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|STIS Instrument Handbook for Cycle 27
The MAMA is a photon-counting detector: as each event is recorded, the buffer memory for the corresponding pixel is incremented by one integer. The buffer memory stores values as 16 bit integers; hence the maximum number it can accommodate is 65,536 counts per pixel in a given ACCUM mode observation. When accumulated counts per pixel exceed this number, the values will wrap, i.e., the memory resets to 0. As an example, if you are counting at 25 counts/s/pix, you will reach the MAMA "accumulation" limit in ~44 minutes.Keep accumulated counts/pix below this value, by breaking individual exposures into multiple identical exposures (see also Section 11.2.4), each of which is short enough that fewer than 65,536 counts are accumulated per pixel. There is no read noise for MAMA observations, so no penalty is paid in lost signal-to-noise ratio when exposures are split. There is only a small overhead for each MAMA exposure (Chapter 9).
7.5.2 MAMA DarksThe STIS MAMA detectors have intrinsically very low dark currents. Dark currents measured during ground testing were less than 10 counts/s for the FUV-MAMA and less than 30 counts/s for the NUV-MAMA over the whole detector. For the FUV-MAMA, this exceptionally low dark current was initially achieved on orbit. For the NUV-MAMA, charged particle impacts on the MgF2 faceplate cause a higher background that resulted in a dark current of 800-2000 counts/s, varying both with temperature and the past thermal history of the detector. This particular phenomenon is not present for the FUV-MAMA, but the dark current for that detector now also varies with time, temperature and position. The different dark current behaviors of the detectors are discussed in more detail below, and up-to-date information can be found on the "Monitoring" page of the STIS website:Most of the dark current in the NUV-MAMA comes from phosphorescence of impurities in the MgF2 detector faceplate. A simple model of the phenomenon was developed by Jenkins and Kimble that envisions a population of impurity sites each having three levels: (1) a ground state, (2) an excited energy level which can decay immediately to the ground state, and (3) a meta-stable level that is at an energy slightly below the one that can emit radiation. The meta-stable states are initially populated by charged particle impacts that mostly occur during passages through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). Hours or days later, the electrons trapped in these meta-stable states are thermally excited to an unstable upper level and then emit a photon as they decay to the ground state. This thermal excitation rate is proportional to exp(−ΔE/kT), where ΔE is the energy difference between the levels. The behavior of the count rate vs. temperature leads to an estimate of 1.1 eV for ΔE.While this temperature dependent function does a good job of predicting the short term response of the NUV dark current to temperature changes, the longer term response is more complex. In equilibrium, the number of decays will match the number of excitation events. A sudden temperature increase would then result in an initial rapid increase in the dark rate, as the meta-stable states are more easily depopulated at higher temperatures. However, after several days, the population of meta-stable states would reach a new equilibrium, resulting in a dark rate that, while higher than the equilibrium rate was at the cooler temperature, is significantly lower than the short term response to the same temperature increase. The predicted large temporary increases in the dark rate were observed after the initial STIS installation, and also after SM3a (see Figure 7.18).Figure 7.18: The NUV-MAMA Dark Rate as Measured From Dark Monitor Exposures Between 1997 and 2004Note the large, but temporary, increases in the dark rate after initial installation of STIS and after SM3a (near MJD 51500), when the detector was turned back on after being cold for several weeks. Also note the long term fluctuations in the mean dark current.At a fixed detector temperature of 30° C, the time-constant for the dark current to reach an equilibrium value is about 8 days. In practice because the MAMA high-voltage power supplies have to be shut down during SAA impacted orbits, the detector temperature varies from about 27° C to 40° C on a roughly daily time scale, and the dark current never reaches equilibrium. In addition, the real rate of excitations caused by charged particle impacts is not directly measurable and is expected to vary unpredictably on all time scales. Even the time averaged excitation rate may differ considerably from year to year, depending on the low earth orbit radiation environment.During the last nine months of STIS operations prior to the failure in August 2004, the typical NUV-MAMA dark current ranged between 8 × 10−4 and 1.6 × 10−3 counts/pix/s (Figure 7.19). Changes in the low earth orbit radiation environment affect the rate at which the meta-stable impurity states are populated. For Cycle 17 planning purposes we had guessed that the equilibrium STIS NUV-MAMA dark current would be 10% higher than it was during 2003-2004; which implied a range of dark count rate values between 8.5 × 10−4 and 1.7 x 10−3 counts/pix/s. However, as we will see in the next section (NUV-MAMA Dark Current after SM4 on page 143), this drastically underestimated the actual dark rate seen after SM4.To predict the NUV dark current and subtract it as part of standard processing, the pipeline and the calstis use a simple temperature dependent relation:Both norm and Tmin are slowly varying functions of time that are empirically adjusted to give a good match to the observed dark rate, and which are tabulated in the temperature dependent dark correction table (tdc) reference file. The temperature for a given observation is taken from the OM2CAT telemetry value, which is included in the extension header of each MAMA observation. This approach usually predicts the dark rate with 5 to 10% accuracy, although the error in individual cases may be substantially larger.Because 99% of the NUV-MAMA dark current is due to photons hitting the detector, it is appropriate to apply the flat field prior to subtracting the dark current. The dark current varies slowly across the face of the detector, being about 1.25 times higher near the lower left corner (AXIS1, AXIS2 < 300) than at the center. This shape varies with time and temperature enough that subtraction of the scaled dark reference may leave a residual, spatially varying dark current. This is easiest to remove by fitting a low-order two-dimensional function to the background vs. pixel position.After the Side-2 failure in 2004, STIS was in safe mode with only the survival heaters powered. During this period, the MAMA tubes were at an average temperature of 3.8° C, much lower than the normal operational temperature range of about +29° C to +34° C. We therefore expected to see a temporary increase in the dark current after the post-SM4 recovery of the MAMA tubes due to the increased population of meta-stable states at the colder safe-mode temperature. Detailed modeling led us to expect that the peak dark count rate would not be too much bigger than that seen after SM3a where the MAMAs had been off for about 3 months. We also expected that any excess would decline with a e-folding time of a week or so, as had been seen previously. This would have allowed the NUV-MAMA dark rate to return to the previous operational range of between 0.0009 and 0.0017 counts/pix/s within about a month of the STIS recovery after SM4.Figure 7.20: NUV-MAMA Dark Current after SM4Instead we found initial dark count rates for the NUV-MAMA as high as 0.016 counts/pix/s (Figure 7.20). As was the case before SM4, the dark current shows short time scale variations that depend exponentially on the detector temperature, with the overall level also varying on longer time scales. However, for the new component of the dark current, the decay time-scale appears to be much longer than the one to two weeks previously seen. Initially the excess dark current appeared to be declining with an e-folding time of about 100 days; however over subsequent months, the rate of decline has continued to slow. By mid-2010 the dark rate was fluctuating between about 0.0025 and 0.0042 counts/pix/s, and it appears that additional significant declines will take years rather than months. For planning purposes and the STIS ETCs, we will adopt a mean NUV-MAMA dark current of 0.0015 counts/pix/s for mid-Cycle 26 (April 2019). Updates on the current state of the dark current will be posted on the STIS MAMA dark monitor pages.The FUV-MAMA dark current is substantially lower than that of the NUV-MAMA. Initially values as low as 7 counts/s across the face of the detector (7 × 10-6 counts/pix/s) could be routinely expected. However, there is also an intermittent glow that covers a large fraction of the detector (see Figure 7.21). The source of the dark current is not phosphorescence but is intrinsic to the micro-channel plate array (it was seen in ground testing). This glow can substantially increase the dark current over a large fraction of the detector, and this leads to count rates of up to 300 counts/s integrated across the face of the detector.An example of the dark current variation across the detector can be seen in Figure 7.21, which is the sum of a number of 1380-second dark frames taken during periods of high dark current. The dark current in the lower right quadrant (pixels [900:1000,10:110] in IRAF notation) appears to be stable to within 10% over time. The dark current in the upper left quadrant (pixels [200:400,600:800]) varies with time and temperature. The total dark current can be approximated by the sum of a constant dark current plus a "glow" image, scaled to the net rate in the upper left quadrant.Figure 7.21: Dark Current Variation Across FUV-MAMA DetectorDuring the first two years of STIS operations, this glow was only present intermittently, but since mid-1999 it has been present more often than not. The glow increases with the amount of time the detector high-voltage has been on since the last SAA passage. The rate of increase is greater when the detector is warmer, and it has also been increasing from year to year, even under otherwise comparable conditions. The dark monitor measurements for the first few months of STIS operations after the repair during SM4 are shown in Figure 7.22, while long-term monitor measurements are shown in Figure 7.23.Figure 7.22: Post SM-4 FUV-MAMA Dark Monitor Measurements obtained between Jun. 9 and Oct. 1, 2009.The average count rate for a region in the upper left of the FUV detector that is centered on the bright glow, (pixels [200:400,600:800]), is plotted as a function of the time since the detector high voltage was turned on (filled circles). Also shown is the mean rate for the whole detector (open circles), and the mean rate in the dark corner (pluses), delimited by the subarray [900:1000,10:110].In Figure 7.22, the FUV-MAMA dark current is shown for 35 dark monitor observations taken between 2009-Jun-09 and 2009-Oct-01. On days that the FUV-MAMA is used, the MAMA high voltage is turned on for the block of HST orbits that is unaffected by SAA passages, and as the detector warms up, the glow increases. Filled circles show the count rate in a region centered on the peak of the dark glow (pixels [200:400,600:800]), while the open circles show the average rate for the entire detector. Note that the lower right corner of the detector (pixels [900:1000,10:110]), denoted by plus signs, shows little or no increase over the initial low dark current values.Figure 7.23: FUV-MAMA Long-Term Dark Current after SM4Figure 7.23 shows the long-term FUV dark current in the years after SM4. Red symbols show the glow region, while blue symbols show the average over the entire detector. The dark current varies depending upon the detector region, detector temperature, high voltage on-time, as well as a long-term increase. The vertical distribution of points on the graph changes in 2013, but this is merely due to a change in scheduling of calibration observations relative to the high-voltage turn-on. After SM4, the overall level of the glow appears to be similar to what had been seen in 2004, but because the physical origin of the FUV detector glow is poorly understood, it is difficult to predict what the future behavior will be. Past experience would indicate that the overall level of the glow will continue to increase.For Cycle 25 planning purposes, we recommend assuming that in the center of the glow region the mean dark current will start with a value near 2.5 × 10−5 counts/pix/s at the beginning of each SAA-free block of orbits, but will then increase at a rate of about 1 × 10−4 counts/pix/s/HST-orbit, reaching peak values as high as 6×10−4 counts/pix/s. In the dark corner of the detector, the count rate will remain very low, with a rate near 2.5 × 10−5 counts/pix/s. For use in the STIS ETC, we will adopt 1.5 × 10-4 counts/pix/s as representative of the expected mean rate averaged over the whole detector. While the ETC can only reflect the average of the dark current rate, the STIS FUV dark current rate in particular exhibits tremendous variations with the position on the detector. STIS FUV-MAMA users whose observations are sensitive to dark current (e.g. faint targets) are strongly encouraged to read the corresponding documentation to assess the feasibility of their observations and better constrain the exposure time needed to achieve the required accuracy.The count rates discussed above refer to the native MAMA detector pixels. When comparing to ETC results these values need to be scaled by the number of pixels included in an extracted spectral "pixel" or resolution element. For observers of bright targets, even the highest FUV MAMA dark rates will have a negligible impact on data quality. For observers of very faint targets, there are a number of possible mitigation strategies. For spectra of faint point sources, the observer should consider whether one of the COS FUV channels might be a better choice, as these have both much higher overall throughput and much lower detector background than comparable STIS modes. If STIS spectral observations are needed (e.g., to provide higher spatial resolution in the cross dispersion direction), the dark rate can also be minimized by putting the source near the bottom of the FUV MAMA detector below the worst of the extra detector glow. The "D1" aperture positions are intended for this purpose (see Section 4.2.3). If neither of these strategies is adequate, the observers should discuss their needs with the Program Coordinator (PC) and contact scientist (CS) assigned to their program, to determine whether it might be practical to schedule their observations immediately after the detector HV has been ramped up, when the intrinsic detector background is lowest. Because of the need to schedule STIS MAMA operations around the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), in practice, the FUV MAMA detector is usually turned on only one time per day, and there is usually only about one orbit per day available where a detector background close to 1e-5 c/s/pixel can be expected, so it may not be possible to satisfy all such requests.During Cycle 12, the D1 apertures were implemented in order to make it easier to place a faint target at a position with a reduced glow. See Section 4.2.3 for further details on their use.Dark current for the FUV-MAMA is not currently subtracted by the pipeline. However, the "glow" images are available from the STIS website, at:Because the dark current is so low in the MAMA detectors, a typical STIS FUV-MAMA observation will have less than one count/pix from the dark. It is good to keep this in mind when reducing the data, as various standard measures of background (the median for example) are not good estimates when the data are quantized into just a few values. The best way to estimate the background is to identify hot pixels using the standard reference files, then use an unclipped mean for the remaining pixels in a source-free region of the image.MAMA detectors are capable of delivering signal-to-noise ratios of the order of 100:1 per spectral resolution element or even higher. Tests in orbit have demonstrated that such high S/N is possible with STIS (Kaiser et al., 1998, Proc. SPIE, 3356, 415; Gilliland, STIS ISR 1998-16.)High S/N observations of several standard stars were obtained during STIS commissioning, and they were reduced with flats obtained during preflight testing of the detectors. Signal-to-noise ratios of 125 and 150 per spectral resolution element (for an 11 pixel extraction height in the cross dispersion direction) were achieved for the FUV and NUV-MAMA observations, respectively; see Chapter 12 for a more detailed discussion.For targets observed at a fixed position on the detector, the signal-to-noise ratio is limited by systematic uncertainties in the small-scale spatial and spectral response of the detector. The MAMA flats show a fixed pattern that is a combination of several effects including beating between the MCP array and the anode pixel array, variations in the charge-cloud structure at the anode, and low-level capacitive cross-coupling between the fine anode elements. Intrinsic pixel-to-pixel variations are 3.9% and 2.8% rms for the FUV and NUV-MAMA, respectively, in 1024 × 1024 pixel format. In the highres 2048 × 2048 format (see Chapter 11) the intrinsic variations are much larger. This fixed pattern appears to be stable at the 1–2% level.The structure of the flat may vary slightly for different modes due to different incidence angles of the incoming photons on the microchannel-plate pores. A possible example of this is shown in Figure 7.24, where for an echelle E140H observation, the measured fluxes in the overlapping spectral range of two adjacent orders are displayed. The individual orders show broad features with widths of 10 to 30 pixels and amplitudes of 2 to 4% that are not reproduced in the other order at the same wavelengths. No corresponding features appear in the flat fields at these locations. These features also appear to be very sensitive to the exact placement of the spectrum on the detector, as other high signal-to-noise observations at the same CENWAVE setting do not show them. At wavelengths that are not covered by multiple spectral orders, the only way to distinguish this kind of detector artifact from a weak feature in the target spectrum is to use some kind of dithering to place the feature at multiple locations on the detector (see Section 12.5.1).Figure 7.24: Flat-Field Features in a MAMA Spectrum.The STIS echelle E140H spectrum O66P01020 of HD 24534 is shown for the wavelength range covering the overlap between spectral orders m = 332 (solid line) and m = 333 (dotted line). A number of weak features appear in only one of the two spectral orders, indicating that these are detector artifacts rather than real features in the stellar spectrum.Observing strategies for achieving spectral S/N higher than ~100:1 are discussed in Chapter 12. For echelle mode spectra, observers may want to consider the use of the FP-SPLIT slits, or use multiple CENWAVE settings with overlapping wavelength ranges; for first-order mode observations, they may wish to dither the target along the slit.Since MAMA observations can be binned in post-observation data processing with no additional signal-to-noise price, the option to obtain MAMA observations with unequal binning (e.g. BINAXIS1=1, BINAXIS2=2) was disabled starting in Cycle 184.108.40.206 MAMA Non-linearityThe MAMA detectors begin to experience non-linearity (photon impact rate not equal to photon count rate) at global (across the entire detector) count rates of 200,000 counts/s. The non-linearity reaches 10% at 300,000 counts/s and can be approximately corrected in post-observation data processing. Additionally, the MAMA detectors plus processing software are not able to count reliably at rates exceeding 285,000 count/s. For this reason and to protect the detectors, observations at these rates are not allowed (see Section 7.7, below).The MAMA detectors remain linear to better than 1% in their counting up to ~22 counts/s/pix for the FUV-MAMA and 34 counts/s/pix for the NUV-MAMA. At higher rates, they experience local (at a given pixel) non-linearity. The non-linearity effect is image dependent—that is, the non-linearity observed at a given pixel depends on the photon rate affecting neighboring pixels. This property makes it impossible to correct reliably for the local non-linearity in post-observation data processing. In addition, the MAMA detectors are subject to damage at high local count rates (see Section 7.7).


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Challenge for engineering students: How fast can you build a bridge?05/25/2014
IT TAKES MONTHS, even years, to build a steel bridge. But at the University of Akron this weekend, bridges were built in minutes. In a fast and furious national competition, engineering students from around the continent raced against time and each other, using pieces and parts stored in a rectangular box to build a 17- to 19-foot-long steel bridge capable of bearing about 2,500 pounds.
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Tim Nixdorf, a 2014 UA civil engineering graduate pursuing a master's degree in applied mathematics, measures for bridge deflection as the Zips team readies for today's steel bridge competition.
Alumni Cameron Carris (left), captain of UA's 2011-12 concrete canoe team, and Michael Clements, captain of UA's 2008-2010 steel bridge teams, return to campus as judges at the 2014 ASCE National Student Steel Bridge Competition.
UA National Student Steel Bridge team members (from left) junior Chuck Vickers of Akron, 2014 graduate Heath Harpster of New Franklin and sophomore Daniel Antoniono of Pittsburgh tape lines to mark bridge-building dimensions in preparation for today's competition.
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Members of the 2014 UA National Student Steel Bridge assembly team.


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via http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2012/04/crown-heights-in-news-falafel-murals.html
Falafel place coming soon to the nabe. Franklin is becoming a one stop shop for everything. Keep the exciting news coming. Looks like its shaping up to be a great summer with all these businesses popping up.
Just a thought but I'm holding out for a pet store and a really nice bookstore on the ave and I would be even happier!
Businesses that are just now entering the area are most at risk of closure, because they are paying comparatively higher rents than businesses that opened just a few years ago.
I'll do my part by eating Falafel.
I should add that the article says rumored, however, hopefully not too far off.
I should add that the article says rumored, however, hopefully not too far off.
A gyro place would work as well.
I'm behind the gyro and falafel all the way.
It will be named
"Hummus Station"
http://www.nychealthratings.com/nycrestapp/restaurantlanding/3/Crown Heights/30287/
This place sounds like it will be vegetarian, possibly even Kosher.
dang. no lamb falafel? :study:
Time will tell.
Does anyone have a rumor as to when or whether this is still happening?
Confirmed ...it is still happening.
Animal clinic coming to 753 Franklin Avenue. Stay tuned for details.
Construction on Hummus Station and the Pizza place is ongoing....
Hummus Station was granted CB8 support for a beer and wine lic in Oct.
....it will feature 22 seats, 8 of which will be stools at a bar.
Construction continues to move along nicely.
Dated photo of 798 Franklin:
Hummus Station is being opened by the owners of MySpaceNYC Realty. It's not MySpaceNYC renting the space to the restaurant, it is MySpaceNYC opening the restaurant on their own. Their greed knows no bounds.
If you do ever consider eating there, please realize you would be fueling MySpaceNYC's efforts as they continue to exorbitantly raise rents in this neighborhood.
Surely you can satisfy your hunger elsewhere - somewhere that wouldn't require you to swallow your own conscience with every bite.
At the very least, you should know the hand that feeds you. If you want to know more about Hummus Station and the people who will own/run it, stop into MySpaceNYC realty and talk with Guy or Rob. See what you think.
I trust MySpaceNYC to make good hummus.
Hummus is not that hard to make, but I must try anything before I know whether it is good.
So, once they open, I will either ask fellow contributors if it is any good, or spend approximately $7 of my own money to see for myself.
I predict I will be served by employee making between $7 and $10 an hour.
I predict the manager will make more than the employee, for work that is less arduous.
As a result of being owned by their operator, I predict that they will have to pay less for occupying the space than they otherwise would, but will have to cover Opportunity Costs.
While I wish everything was cheaper (including residential rents, beer and hummus), I have grudgingly accepted that "fair" is determined by the amount I and others are willing and able to pay.
As a result, I will not let others define terms like "greed", "conscience", and "exorbitant". I will define these for myself, just as others define them for themselves.
If the hummus and beer are good, I'll be a regular.
Sorry why not if its owned by my space I won't go.
You don't have to be sorry.
I suspect that much of the neighborhood won't go because they don't like hummus, and/or don't think it is worth the price asked.
The Hummus Station merely needs ENOUGH customers who do patronize it.
Hmm, it was somehow lost on me that this was to be owned and operated by MyspaceNYC. I still want to try some new Mediterranean, but unless it's mind-blowing, I'll probably avoid it. Boo.
I find it weird that a MySpace employee (or a few of them) will actually operate a Hummus restaurant for any length of time.
It seems more logical that MySpace would buy a commercial property and then rent it out, OR launch a business that it would then sell or rent to a proprieter for a profit.
My sense is that prospective proprieters would be willing to pay a premium for a soon-to-open business with an approved kitchen and alc lic.
If it has recently opened and can show an expanding customer base, that sounds even better.
Hell, if I was a real estate employee, I would be willing to run a Falafel place for a couple of months just for variety ...I wouldn't "demand" a large portion of the profit that would be earned my employer from flipping it to a new owner.
BTW, here's the link to the pizza place that will go into the adjacent storefront: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/slice-pizza-place-coming-to-franklin-and-ep#post-762872
I don't know if MySpace is involved in the pizza place in anyway.
Bump. Anyone have any updates?
May 5, 2013: The Hummus Station (798A Franklin Avenue) is rumored to be opening within a week a two of its adjacent neighbor (the was to be a pizza place, but now becoming a Yogurt Place).
The Yogurt Place now has a banner that says "Coming Soon".
Hummus Station was recommended for a beer and wine lic by CB8.
A little digging indicates, yup, they have filed for a beer and wine lic. As of today, May 11, 2013, it is presently in "pending" status.
The following people are named as applicants:
Hummus Station is rumored to be opening after Yogumoo.
Rumor is this place will open by June 15.
Saw inside, it looked lovely.
June 12, 2013:
Thier alc lic is still in pending status.
The place next door (that was rumored to be a potential pizza place, but decided to become a frozen yogurt place) has already opened next door.
Tick, tick, tick
June 18: Not open yet.
BTW, for those wondering if MySpace is really going to be operating Hummus Station, I can certainly confirm that they own the web domain name:
However, the website is not yet up and running, and the alc lic is still in pending status.
So, signs point to "not quite yet"
The new yogurt place is also operated by MySpaceNYC.
If anyone doesn't know about MySpaceNYC, ask around.
See: http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2012/11/protest-at-myspacenyc-tomorrow-at-1pm.html
Check out their Yelp page (including some of the filtered reviews): http://www.yelp.com/biz/myspace-nyc-brooklyn
Both the yogurt place and Hummus Station have excellent locations, and the already-open yogurt place is quite good.
I expect MySpace to put similar attention into Hummus Station, and thus believe it will succeed despite some people not liking it's established, large real estate business.
The front of this restaurant is no longer behind plywood, and they were doing some detail painting this weekend.
It has iron and glass work very similar to that of its neighbor, the Yogumoo place that is also owned by some of the MySpace owners.
New hand-painted sign up. "Fez Hummus Bar"
Fez Hummus Bar (fka Hummus Station) and Docklands appear to be in the final weeks of prep work.
If we see a fresh produce truck, we know opening is imminent.
August 5, 2013:
photo: Patch
Patch wrote: Fez, a Mediterranean restaurant and bar is in the final stages of opening on Franklin Avenue between Lincoln and Eastern Parkway.
Owner Ari Aviv, who owns the yogurt spot next door, says the spot will be a sit-down restaurant with falafel, hummus, a Tunisian grilled eggplant dish, and other vegetarian treats.
Like the yogurt shop, Fez will be kosher.
Aviv hopes to open within the next few weeks.
This place and nearby Docklands remain neck and neck in the race to see which will open first.
...the winner is anyone's guess.
Sept 10th:
The owner is still waiting for his alcohol license. The paper has been removed from the windows and one can now look in and see a ready-to-open restaurant.
Sept 17:
Staff is being trained tonight.
We also have a liquor license that is now in active status!
Opening is imminent!
It hasn't opened yet, but the people at Yelp are ready:
(wrong menu)
Wrong place Whynot... Don't be so eager to post.
drat! I thought it was weird that the menu I found was not kosher!
I am hungry.
Hungry for falafel? It would be awful good to have a falafel now.
Oct 27:
This place is still not open. I am going to have to never use the word "imminent", and stick to the much more vague "soon".
Rumors are it will have its grand opening on Sunday, Nov 17.
It was actually open tonight when I walked by at 7pm, probably a soft opening then? But it was packed! The menu was posted by the front door, traditional Mediterranean fare, and it looked nice and cozy inside.
Friends and Family of the owners usually pack soft openings.
As expected, this place is now open. They have the menu on the door, and here is a link to it:
Contrary to the speculation above, they are not vegetarian: There are some fish entrees.
Fez Hummus Bar features cuisine with a variety of influences stretching from Israel and Morocco to America. It's new Mediterranean food with a twist – adventurous, healthy and delicious.
Our food will bring you an unexpected fusion of flavors and experiences. Try our authentic hummus on its own or choose a topping or two from the many options available. Pair savory falafel with wine from our unique selection or treat yourself to our Mediterranean version of fish and chips with a beer.
Fez Hummus Bar is a place where everyone can feel comfortable. Come on your own, with a date, or share our communal table with your friends and family. We are eager to serve you – come and visit us soon!
When I have the chance, I'll ask if they are Kosher. (One can serve fish and be Kosher).
So excited to see that they are open! And the menu looks just about perfect to me--affordable and healthy and delicious! As far as being kosher, it seems to me that they are, in the sense that all the ingredients they use are acceptable to those who keep kosher, and most, if not all, of the wines are kosher as well. However, they do not seem to have rabbinic certification, at least as far as a I saw, so some kosher-observant people in the neighborhood will not necessarily feel comfortable eating there unless they personally know and trust the owner.
It will serve locally source Brazilian food.
If they keep the name "Bones and Tails", it will help us cope with the loss of Nouvelle Vag.What? NV closed? Where was this documented on Brooklynian??


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Kruger National Park, South Africa from Jordan Bierma on Vimeo.
June 25th 2012
We headed out from Pigg's Peak north, to the Jeppe's Reef border crossingto get back into South Africa. I could not have had an easier border crossing, we simply pulled up, got our books stamped and drive through, no questions asked, no search of the vehicle, just a friendly "hello", and "safe travels" to bid us farewell. We were finally on our way to Kruger National Park, a place I has stored away in my memory as a child as a seemingly endless Eden filled with every African animal one could imagine. We were unfortunately coinciding with the winter break holiday of South African schools and everything in the park was booked solid. I knew the park was popular, but with it being the size of the country of Wales I had figured there would've been at least a few options in one of the many camps scattered throughout the park. Sarah came to the rescue though. Her travel coordinator for her field camp, Nicole, was South African, and her mom had just purchased a place in Marloth Park just outside of Kruger to rent out as a bush lodge. Nicole's mom gave us a more then generous discount, which we were extremely grateful for, and allowed us to be their very first guests. We got there and lifted our jaws back up into our mouths as we parked our car under the stilts that held up the huge house. Everything was brand new and immaculate, thatched roof, hardwood floors, and beds for atleast sleeping 10 people. To cap it off it was only a short drive to the Southern gates of Kruger. The deck stood out from the house to make a little stilted hide with a bed and a hammock that overlooked the private lion sanctuary of Marloth Park. The first night of our four-night stay we spent curled up in the bed outside listening to the roar of lions out in the distance somewhere in the dark.
June 26th 2012
We both hardly slept at least I know I hardly slept, with the anticipation of our first day at Kruger. We were up early around 5:30 a.m. and made some lunch for the day and got to the gate around 6:30 a.m., a half hour after it opened. We were off to a flying start, seeing a hyena not 10 minutes into the drive, followed by a herd of buffalo, three white rhinos; a small herd of elephants, and an all but too brief glimpse of a lion almost all within the first 2-3 hours. The bird life, and small mammals seemed to fill in the gaps; Eagle owls, Lilac Breasted Rollers, Magpies, Coucals, Kingfishers, Warthogs, Impala, Steenbok, Kudu, and much, much more. The mornings are by far the best times to see things. By the mid-afternoon heat your best bet is to find a watering hole and stake out and have some lunch. We ended at a nice spot, a little crowded with people on holiday setting up their afternoon braai areas, but it was a good view of hippos in the water, and waterbucks on the shore.
After lunch we continued along and found a group of about 8-10 giraffes that we kept company with for a while. We continued on, spurred on by another hot tip from a passing motorist about possible lions further up the road. Without hesitating we ventured further on eventually finding a young male lion. He almost perfectly blended in with the scenery with the exception of an ear poking up out of the grass to give him away. He was just lounging on the ground not more then 25 feet from us taking in the setting sun. It was quite surreal and we seemed to be lost in the moment as the lion would occasionally turn his head towards us and look with disinterest.
We had failed to notice the time of day and our distance to the gate. It was 4:50 p.m. and the gate closed at 5:30 p.m. and we were much more than 40 minutes away. The gate policy is quite strict since driving in the dark is quite the hazard for people and animals alike. There is also been an increase of Rhino poaching so unauthorized activity after the gates closed probably looks suspicious. We cruised a little bit over the suggested speed limit hoping there might be a grace period or a sympathetic ranger who would let us through since it was our first day at the park. As the light faded our drive seemed to take forever and we finally made it to the gate at 5:50 p.m. to locked gates and a ranger standing there with a flashlight. I am sure we hadn't been the first late arrival they had had in their history. The ranger opened the gate for us and gave us the phone number of the head ranger, Neels, to whom I would have to call to explain why I was late and the consequences. After a bit of talking I managed to dissuade him from applying the 1500R fine, and instead getting a very very stern warning. They took our license plate number to be sure it didn't happen again. I will have to apologize in advance to the next person who rents the car and takes it to Kruger. I used their one freebie. We made the drive back, exhausted; we ate, and passed out so we could be fresh for tomorrow.


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Win an iPad!!
Enter now for your chance to win an iPad. Perfect for relaxing in the garden or on the beach, playing games, watching TV or films, or simply for entering competitions on! Features 32GB Space Grey Screen Size 9.7"
This competition is ad supported. You will have the opportunity to watch a video ad or interact with a sponsor to complete your entry.
Value: £300
Ends May 8, 2019.Official Rules
Share This Prize With Someone You Know Via:


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Bookshelves For Kid Rooms
12 Functional and Cool Bookshelves For Kids
12 Functional and Cool Bookshelves For Kids
Keep all those books cluttering your tot's floor where they belong in one of the coolest bookshelves around. These bookcases are functional without being boring boxes simply made to contain precious reads. We've found bookshelves with something for everyone — from seriously modern design to classic lines — within every budget and ready to make a big statement. Click though to select the perfect one for storing your tot's storybooks, small treasures, and favorite things.


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Just two of London's 33 councils has made a full commitment to make lorries, whether the council's own or operated by contractors and sub-contractors it does business with, safer for cyclists to interact with, according to the London Cycling Campaign.
LCC says that while Islington and Waltham Forest councils have committed to the highest standards of lorry safety for all vehicles concerned - City of London Corporation has told road.cc it adheres to those standards on its own vehicles - none of the remaining ones have signed up to all the stipulations in its Safer Lorries Pledge, which reads:
"We'll work to improve the safety of every Londoner by only signing new contracts with the safest haulage companies, which conform to the London Cycling Campaign's Safer Lorries conditions. We also pledge to ensure our council-operated services meet the same standards."
This is despite half of all cyclist deaths in the capital involving lorries, as well as a significant number of pedestrian and motorcyclist deaths.
The LCC has been lobbying council leaders to sign up to the pledge, accompanied by the voices of more than 2,000 London cyclists who've added their voices to the campaign using an online letter-writing tool.
Ten councils have done almost nothing to protect cyclists and other vulnerable road users from lorry danger.
20 other councils, despite taking some steps towards improving lorry safety, have failed to match the Safer Lorries pledge.
But Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Merton, Richmond Upon Thames, Tower Hamlets and Wandsworth have done almost nothing to improve the safety of cyclists around lorries.
LCC chief executive Ashok Sinha said, "Our councils have a duty to only use the safest lorries and best-trained drivers. The inaction of the 10 worst councils stands in sharp contrast to the great work on lorry safety being done by the best councils and other major lorry transport users such as Transport for London."
Islington council leader Catherine West said, "Working to give lorry drivers the right training and equipment is one way we can make London's roads safer."
Waltham Forest council environment portfolio holder Clyde Loakes said, "Waltham Forest has strong ambitions to not just to reduce road danger, but to enable many more residents of all ages to cycle and walk more often and, crucially, more safely."
You can add your voice to the campaign by using the council leader letter-writing tool here.
The Safer Lorries pledge will ensure all lorries have:
- A close-proximity warning system (visual or audible) to make the driver aware of cyclists and pedestrians who might hidden from view. This can include an appropriate CCTV camera or Fresnel lens where this provides an adequate alternative.
- A Class VI mirror, sideguards, and prominent signage on the rear of the lorry warning cyclists not to undertake.
- An external warning device to ensure nearby road users are aware of a planned manoeuvre.
- The haulier will be a member of a reputable best-practice safety organisation, FORS or equivalent.
The Safer Lorries pledge will ensure all drivers have:
- A driving licence check with the DVLA (before starting on a contract), with their licence being rechecked regularly.
- taken the Approved Driver Training within 60 days of the contract starting, unless they've had this training within three years. The training must include TfL's Safe Urban Driving course, with on-bike hazard-awareness training.
- passed a FORS e-learning Work-Related Road Safety module (or an approved equivalent) at least every 12 months.
There have been some small victories; in October, Transport for London (TfL) and the Greater London Assembly (GLA) implemented tougher conditions on companies they contract with regarding lorries and driver training.
The move followed sustained pressure from the LCC, which included a petition with more than 10,000 signatures.
New contractual terms imposed on suppliers by TfL and the GLA in an agreement named 'Contract of Service (Generic)' include a definition of 'Approved Driver Training,' which all drivers employed by the contractor must undergo if they have not done so within the previous three years.
The training must follow TfL's TfL's 'Safe Urban Driving' module, which includes drivers taking to London's streets on a bicycle. Drivers also have to complete a 'Work Related Road Saftey Module' or similar training every year.
Besides training, the new contractual conditions also cover issues such as driver checks, safety features that must be fitted such as class six safety mirrors, sideguards and cameras and sensors, plus a requirement to join the Fleet Operators Registration Scheme (FORS) and achieve bronze standard under it.
After an unpromising start, having to be bribed by her parents to learn to ride without stabilisers, Sarah became rather keener on cycling in her university years, and was eventually persuaded to upgrade to proper road cycling by the prospect of a shiny red Italian bike, which she promptly destroyed by trapping a pair of knickers in the rear derailleur. Sarah writes about about cycling every weekend on road.cc.


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wisdomtail needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 519 designs submitted by 68 freelance designers.
Indulgence Auto Rental
Indulgence Auto Rental is a car rental agency that rents only exotic luxury automobiles. We rent out vehicles like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi R8, McKlaren SLR, Bentley GT, Maserati Gran Turismo, Bugatti Veyron, Porsche Carrera GT.
What we do: Indulgence Auto Rental is a car rental or car agency company that rents automobiles for short periods of time (generally ranging from a few hours to a few weeks) for a fee.
Our website is http://www.exoticluxuryautosrental.com/
Please try to come up with a logo design different from our existing logo. After all the main reason for this contest is to create a new logo because we don't like our existing logo.
We will keep the dark background on the website.
Male ages 22 to 65.
We will need high quality JPEG, GIF, PSD, and small size optimized (fast load time) GIF image that will be used on the website.
It is better for you to submit multiple unique design concepts for the page than different versions of any one design.
If you don't get a great review on a particular design, please try again.
We will review the designs as quickly as possible. We will let you know what we like and don't like.
Don't be offended by a low score, it is only one person's opinion. Come back with something different. It is the high level innovative design concepts that we are looking for.
About my star ratings:
1 star for font
1 star for colors
1 star for icon
1 star for icon being related to the website
1 star for overall combination of above listed elements
for a total of 5 stars. In the comments we will inform you which element needs to be improved.
Once I get 10 designs I will guarantee the price.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of AgWeb or Farm Journal Media. The opinions expressed below are the author's own.
Check back on this blog for information about the event as well as reports from Corn College.
Curious about Corn College? Here's a quick overview of what happens at the event, in about a minute.
For more, visit www.FarmJournalCornCollege.com.
No comments have been posted to this Blog Post


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B.E - Computer Science and EngineeringSinhgad Educational Society
Price on request
Important information
- Bachelor
- Pune
Questions & Answers
Ask a question and other users will answer you
Course programme
In India, the Bachelor of Engineering (B.E) is a degree which is awarded by an accredited university on successful completion of a 4 year course. The 4 year course consists of 8 semesters of instruction and a project in final year.
Engineering means to find economical solution for technological problems and it has a vital role in the prevailing milieu. Engineers work starting from planning, designing, construction, production, testing, implementation and maintenance etc.Engineers work on scientific theories to get practical solutions.Engineering extends it's branches catering to industries, technology and business.
A student is expected to graduate with a solid technical background that will enable him or her to contribute to finding solutions to the complex problems facing our nation. Professionals in this field are in great demand today and the demand keeps on burgeoning day by day.Engineering offers tremendous scope for employment depending upon the area of specialization. Apart from jobs in the private sector, engineers can find employment in the public sector as well. There are numerous opportunities for engineers in the computer software industry, too.
Engineers can join Defense services as commissioned officers. They have great demand in Civil Aviation Industry and Merchant Navy. Other opportunities include working as a Consultant in research / scientific organizations. Engineers with Post Graduate degree get senior position in private and government department or as a planner or advisor on basic infrastructure development of the industry. An engineer with entrepreneurship abilities can also set up his/her own enterprise.
The course offers bachelor degree in Computer Science and Engineering


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Black Flag - Summer of Love Poster
click image to enlarge
Code: SSTMP-tour
Price: $10.00
Artist: Black Flag
Label: SST Records
Quantity in Cart: None
BLACK FLAG'S Summer of Love Tour Limited Edition Poster.
Printed on heavy-weight glossy paper, it is a full-color print of an original watercolor.
The dimensions are 24" x 36". Rolled and shipped in a oversized tube.


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In the wake of mass shootings in places like Newtown, Conn., and Aurora, Colo., many Americans have begun to ask important questions about the way we identify and treat mental illness.
The two of us have long tried to address this challenge — not just as a matter of public safety, but for the benefit of those who suffer from mental illness and for their families.
Jim, often working with Sen. Paul Wellstone, spent much of his career in Congress fighting to end discrimination against those suffering mental illness and addiction — a fight that culminated in the passage of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act of 2008, which expands access to behavioral health care.
Inspired by their example, Al has worked to further the cause. When he arrived in the Senate in 2009, he began to push for full implementation of the Wellstone-Domenici Act, eventually convincing the Obama administration to include it in the gun violence reduction strategy announced by the president last month.
Fully implementing mental-health parity will be a huge step forward. And we're hopeful that the next steps will be passing two additional pieces of legislation Al has authored to improve mental-health care in schools and in our criminal-justice system.
Foremost, it is absolutely essential that we not stigmatize mental illness, especially in such a raw and emotional moment. The vast majority of those suffering from mental illness are no more violent than the general population. And the very small minority who could become violent are much less likely to do so if their illness is identified early and treated correctly.
The Mental Health in Schools Act is all about early detection and treatment of mental illness among children.
In Minnesota today, there are 780 students for every school counselor, although some communities are figuring out how to address the problem — in the Mounds View school district, that ratio has been brought down to 250 to 1, with social workers and psychologists in the mix.
Al's bill would help train the people who interact with our kids every day — from bus drivers to principals — to recognize when a child is struggling. And it would make sure that schools have the resources to get at-risk kids the help they need.
This idea has enjoyed bipartisan support in the past — in fact, Democrat Ted Kennedy and Republican Mike Enzi used to cosponsor it together. We're hopeful that it will enjoy bipartisan support again.
Al's other bill addresses problems in our criminal-justice system.
For decades, we've essentially criminalized mental illness. People who should be getting help are instead being arrested and incarcerated. Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek says that 30 percent of the people in Hennepin County jails should be in treatment for mental-health issues instead of being behind bars.
The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act would help law enforcement and corrections officials deal with the mental-health issues they encounter daily — and help people with mental illness get the treatment they need before they get trapped in our criminal-justice system.
The bill funds mental-health courts that give people a chance at treatment, with special courts set up for veterans — many of whom are returning from war with traumatic brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder.
It also provides for intensive training for law enforcement officers who can then serve on crisis intervention teams, identifying people who are at risk. Finally, it helps jails screen inmates for untreated mental illness when they arrive — and helps them set up transition plans for when those inmates go back into our communities.
Rep. Richard Nugent, a Republican from Florida and a former sheriff, is Al's partner on this bill. In the Senate, the bill has 22 cosponsors — eight of whom are Republicans. It's a truly bipartisan effort, and one that has been endorsed by more than 200 organizations around the country, including groups representing veterans, mental-health advocates, and law enforcement and criminal-justice professionals.
After Sandy Hook, "mental health" has become a sort of two-word talking point, as the shortfalls in our system have sadly been brought to the forefront of national agenda once again. Let's use this moment to address our national mental-health challenges with approaches that we know can improve the lives of so many.
Al Franken represents Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. Jim Ramstad formerly represented Minnesota's Third District in the U.S. House.


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A little technical note for people who read this site via Google Reader or another RSS reader, or subscribe to post updates via email:
I've switched over from Feedburner to another service called URI.LV [1]. The reason I switched over is that Feedburner has kind of been neglected by Google (who owns the service) for a while now, and with their announcement that Google Reader is being shut down soon [2], it's kind of logical to assume that Feedburner will fade away too.
(Incidentally, if you're looking for a replacement for Google Reader and are Mac or iOS based, I've been using NetNewsWire [4] for ever, even before there was a Google Reader. I highly recommend it. Otherwise if you're looking for a web based solution Feedly [5] looks pretty nice.)
This notice applies to both JustBento [6] and JustHungry [7] - it's posted on both since not everyone subscribes to both. (AND WHY NOT??? (just kidding))
So that's it for the techincal stuff. Going back to talking about food next time. ^_^
[1] http://uri.lv
[2] http://googleblog.blogspot.fr/2013/03/a-second-spring-of-cleaning.html
[3] http://justbento.com/rss.xml
[4] http://netnewswireapp.com/
[5] http://www.feedly.com/
[6] http://justbento.com
[7] http://justhungry.com


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But I think that part of why I'd never noticed "TURin" before was because the broadcasters have adopted a new pronunciation: /'tɝən/, as opposed to /'turin/. I must have heard the latter my whole life, and, without the vowel reductions to guide me, I misheard stress on the final syllable. Weird.
Anyways, it seems I'm behind the times, and that the real fight is over Turin/Torino, a fight that was started by the mixed signals sent by the IOC, who advise that the games be called Torino 2006, but the city should be called Turin. Their preference for Torino for the name of the games? A marketing decision -- they felt it sounded all cool and Italiany. Missing from the often heated debate was any mention of the fact that the Piedmontese name of the city is Turin. My guess is that no one noticed this because the language has seen better days; according to the Wikipedia article on the subject:
In 2004, Piedmontese was recognised as Piedmont's regional language by the regional administration, although the Italian government does not recognise it. In theory it is now supposed to be taught to children in school, but this is happening only in a limited way... The current state of Piedmontese is quite grave, as over the last 150 years the number of people with a written knowledge of the language has shrunk to about 13% of native speakers, according to a recent survey Efforts to make it one of the official languages of the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics were unsuccessful.Unlike the article's author, I don't equate a language's vitality with its official recognition or its literacy rate, or whether it is "taught to children in school" -- after all, a non-moribund language doesn't have to be taught to children; they already know it. But I think that what the article's author is trying to get at is that overall Piedmontese is giving way to Italian. I know very little about Italian languages, so I don't know if this is actually true, but if it is it would explain why everyone has been saying that Torino is the "local name" of the city.


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Cath92 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 101 designs submitted by 18 freelance designers.
We are looking for assistance in developing a corporate identity for a new consulting company focused on creating greater marketing impact and efficiency for small and medium sized businesses.
Our company:
We help our target companies with a number of needs, ranging from market analysis, to marketing tools, loyalty program implementation and optimizing the return on marketing investment.
Our values:
• Innovative, open-minded approach
• Partnering with clients
• Positive attitude and ethical behavior
We are based in Paris, France and work for customers all over France
Target: decision-makers in small and medium sized businesses
We want to develop a new logo, which will be the basis of our corporate identity, and a business card.
1. Design logo
The existing (and almost unknown) logo is the brand name written in Verdana.
Feel free to change it!
What is important is to make the double "i" of Ceriian readable. It has been meant as a way to be different.
As competition is growing, we consider the new design as a wonderful opportunity to develop a specific, impactful image: something unique and instantly identifiable.
That is why we are looking for a modern, clean, bright and professional, yet striking logo that combines the Ceriian name with the logo. The name might be the logo.
Logo will be used in a variety of ways including letterhead, all business stationary, web presence, promotional materials and products. We may need additional help in a second stage.
2. Business cards
3. All the artwork for the logo must be delivered in all formats: eps, pdf, jpgs etc.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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In recent weeks, a parade of top officials has given sober, underpublicized speeches explaining why President Obama not only considers "targeted killing" drone strikes against terrorists legal but has massively expanded their use, even approving a strike against a U.S. citizen, the New Mexico-born Al Qaeda preacher Anwar Awlaki, in Yemen last year.
Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. gave a lecture arguing that the government has a right to kill U.S. citizens who practice terrorism as long as it observes some form of "due process" in its secret decision-making. The chief lawyers of the State Department and Defense Department weighed in as well.
And last week, Obama's closest advisor on terrorism, John O. Brennan, defended the administration's use of drones as "legal, ethical and wise."
The decision to fire a missile at someone on the ground is made with "extraordinary care and thoughtfulness," Brennan said.
He said the strikes were reserved for use against people who pose "a significant threat" to the United States. "We do not engage in lethal action in order to eliminate every single member of Al Qaeda," he said.
Drone strikes are approved, Brennan said, only if it's impossible to capture a suspect, only if innocent civilians won't be hurt ("except in the rarest of circumstances") and only "if we have a high degree of confidence that the individual being targeted is indeed the terrorist we are pursuing."
So why don't I find this reassuring?
The administration should be applauded for lifting the veil of secrecy even slightly on the drone attacks, which for years weren't even officially acknowledged. (Most of them are still officially covert.) Americans have a right to know how their government makes these decisions. The people living in countries that are being bombed are entitled to an explanation too; we're unlikely to win many hearts and minds solely by buzzing them with drones.
But there is still too much that Brennan and his colleagues aren't divulging. The administration hasn't spelled out who makes the decision to approve a drone strike, or how many levels of review such a decision gets. Brennan said Congress exercises oversight of the operations, but there has been no clear explanation of that process either. And the administration hasn't publicly addressed the practice of "signature strikes" — drone attacks against targets whose identities aren't known but who fit the profile of enemy combatants — except to say they are considered "with similar rigor."
In short, the administration's explanation of its decision-making still boils down mostly to "trust us." And if that isn't enough, administration officials add, trust Congress, which is keeping an eye on these programs through its intelligence and armed services committees.
But there's the problem. The history of congressional oversight over the last half-century isn't all that reassuring. Members of the intelligence committees say they're devoting serious attention to the drone programs, but they've done little to show the public that their vigilance is real.
And why should they? They're under virtually no public pressure to do so. Americans love the idea of high-tech weapons that kill terrorists without putting U.S. troops in danger. An ABC News/Washington Post poll in February found that 83% of Americans approve of the use of drones, including 77% of liberal Democrats.
The public opinion that we need to be wooing on this issue is overseas, especially in places such as Pakistan and Yemen, where most of the drones have been flying.
"We have to win the argument" in those countries, said Jane Harman, who was once the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee and now heads the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "The clearer we can make our policies and the better we can explain them … the greater chance we have to persuade a would-be suicide bomber about to strap on a vest that there is a better answer."
According to estimates by the independent Long War Journal, the missile strikes have killed more than 2,200 fighters from Al Qaeda and its allies in Pakistan and more than 200 in Yemen. But they've killed innocent civilians too. In Pakistan, they've touched off a political uproar that has made it more difficult for that country's military to cooperate with U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. Because of the backlash, the administration has cut drone strikes over Pakistan dramatically, from a high of 117 in 2010 to only 11 so far this year.
In Yemen, meanwhile, the drones have reportedly been effective in decapitating the Al Qaeda branch that U.S. officials consider most dangerous, but they may also have driven more civilians to join up.
There's one more reason the administration and Congress need to lift the veil of secrecy higher. Someday, other countries will deploy killer drones too, and they may not all be our friends. We have a chance now to set precedents and propose rules that we'd like to see other countries such as China and Russia live by, even if they're unlikely to meet every standard we might want.
The United States has led the way in the technology of drones and their use in a new form of warfare. Now it's in our interest to lead in law, ethics, wisdom — and openness as well.


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Institutional Review Board IRB Members & Departmental Reviewers
Composition of the Institutional Review Board
The IRB consists of at least five members appointed by the Dean of the College in accordance with the membership composition requirements established by the OHRP. All are voting members of the IRB. The membership requirements listed below are intended to ensure that the IRB membership possesses sufficient knowledge of the local research context, as well as breadth of background and experience.
- One member of the community unaffiliated with the College.
- One member from the Department of Psychology.
- One faculty or administrative staff member selected from a non-science discipline.
Additional members as appropriate to provide diversity (with consideration of race, gender, and cultural background), representation across academic divisions of the College, and sensitivity to community attitudes
Each IRB member will absent her/himself from deliberations on any protocol in which s/he has a conflicting interest (i.e., s/he is the Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PI, has some financial interest, etc.); this action will be noted in the minutes. All Principal Investigators, however, may meet with the IRB in advance of its review to provide information or answer questions about the project. Such an advance meeting may occur either at the request of the IRB or the Principal Investigator.
Each department that regularly conducts or anticipates human subjects research will appoint a departmental reviewer who will serve as a representative of the IRB with responsibility for the initial review of human subjects research proposals. Each department will also designate an alternate reviewer who will serve (a) if the primary departmental reviewer has a human subjects research proposal that must be reviewed, or (b) if the departmental reviewer anticipates a significant period of absence or unavailability, and delegates responsibility to the alternate reviewer. Departmental reviewers may occasionally be called upon to review research proposals originating outside the department. Examples include: (a) proposals from related departments that do not have a regular reviewer of their own; or (b) proposals from non-Wabash investigators seeking permission to do human subjects research at the College in the reviewer's discipline.
In full reviews, decisions will be reached by a simple majority of the voting members. The records of the IRB will include all votes pertaining to research protocols in the following format: "Total Votes"; number of votes "For;" number of votes "Opposed;" number of votes "Abstained."
IRB Board Members
Questions? Contact the Wabash IRB Chair Dr. Karen L. Gunther, Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology
Telephone: 765/361-6286, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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BRISTOL — Bristol police were kept busy with a variety of calls in the past couple of weeks.
In recent activity, Bristol officers:
• On Dec. 3 recovered a cell phone that was found near Merchants Bank and returned it to its owner.
• On Dec. 4 in response to citizen concerns, began patrolling and monitoring major crosswalks in the village.
MIDDLEBURY - The Addison Central Supervisory Union's search for a new superintendent will continue after a third bid to locate a top executive failed to woo a finalist on Friday, Dec. 21.
District officials confirmed late Friday afternoon that both finalists - Burlington School District Superintendent Jeanne Collins and John W. Johnson, an executive with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction - withdrew their names from consideration, citing personal reasons.
VERGENNES/LEICESTER — Vergennes police on Tuesday — with a major assist from Vermont State Police — arrested three people in Leicester and charged them with selling heroin after finding more than 350 bags of the drug, $3,670 of cash, marijuana, and a stolen firearm at a Fern Lake Road home.
Police said the street value of each bag ranged from $20 to $30 per bag, meaning the street value of the drug seized by police on Wednesday ranged from $7,000 to $10,500.
BRISTOL — At Monday's Bristol selectboard meeting, the board voted to submit a letter protecting the town's interests to the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) concerning Vermont Gas Systems' proposed pipeline project.
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VERGENNES — The Vergennes Union Elementary School board on Monday night moved closer to adopting a 2013-2014 budget that would boost spending by 4.7 percent to a little less than $4.1 million.
Board chairwoman Tara Brooks said on Tuesday the board would hold a special meeting during the second week of January to make final a plan that would increase spending by about $190,000.
She said the board will probably adopt what they looked at on Monday.
"We're pretty confident of where we are now in terms or our numbers," Brooks said.
ADDISON COUNTY — Between October's bow season and December's combined bow and muzzleloader season, Addison County weigh stations handled 346 deer — 183 killed by arrows and 163 shot with muzzleloader rifles.
The muzzleloader total is an estimate because game wardens conducting an investigation took a book with several names of successful hunters from Starksboro's Jerusalem Country Store; the overall county number is therefore also an estimate, but is certainly accurate within a few deer.
ADDISON COUNTY — If you ask Reed Prescott, surviving the recession has been simple — you just have to be an artist.
"We're the only ones that could handle it, because we were used to not having money," Prescott said.
MIDDLEBURY — It's not unusual for bakers to engage in a little hyperbole when promoting their products.
But when Rachel Wollum claims her cookies are "simply divine," one can hardly accuse her of stretching the truth.
Not only do Rachel's cookies taste heavenly, they are baked with love in the basement kitchen of Middlebury's St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School.
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To honor their 80th anniversary, DownBeat Magazine celebrates the present and looks toward the future of jazz with a special 80th Anniversary Collector's Edition. Listing 80 people, places and things that illustrate why jazz remains such a vibrant art form in 2014. In the category for, "Five Reasons to Love Jazz Radio" KUVO Denver was listed with KKJZ, KJAZZ, California State University, Long Beach, WWOZ, New Orleans, WBGO, Newark, N.J. ,and Real jazz, Sirius XM Radio.
"This recognition in DownBeat Magazine is a reflection of the impact that technology is having on this great American art form. In spite of the options diminishing for traditional jazz radio listening, the appetite for thoughtful well-structured playlists has expanded to every corner of the globe," said Doug Price, President & CEO of Rocky Mountain PBS. He continues, "To receive international recognition for work we are doing here in our community is fantastic."
"We are like a big musical canvas for jazz....We paint everyday and not shy about using a lot of colors. The common denominator is rhythmic integrity...It's got to swing. " said Carlos Lando, KUVO's General Manager. "This really is an honor for KUVO to be listed in DownBeat Magazine!"
KUVO/KVJZ is an independent, public radio station dedicated to providing distinctive music, news, and information programming which reflects the values and cultural diversity of its listener community. KUVO/KVJZ has served the community since 1985 with jazz, blues, news and a weekend lineup of culturally rich diverse programming. The station is on 89.3FM Denver, 89.7FM Breckenridge, 88.5FM Vail and online at kuvo.org.
For more information please contact, Tina Cartagena, Chief Revenue Officer, KUVO/KVJZ at 303-446-7612 or email@example.com.


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If this is your first time shopping for coat hooks online, it's a good idea to take a few minutes to browse through the large and varied selection we offer. You may not have realized how many different options there are in wall coat hooks: from black coat hooks, to brass coat hooks, to pewter, iron, and chrome coat hooks, we've definitely got you covered.
Decorative coat hooks can be simple or elegant, classic or modern, large or small, depending on your tastes and desires. To experience our complete selection, be sure to notice the coat hooks offered by our different top name brands, such as Belwith, Liberty, and Anne at Home Hardware. With so many attractive and affordable options to choose from, we know you'll find what you're looking for quickly and easily.


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January out here in the desert is not a great time for ringing, Firstly its damn cold, the nets have been frozen a couple of times when i've been out to them, its also wet this is the wettest month of the year, its rained at least 4 days and one of them was on a scheduled ringing morning, bummer. But the biggest factor is there are very few birds around! still we caught a few and managed to ring the 100th species for the greater Sde Boker region ( all be it the 99th for my main station in the pistachio plot) and what a beauty it was two, a 2cy male great spotted cuckoo. so due to the lack of activity and Chris not sending me the latest photos yet heres some from late last year.
|Southern grey shrike
|yellow wagtail
|Isabelline Wheatear
|Saharan horned viper
|Black eared wheatears
|White breasted kingfisher
|Palestine sunbird


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Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win four consecutive NASCAR championships after placing 5th at the Ford 400 this weekend. But does this really make him the greatest NASCAR driver ever?
According to The Wall Street Journal, a study shows Darrell Walltrip, Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough all had superior four-year runs in terms of finishes. For example, Yarborough finished in the top-five of 73.6% of his races between 1976 and 1979 compared to just 44.4% of races for Johnson.
We're sure Jimmie would just say "Scoreboard" and go make-out with his four trophies.
Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images


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How to download a package?
The short answer is don't, at least not manually. NuGet provides a faster better way to incorporate a library into your project.
Give it a try:
- Install NuGet (it's quick and easy)
- Then start using it to find and acquire your favorite libraries
Why NuGet?
Typically, when you download a zip file that contains an assembly, you have to:
- "Unblock" the package to mark the downloaded package as safe
- Unzip the package contents (assemblies, images, css files, etc.) into a location in the solution
- Add an assembly reference to the project
- Update the web.config file with the correct settings (which you probably have to search for if they're not included in the package somehow.)
NuGet does all this for you! For a brief overview of what NuGet is, see NuGet overview.


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Marching Band Covers Classic Video Game Themes
Anybody who was in high school marching band can go ahead and hang their head in shame now. The Ohio State University marching band just made all those mornings you woke up early to practice 'Taking It to the Streets' totally obsolete.
They become a game of 'Tetris.' They make a Pikachu. They make boxes, Mario jumps on them, and coins pop out. So yeah, your cover of 'Malagueña' was pretty lame, in retrospect.


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There are many moving companies that are offering moving services in your location but there is no one like man and van Morden Park Removals. We are the number one removals company on which people trust fully. We are one of the most efficient movers and try to complete all moving tasks on time with great care. If you want to move professionally and want to hire a reliable company like us then don't hesitate and call us immediately. We will make your moving more secure and fast. We are professional movers and have been offering services in and around your area for many years.
Our services are:
Our employees are well informed and experienced. The training we provide them with increases their efficiency and improves their moving skills. We are the only moving company in the market which provides a stable and reliable moving service to their customers at very competitive rates. With our company it is never just about the profit, we want to see our customers happy with the service we deliver to them. If you really want to hire our moving services just call Morden Park man and van and enjoy our services.
If you want to make your moving successful then keep the following points in mind:
There are many problems and issues which you can face during a move. If you are not efficient in your task, you cannot succeed. Moving needs patience. If you lose your temper, you cannot perform the tough tasks at a high standard. We are here to lend a helping hand on your most hectic day. In our presence you don't need to worry. We will handle your all moving issues with ease. Our presence should give you a confidence boost and make you feel much more relaxed. Just dial Morden Park man and van's number and call us.
We provide the best solutions to obtain the best results. Our well experienced workers will never let you down. Our first preference is to make you happy and stress free. We know it is a tough task for you to move entire house, so we can relate all your problems. Our services are available 24/7 in your town. We know we are different from others. If you really want to hire us and want a successful transition, then call man and van Morden Park immediately and enjoy your move.


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All items > Knives > Folding Knives > Medford Knife & Tool (Folding) > Medford TFF
- Overall Length:9.375"
- Blade Length:4.00"
- Cutting Edge:3.625"
- Blade Thickness:0.19"
- Blade Material:D2
- Blade Style:Tanto
- Blade Grind:Hollow
- Finish:Stonewash
- Edge Type:Plain
- Handle Length:5.50"
- Handle Thickness:0.48"
- Handle Material:G-10
- Color:Orange
- Frame/Liner:Titanium
- Weight:7.82 oz.
- User:Right Hand
- Pocket Clip:Tip-Up
- Knife Type:Manual
- Opener:Flipper
- Lock Type:Frame Lock
- Brand:Medford Knife & Tool
- Model:TFF-2
- Country of Origin:USA
- Best Use:Tactical
- Product Type:Knife
The TFF-2 Flipper knife is an adaptation of Medford's Hybrid TS series fixed blade. The blade has a uniquely tanto shape with a recurved edge and a flipper for one-hand opening. The handle is simple slab construction; orange G-10 and a titanium framelock back with pocket clip. The TFF-2 is referred to as the Emergency Light Weight Machete, and if you had to choose a knife to be stranded with, this one would come out swinging. Comes with a waterproof case.


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August 6, 1998
Contact: Robert Pearlman
(202) 543-1900, ext. 72
(Washington, DC) -- August 6 -- The National Space Society (NSS) and
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announce that, as of 5:49 pm PT
yesterday, the one millionth name was entered for inclusion onto a
microchip that will fly next year on board the NASA/JPL Stardust mission
to collect cometary dust particles. The one million name goal was
announced by the NSS and NASA/JPL in May in conjunction with the release
of Paramount and DreamWorks Pictures' release of the film, "Deep Impact."
"JPL had started to collect names on their own when we suggested teaming
up to go for the one million mark on this second microchip," said Pat
Dasch, NSS Executive Director. "We knew it was an ambitious goal, but
with the combined visibility of JPL's site and our site, and after we hit
the 500,000 mark in early July, we knew it would be an attainable one.
What a thrill for all of those people to know they are 'on their way' to
a comet when the Stardust mission launches. We're very pleased to have
partnered with JPL on this special outreach project."
Names on board the microchip include all members of the National Space
Society; the members of the cast and crew of "Deep Impact" including
actress Tea Leoni and actor Morgan Freeman; U.S. Representative Dana
Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics;
and shuttle astronaut Roger Crouch.
Additional names can still be submitted through the NSS website through
mid-August at http://www.nss.org/impact. The names will be
electronically etched onto a fingernail-size silicon chip and can then be
read only with the aid of an electron microscope. Those submitting their
names are granting permission for the Stardust project and its partners
to use the names in possible future exhibits and/or publications.
Stardust is being prepared for launch by NASA to intercept Comet Wild-2,
collect comet dust particles and deliver them back to Earth in January
2006, according to mission plans.
The National Space Society, which celebrates 25 years in 1999, is an
independent, nonprofit space advocacy organization headquartered in
Washington, DC. Its 23,000 members and 90 chapters around the world
actively promote a spacefaring civilization. Information on NSS and
space exploration is available at http://www.nss.org/.
Ron Baalke


text: On Fri, 7 Feb 2003, Joe Griffin wrote: > What kind of units do you want? > > MFLOPS-Bytes? > > > > KNT wrote: > > > Greetz! > >I wanted to ask if there's a way of theoreticaly calculating a cluster > >power by a mathematical formula, basing on the nodes procesor type, ram, > >etc.? Assuming also that the components of each node can be different. > > > > -Thanks from the above > > KNT There are LOTS of theoretical ways, the simplest one being a simple aggregate of the individual node "power" by whatever measure you like. This is even a reasonable one for an embarrassingly parallel task with long runtime, small system footprint, and small I/O and overhead requirements, e.g. SETI or RC5. For other tasks, this is completely meaningless. To get a USEFUL measure of the power of a cluster on YOUR PROBLEM, one can proceed theoretically, but the answer will depend on the details of the work being done and how it is parallelized. To BEGIN to understand at least the most important components of a parallelized task and how their individual timings affect the parallel scaling of the work done, split up among many nodes, you might look at the first few chapters of my online beowulf book: http://www.phy.duke.edu/brahma/beowulf_online_book/ Especially focus on Amdahl's law and its generalizations. However, many tasks are sufficiently complex that estimating parallel speedup theoretically for a given node and network design is very difficult and prone to error; it just isn't worth it. The best way to proceed is to empirically measure all sorts of things -- ideally the parallel speedup itself, but sometimes that leaves one with a chicken and egg problem if you're trying to design a cluster that will work effectively for some particular problem -- and then make your estimates from an understanding of the basic ideas in the book and the explicit measurements of task times on your possible hardware. This is still a bit risky -- there are lots of nonlinearities and superlinearities in computer performance as the size, stride, and communications pattern of a program is varied across the memory, cache, and bus subsystems, and scaling up to "production" can sometimes lead to pleasant or unpleasant surprises. A last thing to note is that there are often many ways to parallelize a given task, and some may be better than others. Some may be MUCH better than others, as in the code will scale "well" for one algorithm and "terribly" for another. One is thus advised that even the best theoretical estimate of power for a particular problem is based on the SOFTWARE implementation of that problem as well as the cluster design, and if one's problem is indeed complex one may have to study parallel programming extensively to learn enough to be able to get things to work optimally for you. In other words, sure, there is lots of theory but it isn't "simple" and YMMV significantly from task to task, network to network, node to node. Nobody ever said parallel/cluster computing was "easy"...;-) rgb Robert G. Brown http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/ Duke University Dept. of Physics, Box 90305 Durham, N.C. 27708-0305 Phone: 1-919-660-2567 Fax: 919-660-2525 email:rgb at phy.duke.edu


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22-Year-Old Man Missing From Anoka Area
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Anoka County officials are investigating the disappearance of a 22-year-old man.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued a missing-person alert Saturday for Kevin Casserly, of Anoka.
Casserly called his mom Nov. 11 saying he had the flu and had called in sick to work. Anoka County Sheriff's Office Detective Mike Schantzen says he was last seen the next day in the Anoka area but couldn't give other details.
Schantzen says at this point they don't know if he's dead or alive.
His sister Alexandra Casserly said he previously used methamphetamine but was clear of that now. She says he was very involved in his two children's lives and he just wouldn't disappear.
Search parties scoured the Anoka area Saturday and another search party was being organized for Sunday.


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By Tom Kensler
The Denver Post
BOULDER — Alec Burks has been called the most talented Colorado men's basketball player since Chauncey Billups. And like Billups, Burks will give up his final two years of eligibility to declare for the NBA draft.
Burks, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, said today he will leave the school to turn pro.
"I was really excited about coming back (to CU) until yesterday," Burks said. "I wasn't ready to give up the college experience. But I talked to a lot of people.
"I thought about (the possibility of an NBA owners) lockout," Burks said. "But it's a risk-reward. The NBA has been a dream of mine."
The Big 12 Conference's top scorer (20.5) for the recently concluded season, Burks had been tight-lipped about his decision-making process.
But he recently told The Denver Post during an interview that he would declare for the 2011 NBA draft if he received an indication that it is likely he would be selected within the first 15 picks.
CU coach Tad Boyle had been in contact with NBA team officials and had passed along the confidential information to Burks.
"I 'recruited' Alec last year at this time," Boyle said. "This time it wasn't about recruiting him. It was about supporting whatever decision he made."
Two well-known NBA draft-related websites project Burks to go higher than No. 15.
"I have to get stronger, it's a grown man's league," Burks said. "And I have to get stronger."
NBAdraft.net has Burks being selected 10th. DraftExpress.com projects him to go 12th. A recent article in NBA.com said Burks is the consensus choice among league scouts to be the top shooting guard available in this year's draft, ahead of Washington State junior Klay Thompson.
Burks recently visited family members in the Kansas City, Mo., area, to discuss his options. He has spoken often about taking care of his mother, Dina,
Burks previously said that the potential of a July 1 lockout by NBA owners would not enter into his decision. He said that if he decided to turn pro he would hire an agent and not merely test the waters. College players that declare for the draft without hiring an agent can withdraw by May 8 to retain their college eligibility.
"I'm glad everybody will get off my back now," Burks said. "I'm excited. It's a great day."
In two years, Burks has made his mark on the Colorado record book. His career scoring average (19.0) ranks only behind Cliff Meely (24.3) and Shaun Vandiver (20.6). He holds CU freshman (512 points) and sophomore (779) scoring records. And as a sophomore he became the first Buff in history to reach 770 points, 240 rebounds and 100 assists in the same season.
Billups also left college early for the NBA, 14 years ago following his sophomore season with the Buffaloes.