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How cheap is your love? Diamond appraiser hit
In May, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that the Gemmological Association of All Japan Co. Ltd., Japan's largest diamond appraisal outfit, had been accused of purposely overappraising gems. Within the jewelry industry, the news caused quite a stir, since prices are based on appraisals. GAAJ immediately blasted the report as being "not based on true facts," and said the criticism stemmed from the company's attempt to readjust its standards with regard to color variations. According to a press release, the GAAJ had been criticized earlier for tending to downgrade diamonds whose color "sat very close to the borders" between grades, and so endeavored to correct the problem, presumably by adjusting the appraisal criteria upward.
Nevertheless, the Association of Gemmological Laboratories Japan has said it will reappraise for free any diamonds that were appraised by GAAJ, in case the owners of those diamonds suspect they may not be worth as much as they thought. Though the monetary value of a diamond is based on "the four C's" — carat, cut, color and clarity — its intrinsic value is less easy to determine since, for the most part, diamonds are given as tokens of the giver's love. To a woman who receives a diamond engagement ring from a man, is the love she derives from the stone itself any less intense if she learns that the grade of the color is below what is indicated on the accompanying appraisal certificate? Apparently, the Japanese gem industry thinks so. As one insider told the Asahi Shimbun, "We must work more sincerely so as not to betray the love of the person who gives a diamond."
Japan is the second biggest diamond market in the world, after the United States, and the bulk of sales are diamond engagement rings. Ninety percent of the engagement rings purchased in Japan have diamond settings. Though diamonds are forever, the diamond engagement ring business has only been around since the beginning of the 20th century, when De Beers, the largest diamond mining and trading company in the world, spun off Forevermark, the company's retail branch, which not only came up with the "a diamond is forever" motto in 1947, but single-handedly connected diamonds with the idea of everlasting love and commitment. However, it wasn't until the late '60s that the idea came to Japan. In 1966, only 6 percent of Japanese men gave diamond engagement rings to their fiancées, and in 1967 De Beers started advertising in magazines, but the most effective promotional tool was advertisements in movie theaters, starting in 1973. The commercials always featured a young Western couple with the man giving the woman a diamond ring. At the time, movies, especially Hollywood movies, were the standard "date course" for young Japanese couples, and the idea caught on quickly. Central to the ad's purposes was the advice that the appropriate cost of a ring should be about three times the giver's monthly salary. This number was arbitrary. In the U.S., the advised cost was pegged at twice a person's monthly salary, but in Japan odd numbers are considered auspicious, and five months' salary was thought to be too much.
Diamond appraisers started to be trained in Japan in the early '70s to provide certificates guaranteeing quality with every diamond sold. By the height of the late '80s bubble era, diamond sales were close to ¥2 trillion annually, but now it's only about ¥930 billion. In the meantime, the number of diamond appraisal companies has increased, and the competition among them has become desperate in a shrinking market. Whether or not this competition is behind the accusations of overestimating quality on the part of GAAJ, it isn't clear. According to Mainichi, AGL checked 1,052 diamonds certified by GAAJ and found 139 of them to be over-valued, 27 in the category of color by as much as two grades. The overevaluations occurred between February 2007 and October 2008, and if you think you have a suspect gem (check your certificate), you can go to the AGL home page and find out.
What does it mean to the average consumer? A drop in grade usually translates as decrease in price of ¥20,000 to ¥40,000, but as one jewelry blogger mentioned, what you pay for a diamond engagement ring has more to do with where you buy it than with the appraisal. The thing is, diamonds appraised by GAAJ tend to sell for less than diamonds of the exact same grade appraised by other companies. Also, many people bargain with jewelry stores for engagement rings, so there's no "set value" for a diamond of a particular grade. In any case, if you think the false appraisal of your diamond engagement ring devalues your relationship with your significant other, you probably need your relationship reappraised as well.


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Three words: corporate volunteer programs. But don't just take my word for it; there are firms out there that actually research these things. For example, a 2011 Deloitte Volunteer Impact study found that 61% of Millennials would consider a company's commitment to the community when making a job decision. The study also found those who frequently participate in workplace volunteer activities are more likely to be proud, loyal and satisfied employees.
For a real-world example that proves the connection between corporate social responsibility and recruitment, take a look at what Timberland does to help preserve Mother Earth for future generations—and increase their own bottom line.
Many recognize the iconic yellow Timberland boot, but few may be aware of the company's consistent efforts to foster corporate philanthropy. Manufacturers of rugged outdoor footwear, apparel and accessories, Timberland sets a great example of how to attract employees, protect the environment and still maintain the corporate giving bottom line.
Everyone Rolls Up Their Sleeves
Timberland's commitment to corporate social responsibility starts at the top and is supported by just about every employee on a volunteer basis. Their Path of Service™ program, which recently celebrated its 20th year, provides employees with up to 40 hours of paid time off for community service. Employees are also offered the opportunity to apply for extended Path of Service™ opportunity to serve in the wake of a disaster or to work longer term on a capacity building project for a nonprofit organization. For over 20 years, the company has sponsored City Year, a type of urban Peace Corps, and for the past fourteen years they have sponsored Earth Day events all over the world. Employees (and sometimes their kids as well) have cleaned up New Hampshire beaches, planted trees were planted in Germany and Thailand, improved urban spaces improved in Spain, picked up rubbish picked up in Japan, and planted, weeded and fertilized a field of tree seedlings in China.
Senior Manager of Community Engagement Atlanta McIlwraith reports positive proof that Timberland's community service and social responsibility activities help with recruitment. Timberland administers an Employee Global Survey every two years and the most recent survey showed 67% of employees saying they strongly agreed or agreed that the company's commitment to the community and its Path of Service™ program played a strong role in their decision to work at Timberland.
Once approval for a particular non-profit is given by one's manager, community service hours are tracked through the payroll system and results are provided each year in the company's corporate social responsibility report. "Rather than just writing checks, if we support people in having a taste of the difference they can make in their community, hopefully they will take on more of that type of activity on their own time," says McIlwraith.
In addition to recruiting great employees, the company sincerely believes that community service matters to consumers. As the general public becomes increasingly environmentally conscious, they in turn expect companies that they do business with to share their values in the products they offer and the way they operate. That's why Timberland continuously monitors and measures its environmental impact, whether it's making products from recycled materials, volunteering in local communities or improving working conditions in suppliers' factories. "We are a values-driven brand," McIlwraith concludes, "and when consumers see us show up in their community and serve, it just augments that impression of being authentic in our commitment to the environment and to communities."
Also read:
Employee Retention and Corporate Volunteering: 5 Facts For Human Resources Professionals
Employee Retention Alert: 5 Facts To Know About Your Millennials

subset: commoncrawl


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Earlier this year, a presentation made by Jensen Harris, Director of Program Management for the Windows User Experience Team, gave a rare glimpse into how Windows 8 looked and worked before Microsoft went public with the operating system.
In the presentation, first noted by blogger Long Zheng, Harris talks about how Windows 8's user interface came to be. His central thesis is that familiar interfaces can be displaced by new interfaces that are built for the present rather than the past. The graphical Windows displaced the text-mode DOS; Windows 95's easy multitasking replaced Windows 3.1.
What modern change justifies Windows 8's abandonment of familiarity? New form factors, new modes of interaction, and the pervasive use of the Internet. Though they didn't ship until 1995, the basics of the Windows taskbar and Start menu interface were designed in 1992, in an era before widespread Internet usage when Office and document editing were king.
In the 20 years since, the Internet has become a part of everyday life. Documents are still important but they're no longer central; computers, tablets, and smartphones have replaced phone calls, phone books, road maps, CD collections, photo albums, books, and more. Mouse and keyboard haven't been replaced but they've been joined by touch. Harris argues that these changes motivate a new interface.
Harris showed some early versions of the Windows 8 interface from 2010 in his presentation. Even then, the core elements were all in place; the Start screen packed with Live Tiles, the snapped side-by-side multitasking, and the charms that swiped in from the edge. This first iteration was more complex than the final product, as the early Start screen included a persistent clock, date, Wi-Fi signal meter, and battery meter. Those things are now only visible when the charms are on-screen—and those charms originally numbered eight instead of the five we have today.
The presentation also gives some insight into some of broader design themes, in particular, "doing more with less;" stripping back unnecessary or irrelevant features of the operating system. Harris cites as an example the warning Windows gives when your battery is low. In Windows 7, this dialog warns you that the system will hibernate and that you need to plug your computer in or "find an alternate source of power," as if you could invent cold fusion or something to keep the system running. In Windows 8, the message simply tells you to plug your computer in again.
What's striking about the presentation is that they reveal that genuine thought that has gone into the Windows 8 design, from ensuring certain pieces of the Start screen line up when swiping through to guaranteeing that the kerning of the "Start" text on the Start screen is always right. Harris acknowledges that many of these things might go unnoticed but argues that "God can see" the details.
This is eye-opening, because so much of Windows 8 lacks this same attention to detail. Windows 8 is really two user interfaces crudely grafted together. And parts of Windows 8 have had this attention lavished on them which makes the contrast with the other, older parts of the operating system even more stark.


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Using the idea from the last post, we have a machinery which takes a set of Rules as input, a gen_fsm, setup and cleanup. To develop this, there is once again a big question, will this be done with parse transforms or using macros and functions? To try and answer this question along with how it should work, let's write some mock-code. This will be the first iteration of the ATG (Automated Test Generator).
First Iteration – Brainstorm
For this first iteration, it gets easier if we break it down into some use-cases, first off, the battery of Rules,
% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ % List of all rules - mock code! % ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ rules() -> [ % Seller and buyer registration, % The postcondition needs to access the password which was generated in % the program so that we can verify that the tradepost holds the correct % registration. { not reg(seller), do_reg(seller), reg(seller,generated_pwd)}, { not reg(buyer), do_reg(buyer), reg(buyer,generated_pwd)}, % Insert item / cash, should insert random amount of cash and random % items. The PostCond must be able to test the existence of that item / cash % and thus must have access to the generated item / cash. { reg(seller), insert(item), item_is(inserted_item)}, { reg(buyer), insert(cash), cash_is(inserted_amount)}, % Removal of cash or item, remove needs to use the password which % the tradepost currently has. { tradepost_has(cash), remove(cash), not tradepost_has(cash) }, { tradepost_has(item), remove(item), not tradepost_has(item) }, % Close a deal, we must check that the _returned value_ is the correct one. % We must pass on the returned value to the postcond. The Postcond must % then also have access to the original item and cash. { tradepost_has(cash) andalso tradepost_has(item), closedeal(), return_value_is(??)} ].
As can be seen, I added some comments on thoughts that deserve discussion. It will often be the case that the postcondition needs to refer to a value which is the result of the Program. Such an example can be the test for correct registration. For that case, we do not only need access to the state, but also the generated password which was used. How to fix it? Bind the Program result to a special atom '$PROGRAM_RESULT', also, bind the state to a special atom '$STATE'. Problem solved. Please note that such a solution , is leaning towards parse-transforms.
% The State is accessed through the special atom % '$STATE', and the module must include the state record. reg(seller) -> '$STATE'#state.seller =/= undefined; reg(buyer) -> '$STATE'#state.buyer =/= undefined. % Passwd can be result from Program, thus the call in % the Rule may then be { ..... , reg(seller,'$PROGRAM_RESULT')} reg(seller,Passwd) -> '$STATE'#state.seller == Passwd; reg(buyer,Passwd) -> '$STATE'#state.buyer == Passwd.
Another special binding added to this machinery, is the identifier for the gen_fsm, this could be a registered name or a Pid. The usage of this is shown below, where a registration is performed, and the password is returned for the Postcondition.
% The identifier of the gen_fsm is accessed through '$ID' do_reg(seller) -> Password = generate_passwd(), tradepost:seller_identify('$ID',Password), Password. % This line ensures that '$PROGRAM_RESULT' is bound to % the generated password, for the Postcondition to access.
How the '$ID' is bound, is unclear for now, but that can be taken care of later, remember that we are just writing mock code to get an idea of what we possibly want. Going from the top to bottom, how would we love to see the insertion?
% This of course also uses the $ID, but also the state to access the password. % seems only fair to return the inserted item for this function as that % probably is what we wish, ... always. insert(item) -> Password = '$STATE'#state.seller, Item = generate_item(), tradepost:seller_insert('$ID',Item,Password), Item; % Ensure '$PROGRAM_RESULT is Item insert(cash) -> Password = '$STATE'#state.buyer, Cash = generate_cash(), tradepost:buyer_insert('$ID',Cash,Password), Cash; % Ensure '$PROGRAM_RESULT is Cash
Coupled to this, Now, how to test that the cash is the amount we wish, and that the item is the sought one?
% Check that item is the specified item (argument). item_is(GivenItem) -> '$STATE'#state.item == GivenItem. % Check that cash is specified amount (argument) cash_is(GivenAmount) -> '$STATE'#state.cash == GivenAmount.
Or simpler, just test existence?
% Testing state to contain cash xor item tradepost_has(cash) -> '$STATE'#state.cash =/= undefined; tradepost_has(item) -> '$STATE'#state.item =/= undefined.
Likewise, removal should be easy with the help of '$ID' and '$STATE'
% Utilizing both state and id, but nice thing is that result % of withdraw function will be bound to $PROGRAM_RESULT in this mockup. remove(cash) -> Passwd = '$STATE'#state.buyer, tradepost:buyer_withdraw('$ID',Passwd); remove(item) -> Passwd = '$STATE'#state.seller, tradepost:seller_withdraw('$ID',Passwd);
Nearing the end of the first iteration brainstorming, what remains is a way to program the deal closing and a way to test the return value of this (a way to test the return value of the deal closing), '$PROGRAM_RESULT' is still our friend, but it would be good to have some kind of parallelism. Once again, how would we like to see this written?
% Deal closing, is a parallelized action. % Return value should still be bound to '$PROGRAM_RESULT' % Could be bound in the form [ A , B ] for this example. % Inspiration from the parallel keyword in EUnit. closedeal() -> {'$PARALLEL', [ begin Pass = '$STATE'#state.buyer, ItemAndCash = tradepost:get_contents('$ID',Pass), tradepost:buyer_deal('$ID',Pass,ItemAndCash) end, begin Pass = '$STATE'#state.seller, ItemAndCash = tradepost:get_contents('$ID',Pass), tradepost:seller_deal('$ID',Pass,ItemAndCash) end]}.
This seems to do the trick, the idea is to pass a list of functions which are executed in parallel, the result of each one is bound to an element in the generated list which is bound to '$PROGRAM_RESULT'. As this seems that this covers the first iteration of brainstorming, it could be nice to sum it up.
Summary of First Brainstorming session
The Automated Test Generator machinery has a set of Rules, each Rule is modeled as a 3-tuple, The first element in the 3-tuple is the Precondition that has to be met for the Rule to possibly take action. The second element is a Program which is executed, iff the Precondition holds and the Rule is chosen. The third element is a Postcondition that must hold once the Program of the Rule is executed.
The different special syntax elements which have been identified now are
- '$STATE', the internal state of the gen_fsm being tested.
- '$ID', identifier of the gen_fsm, can be a registered name, a registered name on a node or a Pid.
- '$PROGRAM_RESULT', the result of the Program (middle element in the Rule)
- '$PARALLEL', keyword for marking that functions are to be executed in parallel, and the joint result is bound to '$PROGRAM_RESULT'
Besides these special syntactical elements, we should try structuring the thoughts a bit more.
rule() = { precondition(), program(), postcondition() } precondition() = expr() -> true | false. program() = expr() -> any(). postcondition()= expr() -> true | false.
Maybe this definition feels a bit weak and lame, but as for now, it captures what we wish, next brainstorming session should focus on the machinery of our automated test generator.


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Nassau legislature passes redistricting plan
The Nassau County Legislature approved new district lines Tuesday that are expected to keep Republicans in control of the 19-member body.
The 10-9 vote came after a lengthy public hearing. Republicans control the legislature by a 10-9 majority, and all legislative seats are up for election this fall.
The map, sponsored by Republicans, would place Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, who now represents the 18th District in Glen Cove, in the 11th District in Roslyn, represented by Democrat Wayne Wink. DeRiggi-Whitton says she intends to run in the 11th, while Wink has said he is considering running for county comptroller. The 18th will have no incumbent.
Two Republican lawmakers, Michael Venditto of Massapequa and Joseph Belesi of Farmingdale, would be in the same district under the new map. Belesi has said he is considering retiring.
The approved lines were amended to restore Democratic Legis. David Denenberg, of Merrick, to his district after his home had been removed in a prior map. However, significant numbers of registered Republicans were added to his territory.
Legis. Denise Ford of Long Beach, a registered Democrat who caucuses with Republicans, had refused to vote for the redistricting plan until Denenberg was restored to his district. She said Tuesday that while the map wasn't perfect, "faced with the choices before me, I vote yes."
Denenberg said he is considering seeking re-election.
Jericho Gardens, a small community in New Cassel, was restored to the 2nd District in an amendment after Legis. Robert Troiano (D-Westbury) protested.
Troiano argued unsuccessfully Tuesday for some of more than 5,000 people who were moved out of Hempstead Village in his district and into the 14th, which includes Garden City, Carle Place, Old Westbury and Bethpage, to be moved back. "They have little in common with those other communities," he said.Jane Thomas, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Nassau County, said the new "map only makes cosmetic changes and still appears to be . . . a gerrymandered map . . . to benefit the majority party of this legislature."
Attorney Frederick Brewington of Hempstead said his office plans to file suit against the redistricting plan on behalf of members of the community over possible constitutional and Voting Rights Act issues.
County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican, must sign off on the new map. Spokesman Brian Nevin said Tuesday that Mangano "will review the plan once he receives it from the legislature."
Legislative districts are redrawn every 10 years following the decennial census.


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Mon, 16 Dec 19 19:50 to 20:50
OXSRAD - Studio
60 minutes
An hour of cycle training on static Spinning bikes at OXSRAD to suit all levels of fitness.
All you need to bring is water, a sweat towel, and some firm soled running or training shoes to use with the pedals which have straps. If you have SPD clips you can use those. The pedals cannot be removed so no other clip-less pedals can be used.
Arrive about 5 minutes early to sort bike fit.
The session is coached and will build cycling efficiency, speed and strength. Plenty of hill work! You can also do a run off the bike if you want to.
There are only 15 bikes so booking is essential.


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The Stanley Cup is visiting the Portland area, part of its summer PR tour (in these tough economic times, I guess even icons have to promote). Hockey's great trophy, which was originally a decorative English punch bowl, was downtown today. It's also visiting a couple of local ice arenas, and Captain Ron's Sports Bar & Grill in Sherwood, where my hockey team used to drink. It's going to all the storied places!
Anyhow, it was appearing today at Pioneer Square, at lunch. Time for a field trip to see the hallowed cup, which has been drop-kicked onto the Rideau Canal (1905), stolen (1907), forgotten in Montreal (1924), stolen again (1970), and sunk in a swimming pool (1993).
Despite (or maybe because of) its colorful history, it's one of the most cherished prizes in sports. Captains of hockey teams that win conference championships have a superstition of refusing to touch the conference trophy–they don't want to jinx their chances of lifting the Cup.
Actually, its popularity extends much farther than NHL hockey teams. For decades, the two titans of Canadian beer production, Molson's and Labatt, engaged in epic, stalemated trench warfare for market share. Then one year Labatt hit on the idea of including miniature Stanley Cups in specially marked cases of beer. In a market where a fraction of a percentage point gain in market share is big news, they scored the equivalent of a marketing hat trick. The lesson for you marketing students is that the gift-in-the-Happy-Meal model works for beer drinkers too–but only if you give them exactly the right gift.
Back to today. I could have my picture taken with the cup if I donated to charity, but by the time I arrived, the square was full of people:
I didn't have time to wait in line. So I walked out on that cement ledge on the left, and got a little closer:
Better, but not that great. Then I talked a nice girl, who was taking a lunch break from jury duty, into taking my picture:
Sure, you could quibble, that the Cup is small, and out of focus, and 100 ft. behind me. All true. On the other hand, I paid it some respect. Unlike the dork in the red t-shirt (below) …
… who had his picture taken–but only after he'd put his stuffed purple octopus in the top.
Well, whatever. Mission accomplished, with only a slight asterisk. Oh, and Sherwood Helping Hands? I owe you a donation.


text: Doing a little trip planning for this coming riding season. Don't seem to be able to find much about anyone riding this leg of a trip. Attached is the .gpx file I have tentatively laid out for this particular part of the journey. Is there anyone out there with corporate knowledge of this route or the area that can offer commentary on riding on this stretch between Wallace & Elk City? I have no idea where the best vistas, roads, etc are to be found on this particular portion of the ride I am planning - I just looked at maps and guessed as best I could. Looks like fun! All advice, suggestions, information happily accepted.


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2012 began with an announcement from St James's Palace confirming Kate had chosen her first four patronages The Art Room, The National Portrait Gallery, Action on Addiction and East Anglia's Children's Hospices. Kate reached her decision following a series of private visits to charities and while in Anglesey the Duchess would volunteer privately with UK Scouting.
|UK Scouting
On January 8th, the Duke and Duchess attended their first red carpet engagement of the year, the War Horse premiere in London's Leicester Square. Kate looked beautiful in the black lace Temperley 'Amoret' Dress.
Days later, William and Kate were photographed enjoying a romantic stroll on a beach in Anglesey. We also saw the latest addition to the Cambridge family, their adorable puppy Lupo :)
The Cambridges enjoyed a vacation with the Middleton family in Mustique in early February. Upon their return Prince William was deployed to the Falklands as part of a 4-man Search and Rescue crew. Flight Lieutenant Wales' tour of duty lasted six weeks.
William's deployment proved something of a learning curve for Kate who performed her first solo engagement visiting the Lucian Freud Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
On Valentine's Day Kate began a day of engagements in Liverpool with a visit to alcohol-free bar The Brink, a project by Kate's patronage Action on Addiction. Huge numbers turned out in the hopes of meeting the Duchess and those who met her described her as "utterly charming". Kate also visited Alder Hey Hospital where she was greeted with a posy of flowers by a little girl.
Following the Liverpool visit one thing was clear: Kate had become the new People's Princess. It was later revealed Kate was incredibly touched by the welcome she received.
|Daily Mail
The morning of March 1st was a very special one for Piccadilly as three generations of Royals visited luxury store Fortnum and Mason to mark rejuvenation efforts efforts in the area. With William in the Falklands it was simply wonderful to see the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall taking Kate under their wing. All three ladies coordinated and appeared to have a very enjoyable visit.
|Fortnum and Mason
A week later, Kate joined the Queen and Prince Philip for a visit to Leicester as part of their UK Diamond Jubilee tour. During the visit, Kate admitted she "missed William desperately" but was being very well looked after. I adored Kate's look. The LK Bennett Jude peplum jacket teamed with the teal Davina dress and a Lock & Co hat made for one of her best looks of the year, in my opinion.
Kate made her first official speech during a visit to her patronage, East Anglia's Children Hospices, where she formerly opened The Treehouse Hospice in Ipswich. During her speech Kate said:
'First of all, I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for not only accepting me as your patron but thank you also for inviting me here today. You have all made me feel so welcome and I feel hugely honoured to be here to see this wonderful centre. I am only sorry that William can't be here today; he would love it here. A view if his - that I share - is that through teamwork, so much can be achieved. What you have all achieved here is extraordinary.'
The speech is available to watch in full here.
William and Kate attended a private engagement at Claridge's in May and Kate looked elegant in a cream Roland Mouret 'Lombarde' gown. Another beautiful look.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee was an unforgettable time in Britain. Not only did it marks Her Majesty's glorious sixty years on the throne but it unified a nation and provided some much needed fun. Jubilee parties were held in most towns and people threw house parties. The Thames Pageant saw over one thousand boats muster on the River Thames from all around the world. The flotilla measured seven miles from end to end and was the largest fleet of ships assembled on the Thames in over 350 years.
The RAF flypast marked the climax of the spectacular Diamond Jubilee weekend.
Kate wore Erdem for Trooping The Colour. The annual parade which celebrates the Queen's birthday is always an event to look forward to because of the carriage procession and balcony appearance.
On June 16th, Duchess Kate visited the Widehorizons Adventure Centre in Kent where she met children from ARK's King Solomon Academy. Kate took part in an outdoor residential course where she helped the children to build a campfire. When one of the inquisitive children asked Kate how long she would be on the throne for she replied "that's not my job yet" and when asked about being a Princess she said:
"It's nice and I get to visit lots of countries. William is very sweet and kind and spoils me."
No doubt a day to remember for the children!
|Rebecca English Twitter
I love this photo taken by the wonderful royal photographer James Whatling, who takes the majority of photos I use on this blog. A good time to thank him for his hard work and dedication!
As a tennis fan, it was great to see William and Kate supporting Wimbledon in July.
Kate also attended the men's final with her sister Pippa. It was an emotional final which saw Roger Federer defeat a heartbroken Andy Murray. Both Kate and Pippa looked quite touched by Andy's speech (Andy went on to win gold at London 2012).
The Duke and Duchess travelled to Edinburgh to attend a service at St Giles Cathedral where William was installed as a 'Knight of the Thistle'. The ancient Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour of chivalry in Scotland and can only be bestowed by the Queen. Kate wore a bespoke soft gold Emilia Wickstead coat dress for the service.
In her role as Olympic Ambassador Kate attended numerous sporting events at the Olympic Stadium. Both with William and Harry as well as a number of solo appearances.
|London 2012
William, Harry and Kate visited the Olympic village and met the athletes.
The Princes gave interviews during the games and during a brief chat with the BBC's Sue Barker, William revealed worrying about being caught on the 'Kiss Cam' with Kate and also revealed his wife is a "sight to behold with a hockey stick" :)
The best moment of London 2012 (for royal watchers) came as the Cambridges were watching the cycling at the Velodrome, and when Team GB's sprint team won gold in record time, William and Kate embraced each other. It was a wonderfully spontaneous romantic moment. Completely natural.
|London 2012
|The Strait Times Facebook
Speaking about the tour, Principal Private Secretary and Equerry to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said:
"The aim of this tour is to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The Duke and Duchess will use the tour to pay tribute through what they do and say, and who they meet, to the Queen's lifetime of dedication to the mix of peoples and cultures that make up all of Her Majesty's Realms and the Commonwealth. The Tour will comprise a mixture of formal and informal moment which reflect these aims and the Duke and Duchess's characters and interests specifically."
|Media-Mode.com Courtesy photo
Kate wore a gorgeous floral print Erdem dress at an Eden Hall reception.
William and Kate's final engagement in Singapore was a sombre one with the couple visiting Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery. The Cambridges then travelled to Malaysia where Kate made a speech at Hospis Malaysia, praising the work of the staff there.
Only a couple of hours later, Kate visited the Asskyakrin mosque in Kuala Lumpur, the first visit to a place of Islamic worship, wearing a flowing white Beulah gown with a matching headscarf. She must have been feeling terrible but never showed it, instead performing her royal duties with grace, poise and a smile.
"The tour had begun badly with the publication of topless photos of Kate taken in France. I told Wills, 'I'd just like to say your missus has done a brilliant job on this tour and you must be very proud of her'. 'Yes,' he said, 'that's why I married her.'"
|Galaxie Magazine Twitter
Next, the couple enjoyed a colourful visit to Solomon Islands.
Following a busy day of engagements, William and Kate flew to Marau, which is on the furthest end of the main island, Guadalcanal. On arrival, the Duke and Duchess were honoured by leaders and members of the local communities.
The couple proceeded by boat to the island of Marapa, where they visited a village before travelling on a traditional war canoe the short distance between Marapa and Tavinapupu. On arrival, William and Kate received a local music and dance welcome and spent the night at the exceptionally beautiful Tavinipupu Resort Hotel.
|Newbury Today Twitter
"Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby.'The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princes of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news."
Sadly, Kate was hospitalized for three days at the King Edward VII hospital in London with hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute form of morning sickness which can lead to dehydration. When Kate was discharged she said she was "feeling much better", although the illness can last for the duration of the pregnancy.
Despite feeling unwell, Kate took time out of her recovery to present two awards at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. The Duchess could only stay at the awards ceremony for a short while but was eager to participate due to her role as Olympic Ambassador. Kate looked elegant in an emerald green Alexander McQueen gown.
The Duke and Duchess spent Boxing Day at Sandringham where William participated in the annual shoot and Kate attended a picnic.
What were your royal highlights of 2012? I'm looking forward to hearing what you all choose. 2013 promises to be the most exciting yet with the arrival of William and Kate's baby. Judging from what we've seen of the Duke and Duchess interacting with children I think Baby Cambridge will be one very lucky child :)
Happy New Year Duchess Kate readers and thank you for following the blog this year! x


text: Powerful, portable and made for what matters to you Over 2.3 million pixels packed into a 7-inch display with an ultra-high 323ppi for incredible visuals in full HDSlim new design increases comfort and portability, narrow bezels make it easy to hold in one handDesigned for portability: weighing only 290g with an ultra-thin 8.65mm profileQuad-core performance: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB RAM for smooth and responsive performancePhotos and video with dual HD cameras: 1.2MP front and 5MP rearCinematic stereo surround: Fraunhofer Cingo mobile audio technology for 5.1 virtual surround sound, with or without headphonesSpeedy dual-band Wi-Fi and optional 4G LTE for blazing internet speeds. Stay connected anywhere, anytime Shop Modal header Now thinner, lighter, and faster – Nexus 7 brings you the perfect mix of power and portability and features the world's sharpest 7-inch tablet screen. Grab-and-go greatness Smart, thin and gorgeousThe clean, simple design features a slim body, a thin bezel and a soft-touch, matte back cover. It sits comfortably in the palm of your hand while the bright, beautiful 7-inch display brings entertainment to life. Lighter than ever, lasts longer At just 0.64lbs (290g), the all-new Nexus 7 is light enough to take anywhere and fits easily in bags, backpacks, and even back-pockets. With up to 9 hours of HD video playback and 10 hours of web browsing or e-reading, there's plenty of juice to get you through the day, and built-in wireless charging means you can charge, grab, and go. Connect from anywhere With dual-band Wi-Fi and optional 4G LTE, including support for hundreds of networks worldwide, you'll stay entertained – and connected – wherever you are. Eye-popping performance The sharpest ever 7-inch tablet screen The world's highest-resolution 7-inch tablet puts over 2.3 million pixels in the palm of your hand. With 323 pixels packed into every inch, you can read text that's sharper than a printed page, see images more vivid than the highest quality photo magazine, and watch movies come to life in vibrant full HD. Fast and smooth Nexus 7 is made by ASUS and packs a serious punch. With a quad-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor and 2GB of RAM, everything runs faster. Plus, high-performance rendering ensures 3D graphics are smooth and dynamic. Sound that surrounds Nexus 7 features stereo speakers and Surround Sound powered by Fraunhofer (creators of the MP3 format) so you get rich and immersive audio. Hear it all more clearly with finely tuned volume boost technology that makes dialog and sound crisp and easier on the ears.*Fraunhofer Cingo™ mobile audio technology. Learn more: www.fraunhofer-cingo.com. Capture every moment Video conferencing and face-to-face chats with family and friends are more seamless than ever. 1.2MP front and 5MP auto-focus rear cameras and the f/2.4 aperture allows you to capture every moment with rich photos or crisp Full HD video. All your stuff, your way Best of Google Nexus 7 comes loaded with your favorite Google apps – like Chrome, Gmail, YouTube, Hangouts and Google Now – so you can browse, watch, share and stay connected wherever you go. And because Google apps are designed for the cloud, everything is simple and works seamlessly across your phone, tablet and computer. Now you have all the stuff you need, when you need it. Powered by Android Nexus 7 is the first tablet to ship with Android 4.3, the latest version of the world's most popular mobile operating system so it's fast, fun and easy to make your own. Share your tablet with friends and family – each person has a separate customizable space, including personal homescreen, wallpaper, apps, storage, and more. You can also manage access to apps and content to create an experience that's appropriate for each member of the family. Ready to Play Nexus 7 is great for gaming and with favorites like Prince of Persia, Asphalt 8, and Riptide GP 2, you can tilt, tap, and touch your way to the top. The brand new Play Games app also lets you track your achievements, play with (or against) friends and gamers around the world, and discover new exciting games. And with an ever-expanding number of tablet-optimized apps like Flipboard, Expedia, or The Fancy, you'll find all the apps you love, and love the many new apps you find. Kick back with the world's largest collection of eBooks, listen to millions of music tracks with All Access, and immerse yourself with thousands of movies and TV shows on Google Play.


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Meet Amanda Seyfried's New Boyfriend
The actress and Andrew Joblon have been dating for a month, a source tells PEOPLE
There's a new man in Amanda Seyfried's life: New York real-estate executive Andrew Joblon.
The two have been dating "for about a month," a source tells PEOPLE. "They are calling themselves a new couple."
Tuesday night, the couple looked cozy at the Eric Trump Foundation's 5th Annual Golf Invitational & Gala at Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, N.Y., which benefited St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Joblon serves on the board of the Eric Trump Foundation.
An observer says he sensed "they had great chemistry" and "were great together." According to The New York Daily News, the two kept their distance during the press-heavy cocktail reception, but cozied up to one another once dinner started.
At the event, Bret Michaels performed, donated $25,000 to the foundation and asked partygoers to match it. Seyfried stepped up and matched his pledge.
Earlier this year, the actress, 25, and Ryan Phillippe were involved. Before that, she dated her Mamma Mia! costar Dominic Cooper for more than three years.
Sept. 5 she was at the U.S. Open with Franck Raharinosy, co-owner of the ping pong club SPiN New York. Seyfried said, "I'm friends with him. He's a good, smart guy."


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BRUSSELS - European officials had a message Thursday for French forces fighting on the front lines of the battle against Islamist extremists in the troubled African country of Mali: We're behind you all the way - and right behind you is exactly where we plan to stay.
European leaders agree that the Islamist radicals controlling a vast swath of northern Mali pose a global threat, saying they are capable of developing terrorist plots that could strike any country in the world. The U.S. government shares that view.
But after a decade bogged down in Afghanistan, also in a war against jihadists, there is scant appetite either in Europe or the U.S. to put boots on the ground in Mali - however much national leaders say that something needs to be done.
At an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday, EU foreign ministers approved sending a military training mission to Mali to shore up the army and so, it is hoped, enable the country's government to regain control of all its territory, perhaps with help from neighboring African countries. Even that is nothing new; the EU has long planned to send trainers, but the timetable is being expedited.
No European leader downplays the danger posed by northern Mali.
"The threat of jihadi terrorists is something that should be a matter of great concern to all of us," Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said on his way into the meeting. "And there is not one European country that can hide if this threat would present itself to the European continent."
Yet no combat role is envisioned for the EU troops. Instead, France is out alone on the front lines, at least so far.
"It is completely possible - but this is up to them - that others or the same European countries decide to offer not just logistical support, but also to make soldiers available," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. "But we're not going to force them to, obviously."
French officials say the opposition they've encountered has been fiercer and more heavily armed than they had expected, hardly words to encourage queasy national leaders to participate.
A French helicopter pilot has died in the effort.
Of course, there can be other reasons for reluctance. European adventurism in Africa has a sorry history. EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said this week that Mali is clearly a case where Europe should help, but one where it should also make sure that Africans are in charge as much as possible.
Heather Conley, Europe program director for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that such forays often have unintended consequences. In fact, Mali's current problems can be partially traced to the international intervention in Libya, where the fall of leader Moammar Gadhafi led weapons and fighters to spill across porous borders and spread throughout the lawless desert.
Another reason for the rest of Europe's reluctance to follow France's lead may be simple battle fatigue. Many European countries have been fighting militants in Afghanistan for more than a decade. Countries as varied as Bulgaria, Belgium, Slovakia, Lithuania and Poland still have troops deployed there. Larger countries, such as the U.K., Germany, Italy and France still have thousands of troops committed.
The Islamist radicals in northern Mali are said to have ties to al-Qaida, the terrorist group that made its home in Afghanistan. And history's verdict on whether, after so many years, the international operation in Afghanistan will in the end be called a success has yet to be delivered.
Similarly, French officials have given different goals at different times since the operation in Mali began last week. E.J. Hogendoorn, deputy director for the International Crisis Group's Africa program, said the French military could certainly take the cities of northern Mali if it puts all its might behind such a mission - but finding a durable, peaceful solution for an area the size of Texas would be another matter.
"Once this mission is stepped up, they'll be able to hold the major cities, but then the question comes up: who fills the vacuum?" he asked.
Raf Casert in Brussels contributed to this report.


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I know that some of you were asking about Gerald reissues, so here's the first (press release from the sadly, recently, defunkt, Lowlands Distribution webpage from Belgium):
Catalog #:
Release date:
Visit the A GUY CALLED GERALD website
Black Secret Technology
by A GUY CALLED GERALD
A GUY CALLED GERALD's original underground classic Black Secret Technology is now available again 13 years after its original release. 1995's BLACK SECRET TECHNOLOGY, a bewildering mix of tight breakbeats, techno textures, and flickering, dream-struck voices, has been often imitated but never equaled. Gerald credits much of his work to serendipity, but that doesn't explain the staggering cybernetic wallop packed by "Alita's Dream" and "Survival," or the supreme sensuality of "The Nile." The album is woven through with perfect techno-pop bridges, confronting the harsh realities of technology with the life-affirming spirituality of Gerald's club-classic debut, HOT LEMONADE. Balanced on the razor edge between mysticism and frenzy, TECHNOLOGY remains a powerful comment on the eternal struggle between man and his future.
Genre(s): Drum 'n' Bass & Jungle - Breakz & Beatz - Step
Sounds Like: Drum 'n Bass Classic Repress
Format(s): CD
General info
01 So Many Dreams,
02 Alita's Dream,
03 Finleys Rainbow (Slow Motion Mix),
04 The Nile,
05 Energy [Extended Mix],
06 Silent Cry (Gerico),
07 Dreaming of You,
08 Survival,
09 Cybergen,
10 The Reno,
11 Cyberjazz,
12 Voodoo Rage,
13 Life Unfolds His Mystery
- Peter Shapiro, The Rough Guide to Drum n Bass, 1999: "One of the first single-artist drum & bass albums, BST expanded on Simpsons idea that the sampler was a time machine by linking ancient African rhythms and more modern funk beats with futuristic breakbeat science to produce trance-like thythms [which] reflect my frustration to know the truth about my ancestors who talked with drums. Energy, co-produced with Goldie, sounded like Jamaican nyabinghi drummers jamming in an anti-gravity chamber, while its bird calls referenced Pacific State which had since become a favourite sampling tool of the intelligent drum & bass brigade."
- Sean Cooper, All Music Guide: "The first full-length release in a style that, like its close relatives hip-hop and techno, began as a 12-inch genre. The album laid much important groundwork for experimental junglists like Photek, Subtropic, and Goldie."
- NME (1995): "An Afro-centric view of a Europe to come? Perhaps. Good old-fashioned British hybrid inclinations and old school audaciousness? Definitely. Gerald has come up with the jungle that takes it from the loony experimentalism of the 12" rough cuts you hear on pirates, and peers right into the next century."
- Mike Pattenden, VOX Magazine (1995): "Black Secret Technology shines like gunmetal glinting in the cold, winter sunlight"
- SIMON REYNOLDS: "Gerald's music actually sounds like a virtual jungle, a datascape environment that's sensorily intoxicating yet teeming with threat. Breakbeats coil and writhe like serpents, samples morph and dematerialise like fever-dream hallucinations, itchy'n'scratchy blips of texture/rhythm dart and hover like dragonflies. This could be heaven, this could be hell... Either way, this jungle is a terrain where the natives, the tech-savvy, have the advantage. It's absolutely NOW, absolutely ESSENTIAL."
- Bethan Cole, Mixmag, February (1995): "GERALD'S role in the development of drum n' bass cannot be overstressed. But whereas early jungle experiments, like '28 Gun Bad Boy', were rough and ragga, 'Black Secret Technology' is dreamy, ethereal, other-worldly even. Gerald's sound has taken flight, soared away from street-tough realism and now dwells in the fluffy, weightless clouds of the imagination. Somewhere between the second and third hearing of this album, you'll be hooked and you won't quite know why. But then that is how 'Black Secret Technology' works."
- SIMON REYNOLDS, MELODY MAKER (1995): So do you think people will lose interest in music? "Yeah, sound will just become a small part of it. I can't imagine a kid today just sitting down and listening to an album. It's progression, innit?" Feeling like a old fogey, I quibble: isn't part of music's magic the way it makes you come up with your own mind's eye imagery? Gerald's chirpy response is that with CD-ROM you'll soon have the power to create
your own graphics. But, I counter feebly, who actually has the energy for all this inter-active self-expression? "Not people who grew up in our era. But kids today, given ten years, they'll be on it."
WIKIPEDIA: "Black Secret Technology is the fourth album by house music and drum and bass pioneer A Guy Called Gerald, released in 1995 to widespread critical acclaim. It is one of the most important drum and bass albums and preceded the classic Timeless by Goldie."
CURRENT TOUR: A Guy Called Gerald will be touring selected dates with a new LIVE project featuring Jungle Drummer, Diane Charlemagne and Stamina MC. The show wi$include classics from Black Secret Technology, the Juice Box era as well as new material. There will be a sneak preview show at Glastonbury Festival on June 28th.
- A Guy Called Gerald NEW 12" release coming out on sublime Berlin house/techno label Perlon in July... www.perlon.net
- A Guy Called Gerald is next up in the Loopmasters Producer Series... www.loopmasters.com/
A Guy Called Gerald - Black Secret Technology Reissue
Discuss musical topics that are not directly 808 State related.
Moderators: Pob, markus, nickking, Ancodia
Post Reply
6 posts • Page 1 of 1
Wow, already sold out in Warpmart after a day (or less??) of being on the front page:
http://warpmart.com/item/A%20Guy%20Call ... on%29/4000
Got myself a copy, looking forward to having it at last! Can't wait for Hot Lemonade either.
http://warpmart.com/item/A%20Guy%20Call ... on%29/4000
Got myself a copy, looking forward to having it at last! Can't wait for Hot Lemonade either.
Post Reply
6 posts • Page 1 of 1


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Security Bulletins for Adobe Digital Editions (APSB16-06) as well as Adobe Acrobat and Reader (APSB16-09) have been published. Adobe recommends users update their product installations to the latest versions using the instructions referenced in the relevant security bulletin.
A security update for Adobe Flash Player will also be available in the coming days. We will continue to provide updates via the Adobe PSIRT blog.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.


text:
Each pesticide name below will take you to chemical information pages with links to factsheets, basic chemical, alternatives, health and environmental effects, regulatory status, key studies and more. See also Beyond Pesticides' pest management resources, health effects and other factsheets, and activist tools.
For more general information, read What Is a Pesticide?
Scroll down this page to see the list of featured pesticides, or search for specific ones using the box on the right.
1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)
2-Phenylphenol (o-phenylphenol)
4-Chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA)
Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC)
Benzylchlorophenol (2‐Benzyl‐4‐chlorophenol)
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)
Disodium Methanearsonate (DSMA)
Ecolyst (N-N-diethyl-2-(4-methylbenzyloxy) ethylamine hydrochloride)
Halohydantoins (dihalodialkylhydantoins) (several)
MCPB (4-(2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxy) butyric acid)
Monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA)
PCNB (Quintozene, Pentachloronitrobenzene)
Triphenyltin Hydroxide/Fentin Hydroxide (TPTH)
Troysan polyphase (IPBC or Troysan KK-108A)
denotes least-toxic chemical
denotes toxic to bees


text:
Located on the Gastineau Channel of the U.S. state of Alaska, Juneau is the capital city of Alaska. Juneau covers an area larger than Rhode Island and is the only United States capital on an international border.
As the state capital, government is a major contributor to Juneau economy as much of Juneau 's workforce is employed by government. Tourism, fishing and forestry are also important to the local economy.
Places to visit:
• Mendenhall Glacier
• Glacier Bay National Park
• Admiralty Island National Monument
• Tracy Arm
Juneau has a humid continental climate. Winters are moist, long and slightly cold. Spring, Summer and Fall are mildly cool with highs peaking in July at 18.3°C. May to September is the wonderful cruise season.


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Bisons avoid sweep
Trailing 4-0 after three innings, the Herd broke through with five runs in the fourth and three in the fifth for an 8-5 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to close out the homestand Friday night at Coca-Cola Field.
"It's always nicer to go on a road trip with something positive," third baseman Josh Satin said. "So hopefully we build on that momentum and head into Lehigh (Valley) strong."
Despite nine walks issued by Yankees starter Brackman, the Bisons couldn't break through for a run or hit in his 3 1/3 innings.
"He kept putting himself in trouble when there were all these guys on base," Satin said. "There's a lot of balls hit well with guys on base and none of them really fell for us."
However reliever Eric Wordekemper allowed all three of his inherited runners to score as part of a five-run fourth inning in which the Herd batted around.
Luis Figueroa, who went 3-for-5 and Satin delivered RBI hits, Nick Evans walked one in and Mike Baxter drove in two on a single.
Starter Dylan Owen earned his fifth win, allowing five earned runs on eight hits over 7 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
After raising his average to .355 in 31 at-bats, Satin said he's adjusting to playing at the Triple-A level with every game.
"The way they pitch you is a little different from what I've been used to," Satin said. "I've kind of started to figure out what they want to throw in different counts and different situations."
The Bisons padded the lead with three more in the fifth with Satin and Valentino Pascucci driving in a pair on singles and Baxter taking a pitch to the side with the bases loaded.
Four Yankee singles gave Scranton a two-run lead after the first inning, including RBI hits by Mike Lamb and Brandon Laird.
Owen allowed a third-inning, two-run homer to Jorge Vazquezin the third.
Consecutive eighth-inning doubles by Laird and Jordan Parraz, the latter against John Lujan, cut Buffalo's lead to three.
Dale Thayer finished ninth in order, including a double play, for his 12th save.
Game Notes: Fernando Perez reached base five times, walking his first four trips to the plate before a single… The record for walks by an opponent remains Joe Gannon's 12 in Ottawa on April 23, 2004… Pascucci's infield single gave him his International League-leading 72rd RBI. Vazquez trails him with 70.


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Sonic AuthorScript Licensed for Win XP Media Center Edition 2005
Built-in AuthorScript Enables Burning of TV Shows, Photos and Music to DVD and CD.
Sonic Solutions announced that Sonic AuthorScript, the world's leading DVD and CD formatting and burning engine, has been included in Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Microsoft's flagship consumer operating system which was unveiled today for the first time. With Media Center PCs, consumers get the best version of Windows ever for the home, offering the full capabilities of a Windows XP-based PC with exciting new experiences for music, digital photography, movies, and television. Sonic AuthorScript is integrated within Media Center Edition 2005, giving users the ability, for the first time, to easily burn their recorded TV shows, videos and photo slideshows to DVD-Videos directly from Media Center Edition.
Sonic and Microsoft entered into a multi-year licensing deal in January 2002 in which Microsoft licensed Sonic's DVD-Video authoring technology. Under that agreement, Sonic is providing core DVD technology and development expertise to Microsoft. This agreement between the two companies enables Microsoft to embed Sonic's AuthorScript formatting and burning engine in Windows Media Center Edition 2005 and includes AuthorScript modules for DVD-Video formatting and burning, DVD-Video slideshow creation and burning, DVD-ROM and CD-ROM data burning, and CD-Audio burning.
"Our collaboration with Sonic has delivered high-quality, integrated experiences for CD and DVD burning in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005," said Kevin Unangst, director of Windows consumer marketing for Microsoft Corp. "We're very excited to offer the AuthorScript engine as part of the complete set of digital entertainment experiences offered by Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005."
"The ability to store TV programs and personal content on DVDs and CDs with just one click of the remote control is precisely the type of application that makes Media Center Edition the ideal consumer operating system," said Mary Sauer, senior vice-president of business development at Sonic Solutions. "It's a great honor to have been selected by Microsoft as a core technology provider for Media Center Edition 2005."
With the combination of easy-to-navigate menus, a remote control, and the built-in AuthorScript modules in Media Center Edition, it is now easier than ever for users to browse through their digital media ? TV shows, videos, music, photos ? and record them to disc. Through AuthorScript's Fit-to-DVD? feature, in which AuthorScript automatically optimizes DVD video quality to perfectly fit the selected shows onto a disc, users can opt for any recording-quality setting in Media Center Edition without worrying whether or not their recorded shows will fit on a DVD.
AuthorScript also incorporates Sonic's SmartStyles? technology, which replicates the same "look and feel" of the Media Center Edition user interface in the DVD-Video disc menus, giving users a consistent and familiar experience when they play the DVDs they create. AuthorScript also enhances the Windows Movie Maker feature of Windows XP Media Center Edition, enabling users to burn their edited videos to DVD directly from within Windows Movie Maker.
About Sonic AuthorScript
Sonic AuthorScript is the world's leading engine for the creation and burning of DVDs and CDs on PCs and CE devices. Available as a software development kit (SDK) with extensive APIs, AuthorScript makes it easy for application developers to add a broad range of CD and DVD technologies into their applications and to support the widest array of CD and DVD burners. A flexible solution, AuthorScript contains modules for converting video and audio data into DVD- and VCD-compliant streams, formatting and burning DVD-Video and VCD projects, data mastering on recordable CDs and DVDs, music CD ripping and burning, DVR recording and time-shifting, and DVD-Video and VCD playback. AuthorScript also includes comprehensive support for recording and editing in the DVD-VR and DVD+RW (+VR) formats.
AuthorScript has been licensed by industry-leading companies including Adobe, Avid, Microsoft, Sony, and Time Warner. It is the underlying engine in Sonic's DVD and CD applications including MyDVD?, DVDit?, and RecordNow?.


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Beating the Market, Lowering Fees
Brendan Conway and Jack Otter discuss a Vanguard fund that's beating the S&P over the long term, despite a hefty bond allocation. Plus: How to protect yourself against a stock pullback.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... not even cheaper and Jack are are are are are pretty calm when rights are focused on funds lock ... in your writing about the Vanguard Wellington fund which is a stalwart of that's people ... on the interesting Lee is in actively managed fund owns both bonds and stocks ... and yet it being the all stock index the SB five hundred over the long term ... to three thirty ... yet check has quite a record there are ... no pay day and they drop their expense ratio by a small amount but if you look at what expense ratio is just twenty seven basis points which is about you know quarter of all on one percent ... a lot of actively managed to put in charge of one percent ... these guys have done ... so what they're charging that much classes really fast ... and is a bit of sleep a night fun because thirty four percent bond debts or shock absorber that ... he had yet another debate in the last couple years because the stock market is going so well the trail a little bit but I think if you look at the long-term track record ... people going to be just fine ... so enough with the good news I let's talk about some scary signals that you're seeing at the right a lot of volatility ... can you explain how some there's the divergence ... in the various volatility measures that's right yet yet so so what are people ... walked low has been relatively low ... it's fallen this year ... it seemed to suggest that the market says all full steam ahead for stocks today ... yes a lot about this right now there's a more secure along ... that measures kind of these other you know kind of partners even understand contracts that will come from bigger ... more sophisticated traders use ... that one has been swinging around a lot lately ... more than usual ... aam seems to suggest some traders are looking for trouble protective in Europe ... and these are often decent predictors of what happened to turn it into a crystal ball bookkeeping on these can be used ... I think that keeping an eye on them can be useful at the very minimum that tells you what the broader market thinks so there is there something that you want to do ... it will help ... you know figure out a good time to buy the stock after all ... have certainly there's a lot of ... disbelief in this incredible rally going two for four years ... on the one hand that's helping I mean one set of eyes and it's probably close to the top ... but that said the people are nervous you also talk about a fairly inexpensive strategy they can use to hedge against ... this market in case it just doesn't keep on going up in years when ... short yes yes so ... there's a firmer this morning pointing out that provide a put option on the SB five hundred ETF ... a put option gives you the right to ... sell your stock holdings of certain level ... of above five percent below today's prices ... the cost one point three percent of the value of the entire fund ... which again has the lowest in five years so ... if you're worried not banking ... and insurance is cheap at least that's what that exactly domestic ... streaming for free stuff ... thank you for watching ...


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Life is like a circle, you end up
where you started
If you end up where you started,
ain't no other side
Yeah, but if life is like a curtain
than I'm 90% certain
I'm looking through at something…
Yes, I'm always touching something on
the other side…
~Gil Scott-Heron~
American poet, author,
musician and cultural icon, Gil Scott-Heron, made his transition on Friday, May
27, 2011. He left this world at 62 years
of age. A spoken word artist, he was
best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the Black and
Blues Band in collaboration with pianist Brian Jackson. The two fused the music of jazz, blues and
soul into their own unique sound.
Gil Scott-Heron was a
social activist and voice for the underprivileged throughout the world. To many he was an unsung hero who spoke out
against injustice and attributed his music, anger and activism toward social
causes. Associated with the activism of the Black militants,
Scott-Heron gained notoriety for his poetic composition "The Revolution Will Not Be
In many of his songs, Scott-Heron heralded the political and social issues affecting
the poorer echelon of America. Through the
song "Billy Green is Dead," he echoed the need for inner city communities to
address the plight of their neighbors and become involved in issues that would
free them from oppression. It is said that Scott-Heron's poetic and vocal style --recorded
in the early 1970s-- engendered in songs like "Winter in America," and "Pieces
of A Man," fostered the neo-soul and hip hop music genres that were to follow.
The Grandfather of the spoken word, Scott-Heron often
encouraged modern day rappers to study music and take on relevant issues that
brought enlightenment to their communities. His last album entitled
"I'm New Here," was released in 2010 after a 16 year hiatus between recordings.
Chicago born, Scott-Heron spent much of his early
childhood in Tennessee with his grandmother after his parents divorced. After his grandmother's death, he lived with
his mother in the Bronx, New York. He
attended DeWitt Clinton High School, transferring to the Fieldston School where
he won a full scholarship. He went on to
attend Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Later attending Johns Hopkins University, Scott-Heron earned a Masters in Creative Writing. Heron wrote "The Vulture" which was well
received and another novel entitled "The Nigger Factory."
Scott-Heron's first recording "Small Talk
at 125th and Lenox" was in line with his social concerns. The
album addressed the ignorance of the White middle class concerning the plight
of the inner cities, consumerism, and the hypocrisy of some Black
militants. Over the years, Scott-Heron worked
with musical artists such as Eddie Knowles, Ron Carter, Charlie Saunders,
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Ron Holloway, Burt Jones and Hubert Laws. He released recordings such as Midnight Band:
The First Minutes of a New Day; It's Your World; New York Is Killing Me; Lady
Day and John Coltrane; Me And The Devil; The Bottle; Home is Where the Hatred
Is; Angel Dust; Work For Peace; Message to the Messengers; Save the Children
and Free Will, and; many others.
Scott-Heron was a man who lived life with
great passion, oft-times feeling things too deeply. Occasionally, he tried to allay his pain by
resorting to self-destructive behavior which resulted in drug use. This led to his incarceration within the New
York State Penal System.
Upon returning from a European trip,
Gil Scott-Heron fell ill. He died while
at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City.
The exact cause of death is yet to be determined.
He is survived by his wife Brenda
and his daughter Gia.
Scott-Heron left a volume of work for the
world to treasure. However, it seems the
time came for Gil Scott-Heron to pull aside the curtain. He looked through at something and in doing so, reached out and touched
the other side.
"Speaking Truth To Empower."
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text:
Author(s): Ann Brashares
Summer is a time to grow.
Seeds - Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead.
Roots - Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a busgirl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all...
Leaves - Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products.
A lover of summer, pants, and travel, Ann Brashares lives in New York City with her husband and their three children. Her Sisterhood novels are an internationally bestselling and award-winning series that reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.


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Research is getting closer to understanding critical nucleus in haze formation
Haze, scientifically known as atmospheric aerosols - microscopic particles suspended in the Earth's atmosphere - represents a major environmental problem because it degrades visibility, affects human health and influences the climate. Despite its profound impacts, how the haze is formed is not fully understood, says a Texas A&M University professor of atmospheric sciences and chemistry who has studied air chemistry for more than 20 years.
Professor Renyi Zhang published his work in the June 11 issue of Science magazine, summarizing recent findings and new research directions that could pave the way for a better understanding of aerosol formation.
"Aerosols, also referred to as haze, influence climate by absorbing and reflecting solar radiation and modifying cloud formation," he explains. "A better understanding of how aerosols form in the atmosphere will greatly improve climate models.
"But, formation of aerosols in the atmosphere is not fully understood, particularly at the molecular level, creating one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate predictions," he adds.
For aerosols to form, the bonding particles must cross an energy threshold, which the scientists call nucleation barrier. Once the barrier is crossed, aerosol formation can happen spontaneously, he notes.
The interaction between organic acids and sulfuric acid can facilitate the crossing of the barrier by creating a critical nucleus, the Texas A&M professor says in the Science article.
Large amounts of organic gases are emitted to the atmosphere by plants, industry and automobiles and form organic acids; sulfur dioxide, on the other hand, are produced by human activities, such as burning coals, and then form sulfuric acid.
To better understand aerosol formation, scientists need to predict the nucleation rate based on knowledge of the composition of the critical nucleus, Zhang explains.
This knowledge can be obtained by combining theoretical approaches with "measurements of the size and chemical composition of freshly nucleated nanoparticles in the laboratory and in the field," Zhang notes.
Understanding and eventually controlling aerosol formation may help the environment, benefit human health and improve climate prediction, he says.
Explore further


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Eric Holder will be in Connecticut today to announce anti-gun violence initiative
NEW HAVEN -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will be in New Haven Tuesday morning to announce an initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut's major cities.
Holder will join Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and David Fein, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, at an 11 a.m. news conference at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut; 157 Church St., 25th Floor, New Haven.
Members of law enforcement, elected officials, social service providers, community leaders and academic researchers will also attend, according to a statement from Malloy's office.


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HOUSTON – One of Boniek García's most noticeable traits since coming to Houston has been simple: consistency. The always-smiling Honduran is a sure bet to put in an honest effort every time he steps on the field.
It may come as a surprise, then, that Honduran national team head coach Luis Fernando Suárez says that's a new thing. The technique and skill have always been there – García very clearly has an abundance of talent – but it is off the field where Suárez says his star has changed.
García toiled in relative anonymity, at least on a regional level, while playing for Honduran powerhouse Olimpia. But just a year after taking MLS by storm he has established himself as a "name" in the league.
TICKETS: See Garcia and the Dynamo take on the Colorado Rapids on Sunday
"When he was [at Olimpia] he was always a very good player but he was just one more of the group," Suárez said through a translator. "Here he's more committed mentally and physically and he wants to be one of the frontrunners of the club.
"He's one of those players who I'll always have with me as long as I'm the coach because of the fact that I know his quality, his characteristics, I trust him and I know he's always going to give an honest effort."
Suárez was in Houston this week to meet with García and Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear as part of a series of visits he will make with the numerous Honduran national team players plying their trade in MLS.
"They're the ones that have supported our club as of late," Suarez said about his MLS players. "Especially with the games that we played against Canada and Cuba, they were the players that played a bigger role than others. I think they're really going to support us this year especially as we get closer to the World Cup cycle."
READ: Where do Houston stand in the latest MLS Power Rankings?
García has been a standout among that group in the Hexagonal round of World Cup Qualifying. He had a man of the match performance in a 2-1 win against the US in the opening fixture of the round and was influential in a comeback 2-2 draw versus Mexico.
Moving forward, García will be a player counted on to put in the same type of performances to lead his team and a nation starving for big-time soccer success to the next level. It is a level of play the coach is happy to see come out of García since leaving his homeland.
"He always wanted to leave Honduras and he never had the opportunity to leave," Suárez continued. "Now that he's playing abroad he's showing a bigger level of commitment. He's showing why he should have been out there from the beginning."
READ: Between suspensions and injuries, Dynamo's depth to be tested on Sunday
During the session García and the Dynamo did light work, which meant there was little to see for the national team boss. But the presence of the coach was not lost on García.
"It speaks to the importance I have within the national team group," García said through a translator. "The fact he was able to come here and watch me play, it was very motivating to see that and that he sees me as a big part of the group. It's motivating moving forward."
However, he may just need a little more time to get back to his best. García missed his third game in a row through injury – although he was on the bench – against Toronto FC, continuing his slow start to the season.
"I think that the start of this year hasn't been that good, at least in MLS terms, because he hasn't had a lot of rhythm and he's been injured," Suárez observed. "This gives him a clean slate to come back fully fit and play at the level he's used to playing at. I'm fully confident he'll be able to come back and play as well as he's using to playing."
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.


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The Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM is a state of the art lens designed for full frame cameras but can also be used with APS-C sensors as well. The first addition to the Art category in Sigma?s Global Vision, the 35mm 1.4 DG HSM includes new features based around a unique lens concept and design. The 35mm is a staple focal length in the world of photography, and paired with Sigma technology, this lens can take artistic expression to the next level. The lens is equipped with technology including a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), floating internal focusing system, SLD and FLD Glass elements. The HSM ensures quiet, high speed, accurate autofocusing while the floating focusing system allows for superior optical performance with subjects at a closer shooting distance. The SLD glass elements along with the FLD glass elements, which are equal to fluorite, help correct both axial and chromatic aberration. The large 1.4 aperture make it ideal in low light and the lens is compatible with the Sigma USB dock and Optimization Pro software to adjust and fine tune focusing parameters. The Sigma 35mm 1.4 DG HSM is a must have for any camera bag.
USB Dock Compatibility
Sigma has developed special software (SIGMA Optimization Pro) that can update the lens firmware and adjust parameters such as focus.
*USB Dock is sold separately.
Warranty - 1 year America Warranty + 3 year USA extended warranty on manufacturing and workmanship for a total of 4 years of coverage from date of purchase.
Product Specifications:
Lens Construction
Angle of View
Number of Diaphragm Blades
Mininum Aperture
Minimum Focusing Distance
Filter Size (mm)
Maximum Magnifications
Corresponding Mounts
HSM - Hyper-Sonic MotorDG - DG for Digital
* PENTAX SFX and SF7 cannot be used.* Nikon and Pentax mounts do not have an aperture ring. Some functions may not work depending on the camera model.*1 If the camera body does not support HSM, auto focus will not be available.
* The appearance, specifications, and the like of the product are subject to change for improvement without notice.


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Interview with Alexei Shulgin
Alexei Shulgin's pioneering works in internet art are collected on his site easylife.org, but many of the links there are empty or obsolete; one called Insanity Notification sends visitors to a site indicating that Shulgin went insane at an unidentified point in the past. It has been more than five years since Shulgin left the online environment to focus on the production of tangible, marketable objects. His collaboration with Aristarkh Chernyshev began in 2003, and two years later the artists founded Electroboutique a gallery-slash-gadget shop selling distorting screens and other high-tech toys. Shulgin and Chernyshev called it "Media Art 2.0," and wrote a manifesto saying the plug-and-play nature of their new work liberated them from a "media art ghetto," adding that their manipulation of familiar screen-based interfaces contained a nugget of criticality. Their work was recently featured in "Criti Pop", an exhibition at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (along with interactive installations that Chernyshev made in collaboration with Vladislav Efimov). - Brian Droitcour
Lewis Hyde Profiled in the New York Times Magazine
This past Sunday the New York Times Magazine profiled Lewis Hyde, a writer and poet whose 1983 book The Gift described the value of art and literature in a market system as "the commerce of the creative spirit." Now a fellow Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Hyde is at work on a book that attempts to define how the market of cultural property should be regulated. Excerpts below, see link at the bottom for the full article.
In the late 1990s, Hyde began extending his lifelong project of examining "the public life of the imagination" into what had become newly topical territory: the "cultural commons." The advent of Internet file-sharing services like Napster and Gnutella sparked urgent debates over how to strike a balance between public and private claims to creative work. For more than a decade, the so-called Copy Left -- a diverse group of lawyers, activists, artists and intellectuals -- has argued that new digital technologies are responsible for an unprecedented wave of innovation and that excessive legal restrictions should not be placed on, say, music remixes, image mashups or "read-write" sites like Wikipedia, where users create their own content. The Copy Left, or the "free culture movement," as it is sometimes known, has articulated this position in part by drawing on the tradition of the medieval agricultural commons, the collective right of villagers, vassals and serfs -- "commoners" -- to make use of a plot of land. This analogy is also central to Hyde's book in progress, which looks closely at how the tradition of the commons was transformed once it was brought from Europe to America.
Hyde posits that the history of the commons and of the creative self are, in fact, twin histories. "The citizen called into being by a republic of freehold farms," he ...
Experimental Philosophy Demo (2008) - Ben Coonley
Artist's Statement: A video demonstration of a classic Experimental Philosophy experiment on "The Concept of Intentional Action" (AKA the "Knobe Effect"). Comedian Eugene Mirman narrates.
Glimpses of Unease: Olga Chernysheva
Moscow artist Olga Chernysheva seeks out moments of awkwardness and discomfort that arise when reality falls short of the imagination. Whether working with oils or watercolors, analog photography or digital video, Chernysheva uses a plain, unaffected style, deliberately constructing her compositions to be as inconspicuous as she is when fixing her voyeuristic gaze. Tonight at 7:00 p.m. she will present a screening of video works at the Museum of Modern Art. Rhizome Curatorial Fellow Brian Droitcour met with Chernysheva in her Moscow studio.
There's a park in the north of Moscow called VVTs, or All-Russia Exhibition Center, but Muscovites persist in referring to it by its old name, VDNKh, the Exhibition of the People's Economic Achievements. Neither name is a good fit. The old one sounds clumsy and communist. The new one seems too ambitious, since most commercial fairs prefer newer, centrally located facilities to VDNKh's whimsical and ill-equipped pavilions, which were built in the 1930s to showcase products of the Soviet republics or economic sectors whose names they still bear. Today most of them are improvised stores, with plastic banners stretched over marble and gilded facades to advertise the inexpensive goods for sale inside, such as furniture, seeds, radio parts, and honey. As a metaphor for the collision between a Soviet "bright future" and the present's imperfections, VDNKH seems almost too pat to exist. But this juxtaposition is alive in the experience of the thousands of shoppers and strollers who congregate there every day.
Olga Chernysheva usually looks for material in her neighborhood, and at the VDNKh, just a few kilometers north along a major Moscow thoroughfare, which has provided her with inspiration on many occasions ...


text:
The Cardinals used some two-out magic in the third inning against Justin Germano to build a 3-0 lead and eventually went on to win the rubber game of the series 6-3. The Cubs did try to make a game of it as they cut the lead to one two different times today but couldn't come all the way back. Justin Germano got the start for the Cubs as he continues his 2013 tryout and had some good, some bad today. Germano went 5.2 innings giving up four runs on ten hits while walking one and striking out three. The Cubs only managed seven hits today, six of them coming from three guys, the four, five, and six hitters. The rest of the lineup could only register one hit as the Cubs went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Alfonso Soriano doesn't want 2012 to end as he continues his tremendous season going 3-for-4 with his 31st home run of the season. Soriano also registered his 105th RBI of the season, a new career high which is amazing at this age and on this team. Welington Castillo was the only other offense for the Cubs as he went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and a run scored. Castillo is now hitting .282 on the season and has put up a really strong argument for why he should be the starting catcher in 2013.
Sveum Postgame
Game Highlights:
Kerry Wood and Family Sings the Stretch
Soriano Goes Deep
Cubs Slick DP
Kerry Wood Honored By Cubs
Castillo's RBI Double
Thanks for reading,
– George


text:
Mortgage rates fall for second straight week
Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages this week fell for a second straight week as the spring home-buying season has gotten off to a slow start.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate for the 30-year loan declined to 4.21 percent from 4.29 percent last week. The average for the 15-year mortgage eased to 3.32 percent from 3.38 percent.
Mortgage rates have risen almost a full percentage point since hitting record lows about a year ago.
Warmer weather has yet to boost home-buying as it normally does.
Rising prices and higher rates have made affordability a problem for would-be buyers, while many homeowners are reluctant to list their properties for sale.
Roughly a third of homeowners owe more on their mortgage than they could recoup from a sale.


text:
September 29, 2020
November 10, 2020
November 26, 2020 - November 27, 2020
December 25, 2020
View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
February 14, 2020 - February 16, 2020 @ North Lake Natatorium
Want to learn skills that will help you save lives? Become a certified lifeguard.
Prerequisite: Minimum age 15. Successful skills test, which includes 300-yard continuous swim; a 10-pound brick retrieval from 7 to 10 feet depth of water followed by a 20-yard return carrying the brick; and treading water for two minutes without using hands. Test must be completed one week before class or must have instructor approval.
Successful completion of the course will result in American Red Cross Life Guard/First Aid, CPR-Professional Rescuer, and AED certifications.
Register in person at the North Lake Aquatic Center, 5001 N. MacArthur Blvd. For more information, call Aquatics Coordinator Daniel Farran at (469) 446-0201 or Chris Trevino at (469) 435-1626.
* Scholarships are available on a case-by-case basis.


text:
Research and Teaching Practice on Practical English Writing in Higher Vocational Colleges
This article focuses on the theoretical research and practical teaching in training and improving students' ability of practical writing in higher vocational colleges through analyzing present curricular status of writing courses. It clarifies the idea of teaching reformation and finds out a series of teaching methods possessing practical significance. It also makes a reference to the teaching reformation of practical writing courses in higher vocational colleges.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Asian Social Science ISSN 1911-2017 (Print) ISSN 1911-2025 (Online)
Copyright © Canadian Center of Science and Education
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Coming from Pyuthan, a hilly district of Nepal, Prabidhik KC has seen first-hand the hardships his neighbours have endured over the years. Two years ago an epidemic of diarrhoea spread across Western districts of Nepal, including his own. What he did to help was rather remarkable.
Having always had a penchant for writing Prabidhik published his first novel when he was 15. Astonishingly this generated a profit of £825 (124,000 Nepali rupees) which he donated towards the cost of buying medication for his village during the outbreak.
Prabidhik is now 18. When at home in Nepal he lives with his parents, grandfather and three older siblings. His father is a low paid government officer whilst his mother, Dhira Devi KC, works in the fields. Most of the family income is spent on his grandfather's medication or in helping his older sister who is studying in Kathmandu.
Coming from an area where educational opportunities were limited, Prabidhik's mother was always looking for chances for her children despite not being well educated herself. Prabidhik says he is where he is today because of the support of his mother.
Whilst he was in grade three his mother heard about the scholarship programmes for Gandaki Boarding School and Budhanilkantha School in Nepal. Prabidhik applied and was awarded full scholarships for both. This ultimately set him on the path to earn a Pestalozzi scholarship to study A-Levels here in the UK. At Claremont Senior School he is studying physics, maths, further maths, additional further maths, chemistry and an extended project, yet he still finds time to write.
That first novel focussed on the issues of girls being trafficked and clearly demonstrated how Prabidhik would give back to his community. Two years later he has launched another book, 'Adrishya Kshitiz' which translates to 'Unseen Horizon'. His intention is to give the profits from publication to those who need it most, just as he did before.
Not only does he want to develop himself as a mathematician, astrophysicist, humanitarian, a leader and a writer – he wants to set-up a world STEM research centre where people can work together for a better world.
Prabidhik says: "My ultimate goal is to make the world a better place to live in."
By supporting Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi has a 60 year track record of providing life-changing opportunities to high achieving and motivated young people from some of the world's poorest communities. Young people who, like Prabidhik, just want to make the world a better place, whether they are from Belize, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Uganda, Nepal, Zambia, Zimbabwe or the Tibetan communities in exile. With your help every one of them will have the opportunity to make a difference.


text: When I was your age, videogames were called movies. If you hadn't heard yet, there is to be a game of The Princess Bride. Well, a casual one at least. Licensing the IP for the movie, Worldwide Biggies have taken five familiar casual game ideas and matched them to the story of the movie. Details and video below.


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*1 Communications and Measurement Business Headquarters
The Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is an instrument capable of detecting and measuring fiber-optic break points or splice points, as well as distancerelated data, in fiber-optic communication networks. In line with the recent spread of "Fiber to the Home" (FTTH) technology, there is a growing need to detect these break and splice points in short-distance networks with even greater accuracy. In order to meet this need, we have developed OTDRs with a maximum distance resolution of 5cm. Furthermore, as a new measurement application we will introduce live-line measurement technology using a 1650-nm wavelength, different from the 1310/1550nm working wavelengths used for communication lines.
An optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a precision instrument used to locate events or faults along a fiber link, typically within an optical communications network.


text:
What America's Packing for School Lunch
Jun 24, 2015 03:32AM
By Family Features
Sponsored Content
From healthy staples like fresh produce to new finds like chia seeds, a recent survey conducted by ALDI, the nation's low-price grocery leader, uncovers surprising truths on back-to-school lunches. Parents spend an average of $1,468.48 on school lunches annually. But switching from national brands to ALDI this back-to-school season can save you up to 50 percent* on lunch staples that are both convenient and healthy. This year, make ALDI your one-stop back-to-school shop for all your child's lunchtime favorites. For more back-to-school tips, visit www.aldi.us.
*Based upon a price comparison of comparable products sold at leading national retail grocery stores.


text:
This isn't one of those "drawing board" kind of fantasies, something that sat on a whiteboard back in 2008. Microsoft was thinking about ditching the Xbox One's optical drive as late as June 2013.
In an interview with OXM, Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer has said, "Obviously, after the announcement and E3, there was some feedback about what people wanted to change."
"There was a real discussion about whether we should have an optical disc drive in Xbox One or if we could get away with a purely disc-less console, but when you start looking at bandwidth and game size, it does create issues."
Those concerns with bandwidth and game size would eventually win out, calmer heads prevailing to ensure the Xbox One really did ship with a disc drive.
A discless Xbox One would have been interesting, but I think it's more interesting that Microsoft was thinking about changing the goalposts so late in the console's development (it was released only five months later!).