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SEOUL, South Korea — The passing of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has been marked by plunging temperatures, mourning bears and now, according to North Korean state media, by flocks of magpies.
The death of Kim Jong Il
- Report: Red skies, stormy seas marked Kim's death
- Circumstances of Kim Jong Il's death fabricated?
- Politics trump hunger in N.Korea
- Slideshow: The life of Kim Jong ll
- Source: Military coup in N. Korea 'unlikely'
- NYT: In Kim's death, an extensive intelligence failure
- Cartoons: The life and death of Kim Jong Il
- Analysis: Opportunities, dangers loom over N. Korea
- Even in death, details of Kim Jong Il's life elusive
- Kim Jong Il remembered as 'Team America' star
Kim, who died in December aged 69 years after 17 years running the world's most reclusive state, was reputed to be able to control the weather, as well as to have scored a miraculous 38 under par round of golf.
"At around 17:30 on December 19, 2011, hundreds of magpies appeared from nowhere and hovered over a statue of President Kim Il Sung on Changdok School campus in Mangyongdae District, clattering as if they were telling him the sad news," state news agency KCNA reported on Monday.Video: Kim Jong Un takes power in North Korea (on this page)
Kim's death was announced on December 19, although he was reported by official media to have died on December 17 on a train journey to give guidance to his subjects.
He has been succeeded by his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, who will become the third of his line to head the world's only hereditary totalitarian Stalinist state. Mythmaking is a key part of the personality cult that surrounds the family of founding father Kim Il-sung.
Mythmaking for Kim Jong-un, believed to be in his late 20s, has already started. He is portrayed as the spitting image of his grandfather and has been dubbed the "genius of geniuses" in military affairs despite having no known military experience.Story: Kim Jong Un vowed 'real war' if rocket was shot down
KCNA reported last week that a family of bears who usually hibernate through the fierce Korean winter had been seen lamenting Kim Jong-il's death.
"The bears, believed to be a mother and cubs, were staying on the road, crying woefully," it said.
China, S. Korea meet
As North Korea's media engaged in apparent mythmaking, the leader of the country's most important ally China met with the president of South Korea.
The two presidents agreed to work together to achieve peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, in their first summit since Kim's death opened the chance for major changes in North Korea.Video: Farewell for North Korea's 'dear leader' (on this page)
While North Korea is often a topic when Chinese and South Korean leaders meet, the death of its leader pushed it to the center of the summit, which was to have focused on mending frayed relations over Chinese fishing fleet incursions in South Korean waters and Beijing's support for Pyongyang.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese President Hu Jintao exchanged "candid views on the situation on the Korean peninsula which has recently faced a crucial moment" and agreed to work together to achieve peace and stability there, South Korea's presidential Blue House said in a statement.
Hu told Lee that China is willing to make "unremitting efforts" to safeguard peace and stability between the Koreas, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The presidents had been expected to emphasize their shared concern for the stability of North Korea — poor but with nuclear weapons programs — as it makes an uncertain transition to rule by Kim's son, Kim Jong Un, and a coterie of his father's advisers.
Beyond that, however, their priorities diverged. China dislikes even talking in detail about its North Korea ally with other countries, seeing it as an invitation to meddling.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.


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Sandler Certification
Dave Mattson, Sandler CEO & President, describes best-fit candidates for Sales Certification.
top-performing sales programs reinforced by cutting edge measurement and documentation
Who are best-fit candidates for Sales Certification?
The best-fit candidates include anyone who's making a serious investment in training and wants to accelerate the process through a clearly defined learning path with documented results.

subset: commoncrawl


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David Cameron has revealed his true priority for 2014 – to keep his bald spot hidden.
The prime minister was speaking at the annual Westminster correspondents' dinner before an audience of journalists.
The event – revived for the first time since 1974 – was an opportunity for Cameron to show off his sense of humour and poke some gentle fun at his tormentors in the press.
Looking out at the crowd of reporters dressed in black tie in the grand surroundings of the House of Commons Members' dining room, the PM quipped: "The last time I was at a dinner this posh, Boris [Johnson] spent the rest of the night in prison."
Tongue firmly in cheek, the PM recounted a day spent canvassing with the London mayor, when a woman answered their knock on the door with the words: "Boris, you're the father of one of my children."
A moment's horrified flustering by Johnson was ended as she added: "It's your daughter; I'm her maths teacher."
The assembled press, eager to hear Cameron's plans for 2014, pricked up their ears and licked their pencils as he said he was ready to announce "my priorities for the year ahead".
"Number one," he said. "Keeping the bald spot under control."
He insisted he had not known in advance that his hairdresser was getting an MBE in the New Year's Honours but he added: "If you can make cuts and stop recession at the same time, you deserve an honour."
His other two priorities, he said, were keeping the coalition on the road while Nick Clegg "the product of the mean streets of Westminster and Cambridge", tried to differentiate himself from the public-school Tories, and keeping Lib Dem Home Office minister Norman Baker off the television.
He had some acerbic words for his own party, noting that after press reports of a letter from 95 Eurosceptic backbenchers, "the only problem was that there was no letter, they didn't send it and it didn't have 95 signatures".
He praised backbencher Penny Mordaunt for her decision to appear on ITV's Splash to raise money for charity, adding: "If every Tory MP who's taken their clothes off in recent years had had such noble intentions, we would be in a much better position."
He even had kind words for his greatest adversary in the House of Commons – shadow chancellor Ed Balls, with whom he claimed to have a lot in common.
"We both love The Sound of Music, we both love Delia Smith – for different reasons – and we both like the Antiques Roadshow," he said. "I like it for the heartwarming stories, Ed likes it when they sell the family silver."
Cameron ended with praise for Britain's tradition of a free and fearless press, paying tribute to the Guardian's parliamentary sketchwriter Simon Hoggart, who died earlier this month.
"At its best, the British press and the political press has a vital role to play in our country," said the prime minister.
"Tenacious, uncontrollable, sceptical, often uncomfortable for us politicians, British political reporting is deservedly respected around the world for the way it probes, inquires and scrutinises. These things are lynchpins of our democracy."


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In this global economy, the people you deal with are more dispersed than ever. Yet at the same time 75% of business executives consider in-person collaboration an imperative. The survey that revealed that figure is an interesting read, and validates experiences that we've all encountered first-hand. How many times have you experienced communications that were misinterpreted or failed to engage participants effectively, negatively impacting relationships, projects, and business outcomes? As the pace of business gets faster and more complex, how do you: get everyone on the same page; scale resources to be in more places at once; and maintain face-to-face relationships with widely dispersed colleagues, customers, agencies, partners and advisors?
Visual collaboration is the next stage for many businesses as they put in place collaboration strategies to drive even higher levels of productivity for their business. However, for some organizations the up-front costs -- to deploy the technology, train or acquire the right IT skill set, and provide the needed consistent level of inter-connectivity -- can be barriers preventing them from accelerating business impact through video.
With our October 16 announcement, customers now have more choice in how they consume visual collaboration with Cisco TelePresence-as-a-Service (TPaaS). Cisco TPaaS places the Cisco TelePresence infrastructure in the cloud, powered by Cisco's best-in-class architecture and network and managed by trusted Cisco certified partners. With this as-a-Service offering, there are even more flexible options for the deployment of telepresence and the acceleration of business impact through video. With Cisco TPaaS delivered from the cloud, organizations experience a predictable OpEx model, simplify operations (including interoperability with legacy video solutions), reduce risk of technology obsolescence, free IT resources to focus on core and strategic initiatives, and gain capabilities to scale based on business demand.
Expanded Cisco TPaaS service options help users:
Meet any time with an in-person experience. New "rendezvous" meeting options provide a personal conference bridge which can be used to meet securely with your colleagues, customers and partners -- no scheduling required.
Work the way they want/need to work. With cloud-based Cisco TPaaS, it is simpler and quicker for businesses to scale video and telepresence to those specific people who can create the greatest impact using video. Companies simply provide or lease the video and telepresence endpoints needed to meet users' varying needs -- from immersive in-room solutions to desktop to employees' personal mobile devices. A qualified Cisco partner handles the rest.
Customize and control their meeting environment. New active meeting management options enable real-time meeting controls to help users create the appropriate atmosphere for the topic and attendee profile. For example, hosts can quickly and easily manage participant add or drops, creating personalized messages, changing the layout, muting background conversations, securing meeting access, extending a scheduled meeting or capturing a meeting roster.
In our November 14 webcast, our Cisco product experts will provide more detail on this and other cloud collaboration announcements, and also provide some guidance on finding the right deployment model for your business. Hope you can join us.
You must be a registered user to add a comment. If you've already registered, sign in. Otherwise, register and sign in.


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Air Force Alaskan Air Command Subdued Patch T-Shirt
The design of the United States Air Force Subdued Patch T-Shirt line is based on the Air Force organization emblem, centered over the chest in bold black. Each design is available on Foliage Green or Heather Grey tees.
At USAMM we print our original designs on Canvas brand tees for comfort, clean fit and quality.
Shirt Specifications:
Air Force service pride t-shirts by USAMM Apparel. Designed and printed in-house!


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Fall Concert: Until When?
One Night Only! World Premiere of Dance Commission
Cornish College dancers unveiled Pat Hon's choreography to Betty Olivero's suite from the classic silent film The Golem. Also, Eugene Levitas' song cycle Until When? sung in the original Hebrew with a dramatic reading in English by ACT Theater's Kurt Beattie. Plus works from Marc Lavry, Eugene Levitas, and the audacious Erwin Schulhoff. Also featuring a performance by Takumi Taguchi, the winner of the 2013-2014 David Tonkonogui Memorial Award.
Meet the Artists
6:15PM: Choreographer Pat Hon & Clarinetist Laura DeLuca
Interviewed by Nancy Uscher, President, Cornish College of the Arts
Fall Concert Program
Nigun (1923)
Ernest Bloch
Takumi Taguchi, violin (2013-2014 David Tonkonogui Memorial Award Winner)
Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano (1927)
Erwin Schulhoff
Mikhail Shmidt, violin; Mark Salman, piano
Until When? (2011)
Eugene Levitas
Poetry by Hungarian Holocaust survivor Yaakov Barzilai
English Translation read by actor Kurt Beattie
Kurt Beattie, actor
Karen Early Evans, soprano; Walter Gray, cello; Mina Miller, piano
Suite Concertante for Flute, Viola and Harp, Op. 348 (1966)
Marc Lavry
Zart Dombourian-Eby, flute; Susan Gulkis Assadi, viola; Valerie Muzzolini, harp
Zeks Yiddishe Lider un Tantz from The Golem (1997)
Betty Olivero
Laura DeLuca, clarinet; Mikhail Shmidt, violin; Leonid Keylin, violin; Susan Gulkis Assadi, viola; Mara Finkelstein, cello
*In collaboration with the Dance Department at Cornish College of the Arts.
Nigun (1924)
Ernest Bloch
(b. Geneva, Switzerland, 1880 – d. Portland, OR, 1959)
For much of the 20th century, Ernest Bloch was the preeminent voice of a "Jewish sound" in concert music. Bloch was born into a home where the chants of Talmud study sank deeply into his musical memory. Later, his teachers included Émile Jacques-Dalcroze and Eugène Ysaÿe. In Geneva, he was a bookkeeper in his father's business, while composing, conducting, and lecturing at the Geneva Conservatory. Describing his music, Bloch stated: "It is the Jewish soul that interests me, the complex, glowing, agitated soul which I feel vibrating throughout the Bible…this is in me, and is the better part of me."
Mina Miller, piano; Takumi Taguchi, violin
Bloch made a significant contribution to American musical life as director of the Cleveland Institute of Music (1920–25) and the San Francisco Conservatory (1925–30). He lived for most of the 1930s in Switzerland, but immigrated to the United States in 1940 in reaction to the rampant anti-Semitism throughout Europe and the Third Reich's policies banning the performance, publication and employment of Jewish composers. He was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley from 1942–52.
Bloch's Nigun is the second movement of his Baal Shem (Three Pieces of Chassidic Life), a work that depicts spiritual and religious elements of orthodox Jewish life. A nigun ("humming tune" in Hebrew) is a religious song, without words, that can serve as a path to higher consciousness and transformation of being. Especially important in the Hassidic movement, it is an improvisation that reflects deep emotional and religious feeling.
Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 2 (1927)
Erwin Schulhoff
(b. Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1894 – d. Wülzburg concentration camp, 1942)
Erwin Schulhoff was an audaciously original voice whose fascinating career was brought to an abrupt end in a Nazi concentration camp. An innovative composer, he saw the performance of his music banned as "degenerate" during the early days of the Reich; as a Jew and a socialist, he was slated for destruction by Nazi hands. Even after the war, Schulhoff's legacy faced non-musical obstacles. In Western Europe, his music was stigmatized because of his communist affiliations; in Eastern Europe, performance of his music was limited by his German-Jewish heritage. Yet during the period between the two world wars, Schulhoff was a vital creative force in European artistic life, active both as pianist and composer. The extraordinary variety of his music reflects the period's volatile social and political atmosphere.
Born in Prague, Schulhoff was recognized as a child prodigy by Dvorák. He studied piano and composition at the conservatories of Prague, Vienna, Leipzig and Cologne, and in 1913 took lessons with Debussy. He emerged from a relatively traditional musical education as a free thinker who embraced new currents in both popular and art music. A formidable pianist, Schulhoff championed the music of his time—Scriabin, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern—as well as the avant-garde quarter-tone piano music of his Czech compatriot Alois Haba.
Schulhoff was conscripted into the Austrian army in 1914. He returned four years later disillusioned and angry, and became a committed socialist. In Berlin, he soon became acquainted with the Dadaists, whose absurdist art movement and anti-bourgeois stance resonated with Schulhoff's unconventional ideas and revolutionary spirit. Through his friendship with painter George Grosz, also a collector of contemporary American jazz recordings, Schulhoff became acquainted with that idiom. He worked as a jazz pianist in the "Hot Jazz" clubs of Europe in the 1920s, and was one of the first composers (pre-dating even Gershwin) to incorporate jazz elements.
With the rise of Nazism, Schulhoff's career in Germany ended, despite his artistic triumphs in Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden. He returned to Prague, where he jeopardized his status by becoming a Communist. In 1939 he became a Soviet citizen, and sought to emigrate there following the Nazi takeover of Czechoslovakia that year. Before his visa arrived, he was arrested in Prague as a Jew, a "degenerate artist," and a Soviet citizen—an undesirable on all fronts.
Returning to Prague in 1923, Schulhoff launched a new creative period inspired by a synthesis of avant-gardism with European mainstream tradition. Composed in November 1927, his second sonata for violin and piano is a brilliant and intense work. It reflects Schulhoff's distinctive wit, and his passions for jazz and dance. The sonata's second movement is deeply expressive and emotionally rich. While a virtuosic work for both instruments, the sonata's idiomatic writing for the violin is striking. It was premiered by Richard Zika, leader of the Czechoslovak Quartet, who was also the first performer of a solo violin sonata that Schulhoff composed earlier in the same year.
Until When? (2009)
Eugene Levitas
(b. Kiev, 1972)
Eugene Levitas offers the following remarks about Until When?
Until When? was commissioned by soprano Sharon Rostorf-Zamir for her CD "Forever to Remember" with songs to poems by Yaakov Barzilai. I wasn't yet familiar with Barzilai, but in reading his books I was struck by the beauty of the intensely painful poetry he devoted his life to writing about the Holocaust. Many of Barzilai's poems have already been set to music by other composers, and I sought to create something fresh and different. I discovered a short verse, four-lines long, and was amazed by the clarity of what can be expressed so powerfully with only a few words. It inspired me to create the cycle, based on five short poems, which you'll hear tonight. I find Barzilai's poetry deeply meaningful, and hope that this music will communicate their intense emotion to you.
Walter Gray, cello; Mina Miller, piano; Karen Early Evans, soprano; Kurt Beattie, actor
Composer Eugene Levitas belongs to a new generation of young Israeli composers. He is fluent in the diverse musical styles of classical, contemporary, jazz, electronic and pop-rock music. Levitas' concert music has been performed by many leading orchestras and artists including the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra, and conductor-violist Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists.
Poet Yaakov Barzilai survived the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where his father and grandfather perished. He has been living in Israel since 1949, active writing, lecturing, and presenting his poems. Over 100 of his poems have been set to music and performed worldwide by various solo and instrumental ensembles. The five poems which comprise this song cycle were published in Barzilai's poetry collection: Letters Weeping in Fire (2004). Barzilai was invited to read one of his poems at the Knesset, marking Israel's 2010 Yom HaShoah commemoration ceremony. Each year more than 30,000 Israeli students take his poetry on site visits to Auschwitz, where they are recited.
Suite Concertante for Flute, Viola and Harp, Op. 348 (1966)
Marc Lavry
(b. Riga, Latvia, 1903 – d. Haifa, Israel, 1967)
"I immigrated to Israel in 1935 and immediately felt that I found my spiritual homeland…I felt that the country inspired me as a composer…." —Marc Lavry
Before Hitler's ascent to power, Marc Lavry was widely respected as a composer and conductor in Germany. After studying composition at the Leipzig Conservatory, and conducting with leading figures such as Hermann Scherchen and Bruno Walter, Lavry held a conducting post at the Saarbrücken Opera House. In 1929 he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic.
Zart Dombourian-Eby, flute, Valerie Muzzolini, harp, Susan Gulkis Assadi, viola
Two months into the Nazi regime, Lavry returned to his native Riga, but then chose to leave after Latvia's own fascist coup. He and his wife immigrated to Palestine in 1935, and Lavry quickly established himself as a composer, conductor, pianist, arranger and orchestrator.
Lavry is considered one of the founders of the Israeli Mediterranean School of composition. Along with other European émigré composers such as Paul Ben Haim and Odeon Partos, he was inspired by his new surroundings. They came to feel that composing music in a purely European style betrayed their newly-found desire to compose Israeli music. Lavry's compositions drew on indigenous folk material, modal patterns, and the musical rhythms of his adopted country. He sought a musical style that was transparent, emotionally communicative, and dominated by melody. He wrote over 400 musical works, ranging from grand opera and symphonic works to chamber music and popular songs.
Lavry composed the Suite Concertante for Flute, Viola and Harp in 1966. Two of the work's three movements are based on the composer's original songs: the opening movement, "Shir Roim" (A Shepherd's Song), is pastoral and innocent; the concluding movement, "Machol" (Dance), is strongly rhythmic and humorous. The work's middle movement, Prayer, depicts the conflict between the past and present by juxtaposing the minor mode of traditional Jewish prayer melody with major tonalities expressive of an optimism inherent in new Israeli music. The late composer's son, Dan Lavry, lives with his family on Bainbridge Island, and we were honored that they were here for the concert.
Zeks Yiddishe Lider un Tantz from The Golem (1997)
Music by Betty Olivero (b. Tel Aviv, Israel, 1954)
Choreography by Pat Hon, Cornish College of the Arts
World Premiere of Destination Unknown
Commissioned by Music of Remembrance
Destination Unknown is Cornish choreographer Pat Hon's new dance work set to a musical suite that Israeli composer Betty Olivero adapted in 1997 from her complete score to accompany Paul Wegner's classic silent film The Golem: How He Came into the World.
Instrumentalists: Laura DeLuca, clarinet; Mikhail Shmidt, violin; Leonid Keylin, violin; Susan Gulkis Assadi, viola; Mara Finkelstein, cello
In ancient Jewish folklore, a Golem is a living being created entirely from inanimate matter. Probably the most famous Golem narrative involves Rabbi Judah Loew of 16th-century Prague, who was said to have created a Golem to protect Prague's Jews from the emperor's threats of expulsion or destruction. The rabbi fashioned the Golem out of clay and brought him to life by reciting special incantations. The Golem protected the Jewish community from harm, but he also grew increasingly violent and spread fear among the Gentiles. In the face of the Golem's strength, the emperor implored Rabbi Loew to destroy the Golem in exchange for ending the persecution of the Jews. Historically, the legend has served as a complex metaphor for the struggle to survive during times of persecution.
Wegener's 1920 film is considered a landmark in early expressionist cinema, and the addition of Olivero's musical score brought it renewed attention. In 1997, Olivero created an abridged version that would allow concert performances of the music without a screening of the film. That adaptation, Der Golem - Zeks Yiddishe Lieder un Tantz, preserves the main musical themes and motifs that accompany the various characters and scenes in the film from the old Golem legend: the creation of the Golem by Rabbi Loew; the love scenes between the rabbi's daughter and a young courtier; the destruction of the emperor's palace; the apocalyptic fire that consumes the town squares, with the crowd praying and shouting for forgiveness and deliverance in synagogue. Ecstatic klezmer musical sections accompany the village scenes. The film's two most dramatic moments – when the rabbi succeeds in breathing the spirit of life into the Golem, and when the Golem's stern face melts to warmth and longing when an innocent young girl offers him a flower – are accompanied by the traditional Hebrew melody Place Me Under Thy Wing.
Cornish College of the Arts dancers: Narissa Herndon, Brent Kehoe, Mariah Martens, Trevor Miles, Sage Miller, Samuel Opsal, Micaela Taylor
Music of Remembrance first performed the concert suite in 2000, and it became an instant favorite of MOR audiences. In 2008 MOR also performed the complete score to accompany a screening of the film. The suite's six dances and songs leave listeners wanting to dance in the aisles – but, amazingly, the work had never been presented with actual live dance. For years, MOR had envisioned commissioning a dance work that would bring this new dimension to the stage. Cornish College choreographer Pat Hon took on the challenge of translating the subtly-nuanced music and the mystical story into evocative movement. The result, Destination Unknown, is a work that combines memory with fantasy, history with myth. The endeavor also gave MOR a wonderful opportunity to partner with Cornish, and we hope that this will be the first of many meaningful collaborations.
About Music notes by Mina Miller. Copyright 2013 Music of Remembrance.


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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – #12 Wake Forest bolted to an early lead and never looked back in defeating #7 North Carolina 2-1 in women's soccer action before 1,250 fans at Fetzer Field Sunday afternoon.
Goals by Katie Stengel in the 25th minute and Annick McBryar in the 48th minute proved enough for the Demon Deacons to hold off a late charge by the Tar Heels. It was the first win for Wake over Carolina since October 27, 2000 when the Deacs won 1-0 in Winston-Salem, N.C. Wake is undefeated against Carolina in its last three games against the Tar Heels, going 1-0-2 in that span.
Just as Carolina had marred Duke's Senior Night celebration last Thursday night in a 2-0 win at Durham, Wake turned the tables on Carolina and ruined its Senior Day celebration Sunday afternoon. Ten UNC seniors playing in their final seasons at Carolina were honored in pre-match ceremonies on Sunday at Fetzer Field. The group included Megan Brigman, Amber Brooks, Hannah Daly, Adelaide Gay, Maria Lubrano, Barkley Minton, Marina Nesic, Alyssa Rich and Kristine Welsh-Loveman. Brigman is eligible for a redshirt season in 2013.
Wake scored on its first two shots of the game and it limited UNC to only eight shots in the contest, matching the season low of eight in a 2-0 win over Connecticut on August 31 in South Bend, Ind. Wake limited UNC to only one shot in the first half and that came from Kelly McFarlane in the 38th minute.
The Deacons had only one first-half shot but it found the back of the net as Katie Stengel scored her seventh goal of the season on a breakaway, getting assists from Kristen Meier and Riley Ridgik. Stengel got behind the UNC defense and finished into the lower right corner from the top of the 18-yard box past UNC goalkeeper Adelaide Gay. The goal came at the 24:08 mark.
Wake made it 2-0 in the third minute of the second half when Rachel Nuzzolese placed a perfect corner kick into the center of the penalty box. Annick McBryar found herself unmarked at the six-yard line and she redirected the corner into the center of the goal for her first goal of the year. It was the first goal allowed on a corner kick by UNC this season and it came at 47:15.
The Tar Heels got a goal back in the 60th minute when Crystal Dunn's shot ricocheted off the cross bar and freshman Summer Green put away the rebound into the right side from six yards out. It was the freshman's sixth goal of the season and it came at the 59:38 mark.
Carolina had at least two decent looks at a game-tying goal down the stretch. Freshman Katie Bowen missed just high on a shot from 15 yards in the 78th minute and Alyssa Rich's shot from the left side of the box went wide right in the 84th minute.
The Demon Deacons (12-3-3, ACC 6-2-1) moved into a tie for second place with Maryland in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings with the victory with 19 points while Carolina (9-4-2, ACC 5-3-1) is in fifth place in the league standings with one game remaining Thursday night at NC State at 7 p.m. If Virginia beats Virginia Tech later today the Cavaliers will move into a fifth-place tie in the standings with the Tar Heels as both with have 16 points in the standings. Duke currently occupies fourth place in the league with 17 points. Florida State defeated Maryland 1-0 Sunday to clinch the ACC regular season championship with an 8-1 ACC record heading into its game Thursday night at Miami.


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Whodeani111 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 68 diseños de 25 diseñadores freelance.
Design a new eye-catching logo for Australia's leading new comedy website for jokes, videos, pictures and more.
Jokes.com.au is running another (2nd) competition after our first round looking for a new logo for our website.
The winner of the first competition came up with a concept we liked (you can see the 'chattering teeth' logo here http://99designs.com/contests/20909) but while we loved the concept, the work was unusable as presented.
It did however give us a clear direction as to the look we are after.
We can now offer a brief and a new prize that should get us a more complete piece of creative.
The use of the chattering teeth icon (http://images.google.com/images?hl=…ring+teeth), is the direction we wish to go in... that is to have a logo that includes the 'chattering teeth' image be it an original photo taken by yourself, a line drawing, cartoon style or whatever.
The image can be included within the text, around the text etc...
This image is very iconic and clearly says "humor, jokes, funny stuff".
We can see this image on our website, on t-shirts, merchandise and much more.
Use the image of the chattering teeth to design an illustrated logo icon with text for the jokes.com.au website.
Keep in mind how this will look as a website header as well as how well it will translate on video as moving animation.
This logo should also look great printed on a t-shirt, cap, coffee mug, business card etc. Use of colors are at your discretion. We are looking for something organic, stylized, eye-catching and says Wow!!!
Our audience is teens up and needs to be hip, fun and funky.
I don't want predictable, cliched designs. Take a risk and let my feedback guide you as to the finer tweaks. Get your ideas up and don't be afraid to experiment. Wacky is good. Safe is bad. Avoid generic fonts that have been used to death.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Bewitching Earth
Lorraine Ray
Published February 3rd 2012
|About the Book
Lorraine Ray writes novels and short stories. Born into an old Tucson family, she has carried forward their interest in writing. Her great grandfather was a civilian packer with Gen. George Crooks army and late in life became a familiar pest at the Arizona Historical Society where his autobiographies MY LIFE IN THE WEST and REMINISCENCES AS TOLD TO MRS. KITT are now kept far away from the public. The author of TROMBONES CAN LAUGH and A PHANTOM HERD married an Englishman and has spent many summer vacations with her husband and daughter tramping across the South Downs and avoiding sheep droppings. Besides writing, one of her favorite jobs was a two-year stint as a crazy lunch lady.


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What size of Signature Pad should I choose?
It depends on the amount of text you wish to display, and if you want to display soft-keys for actions such as Clear, Cancel, or Accept. To display full documents, scroll up or down, and sign on the screen, the DTU-1031 or a larger pen displays would be ideal.
What does a color screen have to do with eSignatures?
Color screens provide an additional level of visual feedback, such as green for positive actions, and red for cancellations or warnings. In addition, color signature pads provide an eye-catching platform for displaying your corporate logo. And when they not actively capturing signatures, they can display your current promotional messages, like a screen saver slideshow.
How does a Wacom signature pad connect to the PC?
All Wacom STU signature pads connect to the computer via a single USB cable. This simple connection provides power as well as transmits the data to the screen and also receives the signature data and any pen movements and clicks.
Does Wacom signature pads work out-of-the-box?
Wacom STU signature pads require supporting software in order to function. Wacom sign pro PDF works with all Wacom signature pads and pen displays, as does eSignature software from our partners such as SoftPro and XYZMo. If you are a developer and want to integrate eSignature functionality into your application, then you can request the necessary Software Developer Kits from Wacom.
What if my software does not support Wacom signature pads?
If you are a developer and want to integrate eSignature functionality into your application, then you can request the necessary Software Developer Kits from Wacom.
How do I get your SDKs
You can visit the SDK page to learn more about Wacom's available SDKs, as well as the online forms necessary to request your own copy.
Is the DTU-1031 a signature pad or a pen display?
It is both. The DTU-1031 functions as a pen display, which means that once the drivers are installed, the pen controls the cursor in any application, including left click, double click, and right click. The Wacom Signature SDK, and e-Signature software from Wacom, SoftPro, and Xyzmo also recognize the DTU-1031 for signature capture.
Is any signature data stored in your devices?
No. All Wacom signature pads and pen displays are purposely designed to not store any user data. This greatly strengthens their inherent security capability, as no user data can be compromised if the device is stolen or damaged.
Most signature pads I've seen are badly scratched and worn, are Wacom's any different?
Wacom's signature pads and pen displays are designed with a protective surface of tempered glass. This glass surface is much harder than the plastic material of the pen nib, so the nib wears, not the screen surface. This glass surface withstands hundreds of thousands of signatures with no visible wear. Many other signature pads use a plastic signing surface, which will scratch and deteriorate with normal use.
What drivers are necessary for the DTU-1031?
Two drivers are required: A DisplayLink driver to enable the device to operate as an external monitor, and a Wacom tablet driver to enable the pen to operate properly.
Which signature pad is best for use in a brightly lit office, near windows?
All monochrome STU signature pads use transreflective screens, which means that ambient light controls the brightness of the screen. The brighter the room lighting, the brighter the display becomes. Backlit displays are better for viewing in rooms that are not as bright, as they have their own light source to make the display visible. All Wacom color signature pads and pen displays are backlit.
What is an electronic signature and what is it used for?
A handwritten signature establishes a clear link between a written document and its author. An electronic signature is used to assign an electronic document to its originator, thereby assuring authorship. A qualified signature also safeguards a document's authenticity (is the document actually from whom it says it is?) and integrity (has the document been changed at any time during the transmission process?).
What are the advantages of electronic handwritten signatures?
- Reduced process costs thanks to shorter processing and throughput times for electronic documents
- More efficient workflows thanks to continuous process chains all the way from creation to archiving of media
- Reduced operating costs and outlay on consumables for printing and copying
- Savings on the investment, maintenance and administration of scanning solutions for document archiving
- Savings on the production, storage and paper logistics of pre-printed forms
- Improved security through a certified signature process
- Flexibility to accommodate last-minute changes to standard forms, e.g. revision of bank account details or General Terms and Conditions
What are the possibilities available for electronic handwritten signatures?
Document scanners use CCD sensors to read the image of a handwritten signature as colour and brightness information of individual pixels. The signature is recorded as static image information only. The appearance of a signature alone is not a secure criterion, because the individual dynamic parameters of the signature are missing. Signature pads take security to the next level by analysing the signature as it is handwritten on a sensor panel using a special pen. In addition to the appearance of the signature, they record biometric parameters such as acceleration, pressure progression and the angle of the pen while signing, thereby producing a kind of a "digital fingerprint". This fingerprint is as individual and unique as its owner, and together with a digital certificate, is today the safest method of reading electronic signatures.
How does a Wacom signature pad work?
- A Wacom signature pad consists of a special sensor panel fitted underneath an LCD display, as well as a wireless and battery-free signature pen.
- The handwritten signature is read using Wacom's patented EMR (Electro Magnetic Resonance) technology. When the user moves the pen across the sensor panel, EMR scans the biometric parameters of the signature in real time and sends this data to the computer, which can then be processed by software applications or software components (SDK) which feed this signature data to an application.
- To allow a visual inspection of the signature, the digital ink is displayed on the LCD display as it is created from the pen movement over the sensor. The behaviour of Wacom's digital ink is designed to mimic the pen on paper experience.
What are the advantages of the handwritten signature compared to card and PIN based methods?
- An individual's signature cannot be lost or stolen like a card can be
- It is impossible to forget one's signature, unlike a PIN
- Signatures cannot be disclosed to third parties
- Signatures are always given deliberately, where cards and disclosed PINs may be used without consent
- Signatures are considered suitable for authenticating declarations of intent
- Signing with a pen is a familiar and customary process
What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?
Electronic signature is a legal term with a certain degree of legal force. Digital signature is a mathematical and technical term and is used for producing electronic signatures.
Does an electronic signature satisfy legal requirements?
In most European countries, as well as in North America, electronic signature capture can generally be considered legal for the effective conclusion of all day-to-day-business contracts. With the exception of a few singular cases, most legal systems provide freedom of form for these contracts. Therefore, the effectiveness of those contracts does not depend on formal requirements, but compared to contracts that have been concluded orally or per email, contracts with our signature solution offer a significantly higher range of security. One reason for this is the possibility to identify the contract's parties by their electronic signature.
How can an individual's electronic signature be protected?
Wacom protects the signature of the client in two ways: There is a protection for the data sent from the signature pad in the form of encryption. But even without encryption, the signature capture process is a collection of individual pen events, each of which is just a single datapoint that records location and pressure. These datapoints by themselves are not identifiable. Secondly, the signature that is bound to a document is protected within the document itself. If the signature is imported, exported, or altered, or of the document contents have changed after the signature was applied, then the user will be made aware that the signature and/or document is not authentic.
Why is encryption important for electronic handwritten signatures?
- Encryption is important to enhance trust, security, and legal compliance.
- Trust: The end user (the one signing a document) needs to be confident that it is safe to transfer personal data into an electronic system
- Security: The operation company (like a bank) wants to be fully protected from fraud and miss use of tier customer´s private data.
- Legal: From a legal point of view, it is important to ensure that signed date/documents will not be changed in any way after the client has signed the document.
What is the encryption method used for your STU-430, STU-530, and DTU-1031?
The asymmetric encryption system is state of the art and we use the highest level of AES with 256bit key exchange and a RSA key length of 2048bit.
Why do you have different display types in signature devices?
The reason for different displays is that we have fitted the displays to different usage scenarios. Size of display, ambient lighting conditions, stationary or mobile, black and white or color are all usage scenarios where a specific set of tradeoffs yield better results.
Why is a wide viewing angle important?
The wide viewing angle is especially important for POS and built-in use. It ensures that the customer can read the screen content, both signature ink as well as text, buttons, logos and advertising messages, regardless of the stature, posture, position, or handedness of the user.
How do we guarantee a long display lifetime?
We guarantee a long display lifetime because our displays are protected with a tempered and scratch resistant glass plate making them extremely robust.
Is it possible to show pictures on the signature pad and displays?
Yes, all our displays are able to show pictures / images based on resolution, size, and color of the display. In addition, the DTU-1031 is also able to show videos.
What sensor technologies are available in signature pads in general?
- There are three sensor technologies commonly available: electro-magnetic, capacitive and resistive. Capacitive and electro-magnetic technology measure the change in the electric field of the sensor. Capacitive technologies are often used in touch screens, which may be accidentally activated by your finger or hand. Resistive technology focuses on the electric resistance caused by an object touching a flexible screen surface. This type of touchscreen technology is prone to accidental activation and surface scratches which impacts the user experience.
- Wacom uses patented electro-magnetic resonance technology, which is powered wirelessly from the sensor under the LCD. This allows the electronic pen to function without any wires or cords to carry electrical signals. Electric wires are prone to twisting and breaking with normal use, which limits their reliability in use. Wacom signature pads and pen displays are extremely durable, reliable, and even capture the movements of the pen above the surface of the screen for even greater biometric performance.
Why is this important to have a precise and linear pressure curve?
- Forensic experts require precise information on the relation of force applied and pressure levels. Only with a liner pressure curve Signature Tablets can differentiate between various pressure levels and provide an appropriate resolution rate.
- A reliable capturing device has to record the same pressure levels in all segments of the capturing area with the same precision when the same force is being applied. When capturing signatures on different tablets of the same type from the same
manufacturer, the signal data must not exceed a certain tolerance level, otherwise an analysis or verification would have to be adjusted to each device.
- Wacom´s signature pads fulfill both requirements: a) a linear pressure curve and b) the same precision and pressure levels in all segment of the capturing area.
What makes Wacom signature pads more robust than others?
One factor is that the sensor is embedded under the surface, protected by a strong layer of glass. Scratches, temperature and humidity thus do not reach the sensor at all, making it more durable. Other vendors often use resistive touch technology, which requires a screen surface that is flexible. It is not possible to protect the sensor surface with glass or other hard material. The surfaces of such devices have a very limited lifetime and wear-out quickly with normal use. Wacom's signature pads have a very robust surface and our warranty includes the screen surface for normal use. Another factor is that Wacom's patented electro-magnetic resonance technology allows for our electronic pen to be powered and communicate wirelessly, so there are no wires or cords to twist and break, which is a common failure of other signature pads.
What is a report rate?
The report rate indicates how often the position of the pen on the sensor board is counted. The information is collected at regular intervals regardless of whether the position or status has changed.
Is a higher, or faster, report rate mean better performance?
Not necessarily. It is the combination of sensor resolution and report rate that result in the accuracy of pen movement. A faster report rate, combined with low sensor resolution is a combination that can yield poor accuracy, as many datapoints will be duplicates, and the number of inaccurate data points will be magnified. Wacom's 200 points per second data rate, combined with 2540 lines per inch of resolution, results in an optimum capture of high-quality signature data.
Why is pen pressure data important?
- The pen pressure data should also be recorded for forensic purposes, as each individual has a pattern for how hard or how light they press the pen to the screen as they sign. The pressure information is also very helpful to generate a rendering of the digital ink on the computer screen that gives the appearance of ink on paper. Wacom's sign pro PDF software renders pressure sensitive signatures on the screen, and the capability to add pressure sensitive rendering to your application is included in Wacom's signature SDK.
- Pen-pressure affects the thickness of the line when writing on paper. This variation is an important signature characteristic in some cultures, especially China, and the acceptance of electronic signatures would be compromised if they did not appear to behave in a similar way. It is therefore important for pressure to be recorded and indicated visually for both forensic and cultural reasons.
Are more than 512 pressure levels better for electronic signature?
- Most people apply with a force in the range 0-500g when they sign, and the majority
lies well within this range. Significant changes in pressure measured during the signing are typically in excess of 20-30g, and there is no advantage in being able to detect fluctuations of less than 1g. This means that 512 pressure levels are more than adequate to describe the number of discernable grams of force in a typical signature.
- More pressure levels don't add more forensic data. This is due to the fact that we
don't sign in exactly the same way each time we sign.
- In addition, with our EMR technology, we are able to record the movement between
strokes, thus filling any gaps while writing and adding another feature to make the signature process more secure without the need for more pressure levels. The movement of the pen between strokes is important forensic information. It is much more useful than an abundance of inaccurate pressure data.
Why are not only the numbers of levels important but also the pressure curve?
- The variation of pen pressure within a signature is an important characteristic often
used by Forensic Document Examiners to assess questioned ink signatures on paper. It is important that electronic technology can supply comparable information so that similar assessment methods can be adopted. Absolute values of force are useful if available, but the relative pressure variation alone is sufficient.
- Pen-pressure affects the thickness of the line when writing on paper. This variation
is an important signature characteristic in some cultures, especially China, and the acceptance of electronic signatures would be compromised if they did not appear to behave in a similar way. It is therefore important for pressure to be recorded and indicated visually for both forensic and cultural reasons.
What is the surface material of our active area?
The surface material of our active area is tempered, hardened glass.
Why is glass better and more scratch resistant than plastic?
Glass is much harder than plastic. Wacom 's pen nib material is plastic, so by design, the wear intentionally occurs on the pen nib, not on the glass surface. Wacom pen nibs are inexpensive, easy to replace, and capture hundreds of thousands of signatures before needing replaced.
Why don't other manufacturers use glass as surface material?
Our EMR technology transmits power and data directly through the glass surface and the LCD itself. Other technologies, both capacitive and resistive, need a flexible surface with the sensor directly on the surface. Other vendors have to use softer surface materials because they measure the physical pressure levels directly on the surface with a mechanical sensor mounted on top of the display. These materials are susceptible to scratches during normal use.
What is ergonomic design?
Ergonomic design enables a natural feeling during signing. This is caused by the pad design as well as the pen design. These are built to comfortably fit in the hand of a wide variety of people. The pad design is smooth, low profile, with no hard edges that can cause discomfort to the hand when signing or filling out eForms.
Why is ergonomic design important for a signature device?
- It is important for the customer to be comfortable when using the signature device.
If he or she signs and doesn't have a close-to-natural feeling, the overall acceptance will be low. From a technical (legal) point of view, this is also important. If a device doesn't have an ergonomic design, the result will not be a natural biometric signature. Thus, this signature will legally not be accepted as it cannot be compared with other reference signature of the signee.
- Wacom's signature pads can be used for right-handed as well as left-handed people.
There is no limitation from this perspective.
Why is a detachable USB cable better than a fixed mounted USB cable?
A detachable USB cable has several advantages
- Its length can be individually adapted to the needs of the environment the pad is used in.
- A detachable USB cable allows a free cable conduit.
- If you built the pad into a counter (or anything like a counter), and you need to change a pad, the cable doesn't need to be exchanged. This saves a lot of time in the field.
- In case a cable is defective it can be easily be exchanged without opening the device and sending it back to a repair center.
How do you ensure a detachable cable won't disconnect unintentionally?
With the DTU-1031, we have a physical clip that secures, or locks the USB cable in place. The USB cable attachment secures the USB connector in the USB socket. The STU-430 and STU-530 devices have a similar kind of USB cable lock.
Which antitheft solutions are available for signature pads and displays?
- Pen displays can be fixed to a desk or arm with screws. The pad has standardized holes which are mirrored at the other end by screws in the plate. By the VESA standard, they have – subject to the actual size of the device – standard position. There is no need to drill additional holes or make other changes to the device or the mounting.
- The second option is a Kensington-Lock, a solution that is very common, e.g. in securing Laptops.
- Older pads can be secured with an antitheft cord as well.
Which antitheft solutions are available for the pen?
- For the pen, we offer a protection by a pen tether. This tether is a robust polyamide flexible cord with a loop at each end.
- Our signature pads and pen displays have mounting holes molded in the plastic housing that accepts the pen tether.
What are the environmental working conditions of our products?
We differentiate between operating mode and storage. The acceptable operating and storage condition depends on the model. The operating temperature has a smaller bandwidth than the storage temperature and humidity. See details for each model in the product's factsheet.
How do we protect the signature capture precision in a wide temperature / humidity range?
The precision is protected by the product design. As the sensor is embedded under the LCD itself, it is not exposed directly to external environmental conditions. Thus, it works also in tough environmental conditions.
Do the signature pads and displays have a pen holder?
Yes, a pen holder is integrated in all our signature pads and displays.
What is a Software Development Kit (SDK)?
- A Software Development Kit (SDK) provides the libraries and commands necessary to interface between the pad and the application.
- Wacom supplies a range of Software Development Kits (SDKs) for use by developers who wish to integrate Wacom tablets with their applications or their customer's workflows.
Does Wacom offer a software application for electronic signatures?
Yes we have a sign pro PDF
How long is the warranty period?
The length of standard warranty and optional extended warranties depend upon on the region of purchase, and the product time. Contact Wacom directly for questions about the product and location you are interested in.


text: Health faddist Mulvain (Louis Calhern) and his astrology-minded wife Salome (Norma Varden) hold court over their seven musical-prodigy daughters. Each girl is named after a mythical Greek: Athena (Jane Powell), Minerva (Debbie Reynolds), Niobe (Virginia Gibson), Aphrodite (Nancy Kligas), Medea (Jane Fischer), Calliope (Dolores Starr) and Ceres (Cecile Rogers). They also run around dressed in skimpy miniskirts, for those of you not interested in mythology. Athena falls in love with lawyer Adam Shaw (Edmund Purdom) and Minerva is ga-ga over crooner Johnny Nyle (Vic Damone), neither of whom come up to Mulvain's notions of mental and physical perfection. A lesser product from the Joe Pasternak musical mill, Athena is unremarkable save for an early appearance by future Hercules star Steve Reeves and a nicely bitchy performance by the usually resistable Linda Christian. Hal Erickson, Rovi


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text:
His name alone can win applause for a visiting foreign dignitary.
Such was the case Friday when U.S. Secretary of State Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton mentioned boxer Manny Pacquiao to students at a town hall meeting in Manila.
"Of course the Pacman's going to win. I mean, is there any doubt?" Clinton said at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, where she entertained questions during the nationally televised forum with hundreds of students.
The students are sure to be among the many fans cheering Saturday night when Pacquiao, who trains with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym near Santa Monica Boulevard and Vine Street in LA, will battle Miguel Cotto in a scheduled 12-rounder from the sold-out MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas.
The winner of the 145-pound bout could get a megafight against undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao All Smiles Before Another "Biggest Fight"
His name alone can win applause for a visiting foreign dignitary.


text:
"So You've Grown Attached"
Season 3 Episode 16 | 15m 21s
An imaginary friend is forced to consider retirement when his creator – and best friend – starts to grow up. A short film by Kate Tsang. Made at NYU.
Aired: 07/21/15Video has closed captioning.
Problems Playing Video?
Film School Shorts is made possible by a grant from Maurice Kanbar, celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image, and by the members of KQED.


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A story often circulates that suggests Charles Darwin, on his deathbed, recanted his theory of evolution and repented of the damage that he, and it, had done. The story affirms that Darwin died believing in God and salvation through Christ. Is this true?
For many years, such a story has been circulated. It frequently appears in church bulletins, almost always under the byline of one of those three famous writers of our generation: "Mr. Selected," "Mr. Anonymous," or "Mr. Copied." No doubt those who propagate the story mean well. But, regardless of their good intentions, or the sincerity of their motives, they are wrong. The story surrounding Charles Darwin's alleged repentance simply is not true. And unfortunately, it is not just this story that makes the rounds. There are other "newsworthy" items that are published—again, no doubt by well-meaning people—which are just as false. Two come to mind: (1) the story of how IBM scientists are supposed to have discovered a scientific reason for the "long day of Joshua" in the Old Testament; and (2) the account of how Madalyn Murray O'Hair allegedly threatened to have all religious broadcasting taken off the airwaves in America. Neither of these stories is any truer, nor any more founded in fact, than the story of Charles Darwin's repentance.
The story that is told so often—and there are almost as many versions of it as there are storytellers—goes something like this. A certain friend of the Darwin family, Lady Hope, was herself a Bible believer. On occasion she found herself in the company of Mr. Darwin. One such occasion happened to be during a beautiful autumn, just a few days before his death. At that time, so the account goes, she found him reading, somewhat to her surprise, the New Testament book of Hebrews. Upon further inquiry, Darwin began to speak about how he was so very young when he formed his ideas of evolution, and how he regretted that so many people had made those ideas their religion. He then insisted that Lady Hope return to his summerhouse that afternoon, at 3:00 pm, to read from the Bible to his servants, and nearby villagers. When she asked exactly what Darwin thought she should read, he is alleged to have turned to her with an emphatic voice and said, "Read about Christ and His salvation!" Lady Hope, so says the tale, quickly spread the good news that Darwin, now on his deathbed, had become a believer in God, and a Christian.
As with all spurious dramas such as this, it is impossible to trace the origin of this story. The search hardly is made easier when time after time the story is reprinted, attributing it only to "selected," "anonymous," or "copied." But on rare occasions the story, in reprinted form, actually has been attributed to an American journal published in years gone by, The Watchman Examiner. However, a search through all available issues of that publication has provided neither the original account nor any references to it. Similarly, on occasion the story is attributed, in reprinted form, to a book by Luther Townsend, The Collapse of Evolution, but that, too, has proved to be elusive. In short, each time a search is made for any kind of original documentation, it ends in the proverbial "dead end." This alone should make the honest inquirer a bit suspicious. Were that the end of the matter, suspicions might be afforded the benefit of the doubt, and the account accepted as true. However, there are other data that, considered collectively, expose the dubious nature of the story—in any form.
First, out of a sense of fairness, let me state that there really was a "Lady Hope." Malcolm Bowden, in his book, The Rise of the Evolution Fraud, provided documentation from Mr. L.G. Pine, former editor of Burke's Peerage in Great Britain, of the existence of Lady Hope (1982, p. 189). And, admittedly, she lived in England at the same time as Darwin. However, the mere existence of such a woman, in proximity to Darwin, does not establish the veracity of the story under consideration. Other factors must be taken into account as well. One such factor comes from the daughter of Charles Darwin himself. Around 1842, Darwin's wife Emma gave birth to their daughter, Henrietta. Eventually, she married an English barrister by the name of Richard Litchfield. Apparently, even before her death the story of her father's conversion at the hands of Lady Hope had begun to circulate, because she addressed this matter in a letter written on February 23, 1922 to The Christian, a religious journal. Her comments were as follows:
I was present at his [Darwin's—BT] deathbed. Lady Hope was not present during his last illness, or any illness. I believe he never even saw her, but in any case she had no influence over him in any department of thought and belief. He never recanted any of his scientific views, either then or earlier. We think that story of his conversion was fabricated in the USA. In most of these versions, hymn singing comes in and a summerhouse where the servants and villagers sang hymns to him. There is no such summerhouse and no servants or villagers ever sang hymns to him. The whole story has no foundation whatsoever (see Hawton, 1958, p. 4).
Some supporters of the idea of Darwin's repentance might suggest that his daughter Henrietta would not wish the story to be known even if it were true, and therefore may have distorted, or falsely presented, the facts of the matter. While at first glance this might seem a possibility, other factors militate against such a conclusion. In order to hold to the truthfulness of this story, one would, in essence, have to call Darwin's daughter an outright liar. Such a charge would be very difficult to sustain for several reasons. First, she was with her father at his death. But to the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely no evidence that Lady Hope ever visited Darwin toward the end of his life. Second, those closest to Darwin at the time of his death knew nothing of his alleged conversion. Third, the story of that supposed conversion did not begin until years after his death, which hardly seems likely if the story is true—and known to be so by those whose lives were intricately intertwined with Darwin's.
Also to be considered is this: many of the "facts" of the Lady Hope story are, quite simply, wrong. For example, Darwin died April 19, 1882. But the story of Lady Hope specifically states that she visited him on a beautiful autumn afternoon. That would have left six months between her visit, and his demise. Yet evidence available to us proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that Darwin was neither bedridden nor "on his deathbed" during that six-month period. Also, the story indicates that Lady Hope came to speak, at Darwin's request, at the summerhouse on his property. Yet as Darwin's daughter pointed out, there was no such summerhouse. Further, the story has Darwin opining to Lady Hope that he formed his thoughts on evolution when he was but "a young man with unformed ideas." This makes little sense, because when Darwin finally published the Origin of Species, he was 50 years old! This hardly qualifies him for being a "young man." The Origin of Species underwent no less than six revisions from 1859 until 1872—and each one was at the hand of Darwin himself. So the suggestion that a "young man with unformed ideas" was responsible for the Origin, and the concepts contained therein, simply will not withstand intense examination.
There are many more data available that establish the conclusion that the "Lady Hope" story is false. Wilbert H. Rusch and John W. Klotz have summarized them in their excellent work on this subject, Did Charles Darwin Become a Christian? (1988). The reader is referred to that volume for an in-depth examination of those data, which are far too numerous to reproduce here.
Did Darwin repent? Did he become a believer in God, or a Christian? The answer to both questions is a resounding "no." Creationists and Christians do themselves no favor by circulating, even if inadvertently through good intentions, stories such as these that ultimately are without foundation. When the truth finally does come out (and eventually it will!), it reflects poorly on those who propagate such falsehoods. While there are many legitimate, valuable tools in the arsenal of the Christian apologist, such stories as the one reviewed here are not among them and should be avoided at all cost. If you should see this story reappear in the future, please take occasion to share this material with those who are telling it. There is enough false material being circulated without Christians fueling the fire with more.
Bowden, Malcolm (1982), The Rise of the Evolution Fraud (San Diego, CA: Christian Life Publishers).
Hawton, Hector (1958), "The Myth of Darwin's Conversion," The Humanist, 73:4, July.
Rusch, Wilbert H. and John W. Klotz (1988), Did Charles Darwin Become a Christian? (Norcross, GA: Creation Research Society Books).


text:
Empower this, doll
To launch the reality TV show "Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll," coming to The CW in March, the network trotted out Lil' Kim–fully clothed. In what turned out to be the liveliest session of the day, she and her fellow producers tried vainly to convince critics that the Pussycats are not a raunchy burlesque group luring young girls to value their sexuality above all else.
Of course it's fine if you want to dress up like a doll and try out. It's great if you accept the call to "find your inner pussycat." But when the producers try to sell this thing as somehow "empowering to women" and "aspirational" for the nation's females, it all falls apart.
All together now! "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?"
Producer Ron Fair tried to sell the idea that there's no difference between the Pussycat Dolls and the Ziegfeld Follies.
"There's nothing slutty about it, there's nothing skanky about it," said Lil' Kim, who spent last year in prison.
Sorry, we're not convinced.[photopress:DSC01424.JPG,thumb,pp_image]


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Located in historic Washington Court House, YUSA Corporation is a 310,000 sq. foot facility that was established in 1987. YUSA Corporation is an industry leader in the manufacturing of automotive rubber components, specializing in engine mountings (conventional and hydro), bushings, tubes and hoses.
Copyright 2014 YUSA Corporation. All Rights Reserved


text:
After their World Cup victory, now is a particularly great time to be a Spanish football fan. But things are looking brighter for footy fanatics everywhere thanks to the debut of Konami's beautiful Pro Evolution Soccer franchise on the iPhone platform.
Always the preferred choice among critics in its console incarnations, PES on the iPhone also delivers a slightly superior game to EA's rival FIFA franchise – but only just.
As well as the flowing passing and shooting gameplay you'd expect from a PES game, this version is also notable for the implementation of the control systems. A directional pad and simplified single tap for passing and shooting is the preferred option, but even the accelerometer control works remarkably well.
Chuck in UEFA tournaments, league games, quick matches and proper player names and you have a pretty pleasing footy experience.
It lacks the finesse of its console counterparts but as a pick-upand- play footy fix, it's unbeatable.
Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview


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From NPR: 'Alarming' Amazon Droughts May Have Global Fallout
The world's largest tropical forest, the Amazon, experienced something rare last year — a drought. It wasn't the earth-cracking kind of drought that happens in the American Southwest or the Australian outback, but it did stunt or kill lots of trees.
It was the second such drought in the Amazon in five years, and forest scientists are trying to understand why these droughts are happening, and what their effects will be for the planet.
The 2005 drought in the Amazon was so unusual that scientists called it a "100-year event" — something supposed to happen only once a century.
via 'Alarming' Amazon Droughts May Have Global Fallout : NPR.


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The Ford Taurus SHO is back, and here's further proof. These photos show the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, which we expect to see revealed next month in Chicago, doing some humid weather testing in Florida.
We have to thank TampaRon for snagging these photos of this pair of mostly uncovered SHO prototypes taking a breather at a Florida rest stop. According to Ron, the testy test engineers wouldn't let him close enough to snag some shots of the interior but he managed to get close enough to see the SHO badge (a la this shot) on this ecoboosted Taurus.
The undisguised exterior doesn't leave much to the imagination — especially since we've already seen the 2010 Ford Taurus live and in person. In fact, the only difference in design between the SHO and non-SHO Taurus appears to be the badge on the back and the separated double pipes.
We've already seen the Taurus SHO interior, so the only question is pricing, availability and what's under the hood. Oh wait, we know what's under the hood. Based on what we learned from the leaked Taurus ordering guide and other sources, the new SHO will likely get the EcoBoost V6 engine, which is good for 355 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque in its 2010 Lincoln MKS platform-mate.


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By at July 09 2019 10:56:08
Customise response boxes to reflect required answers and reduce completion errors. If asking for a persons date of birth, it makes sense to provide a box with the exact number of required digits and an example or guidance note to explain the format that the date should be entered in (DD/MM/YYYY).
Progressive revealing. When implemented well, progressive revealing gives interactive forms a head start over traditional paper forms. When asked a particular question in a form it may be the case that, depending a users response, they are asked a set of specific sub-questions, or alternatively routed to the next appropriate section of the form.


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Both The Cheesecake Factory® and Harry & David are truly great American success stories. So it's natural that we've teamed up to provide cheesecake delivery of their exquisite desserts as part of our gourmet food offerings.
The Cheesecake Factory has its origins in the basement kitchen of Oscar and Evelyn Overton of Detroit. Known as an excellent cook, Evelyn created her Original Cheesecake recipe that everyone loved. So much so, that she provided cheesecake delivery to several of the best restaurants in town. In the early 1970s the Overtons moved to Los Angeles and opened a 700 square foot store, "The Cheesecake Factory," where Evelyn baked and Oscar built new accounts. Their reputation for creating the best cheesecake grew and a larger bakery was built. With their new, improved bakery, Evelyn created over 20 varieties of delicious cheesecakes and other fantastic desserts, which were sold to hundreds of wholesale accounts. Their cheesecake delivery expanded from Santa Barbara to San Diego, and cheesecake gifts were shipped to out-of-state customers. In 1978, their son David founded The Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Beverly Hills. The restaurant offered generous portions with unlimited, inventive menu selections all made fresh with quality ingredients and served in a warm and casually comfortable setting. The Cheesecake Factory was an immediate success!
A selection of their classic cheesecakes is now available online exclusively from Harry & David. Shop online here and choose your favorite from among those available. Because getting delicious cheesecake gifts delivered right to your door sounds wonderful to us.


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Incidents and dangerous situations
Together we create a healthy and safe working environment. Should an incident, dangerous situation or needle-stick injury nevertheless occur, please report it immediately. Such incidents are far more frequent than serious accidents. By reporting them we can make sure that they do not lead to serious accidents and can be prevented in future.
Immediate assistance required
Call the internal alarm number. This number can be found on any telephone within Leiden University.
Serious accidents
Work-related accidents that involve serious and potentially lasting harm and/or exposure to hazardous agents should be reported as soon as possible via the internal alarm number.
Please also report the accident to the secretariat of the Healthy, Safety and Environment (HSE/VGM) department via 071 526 8015.
Needle-stick injuries
In case of needle-stick injuries, please immediately contact the University doctor via 071 526 8015.
Other unsafe situations
If you are facing another unsafe situation, such as danger, a minor accident, violence or sexual intimidation, please report this to the HSE/VGM department. To do so please use the online report form.
If necessary, a health and safety coordinator will contact you for a further investigation. Together with you, he or she will complete an analysis form describing how the incident occurred and how to prevent it in future.
Working with hazardous substances
If you work with hazardous substances, biological agents, gases, chemicals or radiation, you should comply with the prevailing rules to prevent accidents and incidents.


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UNODC strengthens counter-narcotics assistance to Afghanistan and neighbouring countries
7 December 2011 - High-level government ministers from Afghanistan and neighbouring countries today launched a regional UNODC programme for 2011- 2014 to boost coordinated counter-narcotics efforts and regional stability. The launch follows the International Conference on Afghanistan held in the German city of Bonn to set the future course for Afghanistan after the 2014 handover of power to the Afghan Government.
"Given the gradual disengagement of the International Security Assistance Force, the international community will increasingly look to the United Nations to take on additional responsibilities in supporting Afghanistan," said UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov.
The agreement by eight national officials to cement cooperation, especially in information-sharing, is unprecedented, said Mr. Fedotov. It is a measure of the trust built up by UNODC over the past few years in which parties have come together in Vienna. The meeting was attended by ministers, deputy ministers and high-level representatives from Afghanistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan and countries in West and Central Asia have been involved in various UNODC-brokered partnerships to improve their cross-border counter-narcotics capacities.
The Regional Programme is a strategic framework for the work of UNODC and multilateral partners and focuses largely on counter-narcotics and the rule of law in order to respond effectively to drug trafficking and organized crime. Building on past successes, examples of future work may include the training of counter-narcotics law enforcement officials, joint raids, drug seizures and border patrols and activities to tackle cross-border illicit money flows.
In parallel, a new UNODC country programme for Afghanistan (2012-2014) will support the provinces, providing alternative livelihoods for opium poppy farmers, expanded health care, drug demand reduction and HIV prevention while enhancing the capacity of the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics to conduct research, surveys and analysis.
Over the past five years, Afghanistan has produced some 90 per cent of the world's illicit opium. The UNODC Afghan Opium Survey 2011 shows that this year, Afghanistan has witnessed a sharp increase in opium production, higher prices for opium poppy crops and a flourishing drug trade that has continued to fuel insecurity.
"Because the coming years are absolutely crucial for Afghanistan's future, we must produce a response based on shared responsibility and concrete action", said the Executive Director.


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The 2012 Mazda3 sedan and five-door hatchback have been refreshed, meaning exterior and interior tweaks plus a new engine for this sporty compact. For 2012, the 3 gains an all-new engine choice. The SkyActiv 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine features direct-injection, allowing for a relatively high 12.0:1 compression ratio. The new engine can be mated to all-new six-speed transmissions (manual and automatic) that work to increase fuel mileage over the MZR engine family. The new powertrain combinations are good for an EPA estimated 27-28 mpg city and 38-40 mpg highway.
The current Mazda3 receives minor interior and exterior revisions in its third year. Inside the Mazda3 sports a black dashboard and center stack with silver trim surrounding commonly used features. The outside still uses Mazda's hate-it-or-love-it styling with its prominent "smiling" front end and deep, flowing creases on its flanks, but the exterior gains revised headlights, revised grille and air intakes, and revised rear valance panel for 2012.
The cabin is spacious for four adults or five on a short trip. Base models come with a long list of standard amenities like power windows and locks, air conditioning, front bucket seats, and an AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers. Bose audio, heated (front) leather seats, navigation, and a blind spot monitoring system are available on certain trim levels.
Body styles: Sedan, hatchback
Engines: 2.0L I-4, SkyActiv 2.0L I-4, 2.5L I-4
Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic, 5-speed manual
Models: Mazda3i SV four-door, Mazda3i Sport four-door, Mazda3i Touring four-door, Mazda3i Touring five-door, Mazda3i Grand Touring four-door, Mazda3i Grand Touring five-door, Mazda3s Grand Touring four-door, Mazda3s Grand Touring five-door
The big news for Mazda's compact 3 sedan and hatchback is the all-new 155-horsepower 2.0-liter SkyActiv inline four-cylinder featuring direct-injection and can be mated to a choice of all-new six-speed transmissions. Cars powered by the SkyActiv 2.0-liter mated to the manual transmissions are capable of 38-39 mpg highway; automatic equipped cars are capable of 39-40 mpg highway. Interiors and exteriors have been refreshed. Exterior upgrades include new headlights, revised grille and air intakes, and revised rear valance panel. A blind-spot monitoring system is also available.
The Mazda3 was completely redesigned in 2010. For 2012, the sedan and five-door hatchback has been refreshed.. The 2012 models gain a few updates including new headlights, revised grille and air intakes, and revised rear valance panel. There are also new 16- and 17-inch wheel designs.
The instrument panel and center stack is now black with silver-colored, satin polished details including the outer rings of the climate-control dials, center stack vents, and audio control panel. Mazda said the silver accents on black background give the Mazda3 "a feeling of higher refinement" as well as making frequently used options easier to find. The Mazda3's multi-function display and LCD display replace last year's red text and graphics with white. The Mazda3 comes well-equipped with plenty of storage bins, two 12-volt outlets, rear heater ducts, power windows and locks, and 60/40 folding rear seat. Leather and navigation are optional. An optional blind-spot monitoring system is new for 2012.
Both the 2.0-liter (148 horsepower, 135 pound-feet of torque) and 2.5-liter (167 horsepower, 168 pound-feet of torque) four-cylinder engines remain unchanged. Both engines come with variable valve timing and a two-mode composite intake manifold. New for 2012 is the SkyActiv 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine. The new engine features direct-injection and a high 12.0:1 compression ratio which work together to produce 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. The engine can be mated to new specially-developed six-speed transmissions. The manual and automatic transmissions help the engine achieve 27-28 mpg city and 38-40 mpg highway. The SkyActiv 2.0-liter is smooth and silky all the way to redline. The second-generation chassis feels buttoned down thanks to higher tensile steel, thicker gauge metals, and extra gussets.
Six airbags are standard and include: driver and front passenger, front side impact, and side curtain. Active front head restraints to help reduce neck injuries if the car is rear ended. Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist are all standard. Adaptive Front-lighting System is available as part of a Technology Package on Grand Touring models. An optional blind-spot monitoring system is new for 2012.
Mazda3i: SV, SV Sport 2.0L: 25 mpg city/33 mpg highway (manual); 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway (automatic)
Mazda3i: Touring, Grand Touring 2.0L SkyActiv-G: 27 mpg city/39 mpg highway (manual); 28 mpg city/40 mpg highway (automatic)
Mazda3s: Grand Touring 2.5L: 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway (manual); 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway (automatic)
Ready for compact segment battle.
*EPA mileage varies based on a number of factors including but not limited to model, drivetrain, transmission and bodystyle. Actual mileage varies.


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The candy king weighs in on civil unions
Among the many emails I got regarding today's front-page story in the Denver Post on the demise of the civil unions legislation was a one-sentence missive from Rick Enstrom:
"I'm telling you up front and right now, I do NOT have the courage to vote against chocolate," he wrote.
I laughed.
Enstrom is a Jefferson County Republican who is challenging Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood, in November. The former wildlife commissioner is best known as one of the Enstroms from Enstrom's Candies.
Today's story notes that Democrats believed Republicans were filibustering to keep the bill from being heard:
Frustration mounted among Democrats, particularly when Republicans questioned in excruciating detail a measure on trans fats in school lunchrooms.
Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, practically screamed as he pounded on the lectern.
"Not a one of you has the courage to vote against chocolate!" he said.
One person tweeted that the headline on the civil unions story should read, "Death by chocolate."


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Every doctor dreams about it - the emergency aboard an airplane, the life-or-death scenario where medical attention is not available and a stranger's life literally rests in your hands. Some doctors fear the responsibility; others wish it would happen to them. Older doctors are the best suited for the job; they stay calm under pressure and softly call out orders to the flight crew, so much so that other passengers don't realise anything is wrong at all. But younger doctors (like a certain ridiculously handsome blogger we all know COUGHCOUGH --Editor) immediately hear the theme song from E.R. blaring in their minds, pull their shirts open to reveal Superman costumes underneath and start shouting out orders to air stewardesses who are busy trying not to fall in love with them.
I immediately snapped to attention. My mind was filled with heroic images of me calming Mrs McHaggis down, calling the flight attendant, ordering the Asian couple to vacate their seats and place pillows underneath Mrs McHaggis's feet to elevate her legs, then receiving thunderous applause as Mrs McHaggis came back to life and several starstruck air stewardesses dragged me to their crew bedroom upstairs to reward me.
Then the bald guy sitting to my right brushed past me and did exactly everything in the above paragraph.
I blinked. Wait, this was supposed to be my fantasy! But the bald dude hadn't got the memo. He called the air stewardess (who was REALLY cool under pressure and had already brought an oxygen mask and canister), laid Mrs McHaggis down across all three seats, and asked ME to raise her legs.
I asked him if he was a doctor. He said yes, and that his wife was a first aider. I blinked again.
What were the odds of sitting between TWO doctors AND a first aider on a plane - and then having a medical emergency??
And as if that wasn't enough - the airplane hit turbulence.
Life hates me.
Once again the stewardess came to our rescue and found us seats on the double. Mrs McHaggis's pulse was 40 and she managed to stammer that she was on propranalol and thyroxine. Dr Baldy (the other guy, not me) and I took turns staying with her and giving her oxygen, and we learnt that she had a history of fainting and dizziness - this, coupled with the cabin's unusually warm temperature and Mrs McHaggis's many glasses of wine, probably caused her dizziness.
Two hours later, she was feeling better but was still groggy. I heard her mumble something and decided it was time to wake her. I leaned forward, signaled the air stewardess, and spoke softly in Mrs McHaggis's ear, "Hello madam, don't wor--"
With a nice loud clap that echoed throughout the cabin, her arm whipped around and slapped me straight off the seat.
Seriously. What is it with women and slapping me?!
When I looked up, I saw the air stewardess standing above me, furiously trying to hide a smile. SHE actually helped ME up, almost carrying me at one point. Seriously not macho.
When Mrs McHaggis regained consciousness, she had no idea she had given me an Epic Backhand (and I sure as hell wasn't about to tell her). She thanked me and Dr Baldy profusely, and the flight purser came over to give us first class packages as tokens of appreciation. After the flight landed, the flight crew had all learned my name and thanked us personally as we left. Some of them even applauded (even though I really didn't do as much as Dr Baldy).
And that, kids, is how I met your mo-- uh, how I had my first airplane emergency. Not nearly as heroic as I thought it would be, but when you're a freshly-graduated junior doctor, you're rather glad to have a senior doctor around to run the show. And the Malaysia Airlines air crew was professional, calm, and well-trained. Oh and Mrs McHaggis? We exchanged emails, and even promised to meet up. Hey, maybe Mister McHaggis will turn out to be some rich lord or something. I can dream, can't I?
*She mistook 6 for 9. AHAHA geddit? No? For Pete's sake, ask a teenager. You're slower than I am! (or less perverted)
**Obviously not her real name. Though it would be EFFING AWESOME if it was.


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Some of my American readers may have noticed a recipe for paskha in the April 2010 issue of Saveur. Saveur describes paskha as "a rich, airy sweetened cheese that's traditionally served in Russian homes to break the meat- and dairy-free Lenten fast. ... Made with a Russian farmers' cheese called tvorog, as well as cream, egg yolks, butter, and sugar, the treat is flavoured with vanilla and studded with golden raisins. Then the pashka is pressed into a mold and chilled to set." Although it's not traditionally Estonian, it's pretty popular here.
I happen to love pashka, and have been making it for, well, ages :) I've shared one of my favourite pashka recipes before, but there are several ways of making this dessert. There are cooked versions and uncooked paskhas, paskhas containing raw eggs, cooked eggs or no eggs. Here's one (out of three!) I made last Spring - it's uncooked, contains cooked egg yolks - and is thus quite similar to the recipe printed in this month's Saveur.
Paskha with Egg Yolks
(Kohupiimapasha keedetud munarebudega)
Serves 8 to 10
75 g unsalted butter, softened
125 g caster sugar
2 hard-boiled egg yolks
500 g curd cheese
100 ml whipping cream, whipped until soft peaks form
0.5 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp candied orange peel
4 Tbsp chopped almonds
toasted almond slices and orange segments, to garnish
Cream the butter with about one third of the eggs. Press the egg yolks through the sieve and add to the butter. Add vanilla extract, the rest of the sugar, curd cheese, whipped cream, candied orange peel and chopped almonds.
Line a pashka tin or a large sieve with a wet cheesecloth square. Spoon the curd cheese mixture into the pashka mold and place the whole thing on top of another bowl or over the sink, allowing the liquid to drain (depending whether you want to catch the whey* or not).
Refrigerate in a cool place for at least 24 hours.
Turn onto a serving dish, remove the cheesecloth. Garnish with toasted almonds and orange segments.
* This can be used instead of milk or water when making yeast buns.


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Q: My partner and I have recently returned from a six-day vacation at Barcelo Puerto Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. While we were there, many guests were afflicted by a serious illness. We began hearing about it soon after our arrival and within two days, we were both violently ill with vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
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For the last four days of our trip, we were barely able to eat or drink and wouldn't dare take the chance of leaving the resort for any excursions.
Judging by the large number of complaints posted online, many other guests were also affected. Several even required hospitalization.
Because our annual vacation was ruined by this outbreak, we'd like to be reimbursed or offered some level of incentive for a future trip at another Barcelo property. We've written to the hotel, but haven't heard back. Can you help us?
— Daniel Vosburgh, Chicago
A: Barcelo should have answered your complaint, explaining what went wrong at its Puerto Vallarta property while you were there and offering an apology, at a minimum.
It's important to understand that this hotel is an all-inclusive resort, meaning that it's designed to be the kind of place you never have to leave. Every meal, every drink, every snack is included in the price of your room. So when there's an outbreak of a mysterious illness, it could potentially affect many guests.
That's what appeared to happen here. If you read the reports of this outbreak, which happened during the spring of 2010, you'll see there was speculation that it could be anything from the flu to a gastrointestinal virus. In a response posted online by the hotel's management, Barcelo claimed that tests of its water and food came back negative, and ultimately, it blamed the sickness on pollution in a nearby river.
While it's laudable for Barcelo to respond to these problems in a public forum, I think it's equally important to deal with the outbreaks on a case-by-case basis from customers. Why didn't the hotel bother answering you? You sent your email to the president, marketing department and the press office of the company, which undoubtedly routed it back to the property. It may have fallen between the cracks.
I might have started with a simple email to the hotel (http://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en-GB/ContactWithUs/ContacteConNosotros) outlining your problem, before going straight to the appeals process. Actually, I probably would have mentioned your illness to the hotel while you were there, and asked if there were anything Barcelo could do by way of compensation. Even though, according to the hotel, it wasn't responsible for the illness, it should have been concerned that you weren't having a good vacation.
I contacted Barcelo on your behalf. A representative called you and offered you a complimentary weeklong stay at the Barcelo Puerto Vallarta.
© 2011 Christopher Elliott ... Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.


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Tag: Baking & Cooking with Essential Oils
Disappearing Peppermint Brownies
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I was trying to redo File Input/Output again because I sort of forgot and I ran into a problem.
import java.io.*; import java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException; public class FileIO { public static void main(String args[]) { FileInputStream inputStream = null; try { inputStream = new FileInputStream("X:\\Users\\unCryptifier\\Documents\\Scores.txt"); } catch (FileNotFoundException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } byte readingBytes[] = new byte[24]; char convertedBytes[] = new char[5]; String scores[] = new String[5]; int i = 0; while (i != -1) { try { readingBytes[i] = (byte)(inputStream.read()); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } System.out.println((char)(i)); } } }
The file that I'm trying to open has the numbers 0 to 25 in it with no space or lines in between. When I run the program, nothing shows in my console. It's running but nothing shows up and when I terminate the program, the only output it shows is space. I don't get what the problem is.


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We join our heroes just in time to witness an unusual sight: a battle taking place between Cilan's Pansage and Iris's Axew! Of course, Ash wants to get in on the action, but Iris isn't interested. Because Axew doesn't have much battle experience, she's asked Cilan to help her train it by using very restrained attacks.
The battle ends in explosive fashion when Axew's powerful Dragon Rage attack gets a little out of control. Iris explains that she's committed to training Axew because it was given to her by an Elder of her hometown, who advised her that the journey to raise Axew into a Haxorus would help Iris learn and grow as well.
Meanwhile, Axew and Pikachu wander off into the woods in search of a snack—and run right into an angry Scolipede! Ash and Cilan spring into action to try to drive it off, and in order to save Axew, Iris brings out her second Pokémon: a powerful, haughty Excadrill. Although Iris can't get Excadrill to obey any of her own commands, it quickly sends Scolipede scurrying, and Axew is safely returned.
After some wise advice from Cilan, Iris decides that she will continue to train with Axew at her own relaxed pace. Ash is still in the mood for a battle—so when Iris advises him to battle Pikachu, that's just what he does! We leave our heroes as Ash and Pikachu square off against each other…and Iris wonders just how far her friend from Pallet Town will go for a battle!