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Apple may have the limelight thanks to WWDC, and Google's I/O conference is just around the corner, but that hasn't stopped Amazon from trying to muscle in with the big boys. Having seen rumors of a smartphone coming out of Amazon for what feels like forever, we were less than surprised when the retailer started hinting at a new product announcement for June 18th. That product? A smartphone.
The main landing page currently simply shows an invitation to the event from Amazon's Jeff Bezos along with a somewhat strange video that shows people testing some sort of device. That device is expected to be the company's oft-rumored smartphone, and the video's 41-second mark appears to show just that as a phone-like device peaks out at the bottom of the screen.
There's very little known about the Amazon smartphone at the moment, and what we do know, we're not 100% sure of. The only information we have comes via a BGR who happened upon what they thought was an Amazon prototype for a smartphone. If that is indeed what we're going to see announced on the 18th, then things could be interesting.
The reason for that is the five cameras that this thing is believed too have on its face. Designed to track facial movement, those cameras are believed to be there so that the phone will know what we're doing as we're using it. It's unclear what that will be used for, or why it will take so many cameras to achieve, but that's all we have right now. Oh, and it's supposed to have a 4.7-inch screen, too.
Internally, the Amazon smartphone is said to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and 2GB of RAM, but beyond that we're just guessing. So make some specs up yourself if you want to keep yourself entertained till the real unveiling happens.
With June 18th a couple of weeks away, we wouldn't be surprised if more information cropped up here and there. Amazon has had mixed success with its own technology products over the years, so we wait with baited breath to see how it fares when selling smartphones.
Of course, its success will very much depend on how good it is, and we'll find that out on the 18th.
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.


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signed and inscribed on the stretcher 'AGDISTIS IV HAMILTON FRASER'
with Paul Rosenberg & Co, New York; 1988
London, RCA, A Perfect Place to Grow, 16 November 2012 – 3 January 2013;
Woking, The Lightbox, The Road to Abstraction, 21 May – 24 July 2016;
Hastings, Jerwood Gallery, Century: 100 Modern British Artists, 23 October 2016 – 8 January 2017;
Oxford, Brasenose College, 1 October 2019 – 30 September 2020
This series of work reflects Donald Hamilton Fraser's interest in Greek Mythology. This particular piece references the deity Agdistis from Greek, Roman, and Anatolian mythology. The androgyny of this superhuman being symbolised a wild and uncontrollable nature, and threatened the gods, leading to ultimate castration and destruction. Fraser used an expressionist technique to accomplish his paintings. He applied thick layers of bright paint to his semi-abstract landscapes. Fraser had an unconventional approach to mixing his colours. He would mix his colours directly onto pages of an old telephone directory, discarding the pages as he moved on to the next colour.

subset: commoncrawl


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You can get rich by investing. Leaving money in your bank account won't make it increase even though some banks do give interest for saving money. You might have the money to invest but not know where to invest it. Find about the growing business worth investing in South Africa.
Well, there are many markets and growing businesses that are worth investing in South Africa traders.
Table of Contents
As the largest financial market in the world, Forex involves buying and selling of foreign currencies. Significantly, the South African Forex industry has recorded steady growth in the past few years.
You should invest in Forex because it's affordable and open to everyone. You can start a Forex investment with as little as ZAR 1,500. Furthermore, when you invest in Forex, you can conduct business at your convenience because the market is open 24/7 (except on weekends), while you can trade on any currencies you want.
The Forex market is very flexible, which makes it profitable. In traditional stock markets, you mainly make money when the prices of commodities you buy increases. In the Forex market, you can make money whether the price of currencies is going up or down.
This is because the market works in pairs, i.e., you trade one currency against the other. For example, USD/GBP; if the USD is depreciating, the GBP appreciates and vice versa.
If you want to invest in Forex, you'll have to invest with a regulated broker, so you are guaranteed your investment is safe. The FSCA regulates forex trading along with other financial activities in the country. Regulated brokers are those with an FSCA license or a license from any of the foreign regulatory bodies.
Gold, as you should already know, is a highly valued commodity. The largest gold reefs in the world are in South Africa that has extracted the massive amount of gold in the world. Production might have declined, but the South African gold market is still very vibrant and ideal for investing.
Investing in gold is ideal because it is a mainstream asset. Many factors affect gold prices, not just demand and supply. The commodity is a diversifier and the most effective there is.
This makes it an ideal hedge against inflation. If inflation is rising, gold prices increase because many investors will convert their money to hard assets like gold to maintain their value. You can invest in gold by buying and storing physical gold or purchasing gold certificates from South African investment banks.
You can also buy shares in gold mining companies or invest in gold ETFs, futures, options, and CFDs on exchanges.
Communications and IT
Almost everyone uses a mobile phone these days so the communications and IT market is always active. However, the communications and IT market involves companies that make communication possible. Whether through landlines, cells, TV, Radio, internet, satellite, etc.
There are three main sectors of the communications and IT market. They include telecom services, telecom equipment, and wireless communication. With new inventions rolling out like the 5G technology, there's no better time to invest in communications and IT than now.
Aside from that, communication stocks are worth investing in because companies offer great dividends. You can invest in stocks from MTN, Telkom, Vodacom, Bharti Airtel, Multi-choice, etc.
The better your telecom or IT company's performance, the better your chances of getting profit returns. It's also worth noting that the communications and IT market in South Africa is a very competitive one which makes it somewhat risky.
If you're not aware, the agricultural industry contributed to 10% of South Africa's total export in the 2019 fiscal year. This was valued at $10.7 billion. Unfortunately, when it comes to possible investments, agricultural stocks are most often overlooked.
For a long time, the agricultural sector in South Africa has been one of the strongest in Africa and is expanding. Although the South African economy has faced several challenges recently, the agricultural sector remains unaffected. On the contrary, it has increased in value.
There are several agricultural companies listed in the JSE, and you can invest in the market by purchasing shares in any of these companies. It's crucial to invest with companies on the JSE so no one will walk away with your money.
Bottom Line
If you're contemplating where to invest your money, search no further. You can invest money in the Forex market with a licensed broker and expect worthwhile returns. The market is a growing one that is attracting many local and foreign players, so you don't want to miss out. Aside from Forex, you can also invest in Gold, communications & IT, and agriculture.


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The DevTeam posted today on its blog that it is still working on the iPhone 3G unlock. They apparently broke some hardware in their testings but got it back to work after a round of upgrades and downgrades. I don't like copy/pasting large parts from other people's blogs but in the DevTeam's case, I always find it hard to paraphrase them and it makes more sense to give you the full text. Read the full post here.
Disclaimer!! This is a purely technical post with no pragmatic use! There is no 3G unlock in this post. There is no iPod Touch 2G jailbreak in this post. It's just a random technical post related to the 3G unlock.
We've been exploring different ideas with the 3G unlock, but this past weekend one of us hit a big snag. For whatever reason, all of our poking and prodding of the 3G baseband caused it to finally have a breakdown. After one specific exploit run, all of a sudden our baseband stopped responding to the OS.
Somehow our software hacking had caused the baseband chip's SPI bus to stop responding (so it looked like a hardware problem). Even though BBUpdaterExtreme reported the correct baseband version, it failed basic tests like memtest.
If you're familiar with the baseband revision history for the 3G iPhone, you may have noticed that the above captures were done at the original 01.45 baseband. As dire (and hardware-related) as these messages sounded, though, there was a simple solution. We just updated to 01.46 and then downgraded again (because we can run unsigned code on the baseband CPU) to 01.45.
We tried to recreate the problem by using the same exploit over again, but it doesn't appear to be reproducible (which is actually disappointing, as it might have been exploitable).


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As YouTube doesn't support decent resolutions yet here are some links to higher resolution/better quality versions of some of my clips, be warned some are big others are huge, they are in either xvid , QT MP4(h.264) or wmv so you may need to install some codecs, enjoy.
1 thought on "Some links to higher resolution versions of my videos"
Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a good article… but what can I say…
I put things off a whole lot and don't seem to get nearly anything done.
Stop by my web blog: Deloras


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Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
Weil McLain and zone valves
I have a Weil McLain cga-5-pidn that I'm switching the three zone valves to taco 3 wire. The boiler has 2 wires labeled "stat" and 2 wires labeled "R" & "C"coming off the controller inside can tge "stat" wires be used as my TT wires for the zone valve end switch? I'm thinking I can't…. I have 24v on one of the stat wires and when I wire it straight to the thermostat in the space the boiler fires up which is great but I need to incorporate the zone valves. Any help advice or suggestions would be helpful thank you.
Here's a diagram. Courtesy of Raypak. Please look on page 22.0
I have wired the Taco valves bot ways with and without an isolation relay. I prefer using rib relays because the indicator light tells me when the valve is open and the end switch has closed and I don't like intermingling transformer wiring which gets confusing.
I don't really like the idea of wiring them without an isolation relay but it does work and as Taco explains in there instructions the two transformers are only connected in one location so it's not an issue.
I like the Taco valves as they have a higher Cv than other valves of the same pipe size but I would prefer them even more if they were 4 wire.
Seems to me Taco could easily make a 4 wire actuator for the existing valves. In fact they could bring the 4th wire out and have 4 terminals and you would just install a jumper to use it as a 3 wire for existing installations0
This is how I wired the boiler first and it smoked my transformer. I believe because I have 24v on one of my "tstat" wire what this diagram is calling TT wires so when my end switch made it shorted out. I was going to wire it like this when I go back to see if this works.0
EBEBRATT-Ed said:Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0
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Hope you've been following the Christmas in July projects this week. It's winter in the southern hemisphere, so Yuletide or Yulefest is celebrated in many places...and I love to spend some time in July crafting for Christmas. I get swamped in December and never get to all the projects I'd like to...so I'm encouraging you to get a head start too! This time with some home decor.
Wood slat board
Freezer paper or vinyl
White Paint
Gray Wood stain
Felt in green
Felt balls in shades of pink or red
Hot glue/gun
This post published on Doodlecraft first


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Billboard Bloodied, Monuments Mammary'd, Furniture Assed
- Saatchi & Saatchi did a wicked billboard execution drenching the street and a few cars with blood to promote Kill Bill.
- Apparently in Mexico, it's not looked upon kindly to promote a destination using a naked model painted with historical landmarks.
- OK, whatever. Bed. Old Guy. Furniture. Hot Ass. Watch.
- Whoa! Was that an ass in my face as I sleepily made my way to the subway? Yes, my friend, indeed it was. And it was in Tokyo...where this sort of thing is, well, just normal.
- Sometimes an ad works against itself.
Topic: Outdoor, Racy, Video


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Shelby Cobra - car classics
A description of the vehicle
Detailed technical specifications and description of the model is available here.
Want to buy Shelby Cobra?
Leave us your request for the purchase, we will select for You a car in the United Kingdom or the United States is in excellent condition and with a good story. Help with making a deal and delivery.
You can leave your comments about the car, as well as to hear the opinions of other visitors here.
Do you like this car?
Used Shelby Cobra Cars
Shelby Cobra
Shelby Cobra is the informal name of the model AC Cobra, beneath which were sold to British sports cars from 1961-th year. However, with the end of the 80-ies the name of the Shelby Cobra has spread around the world, because it was at this time Carroll Shelby, the famous American racer and the constructor of the car, started the production of the serial number of machines Cobra under a different name - Shelby Cobra. Together with the company В«Shelby Automobiles, IncВ» improved production models Shelby Cobra 427 S/CВ» and В«Shelby Cobra FIA 289В» at the factory in Las Vegas, Nevada.
New cars kept common sports style, appearance and housing original 1960s. At the beginning of serial production of machines series Shelby Cobra CSX4000 were made from old stocks, but gradually they began to collect from parts and spare parts of different providers. Later the body Shelby Cobra began to be made of fiberglass, and some copies be manufactured with a body made of carbon or with aluminium body of the order.
Shelby Cobra is a mixture of traditional style of the company and the latest technical innovations. Supplied with bodies of 2-bed 2-door Roadster. Set engines Ford Ford FE 427 and manual 4-speed transmission. Because belonged to the class of В«sports carВ», they can develop a speed of up to 260 km/h.
Other names of this model: Shelby Cobra 427, Ford Shelby Cobra, AC Shelby Cobra, Shelby Cobra GT500, Shelby Cobra Daytona, Mustang Shelby Cobra, Shelby Cobra 1965
Latest Shelby Cobra listings offered via internet auctions:
price: $57,768.001965 Shelby Cobra MK III w/ Cobra Ford Racing Engine
price: $349,950.001965 Shelby Cobra
price: $69,800.001967 Shelby Cobra Twin-Turbo 5.0
price: $129,900.001965 Shelby Cobra Superformance
Love this car? You can buy it!
We are engaged in the purchase of retro cars at auctions UK and the us with the shipping and customs clearance.
Other Shelby models from our catalogue:
Add a comment to the discussion of the model
We are grateful to all, who will leave his opinion, the withdrawal or addition to our description of the Shelby Cobra.


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Barclay, Robert (1833–1876), Quaker and ecclesiastical historian, was born at Croydon on 4 August 1833, the younger son of John Barclay (1797–1838), a descendant of the Quaker apologist Robert Barclay, and himself an expert on the early literature of the Society of Friends...
Alexander Gordon
revised by K. D. Reynolds
G. F. Nuttall
revised by Elaine Kaye
Bartlet, James Vernon (1863–1940), ecclesiastical historian, was born on 15 August 1863 in Scarborough, the only son of George Donald Bartlet (1823–1906), an English Presbyterian minister who was also a schoolmaster in Scarborough and in London, and his wife, Susan Robe McNellan, formerly of ...
Mark D. Chapman
Bennett, Gareth Vaughan (1929–1987), ecclesiastical historian, was born on 8 November 1929 at 19 Valkyrie Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, the only child of Roy Charles Frederick Bennett, a London shipping clerk, and his wife, Kathleen Beryl Vaughan (d. 1981). A lonely child, he was educated at private schools in ...
Martin D. W. Jones
Bigg, Charles (1840–1908), schoolmaster and ecclesiastical historian, was born on 12 September 1840 at Higher Broughton, near Manchester, the second son of Thomas Bigg (1796–1843), a Manchester merchant, and his wife, Sarah Elden (1802–1879). He was educated at Manchester grammar school...
Bingham, Joseph (bap. 1668, d. 1723), ecclesiastical historian, was baptized on 28 September 1668 at All Saints', Wakefield, Yorkshire, the son of Francis Bingham (b. 1625, d. in or after 1680), of Wakefield, a nonconformist, who had originally been apprenticed as a cutler. He was educated at ...
Bishop, Edmund (1846–1917), liturgical scholar and ecclesiastical historian, was born at Bridgetown, in Berry Pomeroy, near Totnes, Devon, on 17 May 1846, the youngest child of Michael Bishop (1802–1851), an innkeeper, and his wife, Susanna Quick (1804–1863). He had his early schooling in the grammar school at ...
T. F. Tout
revised by H. C. G. Matthew
Blunt, John Henry (1823–1884), ecclesiastical historian and theological writer, was born on 25 August 1823 at Chelsea, where he was baptized at St Luke's on 14 September 1823, the son of Robert Blunt (1792–1870), chemist, of Prospect Place, Chelsea, and his wife, ...
Maker: Gillman & Co.
Andrew Clark
revised by Myfanwy Lloyd
Bright, William (1824–1901), church historian, born at Doncaster on 14 December 1824, was the only son of William Bright, town clerk of Doncaster, Yorkshire, and Mary Ann Branson. He was sent first to a preparatory school at Southwell, and then, in 1837, to ...
Maker: William Holl
C. W. Sutton
revised by H. C. G. Matthew
Cardwell, Edward (1787–1861), ecclesiastical historian, was the youngest of the five sons of Richard Cardwell of Blackburn, Lancashire, and his wife, Jane, daughter of John and Margaret Hodson of Wigan. He was born in Standishgate, Wigan, on 3 August 1787 and entered Brasenose College, Oxford...
Michael De-la-Noy
Carpenter, Edward Frederick (1910–1998), dean of Westminster and ecclesiastical historian, was born on 27 November 1910 at 17 New Haw Road, Addleston, Surrey, the younger son and younger child of Frederick James Carpenter (1880–1969), a master craftsman and builder, and his wife, Jessie Kate (1880–1960)...
Maker: unknown artist
Casaubon, Isaac (1559–1614), classical scholar and ecclesiastical historian, was born in Geneva on 18 February 1559 ns and baptized two days later, one of the nine children of Arnaud Casaubon (1525–1586), pastor in the Reformed church, and his wife, Jeanne, or Mengine, née...
H. C. G. Matthew
Cassan, Stephen Hyde (1789–1841), ecclesiastical biographer, son of Stephen Cassan, barrister, and his wife, Sarah, daughter of Captain Charles Mears, was born at Calcutta, where his father was sheriff. He was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, from May 1811 and took his BA degree on 14 January 1815. He received deacon's orders on 26 March 1816, and was ordained priest in 1817. While curate of ...
Ronald Bayne
revised by H. C. G. Matthew
Cheetham, Samuel (1827–1908), Church of England clergyman and ecclesiastical historian, the son of Samuel Cheetham, farmer, of Hambleton, Rutland, and his wife, Emma Mary, née Woolston, was born in Hambleton on 3 March 1827. Educated at the neighbouring grammar school of Oakham, he matriculated at ...
Maker: David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson
T. F. Henderson
revised by Stewart J. Brown
Cook, George (1772–1845), Church of Scotland minister and ecclesiastical historian, was born in December 1772 in St Andrews, the second son of the Revd John Cook, professor of moral philosophy in the University of St Andrews, and Janet, daughter of the Revd John Hill...
W. Fulton
revised by D. M. Murray
Cooper, James (1846–1922), Church of Scotland minister and ecclesiastical historian, was born at Elgin, Moray, on 13 February 1846, the eldest son of John Alexander Cooper, a merchant, afterwards a farmer at Spynie, Elgin. His mother, Ann, daughter of James Stephen of Old Keith...
B. H. Blacker
revised by Marie-Louise Legg
Cotton, Henry (1790–1879), ecclesiastical historian, was born in Buckinghamshire on 31 March 1790, a son of the Revd William Cotton, of Chicheley, Berkshire. In 1802 he went to Westminster School and in 1807 he entered Christ Church, Oxford, where he was awarded a first class in classics in 1810, and became Greek reader. He graduated BA in 1811 and proceeded MA in 1813. While at ...


text: Is Pepperoni your favorite pizza topping? Well you are not alone, because pepperoni is Azzip's most chosen topping. Annually, Azzip customers consume 25,000 pounds of pepperoni per year, as it is found on 45% of all pizzas sold! And if you are like me, I bet you thought it was originally a sausage from Italy… View Article


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GVO offers a 15% rebate for PhD Day visitors so visit our stand at the 22nd. Have a look at how we serve PhD students in this video. Is your promotion scheduled for 2017? Request a quote now and we'll finetune on the PhD day.
Hope to meet you in Groningen, Loes & Derk


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Daily Funnies
Am busy cleaning my apartment, so I don't have time for you people right now. You get three things today:
1. Thanks
Thanks to Dr Qais Ghanem for inviting me and a friend back on to CHIN radio Friday to talk about Guyana. I'll link to the MP3 as soon as I have it.
Thanks to the CBC's Andreanne Baribeau and Nora Young for having me on the radio show "Spark" yesterday to talk about Twitter haikus. The show will be broadcast on the 10th, I believe.
Thanks to the Muchmor public school in the Glebe, where I was invited to speak to a class of 9 year olds. A special thanks to the little girl who proposed building a giant yoyo filled with mail, that we could drop from a helicopter to deliver mail to remote people; and to the little boy who insisted on giving me a minute, blow-by-blow recap of Jurassic Park 2.
2. Angels and Demons
I hate Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. I'm sure the plot was okay, but it was so poorly written that I felt myself getting dumber with every page. I had to stop after the first chapter lest I be rendered into a retarded lemur…. or, worse yet, a Republican.
So I went to see the movie version of Angels and Demons with trepidation. The first half hour was head-slappingly retarded, with dialogue that was likely written by George Lucas. The nex hour or so was surprisingly good, with excellent direction. Then the ending was more chimp-level cliched nonsense. Why do bother?
3. Daily funnies:


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On Seeing
An eye for an eye makes us all blind.
Mohandas Gandhi
I can remember it like it was yesterday. I had wanted it for so long. The T.V ads had completely captured me, this had to be the finest product ever made by man, and my birthday was coming. I implored every saint I could name, and a few that I made up just so that I would impress God, in hopes that heaven might sway my parents into buying me the greatest toy ever invented…the Evil Knievel wind up stunt cycle with the Evil Knievel action figure actually riding his red white and blue motorcycle!
You wound it up…hit the release button, and the imitation burst into life just like the real, and would jump creeks, curbs and small cats! My fingers flexed in anticipation as I slowly began to open the package on the day. First one corner, then the next…with breath held tightly I removed the entire lot of paper, and saints be praised, there was Evil atop his motorcycle in all his daredevil splendor!
I took that thing everywhere…in fact…I took it to too many places. One day it came to school with me, and by the end of the day I would be faced with a theological issue that was soul deep…vengeance.
At recess you could find me and Evil next to the tether ball pole amazing the onlookers with various stunts and jumps…and then it happened…someone grabbed Evil, and broke it. My heart was crushed, my eyes teared up, and then I was transformed, but not in a good way.
It amazes me how quickly the human heart can move from joy to retribution. Evil was broken, and somebody had to pay! Perhaps this is what Darwin was aiming at when he was postulating the "Survival of the Fittest." That we humans have a way of protecting what is ours at all costs, even if that means inflicting pain on another.
In truth, this is base level behavior yes? This is living "an eye for an eye" and "if you hit me I hit you" kind of life. This is how animals live…and humans who have been hurt.
You don't have to practice it…you don't need a class in it…there is no DVD curriculum to help you master it, no, we all have a natural tendency to be judge and jury, to meet out justice…to return evil for evil.
Even as we grow, mature, and begin to live above a base-level existence, we have countless opportunities to practice the transforming act of moving beyond an eye for an eye life. I like what Gandhi said, "an eye for an eye makes us all blind." Powerful…True…Profound.
The lifestyle of an eye for an eye not only makes us all blind physically, but spiritually as well. You see, this kind of blindness is a blindness to everything and everyone else, yet complete sight for self. This blindness has an uncanny ability to have 20/20 vision when it comes to seeing what it desires, wants, covets, or thinks is important, which is generally something that feeds the self, ego, or pride…and that is the most blinding combination in the world.
This blindness breaks up marriages, families, and relationships because there are no eyes looking into the heart and soul of the other…instead the gaze is to the mistakes, blunders, and areas of un-beauty. These things are magnified, and the spiritual eye shrivels into oblivion. This blindness is never empathetic, sympathetic, nor grace filled…but instead it demands its own rights, blind to the rights of the other.
This is really the mantra of our culture and society, and the mantra is embedded deeply into the fabric even of the church…sons and daughters of the king walking around in self-blindness, angry at another blind wanderer for bumping into them and disturbing their darkness which they believe to be light.
Self deception is a trademark of this blindness, but self deception is a sly enemy. You are never really sure if he has you, and when you figure it out, there is generally a trail of brokenness. Men and women wonder why life isn't working…why they struggle even though they go to church…why all these people are causing them so much pain and frustration…all the while never seeing.
The beauty of Christ is that He longs to warm his hands in slow circular motions, then with love, mercy, and grace, place them over our myopic state, and invite us to experience sight.
They way to see is really not that perplexing. It is to take the words of the master and do with them something more than believe them…to live them out even when someone has broken your Evil Knievel Stunt jumper.
God's truth is that every relationship can be healed, resurrected, restored and given new sight, but the hard work is in laying aside our old nature of vengeance and self-vision, and ask Christ to infuse us with His holy sight that sees others as He does, even when they wrong or hurt us. Isn't that the miracle of salvation? That even when we were still stuck in the blindness of our sinful life, Jesus died for us…even though we treated Him with the opposite of love.
You should be screaming, "I can't do that!" You are right, you can't. But since you have the creative force of the universe dwelling inside of you, you have the ability to choose to let Him empower you to do the impossible…live a life of grace and truth.
When we demand our rights above all else, we miss the whole gospel, and we miss the keys to the abundant life, they are found in giving up our rights even as Christ did (Phil 2) and choosing commitment over convenience or perhaps human justice.
God has your back, He will deal with those who wrong you. The example of Christ is to live above the natural human tendency to blind each other. What relationship are you demanding your rights in without also sacrificially giving your life too? Perhaps this is the time to mirror Christ in that relationship, allowing His kindness and grace to bring about repentance, restoration, and resurrection.
As the recess bell rang I had an option, blind my friend, thus blinding myself, or grieving my loss,and talk to my friend in such a way that we remained friends even though I was angry, hurt, and experiencing loss. Now when you are 8 years old, these are not the exact thoughts that roll through your mind, as your thinking is not yet so refined, but the thought patters are similar…I chose the friend over the toy.
Amazingly, the things we want are always much shorter lived than the relationship that risks mutual blinding…God calls us to choose the relationship over the injustice, the heart over the heart-ache…in this we find life and sight.
Illuminate Deo,


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The temple complex comprised of 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) carved into the cliff face. The 7-metres high niches cut into the sheer cliff face is said to have been carved by the legendary giant Kubo using its own finger nails. It is thought to be dedicated to King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty. You will find hundreds of stairs going down that lead to the kings and queens graves carved on both sides of the Pakurisan river banks. Recommended for those who do not mind going up and down many stairs.
More InfoClose
|More Information
|Tampaksiring (near Ubud)
|9:00 to 17:00 every day
|Adult Rp.6,000, Children Rp.3,000
The prices are subject to change without notice.
|Sightseeing tours and Car Charter is used commonly.


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Hailey Weigel, Manager324 South 1st StreetWaKeeney, KS 67672
Phone: 785-743-2383Email Pizza HutVisit Pizza Hut's WebsiteVisit Pizza Hut on Facebook
Open Days & Hours:
Monday through Sunday11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Business Description: We provide a dine in, Carry out or delivery experience. Buffet 6 days a week. Our menu ranges from Pizza, Pastas, Wings, Sandwiches, and other appetizers.


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Toddler tantrums. Is there anything quite as embarrassing as carrying your screaming toddler out of the grocery store? It's no fun to deal with, and maybe you're wondering if it's normal to have to discipline a toddler this much?
While toddlers do need a lot of instruction and correction, here are 7 strategies to cut down on those toddler tantrums.
1. Check their diet
Balance blood sugar
Low blood sugar can cause irritability, and in toddlers, that can end up looking like a tantrum or meltdown. Think about the common times of day tantrums are happening. Is there a pattern? Is it usually shortly before meals? Does your toddler live on air?
Maybe simply eating more at meals, or adding a small snack, would help calm the toddler tantrums.
Mix of macronutrients
Is your toddler eating mainly refined carbs or sugar for meals and snacks? Healthy fats and protein can help keep blood sugar steady, and provide fuel for the body and brain – which can help keep him calm. Try adding more fat and protein to your toddler's diet!
Common food issues
Most moms are aware of the effect food dyes and excess sugar can have on a toddler's energy level, but did you know some foods trigger meltdowns in some kids?
Toddlers can't usually tell you exactly how they're feeling inside, so if they're eating something that makes them feel bad, they're probably not going to be telling you that.
Gluten and dairy usually get all the blame for digestive and behavioral issues, but corn triggers epic meltdowns in one of my kids. I hadn't connected the dots between corn and his behavior until I read about this family's experience and decided to try eliminating corn. Four days later, my son was a different child.
I don't think corn is always bad, but food issues are worth exploring if you feel your child has an excessive amount of tantrums and meltdowns. It might make all the difference in the world!
2. Remove the temptation
If something is a continual struggle for your toddler, maybe it's best to simply remove the temptation for a while. For example, if you've been working with him for weeks on not getting into the bathroom products under the sink and you're just not making any progress, get a child lock for the bathroom door-handle, and don't even address that issue for a while.
When he's older, chances are good he'll be able to not touch it with no problem. And in the mean time, you can work on obedience in other areas while you take a break from this one struggle. There are plenty of opportunities to practice not touching things that don't make quite as much of a mess!
No more oats
When my oldest was 2.5 he kept getting into a 25 lb. bag of quick oats I stored in my closet (we had a small pantry, so I stored large bags in my closet!).
I disciplined for it every time, but he just kept digging in the oats and throwing them all over the carpet. How fun for a toddler, and how frustrating for mom!
So I finally thought, "well he can't get into the oats if he's never in my room" So I instituted a no kids in mom and dad's room policy, and that was the end of our struggle with the bag of oats.
It was a simple solution, and now at 9 years old, he has no problem being around a bag of quick oats 😉
3. Shrink their environment
Toddlers are small, and their world is really, really big! Sometimes they simply get overwhelmed by the size, volume, and number of sensory experiences they're encountering. Shrinking their environment down can help them calm down and more easily listen to you.
When I say shrink their environment, I mean both in size and in the number of things they're surrounded by. A smaller space can be soothing to a toddler who is freaking out. Fewer toys can be easier to focus on and play with.
A safe place
This is one reason I use a pack n play for a time out for toddler tantrums at home. It's not about a punishment for the tantrum, but about helping them calm down and regain self-control so they can come join the family again. It's also safe and they can't break anything!
Box up some toys
We keep a few small baskets of toys downstairs, and one large basket of toys upstairs in the boys' room. I keep toys with small pieces put up in bins where the kids can't access them. We only get out one at a time, and we put it all away before we choose another to play with.
This makes it easier for them to focus on and play with that one toy, since it's not mixed up in a huge overwhelming mess of pieces. Lincoln logs, tinker toys, plastic animals, wooden blocks, etc. are all in separate bins.
Kids don't need tons of toys surrounding them in order to entertain themselves. Less is more, and it might cut down on toddler tantrums!
4. Add more structure to your day
Humans thrive on routine, and toddlers are no exception!
But if the routine is boring and filled with hours of the exact same things, sometimes this leads to behavior struggles – like toddler tantrums. Adding some structure and activity to your day can help prevent those struggles.
Daily toddler activities
Here are some activities I plan in a toddler schedule (I fit them around bedtime, nap-time, and meals):
Table time (play doh, coloring, puzzles, etc.)
Outside time (Sticks, a few plastic yogurt containers, and a pile of dirt are all they need)
Independent play time (I walk you through how to teach your child to play alone in that post!)
Chore time with mom (helping me with laundry, dishes, or cooking)
Movie time (I usually put this in place of outside time if it's raining)
Free play (They get to choose whatever they want to play with)
Tot school (simple learning activities and reading books together)
5. Be sure they're sleeping enough to prevent toddler tantrums
It's unreasonable and harsh to expect an overtired toddler to behave like a well rested one. Sleep affects behavior!
If you're keeping your toddler out late at night and not enforcing nap/afternoon rest time, whose fault is it really when toddler tantrums are happening continually?
Check your schedule and be sure your toddler is getting an age-appropriate amount of sleep.
If you think your toddler isn't getting enough sleep, try moving bedtime earlier, get some blackout curtains, use white noise (a cheap box fan works well!), and see what happens with your toddler's behavior over the next few weeks.
You may be surprised at what a difference a little extra sleep makes!
6. Involve them in what you're doing
Maybe your toddler is acting out because she just wants to be with you.
Yes, chores definitely take longer when you have a three year old "helping". Yes, it's inconvenient and sometimes annoying. Yes, it would be faster and easier and done better if you did it alone.
But if you slow down and have your toddler help you, it may just be exactly what he needs to listen better, calm down, be kind to his baby sister, and stop having so many fits.
What can they do?
Toddlers are surprisingly good at laundry, and can even get decent at helping rinse clean dishes. What about wiping the table and chairs with you after a meal? Mixing cookie dough? Washing vegetables and fruit?
I'm sure you spend lots of time with your toddler, but involving them in something important (what you're working on) gives them a sense of purpose and connection that just playing together can't offer.
Pick a time to do this when you're not feeling super rushed – if you're calm and relaxed, it will be more fun for you both.
7. Consider personality and work with it
One of my boys immediately calms down when I say something like, "I can see that you're really frustrated about ________" Just feeling understood and heard is all he needs!
Another one of my kids isn't going to calm down until he's alone in his bed. Talking about it escalates the situation.
Knowing their differences and responding the best way for each individual child has helped greatly.
Just because someone else's child just needs a hug to calm down doesn't mean that's how YOU need to respond to your child. Find what works for your child, and do that.
God gave him to you, and he will give you wisdom to parent him well if you ask for it.
Discipline is important, but it's not always the answer
It's hard when you're dealing with toddler tantrums. It's tempting to take it personally, or to allow this one issue to define your whole relationship with your child.
Toddlers need discipline. I'm all for discipline! It's healthy and good to set boundaries and enforce them with your child!
But sometimes, discipline is not the answer. Sometimes, you just need to make some practical changes to see your child's behavior improve.
Try these strategies for two weeks and see how toddler tantrums change in your house!
Instant Pot Potato Salad
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How do you protect your home business from risk? People who run a business from their home may not know what kind of insurance is needed. Small Business Trends spoke with Gary Capone, Vice President of Field Services, Franklin Mutual Insurance, about 10 things you probably didn't know (but should) about insurance and your home based business.
Home Based Business Insurance Facts
Your Homeowner's Coverage Isn't Enough
"Homeowner policies give almost no coverage for your business," Capone says, "and this is something that most people don't realize." He says there's usually no liability coverage under a homeowner's policy and very limited contents coverage for your business.
You Can Have Off Premises Exposures
Your liability with a home business can extend beyond your front door. For example, it's common to run a hair salon in your house. However, if someone has a reaction to the dyes you use after they leave, you can be held responsible. Same as any other shop.
You Can Get What the Big Guys Get
Many small business owners who work from home don't know they qualify for the same coverage as bigger places.
"A commercial policy even has options like accounts receivable coverage," Capone explains.
You Need Coverage When the Business isn't Under Your Roof
If you're just fixing cars in the garage part time, you can be held liable. What's more, separate structures on your property that you use for business have no coverage at all without a business policy.
Renting the Home? You Should Still have this Insurance
Even if you're renting the house, you need to be sure your business is covered entirely. These policies cover items like printers and computers even if you don't own the place.
Take a Bad Bill? A Business Policy can Cover You
Business polices cover more than just the tools of your trade.
"Even a forgery or counterfeit money you've collected would be picked up under a business policy," Capone says.
Lost Income Gets Covered
If you 're covered and something like a fire ravages your house, the policy covers lost income and additional expenses until you're up and running again. A home based business insurance policy makes sure you can make a living even after a disaster. Make sure you endorse this aspect.
Advertising Injury is Covered Too
This is another coverage resting under the umbrella of what's good for any business. However, it's good to have this for a home based business to cover you for libel, slander , copyright infringement and such. It's perfect for those creative types working on the internet.
Online Issues are on the Radar
Worried about protecting customer contact information and other important data in cyberspace? The chances are your insurance company now has something to cover you.
"It'a a new area," Capone says. " A lot of insurance companies are getting into it."
Your Overall Exposure can be Bigger than you Think
Even if you're only working from home part time, you're probably wide open for some kind of liability Capone concludes by stressing what these small business owners don't know, can hurt them.
"It doesn't matter what kind of home based business it is, everybody has exposure ," he says.
Home Business Photo via Shutterstock
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Living Yoga
Living Yoga
Elemental Yin Yoga - Fire
In Chinese Elemental Theory, the element of Fire is associated with the Heart/Small Intestine meridians, the season of Summer, and our inner sense of vitality. Today we are working with this element using Yin heart opening poses to bring balance to the "fire inside". The heart is thought of as the seat of our vitality and inner peace. By bringing balance to this area we can work through grief and sadness and develop deeper compassion for ourselves as well as the world around us. Join me!
Please SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel for a NEW practices each week! http://bit.ly/TheYogaRangerStudio AND/OR join me for EXCLUSIVE weekly content, 135+ video practices, community forum, LIVE monthly video calls, free app (videos downloadable and viewable offline) at https://theyogaranger.vhx.tv.
Aprille Walker
I have been "playing" and experimenting with yoga, aromatherapy and healthy living since my late teens - researching, testing, reading, investigating, and learning anything that would make my life - and the lives around me - better naturally.
Subscribe for inspiration, discounts & MORE!
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March 21, 2007
Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford honored Long Beach High School 10th grader Christy Ambrosino for her outstanding achievement in track at the recent Legislative Meeting. Christy received a Certificate of Recognition for ranking as New York State Qualifier representing LBHS in track this year. "Christy is a dynamite athlete, and I am proud to recognize her achievement. We will watch as she continues to make LBHS proud for the next two years," stated Legislator Ford. Also present to join the community in cheering for Christy was the superintendent of LBHS, Dr. Greenberg.


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2014 Windsurfing Nationals
June 10, 2014 @ 8:00 am - June 15, 2014 @ 5:00 pm
The 2014 U.S. Windsurfing National Championships will be held on Lake Okabena in Worthington, Minnesota from June 10 – 15, 2014. Home of the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival, the southwest Minnesota city also hosted the 2004 and 2008 championships.
Located on the Buffalo Ridge, Worthington is one of the windiest locations in the Midwest with average wind speeds of 18.5 mph. For this reason, the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival was founded in 1999. The annual festival includes free instruction and competitive windsurfing, live music from original artists, food and art vendors, and art activities. Numerous community and family-friendly events will take place in support of the national championship.


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Nurturing Relationships Fundraising Tips
Nonprofit.Courses is excited to bring you Henry Freeman's 50 Practical Tips for Successful Fundraising.
Module 1 – Nurturing Relationships.
During Dr. Henry Freeman's 40 year career, he served on more than two dozen governing boards; taught both graduate and undergraduate courses in nonprofit management; and worked with more than 100 organizations – from small nonprofits with no fundraising staff to some of the largest in the United States, including the University of Michigan, Yale and as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Earlham College.
Henry is interviewed by nonprofit fundraising consultant (and former President/General Manager of Northeast Indiana Public Radio) Joan Baumgartner Brown.
See all of Henry's content on Nonprofit.Courses.


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Man Uses Magic to Get Out of TicketWednesday, November 18th, 2015
Ever wish you could just make a speeding ticket disappear? Well, that is exactly what Steven Brundage did when he was pulled over by the cops for speeding. However, you might have a bit harder of a time if you are not a magician.
"December 5th around 3am I was pulled over doing 42 in a 30 mph," said Brundage. He had packs of cards laying all over his car seat, and when the police officer asked him about them, Brundage told them he was a magician who was on his way back from a holiday party in New York City. This caught the interests of the two officers who asked him to show them a trick.
Brundage proceeded to amaze the cops who ended up letting him go. Brundage said, "I'm glad to say I left without a ticket." Watch the video below to pick up pointers for the next time you get pulled over.
Must Reads
Category: Humor, Weird Stories
Tags: cops, speeding, video, magic, police
Source: StevenBundage


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Relocating to Hawaii can be an exciting experience, whether you have a family moving with you or are simply going alone. You may look forward to the warm weather or sandy beaches, and you may be thinking about trying your hand at surfing or spear fishing.
While Hawaii has a picturesque beauty of its own, it also has a unique culture. You may encounter foods you've never heard of, such as poke or musubi, and you may also hear unusual words or terms. While foods can be explored independently, you may find yourself linguistically lost when speaking with locals. Most everyone speaks English on the islands, but they may throw in the occasional Hawaiian or Pidgin term.
Below, we'll discuss several terms you may want to be familiar with before you move to Hawaii.
1. Aloha (ah-LOH-hah)
Thanks to the popular film Miss Congeniality, many people understand that aloha is "hello" and "goodbye." However, aloha can also represent love or affection. For instance, you could have the spirit of aloha, or you could cook with aloha.
2. Mahalo (mah-HA-loh)
Mahalo essentially translates to "thank you." You may see this word on trash cans or on various signs to thank you for disposing of your garbage or for your business. You can easily say "thank you" instead, but it's nice to say "mahalo."
3. Haole (HOW-leh)
This word generally means "foreigner," but these days, it's more often used to refer to white people. It can be used offensively, but isn't always meant to be insulting.
4. Kane and Wahine (KAH-neh and wah-HEE-neh)
Kane refers to men or boys, and wahine refers to women or girls. You might see these words on public restroom signs.
5. Keiki (KAY-kee)
This word means "child." You may hear locals affectionately call their own or other children "keiki."
6. Hale (HAH-leh)
Hale translates to "home" or "house." It can often refer to housing in general, including apartments or dorms.
7. Pau (POW)
When you put the ketchup bottle down, you may hear a local ask, "Are you pau with the ketchup?" Pau essentially means "finished" or "done."
8. Howzit (HOW-zit)
In Hawaii, "howzit" is a common Pidgin greeting that translates to "hello" or "how are you?" If someone greets you with "howzit," you can simply respond with the same term for a friendly greeting.
9. Da Kine (dah-KINE)
Also from the Pidgin terminology, "da kine" roughly means "whatchamacallit." People may use it to replace a word or name that's been forgotten. For instance, one might say, "They went to da kine beach on the North Shore."
10. Lolo (loh-loh)
When someone calls you "lolo," they're generally saying you're "dumb" or "stupid." Locals may use it in a teasing manner or to describe someone else.
11. 'Ono (OH-noh)
'Ono generally means "delicious." It can often be paired with the Pidgin word "grinds," which translates to "food." So, if you eat something particularly tasty, you might say it's 'ono grinds.
12. 'Ohana (oh-HAH-nah)
Many have heard this term in the Disney film Lilo & Stitch. Ohana generally means family, and it can also be used for people who are very close to you and your family. For example, someone who is like a brother but isn't technically related might be a part of your 'ohana.
Any move can be hectic and stressful. Living in a new place can sometimes seem intimidating, especially when the local culture is very different from what you're used to. Knowing a few local terms can help you get around and feel more comfortable in your new home. However, if you're unfamiliar with a term, it's okay to ask what it means.
If you need help relocating to your new home, or hale, contact a local moving company on the islands, such as Island Movers. They can help you get settled in, and they can also help you with some of the more unfamiliar terminology.


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Saturday, May 06, 2006
Library crazy
Attack of the prehistoric pokemon by Tracey West
City of dreams : a novel of nieuw Amsterdam and early Manhattan by Beverly Swerling
Duchess in love by Eloisa James
Glory in death by J.D. Robb
Household gods by Judith Tarr
In the company of the courtesan by Sarah Dunant
The last camel died at noon by Elizabeth Peters
Lion in the valley by Elizabeth Peters
Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George
Master of desire by Kinley MacGregor
A pirate of her own by Kinley MacGregor
The poyson garden by Karen Harper
Resolution by Denise Mina
Secret of the pink Pokemon by Tracey West
The sleeping beauty by Jacqueline Navin
Then came you by Lisa Kleypas
I finished The Sleeping Beauty today, and I have SO returned Lion in the Valley, but the library are saying that I haven't...that will be an argument we will be having in the next couple of weeks!
This is the list of requests that I have with the library at the moment. The Willig book is in transit so I should have it early next week.
Blue shoes and happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
Dead until dark by Charlaine Harris
Devil in winter by Lisa Kleypas
Innocent traitor by Alison Weir
Kiss me, Annabel by Eloisa James
Motor mouth by Janet Evanovich
The secret history of the pink carnation by Lauren Willig
Smitten Janet Evanovich
Suite Francaise Irene Nemirovsky
The other library I have Bel Canto by Ann Patchett on the request list. Fortunately I have finished all of these though. It's just a case of driving for 45 minutes to get to the library and return them!
Deeds of the disturber by Elizabeth Peters
Naked in death by J. D. Robb
The siege by Helen Dunmore
Summer of my German soldier by Bette Greene
Anyone else think I might have gone a little library crazy??
8 comments:
I love going to my library! I can relate with the "unreturned" book issue: I thought I returned a book a few weeks ago and that the library lost it, but it was just a stupid mistake on my part. But I was angry - I thought that the library was just being dumb. LOL I was the one being dumb.ReplyDelete
Looks like you'll have some good reading over the next couple of weeks. Let me know if those pokemon books are any good. LOL
I'm saving them until I can really appreciate them....you know, like with a glass of win after the boy has gone to bed!ReplyDelete
I just adore reading novels of dan brown and jeff archer....ReplyDelete
Nice Blog :)ReplyDelete
Darn! Another three books have come in from the library! I really need to finish reading some of these!ReplyDelete
Wow thats a lot of books you got there missy! You'll have plenty of books to review though at least!!! Lucky...be sure to let me know how you liked the Janet Evanovich books, I haven't read any of her other books aside from Plum books...are you a cupcake or a babe?ReplyDelete
Oh and hi, I'm Dylan from Sanctuary's Finest! ;)
Hi Dylan! I am pretty much a cupcake (although I'd be happy with a side serving of babe!!).ReplyDelete
I've read a few others from Evanovich including some of the Full books, but they really don't live up to the Stephanie Plum books at all!
OOOOoooo I loved City of Dreams. It was wonderful. Real historical fiction you can sink your teeth into.ReplyDelete
I've read Henry VIII by George and it was great. I think I have all her other books, but haven't read them yet. Really ought too though...
I just finished The Secret History of the Pink Carnation...I really need to review it. I liked it.


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IDF raises the debate on The Telegraph Report On 16th May Titled 'Plan for nuclear-driven carrier with US help' datelined Goa, May 15.
The Telgraph states that India's Navy has all but finalised plans for a nuclear-powered super-aircraft carrier, which is scheduled to be built in Kochi with US help. In the script down the line the paper states Navy (Cochin Shipyard Ltd) is building blocks for the design though the design is not ready yet to the best of IDF knowledge as a lot will depend on the type of aircraft that will be flown off the deck of Vishal. And paper later adds, "The Navy chief (Adm RK Dhowan on his farewell visits after a very successful tenure . and who demits office on 31st May to hand over to Admiral Sunil Lanba ) said in Goa earlier this week that the Government was yet to freeze the design and specifications for the Vishal".
On this one line IDF doubts how authentic the Telegraph's premature information is. Indian media is not as trust worthy in its defence reporting, and more sensational, as media is tending to be, world over to sell and IDF does not blame the reporter.
Also paper adds, "In the Arihant (the Indian nuclear submarine now in sea trials) we have gained, with some Russian help, the ability to develop a reactor for our purpose. BARC is confident that it can build for the carrier too," the officer said.
I would rather trust a report in the Hindu as it does very little kite flying.!
The paper adds . In preparation for the long-gestation project, estimated for the year 2028, the navy is setting up the building blocks that will identify the aircraft to be based on the carrier, called the Vishal (to be pre-fixed with "INS" on commissioning).
Comment. It is interesting Navy is not doing SWOT analysis for a ship due in 2028 and may be it is to ensure the planners have some trips to USA or Japan as a large sum has been sanctioned by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The design team and engineers must visit US aircraft carriers and others so this may be to trap Telegraph to assist. May be USA will sell India aircraft carrier nuclear reactors and HEU, but that could be in the confidential regime BJP subscribes to.
Nuclear energy enables a carrier to sail for months without needing to dock for refuelling. The navy wants a nuclear-powered carrier for "longer sea legs", to enhance its reach beyond territorial waters. It has determined that the carrier will need a nuclear reactor generating 180MW for propulsion, and may go for two reactors of 90MW each. Talks with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) are at an advanced stage.
Comment. All the above is true and accurate and Navy is in constant touch with BARC for its nuclear submarines, the fuel complex at SBC Vishakhapatnam and the fuel complex for reactor fuel pellets being set up at Rambilli 130 km South of Vishakhapatnam at the new base being built by DGNP (V) mainly as a nuclear submarine base.
The Vishal is being designed to be between 60,000 and 70,000 tonnes. (India's first carrier, the INS Vikrant, displaced 18,000 tonnes. The second, soon-to-be decommissioned INS Viraat, 24,000 The navy has bolstered its case for a nuclear-powered carrier by citing the nuclear deals India has signed not only with the US but also with Japan and Germany, albeit for peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
The navy had invited preliminary inquiries from foreign entities for the design and development of the Vishal: DCNS of France, Rosoboronexport of Russia, Lockheed Martin of the US. Within the top brass, however, there is now a congealing of opinion that the US option may be the one to go after.
"In any discussion the Only 'Constant Is Change' even in modern trends in marine and shipbuilding technology. 'Strategy and Tactics' impinge warship and submarine designs as the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) always evolves with futuristic technology and its induction". Author
War and peace are two sides of a coin that need constant attention for a nation like India seeking world power status. Modern war fighting doctrines and systems will also need to be incorporated in India's marine infrastructure ashore, propulsion, shipbuilding and weapons both for peacetime as required for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Flag showing, interoperability with modularity and combat capability to deter wars and fight and win future wars.
Although at present the notion of an 'all out war' remains remote in the Indian context, the South Asian region hosts three nuclear powers with Iran desirous of joining, and terrorism from Pakistan and Islamic State of the Levant (ISIL) is unabated. India harbours ambitions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as the Net Security Provider and the Government has mandated India and its Navy to be the capable of protecting the strategic vision of USA and India in the Asia-Pacific and ensure freedom of navigation as per UNCLOS 1982.
Fifty warships including six conventional Scorpenes with first Kalvari on sea trials and three nuclear submarines with nuclear tipped missiles are on order by the Navy and seventy five platforms and aerial assets for the Coast Guard in Indian yards and two Deep Submersible Rescue Vessels (DSRVs) from Fisher International UK have been ordered for $ 282 mill with AMC. The DSRVs will a need a mother ship with hyperbaric chambers. Six SSNs, six conventional submarines in Project 75I, four LPDs and four support (tanker) vessels have been sanctioned by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and funds have been sanctioned for studies for a future aircraft carrier, which USA supports for export of its Electro-Magnetic aircraft launch system e-MALS by General Atomics of USA entering service. This, with two new naval bases in construction in phases at Karwar and South of Vishakapatnam is the futuristic challenge that Naval technologists have to grapple within timelines and economy.
Since the early 1970s Indian Navy has subscribed to learn and employ nuclear power for submarines by leasing two nuclear Chakras from Russia for Navy's learning steps. Professor Gabler's Submarine Design Institute at Kiel and Lubeck in Germany and Krilov near Moscow that trained officers and crews at Vladivostok deserve credit. Arihant construction directed from the ATV (Akanksha) HQ in Delhi with financial autonomy under DRDO and PMO funding with support from Defence Material Development Establishment (DMDE) at Hyderabad, Ship Building Centre (SBC) at Vishakhapatnam, Submarine Design Group (SDG) and Director General Naval Design (DGND) in Delhi, Prototype Training Centre (PTC ) called S1 at Kalpakam and Machinery Test Centre (MTC ) all under naval command with design engineering and support has arrived with nuclear safeguards and is a story in itself which needs publicity. Many of the vendors that displayed products supplied at DEFEXPO-16 at Goa showed how 60% of the nuclear submarine is Indian supplied, The next two will have greater content.
The success in Arihant's nuclear reactor has given speculation that India's future 65,000 tons aircraft to be named Vishal may be nuclear powered, as USA wishes to offer EMALS aircraft launch systems and technology from Atomics of USA. This needs debate by technical and operator officers as nuclear propulsion is expensive and nascent in India and India's fuel is still low HEU and the carrier will need refueling unlike USA with uses 95% HEU. Arihant's cost is not disclosed but UK and France have rejected nuclear propulsion for carriers for costs and even a slight non compliance of AERB and Navy's regulations for nuclear safety can restrict a nuclear propelled ship from sailing. With 13 HEU twin reactor carriers and 65 submarines US Navy can afford one unit not sailing, but India needs to debate and possibly rule out nuclear propulsion for Vishal for its costs and as Navy will have only three carriers for a few decades.


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Let's be honest, there's a dark side to working from home. You're wearing your most comfy pair of pants (or no pants at all), you've found a nice cushy spot on the couch and the sun's streaming in, and there's piping hot coffee in front of you. But despite your most valiant efforts, you just can't stay on task.
You're not a bad person, you're just human - and procrastination traps are everywhere. Clickbait jumps out at you from Facebook and you can't resist. Donald Trump tweeted something ridiculous and you have to share it. There's a new Game of Thrones theory that needs your urgent attention. Or maybe you're still addicted to Candy Crush like it's 2013.
Before you know it, the day has ebbed away and you're suddenly filled with dread. What will your manager say? How will you make the project deadline now? Does the company know you've spent a whole day researching the family trees of Westeros?
Luckily, there are some powerful online time tracking apps to help you monitor those tasks and avoid the deadly sin of procrastination. We've chosen the Top 8 to help maximise your productivity while you're working remotely.
1. WorkflowMax
You probably saw this one coming! Sure, we might be a little biased, but WorkflowMax has a huge range of online time tracking features already included, such as daily and weekly timesheet views and custom notifications.
Working from the beach? Track time on the go with the WorkflowMax iOS app. Forgot to submit last week's timesheet? No problem! You can even complete them retroactively.
If these core functions aren't enough, WorkflowMax integrates with SIX additional time tracking add-ons: Adobe Time Tracking, Actual, Prod Timer, Eon, Timeslice and Time Doctor. Pick the ones you like and take your productivity to insane, super-human levels.
The Good: WorkflowMax is a complete end to end project management software in the cloud. All of your information is stored in one place, so you never have to jump between apps. After completing tasks you can seamlessly push timesheet data into the next stage of your workflow. It's also highly customisable with many add-ons, and offers convenient access from all your devices.
The Bad: WorkflowMax is a comprehensive project management solution. If you only want to block websites or beat procrastination, you might be better off with a single-function piece of software.
2. RescueTime
My personal second favourite, RescueTime, is an undeniable lifesaver. RescueTime generates daily or weekly scores measuring your productivity, using a metric called "productivity pulse". This tells you when you're most productive (apparently 9am to 11am on Wednesdays is my golden time).
The Premium version of RescueTime is helpful for Facebook and Reddit addicts (or whatever site you're hooked on). RescueTime allows you to block distracting sites while you work. Or if you need that little fix to survive, you can programme RescueTime to allow a limited period (say 30 minutes) browsing blacklisted sites per day.
It's amazingly effective because most recreational browsing is impulsive (and preventable). Sure, you could go through the rigamarole of disabling RescueTime and get your thrill, but chances are you won't bother. It comes with several other groovy features as well, including a log of daily highlights (so you can brag about your achievements), and customisable alerts and notifications.
The Good: Clear and intuitive interface. Highly customisable - you set your own goals, and define which activities and websites count as productive.
The Bad: Defining 'unproductive' websites and activities can be tricky; especially if you work in social media. Requires a paid subscription to block websites.
3. Adobe Time Tracking Widget
If you're a WorkflowMax customer who uses Adobe, the Adobe Time Tracking Widget will be your new best friend. As cool as our project management software is, no one wants to be constantly switching between timesheets and their beautiful InDesign creation. Those administrative disruptions are a buzzkill and can be the death of creative focus.
Now thanks to this brilliant widget you can link WorkflowMax and your whole Adobe Suite. This enables you to automatically track your creative billable time, without breaking focus or stopping to log hours. It's a match made in heaven.
The Good: Works with the entire Adobe Suite (InDesign, InCopy, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects and Prelude). Tracks your billable time and creates timesheets in WorkflowMax.
The Bad: Slight learning curve when setting up. Doesn't measure the time you spend elsewhere.
4. Eon
Eon is another online time tracking app that integrates beautifully with WorkflowMax. Boasting simple features and gorgeous design, it's nearly impossible to have a bad experience with Eon. If you accidentally wander off and end up gazing out the window at your attractive neighbour, Eon will notice that you've left your desk. Once you're back, just a simple click will resume tracking your tasks.
Eon also allows you to switch between several projects at once, without compromising your seamless time tracking experience - so it's great for busy creatives and multi-taskers.
The Good: Simple and elegant timer. Allows you to set up rounding rules (e.g. round to the nearest minute, or half hour). Integrates with WorkflowMax to make invoicing a breeze.
The Bad: Requires you to stop and start the timer on projects, so it takes some discipline. Doesn't monitor your web browsing.
5. Toggl
Toggl is one of the most popular online time tracking apps out there, with over half a million customers. People love it for it's clean, uncomplicated design. Simply fill in a memo about your task, then click to start time tracking. Toggl then lets you organise these time records, creating a neat little overview of your day.
Toggl might not conquer your Facebook demons, make you rich or improve your love life, but it does offer a crystal clear picture of your work habits and completed tasks. It also generates sexy, professional looking reports to show your boss or client.
The Good: Even the free subscription offers a tonne of features. Easy to access with iPhone, Android or desktop. Allows you to add an unlimited number of projects and clients.
The Bad: You need a paid prescription to create billable rates.
6. Focus Booster
Focus Booster is another useful weapon for your arsenal of time management tools. Focus Booster is based on the infamous Pomodoro (or tomato timer) technique. It's designed to help you stay focused and avoid distractions by working in timed bursts of 25 minutes. These are separated by 5 minute breaks, so you can grab that coffee, quickly check Facebook, or stare at the wall having an existential crisis.
As well as timing your focus sessions, Focus Booster records them all in a timesheet. This offers valuable insights into your work habits, so you can plan for greater efficiency in the future.
The Good: It's 100% free! The coloured bar sits on top of your other apps, giving you a visual representation of how much time has passed.
The Bad: There's no pause button (since the point of focus sessions is to ignore distractions). This may not be suitable if your job requires you to answer phone calls, or deal with frequent interruptions.
7. SelfControl
SelfControl is an app designed for the truly hardcore. It's not time tracking in the traditional sense, but it can definitely stop you wasting your day. Like RescueMe, SelfControl can be programmed to block your access to certain sites (like Facebook, Twitter or your email). Just write up a blacklist of naughty websites, set a period of time, and click start. Until the timer expires you will be blocked from those sites, letting you get to work without any distractions.
Here's the kicker, though...Once you click start, IT CAN'T BE UNDONE. Even if you delete the application or restart your computer, you'll have to wait for the timer to run out. How awesome (and terrifying) is that?
The Good: Merciless rule enforcement. If you have absolutely zero willpower, this app may be a god send for avoiding those time-sink websites.
The Bad: Merciless rule enforcement. If you enjoy flexibility and regular breaks, this app isn't for you. Only available on Mac.
8. Time Doctor
Time Doctor is a nifty online time tracking tool to help your whole team up their game. Just like your friendly medical professional, Time Doctor diagnoses your weaknesses and offers practical solutions. It does this by monitoring your whole team's computer usage; including their mouse and keyboard activity, website tracking and application tracking.
Time Doctor sends daily reports of these activities to managers and staff, allowing everyone to see where time and productivity is lost. It may sound a little Big Brother, but there are plenty of benefits to be reaped from such in-depth analysis. Time Doctor can also be seamlessly integrated into WorkflowMax.
The Good: Great for managers who want to monitor their staff while working remotely. Prompts you to resume tracking if computer has been idle. Detailed monitoring, including screenshots of your team's individual web activities.
The Bad: Your staff may not like having their web behaviour monitored - any privacy concerns will need to be addressed before implementation.
So there you have it, 8 awesome online time tracking apps to keep you focused when you're working from home. Do you have a personal favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
Want to know more? Check out these tips for maximising your remote working experience, or read about the importance of security when working remotely.


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Tips and Tricks
1. Each bottle of Central Park Bubbles formula mixes with 1 gallon water (in large bucket) for 2-3 hours of bubbles. Gently stir so as not to create foam. Shake before use, formula expands when shaken.
2. Dip rope end of sticks all the way into mixed solution. Soak for 5-10 seconds in future uses.
3. Keep the tips of both sticks together as you lift the wet rope end out of the bucket. Hold over bucket and let extra solution drip off rope into bucket.
* Extra solution on your rope will weigh down your bubbles and cause them to pop or sink earlier than necessary.
* Dripping extra solution into bucket will conserve solution and allow for longer use of bubbles.
4. When extra solution is dripped off, raise both sticks upward. Slowly spread sticks apart.
5. If wind is strong bubbles will blow without effort. If wind is calm, walk backwards to create wind.
Best Conditions
Too much wind will ruin bubbles, so aim to make bubbles on a day when the wind is blowing less than 10 mph (most days).


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January 23, 2020
The extraordinary things I've done and seen – in the year of the Lord of twenty-nineteen!
Hi folks, and – belatedly – Happy New Year!
Trust you all had happy, jolly, merry holidays. I sure did!…
All righty. Let's get on… by looking back.
So, as per usual on these here blogpages of mine around this time of year, herewith, my round-up of last year: a summary of the facts and figures and countries and flights and tourisms and volcanoes and excursions and monasteries and walkabouts and treks and all the rest; woah – already for the sixth time (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)!
But… why?
Well, over-self-indulgence plays a part, for sure (especially when it comes to things like my total number of flights and other stats:). However, I'm lucky enough to travel to and experience a lot of highly interesting places/stuff, which I'm fairly certain will be of interest to some of you, dear readers. And you might not have read every post of the year (there are a lot of them). Accordingly, surely, a pint-sized review of the 'greatest hits' of the year (including ringing in the New Year in the Ecuadorian mountains in a hot-spring swimming-pool some 3600 meters above sea level!) will be worth something? I hope so, anyway. OK, so – ~rationale out the way, let's get on with this…
The just-mentioned hot springs in Ecuador:
South America is a little further than my habitual routes here and there around the globe, but soon enough I was back to my well-worn-circuit…
Well-worn – yes; but specifically last year – lesser-worn: I flew a mere 94 times (usually I'm over 100), and was up in the air just 380 hours.
- 8 helicopter flights;
- ~3000 nautical miles in a ship sailing around the Kuril Islands;
- For some reason I travelled a lot on trains in 2019 – in Italy, China (350km/h!), and Japan (Shinkansen);
- A few kilometers… on a camel!
Avia-stats – number of flights on different carriers:
Aeroflot – 37;
Singapore Airlines – 6;
Air France – 5;
Various jets – 10.
EVA Air;
Tibet Airlines.
Geographical numbers:
Countries visited: 29 (some more than once): France (five times), Italy (four times), Germany (four times), Switzerland (three), UAE (three), China (three).
Newbies – 5: Bosnia–Herzegovina, San Marino, Rwanda, Mongolia, Lebanon
Number of cities: 65
Number of hotels: 80+
Work, work, work.
Of course, it's not all play and no work. I always try and combine both together: I do the conferences, exhibitions, meetings, and other business, and then I add a portion of tourism. So, work:
- 40+ interviews and press conferences;
- 40+ forums, conferences, speeches/presentations, lectures;
- 30+ meetings with senior officials;
- 3 of those – most senior officials: the presidents of France, Rwanda and Armenia;
- 2 of those same 30 – the ambassadors of France and Indonesia.
This was yet another excellent year in terms of awards and medals. In all we received 114 awards (seven more are coming up in early 2020 – based on results for 2019:), out of which 73 were for home products (for example KIS) and 41 corporate products (for example KES).
Here are some highlights:
- AV-Comparatives: KIS received an 'Advanced+' certificate in the first public Enhanced WPDT test with a result for Protection Level of 100%; moreover, in this test KES also managed a 100% level of protection in 'Certified ATP Enterprise Protection';
- The British testing lab SELabs published its yearly awards, among which KIS got Best Consumer Anti-Malware Product 2019;
- SELabs also published, for the first time, the results of its Breach Response Test of our KATA. The report is here;
- KATA was also awarded a certificate by the American ICSA Labs giving it unsurpassed marks after a full three years (!) of testing: in the 12 quarterly tests our detection rate was 100% in nine of them, and our false positives – zero;
- We're the only company to have received from MRG Effitas the annual Online Banking Browser Security Award five times in a row (since 2015) for excellent results in its quarterly testing;
- For the third year in a row KES received 'Recommended' status in testing by NSS Labs (on Advanced Endpoint Protection).
I could go on and give you the rest of the 100+ awards and gongs and medals, but I think that will do for today. But don't forget to keep checking the Top-3 metrics, which show graphically which products really do protect against cyberattacks, and which only bombard users with marketing !#*^!+&*!$!
And let's not forget… ->
- We opened our first Transparency Center in Zurich;
- We put on our yearly Security Analyst Summit, this time in Singapore, and it went swimmingly;
- There was also the not insignificant matter of a full rebranding for the company, just in time for the 2020s;
- We underwent – and passed – the real tough really awful (but wholly necessary) SOC 2 audit;
We launched a new portal for the study of computer maliciousness. Now, if you come across a suspicious file (or files), put it (them) through our 'x-ray scanner', which uses these here technologies.
Okie-dokey. That's enough about work; time for the play, which covers some new additions to the 'beens' on my Top-100 List of the Most Beautiful Places on the Planet…
Geographical-phenomenal visits.
- The Galapagos Islands. I liked them so much – I wrote a book all about them, with all my best pics in there too (translation coming up later). Quick curiousness: while there, I discovered that there's not just one equator, but at least three (Ecuador sits upon all of them)!
- I finally visited Lake Baikal! And we didn't just walk upon the ice, we 4×4'ed across it too. Check out the link for photos of the incredible ice formations and patterns and more;
- The marble marvels in Taiwan's mountain ranges in the Taroko National Park. Not only was this my first time there, but it also appeared on my Top-100 for the first time too, after I witnessed for myself how OMGorgeous it was;
- For the second time in my life, the Kuril Islands – this time from top (Kamchatka) to bottom (next to Japan) – and back!
- For the first time – the Gobi Desert. Yes, it's vast and bleak, but also vastly beautiful – and must-see!
- Bewildering Baalbek in Lebanon. I finally got to experience the place in the flesh, and take a lot of pics thereof, and touch its immense ancient 'bricks' like the Trilithon;
- Cappadocia – another +1 to my Top-100. Been, seen, flown, snapped, done; no t-shirt.
Just recently – Tibet! A fortnight crossing the mountainous-desert landscapes, by train (world's highest railroad!) then minibus (world's worst driving!), skirting the foot of the Himalayas, taking in views of Everest itself, plus a three-day trek around Mount Kailash. Oh my God Buddha!
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TO TIBET BY THE HIGH-ELEVATION RAILWAY. DETAILS BELOW… . Как добраться до Тибета? Быстрее всего самолётом. Удобнее и зрелищнее – поездом. Тем более, что это не просто поезд. Это – Цинхай-Тибетская железная дорога, самая высокогорная в мире ЖД с регулярным пассажирским сообщением. Соединяет Синин и Лхасу, длина ~2000км, высшая точка полотна – 5072м. Во-первых, это красиво :) Виды из окна открываются сугубо живописные, вдумчивые, медитативные. А вторая причина – чисто техническая. Тибет славится весьма впечатляющими высотами. Лхаса расположена на высоте аж 3600м над уровнем моря. А если забраться подальше, то там ниже 4 тысяч высот в принципе не бывает. Посему для наших бедных нежных офисных организмов требуется акклиматизация. А в поезде вагоны кондиционированы обогащённой смесью кислорода, чтобы равнинному туристу было легче привыкнуть и не впасть в горняшку. —8<— How to get to Tibet? The fastest option is to fly with an airplane. The most convenient and spectacular option is to take a train. But this is not just a train. This is *the* train – Qinghai–Tibet railway, the world's highest elevation railway that connects Xining to Lhasa. The length is ~2,000 km, the highest point is at 5072 m. Firstly, this railway offers amazing meditative views. The second reason is purely technical. Tibet is one really high autonomous region: Lhasa is 3600 m above sea level, while much of the rest of the region's populated centers are above 4000 meters. Accordingly, I took it very steadily so as not to suffer from altitude sickness. In the train the passenger carriages are specially built and have an oxygen supply for each passenger. This is extremely important for a smooth acclimatization. . #china #tibet #китай #тибет #railways #railroads #железнаядорога
And last but not least – the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Mayan pyramids and a dozen cenotes.
Culture vulture.
- I finally got myself to fabulous Florence. Oh my Girolamo!
- I checked out the Masada fortress – this time from up above;
- And a visit to Tito's secret underground Cold-War atom-bomb-proof bunker;
Finally (as in – my final cultural place-of-interest of the year; also as in – I've finally gotten round to getting to this must-see world-famous building:), I visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Simply pleasants, funs, and assorted bits and bobs.
- I saw a familiar – furry! – Kamchatkan face in… the backwater city of Fribourg in Switzerland!
- I got up close and personal with… Rwandan gorillas! I even got a glimpse of a couple… making love, before I respectfully looked away );
- After a long campaign by users and Fan-Klubbers, we finally brought back from the dead the piggy-squeal to our products, which can be activated with old-school cheat codes!
When at Starmus, meet the stars – including the Armenian President, Brian May and Buzz Aldrin!
Alas – Ferrari didn't win the Grand Prix. Oh well. As per – here's hoping that will change in the New Year…
Back to the good news…
- New glossy coffee-table book penned by moi: Come Hell or High Altai Water – coming soon;
- This year we had our 22nd birthday, meaning: mega-birthday bash!
- And talking of anniversaries – this year it was 30 years since I got into this here game of anti-virus (in 1989 when Cascade infected my computer) almost by mistake!
PS: All together, it went something like this:


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At one time or another, we have all awakened to the sight of empty soda bottles, pizza boxes, candy bar wrappers, or ice cream containers strewn about our bedroom, den or kitchen and asked ourselves: "Did I really eat all that?"
And it is easier than ever to have this happen. Many of us were off work due to the world events, so we had soo much time on our hands. And well, a lot of us ate, and ate, AND ATE!
Rather than accepting binges as temporary relapses, we tend to react by beating ourselves up for falling off the wagon and failing to follow through our healthy eating plan. Here are a few concrete actions you can take after a binge to successfully coach yourself from relapse to recovery in as little time as possible:
Go Ahead and Vent!
Give yourself 10 minutes to vent about your setback. Set a timer to make certain you don't get carried away, and then use this time to whine about why you can't eat whatever you want. Complain about how much you hate to exercise. Blame your mother and rave on about why it is not your fault that you like ice cream. Give voice to everything you are feeling and thinking – expressing anything that might be contaminating your brain. But when the 10 minutes are up and the timer goes off, stop venting and move on.
Focus on Facts, Not Faults
Writing a clear and objective description of what you ate during a binge can help you put an end to the blame game. Try to focus only on what you ate and not how you felt about what you ate. Focusing too intently on our feelings can sometimes interfere with out ability to move forward, because they can distort our objectivity. A written description can serve as a window through which we can assess our behavior without making judgments about ourselves. When we can begin to make distinctions between who we are and what and how much we eat, binges will lose their power to derail our weight loss and healthy living goals.
Reframe Your Binge
Reframing or putting a positive spin on your overeating incident doesn't mean that you don't accept responsibility for your actions. It means that you look at the experience with a positive, constructive attitude. For instance, rather than telling yourself that you have lost your way, reframe the incident by telling yourself that you merely took a detour. Remind yourself that no matter how much you ate, your binge did not cause the world to stop spinning. Life will go on, and so will your journey toward weight loss and healthy living.
Don't beat yourself up!


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TLDR: We've all been trained to stay away from string concatenation. The Java compiler stays away from it, too, even when the source code doesn't. /TLDR
Concatenation, Oh No
A friend of mine discovered "something" in a Java file recently; it looked about like this:
String s1;
// etc. about 20
String combined = s1 + s2 + ... + s20;
For a long time, this has been seen as a bad practice, because of the nature of strings in the Java programming language. In Java, every string is immutable; if it needs to change, a new string object is created, and the contents are copied over.
For the most part, this is done to allow Java to avoid a large class of buffer overflows that occur from reading off the end of a string. It's the same reason that the size of an array is established at the time of its instantiation.
So we look at this code and imagine that for each plus sign, a new
string object is created, which of course would be wildly inefficient.
Of course, most Java developers also know that the Java compiler is
smarter than that. Instead of creating a string object for each
concatenation, or a single new string object for all the concatenations,
it uses the
StringBuilder class that is built into the Java standard
So we concluded this code probably winds up pretty efficient at runtime,
even though it looks terrible. But that led us to wonder how smart the
compiler really is. Should we just stop worrying about using
ourselves and just let the compiler do it?
It turns out that the answer is no; it's probably best to stick with the
habit of using
StringBuilder instead of concatenation. At worst, the
compiled bytecode is the same. At best, it saves some object instantiation.
Here's some examples to illustrate, using Java 8.
Simple Concatenation
The easiest thing in this case is to stay away from development environments and stick to command-line tools. We'll start with a simple Java class and compile it using "javac".
public class StringConcatSingle {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String s1 = "abc";
String s2 = "def";
System.out.println(s1 + s2);
Then compile and run through the
javap tool, which is built into Java and is
great for looking at byte code:
$ javac *.java
$ javap -c StringConcatSingle.class
As expected, the compiler created a
StringBuilder and used its
append() method.
Since this example is the shortest, I'll show the full bytecode for
public static void main(java.lang.String[]);
0: ldc #2 // String abc
2: astore_1
3: ldc #3 // String def
5: astore_2
6: getstatic #4 // Field java/lang/System.out:Ljava/io/PrintStream;
9: new #5 // class java/lang/StringBuilder
12: dup
13: invokespecial #6 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder."<init>":()V
16: aload_1
17: invokevirtual #7 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
20: aload_2
21: invokevirtual #7 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
24: invokevirtual #8 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.toString:()Ljava/lang/String;
27: invokevirtual #9 // Method java/io/PrintStream.println:(Ljava/lang/String;)V
30: return
So the concatenation is replaced with two calls to
To give a bit more detail for those who might not have looked at bytecode before:
- Lines 0-3: Load the "abc" and "def" strings from the constant pool and store them into local registers.
- Line 6: Get a reference to the static field System.out and put it on the stack.
- Line 9: Instantiate a StringBuilder object.
- Line 12: Duplicate it on the stack. This is a neat trick that avoids having to store it to a register. Normally, the call to its constructor would pop it off the stack, but this way there's a reference to it still ready to use.
- Line 13: Call its default no-arg constructor.
- Lines 16-21: Load the first string, append it, then load the second
string, then append it. Note that "invokevirtual" is the Java bytecode
to call a method, and that both the target object and its parameters
are popped off the stack for use. The return value, if any, is then
pushed onto the stack. It so happens that
StringBuilder.append()returns "this" to support method chaining, so it winds up back on the stack again in the right spot for the next call. Another clever trick.
- Line 24: Call toString() on the StringBuilder, again taking advantage
of the fact that
StringBuilder.append()returns "this".
- Line 27: Invoke
println()on the reference to
System.outthat was pushed onto the stack way back in line 6. Yet another bit of cleverness; because it was pushed onto the stack way back there, it is in the right place for this method call, "behind" the string parameter. If you own a calculator with Reverse Polish Notation this will all make perfect sense.
All in all, I hope you walk away with an appreciation for how much thought goes into compiling even a simple method.
Simple StringBuilder
It's interesting to see how this compares to code that uses a StringBuilder directly:
public class StringBuilderSingle {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String s1 = "abc";
String s2 = "def";
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
public static void main(java.lang.String[]);
0: ldc #2 // String abc
2: astore_1
3: ldc #3 // String def
5: astore_2
6: new #4 // class java/lang/StringBuilder
9: dup
10: invokespecial #5 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder."<init>":()V
13: astore_3
14: aload_3
15: aload_1
16: invokevirtual #6 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
19: pop
20: aload_3
21: aload_2
22: invokevirtual #6 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
25: pop
26: getstatic #7 // Field java/lang/System.out:Ljava/io/PrintStream;
29: aload_3
30: invokevirtual #8 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.toString:()Ljava/lang/String;
33: invokevirtual #9 // Method java/io/PrintStream.println:(Ljava/lang/String;)V
36: return
It's pretty much identical; the only difference is that the
StringBuilder instance
gets stored away and reloaded on each use, because the compiler is operating on
successive statements independently rather than writing optimized bytecode for a
single statement. We could use our insights about method chaining above to improve
this code further, and make it almost identical to the concatenation version.
Multiple Statements
Let's make things a little more complicated for the compiler:
public class StringConcatDouble {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String s1 = "abc";
String s2 = "def";
String s3 = "ghi";
String s4 = "jkl";
String output = s1 + s2;
output = output + s3 + s4;
In this case, we have two statements, but they are both assembling the
same string. And here, probably out of a need to only make safe
optimizations, the compiler treats each statement separately, so we
end up with two
StringBuilder instances:
13: new #6 // class java/lang/StringBuilder
16: dup
17: invokespecial #7 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder."<init>":()V
20: aload_1
21: invokevirtual #8 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
24: aload_2
25: invokevirtual #8 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
28: invokevirtual #9 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.toString:()Ljava/lang/String;
31: astore 5
33: new #6 // class java/lang/StringBuilder
36: dup
37: invokespecial #7 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder."<init>":()V
40: aload 5
42: invokevirtual #8 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
45: aload_3
46: invokevirtual #8 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
49: aload 4
51: invokevirtual #8 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.append:(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;
54: invokevirtual #9 // Method java/lang/StringBuilder.toString:()Ljava/lang/String;
The "output" variable gets the contents of the first
StringBuilder, then that
string is loaded back into the next variable (lines 28-42). However, note that
the second concatenation statement, with its three strings, only uses one
StringBuilder (lines 42-51).
To push it one more step, I tried looping over an array of strings,
concatenating each one, to see if there was an optimization for loops, but the
compiler generated a new
StringBuilder for each iteration of the loop.
So we can conclude that the code at the top of this article would actually compile to something pretty well optimized. But for anything more complicated, the resulting bytecode is not as good as we could get if we do things correctly ourselves.
In my view, it means that the advice to avoid concatenation is still good advice, because it's a decent habit. But it means I have a justification for my habit of using concatenation in debug logging and similar places where it makes the code more compact and readable.
Postscript: Decompiling
One more interesting note I came across while looking at this. There's a great library, Java Decompiler, that turns Java class files back into source code, even if the source is not available. If the Java code is compiled with debugging symbols, it can pretty much re-create the original source file. But even if the debug symbols are not available, it gets pretty close. Here's the first example, compiled with "-g:none" for no debug symbols, then decompiled:
Variable names and line numbers were lost, but otherwise it did amazingly well.
Note that it turns the calls to
StringBuilder back into a string concatenation.
Based on the difference we saw above in the bytecode, it is able to infer that the
optmization was performed and undo it. Similarly, it can recognize that the reference
System.out is not stored in a local variable, and so it can reassemble the call
System.out.println() even though it is in two places in the bytecode.
For more fun, I invite you to write a version of the above StringBuilderSingle
class that uses method chaining and an anonymous
StringBuilder, something like:
new StringBuilder().append(s1).append(s2).toString()
The decompiler will turn it back into concatenation in the decompiled source code.


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Italian Metal Double Layer Tool Box
Regular price $140.00
Unit price per
*This item is Final Sale*
Crafted by a small family in Parma, Italy. Coated in epoxy powder. This is great for home organization - small toys, art supplies, and of course tools.
18" x 8.25" x 6" / Double Layered Toolbox with 3 compartments.
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