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"Slow cooked lentils and cauliflower with a spicy southern Indian whole-seed blend called Panch Phoran."
Cauliflower Dal With Panch Phoron
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Chef's Note
"Slow cooked lentils and cauliflower with a spicy southern Indian whole-seed blend called Panch Phoran."
READY IN:1hr 14mins
Ingredients Nutrition
- 1 1⁄2 cups red lentils
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1⁄8 teaspoon canola oil (or canola oil spray)
- 1 tablespoon panch phoron
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1⁄8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste (or 1 tsp. minced ginger)
- 16 ounces diced tomatoes (or 1 can)
- 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
- 1⁄2 cup water
- Pick over and rinse the lentils and add them to a pot with the water and turmeric. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer until the dal is tender, about 20 to 35 minutes. When done, add salt and set aside.
- While the dal is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Heat a large, deep skillet, preferably non-stick. When hot, add the canola oil and shake it to spread it around. Add the panch phoran and stir. (You may instead use oil spray; spray before and after adding the panch phoran.) When the first seed pops, immediately add the onion, garlic, pepper flakes, and ginger paste. Stir and cook until the onion softens, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, cauliflower, and water, and stir. Cover and cook until the cauliflower is just tender, about 10 minutes.
- When the dal and cauliflower are both done, add the dal to the cauliflower mixture. Stir well, and check seasoning, adding more salt if needed. Simmer gently for about 10 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Serve hot, over rice if desired.
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-Rakesh Bua
(Father of Niharika,Std IV Karma)
The Durshet trip was clearly a once in a lifetime opportunity not just for the students but also for all the father's who volunteered for the trip.
The credit for this wonderful trip goes to the staff and entire management of Shishuvan who gave more than 100% to ensure that the trip went well and each and every student returned back with fond memories.
The students not only got an opportunity to participate in adventurous activities but they also learnt what it is like to stay independently for 48 hours.
I strongly believe that such instances will strengthen the confidence of the child and motivate them to engage in outdoor activities irrespective of whether they are on a school trip or on a personal trip.
During meals the management had arranged for buffet ( breakfast lunch and dinner) and I saw the children lining up quite methodically to collect their plates bowls etc. The volunteers were there to serve food to the children and I could see that almost each and every child tried everything that was served to them without making a fuss.
The concept of enacting a play within just half an hour or so can be seriously challenging for 10 yr old children but the manner in which they participated was very impressive. The volunteers made efforts to bring out the best out of their respective groups.
Some of the activities were a bit scary for some children and we did have incidents when some of the children suffered injuries during the course of these activities. However none of the children showed signs of backing out and they went all the way. The credit for this again goes to the volunteers who took utmost care of the children.
Overall it was a beautiful trip; one that will go down as the most cherished one !

subset: commoncrawl


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QUESTIONER 1: Professor Chomsky, a few days ago our President, in a news conference, announced a new program to help provide food to the children of Afghanistan — even [anchorman] Peter Jennings of ABC News sort of hinted that that was a touch of propaganda spurred on bi-partisan complaints that bin Laden was winning the propaganda war world-wide. Are you aware of any organizations that we would do best funneling money that we would like to donate to help increase the food supply in that country?
CHOMSKY: Oh, yeah, plenty. I mean, this is obviously just [propaganda] … it couldn't even pass ABC News. [scattered audience laughter] Actually, it was extremely poor timing. You may have noticed that Bush went to the Red Cross office with, you know, a box or something with, I don't know, ninety thousand dollar bills from the children of America to give to the Red Cross and he arrived just at the time of the news that bombers had destroyed a Red Cross compound that was storing food in Afghanistan — not the greatest timing. But, yeah, that's a joke. Plenty of organizations. I mean, the World Food Program, Oxfam, Christian Aid, Save the Children — there are lots of bona fide organizations. I mean, Oxfam's right here in Boston — you don't have to go very far. And they do very serious, honest work. They can't do it now because the way to get food in is to truck it in. Dropping food by air is almost meaningless. Every aid organization has pointed this out. The World Food Program, which is, the main one, and the most serious one, they've pointed out — I don't think it's been reported here but it's all over the British press, the Financial Times and others — they said they might consider air drops but if you do, you have to prepare it. You have to prepare an area and it has to be a safe area — you don't want to draw people to places where there's mines all over the place or something like that. So you prepare a safe area. You have people there who are gonna pick up the food and distribute it to the people who need it — to the sick, to children, to women — you know, the people who aren't going to get it if you drop food all over. You have to have people there who will give it to the people who need it. It has to be organized. There has to be information saying "it's safe to come here." The worst way to do it — probably causes more harm than
good — is just to drop packages around. Who knows what the effects are? Even if anyone gets it. But trucking is the right way. … And that has been pretty much stopped or cut back because of the threat of bombing. That's why the U.N. and the aid agencies are pleading with the United States to stop the bombing while there's still some people alive there. And, yes, there are organizations right here in Boston and elsewhere that you certainly can give to. And should. This is a major catastrophe.
QUESTIONER 2: Professor Chomsky, thank you for coming tonight and I know we're all honored to have you here. I want to go back to
something you said at the beginning of your speech. You mention this "silent genocide" that you blame America for, or will blame America in the coming weeks. I know that you don't believe that America put these Afghan people on the brink of starvation in the first place. You may ascribe that to the world economy — there are many reasons why these people were on the brink of starvation in the first place. So, certainly, you don't blame America for putting them in the position. Second of all, I thought it was conspicuously absent from your discussion any mention of blaming the Taliban which could end this genocide that you mentioned by simply turning over Osama bin Laden to an international court. They could end it immediately. And that was conspicuously absent from your discussion. Also, you mentioned … [scattered applause] You also mentioned, by analogy, you said that if there were a madman who were down the street, it would be wrong for us to turn assault rifles on our neighbors and to shoot everyone without knowing where he is. I suggest that your analogy is perhaps flawed and I'd like to pose another one, if you'd humor me. Instead of a madman, a killer, being down the street who knows where, we know exactly where he is. Let's say he's taken over a large mansion. We don't know which room he's in but the family that lives there has said that they will take up arms and oppose law enforcement from entering the home to obtain this known criminal. Now, how would the government react to a home in this situation? They might cut the power. They might cut the gas. They would probably cut the water. Perhaps they would threaten that if these persons were to aid and abet the criminals and prevent law enforcement from entering the home to take them into incarceration — perhaps, in fact, violent means would be threatened against these
people. How do you respond to this hypothetical? And also, my own hypothetical, it's dealing with a house. It's not a country, it's not a sovereign nation. All hypotheticals and analogies are flawed in this way. And so we're dealing here with a serious problem. Six thousand people are dead. If we turn to economic retaliation, if we turn to economic sanctions, certainly the poor Afghan people will be hurt first and foremost by economic sanctions — so I know you're opposed to that. You're obviously opposed to military sanctions. So having ruled out economic and military sanctions, I don't suppose spitballs would be in order. [scattered applause]
CHOMSKY: Well, I already gave you the answer to what I think we ought to do. But let's go through your questions. First of all, you said I blame America and that is false. I blame you and I blame me and I blame the rest of us who are allowing this to happen right in front of our eyes. [applause] That's not blaming America. Secondly, when you say that' it's the "world economy" that had to do with Afghanistan, that's just not true. Afghanistan's always been a very poor place and there are many reasons for its current straits but two primary ones are called Russia and the United States. Russia and the United States, in the 1980s, practically destroyed the place — not to help the Afghans. As soon as the place was destroyed, they pulled out and the forces that the United States had organized to harass the Russians then took over — they're now called the Northern Alliance — and that led in the early '90s to what Human Rights Watch calls the worst period in Afghan history as these various criminal forces, that the U.S. had organized with its allies, just tore the place apart. They probably killed 50,000 people. I mean, they were carrying out mass rapes and slaughters and destroyed Kabul. In fact, they were so horrendous that when the Taliban came in, in 1994-1995, they were actually welcomed because at least they were bringing some kind of order to the place, driving out these madmen who had been left behind from the U.S. war. Meanwhile, the U.S. didn't do anything for them. So … first of all, it's not "blame America" — it's blaming people like you and me who can do something about it — there's no abstract entity "America" that acts — and [secondly] we had a lot to do with this. Quite a lot to do with it. There are plenty of other forces, too.
You say the Taliban could solve the problem by just handing him over. The Taliban could solve a lot of problems by disappearing. You know? I've been strongly in favor of that for a long time. However, I have no way of making them disappear. See, like, suppose we were in Russia in the 1980s and some dissident was criticizing the Russian invasion. Well, a commissar could have stood up and said, "Look, why are you criticizing the Russian invasion? Why aren't you criticizing what the Afghans are doing to each other?" Yeah, that's a standard commissar line. We know what to think about it. You and I are responsible for what you and I can do — and what we do. We have no moral responsibility for what other people do that we can't effect. We may hate it but we can't do anything about it. Like, we could have a debate, a discussion right now about the crimes of Genghis Khan. And we might be correct about it. It would have no moral value whatsoever. Might have some historical value. Same with the crimes that are going on in Sri Lanka. Can't think of anything to do about 'em, fine — then have an academic seminar but don't think it has any moral value. When you tell me what the Taliban can do, it's exactly the same. The moral value of that is zero. Yeah, they could do a lot of things. For example, one thing they could do is what you said: turn him over to a third party. The problem with that is, the U.S. has refused to allow it. Now, are they serious in that offer that's been going on for a couple of weeks? Well, we don't know — because every time the offer is made, George Bush stands up and says "We're not gonna talk to you. We're not gonna negotiate with you. We don't want him turned over." It has nothing to do with how rotten the Taliban are. Yeah, they're rotten. Lot of rotten things in the world. We should be — if we're serious — we should be concerned with what we do. And what we can do. If there's an elementary moral truism, that's it. If people don't understand that, they're just not in the moral universe. [huge applause]
What about your analogy? So, let's say there's a killer in a house. And, incidentally, nobody knows where he is. First of all, they don't even know that he's the person. Notice they don't have any evidence against him. I mean, there's evidence that his networks are in the background. That's almost certainly true — although no evidence is presented — like I said, it's prima facie plausible. But they don't know that it's him. He may be telling the truth when he says he wasn't involved and there's some reason to believe it. In fact, a good deal of the foreign press and
commentators believe it 'cause it just doesn't seem credible that he could have carried it out or initiated it. So, they don't know that he's the
perpetrator and they don't know where he is. They haven't a clue where he is. So, let's pick your house analogy if you like. You say there are
people there who are gonna defend him. Are those the seven to eight million Afghans who we're trying to starve to death? Are they defending
him? No, they're his victims. They're not defending him. The people we're killing are innocent Afghans — not people who are defending Osama bin Laden. They're the victims of the Taliban. They're the ones we're attacking. The analogy you made is an interesting case and you could talk about it in some seminar. It's got nothing to do with this. [applause] What's going on here, when the New York Times tells us that food shipments have been cut back to the point where the number of people now at risk of starvation since September 11th has increased by fifty percent … as a result, as they point out correctly, of the threat of U.S. bombing and the terror its caused and so on, and the withdrawal of aid and international workers. Those people are not defending bin Laden. Those are perfectly innocent civilians who have nothing to do with it, except that they're victims of the Taliban who we — meaning you and I, not some abstract entity — are consciously acting to murder. Okay? If we can't face that, we have no right talking about this problem. …


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IN the most ambitious of a long string of productions documenting American modern dance, Alvin Ailey has devoted a whole evening to the work of Katherine Dunham. The program, presented six times during the Ailey company's just-ended season at City Center, spans the period, from the late '30s to the early '50s, when Dunham was at her height as a director of revues based on Afro-American dance styles. The Ailey revival program essentially re-creates one of these revues, and for dancing, visual splash, and high-energy entertainment, I'd take it any day over the current Broadway musical scene. More important, it galvanizes the Ailey dancers out of their mechanical glossiness and reveals some hidden talents.
``The Magic of Katherine Dunham'' begins on an unnecessarily technical note, with demonstrations of Dunham's classroom exercises at the barre and across the floor. The leotarded dancers, dramatically lit and pure as athletes, look exactly like the contemporary performers they are. I guess the point is their transformation, through the Latin, Caribbean, and American Negro stylizations to come, into dancing folk.
These more earthy, responsive personas begin to emerge during the exercises as the dancers get spurred on by the drummers at the side of the stage. In fact, a major share of the show's vitality is generated by these four musicians, Gregg Askew, Louis Bauzo, Joe Sircus, and Mor Tiam, who supplement Tania Leon's pit orchestra and sometimes take dancing part in addition to drumming, chanting, and singing.
After the opening proprieties, the show gets down to business, which is a collection of set pieces, skits, and dramatic scenes. Dunham takes authentic dance material from North and South America and the islands and sets it into appropriate narrative or decorative environments. Some are just the dances by themselves, like the Brazilian quadrille ``Choros'' and the American ``Plantation Dances,'' ``Juba,'' and ``Square Dance'' (Gary DeLoatch as the caller, with a parodistically heavy Southern accent).
Others have more elaborate local color settings, like ``Cakewalk,'' based on the strutting competition-dance derived from the Can-Can; ``Flaming Youth,'' a parade of '20s Chicago types, including a slinky Raquelle Chavis singing the blues; and ``Nanigo,'' a series of male variations on a Cuban cult dance.
The most exciting parts of the evening are the fully narrative dances, ``Shango'' and ``L'Ag'Ya.'' Both have to do with folk rites. During the pre-World War II period, Americans were curious about the African-influenced rituals of Haiti, Trinidad, Martinique. Katherine Dunham was one of the first black Americans to study these traditions on location and to bring theatricalized replicas to the stage. ``Shango'' is billed as a ``stylized ceremony.'' We're not told what kind, but it's probably connected with puberty rites. A young man (Dereque Whiturs) sacrifices a chicken and becomes possessed by the snake god. The community members who witness the ceremony dance and shake in frenzied accompaniment to his ordeal.
The story ballet ``L'Ag'Ya'' involves a love triangle in which the thwarted, roughneck suitor (Mr. DeLoatch) visits the Roi Zombie (Dudley Williams) and obtains a magic doll to help him seduce the girl (April Berry) while everyone else is helpless under a spell. Her cleancut boyfriend (Rodney Nugent) wakes up just in time to rescue her but is stabbed by the villainous rival. Williams as the top-hatted, grass-skirted witch doctor was marvelously sinister, with a ghoulish, mocking laugh that resounded electronically - the one time in the show when body microphones paid off.
On the evidence of this anthology, Dunham seems less a choreographer than an expert constructor of showcases for regional dances. She doesn't develop steps or phrases as composed large forms but rather makes them into theatrical showpieces with lavish framing. The tasteful and gorgeous original costumes and sets designed by John Pratt have been reconstructed by Toni Leslie James and Randy Barcelo. Today I think we would call ``The Magic of Katherine Dunham'' a folkloric show, if that term could be applied to black dancing without political stigma. What's so extraordinary is that Dunham did it so well, so early. The Ballet Folklorico of Mexico was founded in 1952, and Igor Moiseyev's Russian troupe didn't visit the United States till 1965.


text:
Cheeky Amanda Palmer reference?
Inquiring minds need to know...
576 posts • joined 25 Sep 2006
Inquiring minds need to know...
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Dark matter is gravitons leaking through the bulk from parallel universes.
"It actually says *CELEBRATE*!!!"
Just type "Yorkshite" into Google :-)
I thought the guy's speech was actually a bot.
They seem perfectly happy to shout their heads off in a phone conversation!
Last time I tried to connect to the local Costa wi-fi, it wouldn't even let me establish a secure link to Google. Needless to say I fired up my phone's hotspot instead.
Is it Gene Hunt? Is he beating up a nonce?
The EU are in the process of deciding whether our mass surveillance is illegal or not. I'm guessing this is what her rubbish dog-whistle is actually about. Unless she really wants to torture prisoners.
Fuckoffium more like!
I have two keyboard Kindles in my house - one of them updated without a hitch, the other one stubbornly refused and had to be USB'd into submission...
"Luckily, it proved not to be so proficient at kick boxing..."
"Have you found a solution?"
"No - but I've got a NEW NAME for the problem!"
Just a shame they had to wait until after Terry Wogan died! He stopped presenting it because of the dodgy voting blocks...
...or we might all vanish in a brief puff of smoke...
To get publicity for your career, you have to look like an enormous dickhead on purpose instead of by accident, as is usual.
Nathan Bedford Forrest. Sorry to copy from Wikipedia, but...
" In the battle of Fallen Timbers, he drove through the Union skirmish line. Not realizing that the rest of his men had halted their charge when reaching the full Union brigade, Forrest charged the brigade single-handedly, and soon found himself surrounded. He emptied his Colt Army revolvers into the swirling mass of Union soldiers and pulled out his saber, hacking and slashing. A Union infantryman fired a musket ball into Forrest's spine with a point-blank musket shot, nearly knocking him out of the saddle. Forrest galloped back to his incredulous troopers. A surgeon removed the musket ball a week later, without anesthesia, which was unavailable."
" In December 1862, Forrest's veteran troopers were reassigned by Gen. Braxton Bragg to another officer, against his protest. Forrest had to recruit a new brigade, composed of about 2,000 inexperienced recruits, most of whom lacked weapons. Again, Bragg ordered a raid, this one into west Tennessee to disrupt the communications of the Union forces under Grant, which were threatening the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Forrest protested that to send such untrained men behind enemy lines was suicidal, but Bragg insisted, and Forrest obeyed his orders. On the ensuing raid, he showed his brilliance, leading thousands of Union soldiers in west Tennessee on a "wild goose chase" to try to locate his fast-moving forces. Never staying in one place long enough to be attacked, Forrest led his troops in raids as far north as the banks of the Ohio River in southwest Kentucky. He returned to his base in Mississippi with more men than he had started with. By then, all were fully armed with captured Union weapons."
So magick is becoming "respectable" now they are calling it "brainhacking"?
Which one's him?
"Armando Iannucci's TED talk on reincarnation was well received"
Please can you do this list every Patch Tuesday? It's really good to see the list of fixes without having to go back and forth to Microsoft's KB for each one.
your ipod on shuffle play must sound like Spike Jones and his City Slickers! :D
...livin in an Orwellian spy paradise...
I thought you meant the Cray ran hot enough to cook your BBQ on it...
Remember, kids, being a fuckwit is independent of race, creed or colour!
Although one of these three will give you a head start!
I hope it's just my out of date terminology knowledge...
...always makes me think "We're the knights of the round table, we dance when e'er we're able..."
I put in another vote for Scrivener. It's cheap, designed for the job and you can use it on more than one of your own machines.
I just hope the poor fucker in the picture got paid loads for having to do that pose :-/
"I know you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, Dave"
"Have you come far?"
"I hit the headboard once."
I just tried to retweet that.
Please please get his hairy bumhole face off the front page.
I believe this is what you are looking for:
Please could you make the active link cover the whole top bar and not just the bit in the middle with the text on it? Ta!
for the excellent phrase "peeling a handy sheep"
Can anyone recommend Windows antivirus that doesn't suck donkey balls and/or suck up all your resources?
Could I see a picture of him clothed before deciding?
That is all, thank you.
My hotspot is called "Google Surveillance" and no-one's ever bothered me at an airport :-)
And I didn't roll my eyes once. Lots of excellent, inventive bits. Mixing humour and horror like the best stuff. And the monsters were genuinely scary and exciting. And it's taken me until last episode to realise that I didn't like Clara because she was previously (and probably will be again) written TERRIBLY. These last two episodes she actually came over as an actual person.
God bless wikipedia...
I like to think that all the warming we're doing is counteracting a new ice age which we should have had by now :-)
"Where now for Mark Zuckerberg raised by badgers?"
...what happens if any of the three photons falls out and rolls under the sofa?
since phones are now getting way too big, put it on vibrate and shove it up your arse?
to a chair with a strap-on...


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Future of the Internet
The battle to oversee the WebWill large emerging countries manage to reshape internet governance around their national interests? One thing is sure: tomorrow's internet will not resemble today's. In recent years, global issues connected to the internet and its uses have vaulted into [read more]
Will large emerging countries manage to reshape internet governance around their national interests? One thing is sure: tomorrow's internet will not resemble today's.
In recent years, global issues connected to the internet and its uses have vaulted into the highest realm of high politics. Among these issues internet governance is now one of the most lively and important topics in international relations.
It has long been ignored and restricted to small silos of experts; however, the leaks disclosed by Edward Snowden on large-scale electronic surveillance implemented by US intelligence agencies triggered a massive response to the historical "stewardship" of the internet by the United States.
Not surprisingly, the stakes are high: today 2.5 billion people are connected to the internet, and by 2030, the digital economy is likely to represent 20% of the world's GDP. In emerging countries, the digital economy is growing from 15% to 25% every year.
Studies evoke 50 even 80 billion connected "things" by 2020. Beyond mere figures, internet governance sharpens everyone's appetite – from big corporations to governments – for the internet has taken up such a place in our lives and touches on so many issues, such as freedom of expression to privacy, intellectual property rights, and national security.
It is worth underlining that the issue is particularly complex. For some, the governance of the internet should respect free market rules – a deregulated vision carried by the Clinton-Gore administration in the 1990s –, or remain self-regulated by techno-scientist communities as conceived of by libertarian internet pioneers.
For others, the advent of the internet in the area of law-making implies a return to the old rules and instruments, but this would mean putting aside the mutations produced by its practices, most importantly the expansion of expression and participation. For others, again, the ultimate legitimization would consist in adopting a Constitution or a Treaty of the internet which would elevate its governance to the global level.
De-Westernizing the internet?
A number of countries have criticized American "hegemony" over the internet (infrastructure, "critical resources" such as protocols, the domain names system, normative influence, etc.). To a large extent, the internet is the ambivalent product of American culture and the expression of its universalist and expansionist ideology.
As U.S. policymakers emphasized the importance of winning the battle of ideas both during the Cold War and in the post-2001 period, the ability to transmit America's soft power via communications networks has been perceived as vital.
Consequently, in recent years, particularly since the Arab uprisings, governments around the world have become more alert to the disruptive potential of access to digital communications. Demographic factors are also behind calls for change: over the next decade, the internet's centre of gravity will have moved eastwards.
Already in 2012, 66% of the world's internet users lived in the non-Western world. However, the reasons for questioning the U.S.'s supremacy also lie in these countries' defiance of the current internet governance system, which is accused of favoring the sole interests of the U.S.
While critical of the status quo, large emerging countries do not constitute a homogeneous block. Back in December 2012 in Dubai, when the Treaty to revise the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) was closely negotiated, some countries such as India, the Philippines and Kenya had rallied behind the U.S.
The Dubai negotiations nevertheless showed that these "swing states" – countries that have not decided which vision for the future of the internet they will support – are increasingly asserting their vision in order to get things moving.
Placed under the auspices of the United Nations-led International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Dubai meeting therefore served as a powerful tribune to both contest American preeminence and call for multilateral internet governance.
More fundamentally, these tensions reflect another conception of the internet, which lays on a double foundation: on the national level, the claim that states have sovereign power over the management of the internet; and on the international level, the preeminence of states over other stakeholders, and the notion of intergovernmental cooperation to debate internet governance.
To this end, the arguments developed fit into a geostrategic context which has been reshaped by the emergence of new poles of influence. They are aimed at making the internet an instrument of both the domestic and foreign policies of one country. The preservation of state order, the fight against cybercrime, and the defense of commercial interests are several illustrations of elements that can be used to justify and advance the questioning of the current system.
China, given its demographic, economic and technological weight, is emblematic of the current "game". Overall, China has sought to adopt a pragmatic approach: if Beijing does not agree with the concept of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) – the so-called "multi-stakeholder" principle would not guarantee an equal representation between the different stakeholders and regions of the world. It nevertheless integrated ICANN's Governments Advisory Committee in 2009, and is now very active in promoting its own standards within the organizations where technical norms are negotiated.
Russia, for its part, has put forward several initiatives at the U.N. over the last fifteen years – all of which have built upon a firm opposition to the U.S. and have defended a neo-Hobbesian vision in which security considerations and the legitimacy of states to ensure their digital/information sovereignty play a critical role. Moscow has thus been active within U.N. intergovernmental agencies such as ITU, and regional ones such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS forum.
And then came Snowden
The stances taken by emerging countries unsurprisingly found favorable echoes after Edward Snowden's revelations in June 2013. If Russia opportunely stood out by granting asylum to Snowden, Brazil promptly expressed its dissatisfaction.
President Dilma Rousseff, herself a victim of NSA wiretapping, took the lead of a virtuous crusade against the status quo: with the loss of the U.S.'s moral leadership, their stewardship over the agencies which manage the Internet is less tolerated. At the U.N. General Assembly, Rousseff somewhat aggressively criticized Washington, as such showing a will to federate emancipation towards the U.S. dependency.
Brasilia then intensified its diplomatic offensive by announcing an international summit on Internet governance – called NETmundial – to take place in April 2014 in Sao Paulo. In the meantime, Brazilian authorities promulgated the Marco Civil bill, a sort of Internet Constitution which guarantees freedom of expression, protection of privacy and net neutrality. Is the Brazilian stance in a post-Snowden context purely opportunistic?
Interestingly, Brazil appears to be taking the middle ground between the two governance "models" that have been under discussion so far – the multi-stakeholders and the multilateral – in a context where the Europeans have stepped aside.
Since the first World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) in 2005 Brasilia has been promoting free software and advancing a global internet governance model based on its own domestic model. Rousseff's words fit into a long-term perspective, which sees in the opening of a new international scene – the Web – an opportunity to take the international lead, after the relative failures of former President Lula to position Brazil on international security issues.
The world is not flat
Will large emerging countries manage to reshape internet governance around their national interests? In the shift that was the last ITU's WCIT meeting in Dubai in December 2012, the excessively polarized debates between self-proclaimed partisans of an "open and free" internet and the supporters of a governance resting on territorial sovereignty sparked off a strained discourse over a "digital Cold War" preceding an "internet Yalta".
Since Snowden's revelations emerged, the American reaction has particularly focused on storytelling: since states around the world question the U.S. oversight over the internet, it is because they want to fragment and "balkanize" the global internet – a discourse largely passed on by U.S. Net giants.
Well, the commercial strategies of the major internet companies themselves tend to intensify the fragmentation of online public spaces by creating distortions in internet users' access to information and content sharing, that is to say by reducing both the openness and pluralism that have made the internet a great social value.
Here lies a powerful engine for contest, as it has been recently the case in Western Europe. Borders do reappear where they were not necessarily expected: Google, Apple or Amazon are building their own ecosystem, from which it is becoming hard to get out.
One thing is sure: tomorrow's internet will not resemble today's. Already the power of search engines diminishes the importance of the domain names system; cloud computing, the Internet of things and the spread of mobile internet are starting to radically transform practices and produce new complexities with regards to the internet's outline and governance.
It is also certain that the situation will remain at a dead end if the two broad and opposed conceptions of the internet persist: a new space of freedom or a new instrument of control.
Photo credit: Paul Downey


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Philadelphia, PA- The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage has awarded $831,900 through the Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative (PCMI) to eight arts and culture organizations in the Philadelphia area.
PCMI grants provide valuable resources for organizations from a wide variety of fields to achieve greater organizational dynamism and adaptability. The 2012 funded projects demonstrate creative thinking from a range of institutions—many of which currently find themselves at critical junctures in their organizational development.
The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts provides behind-the-scenes assistance to over 1,000 small and medium-sized institutions throughout Pennsylvania whose collections require ongoing maintenance and care. It will develop an online fundraising program, modeled after Kickstarter and Indiegogo, which will allow its constituents to collect private donations to pay for these conservation projects, while raising public awareness of the Conservation Center and some of the region's most noteworthy artifacts. A new initiative, "Pennsylvania's 10 Most Endangered Artifacts," will offer select local institutions the opportunity to nominate objects in need of funding, such as historically significant manuscripts and artworks, 10 of which will be chosen and presented online for visitors to vote and contribute funds for their favorites.
Fleisher Art Memorial will implement new communication strategies meant to bridge the gap between its artistic programming and the rapidly evolving South Philadelphia community in which it is located. Fleisher currently attracts participants who reside mainly outside its neighborhood, and its offerings largely remain invisible to the organization's surrounding immigrant communities. At the core of this project will be a group of community representatives who will work as liaisons between Fleisher and local residents, and who will advise Fleisher on the development of new, culturally specific programs and workshops.
Musicopia provides music education to 40,000 students throughout the Delaware Valley each year. Its programs, including residencies that place musicians in schools to work directly with children, are custom-tailored to meet the needs of students and teachers; however, the schools vary widely in terms of their technological capacity to support instruction. To address this, Musicopia will launch the Mobile Equipment for Technology-Enhanced Residencies (METER) initiative, which will bring multimedia technology such as laptops, projectors, microphones, and video cameras to classrooms for the first time. The initiative will provide low-income and high-income schools access to the same resources, greatly enhancing the quality of instruction for all students.
Nichole Canuso Dance Company is a small organization that has reached a high level of artistic accomplishment. The company seeks to build a flexible, internal fundraising structure that can grow or contract accordingly as the scope of its projects changes with each year. This adaptable structure will allow Nichole Canuso to avoid additional costs, particularly the hiring of additional full-time staff, and will provide the company with more time to concentrate its efforts on its creative programming.
"This year's grants reflect the diverse and innovative ways that cultural organizations improve their operations and management systems to propel both program quality and audience engagement. Each promises to make a significant contribution to the grantee organization, and holds the potential to offer valuable lessons to the field as well," notes Paula Marincola, Executive Director of the Center.
For the complete list of 2012 Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative grant recipients and full project descriptions, please refer to the 2012 grantee roster or visit www.pcah.us/management.
"PCMI helps organizations strengthen their relationships with audiences and build sound organizational and financial bases on which to support consistently high levels of program quality," says Greg Rowe, Director of Culture Initiatives at The Pew Charitable Trusts. "We are delighted to be supporting such a wide range of strategies that thoughtfully respond to the unique opportunities facing each of these organizations."
Grantees are selected by a panel of arts and culture professionals from around the country with experience in various aspects of the management field. For a full list of 2012 panelists, advisors, and their credentials, please see the 2012 grantee roster or visit www.pcah.us/management.
Since its inception in 2001, the Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative has awarded over $8.1 million in project grant support to organizations that deliver exceptional programming and outstanding cultural services to people in the five-county region.


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Eight Major League Soccer players and two players from MLS academy systems were among 21 players named to head coach Tab Ramos' US U-20 national team roster for the upcoming Dallas Cup, U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday.
Competing in the Dallas Cup's Gordon Jago Super Group, the US will face River Plate (Argentina) on Sunday, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) on Monday and Tigres UANL (Mexico) on Wednesday in group play.
Both the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake had two players named to the squad. For New York, goalkeeper Santiago Castaño and defender Matt Miazga both received callups, while RSL's Jordan Allen and Benji Lopez were named to the squad. Miazga and Allen have both seen MLS action this season, and Miazga could end up staying with the Red Bulls at least through this weekend due to New York's injury-ridden back line.
Other MLS players include FC Dallas defender Kellyn Acosta and Chivas USA midfielder Marky Delgado, who have both seen first-team minutes this year, the Philadelphia Union's Zach Pfeffer and Sporting Kansas City youngster Erik Palmer-Brown, making his first appearance with the U-20s and the youngest player in the roster as the only 1997 birthday.
Two University of Maryland standouts on MLS teams' Homegrown Player lists – goalkeeper Zack Steffen (Philadelphia) and defender Suliaman Dainkeh (D.C. United) – were also named to the roster.
US U-20 Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Santiago Castaño (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Zack Steffen (Maryland; Philadelphia Union Academy; Downington, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (9): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Suliaman Dainkeh (Maryland; D.C. United Academy; Reston, Va.), Trevor Haberkorn (Furman; Roanoke, Texas), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (Unattached; Powder Springs, Ga.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting KC; Lee's Summit, Mo.), John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.), Jesus Vazquez (Tigres UANL; San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Marky Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Luis Felipe (Cruzeiro; Ouro Branco, Brazil), Romain Gall (FC Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland; Santa Cruz, Calif.)
FORWARDS (5): Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake; San Diego), Amando Moreno (Club Tijuana; Morganville, N.J.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Rubio Rubin (Unattached; Beaverton, Ore.), Ben Spencer (Indy Eleven; Albuquerque, N.M.)


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Foetus, ultrasound scan
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The Call Goes out to Juarez for a June Release
Ubisoft has just confirmed Call of Juarez: Bound in Blod which is the prequel to the 360 exclusive Call of Juarez will be released sometime in June for the PS3.
There is not a whole lot known about this game other the the devs promise it will be a "bigger and better adventure to fans of the lawless west".
As new info is released we will be sure to cover it.


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Hi Daisysmom,
No, you are certainly not crazy(well not for calling 911 anyway) lol
As far as the job goes, you must ask yourself a few questions though. Do you really want the new working times and conditions? Is it really more important than your relationship? If everyone really does think you're an idiot and the management is mad, is this where you really want to work? If you accept this crap now what will they throw at you in future? If you was out of work is this the sort of job you would apply for?
I think my opinion may be obvious but in case it's not ask yourself one more. Can I accept all of this and keep a good level of self-esteem and respect from everyone concerned?
Hi everyone,
thanks for the replies. The first week in the new job didn't go too badly, though the final night, Saturday was about as bad as I thought it would be. We were constantly busy and it was just physically draining even though I just sit at a computer for eight hours.
I really need to think about whether I want to stay there, like Jethro said. Unfortunately I am in a highly specialized field (which pays fairly well at my current workplace) and there's nothing similar within an hour's drive, at least in our lousy local economy. So once things settle down, I am going to look at what my options are if I want to move into a different type of job.


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The Day of the Dead aspect of this car is instantly clear -- in fact this is about as close as you'll ever get to finding a Lotus you could campaign in 24 Hrs of LeMons without getting penalty laps, but the All Souls' Day connection is muddy...but the Elan design and tooling was sold to Kia after Lotus decided they'd had enough, and from 1996-1999 the Kia Elan was sold in Korea. It is basically a Kia Soul with convertible top.*
The seller claims that the Isuzu built 1.6 liter inline-4 that is turbocharged to make 162 horsepower is in great running condition, odd given the total wreck that is the rest of the car. This thing is just screaming to be turned into a track car.
See a cheaper Lotus for your race team? firstname.lastname@example.com
*Except totally not.


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Brussels, 15 November 2013
Privacy and data protection can restore consumer confidence
The European Commission's proposal on harmonising electronic communications services across the EU will unduly limit internet freedom, says the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). In his Opinion, the EDPS welcomes the inclusion of the principle of net neutrality - the impartial transmission of information on the internet – in the text, but also said that it is devoid of substance because of the almost unlimited right of providers to manage internet traffic.
Peter Hustinx, EDPS, says: "Any monitoring and restriction of the internet activity of users should be done solely to achieve a targeted, specific and legitimate aim. The large-scale monitoring and restriction of users' internet communications in this proposal is contrary to EU data protection legislation as well as the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Such interference with the rights to personal data protection, confidentiality of communications and privacy will do little to restore consumer confidence in the electronic communications market in Europe."
The proposal promotes traffic management measures which allow the monitoring of users' internet communications, including emails sent or received, websites visited and files downloaded in order to filter, slow down or restrict access to illegal services or content.
The EDPS cautioned against the use of these highly privacy intrusive measures under the broad umbrella of crime prevention or to filter content illegal under national or EU law as it is not compatible with the principle of an open internet.
Confidence in our digital environment in the years ahead depends on our capacity to provide legal and technical infrastructures that can generate and preserve trust in the Digital Society. This confidence has already been seriously undermined by various surveillance scandals recently.
To re-build consumer confidence in the electronic communications market in the EU, users need to be certain that their rights to privacy, confidentiality of their communications and protection of their personal information are respected. The EDPS urges the Commission to outline more precise reasons for which traffic management measures can be applied. Any interference with their rights must be clearly communicated to users, allowing them to switch to those providers that apply less privacy-invasive traffic management techniques in their services.
Furthermore, the EDPS says that the supervision of any application of traffic management measures by providers should include a greater role for national data protection authorities to ensure that the privacy and data protection rights of users are fully respected.
Background information
On 11 September 2013, the European Commission adopted a Proposal for a Regulation laying down measures concerning the European single market for electronic communications and to achieve a Connected Continent. Among other measures, the Proposal eases the requirements for communications providers to offer services across the EU, standardises the features of products allowing virtual access to fixed networks and harmonises the rights of end-users, such as those relating to the open Internet, as well as contractual and pre-contractual information. The EDPS Opinion focuses mainly on the effect that the Proposal may have on end-users' rights from a privacy and data protection perspective.
Privacy and data protection are fundamental rights in the EU. Data protection is a fundamental right, protected by European law and enshrined in Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
More specifically, the rules for data protection in the EU - as well as the duties of the EDPS - are set out in Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. One of the duties of the EDPS is to advise the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council on proposals for new legislation and a wide range of other issues that have an impact on data protection. Furthermore, EU institutions and bodies processing personal data presenting specific risks to the rights and freedoms of individuals ('data subjects') are subject to prior-checking by the EDPS.
Personal information or data: Any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural (living) person. Examples include names, dates of birth, photographs, video footage, email addresses and telephone numbers. Other details such as IP addresses and communications content - related to or provided by end-users of communications services - are also considered as personal data.
Privacy: the right of an individual to be left alone and in control of information about his or herself. The right to privacy or private life is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 12), the European Convention of Human Rights (Article 8) and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 7). The Charter also contains an explicit right to the protection of personal data (Article 8).
Net neutrality: Net neutrality refers to the principle that internet service providers or governments should not restrict or interfere with users' access to the internet. Instead they should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment and modes of communication.
Internet/online traffic: Internet traffic is the flow of data across the internet, in other words the usage of the internet at any given time, such as accessing a web page.
Internet traffic management: Traffic may be blocked or filtered by internet service providers, for example, to restrict employees from accessing content that is not deemed to be work appropriate, to restrict access to objectionable content or services, to downgrade access in case of congestion, and to prevent or to respond to security attacks.
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is an independent supervisory authority devoted to protecting personal data and privacy and promoting good practice in the EU institutions and bodies. He does so by:
The EDPS Opinion is available on the EDPS website. For more information: email@example.com
EDPS - The European guardian of data protection
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Shakti 31st May 2017 Written Episode Update
Shakti 31st May 2017 Written Episode, Written Update on TellyUpdates.com
The Episode starts with Maninder asking Bebe about Surbhi. Bebe asks him to have food and says she is with Soumya. She tells him that Varun has hatred for Harman and his family. Maninder says yes. Bebe says if we get Surbhi married to him, then he will keep her away from that family. She says if Harman gets death sentence, then also it will be advantageous to us. Surbhi brings Soumya and Nani home. Soumya says nothing will happen to Harman ji. Surbhi says don't care about their talks and says nothing will happen to him. Maninder asks why did you come here, and asks if she will stay here. Nani says I told you Surbhi. Surbhi says Soumya will stay here, and asks Maninder to tell to neighbors that he wants to throw his daughter out. She takes Soumya inside.
Harak Singh and Varun are leaving for court.
Viren asks Shanno to handle home and he will handle factory, goes. Chintu thinks God listens to good people. With this logic Nani is not good, but Mama is good. He prays for Harman's freedom from jail. Surbhi asks Soumya to come to court. Soumya says no and asks her to go. Surbhi thinks what happened. Nani asks her to go. She asks Soumya what happened? Soumya says she wanted to go, but Harman is worried about me and asked me not to come, as I might get tensed with the court questions. She says since I came in his life, his life is ruined. Nani says this is true love. Soumya says even me. Chameli asks Saya if Harman's bail will be done. Saya says I hope so but it is not easy as he committed murder. She says if anything happens to Harman that we will be Soumya's support. Rani says nothing will happen to Harman. Kareena and Raveena says one more supporter is born. Kareena says our enemy.
Lawyer Chaddha comes to fight for Harman. Inspector asks if he knows that it is a murder case. Harak Singh comes there. Surbhi also comes. Soumya is tensed and prays to God. Preeto also prays for him. Saya also prays. Harak Singh returns back home. Preeto asks if Harman got bail. Harak Singh says bail is rejected. Preeto is shocked and asks what you are saying? Surbhi tells Soumya that Harman's lawyer started fighting against him. Soumya says we will get some other lawyer for him. Preeto tells Harak Singh that she will go and bring her son back home. Harak Singh says you will not get your son this way, it is a law. Soumya is restless. Nani says we all will go and meet him and asks her to have patience. Bebe says what do you think that a murderer will get bail. Soumya gets up and says he is not a murderer, but saved my life.
Preeto says I will bash up that lawyer. Harak Singh says then you will go to jail. Preeto asks how did the bail haven't happen. Harak Singh says because I wanted it and tells your son didn't anything. Preeto asks why did you do this? Harak Singh asks her to sit and tells that Inspector brought goons to me. Harak Singh asks them to shoot Harman and tells that he is hot blood and tells that he will shoot you and asks them to use fake bullet. Preeto asks why didn't you tell me this? Harak Singh says you are a mum and a woman, I thought you will do some mistake.
Soumya meets Harman in jail and says they will hire good lawyer to get him freed. Inspector says you will not get good lawyer. Soumya says she will get him freed anyhow and tells that Harman saved her. Harman tells Inspector that this is wife's power and asks him to answer. He asks her to go home and says he wants to dance. Soumya says I am going. Harman says feelings come out eventually and asks her to say I love you. Soumya looks on.
Soumya comes to Preeto and tells that Harman is trapped and asks her to help Harman to come out of jail. Preeto says you have every relation, even though you are incomplete and asks her to free Harman.
Update Credit to: H Hasan


text: I began hearing the click of death on my MAC. I backed up important files before it died and replaced the hard drive. Unfortunately, I was not able to load OS 10 and went back to OS 9. I was successful in loading OS 9 but the screen is distorted now. At first it was merely the shape of the screen; appearing inordinately "squished" but I was unable to adjust it back to proper shape. Now, when I boot, the images are all blurred......looking as tough they are flying by, trailing a bit of a shadow image. Any suggestions. I have a new iMac but wanted to let my kids use the old ones for school projects/games.


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Search terms
Complete a room with efficiency and style
Philips 5W Compact Fluorescent bulb provides soft light, long life and reduced operating costs. It's vibration resistant and ideal for ceiling fans. This 5W can replace a standard 25W incandescent and can save up to $17 in energy costs*. See all benefits
Unfortunately this product is no longer available
By using this bulb, you can reduce the hassle of frequently replacing your light bulbs. It will last up to 7.3 years based on an average use of 3 hours per day, 7 days per week.
This compact fluorescent bulb provides a soft white light similar to an incandescent bulb, and creates a warm and relaxing atmosphere.
This bulb saves up to $17.60 in energy costs when you replace a 25 Watt incandecent with this 5 Watt compact fluorescent light bulb**.


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Hawaii Five-0 -- TV Review
Empty TWITTER
EmptyBy the time the shooting begins in earnest on "Hawaii Five-0," about halfway through the pilot, the action comes across well-directed, the camerawork crisp, the pace just right. But it took half an hour to get to this, and it just wasn't worth it.
The first sign something might be a little off is the opening scene, in a military transport plowing through the South Korean countryside. There's an explosion and video game-inspired quick-cutting barely a minute into the show: We're in what seems to be a big-budget war movie with Gaelic-accented terrorists. So we're already moving too fast, and we're not even in Hawaii yet.
Once we get to the islands -- after the slightly retooled Morton Stevens theme song and retro-styled montage of the island's scenery that's got more style than most of the rest of the pilot -- we run into Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin, of "The Shield" and "Moonlight"). He's an Annapolis-educated former Navy SEAL and square-jawed hardass burning to find the men who killed his father, and he desperately needs some kind of foil to lighten the mood.
A rival and partner soon arises in Danny "Danno" Williams (Scott Caan, son of James and sometimes "Entourage" actor). A former New Jersey cop who calls Hawaii "a pineapple-infested hellhole," Williams is blond where McGarrett is dark, a protective father to McGarrett's lone-wolf isolation, laid-back to his uptight. We have all the makings of an odd-couple buddy show, but the banter and chemistry are so annoying it's hard to watch. Alpha-male pissing contests are not unknown on cop shows; a little macho energy and friction can work as a driving force. But when Williams offers, at the end of a running argument, "Let's just not talk," you find yourself wishing they'd stick to it.
The original "Five-O" had older, more seasoned characters, and it emphasized the 50th state's distinctiveness. (Jack Lord's McGarrett made his entrance in the show's pilot with a pink lei over his blue-gray suit.) The best episodes took their time to solve a series of mysteries, and Lord projected a sense of loyalty and tenacity as well as deadpan cool. The whole production respected restraint.
In the current version, Hawaii means mostly an excuse to show sun glinting in the waves, plentiful babes in bikinis -- we see far more of Grace Park, who plays a surfing police academy grad, than we did in Syfy's "Battlestar Galactica" -- and to cast far more Asian-Americans. All good things, but it's not the same as creating the deep sense of place the original series did.
It's tempting to launch into a rant about how this "contemporary take," as the media material calls it, shows how much American culture has declined since the 1960s, the way unchecked onscreen violence and video games have destroyed our attention spans. But some things are better than they were in the '60s -- including the top tier of television shows. This just isn't one of them.
Maybe it's for the best that the remake didn't try for a self-conscious retread of the show's period setting and style. But besides being set in Hawaii, the only thing "Hawaii Five-0" has in common with the original show's glories is the phrase "Book 'em, Danno."
Airdate: 10-11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20 (CBS)
Production: CBS Television Studios
Cast: Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Taryn Manning
Executive producers: Peter Lenkov, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Len Wiseman
Based on the series created by: Leonard Freeman
Writer: Peter Lenkov
Director: Len Wiseman
Casting: Lisa Beach, Sarah Katzman, Margaret Doversola
Production designer: Gary Frutkoff
Editor: Nick de Toth
Costume designer: Kathryn Morrison Pahoa
Music: Brian Tyler, Keith Power


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Martin Rouleau needed a new button or icon design and created a contest on 99designs.
2 winners were selected from 13 designs submitted by 5 freelance designers.
ChaletsAuQuebec.com is the biggest Website in Quebec for cottage rentals. We have more than 2000 members (owners) and more than 100 000 unique visitors per month.
We are targeting all people in the tourism add all people interested by an accommodation (cottage, cabin, house, bed and breakfast, inn, etc).
We need 19 icons (25x25 pixels).
The color must be gray or dark gray.
The background color must be white when it's possible.
1. Maximum number of people
2. Bedrooms
3. Waterfront
4. Pets allowed (Draw a dog)
5. Smoking allowed
6. Fireplace
7. Internet access
8. Internet access wireless
9. Sauna
10. Spa
11. Pool
12. Bedding
13. Wheelchair accessible
14. TV Satellite/Cable
15. Barbecue
16. Air conditioning
17. Whirl pool bath
18. Private bathroom
19. Shared bathroom


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Not a firm that you usually think of in terms of top pay.
Emolument.com has examined 2013 salary and bonus data from over 722 Directors working in front office Investment Banking & Markets jobs in London.
The findings reveal that:
Citigroup led the field with Directors averaging £370,000 in annual total compensation.
Credit Suisse and Deutsche were neck-and-neck just behind in 2nd and 3rd place.
Perhaps surprisingly, the top tier US institutions (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley) were further down the rankings in 6th, 8th and 9th place respectively but all the top ten firms are relatively close.
These US firms however are at the top of the table when looking at more senior Managing Director remuneration.
As the lowest payer, Lloyds (£158,000) averaged less than half that paid out by the leading European banks, Deutsche Bank (£335,000) and Credit Suisse (£325,000), even lagging far behind Spanish bank Santander (average £207,000)
Key takeaways
At Director level a two tier market exists with the leading firms paying within a few thousand of each other but a significant gap opening up to the rest of the market
European banks are still competing fiercely with the top US bank when it comes to remuneration at this level of seniority but are losing out at the very highest levels
Emolument.com was launched in 2012 as the only real-time bonus & salary benchmarking site dedicated to finance and other professional services industries. With over 16,000 contributions from 2,500 institutions so far the service has become the leading provider of validated real-time remuneration data.


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Extra-schedule Assembly of Union of Belarusian Writers Supports Its Administration with Ales Pashkevich at the Head
According to RFE/RL
The Union of Belarusian Writers held an extra-schedule assembly after the exhaustion of the agenda of the Literary Fund, organization, whose members also belong to the UBW. On 9 December about 200 literary workers decided to discuss the situation after the establishment of the pro-governmental union of writers with the deputy Mikalai Charhinets at the head. The UBW members unanimously voted for the exclusion of 12 literary workers that joined that union: Charhinets, Marchuk, Trakhimionak, Baravikova, Aurutsin, Sulianau, Ales Martsinovich, Karyzna, Papova, Pazniakou, Ryhor Sakalouski and Palikamina.
In his statement Mikalai Charhinets accused UBW in non-recognizing the Belarusian authorities and the state symbols.
The assembly also adopted a special statement where it to expressed support to the organization leaders, stated the unity of the organization in defending the liberty of word and democratic principles of state-building, expressed its concern with the catastrophic narrowing of the spheres of the use of the Belarusian language, protested against the assault of the officials on non-state mass media, public defamation and groundless criticism towards the UBW activity by its former members, who declared the establishment of the "correct" union of writers either because of their own ambitions or the state order.
Ales Pashkievich, leader of the Union of Belarusian Writers, stated such assemblies would be also held in Belarusian regions.


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Mirror's Edge will get some new content this January with its first set of downloadable time trial maps. The DLC pack will be available for 800 Microsoft points or US $10 and will be up for purchase in the latter half of the month on PlayStation 3 and Xbox Live. DICE and EA also announced that PlayStation 3 owners will have the option to download an additional map free of charge.
The download will include nine races across seven "all-new and totally redesigned" time trial maps. These trials will be free of guns, cops and the city itself in a pure running challenge.
Owen O'Brien, Senior Producer, DICE had this to say about the download, "The freedom of movement and control in first person has been the most popular aspect of Mirror's Edge so we decided to distil these down to their purest form for this map pack. We deliberately chose a more abstract aesthetic that is still within our distinctive art style and then focused on flow and gameplay to create an experience and challenge very different from the main game."


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Great job by all! The quality was as high as I expected. We were able to keep our church open and hold our mass on Saturday and Sunday. Not at all an easy task. Father was very happy as also our parishioners. Rigg, Cameron, Chuck, Thank You! Doug Munger, St. Veronica's Church
Thank you for viewing our portfolio. R.W. Murray Co. offers commercial construction services for a wide-range of project types and markets. More than 80% of our business is from repeat or referral clients, a testament to our client-focused business practices, high quality construction, and remarkable safety standards.
This is just a small sampling of some of the award-winning projects we have completed over the past 25+ years. To learn about more of our completed projects or for additional information about R.W. Murray Co. and what we can do for you, please call us at 703.334.2100 or CLICK HERE »


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Do you feel like Davao today?
ZUJI offers great deals and discounts on flights, hotels and holiday packages to Davao - everything you need to plan, shop and book your trip. Enjoy additional savings when you bundle your travel options in a Davao package, and earn rewards when you join us as a Travel Addict. With ZUJI, you can always book your Davao trip securely online with instant confirmation, and know that our 24/7 customer support is always a click or a call away.
Download a Davao Travel Guide today. Read up on must-do activities in Davao, best dining experiences, check up on the weather and transport options, and be at the right corner of the street to find the best shopping bargains. Outside the travel guide, just have lots of fun and tell your own Davao story. Get started on a memorable Davao trip with ZUJI.


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SYMPHONY No.14 "Symphony in Microtones" is like wading through a lake of honey while dressed in a wizard's robe and a crooked wizard's hat. As you slowly progress, insects of all types buzz and swirl about your increasingly bemused head. Questions arise without the desire for answers…Eventually the sun sets behind the distant flat horizon and—*puff-of-smoke*—you're gone.
SYMPHONY No.1 "Music on Open Strings" is like descending a darkly-hued left-curving corridor while attempting to mentally solve some mathematical conundrum. Down you go, on and on into rainbowed mist—anticlockwise, sinistral, withershins, widdershins—spiralling inward to the mysterious core.
SYMPHONY No.7 *is* the mysterious core: you circle it like a predator, deliriously famished. You circle it, you circle it, your fearsome and intense eyes focussed on its isolated heart until—aha!—with a flawless transfer of energy it gobbles you up, yum-yum, leaving your ghostly shadow to roam fantastically alone in an ever-transforming land of dreams… © 2012 Chimerical/Amazon.co.uk
This time a package came with another disc which was rather stimulating. It comes from the contemporary American female composer Gloria Coates, "Seventh Symphony" and several other musical works. Modern and contemporary music contains a rich variety, but mostly uses human curiosity and sensory impact to attract the audience as if you are tasting unpalatable sour or insipid Kiwi fruit. This CD by Coates made me truly love her music, Since buying it, I have come back to it many times to listen.
Coates has been given the title "Glissando Queen". Portamento technical terms I do not understand, but with her musical language I was impressed. It is unique but not a mere formality. Her music at first perhaps sounds like a horror movie soundtrack, a dark and oppressive atmosphere, but if listened to carefully you will soon hear the variety of her musical language, a variety of rapidly changing light in the rotation against the backdrop of the gray background. One feels hope, amidst loss, struggle, and despair. It is music of very delicate emotions.
In her musical world, the real terror comes from nothingness but not a manufactured silent noise. A parallel line, stretches continuously, like endless time. There is no start and no end in this infinite openness of space. You feel small and a stranger in the land of infinity, and you realize it has been this way throughout existence. This long infinity one is made to think about might make him shudder in fear. © 2012 The Headphone Club (China)
This collection of Gloria Coates's symphonies might be considered a sampling of her career (she was born in 1938). I'll consider them in chronological order, though the program rotates them into the order 14, 1, 7- not unreasonable musically .
The earliest work, Symphony 1 (1973), is subtitled 'Music on Open Strings', and is the piece that first put Ms Coates's name on the musical map. The string orchestra is tuned to a pentatonic Chinese scale given to Coates by her teacher Alexander Tcherepnin, to whom the piece is dedicated. In the opening movement, the bloated Asiatic melody is treated as an ostinato over which strange glissandos and mysterious tappings radiate like a cosmic infection. After an amusing scherzo, III gradually returns the orchestra to "normal" tuning ("while playing"). The finale becomes a dense 14-voice glissando canon but ends with a flowering of radiant open strings.
Symphony 7 (1991), for full orchestra, is "Dedicated to those who brought down The Wall in PEACE". It opens as a study on gradually expanding glissandos that eventually unwind and climax in ecstasy. The "slow movement" is a sort of chaconne on a chromatic theme that seems as if it were merely frozen points in another glissando. The final movement deals with slowly converging glissandos that lead to a harrowing culmination.
The Ivesian Symphony 14 (2002), for strings and timpani, is Coates's most recent essay in the genre. Its subtitle is 'Symphony in Microtones', but like the previous work there are underlying politics involved. Ms. Coates divides her ever-sliding string orchestra into two groups tuned a quarter tone apart, to which a mostly glissandoing timpani is added. Each of the three movements is based on borrowed material. I uses a hymn by Belcher ('Lamentation'), which makes its mistuned appearance about five minutes in; II is a fantasy on the song 'Jargon' by William Billings ("Let horrid jargon split the air And rive the nerves asunder. Let hateful discord greet the ear As terrible as thunder!"-which pretty much describes the effect). Coates borrows a melody of her own from her Fifth Symphony to drive III to a monster climax. Coates, a Wisconsin native now living in Germany, seems to be making a statement about her native land; but I hardly think it's an "especial homage", as annotator Kyle Gann asserts in his notes. (Mistuned "Lamentable Jargon" in America in 2002? I think I get it.) The piece would make a good elegy for 9-11.
All of these recordings derive from concert performances in Germany: Symphony 1 from 1980, Symphony 7 from 1997, Symphony 14 from 2003. 1 and 7 have been previously released by CPO (999392), but I didn't have that release available for comparison. (It contains Symphony 4 in place of the new 14.) Ms. Coates's painting on the cover offers a valuable complement. Keep in mind, though, that this is quite a listening ordeal.
First, this is Gloria Coates (b. 1938) not Eric. Second, we have a welcome addition to a stilltoo-small discography of one of the most original living American composers. I will confess this is my first encounter (far too late) with her music, but I have been primed by word of mouth, above all by fonner Fanfare critic Kyle Gann, who praises her lavishly in his American Music in the Twentieth Century. And the advance word has been confirmed by the music I've finally heard.
Coates is definitely a composer in the mold of the American "ultramodernists" of the early 20th century. The listener will immediately sense an adventurous, uncompromising, cantankerous spirit in her work that is a descendant of such as Ives, Ruggles, Cowell, and Crawford. Her most distinguishing technique is that of the string glissando, which in lesser hands can be a cheap symbol of modernist instability, and a passport to aural seasickness. Not here. Coates is careful to place her sliding tones at the service of larger processes: canons in particular, or "additive/subtractive" lines that expand and contract the range of the glissando over time and in perceptible patterns. She's a wonderfully paradoxical composer because, on the one hand, the music is highly experimental in its surface technique, but on the other hand, classical in its attention to form and development within the symphonic argument. She's a very conceptual composer, as both the titles of movements (Symphony No. 7's movements are "The Whirligig of Time," "The Glass of Time," and "Corridors of Time") and her attachment to strict processes, nowadays called algorithms, may suggest. But no matter how idealistic the music, it always carries a visceral impact, or in good old American terms, a real wallop.
The three works on this program nicely cover the composer's entire symphonic cycle (up to this point), dipping into the start, the middle, and end. Symphony No. I (1972-73) is her best-known work, also referred to as "Music on Open Strings." The work begins with an alternate pentatonic tuning of the instruments, and in the third movement incorporates the scordatura (retuning) of the strings back to the conventional tuning into the real-time performance fabric. Not all the sounds are just the five pitches, though, as Coates inserts all sorts of glissandos that enrich the texture, even if they don't establish other finn pitch centers. It's a highly original work, and a bracing combination of both minimalist and modernist practices.
The Symphony No.7 (1990; a tribute to "Those who brought down the Wall in PEACE," though there is little I hear that's programmatic in the actual music) is the most European sounding of the three works: not a surprise, as the composer has lived her mature artistic life in Germany, another marker of her "outsider" status. It's highly abstract in its materials, and verges on being the work whose glissandos wear out their welcome. But just when I started feeling the music was becoming predictable (in the first and third movements), it marshals its forces to create overwhelming climaxes that simultaneously sound surprising yet natural. I don't know exactly what the technique is, but I suspect Coates has deep processes at work that lead to a culmination one desires but can't easily predict. The relentless growth and impact of the piece, a storm in sound, is similar to Xenakis's Jonchaies for orchestra, though I don't claim it's quite as great a work.
The final work, Symphony No. 14 (2001-02, "Symphony in Microtones"), is by far the most American-sounding piece, for at least two obvious reasons. First, the piece (for strings and timpanionly the Seventh uses full orchestra on this collection) divides the string orchestra into two halves, tuned a quarter tone apart. Some of the music is so dense one doesn't really perceive the differences, but in cases of the hymn quotation discussed below, it can be striking. The effect is the most Ivesian of this set and, in particular, I think of the composer of the Robert Browning Overture as an antecedent here.
Second, the first two movements quote pieces by Supply Belcher (a late 18th-century Maine hymnodist) and William Billings, the Boston Revolutionary-period composer who was himself an aesthetic revolutionary of the first order. The Billings choice is particularly apt, as it is "Jargon," his completely atonal (though better stated, it could be called "non-functional," as all the intervals are consonant, but they don't make up traditional tonal chords) choral work, a message from another universe to the 18th century. In both movements, the antique sources emerge from Coates's swirling textures like apparitions, an effect that is magical and unnerving. In the Billings movement, after appearing, the source is then stated with the quarter-tone difference, which feels like a true enrichment rather than a mere distortion.
In short, this is remarkable music. At times it can seem too crude and obvious, spurning standards of polish and taste, and then at the next moment it blindsides you with the power of its vision, a balanced match of manner and substance, form and content, style and idea. And on top of it all, if the booklet's cover is any guide, Coates is a talented visual artist as well, in the tradition of Ruggles.
The sonic standards of the disc are variable: Symphony No. 1 is a recording from 1980, with more surface noise than we're now accustomed to, and No.7 comes from a concert recording of the world premiere. Only No. 14 has the clarity and crispness listeners have come to expect. At the same time, this doesn't bother me, as none of the earlier sonic flaws are too distracting, and the music overcomes any such obstacle on its innate strengths. There is one serious competitor to this disc, cpo 999392, which includes Nos. I and 7, substituting No.4 for No. 14. I have not heard it, but I note from its online data that No.1 is also a live recording from the same year as the Naxos (1980), and No.7 was recorded in 1991, so I suspect at the very least there are similar sonic issues involved. I have a hunch that, based on repertoire, the Naxos disc will be preferable as an introduction, providing a broad sweep of the composer's career. But based on what I've heard, I also suspect if you are hooked on Coates, you'll probably need to get the cpo eventually.
This may well reappear on my 2006 Want List.
Three stunningly great pieces. Gloria is a great original in the maverick mould, far less celebrated than she deserves. Here are massive, complex, works that live out of great simplicity - clouds of sound, predominantly formed from moving skeins of glissandi, all proceeding at strictly calculated and different speeds and in different directions, not wilfully but organised in canons and fugues (not that you can hear them as such in the roiling mists). © ReR Megacorp Read complete review


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Improved conditions in menagerie - Calcutta zoo wins praise from central body for infrastructure and low death rate
Read more below
- Published 18.11.05
|A STATE OF BEING: Alipore zoo can afford to sit pretty. The central zoo authority has awarded it high marks, and ruled out a shift of location because of its historical importance. Picture by Amit Datta
Good news for Calcuttans who love to visit the zoo. The zoological garden in Alipore will not close down. It will also not be shifted from its present site because of its heritage value.
Though the Calcutta zoo has come in for much criticism, it has of late garnered praise from where it matters ? Central Zoo Authority (CZA), which looks after zoos across the country.
A two-member committee of CZA recently visited the city to evaluate the Alipore zoo and is ?happy? with what it has seen.
The zoo had reportedly approached the state government for creation of the post of a curator in 2002, in accordance with CZA guidelines. Nothing has come of it yet.
?We are more or less happy with the zoo?s performance. It has definitely improved since the last time. It still has some constraints, like shortage of space, but it has implemented the majority of the recommendations made by the earlier CZA evaluation committee,? said A.T. Rao, retired professor of veterinary pathology in Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, who is on the CZA committee this year, as he was the last time.
The committee is satisfied with the ?low death rate of animals as well as the treatment and infrastructure available in the zoo?.
M. Kamal Naidu, retired principal chief conservator of forests in Andhra Pradesh, is the other expert on the evaluation panel this year.
The committee visited Alipore zoo ?to evaluate the performance of the zoo for granting recognition required under Section 38H of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?. The official stamp of the committee means an extension of recognition for the next two years.
?If the evaluation committee reports its dissatisfaction with any zoo?s performance, the CZA usually penalises that particular zoo, initially by stopping grants and finally, perhaps, by derecognising it,? said Rao.
The committee has a list of ?suggestions? on how conditions can be improved here:
A state-of-the-art audio-visual information centre to be built in the old reptile house that is not in use any longer
The centre should have historical as well as ecological information relevant to the zoo
A cut in the number of inmates to allow more breathing space to those who will continue to live there
Retain the location. The zoo should not be shifted from its present location because of its historical importance
Improve the condition of the animal houses without disturbing their architecture.
Alipore zoo happens to be the only ?large? zoo in Bengal. The state government has been planning for the past few years to shift it to Sonarpur, on the southern fringes of the city.


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Dr. Günther Jikeli
Dr. Günther Jikeli coordinator of ISGAP, France, is a research fellow at the Groupe Sociétés, Religions, Laïcités at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (GSRL/CNRS), Paris, and at the Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies, Potsdam University. He has taught at Indiana University, Potsdam University, and at the Technical University Berlin. From 2011 to 2012, he served as an advisor to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on combating antisemitism. In 2013, he was awarded the Raoul Wallenberg Prize in Human Rights and Holocaust Studies by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and Tel Aviv University. His latest book "European Muslim Antisemitism" is published by Indiana University Press (2015).


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In the WSJ Joe Trippi shows exactly why his candidate got roasted in the primary and the Dems went on to field a loser. He seems to think that Kerry actually ran to the middle! He obviously hates that part of the Democratic party that the DLC represents, but listen, Joe, those are the people who elected Bill Clinton. Twice.
And check this out:
The Democratic Party has to be the vehicle that empowers the American people to change our failed political system. We all know the damn thing is broken. Democrats should lead the way by placing stricter money restrictions on candidates than the toothless Federal Election Commission does. A party funded by contributions from the people can do this. A corrupted and corroded party cannot. The Democratic Party shouldn't wait for campaign-finance reform--it should be campaign-finance reform.
What is he talking about? 27 million from George Soros wasn't enough? Or is he forswearing 527s and going door-to-door to collect old ladies' pension money?
Trippi contends that all the good ideas come from the left. Really. Howard Dean didn't lose because of the srcream, but because other than his few lefty sophomores who just want to get along, no one in the country thought that he had any idea whatsoever to do about global terrorism.
There's a battle going on for the future of the Democratic party. If the Dean/Trippi wing gets the upper hand, look forward to more years of one-party rule.


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Cornerstone Hotel Services is a family owned and operated Hospitality Company providing a full range of services to the hospitality sector. With decades of experience in hotel operations, CHS has the foundation to provide your property with expert consulting on all aspects of Property Maint [Read More]
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Country: United States • City: Denver • Website: http://www.stoutstreethospitality.com/Category: Consultants » Property Management


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The All Metal Solution to Dryer Venting,™ E-Z-Fasten,™ Readi-Pipe,™ Econo-Pipe,™ Nemco,® Metalflex and Pro-Duct,™ and Pro-Vent™ are trademarks of Builder's Best, Inc. Over-The-Top,® Builder's Best,® SAF-T-DUCT,® Offset Elbow® Close Elbow® and the Builder's Best Logo are registered trademarks of Builder's Best, Inc.
Builder's Best, Inc. parts are covered by U.S. Patents: 5,121,948; 5,145,217; 5,133,579; 5,158,328; 5,498,204; 5,645,482; 5,653.631; 5,819,435; 5,943,743; 5,970,623; 6,035,495; 6,161,310; 6,185,837; 6,370,794; 6,390,516; 6,431,611; D.335,174; D.342,130; D.342,782; D.412,030; D. 421,644; D.425,612; Canadian patents 2,062,123; 2,063,098; 2,168,493; 2,201,956; 2,201,948 Builder's Best, Inc.; and/or patents pending.
WARRANTY EXCLUSION AND DISCLAIMER Seller specifically excludes, and hereby disclaims any express representation or express warranty of any kind with respect to the goods ordered hereunder. All implied warranties, including without limitation merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or arising from a course of dealing or usage or trade shall expire and cease 45 days after date of delivery. Seller shall not be liable to buyer or any third party for any special, secondary, incidental, or consequential damages however arising. Nothing in this provision shall invalidate or restrict any right or remedy otherwise available under state or federal law. Materials and specifications subject to change without notice.
Manufacturer assumes no responsibility for failure due to improper installation. Check your installation instructions and building codes for proper use. Manufacturer assumes no liability for use inconsistent with label, appliance installation instructions or building codes.


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Studying medicine abroad
Please note that for mobiles we stream the presentation slides and audio of the speaker.
Mr Ben Ambrose describes the advantages and challenges of studying medicine in Europe. Mr Ambrose discusses how best to apply, the top universities in Europe, and what it could cost a student to study medicine abroad.
This lecture was filmed at the 'Medical careers advisory conference' at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.
Date of lecture: 10th June 2016
Length: 00:26:36


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Miranda Lambert doesn't care what anyone thinks, and that's part of why she is what many believe is the finest country singer-songwriter of the last decade. It's all about the music her, and she couldn't care less about what anyone thinks of her much written about marriage to fellow country star Blake Shelton. Lambert, 30, just follows her heart, whether it's solo or with the country supergroup the Pistol Annies.
Lambert, who appeared Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, talked about her image, her latest album, "Platinum" and her favorite show, Oxygen's creepy "Snapped."
Q: Part of what plagues country and pop music in general is chasing trends, but you've never done that. You've always appeared to have gone with your gut. Can you detail your approach to songs and production?
A: I always record songs about my life and where it is at the time I'm making the record. I choose to be honest in my music about everything. I feel like that is what people want to hear from me, and it is what I expect from the artists that I listen to and admire. The country music I love is about telling your story.
Q: You range from being bad ass to an empowering female performer, which is refreshing in this politically correct era. What do you think about your image?
A: My image has evolved over the years. I started out with a bit more of a chip on my shoulder, but as the years have gone by I find myself a little more mellow. When you are 20 years old you set out with so many goals and so much to prove. At 30 now I have reached a lot of goals and can relax a little more. But that being said, I still have a fire inside. I love music. I will be doing this forever.
Q: 'Bathroom Sink' is the standout 'Platinum' track. You wrote that one by your lonesome. Can you detail the inspiration?
A: I wrote the lyrics on a plane by myself. I was headed to the Northeast coast for a show. The words just kind of came to me. When I landed I grabbed the guitar on my bus and wrote the melody. It didn't become that kind of a rocker until we got in the studio. I love the way it turned out. That song is raw and real.
Q: With 'Bathroom Sink' and other songs you've recorded like it, they're tough but also show vulnerability. How hard is that to pull off?
A: It's a little bit scary to be that honest at times. But if I don't have one or two of those moments on my record, where I just really get down to the nitty gritty, I don't feel like I let people in. And that's what it's about. Letting people know you as an artist.
Q: "Platinum" is a great title since we live in an age in which everything you want is platinum, platinum blonde hair, platinum credit card, platinum album, etc. Was that what inspired the song?
A: The song is meant to be fun. But, yes, of course why not shoot for it all? It is one of these songs the girls can rock out to and not take themselves too seriously.
Q: Does it ever bug you that as much is as written about you and your husband as your music?
A: Not anymore. That is just part of it I guess. We get a good laugh out of it.
Q: Will you and Blake ever tour like Faith and Tim and Garth and Tricia? Is that inevitable or will you continue going out on your own?
A: For now we are happy where we are in our separate careers. But it would be fun to be together doing what we love. Who knows... maybe someday.
Q: What's next for the Pistol Annies?
A: Each of us has just completed or are in the process of completing our solo albums. Between promoting them and touring on our own we haven't made any plans at this point. That is what I love about the Annies. We can just kinda go with the flow and see where the music leads. It's a no-pressure kinda thing.
Q: Did you appear in "Law and Order" because you're a fan?
A: Yes. I was so scared to act but I got to meet the whole cast and crew. It was so fun!
Q: Will you act again?
A: If I do it will be a small part in something. I love music and that is always my first priority. And let's be honest, my accent is pretty thick East Texan so it would have to be a specific roll.
Q: The word is that you love the Oxygen show "Snapped." My wife loves that show as well. Do I have anything to worry about?
A: (Laughs). Blake asked that very question! I do watch the marathons...
Q: You've accomplished so much by 30. What do you dream of accomplishing?
A: I want to keep making music that moves people. I want to make sure that I have time to live a life outside of work and enjoy my family and husband and hobbies as well. I have businesses outside of my music that I am very involved in and I love watching them continue to grow.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: Muttnation Foundation. We have done some amazing things to help shelter pets and rescue animals, and I'm very proud of that. I look forward to more great success stories to come with all of our endeavors as a foundation. We have recently taken over the city shelter in Tishomingo where Blake and I live and are renovating it right now. Helping animals is one of my passions.
Q: What do you do to relax?
A: Hang out with my husband and our six rescue dogs on our farm in Oklahoma. I also recently started taking English riding lessons. I love it. It is challenge for me yet also relaxing because I get to be with horses and good people.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove outdated concert information.


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(this has already happened i just wanted to leave this here so you can keep up with what has happened thus far, This by the way is just free writing i have not had the chance to do corrections to this so deal :D )
Every so often you have a dream that troubles you; In your dream you and your loved ones are walking through your home town (and if they are already diseased then its a dream when you were with them) Suddenly you see the sun turn a deep red as it eclipses the entire landscape. The land quakes beneath your feet as you can see the town falling around you. You also see what it seems to be a group of others trying to assist you (your future party members: player knowledge) You see that your separated from your loved ones and are unable to save them as they seem to be swallowed by the earth beneath them. Soon you see that your group has also have this same fate and as you dodge to the left and to the right trying to save your own skin, you too become a victim in this terrible tragedy, falling deeper and deeper the sky fading before you.. waking up in a cold sweat you decide that enough was enough and you decide to leave your hometown to seek out what these dreams meant. However along your journey you feel the need to visit a sickly town, but why do you visit? Maybe you can feel as if the town is in desperate need of a hero? are you there to receive more supplies? unsure you decide to venture into this town and discover that there it is in far worse condition that you can imagine.
(part 1)
(The party has met up so far there is a Cleric teifling (which is being shared by someone who is playing 2 chars they said they could do it..so i let them lol i would really love a healer though), elf rogue, and two eladrin one is a ranger the other is a warrior.)
The town just seems sickly, poor maintenance to the front damage gate, but yet the guard towers are some what maintained. Most of the residence just dosnt seem to be active but maybe that's because of the foul smelling streets as the rain just does not seem to stop in this depressing town. The people you do see just seem rude and most of them are human from what you can tell just brutes, with their cowls and cloaks it just seems too suspicious to you. however the time is getting late and you just need a place to rest your head. When you go to a bar/inn called the "Dusky Rat" it is run by a few dwarfs and humans. (This is where you meet your party, introductions etc. ) After all of you just seem to come to the same conclusion that you all have similar/same dreams, as well as thinking that all of you are brought here for a reason. With out really admitting it the party that surrounds you resembles the group that assisted you in the dream. All of you decide to talk more about the dream in the morning since it was getting darker. Sometime in the morning (all failed their checks) you awaken to the hearing of loud rumbling… and earthquake? your party leaves just in time as the building collapses, hoping that all the others get out in time. Unfortunately as the smoke/dust clears you see that an angry group of bandits are ready for a fight they don't want you investigating the town that they so happily drained of most of its supplies. The earthquakes were created by the 4 small earth elemental that was controlled by one of the villains with an odd amulet silver tigers eye gem (leader) after defeating him the amulet's gem crumbles. At the defeat of the group which you find out is called the "Black Knife Gang" that they were apart of a larger scale gang that drains towns of their supplies in exchange of not having their town obliterated. After the bandits are defeated you see that the town has a small population however it does seem to have lightened up since you and your party defeated them. You are then led to the mayors home, the mayor is an elder dragonborn that does not have much fight left in him. He explains that he has sent several messages to the kingdom Alristia and has sent both of his sons to get help. One of the sons along with some of the men of the village traveled to Alristia (a week and a half long journey) and fear that something happened to him when crossing the swamp of Gyuleg. And the other son went into the house of the damned which is on the other end of town, rumors of a mystical gem with magical powers that may be strong enough to over throw the "Black Knife Gang"
Part 2 (currently)
(the party decides to help the town by building back up the town's wall defense as well as gather supplies outside of town, then go to the house of the damned)
The door only appears on a full harvest moon, and as your party approaches the evil home that there is a large barrier surrounding the home, that once your inside of it the people outside of the barrier cannot see or hear what is going on inside the barrier. The party enters the house..soon finding out that this may be more than what they bargained for..traps and monsters seem to lurk in this dark evil mansion.
The party is told about the house of the damned that a magical door only appears there at a full blood moon (harvest)