text:
This series of dispatches chronicles the work of a mobile court in the town of Kamituga in eastern Congo, a region riven by conflict that has witnessed an appalling epidemic of rape and other sexual violence. The court, supported by the Open Society Justice Initiative, will try ten rape cases involving soldiers and policemen over the course of a two-week session.
A lawyer representing rape victims at the Kamituga mobile court pulls the document from his briefcase and places it on one of the plastic tables in the tent. The document—a judgment—consists of forty-three finger-smudged, water-stained, letter-size photocopies, held together by a staple fast losing its grip. But the words on its pages are clear. They represent the high-water mark in the struggle to restore rule of law to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The words resonate throughout the work of the Kamituga mobile court and courts elsewhere in this war-ravaged country. Judges, prosecutors, teachers, doctors, nurses, psychologists, military officers, police officials, priests, human rights advocates, pastors, and tribal kings and politicians working to halt the spate of rapes in Congo cite this judgment to warn soldiers, police officers, and civilian men not to assume it is acceptable to violate women. And they cite this judgment, issued by a previous mobile court, to encourage women and girls to step forward to press rape charges.
The title page reads:
In the Interests of Justice and
in the Name of the Congolese People,
The Military Court of Sud-Kivu, Bukavu,
is Seized of the Case of
The Military Prosecutor, the Ministry of Public Security, and Civilian Parties
Kibibi Mutuare Daniel, et al.
The Kibibi judgment, and the incident that led to it, took place near the shores of Lake Tanganika, far across the mountains from Kamituga. It did not involve individual rape cases, like those being tried here. It involved rape as humiliation, rape as an act of retaliation, rape as a weapon of war.
On the afternoon of New Year's Day, 2011, a gunshot sounded in the center of the town of Fizi. One Petro Ndaisaba, a corporal in the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo, had shot a merchant named Faizi Kabiona. The gun discharged at the climax of a quarrel over a woman and an act of disrespect.
Corporal Petro was the body guard of a certain Lieutenant Kifaru Alexis, who had asked Petro to approach Faizi and inquire about introducing Lieutenant Alexis to a young woman he had seen in Faizi's shop and wished "to woo." Faizi refused.
This is not surprising. In the craggy highlands of the Fizi Territory, bad blood has long existed between the majority Bembe people and another ethnic group known as the Banyamulenge, who are Congolese or Rwandan Tutsis and speak the language of the Rwandans. The military contingent in the town of Fizi is a mixture of members of former irregular and rebel militias, including the CNDP, the Congrès national pour la défense du peuple, a Banyamulenge militia secretly backed by the Tutsi-dominated government that has ruled Rwanda since the 1994 genocide.
The CNDP left a swathe of human rights abuses in its wake as it sought to control territory and lucrative mines in Congo. In 2006, the International Criminal Court indicted one of its commanders, Bosco Ntaganda, for war crimes. In 2009, however, the CNDP was absorbed into the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2009 under a shaky peace agreement. Bembe residents of the town of Fizi had already clashed in April 2010 with soldiers garrisoned there.
The names of Corporal Petro and Lieutenant Alexis are recognizably Tutsi. So is the name of the sector's acting commander on New Year's Day, a hard-nosed 46-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Kibibi Mutuare—a man who had graduated from the country's national military academy before the overthrow of the dictator Mobuto Sese Seko, when Congo was still called Zaire. Kibibi became a CNDP officer during the wars in eastern Congo before his re-integration into the army in 2009.
Despite the simmering of ethnic antagonisms and bad memories, soldiers stationed in the town of Fizi wondered why young Bembe women were ignoring their overtures. Lieutenant Alexis did not, apparently, take offense at Faizi's refusal to act as an intermediary for him. He invited Faizi to have a beer. Faizi declined. Corporal Petro was hotter-headed and, on the afternoon of New Year's Day, drunk. He took Faizi's refusal to be an act of disrespect toward his superior officer, if not all the other soldiers in his unit. A bitter quarrel ensued.
Lieutenant Alexis heard the commotion and hurried from down the street to intervene. He removed the loaded clip from Petro's weapon, but neglected to clear the one round in the chamber. A few minutes later, Petro fired the bullet into Faizi's right side. The gunshot transformed curious bystanders into an enraged mob. Lieutenant Alexis fled for his life. The crowd beat, kicked, and stoned Corporal Petro even after he had slumped to the ground. Neighbors rushed Faizi to a nearby hospital.
Word of the mob violence reached Lieutenant Colonel Kibibi. He immediately ordered officers and soldiers to rush to the scene. They found Corporal Petro alive and wrestled him from the ground onto the saddle of a motorbike, which sped off toward the hospital.
At that moment, a rumor spread that Faizi had died of his bullet wound. Local men now rushed toward the hospital, overtook the motorbike conveying Corporal Petro, and stoned him to death on the spot. Army officers and soldiers soon arrived at the scene of the stoning and delivered Petro's body to the military camp, again on a motorbike. Kibibi then went to assess the scene of Petro's altercation with Faizi.
During Congo's wars, civilian attacks on military personnel have many times triggered retaliatory mass rapes. In 1998, in the town of Kasika—on National Road 2 between Kamituga and the town of Bukavu—local Mai Mai irregulars killed several officers of a Rwandan Tutsi-controlled militia. In response, the militia killed a thousand people and committed wholesale rape of the town's women. In retaliation for more Mai Mai attacks, the same militia gang raped women and buried some alive in the town of Mwenga in November 1999. In September 2009, elements of the army of Congo stationed about 75 kilometers from Bukavu in a village called Katasomwa, carried out a retaliatory mass rape of 24 women, abducted a four-month-old infant, destroyed two schools, and looted property. There are too many more cases from the South Kivu Province to mention; and there are many more instances in other provinces. Fizi was about to follow the pattern.
Kibiri gathered officers and instructed them to have their men search every house and shop near the scene of the attack on Petro and to arrest every man they found. "If any of them run, shoot them," he said.
From about 7 p.m. until 4 a.m. on January 2, soldiers ran riot through the town of Fizi. They looted and ransacked stores and houses. They beat and confined men in a jail. They raped scores of women, some of them before the eyes of their children. More than a hundred soldiers took part in the orgy of violence.
It took the government of Congo and its military only six weeks to investigate the Fizi incident and to arrest Kibibi and 10 other officers and soldiers, the only men whom the victims had identified. A mobile court—United Nations officials say the mobile military court system was the only tool the government had to react quickly and decisively to the Fizi mass rape—was organized in a village a few miles from the town. The trial opened on February 10.
Fifty-five women, ranging in age from 19 to 60, joined the criminal and civil case against Kibibi. Forty-nine of them stood before a panel of five judges to testify in public that they had been among the scores raped in Fizi on that New Year's Day. One witness testified that she had met Colonel Kibibi before the Fizi violence and that, during the military riot, Kibibi himself entered her house and raped her while elements of his security escort waited outside. Members of Kibibi's escort testified that they had, indeed, waited for him outside the victim's house.
All but one of Kibibi's officers testified that Kibibi ordered the operation and instructed his subordinates to kill anyone who tried to run. Before the court, Lieutenant Colonel Kibibi testified that his bodyguards were part of a plot against him, but admitted that he had been enraged by the attack on his solider. During the years when Congo was still Zaire, Kibibi explained, "if a soldier was killed by civilians, we would mark out fifty meters square and kill everyone inside. For one killed soldier, more or less, a hundred civilians would pay."
Prosecutors sought the death penalty against Kibibi and several others and twenty-year sentences against officers and soldiers accused of lesser crimes.
The mobile court applied the law of the International Criminal Court, rather than the law of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to convict Lieutenant Colonel Kibibi of crimes against humanity. He and three of his officers received twenty-year prison sentences. Five more officers received less lengthy sentences. Another was acquitted. The remaining defendant was found to be a minor and his case was transferred to a civilian court.
A reporter described how onlookers jeered, booed, and shook their fists at the defendants as guards led them away in shackles.
Some army personnel were angry about the Kibibi trial. A United Nations official said the authorities feared that Tutsis would mount an armed attempt to break Kibibi out of Bukavu central prison, the scene of a similar bust out in 2006. Kibibi and the other officers were transferred to a more-secure prison in far-off Kinshasa.
Television and radio stations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo broadcasted updates of the Kibibi trial far and wide and quoted the 43-page judgment. Word spread through the officer corps and ranks of the military about the consequences of committing the crime of rape. Just three weeks later, eleven more officers were tried and convicted by a military court for the mass rapes at Katasomwa in 2009 and a lieutenant-colonel and a captain received life sentences.
Congo's women have not suffered an incident of mass rape since the mobile court handed down the Kibibi verdict on February 21. Perhaps the hiatus will hold.
Madame Tabena-Isima Mikongo, who works for a local nongovernmental organization that attends to victims of sexual assault, has cited the Kibibi case in her efforts in the town of Mwenga to educate men and women about rape. "The conviction was the best thing that happened until now," she says. "Soldiers are now afraid. After Kibibi was sentenced, people saw that the government could react even against a colonel. Soldiers are even beginning to contact protection agencies to preempt any effort their wives may make to inform on them. They worry that the wife will come and tell lies."
Army captain Matata Nsanda from Bas-Congo said that, among themselves, soldiers are discussing Kibibi and what he did. "He violated the law. He failed to fulfill his military mission. He was sent to Fizi secure people and property. He did the opposite, and he was tried, convicted, and sentenced.
"As a result, many soldiers are now afraid to rape, though some of them smoke dope and forget their fear. Civilian men are even more afraid than the soldiers, now that the mobile court comes."
But mobile courts are few and Congo is massive. Many of Congo's soldiers—men, some of them illiterate, stationed in distant mountain hollows or deep within the country's forests—have never heard the name Kibibi or about the mass rape at Fizi. Nor have they heard about the new law prosecutors are using to imprison them for years for having had even consensual sex with anyone under the age of 18.
Street cops here in Kamituga had never heard of Kibibi or the Fizi trial or Katasomwa or the law on sexual violence. Neither had some of the soldiers within earshot of the tent where the Kamituga mobile court is taking place.
Chuck Sudetic will be reporting from Kamituga for the duration of the trials.
1 Comment
Good post, but a few quite important details on the armed groups are wrong:
- the CNDP is not a Banyamulenge group. Originally it is a group formed from the Rwandaphone community of North Kivu, who are not Banyamulenge.
- While the Banyamulenge (the Rwandaphone community in the south of South Kivu) largely self-identify as Tutsi, this is not the case for the CNDP and the Rwandaphone community in North Kivu.
- The Rwandan government almost certainly supported the CNDP (though not the Banyamulenge and their militia, which is the FRF) until 2008 but it is not clear that they have supported the CNDP since 2009 (and the arrest of Laurent Nkunda).
- Calling the Banyamulenge "Congolese and Rwandan Tutsis" is misleading - there is no evidence of recent Rwandan migration to Banyamulenge zones. The Banyamulenge have been in South Kivu largely since the 19th century or earlier, and do not identify themselves as Rwandan.
These may seem like minor details but conflating the different Rwandaphone communities, their militia and calling them Rwandan feeds into the dialogue of "Congolese vs Rwandans" that is often used politically in the Kivus to deliberately stokes inter-group divisions, so it's important to get right.


text:
OLPC Discovers Economic Reality; Cuts Staff
from the but-the-dream-is-closer... dept
So, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that OLPC is now cutting its workforce in half, and slashing salaries for remaining employees. Negroponte blames the economy, but that seems like an especially weak excuse, given just how strongly small, inexpensive mini-laptops (netbooks) are selling these days. Clearly, there's tremendous demand out there for super cheap, small laptops. The problem is that Negroponte decided from the beginning that his product was only for kids in developing countries, and left a massive market underserved (the rather weak give one, get one program was hardly serving the market).
But, again, the point is clear: the overall market is doing a rather amazing job serving the market. They're providing all sorts of very cheap mini laptops at price points even below what the OLPC is going for. No, most netbooks don't have some of the bells and whistles of the OLPC that help it survive a rough environment, but it seems rather likely that used netbooks and newer cheaper netbooks will find their way into developing countries soon enough as well -- just as second hand mobile phones have made it. So, in the end, Negroponte's original vision may get served, but it will get served by the market and competition, rather than his own grand master plan.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
8:00 pm
Outdoor Idaho "Canyonlands Calling" Cameras roam desert expanses, narrow canyons, mountains and rock formations of the southwest corner of Idaho. Participants reveal how eight years of collaborative effort among many interests can culminate in the federal Owyhee Initiative that includes many uses, including designated wilderness.G
8:30 pm
Art Wolfe's Travels to the Edge "The Making of Travels to the Edge" In this behind-the-scenes peek at travel with a photographer, Art and his small crew venture through the remote kingdoms of Bhutan and Nepal.G
9:00 pm
Midsomer Murders "Ghosts of Christmas Past, Part 1" Barnaby looks forward, with reservations, to entertaining his in-laws for Christmas. Meanwhile, exactly nine years after the suicide of Ferdy Villiers, his family and their guests arrive at the somewhat dilapidated Villiers home to celebrate the season. But someone among the Villiers family seems too aware who is hiding dark secrets. Part 1 of 2G
10:00 pm
Vera (Apt) "A Certain Samaritan" DCI Vera Stanhope investigates the murder of 29-year-old Niall Coulter while his closest associates are intent on obscuring the truth. While coping with revelations from her own past, Vera sifts through evidence of the grief, love, and addiction that characterized Niall's life.G
11:30 pm
Charlie Rose NULL


text:
FREE SHIPPING on orders over $99
Find inspiration from a wide selection of furniture, umbrellas, and other decorative elements to perfect your outdoor space.
View award winning fire features, and other outdoor heating accessories that enable you to enjoy your space through the night.
Illuminate your space, whether outdoors or indoors, with our growing collection of designer lighting elements.
View our premium collection of grills, pizza ovens, and a plethora of cooking accessories to create your outdoor dream kitchen.
Explore all of the stylish fireplace mantels, beautiful fire glass colors, and accessories to enhance your fireplace.
Explore our wide array of professional design elements to enhance your indoor living space.
Showing items 1-13 of 13.
Spark up a chat with an expert
Monday - Friday5am - 6pm PST
Saturday - Sunday
7am - 3:30pm PST
A trained staff member will reply back to you as soon as possible.
with Special Savings, Discounts & New Products!
or, light us up on your social feeds
Copyright © 2018 Starfire Direct - All Rights Reserved. Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy


text:
Contact details
Situated on the lovely Enniscoe House estate near Crossmolina, Horse House One and The Potting Shed are a wonderful choice for a self-catering holiday in County Mayo.
Read more
Want to know more? Ask a question in our Community, they're the people who know Ireland best.
For more information on travel, accommodation and attractions have a look at our brochures and maps.
If you're a visitor from the island of Ireland you may want to visit one of these sites… Otherwise proceed to Ireland.com
Share this link
Ireland.com uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies from Ireland.com.


text:
Imagine an eco-social system, based on the interaction of billions of networked devices and humans, handling the flow of extraordinarily large amounts of information that can aid in emergency response, promote better health care or even help governments manage smarter cities.
That's the type of cloud platform the National Institute of Standards and Technology's IT Laboratory and Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) aim to produce through a collaboration project.
NICT and NIST ITL are developing a prototype cloud platform for collecting, archiving, organizing, manipulating and sharing very large cyber and physical social data sets. The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding in February 2012 to promote collaborative projects such as the cyber-physical data cloud and network security.
Kyoung-Sook Kim, a researcher with NICT's Information and Service Platform Laboratory, provided an overview of the project's progress during a panel discussion at the NIST Cloud and Big Data Workshop, Jan. 15 in Gaithersburg, Md. The project addresses the requirement in the U.S. Government Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap for academia, industry and the government to initiate development projects for future clouds.
The Great East Japan earthquake in 2011 prompted Tokyo to explore the pivotal role massive-scale cloud computing could play in supporting the country's critical infrastructure and in providing government services, Kim said. During the recovery stage, the government realized cloud computing "is not only for cyberspace because it also needs to interact with the physical infrastructure and systems," she said. As a result, the Japanese government is attempting to bring the cyber and physical worlds together via a cyber-physical data cloud.
Developments in broadband networks, mobile computing and social media are laying the foundation for cyber-physical data clouds. Physical environment sensor data, such as weather observations, can be instantly disseminated over the Internet via widely available broadband networks, according to NIST. People are also becoming human sensors as they use smart phones to distribute information about their physical environments via text messages, photos or video. And social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook encourage publishing and distributing sensing data in real time.
There is a push to harness this repository of sensing data so government and industry can gain knowledge of real-world situations and provide more actionable information services. The cyber-physical data cloud will be central for collecting, archiving, organizing, manipulating, and sharing very large data sets, according to NIST.
Kim said NICT has identified five problem areas associated with the development of cyber-physical data clouds:
NICT is focused on developing cyber-physical cloud services and systems using those services, Kim said. The organization is designing the conceptual architecture for the cyber-physical cloud.
Concurrently, NICT is developing the cyber-physical system sensor information system, which will provide access to and analysis of sensor data and produce actionable information via visualization tools. After NICT finishes work on many of the interfaces on this system, the organization will transition it to support the cyber-physical cloud, Kim said. However, a lot of work is still needed in the areas of architecture, security and standards before the project is completed, she added.
A cyber-physical architecture that addresses the convergence of the cloud, big data and social data is a good idea, said Melvin Greer, chief strategist for cloud computing at Lockheed Martin. It shows that cyber constructs and physical elements can be used to access data that can be applied to a variety of areas, such as emergency and disaster response, he noted.
Greer, also a vice chair of the Network Centric Operations Consortium, and Craig Lee, a senior scientist at Aerospace Corp., gave an update of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency/NCOC GEOINT community cloud prototype, which will help federal agencies respond to and provide humanitarian assistance during disasters.
NGA and NCOC are currently laying down the infrastructure for that community cloud. In June, the consortium will move to provide software, available through a software-as-a-service model, which can support disaster response and relief efforts, Greer said. For instance, an application that can overlay on a map all health care facilities affected by a disaster would let first responders know where to take the sick or wounded.
The NIST Cloud and Big Data workshop, held at the agency's headquarters Jan. 15-17, focuses on the intersection of the two technologies, and big data's relation to and influence on cloud platforms and computing.
About the Author
Rutrell Yasin is is a freelance technology writer for GCN.
E-Mail this page
Printable Format
Consider the following scenario: A city asks its citizens to donate their old smart phones to the city. The donated phones are reprogrammed to support a Wi-Fi mesh network like that of the OLPC which will automatically route packets to any other node closer to the destination. Placed into an environmental case with a solar panel and battery to keep it running at night and cloudy weather, the system could be mounted on the top of buildings. The accelerometers in the smart phones could sense building shaking or in the worse case collapse. Cameras in the phone can be queried for traffic control, crowd control and disaster damage evaluation. The communication network should continue to function as long as sufficient links remain to create a connected graph, reserve systems can be placed after a disaster to reconnect any island graphs.And the city can download programs to run to the phones given that they represent a compute grid. Concerned citizens can also donate compute time to the system similar to the SETI at home program and be promised priority of rescue in the aftermath of any disaster as well as everyday information on problems such as traffic congestion, protests and other things they can use to make their lives easer. This solves part of the problem of an infrastructure mentioned on page two and supplies a resilient real-time broadband network. I think it would make for an interesting high school project. Get children involved in the functioning of their city and get free development efforts. And the second development round would include robotic nodes. After a disaster the robotic nodes would position themselves to reconnect the communication graph and maximize bandwidth from CC to ISR. They could also travel into the hazardous areas to survey conditions.
Advanced Search
8251 Greensboro Drive, Suite 510
McLean, VA 22102
© 2018 1105 Media, Inc.
8251 Greensboro Drive, Suite 510
McLean, VA 22102703-876-5100 © 1996-2017 1105 Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Trendy Fruits, Nuts, And Vegetables
From heirloom potatoes and tomatoes to near-superfruits cranberries and blueberries, consumers are nuts about natures health benefits.
The trendy spud?
For decades, the most popular American vegetable has been the potato, and its most popular application has been the french fry. Although association with fast food has damaged its image as a healthy carbohydrate, the misunderstood spud also found itself involved in a much more important trend.
Ever heard of the Baby Dutch Yellow? How about the Ruby Gold? Those varieties of potatoes are among the trends to watch in the coming year, according to Robert Schueller, director of public relations at Melissa's/World Variety Produce Inc. (www.melissas.com), Los Angeles. It turns out colorful specialty potatoes are rich in anthocyanins, the potent polyphenols that first drew attention to red wine and then to colorful berries as protective foods for cardiovascular health.
If you can identify their variety, even the simple spud can become trendy.
The May 2007 issue of Carcinogenesis carries the article "Anthocyanin fraction from potato extracts is cytotoxic to prostate cancer cells through activation of caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways." It says extracts from specialty potatoes killed specific cancer cells in vitro by a previously undescribed mechanism. While there is little reason to believe this article noticeably altered potato consumption, it is a further demonstration of one of the most persistent trends in fruit or vegetable consumption: Rich, bright color is hot.
Of all the mixed messages one may glean from the nutrition headlines, this colorful and highly palatable one seems to have resonated, converting both common and obscure foods along with their applications into "trendy" items.
Consider the composition of AnthoComplete, a new anthocyanin-rich nutritional blend ingredient created by FutureCeuticals Inc., (www.futureceuticals.com), Momence, Ill., a division of Van Drunen Farms. AnthoComplete is a proprietary blend that includes anthocyanins from wild bilberry, blueberry, acai, blackcurrant, sweet cherry, raspberry, elderberry, blackberry, black soybean hull and blue corn. Though seasonally popular, none of these foods was trendy until the antioxidant wave hit the shores.
Blueberries' high score on the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale boosted their popularity.
"Blueberries aren't new, but the technology behind developing a proprietary blueberry extract and measuring its biological impact on conditions such as inflammation and elevated cholesterol has helped to drive its popularity," says Colleen Zammer, sales director for FutureCeuticals. Anthocyanins have turned many humble fruits into "superfruits."
Rise of the superfruits
"Superfruits have seen strong popularity growth recently due to their high antioxidant levels and, for some, their exotic nature," Zammer continues. A few of the more exotic superfruits include acai, camu camu, whole coffee fruit and goji berry. "Now, blends of superfruits are seeing growth as companies look for ways to differentiate their finished products."
And just as healthy foods vary in nutrient levels, they also have different antioxidant profiles, each providing a set of unique anthocyanins. A broad range of anthocyanins would normally be obtained from a healthy diet. "Combining traditional berries with more exotic superfruits allows a manufacturer to optimize health benefits while maintaining a proprietary edge that is less easily copied," adds Zammer.
While their health message isn't widely known, tart cherries have the most anthocyanins 1 and 2, and are finding their way into more applications.
Research conducted at Michigan State University found tart cherries, the ones we stuff into cherry pies, contain the highest concentrations of anthocyanins 1 and 2. These unique anthocyanins act like popular pain medication, hindering the ability of the Cox I and II enzymes to convert arachidonic acid to inflammatory prostaglandins, which may explain why some people find tart cherries ease the pain of arthritis and gout.
In addition, tart cherries are among nature's richest sources of natural melatonin, a chemical produced also in the pineal gland of vertebrate animals.
Melatonin acts both as a protective antioxidant and a sleep aid, helping to regulate circadian rhythms.
Tart cherries are now making regular appearances in juices, jams, and raw food bars.
For example, a popular flavor in the Lara Bars lineup (by Denver-based Humm Foods Inc., www.larabar.com), a raw food combination of dates, nuts, and tart cherries, is appropriately named cherry pie. The Cherry Marketing Institute (www.choosecherries.com), Lansing, Mich., is promoting tart cherries as a "superfruit" with vast potential outside of the pie.
Anthocyanins and related phytochemicals have sent many foods through an image transformation. Decas Cranberry Products (www.decascranberry.com), Carver, Mass., has been supplying cranberries for decades, back when we only thought of them around Thanksgiving. Their image began to change when some doctors started recommending cranberry juice for urinary tract infections.
Join the discussion
We welcome your thoughtful comments.
All comments will display your user name.
Want to participate in the discussion?Register for free
Log in for complete access.
No one has commented on this page yet.
RSS feed for comments on this page | RSS feed for all comments


text:
Geographically Dispersed Disaster Restart (GDDR)
GDDR automates disaster restart of applications and systems in Mainframe environments in the event of a planned or an unplanned outage. Leveraging the proven and powerful VMAX architecture and the foundation of SRDF and TimeFinder Replication families, GDDR eliminates any single point of failure for Disaster Restart plans in Mainframe environments. GDDR intelligence automatically adjusts Disaster Restart Plans based on triggered events.


text:
Create/Manage a PPC Campaign
Budget $30-250 USD
Multiple landing pages built and advertised in certain demographic areas. Generate leads from people interested in selling there property. Advertise on certain social network platforms and browsers. Will be doing the same marketing for refinance on a different platform.
18 freelancers are bidding on average $167 for this job
Hi, We are GOOGLE ADWORDS SILVER MEDAL WINNER - HIGHEST % in ADWORDS on Freelancer.com Platform, Experience in SEARCH, DISPLAY, REMARKETING, GOOGLE SHOPPING/ PLA, ADROLL, PERFECT AUDIENCE etc. Kindly message, We wi More
Hello there, Greetings! We have gone through the complete job description and are pretty sure that we can definitely assist you in managing your Adwords accounts. We have 7+ Experience in SEO and PPC. We have More
Hi Greetings. Just let me know your Website link for a quick review before you accept my bid. Let me getback ASAP once you reply Thanks
I can help you improve your business sales. I can provide you guaranteed genuine leads for your business. Please check my reviews here and you can see my clients are happy with leads I generate for them. Can I see you More
My wife and I would be happy to help you with your project. Let's schedule a phone/Skype call to go over the details and see if we're a good fit for your company: [login to view URL] More
Hello, Greetings from #TLN. "We not only care about the clients we represent, but their customers as well." Creativity, the ability to generate new ideas with enthusiasm and passion for advertising has always More
Hi, I am doing full time digital marketing and PPC for last 6 years, have experience in multiple niches and worked with over 100 clients so far. I am Google AdWords certified professional with specialization in Sear More
I will set up search, display, and re-marketing campaigns, also provide you the tracking codes for the same. Just need the brief about your daily budget for the campaign,.And the website url. Feel free to discuss abo More
Hi there - i'm a UK based developer with 7 years experience designing, building and optimziing web applications and websites. I'd be happy to help you get your project over the line. If you have any questions pleas More
Hi Sir, I am digital marketing specialist with more than 7 years experience. I am very much interested in your project with all of your requirements. I am always available on Email and Skype. Please have a voice More
Thanks for the opportunity to bid on this project. In my recent adwords campaign for my UK CLIENT in HEALTH Niche, I've got 7741 conversions at just £672. Also I am managing PPC campaign for my UK and US clients right More
Get Adwords Help Do you want more sales and leads from Adwords? Our FREE Adwords help audit will show you how Why Get a FREE Push Adwords Audit For business owners, Google Adwords can be a love/hate affair; many More


text:
Modern Living Showhouse: Small, Green, Gorgeous
Despite its tiny footprint, the Modern Living Showhouse dominated the floor at Dwell on Design. The sustainable prefab home, designed by architect Jonathan Davis and curated by ecofabulous founder and eco-chic expert Zem Joaquin, proved that green living can be gorgeous, even for the chickens and bees.
Throughout the interior of the house, the designers struck a beautiful balance of warm woods, whites, and plenty of windows, including a clerestory that flooded the 520-square-foot home with light. An unexpected touch? EcoClad bio-composite cladding used on the interior. It totally worked. Dark cork floors by Wicanders grounded the palette.
I particularly loved the kitchen, which was small but extremely efficient (at least according to the guy who was baking cookies for the crowds that toured the tiny space). I was already a big fan of Modwall's small white subway tiles made from recycled glass, and they looked stylishly subtle here. If I had the budget, I'd be very tempted by the induction cooktop from the high-end Electrolux ICON line. Apparently it doesn't scratch or stay hot after use.
Joaquin laid out the space smartly, arranging the middle of the prefab as a living area, divided from the bedroom by a custom Plyboo unit from Neil Kelly Cabinets. Plyboo, by the way, is such a promising material. It's renewable and looks really modern, especially the way it was used in this wall unit -- on the edges and sides the stacked layers were left exposed, lending the wood a striped appearance. A bonus: built-in closet space on the bedroom-side of the unit.
Speaking of sleeping spaces, the bedroom was very cozy and outfitted with a rubber latex mattress and pillows from Organic Mattresses Inc. and ultra-luxe Coyuchi linens. (I won't lie -- I had to fight the urge to crawl beneath the covers after a long day at the conference.) To the side of the bed, a closet-size space housed an exposed energy-efficient washer and dryer, which would normally be neatly tucked away behind a door. For small layouts, this is an inspired choice. No more lugging laundry, that's for sure.
The bathroom was textbook eco-cool, with glass tiles and energy-efficient faucets and fixtures. But it was the "backyard" that really won me over. A few chickens were pecking about in the coolest coop ever by the L.A.-based 100x Better. The structure would look amazing in my backyard if I could ever convince my man to indulge my chicken-coop fantasies. Maybe good design will sway him?
By the way, the entire house is up for auction on eBay, in case you're interested. I'm not sure I'd want to live in something like this full-time, but as a second home, this would be an ecofabulous dream come true.
• The prefab's exterior. Photo: ecofabulous
• The kitchen. Photo: ecofabulous.
• Zem Joaquin and architect Jonathan Davis discuss the house's features.
• A closeup of the live-edge table, sourced from a tree at Davis' wife's childhood home.
• Joaquin says she was unconvinced about the interior cladding until she saw it in action.
• The living room. Photo: ecofabulous.
• A closeup of the Plyboo wall unit.
• The bedroom.
• The bath.
• The chicken coop.
Images: AnnaMaria Stephens unless otherwise noted


text:
Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed in Salamanca Area
The Cattaraugus County Department of the Aging's Senior Wellness and Nutrition program is currently in need of Meals on Wheels volunteers in the Salamanca area. The meals are picked up by volunteers at Cattaraugus Community Action, located at 25 Jefferson Street. Most volunteers deliver 7 to 12 meals once per week. It takes about one hour (10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.) to complete a route. Mileage reimbursement is available for volunteers age 55 and over.
The purpose of the Senior Wellness and Nutrition program and Meals on Wheels is to maintain independence, delay or prevent nursing home placement, and improve or maintain the current health status of the homebound meal recipients. Without volunteers, delivery of the meals would be impossible.
If you have ever thought about donating your time to a worthy cause – here is your chance! Delivering Meals on Wheels is a great way to serve your community. This is an excellent opportunity for area businesses or organizations to serve their community as well.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please call David Rodkey, Retired Senior Volunteer Program coordinator, at 716-373-8032 or 800-462-2901.


text:
Release date: October 9
Wayland senior spends semester "focusing" on future
Wayland Baptist University senior Michelle Hinze has known for a while she was meant to use her talents in a ministry position. But after spending her spring semester at a recognized ministry organization, she has no doubt that's what God intends.
Hinze, a native of Plainview and the daughter of Mike and Pam Hinze, is a mass communications major who's been involved in writing and journalism during her four years at Wayland. Wanting to hone her talents with some noted publications, she contacted Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family to inquire about internship possibilities. The Christian organization offered her a chance to apply for their institute, a semester-long program featuring coursework and ministry opportunities within the organization.
Hinze applied and learned she'd been chosen later in the fall of 2001. Forgoing what might have been her last semester at Wayland, she packed up and headed for Colorado for the spring. She has no regrets.
"We took classes on religious issues, marriage and family issues, parenting, world issues and being vocal in our beliefs," she said. "I looked forward to going everyday because it was so interesting to me."
When not in classes, Hinze got her internship experience by working with the Focus on the Family magazine. Her duties primarily involved editing and proofreading, which she said she enjoyed. She also got to sit in on a radio show with Susie Shellenberger, editor of Brio, a magazine for girls and someone Michelle said she'd looked up to through her teenage years.
When she suggested an article for the magazine's "Heritage Builders" section --a feature by guest writers that deals with family faith traditions -- the editors let her take a swing.
She hit a homer. Her article, entitled "Prayer: A Tool for Life," appears in the current edition of Focus on the Family magazine, a major point of pride for this aspiring writer. Though having an article published was exciting, Hinze feels the semester's biggest achievement was an inner peace.
"I really felt God affirming my call to use my writing ability for him," she said. "That's how I want to minister to people."
Hinze plans to graduate from Wayland in December and pursue a career in religious journalism. She intends to contact Focus on the Family again about full-time work, saying that would be "a dream come true for me."


text:
Friday, July 26, 2013 - Wank Party 2013 #06, Part 1
Wank Party 2013 #6 features four very good models, Robert Drtina, Tomas Berger, Daniel Just and Borek Sokol. In this first part we find them all in the park, with a new camera which Robert uses to film the guys. Then he hands it off to Borek as they all walk to the water chute. We then find them sliding down the chute, Robert just behind Borek. As they approach the bottom of the chute Robert is right up with Borek and they land in the water together. Tomas follows quickly behind. With the new camera able to film under water we get some great teasers and the guys play, with cocks and asses being shown. After a lot of fun in the water the guys leave and we find them inside, on a sofa, checking out their video footage. That soon leads to some play, with all the guys getting naked and they start to suck. With Danie sucking on Borek's big dick as Tomas sucks Roberts. The Robert sucks on Borek's cock as the little camera is capturing some detail. Tomas continues to suck Robert with Borek taking a trun on Daniel's dick. With the camera in play the guys change around and Robert sucks on Tomas' hard cock as Borek sits and wanks. Daniel is sucking Robert as Borek takes over on Tomas' cock. The guys keep on with that hot sucking, changing partners all the while until Borek and Robert present their asses, and Tomas and Daniel eagerly get down to rim them. They work their tongues into the hot holes to end this most enjoyable first part.
... more about Wank Party 2013 #06, Part 1 - WANK PARTY further in this newsletter
Our Coming Soon Set Preview
Adam Rupert gets together with our hot newcomer Terry Torson. We find Terry asleep with Adam next to him, ready to play. He pulls the covers off Terry, revealing his big hard cock. Adam begins kissing all over Terry's body, and takes hold of his hard cock. Moving onto his knees Adam kisses, and then starts to suck, that cock. His mouth closes over the engorged head and suck real good. Terry wakes to that warm feeling and enjoys that cock sucking. Adam moves up to kiss Terry again, wanking on his cock at the same time. Then Adam goes back down on that throbbing cock and sucks it some more, before moving up and presenting his own dick for Terry to suck. With his cock in Terry's mouth he fucks in and out. Terry sucks on that big dick and wanks himself too. Adam is ready for more and sits his hot ass down on Terry's cock. He rides that cock a while and then Terry takes over and fucks his dick nice and deep into that eager ass. Adam turns around and sits back down, really taking that cock well. He moves up and down that thick shaft, with his own cocking rock hard too. Then the guys change, with Terry on his knees and Adam sliding his huge cock deep into his ass. He fucks Terry nice and deep, really stretching his ass. Then they move into missionary position, with Adam on his back and Terry's cock deep inside him again. Adam wanks himself hard and fast as Terry fucks him. Soon Adam shoots a nice creamy load all over himself. Terry pulls out and shoots his own load, over Adam's cock to end a beautiful scene.
You can watch my Vlog for this Newsletter by clicking above or by going over to the Blog : http://www.wheuro.com/?p=11372
It's hot, hot, hot in Prague. As I write, 29º C or 85º F outside (I did misspeak on the Vlog, it is 85º not 95º). Showers forecast for tonight. Aida (and Bill) hate this hot weather.
I've just about finished my Feeding Swans YouTube video and will post it tomorrow. Meanwhile, it's right to business as I presently have an appointment with a visitor from Brazil.
Meanwhile to work:
What a wonderful line-up we have today, starting with part one of Wank Party 2013 #6. That is followed by Jan Cerny in his erotic video, Petr Hrdina's sessions stills and a very nice backstage video of Jozef Vavrich's Gangbang.
Our castees today look very good too. They are Janek Rezan, Jan Cerny and Petr Beude. All three look good, but my winner today is Jan Cerny, whose session stills is also online now.
MESSAGE ABOUT LINKS TO THE OLD WH WEBSITE - WILLIAMHIGGINS.com ARCHIVES:
Please be aware that the link www.williamhiggins.com takes you to this brand new website now. If you bookmarked our old website in the past and you want to keep the bookmark as a shortest way to access the old WH website you need to change the link in the bookmark to:
Our castees today look very good too. They are Eljan Nikitov, Vasil Kosimcuk and Antonin Pecka. It is a close call today but by pick will be Elhan Nikitov.
Today's Weather in Prague
We have launched our all new Kink only site with no solos. It's not for the feint hearted. Do take a look (if you dare):
At present, Members of CzechGuysNextDoor will be able to access the new site with their user information. If you have problems, write email@example.com
Latest Sets At Our NEW STR8HELL.com Website
Open Set "Daniel Koc - Mad Monk - SPANKING"
Open Set "Petr Morava - CFNM"
Members of CzechGuysnextDoor.com - to log in the member's section of the new STR8HELL website use your present username and password, if you forgot your password or encounter a log in problem please feel free to contact us at: firstname.lastname@example.com
Non-members - you are welcome to browse our complete content - each regular set contains free video preview and free photos, if you decide not to become a member of our website you can also buy sets separately (we huge, well organized and easy to search library of models - there is always few models you may like) you can pay only for what you really want see ;-). You are always welcome to come back.
All members of www.CzechGuysNextDoor.com get a free access to STR8HELL.com till the end of November 2011!
Please use your present CzechGuysNextDoor username and password to log into the members area.
We have terminated updates to CzechGuysNextDoor.com website. CzechGuysNextDoor.com website will stay online, but now only as an archive of all CzechGuysNextdoor.com sets. Anyone who wants to access CzechGuysNextDoor.com Archives needs to have a STR8HELL.com membership. STR8HELL.com will continue with most of the czechguysnextdoor.com projects. Anyone who joins STR8HELL.com will gain access to two websites STR8HELL.com and CzechGuyNextDoor.com Archives which contain 2500+ sets. STR8HELL.com has exactly same features and controls as NEW WilliamHiggins.com website.
Direct access to CzechGuysNextDoor.com website is now through the link: archive.czechguysnextdoor.com or through "Archive Sets 2004-2011" links on the new STR8HELL website.
Thank you for your loyalty to CzechGuysNextDoor.com website,
William Higgins
BurnDVD.tv Website Latest Updates
Starting today you can download our videos in Full HD quality 1920x1080px!
Please remember that most of the videos available on BurnDVD are easily able to be downloaded with a single link, but some of the very large files, such as the newsletter DVDs have to be split into three separate links, as detailed below.
The videos with very large file sizes are now split into more than one part, using a program called HJSplit. If you wish to buy one of these larger videos to Burn to DVD, you will receive a link for file and then it is a simple process to join the downloaded files together to make the .iso file for Burning to DVD.
You can see all the available videos at www.burndvd.tv
Before downloading any videos to burn to DVD I advise you to read the BURNDVD Manual, which explains how you can burn the file to DVD. The file is an ISO file which contains all the required DVD files. The process for burning to DVD is fully explained.
The BurnDVD manual is easy to follow, with a step by step guide. Burning a DVD is easy to do, though it is helpful if you have previously burned DVDs or CDs.
The manual can be viewed here: BURNDVD Manual
Anyone who has any problems understanding the manual, or burning their download to DVD, or indeed any questions about this service please email firstname.lastname@example.com . Geoff will be happy to assist you.
You can view all the available downloads at www.burndvd.tv, by clicking the on the categories. A direct link to the latest files available will be published in each newsletter.
Our Latest Sets at www.BurnDVD.tv
Today we have part one of great Wank Party 2013 #6 , a solo with Jan Cerny, a backstage of the Josef Vavrich Gang Bang Wank Party and finally a CFNM with Petr Morava.
The direct link to "Wank Party 2013 #6 - Part1"
The direct link to "Jan Cerny - SOLO""
"Josef Vavrich-Gang Bang-BACKSTAGE"
The direct link to "CFNM - Petr Morava"
Special Offer for William Higgins Newsletter Readers
William Higgins Newsletter readers are able to obtain a discount on the price of BURNDVD downloads by using the coupons that we will be publishing in each Members Newsletter. The coupon published in each newsletter will be valid for a period of 7 days.
Copy today's coupon code here: d7f7jk5
Our Partners:
PLEASE PROCEED TO THE NEXT PAGE FOR THE LATEST WilliamHiggins.com UPDATES


text:
Seeing Michael Moore's thought-provoking "Fahrenheit 9/11" has given me a much greater appreciation of the disdain -- dare I say the hate? -- that many Microsoft Corp. foes feel as they face off against the powerful, politically connected software giant.
"Fahrenheit" places most of the blame for the Iraq mess, of course, on the Bush administration and some major corporate interests -- mostly The Carlyle Group and Halliburton. There is scant mention of Microsoft; it hosts a conference where some of the biggest defense and other support contractors get together to talk about how much money they can make off the war with statements such as "It's the biggest financial opportunity on the planet;" and "It's good for business, but it's bad for people."
Although it sort of beat you over the head -- okay, Dubya is dumb, so enough already -- I came away from the film with a gut ache, and it wasn't from the super-size popcorn and soda I shared with the wife.
For one, I was appalled that all of those American and Iraqi men, women, and children had been killed or injured for what appears to have been a big joint business venture among greedy America corporations; I was horrified by the blank look on President Bush's face as he learned of the 9/11 attacks and sat in front of a group of schoolchildren for nearly 10 minutes, waiting for direction and looking like it was time to go see the principal.
What really turned my stomach was the hypocrisy of the whole thing. We go to Iraq looking for weapons of mass destruction; not finding them, then ostensibly we're there to liberate the Iraqis for freedom and democracy.
But what are we doing about genocide in Zaire, to cite just one of many international problem areas? What support could we give those beleaguered, hungry, and sick African people with just a fraction of the resources we're dumping into Iraq -- which has become, in some respects, worse than Vietnam? How can we continue to send our unrested soldiers out on neighborhood raids that terrify the Iraqi locals? How's that for winning hearts and minds?
We actually are winning hearts and minds -- but for the other side.
I thought it was sad that a U.S. soldier questioned in the film had to ask why he is being paid $2,000 per month to do the same truck-driving job as an $18,000-per-month private contractor. A National Guardsman with whom I saw the movie -- who spent seven months in Baghdad and a year away from family -- said the Iraq scenes looked familiar. He agreed with the point about the money and recalled how U.S. troops are guarding the private contractors across Iraq.
For those who think that Moore is either full of himself or hot air, I can relate. This is where Microsoft comes in. I have never understood the pure hatred some people hold for one company, particularly when they have not been the actual victims of monopoly preying or pushing. But I now equate it to my disdain for the Bush administration. And when you think about it, there are parallels between the two targets of our collective distaste.
Size: Here you have the candidate who said he would do away with big government going with another big -- Big Business. Supporters of Bush, along with many of the Democrats who have failed to balance executive or judicial power for the past five to seven years, are made up of the nation's biggest businesses. One of the world's biggest businesses, Microsoft, is certainly among the most influential corporate -- and political -- interests in the world.
Relationships: In "Fahrenheit," Moore draws strong lines between the Saudi royalty and the Bush "royalty," with George W. Bush and Osama Bin Laden both portrayed as silver-spoon renegades who rose to power while their families helped each other. So in the movie, it's the Bushes using the Saudis for capital gain, and vice versa. For the IT industry and Microsoft, the big, filthy, dirty-work relationship is with The SCO Group. Both the Bush administration and Microsoft have plenty of other suspect dealings according to those who don't care for them, and their respective relationships center on partnerships for power.
Fear, uncertainty, doubt (FUD): Here's where the connection really clicks. This explains to me how many of the more-technical/less-political people I speak with day in and day out perceive Microsoft. I've reached a point where I don't really believe anything the Washington administration is saying. When I hear about the national terror alert going up from yellow to orange, for example, I'm now thinking FUD.
Fear is a central theme for Moore, as it was in his Academy Award-winning documentary (or, as some say, gun-umentary) "Bowling for Columbine." In "Fahrenheit," fear is used to bully the American people into higher Bush approval ratings and to back the Bush administration's desperate need to go to war.
We all know about the FUD factor from Redmond. Some of this came to light during the company's federal anti-monopoly lawsuit three years ago. But most of it is well-hidden in the corporate back rooms of America and doesn't leak into the public domain. A recent example is the Dell/Linspire news story from last week. Even if you don't disbelieve everything Microsoft spins out, the suspicion the company's enemies harbor is similar to what many citizens now have for Bush and his international business comrades.
There are other connections here. We don't even need to go into the fact that the Bush administration let Microsoft off easy in the 2002 DoJ antitrust case, allowing the world's largest software company to continue its monopolist ways. And there is the fact that Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Steve Ballmer are all major Bush campaign donors. Who knows what other connections there are between Microsoft and the Bush administration?
That's meat for a future column, perhaps.
The bottom lines here: Let's keep informed on our own, try to identify government and corporate FUD, and be proactive about rejecting it. Let's also try to understand each other's viewpoints and agree we should protest those in public or corporate office who are misusing their power and leverage the ballot box -- or buying power -- to unseat them as soon as possible.


text:
Looking for a quality Commercial and Industrial plumbing, air conditioning and heating contractor in the Tallahassee area? Call W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor now at 850-972-2008!
With W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, you have upfront pricing, a 100% guarantee on all services, on-time service, and access to a team of highly-trained technicians who are individually licensed and possess extensive experience and knowledge. Whatever issue you come across with your home or business AC, heating, or plumbing systems, we have you covered! Call us today and see why your neighbors choose W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor!
We are a Plumbing, HVAC, and Industrial contractor serving most counties in Florida and Georgia. We have over 50 years of experience delivering quality project completions for our customers – large and small.
Founded by William W. "Bill" Gay in 1962, W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor provides a wide variety of commercial, industrial contracting and engineering services. Our expertise includes successful project completions within the public, private and military sectors.
Combining our vast Mechanical Contracting experience, with our skilled workforce of over 1000 people, W.W. Gay is known for providing unparalleled service, quality and reliability to – HVAC, Plumbing, Piping, Carpentry, Welding, General Construction, Steel Erection, Concrete and Sensitive Temperature Controlled environments.
W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor specializes in:
- Process Piping Fabrication and Installation
- Complex Equipment Installations
- Commercial HVAC Piping and Plumbing
- Building Controls and Instrumentation
- Structural Steel Erection
- Industrial
A Clear Distinction From The Rest
W.W. Gay has industry leading Safety, Quality and Project Controls Programs.
We provide turnkey project delivery through our well qualified subcontractors and our management of all other construction activities.
Our exceptional Design Assist and Design Build services apply our depth of knowledge and experience to your project.
Our in-house drafting department and computerized fabrication shop allow our experienced staff to perform clash detection and MEP coordination efforts through our BIM capabilities.
We have LEED certified professionals on staff.
We own and operate a large state-of-the-art pipe fabrication facility for industrial piping and process skid fabrication of all kinds.
W.W. Gay has the financial strength and reserves to provide the bonding, working capital, and purchasing power needed to meet even the largest project requirements.
At W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, we provide expert service, quality, and reliability to every client. Our employees are the best in the business! Call us today at 850-972-2008!


text:
When to Go
- Getting Started
- Attendance
- Calendar of Events
- First Timer Primer
- Operating Hours &
Parade Times
- Refurbishments and
- US Holidays
- Weather
Where to Stay
Ticket Information
- Ticket FAQ
- Annual Passes
- Annual Pass
Breakeven Analysis
- Ticket Prices
- Finger Scans/
Ticket Tag
- WDW Ticket History
- Discounted Ground Transportation
- Disney's Minnie Van Service
- Disney Modes of Transportation
- Disney Skyliner
- Magical Express
- Parking Information
- Renting a Car
- Valet Parking
"Mini-mizing" Costs
- Annual Pass Discounts
- Discounts for WDW
- Finding Low Airfares
- Priceline "How To.."
- Tables in Wonderland
Magic Your Way
Helpful Hints
- Extra Magic Hour
- First Day Ideas
- Holiday Happenings
- Nighttime Fun
- Packing Ideas
- Rainy Day Ideas
- Summer Sun Survival
- Tips for Enjoying
Your Stay
- Touring Plans
- What to Tote Around
For Families
- Activities for
School-aged Kids
- Birthday Ideas: Kids
- Bringing Your
Child's Friend
- Child Care FAQ
- Expectant Mothers
- 5-11 Year Olds
- Infant and Toddler
- Teenager
- Preschooler Tips
- Stroller FAQ
For Guests without Children
For Travelers with Special Challenges
- General Information
- PassPorter's Open Mouse
Walt Disney World and
Disney Cruise Line
- Companion Restroom
Disorders (ASD) Dietary Needs
- Parks Counter Service
- Parks Table Service
- Strategies for
WDW Vegetarian
- Meet the Authors of Vegetarian WDW
- A Vegetarian at
Mickey's Table - I
- A Vegetarian at
Mickey's Table - II
Hearing Medical Needs
Mobility Motion Sensitivity
Service Animals
Size Concerns: Visual Impairments
For International Visitors
Florida Residents
Other Resources
Your Trip
Walt Disney World
When Should
I Go? | Where Should I
Stay? | Which
Tickets Should I Buy? | What Will
It Cost? |
Car or Not? | What
About Families? | Special Needs? | What
are Some Other Planning Tips?
Congratulations! You're going to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, one of the world's largest and most popular resorts. Planning is the key to making the most of your time and budget, and to enjoying this wonderful world of theme parks, shopping, entertainment, water parks, hotels, and much more. AllEars.Net helps you plan your trip for maximum enjoyment by starting with answering the most important questions before you go to Walt Disney World.
In each section below, and in the column on the left, there are links to areas on this site that will provide you with additional information to help you make informed decisions about your vacation. And don't forget to subscribe to AllEars®, our free weekly newsletter about Walt Disney World, which will keep you informed and offer additional tips. Click HERE to subscribe to AllEars® now!
Ideally, you want to go when the weather is moderate and the crowds are low. Unfortunately between vacation schedules and school-age kids, your options might be limited. There are special annual events at Walt Disney World that can add to your vacation experience (though crowds may be increased as well). Take a look at the Events Calendar, and don't forget that busier times of the year will have extended Park Operating Hours. Disney has done a great job at creating special events for all their "slow times". In fact, there are no slow times now.
Special times of the year are in Mid-January - February (Festival of the Arts in Epcot) Mid-March - May (Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival), Late August - mid-November (Epcot Food and Wine Festival), and Mid-November - New Year's (Holidays Around the World). In addition, there are two special ticket parties at the Magic Kingdom - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (various dates Mid-August - October) and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (November - December).
Calendar of Events
Scheduled Refurbishments and Closings
US Holidays
Where to stay is a major decision. Walt Disney World has 305 resort hotels to fit all budgets, and they offer special perks to their guests (extra hours in the parks and complimentary Disney Transportation). Staying offsite is likely to cost less, but then you'll probably want a rental car. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin as well as many of our Preferred Off-site resorts offer AllEars.net readers special discounts! Click here to see what's available now!
There are advantages and disadvantages to both -- only you can decide for yourself! Here are a few of our pages that might help you with your decision:
Staying On or Off Disney Property
Resort Fact Sheets and Photo Galleries
Resort Phone Numbers
Disney offers a wide range of ticket options for you to choose from -- one-day/one-park admissions ticket to a Platinum Plus Annual Pass that will get you into all the theme parks, water parks, ESPN's Wide World of Sports and Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course. The ticket structure "rewards" longer stays with a greatly reduced prices for 7+ day tickets. Read through the Ticket FAQ and decide which is best for you.
If you think you may return to Disney in a year, consider an Annual Pass. By purchasing the annual pass, you can return to Disney World next year (a few weeks earlier than this year) and not have to pay for admission tickets again. Take a look at our analysis of when it makes more sense to buy an Annual Pass over other types of tickets. Sometimes discounted hotel rates are also offered to Annual Passholders and Florida Residents.
Your Walt Disney World vacation is going to be an expensive trip, no doubt about it. There are ways to minimize the cost if you're willing to do some work. Your major costs will be Transportation, Tickets, Resort Lodging and Food. Planning ahead by using the information here can save you some money, or at least give you an idea of what the trip might cost:
WDW Discounts
How to Find Low Airfares
Priceline "How To.."
Disney Dining Plan
Magic Your Way Resort Packages
Driving has some drawbacks, but so does waiting for Disney transportation. Then again, relying on Disney means you don't have to shell out for parking or rentals. You can read more pros and cons and other advice here:
Using WDW Transportation or Renting a Car?
Renting a Car - Things to Consider
Discounted Ground Transportation
Disney's Magical Express
Disney Minnie Van Service
You can travel to Walt Disney World as a family, as a couple, as seniors, with friends and even alone! When traveling as a family there are a number of considerations depending on the age(s) of your child(ren).
Activities for School-aged Children
Birthday Ideas for Kids
Expectant Mother Tips
5-11 Year Olds Tips
Infant and Toddler FAQ
ChildCare FAQ
Stroller FAQ
Taking Your Preschooler to WDW
Do You Bring Your Child's Friend?
Empty Nesters addresses issues for guests traveling without children!
The Cast Members at Walt Disney World know that travelers may have special needs and they do their best to be accommodating. Knowing the ins and outs of how the "system" works ahead of time will make your vacation more relaxing and pleasurable. This section addresses those with special physical requirements, including large-sized guests, as well as those with special dietary considerations.
Visit our Special Needs pages. Here's just a sample of what's included:
American Sign Language (ASL) at WDW
Assisted Listening Devices
Mobility Disabilities
Reflective Captioning
Wheelchair/ECV FAQ
Animal Kingdom via Wheelchair
Epcot via Wheelchair
WDW at Large for those who know one size does not always fit all!
Special Dietary Needs
Also read about PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, written for those who face special challenges.
Be sure to check out our searchable TIPS database, chock full of hundreds of ideas and tips to make your vacation a magical one!
Other planning tips and hints you might find helpful:


text:
Here are new and notable books hitting shelves this week. What's on your to buy list? Check back tomorrow for new and notable Young Adult and Middle Grade releases.
How to Capture a Countess (The Duchess Diaries) by Karen Hawkins (Sep 18, 2012)
Indiscreet by Candace Camp (Sep 18, 2012) ReissueHow to Ruin a Reputation (Harlequin Historical) by Bronwyn Scott (Sep 18, 2012)
Shadow of the Wolf by Dana Marie Bell (Sep 18, 2012) Previously available from Liquid Silver Books
Tarnished Rose of the Court (Harlequin Historical) by Amanda McCabe (Sep 18, 2012)
Two Wrongs Make a Marriage (Harlequin Historical) by Christine Merrill (Sep 18, 2012)
Yesterday's Heroes by Heather Long (Sep 17, 2012)
The Curse (Belador) by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love (Sep 18, 2012)
Incarnation by Emma Cornwall (Sep 18, 2012)
Mark of the Witch (The Portal) by Maggie Shayne (Sep 18, 2012)
Something Red: A Novel by Douglas Nicholas (Sep 18, 2012)
Stormdancer (The Lotus War Book One) by Jay Kristoff (Sep 18, 2012)
Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan by Robin Maxwell


text:
Major Section: EVENTS
Examples: (remove-untouchable my-var nil) (remove-untouchable set-mem t)
General Form: (remove-untouchable name{s} fn-p :doc doc-string)
name{s} is a non-
nil symbol or a non-
nil true list of symbols,
fn-p is any value (but generally
nil or
t), and
is an optional documentation string not beginning with
:doc-section ...''. If
name{s} is a symbol it is treated as the
singleton list containing that symbol. The effect of this event is to remove
the given symbols from the list of ``untouchable variables'' in the current
world if
fn-p is
nil, else to remove the symbols into the list of
``untouchable functions''. This event is redundant if no symbol listed is a
member of the appropriate untouchables list (variables or functions).
Note that
remove-untouchable is illegal by default, since it can be used
to provide access to ACL2 internal functions and data structures that are
intentionally made untouchable for the user. If you want to call it, you
must first create an active trust tag; see defttag.
Also See push-untouchable.


text:
Locke Kaushal - Shine Freestyle (Pac Div)[Unsigned Hype]
"New artist out of the DMV. Video directed by Rare Jones Productions. For Updates go to www.lockekaushal.com & follow @LockeKaushal on Twitter. DREAM OUT LOUD ENT."
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
clearing Array
hezi, in AutoIt General Help and Support
Recommended Posts
Similar Content
By Skeletor
Hi Virtual People,
My array works perfectly fine. However, what is the best practice if the line in the array doesn't have the correct amount of columns and if I can add a placeholder?
For $count = 1 To _FileCountLines($FileRead1) Step 1 $string = FileReadLine($FileRead1, $count) $input = StringSplit($string, ",", 1) $value1 = $input[1] $value2 = $input[2] $value3 = $input[3] _Excel_RangeWrite($oWorkbook, $oWorkbook.Activesheet, $value2, "A1") _Excel_RangeWrite($oWorkbook, $oWorkbook.Activesheet, $value1, "B1") _Excel_RangeWrite($oWorkbook, $oWorkbook.Activesheet, $value3, "C1") Next
By MrCheese
hi all,
reviewing the forum, this thread is applicable:
I wanted to know if there is now a better way to do this?
In essence, I load a tab delimited txt file into an array (works well). I used tab, as some fields in the original csv contains commas.
However, I needed autoit to manipulate this array, and output it as a csv.
IF my array contains items with a comma, without double quotes around the field, then how best do I get a csv out of this?
My current workaround is to filewritefromarray tab delimited, then open it in excel and save as a csv. I will need to check this to see how the address fields behave that contain a comma.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
By Skeletor
Hi All,
I would like to know how you would take a FileLineRead and insert it into an array which then inserts it into Excel?
One thing to know is the files content is broken up, so I only use half of the content within $FileRead1.
So its imperative that the $value1, $value2, etc variables be used.
Code below:
$FileRead1 = FileReadLine("C:\temp\sample.txt",1) For $count = 1 To _FileCountLines($FileRead1) Step 1 $string = FileReadLine($FileRead1, $count) $input = StringSplit($string, ",", 1) $value1 = $input[1] $value2 = $input[2] $value3 = $input[3] $value4 = $input[4] _Excel_RangeWrite($oWorkbook, $oWorkbook.Activesheet, $value1, "A1") _Excel_RangeWrite($oWorkbook, $oWorkbook.Activesheet, $value2, "B1") _Excel_RangeWrite($oWorkbook, $oWorkbook.Activesheet, $value3, "C1") _Excel_RangeWrite($oWorkbook, $oWorkbook.Activesheet, $value4, "D1") Next
By AnonymousX
I'm trying to write a script that moves copies excel cells into an array. I'll than manipulate the values and send array into another program.
I don't want range to be specific to a workbook, or sheet, or set of cells.
I want user to be able to highlight desired cells and to copy either normally ("Ctrl+C") or by a hotkey ("Alt+C").
Could someone help me with this?
Thank you,
I've tried to write the framework: (edited)
#include <MsgBoxConstants.au3> #include <Array.au3> #include <Excel.au3> HotKeySet("!v", "Pastedata") While True Sleep(1000) WEnd func Makearray() local $bArray ;User has cells already copied ;Convert clipboard into an array ;I don;t know how excel stores data to clipboard so don;t know how to bring it into array _Arraydisplay($bArray) MsgBox(0,0,$bArray) return $bArray endfunc func Pastedata() Local $aArray MsgBox(0,0,"wait",1) ;make array based on assumption user has already copied a range to clipboard $aArray = Makearray() ;paste code ;don;t worry about this I got the rest endfunc
By Dzenan03
I want to make a while loop, that creates variables based on a array. For thist I created the array $iDsO with the number and the name of folders in an other folder. Every folder has a different name an I want to create variables(arrays) for each folder that show me all the files in that folder. For example: I have the Folder \Folder1. In it there are the Folders \1, \2, \3. In 1, 2 and 3 there are some files(.png). The array for Folder1 is $iDsO and now I want to crate the arrays $iDsO1, $iDsO2 and $iDsO3 with the files in them can I make something like this:
While $iDs > 0 ;$iDs is the number of files in Folder1>> $iDsO[0] $iDs#here should come the Foldername for example '1'# = _FileListtoArray(@ProgramFilesDir&"\Folder1\"&$iDsO[$iDs]) $iDs = $iDs - 1 Wend So that in the End I have three variabels ($iDs1, $iDs2 and $iDs3)
Is this posible or if not what could I do instead ( I don´t know the number of folders in Folder1 in the begining).


text:
So Tumbler doesn't let you have a draft revision
Updated on
My current CMS system involves writing blog entries on Tumblr and then (periodically) importing them onto my real blog. This gives me a convienient way to edit them and a nice preview.
A few days ago, I wrote a brief article about alt text and title attributes. Then I got into some further discussions over it, so I decided to edit it. My edits led me down a path of research involving multiple specifications and commentary and then I put it aside so I could prepare for my guests arriving for Eurovision.
At this stage, I saved my edits as a draft. Unfortunately, this removed the previously published version from Tumblr completely. "Whoops". Clearly I didn't understand Tumblr's system — although I have learned from that mistake.
So, sorry for the broken links that will have appeared. I fully intend to finish my research and get it properly published. I just have some apple pie in the oven that I need to eat first.


text:
Michael Weatherly is an award winning American actor.
Life is about the roles we play and what we learn from each one.
It's About the Children, My Family, Thai Cave Rescue, Immigration
Beryl - The Storm and The Crystal
Strong 6.0 earthquake rocks Tokyo, nearby parts of eastern Japan
Flooding and landslides in Japan leave at least 85 dead
Homeowners come home to ash and rubble as wildfires ravage California
Thousands without power in Los Angeles after high demand due to heat wave
Scientists propose solution to the Gaia Hypothesis over why conditions on Earth have remained stable enough for life to evolve over billions of years.
World's first animals caused global warming
Greenhouse gases were the main driver of climate change in the deep past
Shocking study reveals 90% of global plastic waste comes from just ten rivers in Asia and Africa
The Last Straw - No More Plastic Straws
Fetch rover! Robot to retrieve Mars rocks
Against all odds, NASA may have actually found a meteorite on the bottom of the ocean
Study reveals secret origins of asteroids and meteorites
Exomoons: on the hunt for distant worlds
Asteroids large enough to wipe-out an entire city can still evade our tracking systems, leaving people with almost no time to evacuate, warns scientist
Milky Way-type dust particles discovered in a galaxy 11 billion light years from Earth
Researchers see beam of light from first confirmed neutron star merger emerge from behind sun
Milky Way-type dust particles discovered in a galaxy 11 billion light years from Earth
Newborn planet pictured for first time
Most solar system's asteroids came from just five or six smashed ancient planets, scientists say
No Aliens, But Scientists Find More Evidence for Life on a Saturn Moon
Dawn is barnstorming Ceres and seeing wonders - Shiny Objects
Ceres: Dawn's latest orbit reveals dramatic new views of Occator crater
Though NYC had many UFO sightings in 2017
they appear to be avoiding the city in 2018.
The experiment is ending?
Relocation to Florida and parts south?
Nike Negro Free Pink Damen Damen Hombres cómodos Negro Rojo Blanco 19257 Air Jordan 1 e679799 (Look up friends, relatives, and fellow teachers! Ha ha)
Headed north as in ... away from Earth?
Aliens Are Staying Away From New York City In 2018, Records Show
In 2017 Manhattan reported more UFO sightings than any other borough.
6 ancient sites that people are convinced were built by aliens - and why they probably weren't
What 'Arrival' got right about communicating with space aliens
Wanting to look good to attract positive vibes? Shop at Zalora and be stunningly beautiful!
The stars are all in favor for your travel adventures. Get the perfect holiday tour guide now!
Jaguar Land Rover Fairfield
Visit Land Rover Jaguar Fairfield
Disclaimer: All images were originally found in either public domain, were created by readers of Crystalinks, or were created by the author and are protected under US copyright. If you own rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear here, please contact us and they will be promptly removed.


text:
adjective; satisfied, contented, happy, pleased.
Due to a family emergency we will not be able to process your orders from our site for the foreseeable future. We sincerely apologise for this inconvenience.
New item
This stunning vintage marble bowl will certainly create a stir around the dinner table as special dinning/serveware.
23 x 16 cm
Sold individually.
Sorry, this item is currently out of stock.
This set of rustic placemats has a chalkboard centre. Great to keep kids
entertained at dinner p...
All website content & copy: Bodlon 2012. Copying any part of the site or its content is strictly prohibited.
Contact us Bodlon Shop & Coffee Shop, 12 Park Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 7BQ Email: email@example.com | Telephone: 02920 650 564 | 07825 444 233


text:
Sidestepper wrote:The problem is usually not with the god/curse pairing (Binlor + revelation being an exception), but with the height of the floor. Curses that badly hamper your character can be a game over if they happen on the last two floors. It would be nice if we got the ability to veto one curse right before it hits, but that would require some funky interface changes.
Sidestepper wrote:Also, I think that people are overstating the importance of GETINDERE. I'm not saying it's anything but top tier, but my two most recent victories were done by prepping the Really Big Sword.
Sidestepper wrote:The RBS is especially good with the Vampire. Life Steal is capped by the damage actually dealt. With a high conversion Vampire, you are getting only half of the health back from a Goo Blob as you would some other monster. The sword makes it possible to use Goo Blobs as average-ish blood cattle, and dramatically improves your efficiency against non-cattle Goo Blobs by both decreasing the net loss per hit AND the number of hits needed.
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 8 guests


text:
Report: Beyonce Lip-Synced Inaugural Performance
Reports claim that singer Beyonce lip-synced the national anthem at the end of the presidential inauguration ceremony. John Jurgensen joins The News Hub to look into the controversy. Photo: AP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the ... this from yesterday's inauguration well ... I ... the the ... the the the ... the ... I ... the the ... with yields they apparently will ... sing the national anthem yesterday's mobilization ... with the story will Wall Street Journal's George Aronson joining us now from New Jersey ... and Sean ... one is a not singing ... when talking about exactly ... we are here the US is or is there ... Terry will be hearing was the Global recorded previously to the inauguration ... reports are saying and this is confirmed by the U S Marine Corps and the ... will to ... live ... so she was either sitting or singing along with the word local track ... this is really isn't that uncommon in this happens pretty frequently ... whatever it is indeed in the West know all these ideas of ... authenticity and we expect the performance ... easy easy ... path for us to expect from a live performance to the end of the boys that what we heard that it's a stunning it's it's it's mind blowing ... Tommy was also outdoors in the wings to pull the wool would expect a normal wheezing bank ... someone ... anyone to be looked Hometown ... vocal ... tones like maps ... third question I mean that the stars ... winner is notoriously difficult to say no it seems easy but it is ... deceptively difficult ... as you point out is that it was in Brisbane idea not Guinea below freezing but it was the first day in a challenging environment to sink my teeth aam and so I don't think anyone would falter were doing and I think I think most people seem to be upset ... it ... is is it ... the thing they're some sort should be played on ... aam is the isthe using the same ... sort of massive damage to the fore ... people seem to be teaching at the idea of whether is was ... on its performance ... well it yet why is that it's only have boys now hadn't been she's failing ... after being allocated to buy the green coal plant ... well I can say ... the words to her course ... I'm feeling that she will be just fine ... this is one of those things that that turns into a ... controversy for a day or so ... and for our stature me there's ... can be used to buy for your falling down on stage and making other gas probably know these are things that happened in the course for a while and she's the best backbencher ... and in fact is on deck to the performance of all ... pretty soon you have performed so I'm ... coming out to show an insured loss reclusive what are going to do that ... and so in the civil Whitney Houston ... was also ... listed in the same to any yet ... a bit of edition of the science on time ... that's correct and that for many people is one of the OMT note that this milestone plans in the Star Spangled banner ... and and you know ... Astor's nasty with uses tree or for that for the great Lakes ... aam is one of those things that I think I think people underestimate the challenges as pointed out earlier to perform the songs for a while ... this is designed for ... both Volvo informants and others that goes there's the others show ... the chicken into the song itself so it's not easy but ... I guess the question is whether people would rather have ... the four rounds of knowing that their lives without Apple ... you know she's getting so great is that this is this a ... mean that's that's the worst thing you will ... nobody there to chew on in fact that open question is one the director of social media has weeded out that Liz Heron she tweeted that to you can ... and damned if you do or if you don't have to meet sweet how back then and tell about because we wanna now ... so David thank you very much ... no evidence of The will Street gentle we appreciate your time inside you can read mall man on the vs day don't come ...


text:
Real-World Review
2014 BMW 4 Series Coupe: Real World Review
Just like the rest of BMW's 2-door cars, the old 3 Series coupes and convertibles have been renamed. The 2014 BMW 4 Series is the new name for last year's 328i and 335i. Sharing the same platform and engines as the current 3 Series sedan, the 4 Series Coupe is both lower and wider than its 4-door companion, which gives it the sportier appearance that you'd expect from a coupe. We spent a week with a 2014 BMW 435i Coupe in a quest to find out how this new 4 Series stacks up against the previous 3 Series 2-door lineup and whether it can still hold up as a self-proclaimed "Ultimate Driving Machine."
Plenty of Style
One point that everyone seemed to agree upon was the overall design of the car. Slightly longer and lower than its predecessor, the 435i Coupe is basically a 2-door version of the handsome BMW 335i sedan. The elongated hood and sweeping roofline were further enhanced by our tester's optional 19-inch wheels and the M Sport package's aerodynamic body kit. Throw in the electric paint -- BMW calls it Estoril Blue -- and you've got a real head-turner on your hands. I personally noticed more than a few drivers straining to grab a quick look as I drove down the highway.
Missing Some Substance
Our tester came equipped with keyless entry, full LED headlights with automatic high beams, satellite radio and leather seats, all features you'd expect from a car that starts at $46,000. On the 2014 BMW 4 Series, however, these are all optional features that cost an extra $4,100 through various packages. Add in the additional appearance and performance upgrades, and you get to our as-tested price of $57,225 with shipping. All of that money, yet the BMW is still missing features found standard on vehicles costing tens of thousands less. A backup camera, Bluetooth audio streaming and reverse sensors are all available -- for a price.
That being said, the interior is still a pretty nice place to be. All the buttons and other switchgear are both logically and ergonomically placed. The M Sport steering wheel is thick and has a retro look. The gauges and instrument readouts are clear and easily understood. The one thing that I could not get past was the overall drabness inside. Aside from an accent strip that runs across most of the dash and doors, it's quite a dark place to be. It just doesn't feel like a $57,000 interior.
All About Performance
While we may have many gripes about the lack of standard features and the plain look of the interior, almost all of that is forgotten once you start driving. Using BMW's familiar inline 6-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine, the 435i is deceptively fast. The 300-hp engine doesn't feel like it accelerates quickly, but one look down at the speedometer and you'll wonder just how you got to that speed so fast. The engine sound is just loud enough to remind you of the freight-train-like power that is available, but a bit more noise in the Sport and Sport+ settings would be a welcome addition.
As always, we prefer to shift for ourselves, but our tester was equipped with the standard 8-speed automatic transmission (a 6-speed manual is available for no extra cost). Whether shifting via the steering-wheel-mounted paddles or the shifter itself, shifts are precise and seem to happen in the blink of an eye. While still slightly clunky in slower situations -- especially parking garages -- all other scenarios were smooth enough to make this driver almost forget about the do-it-yourself option (almost but not quite). Some folks complained that the suspension was overly rough, a trait probably further emphasized by the optional 19-in wheels and the pothole-filled roads inside the Atlanta city limits.
Our Take
Even though it's now known by a new name, BMW's mainstream coupe continues to lead the driving-excitement category of entry-level luxury 2-doors. From the fuel-efficient base 4-cylinder turbo 428i all the way up to the powerful and capable all-wheel-drive 435i xDrive, the new BMW 4 Series has something for almost everyone. This includes convertible versions of all the coupes. Still focused on being the "Ultimate Driving Machine," these 2-doors can be quite luxurious and are full of the creature comforts you would expect from a prestigious brand such as BMW. Just be ready to open that checkbook all the way to pay for it.


text:
Car News
2013 Ford Taurus Limited: Real World Review
Everyone loves to have a secret. McDonald's secret sauce, Coke's secret formula or just that little personal story a friend shares with only you. For example, I recently drove the 2013 Ford Taurus Limited from El Dorado Hills, California to San Francisco. Along the way, I stopped at the Tower Cafe in Sacramento for some early morning French Toast; French Toast that is so good, you almost can't believe it. Or course, it has a secret. The secret to this stellar French Toast is that they bake it after cooking it on a griddle. Seriously, it's delicious.
Full of a high-calorie breakfast and facing a wide-open Interstate 80, I realized that the Ford Taurus doesn't really have to rely on a secret formula to get the job done. It's just a really competent large sedan that does almost everything well. It's kind of the "what you see is what you get" of cars.
Better Looking for 2013
It helps that the 2013 Taurus is good looking. It gets a few cosmetic changes outside and a more powerful V6 versus the 2012 Taurus. A friend recently told me that beauty is directly related to symmetry (and she should know). Maybe that's why the new Taurus looks so good. The car now has a decidedly aggressive look up front, but that's tempered with big, blocky sides and a well-defined trunk that adds a certain air of authority. Inside, it's clear the Limited is the plushest Taurus available - stitching on the seats and center armrest give the cabin an almost luxury sedan quality. I said almost.
The Ford Taurus SEL is about $30,000 and has desirable features like dual zone climate control, satellite radio, Sync, remote start and 18-inch wheels. The Limited includes those features and adds 8-way power front seats, leather seats, a wood trimmed steering wheel and voice activated nav. Most of the SEL's option packages are included with the Limited.
Good Road Tripper
It's about a two hour drive from San Francisco to El Dorado Hills, CA. That's just long enough to really settle into the Taurus Limited's seats. The driver's seat is both comfortable and supportive and the rear seat is especially roomy. What's really odd about the Taurus is that the car is pretty big, it feels larger overall than a 2013 Toyota Avalon, yet the Taurus has a somewhat cramped driver's area. The car is certainly wide enough and has plenty of interior space, but the available floor space for both front occupants is oddly small. On the whole, the '13 Taurus Limited is worthy competitor to other large sedans like the Chrysler 300 and the new Toyota Avalon.
On the road, the 2013 Ford Taurus Limited maintains it's composure on the highway. The cabin remains quiet and handling is predictable with well-controlled body roll (especially for a big sedan).
Ford's voice-controlled Sync system is part of the Limited and that continues to be a bright spot in most Ford vehicles. It's more comprehensive and feels more sophisticated than Toyota's Entune system, but Sync's menus can be overwhelming, especially when you want to back out of a certain feature.
The Limited's 3.5 liter V6 makes 390 horsepower, which is more than enough for passing . The engine feels strong and never sounds noisy or harsh even under heavy acceleration. That engine is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission with a shift it yourself feature.
Ultimately, the 2013 Ford Taurus is a lot of fun for such a big car. It's a comfortable highway cruiser but also looks fresh, contemporary and even somewhat youthful for such a big sedan. The size will appeal to those with a family, but the driving dynamics and look will likely appeal to young men. The Taurus is solid choice among big sedans. Then again, the Chrysler 300, Toyota Avalon, and even the Hyundai Genesis are really good too - each one of the cars mentioned here deserves a test drive.
The secret to the Ford Taurus Limited's success isn't really a secret at all, it's just a great car that does a lot of things really well.


text:
This morning, we announced the acquisition of ObjectRocket.
What is ObjectRocket? It's a MongoDB database as a service that is highly available, automatically sharded and lightning fast – 10 times faster than its leading competitors, according to our internal benchmarking tests.
Adding ObjectRocket to the Rackspace family deepens our open cloud mission and helps us broaden our product portfolio to give our customers what they've been asking for: a NoSQL database in the cloud that makes application development easier.
We're excited about acquiring ObjectRocket and building an offer around MongoDB. Here's why:
1. MongoDB is another open ingredient for the Rackspace Cloud
There is no question that open source technologies drive greater innovation. The world relies on open technologies to build the next generation of applications, and MongoDB is a key tool in that toolkit. MongoDB and other open technologies are making a huge difference in the market and are critical components of our open cloud strategy. These open technologies will play a major role in our support of building open, next generation data stores versus building proprietary ones.
Much like we did with OpenStack, we will build features that are relevant to our customers and push them out to the community. We want the MongoDB community to grow, and our success will be measured by how we help foster that growth.
2. MongoDB represents the perfect opportunity for Fanatical Support
MongoDB is easy to get started, but complex to manage and scale. When I started at Rackspace 12 years ago, the LAMP stack was hard. Today, the cloud is hard – and databases in the cloud are even harder. Databases are the core of any application and that makes our expertise and Fanatical Support even more critical.
Now more than ever, Fanatical Support is about combining technology and human capital to deliver a world-class customer outcome. ObjectRocket is built on those same principles. ObjectRocket makes it easy to deploy and manage instances, and offers every customer 24x7x365 support. Sound familiar?
The experience of the team is also critical. Chris, Erik and Kenny have deployed giant databases for web-scale companies like PayPal and eBay. Combined, they have more than 50 years of experience. Our customers can expect us to deliver deep expertise in MongoDB.
3. MongoDB is the de facto choice for NoSQL applications
Our customers want MongoDB. It is the No. 1 requested previously unsupported database. MongoDB is seeing widespread adoption by developers because it is super easy get started and to use, and it boosts productivity. Further, MongoDB has removed the schema barrier, which allows developers to focus on building applications, not databases. It also has widespread support for every language we see being relevant to the future of the web – C, C++, C#, JavaScript, Node.js, Objective-C and Scala, just to name a few. These reasons drive MongoDB adoption today and have pushed MongoDB to quickly become the database of choice for non-relational applications. MongoDB is here to stay.
We're thrilled to welcome ObjectRocket to the Rackspace family.
ObjectRocket's MongoDB will be available in our Chicago data center in early March and will soon be integrated deeply into our entire open cloud portfolio. Click here to learn more: http://www.rackspace.com/blog/objectrocket-acquisition-faq/.


text:
I want to help my lovely future husband upgrade his system but we are paying for the wedding ourselves, so I am a bit on the budget end. First, he is a record collector and lover. Right now, he has a turntable and receiver he has probably had since he first started listening to records - turntable: Technics SL-QD33; Receiver: Pioneer SX-312R with a phono input. I would like to get him a new receiver with good phono for hopefully less than $500 for Christmas and turntable for either a wedding present or his birthday (which are both in the spring) for again, under $500. Or vice versa.
In researching what to get him, my mind has literally been blown with the options and opinions and I need help. Also, please excuse me if I mis-use audiophile phrases or statements because I am literally just learning this in my research process for my loved one.
I think he wants a receiver rathar than an integrated amp because we listen to the radio A LOT! However, if there is an integrated amp/tuner combo someone can recommend within my price range, I would definitely consider it.
For receivers, here is what I was thinking: Cambridge Audio Topaz SR10 or maybe I'll just spend the extra money and get the Outlaw Audio RR 2150. I was initially considering a Yamaha RS700BL or 500BL but I've read some bad things about its tuner. Other things I've considered are the Denon DRA-397 and the Harmon Kardon 3490 but I've read some inconsistent things about reliability. Please, any comments or suggestions on these or anything else would be greatly appreciated.
For a new turntable, I saw this Denon DP300F with a Ortofon 2M red cartridge that looked good but I have no clue. Others that I'm considering are the Pro-Ject debut carbon and Music Hall MMF-2.2 turntable.
I really appreciate your comments and suggestions on the items I've listed or any other thing you think I'd benefit from. Thank you!


text:
LAUREL HILL � Fist bumps and high fives were plentiful in Debra Adams' classroom Friday evening as the 34 members of the Laurel Hill School Class of 2013 prepared for their graduation ceremony.
LAUREL HILL � Fist bumps and high fives were plentiful in Debra Adams' classroom Friday evening as the 34 members of the Laurel Hill School Class of 2013 prepared for their graduation ceremony.
As senior adviser Jennifer Franklin helped Garrett Alford tie his bow tie, Nichole Bailey assisted her classmate Heath Stewart adjust his Beta Club stole.
Robert Hand, who delivered the magna cum laude address, paced the room, contemplating his future, both short- and long-term.
"I'm planning to live for a very long time," he said. "Since I have braces, I plan to stay around here and go to Northwest Florida State College and get my associate's degree."
Robert said his ultimate goal is to study video game design at another university after he leaves NWFSC.
See the LHS Class of 2013 photo gallery.
Dakota Presley, who offered the cum laude address, will join Robert at Northwest Florida State, where he wants to get a pre-med AA before heading to Florida A&M University's pharmacy school in Crestview.
Like many of his classmates, Dakota has attended Laurel Hill School since kindergarten, "but I haven't been here every day like Chelsea."
Chelsea Smith received a special award from Okaloosa County School District superintendent Mary Beth Jackson, a Laurel Hill School alumna, for having had perfect attendance throughout her 13-year academic careers.
During his address, Dakota told his classmates their graduation is "a time of celebration and happiness."
"Although it seems as though we have finally crossed the finish line, this is only the beginning of our lives," Dakota said. "Among the crowd of students anxiously waiting to receive their diplomas, are the future faces of our armed forces, our workforce, and our community."
"Graduation means not only that we are becoming adults, but we are now also full-fledged members of society," Robert said during his speech.
After Garrett and Samantha Holboke delivered the ceremony's closing remarks, the Class of 2013 departed the gymnasium, many realizing their graduation was the last time they would all be together.
But they took with them Dakota's words of encouragement.
"This is not a time of sadness, because we can always find each other on Facebook," he said.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.