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The tornado that plowed a wide swath of death and destruction through Joplin, Mo., on Sunday unleashed winds of up to 198 miles per hour, federal forecasters said yesterday.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's preliminary analysis ranks the twister as an F4, the second-highest rating on the five-point scale used to classify tornadoes.
Agency officials said the Joplin storm, at times three-quarters of a mile wide, was the deadliest single tornado to hit the United States since 1953. At least 116 people died and 500 were injured by the storm. The numbers are expected to climb as aid workers comb through the wreckage left behind.
"This is the ninth-deadliest tornado year on record so far," said Jack Hayes, director of NOAA's National Weather Service. "More than 450 people have been killed. ... With so many fatalities this year, I think we have to ask ourselves the tough questions now. Why is this happening?"
But experts said there is no easy explanation for the ferocious intensity of this year's tornado season.
"Certainly, I think you could say we have a high-impact season," Hayes said. "I think we have more F4s and F5s than in past years -- but for us to say this is climate change, I don't know that we have the evidence that we can say that definitively."
Unusually warm surface water in the Gulf of Mexico -- about 2 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than normal -- may be a factor, he said.
A 'remarkable pattern' shifts killer storms eastward
"When you have a long, prolonged stretch of warm humid air coming in from the Gulf of Mexico, you are going to set up conditions that are ripe," Hayes said. "And then, when you have these slow-moving fronts and an injection of cooler air, it collides and triggers this instability."
That collision between very warm, humid air at low levels of the atmosphere and cool air at higher levels creates the upward vertical winds within a thunderstorm that sometimes turn into a tornado, said Thomas Schwein, deputy director of the National Weather Service's Central Region, which includes Missouri.
This year, the jet stream has been dipping farther south than normal, allowing it ready access to that warm Gulf of Mexico air. "It's been a remarkable pattern from a day-to-day weather perspective," Schwein said. That has also shifted this year's tornadoes farther to the east, into more densely populated sections of the country, which may account in part for the high number of fatalities.
Another expert suggested a potential influence from the current La Niña weather pattern, in place since last summer.
"We have been coming out of a La Niña," said Russell Schneider, director of NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. "There is some emerging research that links more active severe-weather seasons -- particularly months like April -- to emerging within a La Niña." Such a pattern was observed in 1965 and 1974, which Schneider called "major springtime severe-weather outbreak years."
NOAA's storm survey crews hope to issue a final storm strength rating today for the Joplin tornado. The agency sent additional crews to Missouri yesterday to examine the pattern of destruction left by the twister, observations NOAA scientists will use to estimate the tornado's power.
Some insurers see climate connection to rising risks
Sunday's tornado also thrusts the insurance industry toward a potential record-breaking year for thunderstorm-related damage. Inland storm claims over the last three years have risen to about $30 billion altogether. That accounts for almost one-third of all the thunderstorm damage going back to 1990, amounting to $97.8 billion, according to the Insurance Information Institute. This year will add billions more onto that tally.
The number and ferocity of those storms have been rising for at least 25 years. It's unclear what's causing the rise, but many insurers are responding by raising rates and reducing policies. Factors behind the damage could include expanded development and rising property values.
But some insurers also believe climate change is playing a part.
The Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club, which collected $2.1 billion in premiums last year, writes homeowners insurance policies in Missouri, Texas and California. Those areas face "catastrophic risk" that could be increased by global warming, the company told California insurance regulators this month.
"The primary risk that climate change may pose would be any potential increase in the frequency or intensity of strong thunderstorms, hurricanes or brushfires," the company said on a climate risk disclosure form that California began requiring insurers to file this year.
"More severe or more frequent events would increase the number and cost of claims and have an impact on the financial health of the company," the Automobile Club wrote. "If the impact was large enough, it could affect our ability to write new or renew business in some catastrophe exposed areas."
About 1,200 tornadoes touch down in the United States annually, but this year is on pace for more. About 1,076 twisters have already been counted -- and that was before the storms in Missouri this week.
The accelerating activity has convinced Allstate Insurance Co. that the change is permanent. Chairman and CEO Thomas Wilson told Wall Street analysts last month that the company now believes it will face about $2 billion in damage annually from thunderstorms -- about four times the amount it paid a decade ago.
Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net, 202-628-6500


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subset: commoncrawl


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Warning: This document describes an old release. Check here for the current version.
Install DHCPd and Configure Networking
On this page, you will install a central DHCPd daemon (or integrate with an existing one) and configure the networking addresses you want to give out to virtual machines when they boot.
When a VM is started using Nimbus, it is provided a network IP address via DHCP. You must configure a pool of available networks and addresses in the service. You must provide at least as many addresses as VMs you want to run simultaneously.
In addition to configuring available addresses in the Nimbus service, you must also set up a DHCP server to actually hand out these addresses. This will be discussed in depth shortly.
Network pools (#)
Take a look at the $NIMBUS_HOME/services/etc/nimbus/workspace-service/network-pools/ directory on your service node. Each file represents a single network which can be provided to virtual machines. Each network can be bridged to different (or the same) physical networks and a single VM can be connected to multiple networks. When a VM is launched, one or more networks are requested by the client.
Traditionally, Nimbus installations are configured with two networks, public and private. Start with the public file as it contains a lot of helpful documentation. For each network, you must configure a DNS server as well as a list of available network slots.
# DNS server IP address (or 'none') 192.168.0.1 # hostname ipaddress gateway broadcast subnetmask [MAC] pub02 192.168.0.2 192.168.0.1 none none pub03 192.168.0.3 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.255 255.255.255.0 pub04 192.168.0.4 192.168.0.1 192.168.0.255 255.255.255.0
The only truly required fields are the hostname and IP. The gateway, broadcast, and subnet may be specifed as 'none' (but you probably don't want to). You can also optionally specify a hardware MAC address as the last field. If you do not specify a MAC, the Nimbus service will generate one for you.
DHCP server
While addresses for VMs are configured and chosen within the Nimbus service, they are physically queried via an external DHCPd service. There are two ways of arranging the DHCP configuration.
- Centralized -- a new or existing DHCP service that you configure with Nimbus-specific MAC to IP mappings. This is generally simpler to set up and is covered in this guide.
- Local -- a DHCP server is installed on every VMM node and automatically configured with the appropriate addresses just before a VM boots. This is more complicated to set up initially but can be preferable in certain scenarios. It is however out of the scope of this guide. For details, see this section of the reference guide.
To proceed, you need a DHCP server listening on the network(s) that will be available to virtual machines. You can use an existing site server or install your own. DHCP has great distribution support in Linux. In Debian/Ubuntu, the package is dhcp3-server while in Redhat it is dhcp.
DHCP caution
You should be very careful when installing DHCP and ensure that you have permission from your network administrators to do so. Multiple DHCP services do not play nicely on the same subnet.
When a VM is created using Nimbus, the service selects a network pool entry and sends the IP and hostname back to the client. It is the job of your DHCP server to ensure that the VM leases the correct IP address, otherwise the VM will not be able to access the network. You must add the correct MAC to IP mappings to your DHCP server configuration. To facilitate this, the Nimbus service produces several files for you.
After you configure the network pool entries in the previous section, restart the service.
$ nimbusctl services restart
Now take a look in $NIMBUS_HOME/services/var/nimbus/. Among several other files, there should be these three:
- dhcpd.entries - a generated list of host entries that can be included in your DHCP configuration.
- ip_macs.txt - a whitespace-separated list of IP address to MAC address pairings. If you have some unusual DHCP system, you can script parsing this file to generate your configuration.
- control.netsample.txt - a sample network pool entry, useful for testing out new VMM nodes. You will use this file in the next section.
These files will only change when you alter your network-pools configuration and restart the service. So you can safely copy them to another system or use a script to generate your config. You only need to ensure that you keep things in sync whenever you change network pool entries.
The recommended configuration is to directly include the dhcpd.entries file in your dhcpd.conf. You can do this with the include directive:
include "/path/to/dhcpd.entries";
On some systems, such as Ubuntu, you may need to copy the dhcpd.entries file to the DHCP configuration directory (/etc/dhcp3) as the daemon will not read from other locations.
Alternatively you can paste the contents of that file directly inline, or use a script to generate your needed configuration from ip_macs.txt. Once the configuration is in place, restart the DHCP server.
Metadata server (#)
VMs can optionally query a metadata server for user-provided data as well as information about the deployment. This service is disabled by default, but will be required if you want to use the Nimbus Context Broker. Configuration is in $NIMBUS_HOME/services/etc/nimbus/workspace-service/metadata.conf. You must choose an IP and port for the service to listen on. This address must be accessible by the VMs. You should also set listen=true. If you have non-standard network names, adjust these as well.
listen=true contact.socket=18.104.22.168:80 public.networks=public local.networks=private
After you make these changes, restart the Nimbus service.
$ nimbusctl services restart
You can verify that the metadata server is running by checking the log.
$ grep Metadata $NIMBUS_HOME/var/services.log 2010-07-30 14:50:33,769 INFO defaults.HTTPListener [main,initServer:84] Metadata server URL:
Now you are ready to configure real nodes. Proceed to the next page to Install VMM Software.


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Raspberry Pi has an in-store treat on its fourth anniversary.
It is now shipping the Raspberry Pi 3 computer, which at the same US$35 price as its Pi 2 predecessor packs a more powerful 64-bit CPU, and for the first time, has built-in wireless capabilities.
The credit-card sized Pi 3 is up to 60 percent faster than its predecessor, which has shipped in the millions.
It is the first Pi that can be called a true PC replacement, said Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi, in a phone interview with the IDG News Service.
A new PC-class feature in Raspberry Pi 3 is 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4, which weren't supported on its predecessors. Wireless communication was a feature users wanted in Raspberry Pi 3 after being relegated to Ethernet in previous models.
Wireless will make it easier to develop "Nest-like" smart home automation and Internet of Things devices, Upton said.
Also new is a 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, which runs at 1.2GHz. The processor is used in mobile devices and even servers, and is a big upgrade from the 32-bit 900MHz Cortex-A7 on Pi 2.
The rest of the features haven't changed from Pi 2. It has an HDMI port, Ethernet, MicroSD and four USB ports. It runs a Broadcom VideoCore IV 3D graphics processor that can play 1080p video at 60 frames per second, and has 40 GPIO pins, and display and camera interfaces.
About 200,000 Pi 3 computers will be available at launch and buyers will get devices in a few days, Upton said.
If the devices run out in the initial rush -- which has happened before -- Upton said users may have to wait a week or two to get devices. About 100,000 Raspberry Pi 3 devices will be made per week.
The Raspberry Pi 3 is compatible with Microsoft's Windows 10 IoT Core OS and flavors of Linux including Ubuntu.
The board will "last us a good year or two," Upton said. But if there's a chance to pack better graphics or CPU speed in the $35 price range, Raspberry Pi will go ahead and make the upgrades, Upton said.
Raspberry Pi has developed a cult following since the first computer was launched four years ago. It has spawned the development of robots, electronics, gadgets and even a Bitcoin ATM.
But Pi 3 will bring a broader set of innovations to the table, particularly with cloud in the mix, Upton said.
For one, the wireless features will allow users to build rudimentary smart homes by hooking up Raspberry Pi 3 to Bluetooth-based appliances, lighting or air-conditioning systems.
Information from devices could be hauled to cloud services for analysis via wireless. For example, a cloud service could tell a Raspberry Pi to turn an air conditioning system on or off based on data collected from smart meters, which could help cut electric bills.
The Pi 3 could also be used to develop home security systems or "health hubs," where data is collected from health monitoring devices and sent to the cloud, Upton said. It's much like Fitbit, which sends health information from smartwatches to the cloud, where the data is tracked and compiled to recommend diets and workouts.
The new features in Raspberry Pi 3 align well with Microsoft's Azure cloud service, which will provide remote automation, security, analytics and other services. Azure works hand-in-hand with the Windows 10 IoT Core OS.
However, some key features like ZigBee -- which is key to home automation and IoT -- are missing from Pi 3. Zigbee could have been included in the $35 price, but Bluetooth is the future of short-range wireless communications, Upton said.
Raspberry Pi is also planning a modular version of the Pi 3, which will have similar capabilities but be packaged in a board that could be installed inside computers. A shipping date for the board wasn't provided.
Many IoT platforms like Google's Brillo and ARM's mbed are also emerging for users to develop connected devices that rely on cloud services. Upton said support for more IoT platforms will come to Raspberry Pi 3.


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Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi Offers Latest Health Update, Outlook for 2014
The metal world's collective heart sank when it was announced in the beginning of 2012 that the godfather of metal himself, Tony Iommi, was battling lymphoma. However, the Black Sabbath guitarist has managed to persevere despite the diagnosis, and has started the new year with his latest health update.
Despite his battle with cancer, Iommi managed to record and release Black Sabbath's critically acclaimed and commercially successful comeback album, '13,' in addition to touring the world. That said, he has been limited in his touring runs due to his regular chemotherapy sessions.
Now, things are looking up in 2014, as Iommi reveals he'll be finishing up his regular treatment this year and should have more energy when Black Sabbath hit the road in the coming months.
Iommi's full blog post on his official website reads as follows:
Best Wishes for the New Year, after a such a brilliant 2013, it's going to be difficult to match it this year but we'll be having a go.
I'd like the thank everyone who helped make the last year such a success, Ozzy and Geezer, the band's management, Rick, Mike E and those who helped make the recording so good, the unseen work by our record label, the promotions team, my websites (Tracy, Joe & Bryce) and all of our touring crew, especially Mick and Kat who work with me personally.
We've some good things lined up for the coming year, firstly the Grammy's, then some dates in the US and Canada, and in the summer a quick trip round Europe. I should also be finishing my regular treatment and I'm hoping to not get so tired, all positive.
Many thanks to you all for your continued support, we'd be nothing without you,
- Tony
Black Sabbath recently announced plans for a 2014 North American tour that will kick off on March 31 in Brooklyn, N.Y. They'll also play a number of European dates as well. See their full itinerary by clicking the button below.


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BG304 - EMB - B102E001 - Messenger Briefcase
Product Description
Our budget-friendly briefcase is designed to protect your laptop, organize necessities and keep you business-ready.
- 600 denier polyester
- Top carrying handle
- Large, padded main compartment with laptop sleeve
- Organization panel under flap
- Front slip pocket
- Front flap has a large zippered pocket for easy embellishment
- Detachable, adjustable, padded shoulder strap
- Dual buckle closure on front flap
- Laptop sleeve dimensions:8"h x 15"w; fits most 15" laptops
- Dimensions:8"h x 15.5"w x 4.25"d; Approx. 790 cubic inches
Size Chart
DKM Embroidery / SG Trading Post has a great reputation for on time delivery.
Orders are manufactured specifically to your order in approximately 3 weeks. If you have an event that requires special handling please contact customer service at 800-338-2258 to discuss.
Live Preview
Tell us how many colors you want in this design printed in
select the colors to be used in the final image
Select Type Of Text
Select Type Of Team name
- Add Digital Print Team name no team nameColors are not as solid, good when ordering low qty
- Add Sublimation Team name no team nameColors are not as solid, good when ordering low qty
- Add Embroidery Team name no team name
- Add Screen Printing Team name no team nameSolid colors, good when ordering bulks
Select Type Of Design
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You now have multiple elements making up this screenprint design
Select the colors that appear in your design.
You need to specify the total number of unique colors used across all the elements in your design.
This helps us determine the pricing based on the number of colors in your design.
- (plus white base)
You can also specify the colors used in your design eg "Red", "Blue", "pantone 1809".
If you dont tell us, our professional designer will work it out for you.
- (plus white base)


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This is a certified 45" Polar 115 EMC paper cutter. It comes with the original Polar EMC computer controls. The side tables are standard size and cast iron. The low pressure air table comes with a blower.
Buying a Certified machine is an economical way to purchase a paper cutter or piece of paper handling equipment. These machines come with a limited ninety-day parts warranty from C&P. Certified machines are generally not repainted and may show some signs of wear. However, these machines are thoroughly cleaned and tested before shipment. We certify that everything on the machine is in working order and that nothing is missing, broken or unduly worn. All necessary tools, guards and manuals will be packaged and shipped with the machine which will be professionally packed up for transport.
Reconditioning is a process used to give that machine a like new and productive life with a one-year parts warranty. This provides a cost-effective alternative to buying a new machine.
Learn more about our reconditioning process
A reconditioned machine is completely stripped down, disassembled and inspected in our full-service rebuilding facility. We thoroughly clean the machine base, frame, and all components. We identify worn parts and either repair or replace them. When necessary we then restore guiding surfaces to like-new tolerances by machining or replacing relevant components. Repainting is an option but may not performed on all machines if the initial appearance is very good. We then reassemble the refreshed paper cutter, update it as requested and conduct thorough testing to ensure it's running up to our quality standards in peak condition before we prepare it for shipment. All necessary knives, sticks, tools, guards and manuals are always shipped with the reconditioned machine.
We take tremendous pride in our reconditioning process. Our reconditioning team has decades of experience with all makes and models of paper cutters and paper handling equipment.
We'll process your request and a representative will contact you.
Thank you for contacting PaperCutters.com.
Fill out the form below or give us a call at 1.800.932.0780 x4 for more information about the Polar 45 115 EMC.
This form is for US and Canada submissions. For international submissions click here.
This form is for international submissions. For United States or Canada submissions click here.
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Looking for a used paper cutter or used paper handling machines? Browse our full inventory.


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Registration is now open for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association's (OEFFA) 34th annual conference, Growing Opportunities, Cultivating Change. The conference will take place Saturday, February 16 and Sunday, February 17, 2013 in Granville, Ohio (Licking County).
The state's largest sustainable food and farm conference, the event draws more than 1,100 attendees from across Ohio and the Midwest, and has sold out in advance the past three years. This year's conference will feature keynote speakers George Siemon and Nicolette Hahn Niman; more than 90 educational workshops; two featured pre-conference events on Friday, February 15; a trade show; a fun and educational kids' conference and child care area; locally-sourced and organic homemade meals, and Saturday evening entertainment.
"This conference will be rich with information and networking opportunities, drawing on the expertise of both nationally recognized agricultural professionals and local farmers and educators," said OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt. "Whether you're a full-time farmer, backyard gardener, or local food enthusiast, this conference has much to offer you."
Keynote Speakers
George Siemon—Presented by Northstar Café
Saturday evening's keynote address features George Siemon, one of the nation's foremost organic agriculture advocates for nearly two decades. As Organic Valley's CEO, Siemon, is best known for his leadership in organizing farmers and building market support for organic agriculture.
His keynote address is titled, "Organic: Changing a Broken Food System." He will also be presenting a Saturday morning workshop, "The Cooperative Model," where he will examine the how a cooperative model works and the opportunities they offer for farmers.
In 1988, Siemon joined a group of family farmers in Wisconsin to found the Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools (CROPP). More commonly known by its brands Organic Valley and Organic Prairie, CROPP has grown to become the largest organic farming cooperative in North America with 1,700 organic farmer-owners and 650 employees who share in the profits from their company's $850 million in annual sales.
Siemon was instrumental in developing the national standards for organic certification; initiated Farmers Advocating for Organics, the only organic-focused granting fund in the U.S., and currently serves on the boards of directors for The Organic Center and Global Animal Partnership. In 2012, Siemon was awarded the Natural Resources Defense Council's Growing Green Award in the "Business Leader" category, and the Social Venture Network's Hall of Fame Impact Award in the "Environmental Evangelist" category.
Nicolette Hahn Niman—Presented by Chipotle Mexican Grill
Sunday's keynote address, "Eating as We Farm (And Farming As We Eat)," will be provided by Nicolette Hahn Niman.
Hahn Niman is an attorney, rancher, and author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms. She is an accomplished author and speaker who has been featured in Time Magazine, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. She is a regular blogger for The Atlantic, and has written for The San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post, Cowboys & Indians, and CHOW.
Previously, she was the senior attorney for Waterkeeper Alliance where she was in charge of the organization's campaign to reform the concentrated livestock and poultry industry, and, before that, an attorney for the National Wildlife Federation.
She lives in Bolinas, California with her son, Miles, and her husband, Bill Niman, founder of Niman Ranch, a natural meat cooperative supplied by a network of more than 700 farmers and ranchers.
The conference will also feature more than 90 educational workshops and cooking demonstrations with topics including: livestock grazing and management, tree and vegetable grafting, cover crops, school gardens, weed and pest management, food preservation, urban agriculture, community gardens, agriculture policy, fruit and vegetable production, organic lawn care, food labeling, herbal medicine, wildlife exclusion, building soil health, poultry processing, homeschooling, product marketing and farm business management, composting, companion planting , transplanting systems, organic grain production, beekeeping, alternative energy, permaculture, and more.
In addition, the conference will offer a four part grazing workshop track. Jeff McCutchen of Ohio State University Extension and Bob Hendershot, retired from the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, will educate producers in the art and science of grazing management and improve their ability to successfully manage their farm's natural resources.
The events will also offer the following featured conference and pre-conference guests:
- Troy Bishopp—Known as "The Grass Whisperer," Bishopp has been a passionate promoter and practitioner of grazing management for more than 26 years. He raises grass-grazed dairy and grass-finished beef cattle on his family's fifth generation New York farm and is a grassland conservation professional and free-lance agricultural writer.
- Chris Blanchard—As the owner and operator of Rock Spring Farm in Iowa since 1999, Blanchard grows 15 acres of vegetables and herbs for a 200 member community supported agriculture program, food stores, and a farmers' market.
- Guy Jodarski, DVM—A practicing veterinarian in Wisconsin for more than 25 years, Dr. Jodarski serves as a staff veterinarian for Organic Valley's CROPP Cooperative. He treats organic and sustainable livestock with an emphasis in dairy cattle herd health, and also works with ruminant livestock producers raising beef cattle, sheep, and goats.
- Mark Shepard—Shepard is the owner and operator of Forest Agriculture Enterprises, the Restoration Agriculture Institute, Shepard's Hard Cyder winery, and New Forest Farm, a 106 acre perennial agriculture forest in Wisconsin. Trained in both mechanical engineering and ecology, Mark is a well-respected certified Permaculture designer and agroforestry teacher and has developed and patented equipment and processes for the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of forest derived agricultural products.
Pre-Conference Events
The conference will also feature two full-day pre-conference events on Friday, February 15:
Post-Harvest Handling, Food Safety, and GAP: Making It Work on a Real Farm
Farmer and food safety expert Chris Blanchard of Rock Spring Farm will teach participants how to establish or improve food safety practices. Blanchard will review post-harvest handling practices and share methods for meeting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) documentation and record-keeping requirements in a way that flows with the work on the farm, rather than existing as a separate set of tasks and requirements.
From our Grazing Experience
Delve into the intricate art of grass farming with Troy Bishopp, and a panel of experienced graziers including Eric Grim of Grim Dairy, Gene DeBruin of DeBruin Family Dairy, Michael Putnam of Grassland Dairy, and Dough Murphy of Murphy's Grass Farm. Participants will learn about lengthening the grazing season using a grazing chart, specific grazing and feeding strategies, and balancing ecosystem processes with business profitability. This comprehensive workshop will also cover soil health, animal nutrition, transitioning to organic production, and maximizing profitability in pasture-based systems.
Additional Features
The conference will also feature a kid's conference offering a variety of exciting workshops for children ages 6-12; a playroom for children under 6; book signings by Nicolette Hahn Niman, Mark Shepard and The Contrary Farmer, Gene Logsdon; an exhibit hall offering an interesting array of information, products, services, and resources that relate to sustainable agriculture; a raffle; a non-denominational Sunday service; and Saturday evening entertainment, including a performance by The Back Porch Swing Band and a film screening and discussion of American Meat, presented by Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Our Sponsors
OEFFA's 34th annual conference is being sponsored by Northstar Café, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, Organic Valley, UNFI Foundation, Granville Exempted Village Schools, Mustard Seed Market and Café, Snowville Creamery, Whole Foods Market Columbus, Northridge Organic Farm, Andelain Fields, Albert Lea Seed Company, Canal Junction Farmstead Cheese, Earthineer, Edible Cleveland, Green BEAN Delivery, Horizon Organic, Lucky Cat Bakery, Raisin Rack, Stauf's Coffee Roasters, Stonyfield Farm, Appalachia Ohio Alliance, Casa Nueva, Curly Tail Organic Farm, C-TEC of Licking County, DNO Produce, Eden Foods, King Family Farm, Luna Burger, Metro Cuisine, Shagbark Seed and Mill, Two Caterers, Whole Hog BBQ, Bad Dog Acres, Bexley Natural Market, Bird's Haven Farms, Bluebird Farm, Equine Veterinary Dental Services, Fedco Seeds, Flying J Farm, Glad Annie's Old World Baklava, Green Field Farms, Hartzler Dairy Farm, The Hills Market, Leo Dick and Sons, Marshy Meadows Farm, Nourse Farms, Sunbeam Family Farm, Swainway Urban Farm, Sweet Meadows Farm, and Wayward Seed Farm.
"We've worked to expand this year's conference to provide more space, more workshops, and more meals so we can accommodate more people. Given the growing popularity of the conference and local foods issues, however, we're still not sure we can meet the demand, so we encourage people to register early to avoid disappointment, " concluded Hunt.
For more information about the conference, or to register, click here.
About OEFFA
The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) is a state-wide, grassroots, nonprofit organization founded in 1979 by farmers, gardeners, and conscientious eaters working together to create and promote a sustainable and healthful food and farming system. For more information, go to www.oeffa.org.
Conference Registration
To register or for more information about the conference, including maps, directions, workshop descriptions, speakers, and a schedule, go to http://www.oeffa.org/2013. For additional questions, contact Renee Hunt at (614) 421-2022 Ext. 205 or firstname.lastname@example.com. The 2010, 2011, and 2012 conferences sold out in advance, so early registration is encouraged to avoid disappointment.


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Studio: 3D is a studio course that focuses on developing the basic visual skills used by artists and designers when working creatively in three dimensions. Conceived as a broad-based, integrative approach to learning as well as making, this foundation studio will sensitize students to the form language, vocabulary, concepts, and principles associated with three-dimensional composition and construction. Students will gain technical skills and knowledge through a series of projects emphasizing the manipulation, organization, and analysis of materials and space, their implications for meaning as well as the context of objects and environments in contemporary culture. A major thrust of the Studio: 3D experience will be to encourage discovery and stress the discipline necessary in achieving artistic growth and excellence. Along with the other first-year courses, Studio: 3D provides a strong foundation for more advanced exploration of three-dimensional media and their integration with other art and design practices.
Course Requirements:
Course fee: $175. The purchase of tools will be necessary.
Intended Audience:
Class Format:


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One thing that has become evident about Detroit's recent bankruptcy filing is that the city's problems, though dire, are by no means unique and are in fact just a more extreme case of the situation that faces many other big U.S. cities and even a few state governments. The promises politicians made to voting blocs to gain and keep power have proven impossible to keep. In Detroit's catastrophe is a lesson about the very nature of government, which we would be foolish to continue to ignore. The evidence is clear that the nation as a whole is on the same path as Detroit, and history suggests that there will soon be a wrenching reckoning on the national level.
In his current column, Charles Krauthammer aptly refers to economist Herb Stein's famous dictum: "If something cannot go on forever, it will stop." Krauthammer is right to apply Stein's truism to Detroit. For several decades, under Democratic mayors and with Democrats controlling the municipal government, Detroit spent money it not only did not have but also could not possibly obtain. The money went to politicians, their cronies — the government employee unions that conspired to elect those politicians who would in turn make lavish pension promises to union workers — and pet projects intended to put some new paint on the crumbling city's facade without doing anything at all to ameliorate the pervasive rot behind it. Meanwhile, the city's schools deteriorated into ruins, police and fire services were cut back drastically, abandoned houses were left standing as lairs for squatters and criminals, and normal, working, taxpaying people left the city en masse. And the cycle continued.
That is how government works. Because it has a monopoly on lawful coercion, government forcibly takes money, time, and other resources from some people and gives them to others, who will keep that government in power in order to continue obtaining those benefits. Such rapacious behavior cannot be sustained over any great period of time because of competition: people will move elsewhere if they can.
Thus the population of Detroit fell from two million to 700,000 — though they're still counting down — in a surprisingly short period of years. Even the mighty Soviet Union could not be sustained, because of competition from a West that had finally (albeit just temporarily) thrown off some of the shackles of its own collectivism, under visionary leaders such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Helmut Kohl. Eventually, some smart people devoted to liberty and personal responsibility will inevitably step forward to provide competition against corrupt governments.
Competition between geographic areas continually undermines the viability of corrupt, monopolistic jurisdictions. That is what we see in Detroit: everyone who could leave, did.
For all of its potential flaws, the world of commerce and other voluntary associations differs in kind from government, being driven by direct competition and a strict need to serve customers, and an inability to rely on coercion. A business or industry may rise to great power, but unless it gives its customers more value than it asks in return, such a business or industry will inevitably decline due to competition from other providers. Consider, for an apt example, the rapid decline of the Detroit automakers in the wake of their market triumph in the years after World War II.
Two paragraphs in Krauthammer's column admirably illustrate this difference between government and commerce:
"When our great industrial competitors were digging out from the rubble of World War II, Detroit's automakers ruled the world. Their imagined sense of inherent superiority bred complacency. Management grew increasingly bureaucratic and inflexible. Unions felt entitled to the extraordinary wages, benefits, and work rules they'd bargained for in the fat years. In time, they all found themselves being overtaken by more efficient, more adaptable, more hungry foreign producers.
"The market ultimately forced the car companies into reform, restructuring, the occasional bankruptcy, and eventual recovery. The city of Detroit, however, lacking market constraints, just kept overspending — $100 million annually since 2008. The city now has about $19 billion in obligations it has no chance of meeting. So much city revenue had to be diverted to creditors and pensioners that there was practically nothing left to run the city. Forty percent of the streetlights don't work, two-thirds of the parks are closed, and emergency police response time averages nearly an hour — if it ever comes at all."
This is the direction the United States as a whole is rapidly heading, in the wake of nine decades of nearly unabated government growth. Once the richest nation in the world, the United States is in economic and cultural decline due to the complacency that all monopoly endeavors ultimately fall prey to. The nation needs reform, meaning a full rethinking or indeed dismantling of the national welfare state, in order to get the streetlights working again and do the things government is intended for: to protect people's lives, liberty, and property against potential predation by others.
The lesson is clear. When government becomes the predator, as it did in Detroit and has to a great extent at the national level in the United States, it must change or die.
[Originally Published by The Daily Caller]


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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Bring your partner, grab a seat, pick up your baby catalog and start choosing.
Would you be comfortable selecting what cosmetic features you want your baby to have?
Will you go for the brown hair or blond? Would you prefer tall or short? Funny or clever? Girl or boy? And do you want them to be a muscle-bound sports hero? Or a slender and intelligent book worm?
When you're done selecting, head to the counter and it's time to start creating your new child.
Does this sound like a scary thought?
With rapid advances in scientific knowledge of the human genome and our increasing ability to modify and change genes, this scenario of "designing" your baby could well be possible in the near future.
Techniques of genetic screening are already being used -- whereby embryos can be selected by sex and checked for certain disease-bearing genes. This can lead to either the termination of a pregnancy, or if analyzed at a pre-implantation stage when using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), can enable the pregnancy to be created using only non-disease bearing genes.
British scientists last week developed a "genetic MoT" test, which offers a universal method of screening embryos for diseases using a new technique of karyomapping, which is more efficient than previous processes.
The test would be taken on a two-day-old IVF embryo and is yet to be validated, but it could mark a significant change; allowing doctors to screen for gene combinations that create higher risks of diabetes, heart disease or cancer.
Experts estimate the test, if licensed by the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, could be available for around $3000.
In the future we may also be able to "cure" genetic diseases in embryos by replacing faulty sections of DNA with healthy DNA, in a process called germ line therapy. This has been performed on animal embryos but is currently illegal for humans.
Furthermore, the developing technologies of genetic alteration open up a whole new set of possibilities -- which could result in so-called "designer babies."
The technique -- known as inheritable genetic modification -- modifies genes in eggs, sperm or early embryos and results in the altered genes being passed on to future generations. Should parents be allowed to create their babies?
This could potentially irreversibly alter the human species. So, the obvious question arises: should we be doing this?
Some countries have made genetic screening or alteration illegal by law, and the ethical questions surrounding the uses of the technology are vast -- creating a palpable tension over the subject.
In September, Internet giants Google and Microsoft withdrew adverts for sex selection products and other services considered illegal in India when they were threatened with legal action.
The Center for Genetics and Society is trying to encourage debate on the topic -- as soon as possible.
Executive director of the organization, Richard Hayes, told CNN that the general public of most countries was missing out on taking part in the debate.
"The debate has taken place amongst scientists and science journalists, but average people feel overwhelmed with the technical detail. They feel disempowered."
Hayes said his organization supported the use of embryo screening to help prevent the passing on of serious diseases and disorders like Cystic Fibrosis, but is wary of other technologies and how genetic screening and alteration can be misused.
"We support the use of that to allow couples at risk to have healthy children. But for non-medical, cosmetic purposes, we believe this would undermine humanity and create a techno-eugenic rat race," Hayes said.
He said there were immense amounts of resources being poured into developing gene altering techniques and no laws in many countries to stop them from starting clinics that could offer selected cosmetic traits.
"As technology advances it is possible that any number of human characteristics in part influenced by genes could come under human control. Right now there is an enormous amount of research being conducted to correlate specific genes with specific characteristics."
One of the organizations researching genetic alteration is the University of California Irvine's Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
Professor of biological chemistry and developmental and cell biology, and co-director of the Center, Peter Donovan, feels the research could have massive benefits.
After his team discovered a greatly improved method for genetically manipulating human embryonic stem cells earlier this year, Donovan said:
"The ability to generate large quantities of cells with altered genes opens the door to new research into many devastating disorders.
"Not only will it allow us to study diseases more in-depth, it also could be a key step in the successful development of future stem cell therapies," Donovan
But according to Hayes the potential for misuse of this technology could have dire consequences for the human race.
"This runs many risks. It's used in many countries to avoid the birth of female children.
"The technologies are going to be accessible to affluent couples and would be used in ways that could increase inequality. The last thing we need now is a genetic elite.
"This designing aspect would also lead to an objectification of children as commodities."
Hayes said it was important that people began debating the issues now so the correct "rules, regulations and regulatory oversights" could be established before the technology was complete and accessible.


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Extending the Battery Life of your [Android] Smartphone
A very good friend of mine, Cara Carriveau, a DJ here at WTMX 101.9 in Chicago, IL was lucky enough to get her hands on the new Sprint EVO right at its release and almost immediately a) fell in love with the phone and b) fell OUT of love with its battery life. She tapped both her Twitter and Facebook networks for help and advice. Of course, I chimed in that I'd pull something together for her (and everyone else).
Cara and I go WAY back. We went to Middle School and High School together; and she's a good friend. She's also new to the Smartphone world. So is my wife for that matter, especially the Android flavor. Her last phone, a BlackJack 2 wasn't nearly as connected as her Motorola CLIQ.
With the introduction of the Nexus One, the Motorola CLIQ, the Sprint EVO, the Droid Incredible (notice – all notable devices AND all Android devices) as well as the iPhone 4, it occurred to me, that a better battery guide was definitely in order.
Gadget Girl at Gaj-IT cites a conversation at Google IO where both Larry Page and Eric Schmidt state that the battery on your Android phone should last a good 24 hours before it totally craps out. According to Larry Page, if you're not getting 24 hours, and you're getting say, only 5-8 hours of battery life, "there's something wrong."
So how do you stretch your battery to get you through the work day, through the day at the [pick a vacation spot], or just… through the day? Some of the suggestions that I have may have you thinking twice; and may beg some questions on WHY do you even have [pick a device] if I have to do [pick a battery saving action] to insure that the device last me through the day? And that's a GREAT question. I have one of the devices listed above and I'm bumping into some of the same issues. Let's explore some battery saving ideas together and see what we come up with.
Stock vs. Cooked ROM's
First, let's take just a sec to talk about stock (released) vs. cooked ROM's. While cooked ROM's can offer some really cool features, they may not offer the best battery life. Regardless of device type (Windows Mobile, Android, WebOS, etc.), cooked ROM's often don't go through the same testing rigor as a released ROM, and may combine some features and/or software that just don't work and play well with your device (though may seem very cool). If you're running a cooked ROM and are having battery issues, you should consider the following actions:
- Go back to the forum where you got the ROM, and post a note describing your issue
- See if the thread(s) contain a solution and then try it
- Switch to a different cooked ROM or a different version of your current, cooked ROM
- Revert back to the current, stock ROM for your device
Saving Your Battery's Life
Ok… now that we have THAT out of the way, let's get down to brass tacks. If your satisfied with the ROM you have and your device is basically new (in the case of the EVO as of this writing, for example); or if you have a new battery, the following will be important to you. There's a simple process that will allow you to get the most from your device. Simply follow these steps, and you'll be on your way to Smartphone bliss.
- Condition Your Battery
- Configure Your Services
- Pick Your Applications
- Configure Your Settings and Create Your Profiles
Condition Your Battery
One of the first things you should do with ANY new Smartphone is condition your battery. When you get your phone, run through this quick process –
- Insert the battery,
- Run through its initial setup steps
- Then STOP. Yes, I said stop. Turn it OFF (yes, off, and I mean COMPLETELY OFF, not just putting it to sleep, or turning off the display. I mean pull the battery and reinsert it, off)
- Plug it into its AC charger and then let it sit for 4-8 hours without being on or without using it (over night is usually best). This will bring the battery up as far as it can initially get, which is an important step in conditioning the battery.
- Discharge it until the phone won't turn on (the power LED may show red)
- Recharge it until the LED is green and the battery shows 100%. Leave it like that for a couple-three hours.
- Rinse and repeat the process at least twice.
If you're wondering how to quickly kill the battery, turn EVERYTHING ON – 3G/4G, Wi-Fi, 100% screen brightness, GPS (with never timing out), and the CAMERA. This will tank the battery in a couple of hours or so. I've heard that constant camera use can use up as much as 20% of the battery per hour.
After running through this conditioning process a couple of times, the device and the battery should be in sync. You should do this a couple times a month in order to insure that your battery is correctly utilized, and STAYS in sync. Because, you (and if I'm honest, that you includes ME as well…) ARE (and who are we kidding) going to run the battery part way down, partly recharge and then disconnect and run the battery back down, at some point. I do it. You do it… we ALL do it. You need to run through this conditioning process a couple times a month to make sure your battery has the CAPACITY to go the extra mile when you need it to.
Configure Your Services
The Motorola CLIQ and CLIQ XT, the Motorola Back Flip and any other device running MotoBLUR are great examples in the Android world of Smartphones running services in the background. The number of widgets the device has on MULTIPLE home screens are constantly polling the internet for data updates. There are a couple of things that you can do to insure that your battery life is the maximum you can get for your device and for your size battery. Its not hard; but may not be 100% obvious when you initially set the device up. However, in all fairness, Motorola has done a GREAT job on the battery life side for all of their MotoBLUR devices (considering that they are constantly trying to get you the latest gossip on what your Facebook/My Space/Twitter/etc. friends are doing). So, kudos to them for doing their homework and doing a great job there.
However, here are some important considerations when configuring services on your device. Applications are one thing. Widgets are another. Either way, there's a service behind it poling the internet, gathering data and displaying it on your device. This includes e-mail services as well as My Space, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking and micro-blogging services, as well as weather gadgets and RSS feeders.
Remember, today's Smartphones are all about the data…
So without any further ado, here's some important service configuration tips.
- Buy the Data Package
Your carrier is NOT going to allow you to buy one of their Smartphones (at a subsidized price, at least) without also purchasing either a tiered or unlimited data plan. Here's my advice on data plans -Buy the largest they have a deal with the price.
Overages suck and are WAY expensive. If you have a carrier that still offers an unlimited plan (like, T-Mobile, as of this writing, anyway), then pony up the dough and deal with the cost. Smartphones, unless the device is ALL THE WAY off or in Airplane mode, is always going to tap the internet for updates to this, that or the other service. With a tiered data plan, at some point, you're going to go over your data limit. When that happens, you're going to get hit with some big, and I do mean BIG charges. Do yourself, and your checking account a favor, and buy the biggest data plan your carrier offers. You'll thank me (and yourself) in the end…
- Reduce your Screen Brightness
Your device's screen is, bar NONE, the most power hungry component it has. Its going to consume more power than just about anything else combined, in the whole device (yes, including the radios…). Unless you have a screen that COMPLETELY washes out in the sun light (like my Nexus One's), then here's a cool device configuration point that will save you GOBS of battery life.Turn the screen brightness down to, like, 30%. You'll be surprised at how readable most screens (including the N1's) are at that level; and at how much longer your battery will last. This could be the difference in lasting all day or running short before your commute home.
- Push vs. Pull e-Mail
Most people who use their device for e-mail do NOT need to get immediate notification of each piece of mail that hits their inbox. If you do, then you're likely connected to a corporate Exchange (or other enterprise service) and you use your device for work e-mail and calendaring. Most consumer (or casual) users don't NEED push (though it is kind a cool to get mail immediately on your device, isn't it?). If you fall into the consumer category and don't have any pressing need to get that Facebook status update e-mail right when I post a change, then you might want to have your device check for mail only once every 1-2 hours. While this may reduce the excitement of the device just a tad, it is going to make your device last a lot longer through the day; AND you can always to a manual check whenever you want.
If you do keep Push e-Mail activated, you're going to need to make other configuration and service changes to insure that Push doesn't eat away at all of your battery life, so make sure you look over all of my suggestions, and try out different combinations, before you make any lasting changes.
Just to recap, you might want to consider the following suggestions for e-mail configuration:
Business Users who don't HAVE to have Push Activated: Check mail every 15-30 minutes
Casual Users: Check mail every 2-4 hours
- GPS & Location Services
A lot of different applications make use of Location Services on today's Smartphones. Applications like Google Maps with Navigation and Waze (or other GPS navigation app) are no brainer examples. However, if you have things like HTC SenseUI, Fancy Widget (provides a similar clock/weather gadget/widget as SenseUI's main screen; but without the full screen weather effects and all the eye candy), The Weather Channel, Twitter and Facebook, Four Square, etc. running on your device, then you've likely got not only Location Services turned ON; but have your device's GPS receiver on and active all the time, everyday, out loud (as all apps don't ping the GPS receiver at the SAME time intervals throughout the day).Think twice before enabling GPS Satellites on your device; but remember… Devices like the iPhone and any MotoBLUR device make use of the device's GPS receiver to locate a lost phone and to insure that it can be remotely wiped if lost.
Having your GPS receiver always enabled (like I do) isn't (necessarily) a bad thing; but you're going to have to make an active decision and likely, a battery life trade-off one way or the other. I leave this on, as I have weather apps pulling forecast updates every couple of hours or so (given my recent, asthma difficulties and the recent, bout of bad weather here in Chicago).
Pick Your Applications & Widgets
With MotoBLUR devices, you don't get a lot of choice. There are tons of widgets on just about every home screen your device has. Yes, you can pull a widget off the device, but more than likely, your device is still going to tap a particular service for data unless you've made the appropriate decisions above, and then followed through with the appropriate widget choices.
THAT being said, you need to remember that all apps are NOT created equal. Some are put together much better than others. Sloppily written apps may not be great at opening and closing data connections, may continuously tap your GPS receiver, or radio of choice, etc.
The Android Market has over 70,000 applications in it. The iPhone App Store has over 100,000; and as an EXPERIENCED software QA guy, I can tell you, software testing isn't on every developer's mind when they get ready to introduce or rev a product release. If you notice battery life dropping after you install a new application or two, pull it/them out and then test with and without the app(s) (in varying combinations if you installed more than one at a time) until you find the nasty one and then leave it out. (e-Mailing the developer with a description of your issue, what you did to identify his/her app as the possible offender, and your device/carrier information is always a big plus, and the proper shareware etiquette).
- Social Network Apps
All the world is aTwitter about updated Facebook statuses. Man, I have to tell you…I got my wife the right Android Phone. She's all over MotoBLUR with her Facebook and MySpace updates. She puts photos up from her phone all day long, and is constantly swiping the Happenings widget to get the latest dirt on who did what at which pool, beach or garage sale. Great stuff, until she realized that its tanking the daylights out of her battery.If you have a NON-MotoBLUR device, you're going to have to go into each social networking app's Settings and configure the update interval there to be something you feel is appropriate enough to give you the news/dirt you need without taking your battery. Depending on the application and the service, the widget may have a separate configuration screen. Make sure they don't contradict each other and have the service updating too often.
- RSS Apps – News and e-Mail
I read RSS/News in the morning and the evening (on my train commutes to and from the office). I don't need news during the day, so I've got them updating every 6-8 hours or so and that's all. Figure out when you need news and then pick and appropriate update schedule.Remember, this stuff is NOT centralized (now there's an app idea for someone with the appropriate skills (on a NON-MotoBLUR device)… Centralize all the Update Settings into 1 place. Charge $5 bucks for it. You'll clean up…). You'll need to bounce back and forth between apps to tweak things until you get the right combination.
The stock (non-Gmail) e-Mail app checks both POP3 and IMAP accounts. If you've got non-critical e-mail accounts, you might want to check them according to the recommendations, above (2-4 hrs). You might want to make it 3-6 hrs if they are truly casual; or once every day if they are truly just for kicks. The less frequently they are checked, the longer the battery lasts.
- Weather apps & Widgets
I love weather forecasts. I have weather checked in my current town of residence, in downtown Chicago and in my parent's and my in-law's towns of residence. Unless the weather is really bad on any given day, I usually have it checked every 2-4 hours; but that's me.Unless you're a weather watcher like me, having weather checked every 12-24 hours or so is probably enough. You just need to be aware that this is yet ANOTHER application/service tapping your 3G/4G/Wi-Fi radio. Be careful. The information here is helpful, but doesn't change all that often.
If it does, make sure you have the notifications sent to your device at an appropriate interval. The Weather Channel app/widget, for example, allows you to determine what weather alerts get sent to your phone's Notification system. Make sure it doesn't pester you for every flood, fog, or special weather statement. Dismissing those can get old quickly, as well as wastes battery life with all of the increased sound, vibration and/or display activity.
Configure Your Settings and Create Your Profiles
Ok… Let's get down to brass tacks. You've been reading along, and either making a note of, or tweaking, all the settings that I've mentioned so far. Good. Let's take a quick recap of what you should and shouldn't do to increase your device's battery life
- Wi-FI, Bluetooth and GPS
Obviously, the less you use these ancillary radios, the better off you are, however, some apps will require them (the GPS receiver, specifically) and won't work without them (apps like Maps with Navigation, Tom-Tom, etc.) You'll also have to balance use of your Mobile Data Plan with Wi-Fi if your carrier ditches unlimited data for a tiered plan. In that case, use of Wi-Fi might be a really good idea. Make sure you've reviewed all of your application's settings and made the appropriate adjustments so that you maximize your battery life.The point here is: Use your radios wisely and be cognizant of where you are and how often they are used.
DO: Turn them off when you don't need them
DON'T: Don't leave them on all the time without being hooked to a PC via USB or AC Power
- 2G vs. 3G
EDGE and 1xRTT vs 3G/4G… Any wireless carrier is going to tell you that if you want to save on battery life, turn 3G data off and stick to EDGE or 1xRTT (GSM vs. CDMA). However, upload and download speeds may be excruciatingly slow. If you don't live in or near a 3G/4G coverage area, this is a no brainer, and will go a LONG way to extending your battery life. If this is your situation, you'll also never miss anything; unless and until your carrier activates 3G/4G service in your area. Make sure you've reviewed all of your application's settings and made the appropriate adjustments so that you maximize your battery life.The point here is: Use your radios wisely and be cognizant of where you are and how often they are used.
DO: Make use of the service you have coverage for
DON'T: Don't leave 3G/4G on if you aren't in that coverage area most of the time.
- Internal vs. SD Storage FroYo (Android 2.2) allows applications to be moved to, and executed from, your SD card. Depending on the card, they could execute slower than on your phone and may cost you battery life over the memory space you gain on the phone. This one is all about balance. Put your less used apps on your SD card if you can. Keep only the ones you use the most often on your actual device. It make take more power to read and execute an app from internal storage than you may gain in battery life.The point here is: Balance space requirements with battery life needs.
DO: Put large, space hog apps on your SD card; Balance the right SD card speed with space requirements
DON'T: Don't buy the biggest card because its the fastest. Don't put apps you use a lot on the SD card if you know it burns more power to execute from the SD card as opposed to device RAM.
- Screen Brightness
This component uses more power than just about any other in the ENTIRE device. You're going to have to tweak this setting the most if you want to get the best battery life out of your gadget.
The point here is: 100% brightness is likely NOT needed all the time. Bringing it down to 30% or so will save a lot of power when you aren't connected to your PC or to AC power.
DO: Turn the brightness WAY down
DON'T: Don't squint. Turn it up to a reasonable brightness level if you need it.
- Camera
I love the camera on my Nexus One. It has allowed me to take some cool pics and videos when I don't have the better still or video camera near by. However, the app/hardware combo is a battery PIG! You're going to have to watch your camera use, especially if you're going to be out and about most of the day. If you have the ability to carry a backup battery or plug in during a lunch or other meal break, do it. You're going to make your device last longer if you do.
The point here is: Take pictures of your kids, relatives, fun times, etc. Realize that continued use runs the battery down a LOT.
DO: Use the camera when you need it. Have an AC adapter or spare battery as a backup.
DON'T: Don't try to take 2 hours worth of video. Your device probably won't be able to last that long while using the camera (and everything else is running), anyway.
- Profile Applications – a MUST Have Profile applications, or cellular phone profile applications can do a lot more than just silence your phone quickly. Today, they can turn all of your radios on or off, in any combination you want, automatically adjust screen brightness, automatically run applications, change ring tones, vibrate the battery ,etc. Many of these can do this either manually or automatically. Many come with widgets that allow for easy activation from a home screen or hit your Notification/status bar with an icon.Get one of these. Many are free. Many cost a couple of bucks. You'll have to search the Android Market for the one that works best for you. Install/buy it and make sure you learn all that it can do. At this time, its the closest thing we have to that Universal Settings app I mentioned earlier.
The point here is: Manage the use of your device with a utility to maximize your battery life.
DO: Buy a Profile app. Learn how it works, what it can and cannot do.
DON'T: Don't trust that it automatically knows everything about your device. You're going to have to play with it to get the best use of it; and may have to tweak settings manually if needed even if you use one.
Today's connected devices can do a lot. The above recommendations can be applied to the Sprint HTC EVO, the Nexus One; or literally ANY device on the market today, from any other Android Smartphone to a Windows Mobile device, to the iPhone and iPad. Remember, these devices are data and communication intensive; and not ever device can account for every use case (read – use scenario).
While your device of choice may go a long way to managing the use of its battery, you're going to have to help it out by making some configuration and service decisions. If you're not going to be near AC Power or if you have an extra battery, you can carry it or an AC adapter to help out on those service intensive occasions; but there's no reason why a properly configured device can't last you a reasonable amount of time.
If you have any additional battery saving tips, or some suggestive comments, why not join us in the discussion, below and give us your thoughts and ideas.


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David Watson
DigiProduct Marketer
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Of course I also use your videos for my presentations for the same reasons.
What I'd consider the best bucks I've EVER spent on images and resources.
I found, in just one of the categories, more than 10 awesome images I can use in a brand I'm building ... would have cost me lots anywhere else ... and there's still over 10k more to look through.
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Janggeum's Dream: Episode 29 Commentary ReduxMonday, May 23rd, 2011
The title I had for this episode on my first viewing was "Occurrence at the Agricultural Festival". The Korean is 선농제에서 생긴 일, or "seonnongjeeseo saenggin il". The agricultural festival in the episode is called Seonnongje. I wonder why the title was rewritten as "Hwan Yun the Young Warrior" for the English subtitles.


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Global Computer Central Processor Market: Sourcing Strategy and Down-stream Consumers
Perceptive understanding of Global Computer Central Processor Market, underscoring dominant players, changing trends, growing demand, and sales forecasts.
Market Research Explore added insightful details on the Global Computer Central Processor Market to its eclectic report store. The global Computer Central Processor market research report delivers a breakthrough analysis of the industry considering significant aspects including industry environment, leading participants, segments, trends, and global Computer Central Processor market competition. The report covers the overarching span of the market ranging from history and present to forthcoming market conditions.
A number of vital elements such as changing product pricing, demand-supply proportions, driving forces, restraints, trends, and limitations are influencing market growth momentum at a minute level, which are also emphasized in the global Computer Central Processor market report. The report elaborates on each factor that directly/indirectly impacts, influences, and interferes with the global Computer Central Processor market structure and growth momentum.
Get Free Global Computer Central Processor Market Report 2019 Sample Copy
Concise overview of the global Computer Central Processor market:
According to the analyzed data, the market is expected to report a considerable CAGR by 2024. It is also anticipated to govern its peers and parent market in terms of production and sales volume. Rising disposable income technology advancements, innovations, raw material affluence, stable market, and trade structures are boosting growth in the global Computer Central Processor market. The market structure could also radically influence the international economic and trading system during the forecast period.
The report also revolves around several manufacturers and companies that have been operating in the industry and endeavoring to fulfill the overall demand for the Computer Central Processor . The report illuminates their efforts such as research activities, innovations, product developments, and technology adoption that are performed in order to upgrade their market offerings and allure a larger customer base. Additionally, the report enlightens their strategic moves, including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, ventures as well as product launches, and promotional activities.
More importantly, their financial assessments are also highlighted in the report, which comprises an evaluation of their gross margin, revenue, growth rate, capital investments, sales volume, value chain, production cost, product pricing structure, and financial ratios. Also, their manufacturing processes, plant locations, product specifications, production volume, cost structure, distribution networks, global presence, raw material sources, and major vendors are examined in the report. The proposed competitive analysis will drive clients to comprehend the strengths, weaknesses, and market position of their rivals and help them operate their businesses accordingly.
Get In-depth survey of Global Computer Central Processor Market
Moreover, the report elucidates significant divisions of the global Computer Central Processor industry including types, applications, regions, technologies, and end-users. The report evaluates each segment by considering their current profitability, market acceptance, production & sales volume, and growth prospects. The global Computer Central Processor market segmentation analysis prompts clients to precisely determine the actual target market size and select apt market segments for their businesses.
For more facts and thoughts regarding Computer Central Processor market, connect us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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German researchers say they found flaws in Amazon Web Services that they believe exist in many cloud architectures and enable attackers to gain administrative rights and to gain access to all user data.
While the researchers say they have told AWS about the security holes and AWS has fixed them, they believe the same types of attacks would be effective against other cloud services, "since the relevant Web service standards make performance and security incompatible."
A research team at Ruhr University Bochum used a variety of XML signature-wrapping attacks to gain administrative access of customer accounts, then create new instances of the customer's cloud, add images and delete them. In a separate exploit, the researchers used cross-site scripting attacks against the open-source, private-cloud software framework Eucalyptus.
MORE FLAWS: Amazon Web Services receives critical gov't certification
They also found the Amazon service to be susceptible to cross-site scripting attacks.
"It's not only a problem of Amazon's," says Juraj Somorovsky, one of the researchers. "These are general attacks. Public clouds are not so secure as they seem to be. These problems could be found in other cloud frameworks also."
Somorovsky says the researchers are working on a high-performance libraries that can be used with XML security to eliminate the vulnerability that was exploited with the XML signaturewrapping attacks. They will be ready sometime next year. Signature-wrapping attacks re-use validAmazon Web Services acknowledged it worked with the Ruhr University team to correct the problems they found. "...[N]o customers have been impacted," a spokesperson for AWS said in an email. "It is important to note that this potential vulnerability involved a very small percentage of all authenticated AWS API calls that use non-SSL endpoints and was not a potentially widespread vulnerability as has been reported."
Public cloud security: Mission impossible
AWS has posted a list of best practices that, if followed, would have protected customers from the attacks the Ruhr University team devised as well as other attacks. These are:
Only utilize the SSL-secured / HTTPS endpoint for any AWS service and ensure that your client utilities perform proper peer certificate validation. A very small percentage of all authenticated AWS API calls use non-SSL endpoints, and AWS intends to deprecate non-SSL API endpoints in the future.
Enable and use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for AWS Management Console access.
Create Identity and Access Management (IAM) accounts that have limited roles and responsibilities, restricting access to only those resources specifically needed by those accounts.
Limit API access and interaction further by source IP, utilizing IAM source IP policy restrictions.
Regularly rotate AWS credentials, including Secret Keys, X.509 certificates, and Keypairs.
When utilizing the AWS Management Console, minimize or avoid interaction with other websites and follow safe Internet browsing practices, much as you should for banking or similarly important / critical online activities.
AWS customers should also give consideration to utilizing API access mechanisms other than SOAP, such as REST / Query.
This story, "Researchers find "massive" security flaws in cloud architectures" was originally published by Network World.


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Google Now checks your email and tries to find confirmation messages for restaurant reservations, hotel bookings, flights, events you purchased a ticket for, online orders. This way, Google can show notifications and useful information without having to manually add events to Google Calendar. For example, package tracking is now a lot more convenient and you don't have to use a separate app or subscribe to email notifications.
Gmail's desktop interface shows useful links related to your messages: Google Maps for addresses, package tracking links, "add to calendar" for events. Google Now takes this to a new level: sidebar links become smart cards that trigger notifications.
Obviously, the cards are generated automatically by Google's software and no Google employee reads your email. If you don't like the new cards, you can disable them from the settings (the "Google Now" section).
Google Search for Android also brings new voice actions: you can create new events, check your schedule and launch apps.
At the moment, Google Now requires Android Jelly Bean and the Gmail integration is only available in the English interface.


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The Slot Vocalist Dariya 'Nookie' Stavrovich Stabbed Multiple Times by Attacker by Graham 'Gruhamed' Hartmann April 18, 2014 3:46 PM – LOUDWIRE
Scary news has just been made public by Russian hard rock / metal band the Slot. A frightening altercation involving female vocalist Dariya 'Nookie' Stavrovich and an unnamed male attacker left the singer with multiple stab wounds to her neck. Nookie has been rushed to the hospital in "moderately grave" condition and the Slot have even reached out to fans to recruit potential blood donors.
Since forming in 2002, the Slot have become very popular in their home country of Russia. Thanks to the Internet, they've gained fans from all over the world by creating aggressive rock and metal with an industrial edge. The shocking stabbing incident took place during an album signing session in St. Petersburg, Russia, today (April 18).
The stabbing of Nookie seemed to come out of nowhere, as described on the band's Facebook page:
Today, on the 18th of April, before The SLOT's signing session, an armed attack was made on the members ot the band near the cafe "Stoker" in St. Peterburg.
The malefactor armed with a knife, tried to attract attention of the members of the band and to start a conversation with them. After that he stabbed Nookie (Dariya Stavrovich) several times in her neck.
Fortunately she was able to protect herself from some of the hits with her hands.
The offender was neutralized and was caught red-handed. After that he was followed to police Department.
After Nookie was given first aid by Cache, she was immediately rushed to the hospital. The hospital described her general condition as moderately grave.
Fortunately at the present moment there is no threat to Nookie's life and she is staying at the Mariinskaya hospital.
Let's wish her a speedy and painless recovery!
The band followed up with another statement asking fans to donate blood. Here is the rough Russian translation:
For speedy recovery of Nookie, [she] required a blood transfusion, it is normal procedure for such injuries.
If you are from St. Petersburg, please repost and come to donate blood.
The donor can be anyone over the age of 18 years and weighing more than 50 kg. Have Passport.
Contact the Mariinsk hospital branch of blood transfusion.
The statement goes on to give instructions for how to safely and affectively give blood.
Update: On Saturday, The Slot posted some good news about Nookie's condition, saying:
According to the doctors, the threat to her life passed. She became conscious. More detailed information will be posted later. We thank everyone for support one more time!
We wish Dariya 'Nookie' Stavrovich a full recovery. Check out a recent video from the Slot below.
The Slot, Просточеловек
Read More: The Slot Vocalist Attacked, Suffers Multiple Stab Wounds | http://loudwire.com/the-slot-vocalist-dariya-nookie-stavrovich-stabbed-multiple-times/?trackback=tsmclip


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Rebooting Urban Watersheds
Activists restore blighted Bay Area creeks -- and impoverished communities
Folsom Avenue's low-lying yards are dotted with citrus trees slumping with fruit. Rows of grayish sandbags guard the foundations of dilapidated homes and line the bottoms of garage doors, foreshadowing floodwater.
We have just crossed Rumrill Boulevard from North Richmond into San Pablo, two working-class towns northeast of San Francisco. We've been tracing the overgrown course of Wildcat Creek upstream from its mouth near the junkyard at the corner of Gertrude Avenue and Richmond Parkway. Josh Bradt, a spry Berkeley-based stream restorationist, plods rapidly ahead, his mane of short dreadlocks snapping from side to side as we lurch along a weedy, garbage-choked easement. He's brought me out on a February afternoon to see what the muddle of industry, pollution and water engineering along two local waterways has done to the impoverished communities that surround them.
Bradt points to houses set four or five feet below the road, their driveways sloping downward. "The road is essentially the levee," he says. "In heavy rains, the water just runs down into the houses." We knock on the front door of one tidy bungalow, where a stout man named Everardo Navarro greets us. We ask him about Wildcat Creek, the innocuous-looking stream which runs along the back of his property. We mention the sandbags and ask if the block floods much.
"Yes," Navarro says. He tells us about the New Year's storm of 2006, which gutted the homes on the east side of his block. He taps his finger on the sill at the base of the door: "Just a little more and the water would have been inside," he says.
Most city residents give little thought to the creeks that run through culverts or along the scraggy margins at the edge of town. But restorationists like Bradt see these neglected waterways as key indicators for urban sustainability. In the Bay Area, as in other urban areas across the country, pollution, aging stormwater infrastructure and sprawl have increased the strain on nearly all of the city's waterways. To call the creeks in and around North Richmond "polluted," however, is to put it mildly. These creeks are dumping grounds.
A strong countercurrent of activism and research around water in the region has kept the plight of these streams in the public eye. In the mid-'70s and '80s, scientists and activists, many from neighboring Berkeley, turned their attention toward the neglected creeks and rivers in their own cities. Their work sparked the nation's first grassroots attempts to restore urban streams and protect community watersheds. In 1985, Berkeley restorationists achieved perhaps their most symbolic victory. They "daylighted" a buried stretch of Strawberry Creek, exhuming it from pipes and restoring it to a channel on the surface.
A 1987 amendment to the Clean Water Act forced local governments to curb urban runoff. To help cities meet the new requirements, watershed protection groups cropped up throughout the state and country, inspired by what was happening in the Bay Area. More than 50 such groups now operate in the East Bay counties of Alameda and Contra Costa alone. These groups have done more than just educate the public; they've marshaled the manpower for small restoration projects. Yet financial and logistical constraints have generally confined most urban creek restorations to wealthier communities, such as Los Gatos, San Luis Obispo and Pasadena.
Meanwhile, in the East Bay's poor industrial communities, progress has come in fits and starts. After a few early victories -- including the creation of the very first community watershed coalition here on Wildcat Creek -- the urban watershed movement collided with bleak economic and environmental realities.
Today, however, a new generation of Bay Area restorationists is working with renewed vigor to mobilize poor residents around their local waterways, on the premise that improving the local environment can also stimulate the local economy. In spite of the recent downturn, there are hints at federal, state and local levels of a sweeping green jobs initiative. It's a bold attempt to reconcile key ecological principles with the functions of the marketplace.
From an ecological standpoint, it couldn't be happening at a more critical time. In February, more than two dozen Bay Area streams were found to be in violation of the Clean Water Act. Collectively, these small streams have become a massive conveyor belt, sending vast quantities of trash and toxins into the Bay and Pacific Ocean.
The Urban Creeks Council, one of the region's most prominent groups, has taken a wide-scale approach to its troubled waterways, creating a comprehensive restoration plan for Wildcat and San Pablo creeks. Funded by a four-year, $750,000 state and federal grant, the proposal includes restoration of greenbelted stream channels and removal of invasive plants, not to mention summer jobs for local high schoolers. Phil Stevens, executive director of the Urban Creeks Council, says the concept represents something altogether new: a collaborative, sustainable model of urban watershed management. "This is basically 'Creeks 2.0,' " said Stevens. "The idea is that we're not just doing a single restoration project and moving on, but looking at an integrated management model that could make the watershed an asset for the entire county."


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Update — though the world of online blackjack card – counting does not change too much, we would like to let you know that Jeff Ma has a new book called "The House Advantage".
No, it has nothing to do with mortgages. Nor is it really a guide to card – counting, as much as it is a guide to using card – counting concepts to help you in business. However, there are so many great examples of Ma's Vegas career in the book that we call it a must – read for anyone interested in card – counting, or gambling in general.
You may remember Jeff as one of the legendary MIT card – counters who made a business and science out of taking the casinos for all they were worth. He was the basis for the character "Kevin Lewis" in Bringing Down the House, and "Ben Campbell" in the film 21. (yes, it's not very nice to portray Asian Americans using white actors — essentially saying that people would not go to a movie if Asian Americans were in it — but Ma does not seem to mind too much, so why should we?)
At this point, you will be well aware of the benefits and basics of blackjack card counting strategies. While it may seem daunting, or only for mathematical geniuses (hands up, who saw Rain Man?), card counting is as simple as being able to keep one number in your head and adding or subtracting one or two from that number as each card is dealt. You've already learned all the rules of blackjack, right? You can certainly make these kinds of simple calculations when playing online blackjack at your choice of the best online casino.
The beauty of online casinos is that you can practice card counting techniques and strategies with no distractions – and none of the pressures you might feel in a land – based casino. As far as casino games go, blackjack – for this reason – lends itself perfectly to the online gambling forum.
Of course, it does not hurt to have a good head for numbers when you are playing or betting on a game that deals with odds and probabilities, such as a game of online bingo at bingo halls such as Mecca Bingo, that change with every single card that is dealt. In fact, bingo games have a lot in common with blackjack, from a probability / statistical point of view – unlike other casinos games that are dependent on a random number generator, such as slot machines. Anyone who is truly serious about card counting in blackjack would only benefit from a quick study of what they stand to gain from mastering any of the basic or advanced card counting techniques, perfect for practicing at any of our recommended online gambling spots.


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Working 24 hours straight
(This is a sidebar to an HCN magazine cover story on the New West's servant economy.)
Copper Mountain Ski Resort, Colorado
Greg Smith was a 23-year-old ski bum when he drifted into Summit County in 1983 or so. "Now it's just the opposite," he says. "I work a lot and don't get much chance to ski."
Smith established himself hereabouts by working as a janitor and he's owned a ski shop. Now he has to juggle three jobs: At the Copper Mountain ski resort, he supervises maintenance at a condo building six days a week, and two nights on graveyard shift he drives a snowcat grooming the slopes. On the side, he has a remodeling business serving wealthy clients in the ski counties.
As I meet him, he's just completed "a triple' - working 4 p.m. to midnight on maintenance, then midnight to 8 a.m. driving the snowcat, then 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. back on maintenance.
"That only happens once a week," he says.
Of his jobs, maneuvering the snowcat on tilted slopes late at night sounds the toughest: Steering by headlights, he grades the snow with the blade in front and smooths it out with the tiller dragging behind. Where it's steep, he ties off to a tree and winches along. "Sometimes on a steep slope you cut loose and slide a hundred yards down. In whiteouts you have no idea where you're going."
With six years' experience on the snowcats, Smith has worked his way up to $12 an hour, a top wage in ski country. His wife, Pam, has a white-collar job at the Copper Mountain resort. Their annual income totals about $60,000. But despite all the work and time they've invested in ski country, they can't afford to live here.
So recently the Smiths bought a three-bedroom house in Leadville, on three acres, for $70,000. For the same package on this side of the pass, "you're looking at $300,000." Smith says. "That's the only reason I live in Leadville."
During the winter, with the snowcat job taking more of his time and blizzards slowing his high-altitude commute, he doesn't see his daughter, three-year-old Taylor, much. "If you really want to make it up here," he explains, "to get ahead, you really have to hustle your butt."
- by Ray Ring, HCN senior editor


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The Lord will guide you always. Isaiah 58:11
Words: Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope 1857.
Music: St. Cecilia (Hayne) Leighton G. Hayne, Merton Tune Book 1863 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
If you know where to get a good picture of Hayne (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be!
Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.
Smooth let it be or rough,
It will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to Thy rest.
I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
Choose Thou for me, my God,
So I shall walk aright.
The kingdom that I seek
Is Thine; so let the way
That leads to it be Thine,
Else I must surely stray.
Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to Thee may seem;
Choose Thou my good and ill.
Choose Thou for me my friends,
My sickness or my health;
Choose Thou my cares for me
My poverty or wealth.
Not mine, not mine the choice
In things or great or small;
Be Thou my guide, my strength
My wisdom, and my all.