text:
|Skip Navigation Links
|Exit Print View
|Oracle GlassFish Server Message Queue 4.5 Administration Guide
Part I Introduction to Message Queue Administration
1. Administrative Tasks and Tools
3. Starting Brokers and Clients
6. Configuring and Managing Connection Services
8. Configuring Persistence Services
9. Configuring and Managing Security Services
10. Configuring and Managing Broker Clusters
11. Managing Administered Objects
12. Configuring and Managing Bridge Services
13. Monitoring Broker Operations
14. Analyzing and Tuning a Message Service
The Performance Tuning Process
Application Design Factors Affecting Performance
Delivery Mode (Persistent/Nonpersistent Messages)
Durable and Nondurable Subscriptions
Use of Selectors (Message Filtering)
Message Service Factors Affecting Performance
Adjusting Configuration To Improve Performance
Solaris Tuning: CPU Utilization, Paging/Swapping/Disk I/O
Java Virtual Machine Adjustments
Tuning the File-based Persistent Store
Broker Memory Management Adjustments
Using Physical Destination Limits
Client Runtime Message Flow Adjustments
17. Broker Properties Reference
18. Physical Destination Property Reference
19. Administered Object Attribute Reference
20. JMS Resource Adapter Property Reference
21. Metrics Information Reference
22. JES Monitoring Framework Reference
A. Distribution-Specific Locations of Message Queue Data
B. Stability of Message Queue Interfaces
E. Frequently Used Command Utility Commands
The following sections explain how configuration adjustments can affect performance.
The following sections describe adjustments you can make to the operating system, JVM, communication protocols, and persistent data store.
See your system documentation for tuning your operating system.
By default, the broker uses a JVM heap size of 192MB. This is often too small for significant message loads and should be increased.
When the broker gets close to exhausting the JVM heap space used by Java objects, it uses various techniques such as flow control and message swapping to free memory. Under extreme circumstances it even closes client connections in order to free the memory and reduce the message inflow. Hence it is desirable to set the maximum JVM heap space high enough to avoid such circumstances.
However, if the maximum Java heap space is set too high, in relation to system physical memory, the broker can continue to grow the Java heap space until the entire system runs out of memory. This can result in diminished performance, unpredictable broker crashes, and/or affect the behavior of other applications and services running on the system. In general, you need to allow enough physical memory for the operating system and other applications to run on the machine.
In general it is a good idea to evaluate the normal and peak system memory footprints, and configure the Java heap size so that it is large enough to provide good performance, but not so large as to risk system memory problems.
To change the minimum and maximum heap size for the broker, use the -vmargs command line option when starting the broker. For example:
/usr/bin/imqbrokerd -vmargs "-Xms256m -Xmx1024m"
This command will set the starting Java heap size to 256MB and the maximum Java heap size to 1GB.
On Solaris or Linux, if starting the broker via /etc/rc* (that is, /etc/init.d/imq), specify broker command line arguments in the file /etc/imq/imqbrokerd.conf (Solaris) or /etc/opt/sun/mq/imqbrokerd.conf (Linux). See the comments in that file for more information.
On Windows, if starting the broker as a Window's service, specify JVM arguments using the -vmargs option to the imqsvcadmin install command. See Service Administrator Utility in Chapter 16, Command Line Reference
In any case, verify settings by checking the broker's log file or using the imqcmd metrics bkr -m cxn command.
Once a protocol that meets application needs has been chosen, additional tuning (based on the selected protocol) might improve performance.
A protocol's performance can be modified using the following three broker properties:
For TCP and SSL protocols, these properties affect the speed of message delivery between client and broker. For HTTP and HTTPS protocols, these properties affect the speed of message delivery between the Message Queue tunnel servlet (running on a Web server) and the broker. For HTTP/HTTPS protocols there are additional properties that can affect performance (see HTTP/HTTPS Tuning).
The protocol tuning properties are described in the following sections.
The nodelay property affects Nagle's algorithm (the value of the TCP_NODELAY socket-level option on TCP/IP) for the given protocol. Nagle's algorithm is used to improve TCP performance on systems using slow connections such as wide-area networks (WANs).
When the algorithm is used, TCP tries to prevent several small chunks of data from being sent to the remote system (by bundling the data in larger packets). If the data written to the socket does not fill the required buffer size, the protocol delays sending the packet until either the buffer is filled or a specific delay time has elapsed. Once the buffer is full or the timeout has occurred, the packet is sent.
For most messaging applications, performance is best if there is no delay in the sending of packets (Nagle's algorithm is not enabled). This is because most interactions between client and broker are request/response interactions: the client sends a packet of data to the broker and waits for a response. For example, typical interactions include:
Creating a connection
Creating a producer or consumer
Sending a persistent message (the broker confirms receipt of the message)
Sending a client acknowledgment in an AUTO_ACKNOWLEDGE or CLIENT_ACKNOWLEDGE session (the broker confirms processing of the acknowledgment)
For these interactions, most packets are smaller than the buffer size. This means that if Nagle's algorithm is used, the broker delays several milliseconds before sending a response to the consumer.
However, Nagle's algorithm may improve performance in situations where connections are slow and broker responses are not required. This would be the case where a client sends a nonpersistent message or where a client acknowledgment is not confirmed by the broker (DUPS_OK_ACKNOWLEDGE session).
The inbufsz property sets the size of the buffer on the input stream reading data coming in from a socket. Similarly, outbufsz sets the buffer size of the output stream used by the broker to write data to the socket.
In general, both parameters should be set to values that are slightly larger than the average packet being received or sent. A good rule of thumb is to set these property values to the size of the average packet plus 1 kilobyte (rounded to the nearest kilobyte). For example, if the broker is receiving packets with a body size of 1 kilobyte, the overall size of the packet (message body plus header plus properties) is about 1200 bytes; an inbufsz of 2 kilobytes (2048 bytes) gives reasonable performance. Increasing inbufsz or outbufsz greater than that size may improve performance slightly, but increases the memory needed for each connection.
In addition to the general properties discussed in the previous two sections, HTTP/HTTPS performance is limited by how fast a client can make HTTP requests to the Web server hosting the Message Queue tunnel servlet.
A Web server might need to be optimized to handle multiple requests on a single socket. With JDK version 1.4 and later, HTTP connections to a Web server are kept alive (the socket to the Web server remains open) to minimize resources used by the Web server when it processes multiple HTTP requests. If the performance of a client application using JDK version 1.4 is slower than the same application running with an earlier JDK release, you might need to tune the Web server keep-alive configuration parameters to improve performance.
In addition to such Web server tuning, you can also adjust how often a client polls the Web server. HTTP is a request-based protocol. This means that clients using an HTTP-based protocol periodically need to check the Web server to see if messages are waiting. The imq.httpjms.http.pullPeriod broker property (and the corresponding imq.httpsjms.https.pullPeriod property) specifies how often the Message Queue client runtime polls the Web server.
If the pullPeriod value is -1 (the default value), the client runtime polls the server as soon as the previous request returns, maximizing the performance of the individual client. As a result, each client connection monopolizes a request thread in the Web server, possibly straining Web server resources.
If the pullPeriod value is a positive number, the client runtime periodically sends requests to the Web server to see if there is pending data. In this case, the client does not monopolize a request thread in the Web server. Hence, if large numbers of clients are using the Web server, you might conserve Web server resources by setting the pullPeriod to a positive value.
For information on tuning the file-based persistent store, see Configuring a File-Based Data Store.
You can improve performance and increase broker stability under load by properly managing broker memory. Memory management can be configured on a destination-by-destination basis or on a system-wide level (for all destinations, collectively).
To configure physical destination limits, see the properties described in Physical Destination Properties.
If message producers tend to overrun message consumers, messages can accumulate in the broker. The broker contains a mechanism for throttling back producers and swapping messages out of active memory under low memory conditions, but it is wise to set a hard limit on the total number of messages (and message bytes) that the broker can hold.
Control these limits by setting the imq.system.max_count and the imq.system.max_size broker properties.
For example:
The defined value above means that the broker will only hold up to 5000 undelivered and/or unacknowledged messages. If additional messages are sent, they are rejected by the broker. If a message is persistent then the clinet runtime will throw an exception when the producer tries to send the message. If the message is non-persistent, the broker silently drops the message.
When an exception is thrown in sending a message, the client should process the exception by pausing for a moment and retrying the send again. (Note that the exception will never be due to the broker's failure to receive a message; the exception is thrown by the client runtime before the message is sent to the broker.)
This section discusses client runtimeflow control behaviors that affect performance. These behaviors are configured as attributes of connection factory administered objects. For information on setting connection factory attributes, see Chapter 11, Managing Administered Objects
Messages sent and received by clients (payload messages), as well as Message Queue control messages, pass over the same client-broker connection. Delays in the delivery of control messages, such as broker acknowledgments, can result if control messages are held up by the delivery of payload messages. To prevent this type of congestion, Message Queue meters the flow of payload messages across a connection.
Payload messages are batched (as specified with the connection factory attribute imqConnectionFlowCount) so that only a set number are delivered. After the batch has been delivered, delivery of payload messages is suspended and only pending control messages are delivered. This cycle repeats, as additional batches of payload messages are delivered followed by pending control messages.
The value of imqConnectionFlowCount should be kept low if the client is doing operations that require many responses from the broker: for example, if the client is using CLIENT_ACKNOWLEDGE or AUTO_ACKNOWLEDGE mode, persistent messages, transactions, or queue browsers, or is adding or removing consumers. If, on the other hand, the client has only simple consumers on a connection using DUPS_OK_ACKNOWLEDGE mode, you can increase imqConnectionFlowCount without compromising performance.
There is a limit to the number of payload messages that the Message Queue client runtime can handle before encountering local resource limitations, such as memory. When this limit is approached, performance suffers. Hence, Message Queue lets you limit the number of messages per consumer (or messages per connection) that can be delivered over a connection and buffered in the client runtime, waiting to be consumed.
When the number of payload messages delivered to the client runtime exceeds the value of imqConsumerFlowLimit for any consumer, message delivery for that consumer stops. It is resumed only when the number of unconsumed messages for that consumer drops below the value set with imqConsumerFlowThreshold.
The following example illustrates the use of these limits: consider the default settings for topic consumers:
imqConsumerFlowLimit=1000 imqConsumerFlowThreshold=50
When the consumer is created, the broker delivers an initial batch of 1000 messages (providing they exist) to this consumer without pausing. After sending 1000 messages, the broker stops delivery until the client runtime asks for more messages. The client runtime holds these messages until the application processes them. The client runtime then allows the application to consume at least 50% (imqConsumerFlowThreshold ) of the message buffer capacity (i.e. 500 messages) before asking the broker to send the next batch.
In the same situation, if the threshold were 10%, the client runtime would wait for the application to consume at least 900 messages before asking for the next batch.
The next batch size is calculated as follows:
imqConsumerFlowLimit - (current number of pending msgs in buffer)
So if imqConsumerFlowThreshold is 50%, the next batch size can fluctuate between 500 and 1000, depending on how fast the application can process the messages.
If the imqConsumerFlowThreshold is set too high (close to 100%), the broker will tend to send smaller batches, which can lower message throughput. If the value is set too low (close to 0%), the client may be able to finish processing the remaining buffered messages before the broker delivers the next set, again degrading message throughput. Generally speaking, unless you have specific performance or reliability concerns, you will not need to change the default value of imqConsumerFlowThreshold attribute.
The consumer-based flow controls (in particular, imqConsumerFlowLimit ) are the best way to manage memory in the client runtime. Generally, depending on the client application, you know the number of consumers you need to support on any connection, the size of the messages, and the total amount of memory that is available to the client runtime.
Note - Setting the imqConsumerFlowLimitPrefetch property to false disables the prefetching and buffering specified by imqConsumerFlowLimit and imqConsumerFlowThreshold, in which case messages are delivered to consumers one at a time and a new message is not sent to a consumer until it consumes the message it has. This delivery constraint, which can degrade message throughput, is for use when business logic demands that each consumer have only one message at a time.
When the JMS resource adapter, jmsra, is used to consume messages in a GlassFish Server cluster, this behavior is defined using different properties, as described in About Shared Topic Subscriptions for Clustered Containers.
In the case of some client applications, however, the number of consumers may be indeterminate, depending on choices made by end users. In those cases, you can still manage memory using connection-level flow limits.
Connection-level flow controls limit the total number of messages buffered for all consumers on a connection. If this number exceeds the value of imqConnectionFlowLimit, delivery of messages through the connection stops until that total drops below the connection limit. (The imqConnectionFlowLimit attribute is enabled only if you set imqConnectionFlowLimitEnabled to true.)
The number of messages queued up in a session is a function of the number of message consumers using the session and the message load for each consumer. If a client is exhibiting delays in producing or consuming messages, you can normally improve performance by redesigning the application to distribute message producers and consumers among a larger number of sessions or to distribute sessions among a larger number of connections.
The efficiency with which multiple queue consumers process messages in a queue destination depends on a number of factors. To achieve optimal message throughput there must be a sufficient number of consumers to keep up with the rate of message production for the queue, and the messages in the queue must be routed and then delivered to the active consumers in such a way as to maximize their rate of consumption.
The message delivery mechanism for multiple-consumer queues is that messages are delivered to consumers in batches as each consumer is ready to receive a new batch. The readiness of a consumer to receive a batch of messages depends upon configurable client runtime properties, such as imqConsumerFlowLimit and imqConsumerFlowThreshold, as described in Message Flow Limits. As new consumers are added to a queue, they are sent a batch of messages to consume, and receive subsequent batches as they become ready.
Note - The message delivery mechanism for multiple-consumer queues described above can result in messages being consumed in an order different from the order in which they are produced.
If messages are accumulating in the queue, it is possible that there is an insufficient number of consumers to handle the message load. It is also possible that messages are being delivered to consumers in batch sizes that cause messages to be backing up on the consumers. For example, if the batch size (consumerFlowLimit) is too large, one consumer might receive all the messages in a queue while other consumers receive none. If consumers are very fast, this might not be a problem. However, if consumers are relatively slow, you want messages to be distributed to them evenly, and therefore you want the batch size to be small. Although smaller batch sizes require more overhead to deliver messages to consumers, for slow consumers there is generally a net performance gain in using small batch sizes. The value of consumerFlowLimit can be set on a destination as well as on the client runtime: the smaller value overrides the larger one.


text:
Our key publishers:
Other product variants may be available, please contact us or
request a call back
if you cannot see what you are looking for.
Hex-Rays Decompiler brings binary software analysis within reach of millions of programmers. It converts executable programs into a human readable C-like pseudocode. Currently the decompiler supports 32bit compiled generated code for the x86 and ARM processors. The decompiler runs on MS Windows. The GUI and text IDA versions are supported. In the text mode, only batch operation is available.
Please note: We can only sell this product within the UK.
In comparison to low level assembly language, high level language representation in Hex-Rays has several advantages:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cutting: Why Teens Hurt Themselves
Every year millions of kids deliberately cut their own skin, desperately looking for relief from overwhelming stress, anxiety and insecurity. Learn what's behind the self-injury problem and how parents can stop the pain.
Caia Pattynama hesitated the first time the scissors pierced her arm. "It really hurt," she says, "but I figured if I could tough it out, it would prove I could get through the other things happening in my life." In the seconds it took for drops of blood to appear, Caia, then 15, felt an odd sense of peace. "I knew it didn't make sense, yet I felt better," she says three years later. "For that moment, I was in charge."
Life started slipping out of Caia's control when her beloved stepfather, Daryl Simpson, passed away unexpectedly. She was just a few months shy of her 14th birthday. Though everyone in the Centennial, Colorado, family—mom Monica Simpson, older brother Jared Pattynama, then 16, and younger sister Kendall Pattynama, then 12—was reeling from the loss, Caia was having a particularly hard time. "She was angry and becoming increasingly withdrawn," Monica recalls.
Caia started high school in the fall, and Monica hoped her daughter's mood would improve once the stress of that transition passed. But Caia, a self-described introvert, struggled to fit in. When she did make friends, she was surprised to discover that several of them were into cutting. They said it was calming—which was all Caia needed to hear. In October she started scratching thin lines into her arms with scissors, safety pins and thumbtacks. Soon she was slashing the skin on her arms, belly and legs with whatever sharp instrument was handy. "Sometimes," she says, "the only thing that got me through the day was thinking about being able to cut when I got home."
Deflection Game
Caia's story isn't unusual—a third to half of kids ages 12 to 18 engage in self-injury at least once, according to a Psychiatry study. Actions include cutting, scratching, burning, repeatedly biting or picking at skin, or embedding small objects, such as paper clips or small rocks. Males also punch objects or themselves, or bang their heads against surfaces.
Destructive as this is, most kids—about 60%—aren't trying to end their lives, which is why mental health experts call it non-suicidal self-injury, or NSSI. "Most want to kill their emotional angst," says Janis Whitlock, PhD, director of Cornell University's Research Program on Self-Injurious Behavior. "It's not that they actually want to die."
Experts aren't sure why the act of inflicting physical pain helps, but self-injurers claim they feel more relaxed afterward, apparently exchanging inner angst for the strong physical sensation. Others, emotionally frozen, may want to prove they're capable of experiencing anything at all. Brain chemistry also plays a role—cutting releases endorphins, resulting in a pleasurable or numbing sensation. "Self-injury is a form of self-medication," says Whitlock. Though professionals fall short of calling the behavior a true addiction, it can be compulsive: The more a person cuts, the more she'll crave this relief when tension builds. Over time, the urge becomes impossible to resist.
As the fall progressed, Caia's sadness deepened. "Not only had Daryl died," says Monica, "but Kendall was less available, Jared was living with his father, and I started a full-time job. Everything in her life was pretty much turned upside down." Monica didn't know how upset Caia was, however, until she saw cuts on her daughter's arms. Caia convinced her mother it was a one-time thing, but Monica soon caught glimpses of fresh wounds. Concealing sharp objects didn't help. "She shaves her legs. She's got thumbtacks holding up pictures. I couldn't hide everything." In December, Monica took her daughter to the family doctor, who diagnosed depression, prescribed medication and suggested a therapist.
Antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs like serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly given to self-injurers. Unfortunately, in a small percentage of children, SSRIs may induce suicidal behavior (the FDA now requires a label warning). One night Caia told her mom: "If you leave me alone long enough, I'll do whatever I can to kill myself." Monica called 911 and Caia was taken to a psychiatric hospital. Her medication was changed, and she attended daily group counseling sessions. The therapy went nowhere, though. "I faked it," she says. "I told them what they wanted to hear so I could get out of there." Released after five days, she cut again. "I was flunking school and alienating my family," she says. "I felt awful, but I just couldn't find a way to care."
Rock Bottom
Two months later, after an argument with her mom over a messy bedroom, Caia grabbed a razor blade and carved grid marks into her arm. The next day Monica pulled Caia out of school—figuring she'd get less of a fight that way—and took her back to the hospital. Within days Caia's doctors insisted she needed the intensive assistance only a residential center could provide.
Monica launched into a major search for a facility. "I was on the computer all the time," she says. "I hardly slept." She finally hired an educational consultant who found Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, a program in Durango, Colorado, where Caia stayed for nine weeks while her mom continued looking for a year-round school. Open Sky wasn't a boot camp, but it did have a rigorous program integrating hiking and camping with individual and group psychotherapy, meditation and yoga. "Caia loves being outdoors, and this place had a strong focus on introspection and relationship building," Monica says. "Still, sending her away was the most difficult thing I've ever done." Caia loved Open Sky. "It was a slap in the face to be removed from everything that gave me comfort," she admits. "They take your clothes and issue you new ones. You do laundry with a plunger and bucket and carry a huge backpack. But it was what I needed."
With Caia gone, Monica toured several year-round facilities and finally chose La Europa Academy, in Salt Lake City, for its focus on fine arts. In addition to therapy, kids at La Europa learn to express themselves through photography, dance and music rather than resort to self-destruction. (They receive school credit, and take academic courses too.)
Caia was away for a total of 13 months, and the reentry was bumpy. "It was hard to transition to my old life," she says. A few weeks after she got home she cut, then immediately went to her mother to confess. "She was so sad and disappointed in herself," Monica says. "But I told her one moment doesn't undo all her hard work." And, in fact, slipups are common. "Many recovering people test the behavior, and the majority find that it no longer provides relief," says Wendy Lader, PhD, president of Self Abuse Finally Ends (SAFE). Caia, says her mom, is now part of that group.
With her daughter stable, Monica faced a different challenge: paying the $200,000 tab for Open Sky, travel and the La Europa stay. She emptied her retirement savings and borrowed the rest. Fortunately, most teens don't require such extensive—or expensive—intervention. "Kids who've just started to cut do well with outpatient therapy," says John Peterson, MD, director of child and adolescent psychiatric services at Denver Health Medical Center. Generally, this means 6 to 12 months of treatment at a cost of about $8,000, some of which may be covered by insurance. (Residential treatment runs about $10,000 to $45,000 monthly.)
Caia is still taking medication and gets overwhelmed and depressed at times, says Monica. "But now on a hard day she comes home and heads straight to the piano to play and blow off steam." The scars on her arms and legs are forever, but Caia has decided that's not always so bad. "A girl at school noticed the marks and showed me her fresh cuts," she says. "I told her I know what it's like to be sick of it all and just want the pain to stop. I was so thankful I could say there are better ways to deal with those feelings."
Signs of Cutting
Self-injurers are good at hiding evidence. Look for:
- Mysterious bruises, cuts or wounds.
- Wearing long sleeves, jackets or pants year-round, or using other cover-ups, like wristbands. Disney star Demi Lovato, 18, who admitted last spring to being a cutter, resorted to scar makeup and big bracelets to fool those close to her.
- Unwillingness to participate in activities like swimming that expose skin.
- Spending long periods of time alone, particularly in the bathroom or bedroom.
- Bloodstains on clothing or tissues.
- Razors, knives or other sharp objects hidden among belongings.
- Withdrawal from family or friends.
If You Discover Your Child Is Cutting
- Avoid overreacting or judging. Expressions of shock or horror and statements like "How could you do this?" add stress and discourage your child from confiding in you.
- Seek professional help immediately. The more ingrained the habit, the harder it is to overcome.
- Show respectful curiosity. In a matter-of-fact tone, ask leading questions to help your child acknowledge her problem and recognize she needs help. Try, "How do you feel before and after you cut?" or "What kinds of things make you want to injure yourself?" or "How does cutting help you feel better?"
- Monitor computer usage. There are message boards that encourage self-injury by providing tips for cutting and concealing marks.
- Be observant. Many kids go through cycles of cutting when they're feeling out of control, then stopping during periods of calm.
- Don't use punishments (like grounding) or rewards (letting him stay out late). They rarely work. Cutting is a medical issue, not a disciplinary one.
Treatment for Cutting
Not just any therapy will do. Kids who self-injure occasionally stop on their own, but parents shouldn't count on it. "Cutting is only a symptom," says Lader. "They won't get better until they overcome their inability to handle emotions." And that usually requires professional assistance. The most promising approach so far involves dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which teaches teens two things: how to deal with stress, and how to be more effective in relationships. "The focus is on mindfulness, recognizing and accepting whatever's coming up at any particular moment," says Dr. Peterson. "Patients learn to be at peace with negative thoughts and feelings as they arise, rather than do things to try to force them to go away." Family therapy is also an integral part of recovery. "Teens who feel distant and disconnected at home are much more vulnerable," says Dr. Peterson. "Kids who are able to decompress by talking to parents are far safer."
For more resources, and relaxation tips all kids need to know, go to familycircle.com/teenstress
Originally published in the July 2011 issue of Family Circle magazine.


text:
Your donation today helps the cost of CASA advocacy for a child by finding a safe, loving and permanent home for that child to live in. Your T-shirt Also gives you FREE Admission to our Chili for Children Event!
Join us as we come together as a community to support children who are neglected or abused, and celebrate when they are placed back into a safe environment!
View events.
Become a child's voice in court—become a CASA volunteer. We hold training sessions twice a year! Please contact us today if you are interested in learning more!
Make a difference.
Upcoming Events
July 2019
Posted on 12/14/2019
Return To List


text:
BALTIMORE – The UMBC track and field squads travel to the University of Maine this weekend for the America East Championships. The last time Maine hosted the a conference championship meet was in 2008 when the Retriever men finished third and then women finished fourth in the indoor championships.
Both the men and women have had record breaking seasons outside after finishing fifth and third, respectively, at the indoor championships in February.
After being named the Most Outstanding Rookie at the indoor meet, freshman Mercedes Jackson (Huntington, Md./Huntington) looks to claim another gold medal after taking top honors in the 60m dash in February. At Maine she will be competing in the 100m and 200m dash in which she is in range of the top All-Time Performances in America East history in both events.
Last weekend at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Jackson teamed with sophomore Ebonique Jones (New Castle, Del./William Penn), freshman Briana Young (Bowie, Md./Elizabeth Seton) and sophomore Kirsten Jones (Brentwood, Tenn./M.L.K. Magnet) to break the UMBC record in the 4x200 relay twice. On Friday, the combination put its name in the record book with a time of 1:39.81 and then bettered the mark on Saturday by finishing in 1:38.04.
The 4x200 squad was not the only relay team to set a new record at Penn as freshman Paulette Fogle (Washington, D.C./Bishop McNamara), senior Lauren Leclercq (Jessup, Md./Meade) and sophomores Deborah Adelola (Lanham, Md./Bladensburg) and Cody Mezebish (Westminster, Md./South Carroll) set a new school mark in the sprint medley. The Retrievers' time of 4:04.37 broke the UMBC record of 4:06.36 which was set last season in 2011.
In the field events, UMBC will look to junior Amanda Deller (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) to lead the squad. At the indoor championships in Boston, Deller earned the title of Most Outstanding Field Performer after claiming the gold medal in both the shot put and weight throw. Last weekend at the Penn Relays, she opened with competition with a toss of 14.38m (47'2.25") in the shot put to finish fifth in the Eastern Division. Deller is a five-time conference champion in this event (indoor and outdoor) and will also compete in the discus and hammer at the outdoor championships.
Deller will be pushed by teammate Chrissy Robinson (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) who now ranks fourth in school history in the shot after recording a toss of 13.18m (43'3') in Philadelphia.
For the men, sophomore Brandan McGee (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood) leads the charge and the track and is currently third all-time in school history in the steeplechase. His time of 9:12.43 at the Larry Ellis Invitation two weeks ago places him in the running to earn an NCAA East Region bid as well as a conference title.
Entering the meet as a top contender, indoor triple jump runner-up junior Shioma Obemeata (New Rochelle, N.Y./Iona Prep/St. Francis) will be competing for the conference title as well. Last week at Penn, Obemeata was one of two male Retriever field athletes to earn top-15 finishes along with classmate Cameron McDearmon (Owings Mills, Md./Franklin). Obemeata took 11th in the triple jump with a leap of 14.07m (46'2"), while McDearmon's toss of 52.04m (170'8") earned him 13th in the shot put.
The America East outdoor championships begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and continue through the day until the awards ceremonies on Sunday evening.


text:
On the Right to Discriminate
In his post this morning, "Kagan on Military Recruitment," Cato adjunct scholar Mark Moller touches on Cato's 2005 amicus brief in Rumsfeld v. FAIR, which he co-authored when he was with us as editor-and-chief of the Cato Supreme Court Review – a duty he performed splendidly before moving off to the legal academy. In mentioning the brief, however, Mark says that he recalls that the position it took was controversial within Cato, that it might still be, and that Cato's legal shop might take a different view were the case presented today.
I don't recall that the position we took was controversial within Cato, but then it was five years ago, memories fade, and much has happened in the meantime, including the filing of a brief just three months ago that nicely complements the earlier position we took. In Rumsfeld v. Fair we argued that the government could not condition a private university's eligibility for federal grants, as the Solomon Amendment did, on the university's giving up one of its rights, namely, its right to freedom of association. The law school plaintiffs, citing the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, sought to exclude military recruiters from campus. Pursuant to their nondiscrimination policies, that is, the law schools sought to discriminate against those they thought to be wrongly discriminating. In our brief we took no position on the policy Congress had set for the military (that question was not before the Court), nor on the rights of public universities in this matter – nor did we address the question whether Congress, under its raise-and-support-armies power, could directly order schools to admit recruiters, as the Court ultimately held.
Well we now have the public school version of that issue before us, and the Court, in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez. And our brief in this case, written by Cato adjunct scholar Richard Epstein, argues that a public law school – Hastings, in this case – cannot condition the receipt of benefits it extends to all other student groups on CLS's giving up its right to freedom of association. CLS, a private student group, excludes nonbelievers from its membership, which is its right. As a public institution, we argue, Hastings must treat all equally.
Thus, the principle in the two cases is the same. Private parties, pursuant to their right to freedom of association, may discriminate, whether we agree with their grounds for doing so or not. Public institutions, which belong to all of us, may not discriminate except on grounds narrowly tailored to their functions. Unfortunately, in numerous respects, that's not our current law. For more, see here.


text:
I recently confronted suicide not once, or twice... but three times. One of these is still occurring.
What I haven't explained in the article I published on suicide is how much I still blame religion. These are personal feelings, and don't belong in a public service piece; so I will go into that here:
When a person is religious, they create an acceptance of their lifespan never truly ending. A religious person finds this life to be utterly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, except perhaps providing the proper ID for the "real life", or afterlife as it is commonly referred to.
This notion of there being an immortal lifespan tends to break down the value of life and the finality of death. In the mind of the believer, it isn't a matter of not living that draws concern, but the matter of where you end up. Of course you won't stop existing! Are you mad? You have a soul, you fool!
In the minds of many, there is this idea that all it takes to get into heaven is for you to be sorry for being a filthy sinner and acknowledge the Lord God. Bam! Heaven time!
What value is living if you manage to truly believe paradise is just a snuff-film away? The reason you won't find these thoughts specifically in my article is because I am not a neurologist, psychologist, or any other -ologist of note in which I can legitimately make these claims in official print. I am, however, damn smart... smart enough to know how dumb I am... so these thoughts lay here appropriately marked as "opinion" and cast out for the open forum.
I'm wanting to generate dialogue on this, so I'll stop here and ask: what do you think?
Like and share the article on your various medias please.
I don't respond to comments on the article, so if you want to open a dialogue- speak here.
Views: 1621
What do you want to know?
Kind of an ambiguous response to someone who has laid their position out already... did you by chance read my article? I think filling any holes in any portion of my statement in my article would be something I would want.
I apologize if my response seemed combative
Accepted. Don't worry about it.
Since religion tells one that suicide is the ultimate sin (only God has the right to kill you) I don't see religion as a motivator, unless the person hates God and welcomes spending eternity swimming in a lake of fire. I also disagree that teens don't really understand the permanence of death. I think they realize that if they kill anyone (themselves included) they won't be back at school, they won't be around for Christmas or their birthdays. That's enough of an understanding of the permanence of death for me.
I would blame religion for failing to prevent the suicide if I would blame them for anything at all.
Unless you're these guys.
No. Seriously. Religion makes people kill themselves, especially if you're gay and born into a religious family.
The real mystery for me is why are there religious gay people?
I can agree with that sentiment.
Another agree. Why would you want to be a part of something which looks upon you as vermin.
Yet another in agreement with you Unseen. But of course that would be the case because the question is the religious gay people question that has long been a conundrum to me and many others. Maybe some day there will be an answer, but in my opinion it is that ever present desire for most people to achieve approval from those they see as parents. So, in a religious sense these people are still seeking approval by the 'father'. That's just my opinion. Don't take it as fact.
I agree it has to do with gaining approval, but perhaps a bit more of a metaphorical "parent" (society at large, being a churchgoer in good standing being evidence of such). I think that may be what you meant anyway.


text:
- Home
- About PJC
- Academic Curriculum
- Character Development
View Main Page >> College-Initiated Awards Engaging China Programme Internationalisation Programme Malay Language Elective Programme Pioneer Heritage Programme Sirius Scholars Programme
- Achievements
View Main Page >> College Awards Academic Non-Academic Staff Roll of Honour Success Stories In the News
- Contact Us
View Main Page >> Frequently Asked Questions
- Links
- Others
View Main Page >> Latest News Highlights Error
- Hidden
- Academic Programmes
View Main Page >> 2012 Subject Combinations English Science
- Academic Curriculum
- Pioneer Development Framework
- Home
- About PJC
- Academic Curriculum
Pioneer Academic Framework (PAF) Assessment and Promotion Criteria Subject Combinations Biology Chemistry Computing Economics English Literature General Paper Humanities Mathematics Mother Tongue Languages Physical Education Physics Project Work
- Character Development
College-Initiated Awards Engaging China Programme Internationalisation Programme Malay Language Elective Programme Pioneer Heritage Programme Sirius Scholars Programme
- Achievements
College Awards Non-Academic Staff Roll of Honour Success Stories In the News
- Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
- Links
- Search
Home > Achievements > In the News > Tough At Home But Teen Perseveres And Scores
Tough At Home But Teen Perseveres And Scores
- Need a place to study?
- PJC Teacher brings glory to Singapore at the recent SEA Games!
- Pioneer JC team wins in first round of this year's quiz, leading from start to finish
- PJC student aces A-levels despite financial and emotional stress
- Home-schooled for 10 years, PJC student achieves excellent A-level results!
- Discarding the Top School Mentality
- Students Drawn to New Malay Language Course
- Zaobao Feature on PJC's First President Scholar
- Late Bloomer is School's First President Scholar
- Wanbao Feature on Raymond and Richmond
- Two Disabled A-level Students Attribute Good Results to Caring Schools
- Soft Spot For Motivated Teens
- No Longer 'Timid and Tiny'
- His Efforts Move Teachers to Tears
- Blind But She Will Chase Her Dream
- Tough At Home But Teen Perseveres And Scores
- Zaobao Feature: PJC Elderly Learning Journey
- Firdaus in the Berita Harian
- JC Scheme Stretch Students' Potential
- Blind JC student beats the odds
- Students' Overall Performance Is Good
- Blind Girl Completed Her JC Education in Three Years
- He Repeated First Year in JC But Didn't Give Up
- I Never Saw A Point In Giving Up
- I Sat For Paper In Hospital While Having Chemo
- She's Blind But Scores 3As, 2Bs
- True Grit-Blind Student Scores 3 As and 2 Bs at A-Levels
- Blind Girl Determined To Be The Master of Her Destiny
- Lost Her Vision But She Perseveres
- Developing Minds, Building Spirits
- PJC Students Participate in Singapore Memory Project
- Scheme to groom game developers
- PSC reaches out to students from diverse backgrounds
- PSC seeks more diversity in scholarships
- Malawi High School visit to PJC
- Schools highlight the tenacious and all-rounders
- The going got tough, but they got the As
- Perseveres to sit for exams despite having no close kin besides her
- Normal Academic Student Became Top (Malay) JC Student
- Building sector to help schools go green
- 202 given teaching scholarships
- News Article on Our CAC Member, Dr Ting Choon Meng
- Brave Despite the Odds (Charmaine Tan)
- PJC Student, Charmaine Lau, Clinched the IDA JC Computing Award
- Engaging China Seminar
- GCE A Level Results
- Ex PJ Student, Shawn Joo, in NUS Law School
- Ex PJ Student, Amalina, in NUS Law School
- From Poly to JC
- Chinese New Year Celebrations @ PJC
- Malays Improved Most in "A" levels
- PJC to Help Students Get Iphone After Creating App
- Helping Juniors the Way to Go at PJC
- PJC to offer MLEP
- Paywhere Co-Founders (ex-Pioneers)
- PJC's Collaboration With Ee Hoe Hean Club Learning Day Camp on History of Local Chinese Forefathers
- PJC Inculcates Total Defence Values in PJC Students
- PJC Students Learn Chinese From You Jin's Travel Experiences
- 'I Like Twisted, Surreal Stuff'
- First PSC Scholar from PJC, Mr Nicholas Tan
- Overseas Trips in PJC
- Pioneer JC snags Best Practice Award and School Distinction Award
- Elite School Or Not Doesn't Matter
- First PJC Student to Study at Fudan (Woon Ying Lin)
- Band Performance at Istana
- Night Study Programme
- Session With Movie Director Ah Niu
- Knowing China through Middle Kingdom Race Boardgame
- International Financial Investor Jim Rogers on the Impt of Learning Chinese
Photographs or video images of you or your legal guardians may be taken during school activities and events such as classroom lessons, CCA, school camps, or school concerts. The school may use and publish such photographs or video recordings in school publications, the school's website, social media channels, or other communication channels.


text:
SACRAMENTO, April 4 (UPI) -- Chandler Parsons flirted with a season's-best scoring effort Wednesday in pacing Houston to a 112-102 victory over Sacramento.
The Rockets won their third in a row and opened a 3 1/2-game cushion over Utah in their bid to capture a playoff berth.
Parsons, who is averaging 15 points a game in his second season in the NBA and whose high game for the year has been 32 points, produced 29 while hitting 12-of-18 from the field.
James Harden added 21 and Omer Aski had 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Kings were led by Tyreke Evans with 22 points and DeMarcus Cousins with 20.
Houston pulled off the victory despite turning the ball over 19 times and committing eight more fouls than did the Kings.


text:
*Guest Post written by Alexis Dayers*
Chanel Master Perfumer Jacques Polge, the nose behind 95% of Chanel's fragrances, introduced the latest scent from the Les Exclusifs collection – 1932. The scent was named after the year Gabrielle Chanel debuted her first high jewelry collection, Bijoux de Diamants, which featured a collection of brilliant stars, fringes, feathers, bows and striking comets.
The image above is a still from the original showcase at Mademoiselle Chanel's apartment. She arranged the diamonds in a way that was unique and ahead of the time. The 2012 Comete piece below pays tribute to the 1932 original and it's my favorite of the collection.
As beautiful and striking as this collection was and is – I hardly think of showstopping diamonds when I smell the fragrance. As a matter of fact, I feel a calming comfort.
Top: aldehydes, neroli, bergamot
Middle: jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, carnation, lilac
Bottom: vetiver, orris root, incense, opoponax, courmarin, vanilla, ambrette, musk
Les Exclusifs de Chanel 1932 opens with a floral aldehyde, citrus and jasmine. At first whiff I'm not swept off my feet but it's a Chanel and I'm prepared to ride out this fragrance journey. What I have learned since I became a fragrance enthusiast was to have patience. What you may not be wowed by in the first three minutes will turn into something great within ten to twenty minutes or vice-versa. What happens next is the rose note kicks in. The jasmine is still there but it's lingering in the background, not to heady to give you a headache but just enough to linger like a good memory. There's bits of spice from the carnation but it's fleeting. My nose isn't sensitive and trained enough to pick the ylang-ylang and lilac but it's at this point where I am paying attention again.
I am pretty sure the people on the train wonder what is wrong with me again because I can't stop smelling my wrist.
The drydown is what brings it home for me. The jasmine becomes faint but the rose is still going strong and now I get a bit of a honey, almond, sweet hay. The wood notes are almost creamy. The soft powdery musk hugs my skin. It's feminine, warm and makes me feel downright beautiful. Close to an hour later, I'm enveloped in a deep resinous vanilla, powdery aldehydes, sweet musk and woods. I feel like I'm wrapped in cashmere, particularly the $1000 cashmere wrap I got to try on at the Chanel boutique and I almost cried when I had to give it back the sales associate, while wearing this scent.
The sillage is moderate and longevity is quite impressive – I can get almost five hours of wear time before I felt the need to reapply. Anything that lasts over three hours on me is a good thing.
This is offered in a 75ml bottle ($130/USD) and 200ml ($230/USD). Les Exclusifs de Chanel is an exclusive collection found at Chanel boutiques and some department stores (flagship Nordstrom store – Seattle, WA).
I only own one 75ml bottle (Bois des Iles) of an Exclusif and I am really considering saving up for a small bottle of 1932. Like I mentioned earlier, I wasn't wowed initially but I will usually give a fragrance three tries before I give my sample or decant away. There's a bit of familiarity – the bits of honey is reminiscent of another Les Exclusifs scent, Beige, which is a beautiful honeyed white floral. Rose and woods are favorite notes of mine so that help win my vote and I'm a sucker for a sweet, powdery clean musk drydown. It's beautiful and perfect for the office, lunch with girlfriends and in my case, play dates at the playground. Added bonus – the simple square bottle design with the heavy magnetic cap can make even the most shoddy dressers look like a million bucks. It makes you feel feminine just like a great classic Chanel scent would.


text:
Welcome to Gentle Dental of Michigan
We are pleased to offer you and your entire family exceptional dental care. Our professional full-service dentistry paired with our outstanding patient care is a winning combination – visit any of our offices in Detroit to experience the difference!
Our Detroit dentists pride themselves on establishing rewarding and lasting relationships. We pledge excellence in all we do and we are looking forward to helping you make the most of your smile now and for all the years to come.
New Dental Patients Welcome
Proper dental care is important at all ages. Good dental health requires that you take care of your teeth daily and have regular dental check-ups. The American Dental Association® recommends visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams. Book an appointment today at one of our convenient locations throughout Detroit.


text:
About Guadalajara
There are a lot of things in Guadalajara, the second largest town of Mexico that makes it an interesting place to spend time in. It has the biggest market in Latin America – San Juan de Dios with three floors. I have met the nicest Mexican women here. It is one of the most traditional, religious and conservative cities in Mexico. It is not a colonial city like Guanajuato or San Miguel de Allende, but with many avenues, the best modern infrastructure possible. An interesting fact about Guadalaraja -at night, usually at 11pm, people gather on bicycles and take a different route every night around the city, go to the movies or theatre together. It is a fun city with lots of good things and good people.
Read More
Search Flights
Book Guadalajara Tour Package
112 Hotels found


text:
By Hayden Wright
(RADIO.COM) – Monday night, James Corden offered an emotional tribute to those killed in a bombing at Ariana Grande's concert in Manchester, UK. The Late Late Show host honored the people of Manchester whose community was rocked by a terrorist attack that killed 22 people and injured 59—including children and young adults.
Watch Corden's emotional tribute above.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Manchester tonight," he said. "All of the staff at the MEN Arena, all of the security teams, all of the emergency services, Ariana and her team and all of those families affected by tonight."
"We'll all go to bed holding our little ones even tighter this evening," he added.
Corden took a moment to highlight some of the contributions Manchester natives have made to sports, music, science and social justice.
"Many of you won't have ever been to Manchester but you will definitely have heard of it," he said. "It's famous all over the world for so many wonderful things, great football teams, Manchester City, Manchester United. It's famous for incredible music, Oasis and Joy Division."
"It was the birthplace of the leader of the Suffragettes. It's the home of the inventor of the first computer."
"When I think of Manchester, of the place that I know, I think of the spirit of the people there and I'm telling you, a more tight-knit group of people, you will be hard-pressed to find."
Corden joins a wave of celebrities who've expressed shock and condolences since news of the attack broke. The bombing is currently under investigation by British authorities as more details of the horrific event surface. Police confirm that the suicide bomber died on the scene.
©2017 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved.
You must log in to post a comment.


text:
VUB manages risk by looking into the future
Thanks to SAS® analytical software for risk management, Slovakia's VUB bank better optimizes its liquidity, manages interest rate risk and makes decisions while considering both current and future scenarios.
The global financial crisis has highlighted the two major vulnerabilities of worldwide banks: the threat of insufficient liquidity and the risk of banks' earnings being excessively dependent on interest rate fluctuations. Regardless of a bank's overall health, not incorporating strong analytical practices around asset and liability management (including interest rate risk) can negatively affect revenues and possibly lead to its collapse.
In recent years, VUB has become a risk management pioneer in Slovakia. The bank has always had a well-managed loan portfolio, resulting in minimal costs to cover credit risks. Its practices translated into strong profitability, and VUB received the "Bank of the Year" award from the weekly economic journal Trend.
Thanks to SAS, we know our level of assets and liabilities -- whether there will be a profit or a loss.
Andrej Hronec
Head of Assets and Liabilities
Higher aspirations
VUB managers are constantly trying to move risk management practices to a higher level. Naturally, the characteristics of liquidity and interest rate risk have always been closely monitored. However, VUB is now seeking ways to refine its ratio analysis and calculations, which was not a priority in the past.
"We wanted to look not only at the current risks, but to also have a view on what they could look like in the future," explains Andrej Hronec, Head of Assets and Liabilities at VUB Bank. It's extremely important for large banks to have the ability to predict future scenarios, as it's difficult to quickly change course and go in a new direction. Therefore, seeing future obstacles and assessing various influences as soon as possible are critical when developing forecasts. "A robust tool is needed," notes Hronec.
VUB, after many years of experience with SAS analytical software, decided to deploy SAS for Enterprise Risk Management. The primary incentive (for implementing SAS) was so that risk managers could generate forecasts to optimize liquidity. "Thanks to our new look into the future, we can better decide whether to gather financial resources for five or 10 years," explains Hronec. In other words, the bank can make better decisions about what level of cash (liquidity) it should keep/acquire. For example, VUB can now predict what the structure of its assets and liabilities will look like in six months, or in two years.
Looking into the future
A look into the future not only helps VUB make decisions about its appropriate liquidity cushion, it also allows it to forecast net interest income. "Thanks to this [capability] we know our level of assets and liabilities -- whether there will be a profit or a loss," says Hronec.
Simulations of new business gains, such as an increase in deposits and loans or what future interest rates may be, help managers estimate the development of the bank's net interest income. These are particularly important forecasts since interest income forms the largest part of a bank's earnings.
Of course, there's always an inherent risk in predicting the future, especially for long-term forecasts. Plus, there can always be some event that no one expected. However, Hronec thinks it's essential that the bank identifies as many different scenarios as possible, which will enable VUB to better adapt to the future. "Sophisticated tools increase the accuracy of predictions as they can analyze a number of factors and scenarios that would otherwise have not been taken into account. The bigger a bank is, the more diverse its products, and thus the more difficult it is to manage risk," notes Hronec, who feels that there is a growing need for sophisticated risk management tools.
For example, VUB has used future scenarios when deciding on bond purchases. "If we did not have this view, we would have not bought them in such a structure as what we finally decided," he notes.
Stability for clients
Addressing risk management does not produce visible benefits to banking clients. However, managing risk allows the bank to ensure that client deposits are safe – which is particularly important for businesses since they do not have the same deposit protection as ordinary citizens.
Because it's hard for banking clients to see the benefits of risk management – and difficult to prove the return on investment – banks may think it's not necessary to use an enterprise risk management solution. However, Hronec notes that after his experience using SAS, he feels that the sooner a bank deploys a sophisticated risk management solution the better, because it brings new insights that help to make better decisions.
VUB is planning to use SAS to model future scenarios and manage risks in its subsidiaries-- VUB Leasing and Consumer Finance Holding. In addition, VUB managers plan to use SAS for hedge accounting (accounting of derivatives under international accounting standards).
- Improve asset and liability management.
- Manage interest rate risk.
SAS® Enterprise Risk Management
- More accurately predict the future structure of assets and liabilities.
- Optimize cash flow to calculate interest rate risk with greater accuracy.
- Use various scenarios to predict the impact of future developments.
The results illustrated in this article are specific to the particular situations, business models, data input, and computing environments described herein. Each SAS customer's experience is unique based on business and technical variables and all statements must be considered non-typical. Actual savings, results, and performance characteristics will vary depending on individual customer configurations and conditions. SAS does not guarantee or represent that every customer will achieve similar results. The only warranties for SAS products and services are those that are set forth in the express warranty statements in the written agreement for such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Customers have shared their successes with SAS as part of an agreed-upon contractual exchange or project success summarization following a successful implementation of SAS software. Brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.


text:
EDITOR'S DESK—Commentary
Although the General Services Administration generated a good deal of buzz with its launch last month of a new cloud computing storefront named Apps.gov, the promise of providing computing infrastructure services on demand remains largely just that for now: a promise. On the other hand, NBC is about a month away from testing a new a set of virtualized computer infrastructure services available on demand to federal agencies.
Infrastructure as a service is just one component of NBC's plans to offer a full range of cloud computing services, as GCN reports in this issue. Those plans include offering individual business software programs, modified to meet government standards, all the way up to hosted environments that could support an agency's software, without the headache of owning and supporting hardware — all on a pay-on-demand basis.
Of course, NBC isn't alone in developing cloud computing capabilities in the federal government. The Defense Information Systems Agency's Rapid Access Computing Environment has been operating for about year, and NASA recently launched its Nebula cloud computing pilot program.
What makes NBC's approach to cloud computing worth watching is how naturally it extends from — and enhances — NBC's existing business and operations model. As a result, NBC's initiatives are likely to mature faster than the cloud computing pilot programs taking root elsewhere in government.
For starters, NBC is already in the business of providing agencies with large-scale computing services to manage payrolls, finances and human resources. NBC also knows how to provide those services over various networks while meeting federal security requirements. And NBC's clients have grown comfortable sharing common servers — something most agencies are reluctant to do with existing third-party cloud computing providers.
To support its systems and stay competitively priced with its clients, NBC has embraced virtualization and cloud computing techniques in a big way. And unlike at many agencies where the lure of cloud computing is lower operating costs — and involves a host of migration hurdles — it represents an enabling technology for NBC that directly supports the agency's mission.
In some ways, NBC is in the position, such as Amazon was, where incremental computing volume can help drive down the costs of computing per user. That gives NBC and its clients an incentive to put cloud computing to work sooner than later — and that's something federal agencies will want to watch.
About the Author
Wyatt Kash served as chief editor of GCN (October 2004 to August 2010) and also of Defense Systems (January 2009 to August 2010). He currently serves as Content Director and Editor at Large of 1105 Media.
E-Mail this page
Printable Format
Advanced Search
Sign up for our newsletter.
I agree to this site's Privacy Policy.


text:
Omaha bars challenge city's Sunday liquor laws
If drinkers plan to hit it hard Sunday morning on St. Patrick's Day, they shouldn't expect to find hard liquor for sale in every Omaha bar or restaurant.
Last year, the state passed legislation that said cities could allow the sale of hard liquor before noon on Sundays -- in addition to beer and wine, which was already legal -- but Omaha city code hasn't caught up.
Since the code hasn't changed, bars like O'Connor's Irish Pub in the Old Market had to pay $65 to get a special permit to sell mixed drinks and hard liquor St. Patrick's Day morning. The establishment is one of 23 Omaha bars that did so.
Katie O'Connor said she spent about $12,000 to stock up on booze for the weekend.
"I've been buying for about three weeks," she said.
Bars outside of Omaha do not have these same restrictions, because state legislators agree booze is booze.
"Alcohol is just basically alcohol in whatever form it's in," said Sen. Abbie Cornett.
Cornett introduced legislation that senators passed last year to remove the differentiation. Cities can now legalize hard liquor sales on Sunday mornings, just as they had done with beer and wine.
"The retailers were talking about lost revenue and so were the restaurants," Cornett said.
City councilman Ben Gray agreed that the special hard liquor permits in the city don't make sense.
"I would want us to be in a position, so that our bars and restaurants can compete," Gray said.
Gray said bars like O'Connor's should not have to jump through legal hoops in a special permitting process.
The Omaha Police Department said if it catches bars serving hard liquor or mixed drinks before noon on Sunday, those without the special permit, they could get in trouble.


text:
Maimonide of Brooklyn, a new vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant with a menu affectionately tagged as as "avant-garde vegetarian food for carnivores" has arrived on the Brooklyn dining scene. Founder Cyril Aouizerate, legendary French chef Alain Senderens and executive chef Neal Harden (Pure Food & Wine) hosted the opening celebration just last month, with guests ranging from comedian Louis CK to legendary musician Afrika Bambaataa, who also guest DJ'd. Makes us feel clean and good just thinking about this place!
The intriguing culture mash-up is in M.O.B's design, an homage to 90s hip-hop culture, Brooklyn, and the healthy-living beliefs of the famous Jewish philosopher Maimonides. The arches of the Brooklyn Bridge lend their shape to the M.O.B sandwiches as well as the physical design of the space, and there are displays that nods to BK legends including Biggie Smalls and Spike Lee.
Most charmingly, there is a Maimonide comic book, featuring superhero Barack Tomahawk, all of which is a driver in the larger creative direction of the restaurant. The ideas behind the M.O.B sandwich and the inclusion of Maimonides is explained through the story of Barack, a former fast-food delivery man, who realizes the error of his ways and heads off to save the world, one healthy meal at a time.
What a fun, unique and delicious way to get a life lesson and eat good grub at the same time--located at 525 Atlantic Avenue, get to M.O.B now!


text:
Food Safety Instructions
Published on Nov 30, 2016
In this video, you will find information on how to properly re-heat the meals that are delivered to you from God's Love We Deliver.
Food-borne or food-related illness is disease caused by microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that are carried to people through food. Microorganisms are tiny and cannot be seen by the naked eye, so it is difficult to tell if something has been contaminated. Typical symptoms of food-related illness include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 76 million cases of food-related illness in the US each year. Most cases are mild. However, it is estimated that annually, 5,000 deaths can be related to food-borne illness. While everyone is at risk, certain groups are at higher risk: the very young, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
Wash your hands! Done correctly, hand washing may cut food-borne illness in half! To be effective, wash with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (the length of time it takes to sing two choruses of happy birthday). Wash the front and back of hands, under nails and up to your wrist. Rinse well and dry on a paper towel or clean cloth. Wash your hands before preparing food, before eating, after handling raw meat, using the bathroom, blowing your nose or touching your face.
Storing foods promptly after cooking inhibits bacterial growth. Don't leave food out on the stovetop for more than 2 hours. Storing food at proper temperatures also slows bacterial growth. Keep the refrigerator between 32°F and 40°F and the freezer at 0°F. Place a thermometer in each appliance to monitor these temperatures.
Wash all surfaces (cutting boards, etc) and utensils before and after they come in contact with food. Avoid cross-contamination by immediately washing anything that touches raw meats, poultry, fish and eggs. Remember to always wash your hands before moving on to the next task. Cooking food thoroughly also can prevent food-related illness. See cooking temperature guide below for more details.
Steaks and roasts should cook to an internal temperature of 145°F. Ground meats should cook to an internal temperature of 160°F. Whole chicken and turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. Eggs should be cooked until the yolks are firm – 145°F. Cook fish until it begins to flake – 145°F. Reheat leftovers to 165°F.
The safest way to defrost a frozen meal is overnight on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. If you are going to continue to cook and eat the meal right away, it is also OK to defrost in the microwave. Frozen meals can also be defrosted directly in the oven. To do this, pierce film to vent and heat at 350°F for 30 minutes. It is NOT recommended to defrost frozen foods on the countertop at room temperature where bacteria multiply easily. Once defrosted, meals can be heated in an oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or in a microwave on high for 2-3 minutes. Our frozen meals are good for up to three months in the freezer. Watch our food safety videos in English, in Chinese, and in Spanish.
We recommend thawing our frozen soups overnight on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Soups should NOT be left out on the countertop to defrost because bacteria can grow rapidly at room temperature. Soups can also be thawed and heated on the stovetop or in the microwave. To thaw and heat on the stovetop, place soup in a small saucepan on low heat, stirring occasionally until bubbling and hot throughout. If using a microwave, place soup in a microwavable bowl and select the defrost setting. Once defrosted, continue to heat on high for 2-3 minutes, stir and test if hot throughout. Our frozen soups are good for up to three months in the freezer.
All of our baked desserts are made on premise without preservatives and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. Any items containing dairy (like puddings) or fruit, should be refrigerated immediately and consumed within two days.
Published on Nov 30, 2016
In this video, you will find information on how to properly re-heat the meals that are delivered to you from God's Love We Deliver.
Published on Mar 28, 2018
In this video, you will find information on how to properly re-heat the meals that are delivered to you from God's Love We Deliver.


text:
From the new China Mieville to the latest Cherie Priest, from quantum burglars to reworked fairy tales, here's what you'll be reading this spring. We've picked out the most exciting new books from the next few months' science fiction/fantasy releases.
In case you missed them, the year's already seen some really great releases, including Jo Walton's fantastical coming of age novel Among Others and Cowboy Angels, Paul McAuley's tale of CIA agents messing around with alternative Americas. But here's what to look for at the bookstore between now and June.
Leviathan Wakes wallpaper via Orbit Books.
Midnight Riot, Ben Aaronovitch (Del Rey)
Doctor Who alum Aaronovitch takes on urban fantasy. Peter Grant wants to be a proper detective inspector in London's police force. He's suddenly and rather unexpected helped along towards his goal when it's discovered he can communicate with the recently dead. Detective Chief Inspector and wizard Thomas Nightingale takes notice and takes Grant under his wing to help deal with London's paranormal crises.
Bloodshot, Cherie Priest (Del Rey)
Vampires are the trend that just won't die. But we still see the occasional title worth getting excited about, and this spring it's Cherie Priest's latest. Bloodshot follows Raylene Pendle, a flapper-turned-vampire (and daring international criminal) with a Louise Brooks haircut and an epic attitude. She takes a job "collecting" some sensitive government documents and finds herself running around Atlanta with a seriously bad-ass drag queen.
The World House, Guy Adams (Angry Robot)
A weird house full of weird rooms with a mysterious prisoner in the attic. Strangeness ahoy!
Deep State, Walter Jon Williams (Orbit)
The sequel to This Is Not A Game brings back Dagmar Shaw, who's running a massive alternate reality game and attempting to steer clear of the tyrannical local authorities. But an old friend offers her a chance to take her Puppetmaster role to the next level and pull the strings on real people.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Sausages, Tom Holt (Orbit)
Polly Mayer might be going mental. Or maybe there's some sort of interdimensional shenanigans going on, involving disappearing coffee and pigs and a magical ring. With this being Tom Holt's latest madcap fantasy, we'll assume it's the latter.
Embedded, Dan Abnett; Vegas Knights, Matt Forbeck; Point, Thomas Blackthorne (Angry Robot)
This month brings 3 intriguing offering from Angry Robot: Vegas Knights, urban fantasy about a couple of college kids who think they can beat the house with magic; Embedded, military science fiction which follows a journalist who rides along with a combat vet into a warzone via microchip implant; and Point, a dark near-future dystopia about a rash of teen suicide circles.
Daybreak Zero, John Barnes (Ace)
The sequel to Directive 51 finds the post-apocalyptic governments of Athens, GA, and Olympia, WA, in an uneasy truce as attempts to rebuild America begin. Little is known about Daybreak, the force behind the massive attacks that left the world is decimated — only that it's not gone and could strike back at any moment.
Sleight of Hand, Peter Beagle (Tachyon Publications)
Check out our review of Peter S. Beagle's recent "best-of" collection from back in October. A new Peter S. Beagle collection is always cause for celebration, and Sleight of Hand promises to be especially full of difficult choices and quiet revelations.
The Gravity Pilot, MM Buckner (Tor)
Orr and Dyce are a young couple living in a polluted, near-future Alaska. Things are all right in a patched-together kind of way, then their lives take a terrible turn. When Orr pulls off a spectacular dive and finds himself suddenly a celebrity, Dyce leaves him for the underground media metropolis of Seattle, where she's sucked into a virtual reality addiction.
Deathless, Catherynne M. Valente (Tor)
Valente takes on Russian folklore in Deathless, refashioning the malign Koschei the Deathless and the princess Marya Morevna for Soviet Russia. The result is fantastically weaves twentieth century history and fairy tale tropes. Check out the first chapter here.
After the Golden Age, Carrie Vaughn (Tor)
Celia Ward struggles to live her life out from under her parents' shadow—which isn't easy when your parents are superhero power couple Captain Olympus, and you're their nemeses' favorite captive. But she's sucked right back in for the trial of the archest of their enemies, the Destructor, and finds herself confronting some long-buried issues.
All the Lives He Led, Frederik Pohl (Tor)
In his latest, the grand master dreams up a world suffering in the wake of a massive eruption of the Yellowstone caldera. His protagonist is Brad Sheridan, an American survivor scraping along as a indentured servant in the greener pastures of Italy and destined to find himself caught up in a dangerously ambitious terrorist plot.
Soft Apocalypse, Will McIntosh (Nightshade)
Sometimes it's not a slouch to Gomorrah, so much as an amble. So it is with Soft Apocalypse:
There was an ancient miniature golf course choked in weeds alongside the bowling alley. The astroturf had completely rotted away in places. The windmill had one spoke. We looked it over for a minute (both of us had once been avid mini golfers), then continued toward the door. "By the way," I added. "We're not homeless, we're nomads. Keep your labels straight."
Will Super Villains Be On the Final? Naomi Novik (Del Rey)
Temeraire genius Naomi Novik does superhero high school and in manga form, no less. Seriously, do you even need any more info?
The View from the Imperium, Jody Lynn Nye (Baen)
Jody Lynn Nye's latest is basically Wooster and Jeeves—in space! Ensign Thomas Innes Loche Kinago receives a command right out of the Academy and sets to work, attempting to meet his distinguished Admiral mother's expectations. Almost immediately, he's required to fend off a would-be galactic dictator with seeming mind-control abilities. Luckily, he has the loyal (and more importantly, competent) Parsons by his side.
Fuzzy Nation, John Scalzi (Tor)
Jack Holloway is a contractor for ZaraCorp, a massive interplanetary corporation in the process of harvesting the resources of Zarathustra. A slight hitch: Their mining rights are only valid if the planet is without sentient natives, and Jack's just discovered some awfully cute locals. John Scalzi reboots H. Beam Piper's Hugo-winning Little Fuzzy with Fuzzy Nation. For more details, check out this post, in which he reveals the details of the formerly super-secret project.
Embassytown, China Mieville (Del Rey)
Human colonist Avice Benner Cho doesn't speak the unique and nearly impossible to master Ariekei language, but she's been integrated as a figure of speech. Returning to Embassytown after years away, she finds a new ambassador, and upheaval between the humans and the Ariekei. And Avice isn't entirely confident where her loyalties lie. The tension between human colonists and enigmatic aliens is a classic science fiction trope, and we cannot wait to see what Mieville does with it.
Dead Reckoning, Charlaine Harris (Ace)
Mum's the word on Sookie Stackhouse book #11, but we've got a cover, and a release date of May 3.
The Quantum Thief, Hannu Rajaniemi (Tor)
The buzz has been building for months for The Quantum Thief, Hannu Rajaniemi's debut hard science-fiction novel, and it's easily one of the most anticipated novels for the year. Published overseas in September of last year, it's just now hitting this side of the Atlantic. The science is hard, but the plot is essentially a crackerjack heist thriller.
Chasing the Moon, Lee Martinez (Orbit)
Diana scores an excellent apartment, only to find it's inhabited by monsters and she's now stuck. First she meets Vom the Hungering, who informs her his raison d'etre is eating everything. But there are more ominous creatures afoot and aiming to devour the moon, and so it's up to the Lovecraftian roommates to stop them.
The Falling Machine, Andrew Mayer (Pyr)
A crime-fighting socialite! When the leader of the Society of Paragons is murdered right in front of her, Sarah Stanton teams up with clockwork hero The Automaton to unravel the mystery.
Naamah's Blessing, Jacqueline Carey (Tor)
Naamah's Blessing wraps Jacqueline Carey's most recent cycle of novels in the Kushiel Universe. Moirin returns to Terre d'Ange and finds the royal family in tatters. She's rapidly embroiled in court intrigue when she's asked to stand as guardian to the three-year-old princess Desirée, and she's got trouble from her past in the form of ex-lover Raphael de Mereliot.
The Uncertain Places, Lisa Goldstein (Tachyon Publications)
Will Taylor falls for mysterious fellow student Livvy Feierabend. But her family is wrapped up in a generations-old pact with forces from the faerie world, and he can't be with her unless he can rescue her.
Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey (Orbit)
Levianthan Wakes is set in a future just advanced enough that we've colonized our own system, but no farther. Collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (writing as James S.A. Corey) both have fantasy backgrounds, which suggests we're in for good, old-fashioned, sprawling space opera. The narrative flips between Jim Holden, hard-ass hauling ice from Saturn to the Belt, and Detective Miller, boy scout searching for a missing girl, as the two men attempt to keep the lid on a secret that could spell war.
Jim and the Flims, Rudy Rucker (Nightshade Books)
Jim Oster makes the mistake of piercing the veil between our world and the next, killing his wife and unleashing an invasion of Flims. If he wants Val back and the Flims gone, he'll have to journey to the center of the netherworld with a pack of punks.


text:
Tea Guy finally got around to locating and ordering some seeds of the variety Camellia sinensis the other day. That's tea, in case you're wondering why it sounded so naggingly familiar.
My hope is to actually grow a tea tree to the extent that I can glean enough leaves from it for at least one cup of tea. I wouldn't say that I have a particularly green thumb, but neither have my past gardening efforts been a total disaster, so we'll see how it goes. I'll be posting regular updates as I go. Stay tuned.
If you'd like to get your hands on some tea seeds and play along at home you might try the Whatcom Seed Company.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Tea Guy's Great Botanical Experiment
2 comments:
- l.b. said...
Please do give details! and pictures if you can. Are you planning to pot indoors? I'm gonna try this too. Love your blog! (I just got my first order from Adagio who I learned about per you posts and am so far delighted with their company.)
- William I. Lengeman III said...
Thanks for your comments. I'll try to get pictures up as things progress. Since I'm in a rather frigid part of the world these days I'll be trying to do this indoors for now.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Check out our Seat Ibiza FR photo gallery
with HQ pics.
Last update in Ibiza FR gallery: 2009-07-04
Seat presented a hybrid version of the flagship Tarraco SUV, which can be recharge from the mains.
Seat showed on teaser the first electric car that will debut next week in Geneva. The novelty will be built on the MEB architecture, and the car will become a serial one next year.
Seat presented the newest Minimo electric vehicle concept.
Seat Ateca SUV prepared the off-road package, which costs 13,964 euros.
The Cupra Performance brand, which is considered part of a SEAT, begins long strides.
Seat will bring a new generation Leon concept to Geneva in March next year.
We select only big size seat ibiza fr photos
for our photogallery.


text:
I need to say, adidas stan smith mens aside from skill, desire, training, physical ability and support, they've had a little help along the way, and I mean, adidas stan smith women in the way of sneakers. Not merely sneakers. Some serious kicks! Their basketball shoes need to be made with some considerable technology, right? Well, most of us aren't sneaker manufacturers, or we'd know the solution to that one. Yet, if you were to try on a couple of expensive basketball shoes, in comparison with what you have at this point, or even what they accustomed to wear 20 years back even, you would have taller, jump higher, manage faster, win more game titles, against your opponent, who may, by the method, have the best advanced sneakers out there, also.
So, adidas superstar mens take it through the best. Ever check available what shoes Dwight Howard will be wearing? What makes him play so good? What about Tim Duncan or maybe Rodney Stuckey? Check released my article on NBA Online players wearing Adidas basketball shoes and boots. You'll find out what Dwight Howard wears through Adidas. Superstar was to begin with manufactured by Adidas inside 1969 and was utilised for playing basketball simply. That was the genuine intentions behind its construct. However, its growing interest from some people outside the basketball fraternity gradually has raised its recognition to highest unimaginable height. Today, many young individuals are associating with the shoe with which has more appealing looks as opposed to modern day sneakers. This is actually the big evolution story connected with Adidas Superstars that it is likely you never knew or have never heard about.
Kareem adidas superstar mens sale Abdul Jabbar is probably the most famed basketball people who were first to be able to wear this shoe. Eventually, many other players mostly within the NBA followed suit and also were seen wearing the shoes recommended to their training sessions and also competitive games. In a new nut shell, the famous players in NBA played a vital role in popularizing this manufacturer of shoes by Adidas. They take much credit history for where superstar stands today already in the market. One of the notable strong tasks of this shoe is its ability to stay significant even in that wake of technological breakthroughs.
adidas stan smith mens
Wolna dyskusja na temat producenta - piszcie co sądzicie o działalności firmy, szkoleniach, polityce cenowej.
Posty: 1 • Strona 1 z 1
Odpowiedzmeble wrocław warszawa kraków
Posty: 1 • Strona 1 z 1


text:
- Did you mean
- urban agricultural garden
Search results
The CFAES Center for Cooperatives, OSU Extension Direct Food & Agricultural Marketing Team, ...
About Miami County
and research developed by Extension and other faculty and staff at the Ohio Agricultural Research and ... family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, community development, and agriculture and natural ...
Dr. Jiuxing 'Lulu' Lu has joined Dr. Gary Gao's Team at South Centers as a visiting scholar
Horticulture from Henan Agricultural University in Zhengzhou, China, joined Dr. Gary Gao's extension and ... College of Landscape Horticulture of Henan Agricultural University. She will participate in Dr. Gao's ... Arboretum in Columbus, be involved in some of the activities of the Ohio Master gardener volunteer program, ...
OSU South Centers TELEVISION
School of Environment and Natural Resources College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Resources ... different agricultural programs and food systems that are important not only in rural areas but along Ohio's ... urban rural area. Mike Thompson Director, Instructional Design and Media Services University of Rio ...
Visiting scholar Kateryna Chorna, of Ukraine, joins Soil and Water Program
agricultural management practices on soil quality and crop productivity." During her fellowship period, she ... agriculture, as well as working with modern laboratory equipment and learning analytical techniques. She will ... water supply to urban areas and power plants, preparation of technical passports, certification of ...
Bauman, Gardner take on new roles with co-ops team
Two familiar faces are filling new positions within the College of Food, Agricultural, and ... produce. Joy is currently leading a North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education ... for high school students in the Appalachian region. Joy holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture ...
Am I Going to Do? 3) Agricultural Careers- Opportunities Do Exist 4) Communication: Listening ... 8) 2019 Agricultural Challenges: ...
Direct Marketing, partners collab to improve farmers market sustainability
Christie Welch Direct Marketing Specialist OSU Direct Food & Agricultural Marketing Program Is ... can be found on food packing, farm production methods, and even non-agricultural related businesses ... According to USDA's National Agricultural Library, when searching for the definition of sustainable, ...
OSU, ACIE support Academic, Research, and Extension programs abroad
State University's College of Food Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), including Dr. Rafiq ... and Beau Ingle from the International Program in Agriculture (IPA), visited Kazak National Agrarian ... presentation entitled "Climate-smart Agriculture for Kazakhstan." Moreover, Dr. Islam delivered a professional ...
Islam delivers seminars, conducts grant writing workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine
the Askaniya State Agricultural Experimental Station, Institute of Irrigated Agriculture, National ... from the Askaniya State Agricultural Experimental Station, Institute of Irrigated Agriculture. As part ... a classroom presentation entitled "Climate-Smart Agriculture for Healthy Soils, Healthy Food, Healthy People" ...


text:
This Texas notary stamp is made for notaries who want to produce, with minimal effort, round notary seal impressions similar in size and layout to those made by the Texas notary embosser raised-letter seal. The stamp comes with a dust cover and offers unsurpassed quality by creating thousands of perfect and consistent notary stamp impressions, stamp-after-stamp, without the need for an ink pad or re-inking. Ink is built into the die plate.
This Texas notary stamp has a notary seal impression of 1-5/8 inches. To order ink refill bottles, select item # TX970.
View Shipping & Return Policy
8811 Westheimer
Suite 207
Houston, Texas 77063


text:
As lead singer in the contemporary country duo Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles and partner Kristian Bush kept growing increasingly experimental over four albums.
For her first solo album, That Girl, Nettles takes a different tact, stripping her songs to their basics – both sonically and emotionally.
Nettles is blessed with a voice that features a wide range and a distinct, vinegary tone. But it's her ability to connect with a song's emotional content that makes her stand out most. That Girl shows off that quality remarkably well, whether she's singing an open-hearted ballad like This Angel, a playful yet meaningful bopper like Moneyball or a complicated confessional like the title cut.
Producer Rick Rubin balances spare acoustic arrangements with inventive rhythms and orchestrations. Even the most dramatic moments shine because of a deft, light touch, from the Latin rhythms of Jealousy to the way horns come in on This One's For You" to how drums and strings are introduced in Me Without You.
That Girl is a 1970s-style creative statement, recalling classic Carole King and Linda Ronstadt rather than any of her country or pop contemporaries. It's a reminder of how powerful music can be when it comes from the heart — and tilts more toward talent than technology.


text:
Recalled steroid distributed to third NH clinics; no meningitis cases reported
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) � The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services now says the recalled medication linked to a growing outbreak of meningitis that has sickened 119 people in at least 10 states and caused 11 deaths had been distributed to a third clinic location in the state.
The department said Tuesday that Pain Care LLC locations, in Somersworth, Merrimack and in Newington received the steroid. No cases of meningitis have been reported in the state.
The department said it was working with Pain Care to make sure all 742 patients who may have been exposed are notified by the end of the day on Tuesday.
Officials have tied the outbreak to steroid shots for back pain. The steroid was made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts.


text:
Full member
Last Activity: 2 Hours Ago
About Me
- About MJ224
- Occupation
- Retired Land Surveyor
- Location
- Carmarthenshire
- Biography
- Long time amateur photographer. Enjoy all sorts of photo types including landscape, astronomy flowers birds etc.
- Interests
- Photography Sailing Wildlife Birds
- Cameras currently owned/used
- Em1 mk2, Olympus Tough TG-5, Pentax P30 film, and newly aquired Olympus EM5 mk2
- Photo interests
- Action/sports, Wildlife/nature, Macro, Architecture, Studio, Panoramas, Still life, Travel, Abstract
- Mark Johnson
My Sailing Page
My Flickr
- Mark Johnson


text:
I am scared.
Scared I'll never get rid of the weight.
Scared I'll never get rid of the addiction.
Scared I'll fail.
Scared I'll succeed.
Scared I'll give up and then never want to try again.
Scared I'll confuse success OR failure with how much you love me.
I've tried so many times.
I've failed so many times.
I'm oppressed by this.
I feel so hopeless at times.
So alone.
So… awful.
So I remember…
The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalms 9:9-10
I know I'm not oppressed like women in some countries.
I know I'm not oppressed like a child in a factory.
I know I'm not oppressed by abject poverty.
I know I'm not oppressed by hatred and prejudice.
But I feel as if this… food thing… keeps me from being 100% for you. I feel like I could be so much more if not weighed down… oppressed… and utterly distracted by my issues with food.
Oh God, be my shelter from it. Keep it from me. Be my refuge. My place to relax and be myself and be taken care of. I trust you God. I trust that you will not abandon me. I trust that you will use my pain and heartache and struggle and that you will comfort me and protect me. I ask God that you release me from this oppression. Loose my chains.
Set me free.
Please join me on my journey! Subscribe or contact me here!


text:
BBC Proms to feature two 'Last Nights'
Season to commemorate Proms founder Henry Wood
Not content with the pomp and circumstance of just one Last Night of the Proms, this year's season features two.
Celebrating the legacy of the festival's founder Sir Henry Wood, current Proms director Roger Wright has programmed a musical recreation of the 1910 Last Night. No waving of Union Jacks or singing of 'Jerusalem' at this Prom, however.
A century ago, Prommers would have enjoyed an evening that kicked off with Wagner's Flying Dutchman overture, and included Beethoven's Rondino for wind octet, Bizet's L'Arlésienne and Dvorák's Rondo in G minor. Fans of Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs will be glad to hear that the Last Night classic appears in both the 1910 and 2010 Proms.
The season's true Last Night includes soprano Renée Fleming performing Strauss's Four Last Songs, and the world premiere of Jonathan Dove's newly commissioned A Song of Joys.
The First Night should be no less memorable. 'The most ambitious opening the Proms has ever had,' according to Wright, the festival opens with Mahler's epic Symphony No. 8 on Friday 16 July, and continues over the weekend with semi-staged performances of Wagner's Die Meistersinger, with bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, and Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, starring Plácido Domingo in the title baritone role.
Other highlights include Paul Lewis performing all five of Beethoven's piano concertos, an evening celebrating the music of Stephen Sondheim, and two concerts by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Dr Who fans will particularly enjoy a concert featuring music from the BBC series, hosted by current stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.
Proms events will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and televised across all four BBC channels, with former ITV newsreader Katie Derham presenting. Tickets go on sale on 4 May.
- Article Type: | News |


text:
America Suports You: Radio Host Talks Up Troops' Good Deeds
By Paul X. Rutz
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2006 - It took a personal connection to devote Bob Calvert to supporting America's troops, and now he says there's no turning back.
Calvert hosts a weekly radio talk show on Sunday evenings, broadcast mainly by Internet-based Stardust Radio. He said he has completed 20 interviews so far, averaging three or four guests per show. The first show aired Dec. 11, 2005.
"No question about it, my daughter enlisting in the Army was the spark for me," said Calvert in a telephone interview near Fort Carson, Colo. "Once I realized she was serious ... and she was really going in because she believed it was the right thing to do, then I just told her ... I'm going to support you 100 percent."
With no previous connection to the military, in 2003 he quit his job in Kansas City, moved to be near Fort Riley, Kan., where his daughter was stationed at the time, and devoted himself full time to helping the troops. Eventually, after sponsoring concerts and care package events at his own expense, he started his talk show.
"Every Sunday night, I interview men and women in the military so they can share their stories about what they did to help the Iraqi or the Afghan people, or anywhere in the world," Calvert said. He has also hosted guests who talked about stateside operations like the effort to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.
His next interview, April 16, will be with the editor of "GX: The Guard Experience" magazine, which will preview a National Guard feature to come in late May. Calvert also hopes to take his show on the road to military bases across the country as soon as he can find the money.
Calvert said his work offers him the chance to help other civilians supporting the nation's servicemembers. "Other groups are doing this, but I'm trying to get them to work together where I can actually help them get more visible," he said. "I really feel strongly about alliances."
As a connector between grassroots groups, Calvert compared himself to America Supports You, a defense department program offering a Web site that highlights grassroots and corporate support for the nation's servicemembers and their families.
He mentioned "Soldiers' Angels" as the group he partners with most often. Together, they have teamed up to co-sponsor concerts, banner events and other efforts, especially for troops returning to Fort Carson, which is a stone's throw from his current home.
Other groups Calvert works with include "Operation Troop Appreciation," "Freedom Fund," "SI Yellow Ribbon," "Operation Gratitude" and "Hats off America."
Funding the radio show has been difficult so far, and he is constantly looking for reliable sponsorship, he said. But the program is becoming more popular. In March, for instance, the show had over 33,000 listeners, and AM radio stations, such as WYMM in Jacksonville, Fla., are starting to pick it up.
Calvert said his most memorable interviews happen in moods of intense emotion. "The ones that get me the most, the hardest ones, are probably the moms I'm interviewing that have lost a loved one," he said. "Those are rough, and I just feel for them."
Other interviews fill him with pride, "like the chief warrant officers we've had on. We've had three of them now, and I mean the stories of what they've done in Afghanistan and Iraq are just incredible," he said, noting the millions of dollars worth of goods shipped to school children in those areas.
"As Americans, we all agree to support the troops," he said. "But there are still thousands of wounded soldiers back home, and they or their families need help. There are families that have lost a loved one. They still need help."
Related Sites:
Talking with Heroes [http://www.talkingwithheroes.com/]
America Supports You [http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/]
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at