text:
CARDIFF.- Graham Sutherland (1903-1980) was one of the most important British artists of his day, championed by his peers who included Francis Bacon. He was an impressively prolific and versatile artist who is perhaps best remembered for his imposing landscapes and intuitive portraits.
To mark his centenary the National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff presents a display of his work (11 October 14 December) that reasserts his importance as a leading figure in twentieth century British art.
This exhibition is drawn from the National Museums & Galleries of Wales collections which were previously housed at the Graham Sutherland Gallery, Picton Castle. Exploring different themes from Sutherlands work - portraits, landscape, design, war, animals and organic forms - the display offers an opportunity to observe one artists obsession and imagination. In addition to finished paintings, also on display here are lithographs, photographs, objects he collected and studies for completed works, including a drawing of Sir Winston Churchill.
Wales was to play a pivotal role in Sutherlands career, and was the place in which, he commented, I learned to paint. Between 1934 and 1947, Sutherland made frequent journeys to Pembrokeshire and as an official war artist recorded bomb damage across south Wales. After working in the South of France for twenty years he made a chance return visit to Pembrokeshire in 1960s which led to a second period of creativity.


text:
alrighty, the first question is about that damn hack-this-site thing. I'm on lvl 5, and the stupid telnet wont work. When i use port 23 it asks me to login and when i use port 80 it just sits there after waiting forever the stupid thing says press return to begin and then proceeds to lose the connection. sooo, whats going on here?
2nd, can anyone suggest any books i can go buy??? i got about 70 bucks to blow, and i dont need a new hookah at the moment what i want to do is take it one subject at a time, get a thourough knowledge of it, and then continue to learn something else Know any good books on javascript? or html? or even php? lolz, im an indecisive person, so im leaving the choice up to you! thanks for all the input everyone, you help is greatly appriciated.
btw, where would i post if i needed help with a basic prog im working on??? ty
(is this in the right section?? if not, sorry. im new here lol )

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The simple flower shape, blush pink petals, and large clusters of flowers throughout the summer have made 'Ballerina' a favorite for decades.
Roses are more than prickly garden plants with exquisite flowers. They are much more than roots and leaves, stems and petals. They are the ultimate symbol of beauty, displaying perfection and romance. But beyond this, they are metaphors of society and us throughout history, as well as today.
Aristocracy and the Rose
In medieval Europe, roses in the garden were symbols of aristocracy. There were only a few elite ruling families of the day, and there were just a few elite rose families, too.
Any aristocrat of the day would tell you that peasants were not capable of appreciating beauty for its own sake. Peasants could not discern the hint of pink in the petal of a rose no more than they could discern the subtle scents of fruit and musk from wine.
After laboring in the fields all day, it is unlikely that a peasant would have had the time or energy to return home and cultivate a bed of roses. There were meals to prepare, and they did not like to get out in the night air for fear of contracting a disease.
Napoleon and Josephine's Contribution
In the early part of the 19th century, roses and much of the world underwent a dramatic revolution. Turbulence was especially high in France where Napoleon was scrambling to the pinnacle of his government. Josephine apparently did not share her husband's ambitions and grew weary of the pretentiousness of the courts, endless social events and her husband's infidelities. She found refuge in Malmaison, her mansion nine miles west of Paris. From Malmaison, she devoted the remainder of her life to amassing the single largest collection of roses the world had ever seen.
In a few short years, her garden equaled her aspirations; roses grew side by side from China, Egypt, the Near East and anywhere Napoleon's army marched. Though he was estranged from his beloved Josephine, he continued to support her garden habit by sending her living specimens. The genetically and geographically diverse roses were allowed to hybridize, and the new combinations still echo throughout our gardens to this day.
Introducing the Hybrid Tea
A second seminal event in rose history, perhaps the most important, happened a few decades after Josephine's garden reached its zenith. In 1867, a French rose breeder crossed 'Madame Victor Verdier', a hybrid perpetual, with 'Madame Bravy', a tender tea rose. The result was the first hybrid tea aptly named 'La France'.
The appearance of 'La France' began a lengthy love affair between hybrid tea roses and the gardening public. These new roses had a suite of favorable characteristics that the rising middle class loved. Their greatest attraction was cold hardiness combined with a remontant, or reblooming habit. They remain the most popular garden roses today.
The white petals of the Cherokee rose represent the tribal mother's tears, and the golden center, the gold taken from their native lands when they were forced to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears.
Native or Not?
Closer to home, roses played an important role during the Civil War. The Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) is a prickly-stemmed rambler that is graced with pretty, simple, single white flowers. It was commonly planted on the graves of fallen soldiers to assist families in grieving and in part to mark the site.
The Cherokee rose was long thought to be a native of the southern and eastern United States. Indeed, its range was similar to the geographical distribution of the tribe's original location before they were forced along the Trail of Tears. But despite public opinion, it is an import from China. The mystery remains as to when it arrived, how it made the journey, and why it naturalized so rapidly.
Though the leaves show wear and tear from summer, nutritious rose hips are a great food for wildlife. This hip has already been sampled.
Black Sheep Of The Family
Though a few roses are native to North America, none have made the jump into the mainstream. Even the wildling you might encounter hiking through a field or forest is likely to be R. multiflora, a native of Japan. Introduced into this country as a durable and hardy rootstock for grafted roses, its vigor has served it well in its adopted home. Once sold as a living fence, R. multiflora is now known as an invasive plant and an outlaw in several states.
The Yellow Rose Of New York City
The "Yellow Rose of Texas" was made famous when it was compared to a beautiful woman in song. While the flowers are indeed yellow, it is not native nor is it from Texas. According to Thomas Christopher in In Search of Lost Roses, this rose is known today as 'Harrison's Yellow' which originated as a chance seedling in New York City and proved to be extremely tough. The dense thorns repelled cattle and its drought and cold tolerance provided excellent survival skills. Turns out that it was the rose planted along the Oregon Trail across the west.
'Summer Wind' is an exceptional rose from famous rose breeder Griffith Buck. Buck roses are known for their hardiness, fragrance and beauty.
A Nation Divided
In our country today, roses are a metaphor of our divided society. Some rosarians are great fans of the hybrid teas while others are lovers of old-fashioned roses. Their philosophies are so dissimilar that we might use the red state-blue state analogies that simplify the demographics of presidential politics.
On one side of the aisle are gardeners who espouse old-fashioned roses, those roses that appeared before the first hybrid tea, 'La France'. They seek the simpler structure of flowers and cherish the flat blooms with just a few delicately colored petals. For many admirers it is the scent of the old-fashioned flowers that is so attractive. From spicy to musky sweet, it is the fragrance that has galvanized their allegiance to these old roses.
The other side of the aisle embraces the hybrid teas. Repeat blooming is more highly prized to them than to expend a year's flowers in one glorious blaze of color. They seek perfection in a single bud perched on a long stem. The latest garden center offering is exciting each spring and they likely will purchase a rose because it is named after a popular person. In recent years, big sellers have been 'Dolly Parton', 'Reba McIntire' and 'Diana, Princess of Wales.'
Knock Out rose combines high disease resistance and prolific repeat blooming.
A miniature rose growing to a couple of feet tall, 'Sweet Chariot' features large, pink-purple flowers that smell like pepper. The fragrance is enhanced during the warmth of midday.
Centuries Of Cultivation
If roses in our gardens were indicative of society in the past, it remains true today. Consider the wildly popular hybrid tea rose, an amalgam of plant parts fused by humans to create a being far superior than the sum of its parts. Hybrid tea roses are composed of a rootstock and a beautiful grafted top portion.
The top of the rose produces its raison d'etre, the slender-tipped flower buds that open to reveal nature's perfection. The buds appear in a brilliance of colors and demand our attention from across the garden or a crowded room.
Roses are beautiful garden plants, and yet, they are so much more. Though we have innocently cultivated them for centuries, they have been a barometer of social status and change. So, the next time you visit a friend's garden or plant a rose in yours, remember, your choice has a long history of social prominence. Choose with your heart, and you may learn something about yourself, too.
A version of this article appeared in a May 2005 print edition of State-by-State Gardening.
Photography courtesy of Martin Stone, Ph.D.


text:
Marble and Brass Soap Dispenser
Our luminous marble bath collection brings natural elegance to the home. Each handcrafted design is finished with solid brass trim, which highlights the intrinsic beauty of the marble. Variations in the veining make each piece unique.
- Handcrafted of solid white marble.
- Finished with solid brass trim.
- Removable stainless-steel pump dispenses soap.
- Coordinates with the rest of our Marble Bath Collection.
Dimensions & More Info
- 2.75" diam., 6.5"H.
- 4-oz. cap.
- Made in India.
Use & Care
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Shipping Information
This item is shipped from our warehouse via UPS or White Glove Delivery Service. Items shipping UPS will arrive within 5 business days of our receiving your order.
For items denoted by the Unlimited Flat Rate Delivery flag:
Larger items are shipped via our White Glove Delivery Service and should be delivered within 2 to 4 weeks. For White Glove Delivery, items are brought into your home and placed in the room of your choice. Please note, delivery does not include unpacking or installation/ hanging of the item. Delivery is by appointment, Monday – Saturday; our delivery service will call to arrange a day. Available in the 48 contiguous states. Please call 888.922.4108 for additional assistance.
Shipping Rates
With Unlimited Flat Rate Furniture & Freight Delivery, an unlimited number of eligible furniture and select non-furniture items in your order can be delivered for a single flat rate. The exact shipping charges are based on your shipping location and will be applied during checkout.
All items not shipped via unlimited flat-rate delivery fee will incur a shipping surcharge, but no additional delivery fees. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. If, within 30 days, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please return the item for an exchange or refund of the merchandise value. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned. View Full Returns Policy.
Marble and Brass Soap Dispenser
|Delivery Surcharge
|Marble and Brass Soap Dispenser


text:
Holiday's Most Wanted: Nintendo Wii U Sells Out
Nintendo said it sold out of its new Wii U console during its first week on the market, Ian Sherr reports on digits. Photo: Nintendo.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... what stays You'll gridlocked it's what Nintendo Wi EU and then selling outs ... what's your back and mall ... right here right now on Digits good afternoon and welcome I'm Simon Constable ... now with the story on the the the we year which my and we got ... in show The will Street gentle and summonses go in ... I'm very very sexy Chinese beginning says the number ... of accounting and downright ... but they're they're very hard to find that's for sure aam you know what they've done is basically Nancy this as they've sold about forty thousand of them the first week since they went on sale on November eighteen and ... aam they're really happy with the sales to keep the momentum is good ... and of more importantly they're selling to says they hit the shelves so ... there seems to be enough demand for them for now ... not enough demand but I mean if you come get them to people get so frustrated that they can get and one of these didnt on salsa and then they go yet summing all since that's ... right you've got a possible ... the shirt I am a part of a predator you have to consider for a moment is that ... I'm a few member the regional we knew which came out and that six years ago ... on that thing was really hard to find for very long time and to the point where actually like ... toe-to-toe through Anthony Hardie was a fine ... and so ... aam Inlet on to sell nearly a hundred million units which is the most that any of the current videogame console Saddam ... so ... um it's you know it well there's a possibility of leaving money on the table reality is that if people really like it they're gonna get it eventually ... you're actually I'm real lucky to be wise to get one of the hour minute them Apple complaint with that stuff ... how did you find it I mean is is is this a fun things apply Wallace alike ... West of the interesting if you know the regional we had the big thing that was different about it with these motion control see have like a wind in your hands ... and you could do stuff like mini playing tennis and and based on what not ... and fishing ... and so this version but there is is because there's a touch screen which I imagine you probably have on the set there ... aam you can do a lot of things like free sample I can shoot Ninja stars at the screen ... aam tried to swiping on the touch screen ... on my can also see something different on my screen ... as they on the GamePad tonight from what's on the TV which they call asynchronous ... gameplay ... and so to last me that play different at the games the kids were chasing each other ... aam you know the player who's looking at this notion can see what I'm saying ... it is a lot of interesting kind of ... new ways to handle it as with the regional we of course ... I'm team players are still learning how to use it exactly how to best use its allotted games ... for example we know if you're Batman for example ... on some of your gadgets use to get the GamePad ... I there's some games that year it this stuff the year carrying in your knapsack or whatever is on the GamePad just click on it from the GamePad to use it ... says the law to differ ways to keep when handling it there's no real kind of ... you know the people haven't if we're still figuring it all out right ... aam but it's awfully interesting ... so this is a very good sign actually because we know the videogame business has been having a rough time of it lightly this is a good sign that they can presumably then ... you sell the that that the we you base of four hundred thousand units was only sell a lot more these as well on them people after when the games to go with them so much ... read why anyone would hope that's how it plays out on one of the things that there's a lot of concern about of course is that ... retail sales of video games have been very bad additional knew nobody and at present ... is a different story ... aam but you know it did to real question is exactly what you bring up is the demand enough to ... really bring in the people by the games get those profits up ... right now I still unsure I mean this is a really good data point ... on NPT which is the people into monthly tracking of this or to have data coming out soon that will ... give us more insight ... um but it's a it's really kind of when those things of ... the babies were talking about the need to this the first of the major videogame makers see a PlayStation and Nintendo ISN precision that and the Xbox at the other two ... to come out with a new piece of hardware and well we always know is that the new pieces of hardware ... I well for a new games that are more interesting and they bring a lot of people into the into the stores and that's what were really looking for ... is whether or not that'll happen it's ... not there are two sorts of that saw the source of Dana's on the ball the stadium is also the canceled a missile pick up something a plan under a hard call came as ... a drag race the one you know who it is this girl appeal more to the hardcore gamer because the graphics of batter on Alonso's up or is this can of ... soft in people who knew now maybe you know been a bit more casual about it ... but it was never really tried to give it a fine save much better to the casual and the younger crowd ... aam you know Mario is a much more kind of kid friendly ... characters and ... some the other ones out there ... but um one thing about Nintendo this time around is that the really China push hard on the onthe on the higher end of the market that the hard core gamers as you call them ... and they have games like Assassin's Creed Bayou Besar where you go around the Saxony people in ... in in history when I didn't ... get the sense of rather play the games that they need to do it shied away from in the past they haven't entirely but they ... they didn't have them before called TD Black Ops activists is another one ... so ... aam but the surrender but these these AIB's games or is there going into disaster really tickled to grab that larger ten is ... the hard core gamers to spend a lot more money on videogames frankly ... on potential gaming system won't point out they can pick them up the transfer will while many let them go and ... that's what happened with the Ouija wide is that um you know a number of gamers I'd talk to ... they had eggs a week the deal said an Xbox and ... Nintendo this time around every China grab wealth and if they can succeed in being the only view game system people have that'll be really successful ... um but you know that the important thing to bring up is that ... it was sunny and Micra soft answer to this hasn't come out yet and they're expected to come out next year ... and odds are that there to have slightly better specs ... on the may have different stuff that also competes against the we you in a more direct way and ... you know will see how adults but for now need to know has the run of the of the market the moment for the new cell ... Palm and Dom um well we will see how Baidu's quickly on the Nintendo launching a we knew many ... which as you can add up ... correct ... while an end with the way yet an enemy what it is is it's basically a nature as Persian it doesn't ... have all the capabilities of the regional we but it's a lot cheaper ... and um they haven't said about any other availability all I ask and they said you know the stock to their statement about ... how a system of the notes in Canada now there's no other ... comment about international availability ... but one would presume it's an MBA is spread out that's not uncommon for Nintendo they like to have ... the lower end system being the older one has any new one is well to ... capture the parent of the market ... will we wish them luck and Dom have fun playing with you'll ... we you before you read some of thank you pre much to ... be in show The will Street tunnel now in San Francisco ...


text:
Explore the world as a traveller, not a tourist, on a trip packed with inclusions. VIP experiences and first-class, insider encounters.
Cosmos is for those that adore the explore without breaking the bank. Hassle-free and flexible, you dream it and we create it.
You're a lone ranger but don't want to be completely alone. We'll help plan your itinerary and set you up with our friends. Less hassles, more amazing, that's Monograms.
Get personal. This is experiential river cruising, your way. From Europe to the Galapagos and Asia, Avalon is relaxed luxury with choices as many, and individual as you.
The USA is the Big Kahuna of destinations. But where to start on an American holiday? Cosmos USA Tours are here to navigate this behemoth of attractions to make sure you don't miss a beat. Nowhere else has the complexity and diversity quite like this. Spanning natural splendours of glaciers, geysers, canyons and mountain highs, to vibrant cities, each with distinct personalities, this part of the world will really keep you on your toes! The USA from North to South, East to West, attracts music lovers, history buffs, gourmands, road trippers, city hoppers, tree huggers and the simply curious in equal measure. No matter if you're a New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, desert or coastal kind of traveller, the USA will feed your soul, one way or another.
At Cosmos, we're experts in 'thrillology' - the art of bringing you an experience, time and time again. With over 50 years of 'wow' under our belts and no sign of slowing down. We know how to make tours that you'll never forget; creating the experience you've always dreamed of, and showing you the ones you never even thought of. Our job is to take the planning and logistics off your hands, so you can live your dreams.


text:
WASHINGTON — As the Supreme Court on Tuesday weighed the momentous question of whether gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry, six justices questioned whether the case, arising from a California ban on same-sex marriages, was properly before the court and indicated that they might vote to dismiss it.
"I just wonder if the case was properly granted," said Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who probably holds the decisive vote, in a comment that showed a court torn over whether this was the right time and right case for a decision on a fast-moving social issue.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor seemed to share that concern. "If the issue is letting the states experiment and letting the society have more time to figure out its direction," she said, "why is taking a case now the answer?"
Those justices and others seemed driven to that conclusion by an argument in which no attractive middle ground emerged on the substance of the question before them: whether voters in California were entitled to enact Proposition 8, which overturned a State Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriage.
Justices who appeared sympathetic to same-sex marriage indicated that there was no principled way to issue a ruling that could apply only in California or only in the nine states that have robust civil union or domestic partnership laws but withhold the word "marriage."
That appeared to leave the court with an all-or-nothing choice on the merits: either a ruling that would require same-sex marriage in all 50 states or one that would say that all states may do as they wish. Neither choice seemed attractive to a majority of the justices.
Five members of the court asked questions indicating that they might vote to dismiss the case on the threshold issue that supporters of Proposition 8 lacked standing to appeal a lower court's decision. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., whose questions on the merits indicated discomfort with requiring states to allow same-sex marriage, seemed particularly interested in the standing issue.
Justice Kennedy seemed more open to the possibility that the proponents of Proposition 8 had standing, but he twice asked lawyers why the court should not dismiss the case outright. When the justices have second thoughts about agreeing to hear a case, they sometimes dismiss it as "improvidently granted."
Questions from the justices do not always reliably forecast votes, of course, and many of the justices also indicated their views of the central issue presented in the case.
When Justice Kennedy turned to the merits of the case, he voiced sympathy for the children of gay couples. "There are some 40,000 children in California," he said, who "live with same-sex parents, and they want their parents to have full recognition and full status. The voice of those children is important in this case."
But Justice Kennedy said he was uncertain about the consequences for society of allowing same-sex marriage. "We have five years of information to weigh against 2,000 years of history or more," he said, referring to the long history of traditional marriage and the brief experience of allowing gay men and lesbians to marry in some states.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. echoed the thought and said the court should not move too fast. "You want us to step in and render a decision based on an assessment of the effects of this institution, which is newer than cellphones or the Internet?" he said.
Many of the questions directed to Charles J. Cooper, a lawyer for opponents of same-sex marriage, concerned whether there was any good reason to exclude same-sex couples from the institution.
Mr. Cooper counseled caution. "It is an agonizingly difficult, for many people, political question," he said. "We would submit to you that that question is properly decided by the people themselves."
Justice Elena Kagan asked him how letting gay couples marry harmed traditional marriages. "How does this cause and effect work?" she asked.
Mr. Cooper responded that "it will refocus the purpose of marriage and the definition of marriage away from the raising of children and to the emotional needs and desires of adults, of adult couples." The key to marriage, he said, is procreation.
That did not seem to satisfy several of the justices.
Justice Stephen G. Breyer asked Mr. Cooper about sterile opposite-sex couples. "There are lots of people who get married who can't have children," he said.
Justice Kagan asked whether the government could ban a man and a woman who are over 55 from marrying because they would not be able to have children. Mr. Cooper said the court could not constitutionally ban such marriages, but he said that was no reason to alter traditional definitions.
Justice Antonin Scalia remarked, sarcastically, that the government could require people applying for a marriage license to fill out an intrusive questionnaire. When Justice Kagan noted that people were frequently asked about their age by the government, Justice Scalia joked about former Senator Strom Thurmond, who had a child in his 70s and served in the Senate until age 100.
Chief Justice Roberts said history was on the side of traditional marriage. "The institution developed," he said, "to serve purposes that, by their nature, didn't include homosexual couples."
Theodore B. Olson, representing two couples challenging Proposition 8, said it was pernicious. "It walls off gays and lesbians from marriage, the most important relation in life," he said, "thus stigmatizing a class of Californians based upon their status and labeling their most cherished relationships as second-rate, different, unequal and not O.K."
Justice Scalia asked when it became unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the ability to marry. His suggestion was that the constitutional text at the time of its adoption could not have been understood to allow such a thing. He and Mr. Olson went back and forth on the question, sometimes talking over each other, but Mr. Olson did not answer.
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Same-Sex Marriage
12 Photos
View Slide Show ›
When Mr. Olson said "the label 'marriage' means something," Chief Justice Roberts agreed — to a point.
"If you tell a child that somebody has to be their friend, I suppose you can force the child to say, 'This is my friend.' But it changes the definition of what it means to be a friend."
The case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, No. 12-144, was filed in 2009 by Mr. Olson and David Boies, two lawyers who were on opposite sides in the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore, which settled the 2000 presidential election. Mr. Boies looked on attentively as Mr. Olson presented his argument.
The Supreme Court will hear a second same-sex marriage case on Wednesday, United States v. Windsor, No. 12-307, concerning the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The court is quite likely to reach the merits of that case, which concerns a part of the law that bans the federal government from providing benefits to gay couples married in states that allow such unions.
Almost half of Tuesday's argument, which lasted almost 90 minutes, concerned the issue of whether proponents of Proposition 8 have standing. California officials lost in the trial court, and they did not appeal the judgment against them. Proponents of the initiative did appeal, but several justices said they had neither suffered a direct injury nor were authorized to represent the interests of the state.
In affirming the trial court's decision striking down Proposition 8, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, relied on a narrow ground, saying that the state's voters were not permitted to withdraw the right to marry once it had been established by the state Supreme Court. The logic of the ruling was thus confined to California.
That one-state solution did not seem to appeal to the justices. Justice Kennedy said the appeals courts had relied on "a very odd rationale."
Justice Sotomayor asked, "Is there any way to decide this case in a principled manner that is limited to California only?"
Nor was the court taken with the position of Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr., who argued that the court should require same-sex marriage in states that provide all of the burdens and benefits of marriage but withhold the name. Eight states in addition to California will soon be in that situation.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the distinction made no sense. "A state that has made considerable progress has to go all the way," she said. But, she added, if "the state has done absolutely nothing at all, then it can do as it will."
Having indicated their discomfort with one-state and nine-state middle grounds, the justices found themselves facing an uncomfortable all-or-nothing choice. Some seemed prepared to blink.
When Mr. Cooper rose to give his rebuttal at the end of the session, Justice Kennedy asked the first question. "You might address," the justice said, "why you think we should take and decide this case."


text:
The option defies the Pentagon's view that thousands of troops may be needed to keep a lid on al-Qaeda and to strengthen Afghan forces.
"The US does not have an inherent objective of 'X' number of troops in Afghanistan," said Ben Rhodes, a White House deputy national security adviser. "We have an objective of making sure there is no safe haven for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and making sure that the Afghan government has a security force that is sufficient to ensure the stability of the Afghan government."
The US now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The US and its Nato allies agreed in November 2010 that they would withdraw all their combat troops by the end of 2014, but they have yet to decide what future missions will be necessary and how many troops they would require.
At stake is the risk of Afghanistan's collapse and a return to the chaos of the 1990s that enabled the Taliban to seize power and provide a haven for Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. Fewer than 100 al-Qaeda fighters are believed to remain in Afghanistan, although a larger number are just across the border in Pakistani sanctuaries.
Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said he foresees a need for a US counterterrorism force in Afghanistan beyond 2014, plus a contingent to train Afghan forces. He is believed to favour an option that would keep about 9,000 troops in the country.
Administration officials in recent days have said they are considering a range of options for a residual US troop presence of as few as 3,000 and as many as 15,000, with the number linked to a specific set of military-related missions like hunting down terrorists.
Asked in a conference call with reporters whether zero was now an option, Mr Rhodes said, "That would be an option we would consider."
His statement could be interpreted as part of an administration negotiating strategy. On Friday Afghan President Hamid Karzai is scheduled to meet President Barack Obama at the White House to discuss ways of framing an enduring partnership beyond 2014.
The two are at odds on numerous issues, including a US demand that any American troops who would remain in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends be granted immunity from prosecution under Afghan law. Mr Karzai has resisted, while emphasizing his need for large-scale US support to maintain an effective security force after 2014.
Source: AP


text:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Friday, Tennessee State men's basketball coach Dana Ford announced the signing of six more players to add to his recruiting class. Keron Deshields, Zachary Lee, Christian Mekowulu, Marcus Roper, Rodney Simeon and Charles Tucker all signed letters of intent and will be on next year's roster.
"We are excited to add these fine young men to our basketball program here at Tennessee State University. They all possess the abilities to perform at a high level both in the classroom and on the floor. They are the future of Big Blue basketball and we couldn't be happier about that," Ford said.
Keron Deshields is a guard originally from Baltimore Maryland, but played the last three seasons at the University of Montana. Deshields played a big role in the Grizzlies clawing to a 17-13 mark this past season, averaging 11.8 points per contest and leading the team with 36 steals. Deshields was Honorable Mention All-Big Sky Conference a year ago and was a part of two NCAA Tournament teams during his freshman and junior seasons. He will have to sit out 2014-15 due to transfer rules.
Ford went all the way to New Mexico to snag Zachary Lee, who suited up for Eldorado HS in Albuquerque last year. Rated as the fifth-best prospect in the state by Full Court Press, Lee proved he could defend almost anyone while playing small forward, tallying 4.2 blocks per game. The 6-foot-8 wing also averaged 11 points and eight rebounds in both of his varsity years for coach Roy Sanchez, earning him All-State honors as a senior. Lee also attended Elev8 Sports Institute.
Christian Mekowulu is a power forward from Nigeria, but played high school basketball in Marietta, Ga. for Covenant Christian Ministries Academy. At 6-foot-8, Mekowulu will provide size to TSU's front court and his ability to crash the glass (11 rebounds per game) will fit Ford's defense-first style. Mekowulu can also score, as he improved his average from 10 points to 12.8 per contest from his junior to senior seasons. He was the 14th best forward and 36th best overall player from Ga. according to maxpreps.com.
Marcus Roper will transfer into the Tennessee State program after playing two years at New Mexico Military Institute JUCO. Last season, he averaged 15.8 points per contest while leading the team in blocks per game (1.2). The wing also shot 39 percent from beyond the three-point line and had nine 20-plus point games. One of those games was a 33 point and 10 rebound effort against Frank Phillips College. Roper played a significant role in NMMI increasing its win total by eight games between his freshman and sophomore campaigns.
As senior at Boyd Anderson HS in Florida last season, Rodeny Simeon averaged 15.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while captaining a team that went 25-6 including a 7-1 district mark. Simeon also led his team to a Final Four appearance in the 7A State Playoffs and No. 15 ranking in Fla.
Charles Tucker is a point guard from Lansing, Mich. that was rated a two-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals. He was selected to the 2011-12 USA Men's Developmental National Team comprised of the nation's top under-16 talents. As a junior at Montrose Christian in Rockville, Md., Tucker was selected to maxpreps.com's 2013 Honor Roll after leading his team to a 19-5 record. Tucker played last season at ABCD Prep, a postgraduate school in Urbandale, Iowa.
The six signed on Friday plus previously inked Darreon Reddick, Xavier Richards and Christian Crockett give TSU nine incoming players for next season.


text:
Like a snake trying to eat its own tail, Porsche and Volkswagen AG (and their respective families) are jockeying over ownership of two companies that are practically one — though VW now has a slight advantage.
Porsche had been on a roll and, using their advantage, attempted a VW takeover but then almost went bankrupt trying and had to be saved by a VW loan. Porsche is still in the hole to the tune of ten-billion Euros, so a VW deal would help overcome this. On the other hand, it's unclear what Ferdinand Piech, who both co-owns Porsche and serves as chairman of Volkswagen, wants to do.
At the end of the day, VW and Porsche are completely intertwined so owners of both companies (many of whom own both companies) will likely prosper from any outcome. [Reuters]
Photo Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images


text:
Link to this page:http://forum.huntervalleyprotectionalliance.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=691,
Twitter page: https://twitter.com/BULGA_Lives/status/496664924454547456
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BulgaMilbrodaleProgressAssociation/posts/661029203987237
Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association
URGENT - we need help
Submissions for the Rio Tinto Warkworth Mine Continuation project are due tomorrow Wednesday 6th of August, 2014.
Rio Tinto is proposing to expand the Warkworth open cut coal mine within 2.6 km from the Bulga village. They are prepared to destroy a large portion of the currently protected and irreplaceable Warkworth Sands Woodland (details here and here ).
Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association (BMPA), Hunter Valley Protection Alliance (HVPA) and Lock the Gate Alliance (LTGA) are all preparing large official group submissions but we need to send as many personal submissions as possible to oppose this out-of-control open cut mine expansion. We believe that Rio Tinto is organising their employees for a large support submission drive.
For background information see
BMPA Submission Guide which provides great wealth of background details,
LTGA Submission Guide which gives instructions how to paste a generic submission into the government web page .
The simplest submissions can be just a few lines indicating that you oppose both the Warkworth mine and the Mount Thorley mine expansions and why. Making submissions is easy. Just go to two Government webpages using these two links:
Then go down the page, find the Making a Submission[b] section, fill in the web forms and submit them.
Unfortunately, you will have to do this twice, once for Mt. Thorley and once for Warkworth, because Rio Tinto split the original project, twice defeated in the NSW Courts, into two in order to claim that their new proposal is completely different.
If you have not done so already, you can also go back to the LTGA site, fill in the forms and ENDORSE their submission. This will give it an additional strength.
If you are preparing a more substantial submission and running out of time for the Wednesday deadline, you can submit a "placeholder" submission. Just use the project webpages above, say that you oppose the Warkworth and Mt.Thorley Mines expansions and that you would like to take advantage of the two-week deadline extension.
If you are having problems converting your submission document into .PDF format, you might like to contact Pauline Rayner (firstname.lastname@example.com) who kindly offered to help with the technicalities.
Finally, you may also sign both our petitions that are running at present:
Save the Warkworth Sands Woodland that has currently 185 signatures
Tell mining giant Rio Tinto not to extend its polluting open-cut coal mine. This petition has currently 26686 signatures and has gone on the internet worldwide.
Link to this page:http://forum.huntervalleyprotectionalliance.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=691,
Twitter page: https://twitter.com/BULGA_Lives/status/496664924454547456
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BulgaMilbrodaleProgressAssociation/posts/661029203987237


text:
We all know that the holiday season is the time of year when temptations and busy schedules make us lose track of our health and fitness goals.
But, let's not let the holidays get us down! If we set the intention and strategically do some of these listed below we can get back on track and take these tips through to next holiday season. Here are my top 5 tips and tricks you can implement TODAY!
1. Don't focus on the food. Don't make food the center of attention, focus, or obsession. Start the year by spending time with those you love, caring for others, being grateful, and being mindful of actions. Think about creating a daily routine that's healthier than every before. I tell all my clients to always use the 80/20 rule. Which simply means 80 percent of the time eat healthy foods such as lean meats, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. The other 20 percent of the time indulge a little. It won't hurt you!
2. Drink lots of water. Take your body weight and divide that by 2. Drink that number in ounces. Water is so important for various and obvious reasons, but the main reason we need to drink it now is for its detoxifying properties and it will aid in filtering out some of those indulgences you consume.
3. Take 1 packet Forever Fiber daily. Eating the recommended daily dose of vegetables can be very challenging, especially when you're busy getting back to normal life. Taking a fiber supplement offers a range of health perks. It can lower cholesterol, keep your blood sugar steady, and help you not gain any weight.
4. Take the stairs. If you typically use an elevator to get to your office or your apartment, consider taking the stairs instead. You can also use the stairs to just get a little movement in during your sitting breaks. I recommend getting up at MINIMUM once every two hours and going on a 5-10 minute walk.
5. Burn fat in just 4 minutes! Download the application "Tabata" to your smart phone. This is by far one of my favorite timers to use in order to burn calories fast and efficiently. Using this app will rev your metabolism and create an "after burn" where you are burning calories all day. You will perform an exercise for 20 seconds, and then rest 10 seconds, repeating 8 times for a total of 4 minutes.
An example of a Tabata workout: This workout would only take you 16 minutes and all you need is your body weight!
Set 1: Pushups
Set 2: Planks
Set 3: Squats
Set 4: Wall sit
These tips are not rocket science and may seem like common sense, but remember common sense isn't always common practice. Slowly start implementing these strategies into your life today and I think you will be very happy with yourself once the summer rolls around. Plus, you'll create healthy habits that you can take with you through the next holiday season!
Jake Coyle, Global F.I.T. Athlete


text:
Edmarc necesitaba un nuevo diseño de otro y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 33 diseños de 4 diseñadores freelance.
This contest is for dinosaur design that will be printed on a piece of 5ft wide by 6ft tall vinyl. The design will then be cut and placed onto a custom penny making machine.
Copper Memories
My client owns a business (http://coppermemories.com/) and is looking for a new design to be placed in their machine. These machines are the ones that create custom pennies for travelers or tourist. To attact more attention to their machines, they have begun creating custom vinal "wraps" to laminate the machines.
The winning design must be a resolution that can be printed on a 5 ft wide by 6 ft tall piece of vinyl. The design needs to be focused on the bottome 50%, and needs to flow around the machine with the middle 1/3 of the bottom 50% a key focal point.
A current example and cutting design can be downloaded at http://members.cox.net/99designs/Co…mories.zip
My client reserves the right to end the contest early if they have chosen a winning design. Thanks and good luck!
- A design that shows or implies dinosaurs and their environments.
- Can include well known dinosaurs and/or silhouettes or shadows.
- Should draw attention to the machine without being loud or flashy.
- No juvenile cartoon dinosaur characters
- No violent graphics


text:
A Q&A with the Baseball Tomorrow Fund
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund recently held a short Q&A chat session to answer questions regarding their grant process.
Baseball Tomorrow Fund: Thank you for joining us for the BTF Q&A Chat Session! We welcome your questions about the application process. A transcript of today's chat will be available.
Q: Our project did not receive funding in the past. May we resubmit an application?
Baseball Tomorrow Fund: You are welcome to submit a new application if the proposal has changed significantly or if your are proposing a new project. Submitting the same request multiple times is not advised. All requests are evaluated based on the BTF evaluation criteria. And, all requests that meet the criteria are seriously considered. So, if your request was declined, it did not meet the criteria.
Q: How much money can we request? What is the maximum grant award?
Baseball Tomorrow Fund: BTF does not specify a maximum grant award; however, the average grant amount is approximately $40,000 at this time. Regardless of the amount requested, we require written cost estimates and supporting documentation to support the request. BTF normally awards approximately $2 million total per year. If you're just joining us, welcome to the BTF Q&A Chat Session. A transcript of today's questions and answers will be available.
Q: Our organization received a Baseball Tomorrow Fund grant in the past. May we apply again?
Baseball Tomorrow Fund: The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is not intended to be an annual source of income for any organization. Grants are intended to provide funding for incremental programming. Given that BTF awards grants all over the world, multiple grant awards to the same organization are rare. However, if a past grant recipient can sufficiently demonstrate the need for additional funding for incremental programming; the recipient may submit another application for consideration. Results of the past grant are always considered before subsequent requests are accepted.
Past applicants and recipients may also wonder if they have a profile in our new online application system. The answer to that is maybe. Generally, applicants that submitted a request providing a valid EIN in the last two years may be in our system. All past grant recipients will be in our system with a few exceptions. If you are a past recipient and cannot login with your EIN, please notifiy us at email@example.com.
Baseball Tomorrow Fund:We plan to offer this opportunity again in June. Check back for the date and time.
Baseball Tomorrow Fund: Thank you for participating in today's chat. Again, check back for the date of our next Q&A session, to be scheduled for June 2014.
Baseball Tomorrow Fund: Have a good weekend and good luck with your grant seeking!


text:
On-farm tests help restore healthy soil characteristics
Imagine two farms less than a mile apart with the same silty clay loam and silt loam soil composition. During the past three years, corn yields on Farm A have averaged 200 bu. per acre on the silty clay loam soil and 187 bu. per acre on the silt loam. Farm B, on the other hand, has averaged only 130 bu. per acre on its silty clay loam portion and 123 bu. per acre on its silt loam.
The farmers of the two tracts use similar practices—no-till and a mostly corn/soybean rotation. The primary difference is that Farm A has been no-tilled for 30 years, and Farm B for only two years. Prior to that, it was farmed using horizontal tillage.
The massive structure of Farm B's unhealthy soil shows why water fails to infiltrate and crop roots don't penetrate.
Leaves, husks and silks were still evident on Farm B two years after a corn crop. Their presence indicates an absence of soil organisms, which indicates poor soil.
Perhaps you've seen similar yield differences in your own fields and wondered why one area yields more corn than another. Modern testing tools can help you pinpoint the culprit. On Farm B, the lower yields can be linked to poor soil health.
Farm A and Farm B are real. Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie has been working with Farm B for four years, helping the farmer restore soil health in order to boost yields.
In the beginning, Ferrie used soil pits and visual observation to evaluate soil health. But now, simple on-farm tests let him and any farm operator give the soil a "physical exam." The tests provide numerical soil health ratings, which serve as benchmarks for evaluating soil health improvements.
Ferrie gave both farms a physical exam this past spring. "Because of the difference in soil health, the best soil on Farm B still can't yield as well as the poorest soil on Farm A," he says.
"Improving soil health means sustaining productivity and profitability," Ferrie explains. "It requires a systems approach because healthy soil involves many components. The components fall into three categories—physical, chemical and biological.
"In some cases, it might be possible to fix physical and chemical problems fairly quickly. Often, improvements take many years, especially when the biological component is involved. Even so, the 70-bu. yield difference between the two farms shows that improving soil health is worth the effort."
A physical exam—just like the one your doctor gives you—begins by assessing the farm's appearance. Even after four years of effort on Farm B, the visual differences were still striking.
"In spring 2012, despite some heavy rains, all of the old crop residue remained in place on Farm A, which even has some slopes." Ferrie describes. "On Farm B, with much less slope, the old crop residue and the soil eroded away, carried off by water."
A glance at the soil surface revealed part of the reason why water is infiltrating into the soil on Farm A but running off the surface on Farm B. There were thousands of night crawler burrows visible beneath the residue on Farm A but almost none on Farm B. "Among the benefits of night crawlers, their burrows allow water to infiltrate the soil," Ferrie says. "They also help remove excess water, functioning like part of your drainage system."
Part of the reason water couldn't infiltrate the soil of Farm B was its degraded structure. Digging revealed impenetrable blocks of soil, compared with Farm A's healthy crumb-like soil structure containing macropores for water and air.
Another symptom of poor health, visible on the surface of Farm B, was two years' worth of old crop residue. Not only was 2012's soybean residue present, but even the fine leaves, husks and silks, which should be among the first and easiest to decompose, were present from a corn crop grown two years ago.
"That indicates a biological problem because residue is decomposed by soil organisms," Ferrie says. "The absence of night crawlers is one of the indicators that confirms it."
Simple tests conducted by Ferrie's assistant, Thomas Zerebny, placed the degree of Farm B's problems on a numerical scale. He used equipment from a Gempler's Soil Test Kit.
A slake test, which involves immersing surface soil in water and seeing whether it holds its structure, produced scores of 2.7 for Farm B's silt loam and 5.0 for its silty clay loam, compared to 3.7 and 5.7, respectively, for the same two soils on Farm A. The higher the score, the healthier the soil structure and the less chance it will seal over during a rainstorm and restrict infiltration.
Zerebny used a rainfall simulator, available from Cornell University's Soil Health website, to analyze aggregate stability or structure in the top 6" of soil. It revealed that structural problems on Farm B are not limited to the surface of the soil.
The rainfall simulator also documented the difference in water infiltration caused by poor soil structure. Farm A's silty clay loam took in 8.6" of water per hour, compared with 2.8" per hour for Farm B's silty clay loam. Farm A's silt loam soil took in 3.6" of water per hour, compared with only ½" per hour on Farm B's silt loam.
Gas detection tubes (also called Draeger tubes) were used to measure the amount of carbon dioxide being released by soil organisms. The beneficial organisms breathe oxygen and release carbon dioxide, just like people, which is why soil needs pore spaces—to provide oxygen for the microbes. The amount of carbon dioxide is an indication of microbial activity. The results showed about 50% more microbial activity in the healthy soils of Farm A.
Health quest. Ferrie's examination of the results showed that the operator of Farm B needs to continue to focus on physical and chemical issues to improve soil health. The operator is using vertical tillage tools to remove hardpans, compaction and tillage layers.
Vertical tillage and liming work together to fix structural problems. "When a field gets extremely acid, acidity destroys structure and stops water infiltration," Ferrie says. "When we apply lime, we are attempting to flush out the acidity. If we have poor infiltration, we can't get water into the soil to make the lime work.
"Applying lime, (calcium carbonate) helps fix structural problems and keeps pH in the 6.3 to 6.5 range, which is optimal for soil microbial activity. The carbonate bonds with hydrogen (acidity) and helps flush it out of the soil."
Calcium improves structure by helping to flocculate clay particles. Flocculation means the particles are held together, yet somewhat apart. "It's the first step in creating better aggregate stability or structure," Ferrie says. "A healthy crumb-like structure lets water infiltrate and contains macropores. The macropores hold air and usable water, which is accessible to crop roots.
"Together, vertical tillage and lime applications will let us gradually build up soil pH from the 5.0 range, where it was when the operator took over the farm," Ferrie says. "Eventually, after soil health improves, he will no-till Farm B just like his other farms."
Cover crops are also part of Farm B's recovery plan. Deep rooting crops can penetrate some hardpans and compacted layers. The roots of grass crops aid in the process of producing a glue-like substance that helps bind soil particles together.
In fall 2012, the farmer's initial attempt to aerial seed a cover crop of annual ryegrass and tillage radishes failed, apparently because of environmental conditions. That illustrates how resuscitating abused soil takes a long time—probably decades for Farm B.
Regardless, gradual improvements in soil health will lead to gradual improvements in yield, Ferrie concludes. They will also lead to healthier water sources because of fewer nutrients washing away and a more sustainable farm for future generations.
Building on the Systems Approach, the Soil Health series will detail the chemical, physical and biological components of soil and how to give your crop a fighting chance. www.FarmJournal.com/soil_health
You can e-mail Darrell Smith at [email protected].


text:
Mandela Hospitalized for the Second Time in Month
Nelson Mandela was admitted to the hospital overnight to treat a recurring lung infection. Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said that he was admitted around midnight, "an indication in itself that the doctors were concerned." Photo: Getty Images
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... Mosul Murray Dell has been readmitted to hospital in Pretoria to treat a retiring lung infection ... the former South African leader is set to become just uncomfortable ... there is the latest from my mom rushed the presidential spokesman ... yuan per bottle ... to be addicted to ... it but last night ... invest in education and job of the Belkin Report surrendered to the cottage hop's ... the infection ... doing everything possible to keep an active role in average ticket ... the division lead to better mind that the doctors ... are taking note on shoes and doing everything possible ... the kids all were when the detective ... becomes often unimpressed ... the doctor average to fight ... what do we know that the ratio lung problems ... come to be too prone to infection ... so ... the doctor pressuring ... it to the current offer or lung infection use caution when the other people ... it is not euphoria of the race he's failed ... he's in the game in the mood for my mind about how much will you ... do in retirement home of the Derwent River into mother to be with you what that Britain would venture posted but we know ... he was recently admitted ... or a shared use ... of cash and that ... just too good to anyone talked about was fine ... Charting the Market to bid on break for the winter ... the profit drop ... but this time around the doctrine the conclusion that on the ... they didn't like having anything to do was go ... through but he didn't see the tension ... in the first pitch ... we had all been of this madman or wanted to be with us ... for the moment so wonderful ... Peter contravened the numerous he's he's ... required to be ... that cheap even our porch which is


text:
I was halfway through my childhood before finding the nerve to watch The Wizard of Oz without hiding at some point during the film. I suppose it was the witch (the wicked one from the west) — it would be an understatement to say that she intimidated me. The scarecrow was a much more pleasant fellow but, truth be known, he was also a bit unsettling to me, at least visually. Nevertheless, he was a "good guy" in the movie and was (to me, anyway) the epitome of the "traditional" scarecrow.
Place scarecrows in sight of newly germinating corn to discourage crows from pulling the young seedlings up by the roots.
Now I've seen many scarecrows in my life, and some look as if they were made in five minutes maximum — as though little time and thought were put into them. That's okay. A shirt draped over a couple of sticks can still keep undesirable animals away from your plants (provided you keep a few other things in mind), but if you're going to the trouble to construct a scarecrow, think big and put some effort into it.
The Scare Factor
I have this rule of thumb regarding scarecrows: I figure that if I make them scary enough to make me uncomfortable, they'll likely perform their job better. There's something spooky about a 6-foot doll standing lifeless in your garden for months on end. Maybe critters share the same emotions, which could be why they work so well. Here's a formula I've developed for pre-testing the "scare factor" of my own scarecrows (this may not be accurate for everyone, but it can be adjusted one way or the other relative to your own level of uneasiness).
If you're a little nervous when you look at your scarecrow, you'll keep crows away for a couple of hours. If you are only able to look at it for short periods of time, and with only one eye open, you might be able to keep most crows off for almost a week. If vehicles passing by your house are swerving off the road, or you find it harder to work in your garden alone for any period of time, you have probably created a scarecrow that will do what you need it to do with a minimum of help from you. I'll explain later on, but now let's begin creating.
• Hay, straw or dry lawn clippings
• Two wooden boards: 1-by-2-by-30 inches and 1-by-2-by-18 inches
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Overalls
• Hay twine
• Cloth or burlap sack
• A nice, stylish hat
Stuffed burlap bags or "toesacks" make good scarecrow heads and may even be left featureless for that subtle, spooky feel.
Dry straw or hay stuffing will shrink and settle with time, so stuff him generously.
Putting It Together
First, take the 18-inch 1-by-2-inch board and bevel the ends with a saw so that they slant downward. Then nail the beveled 1-by-2 about 6 inches down from the top of the long board to form a cross. Turn the cross over and nail in a fencing staple just below the point where the two boards meet. Attach a heavy gauge wire to the staple to form a loop that will be used for hanging the scarecrow.
Now we turn our attention to style. For convenience, you might use children or teens sizes for scarecrow apparel. The resulting smaller size makes them easier to haul around or store for the winter, plus I just can't believe that crows will view a teenage scarecrow any less a threat than we would a teenage werewolf.
With the crosspiece complete, put the shirt over it using hay twine to tie the cuffs and the shirttail closed. Button up the shirt and begin stuffing it with hay or straw. Put plenty of hay over the horizontal board to keep the weight from eventually tearing the shirt.
Decent heads for scarecrows may be made from canvas sacks, such as those used for smoked hams. Also, cloth sacks can still be found at old-fashioned gristmills that sell flour or cornmeal. Facial characteristics can be drawn or painted on with weatherproof paint — or just leave the faces featureless. Dipper gourds can make really good heads — with their long handles turned just right, they make pretty ominous noses. Whatever head you choose, place the open end over the 6 inches of vertical board that rises above the crosspiece, and tie hay twine around them both tightly.
Lastly, tie the bottom pants legs of the overalls with hay twine and fill them with hay. Put the overalls on (the scarecrow, that is), and finish stuffing him until he's pretty plump. Give him his hat, and he's ready for work.
Timing is Everything
The first use for your scarecrow is to keep crows out of your garden during early spring when the corn is young. This critical time lasts from planting until the corn has some height to it. When germinating seed corn first breaks the surface, its tender green spike gives crows a handle with which to pull the remaining kernel out of the ground. So put your scarecrow in position the day you plant. After corn has reached a height of about half a foot, give the scarecrow a rest in your garden shed until later in the season (you don't want crows to get any more used to him being there than they need to be). Then pull him out for duty again just as silks on the ears begin to wilt and turn brown. It seems as though crows know when you're about to pull your first ripe ears and will beat you to it by about half a day.
There are about as many ways to keep crows out of corn as there are gardeners in the world. I've found that most solutions work... for a while. The key to discouraging crows or other pests, such as deer, lies in making them uncomfortable or nervous through constant change to the garden environment. Crows are nervous birds, but (like most animals), they'll get comfortable with things the more they see them in the same position daily. You'll do well with a scarecrow, but not if you put him up in spring and don't touch him again until he's faded and falling apart in autumn. Timing is everything — don't put the scarecrow out until you really need it, and then pull it out when you don't. You don't want the crows to get use to it. Keep moving him to new positions: making him "hold" rakes or hoes, park a wheelbarrow in front of him — whatever you have to do to make him appear as active as possible. Make him hold a wind chime for the added dimension of sound; use your imagination.
Beyond the growing season, a good scarecrow may be used at harvest time or as a Thanksgiving decoration in your yard. If space permits, keep it stored out of the weather until it will be used for the following year's growing season.
Totally Optional (But Amusing)
Since you've opted out of hanging a shirt on a stick and have gone to the time and trouble to build a traditional scarecrow, you might as well have some fun with him (or her). Here are some hints:
1. Construct the scarecrow to look like you. If people don't look too closely, they'll think that you're a hard worker with as much time as they see you spending in your garden.
2. Construct the scarecrow to look like someone that gets on your nerves; it will give you a psychological edge to see them standing motionless out in the rain.
3. Be the talk of the neighborhood with all the diverse poses you can make your scarecrow strike. (You'll have to be resourceful with the mechanics of all these; I can't help you with everything.) For instance:
a. Sleeping against a nearby tree or post with hat over face.
b. Hovering over the barbecue grill (unlit).
c. Reading a newspaper while reclined in a lounge chair.
d. Bent over the open hood of car.
e. Holding his head in his hands (Halloween only).
f. Sitting on your porch swing around the holidays with a Santa hat on. (He deserves that much. After all, what has the plastic, illuminated Santa Claus ever done for your garden?)
One more thing: Whenever you are outside and see crows watching you from a distance, stand silently with your arms spread out for a moment, then yell your head off and wave wildly. This behavior will give your scarecrow more credibility and keep the crows wondering who is real. Every little bit helps.
(From State-by-State Gardening April 2007. Photos by Gary McWilliams.)


text:
Your current site
Other global locations
When you tap into the mind of a Hudson recruitment professional, a powerful thing happens – you learn about the intersection between employment, market research and HR. Our expert recruiters in Denmark dive into HR trends and conduct industry leading research, then synthesise the findings to provide consultation to our clients.
In partnering with Hudson, you can harness our knowledge to power your understanding of recruitment and talent management.
Our internal Research & Development team creates leading-edge tools for talent, which are verified by third-party university partners.
Hudson is a global talent solutions company. We help transform the workplace and unleash the full potential of organizations and individuals. Our expert team and proprietary tools provide you with unique insights and services that help you maximize your success. Across 20 countries, we deliver a range of recruitment, talent management and recruitment process outsourcing solutions to get you and your business where you want to be.


text:
Description: Based on the ground breaking film franchise "Jurassic Park," experience your own thrilling interactive journey on the mysterious Isla Nublar!
Here's your chance to build your own Jurassic Park from the ground up, on land and in the sea! As a Park owner, nurture and grow various dinosaur species through the discovery of amber filled with dinosaur DNA. With help from your friends, turn the DNA into eggs, place them in your land or aquatic park and grow them until they reach adult size. To evolve, your dinosaurs have to be fed plants or meat depending on their respective diets. As a Park manager, you'll need to make sure your park is constantly fueled with enough goods to feed all the dinosaurs by managing the flow of imports at the port. Finally, build a road for your visitors so they can go around and explore your creation.
To entertain your guests and collect more funds, you will have to be creative and decorate your parks and build various attractions and buildings such as amusement centers, hotels, restaurants, and security offices. 'Code Red' mode allows you to maximize your gains further and also prevent the dinosaurs from escaping and wreaking havoc on the island. But to access that mode, you'll have to grow at least 5 carnivores!
In order to build your own aquatic park and discover new species, you will have to reach level 10!
Along the way, you'll encounter familiar characters from the Jurassic Park movies such as, Dr. Ian Malcolm, or John Hammond, who will help you advance in your journey by giving you missions to fulfill.
Jurassic Park Builder features:
• 34 different dinosaur species to collect & grow.
• 30 different sea creature species to collect & grow.
• Live multi-player gameplay with Facebook friends and other Jurassic Park fans
• Built-in social features (ability to visit, help and gift friends).
• Stunning visual & audio effects with 3-D animations.
Begin your wonderful adventure and start building!
By installing this application you agree to the terms of the licensed agreements.
Android OS Requierements: 2.3+
More info:
Download Instructions - APK:


text:
Welcome to the CFCC Human Resources department homepage.
The HR department provides resources for both potential and current employees. Use the navigation bar to the right for more information for your specific area of interest. Please contact us if you have any suggestions about how this website can be used to better serve your needs.
*To search through our list of current open positions, click on Employment Opportunities.*
If you are looking for a specific CFCC employee, click on the Faculty & Staff Directory link at the top of the page for phone number and email addresses.


text:
Page 1
|Save page Remove page
|1 of 194
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large (1000x1000 max)
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
This page
VISUAL ATTENTION IN SPATIAL CUING AND VISUAL SEARCH by Jongsoo Baek A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHYLOSOPHY (PSYCHOLOGY) May 2012 Copyright 2012 Jongsoo Baek
Object Description
|Visual attention in spatial cuing and visual search
|Baek, Jongsoo
|Author email
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|College of Letters, Arts And Sciences
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Date approved
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Lu, Zhong-Lin
|Advisor (committee member)
Tjan, Bosco S.
Mather, Mara
Mather, Rand
Baudry, Michel
|Signal detection theory (D. M. Green & J. A. Swets, 1966) based uncertainty models (M.P. Eckstein, 1998; Palmer, 1994) with an unlimited capacity attention system have provided an excellent account of the set-size effects in visual search accuracy. However, spatial cuing task experiments found strong effects of attention - precuing improves accuracy, especially when the target is embedded in high level of external noise (Dosher & Lu, 2000a; Lu & Dosher, 2000). In this research, we attempted to resolve the apparent contradictory conclusions from these two major lines of inquiry in spatial attention. We hypothesize that the conditions under which effects of spatially cued attention are substantial should correspond to the circumstances in which attention effects over and above uncertainty should occur in visual search. Many of the classical visual search experiments have been carried out using stimulus conditions where attention effects are least likely to be found. We studied visual search in a range of external noise, signal contrast, and target-distractor similarity conditions. In each trial, 8 Gabor patches were shown in each of two brief intervals, with one target at a different orientation from the distractors in one of the presentations. Subjects were pre-cued to a subset of the stimuli (1, 2, 4 or 8) and asked to report (1) which interval contained the target and (2) where the target was. In both zero noise and low signal contrast, and all high external noise conditions, the set-size effects were greater than that predicted by decision uncertainty model. All these results are well accounted by a model that combines the elaborated perceptual template model (Jeon, et al., 2009), the attention mechanisms developed in the PTM framework (Lu & Dosher, 1998), and the SDT based uncertainty calculations. Our empirical results and theoretical model generate a common taxonomy of visual attention in spatial cuing and visual search.
|adaptive procedure; attention; cueing; psychometric function; search; uncertainty
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
|Publisher (of the original version)
|University of Southern California
|Place of publication (of the original version)
|Los Angeles, California
|Publisher (of the digital version)
|University of Southern California. Libraries
|Electronically uploaded by the author
|Legacy record ID
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Baek, Jongsoo
|Physical access
|The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given.
|Repository name
|University of Southern California Digital Library
|Repository address
|USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 7002, 106 University Village, Los Angeles, California 90089-7002, USA
|Repository email
|Archival file
|Page 1
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Repository email
|Full text
|VISUAL ATTENTION IN SPATIAL CUING AND VISUAL SEARCH by Jongsoo Baek A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHYLOSOPHY (PSYCHOLOGY) May 2012 Copyright 2012 Jongsoo Baek


text:
We now know the identity of three of the DFB Cup semi-finalists in Germany, while Olympique Lyonnais are continuing where they left off in France and Northern Football have retained their New Zealand title. Read on with FIFA.com to find out all that has been happening in the world of women's football in the past few weeks.
*Germany: Cup holders into the semis *Holders Bayern Munich cruised into the semi-finals of this season's DFB Women's Cup with a 5-1 thrashing of second-division TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. USA star Sarah Hagen fired in no fewer than four of the goals, with Vanessa Burki notching the fifth for coach Thomas Worle's women. Swiss international Martina Moser replied for Hoffenheim.
Turbine Potsdam also made it into the semis but had a much tougher time of things. They too were facing opposition from a league below them, and SC Sand battled all the way, but in the end Genoveva Anonman scored the only goal of the game to give the current Bundesliga champions a 1-0 win. SC Freiburg cruised past Hervorder SV 6-2, while the fourth quarter-final between Wolfsburg and Jena was postponed due to the weather and will be played in the New Year.
*New Zealand: Northern Football do the double *For the second year in a row, Northern Football are New Zealand league champions after defeating local rivals Auckland 2-0 in the ASB Women's League final at Fred Taylor Park. Neither team managed to create any chances of note in the first half but after the break, goals from Tayla O'Brien in the 49th minute and Georgia Brown on the hour propelled them to the title. "We kept clean sheets in the last four games, which proves how strong our defence is. The first 45 minutes were really tough and full of nervous energy. The second half was excellent though and the team showed that they really can operate as a unit," said Northern coach Mauro Donoso after the match. Helen Collins of Waikato/BOP Football meanwhile won the Golden Boot as the league's top scorer.
*France: Business as usual *Though Germany was already enjoying its winter break, neighbours France had one more matchday left this year, and it was a case of more of the same at the top. Lyon maintained their vice-like grip on the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Yzeure Allier. Laetitia Tonazzi, Amandine Henry and Lotta Schelin scored the goals in what was Lyon's 18th consecutive victory in all competitions since the start of the season. Paris Saint-Germain kept up their pursuit of OL, defeating AS Saint-Etienne 4-1, while third-placed Montpellier managed a 2-1 home win over Toulouse FC.
Top three: Lyon (48 points), Paris Saint-Germain (41), Montpellier (38)
*Australia: Setback for champs Canberra *After winning their last two matches, Canberra United suffered another setback in their attempt to defend their league title, slipping to a 2-1 defeat at home to Melbourne Victory. The result saw the two teams swap places in the league and enabled league-leaders Perth Glory to open up a five-point gap over Canberra after their thrilling 7-5 win over Sydney FC. Brisbane Roar also overtook Canberra, their 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers hoisting them up to second in the league. Adelaide United, meanwhile, put an end to a dismal run of seven consecutive defeats with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle Jets.
Top three: Perth Glory (19), Brisbane Roar (17), Melbourne Victory (16)


text:
ajberlin needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 81 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
We're starting a global trading technology company that is going to focus on providing the fastest quotes and order execution in the marketplace today. We need a logo that conveys that vision.
The company will offer trading through a GUI application and their web site. The target customer base is very active traders and algorithmic traders who need the fastest quotes and order executions possible to trade their strategies. We'd like a very simple logo that conveys speed, global executions, and next generation technology.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Current Time and Date in Netherlands by Cities Starting with Alphabet G
City Times / Netherlands
A Place for the reference of Netherlands cities, date and time.
Select the city starting with Alphabet G from the list to find out the location, date and timings.
The information of current time and date in G, Netherlands helps you to plan your time and date across the world.


text:
John Metcalfe
John Metcalfe was CityLab's Bay Area bureau chief, covering climate change and the science of cities.
In 1951, Southern California entered its seventh straight year of drought. Lakes were solidifying into mud, wells were running low and farmers were, rightly, freaking the heck out. As the Milwaukee Sentinel put it, "A crisis may be several years away, but it is coming."
These bleak times called for bold ideas. Sidney Cornell, an engineer from Los Angeles, thought he had a winner. After surveying the rugged topography of his home state, and weighing the costs of building a new aqueduct, Cornell settled his laser beam of genius on one extraordinary notion: water cannons.
You can see the concept sketch of this dubious wonder above (and below) as it originally appeared in a 1951 Mechanix Illustrated. At the time, roughly five million people in SoCal were living in large part on H20 channeled in from across the Sierra Nevada mountains. Rather than troubling with the construction of another lengthy aqueduct, Cornell proposed building a line of substations that would shoot water from L.A. to northern California. Easy as that.
The water guns would work like a god-sized decorative garden fountain: One station would spurt a geyser of agua into the air at 400 m.p.s., where it would arc a mile over dry earth to come down solidly into the "funnel" of the next station. That building would spew the same payload into the mouth of the next one, etc., etc., until the life-saving water finally reached its destination, nice and aerated and containing only a handful of unlucky buzzards.
Cornell didn't see many problems with his mega-contraption. He estimated that the 400 stations needed to complete his gushing chain would cost $120 million, and was publicly seeking $30,000 in seed money to get started. To skeptics wondering how he'd get the water over mountains, the engineer replied that he'd just aim the jets higher. "The speed would be such that high winds would affect it little, and evaporation would be negligible, Cornell says," according to the Sentinel. "It would require a right-of-way similar to other utility lines."
It must've taken a lot of jaw-gritting impartiality to report that story. Apparently I'm not the only one who finds it hilarious to picture a 12-inch-thick rope of water knocking light aircraft out of the sky. At that wonderful repository of failed technology, Modern Mechanix, commenters have piled onto poor Cornell's idea. Here are a few of their criticisms:
Eli: Obviously designed by someone with no understanding of hydraulics and the spread of water from nozzles. And assuming that they made catch basins large enough to reduce loss from splashing and diffusion of the stream in the air, we'd still be looking at thousands of these things just to move water a a hundred miles. The power consumption would be incredible.
Toronto: "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We'll be flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet on this short hop to San Diego, and if I may… HOLY ORVILLE! What the Hell was that? Turn on the wipers, quick!"
rsterling78: I suppose that in 1951, word of that new-fangled "pipe technology" as a means of transporting water was not widely known about. How about transmitting electricity via a series of lightning bolt-hurling Tesla coils positioned one mile apart?
Roger: Since the cost of energy was apparently no object, perhaps they would freeze the water into giant bullet shaped molds to cut down on losses an improve accuracy.
And here's the second half of Frank Tinsley's illustration of the "Big Squirt":
Livability indexes can obscure the experiences of non-white people. CityLab analyzed the outcomes just for black women, for a different kind of ranking.
The pioneering festival marketplace was among the most trendsetting urban attractions of the last 40 years. Now it's looking for a new place in a changed city.
In backing the Vermont senator, the popular Facebook group "New Urbanist Memes for Transit-Oriented Teens" is leveraging some offline political clout.
Tiny upper-floor "maids' rooms" have helped drive down local assumptions about exactly how small a livable home can be.
A different kind of wealth distribution in 17th-century Amsterdam paved the way for its quintessential home design.


text:
Unleash your Jurassic Park dreams in this week's Concept Art Writing Prompt. Share your tale of a place where dinosaurs spend their days behind fences and their nights sleeping in barns.
This is one of the marvelous illustrations by Simon Stålenhag, whom we featured in an earlier writing prompt. Truthfully, Stålenhag's series of illustrations seem ready for an entire universe of stories. This particular image via Lines and Colors. Try to write a story inspired by this image and post it in the comments.


text:
Have an account?
Need an account?Create an account
Cisco SA 500 Series Security Appliances are designed for businesses with fewer than 100 employees. They combine firewall, VPN, and optional intrusion prevention system (IPS), email, and web security capabilities. Whether in the office or working remotely, your employees can securely access the resources they need, while your business is protected from unauthorized access and Internet threats.
Optional email and web security capabilities provide an additional layer of security. Cisco ProtectLink Gateway is a cloud-based service that provides strong, automatically updated email and web security to help block spam, viruses, spyware, phishing, and inappropriate web browsing.
To prevent hackers, worms, and other threats, and provide protocol inspection and the ability to block instant messaging and peer-to-peer traffic, the optional VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) service provides a second level of authentication before granting remote network access.
Affordable Small Business Pro Service coverage gives you peace of mind in knowing that your Cisco Small Business Pro solutions are delivering the highest level of performance and reliability to keep your most important business processes running smoothly.
Browse through Cisco Small Business product management and configuration features.
Got a small business? We have solutions just for you. Learn More


text:
Paperback, 384 pages
Released: August 2009
"We, the readers and students of literature, have been hijacked. The literary critics, our teachers, those assassins of culture, have put us up against the wall and held us captive." So begins Jonah Raskin's The Mythology of Imperialism. When first published in 1971, this book was nothing short of a call to arms, an open revolt against the literary establishment. In his critique of five well–known British writers—Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling, D. H. Lawrence, E. M. Forster, and Joyce Cary—Raskin not only developed the model for a revolutionary anti–imperialist criticism, but, through this book's influence on Edward Said, helped usher in the field of postcolonial studies.
Nearly four decades later, The Mythology of Imperialism is all the more relevant. Its readings of British literature still offer bold and original insight into the relationship between text, artist, and historical context. But, perhaps more crucially, this book sends a revolutionary message to all readers and students of literature. Against much of today's post-colonialism—diluted by postmodern obfuscation and largely detached from its historical roots—Raskin locates the center of his anti–imperialist criticism in the ahistnti–imperialist struggle itself and takes his cues not from "the assassins of culture" in the academy but from the national liberation movements of his time.
Written with absorbing passion and machete–sharp analysis, this new edition of The Mythology of Imperialism includes the original text, a new introduction and afterword by the author, and a preface by Bruce Robbins.
The Mythology of Imperialism I have read, used, and considered to be one of the genuinely important handful of books on modern literature.
I wish someone like Jonah Raskin had been around to teach me when I was young: it is his respect for what a young person is going through at a particular time, the stage of his/her growth that is valuable.
The Mythology of Imperialism is as solid as granite; it should be around for a long, long time. It is great reading.
. . . perhaps even more relevant today than when it first appeared almost forty years ago. Its astute dissection of empire through an analysis of the collusive fictions of early twentieth century novelists established a new standard for the critique of a system of economic domination that was only beginning to fall apart at the time. In the years since its appearance, an entire generation of scholars proceeded to bury the analytic method Raskin was able to establish in his book under an avalanche of ahistorical, pseudo–left academic verbiage. Imperialism, taking note of this new–speak, redesigned itself as 'free market capitalism.' We therefore need the no–nonsense immediacy of Raskin's methods of analysis now more than ever to help us decipher the 'improved' twenty–first century rhetoric of imperialist economics.
is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and author of The Servant's Hand.