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- Publish date:
- Updated on
- Year
- 1997
Jeff Gordon becomes youngest Daytona winner
On February 16, 1997, 25-year-old Jeff Gordon claims his first Daytona 500 victory, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the 200-lap, 500-mile National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) event, dubbed the "Super Bowl of stock car racing." Driving his No. 24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the Hendrick Motorsports racing team, Gordon recorded an average speed of 148.295 mph and took home prize money of more than $377,000. According to NASCAR.com, Gordon was "a veritable babe in a field that included 27 drivers older than 35, 16 at least 40." Gordon's Hendrick teammates Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven finished the race second and third, respectively.
Gordon was born August 4, 1971, in Vallejo, California, and became involved in racing as a child. In 1993, he competed in his first full season of Winston Cup series (now known as the Sprint Cup), NASCAR's top racing series, and was named Rookie of the Year. He went on to win the Winston series championship in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001. Following his first victory at the Daytona 500 in 1997, Gordon won the prestigious race, which serves as the NASCAR season-opener, again in 1999 and 2005.
At the other end of the Daytona age spectrum from Gordon is 50-year-old Bobby Allison, who on February 14, 1988, became the oldest driver to win the Daytona 500. He had an average speed of 137.531 mph and collected over $202,000 in prize money. Allison's son Davey came in second place in that race. Bobby Allison, who was born on December 3, 1937, in Florida, drove in his first Daytona 500 in 1961 and went on to win the race in 1978 and 1982, in addition to his 1988 victory.
The first-ever Daytona 500 was held on February 22, 1959, at the then brand-new Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. A crowd of more than 40,000 was on hand to witness the 59 cars that started the event. Lee Petty narrowly defeated Johnny Beauchamp to win the race with an average speed of 135.521 mph. He collected prize money of some $19,000. By comparison, Matt Kenseth won the 2009 Daytona 500 with an average speed of 132.816 mph, and took home prize money of more than $1.5 million.


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Culpeper Microscope
Culpeper Microscope. Curious Science has a wide range of period Antique Microscopes specimens for hire as props to the tv and film industry. We have many Antique Microscopes examples available which are not on view on our web site. Please contact us on 0208 961 3113.
Prop No: 1297

subset: commoncrawl


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On tonight's episode of Bethenny's Getting Married? We finally get to see Bethenny get married!
The big day has finally arrived and Bethenny Frankel is indeed getting married! A few select housewives aka Alex McCord and Ramona Singer (and plenty of awaiting paparazzi) are present as the Bride prepares to walk down the aisle. With her due date in the near future, a very pregnant Bethenny gets desperate when she needs a bathroom break too close to show time.
Tune in tonight at 10/9c on Bravo to see Bethenny and Jason exchange their vows. Photos from the big day can be seen here.
Speaking of Bethenny, though a lot of amazing things seem to be happening to her – think PEOPLE magazine cover and a hit reality show – some are starting to wonder if it's all too much too soon.
I blogged a while back stating that watching Bethenny on BGM gave me some cringeworthy moments. I didn't go into detail about it but the folks at NyMag.com wrote a good article asking is Bethenny to BGM what Jill Zarin was to the Real Housewives of New York City. As in is well liked Bethenny the villain of her own show?
Examples of Bethenny's villainess behavior include asking her assistant Max Meisel to pick out her panties for her, scolding him for not having the car ready after one of her speaking arrangements, getting snappy with fiance Jason, or how about when Jason's mom took Bethenny wedding dress shopping and tearfully told her "I finally have a daughter." Bethenny seemed moved by her comments and teared up as well only to then turn around and act like she was doing the woman a favor, in therapy, when she stated "I could have gone on my own."
It didn't end there as Bethenny then held it against Jason during a later argument about how she had to take his mom dress-shopping. The writer makes an excellent point when she says Bethenny "should be thanking these people for not holding it against her that she's dragged them onto Bravo."
Another blogger at Chicagonow.com wrote a nice article asking "Is Bethenny Frankel being built up just to be torn down?" Bethenny seems to be at her peak right now with the husband, hit show, popularity amongst the fans, and of course the PEOPLE magazine cover. And trust folks, the People magazine cover is a HUGE deal. She's been on the cover before but she's never had the main cover dedicated to her. That's a first for any Bravo reality star. In fact the only other reality stars who has had a cover story dedicated to them on People are Kate Gosselin, and some past Bachelor alums. Oh yeah, and the above picture is of Bethenny during her appearance on CBS' Early Show today.
The article questions if the tide is turning for Bethenny as some fans are jumping ship based on what they've seen on BGM, you know Bethenny being a pregzilla bridezilla. Then there's also been the negative press questioning her rapid weight loss after the birth of daughter Bryn, and the whole beef with reality villainess Omarosa.
But then again perhaps we the bloggers are over-analyzing what we see on TV. My take on this? I'm a Bethenny fan, and still like her for the moment. My fear however is those sentiments might change by the time this season of BGM ends. I hope that's not the case. Perhaps I'm just overreacting to what is normal behavior by a hormonal pregnant lady who's planning a wedding. But perhaps I'm not. Perhaps Bethenny is just too honest and doesn't know where to draw the line in filming a reality show. Or perhaps she's just a villain. I would love to hear your views and opinions on Bethenny on Bethenny Getting Married?


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Thursday, July 19
Good morning, TexMessengers! Happy birthday to ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, born today in 1965.
Given its recent accomplishment, Gainesville can be forgiven if red, white and blue celebrations extend past the Fourth of July this summer.
Every morning, we share some headlines from the 2012 presidential campaigns.
★Mitt Romney's tax returns: lies, half-truths and contradictions
Reader Comment of the Day
In response to our Texas on the Potomac article "Health reasons keep Barbara, George H.W. Bush from GOP convention" reader "headstompr" wrote in the comments forum:
"I hope Mr. Bush's health improves. I'm not a big fan of many republican policies, but I've always had a lot of respect for him."
Texas Watch
TxPotomac lets you know what stories to look out for later this week.
★ Thursday, July 19: House Natural Resources — Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs subcommittee hearing: Fisheries and Oceans Bills. Longworth building, 2 p.m.
Tomorrow and beyond:
★ Tuesday, July 31: Texas Senate runoff election
Today in Texas History
On this date in 1878, Texas Ranger Dick Ware, shot and killed infamous thief Sam Bass as Bass attempted to rob a bank in Round Rock. More>>>


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Illinois Animal Control Directory Please Choose From the Following Counties for the nearest Animal Control
Illinois Wildlife Control
Please Choose from one
This directory lists professional nuisance wildlife control operator companies. These companies provide professional pest control for wild animals. They are not exterminators, but rather critter removal & control experts who trap wild animals, not insects. I have also listed the county animal services.
The city or county animal control will not assist with problems involving wild animals such as squirrels, skunks, raccoons, opossums, rats, mice, snakes, bats, or other wild animals that can invade people's homes and property. If you need wildlife removal services in your town, please check the county closest to your location. These are professional trappers that operate animal damage control businesses.
If there is no listing for your area, look in your local yellow pages under the "pest control" section or the "animal removal" section, and find a company that deals strictly with wild animals.
Providing humane, efficient wildlife removal of unwanted guests such as groundhogs, raccoons, opossums, skunks, squirrels, flying squirrels, bats, mice, snakes, muskrats, rabbits, beavers, coyotes, foxes, ducks, geese, pigeons, seagulls, woodpeckers, feral cats, deer, turtles, and other wildlife.


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Iraqi politics needs new blood. We don't want the people who created our miseries to be re-elected. We want honest people who can fix the situation, not make it worse. —Ammar Faleh
BAGHDAD — The vibrant posters promise jobs, prosperity and security coming from Iraq's first parliamentary elections since U.S. troops withdrew from the country, but so far, voters have only dim hopes as sectarian bloodshed rages unstopped.
Eleven years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, Iraqis live in a deeply divided country sinking back into a cycle of violence that claimed more than 8,800 lives last year alone. Candidates largely campaign by smiling signs alone — some women in conservative districts using only images of husbands or brothers — as suicide bombers killed at least 33 people at a rare rally Friday by a Shiite militant group fielding its own political hopefuls.
The resurgence of sectarian violence, which nearly tore Iraq apart in 2006 and 2007, is both a reflection of the 3-year-old conflict in neighboring Syria and the politics of a democratic, but splintered nation. Voters in Wednesday's polls are widely expected to cast ballots along sectarian and ethnic lines, though many say they have little hope the election will bring any real change.
"Iraqi politics needs new blood," said Ammar Faleh, a 35-year-old Shiite government employee in Baghdad's eastern Sadr City. "We don't want the people who created our miseries to be re-elected. We want honest people who can fix the situation, not make it worse."
More than 9,000 candidates are vying for 328 seats in parliament. As in the last round of nationwide elections in 2010, fierce intra-sectarian political rivalries have left members of the country's majority Shiite community running on different tickets — a shift from the 2006 elections when they formed a unified list with support from traditional religious authorities.
Whichever bloc comes out ahead will have a shot at cobbling together a coalition that will choose the prime minister, though many Iraqis expect that post could well remain in the hands of the man who has held it since 2006: Nouri al-Maliki. However, the administration of Al-Maliki, 63, has been unable to stop the near-daily bloodshed on the country's streets, while corruption permeates all levels of government.
Despite the unrest, al-Maliki is presenting himself as a strong Shiite leader who can defeat the resilient Sunni-led insurgency that has come roaring back on his watch. One of his campaign posters shows him standing next to soldier with a slogan reading: "Together, we defeat terrorism."
Experts predict al-Maliki's State of Law coalition will gain the largest number of seats, given its emergence as the largest single bloc in seven of 12 provinces in last year's provincial elections. But even if he secures the most seats, al-Maliki likely will need to work with opponents to build a coalition to form the next government.
His main Shiite rivals are the al-Muwatin coalition, led by powerful cleric Ammar al-Hakim, who heads the Shiite Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, as well as followers of the firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The Sadrists are running on three separate lists, with the major one called al-Ahrar.
A new Shiite political player running for seats this time around is the extremist Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or "the League of the Righteous." Its followers carried out deadly attacks against U.S. troops before their withdrawal and claimed responsibility for the 2007 kidnapping of a British contractor along with his four guards.
Their entry into the political process sparked new bloodshed Friday. A Sunni al-Qaida breakaway group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, said its suicide bombers attacked Asaib Ahl al-Haq's rally for some 10,000 followers Friday, an assault that killed at least 33 people.
The Islamic State said on a militant website that the bombings were to avenge what it called the killing of Sunnis and their forced removal from their homes by Shiite militias. The split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, going back centuries to the founding of Islam, has fueled violence in Iraq, home to 32 million people.
Those sectarian divisions have been exacerbated by the civil war in neighboring Syria, where Sunnis rebels fight against the rule of President Bashar Assad, a member of a Shiite sect. The Islamic State and Asaib Ahl al-Haq fight on opposite sides in Syria.
Iraq's Sunnis are divided too in the election, no longer throwing the bulk of their support behind the big-tent Iraqiya bloc of the 2010 elections. The main contenders this time are parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi's Mutahidoun bloc, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq's Al-Arabiya bloc and the al-Wataniya bloc led by former premier Ayad Allawi, a Shiite.
Iraq's Kurds, who hold their own self-rule region in the north that's seen development and little violence compared to the rest of the country, are also running on different lists in many areas due to political infighting.
Public opinion seems to be as divided as the politicians, with many Iraqis saying what they want most are fresh faces.
"We should not give up dreaming of change," Youssef Ibrahim, 53, a Sunni teacher from Baghdad's northern district of Azamiyah. "Corrupt and sectarian government should be replaced. If we stay at home, al-Maliki will win again and he will keep destroying the country."
Iraq's Sunnis rose up in late 2012 to protest what they see as second-class treatment by the Shiites. Many Sunnis blame al-Maliki for promoting his sect at their expense and for being too closely aligned with neighboring Iran.
"We have suffered a lot due to al-Maliki's sectarian policies," said Suleiman Khalaf, a 54-year old Sunni shopkeeper in the northern city of Mosul. "If al-Maliki and his people win the upcoming elections, more disasters will fall on Iraq and Sunnis should look for another country to live in."
But in a stark sign of the country's instability, there will be no balloting in parts of the western Sunni-dominated province of Anbar. The area remains engulfed in clashes that began months ago between security forces and al-Qaida-inspired Sunni militants. The insurgents control pockets of the provincial capital, Ramadi, and nearly all of the nearby city of Fallujah.
Follow Sinan Salaheddin on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sinansm .


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YANJI, China — She was a North Korean success story.
For more than two decades, the woman, now 50, dabbled in various businesses at the border between China and North Korea. She sold rice. She traded foreign currency. She opened a massage parlor in China. She traveled between the two countries with relative ease and was making sufficient money to live comfortably, so much so that she rebuffed invitations to join her sister, who had defected to South Korea.
But the woman, who didn't want her name used out of fear for her safety, has changed her thinking about the future since the December execution of Jang Song Taek, the uncle by marriage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Jang, 67, was long viewed as a champion of free enterprise within the nominally communist state, and his purge has rattled many North Koreans.
"People are scared. If he could do this to his own uncle, what would he do to the rest of us?" said the woman in an interview in a hotel room in Yanji, a city 20 miles from the North Korean border where she has been living in recent years.
The woman, wearing heavy makeup and a fake-fur-trimmed sweater and rhinestones, trying hard not to look North Korean for fear of being deported, , confided in a tremulous voice her plan to escape to South Korea.
The sentiment reverberates throughout the community of expatriate North Koreans here. Until recently, it was assumed that Kim, 31, would steer the country toward economic reforms. In Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, there are new restaurants, a pizzeria and a coffee shop; the country in November announced 13 special economic zones designed to encourage free trade, similar to those that pried China open in the 1980s. There was more tolerance for entrepreneurs working the border and selling at the jamadang, North Korea's open-air markets.
"We had been hopeful. We thought things were getting better," said the woman, who comes from Undok, a town in the far north that was part of a special economic zone.
Thousands of North Koreans live and work without legal standing across the border in northeastern China. About 1,500 North Koreans defected last year to South Korea, according to government figures from Seoul, most of them initially crossing the 850-mile-long China-North Korea border. The numbers had trailed off recently, in part because the moribund North Korean economy looked as though it was coming to life, but they are expected to pick up this year because of the reverberations of Jang's execution.
"It might be the largest wave of defections ever, not in numbers but in political significance," said Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Kookmin University. "I would expect to see officers, people handling foreign trade, private operators and their families."
South Korean news media have been replete with reports of high-ranking defectors, among them Jang's minions in business and government. But it is clear from interviews near the border that low-level businesspeople, who never came close to meeting Jang, are among those shaken.
Another North Korean woman living in Yanji, who is married to a Chinese man, said she had a sister who was considering defecting because of the Jang killing.
"We were very shocked. Jang was a very famous person. Even children knew his name. He was going to do economic reforms," said Li Saera, 43, originally from Hoeryong, a border town.
Even with North Korea's abysmal human rights reputation, the purge was shocking for its ruthlessness. Once the second-most powerful man in the country, Jang was shown on state television being yanked by his armpits out of his seat at a conclave of the ruling Workers' Party. State media denounced him as "despicable human scum … worse than a dog" and reported that he had been swiftly executed.
An unsubstantiated rumor — most likely apocryphal — on the Internet in Chinese claimed that he was torn apart by hungry dogs.
A report published in South Korea said the North Korean government had also executed Jang's extended family, including a nephew who had been ambassador to Malaysia and a brother-in-law who had been ambassador to Cuba. Although that report was also unconfirmed, it would be in keeping with long-standing North Korean policy to punish relatives of those accused of political crimes.
Some of the North Koreans in Yanji said they feared that the North Korean government would adopt a harsher policy toward defectors and the family members left behind.
"Now it is not just a question of disappointment. There is terror," said the 50-year-old businesswoman. She said she appreciated the relatively tolerant attitude in recent years toward people doing business, as well as toward people who had relatives who defected.
"There had been in the last few years a spirit of forgiveness in North Korea. That seems to be gone," she said.
Jang, widely traveled and cosmopolitan, was considered the most business-friendly North Korean official and the contact person for the country's engagement with the outside world.
"The dream dies with Jang Song Taek," said Kim Tae Jin, who defected from the North in the 1990s and now runs a human rights organization in Seoul working with recent defectors. "People are disappointed. This will give an added push for them to defect."
Chinese have also been rattled by the purge. Jang was considered China's point man in Pyongyang. He visited Beijing in 2012 as his nephew's special envoy and negotiated deals to attract badly needed Chinese investment. One of the most promising was the special economic zone in the North Korean city of Rason, where Chinese state-owned enterprises had leased a port and were building roads and even a miles-long power cable from China to provide electricity, chronically in short supply in North Korea.
"Everything has stopped in Rason," said a businessman based near Yanji who was recently in Rason. "When we were there, we were the only people staying in the hotel. The Chinese don't want to stay overnight. They're scared too."
The Rason zone, which includes Undok, the businesswoman's hometown, was mentioned specifically in the charges against Jang announced by the North Korean state news agency. He was accused of an "act of treachery" for "selling off the land of the Rason economic and trade zone to a foreign country for a period of five decades."
The state media also complained of Jang's deals to "sell coal and other underground precious resources" — also a clear reference to deals with the Chinese.


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Michelin CrossClimate+ 235/40Y18 (95)
Arm yourself for every weather condition. The summer tyre with winter certification.
Key Features
- New improved CrossClimate design incorporates the latest generation Michelin tread compound, providing safety and grip thoughout the life of the tyre
- Excellent grip on wet roads in summer and winter - ideally suited to UK winter conditions
- 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for added traction and mobilty on snow, unparalleld by any other summer tyre.
- Load Index : 95
Tyre Label All Season Car Reinforced
Book & Pay Online
£134.00 each
The "Book & Pay Online" price is an exclusive online price and includes fitting, standard valve (Cap & Core if TPMS fitted), balance and environmental tyre disposal.


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Crafter's Cut Mirror Mosaic Tiles
Crafter's Cut tile is pre-cut, irregularly shaped glass mosaic tile. Each individual tile is hand-cut by expert glassmen, and don't require any nipping. These mirrors can be used as an accent or used on their own.
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Sumo History
The Origins of Sumo Wrestling
"A ccording to Japanese legend the very origin of the Japanese race depended on the outcome of a sumo match. The supremacy of the Japanese people on the islands of Japan was supposedly established when the god, Take-mikazuchi, won a sumo bout with the leader of a rival tribe. Apart from legend, however, sumo is an ancient sport dating back some 1500 years.
I ts origins were religious. The first sumo matches were a form of ritual dedicated to the gods with prayers for a bountiful harvest and were performed together with sacred dancing and dramas within the precincts of the shrines. The Nara Period(The 8th century)sumo was introduced into the ceremonies of the Imperial Court. A wrestling festival was held annually which included music and dancing in which the victorious wrestlers participated. Early sumo was a rough-and-tumble affair combining elements of boxing and wrestling with few or no holds barred. But under the continued patronage of the Imperial Court rules were formulated and techniques developed so that it came more nearly to resemble the sumo of today.
A military dictatorship was established in Kamakura in 1192 and a long period of intense warfare ensued. Sumo, quite naturally, was regarded chiefly for its military usefulness and as a means of increasing the efficiency of the fighting men. Later in the hands of the samurai, jujitsu was developed as an offshoot of sumo. Peace was finally restored when the different warring factions were united under the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603. A period of prosperity followed, marked by the rise to power of the new mercantile classes. Professional sumo groups were organized to entertain the rapidly expanding plebian class and sumo came into its own as the national sport of Japan. The present Japan Sumo Association has its origins in these groups first formed in the Edo Period."
© 2007 Nihon Sumo Kyokai. All Rights Reserved
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Mirrored Sunglasses
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At Direct Sight, we are proud of our extensive range of designer sunglasses and DS Collection sunglasses. Whether you're looking for a pair of designer Ray Ban sunglasses or cheap sunglasses for everyday wear, you will be able to find the perfect pair in our range.
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Shop our cheap sunglasses and designer sunglasses above for a perfect pair of frames this summer!


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florist by location
locations in Suffolk
florist by county
florists in London
Florists & Flower Shops in GuntonFlorists, flowers & online flower shops in Gunton. All Florists UK directory has been created to provide easy access to local & national florists providing flower delivery in Gunton. The Gunton florists listed on this page cater for all floristry services & occasions, from wedding flowers & arrangements to corporate & event flowers, be it Valentines or Mothers Day, Christmas or Easter, just click any of the florists listed.
Sarah Jane [Lowestoft]
Florist of distinction providing the finest fresh cut flowers and bouquets for delivery throughout Lowestoft, Suffolk and Nationwide
01502 501333
Burlington Florist [Felixstowe]
We create flower arrangements, bouquets and planted gifts for Anniversaries, Birthdays and other occasions, serving clients throughout Felixstowe and Suffolk
Callas Floral Designs [Ipswich]
Calla's is an independent florist based in Ipswich.
We aim to offer a fresh and innovative approach to floristry.
We aim to offer a fresh and innovative approach to floristry.
Christines Florist [Ipswich]
We are a friendly bunch at Christines.
Christine herself started here in 1970 and has a good profile in the town.
From a small bunch to a complete wedding we can help.
Christine herself started here in 1970 and has a good profile in the town.
From a small bunch to a complete wedding we can help.
English Rose Florist [Bury St Edmunds]
The English Rose Florist has ben flourishing since 2003, specialising in stylish floral arrangements for all types of weddings and events.
Lyns Floral Designs [Bury St Edmunds]
Lyn's Floral Design have been offering a full floral service & delivery to West Suffolk for almost 25 years.
Patsys Flowers [Leiston]
Personal service
Red Roses Society [Lowestoft]
Lowestoft''s very own Interet Florist, We employ the very best florists and balloon decorators for all occasions.
The Flower Scenta [Long Melford]
The Flower Scenta has an enviable reputation for offering the very highest standards in both quality and service. We have a Wedding planning service and also run regular workshops in floristry.
Thrive Floristry [Bury St Edmunds]
Weddings & private commissions are our speciality. Fun flowers for parties & really stylish design for the home... please contact us to discuss ideas and browse our extensive portfolio of work.
Tollys Flowers [Newmarket]
Tolly''s Flowers are the leading Corporate Florists in Newmarket, Suffolk supplying you with any floral design you require based in England. Local Newmarket flower delivery.
Urban Florists [Ipswich]
Wedding Flowers Design Specialists. Visit our website to see our online portfolio.
Free Home Consultation service. OCN Qualified.
Free Home Consultation service. OCN Qualified.
Vintage Bloom [Bury St Edmunds]
Vintage Bloom is a contemporary florist that gathers her flowers in designs that look natural and stunning. We have now opened our Barn so please visit us for flowers, gifts and wedding accessories.
If you want to find those special dates in the florists calendar such as Mother Day, Valentines or Easter please click here.
Submit your site
If you are a florist or flower shop in Gunton & want to be listed on this page
please click here to submit your site to allflorists.co.uk.
please click here to submit your site to allflorists.co.uk.


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Sketching Pastels Sets
by Pacific Arc
Pacific Arc artist quality black square sketching pastels in a convenient set of 3. Each set includes 1 each soft, medium, and hard. Economically priced for professionals or students.
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So I fell into the trap of becoming too involved in the Amazon/Hachette dispute, and I've been openly wondering where all the stupid is coming from, and if I could somehow cork the stupid so it stopped splashing all over the Internet.
Whenever I recognize I'm grinding an ax, I try to take a step back and walk a mile in the other person's moccasins to gain some perspective. I did, and it chilled me out. Because I remember walking that same path, years ago.
I've been preaching since 2010 that self-publishing is not only a viable alternative to the legacy industry, but it can indeed be a preferable one. I'll do a quick recap.
1. You own your rights, rather than a publisher owning them for your lifetime plus seventy years.
2. You can control your cover art and product description.
3. You can set your own price, and change it almost instantly.
4. You don't have to deal with unconscionable contract terms like non-compete clauses.
5. You can get your work to readers faster, and you have the same reach (perhaps even more reach) as publishers do when it comes to digital distribution.
6. You get 70% of list rather than 12.5%.
7. You can run you own ads on places like BookBub and Booksense because you can put your work on sale.
Any writer looking at these advantages has got to be thinking, "That's pretty sweet."
But not every writer looking at these advantages can actually take advantage of them.
If you're locked into a legacy contract, you can't self-pub any of your books. You either owe them your next book, or aren't allowed to release any on your own. Or maybe you're a slower writer and can only write a book a year.
You can see the high prices your publisher is selling your ebooks for, and you are powerless to do anything about it.
If you get a bad cover, you're stuck with it.
If you get poor distribution, you're stuck with it.
And if you complain, you're shitting where you eat and your publisher won't be happy, and they can hurt your career.
If you're like the majority of legacy authors, your backlist hasn't earned out. You aren't getting paid any more on those old titles. And it may take a long time for them to start making you more money. Or maybe you are making a measly amount of money with them. And to make matters worse, you're only paid twice a year, 9 months or more after the sales period ends.
Then Konrath comes by and says, "Self-publish! What are you, a pinhead?"
You know you're not a pinhead. But you believe you can't self-publish.
No wonder you're angry. No wonder you can't stand me. No wonder you hate Amazon.
You played by the rules. You thought you'd be okay. And now you're trapped, and you feel like there is no way out.
I know this feeling. I felt the same way. It sucks.
But here's what I did.
I bought out two of my contracts, returning the advance. I did this even though I couldn't afford it, and it was a huge risk. I did this before we had all of this data that shows self-publishing is viable.
I took a big risk. It was scary. I was giving away guaranteed money on the hope I could make more on DTP (this was before it was called KDP, and before you could publish on Smashwords, Kobo, B&N, or iTunes).
Then I turned down a legacy deal and let Amazon publish Shaken with Amazon Encore (this was before Thomas & Mercer). I was the first author to turn down a deal and give Amazon a shot.
I took a big risk. It was scary.
Then I hired lawyers to get my legacy rights back.
I took a big risk. It was scary.
I know what it's like to feel helpless, and stuck. I know what it's like living advance check to advance check.
I took some really big risks to free me from the legacy system, which I no longer believed it. Then I put all my faith in a new, untested self-publishing system, with only a few months of anecdotal data to support me.
It paid off for me. But it took a lot of soul searching, a lot of analyzing data, and a big leap of faith.
All of you legacy authors who hate me; I know you played by the rules, and are angry that your sales are diminishing, and that your advances are shrinking. I played by the rules, too. I did more signings than any of you--over 1200. I busted my ass to make my legacy career work. And I took a chance on self-publishing, and was lucky that it paid off.
I can see why you don't want to take a chance. Or why you feel you don't even have a choice. You worked within the system, got the keys to the kingdom, and it was supposed to be smooth sailing for you. Then, somehow, the rules changed, and you got screwed.
I get it. I really do.
But your answer isn't hoping for the old system to return. It isn't going to.
Your answer isn't blaming Amazon for your problems. They are here to stay.
Your answer isn't blaming me, or other indie authors, or the self-publishing revolution. We're not trying to rub your nose in our success. We're trying to help you to share the wealth.
Since I took those chances, many other authors have too. Some were legacy veterans. Some were newbies.
For every single one of them, it was scary. There was fear, uncertainty, sleepless nights, and second-guessing.
Many felt trapped by their publishers and contracts. That they needed their next advance to survive.
I know. I felt the same way. I've spoken with dozens of authors privately. I haven't told any of them, "Self-pub! It's the best way!" I've told them they need to choose what's best for them in order to reach their goals, tried to help them figure out the potential benefits and risks, and said that ultimately luck plays a huge part.
I'm not an advocate of self-publishing because I know better than anyone else. I'm an advocate of self-publishing because I've been on both sides of that fence, and my experience isn't unique. Many authors got screwed by the legacy system like I did. Many authors have benefited from self-publishing like I have.
Maybe this Hachette/Amazon dispute isn't bringing out the stupid in people. Maybe it is forcing authors to defend themselves, because they're scared. And when you're scared, you lash out without thinking. You defend yourself rather than consider new ideas. You find scapegoats. You rally with others who feel the same way because there is safety in numbers. You defend your oppressors. You fight the future because it's either that or risking everything.
But there is no reward without risk, and no change without outrage.
I was outraged by the legacy system. The unconscionable contracts. The low royalties. The indecipherable royalty statements. The bi-annual checks. The many mistakes my publishers made that hurt my sales. The unbearable waiting.
Amazon allowed me an opportunity to not only escape from that, but to thrive for the first time in my career. And I'm not the only one they've allowed that opportunity.
Authors need to stop thinking of Amazon as the bad guy, because they feel bad about the contracts they're stuck in.
Worrying Amazon is a monopoly that might someday lower royalties makes no sense, when the Big 5 already function as a monopoly and have low royalties.
The old ways aren't going to return. The new ways aren't going away.
But you don't have to be a victim. You don't have to succumb to learned helplessness. You don't have to defend your publishers. You don't even have to defend yourself.
Yes, you signed the contract. But that doesn't mean you're powerless. Or that you were wrong for signing it. The climate has changed, and as new data comes in, your outlook should change along with it. What was once a good deal (or the only deal in town) may not be a good deal anymore. Why should you be forced to live with that?
You can get out of your situation. But it will mean taking a risk. A chance. Turning down a deal. Returning an advance. Making more contract demands. Hiring a lawyer. Going it alone.
It's not easy. It's scary.
I know. I was there.
Amazon is giving you an opportunity to no longer be at the mercy of a publisher. Rather than be angry at that, maybe it's time to take a deep breath, analyze the situation, reset your goals, and take a chance.
There is no Us vs. Them. We're all writers. We all want the same thing. To make some money at our craft. To reach readers. To be treated fairly.
It will take courage and bravery to change your attitude. It will take luck to bring you success. And everyone's mileage varies.
Life isn't fair. No one owes us a living.
But as long as someone else controls your rights, you are allowing them to control your future.
If you're okay with that, fine. But then it is hypocritical to blame anyone other than yourself for your situation.
If you're not okay with that, figure out how to change it. It won't be easy. But you can do it.
Friday, June 06, 2014
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|The USDA Worcester (MA) Office Christmas Party, Circa 1947
My mom, Christine (Szerejko) Shenette is the young woman in the front row standing to the right of the Christmas tree. Obviously the people in the photo are having a little holiday celebration of some sort, but I no idea who the people were or how they related to my mom's life. Mom looks quite young in the photo, and the clothing styles in the image seem to date from sometime in the 1940s. I figured the party might be connected to a church activity, college, or work. I didn't recognize any of the people in the photo other than my mom so I knew it wasn't a family photo. The people in the photo are not of college age so I took a guess that the group was probably work related.
In the 1940s Mom worked for two main employers--the ration board in Worcester, MA during World War II and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Federal Building (also in Worcester) until she was married in June of 1953. Last summer when I looked at this photo something jumped out at me. Look through the window. What do you see? Notice the architectural elements on the building across the street? They are pretty distinctive. I drive by the old Federal Building on my way to the Worcester Public Library all the time, but I don't usually look up. The next time I went to the library I did, and what did I see? The top of the building on the other side of the street from the Federal Building has the same architectural elements as the building in my photo! The holiday photo was taken while my mom worked for the USDA!
Once I knew where the photo was taken I took a closer look to see if I could recognize any of the people in the photo. Sure enough I did! The woman in the dark dress standing three people to the right of my mom was my mom's friend Shirley (Putnam) Johnson! I knew Shirley as a much older woman. I didn't see her all that often and didn't recognize her until I was able to put the photo in the correct context!
I checked the city directories at the library to narrow down the possible date range in which the photo could have been taken. My mom is first listed as working at the USDA in the 1947 city directory. She still worked for the ration board in early 1946 when when the 1946 directory was compiled, but most likely changed jobs later that year.
The photo was taken in the late morning. Look at the hands on the clock and the Danish on the table! There is snow on the roof of the building across the street. I might be able to narrow the date of the photo even further if I check the local weather to see if some of the Decembers between 1946 and 1952 did not have snow before Christmas. Quite a few people worked for the USDA in the Federal Building, and there were several different regional offices. See the evergreen corsage my mom has on? Some of the other ladies in the photo have the same corsage, including Shirley. I know Shirley worked in the same office as my mom. I wonder if the ladies with the corsages worked in the same office as well.
My mom stayed in touch with her co-workers after she left the office in 1953. During the late 1980s and 1990s the group met for lunch twice a year at Rom's restaurant in Sturbridge, MA. Mom said her co-workers were a nice group of people, and they still enjoyed one another's company some forty years later! Given that she stayed connected all of those years I wondered who some of the other people in the group photo were. Well, didn't I stumble on something in my collection of stuff to help me to figure it out!
When my mom left the office to get married in June of 1953 her co-workers gave her a group wedding gift. I don't know what the gift was, but I found the card that accompanied the gift in my collection. All the people who worked with my mom signed the card! My initial thought was that some of the people who were with the USDA in 1953 might have worked there in the 1940s as well. Sure enough! When I looked up the names of the people on the card in the city directories and checked their individual directory listings, I discovered that more than half of the people who signed the card in 1953 worked for the USDA in 1947!
The names on the card are: George W. Mingin, Walter B. Shaw, Shirley Johnson, Charles C. Starr, W. Earl Paddock, Lois Nelson, Irene Davis, Ralph C. Reynolds, Charles W. Turner, "Penny" [Eleanor] Reynis, Mary Lazaro, Val [Valerie] Pyzynski, Fran [Frances] Hesselton, Mary Cassidy, Bill Miller, Leon Marshall, Mildred Thomas, Jean Stewart, Evelyn Lyman, Ken [Kenneth] Boyden, Edna Sommerfeld, Arthur L. Verdi, Robert H. Beisha, Ruth Peterson, Richard H. Clark, Gayland E. Folley, Gardner Norcross, Ruth M. Darling.
I know my mother stayed quite friendly with Shirley and her husband Wallace Johnson for many years. I also know that my mother was quite friendly with Jean Stewart and Ruth [Ruthie] Peterson and remember meeting them many years ago. If you know or are related to any of the people listed on my card, recognize any of the people in the photograph or knew someone who worked for the USDA office in Worcester during the 1940s or 1950s I'd love to hear from you!
It really is pretty amazing how much you can find out about something without knowing much at all. Six months ago the holiday party photo was just another photo lying at the bottom of a box in my collection. Today it has a nice little holiday story to tell!
Other Posts You Might Like:
Happy New Year!
An Interview With My Grandmother
Christmas In Poland, 1929 - Wordless Wednesday
More Than Meets the Eye - Tuesday's Tip


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California Department of Transportation
Date: April 16, 2013
Contact: Yessica Jovel
Phone: (213) 897-3656
Caltrans Installing New Signs Statewide to Remind Motorists to "Move Over" for Law Enforcement and Highway Workers
LOS ANGELES – Caltrans workers and the California Highway Patrol will be out in force today on highways throughout the state, installing "Move Over" signs intended to help save lives and increase safety for motorists, highway workers, CHP officers, and other law enforcement.
"Every day, highway workers put their lives in danger just by going to work," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "We're asking motorists to slow down, watch out for highway workers and CHP, and safely move over a lane when they see flashing amber lights on Caltrans or other emergency vehicles."
The new signs will display the messages, "Move Over or Slow for Stopped Emergency and Maintenance Vehicles" and "Move Over or Slow When Amber Lights Flashing." In addition, more than 700 existing electronic highway message signs statewide will display, "Move Over or Slow for Workers, It's the Law."
"Every year, a growing number of law enforcement, emergency personnel, and highway workers are killed or injured along California's roadways," said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow. "One way to help minimize the risk for these workers is for the motoring public to do their part by paying attention and exercising caution on the road. If you see emergency lights on the shoulder ahead, the law requires you to move over or slow down."
Signs are being installed today at these locations:
- Northbound Antelope Valley Freeway (SR-14) north of Via Princessa
- Eastbound Glenn Anderson Freeway (I-105) east of San Diego Freeway (I-405)
The Move Over law, which took effect in 2007, was amended in 2009 to add Caltrans vehicles displaying flashing amber warning lights to the list of vehicles for which motorists must move over if safe to do so, or slow down.
Highway construction and maintenance work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Since the 1920s, 178 Caltrans employees have died while on the job.
For historical information about Move Over, please visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/moveover/.
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Subscribe To Sundance Video Blog #7: The Guerilla Disney Movie Escape From Tomorrow And Harrowing Fruitvale Updates
I've already subscribed
The Sundance Film Festival is finally coming to a close, with the awards ceremony scheduled for tonight and the closing night film, Ashton Kutcher's jOBS, premiering last night. It's finally come time to start taking stock of what we've seen over these breathless 10 days, which we did last night in the Eccles Theater-- the festival's biggest venue-- while waiting for the start of jOBS.
The first faces you'll see in this video aren't, in fact, me or my intrepid colleague Matt Patches, but some fellow online writer friends Germain Lussier of Slashfilm and Alex Billington and Bradford Oman of First Showing. Then Patches and I jump in to discuss two of the most interesting and provocative movies we've seen at the film festival-- the surrealist Escape From Tomorrow, shot guerrilla style inside Disney theme parks, and the fact-based drama Fruitvale, about the murder of a young man at a San Francisco train station in 2009. Take a look at it all below.
As always, for our full lineup of Sundance coverage-- which, believe it or not, isn't even over yet!-- you can click here-- all of our previous video blogs are there too, and they are fun to watch if I say so myself. We'll have a few more updates coming from Sundance in the next day or two, along with some of the interviews that I've been conducting, so keep coming back for even more festival madness!


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So please read the entire article, and check out some of the precautions you can take. I personally like the idea of leaving your attache case in the back seat--basically anything that forces you to check the back after parking will prevent this tragedy from taking place. Spring begins on Sunday, and just an ounce of prevention is worth it.
Thanks again for reading my blog post!


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Tess Gerritsen is a damn good thriller writer. I remember reading The Surgeon when it jumped onto the bestseller lists, and being blown away by the deep characterization, the intricate plotting, and most of all the eponymous serial killer villain.
A few years later I meekly approached Tess, asking for a blurb for Rusty Nail, and she generously responded. That lead to a friendly online correspondence where we occasionally commented on each other's blogs. Eventually I got to meet her in person at a writing conference, and was every bit as impressed by her in person as I was with her writing and her Internet persona. She's a really nice person.
I asked Tess for another favor when Shaken came out in 2010; a celebrity review. Again she was gracious enough to help me out.
But Tess never asked for my help for anything. And she didn't ask for my help this time, even though what she's doing now is more noble than any of my pursuits.
This is from her recent press release:
Tess Gerritsen – the mind behind the bestselling crime novel series-turned-hit-TV-drama Rizzoli & Isles — has declared War on Alzheimer's with a new online fundraising campaign in memory of her father, who died of the disease.
Gerritsen believes that this war can be won, and that our fiercest warriors are our scientists, so proceeds will go directly to The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) to support its Alzheimer's research. Each $5 donation enters the donor's name in a prize raffle (i.e. a $25 donation is equivalent to five entries).
Two grand prize winners will get to name one character each in the next Rizzoli & Isles novel, coming out in 2014! (The named character's role in the story is up to the discretion of the author). Three runners-up will win prize packages that include a signed copy of Gerritsen's most recent hardcover, Last to Die, a "Rizzoli & Isles" baseball cap, tee shirt and surgical scrub top, and handcuff earnings. Gerritsen has also pledged to match every dollar raised, up to $25,000.
Learn more about Gerritsen's inspiration for the campaign here.
WHEN: NOW through midnight EST,
Tuesday, July 23
Joe sez: My wife and I just donated $1000. Now I'm asking readers of my blog to donate as well.
Every dollar helps, and Tess's contest is a good one with some fun prizes. But I'll throw in a bit of incentive as well.
If you donate $100 or more, you can write a guest blog for A Newbie's Guide to Publishing.
This blog gets anywhere from 4k to 30k hits per day. I will also tweet your blog post to my 11,000 Twitter followers.
Just forward me your donation email with the subject GUEST BLOG FOR TESS and we'll set up a date to run your blog post.
I know $100 is a lot of money. But it's tax deductible, for a great cause, and might help your name and books reach a lot of new people. I say "might" because there are no guarantees. Some guest bloggers, using this platform in conjunction with a marketing push, have sold in big numbers. Some have sold very few. My blog, like any other kind of promotion, is a crapshoot. And remember it is geared toward writers, not readers.
That said, many people seem to believe my blog has promotional value, and I'm happy to give them space for a modest donation to a great cause. If $100 is too much, get in touch with your writing buddy, each of you put in $50, and interview each other on my blog and split the cost and the promo offer. (just forward me the $100 donation email and tell me it's from two people)
This offer is only good through July 23. And your blog has to be writing or publishing related, as this is writing and publishing blog. I reserve the right to put an addendum on any guest blog, adding my comments.
If this blog has ever been helpful to you, this is your chance to pay it forward and help a worthy cause. Even a $5 donation will help reach Tess's goal.
And if you hate my guts, for $100 you can use my own platform against me and tell the world what a tool I am.
So what are you waiting for? Go donate!


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The Holt Choir will be performing at the MISD Elementary Choir Festival tonight at the Center for the Performing Arts. We are one out of twelve choirs performing one song. We will sing one song combined with all of the choirs for the finale. It will be a special night for the students and families. The festival begins at 6:30.
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text: Hello. I have a big problem with my ftp. I have a vps server and have ispconfig Debian Wheezy (apache). And my desktop run win7. The problem is when i should transfer files from my desktop to the vps. If i send 300 files, 290 files will be fine, some other will only be half size, and some just 0kb. I also get the qusetion: The file already excist, do you want to overwrite? The file cant excist beacuse the folder was empty. I have check all my configs in firewall, but cant find anything. To send the files i use FileZilla. What can i do? Thanks!


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Etsy CEO on Massive Expansion and Shaping the Future of New York Tech
Etsy recently inked one of the largest commerical lease deals Brooklyn, N.Y., has seen over the last decade. The handmade goods marketplace says its new 200,000 square-foot office will lead to more than 300 hires over the next five years. Just last month, the company also completed its sixth acquisition when it bought A Little Market, a French digital marketplace. Etsy did not disclose deal-terms but The Wall Street Journal estimated the purchase price at $100 million in cash and stock.
Related: Etsy Snags Parisian Startup In Largest Acquisition Yet
The startup is part of an emerging crop of "billion-dollar unicorns" that has elevated New York's innovation economy closer to the same playing field as Silicon Valley and Boston, in terms of venture capital invested and in deal count (check out the VC 100 Deal Map here). Since its founding in 2005, Etsy has grown into a profitable peer-to-peer e-commerce platform with gross merchandise sales hitting $1.35 billion in 2013, up from $895 million the year before.
As Etsy grows, its initiatives to support its network of more than 1 million active online shops, as well as roughly 55,000 local New York micro-businesses, grow with it. CEO Chad Dickerson says he wants to make sure Etsy keeps its homegrown Brooklyn charm, even as it expands and transitions to the much larger space. (Their current office, also in Brooklyn's DUMBO area, is 80,000 square-feet.)
Etsy employees haven't packed their vintage office décor just yet; the company expects to complete the move by summer of 2016.
But while renovations are underway, Dickerson already has a solid blueprint for positioning the new office as an active player in the Brooklyn economy, as opposed to "most Silicon Valley companies where they grow and build walls around themselves," he says.
In this interview, Dickerson reveals how the expansion should further boost neighboring businesses and other local industries, and his intent to keep Etsy's startup culture alive even as it scales tremendously through staff, acquisitions and funding (to date, it has received $91 million in venture backing, according to the company).
Steinberg on How He Grew BuzzFeed & Plans for New Gig at Daily Mail
7 Ways Fashion Startups Can Become the Next 'Rent the Runway'
Design a Workspace to Spark Extreme Creativity


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Dublin Ladies Thermal Breech
Dublin Ladies Thermal Breech
Keep warm with the Dublin Ladies Thermal Breech when riding. The warm and fluffy fabric is water resistance to ensure you are protected from the elements and the gel strip panels at the knee give extra grip when in the saddle. Available in Black/Charcoal and Navy/Pink.
Thermal Breech Features:
- Traditional breech style
- Warm and fluffy fabric
- Water resistant properties
- Gel strip panels at the knee
Write Your Own Review
Delivery & Returns
We can deliver to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be posted to international destinations.
When you place an order, we will estimate delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the delivery options you choose. Depending on the delivery provider you choose, delivery date estimates may appear on the delivery quotes page.
If you aren't happy with your purchase, you can return any undamaged items within 30 days for a full refund. We now offer free returns, simply follow the instructions inside your package for a dpd return.*


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A 4-12 record wasn't enough to get Lions coach Jim Schwartz fired, but it did cost three members of his staff.
According to Anwar Richardson of MLive.com, the Lions have fired wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, running backs coach Sam Gash and tight ends coach Tim Lappano.
While it's easy to wonder what Jefferson did, considering one of his players, Calvin Johnson, set the league's all-time single-season receiving yardage record, there were issues.
Jefferson and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had a sideline exchange over play-calling during a loss to the Packers, arguing over Johnson's usage in the red zone.
And considering Schwartz just gave Linehan a glowing recommendation, it was easy to see whose side he took.
UPDATE 5:47 p.m. ET: Richardson has updated his previous report to say that Lappano was not fired, but Jefferson and Gash were still, in fact, fired. They have also fired offensive line coach George Yarno, so they're still down three.


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Director Tim Burton is nursing a broken arm and shoulder after taking a tumble in London.
The filmmaker was hospitalized earlier this month, and he is now recovering from surgery.
He tells New York Magazine, "I have a metal plate in there, so I'm part robot now."
And he admits he has been having a hard time dealing with the pain: "It's really hard to think about doing anything when I've got a throbbing pain in my shoulder! The painkillers are not that good here (in London). The doctors are like, 'Take two aspirin.' I'm hoping the pain subsides soon, but it's like when you have a toothache, and it's hard to think, hard to do things, hard to focus on what's going on when it's throbbing away."
The 54 year old hopes he's feeling better by the Oscars ceremony next month – because he won't be able to tolerate pats on the back for landing a Best Animated Feature nomination for "Frankenweenie."
He jokes, "Should I put a sign on that says, 'Don't touch?'"


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Economic and Soc Parameters
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Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences welcomes ReSPA delegation
20. May 2019
Eleventh Meeting of the SEE2020 Coordination Board, 21 March 2019, Sarajevo
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25. March 2019
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Bachmann: If 'Called,' I'll Run for Franken's Seat
Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann says she's mulling a run for Al Franken's Senate seat, the Star Tribune reports.
The former Minnesota congresswoman, whose controversial remarks helped make her a mainstay in 2012 Republican primary coverage, recently shared the news on The Jim Bakker Show, though she told the televangelist she's not quite ready to announce.
"The question is, am I being called to do this now?" she said, per the Washington Post. "I don't know." While Bachmann served on the Trump campaign's evangelical advisory council, she's largely been absent from politics since leaving Congress in 2015. However, Franken's official resignation on Tuesday following allegations of sexual misconduct may well bring Bachmann back to the fore.
Read the full story on Newser.com


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Ceramic hand-made and hand-painted plate, representing the design of the De Simone style fish.
The Ceramiche De Simone Guarantee: We are proud to confirm that every Ceramiche De Simone item has been hand-crafted, hand-painted and hand-made by only the best Artists in Italy. We do not mass-produce any item and are proud to offer our customers unique one-of-a-kind products. Due to this privilege, please note that any image shown is an indication only of what product our customers will receive. There may be slight variations in shape, style, colour or design of your uniquely finished product unless specified.


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This is a simple Siren circuit used 2 transistor . The siren circuit produced imitates the rise and fall of an American police siren. When first switched on the 10u capacitors is discharged and both transistors are off. When the push button switch is pressed to 10u capacitor will charge via 22k resistor. This voltage is applied to the base of the BC108B which will turn on slowly. When the switch is released the capacitor will discharge via the 100k and 47k base resistors and the transistor will slowly turn off. The change in voltage alters the frequency of the siren.
Skema rangkaian sirine sederhana
Current drain is fairly high in this circuit so a suitable power supply is required. The duration the tone takes to rise and fall is determined by the 10u and 22k resistor. These values may be varied for different effects.
Transistor 2N3702 description
This device designed for use as PNP general purpose amplifier and switches requiring collector currents to 300mA.
Absolute Maximum Ratings
- Collector-Emitter Voltage (VCEO ): -25 V.
- Collector-Base Voltage (VCBO ): -40 V.
- Emitter-Base Voltage (VEBO ): -5.0 V.
- Collector Current - Continuous (IC): -500 mA.
- Operating and Storage Junction Temperature Range (TJ, TST): -55 ~ +150 C.
- Current Gain (hFE DC ): 60 - 300.
Pin transistor BC 108
- Low current (max. 100 mA).
- Low voltage (max. 45 V).
- Current Gain (hFE DC) : 110 - 450.


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brown and gold
girls spring clothes with the methods and techniques girls spring clothes with methods and techniques, the composition of spring colors is a group of clear, bright, beautiful, transparent warm yellow tone group phase sign of spring freshness and vitality. spring-type people in this group against the background of the brisk, bright color clothing would look god color as lively as ever.
girls spring dress and the skills
spring type girls gives the first impression most of the sunshine bringing up the bright white smooth face is always a trace of red coral pink good phase bright eyes always reveal pure worldly. they are most happy and beautiful family life, as nature, spring brings our enlightened general, spring-type person is energetic and vibrant.
1, clothes with spring-type body color the characteristics
color: light phase of tooth-colored, pink, delicate skin, with a sense of transparency; face showed the coral pink color of salmon, peach pink blush;
eyes: eyes were bright brown, Topaz, amber, and white of the eye was blue lake, the pupil was brown;
eyes: active, like the glass beads and translucent, flexible, feel watery;
obvious flaws: freckles;
hair: was a soft yellow, light brown, bright brown;
lips: coral - red, pink, natural lip color is more prominent
2, spring dress girls use of color range: Welcome to phase tooth colored milk yellow serge Seqian of camel brown and gold warm gray gray bright blue red magenta deep silver light color silver pink deep peach pink peach pink light peach pink light beige beige orange, bright yellow goose yellow light bright Huang Lvliang of yellow-green deep the bright Huang Lvyan blue-green light teal color turquoise blue deep purple blue purple blue bright blue bright purple
spring color is a group of clear, bright, beautiful, transparent with warm yellow tone group phase sign of spring freshness and vitality, spring-type (http://mu163.com) God of color against the background of this brisk, bright color clothing would look as lively as ever. the
3, the spring-type clothes with colors with the principles of:
spring type suitable for pale, soft, bright colors
spring type suitable for white yellowed hue of teeth color;
spring type most suitable for the soft color is pale salmon flesh-colored, pink, and plenty of performance the feminine
spring selection camel should be beige with light blue, light turquoise to match;
spring color this is not black, but the available color in this heavier blue or brown, camel arranged;
spring type of young people for the phase of tooth-colored, light turquoise, warm, rosy and beige, etc. are installed;
spring-type jacket suitable for a warm gray, golden brown, brown and gold; especially in the autumn and winter end, but be aware that color is not too much in, with shallow turquoise or clear golden match
To select the spring type blue hue with glossy, avoid using black, dark blue, dark blue and gray, blue-gray; wearing blue and warm gray, yellow line to match the best; spring type in the gray should be to select the light warm gray and warm gray such as shiny, with a bright sense of gray and peach pink, light blue, creamy yellow to match; spring type can be widely used The color is bright, soft yellow; use orange series spring and pale blue, pale salmon flesh, beige, as well as tooth color match better; spring type in the choice of a red line not to be too pure, it is best partial orange , orange; spring type in the choice of purple, to try to pick and color consistent, violet with yellow tone feel
4, the spring-type clothes with color matching errors
type of human skin color than white in the spring, and to adapt to a broad color, but their overall skin tone is yellow side, so with a cool sense of cool colors in the color does not apply to pure black. pure white, cold gray, dark blue is red, ice pink, plum purple dress highlight the lively, pretty spring type of personality characteristics, so choose the blue, red, gray, purple, pink , the proposed control management color color color to this to make a purchase; wear silver jewelry will seem stiff, cheap; wear black, cool gray, dark blue stockings make the wearer's legs look and upper body is very uncoordinated, fragmented sense
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About AdSense for your blog
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Blogger requests access to your AdSense account so that we can automatically create and place ad code on your page through our layouts and template tools. As a result of this, you might notice that Blogger is receiving "0%" of your AdSense earnings - this means that you will receive the same amount for clicks or impressions as you would creating the ad code from your AdSense account.
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Alfred, Lord Tennyson, in full Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson of Aldworth and Freshwater, (born August 6, 1809, Somersby, Lincolnshire, England—died October 6, 1892, Aldworth, Surrey), English poet often regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian age in poetry. He was raised to the peerage in 1884.
Early life and work
Tennyson was the fourth of 12 children, born into an old Lincolnshire family, his father a rector. Alfred, with two of his brothers, Frederick and Charles, was sent in 1815 to Louth grammar school—where he was unhappy. He left in 1820, but, though home conditions were difficult, his father managed to give him a wide literary education. Alfred was precocious, and before his teens he had composed in the styles of Alexander Pope, Sir Walter Scott, and John Milton. To his youth also belongs The Devil and the Lady (a collection of previously unpublished poems published posthumously in 1930), which shows an astonishing understanding of Elizabethan dramatic verse. Lord Byron was a dominant influence on the young Tennyson.
At the lonely rectory in Somersby the children were thrown upon their own resources. All writers on Tennyson emphasize the influence of the Lincolnshire countryside on his poetry: the plain, the sea about his home, "the sand-built ridge of heaped hills that mound the sea," and "the waste enormous marsh."
In 1824 the health of Tennyson's father began to break down, and he took refuge in drink. Alfred, though depressed by unhappiness at home, continued to write, collaborating with Frederick and Charles in Poems by Two Brothers (1826; dated 1827). His contributions (more than half the volume) are mostly in fashionable styles of the day.
In 1827 Alfred and Charles joined Frederick at Trinity College, Cambridge. There Alfred made friends with Arthur Hallam, the gifted son of the historian Henry Hallam. This was the deepest friendship of Tennyson's life. The friends became members of the Apostles, an exclusive undergraduate club of earnest intellectual interests. Tennyson's reputation as a poet increased at Cambridge. In 1829 he won the chancellor's gold medal with a poem called Timbuctoo. In 1830 Poems, Chiefly Lyrical was published; and in the same year Tennyson, Hallam, and other Apostles went to Spain to help in the unsuccessful revolution against Ferdinand VII. In the meantime, Hallam had become attached to Tennyson's sister Emily but was forbidden by her father to correspond with her for a year.
In 1831 Tennyson's father died. Alfred's misery was increased by his grandfather's discovery of his father's debts. He left Cambridge without taking a degree, and his grandfather made financial arrangements for the family. In the same year, Hallam published a eulogistic article on Poems, Chiefly Lyrical in The Englishman's Magazine. He went to Somersby in 1832 as the accepted suitor of Emily.
In 1832 Tennyson published another volume of his poems (dated 1833), including "The Lotos-Eaters," "The Palace of Art," and "The Lady of Shalott." Among them was a satirical epigram on the critic Christopher North (pseudonym of the Scottish writer John Wilson), who had attacked Poems, Chiefly Lyrical in Blackwood's Magazine. Tennyson's sally prompted a scathing attack on his new volume in the Quarterly Review. The attacks distressed Tennyson, but he continued to revise his old poems and compose new ones.
In 1833 Hallam's engagement was recognized by his family, but while on a visit to Vienna in September he died suddenly. The shock to Tennyson was severe. It came at a depressing time; three of his brothers, Edward, Charles, and Septimus, were suffering from mental illness, and the bad reception of his own work added to the gloom. Yet it was in this period that he wrote some of his most characteristic work: "The Two Voices" (of which the original title, significantly, was "Thoughts of a Suicide"), "Ulysses," "St. Simeon Stylites," and, probably, the first draft of "Morte d'Arthur." To this period also belong some of the poems that became constituent parts of In Memoriam, celebrating Hallam's death, and lyrics later worked into Maud.
In May 1836 his brother Charles married Louisa Sellwood of Horncastle, and at the wedding Alfred fell in love with her sister Emily. For some years the lovers corresponded, but Emily's father disapproved of Tennyson because of his bohemianism, addiction to port and tobacco, and liberal religious views; and in 1840 he forbade the correspondence. Meanwhile the Tennysons had left Somersby and were living a rather wandering life nearer London. It was in this period that Tennyson made friends with many famous men, including the politician William Ewart Gladstone, the historian Thomas Carlyle, and the poet Walter Savage Landor.
Major literary work
In 1842 Tennyson published Poems, in two volumes, one containing a revised selection from the volumes of 1830 and 1832, the other, new poems. The new poems included "Morte d'Arthur," "The Two Voices," "Locksley Hall," and "The Vision of Sin" and other poems that reveal a strange naïveté, such as "The May Queen," "Lady Clara Vere de Vere," and "The Lord of Burleigh." The new volume was not on the whole well received. But the grant to him at this time, by the prime minister, Sir Robert Peel, of a pension of £200 helped to alleviate his financial worries. In 1847 he published his first long poem, The Princess, a singular anti-feminist fantasia.
The year 1850 marked a turning point. Tennyson resumed his correspondence with Emily Sellwood, and their engagement was renewed and followed by marriage. Meanwhile, Edward Moxon offered to publish the elegies on Hallam that Tennyson had been composing over the years. They appeared, at first anonymously, as In Memoriam (1850), which had a great success with both reviewers and the public, won him the friendship of Queen Victoria, and helped bring about, in the same year, his appointment as poet laureate.
In Memoriam is a vast poem of 131 sections of varying length, with a prologue and epilogue. Inspired by the grief Tennyson felt at the untimely death of his friend Hallam, the poem touches on many intellectual issues of the Victorian Age as the author searches for the meaning of life and death and tries to come to terms with his sense of loss. Most notably, In Memoriam reflects the struggle to reconcile traditional religious faith and belief in immortality with the emerging theories of evolution and modern geology. The verses show the development over three years of the poet's acceptance and understanding of his friend's death and conclude with an epilogue, a happy marriage song on the occasion of the wedding of Tennyson's sister Cecilia.
After his marriage, which was happy, Tennyson's life became more secure and outwardly uneventful. There were two sons: Hallam and Lionel. The times of wandering and unsettlement ended in 1853, when the Tennysons took a house, Farringford, in the Isle of Wight. Tennyson was to spend most of the rest of his life there and at Aldworth (near Haslemere, Surrey).
Tennyson's position as the national poet was confirmed by his Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington (1852)—though some critics at first thought it disappointing—and the famous poem on the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, published in 1855 in Maud and Other Poems. Maud itself, a strange and turbulent "monodrama," provoked a storm of protest; many of the poet's admirers were shocked by the morbidity, hysteria, and bellicosity of the hero. Yet Maud was Tennyson's favourite among his poems.
A project that Tennyson had long considered at last issued in Idylls of the King (1859), a series of 12 connected poems broadly surveying the legend of King Arthur from his falling in love with Guinevere to the ultimate ruin of his kingdom. The poems concentrate on the introduction of evil to Camelot because of the adulterous love of Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, and on the consequent fading of the hope that had at first infused the Round Table fellowship. Idylls of the King had an immediate success, and Tennyson, who loathed publicity, had now acquired a sometimes embarrassing public fame. The Enoch Arden volume of 1864 perhaps represents the peak of his popularity. New Arthurian Idylls were published in The Holy Grail, and Other Poems in 1869 (dated 1870). These were again well received, though some readers were beginning to show discomfort at the "Victorian" moral atmosphere that Tennyson had introduced into his source material from Sir Thomas Malory.
In 1874 Tennyson decided to try his hand at poetic drama. Queen Mary appeared in 1875, and an abridged version was produced at the Lyceum in 1876 with only moderate success. It was followed by Harold (1876; dated 1877), Becket (not published in full until 1884), and the "village tragedy" The Promise of May, which proved a failure at the Globe in November 1882. This play—his only prose work—shows Tennyson's growing despondency and resentment at the religious, moral, and political tendencies of the age. He had already caused some sensation by publishing a poem called "Despair" in The Nineteenth Century (November 1881). A more positive indication of Tennyson's later beliefs appears in "The Ancient Sage," published in Tiresias and Other Poems (1885). Here the poet records his intimations of a life before and beyond this life.
Tennyson accepted a peerage (after some hesitation) in 1884. In 1886 he published a new volume containing "Locksley Hall Sixty Years After," consisting mainly of imprecations against modern decadence and liberalism and a retraction of the earlier poem's belief in inevitable human progress.
In 1889 Tennyson wrote the famous short poem "Crossing the Bar," during the crossing to the Isle of Wight. In the same year he published Demeter and Other Poems, which contains the charming retrospective "To Mary Boyle," "The Progress of Spring," a fine lyric written much earlier and rediscovered, and "Merlin and the Gleam," an allegorical summing-up of his poetic career. In 1892 his play The Foresters was successfully produced in New York City. Despite ill health, he was able to correct the proofs of his last volume, The Death of Oenone, Akbar's Dream, and Other Poems (1892).
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was the leading poet of the Victorian Age in England and by the mid-19th century had come to occupy a position similar to that of Alexander Pope in the 18th. Tennyson was a consummate poetic artist, consolidating and refining the traditions bequeathed to him by his predecessors in the Romantic movement—especially Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats. His poetry is remarkable for its metrical variety, rich descriptive imagery, and exquisite verbal melodies. But Tennyson was also regarded as the preeminent spokesman for the educated middle-class Englishman, in moral and religious outlook and in political and social consciousness no less than in matters of taste and sentiment. His poetry dealt often with the doubts and difficulties of an age in which established Christian faith and traditional assumptions about man's nature and destiny were increasingly called into question by science and modern progress. His poetry dealt with these misgivings, moreover, as the intimate personal problems of a sensitive and troubled individual inclined to melancholy. Yet through his poetic mastery—the spaciousness and nobility of his best verse, its classical aptness of phrase, its distinctive harmony—he conveyed to sympathetic readers a feeling of implicit reassurance, even serenity. Tennyson may be seen as the first great English poet to be fully aware of the new picture of man's place in the universe revealed by modern science. While the contemplation of this unprecedented human situation sometimes evoked his fears and forebodings, it also gave him a larger imaginative range than most of the poets of his time and added a greater depth and resonance to his art.
Tennyson's ascendancy among Victorian poets began to be questioned even during his lifetime, however, when Robert Browning and Algernon Charles Swinburne were serious rivals. And 20th-century criticism, influenced by the rise of a new school of poetry headed by T.S. Eliot (though Eliot himself was an admirer of Tennyson), proposed some drastic devaluations of his work. Undoubtedly, much in Tennyson that appealed to his contemporaries has ceased to appeal to many readers today. He can be mawkish and banal, pompous and orotund, offering little more than the mellifluous versifying of shallow or confused thoughts. The rediscovery of such earlier poets as John Donne or Gerard Manley Hopkins (a poet of Tennyson's own time who was then unknown to the public), together with the widespread acceptance of Eliot and W.B. Yeats as the leading modern poets, opened the ears of readers to a very different, and perhaps more varied, poetic music. A more balanced estimate of Tennyson has begun to prevail, however, with the recognition of the enduring greatness of "Ulysses," the unique poignancy of Tennyson's best lyric poems, and, above all, the stature of In Memoriam as the great representative poem of the Victorian Age. It is now also recognized that the realistic and comic aspects of Tennyson's work are more important than they were thought to be during the period of the reaction against him. Finally, the perception of the poet's awed sense of the mystery of life, which lies at the heart of his greatness, as in "Crossing the Bar" or "Flower in the Crannied Wall," unites his admirers in this century with those in the last. Though less of Tennyson's work may survive than appeared likely during his Victorian heyday, what does remain—and it is by no means small in quantity—seems likely to be imperishable.William Wallace Robson The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
English literature: TennysonAlfred Tennyson made his mark very early with
Poems, Chiefly Lyrical(1830) and Poems(1832; dated 1833), publications that led some critics to hail him as the natural successor to Keats and Shelley. A decade later, in Poems(1842), Tennyson combined in two volumes the…
prosody: The personal elementAlfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning, English poets who shared the intellectual and spiritual concerns of the Victorian age, are miles apart in their prosodies. Both used blank verse for their dramatic lyrics, poems that purport to render the accents of real men speaking. The…
Horace: Influences, personality, and impactThe English Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, hailed the lines of the
Julia Margaret Cameron…were her friends the poets Alfred Lord Tennyson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the astronomer Sir John Herschel, the writer Thomas Carlyle, and the scientist Charles Darwin. Especially noteworthy from this period are her sensitive renderings of female beauty, as in her portraits of the actress Ellen Terry and Julia Jackson;…
Richard Monckton Milnes…among its members the poets Alfred Tennyson and Arthur Henry Hallam. From 1837 to 1863 he served as a member of Parliament (initially as a Tory, then as a Liberal from 1846), becoming involved in such questions as copyright and the establishment of juvenile reformatories. He was made a peer…
More About Alfred, Lord Tennyson21 references found in Britannica articles
Assorted References
- commentary on odes of Horace
- residence in Freshwater
- In Freshwater
association with
- Cameron
- Houghton
authorship of
- "Charge of the Light Brigade, The"
- "Crossing the Bar"
- "Enoch Arden"
- In Enoch Arden
- In Enoch Arden
- "Idylls of the King"
- "In Memoriam"
- In In Memoriam


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Samsung, Linux and the Bothersome Bricking Problem
Feb 11, 2013 5:00 AM PT
If Linux Girl didn't have to spend such a large proportion of her salary dry-cleaning her cape each week, there's no doubt she would invest those extra fortunes in some of the many purveyors of ibuprofen and other pain-relieving medicines.
Because of all the headaches FOSS fans are forced to endure here in the Linux blogosphere.
Not only have we been presented in recent months with the ongoing Secure Boot saga on Windows 8 PCs -- migraine material if ever there was any -- but now it looks like Samsung laptops can get bricked when you boot Linux using UEFI.
Believe it? Well read on.
'Definitely Not Fixed'
"Booting Linux via UEFI can 'brick' some Samsung laptops" read the headline over at PCWorld last week, and it told a woeful tale.
"Laptop hangs up in black screen," the user filing the first bug report explained on the Ubuntu bug tracker site. "If you force power-off, after it, [the] laptop won't start -- not even start bios -- just black screen, no sounds, nothing."
It's reportedly a problem with a kernel driver for Samsung laptops that's the culprit, but despite early efforts to circumvent the issue, it looks like all is still not well for users of these machines.
"Samsung UEFI bug definitely not fixed" was the headline over at The H on Friday.
Linux Girl knew she was in for a long weekend.
'Monopoly: 2; People's Rights: 0'
"Rather shocking that Samsung did a hardware design so bad that it could be bricked from software,"consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack opined down at the blogosphere's Broken Windows Lounge.
"I can't imagine how much this must have cost them in support costs and replacements, so I hope they learned their lesson," Mack added.
"The fact some Samsung models just die is outrageous," agreed Google+ blogger Gonzalo Velasco C.
"The hardware vendor and the UEFI 'maker' cannot prevent us from using the system we want," he added. "Where are our basic freedom rights?!?
"As far as I can see, this is a crystal-clear proof that the UEFI is not to protect us, it is to prevent us from using anything other than m$ Windows!" Gonzalo Velasco C. said. "Monopoly: 2. People's rights: 0."
'Avoid Windows 8'
Indeed, "Microsoft pushed UEFI and Secure Boot onto OEMs under the guise of 'security,' when really it's an effort to lock OEMs into Microsoft operating systems even more than they already are," concurred Linux Rants blogger Mike Stone.
"In an effort to go around Microsoft's restrictions, Linux developers have accidentally bricked laptops," Stone explained. "As bad as that is in general, I'm also with Alan Cox on this one. If Linux can do it by accident, someone else can do it on purpose."
Bottom line? "It's safer for the end user to avoid Secure Boot and avoid Windows 8," he concluded. "If you want a secure system, buy ZaReason or System76. Avoid anything that comes pre-infested with Microsoft."
'They Support My Freedom'
On the other hand: "Never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity," advised Google+ blogger Kevin O'Brien. "I doubt that Samsung is trying to deliberately sabotage Linux here, in part because I fail to see any upside for them in all of these reports."
Still, "as someone who believes I have the right to own and control the things I buy, I would ask the question here of whether Samsung is really supporting you as the purchaser in owning your equipment,"O'Brien added.
"Personally, my next laptop is likely going to come from ZaReason because I have met the folks there, they are good people, and they support my freedom," he concluded.
'More Than 2 Dozen Sources'
And again, "so what is new?" offered Robin Lim, a lawyer and blogger on Mobile Raptor. "Installing Linux on a machine designed for Windows has issues.
"Granted, this is a big one," he added, "but why select a Samsung Windows laptop to run Linux in the first place?
"System 76 sells a 14-inch laptop priced a US$659, with Ubuntu pre-installed, and ZaReason will ship you a Linux-powered Ultrabook with your choice of Linux distro for $899," he explained. "Oh wait, you can also buy a Dell."
In short, "there are more than two dozen sources of laptops with Linux pre-installed," Lim pointed out. "If the admittedly small Linux user base supported the small Linux pre-installed industry, who knows, you might see your favorite Linux distro in a Samsung laptop at you favorite retail establishment next year.
"Of course, that is not going to happen," he added.
'Buy AMD Laptops and Desktops'
One more time: "I find it kinda hard to feel anything resembling sympathy here," Slashdot blogger hairyfeet said. "I mean, you are buying a device with a locked-down BIOS in the form of UEFI and then complaining when it doesn't work with anything other than what it came with?
"If the FOSS community wants to continue to have open hardware, it's time for them to put their money where their mouths are and buy AMD laptops and desktops," hairyfeet suggested.
"AMD has not only opened their CPU and GPU code, just as the community asked, but they have also been funding and are in the process of switching to CoreBoot, which is a free (as in beer AND freedom) alternative to the locked-down proprietary UEFI," he explained.
"With CoreBoot you have the source -- if you don't like something, you can change it," hairyfeet concluded. "But if you continue to buy proprietary devices, don't complain when you find they only do what is corporate-approved."
'Fundamentally Suspect'
And yet again: "UEFI is a new technology, so this is not at all unexpected," opined Chris Travers, a blogger who works on the LedgerSMB project.
"I would not be surprised if today's firmware abstraction layers (BIOS, UEFI) are more complex today than the UNIX operating system was in 1980," he added.
"I see UEFI as fundamentally suspect, as a second generation on the basic BIOS, probably over-engineered to solve all possible problems, and therefore overly complex," Travers told Linux Girl. "It may be an improvement or not, but I suspect that whatever eventually replaces UEFI will be a much better compromise on all fronts."
'It Is Atrocious'
The biggest problem with UEFI "locked boot is that it is a practice that the consumer has to adapt to, instead the other way around," Google+ blogger Alessandro Ebersol opined. "And it is atrocious."
Unfortunately, "some members of the community are even advocating this UEFI 'secure' boot practice and criticizing Chromebooks, which don't come with a UEFI key signing system but a simpler switch, to enter in a developer mode," Ebersol explained.
"I like Google's approach waaaay better than the UEFI locked boot solution," he added.
'We've Seen It Before'
Last but not least, "no doubt bricking is 'failing safely,' but it's hardly the desired outcome for the user,"blogger Robert Pogson told Linux Girl. "Even a user-space application on that other OS can do the same, so this is not some negative for */Linux but Samsung's failure to implement."
In fact, "we've seen it before, as when some CD drives were bricked by normal probing by Linux," Pogson recounted. "The manufacturer misused some features of a standard and didn't tell the Linux crew.
"In this case, the code provided by Samsung actually caused the bricking, strongly suggesting Samsung needs to get its act together and contribute and test software for Linux for its new hardware," he opined.
'They Have Had a Free Ride'
The problem could be a symptom of the growing reluctance to focus on the desktop, Pogson suggested.
The Linux Foundation, for example, "used to have a desktop group, but it was no longer fashionable and members were writing that */Linux had lost on the desktop and that 'mobile' was the way to go," he explained.
The reality, however, is that */Linux is not going away and had long ago won a good share of desktop computing, particularly in schools, governments and even a few businesses," Pogson pointed out. "Desktop GNU/Linux is certainly thriving in emerging markets like BRIC countries."
So, "Samsung should not be messing with desktop unless they are willing to invest a bit more in the development of hardware and software," he concluded. "They have had a free ride in Android/Linux smart thingies thanks to Google, but they need to realize that desktop is a more challenging environment.
"Apple simplified that environment by sticking with it own set of hardware configurations," Pogson added. "Samsung needs to simplify the desktop environment by sticking with standards that work."


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