text:
LONDON, Ont. - Easter would hardly be Easter for many families of European heritage without the centuries-old tradition of rich, often sweet and ornate loaves of homemade Easter bread.
Lovella Schellenberg of Abbotsford, B.C., founder of the Mennonite Girls Can Cook recipe-sharing blog, says when her sons were young, they started clamouring for her paska right after Valentine's Day. They're adults now with families of their own, but she still keeps them supplied with the special bread, but only in March and April.
"I make sure the families all have their fill and then we don't make it any more until next Easter."
It was the online response to the paska recipe in her personal blog that led to the establishment of the Mennonite Girls Can Cook website (www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca) which has a core of 10 contributors, nine Canadian Mennonite women of Ukrainian background, including Schellenberg, and one Seattle woman of Russian descent. It has also resulted in two cookbooks.
Schellenberg's recipe is a modified version of one from her husband's grandmother, a sweet dough with lots of egg, sugar, citrus flavouring, icing and sprinkles on top. It's "citrusy and moist and so soft," she says.
Traditionally it is baked in a tall tin, making a cylindrical loaf.
"Her recipe was a painstaking, long process. So I took it and I basically made it modern and used a blender and have made it quite simple."
Doug Avram, a recently retired minister from Aylmer, Ont., is of Romanian descent and an avid bread-maker. He says his mother and grandmother always made bread, but for Easter "the breads were different."
His pascha recipe — almost identical to his grandmother's — contains rum and raisins, has a braided top and a centre well with a sweetened cheese filling.
"Growing up in Timmins (Ont.) in that culture of orthodox Easter rites, the whole community would meet at Easter in the community hall and have a celebration supper or luncheon," Avram says.
"The breads and the Easter eggs, they were like a display thing. People would make bread and donate it as part of the banquet and they'd take pride in how pretty it looked."
Laura D'Amelio of Pickering, Ont., says some variations of Italian Easter bread — pane di pasqua — are sweet, but the one made by her family is not. When her parents emigrated from southern Italy, "times were tough" and sugar was at a premium, says D'Amelio.
What makes her Easter bread special is its construction or "presentation." The plain dough is twisted in a wreath or in a "doll" shape around one or several whole raw eggs, still in the shell, which bake in the oven along with the bread.
In some traditions, the egg shells are dyed brilliant colours before baking, but D'Amelio says the dye tends to bleed into the bread. Her family uses plain white or brown chicken eggs or naturally coloured greenish duck eggs. When baked, the hard eggs take on some of the flavour of the yeasty bread. Usually they are shelled and eaten at the same time as the bread.
The smaller doll-shaped bread, a two-layer thick twisted dough with the egg as the head and the ends of the twists as the feet, is said to represent the baby Jesus and is often made as a gift for children.
Generally the bread would be made this way and served only in the week leading up to Easter.
"We absolutely had it at Easter lunch or supper on Easter Sunday. It was a must," says D'Amelio, author of the food blog An Italian-Canadian Life (www.anitaliancanadianlife.ca).
The similarity in the names of the breads — paska, pascha and pasqua — is because all three words mean Easter.
Each of the cooks says their recipes have regional variations within their countries of origin, but in all cases, Easter bread is a central part of the religious holiday.
The most common British version of Easter bread is hot cross buns — lightly spiced buns often made with candied fruit and with a symbolic cross on the top, usually served on Good Friday. The traditional way to make the cross was with short-crust pastry, but now the cross is often cut into the dough and then piped with icing after the cooked buns have cooled.
These buns have a long and storied history. In the late 1500s, their sale was forbidden except for burials, Good Friday and Christmas. Folklore says buns made on Good Friday would not spoil for a year.
Making Easter bread requires time and commitment, the three cooks say — fitting for a food used to mark their most important religious holiday of the year.
And although some sources suggest the breads are a "reward" for the dietary restrictions some people observe during Lent, the six-week period leading up to Easter, Schellenberg, Avram and D'Amelio say this does not apply in their traditions.
"Easter is a happy and joyous time," Avram says, "and food, especially the breads, are a big part of it.
"Bread is a staple of life and Easter is a celebration of life."
To contact Susan Greer, email her at susan.greer(at)rogers.com.


text:
Can Ford Save BlackBerry?
Ford is close to dumping Microsoft's troublesome MyFord Touch infotainment system. MyFord's faulty operations and slow response have been at the root of many customer complaints over the years, and the automaker is looking to replace it completely. Although it is not official, it is widely believed that MyFord will eventually be replaced by BlackBerry's QNX system.
BlackBerry has been struggling to turn its fortunes around for a long time. The stock was battered during the recent market sell-off, but the dip has made BlackBerry an attractive investment. BlackBerry's potential deal with Ford can strengthen its position in the car infotainment market and can be a game changer for the company.
According to IHS, global sales of vehicle infotainment systems in 2012 stood at $34.6 billion, and a spot in Ford's cars can open up a gigantic opportunity for BlackBerry; the MyFord system was sold in 79% of the Ford's cars in 2013.
Why the tie-up looks likely
Although Ford was among the first companies to offer the ability to pair mobile phones with in-car infotainment systems, it couldn't satisfy consumers. When it comes to customer satisfaction, Ford is way down the pecking order. Ford was ranked 23rd out of a total of 32 candidates for in-car technology in the Auto Express 2013 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. Ford's management desperately wants to climb up that list, thus it's important for the Blue Oval to dump Microsoft's MyFordinfotainment system.
MyFord is very hard to use. That's why it's important for Ford to replace it with QNX, which is already an industry standard. When it comes to in-car infotainment, QNX is second to none. QNX is being used in more than 200 vehicle models and is the market leader in operating-system platforms for in-car infotainment systems. According to IHS Automotive, QNX commands more than 50% of the market share, more than double than that of Microsoft.
Easy to upgrade
According to Egil Juliussen, principal analyst of infotainment for IHS Automotive, QNX's technology is error-free when it comes to the interface with Apple's iPhone and Google's Android software. In fact, Apple's new CarPlay in-car infotainment system will ride on top of QNX. Apple is seeking CarPlay integration with many big-name automakers like Nissan, BMW, Toyota, and others. BlackBerry is poised to benefit from this booming market.
Not only is QNX more dependable, it also offers better connectivity. For instance, BMW's ConnectDrive system allows drivers to bring many of their smartphone apps like email, calendar, and social media to the cars. In addition, the system also gives car owners the ability to control various functions of the cars by using their smartphones as a remote control.
The MyFord system is used in 7 million cars worldwide. However, according to several reports, it is very easy to upgrade the existing cars' infotainment systems to QNX. Not only that, QNX will also be cheaper to license than Microsoft's software, thus it is a win-win situation for both Ford and BlackBerry.
The takeaway
The in-car infotainment market is estimated to be worth more than $41 billion, and a potential spot in Ford's cars has opened up a very big opportunity for BlackBerry, especially since it has a market cap of $3.7 billion. BlackBerry has been struggling to narrow its losses for almost a year now, and QNX may help it achieve its primary goal.
The biggest thing to come out of Silicon Valley in years
If you thought the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad were amazing, just wait until you see this. One hundred of Apple's top engineers are busy building one in a secret lab. And an ABI Research report predicts 485 million of them could be sold over the next decade. But you can invest in it right now... for just a fraction of the price of AAPL stock. Click here to get the full story in this eye-opening new report.
The article Can Ford Save BlackBerry? originally appeared on Fool.com.Amit Patel has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Ford. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Ford, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
EEOC Office of Legal Counsel staff members wrote the following informal discussion letter in response to an inquiry from a member of the public. This letter is intended to provide an informal discussion of the noted issue and does not constitute an official opinion of the Commission.
Title VII: Religious Discrimination Ė Religious Accommodation Ė Sex Discrimination
November 20, 2009
Dear ______________:
This responds to your letter dated August 28, 2009, to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionís (Commissionís or EEOCís) Greenville Local Office, which was referred to the agencyís Office of Legal Counsel for consideration. I apologize for the delay in answering you.
As set forth in your August 28th letter, you have a client that recently hired a male employee and flew him to the companyís location to meet colleagues and look for a house. When he was visiting the office, an African-American colleague offered her hand to greet him but he refused to shake hands. The new employee explained that he did not touch women because of his Muslim religion. When a human resources manager spoke with him about the incident, the new employee said that it was the co-workerís female gender, not her race, which prompted his response.
In light of this incident, your client expressed concern that accommodating the new employeeís religious beliefs may conflict with its policy prohibiting sex discrimination in the workplace. Your client also anticipated that if the new employee refuses ďto shake [female clientsí] hands, [there would be] a negative impact on the employeesí [sic] ability to get their business and . . . be successful on his own behalf as well as on the employerís behalf.Ē1
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. ß 2000e et seq., prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Title VII provides that, once an employer is on notice that an employeeís sincerely-held religious belief, practice, or observance conflicts with a work requirement or policy, it must provide a reasonable accommodation enabling the employee to exercise his beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.2 A religious accommodation poses an undue hardship if it involves ďmore than de minimis costĒ to the operation of the employerís business.3
The question here is whether it is an undue hardship for your client to accommodate its new employeeís religious practice of not shaking hands with women. We are not aware of any decisions in which federal courts have decided whether such an accommodation poses an undue hardship due to co-workersí reactions. With respect to accommodating religious expression generally, however, courts have found, and the Commission has stated, that encroaching on co-workersí ability to perform their duties or subjecting or threatening to subject co-workers to a hostile work environment ďwill generally constitute undue hardship.Ē4 For example, in Wilson v. U.S. West Communications,5 the court concluded that an employer was not required to accommodate the plaintiffís wearing of a graphic anti-abortion button at work where doing so caused serious disruptions among co-workers.6 In Peterson v. Hewlett-Packard Company, where, in response to a diversity program, the plaintiff posted controversial biblical verses that targeted some of his co-workers and were ďintended to be hurtful,Ē the court found that allowing the posters would be an undue hardship for the employer.7 At the same time, a showing of undue hardship requires more than speculation about negative consequences or expressions of discomfort, irritation, or annoyance by co-workers; undue hardship ďgenerally requires evidence that the accommodation would actually infringe on the rights of co-workers or cause disruption of work.Ē8 Your client should make a fact-specific inquiry into the actual disruptions that have occurred and the level of concern in its workforce about the ďno handshakeĒ practice.
Your client also fears that female customers may take offense regarding the employeeís ďno handshakeĒ practice, which in turn ďwould have a negative impact on the employeesí [sic] ability to get their business and . . . be successful in his own behalf as well as on the employerís behalf.Ē9 In assessing whether customersí objections to an employee's religious practice poses an undue hardship, the question again is the extent to which your clientís concerns are speculative or based on actual events involving more than minimal disruptions to its business.
The courts also are inclined to find undue hardship if the employeeís religious expression can be perceived by customers as the employerís own message. The Commission has explained:
For example, one court found that it did not impose an undue hardship for a private sector employer to allow a cashier to use the general religious greeting ďHave a Blessed DayĒ in accepting payment where it was said in the context of brief anonymous interactions and had little demonstrable adverse impact on customers or the business. However, other courts have found undue hardship where religiously oriented expression was used in the context of a regular business interaction with a client. Whether or not the client objects, this may be an undue hardship for an employer where the expression could be mistaken as the employerís message.10
To the extent that your client is concerned that its new employeeís practice will portray it as unfriendly to female customers, your client can focus broadly on the new employeeís overall friendliness and social and sales skills with female customers, above and beyond his ďno handshakeĒ practice. It would be relevant if he has good sales with female customers and is generally well-liked; conversely, it also would be relevant if he declines to shake hands with female customers in a manner that conveys negativity about women. These determinations are intensely fact-specific and your client should be careful to avoid speculation.
Your client also fears that, by allowing a male employee to refuse to shake hands with female co-workers for religious reasons, it will countenance unlawful sex discrimination in violation of Title VII. Title VII prohibits gender-based employment practices and/or conduct, which involve disadvantageous terms and conditions of employment or severe or pervasive harassment.11
In its Compliance Manual, the Commission explained why a religious accommodation that results in harassment on the basis of religion would pose an undue hardship; the same reasoning would seem applicable to deciding whether a religious accommodation would result in harassment on the basis of sex. The Commission stated:
Since an employer has a duty under Title VII to protect employees from religious harassment, it would be an undue hardship to accommodate such expression.† As explained in ß III-A-2-b of this document, religious expression directed toward co-workers might constitute harassment in some situations, for example where it is facially abusive (i.e., demeans people of other religions), or where, even if not abusive, it persists even though the co-workers to whom it is directed have made clear that it is unwelcome.† It is necessary to make a case-by-case determination regarding whether the effect on co-workers actually is an undue hardship.† However, this does not require waiting until the alleged harassment has become severe or pervasive. As with harassment on any basis, it is permitted and advisable for employers to take action to stop alleged harassment before it becomes severe or pervasive, because while isolated incidents of harassment generally do not violate federal law, a pattern of such incidents may be unlawful.12
In assessing the potential for sex discrimination, an important question for your client to consider is whether the new employee implements his ďno handshakeĒ practice in a neutral manner or, by contrast, whether he does so in a manner that is actually hostile or demeaning to women. The extent to which this new employee is developing comfortable working relationships with female co-workers, despite his ďno handshakeĒ practice, would seem highly relevant.
While your client and its new employee may find an effective religious accommodation, your client should avoid accommodations that would foster sex discrimination, for example, adopting a male-only client policy for the employee, or restricting his interactions to male co-workers. If, in the future, the employeeís ďno handshakeĒ practice conveys an intent to demean based on gender, ďit is permitted and advisable for [your client] to take action to stop [the] alleged harassment before it becomes severe or pervasive. . . .Ē13
As noted in your letter, your client itself proposed conducting some form of diversity training for its workforce, which could include providing information about Islamic religious practices. Your clientís proposal may help to alleviate possible tension and/or discomfort surrounding its new employeeís practice of declining to shake hands with women for religious reasons.
We hope this information is helpful. Please note that this letter is an informal discussion of the issues you raised and does not constitute an official opinion of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If you have further questions, please contact Carol Miaskoff at 202.663.4645 or Tanisha Wilburn at 202.663.4909.
Peggy R. Mastroianni
Associate Legal Counsel
1 August 28, 2009 letter at page 2.
2 42 U.S.C. 2000e (j); 29 C.F.R. ß 1605.2(b). See also EEOC COMPL. MAN., ß 12, ďRELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION,Ē ß 12-IV (July 22, 2008), available at, http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/religion.html#_ftnref116.
3 RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION, supra note 2, ß 12-IV, B.
4 RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION, supra note 2, ß 12-IV, B.4.
5 58 F.3d 1337, 1341-42 (8th Cir. 1995).
6 Id. at 1339-40. The disruptions cited included: a forty percent decline in productivity that resulted from employees gathering to discuss the button; co-worker protests in the form of refusing to attend work meetings with plaintiff present; employees filing grievances against the employer for its perceived failure to resolve the dispute; and employees threatening walkouts.
7 358 F.3d 599, 607-608 (9th Cir. 2004). The court reasoned that accommodating the plaintiffís religious expression would have created an undue hardship for the employer because ďit would have inhibited [the employerís] efforts to attract and retain a qualified, diverse workforce, which the [employer] reasonably view[ed] as vital to its commercial success.Ē
8 RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION, supra note 2, ß 12-IV B.6.b.
9 August 28, 2009 letter at page 2.
10 RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION, supra note 2, ß 12-IV, C.6.b.
11 See Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Servs., 523 U.S. 75, 80 (1998) (indicating that Title VII prohibits harassment where ďmembers of one sex are exposed to disadvantageous terms or conditions of employment to which members of the other are not exposedĒ) (internal quotation marks omitted); Robinson v. Jacksonville Shipyards, 760 F. Supp. 1486, 1522 (M.D. Fl. 1991) (indicating that gender-based harassment can involve ďharassing behavior lacking a sexually explicit content but directed at women and motivated by animus against women. . . .Ē).
12 RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION, supra note 2, ß 12-IV, C.6.a.
13 Id.
This page was last modified on January 25, 2010.
Return to Home Page


text:
Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
On a side note I think that the Hidden Immunity Idol will be a compass rose.
puddin has some great pics in the ep1 thread and she point that it looks like Jonathan goes to EI first, and the African American tribe losses the first challenge. I think Seoku goes packing. tune in next week to watch Billy go home..........
SekouNot a guess, but not sure either.
Like i said a week ago folks Billy
Page created in 9.318 seconds with 34 queries.


text:
Here's someone eagerly waiting for Cam-ella to show.
Or does he has a bad case of imsonia?
Fireflies are still out there.
no fish yet but it's on again Good morning (or afternoon) Erik, as the case may be
bringing a little pink
but still nice to see! How was the camping trip Debbie?
what's up with the barricade


text:
The Awful Side of EgyptAir Svg Logo The Nuiances of EgyptAir Svg Logo Since you may see, the logo is composed of a visual element and the company name. For instance, if your logo should be displayed at 150px width, upload your logo no less than a 300px width. You're able to rest easy knowing your logo will appear great on any gadget. Once your EgyptAir Svg Logo is uploaded, you might or might not see it immediately. Therefore, if you would like to bring any EgyptAir Svg Logo, you will need to support that function in order to add EgyptAir Svg Logo. Now your EgyptAir Svg Logo will show up in the header of your site!
Choosing EgyptAir Svg Logo If it comes to design, acquiring the suitable logo file type for a certain purpose is essential. When creating a logo for a modern website it's an excellent concept to utilize Adobe Illustrator or a different program that may make and manipulate vector art to create an SVG file in the place of a photo editing app like Adobe Photoshop that's utilized to edit and manipulate pixels. If you take a good look at the SVG code for the Spotify logo you will observe an id and style which are not needed. With the growth of retina displays, the demand for crisp, clean, hi-resolution graphics has become increasingly more important on the net. The widespread usage of SVG today, particularly when it comes to logos in web applications and sites is simple to explain.
The important benefit of SVG graphics is they do not lose any image quality if they're zoomed or resized. 1 interesting benefit of using CSS for your logo is the capacity to scale to coincide with any size much enjoy an SVG file. EgyptAir Svg Logo Ideas To observe where exactly everything needs to be placed, it's possible to simply return to your sketch file and inspect the sizes and distances. This vector format is perfect for drawings and icons. PNG files may be used for nearly every digital function. Pick the plane you wish to insert the SVG file in the identical way as though you were selecting a plane to sketch on. Following that, you'll need to decide on the SVG file that you want to import. If your EPS file utilizes live type, ensure that your system delivers the font files you want to support the text in your document.
After that, pick the Media From FTP zip file which you just downloaded. Anywhere you're promoting SVG. Possessing an SVG can save yourself a tremendous period of time if you want to create a Logo, text, or a different complex design which you already have an SVG file of. Maybe it is a little frightening to begin your SVG with writing code, but finally, it's not overly complicated. You ought to at least have some simple understanding about SVG and also CSS. SVG is XML based, meaning every element can be found within the SVG DOM. Hover over the webpage title that you want to bring the SVG to and click edit. It's possible for you to utilize SVG on the internet pretty easily, but there's plenty you need to know.


text:
Nobel Laureates
|Episode Description
|Monday, Dec 17, 2012 - 1:00 AM
NOBEL LAUREATES 2011 takes you to every corner of the globe to meet the thirteen inspiring men and women who have been awarded this year's prestigious Nobel Prizes. From Stockholm to Strasbourg, Israel to Canberra, the USA, Liberia and Yemen, this documentary explores the pioneering work and incredible discoveries that have been honoured by this year's Nobel Committee. Featuring extensive interviews with the Laureates themselves, as well as those who have inspired or have been inspired by them, including Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the Swedish actor, Krister Henriksson, and the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, a Nobel Laureate himself. D
|More Nobel Laureates on PLUS (MT)
Monday, Dec 17, 2012 - 1:00 AM


text:
Brian Williams Raps 'Baby Got Back' [Video]
So far, 'Tonight Show' host Jimmy Fallon has made 'NBC Nightly News' host Brian Williams rap (through the magic of editing) a stunning eight songs, from "Gin and Juice" to "Rapper's Delight." But last night's edition just might be the best yet, as he tackled Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back."
It's everything you'd want out of a Williams rap, and more. (Hint: there's some bonus Kathie Lee material.) It's certainly the most amusing, and the craftsmanship is particularly on point. Whoever actually makes these videos is definitely talented, if not insane.


text:
Turtles, Huh? — Free App of the Day
Everyone loves turtles! Who doesn't like seeing a turtle swim in a pond, or race a rabbit and win in the end? We all do! Which is why Turtles, Huh? makes for a great free app of the day!
Turtles, Huh? is a cute game for kids of all ages. It consists of one main game and eight mini-games. You can play as Turtle or Penguin. With 88 missions and 40 different achievements, you'll be playing for hours as you upgrade your equipment and try to collect all of the Turtle Balls. Turtle balls?
With a recent update that improved the performance and fixed some bugs, you'll be having a great time with this cartoony title. Not just because it's a cute game, but because it's a cute, FREE game!
Click to download Turtles, Huh? for your iPhone. Hurry! It's free for a limited time.


text:
When the first thing you get asked at work in the morning is, "Have you seen the Ray Edwards boxing video?" it's something that needs to be passed along.
On Saturday, Edwards, who was released by the Atlanta Falcons in November after recording 33 sacks in seven NFL seasons with the Falcons and Minnesota Vikings, fought a short, flabby-looking bald man, who appears more like an accountant than a boxer in West Fargo, N.D.
Well, defining it as a fight is generous. Based on the cell phone footage of the bout, it was more flop than fight. Edwards throws a ferocious uppercut that misses by about a foot. The breeze from the punch seems to knock his opponent over, as he immediately flops to the mat WWE-style.
While we have the benefit of watching it over and over and over (and over) again, even the ringside fans saw it as an obvious flop.
Suffice it to say Ray Edwards' boxing career isn't going over any better than his attempt at modeling.
Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.


text:
There is a restaurant that only opens from midnight until 7 a.m. everyday and has no set menu. Instead, the mysterious Master (Kim Seung Woo), who is the proprietor and chef, asks his diners what they want and whips up meals made especially for them. Can the food, and the quiet healing powers of Master, help solve his diners' problems in unexpected ways? "Midnight Diner" is a 2015 South Korean drama series directed by Hwang In Roi. It is a remake of a 2009 Japanese drama and 2006 manga series "Shinya Shokudo" by Yaro Abe.
This show does not have any episodes


text:
Stevens Institute of Technology Hurricane Sandy Anniversary Event Explores Preparedness, Resiliency and Community in Hoboken
When Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast in late October 2012, it disrupted millions of lives, causing death and destruction at an entirely new scale for regional coastal storms. One year later, residents of the tri-state area are still experiencing Sandy's impacts. At the same time, there have emerged unbelievable stories of courage, resilience, community and innovation.
Stevens Institute of Technology, whose hometown of Hoboken, N.J. suffered some of the worst impacts of Sandy, commemorated the anniversary of the hurricane this week with an event that looked both backward at the massive destruction of the storm and then forward to offer insights on mitigating the impact of future crises – combining diverse scientific, engineering, technology, policy and community perspectives.
The anniversary event included an eye-opening, two-hour panel discussion featuring local and national leaders from the scientific and public policy communities, who discussed storm-related research findings and shared updates on developments in making the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region more resilient to natural disasters.
It also included an inspiring community program, organized in collaboration with the Hoboken Historical Museum, which featured short stories from local residents about how life was affected in Hoboken during and after Sandy, revealing a common thread of hope and possibility in the power of communities in times of crisis.
After Sandy: Lessons Learned for Bolstering Infrastructure Resilience
The scientific panel discussion – moderated by Dean Michael Bruno of Stevens' Schaefer School of Engineering and Science and featuring notable speakers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northeastern University and Stevens' Davidson Laboratory – focused on bolstering urban coastal infrastructure resilience to flooding from storm surge, as well as related social and policy issues.
In his opening remarks, Stevens President Nariman Farvardin called for more science-informed decisions in infrastructure projects on the coast.
"Sandy was a devastating experience for our region; it had a profound impact on all of us," Farvardin said. "We learned that science and technology must play a critical role in prediction, protection and rebuilding."
A common theme among all of the speakers was what Sandy taught the world about the importance of preparedness in planning a smart and informed response to natural disasters.
Dr. Stephen Flynn, professor of political science and co-director of the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security at Northeastern, has led a series of regional events – including one at Stevens – to examine ways to build more resilient coastal cities based on lessons learned from Sandy and through a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
He said Sandy-like events will occur with greater frequency in the future, and the time is now to safeguard our coast through infrastructure investments, technology upgrades, operational improvements, improved collaboration and cooperation, and enhanced research and data.
"Our critical infrastructure cannot be taken for granted," Flynn said. "The generations before us made a significant investment to help us become the modern, urban society we are today, and it is up to us to maintain those investments. When we neglect them, there are real consequences."
CAPT Gordon Loebl, commander sector New York, U.S. Coast Guard, said planning and preparation actually made the Port of New York and New Jersey one of the region's few "success stories." Although the port – one of the world's busiest and largest – was hit extremely hard, suffering extensive damage, forcing closed waterways and halting commerce, Loebl said the port was able to reopen relatively quickly by working flexibly and collaboratively in the lead up to the storm and the days following.
Joseph Seebode, deputy district engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NY District, described Corps successes immediately after the storm, such as clearing 500 million gallons of water from subway tunnels and 90,000 cubic yards of debris from New York City. These victories were only possible due to smart emergency planning ahead of time, he said.
Today, the Corps is repairing approved projects damaged by Sandy, as well as conducting a comprehensive study of the North Atlantic coast to develop recommendations for risk reduction opportunities and bring greater resiliency and robustness to the coastal region.
Dr. Holly Bamford, assistant administrator for the National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, called Sandy "a turning point" which sparked a critical conversation about the vulnerability of our coastal regions. She said climate change and population growth on the coast necessitate engineers, policymakers and the public to come together for the common purpose of "reimagining our coasts to better protect and preserve the communities and economies that depend on them."
Finally, Dr. Alan Blumberg, George Meade Bond Professor and director of the Davidson Laboratory at Stevens, demonstrated the research center's storm-threat assessment and storm surge impact models. Based on a highly sophisticated physics model, he showed a computer animation of street-by-street flooding in Hoboken as Sandy approached, struck and passed by. Validated by real-time photos of flood levels in Hoboken during Sandy, the animation proves it is possible to accurately predict how much water will come in where, and does so in a way that can be easily communicated to emergency responders and the public.
The speakers also emphasized the need to involve social scientists in all aspects of disaster preparedness and mitigation, as greater human understanding are what will enable scientific, technological and policy solutions for resiliency to have the most impact.
Hoboken: Reflections on a Community's Experience
The community program, which was narrated by Stevens Science and Technology Studies Professor Lee Vinsel, focused on the human side of Sandy in Hoboken, with video and live performances from community members that unveiled many innovative solutions and selfless responses that emerged to cope with the countless challenges residents faced in the past year.
"Sandy was a memorable event not only in its destruction, but in the opportunity it provided to bring the best out of our people," said Farvardin, who helped the university's emergency management team lead Stevens safely through the storm, despite losing power to many parts of campus.
Bruno and Blumberg presented on the challenges they faced in warning officials and residents of the storm's magnitude, as their forecasts and models showed stronger and stronger signs as it approached.
"We had to show them that you can't pump against the entire Atlantic Ocean," said Bruno.
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer expressed gratitude to the National Guard and FEMA, who brought relief to the city, as well as the thousands of volunteers who helped in smaller ways, such as unloading food trucks and carrying water and medications to residents stuck in high-rises. Today, plans are underway to develop a comprehensive community emergency response strategy and improve energy resiliency and the micro-grid throughout the city.
"We have to protect our city; we are talking about the future of Hoboken," Zimmer said.
Two residents who were on the front lines – Maria Rivera and Madeline Lopez – said Sandy made Hoboken stronger, as neighbors shared food, shelter and supplies with people they previously only knew as strangers.
Eugene Flinn, who owns three restaurants in Hoboken, said the day after Sandy was "the best day I ever had in the business." With the help of his long-time chef, Flinn opened Amanda's Restaurant on Washington Street – which lost power but did not flood – to the public. Dozens of volunteers quickly showed up to help them serving free food in the street.
"We lost cars, furniture, computers … but we got something much more. Our sense of community was greatly enhanced," Flinn said.
Stevens student Allison Outwater and Hoboken resident Maggie Mallan showcased the power of volunteerism which emerged after the storm and how the community stepped up to meet common needs.
Outwater volunteered at City Hall the day after the storm and soon found herself in charge of leading the community volunteer effort.
Mallan, who never lost power, opened her home to her friends and neighbors, allowing people to check their email, contact loved ones and store food in her refrigerator.
Two spiritual leaders, Monsignor Robert Meyer of Sts. Peter and Paul Church and April Harris of In Jesus' Name Charities, explored the place of faith in the storm recovery.
Meyer opened his church to those in need, providing shelter to those who had lost everything.
"People trusted us and we tried to live up to that sacred trust," he said.
Harris, who runs a food pantry for the poor, saw the entire ministry devastated by the storm, but just as quickly saw it come back – through donations from individuals and religious institutions across the country.
Technology activist David Haier and technology entrepreneur Aaron Price looked at the response of the tech community in Hoboken to Sandy.
Haier, who was out of state during Sandy, built Hoboken Sandy Maps, which used information gathered from social media and other online sources to show residents what locations and blocks in Hoboken had power during the storm. The maps garnered 600,000 views. Today, with the help of two Stevens students, Haier is developing Hoboken Crisis Map, an extension of the concept – although he hopes we never need to use it.
"There is a huge opportunity to gather information from individuals in future crises," Haier said.
Aaron Price is a technology entrepreneur who founded NJ Tech Meetup, the largest tech group in the region. Immediately after the storm, he launched HealHoboken.org, a fundraising campaign for the Hoboken Relief Fund which received $32,000 in donations in the two weeks after Sandy.
"Technology empowered the community during Sandy," Price said. Price and Haier are both looking for ways to ensure that technology and crowdsourced intelligence contribute to preparedness, planning and recovery efforts in future crises.
Robert Foster, executive director of the Hoboken Historical Museum, encouraged the public to visit a new exhibit which explores Hoboken's past history with flooding, the community's experience during the storm and during the recovery, and proposals for improving the city's resiliency. Using personal stories, audio and images to explore the impact of Sandy and lessons learned about disaster response, the exhibit runs through July 6, 2014 at the museum at 1301 Hudson Street in Hoboken.
Finally, more speakers offered resources to aid in the ongoing recovering efforts for citizens who are still in need of support. Daniel Altilio of the United Way of Hudson County, and Dawn Donnelly, a disaster relief counselor, have partnered with the Hoboken Historical Museum to offer the Sandy Community Outreach Program, specifically aimed at providing mental health relief and other counseling services to residents effected by the storm.
Vinsel concluded the evening with a positive reflection on Hoboken's collective experience.
"When Sandy came, people used their imaginations to envision a better future for each other," Vinsel said. "Over and over again, we saw fundamentally hopeful acts. If we can take a bit from what we learned and hold onto it, it would be a great thing."


text:
Bank Analyzer Infrastructure in Banking Services from SAP 8.0
- Solution:SAP for Industries
Level:Details, Configuration & Transaction
- Describe the Bank Analyzer Data Management and its Infrastructure
- Be able to implement, change and enhance the Bank Analyzer, write concepts and create the customizing
- Be able to choose the best of the available options from the range of available options
- Application Consultants
- Business Analysts
- System Architects
- Developers
- Business Process Owner/Team Lead/Power User
- Basic knowledge of data warehousing
- BW305BW Query Design and Analysis
- BW330BW Modeling and Implementation
- BIT100SAP NetWeaver Integration Technology
Course based on software release
- Banking Analyzer 8.0 (BW Integrated)
- Banking Services 8.0
- Bank Analyzer Elements
- Using the Bank Analyzer Infrastructure and Data Management
- Using BW characteristics in Bank Analyzer
- Using BW key figures in Bank Analyzer
- Using the BW storage of organizational hierarchies and accounts
- SDL Data Modeling & Data Storage
- Using SDL functions and SDL Primary Objects
- Changing SDL templates and SDL classes customizing
- Using Segmentation service customizing
- Data transfer and Interfaces: Inbound
- Connecting the Bank Analyzer to source systems
- Extracting data from source systems
- Transforming data for Bank Analyzer use
- Loading data into Bank Analyzer
- Loading data into the Source Data Layer via DLL
- General Calculation and Valuation Methods
- Generating Cash Flows
- Changing the cash flow generation customizing
- Using the Present Value Calculation and Fair Value Production Process
- Results Data Layer
- Using the RDL Data storage functions
- Using RDL data aggregation and retrieval
- Data Retrieval and Extraction
- Retrieving and extracting data from Bank Analyzer
- Using primary & secondary data sources for data retrieval
- Maintaining the data connection between SDL and Analyzer
- Extracting data from Bank Analyzer
- Tools and functions
- Using the Calculation and Valuation Process Manager (CVPM)
- Using the Reconciliation Hub
- Using the Application Event Management
- Supporting the Integration of SAP Operational and Analytics scenario
Would you like to get full Access?
If you are already a subscriber, please login. If you are not yet a member, Please Click Sign up.
if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us from the Button bellow


text:
No, I don't mean music that's in the Iliad, I mean music that's generated from the text of the Iliad.
Henry Francis Lynam writes to the Digital Classicist mailing list:
Hi folks,
As the long days of summer approach, I thought a bit of musical entertainment might be in order. I've mapped the accents in the Iliad to a 12-note scale to produce some digital music. This uses a Python script to parse the Perseus Ancient Greek files in beta code and extract the accents. It uses EasyABC to produce the score. You can listen to the results at:
The score is available at:


text:
Today we're bringing a bit of Big 10 cross-pollination for you as Iowa fan Adam Jacobi from Black Heart Gold Pants brings the Badger love. At least a little bit? He also blogs at Fanhouse. 1) Wisconsin's tight end is Travis Beckum, a 26-year-old taxi driver who's recently been discharged from Vietnam. As Beckum drives the dark, dirty streets of New York, the crime and squalor cloud his judgment and send him into a tailspin of violence, insonmia, and perversion. The ex-Marine trains himself as if he were readying for battle, and he plans to assassinate President Palatine, whom he once told he was his biggest supporter. Beckum's experiences with Iris, a young prostitute, eventually lead him to— Wait, we're being told that the above story isn't about Wisconsin TE Travis Beckum, but is rather a plot synopsis from Martin Scorsese's classic 1976 drama Taxi Driver, where a young Robert DeNiro plays Travis Bickle. Travis Beckum, on the other hand, is the best tight end in the BXI. He has no evident plans to rid any city of any city sleaze, though, making him part of the problem instead of part of the solution. 2) Yes, Bret Bielema has an Iowa Tigerhawk tattoo on his ankle. Bielema was a walk-on-turned-captain at Iowa in the late 80s and early 90s. No, that doesn't affect his ability to coach a rival football team.
Nor is this his worst tattoo from a professional standpoint. Bielema also got the infamous belly-button-turned-monkey-colon tattoo in Cancun in '91, and both coaches and players are very upset about the graphic depiction of Joe Paterno violating a dolphin's blowhole that graces Bielema's left shoulder blade. 3) PJ Hill is perpetuating fraud on the NCAA by claiming junior status, when it's plainly obvious that he has been playing there for at least 5 years under that name, and for four years prior as "Ron Dayne." Hill is behind five
giant Wisconsin-born coeds with cankles the size of Texas very good offensive linemen, and Wisconsin's running offense looks as good as ever. Fortunately for the elite in the Big Ten, their QB is Allan Evridge, a fifth-year Kansas State transfer who hasn't put in any meaningful minutes since high school. Shaky QB play and a brutal October slate (FACT: Wisconsin has never won at Iowa!) ensure that while the Badgers will undoubtedly win at least nine games on the year, they don't have a prayer of winning a championship.


text:
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Stephen Colbert agreed to turn his TV studio and green room into a meat-free zone on Tuesday after landing a rare chat with vegetarian Morrissey.
The British rocker insists all venues he visits on tour are veggie-friendly and Colbert chose to honor the star's wishes when he agreed to be a guest on his nightly show.
But the comedian still teased Morrissey about his "militant" vegetarianism, joking, "If I'm a little woozy right now it's because I haven't had my bacon."
Explaining his serious anti-meat stance, the former The Smiths frontman said, "Animals are nicer than humans and they're conscious beings…," prompting a stone-faced Colbert to quip, "Well, I know a lamb that's a f— a—e. Can I eat him?"
Morrissey was clearly amused by the host's comic response, but insisted meat eaters should think hard about their diet, adding, "If you stick your grandmother in an oven, she will probably be tasty but is that any reason to eat your grandmother?"
Colbert also poked fun at Morrissey's decision not to reform The Smiths, urging him to think about the huge payday he and his former bandmates could demand.
The singer insisted he wasn't interested in the money, stating, "Not everybody's a fat old slag."
When Colbert hinted that he had The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr waiting in the wings, Morrissey chuckled and said, "It (joke) was quite funny."


text:
Green lifestyles are more than a trend, they're an imperative part of the future. As climate change and resource limitations begin to affect the majority of the developed world, you'll want to be certain that your home is still comfortable, functional and not adding to the problem. One of the best places to start your greener lifestyle is in your kitchen. Next to the dryer, your fridge is one of the major energy-guzzling machines in your home - but it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your kitchen.
If you're looking to make the switch to an eco-conscious lifestyle in your kitchen, you'll need to start by upgrading your appliances, then remodeling your space with sustainable and earth-friendly products. Finally, you'll want to dedicate yourself to an organic and local diet. Ready to take the plunge?
Maximum energy-efficiency
Start with the fridge. Getting an Energy Star Certified fridge will make all the difference down the line, as this behemoth takes a lot of electricity to keep your food fresh. Next move on to the dishwasher. Energy-efficient dishwashers don't just cut down on energy use, they minimize wasted water as well. Most of your appliances can be easily upgraded into newer and more efficient models, from the microwave to an electric blender. Have a water cooler? Go green with that too (and don't use paper or plastic cups)!
Once your appliances are upgraded, consider taking green steps below the floorboards. Investing in radiant floor heating is a great option for any home. Improved air quality (no more dusty ducts and vents), energy efficient, outfitted with fantastic smart controls and easy to install, there's no reason not to take the leap on radiant heat in your kitchen.
Sustainable products
While you're making major changes below the floorboards, take a moment to consider the rest of your furnishings and décor. Now may be the right time to remodel your kitchen with sustainable and non-toxic materials. Start with the walls - whatever colors you want to dress your kitchen in, be sure the paint is VOC-free. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are hazardous materials found in a number of products around the home, including paints. While you may not need to worry about paint chips in your home, secure your air quality with VOC-free paint.
Need new furniture but also want to help out the planet? Look into sustainable woods like bamboo or those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). You can also buy counter tops or décor made out of recycled glass. Remember to try to use local products to help reduce the carbon emissions of shipping.
Organic and local produce
Sure, sometimes you're going to want an avocado and it's the dead of winter, but you should do your best to promote local food nonetheless. The transportation of produce and meat around the country contributes an immense amount to the United States' collective carbon footprint, and eating locally grown and raised food can help reduce that. Not to mention, as anyone who's hit up the farmers market knows, local food tastes fresher. While it might mean some dietary changes, this is a great way to give farmers and Mother Nature a helping hand.
While you're at it, switching to organic products - from your carrots to your dish soap - is a great way to help the environment and promote better farming and production methods.
We won't share your information and you can unsubscribe at any time with a single click.


text:
Explore Our Hotel
The staff of the beautiful new Holiday Inn Express & Suites Detroit North - Rochester Hills hotel is eager to exceed your expectations. Our hotel features over-sized guest rooms and suites luxuriously complimented by triple sheeted pillow topped mattresses, rich furnishings and all of the amenities that you have come to expect including a microwave and refrigerator.
With our convenient location off M-59, corporations such as General Motors, Borg Warner, Volkswagen, Chrysler, Faurecia and GKN Automotive are just minutes away.
Whether you are visiting the Rochester Hills or neighboring Auburn Hills area for business or pleasure, make sure that you take in some of the exciting year around cultural events, local attractions or even enjoy one of the many games played by our very own Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, Pistons or Lions. During your stay with us, you will enjoy the conveniences of our complimentary Express Start hot breakfast bar, free Wi-Fi service throughout the hotel and our board room, HD televisions with expanded cable channel listings, heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center, 24-hour business center and guest laundry. Stay Smart at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hotel Detroit North - Rochester Hills.
- Black-out Shades
- Rollaway Bed/Cot Available
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Separate Hanging Closet
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Bathtub
- Separate/Walk-in Shower
In-Room Features
- Mini Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Desk-level Electrical Outlet
- Cable/Satellite
- Premium Channels
- Stereo/Radio
- Sound System
- Direct-dial Phone
- Two-line Phone
- Phone with Voicemail
Added Value
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Full Breakfast Included
- Breakfast Buffet Included
- Continental Breakfast Included
- Complimentary Coffee in Lobby
- Off-site Restaurant Delivery Available
Business Services
- 1 Meeting Room(s) Available
- On-Site Business Center
- Printer
- Copier
- Office supplies available
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Entertainment & Recreation
- Indoor Pool
- Heated Indoor Pool
- Indoor Pool Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Health & Fitness
Complimentary Fitness Center
treadmills, bike, free weights
Hours of Operation: 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Fitness Center Type: LIMITED
Fitness Center Equipment:
- Stair Stepper
- Treadmill
- Elliptical Machines
- Free Weights
- Stationary Bicycle
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
- Hours of Operation: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Added Value
- Storage Space Available
- ATM/Cash Machine
- Ice Machine
Hotel Details
3544 Marketplace Circle
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309
United States
Check In: 3:00 PM
Check Out: 11:00 AM
Check-in Age: 21
Parking + -
- Complimentary Self Parking Available
Accessibility + -
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
- Registration Desk
- Exercise Facility
- Business Center
- Pool
- Number of Accessible Meeting Rooms: 1
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Registration Area
- Accessible Guest Rooms
- Business Center
- Meeting Room
- Exercise Facility
- Pool
Hotel Areas with Accessible Routes from Accessible Public Entrance
- Accessible Self Parking
- Van Accessible Self Parking
- Ramp Access
- Closed Caption TVs
- Telephone with TDD
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Guest Rooms
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Public Spaces
- Communication Kits with Visual Alarms
Provided by Hotel
Pet Policy + -
- Service Animals Allowed
- Pets are not allowed. Several boarding kennels are located nearby. Please contact the Guest Services staff for additional information.
Facility + -
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 3
- Total Number of Rooms: 83
- Number of Suites: 25
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 83
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 13
- Connecting Rooms Available
Credit Cards + -
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover


text: "...The people of the Dalaben Fens have a custom heretical to our superior Zodashan faith, in which they place their dead upon the grass roofs of their stilt-houses. It is said that they do this because they used to bury their dead before the great Judgement, in which their home became the swamp which it is today."-Sir Edrosh Metorva, "The Barbarian Lands of the East, Volume X."


text:
2 Simple Strength Circuits for Busy Triathletes
Don't let complicated moves confuse you. Memorize these two simple routines for a strength workout anywhere.
by Rick Kattouf
Strength training for triathletes is a polarizing topic that everyone seems to have an opinion on. Some people seem to be caught in the 60s and 70s, where strength training was not extremely popular for endurance athletes.
There are many different thoughts and philosophies on strength training, from not doing it at all (believe it or not, still very common in triathlon today), to reserving strength work for the "off-season." But what would happen to your body composition if you only ate right for part of the year? Most likely you'd see an increase in body fat and a decrease in performance. So why would you only want to strength train for part of the season? Let's examine the benefits of strength training and various ways to incorporate it into your routine.
A host of benefits
What are two reasons people gravitate toward triathlon? Because they want to lose weight, change their body composition and get faster—strength training will help assist in these areas.
According to Alan P. Jung, trained distance runners have shown improvements up to eight percent in running economy following a period of resistance training. In addition, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, high intensity circuit training can be a fast and efficient way to lose excess body weight and body fat. And, when multiple large muscles are used with very little rest in between sets, they can elicit aerobic and metabolic benefits.
Circuit training with body weight
Circuit training is one of the most efficient ways to strength train. Get ready to work, because circuit training is fast and furious. For example, here is a basic circuit using just your body weight:
- Perform 10 repetitions of each of the following exercises: push-ups, situps, squats, reverse lunge, side lunge, and plank hold. This is one circuit. Perform a total of 10 nonstop circuits for a total of 100 repetitions per exercise (hold plank for 60 seconds). For a more advanced circuit, replace the squat with jump squats and replace the reverse lunge with a jump lunge. As you progress, you can work up to 20-30 repetitions per exercise, sticking with the 10 nonstop circuits. This way, you will then perform a total of 200-300 repetitions respectively.
Circuit training with weights
Here is an example of a strength training circuit using the free weights or machines:
- Perform 15 of each of the following exercises: bench press/chest press, triceps dips, wide grip pull-ups/assisted pull-ups, seated dumbbell shoulder press, seated dumbbell bicep curl, leg press, standing/lying hamstring curl, standing calf raise, and stability ball abdominal crunch. This is one circuit. Perform two to six circuits.
How much, how often?
As athletes, we want to focus on both muscular endurance—the ability to perform an activity over a sustained period of time, and muscular strength—the muscles' ability to produce force against a certain amount of resistance. In the world of strength training, muscular endurance is built through using lighter weight and higher repetitions, and just the opposite for muscular strength. Both are very important for endurance athletes.
If you are new to strength training, ease into it from both a frequency and intensity perspective. Start out with one to two days per week and err on the side of lighter weight and fewer circuits. As you progress, build up to two to three days per week. When 15 reps are prescribed, your goal is to use an amount of weight that allows you to successfully perform the 15 repetitions, but where the last two to three repetitions are quite challenging.
If you are ready to take your training, racing and body composition to the next level, incorporate strength training year round for maximal results.


text:
Halloween is less than two weeks away, but that's still plenty of time to create some quick, easy and downright adorable Halloween outfits for your kiddos. Save some money when you skip the store-bought versions and make your own cutie patootie DIY costumes for kids.
Here are some ideas.
Raining Cats and Dogs
Watch out for poodles! Get out your child's raincoat and galoshes and a few of her stuffed furry friends for a clever costume. All you need is an old umbrella and a hot glue gun to attach the toys (think Beanie Baby size). Or you can cut cat and dog shapes out of felt and glue them to the umbrella as well. For an added touch, let him/her carry a spray bottle of "rain."
Static Electricity
Dress your child in black from head to toe. Then from the inside, use safety pins to attach random socks, a few pairs of underwear, and some pieces of small clothing (like baby T-shirts or tiny tank tops) to his/her clothes. You could also attach with a hot-glue gun if you don't mind ruining the outfit. With hair gel, spike hair to look static-y. Use a small laundry basket as a treat bucket.
Pig in a Blanket. Cut pig ears out of pink craft foam and hot glue them to a pink headband. Make or buy a pig snout from a costume store, and dress your little piglet all in pink. Wrap a blanket over shoulders and pin with a large safety pin.
Artist. Dress your child in a dark pants, an oversized white shirt and a beret. Cut a large piece of cardboard into the shape of an artist's palette. Put five circles of different color paint on the palette, and glue on an old paintbrush. Have your child carry the palette, and if your child is a boy, sketch a mustache on his face. You can add a colorful touch by adding splatters of paint to the palette and white shirt.
Bunch of grapes. Dress your child in a long-sleeved purple, green or black shirt with same color tights. Blow up several purple balloons, making them various sizes. Carefully pin the balloons with safety pins to your child's clothing, with fewer "grapes" at the top and more (and larger) at his/her middle section to mimic the shape of a real bunch of grapes. You can top off the costume with a purple or green knit cap.
Basket of laundry. Buy the smallest, lightest laundry basket you can find. Cut a circle out of the bottom, just big enough for your child's body to fit through. Cut two pieces of clothes line and tie onto the laundry basket to act as suspenders. Position the basket so that it's easy to walk but also allows for arm movement. Put clothes in the basket, and hang them on the sides of the basket using clothespins. For an added touch, use an empty detergent box as a candy collector.
Do you have any great costume ideas you'd like to share?


text:
'Tis the season for gorgeous, luscious, delicious pie and just in time comes a book with every kind there is– deep-dish, tarty, free-form, cobbled. And fruity, creamy, nutty, chocolatey. All of it vegan, of course.
Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, the team that in previous seasons showed us with their fabulous cupcakes and cookies just how yesterday butter and eggs are in a modern baker's kitchen, are back with Vegan Pie in the Sky, a book that crams into the authors' signature square pages tons of pie-making wisdom.
This is a definitive guide for any pie baker– seasoned, novice, vegan, or not– on how to make one of America's most cherished desserts from scratch, with sections on:
–Buying the right kind of pie-making equipment, from pans to rolling pins for making the crust.
–Creating different kinds of crusts, from single to double to shortbread, puff pastry, and even chocolate (and you thought there was only one kind!)
–Step-by-step recipes for 75 pies, including vegan versions of those you grew up with like Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie, to fun ones with clever names like She's My Cherry Pie and Pucker-Up Raspberry Pie, to elegant desserts like Blueberry Orange Cheesecake and Cappuccino Mousse Pie. There is even a Basil Peach Pie and a Curried Macaroon Pie that features curry powder in the filling. Honest.
Because I was reviewing the book, I chose to make a more traditional dessert, just so I would be better able to compare it to the non-vegan versions I remember eating from the past: Pecan Pie. In this book it's a Maple Pecan Pie, with the maple syrup adding warm, rich tones to the nutty pecans. Perfect.
There was another sneaky reason I wanted to try the Maple Pecan Pie, and that's because it uses tofu: an ingredient I simply do not like in sweet dishes. While tofu works wonderfully in savory recipes, in sweets it's really difficult to shake off that chalky aftertaste it leaves in your mouth. My perverted little tastebuds wanted to really, really know if Isa and Terry had indeed managed to conquer the tofu-aftertaste demon in this recipe.
The single-crust recipe that goes with this pie required the addition of some apple-cider vinegar. While that might appear a surprising addition, I guess it's meant to add tenderness to the crust, and it did. This is certainly one of the best vegan crusts I've ever tasted, with the right balance of flaky, crumbly and crispy deliciousness. It tasted especially great with the gooey, sweet filling.
The caramel for the pie filling required 10 minutes of stirring the sugar and maple syrup over the stove, but the time went by faster than I had imagined. The rest of the prep for the filling was really simple: you blitz some tofu and nondairy milk with some cornstarch (which acts as a thickener) and vanilla, mix it with the caramel and sugar, and voila! Time to bake.
As some of you already know, I live with a pie hog (Desi) who is quite non-vegan, and it gives me a lot of joy to give him a plate of vegan pie that he will adore and then wag an I-told-you-so finger in his face. This Maple Pecan Pie passed his taste test with flying colors and more. It definitely passed my tofu test because I could not tell it was in there. But most important, it passed the finicky canine test with Opie and Lucy loving every little bit their humans were willing to share, from the flaky crust to the caramel-bathed pecans.
As delicious as this pie was, I did run into one issue — the filling did not set after the 40-minute baking time given in the instructions, so I let the pie go for another 5 minutes because ovens do vary so widely. It was jiggly when it came out, like the instructions said it would be, but it never quite set– not even the next morning after standing on a cold counter all night. I even put it in the refrigerator for several hours and although it did solidify just a little bit more, it was still not quite set. Maybe a little more cornstarch would be the solution?
Next on my list of must-make pies from this book are the Strawberry Hand Pies– they look so adorable! Or maybe it will be the elegant Pear Frangipane Tart. Can't make up my mind.
As you have no doubt gathered from the headline of this post, the publisher of Vegan Pie in the Sky is giving away to one of my readers living here in the United States a free copy of this lovely book. But before you can win, you need to do a little work– just a little, I promise.
Here's the deal: Post this giveaway announcement with a link to this page on Facebook and/or Twitter. Then leave me a comment on this post to tell me you did so. That's about it.
Good luck, all! I'll announce the winner in my next post, so be sure to check back and see if it was you. Now here's the recipe for the Maple Pecan Pie from Vegan Pie in the Sky.
Enjoy, all!
Maple Pecan Pie
Single (And Lovin' It) Pastry Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup nonhydrogenated shortening
4 tbsp or more ice water
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Sift together the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in the shortening with a fork or pastry cutter or in a food processor to form a crumbly dough.
Sift together 4 tbsp of the ice water and vinegar, then drizzle a third of it over the flour. Gently mix to moisten, drizzle in another third of the liquid, and mix to moisten. Repeat with the remaining mixture until the dough forms a soft ball when pressed together. If it hasn't come together yet, sprinkle it with another tbsp (or more) of ice water until the dough can be gathered into a ball. Wrap it in plastic wrap or sandwich between waxed paper and refrigerate for an hour.
When you are ready to roll out the crust, tear off a 14-inch piece of waxed paper or baking parchment and lightly sprinkle it with flour. Flatten the dough into a disk and place in the center of the paper. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, in even, long strokes, roll out the dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Occasionally rotate the dough while you're rolling to help form an even circle.
To transfer the dough to a pie plate, slide your hand underneath the center of the paper and quickly flip it onto the plate. Peel off the paper and gently press the dough into the plate. If necessary, trim any overhanging dough edges with a sharp knife, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of dough for the crimped edge. Crimp the edges as desired.
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup nonhydrogenated margarine
6 ounces extra-firm silken tofu (1/2 of a tetra pack)
1/4 cup cold, unsweetened, plain nondairy milk
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups pecan halves
For the caramel, in a saucepan, mix together the sugars and the maple syrup. Heat over medium heat, stirring often with a whisk. Once small bubbles start forming rapidly, stir pretty constantly for 10 minutes. The mixture should become thick and syrupy. It shouldn't be boiling too fiercely. If big bubbles start climbing the walls of the pan then lower the heat a bit.
Add the margarine and stir to melt. Turn off the heat, transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, and let it cool for a bit. In the meantime prepare the rest of the filling.
Crumble the tofu into a blender or food processor, along with the milk, cornstarch, and salt. Puree until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender to make sure you get everything.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Check and see that the sugar mixture has cooled sufficiently; it's okay if it's a bit warm, just not boiling hot. Add the tofu mixture and the vanilla extract to the sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in the pecans.
Transfer the filling to the prepared pie crust and bake for 40 minutes. When done, the pie is going to be somewhat jiggly, but it should appear to be set. Let cool, slice, and serve!
(Recipe from the book Vegan Pie in the Sky by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, published by Da Capo Lifelong, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Copyright © 2011.www.dacapopresscookbooks.com)


text:
We understand that attempts to keep up with all the latest information about which health products you should (and shouldn't!) try can truly make your head spin. Claims abound about living longer, losing weight, looking younger, strengthening your immunity, reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer, and so much more.
When it comes to vitamins and supplements, oftentimes the data just aren't there to support these claims. And yet, companies continue to race to get the latest, greatest miracle cures to local shelves. So how do you separate fact from fiction? By going to a trusted source — Cleveland Clinic Wellness.
A Source You Can Trust — The Prescriptive Wellness Committee
The Cleveland Clinic Wellness Enterprise recognized the need for more truth and guidance. That's why we launched, in 2009, the Prescriptive Wellness Committee (PWC). The PWC is composed of an impressive multidisciplinary team of doctors and medical experts including board-certified internists and family practitioners; specialists in women's health, cancer, and integrative medicine; pathologists, pharmacists, exercise physiologists, dietitians, and other wellness experts. Its purpose is to research and evaluate vitamins, supplements and medical products. Committee members determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support safe, acceptable patient and consumer use. Wellness products recognized as safe are made available for purchase at Cleveland Clinic's Wellness retail storefronts and at our online wellness shop. Cleveland Clinic's Prescriptive Wellness Committee is the only medical board in the country affiliated with a major hospital to offer this type of comprehensive product review.
We realize that more and more consumers are buying vitamins and supplements as a preventive measure. But with all the brands, offerings, and claims, you may feel overwhelmed and confused. Our goal is to make it easier for you to identify and purchase what you need — from a trusted source. The PWC provides truth and guidance to help you make informed decisions when purchasing vitamins and supplements.
The PWC Review Process
When considering products, committee members begin their review with evidence-based information from leading scientific journals written and published by experts in the fields of alternative and complementary medicine. Our own experts then carefully consider product effectiveness and safety, discuss product merits and disadvantages, and vote on a rating. The committee's rating system, developed specifically for these reviews, highlights at a glance the level of research evidence available about the effectiveness of each product.
Safety at a Glance
The PWC rating system allows readers to identify, at a glance, the level of evidence found for each product.
+3 Strong Evidence of Effectiveness. The evidence in humans shows overwhelmingly positive benefit. Our team is highly confident about its therapeutic potential.
+2 Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness. Several well-designed studies in humans have shown positive benefit. Our team is confident about its therapeutic potential.
+1 Slight Evidence of Effectiveness. Preliminary studies suggest some benefit. Future trials are needed before we can make a stronger recommendation.
0 Level of Effectiveness Unclear. More studies are needed before we can make a recommendation.
-1 Possibly Ineffective and/or Toxic. Our team does not recommend this product because either clinical trials to date suggest little or no benefit or the potential toxicity may not be worth the risk.
-2 Definitely Ineffective and/or Toxic. The science does not support any benefit. Our team suggests that you consider other alternatives.
Quality Assurance
As a true measure of its commitment to quality control, the Wellness Enterprise sends representatives to supplement manufacturing plants to familiarize themselves with the best available manufacturing processes. Members have found significant differences in the quality of products from different locations, even when dealing with reputable sources.
While purchase price is never a factor in the decision-making process, the team makes a concerted effort to offer a range of differently-priced products from a variety of companies. Wherever possible, the PWC increases consumer choice by approving at least two qualified suppliers offering the same type of product.
Shopping at Cleveland Clinic Wellness
Many dozens of approved vitamins and supplements are available at our online wellness store and in Cleveland Clinic's Wellness retail storefronts, including probiotics, antioxidants, fish oils and vitamin supplement combo packs. You'll also find a large assortment of approved medical devices, such as light therapy boxes to treat seasonal affective disorder, feedback monitors for lowering blood pressure, aromatherapy for relaxation and many different kinds of exercise equipment. With the approval of the PWC, new products are continually being added.
Whenever you order online at clevelandclinicwellness.com, you can take advantage of free shipping on most orders over $40.


text:
"Happy Hour" - 9'(2.80m) Fishing Kayak
Alex Bogdanov
Skill Level to Build:
This design was inspired by Ross Lillistone's "Water Rat". The bow transom was replaced by a pointed stem. Also the internal volume and from there the displacement of the boat were increased by about 20%. Changes were made to the seating...


text:
"Among the most satisfying experiences for me as a teacher has been having the opportunity to work as an assistant helping professors."
That's how I would say it, but I think you could drop 'having'. Your second example doesn't work, however, because it's unclear that you were the assistant. The basic idea of using a noun in this structure is fine.


text:
Going rustic: mompreneur turns wedding blog into big business
Iliqui te dolendi gniatuerosto dolorem velesse quipism odolore tat. Faccummy nim eliquisit volesse quisit endit adignis adiatumsan ullan hendipis nullaor iuscipsummy nonsequi blam ipisi.
FAIRFIELD -- Fairfield resident Maggie Lord has turned her personal wedding blog, Rustic Wedding Chic, into a six-figure company during her child's naptime.
Lord, 32, developed the widely popular blog used by brides in search of rustic wedding inspiration in 2009 while she was planning her own rustic wedding.
"My husband and I were getting married at my family's summer house in northern Wisconsin. I wanted to combine a rustic wedding feel with the elegance found in a place like Connecticut and I started feeling underwhelmed with what was available," she said.
Lord said she wanted her wedding to reflect the pine trees and the lake her family summered at, but found little inspiration.
"If I was looking for it, I knew other brides and couples were looking for it too, so I started blogging while planning my wedding as a way to put resources together and connect with other brides," she said.
Post-wedding, Lord said she wanted to turn the well-received blog into a full-time career and she did. Her son was born in 2011, and Lord said she had to find a way to be successful both at work and as a mother.
She said began building her business around her son's naptime.
"Everyone tells you to sleep while your child naps, but I took that opportunity to work," she said. "It was about finding a way to run two things simultaneously in your life; you have to take it upon yourself to say I am going accomplish two blog posts, 10 emails and five phone calls and I knew that I could run the business in about 2½ hours a day when it first started."
Fast forward three years later and Lord has penned two books, "Rustic Wedding Chic," "Barn Weddings" and has a third on the way "The Rustic Wedding Handbook." In 2013, Lord launched the Rustic Wedding Guide sister site as a way for brides to research rustic wedding vendors for anything from venues to bakers to florists.
The curated site takes submissions from across the country.
"The idea came from a section on my blog called "Ask Maggie," where brides would be constantly asking me for wedding venue ideas like `Do you know a barn in north Texas?' " she said. "It's become a destination for couples."
Laura Beaudoin, 32, of Hopkinton, N.H., used Rustic Wedding Chic for inspiration when planning her rustic lodge wedding in 2012.
"I found centerpiece, sign, and venue ideas. I developed our sunflower and mason-jar theme from elements featured in some of the real weddings," she said. "My favorite section of the website is Maggie's section featuring real weddings with tips and photos from other brides." Lord said real weddings are the backbone of the site.
"A bride from Massachusetts might take some ideas from a wedding in Texas," she said. "It's nice because your wedding will touch people who didn't attend the wedding." The blog receives over one million page views per month, according to Lord.
"We focus on a niche that we felt wasn't being served, we really love to share weddings from all over the country from Maine to California and everywhere in between," she said.
Makayla Silva is a freelance writer. firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
At BeadsandSupplies we employ 20 of the best Umpa Lumpas, from the planet Zoltar, and all we do is talk, sing, read, think, and count beads. We live for beads. We even dream about beads.
Below is our collection of Swarovski Faceted Teardrop (6000) Crystal Beads. Swarovski Teardrop Crystal Beads can be used with Glass Beads, or Metal Beads, or any other beads, to create multiple beaded jewelry craft projects.
We also carry a complete line of beading accessories and findings, such as elastic cords, lanyards, split key rings, and many more beading items.
So Beads be with you....


text:
750 Towne Center Blvd
Directions Sanford, FL 32771-7493
New Cars For Sale at Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM - A Sanford, Florida Dealership Serving the Greater Orlando Area
If you are looking for a new Jeep dealership near Orlando with a full line-up of all-new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and RAM models for sale then you have come to the right place. Our Sanford, FL new car dealership is your local store where customer satisfaction is the top priority, so contact Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM at (844-846-6294) with any questions or feedback that you may have.
We strive to serve our customers from the greater Sanford areas of Oviedo, Deltona, and Orlando. Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and RAM customers will find the latest 2018 models in the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and RAM line-ups here at our Central Florida dealership. Our selection of new cars, trucks and SUVs includes popular models like the new 2020 Dodge Durango, 2020 Jeep Compass, and 2020 RAM 1500 pickup trucks.
Don't forget that our dealership can also help you secure auto financing in Orlando for your new vehicle. Start by filling out an online finance application and we can help you through the rest of the process. We hope to have the opportunity to earn your business and invite you to visit Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in person at 750 Towne Center Blvd.
* MSRP is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle. It does not include any taxes, fees or other charges. Pricing and availability may vary based on a variety of factors, including options, dealer, specials, fees, and financing qualifications. Consult your dealer for actual price and complete details. Vehicles shown may have optional equipment at additional cost.
* The estimated selling price that appears after calculating dealer offers is for informational purposes, only. You may not qualify for the offers, incentives, discounts, or financing. Offers, incentives, discounts, or financing are subject to expiration and other restrictions. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.
* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.
* In transit means that vehicles have been built, but have not yet arrived at your dealer. Images shown may not necessarily represent identical vehicles in transit to your dealership. See your dealer for actual price, payments and complete details.


text:
"The Double" Trailer Spares You Having to See "The Double"
Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere) is an ex-CIA agent forced out of retirement when it appears "Cassius," a Russian assassin whom he thought he'd killed, has resurfaced. Joining him in the hunt is FBI rookie Ben Geary (Topher Grace), who wrote his master's thesis on Shepherdson's pursuit of Cassius. Opens Sept. 23.
We don't waste our time on anything not worth your time. We celebrate the best of what's coming on film and TV. We cheer when our expectations are met and criticize when we're let down.


text:
This dog collar utilizes a quick clasp closure, also called a side release clasp. Sizing is given as a range of neck lengths. Measure your dogs neck size or its current collar length (not including buckles) to obtain correct sizing.
This order . You can select a shipping method at checkout
All items purchased can easily be returned via the post within 365 days from delivery


text:
Updated at 9:34 p.m. ET:
As the blizzard works its menacing way across the Northeast, we'll be assembling links to and embeds of live video streams here.
Your best, most reliable bet for live online video coverage of the storm is going to be with our friends at Weather.com. They're going to be streaming through late Saturday night. Their player isn't embeddable, so click here for their coverage: Live blizzard video from Weather.com.
WHDH.com in Boston is streaming live storm coverage this weekend as well.
You'll also be able to see live streams periodically from our local partners at NBCNewYork.com and NBCConnecticut.com, and when we know one will be up we'll post it here.
Meanwhile, we're streaming a shot from the top of 30 Rockefeller Center here in New York:
LIVE VIDEO — Watch the winter storm roll into New York from our camera at the top of Rockefeller Plaza.
And a live look at Times Square in New York:
On UStream, technology news company IDG is streaming a webcam from high above Copley Square in Boston. It should be a good way to see a wide view of snow accumulating in Beantown, which may see record snowfall during this storm:
In Portland, Maine, NBC affiliate WCSH is streaming its "tower cam":
And a look at snow at a train station and docks at Weirs Beach, N.H.:
We're constantly updating our main story on the blizzard, and you can also visit our video page for all of our on-demand coverage of the storm: Video on NBCNews.com.


text:
Never one to change their lifestyle because they're making bank on reality TV, 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' matriarch Mama June got married this weekend in redneck style. And by that we mean "in a camouflage wedding dress with bright orange accents and rainbow colored flowers."
After meeting in an online chatroom nine years ago, June and her very own Sugar Bear finally tied the knot on May 5 in a backyard ceremony.
For her parents' wedding, Alana Thompson (the erstwhile Boo herself) wore a bright pink and orange tiered and rhinestone-studded floor-length gown — straight out of a glitz pageant, of course.
Invites for the nuptials warned guests that "no cell phones, cameras, or outside video taping" would be allowed since the ceremony was being filmed by TLC. Workers at the event were also asked to wear "full redneck attire."
The new season of 'Honey Boo Boo' will air on July 17 on TLC. Aka the "what could you possibly be learning?" channel.


text:
An Australian woman assaulted as a knife was held to her throat during a violent robbery in Bali is believed to be the latest victim of a serial rapist.
The 28-year-old from Perth was attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning after being woken by an intruder who had entered her room at Villa Damais in Kerobokan where she was staying with family.
Details of the horrific assault emerged on Monday with the woman telling police she was first forced to open a safe in her room, before being raped while a knife was held to her throat.
The attack occurred as seven other members of her family, including children, slept in rooms inside the rented villa on the popular holiday island.
"The victim was then threatened with knife by the perpetrator," a spokesman with the North Kuta police, Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan, told AAP.
"His right hand held the knife while his left hand held a flashlight.
"She was under threat of knife that she could not make a sound."
The woman was treated at a local hospital and returned to Perth with her family on Sunday.
Police said that the woman's description of her attacker matches that of a man believed to have carried out previous rapes.
A number of people were involved in the robbery.
"They entered the villa by jumping on to the wall," Mr Reinhard said.
Three iPads, two mobile phones and about Rp1.5 million ($A150) in cash were stolen.
It is the latest in a spate of violent incidents in an area of Bali popular with tourists, especially Australians.
In March, Mercedes Corby was bashed by a gang in Kuta as she returned home from a party.
The older sister of convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby needed minor surgery after suffering a broken nose and bleeding to the cornea during the assault.
In January, a West Australian man was stabbed multiple times in the back while fighting off armed robbers at his Bali villa.
Bali's Governor Made Pastika said at the time he was concerned that the island's image as a holiday destination was being tainted.


text:
Skip Hire Inverclyde from YourLocalSkipHire.co.uk
YourLocalSkipHire.co.uk is Inverclyde's number one skip hire firm. Working all over the UK, from Land's End to John O'Groats, we're able to provide fast, effective skip hire solutions to both businesses and individuals.
No matter what you need a skip for, our suppliers will provide you with one to suit. So whether you're planning a home clearance or building project, our skip hire experts will have just what you need. For a better idea of which skip to hire, take a look at our sizing guide.
Once you've found the right sized skip, simply place your postcode into the box above, and we'll supply you with an obligation-free skip hire quote. No hassle, no fuss – just a great price for hiring the skip you need. Or, if you need an instant quote, ring us now on 0330 1130 700.


text:
Java's Not The Only JVM-Based Language
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comments (9) Visits (20281)
JVM-based languages have an interesting property for z/OS programmers: They are zAAP-eligible. As we all know zAAP Eligibility brings a number of benefits - including the licence charge benefits and the ability to run on a full-speed processor even when your general-purpose processors are subcapacity ones. (I'll briefly mention zAAP-on-zIIP here for completeness, and then move on.) You... [More]
Why Mainframe Folk Should Care About Web 2.0
MartinPacker 11000094DH Visits (6485)
I presented a set of (someone else's) foils on Web 2.0 to my team meeting last week. (Interestingly, being 6 months old they were already way out of date - what with Twitter and all.) Remember I'm in a mainframe crowd of effectively "gurus". :-) So why should they be interested in new-fangled webby stuff? So I got to thinking... Dear reader, why should you care about Web 2.0? The minimal answer is... [More]
Feedback from my UKCMG Mainframe Performance Instrumentation Birds Of A Feather
MartinPacker 11000094DH Comment (1) Visits (10336)
It was a very good session, even if it was attended by just a "hard core" of mainframe sites. I think everyone said at least something and several said rather more than that. Here are some things I'd like to note from it... There was a general feeling that it'd be useful to have a name for a machine that could be entered on the HMC and flow through to SMF records, particularly Type 70 (CPU). So... [More]


text:
Conference Call 2/23/2007
1. To ensure that similar information is gathered in all the interviews, please use the set of questions (attached again) as appropriate and add your own questions as needed. If you gather a piece of information you think we should look for in other states, please inform the group. Assigned to all making visits.
2. Please write up the interviews you do as soon as possible – particularly before the next visit. Mark or Madelyn will put this on the wiki under a heading on the main page called "state visit data collection". It will be helpful if team members read other state reports before they go to the next state.
3. Remember we are looking for the what and the why. What is the current situation and why is it so.
4. Rick also asked that if we have any ideas, suggestions, epiphanies, or other notable thoughts as we conduct the interviews, please put in a one page, bulleted paper so we can possibly follow-up in other states. Assigned to all making visits.
5. Karen Strege's state background notes are excellent and of great help. Be sure and read these as well as Madelyn's statistical report on each state. These are under "data." Karen will send these reports to the State Librarian at the same time she sends them to the teams. Mark or Madelyn will mount it on the wiki.
6. Emily Parker from the Gates foundation asked specifically if we would try and categorize what we learn. Below are some made up categories. They may or may not reflect reality. Make up you own but think this way.
a. Categories of success factors
i. Economic
ii. Legislative
iii. Social
iv. Collaboration
v. Etc.
b. Categories of barriers
i. Economic
ii. Legislative
iii. Industry
iv. Social
v. Training
vi. Money
vii. Etc.
7. John Windhausen is still looking for telecom, cable, and video industry executives to be interviewed.
8. Nancy continues to call the states to push for interview schedules.
9. Nancy will prepare the bios this weekend from the information she has.
10. We will invite selected COSLA members (the states we visit, our "bonus" states, and a few others) to a meeting in Washington, DC immediately proceeding the ALA Legislative Day in May. We will be sharing with them some of the conclusions and recommendations from our visits and Karen's interviews. Nancy will contact the COSLA president, Gary Nichols in Maine.
11. Next phone call:
Friday, March 2,
5:30am – Seattle (Karen)
7:30am – Central (Missouri site visit)
8:30am – DC
Note the really early time in Seattle. We didn't realize this. I suggest we see when the first Missouri meeting is and maybe make this a little later.


text:
Properties Agent
Building for sale on the beach in Kardamena Kos.
Land for sale in Matsichari village of Kos Island.
Restaurant for sales, central located, in Kardamena Village of Kos Island.
Building for sale in Kardamena of Kos Island.
Restaurant for sale in Tigaki area of Kos Island.
Cafe-bar for rent in Kardamena village of Kos Island.
Real estate | Finance | Investments
Member of CAAF S.A.
Investment Advisers
We are just one phone call away...
+30 22420 91816


text:
Why Is Scalia Such an Asshole?
Soon after launching himself headfirst into the twenty-first century with a Twitter account, Benedict XVI retreated quickly to the safety of the Middle Ages. He greeted Ugandan politician Rebecca Kadaga, a nasty piece of work who promotes a Kill-the-Gays bill as a "Christmas gift" for her people. She earned the Pope's blessing for her zeal in trying to snuff out that country's beleaguered LGBT community.
Not to be outdone, Antonin Scalia pimped out his own American brand of Gay-hate when he asked, "If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder?" The Italian American Supreme Court Justice then went on to say he was not equating homosexuality with murder.
Actually, he was and he knew it.
"I'm surprised you aren't persuaded," Scalia said to the young man who called him out on his hatred. So why did Scalia lie, then act like he said something clever? Because he feels that he does not owe gay people the common courtesy of treating us as equals. Cutesy word games are what we get, not rational discourse. There is no need to engage in meaningful dialogue with a dog, chair or fag. The basis of Scalia's disdain: his faith.
It does not have to be this way. Most Roman Catholics are supportive of the LGBT community. But the nearer one gets to power in the Church, the more homophobic one is expected to be. The internal contradictions inherent in hiding behind Jesus and Mary while attacking the LGBT community are enough to make very clever people like Scalia really, really stupid. They utter nonsense, then defend themselves with transparent sophistic quips that are equal parts Orwellian doublespeak and clown show.
If Scalia could, he would do exactly what Rebecca Kadaga is doing in Uganda. He would legally equate homosexuality with murder, and propose severe penalties to discourage it, just like murder.
Perhaps not so coincidentally, both Italy and Uganda have saints whose hagiographies encourage the faithful to attack Gays. Scalia has Bernardino of Siena for inspiration, a misogynistic Italian anti-Semite who saved special venom for homosexuals, calling for them to be burnt in this life and the next. For Bernardino, homosexuality was every bit as bad as murder, if not worse. He warned communities that homosexual men (it's always about the men) in their midst would lead to the destruction of everyone. "They are all sodomites!" he exclaimed. "And you are in mortal sin if you try to help them!"
For her part, Kadaga has the example of Charles Lwanga, the Ugandan saint who was burnt alive by a tyrannical king. A pervasive rumor given for his execution was that he refused to sleep with his Muslim sovereign, a story that equates the evils of homosexuality with both murder and Islam. When Kadaga met with Benedict, she gave him a picture of Charles Lwanga. The lessons of faith-based hatred were obviously not lost on her, and Benedict blessed her for learning them so well.
Neither Benedict nor Scalia has condemned Kadaga. And we must be realistic about the future. The current pope will not change his mind about us, and he will cling to his position as long as he lives. Until Benedict is dead and the Church can free itself from his homophobia, we must deal with an institution that wishes us dead, despite the majority of the faithful (please God, prevent this pope from being assassinated - all we need is another martyr). Until Bernardino is cast out of the community of saints, and the martyrdom of Lwanga is based on fact rather than rumor, we can expect Kadaga to give Ugandans Christmas presents fit for an episode of American Horror Story.
And Antonin Scalia will keep on being the asshole he is.


text:
What We Learned From the Financial Crisis
From Timing Retirement Withdrawals to Avoiding Unnecessary Complexity, Some Hard Lessons on Managing Money
There is nothing quite like living through a financial cataclysm to teach you what really is important when it comes to your finances.
Or is there?
It has been five years since the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings, a shock point in an era that saw the takeover or shutdown of many household-name financial institutions and...


text:
At least two people have died after a logging truck lost its load Monday afternoon north of Clinton, according to Van Buren County and state officials.
Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department spokesman Randy Ort said the accident occurred around 3:22 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 65 south and Arkansas 16 east.
Van Buren County Sheriff Scott Bradley said at least two people died as a result of the accident, and Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokesman Brandon Morris said multiple injuries have been reported.
About 12 people were treated for injuries at Ozark Health Medical Center in Clinton, hospital administrator David Deaton said. Seven additional people were taken to other hospitals to be treated for their injuries, Deaton said, but the destinations of those patients were unknown. Bradley said all of the injured and dead were construction workers.
While an unknown number of contractors working for Mobley Contractors Inc. of Morrilton were reportedly injured in the accident, highway department spokesman Danny Straessle said highway department crew members who were working on the bridge deck near the accident did not suffer any injuries.
State police said both directions of U.S. 65 is closed in the area while crews remove logs from the road.
Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more on this story.


text:
lesleych on Family Tree Circles
sort: Date Alphabetical
view: full | list
view: full | list
Journals and Posts
I'm looking for information regarding Blanche Hastie who married Ian Mcintosh in 1932 and has one child Beverley who is now deceased. Ian Jock was a captain in the australian army at one stage and also a cabinet maker. They lived around the Balmain area Sydney NSW.
Blanche married again to William Haining and has 4 more children.
I can not find anything about Blanche's first family. I know her father died and her mother remarried. Her mother's name was Margaret and was Scottish. They lived on the Northern beaches.
- Displaying 1-2 of 2 Journals
- 1
- of1