text:
top An unidentified woman holds a young boy during the burial service for Army Sgt. Scott Lange Kirkpatrick, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Kirkpatrick, 26, of Reston, Va., was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga., and was killed during an ambush in Arab Jabour, Iraq, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007.
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
bottom U.S. Major General Sean Byrne (L) presents a flag to Martha Kirkpatrick (2nd R), the mother of U.S. Army Sgt Lange Kirkpatrick who died August 11, 2007 during an ambush in Iraq, during his burial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, August 23, 2007. Alongside are Sgt Kirkpatrick's widow Christy (3rd R) and his father Edward Kirkpatrick (R).
REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES)
- - -
Ars Poetica
by Archibald MacLeish
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit,
As old medallions to the thumb,
Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown--
A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds.
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs,
Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night-entangled trees,
Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind--
A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs.
A poem should be equal to:
Not true.
For all the history of grief
An empty doorway and a maple leaf.
For love
The leaning grasses and two lights above the sea--
A poem should not mean
But be.
- - -
What has been bothering me this whole deployment is the brevity and formality in which the media handles the death of soldiers. It always goes, "PFC John Smith, Norman, Oklahoma, killed by enemy small arms fire in Baghdad. Assigned to 1/43 Engineers, Third Infantry Division."
What a crock to read that in a paper. It would be wholly appropriate to dedicate a full color photo and a real biography in every paper in America. The anonymity of dead soldiers would evaporate and the public would be forced to look at the faces of the fallen. Would it set in progress change? Perhaps. It certainly would go to show that we're out here every day, dying for an ideal long forgotten.
at the blog Army of Dude


text:
LAS VEGAS (AP) Five players scored in double figures to lead North Carolina A&T to an 85-60 win over Campbell in the Global Sports Classic in Las Vegas.
Bruce Beckford led with 19 points and eight rebounds. Beckford was 8 of 8 from the field. Lamont Middleton also scored 19. Adrian Powell added 14 points. R.J. Buck, who was 3 of 3 from 3-point range, had 13 points, as did Jean Louisme.
The Aggies (2-4), who led 43-29 at halftime, shot 60.8 percent from the field for the game and were 71 percent at the free throw line.
Campbell shot 33.9 percent from the field for the game. Trey Freeman led the Fighting Camels (2-4) with 13 points and Darren White added 12. Antwon Oliver had six rebounds.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Apologies to my loyal and very attractive readers for a lack of posts here lately. I'm acting in a new position at work which I'm loving but it's been a learning curve and a lot of work! Free time has largely been devoted to my thesis (first chapter now 4 weeks overdue - woops!) and - more importantly - planning a big overseas trip!
Cat and I set off for a very exciting 9 weeks in Europe via San Francisco and the Phillipines in only a few days.
So posts over the next couple of months will be sporadic and more about highlighting happenings of interest in environmental / economic policy than sharing many of my own thoughts.
I hope to return refreshed and renewed and ready to blog in earnest in late November!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
A few random links that I've collected. How to be an 31337 hax04 and send mail to a DL to which you don't have rights. Suggestions on what to do if you have only one day to visit Seattle. Original anchor article by the Seattle Times staff. Broken down by category. Reader feedback. More feedback….
Year: 2006
Stop the madness: Subdirectories of My Documents
As a follow-up to the difference between My Documents and Application Data, I'd like to rant about all the subdirectories of My Documents that programs create because they think they're so cool. Visual Studio Projects My eBooks My Received Files Remote Desktops My Scans My Data Sources My Virtual Machines My Archives I'm sure there…
Linda Hunt's advice for Oscar-winners
Academy-award winning actress Linda Hunt reminds newer Oscar-winners, "It's not about you."
The social skills of a thermonuclear device, part 3
Some years ago, a group different from the one I worked in invited me to "volunteer" to help them with serious problems they were having with their product. They asked to "borrow" me for one week so that I could magically resolve all their issues. I wasn't really that familiar with their product, and I…
I can't believe they actually can't think of a name for the recent storm
The Seattle Times reports that the National Weather Service is inviting suggestions from the public on what to call the recent windstorm. They're baffled because "the storm didn't fall on a holiday." Huh? The storm blew in on the evening of the 14th, but its effects weren't really felt until the morning of the 15th,…
The first parameter to VerQueryValue really must be a buffer you obtained from GetFileVersionInfo
The documentation for the VerQueryValue function states that the first parameter is a "pointer to the buffer containing the version-information resource returned by the GetFileVersionInfo function." Some people, however, decide to bypass this step and pass a pointer to data that was obtained some other way, and then wonder why VerQueryValue doesn't work. The documentation…
The Old New Thing book will also be available electronically
We interrupt this religious holiday for an important commercial announcement. As a special Christmas present, my new best friends at Addison-Wesley sent me an advance copy of the dead-tree edition of my book. (Obligatory plug: Order it from Amazon. You know I want you to.) One commenter asked whether my book would be available electronically….
The evolution of version resources – corrupted 32-bit version resources
Last time we looked at the format of 32-bit version resources, but I ended with the remark that what you saw purported to be the resources of shell32.dll but actually weren't. What's going on here? The resources I presented last time were what the resources of shell32.dll should have been, but in fact they aren't….
The unanswered Explainer questions
Slate's Explainer column answers questions about current events. Sometimes they do it multiple times, as they did when I asked them how to pronounce the name Pinochet and they said Pee-no-CHAY, then later corrected themselves with pin-oh-CHET, and then again re-corrected themselves with Yes. Yesterday, the Explainer provided a selection of the questions they received…
The evolution of version resources – 32-bit version resources
Last time we looked at the format of 16-bit version resources. The 32-bit version is nearly identical, except that everything is now in Unicode. Each node is stored in the following structure (in pseudo-C): struct VERSIONNODE { WORD cbNode; WORD cbData; WORD wType; WCHAR wszName[]; BYTE rgbPadding1[]; // DWORD alignment union { BYTE rgbData[cbData]; WCHAR…


text:
- About us
- Blogs
- Funding/Donations
- Challenges
- Chapters
- Papers
- Projects
- Code of Conduct
- Google SoC
- Recent posts
- Security Workshops
Last year our chapter membership has gone through several changes: some members moved to new places and new positions and are no longer a part of the honeynet chapter, while others (Natalia Stakhanova) came back.
Our current members include Ali Ghorbani, Natalia Stakhanova, Hadi Shiravi (Unversity of New Brunswick) and Sami Guirguis (Toronto).
We currently have deployed a cluster of server honeypots and SGNET sensor. Both are primarily used for capturing botnet network traffic.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Read more »


text:
Productsup provides a SaaS solution for product content integration, optimization and distribution. Our aim is to help brands and retailers to stay agile and be at the forefront of digital transformation.
How Productsup fits into the commerce ecosystem?
Seamlessly transfer your product content to all customer touchpoints and destinations
Streamline the integration of vendor feeds or additional product content
Create feeds that are complete, clean, customized and error-free
Product feed management and data syndication has never been easier. Built with the business user in mind, Productsup excels in usability and innovation.
What is the Productsup platform?
Everything from data mapping, optimization and exports to reporting and ROI management.
Special services that simplify and optimize processes
Tag: Amazon feed
Let's say, you want to start advertising products on social media or perhaps you want to start listing on a […]
Get a round up of our latest posts right into your mail box.
You will find our privacy policy here.


text:
Publication 105, District Taxes and Delivered Sales
September 2017
District Taxes
The sales and use tax rate is not the same in all California locations. While the standard statewide rate is currently 7.25 percent, the total sales and use tax rate is higher in areas where there are voter-approved special transactions (sales) and use taxes. In those areas (districts), the total tax rate includes the standard statewide tax rate plus the district tax rate (which varies from district to district). If you are engaged in business in a special taxing jurisdiction, you must report district taxes on Schedule A of your sales and use tax return.
For general information on applying sales tax to delivered sales, please see publication 100, Shipping and Delivery Charges. Note: District tax generally applies to over-the-counter retail sales within a district unless the retailer is a registered seller of vehicles, vessels, or aircraft (see below).
Determining where district taxes are in effect
To determine the correct tax rate at a location, please select, California City & County Sales & Use Tax Rates. This webpage includes information on special tax districts and provides the tax rates for all California cities and counties. If the rate listed for a city or county is higher than 7.25 percent, that city or county is in a special tax district. While most special tax districts cover entire counties, some are limited to specific cities. There may also be more than one district tax in effect in a specific location.
Find a Sales and Use Tax Rate by Address
As an additional resource, we offer an online mapping tool to determine the current sales and use tax rate for a specific address. Be sure the address information you input is the address you intended. The tax rate given will reflect the current rate of tax for the address that you enter. To find a tax rate, please select, Find a Sales and Use Tax Rate by Address.
Some cities within a special tax district have developed a database of addresses to help identify specific addresses located within their taxing boundaries. Please contact the cities directly if you have questions about the addresses. Once you have established the locations, you can find the correct tax rates by selecting, Find a Sales and Use Tax Rate by Address.
Note: This publication summarizes the law and applicable regulations in effect when the publication was written as noted above. However, changes in the law or in regulations may have occurred since that time. If there is a conflict between the text in this publication and the law, decisions will be based on the law and not on this publication.
Basic Rules
Follow the basic rules below in applying district tax to sales of merchandise delivered in California unless you are a registered dealer of vehicles, undocumented vessels, or aircraft.
|Shipping or delivery destination
|Applicable tax rate
|Location outside of all special tax districts.
|Generally, the standard statewide tax rate of 7.25 percent.
|Location inside a special tax district.
|Total rate for the district (statewide rate + district rate). However, if you are not engaged in business in the district, you are not required to collect district tax and you may use the statewide rate (7.25 percent). See Delivery to a location inside a special tax district and "engaged in business" for more information.
Special Situations
Registered sellers of vehicles, undocumented vessels, and aircraft
If you are a registered seller of vehicles, undocumented vessels, or aircraft, you must generally apply tax to your sale or lease at the tax rate in effect at the California location where your customer will register or license their purchase.
This is true regardless of where the item is sold or delivered. If a district tax is in effect at the registration or licensing location, the total tax rate for the district (statewide rate + district rate) will apply to your sale. For more information, please see publication 34, Motor Vehicle Dealers.
Delivery to a location inside a special tax district and "engaged in business"
The total tax rate in effect in a special tax district (statewide rate + district rate) generally applies to sales delivered or shipped into the district. However, if you are not engaged in business in the district, you are not required to collect the district use tax. Instead, you may calculate the tax due on your sale at the statewide rate of 7.25 percent (see "Courtesy collection of district use tax," below). You are considered to be engaged in business in a special tax district and must report and pay district use tax if any of the following apply:
- Have any kind of permanent or temporary business location in the district, including a warehouse, salesroom, or office;
- Have any kind of representative or agent in the district, even temporarily, who makes sales, takes orders, or makes deliveries for you;
- Use your own delivery vehicles to regularly deliver merchandise into or within the district; or
- Receive rental income from the lease of merchandise located in the district.
As noted above, you may be engaged in business in a special tax district even if you do not have a permanent location there. For example, if the sales representative for your Calaveras County business travels to San Joaquin County to take an order, you are considered to be engaged in business in the San Joaquin Transportation Authority special tax district. Tax would apply to your sale at the full rate in effect for San Joaquin County. You would report the San Joaquin Transportation Authority district tax on Schedule A of your sales and use tax return.
Delivery outside special tax districts
Some sales of merchandise and certain types of vehicles, aircraft, and undocumented vessels may qualify for an exemption from a district's sales or use tax. Please see publication 44, District Taxes, for more information.
Courtesy collection of district use tax
Generally, if you are not engaged in business in a special tax district and you ship by common carrier into the district, your customer is liable for the district use tax. As a courtesy to your customer, you may choose to collect the district use tax from them. If you do, it should be shown on the customer's invoice and you must report it on Schedule A of your return and pay it to us.
Sales to aircraft common carriers; fixed-price contracts
The information in this publication may not apply to your sales to aircraft common carriers or sales involving fixed-price contracts. For help, please visit the CDTFA's website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov or contact the Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-400-7115 (TTY:711).
Additional Information
- 34 Motor Vehicle Dealers
- 44 District Taxes
- 46 Leasing Tangible Personal Property
- 100 Shipping and Delivery Charges


text:
RIT's newest 'green' machine taking shape
Cutting-edge technology deeply rooted in new facility for sustainability
Laura Nelson
RIT is committed to sustainability through its research and academic programs as well as through campus operations and building design.
The new home of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability represents the ultimate manifestation of that commitment. Cutting-edge "green" technology has been incorporated into every inch of the 84,000-square-foot building, from the solar panels on the soaring canopy to the vertical wind turbines at the entrance.
"We felt that we needed to walk the talk," says Paul Stiebitz, associate academic director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability. "We also saw an opportunity to include technologies for investigation into sustainable materials and systems. This building is truly a living laboratory."
Every visitor will recognize that this is more than an impressive structure, says Nabil Nasr, director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability. "A new generation of engineers, architects, scientists and policy makers will work and study here. This facility represents the next step in RIT's development as a leading innovator in sustainable development."
The building will be home to the Golisano Institute for Sustainability's master's degree and Ph.D. programs in sustainability and architecture. Research labs, student work areas, classrooms and conference rooms, a 65-seat auditorium and office suites all open onto a light-filled, four-story galleria space. Among the outstanding features are:
Building "envelope": There's some of RIT's signature brick, but most of the building is sheathed in several varieties of glass. Opaque Spandrel panels have an insulation value comparable to masonry walls. Translucent panels with nanogel filling also have excellent insulating characteristics while admitting light. Transparent, high-efficiency heat-mirror glass made by Serious Materials (company chairman Kevin Surace is an RIT trustee and 1985 graduate) outperforms conventional triple-pane glass and is thinner, lighter and less expensive. Building windows in offices and conference rooms feature a coating that conducts electricity, so the glass can be heated to room temperature to eliminate drafts when the room is occupied.
The extensive glazing reduces the amount of artificial light required. A sunshade system of stationary louvers on the south side of the building reduces heat buildup from direct sun exposure.
Fuel cell: A UTC Model 400 Purecell System is the primary energy source for the building. This unit produces 400 kilowatts of continuous electric power; heat generated as a by-product of electrical generation helps heat this and other buildings on campus. Any excess electricity goes into the campus grid. The fuel cell contributes significantly to the building's energy efficiency, which is expected to be more than 50 percent higher than a conventional building.
Microgrid: This system takes variable power inputs from all sources (including windmills and solar panels) and stores energy in a battery bank to provide 50 kilowatt-hours of power. This will power some of the building's lights and electrical outlets as well as charging stations for electric vehicles. Microgrid technology is a research area at GIS.
Geothermal system: Liquid will circulate from eight wells drilled into the ground through pipes in the galleria floor, helping to keep it warm in winter and cool in summer.
Green roof: An open-air terrace on the third floor features large areas of sedum and plantings that are part of Rochester's Seneca Park Zoo Butterfly Beltway project. The green roof also provides some insulation value, and, most important, absorbs runoff from rain and snow. Solar panels in this area can be easily accessed for research purposes.
Water conservation: The building is designed to be 66 percent more efficient than a typical building. For instance, rainwater is collected and filtered and used to flush the toilets.
Green wall: An 8-foot-wide, 62-foot-tall area near the west entrance contains 2,976 green plants, contributing to air quality and building humidity as well as aesthetics.
Video wall: An array of three 60-inch flat-screen panels on the main floor of the galleria will display the performance of building systems in real time. The building is equipped with 1,200 sensors to monitor and control lights, heat and other systems.
The construction and design team was led by LeChase Construction and SWBR Architects with additional support from FXFowle architects, Stantec civil engineering consultants and M/E Engineering. The facility was designed and constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards of the U.S. Green Building Council. RIT has one other LEED Platinum (University Services Center) and one LEED Gold (Engineering Technology Hall) facility, but the building that will house GIS is the largest and most advanced project to date.
The Golisano Institute for Sustainability is named for B. Thomas Golisano, founder of Paychex, who donated $10 million in 2007 to help launch the institute. Partners and affiliates include Xerox Corp., Caterpillar Inc., Eastman Kodak Co., Staples, and Rochester Midland Corp. Development of the Ph.D. program in sustainability was supported by a 2007 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Jacqueline Ebner, Ph.D. in sustainability candidate from Rochester:
"The new building offers a lot of opportunities. Besides the new labs, the whole building has cutting-edge materials and systems we can study. Plus, it makes a statement about RIT's commitment to sustainability. It's something we can be proud of."
Ana Maria Leal, M.S. in sustainability student from Bogota, Colombia:
"The new GIS building is a cutting-edge facility for sustainability students, researchers and the RIT community to advance sustainability research and application. This model of sustainable architecture will foster interdisciplinary collaboration between diverse colleges, industry and other organizations, improving sustainability education and outcomes."
Matthew Rankin, M.S. in sustainability student from Rochester :
"The new building is going to be an educational tool for everyone on campus and in the community. As a living laboratory, it will immerse students in ways to apply the technology."


text:
ISI mourns the passing of Charles H. Hoeflich, who died Monday morning at the age of ninety-seven, at his home in Pennsylvania. Charlie, as he was affectionately known, was a founding trustee of the Institute, playing an active and essential role in the organization from its beginning in 1953 right up until the present.
In the days since Charlie's passing, members of the ISI family have been calling and writing from all over the country. As we mourn his loss and celebrate a long and honorable life, ISI shares these warm remembrances of a great man.
You may also click here and here to read other tributes to Charlie.
Christopher Long, President, ISI
Charlie Hoeflich was ISI's guardian angel for nearly sixty years. He was a powerful, quiet force, consulted almost daily by ISI's longtime presidents Vic Milione and Ken Cribb. While others on the board and staff took more vocal roles regarding ISI's program, Charlie was the guiding force behind ISI's financial and business concerns. That is not to imply that he was anything other than very engaged in ISI's program. He carefully read every letter, article, and very likely book that ISI put out. Until recent days he would read the Wall Street Journal and New York Times daily on his Kindle, and he always had nearby a pile of journals such as First Things, articles that friends had sent him, and books that he was reading. He was engaged in ISI and the world of ideas right up until his death.
Charlie was known for his quick wit, dry sense of humor, intelligence, and business acumen. He was perhaps best known for his caring about people, his compassion and friendliness. He was always quick to give encouragement and became a mentor to many with whom he came into contact. He will be long remembered and sorely missed by all who knew him, especially his friends at ISI who are so indebted to his six decades of leadership.
Alfred S. Regnery, Publisher, American Spectator; Chairman, ISI
We will all remember Charles Hoeflich whenever ISI is mentioned. He was the anchor that held ISI in place, and the foundation that gave ISI its stability. He joined the board in the very early days, sometime in the early 1950s, and remembered virtually everything that transpired thereafter, even into and beyond his octogenarian years.
Charlie was a Christian first, a conservative second, and he lived by his deep faith in God and by Christian principles. At the beginning of every board of trustees meeting—I suspect way back into the 1950s—Charlie would offer a prayer which set just the right tone for the business at hand, and which gave us all a positive outlook of what lay ahead.
I recall my father, Henry Regnery, who served on the ISI board from the very beginning, often speaking of Charles Hoeflich in the warmest and most positive terms. And when I finally met Charlie, many years later, there was no question that he was the same man my father had so admired.
We will miss him, and we are thankful for his service.
Edwin Feulner, President, Heritage Foundation; Trustee, ISI
Charles H. Hoeflich was a true conservative in every sense of the word—Patrician in style, correct in manners, and a man of great taste, but always a prudent leader. For the forty years I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Charlie, I never heard him use an inappropriate word or a harsh remonstrance. When we occasionally differed on tactics, such as investment policy, Charles's underlying prudence would frustrate me intensely. Five years later, I would sit back and reflect—Charlie was right!
Charlie was committed to the war of ideas for the long haul. That's why everyone involved with him with the Intercollegiate Studies Institute became his friend. Some of us had the extra advantage of calling him our colleague. And, above all and to everyone, he was a mentor.
May he rest in peace.
Richard V. Allen, former National Security Adviser; Trustee, ISI
There will not soon be another like Charlie Hoeflich, our longest full-time adviser, trustee, friend, mentor, enthusiast of "his" ISI, benefactor extraordinaire, and man of good will and good works. We, and the world, are diminished by his passing, but we will never forget the living legend that was Charlie. And while we wish for him to rest in peace, don't we all know that he already rests in peace, never failing to encourage us to press on with our great tasks?
T. Kenneth Cribb Jr., President Emeritus, ISI
In considering ISI's long life as a central institution of the American conservative revival, several public figures come immediately to mind: ISI's first president, William F. Buckley Jr.; or its longtime president E. Victor Milione; or publisher-to-the-movement Henry Regnery; or historian of ideas Russell Kirk. But the sole ISI leader to continue at the center of its governance for the entire span of its fifty-nine-year history was also the least known to the public—consummate financier Charles H. Hoeflich, who preferred to work quietly behind the scenes.
Charlie was part of the "greatest generation" that fought the war against fascism. He returned to his career in banking at war's end, but also joined "the Remnant" that mounted the intellectual opposition to communism abroad and socialism at home. He was present at the organizational meeting of ISI in 1953 and served continuously thereafter as secretary-treasurer, chairman, or executive committee member until his passing earlier this week.
Charlie was a mentor to so many members of the ISI family. He taught us not just with words but by the example of his towering integrity, his bedrock commitment to the free society, and his quiet but unshakeable faith. Because of his passion for anonymity, you do not see his name on the stately buildings of ISI's twenty-two-acre campus. ISI's very existence is his monument.
The Oxford English Dictionary that stands open in ISI's library defines a steward as someone who takes good care of the interests entrusted him. For fifty-nine years Charles Hoeflich served ISI as steward, taking good care that ISI be adequately led and financed to pursue its critical mission of transmitting to the best of each new generation the best of generations that have gone before.
Wayne H. Valis, President, Valis Associates; Trustee, ISI
In 1967, modestly ensconced across the street from Philadelphia's Independence Hall, in the historic Public Ledger Building, ISI was headquartered. Then incongruously fashioned the Intercollegiate Society of Individualists, ISI had entrusted its day-to-day bill paying to a rather unconventional bookkeeper-accountant. In reality, the Society's de facto financial officer was a rather ditzy blonde, who one day, rather in haste, resigned and abruptly departed. A sinking feeling ensued, and it soon was apparent that some business matters were in disarray and there were unfinished tasks to confront.
With ISI chronically cash-strapped in the 1960s, the Society's president, E. Victor Milione, ceaselessly worked to raise funds. However, his unique fund-raising methods—of noting potential donors' philosophical inadequacy and historical shortsightedness—often led to less than satisfactory financial results.
After the bookkeeper departure, ISI's yeoman worker, Brigitte Vogel, stepped in. Her survey revealed a desk, stuffed drawer by drawer, with chaotic masses of unpaid bills and the occasional undeposited check. Vendor dunning notices were in ample supply. Obviously, ISI tottered on the financial brink.
Like his hero George Washington at neighboring Valley Forge, Vic did his best to rally the troops. The staff was gathered, and it was decided that senior management would voluntarily abjure salary for a month. It was a shock to me that, with my $6,500 per annum, with a wife and child to support, I was labeled "senior management."
In the midst of despair, E. Victor did the very best thing possible. He dialed Charles Hoeflich. At that time heading the Souderton Bank, Charles immediately arrived. Dapper as always, he exuded confidence and calmness. Charles surveyed the scene and requested to spend a few hours alone with the massive papers and Brig. His very demeanor stiffened Vic's spine, encouraged the staff, and brought order to potential chaos.
Charlie said, "Very well, let's sort all this out." And he did. He reported to the staff, "There's nothing here that we can't put right." And put it right he did.
Charlie and the bank rescued ISI. Over a period of months, our accounts were put in order, our systems changed, and programs regularized. Charlie became the treasurer of the Institute, his job on the board of trustees, one that he held for another forty-four years. Charlie worked closely with each of the presidents of ISI, especially with Vic and Ken Cribb, as well as with ISI executive vice president John Lulves, and extending into the Chris Long era. John, and later Ken, had no closer ally and confidant than the squire of Elderberry Farm. Frequently the senior staff was invited to his historic home, where he helped chart out ISI's mission, To Educate for Liberty.
Charles Hoeflich was ISI's hero for nearly sixty years. He was our friend, mentor, and philosophical father. His children were the young men and women of ISI, who came to create and populate the conservative movement of America. His loyalty, sage advice, and optimistic attitude—well into his nineties—kept us all motivated. He was a great man and friend, and will be greatly missed.
Jeffrey O. Nelson, Executive Vice President, ISI
It is hard to reduce the life of any man to a few sentences. But it is near impossible to do so when the man in question is as large-souled as Charlie Hoeflich. Charlie was, of course, a legendary Philadelphia banker, but he was a banker who really wanted to become a painter. He was an interpreter of financial statements who much preferred the theological essay. He was a graduate of the Wharton School who stockpiled course hours in Penn's literature department. He was a man who successfully navigated twentieth-century commercial centers but chose to return to his roots and build a regional banking institution as a gentleman farmer on an early eighteenth-century farmhouse in Bucks County. He was a collector of rare, museum-quality early Americana artifacts who was an even more prolific donor to a wide array of civic, health, religious, and educational charities. His infectious joy and pervasive gratitude attracted so many people to Charlie, and he became in no time a cherished exemplar. He loved life and his friends, his causes and his country, and most of all, he loved his Lord. One could go on . . . but as vast as Charlie's range and spirit were, they never could match the expansion of his smile.
I feel blessed to have had so many opportunities to walk with Charlie on Elderberry farm, enjoy a meal with him at his Piper Tavern table, talk leisurely with him about books, education, religion, politics, economics, art, literature—all things that inform a humane, civilized life. I have a glass paperweight on my desk that Charlie gave me containing two colorful coral peaks and a large, clear bubble hovering between them. When I look at them I think of Charlie with that ball-like bubble hovering in the middle of and equidistant to those two coral peaks, seeming to suggest the reconciliation of tensions, the balancing of life's many claims upon us. That was Charlie at his core: wise, serene, joyful, practical, active, prayerful, successful, generous, and balanced. May he rest in peace eternally, and always be remembered and celebrated by those he touched and loved.
Annette Kirk, President, Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
Charlie and Russell truly appreciated each other. They were on the same wavelength about everything from the importance of ISI's mission to remind the rising generation of the importance of the liberal arts for the development of civilization to the planting of trees of various types. Russell admired Charlie's strong ethical sense and was especially grateful for his longtime support of ISI through its financial ups and down. While Russell was on the ISI board of trustees, he always looked forward to spending time talking with Charlie at the Union League Club in Philadelphia. Two men at the Union Club working to renew the Republic!
I will always cherish my last visit to Elderberry Farm and Charlie's hosting my son-in-law, Jeff Nelson, and me to a meal at the Inn where he had dined ever since he was a child. Charlie was an engaging conversationalist, always eager to learn, and just fun to be around.
Ever supportive of Russell's work, Charlie sent an annual donation to the Russell Kirk Center. The morning after I heard about Charlie's passing, in fact, I was surprised to find in the mail Charlie's annual donation: a check signed by him in his beautiful handwriting and dated November 25. Mailed on the 26th, the donation is a testimony to Charlie's tending to duty and generosity right up to the end of his life.
A civilized gentleman, Charlie Hoeflich will long be remembered for the kind and generous spirit he displayed to all with whom he came in contact.
By clicking the logo above to shop Amazon.com, every purchase helps to support ISI.


text:
|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
|« Date » · « Thread »
|"Ben Browning (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] Commented: (COUCHDB-393) Cannot discover currently running http port if ini file specifies port 0
|Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:46:47 GMT
[ https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/COUCHDB-393?page=com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.issuetabpanels:comment-tabpanel&focusedCommentId=12727245#action_12727245 ] Ben Browning commented on COUCHDB-393: -------------------------------------- If we go the route of Erlang VM communication, here's the RPC call to retrieve the mochiweb port of a CouchDB node running in a different VM: rpc:call(couch@hostname, mochiweb_socket_server, get, [couch_httpd, port]). For this to work you have to make sure CouchDB is running distributed - COUCHDB-400 has a patch to make this happen. > Cannot discover currently running http port if ini file specifies port 0 > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Key: COUCHDB-393 > URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/COUCHDB-393 > Project: CouchDB > Issue Type: Improvement > Components: HTTP Interface > Affects Versions: 0.9 > Environment: Ubuntu 9.04 > Reporter: Stuart Langridge > > It is currently not possible, if the ini file specifies port 0 as the http port (so that the OS chooses a random port) to discover which port the OS actually chose. > It would be nice if the currently running port was made available in the statusline output (couchdb -s), but a log statement would be adequate; some way that an external script can discover which port a running CouchDB is listening on. > Edited discussion from #couchdb: > <bitdiddle> aquarius: well at a glance it appears couch_http passes the 0 to mochiweb_http which passes it to the mochiweb_socket_server, which passes it to gen_tcp, an erlang module that lets the underlying OS assign it. mochiweb_socket_server then grabs that port and stores it. It has a get method to retrieve properties but that needs to be exposed to mochiweb_http so it would take a little work to do it. It's probably a JIRA ticket, unless someone else sees a quicker approach > <davisp> bitdiddle: you got that far and didn't find it? > <aquarius> davisp: is there a better way to find the port? > <davisp> oh, is that not the bind port? > I was just thinking a log statement > <aquarius> davisp: the problem is if you specify 0 as the bind port (so the OS chooses a port), how do you find out what was chosen? > <davisp> aquarius: you have to look at the port returned by the socket > aquarius: in other words, CouchDB was never written to do that > <davisp> AFAIK > <bitdiddle> davisp: I found it, just needs some work to expose it > <davisp> aquarius: and by do that, I mean, we never put in a statement to log that > <bitdiddle> mochiweb_http is the module that needs to bubble it up > <aquarius> davisp: I don't really mind whether it's a log statement or it's exposed to couchdb -s (the latter seems tidier to me, but whichever), I just want to be able to start couch on port 0 and then later find out which port got chosen :) > <davisp> aquarius: for the time being you can use something like netstat or lsof, but we'll get a log statement in there or something -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. - You can reply to this email to add a comment to the issue online.
|View raw message


text:
Officially, the Duchess is to become Princess Consort when Prince Charles accedes to the throne, but her comment during a visit to a primary school appeared to open up the possibility of a future "Queen Camilla".
During an exchange with one pupil she was reportedly asked: "Are you going to be the queen?" The Duchess laughingly replied "you never know", the Evening Standard reported.
The remark came more than two years after the Prince of Wales also seemed to test the water about the prospect of her becoming queen consort, during a television interview.
Asked in November 2010 by a presenter on the US channel NBC whether she would be given the title, he said: "That's, well, we'll see won't we? That could be."
It fuelled a frenzy of speculation, during which David Cameron publicly declared that he was a "big Camilla fan" and that the idea would be "discussed and debated".
Mr Cameron said the country was "getting to know" the Duchess as "a very warm-hearted person with a big sense of humour and a big heart".
The very idea of "Queen Camilla" seemed unthinkable in 2005 at the time Prince Charles married the then Camilla Parker Bowles.
New Labour came up with the "Princess Consort" title to head off an anticipated outcry at a time when the public perception of the Duchess was still largely shaped by her role in the Prince's break-up with Diana.
An opinion poll taken at the time of the marriage showed 73% of Britons rejected the idea of her ever becoming queen.
But the years may have softened the popular view, while the Duchess took a prominent place alongside the Queen during last year Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Her latest comments came as she visited St Mary's RC primary school in Battersea, south London, in her new role as patron of children's literacy charity Beanstalk.


text:
Fifth Annual Chowder Bowl
Friday, September 7, 2012
Reinhart Field, Throggs Neck, N.Y.
1 2 3 4 Total
Massachusetts Maritime (0-1) 7 7 0 0 - 14
SUNY-Maritime (1-0) 7 0 0 13 - 20
SNY: Gary Bigham 6 yd run (Diogo Dietrich kick) 8:50 1st
MAM: Barry Reopell 3 yd run (Brandon Rodrigues kick) 6:41 1st
MAM: Brad Skeffington 6 yd run (Rodrigues kick) 13:35 2nd
SNY: Bigham 1 yd run (Dietrich kick) 11:10 4th
SNY: Erik Heedles 19 yd pass from Tyler Trodden (kick blocked) 0:20 4th
Attendance: 2,000
THROGGS NECK, N.Y. -- Senior Erik Heedles (Staten Island, N.Y.) hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Tyler Trodden (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) with 20 seconds remaining as SUNY-Maritime rallied from a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to notch a 20-14 non-league college football victory over Massachusetts Maritime in the Fifth Annual Chowder Bowl Friday evening at Reinhart Field.
After junior Gary Bigham's (Jacksonville, Fla.) one-yard scoring plunge just 3:50 into the final frame enabled the host Privateers (1-0) to even matters at 14-14, the visiting Buccaneers (0-1) embarked on a 21-play, 64-yard drive that consumed nearly nine minutes off the clock. Massachusetts Maritime drove to the SUNY_Maritime one-yard line with just over two minutes remaining, but Privateer sophomore Duke Alvora (Harrison, N.Y.) forced a fumble on Buccaneer sophomore quarterback Brad Skeffington's (Salem, Mass.) plunge at the goal line, and the hosts recovered at their own five-yard line with 2:09 to play. Trodden drove his squad to the visitors' 44-yard line with just under a minute to play before hooking up with senior Fritz Jean (Palm Coast, Fla.) on a 19-yard connection, and he then found Heedles two plays later on the deciding score that gave the Privateers their fifth straight triumph in the series.
Bigham staked SUNY-Maritime to an early 7-0 lead with 8:50 to play in the opening stanza, as his six-yard touchdown run capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive after the hosts forced a turnover on downs. The Buccaneers evened matters on the ensuing possession, as a 53-yard completion from junior quarterback Mike Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) to sophomore Jonathan Wright (Newburyport, Mass.) set up a three-yard plunge by senior Barry Reopell (South Dennis, Mass.) that came just 2:09 after the hosts' score.
Massachusetts Maritime took a 14-7 lead just 1:25 into the second quarter when Skeffington scampered in from six yards out to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive that saw junior Stefan Gustafson (Plymouth, Mass.) rush for 45 yards on five carries, and the Buccaneers maintained that margin at the break when junior Michael Sylvia (Lincoln, Mass.) blocked a Privateer field goal attempt on the final play before intermission. Both teams drove deep into the other's territory on ensuing third quarter possessions that resulted in turnovers on downs, and Bigham's tying touchdown capped a seven-play, 79-yard drive, setting up the frenetic finish on both sides of the field.
Trodden amassed 205 yards of total offense on the night for SUNY-Maritime, including 147 yards on 11-of-18 attempts through the air to go with 58 rushing yards, while Bigham rushed for 42 yards on 14 carries. Jean and Heedles combined for eight receptions and 108 yards, as the hosts amassed 344 yards of total offense in their victory. Gustafson (92) and Reopell (68) combined for 160 rushing yards on 38 carries in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime, as Stanton was 15-of-23 for 173 yards through the air for the contest, including eight connections with junior Keith Caruso (Hingham, Mass.) for 57 yards, as the Buccaneers collected 334 yards of total offense.
Senior Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y.) paced SUNY-Maritime defensively with 16 solo tackles, while Alvora and senior Pat Lasher (Seaford, N.Y.) each added 11 total tackles (10 solo). Senior Eddy Ramos (Sunny Isles, Fla.) paced Massachusetts Maritime with 10 total tackles (seven solo), while senior Evan Sheridan (Chelmsford, Mass.) and sophomore Reynard Ortiz (Lowell, Mass.) each added six solo stops. Junior Chris Pisani (Wakefield, Mass.) registered an interception for the visitors, who converted just 3-of-15 third down attempts compared to 7-of-14 converted by the hosts.
Massachusetts Maritime heads to Dudley, Mass. next Friday evening to take on Nichols in a non-league outing that kicks off at 7:00 p.m., while SUNY-Maritime will take on cross-town rival Merchant Marine in the "Seafaring Scuffle" next Saturday, September 15th in Kings Point, N.Y. beginning at 2:30 p.m.


text:
There's a new Thai restaurant …it's reasonably priced and only minutes away – on Noyac Road in North Sea (Southampton)! It's pretty and welcoming and there's outdoor seating! This is a dream come true!
Boa Thai is named for the Boahirunya family who owns and runs it.
How's the food? Check it out:
My party started out by tasting the Chicken Satay – marinated chicken in Thai curry and herbs served with peanut sauce. You can't beat meat on a stick! [expand]
Then we tried Boa Thai's Spring Rolls – ground pork, cabbage and glass noodles wrapped in rice paper deep fried and served with sweet hot sauce. What's hotter than "piping hot"? These babies were right out of the oil, a remarkably crisp, light wrap. The texture was firm, not messy.
We also tried the Wing Lao Dang – chicken wings deep-fried with the house red sauce. As a point of reference, these wings are sweeter than Buffalo wings, not so spicy hot, but just as messy. We liked them.
Chefs Patrick and Deer kept delivering the goods and our servers Apple and Eve were as lovely as they are polite.
We also tried a Pra Goong – a salad of grilled shrimp over greens including mint, with lemongrass-lime dressing. There were a lot of shrimp and they had some heat. The mint balanced everything nicely.
We also sampled the Nur Nam Tok, marinated New York Strip Steak grilled with Thai chili sauce served with a side salad. There is considerable heat to this meat. My he-man husband quite liked it.
Our son had the Red Curry – shrimp, scallops, squid and mussels prepared with coconut milk, red curry paste, red and green peppers, basil, bamboo shoots and zucchini. He downed it, followed quickly by two Thai iced teas. Then he lay back on the banquette to digest in bliss.
Husband enjoyed the Kee Mao Talay – stir-fried flat noodles with seafood and a special Thai herb sauce. He found it "nice and spicy."
I ordered what I always order given the opportunity – Pad Thai. Chicken and shrimp stir-fried with rice noodles, crispy fresh bean sprouts, egg and scallions. With a squeeze of lime…oh yeah! I was about two thirds in when I realized what was missing – those disgusting raw green beans that most Thai places throw on with abandon. There were no fuzzy green monsters in sight – thank you, Boa Thai!
The Jasmine Rice was perfectly cooked and nicely sticky. Expect to run into me at Boa Thai soon.
They don't yet have their liquor license at Boa, which begs the delicious question, what wine to bring along to accompany one's Thai food…?
Yes! They do take-out!
Boa Thai-Asian Fusion, 129 Noyac Road, North Sea, Southampton. 631-488-4422.


text:
What's the smartest credit card move you've ever made?
CardRatings.com asked that very question in a recent poll in the weeks leading up to the American Bankers Association's annual "Get Smart About Credit Day," set for Oct. 20, 2011. The ABA's nationwide campaign aims to educate young people about sound credit card use.
Continue Reading Below
The poll first appeared on the CardRatings.com home page on Sep. 23. Respondents had a choice of four answers. Here are the results:
"Got a rewards card and ran all my regular expenses through it"
48 percent. This was by far the most popular answer, chosen by nearly half of you. This means many of you are capitalizing on rewards cards to reap the benefits - cash back, airline miles and points - simply by paying your bills with your rewards credit card and paying your balance each month.
With rewards cards, you make money every time you use them. Cash-back credit cards reward you with cash not only for purchases but also for cash advances, balance transfers or interest payments. Travel rewards credit cards earn you miles or points, which you accumulate whether you make travel or non-travel purchases. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards card is one of our most popular cards, paying 1.25 points per dollar with no annual fee.
You can redeem points or miles for travel expenses - hotel stays, airfare, car rentals - or for goods and services, depending on your card's rewards program. These perks can add up to a significant dollar amount over time. Because of the variety of rewards cards that exist, the best credit card for you will be the one that most closely pairs up with your interests, spending habits and lifestyle.
"Used a balance transfer offer to pay off old debt"
15 percent. A significant number of you took advantage of a balance transfer offer, moving an existing balance to a new card with a set period of time in which little or no interest was charged, giving you time to reduce what you owe without incurring additional debt.
With many of these cards, you can transfer not only credit card balances but also other high-interest debt, like auto and appliance loans. Some cards, such as the Citi Simplicity Card and many other Citi cards, currently offer zero APR for an industry-leading 21 months.
If you use these cards smartly, by paying as much as you can toward your debt during the introductory APR period while refraining from making additional charges on the card (new purchases have a higher interest rate), you can accomplish two goals: You can significantly decrease your debt, while saving perhaps hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest charges, depending on how much you owe.
For example, if you owe $10,000, and you've been paying the average consumer credit interest rate of 16.8 percent (according to IndexCreditCards.com), and you transfer this balance to a zero-APR credit card, you could save $1,680 per year, less the initial balance transfer fee, which varies from zero to 5 percent, until the promotional period expires.
"Used a secured credit card to rebuild my credit history"
15 percent. This move is not for everyone, but if you have either no credit history or a poor credit history, this can be the smartest way to seize the opportunity to start fresh, and work to rebuild your good credit through the use of secured credit card.
With a secured credit card, such as the Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard, you receive a credit line in exchange for a deposit. This option allows you to ease into using a credit card and, if you demonstrate you can make regular payments, develop a favorable credit history over time. After you establish a record of timely payments, the secured credit card may convert to an unsecured one at the bank's option.
"Cut up my credit cards and closed my accounts"
21 percent. You might think this would be the "nuclear option" at CardRatings.com. In fact, this could be a very smart move indeed if you've gotten yourself into too much debt, whether from life circumstances or poor financial habits. Fully one in four of you said eliminating credit cards from your lives was the smartest move you've ever made.
Once you've gotten that debt under control, you may be wondering how to get back into the credit card market so you can enjoy the perks that come with responsible credit card use - rewards, cash back, improved access to other credit, and so on.
Many people start with a secured credit card as described earlier. If you're unable to get approved for a secured card, or you're not comfortable with the terms of a bad credit credit card (most either have an annual fee or a high APR), you might consider a prepaid credit card. But keep in mind that a prepaid credit card gives you the convenience of cashless shopping, but doesn't do anything for your credit score.
Smart credit card habits pay off
When properly managed, credit cards should work for, not against, you.
- Flexible payments. Credit cards allow you to make purchases on credit and spread the payments over time.
- Build credit. Making regular payments on credit cards can help you build a solid credit history, which means a higher credit score. And you want a good credit score when making major purchases, like a vehicle or house, on credit.
- Instant cash for emergencies. Credit cards give you an instant line of credit so you can get cash advances when in a financial bind
- Pay down debt. Balance transfer offers help you pay down older debt while getting temporary relief from interest charges.
- Save money. Rewards credit cards pay you back a percentage of your purchases in the form of cash, travel, products, services and more.
The bottom line is this: smart credit card habits can really pay off.
The original article can be found at CardRatings.com:Poll: the 4 smartest credit card moves


text:
Mention Route 9 to anyone who lives in the communities west of Boston, and you are likely to conjure images of motorists maneuvering through stop-and-go traffic, and executing a complex series of U-turns simply to cross the thoroughfare and get from one shop to the next.
But regional planners imagine a future in which shoppers can travel from place to place on foot, bike, or public transit, with common areas where people can congregate. Suggestions include moving buildings closer to the street with parking in the back, eliminating sprawling parking lots in favor of compact garages and public green space, and constructing buildings that span Route 9 to create pedestrian connections.
"What we're trying to do is get people to think about developing in a different way," said Bruce Leish, director of the MetroWest Regional Collaborative, part of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
The public agency is presenting its suggestions for development along the roadway Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Callahan Center, 535 Union Ave. in Framingham, in a public forum titled "The Future of Route 9."
Built out to its current zoning, Leish said, the stretch of Route 9 from Wellesley to Southborough will eventually balloon, with development increasing by 88 percent . At the same time, he said, traffic will increase by 41 percent.
"It's zoned, essentially, for sprawl," Leish said.
Using the principles of smart growth — a planning strategy that emphasizes compact, mixed-use development — Route 9 could still increase its current square footage by 60 percent while increasing traffic by 20 percent, Leish said.
Planners focused on three areas along Route 9 for their suggestions. In the Fayville area of Southborough, they envision buildings closer to the corners of the intersection at Route 9 and Oak Hill Road, with a landscaped median to slow traffic and allow for easier pedestrian crossing.
In the Framingham Centre historic area near Framingham State University, planners propose reducing the number of access roads and parking lots, and replacing pavement with retail space to create a shopping village.
Perhaps the most dramatic reenvisioning is reserved for the "Golden Triangle," the crowded commercial area that stretches for nearly 2 miles between the Speen Street interchange in Natick and Route 30 in Framingham.
In addition to constructing buildings across Route 9 and moving shops closer to the road in Natick, planners imagine moving cars off of the existing massive parking lot at Shoppers World in Framingham. The lot would be replaced with a public green and a compact garage with retail space on the ground floor. Additionally, smaller shops and residential space would be built above and beside the mall's big-box stores.
"We're trying to animate Shoppers World," Leish said.
Bonnie Biocchi, president and chief executive of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, said there might be a disconnect between what planners want for the region and what makes business sense.
"Sometimes we have these great visions, but in reality they're not as easy to implement," Biocchi said.
For example, Biocchi said, she is skeptical about the viability of residential units mixed in with retail space. The Nouvelle at Natick condo development at Natick Mall was largely seen as a flop, with units selling for huge discounts off their initial listing prices.
"I'm not convinced that people are going to flock to the Shoppers World condo complex," Biocchi said. "I think that's more of an urban concept than a suburban concept."
Biocchi also said that, while she sometimes finds crossing Route 9 hectic, it is impractical to wish away traffic.
"As much as I can understand wanting to encourage more pedestrian traffic, there may be some level of skepticism," Biocchi said. "I think people are used to driving to a location, parking, and conveniently getting in and out of a store they choose to patronize."
But Leish defended the concept of a mix of residential and retail space.
"Maybe it's people who want to be able to go out their front door and have Starbucks there and do some shopping and not have to drive," Leish said. "It's a suburban alternative to living in the city. All indications are, this is the type of market that might be successful."
And Leish said he merely wants to make life easier for pedestrians, not eliminate cars.
"We're not trying to stop the traffic on Route 9. We're trying to make it flow in a sane way," he said. "We're not saying everybody's going to walk to Route 9. We're assuming some people are going to drive there, but once they're there, they'll walk around a little bit."
Leish lives about a mile from Shoppers World and walks in the area, but said it is difficult.
"You're constantly walking vast distances between parking lots to get to things," he said. "There are ways to do it without getting killed, but it's not that pleasant. The current development pattern encourages you to drive everywhere."
Leish acknowledged that his agency's plans are long term. And, although developers were asked for input, he said, planners were unable to talk to some current landowners.
Officials at DDR Corp., the Beachwood, Ohio-based real estate company that owns Shoppers World, did not return a call seeking comment.
While many of the proposed changes are dramatic, there is a precedent for seismic shifts along Route 9.
Before Shoppers World was made into the U-shaped haven for big-box stores that it is today, it featured two levels of shops surrounding an open courtyard and connected by walkway bridges.
Michelle McElroy, who writes the blog This is Framingham (www.thisisframingham.com), called the old design "awesome" and said she misses it.
"Parking was on the outside," she said. "On the inside, you didn't have to worry about getting hit by a car because it was all pedestrian. The parking lot in the middle thing is just wrong in all sorts of ways. It's dangerous, it's inconvenient. It's an ocean of parking.
"I think the traffic's just going to continue to grow," McElroy added. "If they can design it to accommodate that increase in traffic, I think that would be great."
Patrick Reffett, Natick's director of community development, lauded the smart-growth approach, but called the development of cross-highway buildings colossally expensive, and said some of the regional plans probably will not come to pass within his lifetime.
"Although they may seem like long shots, you're looking at what the most beneficial design would be," said Megan Jop, planning director in Wellesley.
"Even if you got fifty percent of that, that's going to be a better design than what's there."Calvin Hennick can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
An Almost Perfect Moment (Paperback)
A Novel
Ecco, 9780060520878, 352pp.
Publication Date: February 15, 2005
In Brooklyn, in the Age of Disco, Valentine Kessler -- a sweet Jewish girl who bears a remarkable resemblance to the Virgin Mary of Lourdes -- has an unerring gift for shattering the dreams and hopes of those who love her. Miriam, her long-suffering mother, betrayed and anguished by the husband she adores, seeks solace in daily games of mah-jongg with The Girls, a cross between a Greek Chorus and Brooklyn's rendition of the Three Wise Men, who dispense advice, predictions, and care in the form of poppy-seed cake and apple strudels. When her greatest fear for Valentine is realized, Miriam takes comfort in the thought that it couldn't get any worse. And then it does.
Sagacious, sorrowful, and hilarious, An Almost Perfect Moment is a novel about mothers and daughters, star-crossed lovers, doctrines of the divine, and a colorful Jewish community that once defined Brooklyn.This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
About the Author
Binnie Kirshenbaum is the author of An Almost Perfect Moment, On Mermaid Avenue, A Disturbance in One Place, Pure Poetry, Hester Among the Ruins, and History on a Personal Note. She is a professor at Columbia University's School of the Arts, where she is chair of the Graduate Writing Program.
Praise For An Almost Perfect Moment: A Novel…
— Booklist (Starred review)
"Lays bare [a] collection of Brooklyn souls in the... style of short story masters Raymond Carver and Ann Beattie."
— Boston Herald
"Kirshenbaum...has an original voice and, even better, an original sensibility."
— Los Angeles Times
"[A] zany, irreverent, cheerful novel…. Bristles with energy and sharpness."
— Boston Globe
"Engrossing…. Cinematic, effortlessly beautiful descriptions will spark the reader's imagination, and myriad plot twists and turns will keep you guessing."
— Chicago Tribune