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What camera will do the jon
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Topic: What camera will do the jon (Read 14963 times)
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Victrinia Ridgeway
Trade Count:
Posts: 74
Bremerton, WA
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #30 on:
November 09, 2010, 10:50 PM »
P&S and DSLR are apples and oranges... it's all fruit... but not the same experiance of course. I keep a P&S handy even when I have my professional gear... it's lighter...lol
But the gent already went into the world of DSLR and I would hate for him to wonder why he wasn't getting the results he might expect when using something sophisticated. I went from being a very good shutterbug on a P&S to an idiot in the course of 1 day when I got my DSLR. You are completely limited by what you attach to your body... and the knowledge of how to use it. Of course there are Program modes that compensate for your lack of experiance at first... but like flying... great results only come from practice and having the right gear for the moment. With his DSLR he won't get the effect of digital zoom "enhancements", he would with a P&S. So my main concern was making sure he understands the wide angle lens he has is not going to get him the tight and crisp shots he might hope for. Not unless he's only a few feet from the kite.
Personally I'm all intrigued by the camera on the helmet idea... but I think it would be a bit jerky... sometimes you just have to put up with having a videographer or photographer with you... for Tom... I'd always be delighted to be his helping hand in any way I could.
Flying the edge of the window and lovin' it...
Trade Count:
Posts: 18
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #31 on:
November 10, 2010, 11:07 AM »
You don't need a fast expensive 2.8 lens to take pictures of things in the sky. There is more than enough light on a sunny day to freeze subject matter.
F11 @ 1/250 @ 100 is a general average for daylight. So even using a cheaper 400$ zoom with a f4 aperture your shutter will be at 1/1000.
Trade Count:
Posts: 51
Orlando, FL
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #32 on:
November 10, 2010, 02:49 PM »
Seems like I really started something. I'm sure if I got a $4000 DSLR with a couple grand in lenses I'd have much better picures (I'd better!). But that would leave no money for kites, I'd be taking pictures of an empty sky - back to the P&S. I may actually try the helmet cam thing - sounds like it might at least make a good story. Would a baseball cap work better since it's made with a shelf for the camera? Though come to think of it I'm not sure anyone is "cool" enough to pull off a DSLR and wide angle telephoto duct taped to a bike helmet. Back to P&S. Still planning to post pictures for later discussion.
Old Greebo
Trade Count:
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #33 on:
November 10, 2010, 02:51 PM »
Thanks to you all - particularly Victrinia (gorgeous name, dare I mention?) - for your comments on my wanting-to-be-helpful-but-possibly-misguidedly-so posting a few days ago.
The main reasons why I'm taking this first foray into the DSLR zone are:
[1] I've never done SLR before, but it's something I've always wanted to investigate,
[2] I'm retired, on an income that covers my expenditure with more than a little bit to spare,
[3] I used to do archery before I re-discovered kites, and selling off my archery kit on eBay has given me a little bit of a windfall!
The Pentax K-x seems to me to be a good, entry-level DSLR. The 4.7 frames per second continuous shooting was what particularly attracted me to it, and it was my main reason for suggesting it here as a good camera for shooting pics of kites in flight. It also does HD video, so I thought that would be a plus for kite enthusiasts.
Fair enough, the 18-55 lens that comes with the standard kit is sure to be somewhat limiting, but it'll keep me happy for the next month or so while I try my hand with it, learn what it will do and what it won't do, stuff like that. I've already got my eyes on a 70-300 lens for it, but Christmas is coming and I might be able to drop some hints here and there among my daughters and granddaughters!
<<I keep a P&S handy even when I have my professional gear... it's lighter...lol>>
Yes, Victrinia, and I'm still keeping my Finepix S8500 for the same reason. And on the occasions when even that little bit of kit has been left at home, I've still got a mobile phone (aka freecell) for emergencies!
Trade Count:
Posts: 18
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #34 on:
November 10, 2010, 02:59 PM »
Having a pure sable brush over a synthetic nylon one doesn't necessarily make one a better artist.
Old Greebo
Trade Count:
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #35 on:
November 10, 2010, 03:02 PM »
No, but it lets one feel like a better artist!
Trade Count:
Posts: 420
Melbourne, Australia
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #36 on:
November 10, 2010, 05:13 PM »
Quote from: Old Greebo on November 10, 2010, 03:02 PM
No, but it lets one feel like a better artist!
My First Pro camera was purchased when I was a tender 21 years of age, it was a M6 with a 50mm Summicron. I knew I hadn't earned 'the right' to use such a tool (and 20 years later I'm still using them).
So, to this day I still strive to improve my photography so that one day I may feel inside that I have done them justice, if but once.
(It's been a terrific motivator
My day to day rides are pro Digi SLR's, but I just picked up a Lumix LX-5, I've taken some shots recently on it that I wouldn't have got on my big stuff, just due to it's size.
Get what you can and go out and use it, if you run into a problem think outside the square and see what happens...
Just remember, it's supposed to be fun
WinterDaze AoF
Victrinia Ridgeway
Trade Count:
Posts: 74
Bremerton, WA
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #37 on:
November 10, 2010, 06:58 PM »
I watch the guys who run over to the kite shops on the shore hurry out to the beach wanting to tear up the sky with their 15 dollar dual line kite. They crash and burn... often break... and I see the frustration mount with every minute they can't get the thing into the air no matter what the wind. I offer them to fly a better designed and more capable kite, because I don't want that spark of interest to die.
In another part of my life I'm a bonsai artist... and I watch new learners look at their $30 mallsai and wonder why it doesn't look like the trees they see in the books... but heck... they are certain if they water it once a week as it sits on top of their TVs that it will one day magically turn itself into a work of art. Which of course then dies a slow and agonizing death... or at least it seems to, because in truth it was likely dead when they bought it at Home Depot.
I educate them on what to start with to get to the level of success they want to achieve in the art. I train them on my trees... so they can know how to develop them... nurturing their interest and exciting their imagination with the possibilities is near and dear to my heart.
With cameras... when you go down the road of investing in gear... and yes... it can take thousands to put it together, and years of patiently saving one's ducats to do so. Having the best glass you can afford is the best way to approach it.
To point out the obvious (that one can't get a tight shot of a kite at any distance with a wide angle lens - light or no light) isn't advocating for photo elitism... but rather an attempt to make sure the shooter is aware of what is required to accomplish the end I would most expect him to want... taking shots of kites in motion. Plus with the lower f stops you get bokeh... which sets apart a nice shot from a great one as often as not. Because the depth of the photo usually generates a stronger reaction in the viewer because the subject is not cluttered by the noise of its enviornment.
To those who shoot... this is preaching to the chior... to those getting into it... it's the thing to aspire to... knowing how to approach your subject with skill and vision to allow the viewer to be as captivated by the subject as you were in that moment.
In the end it is about getting equipped to the best of one's ability and intentions. If you are happy getting perfectly acceptible and nice shots on a P&S... there isn't a thing in the world wrong with that... if you are intrigued by the medium and opportunities in photography, then it would be a disservice to OG not to make sure he understands what to expect. Allowing any one who wishes to learn a hobby or art to labor in ignorance is unacceptible for me. Having knowledge engenders an obligation to share it... a quality which I have found is VERY firmly rooted in the kiting community, much to my deep appreciation, because I have rarely met people so generous and kind with their knowledge and time.
I had no business handling a DSLR and the gear I acquired when I started... it was laughable. I have all those early photos to keep me humble... lol But once I got to know the gear and started learning the nuance of the art... the things I was trying to express were finally able to come out. The learning curve is considerable... the commitment in time and finances also considerable... the rewards... priceless.
(lol now I feel like a Visa commercial...
Of course... I will say that there are LOTS of great lenses in the world which don't have to cost an arm and a leg... and buying them used is often a great way to score a deal... just make sure you are cautious, and you'll likely be fine. So you don't have to give up kites to have the gear you need.
I'm no long in the tooth professional. But I am devoted to pursuing excellence because it's worth the pursuit.
I'm caught with envy every day at the things people capture... but it only inspires me to keep at it... and to share my love of it. Passion has a way of being infectious... not that any of us would know a THING about that.
Warmest regards,
Last Edit: November 10, 2010, 07:17 PM by Victrinia Ridgeway
Flying the edge of the window and lovin' it...
Victrinia Ridgeway
Trade Count:
Posts: 74
Bremerton, WA
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #38 on:
November 10, 2010, 07:11 PM »
Quote from: Old Greebo on November 10, 2010, 02:51 PM
<<I keep a P&S handy even when I have my professional gear... it's lighter...lol>>
Yes, Victrinia, and I'm still keeping my Finepix S8500 for the same reason. And on the occasions when even that little bit of kit has been left at home, I've still got a mobile phone (aka freecell) for emergencies!
I was just on vacation last week... and seeing as how I was taking a vacation, I decided to set aside everything which constitutes work in my life. So all of my gear - even my lil P&S was left at home. All I had was my phone, which was ok - but only for me... it wasn't something I'd share. It was both bizarre and liberating. Sometimes in the desire to capture the essence of a moment... you miss savoring it. There are many times I know I could dash to grab gear and capture something beautiful... but I nail my feet to the floor and simply decide to observe. Those moments are both conflicting and precious as well, but it makes one appreciate it all the more. As you go forward... don't forget to just enjoy the moments as well from time to time.
As was said earlier by the wise WinterDaze... this is supposed to be fun.
PS. Thank you for the compliment... if I ever run into you on a field, I'll be sure to tell you the story behind it, it's a laugh.
Flying the edge of the window and lovin' it...
Victrinia Ridgeway
Trade Count:
Posts: 74
Bremerton, WA
Re: What camera will do the jon
Reply #39 on:
November 10, 2010, 07:23 PM »
lol... looking back at my long winded post I just realized I dated myself to the era when people could still put stuff on their TVs...lol
Of course that seems like ages ago... but I guess it really wasn't... technology is amazing.
Flying the edge of the window and lovin' it...
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This is for newer students.
It is very important to show the proper respect.
If you are already in the dojo when the Sensei arrives, you should stop what you are doing and greet the Sensei. It is best to go up the the Sensei and bow and say, "Hello Sensei" (or something like that).
If you arrive in the dojo and the Sensei is already there, you should put down your bag (or whatever), and go greet the Sensei (as above).
If the class has already started, you should follow your dojo's protocol. In our dojo, the student should go stand to the side of the dojo and wait for the Sensei to make eye contact or give some other signal so that the student can join the class. At that point, the student should bow and join the class.
Of course, a student should show similar courtesy to his own parents and seniors in life. Proper greeting is part of proper courtesy.
If the Sensei's Sensei is also in the dojo, the same courtesies should be shown. Personally, I think that the courtesy should be shown to the Sensei first and then to his Sensei. Other people might feel that the respect should be shown to the senior first. I would show respect to the Sensei of the dojo first, in his or her dojo. Outside of the dojo, I would probably show respect to the senior first. But the main thing is to show respect.
The details are not that important in Okinawan Karate styles (which tend to be relaxed), but may be more emphasized in Japanese Karate styles (which tend to be more highly structured). It all depends. Here in Hawaii we are pretty relaxed about things -- but students should still try their best to be sincerely respectful.
Charles C. Goodin
Greeting Sensei
This is for newer students.
Posted by Charles C. Goodin on Friday, August 08, 2008

subset: commoncrawl


text: Home >Bestiary >(Bestiary) By Type >Undead > Starbound Petitioner See the Open Gaming Network Blog for details! Become a Patron! ExtrasShop the Open Gaming Store! Sell in the Open Gaming Store! Get Published Report a Problem Legal Information New Pages Recent Changes Fan Labs Character Sheets Downloads Hero Lab Community Repository FAQ OGN Blog!Creature Feature (Starfinder): Painwrack December 16, 2018 nwrightThe Magic Shoppe: Circus Items December 14, 2018 Michael Vail-SteeleCreative Characters (Starfinder): Treadz, Vesk Mechanic December 13, 2018 jtmoriartyOGN Guest Reviews – Andrew Peregrine Reviews Emberwind: The Skies of Axia December 13, 2018 Egg EmbryCreative Characters – Yamyra, Kestrel Bard December 12, 2018 marktTuesday Potpourri (5e): The Age of Lead December 11, 2018 Quin Callahan2 RPG Kickstarters (and a Pathfinder Bundle) You Should Back – Into the Wyrd and Wild, Low Fantasy Gaming, and 117 PDFs Pathfinder Bundle from Rogue Genius Games December 11, 2018 Egg EmbryThe Armor Binder and Pious Sage (Wizard Archetypes) December 9, 2018 mmillerCreature Feature (Starfinder): Hurok December 9, 2018 nwrightThe Magic Shoppe: Dream-Based Items December 7, 2018 Michael Vail-Steele


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Well, the moment we have been training for and preparing for since October and for the last 4 years, is here! Tomorrow we play Croatia in the quarterfinals and if we win…we're in!!! We watched a very good Croatian team execute against Korea yesterday and we know what we have to do to beat them tomorrow. The last couple days we have been practicing and resting up. We had a great shoot-around practice this morning on the main court. Just trying to find the sweet spot and get friendly with the rims since they have not been forgiving so far! Then we had a little break and went back to practice on the training court later today. It is so exciting to be in this position to be able to qualify. So exciting, that it is hard to sleep! But we can sleep after we get the job done. It is going to be war tomorrow and we're ready to battle!!
Thank-you for continuing to support our team! It goes a long way and we couldn't do any of this without our family, friends, and fans. Going to make you all proud!
CANADA VS CROATIA 7:30am EST on FIBAtv.com.


text:
As you may know, former Phoenix Sun point guard is running for mayor of Sacramento. Yesterday, his opponent resorted to dirty politics by digging up a 159-page document from the 1996 sexual misconduct allegation against KJ from a 16-year-old girl. In the report, Johnson said he had a friendship with the girl and also said he may have let a hug become "more intimate than it should have been," but said he never had a sexual encounter with the teenager. He was never charged, but well, hmm, it's kind of creepy either way. The whole report is featured on the Sacramento ABC news affiliate's website, including all the predatory details from his then teenage accuser's deposition including this disturbing interaction:
And then, there's this other allegation from 2007 where more teenage girls tell police they don't like it when Mr. Johnson hugs them.
Oh, and the first report in Camelback Mountain? Guess where that is located. If you said near Scottsdale, well, you just won yourself an official Buzzsaw beer bong.
Kevin Johnson Report [Sac Bee]


text:
Only nine days left and I'm seventeeeeeen.
Owner of The Style Prodigy. I enjoy making ear cuffs. I am aspiring to be a fashion designer. Dreaming of having fashion shows in the near future. I also want to have my own fashion boutique, maybe one in Paris, another in New York and another in Manila. I also want to direct music videos and have my own recording company with talented artists and produce awesome music. I love going to concerts and just having the best time of my life. I can easily get along with friendly people. I am really want to live in New York, Australia or Paris when I get older. I also want to learn how to paint. I love my friends and family. Music is my best friend. Obsessed with TV shows. Incoming freshmen in the University of Sto. Tomas.


text:
Gilroy police: Pit bulls kill dog, cat before tranquilized
Gilroy police: Pit bulls kill dog, cat before tranquilized
GILROY, Calif. —
Two pit bulls were running loose through a Gilroy neighborhood when they killed a dog and a cat, Gilroy police said Wednesday.
Residents who saw the aggressive pit bulls called 911 at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday.
The pit bulls darted into a house's backyard on the 7500 block of Rosanna Street and killed a dog, police Sgt. Daniel Castaneda said.
The two pit bulls then ran into the street, where they killed a cat and attacked a second dog, Castaneda said.
Police officers shot the pit bulls with a tranquiler dart. After getting permission from the pit bulls' owner, animal control officers euthanized the aggressive dogs, Castaneda said.
The attacked pooch was rushed to a nearby veterinary hospital for treatment.


text:
What do people use to separate the small amounts of food items that may be somewhat "juicy" for lack of a better word? I drained some mandarin oranges for me and the kids yesterday and put them in silicone cups or divided sections of my boxes and still the kids bread ended up soggy in the other compartments. Are there small short (silicone cup size?) boxes that have lids out there? I haven't found anything small enough that will permit me to close the bento box after I put the little box in it.
Just the new girl around here looking for some lunch ideas.
I think there are a couple of ways to tackle this problem. One is to just pack the soggy food in a separate container with a tight/waterproof lid, though that does mean multiple containers (which increases the chance that one gets forgotton) If you use a multi-tier bento box, it makes things easier.
Another is to find small containers with tight fitting lids that fit inside your main container. I've found things like this in the general kitchen storage container type areas and such, besides from bento supply sellers.
There are also boxes that have compartments, which are supposed to keep food separate - e.g. Laptop Lunches, Planet Lunchbox, etc, but they tend to be rather large and bulky.
I prefer the multi-box or multi-tier way myself, especially for fruit. See what works best for you!
The Big Onigiri.
- Wherever you go, there you are. -
Check the Dollar Tree/Dollar Store for small rubbermaid-type containers. I've had luck there finding tiny containers with lids.
I second the suggestion of Laptop Lunches, if you can find them (haven't searched it recently). It was the first sort of box I purchased, and there are different-sized lidded boxes included. Great colors, too!
First thought was, though: a twist of kitchen plastic wrap. :-)
Addendum: BF Guru, have a look at these guys:
These are the interior lidded options I was thinking of. They're sold in sets. The sizes vary, as do the colors. I have the Red and the Berry Blue sets; they are sturdy, the lids fit very securely, and they're easy to clean.
Hope this note assists you in your bento construction! :-)
I've been trying to find small containers to fit inside my 2 Urara Lube Sheep boxes (the same blue one Maki has with the dragonflies, and a red one with bunnies) and I found that the Gerber brand baby food containers 1st Foods size fits in the top container, but it has a bit of an over hang so it kind of limits the kind of foods I can pack with it and it's not water tight on it's own, but I was mainly wanting it for thick dips and tuna salad or canned smoked oysters with bread or crackers.
I sometimes have bad stomach problems where I can only eat baby food and juice, so I usually get the applesauce or peaches or other fruits.
I also found that the 'Really Useful Box" smallest size (I got it at Office Depot) fits, http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/933915/Really-Useful-Boxes-Plastic... I think mine is a little smaller than that, but it's the smallest one online, but I'm not sure if it's food safe. I got it for an oshibori case originally.
My Dearest Friend, If You Don't Mind, I'd Like To Join You By Your Side, So We Can Gaze Into The Stars, And Sit Together, Now And Forever, For It's As Plain As Anyone Can See, We're Simply Meant To Be.
Thanks for the input guys. I settled on a trip to the tupperware lady and bought some smidges and midges or whatever they are called. I will add to things as we go I guess. Now to find a way to transport tiny amounts of salt and pepper.
ha, your post reminded me of this handy tidbit in my files:
Instructions for carrying bitty spices in Drinking Straws! with very helpful pix:
Another Use for Drinking Straws
Carrying very small amounts of things like tooth powder, salt, or chili powder can be tricky. Here's a method for packing individual servings using plain old drinking straws. If you can find paper straws, you won't even have to carry out the packaging.
If desired, use a ruler to calibrate the volume per inch for your straw. I found that a common 6mm straw filled to 2.25 inches gave me 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning.
Weight: My little finger scale is not sensitive enough to register the weight of the 4 inch straw segment I use to make a single packet!
1. Cut two half-inch pieces off the end of a straw
2. Fold and cap one end of the straw, sliding one of the 1/2" sections over the end to "lock" the fold as shown below
3. Dip the open end of the straw repeatedly into the substance you want to package, forcing it up into the tube to the desired depth
4. Turn the straw upside down and tap until the filling is all down at the sealed end
5. Trim, fold and cap remaining open end
6. Label with a fine Sharpie(r) or other waterproof pen An optional way to label is to fold a short piece of tape (e.g. freezer or masking tape) around the straw, and onto itself, creating a small flag that you can write on.
Tips: If you're collecting straws from fast food joints, be discriminating. Some are more flimsy than others -- flimsy is good! If you're interested in trying this with paper straws, try looking for ArtStraws(r) craft straws at your local school or craft supply.
Just in answer to RoseFaery the 'really useful box company' boxes are made form Food grade polypropylene, I always used them for freezing portions of sauces and soup! They're microwave and dishwasher safe too.
Thanks MaybeLed! I thought they were, but I just wasn't sure. The Gerber boxes fit a little better, but the 'Really Useful Box' seals a bit better.
For transporting spices, (like the vegetarian Bacon Salt, yum! http://www.baconsalt.com/ Fabulous with grilled cheese or turk'y slices)
I use a small square (or random torn piece) of plastic wrap made into a bag. First, make an "o" with your thumb and finger and place the plastic wrap over it. Then, poke the wrap down into the "o" to make a nice dip and add your spice. Then I just tie it with a twist tie, which I usually cut in half. If you have a toothpick or fork, just poke a few holes in the bag at lunch to sprinkle.
I also use a similar technique for transporting spreads like mayo or peanut butter. I get small 'snack' size zipper bags which I usually use for dry stuff a few times first, then cut the bag in half and cut the zipper off and hold the same way as the spice bag and fill with mayo or other spread and twist tie. It makes a very cute presentation, especially if you curl the ends of the twist tie with a tooth pick. Just cut or bite off the end and squeeze. The zipper bags usually work better for wet things because they are sturdier and more structured.
Awesome idea about straws. Gonna try that. Thanks!
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Apple Reminds Everybody That It Controls The iPhone Ecosystem
from the from-the-do-you-have-permission-for-that?-dept. dept
But this move is actually bigger than that: it's Apple's attempt to lock developers in solely to the iPhone. Steve Jobs claims "intermediate layers between the platform and the developer ultimately produces sub-standard apps and hinders the progress of the platform", and they do -- from Apple's perspective. By requiring developers to use Apple's tools and follow its rules, the hope is that developers will follow along blindly and develop first for the iPhone, since it's currently the best monetized channel to market for them, and then will develop for other platforms later, if at all. The issue for Apple, though, is that it's not competing in a vacuum. Everybody and their mother are opening app stores, with other major smartphone platforms like Android and BlackBerry building theirs into viable competitors for the Apple channel. And as the App Store continues to get flooded with apps and becomes more competitive (and it becomes more difficult for developers to earn a living there), its position at the top of the pile is far from assured. At that point, heavy restrictions on developers and the closed ecosystem becomes a real burden for the company, not a benefit.


text:
Context & History
How does Wolfram|Alpha compare to search engines?
Search engines give you links to pages that exist on the web. Wolfram|Alpha computes answers to specific questions using its built-in knowledge base and algorithms.
How does Wolfram|Alpha compare to Wikipedia?
Wikipedia gives you pages of narrative about topics. Wolfram|Alpha computes answers to specific questions you ask, just giving facts, not narrative. Wolfram|Alpha often includes sidebar links to Wikipedia.
What is the closest precursor to Wolfram|Alpha?
In concept, perhaps Leibniz's characteristica universalis from the late 1600s—or the science-fiction computers of the 1960s. Technologically, many pieces of Wolfram|Alpha have precursors, but the ambitious scope of the whole project is believed to be unique.
Does Wolfram|Alpha use artificial intelligence?
Not in a traditional sense. Wolfram|Alpha isn't mainly based on emulating human reasoning. Instead it uses powerful methods from science and algorithmic computation to get directly to answers.
Is Wolfram|Alpha an artificial intelligence?
It's much more an engineered artifact than a humanlike artificial intelligence. Some of what it does—especially in language understanding—may be similar to what humans do. But its primary objective is to do directed computations, not to act as a general intelligence.
Does Wolfram|Alpha use semantic web technology?
Not directly. Wolfram|Alpha has its own internal knowledge base, with its own extensive internal semantics and ontology.
Does Wolfram|Alpha use natural language processing (NLP)?
Wolfram|Alpha introduces many new methods for understanding linguistic inputs. Mostly they're unlike traditional NLP, not least because Wolfram|Alpha has to deal with linguistic fragments rather than full grammatical sentences.
Can Wolfram|Alpha discover new facts?
Whenever it does new computations, it's effectively deriving new facts. At present, it always uses established scientific or other models as the basis for its computations. But using NKS it'll probably one day be possible for Wolfram|Alpha to discover new models too.
What is the theoretical foundation of Wolfram|Alpha?
Wolfram|Alpha attempts to synthesize all forms of knowledge that can be made computable—and uses methodology from all of them. A key general element is the concept of symbolic computation—inherited from the Mathematica system that underlies Wolfram|Alpha.
How does Wolfram|Alpha relate to NKS (Wolfram's A New Kind of Science)?
Wolfram|Alpha makes both conceptual and practical use of the NKS idea of generating rich, complex behavior from simple underlying rules. In many ways, Wolfram|Alpha is the first "killer app" for NKS (see Stephen Wolfram's blog post).
How does Wolfram|Alpha relate to the MathWorld website?
Wolfram|Alpha includes a large fraction of the systematic knowledge in MathWorld, adapted into fully computable form. Wolfram|Alpha gives sidebar links to MathWorld when appropriate.
How does Wolfram|Alpha relate to the Wolfram Functions Site?
Wolfram|Alpha provides immediate algorithmic access to all of the over 300,000 formulas in the Wolfram Functions Site. Wolfram|Alpha also gives links to the Wolfram Functions Site.
Who built Wolfram|Alpha?
An eclectic team led by Stephen Wolfram. For most of the pre-launch development period, the team had fewer than 100 members. The team includes experts in many fields and domains. As of May 2009, the single largest cluster of individuals on the team with similar backgrounds is 17 physics PhDs.
How long did it take to build Wolfram|Alpha?
The Mathematica foundations that lie beneath Wolfram|Alpha were started in 1986. The full Wolfram|Alpha project started in 2005.


text: We offer multiple ways to help you grow your practice, depending on your unique needs and preferences. Every service Practice Builders offers is proven to work to keep your practice growing, even through recessions, reimbursement cuts and turf invasions by deep-pocketed competitors. Our comprehensive offering of healthcare marketing strategies range from extensive staff training to eMedia solutions, all positioned to help our practice achieve optimal healthcare success.


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Whether you willingly moved from Outlook to Gmail, or you've been forced to move as part of your employer's use of Google Apps, the transition can be a little jarring. Features that many Gmail users love, such as conversation view, often annoy people accustomed to Outlook's default method of arranging messages by date and time.
Luckily, with a few clicks of the mouse, you can tweak Gmail's web interface to work like Outlook. During this week's TR Dojo episode, I'll show you how to turn off Gmail's default conversation view and how to create filters and labels, which help you sort mail similar to the way you did with Outlook rules.
For those who prefer text to video, click the View Transcript link below the video player window or read Mark Kaelin's article, "Quick Tip: Change the conversation view in Gmail".
You can also sign up to receive the latest TR Dojo lessons through one or more of the following methods:
Bill Detwiler has nothing to disclose. He doesn't hold investments in the technology companies he covers.
Full Bio
Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.


text:
I'd like to recommend two pieces on the NRA gun plan:
First my piece for the Examiner The NRA Traps for the Left & the Right:
The NRA is going to go forward advancing its plan no matter what anyone in the government says. There is only one question remaining, will the Republicans act quickly to back the NRA program & keep it private or will the Democrats co-opt it into a giant public tax and spending machine?
Either way if the kids end up safe I don't think the country will care.
The political risks/rewards are real, the question is who will take them?
The second is from Larry Corella's site. It's the best and most informed piece of the subject I've seen:
No. Hear me out. The single best way to respond to a mass shooter is with an immediate, violent response. The vast majority of the time, as soon as a mass shooter meets serious resistance, it bursts their fantasy world bubble. Then they kill themselves or surrender. This has happened over and over again.
Paging Cynthia Yockey
The average number of people shot in a mass shooting event when the shooter is stopped by law enforcement: 14. The average number of people shot in a mass shooting event when the shooter is stopped by civilians: 2.5. The reason is simple. The armed civilians are there when it started.
As for Gun Free Zones:
Gun Free Zones are hunting preserves for innocent people. Period.
Think about it. You are a violent, homicidal madman, looking to make a statement and hoping to go from disaffected loser to most famous person in the world. The best way to accomplish your goals is to kill a whole bunch of people. So where's the best place to go shoot all these people? Obviously, it is someplace where nobody can shoot back.
This is so obvious it's embarrassing that anyone has to say it aloud.
But my favorite is where he takes apart the media myths that have been perpetuated by the partisan & uninformed which usually are one and the same:
Gun and magazine sales skyrocket every time a democrat politician starts to vulture in on a tragedy. I don't know if many of you realize this, but Barack Obama is personally responsible for more gun sales, and especially first time gun purchases, than anyone in history. When I owned my gun store, we had a picture of him on the wall and a caption beneath it which said SALESMAN OF THE YEAR.
It's Very VERY long, but it's worth it.
Update: Left a line out of a block quote


text: The Baja 1000 off-road burn down that westernmost peninsula is in its 40th year. In honor, Van Nuys-based TLC is rolling out the SCORE Baja 1000 Limited Edition Icon. That's the company's repro Toyota Land Cruiser. The company's retro off-roaders start at $84,000, and the Baja edition will cost $145,000 as a turnkey Cruiser. It's powered by a hand-built LS6 V8 producing 450 horsepower, and sports a hand-brushed aluminum body with "black crocodile" trim, TLC coil suspension, five-point harnesses and Racepack instruments. All of that sits on 17-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain tires, though hardcore off-roaders can get non-street-legal 35-inch Baja meats. And there's more than just an arbitrary connection with the big race; a Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser won its first Baja in 1973. We'll see it in person at the SEMA show in Las Vegas later this month. [via Edmunds]


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Number: 111- 46
Date: July 19, 2010
House Passes H.R. 1722
Telework Improvements Act of 2010
On July 14, 2010, the House passed H.R. 1722, the "Telework Improvements Act of 2010," by a vote of 290-131. The bill would amend Title 5 of the U.S. Code, adding a chapter that would establish and implement telework policies in Federal Government.
The bill contains the following provisions of interest to SSA:
Governmentwide Telework Requirement
- Would require the head of each executive agency to establish a teleworking policy within one year of enactment. The policy would:
- Have to conform to regulations promulgated within 180 days of enactment by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in consultation with the General Services Administration (GSA);
- Authorize employees to telework to the maximum extent possible without diminishing employee performance or agency operations; and,
- Require that information on the eligibility of employees to telework be included in descriptions of available positions and other recruiting materials.
- Have to conform to regulations promulgated within 180 days of enactment by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in consultation with the General Services Administration (GSA);
- Would prohibit implementation of such telework policy unless the agency head certified to OPM that the implementation of the policy would result in agency savings.
- Would prohibit an employee from teleworking if the employee has:
- A seriously delinquent tax debt;
- Been officially disciplined for viewing, downloading, or exchanging pornography on a Federal government computer or while performing government duties; or,
- Been officially disciplined for being absent without permission for more than five days in a calendar year.
- A seriously delinquent tax debt;
- Would allow agencies to temporarily deny permission to telework, if, in the judgment of the agency head, the employee is needed to respond to an emergency.
- Would require agency heads to:
- Provide appropriate training, including information security guidelines, to supervisors and managers and all employees who are authorized to telework;
- Incorporate telework in agency continuity of operations plans and use telework in response to emergencies; and,
- Make no distinction between teleworkers and non-teleworkers for the purposes of performance appraisals.
- Provide appropriate training, including information security guidelines, to supervisors and managers and all employees who are authorized to telework;
- Would require OMB, in coordination with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to issue guidelines, not later than 180 days after enactment, that ensure the adequacy of information and security protections for information and information systems used in, or otherwise affected by, teleworking.
Telework Managing Officer
- Would create in each agency a Telework Managing Officer, designated by the agency Chief Human Capital Officer, who would serve as the primary resource and point of contact in developing and implementing a plan to incorporate telework into the agency's regular business and continuity of operations strategies.
- Would require each Telework Managing Officer to provide telework program information to OPM and the Government Accountability Office in order for them to prepare annual reports to Congress. Information would include techniques used to verify and validate telework data and numbers on denials of permission to telework.
Policy Guidance
- Would require OMB, within 120 days of enactment, to issue policy guidance regarding the purchase of computer systems by agencies that enable and support telework.


text:
0031 Red Rose A2 £80, A1 £95
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Vintage Ornate Frames: Available in White or Gold + £75
Please note: glass is not required with the frames as our plans are laminated.


text:
Watch and listen to a sequence from Rossini's Il Viaggio a Reims (copyright © 2005 Théatre musical de Paris, Châtelet, and François Roussillon Associés) using the player above -- needs an
Apple Quicktime 7 plugin --
high speed connection preferred.
If the player doesn't appear or the video doesn't begin to play, try clicking on the URL below or copying it into a standalone Apple Quicktime 7 player:
For help viewing the video extracts here,
please refer to our questions & answers page. Please note that the picture and sound quality have been reduced drastically, and are in no way representative of the quality of the original DVD.


text:
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sat 11th Aug 2012 17:22 UTC
Nobody needs a tablet, but many people still want a tablet. This is still the core differentiator between a 'real' computer and a tablet. At least in The Netherlands, you can't function in society without a desktop or laptop connected to the internet, so people need a computer. A tablet, though? Hence, the most common thing people have told me when they played with my iPad 2 is this: I'd love to have a tablet, but not for hundreds of euros. Enter Google's Nexus 7, the first 'cheap' tablet that doesn't just validate Android as a tablet platform, but also gives the iPad a run for its money.
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RE[3]: SDCards
by WorknMan on Sun 12th Aug 2012 03:02 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: SDCards"
So to sum it up, the Nexus 7 does in fact have a serious shortcoming in that regard, and it is definitely a deal-breaker for some. Myself being one of them.
Well, here's some news for you, and I know it might shock the shit out of you, but... there are indeed other tablets to choose from that not only have bigger capacities, but also SD card slots. The Nexus 7 is a budget tablet, designed to compete with the Kindle Fire, so of course it's not going to have all the bells and whistles that everyone wants.
I myself don't have a need for an SD card slot, and 16gb is more than enough, since I mostly read on mine and stream music online. If that wasn't the case, I would've looked for a different tablet.
That being said though, I wish Google would release a higher-end 7" tablet with an SD card slot and HDMI out so I could have all that on a pure Google tablet, but we don't live in a perfect world


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« Greenfield Yellow Pages main page
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Program helps foster communication within families
Healthy communication between children and their parents is always important, but sometimes the communication foundation begins to crumble when children enter their preteen and young teen years. During that time, children are challenged not only by the changes occurring as they enter puberty, but also by increased peer pressure to engage in risky behavior such as using drugs and alcohol. Simultaneously, their changing lives may cause them to become more withdrawn and less willing to engage in conversation with their parents or guardians. The Strengthening Families Program, which will be offered beginning next week to Elk County residents through the Penn State Cooperative Extension, is a free program designed to help youth ages 10 to 14 and their primary caregivers communicate more effectively to help prevent drug and alcohol addiction and other risk-taking behaviors that could have negative consequences for youth. Victoria Dippold, assistant extension educator at the Penn State Cooperative Extension for Elk and Cameron counties, said Strengthening Families provides fun and positive experiences while helping both children and adults learn new strategies for keeping the lines of communication open. "It helps set goals and it helps widen the path of communication between parents and their children," Dippold said. "When kids are more willing to talk, they don't hold things within themselves. If they don't feel like they can talk with their parents or their families or their caregivers, then they bottle it up inside, and they're more likely to act out in areas of their life that may not be so favorable." The seven-week program begins on Sunday, Feb. 27 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the St. Marys Area Middle School and will be held at the same time on successive Sundays. Dippold said each session begins with a sit-down, family-style dinner with all participants. Following the meal, youth and caregivers split into separate groups for various workshops. All activities associated with the Strengthening Families Program, including the weekly dinner, are free. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 23; to register or for more information, contact Dippold at 814-776-5329.
Local Social Media Posts


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text:
Association for the Development of Pakistan
Discussion Forums
ADP Website
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Log in
Arshad Public School (azad Kashmir)
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M. Sajjad Haider
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Last Visit: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 55
Location: Pakistan
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 4:42 am
Post subject: Arshad Public School (Azad Kashmir)
ADP Lahore recieved an earthquake related project. The project is for the construction of a public school in Muslundy, Muzaffarabad. The details of the project, budget, Q&A and Project Summary form are attached. The project has been passed through Phase 1 of the evaluation process.
This is an earthquake project and hence should be evaluated by all ADP chapters
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Tarim Wasim
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Last Visit: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 160
Location: San Francisco
Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:35 pm
Post subject:
This could be a great project for the EQ redevelopmnt fund. The question is entirely around credibility. If one of the NGOs that works in the area can vouch for this guy and take responsibility for monitoring the use of the funds, we should take a very serious look. We could either tell him to pursue that angle and say that's a requirement for ADP to consider funding, or we can appeoach folks like SUNGI or EHD directly to float the idea.
I'd also want to understand the financial model of the school. Was it breaking even before the earthquake? I assume that this is not a for-profit enterprise for Basharat?
Keep us posted!
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M. Sajjad Haider
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Last Visit: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 55
Location: Pakistan
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:59 am
Post subject:
The Project Champion for this project is Natasha Qureshi.
We have done initial evaliations of the project and find it very satisfactory. We still do have some questions regarding the financial aspects of the projet but as far as credibility two respectable sources have verified the school management as credible.
If anyone has any questions kindly post them by the 20th Sunday, after which we will move towards voting on it.
Natasha will soon be posting questions that we already have in mind.
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Natasha Qureshi
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Last Visit: 30 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:43 pm
Post subject:
Most of the preliminary questions that we had in mind were regarding the actual construction of the school. The cost estimates that Basharat Awan (principal) provided were vague and were estimated on a room to room basis rather than on a per square foot basis. After asking the principal for further details he then contacted a contractor who give him a rough estimate of the school plan. The information that he provided was as follows:
Cost= Approx PKR 1000/sq foot
Total Area= Approx 2400 sq feet
He also revised the school plan and cut the number of classrooms to decrease the estimate:
4 Classrooms (12 X 12 feet) - PREVIOUSLY 8
1 Hall (22 X 18 feet)
2 Staffrooms (10 X 12 feet)
1 Principal Office (10 X 10 feet)
3 bathrooms
Following are the list of questions and comments that we have:
1) The total square foot area does not equal or near 2400sq feet, it is more in the range of 1500 sq feet.
2) Instead of building one hall just for the purpose of examinations, they should have multiple classrooms which would be much more useful for the students (this i discussed with the principal and he agreed to it)
3) Since there are only 13 teachers currently it will be wasteful to provide 2 staffrooms and a principal's office, we need to discuss this with the principal in more detail so instead of office space we can add more classrooms.
4) We also want to discuss the use that computers would have in the school to determine if they are necessary or not
5) Discuss the furniture requirements since the number of desks and chairs in the budget does not make sense to us
The principal is interested in coming to Lahore with the architectural plans, pictures of the school and other such documents in a few days. Do post ANY questions or issues that you think we should discuss with him other than the ones listed above.
We are also looking at ideas on how we can monitor the construction of the school so ideas on that will also be appreciated!
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Omar Biabani
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Last Visit: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 93
Location: Boston, MA
Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:04 am
Post subject:
Hi Natasha,
You guys have done a great job in pulling all the info on this project. Some of the things I would like to better understand are
1) Can we get pictures of previous school? It has been up and running since 1997 so we should be able to see what the school looked like.
I am not doubting their word or your judgement but am thinking on another line. If we could get before and after pictures of the school, it will be a very powerful way of raising funds for this school through our website.
1) Who owns the land where the school will be built?
2) What is the state of other schools in Muslundy (if there are any?)
Running Cost:
1) How do the teachers get paid? What was and what will be the fee structure of the school?
1) I know we are provided with school registration number, Is this school following the govt. curriculum or something of its own? (There are a few Islamic books included in reference section which made me ask this question?)
If this project satisfys our concerns then it will be a unique one where we would fund an individual as opposed to an NGO.
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Tarim Wasim
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Last Visit: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 160
Location: San Francisco
Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:41 pm
Post subject:
I'm interested in making sure that we have thought through any challenges post-construction. Things I'd want to know are:
- How good was the school before the earthquake. Were parents happy, was it economically viable?
- Are parents asking for the school to be rebuilt, or is there any reason the kids will not come back (families have left the area, kids enrolled in other schools etc)?
- What is the planned operating budget? Is funding available to get it to self-sustainability? We should look at metrics such as # of students, fee per student, cost per student etc.
I am quite excited about this project. If we can get comfortable with the evaluation questions, it could be a very worthwhile use of our donations. Given the amounts involved though, we need to be convinced that the funding is tracked and will result in a viable, quality school.
As for suggestions around monitoring the use of funds, I think it will be challenging. One thing we should definitely do is give money in several phases based on the achievement of construction milestones. At the minimum, we should try to have an ADP volunteer visit the site at least twice during construction to monitor progress. If you guys can't make it at all, we should send a request on the ADP Network to solicit volunteers in the northern areas who could visit the site, though obviously we can't trust them blindly. With pictures and receipts, we could get some comfort. I would say that if we get to the stage where we believe all the other concerns have been answered, we should line up someone to monitor before taking a vote since that will be key.
Great work, and best of luck.
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Natasha Qureshi
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Last Visit: 30 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:59 am
Post subject:
Following are the answers to all the questions asked:
1) Can we get pictures of previous school? It has been up and running since 1997 so we should be able to see what the school looked like.
There were no pictures of the school taken before the earthquake. There were pictures taken of the rubble after the earthquake, these can be mailed to us but they wont give us much of an idea of how the school looked before the earthquake.
2) Who owns the land where the school will be built?
The school is owned by the principal himself. After he completed his FA (Grade 12th) in 1997 his brother, a dentist, bought the land for him and helped him to establish a school on it. He did not get any help from the government or any NGO for the construction of the school.
3) What is the state of other schools in Muslandy (if there are any?)
There is one other school in Muslandy. It is a government primary school, therefore it only teaches up to class 5. Arshad Public School is up till grade 8th.
4) How do the teachers get paid? What was and what will be the fee structure of the school?
The teachers get paid from the school fees that the students are charged. The students pay PKR 100 per month. They have to buy uniforms, stationary and books themselves. The teachers have slightly higher salaries, compared to other school teachers, as they travel a long distance to teach in this school.
The first four months after the earthquake the school was being run for free as part of relief efforts and no fees were being charged from the students. Now students are again required to pay PKR 100 per month. But there are students who have become orphans or simply can not afford to pay the school fees and they are taught for free. There are around 25% children who are taught for free.
5) I know we are provided with school registration number, Is this school following the govt. curriculum or something of its own? (There are a few Islamic books included in reference section which made me ask this question?)
The school is registered with the government, and it renews its registration every year as per the government policies. The school follows the federal board syllabus for classes 5 to 8. The books taught in the primary school do not follow any syllabus but are the ones that are taught in other schools around the region.
6) How good was the school before the earthquake? Were parents happy, was it economically viable?
The school was economically stable and profitable before the earthquake. These profits were utilized during the first four months after the earthquake when the school was being run as part of relief efforts. Parents were happy with the school. Also, this is the only middle school in the region.
7) Are parents asking for the school to be rebuilt, or is there any reason the kids will not come back (families have left the area, kids enrolled in other schools etc)?
Many People had left Muslandy in the winters and had moved to relief camps. But two months ago ERA started constructing shelters and houses in Neelum Valley. Most people have now come back and there is an even greater demand for the school. The school has enrolled 38 new students this year. Therefore, there are about 340 students in the school this year.
What is the planned operating budget? Is funding available to get it to self-sustainability? We should look at metrics such as # of students, fee per student, cost per student etc.
The school is currently operational (in tents). The school is not meeting its operational costs since revenues have decreased because fees have been waived for many students. But now as the student strength is increasing due to increasing enrollment the cost per student will go down.
Total number of students = 340
Fee per student = PKR 100
Cost per student > PKR 100 (I have to get the exact amount)
Construction Details:
Walls will be made from stone and cement
The roof will be constructed using Justi (Steel) sheets
If there are any leading questions do let us know, otherwise we would like to move on to the next phase of the project, if everyone is satisfied
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Khurram Jamali
Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Last Visit: 10 Oct 2011
Posts: 78
Location: Beijing, China
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:28 pm
Post subject:
This might be asking for too much information, but one could ask for a break down of the fixed and variables costs.
Once we know the fixed costs and variable costs, we can figure out at what number of students would the school break even. If that number seems to be a sustainable figure, then great...if not, then we have to figure out how we may be able to.
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Tarim Wasim
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Last Visit: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 160
Location: San Francisco
Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:36 pm
Post subject:
Thank you for gathering all this information. Very helpful. I like this project, but do feel like we should have a view on the two key issues of
1) How much external funding the school will need to raise after construction to pay for operating losses (shortfall of student fees over running costs) and how they plan to raise this money, and
2) How we are going to monitor progress, ensure transparency and stage the funding
Could you please let us know where the Lahore chapter has come out on these?
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Tarim Wasim
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Last Visit: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 160
Location: San Francisco
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:47 am
Post subject:
Any update on this project? Have we decided not to pursue it?
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Natasha Qureshi
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Last Visit: 30 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:11 pm
Post subject:
I was able to get the cost and revenue breakdowns for the school. Please download the attachment to go over them. It also has details on how we plan to ensure transparency during the execution of the project.
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Tarim Wasim
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Last Visit: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 160
Location: San Francisco
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:28 pm
Post subject:
I am quite comfortable with this, especially if Lahore chapter members will be able to track progress and make in-person visits. Natasha, could you set up a vote for this (similar to Mahjabeen's EQ vote)? Let's give volunteers a week to have their votes in.
Great work.
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Mahjabeen Quadri
Site Admin
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Last Visit: 22 Nov 2007
Posts: 49
Location: San Francisco
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:28 am
Post subject:
Posting recent updates from another thread....
As most people know, we ended up delaying the vote on Arshad Public School due to concerns around the legal status of the building constructed with our funds. Since this is not an NGO, and the owner (Basharat) owns the land, there were two risks:
1) Basharat could sell the donated building later at a profit
2) He could make a personal profit off the ongoing operations of the school.
After some deliberation, we decided to explore legal solutions to could give us protection. My father and a a lawyer talked to Basharat a few days ago, and it appears that he is willing to put the school into a Trust that prevents him from selling the building or making an ongoing profit without our authorization. The Trust agreement will be registered in a local court, and we will need to have an ADP representative sign the agreement in person. My father is willing to make the trip up to Muzaffarabad to complete the arrangements if we decide to fund this project. The primary to do's for us are as follows:
1) Spell out the conditions of our funding
2) Vote on the project assuming Basharat will agree to those conditions
3) Issue an authority letter in someone's name to sign the agreement on ADP's behalf. As I said, my father is willing to do this if we want.
Natasha, could you please work with Sajjad, Usman and Mubarik to propose a set of conditions that we should place including 1) ongoing income formula for Basharat, 2) what happens if he wants to sell (does he need our consent, what does he need to pay us), 3) milestones on which we will fund, and 4) a reporting and monitoring plan. I think we should then put this one officially to vote. It would be good to have a decision soon given the recent momentum with Basharat.
Good work everyone. This project demonstrates not only how seriously we take our responsibility to donors at ADP, but that we are also willing to work hard to find ways to support deserving projects.
ps: This link has a picture of a tent in which Arshad Public School is currently being run:
ps: I've pasted the correspondence from my father below.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: wasim ahmad <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Date: Apr 20, 2007 6:19 AM
Subject: Re: Any luck talking to Basharat?
To: Tarim Wasim <firstname.lastname@example.com>
dear Tarim.
Here's the follow up up on the Muzaffarabad
school.had a talk with Basharat about two hours ago.He
has offered to come over to Islamabad to show me the
ownership papers of his land. I have asked him to also
give some thought to whatever his own demands are so
that we can study them and discuss in the light of the
conditions the ADP wants to put. In short, a
roughdraft of the agreement should emerge after my
meeting with him on Sunday.
Basharat is holding the annual 'parents' day' of
his school on the 2nd of May and wants me to visit the
school on that occasion.I haven't yet decided whether
that would be a suitable time to visit. If I do go
then I would verify the veracity of his ownership
document from the local 'patwari's' register myself.
This is to ensure that the 'patwari' has not issued a
fake certificate ( it is called 'ferd'). That done;
the ownership will be established. ADP can then enter
into the agreement.
The agreement also can be finalised on the 2nd if the
ADP mind is made up.
If you need more time then i shall not accept
Basharat's invitation for the 2nd of May and set
another date.
What the ADP needs to do now is;
a. To spell out the conditions of the
b. To decide on the mode of payment.
c. Issue an authority letter in my name to
make this agreement on their behalf.
Your terms and conditions are needed before we
can finalise a draft agreement. You can then delibrate
on the draft.We shall register it only after your
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: wasim ahmad <email@example.com>
Date: Apr 19, 2007 12:56 PM
Subject: Re: Any luck talking to Basharat?
To: Tarim Wasim <email@example.com>
I talked to Basharat today. He is willing to
declare his land a trust for a charitable school on
the condition that the ownership of the property
remains with him and his heirs. This is possible
according to the law.The agreement he makes with the
ADP would state all the terms and conditions the ADP
wants him to accept. He would, however, like to get
some part of the income for his own sustenance. The
agreement would specify that part of the income
too.You can decide whether it would be a percentage of
the income or a fixed amount.
I had indicated to Basharat that i would visit
Muzaffarabad in the next 4-5 days alongwith Cdr Sharif
to see the present school, the proposed land for it
and the ownership documents. He was happy to arrange
all that. But on subsequent discussion with Cdr Sharif
we came to the conclusion that a visit at this stage
is not necessary. Basharat can send the copies of
ownership documents by post for us to examine here. We
will then have to make a trip to Muzaffarabad for the
signing and registration of the 'TRUST" agreement.
I tried calling Basharat again in the evening but
contact could not be established. Would inform him
tomorrow morning about our decision. After having
ascertained the ownership of the land we shall draft
the agreement and have it agreed upon by Bsharat.
Then it will be a one day trip to Muzaffarabad for the
rest of the job.
The ADP will be a party to the agreement and i can
represent the ADP on the strength of an appointment
letter from ADP head office. So, now you need to
decide what terms and conditions you want to impose on
Basharat and send me an appointment letter. Also think
out the method of payment i.e lump sum or
installments. I suggest the latter based on the
building stages of the school.
Let me know how the ADP wants to handle this
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Natasha Qureshi
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Last Visit: 30 Jan 2012
Posts: 11
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 11:13 am
Post subject:
The terms for funding that Basharat Awan has agreed upon are as follows:
Administration of school / Selling of land:
1. Declaring the school a charitable trust to be run by himself and his legal heirs.
2. A board of trustees comprising three trustees including himself and one noble of Muzaffarabad. The third trustee would be a nominee of ADP. Basharat would be the managing trustee.
3. Basharat Awan or any of his family members or heirs that may possess the ownership of the school property in Muslandy can not sell this property without the consent of ADP
4. If the selling of this property becomes unavoidable and ADP consents to it then Basharat Awan will be liable to pay ADP the amount donated for the school building, adjusted after depreciation
5. ADP will deposit the entire returned loan amount in to its general fund and will use it to fund other projects
Income formula:
1. Basharat Awan will be paid a monthly income whose maximum amount will be equal to PKR 20,000 + A yearly increase of about 10%
2. This monthly income will come from the profits that the school will make from the fees paid by the school going children
3. Any surplus profits of the school will be plied back into the school to award fee concession/scholarships to poorer students and for any improvements in the school with the approval of the board of trustees
4. This income formula can be discussed and changed as and when required by either party. To bring the new income formula in to effect a revised draft of the contract needs to be signed mentioning the effective date
Process for Funding:
1. The funding schedule will be worked out after finalising a building plan and selecting a building contractor.
2. Monthly building progress will be reported through pictures or site visits by ADP rep.
A few questions were also raised by ADP volunteers and the answers to them are as follows:
Can Basharat send monthly pix of the school so we can judge the progress in contruction: Yes he will do so
Pictures of school pre-EQ: all were lost during EQ. some school children may have them and he will find out
What was his pre-EQ salary? between 18K - 20K
What rate did his salary increase at? After the initial jump it increased at a rate of about 10% per annum i.e. between Rs.1800-2000
How many additional students will be joining the school in the next academic year? Around 18 joined this yr. If construction of building takes place then this number can probably treble in the coming year.
What percentage of students are currently taught for free? How long does he anticipate not to charge these students any fees? 3 out of the new 18 are taught for free and between 20-25% are taught for free from the other 300 students. If the school starts doing well then Basharat can increase the number of students that he is teaching for free and use the additional profits for that.
Additionally, Sajjad has said that he can possibly make a site visit in June or he can ask some friends to do so who travel frequently to the north. I can also make site visits (given I am able to travel alone to the northern areas) before August.
The contractor has said that the construction of the bulding would take about 3 months. He will take an advance deposit equivalent to 50% of the total costs to buy raw materials and pay for labour. The rest of the 50% will be taken when the building is completed. The contractor will charge Rs1000/sq foot for construction.
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Khurram Jamali
Joined: 12 Jun 2005
Last Visit: 10 Oct 2011
Posts: 78
Location: Beijing, China
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 3:45 am
Post subject:
I'm not too comfortable with subtracting depreciation from ADP's investment. Depreciation is a vague term and could mean that ADP's investment in the project goes to PKR 0 in 5 years (if depreciation is 20%).
Furthermore, after construction is completed on the land, the land value will appreciate, i.e., if he decides to sell he will be selling for more. Does ADP get a proportion of that increase?
I dont know if this is possible, but if we can get an independent auditor to estimate the fair value of the land with and without the construction, and agree that an independent auditor will do the same if and when Basharat decides to sell the land, we can then precisely estimate the proportional value addition due to ADP's investment in the school, and make sure that any additionally accumulated value due to ADP's investment is returned to ADP rather than to Basharat. In this case, depreciation will not be an issue at all. Over time, if Basharat invests more into the infrastructure, ADP's portion of value appreciation will continue to decrease, and we might even get less than what we put in. But we shouldn't definitively settle on taking the amount we are investing minus deprecation. At least that is the way I feel.
Maybe this is not being fair to Basharat, because usually we never recoup what we have put in, and expect the benefits to be realized by society, thought the NGO. But in this case, private ownership makes it tricky...and we should be careful that our investment appreciation does not benefit I private entrepreneur, but benefits either society, or comes back to us in order to benefit society.
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php B.B.


text:
|Goal / Purpose
|Program Benefits
|University of Southern California-Bioinformatics Institute in Genomic Science (BIGS) [cegs.usc.edu]
|The summer institute is concerned with aspects of bioinformatics and genomics; students explore a wide variety of topics in computational biology, bioinformatics and molecular biology
|Both undergraduates (normally at the junior or senior level) and beginning graduate students are eligible. Appropriate fields of study include Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering. We especially invite applications from members of those minority groups that are under-represented in the sciences: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans (including Alaska Natives) and natives of the Pacific Islands. To be eligible for minority support applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.
A USC 4-unit course in genomics and bioinformatics will be offered, BISC 478, as well as a 2-unit seminar course, BISC 577, in which small teams of students work with a faculty member to explore selected areas of modern biology. Both credit and non-credit options are available. There will also be weekly seminars for the institute students given by research faculty.
Minority students are eligible to receive a summer stipend of $4000, on-campus housing, 6 units of tuition and travel support.
|Rolling Admission- check Web site for specific dates.
|California Institute of Technology MURF (Minority Undergraduate Research Fellowship) [murf.caltech.edu]
|Underrepresented minority: U.S citizens or permanent residents.
|MURF students receive $600/week paid in equal installments on the first business day of July and August. Students also receive a housing allowance and travel reimbursement.
|10 week summer program for up to two summers.
|First week of January.
|Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC) at Baylor College of Medicine HGSC-G/GREAT (Genetics/Genomics Research Education And Training) Program
|To increase the number of URM in the genomic sciences by providing summer research experiences to gain knowledge and awareness of the field.
|Sophomores; Juniors; and Seniors
Life Science majors; Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer Engineering majors
Research Project (biomedical or engineering)
|9 1-2 weeks from mid-May through July.
|March 15th
|Opportunities in Genomics Research: Undergraduate Scholars at The Genome Center at Washington University in St. Louis
|To increase the number of URM who pursue genomics and proceed to the Ph.D. in a genomics related field.
|Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, majoring in STEM (non-majors considered only if basic courses in STEM have been taken. Competitive overall and STEM GPA.
|Individual mentored research Kaplan GRE prep course.
Scientific writing course.
Competitive stipend.
Paid housing and roundtrip travel to program.
Incentive to return for subsequent summers.
|8-weeks (beginning late May each year)
|Early decision: February (date varies)
Regular Deadline:
March (date varies)
|Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Center of Excellence in Genomic Science
|To provide a rich, unique and rewarding genomic science focused training experience for URM students.
|40-hour workweek, $11.00/hour.
|Generally early June through August. Dates are flexible.
|University of Washington: UW GenOM Project [depts.washington.edu]
|Undergraduates with an emphasis on underrepresented minority students. All participants must be US citizens or permanent residents.
|20-40 hour workweek; $10.50/hour
Some housing available.
Round-trip travel expenses.
Custom embroidered labcoat.
Weekly research seminars.
Poster/oral presentation.
|Generally nine weeks: late June through late August.
|Beginning of March
|Summer Research Program in Genomics
|Designed for underrepresented minority undergraduate students with an interest in the physical, biological or computer sciences, engineering or mathematics and a commitment to research. Students will spend the summer in a laboratory at the Broad Institute, where they will perform original scientific research.
|Nine weeks.
|Applicants accepted on a rolling basis. Final application deadline mid-April.
|The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
To provide URM students with an immersive research experience by conducting an independent project in bioinformatics, genomics and databases under the mentorship of a faculty advisor.
|10-week summer program, June-mid August
|February 2
Last Reviewed: January 16, 2014