text:
NVIDIA GTX 660Ti Roundup with ASUS, Galaxy, MSI Review
Closer Look:
Along with ASUS, MSI, Galaxy, and just about every manufacturer is dropping what could be the most significant launch for the mainstream gaming crowd this year in the GTX 660Ti. ASUS will be launching several versions of the GTX 660Ti including the reference, Overclock and TOP models with the reference cards available today and the OC TOP cards following within the next seven to ten days. Today I will be looking at the ASUS GTX 660Ti Direct CUII TOP offering in ASUS' product stack. ASUS offers up its full Digi+ VRM and Super Alloy Power suite that delivers 30% less power noise and a 2.5x upswing in durability. Add in the Direct CU II Direct contact heat pipe cooling solution on top of all the enhancements and features brought along with the NVIDAIA Kepler architecture, this non-reference card should deliver everything the gamer needs in terms of performance at the $300 price point.
Let's start the look at the ASUS offering with a quick look at the packaging. Externally the box is a departure from what I have seen in the past taking the focus away from the artwork and focusing on the product and features. The box clearly identifies the type of GPU (GTX 660Ti), the amount of GDDR5 memory on board (2GB), the cooling solution employed (ASUS Direct Contact Direct CU II), the fact that this is a TOP Edition factory overclocked card, and that it uses ASUS Exclusive DIGI+ VRM and Super Alloy Power technologies. GPU Tweak is included, which is ASUS' in-house built overclocking utility that has a new feature set in revision 2.2.1. The back side of the package shows a shot of the GTX 660Ti DirectCU II TOP and identifies the connectivity options, talks about the DirectCU II cooling solution, and how it delivers cooling performance 20% better than reference designs while running quieter. DIgi+ VRM and SAP are briefly touched on as well as showing the latest version of GPU Tweak that identifies the added value features it brings to the table.
Internally the packaging on this card is not really indicative of what you can expect to see in terms of a retail package but does indeed hold the card securely in place. Externally it is identical to what you will see when purchasing the cards. Underneath the GTX 660Ti DCU II is a space that holds the bundle of accessories. In this package it is a little slim but in the retail you can expect a little more than the manual/quick start guide, 6-pin PCIe power adapter, and a DVI to VGA adapter for everything you need to get started. Grabbing the latest drivers and utilities from the manufacturer's (NVIDIA and ASUS) web site is the best option to get the latest game compatibility and performance fixes.
ASUS GTX 660Ti DirectCU II is a non-reference build that uses a unique PCB design infused with ASUS own VRM+ and SAP Super Alloy Power deigned power circuits technologies. The TOP designation means that the GPU has gone through a rigorous testing/binning process to ensure it can deliver the 157MHz clock speed boost over the 915MHz reference card right out of the box running the default voltage. When you first look at the card from the front the most imposing features is the
large huge Signature DIrectCU II cooling solution. This solution uses a pair of "Dust Proof" fans to blow air through the heat pipe direct contact fin array to deliver temperatures 20% lower and do that 9db quieter than the reference solution. On the back side you can see that the heat sink fin array hangs over the end of the PCB by 1.25 inches providing a larger cooling surface to control the thermal load. Overall length of the GTX 660Ti DCU II is 10.7 inches allowing it to fit the vast majority of chassis on the market today.
In the center of the PCB right under the GK104 core is part of the SAP Power solution. This SAP CAP is a capacitor system that is right on the back of the GPU core to have the stored capacitance right behind the core where it is needed most when overclocking. A pair of the eight Hynix memory modules are located just under the SAP CAP. The black and red theme is reminiscent of the ROG line up and would look good in any case sporting that theme. Looking along the top and bottom of the card there are a total of three 8mm heat pipes to carry the thermal load from the GPU core to the fin array to be discharged out the rear and front of the card. A shroud extension is used to help direct airflow from the heat sink to the mounting bracket.A percentage of the thermal load is going to be recycled into the chassis where it can be exhausted by the chassis fans.
Connectivity is standard for the series with a pair of Dual Link DVI ports, an HDMI 1.4a port, and a single DisplayPort 1.2 port supplying the outputs to the monitors. NVIDIA Surround is supported by a single GTX 660Ti but it will take a second card or a higher spec one to run 3D Surround. The back end of the card is dominated by the large overhang of the DirectCU II heat sink assembly. This overhang coupled with the design of the shroud dumps the air up into the airflow to the CPU and/or airstream from the case fans to be pulled from the chassis rather than being ducted right back toward where the HDD(s) normally reside in the chassis; a positive step toward keeping that section of the system cool. Most modern chassis have enough built in airflow with large 120mm and 140mm fans to quickly turn over the chassis air volume to keep the impact of the heat dump to a minimum.
Along the top spine of the card are the SLI bridge connections. The GTX 660Ti supports up to three cards in an SLI configuration, although depending on the design of the shroud, a three way connection such as the one ASUS offers on many of its motherboards may not work. In this case ASUS has eliminated this as a cause for concern. A support bracket is used to add structural support for the card to eliminate any bending of the PCB that can cause cracks in the trace routes rendering the card inoperable. The dual 6-pin PCIe power connections deliver power up to the 150 watt TDP of the card. One of the biggest hurdles for the user installing video cards is the fact that connecting the power supply cables is sometimes an afterthought. ASUS has its Protective Design feature set built into this card and part of that is the VGA LED that lets the user know with a visual cue whether they have power to the PCIe connection points on the card. Red means no power and to connect the power plugs, and green means all is well with the requisite 6-pin PCIe power connections in place.
The direct contact heat pipe design of the DirectCU II cooling solution helps it to effectively dissipate the thermal load of the GPU and on board components. Featured beyond the heat sink are the "Dust Proof" fans used to provide the airflow through the heat sink assembly. These fans feature double sealing to keep out dust to ensure a life span increase of up to 10,000 hours. The heat sink feature an aluminum fin array using five dissipation points and a 125% greater dissipation area seen in the extended length heat sink. A trio of 8mm heat pipes running through the contact surface channels the thermal load from the overclocked GK104 core to the fin array. While not polished the contact surface is smooth to the touch allowing for an even transfer of heat to the pipes. Riding under the main heat sink is a small extruded aluminum heat sink used to cool the Digi+VRM/SAP 6 phase power circuit. Airflow through the DirectCU II cooling solution blows over this heat sink keeping the circuit cool.
The fans used on the 660Ti DCU II are 70mm x 10mm in size with 11 blades to drive the airflow through the heat sink at a higher static pressure. As such the pair of fans improve cooling over a reference solution by 20%. A significant increase when you look at the voltage and clock speeds required to run the numbers on this highly clocked card. The fans made by FirstD are sealed twice to prevent dust build up around the hub that can slow down the the fan over time reducing the cooling efficiency and ultimately leading to fan and video card failure. This feature is part of ASUS protective design suite. When it comes to fan noise performance video cards have gotten a bad rap over the years but ASUS has alleviated that concern on the GTX 660Ti DirectCU II TOP as this card is dead silent inside a chassis and is 9db quieter than the reference version of the GTX 660Ti.
Stripping the shroud and DirectCU II cooling solution off the card shows how the components are arranged on the PCB. The VRM circuit is on the front end of the card near the I/O bracket. This card uses ASUS' Super Alloy Power technology that is meant to increase efficiency, extend component life, run cooler, and reduce electronic noise. Developing components that meet these needs was paramount to delivering a card that performs well and lasts for a long time without failure. The SAP chokes use special alloys and a concrete core to reduce the buzzing so commonly heard with less robust designs. The SAP Capacitors allow a 30% increase in the maximum voltage threshold all while increasing the lifespan by 2.5x over the reference card. The Super Alloy MOS is smaller, runs cooler, and handles up to 30% more current than traditional designs. All of this is controlled by ASUS Digi+ VRM controller resulting in a highly efficient solution. Cooling duties for the 6 Phase power circuit are handled by a small extruded aluminum heat sink held in place by a pair of screws. THis heat sink easily fits under the main sink and is cooled by the air stream through the shroud.
ASUS GTX 660Ti DirectCU II TOP is built around the same 28nm GK104 Kepler core as the rest of our review samples. However as a TOP edition card the GPU has to go through s strict binning process to allow the 157MHz clock speed boost over the reference card right from the factory. The GTX 660Ti uses the same four GPC (Graphics Processing Cores), seven SMX design as seen on the GTX 670. On board are 3.54 billion transistors, 1344 CUDA cores, 24 ROPs, and 112 Texture units with 2GB of GDDR5 memory running through a 192-bit bus. Clock speeds on the reference cards are going to be the same as the GTX 670 at 915MHz on the core with a 980MHz "Boost" clock on the GK104 core. With a 1079MHz base clock with a boost clock of 1137MHz right from the start the GTX 660Ti DirectCU II TOP is the fastest GTX 660Ti being offered today. The memory does not see the same clock speed boost as the GPU core, but still runs at 1502MHz (6008MHz effective). The memory used on this card is from Hynix and rated for operation at 1500MHz using part number H5GQ2H24AFR-R0C.
So far we have looked at two highly clocked cards both with exceptional feature sets that drive graphics performance, reliability, and efficiency. Let's see what Galaxy has to offer in terms of feature set and how it compares to the ASUS and MSI offerings.


text:
SOARING over downtown Hartford, the 527-foot Travelers Insurance tower has stood for more than 70 years as a symbol of stability and strength. But like Connecticut's recession-wracked economy, the tower seemed to sway in recent days.
The Travelers Corporation, weakened by bad real estate deals and over $500 million in claims from Hurricane Andrew, is slashing its work force by 3,500 positions, including 500 to 600 in Connecticut.
A discouraged official at the State Capitol laments: "Every time we save 200 jobs in one company, someone else announces they're cutting twice that number."
The bleak economic skies hanging over New England are darkening President Bush's election prospects here and across the region. A brief campaign foray into Boston today by Bush will help, but much more work is needed.
The Nutmeg State, where Mr. Bush grew up and attended college, is supposed to be rock-solid Bush country. But polls tell a different story: His Democratic rival, Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas, is threatening even in the president's back yard. J. Brian Gaffney, co-chairman of the Bush-Quayle campaign in Connecticut, calls the race here "very tight," adding: "The odds here have to be slightly in favor of the Democratic candidate, due to the economy."
To understand how Bush could be lagging in a state where his father was once an esteemed United States senator, one needs to look no farther than the local unemployment office. Joseph M. Cohen, an official with the Connecticut Department of Economic Development, calls this recession the worst slump in more than 50 years.
Blue-collar workers are in difficult straits, as they often are in recessions. But this time they've been joined on the unemployment lines by white-collar, middle-class suburbanites who once thought they were immune to severe economic hardship.
"There are people who used to get $75,000 who would be thankful to get a job paying $37,500," Mr. Cohen says. "Clearly this is the absolute worst [economy] since the 1930s." Connecticut, along with the rest of New England, is at the forefront of a "horrendous" economic adjustment taking place in the United States, he says.
That adjustment now is spreading to places like Southern California.
Cohen explains: "This is the first recession that's caught the middle class hard. If what happened here goes across the US, it will certainly destroy the peace of mind of the middle class for the next generation."
At the University of Connecticut in Storrs, political analyst G. Donald Ferree says the root cause of economic distress is the sharp cutback in federal defense spending. On a per capita basis, Connecticut ranks either first or second, depending on the year, in defense jobs. The breakup of the Soviet Union and the scaling back of spending for jet fighters, submarines, tank engines, and other military hardware hit Connecticut right in the wallet.
Dr. Ferree, who is associate director of the Institute for Social Inquiry at the university, says there's an irony in Connecticut's current distress. The 40-year worldwide competition with the USSR had given this high-tech, high-skills state a sense of stability. The Cold War was good for the local economy and almost everyone thrived, from insurance companies with big investments in office buildings to skilled machinists, welders, and engineers who built the weapons. With the apparent end of the Soviet m ilitary threat, "people have lost a sense of what their future will be like," Ferree says.
Roger Therrian, acting director of research and information at the Connecticut Department of Labor, says the downturn has spread across the service sector - banks, insurance, transportation, real estate, and government. Jobs in those areas declined by 5 percent in the past year. Hardest hit, however, were construction, off 11 percent, and wholesale and retail trade, off 6.3 percent.
With every sector sputtering, Mr. Therrian says, "There is no engine for growth."
Mr. Gaffney of the Bush campaign says all this is making it harder for the president politically.
"For the first time since World War II, we have a peace economy," he says. "We are suffering the peace."
Gaffney says Connecticut's leaders realized years ago that the state needed to diversify its economy. But when Jimmy Carter started and Ronald Reagan continued the huge defense buildup of the 1980s, "we took a bite of the carrot," he says.
Now Connecticut must "bite the bullet" and find civilian industries and products that will give this region a new purpose, says Gaffney.
When Ferree asked Connecticut residents in a recent poll whether they would be financially better off, or worse, if Mr. Clinton had been president for the past four years, most said it would have made no difference. Even so, voters here seem ready for a change. If Bush is going to capture this state on November 3, he will have to come from behind - and Connecticut's worried workers will be difficult to convince.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
PopGun Presents
Aye Nako
Radical Dads, Primes
Glasslands Gallery
289 Kent Avenue
Brooklyn, NY, 11249
Doors 8:00 PM (event ends at 11:30 PM)
This event is 21 and over
As a radical dad myself, I'm prone to liking this band. But this isn't about me and how radical I am. It's about a great new band from Brooklyn.
In case you haven't caught it already, this band's name is Radical Dads. They make happy, snappy lo-fi fuzz pop that walks that high-wire line somewhere between twee and punk and just straight up old school indie-rock.
Oh yeah, this band features Robbie of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Uninhabitable Mansions. He's the drummer/singer. We love drummer slash singers! (Remember: before anyone did anything, Karen Carpenter did EVERYTHING.) Also, Chris of just Uninhabitable Mansions is in this band, too.
Tickets Available at the Door
Upcoming Events
Glasslands Gallery
- Sorry, there are currently no upcoming events.


text:
Happy Wednesday everyone! If you have a moment, please kindly stay till the end of this post. I have a very special announcement to share with you! It'll truly be an unforgettable experience.
Two years ago, I purchased my very first Marissa Webb piece… The Genevieve blazer. I posted the outfit picture on Instagram, and a few days later got an email from Marissa. I seriously thought it was spam (when anything is too good to be true, I always think it's spam!). We emailed back and forth, and she invited me to her runway show later that month. Like a child in a candy store, I savored every minute of that show. After the show, my friend Kelly and I snuck backstage. We got in line and waited behind the press and other media people. By the time I got up there, I was so nervous I couldn't put a sentence together… Hi Marissa! I wore your blazer on Instagram. I seriously wanted to face palm myself afterwards. Marissa looked at me and said… Wendy!!! Wait, there's another person name Wendy behind me?! Again, when things are too good to be true, I have a hard time accepting it. That Genevieve blazer gave me something invaluable. A sense of confidence every time I wear it and a friendship with a woman who I admire greatly. As our friendship deepened over the years, I learned that this woman is not only talented, now as the creative director of Banana Republic, along with her own line, but she's incredibly kind and passionate. We had many meals together where we cried over our four legged companions, talked about superheroes, and laughed about my (nonexistent) love life. I can go on and on… but what I really would love, is for you to meet her.
Every time New York Fashion Week comes around, I always pitch myself and count my blessings. Being part of that energy, seeing stunning designs down the runway, walking through beautiful presentations, meeting designers, reuniting with old friends and making new ones… this is what makes NYFW so special to me. It would be an honor if you can join me this season.
We're celebrating New York Fashion Week with Marissa Webb and Banana Republic. This experience is truly special and I hope to see you soon!
:: Wendy's Lookbook with Marissa Webb & Banana Republic GIVEAWAY :: [Ended. Thank you so much for entering!]
1. A round-trip flight to New York City with hotel accommodations from September 10th – September 12th.
2. A ticket to attend the Marissa Webb runaway show on September 10th.
3. A shopping spree with Banana Republic on September 11th.
4. A ticket to attend the Banana Republic presentation on September 12th.
5. A lot of good eats with Wendy (I'll take you to my favorite places!).
:: How to enter ::
1. This giveaway is only open to those in the Continental United States.
2. You must be 18 or older.
3. Please leave a comment below letting me know if you'd like to participate in this giveaway. It'd be an honor to get to know you more. Please feel free to tell me a little bit (or update me) about yourself.
4. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted via email on Thursday, September 3rd at 8 am PST.
5. When you enter, please consider scheduling your PTO and other obligations to accommodate travel from September 10th – September 12th. I will contact the winner to coordinate flight times.
A very special thank you to Banana Republic and Marissa Webb for co-hosting this giveaway. I can't wait to show you the control chaos that is Fashion Week. It's so thrilling! As always, thank you so much for reading!
:: Outfit ::
Top :: Banana Republic jacket
Bottom :: Marissa Webb skirt
Shoes :: Aquazzura
Bag :: Givenchy
Accessories :: Monica Vinader bracelet


text:
STR's Dabaang remake with Dharani, Osthi is making waves. By August 5th, the talkie portions will be completed. The team is hoping to release it for Diwali, so post - production work will be taking place at a furious pace. Those in the know are claiming that the film has turned out very well, and will be a credit to both STR and Dharani.
After super duper hits like Dhil, Dhool, and Gilli, people are expected the world from Dharani and he is hoping that he will be able to deliver the goods with Osthi. STR fans are sure that it will be a milestone film for him as he has developed a great body for the film and given up all his favorite foods to lose weight. Besides the role is supposed to be tailor made for him.
The film has run up to 30 crores and the makers are looking to sell the rights of the film. Word is that both Reliance and UTV Productions are very interested indeed. Talks are on currently to see who will secure the rights to the film.


text:
This fall, Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry will be touring with Shinedown and Saving Abel. If you were wrongly accused of being gay (not that there's anything wrong with that!) and had to prove otherwise (and you couldn't have sex with their sister in front of them), you'd be going to one of these shows.
Tue 09/16/08 Moline, IL i wireless Center
Thu 09/18/08 Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls Canaries Stadium
Fri 09/19/08 Bonner Springs, KS Capitol Federal Park At Sandstone
Sat 09/20/08 Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre
Mon 09/22/08 Lincoln, NE Pershing Center
Tue 09/23/08 Valley Center, KS Kansas Coliseum
Wed 09/24/08 Tulsa, OK River Parks Amphitheater
Tue 09/30/08 Clemson, SC Littlejohn Coliseum


text:
The Eventual Family
A few weeks ago my husband and I took our first family vacation with our daughter Audrey, who had just turned 8 months old, in the Florida Keys. As I crawled into bed the first night, exhausted from an outing earlier that day, I thought, "We are finally beginning to feel like a family." At 8 months into my daughter's life this struck me as a very peculiar and uneasy thought.
The birth of a child is accompanied by so much hope and anticipation that I think we sometimes lose sight of the fact that parenthood is born in the same moment. When my daughter entered the world, my husband and I were immediately thrust into new roles of mommy and daddy. In my head, these roles would effortlessly fit and feel natural because we had planned and wanted this to happen for so long. We wouldn't be perfect at it, and it would be hard at times, but I was so sure our instincts would kick in and in an instant feel like a bonded unity. But that's not what happened. (read more…)


text:
MapQuest free for iPhone users
MapQuest is an iOS application wherein, like Google Maps, it can give you a turn-by-turn navigation service. There is a voice prompt, displays route on the map or give you a list of turns on your preferred route. The best thing about this application is that it is free. Does it also consider live traffic situation on your preferred road?


text:
Client Portal
Download the mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
Moore Colson Client Portal
Please access your files via our secure online portal. Whether you're in the office or on the go, you'll have secure access to your files anywhere, any time. In addition to downloading files you can also upload files to us via the secure portal. Accessing and sharing files is quick and easy, yet very secure. The portal can be accessed from any Web browser or Internet enabled mobile device. Be sure to check out the mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.


text:
In the last few articles, I've covered the following:
- Creating an ASP.NET Identity Database
- Data Annotations and Custom Validators for Models
- A WebAPI Authenticator
- An ECMAScript 6 Modal Dialog
- AJAX Authentication
In the middle of all that, I left out client-side validation. We still need server-side validation – after all, how much do you trust those people who are not your primary users? The hackers, the would be hackers, and the downright malicious? I don't trust them very much, so I definitely want to continue doing server-side validation. Client-side validation is provided so you can provide a responsive experience to your users. Server-side validation is to protect you against the hackers.
While you were gone, I tidied up my LoginModal class a bit. I abstracted three functions from the submit() method:
/** * Deactivate the login form and add a spinner to show activity */ deactivateForm() { this.submitButton.disabled = true; this.submitButton.innerHTML = this.spinner + this.submitButton.innerHTML; return; } /** * Deactivate the login form and add a spinner to show activity */ activateForm() { this.submitButton.disabled = false; this.submitButton.innerHTML = this.submitButton.innerHTML.slice(this.spinner.length); this.modal.querySelector("input[name=Email]").focus(); return; } /** * Display an error message in a form field. If the field provided is * empty, display a general form error. */ setErrorMessage(field, value) { let fieldSelector = this.modal.querySelector("#errorForSignInModal"); if (field !== "") { fieldSelector = this.modal.querySelector("#errorFor" + field); } fieldSelector.innerHTML = value; return; }
I've also updated the submit() method to use ES6 fat arrow functions to ensure that the this class identifier variable is preserved in event handlers – particularly in the ajaxPost call:
ajaxPost("/api/login", requestArgs) .catch(() => { this.setErrorMessage("", "Error transmitting credentials - try later"); this.setErrorMessage("Email", ""); this.setErrorMessage("Password", ""); this.activateForm(); }) .then((response) => { if (response.status === 200) { // We got a 200 Success back, so refresh the page location.reload(); } else if (response.status === 400) { let r = JSON.parse(response.response); // If there were errors, then add them to the appropriate areas on // the form. If there weren't errors, make sure those same areas // don't have errors (handles multiple submissions) this.setErrorMessage("", r[""] ? r[""][0] : ""); this.setErrorMessage("Email", r.Email ? r.Email[0] : ""); this.setErrorMessage("Password", r.Password ? r.Password[0] : ""); this.activateForm(); } });
Now, on to validation. I like to write somewhat semantically – the code should be readable once I've completed it. One could argue that's the precise purpose of the Promise format – do something then do something else. With that in mind, I decided on the following format:
// Client Side Validation let validation = true; // Check the Email field try { let emailValidator = new Validator(requestArgs.Email); emailValidator.required().minLength(4).maxLength(254).isApplicationUser(); } catch (validatorError) { console.error("Validation Error: ", validatorError); validation = false; this.setErrorMessage("Email", validatorError); } // Check the Password field try { let passValidator = new Validator(requestArgs.Password); passValidator.required().minLength(4).maxLength(254); } catch (validatorError) { validation = false; this.setErrorMessage("Password", validatorError); } // If either validation failed, then activate the form and continue if (validation === false) { this.activateForm(); return; }
Take a look at the email field. I create a new validator and then I say "this field is required, has a minimum length of 4, a maximum length of 254 and must be an application user". If any of those conditions do not hold true, throw an error which is caught and an error message is set. If validation failed for any reason at the end, activate the form again and return (without submitting the form).
I've created a new class in file Static/js/validator.js with the following contents:
"use strict"; class Validator { constructor(s) { this.s = s; } /** * Provided string is a string and has non-zero length */ required() { if (typeof this.s !== "string" || this.s.length === 0) { throw "Field is required"; } return this; } /** * Provided string is of minimum length */ minLength(len) { if (this.s.length < len) { throw "No more than " + len.toString() + " characters allowed"; } return this; } /** * Provided string is a valid email address */ isApplicationUser() { // references: RFC 5321, RFC 5322, RFC 1035, plus errata. /*eslint-disable quotes*/ let atom = '[A-Z0-9!#%&\+-=^_{|}~]+'; let dot = '\.'; let dnsLabel = '[A-Z]([A-Z0-9-]{0,61}[A-Z0-9])?'; /*eslint-enable quotes*/ let localPart = atom + "(" + dot + atom + ")*"; let domain = dnsLabel + "(" + dot + dnsLabel + ")*"; let userAccountPattern = new RegExp("^[a-z]+$", "i"); let emailAddressPattern = new RegExp("^" + localPart + "@" + domain + "$", "i"); if (!userAccountPattern.test(this.s) && !emailAddressPattern.test(this.s)) { throw "A valid RFC5321 email address is required"; } return this; } } export { Validator };
Most of this is fairly obvious. The non-obvious parts (in my mind) are as follows:
- I return this to the calling routine. this is a reference to the current object and returning this allows for chaining.
- For each test (and I can add more), I check the condition and throw an error if the condition is not met. This is caught during the try…catch clause in the LoginModal
- The isApplicationUser is a slightly modified version of the same test in the ApplicationUserAttribute.cs validator that is used server-side. I've removed some special characters for ease of writing the regular expression. As a result, this regular expression is a little more constrained than the validator one.
In the isApplicationUser() test, I've also not embedded my admin user – I just allow any sequence of alpha characters to be a "normal username" – if someone is trying to hack your application, the last thing you want to do is give them a clue to the default username.
Final Thoughts
Someone is going to berate me for not using one of the fine Javascript Validation libraries out there – and there are many. However, you should always take some time out to understand what those libraries are doing for you. Are they actually providing enough value that it's worth bringing in the size? What I presented here was a very minimal solution. Bringing in a generalized library would almost certainly cost more in bandwidth than my modest efforts here.


text:
Here are a few older tracks of Chardikala Jatha from 2003. I recorded these during the Summer Solstice Camp near Espanola, NM. On the last night of camp we have an all night Rensubai Kirtan. Everyone comes from their tents to the huge shelter which is converted into the Gurdwara. We sleep to the blissfull sounds of the Sangat playing Gurbani all night till the early hours of the morning when the normal daily Sadhana starts.
When you listen to the below tracks you will hear the echoing of the voices reverberating around the Shelter. It creates a very meditative mood. Every year the Chardikala Jatha get's better and better. I can always tell how much they improve every year. So…if there are some mistakes just know…it was from a few years ago. In case you didn't know, they are pretty young (24-30 years old). They teach, live, and study Gurbani in Amritsar, India.
The first picture above is from 2003 when they were playing at the Rensubai Kirtan. The second is of them playing kirtan with Hari Bhajan Kaur, during one of the Gurdwaras that year at the camp.
Music by: Chardikala Jatha (Harimandir Jot Singh, Sada Sat Simran Singh, Jugat Guru Singh)
(Right click on the above link and select "save target as" to download the MP3 file)
Make a donation to SikhNet to help cover hosting the MP3 files


text:
Despite our best efforts we were unfortunately unable to find enough people to fill our raid group and have the progression we all wanted. We have made the difficult decision to stop raiding for now and let our members find guilds with fuller ranks so they can see the progression they deserve. We will obviously all keep in touch and perhaps in future we'll get the opportunity to try this again!
1,388 Views · 0 Replies
The revamp is real!!!
The forum revamp is real. After some time resting the forum is back up after a touch of the forum flue.
Come on inn and and check out all the new stuff. Its a WHOLE NEW forum (we have candy).
1,556 Views · 2 Replies ( Last reply by Meldro )
Super late news update, but here it is anyway.
Magmaw should have gone down sooner than it did but good job when we did decide on working on it.
4,888 Views · 0 Replies
Latest Discussions
The revamp is real!!!
Kaladir - Oct 13 2014 04:07 PM
Valiona & Theralion video
BAM - Apr 17 2011 08:55 PM
Maloriak the Stupid, Incompetent and Disappointing Minion
Kaladir - Mar 30 2011 06:14 PM
Site Navigation
- 4,950 Total Posts
- 6,078 Total Members
- ClementTog Newest Member
- 770 Most Online
20 users are online (in the past 15 minutes)
0 members, 20 guests, 0 anonymous users (See full list)


text:
And now, many decades later :) I still have the same obsession with the sky. There is a huge gap where I had to abandon my sky-watching when I was busy with a corporate career that I didn't understand (or fit in...as usual), and then later on as a parent. But the instinct to look up never left me, and here I am, once again, marvelling at the sky.
I can say with total conviction that our beautiful skies have gotten exponentially more so. There are new formations (that I've not seen before) and "entities" that now constantly grace our skies, ever since 2012 began. The Angels and Sylphs have taken stewardship over that space, and I am ever so grateful to them.
As a gesture of deep gratitude as well as to share their awesome glory with you, I have now added this page to my blog, dedicated to these wondrous Beings. I hope you enjoy these pictures :)


text: I just ordered my first Mac, one of the new iMacs, and I picked up a few programs while I was at it, one of them being QuickTime Pro. What I was wondering was whether the code I got can only be used once, or if it's the typical 3-system deal. I want to give the code to a friend, so we can both get the Pro version, but not if I won't be able to register mine when my iMac (eventually) arrives.


text:
Source: John D. Sutter / CNN
The GoDaddy outage saga continues.
A hacker associated with Anonymous claimed responsibility on Monday for taking down websites housed by or registered with that Internet services company.
But on Tuesday, GoDaddy, which says it is the world's largest host of secure websites, said the "service outage was not caused by external influences."
"It was not a 'hack' and it was not a denial of service attack (DDoS)," Scott Wagner, GoDaddy's interim CEO, said in an e-mailed statement. "We have determined the service outage was due to a series of internal network events that corrupted router data tables.
To read this article in its entirety visit CNN.


text:
Join the CIS Team of Professionals!
Why CIS?
CIS practitioners capitalize on much more than unique positions within CIS. As part of the KKP Security Group, CIS employment leads to management, administrative, instructor and other advanced positions within all of the KKP organizations. Together we are an alliance of security companies striving to provide our practitioners with a truly diverse realm of career possibilities. We proudly promote from within to actively influence career development.
Grow in our practitioner's environment.
Our culture gives our practitioners the means to embrace knowledge, achieve excellence and find purpose. Built on a rock solid base of virtues and philosophy established over the course of twenty years, our culture is our anchor and the root of our competitive advantage. Through it we are able to accomplish our mission: to be the best of the very best.
Thrive on our commitment.
Opportunity to prosper in the CIS environment awaits. Don't delay exploring a meaningful and rewarding career with CIS -- start by viewing our Career Development video. Join the rest of the VERY best. Apply online and embrace your future today.
Critical Intervention Services Featured
As a member of the KKP Security Group, CIS is committed to providing every opportunity for our personnel to explore new opportunities and advance in their careers.


text:
*Update: Sadly looks like this may only be for the Jawbone ICON but hopefully will be out for other models somewhere down the road *
Jawbone headsets are one of the best selling for BlackBerry and for good reason. They are stylish and well built and offer simple features that any BlackBerry user needs. One of the big drawbacks for a long time however was the lack of a battery meter. There was really no way to know when you're device needed a charge, so you pretty much had to wing it when you felt it was dying. Well now you can rest easy with the new Jawbone Battery Meter app for BlackBerry. The small app installs on your device and gives you the battery status of your Jawbone headset via a notification icon. A very cool utility that should be a welcome addition to any Jawbone user. The app is totally free, but you'll have to sign up for MyTalk at Jawbone to get your hands on it. Thanks Julian!


text:
- Released
- December 25, 2012
- R, 2 hr 45 min
- Action/Adventure
- Drama
Fandango Fanalert™
Sign up for a FanAlert and be the first to know when tickets and other exclusives are available in your area.Privacy Policy
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Django Unchained comes from writer/director Quentin Tarantino, and if you've seen any of his other films, you know what that means: incredibly strong, shocking "grindhouse" violence and language. Django Unchained (which takes place in Deep South in the mid-1800s) not only features guns, shooting, killing, and spurting blood, but also horrible violence against slaves. Male slaves are forced to fight each other, breaking bones and bashing each other into a bloody pulp. A female slave is briefly tortured, and a male slave is ripped apart by dogs. The "N" word is used countless times, as are other Tarantino favorites ("f--k," etc.). There's some partial nudity (both male and female) and kissing, as well as some cigarette smoking and background drinking. The good news is that this movie takes a matter-of-fact look at slavery, which may get discussions going among older teens and families. But otherwise, this movie is very brutal and not recommended for the under-18 set.
- Positive messages
- Positive role models
- Violence
- Sexual
- Language
- Consumerism
- Drinking & drugs


text: Inspiration: loft design by Denis Chigidin 6:57 AM I just discovered a very talented interior designer from Moscow, Denis Chigidin. Have a look at his loft design. It's so creative. Photos from behance Share This Story Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin this Post Tags: denis chigidin, design, interior, isnpiration, loft Newer Post Older Post You Might Also Like 1 comments MarieSeptember 28, 2011Just WOW! I loooove the floor :-)xx MarieReplyDeleteAdd commentLoad more... Thank you, your comment is greatly appreciated! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to subscribe


text: Hey Guys, I would like to check something, we all now about the spam laws and everything and as far as I know noone rly gets into the shits as long as they don't turn over the rly big $$$. But I am curious. Let's say a friend advertises a giftcard for woolworth and spams something like: "I rly get a giftcard at xxxx i am so excited i only entered my email address and its shipped in one week." and he spams it in a chat or a forum. What if he turns over around $150 per hour with that. What would be the worst case legal scenario that could happen? Thanks for your help and advice guys


text:
Selling is a process, not a one-time event, and it is best to adopt the proper long-term perspective if we'd like to achieve long-term success.
Using the sample circular visual below as a guide, there are two important yet often over-looked fundamentals to consider:
- The selling process never ends; once we meet a prospect and go through the cycle once, our goal is to maintain an appropriate contact frequency based on a number of need-based variables, and to both retain the customer and identify a new need at some future point
- The ability to move at an optimal pace from one step to the next and to do so in unison with our customers is the key to success
Once we adopt the proper long-term view, the means by which we will move from step to step is follow-up. In fact, we often refer to effective follow-up as the "glue" that keeps the process together and moving forward. If we follow-up diligently, on a value-added basis and with the right frequency, we'll be able to keep the process (and the customer) moving toward our ultimate goal.
But be advised! If we move too slowly, we run the risk of losing-out to a competitor or to shifting priorities; if we move too quickly, or skip steps, we're likely to alienate or lose the customer.
Therefore it is imperative that we maintain a keen awareness of the process steps, establish goals for each, continually seek customer feedback, and master the art of value-added follow-up.
You can review a detailed summary of the activities and goals associated with each step on our website.
In addition, and as noted in an earlier post, others have used the "GLUE" analogy with respect to managing customer relationships, and have suggested it is an acronym for Give Little Unexpected Extras!
Please note, these little "extras" need not be material in nature – the simple act of "thinking" of someone and sending or giving them information or recognition can go a long way…


text:
Baby Driver Soundtrack
Listen the Music / Songs from the movie:
Radar Love – Golden Earring (Trailer Song)
[expand title="Watch the trailer"][/expand]
[expand title="About the film"]A talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. When he meets the girl of his dreams (Lily James), Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal, Eiza González with Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx
Baby Driver Soundtrack Songlist Movie – Tracklist – OST List – Listen to original score and full songs, Theme Music, film score list, the playlist of all of the songs played in the movie, who sings them, including end credits and scene descriptions.
Added by


text:
POINT OF ORDER – ANTI-WAR PROTEST NOISE – 15 January 2004
Dr Julian Lewis: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I refer not to the presence of the current demonstration in Parliament Square but to the volume of noise periodically projected into Parliament – such that right hon. and hon. Members cannot work peacefully in their own offices. When I spoke to the main protestor in Parliament Square last night, he was frank enough to admit that the amplification is so loud because the small number of demonstrators want their protest to be heard above the traffic noise and penetrate these buildings. Does the Leader of the House know of any moves to ensure that Westminster City Council or the police – who tell me that it cannot do anything or feel that they are not allowed to do anything respectively – can stop the pathetic failure to allow right hon. and hon. Members, staff of the House and residents to carry on their business undisturbed?
[Mr Speaker: I, too, am concerned about the noise to which the hon. Gentleman refers. I understand that matter has been taken up with the Leader of the House and the Procedure Committee. I hope that it can be resolved, because the demonstration goes beyond the normal peaceful protest in which I have been involved as a trade unionist and political activist – as have other right hon. and hon. Members.]
* * *
[Peter Hain: Further to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), Mr. Speaker. I agree with the sentiments that you expressed in respect of the situation outside the Palace. We shall proceed to deal with it as quickly as we can.]
[For further developments, click here.]


text:
This section contains 680 words
(approx. 2 pages at 400 words per page)
Chapters 5 & 6 Summary and Analysis
In Devil's Food, after three years at the French school in Montreal, Ruth longs to finish high school in New York. When she returns, however, her parents have other ideas. Mother sells the family's weekend home in Wilton, Connecticut and buys a suburban house within commuting distance of New York. Ruth has matured into an awkward rebellious teen and her parents are accustomed to their freedom. Soon, she is living by herself in the Connecticut house while her parents stay in the New York apartment all week. Mom and Dad return only for the weekends, believing Ruth is mature enough to stay in the house alone during the week.
Ruth's home immediately becomes the party house. She cuts class regularly to hang out at her home with her unsavory friends. Ruth is plump and not funny or talented. She is not...
(read more from the Chapters 5 & 6 Summary)
This section contains 680 words
(approx. 2 pages at 400 words per page)


text:
Croatia international Ivica Olic has to decide between current club Wolfsburg who have offered him a contract extension or a move to Stoke City. The 34 year old striker has the option to remain in Germany for at least another 12 months, but has previously admitted to being tempted by the prospect of a Premier League challenge.
He told Jutarnji list: "As I have said before, Wolfsburg have offered me a new contract which is for one year and then another optional year. The money is great but I haven't made a decision yet.
"I have also got an offer from Stoke. I talked with the manager and president of that club and I saw that they really want me.
"I must admit, playing another year against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United sounds good to me.
"So I will stay at Wolfsburg or I will move to Stoke. But at the moment I don't know which. Maybe there will be other offers. I'm calm at the moment and soon I will make a decision."
For breaking stories and all the great banter like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tribalfootball


text:
Planning a party in Dolores County and need a DJ? Searching for the perfect party Disc Jockey in Dolores County, CO?
Get a FREE PRICE QUOTE from qualified DJs serving the Dolores County area!
Advertise Here
Get a FREE PRICE QUOTE from qualified Disc Jockeys serving the Dolores County area!
Find the perfect Dolores County DJ or Disc Jockey! Party Blast lists professional DJs and Disc Jockeys for parties in Dolores County, CO.
Other Areas Near Dolores County to Find Party DJs:
Dolores County,
Dove Creek,


text:
Our Story
Atmore News is a weekly community newspaper serving Atmore and the surrounding area. For us, the key word is community. In the purest meaning of the term, we want to "build community." We believe a newspaper that truly serves the community belongs to the community.
Atmore News is owned by Sherry Digmon and Myrna Monroe.
Sherry and Myrna started atmore magazine in February 2002. From the beginning, people loved the magazine and it continues to be popular today – even a collector's item for some people.
The first issue of Atmore News was published June 15, 2005. We publish every Wednesday.
Our other staff members include Donna Fitzpatrick, Walt Butler, Phil Johnson and Gordon Murph. We're thankful to everyone associated with atmore magazine and Atmore News. We consider them all true friends. They are: Michael Arnold, Karen Langford Brown, Ed Brown, Wanda Hall, Carol Hochstetler, Lacey Hochstetler, Leonard Hursh, Nancy Karrick, Bonnie Latino, Karen Long, Mayor Howard Shell and Susan Tuthill.
This group does everything from delivering papers to writing stories and columns. Their contributions are genuinely appreciated.
128 South Main Street
Atmore, AL 36502
Telephone (251) 368-NEWS (6397)
Fax (251) 368-3397


text:
Dean of Students
Department Directors
13th and Union Partnership
Chaplain's Office
Community Standards
Counseling Center
Disability Services
Gable Health Center
Dept. of Residential Life
International Students Office
Public Safety
Schumo Center for Fitness & Well-Being
Office of Student Involvementand Leadership (OSIL)
Student Government
Volunteer Center
The Compass: Student Handbook
Campus Calendars
Dining Services
Email the Dean
Information Technology Services
It's On Us
President's Council on Diversity and Community
President's Council on Sustainability and Stewardship
Registrar Dates
Student Grievance Process
Student Insurance
Student Reference and Problem Guide
Our mission is to inspire and educate the scholar and leader in each student, building on a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences and a commitment to the best of human values, fostering a commitment to a lifetime of service and learning.
As vice president for student affairs and dean of students I have the pleasure and the privilege of working with all students to support their development as scholars and leaders while at Albright College.
Albright is a residential learning community. In the division of student affairs we seek to support and grow each student's unique talents and abilities in and out of the classroom. It is our hope that in a safe, nurturing, creative and challenging environment, students will gain the confidence and skills to make a difference in their professions, their communities and in the organizations with which they become involved.
At Albright, we have 70 clubs and organizations, a competitive athletics program, and many ways in which to become a student leader such as a peer orientation person (POP) or a resident assistant (RA).
We educate and support the whole student, partnering with them and advocating for their needs. This is accomplished through a variety of approaches:
Students at Albright are challenged daily to do their best work in the classroom, on the field and within their chosen organizations. It is our job as professionals in the division of student affairs to assure students that they will be encouraged, supported and assisted in whatever paths they choose to follow.
I look forward to meeting you and am available to assist you.
Sincerely,Gina-Lyn Crance, Ed.D.Vice President for Students Affairs and Dean of Students
Email the Dean


text:
Heal hub in Simdega
Read more below
- Published 9.02.14
Ranchi, Feb. 8: The state got a new health address today.
A 100-bed hospital equipped with modern equipment opened doors at Biru, around 150km from the state capital, in Sadar block of Simdega district.
Health minister Rajendra Singh inaugurated Shanti Bhawan Hospital, which has been built at a cost of Rs 40 crore by Calvary Gospal Ministry, a Christian organisation. Sprawled across 22 acres, the double-storeyed heal hub that took two years to be built is modelled on Christian Medical College of Vellore and promises to provide advanced medical care.
To start with, the six-bed fully air-conditioned outdoor ward has been made operational. Patients can expect premium treatment as for each bed, a separate room has been earmarked.
There is a also host of modern facilities, including CT scan machine, operating theatre, conference room, doctor room, blood laboratory for pathological examination and medicine room. Gradually, other specialised departments, including separate wards for males, females and children and 10 intensive care units, will be opened.
"The hospital is the first-of-its-kind in the district and will provide state-of-the-art facilities to patients. It will become fully operational within a year, making Simdega a sought-after health destination in the state," local MLA Neyol Tirkey said.
He added that chief minister Hemant Soren was supposed to inaugurate Shanti Bhawan Hospital. But he had to cancel the programme because of the cabinet meeting and sent health minister Singh.
Local residents welcomed the hospital, which is the third biggest healthcare address in the district after the 20-bed Referral Hospital at Thetaitangar and 50-bed Simdega Sadar Hospital.
"At present, we have to run either to Ranchi or Jamshedpur for availing specialised treatment. This hospital will take care of our health needs after it becomes fully operational," said Anup Kumar, a teacher of Government Middle School, Simdega.


text:
When VanDusen Botanical Garden was planning its annual fundraising gala for September, it decided it would be fun to have a whole bunch of winter containers to auction off.
To make it happen, they next turned to the man who has been pioneering the concept of winter containers for the past 20 years: B.C. gardening guru Brian Minter, owner of Minter Country Gardens and Minter Gardens in Chilliwack.
They knew that Minter not only understood the idea behind a winter container, but also knew the best people to get them made to raise the most money.
The result was a total of 48 containers from various garden centres and nurseries throughout the Lower Mainland. They sold at the gala for about $100 each.
In the process, Minter showed his own unique talent for creativity.
To give a container full of yellow orchids a little extra oomph, Minter had some large stems of bamboo cut from the garden and stuffed into the pot to add a touch of drama and architectural interest. It worked.
In fact, it worked so well that at the end of the show, VanDusen didn't want to let go of the planting.
"This is so beautiful," organizers told Minter, "we are going to keep it here."
It is not a new idea to plant a container full of colourful plants and foliage texture for winter, but it apparently it is a project a lot of gardeners still tend to ignore. Minter thinks it is a big mistake not to do one for your front entrance or balcony or patio.
"We had beautiful weather in early fall followed by weeks of horrible weather. We need outdoor containers to give us another four to six months of colour and interest.
"After all my years of promoting this idea, I still think a lot of people have not got their minds around it. We need to celebrate the arrival of this new season.
"It is the shortest, darkest time of the year. If ever there was a time that we need to lighten and brighten our spirits, it is during the winter season."
Winter containers are suitable for all gardens and even for people living in apartments or condos with a balcony.
"The fact is, even out in the valley where temperatures drop to -25 C, you can still have a beautiful winter container by your front door. It is possible."
Minter says it all comes down to making the right plant choices.
"Basically, you need to use four key components - hardy foliage, berries, winter flowers and beautiful bark or branches. Use all these elements in combination and you can create something exciting."
And when it comes to designing a container, Minter says we need to stop thinking of ourselves as gardeners and start thinking of ourselves as artists.
"You are not just putting plants into a pot, you are creating art," he says.
"I saw some words on a display at last year's Seattle Garden Show that impressed me. They said: 'In the garden, anyone can be an artist without need for explanation or apology.' I think that is brilliant. And it is so true when it comes to making a winter container."
What plants does he think we should be using?
For berries, he thinks we should consider stems of pyracantha, as well as some of the newer cultivars of snowberry (symphoricarpos) and not overlook cotoneaster or the No. 1 berry-bearing plant for winter containers, Gaultheria procumbens (wintergreen).
Heathers are a natural pick, especially beauties such as Erica carnea 'Golden Scarlet' and Erica darleyensis 'Mary Helen'; the first with bright yellow foliage turning yellow-green and the other with white flowers; the latter with yellow-gold foliage turning bronze and producing masses of pink flowers.
"The shrub dogwoods are always a good pick," Minter says. "Arctic Fire and Midwinter Fire are two of the best."
Varieties of euonymus, especially 'Aureo Marginata' and 'Silver Queen', offer leaves with bright variegation that can be very cheery.
For anchor plants in the centre of the pot, Minter is a big fan of the relatively new cultivar of golden Irish yew, Forever Goldie, which has "fabulous golden foliage", but he also recommends considering some of the dwarf forms of heavenly bamboo, particularly ones like Fire Power and Sienna Sunset that have "amazing yellow and red tones that easy blend with other colours."
For fillers, he says it's always good to make use of ornamental grasses, especially the variegated forms of carex and acorus grasses.
"Remember, all these plants can be recycled into the garden in spring, so you get double duty out of them. You don't throw anything away."
For those who like the idea, but don't have the time or inclination to do it themselves, Minter recommends popping into your local garden centre, where he says they will have some ready-made winter containers.
"I think GardenWorks stores, as well as West Coast Gardens in South Surrey, do an excellent job with containers."
Minter, of course, is being a little modest here. His own store in Chilliwack was one of the first to pioneer the whole concept of a container for winter and also has a fine selection of ready-made planters.
The point is: Winter planters can add colour and vitality to your front doorstep, balcony or patio ... and it is still not too late to do one to provide months of great interest and colour.
Here are my tips for making a great winter planter. There are a few simple steps to follow. If you do this, you are guaranteed success.
Don't skimp on the size of the container: the bigger, the better. Of course, it does depend on the space you have at the entrance, but bigger is better for this project. Also, pick a quality container, something that is frost-resistant, meaning it won't crack or shatter when temperatures dip below freezing. Ceramic is a good choice; Italian or Mexican terra cotta is not.
Make sure both the soil and the container are free-draining. Mix a little sand or gravel into the soil and place stones, pebbles or terra cotta shards at the bottom of the container.
Pick a quality anchor plant for your centre piece. It could be a shrub, such as nandina, shrub dogwood, choisya, or perhaps a dwarf conifer.
Fill space around the anchor plant with smaller plants, in 10-cm pots. Winter pansies are an easy fit. Cyclamen are still available and will bloom into December.
Consider colourful foliage perennials such as heuchera, hellebore, euphorbia and ajuga.
Don't miss adding some bright berry plants. Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is your best bet, but also consider skimmia, pyracantha and cotoneaster.
Winter heathers are a natural selection. Look for small four-inch pots of Erica carnea and Erica darleyensis.
It is usually possible to squeeze in a few early-flowering spring bulbs, such as snowdrops, crocus, grape hyacinth, dwarf irises and dwarf narcissus.
Making winter gardens brighter
When VanDusen Botanical Garden was planning its annual fundraising gala for September, it decided it would be fun to have a whole bunch of winter containers to auction off.


text:
In the meantime, one of the greatest challenges in our country's history goes unaddressed. Ordinary Americans are already wrung out by a series of unprecedented events: first, a manufactured crisis over raising the nation's debt ceiling, then the first-ever downgrade of America's credit rating, followed by one of the most turbulent weeks in stock market history.
Every person with even a few dollars to invest is holding their breath this week, hoping for some respite from the drumbeat of bad news. But we can't afford to relax for a minute because the hard truth is that we are not a single step closer to solving America's core economic problems.
Most importantly, there are 25 million unemployed or underemployed people in our country. Jobs are the urgent national priority. But there will be no meaningful job creation without economic growth – and most experts are now predicting that America can expect only 1 to 1.5 percent annual growth through 2013. President Obama should cancel his vacation and demand that Congress return to Washington to join him in forging a national jobs creation program. Work must start now, not in September and certainly not after the November 2012 presidential election.
As obvious as this is to most people in America, too many of the country's politicians remain unreasonably fixated on debt and deficits. This is tragically misguided. Rampant fiscal austerity just as America teeters on the verge of another recession is destructive.
At $14.7 trillion the US debt is the largest in the world and it would be impossible for anyone, regardless of political persuasion, to argue that reducing it is not in the long-term national interest. But is America's national debt at catastrophic levels given the size of the U.S. economy and given our status in the world? It is certainly not.
America's ratio of debt to gross domestic product or GDP is now very close to 100 percent. But Japan's national debt is 226 percent of GDP and the Japanese people are saving, investing and consuming quite well even in the face of the horrible natural disasters they've had to ensure this year.
Our great neighbor to the North, Canada, has a debt to GDP ratio of 84 percent, which is very close to our own but that country is calm and stable; and Germany, Europe's powerhouse, is prosperous with a growing economy, even though it has a debt equal to 79 percent of its gross domestic product.
To capture the true absurdity of focusing too much on these fiscal barometers, look at the other end of the debt to GDP spectrum and you'll find that the nation with the smallest percentage of debt in relation to its national economy is Libya — that's right Libya! According to the International Monetary Fund, and based on 2010 figures before the revolt against the Gaddafi regime began, Libya's debt equaled just 3 percent of its GDP.
Next in line are Equatorial Guinea, Oman, and Azerbaijan, each with debt to GDP of less than 5 percent. No sane person would suggest these countries are better off than America; nor would Americans want to emulate Russia, the only major world power with a debt to GDP ratio of 10 percent or less.
Our other national fixation is cutting government spending. The Tea Party and Republicans are right. We do spend too much. But the GOP played a big part in creating the daunting problems we now face: 1) starting two wars that still remain with us and that have cost more than $1 trillion; 2) creating a revenue drought by passing excessive income tax cuts that permit insanely wealthy people to pay proportionately little; and 3) failing, along with Democrats, to make the tough choices on and gain control of entitlement spending especially for health care.
The fiscal year 2011 U.S. budget has a projected deficit of $1.6 trillion, a staggering sum. Clearly, it must be reduced significantly. But we can't cut our way to a better tomorrow. National defense, intelligence and other security programs are budgeted at $908 billion and there's strong political resistance to reducing these expenditures. Mandated programs together dwarf even defense: Social Security costs $742 billion, Medicare $488 billion, Medicaid $276 billion, and interest on the national debt $207 billion. The budget for pretty much everything else the federal government does from education to environment to law enforcement has a combined budget of $507 billion.
If you wiped out most everything we've built up in American government over more than 200 years of history as a nation, you wouldn't reduce the deficit by even a third. That's why the political posturing over cuts in spending as the sole or primary solution is both absurd and maliciously counterproductive.
In order of importance, America needs jobs, economic growth, intelligent tax reform that brings in significant new revenue, an end to fighting wars we cannot win, and finally, focused across-the-board spending reductions.
Oh, and we need real and courageous leadership from our elected officials, a sense of civility, and a desire to embrace intelligent compromise. Some say our American political system is broken. Let's prove the skeptics wrong while we still have time and let's do it for those 25 million of our fellow citizens who go to bed each night without any or without adequate employment.
Mr. Balboni is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of GlobalPost.
Showing 1-7 of 7
Comments are closed.


text:
In C programming can any function be used for input output?
In C programming can any function be used for input output?
thank you for answering that question. I was on a different forum and they didn't want to answer that question for some reason
I ♥ ManiacDan & requinix
This is a sig, and not necessarily a comment on the OP:
Please don't be a help vampire!
yeah dream in code didn't want to answer one of my questions and they gave me a -1 reputation :mad:
You got an answer to your initial question and was told your second question need more description where one person ask you some questions.Originally Posted by jbeannie05
A mod on that side then told you to create a new thread with more detailed information of your question.
Can't see how that is true to what you said above in the marked text?
FYI, that kind of "behaviour" you show there, can lead to negative reputation.
That is probably because the question makes little sense. The answer you got here and appeared to be grateful for I suspect was intended to be read as sarcasm.
If I did not think you were trolling, I'd ask you to elaborate.


text:
Just a couple years after creating the product line, Apple announced today it has already notched its 100 millionth iPad sold. While we're still expecting to see a new, smaller model unveiled today Apple is leading off its tablet talk with some chest thumping. According to its stats, it sold more iPads in the June quarter than any one PC manufacturers sold of their entire lineup, a hefty feat even if you take into account customers waiting for Windows 8.
[Source: Engadget]


text:
The Santa Cruz Massacre.
On November 12, 1991 more than 271 East Timorese were killed after Indonesian troops fired upon a peaceful march to Santa Cruz cemetery. An equal number of people disappeared and are now believed dead. The massacre was filmed by international journalists, and the resulting coverage resulted in widespread condemnation of the Indonesian occcupation.
In Australia, November 11th is Remembrance Day in honour of the war dead. Bob Hawke was Prime Minister in 1991, Gough Whitlam's words echo both his advice to his followers on November 11th, 1975, when the Whitlam Government was dismissed and also the apparent mood of the times when East Timor was orginally occupied shortly after.


text:
Microsoft may be developing a 7-inch gaming-specific Surface tablet. According to The Verge, "multiple sources familiar with plans within Redmond" have confirmed that Microsoft is currently developing an Xbox Surface tablet that "will likely include a custom ARM processor and high-bandwidth RAM designed specifically for gaming tasks."
The sources say that the Xbox Surface specifications leaked back in June were "accurate" and that "the final implementation is being worked on." The tablet could reportedly be altered "to accommodate an unannounced Intel SoC" and is not being designed to run a full version of Windows, but a custom Windows kernel instead.
Microsoft allegedly plans to manufacture the tablet in its own production facilities alongside the existing Surface tablets rather than using the third party manufacturing partners that build Xbox consoles. The Verge also reports that Microsoft's recent security lockdown of its Interactive Entertainment Business buildings could also be due to testing of the Xbox Surface.
The Xbox Surface could potentially be designed to compete with Apple's recently released iPad Mini, which has already seen big sales. We reached out to Microsoft about the Xbox Surface but were told the company doesn't comment on rumors and speculation. Until we hear more about the Xbox Surface, read our hands-on impressions of the Surface with Windows RT.
Andrew Goldfarb is IGN's associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he's been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.


text:
Telephone based support:
E-mail based support (24/7 Coverage):
WeService™ allows Wedge Networks and its partners around the globe to deliver the best technical support and services to our customers in order to achieve the ultimate experience with our web security solutions.
Through our technical support team and partners worldwide, our service and support programs are aimed at providing the most comprehensive and highest quality hardware and software coverage available.
Our standard WeService Basic support and services package includes:
*Dependent on Licenses purchased
Extended WeService Advanced and Advanced 24/7 support and services packages are also available. These include:


text:
As my team and I prepare for our 2016 Restaurant Catering Leadership Workshop, to be held March 9-10 in New Orleans, I am amazed at how far we've come. We've been working with restaurants on their takeout, delivery and catering strategies for nearly 20 years and, needless to say, it's been a big undertaking. With more than 5000 restaurants using our software and strategies, we've pushed the envelope, and the industry, to think outside the takeout and catering box.
As I head into 2016, I am seeing a positive shift in the way brands view their restaurant catering operations. For the brands that want to succeed, investing in their people is now a priority. Registrations in our workshops are growing steadily and our curriculum and software continue to evolve to help make restaurant companies more money. We are making it easier for operators to drive more takeout, delivery and catering sales.
I continue to believe that catering is an important service channel in today's restaurant operations. Our workshop panelists will share their stories as to how catering has contributed to their brand value. Workshop keynotes will be heard from myself, Fred LeFranc and Michael Mack, while our panelists represent Panera Bread, Potbelly Sandwiches and Schlotzsky's Deli. It's a great line up!
Of course, none of this would be possible without our workshop sponsors, which include PepsiCo Foodservice, Punchh, Voice Teleservices, Foodable Network, the Colorado Restaurant Association and LBP Manufacturing. You see, turns out that our entire supply chain has services to sell to restaurant brands to help them grow their takeout, delivery and catering sales.
Leadership is Pillar #1 of the 5 Pillars of Successful Restaurant Catering and through our workshop in New Orleans we will explore the best leadership strategies for moving off premise sales forward for our entire industry.
We will discuss how restaurant teams can not only focus on getting their customers to spend more money, and also the ways that will make far better use of existing infrastructure thereby making restaurants more profitable.
I have always maintained that only through a commitment to education, restaurant operators will continue to experience improvements in their off premise sales channels, including takeout, delivery and catering. It's all about the people.
Education is important to so many other areas of the restaurant business (after all, why else do we go to so many conferences each year) and when applied to catering, it has the same ability to keep organizations ahead of their competition. Education also offers a true competitive advantage for those catering community members willing to make the investment of time, money and energy.
Education not only keeps employees motivated, but it teaches them new skills that can be used to foster positive attitudes. This is done because workshops like ours clarifies the expected behaviors of everyone on the team. This raises the bar for entire restaurant organizations and helps to keep all of the stakeholders aligned. This in turn will further develop a catering culture that, as a result, will get your customers to spend more money with you every single day. It begins with the people, specifically the leaders.
I have said in the past that history has shown that many in the restaurant industry have attempted to launch catering strategies and programs, and have failed. I am positive that this is because these same brands failed to take the time to understand the leadership commitment that is required to succeed.
The most successful operators that I have encountered over the years have taken the time to understand the overall leadership strategy of catering and continue to educate their catering teams about smarter catering.
Through ongoing education, our goal is to offer this workshop to catering leaders and restaurant executives at all levels so they can better understand the leadership structure and tactics needed to make catering a success.
Hope to see you in New Orleans on March 9 & 10, 2016!


text:
Ellen DeGeneres is the latest and greatest face of CoverGirl cosmetics. Awesome. Great. I could not be more stoked, honestly. Ellen has been at the absolute center of the LGBT Prop. 8 battle over the past few months and now America's most famous and PG lesbian is the frontwoman for one of the most popular cosmetic brands around. I don't think we could ask for a better spokesperson.
Basically, it's pretty hard to pick Ellen apart. It's because I love her that I am going to address this one, itty bitty, tiny issue with her: Check out what Perez Hilton posted just last week:
I tried to find it without his commentary scribed on it, but no dice. I don't agree with everything that he speculates about but I have to admit, something looks a little off. It's pretty much public knowledge that DeGeneres' beautiful wife Portia de Rossi has struggled with eating disorders in the past. I wonder if, post-nuptials, the couple has lost weight together rather than the typical marital weight gain most others experience after exchanging "I Dos."
The fashion industry (and in this case, Hollywood more specifically) has freakishly high standards for how low they want their beloved starlettes to weigh in at. The typical actress and runway model wears between a size 0 and a size 2. A woman I used to work with used to get approached by modeling agencies almost weekly when she was an undergrad. There was always just one stipulation, though: that she drop about 10 or 15 pounds. This girl was like 5-10 and maybe 130 pounds and drop. dead. gorgeous. It was pretty much appalling.
I don't know if it's the pressure of being in the spotlight even more these days or nutritional tips from the Mrs., but man, Ellen really is looking sparse these days. Being that she's the spokeswoman for "Simply Ageless Foundation," I wish she would be a bit more conscious about the reality of being so twig-like at her age. A little cushion for the pushin' actually does an older gal well, truthfully. Being too thin past a certain age actually makes your skin sag even more and makes wrinkles more evident. Talk about "eek" factor.
On a side note, Spain raised their BMI (Body Mass Index) requirement a few years ago for all professional models to be at least 18 compared to the rest of the fashion world's standard which is about 16.3 (or about 23 percent less than the "average" woman.) Almost three years later, I'm still holding my breath for the rest of the world to catch on.
I would be lying if I said that I didn't love the way clothing looks on these girls, and it has to be pointed out that most runway models are under 23 years of age where it's much more common to be able to attain that slight figure. Point being, most women in their 20s really don't look like that and it is a bit unfair to be tricked into thinking so. Just remember that next time you go on a rant about body image or criticize the industry too harshly, it's all really and truly an illusion.
I just hope that Ellen can continue to be a healthy and positive role model in the LGBT community and otherwise, and that the fashion industry will eventually learn to respect the lives and bodies of the women they use as models. Am I asking too much?


text:
In or Out? How is Michigan Doing Among Other States?
United Van Lines National Movers Study a good gauge of where opportunity lies
For years Mackinac Center analysts have written about the subject of interstate migration. We view it is as arguably the best metric for measuring quality of life issues among many important tradeoffs.
Each year, one source of data Mackinac Center scholars look to for insight is the annual United Van Lines (UVL) National Movers Study. This study tracks relatively closely with actual census data that won't be released for nearly a year, making UVL data something of a leading migration indicator. This year's survey reports good and bad news for Michigan. Policymakers in Lansing should do more to improve the state's prospects.
The 2014 UVL study examines where the company moves its clients to and from in the continental United States, including Washington, D.C. It was just released this morning (Jan. 2, 2015) and it indicates that Michigan is back in the study's "high outbound" column, a position the state held for more than a decade.
Stay Engaged
Last year UVL specifically noted that "… after 16 years at or near the top of the outbound list, Michigan appeared in the balanced category for 2013." Between 2006 and 2009 Michigan was number one for outbound moves. That is, of all UVL Michigan-related client traffic the percentage of customers leaving their state was highest in the nation.
In 2014, 55.4 percent of all the Wolverine State moves handled by UVL were outbound. That is not good news because, year-over-year, we moved in the wrong direction, ever so slightly, from the "balanced" column (53.8 percent outbound) back into the high outbound one.
There is a silver lining, however. Since 2009, Michigan improved in comparison to other states. We have been moving down the state rankings, from first in outbound traffic that year to 14th. In other words, despite higher outbound traffic Michigan still did better relative to some sister states.
As an aside, UVL has published this research every year going back to 1977. In 2009 Michigan hit a record high in outbound traffic with 68 percent of UVL's Michigan moves being outbound.
Before critics dismiss UVL data as an unrepresentative sample, consider that the Mackinac Center has done a statistical analysis comparing years of the company data to actual migration statistics published by the United States Census Bureau and found the two to be highly correlated.
Migration is important because people move to places where there is opportunity. Ball State University Business Economist and Mackinac Center Adjunct Scholar Michael Hicks in 2010 used a model to find out what may be driving people between states. His conclusion was that people were moving to states with more flexible labor climates, more days of sunshine and lower taxes.
Specifically, Hicks found that for every 10 percent increase in personal taxes, Michigan loses 4,700 people each year afterward. In other words, the 11.5 percent personal income tax increase imposed on the Great Lake State in 2007 may have already chased away more than 35,000 of our fellow residents.
Michigan also isn't helped by its cold and long winters. Scholar Jordan Rappaport found that an increase of average January temperatures from 29 degrees to 59 degrees "is associated with faster [population] growth of 1.3 percent a year." He attributed population growth in Michigan's climate from between -1.5 percent to 0.0 percent from 1970 to 2000.
Since we can't compete with our southern sister states on weather, we must swamp their natural advantage with other policy levers that are within our control. That means much lower tax burdens, continued labor reforms and a willingness to rein in the expensive and unnecessary parts of the state's regulatory apparatus.
What exactly does that mean?
First and foremost, Michigan residents need and are owed a tax cut. We were promised that the 2007 personal income tax hike would be only temporary, but most of it remains intact. At a minimum it should be rolled back to 3.9 percent, if not to further to say, 3.75 percent in 2015.
Second, the state should repeal its archaic and expensive Prevailing Wage law which mandates higher than necessary wages on government financed construction projects. Doing so might save $224 million per year on school construction costs alone.
Lastly, the state — which has made some progress on the unnecessary regulation front—needs to cut its regulatory red tape. At a minimum it should look to eliminate some of its occupational licensing requirements.
Michigan remains a high outbound state despite solid reforms in areas of business taxes and labor reform but there is much work to be done. The new legislature should start with solid cuts to the personal income tax. That will make Michigan more attractive to those who have long paid full freight and those considering a move to the Great Lake State.
Related Articles:
Michigan's Economy Best In Midwest, And It's Not Just Cars
License to (Not) Work: Mackinac Center Releases New Study on Occupational Licensing
20 Percent Of Michigan Jobs Disappeared Last Year – But Slightly More New Ones Were Created
Come or Go, Amazon's HQ Decision Means Little to Michigan Economy


text:
Contractor grade isn't necessarily a bad thing – it is usually a clean slate and items are selected to appeal to a broad spectrum of homeowners. However, if you want a personalized interior, you will have to invest in a few upgrades.
- Update the Light Fixtures: Do you find your dining room is complete with a traditional and dated brassy chandelier? Why has this not gone out of style in contractor grade homes? I can confess for a fact that one of our clients bought a million dollar+ new construction home and the dining room fixture was the same brassy fixture. The reason–they are cheap and builders are all about putting the least amount of money into a house so that they can maximize their profits. We switched out the light for our client, providing her a much more updated and upgraded looking dining room. Light fixtures that have style can be surprisingly affordable, so definitely switch out any dated or common chandeliers, bathroom lights, pendants and the like. Updated finishes include brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze (for a more traditional feel) and polished chrome.
- Change Out Kitchen and Bathroom Hardware: Update cabinetry by changing out the hardware to something that is more you. Knobs and pulls can range from anywhere between $1-25 dollars a piece, so it is relatively inexpensive to update them.
- Add New Granite Countertops: If your kitchen has a typical granite (like Uba Tuba that you see in every home) or even worse, a laminate countertop, consider switching it out for a more rare and stunning granite. An upgrade to the countertop can make a big impact in your kitchen and/or bathrooms.
- Frame Bathroom Mirrors or Replace Them: A typical 'contractor grade' bathroom mirror is normally unframed, glued to the wall and kept in place with little plastic clips. One solution to this type of mirror is to buy molding and frame it out, making it look a bit more custom. Another inexpensive alternative would be to replace the mirror entirely with something that is framed, finished, and appropriately sized for the wall space. This gives the bathroom or powder room a much more upgraded look and feel.
- Wallpaper At Least One Space: Wallpaper will instantly make your contractor grade home feel more custom. One popular trend right now is to wallpaper a single wall in a room and paint the rest of them. This saves you money and still manages to create a great focal point for the room. The dining room, bedroom and living rooms are great areas to consider wallpapering. Wallpaper the main wall you see as you enter to make the most "wow" effect in the room. Also, wallpapering a powder room is another solid investment – it will add a designer touch to your home. Or, consider wallpapering the ceiling as is done by designers to create a totally unexpected and custom feel.
- Paint: A fresh coat of paint on the walls, whether they are already painted or simply white, will instantly add personality to your home. This can be prioritized in phases if you don't want to spend a big chunk of money all at one time. Pick the top three spaces you want to paint first and go from there. Do the job yourself if you have the patience for painting!


text: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was the biggest unhinged lunatic on the planet. With his death, Anne Coulter has moved into first place. David Letterman. I'm no fan of Coulter. Letterman is comparing Coulter to a guy that blew up school buses, elementary schools and children's hospitals for the fun of it? I wonder if Letterman would consider Coulter worse than Margaret Ray, the woman that tried to kidnap his son and stole his porsche? Letterman had Margaret Ray killed by a train? That would make Letterman a murderer like Zarqawi.


text:
AUSSIE PROP Mitch Garbutt is confident Leeds Rhinos can cope with the loss of hooker Paul Aiton.
Aiton will miss the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final showdown with Hull KR on August 29 after suffering a broken arm, which will keep him out of action for six to eight weeks, in the 49-10 thrashing of Warrington Wolves three days ago.
Coach Brian McDermott has indicated he will turn to teenagers Jordan Lilley and Robbie Ward and Garbutt said: "It's really disappointing because Paul plays such a big part in our side.
"Any time he is out of the side, we are at a disadvantage, but there's some good players waiting in the wings, who are ready to step up. We've got Rob Burrow as well and whoever gets their chance is going to be ready."
The win over Warrington avenged two earlier defeats in the regular season, but Garbutt insisted it was far from easy. He said: "I think we had to work for all our points.
"They came out firing and I think we went away from our game plan a little bit, but once we went back to it we showed what we can do."
Last Friday's victory backed up an impressive effort against St Helens in the previous week's Challenge Cup semi-final.
"That was a good thing," Garbutt reflected. "We spoke about that before the game. There was a very big build up to the semi-final, but we are making sure we don't get too far ahead of ourselves. We are taking every week as it comes."


text:
The Leading eBooks Store Online
4,385,058 members ⚫ 1,459,539 ebooks
New to eBooks.com?Learn more
- Bestsellers - This Week
- Foreign Language Study
- Pets
- Bestsellers - Last 6 months
- Games
- Philosophy
- Archaeology
- Gardening
- Photography
- Architecture
- Graphic Books
- Poetry
- Art
- Health & Fitness
- Political Science
- Biography & Autobiography
- History
- Psychology & Psychiatry
- Body Mind & Spirit
- House & Home
- Reference
- Business & Economics
- Humor
- Religion
- Children's & Young Adult Fiction
- Juvenile Nonfiction
- Romance
- Computers
- Language Arts & Disciplines
- Science
- Crafts & Hobbies
- Law
- Science Fiction
- Current Events
- Literary Collections
- Self-Help
- Drama
- Literary Criticism
- Sex
- Education
- Literary Fiction
- Social Science
- The Environment
- Mathematics
- Sports & Recreation
- Family & Relationships
- Media
- Study Aids
- Fantasy
- Medical
- Technology
- Fiction
- Music
- Transportation
- Folklore & Mythology
- Nature
- Travel
- Food and Wine
- Performing Arts
- True Crime
- Foreign Language Books
Most popular at the top
Regulation of Sexual Conduct in UN Peacekeeping OperationsSpringer Berlin Heidelberg 2012; US$ 115.29
This book critically examines the response of the United Nations (UN) to the problem of sexual exploitation in UN Peace Support Operations. It assesses the Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (2003) (SGB) and its definition of sexual exploitation, which includes sexual relationships and prostitution.... more...
Surviving PeaceSpinifex Press 2014; US$ 19.95
How do you pick up the pieces after your life is shattered by war? How do you continue living when your country no longer exists, your language is no longer spoken and your family is divided, not just by distance but by politics too? What happens when your old identity is taken from you and a new one imposed, one that you never asked for? When Olivera... more...
Surviving PeaceSpinifex Press 2014; US$ 17.95
Surviving Peace' is one womans story of courage that echoes the stories of millions of people whose lives have been displaced by war. As we still face a world rife with armed conflict, this book is a timely reminder that once the last gunshot has been fired and the last bomb dropped, the new challenge of surviving peace begins. more...
An Introduction to Transitional JusticeTaylor and Francis 2016; US$ 41.82
An Introduction to Transitional Justice provides the first comprehensive overview of transitional justice judicial and non-judicial measures implemented by societies to redress legacies of massive human rights abuse. Written by some of the leading experts in the field it takes a broad, interdisciplinary approach to the subject, addressing the dominant... more...
Silenced Victims of Wartime Sexual ViolenceTaylor and Francis 2018; US$ 45.74
The condemnation of wartime sexual violence as a gross violation of human rights has received widespread support. While rape and other forms of sexual violence have attracted considerable local and international attention, this often excludes wartime sexual violence among women belonging to so-called 'perpetrator' war-torn nations. This book explores... more...
Transitional Justice and Civil Society in the BalkansSpringer New York 2012; US$ 103.76
This book surveys transitional justice in the Balkans, focusing on the unexplored and under-researched role of civil society groups and local women's groups, of art and community media and other grass-roots transitional justice mechanisms and initiatives. more...
Transitional Justice and ReconciliationTaylor and Francis 2015; US$ 48.35
Scholars and practitioners alike agree that somehow the past needs to be addressed in order to enable individuals and collectives to rebuild trust and relationships. However, they also continue to struggle with critical questions. When is the right moment to address the legacies of the past after violent conflict? How can societies address the past... more...
The Arts of Transitional JusticeSpringer New York 2013; US$ 103.76
The Art of Transitional Justice examines the relationship between transitional justice and the practices of art associatedwith it. Art, which includes theater, literature, photography, and film, hasbeen integral to the understanding of the issues faced in situations oftransitional justice as well as other issues arising out ofconflict and mass atrocity.... more...
Peace Psychology in the BalkansSpringer New York 2012; US$ 115.29
This comprehensive introuction covers the development of peace psychology in the Balkans, a region marked by conflict and transitional turmoil. The book is written by scholars from Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Croatia, and Slovenia. more...
- 1
- Page


text:
Aerial Photographs of New Orleans and Environs: 11 March 2006
Last weekend a friend of mine had the opportunity to participate in an aerial survey of the New Orleans area. Fortunately he took a boatload of digital pictures. The images capture both the widespread devastation to the built environment (still remaining over six months later) as well as the devastation to the surrounding natural systems (massive erosion/wetland loss) worsened by the storm surge.
Areas included in the images are: St. Bernard Parish (Chalmette, Arabi, Delacroix), the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans East, City Park/Bayou St. John, Chef Menteur/Irish Bayou, and Eden Isles/Oak Harbor on the St. Tammany Parish Northshore.
The New Orleans and Environs flickr photostream can be seen here.


text:
Clinical issues in genetic testing for multifactorial diseases.
Please help populate SUNScholar with the full text of SU research output. Also - should you need this item urgently, please send us the details and we will try to get hold of the full text as quick possible. E-mail to email@example.com. Thank you.
Journal Articles (subsidised)
Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe
Molekul�re Biologie & Mensgenetika


text:
At that time, the campus on the "Hill" was mostly a vision, or dream, but one that all of us who were residents in Potsdam were aware of. On the Hill, there were the two old run-down homes, Woodstock and Holcroft; the baseball field; and across Clarkson Avenue the new Walker Arena where our intercollegiate games were played on natural ice. The only other facility on the Hill was the football field. All of Clarkson's academic and administrative facilities and the gym and basketball court were downtown.
In the village, Old Main and "old number 7" housed most of our classes. Snell Hall, across the street, was then Potsdam State Teachers College, with the part right across from Old Main the elementary Practice School, which I had attended from 4th through 8th grade. Snell Hall became part of Clarkson much later when the State University of New York at Potsdam was built out on Pierrepont Avenue.
Clarkson had no women students in 1943 and the Teachers College across the street had mostly girls. Clarkson had no student housing and most students, being from out of town, roomed in Potsdam homes. My family lived in a big old house on Lawrence Avenue and rented space to students. Other "roomers" lived nearby, across the street. I don't remember there being any student housing for the Teachers College so most of the girls must also have been in residents' houses. Fraternity and sorority houses were also primary residences for many students. Obviously, the proximity of the two schools made interaction between the males and females a lot easier than it is now that the two schools have moved in opposite directions. Some young people might well consider that as a negative, but on the positive side, Clarkson has progressed to having a coed student body.
In 1943, all of us knew we were headed for military service as soon as we became 18. I joined ROTC at Clarkson. My brother, Nye, had just graduated from Clarkson and having been in ROTC went off to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as I started at Clarkson. In ROTC, a freshman student could normally expect to stay at a low rank, probably a private, for all of his freshman year. However, in the summer and fall of 1943 the departure of Clarkson's students to military service progressed so rapidly that by the end of my freshman year I had reached the Master Sergeant level. As I approached 18, I enlisted as an Air Cadet in the U.S. Army and was able to finish my freshman year before leaving for service in April 1944. My vision of becoming a pilot fell to the needs of the military at that time, and by its choice, I became a radar mechanic.
With the war over, I was discharged in April 1946 and enjoyed my only summer vacation in those years of accelerated schedules, before starting my sophomore year in the fall. Clarkson was very different than it had been, with the GI Bill of Rights making it possible for many veterans, older than typical college students, to get a college education. Quite a few of them were married and down from the Hill across Clarkson Avenue, a new married housing development provided for some of those couples.
The Malone Branch of Clarkson began in those years with a student body mixed with veterans and younger people right out of high school. I remember, with great amusement, when l had become an officer on the Board of Governors, going to Malone with another member to talk to that freshman student body about Clarkson traditions. Those traditions included the wearing of green and yellow caps as freshmen and the competition between freshmen and sophomore classes, which had annually included a tug of war with one side on the mainland and the other on the island on the river. Needless to say, our audience, half full of "grizzled" veterans, was almost hostile to us!
It is probably good in these days to remember what a significant effect that GI Bill of Rights had on our country. It enabled many more people to get a college education than would have been able to otherwise. For me, I saved enough during my Clarkson education to enable me to go on to get a graduate degree elsewhere. When I talk these days with fellow veterans from that age, we generally agree that we who survived the war lived in the best of times. We sense that the GI Bill played a major role in that.
While I now live in North Carolina, it has been a pleasure to occasionally get back to Potsdam and to see Clarkson on the Hill, once a dream but now a reality!


text:
PARIS -- A year ago, center court at Stade Roland Garros was steeped in high drama.
Steffi Graf defeated Martina Navratilova 6-4, 4-6, 8-6 in the French Open final to win her first Grand Slam title. The triumph elevated women`s tennis.
Saturday the place reeked with low comedy.
Graf destroyed Natalia Zvereva 6-0, 6-0 to defend her French Open title. The rout marked the tournament`s worst defeat.
In more than a century of Grand Slam tennis, only one other woman had shut out her opponent in the final. That was Dorothea Lambert Chambers, who defeated Dora Boothby at Wimbledon in 1911.
The worst French Open defeat had been Suzanne Lenglen`s 6-1, 6-0 rout of Mary K. Browne in 1926.
But Graf wiped that out, as she wiped out Zvereva in 32 minutes, not counting an hour rain delay in the first set.
The shortest match in a Grand Slam final is 26 minutes (Lenglen over Mrs. F. Mallory, 1922 Wimbledon), according to Ted Tinling, international liaison for the Virginia Slims Series.
In those days, though, the players did not have 90-second TV changeovers.
Subtracting 7 1/2 minutes for changeovers, Graf was on the court for 24 1/2 minutes Saturday.
It was too long for Zvereva.
Graf won 49 points. The 17-year-old Soviet, making her debut in a Grand Slam final, won 11 points.
Zvereva actually hit only two winners, a pair of backhand passing shots in the second set. The rest were Graf errors.
``Everyone kept telling me it was going to be an easy final,`` Graf said.
``But I thought, if everyone is saying that, I`d better watch out. I didn`t expect anything like this. I can`t remember the last time I won love-and- love.`` (It was Pascale Paradis at the Virginia Slims of Los Angeles last year.)
Love-and-love. It sounds so nice. But it is a tennis player`s nightmare. The dreaded double bagel job, as Harold Solomon used to say.