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|By Jeremy Geelan
Article Rating:
|September 27, 2009 11:00 AM EDT
A round-up of the problems, issues and opportunities due to be discussed October 6, 2009 in Washington, DC, at SYS-CON's 1st Annual Government IT Conference & Expo (GovITExpo.com), a 1-day deep dive into the new wave of Internet-based technologies that are changing the way that Federal agencies leverage, procure and utilize IT.
The event is being held at The Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill and the distinguished GovIT Expo Speaker Faculty includes recognized government, industry, and academic leaders experienced in building and managing software applications. Three simultaneous tracks will be covering Cloud Computing, Virtualization & SOA, and Security & Compliance.
Themes and topics to be covered include:
Accessing Public Data via the Cloud - The Director of Cloud & Virtualization at Vertica, Omer Trajman, will be giving a session discussing how government organizations can offer public data sets cost effectively yet create tremendous impact in the private sector.
Authoritative Decision-Making - see SOA & Governance
Backend IT Controls - Philip Lieberman, Founder & President of Lieberman Software, will be giving a session discussing how government IT departments can establish the key elements of the security foundation with minimal disruption to the computing infrastructure, by addressing critical security issues. His session is entitled "Protect Your Government Agency with Backend IT Controls."
Cloud Acceleration - The CEO of Asankya, Scott Ryan, will be giving a session in which delegates will learn about the technology behind cloud acceleration and the methods to deployment within the federal space.
Cloud Computing & Federal IT - see The Future
Cloud Data Governance - Cloud Computing has spawned an entirely new body of law, generated new policies, created new standards and raised new concerns. Terry Woloszyn, CEO of PerspecSys, will be giving a breakout session discussing issues related to Data Privacy, Residency, and Security in the cloud, and comparing some of the approaches and strategies organizations are taking to allow them to adopt the cloud, yet retain the control of their sensitive data.
Cloud Standards - Kyle Gabhart, SOA Solutions Director at Web Age Solutions is giving a session at GovIT Expo exploring the subject of Cloud Standards. Do they exist? Can we trust them? Are we building our enterprise solutions on mere vapors? The session's title is "Cloud Standards: Steady Growth or Moving Target?"
Collaboration in the Cloud - Ross Chevalier, President of Novell Canada, is giving a session in which he will discuss best practices for implementing a secure on-premise and cloud deployment mix, ans the challenges Federal agances and Government organizations should anticipate when shifting to the cloud.
Compliance - see FISMA Security Compliance
Disaster Recovery - Paul Hahn, Director of Technical Solutions at Tranxition, is giving a session in which GovIT Expo delegates will learn about emerging technologies and best practices for managing users' personalized environments when VDI is used for continuing operations. It is entitled "What's Missing in VDI-Based Disaster Recovery."
Enterprise Cloud Computing - is the theme of the Opening Keynote to GovIT Expo, being given by the Deputy CIO to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Jill Tummler Singer. Her keynote is entitled " The Infrastructure's Ultimate Revenge" and will be asking whether the Cloud can be both a strong efficiency play as well as the Infrastructure's Ultimate Revenge by positioning IT to be the accelerator of corporate strategy - instead of its bottleneck.
Governance - see SOA & Governance
Infrastructure's Revenge - see Enterprise Cloud Computing
IT Baselining - Walker White - VP of Technology at BDNA, is giving a session discussing strategies and practices for successful "IT baselining" in which he will show how government agencies have addressed IT compliance in effective ways.
Federal IT & Cloud Computing - see The Future
FISMA Security Compliance - Eric Greenberg, VP of Security & Risk Solutions at Integralis, will be giving a session that clears up FISMA security compliance misconceptions and obstacles to cloud computing and will offer delegates at GovITExpo strategies for synching their FISMA compliance framework to the cloud.
The Future - Bob Gourley, Founder & CTO, Crucial Point and former CTO of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), will be participating in a "Power Panel" entitled Cloud Computing & Federal IT - What Does the Future Hold? In this wide-ranging discussion panel, emerging federal cloud computing requirements will be matched against emerging capabilities from cloud providers to reveal the likely course of action for federal decision makers.
Keynote Address - see Enterprise Cloud Computing
Open Source Infrastructure for Cloud Computing - Dr. Rich Wolski, CTO & Co-Founder of Eucalyptus Systems, will be giving a session present Eucalyptusing - a.k.a. Elastic Utility Computing Architecture for Linking Your Programs to Useful Systems - an open source software infrastructure that implements IaaS-style cloud computing.
Open Source SOA Road Maps - The Chief Enterprise Architect at Maxworks, Robert J. Williams Jr, is giving a session introducing Open Source SOA Roadmaps, a SOA governance stone "that kills two birds - spaghetti enterprise architectures and endless middleware license fees." His session is called "Managing the Transition to Net-centricity with Open Source SOA Road Maps."
Public Data Sets - see Accessing Public Data via the Cloud
Security - see FISMA Security Compliance and Backend IT Controls
SOA & Governance - Mark Krzysko, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense at the US Department of Defense, will be giving a session called "Authoritative Decision-Making Information via SOA and Governance" in which he'll be discussing the effort to combine Departmental and data governance with SOA to improve the timeliness and authoritativeness of critical program oversight data.
Tactical Cloud Computing - Kevin L. Jackson, Director of Business Development at Dataline, is giving a session exploring how defense, homeland security and law enforcement organizations are looking to leverage the new and exciting IT capability represented by Cloud Computing.
Virtualization Technologies for Cloud Computing - Dr Harry Foxwell, Chief Technologist at Sun Microsystems Federal will be giving a session reviewing and discussing the benefits and trade-offs of applying the various virtualization techniques within the cloud.
Register Today for GovIT Expo
Sponsor and/or Exhibit at GovIT Expo
View the Full Conference Schedule
SOA - The Delicate Balancing Act
JP Morgenthal - Sr. Principal Analyst, QinetiQ North America
– In this session delegates will be presented with use cases that illustrate key forks in the road for an SOA project and the impacts of taking each fork.
Trusted Identities Realization for Government
Naval Khosla - Program Manager for Government Industry Solutions, IBM
– Threat and fraud are still at the forefront of Government homeland security, services and benefits efforts. This session will be a an exploration of the IBM initiative for Trusted Identities Realization for Government.
SOA and Cloud: Achieving the Agility Double PlayEric Marks - Founder, President & CEO, AgilePath
– This session will present SOA and Cloud patterns that show the linkages of SOA to Cloud, and how to accelerate from SOA into Cloud.
GovITExpo, which is being held October 6, 2009 in Washington, DC, builds on the success of SYS-CON's Cloud Computing Expo, the fastest-growing conference anywhere in the world devoted to the delivery of massively scalable IT as a service using Internet technologies. Data storage, security and software services are among the major themes of the technical program.
- The Top 250 Players in the Cloud Computing Ecosystem
- Cloud People: A Who's Who of Cloud Computing
- Cloud Expo New York Call for Papers Now Open
- The Top 100 Bloggers on Cloud Computing
- Industry Experts Discuss the State of Cloud Computing
- Cloud Computing and Big Data in 2013: What's Coming Next?
- The Next Chapter in the Virtualization Story Begins
- CIA was Headed to an Enterprise Cloud All Along: Jill Tummler Singer
- Web 2.0 Re-Examined: Nexaweb's Coach Wei On The Paradigm Shift, Technology Stack and Business Value
- Virtualization Expo New York Call for Papers to Expire January 15, 2010


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Have you thought about taking technology training out of the library and into the community? Join our webinar on Wednesday, November 14 at 11 a.m. Pacific time to find out how the Poudre River Public Library District in Colorado created "Tech-a-la-Carte" to do just that.
Irene Romsa, manager of the Outreach Department for the Poudre River Public Library District, will provide an insider's tour of Tech-a-la-Carte. With this small mobile computer lab, the library is taking technology training into the community. The lab provides the library with the flexibility to respond to the particular needs (content, location, time, and day) of specific groups.
This webinar is part of a series of webinars exploring the Edge Initiative Benchmarks. This webinar is based on Benchmark 8, which includes the attribute, "The library engages in technology outreach activities by maintaining mobile training equipment for library-sponsored technology training in partner facilities."
Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com with accessibility requests 72 hours before the event.

subset: commoncrawl


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Greetings from Seattle
SEATTLE — I'm always on the lookout for signs of the apocalypse. Buying t-shirts on CNN.com with your favorite headlines comes to mind. Check out this beauty to the right.
Another sign that we might be nearing the end is the cheeseburger-in-a-plastic-bag meal offered to me on my Continental flight from Toronto to Seattle. Talk about yuck. Nooooo thank you. I sat out and opted to buy some fruit when I landed in the land of Starbucks. The dude sitting next to me wolfed down two of those suckers, stinking up my row in the process.
But I digress…I'm here and so are the Blue Jays and we're all in one of the greatest cities in the U.S. of A. As far as road cities go (and I exclude Chicago because that's where I be from), Seattle is in a dogfight with San Francisco for my second favorite stop. Boston is my favorite hands down. New York is New York, but for my tastes, it slides in at No. 4.
Speaking of New York (I'm just chalk full of tangents today — must be the jetlag), Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston would love for his club to reach the .500 mark by the time the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium rolls around. So, that means Toronto needs an 8-4 record over the next 12 to meet that goal.
With three here against last-place Seattle and another three against Baltimore, mixed between series against the first-place Angels and the resurgent Yankees, an 8-4 record might — might — be attainable. Honestly, I don't think the Jays will do it, seeing as that's the equivalent of winning each of the next four series. We'll see.
I also think it's a bit early to start heralding Cito and his boys as the team saviors. So far, the Jays have gone 5-4 under Gaston, flashing a much-improved offense against three National League opponents. I want to see if the offense we've been seeing more of lately holds up against teams like the Angels of the AL East.
Gaston downplayed the fact that his team has faced lesser opponents so far.
"All these teams have Major League Baseball players. To me, any given night you can be beat by anyone. Any given day you can be beaten. I know that [the American League is] supposed to be better than Cincinnati and better than the Braves, but I just think they're all big-league teams. You've got to take them one by one and it can happen, teams go through bad times. After the All-Star break, it's a new day too. I don't see it [as facing lighter competition], I just see them as Major League players — all of them. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here. There are tougher teams [ahead], but we'll just take it one day at a time."
Today's lineups:
TORONTO (37-42) at SEATTLE (31-50)
at 10:10 p.m. ET at lovely Safeco Field
David Eckstein, SS
Marco Scutaro, 2B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Matt Stairs, DH
Scott Rolen, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Rod Barajas, C
Brad Wilkerson, LF
PITCHING: RHP Roy Halladay (8-6, 3.12)
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Jose Lopez, 2B
Raul Ibanez, LF
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Jeremy Reed, CF
Richie Sexson, 1B
Jeff Clement, DH
Kenji Johjima, C
Willie Bloomquist, SS
PITCHING: RHP R.A. Dickey (2-3, 4.79)
11 Comments
Does anyone know any details of these post-concussion sypmtopms that Hill has been suffering from since the injury?
Another gem by Doc. And a 6 pitch 9th, to polish off the shutout? Done in style. And if we need Downs or BJ tomorrow, they're ready and raring to go. You've just got to love that horse going every 5th day, refreshing at least some of the 'pen every time out.
Now we win the series tomorrow, go for the sweep Wednesday, and roll into Anaheim riding high and having enjoyed a great day off!
Here's hoping…
I had to change my e-mail address to get back on this blog my computor fried had to get a new one lol not.
well I love the fact that Cito is back playoffs here we come
I have been reading some of your post but there are so few of them in the last month why is that like Harry Potter said where are you guys.
Our friend called me a Donkey how nice I have been called worse lol.
I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy Canada Day ..take care all
One of the positions we have lots of high quality minor league talent is catcher. While Robinson Diaz suffered an injury in May in which he's just starting a rehab on, J.P. Arencibia was burning it up in Dunedin and won a promotion to AA New Hampshire. His numbers for this year are sparkling at .313ba/.338obp, 25 doubles, 15 hr's and 71 rbi's in 69 games. He's won the following awards, so far this year:
06/14/2008 FSL Mid-Season All-Star
06/02/2008 FSL Player of the Week
05/26/2008 FSL Player of the Week
Clearly Thigpen is going to get passed by Arenciba, actually Robinson Diaz might as well, because of the power numbers. As it happens the combination of Diaz and Arenciba works well since one hits lefties really well and the other does the same to righties. But If Arenciba keeps up these power numbers, he'd be my choice in a year. It will be interesting to see if he earns a September call up. One thing is for sure, Robinson Diaz now has serious competition.
Johnathon Jaspe, in Lansing ( A-) another fine catching prospect is hitting .368BA/.408obp. Too bad we don't have this quality and depth in infield positions.
What did you think of Parrish on Sat.
My last computor was 10 years old boy is this one fast.
Good to see you back. Yes I'd expect you'd see the difference in speed. Parrish pitched well. He isn't over powering, but has a lot of movement on his pitches. I have never understood why some teams (ours included) have such difficulty with soft throwing lefties, like Parrish It will be interesting to see how he does after he starts 3-4 times and teams have film on him. Then we'll know whether he's a keeper or not.
I totally agree with the abundance we have at the Catchers position which isn't necessarily bad. But it also gives up a couple of good bargaining chips becuase quality Catchers are hard to come by and i would say we have 2-3 which have the ability to play in the majors.
Jordan must be asleep.
Good to have you back Garry.
Happy Canada everybody!
It appears we have abundance in pitching in the low minors as well as being real deep in catching throughout and some "nice player type" outfielders with Snider being the best outfielder prospect.
Our newest first rounder Cooper is off to a good start and might be the real deal, so we might have one infielder with good upside. Adhrens, Jackson, Tolisano, etc in Lansing are not setting the world on fire. Fuenmeyer is still struggling in the Gulf cost-for the 2nd year. Overall, except Cooper, the rest of our infield prospects look real ordinary, which is disapointing. Lansing have tested using Johnathon Jaspe at 3rd base, whcih is what Auburn tried last year with Arencibia, so it might be that some of our higher ceiling infielders come from our catching depth.
We might have some interesting talent in the DSL Jays, but they're a long way off.
Right now, I'd say Arencibia, Snider and Diaz are our best prospects with high ceilings, with Cooper looking good. If the Adhrens et. all don't take it up a notch, they're not going to have any impact. At this point they look like "nice players" with limited ceilings.
The prospect disapointment of the year award, at this point goes to Rickie Romero in AA, a first rounder. He has struggled at AA last year and this year, so far and I am starting to wonder whether he's going to make it. Actually not many of Riccardi's first rounders have done all that well.


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NASHUA, N.H. -- The Brandeis University baseball team was on the wrong side of a pitcher's duel today, as the Judges dropped a 2-0 decision in their first-ever meeting with Daniel Webster College. Brandeis falls to 13-16, while DWC improves to 11-17.
Brandeis was held to just four hits by a quartet of Daniel Webster pitchers. Kieran Koch (1-2) allowed just two hits over the first six innings, earning the win in the process. He struck out two, walked two and hit a batter. Derek Dolan, Jon Merritt, and Mike Patane combined to allow two hits over the final three innings with Patane picking up his fourth save in the ninth.
Judge junior Elio Fernandez (Bronx, N.Y./Fordham Prep) suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 on the campaign. Fernandez allowed just two earned runs in seven innings of work, his third-longest outing of the season. He gave up seven hits and struck out four, but worked around two walks and three hit batters.
Fernandez escaped a jam of his own making in the bottom of the first. After loading the bases with two hit-by-pitches and a walk, Fernandez induced a comebacker to the mound and started a 1-2-3 double play.
In the third, the Eagles struck for the only run they would need. Dan Ierardi singled to short with one out, then scored three batters later on a base hit by Erick Bourdeau. Fernandez nearly got out of another jam in the sixth after a leadoff double Dan Quinn. Quinn was still there two batters later when Brett Wood plated him with a single to center.
Brandeis never got a runner past second base, but sophomore CF Sam Miller (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury) made himself a threat, reaching in three of his four plate appearances. He singled to lead off the third and moved up on junior SS Brian Allen's (Concord, N.H./Central Catholic) single, but Koch got two pop-ups to end the inning. In the seventh, Miller singled and stole second with two away, and in the ninth he reached second on an error in the outfield with two gone, but the Judges couldn't come up with the big hit to get him home.
Brandeis's best chance may have been in the eighth inning, when Allen led off with a single and senior Brian Ing (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) walked, but Merritt got a foul out, a fly ball and a grounder to second to shut down the threat.
Brandeis returns to action tomorrow at Salve Regina for a 3:30 p.m. start. Daniel Webster hosts in-state rival Keene State for two on Sunday at 2 p.m.


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Review: 'Dead Space 3' a less scary, solid shooter
Isaac Clarke has grown over the first two "Dead Space" games from a troubled systems engineer into a full-fledged action hero, so it would be naive to think that the series would not morph alongside its protagonist.
"Dead Space 3" (Electronic Arts, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, $59.99) has blossomed into a more polished third-person sci-fi shooter, but it has lost a bit of its scare factor. It's more tense than frightening, but it's still a darn good game.
A more mentally stable Clarke returns for the game's third installment, and he's quickly called into battle to again fight scores of "necromorphs"—reanimated corpses—while investigating the markers, the icons responsible for creation of the monsters.
Clarke again spends much of his time meandering through dimly lit spaceship corridors, but he does get to venture out onto the surface of the ice planet Tau Volantis, where maintaining body temperature is as important as cutting off creatures' limbs. Other opportunities to float in zero gravity and rappel down a rocky cliff provide welcome diversions to cramped hallways.
The game's biggest improvement is the new weapon crafting system, which can be used at any workbench in the game's 19 chapters.
Bring the right parts and you can concoct thousands of customized weapons with different combinations of frames, engines and tips. Your creations can be further enhanced with acid-coated or electrified projectiles as well as circuits, which can improve damage, reload speed, clip size or rate of fire. The goal here is to have a secondary weapon, such as an electric charge to stun or freeze the monsters, and a fast-shooting primary weapon like a pulse rifle to finish them off.
Thankfully, "Dead Space 3" didn't change what has worked. Kinesis often comes in handy, allowing you to pick an object from a distance and toss it toward a necromorph. Who says you have to fight fairly?
Color-coded meters for health and stasis, Clarke's special ability to slow down the necromorphs, remain on his backpack, negating the need for the kind of heads-up display that too often clutters a game's screen. Ammo level is displayed just to the right of an aimed weapon.
A new co-op play mode adds a second protagonist, John Carver. He's a great addition, though solo players will miss out on some optional quests that are available only when playing with two.
In either mode, the main story follows a linear track that has Clarke dismembering necromorphs as he gathers weapons parts or flight recorders, and solving puzzles to open doors or start up machines. Some of these missions begin to feel repetitive, but the fast-paced action makes up for a less compelling story.
Horror movie sequels have a hard time living up to the originals, and perhaps sci-fi video games face the same challenge. The yanked body trick in the flick "Paranormal Activity" is not going to get the same reaction in "Paranormal Activity 4."
Still, unlike the aforementioned movie, "Dead Space 3" provides an enjoyable ride, even if you know there'll be a leaper creeping up from behind. Three-and-a-half stars out of four.
Explore further
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Lego hacker Nico71, whose mechanical loom we posted earlier, built this great CVT:
Based on modified version of Zblj's Transmission. This CVT enables a variation of the speed (and the torque) from 40rpm to 200 (1/5, 1,1) with constant speed for the motor (200rpm). This device is on the way to be included in a lego car. The two mechanical tachometers show respectively the speed of the motor and the speed of the output.
[via Core77]


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Interactive matrix programming with integration to R
An interface provides interactive matrix programming and exploratory data analysis for your high-end statisticians, programmers and researchers. Integration with R lets you submit R code from within SAS/IML.
Program easily and efficiently.
Simple syntax makes it easy to translate mathematical formulas into program statements, and there are many features for arithmetic and character expressions.
Perform interactive exploratory analyses.
Data analysts often begin an analysis by graphically exploring the data. Dynamically linked graphics are a valuable part of this exploration because they enable the discovery of relationships between variables and an understanding of outliers and unusual features in the data.
Create your own modules or use routines from a predefined library.
A complete set of control statements gives you the commands necessary for execution control and program modularization. Access to a wide range of built-in subroutines makes your programming fast, easy and efficient, and you can build your own module library to extend the functionality of the software.
Formulate and implement genetic algorithm optimizations.
You have the flexibility to write your own modules to specify the objective function and genetic operators or to use standard functions and operators provided by SAS/IML.
Take advantage of automatic memory management and matrix sizing.
You do not need to declare, dimension or allocate storage for a data matrix; SAS/IML software does this automatically.
Submit R code within the SAS environment.
Using the SAS/IML interface or the IML server language (PROC IML) on Windows and Linux servers, users can apply new methods not yet implemented in SAS.
- Program easily and efficiently
- Create your own modules or use routines from a predefined library
- Perform interactive exploratory analyses
- Formulate and implement genetic algorithm optimizations
- Take advantage of automatic memory management and matrix sizing
- Submit R code within the SAS environment


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If you want to understand us a little bit more before you jump in, take a look at the sub made for those New to Strolen's Citadel.
If you are looking for something to write, need some inspiration or just need a challenge, then this is for you.
If you are stuck, roaming clueless and just seem to be spinning your wheels, then you need to immediately start worshipping Mathom, the God of Delays.
If you escaped Mathom, then you should be ready for one of these many options that the folks at the Citadel have started!
Creativity Within a Structure
There are in general a whole bunch of scroll and codices that have been tagged by Moonlake's Scroll Addition favourite list and Valadaar's Lists You Simply Must Contribute to that would benefit from more additions. Below are just a few more examples of these work that can always more additions.
City Image
Every city (or town or village) expresses its personality (or the cultural personality of its people) and its identity through its buildings, roads, and other pieces of engineering. They are permanent expressions of the local culture.
- Rule: The City's descriptions should be about the buildings, walls, roads, and how the city looks. Interwoven with that should be hints about the culture and society here. These are not your normal write ups telling us everything. In these posts, you have to show, not tell.
5 Room Dungeon
Tips on how to create five room dungeons that can be used for any location, are short, are quick to plan, easy to polish and plan, flexible in size and easy to integrate into your campaign.
- Rule: Room #1: Entrance and Guardian. #2: Puzzle or Roleplaying Challenge. #3: Trick or Setback. #4: Climax, Big Battle or Conflict. #5: Reward, Revelation, Plot Twist.
Garage Sale From Hell
I mean, if the Evil Cultist was a respectable person. They would have an "estate". After they die, many of these things would be in an estate sale was from a fine upstanding citizen like a Mayor, Guild Master, or Local Industrialist, Cousin of the King, (you get the idea). Innocent people come into possession of these things. They don't know they are "Evil" or what magical properties they have.
- Rules: The items should be something that someone should be able to innocently buy and not expect it to be Evil. So no skull cups, no blood encrusted blades, and human thigh bones. (There are 3 more rules but this is the most important)
Societies, Guilds, and Groups
A great listing of names and short descriptions as well as fleshed out groups/ societies/ and organizations.
- Rules: It is prefered if the group is actually fleshed out and described in some depth. Even the most basic guild can have some detail that makes it special. However, if you just have an idea or a simple name, add it to the scroll of Societies, Guilds, and Groups.
Every city, town, or large village will have businesses. Some will be inns, some stores, some people providing a service. They are all places for characters to get what they need, spend money, and a chance for the GM to hook the PCs into a new plotline.
- Rules: So we are looking for distinct establishments, ready to be pushed in a not-yet-complete place.
Similar to the City Image but getting into the weeds. Every city of any size is comprised of a number of neighborhoods/ districts/ wards/ quarters. Each of these areas may its own purpose, but will have their own personality and look.
- Rules: We are looking for distinct parts of towns, ready to be pushed in a not-yet-complete town, possibly. Do not include neighborhood that are actually part of some other codex or are setting specific (i.e. could not be easily adapted to somewhere else)
The Rest of the Cast
This is the place for minor characters and extras.
- Rules: These are just personalities and some minor skills ready to be thrown into your campaign. They are not highly detailed becaue they are just extras in the game.
But Great Artists Steal
A few years ago, on a mailing list far, far away, the members of the list discussed how to make good films into pulp-themed action adventures.
- This post challenges you to pick a movie and turn it into a pulp classic. Some examples are there to get you started.
Writing Challenges
10 in 10
Ten Significant Posts in Ten Days
100 Word Submission
The 100 Word Submission is a writing format I've recently discovered online,( http://podcasting.isfullofcrap.com/ ) where authors submit 100 word stories spurred by a prompt much like the growing Freetext Friday plan. The idea has some merits and some flaws, and I would like to share my thoughts on it, and why the Citadel might be able to use it.
Bizzare Life-Forms Challenge
The Challenge: Think of any bizzare life-form, WHATEVER life-form that lives a not-so-standard way. Not the way common sense would expect it. Make it in some way logical or not, just forget the boring everyday logic.
Plain Old Submissions that Love Collaboration
The 30s. Submission of 30 (or more) quick ideas or fuller descriptions on a theme. Take a look at any of these titles that grab your curiosity and feel free to add an idea to them. They are ripe for collaboration!
51 Minor Mysteries
Side-quest-ish and open-ended to be sure. Short, sweet and insanely useful. Add your own!
Additional Ideas (0)Please register to add an idea. It only takes a moment.
Suggested Submissions
- 10 in 10 Articles By: MoonHunter
- 100 Word Submission Articles By: Scrasamax
- 5 Room Dungeon Articles By: JohnnFour
- 51 Minor Mysteries Plots By: Murometz
- Bizzare Life-Forms Challenge Lifeforms By: manfred
- But Great Artists Steal Plots By: Wulfhere
- City Image Locations By: MoonHunter
- Establishments Locations By: MoonHunter
- Garage Sale from Hell Items By: MoonHunter
- Mathom, the God of Delays Systems By: manfred
- Neighborhoods Locations By: MoonHunter
- New to Strolen's Citadel Articles By: Strolen
- On the House Plots By: Strolen
- Societies, Guilds, and Groups Society/ Organizations By: CaptainPenguin
- The Rest of the Cast - Extras and Minor Characters NPCs By: MoonHunter


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Social Media Campaign for DBH 10K: Mecha Labaw is a guest post written by Blake from You Design It where they offer custom t-shirt printing. He's a t-shirt fanatic that wants to rid the world of suits, one tee at a time.
With in the recent announcement of the Design By Humans top 10 finalists in the 10K contest, I thought it would be interesting to share with you one of the finalists' social media campaigns to win. Talk about hustle, this artist has earned a spot in the top 10 for both his high quality artwork and strategic use of the Internet's resources to gain votes.
I am speaking about Christian San Jose and his design named Mecha Labaw. Here is a look at it in case you haven't seen it yet:
When I was first introduced to this design, ironically it was not at Design By Humans. It was actually in my Google Feed Reader via a user generated blog named Design You Trust. Christian had uploaded his design to Design You Trust and used their platform to broadcast to the design community. This instantly put his design in front of thousands of like-minded designers that could potentially go to DBH to vote on his design.
Of course, he included the link to his design page on DBH, but he also went one huge step further. He actually created a website for his design under the same name – Mecha Labaw. That is definitely going above and beyond. He then incentivized votes by giving the chance to win five DBH shirts if you post the provided HTML snippet to include his design on one of your own webpages/blog/profile.
This kind of campaign is very innovative and could potentially create a whole new trend. The competition has just been stepped up a notch thanks to Christian San Jose. Let's see just how far this goes in the upcoming weeks as the winner is selected.
Blake is a guest author from You Design It, where you can design t-shirts for custom printing.


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Mobile Music opened in 1976, and has been on the cutting edge of car stereo ever since! We are proud to not only offer the best in car stereo systems and in-car video systems, but many other electronic items as well.
We can help you with . . .
At Mobile Music, We are experts on seamlessly integrating aftermarket options such as satellite radio and television, bluetooth communication, video screens, navigation and custom fabrication. We are a company that will go the extra mile to exceed every customers expectations. Here at Mobile Music we pride ourselves on being a place that will make the most particular owners comfortable, knowing that their vehicle will be treated with care and respect. We have been a part of the Skagit County community for over 30 years, and will continue to provide the same level of service that the people of Skagit County have come to expect from us for the next 30 years.


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File Mover 1.9
File mover is useful little utility that will move files from one folder to another. This is useful when a program (or remote server) dumps files into a folder & you want to move them somewhere else. An added bonus with this utility is that it'll (optionally) run a program each time a file is moved; this could be useful for firing off email notification.
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9 states where the race will be won
The presidential race has narrowed to a core of nine states, a collection of margin-of-error battlegrounds spread across nearly every region.
From New Hampshire in the Northeast to Nevada in the Rocky Mountain West, there is little disagreement between the two campaigns about the places where the election will be won and lost. Aside from those two swing states, there are seven others: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Story Continued Below
Some of them are familiar presidential battlegrounds, accustomed to playing a pivotal role every four years. Others are relative newcomers to the swing state roster. Every one of them was carried by President Barack Obama in 2008.
( Also on POLITICO: POLITICO swing-state map)
According to interviews with campaign officials and strategists, here's the state of play and the forces at work in the nine states:
With nine electoral votes, Colorado is the biggest prize in the Mountain West. That helps explains why, for the two weeks preceding the conventions, two of the nation's top five media markets in terms of ad buys were Denver and Colorado Springs.
The Romney formula depends on turning out the GOP base, especially on the energy-oriented Western Slope and in El Paso County's Colorado Springs, home to a politically active evangelical Christian community and a heavy military influence. This year, the expectation among Republicans is that Romney will also gain more traction in the Denver suburbs than John McCain.
The Obama strategy closely resembles the one successfully employed by Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in 2010. Bennet ran well among Hispanics and benefited from an enormous gender gap — 17 points, according to exit polls. The same themes Bennet used — notably abortion rights and contraception — have been put to use again in Colorado and were underscored at the Democratic convention in Charlotte last week.
There's a reason the president campaigned in Colorado with Sandra Fluke in early August, and why he'll be back again later this week.


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Welcome to Erminia
Erminia first opened its doors in 1982. It has been consistently rated New York's most romantic restaurant and the number one choice for Valentine's Day dinner.
Obtaining some of the Zagat Survey's most highly rated scores for food, service and decor each year, the Roman influenced Italian food is second to none on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Forbes Magazine twice selected Erminia as its number one Top Pick for food. Most diners agree that the original concoctions prepared here will win the hearts of all those who come to experience the fare.
The Swiss Alps cabin-like atmosphere accents the rustic feel at Erminia.
Proposals seem to come nightly, and couples come back year after year to celebrate their anniversaries and birthdays at Erminia – where romance is served every day!


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The movie quite literally changed my life. I have included a pic of me in Sly's Rocky 3 Cashmere overcoat, would much appreciate if it is possible for you to forward this email to Sly to let him know the overcoat is in good hands, and will be well taken care of, (as will be the Rambo knife forging tools, the other lot I won!) Wish you very happy holidays and a great 2016!View More Testimonials
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)


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The controversial Uruguay forward has made clear his desire to leave Anfield in a series of interviews over the summer and the consequent speculation over his future has been intense.
Real Madrid have regularly been linked with the player, valued at at least £40 million by Liverpool, but the only positive move to date in the saga has been a rejected £30 million bid from Arsenal.
Liverpool also have a strong hand having agreed a four-year contract with Suarez only last August.
Rodgers told talkSPORT: "Over the course of the last few months and towards the end of the season there has been a lot of speculation with Luis.
"But the fact is it remains the same – we value the player. He had a terrific season for us last year and showed his qualities.
"Since then I've been in communication with him through texts and conversations on the phone and it (the situation) is pretty much the same.
"He is a valued player. He is an absolute magician on the field.
"Luis is a real competitor, a real winner. He wants Liverpool to do so well but, like every player, every manager, and more importantly every football club, they want to be working at the very highest level.
"At the minute he is on a break, he is relaxing with his family.
"We are in constant communication. He has got three years left on his contract, we don't want to sell him, and we hope everything will be fine for the summer.
"We want to bring in few more players to reinforce the group and we think we can put up a real fight next season."
Suarez scored 30 goals for Liverpool last season but his campaign ended controversially after he was handed a 10-game ban – six of which he is still to serve – for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a match at Anfield.
That was merely the latest in a series of incidents concerning Suarez and the 26-year-old has since criticised the British media for their portrayal of him.
He has encouraged interest from Madrid and his representatives this week held discussions with Liverpool about his situation.
But as yet there has been no approach from the Spanish giants while Liverpool have made their position clear, suggesting Suarez would have to formally request a transfer to have any chance of a move.
(Edited by Nick Pearce)


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Goodman GSX130361
3 Ton, 13 to 14 SEER Condenser, R-410A Refrigerant, Northern Sales Only(81 Reviews)
We Install Too!
Equipment installation now available in your area.
3 Ton, 13 to 14 SEER Condenser, R-410A Refrigerant, Northern Sales Only(81 Reviews)
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In accordance with 2015 DOE Regional Cooling Efficiency Standards, the sale of this unit is limited to those living in following Northern states: AK, CO, CT, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
For residents of Southern States: AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, DC - We recommend Goodman GSX140361 model. For residents of Southwest States: AZ, CA, NV, NM - We recommend Goodman GSX140371 model. If you need assistance in selecting your equipment, please call us at (800) 865 5931
The Goodman® GSX13 Central Air Conditioning Condenser features energy efficiency and operating sound levels that are among the best in the heating and cooling industry. With its 13 to 14 SEER range, the Goodman GSX13 air conditioning condenser will help reduce energy consumption throughout the life of the system. Environmentally friendly R410a refrigerant is chlorine-free to help protect the ozone layer.
This condenser requires an indoor air handler or evaporator coil to complete the air conditioning system. Selecting the correct tonnage coil depends on two factors about the condenser: 1) the tonnage, and 2) the efficiency rating (listed as "SEER"). High efficiency central air conditioners (typically 14 SEER and above) are required to use a larger tonnage coil than the tonnage of the condenser. To find the correct coil for this condenser, please click on the Accessories tab below, or view Goodmans'specifications sheet located in the Documents section below.
Some Goodman central air conditioning condensers include an orifice (also called "flow rater" or "piston") in a small bag taped to the side of the unit. If included, use this orifice in place of the one that comes with your coil or air handler to make the two units fully compatible. View this step-by-step guide to see how to easily change the orifice.
Need help putting a complete central air conditioning system together? Use our easy System Selector and we'll do it for you!
Please note that this air conditioning equipment comes pre-charged with R-410A liquid refrigerant and by Federal law cannot be released to the atmosphere. You can legally purchase this equipment without being EPA certified, and, if you are mechanically inclined, perform about 90% of the equipment installation yourself. However, we strongly recommend to have a professional heating/cooling contractor do the final part of the installation including managing the refrigerant. An HVAC contractor has the tools and know-how to do this work. Also, having a contractor perform the final startup and inspection of this central air conditioner validates your warranty with Alpine.
Central Air Conditioner's Standard Features
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This unit is backed by a 10-Year Parts Limited Warranty. For a full description of all warranties applicable to this product, please review the product warranty by navigating to our Documents tab.
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4 out of 4 stars
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The Artful Dodger (Justin Reed) returns in Yakuza Dynasty by Eric Auxier, this time turning the series on its head by introducing a character from Justin's past that's so surprising it ends up surprising the reader as well! Yakuza Dynasty is the fourth book in the Artful Dodger series, but because it's an episodic series it stands alone. Aside from a sample of Jihadi Hijacking, this is my first foray into the series and I was never left confused or feeling like I missed out on a joke or reference.
Yakuza Dynasty kicks off with Justin having a bit of an identity crisis. A 15 year old with as much of a history as he's had attempting to adjust to "ordinary life" isn't an easy thing. He ends up getting in an argument with his adopted father and leaves the house to blow off steam, but his rage issues end up making things even worse. After hanging out with his girlfriend Joya for a while, he cools off and is ready to accept whatever punishment his dad will give him until his brain picks up on some Koreans who seem shifty. Is Justin being paranoid, or is he really in trouble? And if he IS in trouble, can he keep Joya safe?
There's so much more to the plot, but there are also so many spoilers to avoid! For a "Spy/Fly" novel, the book has more twists and turns than many mysteries I've read. When I thought about it a bit, the plot is almost ridiculously crazy in hindsight, yet when it's happening it's completely believable because of the way the story is told, and I absolutely wouldn't love it as much if it changed at all. Justin isn't an all-powerful warrior, he's just a well-trained kid, so much of the book had me worried how he'd survive or get out of whatever mess he's currently in. I felt his injuries, I felt weary when he was weak, and I felt nervous when he did. The action is also fantastic and fairly frequent - even if the book didn't have such a great plot, the action would've made the book impossible to put down on its own.
I really appreciated the mention that this book could be considered PG, although the little bit of violence may put it closer to PG-13. The book isn't gory, and while there's some good romance in the book it never goes anywhere raunchy. The book includes a glossary of "spy and foreign terms" in the back, things that may be especially helpful as Japanese terms are used frequently. While the glossary is nice, Eric does a great job of providing context clues nearly every time - I never once had to refer to the glossary even though I wasn't familiar with most of the terms before I read the book. All of this adds up to a book I can recommend to anyone old enough to read 150+ page books.
Speaking of recommending the book, I wholeheartedly do. As I mentioned earlier, I had sampled the third book in the Artful Dodger series before. While I enjoyed that, I was amazed that level of action and intrigue and humor could last the entire length of a book! Now that I've finished it, I want to go back and read the rest. That level of enthusiasm I have toward reading the series makes it easy for me to rate this one 4 out of 4 stars. It's one of the best books I've ever read, absolutely in the same league as the Harry Potter series or Ready Player One.
Yakuza Dynasty
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If there's anything I've found to be painfully clear about social media, it's that having friends is exhausting. Privately, I don't care if it's your birthday. I secretly hate you. But society now forces me to acknowledge your virtual existence.
So, if you're anything like me — admit it — you feel like a willful prisoner of the accepted technologies of the day. It's not just about keeping track of the people you don't truly care about. That's one thing. It's that there are "close friends" in your life that you don't give two shits about, but still have to RSVP to their asinine Facebook events or @reply them on Twitter. Close only because you share a few too many drunken pictures together.
But, for one reason or another, you can't break the friendship. Breaking up is hard to do, be it for complicated group associations or having to see them everyday. So what can you do? Lie. And lie well.
Be as Passive Aggressive as Possible
Let's face it. If you were one of those "I say what I mean when I mean it" types, you wouldn't have this problem. That kind of honesty sucks. Hell, the only reason I write this now is because the people in my life that this applies to don't read Gizmodo — if you do, you're safe. You can trust me. So, the only feasible way to go about keeping friends off your back is by keeping them at a distance while making it seem like you care.
That means you can't go off grid. You can't just turn off your accounts, because A) The friends you actually care about are still there, and B) Having more friends/followers is cool. Don't be stupid and risk losing your friend count. And for all you know, your actual friends hate you and are playing this exact game with you. You're stuck.
Know What You Use
I barely use my Tumblr these days. I don't worry too much about what's happening on LinkedIn, though I'll be sure to change some of my settings ASAP. Really, my social networks of choice are Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Foursquare, and Google+. In that order. So my behaviour in these spaces naturally informs how and when I lie. You need to know what you habitually use and how they connect before you can be an effective liar. Otherwise, you'll get caught or stuck going to a party or baby shower you don't want to be seen at.
Also keep in mind that a lot of the services you use will, by design, try to keep you honest. Not because they esteem honesty as to shun those who break the 8th/9th Commandment. Rather, telling the truth is just easier. For a computer. You, on the other hand, are human. You should celebrate that fact. Therefore!
Be Creative... Within Reason
Scenario. A few of your friends have invited you to hang out for old times' sake. You haven't seen them in some time, and it really would be nice to catch up. Only they live across state lines, and your last bender has left you a little broke.
Simple solution right? Just tell them you can't come out. You're all adults. They'll understand. Except you let things get to the last minute, and if you flake you look like a bastard. Considerably more complicated. Now what? Well, you could start with a few well-placed tweets or status updates, like "Ugh I feel awful" or "I can't believe this happened!" +1 an article on WebMD. Instagram a sad puppy. All stuff that's specific enough to catch their eye but vague enough as to not feel forced. Later, when you have that talk to break plans, you'll likely hear, "Yeah I saw your [insert here] . Everything ok?" Perfect.
Take it a step further. Say you opt with the "My dog died" range of excuses. Like saying your father got into a car accident and you need to rush to his side. Don't check into the hospital on Foursquare. It's classless, hurts your credibility, and you won't get points for it. Instead, a few choice tweets from the trip here and there is enough to get some sympathy and good will. But be careful! Never overdo it. Short of paying people off, you don't wanna wind up having no one to corroborate your story.
Always Have a Plan
Ultimately, this is a numbers game. The law of averages has it that you're gonna screw up somehow and get caught in a lie. Now, if it's little enough you can talk your way out of it, provided you come prepared. It's just like how in Catholic school they teach that lies only beget more lies. That's not so terrible if you know what you're doing.
Now, you just stood up a date, telling him you have to do some work. But they just busted you. It wasn't hard. You just tweeted how great a time you're having at the party you ditched him for. You even checked in at the location. Been there, done that. All you have to do is send a picture of yourself doing something domestic. A picture you smartly took of yourself beforehand. Then sober up the best you can, and make a phone call from a quiet place to allay any suspicions. Tell him you were making gentle fun of the friend who's party you're at right now. She never even invited you, but you found out on Facebook anyway. The bitch. It sounds ridiculous — it is — but by now you've got him laughing. Good. While it's not the most airtight of solutions, it sows enough reasonable doubt to get you out of hot water.
However, if it's a big enough lie...
Be Prepared to Confess
Well, you can't win 'em all. Sometimes you get caught, and you have to keep it real. This is a good thing. Friendship should not be taken lightly, and lying is wrong. But most importantly, getting caught keeps your sharp for next time. So be ready for it, because it's gonna happen eventually. Don't be afraid to beg for forgiveness. It may not come lightly. It may not come at all. If it does, good for you. You keep a friend, and maybe you can begrudge them a little more respect. If not, who needs them? Either way, lesson learned.
And remember...
You Are Not a Sociopath
You're just a victim of circumstance. There's no reason you shouldn't use your know-how to get out of a tight spot, and you'll probably need that know-how more these days. The ubiquity of all things social network-y means that you'll find yourself in all sorts of situations that demand you deal with people's bullshit. And people's bullshit can overlap and overwhelm in surprising and uncomfortable ways. No one has 900 friends in real life. At the same time, having even 50 regular friends bombarding you with their lives and plans can be very stressful. This is about survival. I'll concede that honesty is still the best policy. But, even for the most noble among you, a good lie can be an excellent back-up.


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Last-gasp Ireland stun England
Huw Richards
February 10, 2012
Skipper Tom Kiernan steered Ireland to a memorable victory over England at Twickenham this week in 1972 © Getty Images
The experience of an Irish match turning inside out in the final minutes is hardly a new one. It happened 40 years ago this weekend, on February 12, 1972, when Ireland played England at Twickenham in what was then the Five Nations Championship.
Then, though, it was the Irish who were trailing as the game went into its final stages. England, with a try, recently upgraded to four points, from lock Chris Ralston and eight points from the boot of fullback Bob Hiller had led 9-3 at half-time and were still ahead by 12-7 with a three minutes still to go. Ireland's points had come from a penalty by Tom Kiernan, like Hiller captaining his team from fullback, and a second half try by wing Tom Grace - who had kicked ahead from the England 25 (as it was in those pre-metric days) and run outside the playing area before looping back to make the touch down ahead of the English defence.
Ireland had enjoyed much the better of the second half, but been thwarted by poor handling. So perhaps it made sense that a kick started their late revival - Barry McGann, whose rotund build made him the most unlikely of international outside-halves but the possessor of innate ball skills that could have made him a star in almost any sport, dropped a goal.
So that made it 12-10 as the Irish pressed desperately in injury time and moved the ball across the field in English territory, eventually reaching centre Kevin Flynn, one of their veterans.
He was not, until this moment, the most celebrated of them. Kiernan had been cheered on to the field as he became the first player from any of the four Home Nations to appear 50 times for his country. The veteran Corkman, who had captained the Lions in South Africa in 1968, was in spite of this not the most experienced international player in his team. That was lock Willie-John McBride, whose 13 matches for the Lions (and there were still four more to come) meant added to his 47 in the green shirt gave him the edge overall.
McBride was celebrating his 10th anniversary as an Irish international, having made his bow in the same fixture in 1962. Also among that day's debutants and a survivor in 1972 was the tough, cerebral prop Ray McLoughlin - a pairing that looks seriously like Ireland's challenger for the title of the best two players ever to make their debut together.
Flynn was 32 and had been around longer than any of them, but after one of the oddest of all international careers had rather fewer caps. He had first appeared in 1959, so is one of the rare players who can claim to have played international rugby in three decades, had been a regular during the mid 1960s and, while apparently dropped for good in 1966, had continued playing for Wanderers and Leinster and done well enough to earn a recall in 1972.
As John Griffiths' account of the match recalls: "The Irish backs started an orthodox passing movement. Flynn was about to continue the move to the left when he suddenly sliced through a narrow chink in the English defence and won the game for Ireland with a classic try." Twickenham - or at least the numerous and very vocal Irish sections, erupted and Kiernan's conversion meant that it finished 16-12 to Ireland.
It was the end for one Englishman. Hiller had been good enough to go on two Lions tours, although accompanying captain Kiernan to South Africa in 1968 and J.P.R Williams to 1971 meant that he never played in a Test, an accurate and painstaking goal-kicker whose long set-up routine and mannerisms - notably a scrape of the back of his left leg with the toe of his right boot - ingrained themselves in the memories of spectators in much the same way as Jonny Wilkinson's set-up and praise gesture have implanted themselves in a later generation.
He was England's captain, all-time leading scorer with 138 points from 19 games and had enjoyed some memorable days of success - beating Ireland single-handedly with two giant drop goals at Twickenham in 1970 and three penalties at Lansdowne Road a year later - but in keeping with the habitual capriciousness of England selectors went from captain to reject, and never played for them again.
It was also the end for Ireland's season - which was particularly frustrating as they had won their first match in Paris and with two home games to come were contemplating the possibility of Championship, Triple Crown and Grand Slam.
It never happened. With tensions high on both sides of the Irish border following the 'Bloody Sunday' massacre in Derry a few weeks earlier - the British embassy in Dublin had been burned to the ground only 10 days before this match, itself briefly interrupted when demonstrators invaded the pitch during the first-half - both Wales and Scotland concluded that the safety of their players could not be guaranteed.
For Ireland it is one of the great might-have-beens, although ESPNscrum's own John Taylor, a fixed point at open side for Wales during this period, points out that his team had won their three matches this season and remains convinced that it would have won a potential Grand Slam decider.
It was also the Championship's last away win for two years - a total of 19 matches including 16 consecutive home wins, not broken until Ireland won on their next visit to Twickenham - as it entered an unprecedented period of parity and home advantage.
The following season would see the only ever five-way tie for the title, each of the team winning its two home games and losing two away. In the days before tie-breakers (Wales would have been champions under modern rules) that meant the title (still theoretical - there was no trophy until 1994) was shared.
The 1974 Championship was almost as close, decided by that single Irish victory at Twickenham. Ireland won the title with five points, Scotland, France and Wales all had four and England three. Had the Twickenham result been reversed - the margin was 26-21 - England would have been first and Ireland last. A draw would have meant a second consecutive five-way tie.
But for some it was a beginning. The 1972 England v Ireland match was the first international seen by this writer. Can it really be 40 years ago?
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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The venkatam hill is believed to be a part of the celestial mount meru brought to the earth from vaikuntam by garuda (Lord's vehicle),say the puranas.The Hills are said to be a manifestation of Adi Sesha (the cosmic serpent).The Seven hills of the Tirumala are the said to represent the Seven hoods of Adi Sesha.
Many Alvars , Vaishnavacharyas and Saints have praised the Tirumala Hill with great devotion. Tirumala Mambi, a descendent of the great ascetic Narada, spent his whole life in serving the Lord.
References to the tirumala also found in several of Puranas. Tirumala is one of the 108 sacred shrines of the Sri Vaishanava tradition.According to the Puranas, Lord Vishnu stayed on the earth for some time in the Avatar of Swetha Varaham and rose out of pushkarini as Swayambhuva. His spouse Lakshmi Devi appeared in Thirucharnur. This Swwtha Varaha Avatharam was installed in the temple situated to the west of Swamy Pushkarni. The great religious leader Ramanujacharya visited this shrine on a pilgrimage and systematised the process of worship in accordance with the SriVaishnava that continues to date.
The Pallavas of Kanchipuram (9th century AD) ,Cholas of Tanjore (10 century) , Pandyas of mathura and Vijayanagara pradhans (14th & 15th centuries) were committed devotees of Lord Venkateswara. The statues of Sri Krishna Devaraya and his spouse stand in the premises of the temple. After the decline of Vijayanagara Empire, kings from various states like the king of Mysore and Gadwal, worshiped the lord as pilgrims and gifted various ornaments and valuables to the temple. Raghoji Bhonsle, the Maharastrian commander visited the temple and made a permanent arrangement regarding the regular pujas to be done to the Lord.
In 1843 the temple gave up administrative authority of Venkateswara Temple along with the temples in the village to the head of Hatthimji monastery in Tirumala. Till 1933 the administration of the temple had been wielded by the head of that monastery, Hathiram Mahantha.
In 1933 the Madras government appointed a Commission to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam through a special statutory authority to run the administration of the temple. In 1951 another Hindu Religious and endowment Act was made which felicitated the appointment of an executive officer and Board of trustees and they run the administration. The executive officers of this institution in the South have been maintaining administration.
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This is not your typical ice cream float. Instead, this coffee drink recipe packs a punch reminiscent of the notorious Turkish brew where the grounds are boiled right in the coffee. A pinch of cardamom adds a little Middle Eastern flavor and using low-fat frozen yogurt instead of full-fat ice cream keeps it on the lighter side.
Ready In


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Pottery & Porcelain Marks – Words & Initials – F: "F. H. R." is a mark used by Robertson Pottery, an early Los Angeles art pottery. Also here is the mark for Frackelton Pottery, a Milwaukee-based maker of art pottery that was the first in the United States to use a salt-glaze.
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You will find this very useful since can be used to add encryption to many other services which may lack of it.
I will assume you know the basics of HTTP protocol. If not read this.
Let's divide this tutorial in two sections:
Installation of Apache web server:
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY A RUNNING APACHE 2.x OR 1.3 SKIP THIS SECTION.
I'll assume you've already installed MLDonkey, it's running smoothly, and you access it's web interface through 4080 port.
First of all Apache will need to be installed.
Under Debian GNU/Linux (and I guess for any other Debian based distribution) it's enough to apt-get it.
Login to your box, su - root, sudo, or login as root, and proceed this way:
Install Apache.
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# apt-get install apache2
Install OpenSSL.
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# apt-get install openssl ssl-cert
Under Microsoft Windows just download Apache from
here. Install it the "next, next, finish" way, and you're done.
You can have Microsoft Internet Information Services and Apache together in the same computer, just make them listen on different ports. Or proxy your IIS through Apache like you're about to do with MLDonkey
Under those, described above, and any other platform you can always do an installation compiling from sources, but will not be explained on this tutorial.
You can find some help about compiling from source code here.
To test if it's running, just point your favorite web browser to http://yourhost/.
You should see a white page with the phrase "It works" at the top left corner.
Now you're done with installation.
Note: Troubleshoot on Apache installation is out of this tutorial scope, so none will be detailed.
Sorry...(there are lots of tutorials about installing Apache over the Internet...you can trust your destiny to uncle Google ).
Configuring Apache to behave as proxy:
We'll configure a virtual host listening at 443 port using SSL and mod_proxy.
Ok, you have Apache running and answering requests at you 80 port.
Now, you need to generate a certificate.
We're going to generate a SSL certificate, which will be used by Apache to encrypt traffic between clients and itself.
Since no trusted certificate authority will sign it, warning messages will be prompted by web browser.
This does not result in any problem. Are just informative messages.
To generate the certificate you need to do:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# openssl req [email protected] -new -x509 -days 365 -nodes -out
/etc/apache2/apache.pem -keyout /etc/apache2/apache.pem
Generating a 1024 bit RSA private key
writing new private key to '/etc/apache2/apache.pem'
Here it will ask for some input.
- Código: Seleccionar todo
Country Name (2 letter code) [AU]:GB
State or Province Name (full name) [Some-State]:
Locality Name (eg, city) []:London
Organization Name (eg, company) [Internet Widgits Pty Ltd]:Debian
Organizational Unit Name (eg, section) []:
Common Name (eg, YOUR name) []:
Email Address []:
Check permissions:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# chmod 600 /etc/apache2/apache.pem
Now you need to make Apache listen on 443 port. You should edit /etc/apache2/ports.conf with your favourite editor, or append this way:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# echo "Listen 443" >> /etc/apache2/ports.conf
Now we need to enable mod_ssl:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# a2enmod ssl
Module ssl installed; run /etc/init.d/apache2 force-reload to enable.
Apache needs to be restarted:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# /etc/init.d/apache2 restart
Now you should check it pointing your web browser to https://yourhost/
Finally we will need to configure a virtual host in order to access MLDonkey web interface.
Since Apache version 2, virtual hosts are configured adding small files, containing the VirtualHost block, to /etc/apache2/sites-available and then linked to /etc/apache2/sites-enabled in order to make administration of virtual hosts easy.
So, for Apache 2.x create a file containing this block structure:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# This sets this virtual host to port 443
NameVirtualHost *:443
# Starts virtual host block.
<VirtualHost *:443>
# This is the name which Apache will forward to MLDonkey when reciving a request.
ServerName mldonkey.yourhost.com
# This turns SSL on for this virtual host.
SSLEngine On
# Here you tell Apache where to find the ssl cetificate you created just before.
SSLCertificateKeyFile ssl/apache.pem
# Same as above.
SSLCertificateFile ssl/apache.pem
# This allows or prevents Apache from functioning as a forward proxy server. Set it to Off for security reasons.
ProxyRequests Off
# This block let you set directives that will apply only to matching proxyed content. Shell-style wildcards are allowed.
<Proxy *>
# We set the order so first it will deny and, if request meet the condition below, then it will allow.
Order deny,allow
# Here we allow anyone to have access.
Allow from all
# This ends the block.
# This makes root path (can be any path you desire) of this virtual host to look like a mirror of MLDonkey web interface.
ProxyPass / http://mldonkey_host:4080/
# This takes care of redirects MLDonkey sends.
ProxyPassReverse / http://mldonkey_host/
# This sets the file where errors will be logged.
ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/error.log
# This defines the file where accesses will be logged.
CustomLog /var/log/apache2/access.log common
# This ends the virtual host block.
Now it's left to enable this virtual host:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# ln -s /etc/apache2/sites-available/virtual_host_file /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/virtual_host_file
For Apache 1.3.x users:
For apache 1.3.x virtual hosts are defined inside httpd.conf file at virtual host section. The block is the same, no change must be done.
Finally Apache must be restarted to take the new virtual host:
- Código: Seleccionar todo
# /etc/init.d/apache2 restart
Now point your browser to mldonkey.yourhost.com and you should be accessing MLDonkey web interface through Apache using SSL encryption for your safety.
Maybe you'll need to configure your routers/firewalls to properly
forward 443 port to the computer which Apache will run on.
Remember that the computer where MLDonkey runs and that where Apache
runs don't need to be the same. Both can be completely different and
distant machines connected through whatever network configuration you
Ok, it's too late in the night, tomorrow (better said, today!) I must be up at 0500 for work, I'm tired...and cannot make the apache config block look decent...Buanzo could you please? ....


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Attachment 5434
Numbered items in the photo are:
- Factory/dealer timing reference tool (which you likely will not find anywhere at any price );
- Nut that secures the position of the tensioner bearing (arrow shows direction to slacken the belt tension);
- Tensioner spring anchor and bracket pivot bolt (the bolt thru the center of the spring itself is visible on the other side of the reference tool from here);
- Timing mark on crank pulley;
- Crank-timing reference pointer (you will find the equivalent of this on your belt cover or as a metal pointer bolted to the block);
- Aux shaft wheel timing mark.
Timing belt replacement is easy enough for the average shadetree mechanic -- BTDT myself, in the parking lot of my apt complex at the time! The only real tricks lie in knowing how to set the tensioner bearing, and how to line up the various timing marks on the cams, crank and aux shaft. To make things easier, before removing the old belt, you may want to remove the sparkplugs and gently turn the crank until things are lined up at or near the proper reference positions.
The cam wheels each have a small hole thru the flank, which should be aligned with a raised mark on the seal-carrier flange at the end of each cambox where the cams exit. This is easiest to spot looking from the (US) driver's side (gearbox/battery side) of the engine bay, sighting down the valley between the camboxes. In practice (thx to a tip from Haynes), I found the holes actually best lined up appearing to be tipped slightly together (towards each other and the centerline of the cylinder bores) WRT the marks on the cambox flange.
The crank pulley should have an obvious notch on the edge or a cast-in line on the flank, which should be aligned with the TDC mark on your belt cover or crank-timing pointers. Early engines had timing marks stamped into the belt cover at about the 1-2 o'clock position; later cars had a toothed metal pointer bolted to the block at about the 10-11 o'clock position. BTW, there are typically three crank-timing marks on that cover/pointer; the most-forward one is TDC and the others are -5 and -10 deg. BTDC (the latter being used for ignition advance timing-light reference).
The aux shaft wheel has a hole like the cam wheels (actually the very same part # as the exhaust cam wheel), but this one's a bit trickier, as there's no obvious mark to align with. That hole needs to fall on a line drawn between the aux shaft center and the bolt that goes thru the center of the tensioner bearing spring. I found it easiest to stick a small screwdriver bit thru that hole, so it was sticking out in view where I could sight down from the spring-mounting bolt above and line it up.
Now, the tensioner bearing. After you remove the old belt, be sure to test the bearing itself, see that it turns smoothly by hand with no apparent looseness nor coarseness to the motion. If you have ANY doubt that the bearing is sound, you WILL want to replace it now (as covered below). A typical twincam FIAT bearing is NOT the same as the Lancia shell with replaceable bearing cartridge, but a retrofit to the FIAT bearing will work if you also use a FIAT tensioner bracket. Substitute bearing cartridges of the right dimensions are available that will press into the Lancia bearing shell and do the job, but they are not as robust as the OEM split-center-race bearing, so any such substitute bearings should prolly be replaced with every belt change regardless of apparent condition. (As of this March 2017 edit, Midwest-Bayless in the US stocks the FIAT-style bracket and bearing as well as OEM Lancia-style bearings, so take your pick.)
Belt tension is not actually maintained by the tensioner spring, although the spring helps get the new belt taut to set the proper tension point initially, before you lock the bearing center firmly in place. There is a stud in the block that extends out thru the tensioner bracket and center of the bearing, then thru a stepped-flank washer that nestles into the bearing center and has a much larger center hole than the stud diameter, then thru a smaller washer with the proper ID, all held together with a nut. The wide hole in the stepped washer allows the rotating axis of the bearing to be adjusted WRT the stud/nut when that nut is loosened.
You may find it difficult to push the bearing back towards the slackened position while the spring is still engaged. I eventually gave up on that approach and just pried the hooked end of the spring out of the tensioner bracket that carries the bearing, loosened both the spring/bracket anchor bolt and bearing-center nut just enough to push the bearing back (you may want to take this opportunity to apply ample grease between those two washers on the bearing), then tightened the bearing-center nut to lock the bearing firmly in the slackened position and used a longish 13mm wrench hooked against the spring bolt to leverage the spring back into the tensioner bracket. You will want to leave the spring/bracket anchor bolt slightly loose for now, as the bracket will need to pivot on that bolt when you set tension on the new belt.
If you need to change the bearing, first unhook the spring and then completely unbolt the tensioner bracket by removing the bearing nut and anchor/pivot bolt (items 2 and 3 above), which should allow enough access behind the bracket plate for Vise-grip or similar pliers to grab the unthreaded shoulder of the remaining stud, to remove it from the block without damaging the stud threads. To extract the bearing from the bracket, you can simply hammer out the mounting boss from the center of the bearing -- e.g., using the male end of a 1/2" drive socket extension/adapter as a punch, with the bearing edges supported by the spread jaws of a bench vise. Use the vise, and/or a hammer against a large block of wood, to mount the new bearing.
Slipping the new belt on is fairly easy if your timing pointers are all lined up. You may need to use a 19mm wrench to jockey the intake cam ever so slightly to get the wheel and belt teeth lined up so you can slip the belt over the intake cam wheel last. Since the aux shaft turns rather freely on its own, you may need to re-align the aux shaft timing after the belt is on, but it should still be (barely!) loose enough to allow this. You may also find the crank pulley mark winds up slightly retarded (anticlockwise) from its alignment mark, but setting the belt tension should bring that back into line.
With the new belt in place and all shafts properly aligned, loosen the tensioner bearing-center nut gently to allow the spring to pull the belt taut. Leave that nut ever-so-slightly loose for now. Turn the engine gently by hand (clockwise looking at the crank pulley end) for at least two full crank revolutions. Then fully tighten the bearing-center nut (torque to 32.5 ft-lb / 44 Nm) to lock the bearing's rotational axis in place, and also tighten the spring/plate anchor bolt as well.
With any luck, you can now fire up your engine and enjoy!


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Dunt Dalun Chin Hin- Burmese Drumstick Sour Soup
January 18, 2013
Bengalis and South Indians have always used drumsticks in their food. In a Bhaja in the east and in Avials and Sambars in the South where the murungakkai is a familiar ingredient with its three sided pod filled with flesh and seeds. Not a lot of people know however that the drumstick tree, Moringa oleifera, is a goldmine as it has several other edible parts all of which have wonderful nutritional and medicinal properties. Our ancestors did though…it is recorded in ancients Sanskrit texts that the leaves are an antidote to 300 diseases! They are believed to have antibiotic properties and are anti carcinogenic.
There are tales of miraculous cures through the use of the drumstick tree and it is no coincidence that many kitchen gardens in rural areas feature a hedge of Moringa Oleifera.
Since the tree needs lots of sun , is hardy and drought resistant, surviving as it does on rainwater and poor soil, it is a perfect for conditions in many parts of this country and is a boon to people in this part of the world. A gift which has, unfortunately, been ignored and largely under exploited .
Known as Mothers best friend , Tree of Life, and a Miracle tree in Africa, Moringa is actually indigenous to the foothills of the Himalayas but it grows just as well in the plains .The Jaffna and Chavakacheri murunga varieties are cultivated in the south to produce long fruits. The Chemurunga variety has red tipped fruits and a high yield. Other varieties like the Palmurungai produce fleshy but bitter fruit .
The leaves are available throughout the year and are used as a vegetable. They contain seven times the vitamin C in oranges, two times the protein in milk, four times the vitamin A in carrots, four times the Calcium in milk and three times the Potassium in bananas.
They can be eaten fresh or sautéed which makes them a rich source of nutrients. Mixed with grated coconut, red chilli powder, some shallots, mustard seeds and cumin powder it makes the Kerala Thoran. Tamilians and Sri Lankans saute the greens with prawns and fish for a fabulously fresh tasting dish. The leaf can also be dried and powdered and added to other dishes.
The fragrant yellowish white flowers and buds can be eaten as a vegetable. They do, however , need some cooking .They have a very delicate texture, are tender and succulent and will add interest to everything from an omelette to a sauce. Try cooking them with a bit of butter, garlic and salt for a side dish. The flowers and buds are also steeped in boiling water to make a lightly flavoured tea that is supposed to be a tonic and good for colds.
Drumstick seeds when immature are cooked in curries, or roasted or fried and eaten like peanuts or dried and powdered for use as a tea. Mature seeds are used to make Ben Oil or Moringa oil, a non sticky edible oil which has a light aroma and works well in salads.
The Moringa tree was also known as the Horseradish tree since the roots taste a lot like that condiment. After peeling and drying the root was grated and used in vinegar as a pungent relish. Today this is being discouraged as it contains alkaloids which can be toxic.
Any use of the leaves and pods is to be encouraged as its nutritonal value is astounding when compared to any other greens available.
Here is a Burmese recipe for a delicious drumstick and fish sour soup: Dunt Dalun Chin Hin
2 tsp sesame oil/ til oil
1 onion, finely sliced lengthwise
2 cloves garlic, crushed
¼ tsp turmeric
3 tomatoes (green if possible)
1 cup torn spinach or other greens
2 cups drumsticks cut into 3" pieces and parboiled.
4-6 cups fish stock or boiling water
200 gms fish pieces.
¼ tsp dried shrimp paste(ngapi) or use a few dried shrimp.
Salt to taste
Method: Heat oil in a pan and fry onion and garlic. Add the tomatoes and spinach and turn heat down. Stir in the turmeric and pour in the stock. Bring to the boil. Add the drumstick pieces and the shrimp paste .Cook for ten minutes till all flavours blend. Add fish pieces and simmer for 5 minutes more.
You can add noodles to the soup to make this a one dish dinner.


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If you're reading this, then you've already had the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's pulpy crime-drama Drive, and hopefully enjoyed it as much as we did (be sure to read our Drive review).
Though Drive seems like a standard action/thriller (albeit with some art house style and flare), a lot of movie goers have walked away with questions about the movie's final moments, which leave a fair amount of ambiguity hanging over the fate of "Driver," the character played by Ryan Gosling.
In the past with our Shutter Island and Inception Ending Explanations, we here at Screen Rant have had to rely on our prowess as movie aficionados in order to form some logical deductions about what transpired in some of our favorite mind-bending movies, and what filmmakers intended with their ambiguous endings. In the case of Drive, however, we were fortunate enough to snag an explanation right from the primary source: director Nicolas Winding Refn.
When we last see Driver - bleeding out while behind the wheel of his car, before pulling himself together and speeding off into the night - there is a certain amount of lingering doubt about the literalness vs. figurativeness of what we are seeing. When I asked Refn first-hand what the ending of Drive was all about, I expected the typically coy filmmaker to hand me an equally coy answer. However, he was surprisingly straight forward in his response:
Well all my films always have open endings. All of them. Because I believe art is always best when...you talk about it and think about it, so forth. Maybe once in awhile I've gone too far, but I always believe in finding the right balance. And in 'Drive' he lives on for more and new adventures.
So there you have it - if you were wondering whether or not the ending of the film was to be taken literally, or was some metaphoric death scene, you at least now know how the director sees it.
Refn has continuously referred to the film as a modern Grimm fairytale (unlikely hero rises to battle evil king, saves princess) and I for one always saw the ending as the hero saving the girl, while also being denied the "happily ever after" cliche he may want. Indeed, the implications of the film are such that Driver will likely speed off into new adventures, as Refn claims, albeit still stuck in the lonely and isolated existence in which we found him. The only difference is: he now knows what kind of hero he can be.
Do you have any thoughts to share about the ending of the film? Let us know in the comments.
Drive is now playing in theaters.


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|Ridgefield, Conn.
|High School:
|Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)
|Folklore and Mythology
|House Affiliation:
Junior • 2013
Rowed the third seat for the varsity four against BU/Princeton/Stanford ... Rowed bow for the third varsity at the Muri Cup ... Rowed bow for the varsity four victory at the Eastern Sprints.
Sophomore • 2012
Rowed for the second varsity eight all season and once for the varsity four … Contributed in a fourth-place showing with the varsity four at the IRA National Championships … Helped the second varsity eight take gold at the EAWRC Sprints, Radcliffe's first Women's Sprints gold in five years … Rowed for first place over Wisconsin, Stanford, and MIT in a six-team regatta … Contributed to the second varsity eight win over Georgetown.
Freshman • 2011
Raced with the second varsity eight and helped the varsity four capture a bronze medal at the IRA National Championships … Helped the second varsity eight finish second at the EAWRC Sprints … Contributed to second varsity dual wins against the Buffalo varsity and the MIT, Princeton and Stanford second varsities.
Before Harvard
Graduated cum laude from Phillips Exeter Academy in 2010 … Attended Ridgefield High School from 2006-2008 … Awarded the Warren Williams Jr. Memorial Scholarship by Exeter … Rowed in the stroke seat for the first varsity eight for Exeter … Semifinalist at the Women's Junior A in 2008 and Women's Junior B in 2009 at Canadian Henley … Rowed in the stroke seat for the varsity eight, winning the silver medal at the USRowing Youth Nationals … Captured gold medal in the women's junior second novice eight at the Northeast Mid Atlantic District Championships … Won gold in 2009 and bronze in 2010 at the NEIRA Championships … Won silver medal at Connecticut state championship for ice hockey in 2008.


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Samoa Girl Scout Cookies
Ingredients for the cookie: (recipe from here)
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk
Ingredients for topping:
- 3 cups shredded coconut
- 12 ounces of caramels
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 8 ounces chocolate chips
Next, add in the flour, salt and baking powder.
Finally, add the vanilla extract and milk and you should have batter that looks something like this (who needs spoons when you have hands?):
Now the fun begins! Roll the dough out (on top of parchment paper so it doesn't stick to the table). Make sure it is about 1/4 of an inch thick.
Now the next step is probably easiest with a round cookie cutter, but since we didn't have one we improvised with a small votive candle holder.
Make as many round cookies as you can. The dough is easy to work with, so re-roll it as many times as you need to. After cutting about 1 1/2 inch circles out, make a small hole in the middle of each cookie (you may use a straw, knife, finger, etc.).
Place on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until browned. While these are baking you may want to begin getting your ingredients ready for the topping!
Unwrap the caramels. Place in a bowl with the milk and salt and microwave for about 3 minutes stirring occasionally (if your microwave is more powerful, use less time).
Next, spread the coconut on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 20 minutes. Stir it every 3-5 minutes. Hang in there with me...I know there are lots of small steps with this recipe but the end result is worth it!
Once the caramel is melted and coconut is toasted, fold the coconut into the caramel mixture and stir well. Using a small spoon, place the mixture on top of the cooled cookies (about 2 tablespoons per cookie). Please note: those are not my manly fingers...they are Jeff's.
Finally, melt the chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave. Heat for about 30 seconds then stir, and repeat until melted completely. Dip the base of the cookies into the chocolate and place onto parchment paper. Once all cookies have been dipped, place the remaining chocolate into a zip block bag and cut a small hole in the corner. Pipe the chocolate onto the cookie in a zig-zag pattern.
Place in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden. And then you're done! All of your hard work has paid off-because you now have more than a dozen Somoa Girl Scout cookies!
This recipe could put those cute little Girl Scouts out of business ;)
We are heading to Chipotle (our favorite) for dinner with my sister and brother-in-law tonight. Waking up bright and early to pick up our new puppy Ollie! Pictures will most definitely be posted tomorrow of our new little family. Hope you're enjoying your weekend as much as we are!