text:
People have more than one reason (whether they know it or not) for changing their religious commitments. Conversion is usually a multilayered process. In this series, we have examined the (1) psychological, (2) theological, and (3) sociological dimensions of conversion.
How the Reformation Vanquished Death
For the Christian, the threat of death, in whatever form it comes, does not have the final word. Jesus said it this way: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24).
Why Protestants Convert, Pt. 4: The Sociology of Conversion
Why do Protestants convert? The answer, as we've seen in our posts this fall, is complicated. It cannot be reduced to simple slogans or polemical talking points, and it calls for serious self-examination among Protestants
An Echo of Grace: Plato's Doctrine of Gifts
The interpreter that undertakes to compare the works of Plato with the gospel must begin somewhere. Here I attempt to set out Plato's view on gifts and divine dispensation, and would ask that you consider the two following texts:
The Benefits of Learning Latin for Regular Pastors
Benefits of Latin for "regular" pastors? Well, what's an irregular pastor? While I'd argue Latin is beneficial to all pastors, whether those of mega, medium, or minor congregations, there are certain pastors who may never study Latin—the Irregulars. Their ministries are somewhat restricted, perhaps only to the pulpit, with staff and assistants handling many daily administrative tasks that plague the schedules of mule-pastors who carry many ministry stones on their shoulders: bulletins, frequent visitation and counseling, or unclogging toilets forgotten by the few deacons busy that week anyway.
A Word from Musculus to Theology Students
The second generation Wolfgang Musculus's (1497–1563) Loci Communes in usus S. Theologiae Candidatorum parati (1560) is a fine, early example of a Reformed system produced to aid pastoral students of theology.
The Gospel Embodied: Luther's Theology of the Lord's Supper
Martin Luther sought above all to understand God's self-revelation in the gospel, and how men and women are to grasp this revelation. In the gospel Luther discovered a God who comes to us. God condescends to us to meet us in our need as Savior and gives himself for us. Jesus Christ is God for us (Deus pro nobis) and our God (Deus noster).[1] The character of the God revealed to us through the self-offering of Jesus Christ (Deus oblatus) consists in free and unbounded giving. God desires nothing from us in return for the gifts of creation and redemption. Our only appropriate response is thanksgiving; in our expression of thanks we acknowledge that God is the merciful giver of every temporal and spiritual gift.
In this perspective, Luther understood the Lord's Supper above all as a gift to be received from a gracious God. For this reason, he resolutely opposed the idea of the Mass as sacrifice (sacrificium, bonum opus, meritum), according to which Christ instituted the Mass as a means of atonement for the actual sins (venial and mortal) both of the living and the dead.[2] Luther did not see any basis for this idea in Scripture, which taught him that the suffering of Christ is an adequate sacrifice for all sins, original as well as actual. For Luther, the daily Masses in which the priests offer up the host amounted to an express denial of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, made once for all as a perfect atonement for sins (Heb. 9:12, 26).[3]
How then did Luther conceive of this gift as one to be received in the Lord's Supper? Luther insisted that to observe the Lord's Supper properly and to understand what it offers, one must above all comprehend the meaning of the words by which Christ instituted it. In these words, the very sum and substance of the Lord's Supper consists:
Take and eat, this is my body, which is given for you. Take and drink of it, all of you, this is the cup of the new and eternal testament in my blood, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.[4]
To explain the meaning of the Lord's Supper as divine gift, Luther singled out a term from these words of institution, and opposed it to the idea of sacrifice: God's gift to us is testamentum; our gift to God is sacrificium. In Luther's conception of the Lord's Supper as divine gift the two are mutually exclusive. The concept of testamentum is central in Luther's treatises on the Lord's Supper, and therefore needs to be clarified.
A testament is a promise made by one about to die. In it the testator expresses how he wishes his property to be disposed after he dies and confirms these wishes by a seal. The property is the inheritance; those appointed by the testator to receive it after his death are the heirs.
Luther maintained that from the beginning of the world God has never dealt with men and women otherwise than through a promise. And all the promises God made from the beginning of the world foreshadow the testament of Christ and derive their value from it. The meaning and content of the promises made to Adam (Gen. 3:15), Noah (Gen. 9:12-17), Abraham (Gen. 22:18), Moses and the people of Israel (Deut. 18:18), and especially to David (II Sam, 7:12-16) are only disclosed in the most perfect promise of all, namely, that contained in the testament of Christ.
But a testament only goes into effect when the testator dies. The language of "promise" and "covenant" (testamentum) therefore implies that God would one day die. But it is impossible for God to die. The use of the idea and language of "testament" therefore comprehends both the incarnation and the death of Christ. In this testament forgiveness of sins and eternal life are freely promised; this is the inheritance bequeathed. The heirs appointed to it are all those who receive the promise in faith. This promise is confirmed by the very death of Christ; Christ gives his body and pours out his blood to certify it and leaves us both as signs under the elements of bread and wine.[5]
For this reason, Luther insisted that stress must be given to the hearing of the words of institution in faith. The words in the strict sense are the testament of Christ; the bread and the wine are the sacrament. Between words and sacrament Luther insisted on a sharp distinction. The sacrament is oriented to the promise given in the testament. In this regard, the words of institution are not merely to be understood as words of consecration; they are at the same time words of promise addressed to the congregation, which is thereby enabled to receive the gift of the Lord's Supper in faith. Put otherwise, they are the words of proclamation announcing—as summa et compendium evangelii—the entire saving event. This is why Luther and the Reformers demanded that the words of institution be pronounced clearly and distinctly so as to be comprehensible to the people. This stress on the word of proclamation gave impetus to the demand for the use of the vernacular in liturgical practice.
Against Ulrich Zwingli and the radical Reformers, Luther later had to develop more explicitly the relationship between the content and effect of the words of institution. For Luther, the character of the Lord's Supper as a gift really given and received depends on the affirmation that these words are not only the vehicle of the promise of the forgiveness of sins, but also that of the real presence of the body and blood of Christ. Luther's insistence on a robust doctrine of real presence was of course epitomized at the Marburg Colloquy (1529). In his famous debate with Zwingli there, Luther wrote in chalk the words hoc est meum corpus ("This is my body") on the table, which he pounded with his fist. Luther found the words of Christ so clearly and simply stated that he was incredulous that his adversary could interpret them otherwise.[6] When Christ places before us the bread and says, "Take, eat, this is my body" and offers us the wine with the words, "Drink of it, all of you, this is my blood, which is poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me," Christ is truly offering to us his body and blood.
It is open to debate, however, whether Luther's rejection of Zwingli's memorialism would have extended to the more nuanced position of John Calvin and of many early Reformed confessions, in which a sacramental realism is unequivocally affirmed. In any event, Luther found it necessary to defend his doctrine of real presence to safeguard what he believed the church must affirm about the gospel: Atonement has once for all been accomplished through the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary for the forgiveness of sins, but it is offered in public proclamation and distributed to the believer again and again in the reception of the sacrament.
Christopher Dorn holds an M.Div from Western Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Marquette University. He resides in Holland, Michigan. He currently serves as chair of Holland's Reformation 500 committee, and preaches regularly at First Presbyterian Church in Ionia and Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Holland.
[1] Vilmos Vajta, Luther on Worship (Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1958), 10.
[2] Cf. The Augsburg Confession (unaltered), 24.21.
[3] Cf. Luther's Works, Volume 36, 311-328.
[4] Luther renders the words of institution generally after the manner of the Canon of the Mass, thus incorporating features from the several scriptural accounts: Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; and 1 Cor. 11:24-25. Cf. Luther's Works, Volume 35, 82.
[5] Luther's Works, Volume 36, 38-40
[6] Luther's Works, Volume 36, 336; Cf. 37, 270
Announcing Acquisition of Peter Martyr Library
We are pleased to announce that The Davenant Institute has just concluded a contract with Truman State University Press to take full possession of the Peter Martyr Library. Effective Jan. 1, 2018, TSUP will transfer all rights, electronic files, and hard copies of the ten volumes of the Peter Martyr Library (including its accompanying Peter Martyr Reader) to Davenant, and Davenant will assume responsibility for their continued distribution as well as the publication of the final volume, Vermigli's Commentary on Genesis, edited by John Patrick Donnelly, S.J. As part of this extraordinary gift, Davenant will gain possession of over 1,000 copies of the published volumes of the series, which we plan to make available to scholars, students, and libraries at significantly reduced prices beginning early next year. We will also be able to make widely available digital editions of these volumes, reissue them in inexpensive paperback editions, and excerpt from them for anthologies.
Although largely unknown today outside the circle of Reformation scholars, Peter Martyr Vermigli was a true giant of the 16th-century Reformation, a man who left an indelible influence on the churches of Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and England where he spent his pilgrim life, and who through his writings left an even wider legacy. Standing as he does at the intersection of humanism and scholasticism, with a profound concern for Biblical exegesis and the renewal of preaching, but also for linguistic study, educational revival, Christian philosophy, ethics, and political thought, Vermigli sums up the broad and bold mission of the Davenant Institute to renew Christian wisdom through resourcement.
Over the past couple years, we have sought opportunities for closer involvement with Vermigli scholarship, adopting the Peter Martyr Society in early 2016 and beginning a collaborative project to re-translate Vermigli's Common Places earlier this year. We are thus immensely excited at the opportunity that this acquisition offers us to begin enabling the writings of this great Reformer to finally reach the wide audience they deserve.
Profs. Torrance Kirby and Gary Jenkins, the President and Secretary of the Peter Martyr Society and longtime contributors to the Peter Martyr Library project, had this to say about the acquisition:
"This transfer has been the culmination of efforts by several parties for the future of the Peter Martyr Library and the Society. It grew out of a mutual concern by both the Davenant Trust and the Peter Martyr Society that an established center devoted to the vital importance the Reformation, its thought and heritage, should be found to help nurture the scholarship of Vermigli and insure his rightful place in the continuing historical and theological pursuits of our own day. Placed now fully in the hands of those who not only care about such pursuits as part of an academic life, but value them as proper and virtuous ends in themselves, this can only harbinger good things for research and publishing in all things Vermigiliana. We are happy indeed."
Stay tuned early in the new year for opportunities to purchase heavily discounted copies of the PML volumes, and for other developments on the Vermigli front.
WATCH: Getting Beyond Headship Battles: Male and Female in Scripture
In this episode, Brad Belschner and Alastair Roberts discuss headship and submission in order to clear misconceptions concerning gender relations that are common even within Christian circles. While it may seem that Genesis presents man as the center of creation and woman as simply his sidekick or personal assistant, Alastair points out that man's authority is primarily directed outward into creation (not over woman) and that he is created as God's servant. The woman is his helper in this mission, of being God's servant. Alastair again warns against "performative gender" and says man is the head in a marriage, not that he should be the head. The man must recognize his position and exercise his position, though he will either do it well or poorly.
00:01 – Intro
00:33 – Getting pas headship battles
00:46 – What does scripture tell us about things such as headship and submission?
01:01 – A mistaken view of Genesis: Man is center of the universe, and woman is a sidekick.
01:32 – Rather God creates man as his servant and woman as his helper. A helper in that task, of being God's servants.
02:01 – This helps us on issues such as submission. Man's authority is directed out into the world, not primarily over woman. So submission of a woman toward her husband is submission in that direction.
02:35 – This helps us in thinking about headship: Christ's headship of the church is not just telling the church what to do. He is the pre-eminent of the church, in whom the church finds it's authority in the world and who empowers the church as his people.
03:06 – This is an analogue of our own marriages.
03:15 – We are told that man is the head, not should be the head. Remember previous discussions on performative gender. The man doesn't have to earn this position, though he must exercise his position well or badly.
04:20 – Many theories about gender relations among Christians have placed the weight of their understanding on those situations where there are differences, and headship there only become operative when there is disagreement, but that's where it breaks down. This is not when headship and authority are truly working.
04:43 – King analogy. You don't define a king as simply "that guy whom you're not supposed to rebel against," and it
People of the Promise – Buy Your Copy Today!
As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, many Protestants, whether in the pews, the pulpit, or the academy, are apt to feel a bit uncertain about just how enthusiastically they can celebrate the Protestant doctrine of the church. After all, isn't this doctrine the weakest link in Protestant theology, as modern-day Catholic apologists charge, and insecure Protestant theologians self-flagellatingly repeat? In The Davenant Institute's newest publication, People of the Promise: A Mere Protestant Ecclesiology, our contributors argue, on the contrary, that the Reformers' radical re-thinking of the definition of the church is one of the Reformation's greatest treasures. Not only is "mere Protestant" ecclesiology firmly in concert with the multifaceted biblical witness, but it is also manifestly in accord with natural reason and the lived experience of Christians throughout the ages. This volume seeks to honor the Protestant heritage and encourage Protestant Christians today by remembering, reclaiming, and critically reflecting upon the relationship between the gospel promise and the community which it calls into being. Read more…


text:
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Home, Selectively-Restrictive Home
The expert advised us crisply that we had to strip down our environment. Plastic plates and glasses for EVERYBODY, she said. Pack anything breakable into storage. Consider folding chairs that you can fold up after meals so there won't BE any way to climb on the table. Creating a safe household for Joy comes first.
We were stunned.
We were also... non-compliant. (Heh. We're also not seeing this expert any more.)
Oh, we made a few changes. But they were changes that suited our family. Instead of folding chairs, we just made sure to do a better job of pushing chairs in to the table to make them less appealing for climbing. Instead of ditching our glassware and ceramics altogether, we did a better job of gating the kitchen and putting the breakables away.
I realized at the time that the developmentalist was recommending a chainsaw for a job that kitchen shears could do just as well. What I didn't put together till later was that her recommended changes flew in the face of a very important principle.
Least Restrictive Environment.
Readers who have, or work with, special needs kids in the public education system are nodding their heads in recognition just about now.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) includes two fundamental requirements: a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). It also ensures that each child will be served a bowl of acronym soup daily... OK, not really. What the LRE amounts to in the school setting is that you don't shut away or segregate off our kids unless there's a REALLY compelling reason to do so. The presumption is that children with special needs are to be educated among their "typical" peers to the full extent possible.
Who among us wants to be placed under unnecessary restrictions? Either at school or at home?
The trick is figuring out which boundaries and modifications are necessary and helpful for any given kiddo.
The modifications around our house, that we've put in place to have a safe and nurturing environment for Joy, have ebbed and flowed over time. Some things are constant -- in general, we try to help her focus by cutting down the clutter. There's one toy-box in the living room, one in the bedroom closet, and a set of toy-shelves in the downstairs playroom. We try to keep everything easily put-away-able. (Sometimes more successfully than others.)
We also try to keep down the temptation for things that could be pulled down to make a big crash & mess. The Christmas tree was up on the stereo cabinet. There are no plants in grabbing range, though she's growing to the point that she could knock one over if she tried...
Winter 2008 was an intense time for boundaries. Joy was climbing over the back of the couch to jump on the low bookcase that sits back-to-back with the couch, and knocked over the lamp that sat on top of said bookcase. So we bought a hanging lamp with a chain & cord that trails up the wall, and we covered a big piece of cardboard with wrapping paper and set it up as a barrier between the couch-back and bookcase. Joy was dashing into back bedrooms & bathroom at the slightest opportunity, so we kept ALL the doors closed ALL the time. She started pulling the music rack on the piano and dumping Rose's piano books off, so we tied the rack to the back of the piano with a piece of yarn.
In summer 2008 we put in the big barrier, just before I started blogging in fact! We got a fence for our big back yard.
One might think that a fence was a massive restriction. In a way, I suppose it is. But when we went into the backyard with Joy before the fence, we used to have to be on high alert. She had this little game where she would suddenly dash off, without warning, and head for freedom and the street. And she is FAST. So to keep her safe, we had to be within hovering distance, at all times, ready to sprint at any moment.
With the fence, we don't have to hover. In fact, we can give her a whole lot more freedom within that boundary than she used to be able to have. A perceptive friend at our fence party that summer noticed it right away. "She's so FREE!" was the comment.
It's my belief that as Joy came to recognize and heed the fence boundary, she started observing other boundaries as well. We were able to take down the cardboard from behind the couch. The doors in the back hallway stay open now, and Joy just doesn't venture back there. Rose accidentally broke the yarn on the music rack recently, and we didn't bother re-installing it.
The right restrictions, at the right time. A balance that we're continually trying to keep.
Another issue that we see coming up is the question of Joy's sleeping arrangements. She's currently in a tented-crib for the night, and a PeaPod travel tent for nap. These are designed such that she will not be able to get out, and since she's not toilet-trained, she doesn't really need to get out. It's also very helpful to us to have her confined to the crib when she wakes in the middle of the night and plays for several hours straight.
But she has technically well outgrown the specs of the crib. She's strong and getting bigger. We'll have to figure something else out, that can teach her to sleep in a big-girl bed and keep her safe and not impinge on her sister, with whom she currently shares a room. I don't think we're going to need something like these specialty beds (designed for a least-restrictive environment, by the way -- to "help the person live as normal a life as possible, with as few barriers as possible and still be safe"!) It's good to know the range of what's out there, though, as we make decisions on next steps. "Been-there, done-that" stories would be most welcome.
This post was sparked by Barbara at TherExtras, who is currently hosting a blog-carnival on the question of "how you have arranged your home to enhance your child's development." I'm looking forward to hear how others have interpreted the theme!
7 comments:
- Niksmom said...
Wow,such perfect timing as we are going through exactly that in our house! The challenge is, as you know, getting our children to understand and respect the boundaries. We're, um, not even close. *sigh*
- April 23, 2009 at 11:05 AM
- Mama Mara said...
This post is excellent in every way. You have done such a great job of making your home Joy-friendly without making it family-unfriendly.
- April 23, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Great post! I remember that you put up your fence with the smooth side in -- wish we had thought of that!
We have definitely had to go with a minimalist style for Rhema's room. Besides her bed, there is nothing in her room - no dresser, toy box, etc. We even had to remove the light fixture in the ceiling. But it works well b/c she is rarely in her room, only at night for sleep.
Transitioning her to a big girl bed was a lot easier than I expected. For about a week Brandon or I stayed in the room with her until she fell asleep. Every time she tried to get out of bed, we told her No and put her back in bed. In a week's time, she was good to go.
- April 23, 2009 at 9:48 PM
- Casdok said...
Its all about being creative!
- April 24, 2009 at 5:14 AM
This post is perfect for the carnival!
The carnival will go up early on Satuday, April 25.
(You might recognize a few other names included.)
- April 24, 2009 at 11:30 AM
- Terri said...
I like that you set your own boundaries (around over-zealous professionals) and that you give careful, attentive thought to boundaries for Joy. Your wisdom is teaching her a lot.
- April 25, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Hi, I have a 4 1/2 yr. old non-verbal girl with ASD and we just put her in a bed 2 months ago. We were actually able to take off one side of the crib so it was a minimal transition. She is very tall for her age so she has out grown the crib/bed. We were very worried about her wandering as she is up a lot in the night. It went a lot better than we thought. She adjusted very well and rarely even leaves the bed. She usually just hangs out until we come and get her. Good luck!
- May 17, 2009 at 9:29 PM

subset: commoncrawl


text: CHEAT SHEETTOP 10 RIGHT NOWSHOP WITH SCOUTEDTarget Sued for Data Breachwhat happened?Updated Apr. 14, 2017 5:24PM ET / Published Dec. 22, 2013 8:46PM ET Scott Olson/GettyThe Target customers whose credit and debit card information was hacked between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 are not happy. The retailer is already being sued in three separate cases, with damages sought climbing above $5 million, and four states have requested the company turn over information about the breach. The Secret Service is also investigating the incident. Around 40 million credit and debit card accounts were stolen, and many of them have already surfaced on the black market.Read it at USA Today


text:
The world's largest solar plant on water went into operation on Tuesday, paving the way for the commercialization of a new solar energy provider, said Korea Water Resources Corp., or K-water.
The state-run water service company organized the three-year project in August 2008, and Korean industrial solutions firm LSIS undertook the plant construction in 2011 on Hapcheon Dam in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
"K-water plans to form partnerships with private firms for the standardization and optimization of the field by continuous investment in addition to making inroads to the global energy market," said Han Ho-yeon, director of K-water green energy and resources department.
The floating solar power plant is capable of providing about 500 kilowatts of electricity, an amount sufficient to accommodate about 140 four-member families for a year, K-water said.
K-water also revealed its plan to gradually increase the number of solar energy plants by building them on 30 more dams nationwide by 2022.
If completed, these plants altogether will be able to produce 1,800 kilowatts of electricity, an amount equal to the energy consumption of 2.2 million people per year.
Under the brand name "SOLATUS" ― a combination of "solar" and "lotus" which symbolize green energy ― the new plant in Hapcheon is the world's first demonstration of commercializing an on-water solar energy plant, K-water said to the press.
Compared to solar energy plants on land, a solar plant constructed over water can generate about 10 percent more electricity and is less destructive to the hydro-ecology of the environment.
In particular, the plant buoyed above water blocks sunlight, preventing the excessive outbreak of algae within the dam and provides better a hatching environment for sea life.
The water company said that it used only environment-friendly materials, including aluminum, which do not taint the water quality in the floating solar plant's construction.
Over 200 government and business officials gathered at the opening ceremony held in Hapcheon.
By Chung Joo-won (email@example.com)


text:
When we meet Rosie Ming, the heroine of the animated feature "Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming," she is living with her overprotective grandparents in Vancouver and suffering from a severe case of wanderlust. Voiced by the actress Sandra Oh, Rosie is of Chinese and Iranian descent, but she is disconnected from her family history — her mother is dead and her father abandoned the family long ago. Instead, Rosie writes poems in an ode to Paris, her dream city. But when she is invited to present her work at a poetry festival in Shiraz, Iran, she meets poets who expand her ideas about the art form and about herself.
Rosie listens as diverse artists share personal experiences and national histories through their poetry. The writing in "Window Horses" is unaffected and lovely, with each poem animated in a different style to reflect the variety of life on display. One man was exiled from China after the protests in Tiananmen Square. Another recites Persian poets from the 13th century. None of these artists romanticize France.
Though many of the characters in "Window Horses" share a lively Cubist design, Rosie is the most sparingly-drawn figure onscreen. She is depicted as a stick figure with two small slants for eyes, a rendering that reads as a reclamation of Asian stereotypes by the director Ann Marie Fleming, who is also of Chinese descent. At first, Rosie's simplicity is jarring. But as the character learns more about her personal and poetic origins, her minimalist frame absorbs the weight of a rich, complex history. That transformation is the great pleasure of watching this small film.


text:
These job changes are not only expected, but data show that the changes that younger workers make are either lateral moves or jobs with higher pay; with better benefits or offer more 'family' time.
For older workers the pattern is different. Job changes that happen later in life, often are moves into a 'lesser' job. According to a recent * Squared Away research article: Older Workers' Job Changes a Step Down (March 30, 2017) "…older workers who switch jobs often take a hit on their earnings and benefits."
However, on the positive side, these later career job changes are often into less stressful and demanding positions.
For more interesting data on late life career changes: access the Abstract:
Occupational Transitions at Older Ages: What Moves are People Making?
By Amanda Sonnega, Brooke Helppie McFall and Robert J. Willis #WP 2016-352
on the Michigan Retirement Research Canter , University of Michigan website (www.mrrc.isr.umich.edu)
* Squared Away is published by The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College
Working To Preserve Your Wealth and Protect Your Future…in a Constantly Changing World
Please read my full Disclaimer and How I Can Help You
Visit my website: www.attorneybarbaradalvano.weelby.com for more articles and interesting infographics


text:
Cover versions of songs can produce a wide range of results. Sometimes a cover can be superior and/or more creative to the original, while other times they can be a misfire that doesn't do the original version justice. Then there are other times where they stray so far from the original that it's hard to know what to think.
This version of Pink Floyd's "Have A Cigar" from punk band Fidlar, which was released today, might fall into the third category. It's probably quite a bit different from other Pink Floyd covers you've heard — a guitar-heavy version with an electronic twist that changes some lyrics here and there, notably the change of "Gravy Train" to "Streaming Train".
Listen below and see what you think.
Sponsored link (story continues below)
(h/t Stereogum)


text:
No GST Party
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The No Goods and Services Tax Party (usually called No GST), known in 1998 as Abolish Child Support, is a minor Australian political party that contested candidates in the 2004 Federal election. It was largely a response to the Howard Government's implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. It polled low totals. One Nation founder David Ettridge contested the Senate in Queensland in 2001 for the party.
See also[edit]
- Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting): Australian political party
|This article about an Australian political party is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


text:
Version you are viewing: Zoomdata v3
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an application protocol used over an IP network to manage and access directory information contained in an organization's secured network. Zoomdata has been tested and can be used with Active Directory and OpenLDAP directory services. The Zoomdata server can be configured to use one of these LDAP services to authenticate users. When LDAP is enabled, users can log into Zoomdata using their familiar LDAP identity and credentials.
Connecting Zoomdata to an LDAP directory requires coordination between the authorized LDAP administrator and the Zoomdata administrator. After enabling LDAP authentication in Zoomdata, you can import users in the LDAP directory of your organization. All user information will be maintained in LDAP, not in your Zoomdata user accounts.
The following LDAP configuration information is needed to configure LDAP in Zoomdata:
The LDAP connection string for connecting to the LDAP repository. Connection string is of the following format:
|Bind user
|User name credential of the service account that (at minimum) has read access to the LDAP repository.
|Bind password
|Password credential for the Bind user (LDAP service account).
|Search base
|Identifies the Distinguished Name (DN) - the location in the LDAP directory tree where to begin queries for registered users in the LDAP directory.
|LDAP query that will resolve a specific set of users group found in the search base to be imported into Zoomdata.
|User ID attribute
Identifier attribute for users in LDAP implementation of your organization.
The following user ID attributes are supported: UID, CN, sAMAccountname, and userPrincipalName. This attribute will determine how user names will be represented in Zoomdata.
Configuring LDAP
To configure LDAP, perform the following steps:
- Log into the Zoomdata server as a supervisor.
- Click to see the supervisor menu.
Select Security on the supervisor menu. The security tabs display.
- On the Security Services tab, make sure that the LDAP security service is on. If it is not running, turn it on.
Select the LDAP Settings tab. The LDAP Settings tab has five sections: General Settings, LDAP Server, User Provisioning, Mappings, and Mappings to Custom User Attributes.
- On the General Settings section, toggle the Enable LDAP option on.
- Enter the LDAP connection URL (DNS or IP address) where the LDAP directory resides.
- Enter the Bind User and Bind Password credentials. The authorized LDAP administrator needs to provide these credentials.
Specify the Search Base which is the DN or location in the LDAP directory tree where a search for registered users can begin. An example entry is provided in the text field:
OU=people,DC=zoomdata,DC=local, where:
- OU means organizational unit
- DC means domain controller
jre key store.
See Using the Secure LDAP Connection.
Enabling User Provisioning
Use the User Provisioning subtab to enable user provisioning. User provisioning allows you to verify the identity of users that log into Zoomdata against the LDAP directory and automatically create new users in Zoomdata if the user's credentials have been validated against the LDAP directory.
If disabled, you must manually import the users in order to allow them to log into Zoomdata. See Manually Importing Users from the LDAP Directory.
When you have enabled the auto provisioning feature, you can select the default account for the provisioned users to be added.
The Default Account list contains all the account names, that are available within your Zoomdata instance. If you want the users to be added to one of them, select the corresponding account. Otherwise, select the User Account Mapping option to configure the mappings with LDAP attributes for your users.
Configuring Mappings
Use the Mappings subtab to define mappings that bind the user attributes from LDAP and Zoomdata.
- Select Login Name Mapping attribute from the list that will be used as a user login. There are four User ID Attributes supported: UID, CN, sAMAccountname, and userPrincipalName.
- Account Mapping - select the account to which for the user to be added to
- Active Account Mapping - select the account to which the user will log in for the first time
- Full Name Mapping
- Email mapping
- If you want to import users and the groups which they are assigned to, in the Group mapping attribute field, type the name of the corresponding column in LDAP.
- If you want Zoomdata to automatically create groups for users if they don't exist in your environment yet, toggle on Auto Create Groups.
Once the credentials are verified, the user groups will be created in Zoomdata and each user will be assigned to the corresponding group. The user is assigned the Group Only role. In case the group mapping is not specified, the user is assigned the User role.
Managing Mappings to Custom User Attributes
You can associate custom user attributes with a Zoomdata user on the Mappings to Custom User Attributes subtab. Custom user attributes can to store values used for credential pass through. This means that if users have access to a particular data source that has been connected to Zoomdata, their credentials can be saved on this page so that their access privileges are maintained for that source within Zoomdata.
Manually Importing Users from the LDAP Directory
To manually import users from the LDAP directory to Zoomdata:
Log in as a supervisor and click the Accounts tab.
Select the appropriate account to import users from the LDAP directory. Click the Users tab.
On the Users page, click Import Users. A list of users in the LDAP directory is displayed.
To import specific users, select them from the list. To import all users, click Select all.
Click Import.
If needed, you can delete imported users using the Users list in the left pane.
After users have been imported into Zoomdata, they can be assigned roles and permissions. For an overview of how Zoomdata manages users and groups and how to assign roles and permissions, refer to the following topics:
- Overview of Users and Groups in Zoomdata
- Adding and Managing Users
- Creating and Managing Groups (and Securing Data Sources)
Using the Secure LDAP Connection
To use the secure LDAP connection, you need to import the certificate to your local
jre key store.
- Run the following command:
sudo keytool -import -file ca_file_name.pem -keystore /opt/zoomdata/jre/lib/security/cacerts
- Restart Zoomdata after importing the certificate:
sudo service zoomdata restart
Now when using a secure connection to LDAP, the URL must be as follows:
ldap server


text:
international bachelor Ygrec in Modelling and Data Science
For a changing world
Data science, cyber security, economic and financial engineering, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies… are all great challenges which companies face today and which require new and sharp skills.
The University Paris Seine is currently setting up a new programme: International Bachelor Ygrec in Modelling and Data Science.
This is a challenge based programme for excellent and curious students, taught exclusively in English, with a curriculum designed to have an impact on the world of tomorrow. Students will receive the best quality teaching inspired from "classes preparatoires", engineering schools and university teaching, combined with the ability to learn through innovative pedagogy and openness to research and challenges of the 21st century.
It features a backbone in Mathematics, and applications to economy, finance, statistics, mathematical modeling, data analysis, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and aims to train future top scientists, engineers and managers, both French and English speaking, open to the global complexity of the world.
Description of the programme
The programme spans over 4+1 years.
4 years are spent preparing the "International Bachelor Ygrec in Modelling and Data Science" which is completely taught in English.
After 3 years, students will obtain a national undergraduate diploma in Computer Science (Licence).
After completing the 4th year of the course, students obtain a Bachelor's degree and may decide to begin their professional career or to continue studying for one extra year (4+1).
If they want to follow the 4+1 programme, they will choose specialisation modules at the beginning of the 4th year, according to their career project: entering an engineering school or pursuing with a second year of a Master's programme. They will obtain either an Engineering School diploma or a national Master's degree at the end of the optional (5th) year.
In detail
The Bachelor course, taught exclusively in English, is a four year programme which is progressive, customised and open.
Years 1 and 2:
- Students build solid scientific foundations and select "diving deeper" modules corresponding to their career plan.
Years 3 and 4:
- Focus on the chosen modules corresponding to specialisation areas.
- Conferences and workshops on contemporary issues
- Learning by doing and the development of soft skills are predominant, so project work plays a major role in the Bachelor progrmame.
- Internships in companies
- International mobility
Optional year (4+1)
Students choose between the two following possibilities for their optional year of studies in this programme:
- Engineering School - Engineering diploma
- University - Master's degree
Job opportunities
Many professional activities can be targeted such as:
Need more information? see our brochure
Contact our team:
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information relating to the programme :
Academic team: academic_bachelorY @ universiteparisseine.fr
Admission team: admission_bachelorY @ universiteparisseine.fr or firstname.lastname@example.com
International Bachelor Ygrec in Modelling and Data Science
EISTI Cergy Campus
Avenue du Parc
95000 Cergy cedex - France
phone : +33 1 82 31 05 65
email : firstname.lastname@example.com
Photos Lionel Pagès, UCP EISTI


text:
Executive Producer, Digital - Spectrum News Raleigh
- Employer
- Spectrum Networks
- Location
- Raleigh, North Carolina (US)
- Salary
- To be discussed upon interivew
- Posted
- Jul 11, 2019
- Ref
- 244343
- Function
- Production
- Specialty
- News & Journalism, Producer, Television & Film
- Level
- Manager (Supervisor)
- Metro Area
- Charlotte
- Duration
- Full Time
Spectrum Networks is looking for enthusiastic, talented and driven individuals to join the best and brightest in gathering, producing and delivering stories that make a difference within a 24-hour breaking news environment! Our commitment is to engage viewers with relevant, timely news that's important to the local communities we serve. Who we are: Spectrum Networks is a series of 27 hyper-local news and 9 regional sports networks owned and operated by Charter Communications, Inc. Spectrum Networks seeks to provide the most essential local news and information, cultivating relevant and thoughtful conversations that foster informed and engaged communities. The Environment: Spectrum News is a 24-hour breaking news network which requires employees who are flexible and available to work various shift, including early morning, late evenings, weekends and holidays. Being on our team means … You're ready to inspire and be inspired! You're passionate, creative and highly technical, driven to flourish in a competitive, fast-paced environment. You're fiercely accurate, with a desire to leverage your knowledge, skills and abilities to share news stories to viewers in our local communities. You're nimble, having the ability to pivot in an ever-changing workflow. You are a team player with a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills. You have the ability to multi-task, meet tight deadlines and remain calm under pressure. What we're looking for: The Executive Producer of Digital Content will oversee the day-to-day content development, management and publishing across our various channels including websites, mobile apps, email newsletters and social media. This person will lead a team of energetic and nimble producers within a fast-paces newsroom and translate the day's stories into highly-engaging, best-in-class content. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Guide the creation of video, photo, graphic and live stream content amongst the digital team, and interface with the Creative Services Department to further coordinate asset creation Grow engagement across Spectrum Networks digital properties Sync with the assigned newsroom to identify news stories of the day and plan coverage that is appropriate for our various digital media platforms (website, mobile apps, newsletters, and social media) Maintain digital content calendar containing priority events, initiatives and opportunities Build support plans for major organizational priorities or initiatives Aid the digital team in content production during producer shifts, breaking or emergency situations and during times where coverage may be limited Provide content edits and accountability on spelling/grammar Study performance data to make strategic decisions on content development Apply SEO practices to improve overall content discovery and visibility Operate a suite of software that includes the Dalet newsroom management system, web content management system, and computer-based video encoding and image capture applications Troubleshoot web and online publishing tools and refine workflow processes as needed Manages a team of digital producers, handles shift scheduling and approves paid time off when applicable Coach digital and news teams to "think digitally" when crafting content on a daily basis Maintain a positive and collaborative working atmosphere for direct reports and partner groups Display strong organizational skills Lead weekly department status meetings to discuss progress on current initiatives, kick off future priority projects and discuss executional issues the digital team may be experiencing Work collaboratively with other Spectrum Networks' digital teams Interface with organization leadership to establish goals and drive digital strategy forward Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications: Skills/Abilities and Knowledge
Ability to read, write, speak and understand English Familiarity with the AP print writing style Website/CMS platform management experience Knowledge of HTML, CSS, FTP and other web scripting practices Adobe Creative Suite and/or digital content software experience Working knowledge of video production and post production techniques and software Familiarity with live stream products and software Active social media user/familiarity with various social platform details Working knowledge of digital paid media practices (web, search, and social) Fluent in the English language. Spanish/bi-lingual speakers preferred A high level of attention to detail, particularly with spelling and grammar
Education & Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications or related field preferred or equivalent work experience 5+ years of Producing news, sports, and/or lifestyles & entertainment digital content 2+ years of Management experience
Our Culture: Every employee is an influencer and culture keeper. We expect respectful communication (despite pressure), openness to feedback, an eagerness to learn, and an overall positive attitude! Roles may require the following:
Overtime may be required to meet deadlines Varying schedule due to, breaking news and/or daily news coverage requirements Provide 24x7, 365 days per year, on-call support. May entail phone or physical presence at the facility for equipment failure or other disasters. This includes, but is not limited to equipment and power failures, loss of contracted services, storms or severe weather, and schedule conflicts Participation in an established on-call rotation


text:
A new report by research2guidance has revealed that this market is growing very quickly.
The forecasts of a new report called "Global Mobile Health Market Report 2013-2017", which has been released by research2guidance, has shown that the mhealth market is now taking its first steps into commercialization and is growing rapidly in its value.
This means that the industry will now be able to start monetizing its services in a meaningful way.
The report predicted that this will mean, primarily, through mhealth apps. According to the research2guidance head of research, Ralf-Gordon Jahns, "Our findings indicate that the long-expected mobile revolution in healthcare is set to happen." He then went on to say that "Both healthcare providers and consumers are embracing smartphones as a means to improving healthcare."
Mhealth apps are already among the most popular and sought after among all of the top smartphone platforms.
The report pointed out that among the estimated 90,000 apps within the mhealth category, 42 percent stick to a paid business model. However, that being said, the services market in this area is not expanding in its profitability as the exclusive result of paid downloads. In fact, over the next 5 years, the report predicts that only 9 percent of the total market revenue will result from downloaded app revenue.
Instead, according to analyst Patrick Houck, within the total mhealth app market revenue, 84 percent will be generated by related service such as sensors and other products. The firm behind the report is predicting that the services in this market will have broken the $26 billion mark worldwide by the close of 2017.
This is very promising news for a large number of businesses that have already been taking their first steps to establish themselves within the mhealth market. This includes not only developers, but larger organizations such as national pharmacy chains. The appeal to consumers for health related applications is clear, so it is now up to companies to find their positions and angles in order to stand out from what will likely soon be a tremendous space that is about to become highly competitive.


text:
CCE Theses and Dissertations
The User Attribution Problem and the Challenge of Persistent Surveillance of User Activity in Complex Networks
Date of Award
Document Type
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Information Systems (DCIS)
Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences
James Cannady
Committee Member
Wei Li
Committee Member
Sumitra Mukherjee
In the context of telecommunication networks, the user attribution problem refers to the challenge faced in recognizing communication traffic as belonging to a given user when information needed to identify the user is missing. This is analogous to trying to recognize a nameless face in a crowd. This problem worsens as users move across many mobile networks (complex networks) owned and operated by different providers. The traditional approach of using the source IP address, which indicates where a packet comes from, does not work when used to identify mobile users.
Recent efforts to address this problem by exclusively relying on web browsing behavior to identify users were limited to a small number of users (28 and 100 users). This was due to the inability of solutions to link up multiple user sessions together when they rely exclusively on the web sites visited by the user.
This study has tackled this problem by utilizing behavior based identification while accounting for time and the sequential order of web visits by a user. Hierarchical Temporal Memories (HTM) were used to classify historical navigational patterns for different users. Each layer of an HTM contains variable order Markov chains of connected nodes which represent clusters of web sites visited in time order by the user (user sessions). HTM layers enable inference "generalization" by linking Markov chains within and across layers and thus allow matching longer sequences of visited web sites (multiple user sessions). This approach enables linking multiple user sessions together without the need for a tracking identifier such as the source IP address.
Results are promising. HTMs can provide high levels of accuracy using synthetic data with 99% recall accuracy for up to 500 users and good levels of recall accuracy of 95 % and 87% for 5 and 10 users respectively when using cellular network data. This research confirmed that the presence of long tail web sites (rarely visited) among many repeated destinations can create unique differentiation. What was not anticipated prior to this research was the very high degree of repetitiveness of some web destinations found in real network data.
NSUWorks Citation
Claudio Taglienti. 2014. The User Attribution Problem and the Challenge of Persistent Surveillance of User Activity in Complex Networks. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences. (319)


text: finnystew Report post Posted 6February Hi all, I bought myself a 1988 944s a couple weeks ago. It's been going great except it has some issues with cold starts. The car struggles to idle and drops down to 800rpm while sputtering until I give it some revs for a couple minutes and then it'll stabilise for the most part. It seems quick to stall and sputter at low revs while driving also. The engine seems to be running too rich as I burnt fuel is going out the exhaust and upon inspection the spark plugs were black with carbon build up. I replaced the spark plugs with NPK titatium tips that were replaced and provided by the previous owner along with the ignition coil. The issue seems to have exacerbated after I took it for a spirited drive during which I smelt unburnt fuel after some acceleration. Next I'll probably check cracks in the vacuum lines and distributor. Any suggestions/ Theories? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Have questions? Find the answer in our new searchable FAQ.
Capture the simple charm of farmhouse style with this square end table. The table's X-shaped sides and Mocha Oak finish give it that rustic farmhouse appeal.
The Lenka Farmhouse Square End Table with X Side Panels by Steve Silver at Great American Home Store in the Memphis, Cordova, TN, Southaven, Olive Branch, MS area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
Create a living space that is warm and welcoming with the rustic Lenka accent table collection. Each table features border plank edges with X-shaped side panels for a classic farmhouse look. A Mocha Oak finish completes the look, adding to the rustic feel with warm, rich tones.
The Lenka collection is a great option if you are looking for Rustic
Casual furniture in the Memphis, Cordova, TN, Southaven, Olive Branch, MS area.
Browse other items in the Lenka collection from Great American Home Store in the Memphis, Cordova, TN, Southaven, Olive Branch, MS area.
This item has been tagged as: Living Room Furniture, Accent Furniture, Occasional Furniture, Cabinet, Cabinet Tables, Storage Tables, Small Storage Cabinet, Chairside Cabinet, Short Cabinet, Accent Cabinet, Commode, Cocktail Tables, Lift – Top Cocktail Table, Storage Table, Cocktail Coffee Table, Cocktail Table with Storage, Coffee Table, Lift – Top Coffee Table, Coffee Table with Storage, Couch Table, Magazine Storage, Sitting Room Tables, End Table, Chairside Table, Coffee and End Tables, Furniture End Tables, Accent Table, Lamp Table, Pedestal Table, Hall Tree, Storage Hall Tree, Hall Tree with Storage, Coat Rack, Hall Tree Coat Rack, Entry Hall Tree, Hat Rack, Hall Trees with Benches, Bench and Hall Tree, Clothes Tree, Hall Tree Furniture, Entry Furniture, Foyer Furniture, Sofa Table, Furniture Sofa Table, Console Table, Sofa Console Tables, Sofa End Table, Secretary Desk, Table Desk, Wine Rack, Wine Glass Rack, Wine Storage, Wine Bottle Storage, Wine Storage Rack, Wine Bottle Rack, Cabinet Wine Rack, Wine Glass Storage, Wine Storage Cabinet, Larder, Kitchen Storage, Dining Room Storage, Occasional Tables
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


text:
This year, our cities shot up with a legion of luxe hotels, while F+B spots gave us fresh takes on traditional cuisines, sustainable menus and craft drinks. Here are some of our favorite newcomers.
Published on Dec 17, 2018
High-end hotels bloomed in big cities this year, offering a variety of luxe options you'll want to book for more than one night.
LUXUURIOUS NODS TO THE CITY'S HISTORY AND TRADITIONS WERE THE RUNNING THEME IN THIS YEAR'S HIGH-eEND HOTEL BLOOM IN THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT.
+ Opened in September, the latest project by American visionary and pioneer of boutique hotels Ian Schrager artfully fuses old-world grandeur with luxurious modernity at Edition Shanghai (editionhotels.com; doubles from RMB2,018). The Art Deco building is home to 145 guest rooms, each fitted with custom designed furniture, Anichini bed linens and thoughtfully curated textiles. The hotel boasts nine dining outlets and lounge bars, including two on the rooftop, offering some of the best panoramic views of Pudong's futuristic skyline.
+ Located in the heart of busy Nanjing Road, the Sukhothai Shanghai (sukhothai.com; doubles from RMB2,080) is an urban oasis. The rooms are cozy and contemporary with custom furnishings and textured green clay walls— we were told the minerals help with air purification. Don't miss the mesmerizing digital feature art piece in the lobby by Japanese studio teamLab—an illustrated village and rice field is broadcast in real time.
Contemporary furnishings deck the Sukhothai Shanghai.
+ The Middle House (themiddlehousehotel.com; doubles from RMB3,500) is Swire Hotels' latest addition in Shanghai, featuring 111 rooms as well as 102 residences designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni. From sexy Italian contemporary furniture and black-and-white styling to the fine details in lattice woodwork of traditional Chinese motifs, the hotel celebrates the best of old and new Shanghai. Guest rooms and the spacious residences are decorated with cheeky postmodern art works by William Furniss where objects sit by the stilllife photography of usually a bird cage or vase—it's all in the little details here.
Monochrome style in The Middle House's one-bedroom residence.
+ Part of the Suhe Creek waterfront project, the Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai (bulgarihotels.com; doubles from RMB3,800) opened in June, housed in the restored 1916 Chamber of Commerce building and connected to a modern sky tower. Surrounded by lush private gardens, with a rooftop for 180-degree views of The Bund and Pudong's staggering cityscape, the Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai is a masterful blend of the brand's Italian elegance blended with layers of rich Shanghai history. The sixth in the group's collection, the hotel is also home to China's first Bvlgari chocolate boutique. – JULIANA LOH
+ Opened in June, the first Malaysian property from Banyan Tree (banyantree.com; doubles from RM910) is a resort haven in the CBD . Occupying the top seven floors of the Banyan Tree Signatures Pavilion building, the skyline views here are enviable. Floorto-ceiling windows light every room and even the signature spa, and Vertigo Bar on the 59th floor is where you should park yourself at sunset.
+ Across the road and managed by Banyan Tree, Pavilion Hotel (banyantree.com; doubles from RM498) opened this month atop the same-name mall. The 325-room hotel also has a rooftop infinity pool, contemporary Japanese restaurant Ebisu and intimate bar Whisky Cove.
+ Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur (fourseasons.com; doubles from RM893) opened in July, adding serious luxury to the KLCC. The opulent rooms come with full marble bathrooms, 180-degree views and plush king beds; dining options also spoil, with global buffet Curate, fine-dining dim sum at Yun House and creative craft cocktails at Bar Trigona.
Four Seasons' cocktail den, Bar Trigona.
+ South of the CBD, Alila Bangsar (alilahotels.com; doubles from RM391) is set within the cultural center of Little India. Eco-focused rooms make use of timber and natural stone, while a three-level atrium at the lobby takes guests to a plant-lined pool, French restaurant Entier, and Pacific Standard bar.
+ The quirky design of W Kuala Lumpur (marriott.com; doubles from RM829) takes inspiration from the city: a topographic view of KL covers the lobby floor; batik designs pattern feature walls; and jungle elements are symbolized in cushions. The Wet Deck pool bar provides the party, while the Away Spa offers a celeb-style detox.
+ The RuMa (theruma.com; doubles from RM848) opened last month, and its design honors Malaysian artisans with woven furnishings, copper ceilings and handcrafted bronze accents. Their "hostmanship" service means 24-hour check-in and checkout, all-day butler service and a free mini bar. – ELOISE BASUKI
+ The opening of Paramount House Hotel (paramounthousehotel.com; doubles from A$240) in ever-hip Surry Hills was the last notch in the cultural rebirth of the 1940s Paramount building, which also houses Golden Age Cinema, Paramount Coffee Project and new arrival Poly restaurant. The 29-room boutique hotel offers a variety of layouts featuring big windows, terrazzo-tiled bathrooms and Japanese-style wooden tubs. Australian-sourced amenities celebrate local faves, with Aesop toiletries; mini-bar snacks by nearby barbecue joint LP's Quality Meats; natural wines by Tom Shobbrook from the Barossa; and linens by Melbournebased Cultiver.
+ Over in Sydney's more bohemian Inner West, The Collectionist Hotel (collectionisthotel.com.au; doubles from A$153) fits in with its individualist neighbors, calling itself: "no normal hotel." Guests can choose-their-ownadventure at check-in, picking their favorite room from four types and 39 unique interiors: "Artisan" rooms flaunt handmade art pieces like colorful ceramics on forest-green walls; "Moonshine" rooms have painted murals (choose from rolling clouds or graffiti-style imagery) and full kitchens.
The Collectionist's Pepo Melone room.
+ Sitting pretty between Darling Harbour and growing urban development project Barangaroo, West Hotel (westhotel.com.au; doubles from A$238) opened in January to add a dose of designer sophistication. The 182 premium rooms are complemented by Solander Dining and Bar's modern Australian fare and botanicalinspired cocktails, best sipped in the festoon-lit garden atrium. – E.B.
West Hotel's gleaming exterior.
Old Bailey
Homegrown powerhouse JIA Group is behind new haute- Chinese restaurant Old Bailey, located in the brand-new cultural hub of Tai Kwun (see below). The understated, light-filled room is inspired by a Chinese scholar's study, while the menu takes on Jiangnan cuisine—think dishes from Suzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai, such as mala xiaolongbao (Iberico-pork soup dumplings with Sichuan pepper) and pigeon smoked with Longjing tea. Tea is by local artisanal brand Plantation. oldbailey.hk; meal for two from HK$750.
New Chinese restaurant Old Bailey at dusk.
Sushi Saito
Tokyo's Michelin-three-starred Sushi Saito opened its new branch outside of Japan, tucked away on the club floor of the Four Seasons Hong Kong. At the helm is Ikuya Kobayashi, who has been working with founder Takashi Saito for more than seven years. Ingredients are selected by chef Saito himself and flown in daily from Tokyo, for an experience that is as close as possible to eating in Japan. globallink.com.hk/sushisaito; set lunch HK$1,580 per person.
Chef Ikuya Kobayashi shows his knife skills at Sushi Saito.
Peruvian food has risen to trendy heights in recent years, and pioneering Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez's first outpost in Asia is inspired by the casual cevicherias of Peru. He and head chef Sang Jeong introduce Latin American flavors through dishes such as palta quemada, with grilled avocado; and pez Amazonia, sea bass infused with charred banana leaves. These flavorful plates match perfectly with the South American–forward cocktail menu. ichu.com.hk; mains from HK$260.
Room 309
The latest from Antonio Lai, Hong Kong's prolific mixologist responsible for Quinary and Origin, is a speakeasy disguised as a hotel room. Check in at The Envoy, Lai's other bar next door, to receive a door key to access Room 309. The Pottinger Hotel, where the bar is located, doesn't have a guest room by that number, so in the spirit of "invisible" things, Lai offers a menu of transparent cocktails. Despite being as clear as water, the drinks are surprisingly full-bodied and indulgent, like the Crystal Old Fashioned, with flavors of peanut butter, smoked wood, and banana. room309.hk; drinks from HK$128.
The clear peanut butter and banana flavored Crystal Old Fashioned from Room 309.
The Murray
A night in a government office may sound like the premise of a bad horror movie, but The Murray is no ordinary office block. Designed by Ron Phillips in the 1960s, it's one of Hong Kong's most iconic examples of Modernist architecture, and Niccolo Hotels has transformed it into a refined 336-room pad. The original deep window recesses frame unique views across the city as well as plenty of natural sunlight. New additions like rooftop bar Popinjays and an indoor pool bring a sense of modern luxury. niccolohotels.com; doubles from HK$7,000.
A Grand Deluxe room at The Murray.
Tai Kwun
With its commanding presence on Hollywood Road, Central Police Station has always been an integral part of Hong Kong. In use from the late 1800s to the early 2000s, it was once the headquarters of the Hong Kong Police and housed the Victoria Prison. Refurbished as arts and culture hub Tai Kwun, the old colloquial name for the police station, it now hosts historical exhibitions, art galleries and cultural activities, plus a slew of new restaurants and bars. taikwun.hk. – JANICE LEUNG HAYES
Heritage spaces at Tai Kwun.
The Philippine capital is swapping global chains and casual diners for more curated places to eat and drink. This year we fell for the city's more intimate spaces and Filipino-focused menus.
Xylo at the Palace is the city's newest place to dance in the dark.
Spicy grilled clams at Ijen, the new restaurant at Potato Head Bali.
Elegant interiors at Jakarta steakhouse Roosevelt.
Checkmate on the deck of Capella Ubud's Keliki Valley tent.
Como Uma Canggu has its own beach club.
Six Senses Uluwatu is a clifftop sanctuary.
The Ulu Cliffhouse ocean deck leads to its own lagoon.
Further south, the sleek interiors at Hotel Indigo's new shoreside SugarSand (seminyak.hotelindigo.com; drinks from US$8) on Seminyak Beach are inspired by the Indonesian jukung fishing boats and pop with bright orange and turquoise hues. There's a rooftop bar, partially submerged daybeds, Japanese-Peruvian bites and magical mirrored sunsets reflecting from the pool. Meanwhile, the tranquil resort hub of Nusa Dua has welcomed Manarai Beach House (fb.com/manaraibeachhouse; drinks from US$9), with chef Stefan Poyet dishing up Jimbaran-style whole red snapper, Balinese jamu and alco-popsicles. Set on a white-sand beach, the venue weaves together traditional Balinese design accents of draped sarongs and artisanal tiles with daybeds, two pools and an outdoor lounge. – JENNY HEWETT
Enter through the shophouse doors at Esora.
Three years after it was meant to open as a Patina hotel, the Kempinski now headlines the Richard Meier–designed Capitol. One of designer Jaya Ibrahim's last projects, the 157-room hotel straddles two grand heritage piles—the Capitol, built in 1933, and Stamford House from 1903—which explains the eclectic mix of Art Deco and colonial grandeur in the public spaces. Framed by a green wall, the bijou rooftop saltwater pool is easily one of the prettiest in town. kempinski.com; doubles from S$568.
The regal exterior of The Capitol Kempinski Hotel.
Dramatic drapery from Stolen.
The Moon bookshop celebrates the printed page.
Bao Wow's fried chicken bao.
Contemporary fare at pared-back Quince Saigon.
A classic negroni at Rabbit Hole.
Vietnamese heritage is embodied in the rooms at Legacy Yen Tu.
The scenic Vista Pool at Intercontinental.
White coral is Quay's new dessert.
Sunda's Southeast-Asian bites.
Faro's artistic take on dining.
A resort oasis in the middle of the city, this boutique beauty in trendy Fortitude Valley is just what Brisbane—and, the country—was missing.Located in the James Street Precinct, tropical vibes ring through the chic design, with rooms featuring crafted oak furnishings, brass and marble finishes, and private terraces. Cabanas and sun-loungers hem the glimmering turquoise pool and Greek restaurant Hellenika offers alfresco dining. thecalilehotel.com; doubles from A$207.
Star anise smoke finishes Malt & Juniper's espresso martini.
A spa with a view at W Brisbane.
Yes, this is Cambodia. This sparkling private-island paradise is the new home to Six Senses Krabey Island (sixsenses.com; doubles from US$715), which opened this month. Located just five kilometers off Ream National Park in southern Cambodia, the forest-immersed resort houses 40 freestanding private villas, each with their own infinity plunge pools and rain showers. Coastal boardwalks connect the villas to two produce-driven Khmer and Southeast Asian restaurants, as well as a sunset bar and an ice-cream parlor. And once you've tired from all the snorkeling, fishing, cooking classes, stargazing and pool-lazing you can handle, the Six Senses Spa has rejuvenation programs inspired by the sacred Khmer Kbal Spean River, and features crystal water baths and a meditation cave. Sustainability efforts ensure a minimal footprint is left on the untouched haven, with green living roofs on all villas, in-house glass water bottling, a 40,000 square-meter organic market farm, coral propagation program, and introduction of sustainable practices within the local Khmer communities. Castaway life has never looked better. – E.B.
See All Articles...
Related Articles
- 6 Amazing Beach Bars for a Sundowner in Asia
- 5 Reasons to Travel in December
- 4 Reasons You Should Celebrate Christmas in Phu Quoc
- Three New Sentosa Stays to Check Out
- 5 Reasons to Travel in November
- 5 Reasons to Travel in October
- 3 Reasons to Travel in September
- This is Top Chef Eric Ripert's Travel Uniform
- 3 Reasons to Travel in August
- An Eating Tour in Hong Kong with a Food Writer and her Michelin Three-Starred Chef Husband


text:
Data Center Definitions
This glossary explains the meaning of key words and phrases that information technology (IT) and business professionals use when discussing data centers and related software products. You can find additional definitions by visiting WhatIs.com or using the search box below.
Ubuntu (pronounced oo-BOON-too) is an open source Debian-based Linux distribution. Sponsored by Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu is considered a good distribution for beginners. The operating system is intended primarily for personal computers (PCs) but can also be used on servers. The word "ubuntu" is from the African Zulu language and translates as "humanity to others." (Continued...)
uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that allows a computer to keep running for at least a short time when the primary power source is lost.
Unix -- often spelled UNIX, especially as an official trademark -- is a multi-user operating system designed for flexibility and adaptability.
Uptime Institute, Inc.
The Uptime Institute, Inc. is a consortium of companies devoted to maximizing efficiency and uptime in data centers and IT (information technology) organizations... (Continued)
Uptime Institute's data center tier standards
The Uptime Institute's data center tier standards are a standardized methodology used to determine availability in a facility.
utility computing
Utility computing is a service provisioning model in which a service provider makes computing resources and infrastructure management available to the customer as needed, and charges them for specific usage rather than a flat rate.
VSAM (Virtual Storage Access Method )
VSAM (Virtual Storage Access Method ) is a file management system for IBM's larger operating systems, including its primary mainframe operating system, MVS, now called OS/390. (...Continued)
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation (WEEE)
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation (WEEE) is a directive in the European Union that designates safe and responsible collection, recycling and recovery procedures for all types of electronic waste.
water cooling
In computers, water cooling is a method used to lower the temperatures of computer processors, and sometimes other components such as graphics cards, using water rather than air as the cooling medium. (Continued...)
Wetware refers to programmers, developers, systems administrators, cloud and IT architects and other employees that directly affect how servers, applications, networks and the rest of an IT system functions.
white box server
A white box server is a generic server made from commercially available retail computer parts. The phrase "white box" merely indicates that the equipment is generic or brand-agnostic -- the server can be any color.
wireless sensor network (WSN)
A wireless sensor network is a group of specialized transducers with a communications infrastructure that uses radio to monitor and record physical or environmental conditions.
In computing, the workload is the amount of processing that the computer has been given to do at a given time.
WUE (water usage effectiveness)
WUE (water usage effectiveness) is a metric developed by The Green Grid nonprofit consortium to help data centers measure how much water a facility uses for cooling and other building needs.
Yellowdog Updater, Modified (YUM)
Yellowdog Update, Modified (YUM) is a program that manages installation, updates and removal for Red Hat package manager (RPM) systems. YUM allows the user to update groups of machines without having to update each RPM separately.


text:
Q&A with LA25 Member Mark Duncan
Member Name: Mark Duncan Business Name/Website (or physical address): ISU-The Olson Duncan Agency www.olsonduncan.com // 25550 Hawthorne Blvd Ste 203 Torrance CA 90505 Tell us a little bit about your business: We are a Property & Casualty and... Read More
How to Make Giving a Part of Your New Year
As 2015 comes to a close, many of us are looking forward to what 2016 will bring. For most of us, celebrating the arrival of the New Year also means making resolutions. This year, instead of vowing to get to the gym more or eat fewer carbs, make a... Read More
The Benefits of Volunteering
Between work, home, family, and friends, most of us already feel like our schedules are packed to the brim. Because of this, fewer and fewer people are taking the time to volunteer. "Volunteering is so pervasive it's invisible," says Susan J Ellis,... Read More
Ways Families Can Help in the Community
During the holiday season, many people look for ways to get involved and give back to their community. However, many believe that volunteer opportunities only exist for adults or older children. There are a number of ways that families as a whole... Read More


text:
Non-dust Cloth Slitting Machine, If customer want to come to test machine himself,we always suggest customer to bring his own sample,film,fabric to test,it's better to see what machine preformatted and how to adjust accord to different material,meanwhile customer take record
This machine is for slitting big width roll to small width roll, suitable for material of plastic film like Bopp,pvc,pe,pet,cpp,nylon and paper, non woven, PP woven.
1.Unwind air shaft is controlled by magnetic powder brake
2.Two rewind air shafts is controlled by two brake clutch
3.Unwind has auto tension control, when the roll diameter become small, the tension is adjusted automatically, so you do not need to adjust tension manually.
4.Unwind EPC device to prevent the material moving left or right
5.Meter counter can calculate slitting length automatically
6.Main motor is inverter motor
7.It is equipped with flat blade for slitting plastic film, rotary blade for slitting paper,non woven.
8.The machine is installed with a blower to blow the waste edge away.
9.Rewind pressing roller make rewinding roll more even and neat.
10.Rewind friction shaft is optional, when slitting small width roll, friction shaft is better.


text:
Singer Songwriter Geri Smith began her musical training in classical piano at an early age. By her teens, she was playing the guitar and writing her own songs. In college, she majored in voice, but continued to study piano and arranging. Upon graduating from Music School, Geri chose to continue performing over being a full time music educator.
Three songs from "Two Sides to a Story" have been placed commercially. One of the songs from this album "The Tears of Natalie" has been licensed by Bose for the Alfa Romeo/Fiat stereo demo. "On the Outside Looking In" is the theme song for the film "Zelimo", cowritten with Pete Levin. Pete produced this soundtrack with an all star cast of musicians. "Zelimo" is a film by Aleks Rosenberg. For more info check out Pete's site at www.petelevin.com. "A Question of When" was used in the breakup scene of the movie "Indian Fish in American Waters". This film by Manish Gupta was released and distributed on video internationally.
Four songs from "This Chain" have been released commercially. "Something to Do With Laurie" and "Just a Little Bit" have been licensed by the Bose Corporation for use in stereo demos and digital video discs. Geri's song "Mirage" was chosen by Fast Folk Musical Magazine for the CD release featuring Philadelphia artists. A second song "Can You See Me Hilda" was also recorded by Fast Folk for a subsequent release.
Geri has also co-written on two children's albums with performing artist John Hadfield. "Monkeys in the House" and "Robot Monkey Head" have won several Kid's Choice Awards, and have received signifigant airplay on both commercial and satellite radio. For more info about John Hadfield, visit www.johnhadfield.net.
In addition to her studio projects, Geri writes, cowrites and performs Music for various commercial uses. Geri performs all around the Tri State area with Jimmy Daughton on Dobro. She also performs frequently in New York. Venues include several appearances at the New York Songwriter's Circle (a prestigious showcase featuring many well-known writers as well as up and coming talent). She has performed in showcases for NARAS (the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences), the Songwriter's Guild and the National Academy of Popular Music. Geri also performed in the Off Broadway Musical revue "Sisters of the 60's". This show starred Darlene Love, Mary Wilson and Beverly Lee.
Geri currently teaches Piano, Voice and Song Writing at the Darlington Fine Art Center. (www.darlingtonarts.org). Geri earned her Elementary Certificate in the Dalcroze Method from the Dalcroze Institute at the Juilliard School in Manhattan. She is the Music teacher at the Chester County Family Academy in West Chester. Geri has studied jazz piano and arranging in New York with Pete Levin (Dave Brubeck Group) and classical piano with Daniel Cataneo (Juilliard). She studied voice with Katie Agresta.. Professional organizations include BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) and NARAS (The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences).
London Sunset Music (BMI)
phone: (610) 347-2606
"Geri's beautiful voice is the perfect instrument for her crafted, effortless songs. The album is a rich and worthwhile journey, full of unique moments which flow together into a satisfying whole. "
Julie Flanders


text:
Sabrina Coast
Also found in: Wikipedia.
Sabrina Coast
part of the seacoast of Wilkes Land (East Antarctica), extending approximately 300 km between Cape Southard in the east (122° 05' E long.) and the Totten outlet glacier in the west (116° 02' E long.). The greater part of the Sa-brina Coast consists of the Moscow University Ice Shelf, which adjoins the continental glacial cap, whose surface drops steeply to the south. The coast was discovered by the British expedition of J. Balleny in March 1839. In 1957 and 1958 it was explored by a Soviet antarctic expedition. It was given its name by the Australian arctic explorer D. Mawson in 1931, in honor of the ship used by Balleny's expedition.


text:
The 2009 Sport Horse National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show was a show we here at Evergreen Farm, LLC will not soon forget. We brought three horses to this event at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Of the horses, one is our stallion, KKoi, and the other two are his daughters; EF LLameri (Meri) and EF Epona's Shenanigans (Nani).
Meri and Nani are sisters by KKoi and share the same dam line. Meri's dam is Nani's grand-dam. Tiffany, a Quarter Horse mare my parents got me for Christmas when I was 11 started this common thread. She was a fabulous mare who really didn't live long enough. When I showed her for the first time, I wore back number 13. The number 13 will prove itself to be the number for me for many, many shows to come!
This story is based mostly around Meri. She is the superstar no one saw coming. Tiffany, the foundation dam for this line was a wonderful all around QH mare who was a true "All-Arounder". At seven she developed cancer in her eye as well as her hip joint but we wanted this line to stay alive. In an effort to recreate this wonderful mare before she was gone for good, she was bred to a friend's Thoroughbred racehorse. Out came a beautiful black filly we named Bucephalus (Cephie). She was named after the Alexander the Great's horse, Bucephalus in the "Black Stallion" movie. This little mare proved to be even more spectacular than her dam Tiffany. She did everything. She rode in every discipline and did it all well. We went to college together; we moved all over the country together and she gave my children their first pony rides. After we acquired our stallion KKoi, we decided to mate our two favorite horses. This was to be Cephie's last job as she was getting on in years. All I was expecting was a replacement for my heart. I needed another Tiffany, another Cephie; I needed a companion to carry me into my golden years. Out came a beautiful bay filly we named EF LLameri. We decided to carry the tradition of the famous horse names from history and LLameri was the name of King Arthur's favorite mare.
In February of 2009 we decided to put Meri under saddle to see what we had. I wanted to go trail riding and maybe do some western pleasure riding and this was to be my "All Around The Farm Filly". She was maturing quite nicely and at 3 she was mentally and physically up for the challenge. The first ride was, well, magical. It was like she was born broke. She was easy and so incredibly willing. A local youth was interested in learning how to start a youngster so she decided to come over and give her a spin. Under careful instruction, Meri was really blossoming as a dressage horse. We decided to put them on the road together. We would, just for giggles mind you, show in some "A" shows. By the time we hit East Coast Champs she was on a roll and earned two Regional Top Fives and a Reserve Championship. We decided to haul her to Nationals just to see.
Meri was entered into 3 classes. AA/HA SHIH ATH where she was one of the youngest competitors. She held her own and ended up mid pack. She went into HA/AA Training Level Junior Horse where she was the YOUNGEST horse to compete. She fell just out of the ribbons in 13th place. Wow, 7 months under saddle and not only was she at Sport Horse Nationals but she was competently competing for the silks. Then we were in the HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse semi-finals. It was in the Indoor Coliseum. It was a very scary place, for both her and me but we went in and did our best. Meri did all that was asked of her and more. We lined up and anxiously awaited the call for the 8 of the 16 who were to move on. When our number was called I had to look at her bridle number because I was sure I was hearing things. We made it!! We made it through to the finals! We, my little three-year-old all around the farm filly and I, made it to the finals of The 2009 Arabian and Half Arabian Sport Horse Nationals! I really had a moment. I was crying so hard I couldn't see to make my victory pass. It was like soaring through time and space back to being an 11-year-old little girl riding my very first horse ever, my Tiffany. I could have gone home at that moment. I am not the type of person who has to win the ribbon to win the class. Just making the cut was truly enough for me.
A quick check of the judges cards and we were astounded at what we found. She was ranked second in her semi final class. Second! Wow, she is three. She was the ONLY three year old in either of her under saddle classes thus far.
On to the finals we go. Meri was a bit apprehensive in the covered arena. She had been in there to school, but of course, there were not any people in the stands. Now the stands were very full. She was nervous. I chose to put her in the ring second so she could get around a few times before all the horses were in, the gate closed, and judging was underway. It was if she knew what was coming. As soon as they announced the gate had closed she put on her game face, lowered herself to the bit and went on. She had a beautiful round. She sparkled more in the finals then she had in the semis. The ride felt so beautiful, so cadenced, and so rhythmic. We did not make the top ten, but we made it on one of the judge's cards. We ended up in 13th place. That's right 13th. That would be the number I first put on all those years ago when I climbed upon her grand dam 30 years ago.
While we have complaints about the show and the grounds and like many of the competitors, we were disappointed with the condition of the barns we were in; I have to say we still left with a smile. No long, maroon ribbon, no neck roses, but a smile indeed. I think that is what so many competitors are missing. The smile. The genuine sense of accomplishment. The fulfillment from within. It should not always be about the ribbon. Was I disappointed about not getting a Top Ten? To a point. Do I wish I had gotten one so I could say she got it when she was three? Of course. However, am I completely fulfilled because of my/our accomplishment? Absolutely. I bred this mare. I bred this mare's dam. Essentially, I am a beginner to the world of Arabians and certainly to dressage. I am a hunter/jumper by trade in the open world of TB's and QH's and took a shine to Arabians long ago after watching "The Black Stallion" movie. Nevertheless, look how much I have accomplished in such a short period with my homebred, home trained and home shown horses. I am on top of the world! Now will I have to go back in 2011 to claim the big prize, a neck full of roses! Of course just to see if it feels any different!


text: Share: Comments Print November 27, 2008 at 5:47 PM Budget cuts for higher education Posted by krosenthal Get in the spirit Editor, The Times: The likelihood that our higher-education system will not escape serious funding reductions should not necessarily result in reductions in enrollment and class offerings ["20% cuts may be ahead for state colleges, universities as bottom falls out of budget," News, Nov. 23]. This may be just the opportunity needed to call about the nascent volunteer spirit in our citizenry that President-elect Barack Obama's election has evoked. There are likely many former faculty members living near colleges at which they once taught that would, if invited, come back to teach on a part-time, unpaid basis. Although still physically and intellectually active, they've hit the state's mandatory retirement age of 70. They would neither need nor expect a salary since most will have an adequate retirement income. And my guess is that they would enjoy the challenge of re-engaging with students even if for the short-term — until we work our way out of the financial predicament. Similarly, there are probably many exceptional people who have retired from professional careers who could be recruited to teach in their disciplines. Given the increasing demand for classroom seats, the colleges and universities of this state need to maintain an open-door policy. Those filled seats represent the human capital on which the state's future clearly depends. — Dick Nelson, Seattle This won't help As a senior in high school, I am in the thick of applying to colleges and universities and anxiously awaiting their decisions. Nick Perry's Nov. 23 story about the proposed tuition increases and budget cuts was alarming for me and was cause for concern on a local and national level. The cuts would lead to fewer faculty and resources, a tuition increase and lower acceptance rates. The combination of an all-time high in enrollment and applications as well as a decrease in funding leads to a truly awful mix. I was in complete agreement with University of Washington director of state relations, Randy Hodgins, when he was paraphrased saying, "higher-education officials need to explain to the public the opportunities that might be lost should higher education languish." It is counterproductive to reduce educational opportunities for state residents. This is a national problem. The California state university system faces budget cuts and a need to reduce enrollment by a total of 10,000 students statewide. It will be damaging to close doors on many people's shots at higher education. — Emuna David, Seattle Comments | More in Economy, Education, Washington Legislature


text: Vista Place is a 19 storey twin-towered Leed Silver building with 284 condominiums in the heart of upper Londsdale. Built by Intracorp Developments and located adjacent North Vancouver City hall, a new library and a shared civic plaza, it features a gym with views to an outdoor water feature along with a gracious lounge and other amenities planned for the true North Shorite. Bringing the outside in with a natural palette to reflect the West Coast aesthetic was the concept that drove the creative engine of this project. The lobby features a ceiling detail that creates a visual log jam effect. Planks of dark wood in differing lengths and depths, placed at random heights simulate tugboats hauling logs. The building has sweeping views of downtown and the Burrard Inlet as well as the mountain views to the north.


text:
Category: Music
Open Letter to Sheryl Crow
Early Beatles Catalog Highlights (Part One)
A friend of mine asked me for a few quick song purchase suggestions from the pre-Rubber Soul Beatles. I figured I'd take the opportunity to rummage through these oldie-but-good LPs to see what I could see.
Please Please Me.
The good:
- I Saw Her Standing There– Paul McCartney takes the helm on this album launching track about the greatest dance party you never attended.
- Please Please Me– One of the first Beatles compositions George Martin thought was half way decent. Uses power chords before they were invented on the riff between the lines of the verse.
- There's A Place– First introspective Beatles song. They'd take this thing as far as it could go later with Across the Universe. For now it's kind of like a weird cousin to In My Room.
- Twist and Shout– (See Ferris Bueller)
The not-so-good:
- Boys– This song brings to mind Brian Epstein suggesting tighter trousers.
- A Taste of Honey– Humanity may never understand why Paul did this to us.
With The Beatles
The good:
- All My Loving– John took the first two songs on this album, but the lights don't really turn on until you hear the famous skittering guitar line of this Paul song.
- Not a Second Time– John Lennon gets upset at his wife and writes a damn fine tune. Nice meandering piano solo.
Honorable Mention
- Money– George Martin tickles the ivories with a chunky piano line that drives this respectable cover.
- Please Mister Postman– Brainless fun.
- Don't Bother Me– George Harrison becomes the serious Beatle.
- All I've Got To Do– John takes his time, uses an off kilter drum pattern and gets the job done, more or less.
- Till There Was You– Paul takes the Beatles unplugged for the first time.
The not-so-good:
- This record commits no serious crimes…You got off easy this time Ringo!
Hard Days Night
The good:
The A Side- A nice EP for a breezy day.
- A Hard Days Night– You know it you love it. From the unique opening chord, to the hard charging rhythm, to the sentiment of the lyric Alex Chilton would subconsciously appropriate for the middle eight of September Girls about a decade later.
- I Should Have Known Better– My favorite early Beatles song, period. Makes me smile everytime I hear it.
- If I Fell– We're slowing down but it's still a great tune.
- I'm Happy Just To Dance With You– Hey, maybe it's only a Northern Song, but George is lightening up.
- And I Love Here– Paul unplugs it again! The melody of this song reminds me of the bridge to an obscure Robyn Hitchcock song, 'Executioner'…anyway.
- Tell Me Why– John hits a single…bases loaded.
- Can't Buy Me Love– Paul smashes it out of the park. Grand Slam! (see mid-eighties Patrick Dempsey vehicles)
B Side Beauties:
- Any Time At All– John brings it again.
- Thing We Said Today– Paul can't put the acoustic down, and just wants to remember the good times (in a depressive kind of way.)
- You Can't Do That– More cowbell. If you want to trace the lineage of the melody for of a good chunk of the VU's 'She's My Best Friend', look no further than this song.
- I'll Be Back– Interesting harmonies (see The Terminator)
The not-so-good:
- When I Get Home– It's like a Frankenstein's Monster of Beatles songs that adds up to a clunky mess. FIRE BAD!


text:
Being Kittlen's dominant can feel at times like being on a roller-coaster ride. Kittlen has a lot of emotional and health issues to contend with, which impacts on her moods and behaviour in various ways. On top of that, she has two teenage children and one tween, which can affect her mood. Then there are the body memories, the traumas of her past.
And those are just the obstacles on Kittlen's side. I have my problems to deal with as well. I've battled with low self-esteem and depression in the past, and my empathic nature means that I can be overwhelmed by Kittlen's pain and sorrow if I'm not careful. And I'm still working out some aspects of dominating her, encountering some of my hang-ups in the process.
So it's not a huge surprise that I sometimes make mistakes. Some are minor and easy to spot and correct. Others, though, do not become apparent right away. I may be distracted at the time, or Kittlen might not be able to verbalise what is wrong. Those mistakes take longer to sort out, but in the process, I think we've both learned more about each other.
Kittlen has had several previous relationships that turned sour, a few even becoming violent. As a result, she can have a hard time convincing that some mishap isn't her fault, or be paralysed by her fears. I'm getting better at spotting when that is happening, and even have some tools I can use to calm her down, but she may not be able to explain to me what is going on in her head.
On my side, I find it particularly onerous when Kittlen has a tantrum or distances herself from me. My fears start playing on my mind, and that in turn affects my ability to get back on track and take care of both her and myself.
We've also had to contend with how some others view our relationship. For starters, we are both switches, so we alternate between dominant and submissive roles as needed. Most of the time, I dominate Kittlen, but she needs to exercise her domme side occasionally so that it doesn't manifest itself in unhealthy ways. And from time to time, she will stop and momentarily take charge of me, particularly if I'm feeling stressed or anxious.
This situation has recently led a few folks to joke that I'm not her dominant at all. That rattled her, and also planted seeds of doubt in my mind. Subsequently, a misunderstanding between us left her feeling angry and upset, and me feeling unable to function as her dominant.
Eventually, I consulted my own dominant and mentor, Unity One. She pointed out that I am a planet orbiting her sun, and Kittlen is a moon circling me. Unity reminded me that I could draw strength from her when I needed to and that my orbit should remain constant. I know that Kittlen generates tides of emotion within me, but I need to keep those in perspective.
And, as Kittlen herself pointed out to me, the fact that I am making mistakes but also learning from them means that I'm becoming a better dominant. And in the process, I'm growing as a person as well.
So yes, it is a roller-coaster, but one we're both determined to carry on riding.


text:
Into the Woods... Again!
The youngest children in our school braved the sub-zero temperatures to go exploring in the woods today!
We worked together the build a shelter big enough for the grown-ups to fit inside!
Nice and snug!
Some of us made Christmas decorations . Deck the halls...
We all enjoyed toasting marshmallows around the fire.
And hearing stories about the creatures that live in the woods.
We even found a living creature and decided to put him back in a nice safe place.
Now it's back to school to warm up. Brrrr!
Leave a Reply.