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Difference between revisions of "Pursat"
Revision as of 13:33, 23 July 2013
Pursat is the capital of western Cambodia's Pursat province. It is indistinguishable from Cambodia's other small provincial capitals. This sleepy town holds marginal interest, though may be used a base for visits to the Tonle Sap Lake or Cardamon Mountains.
Get in
Fully paved National Highway 5 runs northwest from Phnom Penh via Pursat to the county's second largest city, Battambang. All buses between Battambang ($2.50 from Pursat) and Phnom Penh ($5 from Pursat) will stop here. Buses run every half-hour in the morning and early afternoon. Buses take 4 hours to Phnom Penh and 1.5 hours to Battambang. All the major bus companies service Phnom Penh. Sorya and Capitol Tour are the most reliable big names. Capitol Tour runs the lastest afternoon departure from Phnom Penh at 2:00pm, and sometimes 3:00pm.
Get around
Central Pursat is easily covered foot. Motodops hang around the market, bus stations, train station, and sometimes along the highway. A ride anywhere in town should cost around 1,000 riel. A day trip to Kampong Luang or elsewhere can be negotiated for $10 or more. The occasional tuk tuk can also be found. The Phnom Pech Hotel rents small motorbikes by the day and half-day.
Like all of Cambodia's former railway towns, Pursat hosts a charming French-built railway station that has decayed into a slum, which gives the area an interesting vibe. The railway is currently being restored, with services to resume in 2013.
Walking the town will let its provincial dusty chams shine on any visitor. Children will scream "hello" at any passing tourist. Locals may invite you for some food or karaoke. As in Battambang, there is a "bamboo train".
Common to any society that has emerged from food shortages, provincial Cambodia lacks a culture that reveres cuisine and instead favours sustanance. In short, don't expect more than a cheap meal rice and some gristly meat. Stalls and cafes around town offer similar nondescript human fuel.
The Phnom Pech Hotel
Get out


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Discover the bustling capitals, coastal beauty and laid-back islands of Greece and Turkey.
"Can't imagine a better experience"
11 Days 2 Countries 6 Cities
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Athens, Greece
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Athens, Greece
Greece's ancient history meets laid-back island life on this voyage from Athens and the glamorous islands of Mykonos and Santorini to Kusadasi. Relax in the turquoise waters of the Cyclades, admire the Venetian façades of Crete and tread in the footsteps of Socrates as you meander through the Agora marketplace of classical Greece.
Trip type: Cruise or Rail i
Trip code: ATOE
10 buffet breakfasts
6 cruise lunches
7 cruise dinners
All transport shown.
What's Included
CITY TOUR in Athens
VISIT the Acropolis in Athens, Mykonos, Milos, Oia on Santorini, Heraklion, Kusadasi
VIEW the Parthenon, the Caldera on Santorini and the windmills on Mykonos
SEE Hadrian's Arch and the 1896 Olympic Stadium in Athens
What's Included
10 buffet breakfasts
6 cruise lunches
7 cruise dinners
What's Included
Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Hand-picked Trip Highlights
Optional Experiences and free time
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
VIP entry to many sights
Airport Transfers
Specific transfer information can be found on the airport transfers page
1. Arrive Athens (2 Nights)
Welcome to a land of myths and legends. Your springboard to an intoxicating holiday in the Aegean is vibrant Athens. Spend the day exploring after being transferred to your hotel.
2. Athens Sightseeing and Free Time
Join a Local Specialist today for a journey into antiquity. Visit the Acropolis to see Athena's Parthenon and admire the march of the Evzone guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Spend the afternoon at your leisure exploring the labyrinthine lanes of Plaka.
Optional Experiences
Cape Sounion
Take a relaxing trip down to the southernmost tip of Mainland Greece to see the fifth century B.C Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. See if you can spot where Byron carved his initials on one of the temple's sixteen columns. Marvel at the sheer rugged beauty of the coastline and the ancient temple perched above a 197-foot drop down to the Aegean Sea below. Stand above the site of the world's first lighthouse, overlooking an area steeped in classical Greek history, ever since the tragic King Aegeas threw himself from the rocky precipice into the sea below, thereby giving his name to the Aegean Sea.
Adult Price:
Traditional Greek Taverna Meal With Entertainment
This is an evening excursion to a taverna in the centre of Athens. Enjoy excellent traditional Greek food in a lively atmosphere while being entertained by dances and music from all parts of the country. Wine, beer and soft drinks are also included. Although the venue does have an official ending time, guests are more than welcome to stay on in the taverna, to join in with the local residents! (Casual dress)
Adult Price: €55.00
3. Athens Free Time – Embark 7-Day Cruise
A full day to delve into what was once the Cradle of Western Civilisation. See the city's ancient sites before boarding your cruise ship this evening to the Cyclades.
Optional Experiences
The slopes of Parnassus Mountain are home to Delphi, home to the Oracke and the centre of the universe for the ancient world. Visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Stadium & the Temple, as well as the museum of Delphi - home to over 10,000 artefacts, including the famous bronze Charioteer. In addition, you will also pass through the typical mountain Greek village of Arachova - famous for its cheese, matured in nearby caves, and for its flokati rugs.
Adult Price: €100.00
Dinner "Meze" Style in Psiri
Enjoy a lovely dining experience at a wonderful restaurant located in the lively area of Psiri. Dining is "meze style", giving you the opportunity to taste many Greek cuisine dishes, which are served in the centre of the table. Also enjoy the local free-flowing wine! (Casual dress)
Adult Price: €50.00
4. Mykonos Free Day
The characteristic windmills of idyllic Mykonos greet us this morning as we look forward to a day exploring the cobbled maze of lanes on this charming island. Stroll past the white-washed cottages and tumbling cerise bougainvillea in search of hidden treasures, or simply relax on a sparkling beach.
Optional Experiences
Myconian Countryside tour with Hora & Little Venice
We'll set off from Mykonos' largest town Chora with our local expert and stop at the beach of Ornos, a picturesque fishing harbour, then on to the small beaches of Agia Anna and Kalafatis. Afterwards we'll visit the traditional village of Ano Mera and the monastery of Panagia Tourliani, founded in 1542. The pretty village square is a perfect spot for a short break. Returning to Chora we'll stop at Paraportiani, a famous whitewashed church complex. A few metres down we'll visit the Mykonos Folklore Museum, which is housed in an old two-storied merchant baron's house. We'll continue towards the "Little Venice" of Mykonos, Alefkandra, with its windmills and the almost otherworldly sunsets where our trip culminates.
Adult Price: €67.00
5. Mykonos – Milos – At Sea
Spend time in the former home of the famous Venus de Milo to indulge in the mouth-watering watermelon pies of Milos island and soak up the glorious sunshine in the turquoise waters on one of its many beaches.
Optional Experiences
Step Back in Time
Step back in time with us on the incredible volcanic island of Milos, one of the most beautiful places on earth. A short drive takes us to Sarakiniko, an inlet of pure white almost lunar stone. This startlingly otherworldly spot is one of the island's many wonders and one of the most photographed places in the Cyclades. We'll continue along the dramatic coastline to the cobblestone streets and alleys of Plaka, a classic Cycladic village of white stone houses and bougainvillea flowers. Then, it's off to the ruins of ancient Melos and its Roman amphitheater, which is cut into a rocky slope near the ancient agora. Finally, we'll visit the award-winning Mining Museum to understand how the rich geology of Milos shaped the island's history.
Adult Price: €74.00
6. Santorini Free Day
Indulge in the laid-back island life of Santorini for the next two days. Enjoy a Complimentary Shore Experience to the sun-kissed clifftop village of Oia strolling past charming villages and vineyards set against the backdrop of Santorini's magnificent caldera. We return to our ship this evening where we will stay overnight.
7. Santorini Free Day
Enjoy another full day at leisure on Santorini to explore further or sit back and watch the spellbinding allure of the Aegean unfold.
8. Santorini – Heraklion – At Sea
We sail to the island of Crete and spend the afternoon exploring the Palace of Knossos during our complimentary Shore Experience.
Optional Experiences
Minoan Palace of Knossos - 1st European Civilization
The ancient city of Knossos the residence of the wise King Minos and the Minotaur, with constant habitation from the Neolithic era until the 5th century A.D., is beyond doubt the land that "gave birth" to the first civilization of Europe, the Minoans. The palace of Knossos spreads around a large Central Court. You will reach the awe inspiring Throne Room, the fresco of the "Prince of the Lilies", the imposing Grand Staircase, the Queen's Megaron. Walking through the apartments of Knossos Palace and observing the finds even as passers-by, and the information from your local specialist, will make you feel part of this cultural heritage.
Adult Price: €74.00
9. Kusadasi – At Sea
Stop in the Turkish port city of Kusadasi for a Complimentary Shore Experience to ancient Ephesus.
10. Disembark – Athens
This morning, disembark in Athens and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day as you please.
11. Depart Athens
Say goodbye to your travelling companions at the end of a memorable holiday. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Local Specialists
For included sightseeing in Athens
Find out what makes Trafalgar different.
Because you looked at Aegean Odyssey
Our best deals and offers
from our brochure
What's Included
CITY TOUR in Athens
VISIT the Acropolis in Athens, Mykonos, Milos, Oia on Santorini, Heraklion, Kusadasi
VIEW the Parthenon, the Caldera on Santorini and the windmills on Mykonos
SEE Hadrian's Arch and the 1896 Olympic Stadium in Athens
What's Included
10 buffet breakfasts
6 cruise lunches
7 cruise dinners
What's Included
Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Hand-picked Trip Highlights
Optional Experiences and free time
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
VIP entry to many sights
Airport Transfers
Specific transfer information can be found on the airport transfers page
Why Trafalgar?
Simply AuthenticEnjoy
Enjoy the wonder of travel, crisscrossing the globe through the seasons. On effortless adventures in breathtaking new horizons, forge lifelong friendships and memories. Our lovingly crafted itineraries are a fascinating mosaic of cultures, flavours, festivals and local stories. We're with you all the way, guiding you and ensuring you experience the real thing: the sheer love of travel, entirely hassle-free.
Simply AuthenticLove... Travel
"Is simply the best way to position what our guests love to experience and what we love to deliver" - Gavin Tollman CEO
Simply AuthenticMeet
Meet warm-hearted locals and like-minded travellers. Along your journey of discovery, stop to share stories and flavours with local farmers, chefs and winemakers. Pause to admire the handicrafts and rich traditions of amazing artisans. Explore the essence of Europe through captivating accounts shared by expert historians and savvy local guides.
Simply AuthenticTaste
Travelling with your tastebuds, treating them to new flavours, spices and textures along the way. From the very first breakfast to the last nightcap, travelling through Europe indulges your palate, with every meal an opportunity to discover regional fare. Savour each new flavour, try the local tipple and take home fresh culinary inspiration. Let us share our love for food and hospitality with you.
Simply AuthenticUnwind
Once you've packed your suitcase, we take care of the rest, removing all your concerns so that you can be secure in the knowledge that an award-winning global company with an impeccable reputation has taken care of every little detail. We arrange everything you'll need along your journey - meals, accommodation and travel logistics, because we are with you all the way. Travel the world with peace of mind, knowing you're in the hands of Trafalgar.
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I was not expecting "real" Kabinett from 2003, but I have these wines which need to be drunk and the asparagus season seemed a good opportunity. I remember visiting the Grünhaus estate in 2004, I think, and tasting the young 2003s alongside some 2002s. I invariably preferred the latter and felt that the former tasted as if they came from closer to the Mediterranean than to the North Sea. Both wines here turned out to be pretty good right now. However, by contrast with Dönnhoff's offering from the Nahe, the Grünhaus was distinctly fresher and closer to "real" Kabinett. I thought that Dönnhoff did a better effort with an excellent dry Dellchen 03 than with this Kabinett, good though it was.
Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett – 011 – 2003 – Dönnhoff – Alc.9.5%. This was much richer than I look for in Kabinett and lower in acidity than in a "normal" vintage, but it nevertheless showed attractive complexity of exotic fruit and was an enjoyable drink. Good 15.5/20++.
Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett – 6 - 2003 - C. von Schubert – Alc.7.5%. This was also sweeter and fuller than in a "normal" vintage but leaner and more sprightly than the Dönnhoff and showing livelier acidity and more marked minerality, thus making it the better food wine. Very good 16/20.


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Stock Plans: Give the People What They Want
For today's Insights and Opinions piece, we have an article from Lee Weinberg, an attorney, entrepreneur, and angel investor here in Los Angeles, who takes a contrary view on how stock options are granted in the technology world. Lee originally posted this on his blog, at CapitalistCounsel.com.
I have some strong opinions regarding the ubiquitous Stock Plans/Option Pools of start-up, tech and VC-land. Flame on!
The official goal of a broadly-based stock plan is to motivate the recipients of the stock (or stock options or equivalent) to work harder, stick around, and otherwise put in extra effort with a better attitude that will aid the growth and well-being (value) of the company.
Do broadly-based equity and option plans actually do that?
The theory from 1986-2000 for dot.coms and other (especially technology) growth companies was that equity (mostly in the form of tax-favored Incentive Stock Options, or ISOs) was what employees and officers all wanted and what would motivate them to take a job with and/or outperform for the company. This theory was applied across the board, for all employees, low and high, with the expectation that all would want to row together. After all, the company will IPO and everyone will get rich, right?
We all know how that turned out. Yet, despite the failure of nearly all the companies from those amazing days, it is still the custom (or at this point a law?) in start-up, tech and VC-land that all companies must have large and relatively broadly-based stock option plans. Some of the plans are more highly skewed to top management and technologists than others, but nearly all reach down several levels to award equity equivalents to what I would call "typical" employees. But what if I told you that, without the need for 20/20 hindsight, I think the idea of reserving a pool of 20% of a company's equity for a stock plan designed to dole out equity to all (or even most) of a company's employees was just as poor an idea back in 1998 as it is today?
Why? Because the overwhelming majority of rank and file employees (and even some top executives, depending on the industry) are much more motivated by "cash now (or on a date certain)" than the potential for more cash later – even the possibility of a lot of cash later. Admittedly, back in 1998, due to the gold-rush nature of the times, the average dot.com worker was a bit more likely to be motivated by a piece of equity, but still not nearly as much as we all thought at the time once you moved outside of the officer and technologist groups. Did anyone offer more cash instead of more stock to find out?
This is an example of a very common mistake in business negotiations of all types: Offering the other side what you would want or what you think they want, and not what they actually do want. The offeror thinks he/she is being generous, and yet is losing the negotiation and wasting a valuable resource in the process.
In simple terms, while many of the readers of this blog have made and will continue to make significant sacrifices (including investment dollars) to gain growth company equity, those of us who are investors and CEOs often forget that most people work at a job to make money in real time, and that most people spend what they make, plus or minus 15%. Not everyone is (or can afford to be) a delayed gratification thinker, not everyone likes to play the odds, and, unlike most of the denizens of the CEO posts, Boards and VC firms ratifying and using these stock plans, not everyone is in the game in the hopes of an equity upside. If you will pardon the repetition, if you offer most people "possible future money" vs. real money today in exchange for hitting certain performance targets or just for staying in the job and being productive (retention), most will take the real money today and, in fact, will be more motivated by a goal that they can control and from which they can see reasonably quick and measurable results.
So, do any Boards of Directors or CEOs actually ask company employees (including new hires) if they would like $5.00 more per hour of work (i.e., a $10,000 higher salary per year) instead of getting stock options? In my experience, as noted above, most non-senior-officer personnel will want the cash. Sure, some officers may want the stock instead of the money — but you need to ask! I predict you will find a surprisingly large percentage would rather get the cash, and, once you consider the staggering waste of giving somebody something they do not value as highly as you do, you will want them to have the cash too!
Some www.nceo.org');" target="_blank">voices in favor of broad/increased employee equity disagree with my analysis, and claim a broadly-based stock plan is a wonder drug. I can be persuaded that there are some good times to put stock plans in place for the benefit of certain recipients (or, if a strong preference for stock can be shown across a larger group, for all personnel in that group). But please note that the cheerleaders doing the studies are only comparing the value of having stock plans for employees vs. the absence of any stock plan at all. They are not comparing the giving of something of value (more cash) vs. the value of stock (or stock options) issued pursuant to a particular plan.
I am not claiming that there is zero value to a stock plan or to giving equity to those who will be motivated by that equity and create a net-positive effect on the company's overall value. I am saying that boards and CEOs need to think and use judgment and create plans that provide the right incentives to the right people who will in fact be incentivized by those incentives. Sounds simple, right? "Give the people what they want." By doing so, you get the most value for the company. If an employee wants stock, give him or her stock. But if the employee wants cash more than stock, keep your equity! Otherwise, you would be wasting something (equity) that you probably value dearly – certainly much more than the amount of cash you would have to give this employee in order to achieve the same motivating result.
Apologies to all my VC and angel investor friends (remember, I am frequently on your team!), but unless (a) you created the big plan pool at 20% just to get a bigger piece of the pie and do not intend for the stock or stock options to be handed out in reality (word is out on this one, guys), or (b) you only give out stock and stock options carefully and then only to those officers, directors, contractors and employees whom you know value that equity more highly than your estimate of their present cash value, then, by following the path you have always followed, you are, unfortunately, wasting money (in the form of equity), time and effort and lowering the chances that the company you have invested in will "win."Lee Weinberg is an attorney, entrepreneur and investor who has founded, operated, and financed a number of businesses in entertainment, media and technology. He is a principal of the Dauntless Founders Fund and of entertainment, sports and media business-development firm Dauntless, LLC, as well as a partner with Weinberg Gonser LLP, the affiliated law firm of Dauntless. His blog is at CapitalistCounsel.com.


text: Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums :: View topic - did Facebook change Ur life? Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in did Facebook change Ur life? Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Computers View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message D.SJoined: 21 Nov 2010Posts: 4 Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:52 pm Post subject: did Facebook change Ur life? Since I had Facebook account, my life has changed. Facebook helps me to know people from all over the world, make friendship with them, and know about customs of their culture. Talking with these people Improves my English language, too. Facebook also makes it easy for me to communicate with my family, relatives, Friends and classmates back in my country. IMO, my life was very boring B4 Facebook. How about u ? R U in Facebook? tell us about Ur experience? Did it make any difference in Ur life ? Back to top AnaMilenaJoined: 12 Mar 2011Posts: 25Location: 404 - Not Found Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:40 pm Post subject: Hi! Just for curiosity, I'd like to know if you keep on thinking exactly the same after a few months.... I opened a FB account when one of my best friends left our country, so it was a way to keep in touch. However, I don't really like it. It's just a platform where you can offer feedback to your so-called friends (how many of these contacts are your actual 'friends'?), and there are some apps which are just annoying (I don't miss the era of the fortune cookie!) I think there's a moment in which it becomes dull, and what made it innovative becauses boring. At least that was what happened to me. I don't ignore it's a perfect way to share links and videos, though!_________________ http://english4fun.freeforo.com Back to top nickalcJoined: 02 Jun 2011Posts: 17 Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:14 pm Post subject: You heard of something called antisocial networking? That's when you have hundreds of so called friends on a social networking website but never communicate with them. Back to top *Zainab*Joined: 13 Sep 2011Posts: 2 Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:24 pm Post subject: Facebook has a significant impact in my life. With Facebook I connect with my family, friends, and classmates. Moreover, I reach my relatives that I didn't know before. I keep in touch with my family news since I can know every event that happened to my family such as: wedding, engaged, new baby and so on. In addition, It relax me every time since I play Facebook games and let me release some stress writing whatever in my mind on the wall. Thus, Facebook changes my lifestyle and took some of my time daily. Back to top EnErgiserJoined: 29 Sep 2011Posts: 5Location: Shanghai, China Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 12:38 am Post subject: Not for me, since most of my friends are not tech-savvy or simply too cautious to open a Facebook account. And rightly so. Facebook has become too complicated for the average Joe. Twitter is much more ideal if you just wanna share something with friends._________________http://www.myeeonline.com - Connecting English learners and English speakers Back to top tascJoined: 20 Nov 2011Posts: 4Location: Japan Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:33 pm Post subject: Social Network Hello. I'm Tasc. I live in Okinwa, Japan and I am a student at Okinawa International University. Facebook change my life because I can know my friends situation and what they do every day. And then, If my friends live far place from I live in, I can make contact. We can post some photos with my comment. It is awesome because I can tell my feelings not only some characters but some images so I use facebook everyday and I like this. I may keep using facebook. Back to top CoreyJoined: 23 Mar 2003Posts: 445Location: Costa Rica Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:34 pm Post subject: Facebook I think one of the major ways facebook is changing people is in our ability to stay connected to people far away. A few decades ago, a letter once or twice a year might be a "long-distance" relationship. Today, there are so many ways (including facebook). The technology really is amazing!_________________Niagara Summer Programs Back to top Thomas_USAJoined: 07 Dec 2011Posts: 7 Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 5:18 am Post subject: The social landscape is constantly changing and evolving Even though reading my FB friends posts or updating my page is a daily ritual for me, FB is just one of many sites Ive used over the past four years. FB is kind of the social network flavor of the year , but next year or the year after that there will probably be a different more popular site. As social networking sites go more commercial they loose their appeal for me. There were and still are dozens of other social sites out there, but for now FB is my favorite . No substitute for my cell phone or seeing my friends face-2-face at school. Back to top AnaMilenaJoined: 12 Mar 2011Posts: 25Location: 404 - Not Found Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:26 pm Post subject: I used to be a Facebook user, but there were some things which made me dislike social networks. First of all, they find one way or another in order to keep you attached to their services: rubbish applications, the need of contacting more "friends" - how many of these contacts were your real friends? - and lots of publicity. It was the policy of privacy which made me quit from Facebook. They track everything you do when you're on Facebook, after you log out, or even when you don't have any account. What's the deal with it? I've got nothing to hide, but I think they cross the line. It's like a Big Brother which is nothing else but lack of respect towards the user. After all, we're not Facebook users, but the Facebook product. That's why I deleted my account - I don't know what the heck they'll do with my info - and I'm glad to say I haven't missed Facebook at all. My life's even better. Less vain, if you ask me. The only thing I miss about it is the clicktivism I took part in, but thank heaven there are other alternatives. _________________ http://english4fun.freeforo.com Back to top micoJoined: 09 Nov 2012Posts: 8 Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 12:48 pm Post subject: at first i didn t want to have an account but when i found most of my friends talk about facebook and how they are excited from it i decided to have an account ,its really an amazing site it enable me to keep in touch with my friends,relatives,and cosines i also enjoy sharing links which have jokies and so on. Back to top IANKRISBANAWAJoined: 01 Oct 2013Posts: 13Location: Philippines Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:24 am Post subject: at some point, yeah it changed my life. because of that, i'd finally able to connect to my old friends. Back to top IANKRISBANAWAJoined: 01 Oct 2013Posts: 13Location: Philippines Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:25 am Post subject: it is kinda like exciting since you can catch up to your fellow classmates, your old time buddies or to your relatives. i am using facebook almost every other day. Back to top AfraJoined: 10 Jul 2013Posts: 131 Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject: Social networking has not only changed the way we communicate but the way we function in our daily lives. Facebook in particular has helped people find long-lost relatives, new jobs, even organ donors. The new book "Facebook Fairytales: Modern-Day Miracles to Inspire the Human Spirit" by Emily Liebert, documents the amazing ways the social networking giant has changed people's lives for the better. Liebert offers us tips for how to use the service to your advantage. 10 Ways Facebook Can Change Your Life Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Computers All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Student Forums----------------ComputersCurrent NewsCultureEnglish SchoolsFamilyFilm and CinemaFoodHealth and FitnessHelp CenterHobbiesHolidaysLearning EnglishLiteratureMaking FriendsMusicOpinionsPetsScienceSportsThe Strange and MysteriousTOEFL and Other English ExamsTravel You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Dave's ESL Cafe is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. 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Tuesday, August 15, 2006
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Before he logs his very, very official and very, very poorly-reasoned BlogPoll ballot later on today, SMQ would like to pause for a moment of silence in honor of the endless hours devoted to devising myriad systematic rubrics for determining a firm 1-119 ranking for every team this offseason, the late, spreadsheet-less nights, occasionally fighting sleep over an office-ledger type grid, illegible and blacked-out blocks of numbers combined with symbols decipherable only to SMQ, the increasingly complex fractions, hedges and corrections employed to push the systematic results into a form the abstract football mind could justify. Such innocence; such waste.
The goal was to come up with a poll that would most closely resemble the final poll of the season, which meant assessing every team in every game, devising fair ways to account for the various probabilities of given teams winning in evenly-matched toss-ups, the differences in potential upsets, probable competitive losses and likely blowouts and assigning points that would accurately account for wide strength of schedule variations. Months of this tedium resulted Sunday in this:1. Florida State
Um, not to disrespect Florida State, but...no. How to fix this? Count the championship games! Have FSU lose to Miami in the ACC Championship! That's the ticket!
But then:1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
Which is a possible finish, in the broadest theoretical sense, but practically not feasible at all. And it took a minor form of cheating to get to 'not feasible.' So: strict adherence to the system=out the window.
- - - - -
SMQ's efforts at systematic prognostication
The results are useful as a kind of guide, though. The estimation of some teams (Michigan, for one, and Clemson) rose somewhat dramatically; others (Georgia, UCLA) fell far out of favor relative to the initial gauges of their prospective success. Below, the order is basically the wreckage of SMQ's ill-fated rubric, with a few minor changes. The real adjustments are going to come among the top ten, which is much more closely scrutinized and, given Evil Dictator Brian's mandate that schedule strength - again, a major factor in all of SMQ's haphazard tabulations - be ignored entirely, open to more flexibility as well. Right now, four different teams, all intensely flawed in some fundamental and important aspect, are heavily vying for SMQ's top spot, and there is a good chance none of them will actually occupy it when the final results are submitted.
Anyway, 11-25:
11. Miami
Take all indications of imminent demise here in the spirit they're offered - the 'Canes are still bad, bad men, and not only in the sense that they're linked to random and subsequent retaliatory gunfire. Last year's performance at Virginia Tech is a good indication of what Miami's still capable of and shouldn't be dismissed. Neither, though, should the embarassing Peach Bowl shellacking against LSU, which cemented this program's outsider status until further notice in terms of the mythical title race. Kyle Wright, like Hypothetical Rhett Bomar (see below), is a former No. 1 recruit who looks OK but doesn't show any signs after a full season of living up to that expectation. Given the ACC landscape, still a conference championship, and therefore big-money series, frontrunner, but expansion means even that status is losing prestige.
12. Oklahoma
Could have finished as many as ten spots higher prior to Lexusgate, when everyone already assumed Adrian Peterson would be driven harder than an RX anyway. But Paul Thompson was actually named the starter before last season and played plenty early on, so the dropoff may not be very significant. If the offensive line holds up - big, big "if" with four new starters - there may be no dropoff. Either way, this is obviously a defensively-driven team, and will go far on those merits. The Sooners also miss rising Nebraska, so barring another TCU-level upset, Texas and Oregon will represent the only major challenges.
13. Iowa
The Hawkeyes are a chic top ten "rebound" pick, but SMQ questions that level of progress minus the Hodge-Greenway linebacker combo he suspects had more to do with last year's run-stuffing abilitites than some more serious Hawkeye hypers may realize. The D-line looks generally tough enough, but bigger concern is at the speed positions, receiver and corner, which are newly staffed; the corners, especially, are a liability in a league whose other top five teams all have "above average" to "permanent prevent-inducing" receiving combos. Drew Tate, capable of beating Ohio State in Iowa City on guts of steel (or, should the NCAA take its cues from the World Cup and institute a tiebreaker format that has virtually nothing to do with the actual game, a closest-to-the-pin contest in overtime), keeps them in Rose Bowl contention.
14. Louisville
A strength of schedule casualty, albeit one that has an excellent chance to run the table with Miami and West Virginia both visiting Papa John's Stadium (Score an extra point tonight...at the dinner table! Papa John's!). As we'll see later with another of SMQ's pet favorites for the season in the top ten, 2006 is sort of a "rubber match" for determining the program's baseline expectations under Bobby Petrino until further notice: is it the shoot 'em up, no holds barred fury that crushed virtually everyone in its path - including mighty Miami, but for a punt return and dropped icing interception - or the milder crew that was very good last year, but not great enough to avoid a weird letdown against a lesser opponent (South Florida), a blown opportunity against an equal (West Virginia) and a late capitulation to a superior team (Virginia Tech in the bowl)? Brian Brohm, assuming his leg's OK, has already entered and ought to be quickly surpassing Redman/Ragone/LeFors territory any minute now, with school hall-of-famer and giant running back Michael Bush in tow, which leaves it up to his underhyped skill guys and especially the Dumervil-less defense to put this bunch back on the road to dominance.
15. Tennessee
Alright, SMQ will bite on the Vols' relative resurgence, with a caveat: last season's defensive line was insane, one of the best of the decade at stuffing the run while also getting after quarterbacks, and it still wasn't good enough to push the one-dimensional offense to a winning record. So, query: is Erik Ainge, you know, stable? Enough to open up defenses against the run a little, and not nervous twitch himself into spastic mistakes against blitzes, at least? Cause there aren't really any other options, i.e. a Rick Clausen or Brett Schaeffer who can step right in, behind him. David Cutcliffe is supposed to be the zen master in this regard, but SMQ has his doubts the mantras will produce enough change to make up all of the difference sure to be incurred by a very talented but very young front seven. Still, too talented for now to write off that kind of collapse as anything but a momentary aberration.
16. Nebraska
SMQ says fear fear fear this team. It's not worth going overboard, but in last week's anatomy lesson on forecasting stunning mythical title contenders, the Huskers were the perfect storm of rising, highly-recruited talent, run-stuffing hellions and veteran quarterbacking cool under a new, big-name hire - i.e., a replica of Oklahoma in 2000 or Ohio State in 2002. Nebraska improved over the second half last year, played Texas Tech and Oklahoma very close in losses, detroyed division champion Colorado in a breakthrough game and capped it by hanging on against Michigan in a momentum-soldifying/building win. Definitely the Big XII North favorite, perhaps still a year away, maybe two (since Harrison Beck is out the door) from more. Or maybe waiting to pounce with cornfed, creepily-mascoted vengeance now. Don't say SMQ didn't warn.
- - - - -
Watch out. Seriously.
17. Clemson
The Tigers are tallying some tout, which Orson rightfully pegs as a historical harbinger of doom. Or something like that. But, even sans Charlie Whitehurst, or any other quarterback who's ever played significantly, the offense is pretty much loaded - all five linemen are back (assuming potential Bryant McKinnie-esque left tackle deity Roman Frye remains out of the soup over last month's jet ski tragedy), Chansi Stuckey is an all-ACC caliber receiver who could also take a few shotgun snaps in a pinch and there are about three running backs who can play, with another (C.J. Spiller) coming in. New QB Will Proctor's a senior and thus ought to be fine, if not a revelation (Whitehurst was good, not that good- Proctor would have been on the field before now if he were going to be a revelation). This will probably also be Tommy Bowden's best defense, led by Gaines Adams, who is not as dominant as Video Gaines, the highest rated player on NCAA Football 2007, but is a quality sack/TFL man. Given the annual inexplicable loss to, let's say, Wake Forest, the difference will be split with an equally stupefying upset and a potential New Year's Day visit - which would be Bowden's first here, for the record.
18. West Virginia
Probably the lowest you'll see the Mountaineers, "darkhorse" darlings with close to an entire offense back and some serious holes to plug from a good, senior-laden defense. SMQ has made his argument against the "BCS or Bust" campaign for WVU before, and will add only this: in the history of the poll system, West Virginia has never finished ranked in consecutive seasons, so if they do wind up in this area, it would best the school's historical trends. Also consider SMQ's "Purdue Rule," named for the high projections stemming from the quirky omission of Michigan and Ohio State from the Boilermakers' '05 schedule: when a team's most attractive asset is who it doesn't have to play (in this case, Miami, Virginia Tech, Boston College), that is not a team hitching itself to the stars.
19. Virginia Tech
Ah, the aforementioned Hokies turn up at an appropriate time, for they, too, are benefitting in polls from an unusually soft non-conference lineup (SMQ's Golden Eagles are the toughest of the patsies) and an ACC slate that misses the Atlantic Division's likely best team, Florida State. Which means Tech, a team shuffling brand new, inexperienced quarterbacks behind a rebuilding line and replacing four draft picks on defense is likely to be a favorite in every game but one (at Miami). SMQ imagines a loss to either Boston College or Clemson, if not both, and despite the enormous speed at wide receiver and linebacker, no better than a prominent position in the snarling race for the Gator Bowl.
20. Arizona State
The quarterback depth isn't that big of a deal, since only one can be on the field, but whichever one that is at any given time is going to have many opportunities to succeed again in a geared-up offense stocked with talented, experienced, versatile skill guys who are proven commodities. This is so much a given that essentially all the focus will be on the defense to make the three or four stops per game necessary to outscore people. Northwestern transfer Loren Howard, a former all-Big Ten guy, is supposed to help out there, but his addition can't be much more than a wash with tackle factory linebacker Dale Robinson gone. A quality darkhorse candidate and an excellent video game team, if you're not one of those annoying scramble/option types, but a long shot to finish better than third in the PAC Ten in real life without some noticeable defensive improvement that will prevent repeats of '05 losses to the likes of Stanford and Oregon State. One of those - or Arizona, or Washington, or especially dangerous Washington State - is likely to slip through the cracks again.
21. Oregon
A major beneficiary of Lexusgate. The Ducks' home date with Oklahoma now looks winable, very winable, and the boost was enough to vault a ten-game winner last season back into SMQ's poll. Despite much late season urging for BCS inclusion, this feels more like where UO probably should have wound up in a pure "power poll" style ranking in '05, and where a very similar team with a slightly stiffer schedule will likely end up. Very productive Kellen Clemens,Terence Whitehead and Demetrius Williams exit as more touted Dennis Dixon, Jonathan Stewart and Jaison Williams ascend to starting positions behind a fully intact offensive line. Very much in the Holiday Bowl race, and that's not snark or sarcasm. The Holiday Bowl is okay, man, so just lay off.
22. Georgia
Even SMQ thinks this is close to excessively low for the ol' Dawgs, defending SEC champs, but the consistency of nine-win seasons under Mark Richt isn't going to magically uplift a likely true freshman quarterback or three new starters on both lines and in the secondary. Recall that each of Richt's East Division championship teams - he's had three in the last four years - were quarterbacked by either supernaturally steady David Greene and much-hyped senior D.J. Shockley; Joe Tereshinski III has waited, like Shockley, to step into the starter's role in his last season, but that's where the comparisons end - see Florida last year, a defeat the Bulldogs win by two touchdowns with Shockley in the lineup. Behind JTIII, the options' eyes have not yet opened. Tennessee was able to grind its way to Atlanta with a true freshman quarterback behind a strong running game and defense two years ago, but attrition has hit UGA too hard in too many places for any such forecasts in this league; Richt is coach of the year otherwise. A dangerous team...in 2007.
23. Boston College
SMQ has previously named BC his 'underrated' team of the preseason, and so far his is the only poll of which he is aware that includes the persistent Eagles. Still, they don't rank quite as high as he had expected, and are sitting third in the ACC Atlantic, where most other folks are sticking them, too. There are legit conference title hopes here because the rest of the league is poised for a Big 12 North-like run of "frontrunner hot potato" unless Florida State gets its mind right, but they're going to do it by the most innocuous possible combination of running back-by-committee, controlled passing, stopping the run and creating turnovers. BC has the misfortune of drawing both Miami and Virginia Tech from across the conference's divisional divide, and you won't hear much about the Eagles if they don't win one of those games, or upsets FSU. They probably also won't come out this high in anyone's poll if they don't.
- - - - -
Nothing to see here, folks...keep it movin'...
24. Georgia Tech
Entering Year Five, Chan Gailey Equilibrium faces its toughest test yet at Georgia Tech: finding a way to stay at seven wins with a) an extra regular season game, b) a four-year starter at quarterback, c) the most unstoppable freak of a receiver in the nation, d) two veteran lines and e) a fast, aggressive defense that comes out of the gate screaming past confused blockers. If anyone can do it, it's Chan, but the prospects of a new, non-mathetmatically burdened playcaller - OC and former Auburn QB Patrick Nix - with Calvin Johnson and a certain-to-be adequate running game on hand will adding the extra touchdown every two-three games to break the elusive eight-win barrier is attractive. Like Michigan State, if this exact same team on paper, coming off a 7-5 season in which it beat both Miami and Auburn on the road and gave Georgia hell, was returning for any other school, it would be in everybody's top 15. Even a little departure from the rut - like 9-4, maybe - would be a welcome psychological boost.
25. Purdue
Another "redemption" team, in good position to vault to the top of a weakened middle of the pack in the Big Ten. Had to be better at its core than 5-6, last year, right? Had to be. Somebody had to be the casualty of a conference that deep, and the Boilers were it. But Joe Tiller hasn't had consecutive losing seasons here, and has earned the benefit of the doubt pending further negative developments. Will beat Penn State.
- - - - -
Georgia scares me. I don't know why, but I think this team is not being regarded highly enough by just about everyone.
The Vols might have another quarterback controversy brewing again if you believe all the local Tennessee newspapers. Ainge is inconsistent again. Maybe his mind is still blown from last year. UT is too high at #15
The biggest question marks are QB, where we've got Curtis Painter. He came in mid-season last year as a redshirt freshman for an underperforming Brandon Kirsch. He didn't wow anyone, but he managed games and made good decisions. He's upped his accuracy in the off-season practicing with the #1's, including his accuracy with the long ball. We're replacing most of our D-line, but with competent players, and we brought in a bunch of JuCo talent to shore up our secondary, which battled major injury and mediocre talent last year.
I think we go 10-3 this year, with potential losses to ND, Iowa, and MSU.
Although it isn't chalk, there might be something to your first run. Then again, the computers never seem to pick anyone 100%.
Yes, you're right, before I started I would have said, "I'm taking these results to the bank" and busted and been mocked for them. But I really, really don't think Florida State's going to be No. 1. I can't pick them there if it goes against my better mu judgment.
And although I eventually used my system as a guide (most of these slots are identical to the actual results, though the top 10 varies almost entirely), and although I wanted to come as close as possible, I don't think what I did rises anywhere near the level of 'experiment.' The results of experiments are objective and can be consistently replicated under the same conditions, neither of which is true in any sense for my system, where the numbers could sometimes depend as much on my momentary opinion, circuitous thinking and lack of sleep as much as any more tangible factor. Even its fundamental outline could be flawed in the way it attempted to account for schedule strength in a consistent fashion.
I like the idea of approaching predictions as an 'experiment,' though and hope to get an early enough start to generate a huge amount of 'data' - my own opinion, but spread across as many different areas as possible over a large amount of time - to input into an 'objective' system that produces an acceptable result. But the result has to be acceptable, and Florida State at No. 1 is kind of crazy. The ease at which they were removed should say something about the extremely arbitrary nature of this exercise.


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angry ewok, surely you're joking about suspecting those jedi to be still alive. They were killed on screen. Dead. You dont have to see a death certificate to know they're dead. Dead. Maul got sliced in two. Dead. Younglings. Dead. Mace, shocked by force lightning and fell 3 thousand stories down. Dead. Fisto, Tinn, Kolar, sliced to bits by Palpy. Dead. Plo Koon blown to bits in his starfighter. Dead. Etc. I mean, if you think these guys are alive then palpy is a wuss and order 66 doesnt mean anything. You take away all of the impact if you fail to realize their death. TND
Coleman Trebor survived the blasts and fall on Geonosis, didn't he?
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The new TabPro 8.4 Book Cover is extremely durable, protecting all corners and sides. It's also extremely sleek and form fitting so it doesn't add any bulk and weight. And a new quick and easy-to-open stand lets you place your device in a more comfortable position for easy viewing. The Book Cover also turns on and off your screen.
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Martinez, Cards regulars to see action in opener
JUPITER, Fla. -- After days of bullpen sessions, batting practice and fielding drills, the Cardinals are now ready to test their players in a setting where results matter.
Well, sort of.
JUPITER, Fla. -- After days of bullpen sessions, batting practice and fielding drills, the Cardinals are now ready to test their players in a setting where results matter.
Well, sort of.
Clearly, the Cardinals are not eyeing a Grapefruit League title. There are championships to be won a little later in 2014 that are of much more significance. However, as the Cards open Grapefruit League play on Friday, competition battles will be heightened, prospects will get a chance to make an impression and competition will be introduced as an element to complement preparation.
"More than ready," manager Mike Matheny said of transitioning into game play. "We've had an agenda, things to get done every day. I really like working. I really like watching these guys do their thing and trying to keep them engaged and trying to keep them progressing and trying to keep pushing a philosophy and a concept. Then trying to put them in a situation where we can build it."
It has been two weeks since the Cardinals held their first official spring workouts for pitchers and catchers. By Feb. 17, every position player on the roster had also reported. Pleased with the work accomplished since report dates, Matheny gave his players and staff the day off on Thursday.
Carlos Martinez, eager to move on from off-the-field distractions, will get the ball first for the Cardinals in spring games. He'll face reigning National League Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez when St. Louis meets Miami at Roger Dean Stadium on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. CT.
For those unable to attend, the game will be available to watch on MLB.TV, MLB Network and Fox Sports Midwest.
Matheny has already revealed that he does not plan to start veteran catcher Yadier Molina in the spring opener. While Molina is injury free and without limitations, the Cardinals want to ease him into exhibition play. Their reasoning? Innings saved now can become innings played later in the regular season.
Other projected starters, however, are likely to see the field, as Matheny has made it a point since taking over as manager to get them some exposure early.
Martinez, who arrived at camp already advanced in his conditioning because of his recent winter ball stint, will have his pitch count capped at around 40-45. Tyler Lyons will follow him in relief. Both Martinez and Lyons are battling for a spot in the Opening Day rotation.
"It shows me that I'm an important part of the team and that they're trusting that I can pitch and do the work of a starter," Martinez said, as translated by Luis Morales, the organization's international baseball operations assistant. "I'm very happy. I'm excited about the opportunity, and I feel good that they are giving me the chance."
It will be a while longer before fans can get their first look at top prospect Oscar Taveras in game action, as the Cards are being cautious in his return from ankle surgery. Taveras, ranked by MLB.com as the third-best prospect in the Majors, said earlier this week that he has been running at about 80 percent intensity.
Closer Trevor Rosenthal, too, has been slowed as he deals with a right groin strain. He likely won't see game action until next week.
Friday's game will be the first of 27 Grapefruit League contests for St. Louis. The team will then make a stop in Memphis for an exhibition game at the home of its Triple-A affiliate before heading to Cincinnati for its March 31 season opener against the division-rival Reds.
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB.


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Slag Crag
This is the huge, broken sandstone face on the opposite side of the mountain from the Wish You Were Here face. The Slag Crag overlooks the Mooihoek campsite and underlies the thick layer of dolerite (The Dark Side) at the top of the mountain. There is one excellent multi-pitch sport route here; Big Skye, the rest are trad adventures.
Crag Photo
- 'Big Sky' on the Slag Crag
Route List
Slag Crag Routes from Left to Right
|Big Sky
|FA: Gavin Peckham and Gavin Raubenheimer (16 July 2005)
|Location: The route is located in the middle of the Slag Crag Face and directly above the campsite. The route essentially follows the huge black water streak that runs the full height of the crag.
Approach: From the main campsite, follow the path up to the Happy Camper Boulder. From here head diagonally left up the hill following the black water pipe until you reach a fence. DO NOT STEP ON THE PIPE ! Walk through the hole in the fence and then follow the fence uphill to the base of the crag. Turn left and walk about 30m along the base of the crag, crossing a large boulder on the way. The approach requires less than 10 minutes of easy walking. Aspect: The crag gets morning shade and afternoon sun and is best climbed in the morning during the summer and in the afternoon during the winter. NB: At this stage two 50m ropes are required to descend. Avoid this route if the black water streak is wet. 1. 17 (35m; 15D) After a bouldery start with a mixture of thin holds and good pockets, the gradient eases off slightly and pleasant climbing leads to a small and airy but comfortable stance at the edge of an overhang. 2. 14 (15m; 6D) Climb up from the stance and then traverse delicately to the left along the lip of the roof until it is possible to move up a scoop to the next set of chains that are located on a large ledge. 3. 14 (45m; 17D) Follow the line of bolts up to the top of the crag. Easy climbing alternates with several trickier sections that keep you thinking all the way to the top. Descent: Abseil down the top pitch (45m). A second abseil (45m) from the chains on the big ledge gets you back to mother earth. There are various trad routes in this vicinity. Apparently these routes start in the vicinity of a huge overhanging block in the face.
|Tortured Soles of the Untouchable Botanists
|FA: Alex Steyn and Jacques Raubenheimer (1997)
|1. 19 (35m) Climb the open book corner under the overhanging block on the right and follow the open book around the corner and straight up to a small roof. Step left and climb diagonally up and left to a large ledge with bolt belays.
2. 14 (40m) Climb through the roof slightly to the right of middle then climb left, bashing through greenery to a large slab. Climb the slab and belay on a good Friend under an overlap. 3. 14 (30m) Climb through the overlap on the left side then head for a bolt belay at the top.
|FA: Alex Steyn and C Reed (1997)
|1. 25 (30m) Start directly behind the boulders on a blank, powdery section of wall that has a vertical crack feature about 2m up. A cam in this crack is the only protection until you reach another crack higher up on the right and a fall could prove fatal. Climb up past the cam until level with the bottom of the huge crack on the right. On amazingly delicate and flaky crimpers, climb across right to the huge crack. Follow the crack left through the roof and up through the overhanging chimney feature. Continue straight up to a bolt belay. Walk right along a ledge to another bolt belay at the left of a cave.
|The following three routes apparently also exist in this area, but no other info is available - even the first ascentionist (Alex Steyn) can't remember where they go !
|The Way Less Travelled
|Cosmic Underrod Warrior


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Job Overview
HealthRIGHT 360 (HR360) medical clinics practice in an integrated care model. Staff from each area and service provided by the clinic may be involved in the care team with defined roles and responsibilities. The Psychiatrist is responsible for providing clinically and culturally competent outpatient mental health services in an integrated care medical setting through the format of consultation-liaison as well as direct support for severely mentally ill patients. S/he is responsible for diagnoses and treatment of HR360 patients in a sensitive and non-judgmental manner, and for making appropriate internal and external referrals.


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Original source via Toronto Star
"Phaneuf takes it around back of the net, flipping it up around the boards, doesn't get it ou—OH HO! WHAT A HIT! OH DID HE GET HIM!" —Joe Bowen
This hit was from a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers back in December. The image above doesn't make it look like Dion Phaneuf caught Sauer in the head, and the video (posted after the jump) is a little bit lower resolution than the image, but confirms that the check was legal.
And that's all well and good. Phaneuf delivered a strong hit here. The Leafs at that point in the year were the only team to beat the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, and from reading the gamer linked above, it's obvious that the Leafs did everything they had to. They played physically against the bigger Rangers, taunted them and broke them down.
Via Larry Brooks today in his New York Post column, behind ~20 pages of Giants/Jets coverage:
There is scant optimism within the Rangers' camp that Michael Sauer, sidelined for the duration after being concussed last Dec. 5 on a hit delivered by Dion Phaneuf, will be cleared for a return to duty, even if this season's opener is delayed by months.
If Sauer, said to be feeling better than he was before returning home to Minnesota for the summer but is not believed symptom-free, cannot play, he would be placed on the long-term injury list.
The 25-year-old defenseman's older brother, Craig, has suffered from depression after sustaining multiple concussions while playing six years in the NFL for the Falcons and Vikings.
It's never nice to know that one of your guys potentially delivered a career-ending hit to another player, despite us knowing the hit was legal.
I'm not sure what the lesson is here, except that the nature of concussions and our knowledge of the later effects in life make it harder to be a sports fan. Deadspin founder Will Leitch wrote a good column last week as to whether or not his enjoyment of football has been tempered by the knowledge:
Football is a violent sport, and always has been, but over the past few years, the increasing evidence of widespread concussion-related brain damage (and the suicides of several high-profile players, including Hall of Famer Junior Seau) is reaching a saturation point.
Substitute "football" for "hockey" there. With the amount of information about players and teams making its way around the Internet, it's harder to ignore.
Quick personal aside: The best hockey game I remember going to as a kid was a 2000-01 game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche. These were the years when the Avalanche were running over inferior teams in the Northwest Division. They went onto win the Stanley Cup that year, sweeping the Canucks in the first round, but it was a successful season for Vancouver because they had made the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
Type "Ed Jovanovski" into the Youtube search bar, and the first auto-complete option that pops up is "Ed Jovanovski Adam Deadmarsh", a fight that occured during this game. To the dulcet tones of Toronto's favourte commentator Jim Hughson:
The arena erupted, and the arena erupted when Jovanovski scored a go-ahead third period goal against Patrick Roy. Vancouver held on for the 4-3 statement victory, and everybody in attendance stayed to give Jovanovski a standing ovation for what was one of the most defining performances by a Vancouver Canuck in that lean, lean era.
Adam Deadmarsh's career had two more concussions and presumably suffered a head injury in this one. He left the game after being helped off the ice but would continue playing with the Avalanche. Most recently, Deadmarsh has been found he can't coach due to concussions.
How can Phaneuf rationalize the hit on Sauer? Well, it was plainly legal. The contact that injured Sauer was presumably Sauer's unprotected head hitting the boards. I can't see from here, but maybe his chin strap wasn't on tightly enough.
Hockey is a dangerous game. Even once we've eliminated the dirty hits, there are still chances for injuries. This was one of those "yikes, that's hockey" moments that got us out of our seats when it happened, but upon reflection, the hit and the emotion created wasn't worth costing some player his career and his well-being after hockey.
I love hockey and I will always love hockey and I will always watch it no matter what form it takes, but, like football, it's becoming harder to cheer in these situations when you know the potential consequences. There's always that brief moment of elation when our guy has caught an opponent with his head down, quickly soured as we notice that the other guy isn't getting up.


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GENEVA – What do beer and pretzels, Mexican hot chocolate, banana splits and pancakes have in common?
They're all cupcake flavors at The Sugar Path – a sweet shop that recently opened in downtown Geneva.
Sisters Michelle Adams and Nina Cater – an attorney and former mental health counselor, respectively – started their baking business in November 2011, specializing in cupcakes, artisan cakes and pies with a focus on buying the freshest, local ingredients they can find. They started off selling baked goods at various farmers markets and became so successful that they decided to open a storefront.
Adams said she was raised in Sterling, a city surrounded by farmland where the philosophy was "fresh food is best." She remembers eating fresh fruits and vegetables from her grandfather's garden, and she learned to bake with the freshest ingredients as a result.
Starting out at farmers markets helped Cater and Adams create a network of local food vendors who sell fresh, seasonal products, such as apples and pumpkins. Adams said apples come from Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park, and the cream they use comes from a local creamery.
There aren't many ingredients Adams and Cater would hesitate to turn into a cupcake or pie flavor.
They held a contest over the summer they called the "farm stand cupcake," where they took a product and turned it into a cupcake flavor.
The competition resulted in a cheese pizza-flavored cupcake and one of the most popular flavors, a wheat berry and beet cupcake.
They have another competition on their Facebook page that allows "friends" to vote for their favorite local small businesses. The winning business gets a batch of cupcakes.
"Local business is extremely important to us," Adams said.
Their line of baked goods includes "The Sugar Tap," or alcohol-infused cupcakes; seasonal cupcakes; specialty and signature cupcakes; pies; and artisan cakes. They also carry coffee made by FreshGround Roasting.
Their menu changes weekly, and they bake using the freshest seasonal ingredients. Adams said they want the shop to be a "slow-down destination," where people can sit and have a slice of pie and coffee.
"That's one reason we started the business," she said. "It's difficult with our lives to slow down and enjoy life. That's how we grew up around the table. ... When you step into The Sugar Path, it's a destination."


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(tl;dr: some rambles and musings on deep learning and data, as I attempt to sort out in my head what this all means)
Over the years, as we've engaged with "big data" more and more, the way we construct mental models of data has changed. And as I've argued before, understanding how we think about data, and what shape we give it, is key to the whole enterprise of finding patterns in data.
The model that one always starts with is Euclidean space. Data = points, features = dimensions, and so on. And as a first approximation of a data model, it isn't terrible.
There are many ways to modify this space. You can replace the $\ell_2$ norm by $\ell_1$. You can normalize the points (again with $\ell_2$ or $\ell_1$, sending you to the sphere or the simplex). You can weight the dimensions, or even do a wholesale scale-rotation.
But that's not all. Kernels take this to another level. You can encode weak nonlinearity in the data by assuming that it's flat once you lift it. In a sense, this is still an $\ell_2$ space, but a larger class of spaces that you can work with. The entire SVM enterprise was founded on this principle.
But that's not all either. The curse of dimensionality means that it's difficult to find patterns in such high dimensional data. Arguably, "real data" is in fact NOT high dimensional, or is not generated by a process with many parameters, and so sparsity-focused methods like compressed sensing start playing a role.
But it gets even more interesting. Maybe the data is low-dimensional, but doesn't actually lie in a subspace. This gets you into manifold learning and variants: the data lies on a low-dimensional curved sheet of some kind, and you need to learn on that space.
While the challenge for geometry (and algorithms) is to keep up with the new data models, the challenge for data analysts is to design data models that are realistic and workable.
So what does this have to do with deep learning ?
Deep learning networks "work" in that they appear to be able to identify interesting semantic structures in data that can be quite noisy. But to me it's not entirely clear why that is. So I've been mulling the question of what kind of structure in data might be "visible" to such a network. In the absence of formal results ("if your data can be separated in some RKHS, then an SVM will find it"), what follows is some speculation, based on talks I attended and conversations I had with NIPs attendees.
Observation I: Both Stephané Mallat's talk and a nice paper by Coates, Karpathy and Ng talk about the idea of "first-level" features that identify (low-dimensional) invariants and eliminate noise. In the Coates et al paper, they start with a very fine $k$-means clustering ($k$ very large), and attempt to "glue" the centers together into low dimensional subspace pieces. These are then propagated up a network of higher-order feature processors.
Observation 2: Yoshua Bengio's survey of deep learning (a very readable account) points to work by Geoff Hinton as part of the reinvigoration of the field. A central idea of this work is that deep belief networks can be trained "layer by layer", where each layer uses features identified from the previous layer.
If you stare at these things long enough, you begin to see a picture not of sparse data, or low-rank data, or even manifold data. What you see is a certain hierarchical collection of subspaces, where low-dimensional spaces interact in a low dimensional way to form higher level spaces, and so on. So you might have a low-level "lip" feature described by a collection of 2-3 dimensional noisy subspaces in an image space. These "lip" features in turn combine with "eye" features and so on.
This might seem rather far fetched, and a strange way to think about data. But I can't claim originality even here. Back in June, Mauro Maggioni gave a talk at CGWeek in Chris Bishop's workshop on the connection between analysis and geometry. In this talk, he described a multi-resolution view on data that admits structure at different scales, and admits different structures at these scales.
The upshot of all of this: it is possible that deep learning is trying to capture hierarchies of low dimensional subspaces that interact in a low dimensional way. This would explain how one is able to avoid the curse of dimensionality, and might also explain why it sometimes can find structure that other methods (kernels, manifold methods, etc) might miss.
Problem is: I'm not sure how one tests this hypothesis. Almost any data set could be viewed this way if you allow enough features and enough "depth" in the hierarchy.


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CHANGING PLACES: Martin Borchardt, Maria Rios, Ivan Pollard, Michele Webb…
People change positions, get promoted or move to other companies. Portada is here to tell you about it.
People change positions, get promoted or move to other companies. Portada is here to tell you about it.
A summary of the most relevant consumer insight research in the US, US Hispanic, and Latin American markets.
During the seventh edition of the #PortadaMX summit, experts in Influencer Marketing took the stage to discuss best practices surrounding this elusive but undeniably effective tool to reach consumers. Vivian Baron, CEO and Creative Chairwoman at Band of Insiders, presented the panelists: Best Buy Mexico's E-commerce Subdirector José Camargo, Grupo Bimbo's Global Consumer Engagement Lead Giustina Trevisi, Band of Insiders' Influencer Marketing Manager Leonardo Vargas, and Pepsico/Drinkfinity's Director of Business Innovation & Marketing Yamile Elias.
Experts tell Portada the downfall of the storied retailer won't affect the Sears franchise in Mexico where better merchandising and e-commerce under the management of Grupo Carso, owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, have built the franchise into a big hit with Mexican consumers. The implications for the U.S. Hispanic Market.


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|2010-01-23, 13:07
|Link #3043
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Houston
Age: 31
It might be the bandages Christ was wrapped in after he was taken off the cross?
I wonder if Arclight could use the Fifth Wave.
Hmm thats a thought, could we just think that Saten has Positive Feedback? Not PF Zero but just the aspect of PF. Where he can use the power of the fragment beyond its natural limitations.
|2010-01-23, 13:42
|Link #3044
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Actually, isn't the tattoo what amplifies someones power? The Eden seed.
In chapter 50, Teruyama comments how the hell Arclight can use fragment powers when he lost all of them, and inmediatly, Disk and Gido corrects him and say it's not Zero, it's Positive Feedback.
Therefore, it's crystal clear it's the mark what made Saten's Fifth Wave that strong.
That's the origin of the Positive Feedback, and the very reason Arclight's Zero is stronger, because he has the mark, while Blade hasn't.
|2010-01-23, 23:20
|Link #3046
A random-man
Join Date: Aug 2009
|2010-01-24, 00:39
|Link #3048
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
I wonder what condition Blade will be in when we see him next. Saten used his tattoo and unleashed his most powerful attack. I wonder if him fighting against other Eden Seed class Needless will change his personality again... (much like Arclight's tattoo attack).
|2010-01-24, 00:55
|Link #3049
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Houston
Age: 31
I think of really only three possible outcomes with Blade coming out
A. 70% chance his ass is toasted to much to fight further
B. 20% chance he will pop out with comic relief
C. 10% he shows off some new/old fragment that will turn the tide
|2010-01-24, 07:09
|Link #3050
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Well, Ishiyama said the fight would be over soon, so doubt Blade is gonna get up of this. Besides, even if he were , Saten would send him another taste of his power.
So basically, what Sekirei07 says.
Last edited by Knighto; 2010-01-24 at 08:14.
|2010-01-24, 08:14
|Link #3052
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Let's go with a mix of A + B.
He comes with a comic relief but with his ass toasted.
just A.
A joke is what his Verdict has become:
|2010-01-24, 08:45
|Link #3053
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Moe Land
Age: 38
Now Blade is the 2ndary character.
Wonder how will Yamada's brains will get them out of this predicament.
Possible Gido will come back in the next chapter, rescuing Blade in a vehicle with Teruyama.
|2010-01-24, 09:12
|Link #3054
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Houston
Age: 31
^ I don't think they can get away with just a car or something like that. Plus they are underground so transportation could only be done on a testament and with Eve's condition they can't move her. She probably melt in their hands lol
|2010-01-24, 09:17
|Link #3055
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Well, despite being incapable to fight and leaving that to Blade, the story has been developing always around Cruz from the beggining.
Of course, after the PF explosion, many things have changed and he has grown to the point we have seen him facing a Simeon needless despite he knew he had no chance. The last stage of his growth is acquiring his fragment. Once that happens, fear for your life, Arclight!
I expect Teruyama will come back with fashion.
Last edited by Knighto; 2010-01-24 at 09:34.
|2010-01-24, 14:46
|Link #3057
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
I don't think Arclight fears anyone. Although the only time I've seen him uneasy around anyone was when he met with Ishiyama in chapter 5.
Also, looking back at when Saten first used his Fifth Wave, he was right next to Aruka. I guess that means Aruka already knew of it?
|2010-01-24, 16:23
|Link #3059
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
No, it was in the manga.
Spoiler for Pages 72 and 73 from Volume 6:
That's when Aruka said none of them had the chip, so Saten with his 3 bandages, put his arm on his RIGHT arm this time (not his left arm like he did in Chapter 75) and uses the Fifth Wave.
|2010-01-24, 16:29
|Link #3060
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Houston
Age: 31
it might be possible that Kami did not fully think out what he wanted to do with the Fifth Wave at that point in the story.
Its possible Aruka had left for Cruz before Saten fired it off as well. She did have her back to them and seemed to be moving away
|action, comedy, seinen
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Perhaps the most important person you've never heard of, Alan Turing was the father of modern computing, theorized artificial intelligence, was vital in the Allies' efforts to win World War II, and was gay -- which led to his conviction for "lewd acts." David Leavitt, author of The Man Who Knew Too Much discusses Turing's achievements, his persecution by the nation he helped save, and his suicide.