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The newsflash came on a slip of paper in a red-and-white striped courier pouch: "EISENHOWERS HEADQUARTERS ANNOUNCES ALLIES LAND IN FRANCE."
The Associated Press had some two dozen writers and photographers among the Allied forces as they landed on Normandy's coast on June 6, 1944. From Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's London headquarters, Wes Gallagher — who later went on to become AP's top executive — wrote up the first Allied official dispatches announcing D-Day and sent them in the sealed pouch to AP's London office by military courier, after the military censor authorized their release.
They arrived at 9:32 a.m. and were sent to the rest of the world by teletype one minute later.
In France, the AP team included Don Whitehead, who was making his fifth landing with Allied troops, and Bede Irvin, a photographer who would soon be killed by friendly fire while covering the American forces.
Months of planning went into that flash and subsequent dispatches, from securing a dedicated phone line and berths on planes and ships, to reconfiguring the office furniture in London to ensure AP would be fastest at getting out word of the expected invasion of France. At the end, an editor ran down the hall to intercept the courier and bolted back into the newsroom. Subsequent detail on the invasion made its way back to England in a variety of ways — including radio transmission, messages tied to the legs of carrier pigeons, and hand-carried dispatches from Henry Jameson, who returned to England with the wounded after an exploding shell dislocated his shoulder.
Seventy years after its original publication, the AP is making Gallagher's original report available.
Allied troops landed on the Normandy coast of France in tremendous strength by cloudy daylight today and stormed several miles inland with tanks and infantry in the grand assault which Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called a crusade in which "we will accept nothing less than full victory."
German broadcasts said the Allies penetrated several kilometers between Caen and Isigny, which are 35 miles apart and respectively nine and two miles from the sea.
Prime Minister Churchill told the House of Commons part of the record-shattering number of parachute and glider troops were fighting in Caen, and had seized a number of important bridges in the invasion area.
German opposition apparently was less effective than expected, although fierce in many respects, and the Germans said they were bringing reinforcements continuously up to the coast, where "a battle for life or death is in progress."
The seaborne troops, led by Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, surged across the channel from England by 4,000 regular ships and additional thousands of smaller craft.
They were preceded by massed flights of parachute and glider forces who landed inland during the dark. Eleven thousand planes supported the attack.
The German radio said the landings were made from Cherbourg to Le Havre — a strip of coast roughly 100 miles long — and later said additional landings, were being made "west of Cherbourg," indicating the Allies intended to seize the Normandy peninsula with its ports and airdromes as the first base.
Germans Expect More Invasions Hourly
The initial landings were made from 6 to 8:25 a.m. British time. The Germans said subsequent landings were made on the English channel isles of Jersey and Guernsey and that invasion at new points on the continent was expected hourly.
Aside from confirming that Normandy was the general area of the assault, Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force was silent concerning the location.
From Moscow came word that the Russian army was massing in preparation for another great attack from the east as its part in defeating Germany.
All reports from the beachhead, meager though they were in specific detail, agreed that the Allies had made good the great gamble of amphibious landing against possibly the strongest fortified section of coast in the world.
Reconnaissance pilots said the Allied troops had secured the beaches and were slashing inland, some of them actually running in a swift advance. The unofficial word at headquarters confirmed this, while the Vichy radio admitted the Allied drive inland was going right ahead.
Naval Guns Shell Fortifications
More than 640 naval guns, ranging from 4 to 16-inch, hurled many tons of shells accurately into the coastal fortifications which the Germans had spent four years preparing against this day.
Prime Minister Churchill was able to tell parliament the shore batteries had been "largely quelled," the underwater obstructions had proven less dangerous than feared and the whole operation was "proceeding according to plan."
Allied planes preceded the landings with a steady 96-hour bombardment which reached its pinnacle in the hour before the troops hit the beaches.
The absence of German aerial opposition was remarked by nearly all returning fliers and correspondents. The Germans are known to have about 1,750 fighters and 500 bombers available for the western front, but it was supposed they had chosen not to risk them in an all-out first-day battle.
German naval opposition was confined to destroyers and motor torpedo boats which headquarters said were being "dealt with."
The Germans, as expected, blared on their radios all sorts of claims of vast destruction done to Allied fleets and forces, but with no confirmation. In one defiant gesture, some of the German cross-channel guns opened a sporadic fire on Dover during the afternoon.
Supreme headquarters kept silent on the locations, to exploit, to the fullest whatever element of tactical surprise the Allies may have gained. A superior officer at supreme headquarters said frankly he did not know yet what amount of surprise there was, but Allied air forces were in control of the skies over the channel and the coast despite unfavorable flying weather.
May Head Up Seine River To Paris
If the Germans were correct about the locations, the Allied plan apparently was to seize the Cherbourg peninsula and make Normandy the initial beachhead for a drive up the Seine valley to Paris.
The German radio began broadcasting a constant stream of invasion flashes almost as soon as the first troops landed, and continued with extensive reports of the gigantic naval and air bombardments that covered the assault. Allied headquarters, however, kept silent until 9:32 a.m. British time when the following communique was issued:
"Under the command of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied naval forces supported by strong air forces began landing Allied armies this morning on the northern coast of France."
A high officer explained that Gen. Eisenhower had kept resolutely silent until he was absolutely certain the landings had "taken hold."
Gen. Eisenhower broadcast during the morning an announcement to the peoples of western Europe, telling them of the landings and declaring, "all patriots, young and old, will have a part to play in the liberation."
Urges Patriots Just To Be Patient
He urged against premature uprisings, however, saying, "be patient. Prepare. Wait until I give you the signal."
The Allied commander also issued an order of the day to his forces, telling them:
"You are about to embark on a great crusade. The eyes of the world are upon you and the hopes and prayers of all liberty-loving peoples go with you ... Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory."
It was disclosed that a number of unannounced feints had taken place in the pre-invasion period, so that the Germans would not know when the real blow was coming.
A senior officer at supreme headquarters said rough water caused "awful anxiety" for the sea-borne troops but that the landings were made successfully, although some soldiers were undoubtedly seasick.
Sun Breaks Through Heavy Clouds
The sun broke through heavy clouds periodically this morning after a daybreak shower. The wind had blown fairly hard during the night but moderated somewhat with the dawn. The weather outlook remained somewhat unsettled.
Aside from Gen. Montgomery, no other Allied commanders were announced for the thousands of battle-trained Allied troops, although Gen. Omar Bradley has been in command of American ground forces in England for several months. Gen. Bradley participated in the Tunisian victory.
The Allied forces had been ready for days, but were awaiting the best moment from the weather standpoint.
"We have been months and years waiting for this," said a senior officer giving correspondents the story at headquarters.
"Geography made it evident to the Germans as well as us that the shortest way to Europe was across channel."
First reports from across the channel, however, indicated that the Allies controlled the air over the scene of operations. The Allied officer commented that landing against fixed defense of western Europe was a task quite different from that in the Mediterranean and sketched briefly the German defensive plan of underwater barriers and shore guns.
Nazis Report Dunkerque Attacked
He said the German had possibly 1,750 fighter planes and bombers to oppose the Allies.
For three hours previous to the Allied announcement, the German radio had been pouring forth a series of flashes reporting that the Allies were landing between Le Havre and Cherbourg along the south side of the Bay of the Seine and along the north coast of Normandy.
Thousands of battle-trained American, British and Canadian troops hurled themselves at Hitler's western defenses after months of preparation. Huge troopship armadas slipped out of English ports in the darkness and sped toward Europe where four years ago almost to the day Britain brought back the last battle-worn defenders of Dunkerque.
The German radio gave the reports of the invasion while correspondents were hurriedly summoned from bed to supreme press headquarters and locked in a press conference room until the communique was released several hours after the landings were made.
It was made known that the supreme command felt it necessary to yield the initiative in the war of words to the Germans in order to retain the initiative on land and keep the German high command in the dark as long as possible.
The great Allied armadas dwarfed anything yet seen on the sea. Huge transport planes filled with paratroopers and pulling airborne troops in gliders roared over the German West all to drop their cargos in the rear.
All night long London and England resounded to the roar of thousands of airplanes, some carrying bombs, some carrying men. Returning R.A.F. bombers met big fleets of Flying Fortresses on their way out.
The forces thrown into operation were by far the greatest ever used in an amphibious operation. They had to be. An estimated million German troops waited in their fortifications for the great onslaught under crack Nazi field marshals, Runstedt and Rommel.
It was reported earlier this week that Adolf Hitler himself had a special train ready to rush him to France to take over personal command as he did on the east front. Despite these reports, Allied military men expected Rommel to be the main tactician on German defense.
Although amphibious attacks are the most difficult in war, a quiet feeling of confidence characterized the Allied generals.
No Chance To Hide Great Allied Convoys
The fleet included several battleships which the Germans said set the whole Seine bay area ablaze with their fire.
The Germans announced also that American reinforcements began landing at dawn, aided by artificial fog, and that in some places dummy parachutists were dropped to confuse the defense.
French patriots previously had been warned by Allied radio broadcasts to get out of areas within 35 kilometers (22 miles) of the coast to escape the shock of battle and the gigantic aerial bombardment.
An Associated Press correspondent flying over the French coast in a B-26 Maurauder reported seeing the fields inland strewn with hundreds of parachutes and dotted with gliders, while great naval forces fired into the coast fortifications.
The western front opening climaxed years of patient preparation by the top military minds of America and Britain, and hard work in factories and munitions plants by millions of Americans and Britons.
The plan of attack was the same which Gen. Eisenhower had when he came to England in June 1942, but which was shelved during the improvised North African operation.
Sweat And Toil Of Factory Worker Pay Off
This morning the sweat and toil of the factory worker of America and Britain, and the cool planning of the military men of both countries bore fruit. Every weapon that has proved its worth since Pearl Harbor was in the hands of the fighting men of the United Nations.
What success they would meet no one could say with certainty. No such attempt has been made in warfare before on such a huge scale — to storm a continent from the sea against fixed defenses. Gen. Eisenhower and the supreme Allied staff had left as little as possible to chance. Several weeks ago all the air forces in the United Kingdom were placed under the strategic command of supreme headquarters to pave the way for the landings.
The strategic air forces under Lt. Gen. Carl A. Spaatz were assigned the task of smashing the German aerial reserves by bombing aircraft factories deep in Germany. Theirs was the job of making the Nazi air force's once mighty fleet incapable of sustained effort against our ground forces. The Fortresses and Liberators also were given the task of breaking up the rail system of western France.
The R.A.F. under air chief Marshal Sir Arthur T. Harris was given a similar order, only its primary targets were railroads.
The Ninth air force under Lt. Gen, Lewis Brereton, along with the Second R.A.F. tactical air force, was assigned selected targets along the West Wall itself.
The Allies did not hope to knock out everything from the air, but to cripple and hamper German troop movements.
This morning a shattering barrage such as reduced the defenders of the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria last summer was laid down by the combined air forces.
In the landing craft were men who knew the beaches on which they were to land like the backs of their hands. For months in English camps they had drilled down to the finest detail for their task. They had been formed into combat teams, some of a dozen men, some of several thousand.
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1920x1080p FULL HD 16:9 Widescreen 2.35:1 Dolby True HD 7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 Language:Cantonese, Mandarin Subtitles : Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English
Special Features : Making Of Movie Trailer
Running time 87 minutes Synopsis : A self-styled "accident choreographer," the Brain is a professional hitman who kills his victims by trapping them in well crafted "accidents" that look like unfortunate mishaps but are in fact perfectly staged acts of crime. After one mission accidentally goes wrong, causing the life of one of his men, the Brain is convinced that this accident has been choreographed: someone is out there plotting to terminate him and his team. He becomes increasingly paranoid, walking on the thin line between reality and delusion. When he is accosted by a mysterious insurance agent Fong who happened to be on the scene of the "accident" as well, the Brain becomes obsessed that this man must be the mastermind behind a conspiracy to take him out. To regain his sanity and to safe his life, he must strive to kill Fong before he makes his next move.

subset: commoncrawl


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I finally did it. I let go of the dream. That's right, I no longer have white bed clothes and towels. I'm still letting that sink in. I've had white linens my entire adult life. To me they represent freshness and cleanliness and I finally had to admit that "fresh" and "clean" aren't words that reflect my current life most of the time. After trying to continue that tradition with a husband, a boy and two large dogs, there were some filthy-ish situations that not even chlorine bleach could reverse.
Today I finally threw away the messed up, once white sheet that we referred to as the Shroud of Turin. I replaced the sheets and comforter cover with something that seemed like it would be more likely to weather the Rosenberg storm. Yes, this is about me buying new sheets but also it's about acceptance. It's one more way I'm letting go of my teeny little perfectionist-OCD-control-freak deal. So you can have the white sheets but I'm keeping my alphabetized spices. (That's just makes good organizational sense.)


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Like Icarus, the mythological character who plunged to his death after flying too close to the sun, a comet took a solar swan dive earlier this week. NASA has captured its final moments on video.
The unnamed comet — a dirty ice ball just 300 feet in diameter — was quickly vaporized as it careened into the sun on Monday, as shown in images caught by a spacecraft called the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). NASA says it was most likely a member of a group of sun-grazing comets known as the Kreutz family.
There's a sudden, dramatic flash that seems to accompany the comet's demise, but it turns out to be "just a coincidence," according to The Los Angeles Times. "That light is caused by an explosion on the far side of the sun that resulted in a coronal mass ejection," the newspaper says.
It's not the first time that a comet's death dive has been captured in detail. Last year, the final moments of another Kreutz family member was caught by SOHO. And a month before that, Comet Lovejoy made a similar leap but survived.
NASA says "life is perilous" for sun-grazing comets such as the one that met its end Monday:
"The mixture of ice and dust that makes up a comet's nucleus is heated like the proverbial snowball in hell, and it can survive a visit to the Sun only if it is quite large. What's more, the strong tidal effect of the Sun's gravity can tear the loosely glued nucleus apart."
Space.com wrote in January 2012 of Kreutz family comets:
"In the past 15 years, more than 1,400 of these dirty snowballs have been detected, likely originating from a giant parent comet 20 to 100 kilometers wide (12 to 62 miles) that broke apart as recently as 2,500 years ago. However, until now, none of the telescopes trained on the sun was sensitive enough to follow any of these comets to their demise in the sun's atmosphere."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0 3 0Buchholz (1-5-5-4-1, 39) was unable to get into any sort of groove and the A's whacked everything that was in the strike zone. Of Buchholz's 39 pitches, only 17 were strikes -- and he retired only two of the 11 batters he faced.
Athletics - 320 000 00x - 5 8 0
The first five A's reached base in the first inning: single/stolen base, walk, two-run double, walk, single. And the first four A's reached base in the second inning: walk, single, walk, two-run single.
The game began with Coco Crisp leaping high over the center field fence and robbing Ryan Kalish of a home run. The Red Sox managed only three hits, each of them coming with two outs in an inning: Josh Reddick's double in the second, Adrian Beltre's single in the fourth, and Victor Martinez's single in the sixth.
The Rays frittered away leads of 6-0 and 8-1, but held on to beat the Jays 9-8. The Rangers used 11 pitchers and beat the Yankees 6-5 in 13 innings.Clay Buchholz / Trevor Cahill
AL East:Kalish, CF
Drew, RF
Martinez, C
Ortiz, DH
Beltre, 3B
Lowrie, SS
Reddick, LF
Hall, 2B
Anderson, 1B
Rays/Blue Jays, 7 PM
Yankees/Rangers, 8 PM


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XBMC has finally been released for the new Apple TV. Here you have all the instructions you need to get it working on your device.
NOTE: the following HOW-TO requires you to have Jailbroken ATV2 version 4.1 or 4.2.1.
Here is how to jailbreak your ATV2:
How to jailbreak Apple TV 2 on iOS 4.2.1 with Seas0nPass
How-To: Jailbreak Apple TV 2G on iOS 4.2.1 with PwnageTool
Installing XBMC
Step 1 (accessing the Apple TV): in the Terminal application on your Mac, enter the following:
ssh firstname.lastname@example.com
$ ssh root@<your ATV2 IP adress>
if AppleTV.local doesn't work (find your atv IP address in Settings ->General -> Network).
Use "alpine" as your password if you haven't changed it already.
- If you named your Apple TV something other than "AppleTV" then you need to replace the text above.
- The first time you do this, it might take a few moments to establish a connection.
Step 2: Paste the following code into Terminal (line by line; hit Enter after each line)
$ echo "deb https://mirrors.xbmc.org/apt/atv2 ./" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/xbmc.list
$ apt-get update
$ apt-get install org.xbmc.xbmc-atv2
After XBMC is successfully installed, Frontrow (ATV2 home screen) will restart and you will see XBMC in it.
Here is how to get XBMC if you have already installed aTV Flash or nitoTV:
- aTV Flash: download XBMC via Maintenance –> Manage Extras.
- nitoTV: install the latest nitoTV to auto-install XBMC
You may also want to read
XBMC for Apple TV 2 now available
How to Install Plex on Apple TV 2G
AirFlick Streams Non-iTunes Data to Apple TV 2 (video)


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Stephen Sondheims Company took The Little Theatre of Alexandria patrons on an emotional journey that concluded with the audience rising from its seats en masse at the end of the production last Saturday, the plays opening night.
The musical chronicles the life of Bobby (Patrick McMahan), a 35-year-old single man with a large group of friends, most of whom are married. Bobby is everyones best friend and three womens boyfriend, but manages to avoid becoming emotionally intimate with any of them. His friend Susan (Jennifer Lyons Pagnard) tells him that every time he visits she feels like were auditioning for him. Another friend comments that he always seems to be keeping score. Whos winning? he asks.
Bobby watches his friends go through the challenges of married life, always the sardonic observer. They continually introduce him to women and encourage him to settle down. At the end of the first act, he sings Marry Me A Little, hoping for a relationship that would protect him from loneliness while feeding his need for emotional distance.
Bobby (McMahan) has an extremely challenging role to play. Bobby is carefree and popular as far as anyone can tell, and he does not reveal his emotional turmoil until the last moments of the play. McMahans Bobby was unsympathetic in his attempt to distance himself, even from his friends. This read of the character makes sense given Bobbys psychological problems, but his behavior also sets the audience at a distance, making them wonder why someone who acts like Bobby has so many friends. McMahan keeps the audience from becoming too invested in Bobbys future.
Bobby goes on a few dates in the second act, but he shows no signs of settling down. He responds with horror when April (Maureen Reed), a girl with whom he had spent the night, gives in to his pleas and actually stays with him.
Eventually, his married friends begin to accept the idea that he will always be a bachelor and even envy it: The men live vicariously through his dating experiences while the women fantasize about taking the place of a wife or girlfriend in his life.
Near the end of the play, something snaps. Joanne (Karen Jadlos Shotts), one of the wives, provokes Bobby into admitting that he wants the kind of relationship that he has always rejected. He dismisses her argument angrily and begins to sing Being Alive, in which his stasis finally comes crashing down.
Company is a difficult show both musically and in its plot. In Sondheims own words, the story is non-linear. The Little Theatre cast did a remarkable job facing the challenges of the production. While the dancing was a bit commonplace, the big musical numbers had tremendous energy.
McMahans singing was phenomenal. His voice filled the theater, and his expression of Bobbys confusion and loneliness was sincere. He was a funny and believable character, and the transformation at the end of the show was truly powerful.
Marta (Corinne Baker), one of Bobbys girlfriends, stood out from the crowd for her excellent singing. Marta is a bizarre character, and Bakers portrayal of her reveals a young woman who takes very frank enjoyment in life. She was lovable and fun every time she walked onto the stage. Her outstanding moment was her solo, Another Hundred People. Baker has a powerful and expressive voice that glued the audience to the stage.
Joanne (Shotts) was another exceptional character in the play. A jaded older woman who is on her third husband, Joanne another friend of Bobbys appears onstage periodically, usually to make a cutting remark. Like Bobby, she seems to stand apart from the rest of the cast, but her mockery is much more apparent. She sings the second to last song in the play the only song bringing the audience spontaneously to its feet.
Ladies Who Lunch was a knockout. Shotts raw voice gave expression to all the pain and fear behind Joannes scorn, paralyzing the room. The single, pure note, free of the jagged edges left by alcohol and cigarette smoke, was enough to take the audiences breath away.
Company is a show for an audience ready to take a journey. It travels through many different lives and gives you anything but the truth about a main character whose personality is constructed around a lie: That he is happy. The story is the incredibly realistic portrayal of the pain people can inflict on themselves. It is almost terrifying to an audience that contemplates the possibility of a life like Bobbys. At the same time, it reminds us that whatever the power of inertia, change is still possible for a man who is finally able to give up the illusions and face himself.
Company is playing through August 7 at The Little Theater of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. For more information, call 703-683-0496 or visit www.thelittletheatre.com.


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This week, the Forsyth County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) confirmed the first case of chikungunya virus infection (chikungunya) in a North Carolina patient who had recently travelled to the Caribbean.
"The FCDPH is working closely with North Carolina Division of Public Health, providers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help with diagnosis testing in symptomatic persons returning from the Caribbean or other areas of the world affected with outbreaks of chikungunya," said Marlon Hunter, Health Director.
Symptoms of chikungunya usually begin 3-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can include fever and severe, and often disabling, joint pains often in the hands and feet. Most people infected with chikungunya will develop some symptoms. Many patients feel better within a week; however, in some people the joint pain mat persist for months. People at increased risk for severe disease include newborns exposed by their infected mothers, older adults (greater than 65 years) and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. There is no vaccine to prevent this disease. Treatment is supportive, to alleviate symptoms. There is no specific treatment against the virus.
Chikungunya is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Although historically found in Africa, Asia, and the islands in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, it was introduced in December, 2013 into the mosquito population of the Caribbean. Since then it has spread through the Caribbean islands and caused illness in over 136,000 residents and travelers.
While no transmission has been reported in the U.S., a few returning travelers have been diagnosed with chikungunya, creating the potential for transmission as some of the mosquitoes found here could transmit this infection.
The mosquito present in North Carolina capable of transmitting chikungunya is the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. It is widely found in all of North Carolina and is an aggressive daytime biter that reproduces in containers of stagnant water. Citizens can minimize their exposure to these mosquitoes by eliminating potential breeding sites in their own yards: draining water from garbage cans, house gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other container where sprinkler or rain water has collected. Discard any items, however small, that may collect water. Hunter stated, "A bottle cap full of water can be a breeding site for these mosquitoes." Remember to clean bird baths and pet water bowls twice a week. If you go outside when mosquitoes are active, cover up. Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves, and apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Always use repellent according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
Travelers to areas with chikungunya, such as the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, East Africa, India and Western Pacific should take precautions as described above, and should consult their doctor if they develop signs and symptoms of chikungunya within 2 weeks of leaving these areas.
For additional information about chikungunya, please visit the links below:
General information about chikungunya: http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/
To learn more about chikungunya and its introduction into the Americas, please visit: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9053&Itemid=39843
Information for Healthcare Providers, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov./chikungunya/hc/resources.html
Travel related fact sheets/posters: http://www.cdc.gov./chikungunya/fact/index.html
To follow the surveillance information being collected by CDC from within the United States: http://www.cdc.gov./chikungunya/geo/americas.html
To follow the surveillance information for the Caribbean and other countries in the Americas: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9053&Itemid=39843
If you would like to speak with someone at Public Health about chikungunya please call Forsyth County Department of Public Health at 336-703-3350.


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Mighty Dog Roofing of Charlotte South
Mighty Dog Roofing of Charlotte North Carolina are experienced with residential and commercial roofing replacements and repairs. Ask about our siding, gutters, and windows installation. Call us today for more info.
Mighty Dog Roofing specializes in Roofing, Storm Damage Repair, Siding and Windows. Locally owned and operated, Mighty Dog Roofing is the best choice for serving the Charlotte area of North Carolina. Mighty Dog Roofing is the most trusted name in the roofing industry, offering state-of-the-art 25 point inspections using Drone Super Scan technology. This technology, matched with the highest quality products and superior workmanship, allows you to have peace of mind on the most important investment you have, your home.
Charlotte ( SHAR-lət) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 15th-most populous city in the United States, the seventh-most populous city in the South, and the second-most populous city in the Southeast behind Jacksonville, Florida. The city is the cultural, economic, and transportation center of the Charlotte metropolitan area, whose estimated 2023 population of 2,805,115 ranked 22nd in the United States. The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of an eighteen-county market region or combined statistical area with an estimated 2023 population of 3,387,115. Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was among the country's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, with 888,000 new residents.


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The holidays, debt free
November 06, 2012
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I don't know what it is about this time of year, but the last time I blogged about our debt free journey was last November as well. I guess it's the upcoming holidays coming up that gets me thinking about it.
This year it's extra special because I was asked to participate in the Dave Ramsey Merry Different Christmas series over at daveramsey.com. It was such an honor to be asked to write about our experience and I so cherish the relationship I have built with the people there.
It's been almost two years since we finished paying off $125,000 (in credit card, car, student loan and I-have-no-idea-what-we-bought debt) and became debt free, and yes, I can easily say it's been the best two years of our lives. It has changed us, our marriage and our outlook on life in general for the better.
I get asked all the time how it's changed our lives. To say there is a peace and a feeling of FREEDOM is an understatement. The only money we owe anyone is for our house, and we're chipping away at that at a good rate too. After living our entire adult lives in debt, that is an amazing feeling!!
It's the little things that make a difference to me – I can buy primed wood if I want to now, instead of unprimed. Silly maybe, but it's still not lost on me. This year I went to the salon to get my hair highlighted for the first time in five years. I don't shop Goodwill as much as I used to, which I think bothers some people. Thing is, I believe I've saved money by not stopping in a couple times a week anymore. I used to buy items just because I'd be afraid to "lose" them for a good price -- and my house filled up with STUFF I wasn't using. It was a waste.
Some things have not changed though – our two cars combined are 16 years and 300,000 miles old. They are…interesting. ;) But we'll keep fixing them as long as we can to avoid buying new (used) ones. And although we can now hire help sometimes (no, I didn't frame and drywall our basement, thankfully we hired out for that), I still find great joy in doing things myself and always will. :)
A time that I feel the change in our home the most was last Christmas (our first without debt), and that's what I wrote about over at the Dave Ramsey site here. A few years ago, right about now, I would start to feel the panic of not having enough money to pay for Christmas. Then that panic would be "eased" by our fall back method of using credit cards throughout the season.
But it returned a couple months later…and for months (years?) after, as we continued to pay off the holiday (and everything else from months and years before). It's just what we did. It's what so many do! And I'm not mad at you if you do either – but if you are fed up with the debt, I write this to tell you you CAN do it differently.
That day that we asked each other – "Can we REALLY live without credit cards?" -- caused a shift and changed our lives.
This year the folks at Dave Ramsey are encouraging you to be weird too with their "A Merry Different Christmas" series. They want you to avoid going into debt for Christmas gifts, parties, decorations and focus on what really matters. To celebrate, they'll be doing product and cash giveaways that total around $75,000 ($10,000 per week and a $15,000 grand prize)! There hope is that this will ultimately provide someone the chance to celebrate being debt-free for Christmas. AWESOME!! It gives me chills. And yes, every time I hear a debt free scream on the radio show, I still get tears in my eyes. It is an emotional thing.
My hubby and I would like to pay it forward too. If you are struggling with a little or a lot of debt, we want you to know that is really IS possible to become debt free. So like last year, we are giving away the Financial Peace University classes to five of you. This is the nine week series of classes that got us SUPER excited to kick some debt butt. The end of our debt journey was the hardest for us, and these classes motivated us SO much.
You can just use the CDs in the packet to go through the class on your own, but I highly encourage you to go to the classes if you can. It makes a difference!
You can take a look here to see where there are classes near you. Many start up at the beginning of 2013 – I can't think of a better way to start the new year!!
The Dave Ramsey folks are throwing in 25 desk calendars as well:
Believe me, when his words are staring at you every day, it motivates. ;)


text:
Obama's WarsIn Obama's Wars, Bob Woodward provides the most intimate and sweeping portrait yet of the young president as commander in chief. Drawing on internal memos, classified documents, meeting notes and hundreds of hours of interviews with most of the key players, including the president, Woodward tells the inside story of Obama making the critical decisions on the Afghanistan War, the secret campaign in Pakistan and the worldwide fight against terrorism. At the core of Obama's Wars is the unsettled division between the civilian leadership in the White House and the United States military as the president is thwarted in his efforts to craft an exit plan for the Afghanistan War. "So what's my option?" the president asked his war cabinet, seeking alternatives to the Afghanistan commander's request for 40,000 more troops in late 2009. "You have essentially given me one option...It's unacceptable." "Well," Secretary of Defense Robert Gates finally said, "Mr. President, I think we owe you that option." It never came. An untamed Vice President Joe Biden pushes relentlessly to limit the military mission and avoid another Vietnam. The vice president frantically sent half a dozen handwritten memos by secure fax to Obama on the eve of the final troop decision. President Obama's ordering a surge of 30,000 troops and pledging to start withdrawing U.S. forces by July 2011 did not end the skirmishing. General David Petraeus, the new Afghanistan commander, thinks time can be added to the clock if he shows progress. "I don't think you win this war," Petraeus said privately. "This is the kind of fight we're in for the rest of our lives and probably our kids' lives." Hovering over this debate is the possibility of another terrorist attack in the United States. The White House led a secret exercise showing how unprepared the government is if terrorists set off a nuclear bomb in an American city—which Obama told Woodward is at the top of the list of what he worries about all the time. Verbatim quotes from secret debates and White House strategy sessions—and firsthand accounts of the thoughts and concerns of the president, his war council and his generals—reveal a government in conflict, often consumed with nasty infighting and fundamental disputes. Woodward has discovered how the Obama White House really works, showing that even more tough decisions lie ahead for the cerebral and engaged president. Obama's Wars offers the reader a stunning, you-are-there account of the president, his White House aides, military leaders, diplomats and intelligence chiefs in this time of turmoil and danger. |
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Common terms and phrases
Afghan government al Qaeda American ANSF Army assessment attacks Axelrod background interviews Barack H Biden Blair Bob Woodward brigade called campaign Cartwright chairman chapter comes primarily chief of staff CIA director civilian Clinton commander counterinsurgency counterterrorism decision defeat deputy Donilon Eikenberry Emanuel firsthand sources Gates Geoff Morrell ghan ghanistan goal going Graham guys Haqqani Hayden Helmand province Holbrooke intelligence Iraq Jones July Kandahar Karzai Kayani Lavoy leaders Lute McChrystal McConnell McDonough McKiernan meeting mission months Mullah Omar Mullen national security adviser NATO November Obama asked operations option Oval Office Paki Pakistan Panetta Pentagon Petraeus Podesta political President Barack President Bush President Obama presidential primarily from background Qaeda Quetta Riedel safe havens secretary of defense Senate September Situation Room speech stan Taliban insurgents talk terrorist thought tion U.S. troops United wanted Washington Post White House Zardari


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OpenScape Desk Phone FAQ
The Wiki of Unify contains information on clients and devices, communications systems and unified communications. - Unify GmbH & Co. KG is a Trademark Licensee of Siemens AG.
In this OpenScape Desk Phone FAQ you will find answers to frequently asked questions on the OpenScape Desk Phone phone family, divided into various topics.
Read more about SIP features.
- 1 General
- 2 Administration
- 3 Web-based-Management (WBM)
- 4 User Data
- 5 Platform Support
- 6 See also
What documents are available for the OpenScape Desk Phones and where do I find them?
- All OpenScape Desk Phones are shipped with a printed document in multiple languages providing brief instructions regarding installation and operation. All the others are here on this Wiki.
How do I get an overview of the features of the OpenScape Desk Phones?
What are the default passwords?
- User Menu: no password
- Admin Menu: 123456
- Factory Reset: 124816
Security Advisory: ensure that the default passwords (both user and admin access) are changed to individual complex passwords when a phone gets into operation. This is especially important in deployment scenarios where remote administration via WBM (web-based management) is enabled.
How can I invoke a soft-Restart?
How can I invoke a factory reset?
How can I monitor the phones IP traffic?
- Best way, just configure the PC-port of your OpenScape Desk Phone as a mirror of the first one and trace phones IP/SIP traffic with a network tracer running on the PC connected to the phones PC-port.
What is a phone-trace?
- It is a capture of messages and activity states of the phone.
How can I get a phone-trace?
- The tracing is enabled via the Web interface, actions are then performed on the phone, during which the trace information is captured. When the desired actions have been performed, the captured trace information can be downloaded and viewed.
- The file size should be set to 2.500.000 bytes. When the file size is reached, the phone save the trace file as old trace file and begins a new one. If the new one reaches the maximum file size, the old trace file will be replaced.
- You should only activate a few traces and use the function "Automatic clear before start" (old files will be deleted)
Which trace-actions are available?
- Administration
- This deals with the changing and setting of parameters within the phone database, from both the User and Admin menus.
- Application framework
- All applications within the phone e.g. Call view, Call log or Phonebook are run within the application framework. It is responsible for the switching :between different applications and bringing them into and out of focus as appropriate.
- Application Menu
- This is where applications to be run on the phone can be started and stopped.
- Call log
- This deals with the Call log application which displays the call history of the phone.
- Call view
- This handles the representation of telephony calls on the phone screen.
- Certificate management
- This service handles the verification and exchange of certificates for security and verification purposes.
- Communications
- This is involved in the passing of call related information and signaling to and from the CSTA service.
- Component registrar
- This handles data relating to the type of phone e.g SIP Workpoint Hi/Workpoint Lo.
- CSTA service
- Any CSTA messages, are handled by this service. CSTA messages are used within the phone by all services as a common call progression and control :protocol.
- Data Access service
- This service allows other services to access the data held within the phone database.
- Desktop
- The desktop service is responsible for the shared parts of the phone display. Primarily these are the status bar at the top of the screen and the FPK labels.
- Digit Analysis service
- This analyses and modifies digit streams which are sent and received by the phone e.g. canonical conversion.
- Directory service
- This performs a look up service for data in the phonebook, trying to match incoming and outgoing numbers with entries in the phonebook.
- DLS Client management
- Interactions with the Deployment and licencing server are handled by this service.
- Health service
- This monitors other parts of the phone for diagnostic purposes and provides a logging interface for the other services in the phone.
- Help
- The help function is handled by this service.
- Instrumentation service
- This is used by the Husim phone tester to exchange data with the phone for remote control, testing and monitoring purposes.
- Java
- Any Java applications run on the phone will be run in the Java sandbox controlled by the Java service.
- Journal service
- The Journal service is responsible for saving and retrieving call history information which is used by the Call log application.
- Media control service
- This service provides the control of media streams (voice, tones, ringing etc.) within the phone.
- Media Processing service.
- This is a layer of software between the media control service and the tone generation and voice engine services. It is also involved in switching of :audio devices such as the handset and loudspeaker.
- Mobility service
- This handles the mobility feature whereby users can log onto different phones and have them configured to their own profile.
- Openstage Client Management
- This provides a means by which other services within the phone can interact with the database.
- Phonebook
- This is responsible for the phonebook application within the phone.
- POT service
- This service is supposed to take over control of basic telephony if the callview application fails.
- Password management service
- This is used to verify passwords used in the phone.
- Physical interface service
- This handles any interactions with the phone via the keypad, mode keys, fixed feature buttons, 4-way navigation.
- Service framework
- This is the environment within which other phone services operate. It is involved in the starting and stopping of services.
- Service registry
- This keeps a record of all services which are currently running inside the phone
- Sidecar service
- This handles interactions between the phone and any attached sidecars.
- SIP call control
- This is contains the call model for the phone and is associated with telephony and call handling.
- SIP Messages
- This traces the SIP messages which are exchanged by the phone. Activating the SIP messages trace requires a reboot of the device
- SIP signalling
- This is involved in the creation and parsing of SIP messages and communicates directly with the SIP stack.
- Team Service
- This is primarily concerned with Keyset operation.
- Tone generation
- This service handles the generation of the tones and ringers on the phone.
- Transport service
- The transport service provides the IP (LAN) interface between the phone and the outside world.
- vCard parser service
- This trace is for sending/recieving vCards via the Bluetooth interface.
- Voice engine
- This provides a switching mechanism for voice streams within the phone. It is also involved in QDC, Music on Hold and voice instrumentation.
- Voice mail
- This trace monitors the integrated Voice mail application of the phone.
- Web Server service
- This provides the web access to the phone.
- USB Backup service
- This is for the backup/restore feature via USB devices.
- Voice recognition
- The Voice recognition service is for the voice dialling feature
- 802.1x service
- This is for port security (802.1x)
Error codes
When do I see the error codes?
- Whenever a phone is unable to register it brings up a message (No telephony possible) together with an error code. The error code helps you to identify where the problem is.
List of error codes
Problem Detail Error code Network Problem No network connection LI1 Not Initialised Waiting for data I1 Unable to use LAN 802.1x error LX1 Unable to use LAN Physical connection missing LP1 Unable to Register Server timeout RT2 Unable to Register Server failed RF2 Unable to Register Authentication failed RA2 Unable to Register No number configured RN2 Unable to Register No server configured RS2 Unable to Register No registrar configured RG2 Unable to Register No DNS domain configured RD2 Unable to Register Rejected by server RR2 Unable to Register No phone IP address set RI2 Survivability Backup route active B8 Survivability Backup not configured RS8 Survivability Backup timeout RT8 Survivability Backup authentication failed RA8
What codecs are supported with OpenScape Desk Phone?
- - G.711 (A-Law and u-Law)
- - G.729AB (OpenScape Desk Phone can decode G.729 and G.729A but encodes only with G.729A)
- - G.722 wideband codec
Can I move a Mobile User between an optiPoint and an OpenScape Desk Phone telephone and vice versa?
Cross mobility is released with the following restriction: Mobility between OpenScape Desk Phone and optiPoint410/420 phones is released but please take notice of some minor restrictions/ details to be taken into account (see information below). The "mobility log-on/ log-off" is released for mobile users logging in or off from any OpenScape Desk Phone IP to optiPoint 410/420 SIP and vice versa. However: There are a few details and shortcomings to be taken into account when it comes to creating a mobile user in DLS and the interworking of default settings especially for multi-line appearance (position of the keys while using mobility and the key layout). In order to both understand and gain an overview on details to be taken into account please refer to the "Cross Mobility" document
SIP Mobility User - optiPoint and OpenStage Regression Test.
Accessing the LDAP server is available on OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G and OpenScape Desk Phone IP 35G (with SW Release V3 R3 and higher). |
What is the purpose of a LDAP template?
See also: LDAP on OpenScape Desk Phone
- A LDAP template has to be downloaded to the phone via local phone menu or WBM, because it contains necessary information about the search attributes and the location of all user data inside the directory.
Where do I get the template from?
- It is a plain txt file and must fit your directory environment. The configuration for a Microsoft Active Directory would look like this:
- OpenStage LDAP TEMPLATE (v.1)
- SEARCHBASE="OU=Users,DC=microsoft,DC=com"
- ATTRIB01="sn"
- ATTRIB02="givenName"
- ATTRIB03="telephoneNumber"
- ATTRIB04="otherTelephone"
- ATTRIB05="mobile"
- ATTRIB06="homePhone"
- ATTRIB07="company"
- ATTRIB08="department"
- ATTRIB09="l"
- ATTRIB10="title"
- ATTRIB11="mail"
- If your are not using a Microsoft AD, you have to adjust the template:
- OpenStage LDAP TEMPLATE (v.1)
- SEARCHBASE="OU=Users,DC=yourdomain,DC=toplevel"
- ATTRIB01="Last Name"
- ATTRIB02="First Name"
- ATTRIB03="Business phone numer 1"
- ATTRIB04="Business phone numer 2"
- ATTRIB05="Mobile phone number"
- ATTRIB06="Home phone number"
- ATTRIB07="Company"
- ATTRIB08="Address 1"
- ATTRIB09="Address 2"
- ATTRIB10="Job function"
- ATTRIB11="E-Mail address"
Configuration at the phone.
- Besides the template, add the following information in the admin menu of the OpenScape Desk Phone IP: Admin --> Local functions --> Directory Settings
- LDAP server address
- LDAP server port
- LDAP authentication (if Simple, add authentication information below)
- Up to now, the address is saved in one single field, which makes it difficult to search for a complete address. It is up to the administrator to which subject of the Directory the address fields are matched with.
Web-based-Management (WBM)
- With the WBM are changes in settings possible, which can also be performed in the phone-menu, but you have the adventage that you needn't be in front of the phone.
- Trace-configuration is only possible in WBM.
User Data
Keep in mind that the user space on
Every picture, ringtone or phonebook entry will reduce the space left! |
File limits
- File size: 1000000 Bytes max per file
- Number of files: no limit (memory related)
- File size: 300000 Bytes max per file
- Number of files: no limit (memory related)
Picture clips
- File size: 300000 Bytes max per file
- Number of files: no limit (memory related)
- File size: no limit
- Number of files: 1
LDAP Template
- File size: no limit
- Number of files: 1
USB support to backup/restore user data
Which OpenScape Desk Phone IP provide an USB port and what kind of USB port do they have?
The OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G provide an USB master port.
What can I connect to this port?
You can connect an USB memory stick to back-up and restore personal data, like phonebook, ringer tones and pictures (for details see below). All data you find under Settings ⇒ User (no admin data).
When you plug in a USB hub it is recognised and a video camera will actually work through the USB hub, but a memory stick does not work.
What USB features can I use?
- Backup of data into USB (with a password, and then it is encrypted)
- Restore of data from USB (with a password, and then it is decrypted)
- Encryption/Decryption of the backup data (storing on USB memory stick and loading data from USB memory stick is encrypted)
- Replace backup
- Delete backup
- HotPlug device
- ColdPlug device
- Getting product name (the phone is told the USB device name)
Can I store more than one phone configuration on an USB memory stick?
- Yes. It depends only on the size of memory of the USB memory stick.
Logo (Background picture)
How can I put my own company logo or background picture on the phone?
- This can either be done by local phone menu or Webbased management. The logo file has to be placed on a FTP server, where the phone can download it.
What file types are supported?
- OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G supports PNG and JPG format, but PNG is the preferred file type because of the transparency feature.
- A logo file has to be resized to 240 x 70 pixel
- For a HowTo, see Administration Manual OpenScape Desk Phone OpenScape Voice.
How can I return to the default logo?
- If you like to return to the standard logo (Unify) feel free to download the respective file and deploy it to the phone.
- Below you can find all default logo files for OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G:
Design: Silver Blue, PNG: |
Design: Anthracite Orange, PNG: |
Can I use my own pictures for the screensaver slideshow?
- Yes, this is possible. Easiest way doing this, is with the help of the OpenStage Manager tool. It transfers all the pictures to the phone, makes them fit best on the screen and can help saving memory.
Which formats are supported?
How many pictures can be downloaded?
- This depends on the memory usage for other user data (eg. phonebook entries, ringer tones). The total memory available is limited to 8 MB.
Local phonebook
Is it possible to synchronize my Outlook contacts with OpenScape Desk Phone?
- This can be done with the OpenStage Manager.
Ringer tones
What file types are supported?
- In general, WAV and MIDI files are supported on all 2 phone types. Additionally, OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G can play MP3 files.
Is there a suggestion for MP3 files?
- OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G can play MP3 files from 32 kbit/s up to 320 kbit/s (stereo and mono). Because of a limitation of the space available (8 MB in total), the following is suggested:
- - mono instead of stereo sound
- - a constant bitrate between 64 and 96 kbit/s
- - a maximum length of 15 seconds per file
- See the following table for estimated file size:
64 kbit/s (mono) 80 kbit/s (mono) 96 kbit/s (mono) Length 5 seconds 40 KB 50 KB 60 KB Length 10 seconds 80 KB 100 KB 120 KB Length 15 seconds 120 KB 150 KB 180 KB
How can I download my own ringer melodies to the OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G?
- This can be done by using the OpenStage Manager. As an instance of ringtones, several MP3 files can be found here.
How can I download my own ringer melodies to the OpenScape Desk Phone IP 35G?
- This can be done via FTP or Deployment Service. If you want to replace it, you need to download a new file with the same name. Of course a factory resets turns the phone in the original state and eleminates individual downloaded ringer files.
- MIDI files are used instead of WAV files.
- The original OpenScape Desk Phone WAV Ringerfiles can be downloaded here: OS_Ringtones_15_20_40
Music-On-Hold (MoH)
What file types are supported?
- In general, WAV and MIDI files are supported on the 2 phone types. Additionally, OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G can play MP3 files.
Is there a suggestion for MP3 files?
- OpenScape Desk Phone IP 55G can play MP3 files from 32 kbit/s up to 320 kbit/s (stereo and mono). Because of a limitation of the space available (8 MB in total), the following is suggested:
- - mono instead of stereo sound
- - a constant bitrate between 64 and 96 kbit/s
- - a maximum length of 15 seconds
- - there can only be one single Music on Hold file at once
- See the following table for estimated file size
64 kbit/s (mono) 80 kbit/s (mono) 96 kbit/s (mono) Length 5 seconds 40 KB 80 KB 120 KB Length 10 seconds 50 KB 100 KB 150 KB Length 15 seconds 60 KB 120 KB 180 KB
How can I download my own Music on Hold to the phone?
- This can be done by using the OpenStage Manager. Only one file can be downloaded, because there is no selection of files available.
How can I get back to the factory default Music?
- The file can be downloaded from here: OpenStage Default MoH.
Platform Support
How can I connect my OpenScape Desk Phone IP to an Asterisk system?
See SIP Devices and Asterisk for further details.
See also
- OpenScape Desk Phone IP - the portal page of the OpenScape Desk Phone IP telephone family
- OpenScape Desk Phone Training - easy learning to use your feature-rich enterprise phone
- OpenStage Manager - feature description of the PC application for OpenStage and OpenScape Desk Phone
- OpenScape Desk Phone power supply and PoE classes - required power supply and PoE classes of phones and accessories
- OpenScape Desk Phone Hardware revisions - comparative table of supported hardware versions
- OpenScape Desk Phone Accessories - Add-On devices, Adapters and Accessories
- OpenScape Desk Phone Main Navigation - comparative information about the main navigation elements


text:
Drought-stricken California to see some rain, snow
SAN FRANCISCO - Meteorologists forecast a pair of storms that could dump several inches of rain on parched cities and croplands throughout California in the coming week, bringing welcome news to a state that has just endured its driest year in recorded history.
While the rain won't be enough to end the drought, the National Weather Service projected Sunday that the much-needed precipitation could nearly double the amount of rainfall in parts of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area this year.
By next Saturday, the twin Pacific storms are expected to bring as much as 2 inches of rain to the coast and several feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada.The first storm on Wednesday won't offer much relief, just light overnight rains heading into Thursday. By Friday, radar images show the second storm should drench the entire state for 24 hours.
"We're not calling it a drought-buster, but it definitely will make a difference," said Jim Bagnall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford, one of many San Joaquin Valley towns where farmers have fallowed crops in anticipation of record low water supplies. "With these few storms, we could see about an inch total in the valley. So this could obviously have some significant impact."
The wet weather is badly needed: Since July 1, only 5.85 inches of rain have fallen in San Francisco, or about 35 percent of normal for this time of year. Just 1.2 inches have fallen in downtown Los Angeles, compared to 10.45 inches in a normal year.
The heavy rains will likely lead to flash flooding and runoff, carrying mud, trees and debris in areas burned in recent fires, such as the Colby fire, near Glendora.
"People who live around the burn areas need to be aware that Friday and Saturday could be potentially dangerous days," said Andrew Rorke, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
At higher elevations, the storms could blanket the Sierra in several feet of snow reaching down as low as about 4,500 feet, Bagnall said.
Looking further into the future, meteorologists say computer models show another sign of hope: greater chances that this year could see El Nino conditions and accompanying rainfall.
The San Jose Mercury News reports researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in November there was a 36 percent chance of El Nino conditions developing by August 2014. NOAA recently updated that probability to 49 percent.
"There's been an uptick recently. More models favor El Niño," said Jon Gottschalck, acting chief of operational prediction at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center in College Park, Md. "We certainly don't want to promise anything, but conditions are looking better."
Scientists are quick to say that El Nino conditions don't guarantee that California will get intense rainfall. But if the pattern is strong and temperatures are warm in the Pacific Ocean, the likelihood of heavy rainfall increases.


text:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled and shredded (I season my chicken with fajita seasoning or even Montreal Steak Seasoning prior to grilling.)
In a medium bowl, combine shredded chicken, cream cheese, mayonnaise, shredded cheese, green chile peppers and jalapeno pepper.
Transfer the chicken mixture to a medium baking dish.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.


text:
Ingredients:Here is the recipe adapted from The Little Teochew
140 grm of fresh red chili
2 large onions
12 cloves of garlic
½ cup of cooking oil
160 grm of ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
3 tbsp of tamarind pulp + 3/4 cup of water
Salt and sugar to taste
1. Blend chili, onions and garlic into fine paste and set it aside. Soak the tamarind pulp in the water for 15 minutes to soften it up. Then squeeze the tamarind constantly to extract the flavor into the water. Drain the pulp and save the tamarind juice
2. Heat up the frying pan, add in the oil and fry the ikan bilis (anchovies) until brown and crispy. Remove and drain the oil. Ground it into fine powder and set it aside.
3. In the same frying pan and oil add in the blended chili paste and stir-fry until fragrant or until you see oil floating to the top. It will take about 10-13 min.
4. Add in the tamarind juice and the ikan bilis powder. Continue to stir-fry until the liquid evaporated. Add in sugar and salt to taste.


text:
Qiang Huang
My blogs
Blogs I follow
Introduction | My name is pronounced as Chong Wong and I came from China and live in Texas now. I have been painting for many years. Starting from January 2007, I have been generating one painting every weekday, and weekend sometimes. Please enjoy my blog. If you like my work, I would like to thank you, because we have communicated visually and shared a common concept about the world. If you do not like my work, I would also like to thank you, because you have just found room of improvement for me. So please do not hesitate to let me know. I really hope my painting can bring you more happiness today, no matter how small it is. |


text:
Compiled By Michael L. Nunnally, 1948-2010
Before the smoke could clear at the Little Bighorn a great number of men claimed to be the only survivor of Custer's command. The claims lasted from the 1870s well into the 1930s. Over 200 men made claims of being a Custer scout or last messenger but all were proven to be frauds. The newspapers of the day ran hundreds of such stories. Most of the accounts are complete flights of fantasy and offer no documentation to support their claim. Some of the men and their fanciful tales have believers to this day and have entered the realm of Little Big Horn folklore. Here are just a few:
Henry Benner– Benner said he escaped the last stand by riding through Indian lines on Custer's "fast horse" to Major Reno who was "sixty-five miles away." The Seventh, he said, was ambushed in a "narrow canyon."
Charles L. Berg– "Captain" Charles Berg claimed to be the first person to discover the Custer Battlefield, a claim which was made by over two dozen other men and Calamity Jane.
Joe Blonger– Blonger (Belonger) (1847-1933) Claimed he missed the Battle of the Little Bighorn because there weren't enough horses to go around. He said he arrived on the battlefield after the massacre and questioned the Indian children about what really happened. The Indian children also told him who killed Custer, a secret he only shared with family members. Blonger was good friends with Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Cochise and Wild Bill Hickock. He also scouted with Buffalo Bill. The Apaches called Blonger "Joe straight tongue." Died 1933 Seattle, WA.
Billy Boutwell– According to Boutwell he and his fellow prospectors witnessed Custer and his men being ambushed in a narrow canyon. Boutwell said his fellow prospectors were killed and he made his way to a small settlement where he was nursed back to health.
William J. Carlyle– Claimed to be the "only living white man that saw the fight" where he witnessed Custer fall with a bullet in his breast. Died in Boston, Massachusetts.
Alfred Chapman- (?-1941) A Buffalo Bill look-alike Chapman claimed he was a scout for Custer and was captured by Indians and forced to watch the slaughter of Custer and his command. Chapman was more of a showman than the rest and appeared as himself in the 1915 silent motion picture Custer's Last Scout and made numerous appearances at carnivals and fairs signing autographs and showing off the "bullet that killed Custer." Died Portland, Oregon 1941.
S.B. Clark– Claimed to have been captured by Indians and forced to watch the destruction of Custer and his troops.
Jack Cleybourne– Said he had fought alongside the general at the Battle of the Washita and also the Little Bighorn where he was the only survivor.
Charles M. Davis– Wounded in both legs Davis escaped the last stand and fought his way through the Indians to Reno.
William Theodore Dugard– (1864-1937) Dugard claimed to be one of Custer's 'Mississippi Scouts." Unfortunately Dugard was only twelve years old at the time of the battle and Custer had no "Mississippi Scouts." During his lifetime Dugard was somewhat of a celebrity in his hometown of Tupelo, Miss., and played organ from the back of a wagon during parades. Buried Tupelo, Miss. In 2001 Mississippi erected a military tombstone with the inscription- "Custer Co. -Mississippi Scouts- Battle of the Little Bighorn ."
Harvey S. Faucett– Learned of the overwhelming number of Indians waiting for Custer and tried to warn him but Faucett's horse died in the attempt.
Frank Finkel– (1854-1930) Finkel claimed to have escaped the last stand on a fast horse which carried him unconscious through the Indian lines. He then made his way to a remote cabin where he was nursed back to health from his wounds by two mysterious men. Finkel first made his claim in 1920 during a horseshoe tournament. No documentation exist to support his story although he still has his believers. The Frank Finkel Story: Possible Custer Survivor? by Dr. Charles Kuhlman relates Finkel's claim. The subject of numerous books and articles. Buried Dayton, Washington.
Frank Fleck- Claimed he and 40 other men were left at the river due to "lame horses." Fleck and his group were cut off and fought their own mini last stand with Fleck being the only survivor. When found wounded he was sent back to where the "women and children were."
Thomas Frost– Claimed to be part of a relief force sent to rescue Custer.
Raymond Hatfield Gardner– (1845-1940) "Arizona Bill" Gardner claimed he entered Sitting Bull's camp disguised as a "Canadian Indian." He tried to warn Custer but was accused of treason by the general. In the 1930's Arizona Bill had his own radio show in San Antonio, Texas. Documentation signed by Gen. Nelson Miles and Buffalo Bill exists supporting Bill's tale although some researchers question the authenticity of the signatures. Died 1940, buried Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio.
Charles Hayward– In his tale Hayward said he was the last man left alive after Custer and his men were killed and attempted to escape on Comanche but was captured and held prisoner until 1900 when he escaped his Indian captors.
Billy Heath– (1848-1891) A Pennsylvania miner, Heath told his family he had survived the last stand and was listed on the battlefield monument as "killed in action." Other than the same name no evidence exists that supports the fable. The subject of a book, Billy Heath: The Man Who Survived Custer's Last Stand, Heath claimed to have been nursed back to health by a family named Ennis or Evans who were living in Sioux country. The story is similar to the Finkel tale but Heath's fable is strictly "family oral tradition" since he left no written accounts behind. Heath died in 1891 and is buried in the Oddfellows Cemetery, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
Curly Hicks- Sent to Gen. Terry for reinforcements, Hicks escaped the battlefield by using two dead Indians as a shield. Hicks claimed he was the famed scout for Custer known as Curly.
John C. Lockwood– (1857-1928) Claimed to have survived the last stand. Subject of the 1966 book, Custer Fell First: the Adventures of John C. Lockwood. Lockwood attended the 1926 Little Big Horn battle reunion and passed himself off as a veteran of the fight and appears in several photographs taken at the event. He was later dropped from membership in the Veterans of the Indian Wars Association for "unsubstantiated pretensions." Lockwood had been a member of the Seventh Cavalry enlisting in August 1876, less than two months after the battle, but had no connection to the regiment at the time of the battle.
John A. Martin– A private in the Fifth Cavalry, Martin claimed he was the last messenger sent by Custer. John D. Martin (Giovanni Martini) of the Seventh Cavalry was the actual last messenger. Records indicate John A. was with the Fifth Cavalry over 250 miles away the day of the battle. John A. Martin is buried Oak Hill Cemetery, Plymouth, Indiana, with tombstone inscription: "Custer's last messenger." He wasn't.
James Mannion– In one of the more outrageous tales Mannion says Custer attempted to lead his troops through a "gauntlet of 2,000 rifles." His men failed to follow and Custer rode back and again attempted to lead his men through the 2,000 rifles but is trapped and dies with his men. Mannion said he was with Reno at the time although his name is listed nowhere in connection with the battle.
Willie McGee– (1857-?) Claimed Custer sent him and a bugler named Wagner for help during the battle. Wagner was killed and only McGee made it through to "General" Reno. Also claimed to be a Medal of Honor winner. Sentenced to eight years in Sing Sing prison in 1905 for killing his best friend in an argument over how to cook beef stew. During his murder trial a number of newspapers ran sympathetic stories on "Custer's sole survivor'" which probably helped McGee receive only an eight year sentence for murdering his friend.
John McGrath– was an actual Seventh Cavalry veteran and survived the last stand by riding through Indian lines "disguised as an Indian, on an Indian pony." Unfortunately McGrath's enlistment ended in 1872 and he was living in North Carolina at the time of the battle.
Ben McIntosh– Claimed to be the Custer scout "Curley." In his tall tale "Curley" Ben claimed he carried Custer's body from the field to Mrs. Custer at Ft. Custer. Also claimed to be known as "Bloody Knife." McIntosh claimed Custer died in his arms. "Curley Ben" was later sent to prison for raising cash for a fictious Indian school and pocketing the proceeds.
Robert Nixon– In 1927 Nixon claimed he was the first person to visit the Custer battlefield after the battle and saw Custer's "severed head."
D.H. Ridgeley– Claimed he witnessed the last stand and watched as Custer's wounded were "burned at the stake." One of the first sole survivor claims, his story was printed in the St. Paul Pioneer-Press less than three months after the battle in September of 1876. Ridgeley's employer soon came forward and said Ridgeley was working for him at the time of the battle.
Ed Ryan– In 1950 Ryan wrote a book Me and the Black Hills in which he claimed to have served in the Seventh Cavalry under Custer. He was said to have appeared on an early Groucho Marx radio show in which he told his tale. The Chicago Daily News and Billings Gazette featured articles on the famous "sole survivor" in August of 1951. Ryan was later exposed to be 65, not the 95 he claimed. His hometown of Custer, South Dakota, labeled him the biggest liar in South Dakota.
Jay O. Spencer– Spencer claimed to have been in Custer's 'infantry' during the battle of the Little Big Horn and survived the last stand by hiding in a nearby log. He applied for a pension over a period of several years but no records could be found of his service in the Seventh Cavalry. Spencer's neighbor suggested he might have suffered from dementia.
Thomas Stowers– (1848-1933) Stowers was a member of B Company and an actual veteran of the Battle of the Little Big Horn and fought on Reno Hill. But his tombstone in Baxter, Tennessee, is inscribed "Sole Survivor of the Custer Massacre." Stowers' family oral tradition says he survived the last stand by hiding under a wagon or inside a large cooking pot.
Frank Tarbeaux- Tarbeaux claimed to have survived the last stand but was later exposed as a fraud. Tarbeaux changed his story to being a scout with Custer and being with troops nearby when the battle happened. This tale was believed by the public. A book written about Tarbeaux, The Autobiography of Frank Tarbeaux, was full of unbelievable adventures.
Charles L. Von Berg– Claimed to have carried messages for Custer and arrived on the battlefield after the battle was over.
Resources and Books
Boyes, William – No Custer Survivors: Or, the Unveiling of Frank Finkel. Booklet/pamphlet, 16 pages – Self published, 1977. Out of print. Boyes strips away the Finkel claim as nothing more than pure fable. At only sixteen pages a much sought after collectible by LBH enthusiasts.
Brininstool, E.A.- Was there a Custer Survivor? Hunter-Trader-Trapper magazine, April 1922. Brinistool researched a number of sole survivor claims and believed them all fraudulent. Also, Chapter 11 of Troopers with Custer;: Historic incidents of the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
Clarke, Donald Henderson- The Autobiography of Frank Tarbeaux. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1930. "The Great Adventurer's" account of his days in the wild west hobnobbing with Custer, Hickock, Jesse James, Oscar Wilde and Calamity Jane by his side. Pure fiction. One of the first outlandish stories to be published in book form.
Dippie, Brian W.- Sole Survivor Liars. True West Magazine, May-June 2001, pg.55. Dr. Dippie's humorous look at a sole survivor convention.
Doran, Robert E.- The Man Who Got to the Rosebud. Research Review: The Journal of the Little Big Horn Associates, pg. 11. El Paso, TX: Winter 2002, Vol. 16, No. 1. Researcher Robert Doran's argument on the Nathan Short-Rosebud saga.
Ellison, Douglas W.- Mystery of the Rosebud. Self published, 2002. Ellison's excellent expose on the Nathan Short fable. The small booklet picks apart testimonies on a number of so called eyewitnesses who claimed to have viewed Short's body.
Ellison, Douglas W.- Sole Survivor: An Examination of the Frank Finkel Narrative. Aberdeen, South Dakota, North Plains Press. 1983.
Koster, John- Survivor Frank Finkel's Lasting Stand. Wild West Magazine, June 2007, pg. 40. Frank Finkel rides again. More on the king of sole survivors.
Kuhlman, Dr. Charles- The Frank Finkel story: Possible Custer Survivor? (edited by Michael J. Koury) Bellevue, NE: The Old Army Press 1968.
Nunnally, Michael L.-I Survived Custer's Last Stand! Booklet/pamphlet 39 pages-Moonwolf books, self published, 2006. A listing of a number of "sole survivors" and other bizarre claims.
Nunnally, Michael L.-Sole Survivor: Fakes, Frauds, Impostors and the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Research Review: The Journal of the Little Big Horn Associates, pg. 25. Rockville, MD: Winter 2007, Vol. 21, No.1.
Ryan, J.C.(edited & compiled by)- Custer Fell First: the Adventures of John C. Lockwood. San Antonio, TX: The Naylor Company, 1966. Lockwood's fantasy account of being Custer's last messenger and also seeing the general killed.


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Pocket Bike Info
What are Pocket Bikes?
Pocket bikes (a.k.a. minimotos, mini GP's or pocket rockets) are miniature GP "Grand Prix" racing motorcycles. They're approximately one-fourth the size of a regular motorcycle, but accurate in detail and proportion to world-class GP bikes. Common features include; small two-stroke gas engines (between 40 – 50 cubic centimeters in size), front/rear disc brakes, racing tires, fairings, a sturdy yet lightweight aluminum or aluminum alloy frame, plus the look and feel of a real GP racing motorcycle.
Performance varies depending on the model and horsepower. The smaller industrial-motored models used by Junior class racers are capable of speeds of over 25 mph, the average 4.2 hp, and 6.2 hp racing models achieve about 40-45 mph, and open class machines can clock over 50 mph!
You can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to several thousand dollars on a pocket bike depending on the quality and features offered. When purchasing a lower priced pocket bike it's important to stick with a good brand name. The inexpensive, off-brand pocket bikes on the market are typically very poor quality. Boreem and Freedom are two brands names that manufacturer lower cost, good quality pocket bikes.
Pocket Bikes are built for racing and intended for use on speedways, go-kart tracks, or closed parking lots. Pocket bike racing is currently very popular in Europe and Japan and becoming increasingly more popular in the USA. Pocket bikes provide an inexpensive way to live out fantasies of GP Racing stardom and are a great entryway into full-sized motorcycle racing.
Now that we've described what pocket bikes are, here are a few words about what pocket bikes are not…
Pocket bikes are not… STREET MOTORCYCLES: Pocket bikes are highly specialized, miniature GP Racing motorcycles and not intended for use on the street, sidewalk or other areas used by motor vehicles. STAY OFF THE ROAD!
Pocket bikes are not… TOYS: Pocket bikes are built for high-speed racing. While a younger rider may look physically proportional to a pocket bike, they may not be able to safely operate the full-sized hand controls. Only younger riders who possess a high degree of training, skill, and dexterity should attempt to ride pocket bikes and only under close adult supervision. CHECK WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CONFIRM AGE RESTRICTIONS IN YOUR AREA.
Pocket bikes are not… TO BE UNDERESTIMATED: The more powerful and expensive pocket bikes aren't made for adult riders but built for experienced adult racers. Starting out with a 9.5 hp or 12+ hp model is surely ill-advised, especially if you have no prior road racing experience. Pocket bikes have an incredible power-to-weight ratio and more power on tap that can be used safely in all situations. USE COMMON SENSE AND BE SAFE!
Where to Ride Pocket Bikes?
The easiest way to find a good place to ride your pocket bike is through a regional pocket bike league. These regional pocket bike leagues hold racing events in various locations, typically speedways, go-kart tracks, or closed parking lots. These leagues can also point you in the direction of safe and legal places to ride outside of race time. If you can't find a league in your region, you may want to search the yellow pages or internet for local go-kart tracks, which usually allow pocket bike riding at designated times.
If you're not ready to join a league and would prefer to scout out a location on your own, there are several basic things you'll want to look for;
_ A clear, open area that allows for pocket bikes high speed.
_ No obstacles or obstructions that could cause harm or injury.
_ A smooth, flat surface area to maximize control over the pocket bike.
_ Steer clear of public roads and pedestrian-heavy areas.
In addition, we recommend you check out our Pocket Bike Safety Page, Pocket Bike Safety Guide and Motorized Scooter and Pocket Bike Law Page for more information and guidelines that will help you find a safe, legal place for riding your pocket bike.


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The Sounders' delegation represented splendidly Sunday in the Brazilian jungle, helping shove the U.S. National Team to the brink of an astonishing advance to the knockout round of the World Cup. But at nearly the last moment of the 95th minute, Portugal scored the equalizer for a 2-2 draw that deflated a national celebration, yet still left the door open to advance.
The U.S. (1-0-1) can reach the round of 16 with a win or a draw against Germany starting at 9 a.m. PT Thursday, but the route looked much less arduous in the 81st minute after the Sounders' Clint Dempsey, playing with a broken nose and without a mask, directed a point-blank shot off his abdomen into the net from Graham Zusi's cross.
Zusi drew the start from coach Jurgen Klinsmann, replacing injured striker Jozy Altidore with a midfielder and trusting Dempsey, the team captain, to go it alone up top.
The 2-1 lead in the hot, humid Amazon city of Manaus faded in the final 30 seconds as Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo, who until then had a mediocre performance for the world's greatest player, delivered a brilliant cross to a streaking Silvestre Varela, who headed the ball from eight yards past shocked goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The score kept alive the Cup chances of Portugal, ranked fourth in the world entering Brazil, after a humiliating 4-0 loss to Germany in its opener. It turned the U.S. anticipation into what felt like a heartbreaking loss, even though most American fans a week ago would have been happy with four points through the first two games.
Entering in the 72nd minute for his first World Cup experience was the Sounders' DeAndre Yedlin, the 20-year-old defender from Seattle's O'Dea High School who seemed unlikely to see action. But he responded well with several clean touches and helped set up Dempsey's go-ahead score.
Yedlin ran down a ball that nearly crossed the endline off the far post and centered the ball in front of the goal out 15 yards, where it deflected twice before Zusi gathered on the left flank for the pass that led to Dempsey's second goal of the tournament.
The play appeared to complete a turnaround from a start that looked devastating to the U.S., which surprised many with its 2-1 win over Ghana in the opener. A terrible clearance by defender Geoff Cameron ended up at the feet of Portuguese star Nani, who took advantage with a score in the fifth minute.
The U.S. rallied with a much stronger attack than its tepid show against Ghana, having nine shots by halftime after getting eight total in the opener. But it remained 1-0 until the 64th minute, when Jermaine Jones boomed a shot from 25 yards that blew past goalkeeper Beto.
Portugal poured on the pressure and U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann subbed in defenders, but it appeared he had pressed all the right buttons — at least from the the fifth minute to the 95th.
The U.S. can even advance with a loss if Portugal and Ghana tie in game that will be played simultaneously. Here are the scenarios, per ESPN:
- Germany: Advance with win/draw vs. USA
U.S.: Advance with win/draw vs. GER
Portugal: Advance with win vs. GHA and GER/USA do not tie, if POR wins tiebreaker with loser (see below)
Ghana: Advance with win vs. POR and GER/USA do not tie, if GHA wins tiebreaker with loser (see below)
U.S. scenarios
- Win/draw vs. Germany
Loss and Portugal-Ghana draw
Loss and win tiebreaker vs. Portugal-Ghana winner
If the U.S. loses, Ghana would qualify instead, if either game is decided by a margin of two goals or more. If the U.S. loses by one goal, Ghana would need to win by two goals or be involved in a higher-scoring, one-goal win. For instance, a 1-0 scoreline in both games would put the U.S. through on head-to-head. So, if the U.S. loses 1-0, then Ghana must win 2-1 to qualify on goals scored.
To surpass the U.S., Portugal needs a goal-difference swing of five (head-to-head is level). So for instance, Portugal would need to win 3-0 and U.S. lose 2-0, among other equivalent scorelines. The teams will draw lots if goal difference is identical (this would happen with a 3-0 U.S. defeat and a 2-0 Portugal win, for example).


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Aaron "Not Kershaw" Harang (9-10, 3.80) Clayton Kershaw (12-9, 2.70) vs. Homer Bailey (12-9, 3.82).
There's celebrations going on in Cincinnati, but not for the Dodgers, who are throwing in the towel by sending in Harang on three days' rest (his prior three starts on three days' rest have resulted in a 5.50 ERA).
Clayton Kershaw is indefinite with a sore hip. Shane Victorino is hurt with a sore wrist. Matt Kemp is still ailing from a sore shoulder, and A.J. Ellis is pretty fatigued. And Juan Uribe is fat.
So I'm not expecting we'll take the rubber game tonight here in Cincy. Let's just get ready for a day off before we get smoked in San Diego.


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Mattress Removal
We Do Mattress Removal
Portland ( PORT-lənd) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated in the northwestern area of the state at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, it is the county seat of Multnomah County, Oregon's most populous county. As of 2020, Portland's population was 652,503, making it the 26th-most populous city in the United States, the sixth-most populous on the West Coast, and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle. Approximately 2.5 million people live in the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WA metropolitan statistical area, making it the 25th most populous in the United States. About half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area.


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That's right, we had a plan. And we started slowly implementing said plan and painted the dresser, the nightstand and the pendant light.
So far, so good. All easy peasy paint projects with a neutral blue and gray color palette. But, the room needed color. Fun, kid friendly, bright color. And we went back and forth on a variety of options. Originally, we thought red. It was the color of many of his sports uniforms and looks great with blue. In fact, we went that route in the boy's shared bedroom right next door, so I knew I loved the look. However, when paired with the plaid gray bedding, it started to feel too country rustic, which can be super amazing, it just didn't fit the plan for the room or Preston's lifestyle. So, I asked him, which is the logical thing to do right? I put paint swatches and spray paint can covers in his room and asked him to pick his favorite. He went with orange. I wanted green. We weren't seeing eye to eye, but it was his bedroom and when I found the perfect blue, teal gray, gray, white and orange pillow on Joss & Main, I knew he was right and we now had a new bedroom color scheme!
I started out by painting the bronze lamp next to his bedside with some leftover wall paint {Behr's Frozen Pond}...
But the real reason I wanted color was to do something with the curtains. The side of the room with the window was looking quite blah, and it is the first thing you see when walking in the space. We had hung floor to ceiling cream curtains in there a year or two ago, but it stopped there. We didn't even take the time to hem them, so they were puddled on the floor. It was time to do something about it!
I thought about all sorts of options and was about to order some patterned navy fabric, when I decided that it was such a waste when the curtains he had were functioning perfectly, and basically a blank canvas to play with.
So, being the blog hopper I am, I instantly thought about all of those pretty painted stripe curtains and knew instantly that was the route that I had to go.
Sure, I could have done a different pattern or stencil, but with the chevron, plaid and herringbone additions already, stripes were not only a new pattern for the space, but a simple one! Hurrah! And all it would cost is the price of a quart of flat paint, mixed to the perfect shade of orange.
The oranges shown on the pillow are fun, but a little on the bright side. I thought that toning it down a smidge and going with a more rusty orange would be a smart move on the curtains. So, I selected Behr's Tibetan Orange.
Painting the curtains was quite simple and impactful. Here are the supplies I used:
- Large drop cloth
- 1 quart of tinted paint
- Foam roller and tray
- Painters tape
- Tape measure
We {the hubs and I}, spread the curtain panel out over the top of some drop cloths and measured 6 inches down the curtains in four sections to ensure nice, straight lines.
Then, we taped and rolled!
I found that the paint covered quite well, and didn't even leak through the panels. I also found that the curtains sucked up that paint like a sponge, and to be patient as I rolled nice even sections.
The paint went on a bit shiny when wet yet dried in a nice matte sheen. I left the tape on the panel until I hung it so that I could grab a brush and do some touch ups as the light would shine through the panel and show any missed areas. Then, the tape came off and the lines were amazing!
The orange won in so many ways. Preston was all, "I told ya so!" and I was all proud that he made such a good color choice and stood his ground.
The color works great with the globe and a few of his desk accessories.
Here is a close up look of the paint on fabric beauty:
Not too bad eh? I love that it was such a small investment of paint to make a huge dramatic difference in the space! The power of paint is really showing through in this bedroom update!
And the painted lamp looks great too!
So there you have it! Another stripe success story for window treatments. Absolutely a no fail option when looking for a quick, easy and inexpensive way to update your room!
Who else has hopped on the stripe curtain bandwagon? Are you enjoying the ride as much as we are? Have you ever been super impressed with the decorating choices made by your kiddo?


text: When you pick up a can of food at the store, do you know where it comes from, or what standards of quality it was held to? With THRIVE, you can. We painstakingly pick the very best products out there so you don't have to. You can be confident that every can contains only foods with the flavor, taste, color, and appearance that will create the best possible eating experience.


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President Obama unveiled a plan on Thursday that would, for the first time, tie federal student aid to a new rating system for colleges and universities. While the president's message that higher education costs should be reined in was simple enough, the sweeping proposal is anything but.
Beginning in 2018, the administration wants colleges and universities that depend on federal aid to disclose exactly what their tuition and fees cover, how many low-income students a school admits, graduation rates, how much debt students graduate with and whether they find good-paying jobs after graduation.
Based on this information, the U.S. Department of Education would then rate schools. The higher a school's rating, the more federal aid a student at that school would receive. Students at poorly rated schools would get less.
"This raises lots of questions," says Sandy Baum, an economist at the Urban Institute and a fellow at George Washington University. "Do you mean earnings right after you graduate," asks Baum — or seven years later?
"So really, we're going to have good data on how much students earn seven years later? That's what you need," Baum says. "The question about how much students borrow — are you including students who dropped out or only those who graduate? It's very difficult to do this right."
President Obama's carrot-and-stick approach, though, is the result of a growing frustration not just about rising costs but about the value of a college education and whether students are getting their money's worth. So, there's a certain logic in shifting $150 billion in annual student aid to higher-rated schools. The problem is that many of the things the administration wants to measure are hard to measure.
"We support data analysis and we support transparency, but it is hard to imagine that you can develop a rating or a ranking of institutions on the basis of an extensive amount of data, and right now the data available [are] seriously limited," says Molly Broad, president of the American Council on Education, which lobbies Congress on behalf of higher education.
What higher education is more likely to support, Broad says, is the president's push for more experimentation. Many institutions have just begun to adopt online learning as a cheaper way to deliver instruction. Three-year degree programs are rare. The administration wants to earmark at least $500 million for innovative programs and new approaches to instruction.
So, yes, Broad says, some of the president's ideas have merit. Now, she says, the people the president really needs to persuade are lawmakers in Washington.
"The administration will not be able to implement this without action by the Congress," she says.
The president says his proposal should appeal to both Democrats and Republicans, but already Republican leaders sound skeptical.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
I am just wondering if there are enough of us out there interested in getting hdmi audio working so we can sponsor (thom probably) to get it working. I understand that at some point this will be integrated in to 0810, but at the moment it might be a while off.If you are interested can you add your name and how much (in $$) you would be willing to contribute;Geekyhawkes $100
I need to play around with that more in 710, I'm running hdmi for video from my diskless MD to my reciever and a spdif coax connection for audio. Ideally I'd love to remove the coax and run straight hdmi (if only to get rid of one more cable ). Is there a wiki on how to set this up for nvidia based GPUs? If not after I get it working I'll post something on the wiki about it.
I dont think there is a wiki page on this yet...but I will make one asap ;-)
By updating the avwizard to know about HDMI audio, so that it creates a valid asound.conf.
Looking forward to this update being available for the rest of us! Good work again andrew!
Very nice, thanks Andrew!