text: What Apps do you guys have and which ones are the best? My top apps: GoWidget Themes - Great app for awesome customization of your device. Change everything from the font to the size of icons. Get this app and its widgets. AudioManager - Have an on screen view of your sound settings. See the volume of the alarm, media, alerts, ringer, system and voice. Can change from there Beautiful Widgets - Have a clock and weather right on your home screen. NoLock - Overrides the lock screen. Turn your screen off and on without having to Slide to Unlock Battery Left Widget - Show how much battery %, time left, time dead, how long til device is charged... Other Apps: Shazam (still version 1.3) Google Music Astro More to come!!! This is just a partial list.. but what cool apps am I missing????


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Why does bottled water have an expiration date? This is a question we see asked all the time. Many resources state that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require any food or consumable product to have an expiration date, but this is not true in the case of bottled water. It turns out, the FDA does not require an expiration date for bottled water.
But just because the FDA doesn't require bottled water to have an expiration date, that doesn't mean you should pop open that 1996 FIJI you've been saving for a special occasion. Such long-term storage, the FDA states, can lead to undesirable tastes and odors in the water. Given this, it's not uncommon to see most bottled waters have a best by or a use by date.
Expired bottled water isn't going to get any better with age. If you leave that bottle of water on the shelf for too long, you may end up with more than off-tastes or off-flavors to be concerned with. This is because most bottled water manufacturers use a high-density polyethylene plastic (HDPE), which is slightly porous. The bottle's porousness can allow airborne contaminants to enter the water, just as some chemicals from the plastic itself can leach into the bottle. Thankfully, most bottled water companies are no longer using plastic with Bisphenol A, but the jury is still out on the other dangers of chemicals leaching from HDPE.

subset: commoncrawl


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3 June 2011 at 5.43pm | 2 Comments
Shabby little shocker?
Is Tosca a 'shabby little shocker', in the well-worn phrase of skewed critic Joseph Kerman, or the most perfectly constructed thriller in operatic history? Most people's experience will confirm the latter. The fact that Puccini also matches his sense of pace with a stream of the greatest operatic melodies confirm's Tosca's role not just as a repertoire staple but also as the pinnacle of music theatre.
The music: phenomenal powers of invention
Have you noticed how many of the greatest operas grab you by the throat with their opening gestures? Puccini does it every time, and never more thrillingly than with the three carefully-placed chords delineating the all-powerful reach of evil police chief Scarpia. The first act of Tosca then hurtles into the action, relaxing to give us the melodic respite of painter Cavaradossi's first aria, Recondita armonia and his sensuous duet with his adored diva. Scarpia's terrifying appearance comes bang in the middle of the act, and the set-piece finale has the potential for both grand-opera spectacle and the most spine-tingling of curtains.
In the most celebrated of all second acts, sometimes staged – as for example with Maria Callas at the helm – by itself, Puccini turns the dramatic screw so tight that the tension can be unbearable. First-time audiences may not detect every transformation of the composer's spider-web of themes, but they'll feel his impeccable sense of dramatic timing. Vocally, the thrills peak with the tortured Cavaradossi's exhilarating cry of 'Victory' when he hears that his Republican cause has defeated Scarpia's Royalists at the Battle of Marengo. And there's a breathing space with the most excerpted of all soprano arias, Tosca's 'Vissi d'arte'. Orchestral subtlety comes to the fore in the dumb-show of her actions after the tyrant's brutal death.
There's further tone-painting for the Roman dawn of Act III, and another high watermark in the art of the aria-lament, Cavaradossi's 'E lucevan le stelle' with its infallibly heartrending cry of 'I have never loved life so much' . The last duet is shorter and more fragmented than the first: many tenor interpreters, Domingo among them, believe that Cavaradossi has no faith in Scarpia's safe-conduct, but goes through with it for the sake of his beloved Floria. Minutes later, it's all over. Has any other operatic composer apart from Janacek, and possibly the Strauss of Elektra and Salome, ever packed so much phenomenal invention into so short a time-span?
The story: three divas
Three divas lie behind the opera – the singer of the original play, the great actress who played that singer, and the soprano role that is Puccini's Tosca. Floria Tosca 'exists' in the vividly painted 1800 background of skilful playwright Victorien Sardou's original drama, far more elaborately interwoven with historical events than the pared-down operatic libretto of Puccini's collaborators Giacosa and Illica. It was the great Sarah Bernhardt who incarnated the role – Puccini saw her perform it twice – and it was for her that Sardou incorporated the famous mime scene, equally celebrated in the opera, where the diva performs her last rites around Scarpia's corpse. Verdi was attracted to the subject in his old age, but would have needed changes to the last act – presumably to the shock of Tosca's suicide, which even Puccini and his librettists at one stage thought of altering to death by the same firing squad who have just shot her lover.
At the opera's 1900 premiere, the audience was duly shocked by such vividly represented scenes of torture (albeit mostly offstage) and murder (very much onstage). Yet the composer who already had Manon Lescaut and La bohème to his credit scored a further triumph, and never looked back. Tosca has been staged in all kinds of circumstances and set in every conceivable period (Mussolini's fascist Italy has been a recent favourite of many directors) – though many productions prefer to stick to its minutely detailed scene-setting of real Roman locations: the Church of Sant'Andrea delle Valle, the Palazzo Farnese and the Castel Sant'Angelo.
David Nice
Tosca runs 9 January–5 February 2016. Tickets are still available.


text: I've been wearing a 4/3 Body Glove Fusion back zip that is in its 5th season and its served me well but it has been starting to leak, has a lot of ware-and-tare and is just getting old so I have been looking through some websites for new suits. I am going to stick out the rest of winter with the Fusion but I am looking to upgrade. I've been looking a lot at O'neil wetsuits and wanted some peoples opinions on them. I have narrowed it down to the O'neil Mutant 4/3 chest zip with the detachable hood or the O'neil Psycho 1 back zip. Has anyone had either of these suits that they could give me their opinions on? Also I was wondering what people's takes on back zip vs chest zip were? I know the chest zip allows for a lot more flexibility and not as much water getting in the suit but I have also heard that they are a pain in the a$$ to get on and off. Thanks for the help.


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We Present. .. OUR NEW ASSOCIATES Chicago — Sylvia Swedberg recently joined the Chicago Office audit staff. She is a graduate of Valparaiso University and has had several years' experience in the public accounting field. Dayton—Dorothy Van Zant has joined the report typing staff. Denver—Charles Bucy has recently moved from Washington, D.C. to join the audit staff. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. On February 1, Lauren Strassburg became a member of the audit staff after graduating from the University of Colorado. Elizabeth Algrim has been the office bookkeeper since she joined the firm in March. Detroit — Laurence A. Solomonson joined the audit staff in April following his graduation from Michigan State University with an M.B.A. degree. Jane Gray joined the Detroit Office as a secretary in March. Executive Office—The firm accounting department has two new associates. Constance Clausen, who came in March, is assistant to Laurine New-quist. Miss Clausen was formerly on our New York Office staff. Jo Doty joined this department in April. Houston—Coming to our staff in June is Robert R. Bolding, who will complete his education at the University of Texas at that time. He attended Temple Junior College and expects to receive his B.B.A. from the University of Texas in June. Also coming to our staff from the University of Texas this month is Max Simon, who received his B.B.A. He also attended Arizona University from 1955 to 1957. Management Sciences—Dennis G. Price, graduate of the London School of Economics, has joined the Management Sciences staff. Mr. Price was 42 THE QUARTERLY


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Alayna Spratley had never intended to be a part of the fashion industry, but in the fall of 2008 she found herself at Ma Petite Shoe. "I've just always had a very specific aesthetic when it comes to style, and perhaps I serendipitously found Ma Petite Shoe," she said. Now, the 26-year-old is the store manager and buyer for the trendy Hampden boutique. The shop specializes in eccentric shoes and chocolate, offering purple platform heels with peacock feather accents (Best of All by Irregular Choice; $214.99) alongside dark chocolate with crystallized ginger (Chocolove; $3.79). Here, Spratley gives b the scoop on everything from her "vintage bohemian" style to her love of Swedish music.
Worst pet peeve? People who are self-righteous and pretentious. Really now, this is Baltimore!
What's on your iPod? Lots. But right now I'm listening to the Knife, because I'm pretty much obsessed with anything Swedish. Also, I heart Feist's new album and, of course, lots of Fela Kuti, because he's the awesome-est.
What song are you hating/loving right now? I'm loving "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen, because it's both somber and hopeful.
Last concert/gig you went to? Those Darlins at Golden West.
Your worst habit? OMG, all my habits are awful. Perhaps the worst-est: I'm terribly judgmental.
Trend that has exceeded its natural lifespan? Leggings as pants. Unless you're working out, doing laundry or going camping, please just stop.
Favorite actor/actress? I will always love Rosemary Clooney. She's just perfect.
Last movie you liked/disliked? I recently saw this movie by Joseph Losey called "The Servant." It's really quite twisted. Just how I like it.
Last video that made you snort with laughter? Looking in the mirror is enough to make me snort with laughter. I don't need a video.
TV shows you can't get enough of? "Absolutely Fabulous." I basically want to be Patsy Stone.
Favorite book you recently read? Not a book, a collection really. "Love is a Dog From Hell" by Charles Bukowski. The man has some issues, but don't we all?
Last great meal you had? If it's a cured meat, it's always a great meal.
Food you hate? Anything not in a wine glass?
Favorite place to get a drink? 13.5% Wine Bar. Fantastic people watching.
Favorite/least favorite kind of chocolate? I heart the Guajillo Chili Chocolate Mexicano from Taza. Spicy burning in my mouth feels so good!
Favorite and most loathed fashion statements? I love wearing so many patterns simultaneously, as if to transform into a kaleidescope. Also dumpy cardigans and thick plastic glasses make my day.
Favorite quote/saying? "Ride the bus until the wheels fall off." Life would be so much more awesome if we all did this!
Favorite fashion icon? Pixie Geldof.
Best source of inspiration? The craziness that is my brain.
Your best vintage find? A rabbit fur hat I got for $2 at a thrift store in Tampa. Hello, Iris Apfel!
Craziest shoes you own? A pair of shoes from A/W 2011. It was a collaboration with Jeffrey Campbell and us [Ma Petite Shoe]. They are these fur encrusted booties. They look as if an animal just died on your feet. So hideous and wonderful!
Favorite thing about Baltimore? How incestuous it is.
If you go
What: Ma Petite Shoe
When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; 12 p.m.-5 p.m Sunday
Where: 832 W. 36th St., Hampden
Info: mapetiteshoe.com


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Lakesbison wrote: wins in regular season give you homefield advantage in pretty much every major sports league.
Ruckus wrote:Sagarin has been down on us all year. I would think 17 -20 points would be more reasonable.i do think it bears mentioning that we are in a lot ways playing a FBS caliber team this week.i don't think NDSU is in the SEC category however.
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soulsonic wrote:also thinking about replacing the discrete transistor entirely with a dual opamp to use for the input boost and output buffer
biglouis wrote:Hi guys, i have a layout of the Krank Distortus Maximus, made by myself...
i hope you'll like it
(i'm from Brazil, so, sorry about my english)
RomYch wrote:... sorry, and more:
rasta_maleek wrote:RomYch wrote:... sorry, and more:
hi RomYch.
How sounds your unit?
thanks for share
askwho69 wrote:i want to try your mods man . . . can i use other jfet rather than your using? by the way what IC are you using the LM386n-1? LM386n or the n-3? i think the n-1 is the ugly one!
Return to Boutique Stompboxes dissected...


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Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Scientific Medical Journals and the Media
One would think a doctor might like to read the article, especially one dealing with defibrillators.
So I checked late last night and wouldn't you know, no such article was on-line. Then I checked again early this morning. Still no reference on line. I checked Google. I checked Circulation: Heart Failure's website. I checked for the press release on the American Heart Association's press release web page.
No such article.
But Reuters had seen it (I think) (or at least they saw the American Heart Association's press release about the article, I really don't know).
And so I waited and waited, only to find that the article was finally posted on-line publically on the Circulation: Heart Failure's website at about 12-1PM CST, almost a full 18 hours later the manuscript was reported upon by the main stream media.
The article certainly has plenty to comment upon, but I will forgo that for the moment and instead focus on this disturbing trend of media releases pitched to journalists before the scientific community.
Given that this study was funded by GlaxoSmith Kline and the journal Circulation: Heart Failure is published by the American Heart Association who acknowledges multimillion dollar funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device companies we have to wonder: why are physicians being left out of the opportunity to critically review scientific publications before mainstream media broadcasts information to our patients and the public? Might it be that the sponsors of these trials might not like what certain doctors might say about the study? Or are such press releases being more like classic TV ads hoping to prod patient's to "Ask Your Doctor" about study's findings? What potential implications might these press releases have on public policy mandating doctors to "Get With the Guidelines" for the treatment of heart failure going forward?
I find the feeding of jounalists these manuscripts before the very scientists who subscribe to the these journals troubling at best and potentially subversive and manipulative at worst.
12 comments:
- Unknown said...
As a professional medical journalist for more than 25 years please allow me to respond.
1. I don't know the specifics of this particular episode but in general you should never be able to see a newspaper report about a journal article without the article being available online. That's the way the embargo system works. (It's a little different at medical meetings, though.) Occasionally people make mistakes, of course. Occasionally a journalist breaks, usually inadvertently, an embargo. Occasionally a publisher has a glitch in their publishing system and an article that was supposed to go online at a certain time fails to do so. But usually the system works as expected.
2. I also think Dr Wes misunderstands the real purpose of the embargo system. It's not a perfect system, but it does allow genuine, accredited journalists a chance to write better balanced and thoughtful articles than would otherwise be possible in the context of a short deadline. Scientific and medical matters are frequently far too complex for an individual journalist to immediately comprehend and put in perspective. Among other things, the embargo system allows the journalist to solicit the perspective of outside experts in the field. Like anything else, the embargo system can be abused, but its general point and purpose is to make it easier for the journalist to write a competent news report.
3. I don't think it would be possible to release the articles to the scientists before journalists and others. That would be an invitation to a very leaky system!
Larry Husten (www.cardiobrief.org)
- Wed Dec 16, 05:39:00 PM CST
- Tom B said...
I'd also like to know why the AHA charges health care professionals to read their journal articles, or take the "Learn: Rapid STEMI ID" course.
Aren't they a not-for-profit company with a mission to fight heart disease? They act like a for-profit corporation that puts money first and the mission second.
Every time someone asks me for money to sponsor them for the "Heart Walk" I think of all those journal articles I wanted to read, but couldn't.
- Wed Dec 16, 05:46:00 PM CST
- DrJohnM said...
Even well done studies have their limitations in applicability.
In this master of the obvious' opinion, look no further than the over application of ICD therapy garnered from SCD-Heft and MADIT II trials. These trials enrolled specific patient cohorts with limited co-morbid illnesses, but yet, what came of this was low EF=ICD. It almost validated the predatory implant docs.
This blogger's wife, a palliative care MD, has had the need to turn off an ICD in a patient with end stage disease, whose ICD implant site still had steri-strips.
Or, the implantation of ICD's in patients with CHF due to Afib and rapid rates whose EF will reverse with AF treatment. and the examples of failing to master the obvious goes on...
My point is that the sophisticated medical community has plenty of trouble vetting science as it is. The headline hungry, news ticker reading general public is at great risk of misinformation. Many moons ago, as one of my former wise old professors, Harvey Feigenbaum repeatedly said most Thursday afternoons at the IU Echo conference was "no data was better than bad data."
Good work Dr Wes.
This blog thing is fun.
- Wed Dec 16, 08:24:00 PM CST
- DrWes said...
I also think Dr Wes misunderstands the real purpose of the embargo system. It's not a perfect system, but it does allow genuine, accredited journalists a chance to write better balanced and thoughtful articles than would otherwise be possible in the context of a short deadline.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, but I cannot help but wonder why only selected articles are pushed to mainstream media for review and commentary. In the ideal unbiased world of reporting, shouldn't all articles be available for your review? Or might another funding authority have a vested interest in making sure the good news about their drug or device receive top billing in headlines?
And then there's the whole issue of who decides which articles are "locked" and unlocked (available for free) on medical journal websites. Why are articles dealing with a political viewpoint or particular expensive therapy "unlocked" for the publics' review for free, and yet other possibly more conservative therapy articles unfunded by industry left "locked" and available just for subscribers? Should we willingly ignore this reporting bias to the public?
Finally, while I very much appreciate the efforts of skilled journalists like yourself and the perspectives they can bring to a reported study, folks who pay for prescriptions (or are members in whom their membership fee pays for a prescription) should get first dibs on the content provided before any mainstream media gets a chance to view the content for free.
- Wed Dec 16, 08:55:00 PM CST
- Unknown said...
Dr Wes,
I honestly don't believe there's a "political" angle to this whole issue. It's very easy to look at one paper or one incident and read all kinds of meaning into it. Overall, the main motivation for most journals and scientific societies is simply to get their names in the papers and to raise their visibility. If you really believe there's something more nefarious going on then I think you will need to document this in a much more rigorous way.
Finally, I am going to congratulate myself profusely for refusing to capitalize on your amusing slip of the keyboard, ie, substituting "prescriptions" for "subscriptions." I do however agree that ultimately those who pay for prescriptions (that is, all of us) have a need and a right to the best possible medical journalism.
- Wed Dec 16, 10:35:00 PM CST
Dr. Wes, I think you are right on with this comment. I have followed AHA for a long time since they received a large donation and suddenly started the "stroke attack" movement- -pushing a treatment that at the time over 50% of ER docs thought was dangerous into the zone of "standard of care". If we can't connect the dots, we are not looking. You are right on here.
- Wed Dec 16, 11:42:00 PM CST
- DrWes said...
If you really believe there's something more nefarious going on then I think you will need to document this in a much more rigorous way.
FYI, I have commented before on the political ramifications of opinion pieces by Congressional members appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine. Seems pretty straightfoward to me.
- Thu Dec 17, 05:58:00 AM CST
- Unknown said...
Dr Wes--
But wait a minute: now you've strayed from one topic to the next. It's one thing to say that policy-related articles in the NEJM have a political bias, it's another thing to say that the entire embargo system is part of a larger political bias. I don't think you should let your disagreement with one type of article in one journal cloud your discussion of all medical journals...
- Thu Dec 17, 06:54:00 AM CST
- DrWes said...
Sorry about the delay getting back to you. (Afib ablations have a way of doing that.) While the embargo system may have its place, in my opinion, people who subscribe to medical and scientific journals should have first dibs at the content. Marketing should always be secondary to medicine or science.
Look at this study reported. It was sponsored by GSK, one of the senior authors has been a paid GSK consultant and speaker and that same author is also a king pin to the Get With the Guidelines Heart Failure program of the AHA, who is also funded by GSK to the tune of over $2 million annually. Not that good work can't happen with industry help - it can. But when these studies are released to the public and the "careful" journalism in theHeart.org, Reuters and the WSJ includes only that same senior author's quotes, we have to wonder if a little reporting bias might occur with the interpretation of the data quality and findings.
- Thu Dec 17, 03:03:00 PM CST
- Unknown said...
Hi again, Wes,
I'm not sure we're going to make much progess here! It seems to me that there's a whole lot about the entire medical system that's really bothering you, but I'm not sure if you're helping your point of view by sort of attacking the entire system indiscriminately.
I'd be really curious to know what specifically about this paper, and the news stories that reported it, bothered you.
Then perhaps we can have something a bit more concrete to discuss.
- Thu Dec 17, 09:28:00 PM CST
- Margaret Polaneczky, MD (aka TBTAM) said...
I am going to weigh in with Dr Wes here.
I for one feel that practicing docs deserve access to these journal articles before the media gets to them. Rarely are these stories so urgent that they need to be rushed to press. At this point, we docs first see data through the lens of the media before we get to read and formulate our own opinion on the data.
The media has no more right to early access than we do. I find what happens is a rush to press that has a journalist calling me to comment on a study I have never seen, then the study gets faxed over to me and I have about 30 seconds to forulate my own "thoughtful response" so the journalist can meet their deadline.
Since when did healthcare news become so urgent to report?
Oh yeah, ever since Pharma stock prices became more important than real medical opinion.
- Fri Dec 18, 09:00:00 AM CST
- Unknown said...
Margaret, you make some good points, but I don't think what you propose is practical. In contrast to physicians and other subscribers to medical journals, the actual number of journalists who take part in the embargo system is very small, and the system is generally able to police itself. Clearly there is no way to effectively enforce an embargo to physicians or subscribers only for an article appearing in any of the major journals. They would be immediately leaked and disseminated, making the situation even worse.
I understand that you and Dr Wes are unhappy and frustrated by the current system, but I think you will need to think through the practical details and propose a workable alternative system before tearing down the current one.
- Fri Dec 18, 09:31:00 AM CST


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World's Oldest Living Man Dies At 114
The Minnesota born man, Walter Breuning, was the world's oldest living man according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He passed away at the age of 114 on Thursday, April 14th 2011 in Great Falls, Montana where he lived since the age of 16. What age would you like to live to?
The Great Northern Railroad is what brought Breuning to Montana and he credits the years of hard work for keeping him alive for so long. He retired at the age of 66.
Breuning was quoted saying in an interview, "We're all going to die. Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die because you're born to die."


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By the end of August, all the companies tracked in the Windicator had seen their share prices fall significantly for the year, with one leading European company losing more than half its market value.
Ironically, most of the weaker earnings came despite growth in revenue. Companies cited several reasons for this, including one-off expenditures, accounting adjustments and foreign-exchange losses. Gamesa highlighted significant downward adjustments relating to the profitability of wind turbines. Gamesa and Nordex both pointed to recurring Ebit [earnings before interest and taxes] in their statements, indicating one-off expenditures that affected profits. Vestas' earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) was higher than last year but its Ebit was much lower, suggesting significant depreciation expenses. Suzlon's expenses were also much higher than last year, despite its rise in revenues, and it incurred foreign-exchange losses.
Analysts' negativity towards the sector was highlighted in July's Windicator. They have now become even more pessimistic: just 12.4% of all ratings for wind stocks were "buys" — down from 17.3% at the beginning of June — with 41.2% "holds" (down from 42.3%) and 46.4% "sells" (up from 40.4%).
Industry conditions were not favourable. The ongoing sovereign debt crisis, a reduction of state support for wind projects in key regions, falling orders and increased competition combined to make life very difficult for turbine manufacturers. Narrowly focused companies such as Vestas, Gamesa, Nordex, Suzlon and Goldwind are always going to find such conditions more difficult to cope with than rivals such as Siemens and GE, whose diversified business models provide them with some insulation from industry-specific headwinds.
Not for the first time, the fortunes of Denmark's Vestas typified those of the industry as a whole. Despite achieving a 14.9% increase in revenues over the same period last year, the company posted a 48% decline in Ebit before special items, and a 76.6% Ebit loss once special items were accounted for. Its overall net loss for the quarter of €8 million compared to a net profit of €55 million in the second quarter last year. Vestas was running a negative free cash flow of €338 million at the end of Q2, €275 million worse than at the end of Q2 2011.
The impact of the worse-than-expected figures was swift and brutal: at the same time as it published the quarterly report, Vestas announced that it would be cutting a further 1,400 jobs in addition to the 2,335 job cuts it revealed at the beginning of the year. The company made the decision, it says, to ensure it could meet an increased fixed-cost reduction to €250 million from the earlier stated €150 million, prompted by reduced forecast activity in 2013. From the beginning of the year until 31 August, Vestas' share price fell 33.3% and by September, only 14.2% of analysts rated Vestas a "buy", compared to 42.9% each for "hold" and "sell".
Vestas' Spanish rival Gamesa fared little better. It also reported a healthy increase in revenues, of 22.3%, but suffered heavy losses further down the balance sheet. The company's second quarter Ebit of €8 million was 76.4% down on Q2 2011, while its net loss for the quarter of €12 million compared to a net profit of €16 million for the same period last year.
Around the same time it announced its quarterly results, Gamesa cut its sales forecast for the second time this year, citing a delay in orders from Asia. It is currently forecasting 2012 sales of 2GW, down from 2.8-3.2GW in February, and is predicting an Ebit margin of 0% for the year. Just a month earlier, Gamesa announced 165 job losses at two factories in Pennsylvania, US.
The slew of bad news took its toll on the company's share price, which had slumped 54.6% for the year by the end of August. Some 23.1% of analysts rate the company as a "buy", with the same amount rating it a "hold" and 53.8% rating it a sell. Gamesa says it is in the process of reviewing its medium-term strategic initiatives "with a view to bolstering profitability and reducing debt". These efforts, it claims, "will materialise in a new 2013-2015 business plan to be presented to the market in October designed to enable it to operate profitably in an environment of moderate demand".
Nordex echoed Vestas and Gamesa in announcing increased revenues alongside depressed operating profits and an overall net loss. Its sales were up 1.2% year on year, underpinned by expanding business in its core European market. However, the company's €4.17 million Ebit loss was a big drop from its positive Ebit of €1.15 million in Q2 2011, while its overall net loss of €9.3 million compared to a net loss of €2.2 million in the equivalent period last year.
Nordex's share price fell 23.1% over the first eight months of the year, and analysts remain cautious about the company's prospects: at the beginning of September, 16.7% were urging investors to buy the stock, 50% advising to hold and 33.3% recommending to sell. However, Nordex remains bullish. "The Nordex Group is outperforming the wind-power industry as a whole, which sustained a decline of roughly 30% in new business," the company says in a statement. Nordex is maintaining its full-year sales guidance of €1-1.1 billion for 2012, compared to €921 million in 2011 — but warns that "the upper edge of this range will only be achieved in the event of acceleration in the pace at which projects are executed".
Suzlon's share price hit a record low after it announced a net loss of INR 8.49 billion ($153.7 million) for the quarter, significantly worse than the INR 3 billion loss it posted for the January-March period and its net profit of INR 600 million in the same quarter last year. The day after the announcement, the company's share price had declined to INR 16.10, its lowest value ever, and by the end of August had fallen 18.4% for the year. This was despite an 8.9% year-on-year increase in quarterly revenues.
Chairman Tulsi Tanti admits that the company had had a "disappointing" quarter. "The macroeconomic environment, policy uncertainties in some markets, along with other external factors such as the depreciating rupee, continue to impact us," he says. Suzlon incurred a foreign exchange loss of INR 915 million during the quarter, against a gain of INR 585 million in the same period last year.
However, Tanti insists that the company's core business fundamentals remain sound, and says he remains "cautiously optimistic" it will end the fiscal year in a "satisfactory position".
Analysts do not share his view: at the end of August, none were recommending investors buy Suzlon's stock, with 56.3% issuing a "hold" rating and the remainder a "sell". Suzlon says it is targeting a reduction of 20% of operational and manpower costs this fiscal year, indicating that job losses could be around the corner.
If Suzlon were looking for a crumb of comfort from somewhere, it may have found it in China, where Goldwind found itself even more unpopular with analysts. Like Suzlon, Goldwind had no "buy" ratings at the end of August, while the percentage of "hold" (46.7%) and "sell" (53.3%) ratings it attracted were marginally worse than its Indian rival.
Pessimism about Goldwind's prospects was fuelled by a 46.6% drop in quarterly revenues over the same period last year, while its net profit of CNY 74.1 million ($11.66 million) was down 71.3%. This was largely attributable to a policy change by the Chinese government last year, which slowed the commissioning of projects in the country. Goldwind's share price fell 28.5% by the end of August.


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Time to Return Edward Snowden with Honor and a Pardon
I often disagree with The New York Times' lead editorials — they're too loftily liberal rather than libertarian, which is what I am. But much of the paper's recent editorial that defended Edward Snowden got to the core of the historic public service the former National Security Agency contractor performed.
In return for all his efforts, President Barack Obama wants to charge Snowden with espionage and a long prison term, which has caused him to seek refuge abroad.
The Jan. 2 editorial began: "Seven months ago, the world began to learn the vast scope of the National Security Agency's reach into the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the United States and around the globe, as it collects information about their phone calls, their email messages, their friends and contacts, how they spend their days and where they spend their nights" ("Edward Snowden, Whistle‐Blower," The New York Times, Jan. 2).
And crucial to judging Snowden are the NSA's mass illegalities, which he exposed:
"The NSA broke federal privacy laws, or exceeded its authority, thousands of times per year, according to the agency's own internal auditor.
"The agency broke into communications links of major data centers around the world" — including those of our allies against terrorism — "allowing it to spy on hundreds of millions of user accounts …
"The NSA systematically undermined the basic encryption systems of the Internet, making it impossible to know if sensitive banking or medical data (my italics) is truly private, damaging businesses that depended on this trust.
"His leaks revealed that James Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, lied to Congress when testifying in March that the NSA was not collecting data on millions of Americans. (There has been no discussion of punishment for that lie.)"
At this point, think of how our founders would have judged Edward Snowden. Imagine how James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Adams would have reacted to what Snowden has revealed — and continues to reveal — as the NSA's ever more massive felonies continue.
They would respond, I believe, with respect and companionship.
As for the NSA's delight in inventing new ways to even further disintegrate our privacy in this digital age, Leonard Greene of the New York Post reported:
"Big Brother is getting bigger. The National Security Agency is hard at work on a computer that could break nearly every kind of encryption used to protect banking, medical, business and government records around the world.
"According to documents unloaded by leaker Edward Snowden, the loose‐lipped former NSA contractor, the agency is secretly (of course) developing a 'quantum computer' that would be able to bypass secure Web sites, including those hosted by foreign governments."
This is "according to an internal document provided by Snowden" that was given to The Washington Post ("NSA developing computer to crack any encryption," Leonard Greene, New York Post, Jan. 3).
Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald, who helped spread Snowden's revelations, commented on the young man's rescuing of our rule of law in an article from which I first reported on last summer:
"Numerous polls taken since our reporting on previously secret NSA activities first began have strongly suggested major public opinion shifts in how NSA surveillance and privacy (invasions) are viewed" ("Major opinion shifts, in the U.S. and Congress, on NSA surveillance and privacy," Glenn Greenwald, The Guardian, July 29, 2013).
Greenwald continued: "A new comprehensive poll released … by (the reliable) Pew Research provides the most compelling evidence yet of how stark the shift is.
"Among other things, Pew finds that 'a majority of Americans — 56 percent — say that federal courts fail to provide adequate limits on the telephone and Internet data the government is collecting as part of its anti‐terrorism efforts.' "
And dig this: " 'An even larger percentage (70 percent) believes that the government uses this data for purposes other than investigating terrorism.'
"Moreover, '63 percent think the government is also gathering information about the content of communications.' "
Added Greenwald: "That demonstrates a decisive rejection of the U.S. government's three primary defenses of its secret programs: there is adequate oversight; we're not listening to the content of communication; and the spying is only used to Keep You Safe.
"But the most striking finding is this one: 'Overall, 47 percent say their greater concern about government anti‐terrorism policies is that they have gone too far in restricting the average person's civil liberties … This is the first time in Pew Research polling that more have expressed concern over civil liberties than protection from terrorism since the question was first asked in 2004' …
"This Pew visual underscores what a radical shift has occurred from these recent Pew disclosures."
Furthermore, that awakening news shows Snowden's key importance to We The People regaining our self‐governance in this republic.
As constitutional scholar Bruce Fein, an alumnus of President Ronald Reagan's legal staff, told Peter Baker of The New York Times: "Calling government to account for breaking the law is a compelling civic duty of all citizens" ("Moves to Curb Spying Help Drive the Clemency Argument for Snowden," Peter Baker, The New York Times, Jan. 5).
So how can Edward Snowden's revelations be considered espionage?


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the birthday signage. printed and cut letters, robot cutouts from craft store painted with letter glued on top.
lots of robots, balloons, garlands and stars around. was bummed i couldnt get any green balloons.. but no one else seemed to mind.
the plates, napkins and juicebot army
oscar blowing out his birthday candles. you'll notice the table is fairly empty. i went easy on the food this year. we heated frozen pizzas, made dessert pizzas (sugar cookie, fruit dip, fruit), and had 'nuts and bolts' (chex mix).
alice's robot diaper, which provided the color scheme. when oscar told me he wanted a robot party, i automatically thought of this diaper. and it gave me a good excuse to buy one! shortly after i placed my order i found out they have the robotronic print in a doll diaper, and i wish i had ordered one for oscar's babies!


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With the new Rainbow Warrior coming we got to thinking about her place in New Zealand history and about what makes us proud to be from this little nation at the far end of the world. With some help from Perendale Productions we made this short video to embody just some of the events and people through history who have defined us and made their mark on our world. As the year comes to an end, we hope this video will also make you feel happy and proud, and prompt us all to reflect on the sort of country we want to be into the future and how together we can write the next chapter in the story of New Zealand.
Nick has worked with Greenpeace for more than 10 years and is now Head of Digital at Greenpeace NZ.


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I am an admittedly idiosyncratic traditionalist, in that I am rarely much for traditional traditions, but am conversely rather boffo for my own rather less-than-traditional iterations thereof; which makes it all the more of a personal revolution in the offing that I am posting these words today.
This is, of course, the rambling preambling to the preamble of my annual "Things I'm Thankful For" post; which I traditionally, per the terms of my own tradition, post on the 23rd of November. Which I was dead on track for doing again this year. Except here it is, Thanksgiving, and I'm feeling all thankful-laden, and it simply feels odd not to commit these lines to the blog-o-web on this most gratitudinous of days. Yet it's the 22nd, a proposition that defies convention. But blast it all, tradition be damned, what? On with the show! Pip Pip!
When I ponder the word Thankful, I see my wife's face. As I do when I ponder the other following words:
Fortunate, Blessed, and Grateful.
These are of course self-referential. When I simply ponder her, as opposed to how I feel when I consider the blessing upon me that is she, these then are some of the words that come to mind:
Wise, Beautiful, Magical, Powerful, Amazing, Fragile, Astounding, Tender, Perfect, and Love.
I am so thankful for my wife. My friend, my lover, my partner, my wife. I am so thankful for my wife. One can define the almighty in whatever ways one wishes, of course; but if the definition of God has something to do with that which gives life to life, that which governs all, that foundational being that is the alpha and omega of all things, then she has dominion over all my world. She is the Bodhisattva come to help me, the Savior come to save me, the God come to raise me. I am so thankful for my wife.
And I am so thankful for my daughter, before whom I am a positively helpless puddle of mush. What hasn't this small, beautiful creature given to me? There is no shade of blue in the sky, no streak of green in the sea, that she has not alerted me to. No whisper of wind in the night, no chirp of bird in the day, that she has not called my ears toward. There is no tear duct in my eye she has not drained of its feeling, no cavity of my heart that she has not filled. What hue of autumn leaf, what scent of springtime blossom, has she not drawn me to? What a thing, to have a daughter! I am so thankful for my daughter.
For my wife, and my daughter, I am so thankful. A Love Supreme.
Which reminds me that I am also distinctly grateful for John Coltrane.
And wine glass sizes drawn in fractions. Like 19.75 oz. glasses.
And the wines that inhabit them.
Like, perhaps, the 1981 Monte Bello, which tasted so fine just this past Sunday.
Which would also taste so fine in, for example, a flat-bottom glass.
I am so thankful for people who drink red wine from flat-bottom glasses.
And grandparents. There is no insanity like the insanity of grandparents. That my little family of three – Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear – has two hearty and hale sets of grandparents, is a blessing beyond compare. To watch our little girl in their blissful company is a gift unimaginable. I am so thankful for our parents; grandparents to our wonderful daughter. I am so thankful for this.
As I am for the knoll at Monte Bello. Such a place to stand and contemplate the void, to be temporarily one with the ancestors staring at the walls and seeing truth.
I am thankful for poetry, and the wines that have, through time, lubricated its fragile and complex gears.
Like, for example, the 2004 Buchignani Ranch Zinfandel, which tasted so fine just … yesterday.
There are few moments greater than the moment when your father and your wife bring to their respective lips the wine you have poured for them. I am thankful for these moments.
I am thankful for Haiku.
I am thankful for people who do not ask me to throw away their chewing gum upon their arrival at the Monte Bello Tasting Room.
In fact, I am thankful for people who do not chew gum.
I am thankful for wooden canes, and limping through vine rows relying on one.
I am thankful for Amy Monroe, Sam Howles-Banerji, and Kirsten Anderson. If you've ever come to Monte Bello, and accordingly felt a bit of magic enter your soul and there take up permanent residence, there to be called upon whenever your worry and care threaten to overwhelm you in the pursuit of your conventional happinesses, it is likely because you were moved by Amy and/or Sam and/or Kirsten. They are in the practice of providing memories that will last forever, and they are rather excellent at this endeavor. They have given me so much to be thankful for, and are to me canonical saints in the pantheon of Monte Bello magic.
I am thankful for the word canonical.
And the word Vertical. And the thing that is, in winespeak, a Vertical.
And the Estate Cabernet Vertical, which will not be available for much longer. I am thankful it is still available, because the 2004 Estate Cabernet, is, in particular, one of the best wines I've ever had. It was also one of my first loves upon joining the family at Ridge, and in it, I taste my good fortune.
I am thankful for P.G. Wodehouse, for having given to the world Jeeves and Bertie Wooster, of whose exploits with the cow-creamer, last night, were so delightful to read.
I am thankful that I do not believe in decent-tasting "entry-level" wines costing $10/bottle, any more than I believe in decent-sounding "entry-level" Telecasters costing $100.
I am thankful for windows that lock and unlock with ease.
I am thankful for wines that taste especially fine whilst standing at windows gazing out at trees in autumn. Like the 1992 Monte Bello, which, out of a 375ml bottle, tastes especially fine whilst standing at a window (open or closed, whatever, it's easy to lock and unlock) gazing out at a tree in autumn.
I am thankful for candles.
I am thankful for bow-ties, which, perhaps come the New Year, I shall resolve to wear more of.
I am thankful for champys, and the people who use the term.
And for the people who drink champys.
I am thankful for champys.
And Bodhisattvas.
I am thankful that Ridge has found a place in its heart to place me.
I am thankful that, in lieu of a manpurse, I wear sportcoats.
I am thankful for everyone who comes to Monte Bello in the summertime, and doesn't comment of the fact that I am wearing a sportcoat.
I am thankful for Aaron, Antonio, Barry, Emma, Jane, Jenny, Karen, Kathryn, Kim, Lori, Michael, Nancy, Peter, Samantha, Sonja, and Tara. Because Hospitality is holy, and they are the true keepers of the faith. The foundational saints. The canonical hosts. To truly "host" a guest is an essential act of love, compassion, empathy, sympathy, faith, and kindness. I am thankful for these wonderful human beings, and for the generosity of spirit they so consistently offer.
I am thankful for the XTC song "Dear God."
I am thankful that the new 2008 Mazzoni Home Ranch is such an absolutely excellent contribution to the Mazzoni canon.
I am thankful for high-quality buff cloths, and the wine hosts that know how to use them.
I am thankful for ritual, and what it teaches us, and I am thankful that the world of wine is so ritualized.
I am thankful for people who, when confronted by those who know a bit more than themselves about something, think first, "Wonderful!" as opposed to "Snob!"
I am thankful that I know so little, because I look so forward to learning.
I am thankful that a great deal of my "work" at Ridge is "learning" more about wine.
Learning more about, for example, the 2007 Monte Bello. For reasons soon to be revealed!
I am thankful for things that are soon to be revealed, as I do not enjoy surprises or secrets, though I am thankful for them. Thankful that they offer the opportunity for revelation.
I am thankful for Son House.
I am thankful for anyone who can figure out a way to work wine into a tattoo without looking like a rather foolish sort.
I am thankful for Syrah co-fermented with Viognier.
I am thankful that part of my "job" at Ridge involves sitting at table with people like Kathy and Ingrid, and "working" on food & wine pairings.
I am thankful that I very often have occasion, while at work at Ridge, to deploy the term "culinarily companionable."
I am thankful that I get to write this blog. Not only is it a still-very-overwhelming honor, but it also allows me to make up a great many words; a great many made-up words that, when discovered and subsequently called out as being made-up, become the springboard for me to deliver my patented lecture on the true value of language and its purposes. Which no one needs to hear anymore.
I am thankful.
I am thankful for trumpet mutes, and the jazz players who deploy them.
I am thankful that Ridge makes wine like Thelonious Monk made chords.
I am thankful that Sumano's bakery makes Watsonville Sourdough.
I am thankful for drinking wine, eating bread and cheese, and riding ferries.
I am thankful that Bellwether Farms makes San Andreas. And I am thankful for being able to taste it while sipping on 1978 Monte Bello.
I am thankful for harvest videos, and the opportunity to make them.
I am thankful for #Harvest2012.
I am thankful that I do not dream in hashtags.
I am thankful that if one Googles "Generation X Characteristics," the very first entry that appears lists the following:
• Cynical
• Skeptical
• Independent
• Problem-solvers/resourceful
• Defy Authority
• Reality driven
• Distaste "touchy feely"
• Technology Competent
• Resist Hierarchy
• Multitasker
I am thankful that I still manage to rarely use the word "Google" as a verb.
I am thankful for walking cities.
I feel thankful when I go walking in a city, and the person I am walking with says, "My, that looks like a nice wine shop!"
I am thankful for Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh, and all the denizens of the Hundred-Acre Wood.
I am thankful for the poet Sharon Olds, because she writes about woman things in ways that can truly move a man.
I am thankful that as soon as we were installed in our little post-birth "hotel" at the hospital, my very exhausted and triumphantly beautiful wife called for Cava and Monte Bello.
I am thankful that when my wife calls for champys, she calls for Coupe glasses.
I am thankful for coupe glasses.
I am thankful for trains.
I am thankful for movies made before 1970.
I am thankful for music made before 1980.
I am thankful for wine made before 1990.
I am thankful for balsamic vinegar made before 2000.
I am thankful for books made before 2010.
I am thankful for wonderful exceptions to the above.
I am thankful for wine poured before I wrote "I am thankful for wine poured …," like, for example, any of our Syrah/Grenache blends.
I am currently thankful for the 2008 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Syrah/Grenache, and I am previously grateful for all the other vintages.
I am thankful that my daughter just announced that her Grandpa "stinks like Thanksgiving."
I am thankful that some people still roller skate.
I am thankful for limousine drivers that do not park in spaces reserved for the disabled.
I am thankful for wine drinkers that are not drunkards.
I am thankful that calm, clear-headed, self-possessed, serious, alert, concerned, cool, exacting, rigorous, thoughtful, vigilant, and pure are all synonyms for "sober."
I am thankful that, while it's today in the news that it's going to happen, Nikki Sixx's "Heroin Diaries" is not yet, in fact, a Broadway Musical.
I am thankful that, for the fourth year in a row, I have the opportunity to praise Haig's Hummus. I am thankful for Haig's Hummus. And I am thankful for the way Haig's Hummus tastes when it's in your mouth, wrapped up in a big balloon-size swallow of Ridge chardonnay.
I am thankful for Ridge Chardonnay. Especially the 2010 Monte Bello Chardonnay, which, when released, will F%*&KIN blow your mind.
I am thankful for %*&.
I am thankful that we have a President who likes wine.
I am thankful for Zen.
I am thankful for the Monterey Bay, and how it makes Carignane taste. Especially Ridge Carignane. Which always tastes so nice, but tastes especially nice when sipped next to Monterey Bay.
I am thankful for John Olney, and I am thankful for the Carignane that he makes.
I am thankful for everyone at Lytton Springs, and for the opportunity to make this appreciation public. I am especially thankful for my counterpart Sandy Johnson, because her greatness humbles me daily, and it is good to be humbled. And I am thankful for her friendship, because it is good to have friends. And I am thankful for her colleagues that I get to, albeit infrequently, work with, namely Jason and Eliot. I wish I got to see them more, because I am always thankful for the opportunity. And it's good to be thankful.
I am thankful that I rarely see myself in the mirror making air quotes.
I am thankful for Paul Draper, Eric Baugher, John Olney, David Gates, Kyle Theriot, Will Thomas, Shun Ishikubo, and Muiris Griffin, for the absurdity of how much they've taught me, and how patient they've been with me.
I am thankful for when Petit Verdot gets ripe. Because if swampy and funky can become fragrant and floral, then beauty is forever possible.
I am thankful for every moment there is not violence.
I am thankful for funny instructions on fading paper, push-pinned to dirty corkboard, that say things like, "If you see a mountain lion, don't bend over," because who bends over when they see a mountain lion? And I am thankful that this is based on a true story.
I am thankful for true stories. And made up ones as well.
I am thankful for the opportunity to read poems that were written by people who were drinking wine while they were writing.
I am thankful to Ryan Moore, because he is my boss, and he seems to kind of like me. Which really feels good.
And I am thankful that the fates and powers that blessed Ryan with a wonderful wife have now blessed him with a beautiful, wonderful child, because I am very happy for him, and it's good to be happy for other people.
I am also happy for myself, and am thankful that I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and a beautiful, wonderful child.
I am thankful that the obvious similarities between myself and my boss obviously continue.
I am thankful for the days when my boss calls and says things like, "Have you tasted the 2007 Dynamite Hill recently?" And I say, "No." And he says, "Can you pull a bottle and taste it, and tell me what you think?" And I say, "Yes, boss."
I am thankful for, in no particular order: Love, and the Lack of Hate.
Also for Charlie Christian, Sonny Rollins, Bud Powell, Lester Young, Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Zoot Sims, and Grant Green.
I am thankful that Duke Ellington is the Monte Bello of Jazz, and that Monte Bello is the Duke Ellington of Wine.
I am thankful for what localism teaches us about being peaceful with one another.
I am thankful that wine from our estates makes people feel peaceful.
I am thankful for peace.
I am thankful.
I am thankful for the certainty that this list will never end, and that, when confronted with all the wonderful things I've inadvertently omitted from this iteration of this list, I will have another opportunity at some future time to make amends.
I am thankful for ancient Mountains-and-Rivers Poetry.
I am thankful that I work on a mountain.
I am thankful to Ridge, for forever altering my life in momentous ways I could have never imagined, for, above all else, affording me the means to support my family.
I am thankful to Ridge for trusting me to speak for Ridge.
I am thankful for Merlot.
I am thankful for pine cones.
I am thankful for rattlesnakes, and the ones that don't bite me.
I am thankful to Penske, for renting me the truck that carried me from New York to California, for helping to prove in yet one more way that Northern California is indeed the promised land, for stopping when I needed it to stop, at that truck stop where I first got on the phone with Nicole and inaugurated the process that would eventually culminate in my being hired by Ridge, and for starting again when it was time to start driving again to California.
I am thankful for my parents. And your parents.
I am thankful for anyone who buys a fine bottle of wine for their parents.
I am thankful for parents who buy Monte Bello from the birth year of their children.
I am thankful for the poetry of Dylan Thomas.
I am thankful for every moment, in every corner of the world, in which someone eats a slice of pizza, then takes a rather healthy swallow of really good wine.
I will never admit it to her, but in truth, I am thankful that my wife did not allow me to name our daughter "Pizza" as I wanted to, because even though this would guarantee I would spend my life saying, "I love you, Pizza" over and over, it wouldn't have in fact been particularly fair to our daughter, and if there's one thing that being a parent teaches you, it's that love means someone else.
I am thankful for pizza.
I am thankful for pizza and wine.
I am thankful for, not Chivas Regal in a $5 room (as Tom Waits had it), but pizza and a $400 Monte Bello.
I am thankful for art, and those who mean to make it.
I am thankful.
I am thankful.
I am thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good day.
I am thankful you read this.
I am thankful for that which you feel thankful for.
I feel thankful for you, whoever you are.
I feel thankful.
I am thankful.
Thank you.
Categories: Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Food & Wine Pairing, Grenache, History, Lytton Springs, Merlot, Monte Bello, Paul Draper, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Rhone varietals, RIDGE Staff, Santa Cruz Mountains Estate, Syrah, Tasting Rooms, Things I'm Thankful For, Varietals & Blends, Virtual Verticals, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine & Art, Wine & Food Pairing, Wine & Music, Wine & Philosophy, Wine & Poetry, Wine & Spirituality, Wine & The Holidays, Wine and Jazz, Wine Quotes, Wine Tales, Winemaking, Zinfandel


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I've already put this on the social networks, but I can't resist noting that The Quick Python Book, 2nd ed, AKA my book, was the second best selling book for Manning Publications in 2012. And I can't even complain about missing number one, since that slot was claimed by Warren and Carter Sande's excellent Hello World! Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners, another Python book! Python in the top two spots!
As I've mentioned elsewhere, if you use the link at the right you can pick up either title for 50% off before the end of 2012 by using the code bestof2012
As for me, I'm just blown away that QPB2e did so well.
Happy new year to all in the Python community and thank you!


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Just last week that I was planting tomato and pepper seedlings - or so it seems. But now the big yellow buses are out there each morning, delivering the next generation of gardeners to school, and there is a definite nip to the air when I go to get my newspaper out of the box in the morning. Where has the summer gone? It's time to start thinking about putting the garden to bed.
This is the time of year that weeds take advantage of us. Most of us tend to be lackadaisical about weeds now that our vegetables have produced, our flowers have bloomed, and our attention has turned elsewhere (school, football, presidential debates). But if you want to reduce your work next year, pay attention to those weeds that have snuck into the garden: they are producing seeds that will lie in wait for the spring, ready to grow before we get the good plants established.
I hereby resolve to spend a minimum of 20 minutes every day weeding for the rest of September. If I do that, I shall save myself much aggravation next spring. Here are a few things to consider when you weed. First, weed when the soil is moist � you are much more likely to get out the entire root system. That is very important for perennials weeds like dandelions or witch grass because a scrap of their roots will regenerate new weeds.
Annual weeds pull more easily, and it's less important to get the entire root. They reproduce by seed, and often produce hundreds, even thousands of seeds per plant � and those seeds can stay viable for years. When weeding things loaded with seeds, be careful not to shake off the seeds when you pull the weeds. It means that you can't shake off all the topsoil that comes out with the roots, but I'd rather avoid dumping seeds into my garden soil- even if I lose some.
I also try to place seed-bearing weeds in a compost pile that I will not use any time soon. In fact, I have compost piles where I dumped problem weeds decades ago. I let it turn into soil and use it for fill dirt� but not in my vegetable garden. After all, I heard that King Tut's tomb had weed seeds that were still able to germinate, though that may be just a myth.
I am also conscious of erosion when weeding and removing annual plants in the fall. I think it's better to cut off the stem of big zinnias, for example, than yank them now. That way I am not opening up the soil, making it vulnerable to erosion or providing a nice resting spot for air-borne weed seeds. Many weed seeds are tiny and can blow in from your lazy next-door neighbor's garden. I can always dig out roots in the spring when I plant something else, and they may decay and add some organic matter to the soil in the meantime.
In the vegetable garden it is important to get rid of diseased or insect-infested plants. You shouldn't put them in the compost, either. Put them on the burn pile if you'll be burning brush this winter, in the household trash, or in a pile far from the vegetable garden. This will help to minimize the recurrence of problems. That goes for moldy phlox or other flowers that get diseases, too.
If you have an asparagus patch, look to see if your plant are loaded with those little "berries", their seeds. If you see seeds, cut down the stems before winter. Some of those seeds will settle in and start more asparagus plants, but you really don't want more plants � they will fight for moisture and minerals just as weeds do. Most asparagus plants sold now are in the "Jersey" series and are all male, so they bloom but do not produce seeds. But one of the 25 plants I put in this year was a female, so take a look at yours now and cut down any with berries. And for best production, get out any weeds this fall.
I like to prepare my vegetable beds in the fall. After weeding them, I re-shape my mounded raised beds and add some compost or aged manure. Then I cover them with chopped fall leaves and grass that I rake up after mowing. This stuff does not blow away as you might imagine � one good rain storm and it settles down for a long winter's nap.
Fall is a good time to spread some limestone on the lawn, or to your vegetable and flower gardens if your soil pH is acidic. Most things grow best at a relatively neutral pH, say 6.2 to 6.8, but what with acid rain, many of us have soil that is pretty acidic. This is a good time to get a soil test done and make adjustments as needed. It takes time to adjust soil pH, so working on that now will make the soil better next spring.
There is so much to do in the garden, week after week. It's important not to just throw up your hands and say, "I'm done!" Yes, fall is here. But don't stop gardening � everything you do now will help make next year's garden even better.
Henry's Web site is www.Gardening-guy.com. You may contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Putting garden to bed for winter
Just last week that I was planting tomato and pepper seedlings - or so it seems. But now the big yellow buses are out there each morning, delivering the next generation of gardeners to school, and there is a definite nip to the air when I go to get my newspaper out of the box in the morning. Where has the summer gone? It's time to start thinking about putting the garden to bed.


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"TV Tommy" Ivo Named Grand Marshal of the 21st annual California Hot Rod Reunion
"I'm like a kid in a candy store!"
Drag racing's first quarter-mile showman "T.V. TOMMY" IVO, who is one of NHRA's Top 50 Drivers, has been named grand marshal of the 21st annual California Hot Rod Reunion presented by Automobile Club of Southern California, scheduled for Oct. 19-21 at the Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield.
Ivo's first drag race was 60 years ago in a 66 mph '52 Buick at Saugus Drag Strip. His last race was 30 years ago on his farewell tour in his Showboat four-engine Buick station wagon.
In between there were 36 different cars in 12 different classes. His Model T street roadster earned countless drag race and car show trophies, as well as magazine features and movie appearances.
At about the same time his racing career launched, Ivo had already starred in nearly 100 motion pictures and more than 200 television programs, including Disney's Mickey Mouse Club, My Little Margie, the Donna Reed Show, and the Danny Thomas Show. His Hollywood fame, earned him the nickname "T.V. Tommy" and he became the first touring professional.
Driving gas dragsters, he won Top Gas at the first Bakersfield March Meet in 1959, was the first to run under nine seconds, the first over 170 mph and the first over 180 mph. In 1960 he was first to crisscross the country with a nationwide season long tour.
Moving to the fuel ranks he was first in the 7-second bracket and first to exceed 190 mph. He won the 1964 British Drag Festival and he and Don Garlits match raced as many as seventy two times in a single season.
He built, tuned, drove and maintained his own equipment. In 1972 he became the first member of the Cragar Five Second Club and survived a horrific 240 mph crash here at Pomona without a scratch. When dragster popularity waned in the mid-'70s, Ivo switched to Funny Cars and finally jet dragsters.
He is one of NHRA's Top 50 Drivers and won Top Gas at the first Bakersfield March Meet in 1959, was the first to run under nine seconds, the first over 170 mph and the first over 180 mph. After 30 years of drag racing he retired leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and showmanship that paved the way for the corporate sponsorships of today and making him the perfect California Hot Rod Reunion Grand Marshal.
Ivo will be joined by Honorees the Brissette Brothers, Bob and Jim; the Mallicoat Brothers, Gary and Jerry; Jim Nicoll, Marv Ripes, and Ed Sigmon.
Three-day credentials are $65 per person. Advance ticket sales include a goody bag with program, dash plaque, hard card and other great goodies. Kids 15 and under are free accompanied by a paid adult. Tickets are available online at www.nhratix.com, or call 1-800-884-NHRA (6472).
All proceeds raised at the California Hot Rod Reunion benefit the programs and exhibits at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum located in Pomona, CA.


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- Driver Guide
- Contact Uber
Contact Uber
Have questions? We're here for whatever you need. Meet with an Uber Expert of find help online.
Support at every turn
We want every Uber trip to be hassle-free. So we're here to help with account setup, fare adjustments, and more whenever you need it.
In-app support
Updating account
If you need to update your profile information, add new vehicles, or understand your weekly payment statements, you can do all of this and more directly in the Uber Driver app. To do so, tap on 'Account'. From there, you'll be able to make changes to your account.
Getting help in the app
Within your Driver app, just head to 'HELP' in the navigation. You'll find a range of topics covered. Have an issue on a trip? Select the appropriate option under 'Report an Issue'.


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Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
Garden designs come in shapes ranging from square to curvy and odd-angled, as well as basic rectangles. A rectangular garden designed properly can add an abundance of space to your outdoor living area and greatly enhance your lifestyle.
Instead of hiding the fact that the shape is a rectangle, work with what you have. Pavers laid in an undulating curvy fashion add width and dimension. Benches built along a side wall provide additional seating, and tall plants, such as horsetail fern or bamboo, offer a Zen approach to this garden design.
A basic rectangular yard can be developed into an interesting space by building multilevel planters, adding dimension and creating a retreat area with space for eating, relaxing or entertaining. Build low-terraced walls to emphasise different levels and to create outdoor rooms that provide a variety of uses.
Xeriscaped Design
Use a xeriscape design in a rectangular yard in a region with little water. A pathway developed with decomposed granite can be built that curves throughout the rectangular space, underemphasising the standard yard shape. You can place river rocks in areas not used for walking and plant drought-tolerant plants, such as lavender and blue fescue, around the river rocks for texture, colour and height.
Most recent
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Sawyer Mini Water Filter Reviews
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Hirundo rustica (barn swallow)
Third is the "sittin' around the house talkin' with friends" song. It's a rambling series of whistles, squeaks, crackles and buzzes - everyone talks at once - a delight to hear. These were all recorded around the docks at Roche Harbor, Washington, where they prefer to roost on the tallest mast in the place.
Douglas Von Gausig (recordist; copyright holder), Naturesongs.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides!
Help us improve the site by taking our survey.
To cite this page: Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2020. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at https://animaldiversity.org.
Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. Additional support has come from the Marisla Foundation, UM College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Museum of Zoology, and Information and Technology Services.
The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support.


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01608 664411 firstname.lastname@example.com
The Stour Gallery are proud to house a number of exhibitions throughout the year. Find out more about our current exhibition
The Stour Gallery is now in its twenty first year.
Keep up to date with our most recently acquired pieces of work from selected artists.
Our opening hours are Tuesday - Saturdays 10.00am - 5.30am. If you are making a special journey, please contact The Stour Gallery prior to your visit to make sure we are open.…..we would not want to disappoint!
Currently under construction
2019 The Stour Gallery All Rights Reserved © Accessibility | Privacy | Terms & Conditions | Contact | Sitemap Designed by The Magic Tractor. Web development by Noisegate Media


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Multimedia describes the ability of a computer to present and combine text, graphics, video, animation, and sound.
Before the personal computer boom, the word multimedia had a much simpler connotation – paper, glass, and acrylic on canvas was (and is) multimedia. The birth of the web led to a great potential for multimedia, because of the ability of networked computers to deliver this information to all users and to allow everyone to join in the world of multimedia publishing.Go Back to Top. Skip To: Start of Article.


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BREW Unfiltered Fridays
Friday, January 24, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: $10
Event Website
635 University Ave. East
Event Website
Every Friday evening Brew will be hosting "Unfiltered Fridays". Just like a keg party, $10 gets you a Brew cup and refills of Brew Proper Lager. Bring your Brew cup to The Foundry Pub afterwards and get pints of $3.50 Brew all night long. Get your Brew crew together and get ready, Windsor Essex is craft beer crazy!
Venue: BREW Microbrewery
635 University Ave. East
Windsor, Ontario Canada
Phone: (226) 246 – 0720


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American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. (APPI), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Psychiatric Association. Its purpose is twofold: to serve as the distributor of publications of the Association and to publish books independent of the policies and procedures of the American Psychiatric Association. APPI has grown since its founding in 1981 into a full-service publishing house, including a staff of editorial, production, marketing, and business experts devoted to publishing for the field of psychiatry and mental health.
Caversham Booksellers98 Harbord St, Toronto, ON M5S 1G6 Canada
(click for map and directions)All prices in $cdn
Copyright 2019
toll-free (800) 361-6120
Tel (416) 944-0962 | Fax (416) 944-0963
E-mail [email protected]
Hours: 9-6 M-W / 9-7 Th-F / 10-6 Sat / 12-5 Sun EST


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Costumes and activewear clothing designed to meet the specific needs of aerial and circus arts performers. All items are designed and tested by a seamstress familiar with the bruises and burns that come with aerial practice and who understands how to combine form with function. Need a custom design to fit your theme? Harmony Threads strives to meet your performance needs.
Aerial Costumes
, Ready to Ship


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My bank has declined my mortgage application due to a low credit score can you help? My credit rating is 'fair' on Experian can I get a mortgage? Creditexpert says my credit is 'poor' how will that affect my chances of getting a mortgage? By residential mortgage expert Mr Payam Azadi Credit scoring is a computerised decision based on the conduct of your finances. A low credit score can … [Read more...]
You are here: Home / Archives for credit report says fair or poor


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Various Christian law enforcement groups have colluded to express their distaste for upcoming 2K Games sequel, The Darkness II. They'd like to see it go very far away, in fact, for fear that it will make people hate the police. Go figure.
A large coalition, formed from the International Christian Police Fellowship, the Christian Police Association, the Swiss Christian Police Association and the Germany Christian Police Association have sent a letter to developers and politicians, complaining about game violence overall and singling out the first-person demon-tendril-simulator.
They believe games like The Darkness II promote hatred of law enforcers and "idealized violence" and that politicians should refuse to support the industry in order to stop real-world crimes. Because, as always, it's obvious that videogames are the reason why anything bad has happened, ever. Nobody's ever done something bad because of what they gleaned from the Bible, right?
I'm frankly more concerned that there are groups of police officers who identify themselves through the fact that they believe in things without needing any evidence. Not sure I'd want them handling any case I was involved in.
Christian Police Associations Want to Ban The Darkness II [Game Informer]
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Thanks for taking the time to comment - I love reading every single one of them! Although I may not be able to reply to each comment, I will definitely pop over to your blog to say hello.
I love hearing from readers and fellow bloggers alike. If you're a little shy or would like to get in touch with me directly, drop me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com
Today's entry is not so much a post as it is just a way to showcase the latest addition to our outdoor play area… Our new mega sized outdoor chalkboard!
This past week has been all about snails.The children are always fascinated by the snails in our garden and ask endless questions about them.A couple of weeks back, one of my boys stumbled across a snail crawling along the ground.
A couple of weeks ago, I had posted this snapshot of these set of magnetic shapes I made on my Instagram. I received a few curious questions on how I made them.
And so Nathan's very first day of kindergarten is over. It was a mixture of good, bad, sweet and sour. I think that so much happens throughout the day, it can be challenging for a little person to filter through it all.
These days my days are packed full to the brim. From the moment I wake up to the sound of Grace calling through the baby monitor and Nathan's cheeky face peering at me over the edge of the bed… to the evening when I finally tuck them into bed and say goodnight.


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We have decided to start a month early but registrations will still be open until 30th November for the December list.
Meanwhile, the nine eager participants already registered, please send to the person below you on the list. The last person will send to the first person on the list. Please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com if you have not received preference and contact details.
Flowers to be completed and sent by November 27th 2010 (remember overseas mail can take up to 7 days). Please e-mail me when you have sent or received your flower. Include a picture if you like and I will post on my blog.
- Want it, Need it, Quilt
- Canadian Kristin
- Stray Stitches
- Quilt Sampler
- Renny and Me and Isaac Too
- Beautiful Chaos
- Jenni Sews
- Caribou Crossing Chronicles
- LesQuilts


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Hi Tech Engineering & Construction
The J/121 hull plug construction was done by Symmetrix Composite Tooling in Bristol, Rhode Island. Symmetrix is the most advanced precision tooling company in New England and is carving both the J/121 hull and deck plugs using the state-of-the-art CMS Poseidon 5-axis Machining Center located within their impressive tooling facility just a few hundred yards up the road from the CCFC factory.
|software is a quantum leap forward in delivering tooling not just quickly, but also accurately. Similarly used at companies like Boeing, SpaceX, and MacDonnell Douglas, NX10 gives Symmetrix complete surface model control and simulation in either 3+2 optimized or full 5-axis machining instruction. Like Symmetrix, NX10 has been tested and used across a wide range of industries. The combination can produce outputs even seasoned craftsmen can't achieve. Whether it's curved composite roof columns or the exacting requirements of an America's Cup entrant, it can achieve tolerance within millimeters over a 26 meter surface and in a fraction of the time.
Then the exciting part starts. First the steel backbone frame with foam blocking is milled to within an inch or two of the final plug surface (all milled foam is recycled, BTW) and then the plug and foam are supported by fiberglass/epoxy reinforcement, and then an epoxy milling paste is applied over the glass. The part returns to the milling machine for a second and final precision machining operation to take it to the final surface. Hand sanding to 800 grit and buffing to a mirror shine then completes the effort.
From initial steel framing construction, to precision milling operations, to the final polishing the process to build a complete mirror finish hull plug/pattern will take just 7 short weeks. Production molds will then be constructed in January at CCFC and from there J/121 project development will accelerate through the winter and into spring.
By mid-December the Symettrix team completed the hull plug, with the majority of the actual CNC 5-axis machining taking place in the "rough cut" over a 2.5 day period! Here is the amazing production video of that process, watch it here on YouTube.com:


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The Accounting Historians Journal Vol. 11, No. 1 Spring 1984 BOOK REVIEWS Linda H. Kistler, Editor UNIVERSITY OF LOWELL Donald R. Adams, Jr., Finance and Enterprise in Early America: A Study of Stephen Girard's Bank 1812-1831 (University of Pennsylva-nia Press, 1978, pp. 173, price not available). Reviewed by Michelle Hamer University of Maryland Steven Girard was a wealthy Philadelphian with extensive inter-ests in shipping and trade between the U.S. and Europe. Economic instability in Europe resulting from the Napoleonic Wars and the uncertainty of international trade caused by imminent war between the U.S. and Britain led Girard to liquidate his European assets and repatriate the resulting funds in the years 1808-1812. He used this money to establish a large, unchartered, private (as opposed to cor-porate) bank. His bank was opposed by the state chartered banks already in existence. This book describes the bank's operations from its establishment in 1812 to its closing in 1831 immediately after Girard's death. Although this is the history of a single bank, the book provides considerable insight into banking legislation, the relationship be-tween the state and federal governments, and banking practices of the period. During the early years of the bank's existence, Girard was involved in a variety of attempts to influence banking legisla-tion at both the federal and state levels. During this period, federal legislation forbidding noncorporate banks, state legislation forbid-ding nonchartered banks, and tax legislation providing for higher taxes for noncorporate than for corporate banks were proposed. Girard attempted to persuade his powerful friends to block legisla-tion harmful to his bank. Girard's bank made a large investment in U.S. bonds used to finance the War of 1812. In return for this, his bank was made a depository bank for the U.S. Treasury and notes on his bank were accepted in payment of debts owed to the Trea-sury. The Treasury's financial problems during this period, high-


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Look what y'all have helped raise! $154.86!
50% of each "Do Small Things with Great Love" print has been donated to the Red Cross.
With sharing about Handmade with Purpose & having some crazy sales last week Pen & Paint has sold over 20 of these prints!
Thank you so much for helping give to those in need through the Red Cross's Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts.
Remember this will continue through December!
And don't forget about all the other shops giving back!


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Here are wallpaper files from pictures taken on my travels.
Clicking image will give wallpaper size: 1600x1600 Click to change wallpaper size: ( 1600x1600 | 1920x1200 | 1600x1200 | 1400x1050 | 1280x1024 | 1024x768)
Copyright 1998-2010; Philip Koopman
Personal, non-commercial use is granted. All other rights are reserved.
You can point to this page, but please do not link directly to the pictures nor copy the pictures to other sites.
Please note that some pictures are not available at higher resolutions.


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Turkey habitat management activities include improving turkey habitat on wildlife management areas and the Kisatchie National Forest as well as providing technical assistance to landowners and managers with an interest in improving turkey habitat on their lands. Habitat management techniques frequently used include maintaining openings, planting fall and spring food plots, hardwood composition enhancement, and, in pinelands, prescribed burning.
Wildlife Division personnel provide recommendations to LDWF on hunting seasons and regulations based on the results of the monitoring programs.


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Having Two Children - Daycare Guilt
I'm a full time working mom right now... I will be off work for close to 1 year for the birth of coming baby and I was thinking of how things will be. Nora goes to daycare right now that she attends full time. It's very hard to get a spot in a place like that... The lists are a few years long.
Anyway, I checked and it seems that generally, moms keep their older child at the daycare even after the birth of a new baby. So following that, it would mean one year of one-on-one time with the baby (weekdays). I feel a bit guilty about liking the idea of keeping Nora at the babysitters and having that time alone with the baby. If I do that, I do plan on making it a looser schedule than she has now, like from 9-4 instead of 8-5:30 like it is now and of course keeping her home more often than she's able to stay now...
I feel guilty because technically, I'd be going back to work at practically the same time as Nora starts to go to KG so I wouldn't NEED to reserve her spot at daycare... I feel guilty about 1) not being the best stay-at-home-mom during that year since I'd be getting one child babysat full time and 2) taking a spot that another child could occupy for that year.
I checked and it seems that culturally, it's not something I should feel guilty about. And I really think I can be a better mom this way. Focus on giving the baby what I was able to give Nora and let Nora enjoy her daycare like she always does and have that extra bit of education(pre-school) t prepare her for KG that I might be too overwhelmed to give her if I have two kids full time.
What is your point of view on this? Has anyone accepted a similar luxury and how did it go? Anyone have personal experience of thinking this set-up could have helped them? Anyone think I'm exaggerating if I choose to continue to send Nora to daycare during this year?


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Zaouia Sufi Shrine Architecture, Marrakesh, Morocco
Zaouia / zawiya burial tomb shrine site of Sidi Abdullah al-Ghazwani, Marrakesh, Morocco, 2016–04-19.
Sidi Abdullah al-Ghazwani, successor of Sidi Abdul Aziz, was a sufi known for his skills in building water channels and wells. He was one of the seven patron saints of Marrakesh and a Sufi mystic and Islamic Scholar.
- Filename
- AK6A0002.jpg
- Copyright
- Chris Griffiths
- Image Size
- 3840x5760 / 2.9MB
Morocco Moroccan Africa African Architecture Moroccan Zaouia Design Building sufi Islamic North Africa travel Medina traditional Marrakech Islam Arab Andalus saint Islamic awliya Sidi Abdullah al-Ghazwani zawiya Sufi shrine landmark heritage old sacred Zaira pilgrimage tomb burial site sufism religion religious Islam old
- Contained in galleries
- Marrakesh


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innovationXchange is DFAT's development innovation hub.
A celebration of Australia delivered in a country or region of strategic significance.
Ensuring Australia continues to build soft power and exercise influence effectively.
To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, we maintain travel advisories for more than 170 destinations.
The Australian Passport Office and its agents are committed to providing a secure, efficient and responsive passport service for Australia.
The mission of the Australia Malaysia Institute (AMI) is to promote Australia's interests in Malaysia by initiating and supporting activities designed to enhance awareness, links and understanding between people and institutions in Australia and Malaysia.
The functions of the Australia – Malaysia Institute are to:
Accordingly, this Strategic Plan sets out the AMI's goals and strategic programs. The Strategic Plan will be supplemented by a Business Plan for each financial year detailing activities more precisely and recommending expenditures for those activities from the funds allocated to the AMI.
In order to promote and strengthen the Australia - Malaysia bilateral relationship, the Australia - Malaysia Institute will pursue four goals.
The following strategies will enable the Australia – Malaysia Institute to meet its goals.
The Advisory Board will meet three times a year, and at least one of these meetings will consider the Business Plan for the following financial year.
Former Vice Chancellor, Curtin University of Technology
Vice President Government Relations, BHP Billiton
Deputy Secretary, Ex-officio member, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Presenter, ABC
General Manager - Football at Football West
Associate Professor, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
Executive Director, Asia Education Foundation
Managing Director, c-Centric Innovations and Deputy Chairman, Australian Information Industry Association
Founder and Managing Director, Crescent Wealth
The Australia-Malaysia Institute (hereafter referred to as "the Institute") was established in April 2005 for an initial period of three years. Consistent with the terms of its establishment, the Institute was reviewed in April 2008. This review concluded that the Institute had had a positive impact on bilateral relations and on 10 July 2008 Prime Minister Rudd announced the Government's decision to make the Institute permanent.
2. The Institute's mission is to promote Australia's interests in Malaysia by initiating and supporting activities designed to enhance awareness, links and understanding between people and institutions in Australia and Malaysia.
3. The Institute's objectives are:
4. The Institute will:
5. The Institute is an advisory body for the Minister, through DFAT, and has no executive powers. The Institute is directly responsible and accountable to the Minister for the exercise of its responsibilities.
7. The Board does not have a legal identity separate to that of DFAT. The Board cannot, therefore, enter into contracts, incur debts or spend funds. To meet Government accountability requirements, the First Assistant Secretary of the South-East Asia Division or the Assistant Secretary of the South-East Asia (North) Branch or other relevant financial delegate of DFAT, will have responsibility for approving the expenditure of funds, the engagement of consultants and entering into contracts by DFAT for the performance of the activities mandated by the Institute's Business Plan and for other matters related to the carrying out of the Institute's purposes.
8. The Institute will:
12. A person appointed to the Board (other than the ex officio member) shall be:
This clause has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.
13. A member who holds any office or appointment (or is otherwise employed) on a full time basis in the service of the Commonwealth, the Administration of a Territory or a public statutory corporation is not entitled to be paid any remuneration in respect of his or her holding or performing the duties of the Chair or member of the Institute. The member may be entitled to travelling allowances.
17. Subject to DFAT guidelines and consistent with its mission, the Institute is encouraged to seek additional revenue by way of sponsorship and other means including the sale of publications. Such additional revenue will be allocated to the same cost centre as DFAT funding. All sponsorship should follow DFAT's policies and procedures for the management of the Institute.


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Sirius Beach and Azalea Beach are beaches situated north of Varna in Bulgaria. The beaches have names of hotels situated at the beach. The hotel owners describe large scale erosion at the beaches over the years. Throughout the years groups of students from Delft have measured the waterline (by GPS) and the cross sections. The beaches are...student report 2012


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This wasn't your typical chastisement of the officials.
But it is the reason why the NBA can't pretend it doesn't have an issue on its hands with its labor stalemate with its referees.
With 1 minute, 21 seconds to play in Monday's Heat-Pistons exhibition at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra no longer could contain himself.
U.S. & World
"Hey!" he barked to the three referees wearing Nos. 148, 120 and 159. "Pay attention out there."
That was after, in a five-point game, the replacements had allowed Pistons point guard Will Bynum to stroll to the free-throw line and knock down two foul shots. Problem was, Bynum wasn't fouled by the Heat's Shavlik Randolph, Maceo Baston was.
So playing the moment shrewdly, the Heat coaching staff first waited to see if Bynum would miss. After he didn't, they called attention to the blunder, one, by rule, that is allowed to be rectified even after the points are put on the board.
After a huddle by the trio wearing the preposterous officiating ID total of 427 (by comparison, Joey Crawford, Ronnie Garretson and Jimmy Clark would add up to 33), Maceo Baston was correctly sent to the line. He missed both attempts.
Granted, it certainly wasn't an unprecedented blunder. But recall that in the first exhibition officiated by replacement refs this preseason, there also was an attempt at such a foul-line switcheroo in Jazz-Nuggets before it was foiled.
And that, as much as grousing about actual calls, is where the officiating impasse will lead the league.
If a relative coaching neophyte such as Spoelstra can grab the upper hand in his first encounter with the replacements, imagine what Phil Jackson, Don Nelson and Larry Brown might achieve when the lights go on for real.
It's one thing to advance officiating prospects from the D-League and WNBA. It certainly is a quality pipeline. But under normal working conditions, those promotions would come alongside a Steve Javie or Danny Crawford or Scott Foster, someone who would prevent the newcomers from being played like saps.
Instead, if you're concerned about Shaq's free-throw shooting dragging down the Cavaliers, don't worry. Apparently Mo Williams will be taking those, instead.


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Sorry if this is misplaced, I've had a look through stickies and FAQs but can't find out how to post code that is syntax highlighted in colour.
I assume there is a utility that understands C and C++ syntax and also vBulletin colour tags but is it standalone or an editor plug-in?
I'm using TextPad on Windows XP and vi on Suse Linux and Ubuntu Linux and vim on Cygwin. These have their own colour syntax highlighting but do not use vBulletin [COLOR] tags.