same bullet.
López was shot in the leg and his injuries were not life-threatening, said his wife, Liza Blanco, who is also a TV host.
Police did not identify the third person or detail that person's injuries.
The Boston Red Sox, in a statement early Monday, said they have been notified by Ortiz's family that the former slugger sustained a gunshot wound to his "lower back/abdominal region" and that he is recovering after surgery.
The Red Sox said they offered the Ortiz family "all available resources to aid in his recovery" and they will continue to keep them in their hearts.
The Dial Bar and Lounge is located in eastern Santo Domingo on Venezuela Avenue, a bustling nightlife district packed with dance clubs and pricey bars that Ortiz is known to frequent. Ortiz, who lives at least part of the year in the Dominican, is often seen getting his cars washed and hanging out with friends including other baseball players, artists and entertainers.
The 43-year-old Ortiz hit 541 homers in 20 major league seasons, including 14 with the Red Sox. He helped lead Boston to three World Series titles and retired after the 2016 season. He was a 10-time All-Star and World Series MVP in 2013.
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


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It's the GRAND FINALE for
His Hometown Girl
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Jodi and Daniel a little more on the tour.
If you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out now!
Then be sure to enter the amazing giveaway, if you haven't already.
If you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out now!
Then be sure to enter the amazing giveaway, if you haven't already.
3/3 - Tour Launch & Excerpt
"Because we used to be friends, Jodi Lynn.""Friends?" She snorted and shook off the water collecting on the stroller's canopy.
"And don't call me Jodi Lynn."
"Would you prefer 'ma'am'? Is that what country folks are supposed to say when a city
girl comes to town?"
Katie's Clean Book Collection - Review
"I loved this story! I loved the strawberries, the farm life, the small town family feel, and of course, the clean romance. I loved the ending! It was perfect."
Just Jeannies Books & Bling - Author Interview
"This story goes out as a tribute to all of the parents, and extended family members helping to raise a special needs child. Like your children, you are extraordinary and more than worthy of having lasting love."
First Page to the Last - Review
"There were some very sweet moments between Jodi, Daniel, and Tyler. Moments that made you want this whole thing to work out for them. I could almost taste the berries when they picked them. Very nicely done, Ms. Rock!"
All That's Written - Character Interview
You used to have such a strong connection with Cedar Bay and an old childhood rival and later secret boyfriend, Daniel Gleason. Do you think you could ever care for either of them again?
When I left Cedar Bay, I tried putting it, and Daniel, out of my mind forever. In their own way, both had crushed me. However, when my boss offered me a promotion if I returned there to purchase farm land, I had no choice but to accept. I needed that extra money to pay for the special needs day care that would help Tyler speak again. Yet my loyalties were divided when I arrived and remembered how much I used to love living in Cedar Bay. I felt torn that it would become a massive industrial farm if I succeeded in purchasing all of the land for my employer. Of course Daniel Gleason wasn't going to make that easy. In fact, he planned to stop me every way he could, even using his old charm. Only, I wasn't falling for that again. Or at least I tried not to…
Cinnamon Cindy's Book Blog - Review
"This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a clean romance about old love rekindling."
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer - Character Interview
You had strong connection with Jodi growing up. Do you think you'll ever be close again?
Jodi Lynn used to drive me nuts as a boy- still does. She's smart, pretty and always sure she knows best. I couldn't help, growing up, wanting to best her every chance I got. Seeing that line appear between her blue eyes always made me smile. At least she knew who I was, even if she seemed like she hated me. Except one summer, the year we worked together after her father's accident, she kissed me while we were berry picking. That changed everything...
You can see Kathy's review here.
Kelly P's Blog - Karen Rock: Caught between a Holstein and a Gander!
"...I had my own set of adventures on the farm and though some didn't end well, as the one I'm about to relate, they've all stayed with me and inspired me while writing His Hometown Girl. This particular adventure began while I was spending a summer weekend at my grandparents' farm house..."
Harlie's Books - Review
"If you are looking for a sweet, heartwarming romance this line from Harlequin will be just perfect for you. It's not quite Harlequin Romance and it doesn't have the religious overtones of Love Inspired (which I love). It's in the middle dealing with every day folks, their community and home."
Fiona's Book Reviews - Review
"The story is written well. It is a lovely slow burning story with plenty to keep you interested. It isn't a simple romance story. Much of it is about her job and her need to provide for her son. A story which I enjoyed, and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next."
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf - Author Interview
4.What do you hope that readers take away with them after reading your book?
At its heart, this story is about acceptance. Jodi needs to learn to accept her past and forgive herself for old mistakes. She also needs to accept that no parent is perfect, nor is any child. We need to learn to love and accept ourselves to find true love. I hope the reader comes away knowing that you don't have to be perfect to find the person who is perfect for you.
Mel's Shelves - Review
"This is a fun read! Jodi and Daniel go head to head to get the farmers to commit to each of their plans and some of their tactics were quite entertaining. I enjoyed their banter and watching their relationship progress. Jodi is protective of her heart and her son and isn't about to let just anyone in...
This is, indeed, a heartwarming story and a good book to curl up with when you're in the mood for a clean romance!"
Read a Book - Review
"Both Jodi and Daniel make mistakes, they can become rather stubborn and closed in their thinking, refusing to consider other possibilities than those that they think are right, but it is through these mistakes that will realize the reality and what really matters.
His Hometown Girl if it was an emotional read for me, holding a couple of scarves haha, but if you venture too fast in history, also the pace is quite fluid and I welcome both the plot and the characters (?), A book very touching, if they read it out!"
Reviews By Molly - Spotlight
My Devotional Thoughts - Review
"This author is one I would read again in a heartbeat, and this is one of those books you can read quickly and feel so good afterwards! I highly recommend it."
Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Guest Post: The Proof is in the Salsa
Suddenly, I felt the pressure and responsibility of having brought a tasty dish. It wasn't until someone scooped out the last spoonful that I breathed easy and shared a jubilant hug with Gram. I'd done it!
Tressa's Wishful Endings - Review
"It also pulled me in with the humor, romance, and heartfelt story. I literally read it in one sitting. There are some great scenes and moments between these characters. I also really loved the small-town feel."3/10
That's the Way it Goes - Excerpt
The music began and Mary gave Daniel a little shove. "Have at her. Indulge us for old times' sake. Everyone thought you two would make a great couple when you weren't scrapping."
He looked down at a dismayed Jodi. "Guess we can't disappoint our fans."
Getting Your Read On - Review
"I really enjoyed this book and I will admit that when Daniel and Jodi call a semi-truce of sorts and start being nicer to each other I breathed a sigh of relief. This was a fluffy read, and a great distraction with a happily ever after that I loved."Copywrite1985 - Review & Author Interview
"I loved His Hometown Girl! Jodi and Daniel are both compelling characters with complex motivations. I understood both of their positions and reasons, which made it all the more difficult as a reader to choose a side."
Q: For those who aren't familiar with Heartwarming, how would you characterize the line?
Heartwarming novels are deeply romantic, tender love stories that are considered 'clean' or 'wholesome' without a faith-based element. They are the kinds of romances you'd be excited to share with your daughter as they're great examples of what real-life relationships should be.
Bottles & Books Reviews - Spotlight
Colorimetry - Flashback to Strawberry Picking
"It's a free country," she muttered, of two minds. Like always, she wanted him near. Though they'd been childhood rivals for years, he'd been the only boy who made her stomach turn itself into knots, her heart beat faster. Too often, she'd caught herself doodling his name in the margins of notebooks when she forgot herself. Yet his family had loaned her father the machine that'd caused the accident. It was hard not to see him as 'the enemy' more than ever.
The Wonderings of One Person - Author Interview
How has this story touched your life?It meant a lot when I read the 'Dear Reader' letter to my sister and saw her smile and cry happy tears to see what I'd written about her. Like all parents of special needs children (and I'm one myself as my daughter has an anxiety disorder), she needs to know what an incredible job she is doing and never to feel less than other parents.
Letters from Annie Douglass Lima - Excerpt
Her sigh felt as though it came from the deepest part of her. "Oh, Daniel."
He cupped her cheeks. "We can make this work."
Her brows came together. "Impossible. We both have too much to lose."
Lola's Reviews - Review
"I really enjoyed the ending and there are some really sweet and touching scenes in this book."
I Would Rather Be Reading... - Review
"Karen Rock charms us with her second novel. Jodi and Daniel…and Tyler's story makes you laugh out loud, sigh with longing and ball your fists in frustration and cry at the happily ever after. Readers will be completely blown away by this heartwarming tale and grabbing for the nearest box of tissues."The Written Adventure - Author Interview
I have three more books contracted with Harlequin Heartwarming and each is very unique. I can't wait to share them! I just finished one about two very different people- one's a dreamer, the other a pragmatist- who team up to create a start-up company designing a dating compatibility app. It's been a lot of fun trying to answer the question: Can love come with a guarantee?
Angels With Attitude Book Reviews - Author Interview
A couple of things inspired HIS HOMETOWN GIRL. The first is my sister, Cathy. She's my autistic niece, Abbie's, mother and an incredible parent. Raising a child with special needs can be challenging and requires a lot of love and patience...
The second inspiration is my childhood days spent on my Uncle Bob's dairy farm.
Brooke Blogs - Review
I loved that the story was much more than a romance, though. It was a genuine, full story of life, of love, and of all the things that people go through.Jessie's Book Place - Excerpt
Total Book Geek - Review
His Hometown Girl
by Karen Rock
Mass Market Paperback, Large Print, 331 pages
March 1st 2014 by Harlequin
He'd always managed to best her…
Jodi Chapman will do whatever it takes to get top care for her autistic son. If that means going home and convincing local farmers to sell their land, so be it. Even if her biggest opponent, childhood rival Daniel Gleason, is equally determined to convince farmers to buy into his co-op plan. And he's not playing fair.
Facing off against Daniel is the last thing Jodi wants. The attraction that's always fueled their competitiveness is as strong as ever and just as distracting. But with both their futures on the line, and years of distrust between them, how can they ever be on the same side?
Karen Rock has adored romance since receiving Harlequin
Presents books from her grandmother each summer. She formed her Young Adult
writing partnership, J.K. Rock- pseudonym for the CAMP BOYFRIEND series, with
her sister-in-law and Blaze author, Joanne Rock in 2011. When Karen heard of a
call for submissions to Heartwarming, Harlequin's latest line, she was inspired
by the possibilities of writing unforgettable, deeply romantic, tender love
stories that mothers would feel comfortable sharing with their daughters. When
she's not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking
her grandmother's family recipes, hiking the 'high peaks', and redesigning her
gardens. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband,
daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels who have yet to understand the
concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love.
For more information
about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website,
Facebook page, or follow her on twitter. She'd love to hear from you!
Tour-Wide Giveaway
1 - Paperback/ebook copies of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (format is winner's choice, paperback for US Only) and $20 Amazon gift card
2 - ebooks of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (INT)
Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.
Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.


text:
All the code contributions should be made through GitLab on freedesktop.org. The component name is xkeyboard-config.
There are no special rules for new types. They are going to be introduced very conservatively.
There are relatively few geometry descriptions that are currently available. People are very welcome to contribute them. The only recommendation is to have them visually pleasant and precise.
Most of PC keyboard models should be defined by the following actions:
- adding new xkb_symbols section to symbols/inet
- extending $inetkbds list in rules/base.lists.part
- adding new model section to rules/base.xml (in modelList)
It is recommended to use {v}{m} pattern for the model name, where {v} is abbreviated vendor name. {m} is the model name. Recommended vendor abbreviations:
- 'a4tech' - A4Tech
- 'acer' - Acer
- 'cherry' - Cherry
- 'chicony' - Chicony
- 'compaq' - Compaq
- 'dell' - Dell
- 'genius' - Genius
- 'logi' - Logitech
- 'microsoft' - Microsoft
- 'samsung' - Samsung
The name of xkb_symbols section (in symbols/inet) should be same as the new element in the $inetkbds list (in base.lists.part), same as name element (in base.xml).
The vendor element in base.xml has to be specified.
While defining xkb_symbols, it is strongly recommended to include (where applicable) shared sections for the media and navigation keys:
- acpi_common
- media_common
- media_acpi_common
- media_nav_acpi_common
- media_nav_common
- nav_common
- nav_acpi_common
These sections should be used even if not all of the keys specified in that section are present in the defined model. The syntax is standard:
include "inet(media_common)"
For example, if keys prev/next/play/stop have the mapping as defined in media_common (and other keys do not exist in the keyboard at all) - this is a good case for including entire media_common anyway
The key mappings have to be sorted alphabetically, by the keycode name.
If your keyboard model mapping is entirely covered by some existing section symbols/inet (some keycodes may be not actually used by your keyboard), do not create a new section consisting of a single include statement. Instead, create an alias in rules/base.m_s.part file and add it into rules/base.xml, as usual.
Layouts, Variants
Every layout/variant has to define a single group: group 1. Layouts with multiple groups are not accepted.
Every layout/variant has to be defined for some particular country, it should go into the file symbols/{cc} where {cc} is 2-letter country code from ISO 3166-1 alpha 2. The language-based layout/file names are not accepted. If several countries are using the same layout (for example, several countries share the same language), it should be fully defined for one country only - and included by reference into the files for other countries
Every layout/variant has to be registered in rules/base.xml.
There is only one exception: default variants. These are the variants which are either marked by "default" keyword in the symbols file (it is recommended to put them first and name them basic), or used as default because of some rule in the rules/base file (usually by modifying rules/base.ml_s.part component).
There are popular variant names which are used by many countries, so they should be considered as first candidates (where applicable) for new variants. They are:
- 'dvorak' - for national variants of the Dvorak layout
- 'intl' - for variants suitable for multiple languages; usually - for the official state language(s) and some other frequently used foreign languages.
- 'mac' - for variants specific to Macintosh keyboards
- 'nodeadkeys' - for variants without dead keys (if the some other national variants are using them)
- 'phonetic' - for variants which are using phonetic resemblance (usually - based on standard Americal layout)
- 'sundeadkeys' - for variants with dead keys
- 'us' - for variants which are using standard American layout as a basis, adding some national characters
- 'winkeys' - for variants which are not standardized nationally but used in Microsoft Windows
Every layout/variant has to provide a full description. First - as the group name in the symbols file, second - as the translatable description in rules/base.xml.
The general approach for the descriptions is to follow "
" or <"Language> ( )" convention, for example: "English" or "Russian (legacy)". The usual practice is to use the country name as variation name, for example: "French (Canada)". The language has to be chosen as the one that is most frequently used with that layout/variant. That language has to be put first into the languageList attribute in base.xml (if the variant record does not have own languageList, the parent layout's languages are used). For the layouts/variants that are "exotic", it is recommended to use base.extras.xml instead of base.xml. The word "exotic" is used in statistical sense only.
There is no formal definition of "exotic", because in most cases it is not possible to prove the actual number of users. There are several "usual suspects" for the "exotic" section:
- The layouts for endangered/extinct languages/scripts. The statistics can be taken from http://www.ethnologue.com/. The potential candidates are languages with <100K speakers. If the number of speakers is <10K, the language most probably belongs to "extras"
- The languages that are used most frequently with layouts made for other languages. If most of the texts using the language L1 are typed using layouts made for L2 (more popular), the own layout for L1 may be considered as exotic, even if the language L1 itself is popular. That is the a possible scenario for national minorities using the languages with the alphabet similar to the alphabet used by the language of the larger nation in the same country.
- The exotic layouts for popular languages. If some relatively small group of people are using some variant suitable for their needs. Typical examples: variants for programmers, for typography, for particular group of sciences, for sacred texts etc.
That's typical, but not the only possible scenarios for putting layout/variants into the "extras" section.
The maintainer of xkeyboard-config typically questions the popularity of newly submitted layouts/variants. If no conclusive proof of number of users is provided, the layout can be put into the extras section (the maintainer reserves that right).
Putting layout/variant into the extras section is just a representation of the fact that layout is not popular enough to be included into the main section. The GUI tools can use any approach to displaying (or not displaying) "extras" - this issue is out of scope of xkeyboard-config.
It is recommended to put "exotic" variants into the end of the corresponding symbols file - after the delimiter line:
The short description (shortDescription tag) is recommended for the indicators that use labels (as opposite to flags) for providing the user with the information about currently used layout/variant. This description is expected to contain the 2-letter ISO639-1 code (in lowercase) of the primary language - or, if no ISO639-1 exists for that language, it can be 3-letter code from ISO639-2 or ISO639-3. That code is made translatable, so that localized GUI can display some abbreviations suitable for the current locale. If some variant does not provide own short description, the short description from the parent layout is expected to be used.
For layouts/variants using more than 2 shift levels, it is highly recommended to include level3(ralt_switch) symbols definition - for standard switching to levels 3 and 4 using AltGr key.
The authors are highly encouraged to use include statements wherever possible - it makes the resulting code more compact and easier to manage.
The key mappings have to be sorted alphabetically, by the keycode name.
When you contribute model-specific layout/variant (for example, German for Macintosh), try to separate layout-specific mappings from the general ones, common to any national layout on that hardware. Usually, alphanumeric and punctuation key mappings are layout-specific, while navigation keys, functional keys, modifiers etc are model-specific. Consider putting model-specific keys mappings to the model-specific definitions (usually it is a section of symbols/inet file).
It is recommended to use -U 7 rather than -u option with diff, that makes patches easier to apply (see https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=106261)


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The Electronic Frontier Foundation was founded in July of 1990 in response to a basic threat to speech and privacy. The United States Secret Service conducted a series of raids tracking the distribution of a document illegally copied from a BellSouth computer that described how the emergency 911 system worked, referred to as the E911 document. The Secret Service believed that if "hackers" knew how to use the telephone lines set aside for receiving emergency phone calls, the lines would become overloaded and people facing true emergencies would be unable to get through.
One of the alleged recipients of the E911 document was the systems operator at a small games book publisher out of Austin, Texas, named Steve Jackson Games. The Secret Service executed a warrant against the innocent Jackson and took all electronic equipment and copies of an upcoming game book from Steve Jackson Games' premises. Steve Jackson panicked as he watched the deadline come and go for his latest release and still hadn't received his computers back. He was forced to lay off nearly half of his staff. In the end, the Secret Service returned all of Steve Jackson's computers and decided not to press charges against the company, since they were unable to find any copies of the E911 document on any of the computers.
In the meantime, Steve Jackson's business was nearly ruined. And when he and his employees had the opportunity to investigate the returned computers, they noticed that all of the electronic mail that had been stored on the company's electronic bulletin board computer, where non-employee users had dialed in and sent personal messages to one another, had been individually accessed and deleted. Steve Jackson was furious, as he believed his rights as a publisher had been violated and the free speech and privacy rights of his users had been violated. Steve Jackson tried desperately to find a civil liberties group to help him, to no avail. Unfortunately, none of the existing groups understood the technology well enough to understand the importance of the issues.
In an electronic community called the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (now WELL.com) several informed technologists understood exactly what civil liberties issues were involved. Mitch Kapor, former president of Lotus Development Corporation, John Perry Barlow, Wyoming cattle rancher and lyricist for the Grateful Dead, and John Gilmore, an early employee of Sun Microsystems, with assistance from Steve Wozniak, decided to do something about it. They formed an organization to work on civil liberties issues raised by new technologies. On the day they formally unveiled the new organization, they announced that they were representing Steve Jackson Games and several of the company's bulletin board users in a lawsuit they were bringing against the United States Secret Service. The Electronic Frontier Foundation was born!
The Steve Jackson Games case turned out to be an extremely important one in the development of a proper legal framework for cyberspace. For the first time, a court held that electronic mail deserves at least as much protection as telephone calls. We take for granted today that law enforcement must have a warrant that particularly describes all electronic mail messages before seizing and reading them. The Steve Jackson Games case established that principle.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation continues to take on cases that set important precedents for the treatment of rights in cyberspace. In our second big case, Bernstein v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, the United States government prohibited a University of California mathematics Ph.D. student from publishing on the Internet an encryption computer program he had created. Encryption is a method for scrambling messages so they can only be understood by their intended recipients. Years before, the government had placed encryption on the United States Munitions List, alongside bombs and flamethrowers, as a weapon to be regulated for national security purposes. Companies and individuals exporting items on the munitions list, including software with encryption capabilities, had to obtain prior State Department approval.
Encryption export restrictions crippled American businesses and damaged the free speech rights of individuals. Critical for ecommerce, companies use encryption to safeguard sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, which they send or receive over electronic networks. Companies also secure access to software programs and provide system security using encryption. By limiting the export of encryption, technologies, and methods, the U.S. government drove development of security software overseas, where American companies were unable to compete.
The State Department was unsympathetic to Bernstein's situation and told Bernstein he would need a license to be an arms dealer before he could simply post the text of his encryption program on the Internet. They also told him that they would deny him an export license if he actually applied for one, because his technology was too secure.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation pulled together a top-notch legal team and sued the United States government on behalf of Dan Bernstein. The court ruled, for the first time ever, that written software code is speech protected by the First Amendment. The court further ruled that the export control laws on encryption violated Bernstein's First Amendment rights by prohibiting his constitutionally protected speech. As a result, the government changed its export regulations. Now everyone has the right to "export" encryption software -- by publishing it on the Internet -- without prior permission from the U.S. government. Once again, the Electronic Frontier Foundation led the charge to establish important cyberspace rights.
Today's Issues
While many early battles over the right to communicate freely and privately stemmed from government censorship, today EFF is fighting for users on many other fronts as well.
Today, certain powerful corporations are attempting to shut down online speech, prevent new innovation from reaching consumers, and facilitating government surveillance. We challenge corporate overreach just as we challenge government abuses of power.
We also develop technologies that can help individuals protect their privacy and security online, which our technologists build and release freely to the public for anyone to use.
In addition, EFF is engaged in major legislative fights, beating back digital censorship bills disguised as intellectual property proposals, opposing attempts to force companies to spy on users, championing reform bills that rein in government surveillance, and much more .
We are working with advocates worldwide to create a global digital environment that upholds both human rights and Constitutional rights, and we continue to take on cutting-edge legal cases to win victories for user rights.


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Very fine piece by Stuart Taylor, National Journal, on new approaches to counterterrorism policy
Stuart Taylor is one of the most incisive journalists around - on a wide variety of topics ranging from the Duke lacrosse case, where he was one of the very, very earliest journalists to raise skeptical questions to the topic of his May 14, 2007 National Journal column, on counterterrorism. He notes that there are scholars, activists, and policy analysts - I am honored to be included among them - seeking to find common ground going forward on counterterrorism, looking beyond the Bush administration to the next administration and the 111th Congress. (His column a couple of months back on the possibility of a national counterterrorism court was also very, very important.) From the column:
Terrorism Suspects And The Law
By Stuart Taylor Jr., National Journal
Monday, May 14, 2007
What should our government do when it captures a noncitizen suspected of being an Islamist terrorist?
Under the Bush administration's approach, partly ratified by Congress, such people can be imprisoned indefinitely, perhaps for life, without ever seeing a judge or jury, based on slapdash military hearings with no defense lawyers, no real opportunity to confront the evidence against them -- which can be obtained through coercive interrogation -- and all-too-cursory judicial review. Some detainees have also been subjected to years of interrogation, including techniques so brutal as to meet many definitions of torture -- and, in a few cases, to cause death.
No satisfactory resolution of the debate over the treatment of suspected terrorists is likely until at least 2009.
By contrast, under the approach demanded by some human-rights groups, even a captive who is undoubtedly a mass-murdering terrorist must be freed unless the government can prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in an ordinary criminal trial. If the proof would publicly expose secrets so sensitive as to endanger the lives of intelligence sources, that would be the government's problem. Nor could terrorist masterminds be subjected to even mild discomfort by interrogators seeking to extract life-saving information.
The gulf between these two approaches illustrates the polarization of our political and legal debate on the handling of terrorism suspects. No satisfactory resolution seems likely until at least 2009. Then, perhaps, we may have a new president willing to heed the advice of the more moderate-spirited experts (some named below) who have been thinking through the challenges posed by the hundreds of suspects now held by the military and others who may be captured in the future.
The most important challenge will be to devise a fairer process for deciding whether to subject suspects who may or may not be terrorists to long-term detention -- an issue of much greater importance than the more publicized Bush plan for criminal trials of a few detainees before military commissions.
Meanwhile, with the administration's far-too-error-prone approach in place and its loudest critics offering no politically acceptable alternative, America's once-proud image suffers -- more than it should, probably -- and the terrorists win recruits and sympathizers around the world.
To make things worse, the administration is trying to leverage the denial of serious judicial review to Guantanamo Bay detainees -- approved by Congress in October's Military Commissions Act -- into a denial of serious legal representation as well. The Justice Department has urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to limit lawyers handling appeals from military decisions classifying detainees as enemy combatants to three visits per client; to let the government read lawyer-client letters; and to let it deny the lawyers access to secret evidence.
At the other extreme, some human-rights advocates seem so deep in denial about the magnitude of the terrorist threat, as well as about the differences between their own views and those of the vast majority of voters and politicians, that their protests fall mostly on deaf ears. Such groups have little prospect of influencing American policy even if Democrats take the presidency and hold Congress in 2008.
After all, when the Supreme Court rebuffed Bush in 2004 [PDF] and again last year [PDF] for breaking the law in his handling of detainees, Congress promptly changed the law after each decision to overrule the justices and give Bush most of what he wanted. And while human-rights groups would completely ban even mildly coercive interrogation, some Democrats, including Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer of New York, have said that they might support full-fledged torture in a "ticking-bomb" scenario. Such comments, plus the unwillingness of most Democrats to push for reforms in the treatment of detainees, reflect the reality that public opinion is far closer to Bush's guilt-presuming approach than to the unrealistic prescriptions of, say, Amnesty International.
And on the merits, the military's highly inadequate Combatant Status Review Tribunals, which decide what suspects to incarcerate as "enemy combatants," do provide protections consistent with the Geneva Conventions and the Supreme Court's 2004 Hamdi v. Rumsfeld decision.
It must also be admitted, in my view, that although "meaningful, probing judicial review has a more substantial place in this war than the administration allows, it has a far-more-limited one than many civil libertarians and human-rights advocates imagine," as Brookings Institution guest scholar Benjamin Wittes writes in a forthcoming June/July Policy Review article.
Wittes and other moderate-minded experts of diverse political views appear to agree on the need for policy makers to find a middle course between the Bush and Amnesty International extremes.
The best hope for moving toward a decent detainee policy is for the winner of the 2008 presidential election, and the 111th Congress, to look to such experts for guidance.
These experts include (among others) Jack Goldsmith of Harvard Law School, one of the few high-level Bush Justice Department officials handling terrorism issues to leave with his reputation intact; former Clinton Justice Department officials including Walter Dellinger of Duke Law School and Neal Katyal of Georgetown Law School; Elisa Massimino, Washington director of Human Rights First; Kenneth Anderson of American University Washington College of Law; and Curtis Bradley of Duke Law School, who served in the Bush State Department.
Then there is Bill Clinton, who would make a perfect chairman for a national commission on detainee treatment. In a little-noticed National Public Radio interview last fall, the former president outlined a sensible approach to the hypothetical interrogation of a captured terrorist mastermind who is thought to know the plans for an imminent attack:
"You don't need blanket advance approval for blanket torture. They can draw a statute much more narrowly, which would permit the president to make a finding... if they really believe... the only way they can get a reliable piece of information is to beat it out of someone or put a drug in their body to talk it out of him, then they can present it to the Foreign Intelligence [Surveillance] Court, or some other court, just under the same circumstances we do with wiretaps. Post facto.... But I think if you go around passing laws that legitimize a violation of the Geneva Convention and institutionalize what happened at Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo, we're going to be in real trouble."
Even the wisest experts on these issues disagree about many things -- most of all, perhaps, about whether federal courts should have the power (denied by the Military Commissions Act) to hear full-fledged habeas corpus challenges to the military's detention or treatment of non-Americans captured overseas. But many of them appear to agree about some big things:
The demands by many human-rights advocates that all terrorism suspects be released unless proven guilty of crimes should be (or, at least, inevitably will be) rejected by the president, Congress, and the courts. Some form of administrative detention -- not to punish but to incapacitate terrorism suspects for whom criminal prosecution is not feasible -- will be with us for the foreseeable future.
The detention hearings implicitly approved by Congress last October are unnecessarily error-prone. Terrorism suspects should have the assistance of counsel in these detention hearings; the lawyers should (if they qualify for security clearances) have access to all of the government's evidence and should be able to seek evidence and testimony from abroad, insofar as practicable.
Congress should revisit and reject the Bush position that the government can grab any foreigner in this country and lock him up indefinitely as an enemy combatant, with no trial and no more protection against erroneous detention than is given to those captured in Afghanistan.
The definition of "unlawful enemy combatant" in the Military Commissions Act is too broad. It includes not only active participants in hostilities but also anyone who "purposefully and materially" supported attacks on the United States or its allies -- language that arguably encompasses anyone who sent money to a banned group or food to a combatant son.
The act's vague, confusing rules on interrogation tactics leave too much room for executive branch manipulation while also leaving interrogators too exposed to second-guessing.
More-rigorous federal judicial review is needed over the integrity of the military's fact-finding process than the Military Commissions Act provides, both in the initial decision to detain a suspect and in subsequent parole-type hearings to determine whether he still poses a threat.
"Deferential [judicial] review of anemic procedures yielding decisions with enormous consequences for the liberty of individuals captured under murky circumstances," as the forthcoming Wittes article asserts, "is not a recipe either for justice or for public confidence in American prosecution of the war on terror in the long run."
-- Stuart Taylor Jr. is a senior writer and columnist for National Journal magazine, where "Opening Argument" appears. His e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
warez d00dz /weirz doodz/, n. A substantial subculture of crackers refer to themselves as warez d00dz; there is evidently some connection with B1FF here. As ?Ozone Pilot?, one former warez d00d, wrote: Warez d00dz get illegal copies of copyrighted software. If it has copy protection on it, they break the protection so the software can be copied. Then they distribute it around the world via several gateways. Warez d00dz form badass group names like RAZOR and the like. They put up boards that distribute the latest ware, or pirate program. The whole point of the Warez sub-culture is to get the pirate program released and distributed before any other group. I know, I know. But don't ask, and it won't hurt as much. This is how they prove their poweress [sic]. It gives them the right to say, ?I released King's Quest IVXIX before you so obviously my testicles are larger.? Again don't ask... The studly thing to do if one is a warez d00d, it appears, is emit 0-day warez, that is copies of commercial software copied and cracked on the same day as its retail release. Warez d00ds also hoard software in a big way, collecting untold megabytes of arcade-style games, pornographic JPGs, and applications they'll never use onto their hard disks. As Ozone Pilot acutely observes: [BELONG] is the only word you will need to know. Warez d00dz want to belong. They have been shunned by everyone, and thus turn to cyberspace for acceptance. That is why they always start groups like TGW, FLT, USA and the like. Structure makes them happy. [...] Warez d00dz will never have a handle like ?Pink Daisy? because warez d00dz are insecure. Only someone who is very secure with a good dose of self-esteem can stand up to the cries of fag and girlie-man. More likely you will find warez d00dz with handles like: Doctor Death, Deranged Lunatic, Hellraiser, Mad Prince, Dreamdevil, The Unknown, Renegade Chemist, Terminator, and Twin Turbo. They like to sound badass when they can hide behind their terminals. More likely, if you were given a sample of 100 people, the person whose handle is Hellraiser is the last person you'd associate with the name. The contrast with Internet hackers is stark and instructive. See cracker, wannabee, handle, elite, courier, leech; compare weenie, spod .


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There are plenty of places to pick up great PC games, whether you're looking for something just-released or a classic treasure. Still, some are better than others, either thanks to their deals, selection, approach to DRM, or support for indie games. Here are five of the best, based on your nominations.
Earlier in the week we asked you for your favorite resources for PC video games. Whether it was selection that trumped everything, the best possible prices, great software, support for independent game devs and creators, or DRM-free downloads. We've shared some of our own in the past, but we wanted to hear yours. Now we're back to highlight the top five from our nominations round. Here they are, in no particular order:
GOG, formerly Good Old Games, started off as a repository for digital sales and downloads of old, classic games that you may remember and love, just updated to run on modern computers and operating systems (especially great even if you know how to make them work yourself.) It's still very much that—if you have a classic game you remember playing back in the day, or that you've heard of from a long time ago, they likely have it available—and tweaked so it'll run on your current PC. GOG has evolved with the times, though. Now the site hosts new games for sale and download in addition to classic titles, often at impressive discounts. One of GOG's most notable features is that their games are DRM-free, meaning your games aren't locked to the PC you're on now, they're not stuck to some cloud account that can get hacked or banned, you don't have to be online or authenticated to another service to play them, and so on. It's a welcome change.
Those of you who nominated GOG made special note of the fact that downloads from the service are DRM-free, and that the site's selection of titles, especially classic games, is unparalleled. Many of you heralded their great prices and frequent discounts, but the one universal thing all of the comments mentioned was the fact that GOG has an exceptional community of gamers who truly love games, love classic titles, and get along well with each other. Part of that has to do with GOG's approach to its customers—seeing them more as friends and fellow gamers rather than just people who give them money. Don't take my word for it though, read more in its nomination thread.
What started out as a tool Valve created to digitally deliver its own games to buyers and as a bit of a social network for people who play Valve games quickly evolved and grew into perhaps the dominant method of digital game delivery available today, and arguably one of the first real "app stores." Available for Windows, OS X, and Linux, Steam boasts a ridiculously large catalog of games large and small, big budget and independent, expensive and free-to-play. It's also backed by a massive community of PC gamers who can voice chat with one another, see what their friends are playing, join in, trade and gift games and in-game items, build wishlists, and more. We could write a whole article on Steam's features, like Big Picture mode, controller support, the upcoming Steam Machines and the SteamOS beta, and all of those wonderful Steam sales that drain our wallet every few months, and how to keep that library organized once you're filled it with games, but odds are you're already familiar with them all.
In the nominations thread, most of you praised Steam not necessarily because of its software or its platform, but because of its incredibly large game selection (and software selection too—let's not forget that Steam also sells non-game programs too) and frequent deep, deep discounts. We all love a good Steam sale, and it's pretty difficult to keep your credit card in your pocket when a game that was $60 when it was launched is $5 during a Steam sale. Some of you also noted that Steam's mobile app is a great way to keep up with friends and catch deals, and pointed to other tools like Enhanced Steam to help you make the most of it. Read more in the nominations thread here.
Amazon may not be the first service that comes to mind when you think of video games, but their game store—both digital and physical—are fairly underrated. They frequently list discounts on popular titles that are really hard to beat, and have a massive selection of titles that isn't hindered by corporate loyalties or alliances (that means it's a one-stop for games using Steam, Origin, UPlay, and just about everything else—including many DRM-free titles.) Amazon also earns points for being willing to price match anyone currently undercutting them on the same game, so you can always make sure you're getting the best possible deal if you check with them first. Plus, even though we're discussing PC titles here (and they do have downloadable and physical copies of games for Windows and OS X), they also have a thriving digital delivery store for PlayStation Network, and of course, Android devices.
Those of you who nominated Amazon specifically praised their selection and their rock bottom pricing, and Shane—who regularly curates our Kotaku Deals segment—notes that in his day to day, checking all of these stores for bargains, he turns up some of the best prices on Amazon every single day. They also offer great deals on pre-order titles, and have specific stores for indie games and free-to-play titles that you can download any time you like—and all of your keys are stored in your Amazon account for future retrieval if you ever need them. Read more in the nomination thread here.
The Humble Bundle
The Humble Bundle, like many "bundle" sales, packs together a bunch of titles into a collection available at one low price that, ideally, is far less than the regular price of each item added up. That's what makes so many of them irresistible, and the Humble Bundle excels at it. The team behind the service started off offering gamers a way to get a ton of great games, DRM-free, at an amazing price, and also encouraging them to donate a portion of their purchase to charities like Child's Play, a worthwhile cause that gets a portion of the proceeds of each Humble Bundle sale. You choose how much you want to pay (within reason, of course), and the more you pay, the more games or other bonuses you get with the bundle. It's a simple model, but it's remarkably effective, and when there's a really great bundle available, odds are you'll hear about it from every corner of the internet.
Those of you who praised the Humble Bundle pointed to it being a great way to try out smaller titles at a great price, and the fact that it's an amazing outlet for independent and mobile games in addition to PC titles. The pay-what-you-want model for the bundle is a huge boost as well, and while many of the bundles go under the radar because there aren't huge titles in it, that doesn't mean they're no good or not worth your money. Plus, the fact that many—although not all and not consistently—downloads are DRM-free earned a few favors in the nominations thread. You can read more about the Humble Bundle in its nomination thread here.
Green Man Gaming
If you're looking for a game store that really goes out of its way to give Steam a run for its money, Green Man Gaming is worth a look. The service consistently undercuts Steam, offers discounts and promo codes on Twitter and Facebook, and offers great pricing even on pre-order or newly released titles. GMG's library is absolutely massive, and their discounts are usually pretty deep. They often host their own seasonal and holiday sales on their entire catalog, offering attractive prices on popular games, and you can keep track of all of them and your keys and downloads through PlayFire, which nets you achievements and rewards as you play. They may be lesser known, but there's no reason for them to be—they're definitely worth checking before you spend money at another store.
GMG earned praise in the nominations round for its liberally-distributed coupon codes and store credits, which can often mean you get some pricey new games for surprisingly little cash if you save them up. The service is based in the UK, which can lead to some overseas payment processing issues for those of us in the US, but it's nothing you can't get around by using Paypal, for example. Beyond that however, GMG's library and pricing earned it praise, especially from bargain hunters who find themselves surprised from time to time that the best deals are over here. Read more in the nomination thread here.
There you have it! Now that you've seen the top five, it's time to put them to an all-out vote to determine the crowd favorite:
This week's honorable mentions go out to Half-Price Books, and other brick-and-mortar discount stores, where there are often surprising deals to be found at rock bottom prices. While it's a regional chain, odds are you have a similar low-price discount store in your area that sells videogames, and even if you don't, make sure to check your local Goodwill or Salvation Army—I've found incredible deals on boxed games there—especially single-player titles where the serials and discs were still intact and working.
We also got a number of nominations for deal sites that help you get the best possible price on deals from some of the above stores—great entries, so if you're looking for the best possible prices, make sure you head back to the call for contenders to check them out.
Want to make the case for your personal favorite, even if it wasn't included in the list? Remember, the top five are based on your most popular nominations from the call for contenders thread from earlier in the week. Don't just complain about the top five, let us know what your preferred alternative is—and make your case for it—in the discussions below.
The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at [email protected]!


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People with celiac disease in Joplin, MO need our help!
The following message was posted by Barbara Hicks, leader of the Tri Lakes Celiac Support Group in Kimberling, MO. Contact Barbara to find out how you can get involved.
Hi Everyone,
I am sure that by now you have heard about the tornado that hit Joplin. It took out a major portion of the town including the two major grocery stores where celiacs there were able to access GF foods. Much of the town is without electricity and due to contamination issues, their water is also contaminated. Those that still have a home and access to water are under a boil order.
Many of these folks have also lost their jobs because of the businesses that have been destroyed in the storm. It is a difficult situation for people without food issues, let alone someone with celiac disease.
I have been in contact with the leader of the new support group there and she is one of the lucky ones who still has a home and power. She and her husband have offered to be a contact point to hand out GF supplies to celiacs in their community.
If anyone, individual or company, would be willing to provide GF items to them for distribution, please let me know and I will provide their contact information. She mentioned that there would be a particular need for shelf stable items that folks can keep without refrigeration/freezing and also require minimal preparation like GF bars, crackers, etc.
Some folks that have been relocated to friends or relatives homes might be able to use mixes, but not have access to safe cookware. Maybe disposable foil pans would be a good idea if you send mixes.
Thank you so much for your willingness to read this message and perhaps help out fellow celiacs in need.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.
Barbara Hicks
Tri Lakes Celiac Support Group
Kimberling City, MO
Email Barbara by clicking here!
Author Information: John Libonati, Philadelphia, PA
Publisher, Glutenfreeworks.com.
Editor & Publisher, Recognizing Celiac Disease.
John can be reached by e-mail here.