text:
May contain spoilers if you haven't seen the movie
Pacific Rim
Directed by Guillermo Del Toro
Rated PG-13
131 minutes
See on IMDb
When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju.
On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
My review


text:
New Arrivals$23.99$13.98$13.98$23.99$23.99
- For Her
- For Him
For Anyone
- All Products
- Accessories
- Activewear
- Bath & Body
- Cards
- Dresses
- Drinkware
- Gift Cards
- Home & Living
- Hoodies
- Kids
- Long Sleeve Shirts
- Pets & Pet Parents
- Sweatshirts
- Tank Tops
- T-Shirts
Shop Your VibeNEW
Style Guides
About Us
Tired As A Mother Mug
Whether Mother's Day Is Coming Up Or You Want To Remind Your Mom How Much You Love Her, This "Tired As A Mother" Is A Great Gift To Show Your Appreciation! Coffee, Tea, Or Even Hot Chocolate On Those Cozy Nights Shared With The Family– This Mug's A Perfect Surprise!
- Choice of 11 oz or 15 oz so you can get the perfect size for her, which means fewer refills and more relaxing!
- High-quality ceramic so she can count on it not breaking as easily and retaining heat better, which means I think the mug you're about to get her is about to be her favorite!
- Dishwasher Safe So You Can Wash The Mug Daily Which Means She Won't Have To Break Out The Sponge And Handwash
- Microwave Safe So Your Mom Can Heat Up Her Favorite Drink Which Means She Won't Have To Wait To Enjoy
- White & Glossy So You Can Give Your Mom A Quality Gift With A Design That Pops Which Means She Will Always Have The Fond Memories Every Time She Makes Her Favorite Drink
- Made With Love So Even With A Busy Day Mom Will Be Reminded Of The Moments You've Shared.
We want to make your experience as easy as possible.
We have a variety of ways to be contacted with whatever the question or concern may be.
Email: email@example.com
Instagram: Direct Message - @originalfamilyshop
You are also welcome to also use the Facebook Messenger Chat Widget on the bottom right with any questions.
Additional Information
Every Order Is Fulfilled With Love
Designing & Printing Done In The USA On USA Made Products* With Globally Sourced Materials
Giving Back With Each Order
ShopPay: Shop Now & Pay Later
*Not All Products Are Made In The USA & printing is done in the closest country to the customer with a partnered fulfillment center.
Soft, Comfortable, Trendy, Unique
Our products will be the best in your dresser and/or cabinets. We feature trendy & unique designs on durable, comfortable, & soft apparel.
Long-Lasting & Easy To Keep Clean
Our products are safe to clean with usual products. Long lasting materials and eco-friendly dies that keep.
People love us
I absolutely love the fit of this shirt! It fits TTS but has just enough of an oversized fit to be comfortable! Such a cute graphic tee! Will definitely be purchasing more!
" I gave it to my hubby who was absolutely delighted!! The design is so pretty- I'm a sucker for anything marble print. It's really good quality and I love that it's multi- functional— technically it's a beer stein but also makes a great coffee or tea mug. I'll definitely be borrowing from hubby 😉 "
This was the perfect little gift for my husband, stuffed full of all his goodies. The saying is priceless, the customer service was great AND the mug held up in the dish washer perfectly. I will definitely be coming back.
I got this for Father's Day and he LOVED IT! He is totally into fitness so this fit in perfectly. The shirt is great quality and fit just right according to his regular size! Would definitely recommend this for ALL dads out there! 5/5!
Instant Savings!
Check Out Our Products On Sale
-Up To 60% Off-

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 04:55 06:08 12:11 15:32 18:07 19:21
A blind orangutan at a rescue center in western Indonesia has given birth to a healthy pair of twins.
Ian Singleton, who works with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, said Thursday that Gober, the mother, so far appeared able to care for the babies herself.
"But vets and staff are ready to step in if necessary," he said, adding that Leuser, the father, also is blind.
There are around 50,000 orangutans left in the wild, 90 percent of them in Indonesia, with more than 2,000 others in rescue centers.
Some of those at centers were seized in the illegal wildlife trade and others orphaned when their mothers strayed from rapidly disappearing rain forests in search of food.
The twins - a boy named Ganteng and a girl named Ginting - were born last Friday.
"It's hoped that both infants will eventually be released to a life in the wild, something that has been denied both their parents due to their blindness," Singleton said.
The twins' mother, who has cataracts in both eyes, was captured by vets two years ago in an area surrounded by palm oil plantations.
They were worried she'd be killed by villagers for routinely raiding crops and took her to the rescue center.
The father arrived in 2006 after he was found outside a village far from a national forest in Jambi province with 62 air rifle shots to his body.
Several pellets were lodged in his eyes, leaving him sightless.
"Normally we try to prevent orangutans breeding at the center," said Singleton.
"But we decided to make an exception," he said, because having babies to care for would dramatically help to improve the mother's quality of life.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


text:
Today I'm so excited to be teaming up with some of my absolute favorite bloggers for a holiday giveaway from the Painted Happiness etsy shop. Painted Happiness is an etsy shop that specializes in hand painted signs and decor. All of them start at only $12. You can choose from the shop listings or have something custom designed just for you. Right now, Painted Happiness Shop has some great hand painted Christmas signs to help you decorate for the holidays.
For this giveaway, there will be two lucky winners!
One will receive a 16x20 custom hand-painted sign and another will get to choose an 8x10 sign from the shop. Good luck!
If you can't wait to see if you win the giveaway, use code: HOLIDAY10 for 10% of your order through December 19th
Elise|Hunters of Happiness Rachel|Rachel Sayumi Kati|Glitz & Gold
Deidre|Love the Skinnys Ariel|Auteur Ariel Jessica|North Carolina Grown
Jessi|Haircut & General Attitude Bri|Breezy Days Brooke|Silver Lining
Jessica|Afternoon Style Jess|Golden Swank Lily|Blushing Boulevard
We're sorry but this giveaway is only for US and Canada followersa Rafflecopter giveaway


text:
Importance of Knowledge Management Strategy
Over the past several years, there has been a rise in virtual working teams and a rise in fluid teams. A fluid team is one composed of individuals who work together to complete a project, but once finished, they disperse and go their separate ways to work on different projects, often with different people. This is in contrast to a fixed team, which works together often.
In such a dynamic working environment, knowledge management becomes crucial. To build high performing teams and maintain a high performing organization, it is important people have access to the existing knowledge about company processes. Clearly, recreating the wheel is inefficient. On top of that, learning from mistakes—ideally others' mistakes—improves quality and saves time.
A bit of background info, knowledge management generally involves three processes: knowledge creation, knowledge retention, and knowledge transfer. Knowledge can be of three types: declarative (knowledge about something), procedural (how something occurs or is performed), and casual (why something happens).
According to the AMR Research (now Gartner) Knowledge Management Spending Report, US companies invested $73 billion in knowledge management system initiatives in 2007. But do these systems work, and if so how?
That is a question Bradley Staats, Melissa Valentine, and Amy Edmondson sought to answer. They recently completed the "first wide-scale evaluation of the objective performance value of an organizational knowledge system using archival data," Using What We Know: Turning Organizational Knowledge into Team Performance (you can read the full paper at HBS Working Knowledge). They ask:
- How does knowledge use affect performance?
- Why do teams with similar access to stored knowledge differ in performance?
- How does geographic dispersion affect knowledge use and performance?
- How does the complexity of the work affect knowledge use and performance?
They focused on codified (as opposed to tacit) knowledge. The conclusions are as follows:
- Teams that are geographically disperse, composed of less experienced employees, and engage in complex work benefit more from knowledge management systems.
- When a team uses the knowledge management database more frequently, the team's efficiency is improved (they spend less time on trial and error) but quality is not (not all knowledge can be stored in a database, so some problem-solving is still required).
- A divide and conquer strategy (when team members specialize or become experts in certain data) is associated with efficiency, but not quality (one person interpreting data is subject to making mistakes, possibly affecting the entire project if an error is made).
- With a share and share alike strategy—when all people on a team have access to the knowledge management database—quality is higher (person searching for data knows the context behind the search so details that may seem irrelevant to others become helpful).
Do you have a divide and conquer strategy or share and share alike strategy in your knowledge management system?


text:
Herewith the story of my attempts to buy a Dora the Explorer Mr. Face Plush Backpack from ToysRUs using Google Checkout. In short, Google now has my credit card number. (It's one I use for testing, however). It feels kind of odd, to be honest.
It seems Google is obviating the merchant entirely vis the ongoing data relationship with the buyer. The registration screen states: ""Google" will appear by the charge on your credit card statement. Your card number will not be shared with the seller."
Why on earth would anyone want this to be the case? To lose your relationship with the buyer? What information *is* passed back to ToysRUs? What rights do I have to that information, and to know how it's used between Google and the merchant?
I clicked on the TOS, which is here. What I found noteworthy (GPC is Google Payment Company, the company Google created to drive Checkout):
You acknowledge and agree that your purchases of Products are transactions between you and the Seller, and not with GPC, Google or any of GPC's affiliates. GPC is not a party to your purchase of Products, and GPC, Google, or other GPC affiliates are not a buyer or a seller in connection with any Payment Transaction, unless expressly designated as such in the listing of the Product on a Google Web Site.
Also, found this:
You agree that you will not use the Service to process Payment Transactions for any Products that violate this Terms of Service, other policies or rules applicable to the Service, or applicable law. The current policy that establishes the Products and other transactions that may not be paid for with the Service is provided here. Failure to comply with these limitations may result in suspension or termination of your use of the Service.
A quick check of what Google finds not worth selling shows expected stuff, like porn and drugs, but also this:
Offensive goods
Literature, products or other materials that:
* Defame or slander any person or groups of people based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, or other factors
* Encourage or incite violent acts
* Promote intolerance or hatred
Which I suppose means that you cannot use Google Checkout to buy a DVD of this or this.
In section 7, they get to a privacy policy, which I read with interest, given my questions above. I wonder if any more than a handful of folks ever read this policy, as it's a link inside a link inside a link, but here it is. Noteworthy:
Google clearly states that its master privacy policy applies. That can be found here. (Now that's a link inside a link inside a link inside a link…). So to recap what Google can do with your information under that policy:
* Providing our products and services to users, including the display of customized content and advertising;
* Auditing, research and analysis in order to maintain, protect and improve our services;
* Ensuring the technical functioning of our network; and
* Developing new services.
….We may process personal information to provide our own services. In some cases, we may process personal information on behalf of and according to the instructions of a third party, such as our advertising partners.
….We have a good faith belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of such information is reasonably necessary to (a) satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request, (b) enforce applicable Terms of Service, including investigation of potential violations thereof, (c) detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues, or (d) protect against imminent harm to the rights, property or safety of Google, its users or the public as required or permitted by law.
Whew. OK, back to the Checkout specific policy terms:
They collect a lot of data on you, and they keep it in one place – your Google Account. That's pretty much what I expected. All your reg info goes there (credit card, address, etc) and then Google reserves the right to add third party data (credit reporting agencies, for example) and – here's the nub:
…Transaction information – When you use Google Checkout to conduct a transaction, we collect information about each transaction, including the transaction amount, a description provided by the seller of the goods or services being purchased, the names of the seller and buyer, and the type of payment used.
Nowhere does it say that this information is shared back to the merchants. Were I a merchant, I'd be very wary of this.
Now, here's the thing that might make you think. Once you start a data trail in Checkout, it stays for good, at least, it stays as long as Google wants it to:
You can disable Google Checkout by contacting us. If you do so, your payment information and transaction history will no longer be viewable through Google Checkout. However, in order to meet our reporting and auditing obligations, and to detect, deter, and prevent fraud or other misconduct on our systems, the information will be retained in our systems. If you disable Google Checkout, your personally identifiable information will not be used by Google or shared with third parties except for these purposes. We may delete these records over time if permitted or required by law.
Disabling Google Checkout does not close or cancel your Google Account. For more information about how to manage your Google Account preferences, please click here. This Privacy Policy continues to apply to the personal information we maintain after you disable Google Checkout or close or cancel your Google Account.
Put another way, don't step in the mud if you don't want the tracks to stay forever.
Lastly, federal law does interfere with Google using your info in certain marketing-related ways, and the privacy policy allows you to opt out. Details:
We operate the Google Checkout service through a company called Google Payment Corporation ("GPC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Google. The information we collect, including information obtained from third parties, is shared between GPC and Google to operate the service. Neither GPC nor Google will share your information with others except as described in this Privacy Policy.
Under federal law, you have the right to opt out of certain sharing between affiliated companies such as GPC and Google. Specifically, you may choose to opt out of:
* The sharing between GPC and Google of information that does not pertain to your transactions or experiences with Google Checkout (also called "non-transactional information", e.g., information we may obtain from third parties to verify your identity), and
* The use by Google of information shared between GPC and Google to promote Google products and services.
Please remember, regardless of whether you choose to opt out of this sharing or not, we will never sell or rent your personal information, and we will not share your personal information with anyone outside of GPC and Google except as described in this Privacy Policy.
If you don't want us to share non-transactional data between GPC and Google, please click here (this is a email address).
If you don't want us to use any information shared between GPC and Google to promote Google products and services to you, please click here. (also an email, I sent both of them mail and asked to opt out).
OK, so I have now read (or re-read) three separate privacy policies, and it's time to complete my purchase. I hit "agree" and, still on Google's servers, get the confirmation page, hit "sign in" again and…shit, it's not working!
What did I do wrong?
I head over to where they tell me to go – https://www.google.com/accounts/ForgotPasswd – and give them the email I use for my Google account. (It worked before, to log me in in the first place, very odd!). I reset my password, and now…where do I go? There's not a screen inviting me back to complete my purchase! There's no way to get back to my order! My daughter's beloved Dora the Explorer Mr. Face Plush Backpack from ToysRUs is totally MIA!
Hmmm. I sign into my Google Checkout account, maybe that will have the purchase history. After all, they had all the information – but no. While Google did manage to capture and save my credit card info, there's no history of my attempt to purchase the Dora backpack.
Hmmm. How about I use my Firefox history to go back to the original page where my account did not work in the first place! (Not that this is something most shoppers would ever do, but…). Hey, that should work!
Nope. "Oops! Your shopping cart has expired."
Shit. So I'm starting over. No, wait, this has been way too much of a trial. I'll get back to it later. Or, I'll just go to Amazon.
Sorry Google, but mark this one in your metadata as "abandoned cart."


text:
There is a growing chance your next vehicle will be a connected car, augmented with Internet-connected intelligent systems and services.
By 2017, every new car sold in Europe will be required to have an embedded SIM and built-in emergency calling features. "By 2018, most new vehicles will come with integrated apps as standard," said Juniper Research analyst, Anthony Cox. By 2024, Analysys Mason expects 89% of new cars will include embedded connectivity.
While I don't imagine anyone will buy these vehicles for making on-dash Facebook updates or the chance to shop online while driving, many people may want the convenience of always-available, contextual, predictive navigation to get them from Point A to Point B. Many will welcome the potential these vehicles have to cut fuel bills and lower CO2 emissions (4.8 billion hours were wasted by U.S. drivers trapped in traffic congestion in 2010). These reductions are of great significance to combat climate change; each of the over 1 billion cars in use today is estimated to release six tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. We're choking the planet.
But for all the convenience, there are consequences.
Hacked cars
Every connected vehicle will likely have a built-in SIM to take you online. At first these things will be benign, notifying emergency services in the event you face breakdown or accident and picking up over-the-air software upgrades to add features to your vehicle.
However, where there is connectivity, there is a vulnerable endpoint, and these must be protected. Sky news claimed that around half of 89,000 London vehicles broken into or stolen in 2013 were electronically hacked. As cars become more connected, they will become a new golden paradise to hackers. Think beyond car theft —hacked cars driving their occupants into the sea, or a bank manager's family kidnapped by their car and held until the vaults are emptied. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) researchers have already shown how they can take control of cars, forcing them to brake, accelerate or steer. Just because these things haven't happened yet doesn't mean they won't, and all concerned must wake up and put protection in place. The sorry truth today is that big Internet of Things device manufacturers continue to insist on using weak default passwords like 1234. Car consumers must get ready for a whole new set of on-the-road car risks in exchange for a little convenience.
Maintenance bullies
Telematic sensors in connected cars will be able to let you know when a fault is emerging before it becomes a problem. In some cases, these vehicles will book themselves in for servicing or be able to provide the kind of accurate information you need for better repair. There is a consequence for this convenience, of course. As car components become more electronically aware, they are likely to become more expensive, as will car service and repair. You'll know your vehicle may spring a problem, but this doesn't mean you'll have the cash in hand to fix it.
The long arm of the law
As the technology evolves, there's every chance that your car will be used to hit you with parking enforcement notices and/or speeding fines. They may just stop operating if they think you are driving erratically. What about vehicle checks? On a state-by-state basis, who will set the parameters for these? Will we see vehicles automatically submitting to checks simply because their registered owner lives life in a different skin tone? There is much opportunity for mendacity and few safeguards in place to prevent such abuse.
Paranoia? Not really. Did you miss Ford executive vice president Jim Farley last year saying, "We know everyone who breaks the law. We know when you're doing it. We have GPS in your car, so we know what you're doing." Ford tried to spin the story away, but why was this said? What systems will connected-car makers put in place to protect customer privacy if law enforcement demands access to these records? Who else will get this data, and how might it be used? Will the FBI demand a back door to your car?
Insurance spies
Five million people worldwide use pay-as-you-drive insurance policies. These are particularly popular among younger drivers, who otherwise get punitive insurance costs. Get ready, then, for insurance firms to offer you similar policies tied to their increasingly granular knowledge of your driving habits. While this will be good in terms of making lower car insurance payments, do you really think insurance firms will be happy to lose the car insurance cash cow without a fight? Of course they won't — get ready to save on vehicle insurance but see other insurance costs climb. Health? House? Life? One thing's for sure: You seldom hold the cards when dealing with insurers. How high will those premiums go on the strength of one mistake?
The data you could sell with your vehicle
"Farewell, much-loved car," she cried as she waved the vehicle off with its new owner behind the wheel. It was two weeks before she realized that the new owner had managed to use the information she'd left inside her car's systems to crack into her bank account and take the money he had paid back — and then some.
Hyperbole? Possibly, but think about the steps you have to take when selling any other computer or passing on your phone. You must never neglect to disconnect the system from all your existing logins and accounts, delete the contacts and other data you have stored there, etc. We may know we have to do this, but many of us fail to put it into practice. Smart cars will connect to a wide range of software and services using single account logins. They will carry all your accounts and passwords — ironically, one day, the most valuable thing about your connected car may be the access it gives to your personal details, bank accounts and enterprise intranet. Smart cars must offer a quick and easy way to delete all this information, even remotely. After all, how often do you leave your bank payment card parked unprotected in the street? And what are the consequences of remotely immobilizing a stolen vehicle when it is running at top speed down a crowded freeway? Are you responsible for the consequential accident, or does responsibility lie with the thief? Significant legal and judicial issues must be resolved.
We are at a moment of huge opportunity for connected vehicles, but for all the hype about convenience, the negative consequences could outweigh such convenience if those developing the connected future don't take steps today to face the problems they are also creating.
Jonny Evans is an independent journalist/blogger who first got online in 1993. He's author of Computerworld's AppleHolic blog and also writes for others in the U.S., the U.K. and Europe. Winner of an Azbee Award in 2010, Jonny enjoys new and disruptive technology and likes music almost as much as he likes his large and shiny dog.
Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join Jonny Evans there?
Got a story? Drop Jonny a line via Twitter and let him know. And follow him so he can let you know first when fresh items are published here on Computerworld.


text:
Practice Telling Time with BlackDog's Clock Worksheets
The current time is
How To Print Your Worksheets
First, click on the link to each worksheet and the full-size version of
it will appear in your web browser.
Then, when the whole worksheet has loaded, click on "File" (top left corner
of your web browser usually) and then "Print." Or, follow your web browser's directions
on how to print a web page. Make sure your printer is turned on
and has some regular size typing paper ready. That's it!
To return to this page for more worksheets, click the "Back" button on your web browser.
clicking your browser's "Back" button.


text:
2018 Running
Adventures & Marathons
Machu Picchu · Inca Trail · Cusco · Sacred Valley · Lake Titicaca
Atacama Desert · Patagonia · Torres del Paine · Tierra del Fuego
Inca Trail permits are selling out 6 months in advance. Click here for more info!
Cusco, Perú
Southern Peruvian Andes
13 Day Running Adventure
(5 nights camping)
August 1 to August 13, 2015
Runners in Jampamayo Valley
on Mt. Ausangate Circuit
Our running adventure begins in Cusco, the archaeological capital of the Americas, at an altitude of 11,150 feet. In Cusco you will be able to see massive walls, cobblestone streets and remnants of the Inca empire and the Spanish colonial period. After a fascinating tour of Cusco, we are ready to start our running adventure, which offers a spectacular variety of trails in the Southern Peruvian Andes.
We begin our run on the ancient Inca trail that leads to the legendary lost city of Machu Picchu an extraordinary adventure into the history of the grand Inca civilization. Along the way, we explore the intriguing ruins of Inca fortresses, and camp at breath-taking Phuyupatamarca, "town in the clouds." Descending to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, the cloud forest trail becomes increasingly lush and varied. After two days exploring Machu Picchu one of the world's most spectacular ruins we take a train ride back to Cusco.
After a night of rest,
we leave for the Cordillera (mountain range) Vilcanota and the high circuit
around Mount Ausangate, a glacier covered 20,905 foot massif; its highest peak.
Inside the loop we encounter Mounts Jatunuma, Maria Huamantilla, Janajaja and
Santa Catalina (19,055').
As we turn into the
east side of massive Mount Ausangate, we will admire the Cordillera Vilcanota,
offering views of Mounts Collque Cruz (20,046'), Collpa Ananta (20,046') and
Tres Picos (19,990'). Other snow-capped peaks in this mountain range crowd the
horizon with massive glaciers, rewarding us with scenery unsurpassed anywhere
in the Andes. Just as fascinating are the people of the Vilcanota, the most
traditional and colorfully dressed of all the Peruvian highlanders, living the
same way that their ancestors did in Inca times.
• Run the Inca Trail - an unforgettable outdoor and cultural adventure.
• Explore ancient archaeological sites of Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
• See Machu Picchu from the Gateway of the Sun.
• Enjoy two days exploring Machu Picchu.
• Circuit spectacular Mt. Ausangate.
The Peruvian Andes Running Adventure follows the original pilgrimage trail that leads into the religious capital of the Inca Empire, the legendary "Lost city of the Incas" - Machu Picchu! The run is moderate to strenuous over mountain terrain at altitudes ranging from 8,000' to 13,779'. You will see archaeological sites only seen by those that complete the entire Inca trail. On the Inca Trail, you will sleep in a comfortable campground, and porters carry the gear. In the Ausangate circuit you will run at higher elevation with a gradual adaptation to the terrain and go over a 16,650' pass with an option to reach 17,000'.
Compare our adventures and prices with other well known companies. You will find that we offer unsurpassed value without compromising the quality of our trips in any way.
Home |
Running | Trekking |
Tours | Extensions | Calendar | Trip Comments | Special Offers
| Photos | Articles |
Request Info |
FAQ | Contact Us |
Site Map
Celebrating our 24th year of extraordinary
value in Adventure Travel.
Plan your 2022 Travel Adventure today!
to Our Newsletter!
Note: All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control
including weather, road or trail conditions, and flight schedules.


text:
As the only 5* hotel, Gilpin Hotel & Lakehouse is a haven for walkers, climbers and sailors, but also for those who crave clean air, inspiring geography, soothing peace, and permission to switch off. Stay in one of 5 unique, self-contained Spa Lodges, in a hotel Garden Suite with its own hot tub or at the Lake House, which is set on its own private lake. To help you unwind there are spa treatments using local products, and Michelin-starred dining in the hotel's fine-dining 'Hrishi' restaurant where Chef Hrishikesh Desai produces modern British dishes with a twist of Asia, satisfying traditionalists while giving experimentalists something new. Alternatively, try a less formal lunch or dinner in the hotel's new restaurant, Gilpin Spice - with a menu inspired by dishes from the Spice Route.
Other UK sites include the city of Bath, which has been a World Heritage site since 1987, described as a place of outstanding universal value to the whole of humanity. Bath offers visitors great Roman Remains, 18th Century Architecture, Hot Springs and a Landscape Setting.
Just 6 miles outside of Bath, is Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa


text:
This site is the archived OWASP Foundation Wiki and is no longer accepting Account Requests.
To view the new OWASP Foundation website, please visit https://owasp.org
Difference between revisions of "Comment Injection Attack"
Deleted user (talk | contribs)
(Reverting to last version not containing links to www.textbaseltchi.com)
|Line 1:
|Line 1:
Revision as of 18:27, 27 May 2009
- This is an Attack. To view all attacks, please see the Attack Category page.
Last revision (mm/dd/yy): 05/27/2009
Comments injected into an application through input can be used to compromise a system. As data is parsed, an injected/malformed comment may cause the process to take unexpected actions that result in an attack.
Risk Factors
The attacker may conduct this kind of attack with different programming or scripting languages:
If the attacker has the ability to manipulate queries which are sent to the database, then he's able to inject a terminating character too. The aftermath is that the interpretation of the query will be stopped at the terminating character:
SELECT body FROM items WHERE id = $ID limit 1;
Let's assume that the attacker has sent via the GET method the following data stored in variable $ID:
"1 or 1=1; #"
In the end the final query form is:
SELECT body FROM items WHERE id = 1 or 1=1; # limit 1;
After the # character everything will be discarded by the database including "limit 1", so only the last column "body" with all its records will be received as a query response.
Sequences that may be used to comment queries:
- MySQL:#, --
- MS Access: %00 (hack!)
- Oracle: --
Null byte:
To comment out some parts of the queries, the attacker may use the standard sequences, typical for a given language, or terminate the queries using his own methods being limited only by his imagination. An interesing example is a null byte method used to comment out everything after the current query in MS Access databases. More information about this can be found in Embedding Null Code .
Shell (bash) also has the character #, which terminates interpretation.
For example:
<? $ =sth $_GET['what]; system("/usr/bin/find -name '$sth' -type f"); ?>
Using /find.php?what=*'%20%23 the attacker will bypass limitation "-type f" and this command:
/usr/bin/find -name '*' -type f
will become:
/usr/bin/find -name '*' #-type f
So the final form of the command is:
/usr/bin/find -name '*'
HTML (injection):
If there are no restrictions about who is able to insert comments, then using the start comment tag:
it's possible to comment out the rest of displayed content on the website.
<?php print "hello!: "; print $_GET['user']; print " Welcome friend!"; ?>
GET /invisible.php?user=<!--
There result will be:
Related Threat Agents


text:
History of Norms Addressing Gravest Crimes
History of Norms Addressing Gravest Crimes
Here is the historical summary of the development of the norms concerning the most serious crimes, which was published today by the Vatican press office.
* * *
The Code of Canon Law promulgated by Pope Benedict XV in 1917 recognized the existence of a number of canonical crimes or "delicts" reserved to the exclusive competence of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office which, as a tribunal, was governed by its own proper law (cfr. can. 1555 CIC 1917).
A few years after the promulgation of the 1917 Code, the Holy Office issued an Instruction, "Crimen Sollicitationis" (1922), which gave detailed instruction to local dioceses and tribunals on the procedures to be adopted when dealing with the canonical delict of solicitation. This most grave crime concerned the abuse of the sanctity and dignity of the Sacrament of Penance by a Catholic priest who solicited the penitent to sin against the sixth commandment, either with the confessor himself, or with a third party. The norms issued in 1922 were an update, in light of the Code of Canon Law of 1917, of the Apostolic Constitution "Sacramentorum Poenitentiae" promulgated by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741.
A number of concerns had to be addressed, underlining the specificity of the legislation (with implications which are less relevant from the perspective of civil penal law): the respect of the dignity of the sacrament, the inviolable seal of the confessional, the dignity of the penitent and the fact that in most cases the accused priest could not be interrogated fully on what occurred without putting the seal of confession in danger.
This special procedure was based, therefore, on an indirect method of achieving the moral certitude necessary for a definitive decision in the case. This indirect method included investigating the credibility of the person accusing the priest and the life and behaviour of the accused priest. The accusation itself was considered the most serious accusation one could bring against a Roman Catholic priest. Therefore, the procedure took care to ensure that a priest who could be a victim of a false or calumnious accusation would be protected from infamy until proven guilty. This was achieved through a strict code of confidentiality which was meant to protect all persons concerned from undue publicity until the definitive decision of the ecclesiastic tribunal.
The 1922 Instruction included a short section dedicated to another canonical delict: the "crimen pessimum" which dealt with same-sex clerical misconduct. This further section determined that the special procedures for solicitation cases should be used for "crimen pessimum" cases, with those adaptations rendered necessary by the nature of the case. The norms concerning the "crimen pessimum" also extended to the heinous crime of sexual abuse of prepubescent children and to bestiality.
The Instruction "Crimen sollecitationis" was, therefore, never intended to represent the entirety of the policy of the Catholic Church regarding sexual improprieties on the part of the clergy. Rather, its sole purpose was to establish a procedure that responded to the singularly delicate situation that is a sacramental confession, in which the duty of complete confidentiality on the part of the priest corresponds, according to divine law, to the complete openness of the intimate life of the soul on the part of the penitent. Over time and only analogously, these norms were extended to some cases of immoral conduct of priests. The idea that there should be comprehensive legislation that treats the sexual conduct of persons entrusted with the educational responsibility is very recent; therefore, attempting to judge the canonical norms of the past century from this perspective is gravely anachronistic.
The 1922 Instruction was given as needed to bishops who had to deal with particular cases concerning solicitation, clerical homosexuality, sexual abuse of children and bestiality. In 1962, Blessed Pope John XXIII authorised a reprint of the 1922 Instruction, with a small section added regarding the administrative procedures to be used in those cases in which religious clerics were involved. Copies of the 1962 re-print were meant to be given to the Bishops gathering for the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). A few copies of this re-print were handed out to bishops who, in the meantime, needed to process cases reserved to the Holy Office but, most of the copies were never distributed.
The reforms proposed by the Second Vatican Council required a reform of the 1917 Code of Canon Law and of the Roman Curia. The period between 1965 and 1983 (the year when the new Latin Code of Canon Law appeared) was marked by differing trends in canonical scholarship as to the scope of canonical penal law and the need for a de-centralized approach to cases with emphasis on the authority and discretion of the local bishops. A "pastoral attitude" to misconduct was preferred and canonical processes were thought by some to be anachronistic. A "therapeutic model" often prevailed in dealing with clerical misconduct. The bishop was expected to "heal" rather than "punish". An over-optimistic idea of the benefits of psychological therapy guided many decisions concerning diocesan or religious personnel, sometimes without adequate regard for the possibility of recidivism.
Cases concerning the dignity of the Sacrament of Penance remained with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly the Holy Office; its name changed in 1965) after the Council, and the Instruction "Crimen Sollicitationis" was still used for such cases until the new norms established by the motu proprio "Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela" in 2001.
A small number of cases concerning sexual misconduct of clergy with minors was referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith after the Second Vatican Council. Some of these cases were linked with the abuse of the sacrament of Penance, while a number may have been referred as requests for dispensations from the obligations of priesthood, including celibacy (sometimes referred to as "laicization") which were dealt with by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith until 1989 (From 1989 to 2005 the competence in these dispensation cases was transferred to the Congregation for Sacraments and Divine Worship; from 2005 to the present the same cases have been treated by the Congregation for the Clergy).
The Code of Canon Law promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1983 updated the whole discipline n can, 1395, § 2: "A cleric who in another way has committed an offense against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, if the delict was committed by force or threats or publicly or with a minor below the age of sixteen years, is to be punished with just penalties, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state if the case so warrants". According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law canonical trials are held in the dioceses. Appeals from judicial sentences may be presented to the Roman Rota, whereas administrative recourses against penal decrees are presented to the Congregation for the Clergy.
In 1994 the Holy See granted an indult to the Bishops of the United States: the age for the canonical crime of sexual abuse of a minor was raised to 18. At the same time, prescription (canonical term for Statute of Limitations) was extended to a period of 10 years from the 18th birthday of the victim. Bishops were reminded to conduct canonical trials in their dioceses. Appeals were to be heard by the Roman Rota. Administrative Recourses were heard by the Congregation for the Clergy.
During this period (1994 - 2001) no reference was made to the previous competence of the Holy Office over such cases.
The 1994 Indult for the US was extended to Ireland in 1996. In the meantime the question of special procedures for sexual abuse cases was under discussion in the Roman Curia. Finally Pope John Paul II decided to include the sexual abuse of a minor under 18 by a cleric, among the new list of canonical delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Prescription for these cases was of ten (10) years from the 18th birthday of the victim. This new law was promulgated in the motu proprio "Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela" on 30 April 2001. A letter signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, respectively Prefect and Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was sent to all the Roman Catholic Bishops on 18 May 2001. This letter informed the bishops of the new law and the new procedures which replaced the Instruction "Crimen Sollicitationis".
The acts that constitute the most grave delicts reserved to the Congregation were specified in this letter, both those against morality and those committed in the celebration of the Sacraments. Also given were special procedural norms to be followed in cases concerning these grave delicts, including those norms regarding the determination and imposition of canonical sanctions.
The delicta graviora reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith were as follows:
1. Delicts against the sanctity of the Most Holy Sacrament and Sacrifice of the Eucharist:
Throwing away, taking or retaining the consecrated species for a sacrilegious purpose, or profaning the consecrated species (CIC can. 1367; CCEO can. 1442).
Attempting the liturgical action of the Eucharistic sacrifice or the simulation thereof (CIC can. 1378 § 2 n. 1, can. 1379; CCEO can. 1443).
Concelebrating the Eucharistic Sacrifice together with ministers of ecclesial communities which do not have Apostolic succession nor recognize the Sacramental dignity of priestly ordination (CIC can. 908, 1365; CCEO can. 792, 1440).
Consecrating one matter without the other in a Eucharistic celebration or both outside of a Eucharistic celebration (cf. CIC can. 927).
Delicts against the sanctity of the Sacrament of Penance:
Absolution of an accomplice in the sin against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue (CIC can. 1378 § 1; CCEO can. 1457).
Solicitation to sin with the confessor against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, in the act of, context of or pretext of the Sacrament of Penance (CIC can. 1387; CCEO can. 1458).
Direct violation of the Sacramental seal (CIC can. 1388 § 1; CCEO can. 1456).
Delicts against morality:
The violation of the sixth commandment of the Decalogue, committed by a cleric with a minor under the age of 18.
The procedural norms to be followed in these cases were as follows:
- Whenever an Ordinary or Hierarch had at least probable knowledge (notitiam saltem verisimilem habeat) of the commission of one of the reserved grave delicts, after having carried out the preliminary investigation, he was to inform the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which, unless it called the case to itself because of special circumstances, would indicate to the Ordinary or Hierarch how to proceed. The right of appeal against a sentence of the first instance was to be exercised only before the Supreme Tribunal of the Congregation.
— Criminal action in the cases reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was extinguished by a prescription of ten years. It was also foreseen that prescription would be computed according to the norms of CIC can. 1362 § 2 and CCEO can. 1152 § 3, with the singular exception of the delict contra sextum cum minore, in which case prescription would begin to run from the day when the minor had completed his eighteenth year of age.
— In tribunals established by Ordinaries of Hierarchs, for the cases of the more grave delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the functions of judge, promoter of justice, notary and legal representative could be validly performed only by priests. Furthermore, upon completion of the trial in the tribunal in any manner, the acts of the case were to be transmitted ex officio, as soon as possible, to the Congregation.
It was also established that all of the tribunals of the Latin Church and of all Eastern Catholic Churches were to observe the canons on delicts, penalties and the penal process of both Codes respectively. These were to be followed together with the special norms given by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Nine years after the promulgation of the motu proprio Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith felt it necessary to propose certain changes to these norms, not modifying the text in its entirety, but rather only in a few areas, in an effort to improve the application of the law.
After a serious and attentive study of the proposed changes, the Cardinals and Bishops Members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith presented the results of their decisions to the Supreme Pontiff and, on 21 May 2010, Pope Benedict XVI gave his approval and ordered the promulgation of the revised text.
The text of the Norms on delicta graviora currently in force is the text approved by the Holy Father Benedict XVI on 21 May 2010.
This article has been selected from the ZENIT Daily Dispatch
© Innovative Media, Inc.
ZENIT International News Agency
Via della Stazione di Ottavia, 95
00165 Rome, Italy
To subscribe http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html
or email: firstname.lastname@example.com with SUBSCRIBE in the "subject" field
Provided Courtesy of:
Eternal Word Television Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, AL 35210
HOME - EWTNews - FAITH - TELEVISION - RADIO - LIBRARY - MULTIMEDIA
Terms of Use Privacy Policy


text:
There are at least 3 distinct B-meson anomalies that are currently intriguing:
- A few sigma (2 to 4, depending who you ask) deviation in differential distribution of B → K*μμ decays,
- 2.6 sigma violation of lepton flavor universality in B → Kμμ vs B → Kee decays,
- 3.5 sigma violation of lepton flavor universality, but this time in B → Dτν vs B → Dμν decays.
If both λb and λs are non-zero then a tree-level leptoquark exchange can mediate the b-quark decay b → s μ μ. This contribution adds up to the Standard Model amplitudes mediated by loops of W bosons, and thus affects the B-meson observables. It turns out that the first two anomalies listed above can be fit if the leptoquark mass is in the 1-50 TeV range, depending on the magnitude of λb and λs.
Also the 3rd anomaly above can be easily explained by leptoquarks. One example from this paper is a leptoquark transforming as (3,1,-1/3) and coupling to matter as
There are more kinds of leptoquarks with different charges that allow for Yukawa couplings to matter. Some of them could also explain the 3 sigma discrepancy of the experimentally measured muon anomalous magnetic moment with the Standard Model prediction. Actually, a recent paper says that the (3,1,-1/3) leptoquark discussed above can explain all B-meson and muon g-2 anomalies simultaneously, through a combination of tree-level and loop effects. In any case, this is something to look out for in this and next year's data. If a leptoquark is indeed the culprit for the B → Dτν excess, it should be within reach of the 13 TeV run (for the 1st two anomalies it may well be too heavy to produce at the LHC). The current reach for leptoquarks is up to 1 TeV mass (strongly depending on model details), see e.g. the recent ATLAS and CMS analyses. So far these searches have provoked little public interest, but that may change soon...


text:
SCA is the Sustainable Solution
We're empowering new generations of conservation leaders. SCA is propelled by the passion of today's youth as they protect our environment and pave the way for a more sustainable planet. This is where America's conservation service movement started more than a half century ago and SCA remains your best access to a potent force of tens of thousands of dedicated young stewards.
We're preserving America's inspirational places. From the granite face of Half Dome to the gravestones of Gettysburg, the hard work rendered by SCA members ensures our nation's natural and cultural legacy will prosper for decades to come. In addition to caring for our most celebrated landmarks, SCA members protect endangered species, restore ailing habitats and enhance the experience of millions of park visitors each year.
We're forging partnerships that make a real difference. SCA is the conservation service partner of choice in the public and private sectors, largely because of our unique ability to bridge these two areas to leverage available support and maximize impact. We connect resource management agencies, philanthropic foundations, individual donors and sustainable businesses to benefit our land, our youth and our future.
You can help SCA connect thousands of youth to the great outdoors, provide them with unforgettable, life-altering conservation experiences, and instill in them an enduring ethic of stewardship – all while creating a stronger, more sustainable environment. Join us today!
SCA Brings public and private partnerships together to get the job done …
Our agency partners are the top names in environmental sustainability including:
300+ National Parks, Federal, State and Municipal public land agencies; more than 70 government agencies including the US Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Labor, Energy and Defense; the Bureau of Land Management; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Corporation for National and Community Service/AmeriCorps; State and City parks, sites, top environmental nonprofits such as the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Society, the National Park Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Garden Club of America, and more.
Our corporate partners represent the leading businesses in sustainable business practices.
American Eagle Outfitters, Johnson Controls, Inc., Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Domtar, Southwest Airlines, ARAMARK, Nestle Waters, Exelon, Shell, Wells Fargo, Argo Tea, Camelbak, Cengage Brain, Delaware North, Deuter, Mazda, NRG, Patagonia, REI, among many others
Our Foundation partners include philanthropic organizations from across the country focused on conservation, youth leadership and education.
Kendeda Fund, S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Colcom Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Hearst Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, The Countess Moira Charitable Foundation, The Boeing Company Charitable Trust, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Houston Endowment, Inc., The Joseph & Vera Long Foundation, PSEG Foundation, Inc., New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, State Street Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The William Penn Foundation, Cabot Family Charitable Trust


text:
The Hoops Doctors uncovered this video of a leisure-suited Bill Self promoting an upcoming charity event, to be held in Kansas City.
How running an NFL team is like running a restaurant | Chef Emeril Lagasse
In it, Self sashays and boogies his way through all the disco-dancing staples. He claims that all attendees will "get [their] groove on," as well as raise money for a good cause. Any readers that attend this event will get some sort of prize. I think we have a couple extra copies of the Sarah Silverman book around here somewhere.
Who wants to bet that this won't get played?
Kansas Coach Bill Self Wants You To Get Up And Boogie [The Hoops Doctors]


text:
Say you wanted to create a shortcode like this:
[youtube id="991WcoEPwb8"]
And instead of manually creating the HTML yourself, you wanted to use YouTube's oEmbed provider to get the HTML. While that's easy to do using WordPress' existing functions (
wp_oembed_get() for example), you must implement your own caching of the result as WordPress' oEmbed class does not include any caching of it's own.
However, WordPress comes with an
[embed] shortcode that's also secretly used for the shortcode-less embeds. A cool trick is to make that shortcode's existing code (complete with caching) work for you! This post explains how to do it.
First, the code:
add_shortcode( 'youtube', 'my_youtube_shortcode' ); function my_youtube_shortcode( $atts ) { // We need to use the WP_Embed class instance global $wp_embed; // The "id" parameter is required if ( empty($atts['id']) ) return ''; // Construct the YouTube URL $url = 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=' . $atts['id']; // Run the URL through the handler. // This handler handles calling the oEmbed class // and more importantly will also do the caching! return $wp_embed->shortcode( $atts, $url ); }
We start by gaining access to the WP_Embed instance that we'll be making use of and then making sure we have the required video ID (you can do whatever you want here). We then create the full URL to the video that oEmbed will need. Lastly the real time saver — we pass the attributes ("id" will be ignored) and the constructed URL to the
[embed] shortcode handler which will fetch the result and cache it.
Simple, huh?
One thing to note though: if you're using this along with a non-default oEmbed provider, you'll also need to whitelist it using


text:
Colin McRae Rally races onto iOS
As we expected, the big announcement from Codemasters was a mobile version of Colin McRae Rally, now out on iOS devices. The "re-imagined" iOS version is based on 2001's Colin McRae Rally 2.0. It sports overhauled graphics, optional tilt control, and 30 unique rally stages with over 130km of track. The game's original cars and tracks also see a return.
We're bringing that classic Colin McRae Rally experience to a new generation of gamers and devices with the release of Colin McRae Rally for iOS. This is our first Rally game for these platforms, and we wanted to make tackling every turn and jump of the point-to-point courses on your mobile just as satisfying as playing on home consoles, so we went back to those early titles as inspiration to recreate an experience with the soul of the original but much more focused on what was at the core of the series, Stage Rally.
Colin McRae Rally is currently available for $4.99 on both iPhone and iPad.


text:
Runner's high is just what the name suggests: a sense of euphoria.
I feel this on a really good day, when I run for more than an hour. Once you hit it, you feel like you can run forever. If that wind catches my sail at 60 minutes, I'll run another 40. I started logging way more miles after I first got a taste of it. Euphoria is a great motivator.
Recent medical studies have shown that the biochemistry of this state is real, and that it looks just like the euphoria of "new love" - and, interestingly, the deep pleasure of listening to music that blows your mind (see "Yes, Running Can Make You High"). I sometimes feel this intense pleasure when playing soccer - I love pick-up games that last for hours. The pacing is different, but the payoff is similar - on a good day, I feel in love with the pitch and everyone on it. (The high in soccer is distinctly social - I am sure the nature of this high is why so much soccer literature is so outrageously romantic.)
Anyway, journalism on "runner's high" suggests that running has a natural anti-depressent effect. I don't know if that's accurate - but it sure is true that "runner's high" feels good when you are feeling it, and, too, if you are in the habit of running that long and that far, you are at least able to get yourself out of bed and out of the house.
But it turns out that athletes can have their own form of athletic depression: "overtraining syndrome." According to this 2002 article in Peak Performance, it looks just like major depression - but is signaled in the athlete by "decreased physcial performance." That drop in performance compounds the difficulty of depression's symptoms (difficulty sleeping, loss of interest/motivation, weight loss/disordered eating, irritability, restlessness, etc.). [Image: Yrsa Roca Fannberg's "Falling" (2009).]
According to Laurence Armstrong and Jaci VanHeest (authors of the study on which the Peak Performance article is based), disappointing performance leads to more and harder training as the athlete tries to grapple with feelings of failure and is driven by the sense that "harder" work will somehow get them back on top. The syndrome produces a vicious cycle and can be hard to notice because athletes are so good at doing the very thing that "traditional" depressives seem to struggle with. An athlete tends, by definition, to be very active - and often lives in a world reluctant to acknowledge the reality of psychological struggle. (Laurence Armstrong and Jaci VanHeest's study can be foud in Sports Medicine, 32(3) 2002, pp 185-209.)
I have been wondering if, in all these new conversations about treating depression in athletes, people have explored the impact of antidepressants (increasingly prescribed to everyone) on "runner's high." As happy as I was when an anti-depressant relieved me of the disabling cycles of panic and anxiety which tormented me in my 20s, I was sad to find that experiences of euphoria became muted - I distinctly remember, in fact, that I couldn't "feel" music the way I used to. (I also didn't cry at the movies like I do normally. Or sink into spirals of complete despair.) I didn't run much back then. No more than 30 minutes a couple times a week. So I have no personal experience with the impact of an anti-depressant on runner's high.
Some anti-depressants lift the "floor" of your lows, while also dropping the ceiling of your highs. Surely, they must have an impact on how athletes experience the pleasures (and anxieties) of their sport. And I wonder how that kind of chemical shift in feeling impacts people in competition.
Armstrong and Vaneest's study recommends that atheletes suffering from depression work closely with their therapist, coach, and (ideally) nutrionist - the only way to track the effectiveness of any treatment is to keep very close track of what one is doing, and how one is feeling. This of course means bringing the darker side of the athlete's emotional life into the open - to acknowledge experiences of depression as an aspect of the self - as one of the things that make us unique, and even uniquely driven.


text:
The top left photo was a picture of George and I taken at the Boundary House... The outside of the Boundary House (boundary of North Carolina and South Carolina) is on the bottom right.. The top right was one of the older Calabash restaurants, Ella's... The bottom left is a picture of George telling me to quit taking pictures ---and let's get inside and have some SEAFOOD.... The seafood (scallops and shrimp) is pictured in the center... YUM.
Hope you enjoyed our pictures... As you know, we love that place --and will return again in MAY, 2013...
Have a wonderful Wednesday. I finally got all of the Christmas decorations put away for a year!!! The house looks so bare now!!!!


text:
Monday, November 9, 2015
In honor of my seventh blog anniversary, Max went to a Jets game
So technically, Max didn't choose to celebrate the seventh anniversary of this blog by going to a Jets game yesterday. But it was a great gift for both of us.
Max was five when I started writing Love That Max. Back then, he had major sensory issues. Eating in a restaurant would make him screech. He would barely walk into the door of a birthday party held at a bowling alley or kid gym. We couldn't take him to museums, movies or shows, let alone a sports event.
We were all lucky: As time passed, Max got past a lot of his noise and crowd issues and his fear of the unknown. I don't think it's anything we did for him, per se, although we never stopped trying to introduce him to new places and experiences. Noise-reducing headphones came in handy. I'm betting a lot of it has had to do with his brain's continued healing from the stroke, along with maturity. As Max's cognition and curiosity has improved, he's more driven to try new things and push past sensory challenges.
This year Max and Dave started watching Sunday Night Football. I'd connected with the NFL a few years ago when they were raising awareness about preventing concussions; this week a contact offered me tickets for a suite. YES PLEASE. I stayed home with the baby and Dave took Max and Sabrina.
It used to be that when we'd drive by the stadium Max would vigorously shake his head at it just so we were completely clear he didn't want to go there. But when I told him we got tickets to see the Jets, he was so excited that all week long he practiced his chant: "Jets! Jets! Jets!"
What I especially appreciated was that while Dave was psyched to go with Max (and just psyched to go, period), this wasn't some big dad win for him. He's never been one to mourn that, until recently, he didn't have a son who was into watching sports, or who could play them in the usual way.
Dave kept texting me from the game; Sabrina and Max were having the time of their lives. And that made me seriously happy. A progress score like this, seven years into writing the blog? Love that Max.
19 comments:
Love that Max for sure. And Happy 7 years of blogging! That's a very long time.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks, Kathryn! It went by fast.Delete
Seven years is a long time to blog. That, and: Go Jets!ReplyDelete
Coming from a mother with a special needs child with severe sensory issues. You need to frame that picture! Way to go Max! Way to go dad!ReplyDeleteReplies
I know, it's a keeper! And I know you get how amazing this is if your kid has sensory issues. I wish him continued progress.Delete
Thanks Ellen for letting others into your exciting world of raising Max through your fascinating stories, including some of your innermost thoughts. Sharing about your struggles helps others relate to you and your family. Shining on Max's successes is how we celebrate with you and spread hope for Max and so many deserving kids. Here's to many more blogging and storytelling years:) ~KeriReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you so much, Keri. I started this blog to inspire and encourage other parents, and so it's really heartening to hear it makes a difference.Delete
I've so enjoyed following your blog and your family over the years. As a member of the disability community, I've related to so much of what you've written. Here's to seven more awesome years!!!!ReplyDelete
P.S. I'm celebrating 7 years of blogging next weekend too!! Where does the time go??
Melissa | So About What I SaidReplies
Happy seventh anniversary to you too, Melissa!Delete
Happy 7th Blog-o-versary, Ellen! And a big YAY FIREMAN MAX for attending his first Jets game! I'm not a sports fan whatsoever (watching figure skating at the winter Olympics is as good as it gets for me, haha), but I am psyched about this! Awesome!ReplyDeleteReplies
Not a big sports fan either, traditionally, but this makes me one!Delete
7 years! Incredible! Happy blogiversary! :)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 9, 2015 at 4:27 PM
I saw and met Max, Sabrina and your husband yesterday at the game. Max looked SO happy to be there. It was a random meeting and I hope Dave was not upset with me stopping them and saying hi.ReplyDelete
Barbara, Sabrina told me when she came home! (Dave, of course, forgot until asked about it.) Dave was happy to meet you, I heard Max was too. Do you have a child with special needs?Delete
- AnonymousNovember 11, 2015 at 7:35 PM
Ellen, I do not. I think I found your blog on another blog I follow. They (the blogs I follow) all stem from blogs on brain tumors. My husband had a brain tumor and died in 2003. I live in Westchester and I am the director of a preschool. Our school accepts all children and I have learned so much about families of children with special needs from reading blogs, so I thank you for sharing your journey. I am glad that I did not intrude on the outing. And tell Max and Sabrina...GO JETS BarbaraDelete
Seven years is a long time, congratulations! It looks like max had a very good time!ReplyDeleteReplies
That, he did. Sabrina too!Delete


text:
Robert Pattinson covers the new ESQUIRE UK. It's good shot on the cover. But inside…
Those hands. Those weirdly delicate hands scraping his head, why do we need to see this? I interviewed someone recently with the same kind of hands. They're the hands of the creeper in the horror movie who's peering around the corner, the guy with the freak show dungeon in the basement of his house.
Anyway, here's the part of the interview everyone is talking about – what RP had to say about Kristen Stewart and Rupert Sanders:
"Shit happens, you know?" he laughs. "It's just young people… it's normal! And honestly, who gives a shit? The hardest part was talking about it afterwards. Because when you talk about other people, it affects them in ways you can't predict. It's like that scene in Doubt [2008, in which Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a priest suspected of inappropriate behaviour], where he's talking about how to take back gossip? They throw all those feathers from a pillow into the sky and you've got to go and collect all the feathers."
He lost me with the feathers. Now I'm wondering whether or not he was referring to the part in Twilight 4 when he and Stewart had all the sex and tore apart the bed.
So he's over it. Great. He's over it because he's older now and we all have f-cked up relationships in our youth. And that's what's probably most heartbreaking for Twi-Hards. Because no matter what really happened between them, this is the truth: the loves we have at that time in our lives are often not the loves that are forever.
The rest of the interview is mostly RP's stream of consciousness, a constant babble he's yet to polish. Oxymoron? Not necessarily. Think of how Robert Downey Jr gives an interview. He's verbose too, that one. Always has been. But over the years, he's been able to sharpen it to a point. Pattinson is still getting there. Which is why I'm not going to bother summarising it for you. He's not boring, no, and he's willing and present, certainly, but at the same time none of it actually lands either.
The only insightful part of it is when he explains why he's decided to live in Los Angeles and not home in England. Sort of. Several times he discusses what his life is like, being papped all the time and followed. And how the paparazzi know where he lives so he's had to make his world smaller. But still…
"My friends are all having kids and stuff, it's a totally different life," he says. "And I like people who want to actually make things and do stuff. In England, it's so difficult that most people just give up." So LA won out. "Just waking up when it's sunny every day means so much to me," he says. "I like the levity here."
But he was attracted to that life for a reason. Then again, you can't complain about the paparazzi and then, in the next breath, admit to choosing to live in the paparazzi capital either, can you?
Can we talk about RP's blind riddle now?
"There's so much I… it's amazing how quickly people change in this business. There was one guy who'd never been on a movie set before. And after just three days, he was holding out his water bottle and waiting for someone to take it. Three days. Some people just have it in them…This actress was doing a scene in the bath and she kept complaining about the temperature, how it was too hot or too cold. So everyone pissed in it and put a bunch of bubble bath in afterwards so you couldn't smell it! This stuff happens. That's why I avoid asking for anything. I don't want to get anyone's piss on me."
He could very well have been speaking anecdotally, especially since he runs in a circle of actors and LA types who know all about how these people behave. Like that infamous Sly Stallone "cup the balsa" story. But if RP wasn't speaking anecdotally, and this is someone he actually worked with…
Send me your guesses.
My guess: Christina Ricci.
Click here to read the full ESQUIRE UK piece on Robert Pattinson.


text:
Article of interest
The extra items are numerically indexed and provide extra text to go along with numeric values such as weights or distances or even currencies. The attributes that use these extra indexes are all numeric and take two fields. You can send the data in a single field as long as you use the same short or long text that we keep in our database.
Although the data feed API can deliver information as JSON or XML, we are using XML here because it is easier to read.
<attribute> <extra_group>Distance</extra_group> <field_name>depth</field_name> <extra> <id>501</id> <extra_short>in</extra_short> <extra_long>inches</extra_long> <seq>10</seq> </extra> <extra> <id>503</id> <extra_short>ft</extra_short> <extra_long>feet</extra_long> <seq>20</seq> </extra> <extra> <id>505</id> <extra_short>yrd</extra_short> <extra_long>yards</extra_long> <seq>30</seq> </extra> </attribute>
Looking at this example, you can see that the EXTRA portion is an array of values each with their own properties. Here is what each section means:
- extra_group - The text name representing the type of information the extra value represents. The extra elements are associated with this group.
- field_name - The field that this extra information is attached to. Multiple fields can be attached to the same extra_group.
- id - This is the unique id that identifies the specific extra element. It is unique across all extra groups.
- extra_short - The short text used to enhance the main data item.
- extra_long - The long text used to enhance the main data item.
- seq - The sequence that we use to display this element in a list. When two sequence numbers are the same we sort by the extra_long value.
This extra information is normally used in a drop down box next to the numeric data field that we want to enhance. Some examples might be:
- 12 pounds
- 15.25 US Dollars
- 354 grams
- 12.4 ounces
- 12 lbs
- 354 g
- 12.4 oz
You see we can display the long or short version of the extra code by using the ID index.
Fields that make use of this extra information require it when pushing data back to us in the feed. You can either send the data in two fields (value and extra_id) or in a single field (value) as long as the text following the numeric portion matches the long or short version of the extra data we store for the field.
For example, if you wanted to update a field that represented distance with the value "100 yards", you could either send that data just like that in the value field value=100+yards or in two seperate fields value=100&extra_id=505 and you would get the same results. If you send an invalid extra_id or text after the number that doesn't match our accepted list, your update would be rejected.


text:
Release Date: 20 June 2011
Is there a Belfast sound..? Van Morrison… Stiff Little Fingers… Divine Comedy… Cashier No. 9 sound nothing like any of these, but they're as innovative and different as anything that's come from the city. They could be from California, or Manchester, or any number of places, having been variously compared with The Byrds, Beach Boys, Stone Roses, Pavement, CSN, The Flaming Lips and many others. Yet with their rich vocal harmonies, bold guitar textures and supremely catchy melodies, they've created a sound that's indeterminably none of these yet equally vibrant.
The Holmes touch… Cashier No. 9's debut is produced by acclaimed DJ, film and music producer David Holmes. Combined with the mature, wryly humoroussong-writing of frontman Danny Todd, the result is eclectic, layered, guitar-jangling country-laced pop. Within an ocean of standout tracks, opener and single 'Goldstar' is resplendent with bells and cascading melodies; 'Lost at Sea' skiffles with supreme rolling rhythms and sense of the 60s reborn; 'Flick of the Wrist' has an epic, Californian aura; and 'Oh Pity' sweeps the listener along with waves of rich harmonies.


text:
Mapping fitness: protein display, fitness, and Seattle
A couple of months ago we started looking at the concept of fitness landscapes and at some new papers that have significantly expanded our knowledge of the maps of these hypothetical spaces. Recall that a fitness landscape, basically speaking, is a representation of the relative fitness of a biological entity, mapped with respect to some measure of genetic change or diversity. The entity in question could be a protein or an organism or a population, mapped onto specific genetic sequences (a DNA or protein sequence) or onto genetic makeup of whole organisms. The purpose of the map is to depict the effects of genetic variation on fitness.
Suppose we want to examine the fitness landscape represented by the structure of a single protein. Our map would show the fitness of the protein (its function, measured somehow) and how fitness is affected by variations in the structure of the protein (its sequence, varied somehow). It's hard enough to explain or read such a map. Even more daunting is the task of creating a detailed map of such a widely-varying space. Two particular sets of challenges come to mind.
1. To make any kind of map at all, we need to match the identity of each of the variants with its function.
2. To create a detailed map, we need to examine many thousands -- or millions -- of variants. This means we need to be able to make thousands of variants of the protein.
So let's take the second challenge first: how do we make a zillion variants of a protein? Well, we can introduce mutations, randomly, into the gene sequence for the protein and use huge collections of those random variants in our analysis. The collection is called a library, and believe it or not, the creation of the library isn't our biggest challenge. Because if the library only contains gene sequences, then it's no use in an experiment on protein fitness. We need our library of gene sequences to be translated into a library of proteins. How are we going to do that? And remember the first challenge: we need to be able to identify each variant. So even if we can get our gene sequences made into protein, how will we be able to identify the sequences after we've mapped the fitness of all the variants?
Or, in simpler terms, here's the problem. It's pretty straightforward to make a library of DNA sequences. And it's pretty straightforward to study the function of a protein. (Note to hard-working molecular biologists and protein biochemists: no, I'm not saying it's easy.) The problem is getting the two together so that we can study the function of the proteins with biochemistry but then identify the interesting variants using the powerful tools of molecular biology. What we need is a bridge between the two.
The bridge most commonly used in such experiments is a technique called protein display. There are a few different ways to do it, but the basic idea is that the DNA sequence is encapsulated so that it remains linked to the protein it creates. One cool way to do this is to hijack a virus and force it to make itself using your library. The virus will use a DNA sequence from your library, dutifully make the protein that is encoded by that DNA sequence, and displaying that protein on its surface. There's our bridge: a virus, with the protein on the surface ready for analysis and the DNA sequence stored inside the same virus. Brilliant, don't you think?
Yes, but there's one more problem to be solved. We said we want to do this millions of times. That means we have to grab the viruses of interest, get the DNA out of them, and read off the sequence of that DNA. (That's how we can identify the nature of the variation.) Millions of times. Methods of protein display provided the bridge, but until very recently a crippling bottleneck remained: the sequencing of the DNA was too time-consuming to allow the identification of more than a few thousand variants at a time.
That was then. This is now: the era of next-generation sequencing, in which DNA sequences can be read at blinding speed and at moderate cost. (A currently popular technology is Illumina sequencing.) These techniques have given us unprecedented capacity to decode entire genomes and to assess genetic variation on genome-wide scales. A few months ago, the same methods were used to eliminate that last bottleneck in the use of protein display, demonstrating how a protein fitness map can be generated simply and at very high resolution. The article is "High-resolution mapping of protein sequence-function relationships" (doi) from Nature Methods, by Douglas Fowler and colleagues in Stan Fields' lab at the University of Washington.
The experiment focused on one interesting segment of one protein. The segment is called a WW domain and it's an interesting building block which is found in various proteins and which mediates interactions between different proteins. (A sort of docking site.) The authors chose the WW domain both for its interesting functions and because it has been used in protein display experiments of the type they performed. Then they created their tools.
1) They generated a library of more than 600,000 variants of the domain, displayed on the surface of their chosen bridge -- the T7 bacteriophage (a virus that targets bacteria).
2) They designed a means to assess the function of the variants. Because the function of the WW domain is docking, they used docking as their functional criterion, and then devised a straightforward system to detect the strength of the binding of the variants to a typical docking partner. (For the biochemically inclined, they used a simple peptide affinity binding assay on beads.)
Then the key experimental step: the authors used that system to select the variants that can still bind. In other words, they selected the functional variants. The selection step was moderate in strength, and the idea is that variants that bind really well will be enriched at the expense of variants that bind less well. Variants that don't bind at all will be removed from the library.
They repeated the selection step six times in succession. So, the original library was subjected to selection, generating a new library, which was subjected to selection again, and so on, until the experimenters had six new libraries. Why the repetition? It's one of the really smart aspects of the experiment and it has to do with the strength of selection. If selection were quite strong, such that only the strongest-binding variants survive, then the analysis will just yield a few strong-binding variants. That's a simple yes-or-no question, providing no information about the spectrum of binding that can be exhibited by the variants. Instead, the authors tuned the system so that selection is moderate, leading to enrichment but not complete dominance of the stronger-binding variants. Recall that binding represents fitness in this experiment; this means that the authors subjected their population to a moderate level of selection in order to map the fitness of a large number of variants. By repeating the selection, they could watch as some variants gradually increased in frequency. Sounds kind of like evolution, doesn't it?
Finally, the scientists subjected those libraries to Illumina sequencing, thus closing the loop between function and sequence. (In genetic terms, we would say that they closed the loop between phenotype and genotype.) And at that point they were able to draw fitness landscapes of unprecedented resolution, shown in the graphs on the right. The top graph shows the original library. The height of each peak represents frequency in the library, and the two horizontal axes represent each possible sequence of that WW domain. Notice that the original library is complex and diverse, as indicated by numerous peaks on the graph. The second and third graphs show the library after three and six rounds of selection. Note the change in the number of peaks and in their relative sizes: selection has reduced the complexity of the library, removing variants that are far less fit and altering the relative amounts of the survivors. The first three rounds of selection reduced the library to 1/4 the original size, and after six rounds it was down to 1/6 original size, but still contained almost 100,000 variants.
The bottom graph, then, is a fitness landscape, of a segment of a protein, at very high resolution. More technically, it depicts the raw data (relative amounts of surviving variants) that the authors used to determine relative fitness; to make that assessment, they calculated "enrichment ratios" to account for the fact that the initial library didn't contain equal amounts of each variant. These enrichment data enabled them to calculate the extent to which each point in the sequence is amenable to change, and then to identify the particular changes at those points that led to changes in fitness. Now that's high resolution.
The power of approaches like this should be obvious: disease-related mutations can be identified in candidate genes, and the same approach can be used to map the landscape of resistance to drugs in pathogens or cancer cells. And, of course, evolutionary questions of various kinds are much more tractable when tackled with methods like this. The authors expect the payoff to be immediate:
Because the key ingredients for this approach -- protein display, low-intensity selection and highly accurate, high througput sequencing -- are simple and are becoming widely available, this approach is readily applicable to many in vitro and in vivo questions in which the activity of a protein is known and can be quantitatively assessed.
Now, given these vast opportunities now available to scientists interested in protein evolution, wouldn't you think that design theorists who write on the topic will be eager to get involved in such studies? I sure would, especially since the lab that did this work is within a short drive of the epicenter of intelligent design research, a research insitute headed by a scientist whose professional expertise and interest lies in the analysis of protein sequence-function relationships. As I've repeated throughout this series, there's something strange about a bunch of scientists who want to change the world but who can't be bothered to interact with the rest of the scientific community, a community that in this case is well-represented in active laboratories right down the road. (I'm eager to be proven wrong on this point, by learning that ID scientists have interacted with the Loeb lab or the Fields lab.)
More to the point, there's something tragically ironic about the fact that the ID movement is headquartered in Seattle, inveighing against "Darwinism" while obliviously amidst a world-class gathering of scientists who are busy tackling the very questions that ID claims to value.
(Cross-posted at Quintessence of Dust.)
-------Fowler, D., Araya, C., Fleishman, S., Kellogg, E., Stephany, J., Baker, D., & Fields, S. (2010). High-resolution mapping of protein sequence-function relationships Nature Methods, 7 (9), 741-746 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1492


text:
"I was bit by the stage bug at age 15," said Seaberg, 54, "and have not sought out the cure."
But it's in his role as a teacher that he is making even a greater difference in the Tri-Valley.
When the Town of Danville was looking for someone to create a children's theater program 10 years ago, he jumped at the chance.
"I put together a proposal and have been doing it since 2003," he said.
KAOS (Kids Acting On Stage) drama camp for ages 7-14 runs for three two-week sessions in the summer, each ending with a production and a mini-movie. This year had its highest enrollment at 150.
"We had 50 kids per session maximum, split into groups," he said. "One week of camp is at Hap Magee Ranch, then we're at the Village Theater. And the first week we do a mini-movie."
His after-school program, Theatre Performance Workshop, is also in its 10th year.
"It's not a star-making program, it's an experiential program," Seaberg said. "It covers the nuts and bolts involved in putting a production together -- auditioning, rehearsing and performing."
He noted that the class teaches life skills, including the ability to speak in public. It's a safe place for shy children to come out of their shell. Other students are already outgoing and charismatic; they learn discipline.
Now his theater group is preparing for a holiday production, written by Seaberg, "A Very Jingle Town Christmas," which will play at the Village Theater, 233 Front St. in Danville, on Dec. 14-16.
"It's called a world premiere," Seaberg said with a laugh. "There are some Christmas carols, some bravely doing solos."
He writes and publishes such plays as an inexpensive resource for other after-school programs, and said he's improved his skills at populating his stories with interesting characters and dialog as well as good plots.
"I appreciate existentialism but I like to know the journey is going to be completed," he says. "I have 20-30 characters with a journey."
He tries to strike a balance with all these activities.
"I love to perform, I love teaching and working with the kids, and directing and being involved with productions," he said.
Seaberg majored in theater and English at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., plus earned a teaching credential. By the age of 30 he'd migrated to the Bay Area to pursue his love of theater and teaching.
He made a name for himself locally when he landed a role in "Reel Blondes," and directed it as "Wigged Out" for 13 seasons. "Reel Blondes" was revived in the spring and preparations for the 2013 season are under way.
"Three or four of us do most of writing," Seaberg said. "We come up with a gazzilion ideas, then thin it down to a million, then take out ones that aren't that funny."
But first Seaberg will have a leading role in Pleasanton at its Hometown Holiday Celebration on Dec. 1 as Santa Claus, which he says lets him feel "the rush of being a superstar."
"It's really cool, but I can't take it lightly," Seaberg said. "I'm on my best behavior with the kids."
Seaberg recalls a crossroads in his life in 2003. Goodspeed theater in Connecticut, where many Broadway professionals got their start, called him for an audition. But the performance dates interfered with the children's program he'd just proposed for the Town of Danville so he cancelled the audition.
"I cancelled the audition," he said. "My friend was aghast."
"It was a fork in the road but I knew I was right," he added. "I've been very, very content with that decision. My life has been impacted, and hundreds of kids were equally impacted."
Hero FYI
* Jeff Seaberg's earliest dramatic role came as a young boy at his parents' cocktail parties where he would circulate with a tray, dramatically posing the question: "Would you like an hors d'oeuvres?"
* He was voted Class Clown in the eighth grade.
* He played Riff in "West Side Story" at this high school; he later directed the musical in Alameda.
* He received a prestigious Shellie Award as best actor in 1992 for his rendition of Bill Snibson in the Diablo Light Opera Company's "Me and my Girl," a role he's done five times with four different theater groups.
* His original children's plays include fairytales in his Granny's Bedtime Stories; his "Captain Cool and the Righteous Dudes" series tells tales of superheroes.
* Seaberg says it isn't easy being an actor. "Theater people have to wear their hearts on their sleeves, from high to low, and be convincing -- while being even-keeled in life," he said. "That's why a lot of actors are basket cases."
* What touches Seaberg most is when he is making a curtain call and the audience rises to its feet to applaud. "It almost moves me to tears," he said.
This story contains 855 words.
Stories older than 90 days are available only to subscribing members. Please help sustain quality local journalism by becoming a subscribing member today.
If you are already a member, please log in so you can continue to enjoy unlimited access to stories and archives. Membership starts at $12 per month and may be cancelled at any time.


text:
The great Larry Josephson — to me the best radio host ever (he was real and honest and funny and groundbreaking and smart long before Howard Stern was the same, and I am a serious Howard fan too) — once explained his radio philosophy to me in two words:
It's personal.
From the beginning we have regarded broadcasting as a one-to-many matter, even though the best broadcasters know they are only talking to single pairs of ears, and usually act the same way. Yet stations, programmers and producers put great store in numbers, also known as ratings. Stations, even public ones, lived and died by "The Book" — Arbitron's regional compilations of results.
At this point something like 2.5 million Public Radio Players — radios for the iPhone — have been downloaded. To the degree that the PRP folks keep track of how much each station and program gets listened to, the results are far different than what Arbitron says. See here for the results, and see here for one big reason why.
At this point Public Radio Player (with which I have some involvent) and other 'tuners' for the iPhone (such as the excellent WunderRadio) are my primary radios. I use them when I'm walking, driving, or making coffee in the kitchen at home. I listen to KCLU from Thousand Oaks/Santa Barbara here in Boston, I listen to WBUR, WUMB, WERS, WEEI (Celtics basketball) and other Boston stations when I'm in California. My list of "favorites" (such as the list above, on Wunderradio) runs into the dozens, and includes programs as well as stations. Distinctions between live, podcast, on-demand (podcasts served by stations, live) and other modes are blurring.
Three things are clear to me at this point. First is that it's very early in this next stage of what broadcasting will become. Second is that it's more personal than ever. Third is that the time will come when we'll shut down many (if not most or all) terrestrial transmitters.
On this last topic, a number of landmark AM stations that I grew up listening to — CBL/740 from Toronto, and CKVL/850, CBF/690 and CFCF/940 from Montreal — are all gone. The last two of those went off in January. Those were "clear channel" powerhouses, with signals you could get across the continent at night. I could even get CKVL in the daytime in New Jersey. Now: not there. But the decendents of all those stations are available on the Net, which means they're available on smartphones with applicatons that play streams. While it's still not easy to serve streams to thousands (much less millions) at a time, it's also cheaper than running transmitters that suck 100,000 watts and more off the grid and take up large amounts of real estate (including open land for AM and the tops of mountains and buildings for FM). Not to mention that broadcast towers (which run up to 2000 feet in height) are hazards to aviation, bird migration and surrounding areas when they collapse, which is often.
Anyway, I've always thought the ratings were good for the mass-appeal stuff, but way off for stations and programs that appealed to many — but not to enough to satisfy the advertising business. Personal listening is much more idiosyncratic, but also much more interested and involved, than group listening, which actually doesn't happen.
Therefore I expect radio, or its next evolutionary stage, to be more personal than ever — and therefore better than ever.
Bonus link: JP Rangaswami's Death of the Download. His closing lines:
And what if the customers have given up and moved on, from the download to the stream?
It was never about owning content. It was always about listening to music.
It was never about product. It was always about service.
The customer is the scarcity. We would do well to remember that. And to keep remembering that.