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Snowstorm aid: Hydro-Québec sends 200 workers to United States
http://montrealgazette.com/news/snowsto ... ted-states
Right now there's this big ass blizzard hitting the North Eastern United states, but I know of many other instances of such spontaneous collaboration going both ways. Back in the Montreal ice storm of the late 90s, we got tons of help from you guys it was really welcome. Then there are the other examples such as help with the california fires, etc. A place to catalog and perhaps measure some of the extend of this phenomenon.


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Ranch, a long-term mass storage solution, has 2 petabytes of online storage for data transfer and capacity for 160 petabytes of offline tape storage. By providing a massive file system for archival purposes, this system serves the HPC and Visualization communities.
Ranch uses Oracle Hierarchical Storage Manager (Oracle HSM, previously known as the Storage Archive Manager) filesystem for migrating files to/from a tape archival system with a current offline storage capacity of 160 petabytes. Ranch's primary storage is built on 8 Dell MD3600i based arrays, each with 8 MD1200 enclosures attached, for a total of 96 3TB disks in each of the 8 arrays. Ranch's metadata system is built on two Sun 7420 appliances, with 4 disk storage shelves, 4 high speed read cache SSDs, 4 log SSDs, and 88 x 15k 600GB SAS disks. The high-performance SAM-QFS file system stores metadata and data separately on dedicated devices.
Ranch is appropriate for medium-term storage of input and output datasets for use in HPC and visualization campaigns, and as an extra copy in more comprehensive data management plans. Ranch is not appropriate as the sole storage location for research data management.
Please Note: The Ranch system is not backed up or replicated. This means that Ranch contains a single copy, and only a single copy, of your file/s. While lost data due to tape damage is rare, please keep this fact in mind for your data management plans.
Ranch User Guide

subset: commoncrawl


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Readers of this blog will recognize as I say that this is difficult to do as cycling, as any sport, is so connected to emotions. But, where is the fun if one cannot have an opinion, right?
I've divided the year into certain categories, to be a bit systematic in my approach:
Best attack
Tom Boonen's attack during Paris-Roubaix - With some 60 kilometers to go, Tommeke takes off and doesn't look back. I remember his DS saying in a video "Amazing, he's still going over 50 km/h!" Now this number could be all talk but anyway Boonen walked the walk and made the Belgians sing and dance his techno song once more.
|Boonen breaks away
Downloaded here.
Honourable mention: De Gendt's long-distance haul on the penultimate stage of the giro, he almost pipped Hesjedal for pink.
Most emotional win
Matteo Rabattini's stage 15 of the giro - arguably the most heroic stage win of the year. What cycling is all about really, an attack just 18 km into the 169 km stage and held off, even as Rodriguez joined him just 400 meters to go.
Best teammate
Edvald Boasson Hagen - Yes, I'm biased but I know I'm not alone as Velonews also awarded him the price. To selflessly put his own ambitions aside and work for Wiggo and Sky like he did during the tour was amazing. Of course, many members of the Sky-train did the same, and deserve a mention as Sky brought some stars to France. EBH dropped Basso and other top notch climbers from his back wheel, not once, not twice but several times in the mountains. Still his palmares in July had of a couple of podium spots. That's what true champions do; when they are not allowed to win, they set themselves new goals and deliver the goods.
Best team
Also worth a mention is the total destruction of Radioshack during the tour, which mysteriously gave them the best team award. Anyone watching the last couple of days witnessed teammates not cooperating. Of course you can always blame the UCI point system as always but still.
Best race
The Olympic Road Race for women produced some of the best racing I've seen all year. Hopefully they get the recognition they deserve in 2013.
Best cycling media outlet
1. Velonews - This was a tight race. I have to say it's just the last couple of years I've followed Velonews closely, mostly due to the fact that they traditionally have been more oriented towards the American audience. However, Velonews has taken huge steps the last year, clearly the crew is doing something right.
2. Velonation - this crew has a slightly different approach than Velonews, as Velonation has a more in-depth style, going further and deeper than any other outlet. Perhaps not first with the last but very well connected in the different aspects of the pro cycling world and I do enjoy the interviews.
3. Bikeradar - tech style. I'm not that into tech myself, I want my equipment to function. That said I do care about detail, style and quality. So, James Huang et al - here is to you guys.
Best blogger
Inner Ring - not much to say really. Balancing news, in-depth analysis of everything from races, climbs and teams to the financial elements and UCI rule book, he's on it with an objective point of view. Funny or sad, depending on your preferences, is that he is seldom mention in #FFs. Probably because everybody is following him anyway. If you don't already, get your head out of the sand.
Worst team
Astana, Katusha - Ethics, finances. Hiring old school dopers, firing old-school dopers whilst being catched for doping yourself, the list goes on. Dodgy as few, they should attend Branding 101. Radioshack's top manager Johan Bruyneel deserves a mention too, dragging a team down. There is a "t" in team, and there are some 70-90 people involved in a team so the responsibility is huge. Sadly, the riders and other staffers suffer, that's how the cycling environment of today. Nuf said.
Best marketing
The RCS and OPQS - Open, friendly, fan-oriented, available and innovative.
Worst downfall
Lance Armstrong - you all know the story and my point of view. I unfollowed Big Tex recently, he's not worth it.
Nice guys
NYvelocity and Cyclismas for setting up the Paul Kimmage fund.
Most embarrassing moment
Phillip Hindes' deliberate crash and the British journalists who defended him - one of the top Olympic controversies during the London Olympics, the place where good sportsmanship should reign took a beating. BC sprint coach Jan van Eijden said, rather blunt and/or arrogantly, that "something must have been lost in translation as Hindes just recently moved to England." Really, on national TV Mr. Eijden, please reconsider before you tell everybody watching that they are fools. To take advantage of the existing rulebook like that was not good, nor was the "national Olympic googles" some of the British journalists had during the Games. Hopefully it will be long until we see this happen again (at least four years).
|Hindes on the downside
Downloaded here.
Man of the year
Travis Tygart - without a doubt. He went where very few had dared to go, he did it with integrity, objectivity and with no intention to back down for the immense pressure he and his crew were exposed to. He changed cycling for life, as of now, we are just learning what will happen. This case will tear through cycling for years to come on every level.
Bring on 2013!


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Yigal needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 39 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
Sky3 Marketing
We are a marketing/advertising/production company that produces TV commercials, infomercials, radio voice overs, marketing/advertising campaigns for the American as well as the Hispanic market in the USA.
We need the Logo to be very catchy as well as classy so that the name of our company (Sky3 Marketing) will remain in the clients mind.
Companies that want to advertise their products on TV and cable stations. As well as companies that want a strategy on advertisement and promotion of their products.
We also have a department that specializes in the Hispanic customer base.
We want to be able to use this logo on all stationary, press kits, websites, etc. as well as promotional items. Must be catchy yet classy.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Law and the Courts
October 3, 2018
This guide is designed to educate campus administrators, faculty, and staff on community members' involvement in elections, such as hosting an event or volunteering for a campaign, and gives concrete examples of what is and is not likely to be...
Financial Aid
March 14, 2016
This new monograph by Robert B. Archibald and David H. Feldman finds little evidence that increases in federal financial aid drive up college tuition, and that institutions rarely rely on federal aid as a rationale to give out less of their own...
Racial/Ethnic Minority Students
May 1, 2015
This Syllabus is designed to map relevant issues about campus diversity and direct institutions to important resources that can help them understand these issues, develop effective policies and mitigate legal risk.
February 12, 2015
The Task Force on Federal Regulation of Higher Education has concluded its work and on Feb. 12, 2015, released a report examining how the federal oversight of higher education has evolved and expanded over the years.
Tax Policy
December 10, 2014
This brief answers questions frequently asked by students, faculty, alumni, journalists, public officials, and others interested in endowments and the financial circumstances of American colleges and universities.
October 1, 2013
This report summarizes the major federal student aid programs that are available, explaining how students and their families apply for and receive Title IV student aid and outlining what institutions must do to participate in the federal programs.
April 1, 2013
In a new monograph written for ACE, Donald E. Heller argues there is scant evidence of a relationship between changes in federal student aid and tuition increases.
July 12, 2012
In the report from ACE's National Task Force on Institutional Accreditation, academic leaders urge the higher education community to strengthen and improve the quality and public accountability of the institutional accreditation process.
Security and Crisis Management
March 12, 2012
An in-depth white paper for university presidents or other senior administrators on ensuring Clery Act compliance at their institution.
Veterans Legislation
September 1, 2009
College campuses are seeing an influx of military service members seeking an undergraduate education. Given this trend, it is useful to review what we know about veterans in general as well as veterans and military service members who were recently...


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Lamar professor holds organic gardening workshop
Tony Pereira, research assistant professor for the College of Engineering at Lamar University, held an organic gardening workshop Saturday, Oct. 20, at Basic Foods in Beaumont. The workshop promoted a chemical and pesticide-free approach to gardening and taught attendees how to start their own organic garden. "The chemicals used in industrial farms are running into the Mississippi River and causing dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico, including one the size of New Jersey, 8,000 square miles, that reaches from Galveston all the way to the mouth of the Mississippi," he said. Dead zones are areas in the world's oceans and large lakes, caused by excessive nutrient pollution from human activities coupled with other factors that deplete the oxygen required to support most marine life in bottom and near-bottom water. Pereira said there are 400 to 500 dead zones around the world, and he believes the only way to prevent these zones is to replace industrial nitrogen-based farming with chemical-free organic farming. The workshop taught attendees about the tools required to grow an organic farm, how to build a compost pile, how to defend against harmful insects without using pesticides, and how to fertilize the garden without using animal manure that contains steroids and antibiotics. For more information, e-mail Tony Pereira at solartony [at] gmail [dot] com.


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Subscribe To Buzz Aldrin Explains What After Earth Got Wrong Updates
I've already subscribed
Getting everything scientifically accurate in a movie sometimes gets in the way of it being entertaining. Fire can't exist in space, but isn't it cool to see a ship go down in flames or a space station exploding in a burst? Still, for the experts out there it can be really annoying when Hollywood doesn't get the simple stuff right. Remember when astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson convinced James Cameron to re-edit Titanic because the alignment of the stars in the sky were out of order? Today we have another story like that, only instead of an astronomer it's one of the first men to ever walk on the moon.
The Huffington Post (via Giant Freakin Robot) recently covered a red carpet for an event where Buzz Aldrin was a guest of honor, and the site took the opportunity to ask him what he thought of M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth - which he had gotten to see at the film's New York premiere. While critics have ripped the movie apart, Aldrin had one very specific complaint. "There was a lot of noise," the astronaut said. "In space, you don't get that much noise." He went on to explain that noise can't exist in a vacuum, and that the only way to communicate is through headsets. "Fortunately, we were free of static," he continued. "We could communicate with each other pretty clearly, and mission control, though we were 50,000 miles away."
Joss Whedon fans will probably be the first to point out that "no sound in space" was one of the cool details featured the short-lived series Firefly, which had only music playing over scenes taking place outside of a spaceship. But maybe Shyamalan can excuse it all with explanations about new technologies in the future. After all, it is science fiction.


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Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds
Simple growing tips and chic design know-how in an easy-to-follow, lovely-to-read format. Creating your own terrarium will definitely be next on your crafty to-do list.
A terrarium is nothing less than a miniature world — one that you can create yourself. It might be a tiny rainforest, with lush foliage and bright tropical flowers. Or a desert, with strange succulents planted among colorful stones. Or a Victorian fernery. Or a minimalist composition with a single, perfect plant.
Or it might not contain any plants at all. It might be made with crystals, feathers, bones, seashells, bits of wood, porcelain trinkets — anything that catches your fancy and helps create a mood or look. Whatever they contain, terrariums are the ultimate in modern, affordable, easy-care décor.
Terrarium Craft features fifty original designs that you can re-create or use as inspiration for your own design. Each entry comes with clear step-by-step directions on how to assemble and care for your terrarium. You'll also find helpful information about selecting a container, using appropriate materials, choosing the right plants, and maintaining your terrarium. (Hint: It's easy! In fact, many terrariums are self-sustaining, requiring no maintenance whatsoever!)
If you've always wanted to have a bit of nature in your own home, without the worry and labor of a garden, this book will show you exactly how to create your own unique, enchanting world. aste and style.
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 196 pp.
- Book dimensions: 9 x 8 in. (205 x 230 mm.)
- Images: 141 color photos
- Product code: 689234
Book preview
Want to see inside the book?View book preview.
Media reviews
"Terrarium Craft earned our admiration not only because of the elegance of design by Aiello and photos by Kate Baldwin, but also for the clarity brought to step-by-step instructions."
"Provide[s] examples of how to turn a common houseplant into a striking showpiece."
—Washington Gardener
"Spark[s] your creativity and inspire[s] you to make your own magical little glass world."
"Stunning projects."
—West Coast Crafty
"Terrariums are back, but in much more stylish forms than their aquarium-type predecessors."
—Akron Beacon Journal
"Original and fun [with] tons of 'why didn't I think of that?' ideas."
—Fresh Home
"Encourage[s] creativity and spontaneity. Recommended for indoor gardeners and crafters alike."
—Library Journal
"Simple growing tips and chic design know-how in an easy-to-follow, lovely-to-read format. Creating your own terrarium will definitely be next on your crafty to-do list."
"A bevy of beautiful designs. The trouble will be choosing just one. The solution: Do several."
"Crafty brown thumbs will appreciate the projects."
"These terrarium projects will be perfect for next fall/winter when I can't get outside to play in the garden!"
—Danger Garden blog


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Taking the form of a series of tests, of body and of faith, and set to a mesmerizing sound score, the work is a study of empathy; a live memorial to the disabled victims of the Nazi euthanasia program and the current disabled victims of recent 'welfare reform' in the UK.
Stark [and] brutal with her customary integrity and conviction.
**** Herald


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Why Libertarians Are Wrong About Drugs
Libertarians and social conservatives both resist an intrusive central government, but they differ over exactly what constitutes "intrusive" policy, especially when it comes to private behavior.
Nowhere is this divide more obvious than in the war on drugs. Social conservatives are troubled by drug abuse, especially among the young, and believe that government regulation of certain substances is necessary to curb behavior seen not only as self-destructive but also incompatible with a strong and free community. Libertarians, on the other hand, argue that the heavy-handedness of the nanny state, and the law-enforcement abuses likely to accompany it, present a greater threat to freedom than the prohibited behavior itself. As Milton Friedman put it, "the present system of drug prohibition … does so much more harm than good."
Story Continued Below
The libertarian commitment to freedom should absolutely be acknowledged and, in a time of growing state control, defended. But, when it comes to drugs, libertarians have yet to grasp just how much drug abuse undermines individual freedom and erodes the very core of the libertarian ideal.
Many libertarians argue that the state should have no power over adult citizens and their decision to ingest addictive substances—so long as they do no harm to anyone but themselves. Hence, there should be no laws against using drugs, and over time this self-destructive behavior will limit itself.
But this harmless world is not the real world of drug use. There is ample experience that a drug user harms not only himself, but also many others. The association between drug use and social and economic failure, domestic violence, pernicious parenting and criminal acts while under the influence is grounds for prohibition even if we accept no responsibility for what the drug user does to himself. The drug user's freedom to consume costs his community not only their safety, but also their liberty .
And I'm not just talking about heroin. Over the past decade, as marijuana use has grown, the number of car accident victims testing positive for the drug has tripled, according to a recent study.
Just as troubling as the potential harm done to others are the questions: What is to replace prohibition? And who holds the reins? Here things get sketchy. Everybody wants the cartels out; but who's in? Whatever entity controls the supply controls the population of addicts.
Management of production and distribution, some envision, could be commercial. What could go wrong? Think Afghan warlord with a lobbying arm and a marketing department. Is drug use a disability? Who pays for the escalating doses? Big Pharma on, well, drugs, with direct-to-consumer advertising?


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|A classic game
The first days after he was born, Baby Salaryman did fine, drank both the bottle and the boob in the volumes that he's supposed to. However, after a few days it became evident that he didn't really increase the volumes of milk the way he was expected to do, taking over an hour to get him to drink 50mls of milk on his third day or so. This was discussed a little on the fourth day with Mrs. Sunshine and the doctor expressed some concern over it and mentioned that they might want to have him sent to a larger hospitals to make sure that there was no serious underlying cause for this. This of course made us a bit worried, but as he otherwise was healthy we weren't overly concerned. Then a few hours later, I get a call from Mrs. Sunshine, crying and close to panic, saying that they would be sending Baby Salaryman to the NICU (intensive care unit for newborns) of a nearby university hospital in an ambulance for treatment. As we talked I could hear the sirens in the background...
I quickly dumped Toddler Sunshine (who I was watching at home) with a neighbour, who we don't particularly care or like, but has kids of her own and happened to be home and willing to supervise Toddler Sunshine while I headed off to the hospital as soon as I could. I arrived just as the ambulance came in and watched Baby Salaryman get carried into the NICU in steel "baby box" (reminding me of a cat-box), told that they would now initiate tests and was asked to wait outside until they were finished. With very limited information on what actually was going on now, me and Mrs. Sunshine were under the impression that Baby Salaryman was on the verge of death, making for a very nervous and unpleasant wait.
After an hour or so, I was called into the unit as the results had come in. To my surprised Baby Salaryman wasn't actually in the NICU with all the scary machines, but in the GCU (Growing Care Unit - think nursery) next door. The young female doctor sat down with me next to our sleeping little baby and explained the battery of tests that they had been performing (blood work, ultrasound, x-ray etc etc.) and that everything had come back fine.
However, they had also in the end performed another test... The final test was apparently putting a finger in Baby Salaryman's mouth to see if he had developed the fine art of sucking and breathing through his nose properly at the same time... It turned out that he had not yet completely mastered this fine art, but was already getting better at it. So the reasons for his low volumes of milk was simply that he got out of breath and really tired and fell asleep before drinking as much as he ideally should.
As the doctor was actually really nice and I was so relieved that everything was fine with the baby, I managed to hold back on aggressively asking them why they didn't just test that finger-in-mouth-test FIRST before starting to do the other more invasive tests... But hey, in the Japanese health care system, the more tests you make, the more money the hospital can rake in...


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Two studies out this year are have reached a troubling conclusion: cesarean births without labor are associated with breastfeeding difficulty.
This is troubling because for many women a planned cesarean is their only in-hospital birthing "option." More on that in a moment. First, to the research:
The first study, a large meta analysis of research on breastfeeding and cesarean births, included 48 studies reflecting the experience of over 550,000 subjects. It found that "rates of early breastfeeding (any initiation or at hospital discharge) were were lower after cesarean delivery compared with after vaginal delivery and lower after prelabor but not after in-labor cesarean delivery."
A second study looked at the weight loss of 200 exclusively breastfed babies delivered by cesarean section in a U.S. Baby Friendly hospital, almost half of which did not undergo labor prior to delivery. It found that "absence of labor prior to delivery was significantly associated with a greater percentage of weight loss," and concluded "for exclusively breastfed infants delivered by cesarean birth in a Baby-Friendly hospital, absence of labor prior to cesarean birth may be a previously unreported risk factor for greater than expected weight loss." Excessive weight loss isn't a breastfeeding outcome per se, but higher weight loss in the first few days after birth often leads to supplementation, which in turn is associated with shortened duration and less exclusivity of breastfeeding.
Why would cesarean birth without labor pose these risks? As I've written before, cesarean births in general are associated with a number of breastfeeding issues. With respect to cesarean births without labor, the authors of this second study point to a number of possible explanations: "the complex and incompletely understood endocrine and neuroendocrine mechanisms that regular labor," greater fluid retention in the infants' lungs, and lower gestational age at birth.
Let's zoom in on this last factor – gestational age – for a moment, because I think that the implications are quite staggering.
We know that the vast majority of repeat cesareans are planned and do not involve labor. We also know that many planned cesareans are performed electively (for no medical reason) before 39 weeks of gestation. One study found that, of 13,000 elective repeat cesareans, 36% were done prior to 39 weeks gestation (in the study referenced above the mean gestational age was 39 weeks, so a good number were likely born before). This in itself is a risk factor for a number of problems, including breastfeeding problems and problems that have a direct effect on breastfeeding (respiratory issues, hypoglycemia, admission to NICU), as we've discussed before. Babies born in this range are known among breastfeeding support people as "impostor babies" because their size often masks their immaturity when it comes to feeding.
I find the conclusions of these studies particularly troubling because for many women, a planned cesarean without labor is the only in-hospital birth available to them.
Of course, there are a number of reasons why mothers might not be able to experience labor before a cesarean, such as maternal or fetal complications, and multiples or breech presentation where vaginal delivery is not practiced.
But since 50% of hospitals have an outright or de facto ban on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), for many women the only in-hospital birth is a planned cesarean, whether they want one or not. Considering that one in three births is by cesarean and that the VBAC rate is just 8.4%, this absence of choice affects the breastfeeding experience of a significant percentage of women.
So, to connect the dots: Cesarean birth without labor appears to be a risk factor for breastfeeding difficulty. Babies born by planned cesarean are frequently delivered early for no medical reason – a risk factor for breastfeeding. Most women having second and subsequent babies after a c-section have no in-hospital choice besides a cesarean birth without labor.
What are the implications of these findings for mothers and providers?
- For providers, it may be that this and future research will establish that cesarean birth without labor is a risk factor for breastfeeding problems, and appropriate support will be provided.
- For both mothers and providers, it's critical to understand the risks of elective birth of any kind (cesarean or vaginal) prior to 39 completed weeks of gestation, on breastfeeding and a whole range of infant outcomes.
- And finally, we suggest as always that all mothers 1) explore their birthing options carefully, and 2) have good support in place for both birth and breastfeeding.
Did you have a cesarean without labor? Did it have any effect on your breastfeeding experience?


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This star rating is the opinion of the property owner only. A Self-Rated hotel has not been assessed by the AA or Visit Britain, whose official star ratings we use across LateRooms.com.
The Park Grand London Paddington4 Self rated
1 Queens Gardens, London, W2 3BA
Price FromView Rooms
- Very Good
- 393 guest reviews
"Excellent service and value for money, will definitely stay here again...."
"The Park Grand London Paddington..."
"Conveniently located for Paddington Station, and bus and tube to our destinations. Room and bathroom were compact but perfectly adequate. In..."
"A must to stay at when in London..."
"I have stayed here before and enjoyed my stay, Yes, the room was small but the room I stayed in for the rate was much smaller. I can't begin..."
About the hotel
Welcome to Park Grand London Paddington, a contemporary property easily accessible by public transport and a few minutes' walk from Paddington and Lancaster Gate stations. With excellent access to a variety of transport links, close proximity to Kensington Gardens and Heathrow airport via the Heathrow Express, Park Grand London Paddington is ideal for business and leisure travellers. Our recently refurbished rooms are beautifully designed with an emphasis on style and comfort.
Chic and contemporary, the bedrooms are beautifully equipped with state-of-the-art amenities including complimentary broadband and Wi-Fi, LCD TV with satellite channels, tea/coffee making facilities, in-room safe and much more. Seeking extra indulgence? The modern Club Rooms have special pampering extras like complimentary fruit and mineral water on arrival, bathrobes and slippers, local newspaper and complimentary access to the fitness centre. Club Room guests also have access to the Club Lounge where they can relax, unwind and enjoy complimentary beverages. The Club Lounge has a computer with complimentary internet access for guests to stay connected! The lovely ambience further extends to the charming on-site restaurant, which offers a daily freshly prepared breakfast with a choice of full-English or Continental. The Atlantic bar offers light appetisers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The cosy fireplace makes the bar an ideal place to unwind and relax. Despite being located in a happening part of London, Park Grand London Paddington offers a quiet and relaxing stay with flawless style and comfort. ****When booking non-refundable rooms. The credit card used to make the booking must be presented upon check-in. If the booking is made by a third party, please contact the property directly to make alternative arrangements. ****
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Facilities Show/hide
- Main
- Hotel Non-Smoking Throughout, Air conditioning in rooms, 24 Hour Reception, Cots available, Safety Deposit Box, Tea/Coffee making facilities in each room, Hairdryer in each room, Iron And Board In Each Room, Telephone In Each Room, 24 Hour Room Service, Wake Up Call Available, Doctor on call, Porter, Lift to all floors, Public Air Conditioning
- Business
- Wi-Fi Available, In-room Broadband
- Dining
- Restaurant, Lounge Menu, Bar
- Leisure
- Gymnasium, [Channels] News, [Channels] Movies (Pay Per View), [Channels] Music
- In Room Entertainment
- TV, Satellite TV, Radio
- Parking
- Car Parking Available Offsite
Useful Info Show/hide
- 14:00
- 12:00
- Up to 8 years old
- 21/09/2011 to 31/12/2020 - Please note: As a company policy we will take pre-authorization from your card for the first nights stay, 48 hours prior to arrival. Please note that all guests checking – in must provide valid ID. The price shown is based on the occupancy and dates you have searched for. Prices and availability are subject to change based on the arrival date, number of nights and occupancy searched for. All prices are inclusive of all local taxes.
- Pets are not allowed
Customer Reviews
Our reviews are from genuine LateRooms.com customers. We verify that the customer has stayed before leaving a review.
Very Good
69% would recommend it to a friend
Customer service
Food quality
Room quality
Excellent service and value for money, will definitely stay here again....
Disappointing overall
Stayed 2 nights in a club room.
Our room was on the basement level next to the restaurant. Upon entering the room, there was a strong smell of damp and fried food (from the restaurant). The corner of the room was damp, hence the smell, which had begun damaging the wardrobe. The club room wasnt really worth the additional price, apart from the size. The robes that were included with the club room where very old, no longer soft or white (definitely not "plush" as described online) . Also, they all had obvious stains which the staff must have seen.
The private club lounge was also seemed a bit pointless as it seems anyone can use it, so again not worth paying extra for.
Bedding wasn't anything special either and the room generally was scruffy with marks on walls and scratches on the wood panelling. Some good aspects of the room was the bathroom and complimentary fruit and drinks.
In the morning, the smell from breakfast was overpowering and we requested to change rooms. The staff kindly sorted this out for us, and the new room was much brighter and fresher. However the new robes were also stained. Generally, most aspects of our stay where below average. And the club room was defiantly not worth paying extra for.
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Published May 24, 2010
Photo albums are so yesterday, scrapbooking is so now. Where do you go to... see the Top 5 →
Cakes, cookies, brownies, fruit pies. Who bakes up the most mouth... see the Top 5 →
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Everyone has a favorite, where do you go... see the Top 5 →
Whether its your morning fix, an afternoon jolt or a late-night study... see the Top 5 →
Cookies, candies, pies and pastries. Everyone loves a sweet treat, but who... see the Top 5 →
What's your choice for hard to find specialty cheeses, meats, and spices? see the Top 5 →
The 2010 KCRA 3 A-List Contest awards are based on more than 94,000 votes from local Sacramento-area experts.


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Boston Acoustics audio products are sold worldwide only by authorized dealers. Our carefully selected dealers are fully trained to demonstrate and service all of our products. In addition, Boston Acoustics provides a manufacturers warranty to all Boston products sold by authorized dealers.
Click here to View Authorized Latin America and Caribbean Dealers
Retail Location: Authorized dealers with a physical retail location for you
to visit, audition and purchase directly from. Please call for product availability
and selection.
Design/Installation: Authorized dealers or installers with expertise in home
theater design, development, and contruction.
By Appointment only: Authorized custom installers who have no retail storefront
but offer personalized home theater audio/video consultation and design.
Boston Acoustics Premier CI Dealer: Authorized and certified dealer offering
the highest level of expertise, service and product assortment. Premier CI dealers
are hand selected by Boston Acoustics and require certification.
Boston Acoustics Service Center: Authorized Boston Acoustics service center
offering in and out of warranty service on all models of Boston Acoustics product
purchased from one of our authorized Boston Acoustics dealers.
Boston Acoustics Self Servicing Dealer: Authorized Boston Acoustics dealer
and service center offering in and out of warranty service on product sold only
from their dealer locations.


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Direct Inward Dialing: +1 408 916 9891
ManageEngine ADAudit Plus comes as a Single download file for all editions. When you install the product, the Professional Edition is installed, and will work for 30 days. After 30 days, it will automatically revert to Free Edition, unless the Standard or Professional Edition license is purchased. Check out the various editions of ADAudit Plus.
To get technical assistance or to receive further details and updates regarding ADAudit Plus, contact .
ADAudit Plus is licensed based on the number of Domain Controllers. If Local Logon/Logoff and Terminal Services activities of Member Servers need to be monitored, you are required to purchase additional "Member Server" licenses. More on the Pricing.
|Trial Edition
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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Local Christian leaders and an Israeli government representative gathered at the "Baptist House" church in central Jerusalem on Tuesday, one day after the building was vandalized with anti-Christian graffiti.
The meeting could be best described as a demonstration of solidarity by the State of Israel with the Christian community, but it was also somewhat of a celebration of the strong friendship that exists between Israel and Christians, as well as a call for Christians to respond to such attack with even more love for Israel.
Chuck Kopp, pastor of the local Baptist congregation, started the event by suggesting that while the attack was unfortunate and hurtful, the response by Israelis has had a far bigger impact.
"The rabbi and cantor from the synagogue across the street came the same day [as the vandalism] with a huge bouquet of flowers and a note of solidarity and friendship," said Kopp. "Another Israeli lady came in with flowers and when I asked if she was also a neighbor, she said no, she was just a concerned Israeli citizen. There has been much outpouring of solidarity and friendship from Israelis."
Herbby Geer, the official Southern Baptist Convention representative in Israel, added, "You have extremists everywhere, but Israel has consistently stood with its minorities." Referencing the fringe "price tag" gangs that are believed to have been behind the attack, Geer said, "We know that there is a 'price tag' for standing for what we believe, and we know that most Israelis want us to be who we are."
Following Geer was Dr. Moti Zaken, special advisor to Israel's Minister of Internal Security on Minority Affairs, who stated:
"I apologize on behalf of Israel. You have the solidarity and the support of the overwhelming majority of Israelis, who view such attacks with disgust. We will bring those responsible to justice, but more importantly you must know that the majority of Israelis reject such actions.
"Nobody deserves to be vandalized like this, but especially not our special and supportive [Christian] friends."
Messianic pastor David Ortiz, whose son Ami was severely wounded in a 2008 Purim bombing perpetrated by a Christian-hating Jewish extremist, asked to speak at the event, saying that it was "important for me to come here today when I heard that Dr. Zaken would be here because it is so important for the government to openly stand with us in solidarity when such attacks occur."
Ortiz explained that "there are anti-Semites who hate Israel and who exploit such incidents involving local believers to turn around and attack Israel. It can be hard to defend Israel when we have attacks like this and no official government response."
Also requesting to address the gathering was Kevork Nalbandian, an Armenian Christian lawyer from Jerusalem's Old City, who made a clear call for Christians who profess to care for Israel to respond to such acts of extremism not with bitterness and criticism, but with more love.
"It is not always easy to not attack the Israeli side when we see things like this," said Nalbandian, who has witnessed regular petty attacks on Christians in the Old City. "But, if we are true friends, what is the message we want to send? How should we react? If you saw the vandal who committed this particular crime, what would you say? Would you be bitter and angry? Or would you say, 'Come, let us be friends' and thereby demonstrate Christ's love?"
In a remark that stands in direct contradiction to the agenda behind the upcoming "Christ at the Checkpoint" conference in Bethlehem, Nalbandian insisted that "it is not always right to fight for our 'rights.' Rather, as Christians who love Israel, we need to be, as the Lord sent us, lambs with a message of love and forgiveness."
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1940 Census results released by the Census Bureau after 72 years: Genealogists and history buffs rejoiceMonday, April 2nd, 2012
The Census Bureau swears to protect its data for 72 years. As such, today, the Census Bureau is releasing the 1940 Census results for the first time. The Census Bureau has provided a fairly simple mechanism for sorting through the basic information, with some pretty cool data visualization. And sites like MyTwoCensus.com advertising partner Ancestry.com (with over 1 billion 1940 Census records available) will surely be able to provide more in-depth results for users. (CBS News has provided some suggestions on how search for specific 1940 Census records.)
However, this data release is not without controversy. As The Washington Post writes:
The American Civil Liberties Union, for instance, has for more than 30 years opposed any unrestricted release of census records.
Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the ACLU, said harm could come from combining the rich 1940 Census data with other information.
"Computer technology today allows you to take information from different sources and combine it into a very high-resolution image of somebody's life," he said. "Each particular piece of information might just be one pixel, but when brought together, they become very intrusive."
A document obtained from the National Archives by the Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request shows that, in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau raised privacy concerns about the disclosure of the 1940 Census by the nation's record-keeper.
Census Bureau spokesman Robert Bernstein said in an e-mail that any fears the data could be used to harm anyone living today "such as through identity theft" were alleviated when the National Archives said that no birthdates or Social Security numbers would be in the records. One 1940 Census question asked a sample group of more than 6 million people whether they had a Social Security number but did not ask for the number itself.
We'd love to hear any comments from amateur or professional genealogists or family tree-makers about how you feel the Census Bureau's data has assisted you (or, on the contrary, any problems that you may have had while trying to access information).


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People love social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in their personal lives. However, companies have had less than stellar results replicating that energy with in-house social collaboration for their employees. While some blame the technology, the real problem is that companies demand a fundamentally different approach to social networking. Companies need to start building communities of purpose.
A consumer platform like Facebook is a community of interest. It's a repository of content related to a topic or group of friends. You join a community of interest because you just want to, because it's fun.
Communities of interest thrive under an absence of formality. To create a community of purpose, however, employees need a framework to accelerate and enhance the benefits from social technologies. Without that framework, two bad outcomes are likely. First, employees will develop mediocre and poorly coordinated content. Second, even if employees show an initial burst of energy around using a social networking platform, it will burn out quickly unless someone is actively managing the platform to focus the energy on a specific goal that the business values.
5 Key Success Factors
Companies are racing to introduce business oriented social technologies. But regardless of which social technology they employ, there are five factors to consider in building a community of purpose that employees actually use and that delivers real business results.
1. Motivation: Focus on three areas. The first is what the business needs from the community. If the business need isn't well served, you may get a thriving community of interest, but it won't deliver a meaningful result. The second and equally important vantage point is that of the user — one frequently forgotten about in the context of business. How does it help the employee get something done more effectively? What's in it for them? The third is whether internal IT will actively support the social technology effort. Cloud-based solutions have made IT's blessing slightly less important, since groups are less reliant on IT to launch communities.
3. Behavior: Culture sets the company's mission and expectations for collaboration; behavior is about making sure day-to-day use of social media technology serves the company's goals in practice. This starts with a clear purpose for the community, but it may also require training and giving employees time for collaboration using the community platform. And just because you build it doesn't mean they will come. Mass email as in invitation to participate won't get more people to contribute — personal emails (mail merge!) will. If there's no response to or acknowledgement of content submissions, it can make a contributor feel like they've put something in a black hole. Have a "What's in it for me?" incentive to keep people engaged over the lifecycle of the community.
4. Influencers: Social technology has not only flipped the organizational hierarchy upside down, it has spun it around a few times. People who actively contribute to a community of purpose can come from any level in the organization. It breaks the top-down hierarchy, so a person's message, if it's on point, can resonate and carry more weight than executive communications. This creates a new breed of influencer, so you need a strategy to make sure the right message gets heard in an internal community of purpose, and beyond.
5. Community Maturity: The maturity level of the community isn't about age, it's about the ability, interest and trust of a group of people to use social networking technologies at work. This maturity is a critical factor that leaders must plan for when crafting a community of purpose framework. Where the maturity level is low, additional time and resources may be needed to shepherd a community. When maturity's high, companies should explore new ways to foster greater and broader participation. One way is to relinquish increasing levels of decision-making control to the community. Leaders in a mature community can be tapped to evangelize with low-maturity communities in communicating the successes using higher maturity-level techniques.
Source: Information Week


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Sunday, 31 October 2010 07:46
Reminiscent of Kristallnacht violence, Israeli Arabs in Haifa District's Umm al-Fahm community were attacked, Haaretz writers Fadi Eyadat, Jack Khoury, and Chaim Levinson headlining, "Police clash with Arab protesters as rightists rally in Umm al-Fahm," saying:
In Arab Umm al-Fahm, "Dozens of extreme rightists (hooligan West Bank settlers) held a protest against the Islamic Movement," an initiative advocating Islam among Israeli Arabs on three levels - religious, social, and support for Palestinian self-determination.
Clashes followed, pitting Arab residents against 1,500 police, including special paramilitary and undercover forces, aiding hooliganism, "fir(ing) tear gas and stun grenades" to scatter crowds. Nine Arab residents were arrested, portrayed as instigators when they responded in self-defense.
Haaretz said about "30 right-wing demonstrators traveled in buses from Jerusalem to Umm al-Fahm on (October 27), led by far-right activists Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir." Their purpose - in league with police, to hold a provocative demonstration march to incite violence, calling on Israel to outlaw the Islamic Movement (headquartered in Umm al-Fahm), as well as condemn Sheikh Raed Salah's (its leader) Gaza Freedom Flotilla participation.
Head of the religious Jewish National Front party, Marzel is a notorious bigot, a man saying he was Rabbi Meir Kahana's "right hand man" - Kahana, the extreme racist former Kach party head until Israel banned it in 1988, calling it a "threat to security." Gviv is a Knesset aide to MK Michael Ben-Ari (a protest march participant), and spokesman for Marzel's Jewish National Front party. Both men are fascists.
Their actions, and others like them, defile core Judaic tenets. Exhibit A - holding a provocative/racist/violent rally in an Arab community where they're not wanted and don't belong. It was held close the 20th November 5 anniversary of Kahana's assassination, a man who lived and died by the sword, a rabbi in name only.
On October 27, Al-Jazeerah covered the incident headlining, "Israeli Occupation Forces Attack Palestinians in Um Al-Fahm, During a Provocative March by Fascist Israeli Settlers," saying:
Violent clashes resulted, "Israeli occupation government policemen....protected dozens of extremist Jewish settlers holding a provocative protest against the Islamic Movement...."
Besides assaulting residents with tear gas and stun grenades, police "physically attacked them which led to injuries and suffocation cases." MK Haneen Zoubi was harmed, struck in the back and neck by rubber bullets when police opened fire. She believes snipers deliberately targeted her for her Gaza Freedom Flotilla participation, after which she received death threats and calls to expel her from parliament.
Angrily, she denounced police violence, saying: They "proved that they are a far more dangerous threat to me and other Arab citizens than the fascist group that came to Umm al-Fahm," though for sure former Kahanists and others like them pose a serious threat. Unaccountable, they're lawless, menacing, and rampage freely in the West Bank.
Umm al-Fahm is Israel's largest Arab community, its population exceeding 43,000. Before settlers arrived, police and paramilitary goons deployed within and around the city, ready to initiate assaults when they came. Arab residents, of course, reacted defensively.
MK Afu Agbaria was also injured, telling Al Jazeerah that right-wing settlers and police "attack(ed) the legitimacy of the Arab presence in the country in coordination with the right-wing extremists in the government."
Umm al-Fahm's Deputy Mayor Mustafa Ghalin told Haaretz that the city "will never be open to those extreme right-wingers," arriving to incite violence.
On October 28, Muslims.net said "Palestinian leaders called for (a) city-wide strike....in protest (against) premeditated Israeli police brutality and violence." The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee wants it. It also demands that Israel investigate the violence, committee chairman Mohammed Zeidan saying:
"What happened (on October 27) was a very dangerous occurrence. This wasn't a Marzel incident. It was an attack by security forces who came to the city" with that in mind. "They planted undercover officers (dressed like Arabs) among us who threw stones (to provoke) and attack. Their decision was clear from the beginning, even though they knew there were Knesset members in the crowd. What we felt on our flesh today has taught us that a new era has started. Racism is no longer found only in documents or on the margins, like with Marzel, but has become a phenomenon among decision makers and carried out on the ground. What happened in Umm al-Fahm is a menacing escalation."
The committee plans to circulate a message to human rights groups and global figures, highlighting the growing danger. It's reminiscent indeed of 1930s Germany that escalated from racist laws to widespread violence to death camps and mass extermination. Afterward, worldwide Jewry said "never again," a hollow slogan given Israel's decades long slow-motion genocide against Palestinian and Israeli Arabs, former victims now world-class hatemonger/persecutors, committing horrendous daily crimes.
Umm al-Fahm residents understand. So do West Bank and East Jerusalem Palestinians as well as 1.5 million besieged Gazans. Suffocating under imposed harshness, their very existence is threatened. Yet they endure despite little outside aid, knowing it's up to themselves to survive, what they've done heroically for over six decades and have no intention now of quitting, a lesson Israelis haven't learned or that what they're doing is self-destructive.
A Final Comment
On October 27, Haaretz writer Jack Khoury headlined, "Israeli Arab activist confesses to spying for Hezbollah." Well not exactly. Falsely accused and given a choice of life in prison or less, Ameer Makhoul signed a plea bargain, "approved by the highest ranking levels of prosecution, including the state prosecutor."
According to Haaretz, he admitted to espionage, contact with a foreign agent, and abetting an enemy, Makhoul saying in court that the story "is not yet finished." He claims many charges were irrelevant, but took the lesser of two choices. His lawyer said he passed no classified documents or materials to anyone, let alone an enemy agent. All cited information was well known and publicly available. On December 5, he'll be sentenced. Prosecutors want 10 years. His counsel seeks seven.
Makhoul is an Israeli citizen, human rights activist, and head of the internationally recognized Ittijah organization for Palestinian empowerment. He also chairs the Public Committee for the Defence of Political Prisoners within the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee in Israel. Moreover, he supports the global BDS movement. Like many others, he was targeted for his activism and faith. In his case, for his prominence as well.
He committed no crime, yet was arrested in May on spurious charges of spying for Hezbollah. In fact, his outspokenness and legal discussions, within and outside Israel, were called communicating with a "state enemy," outrageous by any standard.
According to Ittijah's founder, Dr. Hatim Kanaaneh, "there is no doubt" that he was targeted for his political views. His wife, Janan, said "The story is not finished, it will be told later." Accepting a plea "was a choice between bad (or) worse" in a nation where Arabs get no justice. It bears testimony to Israel's lawlessness, its mockery of democratic principles, ones even eroding for Jews.
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Increasingly I'm seeing reports of modules failing (e.g., t/test_autoencoding_conversion.t fails and Gofer test failures with PERL_UNICODE=AS and PERL_UNICODE and smokes) when PERL_UNICODE is set - I see others saying much the same thing and apparently eve
What module do you use when doing any kind of HTTP programming - LWP? By far the most popular module for the HTTP protocol in Perl and one which just works and works well with a minimal amount of application code. Now you might be put off by the 123 bug reports in the LWP rt queue but in all my time I've never hit one myself - other than an issue which was not LWP but Perl and to do with tainted data used with LWP (see Why is taint mode so slow?).
I maintian DBD::ODBC but I am wrestling with problems coping with 64 bit platforms. The problem is rather complex but I'm hoping that by describing it here someone will help come up with a logical answer to at least stop DBD::ODBC building in circumstances which are suspect.
I have just uploaded DBD::ODBC 1.31 to pause. This is the culmination of 7 development releases and I thought it was time to do an official release. Due to personal issues I am unlikely to be doing another update to DBD::ODBC in the near future but if you find issues please report them on RT and I'll try my best. The changes since 1.29 are below. There are significant changes since the last official release and a few changes in behaviour. If you didn't test a development release and it now goes wrong I'm sorry but after 7 development releases you had your chance.
I've recently stepped up from a bridge camera (a Panasonic Lumix) to a Nikon D3100 DSLR. I like the camera in general but one issue is bothering me a lot and it is the exposure metering and a too dark warning.
Like many people I've used the Perl module Data::Dumper for years and been reasonably happy with the output. Generally I want the output rolled up into the smallest (line-wise) output and Data::Dumper allows this. However, I use Math::FixedPrecision quite a bit in this project and as it is a blessed object the fixed precision numbers of 2 come out ridiculously verbose and almost unreadable.
I've been using Perl on and off for over 15 years. In the last 10 years of so I've been using Perl a lot in my work and play. I don't have a huge list of modules I look after but I maintain a couple of modules and contribute to many. What never ceases to amaze me is the Perl community. By that I mean the huge group of people working tirelessly to improve the Perl core, write Perl modules and applications, organise conferences and workshops, test Perl and CPAN, report issues, support Perl on IRC, the many mailing lists and web sites and give freely their knowledge and expertise to others. Thank you.
A word of warning. The build process for DBD::ODBC against unixODBC on 64 bit platforms may not produce a workable solution perhaps even segfaulting. The short reason is that few Linux distributions/packages of unixODBC are up to date and few distribute unixODBC's odbc_config which DBD::ODBC needs to ascertain the compiler defines required to build a DBI driver which matches unixODBC. The long answer which which includes a workaround follows.
Some background:


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Author Notes: Sometimes when I learn something new in the kitchen I feel embarrassed that I hadn't figured it out sooner. Cooking asparagus was that way. Sure, I knew how to high-heat roast it, and I loved that technique. But when I wasn't roasting asparagus, I'd slide back to blanching the spears. Then, while working on a story a few years ago, Carlo Mirarchi, the chef at Roberta's, showed me the right way. As he noted, blanching does little but drain asparagus's flavor, and they're no longer so tough that they need blanching anyway. A much better method is to saute them in oil or butter (or some combination thereof). They cook through quickly and retain all their flavor.
That's what I do now. And so should you (when you're not roasting them). To celebrate my asparagus enlightenment, I'd like to share with you two recipes that involve sauteing and not much other work. One calls for pancetta, the other for chiles and lemon -- all of my most reliable friends in the kitchen. —Amanda Hesser
Serves: 3 to 4 (add a poached egg and it serves 2 for dinner)
One 1/4-inch-thick slice pancetta, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
tablespoons olive oil, plus more if needed
cup coarse bread crumbs
pound asparagus, ends trimmed
Coarse sea salt
Maldon or other flaky sea salt, for garnish
Coarsely ground black pepper
- Spread the pancetta in a large, heavy saute pan and place over medium heat. Cook the pancetta until it has browned and rendered its fat. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towel.
- Keep the pan over medium heat and add the breadcrumbs. Stir to coat the breadcrumbs in the pancetta fat (add oil, if needed), and cook, stirring, until the bread it toasted. Transfer to a plate. Wash out the saute pan if the breadcrumbs have stuck. Otherwise, keep going.
- Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan, and increase the heat to medium-high. Add the asparagus spears, season with salt, and saute. They will brighten in color. Saute until just cooked through, but still crisp-tender at the center, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Arrange the asparagus on a platter. Sprinkle the pancetta and breadcrumbs on top. Season with a little Maldon, or other flaky sea salt, and pepper.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!


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The Art of the Walking Dead by John Watkiss
The Art of the Walking Dead by John Watkiss
view pieces
Following the sold-out exhibit, The Art of the Walking Dead by John Watkiss, Nucleus is pleased to announce that additional concept art created for the series is now available from the prolific artist. These new arrivals will be made available online to collectors on April 21, 2013. Please inquire using the form to the right. There will not be a physical exhibit in tandem. Below is information regarding the initial exhibit which was on display at Nucleus from November 17 through December 11, 2012.
The television series, The Walking Dead, tells the story of a small group of survivors living in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The group struggles to balance their humanity with their survival against the zombie horde.
Nucleus presents a collection of concept art developed for the television series by acclaimed artist, John Watkiss. Each original drawing or painting created by the artist served as reference for the film crew to pre-visualize film sequences, action, and camera angles. This is a rare opportunity to own an important piece of the hit television series.
More About the Artist:
With notable academic accomplishments, John Watkiss began his career in London as a portrait painter and illustrator as well as teaching anatomy and fine art at the Royal College of Art and Spielberg's Amblimation. The artist has collaborated with numerous high profile studios on projects including Tarzan, Atlantis, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Sherlock Holmes. Watkiss' work has been featured in the British National Portrait Gallery and The Ford Motor Company Museum.
John Watkiss
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By Jonnelle Marte
New data showing jobless claims have risen to the highest level in three months may mean more trouble for the already-reeling junk bond market.
Even before the unemployment numbers were released this morning, yields on junk bonds were rising (yields rise when bond prices drop). The average junk bond now pays 6.2 percentage points over comparable Treasurys, up 0.5 percentage points from a month ago, says John Lonski, chief economist for Moody's Analytics. Financial advisers say that spread may widen, since junk bonds are among the investment assets that are most sensitive to economic news and changes in economic sentiment. "Investors have become more risk averse," says Lonski.
Indeed, fund investors have begun to bail from the high-yield market. According to the most recent data available, investors pulled $1.4 billion from high-yield bond funds in the week ended April 11, ending an 18 week streak of inflows, according to fund research firm EPFR Global.
Experts say the rise in jobless claims is reigniting concerns that the economic recovery is stalling. Earnings, which are growing at much slower pace than last year, could shrink further if consumer sentiment and spending hit the skids, says Wilmer Stith, portfolio manager of the $295 million Wilmington Broad Market Bond fund (AKIRX). That would increase the risk in high-yield bonds. Average bond defaults rose to 2.8% for the 12 months ending in March, from a low of 1.9% in December 2011, says Lonski.
To be sure, any rebound in jobs or the overall economy could reverse the move out of junk bonds. Strong demand in the technology sector and an increase in U.S. exports could bring weekly jobless claims back down, says Stith.
In the meantime, some advisers and fund managers are scaling back their clients' exposure to high-yield bonds. Stith is steering clear of buying more junk bonds, instead adding more investment grade corporate bonds and mortgage-backed securities. And Michael Collins, a senior investment officer at Prudential Fixed Income, is snapping up higher-quality junk bonds, which offer attractive yields but also carry less risk of default. For instance, bonds rated BB, the highest credit rating for a junk bond, pay about 3 percentage points more than bonds rated BBB, or investment grade. "It just seems like a great risk return trade-off for me," says Collins.


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OpenLearning API
Find out more about our new API Documentation
The OpenLearning API uses HTTP and JSON to make it easy to access and manipulate OpenLearning data. The API uses HTTP Basic Authentication for an OpenLearning user or any existing session cookie.
This API is not designed for creating interactive apps that are embedded into OpenLearning, it should instead be used for downloading and manipulating data via external scripts.
We request that you do not release software which asks users for their OpenLearning credentials.
Activity Blocks
Activity Blocks Client-Side API
https://www.openlearning.com/api/users/newbie - If you're logged in, this will download a file called output.json with the data. If you're not logged in it will prompt you for HTTP Basic Authentication.
The following command line tools can be used to experiment with the API.
curl -u username:password https://www.openlearning.com/api/users/newbie - curl. Use -i to see the HTTP response codes, if you get a blank response.
wget -O- --user username --password password https://www.openlearning.com/api/users/newbie - wget.
lwp-request -C username:password https://www.openlearning.com/api/users/newbie - lwp-request.
Python with requests
This example shows how to access the API from a python script, using the python requests library.
1. #!/usr/bin/python 2. import requests, json 3. authentication = ('username', 'password') 4. url = 'https://openlearning.com/api/users/newbie' 5. response = requests.get(url, auth=authentication) 6. print json.loads(response.content)
The following pages demonstrate the various OpenLearning API's currently available for use. These pages will be progressively updated with new API's as they become available.


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David Stern is threatening to cancel the entire season if significant progress isn't make this weekend. Is he using this as a negotiating strategy, trying to scare the players into giving in or is he serious and are we days away from finding out that there isn't going to be any professional basketball (I'm not counting the WNBA) for at least 13 months?
Personally I think he'll announce the season is cancelled early next week if nothing gets done this weekend. He's not messing around and neither are the owners. This is a terrible thought and I hope I'm wrong. What do you think?


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Bay Area Kiteboarding Winter Contest Complete Details
Announcing the Bay Area Kiteboarding 1st Annual Winter Contest!
Contest open to U.S. Residents only, please.
You can put that Winter downtime to good use and help support and grow Bay Area Kiteboarding by submitting Articles for publication on the website. Articles can be about anything kiteboarding related - travel destinations, techniques, video or gear reviews, learning, choosing gear, preventing injuries, kiting experiences, how you started kiting, local spots, - anything goes! The contest will be in effect through January 31, 2005 when the winners will be announced. Winners to be picked by Random Drawing. Read the complete details below.
Post your articles anywhere on the site or submit your articles including any pictures to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Prizes are as follows:
Grand Prize: Best kiteboardng '04 12m Nemesis Kite
1st Prize: UltraNectar Waterpants, Kitefilm.com DVD, Bay Area Kiteboarding T-Shirt, KB Calendar, KB Mag Subscription & Current KB Issue
2nd Prize: UltraNectar Shorts, Bay Area Kiteboarding T-Shirt, Kitefilm.com DVD, KB Calendar, KB Mag Subscription & Current KB Issue
3rd Prize: UltraNectar T-Shirt, Bay Area Kiteboarding T-Shirt, Slingshot DVD, KB Calendar, KB Mag Subscription & Current KB Issue
4th Prize: Bay Area Kiteboarding T-Shirt, KB Calendar, KB Mag Subscription & Current KB Issue
5th Prize: Bay Area Kiteboarding T-Shirt, KB Calendar, KB Mag Subscription & Current KB Issue
Bay Area Kiteboarding T-Shirt design forthcoming!
Thanks to the following sponsors for making this possible:
Best Kiteboarding
UltraNectar - A Multi Sport apparel company - "Wear The Feeling" - Athletic performance fashion. Give them a visit!
KiteFilm.com - "The complete kiteboarding guide" is an instructional video. This film teaches you everything you wanted to know and all the things you never even thought about. Mark Shinn is double worldchampion, and he guides you through all steps, from rigging your kite till jumping, doing spins and tricks and riding the big waves on Hawaii.
"Kitefilm.com is proud to present "Trick of the week"
Every week we will add a new trick from the film "The complete kiteboarding guide"." Check out the KiteFilm.com website!
The Kiteboarder Magazine - The excellent new kiteboarding mag, setting the standard. If you haven't already check out this great new mag, you can download it free at the KB Mag website Check it out!
Contest Details
1. Winners to be picked by Random Drawing.
2. Prizes will be available for pick-up within the San Francisco Bay Area or shipped within US.
3. Minimum of 5 contributors and overall total of 15 articles required. Of course, more is better!
4. Contest ends on January 31, 2005.
5. Help support Bay Area Kiteboarding! Good Luck!


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Intel Atom Z3000 Series Review - Bay Trail and Silvermont Arrive
A Whole New Atom Family
This past spring I spent some time with Intel at its offices in Santa Clara to learn about a brand new architecture called Silvermont. Built for and targeted at low power platforms like tablets and smartphones, Silvermont was not simply another refresh of the aging Atom processors that were all based on Pentium cores from years ago; instead Silvermont was built from the ground up for low power consumption and high efficiency to compete against the juggernaut that is ARM and its partners. My initial preview of the Silvermont architecture had plenty of detail about the change to an out-of-order architecture, the dual-core modules that comprise it and the power optimizations included.
Today, during the annual Intel Developer Forum held in San Francisco, we are finally able to reveal the remaining details about the new Atom processors based on Silvermont, code named Bay Trail. Not only do we have new information about the designs, but we were able to get our hands on some reference tablets integrating Bay Trail and the new Atom Z3000 series of SoCs to benchmark and compare to offerings from Qualcomm, NVIDIA and AMD.
A Whole New Atom Family
It should be surprise to anyone that the name "Intel Atom Processor" has had a stigma attached to it almost since its initial release during the netbook craze. It was known for being slow and hastily put together though it was still a very successful product in terms of sales. With each successive release and update, Diamondville to Pineview to Cedarview, Atom was improved but only marginally so. Even with Medfield and Clover Trail the products were based around that legacy infrastructure and it showed. Tablets and systems based on Clover Trail saw only moderate success and lukewarm reviews.
With Silvermont the Atom brand gets a second chance. Some may consider it a fifth or sixth chance, but Intel is sticking with the name. Silvermont as an architecture is incredibly flexible and will find its way into several Intel products like Avoton, Bay Trail and Merrifield and in segments from the micro-server to smartphones to convertible tablets. Not only that, but Intel is aware that Windows isn't the only game out there anymore and the company will support the architecture across Linux, Android and Windows environments.
Atom has been in tablets for some time now, starting in September of last year with Clover Trail deigns being announced during IDF. In February we saw the initial Android-based options also filter out, again based on Clover Trail. They were okay, but really only stop-gaps to prove that Intel was serious about the space. The real test will be this holiday season with Bay Trail at the helm.
While we always knew these Bay Trail platforms were going be branded as Atom we now have the full details on the numbering scheme and productization of the architecture. The Atom Z3700 series will consist of quad-core SoCs with Intel HD graphics (the same design as the Core processor series though with fewer compute units) that will support Windows and Android operating systems. The Atom Z3600 will be dual-core processors, still with Intel HD graphics, targeted only at the Android market.
Continue reading our review of the Intel Bay Trail processor, Atom Z3770!!
What might be surprising to some is the return of the Pentium and Celeron brands! That's right, for very low cost notebook and desktop systems Intel is going to insert the Silvermont architecture and Bay Trail processors into these recurring brands. Quad-core options for notebooks and desktops will get the Pentium brand while the dual-core options will be called Celeron. The Silvermont-based Pentium and Celeron processors are not aimed at the same markets as the Core processors and instead these will be found in very low cost solutions.
For the Atom Z3000 series Intel has some lofty goals for both performance and mobility. More than 8 hours of battery life and 3 weeks of standby time will definitely put Silvermont in the right area to compete against the many low-cost Windows laptops on the market, but for Android devices that usable battery life is a bit on the low side. Intel wants flexibility for all the major platforms (Windows and Android) though the obvious starting point is going to be Windows due to the familiarity on both sides with the x86 architecture. Bay Trail has significant performance increases on both the CPU front and the GPU side compared to Intel's previous Clover Trail platform while also adding support for features like high-resolution and wireless displays.
Enterprise will also find the adoption of Bay Trail easier thanks to many technologies being included that were previously only on the Core-series of Intel processors. Security and management will function nearly exactly as IT is used to with Core notebooks and system today. Intel is promoting 64-bit processor support as well, which is true, but it isn't quite ready yet. While Intel says that the hardware is perfectly compatible with 64-bit technology, they are waiting for early 2014 to release models on 64-bit versions of Windows.
Intel already sells Core-based tablets and convertible laptops and with the release of the Haswell architecture this year they became much more useable as solo devices. Bay Trail and the Atom Z3000 series will replace the Clover Trail systems in the pricing area under $599. Intel is reserving the Ultrabook brand solely for Core based systems, which I think is a good decision as it maintains some performance expectations that users can count on. Thin form factor devices powered by Bay Trail will simply be called convertibles and ultraportables.
Here the product lineup for the Atom Z3000 series being announced today. At the high end we have the Atom Z3770 and Z3770D, quad-core processors with 2MB of L2 cache and clock rates as high as 2.4 GHz with bursting. Remember that this is different than Turbo Boost on the high end parts that sustains these higher speeds; Bay Trail uses them to maintain a smooth user experience. The memory configuration of these two parts differs with the Z3770 sporting a dual-channel design and the Z3770D with a single channel (though with higher clock rates). This actually has important ramifications in memory capacity support (4GB on dual-channel, 2GB on single channel) as well as the maximum supported resolution (2560x1600 on dual, 1920x1200 on single).
The clock speeds here are listed as maximums, and when I asked about base clocks and the frequency of hitting these peaks, there were some interesting looks from Intel. The base clock of the Z3770 parts is 1.8 GHz and the other parts are at 1.5 GHz. How frequently you can hit 2.4 GHz is up to the design of the system you are using the cooling solution efficiency. Very small (7-in) tablets will be hard to keep at 2.4 GHz for long, but it can reach it when it needs it most. Notebooks and larger devices that room for better cooling could run at 2.4 GHz for the majority of the time under load.
Obviously for higher end tablets that focus on performance and require a higher resolution screen the Z3770 is going to be the SoC of choice.
The Atom Z3740 and Z3740D are still quad-core, 2MB L2 cache options though their frequencies top out at a 1.8 GHz burst clock rate. Single and dual-channel options still exist with the same resolution restrictions.
The Z3680 and Z3680D are dual-core SoCs with 1MB of L2 cache and clock speeds that will reach 2.0 GHz but each only has a single channel memory controller. In this case though, the Z3680 will only support a resolution of 1280x800 and a 1GB memory capacity compared to the 1920x1200 and 2GB capacity of the Z3680D. It's a bit confusing for the 'D' model to be higher resolution and capacity than the standard (opposite of the Z3770/D) but the naming scheme maintains the memory controller type information.
Video News
What is the clock speed of the z3770 you are testing?
How could let Intel not talk about TDP... is it that bad?
It's not great. The Z3770 bursts up to 2.4 GHz with a base clock of 1.8 GHz.
Given that all the reviewers are benching and testing what is top of the line Atom Z3770 (with dual channel mem and turbo of 2.4Ghz), it is reasonable to expect that the current OEMs using the Clovertrail Z2760 in pricey tablets/hybrids would utilize the new top line Baytrail in similar pricey products?
Another thing to consider is how well or not well Intel has supported the current Atom lineup with buggy crash prone drivers that has ticked off a large number of owners for the past few years.
To top it off, Intel claims that the new Atoms will be found in low priced tablets by the end of the year and if so, those Atoms will be very low spec low clock single channel CPUs.
As you say, the proof of viability of Intel's new Atoms will be in the price of their product pudding.
And eat healthy food that will make you fit and fine.
Many nutritionists believe that the best time to eat food is when a person feels hungry since
this is arguably the body's natural way of signaling that our
energy supply needs replenishment. The cardinal sin committed by many endurance athletes is complete disregard of strength training for fear of slowing
them down by adding muscle.
Would be nice to see this on say a low power server system, perfect for File/Media Storage/Streaming as an option to a 35W TDP CPU.
maybe get rid of the h.264 encoder/decoder and make the GPU even smaller?
Poor AMD it looks like they have lost this round already. :( Well if we look at the bright side, it at least appears that their new chips seem to be producing decent performance numbers in graphic intense applications.
This is a stunning upgrade from clovertrail .. Intel has finally arrived in this space.
interesting to see the higher 3dmark performance on android!?
also, ST performance on cinebench looks equivalent to a A64 3000+ from 2003, but obviously 4x cores and the power efficiency can justify the 10 years difference.
Considering that this isn't a desktop chip and has much lower power consumption, I think your comparison is a bit ridiculous.
U can't really compare a 2003 desktop cpu with this
Architectures have changed and in 20003 u still
Had ddr ram now it's ddr 3.
Besides I have compared a core u duo 1.8 ghz cpu with this this baytrail and the baytrail seems
To do Everything faster
Is it possible to do a NAS benchmark for the CPU?
I currently use a DIY NAS and it can easily max out a gigabit connection, but it is using a a CPU (AMD APU) that pulls 65 watts. Handling NAS loads and media streaming, and VPN access does not put high load on the CPU.
I don't like premade NAS devices because there are many that cost $1000 with no hard drives and still perform worse than a $550 NAS including 6TB of storage.
It would be awesome if this CPU can work well in a low powered and near silent NAS build
What he said. I am also very interested in the prospect of this technology being used in this way
What kind of test would you like? How could I get a benchmark that is relavant?
Isn't the temash HP laptop based on HDD? Did you change the Temash to a SSD to compare against BayTrail?
Also, how about PCMark / Vantage results for comparison?
untill i dont know die size of this Atom and its max TDP I cannot apreciate it. Intel avoided to give those numbers, so something is strange.
lets consider that in this moment AMD Jaguar A4-5000 get a die schrink at 22 nm . Then will beat hard the ass of Intel in power, graphics, performance and whatever you want.
Beat Intel?really?better hope Intel doesn't offer this with 3.5 w.if Intel does I'm pretty sure they could up GPU frequency.at 3.5 they would beat and in all but heavy gaming .nobody do hardcore gaming on tablet.
Are your benchmarks using a single core, or all available cores? This is very important, as you directly compare to AMD's competing Temash 1250, which is only a dual core part. You also fail to specify that it's dual core in the spec breakdown, though you give Clovertrail that privelege.
Not getting my tinfoil hat out or anything, and my point is moot if the benchmark only tests a single core, but you should probably highlight (and bold, and underline) core counts as they play a huge role in benchmark results if multithreaded...
Sorry, I should revise my comment to say this is only based on reading the first page - though the points are still valid for that page.
Wow, apologies. I meant the first page with benchmarks (SiSoft Sandra). On a roll tonight..
Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to generate a superb article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and don't manage to get anything done.


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A trip to Rome is not complete without a visit to the Vatican City. Measuring just under 44 hectares, the Vatican is the smallest country in the world. The religious centre of the Roman-Catholic Church is a separate state that doesn't require a passport to enter. The residence of the Pope draws millions of pilgrims and visitors a year and only counts 800 official residents.
The Vatican museum is one of the most beautiful museums in the world: it displays countless masterpieces of paintings and sculptures. Over the course of time, several popes have also amassed an impressive art collection; the popes were among the first art lovers who opened up their collections to the public. The Vatican museum first opened in 1503 with Pope Julius II's collection of sculptures. These sculptures are still on display and can be admired in the Cortile Ottagono.
The Sistine Chapel was built on the same site where the Cappella Maggiore, the Greater Chapel, once stood. The ruins of the larger chapel were demolished, making room for a new chapel by order of Pope Sixtus IV in 1473, and was named the Sistine Chapel in his honour. The first mass was held during the celebration of Mary Ascension, when the Sistine Chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In 1508, Michelangelo was commissioned to repaint the ceiling of the chapel. His paintings and frescoes consist of more than 300 figures, the most famous of which is of course 'The Creation'. Michelangelo was also responsible for the painting above the altar, 'The Final Judgement'.
For a whole other perspective of the Vatican, join a 'Scavi-tour' which leads to the Necropolis below St. Peter's Basilica. Here we find the tomb of St. Peter. His final resting place was discovered by chance when digging a grave for another Pope. For believers, a visit to the Scavi is a fascinating experience because it brings them into close contact with the early days of Christianity. In addition to the tomb of St. Peter, you will see graves that have been practically untouched for 2,000 years – even in Ancient Rome that is quite unique.
Visitors may also enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican gardens. These gardens cover more than 23 hectares, more than half the size of Vatican City, and are located behind the St. Peter's Basilica, immediately behind the Vatican Museum. In addition to the vegetation, the gardens feature fountains, monuments and buildings, some dating back to the 9th century. These tours are very popular so it is best to reserve a few days ahead.
St. Peter's Basilica is located on the famous St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City. The Basilica is not only Rome's cathedral, but also the first of the 7 Pilgrim churches in the city. The original St. Peter's Basilica was built in 324 A.D. but fell into disrepair. In 1506, architect Bramante began the construction of the second basilica which was completed in 1626. Most of the church's decorations were created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The crypt with the tombs of 148 popes is located below the central nave in the cathedral. Just before leaving the Basilica, have a look at Michelangelo's masterpiece 'Pietà'.


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Stamford Symphony; Big Time
STAMFORD -- The stage at the Palace Theatre was packed tight with musicians as the Stamford Symphony continued its Harmon Orchestra Classic Series with a program conducted by itsmusic director and principal conductor Eckart Preu. It was the largest orchestra that the SSO has used in the last several seasons, and the music came to life through the rich and varied colors that this large ensemble made available. The big sound of this big orchestra made a big impression.
The evening opened with the Polovtsian Dances from Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor. This opera is in the Met repertoire for the first time since 1917, so we heard this ballet music within a larger context. The Polovtsian Dances appear at the end of the first act of the opera as an entertainment offered by Kahn for the pleasure of Igor, who is a defeated leader and prisoner. The music solidified the aural image of an exotic land and influenced the sound world that Rimsky-Korsakov created in Scheherazade, which closed the program.
Colorful percussion, a rich sectional viola sound, clever phrasings during clarinet and oboe solos, and a resonant trombone trio all added delight to this performance. The big ending was greeted with big applause.
Pianist Jeffrey Kahane joined the orchestra as soloist in the Ravel Piano Concerto G Major. Kahane is a well-known soloist and conductor who has recorded on several major labels including SONY, and who will be playing this Ravel concerto as soloist and conductor with the New York Philharmonic later this month.
The Ravel concerto is scored for smaller forces than the works that surrounded it, and this contrast made the jazzy, chamber-like qualities of this concerto apparent. Kahane had an attractive conception of this work. The real test of any soloist in the Ravel is the opening of the second movement. He let it play without pushing and pulling and teasing and the work revealed its deep inner beauty and subtle humor through a sense of intimacy.
Early in the concerto Kahane showed how the piano can sizzle in F-sharp major, and later how its dream-like writing can interact with the woodwinds. Bassoonist Gina Cuffari made a welcome impression with the orchestra with high bassoon solos that sounded very much like a saxophone. She also played edgy solos in Scheherazade.
Preu and Kahane made an effective team in the finale, which was given with mechanical precision and groove.
The evening ended with Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. Preu took a deliberate tempo in the first movement and allowed its power to build. By contrast, the tempo in the third movement's love music was brisk, which created a subtle dance vibe. Scheherazade, with its fabulous images and colorful potpourri is really a concerto for orchestra and it requires an ensemble that is up to the task. The SSO was up to the task. Concertmaster Erica Kiesewetter played the tricky but often-taken-for-granted solo violin part persuasively, and there were memorable solos in clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe, trumpet, and solo cello.
The big evening ended with a big sound from the tam-tam that represented Sinbad's ship crashing on rocks. Then dream-like music brought us toward a quiet close, and we emerged from the Palace Theatre into a cold Stamford evening feeling refreshed.


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Woman dies in fiery I-95 crash as car is crushed beneath truck
A 27-year-old Bridgeport woman died in a fiery crash early Sunday when her car became wedged under a tractor-trailer truck and burst into flames on Interstate 95 near the local northbound rest stop.
Yvonne Sokol was pronounced dead at the scene following the 6:30 a.m. accident near Exit 22 northbound, according to State Police.
Sokol was driving at a high rate of speed and swerving in and out of the highway's left and center lanes, police said. As she veered right, she struck the rear of the tractor-trailer truck, police said.
The car burst into flames and became wedged under the truck driven by Brian Quinn, 50, of Dedham Mass., who police said was not injured in the crash.
Sokol, the car's only occupant, had no pulse when firefighters arrived at the scene. The woman was trapped in the mangled wreck beneath the tractor-trailer, according to a statement by Assistant Fire Chief Schuyler Sherwood.
Engine trucks 1 and 2, Ladder trucks 1 and 2, and Car 3 were all dispatched to the scene. They were later assisted by Engine 4 and a crew of Westport firefighters.
After extinguishing the fire, operations to lift the truck's trailer off the car were started. Twenty-four emergency services personnel, along with a heavy-duty wrecker, were involved in hoisting the trailer and extricating the woman from the car.
The woman's body was taken to an area hospital by an American Medical Response ambulance. Firefighters remained on the scene until about 8:30 a.m. Sunday.


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For the second installment of the Michigan-Ohio State week, we'll go back to 1964.
With Woody Hayes at the helm, Ohio State dominated the rivalry from 1954 to 1968, but in 1964, Michigan only fell once, in a 1-point loss at home to Purdue. On November 21, the Wolverines traveled to Columbus, and in the second quarter, they pounced on the ball when Ohio State fumbled a punt. Two plays later, Bob Timberlake found Jim Detwiler on a crossing pattern for a touchdown, and the Michigan defense made it stand up with a 10-0 win over the Buckeyes.
Michigan went on to the Rose Bowl, where the Wolverines topped Oregon State, 34-7. The video comes to us courtesy of YouTube subscriber Wolverine Historian, who has posted numerous videos spanning a period of more than 60 years. Filmed in vintage black & white, a real treasure for those of us who grew up in the Baby Boom era. Enjoy!


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StickWars Review
- Publisher: John E. Hartzog
- Genre: Arcade
- Released: 1 Apr, 2009
- Size: 16.2 MB
- Price: $0.99
- A good effort from an indy developer
- Good control
- Repetitive gameplay
- Upgrades take too long to acquire
A good first effort from John E. Hartzog. The game doesn't contain much lasting power, but it is well made. We'll be keeping a lookout for his next game.
- Full Review
- App Store Info
It's always good to see independent developers creating games for the iPhone. StickWars is the effort of John E Hartzog and is a tower defense game involving stick figures. You have a wall which you can repair and fortify with more health. Little stick figures with weapons keep sieging this wall, and it's your job to dispose of them.
Control works very well. To remove the stick figures, you simply use your finger to flick them up into the air, allowing gravity to take its course on the way down. Later when you build a prison, you can drag enemies into the prison, and convert them into fighters for your cause. The prison mechanic is interesting but it takes so much playtime to get some of the upgrades (like the archery pit, or bomb factory), that the upgrades don't seem that special.
Can you expect much from stick figures visually? The background and wall is nice, and the characters do move amusingly, but the art is not meant to be spectacular here. Likewise, the music and sound effects while functional don't leave a lasting impression. The main game mode is all there is, but there are online leaderboards and achievements to pad the experience.
Overall, StickWars is fun for a little while, but the enjoyment wears off quickly. If flicking stick figures to their death sounds fun to you, you should give this a go, just be warned that's pretty much all you'll be doing.
DescriptionStickWars is a fast-paced, action-packed game that requires lightning-fast fingers and cunning strategy. Defend your kingdom against the invading stick figure army.
Tap, flick, and shake your way to victory in the top castle defense game for iPhone/iPod touch.
- Unlimited rounds. Play until you're defeated.
- Shake to deploy bombers, and again to detonate!
- Use multi-touch to command your wizards, casting meteors and other spells.
- Use captured stick figures to build up defense.
- Two free StickWars Ultimate Challenge games.
Follow us on Facebook! http://facebook.com/StickWars
Visit our forums at http://johnehartzog.com/forums/ for hints, update information and more.