text:
I just published LazySeq
library on GitHub – result of my Java 8 experiments recently. I hope you will enjoy it. Even if you don't find it very useful, it's still a great lesson of functional programming in Java 8 (and in general). Also it's probably the first community library targeting Java 8!
Lazy sequence is a data structure that is being computed only when its elements are actually needed. All operations on lazy sequences, like map()
and filter()
are lazy as well, postponing invocation up to the moment when it is really necessary. Lazy sequence is always traversed from the beginning using very cheap first/rest
decomposition (head()
and tail()
). An important property of lazy sequences is that they can represent infinite streams of data, e.g. all natural numbers or temperature measurements over time.
Lazy sequence remembers already computed values so if you access Nth element, all elements from 1
to N-1
are computed as well and cached. Despite that LazySeq
(being at the core of many functional languages and algorithms) is immutable and thread-safe.
This library is heavily inspired by scala.collection.immutable.Stream
and aims to provide immutable, thread-safe and easy to use lazy sequence implementation, possibly infinite. See Lazy sequences in Scala and Clojure for some use cases.
class name is already used in Java 8, therefore LazySeq
was chosen, similar to lazy-seq
in Clojure. Speaking of Stream
, at first it looks like a lazy sequence implementation available out-of-the-box. However, quoting Javadoc:
Streams are not data structures
Once an operation has been performed on a stream, it is considered consumed and no longer usable for other operations.
In other words java.util.stream.Stream
is just a thin wrapper around existing collection, suitable for one time use. More akin to Iterator
than to Stream
in Scala. This library attempts to fill this niche.
Of course implementing lazy sequence data structure was possible prior to Java 8, but lack of lambdas makes working with such data structure tedious and too verbose.
Getting started
Building and working with lazy sequences in 10 minutes.
Infinite sequence of all natural numbers
In order to create a lazy sequence you use LazySeq.cons()
factory method that accepts first element (head) and a function that might be later used to compute rest (tail). For example in order to produce lazy sequence of natural numbers with given start element you simply say:
private LazySeq<Integer> naturals(int from) { return LazySeq.cons(from, () -> naturals(from + 1)); }
There is really no recursion here. If there was, calling naturals()
would quickly result in StackOverflowError
as it calls itself without stop condition. However () -> naturals(from + 1)
expression defines a function returning LazySeq<Integer>
to be precise) that this data structure will invoke, but only if needed. Look at the code below, how many times do you think naturals()
function was called (except the first line)?
final LazySeq<Integer> ints = naturals(2); final LazySeq<String> strings = ints. map(n -> n + 10). filter(n -> n % 2 == 0). take(10). flatMap(n -> Arrays.asList(0x10000 + n, n)). distinct(). map(Integer::toHexString);
First invocation of naturals(2)
returns lazy sequence starting from 2
but rest (3
, 4
, …) is not computed yet. Later we map()
over this sequence, filter()
it, take()
first 10 elements, remove duplicates, etc. All these operations do not evaluate the sequence and are as lazy as possible. For example take(10)
doesn't evaluate first 10 elements eagerly to return them. Instead new lazy sequence is returned which remembers that it should truncate original sequence at 10th element.
Same applies to distinct()
. It doesn't evaluate the whole sequence to extract all unique values (otherwise code above would explode quickly, traversing infinite amount of natural numbers). Instead it returns a new sequence with only the first element. If you ever ask for the second unique element, it will lazily evaluate tail, but only as much as possible. Check out
System.out.println(strings); //[1000c, ?]
Question mark (?
) says: "there might be something more in that collection, but I don't know it yet". Do you understand where did 1000c
came from? Look carefully:
- Start from an infinite stream of natural numbers starting from
- Add
to each element (so the first element becomes12
in hex) filter()
out odd numbers (12
is even so it stays)take()
elements from sequence so far- Each element is replaced by two elements: that element plus 0x1000 and the element itself (
). This does not yield a sequence of pairs, but a sequence of integers that is twice as long - We ensure only
elements will be returned - In the end we turn integers to hex strings.
As you can see none of these operations really require evaluating the whole stream. Only head is being transformed and this is what we see in the end. So when this data structure is actually evaluated? When it absolutely must, e.g. during side-effect traversal:
strings.force(); //or strings.forEach(System.out::println); //or final List<String> list = strings.toList(); //or for (String s : strings) { System.out.println(s); }
All the statements above alone will force evaluation of whole lazy sequence. Not very smart if our sequence was infinite, but
was limited to first 10 elements so it will not run infinitely. If you want to force only part of the sequence, simply call strings.take(5).force()
. BTW have you noticed that we can iterate over LazySeq strings
using standard Java 5 for-each syntax? That's because LazySeq
implements List
interface, thus plays nicely with Java Collections Framework ecosystem:
import java.util.AbstractList; public abstract class LazySeq<E> extends AbstractList<E>
Please keep in mind that once lazy sequence is evaluated (computed) it will cache (memoize) them for later use. This makes lazy sequences great for representing infinite or very long streams of data that are expensive to compute.
iterate( )
Building an infinite lazy sequence very often boils down to providing an initial element and a function that produces next item based on the previous one. In other words second element is a function of the first one, third element is a function of the second one, and so on. Convenience LazySeq.iterate()
function is provided for such circumstances. ints
definition can now look like this:
final LazySeq<Integer> ints = LazySeq.iterate(2, n -> n + 1);
We start from 2
and each subsequent element is represented as previous element + 1.
More examples: Fibonacci sequence and Collatz conjecture
No article about lazy data structure can be left without Fibonacci numbers example:
private static LazySeq<Integer> lastTwoFib(int first, int second) { return LazySeq.cons( first, () -> lastTwoFib(second, first + second) ); }
Fibonacci sequence is infinite as well but we are free to transform it in multiple ways:
System.out.println( fib. drop(5). take(10). toList() ); //[5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377] final int firstAbove1000 = fib. filter(n -> (n > 1000)). head(); fib.get(45);
See how easy and natural it is to work with infinite stream of numbers? drop(5).take(10)
skips first 5 elements and displays next 10. At this point first 15 numbers are already computed and will never by computed again.
Finding first Fibonacci number above 1000 (happens to be 1597
) is very straightforward. head()
is always precomputed by filter()
, so no further evaluation is needed. Last but not least we can simply just ask for 45th Fibonacci number (0-based) and get
. If you ever try to access any Fibonacci number up to this one, they are precomputed and fast to retrieve.
Finite sequences (Collatz conjecture)
Collatz conjecture is also quite interesting problem. For each positive integer n
we compute next integer using following algorithm:
is even3n + 1
is odd
For example starting from 10
series looks as follows: 10, 5, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1. The series ends when it reaches 1. Mathematicians believe that starting from any integer we will eventually reach 1 but it's not yet proven.
Let us create a lazy sequence that generates Collatz series for given n
, but only as many as needed. As stated above, this time our sequence will be finite:
private LazySeq<Long> collatz(long from) { if (from > 1) { final long next = from % 2 == 0 ? from / 2 : from * 3 + 1; return LazySeq.cons(from, () -> collatz(next)); } else { return LazySeq.of(1L); } }
This implementation is driven directly by the definition. For each number greater than 1
return that number + lazily evaluated (() -> collatz(next)
) rest of the stream. As you can see if 1
is given, we return single element lazy sequence using special of()
factory method. Let's test it with aforementioned 10
final LazySeq<Long> collatz = collatz(10); collatz.filter(n -> (n > 10)).head(); collatz.size();
allows us to find first number in the sequence that is greater than 10
. Remember that lazy sequence will have to traverse the contents (evaluate itself), but only to the point where it finds first matching element. Then it stops, ensuring it computes as little as possible.
However size()
, in order to calculate total number of elements, must traverse the whole sequence. Of course this can only work with finite lazy sequences, calling size()
on an infinite sequence will end up poorly.
If you play a bit with this sequence you will quickly realize that sequences for different numbers share the same suffix (always end with the same sequence of numbers). This begs for some caching/structural sharing. See CollatzConjectureTest
for details.
But can it be used to something, you know… useful? Real life?
Infinite sequences of numbers are great, but not very practical in real life. Maybe some more down to earth examples? Imagine you have a collection and you need to pick few items from that collection randomly. Instead of collection I will use a function returning random latin characters:
private char randomChar() { return (char) ('A' + (int) (Math.random() * ('Z' - 'A' + 1))); }
But there is a twist. You need N (N < 26, number of latin characters) unique values. Simply calling randomChar()
few times doesn't guarantee uniqueness. There are few approaches to this problem, with LazySeq
it's pretty straightforward:
LazySeq<Character> charStream = LazySeq.<Character>continually(this::randomChar); LazySeq<Character> uniqueCharStream = charStream.distinct();
simply invokes given function for each element when needed. Thus charStream
will be an infinite stream of random characters. Of course they can't be unique. However uniqueCharStream
guarantees that its output is unique. It does so by examining next element of underlying charStream
and rejecting items that already appeared. We can now say uniqueCharStream.take(4)
and be sure that no duplicates will appear.
Once again notice that continually(this::randomChar).distinct().take(4)
really calls randomChar()
only once! As long as you don't consume this sequence, it remains lazy and postpones evaluation as long as possible.
Another example involves loading batches (pages) of data from database. Using ResultSet
or Iterator
is cumbersome but loading whole data set into memory often not feasible. An alternative involves loading first batch of data eagerly and then providing a function to load next batches. Data is loaded only when it's really needed and we don't suffer performance or scalability issues.
First let's define abstract API for loading batches of data from database:
public List<Record> loadPage(int offset, int max) { //load records from offset to offset + max }
I abstract from the technology entirely, but you get the point. Imagine that we now define LazySeq<Record>
that starts from row 0 and loads next pages only when needed:
public static final int PAGE_SIZE = 5; private LazySeq<Record> records(int from) { return LazySeq.concat( loadPage(from, PAGE_SIZE), () -> records(from + PAGE_SIZE) ); }
When creating new LazySeq<Record>
instance by calling records(0)
first page of 5 elements is loaded. This means that first 5 sequence elements are already computed. If you ever try to access 6th or above, sequence will automatically load all missing record and cache them. In other words you never compute the same element twice.
More useful tools when working with sequences are grouped()
and sliding()
methods. First partitions input sequence into groups of equal size. Take this as an example, also proving that these methods are as always lazy:
final LazySeq<Character> chars = LazySeq.of('A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F', 'G'); chars.grouped(3); //[[A, B, C], ?] chars.grouped(3).force(); //force evaluation //[[A, B, C], [D, E, F], [G]]
and similarly for sliding()
chars.sliding(3); //[[A, B, C], ?] chars.sliding(3).force(); //force evaluation //[[A, B, C], [B, C, D], [C, D, E], [D, E, F], [E, F, G]]
These two methods are extremely useful. You can look at your data through sliding window (e.g. to compute moving average) or partition it to equal-length buckets.
Last interesting utility method you may find useful is scan()
that iterates (lazily, of course) the input stream and constructs every element of output by applying a function on previous and current element of input. Code snippet is worth a thousand words:
LazySeq<Integer> list = LazySeq. numbers(1). scan(0, (a, x) -> a + x); list.take(10).force(); //[0, 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45]
is a sequence of natural numbers (1, 2, 3…). scan()
creates a new sequence that starts from
and for each element of input (natural numbers) adds it to last element of itself. So we get: [0
, 0+1
, 0+1+2
, 0+1+2+3
, 0+1+2+3+4
, 0+1+2+3+4+5
…]. If you want a sequence of growing strings, just replace few types:
LazySeq.continually("*"). scan("", (s, c) -> s + c). map(s -> "|" + s + "\\"). take(10). forEach(System.out::println);
And enjoy this beautiful triangle:
|\ |*\ |**\ |***\ |****\ |*****\ |******\ |*******\ |********\ |*********\
Alternatively (same output):
LazySeq.iterate("", s -> s + "*"). map(s -> "|" + s + "\\"). take(10). forEach(System.out::println);
Java collections framework interoperability
implements java.util.List
interface, thus can be used in variety of places. Moreover it also implements Java 8 enhancements to collections, namely streams and collectors:
lazySeq. stream(). map(n -> n + 1). flatMap(n -> asList(0, n - 1).stream()). filter(n -> n != 0). substream(4, 18). limit(10). sorted(). distinct(). collect(Collectors.toList());
However streams in Java 8 were created to work around feature that is a foundation of LazySeq
– lazy evaluation. Example above postpones all intermediate steps until collect()
is called. With LazySeq
you can safely skip .stream()
and work directly on sequence:
lazySeq. map(n -> n + 1). flatMap(n -> asList(0, n - 1)). filter(n -> n != 0). slice(4, 18). limit(10). sorted(). distinct();
Moreover LazySeq
provides special purpose collector (see: LazySeq.toLazySeq()
) that avoids evaluation even when used with collect()
– which normally forces full collection computation.
Implementation details
Each lazy sequence is built around the idea of eagerly computed head and lazily evaluated tail represented as function. This is very similar to classic single-linked list recursive definition:
class List<T> { private final T head; private final List<T> tail; //... }
However in case of lazy sequence tail is given as a function, not a value. Invocation of that function is postponed as long as possible:
class Cons<E> extends LazySeq<E> { private final E head; private LazySeq<E> tailOrNull; private final Supplier<LazySeq<E>> tailFun; @Override public LazySeq<E> tail() { if (tailOrNull == null) { tailOrNull = tailFun.get(); } return tailOrNull; }
For full implementation see Cons.java
and FixedCons.java
used when tail
is known at creation time (for example LazySeq.of(1, 2)
as opposed to LazySeq.cons(1, () -> someTailFun()
Pitfalls and common dangers
Below common issues and misunderstandings are described.
Evaluating too much
One of the biggest dangers of working with infinite sequences is trying to evaluate them completely, which obviously leads to infinite computation. The idea behind infinite sequence is not to evaluate it in its entirety but to take as much as we need without introducing artificial limits and accidental complexity (see database loading example).
However evaluating whole sequence is way too simple to miss. For example calling LazySeq.size()
must evaluate whole sequence and will run infinitely, eventually filling up stack or heap (implementation detail). There are other methods that require full traversal in order to function properly. E.g. allMatch()
making sure all elements match given predicate. Some methods are even more dangerous, because whether they will finish or not depends on data in the sequence. For example anyMatch()
may return immediately if head matches predicate – or never.
Sometimes we can easily avoid costly operations by using more deterministic methods. For example:
seq.size() <= 10 //BAD
may not work or be extremely slow if seq
is infinite. However we can achieve the same with (more) predictable:
Remember that lazy sequences are immutable (so we don't really mutate seq
), drop(n)
is typically O(n)
while isEmpty()
is O(1)
When in doubt, consult source code or JavaDoc to make sure your operation won't too eagerly evaluate your sequence. Also be very cautious when using LazySeq
where java.util.Collection
or java.util.List is expected.
Holding unnecessary reference to head
Lazy sequences be definition remember already computed elements. You have to be aware of that, otherwise your sequence (especially infinite) will quickly fill up available memory. However, because LazySeq
is just a fancy linked list, if you no longer keep a reference to head (but only to some element in the middle), it becomes eligible for garbage collection. For example:
//LazySeq<Char> first = seq.take(10); seq = seq.drop(10);
First ten elements are dropped and we assume nothing holds a reference to what previously was hept in seq
. This makes first ten elements eligible for garbage collection. However if we uncomment first line and keep reference to old head
in first
, JVM will not release any memory. Let's put that into perspective. The following piece of code will eventually throw OutOfMemoryError
because infinite
reference keeps holding the beginning of the sequence, therefore all the elements created so far:
LazySeq<Big> infinite = LazySeq.<Big>continually(Big::new); for (Big arr : infinite) { // }
However by inlining call to continually()
or extracting it to a method this code works flawlessly (well, still runs forever, but uses almost no memory):
private LazySeq<Big> getContinually() { return LazySeq.<Big>continually(Big::new); } for (Big arr : getContinually()) { // }
What's the difference? For-each loop uses iterators underneath. LazySeqIterator
underneath doesn't hold a reference to old head()
when it advances, so if nothing else references that head, it will be eligible for garbage collection, see true javac
output when for-each is used:
for (Iterator<Big> cur = getContinually().iterator(); cur.hasNext(); ) { final Big arr = cur.next(); //... }
Your sequence grows while being traversed. If you keep holding one end while the other grows, it will eventually blow up. Just like your first level cache in Hibernate if you load too much in one transaction. Use only as much as needed.
Converting to plain Java collections
Converting is simple, but dangerous. This is a consequence of points above. You can convert lazy sequence to java.util.List
by calling toList()
LazySeq<Integer> even = LazySeq.numbers(0, 2); even.take(5).toList(); //[0, 2, 4, 6, 8]
or using Collector
from Java 8 having richer API:
even. stream(). limit(5). collect(Collectors.toSet()) //[4, 6, 0, 2, 8]
But remember that Java collections are finite from definition so avoid converting lazy sequences to collections explicitly. Note that
is already List
, thus Iterable
and Collection
. It also has efficient LazySeq.iterator()
. If you can, simply pass LazySeq
instance directly and may just work.
Performance, time and space complexity
of every sequence (except empty) is always computed eagerly, thus accessing it is fast O(1)
. Computing tail()
may take everything from O(1)
(if it was already computed) to infinite time. As an example take this valid stream:
import static com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.cons; import static com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.continually; LazySeq<Integer> oneAndZeros = cons( 1, () -> continually(0) ). filter(x -> (x > 0));
It represents 1
followed by infinite number of 0
s. By filtering all positive numbers (x > 0
) we get a sequence with same head, but filtering of tail is delayed (lazy). However if we now carelessly call oneAndZeros.tail()
, LazySeq
will keep computing more and more of this infinite sequence, but since there is no positive element after initial 1
, this operation will run forever, eventually throwing StackOverflowError
or OutOfMemoryError
(this is an implementation detail).
However if you ever reach this state, it's probably a programming bug or misusing of the library. Typically tail()
will be close to O(1)
. On the other hand if you have plenty of operations already "stacked", calling tail()
will trigger them rapidly one after another, so tail()
run time is heavily dependant on your data structure.
Most operations on LazySeq
are O(1)
since they are lazy. Some operations, like get(n)
or drop(n)
are O(n)
represents parameter, not sequence length). In general run time will be similar to normal linked list.
Because LazySeq
remembers all already computed values in a single linked list, memory consumption is always O(n)
, where n
n is the number of already computed elements.
Error invalid target release: 1.8
during maven build
If you see this error message during maven build:
[INFO] BUILD FAILURE ... [ERROR] Failed to execute goal org.apache.maven.plugins:maven-compiler-plugin:3.1:compile (default-compile) on project lazyseq: Fatal error compiling: invalid target release: 1.8 -> [Help 1]
it means you are not compiling using Java 8. Download JDK 8 with lambda support and let maven use it:
$ export JAVA_HOME=/path/to/jdk8
I get StackOverflowError
or program hangs infinitely
When working with LazySeq
you sometimes get StackOverflowError
or OutOfMemoryError
java.lang.StackOverflowError at sun.misc.Unsafe.allocateInstance(Native Method) at java.lang.invoke.DirectMethodHandle.allocateInstance(DirectMethodHandle.java:426) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.iterate(LazySeq.java:118) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.lambda$0(LazySeq.java:118) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq$$Lambda$2.get(Unknown Source) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.Cons.tail(Cons.java:32) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.size(LazySeq.java:325) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.size(LazySeq.java:325) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.size(LazySeq.java:325) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.size(LazySeq.java:325) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.size(LazySeq.java:325) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.size(LazySeq.java:325) at com.blogspot.nurkiewicz.lazyseq.LazySeq.size(LazySeq.java:325)
When working with possibly infinite data structures, care must be taken. Avoid calling operations that must (size()
, allMatch()
, minBy()
, forEach()
, reduce()
, …) or can (filter()
, distinct()
, …) traverse the whole sequence in order to give correct results. See Pitfalls for more examples and ways to avoid.
This project was started as an exercise and is not battle-proven. But a healthy 300+ unit-test suite (3:1 test code/production code ratio) guards quality and functional correctness. I also make sure LazySeq
is as lazy as possible by mocking tail functions and verifying they are called as rarely as one can get.
Contributions and bug reports
In the event of finding a bug or missing feature, don't hesitate to open a new ticket or start pull request. I would also love to see more interesting usages of LazySeq
in wild.
Possible improvements
- Just like
is used when tail is known up-front, considerIterableCons
that wraps existingIterable
in one node rather than buildingFixedCons
hierarchy. This can be used for allconcat
methods. - Parallel processing support (implementing spliterator?)
This project is released under version 2.0 of the Apache License.


text:
Bump on bridge of my nose after rhinoplasty- will it straighten out?
I had rhinoplasty 2 weeks ago. I know its too early as its still way too swollen, but there's a bump on the bridge of my nose, I've been told that its all due to swelling and it will straighten out, but will that really happen? I had my cast removed 8 days after surgery and i remember still seeing bump. Its not that obvious, but for me its obvious enough to upset me. It feels as hard as a bone. Will this really straighten out? :( Many thanks
Doctor Answers 4
The bump you're seeing on your nose could be related to swelling or there could be residual bone or cartilage if part of your rhinoplasty involved removing or reducing a bump. In any case, it would be wisest to wait and follow up with your physician for a few months before making any judgments regarding your nose.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Two weeks is still too early to know what the end result will look like. I tell my patients that we cannot really make any assessments until about 6 months after surgery. I know its hard, but be patient. Best of luck.
Considering you are only 2 weeks out from a rhinoplasty, having little bumps along the bridge is normal. It is typically due to the swelling. With time it should go down assuming that there is not any cartilage/bone under the skin. Be patient and continue to follow-up with your surgeon.
Web reference: http://www.drkaram.com
You might also like...
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Im playing with the Collision Detection Kit I have it all working but I cant figure out how you would work out the size of the overlap? So I can have it stop when an object hits an object?
I can access the array of points that are colliding but I cant figure out how you would use this to work out the size of the over lap. I want to make a maze type demo that would handle the collisions with the walls etc. using the CDK so that I could curved lines as walls etc.
Any help would be great


text:
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text:
TPM Livewire
Feinstein: Hayden Calling Me 'Emotional' Is 'An Old Male Fallback'
"And there is no question that there are a lot of people out there — I suspect one of them is former CIA Director Hayden — that does not want that report to come out," she said on MSNBC, as recorded by The Hill. "So one of the things you do is try to blur the reputation of someone connected to the report."
Feinstein added that the Senate Intelligence Committee began its investigation before she was chair.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on Monday blasted Hayden for his comments about Feinstein.
"For this man to say that because she criticizes tactics led by General Hayden, that was torture, she's being too emotional. I don't think so. Does this sound like a person or a party that respects women?" Reid said on the Senate floor.
The committee report concerning the Bush-Cheney administration found that interrogation techniques like waterboarding were not effective in gaining significant intelligence in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.


text: An Offer You Can't RefuseSadie Stein8/18/09 1:20pmFiled to: Animal protectionMichigan catsCertified pre-owned catsadoptionsheltersCatsAdult cats72EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkIn order to combat the inevitable summer shelter overflow of adult cats, aggravated by the economy, Michigan shelters have instituted a campaign advertising Certified Pre-Owned Cats, "better than new," complete with free "multipoint inspection." The campaign has increased adoptions. [CBS]Reply72 repliesLeave a reply


text:
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Little Dragon / PS22 Chorus remix!
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to come across this video via Twitter! Thanks to
J Barber
for creating this awesome new "
remix" of our collaboration with
Little Dragon
back in March. You can also
download an mp3 of the remix here.
2 comments:
Iuri said...
how sensible... what a sensible job...
August 22, 2011 at 10:35 PM
AMAZING!! Truly amazing!!
September 1, 2011 at 10:20 PM
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text:
Posts by annah
Total # Posts: 15
life orientation
Restorative justice is a new concept in the South Africa legal landscape.explain briefly what its intentions are in the process of human right violations
May 8, 2016
life orientation
April 17, 2016
Life Orientation
Critically discuss ways in which human rights violations influences individuals, groups and the broader S.A I thought of many individuals will no longer be free and won't feel safe in their own country which increases emigration and reduction in S.A's population
March 28, 2016
Scientists hypothesized that finer grain iron oxide on video and audio tapes would result in better recording and playback. They produced ten tapes with a range of partial sizes, recorded them, and tested the quality of the playback. Electronic instruments and human visual and...
August 26, 2015
A 5kg package is lifted vertically through 10m at constant speed. What is the potential energy of the package if acceleration due to gravity is 10m5 to power negative 2
June 2, 2015
How much work is done on the trolley by the force,if the force applied is 200N at an angle of 37 degrees to the horizontal and the trolley moves a distance of 10m.
May 1, 2014
igneous rocks to Hunan kind
April 21, 2014
life orientation
Social worker
March 12, 2014
Life orientation
what are the human factors that cause ill-health,sickneess,trauma,accidents,crises and disasters
March 27, 2013
Life orietation
What ,according to the basic conditions of employment act applies with regard to the contraventions that you've identified
February 20, 2013
a closed gas cylinder contains 0.500 mole h2, 0.300 mole o2, 1.200 mole co2 at a temperature of 25'c and presure of 2.00 atm 1) calculate the volume of the cylinder 2) calculatethe partial pressure of the cylinder if the volime is decreased to 25% of its original value at ...
October 26, 2012
Life orientation
Case study about (BCEA)
March 15, 2012
Life orientation
I need help based on a Case Study says Basic Conditions of Employment Act(BCEA)
February 28, 2012
But I don't understand at all how to do that:(
May 4, 2011
I need to change this poem to an iambic pentameter poem..Please HELP!!!! Love, unconditional, unbreakable, unmistakable . A beating within your heart unstoppable. The realistic magic ever so real, That you cannot explain but only feel. The warmth inside your heart, You feel ...
May 4, 2011
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In the Lancaster County Treasurer's Office, we pride ourselves on providing quality customer service. While no one enjoys paying taxes, one of our top priorities is to make paying your taxes simple and easy.
As the S.C. General Assembly approaches the end of the first year of the two-year session, much remains to be done. Finding additional funding for our roads, overhauling ethics laws and strengthening penalties for criminal domestic violence are the issues receiving the most attention.
To date, though, resolution has yet to be reached on any. What follows will bring you up to speed on those issues as well as some others legislators are debating this year.
Roads, roads, roads
I have been following Indian Land Warriors sports since the late 1960s.
The Feb. 26 boys basketball game was the most exciting game I've ever seen.
Tied with 5 seconds to play, the Warriors got a good call and scored as time ran off the clock.
I was disappointed the athletic director and police attempted to keep the students off the court to celebrate, but it was still very exciting.
I told some folks what potential newcomers, visitors, etc. have asked me through the years: 'What's the best thing about Lancaster? Why should I want to move there?'
It has been my privilege to tell them many positive aspects about our community, but I always conclude by telling these inquirers that it's our people, our citizens who are so special. They are caring, thoughtful, friendly people, who volunteer and assist, and who will welcome them warmly.
Halloween – the annual fall fun and fright night – is set for Thursday in our community. It's a special time of year when youngsters take to the streets in their neighborhood for trick-or-treating. Like any holiday, it should be a night of fun for all. We urge those who plan to hit the streets to take a little time to note safety measures for the few hours they are out and about. The night should be fun, and it usually is, but take a moment and review some key safety points to prevent disaster and possible tragedy.
OK, not much introduction needed this month. Here is what is going on with the so-called government "shutdown." How much of the government is shut down? Even the government's own research service says the title "government shutdown" is misleading.
The quality work of See Lancaster is widely known in our area. Now the city of Lancaster's marketing arm has gained national acclaim. Through its promotion and revitalization efforts, See Lancaster has earned national designation. Earlier this spring, See Lancaster was recognized as a National Main Street Program for meeting revitalization standards established by the National Main Street Center, a part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Plenty can be said of David Demby. What you can't say about Demby is that he's inactive. "I'm tied up all the time," Demby said. So true because Demby is a man wearing many hats. He's an army reservist, a Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services paramedic and time as a field training officer with the Lancaster County EMS. One time when Demby had to pause for some time came earlier this spring when he was awarded the Paramedic of the Year.
The 2013 University of South Carolina Lancaster spring semester might be history, but a pair of USCL spring sports teams are still going strong. The Lancers' golf team and baseball squad have extended their seasons into post-season play. The 25-12 USCL golf team, under the leadership of coach Ricky Walters, is headed to the National Junior College national tournament after winning the Region X tournament with a sudden death win over Wake Tech at the Boscobel Golf Course in Pendleton last month.
Today is Easter, regarded as one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar. Easter, also known as Pascha, is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day following his crucifixion at Calvary, according to the New Testament. Easter follows Lent, the 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance which begins with Ash Wednesday and continues through Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.
Where you start has nothing to do with where you end up. Nobody knows that as well as the Lewisville High Lions boys basketball team. We aren't just talking about the 0-6 start the team endured while playing Class A's toughest out-of-region schedule. The program itself has come a long way from humble beginnings. History recounts that Lewisville's first teams, in the 1940s, didn't have a gym to play in. In fact, it didn't even have a paved surface on which to dribble. The team's outdoor court was made of dirt.
S.C. Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell fired off some eye-opening statistics recently at the Duke Energy retirees quarterly luncheon. McConnell's speech centered on the aging population of the state and what a poor job we are doing of making their lives comfortable.
The recent death of Mary Mackey Robertson ended a life of outstanding service. Robertson, no matter where she was involved, was all about serving those where she lived. She was reputed as a trailblazer in education, rising through the ranks to serve in various capacities. Her dedication to education reached an apex last spring when she was inducted into the Lancaster County School District Hall of Fame.
While the official Veterans Day is not until Sunday, Lancaster County residents have a chance to honor their local veterans on Saturday. That chance will be at the annual Veterans Day Parade slated to begin at noon on Main Street. With the election finally behind us, we have the opportunity to focus on thanking and honoring those who risk their lives to protect our freedom both here and on the foreign fields. Many of them have made the extreme sacrifice for our freedom.
When a council or board retires to executive session, it is not entering into a new or different meeting. It's the same meeting, the door has just been closed. A few weeks ago, we pointed out that a court ruling had been issued which made it very clear that meeting agendas cannot and should not be amended once a meeting has begun. Public bodies must provide an agenda for their meetings at least 24 hours in advance. The intent is to tell the public what they will discuss and may vote on.
It is fairly common practice for boards and councils to amend their meeting agendas once a meeting has begun without any objections. From now on, we object to the practice. Public bodies are required to give advance notice not less than 24 hours in advance of a meeting. An agenda for any meeting must be posted as well. Essentially, though, public bodies treat agendas as though they are written in pencil, altering them and making additions well into meetings.
Fred Thompson thought Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile was kidding him, but as it turned out, Thompson had plenty to smile about. Thompson, a sheriff's office investigator, was recently presented the S.C. Deputy of the Year award by the S.C. Sheriff's Association at the association's annual convention in Hilton Head. "When I heard, I thought the sheriff was just teasing me," Thompson said. "It took awhile to let it sink in."
Persistence personified can be found in the group of area youth who have pushed for a skateboard park in Lancaster County. The group, led by Dustin Owens and his skateboard-loving followers, have frequented area government council meetings in the past year, pushing for a skateboard park. They've been to city and county council meetings in hopes of a solution, but it appears they may have found their future hopes at the Kershaw Town Council.
Larry Honeycutt
Every time I pick up The Lancaster News, I see another murder, another home invasion, someone getting robbed and beaten, sexually assaulted or burglarized. The pathetic (one of many) part is – it's the same person doing the crimes over and over again. We can't blame the officers who make the arrests – they're doing their jobs. They're getting them off the streets and putting them behind bars.


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Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly review sessions for students taking historically challenging courses. SI is provided for all students who want to improve their understanding of course material and improve their grades.
Attendance at sessions is voluntary. For you the student, it's a chance to get together with people in your class to compare notes, to discuss important concepts, to develop strategies for studying the subject, and to test yourself before your professor does, so that when he or she does, you'll be ready. At each session, you will be guided by your SI leader, a competent student who has previously taken the course.
Sara Marlatt, Justin German
College Chemistry I (CHEM 131)
Math & Science Bldg., Room 144
Monday 5:00 p.m., Tuesday 6:00 p.m., Thursday 5:00 p.m.
Justin German, SI Leader
Organic Chemistry (CHEM 334)
Math & Science Bldg. Broken Beaker
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 6:00 p.m.
Sara Marlatt, SI Leader
SI leaders are students themselves and are prepared to share with you what they have learned over the years about how to study. They know the course content and are anxious to help guide you through it. They'll be in class with you every day, hearing what you hear and reading what you read. What they won't do is lecture; their job is to help you think about the lectures you hear and the books you read, and then put it all together into some kind of perspective during SI review sessions so you can learn more efficiently.
On the first day of class you will complete a short survey to let the SI leader know your class schedule. Each SI leader will set up three or more review sessions a week at times that are best for the majority of you. You can attend one, two, or all three (the choice is yours) and each one will be different because you'll have new material to discuss. SI review sessions are informal. Bring your notes, bring your textbook; bring your questions.
If you attend SI sessions regularly, chances are you'll earn a better grade. You'll have developed a better understanding of course content as well as more effective ways of studying. This will help you in other classes also.
If you are interested in Supplemental Instruction, please contact us via e-mail or phone 308-432-6381 or 1-800-CHADRON and ask to be transferred to extension 6381.
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Georges Guynemer
From Wikiquote
Georges Guynemer (24 December 1894 – 11 September 1917) was a French aviator and fighter pilot in the First World War.
This article about a military figure is a stub. You can help Wikiquote by expanding it. |
- For remember that until one has given all, one has given nothing.
- The Secret Battalion By Michael J. Bird (1964) p. 76


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NW church hosts women's event Saturday, Sept. 18
New Life Bible Fellowship Church in the Northwest is hosting a gathering for women on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Women from all over the world are listening to the message of author and Bible teacher Beth Moore at LifeWay Women's Living Proof Live simulcast. Moore's books and studies include "Breaking Free" and "Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman."
"We had an amazing time in 2009 and were pleased to have churches from eight countries and two military bases participate," said Paige Greene, director of women's events for LifeWay. "This year, we are streaming live from the Internet, which will allow churches of all sizes to participate with ease."
Doors open at 8:30 a.m., the event starts at 9:30, and it finishes at 4 p.m.
New Life Bible Fellowship Church is located at 4900 N. Cortaro Farms Road.
Chile festival this Saturday at Oro Valley Farmers mart
For the sixth year, the Oro Valley Farmers' Market is hosting its annual Chile Festival this Saturday, Sept. 18.
Loads of red and green chiles are coming in fresh and for sale, roasted or raw.
Harvest Restaurant's Ramiro Scavo is doing a cooking demonstration with fresh market ingredients, including green chiles, at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The farmers' market is open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Oro Valley Town Hall.
OV club hosts Sept. 18 golf to assist women, kids
A golf tournament to raise funds for homeless families is being held Saturday, Sept. 18, at Rancho Vistoso Golf Club, 955 West Vistoso Highlands Drive in Oro Valley.
The 10th annual New Beginnings for Women & Children event is presented by the Southern Arizona Credit Union Chapter.
Proceeds "benefit NBWC's shelter and housing programs that help more than 600 homeless women and children annually," a release said. Last year's event raised more than $8,000 for New Beginnings. This year's goal is $15,000.
The tourney is a four-person scramble, 18 holes with a cart. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Lunch, raffle prizes and awards follow. Tickets are $100 each or $400 for a foursome. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to http://www.nbwctucson.org">www.nbwctucson.org, call 520-325-8800, or visit 2590 N. Alvernon Way.
A set of Ping G15 clubs is the featured raffle prize. Winners need not be present. To reserve raffle tickets, call New Beginnings for Women & Children at 520-325-8800.
New Beginnings for Women & Children has been helping homeless families stabilize and journey into self-sufficiency for 23 years. From its beginning as a four-room shelter, to its current state — a 13-room shelter in addition to 70 transitional housing apartments — NBWC has continued to pursue its vision of "reducing homelessness in our community, one family at a time." More than 600 individuals a year are assisted.
Dispose-a-med Sept. 25 in Marana
A Dispose-a-Med event, giving people a place to discard expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, is being held in Marana on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The Marana Police Department is organizing the collection, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that Saturday at Target, Ina and Thornydale roads. It is free and open to the public.
Proper prescription and over-the-counter drug disposal is an emerging environmental issue, according to a release from the town. "As with any household waste, the disposal method chosen can have a direct effect on the safety and health of the environment," it continued. Once collected, the medications will be given to the Drug Enforcement Administration for disposal.
The event is being held in partnership with the Meth-Free Alliance, Marana Health Center Healthcare, Northwest Fire District and Pima County Wastewater. Students from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, under the supervision of licensed pharmacists, will be available to review and answer questions about medications.
Prostate health event Saturday at NW Medical
Prostate health is the subject this Saturday, Sept. 18, when Northwest Medical Center hosts an awareness campaign on prostate cancer.
"Know Your Stats about Prostate Cancer" is led by Hall of Fame football player and prostate cancer survivor Mike Haynes. Know Your Stats, a national campaign from the American Urological Association Foundation and the National Football League, is "bringing the message to fans across the country, educating men and their loved ones about the importance of prostate health," a release said.
On Saturday, information is being shared from 8 to 11 a.m. at Northwest Medical Center, classrooms B, C and D, located at 6200 N. La Cholla Blvd. To register, people may call 866NW4WELL (866-694-9355). Attendees can park in the parking garage adjacent to the emergency room entrance and follow the signs to the event.
Urologists Dr. Jenne Myers, Dr. Jay Page, Dr. Kalpesh Patel and Dr. Sanjay Ramakumar are presenting information on a variety of topics related to prostate health and prostate cancer, the importance of prostate cancer screening, and the range of available treatment options. A prostate cancer survivor is sharing his experience.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death for American men. One in every six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and African American men are more than twice as likely to die from the disease. In Arizona, 4,300 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
For additional information, contact Kim Chimene at 469-8738 or at firstname.lastname@example.com.
NW Fire open house at Star Grass Saturday
Northwest Fire is hosting an open house at Station 38, a block north of Cortaro, east of Camino de Oeste and west of Old Father Road, this Saturday, Sept. 18.
A day of fun, food and safety runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station 38, 8475 N. Star Grass.
There'll be chances to tour the station, climb up on a fire engine, and get a close-up look at firefighting equipment, a release said.
"Children can learn home escape skills through the safe, white smoke of the safety trailer and squirt a real fire hose," it continued. "Meet your firefighters and enjoy a hot dog lunch at the fire station. All ages welcome."
Marana effort to get kids fishing is being honored
A Town of Marana effort to get kids fishing is being recognized as the outstanding program for youth enrichment this week in Scottsdale.
The Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department is honored for its 2009-'10 Take Me Fishing Program on Sept. 2, at the annual Arizona Parks and Recreation Association banquet. Recreation programmer Tammy Haley served as the lead, and is accepting the award.
In 2009, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and National Parks & Recreation Association made resources available to communities with their Take Me Fishing initiative. The intent was to help local youth service organizations reconnect children with nature.
Marana Parks and Recreation applied for and received a $5,000 grant. The town wanted to introduce 2,000 school-age children to fishing. In fact, more than 2,500 youngsters, 1,000 adults and 50 volunteers participated in the year-long program.
The Marana program reached out to after-school and summer camp participants by offering fishing and boating presentations, contests, an opportunity to refurbish castoff fishing equipment and fishing field trips to Silverbell, Patagonia and Pena Blanca lakes.
The grant also provided funds to stock the Marana municipal swimming pool with more than 500 catfish for youngsters to catch during the town's annual Founders' Day events in March.
Volunteers from Arizona Game and Fish, Sportsman's Warehouse and the Arizona Bass Association also supported the program.
Catalina state park offers kids a $2 adventure
Does your child wonder how wild animals live and thrive in the Sonoran Desert?
Starting this fall, and continuing through the 2010-'11 school year, elementary school groups can arrange to visit Catalina State Park on the east edge of Oro Valley and participate in activities that teach how animals use the five senses to negotiate their environment.
It's called The Adventure Program, sponsored by Arizona State Parks.
The two-hour program is open to students in grades 1-3 from public, charter, private and home schools. Tours can be arranged by the classroom teacher, a release said. The entry fee is $2 per student.
Over the years, "thousands of Pima and Pinal county students have participated and enjoyed a morning of fun-filled learning activities in an Arizona state park," the release continued.
REI of Tucson is helping to sponsor this program by providing trail stools for students to use while participating.
For more information, contact program coordinators Andrew and Joanne Hogan at 520-903-4367, e-mail email@example.com, or go to the park website, http://azstateparks.com/parks/cata/index.html">http://azstateparks.com/parks/cata/index.html.
MV baseball fund-raising golf is Oct. 2
A second annual fund-raising golf tournament to help the Mountain View High School Baseball Club is going to be held Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort.
This is the team's major fund-raiser. Proceeds help pay for "much-needed things" such as new uniforms, jackets and "especially work on the baseball field," a release said.
Registration opens at noon, with a shotgun start in a scramble format at 1 p.m. Entries are $400 for a foursome. The entry deadline is Sept. 17.
Individuals and businesses can be hole sponsors beginning at $75. Sponsorships are needed by Sept. 10. Gifts for a raffle are also welcome, along with items to place in gift bags.
Elizabeth Chacon is the contact. She may be reached at 603-4879, by fax at 1-800-691-2513, or at firstname.lastname@example.com. Other points of contact are firstname.lastname@example.com, or MV Lion Baseball Classic, Box 90409, Tucson, 85752.
Police looking for woman who held up another
Police have released a sketch of a woman suspected of following another woman home, then attempting to steal her purse using what is believed to be a Taser.
At about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, Oro Valley police responded to the 14000 block of North Alamo Canyon Drive. The victim told police she was returning home from grocery shopping when she noticed a small red sedan following here. She said the fact the car had one working headlight caught her attention.
After pulling into her garage, she went to open her door and saw a white female, between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall with light brown hair, standing there. The suspect demanded the elderly woman's purse, and the woman said "no."
"I don't want to hurt you, but I will," the suspect reportedly replied.
At that time, the woman saw a weapon pointed at her, and handed over $30 to the suspect, who then left the garage. The victim went inside her house, locked the door and then looked outside to try and get a license plate number or a better description.
Anyone with information regarding the strong armed robbery, vehicle or identity of the female is asked to contact Oro Valley Police at (520) 229-4900 or 88-CRIME.
Police gather old drugs Saturday
The Oro Valley Police Department plan a prescription medication take-back event this week.
Police and volunteers are on hand Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Target store on Oracle Road near First Avenue to collect old and unwanted drugs.
Drug Enforcement Administration, SOBER Project, Meth Free Alliance, Oro Valley Optimist Club, Golder Ranch Fire District and Pima County Wastewater Management are partnering with the town to help prevent prescription drug abuse.
Police have similar events planned in October, November and December.


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Artist description:
used a wall paper ref.
Java Draw Created Aug 19, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 shakeh.
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What an intense and mysterious piece of art work,, Great expression,,love the mask, awesome details throughout,, nice work,, collector for me
This reminds me of Halle Berry (?) In catwoman XD Awsome drawing, it looks so real! 5h faves@
Hi Oriental -blossom ,I was not sure really may be you are right i will do a search..thanks


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When the latest batch of Better Homes and Gardens Recipe Insiders recipes appeared in my inbox for review, I was immediately attracted to the flavors in this one. Salty, sweet, tart, spicy ... yep, that about covers it. Its original incarnation is as a bruschetta, and while I think that would be fab, you know I just had to Trixify this a little bit. Rather than go with my favorite focaccia recipe, I made a Sicilian pizza dough I've worked with before that I think yields something in between pizza and focaccia ... a topping delivery method I have dubbed the fopizza.
I also had a feeling that the ingredients here - dried tart cherries, green and black olives, goat cheese, prosciuttio, and cherry peppers - would come together nicely if heated, and not just combined as a tapenade, as with the bruschetta. I was right! And there are so many ways to eat this: have it for lunch or dinner with a salad and a glass of wine, cut it into tiny pieces and set it out for your guests to snack on before the Thanksgiving feast, or, if you happen to be having some unseasonably hot weather, take the leftovers and have a picnic, like Poppa Trix and I did:
I also considered using this topping on a homemade flatbread, and I will definitely try that at some point. The salty, sweet, and spicy elements here are in great balance and I would say they'd work on just about any carb of your choice!


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Thank you, Bonnie, for reading old newspaper reports about Milton and various events. One name I recognized was that of Dr. Hart, who was Milton's doctor in years past. He lived in the house occupied by Bob and Norma Taatjes.
Our president, speaking on Sept. 10, also mentioned that Milton Pride Day was to be celebrated on Sept. 14 at the Milton Elementary School. She said the Historical Society would have a tent there with information, old pictures of Milton schools, and other old pictures of interest.
We discussed how successful our yard sale was at the Citgo-Lakeside Restaurant. We appreciated the use of that space which attracts a lot of passers-by.
Our chances for a $100 gift certificate to Mastercard, Visa and American Express are still be sold. The drawing will be on Oct. 8 at our next meeting, which will be a potluck.
Milton Historical Society news
Sep 26, 2013 at 3:15 AM


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Friday, February 15, 2013
Appetizing Aperture
We're thinking seafood! Enjoy delicious crab cakes hand crafted by Marietta's newest seafood restaurant,
Pier 213 Seafood
. Just look at this beauty. Hunks of fresh, tender crabmeat from the Gulf, seasoned, pattied and seared to a luxurious golden brown hue. Dress casual, ride the tide to Marietta and place your order at the counter to get yours for lunch any day or dinner Monday through Saturday.
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text: Is this what Michael Bay's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles look like?Meredith Woerner1/22/14 11:00pmFiled to: teenage mutant ninja turtlestmntmichael baymovies1601EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalink So far the only actual turtles we've seen from Michael Bay's live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie have consisted of actors in Mocap suits and this creepy incognito turtle. But maybe this horrifying Halloween costume is our first real glimpse. In which case... there could be trouble. TMNT spotted this allegedly official Halloween costume from the Paramount reboot. This image of Michelangelo sports some sort of genital covering, bike shorts, a bike pack, and allegedly "stuffable shell," sunglasses and some sort of pink goo wrapped around his right leg (those are clearly not bandages). And that's all fine — whatever cool sunglasses it's all good and fun. However the creepily accurate face is horrifying. That face is scary. Not sure if kids are going to embrace this creature or head for the hills. Only time will tell. Advertisement Advertisement So let's hope this is just some Halloween merchandiser's approximation of the movie turtles, and not what they'll actually look like. Fingers crossed.Reply160 repliesLeave a reply


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Farm Sustainability Blog Contest: Zulkifli M.
Here's another example of how waste can be reduced on the farm!
Farm sustainability via use of organic fertilizer.
Our farm has been practicing sustainable agriculture for its obvious economical and environmental benefits. In attaining this sustainability, we utilize the goat's manure from the barn as organic fertilizer in the orchard. Through this approach, we capitalize the organic fertilizer's versatility and robustness in improving the soil properties through multi-pronged ways structurally, biologically and nutritionally. In addition to fostering improvement in the quality of soil, this method averts the relying on chemical fertilizers.
With orchard nourished organically, the farm nurtures itself as a promoter of organic farm products, keeping tab with the increasing worldwide demand of this niche, which has been growing steadily at a rate close to 9% annually for the past decade. Higher demand converts into competitive pricing and therefore, boosting the farm's revenues, and placing it a competitive position for organic supply niche.


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Latest Headlines
2011 Red Sox Season Preview: They May Be The Best Team "On Paper" But They Still Have To Play The Game
Posted on 1 Apr 2011 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
It's been a brutal winter here in New England (it is snowing right now), but the sure way to get me out of hibernation is the Boston Red Sox. In fact the only good thing about this winter was the Red Sox off season. Unless you were living in a cave, you know the Red Sox won the off season war. Their blockbuster moves put them in the driver's seat of the entire league. They made two monster deal...
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A Week of Ups and Downs in Boston Sports
Posted on 8 Nov 2010 by Geoff Poster.
A week of ups and downs come to a close for Boston sports. New and old faces came to both the Red Sox and Patriots this week, while the Celtics racked up a few more wins. The Bruins suffered their worst week of the season to date while the Revolution lost one of their best players of all time. Finally, the week was capped off by three rounds of success from the three local colleges in the area....
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Different stage, same Byrd
Posted on 14 Jul 2010 by Eddie Kim.
Marlon Byrd showed the world why he deserves to be an all-star. Byrd worked a quality at-bat in the seventh inning by drawing an eight-pitch walk ahead of the bases-clearing double by Atlanta's Brian McCann and also contributed defensively. While the diving effort on New York Yankees' Derek Jeter in the sixth inning was not enough, the Cubs lone representative in the All-Star Game continued to ...
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Mixture of Cheers and Jeers for Manny
Posted on 19 Jun 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
Last night went down just as I suspected. Red Sox Nation developed a love/hate relationship with Manny Ramirez over the years, so it was only fitting to have a mixture of boos and cheers throughout the evening. I think people heard what they wanted to hear. Listen for yourself. Manny's First At Bat. I personally didn't boo or cheer, however I had absolutely no problem with people directing a ...
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April Showers, Bring Red Sox May Power
Posted on 2 Jun 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
Brace yourself for a long one folks. It has been way too long since my last blog. May is in the books and Red Sox Nation is feeling good. The Red Sox have done a complete 180 in the month of May. They are not out of the woods yet but they are on the right path. We don't need to be reminded of how disappointing April was, but let's do it anyway. April: 11-12, 103 runs, .259 avg, 27 HR, .262 Opp ...
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Dice K Continues his Yo-Yo Season By Flirting With a No-Hitter
Posted on 23 May 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
Daisuke Matsuzaka has been an absolute mystery this year. He had another shaky performance last Monday against the Yankees because of his signature "bad inning." Last night in Philadelphia, not only did he escape having a bad inning, but he took a no-hitter into the 8th inning and the Red Sox won 5-0. One game he gives up four runs before even recording an out and the next he is pit...
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Red Sox Hover at .500, Stealing a Game From New York
Posted on 19 May 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
The Red Sox are in the middle of a 13-day stretch in which they play 11 games on the road. Monday they stopped in New York for a quick 2 game series. Wait, "quick" is probably not the best choice of words when describing a Sox vs Yankee game. The Daisuke Matsuzaku we all know and hate was back in action. He got our hopes up last week when he threw one of his best games as a Red Sox....
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Red Sox Drop Two Out of Three to Detroit
Posted on 19 May 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
Last Friday, the Red Sox began a 13-day stretch in which they will play 11 games on the road, all against contenders. If they come out ahead it will be impressive. They started off strong in Detroit beating the Tigers last Friday night 7-2. David Ortiz was the star of the night smashing two long home runs with 4 RBIs on the night. His first home run went 450 feet and the second 400 feet. It wa...
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Red Sox Bullpen Hold On For The Win
Posted on 11 May 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
The Red Sox hung on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6. It was their 4th straight win over the Jays and it was a messy one. With 10 walks and 10 runs over 2 innings, it took an hour and 2o minutes to complete. John Lackey faced Brandon Morrow and both were shaky. The Sox took an early 2-0 lead on a Victor Martinez single up the middle scoring Marco Scutaro who walked and Dustin Pedroia who doubl...
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Red Sox Avoid Complete Embarrassment on Mother's Day
Posted on 10 May 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
The Red Sox lost the first two of a three game series this weekend against the New York Yankees. They were outscored 24-6 and were on their way to being swept again. But with a fourth straight stellar outing from Jon Lester and another awful outing at Fenway from A.J. Burnett, the Red Sox pulled out a 9-3 Mother's Day victory. Lester continued his hot streak. His last four starts he is 3-0 with...
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The Red Sox Roller Coaster Continues
Posted on 8 May 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
The Red Sox season has been a roller coaster ride. Two weeks ago, the Sox swept Toronto in a three game series on the road. Next they traveled to Baltimore and got swept by the worst team in baseball causing Red Sox nation to officially push the panic button. What happened next? The Red Sox traveled home and played a four game series against the LA Angels and swept them. So if history were to r...
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The Red Sox Sweep the Struggling Angels
Posted on 8 May 2010 by "Baseball Brenda" Sepanek.
After Thursday's victory over the LA Angels, the Red Sox improved their longest winning streak to 4 games and swept the Angels. They started hitting well, fielding well and pitching well. When you execute all three, you win games and that's what they did this week. Will it last? That is yet to be seen, but it is a step in the right direction. Tuesday, Jon Lester followed up his solid performa...


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10 Categorization Worksheets
Colorful categorization is the key to building basic math skills.
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Count and Classify: Food
Download Worksheet More infoBlossoming foodies will enjoy our gastronomically focused categorization worksheet. Kids will sort food and drink by type in this food categorization worksheet.
Count and Classify: Furniture
Download Worksheet More infoYour child will use his powers of deduction to count and classify the furniture in this worksheet. Count and classify the furniture pictured with your child.
Count and Classify: Animals
Download Worksheet More infoCount and classify animals by their habitats and abilities. Help your child work on sorting skills with this count and classify animals worksheet.
Count and Classify: Hats
Download Worksheet More infoHelp your child sort and classify an array of fun hats in this categorization worksheet. Your kid will count the number of brown, feathered, or decorated hats.
Count and Classify: Kids
Download Worksheet More infoHelp your child sort these kids using counting and classifying skills. Your child will count, and learn to group and identify by characteristics.
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Count and Classify: Shoes
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Count and Classify: Toys
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Count and Classify: Vehicles
Download Worksheet More infoCount and classify different kinds of vehicles in this worksheet. Kids will identify what vehicles pictured have wheels, can float, or are green.
Count and Classify: Fruits and Veggies
Download Worksheet More infoCount and classify your produce beyond fruits and vegetables. Try this fruits and vegetables worksheet to increase your child's sorting skills.
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Find A PhysicianHome | Library | myDownstate | Newsroom | A-Z Guide | E-mail | Contact Us | Directions | ||
January 2010: Happy New Decade!I Oh, yes. It really is. It REALLY is another year - a decade completed in the 21st Century. It is now the year 2010. Ugh. Are we setting ourselves up for a big fall by claiming all those New Year resolutions we'll aim to achieve? No more! This month let's just do the right thing. Let's just aim for health, not for unhealthy dieting. Let's just aim for smart movement, not for overly regimented exercise programs. How do we do this? First, see a nutritionist/dietitian or at least your regular care provider! They can start you with a set of great and easy menus so you can help yourself even with cash restrictions. You don't need to spend alot on weight loss in order to achieve it. But it does require more than just menu choices. If you want, go to http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm for healthy menu options and other tips. It has a Food and Fitness Planner, a Diet Evaluator, a BMI Calculator and can do a Vitamins Health Check. Second, you need to find TIME during your day to exercise. Time as well as one or two things you will be able to tolerate or can enjoy would be key to helping lose and then maintain lost weight. For example, why would you sign up at a gym for pilates if that is not your thing? If you would do better with a rigorous walking regimen, that is how you will lose the weight. Not every option requires alot of money. January 17-23 is Healthy Weight Week this year. Go to http://www.healthyweightnetwork.com for more information. This month is also National Blood Donor Month. Give a pint, especially if you know you have a rare blood type. It can save lives - and make you feel like a hero! Happiest and healthiest of new years to all! |


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Two prominent hacker groups, Anonymous and LulzSec, have ignited increasing concern over computer security by staging spectacular attacks and data heists against large corporations and government websites. The two groups have pulled off more than 30 attacks in the past two months, taking down websites belonging to the U.S. Senate and the CIA, humbling the gargantuan company Sony, and compromising nearly 2 million user logins and IDs across the Web.
Security experts warn that the hacks will continue thanks to a reemergence of predominantly young male computer users attracted to hacking for a cause and swapping bragging rights about their exploits online. So far, most members of the two hacking groups have remained in the shadows. The groups have no central leadership and no formal structure. (LulzSec officially disbanded in June.) Security experts describe groups such as Anonymous as an "idea," not a group.
Despite the lack of hacker organization, law enforcement hasn't stopped trying to put an end to hack attacks. Law enforcement in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, and the United States have made dozens of arrests and conducted searches as part of various hack attack investigations. For example, in late June, U.K. police arrested 19-year-old Ryan Cleary, who is accused of distributing tools to build a botnet that LulzSec used to attack the U.K. Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
Perfect Storm for Hack Attacks
Reformed hacker turned private security consultant Michael Calce says a combination of bad security, the availability of easy-to-use and increasingly sophisticated hacker toolkits, and social networking sites create a perfect storm for many of today's hackers.
"When I was hacking, it was about testing the status quo, ego, and who's the best hacker," Calce says. "Today, it's about monetary gain or activists trying to make a point." Under his online alias "Mafiaboy," Calce was responsible for a string of denial of service attacks in 2000 that crippled the websites of Amazon, CNN, Dell, eBay, Etrade, and Yahoo. Calce has since written a book about his exploits that is due to come out in the U.S. this August.
From Ego to Hack-tivism
Calce says today's hacks have a familiar flair but lack the ego-driven chest-beating of individual hackers he remembers circa 2000. Today's hackers still use online personas such as Sabu and Topiary, but the majority operate under umbrella organizations such as Anonymous, AntiSec, Gnosis, LulzSec ('lulz' is online slang for 'laughs' and 'Sec' stands for security), and Script Kiddies. Their objectives, it's believed, is to raise awareness about security issues and protest what it views as wrong.
Last December, Dutch authorities arrested 19-year-old Martijn Gonlag, who is believe to be part of the Anonymous hacking group. Gonlag was arrested for what he told authorities was a "digital sit-in" when he hacked computer systems, claiming it was in support of WikiLeaks.
Before that, Sony was hit in a string of attacks by hackers who stole 100 million online video-game users' personal data. The attacks were sparked by what hackers say was heavy-handed legal action against George Hotz, who was accused of jailbreaking a Sony PlayStation console.
The roots of these attacks and other so-called hacktivist actions date back to 2008 when Anonymous attacked the Church of Scientology to protest the religious group's attempt to control information about itself online.
Since LulzSec broke up, members of the group and others have formed a new hacker collective of sorts called AntiSec that as recently as June 30 dumped the names, addresses, emails, and other personal data belonging to Arizona state police. Then, on July 4, another group calling itself the Script Kiddies took over a Fox News Twitter account and falsely reported that President Obama had been shot and killed. The following day, Anonymous and members of the AntiSec hacker group released hacked data from the Florida voting system and personal details of Orlando-area Democrats. Perhaps this was the best the hackers could do to fulfill its promise to retaliate against the June 6 arrest of members of Food Not Bombs in Orlando.
A Warped Silver Lining
The only silver lining, experts say, is that hackers are drawing attention to security vulnerabilities and not exploiting them silently.
LulzSec claimed its scourge of hacks were meant to draw attention to vulnerable computers, while the new AntiSec movement hopes to expose corruption. Craving that type of visibility contrasts with other hackers who pride themselves on stealth intrusions and perpetrate corporate espionage, maintain ransom-ware schemes, and steal credit card data.
(See PCWorld's 2005 series Web of Crime.)
"Before, there was more of a criminal element involved so it wasn't publicized as much. It wasn't as if all of a sudden websites became vulnerable," says Chris Wysopal, cofounder and CTO of applications security firm Veracode.
Hackers Work the Media
Things have changed. Wysopal says recent data heists have attracted more attention thanks to a relatively new hacker tool: media-savvy public relations campaigns.
Both LulzSec and members of Anonymous maintain public Twitter accounts and post press releases announcing data leaks. At one point LulzSec even published a telephone number to take attack requests from the public.
"The new trend of hacks by groups like LulzSec and Anonymous is accentuated because attackers are trying to publicize it more," Wysopal says.
More than a decade ago, hackers such as Kevin Mitnick, Ehud Tenenbaum, and Michael Calce were also bringing down websites and breaking into large networks. What motivated hackers back then, Calce says, was just a general interest in seeing what was possible, and what people could break into. The IRC (Internet Relay Chat) chat rooms saw a lot of online contests where hackers would battle, each trying to kick the other offline with targeted denial of service attacks.
"I'm not worried about LulzSec and Anonymous," Calce says. "The hacks you don't hear about are more dangerous." LulzSec recently made a similar argument when it said that the real threat to online security is the criminals who don't announce their data thefts to the world.
A Hacker Is Still a Hacker
Security experts agree that such more-sinister hacker types still exist, but challenge the notion that groups such as LulzSec and Anonymous are not as menacing. Certainly they have been costly to hacking victims: Sony estimates that the recent string of attacks it parried cost the company $171 million.
In March, unknown hackers stole data from security firm RSA that jeopardized the company's SecurID two-factor authentication product. That theft led to an attack in May against Lockheed Martin, a major U.S. defense contractor. Lockheed Martin said none of its data was compromised as a result of the attack. In an unrelated incident, CitiGroup, the banking giant, fell victim to a hack that exposed more than 200,000 account holders to data theft.
Arguably, these attacks were far more serious than dumping large numbers of gamer IDs and website logins on Pastebin, as LulzSec often did; however, some reports of fraud related to LulzSec's data dumps have cropped up.
But whether hackers are looking for "lulz" or defense secrets, this type of activity will probably continue for the foreseeable future. "LulzSec and Anonymous demonstrate what can be done with a moderate skill level," Wysopal says. "If these guys are doing it you have to figure there are other guys, in other countries doing this stuff just as easily."
Connect with Ian Paul (@ianpaul) and Today@PCWorld on Twitter for the latest tech news and analysis.


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Wow, so Boston Comic Con was last weekend, and it was pretty awesome. The awesomest thing for me at any convention is meeting other comic bookers and getting to pick up new stuff (stuff that you don't find in no comic book store). There's also this other part at conventions where I stand behind a table and sell comic books to people. Oddly enough, I am much better at this selling things bit after lunch, especially when lunch includes Jameson and Guinness.
But anyway, COOL COMICS:
Geraniums and Bacon No. 6 by Cathy Leamy is great auto-bio-slice-of-the-life-comics. It's got tarot readings, drinks, bodily functions, and the dreaded question of "Did I turn the stove off?"
Wolves by Becky Cloonan, which just absolutely beautiful. It's got art of the god-damn-it variety, meaning of course, "GOD DAMN IT! How does she do it that awesome???" And it's got werewolves.
World Bestiary: A Thorough Account by Erica Henderson and CJ Henderson. Also beautiful with art of the god-damn-it variety. It's a whole pile of beautifully rendered mythic beasts. Each one made me think, "Oh, man. That guy is going into my next comic!"
She Died in Terrebonne by Kevin Church and T.J. Kirsch is awesome. It's got a little Dashiell Hammett, a little Raymond Chandler, and (maybe this is only because it's a detective story set in the Pacific Northwest) a little David Lynch. It's a totally tight story with impeccable art.
Breaking and Entering by Holly Foltz pretty much documents the coolest break in ever.
Animal Sense by Jose Luis Olivares is pure genius. I actually was at his apartment while he was making this cut paper accordion fold comic, and I have to admit that I watched him doing it and really saw just random patterns. But THEN, seeing the finished comic all folded and cut appropriately my mind was blown. The whole thing just came together beautifully. It was like when you're at the eye doctor and they're are doing that thing with the lens gizmo and they keep saying "Number one or number two?" and every single lens is super blurry and you can't see anything and then suddenly, "Number one or number two?" and you're like, "OH MY GOD! NUMBER TWO!" If that makes any sense.
AND finally...
School Pencil by the previously mentioned Holly Foltz, Jose Luis Olivares and the previously unmentioned Matt Aucoin is rock and roll. On the inside cover it tells you when it was made: April 20th, 2012. The comic con was on April 21st! How cool is that? There need to be more comics like this. Matt's also got some awesome pictures from the con up on his site.
AND there's this great piece on Bleeding Cool written by Louis Falcetti that does an amazing job of capturing what the con was like and also says some nice things about me and Dan Mazur and our little comic Cold Wind.
And MoCCA in NYC this weekend!


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My weekly favorites seemed to have turn into a Friday thing, I seem to remember Thursday nights! How great is the Bauhaus lamp?
I've got cleaning, painting, sanding and staining plans for the weekend. I'm hoping to refinish our dressers and finish painting our room. I'm tired just thinking about it.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
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12 comments:
- AnonymousMarch 04, 2011
Please show us your weekend work. I am especially excited to see the updated bedroom!
thank you for your comments!
if you have any questions please email me via the 'contact' link.


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Overall handling and operation
The user interface of the NEX cameras was always going to have to be innovative, given how few buttons there are. And it certainly is that - it's an interface that has more in common with consumer electronic devices than traditional cameras, which makes sense given that Sony is trying to attract people without in-depth conventional photographic knowledge. With the advert of firmware 03, it's greatly improved (we cannot stress enough the value of ensuring your NEX is running at least version 03).
Specific handling issues
iAuto mode
iAuto mode in generally very good - you can just point the cameras at a subject and shoot. Our real disappointments are the inability to adjust image brightness (exposure compensation), and that it does nothing to encourage you to learn about what it's doing. Something as small as highlighting the aperture value when you adjust the 'defocus background' option would at least hint at what parameter was being changed.
Sony could have made NEX one of the easiest ways of learning how to use PASM modes simply by making iAuto's Bkground Defocus function and Aperture Priority modes (which are, in principle, doing the same things) use the same buttons to engage and confirm the aperture setting. It's not a fault with iAuto mode but it's a huge missed opportunity (and one that many manufacturers overlook).
We're also concerned that the 'Bkground defocus' mode is simplistic to the point of being misleading. When presented with a scale running from 'Defocus' to 'Crisp,' most people will push the setting all the way to 'Crisp' if they want in-focus backgrounds and yet doing so will push the camera to tiny apertures between F22 and F32 that will make their images softer (because of diffraction), less detailed (because of the high ISO settings and accompanying noise reduction needed for working at such small apertures), and more likely to be shaken.
There's a similar problem at the 'Defocus' end of the scale: if you use the kit zoom lens, then part of the 'defocus' end of the scale becomes unavailable as you zoom-in (because the long end of the zoom has a maximum aperture of only F5.6, not the F3.5 at the wide end). This clearly suggests less ability to defocus the background, but in practice 55mm F5.6 will give much more defocused backgrounds than 18mm F3.5 (because the level of background blur is dependant upon focal length as well as F-number).
PASM modes
Despite the cameras' point-and-shoot ethos, the PASM modes are where they really begin to shine. Regardless of the small number of external buttons, the interface has been improved with firmware 03 so that most key shooting settings are easily accessible.
The first thing we would suggest doing upon buying a NEX is visiting the setup menu and editing the 'Soft Key Settings' options - simply putting ISO access onto either the central or lower button makes PASM mode a much more pleasurable experience. The menu system is a little easy to get lost in but you rarely have to venture into it while shooting, so it's not a problem.
Manual focus assist, the magnified live view that is pretty much essential for anyone hoping to use non-E-mount lenses, can be assigned to the lower button for easy access. With firmware 03, it jumps back to the last used point on the screen, which is really useful if you're trying to focus on the eye of a subject for portraiture, for instance.
Sadly there's still no way to lock focus or exposure except by a half-press of the shutter button, so you can't separate the two. This makes it awkward to focus and recompose (as you have to meter at the point you focus), which you may find you want to do with subjects moving faster than the autofocus can cope with.
Overall performance
The NEX is a generally responsive camera with occasional delays into the shooting process. The startup time is around 1.2 seconds, making it a fraction faster than the Olympus E-PL1 but a little slower than Panasonic's GF1. It's certainly not likely to be a problem.
There's a more noticeable delay if you attempt to take a second photo, introduced by 'auto review,' the post-shot image review option. When this feature is turned on, you regularly have to wait between 2 and 2.5 seconds before the camera will shoot again (releasing the shutter button, half pressing to dismiss the review image and then full pressing again can get the shot-to-shot time down to 1.6 seconds but it's hard to achieve consistently). The situation is improved slightly in continuous shooting mode, with the preview image appearing more quickly but, if you don't try to shoot immediately, you can still have to wait until the camera feels like responding.
The other option is to turn the review option off, which brings shot-to-shot times down to a much more impressive 0.7 seconds. However, image review is a near-universal feature that many camera users expect (we were asked 'how do I see the image I've just taken?' by more than one compact camera user), and slows the camera down to a greater extent than we're used to seeing. We consider having to turn it off to increase responsiveness be a work-around, rather than a simple solution to the problem.
Continuous Shooting and buffering
The NEXs have two continuous shooting modes: a rather unimpressive conventional mode offering 2.3 frames per second (though considering the extent to which all mirrorless cameras struggle with continuous autofocus, it doesn't work out significantly slower than these peers), and a much more handy 7 frame per second 'speed-priority' mode that doesn't attempt to refocus between shots. This latter mode can be really useful if you're shooting subjects that exhibit predictable movement that can be pre-focused for. This rules out fast-moving kids and many sports, though.
After a burst of shots, it's not uncommon for the camera to slow right down until it's finished writing to the card - it'll let you enter playback mode but can stick unresponsivley on some images until it's finished writing.
In continuous mode (Identical results from NEX-3 with Lexar Memory Stick and NEX-5 with Sandisk Extreme III SDHC card):
- JPEG (Fine): around 2.5fps for 35 frames, then around 1.4fps
- RAW: around 2.5fps for 8 frames then around 0.6fps
- RAW + JPEG: around 2.5fps for 7 frames then about 0.5fps
- Recovery time: around 9-12 seconds
In performance terms, the basis on which mirroless cameras currently stand and fall is their autofocus speed - the underlying image pipelines tend to come directly from existing DSLR cameras and hence have been fairly well worked out, it's the focus lag that causes problems.
The NEX does pretty well in this respect. It's perhaps not quite as rapid as Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds cameras but it's very unusual for there to be enough of a delay that it becomes noticeable. In very low light, the AF slows down by a fair degree, even if the subject is within range of its autofocus illuminator.
In common with some other contrast detection AF cameras, the camera can sometime struggle if there's a dramatic change in focusing distance between shots. Presumably in the name of speed, the camera will initially search for focus around the distance it had last used (rather than scanning through the lenses entire range, which would slow things down considerably), which means that it can lock focus on the background when you're trying to shoot a close-up, and resolutely refuse to change. It's not a problem you'll encounter regularly, though.
The manual AF point selection mode is one of the better aspects of the camera's interface, with the bottom button giving immediate access to AF point movement, making it quick and easy. And, unlike the rather unhelpful live view magnification, it retains the previously used position until you change it.
Continuous AF can also be a weak point for cameras based on contrast-detection autofocus because they cannot know which direction they need to move the lens, and instead have to scan on either side of the previously focused point. The NEX is much like the competition in this regard - you can't expect it to keep up with unpredictably-moving subjects such as small children.
Battery life
Although the battery life of both the 3 and 5 are rated at a totally respectable 330 shots, based on CIPA testing, the real-world experience is often not nearly as good as this might lead you to believe (a conventional DSLR quoting the same figure is likely to last much longer, as the screen is used much less frequently, unless you constantly use live view).
Presumably because of the large, high-resolution screen, the NEXs can chew through battery at a terrific rate. The NP-FW50 battery itself is rated at 7.3Wh, which is not at all bad for its size (the larger battery in the Olympus PEN range offers 8.3Wh), we'd strongly suggest buying a spare - if you're a ken shooter it's it's easy enough to burn through one in a day's shooting.
The really helpful battery percentage charge indicator keep you aware of how much battery you've used (and how little you've got left), and needs to have an eye kept on it. For weekend trips, many users may find themselves having to include the battery charger when working out how small they can pack a NEX system.


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Daily News Summary
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today's edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
March 13, 2014
--The Florida Bar--
YLD SETS THREE DIVERSITY SYMPOSIUMS FOR MAY 9 -- The Florida Bar, http://www.floridabar.org, March 15, 2014.
The Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar is expanding its efforts to promote diversity by hosting diversity symposiums in three parts of the state simultaneously. Events are set for May 9 at Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando, and Florida International University College of Law in Miami. The symposiums are open to all lawyers and law students in Florida. Sorraya Solages, chair of the YLD diversity committee, said she expects about 50 to 100 people to attend each event. Attendees will be encouraged to discuss diversity-related issues affecting their specific region. The committee plans this year to award diversity grants to local YLD affiliates that implement a diversity program or event in their area. The grants are designed to encourage programming throughout the state related to diversity initiatives.
CERABINO: LEGISLATORS SHOULD ACT TO HELP WORTHY BOYNTON IMMIGRANT BE ADMITTED TO FLORIDA BAR -- Palm Beach Post (requires subscription), Column, http://www.pbpost.com, March 13, 2014.
Kelsey Burke was born in Honduras. She arrived with her mother in Florida when she was 10 years old and lived as an undocumented resident in Lake Worth. Eventually, Burke was allowed to apply for Temporary Protected Status in America after the devastating Hurricane Mitch affected Honduras. Now a 26-year-old, Burke wants to be an immigration lawyer but she can't. Last week, the Florida Supreme Court issued an advisory opinion, ruling that because of a federal law that denies "state public benefits" to unauthorized aliens, they can't be given a law license. Burke's Temporary Protected Status makes her ineligible due to her "unauthorized immigrant" status. The federal law says that only state legislators have the power to make exceptions to the federal law by passing a state law that grants these residents state benefits. Frank Cerabino writes, "And unless or until they do, it's a terrible waste of potential, not only for Burke but for this nation of immigrants."
GOV. ASKEW DIES AT 85 -- The Florida Current, http://www.thefloridacurrent.com, March 13, 2014. [Also: FORMER FLORIDA GOV. REUBIN ASKEY DIES AT 85 -- Tampa Bay Times, http://www.tampabay.com, March 13, 2014; FORMER FLORIDA GOV. REUBIN ASKEW DIES AT 85 -- Miami Herald, http://www.miamiherald.com, March 13, 2014.]
Former Gov. Reubin Askew, a pivotal figure in Florida politics, died today [March 13]. He was 85. Askew was known for implementing Florida's corporate income tax, which was the cornerstone of his 1970 campaign for governor, and for the "Sunshine Amendment" that mandated financial disclosure by public officials. He appointed the first black Supreme Court justice, Joseph Hatchett, and advocated advancement of women in state agencies and political positions. In addition to the corporate income tax, which took a constitutional amendment passed in a special election, Askew implemented Judicial Nominating Commissions -- giving up the governor's patronage power to select judges -- along with merit retention elections, in which appellate jurists are up for a yes-or-no vote, rather than running against opponents.
JAMES JOSEPH MCVEIGH -- Panama City News Herald, http://www.newsherald.com, March 13, 2014.
James Joseph McVeigh, 87, passed away. He graduated from University of Miami Law School in 1953. McVeigh was Miami's assistant city attorney, a litigator and a 60-year member of The Florida Bar. He was one of Miami's first advocates for veterans and homeless in downtown Miami.
HENRY FRANKLIN PERRITT JR. -- Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com, March 12, 2014.
Henry Franklin Perritt, Jr. passed away March 8. He earned a Juris Doctor in 1962 from the University of Florida's law school. He entered the Florida Army National Guard in 1959, retiring in 1989 as a full colonel. After clerking during law school summers at Marks, Gray, Yates, Conroy, & Gibbs, he joined the firm in 1962 until his retirement from active practice in 2007.
[Revised: 03-14-2014]