text:
This visualization shows Saturday's extent of Arctic sea ice, as charted by the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The readings have been overlaid on NASA imagery of the Northern Hemisphere. The orange line indicates the median extent of sea ice on the same calendar date for the 1979-2000 time period.
If Santa Claus is getting the feeling that someone's looking over his shoulder as he rushes to make his Christmas deadline, he's not wrong: A succession of satellites is monitoring his North Pole workshop and the rest of the Arctic on a daily basis. Based on the satellite readings, the long-term outlook is worrisome, for Santa and the rest of us as well.
This image shows the extent of Arctic sea ice, based on the latest microwave data from the Pentagon's DMSP-F17 satellite. Those readings are compared against the median extent for the same date over the 1979-2000 time frame. That median extent is indicated on the photo by the orange lines.
Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in its annual "Arctic Report Card" that glaciers and sea ice retreated at a record rate this year, and that sea level rise has accelerated in the region. What's more, those changes are affecting ecosystems in the far north — spurring marine phytoplankton growth while putting extra pressure on land species such as lemmings and the Arctic fox.
There's also a spillover effect on ecosystems farther south. "What happens in the Arctic doesn't always stay in the Arctic," NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said. "We're seeing Arctic changes in the ocean and the atmosphere that affect weather patterns elsewhere."
Keep tabs on those changes by checking in with NBC News' environmental coverage. For more visualizations of Arctic as well as Antarctic ice data, check out this reference page at the "Watts Up With That" blog. You can also scan NASA's report about this summer's retreat of the Arctic's ice cover. And for something completely different, here are 10 things you may not have known about the North Pole.
Today's visualization of the North Pole's ice is the latest offering from the Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar, which features daily images of Earth from space through Christmas. Try these other visual goodies from the calendar:
- 2012 Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- Day 1: A fantastic Chinese fan
- Day 2: Satellite shows a Grander Canyon
- Day 3: Typhoon stirs awe — and alarm
- Day 4: Glittering nighttime view of Riyadh
- Day 5: Night lights shine on 'Black Marble'
- Day 6: Holy sites seen at night
- Day 7: Blue Marble still leaves its mark
- Day 8: Satellites look into a volcano's hell
- Day 9: Jack Frost nipping at Alaska's nose
- Day 10: Cosmonaut looks down on peaks
- Day 11: Earth looms above moonwalker
- Day 12: Skytree casts shadow on Tokyo
- Day 13: Aurora sets stage for meteor show
- Day 14: Apollo's last look at Earthrise
- Day 15: A sobering moment from space
- Day 16: Middle Earth spotted from orbit
- Day 17: Mount Etna erupts ... in 3-D!
- Day 18: Gaze into the Great Blue Hole
- Day 19: Mount Fuji goes fuzzy
- Day 20: Look down on a ruined Maya city
- Day 21: Pyramids have their day in the sun
- Day 22: Outer-space views go festive
- 2011 Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- 2010 Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- The Atlantic: Hubble Advent Calendar
- Zooniverse Advent Calendar
Correction for 9:15 p.m. ET: I originally referred to the median extent of Arctic sea ice, but changed that reference to use "average" instead — which was an ill-advised move. Generally speaking, an "average" value refers to the mean, which can be quite different from the median. Here's an explanation from Purplemath that lays out the difference. Thanks to commenters for pointing out the distinction. (I also fixed a typo referring to "sea level rice.")
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other science and space news coverage, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered via email. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about dwarf planets and the search for new worlds.


text:
Need more information about Kamloops?City of Kamloops - Home
Looking for ways to fund your education? Check out TRU's financial aid and awards page.
Application Fee: $29.83
1. One of:
2. English
One of:
3. Math
One of:
Admission Advice
1. The Adventure Studies Department faculty may elect to interview some applicants to determine their readiness for admission. This interview may be conducted at TRU, by phone or video conferencing.
2. The program is physically demanding. Students must arrive in good physical condition suitable for participating in strenuous outdoor activities.
3. You must possess medical coverage and will be required to have additional coverage for any course held in foreign countries, including the US.
4. Entry is competitive and applications are screened to ensure an adequate level of outdoor recreation experience has been attained prior to entry to TRU.
Applicants also have to satisfy TRU's institution admission requirements as listed below.
For students whose first language is not English and wish to enter academic programs without attending ESL courses, you must provide one of the following (minimum scores):
Verify with the institution directly
English Language Skills - You must have adequate English language skills to participate in your intended program of study.
You must meet the program-specific admission requirements of your intended program. To qualify for admission to the Bachelor of Business/Arts/Science degree program, you will need to have completed BC Grade 12 (or equivalent).
You must meet the program-specific admission requirements of your intended program. To qualify for admission to the Bachelor of Business/Arts/Science degree program, you will need to have completed BC Grade 12 (or equivalent).
If you do not meet the admission requirements for your intended program it's possible to gain entry through mature student status. To be classified as a mature student you must be at least 19 years old and have been out of school for at least two years. In such cases the grade level requirement (eg -Grade 10, Grade 12) will be waived however individual course prerequisites must still be met (eg-English 10, English 12).
Special Note: It's possible to make up course prerequisites for your intended program through TRU.
Training in a program like this one can lead to different careers. Related occupations are presented to show potential career options, not definite outcomes.
Follow the links to learn more about these careers on WorkBC's career profiles.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Suck it up! - Free Catalog - Air Handling Systems
Related Information:
Knowledge Base:
Shop Gallery
Impact Search and Placement
Industrial CNC
Integra Precision Tooling
J & G Machinery
J and B Hardwood Co.
J&P Machines
J. Gibson McIlvain Company
Joos USA Inc.
KCD Software
Kerber Farms and Mill
Keystone Wood Specialties
Keytrix Data Systems
Komo Machine
Laguna Tools
Limtech Industries, Inc.
Machine Central LLC
MARTIN Woodworking Machines Corp.
Mastercam - CNC Software
Mereen-Johnson Machine Company
Milesi Wood Coatings
Mozaik Software, Inc.
MultiCam Southeast
New England Kiln Drying Association
NEXTech Machinery Inc.
Hardwood Council
Hardwood Store of N.C. Inc.
Heartwoods, LLC
Hermance Machine Company
Holz-Her US Inc.
Hvalsoe Sawmill Ltd.
ICA North America
|Home » Forums » Cabinetmaking » Message
You are not logged in. Consider these WOODWEB Member advantages:
Habitual Lateness11/13
Not really cabinet related but I thought I would get your input. I have one of my best employees who is ALWAYS late, sometimes dont even show up without even calling in. He has some alcohol and drug issues and I have already fired him last year over it but brought him back cause I needed him. He is back to his old ways. What would you all do in this situation, thanks in advance.
Give a written warning. Then fire him.
Your statement that he is one of your best employees is telling, I'm not sure I would want my people to try to emulate this definition of "best", but it's your business.
You may be what is called an enabler. Nothing personal, but you have yourself hamstrung by thinking this is the best you can do.
There is always a better employee than one that doesn't show up. You can not accept that as OK. You encouraged his aberrant behavior when you called him back.
If he doesn't value his job then why should you?
I've had some ex-employees that were that way. EX is the key here. Life's too short for that sort of thing.
I have to go anon on this one.
What you described is what I put up with for a while with my own son, who was heir apparent to my operation.
When I had my fill of it I let him go, and while it took some time to fill the void in an 8 man shop when he left, we are running much better without him.
The guys respect me for doing it and they also know if I would do it to my son, I will do it much quicker and easier with them.
Finally a topic I know something about!
See yah! I run a professional company and a tight schedule and we if you dont want to come to work as needed, i will release you from your responsibility and give you the opportunity for growth elsewhere.
It seems like you are playing with fire. You seldom win a battle against an employees love affair with alcohol and drugs. Do him a big favor and let him go. Do yourself a bigger favor and separate from this guy. I would make it my personal goal to have this done by noon tomorrow. Based on my experiences with these types, you are only delaying what you will eventually be doing anyway, but probably under worse conditions.
Get rid of him. The issue here isn't tardiness, it is drugs and booze; neither of which mixes well with machinery.
Agree with the others above to terminate him asap.
You stated that he is your best employee. I don't how good is when he's there, but he is worthless when he is not. I would much rather have a medium level employee that was always at work than a excellent one that doesn't show up.
Years ago I hired someone to clean the shop, run errands, answer the phone, stage product for next days delivery etc..He was bugging me after a few months to get more involved in other aspects of shop work which I was happy to do since he had proven himself in the tasks I originally hired him to do.
After a few weeks, he started showing up late and sometimes not at all. I chalked up his lateness to problems at home. Took him aside one Friday and questioned him on his sudden change in attendance and informed him he would have to get with it or he would make it necessary for me to replace him with someone more reliable, or have him go back to cleaning...etc.
Seems my Friday talk had worked...at least for another few weeks. One Monday morning he didn't show up, no call, no nothing. Later on that day I get a visit from the Police.. Stan ( not his real name ) had died from a Heroin overdose early Sunday morning.
I learned as time went on that he had been a functioning Heroin addict for years. He never showed his addiction while at work. The indication that something was amiss was when he started showing up late for work. Looking back, I realize now that I should not have put up with his tardiness for as long as I had.


text:
A Duet
December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Just wanted to post a video from last night. We all gathered to watch Maggie howl with the harmonica but Lily wanted some attention, too. I didn't know she was going to do that and obviously got a little too happy…
3 Comments leave one →


text:
Student: How do I get my UH Username?
You may request your UH Username online from the UH Username Management page by clicking on the "Get a UH Username!" link. Your UH Username should be ready within six minutes. Most services, such as MyUH, will be available to you once your UH Username is created. Your UH Email Account (@hawaii.edu) will be available for use after fifteen 15 minutes.
You will need to provide the following information to apply for a UH Username:
- your legal name (the name that you use on your student application or employment form)
- your UH Number or social security number
- date of birth
- read and agree to the Executive Policy E2.210 and Chapter 708, Hawaii Revised Statutes
After you have completed the form, use the Continue button to submit your request. The online request system will check the UH Username Management database for your full legal name and the information above. If your information is found within the UH Username Management database, you will be asked to create a password for your UH Username. You need to select two questions and furnish the answers for these two questions. In the future, these two questions will allow you to reset your password online.
Your password is very important and should not be taken lightly. Please remember that your password should be something that you will remember but others cannot guess.
Password Tips
- Your password must be 8-32 characters long
- You must use at least one upper case alphabetic character, one lower case alphabetic character, one numeric character, and one special character
- Make it a habit to change your password frequently
- Choose a password that is hard to guess. Do not use dictionary words, birth dates, or names
- Make sure your password has nothing to do with the two questions and answers you provided when you initially set your password
- Memorize your password and do not share it with anyone
- Treat your password as you would treat any important confidential information about yourself


text:
You are hereCampaign Accountability Watch
Campaign Accountability Watch
Press Release: Campaign Finance Watchdog Spearheads Battle Against Anonymous Donations
Applauds IRS Initiative to Enforce Gift Tax of Fraudulent Non-Profits
Announcement Comes Months After Campaign Accountability Watch Sends Letter on Issue to AG Holder
WASHINGTON, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Campaign Accountability Watch (CAW), a watchdog at the forefront in the battle against secret campaign contributions, today applauded the IRS for announcing it will seek payment of a gift tax of 35% for donations made to non-profit organizations involved in electoral campaigns. CAW called it a good "first step" to reigning in these organizations.
CAW sent a letter on October 25, 2010 to Attorney General Holder seeking a special prosecutor for the misuse of non-profit organizations to hide the source of electoral donations.
The letter specifically highlighted the provision in the law that the IRS is now addressing:
…press reports indicate that these same 501c(4) organizations are not advising their donors that their donations are taxable as a 'federal gift tax' at a rate of 35%, thereby both misleading the donors and depriving the federal government of potentially hundreds of millions in tax revenue.


text:
The Entertainment Industry Foundation uses the power of the entertainment community to raise awareness and funds for health, educational and social issues and programs.
Who: Until recently, Felicity Huffman was seen weekly on "Desperate Housewives," and she's starred on series like "Sports Night." She also earned an Oscar nom for her role in 2005's "Transamerica." But her roots are really in the theater, and she's racked up credits in multiple David Mamet productions, including "Speed the Plow" (her 1988 Broadway debut) and "The Cryptogram." She's married to actor William H. Macy and the pair earned a rare double star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March. Huffman is currently onstage in the Mamet production "November" at the Mark Taper Forum.
What: The 70-year-old Entertainment Industry Foundation is defined more specifically by its contributors in the entertainment community. Founded by a group of Hollywood leaders, including Humphrey Bogart and the Warner brothers, the EIF has raised nearly $900 million for its causes, including fighting cancer ("Stand Up to Cancer"), women's health issues (EIF/Revlon Run Walk), veterans' services (Rise and Honor) and education (the in-progress National Education Initiative).
Why: Huffman says she feels a personal connection to many of the issues the EIF focuses on, especially issues dealing with women's health and cancer. "I'm one of seven girls in my family, and we all know someone who was touched with cancer," she says. "I love the idea of a bunch of people coming together to wrangle the forces of the entertainment industry, which are sizeable." Huffman grew up in Colorado and was working to preserve the wilderness from an early age — and says as an adult she was re-inspired by fellow "Housewives" star Eva Longoria: "When I saw how much philanthropy work she does, I realized 'Hey, I can really do some good. I want to teach my children to give back.' "
What's next: The EIF's National Education Initiative, which is expected to launch this fall, is focused on making use of entertainment industry contributions and assets to focus the public's attention on the needs of students, teachers and families around the U.S.


text:
Swap Trust is a member of the Micah Network
There are a variety of ways you can be involved with Micah Network:
Be a Member
Be a Supporter
Be a Friend
Work with Us
Why become a member?
Micah Network is both a movement and a network for integral mission.
As a network we focus on providing support to our members to:
As a movement we pursue together a common goal to promote integral mission because we believe that demonstrating and proclaiming God's love is the responsibility of all Christians. God's love for the world challenges us to engage in and with society, seeking holistic transformation.
Membership therefore helps us to stand together as a group of Christians committed to integral mission and to motivate and inspire one another and others to embrace and practice integral mission.
We do this by:
Being a part of Micah Network will help to inspire you and others, through you, (Hebrews 12:1 - surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses) for mission.
A supporter is an organisation or individual who acknowledge the importance of an integral mission approach to mission; is interested in the vision, mission and aims of Micah Network; and would like to contribute financially and / or with their gifts to the work of Micah Network but does not want to apply for membership. Contributions can be in the form of:
A friend is an individual or organisation with an interest in integral mission who would like to be in contact with Micah Network to:
Micah Network relies on a small number of dedicated and experienced staff:
Salaries of the staff are covered by membership contributions, organisations or individual supporters who commit to cover specified positions and grants for project managers / officers.
Those whom member organisations second to Micah Network for an agreed role for a specified time-frame. For example:
Individuals with commitment to the vision, mission and aims of Micah Network who want to donate their time, gifts and skills to supporting the work. For example:
Movement between categories exists. For example, for large translation requirements our translators will be offered financial support.
Individuals with expertise and gifts that can act as advisors in specific areas:
Individuals who know the area of work, context, culture, etc., that could advise us on approaches, training options, etc. By invitation only.


text:
Lil Scrappy (Feat Rolls Royce Rizzy & Atlanta Hawk) - I Like You"I Like You
Directed By: Edgar Esteves
Edited By: JP Films
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
"A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."–G. Gordon Liddy
* Check out my Tax Tips "Document Your Charitable Deductions, Taxpayer" and "Consider All Your Options" at MAINSTREET.COM.
* Russ Fox of TAXABLE TALK tells you "What $4.95 Buys These Days" – my ebook "My Best Tax Advice".
Thanks, Russ, for the plug! Glad you enjoyed the book.
* "The 1040 is Ready! The 1040 is Ready!" So announces Kay Bell at DON'T MESS WITH TAXES.
The 2012 Form 1040 and 1040-A had previously been published by the IRS with certain lines marked as "Reserved" for not-yet-extended "extenders". The forms have now been revised to identify the now-extended deductions.
The 2012 Schedule A has also been revised to identify the option to deduct state and local sales tax.
* Thanks to Alltop.com I came across TAXGIRL Kelly Phillips Erb's annual "2012 Round-Up: The Year In Taxes" – at her old blog site and not at FORBES.COM.
Unlike my year in review post, Kelly's provides links to the most popular TAXGIRL posts for 2012, her favorites, and the most important.
* Jamaal Solomon, E.A. continues his TAX FACTOR series with "Tax Organizer for Business Professionals".
* Jason Dinesen reminds those who report residential rental income to properly allocate the cost of the property between land and building in "Rental Properties and Basis Allocation" at DINESEN TAX TIMES.
I often use his suggested method of allocating land via the property tax valuation. I have also used 75% building - 25% land as a general "rule of thumb" if the property tax valuation % does not seem appropriate.
* While I support the RTRP regime (except for testing), I do agree with Joe Kristan and others that it will not stop tax fraud. And I do believe that forcing us to sit through 2 hours of ethics preaching each and every year is a waste of time and money.
Case in point – "CPA Faces Five Years In Refund Fraud", as reported by THE PROGRESSIVE ACCOUNTANT. CPAs have always been regulated, and, I believe, also must take (at least) 2 hours of ethics preaching CPE each year.
* TAX MAMA Eva Rosenberg answers a question about "Garage Sales".
I personally think having a garage sale to get rid of "stuff" you no longer need generates more agita than they are worth. You can avoid agita altogether, and probably end up with more net "in pocket", by donating your "stuff" to charity.
Be sure to check out my post on the rules for deducting non-cash contributions scheduled to appear here on this coming Monday morning.


text:
- Original title : The A-Team
- Film Note : -movie_rating-
- Duration of movie : 117
- Movie Genre : Action,
- Status : Released
- Vote Count : 503
- Youtube Id : -youtube_id-
- Release Date of film : 2010-06-11
- Languages spoken : Deutsch
- Average rate : 6.2
- Tagline : There Is No Plan B
- Societies of production : Dune Entertainment
- Liam Neeson Character (Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith)
- Bradley Cooper Character (Lt. Templeton 'Faceman' Peck)
- Jessica Biel Character (Capt. Charisa Sosa)
- Sharlto Copley Character (Capt. 'Howling Mad' Murdock)
- Patrick Wilson Character (Lynch)
- Quinton Jackson Character (Sgt. Bosco 'B.A.' Baracus)
- Dirk Benedict Character (Unknown)
- Dwight Schultz Character (Unknown)
- Gerald McRaney Character (General Morrison)
- Brian Bloom Character (Pike)
- Omari Hardwick Character (Chop Shop J)
- Maury Sterling Character (Gammons)
- Terry Chen Character (Ravech)
- C. Ernst Harth Character (Gilbert)
- Raj Lal Character (Private Silyman)
- Neil Schell Character (Army Meddac Hospital XO)
- Gardiner Millar Character (Officer)
- Marc-Anthony Massiah Character (Tahoe Inmate)
- Rafael Pellerin Character (Soccer Kid)
- Yul Vazquez Character (General Javier Tuco)
The A-Team Synopsis:
! Watch free The A-Team movie online without downloading. The film also includes the best film. You can watch online movie streaming in HD 106 min in length. watch streaming movies online free trailer below and also watch full length The A-Team Megavideo streaming movie on HD without investigation. You can watch the film with or without downloading here
... The A-Team HD ...
Joe Carnahan Job as : Director, Michael Brandt Job as : Screenplay, Stephen J. Cannell Job as : Characters, Derek Haas Job as : Screenplay, Skip Woods Job as : Screenplay, Stephen J. Cannell Job as : Producer, Jules Daly Job as : Producer, Ross Fanger Job as : Producer, Ridley Scott Job as : Producer, Tony Scott Job as : Producer, Iain Smith Job as : Producer, Spike Seldin Job as : Producer, Alex Young Job as : Producer, Alan Silvestri Job as : Music, Mauro Fiore Job as : Cinematography, Heike Brandstatter Job as : Casting, Coreen Mayrs Job as : Casting, Mary Tricia Wood Job as : Casting, Mary Tricia Wood Job as : Production Design, Michael Diner Job as : Art Direction, Helen Jarvis Job as : Art Direction, Elizabeth Wilcox Job as : Set Decoration, Betsy Heimann Job as : Costume Design,
Yes, now you can Watch The A-Team Full Movie Streaming Online and get the link to The A-Team Full Movie Online Streaming In HD Ici


text:
Back Field
I wonder if there's a way to get WordPress to just put "Wow, oops! It's been a while since I posted!" at the top of every new post I write…
Yesterday afternoon Poe and I ventured to the back field for the first time this year. It's open for walking and trotting along the tops of the hills, with cantering and jumping tentatively back on the menu today. Considering how much damn snow we got in the last few months (including all that stuff not even a week ago), I'm surprised how dry the footing is already. Anyway, we did a lot of walking, and only had one incident with a horse-hungry phantom in the bank complex. One minute Poe was motoring along, nice and relaxed, and the next he'd spun around and darted back the other direction. He gave it up after a couple strides though, and was pretty easily convinced to walk past the lurking scariness.
I think it's the first time since fall that I've put his three-ring elevator bit back in. It's a Happy Mouth double-joined pessoa mouthpiece, and it's gotten a bit raggedy and chewed looking, so I stopped by the tack shop yesterday and ordered another. Now I kind of wish I'd waited, as he spent most of the ride chomping at it and curling up to duck behind it, so I'm not sure it's our best cross-country bet any more. That said, when I finally asked him to trot he was glorious. He stretched through his back and took this lovely buttery contact and powered along. We had one firm discussion about who was in charge of setting the pace, and after that he half-halted really quite nicely, all things considered, and was just a complete joy. THAT is my trot right there. All morning I've been calling up the swingy happy powerful feeling of it as balm against the office grind.
Upcoming plans: I'm out of the country May 10-26. Poe is supposed to go to my trainer for a couple weeks, but I haven't been able to iron out the exact schedule with her yet, so I'm trying to temper my hopes.


text:
We are pleased to announce in association with Red Light District and sponsors Equator, Etymotic, Fable Sounds and Novation, the winning entries in the Red Light District 'Come on Up' remix contest.
Original Song by Red Light District
And the Winner are:
1. Dmitry Khramtsov
2. singplumb - Jack Ketch_(SoundCloud), Jack Ketch (Acid Planet)
3. Jaamtrak
From the band
Thank you to everyone who submitted their talented remixes! We heard everything from house to metal, jazz to dubstep, trance, industrial, ebm, edm, goth, 8-bit disco and more!
We understand the excitement of anticipation. We, Red Light District, wanted to select the top 3 as a group. Being a band of nearly 10 people who live all over the place with drastically different schedules, it takes time. We narrowed the 200 submissions down to a top ten... then to the top 3. There was a tie for 2nd place, so we had to do yet another voting round.
This was a timely process however, we gave our ears time to get to know each song. We have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of creative versions of remixes presented. There are a number of other mixes which we hope to include on the official release. Another post will follow reflecting this with all honorable mentions.
Thank you again!
Shok (Red Light District)
Want to hear more?
Registered Image-Line forum members can listen to all 199 entries here.


text:
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF supporters of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party have held a mass rally in Gaza – their first since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.
"Victory is near and we will meet you in Gaza in the near future," Abbas said in a short speech from his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah, beamed to the Gaza crowd at the Saraya complex on giant screens.
"Gaza was the first Palestinian territory rid of (Israeli) occupation and settlement and we want a lifting of the blockade so that it can be free and linked to the rest of the nation."
Hamas, in a sign of reconciliation with Fatah, permitted the rally to go ahead as the climax of a week of Gaza festivities celebrating the 48th anniversary of Fatah taking up arms against Israel.
Demonstrators, many of them women and children waved Palestinian and Fatah flags and carried pictures of Abbas, an AFP correspondent reported. Balloons in the colours of the Palestinian flag with portraits of Abbas hovered above.
"This crowd is a vote in favour of (Abbas's) Palestinian Authority and shows that Fatah is still out in front," local Fatah leader Selim al-Zaraei told AFP.
Palestinians wave yellow Fatah flags during the rally (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Fatah Gaza spokesman Fayez Abou Eita told AFP that "hundreds of thousands of people are currently taking part in the public festivities."
Hamas congratulated Fatah on the anniversary, saying it considered it a "celebration of national unity and a success for Hamas as well as Fatah."
"This positive atmosphere is a step on road to restoring national unity," it said.
(AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Abbas's address was to be followed by a speech by senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath, who travelled to Gaza from the West Bank for the event. He was to be followed by Hamas official Rawhi Mushtaha, who was to speak in the name of all the Palestinian factions.
But Shaath and Mushtaha did not end up delivering their speeches after the crowd became rowdy, Abou Eita said.
Khan Younis resident Ayman Barbakh, 24, said he hoped the rally marked "the beginning of true unity and reconciliation, because our Palestinian people have suffered enough."
(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
"It's been six years since we in Fatah have been waiting for this moment," said participant Sabrine Srour. "I feel the joy I can see on people's faces."
A young man attempting to fasten a Fatah banner to an electricity pylon was killed and seven others were injured by electrocution, medical sources said.
Some participants brandished portraits and chanted slogans in favor of ex-Fatah strongman in Gaza, Mohammed Dahlan, excluded from his movement and reviled by Hamas.
(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Hamas and Fatah had been at loggerheads since the Islamist movement seized control of Gaza in June 2007, following its victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections the previous year.
But under Egyptian mediation, the two groups reached a unity agreement in April 2011, although its main provisions have so far not been implemented.
The anniversary commemorates the first operation against Israel claimed by Fatah's armed wing, then known as Al-Assifa (The Thunderstorm in Arabic), on January 1, 1965.
Israel considers Hamas a terrorist organisation, and is opposed to it moving closer to Fatah.
(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Read: Financially-strapped Palestine asks Arab nations to stump up cash >
Read: Former Israeli foreign minister charged with breach of trust and fraud >


text:
Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - For a few years, we've been hearing how Matt Cooke has reformed his ways and become the NHL's version of a model citizen.
Cooke himself shattered that new image to pieces Monday night with a sad return to his dark past.
It's been slightly over three years since the Minnesota forward was last suspended, but after delivering a vicious knee-on-knee hit against Colorado's Tyson Barrie in the teams' first-round playoff series, that's all about to change. The only thing left to figure out is how long the likely seventh suspension of his career will last.
Cooke will face an in-person hearing with the league, meaning he could receive a suspension of more than five games. New NHL disciplinarian Stephane Quintal will have some extra time to ponder the decision, as the Wild and Colorado have two days off before meeting again in Thursday's Game 4 battle in Minnesota.
Since it's been more than 18 months since Cooke was last suspended, the letter of the law under the latest collective bargaining agreement doesn't recognize him as a repeat offender. But that only applies to any fine Cooke may receive. As far as suspensions go, Cooke's lurid past is fair game when it comes to levying a proper punishment.
While the league has made a concerted effort to eliminate head shots from the game, knee-on-knee hits have taken a back seat. That's partly due to the relationship between blows to the head and concussions, but also because determining intent on knee-to-knee collisions can be difficult.
The incident between Cooke and Barrie on Monday, however, was of the black and white variety. Some knee-on-knee collisions are accidental, others are possibly avoidable but not malicious in nature, and then there are ones that look like what Cooke did to Barrie.
Early in the third period, Cooke had a chance to deliver a clean hit on Barrie, who was attempting to move the puck out of his own zone. Just as Barrie released the puck, Cooke extended his right leg into Barrie's path and took out the Colorado defenseman's left leg.
The damage was immediately apparent as Barrie tumbled to the ice in obvious pain. Mere seconds later, Barrie was skating to the bench on one foot, but before he made his way into the locker room, a TSN broadcaster situated between the benches heard the young blueliner say, "I'm done."
Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy announced shortly after the game that Barrie would miss four-to-six weeks of action due to an injured medial collateral ligament.
It's a big loss for the Avs as the 22-year-old Barrie had become an important part of Colorado's blue line.
As Roy pointed out Monday night, Cooke was given only a two-minute minor for kneeing. With the score tied 0-0 at the time, a five-minute major could've been a turning point in the game for Colorado, which instead lost in overtime after a highlight-reel goal from Mikael Granlund.
"A knee on Tyson Barrie, without a doubt, that's the play of the game," Roy said. "We lost our best offensive defenseman, and I think it could have been a five-minute major. Plus, I think that would have broken (the Wild's) momentum."
Colorado still owns a 2-1 lead in the series, but it lost its best goal-scoring option from the back end for the remainder of the playoff battle with the Wild. Like Cooke's litany of transgressions, the length of Barrie's injury should weigh heavy on Quintal's mind when he and deputy commissioner Bill Daly work on coming up with a suitable penalty for Cooke.
My best guess is we won't see Cooke again in this series at the very least. While he's gone, Cooke will have time to do some soul searching. Maybe this return to the realm of dangerous hits was just a momentary lapse of reason for a guy who really has worked hard on reforming his ways, but that means little in the wake of Monday's incident.
Cooke had a career-high 129 penalty minutes in 67 games with Pittsburgh back in 2010-11, which also happened to be the last season in which he was given a suspension. In 212 regular season games since that campaign, the 35-year-old only has acquired 134 penalty minutes, with 54 PIM coming in 82 games with the Wild this season.
The drop in penalty minutes combined with Cooke's own assurances that he was actively trying to turn his image around. But it shouldn't surprise anybody that he eventually veered off the path. Emotions run high in the postseason, and like many other guys in the league, Cooke was bound to lose his cool at some point.
That being said, it does no good to stand there, point at Cooke and say, "I told you so." He did something wrong and will pay for it, but banning him from the league forever, especially after he's made a true effort to change his ways, is simply not going to happen.
No matter how long Cooke gets suspended for, the real cost for him is that he has to live with the reputation he has earned.
Back in March 2011, I wrote a piece titled: "Can exiled Cooke change his game?" (http://tinyurl.com/lxznq28) about a lengthy suspension Cooke received for a hit on New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh. That hit, and the 17- game suspension that followed it, was seen as a turning point in Cooke's career. One can't help but think he is back to square one after lunging into Barrie with a well-timed knee.
In that piece from over three years ago, I suggested Cooke's bad behavior would follow him around for a long time, saying his "well-earned bad rep will remain with him for the rest of his career, and perhaps even longer."
That was speculative at the time, but right now it feels like it could be Cooke's reality.


text:
It's been said before: security systems that rely on secrecy are only as secure as their secrets. This was one of the more interesting assertions echoed in Steve Jobs' now famous open letter on DRM, wherein the Apple CEO portrayed the decision to go with a closed DRM ecosystem as the secure thing to do. Jobs argues that "most serious problem" with licensing DRM to third-parties is that it "involves disclosing some of its secrets to many people in many companies, and history tells us that inevitably these secrets will leak." Jobs said that this effectively rules out Apple considering any interoperable DRM solution:
"Apple has concluded that if it licenses FairPlay to others, it can no longer guarantee to protect the music it licenses from the big four music companies. Perhaps this same conclusion contributed to Microsoft's recent decision to switch their emphasis from an 'open' model of licensing their DRM to others to a "closed" model of offering a proprietary music store, proprietary jukebox software and proprietary players," Jobs wrote.
The argument here is clear: interoperable DRM schemes are a bad idea. Jobs even suggests that Microsoft has realized this by moving to the Zune, but that argument ignores the fact that Microsoft continues to license DRM, and even Wal-Mart's brand new video store uses interoperable DRM.
Let me be clear: what we are skeptical about is the claim that closedor non-interoperablesystems are inherently more secure than licensed systems. Regardless of who is making the argument, we think this is an important issue to investigate. If DRM never passes away, we may see this argument deployed against interoperability moves, and generally speaking we're in favor of interoperable DRM in any environment where DRM must be used. It's the lesser of two evils.
When it comes to DRM, what history actually teaches us is that one approach is no more secure than the other in practice. Windows Media DRM has had fewer security breaches than Apple's FairPlay, yet WM DRM is licensed out the wazoo: there are more than a dozen companies with WM DRM licenses.
Apple leads in sales and hacks
If what the antilicensing folks say is true, shouldn't Microsoft (the licenser extraordinaire) have suffered more problems than Apple (just say no to licensing!) in the same timeframe? Yet it is Apple that has suffered the most attacks on its DRM. Let's revisit Nate's excellent report on DRM hacking from last year:
By the middle of 2004, the [Apple FairPlay] encryption scheme had been cracked more times than a toppled Humpty Dumpty. Jon Johansen, the Norwegian hacker partly responsible for cracking the encryption on DVDs (see below), released the primitive QTFairUse, which attempted to bypass (rather than break) the FairPlay encryption. [snip] Another approach was provided by playfair, a little program capable of stripping the DRM from iTunes files. Instead of grabbing the unencrypted data, playfair relied on grabbing the key FairPlay encryption uses. [snip] A third approach came from PyMusique, software originally written so that Linux users could access the iTunes Music Store. The software took advantage of the fact that iTMS transmits DRM-free songs to its customers and relies on iTunes to add that gooey layer of DRM goodness at the client end.
In the timeframe that FairPlay was comprised or circumvented at least four times (RealNetwork's hack is the fourth), Windows Media DRM was verifiably cracked once that I'm aware of, last August. Microsoft patched the August hack in a few days' time, and had the patch out to licensees in that same timeframe. Another "crack" could purportedly strip DRM from videos that you already purchased (the so-called Japanese hack), but it was never fully verified and Microsoft released a general Windows Media update that appeared to stop discussion of the matter. For simplicity's sake, we'll call it two real cracks. Please note: I've left out all manner of obvious circumvention techniques such as burning to CD or recording an audio stream, since those are not true cracks.
Obscurity not the issue
Does Microsoft's track record in this department amount to squat because their services aren't popular? Maybe, but the security through obscurity argument doesn't fly here. As Jon Johansen points out, the obscurity angle is "not a valid argument in this context since Steve was claiming that sharing DRM secrets with lots of licensees will inevitably lead to one of those licensees leaking secrets. As far as I know, none of the MS DRM breaches have been due to industry insiders leaking secrets."
And that's one thing that I think everyone can agree on: none of the hacks to date either on FairPlay or not Microsoft's DRM stem from secrets being leaked. The same is true for the majority of DRM hacks out there, including the most recent hacks on AACS. The entertainment industry seems to have little concern over the creation and licensing of these DRM systems.
In closing, we can say with some certainty that in Microsoft's case, the licensed DRM model has indeed proven to be as secure as Apple's closed model, if not more so. Furthermore, we can dismiss the argument that secrecy leaks are more likely in a licensed system than in a closed system; it's just not happening on the ground. That said, Jobs couldn't be any more right when he says that DRM is bad for business. However, if DRM's proponents survive this latest broadside, we'd prefer that interoperability efforts be not so easily tossed out the window.


text:
This module gives some introductory examples to signal processing with plain Haskell lists. For more complex examples see Synthesizer.Plain.Instrument and Synthesizer.Plain.Effect. The examples require a basic understanding of audio signal processing.
In the Haddock documentation you will only see the API. In order to view the example code, please use the "Source code" links beside the function documentation. This requires however, that the Haddock was executed with hyperlink-source option.
Using plain lists is not very fast, particularly not fast enough for serious real-time applications. It is however the most flexible data structure, which you can also use without knowledge of low level programming. For real-time applications see Synthesizer.Generic.Tutorial.
|Play a simple sine tone at 44100 sample rate and 16 bit. These are the parameters used for compact disks. The period of the tone is 2*pi*10. Playing at sample rate 44100 Hz results in a tone of 44100 / (20*pi) Hz, that is about 702 Hz. This is simple enough to be performed in real-time, at least on my machine. For playback we use SoX.
|Now the same for a stereo signal. Both stereo channels are slightly detuned in order to achieve a stereophonic phasing effect. In principle there is no limit of the number of channels, but with more channels playback becomes difficult. Many signal processes in our package support any tuple and even nested tuples using the notion of an algebraic module (see C). A module is a vector space where the scalar numbers do not need to support division. A vector space is often also called a linear space, because all we require of vectors is that they can be added and scaled and these two operations fulfill some natural laws.
|Of course we can also write a tone to disk using sox.
|For the following examples we will stick to monophonic sounds played at 44100 Hz. Thus we define a function for convenience.
Now, let's repeat the sine example in a higher level style. We use the oscillator static that does not allow any modulation. We can however use any waveform. The waveform is essentially a function which maps from the phase to the displacement. Functional programming proves to be very useful here, since anonymous functions as waveforms are optimally supported by the language. We can also expect, that in compiled form the oscillator does not have to call back the waveform function by an expensive explicit function call, but that the compiler will inline both oscillator and waveform such that the oscillator is turned into a simple loop which handles both oscillation and waveform computation.
Using the oscillator with sine also has the advantage that we do not have to cope with pis any longer. The frequency is given as ratio of the sample rate. That is, 0.01 at 44100 Hz sample rate means 441 Hz. This way all frequencies are given in the low-level signal processing.
It is not optimal to handle frequencies this way, since all frequency values are bound to the sample rate. For overcoming this problem, see the high level routines using physical dimensions. For examples see Synthesizer.Dimensional.RateAmplitude.Demonstration.
|It is very simple to switch to another waveform like a saw tooth wave. Instead of a sharp saw tooth, we use an extreme asymmetric triangle. This is a poor man's band-limiting approach that shall reduce aliasing at high oscillation frequencies. We should really work on band-limited oscillators, but this is hard in the general case.
|When we apply a third power to each value of the saw tooths we get an oscillator with cubic polynomial functions as waveform. The distortion function applied to a saw wave can be used to turn every function on the interval [-1,1] into a waveform.
|Now let's start with modulated tones. The first simple example is changing the degree of asymmetry according to a slow oscillator (LFO = low frequency oscillator).
|It's also very common to modulate the frequency of a tone.
|A simple sine wave with exponentially decaying amplitude.
|The ping sound can also be used to modulate the phase another oscillator. This is a well-known effect used excessively in FM synthesis, that was introduced by the Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer.
One of the most impressive sounds effects is certainly frequency filtering, especially when the filter parameters are modulated. In this example we use a resonant lowpass whose resonance frequency is controlled by a slow sine wave. The frequency filters usually use internal filter parameters that are not very intuitive to use directly. Thus we apply a function (here parameter) in order to turn the intuitive parameters "resonance frequency" and "resonance" (resonance frequency amplification while frequency zero is left unchanged) into internal filter parameters. We have not merged these two steps since the computation of internal filter parameters is more expensive then the filtering itself and you may want to reduce the computation by computing the internal filter parameters at a low sample rate and interpolate them. However, in the list implementation this will not save you much time, if at all, since the list operations are too expensive.
Now this is the example where my machine is no longer able to produce a constant audio stream in real-time. For tackling this problem, please continue with Synthesizer.Generic.Tutorial.
|Produced by Haddock version 2.4.2


text:
Lay the Foundation for Network Convergence
IP over dense wavelength-division multiplexing (IPoDWDM) is a technology pioneered by Cisco that delivers superior service flexibility, scalability, and resiliency. It allows carriers to capitalize on increasingly bandwidth-intensive and complex applications for next-generation Internet innovations and collaborative business services.
Enhance Your IP Transport Through Innovation
IPoDWDM collapses network layers by tightly integrating DWDM interfaces with the routing platform. This increases efficiency, simplifies management, and accelerates service delivery. Combined with industry-leading omnidirectional and colorless reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) technology, IPoDWDM reduces service truck rolls, power consumption, and space and cooling requirements.
Numerous providers now use the power of IPoDWDM to distribute video content rapidly and efficiently over an all-IP network. They can provision additional network capacity instantly as demand increases for any-play consumer and managed business services.
The Cisco IPoDWDM solution reduces transport elements, while supporting advanced multilayer features such as proactive protection and control plane interaction, dramatically reducing operating expenses and capital costs.
Benefit from Valuable Product Enhancements
The Cisco IPoDWDM solution features:
- Ultra long haul 100 Gb IPoDWDM capability, using the Cisco CRS 1-Port 100 Gigabit Ethernet Coherent DWDM Interface Module
- 100 Gb coherent regeneration using the single-slot, 100 Gb trunk card on the ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP), fully compatible with proactive protection.
- Proactive protection on the Cisco ASR 9000 Series 2-Port and 1-Port 100 Gigabit Ethernet Line Cards
- Industry-leading 10 Gb IPoDWDM density on the ASR 9000 Series 36-Port and 24-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Line Cards
- Complete Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) interoperability between the CRS-3, ASR 9000, and ONS 15454 MSTP


text:
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa
The U.S. Marine Corps is arguably one of the most revered institutions within the U.S. Department of Defense. So, when Combined Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) leadership recently welcomed members of the Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) into the U.S. Marine Corps Corporals Course, it was a distinct honor.
Within hours of being notified, CJTF-HOA's East Africa Response Force prepared dozens of Soldiers and tons of supplies for takeoff during an emergency response exercise, validating the EARF's rapid response capabilities.
Initiated by the Japanese military, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) supported a joint-nation noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) exercise and training here, Sept. 29.
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier and tenant units shed blood, sweat and tears during the Joint Warrior Competition here, Sept. 9.
The Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa's 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion (CAB) Functional Specialty Group (FXSP) veterinarians spayed, dewormed and immunized the cats of Caritas Djibouti here, Aug 30.


text:
Phone: 503-823-7300
Email: email@example.com
1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Phone: 503-823-7300
Email: email@example.com
1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
This page contains information for any project that alters a commercial building without any increase in floor area (out or up), without structural changes and includes only minor changes to the exterior.
A building permit is required for alterations in commercial and multifamily buildings, even when no structural changes are made.
If your project includes increasing the footprint of the structure or altering any exterior feature beyond same size replacement of doors and windows, view commercial new construction.
Change of Use or Occupancy
For an overview of requirements for projects that change the use of a space or building, see our Change of Occupancy Brochure and Change of Use or Occupancy information page. Depending on the complexity of the project, a life-safety summary may be needed. This is similar to a code summary, but has more detail about sprinkler, fire alarms, detection systems and other construction information about the building. Visit Plan Review staff at the Development Services Centeror call (503) 823-1456 for life-safety summary information.
If your project includes work that would change the occupancy or use of an existing building, visit Building staff and Planning and Zoning staff at the Development Services Center before you prepare your materials and plans.
Codes in effect in Portland include City Codes, such as Titles 24 and 33, as well as State building codes. See our Codes page for more information.
Find out how to research your property and where to locate the information in preparation for your permit application.
Determine what your fees will be.
Determine what the system development charges will be for your project.
Early Assistance:
The bureau offers several options for early assistance for commercial customers.
The following information must be submitted when applying for this permit type. Since every project is unique, there may be some situations where you will be asked to provide additional information.
To submit for a permit, bring these forms, and (4) copies of the required plans, additional materials and intake fees tothe Development Services Center.
Separate Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical permits are required for alterations to those systems. Sub-contractors performing this work must be registered with the State of Oregon and carry a current CCB license.
Code Summary
Applications must show how they comply with the building code. A code summary is critical to convey design assumptions made for the building. Please see the Building Code Summary Worksheet.
Change of Occupancy
Projects that change the occupancy of the existing space can be very complex. Please see both our Brochure on Change of Occupancy and additional information on this type of project.
Life Safety Summary
For very complex projects, a life-safety summary may be needed. This is similar to a code summary, but has more detail about sprinkler, fire alarms, detection systems and other construction information about the building. Please see the handout for Fire and Life Safety Summaries (FLSS) for more information.
Shell Permits
If your project is in a space that was originally permitted as a "Shell", meaning it was not built out and ready for occupancy under the prior permit, your permit will be taken in and routed to the original reviewer. Under the Shell permit, the owner was required to complete the Shell Permit Acknowledgement Statement as part of that submittal.
Seismic Strengthening Requirements
Portland City Code, Title 24.85 contains criteria that may trigger requirements for additional seismic strengthening when the work involves an existing building.
Some simple Commercial Alteration permits can be issued "over the counter" while you wait. You will meet with review staff from different departments who will check your construction documents to verify the proposed construction will meet the various codes. During the review, if information is missing, or if corrections are needed, you will be asked to return with that information.
If the project is more complex and a review cannot be completed over the counter, the plans will be taken in for further review. You will be sent a checksheet requesting any clarifications or corrections. For additional information on the review process, see the permitting process overview flowchart.
The bureaus/review groups that will check a commercial alteration project include:
The yellow inspection card lists all the inspections you will likely need during your construction project, and what work needs to be done first.
Once your building permit is issued, if there is any ground disturbing activity, then erosion control measures must be installed, inspected and approved, prior to beginning any other work.
Handouts (Assistance)


text:
Bring in a nicely wound cord or garden hose (see below)
Explain to your students that you want them to determine the length of the cord or garden hose with the only condition being that they cannot stretch it out; they must find another way to measure the length.
Notice that the wound cord or garden hose is simply a bunch of circles stacked on top of one another. What if we calculated the circumference of the top circle and multiplied it by how many circles are formed by the winding process? Certainly you will be dealing with a margin of error here but it will at least get you in the ball park.
Note: be careful not to count a circle more than one time.


text:
Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2015 finals aftermovie guys, check it out!
GIGABYTE is delighted to be a sponsor of such an awesome gaming event!
Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2015 finals aftermovie guys, check it out!
GIGABYTE is delighted to be a sponsor of such an awesome gaming event!
Yes, the latest geek rankings are out for the geekiest of the geek benchmarks, SuperPi. HWBOT supplies rankings for the "SuperPi low clock challenges" which are essentially CPU frequency limited SuperPi benchmark challenges for various hardware platforms. A lot of overclockers start their addiction to the hobby with pure MHz overclocking and later they find out about SuperPI (calculating Pi). This is the type of benchmark which is single threaded in nature and measures the system's core performance and memory overclocking and tuning abilities. GIGABYTE boards and Australian overclockers seem to be the deadly mix and top almost all the rankings!
There is only one conclusion for all the aspiring overclockers out there, drop everything, move to Australia and start overclocking on GIGABYTE everyone!
Source: http://forum.hwbot.org/showthread.php?t=133181
We've heard you like getting free hardware? Is that so?? Alright, how about we give away two Z97MX-Gaming 5 motherboards!? Well guess what, we are already doing that!
How can I get my hand on a free GIGABYTE Z97MX-Gaming 5 motherboards you ask?? Simple! You simply have to guess who you think will win this year The Summit 3 tournament, which by the way, GIGABYTE is the exclusive sponsor of (wink wink).
You didn't know about that?? But we did announce it : http://www.gigabyte.com/press-center/news-page.aspx?nid=1360
Ok ok, it was only published today… so here is a bit of explanation:
The Summit is a two phase global DOTA 2 tournament. Phase one is an online qualifier that defines who will make it up to phase two, a week long LAN phase which takes place at the BeyondTheSummit studio in LA. This year is the 3rd edition of the tournament and GIGABYTE is very proud to be the exclusive sponsor. With the closing of the online phase, the full line up is now decided and we are ready to see the world's best DOTA teams fight against each other. The players of the winning team will split among themselves the growing prize pool which is already over $240,000 USD!!! Not bad hey!?
You can follow the tournament on BTS's web page or on twitch here: http://www.twitch.tv/beyondthesummit
Since the phase 2 of the tournament won't start until May 13, GIGABYTE is giving you a chance to be part of the action and created a simple giveaway to spice up the tournament for you a notch. By voting for you think might win, you get a chance to win a Z97MX-Gaming 5 motherboard!
Two winners will be randomly selected amongst the right answers.
To participate, head over here: https://www.facebook.com/GIGABYTEmotherboards/posts/10152728544312120
And in case you want to study the participating teams a bit, here is there information page:
Good luck!!
The guys over at eTeknix had a look at our new GIGABYTE X99 UD4P motherboard. It's a comprehensive review that you should definitely read if you are considering purchasing one of these :).
That's right, we have a new competition coming up for the overclocker nation! Starting May 1st, the community will have a chance to test their skills on the GIGABYTE X99 platform by tweaking both the CPU and graphics side of things. By participating, overclockers have the chance to win $2,800 USD in cash prizes and some exciting hardware, including the leader of them all, the X99-SOC Champion!
You have until May 1st 2015 to get your platform ready and jump in to become the X99 Champion! To make your way up to the grand prize of $1,500 USD, you'll have to collect the most points by submitting your best scores in 6 different stages designed to test both your CPU and Graphics card overclocking skills. Do you feel up to the challenge? Good luck to all!!
Here is how you can win
Points will be given to the top ranking scores in each stage. The top 3 participants with the most points at the end of the challenge will win cash prizes. You also have the chance to win some great hardware via 3 lucky draws. Lucky Draw #1 will be rewarding participants that submitted scores with temperatures set above 25 Celsius, Lucky Draw #2 will be rewarding participants that submitted scores with temperatures set below 25 Celsius, and Lucky Draw #3 will be rewarding participants that submitted the lowest score. Please see the contest page for all the rules and more details.
Here is a list of the contest stages, their restrictions and submissions deadlines . Can you get the best score?
Stage 1: XTU - May 1st until May 8th, 2015
Stage 2: XTU - May 8th until May 15th, 2015.
Stage 3: XTU - May 15th until May 31st, 2015.
Stage 4: Fire-Strike - May 1st until May 27th, 2015.
Stage 5: Catzilla 720p - May 1st until May 28th, 2015.
Stage 6: 3DMark 2001 SE - May 1st until May 28th, 2015.
What can I get?
For the top 3 of the combine points between stage 1 to 6
But don't stop submitting if you don't have the best score because we will have 3 lucky draw.
#1- We will be giving away an X99-UD4P motherboard for one randomly selected overclocker with submissions temperature above 25 Celsius.
#2- We will be giving away an X99-Gaming 5P motherboard for one randomly selected overclocker with submissions temps below 25 Celsius.
#3- We will be giving away an X99-SOC Champion motherboard for one randomly selected within all stages bottom 3 lowest submissions.
I came across a shot from ThermalTake's new fans range, doesn't it look awesome?! Love the orange LEDs paired with GIGABYTE Z97X SOC Force!!!
Another interesting story that got my attention was the new aluminium ion battery scientists from Stanford University are working on. This will be pretty sweet for any mobile user who needs batteries to charge in one minute, wow. Hopefully they can also have the right capacity soon so we can have decent lasting battery life.
More at ABC News.


text:
Tool Real Estate
Tool is a city in Henderson County, Texas. Located on the west side of Cedar Creek Lake, it is a popular second home and retiree destination. The city borders the beautiful East Texas lake with about 14.5 miles of shore line. This beautiful lake area offers majestic views, ideal fishing atmospheres, relaxing ambiance, and breath taking sunsets. The City offers an exceptional school system (Malakoff), affordable living, and proximity to the Dallas Ft Worth Metroplex.
Tool Homes For Sale
Search For Properties In Tool
For a list of schools located within the district(s) please click on the link(s) below.


text:
Killen's Barbecue: A smoked meat star is born
Killen's newest restaurant earns a rare 4-star rating for carefully tended menu
On a recent Sunday morning, with temperatures on the coastal plain creeping toward 90, the big, back parking lot of Killen's Barbecue in Pearland was full to bursting. The next-door Trinity Church may not have been racking up strong box-office numbers that day, but congregants had been lining up outside Killen's since well before the doors swung open at 11 a.m.
By noon, the queue snaked around the front porch and toward the side of the neat stucco building, newly painted in a rich yellow cream with trim in dark red and dark green. The 2014 version of a Texas tent meeting was getting started at one end of the lawn, under a covered pavilion set up with picnic tables, water coolers and a giant industrial fan that churned the breeze coming up from the Gulf.
Willie Nelson and Marty Robbins yodeled old-school country over the outdoor public-address system, and right after the clock struck noon, staffers in Killen's T-shirts circulated through the queue of communicants, passing out free beer and neatly hacked meat samples.
Strangers of many ages and backgrounds swapped barbecue intelligence, admired each others' footwear or tattoos, consulted music-recognition apps on their smartphones. ("Who sang 'Battle of New Orleans,' anyway?") They advised each other on what to order and generally engaged in the not entirely secular Fellowship of the Barbecue Line.
Lining up for barbecue is a relatively new Texas ritual that arose with a resurgence of interest in the barbecue arts. Queueing for hours happened most famously (and does to this day) at Franklin BBQ in Austin, where Aaron Franklin has set the bar high for the latest generation of barbecue artisans.
But barbecue lines form everywhere, from Pecan Lodge in Dallas to CorkScrew and Gatlin's in Houston, not to mention at the barbecue festivals organized to celebrate our smoked-meat renaissance. Killen's Barbecue has been pulling queues since the day chef Ronnie Killen - who runs one of the best steakhouses in Texas (if not the nation) right up the Pearland turnpike - started staging barbecue pop-ups out of the onetime school cafeteria he was renovating to house his barbecue restaurant.
Now that the frenzy of his grand opening is past, the waits have settled down to a manageable level. Come at 12:30 or 1 p.m. on a weekday, and you may be able to walk right in the door, taking a place behind just five or 10 people. It's on weekends, and right before the doors open, that the lines get intense.
Fellowship notwithstanding, the peril of long lines is that they invite a cost-benefit analysis. "I heard about this place at the barber shop," worried the woman next to me on my second pass through Killen's line. "I hope it's as good as they say it is."
"Oh, it is," I replied without further embroidery. I figured she was about to have the Killen's epiphanies for herself and that she'd be back many times, wait or no wait.
More Information
Killen's Barbecue
4 Stars
3613 E. Broadway, Pearland
Hours: L&D 11 a.m. to sellout Tuesdays to Sundays
Credit cards: all major
Prices: sandwiches $8; plates $10.95-$28; meats per pound, $11-$18; sides $2.95; desserts $4.50
Must-orders: beef rib, brisket, house-made beef and pork sausage, pulled pork sandwich, potato salad, pinto beans, bread pudding, cobbler, buttermilk pie
Reservations: first come, first served
Noise level: moderate
Website: killensbarbecue.com
(No stars) restaurant cannot be recommended at this time. One star a good restaurant that we recommend. Two stars very good; one of the best restaurants of its kind. Three stars excellent; one of the best restaurants in the city. Four stars superlative; can hold its own on a national stage.
While I've been impressed with the quality of the food from top to bottom, from side dishes even unto dessert, I've had singular barbecue moments here that will inform my standards for the rest of my life.
That first bite of Killen's brisket, for instance, with its sticky-rough bark an eventful rubble of pepper and salt; its mellow smoke tones of pecan and post oak; its interior texture as pebbly and moist as if it had been cut from the fatty end rather than the lean. Lean brisket I loved! Nay, venerated. I could hardly believe it. I'm used to ordering fatty brisket out of self-protection, but at Killen's I've learned I can wallow happily and messily in the whole brisket spectrum. The fatty-end meat is gratifyingly slippy and slidy, its mesh and cap of fat expertly rendered to melting point by a precise smoking job. The all-important surface bark is preserved by wrapping each brisket for holding purposes in parchment that breathes, rather than in aluminum foil that sweats. It's a host of such small details that lifts Killen's barbecued meats to a high plane and keeps them there.
The subterranean pop of mustard seeds gives the fat little house-made links their personality, along with an expressive bloom of aromatic black and red pepper. Stab one with the tine of a plastic fork and juices spurt out in gush. Slice the link open through its snappy case and the rough-cut pork and beef tumbles forth in all its loose-packed glory. This is about as far from homogenized commercial sausage links as you can get. The jalapeño sausage is very fine, too, but it's the basic version that strikes me as a benchmark.
So does the mighty beef rib, sold by the $18 pound - the highest priced meat on the menu - and worth every cent. Glossed with meticulously rendered fat, the big shreds of rib ease apart at a touch, unthinkably rich, compellingly smoky and expansively beefy-tasting. When Killen describes this cut as "the foie gras of brisket on a stick," he's not exaggerating by much.
Like all the smoked meats here, the beef ribs get no seasonings besides salt and several layers of black pepper, from finely ground to cracked, either coarsely or sundered to the size of micro gravel. The intricate results owe everything to product quality and technique, nothing to overwrought bastes or mops or glazes.
These meats stand on their own, without adornment. But it would be a shame to miss the three sauces arrayed in squeeze bottles on every table. They are complex potions worthy of a chef of Killen's caliber. Most striking is the dark umber "coffee sauce," with a tannic depth that suits the brisket and beef ribs particularly well. There's a mustardy, tart-sweet sauce the color of dusty ochre (the folks manning the serving line call it "tangy sauce"), and it reminds me of a slightly sweeter version of the original sauce from Luling City Market. Then, for those who prefer a sweeter contrast with their smoked meats, there's a dark reddish sauce that strikes deep notes of brown sugar and tomato.
As good as these sauces are, you won't need a lot to construct a perfect barbecue bite here. Rip off a hunk of thick, spongy white bread; apply a dot of sauce and a bit of raw onion; add meat. Repeat until sated.
That may take awhile, since the various meats are so well differentiated in their smokiness here. Killen mixes up his woods to fine effect, alternating green and dry along with tree types. Brisket and beef ribs get a mix of pecan and more neutral post oak, along with some hickory for topspin. Pork and chicken get some mesquite in the mix.
To apply the various smokes, Killen has installed a trifecta of barbecue equipment. In a screened rear room hulks an imposing Oyler smoker, a premier choice in that it's completely wood-fired, with no reliance on gas even for start-up purposes. Briskets and beef ribs go in that. Out back stands a big black barrel-shaped offset smoker that's particularly suited for smoking pork ribs. And in full view of the serving line looms a custom brick pit with reverse-flow construction, so that smoke is forced to switch directions at one end, dropping many of its sooty solids. Killen says he thinks that the reverse-flow technique results in a cleaner smoke taste. And it's true that the smoke flavors of his 'cue are well modulated and pure rather than wild and crazy.
So is the precise slicing of the meats, which takes place before your eyes as you move through the line. Killen is often at the first station slicing brisket during the first hour of operation. "People like to see me," he explains, and in an age where pitmasters have become Texas rock stars, that makes sense. He's so much on the scene, looking like a worried mother hawk, that it's clear this restaurant is his prized baby.
Killen is a man obsessed. The years of playing with smoked effects at his steakhouse a few miles down the road; the long months of experimentation during the barbecue pop-up phase of the business; the daily grind of hopping between the two restaurants all culminate in an experience that ranks as among the very best in the state. Killen's is Houston's first destination barbecue, worthy of a long drive for Texans who are serious about the genre.
That shows even in such nonregulation items as the pulled pork with its clear, gentle smoke taste and its juices intact, served piled on a sandwich to great effect. (Ask for the sweet Asian-style slaw topping to be served on the side, where it won't compromise the savory joys of the meat.) It's on display, too, in the unusual bone-in pork belly, a cut which at present outshines the regular pork ribs, which have been too lean and resilient for my taste.
Killen says he's not happy with the pork ribs he's gotten lately; the quality has suffered in the wake of a virus that swept through the country's pig stock last year. He's switching to some newly sourced Duroc pork ribs this week, which may lift the ribs to the level of his links and brisket.
The point is that Killen isn't done yet. Even the details of his side dishes and desserts are well-honed, distinctive. Instead of the institutional potato salad common to too many barbecue joints, his has the crumbly texture of real potato, sharpened with mustard and pickle and pimento and black pepper. Freshly simmered pinto beans acquire a charismatic gravy flavored with smoke and pork bits both lean and fat, so that they hold interest to the final bite.
The naturally sweet creamed corn and the deliriously sticky mac-and-cheese are more rustic versions of the sides made famous at the chef's nearby steakhouse. The vinaigrette-dressed slaw surprises with its touch of sesame oil and squiggles of ramen noodles amid the cabbage and carrot. Even the baked beans, frequently a canned, sugary horror, acquire a more complex nature with the addition of mustard and plenty of smoked pork. I surprised myself one day by eating every last bean on my plate.
Dessert is usually last on my list of barbecue considerations. Not here. The warm, light fluff of brioche-style bread pudding is magnificent. So is a graceful buttermilk pie that retains its vital buttermilk tang, lifted and expanded with lemon zest. Peach cobbler comes in a biscuity shortcake form so glazed and caramelized on the bottom that it puts me in mind of Tarte Tatin. Better yet, the peaches have a hint of tartness beneath the sweet.
For all these reasons - large to small, savory to sweet, old to new - I believe Killen's Barbecue deserves this newspaper's highest rating of four stars. Yes, it's a barbecue joint. But in its spacious calm, its well-ordered service and its glorious food, this enterprise easily holds its own on a broader national stage. It's one of the best of its breed anywhere.
I count myself lucky to live only 13 miles away.


text:
Plastic Access Panel - ReversiDoor Plastic 162 x 238mm
Barcode: 0683325001114
Product Code: SEL7100PAK50
£377.58(£314.65 exVAT)
Select Variation:
Plastic Access Panels - ReversiDoor Plastic 162 x 238mm.
TCDs professional, heavy duty, plastic, ReversiDoor® Plastic Access Panels. The only Plastic Access Panels with both a reversible and hinged door. It is the professionals choice of access panel offering quality and variety of use.
Constructed from rugged, non-corrosive ABS material and UV stabilised for indoor and outdoor use. ReversiDoor's innovative, patented design has a unique hinge that both swivels and allows the door to pop out. Fit surface or flush in walls or ceilings its white, lightly textured finish allows you to decorate on top with paint or paper.
Create access to anything with TCDs professional range of ReversiDoor® Plastic Access Panels.
2. Flush (with no studs)
3. Flush (with studs)
The panels can be fit within minutes into walls or ceilings with either a surface or flush finish. To fit, simply cut a hole in the plasterboard to and apply a caulking adhesive to the back of the frame and press it into place.
Plastic Access Panels provide the perfect solution for repairing damage to walls and ceilings or for creating access to:
- Plumbing & Central Heating Manifolds
- Ducts, Valves, Soil, Waste & Sanitary fittings
- Security devices, hidden services & wiring
- Electrical & telecommunication controls
Made from non corrosive ABS plastic, ReversiDoor panels are UV stabilised for indoor and outdoor use.These professional quality access panels have a white, lightly textured finish to allow for painting or wall papering on top.
ReversiDoor (Small) Dimensions:
Wall Opening: 162 x 238mm
Door Size: 154 x 231mm
Total Frame Size: 210 x 285mm
Quantity Breaks
Technical Question?
If you have technical questions regarding this product please fill in this Enquiry form.
Product Reviews
Average rating: 4.7 from 3 reviews
Small Access Panel
By Mark Britton on 7th March 2013
Pros: quick and easy
Cons: Expensive
Recommended: YesGood quick efficient service and product very easy to install. Expensive for what it is but it completes the job
Small Access Panel
By Robert Smith (Engineer) on 8th May 2012
Pros: Quick and Easy
Cons: None
Recommended: YesCut the hole, grip fill in the panel, close the door, job done, great product
Tidy job
By Simon Fidoe (Builder / Construction) on 19th November 2010
Pros: QUICK
Cons: N/A
Recommended: YesA quick and simple way to tidy up openings required for access. Beats using timber to make one and it doesn't need decorating.
Please login to leave a review


text:
- Alana Schetzer
'Boisterous' group. A spectator says the actions of security staff on the day were 'overkill'. Photo: SuppliedA witness to the fracas that ended with a group of Melbourne Football Club players being kicked out of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG has said that the actions of security staff on the day were "overkill".
There is a general attitude at sporting events that the paying customer is guilty until proven innocent and therefore to be treated with contempt. The behaviour of the police and security toward anyone that they believe is guilty of something dovetails nicely with the elite's opinion that 'we the people' exist for their pleasure and profit.
Concepts such as 'innocent til proven guilty' simply does not exist whenever the hooligans in police or security uniform uniform decide that you have commited an 'offence'.
To be fair, however, the concept of 'innocent until proven guilty' doesn't apply in the dog and pony shows called 'the courts'.
The crowd member was sitting two rows behind footballers Jeremy Howe, James Frawley and Lynden Dunn and a group of friends on December 26 and witnessed a verbal altercation between Howe and an unknown man, which resulted in both men being escorted from the ground.
The club has since issued a "please explain" to the players, who are expected to speak to to either the player leadership group or management early next year.
The witness, who asked not to be named, told Fairfax Media that the group was "very vocal" and boisterous but trouble-free before Howe and the unknown man exchanged heated words for about five minutes. Four security guards then told both men to leave.
"It was an unnecessary show of security guards and police when, really, nothing actually happened. That was the most disappointing thing for me," the witness said.
"I was at the Boxing Day Test four years ago and there wasn't the presence of security that there was this year. It's been over-regulated."
He said the remainder of the group were then forced by security to leave, contradicting earlier reports that the remainder of the group left on their own terms following Howe's departure.
"There were four security that stood in front of the rest of the guys and told them to leave. They [the rest of the group] just sat there for a little bit, bemused, and asked why. They were told if you don't leave, we'll get the cops.
"Apart from the two that were yelling, everybody else had their hands up and were separating them and calming the situation down."
The witness said the players had been drinking during the match and took part in handling a giant "cup snake", made up of hundreds of empty beer cups that went around the crowd.
Former Melbourne players Ricky Petterd and Jared Rivers were also part of the group and are understood to have left when Howe was asked to leave by security staff.
Rivers was traded to Geelong in October and Petterd was recruited by Richmond in this month's rookie draft.
Petterd reportedly could be investigated by police over footage of him allegedly making inappropriate comments about women.
Where did this 'footage' come from?
A Richmond spokesman has rebutted the allegation.
"Ricky Petterd emphatically denies allegations that he made inappropriate comments about women at the Boxing Day Test," he said.
"He will fully cooperate should police choose to investigate the allegations."
Melbourne Cricket Club communications manager Shane Brown said management supported security staff and their decision to eject the players.
"We support the actions taken thus far by our security personnel, and Victoria Police, to ensure patrons have a comfortable and enjoyable day at the cricket."
He declined the reveal how many security staff were working on the day but added there had not been an increase compared to previous years.
David Nadel, a lecturer at Monash University's National Centre for Australian Studies, said the intense scrutiny of AFL players' behaviour, particularly during the off-season, was unwarranted. He said the increasing micromanagement of players, many of them still teenagers, was getting "silly".
"This is a period of about eight weeks where the players are not on duty for their clubs. That doesn't mean they should be drink-driving or taking drugs, but it can be argued they are not being allowed to behave like young men, which is what they are," he said.
"Players getting drunk at the cricket would not have been remotely surprising 50 years ago."
Dr Nadel said the use and access to social media and cameras meant players were being monitored more than ever before.
"There is an assumption that if you sign up to be a footballer, you sign up to be a celebrity and be watched. There's a small amount, yes, that like that, but most just want to play football and they don't want to be treated any differently," he said.
Police and security staff ejected 73 people from the MCG on Boxing Day, and nine were fined. None of the Melbourne footballers were fined.
The Melbourne players are currently on leave, with the first due to return on Wednesday and the rest back by January 7. An AFL spokesman said the league would not take any action against the players.
Comment was being sought from the AFL Players Association.
With Adam Cooper


text:
Patch 5.4.2 is now available for testing on the Public Test Realms (PTR)! Participating on the Public Test Realms lets you test new content before it's available.
If you'd like to help test and provide feedback, you can start by copying your character and downloading the PTR client. Once you've had a chance to try things out, be sure to visit our PTR Discussion forum to discuss the patch, and the PTR Bug Report forum to report any issues or errors.
Changes since last update to the PTR patch notes are denoted in red.
PTR Disclaimers
Updated December 2
World of Warcraft Patch 5.4.2 PTRClasses
Raids, Dungeons, and Scenarios


text:
Additional information
|2 lbs
|10.5 × 7.5 × 2.5 in
Adopting BEEBEE is an easy and effective way to contribute to our research, education, and conservation efforts. When you this wild dolphin you will receive a box set including: a Certificate of Adoption, a brief life-history and a color photo of BEEBEE, and a hardcopy of our book An Ocean of Inspiration – The John Olguin Story.
1 in stock
|2 lbs
|10.5 × 7.5 × 2.5 in
There are no reviews yet.
Advancing our knowledge about dolphins and the long-term survival of both people and the oceans, through long-term research, education, and cultural programs. More than valuable intellectual exercises, these studies teach us to care about the world.
Generally, understanding begets caring.


text:
Experienced DUI & Criminal Defense Attorneys Serving Federal Way, Washington
If you've been arrested for DUI while driving on Interstate 5, Highway 509, 99, 161, 18, or one of the many roadways in Federal Way, WA, call our experienced DUI lawyers today for a FREE no-obligation legal consultation to ensure your legal rights are protected.
Being arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) can be a very traumatic experience. Being pulled over while driving or being stopped at a Federal Way area DUI checkpoint and being subjected to field sobriety tests is stressful enough. But, if you fail the field sobriety tests and are handcuffed and taken to jail and charged with DUI is not only traumatic, but can have life changing consequences if you are convicted of DUI. Our experienced Federal Way DUI attorneys are experienced DUI lawyers and have successfully represented clients who have been arrested for DUI in the Federal Way area.
Our Federal Way criminal defense attorneys will investigate all aspects of your DUI arrest and they will formulate the best possible legal strategy to have the DUI charges reduced or even dismissed if possible. However, we cannot help unless you call our experienced Federal Way DUI attorneys to discuss your specific situation.
Don't face DUI charges alone, call our experienced Federal Way DUI lawyers today at 206.802.2703 for a free DUI consultation!
Personalized Federal Way DUI Defense
Our law firm prides itself on providing personalized legal services to all of our clients. We want you to feel comfortable working with our DUI lawyers, so we take the time to discuss the details of your DUI arrest and we will provide an honest opinion of how we can help. Having one of our dedicated DUI lawyers representing you in your DUI defense can alleviate a lot of the stress you will be feeling after being arrested for DUI. Knowing that our experienced DUI attorneys are working to ensure all of you legal rights are protected and fighting to have your charges reduced or even dismissed can lift a very heavy weight off of your shoulders.
Common DUI Related Questions
What is the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in Washington?
The BAC legal limit in Washington for individuals over 21 is .08%. Washington does have a zero-tolerance law meaning anyone under the age of 21 will be charged with DUI for a BAC greater than .02%. The commercial BAC limit in Washington is .04%. Anyone found to have a BAC higher than these limits will be charged with DUI in the state of Washington.
- Am I required to take a field sobriety test or chemical test in Washington? Field sobriety tests are VOLUNTARY in Washington.
If I'm convicted of DUI in Washington will I lose my drivers license?
Yes, license suspension or revocation will occur if you are convicted of DUI in Washington. The duration of a suspension varies by the type of DUI offense in the state of Washington.
If I'm convicted of DUI in Washington will I have to use an ignition interlock device?
Yes, Washington DUI laws require the use of ignition interlock devices upon a DUI conviction.
Will I go to jail if I'm convicted of a DUI in Washington?
Yes, If convicted of a DUI offense in Washington you may face 24 hours to a year in jail.
If you need an experienced DUI attorney in Federal Way, contact our Federal Way criminal defense lawyers today!
Personalized Federal Way, WA Criminal Defense Lawyers
Our Federal Way criminal defense attorneys focus on matters involving alcohol and drugs, including:
- DUI & Physical Control
- Marijuana DUI
- Narcotics Offenses
- Possession with Intent to Distribute/Deliver
- Vehicular Assault
- Hit and Run Attended
- Hit and Run Unattended
- Reckless Driving
- Negligent Driving in the First Degree
- Minor in Possession
- Minor DUI
Our Federal Way criminal defense lawyers are also experienced in handling other types of criminal allegations including:
- Felony Assault – Assault 1, Assault 2, Assault 3
- Gross Misdemeanor Assault 4 – Assault 4 DV and Assault 4 (Non-DV)
- Domestic Violence Crimes
- Protection Order Violations
- Firearm Offenses and Enhancements
- Robbery
- Burglary
- Felony Theft — Theft 1, Theft 2
- Gross Misdemeanor Theft 3
- Forgery
- Sex Crimes
- Prostitution and Solicitation
- Criminal Trespass
If you need an experienced Federal Way criminal defense attorney, contact our law firm today! Our experienced Washington State criminal defense attorneys provide legal defense for individuals arrested for all types of criminal offenses.


text: Having started 20 years ago in the automotive market, ams sensors can be found in almost all of today's cars. We focus on advanced sensing solutions for autonomous driving and vehicle power train electrification. Our solutions range from magnetic sensors for electric motors to sensors for driver assistance systems. Our sensors are a key element of future's safe and energy–efficient cars.


text:
James Rocco directs and choreographs the production that has been reset in British Columbia. It will run through Aug. 4. It will have musical direction by music direction by Joel Fram.
Herdlicka (A Little Night Music) will play Frederic, with O'Neill (First Date, Aladdin) as the Pirate King, Pichette (1776) as the Major General, Eisendrath (Into the Woods) as Mabel and Allgood (The Most Happy Fella, Carousel) as Ruth.
Also feature will be Billie Wildrick, Cayman Ilika, Jenny Shotwell, Katherine Strohmaier, Ryah Nixon, Corinna Munter, Kirsten Helland, Michelle Ankrim, Sarah Rose Davis, Lindsey Hedberg, Greg Stone, Matt Owen, Blaine Boyd, CJ Eldred, Henry Nettleton, Tobias McCurry, Riley Neldam, Jared Michael Brown, Matt Posner, Dane Stokinger, Aaron Shanks, Andrew Davison, Nick DeSantis, Heather Saunders, Eric Hagreen and Matt Wolfe.
The creative team includes Tom Sturge (set and lighting design), Christine Tschirgi (costume design), Mary Pyanowski (hair and makeup design) and Tony Smolenski IV (sound design).
For tickets phone (206) 625-1900 or visit 5thAvenue.


text:
On Friday, many federal employees will receive their last paychecks for the foreseeable future -- and those paychecks will be for less than half the usual amount.
Due to the government shutdown, the pay period that many civilian federal workers will be paid for this weekend is being split into two unequal parts: six days of pay, four days of nothing.
It's the final trickle of pay before the 10-day shutdown fully hits federal workers' budgets. Many employees -- whether they are ruled essential or not -- have no idea when the paychecks will start again, which has them worried about everything from bills to food to keeping the good credit required for government clearances.
"I could only pay half of my October rent so that I would have money to get groceries until my next and possibly last check tomorrow," said Lisa of Arlington, Va., a furloughed federal worker who did not want her last name used. Many federal workers have been told not to comment publicly on the shutdown.
Lisa, the single mother of a child with special needs, is one of those who will receive her last check Friday. After that, she's not sure what will happen. She said she's fortunate that her landlord is being understanding; that landlord is also a government employee.
Government agencies have different paydays based on the payroll provider each uses. Those who are paid through funding sources other than annual appropriations won't see a lapse in pay. But many other employees expect checks this Friday that will be smaller than usual. Before the shutdown, their checks would have covered the period from Sept. 22 to Oct. 4. But the government shut down at midnight Oct. 1, and about 800,000 workers were furloughed.
The number out of work has dropped since the shutdown began; some 350,000 civilian Defense Department workers were called back to work Monday. However, workers who were deemed essential and told to report to work aren't getting paid, either.
Cynthia Brown is one of them. As a printer journeyperson, she works nights to print congressional records of each session -- "ironically," she adds, since she's been working for no pay, unlike those whose words, and votes, she prints.
Brown's paycheck Friday will be missing five days' worth of pay, including a day of overtime for the Saturday after the shutdown. She's the sole earner for her family, supporting two teenage daughters and her disabled father who lives with them.
Due to a medical issue last month that resulted in five days of unpaid leave, she still owes October rent money and is behind on her utilities.
"I don't think I'm going to able to make it," Brown said. "And they can only be so patient. There are some that are working with me, but the worst thing is you can't tell them a date."
In the meantime, she's visited food pantries to make ends meet. "They've already told me I'm not the only federal employee" going, she said.
Essential employees are facing unique challenges going without pay because it costs money to go to work, including for transportation and child care. Brown spends about $60 on gas per week commuting from Waldorf, Md.
Additionally, while most taxes and deductions are taken out of paychecks proportionally, some workers are feeling stung as they realize that the full amount of their health insurance premiums will be deducted from their smaller paychecks Friday.
Erica Johnson, who processes disability appeals for the Social Security Administration, said she'll be paid Friday for only one week of work, not two. She's also getting paid for 15 hours of overtime she'd accrued before the shutdown.
While her federal and state taxes and other deductions were lower than usual, her health care premium, life insurance and union dues will cost the same Friday as they always do.
"People here are in for a shock," said Johnson, who's worked for the government for 27 years. "Your deductions don't stop. A lot of the middle-grade people are bringing home a lot less."
Johnson said that many of her coworkers saved some money during September because they had three pay periods last month and knew a shutdown was possible. And she's hopeful about receiving back pay, as she did during the previous shutdowns 17 years ago.
"I'm more optimistic than a lot of people because I've been through this before," she said.
But the missing pay could send some workers on a downward financial spiral, which is a big concern to employees who need to maintain good credit to keep their government clearance.
"...[W]e were told at our agency that you must keep up with your bills, and not have any late payments or reports to the credit agencies," federal worker Thomasa Wood wrote in a Facebook comment to NBC Washington. "...I contacted my creditors, and all of them said the same thing: We expect to see your payment, and if not, we will consider you late, which could result in reporting you to the credit agencies."
Like Wood, Amy Blackburn says she's been living paycheck to paycheck. A mother of two small children, Blackburn is now going through a divorce. She's worked for the government 24 years.
"This shutdown is literally going to force me to chose between food for myself or necessities for my children," she said.
Dealing with an unexpected expense is impossible right now. The Blackburns' heating system broke recently, and there's no money to fix it until she's back at work.
"Looks like it's coats in the house and blankets for everyone," she said.
Many furloughed workers are in the process of filing for unemployment; more than 26,000 did so in D.C. and Maryland during the first week of the shutdown. But if the Senate passes a bill to provide back pay, workers would be required to pay back their unemployment.
That's not a deterrent for everyone.
Loretta Norman says her husband, a Department of Homeland Security employee, will see his last paycheck Oct. 18. They're expecting six days of pay instead of 10.
They've already submitted a hardship form to their mortgage company, and as the sole earner for their family of four, he's planning to apply for unemployment in D.C.
"It will be enough to eat, and that's about it," Norman said. "Thank goodness creditors are willing to work with us."
Others, like Brown, can't file because they're still working -- even though now they're working for free.
"I don't really talk about politics that much, " Brown said. "If they just knew how much this is affecting ordinary people when they're still receiving their pay. I went to the federal government thinking it was a secure and stable job, and for the most part is has been, until now."


text:
Arlésienne Velvet Hand Cream
Ideal for
- Nourishing hands
- Softening hands
- Lightly perfuming hands
Application areaApply a small knob of cream on the hands and massage for the cream to penetrate.
A hand cream delicately fragranced with the trio of Provençal flowers that lies at the heart of Arlésienne: rose, violet and saffron. Enriched with shea butter, this cream helps to nourish and soften the hands, leaving behind a velvety veil of scent with interlaced notes of Grasse rose, violet and saffron from Provence. Symbolic of the beauty of Provence, these three flowers reveal many facets: soft, bold and impetuous. THE FRAGRANCE Absolutely floral and boldly feminine... The fragrance opens with radiant notes of bergamot, which contrast with the spicy facets of saffron. Grasse rose and violet from Provence gradually reveal tender honeyed notes, then an irresistible powdery scent. White musk and sandalwood give a smooth sensuality to this accord. THE TRUE STORY The young, self-assured Arlésienne celebrates her femininity as she takes her ribbon – the centerpiece of her costume and a symbol of her unique and bold personality. A tradition handed down from mother to daughter, the ribbon is tied to her hair and reflects the free and confident character of this woman from the South of France. THE DESIGN The Arlésienne Hand Cream is held in the iconic L'OCCITANE tube. Simply slip into your handbag so you can keep your hands soft and moisturized at any time of the day. SUGGESTION The captivating scent of Arlésienne lies at the heart of a collection of bodycare products. Discover the Arlésienne Eau de Toilette, with its floral, sensual, captivating scent.