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Nature And How It Has Helped The World Today
It has been a fact that without nature it is impossible for you to survive and in order to figure out what are the ways which is needed to survive without nature will be extremely unsuccessful and impossible for anyone to do so. Nature has produced many gifts for all human beings and animals. Without it, survival is crucial and in accordance to that, it will hard for you to figure out how you need to do what is needed. There are many ways in which nature helps us, for one, would be providing water and many other edible sources for us. The need for water in a human body is a must as seventy percent of our body is consistent of water itself and without it, we are in danger for our deaths. Some of us even tend to face different types of ways in which you can easily understand what you need to do to help preserve nature and why is it important that you need to take care of it.
Everyone tends to depend on the nature, no matter what it is. It is a fact that it produces oxygen from the pores of the leaves, due the matter of photosynthesis and how it works to help with the entirety of the plant in different types. These plants need to be tended to as well as they figure out different ways in which you are provided to get help for them and what is needed for you to do so. There is not a big difference when it comes to helping the nature, sometimes even maintaining it by pruning and so on, cutting the needed parts off and water and taking care of them could even be a major benefit for the need of the nature itself. This is why the importance of nature is accelerated because as humans, we too need to give its fair amount of care as it needs figure itself out and grow well too. What is that you need is to figure out the entire thing to it and how it can help, further below will be given further information on how it is normally helped.
How it is helped.
Nature can be helped in many ways, one of the main ways that people nowadays use to maintain their plants and so on, is something like a tree trimming Auckland in which you need to cut off the small ends of a plant in order for it to grow well and get the full sufficient need for it and so on.
What is the importance in this?
There are importance that comes along with the fact that is rather important for you to work with and do so, some of this includes a perfect tree surgeon who will help preserve damaged plants and tends to it in order for it recover and grow more successfully in the future, by understanding what it needs and how to work with them in accordance to their sufficient needs.
This is rather needed.
Nature provides us with many benefits, it only fair we do so for it as well.


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My fondest memory of the Alamodome is from 1999. It isn't Sean Elliott's "Memorial Day Miracle" for one reason: I wasn't there to witness it.
It was Game 1 of the '99 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. After the national anthem ended the place went dark. The music started and the disco lights swirled aimlessly and the noise meter reached rock concert decibels.
In that moment I got teary-eyed. All I could think of was David Robinson. That man had received so much criticism. The "soft" label. Charles Barkley closing HemsiFair Arena. Hakeem Olajuwon. And yet here he was in the Finals. He made it. And we came along for the ride.
During that time, it probably felt like the Alamodome made it, too. The Spurs playing in the Finals, especially against the New York Knicks and the media horde that accompanies them, all eyes of the sports world were fixed on the dome for Games 1 and 2.
The Spurs were the dome's true anchor tenant. And after they left in 2002, for most of the Alamodome's history, it has been a collection of one-time bursts of activity.
The NFL team the Alamodome was intended for never happened.
Twenty years after the dome opened, its sports resume is pretty good even without an NFL team: Alamo Bowls, Big 12 Championships, NCAA Final Fours, Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio Cesar Chavez, four New Orleans Saints games in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, the Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, and most recently the UTSA Roadrunners and the Texas Rangers.
On the entertainment front, there was Paul McCartney christening the dome in 1993, and subsequently the Rolling Stones. Later, the 1997 Royal Rumble packed the dome, and there have been dozens of monster truck jams, trade shows, graduations, Disney on Ice, etc., etc.
But 20 years later, does the Alamodome feel like a success? It does here and there. But not like it would have with an NFL team.
Previously published
May 30, 1993: McCartney christens Alamodome
July 7, 1993: Patriotic tribute opens Olympic fest at Alamodome
July 9, 1993: Dome to get $387,252 curtain
July 26, 1993: Kwan skated to an easy victory at Alamodome
Oct. 17, 1993: Magic chills Spurs' housewarming
Nov. 4, 1994: Water cannon soaks Alamodome
Nov. 2, 2003: Alamodome's 10 anniversary: 'Worth every cent'
— Benjamin Olivo
Have any downtown news, event info, hearsay, tips, celebrations, complaints, boastings, updates, breaking news, memories, old photos, etc.? Want to write a guest blog? E-mail me.
Follow the Downtown Blog on Twitter: twitter.com/mySA_downtown. And on Facebook


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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Moving house with children
If you have had one of those dreams, I'm sure you'd agree that the effect is horribly unsettling. Yet that's what parents often inflict on their children in real life. It's called 'moving house'.
Researchers agree that moving house is one of the extreme stresses of life, right up there with losing a parent or being sacked from your job. It's easy for a parent to become so consumed by the emotions, expense, complications and practicalities of a move that they accidentally start treating their kids like pieces of furniture- something to be simply picked up and relocated. And then they may feel surprised when their kids start acting out their feelings of dislocation in an unacceptable way, whether at home or at school.
At one of the daycare centres where I work, the director noticed a distinct correlation between kids who had recently moved house and a sudden onset of disruptive behaviour. Often in these cases the parent or parents had innocently tried to simplify the move by taking the kids to daycare on the morning of the move, spending the day moving without the hassle of children underfoot and then picking up the kids and taking them 'home'- to somewhere they'd never seen or been in their life. Take your mind back to that disorientating dream, where the people and the furniture are the same, but everything else is completely weird. That's what those kids experienced.
When you think about it, it's hardly surprising that children would have an emotional reaction to such a change. Yes, children are very flexible creatures, but you do need to give them a fighting chance to adapt. It's important to put yourself in your children's shoes and try to look at it from their point of view.
The time to talk to your children about moving house is when you first start thinking about it. They need time to get used to the idea, just like you do. Do you know what your children like and dislike about where you live? What will they miss? What will they be glad to leave behind? It's important to address these issues with children who are old enough to express an opinion- and that might mean a 3-year-old as much as a teenager. And even with smaller children, it's important to talk to them about moving. They understand a lot more than they can express. TELL THEM what's happening.
It might sound impractical to take your children with you when you go house-hunting, but if you can manage it, it may make the move a lot smoother for all concerned. If your child is freaked out by the carvings on the gateposts or the spooky cupboard under the stairs, the best time to find out is BEFORE you pay a deposit or bond.
When you decide where you're going, take the kids to have a look. Let them see the place they're coming to, and let them have some input into how the new place will work for them. Which room will be theirs? What colour will you paint the walls of their bedroom? Where will you put the swing, or the trampoline? Is it closer to the beach or the pool? Try to create some excitement.
And TALK to them. Tell them, in simple terms if necessary, why you're moving. Be truthful. If you're sad about having to move, tell them so- don't hide it. Children will usually sense your hidden emotions and worry about them. Those are the sort of things that translate into behavioural problems.
Try to be positive; point out the advantages of the move to them. Will they have a bigger bedroom? A room of their own? A bigger yard? A playground or park nearby? Will it mean mum or dad will have more time at home to play with them?
If they still get upset about the idea of moving, and some very sensitive children will, you will need to comfort them and do some work to acclimatise them. Again, be honest and positive. Emphasise the advantages of the move, even if the only advantage is that you're not going to be thrown out on the street for not paying the rent or mortgage you couldn't afford. Tell them about a time in your own life when you were sad about moving. Make it clear that it all worked out okay in the end... you survived... good things can happen in new places.
Don't forget to keep telling your kids you love them, and remind them how much their cuddles mean to you at a time of great stress. If you yourself are completely traumatised- perhaps by losing your home to the bank, or being evicted- this is no time to distance your children from you by pretending everything's fine. You need each other's love and understanding more than ever. Great sadness can strengthen your family's bonds of love, if you let it.
Maybe you can enlist another adult to help you move and step in when the kids get tired and grumpy, so that you can let your children take part in the actual process on moving day. Most children like to help when the task concerns them- dump their furniture and boxes in their new bedroom and leave them to it, popping your head in now and then to encourage them, help them or suggest a break if they look overwhelmed.
Above all, be kind to yourself, and be kind to your kids. Set up your places to sleep first, and take as much time as you need with the rest.
Remember to eat properly and feed your kids properly; hungry kids are grumpy kids (and hungry adults aren't much better). Yes, it's stressful moving house, but put the brakes on your alcohol consumption. It's no time to drink yourself silly- your kids need you.
Ask for the help you need to stay positive and in control. Most people are ready and willing to help you and are just waiting to be asked- swallow your pride and you might be surprised how delighted your friends are to lend a hand, even if it's just to take the kids to the park when they're getting under your feet.
Above all, when something goes wrong- and I've yet to experience a move where something DIDN'T go wrong!- breathe deeply and remember that 'this too will pass'. Yelling and crying with frustration will not help your kids settle. Try to model acceptance and flexibility, and you might find that you deal with the move better too.
And the very best of luck to you at a terribly challenging time.
11 comments:
Moving with kids is one of the most problematic and stressful tasks. These suggestions will really help to reduce stress and make the move way easier. On moving day, ensure your children are looked after well by friends or family. removal in LondonReplyDelete
Some great tips here. And I love the dream analogy . . . yes, that's about what it's like! My oldest is excited to move to Florida (she'll be six this summer). She is primarily concerned about packing her toys and books, as well as what her room will be like. (We have been co-sleeping . . . she's on her own bed in our room, but she and her little sister want their own bedroom to share at the new house. Also, that all of the things we do are still there . . . a park nearby, playground, the library, etc. She also knows this means we can visit grandparents more easily (since we'll be back in the same country and all). Plus, proximity to Mickey Mouse. The younger two will be 4 and 19 months . . . not sure how much of the "moving" vibe they are really picking up so far. They are usually pretty go-with-the-flow with such things, though, and we've travelled a lot with them, so maybe they'll just think it's another vacation? At least at the start. The big hurdle for us will be getting used to the time difference . . . that was really hard on the move overseas.ReplyDelete
We are about to throw a double whammy at my 2.5yr old son, we are not only moving house but countries. We have been living in Jakarta for the last year and our contract has come to an end, the extra hard bit is that we are moving home while I am 33 weeks pregnant. Our first port of call will be a serviced apartment while we find somewhere to live and buy a car.ReplyDelete
Our child is very loved here, our housekeeper spends a small amount of time with him each day and I have a babysitter that has helped me out 2 days a week (fully supervised by me), do you have any strategies for helping his grief process of leaving these wonderful people behind? The bonus is that he will be back with his grandparents. He hasn't had a lot of input into the house, neither have we really, to try and speed the process up we have hopefully rented somewhere sight unseen from the internet. Luckily it comes with a cubby and sandpit!
I am very concerned for him and all the changes he has to deal with in the next 2 months, he has already been showing us some challenging behaviours as we prepare and I am trying my hardest to use positive ways of dealing with them, but we all have our bad days.
Thanks for any help you can provide.Replies
Wow- 2 and a half. Tough one.Delete
Photos. Photos of the housekeeper and babysitter with him, that he can take with him and talk about with you to help him grieve. You could laminate them and then punch a hole in the corners, tie together with lovely ribbon, or just do one corner and put on a key chain ring- and hey presto, he has a memory book. You could also take pictures of locations he enjoyed- his bedroom, the park.
Photos of where you are going, to construct things to look forward to. Of the sandpit and cubby especially. Talk about these too.
Share that you are also sad to be leaving these people behind. Be honest and authentic with him, in simple language. Don't make promises you can't keep, like saying 'We'll see them again soon." Instead keep to "I hope we see them again one day, don't you?" Say that you don't want to leave, if that's how you feel. Say you're wondering what the new house will be like. What colour will his room be? Will it have big windows? etc.
Is it possible to have phone contact with the people you are leaving once you go? Skype video calls could be a godsend.
Good luck with it- let us know how you get on!
Thank you for these tips. All these make moving with the kids less stressful.ReplyDelete
Involve the children in the process. Letting children help with the move – e.g. helping to pack or unpack, or decide where things will go in the new home – and involving older children in discussions and preparations for the move, can help them to feel empowered, valued and that they have a say.ReplyDelete
Give the children positive things to look forward to when they move, explain what will be better, and how. Children have an innate sense of adventure so try tap into this; build up a sense of excitement about the prospect of exploring a new neighbourhood and discovering new friends.
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The conquering of India for Christ by the Popes and their Portuguese "secular arm" started in earnest with the arrival in India of Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500. His fleet, the first to reach Calicut after Vasco da Gama's bloody landing, carried eight ordinary priests and eight Franciscan friars. C.B. Firth, in An Introduction to Indian Church History, explains, "Though it was the hope of gain that brought the Portuguese adventurers to India, it was also the purpose of their kings to promote the spread of Christianity among those who came under their rule. On this ground several of the fifteenth century Popes granted them rights of dominion and commercial monopoly in the newly acquired territories. A modern reader will wonder what right the Popes had to do this; but in mediaeval Europe theologians held that the Pope, as Vicar of Christ, had a direct domination over the kingdoms of the earth, and so such grants did not seem outrageous―not to the beneficiaries at any rate. In a famous bull of 1493 Pope Alexander VI,[43] to settle rivalry between Spain and Portugal, the two colonial powers of those days, drew a line down the map of the Atlantic Ocean south of the Azores Islands to form a boundary between their respective spheres of influence. All lands not already under Christian rule 'discovered or yet to be discovered' to the west of the line, he assigned to Spain; those to the east, to Portugal. Along with this fantastic enactment went a command to the Spanish and Portuguese kings 'to send to the said lands and islands good men who fear God and are learned, skilled and expert, to instruct the inhabitants in the Catholic Faith and good morals'. Moreover, other foreigners were forbidden to enter those lands without license from these kings. Whatever may be thought nowadays of such orders, the Spaniards and Portuguese were prepared to act on them; and not only in claiming and exercising, as far as they were able, rights of dominion and trade; they were seriously prepared to propagate Christianity."[44]
K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, in A History of South India, tells the story of the propagation of Christianity in India. He writes, "[The Portuguese] acted throughout as if they had a divine right to the pillage, robbery, and massacre of the natives of India. Not to mince matters, their whole record is one of a series of atrocities. They delighted particularly in plundering all rich temples within their reach, even Tirupati not escaping their predatory attentions. … The Roman Catholic missionaries, headed by St. Francis Xavier,[45] were not only forcefully converting to their faith large numbers on the pearl-fishery coast … but induced the fishermen to transfer their allegiance to the king of Portugal. … The Franciscan friars and Jesuits were busy demolishing temples and building churches in the coastal cities, and the Portuguese governor of Goa was reported to be organising a plundering raid against the rich temples of Kanchipuram.[46] … The Portuguese policy of [destroying temples and] turning religious propaganda to political use roused the resentment of even the tolerant rulers of Vijayanagar and their Feudatories."
M. Arunachalam, in an article in Christianity in India: A Critical Study, writes, "It is well known that the Portuguese sacked the famous Tiruchendur Murugan Temple on the sea-coast and threw the idol into the sea. Sometime later, in 1654, the chieftain Vadamalaiyappa Pillai of Tirunelveli, salvaged the idol from the sea and installed it at the present Tiruchendur temple."[47]
He continues, "The Tirumalai Nayak Mahal [at Madurai] is another example. Jealous of its magnificence, the British began demolishing it, but public agitation checked it and what we have today is only a part of what was originally there."
The British were generally less destructive than the Portuguese and the French, but they did not hesitate to attack temples that were in the way of construction works or to desecrate them as a means of intimidating the local populace. They fired on the temples of Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh for this last reason; and Victoria Terminus in Bombay―now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai―is built on the original site of that city's famous Mumbai Devi Temple. In Madras they obliterated the small Hindu shrines that once stood inside Fort St. George. The fort now contains St. Mary's Church, the first Protestant church built east of Suez.
But it is the French who vied with the Portuguese in their Christian zeal to destroy Pagan places of worship. Henry Love, in Vestiges of Old Madras, records that they used temples as barracks in their military operations against the British. Between 1672 and 1674, at Madras, they fortified the rebuilt Kapaleeswara Temple in Mylapore and the Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane when they were besieged by Golconda and the Dutch.
Sita Ram Goel, in History of Hindu-Christian Encounters, quoting The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai translated by J. Frederick Price and K. Rangachari, gives a graphic account of the destruction of the Vedapuri Iswaran Temple at Pondicherry by the French governor's wife, Madame Dupliex, and the Jesuits. He writes, "The Vedapuri Iswaran Temple was the principle place of worship for the Hindus of Pondicherry. The Jesuit missionaries built the Church of St. Paul adjacent to it and obtained an order from the King of France that the Hindu temple should be destroyed….
"The first incident at the Vedapuri Temple took place on March 17, 1746, 'On Wednesday night at 11,' writes Pillai, 'two unknown persons entered the Iswaran Temple carrying in a vessel of liquid filth, which they poured on the heads of the Gods around the altar, and into the temple, through the drain of the shrine of Iswaran; and having broken the pot of dirt on the image of the God Nandi, they went away through a part of the building which had been demolished'….
"As the report of this sacrilege spread, Hindus 'from the Brahmin to the pariah,' held a public meeting. The governor, Dupliex, when he heard of it, sent his chief peon to disperse the meeting. … The people, however, defied the order and protested, 'you better kill us all'….
"The next incident recorded by Pillai took place on December 31, 1746. 'It was reported,' he writes, 'tonight at 7, that an earthen jar, filled with filth, was thrown from within the grounds of the Church of St. Paul, into the Temple of Vedapuri Iswaran. It very nearly fell on the head of Sankara Aiyan, who was at the shrine of the God Pillaiyar, on his way round the temple, in the performance of religious duties. When the jar struck the ground, and broke to pieces, the stench emitted was unbearable'….
"The temple was now doomed to destruction. 'Yesterday,' Pillai continued in his diary of September 8, '200 soldiers, 60 or 70 troopers and sepoys were stationed at St. Paul's Church in view of the matter in hand. This morning, M. Gerbault (the engineer), the priests with diggers, masons, coolies and over 200 in all, with spades, pick-axes and whatever is needed to demolish walls, began to pull down the southern wall of the Vedapuri Iswaran Temple and the outhouses. At once the temple managers, Brahmins and mendicants came and told me. … Just then … news, was brought that Father Coeurdoux, the superior of St. Paul's Church, had kicked the inner shrines with his foot, and had ordered the Coffrees to remove the doors, and the Christians to break the Vahanams.'"
Pillai now went to Governor Dupliex, in an attempt to save the temple, as did the caste leaders who sought to save the temple's movable articles, but it was all to no avail.
"'Then Father Coeurdox of Karikal came with a great hammer, kicked the Lingam, broke it with his hammer, and ordered the Coffrees and the Europeans to break the images of Vishnu and the other Gods. Madame [Dupliex] went and told the priest that he might break the idols as he pleased. He answered that she had accomplished what had been impossible for fifty years, that she must be one of those Mahatmas who established [Christian] religion in old days, and that he would publish her fame throughout the world. … Then [the native convert] Varlam also kicked the great Lingam nine or ten times with his sandals in the presence of Madame and the priest, and spat on it out of gladness, and hoping that the priest and Madame would regard him also as a Mahatma. Then he followed Madame. I can neither write nor describe what abominations were done in the temple. I know not what fruit they will reap. All the Tamils think the end of the world has come. The priests, the Tamil Christians, the Governor and his wife are more delighted than they have ever been before, but they have not yet considered what will befall them in the future.'"[48]
43. This Vicar of Christ was known as Alexander the Scabrous and ruled from 1492 to 1503. Joseph McCabe, in A Testament of Christian Civilization, writes, "He brought into Italy [from Spain] an unscrupulous brood of relatives, the Borgias, who spread graft and depravity on all sides and opened the vilest page in history of the higher authorities of any known religion." He played vicious power politics, practiced simony, held famous public orgies in the Apostolic Palace, committed incest with his daughter, went whoring with his son, poisoned his cardinals to get their wealth, and himself died of poisoning. The legend on his triumphal arch read "Chastity and Charity".
44. This paragraph fully exposes the hollowness of the Catholic apologists' claim that the Church's association with Portuguese imperialism was unwilling and an unfortunate accident of history.
45. In a letter to the Society of Jesus, quoted by Sita Ram Goel in St. Francis Xavier: The Man and His Mission, Xavier wrote, "Following the baptisms, the new Christians return to their homes and come back with their wives and families to be in their turn also prepared for baptism. After all have been baptised, I order that everywhere the temples of the false gods be pulled down and idols broken. I know not how to describe in words the joy I feel before the spectacle of pulling down and destroying the idols by the very people who formerly worshipped them." Xavier did this after the Hindu raja of Quilon had given him a large grant to build churches. In another letter he writes, "There are in these parts among the pagans a class of men called Brahmins. They are as perverse and wicked a set as can anywhere be found, and to whom applies the Psalm which says: 'From an unholy race, and wicked and crafty men, deliver me, Lord.' If it were not for the Brahmins, we should have all the heathens embracing our faith."
46. On one of these voyages up the Coromandel Coast the Portuguese were blown ashore in a storm, at a fishing village 12 km south of Nagapattinam. They declared that the Virgin Mary had saved them and in thanksgiving took over the local Vel Ilankanni Amman Temple (which was the sister shrine of the Vel Thandakanni Amman Temple at Sikkil, closer to Nagapattinam). This village has now become the famous Christian pilgrimage centre of Velankanni. The original Devi temple was enclosed within the first Portuguese church, known as the Mada Koil, that is situated at a distance from the present Basilica of Our Lady of Health. The stone image of the Devi was on public display until some years ago, but has since been removed and an image of the Virgin Mary put in its place.
47. The hundreds of temples and thousands of idols destroyed by the Portuguese in Goa has been documented by A.K. Priolkar in The Goa Inquisition. And the historian T.R. de Souza, quoted by M.D. David in Western Colonialism in Asia and Christianity, writes, "At least from 1540 onwards and in the island of Goa before that year, all Hindu idols had been annihilated or had disappeared, all the temples had been destroyed and their sites and building material were in most cases utilised to erect new Christian churches and chapels."
48. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is built on or beside this temple site, and the local tradition is that the broken lingam is hidden under an altar in the church. The Christian practice of covering a desecrated image or sacred stone with an altar is very old and churches in England, France, Italy and Spain that have been built on Pagan sites are found to contain these images and other relics.


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Alpine Building Maintenance continues to grow;
Alpine Building Maintenance expands into educational facilities, and is awarded Okanagan College to include in its repertoire
Alpine Building Maintenance, one of Canada's largest Building Maintenance providers acquires new janitorial account in partnership with Okanagan College.
Serving millions of square feet Canada Wide, Alpine Building Maintenance believes in growth within communities that have similar values to ones we uphold daily. "O.C. serves as a hub for Okanagan British Columbia and attracts scholars from all over the province, It is very fulfilling for us to cater to the needs students require, in all aspects, including lecture halls, dorm rooms, and public spaces. It serves as an exciting, yet familiar venture for us as a company and is definitely becoming one of our niche spaces." Steve Normann, VP Business Development.
Alpine Building Maintenance Announces a New Partnership with International Airport
Alpine Building Maintenance expands its horizons to include Guest Services at Abbotsford International Airport.
Alpine Building Maintenance, one of Canada's Largest Janitorial Service Provider, has expanded into guest services after being awarded an exclusive contract with Abbotsford International Airport.
A tactical partnership, YXX operates on a model, which promotes lean practices that are focussed primarily on client satisfaction. Alpine Building Maintenance expanded its qualifications by integrating guest services, parking lot attending, and minor security services into its repertoire.
"Alpine believes in long lasting relationships in communities and creating jobs in each subsequent community, this new venture with YXX allows us to create new jobs for those in the city of Abbotsford, and for those from a variety of different backgrounds." Steve Normann, VP Business Development.


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Worship of Lord Brahma, Part 94
Brahmapuri, Kolhapur
A serial exploration of places of Lord Brahma's worship.
Lord Brahma at Brahmapuri
The final site of Brahmadeva worship we have identified in Maharashtra is in Brahmapuri, on the edge of Kolhapur. The city of Kolhapur is in the southernmost tip of Maharashtra, 135 km. inland from the coast. The town of Brahmapuri is ancient, and there are many sastric references to its spiritual importance. In fact, from an inscription noted below, we read that Brahma himself is said to have created the Kollapura Tirtha.
From Inscriptions of the Silaharas, which refers to the declining trend of Brahma worship in India. It refers to a Brahmadeva temple that was built at Brahmapuri, on the outskirts of Kolhapur. The Brahma temple was built when Maillapayya, the Kadttamatya (Accounts Officer) of the ruler Gandaraditya, requested a grant of money to repair the existing temple of Khedaditya, the Sun god, in Brahmapuri.
"…there was an old temple of Khedaditya (the Sun). Maillapayya, the afore-named Amatya of Gandaraditya, while repairing it, added to it two other shrines of Brahma and Vishnu, and requested the king to make a grant to keep the three-spired temple in good repair."
Unfortunately, we have been unable to find photographs of the three-spired temple or the compound in which this Brahmadeva temple was built. Evidence confirms that the spires existed on the original Khedaditya temple, before the new Brahma and Visnu temples were constructed. In fact, our research indicates that even the ruins of the temple complex are no longer identified as such by the locals, nor does the site appear to be visited by devotees or historians any longer. We know from an inscription that follows that a deity of Brahma was actually installed in the temple, and brahmans were engaged to maintain a program of worship there.
A great many temples and religious monuments in Brahmapuri have now fallen to ruin. For example, there is a cluster of five ancient temples in ruins - Ram Mandir, Vitthal Mandir, Omkareshwar Mandir, Ganpati Mandir and Dutta Mandir – all of which once stood on a shared platform. During the Maratha War of Independence (1689-1707 AD), Aurangzeb's camp was pitched at Brahmapuri, on the Bhima River. Some of the temples may well have come to ruin by his hand.
Gandaraditya, who gave the financial support for building the Brahmadeva temple here, was a noteworthy king at the time. He constructed a tank, named Gandasamudra, near the village of Irukudi and built Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples along the banks of this theertham. Gandaraditya's grandson, Bhoja II, eventually took power and was the last great ruler of the line. His reign came to a close when he raised the ire of the Yadavas, who were then establishing their own sovereignty. Singhana, the mighty Yadava king of Devagiri, invaded the Silahara kingdom, and power changed hands in the regon.
The Brahma Temple Grant
The Inscriptions of the Silaharas offers additional information of great interest relating to the construction of the Brahmadeva Temple at Brahmapuri. The following inscription (No. 228 in the above-mentioned report), describes how King Gandaraditya gave not only money to build the temple, but also money to purchase adjacent lands, construct residential buildings, and provide food and support for the brahmanas who served the temple deities.
Inscription, Line 23 of the grant, dated Saka 1048, or 1126 AD, on the occasion of Karkata sankranti (the translation contains some erroneous characters, likely due to automated conversion of a scanned document):
"Being requested by the Kaditamatya Maillapayya, the Mahapradhdna dependent of his [Gandaraditya's] lotus-like feet, who, having first repaired the dilapidated temple of the holy Khedaditya in Bralimapuri created by Brahma in the great tirtha, the famous Kollapura, has constructed a three-spired, temple and has installed therein (the images of) Brahma and Vishnu with a view to do a religious deed, the illustrious Gandaraditya has accepted his request. And on the occasion of the DaksMnayaea sankranti, on Saturday 9 the fourth tithi of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, the cyclic year Parafohava being current, when one thousand and forty-eight years of the laka era have elapsed, he purchased, from the Nargavundas Rajaya and Senaya of the village Komnijavada situated in the khampana of Kodavalli composed in the Mirinjidesa, two nwaiianas of land measured by the rod of Kundi agreed to by (all) Nargavundas and (also) a magila (house-site) twenty four cubits broad together with the right to eight-fold enjoyment, and having added four mvartanas of land situated in that village, measured by the same rod, and having thus made an agreed total gift of six m cm tanas together with mallava and kutmvaz connected therewith, and (having added) a house-site twenty-four cubits broad, and another forty-eight cubits broad, (in total) a house-accommodation seventy-two cubits broad all this being agreed to by all Nargavundas, he gave in their presence and before the holy Khedadityadeva two nw at tanas by the same rod as an agreed gift with malava and kwuva for the food of twelve Brahmannas, consisting of cooked white rice, soup made of adhaki etc., ghee and butter-milk, and for tambula together with a house twenty four cubits broad in the house-site, together with the right to eight-fold enjoyment.
The Brahmanas who meditate on all religious duties are as follows: Gangadhara Ghaturvedin Bhattopadhya) of the Gautama gotra, Govmda Ktamavid of Bharadvaja gotta, Bhaaskara Ghaturvedm of the Atri gotra, Narayanabhatta of the Jamadagnya-Vatsa gotra, Madhava of the Bharadvaja gotta, Vamana of the Kasyapa gotra, Vishnubhatta of the Dhananjaya gotra, and Vamana of the Bharadvaja goha. These are the eight Brahmanas. To each of them is donated land measuring four hundred vappakas and a dwelling six cubits in breadth in the house-site and for the repairs of the broken and dilapidated three-spire temple, four hundred vappakas by the same rod.
He (i.e. the King) has given all these gifts after washing the feet (of the Brahmanas). The gifts are free from taxes, free from all obstacles, faultless in respect of all income, not to be interfered with even by a finger by any loyal servants, and to be enjoyed as long as the moon and the sun endure.
The Mahajanas of Brahmapuri are to protect all these gifts."
Panchganga Mandir
The Importance of Brahmapuri
Kolhapur itself is an ancient city situated on the banks of the River Panchganga. A temple known as Panchganga Mandir can be seen there, half submerged and sinking into the waters of the Panchganga River. Several other rivers and tributaries also run through the area.
From the 1st century B.C. to the 9th century A.D., Kolhapur was known to be situated on the Brahmpuri hills. In 634 AD, King Karnadeo began construction of the Mahalaxmi Temple. Almost all Chalukys kings referred to Kolhapur as 'Dakshin Kashi' or 'Mahateerth'. In 753 AD to 850 AD, the Rashtrakut dynasty was established in the south, and the Kolhapur region came under their rule. From that time up to 1210 AD, the kingdom of Shilahar held sway in Kolhapur. During 940-1212, Kolhapur was the capital of the Shilahara dynasty.
The most prominent temple in Kolhapur is that of Mahalakshmi, also known as Karveer Nivasini Ambabai Temple. Some say that Kolhapur was settled by the demon Kolhasur, who was later killed by Mahalakshmi, to protect the local devotees. Kolhapur is mentioned in 'Devi Gita, the final and most important chapter of the Devi Bhagawatam, as one the important places of Shakti worship.
Brahmpuri, Uttareshwar, Kholkhandoba, Rankala, Padmala and Ravaneshwar were the main centers around Kolhapur city during ancient times. Since then, Kolhapur has been known by many names: Kollapur, Kollpur, Kollagiri, and Kolladigiripattan. 'Kolla' means valley, and Kolhapur means 'city of valleys'. So Brahmapuri, Karvir and Kolhapur are all different names for this place.
The town of Brahmapuri in Kolhapur is sometimes confused with another Brahmapuri in Maharashtra, located mid-way between and to the east of Chandrapur and Nagpur. It is also confused with a Brahmapuri located to the west, in nearby Goa.
In his Early History of Kolhapur, in which he quotes another report on the excavations at Bramhapuri, Professor E.V. Oturkar writes the following:
"Fresh light has been thrown by recent excavations on the antiquity and the earliest habitation of this place. The report on the excavations states that the oldest village from out of which Kolhapur later developed into a great city was situated on a hill on the banks of the river Pancaganga. It is now known as Bramhapuri. "An inscription of the Kolhapura Silahara king Gandaraditya of Saka 1048' (A.D. 1126-27) calls Kolhapura a Mahatirtha and refers to a temple Khedaditya (a Sun temple) at Bramhapuri." The statement in the inscription that Kolhapura or Bramhapuri was created by Brahman might signify that the site of Bramhapuri was so old that its origin in course of time was attributed to Brahma, the lord of creation himself."
In the Markandeya Purana, we see that Brahmapuri is described as the city of Lord Brahma, situated on the summit of golden Mount Meru, the king of mountains and the support of the planet earth in the island of Jambudwipa, which is a Puranic reference to the Indian subcontinent. The city of Brahmapuri is surrounded by holy sites, including the cities of Lord Indra and seven other demigods. These places are said to be subtle in nature, and not easily discovered.
On the left river bank of the River Krishna is Bhavani Nahani, the bathing place of Bhavani devi. A short distance away is a small temple of Shri Bhavani. Sri Rama and Sita are said to have stayed in Brahmapuri during their exile, during which time Sita bathed at Bhavani Nahani. A nearby rock is known as the Shri Ram Rock. The five Pandavas stayed at Pateshwar, nearby Brahmapuri, performing austerities there to gain power for their battle against the Kauravas.
The Road to Kolhapur (from Fort to village)


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I'm using Stimulus Lists and the folder includes a set of files with jpg images. Their presentation is randomized. Is there a simple way to output the file names in the data file instead of having Slide 12, Slide 6, Slide 8, etc. in the Trial Name column?
Thanks in advance.


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- On the eve of today's presidential election, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office yesterday won a court injunction to shut down Vote-Auction.com, a Web site that has been offering to auction off ballots to the highest bidder. However, whether the preliminary injunction issued in Boston's Suffolk Superior Court will have any effect remains unclear.
The Vote-Auction.com site, which was launched as an apparent lark by New York graduate student James Baumgartner under the original name www.voteauction.com, already was ordered to be shut down last month after running afoul of election authorities in Chicago, California and New York. But the site continues to operate under the new name of www.voteauction.enemy.org after being sold by Baumgartner to a group of Austrian entrepreneurs.
The court hearing in Boston came after Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly, in a civil complaint filed last Friday, charged that it's illegal under that state's law to directly or indirectly offer payments or rewards to voters. "In Massachusetts, votes are not for sale," Reilly said in a statement. "Vote-Auction.com should be shut down to protect anyone from falling prey to what is likely a scam."
The new owners of the site, and an Austrian Internet service provider that's now hosting it, didn't appear in court today in Boston. But Massachusetts officials "expect them to abide by the court order," said David Kerrigan, an assistant attorney general in the state.
The injunction "prevents further operation of this Web site and any Web site under a different name with the same purpose and goals," Kerrigan said in an interview. He wouldn't comment on whether Massachusetts would seek additional actions against the Web site or take legal action against voters who registered to sell their ballots through Vote-Auction.com.
The Vote-Auction.com site purports to allow voters to register to sell their votes to the highest bidder in blocks broken down by state. The starting bid for each state is $US1,000, and bids increase in $50 increments. The winning bid supposedly gets divided among the voters from that state who have registered on the site.
As of last Thursday, 1,116 Massachusetts voters had registered to sell their votes, according to Reilly's office.
Last month, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and federal and state attorneys sought and won an injunction to shut down the Web site's Chicago and Illinois operations. As part of the court order, the judge in that case specifically said Baumgartner's site couldn't reappear on the Web under a different name.
But the site resurfaced under its new name and owners, running on a server operated by an Internet service provider based in Austria. According to the site, Vote-Auction.com wants to help voters capitalize on their votes by providing a free-market exchange.
The latest action against Vote-Auction.com follows an order issued last week by California Secretary of State Bill Jones that an online vote-swapping service being run by a group called Voteswap 2000 was violating that state's election laws.
According to a statement on the group's Web site, the software that powered the service was voluntarily turned off in order to comply with Jones' order. "We are not lawyers," said the statement. "At the time we set the site up, we understood that what we were doing was legal."
Voteswap 2000 was trying to convince Democratic voters in states that were leaning heavily to either Al Gore or George W. Bush to exchange their votes with Ralph Nader supporters who live in hotly contested states. The goal was to enable Nader's Green Party to get the 5% vote needed to qualify for federal matching funds in the 2004 election without hurting Gore's chances of winning this time around.


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We've long been of the opinion that a Ghostbusters costume is not just for Halloween, but for life, and now our dreams can come true thanks to this superb Venkman jacket.
Created by the good people at superherostuff.com they retail at $69.99 (£42.72) and instantly transforms you into a ghostbusting genius; well, you'll at least look like one - might be worth also doing those PhDs in parapsychology and psychology if you want to really get your hands dirty.
Get this on your Christmas list pronto.
[via Geekologie]
(Images: Superherostuff)


text: It's been 5 years since I wrote this post. It all still rings true today. Although I am no longer raising animals for my full income (just a portion of it), I still believe strongly in supporting your local farmers and going beyond just voting with your dollar or your fork for that matter. If we want a new food system, we all must DO MORE. What do you think is missing from this list of action items? I want to hear from you!


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What is a Keurig Coffee Pot?
In other words, it brews one cup at a time. If you compare Keurig with other single cup coffee makers, Keurig is the most popular and the most highly rated brand of single cup coffee makers.
The distinguishing feature that gives Keurig its distinct identity is its usage of K Cups. In a nutshell, a K Cup is a filter basket that consists of a coffee filter and coffee grounds. Maybe, when folks are asking about keurig coffee pot, they are referring to the k cup?
There are hundreds of varieties of K Cups available, each one boasting a different flavor. Therefore, if you own a Keurig brewer, you can enjoy different kinds of flavors of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. In other words, you can enjoy virtually any kind of flavor of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate known to man.
There's hardly any cleanup and maintenance needed. There's no need for disposable paper filters at all since each K Cup already contains its own filter. Aren't you glad you tried but did not find any keurig coffee pot, the k cup make is so much easier right?
Is there a way for you to use your own ground coffee with your Keurig brewer? By using the My K Cup Filter, you can. It is a reusable filter that you can use with Keurig brewers such as the B40 Elite, B50 Ultra, and the B60 Special Edition.
Therefore, if you feel that owning a Keurig brewer is not a good idea because of the lack of availability of K Cups in your area, with the My K Cup Filter, you can enjoy the quality and convenience of a Keurig brewer and your favorite coffee grounds.
Cleaning the reusable filter is easy, too. Just clean it just like any other permanent filter. Just rinse it under the tap.
There's a reason why Keurig is the best among single cup coffee makers. Whether you own the B30 Mini or the B70 Platinum, you are partaking in the unparalleled quality that Keurig is known for.
Therefore, if you feel that brewing multiple cups of coffee into a coffee pot is a bit wasteful in your household, you might find it best to use a Keurig Home Brewing System instead.
So, there is no keurig coffee pot, but I can safely say that what you read is better than a coffee pot, don't you agree?


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A mix of heathered and solid Sunbrella® contract yarns combine to create Boulevard's handsome weft stripes. This Weitzner Indoor/Outdoor upholstery is offered in two menswear-inspired colorways.
Name: Boulevard
Catalogue Number: T2010
Width: 56.00"
Width: 142.24 cm
Weight per linear yard: 12.45 oz
Weight per linear meter: 385.99 gr
Weight: 8.00 oz/sqyd
Weight: 271.37 gr/sqm
Repeat: 0.00" wide / 9.25" high
Repeat: 0.00cm wide / 23.50cm high
Content: 55% Sunbrella® acrylic, 45% Sunbrella® polyester
Abrasion: 100,000 Wyzenbeek
Use: heavy upholstery
Bleach cleanable; fade, mildew and water resistant.


text:
- Run twice a week.
I did this two out of the four weeks. So, that's a moderate success. I really need to get out and run more often. I have some races coming up, and honestly I just miss it.
- 30-second plank every day.
Fail. Hard fail.
- 30-second plank every day.
Fail. Hard fail.
Number of days I worked out: 17
Miles Ran: 7
I doubled what I did in March. I'll call that a success.
And I completed the Iowa Wild Breakaway 5K!
And I completed the Iowa Wild Breakaway 5K!
May goals:
- Run twice a week. (Yep, I'm keeping this on here again.)
- Do five minutes of core work every day. (I can find this time every day. I know I can.)
Last week's workouts
Sunday - Off
Monday - Total Cardio Xtreme
Tuesday - Booty Camp Class
Wednesday - 2-mile run
Thursday - Barre/Cardio Class
Friday - Off
Saturday - Off
April was OK, but I'm ready for a new month of workouts and making myself better.
As always, be sure to check out Sunday Sweats posts from Holly and Christy.


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How Advanced Analytics Can Optimize Loyalty Program Results
To best understand your loyalty program members, keep the program relevant to them, and ensure you maximize the profitability of each interaction, it is essential to track and understand their behaviors. For a customer, their traceable behavior consists mostly of a single transaction. Loyalty programs tie together all of a member's transactions and include information from their social networks, reviews, preferences, employee interactions, and other program engagement activities. This source of data is enticing to brands wanting to optimize their program performance, but one needs to have a strong analytics team and an ability to utilize advanced analytics to build behavioral segmentation and predictive models, such as look-alike models based on high value members.
This webinar explores how to utilize data provided from a loyalty program and turn it into comprehensible reports and advanced analytics that will help you better target new high value customers, personalize offers to existing members and increase their LTV, and continue to iterate upon your program structure to improve results.
Watch the on-demand webinar now by filling out the form at the bottom of the page.to the right.
Other Resources You May Be Interested In


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Subscribe To Bill Murray May Join Cameron Crowe's Untitled Romantic Comedy Updates
I've already subscribed
Can we all just take a second to appreciate how wonderful it is to never have to worry about seeing Bill Murray in a movie like Larger Than Life again? I guess it's technically possible, but doubtful anytime soon, as he's currently in the latest of several career peaks. Since he's already worked with directors such as George Clooney and Wes Anderson this year, I guess there's no harm in him throwing a Cameron Crowe movie on the pile. He's currently in talks to join the stout cast of Crowe's still-untitled romantic comedy, and I'm certain the film's in-progress production in Hawaii won't be on his list of "cons."
The story follows Bradley Cooper as a defense contractor on assignment to oversee a weapons satellite launch in Hawaii, where he soon falls for with an Air Force Pilot (Emma Stone), all while reconnecting with a love lost long ago. Mysterious island forces and a sentient computer convince them to sabotage the satellite mission. (It has to stay on the island!) The film also stars Rachel McAdams, Alec Baldwin, Danny McBride and Jay Baruchel, none of whom get any character descriptions. Details on the role Murray was offered are also being guarded for whatever reason. Perhaps he has something to do with those mysterious forces at play. Could he be playing a deity of some kind? It wouldn't be out of his range, as he already played God in Ghostbusters. Venkman!
According to The Wrap, Crowe is working on the project with producer Scott Rudin, a longtime behind the scenes guy on Wes Anderson films. Anderson is arguably the guy that ultimately set Murray's career on the path of consistent relevance, directing the actor in some of the most memorable performances of his career. Having last worked together for last year's Moonrise Kingdom, they worked together again on The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is due out next year at some point.
Also out next year is Theodore Melfi's all-star comedy St. Vincent De Van Nuys, which somehow already has awards buzz going for it. Earlier this year, we saw Murray in an unorthodox performance as FDR in Hyde on the Hudson and in Roman Coppola's comedy A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III. But the best of the three will probably be The Monuments Men, which Murray will co-star in with director Clooney and a bunch of other awesome actors. Take a look at the film's latest trailer below, seeing as how it'll probably be at least a year until we see Crowe's next flick hit theaters.


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I'm always looking for free educational materials to share and found this collection in my bookmarks. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) offer a vast range of Free course material to download including:
17.918 New Global Agenda: Exploring 21st Century Challenges through Innovations in Information Technologies
STS.035 The History of Computing
STS.036 Technology and Nature in American History
And that's just an example from the "Science, Technology, and Society" section.
MIT OpenCourseWare | Science, Technology, and Society | STS.035 The History of Computing, Spring 2004 | Home


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We've been in the business almost 20 years now and have installed and serviced a variety of HVAC units. We are not paid by manufacturers to promote their brand(s); instead, we recommend brands based on our vast experience and our customer's individual needs. If the customer has a preference for a certain brand, we do our best to provide it. But, if you really want to know which brand is best, here are the facts:
When you look beyond the label slapped on the outside of the unit, you'll see that most of the internal components are the same. There are about six HVAC equipment manufacturers in the U.S. who make about 150 different brand names. Many of them use the same internal components and are produced on the same assembly line in the same factory. Goodman and Amana are made in the same factory, yet Amana typically costs more. Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Tempstar, and Day and Night are made in the same factory, yet Carrier has more name recognition due to more advertising. York and Luxaire are both owned by Johnson Controls. There's almost no difference between Trane and American Standard. Lennox, Ducane, and Concord are all made by Lennox. Even less obvious is that some of the internal components of all brands are made by just a handful of third-party companies, making many components interchangeable between brands. With so much the same, what's the real differentiator?
Unlike many other products, when you purchase an HVAC system, much of the design and engineering occurs on-site (at your home). Each home is different and presents different challenges with ductwork, physical location, clearances, etc. No brand, no matter how much it cost and its reputation, will perform reliably if not installed and maintained correctly.
The overwhelming majority of HVAC failures are the result of improper installation or maintenance. In fact, a good percentage of our business comes from people who hired the cheapest contractor to install their unit, or who think they saved money by not having regular spring and fall maintenance. There's a proper way to install and maintain an HVAC unit and it's worth paying for that expertise, because going with the lowest bid can often cost you later.
Just as not all doctors, mechanics, or hair stylists are the same, neither are all HVAC contractors. Sometimes, it's worth going a bit out of your way, or waiting an extra day for an appointment to get a professional you trust.
Watch out for contractors who:
At Interstate AC Service, we use only qualified, licensed HVAC service technicians, we never use undocumented workers, we provide continuing education to our technicians, our technicians are not paid on commission, and we are committed to customer service.
Don't be fooled by a system that says it will last for 20 years. Not without regular maintenance it won't! If you neglect your system, it won't matter what brand you buy! Here are some other things to watch for:
The most important aspect of your HVAC system is not the brand you choose, but the contractor! Except for minor differences, all brands are fairly comparable, but it's the installation and service that matters. Unfortunately, buying a "top" brand (one you've heard of or has good reviews) doesn't matter much when it comes to HVAC units.
If you live in the Nashville or surrounding area, and need help with an HVAC issue at your home or business, know you can call on Interstate AC service at (615) 832-8500. We'll provide unbiased, professional service you can trust. We never forget we're here for you!
1877 Air Lane Drive
Nashville, TN 37210


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VANISH is a First Person Adventure/Survival Indie Horror game created by 3DrunkMen released on Microsoft Windows.
Thrown into a Labyrinth for reasons unknown, you must roam through the darkness to find your escape. Do you have what it takes to get out alive? Or will you be another feast for the walls that seem to live? VANISH is a first person horror-adventure game that will make you question your own sanity.


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Co-taught by Dr. Joseph Zinter, assistant director of the Center for Engineering Innovation & Design, and Dr. Jean Zheng, engineering director at the Center for Biomedical and Interventional Technology (CBIT), the course brings together interdisciplinary teams of students to with physicians from the Yale School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital to address unmet clinical needs. This year, the four teams tackled creating realistic patient simulator, reduce pain in bone marrow biopsies, what happens after an organ transplant, and making gall bladder surgeries more efficient.
Read more: http://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/more-medical-devices-future-mengbeng-404


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Like every Internet provider on the planet, BT has a problem with botnets, and like every Internet provider on the planet, it is a problem the company has until now been unwilling, or unable, to talk about. How many botnet-compromised PCs might the company be hosting within its domain of 2.8 million users? How much of the domain's spam do they generate and to what end effect in terms of malware infection? Does the company have a policy for dealing with them? Is it even BT's job to deal with them at all?
Last week's news that it has bought an automated system from StreamShield Networks to hunt down and, if necessary, block them marks a huge change in direction, not only for BT but for the whole industry of Internet provision. If the average consumer and SME customer covered by the new system is still in the dark about what this will mean for them, it's a move you'd hope might not have passed by BT's rival ISPs. If botnets, spam and malware are ever to be curbed, technologies such as botnet-identification and blocking could turn out to be key.
Botnets are the clandestine networks of ordinary computers – "zombies" - hijacked to distribute malware, especially spam, on an automated basis. From an ISP's point of view, they clog the arteries to email servers with unwanted traffic, and cause blacklisting problems as third-party ISPs moan about traffic abuse. For everyone else, they are now one of the major distribution mechanisms for malware, a fact that ISPs have, amazingly, been allowed to ignore.
Nobody really has any hard figures on how many botnets are out there at any one time, or what percentage of global spam traffic is now generated by them. But a real-time counter of suspected botnet and spam traffic through the world's largest ISPs by security company Trend Micro offers compelling evidence that botnets are now at the centre of the whole spam problem.
Of the top 100 ISP list generated using Trend's calculations – China, Eastern Europe and servers connected to Brazil feature large on the list – it is safe to say that the top offenders see themselves as little more than message relays. In other words, the traditional "solution" taken by the overwhelming majority of ISPs is still to ignore the problem and do nothing at all. It's as if they now treat spam, and the bots that generate an unknown portion of this traffic, as acceptable noise.
It is likely that a few of them take a big axe to the worst spam offenders by employing port 25 blocking, a technique that forces email traffic to use an ISP's servers where it can be blocked and filtered more easily. Blocking spam this way has severe limitations because it is precisely the filtering that drives spammers to distribute their spam via other people's PCs in the first place.
The crazy thing is that the whole security industry is geared to stopping the symptoms of botnets, spam and malware, at one of the least efficient places to tackle it – the network edge or desktop. Spending on such systems is now worth billions, but still botnets and spam have thrived.
Systems such as StreamShield's Content Forensics are actually a fairly new development, which might partly explain why ISPs using anti-botnet systems are a rarity. The deal with BT will see the system rolled out from its current trial point of presence in London to nine other key locations around the UK in the coming three months.
The technology works by scanning a large portion of the email that travels through the company's network every day, performing traffic analysis to show who is sending how much email, when, and to where. This information can be used to quarantine users who appear to be breaking pre-set thresholds for their type of account such as would indicate that a user had become an unwitting botnet relay.
Geoff Bennet of StreamShield is adamant that the system will not generate false positives because it uses simple metrics to determine which PCs are behaving in the manner of a bot zombie, and which aren't. And it will give BT a more effective weapon than the blunt one of port 25 blocking.
"I usually say that Port 25 blocking is like slapping a bandage onto an infected wound - it may stop the puss getting out and making a mess but it doesn't do anything for the patient."
"One of the original goals of BT's Content Forensics project was to be able to measure the scale of the botnet problem without having to resort to fudge factors or estimates," he says. "I know they've been extremely pleased with the Content Forensics pilot, and are very keen to take it to the next stage where they can automate the process of customer decontamination."
The argument for using such a system is compelling. It can hit bots in the network layer, where they are most vulnerable. Contain the problem here and network and desktop security might in future become less critical in stopping this threat.
"The logic of the system is that the earlier you deal with the problem, the less likely it is to become a problem on your network," says BT's Adam Liversage. "if every ISP adopted this approach, it would go some way to tackling the problem."
BT is being very brave here. At the moment, anyone falling foul of these thresholds will find themselves receiving a call from BT's "abuse team", suggesting ways of checking their system for infection. A suspect system could also find itself quarantined, which means having access to only a limited range of security-related websites. Sorting out every bot-infected user on the network, or stopping them becoming re-infected, could take time, however.
All BT's broadband customers are currently automatically subscribed to Symantec's anti-virus software, but it is also possible less technical users will need to be sold a visit from a engineer, with charges of £75 ($140) for the first hour. There is a risk that if a customer does not understand what is awry with his or her system, and is not willing to pay for it to be fixed, they will end up being disconnected. Feel like complaining? It's all in the terms and conditions, and has been for some time.
If the way to tackle bots is to track them down and block them, the bot operators will have to start evolving. Thus far about the only thing they've devoted their energies to is simply making bots bigger, more controllable, and more sophisticated platforms for malware and spam delivery. But are ISPs willing to make an investment that will mostly benefit their customers?
"We have a couple of UK ISPs interested, but ISPs in general are a pretty conservative lot. They like to feel that somebody else has 'pioneered' a new solution. But we've already taken a few enquiries from US ISPs since the BT announcement," reckons Bennet.
BT deserves credit for investing in stopping botnets, but not everyone is convinced it will be that simple. Identifying zombies is the easy bit, says Simplicita CTO Rob Fleischman, a StreamShield competitor.
"We have developed an integrated solution that identifies the zombies, isolates them in a quarantine, and presents consumers with resources to fix their machines including connectivity required to download tools, security definitions and operating system updates," he says.
"The key issue for BT, and others, is that without an automated remediation platform they still need to contact infected subscribers one at a time by hand." In fact, it is fairer to say that the StreamShield system can do this, but BT is leery of disconnecting users without careful consideration for customer relations and bad publicity.
The real test will be how many zombies StreamShield can root out. Botnet zombies have been put on notice, but it will be some months before the success of the system can be judged in earnest. But the conventional wisdom that security starts at the customer premises is on its last legs. The battle against bots begins in the ISP layer, and it is here that it will ultimately be won or lost.


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be.ez launches Chic Marine laptop bag range
be.ez, designer of fashionable accessories for the mobile lifestyle, today extends its popular LA garde robe laptop bag and LA robe protection sleeve ranges with the addition of the Chic Marine colour range. Ideal for carrying around campus or slipping into a suitcase, there is something for everyone in be.ez's latest line of slim, stylish and lightweight bags and sleeves – all available in marine and pink, yellow or azur.
The LA robe MacBook Pro range comes in sizes 13", 15" and 17". The sleeves utilise low resilience polyurethane technology, as well as a 5mm lining, to ensure heightened protection for laptops. The trendy design complements the contents of the sleeve beautifully and prevents scratches.
The LA garde robe laptop bag is custom fitted for the MacBook Pro 13". At only 375g, it provides comfort, style and impressive functionality – affording room for the MacBook Pro charger, A4 documents and any other small necessity you wish to carry. As the top-selling sleeve for Apple laptops, it is a must have back to school item.


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Room {{room.roomNum}}:
# of Nights: {{booking.numNights}} # of Rooms: {{booking.rooms.length}}
Queen's Road, P.O. Box 100 Korolevu, Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Fiji - Reservations +679 653 0555 - firstname.lastname@example.com
Queen's Road, P.O. Box 100 Korolevu, Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Fiji Viti Levu Fiji +679 653 0555 email@example.com
Rooms & Suites
Guests of Warwick Fiji will enjoy accommodations that are nothing short of extraordinary.
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Thanks to its central location, breathtaking views of the Coral Coast and friendly atmosphere, Warwick Fiji is one of Fiji's most...
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Warwick Fiji has a variety of dining experiences available to suit any palate. With 5 Restaurants and 7 Bars this Resort makes for...
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Kids Corner
Kids are invited to spend their holiday with us for FREE while staying in the same room as their parents. Kids also eat for FREE...
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While some experiences are priceless, Warwick Fiji would like to reward guests by adding value and balance to each stay with the...
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Explore Coral Coast
On the southwestern side of the main island of Viti Levu, the coastal Queen's Highway snakes its way between Nadi's International...
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Perfectly positioned along a stretch of golden sand beach and crystal clear lagoons in the heart of Fiji's Coral Coast, Warwick Fiji is the perfect place to escape the daily woes of life and immerse in tropical bliss with the world's friendliest people.
Warwick Fiji is far enough from the daily hustle and bustle and close enough to still keep in touch.
What memories will guests take home from their visit? Perhaps it will be the memory of the most extraordinary tennis game of their life or tying the knot with their soul mate against a spectacular setting sun. Maybe it will be the time spent with family enjoying the many marvels of Warwick Fiji, or perhaps our guest will have hosted a business meeting so epic that it earns rave reviews.
Deeply entwined with the beauty and hospitality of the Coral Coast, Warwick Fiji welcomes guests to come make a little history of their own. Stretching over 28 lushly landscaped acres, our elegantly crafted luxury resort provides a rich palette of experiences to suit every occasion-whether business, romance, relaxation or carefree family fun. From dawn's first blush to the tangerine streaks of our Coral Coast sunsets, each day at Warwick is awash in endless possibilities.
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Warwick Fiji App is now available on the App Store and Google Play
Welcome Home, Warwick Journeys Member. Designed for convenience this website allows you to manage your profile and preferences, gain access to member exclusive offers and benefits, and manage your reservations booked on WarwickHotels.com.
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This new Polaris downlight features a COB LED in 3000k colour rendition, and is IP65 rated making it suitable for use within a bathroom.
The light output from the luminaire is equivalent to a 50W GU10 halogen lamp, but due to the latest COB technology it uses 85% less energy, helping to save money, and the environment.
The fitting is available in either Chrome or Brushed Nickel and includes the power converter.
Power supply 230V Number of hours 50,000 Colour appearance Warm White Luminous efficacy 46 lm/W (WW) & 50 lm/w (NW) Wattage 7W IP Rating IP65


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A Person on the Road
By Lucia Lecuna
I love planning, programming and having all figured out within a year or a decade. That is my ideal world, but not the real one. My reality made me get trained to be able to adjust to changes in a pace that was absolutely complicated and uncertain, almost every day.
In Venezuela, the country were I grew up, the last thirty years have been actively changing times. I will not give you all the details, because they will lead me to write about economics and politics, two words that should never be together but they are; but I can say that planning only worked for some gift list and dinner plans.
I have to acknowledge that I got very good at adapting and I consider myself as a very flexible person. So my comfort planning zone changed to the unknown reality. Flexibility has come to be absolutely necessary in the changing world we live in, especially in the international business fields.
Recently I finished a Scott Pilates course that will lead me to get my Instructor Certificate, something that I always wanted to do, since exercise has been one of my passions, and that. So, why would a journalist want to teach Pilates, since she has grown in a career in PR?
The extra income will sure help me, but I will do it because I enjoy teaching and I know this exercises really help people with back pains, posture problems and getting more strength in their stability muscles. Yes, I love finding health related information, sharing it and making it grow, but along the way, I have found that balance in my life requires extra activities that can actually complete the 24 hours a day with something more than sleeping.
My relaxing zone comes after work and after exercising. I love doing crafts too and I have a small business creating earrings, which gives me a great satisfaction too. Being a mom it's actually my other professional career. And it may have uncertain moments too, but it's a lifetime career.
One thing I would love to share: the road is now more different that it was for my parents or grandparents. To be certain about what's going to happen in the next ten years it's impossible. I know that more scientific developments, mobility and technology use, as well as social progress focused on equality and safety are going to impact the world we live in. I only hope nature holds on us as we get to reduce our impact on it.
Lucia Lecuna is a PR and journalist professional who has worked in the Global International corporate world. She moved in Canada in 2013 and joins several social justice organizations as a volunteer. She follows health organizations along the world and in Canada, finding her passion when new ideas and solutions help different communities. After years connected to the fitness and health business, she will include Pilates Instructor in her complementary professional profile.


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I watched the film recently and it was superb. A dark-future tale which was terrifying, gripping and moving.
Usually I read the books before I watch the film. There have been a few exceptions to this, times when a film as been so inspiring that I felt compelled to seek out the book. Harry Potter was one. No Country for Old Men another; I have to thank the film for encouraging me to read the wonderful work of Cormac McCarthy. Universally I have found the book to be better than the film- deeper, richer a more filling and satisfying dish.
Hunger Games is no exception. Stephen King apparently said of the Hunger Games that it is very good but lacks maturity in parts. I agree (it's hard not to agree with King about literature) but I think the lack of maturity is acceptable because the narrative is in the first person of Katniss and she is a young girl with very limited world-experience. Have the narrative voice be most first person and naive allows us to see the world through Katniss's eyes yet at the same time recognise the difficulties she is making for herself in the wider context of the political landscape in panem,
I don't do spoilers so I won't be going into any more detail about the plot than that.
The characters are a little bit hit and miss. Haymitch and Katniss are wonderful on the heroes side. The grotesque pictures of the citizens of the capitol are disturbingly grotesques. I see them all as being people direct from Jean-Paul Gauliers' damaged imagination. The exception being Cinna who has a degree of humanity not afforded to the others. Effie is the least satisfying character, especially early on, as she is routinely exposed to the hardships of the districts yet keeps the capitol superficiality. Peeta is too good to be true in the world they find themselves in. The rationale that he always had food isn't enough for him to have risen that far above the rest morally.
President Snow is the most interesting character. He is as menacing as an literary character in recent years. His ability to menace and charm at the same time is a delight.
I think everybody should read the hunger games. They read a little like Harry Potter with teeth,


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by Gilda Davidian
I am excited to introduce you to the wonderful Katie McMurran who I met through Angela sometime last year. Katie is a radio producer, composer and audio artist. She studied at CalArts and currently works for KUSC. Be sure to check out her website to hear some of her beautiful compositions (I loved For Keith and Tilt) and projects.
Hi Katie! Considering your background in sound, I can't help but wonder what you have been listening to lately? The new Sigur Ros and new Beach House have been in rotation lately. I listen to lots of podcasts, and lots of radio in general. I am one of several in my family who subscribes to satellite radio. It has a great college radio station and some fun talk programs. Remember Jane magazine? Jane Pratt hosts a radio show. It's sassy.
Where is the last place you traveled to? Tell us something that happened there. My last big trip was Thailand. Seeing a falling star from a rowboat ride at night was one of the magical things that happened during the trip. But my favorite part was going down to the beach early in the morning, sitting in a rope swing, and listening to music.
Do you subscribe to any mantras or mottoes? It sounds cheesy but "go with the flow" – don't resist life. I strongly believe in practicing mindfulness so whatever is happening in this moment, try to experience that fully, good or bad, and then actfrom that place. Not that I'm able to do that all the time, but it's a goal.
What is something you are looking forward to? I'm going to Brooklyn in a few weeks and am looking forward to spending a day recording a friend of mine who is an environmental activist.
Are you working on any projects right now? I have two audio projects on the horizon – one on our perceptions of physical beauty, and one on how music represents our feelings for others – why we're compelled to make mix tapes, for example.
Thank you, Katie!