text:
Information stored in MySQL databases must be kept secure to avoid exposing data that MySQL users expect to be private. Risks to a MySQL installation come in several forms, but they can be grouped into two general categories:
Filesystem security risks. Database information is stored in directories and files, and the server also maintains log files that contain information about queries that clients execute. Because these directories and files are part of the filesystem, they need to be protected so that other users who have login accounts on the server host cannot access them directly. A MySQL installation also includes the programs and scripts used to manage and access databases. Users need to be able to run some of these (such as the client programs), but should not be able to modify or replace them. This means that MySQL programs need to be protected appropriately as well.
Network security risks. The MySQL server provides access to databases by allowing clients to connect and make requests. Information about client accounts is stored in the mysql database. Each account should be set up with privileges that provide access only to the data the accounts needs to see or modify. Accounts also should be assigned passwords to make it difficult for people to connect to the server using someone else's account. For example, a MySQL root account has full privileges to perform any database operation, so it's important to assign the account a password that is not easily guessed.
This chapter describes several steps that an administrator can take to maintain the integrity of a MySQL installation. It covers the following topics:
Basic security procedures, both for the filesystem and for the initial MySQL accounts. These procedures prevent users with login accounts on the server host from attacking MySQL directories or files. They also prevent clients from connecting to the MySQL server without a password.
How to set up MySQL accounts. This includes a discussion of the types of privileges available, and how the GRANT and REVOKE statements work.
How the server uses the information in the grant tables to manage access control when clients connect.
Questions on the material in this chapter make up approximately 15% of the exam.
Note that usernames and passwords for MySQL accounts are unrelated to those for system login accounts. For example, on Unix, your login name need not be the same as the name that you use to identify yourself when connecting to the MySQL server.{mospagebreak title=12.1 Securing MySQL}
Before you can consider a MySQL installation ready for general use, several security-related issues must be considered and addressed:
If you're running MySQL on a multiuser system, you should protect the directories and files that are part of the installation against unauthorized access by users who are not responsible for database administration. To do this, set up a dedicated login account to use for administering MySQL and give that account ownership of the relevant files. An additional benefit of setting up this account is that you can use it to run the MySQL server, rather than running the server from the Unix root account. A server that has the privileges of the root login account has more filesystem access than necessary and constitutes a security risk.
The initial MySQL accounts that are set up during the MySQL installation procedure have no passwords. Some of these accounts have full privileges for server access and should be assigned passwords to prevent unauthorized clients from connecting to the server and gaining complete access to it.
The directories and files of a MySQL installation can be protected by changing their ownership and access permissions before running the server, but setting passwords for the MySQL root accounts can be done only while the server is running. Consequently, before starting the server and setting passwords, you should take any actions necessary to protect MySQL-related portions of the filesystem. If you set the passwords first, before protecting the files in which the grant tables are stored, it's possible for someone with direct filesystem access on the server host to replace the grant tables. This compromises your MySQL installation and undoes the effect of setting the passwords.{mospagebreak title=12.1.1 Securing MySQL at the Filesystem Level}
Under multiuser systems such as Unix, all components of a MySQL installation should be owned by a login account with proper administrative privileges. The installation should be accessible to other users only to the extent necessary.
This chapter assumes the existence of such an administrative account and that both its username and group name are mysql. However, the details of creating login accounts vary per version of Unix and are outside the scope of the exam, so they aren't discussed here. Consult the documentation for your operating system.
To have a secure MySQL installation, the following conditions should be satisfied:
Every MySQL-related directory and file should have its user and group ownerships set to mysql. This includes the MySQL programs, the database directories and files, and the log, status, and configuration files.
An allowable alternative to having everything owned by the mysql user is that some program and library directories and files may be owned by root. (The principle to follow is that anything the server might need to modify cannot be owned by root.)
No files should be set to be readable by any user other than mysql except for those that client programs run by other users need to access. This includes global option files, error message files, language files, and character set files.
In most cases, it's reasonable for client programs and other utilities to be world- executable so that other users with login accounts on the system can run them. Under certain conditions, you might want to restrict access to allow only a subset of the users on the machine to run MySQL programs.
After you've established the proper filesystem access so that the mysql login account owns the relevant directories and files, the MySQL server should be run using this account. This is important because mysql is a regular login account that has no special filesystem privileges.
The server should not be run as the system root user. There are many reasons for this; one is that there are operations performed by the server that involve reading or writing files in the server host filesystem. (For example, LOAD DATA INFILE and SELECT … INTO OUTFILE do so.) Running the server as root is a bad idea because that gives it root privileges and vastly increases the extent of the filesystem that the server can access or modify.
The server program need not be executable to anyone other than mysql. Its access privileges can be set accordingly.
The following sample procedure shows how to secure the directories and files of a MySQL installation. Before using this procedure, stop the server if it's running. Also, note that some operations must be done from a privileged login account, so you'll need root login access to perform them. The chown and chgrp commands should be run as the system root user because only root can assign directory and file ownership. After directories and files have been set to be owned by mysql, you can set their access permissions by running chmod as either root or mysql.
The procedure assumes that the MySQL base installation directory is /usr/local/mysql. An installation that has the files located elsewhere can be protected by making the appropriate substitutions to the pathnames shown in the commands.
Run the following commands as root to set everything in and under the base installation directory to be owned by user mysql and group mysql:
shell> chown -R mysql /usr/local/mysql shell> chgrp -R mysql /usr/local/mysql
Then restrict access to the base directory so that only the mysql user has permission to make changes, and so that its subdirectories are accessible only as necessary by other users. The following commands can be run either as mysql or root:
shell> chmod u=rwx,go=rx /usr/local/mysql shell> chmod u=rwx,go=rx /usr/local/mysql/bin shell> chmod u=rwx,go-rwx /usr/local/mysql/libexec shell> chmod -R go-rwx /usr/local/mysql/data
These commands give complete access to the mysql user but restricted access to other users. They also make the base directory and bin directory where the client programs are installed accessible but not modifiable to other users, and make the libexec directory (where the server is installed) and the data directory inaccessible to other users.
You should also protect the global option file, /etc/my.cnf, if it exists. The mysql user should own it and have read/write access to it, but other users need only read access:
shell> chown mysql /etc/my.cnf shell> chgrp mysql /etc/my.cnf shell> chmod u=rw,go=r /etc/my.cnf
Before starting the server, you should arrange to have it execute with the privileges of the mysql login account. This can be done either by starting the server while logged in as mysql, or by starting it as root with a –user=mysql option to instruct it to change user from root to mysql during its startup sequence. (It's allowable to start the server as root, but if you do, you should use a –user option to tell the server to change user to the mysql account and give up its special root privileges. Otherwise, the server continues to execute as root, which is dangerous.)
If you have the server set to start automatically during the system boot sequence, the system invokes the server as root and does not allow you to specify any options on the command line. To reliably start the server as the mysql user, it's best to put the –user option in an option file so that the server always uses it whether you start the server manually or automatically. One way to do so is to place the following lines in /etc/my.cnf:
[mysqld] user=mysql{mospagebreak title=12.1.2 Securing the Initial MySQL Accounts}
The MySQL server controls client access using the mysql database, which contains several tables known as grant tables. Privileges listed in the grant tables are tied to accounts, each of which is defined by a username and a hostname. That is, a MySQL account depends not only on your username, but the client host from which you connect to the server.
The MySQL installation procedure sets up several initial accounts in the grant tables. These accounts have no passwords at first. You should assign passwords at least to those accounts that have administrative privileges. This is true no matter what platform you run MySQL on, whether Windows or Unix.
The accounts that the MySQL installation procedure creates in the mysql database are of two kinds:
Accounts with a username of root. These are superuser accounts that have full access to the server's capabilities.
Anonymous accounts with a blank username. An anonymous account allows a client to connect with any username if it connects from the host listed in the account record. In most cases, anonymous users have limited privileges. These accounts can access the test database. They also can access other databases having names that begin with test (on Windows) or other databases having names that begin with test_ (on Unix). On Windows, the anonymous account for connecting from the local host actually is fully equivalent to a root account with respect to the privileges that it has, so it can access any database.
As already mentioned, none of the initial MySQL accounts have passwords. You should assign passwords immediately to at least the root accounts to prevent other people from connecting to the server as root and gaining complete control over it. On Windows, you should also either assign a password to the anonymous account that has superuser privileges or remove the account.
There are various ways to set up MySQL passwords:
Use GRANT statements
Use SET PASSWORD statements
Use mysqladmin password commands
Modify the grant tables directly with UPDATE statements
Generally, it's preferable to use one of the first three methods and to avoid modifying the grant tables directly. For example, after installing MySQL, a simple procedure to protect the root accounts by assigning them passwords is to use these two mysqladmin password commands, where rootpass represents the password and host_name is the hostname of your machine:
shell> mysqladmin -u root password 'rootpass' shell> mysqladmin -u root -h host_name password
However, these commands will not take care of the anonymous accounts. The following procedure secures all the initial accounts. It also serves to demonstrate how modifying the grant tables directly can be useful.
On the server host, connect to the server as the MySQL root user to access the grant tables in the mysql database. Initially, because the accounts have no password, you can connect as follows without specifying a password option:
shell> mysql -u root mysql
Account names and passwords are stored in the user table of the mysql database. Modify the user table records for root to assign a password. The following statement represents this password as rootpass:
mysql> UPDATE user SET Password =
PASSWORD('rootpass') -> WHERE User = 'root';
If you want to assign passwords to the anonymous accounts, do so as follows, where anonpass represents the anonymous-user password:
mysql> UPDATE user SET Password =
PASSWORD('anonpass') -> WHERE User = '';
On Windows, one of the anonymous user accounts has root privileges. You should either assign it a password or remove it. To assign a password, use this statement:
mysql> UPDATE user SET Password =
PASSWORD('rootpass') -> WHERE User = '' AND Host = 'localhost';
To delete the account instead, use this statement:
mysql> DELETE FROM user WHERE User = '' AND
Host = 'localhost';
If you want to see what effect the preceding operations have on the user table, issue this statement:
mysql> SELECT Host, User, Password FROM user;
Finally, flush the grant tables:
mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
The reason for flushing the grant tables is that the server makes access-control decisions based on in-memory copies of the grant tables. The FLUSH statement tells the server to create new in-memory copies from the on-disk tables that were changed by the previous steps.
After setting the root account passwords, you'll need to supply the rootpass password whenever you connect to the server with a username of root. Similarly, to connect using an anonymous-user account, you'll need to specify a password of anonpass.
On Unix, MySQL comes with a mysql_secure_installation script that can perform several helpful security-related operations on your installation. This script can do any of the following:
Set a password for the root account.
Remove any remotely accessible root accounts. This improves security because it prevents the possibility of anyone connecting to the MySQL server as root from a remote host. The result is that anyone who wants to connect as root must first be able to log in on the server host, which provides an additional barrier against attackers.
Remove the anonymous user accounts.
Remove the test database. (If you remove the anonymous accounts, you might also want to remove the test database to which they have access.)
MySQL encrypts passwords in the grant tables using the PASSWORD() function. This function should be considered for use only for managing MySQL accounts, not for general user applications. One reason for this is that applications often require reversible (two-way) encryption, and PASSWORD() performs irreversible (one-way) encryption. Another reason that applications should avoid reliance on PASSWORD() is that its implementation might change. (In fact, it does change in MySQL 4.1.)
Other than the encryption of Password column values in the user table, the server performs no encryption on the contents of MySQL tables. For applications that work with data that must not be stored in unencrypted form, MySQL provides several pairs of functions to perform two-way encryption and decryption:
ENCODE() and DECODE()
DES_ENCRYPT() and DES_DECRYPT()
AES_ENCRYPT() and AES_DECRYPT()
Cryptographically, AES_ENCRYPT() and AES_DECRYPT() can be considered the most secure of the pairs. DES_ENCRYPT() and DES_DECRYPT() can be used if SSL support is enabled. Other details can be found in the MySQL Reference Manual.
Please check back next week for the continuation of this article.


text:
Nicola Menke, dpa
Berlin (dpa) - Garlic can ward off vampires, according to an old superstition. Modern science also ascribes protective powers to the pungent bulb -- against health problems."Garlic was cited as a remedy in ancient Egyptian writings as far back as 1550 BC, and it's regarded to this day as a prophylactic agent and remedy for many illnesses," noted Margret Morlo, a member of Germany's Nutrition and Dietetics Association. Garlic owes its medicinal powers to its components. It contains many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B and C as well as potassium and selenium. It also has a number of beneficial phytochemicals, such as polyphenols and sulfides, and a comparatively high content of adenosine, a biochemical compound important for cell metabolism. "Since garlic is usually consumed in small amounts, not all of its health-promoting components carry weight," remarked Stefan Weigt, a member of Germany's Independent Health Advice Association. So it is with its vitamins and minerals, he said. To meet the daily requirement of vitamin C, for instance, a person would have to consume nearly 800 grams of garlic. "It's a totally different matter as regards phytochemicals, though. Here the bulb is really outstanding -- especially with sulphides," Weigt said. Sulphides are sulphur-containing compounds that "can have a beneficial effect on health in many ways. They're antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory" and thus help to guard against or fight infectious diseases, said Antje Gahl, a nutritionist at the German Nutrition Society. Studies by the University of Arizona in the United States have shown this to be true in the case of colds. According to studies by the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, garlic can help prevent periodontitis and other diseases of the mucous membrane of the mouth. The sulphides in garlic have positive effects on the cardiovascular system, too. "It's been proven that they lower the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood -- blood fat levels," Morlo said. A team at the National Cardiological Research Centre in Moscow found a 7.6 per cent drop in total cholesterol in 42 test subjects after 12 weeks of garlic therapy. This means regular consumption of garlic may help prevent atherosclerosis -- a narrowing of the arteries due to a buildup of fats and cholesterol -- "and therefore cardiovascular disorders like blood clots, strokes and heart attacks," Weigt added. Some studies have not confirmed garlic's cardiovascular powers, however. "Garlic is also said to help inhibit cell damage and the development of tumour cells thanks to the antioxidant effects of its phytochemicals," Gahl noted. Antioxidants have the ability to neutralize free radicals, which are atoms or groups of atoms that attack cells and can cause them to degenerate. "There's not complete certainly on this," she pointed out. "But an analysis of animal tests and statistical surveys suggests that garlic lowers the risk of cancer." This has been virtually proven in the case of stomach and intestinal cancer, she said. To get garlic's health benefits, "it's extremely important to consume it regularly, preferably every day," Morlo said.
Copyright 2012 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

subset: commoncrawl


text:
python 3000 breaks hello world
$ ./python
Python 3.0a1 (py3k, Sep 1 2007, 14:48:21)
[GCC 4.1.2 20061115 (prerelease) (Debian 4.1.1-21)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> print "hello world"
File "
", line 1
print "hello world"
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
Weird. I've been trying to learn this python programming language, but the first command in my lecture notes, the three textbooks I have, and all the online tutorials seem to be wrong.
Anyone know how to get hello world working?
Update: oh it seems that print is a function. ---> ;)
Maybe it should show this in the shell, kind of like what typing help does:
>>> help
Type help() for interactive help, or help(object) for help about object.
>>>print 'hello world'
Type print('hello world') to print a string, or print(object) to print an object.
Has any other major programming language ever broken a program as simple as hello world before?


text: Introduction R is widely used among scientists and statisticians to perform statistical analysis while Salesforce.com is one of the leading CRM software packages used for Marketing and Salesforce automation. Salesforce.com contains vital information regarding Leads, Customers, Contacts, Opportunities and Cases. Currently this data is mainly used for operational purposes by Sales and Marketing professionals. How


text:
Indicative Rate * AU$170.00 to AU$260.00
A cosy fire in winter, a shady veranda in summer, savouring the local wines and gourmet foods, your cottage set amongst the tranquil bush setting; this is what awaits you at Cypress Ridge Cottages. Just three hours from Brisbane, they are situated in Ballandean, the heart of Queensland's Granite Belt wine country.
The Studio cottages are perfect for couples and our One Bedroom Cottages whilst ideal for couples, can sleep four - great also for the family getaway. Their Two Bedroom Cottage is the perfect cottage for a family sleeping up to six guests. The cottage styles reflect the history of Australia but with the luxuries you expect. All cottages have a log fire, kitchenette and barbecues. A guest laundry is available as well as DVD's and Library.
Take a walk around the property with its rugged beauty of granite outcrops and natural bushland. Kangaroos, possums and birds abound. Sample the local wineries, explore the natural beauty of one of the three nearby National Parks, taste the local produce at one of their local cafes, restaurants or tavern or just relax on your veranda and watch the world go by. The choice is yours.
Their two open plan luxury Studio Cottages have all the comforts and privacy you need and wish for. Includes recliner lounges, log fire, queen bed, kitchenette, and shady veranda overlooking your own private barbecue in a tranquil bush setting while set in the ideal location, close to wineries and national parks. Layout includes a kitchen/dining room, ensuite and bedroom/living area. You can choose either a private bush setting or overlooking the dam. The veranda has an outdoor setting and your own personal gas barbecue is provided. The cottage is fully self-contained and is self catered. All linen provided.
Relax in one of their spacious One Bedroom Cottages with open plan living area, log fire, separate bedroom with queen bed, private barbecue, and shady veranda overlooking the tranquil bush setting while in the ideal location, close to wineries and National Parks. The layout includes a double sofa bed in the living room by the log fire, while the queen bed is in a separate bedroom. this is a great option for families. A rollaway is available if required. The spacious layout contains all you need to be comfortable, kitchenette, private ensuite, large entertaining area and a cosy log fire. The cottage is self-contained and self catered with kitchenette facilities. All linen is provided.
All cottages have a log fire, kitchenette and barbecues. A guest laundry is available as well as DVDs and Library.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


text:
Miranda optUncall
From Erights
__optUncall/0 is a Miranda message which may return a portrayal of the object receiving it.
- Signature: __optUncall() :Portrayal
The miranda method for this message always returns
For Selfless objects, __optUncall is guaranteed to return a portrayal which exactly represents the object; if a is selfless, then a == E.call(E, "call", a.__optUncall()).
__optUncall is typically used by serialization systems for the default portrayal in the absence of other knowledge about the object.
Original Javadoc
Note: The terminology and taxonomy of this text may be outdated. XXX Update this text and integrate it into the wiki
This should return either
null or a triple describing a call
that, if performed, will create an object resembling this one.
Scalars (ints, float64s, chars, boolean, null) and bare Strings are atomic. __optUncall on an atomic objects return null, but atomic objects are still considered transparent. Objects which return non-null are non-atomic and transparent. Non-atomic objects that return null are opaque. Opaque objects may be selectively transparent to certain clients by implementing __optSealedDispatch as described there.
When a transparent non-atomic object is Selfless, then the result of __optUncall is guaranteed to be accurate: It describes a call that, when performed, must result in this very same object, according to E's "==" operation. The Selfless auditor ensures that all Selfless objects are accurately self-describing in this way.
The uncall of a Selfless object is canonical, so if x and y are both Selfless, then
x == y iff x.__optUncall() == y.__optUncall()
Performing the call described by the uncall of a non-Selfless object generally creates whatever that object wished to create as its representative, but because it had to provide the ingredients, its representative could only be something it could have created. Therefore, the representative cannot convey any more authority than the original object itself has.


text:
On the 21st November between 14.00 and 19.00 at Open Design City, you are invited to participate in an event that will bring together thinkers and doers to create and explore futures in which Cradle to Cradle, Upcycling and Open Design have flourished.
How will processes and approaches such as Cradle to Cradle, Upcycling, and Open Design affect how we innovate with waste? How will these changes affect our daily lives?
Cradle to Cradle and Upcycling processes both view waste as a resource for production and creation, but from different perspectives and approaches as to how to achieve this. Open Design is potentially an enabler for both processes, facilitating the distribution of these behaviors and also the sharing of knowledge and process.
In this workshop, we will share our knowledge on different processes, and then explore together what the world looks like in 2030 in light of these emerging trends. We will use the resources of Open Design City to prototype and articulate these visions.
This workshop will be in conjunction with the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research. Our aim is to bring together a range of researchers, radical thinkers, activists and practitioners from the fields of Open Design, Cradle to Cradle and Upcyling together for one day to build a vision for the future.
We will provide you with good food, a space to explore and create, and other interesting people with which to explore and innovate.
Spaces on this workshop are limited, so please email us, along with a little bit about yourself to reserve a space.


text:
Orange County environmental health officials warned local swimmers this week to avoid contact with ocean water, especially in spots close to storm drains, creeks and rivers.
A rain advisory is in effect for the entire Orange County coast, including Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach, after runoff from this week's storm caused elevated bacteria levels.
The advisory, which is intended to reach recreational ocean, bay and harbor users, went into effect after more than two-tenths of an inch of rain fell, Orange County Health Care Agency Water Quality Supervisor Mike Fennessy said.
He said the heightened bacteria levels can last for about three days after a heavy rain. Urban runoff, he said, which typically comes from fertilizers, road oils, litter, animal waste and decomposing vegetation, makes for risky swimming conditions.
Those who choose not to heed such recommendations, Fennessy said, could suffer sinus and upper-respiratory infections or gastrointestinal problems.
"Those are the big three," he said.
While officials encourage swimmers to stay out of the water when rain advisories are in effect, Fennessy said, typically beach closures are reserved for "sewage spill events."
Human sewage, he said, is more likely to cause illness than other types of runoff.
According to the National Weather Service's website, sun is expected for Friday in Orange County, and slight chances of rain are in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday .
For more information about the rain advisory, visit the county's water quality website at ocbeachinfo.com.
Twitter: @jillcowan


text:
Physical Sciences
Research Highlights
July 2005
Ion behavior at the air/water interface
The molecular structure of the interfacial regions of aqueous electrolytes is poorly understood, despite its crucial importance in many biological, technological, and atmospheric processes. A long-running controversy exists between the standard picture of an ion-free surface layer and the strongly ion-specific behavior that indicates, in many cases, a tendency for simple inorganic ions to be found at the interface. PNNL researcher Liem X. Dang and an international team of collaborators developed a unified and consistent view of the structure of the air/solution interface of aqueous electrolytes containing monovalent inorganic ions. Molecular dynamics calculations show that in salt solutions and bases the positively charged ions, such as alkali cations, are repelled from the interface, whereas the anions, such as halides or hydroxide, exhibit a varying attraction to the surface, correlated primarily with the ion polarizability and size. The behavior of acids is different due to a significant attraction of hydronium cations to the air/solution interface. Therefore, both cations and anions exhibit enhanced concentrations at the surface and, consequently, these acids (unlike bases and salts) reduce the surface tension of water. The results of the simulations are supported by surface selective nonlinear vibrational spectroscopy, which reveals among other things that the hydronium cations are present at the air/solution interface. The ion specific propensities for the air/solution interface have important implications for a whole range of heterogeneous physical and chemical processes, including atmospheric chemistry of aerosols, corrosion processes, and bubble coalescence.
The illustrations represent the water-air interface of various ions in water. The graphs show the relative vertical abundance of the components; colors of the lines match the colors of the components in the drawings. For example, in the top, the acid and hydronium ions are more abundant at the water-air interface. In the middle, the water is more abundant at the interface while the base and hydroxyl ions become abundant below the surface.
Adapted from: M Mucha, T Frigato, LM Levering, HC Allen, DJ Tobias, LX Dang, and P Jungwirth, 2005 Feature Article, "Unified Molecular Picture of the Surfaces of Aqueous Acid, Base, and Salt Solutions." Journal of Physical Chemistry B 109(16):7617-7623. DOI:10.1021/jp0445730.


text:
Number: 111- 44
Date: June 14, 2010
The House Passes H.R. 5072,
The FHA Reform Act of 2010 1
On June 10, 2010, the House passed H.R. 5072, the "FHA Reform Act of 2010," by a vote of 406 - 4. The bill would improve the financial safety and soundness of the FHA mortgage insurance program.
The bill would not impose any requirements on SSA, but does include the following provision of interest.
Identification Requirements for Borrowers
- Would prohibit the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from insuring mortgages for 1- to 4-family dwellings unless the mortgagor provides a valid Social Security Number and is a United States citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien who legally resides and is authorized to work in the United States.
- Would require the Secretary of HUD to establish policies for mortgagees to verify compliance with these requirements.
- Would be effective upon enactment.
1"FHA" stands for Federal Housing Administration, which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.


text:
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Diary of a Madman
13 comments:
How extraordinary. It might not have been created in anguish, though... Such taking of pains might have had therapeutic effect. Was the whole diary filled thus, or just these pages?
- 10:28 pm
(Sorry, didn't notice your subsequent comment, before leaving my question.)
- 10:30 pm
- Steerforth said...
My fault. I shouldn't tamper with posts once they're up.
I hope you're right and that it did provide some solace.
- 11:14 pm
- Tim Footman said...
As if Jack Nicholson had discovered a new variety of DNA.
The terrible thing is, there must be many, many more of such things than ever get discovered. I think there's a tiny bit of TEPPRPAKA in many of us, but we have just about enough control to stop after a line or two.
- 3:08 am
- zmkc said...
I knew I'd left it somewhere. I had to bite the bullet and start a new one that February. Oh well, at least diaries were being discounted by that stage in the year.
- 3:56 am
- Sarah said...
Bizarre, I hope it's not a message to an alien species. Or indeed, from...
- 8:09 am
- Martin said...
- 8:16 am
- Sam Jordison said...
- 12:31 pm
- LUCEWOMAN said...
A few pupils I've worked with over the years have done this kind of thing, compulsively, when presented with a pen and blank space. Sometimes numbers, other times a mix of letters and numbers or upper and lower case letters.
Most, not all, were on the Autistic spectrum. Be reassured that they always looked calm and controlled as they did it. Much as I probably do when I draw hundreds of flowers when I doodle.
- 12:44 pm
- David said...
I second what Lucewoman says above. My daughter, who has autism, will copy out writing fairly well but if she didn't have anything to copy she sometimes produces stuff like that - though she's more likely to type it on the PC that to write it (generally in 42 point, with a coloured background, then print off 30 copies - printer cartridges don't live long round here).
- 9:16 pm
- The Poet Laura-eate said...
Still writing lines from school...? Tragic.
- 1:10 pm
- Pirata Jenny said...
May I ask where did you find it? Is it from a person strange to you? No lack of discretion intended, sheer curiosity.
- 1:38 pm
- Steerforth said...
The diary was found in a box of old books at work. I've no idea where it came from.
Lucy and David, I should have thought about the autistic angle. If that's the case, then I find the writing less distressing, but still very affecting.
- 6:11 pm


text:
NMT's PRRC Receives DoE Research Grant, Nov. 4, 2005
by Shawna Carter
SOCORRO, N.M., Nov. 1, 2005 — New Mexico Tech's Petroleum Recovery Research Center (PRRC) was recently awarded a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research grant to assist in the creation of a database system that compiles accumulated data from northwestern New Mexico's San Juan Basin gas and oil wells.
The research project, led by Martha Cather, Industrial Outreach Coordinator at the PRRC, started as a data recovery mission.
Over the years, a large amount of paper data on the San Juan Basin has been collected and stored in a number of public repositories, including the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, another research division at New Mexico Tech.
Cather and other researchers at the PRRC felt it would be useful if this data were compiled into a useful and useable database, which would allow researchers of all disciplines easy access to the information.
Currently, the PRRC research team is assessing the status of San Juan Basin data that is available in the public domain, and asking various petroleum engineers and researchers what information they feel would be most relevant and useful to have in the new database.
When completed, the database system will contain information on the characteristics of oil and gas wells in the San Juan Basin, as well as information about special core analyses performed on specific wells in the basin.
The DOE research grant totals $516,000 for the 24-month duration of the San Juan Basin data recovery project.


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ln -sfT /bin/dash /bin/sh
ln -sfT /bin/dash /bin/sh
Revision as of 18:16, 23 March 2013
Dash is a minimalist POSIX-compliant shell. It can be much faster than Bash, and takes up less memory when in use. Most POSIX compliant scripts specify
/bin/sh at the first line of the script, which means it will run
/bin/sh as the shell, which by default in Arch is a symlink to
You can re-symlink
/bin/sh to
/bin/dash, which can increase system performance, but first you must verify that none of the scripts that aren't explicitly #!/bin/bash scripts are safely POSIX compliant and do not require any of Bash's features.
This article is for those who want to help dash become the new
From http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.arch.devel/11418:
- https://mailman.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-dev-public/2007-November/003053.html
- https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/dash-as-bin-sh
- https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DashAsBinSh
- All install scripts must be sh-compatible (or we need a way of executing non-sh scripts, there is a bug open for that)
- Any daemon/init script is probably written for /bin/bash as our rc.conf and other initscripts files use bash arrays, so those need to be pointed correctly
Identifying bashisms
Features of bash that aren't included in Dash ('bashisms') will not work without being explicitly pointed to
/bin/bash. The following instructions will allow you to find any scripts that may need modification.
Install checkbashismsAUR from the AUR.
Common places to check
- Installed scripts with a
$ find {,/usr}/bin -type f \ -exec grep -q -- '^#!/bin/sh' {} \; \ -exec checkbashisms -f -p {} +
- Package install scripts:
$ find /var/lib/pacman/local -mindepth 2 -type f -name install \ -exec checkbashisms -f -p {} + 2>&1 |\ grep -v -e '^you may get strange results' \ -e 'does not appear to have a #! interpreter line;$'
- Initscripts and daemons:
$ find \ /etc/rc.{conf,d,local{,.shutdown},multi,shutdown,single,sysinit} -type f \ -exec checkbashisms -f -p {} + 2>&1 |\ grep -v -e '^you may get strange results' \ -e 'does not appear to have a #! interpreter line;$'
Relinking /bin/sh
Once you have verified that it won't break any functionality, it should be safe to relink
/bin/sh. To do so use the following command (as root):
ln -sfT /bin/dash /bin/sh


text:
Anseriform, any of more than 160 species constituting the bird order Anseriformes, which comprises the ducks, geese, and swans (family Anatidae) and the screamers (the three species of family Anhimidae). Anatidae comprises about 147 species of medium to large birds, usually associated with freshwater or marine habitats. This family is known collectively as waterfowl (in the United States) or wildfowl (in Europe). The three species of screamers are quite different from waterfowl in general appearance. They are moderately long-legged birds about the size of a turkey, with chickenlike beaks and exceptionally large feet.
Anseriforms are of interest for various reasons. Not only do their mass migrations symbolize the change of seasons to peoples in temperate areas of the world but their annual voyages have long been studied by ornithologists to determine the mechanisms that make these navigational and metabolic feats possible. To the sport hunter many ducks and geese are challenging and worthwhile quarry; domesticated members of the order are reared for meat and feathers, but to the farmer other species are considered pests and crop spoilers. Both domestic and wild anseriforms are occasionally reservoirs of disease. The conservationist views them as biological indicators of the quality of wetlands and, like those habitats, in need of attention.
General features
Members of the Anatidae vary greatly in size, the largest being some 60 times heavier than the smallest. Most are rather chunky birds, from about 30 cm (1 foot) in length and 250 grams (0.5 pound) in weight in the African pygmy goose (Nettapus auritus) to 1.5 metres (5 feet) in length and weighing more than 17 kg (37 pounds) with a 2-metre (6.6-foot) wingspan in the trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator). The neck is medium to long. The bill is of medium length, typically broad and somewhat flattened, with a rounded tip, often with a pronounced "nail," giving a slight hook to the tip. The form of the bill, however, varies widely, befitting birds with diets as different as grass, fish, and minute plankton. The bill is often fringed with fine lamellae, short parallel plates at the edges of the mandibles that aid in food handling and, in some species, in straining tiny food organisms from water or mud.
Anseriform behaviour patterns are an intriguing mixture of the innate and the learned. Some behaviours are so fixed that they can be used as taxonomic characteristics, whereas others are so pliable that completely new traditions can evolve within a few generations.
Anseriforms breed on every major continent and island except in the Antarctic, and many undertake vast migrations, flying thousands of kilometres. Some species are widespread and number in the millions; others are represented by a few hundred individuals confined to a few islands. In the former category are the pintail (Anas acuta) and the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), both found throughout the Northern Hemisphere; in the latter are the Hawaiian goose, or nene (Branta sandvicensis), and the Madagascar white-eye (Aythya innotata). Extinction has taken at least six species within the last century, with another three likely extinct, having not been seen for a number of years. The Hawaiian goose was once down to fewer than 50 birds, the Laysan race of the mallard to 7 individuals. The creation of wetland refuges has helped to restore these and other declining populations. Nonetheless, even the more common waterfowl, which teem in thousands at certain times and places, are not secure from drastic declines in numbers.
Importance to humans
The large size of waterfowl has made them from prehistoric times inevitable quarry for humans. Not only do they provide protein but also large amounts of fat and feathers, especially down, much prized in colder regions. Among the unusual uses of waterfowl parts may be mentioned the conversion of swan tracheae into children's whistles in Lapland and the eating of the of the king eider's (Somateria spectabilis) billknob as an aphrodisiac in Greenland. Wary and difficult to approach in their watery haunts, waterfowl required ingenuity to take them before the advent of efficient weapons. The period of flightlessness was discovered early and exploited by driving the birds into corrals of stone or netting. From the latter evolved the Dutch method of catching full-winged ducks by enticing them up large net-covered pipes leading from a secluded pond where a decoy duck was placed. Many other ingenious traps were devised, from the clapnets of the ancient Egyptians to the rocket-propelled nets of today's research workers.
In view of their ready adaptation to captivity, it is surprising that few waterfowl have been domesticated. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) was exploited 2,000 years ago in China, and 17 varieties have been developed, according to whether meat or egg production is important. The muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) was domesticated in Colombia and Peru before the arrival of the conquistadores. The greylag goose (Anser anser) has been domesticated for at least 4,000 years; Egyptian frescoes of that age already show changes in shape from the natural form, and eight main varieties are now known. The swan goose (Anser cygnoides) of eastern Asia has also been domesticated, with three varieties. Other species, such as the Canada goose (Branta canadensis), the mute swan, and the Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus), have been kept in semidomestication for ease of exploitation but without intensive breeding to change their forms. A remarkable form of exploitation has been that of the common eider (Somateria mollissima). Its breeding colonies in the Arctic and subarctic are protected and concentrated by the provision of nest sites and other techniques. The down with which the female lines her nest and covers the eggs is systematically collected during and after incubation without disturbance or loss of productivity, for these birds are very tame.
Anseriform populations are threatened by the loss of their essential wetland habitats, and they are no longer able to withstand commercial exploitation. This is generally recognized in a great many countries where market hunting is banned and efforts are made to control sport hunting so that annual kill does not exceed annual production. As waterfowl migrations pay no heed to national boundaries, the need for international agreement on their conservation is paramount.
A great flock of waterfowl is one of the remaining spectacles of nature and one that can be made accessible to crowds of people led through covered approaches to concealing blinds. Such refuges must be numerous and large enough to give adequate feeding grounds. Extra food, however, can be provided as standing crops or distributed from stores. In these ways damage to agricultural interests can be avoided. Complaints of such damage are frequently exaggerated, for in many countries migratory waterfowl arrive after the harvests have been gathered and take only spilled or rejected grain and tubers, thus actually performing a useful cleaning operation. Conflicts can arise, but these can be resolved by changes in husbandry and by techniques of scaring the birds from the fields without injuring them.
Anseriforms spend much time walking, swimming, or diving, so they are less inconvenienced than most other birds by being pinioned (removal of the tip of one wing) to prevent flight. They can then therefore be kept in open paddocks instead of being confined in cages. Zoos and private aviculturists maintain waterfowl collections of varying size, the largest being that of The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, England. There almost 200 species have been maintained, and more than 100 have bred. Such a remarkably complete comparative collection has been useful for educational and research purposes. Breeding in captivity also enhances the possibility of restoring wild populations that have been diminished. The most notable case has been that of the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis). In 1950 about 30 of these birds existed. Twenty years later, thanks to avicultural efforts at Slimbridge and in Hawaii, there were more than a thousand, several hundred of which were released in original habitat, where they have sustained their numbers. Hunting organizations such as Ducks Unlimited conserve wetlands to maintain populations that can replace birds shot. Several species of geese and ducks have responded well to the manipulation of habitat and the provision of nest sites. Artificially encouraged breeding may well become vital as the hitherto-untouched vastness of northern marshes and tundras, where so many waterfowl breed, are opened up, destroyed, or polluted.
Natural history
Life history
Hatchlings emerge from the egg with a complete covering of down and can take to the water as soon as they leave the nest, within 24 to 48 hours. They can forage for themselves, but at least one parent remains with them, guarding, guiding, and, initially, brooding them at night and during inclement weather.
The downy plumage is retained for from two weeks (small ducks) to six weeks (large swans) and is then replaced gradually by the feathers of the juvenal plumage. The flight feathers, the last to develop, likewise vary in their rate of growth, taking from five weeks to five months. At fledging, young ducks must make their own way on migration. In species breeding in the far north, this begins in early autumn. Young geese and swans, on the other hand, remain with their parents during their first winter and migrate to and from the wintering grounds in their company. In most large species the juvenal plumage is retained through much of the first year of life. Ducks, however, begin to lose the juvenal body feathers almost at once. Some replace the juvenal plumage with an immature nonbreeding (or "basic") plumage, acquiring the first nuptial (or "alternate") plumage in the second autumn. Other species molt directly from juvenal to nuptial and are practically indistinguishable from adults in plumage and size at the age of six months. Swans and geese do not reach full size until the end of their second year, and even at that age swans still retain some immature feathers.
In migratory species social flocking and pair formation occur on the wintering grounds, followed by the return migration to the breeding grounds. In the high Arctic regions the birds arrive ready to nest as soon as the snow cover melts and the water opens; in lower latitudes the process is more leisurely. When the female duck begins to incubate, the male generally deserts her and joins forces with other males, often after making a molt-migration to another area some distance from the breeding site. The nuptial plumage is lost, and a dull "eclipse" plumage, rather femalelike, is assumed before the simultaneous molt of the flight feathers. The resulting flightless condition lasts three or four weeks, during which the birds skulk in thick cover or remain on large bodies of water. In female ducks this wing molt is delayed until after the young have fledged. The eclipse plumage is succeeded in three to six months by the next nuptial plumage. In the case of swans and geese the male remains and molts with the female and family; immature birds and unsuccessful breeders may, however, make a molt-migration to a separate area.
The foregoing life cycles are typical of waterfowl breeding in north temperate or Arctic regions. In the tropics and south temperate regions, migration of waterfowl may not be necessary. When it does occur, migration may be in response to ecological factors such as the onset of the rainy season. Males and females tend to be similar in plumage and to lack eclipse plumages. The birds are ready to breed at any time that conditions are favourable. Undoubtedly there is a relationship between hormonal balance and the appearance or absence of eclipse or brightly coloured plumages, but the exact mechanism is not yet known.
The mature anseriform has a potentially long life, though this is seldom achieved in the wild. In captivity ducks have lived for 20 years, geese and swans for more than 30; there are reports of geese exceeding 40 years of age and swans, 50. Wild populations suffer heavy losses (up to 70 percent) among first-year birds. The adults then experience annual mortalities of 10 to 50 percent, depending on the extent of hunting and on natural factors. At the higher end of this scale the population is almost completely replaced within three years. With luck and cunning an occasional bird may survive for 15 to 20 years or more.
Keeping the plumage waterproof occupies much of the time not spent feeding or sleeping. The bill is used both to stimulate the oil gland (situated above the tail) and to spread the oil. Rubbing the chin and throat on oiled areas also helps the process. Preening occurs at the same time, the fine structure of the feathers being nibbled into the interlocking position necessary to prevent the entry of water. Rearrangement of the feathers involves preening, scratching with the feet, and a general body shake produced by a muscular contraction sweeping from tail to neck. Various wing-stretching movements settle the flight feathers. Bathing movements include dipping the head, beating the wings on the surface and, at high intensity, actual diving or somersaulting through the water. Sleep often follows such maintenance activities, the bill being turned and placed under the scapular (shoulder) feathers. Bathing is often a communal activity, and mutual preening is seen in several species.
Social displays are one of the most interesting aspects of waterfowl behaviour, and many of the signal movements involved in the displays are clearly derived from maintenance activities. Thus, preening dorsally, on the breast, and especially behind the wing can be seen in ritualized form in social situations. Likewise, the wing stretch and the general body shake occur in threat or sexual displays.
Most waterfowl are gregarious and have well-developed social integration signals. Many indicate the intention to fly by head-shaking or chin-lifting, so that the group takes off together. In swans and geese vocalization plays a part in this situation and also in group flight. Formal aggressive displays are important in gregarious species to prevent actual fighting and injury and instead to establish a stable dominance order. In threat, the behaviour often tends to increase the apparent body size, as when swans raise their wings and ruffle the scapular feathers. Wing flaps and flicking of the folded wings are common in geese. The chin may be lifted during aggressive display, but more frequently the head is thrust forward, often with the bill open. The striking nature of these gestures is often emphasized by patches of colour, which may be concealed before the movement is made. Since these gestures may occur without associated feather patterns, this suggests that the behaviour patterns evolved first.
Pair-forming displays are well developed and characteristic of each species. This is necessary if mating with closely related and coexisting species is to be avoided. Swans and geese cement the pair bond by a "triumph ceremony," with mutual head waving and calling, typically when the male has driven off an intruder. Male sheldgeese have a puffing, strutting display. Their females incite them to attack other birds by sideways jabbing movements of the bill. Female incitement behaviour is found throughout the rest of the family, but the male pairing behaviour is more varied. It is particularly striking in the dabbling ducks, such as the mallard, teal, and pintail, where it is often social, a group of males displaying around a solitary female, who appears to do the mate selection. Ethologists have endeavoured to give objective names to the various postures and sequences. Thus "head-up-tail-up" involves a simultaneous upward jerk of head and tail and a lifting of the folded wings to display the speculum, a set of metallic-coloured secondary flight feathers of the upper wing. The "grunt-whistle" involves throwing an arc of water at the female by a sideways flick of the bill, followed by a rearing up of the body, shaking of the head and tail, and, during the whole sequence, giving the call indicated by the behavioral term. The mergansers also have elaborate male displays: bowing while producing dovelike coos; flagging the head from side to side; jerking the head back on the tail and kicking up a spurt of water (the "head-throw-kick" of the goldeneye, Bucephala clangula). Perhaps the most bizarre display is found in the stifftails, such as the ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) of North America. The males cock their tails over their backs, inflate their lower necks, and beat on them with their bright blue bills, producing a chittering sound that terminates in a burp.
Displays that maintain the pair bond are less varied and tend to be more marked in the long-lived geese and swans, which pair for life, than in the short-lived ducks. Mutual preening and drinking displays are of this category, as are precopulatory displays, often ritualized feeding movements such as mutual head dipping, bill dipping, or head pumping. Following copulation, other mutual displays occur. The geese and swans indulge in calling with upstretched necks and lifted wings. More extraordinary is the "step-dance" of the whistling ducks, in which the partners rear up side by side, treading water and each raising the outside wing.
The display patterns, whatever their origin, appear to be ready-formed and complete. Although much waterfowl behaviour can thus be said to be innate, other activities are learned during the life of the individual. One special type of learning, which is called imprinting, has been much studied in this group. The newly hatched, downy young exhibit a strong but unspecific following response to a large moving object, especially if it emits rhythmical sounds. While following such an object, they become "imprinted" with the knowledge of its characteristics and thereafter treat it as the parent, even though it may be something wildly unsuitable—a balloon, for instance. The class of object is not necessarily treated as the sexual partner when the duck matures, but it does appear that male dabbling ducks learn the plumage patterns of the female from the ducks with which they are reared. Females, however, apparently have the ability to ignore such early experience and to select the appropriate male when they mature.
Many other aspects of waterfowl behaviour show a similar interweaving of innate and learned responses. Thus the young bird hatches with distinct preferences for the colour, size, and shape of objects at which it will peck. Within these limits, and those imposed by its bill structure and the habitat to which it is taken by its parent, the young bird can be quite adventurous in its feeding, gradually excluding unpalatable or unsuitable objects.
Three main lines of feeding behaviour have evolved in the waterfowl—diving, dabbling, and grazing. Those that dive for food fall into two groups: inland species (pochards and the scaup) that favour relatively shallow lakes up to 6 metres (20 feet) deep and feed predominantly on plants such as pondweeds, and mergansers that feed in deeper marine waters on invertebrates and fish. Dabbling ducks feed on the surface or by upending themselves to reach food on the bottom, largely plant material. The grazing geese and swans take grasses and sedges on dry land or in marshes, where they seek roots both on land and under the surface. Many geese have adapted to various farm crops, with new feeding traditions spreading rapidly as the birds of a group learn from one another.
Migratory behaviour is likewise partly innate, partly learned. Young ducks of migratory populations set off in the autumn in approximately the right direction, even if there are no old birds to guide them. Others show a fixed orientation after capture and release that has no apparent function and so has been termed "nonsense" orientation. In both cases the direction is innate, and so is the ability to determine it with reference to the Sun's position (making allowance for its diurnal movement) or to the patterns of the stars. It appears, however, that the details of the Sun movement and star patterns have to be learned, as do the characteristics of the home from which the bird starts and the wintering site at which it ends. Like other migratory birds, waterfowl have the ability to return to the nesting area when they are displaced from it, but it is not clear how far they can be truly said to navigate—that is, to pinpoint their position in two coordinates, again perhaps with reference to the Sun or stars. In geese and swans, the young travel with their parents, so the possibility exists of their learning the chains of lakes, rivers, and other landmarks over which they fly and "map reading" on subsequent migrations. Certainly the migratory behaviour is highly modifiable in these longer-lived birds. New wintering resorts are adopted if their food supply or lack of disturbance makes them favourable. The migratory urge can be overcome completely in geese that are reared artificially. If the climate is not too severe and food and mates are available, such birds will remain where they grow up, even though they are free to come and go.
One form of waterfowl behaviour that seems to be largely innate is sound production. Vocalizations are rather simple and apparently do not offer the opportunity for individual elaboration as in songbirds. A range of honks, whistles, grunts, coos, and quacks are produced, mainly in the context of social contact and flock cohesion or in courtship display. The voices of the sexes are generally quite dissimilar. Some nonvocal sounds are also produced by the wings of some species and by the inflatable air sacs of others.
Only the screamers, with their broad wings and light bodies, are able freely to indulge in soaring flight. The magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) has somewhat similar wings, but typically the waterfowl have strong, rapid flight, their heavy body and relatively small wings giving a very high wing loading. The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is probably the heaviest flying bird, sometimes weighing more than 17 kg (37 pounds). Trumpeter swans beat their wings about three times per second, the smaller ducks twice as fast. Geese tend to fly in long extended lines, often adopting a V-formation. Cruising air speeds of most waterfowl appear to be about 65 km (40 miles) per hour; when pressed they can certainly reach 100 km (62 miles) per hour. On migration most flocks fly at altitudes of between 300 and 600 metres (1,000 and 2,000 feet). Uncommonly they may be seen around 3,000 metres (10,000 feet), and the barheaded goose (Anser indicus), breeding in Tibet and wintering in India, must fly at 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) to get through the Himalayan passes.
Swans and the heavier geese require a running start into the wind when taking off from water or land. Pochards and mergansers also skitter along the surface before becoming airborne. Three species of steamer ducks (genus Tachyeres) have lost the power of flight and, even when in a hurry, can only churn along the surface like paddle steamers. Small geese and most ducks can launch themselves directly into the air, pushing with the legs and giving a tremendous thrust with the wings, which may strike the water. In landing, the wings and spread feet are used for braking and guidance. Altitude is often lost rapidly by alternate sideslips, a process carried to extremes in the downward "whiffling" of geese, in which the birds may actually roll over on their backs, still keeping the head straight and level. Many ducks are quite maneuverable near the ground, back-flapping their way down vertically for the last few feet. The pochards land faster and normally only on water.
Walking on land is well-developed in the longer-legged geese and in gooselike species. The "goose-step," with exaggeratedly lifted feet, is exemplified by the spur-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis). Others walk more straightforwardly and can outrun a pursuing human. In the ducks, whose short legs are situated rearward and farther apart, the gait is at best a waddle. The legs of most pochards and mergansers are so far back that the body is carried almost upright when out of the water. This development reaches its extreme in the stifftails, which rarely leave the water on foot.
The magpie goose, with long, nearly web-free front toes and a long rear toe, is able to perch on treetop twigs, but this is very much an exception. A number of other ducks, especially the hole-nesting perching ducks such as the wood duck and the mandarin duck (Aix sponsa and A. galericulata), can perch on branches or scramble up rough surfaces.
Most waterfowl are especially adapted for swimming, with their waterproof plumage, fat-insulated body, and powerful legs with webbed feet. The feet paddle alternately in slow swimming, but the whole leg is used when the bird is moving fast. All waterfowl are able to dive if pressed, and about 40 percent use diving as their normal feeding procedure. They submerge by arching the body and propelling themselves forward with both feet so that entry is in a smooth arc. The whistling ducks, however, take a jumping "header," in which they clear the water like coots. Stifftails are consummate divers, simply slipping underwater. Diving in fast-running streams requires both great power and adaptations, as seen in the streamlined form and the long, stiff tail of the torrent ducks (genus Merganetta). Once a diving duck is underwater, the legs are sculled together. In some species the wings are opened and used as steering rather than as propelling devices.
Long-tailed, or old squaw, ducks (Clangula hyemalis) have been caught in fishing nets more than 50 metres (160 feet) deep, but this is exceptional; most species do not dive much below 6 metres (20 feet). They normally remain below for less than 30 seconds, occasionally up to 90 seconds, but they are physiologically capable of much longer dives.
Reproductive behaviour
Copulation in waterfowl typically occurs in the water, with the pair in isolation. Indeed, the avoidance of disturbance at this time may be a major function of territorial behaviour. Colonial nesting is not normal, but high densities may occur when certain areas are unusually safe and suitable—islands, for instance. More than 200 gadwall (Anas strepera) nests per acre (494 per hectare) have been reported in such circumstances. More usually the nests are scattered, the distance between them being determined in part by the strength of the territorial behaviour. Some swans, shelducks, and sheldgeese are highly aggressive and defend a territory around the nest. In most species, however, the situation is less clear-cut. The pairs of ducks remain within a "home range," incorporating water, a loafing spot, nesting cover, and food, but they do not vigorously defend its borders. Rather, the territory proper seems to be an area about the female, the territory moving as she does. A male intruding on a pair gives rise to the "three-bird chase," which is a characteristic of prenesting behaviour. Geese likewise defend an area around the female as well as the immediate vicinity of the nest.
Nest site selection is done mainly by the female, although the male may accompany her in her search. Nests built over water among marsh vegetation are found in the primitive species, and the protection thus afforded from predators may have tipped evolution toward a more wholly aquatic existence. Many species nest on dry land, with some ducks settling up to 1.6 km (1 mile) from water. Some species, especially the shelducks, use crevices and holes for nest sites. They do not construct their own but take over what is available, such as rabbit burrows. Most hole nesters, however, utilize preexisting treeholes and will quite readily adopt nesting boxes; old tree nests of other species are sometimes used. A successful species such as the mallard is adaptable in its choice of nest site and may be found in any of the above situations.
Nest building is generally done by the female, though the male assists in some species. It is a general rule that waterfowl are behaviorally incapable of carrying material in the bill, and even in the rare instance of courtship feeding shown by the red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), the female has to swim to the male to take his "gift." In most waterfowl, therefore, the nest is constructed of materials on the site within reach of the beak. They are pulled in and dropped sideways over the shoulder, forming a pile as the bird rotates. With the exception of species that share incubation, such as the magpie goose, the whistling ducks, and the white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus), the nest is progressively lined with down preened from the female's breast. This down is pulled over the eggs when the female leaves, keeping them warm and, in open sites, protected from the sight of predators.
Egg laying usually occurs early in the morning and takes only a few minutes, though the female remains on the nest for up to an hour. Generally one egg per day is laid, with occasional gaps. The greatest spread recorded is in the velvet or white-winged scoter (Melanitta fusca), which takes 15 days to lay its usual clutch of nine eggs. Sperm remains viable in a female mallard for a similar period, so it is probable that copulation prior to egg laying is sufficient to fertilize the whole clutch. Clutch size is variable within a species, but averages range from 3 to 12 eggs. There do not appear to be definite relations between clutch size and taxonomic, ecological, or geographical groupings, and its significance in anseriforms is still controversial. There is, however, a tendency for larger clutches to be laid by species that devote little parental care to their offspring. Egg size varies from 3 to 15 percent of the body weight in different species, the relatively largest being produced by the stifftails. In all cases the eggshells are immaculate white, green, or brownish. Surface finish ranges from very smooth to dull and large-pored.
The laying of eggs in nests other than their own is widespread among waterfowl, and very large clutches (up to 22 in the mallard) are usually the work of more than one female. In the pochards and stifftails such nest-parasitism is so common that it influences breeding biology. Only one species, the black-headed duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) of South America, is an obligate nest-parasite, always laying in the nests of other species.
With few exceptions, only the female incubates, the average period ranging from 22 to 39 days. Usually she leaves the nest periodically to feed, covering the eggs with down. In some species, such as the common eider (Somateria mollissima), she apparently fasts during the four-week period. Her resulting constipation may be the cause of the extremely evil-smelling feces that she splashes over the clutch if suddenly flushed from it. This was once thought to deter predators, but experiments have not confirmed this. As incubation proceeds, aided by both the high temperature (about 38 °C [101 °F]) and high humidity maintained in the nest, the female becomes increasingly reluctant to leave the nest when a predator approaches. If flushed late in incubation or with hatched young, she will feign injury, flapping or dragging her wings in an uncoordinated fashion that serves to distract predators.
The length of the incubation period shows little relation to taxonomic position or body size, but both it and the subsequent fledging period are correlated with the latitude at which breeding takes place. The continuous daylight of the Arctic summer enables the young to feed around the clock, but this does not sufficiently offset the fact that there is only a short interval between the melting of the snows and the onset of autumnal bad weather. Selection in the course of evolution has reduced the breeding sequence as far as possible. Thus the small high-Arctic races of the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) have so reduced the period from nest initiation to fledging that they can breed in areas having but two snow-free months. Larger races nesting in California take twice as long. In the wild, waterfowl do not breed more than once per year, even when there is enough time. Most will renest, however, if the first clutch is destroyed. The second clutch is generally smaller but may have a higher fledging success in that hatching occurs in the less uncertain weather of late summer. Aviculturists regularly take advantage of this capacity, incubating the first clutch under bantam hens.
Since incubation does not start until the clutch is complete, hatching is generally synchronized and may be complete within six hours. Another six hours is required for the down to dry, and young birds usually remain in the nest overnight. While in the nest they are brooded by the female and become imprinted with her visual and auditory characteristics. The downy young have sufficient internal food reserves to last two or three days if inclement weather prevents them from feeding as soon as they leave the nest.
The nesting behaviour of screamers is somewhat different from that of waterfowl. A substantial nest is built on marshy ground or in shallow water, sometimes reaching a height of 30 cm (1 foot) or more. The clutch varies from two to six eggs, depending on the species. Young screamers are covered with yellow down and leave the nest when a few days old, following their parents in the manner of young waterfowl.
Knowledge of waterfowl breeding, although far from complete, has come a long way from medieval times when barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) were thought to hatch from barnacles on rocks because no one had yet discovered their high-Arctic nests.
Most waterfowl are associated with fresh water as opposed to salt water, at least during the breeding season. Relatively few inhabit deep lakes and fast streams of low productivity. More prefer glaciated areas rich in shallow, productive lakes and marshes: the "pothole" country of North America, the silted deltas of rivers, and coastal marshes. An area with many small bodies of water will support more ducks than a single large lake, because shoreline is important. Such environments produce diverse food and provide isolation for breeding pairs, cover from predators, and shelter from winds. Paradoxically, periodic droughts are advantageous to ducks. Small lakes dry out and their bottoms become colonized with plants. When reflooding occurs, a rich diet of seeds and of invertebrate animals that feed on the decaying vegetation becomes available. Long-term or permanent droughts, however, can be disastrous. The increasing acreage of artificial water reservoirs only partly offsets the loss, for they are normally large, deep waters, of little use to waterfowl except for roosting.
The ability to migrate greatly increases the ecological flexibility of waterfowl. They can exploit summer resources of the northern tundra without having to evolve the encumbering adaptations needed to survive the winter there; they can move great distances to take advantage of local rainfalls in arid countries; they can retire to secluded areas when flightless and then seek the rich harvests of human-altered environments when fully equipped to face the dangers. There are many patterns of migration, some regular and in fixed, reciprocal directions, others varying with changes in weather. The distances covered also vary widely. The longest waterfowl migrations are probably those of the blue-winged teal (Anas discors), which nests up to 60° N in North America and winters beyond 30° S, a distance of over 9,600 km (6,000 miles). In the Old World the northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) has a similar distance of up to about 11,000 km (6,800 miles). The northern pintail and the garganey (Anas querquedula), which breed in the Siberian tundra and taiga and winter in the tropical swamps of Senegal and Chad, are even more remarkable in their adaptability.
The general timing of regular long-distance migrations has been built into an internal hormonal cycle over the course of evolution. These "annual clocks" are kept in synchrony by changes in day length, but the immediate factors initiating the stages of migration are climatic. A mass southward movement occurs when air pressure systems produce a favourable wind flow; overcast conditions or a warm spell may temporarily halt the birds; bright, cold conditions move them on.
Sudden adverse weather may cause considerable mortality, especially where a long sea crossing is involved, as from Greenland to Britain. But the effects of weather on waterfowl populations can be most drastic at the time of breeding. Late frosts and spring floods are catastrophic, especially when there is no time for renesting. Consequently, high-Arctic breeders may have near-complete reproductive failures. Brant geese (Branta bernicla) that winter in western Europe only produce successful broods of young in about half the seasons.
Parasites of many kinds inhabit waterfowl, generally in a state of tolerance, gaining the upper hand only when the bird is stressed in some way, as by food shortage. This is also true for fungal infections, particularly by Aspergillus, a common cause of death in captivity and, exceptionally, in the wild. Bacterial diseases take their toll and sometimes cause wholesale die-offs. Thousands of ducks have succumbed to botulism when shallow, brackish waters dry out in warm countries and the bacteria responsible multiply, producing toxins that cause a fatal paralysis if ingested. Fowl cholera (Pasteurella) sometimes causes epidemics. Mass mortality is also triggered by pollution, especially oil and pesticide spills. A peculiarly insidious danger is lead poisoning caused by the ingestion of lead pellets that accumulate in the mud of waters frequently shot over.
Humans are undoubtedly a major predator of waterfowl. Adult ducks, other than nesting females, suffer relatively little natural predation unless they are sick or weakened by hunger. The main predatory impact comes on the eggs and young. Crows and gulls, mink, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, ground squirrels, snakes, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, pike, and carp all take some toll. In normal circumstances such predation does not destabilize population dynamics, which are, after all, geared to a high rate of loss in the early stages. Predator-control measures have seldom produced any comparable increase in waterfowl production.
Beneficial relations exist with other birds and animals. Thus stifftails and eiders actually prefer to nest in association with the smaller gulls (Larus species). The latter tend to drive off predators and, by increasing the number of available eggs, relieve the pressure of egg predators. The muskrat clears water routes in reed beds and builds "houses" that are utilized by ducks for standing and nesting. Beaver dams create very attractive duck habitats. And, of course, man himself is not wholly destructive but creates some new areas for waterfowl and provides them with food, both unintentionally and on purpose.


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2013 aston-martin rapide Model Overview
Is there a better-looking four-door sedan (OK, hatchback) on the road? The 2013 Aston Martin Rapide is the British automaker's super luxurious sport tourer designed to go head to head with established players like Bentley and Rolls-Royce, as well as newcomers like Porsche's sporty and popular Panamera. The four-door Rapide rides on a stretched version of the Aston Martin DB9's platform, and is powered by its 5.9-liter V-12. Paired with a rear-mounted six-speed automatic transmission, the Rapide has 470 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque on tap. That's good for a 4.7 second run to 60 mph, and an EPA estimated 13/19 mpg city/highway.
Though it looks like a purebred sports car, the Rapide
is more of a grand tourer. During our first drive of the Rapide, we wrote, "In the twisties the Rapide feels like a DB9 on Novocaine. Though the steering is still tactile and linear, the longer wheelbase has clearly damped its reflexes. As a result, the car feels more like an old-school GT than a kart-darty corner hog." In a comparison test between it, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed, and Rolls-Royce Ghost, we noted that while the Rapide is arguably the most beautiful four-door in the world, the back seat was best-suited to children.
With a mid-cycle refresh due next year, Aston Martin hasn't made any changes to the 2013 Rapide. It remains luxuriously and lavishly equipped, though we're sure even more exclusive options (and more power) is just a year off.
New for 2013
The Aston Martin Rapide is unchanged for the 2013 model year. Next year the Rapide will get an update, which will include redesigned front-end, more power, and higher-quality interior materials than before.
You'll Like
- It's an Aston Martin
- Gorgeous sheet metal
- V-12 wail
- Bringing your kids along with for the ride
You Won't Like
- Headroom is tight in back for taller passengers
- Pricier than many of its rivals
Key Competitors
- Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed
- BMW M6 Gran Coupe
- Maserati Quattroporte
- Porsche Panamera
- Tesla Model S


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The biggest update is the creation of a Facebook memorial page, which appears to have gone up earlier today, possibly within the last hour. The page's administrator writes that Tom's funeral will take place in Indiana and there will be an additional memorial in L.A., tentatively scheduled for June 11th. One post reads:
"We want to let you know that Tom's mother, Martha Bridegroom, is planning Tom's funeral arrangements and he will be laid to rest in his home state of Indiana. The Los Angeles memorial will bring together anyone and everyone who will not be able to attend the memorial in Indiana."


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The Dr. Pat Show: Talk Radio to Thrive By!: 5 Truths of Living in an Empowered State of Reality tm
10/02/2006 12:00 am PDT
Dr. Pat Baccili
Dr. Pat Baccili helps individuals and organizations break through their limiting Crust so they can reach their unlimited potential. Her specialty is assisting people face t...Find out more »
Dr. Steve Maraboli
Dr. Steve Maraboli is a Behavioral Scientist specializing in Motivational Psychology, Leadership Dynamics, and the Peak Performance Mindset. A popular keynote speaker, autho...Find out more »


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Webcast: Putting a Better SQL Server in Production
Webcast: Putting a Better SQL Server in Production
Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time / 2:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM PT
Problems come up everyday that could have been avoided by simply configuring SQL Server appropriately before using it. The tricky part is knowing what to change and how to determine the correct setting. Some settings require knowledge of how SQL Server works internally and how the setting affects performance. We'll take a look at the default settings in SQL Server that should be changed before a SQL Server is put into production and provide guidelines on how to determine the best settings with which to go into production.
If your process for putting a new SQL server into production looks like the below, then this webcast is for you.
- Install SQL Server
- Deploy


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Create your own Luck!
The frantic Space Age gem rush!
Discover a new way to play
Show your true strength
Can you find them all?
Put your brain to the test!
Fast & Frantic online Bingo tournaments
The definitive medieval experience
How lucky are you?
What horrors await you after dark?


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Reviewed by Clarisa V (age 10)
My favorite part was when J.T built a little house for the cat because it showed that J.T really cared for the cat. Two of the characters in the book reminded me of my cat and me because I loved and I took care of my cat also. When I read the book I felt kind of sad. It made me think about kids and their cats. The most unique thing about this book is how the book looks. It looks like it is an old book because everything is in black and white. So I think that is unique.
I recommend this book because it is a very good book to read. If you like cats and sad books this is the one you should read. You may be interested in this book because it talks a lot about J.T finding and taking care of a cat. The author writes this book in a very detailed way.


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On Tuesday night, all three network evening newscasts ran with stories on a newly released government report blaming man-made climate change for recent extreme weather. ABC's World News led the charge, as anchor Diane Sawyer sounded the alarm: "Hot planet. The world is heating up. And for the first time, a U.S. Government-backed report ties that searing heat, those epic storms, to man-made global warming."
Sawyer cited a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as a "major alert about the speed of climate change on this planet" and wondered if the study represented "a tipping point" on the issue. Turning to weather editor Sam Champion, Sawyer hoped there was "still time to do something." Champion proclaimed: "I would say is, now is the time we start limiting man-made greenhouse gases if we're starting to see that that is exactly what other studies are showing."
On NBC's Nightly News, correspondent Anne Thompson used National Climatic Data Center Director Tom Karl to blame "human activity" for "increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere" and leading to more extreme weather. Thompson then added: "Gases like carbon dioxide, created when we burn fossil fuels. Gases that trap heat and warm the earth."
On the CBS Evening News, anchor Scott Pelley explained to viewers: "We've been reporting on a lot of extreme weather. And today, for the very first time, government scientists are saying that these events are likely connected to man-made climate change." Correspondent Wyatt Andrews followed by declaring: "The report says last year's record drought in Texas was made roughly 20 times more likely because of man-made climate change, specifically meaning warming that comes from greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide."
Strangely, Andrews concluded the segment by telling Pelley: "You're going to see a lot of scientists criticizing this as a guess, but NOAA for the first time is arguing, Scott, that this is science." What made that statement so odd was that no such critics were featured in the coverage. Such skeptics were also absent from ABC and NBC.
In addition, the networks completely ignored a new study published in the journal Nature that actually showed a cooling trend over the centuries.
Here is a full transcript of the July 10 World News report:
DIANE SAWYER: Hot planet. The world is heating up. And for the first time, a U.S. Government-backed report ties that searing heat, those epic storms, to man-made global warming.
SAWYER: We begin with a new report and a major alert about the speed of climate change on this planet. Hundreds of scientists from around the globe saying today there is evidence that global warming is accelerating. Sea levels rising, greenhouse gases mounting, glaciers melting. And for the first time, a government-backed report links the recent wild weather to man-made causes. So is this a kind of tipping point? ABC's weather editor Sam Champion begins by breaking it down for us.
SAM CHAMPION: The extreme weather of 2011.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Oh, gosh that is a monster tornado.
CHAMPION: The worst drought in a decade. Even the recent headline of the hottest 12 months we've ever lived through. All are a global concern. Areas of the world are getting hotter and dryer. Flood zones getting pummeled. Extreme weather becoming the rule, not the exception. And according to many scientists, global warming is a cause.
HEIDI CULLEN [CLIMATOLOGIST, CLIMATE CHANGE]: What we know really well about global warming is that it increases the likelihood of more extreme events.
CHAMPION: Today, hundreds of scientists from 48 countries released their annual State of the Climate report, which shows the trend toward a rapidly warming planet has been accelerating. The study examined headlines, like rising temperatures both on land and in our oceans. And examined disappearing sea ice. 2011 showed the second smallest area of ice on record. Also noting glaciers around the world continue to shrink. Greenland has one of the largest ice bodies in the world. And pictures now show Greenland's glaciers are melting 30 times faster than they were a decade ago.
Over the last century, sea levels have risen about ten inches. But by 2050, scientists predict the levels will increase another foot. If that holds true, parts of cities like Miami and New Orleans will be under water.
For the first time in its history, this study says 2011 weather extremes are connected to man-made global warming. This study does not make predictions for the future, but it begs the question, have we reached the tipping point? Scientists tell us, not yet.
CULLEN: There may not be a tipping point this year or next year. But the odds just keep growing. And it's one of these problems where the sooner you deal with it, the easier it is.
SAWYER: And I want to turn to Sam Champion right now. So Sam, how did they link this to man-made causes for first time?
CHAMPION: In looking through the report, Diane, the one thing they won't do is say that that particular thunderstorm or that particular flood event was caused by global warming, but what they do say is that all of these greenhouse gases are on the rise, and at the largest and highest levels that they've seen since they've been keeping records. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. They also say that they were not able to detect natural rises in greenhouse gases.
SAWYER: So these are man-made gases they're seeing and not natural gases?
CHAMPION: For the first time, that's what the report says.
SAWYER: Now we've heard it's not yet the tipping point. So still time to do something?
CHAMPION: Well, in my – if you want my opinion, Diane, what I would say is, now is the time we start limiting man-made greenhouse gases if we're starting to see that that is exactly what other studies are showing.
SAWYER: Alright, well this will start a lot of conversation. Big new report today. Thanks, Sam.


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The Dark Knight Rises: Batman's Best Gadgets
What do you think is the most important quote from the 73-year-old Batman mythos?
Would you answer: "Criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot" (from Detective Comics #33, 1939) or "Where does he get those wonderful toys" (from Jack Nicholson as the Joker in Tim Burton's Batman, 1989)?
If you picked the latter, then you've come to the right place. Yes, Batman's black rubber Batsuit is its own work of art (according to Wikipedia, it is constructed of 110 separate pieces), but it's those fantastic toys that have us salivating with gadget lust. It's impossible to separate the Batman from his Bat-gadgets—some are strapped to his utility belt, after all. James Bond may go without visiting Q once in a while, but Batman never leaves the Batcave without his arsenal of bad guy-busting goodies.
As The Dark Knight Rises comes to theaters today, ending the latest Batman movie trilogy, we decided once again to delve into the technology and toys used by one of the world's most recognizable super heroes. (You can read up on the tech used in your other favorite sci-fi flicks like The Avengers, Prometheus, and The Amazing Spider-Man.) Batman writers have constantly pushed the envelope when it comes to the tools used by the caped crusader, coming up with some years before they became standard in real-life crime-fighting. Here's a list of our favorites.
Did we leave out your Bat-tech of choice? Be sure to pipe up in the comments section at the end.
[All images are copyright DC Entertainment, Rocksteady Studios, Warner Bros., and Legendary Pictures]
1 Batcomputer
2 Cryptographic Sequencer
3 Smoke Pellets
4 Night Vision (aka Bat-Goggles)
5 Batarang
6 Explosive Gel
7 Memory-Cloth Cape
8 Sonic Bat Call
9 Grapple Gun
10 Tumbler/Batpod
11 The Bat
12 Shark Repellent Bat-Spray


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These things – omg omg omg – are the tastiest little morsels ever. Friends who've tried them have said
"That's the best thing I've ever tasted"
"Those cannot possibly be sugar-free"
and other things that were unintelligible.
Lately I've been making them to control my sugar cravings in the post-lunch lull at work. Dates and pure maple syrup provide benefits such as fiber, potassium, manganese, zinc, and other nutrients, and the fat and protein in the almond butter, walnuts, and almonds counteract their natural sugars, meaning I don't have the spike (and crash) that I would with something like a cupcake. These are also very rich, so I'm satisfied with one or two. Win!
My only critique of this recipe is that it needs a better name. I had to put Alicia's name in front of it to give it some credibility. As it is, whenever I say it out loud, I have to say it in a silly voice – because inside, I am a prepubescent. Raw balls. I digress.
I have made these two different ways. Originally, I used carob chips and processed them into a powder, because my closest health food store didn't sell carob powder. These are sweetened with malted corn and barley. I also used toasted almond butter, which is sweetened with organic unrefined cane sugar. And, I suppose, not technically raw.
Then I wanted to make a truly refined-sugar-free version, so I processed a bar of unsweetened chocolate (100% pure cacao) and used raw almond butter, which is truly made from nothing but almonds.
Because of the fat and/or moisture content (?) in the chocolate, I wasn't able to get a true powder consistency – it looked more like instant coffee that's been hanging around too long – but it did the job.
The chocolate lent a bit more richness to this recipe than the carob, but I enjoy both. Of course, you could also sub unsweetened cocoa powder here. And you could use peanut butter or hazelnut butter instead of the almond… feel free to experiment!
Once all the ingredients are processed into a dough, roll it into 1″-2″ balls, then roll in a topping of your choice. I did half in unsweetened shredded coconut and half in a mixture of cocoa powder, cinnamon, and walnuts.
These get pretty mushy at room temperature, so I'd recommend eating them straight out of the fridge. And if transporting, be sure to do so in a hard, sealed container and not a Ziploc bag… not that you or I would ever make such a mushy mistake…
To your health!
RECIPE – Alicia Silverstone's Raw Balls
Adapted from The Kind Diet, by Alicia Silverstone
Makes 10 to 12 balls.
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup raw carob powder
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup whole almonds
1/2 cup almond butter
Optional: shredded unsweetened coconut, cocoa powder, instant coffee powder, spices, nuts – for rolling
Place the walnuts in a food processor and process until coarsely ground. Add the dates, and pulse until well combined with the nuts. Add the carob powder, syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Process until mixture is thick and smooth. Add the almonds, and pulse a few times until combined; you want them to remain in crunchy chunks. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in almond butter with a sturdy spoon.
Form the mixture into golf-ball-size balls with your hands. Roll the balls in the topping of your choice. Place in a sealed container in the freezer until hardened.


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Barnes set for Japan at season's end
STAR Wallabies and Waratahs back Berrick Barnes to have committed to playing in Japan as soon as this year's Super rugby season over and is on the verge of signing a contract with the Panasonic Wild Knights.
Fairfax Media has been told that Barnes will replace New Zealand Mike Delany at Panasonic, with the one-time All Black opting to further his career in France.
A move by Barnes, 26, to Panasonic that is based in Ota City in Gunma prefecture and plays in the Japanese Top League, would be a huge blow to the Waratahs, who play their first of three Super Rugby trials against the Rebels in Hobart on Saturday night.
The news will be a blow to new Waratahs coach Michael Cheika. Coming so close to the Super Rugby season, the news will ensure that the Waratahs' campaign now faces some unwanted off-field turmoil.
It is no secret that Barnes, who is off contract after this season, has been of interest to clubs in Japan and France.
Barnes is contracted with the Australian Rugby Union until the end of 2013 and will need to be granted an early release from his deal to move to Japan at the completion of the Super Rugby competition.
During the Wallabies' spring tour last year, Barnes said he would wait until after this year's Super season before making any decision about his future in the game. Although he said during the tour that he had had a lot of interest in his services.
Now, after much speculation since the tour ended in early December when Barnes earned his 50th Test cap in the final Test against Wales, sources have told Fairfax Media that Barnes is Japan bound as soon as this year's Super Rugby season is over.
One source said that Barnes, who is a crucial component to the Wallabies in attack and and no matter whether he plays at five-eighth or full-back, is on th cusp of a deal with Panasonic.
Barnes, a former rugby league player, is only the 37th Wallaby - out of 866 - to have worn the jersey 50 times, switched to rugby from the Brisbane Broncos NRL side in 2006 when he joined the Queensland Reds.
After playing 45 games for Queensland, he then joined the Waratahs in 2010 and has since taken his tally of Super Rugby caps to 82 with NSW.
Barnes made his Test debut in the 2007 World Cup in France against Japan when he came on from the bench for injured five-eighth Stephen Larkham.
While Barnes was the last player picked by the then Wallabies coach John Connolly for the World Cup, he ended up being the revelation of the otherwise disappointing Wallabies in that tournament as Australia were bundled out by England in their quarter-final at Marseilles.
Barnes, who was also picked by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans for the 2011 World Cup, has nevertheless had a career plagued with form slumps and injuries.
Most worrying of his injuries his suffering with "footballer's migraine" in 2011 that at one point threatened his playing career at any level of the game and the groin injury that affected his European tour.
However, Barnes is still a major asset for any side – from his Shute Shield club, Sydney University, to the Waratahs and the Wallabies.
While Barnes with the Waratahs since January 7, he has not been named in NSW's 28-strong squad to play the Melbourne Rebels at North Hobart Football Club on Saturday.
Barnes and the Wallabies who toured Europe with him in spring, are due to resume playing for the Waratahs final of three trial games against the Canterbury Crusaders at Allianz Stadium at Moore Park in Sydney on Thursday, February 14
The Waratahs, who will be in the game by halfback Brendan McKibbin, six new recruits in their line-up with the star NSW newcomer to join Ollie Atkins, Cam Crawford, Luke Holmes, Matt Lucas and Ben Volavola being former NRL and AFL player Israel Folau.
The Waratahs line-up also includes 10 players who are not on contract but regarded as worth keeping an eye on in the future.
Twitter: @rupertguinness
Correction: An original version of this story said that Berrick Barnes had signed with Panasonic. Fairfax Media understands he has not signed but is on the verge of doing so.
Rupert Guinness is a Sports Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald