text:
Lumberjack in Love by Penny Watson
Released: September 7, 2012
Contemporary Romance, Novella
Self Published
Reviewed by May
She ran her hands over the ridged muscle of his chest, dragging her nails through the dark hair. "You look Paul Bunyan on steroids. The sexiest Paul Bunyan I've ever seen in my life."
Ami is staying with her sister's family, visiting and gritting her teeth through a visit in the Vermont wilderness. Without Starbucks, good wine, her beloved Celtics, and all of the conveniences of her life back in Boston she's feeling pretty cranky. When her sister sends her to take a deposit up to the mountain man who is building her niece a custom playhouse Ami is picturing a grizzled old mountain man.
Mr. Mountain Man was clearly outside, doing his mountain manly business. Was there a Mrs. Mountain Man in the picture, maybe sewing the checkerboard curtains and keeping his axe well-oiled?
Hee hee. That was bad. She chuckled at her naughty joke and sneaked around the side of the porch to catch a glimpse of Mr. Marcus Anderson, Designer of Children's Playhouses and Protector of Green Space in Vermont. According to her sister, Mr. Anderson liked to show up at town meetings and unnerve non-ecologically mind folks with his intimidating stare and frightening beard. What a nut case!
She rounded the corner of the house and stopped dead in her tracks. She had no idea what Mr. Anderson looked like from the front. But from the back, he was no grizzled old man. A massive specimen of masculinity raised an axe high above his head, then crushed it down on a log propped up on another stump. His arms bulged beneath a thin T-shirt, sweat drenched his back. Faded blue jean hugged his ass and meaty-looking thighs. A pair of scuffed up work boots and a navy-blue skull cap completed his ensemble.
I so approve of this…
His face was dark, thunderous, and absolutely freaking gorgeous. Electric blue eyes, high cheekbones, and a black lush beard that Ami wanted to rub all over.
I picked this book up because, well how could I not? I couldn't resist the lure of a mountain man contemporary love story. It is a novella, and it only took me about an hour to read it. Knowing this, I went in hoping for something fun, something cute. I wasn't disappointed either – it is a light romp through the Vermont mountains. Plenty of smexy times and memorable scenes too.
Marcus is creative, works hard, and lives a good clean life. It was nice to read about a genuinely nice, yet testosterone filled man for a change. He does like nature, and he doesn't like junk food or the trappings of a big city. He enjoys his life, and his community. That he wasn't a grumbling hermit or extreme kind of guy really worked for me – and made this an especially delightful read.
The one element that bothered me is how instantly these two move from meeting to relationship. There is a scene when Ami goes over to his place – junk food and house plants in tow – and sets up to watch a Celtics game. He isn't even home nor is he expecting her visit – but that doesn't stop her she just sets out making a great big mess garbage everywhere and treating his home as her own. He seems disturbed by this when he arrives – but he doesn't really do anything more than ask that she not trash his house like that in the future.
I simply can't imagine treating someone else's home like this ever, especially not someone I've known a few days. The 'insta-relationship/love' aspect really was the only thing I didn't like though. I wish the novella had taken place over more time, perhaps over several of her visits to her sister's place.
Speaking of her sister – I really liked the characters of this small Vermont town, and how Ami comes to appreciate and open up to the possibility of life outside the narrow plan she'd formerly had for herself. I was impressed with how vividly she brought this world to life, and how much I wanted to see the playhouse creations Marcus makes, the gardens Ami designs, and visit this Vermont town!
Watson has a great voice – I'll definitely be watching for more books from her now. I really thought she did a good job developing tension and making her characters come to life, especially for such a short story. If you're looking for a quick contemporary read where city girl and mountain man find love – well this is the book for you.
Grade: B+
Recent Reviews:


text:
KNOXVILLE – Pat Summitt struggled for several months with how to tell the women's basketball players at Tennessee, recruits and fans that she was having memory loss problems.
Finally, her son Tyler helped convince her to open up.
The 59-year-old Hall of Fame coach surprised the sports world Tuesday by saying she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia -- the Alzheimer's type.
Step down after 37 seasons? Not a chance.
"I plan to continue to be your coach," she said in a statement released by the university.
"Obviously, I realize I may have some limitations with this condition since there will be some good days and some bad days."
Tennessee athletics director Joan Cronan said Summitt, 59, initially chalked up her memory problems to side effects from medicine she was taking to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The coach first consulted local doctors, who recommended she undergo a more extensive evaluation. In May, she traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where doctors performed a spinal tap and other tests that eventually produced the diagnosis.
Summitt's first reaction was anger, but that soon gave way to determination.
"She's ready to fight this and move on," Cronan said. "She had to come to grips with how she wanted to face it."
Talking about it was a big step and her son was instrumental in making that happen.
"Tyler has been so courageous in this," Summitt's longtime associate head coach Holly Warlick said. "He encouraged her to come forward."
Tyler has been supporting his mother throughout this process; he went to the Mayo Clinic with her in May. And though he has been a great sounding board, the 20-year-old said his mom's revelation is a life lesson for everyone.
"It seems like she teaches me something new every day, and she is currently giving me one of the best life lessons of all: to have the courage to be open, honest, and face the truth," he said. "This will be a new chapter for my mom and I, and we will continue to work as a team like we always have done."
Summitt's family and closest confidants have known about her condition since she first learned of it, but the Hall of Fame coach first revealed the news publically to the Washington Post and Knoxville News Sentinel. She informed the Lady Vols about her diagnosis in a team meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Junior guard Taber Spani said the meeting was business-like, with Summitt calmly telling the Lady Vols nothing would get in the way for their quest of a ninth national title this season.
"More than anything she just emphasized that she's our coach and that she wanted us to have complete confidence in her, and we do," Spani said.
Warlick said the players told Summitt that they were committed to her and the Tennessee family and would not let her down. Warlick said for Summitt, the support was "like a weight was off her shoulders."
"I watched how our team reacted to us today," Warlick said. "They said, `Pat we love you. We're a family. We're going to get this done. You're going to get through this."'
Warlick said Summitt also wanted to crush any speculation about her health after the announcement.
"We got on the phone immediately and called kids and commitments and had nothing but a huge amount of support," Warlick said. "I think it's one thing to see it on the (TV news) ticker. It's another thing to hear from Pat Summitt that we're here, we're going to be here and nothing is going to change about Tennessee basketball."
Baylor coach Kim Mulkey wouldn't expect anything to change. She who won a gold medal playing for Summitt in the 1984 Olympics and expects Summitt to face dementia with the same toughness she approaches basketball.
"She's our John Wooden. If you are a Tennessee fan or not, there's no denying her place in women's basketball," Mulkey said. "I played for the woman. She's as tough as nails. People think I'm tough. I'm a pussycat compared to Pat Summitt .... Pat Summitt will fight. Pat Summitt will be on a crusade to help people with dementia."
Cronan and UT-Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek have pledged their confidence in Summitt as well, maintaining that Summitt will be allowed to coach as long as she feels capable of doing so, which was a relief to Summitt, Warlick said.
"Pat Summitt is our head coach and she will continue to be," Cronan said. "She is an icon not only for women's basketball but for all of women's athletics. For Pat to stand-up and share her health news is just a continuing example of her courage. Life is an unknown and none of us have a crystal ball. But I do have a record of knowing what Pat Summitt stands for; excellence, strength, honesty and courage."
Warlick, who with fellow Lady Vols assistants Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss, will assume extra responsibilities as needed to help Summitt.
As college basketball's winningest coach, Summitt has spent 37 seasons at Tennessee and has 1,071 career victories and eight national championships. She is not the alone in her fight. Retired men's basketball coach Dean Smith -- the 80-year-old former North Carolina coach, who has 879 victories, reached 11 Final Fours and won two national championships -- is suffering from a progressive neurocognitive disorder that affects his memory.
That doesn't surprise any of Summitt's former players or rivals.
"I'm definitely shocked to hear the news, but knowing Pat she will get through this, and we will all stand by her side through this," Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings said. "She'll face yet another obstacle with determination and will power to live life to the fullest."
LSU coach and former Lady Vol Nikki Caldwell agreed.
"I've known Coach Summitt for 23 years and there has never been a fight that she's backed down from," Caldwell said. "All of us who have played or coached under her leadership, we know she will take this fight on like she does with every task. She will do it with dignity, toughness, courage and an unwavering commitment."
Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker said she's excited Summitt is going to continue coaching and doing what she loves.
"I'm so proud of her for coming forward with it. I think a lot of people would have hid it," she said.
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma summed up most of the reaction to Summitt's diagnosis.
"You don't necessarily associate dementia with people our age so this announcement really put things in perspective," Auriemma said in a statement. "Pat has great support from her family, friends and staff and I know they will help her immensely. There is no doubt in my mind that Pat will take on this challenge as she has all others during her Hall of Fame career -- head on. I wish her all the best."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ready, Set, Knit! 358: Kathy talks with Kristi JohnsonSaturday, May 24th, 2014
Play Now:
This week Kathy talks with Kristi Johnson from Shalimar Yarns.
Kristi tells Kathy about learning to knit at a young age, opening a yarn shop and beginning her hand-dyeing journey. They also discuss The Shalimar yarns that WEBS carries and the full line available on the Shalimar website as well as the origin of the company name.
Steve's Yarn Picks :
- Blue Sky Extra – NEW!
- S. Charles Natalia – Closeout
- Katia Hechizo – Closeout
Anniversary Sale through May 31st – This is your last week to order!:
- Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande
- Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace
- Rowan All Seasons Cotton
- Ella Rae Classic & Classic Heathers
Upcoming Events:
Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Festival is THIS weekend! May 24th and 25th.
WEBS is closed Sunday, May 25th (Head over to the MA Sheep and Wool Festival!) and Monday, May 26th. Enjoy your Memorial Day!
Stop by and check out current the Classic Elite Yarns Trunk Show.
Laura Militzer Bryant, Prism Yarns Trunk Show and Book Signing June 6th and 7th.
The 4th Annual I-91 Shop Hop is happening June 26th-29th, get your Passport Today!


text:
October 27th 2019: Please see our Contact page for an important note:
Thank you for visiting my website. Whatever the journey that brought you here may be, from whatever parts of the world you call home, however unique your background, whether you're a fan, or a seeker who stumbled upon it while sailing the oceans of the internet, I am honored that you've taken the time to stop by.
Please look around. Feel free to explore, comment and discuss. I hope that there is something here for each and every one of you. I've developed this site for the past several years as a home away from home, a virtual avatar that represents some of my personality, my passions and my many pursuits. It is a work-in-progress, always growing, learning, and transforming, as we all do on our own journey through life. I hope that you return often, and let us know your own thoughts on any of the subjects and items we've placed here. This site is as much for you as it is for me. I learned this valuable lesson while working on the incredible show Battlestar Galactica, from the fans themselves. The commitment, passion and online interaction from the fans shaped the very structure, and soul of the show. I hope to continue on that path of interconnectedness with you all, through this website.
For many of you it will be a place from which to invite me to speak at your graduation, or find a personal autograph of myself, or to vent a personal concern. It is all that and more. I hope that there is something here for everyone. Please stay as long as you like – mi casa es su casa.
Thank you for your continued love and support. "SO SAY WE ALL!"
My Warmest Regards, Edward James Olmos
If you resolve to gamble with on-line casino Zodiac, then you can see greater than 500 games. Put aside a small quantity of real cash and try out these low deposit casinos. You're just testing the water, and that shouldn't cost $1 minimum deposit casino canada an arm and a leg. Free Spins could be provided as a no deposit bonus, which means the investment isn't wanted at all to spin some slots and win actual cash.


text:
Delivery Includes:- Market Timeline 2018 till 2030, Market Size, Revenue/Volume Share, Forecast and CAGR, Competitor Analysis, Regional Analysis, Country Analysis, Segment Analysis, Market Trends, Drivers, Opportunities, Restraints, ESG Analysis, Porters Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, Market Attractiveness, Patent Analysis, Technological Trend, SWOT Analysis, COVID-19 Analysis, Consumer Behavior Analysis, etc.
|Author Name: Sneha Mali | Report ID: CMR965254 | Edition: 7th Global Edition
| Next Report Edition: September 2023 (Pre-Booking Available)
| Report Pages: 250+
Report Delivery Format: PDF, PPT, Excel, Word, Bi and Consultation
PDF Access: Password protected PDF file, Excel File Access: Quantitative data, PPT Report Access: For the presentation purpose, Cloud Access: Secure Company Account Access.
Share your contact details to receive free updated sample copy/pages of the recently published edition of Kayaks for Fishing Market Report 2023.
"Global Kayaks for Fishing market size 2023 was XX Million. Kayaks for Fishing Industry compound annual growth rate (CAGR) will be XX% from 2023 till 2030."
|Base Year
|Historical Data Time Period
|Forecast Period
Kayaks for Fishing Market is Segmented as below. Particular segment of your interest can be provided without any additional cost. Download the Sample Pages!
Market Dynamics such as Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Trends data
We have various report editions of Kayaks for Fishing Market, hence please contact our sales team and author directly to obtain/purchase a desired Edition eg, Global Edition, Regional Edition, Country Specific Report Edition, Company Profiles, Forecast Edition, etc. Request for your Free Sample PDF/Online Access.
Global Kayaks for Fishing Market Report 2023 talks about crucial market insights with the help of segments and sub-segments analysis. In this section, we reveal an in-depth analysis of the key factors influencing Kayaks for Fishing Industry growth. Kayaks for Fishing market has been segmented with the help of its Type, Application , and others. Kayaks for Fishing market analysis helps to understand key industry segments, and their global, regional, and country-level insights. Furthermore, this analysis also provides information pertaining to segments that are going to be most lucrative in the near future and their expected growth rate and future market opportunities. The report also provides detailed insights into factors responsible for the positive or negative growth of each industry segment.
Based on present and future trends, the market size is estimated from 2018 to 2030. Moreover, study also provides quantitative and qualitative analysis of each type to understand the driving factors for the fastest growing type segment for Kayaks for Fishing market.
Type of Kayaks for Fishing analyzed in this report are as follows:
The above Chart is for representative purposes and does not depict actual sale statistics. Access/Request the quantitative data to understand the trends and dominating segment of Kayaks for Fishing Industry. Request a Free Sample PDF!
This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities for each application of Kayaks for Fishing from 2018 to 2030. This will also help to analyze the demand for Kayaks for Fishing across different end-use industries. Our research team will also help acquire additional data such as Value Chain, Patent analysis, Company Evaluation Quadrant (Matrix), and much more confidential analysis and data insights.
Some of the key Application of Kayaks for Fishing are:
The above Graph is for representation purposes only. This chart does not depict actual Market share. Please purchase the Kayaks for Fishing market report 2023 Edition by contacting our team.
Region and country analysis section of Kayaks for Fishing Industry Analysis has been segmented into 5 major region such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa ,and Latin America (along with respective major contributing countries) and provides the revenue share, current trends.
The base years considered for all the estimations by analyzing trends and growth rate will help you gain an in-depth understanding of the conclusions provided in this report. This report also includes figures, graphs, pie charts, tables and bar graphs that explain the data analysis based on current trends at the country level as well as key regions. This research report also focuses on assessing factors such as profit, product price, capacity, production, supply demand market growth rate along with others to create a clear picture on the future prospects of Kayaks for Fishing market.
The current report Scope analyzes Kayaks for Fishing Market on 5 major region Split (In case you wish to acquire a specific region edition (more granular data) or any country Edition data then please write us on email@example.com
The above graph is for illustrative purposes only. To learn more about geographical trends request the free sample pages. Contact US!
Research Analyst at Cognitive Market Research
I am a research analyst working in various domains including the Consumer Goods domain, and my primary responsibility is to conduct thorough research on various subjects and provide valuable insights to support client requirements. I have knowledge of research methodologies, and data mining which enables me to analyze large data sets, draw meaningful conclusions, and communicate them effectively. I stay up-to-date with the latest research trends, methodologies, and technologies to ensure that my research is accurate, relevant, and impactful.
The base year for the calculation is 2023 and 2018 to 2023 will be historical period. The year 2023 will be estimated one while the forecasted data will be from year 2023 to 2028. When we deliver the report that time we updated report data till the purchase date.
Our study will explain complete manufacturing process along with major raw materials required to manufacture end-product. This report helps to make effective decisions determining product position and will assist you to understand opportunities and threats around the globe.
The Global Kayaks for Fishing Market is witnessing significant growth in the near future.
In 2023, the Hard Body Kayaks segment accounted for noticeable share of global Kayaks for Fishing Market and is projected to experience significant growth in the near future.
The Anglers segment is expected to expand at the significant CAGR retaining position throughout the forecast period.
Some of the key companies Hobie, Ocean Kayak and others are focusing on its strategy building model to strengthen its product portfolio and expand its business in the global market.
|Why Hard Body Kayaks have a significant impact on Kayaks for Fishing market?
|What are the key factors affecting the Hard Body Kayaks and Inflatable Kayaks of Kayaks for Fishing Market?
|What is the CAGR/Growth Rate of Anglers during the forecast period?
|By type, which segment accounted for largest share of the global Kayaks for Fishing Market?
|Which region is expected to dominate the global Kayaks for Fishing Market within the forecast period?
Industry segmentation can be altred as per your needs. For example, we can proivde cross slipt between Hard Body Kayaks with Application, , additional country analysis, volume/consumption data, etc.
|Major Type Analysed
|Major Application Analysed
|Top Manufacturers Disclosed
|Global, Regional and Country Analysis
|Key Qualitative Information Covered
Report scope is customizable as we have a huge database of Kayaks for Fishing industry. We can deliver an exclusive report Edition/Consultation as per your data requirements. Request for your Free Sample Pages.
We not only deliver the published report but only provide customized data on request to make your customized report edition (Exclusively Delivered and not shared on the website/Other Clients). The following additional data and delivery depend on Data Availability, Client's Data Request, Additional Charges Applied, etc.
|Segmentation Level Customization
|Global level Data Customization
|Region level Data Customization
|Country level Data Customization
|Company Level
|Additional Data Analysis
|Additional Qualitative Data
|Additional Quantitative Data
|Service Level Customization
|Report Format Alteration
This is a revenue specific report edition where the data is restricted only for the revenue.The pricing are according to the user license selection single user license: $2,445.00 USD, Team user license: $4,545.00 USD and Corporate user license:$6,845.00 USD On request we can arrange the copies depending the payment made from your side.
This is a revenue and volume specific report edition where the data is restricted for the revenue and volume.The pricing are according to the user license selection single user license: $3,445.00 USD, Team user license: $5,545.00 USD and Corporate user license:$7,845.00 USD On request we can arrange the copies depending the payment made from your side.
This is a volume specific report edition where the data is restricted only for the volume.The pricing are according to the user license selection single user license: $2,945.00 USD, Team user license: $5,045.00 USD and Corporate user license:$7,345.00 USD On request we can arrange the copies depending the payment made from your side.
This chapter helps you to understand the importance of report and how we designed the report scope of Kayaks for Fishing market. As per your requirement we can also design the market scope as a customised report.
This chapter provides insights on our data collection and data validation process. It covers detailed information on wide range of sources referred during the study.
At Cognitive Market Research, we have designed questionnaire focused on Kayaks for Fishing Market for the statistical study. This questionnaire is the key part of our research methodology which is shared with number of Kayaks for Fishing industry experts of entire value chain, located across the globe. This study help us to gather accurate quantitative and qualitative data for the final report.
The executive summary is an overview of a Kayaks for Fishing Market Report. In this chapter we have summarized the overall report data in snapshot format.
This chapters incorporated product description overview and regional sales statistics for the year 2018-2030.
This chapter covers a competitive analysis of the global Kayaks for Fishing market, and it includes quantitative information such as revenue and market share of the manufacturers. The chapter also includes information regarding the strategies adopted by the manufacturers such as mergers, acquisitions, and new product launches.
ESG analysis is the consideration of all factors in investment including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. ESG integration is key part of the investment process. ESG analysis helps to measure company's goals and progress when it comes to climate change, social improvement and good governance.
This chapter helps you understand the Market Drivers, Market Restrain, Market Opportunity and Trends by each segment.
This segment of the report provides in-depth and pertinent information on every foremost player in the market through both primary and secondary research. The Company Basic Information, and Sales Area chapter includes ten or more key players, which are dominating the market. Each company profile includes demystifying professional information in a tabular format, which comprises the company's official website, established year, market position, geographical presence, competitors, and contact information. Further, company profiling includes an in-detailed business overview, COVID-19 impact on the particular firm, product type specifications, revenue & market share, and recent developments done by the company for its inorganic development, such as mergers, strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and others. Besides, profiling includes the company's investment in research and development activities. The recent innovative product launches, business expansion, investments done by the company in different markets, and other news are also available in the company profiling section. At last, it provides the company's business strategy and SWOT analysis.
This chapter covers in-detailed insights regarding type segments to understand consumer interests and provide a revenue stream for each type. Type segment analysis help in making a better business decision to maximize profitability by focusing resources on those market type that are relatively favorable to their goals.
This chapter covers in-detailed insights regarding type segments to understand consumer interests and provide a revenue stream for each type. Type segment analysis help in making a better business decision to maximize profitability by focusing resources on those market type that are relatively favorable to their goals.
This chapter categorizes detailed perceptions into an application segment based on end users' needs, and preferences to understand their requirements and purchasing patterns effectively. It analyzes the current trends of the market that mainly consists of information related to new product use, trends in consumer demand, and available close substitutes of the product.
This chapter helps you understand the Key Takeaways and Analyst Point of View of the global Kayaks for Fishing market
Top Companies Market Share in Kayaks for Fishing Industry: (In no particular order of Rank)
If any Company(ies) of your interest has/have not been disclosed in the above list then please let us know the same so that we will check the data availability in our database and provide you the confirmation or include it in the final deliverables..
Competitive Landscape includes company profiling of the key manufacturers listed below. It also provides the key developments such as new product launches, expansion, mergers & acquisitions, partnerships, agreements, joint ventures, business overview, key strategies and financial analysis associated with the key players. Strategy implemented to overcome the COVID-19 Impact will be discussed in the report scope. Key players Financials includes Revenue (USD Million), Gross Margin (%) and Market Share (%) (2018- 2022), S.W.O.T Analysis, (To read more request the sample pages Or speak to analyst/author directly).
70% of Our Clients
Yes! I also need a customized report/data!
No! I need a published report copy; so share the sample pages.
Global Report Edition includes data about 5 major regions and a total of 36 countries. Please refer to the Table of Contents tab. If you require customized data our research team will assist you and provide you with an exclusive report edition delivery. You can also purchase regional and country-level data edition/s. Please get in contact with us prior to making a purchase email@example.com.
The regional report edition will help you get the data specific to the to selected region from the drop down.
The country specific report edition and the respective table of content will be delivered to you as per your enquiry or you can refer the following link for the same.


text:
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sun Dried Tomato, Goat Cheese and Olive Oil Loaf
Savory loafs are really one of the easiest recipes in my cooking repertoire. It's literally ready in minutes, and it's a wonderfully versatile recipe that you can adapt to leftovers in your pantry. You can substitute the cheeses to suit your preference, add scallions, artichoke hearts, prosciutto, olives, any herbs of your choosing... It's really adaptable to any season and any taste. I like to serve it in small slices to complement a cheese platter, for any aperitif snack food or serve it warm with a nice crisp salad. It also makes for a wonderful afternoon snack if you don't want to indulge in something too sweet.
Savory loves are quite common in France, and are misleadingly called 'cake'! I grew up eating many different variations of the recipe I bring you today and I still enjoy them just as much today.
Sun Dried Tomato, Goat Cheese and Olive Oil Loaf
3 eggs
1/4 cup of white wine
1/4 cup of heavy cream
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of grated Gruyere, tightly packed
70 grams of crumbled soft goat cheese
8 large sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil and coarsely chopped
2 tsp of fresh oregano, coarsely chopped
salt and freshly ground pepper
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the 3 eggs, wine, olive oil and cream. Once homogeneous, add the flour and baking powder and whisk. Fold in the Gruyere and leave in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Take out the loaf batter and fold in the goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and oregano. Add a good pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the batter into a greased standard loaf pan and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. If the loaf starts to brown too much, cover with a piece of aluminum foil and continue to bake. Let cool for a few minutes and unmold. Enjoy!
Posted by Chocolate Shavings at 9:17 PM 25 comments:
Labels: finger foods, Main Dishes
Friday, February 18, 2011
Lobster, Tarragon Mayonnaise and Truffled Potato Puree
Here is a little glimpse of the meal we enjoyed for Valentine's day. I opened my fridge to find that two big live lobsters had somehow made their way to my kitchen, and I couldn't be happier. I'm not usually a big fan of surprises, but this one was definitely a much appreciated one! While we were preparing the lobster, we made a quick homemade tarragon and caper mayonnaise and a potato puree that we served with a drizzle of truffle oil. This was one of the best meals I've had this month and felt like a little glimpse of summer in the middle of the wintertime. What did you have for your Valentine's day menu?
If you've never made homemade mayonnaise, I would encourage you to make your first batch as soon as you have a minute. It really does not take long to make and tastes so much better than the store bought kinds. I like flavoring mayonnaise - like this one, with tarragon and capers- so that the sauce always feel special. It was really a treat with a meaty lobster tail! We simply boiled the lobster in salty water until just cooked. As for the potatoes, I made a simple potato puree (with cooked potatoes, a little butter and a splash of cream) and finished it off with some good quality truffle oil. Using too much truffle oil can really overpower a dish, so make sure to add a modest drizzle. The right amount can really add to a dish and make it feel that much more festive.
Tarragon Mayonnaise
1 egg yolk
150-200 ml of canola oil
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice
2 teaspoons of capers, rinsed and coarsely chopped
1 small bunch of tarragon, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
In a small bowl, add the egg yolk and mustard and whisk until blended. Slowly add the oil, whisking continuously. After you have incorporated about a quarter of the oil, you should feel the mayonnaise coming together and starting to form a thick sauce. Add the oil very slowly to make sure that it has time to be completely incorporated in the mustard mixture before you add more oil. Once all the oil has been added, add the vinegar and lemon and whisk again. Add the capers and tarragon. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.Enjoy!
Posted by Chocolate Shavings at 11:44 PM 22 comments:
Labels: Main Dishes
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Perfect Breakfast and a Sweet Giveaway!
Let's be honest. We've all had those days when you wake up and need a pick-me up right off the bat. For those kind of days, a nice breakfast might just do the trick. For me, frittatas are definitely the way to go when you have time for a hearty morning meal. Beat a couple eggs with a little cream, add some greens and a little cheese and let the frittata bake in the oven while you prepare the rest. This breakfast platter includes some greek yogurt topped with blueberries and oats, some sliced apples and a parmesan, spinach and green onion frittata. Add a glass of freshly pressed grapefruit juice and a good cup of coffee and you can be sure the day ahead will be that much brighter!
And to continue the day on a good note, I'm offering a great giveaway. I have 3 copies of Kings of Pastry to send to 3 lucky readers. This movie follows chefs as they compete for the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. It's a wonderful movie for anyone interested in the pastry realm and will bring you backstage at one the most intense culinary competitions in the world. To enter the contest, comment on this post and tell us what your favorite pastries are. For a second entry in this contest, add a comment on Chocolate Shaving's facebook page. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only and ends on February 18th, 2011. Good luck!
Parmesan, Green Onion and Spinach Frittata
Serves 2
4 eggs
1 splash of heavy cream
1/4 cup milk
3 green onions, sliced
1 handful of baby spinach, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup of shredded parmesan
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Preheat your oven to 375F. Beat the eggs until homogeneous and add the cream and milk. Stir in the green onions, spinach and parmesan. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add the egg mixture to a cast iron pan on medium heat. Using a whisk or wooden spoon, stir the mixture until it just start to cook. Place the cast iron in the oven and bake until the frittata is just set and golden brown (about 15 minutes).
Serve warm. Enjoy!
Posted by Chocolate Shavings at 1:49 PM 77 comments:
Labels: breakfast
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Security news doesn't always wait for conference season. That's the guiding principle behind the Black Hat Webcasts – a regular series of live web events focusing on what's hot in the infosec space all year long. The third Thursday of every month, we'll bring together Black Hat speakers, independent researchers and leading security experts from the government to the underground to answer your questions live.
If you want to join the webcast mailing list, just send us an email here. We'll keep you posted about the details of new webcasts as they're brought online.
If you have a subject you'd like to see addressed, or you've seen a presentation at one of our events that you think the wider public would benefit from, drop us a line here. We'll try hard to get the topics with the most demand on the schedule.
If you're interested in the opportunity to sponsor an episode of the Black Hat Webcast, contact us here.
Black Hat reserves the right to make changes in this calendar as breaking security news might require.


text:
Dir/scr: Alex Gibney. US. 2013.122mins
Prolific documentary maker Alex Gibney's latest feature is nothing if not timely. After US cyclist Lance Armstrong's confession on the Oprah Winfrey show in January 2013 that he had, as his critics had long maintained, not only taken performance-enhancing drugs during his seven Tour de France victories, but also lied about it for well over a decade, there was still one big question remaining: why? Gibney's engaging, punchy documentary, which includes footage of a post-confession interview the director conducted with Armstrong, probably comes as close to answering this as anyone ever will, without quite nailing a sportsman who, as this film makes clear, does not really do contrition.
Armstrong is revealed to be a control-freak for whom continual denials of the truth, in press conferences and books, were part and parcel of the bullying tactics he applied to cycling rivals, fellow team members and even Gibney himself, who tells us at one point that "Lance tried to dominate my film too"
Picked up by Sony Pictures Classics late in July, just over a month before its Venice Film Festival premiere, this rangy but never foot-dragging documentary should find an audience wherever cycling is big. It should also cross over to non sports fans a tad more than the original Armstrong documentary Gibney signed on to make, which was to be about the cyclist's 2009 Tour de France comeback attempt, at the ripe old age of 38.
It's difficult to believe that the director of pugnacious investigative docs like Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) or Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House of God (2012) should have agreed to direct an inspirational sports comeback story. But it's clear that even in that original 2009 version of the story, the doping charges were to be tackled head-on, and many of the interviews with Armstrong 'doubters' like teammates Frankie Andreu, his wife Betsy and cycling writer David Walsh date from this shoot. We're never told why that original 'comeback' film was never finished; it may have something to with the fact that in the 2009 tour, Armstrong only finished third.
With Gibney losing out on the Armstrong confession to Oprah (at one point, it seems there was a real possibility that this documentary might break the story), the director tells us, near the beginning, that he decided in this new film to answer the following question: given that Lance Armstrong has declared that if he hadn't come back in 2009, he would never have been caught, what made him do it – why could he not just sit back and bask in the glow of his seven yellow jerseys?
That's probably not the question a director who didn't have a lot of 2009 footage lying around would have chosen to ask, but luckily the documentary that ensues ends up revealing a lot more than the answer to this rather limited question. Above all, it's a portrait of a talented sportsman who only really cares about two things. One is winning. The other is being in charge of his own story. We're reminded, via a snappily-edited, fast-paced mix of archive footage and Gibney interleavings, just why this story was considered so remarkable. In October 1996, only four years into his career as a professional cyclist, Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had already spread to his lungs and brain. Given a clean bill of health after just four months of treatment, he founded a foundation to help children with cancer and their families. Less than three years later, in July 1999, the reborn champion secured the first of seven consecutive Tour de France victories.
Doping accusations weave in and out of the story, with Armstrong's personal performance-enhancing medical advisor, Michele Ferrari, introduced with a dose of tongue-in-cheek irony as the villain of the piece. It's fascinating to learn just how sophisticated the deceptions were, with illegal blood transfusions at one point carried out in plain sight on a team bus during a Tour stage. Cycling regulatory body UCI is suggested to have been, at this time, partly complicit in a drug culture that is shown to be the rule rather than the exception, actually tipping cyclists off when their blood- and urine-test values were close to allowed limits.
More than victim of 'the culture', Armstrong is revealed to be a control-freak for whom continual denials of the truth, in press conferences and books, were part and parcel of the bullying tactics he applied to cycling rivals, fellow team members and even Gibney himself, who tells us at one point that "Lance tried to dominate my film too". By the end of The Armstrong Lie, we've had no really cathartic confession, only a slightly incoherent self-justification that comes out like blood from a stone. But watching a man live a lie for so many years that he start to believe it is still an absorbing experience.
Production companies: Sony Pictures Classics presents a Kennedy/Marshall production in association with Jigsaw Productions and Matt Tolmach Productions
International sales: Sony Pictures Releasing International, www.spe.sony.com
Producers: Frank Marshall, Matt Tolmach, Alex Gibney
Co-producers: Jennie Amias, Mark Higgins, Beth Howard
Cinematography: Maryse Alberti
Editor: Andy Grieve, Tim Squyres
Music: David Kahne


text:
CFR Launches Interactive Guide on Child Marriage
A new interactive guide from the Council on Foreign Relations examines the threat that child marriage poses both to the prosperity and stability of the countries in which it is prevalent and to U.S. development and foreign policy interests.
January 9, 2014 10:29 am (EST)
- News Releases
A new interactive guide from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) examines the threat that child marriage poses both to the prosperity and stability of the countries in which it is prevalent and to U.S. development and foreign policy interests. "Child marriage is linked to poor health, curtailed education, violence, and instability, and perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of poverty that is difficult to break, as the InfoGuide shows," said CFR Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy Rachel B. Vogelstein, formerly director of policy and senior adviser on global women's issues at the U.S. State Department. "Its effects harm not only girls but entire families, communities, and economies—and U.S. interests around the world."
The "Child Marriage" InfoGuide includes
More on:
- a video overview featuring insights from Vogelstein as well as Isobel Coleman, CFR senior fellow and director of the Civil Society, Markets, and Democracy initiative and the Women and Foreign Policy program; Laura Laski, UN Population Fund chief of sexual and reproductive health; Nice Nailante Leng'ete, an anti–female genital mutilation advocate in the Maasai community; and Donald Steinberg, CEO of World Learning;
- an interactive map that surveys child marriage prevalence and maternal mortality rates;
- profiles of five countries where child marriage is common: India, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Niger, and Guatemala;
- a video examining the varying definitions of who is a child; and
- policy options that could curb the practice of child marriage.
The "Child Marriage" InfoGuide follows the series' inaugural interactive, "China's Maritime Disputes." It is a major addition to CFR's interactive offerings, which include the Emmy Award–winning Crisis Guides and the Global Governance Monitor. InfoGuides utilize a responsive design for use on tablets and mobile devices. Various multimedia sections are embeddable, including the map, slideshow, and infographics.
The CFR.org multimedia team developed the InfoGuide in partnership with Phase 2 Technology. It was made possible by funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Ford Foundation also contributed to CFR's Women and Foreign Policy program's research on child marriage.
View "Child Marriage" InfoGuide at http://www.cfr.org/childmarriage.
More on:


text:
The last time I'd been to the island, it didn't make sense to me.
I had exited a building that had birthed my presence into the island's sun splashed terrain. I'd confronted some blue panels in the manner a driver confronts a stop sign.
The panels were signs I didn't know how to read. They were puzzles, I guess, but they seemed too simple to be anything other than a trick. They let me trace a line into a maze, using an Xbox 360 controller wired to the PC I saw this island on, from a beginning point to end point.
I left the island last September. My visit had only lasted a few minutes.
I returned to the island last week.
The island looks better now, still drenched in bright light, still verdant and covered with uninhabited buildings. A visit to the island still begins in a building, still starts with an exit through a door adorned with a puzzle that seems too simple to have been included by the video game designer who put it there. I see this island entirely in first person.
I have video of my last visit to the island, video I shot in Seattle when it was still secret who made this place. I can compare the sites and show you the confounding simplicity I first encountered.
The blue panels were the key to the game, the man who led the making of the island would later tell me. But he told me almost nothing while I fiddled with them last week. He let me be, except for one moment, for close to two hours. He let me explore the island on my own.
My video from last year confirms the truth that the blue panels are locks and that my manipulation of the puzzles on them is the turning of keys. No one gives me the keys, because the keys on this island are ideas—methods for solving puzzles. You don't pick them up; you ascertain them.
On the island last week, having exited the building into a gated courtyard, I traced paths on the blue panels. Each panel was a grid maze. I could draw a line into them. I connected the grids' starting nodes with their terminal nodes. I did this with the confidence of an adult solving a connect-the-dots puzzle that contains four dots. Each panel puzzle was a little more complex than the one before, so maybe the last one was more of a seven-number connect-the-dots. Each appeared to transfer more energy into power lines that led to a locked door. Solving all the puzzles opened the door. This was interestingly non-verbal but all too easy. Minor intuition conquered minor confusion to yield the minor prize of the door in the gate outside the building opening up. I stepped outside into the larger expanse of the island, wondering what the point of this was.
The first thing I imagine anyone will notice when they get beyond the courtyard door is a large white windmill painted with a few bold red lines. It stands near a small lake in a cradle formed by hills and boxy buildings that the maker of the island says will be replaced by things that look like real architecture in the year or so that remains in crafting this place. The windmill must be there for a reason. So too must each building, though perhaps the placement of each tree doesn't carry the same import. Those are the rules in video games. Buildings and windmills tend to matter; trees, not really.
The Witness is the new game from Jonathan Blow, creator of Braid. It comes with high expectations, given the critical and commercial success of that previous indie. Blow describes The Witness as a game about seeing, about how perception changes over time, how there are things we don't see even though they are in front of us. He describes it as a game about the senses, more specifically about "the senses as a gateway to understanding the universe." It's planned for PC and at least one console and is at least a year away from completion. There is much more to be written about The Witness. Look for an interview with Blow here on Kotaku later this week.
What also matters is recording devices on pedestals, one of which stands on the path right outside the courtyard gate. Activating it triggers the voice of a man, who pleasantly acknowledges that the introduction of a narrator like him is often construed as the precursor to a coming betrayal. But he says we're safe. He encourages us to take time to explore. He's the first hint that there is a story to this island.
Exploring is what I do on this island. I spy a row of blue panels on a small hill and walk over to solve them. They are more complex. So too are ones under a gazebo that increase in difficulty to the point where I can't complete them. My confidence is peeled away, leaving worry that I'm already stumped in a video game whose purpose I don't understand.
The rows of puzzles each introduce a new idea. Simple tracing was just the idea of the first, simplest puzzles outside the first building. These new batches of puzzles wordlessly introduce new problems that require new strategies. For example, one set looks like a series of mazes, similar to the first batch, except they contain dark spots at some of the maze's elbows, each of which needs to be traced through before the panel fizzes an affirmative sound and allows the next in the row to be solved. Another series introduces tokens that sit inside the squares defined by a maze grid. The intuitive puzzle solver will eventually deduce that they require that the line being traced in the grid pass by them in a specific manner. Within each series of puzzles, the basic idea is twisted from puzzle to puzzle. Perhaps, to give one basic example, the idea of multiple possible starting points is introduced, leaving the solver to figure out which is the best one.
When I solved the first row of puzzles, I received a reward: the courtyard door unlocked. When I solve the puzzles on the hill, I appear to receive no reward. I hear no chime; I'm handed no bauble. I am disappointed and the thought briefly flashes through my brain that my time has been wasted by the maker of the island. When I'm stumped by the final puzzle in the series under the gazebo, I begin to feel stressed.
I don't know what to do.
So I wander.
I walk along a path, past the windmill, toward a hill. I climb it and find another simple puzzle, a blue panel on its own that begs to be inscribed with a simple "s". That's all it is, though I later make a connection that the maker of the island asks me to keep secret. At the time, I'm perplexed.
I wander some more, past a castle tower and down along the frustrating outside of a green hedge maze that appears to be joined by a yellow one that I also can't access. I find a blue panel that appears to be 20 times more complex than any other I've seen. It is marked by some symbols I've seen and others that look alien. This is when my inflating confusion is punctured by the happy pin of epiphany. These puzzles are teaching me a language, a grammar for solving problems. This 20-times-more-complex puzzle I've found is a Pynchon paragraph, only half of whose words I understand. The game of this island assembles in my brain. I'm here to learn the nouns and verbs of simple puzzles to solve more complex ones.
I know what this game is now. Excited, I wheel around and enter a building. I solve much tougher puzzles in this building. In the midst of this, the maker of the island comes into the room that runs the computer through which I've accessing this place. He remarks with surprise that I'm in an advanced place. I get the sense I'm not supposed to be there. That makes me want to stay. In this building I learn new puzzle ideas. I learn what to do when the token icons in a blue-panel puzzle grid are different colors. I learn what a starburst icon appearing in a puzzle means. I learn the deviousness of puzzles that combine some of the simple codes I've learned to present much tougher problems of puzzle translation. I do something in the building that becomes the second secret I'm asked to keep.
I leave the advanced building with new confidence. Soon I encounter what I later learn are some of the island-maker's favorite puzzles. There are just three of them in the series he and I will later describe as the shadow puzzles. The first is a trace-able grid maze that introduces the trick of having to have its maze traced in a path that doesn't intersect the shadow being cast on it by sun shining through tree branches overhead. The second puzzle is the same but seems impossible due to a large blotch of shadow on the lower half of the puzzle. But it only seems impossible until I give up, back away and realize that my body in this world created the blotchy bottom of the shadow. The third introduces another complication with shadow. The designer likes this puzzle—as well as a series involving apples in trees—because they involve something other than logic or brute force…. they require patient observation and intuition. They have a different magic to them.
I get myself to a beach where I find a puzzle panel that isn't blue. It appears to be composed of clear glass. I'm not sure why. I find another audio recording and listen to that pleasant man speak in depth about how he feels about his face, how he changed his mind about the relevance of looks. He ends his soliloquy by thanking his face "for helping me to practice seeing." I don't understand the man's purpose, but I'm told that there is a reason he has arranged for my island self to be on this island solving puzzles. Near the beach I find an elevated platform. On it, I solve increasingly devious panel puzzles. I need to sketch their solutions in a notebook to aid me.
A year ago when I went to this island, I could not help but think of Myst, the massively successful game of quiet puzzles on an exotic island that was a mainstream hit decades ago and an inspiration for bad copies and perhaps no great successors. I did not understand why the man who, with a team, made this island and who had made Braid, a sort of Super Mario Bros. with vexing time manipulation, to put it too crudely, would waste time making a modern Myst. But back when I was solving the shadow puzzles last week, I drifted to a new comparison: Metroid. That Nintendo classic, which the maker of the island has played little of, was also about observation, about piling up a memory of unsolved conundrums, harboring the patience to pass them by, then discovering, much later, the missile or the freeze beam that suddenly would make obvious how the old conundrums could be solved. In Metroid I improved by arming my heroine, doubling back and blasting the previously unblastable barriers. On this island, my upgrades were in my brain. I improved by becoming better at seeing and thinking about what I could see. My new powers were my new thoughts, my new vocabulary.
My second visit to the island ended in about two hours, though I didn't want it to. I'm told I could have stayed in it for more than 10, that there are hundreds of blue panels to solve, piles of ideas that coalesce into a new language of seeing and solving. The plot has a point. The puzzles have a purpose. Much work still has to be done in this place, but it is a wonderful land to visit where there is a new language to learn for reasons we'll figure out together, I think, the next time we visit.


text:
A Baptism Experience at King's Way is one of the most exciting things we do here and we'd love for you to be a part of it! Getting baptized is a symbolic representation of dying to your old life and being raised to a new life in Christ.
If you've made the decision to follow Jesus, this is your next step. Fill out the form below and we'll get in touch with you.


text:
As part of its ongoing collaboration with global drone leader DJI, Epson, providers of the Moverio augmented reality (AR) smart eyewear platform, recently announced the world's first glasses-based augmented reality drone flight simulator app, developed by Y Media Labs exclusively for the Epson Moverio BT-300 (FPV/Drone Edition) smart glasses.
The application allows a user to fly a 3D digital drone in the real world using flight controllers from the latest DJI drones, including the Mavic Pro, Phantom 4, Inspire 2 and Spark. The simulator mirrors the natural, real-world movements of a DJI Mavic Pro, allowing new pilots to learn to fly and experienced pilots to sharpen their skills.
"Augmented reality is set to revolutionize the industry with the ability to create a safer, more productive flight," said Romsin Oushana of DJI Partnerships. "The hands-free, heads-up experience delivered by the Epson Moverio BT-300 is the ideal way to experience aerial AR."
The flight simulator experience is viewed through the Epson Moverio BT-300 smart glasses and includes a fly mode and two mini-games for advanced pilots. It will be published on the Moverio Apps Market later this year but can be experienced today at any DJI store or most local drone retailers. The drone flight simulator app was demonstrated at the Commercial UAV Expo last month in Las Vegas.
"This is arguably the first mainstream consumer application for augmented reality smart glasses," said Eric Mizufuka, Manager, New Ventures, Epson America. "The ability to digitally 'paint the sky' is a game-changer in the drone market and will usher in an exciting range of applications. We've been very impressed with DJI's updated Mobile SDK and look forward to continuing to invest in new applications and partnerships in this space."
"We're excited to partner with Epson and DJI to set the standard for high-value consumer experiences in the AR space by harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology and world-class design," said Ashish Toshniwal, CEO of Y Media Labs.
The flight simulator is the first application in a series of aerial augmented reality applications being developed by Y Media in partnership with DJI and Epson. A full-featured AR app for the Epson Moverio smart glasses is being designed to enhance the safety, productivity and capabilities of DJI drones for hobbyists and professionals alike. It is scheduled to be launched by the end of the year.


text:
Category: Craft
Type: Red Ale
Country: Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
Brewer: Sleeping Giant Brewing
Alcohol Content(ABV): 5.1%
While Mr. Canoehead is labelled as a red ale, it deviates from the style with an added dry-hop to give it added aroma and flavour.
Perfectpint – Line Maintenance and Beer Gas Moose's Cookhouse is dedicated to providing our guests with clean and bacteria free draft lines. We take pride in letting our customers know we care about cleanliness. Moose's Cookhouse is proudly using the services of Perfectpint a Division of Huronia/MED-E-OX for our draught services. Perfectpint and their certified technicians bring over 50 years of experience in the Beverage Industry, to ensure the cleanliness, and consistency of the draught lines are professionally installed, maintained and cleaned once every three weeks. We also use a speciality "Beer Gas" for our system. "Beer Gas" is a nitrogen and CO2 mixture specially designed for dispensing a range of different beers to ensure the best quality in every pint. This customer guarantee is to ensure you, the valued customer can enjoy what you came for, and trust what you are getting will be "The Perfect Pint" Cheers! (www.perfectpint.ca)
If you live within 100 miles of North Bay and you've eaten a chicken wing, you know where we are. For anyone else:
134 Main Street East North Bay, Ontario P1B 1A8Phone: 705-472-8834Email: email@example.com


text:
About the Department
Purdue University's Department of Computer Graphics Technology is constantly working toward being the nation's leader in its field. By continuously updating their curriculum, adding new technology and software, the Department of Computer Graphics Technology is ensuring that its students are on the forefront of every new advance. With nearly every industry benefiting from the use of computer graphics, a degree from the department would enable students to go almost anywhere.
About the Faculty
Purdue's Computer Graphics Technology faculty members have been conducting research involved in blended topics of design and technology. Some of the more popular topics include:
- Web programming and development
- Artificial life and virtual reality
- Data visualization
- Social media and mobile devices
- Video games and 3D modeling
- Software engineering


text:
IntelliJ IDEA helps you create and apply patches to the source code. A patch is a file in the standard text format that has the *.patch extension, and contains a list of differences between two sets of source files.
Patches only contain changes to textual files. Changes to binary files cannot be patched.
This concept is tightly related to the concept of Shelved Changes.
See Also
Last modified: 18 July 2017


text:
A cell phone and Internet outage Tuesday evening in several Southeastern states was caused by a hardware problem, AT&T reported.
"Wireless and wireline service has been restored for all customers in parts of the Southeast affected by a hardware-related network issue, " AT&T said in a statement Tuesday. "Our engineers completed repairs and service is running normally. We apologize for any inconvenience."
AT&T would not describe the nature of the hardware problem, and said it only could speak about service for its own customers.
However, the outage was reported on social media and other sources to have affected thousands of customers for all the major carriers, lasting from about 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. It hit customers in parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, and possibly other states.
Buddy Rogers, a public information officer for the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, said in an interview with Computerworld on Wednesday that the cause of the outage was not officially determined.
The cause was originally reported to his office on Tuesday as a fiber-optic cable cut, which could well have been in error, Rogers said. "I don't have a clue if it was a cable cut or a router outage or what, " he said. Rogers' personal AT&T cellular service went down for a while, but workers nearby on other carriers continued to have service.
Two industry officials who asked not to be named told that the source of the outage was an unexplained router failure and not a fiber cut that affected service for all of the carriers. In this outage, the router was shared or leased by all the major carriers for transmitting voice and Internet services, the officials said.
Rogers said that even though conventional wireless and Internet services might have been disrupted, there was still emergency backup for use by first responders in the region using a system called the Defense Military Affairs Radio Communications System. (DMARCS).
Analysts said it makes sense that an AT&T router would affect other carriers because AT&T is the predominant carrier in that region and it is commonplace for all the carriers to share equipment. A redundant network is the goal of all the U.S. carriers, but there are gaps in redundancy, especially in regions outside of major metropolitan areas.
"It's a difficult situation, " said one industry official. "Where we have the opportunity to have redundancy in place, we build it in every point. Redundancy is absolutely a part of our DNA. Sometimes, in places like a mountain range, redundancy isn't possible to protect against all the things than can happen."
In absence of further information from AT&T or other carrier officials, it's mpossible to understand precisely what happened, analysts said.
"What's surprising is that there wasn't redundancy built in, " said Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics. "The only thing you can do [to protect against outages] is build in redundancy, and that's usually done in more populated areas of the country."


text:
A Pop Life
Album yearlist 2008
Please be advised that English is not my native tongue.
Whenever you come across clumsy sentences and/or sayings, due to insufficient knowledge of the English language, please accept my apologies and let me know. I will fix that as soon as possbile.
© 2016-2023 A Pop Life, all rights reserved
Developed by Erwin Barendregt | Built with WordPress


text:
Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor Ft. Worth, Texas
Michelle Marcincuk, MD offers a full array of ear, nose and throat services. Whether you have swimmer's ear, a sore throat, trouble swallowing or hearing loss, we will work with you to achieve your optimal health. You can learn more about our services by reading this section of our website.
We cater to pediatric patients, and know how to make children comfortable and happy during their visit.
The inner ear serves two purposes: hearing and balance. There are mechanisms in the ear that inform the brain about your position, orientation in space and movement and all times to keep you in balance. A false sensation of spinning or whirling, known as vertigo, can occur when the signal to the brain is blocked or misfires. Read More »
Ear Infection
The ear is made up of three sections: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. Each of these areas is susceptible to infections, which can be painful. Young children have a greater tendency to get earaches. While most ear pain resolves itself in a matter of days, you should get a physical examination to understand the type of infection, prevent it from spreading and obtain treatment to help alleviate the pain. Read More »
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss has a lot of different causes and manifestations. It can be sudden or gradual. It can occur in one ear or both ears. It can be temporary or permanent. It happens to people of all ages and is associated with the aging process. Before discussing causes and treatments for hearing loss, it is important to understand how hearing works. Read More »
Mouth Sores
There are a variety of sores that can occur in or around the mouth. Most are benign, but some may be indicative of cancer. Read More »
Neck Pain
Neck pain is often a result of overuse of the muscles and ligaments in the neck from sports, recreational activities, work or household chores. It is generally characterized by stiffness, a kink or severe pain in the neck, shoulders, upper back and/or arms. Neck pain can also be caused by stress, trauma or injury or may be a symptom of the flu or meningitis. Read More »
Breathing Problems
The nose serves three primary functions: to warm, humidify and filter air as it passes into the body. Breathing problems may impact one or multiple of these functions. Breathing problems can be temporary or chronic, mild or severe, but they usually increase with age. Read More »
Snoring/Sleep Apnea
Snoring is a noise produced during sleep that originates in the back of the throat or nose. Snoring occurs when the muscles in the back of the mouth, tongue and throat relax while sleeping, which narrows or blocks the airway. Breathing causes your uvula (soft palate) to vibrate and knock against the back of the throat, resulting in the snoring sound. Read More »
Sore Throat
Everyone experiences sore throats when they have a cold or flu. But there are other reasons for sore throats that may be symptomatic of more serious problems. Read More »
Head and Neck Cancers
Most head and neck cancers are relatively preventable since they are highly correlated with tobacco use and alcohol consumption. They are also generally curable if caught early. Symptoms to watch out for include pain swallowing, trouble breathing, ear pain, a lump in the neck that lasts longer than two weeks, a growth in the mouth and bleeding from the mouth, nose or throat. Read More »
Oral Cancers
Oral cancers appear as red or white patches of mouth tissue or small ulcers that look like a canker sores, but are painless. Oral cancers usually form on the tongue or floor of the mouth, but can occur on any tissue in and around the mouth. Read More »


text:
Texas Ave, Stratton, Hitchcock County, Nebraska 40.148300, -101.2348
Marker Text
In the spring of 1859 William H. Russell and John S. Jones established The Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express to carry passengers and freight from the Missouri River to the Colorado gold fields. The route crossed northern Kansas, detouring northwest through an area lacking wood or water, to reach the Republican River in this vicinity. The company's station eighteen was located southwest of here near the present Hitchcock-Dundy County line. Noted newspaperman Horace Greeley took the stagecoach to Denver and stopped at the temporary tent station on June 2, 1859. He wrote "I would match this station and its surroundings against any other scene on our continent for desolation." After The Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express acquired the Hockaday mail contract to California, its stagecoaches were rerouted through the Platte Valley beginning in July 1859. The original stations in Western Kansas and along the Republican River in Nebraska, including station eighteen, were abandoned. Emigrants and settlers continued to use the old trail for a few more years.


text:
NEW YORK, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Town & Country magazine has declared Britain's Prince Harry the most eligible bachelor of 2013.
"He's the wild-card royal, the naughty one, the one who ... hangs out with a fast crowd, downs too many drinks, and goes home at the wrong moment. That's why we all like him best," the publication said of the 28-year-old prince. "Harry might not possess a towering intellect -- he was a lackadaisical student at Eton, and he skipped university to go to Sandhurst, the English equivalent of West Point -- but he is cooler and more appealing than his older brother, sweet as William undoubtedly is."


text:
Including 178 in December
Press release:
SNHR announced in its report released today that it documented at least 4,671 cases of arbitrary arrests in 2019, including 178 in December.
Arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances have been amongst the most common and widespread violations since the early days of the popular uprising for democracy in Syria in March 2011. As this report states, these violations, which have affected hundreds of thousands of Syrians, are carried out by the Syrian security services, as well as their affiliated militias, as part of a deliberate and planned strategy, often in a sweeping indiscriminate manner, in order to instill terror and fear into the largest possible number of Syrian people. Approximately eight months after the start of the popular uprising, other parties began to emerge in Syria, carrying out similar arrests and kidnappings, though the regime has remained by far the largest offender.
The report reveals that since 2011, the Syrian Network for Human Rights has created complex electronic programs to archive and categorize the detainees' data, which the team collects and verifies, enabling us to catalogue the detainees according to gender, the location where each was arrested, the governorate from which each detainee originally came, and the party responsible for the arrest. These programs also enable us to cross-index cases and make comparisons between these parties, as well as identifying the governorates where the largest proportion of their residents were arrested and disappeared.
As the report explains, most of the arrests in Syria are carried out without any judicial warrant while the victims are passing through checkpoints or during raids, with the security forces of the regime's four main intelligence services often responsible for extra-judicial detentions. The detainee is tortured from the very first moment of his or her arrest and denied any opportunity to contact his or her family or to have access to a lawyer. The authorities also flatly deny the arbitrary arrests they have carried out and most of the detainees are subsequently categorized as forcibly disappeared.
The report explains that the SNHR's team abides by strict standards in evaluating and assessing any incident of arbitrary arrest; the detainee figures don't include prisoners with a criminal background, but do include cases of arrest that are based on the internal armed conflict, mainly due to opposition activity against the ruling authorities, as well as cases of detention to suppress freedom of opinion and expression, in accordance with the principals of international laws and the principles on arbitrary arrest. The report relies on cross-checking information from various sources, such as: victims' families, SNHR members in Syrian governorates, cooperating local activists, and former detainees, before diligently working to contact the families of the detainees and forcibly disappeared persons, as well as people close to them and people who survived detention, for the purpose of collecting as much information and data as possible, in light of the extraordinary and extremely complex challenges.
This report documents the record of arbitrary arrests by the parties to the conflict in 2019, particularly in December 2019. In addition, it records the most notable raids and arrests at checkpoints during this period that resulted in deprivation of freedom, as well as shedding light on the most notable individual cases and incidents of arbitrary arrest that the SNHR's team documented in 2019 and in December in particular, in addition to categorizing cases and incidents of arrest according to the location of the incident.
The report also documents arbitrary arrests that were subsequently categorized as enforced disappearances. A number of criteria must be met before SNHR will classify a case as an enforced disappearance: the individual must have been detained for at least 20 days without his or her family being able to obtain any information from the relevant authorities about their status or location, with those responsible for the disappearance denying any knowledge of the individual's arrest or whereabouts.
This latest report documents 4,671 cases of arbitrary arrests, including 224 children and 205 women (Adult female), in 2019, with 2,797 of these carried out at the hands of Syrian Regime forces, including 113 children and 125 women. In addition, 64 cases of arbitrary arrests, including two children and one woman, were recorded at the hands of ISIS, and 303 cases of arbitrary arrests, including eight children and four women, were recorded at the hands of Hay'at Tahrir al Sham.
The report documents 405 cases of arbitrary arrests at the hands of factions of the Armed opposition, including 19 children and 20 women. It also documents 1,102 cases of arbitrary arrests at the hands of Syrian Democratic Forces, including 81 children and 56 women.
The report documents at least 178 cases of arbitrary arrests in December 2019, including one child and eight women (adult female), at the hands of the main perpetrator parties to the conflict in Syria, with 92 of these carried out at the hands of Syrian Regime forces, including five women. In addition, 19 cases of arbitrary arrests, all men, were recorded at the hands of Hay'at Tahrir al Sham.
The report documents 29 cases of arbitrary arrests at the hands of factions of the Armed opposition, including one woman. It also documents 38 cases of arbitrary arrests at the hands of Syrian Democratic Forces, including one child and two women.
The report also shows the distribution of cases of arbitrary arrests by governorate in 2019, with Aleppo seeing the largest number of arrests documented during this period, that is, according to the report, due to its unique status compared to other Syrian governorates in having the largest number of the parties involved in the Syrian conflict present there, with the highest rate of cases of arbitrary arrests in December was also seen in Aleppo governorate.
In addition, the report states that at least 75 raids and checkpoints across all Syrian governorates resulted in cases of deprivation of freedom being documented in December, most of which were in the governorate of Aleppo, with Syrian Regime forces, followed by factions of the Armed Opposition, being responsible for most of the raids.
The report stresses that the Syrian regime has not fulfilled any of its obligations in any of the international treaties and conventions it has ratified, most particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It has also violated several articles of the Syrian Constitution itself, with thousands of detainees detained without any arrest warrant for many years, without charges, and prevented from appointing a lawyer and from receiving family visits. 65.08 percent of all detentions documented have subsequently been categorized as enforced disappearance cases, with detainees' families being denied any information on their loved ones' whereabouts, while anyone making enquiries about the detainees faces the risk of being arrested themselves for doing so.
The report states that Hay'at Tahrir al Sham imposes absolute authority over the large areas it controls and the residents there. The group which has a political entity, and has developed a highly hierarchical structure, is therefore obliged to implement the provisions of international human rights law. Hay'at Tahrir al Sham has committed widespread violations through arrests and enforced disappearances.
The report also states that Syrian Democratic Forces have violated many basic rights and practiced numerous violations including torture and enforced disappearance. They have also a political entity with a largely hierarchical structure and are, therefore, also obliged to implement the provisions of international human rights law.
The report further notes that factions of the Armed Opposition have also carried out arrests and torture against a number of residents in areas under their control.
The report calls on the Security Council to follow through in the implementation of Resolution 2042, adopted on April 14, 2012, Resolution 2043, adopted on April 21, 2012, and Resolution 2139, adopted on February 22, 2014, all of which demand the immediate cessation of the crime of enforced disappearance.
Additionally, the report calls on the Human Rights Council to follow up on the issue of detainees and forcibly-disappeared persons in Syria, to raise this subject in all of the council's annual meetings, and to coordinate with the active local human rights groups in Syria.
Furthermore, the report calls on the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) and the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to launch investigations into the incidents included in this report and previous reports. The report stresses that the SNHR is willing to cooperate and to provide more evidence and data.
The report stresses that the UN and the guarantor parties at Astana should form an impartial special committee to monitor cases of arbitrary arrest, and reveal the fate of the 98,000 missing persons in Syria, approximately 85 percent of whom are detained by the Syrian regime. The report adds that pressure should be applied on all parties to immediately reveal their detention records in accordance with a timetable, and to immediately make detainees' whereabouts public, and allow human rights groups and the International Committee of Red Cross to have direct access to them.
Lastly, the report emphasizes that children and women should be released, and families and friends should not be taken as prisoners of war. The report calls on the official newly appointed to take charge of the detainees' file at the UN special envoy's office to include the issue of detainees at the upcoming rounds of Geneva talks, as this issue is of far greater importance to the Syrian people than other longer-term issues that can be jointly addressed later, such as the constitution.


text:
An Oracle lawsuit filed last week could serve as a cautionary message to hardware partners that wish to do business with the vendor: Secure your buildings.
Multis had an existing contract with Sun Microsystems, which Oracle purchased earlier this year, for various services related to remanufacturing Sun technology, according to the suit filed Nov. 9 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Multis' responsibilities included refurbishing systems and distributing products to various sites around the world.
Under the deal, Multis was liable for losses or damage to any products caused by its failure to follow security guidelines established by Sun, the complaint states. Those rules included requiring a closed-circuit camera system as well as an alarm system for the facilities used.
In July 2009, a Union City, California, warehouse run by Multis was burglarized, with 36 disk drives and four CPU modules stolen. A security firm working for Oracle conducted an investigation of the theft. As a result, Multis "undertook to make certain improvements to its existing security measures," the complaint states.
But in April of this year, the site was once again burgled. Thieves gained entry by breaking a window and then used clippers to snip through a cage containing Oracle products. They snatched about 1,450 memory modules worth roughly US$61,500, according to the complaint.
This event prompted another visit from Oracle's security contractors, who found that Multis hadn't finished the security improvements planned after the initial theft, the complaint states. Security film had been installed on some windows but not all of them, including the one used by burglars to get into the warehouse.
Oracle ordered Multis to remedy that shortcoming as well as make other adjustments, such as tweaking the closed-circuit camera system to get better images of intruders. The demands also included "consideration of steel bars for additional security at window openings," the complaint adds.
Still, a third burglary occurred in May. Security film had been placed on all windows, but "Multis had not installed iron bars or taken other steps to secure the stripping that held the windows in place," it states. The suspects removed the stripping and were able to get through the window, it adds.
This time, thieves took 4,876 memory modules worth $267,244, according to Oracle. Another security review found that Multis was still not compliant with its security obligations, the complaint states.
Multis was also contractually obligated to obtain insurance that would cover such losses. Oracle's complaint alleges the company has failed to do so.
Oracle is seeking damages of at least $328,742 plus interest and legal costs.
Oracle spokeswoman Deborah Hellinger declined comment.
Multis did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Chris Kanaracus covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Chris's e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
About Nikwax Waterproofing:
Nikwax was first produced as a commercial. Nope, sorry. Nikwax was first produced as a commercial product in London. This dude named Nick, go figure, started Nikwax waterproofing at age 22 in his flat. How British. Nikwax started off as a non-softening waterproofing wax for leather boots, but it was so freaking excellent that he expanded Nikwax to waterproof so many more products too.
In the 80's, along with acid wash jeans, Nikwax began thinking of its impact on the environment and how it could 'go green,' like Kermit. Stuff that hurt the environments feelings were switched to create the first Nikwax Water-Based Range. Nikwax was the first-ever company to produce water-based products to restore waterproofing in the home.
Nikwax is so incredibly easy to use and is now made for a wide range of products. You can literally Nikwax waterproof anything these days. There's Nikwax leather waterproofing wax, Nikwax Cotton Waterproofing, Nikwax Down Proof, Nikwax Glove Proof, seriously everything. By golly, you can even buy some Nikwax Softshell Proof for that new softshell of yours.
Nikwax also has a line of Nikwax cleaning solvents that might tickle your fancy. Try the Nikwax Tech Wash or the Nikwax TX Direct Wash, it can literally be sprayed on everything from wicking linings or single wall tents.
Normally I don't like proofs. Let's just say I was never a math whiz; I don't really want to be called a whiz at anything. It has more to do with the word whiz than anything. This Nikwax waterproofing has something going for it though. Since it's all water-based, you could probably Nikwax your dog. Eh, no, maybe don't do that.
Check out more from Nikwax:


text:
While on an individual level it is clear that today's transportation agencies are filled with people who are professional and want to do the right thing, the institutional inertia is carrying them in wayward directions.
We're Pennsylvania bound this weekend with Curbside Chats beginning on Monday morning. I'm very excited about the tremendous amount of buzz out there and am looking forward to meeting tons of great Strong Towns advocates. Just a quick word on programming for next week… I wanted to finish my thoughts on this series today because next week is going to be hit and miss with coverage of our tour. I'll try to post as often as possible and include some audio and video too, but we have a frantic schedule and so you'll need to have patience with me. I'll do what I can — I'm really excited about 2013 after a nice, mind-clearing break. Lots to share!
We've spent the last two days looking at the instincts of today's transportation agencies. While on an individual level it is clear that these organizations are filled with people who are professional, competent and want to do the right thing, the institutional inertia is carrying them in wayward directions.
When confronted with a persistently dangerous intersection, there is no push or conversation to close it. That is not in the play book because the policies of transportation agencies are deeply rooted in misunderstandings about economic growth and development. What is in the play book is the will to make large expenditures on modest improvements in the hopes that the problem will be alleviated. This from agencies that are fatally short of funding. At least we tried.
Unfortunately, those misunderstandings we have about growth and development correlate highway spending with increased prosperity. In reality, this is an illusion brought about by quick and easy development leveraged off these massive investments. The lack of productivity in this approach means that, over the long term, the costs far outweigh the gains. It is the Ponzi scheme of the Suburban Experiment. We're in the unwinding phase.
Nobody should understand that more clearly than our nation's DOTs. They are simultaneously over committed and under funded. While they obsess about the latter, it is the former that they will ultimately be forced to reconcile. Many in these agencies — especially the second tier of leaders that are a little more removed from our highway building heydays and a little further from retirement than the first tier — understand this clearly, but they lack an acceptable alternative approach. They are trapped by the inertia of their organization.
It is to those people that I offer my thoughts on the principles and understandings that a Next Generation DOT should embody when making that inevitable course correction.
1. Transportation spending is not economic development.
Speaking of transportation in terms of economic development has been a convenient way to secure additional funding streams. Unfortunately, the meme has become part of the wider culture, even though we know that good transportation systems serve productive growth, not create it. Transportation systems move goods and people. They are not catalysts for productive growth. We know how much that interchange costs so we need to stop pretending that the quiki mart, pet stop and strip mall somehow justify the investment just because it makes the locals happy.
2. Transportation spending is not job creation.
Yes, DOTs employ people. Yes, construction projects employ people. When we pay people to dig a ditch and then fill it back in, we're right back where we started. When we pay people to build a highway for the sake of creating jobs, we're left with the long term financial liability of maintaining an unproductive highway. Short term job creation may be a happy side effect of what we do, but let's not allow people to pretend that it is an end unto itself.
3. We need to budget based on what we have, not what we want to do.
We always start our budgeting process with a list of projects we feel are important. We may rank them by some objective criteria, but we start with the list of projects. This list becomes our target budget, and we proceed to undertake projects where we can get the funds. This system is completely backwards.
Image from Public Domain Photos, Creative Commons LicenseWe need to start our budgeting process with our budget. How much money do we have? We then need two lists. The first is our obligations. What systems do we currently have a public obligation to maintain, when does that obligation come due and how much will it be? This is a list that, in theory, never shrinks (unless we abandon some part of the system). This list needs to have everything and, once a project is completed, it goes back on the list with an updated time frame and cost.
This first list will almost certainly exceed the budget by many factors, but if by some odd chance it does not, then a second list of expansion projects can be taken seriously. This second list should have everything that would be a new system: new overpass, new bridge, additional lanes, new turn lanes, new signals…. None of this should ever be even considered so long as the first list is running a projected deficit.
We need to stop pretending we can do everything and instead be the hard-nosed realists the public generally thinks we are.
4. The most unsafe condition we can build is a STROAD. Our primary design goal must be to eliminate them.
A STROAD is a street/road hybrid. It is all too often the default design of our highway system. A STROAD combines elements of a street — intersections, turning traffic, dramatic speed differentials, parking, pedestrians — with the high speed geometries of a road. Professionally, we all understand that this is the most dangerous type of environment we could construct.
As engineers, we should primarily concern ourselves with the safe travel of goods and individuals. In our hearts, most of us believe this to be the only criteria that truly matters, with all other factors being subservient to safety. We have the professional clout to demand an end to STROADS in the name of safety. That this will help us improve travel times and reduce the costs associated with the first list (See #3 above) is a happy consequence.
5. We must build differently within a city than we build outside of it.
It is professionally embarrassing how tone deaf we are to productive urban settings. While we make all kinds of compromises to travel time in our endless STROAD environments outside of town, we go to great lengths to resist changes to the highway geometry once we are within the city. Why?
We need great highways to connect our productive cities. Once within a city, we need to build great streets to maximize that productivity. As we eliminate STROADS (see #4 above) and construct great streets, we'll not only improve safety but travel time as well.
And if we really set our minds to becoming experts in urban design, we may find that some crazy ideas could go a long ways in cutting our costs, making our cities financially more productive, improving safety, creating a better quality of life for people and significantly reducing travel times.
There is an important difference between a road and a street.
6. We need to improve travel time by eliminating access points outside of cities.
For some reason we fear this, even though we have the capacity, the professional gravitas and an urgent need to do it. This is an enormous safety issue, one we've been able to gloss over with very expensive (and not very effective) half measures. The budget catastrophe we face is going to force us to think differently.
Providing commuters with expensive shortcuts is no longer in the budget. Our highways need to move people and goods between productive places. Anything else is an expensive luxury that simply can't be justified.
7. We must stop using traffic projections to give a veneer of expertise to something we have proven incapable of doing: predicting the future.
Since the budget realities we unveiled in making List 1 and List 2 (See #3 above) will force us to confront a world where we literally build no new roads, projections become useless. Even if we could do them well (we can't), it is not like we can build anything new anyway. We need to get a lot more productivity out of what we have.
In the off chance that we do find ourselves building some new system, that system needs to be in the service of an existing productive place. We need to be part of a country that becomes antifragile to projection error. We don't have the resources to do anything else.
All of our equations that assume continual growth in average daily traffic are being disproved by reality. Let's cling to reality. Our profession needs to focus less on building for what we hope will happen tomorrow and instead start maximizing the utilization of what we've already built today.
8. We need to build transit, but only through a value capture funding approach.
Photo by azmichelle, Creative Commons licenseTransit systems — particularly rail transit — have high up front costs and very low long term maintenance costs. This contrasts with highways that have relatively high up front costs (albeit less than rail transit) and horrendous long term maintenance costs.
Rail transit lends itself extremely well to a value capture funding approach. This is going to require not only a different mindset, knowledge base and approach, but likely changes in statutes as well. If we are to be true problem solvers, instead of whining about gas taxes and calling for more deficit spending on the status quo, our advocacy organizations should be promoting this progressive and innovative approach, one that would naturally appeal to all sides of the political spectrum.
9. We must remain humble in the face of adversity.
The profession of civil engineering is an ancient one, but in terms of the history of human settlement, highway and traffic engineering has been around but a blink of an eye. In that brief experiment, we were given enormous power to go along with an extraordinary level of funding. While the blame can't be laid solely at our feet, history is not going judge kindly how America's incredible wealth was squandered.
The word contraction is sure to become part of this generation's lexicon, particularly when it comes to and cities and our infrastructure systems. We need to acknowledge — to ourselves and to society — that we do not have a pain free solution to the contraction dilemma. In fact, our toolbox contains no solutions, just rational responses that begin with acknowledging the reality of contraction.
While I personally straddle the great intellectual divide between the engineering and planning professions, I've always admired the way most engineers are, at their core, practical problem solvers. My greatest aspiration for the profession is that we will find the humility to acknowledge that we need to start solving a different set of problems.
Charles Marohn is a Professional Engineer licensed in the State of Minnesota and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He is author of Thoughts on Building Strong Towns (Volume 1), and is president of Strong Towns, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates for changes in development patterns and a complete understanding of the full costs of methods of growth.


text:
With nearly 30 years in game development and a career spent crafting unique gaming experiences like Deus Ex and Epic Mickey, Warren Spector has been chosen to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th annual Game Developers Choice Awards.
The annual peer-selected award will honor Spector's many contributions to the science and art of game development, from his early days working on TSR's Top Secret/S.I. and Origin's Ultima series to the creation of Deus Ex, widely considered one of the greatest PC games of all time. In the role-playing genre in particular Spector has been instrumental in opening new avenues of thought and design, paving the way for today's popular action role-playing hybrids.
As Meggan Scavio, general manager of GDC Events at UBM TechWeb, put it in the official announcement: "Warren, whose rarified, 'big picture' thinking and ideals have done a great deal for the games industry, exemplifies the exact qualities that a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient should possess. In presenting him with this honor, we continue a tradition of highlighting individuals whose work stands as a benchmark for the next generation of developers."
Did I mention he also wrote DuckTales comic books?
Warren Spector will receive the prestigious award at the 12th annual Game Developers Choice Awards next month at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.