text:
Pet of the Week: Toby
Toby was brought to the shelter because his owner's nephew was allergic to him. Toby gets along with other cats, but is unsure about dogs. He is good with kids of all ages. He is declawed on all 4 paws and already neutered. He loves to cuddle in people's arms. He is microchipped, frontlined, and started on vaccinations!
If you would like to meet Toby, please email humane email@example.com or visit their website.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Le mar 24/09/2002 à 14:39, Richard C Ferri a écrit : [..] > My personal opinion (and not that of my employer) is that it's a > shame Mandrake didn't work more closely with the open source community to > leverage the work that's already been done to provide a turn key beowulf 1 > solution -- CLIC merely further fragments the beo 1 space. Rich, CLIC is not exactly a beowulf distribution but a project to make the Mandrake Linux distribution cluster-aware. It means that Mandrake may include OSCAR components, NPACI Rocks components, etc and use them as possible cluster managers. This is not innovation, just GPL and the right guys doing the right things:Mandrakesoft (and Red Hat) building rpms and glueing components, and others working on single system image and performance. -- Erwan Velu Linux Cluster Distribution Project Manager MandrakeSoft 43 rue d'aboukir 75002 Paris Phone Number : +33 (0) 1 40 41 17 94 Fax Number : +33 (0) 1 40 41 92 00 Email : erwan at mandrakesoft.com Web site : http://www.linux-mandrake.com OpenPGP key : http://www.mandrakesecure.net/cks/ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature.asc Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 241 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://www.beowulf.org/pipermail/beowulf/attachments/20020925/c88ce31e/attachment.sig>


text:
The services we offer.
This is where you can enter the text to be shown on the first paragraph of this page. This is example text to give you an idea of how your Website will look with your text in it. You should delete it and replace it with your own. If there is anything you are not sure how to do, simply click on 'Help' at the top of the screen.
This is some sample text for the second paragraph of this page. Don't forget, with Meddling Kids you can create an account for free and save your Website before you decide if you would like to buy it. And if you buy your Website you get one year free hosting and a free Domain name.
This is sample text for paragraph 3


text:
Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism marks its 20th.
Suzanne Pharr March 10th, 2008
Twenty years ago, I went to a cabin deep in the Arkansas woods, holed up with my two rat terriers for two months, and wrote the first draft of Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism. It was not a difficult writing task because for seven years I had been schooled in its politics and principles through two privileged methods:
1) working with the spunky Women's Project that took on intersectional politics and a courageous approach to community organizing in Arkansas;
2) and presenting hundreds of workshops on racism and homophobia to groups around the country who shared their experiences and political analysis with me.
Now, it is 20 years later, with 40,000+ copies sold and the Women's Project, which receives its profits, is still hanging in there as a small nonprofit in Arkansas. The book's success can be explained only by our ongoing need and desire to understand the importance of intersectional politics, the power of oppression, and the power of groups and individuals aligning themselves across identities and issues.
Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism can be read on this blog. In the Time of the Right: Reflections on Liberation can be downloaded.


text:
San Antonio — The Wellbridge Co. recently sold the Concord Athletic Club & Spa in San Antonio to Spectrum Athletic Clubs, Los Angeles, and announced a new Colorado Athletic Club, which will open later this year in Denver.
The purchase of the 65,000-square-foot facility gives Spectrum 10 clubs in San Antonio, with an 11th set to open in June in the South Texas Medical Center. Spectrum also has 12 clubs in Southern California.
The Concord club will be renamed Spectrum Athletic Club at Concord Plaza. The club includes strength and cardio equipment, courts for basketball, racquetball and squash, a 25-meter indoor pool, and other amenities.
Spectrum has hired Concord's 100 employees, says Andy Gillen, Spectrum's chief operating officer.
"We've seen this as a great opportunity to add to our family of clubs for quite some time," Gillen says. "It's a fantastic outcome for members and staff at Concord. We'll maintain that high-end presence in San Antonio."
The Colorado Athletic Club at Tabor Center in downtown Denver will include a 25-meter, four-lane indoor pool, cardio and strength equipment, group exercise studios and other amenities.


text:
Iguazu Rapido
- 기간: 72 시
- 위치: Puerto Iguazu
This package is perfect if you require round trip airport transfers, plus transport to see the Argentine Side of the Falls.
Professional Driver
Airport to Hotel (Private Transfer)
Argentine Side of the Falls (Private Round Trip Transfer)
Hotel to Airport (Private Transfer).
Not Included:
Entrances to the falls
Entrances to other attractions not mentioned
Food or beverages
Others not mentioned
Argentine Side of Falls (Private Round Trip Transfer)
During the reservation you are asked to indicate which day you wish to do the Argentine side of the falls.
You will be collected from your accommodation in Puerto Iguazu and transported to the entrance of the Argentine Side of the Falls. When you reach the entrance, your driver will enter with you to explain the best way for you to explore the park on your own and you will make a time to meet them later for the trip back to your hotel.
If you are doing the boat trip under the falls, the driver will explain the location of the starting point . The rest of the time you are free to explore on your own.
Timing Guide
- The gates to the national park open daily at 08:00am, and you need to exit the park by 18:00pm when it closes.
We recommend that you choose a departure before 12:00 midday to have enough time to see the falls before the park closes.
If you walk quickly, you can see the falls in around 5 hours in the low season or 7 hours in the high season.
To visit the falls at a comfortable pace you need about 6 hours in the low season or 8 hours in the high season.
If you want to do the Nautical Adventure (Quick Boat Trip) located inside the park, calculate about 1 hour more.
If you want to do the Great Adventure (Longer Boat Trip) located inside the park, calculate an extra 1.5 hours.
About This Transport Combo
Number of participants: 1 to 12 people (contact us if you need group rates for more participants)
Frequency: You may start this transport combo on any day of the week.
Currency: Brazilian Real (R$) Check Todays Exchange Rate Here
Airport Reception: Our representative will be waiting with a sign as you exit the baggage area.
Accommodation Drop Off & Pickup Areas: Locations within the city limits of Puerto Iguazu. If staying outside the city, there is an extra charge.
Argentine National Park Entrance Fee: The entrance to the Argentine falls is not included. Your entrance needs to paid directly by you when you arrive to the National park. Credit cards are not accepted, only cash in Argentine Pesos. If you require, your driver will take you to a location to change currency on the way.
Puerto Iguazu Eco Tourism Tax: The city of Puerto Iguazu charges all visitors a one time fee of 25 Argentine Pesos, and this fee is not included in the price of your transfer. On the way into Puerto Iguazu all cars are required to stop at a booth where the city officials will collect this fee from you directly. Please make sure you keep your receipt, in order to avoid being charged twice.
Emergency Contact: We will send you phone numbers, email and WhatsApp details to stay connected.
Guide: No guide accompanies you at the falls. It is possible to add an English speaking guide to your reservation on the next page.
Pit-Stops: All services are non-stop transfers. Any stops on the way need prior permission (please contact us).
If you are having trouble with timing, do not worry, we will help you plan your stay after you make your booking. Or contact us before for more information.
Vehicles used are no older than 5 years, and are insured against damages to the passenger regardless of whether in Brazil, Argentina or Paraguay. Drivers hold credentials from the Sest Senat training school in Foz do Iguaçu.
For 1 - 4 passengers - Private Sedan - Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Zafira, Chevrolet Meriva or similar
Baggage Allowance: 4 standard sized principal suitcases or backpacks + 4 small carry on items able to fit at your feet if you are a group of 4. If you plan to travel with more luggage than the allowance, then contract the van transfer for 5 passengers instead.
For 5 - 12 passengers - Private MiniVan - Renault Master, Mercedes Sprinter or similar
Baggage Allowance: 12 standard sized principal suitcases or backpacks + 12 small carry on items able to fit at your feet if you are a group of 12. Contact us before booking if you plan to travel with more luggage than the allowance.


text:
SAN FRANCISCO — Fitness industry veterans have come together to launch Butterfly Life, a fitness franchise for women that offers an integrated approach to addressing women's fitness and health. Backed by a team with more than 100 years of collective experience in fitness and brand expansion, Butterfly Life is said to offer a platform designed to inspire women to adopt healthier choices throughout their lifestyle.
According to the company, the management team — Mark Mastrov, partner and director, who is the founder and CEO of 24 Hour Fitness; Mark Golob, founder and CEO, also serves as founder and CEO of Linda Evans Fitness Centers; and Bruce Fabel, president — bring to Butterfly Life a proven record of successful and profitable business expansions and global brand development.
"We are building a different type of fitness product that is a total brand and not just another club," said Fabel. "We feel this franchise has the right products, systems and technology to attract the targeted 40- to 50-year-old women."
Even though entering a congested market segment, management believes that Butterfly Life franchises offer a unique opportunity for those looking to enter the women-only market.
"Most of the clubs in this segment don't offer women a club and equipment designed for them," said Fabel. "We offer women an environment tailored specifically for them. And for our franchisees, we offer an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a concept where each one of them is very important to the management team."
As for these franchises, they will be built at a minimum of 2,000 square feet and will feature a standard layout and look "much like Starbuck's, McDonald's and other successful businesses," according to Fabel. Among the technology will be a 30-minute circuit consisting of 10 strength pieces designed specifically for women and five cardio stations.
Perhaps the biggest technological innovation at Butterfly Life is a 67-inch custom-designed media system, Life Vision, that allows clubs to "broadcast" yoga and other group exercise classes as well as seminars by nutritionists, psychologists and other professionals. There will be new classes every quarter allowing flexibility in programming for franchisees.
"This allows club owners to put the best professionals in front of their members without additional staffing costs," said Golob. "We are putting a few million dollars behind it." Additionally, Fabel added that tapes and CDs of the classes and speakers would be available in each club's 100 square foot retail space.
But, Ken Germano, president of the American Council on Exercise (ACE) warns that this form of providing group classes has a downside.
"In this kind of setting, without a certified instructor leading the class in person, there is no interaction, assessment and supervision of the class," he said. "Any claim against the club is one they will be fighting alone. They will not get insurance coverage. This doesn't do anything for our industry but set it back."
But Golob says that there will be enough supervision as owner/operators will be certified by Butterfly Life during a one-week training university and will be monitoring classes.
And so does Jennifer Urmstrom, national account manager at Sports & Fitness Insurance Corp.
"As long as the facility is staffed with someone that can respond if there are any problems, insurers would provide coverage for the club," said Urmstrom.
In fact, Golob says that the clubs will be so successful — including the initial five club franchises in Northern California and Atlanta, GA, sold already — that he welcomes a follow-up.
"I believe Butterfly Life clubs will be managed better than most since each will be that person's business. If we did an interview in two years we'd be talking about how well Butterfly Life is doing," he said. "While other companies will come and go in that time we will be standing tall."


text:
sIFROctober 26, 2004
Since there is obviously a great deal of interest in it, a rational analysis of what sIFR means is in order.
At WE04 earlier this month I was asked on-stage once and a few times privately what I thought of sIFR, or scalable Inman Flash Replacement, the new Flash replacement technique. While I don't for a second pretend like I know everything about it, I believe I'm familiar enough with its usage issues to offer an opinion. And that's what this is, an opinion — take it with a grain of salt.
sIFR has evolved quite a bit in its year-long life cycle. Initially crossing my radar in October 2003, a lively argument between Mike Davidson (creator and maintainer of the code) and myself is still preserved at holovaty.com. Mike won, because he had obviously thought about it in great detail and had good answers for most questions.
Since that time, he and some others (notably Shaun Inman, hence the 'I' part of sIFR) have taken it much further, and solved many of the problems with the original version.
sIFR is easier to implement than any image replacement technique. Instead of manually generating each header through an image editor, you're able to skip the editor completely. Elegantly, it will skim through an XHTML document and find the relevant bits, swap out the text and drop in the typographically rich replacement.
And that is what makes it so exciting. It's a useful piece of non-intrusive scripting that adds an extra dimension to a page. And the scripted effect is by no means required, it degrades gracefully. sIFR allows for dynamically-generated snippets of text which can use any font, not just VerdanaGeorgiaArial. And that's a major benefit to those of us resigned to the same five fonts.The immediate reaction of purists and purist wannabes is, inevitably, 'ew'. Invoking Flash is reason enough to cause the reaction, but using it for such trifling detail as a header? Who could be that insane?
Well, Mike was, and others were, and now sIFR is a real technique to contend with. But on to the cons.
First, as far as I'm aware, the accessibility of the technique is a question mark right now. I haven't heard of any screenreader testing, and I'm unaware of anyone having done a more in-depth look into the implications on assistive technologies. ( Mike confirms that it has been tested, and appears to work just fine.)
And there are a few usability niggles. You can't select the text within a sIFR headline. Well, you can… but not in the same swaths as you'd select body text. You have to make a separate pass for each. This is an improvement over image replacement, though, since no text within an image is selectable. ( Mike and others note that the text does get selected, there's just no visual feedback mechanism.)
Text within sIFR also doesn't scale. Well, it does… but only according to your font size when loading the page. Any subsequent instances of Ctrl + "+" are ignored, until you reload the page. This is also an improvement over image replacement, since no image-bound text has ever scaled. And I'm inclined to say it's more a consistency problem than an accessibility problem anyway, since those who need the larger text size are more likely to be browsing with their font scaled appropriately to begin with.
My personal peeve is speed. A page with more than one instance of sIFR has a much longer load time. Jeff Croft has pushed his adaptation of sIFR to the limit, and waiting for the headers to load so I can determine whether I'll read the block of content below is a little irksome.
Finally just a little thing, but an important one — a sIFR header is able to act as a hyperlink. When I hover over a normal link to decide whether I want to follow it or not, I very frequently check my browser's status bar to see where it's taking me, and whether the destination in question is worth viewing. sIFR doesn't have any way of reporting back to the browser where that link is going, so I don't get the preview, and links become a little more blind.
One Solution, of Many
At the same conference I referenced earlier, Doug Bowman mentioned in his presentation that advanced techniques come about because someone was trying to solve a problem. sIFR is just that: a solution.
The problem is that there aren't enough fonts in a web designer's palette. We are technologically (and quite probably legally) bound to 5 or 10 fonts that we can be reasonably sure the end user has installed, and that's all we've got to work with. Solutions have been proposed, and font embedding was even a part of the CSS2 standard (though it was ditched in CSS2.1 since no one uses it). But the problems are much broader, ranging from font licensing to delivery to rendering, so there's no clear solution in sight.
sIFR is one proposed solution by those in the trenches. It works, it's here today, it works around licensing problems, and despite the other problems above, it's usable. It's not the perfect solution by any means, but until the standards bodies, font foundries, and browser manufacturers can all agree on one thing, it's what we've got to work with for now.
It may not be for you. Image replacement may not be for you either. I personally plan to continue using the latter, and may investigate sIFR at some point in the future, but I'm in no hurry to shake up my development practices at the moment. It's one choice amongst many, but the important thing is having the choice.
This article is meant to provoke discussion, it is not the final word. Feel free to fact-check me and report back in the comments. The information in this article is true to the best of my knowledge, but without having used it or tested it I can't be considered a sIFR authority.
Reader Comments
The reason I decided not to use siFR on my site is control. Yes there issues with speed (and also with sizing - I got some very weird font sizes in my experiments), but the fact that I can't tweak kerning, or vary sizes/colours/styles within the text I find quite restrictive. Yes, its a pain making images, but I enjoy the freedom it allows.
In an age when fonts can be embedded in Flash movies and PDF documents, you'd have thought that someone like Macromedia would've created the technology to allow it in HTML.
Jesse: Yes, I suppose we could put the status bar thing in there via a combination of FSCommand and JS. I just didn't think that was a very big deal, but maybe I can shoehorn it into the final release.
Jon: Yeah, sIFR is interesting in that it gives you a lot of control, but only by giving up some control as well. While I'm not sure the method will ever give you as much control as a hand-generated Photoshop image, I feel that it is better compared to the control you are given with browser text. Using browser text or sIFR is just a question of values and needs for a particular application. If you *need* your text to be exactly 24px and you don't mind using standard browser fonts, browser text is better. But if you want to use a custom font and you can handle a headline somewhere between 23px and 25px, then sIFR may be a better solution.
Your point is a good one, but it all depends on what type of text you want to style.
For example, if you want a custom typeface for five headers, one at the top of each of your main sections, then by all means, make the images. It's relativley fast and gives you the most control.
But, if you're like ESPN, and wish to use a corporate typeface on every header in a site that's thousands of pages big and updated by the minute, it's unrealistc to make images.
Like most things in webdev, it again boils down to using the tool that's best for the task at hand. Although weblogs are probably the most common place you'll find sIFR (because us designers and bloggers are rather progressive), I really don't think that weblogs are the target audience for it. The group it benefits the most is the newsy type of sites that require a particular typeface for branding purposes, but are updated way too often (and often by a CMS and non-techy users) to make image creation realistic.
I am sitting on the fence on this issue.
sIFR looks more or less OK for me, but I think I won't use it unless there will be very clear need for that.
On the one hand, if I need to style two or three headers with sIFR code — overhead seems too big. On the other hand if I have enough headers and specific requirements for branding, this technique is appropriate, but then I run into performance issues.
sIFRed links are some problem. Not seeing url in the status bar is more or less tolerable (I like to see the URL, though).
Javascript code changing statusbar text was one of the first thoughts in my head, but hey - I have checkbox checked in my Firefox preferences page and that does not allow scripts to change statusbar.
For me the biggest issue is unability to open sIFRed link in background tab middle-clicking it. I guess that can be somehow fixed vith ActionScript and javascript magic, but I doubt it is trivial.
To me, the cons by far outway the pros. I prefer to stick to regular JavaScript Image Replacement, as proposed by PPK.
A little late to the party. We're supposed to launch a big site at work tomorrow so I've been working 14 hour days (and I'm still at work).
One important thing that I think we're all overlooking when conceding that browser text is just as good as flash-replaced text is anti-aliasing. The majority of you that have chimed-in live, work and play on OS X. Typical web fonts look great at any size in OS X (within the confines of your particular tastes, of course, Arial isn't for everyone ;D), but 18px Georgia on a PC is a completely different animal.
Last I heard (and fact me if I'm wrong) ClearType is something that you as a user have to seek out and turn on (Display>Appearances>Effects>second drop-down) if you don't want to feel like you're playing Super Mario Brothers every time you visit CNN.com.
When I debuted (my that's a funny looking word) IFR on my site, the large majority of emails I received were about how I managed to anti-alias my HTML text headers (only the observant ones asked how I was able to use a non-standard typeface).
And that's really the allure of flash replacement for me. Not that I can use any typeface, but that my chosen typeface is anti-aliased for everybody. You can't have one without the other. To the majority of users, an aliased 22px DIN is going to look just as mucked-up as any other aliased sans-serif at that size.
So W3C be damned, but if tomorrow they came out with a CSS or HTML extension that allowed any font to be used on any computer with all the major browsers spontaneous support, it would not be a suitable stand in for *any* image or flash text replacement technique unless it also provided anti-aliasing of reasonable quality.
I'm going to double post since I'm too tired to come up with a clever segue way…
Just wanted to add that I'm not a fan of links in replaced text for all the reasons already mentioned—but I'll repeat because it really irks me and I'm salty:
1. broken right-click (contextual menu)
2. broken option-click (download)
3. broken apple-click (open in new tab)
4. broken status bar (where the hell am I going?)
(but like Mark said, this is a Flash issue and not sIFR-specific)
So consider this my official un-endorsement. ;D
And just to be clear, that's an un-endorsement of linked sIFR text… not sIFR. Also, the contextual menu to open links in a new window actually *does* work upon right-clicking (as long as you don't use the hovercolor function of sIFR).
I just recently touched this very subject on my own site, and we seem to be in total agreement.
In the end it's a choice of whether or not to sacrifice some usability in favor of a design freedom that may or may not be an improvement.
Anti-aliassing has been mentioned that one big plus point. I'd say, it depends on the fonts and size used (and that is obviously not a limit of the technique itself). Mike D's headlines look very poor on my Mac (sorry Mike), other sites do a much better job. Bigger text, fatty fonts works better, but on avarage, I'm still not impressed by the ability of Flash to display fonts.
Next, a reaction from a client to the use of image replacement for headlines (the client is using W2K): he felt very off balance, the difference between the smooth headlines and the jaggy body text (on a text-intensive site), and found the whole text hard to read.
On anti-aliasing:
There's no doubt in my mind that Flash's anti-aliasing routines aren't as good as Mac OS X's built in anti-aliasing, or as good as most of us can do in Photoshop. But, it's beat the hell out of Windows non-anti-aliased text (by default) and even ClearType (in the unlikley event the user has turned it on).
On the sIFR debate in general:
I'm still having a hard time seeing even a single con to using sIFR in it's element. So, if you aren't in favor of sIFR, I'd love to know what you would have me do if:
- I have to create 500 headlines
- Each headline has different text
- There could be more headlines added at anytime by via my CMS by someone unfamiliar with HTML, Flash, or Photoshop
- The marketing department insists upon using the corporate typeface, which doesn't happen to be Arial.
This may sound like ridiculous requirements to the average blogger, but they are precisley the types of requirements people deal with every day at news sites, newspapers, magazines, etc, etc, etc.
If there's a better way, I'll happily adopt it. And if there's a better way, I haven't found it yet.
I am one of the new converts to sIFR. I personally like the discussion points you've raised in regards to the fact sIFR is simply a solution to an existing problem. Although sIFR is in the trenches it still does a lot better than the previous experiements and forays I've seen and done in terms of web-based typography management (Microsoft WEFT, anyone?).
My thinking is that sIFR should be used in a non-invasive way, focussing on headings and major branding texts. It should add to the existing content, not completely override it.
Re: Jeff Croft, your last comment regarding hundreds of headlines and custom typefaces.
This isn't a light technique by most means, however it is one we've implemented on many occasions where we need precise control of type but have style (i.e., typeface) requirement issues.
Using a scripting language (say Perl) and an image manipulation package (something like ImageMagick), you can with little work create a mechanism where headlines can be auto-created once and used many times, and put in place with an image replacement technique of your choice.
I don't know whether this is always a better solution to using sIFR or not, but it is certainly another option, another real choice that's available.
According to the recent Tokyo Macromedia presentation ( http://www.moock.org/blog/archives/000146.html ), the next version of Flash will have a new, enhanced type-rendering engine with its very own codename, Saffron.
Whenever this is released (Macromedia moves slowwww these days…) it should solve my main problem with sIFR, which is that while Flash type is anti-aliased and non-VerdanaArialGeorgia, it lacks fine-grade kerning, and its smoothing looks llke it is applied with the airbrush tool.
I'm looking forward to future versions of both sIFR and Flash to keep this momentum alive. Also, here's another vote for FSCommand/JS status bar action in a future release.
You aren't restricted to Flash, you know. If you have PHP access and can convince your webhost to add the GD2 and FreeType2 libraries (GD1 and FreeType1 is not good enough, you must have FreeType2 for really good anti-aliasing and GD1 is restricted to a 256 color palette), you can get excellent anti-aliased non-standard fonts in images created on the fly (refer to the imagettftext and imagettfbbox documentation on php.net). Of course, you've still got the whole text selection issue to sort out on your own, but at least it's another avenue for fancy on-the-fly headlines. I personally created a CSS background definition on-the-fly via JS for my own site, but you could certainly use it in PPK's method as well (ie. converting the headline from an h1 to an image tag).
I'm far from knowledgeable about Flash (dipped my toes in version 4 and haven't really touched it since), but I think PHP generated images might offer a lot more freedom with headline image generation as well as being much less bandwidth intensive. I mean, you can rotate the text to display at an angle or merge existing images sandwich style (want to have an emoticon appear just overlapping the last letter of your text? PHP can do this easy). You can use multiple font-faces with a little bit of extra work (e.g. using a decorative initial caps type font as your first letter with the rest of the text being slightly less gaudy). The other bonus is that there is no plugin requirement: almost everyone supports images.
I won't say it's perfect, because there is a fairly significant learning curve when it comes to advanced manipulations of the text. Careful consideration must be made on how to handle large blocks of text that may fall outside of the allocated image dimensions (do you make the font size smaller or allocate a larger image?) There is no magical flag for center or right aligned text and I wouldn't even know where to begin writting an elegant wordwrapping solution. I can't say how well this scales from a server load perspective, either, since my own site gets all of 5 visitors a day.
It may or may not suit your needs, but it is still another option.
"…since no image-bound text has ever scaled."
Except in Opera, which scales all elements on a zoomed page, including images, form controls, and so on.
D'oh. That is scaling, in some sense of the word. And when you throw in Cmd+Option+'=', and Windows' Magnifier, and any number of third-party add-ons that zoom the whole screen, there are myriad ways to make images scale.
Which begs the question whether a browser's built-in ability to scale text matters much, in light of the other solutions a low-sighted individual potentially has available. (But of course it does, since more options are always better.)
Also, you layout musn't rely on styling of the replaced elements or otherwise you'll end up with a broken layout.
For example, I use H1s and H2s as layout elements, so if I want to sIFR then, I end up with a broken layout, but I also don't want to add DIVs around them… so no sIFR for individualism.ro :-(
Another downside to flash replacement is that Adblock on Firefox throws its tabs all over the page.
Hey Dave, thanks for the review. A lot of the issues you mentioned have been discussed, and in some cases, resolved, in the comment threads at Mike's site (but, okay, I don't expect you to read those, they're way too long) and at noscope (http://www.noscope.com/journal/2004/10/sifr and http://www.noscope.com/journal/2004/10/sifr-experiences
As you can read in the posts I linked to above most limitations of sIFR are due to Flash.
And indeed, sIFR won't replace elements if Flash has not been installed.
In the end, of course, sIFR is but a solution. Flash files can get heavy, and the JavaScript isn't that lightweight either. This accounts for almost all of the "delay" when compared to normal text. However, when compared to images for each text, sIFR is far more efficient.
"You can't select the text within a sIFR headline. Well, you can… but not in the same swaths as you'd select body text. You have to make a separate pass for each."
- If you start your selection above and finish below, you will select the html hidden behind the flash. Confusingly, however, this selection is not visible (because it's hidden behind the flash).
Gabriel, the Flash elements are placed *inside* the replaced elements (effectively only the childnodes of the replaced elements are replaced). If I didn't misunderstand you this means you can use it just fine.
David Ely, thats an option in Adblock. sIFR isn't to blame for that :-)
Okay, just a few clarifications from me:
1. Screenreaders. Yes, this technique has been tested in screenreaders by mikeindustries.com readers. Seems to work just fine. No issues have been reported.
2. Text selection. You actually can select all text in the same swath. The visual feedback for it is just absent. Try doing a "select all" on the page and pasting into a text editor. All the text is there.
3. Text scaling. Yes, you are correct on this. My feeling is that a) sIFR is best used on display type which is already large to begin with, and b) people with impaired vision probably always have their text zoom on so they will always get the bigger text.
5. Speed. Yes, to me this is probably my biggest pet peeve. Having to wait an extra second or two for headlines to pop in sometimes is a bitch. BUT, with all due respect to Jeff's site (which is great, and I *love* it), the speed of his site has always been slow for me. Before sIFR and after sIFR. I haven't done enough research to figure out if it's filesize-related or server-related, but it has really always rendered kinda sluggishly for me. How fast sIFR headlines render is directly proportional to how fast the rest of the site loads so that is clearly an issue here.
In conclusion (for now), I'll say this. sIFR is best used in moderation. It's ideal use is for display type. One headline at the top of your pages. One title per post. That sort of thing. If you want to use it for 30 items on your page, even linked things, you may, but that's when some of the issues you raise come into play.
For an example of probably the best sIFR use I've seen, check out http://www.prospermag.com . Now that's a picture perfect application for it.
By the way, credit for the http://www.prospermag.com site goes to Sean Schroeder at http://www.studiosquared.com . Excellent, excellent work. And look at how fast the headlines and subheads load…
Status Bar Issue:
Flash has access to javascript, so why couldn't you just call a javascript function from flash, that updates the status bar with the url of the link?
Nice review Dave, nice defense Mike.
Since my site has been mentioned, let me make a couple of comments:
1. I think I've taken sIFR <em>too</em> far on my site. Like Mike said, it's best used in moderation, for a handful of headers per page. Particularly on my full entry pages that have lots of comments, it gets slow. I intend to scale back the usage.
2. In regard to Mike's comment about my site always having been slow: I recently (like three weeks ago) moved to a new server. My site was <em>horribly</em> slow before that, but I think the server-side issues are resolved now. Any slowness that still exists could well be related to sIFR, or other browser rendering issues.
In general, I love the sIFR technique. I think Dave's review makes it pretty clear that it is, in almost every way, an improvement over image-based replacement. Is it better than plain ol' CSS text? No — if you can live with your type being in VerdanaArialGeorgia.
Mike, Shaun, Thomas, and the others who have contributed to sIFR have done a brilliant job of pushing the envolope. Whether or not this exact technique ever becomes a widely-used sort of thing, I don't know. But, I'm convinced that the work being done on sIFR will impact the way we handle type on the web in the future — even if it's only purpose is to say, "Damnit, W3C, we <em>need</em> typographic control, and if you're not going to give it to us, we'll find another way."
By the way…a while back I wrote an article entitled "Why sIFR Matters." There is some overlap with what Dave writes above, but I do include a real-world example of how sIFR can make your life a helluva lot easier in some cases. If you're interested:
Just pimpin' my goods.
I'm glad your site was mentioned, Jeff … it's always been slow to load, and your newest redesign is the slowest of them all. You're right, though, since the server-side issues have been "resolved," I've noticed a slight speed increase.
I'm glad you plan on scaling back the amount of sIFR. You'll make us return-viewers even MORE reason to come back. ;)
You guys are right, and I figured someone would mention it. With gd or ImageMagik, you can certainly create images on the fly. I've done this in the past, and while it works well, I just find that Flash meshes a bit better with my design side, I guess. Although I've got plenty of technical skills, I consider myself more a designer than a coder and I'd just prefer to work in Flash than in server-side code. But that's just me. Server-side image generation is certainly a viable option here.
"Anything that involves hiding or moving the textual content runs the risk of getting that page penalised by search engines."
The textual content isn't hidden or moved, from what I've done in testing of sIFR. The visual display of the textual data is replaced in sIFR - a slightly different kettle of fish.
"However, certain actions such as .. writing text that can be seen by search engines but not by users .. may result in permanent removal from our index."
The fact is: the text behind sIFR can still be seen by the end users, regardless of whether or not their system is capable of Flash or Javascript.
Textual content is different than the visual display of that content. sIFR deals with the visual display of the content - the text remains the same, it's just how it gets displayed that gets changed. Mike Davidson is right in saying the techique is transparent to search engines. Fire up a text-only version of an sIFR enabled site cached by Google to see that there is no change.
"The textual content isn't hidden or moved, from what I've done in testing of sIFR"
Aren't there various bits of CSS that refer to
visibility: hidden;
in respect to replaced headings? I must admit to only a cursory glance through the example HTML page that came with the download so might have got the wrong end of the stick but if I haven't then this CSS would almost certainly be enough to make a few engines take note. Especially if (as in the downloadable example) the styles are in the head of the HTML page.
"Anything that involves hiding or moving the textual content runs the risk of getting that page penalised by search engines."
If PageRank spammers latch on to these CSS properties and Google decides to deal with this, they'll have to consider the legitimate uses of display: none and visibility: hidden as well.
I've been using them for years, well before I even started doing full-on CSS-based layouts. They're invaluable for DOM scripting. There are plenty of reasons why they'll continue to be used on honest sites, so banning an entire site just because it uses hidden content doesn't seem likely. It's more likely that the hidden content just won't be indexed, which is a much different prospect than outright blacklisting.
Aside from Dave's point, which is true, the answer to your question Kev is no, sIFR introduces nothing whatsoever that would penalize placement in search engines. Original text is hidden via Javascript and the DOM… not directly with CSS. Thus, the technique is completely transparent to search engines.
"If PageRank spammers latch on to these CSS properties and Google decides to deal with this, they'll have to consider the legitimate uses of display: none and visibility: hidden as well."
Spammers already are. As far as Google dealing with it, they don't 'have to' consider the legitimate use of anything, they play by their rules.
"Original text is hidden via Javascript and the DOM… not directly with CSS."
The point is that its being hidden, not the technique used to hide it. This quote taken from Google:
"However, certain actions such as …writing text that can be seen by search engines but not by users…may result in permanent removal from our index."
Its a matter of interpretation. Its a fact that Heading tags seem to count in some engines algo when they calculate a pages credibility therefore anything that would appear (as oppose to is) to be against these rules is unfortunately likely to be classed as dodgy.
Google might not be able to detect these uses automatically but you run a risk of being reported and, as indicated above, removed if you use techniques that are interpreted as being dodgy.
"As far as Google dealing with it, they don't 'have to' consider the legitimate use of anything, they play by their rules."
If I had time, I could probably find you dozens of big-name .com sites that use display: none for various purposes. I don't have time, but my point is that you're telling me Google will block these large commercial sites, as well as tens of thousands (or hundreds, or millions) or smaller sites just because some spammer got ahold of an improper use for a legitimate technique? You can continue believing that if you want, but I don't.
Furthermore, if we're going to get technical, sIFR *necessarily* reproduces the very text that it replaces. With a lot of image replacement techniques, you could easily replace the word "Apple" with a hand-generated graphic of the text "Orange", thus creating the possibility of trickery… but with sIFR, what gets sucked in is what gets spit out.
But then again, I'm with Dave here… this is really not an issue.
On this Google issue:
Am I wrong in assuming that Google only reads the (x)HTML? I wasn't aware of Google reading CSS files or Javascript files.
If that's correct, then there is simply no way that Google would even know if the text was hidden, replaced, or anything else in the visual presentation.
That's not to say they may not start searching CSS or JS in the future, but I don't believe they do now.
Also, Google's very own Blogger.com, which was designed by Doug Bowman (and others) makes great use of image replacement itself. Just something to consider.
At this time, it's my understanding that Google calculates PageRank on XHTML alone, so we are just talking theoretically here.
The idea of CSS and JS affecting ranking results is a what-if at the moment… a strong what-if though, due to the potential for abuse. And that's where Kev's argument stems from. I understand the concern, I just don't share it, based purely on logistics.
My main issue is with replacement techniques as a whole. Anything that involves hiding or moving the textual content runs the risk of getting that page penalised by search engines.
Its a shame as I'd like to make more use of various replacement techniques but I don't think any technique that results in a possible ban from Yahoo or Google is a good thing to use and if you're banned, you can't be easily found - whats the point of a great looking site no one can find?
"but my point is that you're telling me Google will block these large commercial sites, as well as tens of thousands (or hundreds, or millions) or smaller sites just because some spammer got ahold of an improper use for a legitimate technique? You can continue believing that if you want, but I don't"
I'm telling you no such thing at all. In fact, I'm telling you nothing. I'm *suggesting* that its a possibility. At the moment there are clear indications of the penalties involving hiding or moving textual content. There are no clarifications forthcoming from Google on how they view such a technique as sIFR. I know this for a fact because I mailed them to ask awhile ago regarding standard image replacement techniques. They pointed me to the guidelines I quoted above and said nothing else on the subject, despite a request for further clarification.I personally find that ominous.I took it one step further and asked the opinions of a group of SEM specialists at High Rankings forum and they said they wouldn't use such a technique because of the risk of being banned. I found this equally ominous.
"If that's correct, then there is simply no way that Google would even know if the text was hidden, replaced, or anything else in the visual presentation."
Not automatically no, there's no way I know of for an engines algo to parse anything except markup. I do know of instances where sites have been reported for hiding or disgusing text and said sites have been removed. As to whether the sIFR technique would be classed as a 'safe' method of hiding text, that would be for each individual engines to decide for themselves.
re: the two comments from Mike and Lawrence. I disagree that this is not an issue. IMO, its enough of an issue for me to drop plans to use this technique on production sites. I'm sure if clients understood the risks then they would also be concerned.
I completely understand how sIFR and other image replacement techniques work and I understand that sIFR is different then the other techniques but really, its not me you'd have to convince. Its all the search engines that matter. Believe me, I'd love to use such a clever amd useful technique but this is one of those times when I think the unknown risks outweigh the potential benefits. It would be nice if the engines could clear up their stance on such things but I doubt they will.
"At the moment there are clear indications of the penalties involving hiding or moving textual content."
How is sIFR hiding textual content ?
The text-only cache on Google shows exactly the same text as the sIFR rendering I run.
How is sIFR moving textual content ? All it's doing is giving a visual display change to the existing textual content - it's not moving it anywhere (e.g. offscreen).
Kev, I've tried finding any sign of a supposed panning of image replacement techniques on Highrankings and I can't seem to find this supposed claim that people in the SEO community wont use image replacement "because of the risk of being banned".
I also just want to point out that there is just no way that Google would ever be able to automatically penalize any site based on css/js hidden content. There are just too many ways to hide/replace content using CSS and Javascript that writing something to read all the different ways to figure out what is hidden and what is not would be impossible.
So this means that a human would have to look at your site, and I think I have enough faith in google employees' common sense that sIFR wouldn't be an issue.
It does kinda suck that people have to be so paranoid about it though, since google is by far the dominant search engine. It makes them the wal*mart of the internet, able to strong-arm developers into doing what they like, which I think is partially a good thing with getting people to use well structured code, but on the other hand, could be stifling new development and experiementation… but i guess that's a whole other conversation.
Does Google just go willy-nilly banning every site that has been reported? I doubt it.
I'm sure it's possible your site could get reported. But then, isn't a Google employee going to go and look at your site, see that you're not doing anything shady (or are you?), and let your site be?
As with most so-called SEO, what we're talking about here is trickery. If you stop trying to trick the search engines into higher results, and concentrate on writing good code and popular, useful content (which results in links to your site), you'll be just fine.
I'm sure Google doesn't appericate it when someone tries to trick them using any method. sIFR and other replacement techniques could be used for this purpose, and if someone does it, they deserve to be penalized. But, I have faith in Google to be able to tell the difference between rightful usage of image replacement and shady usage, just like they've been able to do with keywords and all the other SEO trcikery.
I've had to deal with google before, and we went through several emails back and forth over a course of two weeks before any sort of action was taken. This was regarding their ads. Aparently they found some deep forum post hidden in the depths of my ancient archives that promoted "not clicking on the ads unless they interest you." Aparently to google, they thought it drawed too much attention to them and thus violated their policy.
The emails that went back and forth were basically trying to figure out what rule I violated and on what page it occurred.
Once they sent a link to the page, It was as easy as removing it with the click of a button, and all was well. So if any lesson is learned, you'll definitely be warned before you're penalized.
I'd say it's safe until you're warned. So far I've heard none of the big dawgs get hit up and asked by google to remove it.
And when the big dawgs are unleashed, the puppies follow….
mmmm…puppy chow.
re: my question on High Rankings, you can find the thread here: http://www.highrankings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6210&hl=replacement
re: the wider points. I don't think that this is necessarily a massive issue but Google's recent behaviour is something of an unknown and I personally don't want to be penalised. I hope I'm not scare mongering but I do think this is a genuine concern.
I agree there's not a lot of chance of getting penalised, especially as Google has to be hand checking right now but as possible abuse reports go up the chances of engines developing a script to parse styles for potential abuse only rises. Hopefully engines will take as much about the intent as a dumb script possibly can but it still seems to me to be an unanswered question.
Thanks Dave, and all other commentators to expand more on the sIFR technique. I've been wanting to try it out for a long while now, but things kept getting in the way. I'm definitely going to spend some time toying with it though this weekend.
As PHP + GD has been mentioned I'll expand on it a bit. If you use PHP with GD, you can add in the possibility to 'cache' the headlines, outputting the image to a real image. Give it the name of the headline (or any other reference of your choice), and when the headline needs to be shown again, the 'cached' image would be shown. This reduces server overhead a bit (and also page loading time).
PHP 4.2 includes SWF support, and if you compile it with libswf you could also 'cache' SWFs dynamically. Anyone interested? ;-)
I'm currently plugging sIFR into my initial HTML build of a large corporate site (pre CMS inplementation). Just 2 hours into the process (sIFR setup is so simple only the first 15 mintues were used to actually get the js, css, and swf all in place and functioning) I can already see many benefits. The largest is the ease of which we're going to be able to translate the site into various languages for our various global entities. Holy moly are we going to save time and money!
Used in moderation, for a few header/title lines and navigation here and there, I really don't see much down-side to this sweet mutha.
Giant ups and huge thanks to Mike D. and the fellas.
I tried css off and javascript+flash (Opera easily does this if the user asks for it :-) ) and it sure does not look good. On the other hand, it was expected by Mike D and I agree that I don't think anyone want to do that combination in real life.


text:
U.S. News
Louisiana HIV/AIDS Patients Get Temporary Relief on Insurance Coverage
February 26, 2014
This article was reported by the Times-Picayune.
The Times-Picayune reported that U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson issued a temporary restraining order barring three Louisiana insurance companies from dropping people who were using Ryan White HIV/AIDS program funds to help pay premiums for their healthcare plans. Jackson ordered the restraining order in response to a suit filed by Lambda Legal, an HIV/AIDS advocacy organization, on behalf of an HIV-positive man against Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Louisiana. Three insurers
In response to the restraining order, lawyers from all three insurance companies promised that they would not change or drop any policies during the next two weeks, at which time the judge would hear arguments on whether the companies would have to accept Ryan White funds. Approximately 2,400 Louisiana residents received Ryan White assistance for health insurance premiums.
BCBS openly stated that the company would stop accepting any third-party payments for healthcare plans because of concerns about fraud, and was not singling out HIV/AIDS patients. Vantage Health Plan and Louisiana Health Cooperative planned to follow BCBS's lead. BCBS Lawyer Richard Tyler acknowledged that there was no evidence the Ryan White program engaged in fraudulent activity.
The three companies comprised more than half of the private insurance market in Louisiana and were the only companies offering healthcare plans in Louisiana through the new federal marketplace mandated by the Affordable Care Act.
Three Louisiana Health Insurers Will Continue Accepting Federal Subsidies for Policyholders With HIV/AIDS
This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update. Visit the CDC's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.
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UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- August 31, 2010 -- NBC has picked up a sixth season of its hit summer series "America's Got Talent" from FremantleMedia and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television.
Celebrity Judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel will return to the hit series along with host Nick Cannon.
The announcement was made today by Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming and Production, NBC and Universal Media Studios.
"'AGT' continues to be a ratings sensation and has hit it out of the ballpark creatively this season," said Telegdy. "We have a dream team of celebrity judges -- Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and Piers Morgan -- and coupled with our versatile host Nick Cannon, we're looking forward to an even bigger summer next year."
This is the fifth consecutive year that "AGT" has ranked as the #1 summer series in total viewers. Season-to-date, the show has averaged a 3.4 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 11.8 million viewers overall on Tuesdays and a 3.3/10 in 18-49 and 11.8 million viewers on Wednesdays.
In its fifth season, "America's Got Talent," airs Tuesdays (9-11 p.m. ET) and Wednesdays (9-10 p.m. ET). Nick Cannon hosts and Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and Piers Morgan star as the celebrity panel of judges. The series is a true celebration of the American spirit, featuring a colorful array of hopeful stars, including singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists, all vying for their chance to strut and perform on stage hoping to win America's hearts � and the $1 million prize.
The two-night fifth season finale will air Tuesday, September 14 (9-10 p.m. ET) and Wednesday, September 15 (8-10 p.m. ET).
"America's Got Talent" is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television. Simon Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz ("American Idol"), Jason Raff, Ken Warwick ("American Idol") and Georgie Hurford-Jones are executive producers.
About FremantleMedia North America FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon "American Idol" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "What Chilli Wants" (VH1), "Kirstie Alley's BIG LIFE" (A&E), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "Downfall" (ABC), "Family Feud" (syndicated), and the longest-running game show in television history, "The Price Is Right" (CBS).


text:
"Vander Schoot" Surname
Surnames That Sort Like "Vander Schoot"
Histopolis sorts surnames ignoring any capitalization, spaces, accents or punctuation in the name. Histopolis sorts "Vander Schoot" as "vanderschoot" and the following surnames sort the same way (meaning they are spelled the same but differ only by capitalization, spaces, accents or punctuation).
Frequency of "Vander Schoot" Surname in the US
2000 US Census
The surname "Vander Schoot" is not included in the US Census Bureau's ranking of surnames with 100 or more people. Since fewer than 100 people with this surname were included in the 2000 Census, it is relatively uncommon.
Source: "Frequently Occurring Surnames from the Census 2000", US Census Bureau.
1990 US Census
Accoring to the US Census Bureau, "Vanderschoot" ranked #76,706 in frequency out of 88,799 surnames for which statistics were released from the 1990 Census.
Source: "Frequently Occurring Surnames from the 1990 Census", US Census Bureau.
"Vander Schoot" Graves on Histopolis
Histopolis currently has 1 grave(s) with the surname "Vander Schoot".
Search the Histopols Grave Index for the surname "Vander Schoot".
Resource Links for "Vander Schoot"
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Surnames that Sound Like "Vander Schoot"
The surname "Vander Schoot" has a Soundex code of V536. The following 788 surname(s) may sound similar to "Vander Schoot" since they share the same Soundex code.


text:
HANG TIME, Texas — These are the dog days of summer. They get their name from Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog), which long ago used to rise just before the sun at this time of year.
The Romans believed that during the dog days, the sea boiled, wine turned sour and dogs grew mad, causing diseases, fevers and hysterics among men.
Today we just see them as a reason to pop open another cold one and pop open our imaginations to look ahead and come up with the 2013-14 NBA award winners.
Today we're celebrating the dog days by barking out my top candidates for Defensive Player of the Year. Send me yours.
Dwight Howard, Rockets — Assuming he's healthy, assuming he's happy, assuming he wants everyone to put the bad memory of last season with the Lakers in the rear view mirror, this is one race that should be no contest as Howard reestablishes himself in Houston to prove a point. With no pains in his back, shoulder and posterior (compliments of Kobe Bryant) to hold him back, the former three-time Defensive Player of the year takes control under the basket for the Rockets and lets the world know that he's back. Yes, there is all the buzz and excitement about what Howard can do off the pick and roll with Jeremy Lin and James Harden at the offensive end. Yes, he'll work with Hall of Fame tutor Hakeem Olajuwon to try to expand his post moves. Yes, he'll get to see up close every day in practice from his coach how Kevin McHale carved out his place in the Hall of Fame with solid fundamentals. But if Howard just goes back to being the monster who used to roam the middle for the Magic, he'll be worth every penny of his four-year, $88-million contract.
LeBron James, Heat — After four MVPs, back-to-back titles and a pair of Finals MVPs, what is there left for James to do to polish his legacy? Why not win MVP award No. 5 in the same year that he is named Defensive Player of the Year? It's a feat accomplished previously only by Michael Jordan (1988) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) and shows that level of greatness that James has achieved. He's big, he's strong, he's fast, he's quick and you don't want to see his shadow coming from behind when you're at mid-court with the ball and trying to get to the basket to finish. There are those who say he takes too many possessions off. There are those who criticize by saying he only gets the toughest defensive assignments in the fourth quarter. The truth is they are only picking nits, because that's pretty much all that's left to do. His competition now is strictly with the history books and if James decides to set his mind to being the best in the league at this end of the court, he could pull off the MVP-DPOY double.
Serge Ibaka, Thunder — Three-time former winner of the award Dwight Howard said that it should have gone to Ibaka over Marc Gasol last season. His reasoning was that the guy who blocks the most shots is the best defender. Ibaka did set the pace with an average of 3.03 per game. The Thunder big man is clearly the best rejector in the league, at least and until Howard returns to form. In a league where quick, slashing guards are constantly trying to get to the hoop, rim protection is key for any would-be contender. But Ibaka really should improve on his help defense, rotations and overall court awareness in order to be considered the top defender in the league. For flash and the big block, Ibaka's got everything but the Dikembe Mutombo finger-wave and that attracts the notice that will always have him among the top three on most ballots.
Tony Allen, Grizzlies — Teammate Marc Gasol received the votes, the notoriety and the award last season, but those closest to the Grizzlies and to inner workings of the game itself — i.e. head coaches — will tell you that it's Allen who puts the real sharp edges and teeth into The Grind House. There is nobody in the league who relishes a 1-on-1 matchup more. He's in your face, in your game, practically in your jersey, a nettle that becomes more painful and bothersome as the games get late. There is nobody who will throw himself into a defensive challenge more. If the Grizz are going to keep that defensive identity that was instilled in them by former coach Lionel Hollins, it's probably going to be a result of Allen working the locker room, working the huddles and working his buns off on every defensive position. There is a reason that the league's head coaches, who vote for the All-Defensive teams, gave Allen the highest number of first team votes, tying LeBron James.
Andre Iguodala, Warriors — If you were stitching together the ideal wing defender in a laboratory, the 6-foot-6 Iguodala with a 6-11 wingspan might be the product that would eventually climb down off the operating table. He gets plenty of credit for being one of — if not the best — on-ball defenders in the league with his size, speed and quickness. But that is also the end result of his excellent off-ball defense as he uses video study and his own sharp, calculating mind to deny players from getting the ball in positions where they want it in the first place. He understands angles, tendencies and rotations. Coach Mark Jackson has been preaching defense for two years with the Warriors and adding a ballhawk like Iguodala to a lineup that already includes Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson is going to produce turnovers, steals, transition buckets and a Defensive Player of the Year profile that could rise as the Warriors continue to improve.
PREVIOUSLY: Sixth Man of Year | Most Improved Player | Rookie Of Year


text:
Sherlock On the Scene
Using his powers of deductive reasoning, Sherlock (Jonny Lee Miller center), Joan ( Lucy Liu right), Detective Bell (Jon Michael Hill, ) and Gregson (Aidan Quinn, left) try to prove mechanical error was not to blame for a plane crash on a New York City beach. Photo Credit: GIOVANNI RUFINO/CBS © 2012 CBS. All Rights Reserved.


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Studying for the LSAT / Help with time constraint problems« on: May 15, 2013, 04:26:12 AM »
Hi, I have done about three PTs as of yet and I cannot get through all of the questions. Under time constraints I usually only get through about 7-8 of the Logic Games, and 14 to 16 of the other sections. I am averaging a 140 right now, so I believe that if I can get through each section completely, my score will be a lot higher. Please provide advice and strategies on how to speed up on my sections. Thanks!


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Tammsaare's Park, Tallinn
I tend to notice very simple outfits – a pair of well-fitting jeans with a simple t-shirt is always a winner. I usually add some colourful details to otherwise plain clothes. Today I wear a bright necklace, but I also like spicing things up with a scarf. I don't really read fashion magazines, but style there is always bit over the top and therefore isn't really something I would wear.
Tammsaare's Park, Tallinn
I'm actually just visiting Tallinn and I'm from Sweden. I like how Swedish people dress, but many people there look the same and lack originality. People are bit too trend-orientated. Although I don't really know how to define and describe my style, I like to read fashion magazines, such as Elle, to get new ideas and update my wardrobe.
Viru str, Tallinn
One thing that I like about street style is that you can always see so many different people with different tastes. You can't really say that two people have exactly the same style. When it comes to my style, I like wearing colourful clothes. My current favourite colour is red. At the moment I can't think of anything I would really like to get, but if I want something, I'll go and find it somewhere.


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The director of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory is newly appointed to a key federal advisory committee.
State Chemist Kevin L. Armbrust is beginning a three-year term on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Advisory Committee. He was nominated by the Association of Public Health Laboratories.
"We provide advice to the FDA commissioner on emerging food safety, food science, nutrition, and other food-related health issues that the agency considers for its food and cosmetics programs," Armbrust said. "The selection process was very extensive, lasting seven months."
Kevin L. Armbrust
A University of California, Davis doctoral graduate, he said he was "excited about serving, as well as representing MSU."
The 135-year-old land-grant institution has become a nationally recognized leader in food production and research, safety and security. Last fall, MSU served as host for an international conference exploring new opportunities for agriculture, building capacity, global challenges, community engagement, and other issues related to the world's ever-expanding food needs.
In addition to his role as a state regulatory official, Armbrust also holds faculty appointments in the biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology, and plant pathology department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; chemistry department in the College of Arts and Sciences; and basic sciences department of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
His doctoral degree is in agricultural and environmental chemistry. His bachelor's degree, also from UC-Davis, is in environmental toxicology.
Established in 1892 at the university -- then Mississippi A&M College -- the MSCL is a state regulatory agency. Offices are located in the Hand Chemical Laboratory Building.
Working with the Mississippi departments of Agriculture and Commerce and of Health, the MSCL jointly develops, promulgates, modifies and enforces regulations, standards and specifications of animal feeds, food, fertilizers, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and antifreeze sold within the state's borders. The three agencies also provide analytical data to ensure the quality, accurate labeling of these materials.
Other MSCL duties include research to promote the regulatory sciences, including a fellows program in which MSU faculty and students may collaborate on projects of mutual interest. For more, visit www.mscl.msstate.edu.
Jim Laird | University Relations


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unionart needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 115 designs submitted by 37 freelance designers.
Al Dhaen Craft
Al Dhaen Craft has been commited to building boats of the highest quality since 1989. Gained recognition and acclaimed among demanding users of marine crafts. Our reputation has grown in Bahrain, around the Gulf and International markets and exporting our range across Europe, Far East and in the United States.
From those who are dreaming their first boat, or are already an experienced owner, our range of crafts caters for everyone - from professional fisherman to the pleasure seeker in the Gulf & across the Globe.
-We require a new logo design and logotype for Al Dhaen Craft to replace our existing logo
- The texts on the logo should be AL DHAEN CRAFT.
In caps & lower or all caps texts, depending on your proposed design.
You may also present in both text format.
- The new logo should be far better & striking than the existing logo.
(Pls. see our existing logo at the link below)
- Modified logotype is allowed. NO fancy colors, NO cliparts, NO cartooning.
- Present your entry in color and in black & white version
- Contest holder will start reviewing & rating the entries 2 days after the launch.
- If you have any questions & need any assistance, don't hesitate to PM the CH.
good luck to all participants
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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The AP5710 Pellet stove is built with compact design in mind. Although this stove is small, it can heat up to 2,200 square feet. The 25 pound hopper capacity can heat a home for up to 13 hours without refueling. It boasts top mount digital controls and comes with a remote control. This unit is EPA Certified and burns 1 gram per hour. Get one today and save space in your home while saving on your heating bill.
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|The stock market rebound triggered by the US Federal Reserve decision to delay the scaling back of its asset purchase programmes was short-lived. In those developing economies most impacted by initial tapering concerns, renewed focus on economic fundamentals led to a significant reversal of earlier gains. Further increases in global interest rates are to be expected, making it urgent for policy makers to address ongoing vulnerabilities. Maize and rice prices have dropped to 3-year lows on improved crops, but wheat prices remain steady and stock levels low.
Equity markets worldwide initially reacted positively to the "no-tapering" decision by the US Federal Reserve on 18 September, but later gave up most of their earlier gains, particularly among stressed economies. For developing countries as a whole, stock markets were a modest 0.5% above their pre-announcement levels as of September 25, and 4.7% below their mid-May peak. Performance across countries was varied as markets appear to be paying renewed attention to country-specific factors. Although countries with substantial current account imbalances registered some of the strongest initials gains, following the announced postponement, many have since fallen again, including Indonesia, Turkey, India and Brazil. Among countries most affected by initial tapering concerns, South Africa stands out as one whose stock market has outperformed, in part because of recent indicators pointing towards stronger industrial activity and confidence.
|Additional developing-country portfolio adjustmentswill occur when extraordinary monetary policy is eventually withdrawn and global interest rates rise. The steady purchase of government bonds by central banks (major central bank asset holdings have increased from about 8% of global GDP in 2008, to around 15% today) since the beginning of the crisis helped lower long term interest rates, which in turn pushed investment toward higher yielding developing country assets. In May, global monetary conditions started to tighten as market participants began to discount an eventual scaling back (tapering) of quantitative easing. In the absence of any specific action, the unexpectedly sharp reaction of long term US treasury yields and their term premium component likely reflects the major role that the Fed has come to play on the long end of the T-bill marketrecently. The spike after May undid about half of the decline in term premia observed since the onset of quantitative easing. Further adjustments and pressure on developing country assets can be expected when tapering actually takes effect.
|Maize and rice prices have dropped to 3-year lows on ample supplies. Maize prices are down 30% since May, reaching the lowest level over the past 3 years. The US Department of Agriculture estimates this year's maize crop to be 11% higher than 2012/13, increasing the stocks-to-use ratio (S/U) to 16.3%--the highest since 2009/10. Rice prices have also come under pressurebecause ofimproved supply prospects and the release of some stocks by the Thai government. They have fallen 13% since May and are now at theirlowest level since September 2010. Price risks on both maize and rice are on the downside, the latter depending on further Thai stock releases. Wheat prices have declined marginally (down 6% since May) but are still high by historical standards. Moreover, risks for wheat prices are on the upside, given that the grain's S/U ratio remainsat 25%--its lowest level since 2008.
Download the Prospects Weekly as PDF here.


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Hormel Foods Corp agreed to buy Skippy, the iconic U.S. peanut butter brand, from Unilever Plc for $700 million, adding the well-known kids lunch staple to a portfolio that includes Spam canned meat.
The deal also helps Hormel, struggling with rising livestock feed costs, expand beyond meat products and gives it a bigger global presence, including in markets such as China where Skippy is the leading peanut butter brand.
Continue Reading Below
Hormel shares rose 6 percent to $33.82 - their highest ever - before easing a little to $33.37 in late morning trading on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Consumer goods conglomerate Unilever said in October it was selling the Skippy line, as it shifted its focus to higher-growth food brands such as Knorr and Hellmann's, and fast-growing personal care products such as Dove, Lux and Rexona.
Analysts, at the time, expected Skippy to fetch around $400 million.
"In our view, (Hormel's) management has made a very smart move in diversifying away from its animal protein core at a time when margins are likely to correct downward. This deal plugs that gap," Janney Capital markets analyst Jonathan Feeney said in a note.
Skippy, which dates back to the early 1930s, is the No.2 U.S. peanut butter brand after J.M. Smucker Co's Jif. It had annual sales of $300 million in 2011 and Hormel expects it to contribute $370 million this year.
"(Skippy) allows us to grow our branded presence in the center of the store with a non-meat protein product and it reinforces our balanced portfolio," said Hormel Chief Executive Jeffrey Ettinger.
In a call with analysts, Ettinger said peanut butter sales were surging in international markets while growing at a much slower pace in the United States.
Sales of Skippy in China are in a range of $30 million to $40 million, Ettinger said on the call, making for a large chunk of the $100 million Hormel is targeting from international sales.
The Skippy business will add modestly to Hormel's fiscal 2013 results and add between 13 cents and 17 cents per share to 2014 earnings, the company said.
The deal, which is Hormel's largest, will include Unilever's Skippy manufacturing facilities in Little Rock, Arkansas and Weifang, China, Unilever said.
Hormel will fund the deal with cash on hand and from a small draw from its credit facility, Chief Financial Officer Jody Feragen said on a call with analysts.
Barclays is serving as exclusive financial adviser to Hormel.
Unilever shares were down marginally at 2,388.92 pence on the London Stock Exchange.
(Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)


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I sent a Letter of Demand to the City of Oakland to remove this monument.
Demand to City of Oakland re: 10 Commandments
Letter to City of Oakland Demanding Removal of 10 Commandments From Zoo
May 26th, 2012
Joey Piscitelli
Martinez, Ca. 94553
City of Oakland and
Mayor Jean Quan
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Oakland, Ca. 94612
Oakland Zoo, and
East Bay Zoological Society
9777 Golf Links Road
Oakland, Ca. 94605
RE: Violation of 1st Amendment "Separation of Church and State"
Dear City of Oakland, Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland Zoo,
My name is Joey Piscitelli, and I am a supporter of the Oakland Zoo, and have attended several events at the zoo, including weddings and other occasions at the "Snow Building", located on the Zoo property; which you authoritatively rent out to the public as an event center.
I am also a supporter of 1st Amendment rights, freedom of religious choice, and equality. To my shock, I was very disappointed to see that the City of Oakland displays a very large monument at the Snow Building entitled: "The Ten Commandments". This monument is categorically a Christian symbol; and a blatant pronouncement of adherence to the Bible and the belief in the Christian God.
This doctrine is certified by the first phrase carved onto the monument which states:
"I am the Lord thy God" in large bold letters.
The second phrase states that:
"Thou shalt not have any other Gods before me".
These are not ambiguous or generic phrases venerating a broad scope of deities, collectively known or shared as a universal "God", but rather they are in fact very specific literal religious commands by the monument and its placement; to set forth the obedience to its Christian content chosen by its donor.
I believe the donor of this monument willfully and expressly intended to proselytize the Christian doctrine, and to solidify their conviction that the Christian religion and its God, and the Bible are the authoritative religion in the USA; as evidenced by their very clear statements on the donors website.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles, who "donated" this monument created in 1965 which exists at the Zoo now - make no secret about their boasting of their accomplished successful placement of the Ten Commandments on "public" properties throughout the USA.
This intent and conduct denigrates the views and beliefs of countless opposing citizens; and allows special treatment to only Christian doctrine – irrespective of equal opportunity.
If in fact, this was merely an act of equal free speech, then why is this particular religious monument the only opinionated non-secular monument displayed on Oakland Zoo public property?
No other representations of other beliefs are visibly posted anywhere at all on the massive acreage referred to as the "Oakland Zoo".
I am aware that different states have had different Supreme Court decisions handed down concerning the posting of the Ten Commandments on public properties. One of the weakest arguments for the posting is that : "no one has complained about it's placement in (37) years." (Which may not be proven as factual.)
This argument does not dissuade the problem of specific religious endorsement by public entities - it exasperates it.
Echoing the words of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln: "four score and seven years ago" (87 years) - slavery was in existence in defiance of the constitutional equality of all men for nearly 100 years; before legal intervention proceeded to finally correct it. Thus, the mere passage of time that elapses before a constitutional violation is corrected, is not an excuse for its continued debasement.
Another argument used by the donors of Christian doctrine monuments placed intentionally upon public properties is that : retroactively, when considering the date the monument was placed, it was a reflection of a "part of the history of the property", and therefore it should remain as an object of historical significance.
In opposition to that opinion, I state that signs were posted that "Negroes" were not allowed in establishments in many southern states for decades, and that was unarguably "part of their southern history".
But we do not honor and continue to endorse those prejudicial proclamations - simply because they were "part of the history"of the south. Additionally, and to the point – those placards were eventually removed because they breached mandated federal law.
Your neighboring City of Concord, allowed the verbiage "No Negroes allowed" to live in certain residential developments in the 1950's; and this is part of the that Citys history. This is also a constitutional violation that was struck down and rightfully removed; and one can not argue that it should remain posted "because it is part of the history of the city".
The existence of the rationalization of an incorrect violation of separation of church and state; by the proclamation that the monument is "historical", is deceivingly circumventing the true intent of the monument- which is decisively clear. One merely has to literally read the first four commandments to realize this.
Another argument used by the donors of these monuments is that: "no one else bothered to place any other monuments on the site for 40 years, and now they complain".
This is also a redundant argument - as we can all probably agree that if an atheist or Pagan had placed their symbol of belief on this public property in 1965; they would have surely been denied permission.
This year is 2012, and non-Christian believers would probably still be denied access to post any symbols on most, if not all - public properties that contain the said Christian monuments.
I am appalled at the imbalance of justice and the inequality displayed by the City of Oakland for favoring and condoning only this Christian monument on this public property; as it is insulting to the constitutional choice and lifestyle of alternative beliefs of any other citizens who are not adherents to Christianity and its Bible.
I do not have an objection to Christian churches and supporters placing their dogmatic objects of faith on private property; in fact I view it as constitutionally commendable.
However, the endorsement by the City of Oakland for this same dogma on public property is a substantiation of inimical favoritism.
Oakland is a very diverse and ethnically inspired city. I am sure that many people who frequent this zoo are unaware of this biased monument pronouncing the favoritism of Christian doctrine that dominates the western skyline; an antithetical testament that is demeaning to the citys expressed goals.
Ironically, the first posted sign that one observes when they enter the public property of the zoo is a sign that states: "It's your zoo".
Is it? Would John Q. Public presume that it may be – as long as the public adheres to the Christian posted ten commandments? If it is in fact our zoo, then we should have a voice when constitutional equality is compromised.
My daughter was married at the Snow building, and unfortunately, we did not go to the left side of the building overlooking the western horizon and bay, when we viewed the building before we rented it.
The day of the wedding, we went outside to view the sunset, and to take pictures, and there to our surprise – we viewed this giant monument, demanding obedience to the Christian faith and their God.
Many of our guests were shocked, and we were speechless and offended.
There was no warning to us by the officials at the Oakland public office of administration where we paid our money - that we were subject to the laws of the "Ten Commandments" at our own daughters wedding.
If the City of Oakland had disclosed beforehand that they endorse the Ten Commandments at the public site of the Snow Building; there is absolutely no doubt that I would not have been supportive of this unconstitutional behavior.
In conclusion, I/we demand the City of Oakland amicably correct this violation of the Constitution; by removing this prejudicial monument - and that the city conduct itself as a advocate for equality and freedom of choice. At the Oakland Zoo, apparently we are not given freedom of religious choice; as witnessed by the words carved in this granite monument commanding us to obey; but surely this injustice can be corrected.
I await your timely response,
Joey Piscitelli – A citizen who believes in equality, and freedom of choice
Views: 677
wow they're hurting.. a zoo?
really!? why are religions the only ones that get to commit all this civil disobedience? I mean it's such a dishonor to people.
The "Christian Right" claims that they have the right to freedom of speech and religion. That is correct. I agree that they do. However, many christians do not want other beliefs to be allowed the same right. They then claim that "this is a christian nation" and if they post only christian monuments on public property, when no one else is granted the same rights - that others should turn their head, and leave the city, or country, or the public site.
I pass up dozens of churches everyday, all over the city, and they display various signs and symbols, and I take it for granted, and it is their right. It doesn't bother me.
But I do not expect that on public property, especially when no one else is allowed a voice, or an opinion. The argument here is that the city condones ONLY christian doctrine at a public event center.
this may be nit picking, but the 10 Commandments isn't just a Christian thing - the Jews adhere to it as well. your letter, while excellent, comes off a little like Christian bashing. by excluding Judaism from your argument it weakens the message a little bit, IMO.
I agree with you, it is percieved that way by the christian right. But the people who back the placement of the monument are christians, not Jews. The intent of those who favor it's staying are the activists for christianity, and not the Jewish. I know it's a "judeo-christian" monument. I also know that the only backlash that I have seen was from christian fundamentalists, and christian right groups, I have not heard from the jewish groups.
That is why I did not include jewish. When following the legal battles concerning this same monument throughout the USA, I do not see any jewish groups up in arms taking a stand that "Jesus is god" - and that the monument represents the founding fathers wishes, etc.
I am not jewish, but I can honestly say that I think that most jews I know do not agree with the argument that only the ten commandments should be allowed to stay on public properties. My take is that the jewish people I know give the issue a bit more thought and consideration as to the validity of the placement of the 10 comandos, and the establishment clause itself.
The thing that is the most absurd argument is : that if something was done 50 years ago, it is "grandfathered in". According to this debased logic, then women who weren't allowed to vote for over 100 years in this country, shouldn't have been allowed to vote because it was grandfathered in. And since no women spoke up for the right to vote for at least a hundred years, then they can not speak up now. ???
According to some of our hypocritical lawmakers, who state that "no one said or did anything for 50 years" about the ten commandments being posted on public properties, then "the monuments are constitutional."
So that would apply to gay rights too? No gay rights groups said anything for 200 years, so then gay activists should not have a voice?
Shame on our illogical lawmakers who live in the antiquated bigotry of the past.
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