text:
Learn more about J.R. on NerdWallet's Ask An Advisor
As financial services become increasingly automated, retirement-spending apps have emerged that enable you to enter your income needs and portfolio information in order to ostensibly get a reasonable prediction of whether or how long your nest eggs may last in retirement.
Many of these apps are on the market — some developed by firms such as Betterment, Vanguard, T. Rowe Price and Schwab, and others sold as subscription services to financial advisors for use with their clients. The problem is that users are led to believe they should make important life decisions with the aid of these apps, even though the underlying probabilities are based on inherently unpredictable outcomes.
In truth, applying probability software to retirement-planning analysis is folly. Even the most sophisticated retirement-planning software used by financial professionals is a far cry from a crystal ball.
The problem with probabilities
The failings of probability-based retirement software, specifically those apps that apply so-calledMonte Carlo simulation techniques, are reasonably well-known in professional circles. One of the first academic papers to raise the issue was a 2006 article written by renowned retirement researcher and York University of Toronto professor Moshe Milevsky, who noted in his introduction:
"Of course, as most investment advisors have known for years, a retirement number — if it actually exists — is vague and imprecise, as it depends on many economic unknowns, especially future equity market returns. After all, this number must be invested somewhere in order to produce income, and the portfolio return process is inherently random."
In addition to the unpredictability of future returns, Milevsky goes on to document how "probabilities" produced by popular retirement software applications vary from one app to the next, depending upon the applications' internal assumptions and design parameters.
Another academic study, published in February, concluded that "the advice provided from a majority of these tools is extremely misleading to households."
These publications have caused some to question whether retirement-planning software offers any value to consumers at all. So what alternatives are there?
'Back-testing' software
Financial advisors who use Monte Carlo simulation software often express their clients' results in terms of the likelihood of a positive outcome. Instead of attempting to predict "probabilities of success," perhaps a better way to approach retirement planning is from a glass-half-empty perspective.
What you really need to know is not how you may fare if things go well, but what will happen to you if a 10% possibility of rain turns into a 100% probability of a thunderstorm. You desperately need and want to know, "If things go badly in the investment markets, will I still be OK?"
Traditionally, historical "back-testing" software has been used for this purpose. By entering your retirement profile into a back-testing app, you can test how your portfolio may have fared if you had retired prior to previous economic downturns. While such information is useful and interesting to consumers, back-testing also has significant limitations.
Specifically, past returns are unlikely to be repeated in the exact same sequence again, and it is entirely possible that future returns will be worse than historical experience.
Further, suppose you wanted to test how your portfolio might hold up over a 30-year retirement horizon if you had retired at the end of 1999 (just before the 2000-'02 and 2007-'09 bear markets). Because we are only in 2016, it isn't possible to play out the analysis over the full 30-year horizon. You can't back-test the future.
Bootstrapping technique
One solution to the limitations of back-testing is to apply a simulation technique called bootstrapping. While the simulation engine under the hood of many retirement apps requires the program designer to make assumptions about expected mean rates of return and volatility for various asset classes, bootstrapping requires no such assumptions. Simulations are produced instead by randomly sampling historical returns.
If enough simulations are generated — typically a minimum of 5,000 — the median result may be expected to be roughly in line with historical averages. By considering the range of results below the median, bootstrapping programs may illustrate scenarios showing below-average investment returns, with the value-at-risk statistics (the bottom 1%, 5% and 10% results) representing scenarios that may be as bad or worse than the historical record.
For example, the following table shows the bootstrapping simulation results for a 65-year-old investor with a 25-year retirement horizon, a $1 million initial portfolio value and a 70-to-30 stock-bond retirement allocation. In this example, the investor requires a $50,000 (5%) first-year withdrawal rate and a 3% annual cost-of-living increase thereafter. He estimates his annual investment expense at 1% and has stated that he expects to withdraw proportionately from each asset class each year and rebalance to maintain his 70-to-30 allocation.
By focusing on the bottom half of the results and displaying the simulation range in five-year increments over the time period, you can gain a much more tangible sense of whether and how long your savings may last. What's more, by presenting the data in this format, it is easy to then test how changing factors that are within your control (spending amount, withdrawal strategy, asset allocation, investment expenses) may affect the outcomes.
To be clear, there is absolutely nothing predictive in these simulation results, and the simulation percentiles should not be viewed as probabilities. Instead, the worst results merely represent potential scenarios that may be used to give you a clearer picture of what may happen if things go badly.
While bootstrapping offers a neat way to illustrate this data, it is also not without its flaws and limitations. In this example, bootstrapping was applied only to historicalstock market datafrom 1970 to 2014. The bond portion of the portfolio was assumed to be a constant 2% per year, which reasonably reflects the return an investor might earn today on a five-year CD or 10-year treasury. The fact that bootstrapping simulations were not applied to historical bond data reflects a limitation seen in most retirement apps in that the yields on bonds today are near the bottom of the historic extreme. As a result, any Monte Carlo application that is generating numbers based on mean historical bond returns or any bootstrapping simulation that is randomly sampling historical bond index returns may produce overly optimistic results.
With any retirement-planning app, the devil is in the details. Consumers and advisors alike would do well to take the time to understand the assumptions and limitations inherent in any retirement-planning application.
John H. Robinson is the owner of Financial Planning Hawaii and a co-founder of Nest Egg Guru, a retirement-planning software application for financial professionals.
This article originally appeared on NerdWallet.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


text:
UPGRADE: Gunmetal French Hooks
UPGRADE: Gunmetal French Hooks
Sale Sold out
Regular price $2.00 AUD
Regular priceUnit price per
Sale price
Swap out standard earring hooks for these gunmetal french hooks.
Alloy, high-quality nickel free & lead free
But I can't guarantee absolutely zero irritation. They cause me no problems, though!
If you're buying multiple pairs of earrings, please leave a note with which pair you'd like to add these to, or make sure to purchase enough of this listing to cover all of the earrings you purchase.
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Shipping information here

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Expert Biomedical Research Services
CBSET was founded with the mission of enabling the advancement of novel therapeutics, devices, and techniques through ongoing collaboration. We are a multidisciplinary, not-for-profit research institute that supports a range of applications, with OLAW-assured, AAALAC-accredited animal research facilities and GLP-compliant analyses.
CBSET's preclinical research capabilities combine in vivo studies, in vitro studies, computational and 3D modeling, and complex histopathology into one integrated research paradigm. We can devise full preclinical programs or specific study designs using the optimal model systems, specimen types, and project methods to achieve your scientific, regulatory and commercial goals.
Explore Our Services
Medical Device Testing
Specialized expertise in the pre-clinical, in vivo evaluation and development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices.
Drug & Cell-Based Therapies
Evaluation of pharmacology, toxicity and biodistribution of drugs and cell-based therapeutics.
Histopathology & Morphometry
Evaluation of tissues, devices and biomaterials, including development of novel processing / staining methods and scoring / evaluation paradigms.
Education & Training
A commitment to education that ranges from sharing our groundbreaking data with the scientific community to helping to train physicians on new procedures and techniques.


text:
The Skylanders Cloud Patrol app has been updated this week to include all new powers for some of the characters.
Updates include:
- Your Skylanders are becoming more powerful with new special abilities, including:
- Trigger Happy has all new Golden Anvil Rain that smashes everything
- Stealth Elf shoots with super speed
- Terrafin can now shoot rocks for an extra bonus
- Legendary Bash explodes all bombs with a Max Combo
- Flameslinger's Ghost Swords work twice in a row
- and much more– every character has all new special abilities!
- Bigger bonuses and goals! New Elemental Coins with big bonuses and coin collecting goals for players above level 20
- Timing is everything! Now there's less time for trolls in hideouts to regroup and improved pacing in later stages.
Skylanders Cloud Patrol is available on the iTunes app store for only $0.99. It is available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod.
For more info, check out www.skylanders.com.
[youtube id="Q8V_bhjvpwI" width="600″ height="350″]


text:
- Putin insists Russian technology is years ahead of rivals
- Performance in Ukraine undermines boast, military analysts say India and China lead list of buyers of Russian weapons
LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia was ready to sell advanced weapons to allies globally and cooperate in developing military technology, nearly six months into the Ukraine war in which his army has performed worse than expected.
With its forces beaten back from Ukraine's two biggest cities and making slow headway at heavy cost in eastern provinces, the war has so far proved an unconvincing showcase for Russia's arms industry. read more
But Putin, addressing an arms show outside Moscow, insisted Russian weaponry was years ahead of the competition.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
Russia cherished its strong ties with Latin America, Asia and Africa and was ready to supply allies there with a full gamut of weapons from small arms to armored vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft and drones, he said. "Almost all of them have been used more than once in real combat operations."
He said Russia's offer included high-precision weapons and robotics. "Many of them are years, or maybe decades ahead of their foreign counterparts, and in terms of tactical and technical characteristics they are significantly superior to them."
Russia ranks second only to the United States with arms sales of around $15 billion a year, nearly a fifth of the global export market. From 2017-2021, 73% of those sales went to just four countries – India, China, Egypt and Algeria – according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Western military analysts said Russia's struggles against a much smaller adversary in Ukraine could undermine Putin's sales pitch.
"With the collapse of economic relations with the West, Russia is even more dependent on the arms trade than it was before, so it's not surprising that Putin is so keen to promote them to as many non-Western customers as he can," said Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London.
"The big problem for him is that Russia's war against Ukraine has been a disaster for Russian military credibility – their performance has been a very poor advertisement for their weapons."
Asked which Russian weapons systems had performed worst in Ukraine, retired US General Ben Hodges cited assessments by US defense officials that Russia was suffering failure rates as high as 60% for some of its precision-guided missiles.
Western sanctions imposed against Russia also raised questions about its ability to source components and provide maintenance for the weapons it sells, added Hodges, a former commander of US Army forces in Europe.
"I'd be very concerned as a prospective buyer about the quality of the equipment and the ability of the Russian Federation industry to sustain it," he said.
Ukraine has made effective use of US-supplied weaponry, especially the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and Russia has taken a series of major blows. These include explosions at an airbase in the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula last week that destroyed at least eight aircraft on the ground, according to satellite images.
Nevertheless, Putin said the forces of Russia and its proxies in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine were fulfilling all their tasks.
"Step by step they are liberating the land of Donbas," he said.
Russia calls the invasion that began on Feb. 24 a "special military operation" to demilitarize its smaller neighbor and protect Russian-speaking communities. Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of waging an unprovoked war to capture territory.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Grant McCool
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


text:
When Sushmita Mazumdar's son, Arijit, turned five, he stopped conversing in Bengali and refused to pack Indian food in his Spiderman lunch box, preferring his turkey sandwich with cheese rather than rolled chapatti with curry. It was not till a neighbor from Chile came up to Sushmita and ruefully admitted that her son refused to speak in anything other than English that Sushmita was jolted into worrying about her own situation.
From that moment of reflection grew the vision of an idea that was almost too simple and effortless. Sushmita came up with the idea of crafting picture books that would teach the story of our heritage, our culture, eating habits, and even weather patterns. The stories would inform and entertain; discuss geography and history; talk pollination and ecology; spin a tale, your tale, a child's tale, a best friend's tale, a casual acquaintance's tale or even a grandmother's tale.
"My child is the CEO of my company," proclaims Mazumdar with just a hint of amusement. "His questions engender ideas that lead to the creative process, which generates revenue. Isn't that what a good CEO is all about?" Despite this uncompounded vanilla view, there is no doubt that Mazumdar's company, Handmade Story Books, has impressed the artistic and literary cognoscenti across the United States. She is listed as an instructor at the prestigious Arlington Arts Center, has conducted workshops at numerous art centers and parks, and more recently, here in the Bay Area, headlined a fundraiser for India Literacy Project (ILP) last month.
"The questions that children ask shed so much light on our lives," says Mazumdar, "Why do you wear earrings?" "Why is Indian food so colorful?" Each question takes Mazumdar on a quest to her own roots, to find the answers and shape together a story that would interest inquiring minds.
Mazumdar revealed that her popular book, At Cha O'clock, was a result of her son's question, "Why do you drink cha(tea)?" The words to the story are lyrical, unpretentiously expressive and instantly appealing:
At Cha o'clock,
I get a cookie,
Maybe a bit of Cake
I steep the Cha
And watch the Leaves Stretch
And come Awake!
The stories are fascinating both in their origins and originality. There is a story about green mangoes, kairis, as Mumbai-ites would put it. There is even a tale from Germany where a flag is fashioned from the bladder of a pig, inflated and then flown. The language in the books is humorous, charming, and yet laden with imagery.
It was a Strange Summer Saturday
because my cousins decided
to pour a mug-full of water
on the tiled floor.
Then the boys
quickly took off their shirts
and lay down in it.
Having worked as a graphic designer in the mercurial madness of Mumbai's advertising world, Mazumdar is assuredly confident in front of an audience, though the nature of her audience has swung from skeptics in boardrooms to the curious in classrooms. When asked whether her work had been informed by experiences in her past, Mazumdar, the quintessential storyteller, launched into a little narrative about her trip to Ladakh, a region studded with mountains and deserts. There, in a little village market, sat an old man selling apricots while turning a prayer wheel continuously with one hand.
A decade later, the prayer wheel has metamorphosed into tiny books filled with prayers, hopes, and wishes to be worn like amulets.
The creative process for Mazumdar includes writing the story, preparing artwork and using techniques like Arabic calligraphy and Chinese pictographs to write on carefully selected paper, and even Chinese scrolls to create unforgettable, keepsake books. According to Mazumdar, a workshop usually is about two hours long, which is the average time it takes to create a book. She wryly comments on how parents sometimes come to her workshops wearing tired expressions and jaded attitudes, but by the end when they've actually created a book, there is unmistakable excitement and an almost childlike level of enthusiasm.
Besides teaching children and conducting workshops on handmade storybooks, Mazumdar also takes commissions on behalf of clients across the country. There is no arguing that books are great gifts, but handmade storybooks have an appeal that can be funny and personal, or touching and poignant. One of her clients, Richard Rose, comments about the book he created, "SHURA is a story which I prepared from the recollections of my wife, Susan Irene Rose, who died on May 13, 2008."
A fellow writer, Ray Anderson, comments about Mazumdar, "I don't think anyone can really appreciate her works of art without actually having seen one … having flipped the pages and having read the wonderful stories that she has crafted."
As she talks of her books, it occurs to me that Sushmita Mazumdar is more than just a writer. She is also a teacher, a poet, an artist as well as a craftsperson. Mazumdar, though, describes herself with endearing humility, "I am just a mom with lots of stories to tell."
Jaya Padmanabhan ran a media company, inMedya Productions, until 2007. She is a prize-winning fiction writer and is currently in the process of writing a novel.


text:
We are pleased to announce openings for our 2020 Academy for Teaching about Health and Environmental Associations (ATHENA) summer workshop! Since 2010, ATHENA has hosted biennial summer workshops that bring together University of Washington scientists with teachers from across Washington State to develop hands-on health curriculum for high school students.
For the first time ever, the 2020 ATHENA workshop will be held virtually on July 31st – August 1st. This development will allow us to draw on national expertise and also to include health teachers from across the country.
The focus of our 2020 workshop will be on the health impacts of vaping, e-cigarettes and other inhaled contaminants. During the two-day workshop, organizers and participants will help make the science on these topics engaging through the development of new interactive classroom exercises, including one or more digital break-out exercises that will be appropriate for remote learning.
Spots in this interactive workshop are limited and are granted through a competitive admissions process. If you would like to apply, please fill out the Survey Monkey application form no later than May 29th. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.


text:
Важная информация
This course will explore the dynamic factors affecting the health and wellbeing of young people around the world, and how important it is for individuals, communities and nations that we improve the health and life chances of this important population group. With over 25% of the world's population aged between 10 and 24 years, today's generation of young people is the largest in human history. As the future leaders and drivers of growth, productivity and innovation, young people are our greatest assets, and investment in their health and wellbeing has social, economic and other benefits that continue across the lifespan and into the next generation. In this course we will adopt a life-course framework to take a holistic view of youth health and wellbeing. We will explore changing patterns of adolescent health and development, including why adolescence is starting earlier and ending later; how puberty and adolescent brain development may shape future health; and how what happens in adolescence can affect the start to life for the next generation. We'll also look at the major health and social issues affecting young people and ways of addressing these through policy, practice and programming. COURSE FORMAT: This course comprises short video lectures and interviews, required and recommended readings, online discussion, quizzes and written assignments. There is no required text for this course and all readings are provided. DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS COURSE? No- you may access 100% of material in this course for free. You are also welcome to do as much or as little of the course as you like, including all (or none!) of the assessment tasks- it all depends on your learning goals. The option to pay for this course is there for those who wish to receive a Course Certificate as evidence of completion (which does require you to attempt and successfully pass the assessment tasks). WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR? This course will be relevant for anyone with an interest in the health and wellbeing of young people. You do not need to be of any particular personal or professional background to benefit from this course, but having some basic undergraduate study experience will be helpful to your learning (particularly if in a health related field). WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING I'LL LEARN IF I TAKE THIS COURSE? You'll learn how so much of what happens during adolescence can impact not only the future health of individuals, but the health of the next generation as well. You'll develop a greater understanding of the key factors impacting upon youth health and learn how to be a better advocate for the health and wellbeing of young people. View the MOOC promotional video here: http://tinyurl.com/z5l4mod
- Week 1 - Week 1 - Introduction to adolescent health: developmental and ecological perspectives (Part I)
Welcome! Before getting started on this week's content, be sure to review the materials under the 'Introduction' section below to help you get the most out of this course, whatever your learning goals may be.
This week we set the scene for adolescent h...
- Week 2 - Week 2 - Introduction to adolescent health: developmental and ecological perspectives (Part II)
This week we return to our conceptual framework and unpack the key concepts of social determinants of health and risk and protective factors. We explore what these terms mean and how they influence and shape adolescent health and development. We also begin to ...
- Week 3 - Week 3 - Major health problems of adolescents (Part I)
This week we explore our conceptual framework for adolescent health as it relates to health-related behaviours and states and health outcomes. By that we mean, how do the biological, social, economic and other influences that we have discussed so far play out ...
- Week 4 - Week 4 - Major health problems of adolescents (Part II)
This week continues last week's focus on the 'health-related behaviours and states' and 'health outcomes' components of our conceptual framework. We will discuss some of the other major health topics and issues affecting adolescents and young adults around the...
- Week 5 - Week 5 - Adolescent health policy, programming and intervention (Part I)
This week we set the scene for understanding the policy and practice context of adolescent health and development through reviewing the functions of family and family policy, the value of education as a resource for health, and the wider influences of peers, a...
- Week 6 - Week 6 - Adolescent health policy, programming and intervention (Part II)
This week we continue our exploration of the policy and practice context of adolescent health and development by focusing on the role of health services in responding to the burden of disease experienced by young people. We discuss the elements of quality heal...
- Week 7 - Weeks 7 - 8 (no new content)
Weeks 7 and 8 do not feature any new course material and are for the development, submission and peer marking of the second written assignment for those wishing to do so. Please be sure to review the intro video below for some important information before gett...
Professor Susan Sawyer
Chair of Adolescent Health
Department of Paediatrics
Professor George Patton
Professorial Fellow
Adolescent Health Research
Coursera - это цифровая компания, предлагающая массовые открытые онлайн-курсы, основанные учителями компьютеров Эндрю Нгом и Стэнфордским университетом Дафни Коллер, расположенные в Маунтин-Вью, штат Калифорния.
Coursera работает с ведущими университетами и организациями, чтобы сделать некоторые из своих курсов доступными в Интернете, и предлагает курсы по многим предметам, включая: физику, инженерию, гуманитарные науки, медицину, биологию, социальные науки, математику, бизнес, информатику, цифровой маркетинг, науку о данных и другие предметы.


text: Buying new cookware and dinnerware can be nerve-wracking, primarily if some manufacturers still use paint with lead. For example, do IKEA plates contain lead? On the other hand, if you love IKEA, you'd likely be interested if their plates were free from this heavy metal. Find out more in today's Dinnerware Blog.


text:
Perry Marshall is best known as the web's foremost authority on pay-per-click marketing, and the author of The Definitive Guide to Google AdWords. But his latest book, which took 10 years of research to complete, is 80/20 Sales and Marketing.
Perry says the greatest secret to success is MASTERY of the 80/20 principle, because when you know how to walk into any situation and identify the 80/20's, you can solve almost ANY money problem… any traffic problem… any conversion problem.
He says most people THINK they understand 80/20, but not one person in 1,000 actually does. And knowing the 80/20 principle allows you to fix your own business, or fix other peoples' businesses. It has levers within levers, so that 1% changes can trigger 50% profits.
If you're tired of trying stuff, trying stuff, trying stuff and never getting off the treadmill, this could be your ticket to success.


text:
The trailer has been released for an upcoming thriller, Traffik, which stars Paula Patton, Omar Epps and Laz Alonso.
The film will be in theaters April 27.
In the action-packed thriller, Traffik, Brea (Paula Patton) and John (Omar Epps) are off for a romantic weekend in the mountains. Isolated at a remote estate, the couple is surprised by the arrival of two friends, Darren (Laz Alonso) and Malia (Roselyn Sanchez.) Just when the weekend starts to get back on track, a violent biker gang turns up and begins to torment them. The foursome is forced to fight for their lives against the gang who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.
The film is written and directed by Deon Taylor, and produced by Roxanne Avent, Paula Patton and Taylor.
Watch the trailer below:


text:
Aerial Photography of the Later Prehistoric and Roman Landscape of Western Transylvania, Romania
This project seeks to improve knowledge of the history and development of the landscape of the western lowlands of Romania by the application of archaeological aerial reconnaissance. Though new to this area, this survey technique is well established as the single most important method of finding new archaeological sites in lowland arable areas in…
Vințu de Jos 3
Creator: William Hanson & Ioana Oltean
Identifier: 0370615
Date: July 2003
Type: image
Format: jpg
Two small rectangular structures showing as negative cropmarks. View from SW. Two small rectangular structures on the outskirts of the village adjacent to the bridge over the Mureș


text:
Uncle Sam Has No Clothes
"Those attempting to find a plot in it will be shot," declares Mark Twain with his opening words to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Now the National Theater of the United States of America (NTUSA) throws down its own gauntlet, serving up a mutant piece of this same American pie in DUMBO with its latest collective theater piece: What's That On My Head?
Just when you think you've caught the thread of Head— "Oh, it's a distorted, sometimes linear take on American history"— its mercurial cast snips away all your preconceptions of where the play is headed next. Unlike the tidy narration of textbooks, one period of our history bleeds into another, and yet another, with an anarchic lack of respect to time, rhyme, or reason. From epoch to epoch, the only constant is the characters' bi-polar tendencies to either loathe their lot or get swept up in Head's ants-in-your-pants, song-and-dance numbers. In the process, NTUSA brilliantly caricatures varied periods of class struggle, all the while lambasting the entertainment industry, which is quite entertainingly portrayed as lulling the masses into complacency.
Audience members enter the spectacle on swivel chairs set on a rolling platform that cloaked cast members discreetly push through the play's— count 'em— seven different sets in the 4,000 square foot venue at the Nest Arts Complex. Just like on a theme-park ride through a haunted mansion, the audience is literally transported from scene to scene, century to century. Stages are often set up on all sides, bombarding and immersing the audience in the social shenanigans at hand: actors sometimes even join audience members on the platform. No set or costume stays the same for long, and the NTUSA cast doesn't miss a beat in negotiating the hair-trigger transitions.
The play concerns three characters from three different periods of history, who wind up on an afterlife game show, where they time-travel and then, on pain of even further death, have to guess what objects have been placed on their heads. An undead game-show host (Jonathan Jacobs), wearing corpse-white foundation and electric-shocked hair that makes Don King's look as relaxed as Sade's, conducts the three contestants through his Kafkaesque maze. A celebrity panel stocks the variety-show segments that include the ruffle-shirted, guitar-strummin' Anderson Brothers (Ryan Bronz and Matt Kalman), a Girl Genius (Normandy Sherwood), and a Rhett Butler look-alike named Roy Canard, Jr. (Aimee McCormick). Many of the celebrities themselves meet their maker in the course of the play, but then step back on stage to join the jamboree. For added danger, a big Monster (Gina E. Cline) also stalks the stages and licks his chops for losers on the game show.
Gallows humor is the order of the day in NTUSA's reenactments— from colonial penury, to temperance societies crashing western seraglios, to slavery in Georgia, to the Great Depression, to the Cuban Missile Crisis and beyond. Toward the end, Roy Canard, Jr. drives home the gist of the play in his lounge-singer's remake of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy": "I was dreaming of the past/And my heart was beating fast."
Head has all the fragmentation of a dream and the heart-stopping panic with which we may behold the future in view of past injustices. On that note, please also take advantage of the voter registration cards that NTUSA has up front at the bar.
What's That On My Head? created and performed by the National Theater of the United States of America (NTUSA), January 8 to February 8, Thursday to Sunday, 8:00 pm, Nest Arts Complex, 88 Front Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn, $15. For reservations, call: 212/615-6607. For more info: www.ntusa.org.
ContributorKyle Thomas Smith
Kyle Thomas Smith is the author of the novel, 85A. He lives in Brooklyn.
On Theater and Theurgy: A Les Waters Compendium Illuminates the Director's CraftBy Joey Sims
FEB 2023 | Theater
But nor is Waters, a king of experimental theater who recently graced Broadway with his extraordinary production of Lucas Hnaths Dana H., about to let a book about his work become, itself, obvious or rote. So, interspersed between illuminating essays by Waterss collaborators come his own idiosyncratic contributions.
What To Do When You Grow Tired of WordsBy Jeesun Choi
JUL-AUG 2021 | Theater
In her luminous and searching essay, theatermaker Jeesun Choi uses her multifaceted identity as a springboard to explore the social justice-oriented words, acronyms, and phrases that have flooded our world over the past yearand how these words might be, and only be, shorthanded expressions unable to fully unpack increasingly complicated issues.
Theater is Refreshing With The Watering HoleBy Judith C. Lovell
SEPT 2021 | Theater
Writer Judith C. Lovell reflects and explores the ways in which Signature Theatres immersive theatrical production of Lynn Nottages The Watering Hole reimagines a post-pandemic theater.
We See You, White American TheaterBy Brittani Samuel
MAY 2021 | Theater
Nearly one year after the We See You, White American Theater collective sent out a list of demands to theater institutions across the country, holding them accountable for their lack of BIPOC inclusion, writer Brittani Samuel gives a progress report, and evaluates how the organizations advocacy has impacted and changed theater as we know it.


text:
Chair of Management Accounting - MaCoCo Project
The MaCoCo – Management Cockpit for university chair Controlling - project aims to develop a software solution for RWTH University chairs in order to facilitate their management and accounting. The key elements of the project comprise enhanced resource management, enhanced third party project management as well as enhanced employee and project planning.
Currently the approximately 400 chairs of RWTH Aachen University are working with their own individual - usually self-devised - solutions, a situation which unfortunately fails to address some important aspects. All of these aspects will now be addressed and standardized by the MaCoCo software.
Two chairs of RWTH Aachen University will be collaborating on the project. The conceptual design of the project will be undertaken by the Chair of Management Accounting, which is held by Prof. Dr. Peter Letmathe, whereas the implementation work will be conducted by the Chair of Software Engineering, held by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Rumpe.
To satisfy all the needs of the different chairs, the concept of agile development will be applied. Agile development is based on short, 1-4 week cycles - so-called sprints - which include the conception of software features in cooperation with lead users, implementation, and testing. By involving lead users from different institutes and faculties and schools throughout the University in the process of development ensures that the software will match the specific requirements of all its future users.
The project will be monitored by a steering committee: a selected group of people comprising representatives of the staff councils, data protection unit, and the University's administration.
The aim of the MaCoCo project is to release a tested, ready-to-use software which meets the specific requirements of all the University chairs and which solves many of the currently existing problems.


text:
Caracas, Venezuela, Oct 30, 2003 / 22:00 pm
In a meeting with opposition leaders responsible for organizing a rally in protest against attacks on the Church by the government, the Apostolic Nuncio of Venezuela, Archbishop André Dupuy, and the Secretary General of the Bishops Conference of Venezuela, Archbishop José Luis Azuaje, said nothing will fracture the unity between the opposition movement and the Church.
Waving flags and holding signs, protesters marched with opposition leaders through the streets of the capital to the Apostolic Nunciature to express their support for the Nuncio in the face of "continuous verbal assaults against Church leaders by government officials." They gathered together outside the Nunciature, which was protected by a squadron of police officers.
Opposition leaders then met with Church leaders and gave a written letter of support to Archbishop Dupuy, recognizing his efforts at promoting the activities of the Church in Venezuela.
Sources said Church leaders urged them to continue working in communion, solidarity and unity. "Communion with God, solidarity with those in difficult situations, and unity among Catholics," the Bishops said. They also stated the Bishops know "that the only thing happening here is an attempt to divide the clergy to continue discrediting the Church for her role in seeking a solution to the crisis."


text:
Advancing Electronic Medical Records/E-Pharmacy Technology
Thanks to Israel Healthcare Foundation's support, more hospitals have been able to transition successfully to the Electronic Medical System, including Clalit, Soroka Medical Center and Yoseftal Hospital.
At Clalit's central offices, the team continued to customize and develop the software to meet the specifications of each discipline. It directed the installation of the remaining infrastructure and continued training the staff at Soroka and Yoseftal in EMR use.
At Soroka Medical Center and Yoseftal Hospital, all planned hospital departments and outpatient clinic successfully transitioned from paper charts to Electronic Medical Records.
With IHF's support, the development of the E-Pharmacy Software Project has made significant strides and is currently in a beta testing phase. Ongoing meetings with the international branch of First Databank in England occur twice a week and the medication catalog has been built and is ready for use. Already, approximately 6,000 medications have been managed and cataloged. Meetings on building maintenance processes for the software and content have begun. Additionally, the infrastructure for the user interface between EMR and e-pharmacy has been developed.
Additionally, IHF's work supported First Databank in building a medication catalog which includes all FDA approved medications. It has added Israeli medications which are not FDA approved to the database. Some 6,000 medications have been managed and listed. The team made sure that all generic and other names were included. Various other parameters, such as maximum daily doses and different methods of how each medication can be given, were added.
As a result, Soroka and Yoseftal hospitals are now able to connect to over 200 community clinics in the south due to the installation of the EMR system. This provides an additional benefit to the physicians and their patients.


text:
At Keep it Security Services, we pride ourselves on our dedication to meet our customers specific needs. We are committed to delivering service excellence, delivered with integrity and reliability, a philosophy that runs through our organisation from our Director, through to all of our security officers. Keep It Security Services - Number One for all your Security provisions.
There are currently no reviews for this company
All fields are required. Your review will appear immediately.


text:
Sutherland Global Services establishesd 1986, is a global BPO and technology-enabled services company offering an integrated set of back-office and customer facing front-office services that support the entire customer lifecycle. It is one of the largest, independent BPO companies in the world serving marquee clients in major industry verticals.
www.prepareinterview.comJob Details / Roles
Technical Support
Education Qualification
Any Graduates / Diploma
Years of Experience
Freshers(0 to 5 Years)
Job Skills Required
-Excellent communication skills
-knowledge on computer hardware & networking
-Flexible to work in rotational skills
Job Location
Chennai. Are you looking for jobs in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Noida, Gurgaon?
Date and Time of Interview
27th & 28th Mar 2017
Venue / Contact Information
Sutherland Global Services,
45 A, Velachery Main Road,
Velacheri, Chennai


text:
Garage Drywall: Hot Mud vs. Premixed Joint Compound
Posted by
The Kim Six Fix
Money Pit
This post may contain affiliate links
6 comments :
That looks fantastic! Thanks for all the great tips. MeganReplyDelete
Oh wow! I have never done that! but I might need to do something like that soon! It looks great! Thanks for all the tips! Good info.ReplyDelete
love the one wall you have done! I need to do this to our garage...but it's so full of crap that I don't think I could even move it to paint!!! Maybe a little cleaning is in order!ReplyDelete
HA HA I LOVE your blog name! I totally bought that movie for my hubs for Christmas this year because we bought a house this last summer, and we are completely renovating it!ReplyDelete
Anyway I am coming over to say THANKS for the sweet note you left me about my Spring/Easter Decor! I hope to see you poking around again soon!!!
Welcome to blogging. The name of your blog is a hoot. Thanks for joining my newbie party. You need to add my link or button to your post. Thanks.ReplyDelete
I'm a new linky follower. Love your blog name :) Also living in a money pit. But...instead of doing drywall...we get to learn how to repair plaster :P The drywall looks terrific!ReplyDelete
Thanks for your comments. I try to get back to anyone with a question.. so please make sure to leave an email address if you want a reply!


text:
The Vampire Tapestry is a 1980 fantasy novel by American author Suzy McKee Charnas. The story follows a vampire by the name of Dr Edward Lewis Weyland as he preys upon humanity while simultaneously trying to uncover who and what he truly is. Weyland is unlike many traditional vampires, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, in that his condition stems from biologic rather than supernatural means. This fact, coupled with Weyland's social behaviors, has led some critics to consider The Vampire Tapestry as a work of feminist science fiction. Whatever it is, it is also one of the most compelling and fascinating vampire novels ever written and is a cornerstone work in the vampire genre.
With a new introduction by Nancy Baker, new color artwork by Benjamin Nowak and Jeffrey Alan Love, and bonus materials from Charnas herself, this is a handsome, oversize edition. The book does not come with a slipcase.
Oversized at 7 × 10 inches, with ribbon marker, top-edge stain, handsome signature page, and attractive dustjacket, this is one of the genre's most important novels and an inventive and masterful contribution to is a phenomenal collection by one of horror's most distinctive voices. Signed by Charnas, Baker, and the two artists, the edition is just 150 copies.
edition information


text:
This version:
Most Recent version:
Previous versions:
Author: Jeni Tennison
This document describes the common set of EXSLT 1.0. EXSLT 1.0 is a set of extension elements and functions that XSLT authors may find helpful when creating stylesheets. The common set of EXSLT 1.0 are those extension elements and functions that provide a base level of common functionality that the rest of EXSLT can build on.
Other parts of EXSLT 1.0 include:
This document is a fourth draft for review by the implementers of XSLT processors and the XSLT stylesheet authors. It is based on discussions on XSL-List. Comments on this document should be sent to XSL-List.
This document has no official standing and has not been considered nor approved by any organization.
1. Introduction
2. Namespace
3. Common Functions
A. References
B. Acknowledgements
C. Changes from previous version
This document describes the common set of EXSLT 1.0. EXSLT 1.0 is a set of extension elements and functions that XSLT authors may find helpful when creating stylesheets. The common set of EXSLT 1.0 are those extension elements and functions that provide a base level of common functionality that the rest of EXSLT can build on.
The extension elements and functions defined within this document are governed by the general rules about extensions to XSLT covered in [14. Extensions] in [XSLT 1.0].
XSLT processors are free to support any number of the extension elements and functions described in this document. However, an XSLT processor must not claim to support EXSLT 1.0 - Common unless all the extensions described within this document are implemented by the processor. An implementation of an extension element or function in an EXSLT namespace must conform to the behaviour described in this document.
The namespace for the extension elements and functions described in this document is:
Throughout this document, the prefix
exsl is used to refer to this namespace. Any other prefix can be used within a particular stylesheet (though a prefix must be specified to enable the extension functions to be recognised as extensions).
This section defines the common extension functions in EXSLT 1.0.
Function: node-set exsl:node-set(object)
The purpose of the exsl:node-set function is to convert a result tree fragment into a node set. If the argument is a node set already, it is simply returned as is. It is an error if the argument to exsl:node-set is not a node set or a result tree fragment.
Function: string exsl:object-type(object)
The exsl:object-type function returns a string giving the type of the object passed as the argument. The possible object types are:
'node-set' or
Most XSLT object types can be coerced to each other without error. However, there are certain coercions that raise errors, most importantly treating anything other than a node set as a node set. Authors of utilities such as named templates or user-defined extension functions may wish to give some flexibility in the parameter and argument values that are accepted by the utility; the exsl:object-type function enables them to do so.
This has been informed and inspired by discussions on XSL-List with:
David Carlisle
Jarno Elovirta
Joe English
Clark C. Evans
Jim Fuller
Dave Gomboc
Dave Hartnoll
Kevin Jones
Yevgeniy (Eugene) Kaganovich
Mike Kay
Steve Muench
Miloslav Nic
Francis Norton
Dimitre Novatchev
Uche Ogbuji
David Rosenborg


text:
This day has been set aside every year to celebrate the winning combination of chocolate and caramel that has been delighting both children and adults of all ages for generations. Unlike National Caramel Day, which is celebrated on April 5th, this day is about chocolate and caramel – not just caramel.
When is National Chocolate Caramel Day?
March 19th – Annually
Type of Holiday
Unofficial. Fun Holiday.
How is National Chocolate Caramel Day Celebrated?
- You can celebrate this holiday by sharing your favorite chocolate caramel treats with your co-workers, classmates, friends, and family
- Indulge in as many chocolate caramel treats as you can stomach
- Make your own chocolate caramel
- Add caramel to your pancakes or chocolate ice cream
- Start your day with chocolate caramel coffee
National Chocolate Caramel Day Trivia/Facts:
- Recipes for chocolate caramels have been around since the 1880's
- Milton Hershey got his start preparing and selling caramel for a caramel company. This was the foundation of what would become his growing empire. Once he switched to making chocolate as his primary product, it only made sense to introduce the world into the blending of his two loves, chocolate and caramel
- Early candies were made by caramelizing sugar and letting it solidify to a hard candy. Caramels didn't exist until someone decided to add cream to the caramelized sugar
Celebrities who celebrate their birthday on March 19th:
- Wyatt Earp – Sheriff
- Earl Warren – Supreme Court Justice
- Irving Wallace – Author
- Bruce Willis – actor
- Abdullah bin Ali – Prince of Jordan
- Clayton Kershaw – Baseball player
- Glenn Close – Actress
Popular Social Media Hashtags:
#chocolate #chocolatecaramels #hershey
Other chocolate holidays that are celebrated are National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day, World Nutella Day and National Chocolate Mint Day and of course, National Peppermint Patty Day.


text:
Volume 12, Number 1, February 2005
Technology Electronic Reviews (TER) is a publication of the Library and Information Technology Association.
Technology Electronic Reviews (ISSN: 1533-9165) is a periodical copyright © 2005 by the American Library Association. Documents in this issue, subject to copyright by the American Library Association or by the authors of the documents, may be reproduced for noncommercial, educational, or scientific purposes granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976, provided that the copyright statement and source for that material are clearly acknowledged and that the material is reproduced without alteration. None of these documents may be reproduced or adapted for commercial distribution without the prior written permission of the designated copyright holder for the specific documents.
- EDITORIAL:The Origins of TER: Ten Years After. By Thomas C. Wilson.
- REVIEW OF: Phil Bradley. (2004). Advanced Internet Searcher's Handbook. Portland, OR: Neal-Schuman.(ISBN: 1856045234). By Rob Withers.
- REVIEW OF: Rickford Grant. (2004). Linux for Non-Geeks: a Hands-on, Project-based, Take-it-slow Guidebook. San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press. (ISBN: 1593270348). By Wilfred Drew.
- REVIEW OF: Peter Griffiths. (2004). Managing Your Internet and Intranet Services: The Information Professional's Guide to Strategy, Second Edition. London: Facet Publishing. (ISBN: 1856043401). By Michelle Mach.
- REVIEW OF: Alan Schwartz. (2004). SpamAssassin. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.(ISBN: 0596007078). By Ray Olszewski.
EDITORIAL: The Origins of TER: Ten Years After
by Thomas C. Wilson
TER began its published life on June 2, 1994. Much has occurred in the intervening time, both within the publication and within the broader world of information technology in libraries. It seems fitting to celebrate ten years of Technology Electronic Reviews (formerly know as Telecommunication Electronic Reviews) and to reflect on what has changed.
Development and Growth
Back in the day, those heady days of the early 1990s, a group of LITA members, primarily from the Telecommunications Interest Group and Microcomputer Users Interest Group, began exploring the idea of creating a new type of online-only publication, one that would be free of many of the constraints on printed publications, one that would fill a niche not being served by other publications, and one that would expose readers in the library community to excellent technical materials produced outside of the typical library press (http://www.lita.org/ala/lita/litapublications/ter/terv1n1.htm#whither). After months of discussion and several proposals, Telecommunications Electronic Reviews (TER) was born. And the rest, "they" say, is history!
By the appearance of the first issue, other online publications had been in existence, some for quite a while. Public-Access Computer Systems Review, for example, was first published in 1990, and Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship from the Association of College and Research Libraries Science and Technology Section came into being in December 1991. dLib and Ariadne followed in 1995 and 1996 respectively, as well as a host of others in a variety of disciplines when online publishing became "hot" and relatively more straightforward.
So what was different about TER? True to the original thought, TER began and has continued to be published only online containing a variety of resource reviews (mostly books) and occasional commentary. The irregular schedule of publishing supported the flexibility necessary for a new development, and the online format permitted the content to be of a length appropriate to the reviewed work and the reviewer's level of analysis. TER also included materials not normally reviewed in the library technology press, e.g., books from info tech, education, and standards publishers.
Reflective of its time, TER was first distributed via e-mail (LITA-L) and hosted on the University of Houston Libraries gopher and then the ALA gopher. The table of contents has been distributed to a variety of e-lists since its inception. As the world-wide web became more commonly used, TER was quickly modified to an HTML format which was first hosted at the University of Washington. In 1997 it was moved to the www.lita.org site first hosted by WLN and then migrated to ALA. Author and title indexes and searching capability were added in 1998, as the growth of material available in TER demanded. To a large degree, TER was a product of its time from the perspective of its content as well as its delivery.
As libraries grew in understanding and use of the web, TER led the way in providing useful analysis of resources about the technical infrastructure of the Internet, the tools for creating a presence on the web, and materials for teaching the use of this world-wide treasure. It also made these resources accessible to the library community weaving together highly technical topics as well as policy and management issues. With this growing scope in coverage, the TER Editorial Board changed the title in 2001 to Technology Electronic Reviews.
Life beyond TER
In the meantime, much has happened in the worlds of technology and libraries. We've all experienced a telecommunications revolution: ever expanding broadband, massively reduced baseline costs, more competition, a glut of dark fiber, several convergences of voice and data services, less competition (Who would of thought we'd see the day when a "baby bell" would buy out "Ma bell!"), and the raising of the proverbial bar on what constitutes infrastructure. To paraphrase a popular movie line, just try getting through the day without infrastructure![1] Much of what used to be required knowledge to play on the Internet is now hidden and taken for granted. That is not to say, however, that the same issues do not exist.
We've all also been a part of the commodification of once specialized products and services. Home networking, for example, in the early 1990's was limited to those who understood wired Ethernet, Token Ring, or Arcnet technologies and could afford to deploy them, unless, of course, one wished to consider serial device networking and null modem cables. Consumer electronics has exploded well beyond TV's, stereos, and gaming consoles. Relatively low cost options for communications, personal information management, home management, entertainment, and common chore automata have successfully pushed increasingly sophisticated technology into the collective human psyche. One need look no further than the recent Staples commercial featuring Alice Cooper to begin to grasp the cross-cultural and cross-generational appeal of and assumptions about technology.
During the past ten years the library community has begun to chart some progress in getting the powers that be to understand, "It's the content, Stupid." Now, however, the focus must also include what one can do with the content: personal and collaborative workspaces, device independence, interactivity, reusability, and continued availability. What began as the primordial web looks that way from the vantage point of today. Imagine what we might be saying in another ten years.
Measuring the Success
For any publication, one of the ways to gage its success is to determine if there is a readership and how consistent it is. The available access statistics for TER indicate that the number of retrievals for the publication have grown substantially from the beginning. The access has remained relatively stable in recent years.[2]
TER Access Statistics (not counting LITA-L) 1996 7,143 1997 11,871 1998 16,045 1999 23,738 2000 53,014 2001 43,281 2002 50,627
Another measure of its success may come from the number and types of references from other publications that have been created over the years.
Selective Listing/Indexing of TER AcqWeb's Directory of Book Reviews on the Web ARL Directory of Electronic Journals and Newsletters BUBL LINK / 5:15 Catalogue of Internet Resources China Tech Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries, Electronic Journal Access CompInfo - The Computer Information Center CTI Engineering, Engineering Internet Resources DutchESS (Dutch Electronic Subject Service) Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library (EEVL) Ex Libris SFX knowledgebase Gill's Favourite Electronic Journals Index Morganagus The Information ~Wave~ A Collection of Current Awareness Links Internet Public Library Librarians' Index to the Internet National University of Singapore Subject Guides for Web Resources Revista Ciencias de la Información Riviste elettroniche delle discipline bibliotecarie & documentali Simmons College, Library and Information Science Electronic Journals Thomas Parry Library - Electronic Journals in Librarianship University of Limerick, IE WEB Electronic and Computer Engineering University of Michigan, Telecom Information Resources on the Internet University of New Brunswick, Saint John Ward Chipman Library, Electronic Commerce and EDI University of Pennsylvania Library, Electronic Journals
Yet another model is the Crawford Test in reference to e-journals: "[e-journals with] a minimum of six years [in existence], can be considered lasting titles."[3] That measure would suggest that the Technology Electronic Reviews is well on its way to becoming a staple of e-publications.
It has been an honor to be a part of this publication and the developments it chronicles. My heartfelt thanks go to the original editorial board who birthed the publication: Charles Blair, Marshall Breeding, Peter Burslem, Thomas Dowling, Pat Ensor, Elizabeth Lane Lawley, Nancy Nuckles (now Colyar), and Kate Wakefield. I also wish to thank all those who have served on the Editorial Board over the years. Vision, leadership, and tenacity have been offered by the editors of TER thus far: Thomas C. Wilson, 1994-2000; Adriene Lim, 2000-2003; and Sharon Rankin, 2003-.
[1] The Big Chill.
[2] Statistics were not tracked in the first two years. With changes in the ALA website, no more recent statistics are available.
[3] Crawford, W. (2002). Free electronic refereed journals: getting past the arc of enthusiasm. Learned Publishing, 15(2), 117-123.
Thomas C. Wilson is founding editor-in-chief of TER and the Director for Information Technology at the University of Maryland Libraries.
Copyright © 2005 by Thomas C. Wilson. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for noncommercial, educational, or scientific purposes, provided that the preceding copyright statement and source are clearly acknowledged. All other rights are reserved. For permission to reproduce or adapt this document or any part of it for commercial distribution, address requests to the author at firstname.lastname@example.com
REVIEW OF: Phil Bradley. (2004). Advanced Internet Searcher's Handbook. Portland,OR: Neal-Schuman.
by Rob Withers
The Advanced Internet Searcher's Handbook is directed at a broad audience ranging from novices to experts. Despite the title, the Handbook's stated goal is to enable this audience to "more effectively understand how search engines and related software and utilities work," so that their search techniques improve. The author intends for the Handbook to be usable both by those who read it from cover to cover and by those who simply consult chapters of interest to them.
The author has a strong interest in this topic, considering his earlier output, which includes two earlier editions of the Handbook, two editions of Internet Power Searching: The Advanced Manual (New York: Neal-Schumann, 1999 and 2002). Other books by this author include the Business and Economy Internet Resource Handbook (London: Library Association, 2000) and Getting and Staying Noticed on the Web (London: Facet, 2002).
Writing books about a rapidly changing topic such as Internet searching, even if they are frequently revised, is a challenging task. Aspiring to make the book relevant to the needs and interests of readers with varying degrees of expertise and experience adds to the challenge. Although not without some areas for improvement, the Handbook rises to these challenges and presents a thorough overview of its topic in a style that is readable yet thorough.
The Handbook is divided into three sections: "Mining the Internet for Information" covers such topics as search engines, search directories, multi- or meta-search engines, site specific search engines, the "hidden" web, tools for searching multimedia, and tools for finding people. "Becoming an Expert Searcher" includes additional resources including weblogs, virtual libraries, newsgroup and mailing list archives, and what the Handbook refers to as "other" available database resources. "The Future" deals with strategies and tools for improving searching efficiency.
The rationale for distributing chapters under these three rubrics isn't always particularly clear. Most notably, the decision to include some chapters in "Mining the Internet for Information" as opposed to "Becoming an Expert Searcher" seems arbitrary. Although chapters about widely-used tools such as search engines, search directories, and resource-specific engines clearly belong in an introductory segment, more obscure topics such as the invisible web could arguably go in either the first or second segment. Since the Handbook's strength is in its readable chapters, perhaps the first two rubrics could have been combined.
The Handbook's analysis of resources is frequently thorough and insightful. Often, the Handbook compares search results from two comparable resources. In describing the resources, the Handbook calls attention to unique features and makes explicit comparisons between similar resources in order to elucidate situations in which each particular resources is likely to shine. Moreover, the Handbook doesn't uncritically regurgitate claims made by search tools; in one instance, the Handbook notes that one service "claims to be the largest image search on the web, a claim that Google wishes to challenge. However, since [the other service] doesn't say how many images it has indexed, it's rather hard to comment!" This type of insightfulness and analysis distinguishes the Handbook from many guides which appear to be little more than cut-and-paste compilations from various services.
Because its author is British, the Handbook adopts an international focus, with examples of resources for locating some types of information that are specific both to the United States and to the United Kingdom. While some readers may not have any application for resources targeted at another country, the inclusion of resources from outside the United States is a helpful reminder of the international nature of information found on the Internet. Only in a few isolated instances (e.g., a discussion of adoption registries) does the book omit a United States equivalent to a British website.
The Handbook is currently in its third edition. The author's nearly continuous work at revising the book is often helpful, as the Handbook is sometimes able to identify changes made within the year or two since the previous printing and alert the reader to new features or new services. At times, however, it also retains information from previous editions (e.g., discussions of Veronica and Archie) that might be better suited for a book about the history of the Internet rather than a guide to advanced Internet searching.
Each chapter includes a bibliography of websites at the end of the chapter, although regrettably, there is no corresponding website which contains a set of links which can be updated to incorporate new services, remove defunct ones, and update changes to the scope or URL of these services. Entries in these bibliographies pose several challenges to the reader, as well. Unfortunately, the title of the website does not appear with the URL, which hinders attempts to quickly identify resources. While annotations about each URL might not present new information to people who have read the chapter, they might be useful to those who are skimming the bibliography. Also, the form of the URLs given are inconsistent: some include the 'http://' prefix, but others do not. While the content of these bibliographies is useful, the presentation could be more readily usable than in its current form.
Appendices include a list of source code needed to create a website that links to an extensive collection of search tools and a list of top level domains for countries.
The Handbook provides an overview of a wide array of sources, but the quantity of resources does not detract from the detail it provides about many of them. Its readable style, insertion of the author's viewpoint and occasional sense of humor, and its use of "Hints & Tips" and "Did You Know" boxes, help the book to appeal to relative novices, while the breadth and depth of coverage will appeal to those with more experience. Beginners may dip into a chapter or two, while more advanced users will benefit from a more extensive reading.
Rob Withers is the Assistant to the Dean & University Librarian at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Copyright © 2005 by Rob Withers. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for noncommercial, educational, or scientific purposes, provided that the preceding copyright statement and source are clearly acknowledged. All other rights are reserved. For permission to reproduce or adapt this document or any part of it for commercial distribution, address requests to the author at firstname.lastname@example.com
REVIEW OF: Rickford Grant. (2004). Linux for Non-Geeks: a Hands-on, Project-based, Take-it-slow Guidebook. San Francisco, CA: No Starch Press.
by Wilfred E. Drew
Many of us, including those we serve, want to switch to something not owned or produced by Microsoft. Linux is one of the most viable alternatives to the Windows operating system. However, it can be very scary for those without experience in installing operating systems to take the plunge. Grant's book is the manual on how to do that for "non-geeks." The author characterizes "non-geeks" as those that want to use Linux in the same way as they use Mac or Windows, users who are more skilled using computers but are new to Linux, and those like myself that need a little push and encouragement to use Linux. This guidebook comes with two CD-ROMs containing Fedora Core Linux. The reader may want to install the latest Fedora Core version after finishing this book.
Linux for Non-Geeks uses a project-based approach starting in Chapter 1, "Becoming a Penguinista". This chapter begins by giving the future Linux user a general background on what Linux is, why the penguin is its mascot, and why someone might want to use Linux. The author then goes into detail about Fedora Core, hardware compatibility, and hardware requirements. All of this is offered up in easy-to-understand, everyday English.
The second project and Chapter 2, "Making Commitments" explains in very detailed steps how to install Linux on a computer in various different ways. This includes dual-boot installation for those that want both the original operating system and Linux on their machine or a complete replacement of the old operating system with the Fedora Core flavor of Linux.
Perhaps the most useful parts of this book are Chapters 3 through 7. Chapter 3, "A New Place to Call Home" explains how to use the GNOME desktop. GNOME provides a graphic interface to Linux. It is very similar in appearance and functionality to the Mac or Windows desktop. This chapter includes a very useful and fun project on customizing the GNOME panel and another on doing screenshots. "More Than Webbed Feet", Chapter 4 is all about getting connected to the World Wide Web and the Internet. It explains how to connect via broadband, wireless, or dial-up. It also explains how to use and set up e-mail, web browsing using Mozilla, instant messaging using Gaim which can connect you to AOL Instant Messenger users, and several other interesting Internet applications. Chapter 5, "Dressing up the Bird" is all about customizing the desktop to make it your own. This includes everything from changing icons for folders to installing themes for Mozilla. The next chapter, "Gutenbird" involves installing printers and managing print queues. The only part missing from this chapter is how to install networked printers such as those on a local area network. However, it is not difficult to figure out how to do so with a little poking around Chapter 7, "Putting your Data on Ice" explains in great detail and in easy to understand instructions on how to format floppies, use data CD-ROMs, play music CD-ROMs, and how to burn CD-ROMs of all types using CD-ROM burning software.
After using Linux and GNOME, the user soon finds it necessary to update or install software. Chapters 8 through 11 provide the necessary background to do that. Chapter 8, "RPM isn't a 1980s Atlanta-based Band" explains how to use RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) and RPM packages to install and update software on your Linux machine. It also tells you how to roll-back or uninstall packages. "Simple Kitten Ways", Chapter 9 explains how to use Terminal to provide a command line environment. It covers commands needed to help you manage and change settings in programs as well as doing other functions in a text mode. Chapter 10, " Yes, Yet another Way" covers using APT (Advanced Package Tool) and Synaptic to install software. Chapter 11, "Dining on Tarballs" covers compiling and installing programs from source files.
Linux is capable of handling other data storage devices beside floppies and CD-ROMs. Chapter 12 ,"Data on Ice Revisited" looks at installing and using USB (universal serial bus) storage devices and also examines how to mount and unmount Windows partitions. This is useful for people doing dual-boot systems. Chapter 13, "Tux Rocks" will be useful to those of you that make and play MP3 files. This chapter goes into great detail on how to do that in Linux including installing RealOne Player which is used in place of Windows Media Player and Real Player. Linux comes with many graphics capabilities. "Brush-Wielding Penguins", Chapter 14 tells the reader how to download and install free programs for expanding Linux's abilities in manipulating and creating graphics files.
Linux is also capable of doing the same type of functions as the Microsoft Office Suite. Chapter 15, "Penguins Back at Work" discusses OpenOffice and its applications. OpenOffice is an open source office suite including writer (a full featured word processor), calc (a spread sheet), impress (presentation software), draw (vector drawing), and math (a mathematical formula editor). It is installed as part of the Fedora Core version of Linux.
The next four chapters will be of interest to more advanced computer users. Chapter 16, "Font Feathered Frenzy" examines how to manage and install TrueType fonts as well as creating fonts. This chapter also looks into how to use Windows fonts in Linux. Chapter 17, "Tux Speaks Your Language" gives instructions on using and changing language support in Linux including installing a multilingual dictionary, StarDict. Chapter 18, "Tux Untethered" will be of special interest to those installing Fedora Core on a laptop. This chapter focuses in great detail on wireless connectivity. It tells the reader how to do it and how to trouble shoot any problems.
After completing the various projects in this book, it is time to think about "Leaving the Nest". Chapter 19 tells the user how to proceed into more advanced areas such as changing system settings, alternative desktops besides GNOME, keeping the system up-to-date, programming in Linux, and how to run Windows programs under Linux.
Every user needs to know how to handle operating system problems. The last chapter in the book, "What to do if Tux Starts Acting Up" does this for the new Linux user. It reads much like an FAQ (frequently asked questions) file. It lists typical problems and questions with easy to understand answers. To assist the new Linux user, the guide also includes two appendices and an excellent index. Appendix A lists specifications for various projects in the book and Appendix B offers lists of resources for more help including web pages and mailing lists.
This book is highly recommended for all users, from beginner to expert, looking for a way to learn more about Linux using a project-based approach.
Wilfred (Bill) Drew is Systems and Reference Librarian, State University of New York, College of Agriculture and Technology.
Copyright © 2005 by Bill Drew. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for noncommercial, educational, or scientific purposes, provided that the preceding copyright statement and source are clearly acknowledged. All other rights are reserved. For permission to reproduce or adapt this document or any part of it for commercial distribution, address requests to the author at firstname.lastname@example.com
REVIEW OF: Peter Griffiths. (2004). Managing Your Internet and Intranet Services: The Information Professional's Guide to Strategy, Second Edition. London: Facet Publishing.
by Michelle Mach
Managing Your Internet & Intranet Services provides a strong introduction to the major issues of library website management. The book is organized into thirteen chapters, plus an introduction.
(A detailed table of contents is available on the publisher's website at:
http://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/493contents.pdf )
Eight chapters concentrate on initial site creation and ongoing maintenance with topics ranging from choosing an ISP (Internet service provider) and domain name to linkchecking an existing site. Two chapters cover website staffing, while the topics "Your Intranet" and "The Internet Revolution" each merit their own chapters. Each chapter, and even most sub-sections, could easily justify a lengthy journal article or an entire book of its own. For example, the two topics of usability testing and database-driven websites each merit only a single paragraph in the book. Readers who want more technical or detailed information will need to seek other sources. Fortunately, the last chapter includes recommended resources for further study and a basic glossary. Scattered throughout the book are a handful of screen shots illustrating various design or content principles. The book also includes an index.
While this is a printed book, it is written in a web-friendly style that can be easily and quickly scanned. Each chapter begins with a bulleted list of contents and ends with a brief summary and references. The book relies heavily on bulleted or numbered lists to convey information. Bold or italicized subheadings appear on nearly every page, making it easy to find and read only the essential sections. The writing itself is extremely non-technical, practical and occasionally humorous. For example, in describing the move from the single webmaster management style, Griffiths writes, " The days of the all-singing, all dancing webmaster are largely gone from all but the smallest sites. . ."(p. 65)
The broad content, compact size and easy-to-read style make this an ideal book for the busy library administrator who needs to manage web personnel or oversee web development. Managers, especially those in special libraries, will appreciate the sections on outsourcing, staffing, budgeting, policies, and the politics of selling the library's involvement in a website to non-library management. New LIS (Library and Information Studies) graduates hoping for web-related jobs might read this book to better understand the breadth of issues involved in creating and maintaining a website. Freelancers who need to build a site completely from scratch will especially appreciate the early portion of the book that assumes that no prior website exists. Given the novice audience for the book, the experienced webmaster is unlikely to uncover much new information. However, he or she may find it reassuring to learn that many of the challenges they face every day at work are not unique to their particular library, but experienced by almost all webmasters.
A major strength of this book is the honest description of the many personnel and political issues related to website management. Author Peter Griffiths is the Assistant Director, Communication Directorate at the UK Government Home Office, where he is Head of Profession for librarians and information scientists. While his job title suggests an administrative position, his perceptive descriptions suggest substantial hands-on, in-the-trenches website work. Griffiths discusses many issues that are not always mentioned in the technical literature: how to select and keep technical staff, deal with that well-meaning but totally inappropriate website suggestion, motivate lazy web content providers, and recognize the website problems caused by disgruntled, alienated or non-cooperative employees (or ex-employees).
One minor disappointment in this book is the comparatively brief discussion of intranets. Although the book's title Managing Your Internet and Intranet Services implies that both topics would receive comparable treatment, intranets only merit a single chapter. Given that intranets have some unique features and have not been discussed as extensively in the literature, some additional coverage of the topic seems necessary. It is also worth noting that while much of the book's content is international, this book was published in the United Kingdom. Mentions of pounds sterling, the London Underground and other British items might be mildly disconcerting to an American reader. At the same time, the section on publishing non-English websites is probably more thorough than in a comparable American text.
Since the online world changes so quickly, it is worth briefly comparing the two editions of this book. An initial glance indicates that the content of this second edition, published in 2004 is surprisingly similar to the first edition published in 2000. Of course, the resource lists have been updated in this new edition to include articles, books and websites published in 2001 through to 2003. References to specific web authoring or maintenance software packages have also been updated. Some new topics in the second edition include information architecture, content management software, weblogs, extranets, and reputation management. However, the tables of contents for the two books are nearly identical, as is the relative length of each book. Minor wording changes aside, much of the content appears the same. A comparison of three lists found in both editions (how to annoy people with your website, the top ten features of library websites, and the golden rules of website content) shows only one item in one list has changed from the first edition. Similarly, a comparison of the two glossaries found only a handful of new terms added (blog, CSS, database-driven sites, java, XML) and another handful (mostly general terms like plug-ins, style sheets, webmaster) discarded. Given the book's broad treatment of the Internet, it is not too surprising that its content has enjoyed such staying power.
Two minor changes found in the new edition reflect society's changing perceptions regarding the Internet. First, the chapter "The webmaster" in the first edition became "The webmaster and the web team" in the second, recognizing that websites are no longer a one-person development. Second, the question "Why have a website?" appears as a subheading in both editions. Initially, inclusion of this question in the second edition seems surprising. Does any library particularly one attached to a business -- truly believe that a website is unnecessary? (Whether or not they can afford one is an entirely different question.) The different answers to this question show how much our view of the Internet has changed. In the first edition, websites are described as a new and exciting opportunity, one that will reach an international audience, bring in money and reduce communication costs. In the second, Griffiths admits that it will take some money to draw in this extra business and that the main problem Internet users face today is evaluating information, rather than finding it. Rather than viewing a website as something unique that sets your organization apart from others, it now "has become a part of daily business across the world and the question is no longer whether you will be part of it or not, but whether you will be an effective part of it, and whether your site will stand out from the welter of others." (p. 27)
Managing Your Internet and Intranet Services is a highly readable, solid overview of website management. Given its general coverage of website issues, it is likely to remain relevant longer than more technical guides. In fact, some readers of the first edition may decide that it isn't necessary to update their copies yet. In any case, readers with hands-on, web-related positions will need to supplement this text with more technical resources. In particular, librarians may want to seek out library-specific resources, as coverage of library-related issues like e-journals, library catalogs, databases, and in-house digitization is minimal or nonexistent. Griffiths himself acknowledges the need to go beyond his book to keep current. As he writes, "Do the best job you can on your own behalf and keep on top of the wave. It hasn't stopped being exciting yet." (p. xi)
Michelle Mach is Digital Projects Librarian at Colorado State University.
Copyright © 2005 by Michelle Mach. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for noncommercial, educational, or scientific purposes, provided that the preceding copyright statement and source are clearly acknowledged. All other rights are reserved. For permission to reproduce or adapt this document or any part of it for commercial distribution, address requests to the author at email@example.com
REVIEW OF: Alan Schwartz. (2004). SpamAssassin. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.
by Ray Olszewski
If you have an e-mail address, you know about the flood of unsolicited e-mail commonly called spam. If you have a well-known e-mail address, one that shows up on a lot of mailing lists and websites, or one easily guessed, then you know a lot about spam. My public e-mail address, for example, is "well-known" by both measures, and I would estimate that between 95 and 98 percent of all e-mail I receive is spam. It has become a problem of such magnitude that it raises into question the long-term viability of e-mail in its present form.
The problem will be fixed ... eventually. But an international, weakly-regulated entity like the Internet is slow to respond institutionally to these sorts of problems. In the meantime, what's a suffering user, or sys admin (system administrator) to do?
There are actually many ways that individual users and sys admins can at least make spam manageable. The mail-filtering program SpamAssassin is one of the popular ones. It is a program that runs on a Unix- or Linux-based SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, the main service that delivers e-mail over the Internet) server. SpamAssassin runs each message it processes through a screen of filters that calculate the probability that it is an unwanted e-mail message, then sorts mail into "good" and "bad" piles based on the score and a cutoff point.
Alan Schwartz's book SpamAssassin is a detailed guide to installing, maintaining, and using the program SpamAssassin.
About half of the book is oriented to familiarizing the reader with how SpamAssassin itself works. The program uses a mix of approaches, but the key one is a technique called "Bayesian filtering", which calculates conditional probabilities of a particular message being spam, based on whether it matches various filtering criteria. The probabilities are site specific, learned by examining a collection of messages that the site has received, and that the recipient, or the sysadmin, has categorized as spam or "ham" (a jargon term for the non-spam messages a user wants to see). Schwartz does an excellent job of describing the practical, workaday details of Bayesian filtering and of how to run SpamAssassin on a collection of categorized messages to develop starting probabilities.
Much of this part of the book covers in detail the specific tests that the program SpamAssassin applies to each message. They include tests based on the headers and message content themselves; tests based on Internet resources like "black hole" lists of spam sources; and locally-configurable lists of e-mail addresses always to be accepted ("white lists") or always to be rejected ("black lists").
This early part of the book begins with instructions for how to obtain and install the SpamAssassin program. Written in the programming language Perl, it is available from the CPAN archive of Perl applications. Schwartz does a nice job of covering the requirements for running the program and how to install it from this "upstream" source. Although he notes the alternative of getting SpamAssassin as part of a Linux distribution like Debian or Gentoo, his coverage of this option is skimpy -- unfortunately so, because it would be the preferred approach by any experienced Linux sysadmin, since it assures version compatibility with the shared libraries and other resources on the server.
The latter half of the book provides detailed instructions for configuring and using SpamAssassin with the four most common free-software SMTP servers -- sendmail, postfix, qmail, and exim. I use exim here on my own LAN (local area network), so I focused my review on that chapter, and I found the instructions clear, detailed, and accurate. A more superficial reading of the other chapters indicated the same degree of clarity and detail. There is also briefer discussion of using the SpamAssassin program separately from the site's SMTP server, such as implementing it as a POP (Post Office Protocol) proxy server.
In addition to the book itself being both well written and thorough in its treatment, SpamAssassin (the book) benefits from SpamAssassin (the program) being a popular, well-maintained piece of free software. Licensed under the Gnu General Public License (GPL),the software is both free in cost and freely modifiable by the programming community. Together, these characteristics encourage wide adoption and rapid adaptation to new spam strategies as they arise.
SpamAssassin (the program) is probably overkill for small sites with only a few users. In my home office, I still use simpler filtering strategies that work acceptably well because there are three users of the domain for e-mail. Larger sites, including libraries and schools, need a more heavyweight solution, one that supports the needs of e-mail users who are not themselves techies. Anyone looking for a way to limit the disruption of spam would do well to consider SpamAssassin (the program) for that purpose, and for those folks, SpamAssassin (the book) is a first-rate guide to making the program work effectively. Beyond that, anyone just looking for a deeper understanding of the various strategies mail recipients can use to fight spam would benefit from reading this book.
Ray Olszewski is a Senior Software Engineer at Protogene Laboratories, where he focuses on embedded systems development. He has also worked as a freelance computer programmer and statistician. His work includes development of custom Web-based software to support on-line research.
Copyright © 2005 by Ray Olszewski. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for noncommercial, educational, or scientific purposes, provided that the preceding copyright statement and source are clearly acknowledged. All other rights are reserved. For permission to reproduce or adapt this document or any part of it for commercial distribution, address requests to the author at firstname.lastname@example.com
Click here to take the TER reader survey
About TER
The TER Editor is Sharon Rankin, McGill University (firstname.lastname@example.com). Editorial Board Members are: Linda Robinson Barr, Texas Lutheran University (firstname.lastname@example.com); Paul J. Bracke, Arizona Health Sciences Library (email@example.com); Kathlene Hanson, California State University, Monterey Bay (email@example.com); Adriene Lim, Wayne State University (email@example.com); Tierney Morse McGill, Colorado State University (firstname.lastname@example.com); Florence Tang, Mercer University, Atlanta (firstname.lastname@example.com); Stacey Voeller, Minnesota State University (firstname.lastname@example.com); Laura Wrubel, University of Maryland (email@example.com); and Michael Yukin, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (email@example.com).


text:
Gary Ross Quote
Most modern science fiction went to school on 'Dune.' Even 'Harry Potter' with its 'boy protagonist who has not yet grown into his destiny' shares a common theme. When I read it for the first time, I felt like I had learned another language, mastered a new culture, adopted a new religion.
– Gary Ross


text:
Holy Family Catholic Primary School is a Cathedral Parish Catholic Primary School. It was established in 1979 to primarily support the Catholic families in the Kelso and connecting eastern areas of the city of Bathurst. The school exists to support parents in the education of faith of their children.
While the school offers enrolment to Catholic children, non-Catholic children may also be considered. Acceptance of non-Catholic children will depend upon the reasons why the parents are seeking enrolment and the availability of vacancies in the appropriate grades.
Parents seeking to enrol children apply to the Principal. An 'Application for Enrolment' form must be completed and signed by a parent before an enrolment can be considered. Parents are also invited to meet with the Principal for an interview regarding enrolment. Subsequently, the Principal examines each individual case and notifies the parents of the outcome of their application. The Parish Priest and/or School Executive can also be included in the process to consider an enrolment application. All students enrolled must be prepared to support Catholic values and are required to participate in the School's Religious Education Program. Parents must also be prepared to meet their obligations as listed on the School's Enrolment Application form.
A student with a disability or special need, can be considered via the Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst (CEDB) Policy. This Policy exists to ascertain that the school is able to provide adequate resources to cater for the student's learning needs.
In some grades the school has a limited enrolment capacity of two classes per grade. Due to this limited capacity it can be necessary to refuse enrolment to some applicants. It is possible that a waiting list exists for some grades. Students are not accepted on a 'first in' basis.
As a guide, the following priority order is considered in determining enrolments at the school:
- Students of continuing families at Holy Family Catholic Primary School. This may include brothers and sisters of students already attending the school.
- Children baptised Catholic living within the Kelso/Raglan and connecting eastern areas of Bathurst.
- Baptised Catholic children living outside the Kelso and eastern boundary.
- Non-Catholic baptised children with a Catholic parent or care giver.
- Non-Catholic children whose parents wish them to have a Christian Education and agree for them to participate in the School's R.E. Program.
- The Principal and Parish Priest reserve the right to determine acceptance of enrolments. The priority order may be varied at the discretion of the Principal or Parish Priest in accordance with individual consideration of each enrolment application.
- Parents are welcome to make inquiries about enrolment applications at any time.
- An enrolment pack is issued to interested parents. This includes a folder, Handbook, Enrolment Application Form, and School Fee Schedule.
- Parents are encouraged to lodge a completed Enrolment Application Form in the year preceding commencement of school.
- Fully completed Enrolment Application Forms need to have attached a copy of the child's Immunisation History Statement, Birth Certificate and Baptismal Certificate. For students entering 1-6 grades, a copy of the most recent School Report should also accompany the child's forms.
Kindergarten Enrolment Procedures:
- The combined Cathedral Parish Catholic Primary Schools advertise locally to inform parents that Enrolment Applications are due to be received. It is requested that Applications be lodged by the end of Term 2 the year prior to commencement. Advertisements appear in the local newspapers, the Parish Bulletin and via the School Newsletter.
- Parents are encouraged to meet with the Principal to discuss the Enrolment Application and ask questions, etc.
- In early August, each Kindergarten Application is considered and written offers are made to fill the placements at the school.
- Successful Applications are required to sign an 'Acceptance' form and return this to the school by the set date.
- The Principal informs unsuccessful Applications in writing. Parents may opt to place their child's name on a waiting list.
New enrolments for Kindergarten are invited to a 'Kindergarten Pathways Program' held at the school in Term 4. This includes an evening tour of the school and parent meeting. As well, two half days are designated in November for the students to attend school as an orientation in the Kindy classrooms. This has been a very successful program at the school.
(Please print single sided only - thank you.)


text: Coming up on NGI #160 this weekend, the crew will be spotlighting an interview with the lovely and talented Laura "Flute Link" Intravia. Intravia is a classically trained composer and arranger, is well known for her performances of Zelda arrangements as Flute Link at conventions and concerts, and is part of Video Games Live as a solo vocalist and flutist. She is also a featured performer on the soundtrack for Konami's upcoming Gradius– and Touhou-inspired shooter, Otomedius Excellent. Don't miss the playback on Nitro Game Injection on Arecibo Radio, July 17th at 3 PM US Eastern Time!


text:
Enjoy extremely quiet but powerful vibrations – whenever and wherever! The Remote Triple Teaser from HookUp Panties is a string without a bum string. An included butt plug is attached to the string. There is also a waterproof vibro-bullet included as well that can be inserted into the butt plug. There is a vaginal plug included as well and the vibro-bullet can be inserted into this plug too. The whisper quiet but very powerful vibrations pleasure the person wearing the string whenever and wherever – it is extremely discreet pleasure and nobody will notice the wearer's little secret! The 10 vibration modes can be easily adjusted with the remote control. The remote control has a range of 7.5 m which means that a partner can also use it as well! The string doesn't have a bum string. The string is held in place by the plug that is attached to the loop. The plug gets gently pulled and tugged every time a person moves – the anal area gets stimulated in an exciting way. The vibro-bullet and remote control can be recharged – a USB cable is included. String size S to L 90% polyester, 10% spandex. Butt plug 9.4 cm long, base 6.1 cm wide, insertion length 6.6 cm, Ø 3 cm. Vaginal plug 8.6 cm long, base 7.1 cm wide, insertion length 7.1 cm, Ø max. 3.3 cm. Vibro-bullet 7.6 cm long, Ø 1.8 cm. Silicone, ABS.
Erotické pomůcky pro ženySady erotických pomůcek


text:
328 pages
2 indexes
November 2018
978-0-8276-1308-9$24.95 Add to Cart
(Requires Adobe Digital Editions)
December 2018
978-0-8276-1437-6$24.95 Add to Cart
(Requires Adobe Digital Editions)
November 2018
978-0-8276-1435-2$24.95 Add to Cart
"Much of the Talmud—or at any rate, the part of the Talmud that most of the people who study it think of when they think about the Talmud—is laws. Halacha. But those laws are connected by stories, terse, often gnomic, at times phantasmagorical stories, both compelling and hard to understand. Dr. Jeffrey Rubenstein . . . wants us to think about the stories; we'll benefit from their richness, strangeness, and surprising relevance to our lives."—Joanne Palmer, Jewish Standard
"A new and important book restores Aggadah to its rightful place as the equal partner with halacha. This exciting new work . . . follows in the footsteps of Rambam and his view of Aggadah. . . . Maimonides opined that there were three possible ways of approaching Aggadah. Two he rejected as not fit for intelligent people. The third, to deal with Aggadah as containing "profound secrets" and deep meaning, was the way of the wise. . . . By treating the Talmud's Aggadah as he does, Rubenstein proves again what Maimonides knew: Our Sages' seemingly farfetched narratives indeed held "profound secrets.""—Michael Chernick, Jewish Link of New Jersey