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Having delved into the depths of Glastonbury's offerings on Friday, Cherwell Music thought they'd go straight up the central reservation and into the mainstream for most of Saturday, and where better to start than Latvian rockers Prata Vetra on the John Peel stage? No?
There is method in my madness, from the Cherwell campsite, the Latvians sounded like another 'surprise set' in the form of the Killers and I was sure the Las Vegas quartet were here in Pilton but to no avail! Anyway, the Latvians most definitely delivered, blending soaring guitar melodies with the sort of vocals heard at the top of the British alternative charts only realising they weren't from these shores halfway through the set! Three and a half stars.
From here I headed through the titanic mists of Silver Hayes to the Other stage where I was met by the 1975, a band no doubt about to be billed by NME as the 'saviours of indie rock' and the reinventers of the wheel. In reality they're a bit pretentious (on a scale of 1 to Mount Kimbie I'd say about 6) and lack any real depth. Some cracking tunes though such as Radio-1-listener and teeny bopper favourite 'Chocolate'. Two and a half stars.
What Glastonbury would be complete without a cheeky bit of Billy Bragg? And that's what I got over on the pyramid stage. Usually to be found in the politically orientated area of the festival 'Leftfield' the veteran rocker strummed out some tunes to a hefty crowd and put forward his message for the festival, more activism! It starts with the people, and the avoidance of self-cynicism, was the general gist and a powerful message supported by his politically fuelled songs. What a legend. Four stars.
From here I basically camped out at the pyramid, as did a fair few others trying to get a good spot for the Stones. Laura Mvula was fairly uneventful with most of the audience actually sat down! Her unique compositions, and unique voice seemed to just about win the audience over but there seemed to be a lack of 'oomph' to get the festival crowd going. Three stars.
Next up was Ben Howard and, with his live performances almost becoming legendary, I snaked my way to the 'cage' at the front for what was a cracking set. Although frequently put in the 'pop-acoustic' category, this performance showed real substance, real flair and sounded nothing like the record! Howard has been with the same band for a long time now and it really showed as their interactions seemed effortless and even almost subconscious at times. His move away from basic acoustic songs and to something a bit more rocky and experimental is a welcome one. Definitely one to continue watching. Four stars.
It suddenly occurred to me that I was yet to eat all day so quickly headed to the ostrich burger van – they're awesome! – and for a quick sit down. I caught a bit of Noah and the Whale on the Other stage who, along with Alt-J, have become a contender for 'sunset slot' dominators against Elbow at festivals. A very well-crafted set. Four stars.
Onto Primal Scream who were to support the Stones as a mini (and younger) version of the Stones, bizarre! They certainly rose to the occasion though and delivered a truly memorable set. Gillespie, dressed in purple suit, jived around with his characteristic charisma and the bands rendition of 'Rocks' was a sublime moment. Having seen them last year, my hopes for Primal Scream weren't particularly high but with the release of 'More Light' seamlessly blending old material with new in their set, my fears were unfounded. Four and a half stars.
And now onto the Stones. The pyramid was packed with a record crowd over 100,000 people deep and, after a one and a half hour wait, the ageing rockers sure delivered. With an anthemic 'Jumping jack Flash' to open, the Stones set the tone for the evening with hit after hit. Highlights included turning the pyramid stag into a blues club with ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor delivering a knock-out solo, the bass solo in 'Miss You' which is the best I've ever heard, and the 'dragon' on top of the stage spreading its wings, taking flight and spouting fire during 'Sympathy for the Devil'. Whilst there were fears that Keith wouldn't be up to it, his chops seemed secure and, although not as good a guitar player as he used to be, Ronnie Wood goes from strength to strength and sure made up for it. But the star of the show was Mick Jagger. After quipping that 'they finally got round to asking us' with Michael Eavis having famously asked the band to play every year since the festival began, he added touches of humour to the set, moved around like a twenty year-old and possessed vocal cords that show no sign of giving up! The set ended as it began, with a bang, literally. As the fireworks took flight to end 'You Can't Always Get What you Want' complete with full choir and Taylor onstage once again, the Stones proved that, if you try sometimes, you get what you need. Astonishing performance. Five stars.
So that's it for my mainstream Saturday, Cherwell is currently trekking to the press tent whilst writing this for a twelve hour shift. Whilst less music may be seen today, check back in tomorrow to find out what happens behind the scenes, and in the Winnebagos, of the greatest festival on earth.


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The EM Sovereign External Vulnerability Heat Map first appeared on Floating Path.
Moody's has published this heat map (via @FGoria) which grades the vulnerability and flexibility of major emerging market (EM) economies.
Ukraine and Venezuela are the most vulnerable sovereigns in this group, with both rating extremely high on external vulnerability.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fireworks footballer Mario Balotelli is Edenbridge guy
A footballer who hit the headlines after an explosive set light to his house has been unveiled as a Kent bonfire society's celebrity guy.
Edenbridge Bonfire Society unveiled a 40ft effigy of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli which will be set alight during this year's fireworks.
Firefighters were called to the footballer's Cheshire home after an explosive set alight his bathroom.
The footballer has since urged everybody to follow the fireworks code.
After the incident, police said it was an accident and no action would be taken.
The footballer said a friend of his set off a firework in his house.
'Unanimous vote'
Balotelli has been involved in various controversial incidents since joining City in August 2010.
In March, City officials launched an investigation after Balotelli threw a dart towards a youth team player at the club's Carrington training ground.
He has also reportedly picked up thousands of pounds in parking fines since his arrival in Manchester, and his attitude has been called into question by manager Roberto Mancini.
Jon Mitchell, from Edenbridge Bonfire Society, said: "We were all quite worried a few days ago because no celebrities had done anything quite silly enough to be celebrated on 5 November.
"We thought about the politicians and the other usual suspects - but Super Mario earned a unanimous vote among the committee."
'Bonfire season'
He said the footballer's firework incident was "really silly" but the bonfire society was delighted he had promoted a fireworks safety campaign.
Mr Mitchell said: "For that reason we are fairly sure he will see the funny side and understand that we are right behind him in his campaign."
He said the bonfire society also wanted to add "a little Premier League balance" after burning Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney last year.
"Now we will probably have upset the whole of Manchester, not just the United fans," he added.
Guys in recent years have also included Katie Price, Jonathan Ross and Cherie Blair.
Edenbridge Bonfire Society is one of dozens of bonfire societies across the South East, mainly in Sussex - Lewes Bonfire Council lists Edenbridge in Kent as "an honorary member".
The societies are thought to have grown out of the "cult of the Sussex martyrs" which started in the 19th Century, but bonfire events are now used to collect money for local charities.
Each society stages an event during a 10-week "bonfire season", held every year during October and November.


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Friday, November 25, 2011
As with Tommy, it is necessary to separate the Quadrophenia album experience from its latter incarnation as a movie, a tour, a soundtrack, and another of Townshend and Daltry's retirement hedge funds. Just take this new reissue of the music, in its two-CD deluxe version, or the 5-CD, hardbound book and memorabilia-stuffed box set, with tons more demos and a new 5.1 mix. There is a natural flow between the songs that makes you want to move along in the story, a feeling of beginning and end, a sense of the confusion and depression and the bottled anger Jimmy feels. You enter the drab and gray world of cobblestones and clouds and cool, cool, rain, Jimmy searching for the real me. Although their aren't a lot of famous individual tracks from the album (really, only Love Reign O'er Me and 5:15 get that status), almost each one has epic moments, as they tumble by: Cut My Hair, The Punk And The Godfather, The Dirty Jobs. I never remember the titles, but as soon as they role, I perk up, and go, oh, that one!
You'll have to be quite the little Who fanatic, or a deep-pocketed music nerd to go for the $130 Super Deluxe Limited Edition. Yes, that's what it's called, such a stupid name. What you gain over the 2-disc set is 15 more demos, the 5.1 mix of only eight songs (weird), and all the extra ephemera. I have to think $22 dollars will be the much more appealing option. Quadrophenia is one of those albums that people don't often throw on, and you might not have even upgraded from your old vinyl, but I'd say it's ripe for rediscovery, Townshend on fire with the musical themes and melodies here, and certainly he was writing these amazing characters for Daltry and himself to inhabit. The 11 demos on the 2-disc version show the intricate compositions and productions he was doing at his home studio, envisioning Daltry's wails, Moon's thunder, and the band's on-stage swagger. Already fond of the early synthesizer, his patience and craftsmanship in building these near-studio quality demos is stunning, considering the limited technology of the time. He had become quite the one man band, and although The Who versions are better, as always Townshend's demos prove great listening. There are some significant differences from the final version, including lyrics and entire dropped sections.
Quadrophenia never became the same beloved piece as Tommy, largely I think because the subsequent tour was a minor disaster at times, with Townshend's beloved synths and such duplicated on backing tracks that inevitably failed at key moments. So while the piece itself deserved to be heard in its entire rock opera production, it quickly got pared down to two or three songs among the rest of the hits, and not revived until recently, when The Two had to come up with some other reason to reunite again. I can assure you I'm having a much better time with this disc than I have with any version of Tommy over the years.
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Reading gives me that.
Which is why I'm here this sunny afternoon - with a cup of coffee, albeit instant - hoping to jot down a good read that I want to immortalize in my own sphere.
For anyone who loves an intelligent read speckled with vivid imagination; one that will leave you pondering and questioning long after the last pages, I'd say pick up Forgiving Ararat by first time novelist Gita Nazareth.
As the title suggests, this novel is about forgiveness. Forgiving the wrong and right; the friend and foe; the love and justice; and most importantly, forgiving oneself.
Although the story starts when Brek's life ended, (not unlike The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold whose MC was also a dead 14-year old) this novel is full of the precious aspects that make up life. By delving into her past life, Brek discovers many lives before hers that intertwined with her own, the branch of history that determined her life, or rather, death. Here, Nazareth cleverly blurs the line between dream, life and death; and leaves one to question if these realms might not be so different afterall.
The novel is heavy with issues on war, religion, politics, law and history. It would have been a dread to read if not for Nazareth's smart and playful choice of words. It is fascinating how she engages readers through the significant subjects and touches us with beauty, sadness and forgiveness.
This novel is a collection of stories from different people. Each life brings with it the beautiful, the injustice and ultimately seeks the forgiveness that they deserve. Each life affects readers as they read, creating a bigger and complete picture, that is, the life as we know it. During the course of a lifetime, we've met and bonded with numerous people and created our own stories. By taking a step back, one will see how many lives they have touched, hurt and changed.
Nazareth also mocks the religion as an intellectual and challenges the possibility of anyone who would actually know what happened years before even the great ancestors were born? In opening our eyes and mind, Nazareth allows us to accept how different each of our perspectives is.
Furthermore, by using death as a platform (one that I loved if you realised), Nazareth strengthens her idea of forgiveness. For nothing else matters in death except forgiveness. No matter what wrong and bad a man has done, as long as one is willing to look through the man's eyes, one will always see reason and learn to forgive.
Overall, this is a highly personal and evolving book. If you're interested to know more, check out their website. Or better yet, join the discussion between Forgiving Ararat and The Lovely Bones online.
I need more books with similar premises. Any recommendation, my lovelies?


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Updated: 2012/10/30 10:56:00
The Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that China remains attractive to foreign direct investment despite increased uncertainty over global investment amid the slowing global economic recovery.
China surpassed the United States to become the world's largest FDI recipient in the first half of 2011, which "shows that global investors are still confident in China's economic prospects and attach more importance to China's market potential", an unnamed official with the Department of Foreign Investment Administration said in a statement on the ministry's website.
China attracted $59.1 billion in FDI in the first six months, down slightly from $60.9 billion a year earlier, while the US attracted $57.4 billion from January to June, down 39 percent from a year earlier, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said in a recent report.
China still faces great challenges in attracting FDI in the current global economic situation, and the government will "further open up and improve the investment environment and optimize public services and management to provide a fair, stable and transparent investment environment", the official said.
The official emphasized that "China will protect the legitimate interests and rights of investors in accordance with laws and treat investors from different regions fairly".
Source: chinadaily
Authority in Charge: China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC)
Sponsor :China Textile Information Center (CTIC)


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Communicating a new service to an internal audience.
NR Property
The Hub
Delivering a quick and comprehensive internal email campaign can be difficult with limited expertise, budgets and timeframes.
By outsourcing the design and delivery of the email campaign, the Network Rail Property Team could reduce the risk of error, capitalise on economies of scale and focus on their day jobs.
The Network Rail Property Team knew they wanted to communicate the launch of a new document workspace service via email and posters. But they didn't know whether Outlook had the functionality they needed to send the emails to 400+ staff.
The campaign also needed an identity, so the poster and emails had to look consistent. The issue is that Outlook doesn't handle HTML or images very well. This makes it difficult to develop emails that have visual impact.
Using HTML files in Outlook can be unpredictable, which means there was a risk in getting the campaign wrong.
Using specialist email software and an agency who knows how to use it made the campaign run much smoother with less risk.
We demonstrated that using specialist email software meant emails would have more visual impact and allow for the consistency needed in the campaign.
Because we were designing the emails and the poster, we used the efficiencies it brings which meant the actual delivery of emails formed part of the total project cost.
By allowing us to deliver the emails on their behalf, the communications team didn't need to spend time on sending the emails or run the risk of a poor audience experience.
80% average read rate for all three emails.
Communication of key milestones and service benefits.
Saved an estimated 20 hours of staff time.
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Chartered in 1954 by the National Credit Union Administration, Al-Gar Federal Credit Union was formed to serve the financial needs of the employees of the U. S. Postal Service. Since the original charter many other employer groups have been added to the membership along with several other credit unions. In January 1986 Potomac Farms Dairy Credit Union merged with Al-Gar FCU and in August 1993 Pitt-Co MD Federal Credit Union merged with Al-Gar FCU.
In 2002 membership eligibility was expanded to included persons who live, work, worship, attend school in, and businesses and other legal entities located in:
Al-Gar Federal Credit Union, a member owned and directed financial institution, is dedicated to serving the present and future financial needs of our members, through cost effective financial services consistent with co-operative principles, applicable legislation and sound management. These products and services will be offered in a friendly, convenient environment at such a price as to facilitate growth and protect our members' assets.
The primary purpose in furthering our goal of service to our members is to encourage members to save money. Another purpose is to offer loans to members. In fact, credit unions have traditionally made loans to people of ordinary means. Credit unions can charge lower rates for loans (as well as pay higher dividends on savings) because they are nonprofit cooperatives. Rather than paying profits to stockholders, credit unions return earnings to members in the form of dividends or improved services.


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Delivery fees may vary based on quantity and distance. Please email or call for a quote on pallet or bundled items. Flatbed deliveries of pallets, totes, bundled fence posts, gates and stall mats start at $50.00.
For delivery options call The Mill of Bel Air, 410-838-6111.
See The Mill's Turf Brochure for a step-by-step guide on fertilizing your lawn.
Available in 50lb bags.


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The original line of Valiant comics was one of the best, and also one of the last of the good, things to come out of the 90s. The early stuff in particular was really dark and mature for its time. The latest resurrection of Valiant has fittingly been one of the best new additions to the world of comics. Sure, practically everything is extra grimdark and complex these days, so it doesn't really stand out in that area, but it does stand out for having some of the most solid and enjoyable books around, by some of the most underrated writers in the business.
First, we have some excellent comedy/adventure in Archer & Armstrong and Quantum & Woody. Archer & Armstrong is a typically fun and solid book by Fred Van Lente, about the clever, but comical, adventures of an immortal hedonist and his naively young, but extremely capable companion. It often feels almost like a spiritual sequel to his work on Incredible Hercules. While the series has since ended, today it partially lives on in the excellent series Ivar, Timewalker, by the same original creative team of A&A.
Quantum & Woody is about two estranged brothers, who suddenly find themselves with superpowers, with the catch that they must now stay close together to survive their new powers. Naturally this leads to wacky adventures, and it was easily the funniest book on the stands while it lasted. Quite a surprise coming from James Asmus, a previously lesser known comic writer, who had never done any comedy books before this. I really hope they bring this one back someday. They sure left it open to another series.
On to the standard, serious titles: Bloodshot is the story of a nanite-empowered super-soldier who escapes his handlers and also gets into some wacky adventures, and by wacky adventures I mean he brutally murders the shit out of his former captors and anyone else who gets in the way of him remaining free and finding out who he really was before he was captured and experimented on. Bloodshot has changed hands a few times, in terms of writers, but has had a consistently good line-up, with more great underrated writers like Duane Swierczynski and Christos Cage, and is currently continuing in a new series Bloodshot Reborn by Jeff Lemire. Bloodshot is also scheduled to be the first of a planned series of Valiant movies, starting in 2017 or so. That should be interesting.
Harbinger is the story of a group of renegade superhuman teens fighting everyone's favorite morally confused uber-powered CEO and would-be world ruler Toyo Harada. Morality is questioned at every turn as the renegades bungle their way through trying to be superheroes via some terrible choices and some sometimes selfish motives and Harada truly sees himself as the hero too, only doing what he thinks is necessary to improve the world for the better. The renegades do their best, but often fail anyway, to do everything in their power to expose Harada, never really considering what the long term consequences could be. I'll just say that they are not what they, or you, would expect. Again, this series ended, but it continues under the same writer, Joshua Dysart, as Imperium. Imperium deals with the aftermath of the events in the Harbinger series and shifts the focus to Harada and his "team". It's a very unusual book and is one of the best out there right now, I think.
(and Harbinger Wars was a crossover between the two!)
Last, but not least, is X-O Manowar. This book is basically Iron Man meets Conan. X-O Manowar is a visigoth named Aric, who was abducted by weird spider-man-aliens, escapes and steals their most powerful weapon, and returns home only to find that centuries have passed due to time dilation shenanigans. He then has to deal with various cosmic threats and trying to fit in in the modern world. Armor Hunters is basically just a big X-O Manowar-centered crossover event.
Now, there are other great Valiant titles, like Matt Kindt's Rai, Unity, and Ninjak, but the previously mentioned ones are the only ones out in deluxe hardcover format so far, and as you may have noticed, I do like to show off my new hardcovers. Anyway though, the modern incarnation of Valiant has been pretty consistently great (except for maybe the failed Shadowman revival.That one didn't work out too well.) and doesn't show any signs of changing that quality any time soon. Like the original line, they take some pretty colorful characters that may look an awful lot like standard superheroes, but don't necessarily behave in the same manner, and make great use of them in new and interesting ways. My only complaint is that they still haven't managed to get the rights to Solar, Magnus, and Turok so they could bring them back into the mix too. I'd definitely recommend these to fans of superhero comics and even those that aren't into the "big two" style of hero books, and I'd suggest that if you were to do so, you do it soon, while the line is still relatively young and not that complicated in terms of continuity.


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Freedom Awards
Civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King and entertainer Danny Thomas had a lot in common, according to Thomas' daughter, actress and activist Marlo Thomas. "They both had big dreams. Dr. King dreamed of freedom and equality, and my father dreamed of saving children from catastrophic diseases."
Ms. Thomas was one of 6 award recipients honored at the 2012 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards, Oct. 16th in Memphis. FedEx sponsored the Humanitarian Award, and FedEx Express Executive Vice President and CFO Cathy Ross made the presentation to Ms. Thomas for her fundraising work with the institution her father founded, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In her introductory remarks, Ross mentioned the longtime support FedEx has provided to St. Jude, most notably through the FedEx-St. Jude Golf Classic. "The sponsorship raised the level of support the golf tournament brings to St. Jude to more than $25 million since 1970," said Ross.
Thomas said that when the hospital opened in 1962 one of the deadliest and most common forms of cancer in children was lymphoblastoma, which had only a four percent survival rate. Because of the world class research and innovative treatment at St. Jude, "the survival rate is now 94 percent."
Also recognized were: International Freedom Award winner and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank which makes collateral-free loans to the poor in Bangladesh; National Freedom Award winner Dr. Bernard Lafayette, a colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King and former leader with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and "The Three Doctors," Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis and George Jenkins who grew up fatherless in New Jersey housing projects and made a pact early in life to help each other graduate from medical school.
What a company to support many charities!! I'm so blessed to volunteer at FedEx and support all of these wonderful programs that just keep on growing. I enjoyed this story! Thank you so much Pam Roberson for posting!
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June 11, 2015
FedEx Purple Eagle 2015 Honors St. Jude Patient Tyler West [Video]
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Funny how, over time, crazy weird becomes the new normal. There were certainly some nutty ideas floating around when I was a young fella studying Agricultural Economics at Lincoln University last millennium.
Outlandish thoughts like growing fruit or running livestock without pesticides and herbicides. Absolutely barmy. Other hair-brained schemes involved running a cowshed on power from the sun. Nah mate, it'll never catch on.
So when the Feds dairy guy Andrew Hoggard uses the dodgy term "mumbo jumbo" to describe this new idea Ecological Agriculture, it takes me back. Makes me wonder which side of history he'll end up on? Maybe sharing a porch with those those who sneered at organics and solar power.
We live in fast-evolving times, characterised by massively confronting global problems that have become our own. Local difficulties are coalescing with international crises. The same factors causing our dirty rivers are also driving climate change.
In such a world it would be irresponsible to dismiss new ideas which seek to get to the heart of these problems, just because we can't see past the end of our next milk cheque.
For some time Greenpeace has been campaigning about the state of our rivers. This summer saw a public tipping point. New Zealanders finally parked its disbelief that industrial dairying could be playing a major part in the degradation of our water.
Instead of urging restraint, the dairy industry is going the other way.
As the Lorax would say, it seems intent on biggering and biggering.
Firing up large irrigation schemes to convert more marginal land to make more bulk milk powder for overseas markets. An old-fashioned commodity scramble for exports that started when we sent the first frozen lambs to England. It is time we re-examined this short-sighted drive for expansion.
But dairy is crucial to the economy you say. Yes, the industry has been hiding behind that rock for a long time. Calling for a total ban on dairy farms would be truly cray cray. What's the answer then? Less cows we say, and a change to the way we farm. Greenpeace believes, and it's only a suggestion mind, that we need to move towards something called Ecological Agriculture.
Ecological Agriculture may be new to many readers and judging by Hoggard's column, a little scary to some. Perhaps it would be less confronting to consider Eco Farming in the same breath as organics or solar power. Something once considered zany and unworkable, now a regular part of farmers economic toolkits.
Just a reminder about organics. The global market is sitting at $100 billion. Unthinkable back in the day.
And do we need to be reminded of the number of farmers who have embraced solar power to reduce bills and increase self sufficiency. Hugh and Sue Chisholm from Putararu who run their 64 bale rotary milking shed on 112 solar panels. "Solar energy is free so it makes sense to utilise it."
Ecological Agriculture is just that - common sense.
Despite what Hoggard might think Ecological agriculture doesn't mean subsistence. It's not about swapping tractors for oxen. It doesn't involve human sacrifices or ancient rituals. It simply means incorporating practical methods which put the environment front and centre.
When it comes down to it, what we are asking farmers to do is to cut out chemical herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers and genetically modified organisms. Sounds like organics, but Ecological Agriculture goes slightly further, shaking up the monoculture by encouraging a range of different crops and livestock on the same property, adding elements like agroforestry and agrotourism.
To over-simplify I guess you could regard eco farming as organic's older, slightly more serious brother. Taking the idea of not ruining our food or environment with chemicals a step further. Saying let's treat the farm as a diverse ecosystem rather than a mining operation. Planting crops and running livestock which are suited to the soils and climate rather than trying to over manipulate the land for our benefit.
Just as a start we could put a halt to converting marginal stony sheep country on the Canterbury Plains into dairy farms with mass applications of masses of fertiliser and expensive, damaging irrigation. Even hardcore advocates of dairying admit that this has a whiff of desperation.
Locally it's the rivers which provide the best reminder of a broken system. Sixty two per cent of our monitored rivers are unswimmable. Just look at the Selwyn in Canterbury. Can anyone put their hand on their heart and say it's not a national disgrace.
Understandably there's been a lot of resistance. DairyNZ continues to deny the extent of their involvement in dirty rivers. They point angrily to sewage and industrial waste in cities. Thing is 0.8 per cent of New Zealand's rivers are influenced by urban land. 45.7 per cent are influenced by pasture.
The Ministry for the Environment, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric research and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the environment have all drawn a clear link between industrial dairying and water pollution. But when we dare to mention this in an ad, DairyNZ took us to the Advertising Standards Authority. They accused us of lying and lost. Then DairyNZ appealed and then backed down from the appeal. It was a PR-magaeddon.Here's the ad:
Now DairyNZ is suggesting we kiss and make up. The result perhaps of some better comms advice. Greenpeace made it clear that it would not be abandoning its struggle on behalf of the people in New Zealand who want clean rivers.
We will not abandon our key requests that New Zealand starts lowering the dairy herd and halt irrigation - which is exacerbating the problem by turning more marginal land into dairy country.
This month Greenpeace NZ was invited to talk at the Sheep and Beef farmers conference. We willingly attended. We are more than prepared to talk to farmers who have a genuine willingness to hear us. Despite what they might say publicly, the dairy industry hasn't shown itself open to new suggestions. We hope that will change.
No amount of posturing and political manoeuvring will save our rivers, just action. We are not talking about fencing off or planting native trees on river banks - as worthy as that may seem. But, it's not just about keeping the beasties away from the water. As a NIWA report said back in 2010 "Getting the stock out of streams isn't going to be enough."
Last month Greenpeace released a simple animation called Mildred and the Piss-apocalypse to explain the science of river pollution. Never mind the obvious effects of cattle wading and excreting in rivers, nitrates get into the groundwater via cows urinating in the paddocks.
Nitrates together with phosphorus from fertiliser leads to a proliferation of sickening algal blooms we've seen this summer. There is no amount of effluent control in the milking sheds or riverside planting which can prevent this. Unless of course someone invents nitrogen proof grass or nappies for cows.It is hard to hear new things from people who don't live like you. It is easy to write Greenpeace off as know nothing townies.
That is why we would like to introduce Andrew Hoggard and any other farmers locked in the 20th century to some of the NZ cockies already going down the Eco road. Then he can hear directly from them how practical and pragmatic these "crazy" notions may be.
Over the coming months Greenpeace will be rolling out videos of these eco pioneers within our farming community, so people can see for themselves what the future might look like.
Export success will not come at the expense of the environment. That's what Massey's Emeritus Professor Russ Tillman said last week when asked about the state of dairying in 25 years.
Tillman predicts an incentive system where milk payout will be based on a star rating which cockies are awarded for their greenhouse gas footprint, nitrate leaching, animal welfare and other environmental impacts.
Those with two stars he says will not survive.
Think of ecological dairy farms as those with a five-star rating getting the highest payout.
It might be an interesting exercise forHoggard to clip out his own article, pop it in an envelope and open it in 2042.
Not only will he be able to show his great grandchildren what a newspaper looked like, he might be able to giggle at the folly of his own dismissiveness.
Take action here to end Government funded big irrigation.


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Will Valve Allow Mods to be Sold on Steam?
With billing controls already in place in Steam Workshop, Source Filmmaker and Greenlight, is it too far fetched to believe that Valve will at some point, allow modders to charge for their works?
PCGames N recently asked Valve's Jason Holtman if the company would be willing to allow that to happen at some point.
"All the models that could be around the Steam Workshop are still emerging," said Holtman. "Each game we bring out changes it a little bit. Like, Skyrim changed what we did. It was the first time you could go in and actually upload and download directly."
"I could see making that connection, but I don't quite know what demand looks like. I think it depends on the game. People are going to look at it and think 'free money,' but I also understand why they want to sell it. I think each new game, be it big or small, is going to teach us more."
So here's a question for you readers. If Valve allowed this to happen, would you start modding heavily?


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Happy New Year for real everyone! :)
I would like to thank this special someone for my very first inspiration of 2015! Dear… Uuuuh….Naaaaaah. Why bother. A comic is worth a thousand words. ;)
(click to enlarge)
Watch the book trailer here!
What if someone told you that no matter what, no matter when, no matter where, you are not alone? That whatever you do, think, or say, someone is right there beside you, seeing and hearing it all? What if they could send you help at any time of the day? What if they could put obstacles in your way? A long time ago, in India, a young girl discovered this incredible truth and her life changed forever.
Visit ashaandthespiritz.com for more details!


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This three bracelets permanent variation is made of 750 red gold. Each object is the product of both craftsmanship and industry. The slick surface features a polished finish – hand executed by our artisans – that gleams and reflects light. The brushed matte finish of the inner face provides interesting contrast.
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Professional. Reliable. Experienced.
Your home is your biggest investment. Having a professional home inspection can bring to light issues that often get overlooked. Whether buying or selling, HomeFront Inspections can answer your questions and help you feel more confident about your decision.
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Let HomeFront provide the thorough inspection you expect and a report that you can rely on to make a confident decision. It's the peace of mind you deserve to make the right choice for your family's future.
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With over 25 years in the construction industry, Bernie has a wealth of experience and knowledge. Prior to becoming a licensed New Jersey home inspector, Bernie gained professional training and valuable hands on experience in all areas of residential and commercial construction including building, electrical, HVAC and plumbing, which ultimately benefits you. Bernie brings unique insights and a clear perspective to every inspection.
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Terms and Conditions
General Information
Please note that some of the information within this site and its relevant pricing may have changed by the time you book any arrangements. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of all literature and prices at the time of printing, changes occasionally do occur. Please therefore check all details with us at the time of booking.
In these terms and conditions: 'tour', 'safari' or 'trip' (etc) shall mean any, or any combination of elements including excursion, hotel accommodation, camping, beach, trekking, climbing, boating, canoeing, road, rail and air transfer services etc and any other service (as detailed in this site or quoted by Safari Express Company on an FIT or other private basis) which is provided or agreed to be provided to a tour member. 'Tour price' shall mean the total price paid or payable by or on behalf of, the tour member for the tour.
The 'Departure date' shall mean the date on which the tour member commences the first component of the tour that is booked by Safari Express Company.
We contract directly with providers of accommodation, meals and transportation. These individual operators, hotels, lodges, restaurants, airlines, bus lines, ferries, charter companies, and all other entities from whom we purchase services are collectively referred to hereinafter, as Suppliers.
Responsibility of Safari Express Company
Safari Express Company acts only as the agent for the Suppliers and shall not in any event be liable for negligence, breach of contract or act of omission on the part of the Suppliers, their employees or any other agent. It shall be the responsibility of all customers including (without limitation) tour members, tour operators and travel agents, to read and familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of the Suppliers. Safari Express Company's liability for its own negligence or breach of contract shall be limited to the maximum per person tour price relevant to the specific failed service. Safari Express Company shall not in any event be liable for consequential or indirect losses including, without limitation, losses calculated by reference to profits, business or goodwill.
By embarking upon a safari, the tour member accepts and consents to all risks involved with such travel whether expected or unexpected. His or her travel agent or tour operator are required to warn travellers of such risks and assist them to obtain appropriate insurance coverage against them. The retention of a voucher or confirmed booking shall constitute consent to the above and an agreement by the tour member and their travel agent/tour operator (joint and severally), to convey the contents hereto to all members of the travelling party.
Suppliers Prices
The prices within this Price Guide are based on costs prevailing at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.
The price of the ground arrangement often includes:
1. Hotel/Lodge/Camp etc accommodation, meals as specified and any obligatory hotel tax and service charge.
2. Transfers, game activities and national park entry fees where specified.
3. Vehicle and driver-guide expenses in connection with the safari itinerary concerned.
4. Flights and excursions specified in the itinerary.
5. Some lodges do include drinks, laundry and all activities, however this should be re-confirmed at the time of booking.
The price of the ground arrangements do not include:
1. Flights unless specified, airport taxes and service charges.
2. Visas, inoculations and personal insurance.
3. Excursions, activities or services specified as optional, therefore charged as an extra.
4. Tips and any other expense of a personal nature.
The following baggage restrictions apply:
- a) Hand baggage only may be taken to Treetops and The Ark. Main baggage may be left overnight in storage at the base hotel.
- b) Maximum weight of 35 lbs. on scheduled flights between Nairobi and game parks.
- c) Maximum weight of 35 lbs. on scheduled flights between Arusha and the Serengeti.
- d) Limited to one medium size suitcase or duffle bag (preferred) and one small bag while on the scheduled road safaris.
Meal Plans
This site generally indicates meal plans for various safaris. In the case of half board, this generally means that lunch is not included. However, Suppliers may, at their discretion, permit tour members to substitute lunch for dinner.
Suppliers offering all inclusive meal plans vary in the extent of what is included. In these plans, generally house beverages are included but premium beverages and diet soft drinks are available at an additional cost. Suppliers also reserve the right to limit the amount of consumption by tour members.
Meal Terms – Meals are indicated by:
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
All passengers are responsible for obtaining their own visas which are required for both Kenya and Tanzania.
A liability waiver will be sent out after the initial deposit is received. It must be signed and returned before tour commencement (preferably with the final payment).
Window Seats
All passengers will be guaranteed a window seat while in the road safari vehicles. Window seats are not guaranteed on scheduled flights.
Booking Information and Conditions
In these terms and conditions: 'Tour' shall mean any or, any combination of the excursions, hotel accommodation, safaris, camping, beach and trekking holidays, road and air transfer services and any other services (as detailed in the price list) which are provided or agreed to be provided to a tour member. 'Departure Date' shall mean the date on which the tour member commences the first component of the tour. 'Tour Price' shall mean the total price paid or payable by or on behalf of the tour member for the tour.
Responsibility of the Agent
The tours contained in this site have been arranged by the Safari Express Company's local affiliates (the affiliates referred to hereinafter as the-suppliers). Tours in Botswana and Zimbabwe are subcontracted to other independent safari operators. The Suppliers appointed sales and reservation offices and their agents (referred to hereinafter as the agents) act only as the agent for the suppliers and shall not in any event be liable for any negligence, breach of contract, act of omission on the part of the suppliers, their employees, or other agents. It shall be the responsibility of all customers including (without limitation) tour members, tour operators, and travel agents, to read and familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions of the suppliers. The agents liability for its own negligence or breach of contract shall be limited to the tour price, and the agent shall not in any event be liable for consequential or indirect losses including, without limitation, losses calculated by reference to profits, business or goodwill. Nothing in these conditions shall effect a tour member's statutory rights where these exist in the agents home country. By embarking upon his/her tour and travel, the tour member accepts and consents to all risks involved with such tour and travel whether expected or unexpected. Travel agents are required to warn travelers of such risks and assist them to obtain appropriate insurance coverage against them. The retention of vouchers, reservations or bookings shall constitute a consent to the above and an agreement by the tour member and his/her agent (joint and severally) to convey the contents hereto to all members of the traveling party.
Terms and Conditions of the Suppliers Prices
The prices quoted in this price list are based on costs prevailing at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.
The price of the ground arrangement includes:
- 1. Hotel/Lodge/Camp accommodation and meals specified
inclusive of hotel taxes and service.
- 2. Transfers and game drives where specified and all park entry fees.
- 3. All vehicle and driver expenses in connection with the detailed itinerary .
- 4. Any excursions specified in the itinerary.
The price of the ground arrangements does not include:
- 1. Tips for your guides and porters.
- 2. Airport taxes and service charges.
- 3. Visas, inoculations and personal insurance.
- 4. Any excursions, activities or services specified as optional.
- 5. Drinks, laundry or any other personal expenses.
A deposit of 25% is payable on firm reservation and the balance is payable not later than 60 days before the departure date. When bookings are made less than 60 days prior to the departure date, full payment is required at the time of booking. A booking is considered confirmed when an invoice is issued by the agent. If payment is not received by the agent within the above time scales, the agent reserves the right on behalf of the suppliers to cancel the tour which has been booked and retain any deposit received against expenses incurred in the booking of such tour(s).
Terms of Cancellation
The following cancellation charges are applicable. Should cancellation occur, a written notification is immediately required to advise this to Safari Express Company. In many instances, cancellation charges are set by the Suppliers based on their contracts with us. As many of these contracts fall under laws and jurisdiction of African courts, cancellation fees are enforceable based on the laws of those contracts. We strongly recommend that clients are advised to purchase travel insurance.
A cancellation includes any reduction of services including reduction of the number of participants, reduction of the length of travel, removal of any specific services from the overall tour package or change of services where specific Suppliers will require cancellation fees. In the event that travellers need to change their travel dates, we will make every effort to accommodate the changes but Suppliers may still charge cancellation fees that will be passed on to the agent. In the case of date changes, subsequent cancellations will be charged based on the original departure date.
Cancellation charges are calculated as follows:
* Over 90 days before the departure date: loss of deposit.
* 89-60 days before the departure date: 30% of the tour price.
* 59-45 days before the departure date: 50% of the tour price.
* 44-16 days before the departure date: 75% of the tour price.
* Less than 15 days before the departure date or no-show: 100% of the tour price.
In some cases, Suppliers may impose stricter cancellation policies than those shown. In those cases, we will advise the agents before the booking is accepted.
The suppliers liability to tour members carried in its own vehicles is governed by the laws of the country in which the tour takes place. All claims are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the country in which the cause of action arises. Save where the suppliers provide their own vehicles for the transportation of tour members, the suppliers and their agents act only as agents of the passenger in all matters relating to hotel accommodation, sightseeing, tours, and transport, whether by aircraft, rail, road, motor coach, ship, boat, or any other means – and shall not be liable for any failure to perform, injury, delay, loss, or damage arising from or in connection with the provision of such hotel accommodation, sightseeing, tours, and transport save where such failure, injury, delay, loss, or damage is caused by the negligence of the suppliers. The supplier's maximum aggregate liability to each tour member for the negligence of or breach of contract by the suppliers shall not exceed the tour price. However, nothing in the conditions shall exclude, restrict, or limit the suppliers legal liability for death or personal injury resulting from the supplier's negligence and against which liabilities the suppliers are insured. The suppliers shall not in any event be liable for any unusual or unforeseeable event or circumstance beyond their control including (but not limited to) terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or constructional difficulties, diseases, local laws, war, fire, or any act of government which results in loss, delay, damage, or injury to tour members. The suppliers reserve the right to employ subcontractors to carry out all or any part of the tour and in that event, the terms of clause relating to the subcontractors liability shall apply.
Force majeure
The Suppliers shall not in any event be liable for any unusual or unforeseeable event or circumstance beyond their control including (but not limited to): terrorist activity, social or labour unrest, industrial dispute, mechanical or constructional difficulties, diseases, local laws, war or threat of war, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions or any act of government which results in loss, delay, damage, or the injury to tour members.
The Suppliers reserve the right to employ subcontractors to carry out all or any part of the tour and in that event, the terms and conditions relating to the subcontractors liability shall apply.
The Safari Express Company/Suppliers reserve the right to cancel or alter the whole or any part of any tour at their sole discretion should circumstance or events make this necessary in the supplier's reasonable opinion. On such occurrence, a suitable alternative will be offered and, if appropriate, a proportional refund will be made. The supplier's liability to tour members for breach of contract or in the event of services not being provided as a result of negligence of the suppliers or their staff, is limited to the actual cost of such services to tour members. Any consequential or indirect costs resulting therefrom are excluded. The suppliers will use all reasonable endeavors to provide an alternative arrangement of equal value, subject to availability.
The hazards of travelling in Africa may inevitably give rise to some risks and dangers. It is therefore a condition of booking that all tour members must have sufficient and appropriate travel insurance for the duration of their tour. Such insurance (which is not supplied by Safari Express Company) should fully cover all personal requirements including death, personal injury, medical expenses, evacuation and/or repatriation in the event of accident or illness, cancellation or curtailment of the tour and loss of, damage to, or theft of the tour members' personal property. Some suppliers make pre-purchase of travel insurance a prerequisite to allowing them use of their services and facilities and may require evidence of travel insurance on arrival. This is common in Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park.
In the unlikely event that a tour member has a dispute whilst on safari this must immediately be brought to the attention (and put on record) of the Suppliers' local representative, or the hotel, lodge or camp management. It is likely that the tour member's complaint will be satisfactorily resolved there and then. If, however, this is not the case and the tour member wishes to pursue the matter on their return from safari, it is essential the complaint be communicated in writing to their relevant travel/tour operator within 14 days of their return, quoting holiday reference, departure date and destination. This complaint must reach us within 21 days of their return from their holiday. The ARP Group cannot entertain complaints where the tour member has not made reasonable effort to correct the dispute at the time of service.
Refunds will not be given for services not used at the decision of the tour member. All included meals must be taken during the times specified by the Suppliers. Should a tour member decide to change services before or during the safari, they will not receive credit for the unused service and will be asked to pay directly for any new services.
If a tour member is unfortunate enough to have personal property stolen or sustains injury or any disruption to their arrangements, the matter must immediately be reported to the local Agent or Supplier. Where necessary, the matter should also be reported to the nearest police station and a police report obtained and a copy of the report should be retained by the tour member.
Alpha Travel and its Suppliers may offer recommendations based on historical weather patterns. However, at no time does Alpha Travel or its Suppliers warrant any weather condition. With the current changes in weather patterns globally, travellers should be prepared for the possibility of weather conditions different from past experience.
Scheduled Safaris or Seat in Vehicle Travel
By nature of seat in vehicle travel, tour members often meet for the first time at the beginning of the trip. Tour members naturally come from different backgrounds and may have different cultural, political and spiritual beliefs. Agents are responsible for briefing tour members in advance that there will be others sharing the vehicle
Some travellers choose seat in vehicle trips to be in the company of others and as a way to meet other people. However, Safari Express Company cannot guarantee that all seat in vehicle programs will operate with other people, especially during off peak seasons.
All participants are expected to keep times as per the instructions of the driver-guidesand itinerary.
Some Suppliers set age restrictions on allowing children use of their facilities and accommodation. Certain activities such as mountain climbing and tracking of chimps and gorillas also have age restrictions. Children travelling at discounted rates are not guaranteed a window seat. Children must be supervised by parents at all times.
Child Restrictions
No children under 7 years of age are accepted at the following properties: Treetops, The Ark or Mountain Lodge.
Refusal of Services
Alpha Travel and its Suppliers may, without recourse, disqualify tour members from receiving services if their actions, physical condition or mental state presents a danger to themselves or others. All costs related to disqualification must be born by the tour member.


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Shelby – Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Public Policy Associate
I am so glad I chose to intern with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). I care tremendously about helping those with mental health issues, and as a psychology major, I came into this internship with a background in mental disorders and research. Interning with AFSP's Public Policy Office has given me the opportunity to be a part of a more big-picture approach to helping those with mental illness.
As an AFSP public policy associate, I had a variety of responsibilities from tracking state legislation and compiling congressional contacts information to facilitating field advocate phone calls, in which I was able to reach out to those impacted by suicide and share with them a program they could get involved with that brings awareness to suicide prevention. I was also assigned to a project on the link between substance abuse and suicide, which allowed me to expand my research skills and contribute to the organization. Over the semester, I was able to attend many House and Senate Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services Committee hearings and do write-ups on them for the AFSP website, which is something I really enjoyed doing.
I can honestly say that I do not think I could have had such a transformational experience with any other internship. I feel more prepared to succeed academically and professionally in the future because of my time here in Washington, D.C. My internship experience as a whole has allowed me to become more knowledgeable on local, state, and federal legislative issues related to suicide research, education, advocacy, prevention, and treatment. I learned so much from John, Trevor, and Nicole, and I cannot thank them enough. I value all of the wonderful feedback I received from them and will continue to reflect back on this incredible experience for years to come.


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picture this. it's 1978, douglas adams has just released the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, you can buy leaded gasoline at all service stations, and selections from led zepplin iv are being played start to finish on the radio night and day! but, all that's not really important to you … for you are at a "product release party" for a little known company called intel. you know that soon they'll be showing off what you came to see, their latest and greatest: the 8086 microprocessor. you're confused, excited, palms sweaty. you ask yourself, "what does it mean? how fast can it go?" you've marveled in awe at the pre-release literature, its blazing 4.77mhz clock speed, its 16-bit(!!) integer capability, and available floating point support. you're forced to simply shake your head, look down, and wonder how anyone could possibly ever use the one megabyte of ram it's capable of addressing. it's a boggle! you'll soon find yourself wanting because intel is about to announce that their 8086 chips will power a new ibm product, a personal computer! amazing! a few years later, as you master ibm's writing assistant, you again marvel at intel. this time it's for the 80286 in 1982. but your true, unadulterated, appreciative passions were (unbeknownst to you) lying entirely in wait for intel's next one! the biggie! the wholly remarkable 80386, released in 1985. it was *the 80386* and its defining standards which single-handedly ushered in the days of real computing power for the masses. in the near future chipgeek will play host to a comprehensive feature on x86 assembly to be released in its entirety. a whole new world of programming possibilities will be revealed.
user comments 24 comment(s)
|memories…. (1:34pm est fri dec 21 2001)
ahhh…1978. the buzz of star wars was was on the air, john revolta and the bee gees were cool, the epa had just killed off two-stroke street bikes, (long live the kawasaki triples!) and elvis was still dead.
the closest we came to computers was about 1980-81 when my brother got a apple ii and my father got me a ti 99/4 which i never used. queen was cool and so was flash gordon. so was saturday night live.
later in 1984 we got a $6,000 ti professional computer, which was an 8088 ibm *in*compatible. big brother didn't show up until about ten years later, so much for orwell.
we went through cheesy grin carter, "i don't know" jelly bean reagan, "i am not a wimp" bush, "i did not sleep with.." two faced jackal clinton, and now bush redux. our presidents haven't gotten any better but our machines sure have.
my slowest machine is 183 times faster in clock speed than the 8086, has more ram than most hard drives had up until the early nineties, and still runs an os made by bill(tm).
three years ago i built an ibm pc from spare parts for about $5. i realized i can still drive a 1981 car and use most appliances and devices from that time, but for computers 1981 isn't even a nice place to visit. 1978 is but a hazy memory…… – by ziwiwiwiwiwiwiwiwiwi
|1978 (1:58pm est fri dec 21 2001)
bah.. i was like one year old so i can't really remember any computers:) – by infiniteloop
|ah, yes… (2:02pm est fri dec 21 2001)
though i did not have a computer then (my first was an atari 800) '78 held some fond memories for me… i think (much of it was lost in a cloud of smoke).
but in the early 80's, i remember thinking how cool combat leader from ssi was (even though it took about 20 minutes to load off of the cassette tape!).
then my jealousy took hold, my friend up the street (also owned an atari) got a "disk drive" for it! wow! you mean, one of those things holds 88kb!? incredible! (great info ).
then the commodore 64 came out and man, the bbs is in color! cool! i was soooo jealous…
just my $0.02 worth,
– by myrkat
|'78 "hardware" (3:20pm est fri dec 21 2001)
i was using my trusty ti sr-52 – 2 years later, it was stolen and i bought a ti-59 and cradle, which i still have. [woooo! hi-tech!] most often used programs – learning curve programs i wrote for them. [prior to that, did most learning calculations using tables of factors and a desktop calculator – precise! [not!]
– by rdn
|seattle computer vs. ibm pc (9:45pm est fri dec 21 2001)
i bought one of the seattle computer 8086 cpu board sets when they first came out. 16-bit 8086 at eight mhz. i soon after bought three 256 kilobyte godbout ram cards. then ibm come out with their wimpy 8-bit 8088 at 4.77 mhz, with a base 16 kilobyte ram. they did have one advantage – a color graphics card that did not break the bank. that, and being a *major* computer company, unlike all the others using the new 16-bit cpus (godbout also had a 68000 cpu card, as well as a dual 8085/8088 cpu card). i later went to an ibm xt clone when the paradise ega card came out… – by cpotato
|wow, back in the day… (12:06am est sat dec 22 2001)
1978 i remember my father taking me to see star wars. i also remember getting my first computer – a commodore vic 20, which if i remember correctly, had a whopping 2k of ram. then i graduated to the c64 and learned basic and assembly language. worked my way into many of the crack groups of the time. the c64 was a hallmark at the time – nothing could touch it in terms of graphics and sound. oh yeah, and the cartridges. i eventually got a tape player/recorder for it and i actually got a 1541 disk drive later (for the tune of around $400). boy how things have changed! – by ziggy
|does anything still work? (11:56am est sat dec 22 2001)
for some reason, i don't think that the computers of today would last twenty years. (a lot of stuff runs so fast and hot today).
does anyone still have something from long ago that still works?
my first computer was a ti-99. it stopped working a long time ago. i threw it out in the trash and someone rescued it.
– by eta hinin
|ahem… (1:41pm est sat dec 22 2001)
my uncle has a trs-80 from 1980 that he still uses! he's 98 yrs old and does very little with it, types letters and pays bills (basic spreadsheet), etc. he doesn't want to move on b/c it does what he needs.
he still uses a daisywheel printer that sounds like a machine gun…
the only problem is that he needs the old 8″ 180kb floppy disks to save his work too. they don't make 'em anymore but around 5 years ago i was able to get him about 50 blanks for $1. so, they'll probably outlast him!
that's mean, but true. – by mdguy
|ps… (1:44pm est sat dec 22 2001)
i doubt my athlon xp 1700+ will last anywhere near 20 years, if i wanted to use it that long.
modern machines aren't that great after a while…
hopefully the industry will figure out better ways to deal with heat. – by mdguy
|the old days (5:31pm est sat dec 22 2001)
i remember my dad having a trs-80. i used it to play a game called "hunt the wumpus". he used cassette tapes to save and load programs. if you didn't set the volume right the programs wouldn't load/save. he also had a modem on which you actually had to put the phone receiver. later he got a c-64, on which i wrote a 4 x 4 x 4 tic tac toe program. i had to be careful because the version of basic that came with the c-64 only read the first two characters of the variable names. i grew tired of the program quickly because it took so long for the computer to calculate its next move.
– by geeforce
|had to add another one (10:29pm est sat dec 22 2001)
my first computer was one that i built around '74. used a "rotory phone dial" to shift in binary sequences that displayed on light bulbs. had toggle switches for plus/minus/times/divide. it could do 8 bit math!
had a "pong" around '78. one game, one machine and a tv, what more could you ask for. and did i mention the "square" ball ?
around 79/80 i got an atari 800, the apple ii was cool, but to expensive. went on to an atari 1200, even designed and built a "1 meg" memory upgrade for the machine. the 1200 was a sweet machine. you could boot a mac on it from its rom slot .. cool.
i haven't been intersted in a "game machine" for a while. computers are powerfull enough now for almost any task that's important for a "home user" and not powerfull enough for work.
i'd have to say that today, the "real computer" is the internet! our pc's have become little more than green screens for the internet.
– by netguy
|yeah but… (3:31am est sun dec 23 2001)
could your 8086 do multi tasking?!?!?!
you forgot to mention the greatest thing about the 386, not only could it do 16 bit, it could do 32 bit! wowzers!
16 years later microsoft would finally release a true 32 bit os, ah the joys of not having to do work because you have a monopoly.
my first computer was a comodore 64, getting it and stuff is a big haze, but i remember playing spy hunter on it, and a few other games. i really enjoyed the 486 we got in december 1994, it was the best system money could buy, 486 dx2 66, 540mb hard drive, 8mb ram, a 14.4 modem, sound card, svga monitor and 512kb of cache.
|synonymous (10:02am est sun dec 23 2001)
the 8086 was capable of doing multi-tasking. however, it did not provide hardware mechanisms for isolating programs from one another.
however, if all programs were bug free, the 8086 was most capable of running a multi-tasking operating system.
– by rick c. hodgin
|synonymous (7:21pm est sun dec 23 2001)
hmm, isn't nt a true 32 bit os?
anyways no one had a use for 32 bit at home until memory prices dropped. so what difference did it make. – by etcetera
|wrong…. (11:27pm est sun dec 23 2001)
you need a 32-bit os to utilize the 32bit chip, which is important in order to:
address up to 4 gigs of memory, imagine if we were still on the 640k limit…
for preemptive multitasking – by mdguy
|i stand corrected (2:54am est mon dec 24 2001)
its amazing i stand at all – by synonymous
|re: wrong… (2:55am est mon dec 24 2001)
you are correct.
– by etcetera
|douglas adams (5:48am est mon dec 24 2001)
the late d. adams, rest his soul, used to be an apple master… – by johan-olof=konijn
|etcetera… (11:37am est mon dec 24 2001)
no biggie. – by mdguy
|mdguy (1:01pm est mon dec 24 2001)
you can have pre-emptive multi-tasking in a 16-bit non-protected environment (i.e., 8086 or 80386's real mode). any interrupt driven microprocessor can be programmed for pre-emptive multi-tasking. the only downside is that without the 80386's protected mode and its ability to isolate programs from one another, if one program crashes on the 8086 or in 80386's real mode it has the potential of taking down the entire system.
– by rick c. hodgin
|getting on line with rotory phone service (6:04am est wed oct 09 2002)
my parents are out in the middle of nowhere,and they still have rotory phone service.they would very much like to get on line.is there any internet service that has a special disc for connecting to it's service?ps.early 80'sdream zone game on apple gsii,what memories that brings back.let the game load while you have dinner and take shower.technology in the last 20years,are we going to fast or not fast enough? – by c.moore
|daisywheel printer vs xp (7:54am est thu mar 06 2003)
and the winner is?!.
i have a swintec compumate 2100 i my new gateway will not let me print without software for that printer: but i know of none . . . what can i use to get xp and swintec compatible???
march 6, 2003
7:51am est – by ed
|nothing will last for a long time (2:36pm est tue jun 08 2004)
i have bought an pentium-3 processor and
developed an operating system from scratch compatible with any x86 processor. the language used was assembly languge purely in all sense. but i am doubtful that how long x86 processor will remain?
email@example.com – by jagadheesh kamalesh


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Last year for Christmas, I made my dad 5 different team color golf club covers. And since he's retired and lives a life of leisure, he literally uses them all the time. So, guess what, dad? You're getting golf club covers pretty much every year forever. But since there are only so many team colors I can do, I wanted to do something different, and the only logical thing to do was Mickey Mouse and Yoda.
What you need:
Worsted weight yarn- I used Red Heart Soft in Guacamole for Yoda, and Black for Mickey, and Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red for Mickey.
I hook
tapestry needle for sewing on ears
Stitches used:
sc= single crochet
DC= double crochet
FPDC= front post double crochet
BPDC= back post double crochet
HDC= half double crochet
HDC2tog= half double crochet 2 together
Time needed for this project: This is a quick one, so you can easily finish one while watching your favorite Christmas movie, and maybe even start on the second one.
Note: These are both meant to be for a club smaller than a driver, since my dad already had so many bigger covers. If you'd like to make this for a driver, I recommend continuing to increase in round 6, adding a few more rounds at round 15, and only doing two rounds of decrease instead of 3.
Pattern (for both Yoda and Mickey)
With green yarn for Yoda and black yarn for Mickey,
Rd 1- form a loop, 6 sc in loop, join, ch 1
Rd 2- 2 sc in each st around (12)
Rd 3- 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in next 2, repeat around (18)
Rd 4- 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in next 2, repeat around (24)
Rd 5- 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in next 3, repeat around (30)
Rd 6-15 sc in each st (30)
Rd 16- sc dec (sc2tog), sc in next 4, repeat around
Rd 17- sc dec, sc in next 3, repeat around
Rd 18- sc dec, sc in next 2, repeat around, join, ch 2
*If you're making Mickey, fasten off black yarn, join red*
Rd 19- DC in each st, join, ch 2 (counts as first BPDC)
Rd 20-37- FPDC in first st, BPDC in next, repeat around
Fasten off
Row 1- Ch 8, HDC in 2nd ch from hook, HDC across (7), join, ch 1
Row 2- HDC across (7)
Row 3- HDC2tog, HDC 3, HDC2tog (5)
Row 4- HDC across (5)
Row 5- HDC2tog, HDC, HDC2tog (3)
Row 6- HDC across (3)
Row 7- HDC2tog, HDC (2)
Row 8- HDC2tog (1)
Ch 1, sc around, join to the first sc, and fasten off, leaving long tail to sew on.
With black yarn,
Form loop, 6 sc in loop
Rd 2- 2 sc in each st
Rd 3- 2 sc in 1st st, 1 in next, repeat around
Rd 4- 2 sc in 1st st, 1 sc in next 2, repeat around. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew on.
And that's it! May the force of your golf game be with you.


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Editing Revealed 0 You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons: The action you have requested is limited to users in one of the groups: Users, FANDOM Staff, FANDOM Helpers, Wiki Managers, Content Team Members. Please log in to edit this wiki.Joining House of Night Wiki is free, and it only takes a minute.We hope that you sign in, and become a member of the community!Click here to log in or create an account more + You can view and copy the source of this page: {{Book |image=[[File:Revealed.jpg|center|284px]] |author=[[P.C. Cast]] & [[Kristin Cast]] |illustrator= |date=October 15th 2013 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-1-250-04156-2 |previous=''[[Hidden]]'' |next=''[[Redeemed]]''}} '''Revealed''' is the eleventh installment to the [[House of Night Series]]. It is the second to last book in the series. It is set to be released on October 15th, 2013. Anyone may read the first two chapters here: http://www.houseofnightseries.com/books/revealed/ ==The Back Cover== Drastically altered after her fall at the end of [[Hidden]], [[Neferet]] is now more dangerous than ever—and her quest for vengeance will wreak havoc on humans, as well as [[Zoey Redbird|Zoey]] and her friends. Chaos is loosed in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]] and the [[Tulsa House of Night|House of Night]] is blamed. Can Zoey stop Neferet in time to keep her anger from escalating to full-on war? Or will someone else have to step in to take the fall?

The House of Night series is an international phenomenon, reaching #1 on U.S., German, and UK bestseller lists, and remaining a fixture on The New York Times Children's Series bestseller list for nearly 150 weeks and counting. With more than 12 million copies in print, rights sold in thirty–eight countries to date, and relatable, addictive characters, this series is unstoppable. Now, in the eleventh and penultimate installment of the series, the action is more intense and the stakes even higher as Zoey and her friends battle to protect their school and home from devastating evil—all while balancing romances, precarious friendships and the daily drama of the House of Night's halls. == Plot == The book begins with the open house mentioned in Hidden. While Zoey and her friends are helping out at the Street Cats stall, Neferet makes an appearance as a specter. Zoey and her friends cast a circle with Erin who joins because she can't stand seeing someone else represent water. They manage to defeat Neferet but Erin then rejects the change and dies soon after. Neferet then attacks Charles LaFont, Mayor of Tulsa and leaves him near the main entrance to the school. Frances LaFont goes crazy seeing him dead and then publicly disowns Aphrodite. All the Fledglings and Vampyres who lived in the tunnels are then confined to the school. Stark, Darius and Zoey discover a basement with jeweled weaponry and such which belonged to Dragon Lankford. They question Kalona about it and realize Neferet does not know of this stash. Meanwhile Chera Kimiko, the Fox 23 news anchor comes to Tulsa House of Night and does a few interviews with students and the Police wish to do DNA searches to identify who killed the mayor (they don't know it was Neferet). Aphrodite has a vision where Zoey drinks Aurox's blood and then causes mass destruction because she loses control of the Seer Stone. Aphrodite confides with Shylin about what she saw and the two Prophetesses keep a watch on Zoey. Shaunee waits by Erin's funeral pyre until dawn and Dallas comes and sneers at her and makes remarks about how he knew Erin better. Dallas then tries to kill Stevie Rae by electrifying her and exposing her to sunlight but Shaunee arrives and so does Rephaim in his raven form. Stevie Rae is then taken to the infirmary and Dallas flees. Kalona and Stark track down Dallas and after bringing him back to the Tulsa House of Night, Kalona swiftly executes him. Kurtis and Elliot who side with Dallas are shunned from House of Night so their bodies will reject the change. After the execution, Zoey casts a circle with Aurox in place of Earth. Afterwards, he comes with her to the cafeteria and she drinks a drop of his blood. Zoey also runs into Aphrodite and Shaylin discussing about how Zoey's in trouble and thinking they have betrayed her, Zoey uses the power of the seer stone and attacks Shaylin before fleeing the scene and out the school. She then accidentally zaps two men as well and when the police come to Tulsa looking for whoever murdered them, Zoey gives herself up and surrenders the seer stone to Aphrodite. Throughout the book Neferet is recalling her life, from the day she was marked, her relationships and her rise to being the Tsi Sgili. By the end, she massacres a church full of people. ==Characters== ===[[Vampyre]]s=== ====[[Blue Vampyre]]s==== *[[Neferet]] *[[Erik Night]] *[[Lenobia]] *[[Thanatos]] *[[Darius]] ====[[Red Vampyre]]s==== *[[Stevie Rae Johnson]] *[[James Stark]] *[[Dallas]] ===[[Blue Fledgling]]s=== *[[Zoey Redbird]] *[[Shaunee Cole]] *Erin *Damien ====[[Red Fledgling]]s==== *[[Shaylin Ruede]] *[[Nicole]] ===Humans=== *[[Aphrodite LaFont]] *Lynette *[[Detective Marx]] *Officer Jamison ===Creatures=== *[[Kalona]] *[[Rephaim]] *[[Aurox]] *[[Erebus]] Templates used on the current version of this page: Template:! (view source) Template:!! (view source) Template:Book (view source) Return to Revealed. Retrieved from "https://houseofnight.fandom.com/wiki/Revealed" Edit summary Preview Mobile Desktop Show changes


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The UN World Tourism Organisation says that tourism spending has outpaced global trade for the fourth year in a row.
The US followed by China are the world's most popular destinations, followed by France and Spain.
According to the UN World Trade Organisation figures, released earlier this month, international tourism grew by 4% in 2015 generating 1.4 trillion dollars.
In comparison, global trade increased by just 2.8% in 2015.


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Before I sign on to this, I want to know what happens when the vehicles become self aware and take over the planet:
Vehicles That Talk to Each Other Know What Lanes They're In from PhysOrg.com
A standard GPS receiver has an average 2D-positioning accuracy of about 13 meters. While this precision is high enough to direct you to your hotel, it's quite a bit lower than the accuracy required to determine which lane your car is in while driving down the highway.
But wait, this could also be robots. Robots fighting in outer space:
Intergalactic 'shot in the dark' shocks astronomers from PhysOrg.com
A team of astronomers has discovered a cosmic explosion that seems to have come from the middle of nowhere -- thousands of light-years from the nearest galaxy-sized collection of stars, gas, and dust. This "shot in the dark" is surprising because the type of explosion, a long-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB), is thought to be powered by the death of a massive star.
And are we sure this is not just robots building their own immune system?
Biochip mimics the body to reveal toxicity of industrial compounds from PhysOrg.com
A new biochip technology could eliminate animal testing in the chemicals and cosmetics industries, and drastically curtail its use in the development of new pharmaceuticals, according to new findings from a team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of California at Berkeley, and Solidus Biosciences Inc.
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More like this
"Before I sign on to this, I want to know what happens when the vehicles become self aware and take over the planet"
They'll be TERMINATED.
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Congratulations to the Ponikvar family of Topsfield on taking first prize in the Topsfield Fair cookie competition.
A Topsfield family came in first place in the 2018 Topsfield Fair's Parent & Child Cookie Contest.
Sara Ponikvar and her children, Lance, 10, and Lexie, 7, took the top prize this year in the annual competition. This year's theme was "Celebration Cookie," and the entries were judged on flavor, texture, appearance and originality/creativity. The Ponikvar's won $40 and a blue ribbon, and they had their photo taken with Mrs. Essex County 2018 Meaghan Shelton.


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Obscenity, indecency and lewdness are quite common in today's media-television shows, news, soaps, popular songs, movies, magazines,books, Facebook, and the internet in general. It probably does not shock us that much because we are 'oh so modern' and are not narrow minded like those restrained Victorians! Its also kind of 'cool' to be indecent at times in today's world. Bollywood movies will teach all the Indian guys how to woo a girl by eve teasing her or worse even by raping her. However, even today, we do sometimes get outraged by shameless displays of obscenity and well mostly its the Censor Board that gets outraged which then displays its own obscene power to chop down obscenity to protect the people from getting outraged too!
Well, there wasn't any Censor Board in the Restoration Period in the late 17th century or even later on yet the drama of that time received some flak for its indecency. Nonetheless, at the height of the Restoration, it was enjoyed by the audience to the fullest and only later on did the drama begin to be looked down upon.
'The Country Wife' is one such play produced at that time which was one of the most popular plays but like the rest of Restoration drama it was ignored and only resurrected in the 20th century when a few 'modern' critics considered those works from a literary angle and critiqued it intelligently. Written by William Wycherley, 'The Country Wife' is a quintessential Restoration play as its core is wit, satire, and indecency. The Indian Censor Board would have banned it if it was written today but thankfully it has been put in the sacred halls of literary work. Even if it hadn't been, it is wrong to define this play and all the other Restoration plays as being solely obscene. As mentioned before, the play is replete with wit and it pokes fun at the aristocracy and their hollow/superficial lives. Satire and wit were esteemed aspects of that life and were incorporated in the plays as well particularly in comedies. Thus, 'The Country Wife' is a hilarious play with several literary devices particularly the double entendre (double meanings) which furthers the wit along with the indecency.It is this hilarity that also acts as a biting commentary on the frivolous and decadent ways of the Restoration aristocracy.
'The Country Wife' has a main plot and a sub plot. The former is centered on a gentleman named Horner, who pretends to be an eunuch so that he can gain the trust of the husbands who would then allow their wives to spend time with him. A rich middle class man, Sir Jasper Fidget, falls for this ruse and allows him to enjoy the company of his wife, Lady Fidget and daughter, Miss Dainty Fidget. He also falls for a town gentleman's wife, Margery Pinchwife when he sees her in the theater. Her husband, Mr. Pinchwife only married her because he could not keep a 'whore' to himself and felt that the country wife would not cheat on him because of her innocence and naivete. Yet he is wholly jealous of her and keeps her restricted and even locked up so that she won't cheat on him. Margery is thus the titular character of the play. The play then goes on as to how Horner makes a 'cuckold' of all the husbands because of his stratagem. This is interspersed with the sub plot that basically deals with Harcourt and Alithea's (Mr. Pinchwife's sister) love. The two plots are in stark contrast to each other. The former is all about cheating on one's wives and husbands and the latter extolls true love. In the end, it is Harcourt and Alithea's relationship that is a right example of how love should be treated.
The downside of the play is that is a tad bit sexist because it is judgmental towards the aristocratic women and not the great pretender Horner who seems to have a vicious appetite for fornication. This attitude also reflects on how badly women were treated then particularly accentuated by Pinchwife's cruel treatment of his wife. Wycherley, however, does show Pinchwife in a ludicrous light perhaps to manifest that husbands who restrict their better halves and treat them so will deserve to be cheated and 'cuckolded.'
The play may not be everyone's cup of tea especially for those who are touchy about indecent language and manners. Yet those very things are what make the play a satire. It is an inseparable part of the play. Knowing a little about the time and the literary techniques and customs will also help in further understanding the play. For eg, the dominant stock characters such as the fop, the rake, the wit etc that were usually used in the Restoration comedies, the predominant French influence(seen in 'The Country Wife' as well in the many French words and the influence of Moliere), the importance of wit in the towns, the constant juxtaposition of town and country and the usual deriding of the country ways and manners etc.
So you could either dismiss 'The Country Wife' as being bawdy and uncouth or read it up and go with the flow as 17th century bawdry could not shock us anymore! Moreover, who wouldn't enjoy the sexual innuendos?


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Refocus, Reboot, Reconnect
Refocus on what matters most.
Reboot your mood and the moment.
Reconnect with your family.
We've all been there. We get it. We've all had "those" days. mama mantras products are like a good friend - one who picks you up, sets you on your feet and then helps you pull it together. The friend that utters just a few words that you can repeat to yourself for a little bit of sanity during a stressful day.
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Course material 2010–11
Paid summer project. Did you enjoy this course? Did you take up the
programming microchallenges? Would you be interested in doing a paid
summer project this year under my supervision? If you are a brilliant
programmer and are also interested in
security, I want to
hear from you!
Passwords are no longer acceptable as a security mechanism. I proposed a clean-slate design to get rid of them: a portable gadget called Pico that transforms your credentials from "what you know" into "what you have". To protect Pico against loss or theft, its storage is backed up and encrypted and can only be unlocked by a key whose shares are held by other devices worn by the user, the Picosiblings.
This project will implement and prototype the backup and restore facility and the interaction with the Picosiblings, including all the necessary protocols for secret sharing, initial pairing etc. Development will take place on Linux, with networked computers or VMs simulating the various devices (Pico, docking station and Picosiblings). A port to smartphone might be considered once the protocols have been debugged.
Algorithms II
lecturer: Dr Frank
Email about this course sent by current students or supervisors to name.surname--algs2 at cl.cam.ac.uk will be given priority over that sent to other addresses.
Taken by: Part IB
Past exam questions can be found under Algorithms II but also, for historical reasons, under Data Structures and Algorithms (the parent course for both Algorithms I and Algorithms II); if you pick from the latter set, be sure to select questions dealing with topics covered in this year's syllabus.
Information for supervisors (contact lecturer for access, stating your name, CRSID and PhD supervisor)
Lecture handouts
Distributed during the first lecture on 2010-10-28. It will be to your advantage to bring your handout to every lecture, together with a notebook with non-detachable pages and a few coloured pens. Further printed copies of the handout are available from the student administration office. An electronic copy is also available: please do not print it again yourself and please do not circulate it outside cam.ac.uk.
Errata corrige
If you find any errors in the handout, please email me (at the --algs2 address mentioned above in order to get higher priority) and I'll credit you here and in the next edition.
|Found on
|[delete footnote 13]
|18 to 20
|[Not really errors but I added various postconditions throughout and fixed inconsistent capitalizations.]
|with the smallest possible key (conceptually minus infinity)
|with the largest possible delta (conceptually decreasing the key to minus infinity)
|-17 to -15
|Since the outcome of the linking step is that no two trees have the same degree, the number of trees is necessarily bounded by the highest degree (call it d) among those of the existing trees. Since c ≤ d,
|For a given heap in a given state, call d the highest degree of any node in that heap; then, since the outcome of the linking step is that no two trees have the same degree, the number of trees is necessarily bounded by d + 1 (the case in which we have the trees of all possible degrees from 0 to d). Since c ≤ d by definition of d,
|Manfredas Zabarauskas
|6 to 8
|we must pay one coin for cutting and splicing it and another that must be stored in the new tree root, at a total cost of two coins (a constant). Therefore
|we must pay a constant cost for cutting and splicing it and then we must store a gold coin in the new tree root; furthermore, if the parent of n was unmarked and was not a root, we must mark it and store two coins in it, at a total worst-case cost of four coins (one stored in the new root, two in the newly-marked node, and one coin's worth to cover all the actual work of cutting, splicing and marking). This is still a constant, therefore
|22 to 23
|If el ∉ T, then T must have some other edge ex going across the cut, otherwise T wouldn't span the whole of G.
|If el ∉ T, then adding it to T introduces a loop. For topological reasons, this loop must contain at least one other edge going across the cut and distinct from el: call any one of them ex.
|Myra VanInwegen
|nodes of the pair on top
|nodes of the pair through the edge(s) that directly join them, if any, on top
|bounded by the number of edges in the graph, |E|.
|bounded by the length in edges of the longest path without cycles, |V| - 1. On the other hand, finding such a path, if it exists, for example with Breadth First Search or Depth First Search, will cost up to O(V + E). Each iteration thus costs O(E).
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1100 in LT1, starting Thu 2010-10-28 and ending Tue 2010-11-30 (10 lectures).
Student Feedback
In order to understand whether the lectures matched the expectations and hopes of the audience, I collected student feedback halfway through the course using this form. 34 students were kind enough to return a completed questionnaire. I find it more useful to collect feedback while the course is still running, rather than just at the end, so as to give current students a chance to benefit from any improvements that might result from their comments. At the end of the course I then collected student feedback again, receiving 27 responses. Thanks to all who participated and especially to the élite who programmed the algorithms as we went along.
Additional resources for individual lectures
If you want to own the material in this course, there is no better way than to implement it yourself in the programming language you most enjoy. I encourage you to do so.
Binomial heaps
Implement a binomial heap class with methods for (at least) merge, insert and extractMin. For I/O it's OK to render a binomial heap as a textual list, according for example to the following syntax:
tree = "[" root zero-or-more-trees "]". zero-or-more-trees = "" | tree | tree zero-or-more-trees. heap = "[" zero-or-more-trees "]".
Purely for extra enjoyment (but this skill will be useful for many other things we'll do in this course), once you've done the core programming you may find it fun to use the DOT language and the Graphviz toolkit to visualize the output of your program, as I did for the example I showed during the lecture.
As test data to validate your implementation here is, in several formats, the binomial heap obtained after inserting into an empty one the characters of the string "ALGORITHMS_TWO_AT_CAMBRIDGE", in that order.
As a textual list:
As a DOT graph.
As a picture obtained by processing the above .dot source with graphviz (click on the picture below to get the full animation I used in lectures):
The original paper on binomial heaps is available from the ACM digital library (or cached).
Fibonacci heaps
Implement a circular-doubly-linked-list class with methods for (at least) insert, merge and extractMin. As usual, for I/O it's ok to just render the list as text: what matters is to do all the internal pointer juggling properly.
If you think you're a good programmer, unit-test your code too: initially boring perhaps, but very rewarding later.
If you think you're a great programmer, implement a full Fibonacci heap class, including extractMin and decreaseKey. Do whatever you like for I/O. A good recommendation while you're just writing and unit-testing the core code is a textual list, as above, but it can get a little hard to read. For a reference during debugging you may wish to compare your results against this fancier graphical output (the picture links to the pdf I used in lectures, which has a full execution trace):
The original paper on Fibonacci heaps is available from the ACM digital library (or cached).
Dr Alastair Beresford points out this interesting discussion about the performance of Fibonacci heaps.
Minimum Spanning Tree
Write programs to compute the minimum spanning tree of a given connected, weighted, undirected graph using the algorithms of Kruskal and Prim. The programs that produce the animations shown below were implemented using Vertex and Edge objects and adjacency lists; but, leaving visualization aside for the moment, the quickest approach may instead be to use the adjacency matrix. Do whatever you prefer, then compare your results with the ones below. For more examples, see your textbook.
With Kruskal, the subset of the MST may initially be a forest:
With Prim, instead, it remains a tree throughout:
Single Source Shortest Paths
Write programs to compute the shortest paths from a designated source node to all the other nodes of a directed, weighted graph, using the algorithms of Bellman-Ford and Dijkstra. Again, using the adjacency matrix and not bothering with visualization will be much quicker. First reproduce the results below, then try feeding your programs a graph with negative edge weights, then one with negative weight cycles, and check whether they behave as you expect them to. (Ideally you'd also make up your mind about exactly what to expect before writing the programs!)
Bellman-Ford is somewhat over-enthusiastic but tough and reliable:
Dijkstra is more subtle and more efficient, but can't always be used:
Maximum flow
Write a program that, given the .dot source for a flow network, spits out the .dot source for its residual network. The boring and not-relevant-for-this-course part of this job is parsing the .dot input file; if you want to skip that, operate on an adjacency matrix representation and optionally write out the .dot representation for both the input and the output, just so as to be able to check visually whether everything is as expected.
Computational geometry
Challenge: can you write a program to do Jarvis's march in one pass, without splitting the process into an upwards pass on the right and a distinct downwards pass on the left? And still using only the cross product rather than computing angles? Is it really impossible?
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