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1. How do I order?
To order a product just click 'Add To Cart' button on the right of product's picture. You can find the goods ordered in the shopping cart item. This will then commence the check out and payment process. Just follow all the prompts which will collect information such as the shipping and payment details. Once your order has been processed you will receive an email confirming your purchase within 12h.
2. What Payment Methods we accept?
We accept Credit Card.
3. Is your site secure for Credit Card purchases?
Absolutely, 100% Yes. In fact more secure than if you use your credit card in a retail shop. We understand that in order for us to have a long-term relationship with you, we need to offer more than just great products at great bargain prices – we need to earn your trust. We have therefore gone to great lengths to provide you with the safest online shopping around – and you can confirm our claims for yourself.
4.Credit Card Payment Method Tips:
Before you place an order using credit card on our site, we do hope that you could spend some time reading the following information to understand how credit card purchases are processed.
(1).To Place an order and type credit card number on a secure site of an online store. Store administrator sees the shopping cart details, which include order and billing information.
(2).Shopping cart details along with merchant account are sent to payment gateway secure server for processing.
(3).Payment gateway forwards transaction information to merchant's acquiring bank.
(4).Merchant's acquiring bank forwards transaction information to the credit card issuing bank for transaction verification.
(5).Credit card issuing bank verifies transaction and sends response code (Approve, Deny, and reason for denial if applicable) back to merchant's acquiring bank.
(6).Merchant's bank sends credit card transaction details and response back to payment gateway. If payment is approved, the bank will deposit funds on a merchant's account at the scheduled time.
(7).Payment gateway sends transaction details and response back to merchant online store.
(8).Payment information is displayed to the customer; i.e. "credit card was charged", "credit card was denied", etc.
At certain processing stages fees will be charged from the transaction total. The amount of fees depends on a payment gateway used, merchant account, credit card type, and other factors; it usually adds up to be two to three percent of total charges.
5. Why was my Credit Card declined?
Your credit card may have been declined due to the following reasons:
*1. Insufficient cleared Funds
*2. Your card has expired
*3. Incorrect CSC number, preventing transaction completion
*4. Error message appears and this may mean you are typing your credit card number with spaces. If you try entering your credit card number as a single number, without any spaces, you shouldn't have any further problems.
Should you be experiencing problems with your Credit Card payment, we recommend that you either fax through your order and credit card information to us via email or live chat.


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Enjoy a bouncy story time filled with rhymes, books and activities. Stay afterward to make friends and play in Fort Discover. Here, children use imaginative play to learn about Army life and innovations. While best for children aged 3 to 6 years old, all ages are welcome to this 30-minute, weekly story time program. Participation is free and included with a general admission ticket. Preregistration not required.
Get a Museum General Admission ticket.
October 3, 2024 @ 10:00
10:00 am — 10:30 am (30′)

subset: commoncrawl


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Oswaldo Payá, Rest in Freedom / Yoani Sánchez
Translator: Unstated, Yoani Sánchez
Oswaldo Payá (1952 – 2012)
No one should die before reaching their dreams of freedom. With the
death of Oswaldo Payá (1952 – 2012), Cuba has suffered a dramatic loss
for its present and an irreplaceable loss for its future. It was not
just an exemplary man, a loving father and a fervent Catholic who stop
breathing yesterday, Sunday, but also an irreplaceable citizen for our
nation. His tenacity shone forth since I was a teenager, when he chose
not to hide the scapulars — as so many others did — and instead publicly
acknowledged his faith. In 1988 his civic responsibility was forged in
the founding of the Christian Liberation Movement, and years later in
the initiative known as the Varela Project.
I remember — as if it were yesterday — the image of Payá outside the
National Assembly of People's Power on that March 10, 2002. The boxes
filled with over 10,000 signatures in his arms, while he delivered them
to the infamous Cuban parliament. The official answer would be a legal
reform, a pathetic "constitutional mummification" that would tie us
"irrevocably" to the current system. But the dissident of a thousand and
one battles was not dissuaded and two years later he and another group
of activists presented 14,000 more signatures. With them they demanded
that a referendum be called to allow freedom of association, expression,
and the press, economic guarantees, and an amnesty that would free the
political prisoners. With the disproportion that characterized it, Fidel
Castro's government answered with the imprisonments of the Black Spring
of 2003. Over 40 members of the Christian Liberation Movement were
sentenced in that fateful March.
Although he was not arrested at that time, for years Payá suffered the
constant surveillance of his home, arbitrary arrests, repudiation
rallies and threats. He ever missed a chance to denounce the prison
conditions of some dissident, or another wrongful conviction. I never
saw him break down, or yell, or insult his political opponents. The
great lesson he left us is his equanimity, pacifism, putting ethics
above differences, the conviction that through civic action and through
legal action, an inclusive Cuba is closer to us. Rest in peace, or
better still, rest released.
23 July 2012
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Campus Security | News
Over the last two months, three American universities have been mopping up from data breaches, the largest--at Ohio State University--affecting 760,000 people. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's security incident involved 60,000 people; and a St. Louis University breach affected staff employed by the university for five years or longer.
During a "routine" IT security review in late October 2010, Ohio State discovered that unauthorized people had logged onto a server that contained information on current and former faculty, students and staff, applicants, and others with university ties. That data included name, Social Security number (SSN), date of birth, and address. A forensic investigation led security experts to conclude that the access was set up to launch cyber attacks against other businesses on the Internet and that no records were actually taken.
The server was isolated to prevent further access, and the university sent out letters in mid-December to those affected. The delay in reporting the breaches to victims, according to a FAQ, was owing to activities related to the assessment of the incident, verification of names and addresses, setting up a credit monitoring protection service, and establishing a hotline with trained operators to handle follow-up communications.
"Although we firmly believe that this incident has not and will not result in identity theft, we are exercising an abundance of caution and will notify affected individuals," the university wrote in a public Web page. The university set up a credit protection service with Experian Consumer Direct for people whose personal information was maintained on the server.
About the same time that Ohio State had discovered its breach, so did U Wisconsin-Madison. According to news coverage on the university's Web site, the Wisconsin Union, the social heart of the university, which manages the campus ID card system, realized that a database within its system had been hit by cybercriminals. One of the files in the database contained dated university photo IT numbers with embedded SSNs and cardholder names.
The institution said it had stopped issuing these cards in 1998. But an examination of the files showed that the database had been compromised in 2008 and accessed "numerous times" in subsequent months. "However, system logs do not show file transfers that would suggest the affected database was downloaded," the university reported.
As follow-up, the university said it has done a check on all Wisconsin Union networks to make sure they're sitting behind a firewall, deployed network intrusion detection, and implemented a vulnerability identification program. Also, all records containing SSNs in the database have been taken offline.
In this case, the university didn't set up a credit-checking service, opting to notify those affected by letter with the recommendation that they use a free credit-reporting service, among other suggestions. As U Wisconsin-Madison stated on its Web site, "This incident illustrates the continuing security challenge the university faces with on an ongoing basis. The university will continue to upgrade its security to avoid similar such situations in the future."
A far less public incident struck St. Louis U in mid-December. According to news station KSDK, university Vice President and CIO Tim Brooks issued a letter to faculty, staff, and students that the school was "working around the clock" to investigate a breach of its campus network. Brooks wrote in the letter, "Although we're still investigating this matter, we didn't want to wait to notify you about what we're doing...." He added that the breach appeared to affect only those individuals who had been employed at St. Louis U for five or more years.
The university informed the FBI and hired a security firm to help with the investigation. Brooks also said the school was exploring options for setting up free ID theft protection for those who might have been affected.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.
Thanks for writing and publishing this story. We posted a link to it on our news portal Identity Theft Daily News -- www.idtheftdailynews.com. Data breaches take many forms -- from accidental to malicious, internal, external, etc. Breaches in higher ed are dangerous because students have a significantly higher rate of becoming identity theft victims than other age groups. These young people are just becoming aware of their need to become financially literate. Many colleges and universities are considering programs that address both financial literacy and financial security (take a look at CampusWatch from Identity Force as an example: www.identityforce.com/College ). The important thing for higher ed institutions to know is that there is a significant need to help protect and prepare students for financial success beyond college -- and that it will improve student/alumni satisfaction, retention, etc. AND proactively stop data breaches.


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A California man returned to the scene of the crime earlier this week to apologize for what he allegedly did. According to KOVR-TV, Derek German was charged receiving stolen property.
The outlet obtained security camera footage of German returning to a convenience store to apologize for breaking into the store a week earlier.
Before the apology, German allegedly broke into the store and entered through the store's ceiling. He then attempted to reach the safe, but was unsuccessful. The man set off the store's alarm system, allowing for the shop's owner to alert the police.
Monitoring the incident on camera, the owner was able to help police track down the suspect.
He then returned and attempted to shake the owner's hand, but the owner refused.


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We will not be accepting orders for delivery or delivering arrangements between Jul. 12, 2024 and Jul. 14, 2024.
The FTD® Angel's Cross™ Easel
S47-4556The FTD® Angel's Cross™ Easel is a graceful tribute to honor the life and faith of the deceased. Pink mini carnations and baby's breath are lovingly arranged in the shape of a cross, accented with a pink satin ribbon around the outside and displayed on a wire easel, to create a wonderful way to express your love for the departed.
- For U.S. and Canada deliveries only
- Delivery Information
All items featured on this site represent the types of arrangements we offer and may vary depending upon availability in certain regions. Substitution Policy


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2015 Golden Globes Nominations: The Complete List!
The 2015 Golden Globes nominations are in and we already can't wait for the awards ceremony! Comedic duo Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are returning to host the Globes for the third straight year, which is awesome if you like awesome things. But enough of that, let's get down to the list of nominees!
'Birdman' led the movies with 7 total nominations and 'Fargo' led the TV mentions with 5. Noticeable snubs include Oscar hopefuls 'Unbroken' and 'American Sniper', both of which were shut out completely. Being these are the Golden Globes, which are always unpredictable at best, there are certainly some surprises including Jennifer Aniston getting nominated for Best Actress for her performance in 'Cake' and the little seen UK film, 'Pride', getting a nomination for Best Picture, Comedy.
On the TV side, it was a welcome break from the repetitive Emmy nominations (no 'Modern Family'!) with many new shows being recognized including 'Fargo', 'Jane the Virgin' and 'Transparent'. Oddly, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' which was a surprise win last year for Best Comedy, wasn't even nominated this year (though most would argue that the show actually improved over its second season).
Kate Beckinsale, Peter Krause, Jeremy Piven and Paula Patton joined the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to announce the 2015 Golden Globes nominations.
The 2015 Golden Globes awards ceremony will be be broadcast live on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST on NBC. Until then, check out the list of nominations below as they are announced.
Best Motion Picture — Drama
'The Imitation Game'
'The Theory of Everything'
Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
'The Grand Budapest Hotel'
'Into the Woods'
'St. Vincent'
Best Director
Richard Linklater, 'Boyhood'
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 'Birdman'
Ava DuVernay, 'Selma'
David Fincher, 'Gone Girl'
Wes Anderson, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'
Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Steve Carell, 'Foxcatcher'
Benedict Cumberbatch, 'The Imitation Game'
Eddie Redmayne, 'The Theory of Everything'
David Oyelowo, 'Selma'
Jake Gyllenhaal, 'Nightcrawler'
Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Ralph Fiennes, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'
Michael Keaton, 'Birdman'
Bill Murray, 'St. Vincent'
Joaquin Phoenix, 'Inherent Vice'
Christoph Waltz, 'Big Eyes'
Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Jennifer Aniston, 'Cake'
Felicity Jones, 'The Theory of Everything'
Julianne Moore, 'Still Alice'
Rosamund Pike, 'Gone Girl'
Reese Witherspoon, 'Wild'
Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams, 'Big Eyes'
Emily Blunt, 'Into the Woods'
Helen Mirren, 'The Hundred Foot Journey'
Julianne Moore, 'Maps to the Stars'
Quvenzhane Wallis, 'Annie'
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Robert Duvall, 'The Judge'
Ethan Hawke, 'Boyhood'
Edward Norton, 'Birdman'
Mark Ruffalo, 'Foxcatcher'
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Patricia Arquette, 'Boyhood'
Emma Stone, 'Birdman'
Meryl Streep, 'Into the Woods'
Keira Knightley, 'The Theory of Everything'
Jessica Chastain, 'A Most Violent Year'
Best Screenplay from a Motion Picture
Wes Anderson, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'
Gillian Flynn, 'Gone Girl'
Alejandro González Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., 'Birdman'
Richard Linklater, 'Boyhood'
Graham Moore, 'The Imitation Game'
Best Original Score from a Motion Picture
'Imitation Game'
'Theory of Everything'
'Gone Girl'
Best Original Song from a Motion Picture
"Big Eyes," Lana Del Rey
"Glory," John Legend and Common
"Mercy Is," Patty Smith and Lenny Kay
"Opportunity," 'Annie' Cast
"Yellow Flicker Beat," Lorde
Best Foreign Language Film
'Force Majeure'
'Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem'
Best Animated Feature Film
'Big Hero 6'
'Book of Life'
'The Boxtrolls'
'How to Train Your Dragon 2'
'The LEGO Movie'
Best Television Drama Series
'The Affair'
'Downton Abbey'
'Game of Thrones'
'The Good Wife'
'House of Cards'
Best Television Comedy Series
'Jane the Virgin'
'Orange is the New Black'
'Silicon Valley'
Best Actor in a Television Drama Series
Kevin Spacey, 'House of Cards'
Clive Owen, 'The Knick'
Dominic West, 'The Affair'
James Spader, 'The Blacklist'
Liev Schrieber, 'Ray Donovan'
Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series
Don Cheadle, 'House of Lies'
Ricky Gervais, 'Derek'
Jeffrey Tambor, 'Transparent'
Louis C.K., 'Louie'
William H. Macy, 'Shameless'
Best Actress in a Television Drama Series
Claire Danes, 'Homeland'
Viola Davis, 'How to Get Away With Murder'
Julianna Margulies, 'The Good Wife'
Robin Wright, 'House of Cards'
Ruth Wilson, 'The Affair'
Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 'Veep'
Taylor Schilling, 'Orange is the New Black'
Lena Dunham, 'Girls'
Gina Rodriguez, 'Jane the Virgin'
Edie Falco, 'Nurse Jackie'
Best Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television
'The Missing'
'The Normal Heart'
'Olive Kitteridge'
'True Detective'
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television
Martin Freeman, 'Fargo'
Woody Harrelson, 'True Detective'
Matthew McConaughey, 'True Detective'
Mark Ruffalo, 'The Normal Heart'
Billy Bob Thornton, 'Fargo'
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television
Maggie Gyllenhaal, 'The Honourable Woman'
Jessica Lange, 'American Horror Story'
Frances McDormand, 'Olive Kitteridge'
Frances O'Connor, 'American Horror Story'
Allison Tolman, 'Fargo'
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television
Matt Bomer, 'The Normal Heart'
Alan Cumming, 'The Good Wife'
Colin Hanks, 'Fargo'
Bill Murray, 'Olive Kitteridge'
Jon Voight, 'Ray Donovan'
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture made for Television
Uzo Aduba, 'Orange is the New Black'
Kathy Bates, 'American Horror Story'
Joanne Froggatt, 'Downton Abbey'
Allison Janney, 'Mom'
Michelle Monaghan, 'True Detective'


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Run - don't walk - to get Joe Golem and the Drowning City by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, especially if you like steampunk.
I've recommended Christopher Golden's books here at readergirlz many times, and for good reason: his stories rock, and they often feature a strong female protagonist. In the heart of Manhattan, you'll find 14-year-old Molly McHugh. Described as "all freckles and red hair and youthful vigor," Molly is a force to be reckoned with. The girl's got moxie, and she can certainly hold her own. She trusts her gut, which has helped her to survive in the Drowning City.
Just what has happened to the once-glorious city? Here's a little backstory:
Fifty years ago, earthquakes shook Lower Manhattan, submerging the city and forever changing the landscape and livelihood of all who lived there. As the years passed, the gap between the classes widened: the wealthy live and thrive in Uptown, where they grow wealthier, as the poor people in submerged Downtown try desperately to survive in what is now known as the Drowning City.
It is in Downtown that aging magician Felix Orlov resides. Molly, his energetic and devoted assistant, lives the floor above him. Dark dreams, a seance, and an attack lead to Orlov's abduction and cause Molly to run away - and enlist the help of Simon Church, an investigator, and Joe Golem, the bodyguard to end all bodyguards. If Hellboy were mixed with Eliot Spencer from Leverage and dressed in clothes from some classic Warren Beatty films, he might just be Joe Golem.
Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola make me want to live in the Drowning City, to meet the wonderful characters they've created and help them defeat the monstrous villains. They've also offered up a short story, Joe Golem and the Copper Girl, but I still want more. Mignola's black-and-white illustrations are, as always, memorable. One only hopes that the movie, which is currently in development, captures the spirit and intensity of this book. The submerged city, falling buildings, and fight scenes need to be Inception-level awesome on screen. This captivating story deserves all of that, and more. I also recommend this novel to fans of Fringe. (Hello, Manhattan and alternate history!)
Want to know more? Read my full review at my blog, Bildungsroman.


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Press Releases
January 14, 2014
Port of Oakland Announces Industry Leader John C. Driscoll as Maritime Director
Driscoll Brings 30+ Years of International Maritime Industry Experience
Port of Oakland Maritime Director John C. Driscoll |
Oakland, CA – January 14, 2014 – Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle just announced maritime industry leader John C. Driscoll as the Port's new Director of Maritime.
Port Executive Director Chris Lytle said, "We are positioned to expand our maritime business and we are fortunate to have John, a proven leader in the industry, join our senior management team at this time of tremendous opportunity. John's private sector experience in maritime operations, marketing and sales will help us grow our business, which will ultimately benefit our business partners, customers and community."
Mr. Driscoll most recently served as the Vice President of Export Sales CMA CGM (America) LLC, a leading global container shipping group. Mr. Driscoll's official start date with the Port of Oakland is Jan. 27, 2014.
As Director of Maritime, Mr. Driscoll is responsible for building and growing maritime business through efficient operations, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning. Mr. Driscoll will oversee the full range of maritime operations including administration, finance, customer service, planning and development, and seaport security.
John Driscoll has more than 30 years of commercial experience in international maritime transportation, having worked for Sea-Land Service, Maersk Line and CMA CGM. Mr. Driscoll served in an executive capacity with CMA CGM since 2005. He successfully led the expansion and development of the company's interests in the Caribbean, Central America, and Northern South America, producing double-digit growth on average each year. In 2008, he was promoted to Senior Vice President where he oversaw sales, trade, and marketing for the company's entire U.S. operations. During Mr. Driscoll's eight years with CMA CGM for the USA, the average annual increase in business volume was 14.1 percent.
Mr. Driscoll began his career with Sea-Land Service in 1980 serving in a variety of sales and operations positions with Sea-Land's Atlantic Division. In 1999, Mr. Driscoll served as the General Manager of Sales and Customer Service for Central America until Maersk purchased Sea-land where he had General Management responsibility leading their activities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. With Maersk's acquisition of P&O Nedlloyd in 2005, he was given the country responsibility for Brazil in order to integrate an organization with over 1 billion dollars in revenue and 550 employees. In December 2005, Mr. Driscoll assumed his most recent positions with CMA CGM.
Mr. Driscoll is a native of Bethesda, Maryland. He attended the University of Maryland and graduated with a B.S. in Business Management with an emphasis on Transportation and Marketing. Mr. Driscoll is married to his wife, Linda and he has three sons, ages 12, 16 and 18.
About the Port of Oakland:
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport and Oakland International Airport. The Port's jurisdiction includes 20 miles of waterfront from the Bay Bridge through Oakland International Airport. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port's real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.
Media Contacts:
Robert Bernardo
Communications Manager
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1401
Click here to contact Robert Bernardo
Marilyn Sandifur
Port Spokesperson
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1193


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On a perpetual quest to find the perfect pint, the dynamic dram, and the champion cigar. A Master of Science in Brewing and Distilling with hands-on experience in the beverage world. Reviews, news, event coverage, and everything in between.
Monday, July 6, 2009
First beer in a month
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Staff at Stockport CCG have published a series of brief videos explaining their roles, which provide a useful introduction to the new system of paying for health services.
The videos include the Chief Finance Officer Dan Jones (below), the Chief Clinical Officer Dr Ranjit Gill, Clinical Directors Jaweeda Idoo and Dr Cath Briggs. We've embedded most videos from the point where roles are explained.
Dr Ash Patel is Clinical Director of Quality and Performance at Stockport CCG: Continue reading


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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's governor is asking for additional federal assistance to respond to wildfires burning across the state's north, including one that is the second-largest in the state's history and that officials estimate has destroyed hundreds of homes.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Friday in a letter to President Joe Biden that New Mexico needs more help than is being provided under the president's recent disaster declaration.
The needed response, including immediate funding for debris removal and "a full range of emergency protective measures," exceeds the state's capabilities and the federal government should bear 100% of the costs because one part of the fire was ignited by wind-blown embers from a prescribed burn on the Santa Fe National Forest, the governor said.
That fire has since merged with another blaze and grown to 437 square miles (1,133 square kilometers). The 5-week-old combined fire for a time threatened the small New Mexico city of Las Vegas before being stopped just outside town in the past week. Fire crews continue to work to keep the fire from multiple rural communities.
Officials said Saturday that weather conditions still included unhelpful high temperatures and low humidity, but that less smoke had allowed firefighting aircraft to take to the skies for a second straight day to battle the blaze.
At one point late Saturday afternoon, the fire's smoke column reached 30,000 feet (9,144 meters), creating the possibility that it could collapse on itself and create swirling winds close to the ground. Fire crews along part of the fire's western flank were warned of that potential hazard, fire spokesman Mike De Fries said.
Wildfires have broken out this spring across multiple states in the western U.S., including California, Colorado and Arizona. Predictions for the rest of the spring do not bode well for the West, with drought and warmer weather brought on by climate change worsening wildfire danger.
Nationwide, more than 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers) have burned so far this year _ the most at this point since 2018, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
In Colorado, a fire burning southwest of Colorado Springs grew to 1.5 square miles (3.8 square kilometers) overnight and is 10% contained, officials from the Teller County Sheriff's Office said Saturday morning.
The blaze, now known as the High Park Fire, broke out Thursday near the former mining town of Cripple Creek. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
By Thursday evening at least 120 people from 40 residences evacuated the area, the Teller County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook.
Officials say the fire could continue to grow as gusts are expected to reach as high as 35 mph (56 kph). Winds are expected to die down around 2 p.m. which could help firefighting efforts.
In New Mexico, the largest wildfire has a 500-mile (805-kilometer)) perimeter, longer than the distance between San Francisco and San Diego, and was just 27% contained. Another fire to the west near Los Alamos has burned 71 square miles (184 square kilometers) and was 23% contained.
Nearly 3,000 firefighters and other personnel are fighting the two fires.
Fire officials said the largest fire has destroyed at least 473 structures, including homes and other buildings. Lujan Grisham's office on Friday provided an updated estimate that 262 homes had been destroyed but stressed that authorities have been unable to safely enter many burned areas to assess damage.
In other developments, New Mexican House Republican leaders on Friday called for the state to join a federal investigation into the handling of the prescribed burn that started the worst blaze.
"It is our sincerest belief that the people of northern New Mexico deserve an impartial and detailed investigation conducted by parties other than those employed by the federal government," the GOP lawmakers said in a letter to Lujan Grisham, a Democrat.


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Idle Army Base 1.24.1 Apk + Mod (Unlimited Money) for Android
Idle Army Base 1.24.1 Apk + Mod (Unlimited Money) for Android
Earn money as you progress through the army training in your base and then manage the expansion of your camp, where you upgrade the value, speed, capacity and queue sizes of all the training areas. It's going to be a rollercoaster ride, but with no room for lazy or idle cadets, you will love growing and upgrading your army base.
Here are some of the challenges you need to complete before you graduate:
EXERCISE YARD – get fit as you head to the Exercise Yard to get the heart-rate going with sit-ups, star jumps and more.
URBAN WARFARE – be alert as you go through SWAT training in house-to-house combat training.
JUNGLE WARFARE – get ready for an adventure in the jungle as you get out the chopper and idle around before you come down the rope into the jungle.
ARCTIC WARFARE – wrap up warm as you control your heartbeat, shelter from the snow fallout and aim straight in the arctic tundra.
HEAVY MACHINE GUN – hear the tap, tap, tap of heavy machine-gun fire as you train.
HEAVY ARTILLERY – boom, boom, boom – it's time for the big guns to unleash hell.
CHEMICAL WARFARE – put on your mask, breath carefully and watch your step and ensure you know your way around the misty gas.
TANKS – this is for the big boys (and girls), where you wheel your tanks to unleash the big guns to cause maximum damage. Big fallout!
DESERT WARFARE – it's hot, hot, hot and the sand is heavy. So you'll need to drive over the wooden planks. You're not racing here, but speed is fun!
NAVAL WARFARE – you might need to be a tycoon to afford a boat, but you need to have confidence on high seas, so get ready to get wet!
EXPLOSIVE TRAINING – pull the pin and throw for your life as the grenades fly and the explosions are big!
PARATROOPER – your evolution from a cadet will be needed as you free fall from your plane and land in the target zone. Tycoons need not apply!
OBSTACLE COURSE – a real adventure for you idle capitalists out there – you've got the cargo net, monkey bars, muddy lake and rope climb – a true proof of your fitness.
It's the best army idle game you'll find and we hope you enjoy the adventure, the action, the sense of progression and fun.


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Elderly clients showing signs of dementia?
1 ReplyJump to last post
Feb 21, 2011 3:28 pm
I'm a freelance writer doing a piece for Registered Rep about dealing with clients who have Alzheimer's disease or are showing signs of dementia. I'd like to hear from advisers who have faced this issue or had similar concerns about working with older clients. Even if you haven't personally faced this, I'd like to hear from advisers who can discuss this issue or have considered working with their firms to come up with guidelines for such cases. I understand the need for client confidentiality. Please contact me at [email protected] or Amy Burroughs at 704-965-6721.


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After the deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya earlier this week, Google took down the YouTube video said to have sparked the violence — but only in Libya and in Egypt, where anti-American protests also flared up.
It's an example of the challenges of balancing U.S. free speech concerns and of something known as the "heckler's veto."
The Innocence of Muslims isn't the only YouTube video that can be seen in the U.S. but not elsewhere. Nazi propaganda is banned in Germany, for example, and slurs against Turkey's founder don't appear in that country.
But Andrew McLaughlin, former deputy chief technology officer at the White House, says there are some unusual aspects of the decision by Google, which owns YouTube, to limit this clip.
"Normally what I would expect to see is Google waiting for some kind of an official directive or a court order that comes out of the duly constituted legal system in those countries," he says. "Of course, that's not always possible."
In this case, it appears that Google made the decision to take the video off YouTube on its own.
"If Google is being perceived to be taking these videos down because of the threat of violence," McLaughlin says, that could create more problems because of the concept of the heckler's veto — "this idea that if you show weakness in your devotion to free speech, then all that somebody has to do is threaten to riot in order to get you to take the speech down."
Every minute, YouTube receives roughly 24 hours' worth of videos from users. And Google depends largely on those users to flag videos that violate YouTube's standards. But those standards are broad.
Google declined to talk about the details of its decision to take down this video but did release a statement saying:
"This video — which is widely available on the Web — is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube. However, given the very difficult situation in Libya and Egypt, we have temporarily restricted access in both countries."
Kevin Bankston, the director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, says it's hard to second-guess Google's decision "considering the actual violence that's occurred and the risk of more violence in Egypt and Libya."
"As for their decision to keep it up in every other country and to minimize the free speech impact of the takedown," he says, "I think that's definitely the right decision. We don't want violent protesters to be able to enforce a hecklers veto over the entire planet."
These days, it's often companies — not governments — that make these decisions on behalf of millions of people. And Andrew McLaughlin says they are not easy.
Before he was at the White House, McLaughlin was director of public policy at Google and helped create the policies Google is now using to handle situations like the one unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa. He says these debates about free speech are complicated even when dealing with other Western Democracies.
"In Germany, I don't think anybody thinks that publication of Mein Kampf or access to Hitler's diaries is going to lead to a new resurgence of the Nazi party," McLaughlin says. "But the prohibition on that content is part of a national expression of shame and remorse for what took place. By disrespecting that, as a company, you may be sending a signal to that market that is not the one you want to send.
"So I think the considerations are more complicated than simply what the First Amendment rules would dictate here in the U.S.," he says.
Yesterday, authorities in Afghanistan reportedly took steps to ban YouTube completely. In light of that kind of blanket ban, McLaughlin says, Google's policy of obliging governments with narrowly targeted takedowns actually may help preserve a forum for speech in countries like Egypt and Libya.
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Technology in Klingenberg supports subsidiaries, like in Korea
WIKA is building worldwide. Wherever Dejected is erecting new premises, the factory planning department in Klingenberg is part of the deal. Also at WIKA Korea, with Florian Zahn acting as project leader.
State-of-the-art workplaces in production hall and sales office.
"We are involved in the planning and ensure that the necessary construction quality is complied with and that the technical requirements are implemented according to production needs", is how Florian Zahn explains the general tasks of factory planning for new and refurbished buildings.
Together with the subsidiary, a needs analysis, the layout of the building sections and a cost plan are prepared. "We help in preparing the tender and the assignment of orders", says Florian Zahn. The factory planning project leaders have a specific contact in the subsidiary for every measure,for example, in Korea this was Byongseop Kang.
The sequence and control of building measures needs to be organised professionally. WIKA installed a local project management for the planned building in Korea, as in other countries, too, the construction work itself was assigned to a general contractor. Factory planning accompanies the building projects up to commissioning, also on site. Florian Zahn, for example, visited Korea four times. He praised the "good teamwork" during the entire building phase and the commitment of all involved. "I was surprised by the speed of construction", said the project leader. The new home of WIKA with an office building and production hall in the greater area of Seoul was ready for occupancy within nine months.


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Includes: Wood cutting board, White frosted pretzels 4 oz , Chocolate covered almonds 6 oz , Jordan almonds 6 oz , Cheddar Cheese, Brie Cheese, Chocolate covered blueberries 4 oz , Vanilla cream filled wafer cookies 4 oz , Strawberry cream candies X 2, Cinnamon & Honey Graham Crisps 6 oz , Cream cheese dip, Sweet N Hot Honey, Chocolate chip cream filled sandwich cookies X 6, Fudge covered popcorn, Swizzle sugar sticks X 3, and Assorted vanilla caramels.


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In the latter part of November 2015, one of the SAGES doctoral researchers, Saeed Abdul-Razak, had the immense privilege to deliver a presentation to kids of the Fulham Preparatory School in London. The presentation was on the ethical dimensions of climate change and sustainable development with over 120 students in attendance. The talk employed interactive approaches including videos (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRLJscAlk1M), pictures and questions to the audience.
The kids were introduced to the causes of climate change, development problems around the globe, the new 2015 -2030 sustainable development goals and the role of climate change in achieving these goals. There were case studies from Ghana on climate change mitigation (precisely REDD+) and climate change adaptation (for coastal communities) to explain the ethical implications of climate action.
The ethical dimensions aspect of the topic was treated in light of decision making and processes between developed and developing countries at the international level; elites/authorities and citizens at national level; and for the community level, it focused on the vulnerable such as women, children, the poor, etcetera. The presentation concluded on a positive note by encouraging the students to go green, to think globally but act locally as the earth's resources are finite and human action/inaction are important factors that impact everyone.
In appreciation for the talk, the school's current head boy, Harvey Glover, presented Saeed with a jug of fair trade chocolates. A couple of weeks after the talk, the kids wrote lovely letters appreciating the talk and Saeed's time; some expressed their new inspiration to be green; others had follow-up questions and the remaining expressed how informative the presentation was and how they shared the new knowledge on sustainable actions with their parents, families and friends in order to 'save the future'.


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So the lucky winner
of this fabulous Scentsy giveaway
courtesy of Dawn Simpson
our favorite Scentsy gal is.....
comment #32
Thanks to everyone who joined in!
We loved hearing about the scents you love
and consequently our list of what we want is getting longer!
Thanks Dawn for your generosity!
Don't forget to go visit her site for all your Scentsy needs!


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Episode # 23 – Bimber Distillery – Matt McKay
This episode features Matt McKay of Bimber Distillery. Matt is responsible for public relations and marketing, as well as, helping out with production. Dariusz Plazewski and Ewelina Chruszczyk co-founded Bimber in North-West London in 2015. This Micro-Distillery is quickly making a mark in the Whiskey community being recognized by Whisky Magazine as Craft Producer of the Year 2020.
We took the Tube out of London. It was about a 40 minute ride to West London. It was a rainy chilly morning but the excitement of the interview made the day feel warmer. It was about a 10 minute walk from the Tube Station. Past a cemetery and through an industrial area. Then we found it. The main door was open and the team was loading whisky into van for a tasting later that day. Dawn and I were greeted with a delicious simple old fashioned. It wasn't long before Matt and I began talking and we were learning how this amazing distillery got started. Then to take a tour of the operation. They are true craftsman here in every sense of the word. The tasting was mind blowing. WOW!!! We had a blast and look forward to all of the great spirits to follow from Bimber.
56-58 Sunbeam Road, London, NW10 6JQ – +44 20 3602 9980 – www.bimberdistillery.co.uk – On Facebook
Available on:
🎧 Apple https://lnkd.in/exuD-r6
🎧 Anchor https://lnkd.in/ezPddeQ
🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/eZtn5UG
🎧iHeart Radio https://lnkd.in/e8k8uP6
and more…
Highlights from our discussion:


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WP SimpleWeather allows you to quickly and easily display the current weather at any location you enter using the Yahoo! Weather API. WP SimpleWeather is exactly what you'd expect from the name. A SIMPLE way to display weather via a wordpress plugin. It is easily installed, widgetized, and comes with an expansive yet easy to use settings page.
The WP SimpleWeather Plugin was adapted from the simpleWeather jQuery plugin by James Fleeting.
- Upload the whole plugin folder to your /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
- Go to the 'Plugins' page in the menu and activate the plugin.
- Use the WP SimpleWeather Settings page located under the 'Settings' menu to change your plugin options. You must enter a location.
- Activate the WP SimpleWeather Widget under the 'Appearance –> Widgets' menu, or by adding the
shortcode where you wish to display the weather widget.
Shortcode Options
- Options include [wp-simpleweather width="(integer)" float="(left/right/none)" paddingtop="(integer)" paddingright="(integer) paddingbottom="(integer)" paddingleft="(integer)"
- Example [wp-simpleweather width="200″ float="left" paddingtop="10″ paddingright="10″ paddingbottom="10″ paddingleft="0″]
Contributors & Developers
"WP SimpleWeather" is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
ContributorsTranslate "WP SimpleWeather" into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changes for the WP SimpleWeather Plugin:
- Updated to work with the WordPress 3.8.1.
- Testing to ensure the plugin works correctly with WordPress 3.5.1.
- Corrected an error where selecting to display only the city, without displaying the region or country, would break the widget. Thanks to Rick H. for pointing out the problem.
- Added the ability to modify celsius wind speed units from km/h to m/s.
- Changed function which removed DB settings on deactivation to the proper function to remove those settings on uninstall. Unfortunately, prior to this version, updates remove your settings. Sorry!
- Changes to initialization of options, so that default options are saved into the DB, not merely checked as if they had been saved.
- Now deletes DB entries upon deactivation for a clean uninstall.
- Minor corrections in wp-simpleweather-plain.css
- Addition of a choice of image themes. Choices added are Sketchy Weather by Azure_Sol and Weather Images Shiny by Jyrik.
- Localized all image files.
- Added shortcode implementation option.
- Minor correction to description, addition of changelog in the readme.txt file.
- Initial release.


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Price upon request
The Dorian Stone Insert Knob Wall Mount Faucet Set establishes the stylistic direction for the bath. This sleek and contemporary wall mount faucet set is available in various metal finishes with a variety of stone insert options.
Available in all Sherle Wagner International finishes
Solid brass/bronze construction
1.0 gpm (3.8 L/min) flow rate
Recommended 12˝ spread, can be installed 8˝-16˝
Includes Lift & turn with overflow waste assembly. Push pop-up or strainer waste assembly optional
Inwall valves sold separately, contact sales associate for details
Refer to "View all available finishes" for standard stone insert, contact SWI representative for custom stone options


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Royal Brunei Airlines signs contract to deploy OpenAirlines' fuel efficiency solution Sky Breathe®
9 August 2017, 11:50 AM
Royal Brunei Airlines, the national flagship carrier of Brunei Darussalam, has boosted its commitment to environmental protection by partnering with a talented French start-up which provides a 360° solution to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions of airlines. Under this agreement, Royal Brunei Airlines will use OpenAirlines' flagship software SkyBreathe® Fuel Efficiency.
Implementation of the software system has already begun and will continuously monitor fuel consumption of each flight operated by the airline to identify the most relevant fuel saving opportunities using sophisticated, innovative algorithms and taking into account actual flight conditions.
The SkyBreathe® solution, which leverages years of advanced research in trajectory optimization and Big Data analysis, will offer comprehensive analytics through 500+ easy to use predefined reports allowing for accurate monitoring of each fuel-saving initiative and will then provide clear results for key stakeholders, project team, and pilots via unique dashboards.
We are thrilled to have been selected by Royal Brunei Airlines and look forward to a successful partnership. As fuel is the largest cost of an airline, it's a win-win proposition for them. Burning less fuel is better for the environment and for their operating expense. We are currently working closely with the project team and we trust that our expertise will contribute to the growth of Royal Brunei Airlines in a short time." said Alexandre Feray, OpenAirlines' CEO.
"We are pleased to collaborate with OpenAirlines, which have already, through their success, demonstrated their ability to deliver on the promise of superior fuel savings. We are committed to adopting fuel best practices across the airline's business to further improve our fuel-efficient operations." said Zlatko Sirac, Executive General Manager – Operations at Royal Brunei Airlines.
The innovative OpenAirlines Fuel Efficiency software is already assisting 22 airlines and operators across the world to save 2-4% on fuel consumption.
About OpenAirlines:
OpenAirlines was founded in Toulouse, France, in 2006 to meet the needs of airlines to optimize their flight operations and reduce their costs. Leveraging a team of airline specialists and data scientists, it offers innovative software solutions to save fuel (SkyBreathe®), manage crews (CrewIntelligence™ and CrewPad™) and fleet (OptiFleet™).
More info: www.openairlines.com


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What kind of leash, collar or harness is right for my dog?
Learn about the common types of dog leashes, collars and harnesses to help your family find the right fit for your best friend.
If you have a new dog in your life, you may be wondering what kind of leash, collar or harness is right for your furry friend. While it may seem like something easy to purchase, there seems to be a wide variety of options. Also, depending on your dog's breed or age, you may want a pet care option recommended by your veterinarian.
Whether you're lounging at home, playing in the yard or on a family walk, it may be best to be prepped and ready with a safe pet care option from day one. Here are some suggestions on leashes, collars and harnesses for your dog.
Dog collars
Dog collars are incredibly important for your dog, even if you're just around the house. Naturally, the dog collar is an ideal spot for your pet's identification and contact information. Also, this may be one of the first gifts you give your new dog, so you may want to make sure this is purchased before bringing your pet home.
Get a pet insurance quote
Take care of bow-wows and meows.
Flat collar
A flat collar is the most common dog collar with a simple layout and place for your pet's identification. This can be found in most stores and usually comes in a variety of colors. Also, whether your dog is a puppy, adult or senior, a flat collar is a popular option for your furry friend. Depending on your dog's breed, they may slip out of the collar due to the material type. Consider talking with your veterinarian about which pet care option may be best.
Martingale collar
The martingale collar may be used for any dog breed but may be most commonly seen on a Whippet or Greyhound dog. Also, this type of collar is considered a safe option with a no-slip function. Just like the flat collar, you can purchase this collar in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Always consult with your veterinarian if they feel a martingale collar may be a great alternative for your best friend.
Personalized no dog tag collar
Some pet owners may want a no tag collar. This may prevent jingling or your pet from losing their identification. Also, this collar may come in a variety of colors, engravings or even have the identification on the buckle or collar itself. Further, this collar is often made of leather or nylon material and can withstand weather and daily use.
Dog leashes
Whether you choose to take your best friend on an afternoon walk or an adventurous hike, there are quite a few options when it comes to your dog's leash. Also, your dog's leash can help with everything from puppy training to tackling difficult terrain. Pet safety while on a walk may be front of mind for pet owners and a leash can help keep your pup happy and healthy.
Traditional flat lead
The common flat lead leash is usually made of nylon or leather and is six feet of material. Also, this can be used on a puppy, adult or senior dog. Naturally, the six-foot lead can help give your best friend the chance to explore, but under your supervision.
Stretchable rubber leashes
These leashes give your pup the chance to explore and adventure with a bit more bounce, but can also help keep your furry friend safe. Consider your pet's breed, age or energy level before you purchase your dog's leash. You may find you use several different types, depending on your environment.
Gentle leader headcollar
A gentle leader or head collar is a safe alternative to help your new furry friend learn how to walk on a leash. Also, it can help with training and curbing any unwanted behavior cues. For example, everything from pulling and diving to trying to eat something they shouldn't. Consider talking with your veterinarian about your options and if they think this is a good fit for your new pet.
Hands-free leash
If you're looking to take a run, the hands-free leash may be a great option for you and your dog. Often tied at the waist, this gives you free rein of your hands while you're on the go. Also, this gives you a safe option with double ties and a carabineer to make sure your pet is safe while you hit the trails.
Retractable leash
Although the retractable leash may be convenient for some pet owners, you may want to be mindful of the hazard that can be associated with this type of leash. For example, if you drop the leash, your dog becomes scared or frightened or you run into something unexpected, it may be harder to control your pet on this type of leash. Further, these leashes have been known to break, tear or even cause an accident.
Dog harnesses
A dog harness is another way to help keep your pet safe and secure when you're outside. Also, a dog harness may be helpful if you have a dog that may like to pull or if they have a lot of energy.
Back-clip harness
This harness may be ideal for a smaller dog or if you have a short-faced dog like a Pug, French Bulldog or Boston Terrier. Also, this may help with pulling and keep your furry friend moving forward with some help.
Front-clip harness
A front-clip harness or no pull leash is helpful for dogs of all sizes. This may be a great option if your dog pulls and there are no other training opportunities. Also, some harnesses that have a front-clip harness may have a back-clip option for additional safety measures. Remember, every dog is different, but a Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever may benefit from this harness option.
Sport dog harness
Whether your pup is into fly ball, agility or hiking the trails, a sport dog harness may come in handy for your best friend. Often with reflective stitching, durability and flexibility, a sport harness may give your dog a bit more space to move. Also, this may come in a wide variety of colors and fabrics to keep your pet ready for adventure in various types of weather.
Is a collar or harness better for a puppy?
Every puppy is different. Also, depending on your pet's breed, they may need more flexibility or safety measures when they're learning how to walk outdoors. Consider talking with your veterinarian about what works best for your new pet and family. Further, playtime in your backyard versus a neighborhood walk or beach trip, may require different pet care options.
Leash/collar/harness/dog guide
Whether your dog is ready for adventure or on a family walk, there are many options to keep your pet safe, happy and healthy. While you may want to try different styles for your furry friend, you may find several that fit your pet's needs, especially as they grow and age. The best pet care option is the one that allows your dog a safe space to roam, explore and play with the family. Further, keeping your pet safe is what every dog owner wants. With the help of a pet insurance policy, you can help budget and plan for the unexpected.
Discover how a pet insurance policy can be there for your pet during their lifetime.
Terms and conditions do apply. We love informed decisions. See the Trupanion policy for full coverage details.


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On the first day of WikiSym last week, as we started preparing for the open space track and the crowd was being petitioned for new sessions over lunch, I suddenly thought that it might be a good idea for researchers who used ethnographic methods to get together to talk about the challenges we were facing and the successes we were having. So I took the mic and asked how many people used ethnographic methods in their research. After a few raised their hands, I announced that lunch would be spent talking about ethnography for those who were interested. Almost a dozen people – many of whom are big data analysts – came to listen and talk at a small Greek restaurant in the center of Linz. I was impressed that so many quantitative researchers came to listen and try to understand how they might integrate ethnographic methods into their research. It made me excited about the potential of ethnographic research methods in this community, but by the end of the conference, I was worried about the assumptions on which much of the research on Wikipedia is based, and at what this means for the way that we understand Wikipedia in the world.
WikiSym (Wiki Symposium) is the annual meeting of researchers, practitioners and wiki engineers to talk about everything to do with wikis and open collaboration. Founded by the father of the wiki, Ward Cunningham and others, the conference started off as a place where wiki engineers would gather to advance the field. Seven years later, WikiSym is dominated by big data quantitative analyses of English Wikipedia.
Some participants were worried about the movement away from engineering topics (like designing better wiki platforms), while others were worried about the fact that Wikipedia (and its platform, MediaWiki) dominates the proceedings, leaving other equally valuable sites like Wikia and platforms like TikiWiki under-studied.
So, in the spirit of the times, I drew up a few rough analyses of papers presented.
(Wikipedia and its platform, MediaWiki are but one of a host of other wiki communities and platforms which is why I've distinguished between Wikipedia and others.)
It would be interesting to look at this for other years to see whether the recent Big Data trend is having an impact on Wikipedia research and whether research related to Wikipedia (rather than other open collaboration communities) is on the rise. One thing I did notice was that the demo track was a lot larger this year than the previous two years. Hopefully that is a good sign for the future because it is here that research is put into practice through the design of alternative tools. A good example is Jodi Schneider's research on Wikipedia deletions that she then used to conceptualize alternative interfaces that would simplify the process and help to ensure that each article would be dealt with more fairly.
Talking about ethnography?
I am still intrigued by the fact that so many quantitative analysts wanted to know about ethnography during our open space session. We started the session with those who had done ethnographic work talking about their experiences: Stuart Geiger talked about his ethnographic work on Wikipedia bots, Isis Amelie Hjorth talked about her ethnographic enquiry into Wreckamovie, the collaborative movie outfit from Finland and Paško Bilić discussed how he studied breaking news stories on Wikipedia. Others wanted to know how you even begin to do ethnographic research on Wikipedia when editors are a) anonymous and b) located all around the world. One participant said, "I'm faced with 3 million edits (in my dataset) and I have to say something about them. How do I even begin?"
I think this comment points to the key problem that quantitative researchers are facing. Many are recognizing that after they have done the social network analysis of a particular category of articles or come to the conclusion that a particular type of editor is dominating, they start asking "why?" And understanding the "why?" requires them to delve into a grounded understanding of what is happening at the so-called "small data" level, leaving them flailing in questions about how such a small sample can say anything about a world that they have described with thousands, sometimes millions of datapoints.
As a response to such questions, Stuart Geiger referred participants to George Marcus's work on "multisited ethnography" that uses a question-based approach to studying a particular community and I told them about Jenna Burrell's very useful paper, "The Field Site as a Network: A Strategy for Locating Ethnographic Research" but I think the key problem was that researchers often are thinking of qualitative research merely as the same dataset "with interviews". It was a great conversation with some really interesting comments and questions, even if some participants left saying with a smile: "It was a good discussion but I still believe that numbers tell the truth."
The sample
If I learned anything at WikiSym this year it was how critical it is to be clear about how the sample is selected. As Jenna wrote, when I sent her an initial draft of this post:
Regardless of research approach, I always think HOW the sample was selected is the most important question…always. The issue of sampling frame…or even in big data approaches where you aren't necessarily sampling, what you can say/claim stems from what is inside vs. outside of your dataset (whether its a sample or a complete enumeration).
What worried me about a lot of papers dealing with "culture" and "emotion" and "historical sense making" is the over-reliance on studying only the large language Wikipedias and then using this data to make broad claims about human behavior without taking note of the limitations. Below is a list of the top 15 language editions that were often used:
English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Swedish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Catalan
Thus, leaving out more than half the world and two of the world's continents – admittedly better than many of the papers that analysed only English Wikipedia (as opposed to any of the other 284 language versions) and often didn't even express that in the title or abstract.
On the bright side, although Brent Hecht has also chosen only the biggest languages for his Omnipedia project, his drive to find an alternative method of comparing different language Wikipedias without using English as the "template" against which all other encyclopedias are judged is a really noteworthy accomplishment.
When I became frustrated at the fact that researchers were making broad claims about "culture" when they were studying only the large language Wikipedias (generally located in the developed world), I heard things like: "This is just the beginning. We'll get to those in time." (Or more often: "This is just the beginning. I'm not going to do that research because the datasets are too small but I'm happy that you will be.") And it frustrated me because whenever "further research" was mentioned, small language encyclopedias were not, nor were questions about minority groups on Wikipedia.
This is not, in the end, an ethical question. It is a question about good research. I don't believe we can truly understand Wikipedia's role in society or make the kind of broad claims that we're seeing if we only look at a small section of the data. Researchers often complain that they can't do broader, Wikipedians "in-the-world" kind of research because it's too hard – Wikipedia doesn't make users' locations accessible unless they are anonymous (1) and there is too much data to analyse. But this perspective comes from a very particular way of seeing the world as some researchers feel that they have to analyse the same amount of data qualitatively that they analysed from a quantitative perspective when good qualitative research is much more about selecting the right kind of data, getting a grounded, participant driven perspective on the world, and truly understanding what Wikipedia means in the context of the outside world.
What aren't we measuring?
I was surprised that no one in the panel entitled "What aren't we measuring?" mentioned the obvious bias towards English, developing world and large language groups. The panel was interesting, however, especially since it elicited questions about how to measure Wikipedia "activity" and the fact that such activity is often equated with a small sliver of Wikipedia activity, leaving out things like offline Wikipedia activities including training and advocacy. A lot of this seems to have to do with what data is available and what tools we have to analyze it.
Which leads me to the question:
To what extent do you believe that the available tools are influencing what kinds of questions we are asking and how we are choosing to answer those questions?
Surely, if the questions were really about cultural and language differences and different ways of seeing the world we would choose a sample of languages from cultures that seemed very far apart rather than a sample of languages from cultures that are very close together? The answer is usually that the dataset for those "far-away" languages is too small, too disorganised, too uncategorized. This seems to be a perfect example of the tools determining the research questions rather than the other way around.
In his keynote, Jimmy Wales focused on the need to focus more on African Wikipedias. He said that the Wikimedia Foundation is focusing on India and Brazil in their Global Development Program, but that African countries would be next. I always so appreciate Jimmy's personal interest in the continent and I know that he is only one person on the Wikimedia Foundation Board, but what concerns me is that, although the Global Development Program does amazing work, very little of it is research. And sound, grounded research to understand more about the country and languages in focus would go a long way to avoiding the kinds of problems that have occurred in past – problems like rampant copyright infringement in the India pilot which might have been helped by a deeper understanding of intellectual property questions in India. A contextual understanding of copyright in developing countries and ways to frame this problem is going to be a really important research topic in the coming years as Wikipedia grows. Without it, and despite the incredible staff in the program who have learned how important it is for them to work with locals and get a better understanding of the context before they start major advocacy work, Wikipedia might be seen as just another Western Aid project and not the global project promoting tolerance and understanding that many would hope it to be. If the research on Wikipedia continues to be done on major languages and developing countries, we won't get any closer to this kind of understanding.
The value of participant observation
The great thing about WikiSym is that there are Wikipedians in the audience who call researchers out when their findings do not equate with their own observations. Another question that came up in the conference was what it means to base your quantitative analysis in the grounded experience of Wikipedians. Being a participant in Wikipedia is one way of solving this problem: you're more likely to recognize when your findings are incorrect if you've had direct experience in the behaviors that you're counting. As Stuart said after the ethnography meetup: "We need to collaborate and keep each other accountable!"
So that's what I'm doing – or at least trying to – with this post. When I've been criticized for things I hadn't noticed or thought about in the past, it's made my research better. And I hope that my role as critic here is somehow constructive. One researcher caught me after the conference to say that there are plenty of conferences I could go to where it wouldn't be left to me to keep complaining about these issues. It got me thinking: where does ethnography belong? Or more accurately perhaps: Where do critical approaches that put people at the center rather than the tools belong?
Looking forward
In the closing session last year, I remember saying "I have been to a lot of conferences lately and I don't feel like I belong. But I feel like I belong here." People come to WikiSym because it's the place to be if you're doing Wikipedia work. In the words of conference chair, Cliff Lampe said, "WikiSym is the place we come where we know we don't have to explain ourselves. Where people just "get it".
But at the end of this year's conference, as we stood in a circle and shared our parting thoughts, I didn't feel like people were getting it. I said, "I was really happy and really angry and really sad and really excited…" That's one way of saying that my initial enthusiasm has been tempered this year by my feeling like such an outsider, like the old grouch who keeps thinking that Wikipedia research has a bias towards asking very particular questions using very particular tools without a recognition of the limitations of that lens.
I'm still committed to WikiSym – at least for another year – and next year I hope to organize a panel that reflects on the type of research that gets done for WikiSym and outlines what kind of bias that represents. Because in the end I love what wikis represent: the ability to change something if there are enough people behind you. That's one thing that has stuck with WikiSym and this year Chris Lampe did an amazing job at putting the wiki way into practice. It's still one of the only academic conferences that I know of where there is a parallel open space track. And I guess that's one of the ways that keeps WikiSym-ers like me coming back.
(1) anonymous users' IP addresses are their usernames so you can look up where they resolve to.
(2) this is an interesting observation since it presumes that ethnography and counting are mutually exclusive when that is often not the case.


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Privacy Policy
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When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain information about your device. This information includes, but is not limited to, information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies that are installed on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Site, we collect information about the individual web pages or products that you view, what websites or search terms referred you to the Site, and information about how you interact with the Site. We refer to this automatically collected information as "Device Collection."
We collect Device Collection using the following technologies:
"Cookies" are data files that are placed on your device or computer and often include an anonymous unique identifier. For more information about cookies, and how to disable cookies, visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org.
"Log files" track actions occurring on the Site, and collect data including your IP address, browser type, Internet service provider, referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps.
"Web beacons," "tags," and "pixels" are electronic files used to record information about how you browse the Site.
Additionally, when you utilize a form or attempt to utilize a form through the Site, we collect certain information from you, including, but not limited to, your name, website URL, email address, company name, and phone number. We refer to this information as "Form Information."
When we talk about "Personal Information" in this Privacy Policy, we are talking both about Device Collection and Form Information.
How Do We Use Your Personal Information?
We use the Form Information that we collect generally to contact people who willingly reached out through the Site. Additionally, we use this Form Information to:
- Communicate with you
- Screen our orders for potential risk or fraud
- When in line with the preferences you have shared with us, provide you with information or advertising relating to our products or services; and When in line with the preferences you have shared with us, provide your information with 3rd parties
We use the Device Information that we collect to help us screen for potential risk and fraud (in particular, your IP address), and more generally to improve and optimize our Site (for example, by generating analytics about how our customers browse and interact with the Site, and to assess the success of our marketing and advertising campaigns).
Sharing Your Personal Information
- We share your Personal Information with third parties to help us use your Personal Information, as described above.
- We also use Google Analytics to help us understand how our customers use the Site.
- You can read more about how Google uses your Personal Information here: https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/. You can also opt-out of Google Analytics here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Business Transfers: As we continue to develop our business, we might sell or buy services, stores, or assets. In such transactions, visitor information is usually one of the transferred business assets. Also, in the unlikely event that we are acquired, or substantially all of its assets are acquired, customer information will of course be one of the transferred assets.
Credit card information will never be disclosed by us and follow the conditions of use established by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, and PayPal.
Behavioral Advertising
As described above, we use your Personal Information to provide you with targeted advertisements or marketing communications we believe may be of interest to you.
Do Not Track
Please note that we do not alter our Site's data collection and use best practices when we see a Do Not Track signal from your browser.
Data Retention
When you fill out a web form through the Site, we may maintain your Form Information for our records unless and until you ask us to delete this information.
We may update this privacy policy from time to time in order to reflect, for example, changes to our practices or for other operational, legal or regulatory reasons.
Contact Information
Please contact us by phone at (616) 406-9282 or by mail at 665 Seward Ave NW, Widdicomb Bldg, Suite 302, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.


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Authorized Service Center, Vivo Service Center Jorhat, Assam Address, phone number & other information – Connect with the care and get your phone work 24*7 just like a new one. For more info related to our address & email id also you can visit our official website.
Vivo Service Center Jorhat
Center Name: Vivo service center
Address: Rupahi Ali,Ward No. 6, House No 323,Opp: United Bank Of India, Jorhat, Assam:-785001
Timing: Monday to Saturday 10.00 AM to 06.30 PM. ( Sunday Closed )
Handling Products: Vivo Products
Website: https://www.vivo.com/
Office Tel : 7578013404
Toll Free Number: 1800-208-3388 / 1800-102-3388 (24*7)