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Author Archives: James Chang
Fun with MATLAB
There's not enough frivolity in engineering. MATLAB helps out.
>> why
The bald and not excessively bald and not excessively smart hamster obeyed a terrified and not excessively terrified hamster.
>> why
To fool the tall good and smart system manager.
>> why
The rich rich and tall and good system manager suggested it.
>> why
He wanted it that way.
>> why
The programmer suggested it.
>> why
Barney suggested it.
>> why
To please a very terrified and smart and tall engineer.
>> why
The tall system manager obeyed some engineer.
>> why
To satisfy some programmer.
>> why
Damian wanted it that way.
>> why
Can you rephrase that?
>> why
Because Damian wanted it that way.
>> why
How should I know?
>> why
Because they asked the terrified and smart and tall and tall programmer.
>> why
To fool a young tall hamster.
>> why
For the love of a bald and terrified mathematician.
>> why
It's your karma.
>> why
Some terrified and rich system manager knew it was a good idea.
>> why
Don't you have something better to do?
>> why
He suggested it.
>> why
A terrified and good and not very rich engineer helped the bald programmer.
>> why
To fool some kid.
>> why
I obeyed the tall and young system manager.
>> why
Bill insisted on it.
>> why
Some smart kid wanted it.
>> why
To please some very good bald and rich mathematician.
>> why
Loren knew it was a good idea.
>> why
A tall and good and not excessively rich and bald and very smart and good tall and tall and terrified and rich and not very terrified and smart and tall and young hamster insisted on it.
>> why
To please some tall tall system manager.
>> why
To please a hamster.
>> why
To please some rich engineer.
>> why
Some mathematician suggested it.
>> why
It should be obvious.
>> why
The good kid told me to.
>> why
To please some system manager.
>> why
You suggested it.
>> why
A good and not excessively bald young programmer told the rich hamster.
>> why
Cleve obeyed some not very young and rich hamster.
>> why
Bill asked some not very good very rich programmer.
Repeat ad infinitum.
I don't know about you, but I found this hilarious.
The help documentation for it was amusing too.
>> help why
WHY Provides succinct answers to almost any question.
WHY, by itself, provides a random answer.
WHY(N) provides the N-th answer.
Please embellish or modify this function to suit your own tastes.
Requiescat in pace
It's been forever since my last post. February, eh? Damn… I should be posting more.
Anyway, I felt today would be a good day for a blog post. Today is the 100th anniversary of Mahler's death (interesting how people celebrate births and deaths).
Mahler's death is one to be remembered, not celebrated, honored, not cheered.
And certainly not something to be made a meme out of. Yes, I'm talking about you, Daniel and Tyler.
How should one remember Mahler?
If this were Mahler's birthday, I'd say "GO SPLURGE ON MAHLER. SPLURGE! HOLD ON LET ME GET MY SCORES. WE'LL GO ON A MAHLERATHON! EVERY TWO-HOUR SYMPHONY FROM START TO FINISH"
But it's not.
Since people are also still busy (damned Northwestern quarter system), it's not advisable to listen to a whole ton of Mahler in one day, mainly because it's kinda impossible at this time (I should've written this blog post a couple days beforehand).
Here's a listening guide that I have concocted to remember Mahler's death, which, my violin teacher Aaron Krosnick would say, could've been prevented by a heart bypass surgery.
- Symphony No. 6, "Tragic"
- Wailing winds, ghoulish xylophone excerpts, screaming and bellowing brass, mysterious distant church bells interspersed with cowbells to create an eerie pastoral scene as if part of a flashback, strict marches flourished with fanfare and tam-tam roars, passionately sweeping strings, and of course, THE MIGHTY HAMMER (Mahlerians know what's up)
- According to many melodramatic Mahlerians like myself, he pretty much foreshadowed his next three misfortunes with each of the three hammer blows, the third, which he excised out of superstitious fear, foretold his death.
- Yes, this is the author's favorite Mahler symphony. Yes, he does prefer the third hammer blow. He also prefers the scherzo-andante order of the middle movements (hardcore Mahlerians know what I'm talking about)
- Recommended: Benjamin Zander with the Philharmonia Orchestra
- Symphony No. 9
- Mahler believed intensely in the Curse of the Ninth (the superstitious belief that composers die after having written their ninth symphony, e.g. Beethoven). He tried to circumvent by writing Das Lied von der Erde as a kind of Symphony 8.5. Then he wrote a Ninth.
- Mahler quoted Beethoven's "Lebewohl" (Farewell!) in this symphony. He seemed to really believe that he was going to die, and this was his farewell.
- Symphony No. 10 (Unfinished)
- But he persisted anyway and tried writing another symphony. Too bad he started too late and actually died before finishing it, just like Beethoven, and he thus fulfilled his own Curse of the Ninth superstition. However, did he know that he was going to die while writing this? There is a movement titled Purgatorio, a quote from Dante, but possibly also a self-reference?
- Symphony No. 5: I. Trauermarsch
- I can't remember if Mahler wrote more than one serious funeral march, but this is definitely his most famous one. Mighty and somber, I don't think Mahler would've minded having this performed during his funeral
- Symphony No. 1: III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen
- This is completely optional. Just in contrast to the actual funeral march, this is a parody of one, but a brilliant parody of a funeral march, which includes a Frère Jacques fugue + Klezmer music. It's actually pretty hilarious.
- Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"
- Of course, Mahler must rise from the dead, right? Just kidding. That'd be scary. Yeah.
- But still, this is intensely powerful music that has changed lives and moved people to tears. I fell in love with Mahler's music after hearing a live performance of this, as it told of death and resurrection (sorry to say this, Alan, but I think it tops Strauss' Tod und Verklarung by a mile) so magnificently.
- There's really no reason not to listen to this.
- Symphony No. 8, "Symphony of a Thousand"
- Mahler is alive and well! Praise the lord! If Mahler had to praise the lord, he did it with this, and it's pretty damned hard to top this. Written for enlarged orchestra, eight vocal soloists, double chorus, and children's choir, it's easy to see why it won its nickname (which Mahler doesn't like, by the way).
- This is perhaps his most explicitly religious work, beginning with VENI! VEEENNI CREATOR SPIRITUS (Come, come creator spirit!)
That's my Mahler Deathday playlist! Give it a spin! Let me know what you think!
On Applause and Stuffy Farts
A friend (Joe E.) wrote a Facebook note about the do's and don'ts of concert-going. One of the topics that were brought up in the comments section was applause.
Here were my thoughts on applauding between movements:
Clapping between movements was acceptable at one point. The faux elitism of classical music has made it almost a crime to do so. This is not conducive to reaching a wider audience…
Understandably, some composers do not want breaks between movements to be spoiled by applause (Mendelssohn circumvented this by providing no breaks between movements). This concern is legitimate, as ofttimes, the feel or magic of a piece can be shattered by applause.
Other times, such as in the case of Dvorak and Mahler, sometimes applause is called for and appreciated between movements. It really depends, so as a rule of thumb, don't clap between movements, but certainly don't suppress it to the point of illegitimacy.
What do you think?
The topic of expanding classical music to a wider audience has been of much concern to classical music critics and aficionados around the world.
When popular music continues to excite and move audiences around the world, why must we continue beating the same crap that people think "classical music" is into the heads of a youth that is looking for more? The world is different. Things change. How does anything survive in a world of constant change? Adaptation. I'm not asking for a bastardization of Lady Gaga with Mozart; I'm simply asking for a new perspective and presentation of classical music.
The stereotypical current perceptions of classical music may include descriptors as stuffy, boring, old, plain, soporific, etc.
Pop music does so well because it is so easy to relate to, because it goes straight for our emotions, thoughts, feelings, etc. Intellectualism is a secondary pursuit. In a world of increasingly quicker results and communication, instant gratification, attention, distraction, etc. are the norm. Thus, fulfilling emotional needs comes first. This is completely understandable in a world where we have no time or place to have a good bawl in front of everyone. Music provides one of many avenues for venting.
If classical music is stuffy, boring, too-intellectual, etc., then classical music cannot survive.
What is the problem? What can we do to change this?
I had been a vocal proponent of change in my personal senior recital (which you can view on YouTube, lectures and all; http://youtube.com/kongming819 [yes this is a shameless plug]). We must get rid of this uptight traditionalism.
There is so much more to music than just the notes. There are entire back-stories, explanations, interpretations, emotions, etc. that people might not grasp at first. Sure you can provide them in the program notes, but what percentage of the audience is going to actually take interest in the program notes? Explanations must be made clear. The concert hall should become increasingly a less stuffy atmosphere. Stuffiness is not conducive to enjoying music freely.
After my recital, many people had told me that the lectures were extremely helpful. My brother, who doesn't enjoy classical music, said he actually could understand and enjoy the music better. Have I proven my point?
Anecdotal evidence! you might shout at me. Well, there is certainly logic to this, don't you think?
Stifling and repressing anything is not conducive to doing anything freely, for that matter.
It is understandable that talking, coughing, sneezing, noise-making, whispering, etc. are frowned upon in concerts. But, we can't stifle everything, like applauding between movements. That's just verging on draconic.
If we are to expand the horizons and ensure the continued survival of serious music, we cannot present it as an elite "I'm-better-than-you-so-nut-up-or-shut-up" holier-than-thou form of entertainment.
Classical music is truly awesome. It can be totally headbang worthy (see the second movement in Prokofiev's Scythian Suite or the last movement of Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony). It can be heart-wrenchingly beautiful (Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis). It can be so EMO (Mahler's and Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphonies).
We're just not presenting the right things. In a world where emotions are so ready to explode, we need explosive music. There's a reason why romanticism and modernism sprung up. We need to embrace them and show how they relate.
Mozart, Beethoven, Bach were certainly masters; they were extremely influential in the whole realm of music, but their music really is old and, unfortunately, boring, compared to newer music.
We can't keep pushing old and boring music and pass it off as representatives of classical music. No one will take it seriously.
Not the Po or Tiber
WARNING: If you are not a Doctor Who fan, you will not understand any of this.
Also, if you are a Doctor Who fan with no idea of who either River Song or Romana is, you will not understand any of this.
Disclaimer: this post will be edited continuously as I gather more info and musings. I am a comparatively new Whovian and I don't know a whole lot, so forgive my naïveté.
I've seen many ridiculous theories on the identity of River Song, such as "She's Jenny!" or "She's Amy Pond!" or whatever else nonsense people can think of.
My guess: Romana.
Why isn't it Jenny?
Jenny is the Doctor's daughter, generated from a piece of his DNA (against his will). She has no idea who or what she is, she just knows the Doctor is her "father" (by a lucky coincidence, Georgia Moffett is the daughter of the Peter Davison, the 5th Doctor), a lot about combat and gymnastics, how to walk and talk, and how to seduce (isn't that how they got out of the jail cell?)
Why would a daughter call her own father "sweetie" or "my love" and speak as if they were equals? It just makes no sense. Don't even dare bring up incest as an argument.
I think most people already get the hint that River is the Doctor's wife from the future. This has basically been confirmed in the scripts and by Moffat himself. It is quite obvious that their relationship is markedly different from a father-daughter relationship. I have no idea why people keep insisting it's Jenny. Sheesh people, think!
Why isn't it Amy Pond?
Because Amy Pond's already married and she's a completely different person. She and River Song have basically nothing in common, even superficially. I wouldn't call her hair "red" or her accent "Inverness Scottish." This is a bit weaker as a counter-argument, but I just don't think it's her. The connection of "Pond" and "River" as bodies of water has already been dismissed by Moffat.
Why isn't it the Master?
Regenerations aren't known to be gender-switching processes. It may be a black swan, though. In any case, I don't think such an intense rivalry could turn into romance.
Why do people think it's not Romana?
They cite various reasons like
1) Time Lords can sense each others' presence
2) Romana and River are two very different people
3) Romana was locked away with all the other Gallifreyans in the Great Time War
4) River doesn't regenerate in Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead.
My counter-arguments
1) There have been many instances when the Doctor didn't recognize other Time Lords (I can't think of one right now, but I remember making note of that fact). Also, what about the Chameleon Arch? What if she wanted to disguise herself to prevent "spoilers," which is something she presumably knows that the Doctor hates?
2) Who's to say that Romana didn't regenerate and become a new person? Of course personalities can change with regenerations, in fact, it is known that she became a radically different person when she was Lord President of Gallifrey.
3) No one ever knows what happened to her before the end of the Time War. It is known that she was replaced by Rassilon as Lord President. Maybe she regenerated again and this time decided that the Time War was a lost cause and went off as a renegade Time Lady looking for the Doctor again?
4) Well duh… we all know that a Time Lord/Lady can die if killed too fast (cf. Turn Left) without given a chance to regenerate. Also, how do we know River Song isn't Romana's 13th incarnation? The Time War went on for all the Time Lords incarnation after incarnation after incarnation.
Arguments for Romana (in addition to the arguments above)
My arguments do not stand separately, but must be considered as a whole.
1) River is exceptional. She knows a lot about many things scientific, historically, even bestially, just like the Doctor, and perhaps like other Time Lords. I'd even venture to say that she knows more than Harkness.
2) Both Romana and River Song know how to pilot a TARDIS better than the Doctor (see 4th Doctor and 11th Doctor episodes)
3) Romana and the Doctor were really close; she is one of only two Gallifreyans to have been a companion (the other being the Doctor's granddaughter Susan)
4) Romana and River both like bugging the Doctor in small ways. I think…
5) Face of Boe said the Doctor's not alone. What if he wasn't just referring to the Master?
The title is yet another pun.
If you didn't get it,
Romana + River = Roman River (two notable Roman rivers: Po and Tiber)
All the lonely people – where do they all belong?
Salvete, omnes!
It's been an awfully long time since I've last posted (if you consider over a month an awfully long time………. long is a relative term…) but here I am!
As many people know, I've been at college since the middle of September. I must say, it is one awesome experience. Overall, Northwestern's not as bad as Stanton; the workload's not as bad, and my classes (mine, strictly speaking) don't start until 11 AM (M-Th) or 12 PM (F). My teachers are pretty cool, especially my chemistry professor and math professor (compare the two! Such a difference in style!). My TAs are cool too.
Enough about college. That's not the purpose of this post.
It's no surprise to people that listening to music is my drug. OK, so what?
I went to a different dorm last night (CCI for the NU-literate) to play piano, because, for once, my workload was minimal. I started playing and I realized how much I enjoyed just playing and making music, despite the fact that the music was not quite Stravinsky, Mahler, or Shostakovich. I fell into a sort of a drowsy state of "just keep playing and listen."
I realized today that there is something better than listening to music. It's making music and listening to the music you make, assuming that the music you make is bearable to listen to. (How bearable something is is completely left to the audience).
Listening to music is good enough to improve my mood significantly. Listening and taking pride in the music I make is something that's better. I've thus found that despite the fact that I like playing for other people, I like playing for myself. There's no one else to judge but myself, and I am a lazy judge. If it sounds good enough that I like it, I'm happy. Music + pride! Is there anything better?
That was no rhetorical question. The answer is, quite simply and emphatically, YES.
After coming to the realization that I liked making music simply for the sake of making music to listen to, I thought about when I really liked making music. I did not have to think long, because the answer facepalmed me rather quickly.
I used to think I was most happy when I was listening to music. I am now inclined to think that I am most happy when I am MAKING music with OTHER PEOPLE.
Stipulations! The "other people" have to be friendly and competent. Otherwise we'd all get pissy and sound like crap. And I'll have a massive headache, which is not good food for happiness. And no one likes pissy people. Especially me.
The more the merrier! One of the things that kept me really sane (but ate away at my time) was playing for the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. If you play an instrument and live in the Greater Jacksonville area, I highly recommend joining this organization, unless you simply don't have the time nor the money. I think my pleasure was apparent in the way I bounced around in my seat as I played (unintentionally!), much to the amusement of my colleagues, who are, I should add, friendly and competent.
It therefore made sense to me why I wanted, more than anything else, to join the NU Philharmonia, with or without private violin lessons. So far, I'm enjoying it a lot too, though not as much as I enjoyed JSYO, because no one really knows each other in the orchestra and there are no breaks in rehearsals to socialize. At least everyone's competent; but I suppose friendliness doesn't matter as much when you're in a huge ensemble.
Of course, I like making music with any number of other people, be it 1 or 80. Making music with one other person is awesome, as my experiences with friends have shown (e.g. Alan, Kim, David, Evan, Brad, teachers, etc.). Making music in small groups of 3 (as I have done for Bartók's Contrasts with John Henry and Nick!), 4 (string quartets with Anna, Peter, and Victor!), or even 6 (Brahms Sextet No. 1 with Rachel, Peter, Leah, Sunny, and Chris!) is pleasant too!
In ensembles, members or sections all interact with each other in many ways, constantly. We support and lead each other, sometimes both at the same time. Harmonies support the melodies, melodies give harmonies something to support and they are the most prominent elements in music. Instrument timbres color both the harmonies and melodies in different ways, depending on how the composer/orchestrator/arranger does it (see my previous post on cooking and orchestration). And when I'm not playing, I can enjoy the music made by others, until the time comes for me to contribute my skills to the overall texture of sometimes-structured aural stimulation.
It's best when we just make music just for fun, with or without instruments. There's no pressure to do well, no deadline to meet, just music and happiness. We can laugh at mistakes and carry on madly with no care in the world of how we might sound to a discerning audience or a critiquing judge. It's even better when you and a friend or friends sing individual lines at the top of your lungs (someone has to do that with me for Mahler or Shostakovich. Seriously! ANYONE?!) just for the hell of it.
All the lonely people belong in groups, where they can feed from each other's talents, skills, and perspectives. The Beatles were a group, and so were the instrumentalists for that song: a double string quartet. Their harmonies, timbres, and ideas mixed to become one of my favorite Beatle songs of all time: Eleanor Rigby.
Cheesy end? I think so. Bah, who cares?
The So-Called Ground Zero Mosque
My thoughts: FSCK YES. Olbermann is a fscking beast. That is all.
Bah, orchestration, cooking, what's the difference?
When I was a little kid, in the late 90s, I was fascinated with cooking. Call me weird, but I used to like watching cooking shows. For me, it was magical, how little bits of this and that can be combined with larger bits of this and that to form an integral product that was purposefully pleasing to the palate. [Do I get an awesome award for an astoundingly amazing aptitude in alliteration?]
Fast-forward to 2005. Thanks to an amazing friend, I became obsessed with orchestras, and subsequently became fascinated with orchestration. Call me weird, but I really really enjoy studying scores. For me, it's magical how little bits of this instrument and that can be combined with larger bits of this ensemble and that to form an integral product that was exceedingly enjoyable to the ears. [OK, so alliteration didn't work out too well, this time]
Realizing these two facts (did anyone else notice the parallelism between the two paragraphs above?), I noticed just how similar orchestration and cooking really were.
Think about it! It makes perfect sense!
Eating is something we (well, most of us) experience every day. We may enjoy many different kinds of food, from quick and easy fast food to the more expensive but ultimately rewarding haute cuisine. If we take a look at haute cuisine, we see that there are many different styles and tastes; some dishes may even have a delightful mix of different tastes. These fantastic flavors are created with a smorgasbord of ingredients; the right amounts in the right conditions at the right time. Of course, cooking takes a lot of practice. One cannot simply pick up cooking and expect their dishes to be the best (unless you're a genius). Food connoisseurs with some knowledge and understanding of how cooking works might be able to create such delicious dishes, but knowledge and understanding of how cooking works only go so far. While you might be able to identify the ingredients used, you may not know how to use them, how much to use, when to use them, etc. For example, how much water are you going to add? How much cornstarch? How many spices? Are you sure you got the ingredients right (MSG or salt?)? What temperature should the water be? How long will you keep the flame burning? High heat or low heat? How long should you let it simmer? If you simply toss all the ingredients together and "flame on!", it's going to be the same as nuking a dish. With a nuke. Or at least, that's my understanding of it.
Music is something we (well, most of us) listen to every day. We may enjoy many different genres of music, from quick and accessible pop music to the more complex but ultimately rewarding classical music. If we take a look at classical music, we see that there are many different styles; some pieces may be written for solo instruments, others for larger ensembles like orchestras, eliciting many tonal colo(u)rs. These terrific tonal colors are created with a smorgasbord of instruments; suitable ones in suitable conditions at suitable rhythms. Of course, orchestration takes a lot of practice. One cannot simply pick up music and expect their creations to be the best (unless you're a genius.) Music connoisseurs with some knowledge and understanding of how music and orchestration work might be able to create wonderful orchestrations, but knowledge and understanding of music and orchestration only go so far. While you might be able to identify the instruments used, you may not know how to use them, how much to use them, when to use them, etc. For example, how many oboes will you have in unison? How many violins to compliment? How many brass instruments? Are you sure you got the instrumentation right (bassoon or sax?)? What tempo should the piece be, practically? How much passage-work will you give? To what instruments? When do you switch instruments in good klangfarbenmelodie? If you simply make all instruments play the same notes altogether, it's going to be the same as blasting the same notes on many speakers. With General MIDI. Or at least, that's my understanding of it.
America's got what?
Well, America has a lot of things, including…
- People
- More people
- Lots of peop–… oh wait… this isn't India or China…
- Different kinds of people
- All sorts of people
- Baseball
- Constitution
- Jazz
- Lady Gaga
- Southern accents
- Mountains. Lots of 'em. And large lakes.
- Melting pot… yes that includes the fondue restaurant
- Travesty of a republican democracy
- Fast food, e.g. McDonald's
- Stupidity, ignorance
- Fundamentalism
- Westboro Baptist Church
- New York Times Bestsellers (all books nowadays seem to claim a spot on the list… which is truly the BEST-selling??)
- Apple, Microsoft, Intel, nVidia, etc.
- Silicon Valley
- Advanced medical technologies and greedy insurance companies
- Weapons
- Missiles, tanks, nukes
- Lots of them
- Backwards policies regarding many things
- Lots of internet
- That includes internet marketing
- eBay, Amazon
- Talent
Oh yes, there's PLENTY of talent in America. As a competitor in many music competitions, I can say for certain that there is plenty of brilliant talent in the state of Florida alone, and many people will realize that even the best of Florida are fish in the water up in the Northeast.
I won't pretend to be among the best of Florida, because that's
- Certainly false, no matter what people say (this would also explain why I haven't won much of anything in the last 5 years in state competitions)
- Unfair to the truly brilliant ones (cough Alan Clark, Conrad Tao cough)
- Extremely egotistical, pretentious, narcissistic, untruthful, etc.
Concerning point number 3: people who possess such qualities get on my nerves. A lot.
Anyway, a friend (we'll call him Paulo) showed me something from the incredibly popular "America's Got Talent," certainly a most entertaining and exciting show. It claims to showcase America's best talents in a competitive popular panel-influenced jury-elimination style format.
That's good and all… until I saw what he showed me:
First thoughts: Maestro? He called himself maestro? Dang, he must be something else…
So I gave it a listen..
After I finished the video, I sat there going like… ho-hum
The playing was nice, but it was nothing special. It appears some YouTubers agree: "he's adept but not great." In fact, if anything, his tone is stiff and harsh.
Maestro's not a title fitting for him. For one thing, he's not even a conductor.
The piece itself was pretty bad. I don't know who composed it, but whoever did must've had a bad day or something, because it's a pretty bad piece!
But he made it on the show, apparently!
So this guy's been playing for 12 years, practicing 6-8 hours a day. He's pretty untalented if this is what he produced: a half-assed rendition of Chopin's Black Key Etude….
Alright, well if this is the talent America's "got" (doesn't this blatant violation of grammar rules bother ANYONE ELSE?!), then America is probably unaware of much of its population.
But let's see what the judges say.
Oh Sharon Osbourne… X'ed him because she thought it was boring. What the fsck. Seriously? What kind of a judge does that out of boredom? With no regard to what they're actually judging?! The other judge was right: this is a talent show, you should be judging based on talent…
Then again… he also said he was one of the best talents on the show… that didn't go so well with me
I could name a helluva lot more talented musicians than you can barely lay a Bui finger on. This kid's got the populace fooled. And what's worse… he moved on.
People seem to be too easily convinced… a little flashy display of skill is enough to convince a lot of people that someone's "got" talent. Why is this? It seems it's because many people don't know enough about classical music to be able to judge for themselves who's good and who's mediocre, which "Maestro" (that title really sickens me) Bui is.
At least he's not all arrogant about it… but it sickens me to think that such a show that claims to showcase America's best talent would promote someone who is clearly a non-talent.
Of course, no offense is meant to Bui, but the show itself is flawed. What other classical musicians with notable talent can Bui be pitted against, after all? Perhaps that's why he went on AGT… the lack of competition makes it easy to shine.
But that's just the easy way out.
Now I know, some of you might accuse me of being elitist, because I have been in music competitions or whatever else silly reason. I can tell you right now that if you want an example of true talent, you needn't look any farther than your own state. There are truly amazing musicians everywhere. Just look at who's winning the REAL competitions. Oh yes, I can name some off the top of my head right now, from all around the country, even if the list includes people I don't like, I can and will list their names.
Alas… this is, after all, a populist show. If the populace is so easily fooled, then they will be fooled. As long as classical music is still assigned such a status of "BORING MUSIC" or "STUPID" or "TOO SERIOUS," then public awareness of what is truly amazing will only continue to decline rapidly.
As a populist show, it's not going to have any prestige. Bui shouldn't expect any major orchestras to contact him any time soon.
Yes, America's Got Talent, but it's not necessarily exemplified well in the content of the show of the same name.
I apologize if this seemed too rude/brusque/caustic/long/haranguey/whatever. I'll try not to be so bitter next time.
It's about as repetitive as you can get
For some people, July 22 is a day to be celebrated!
But why's that, James? What's so special about July 22? Uh… let's see… it's the seventh month, 22nd day, 7-22, it's a Thursday… there's nothing spectacular…
No no no, think of the INTERNATIONAL date system.
Well, I don't know how the rest of the world does it, but in America, I usually take my date to–
URGGGGHHHH YOU IDIOT. In America, we put the month first, then the day, e.g. 7/22; in other places, such as Europe, it's the other way around, i.e. 22/7 (notice, if you will, the correct usage of e.g. and i.e.), which is–
OH I KNOW! That's pi!
Well… not exactly… it's a [bad] approximation of pi. Let's compare actual pi to the approximation (or at least what I remember of the actual pi)
A quick study of the second number, generated by 22/7, will show that it is a repeating decimal, repeating 142857 over and over and over and over and…
Notice, however, I said that this is a day to be celebrated by some people, i.e. math-appreciating people/nerds. I celebrate it merely because it's cool. (OK, OK, it's cool in MY opinion). I don't like 22/7 as an approximation of pi, though, but to this day, it remains a simple approximation useful in quick and dirty simple calculations involving the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter… in fractions. The reason I don't like it is because it is just a repeating decimal, taking advantage of the fact that anything over 7 would produce 142857 or any rotation of that repeating decimal (142857, 428571, 285714, 857142, etc.)
I guess it's also the only Pi Day available in Europe. March 14 (14/3) wouldn't be exactly right…
Let's now look forward to the REAL PI DAY, 3/14/15. Hopefully, I'm still alive and well.
What was that all about?
I thank everyone who took the time to read my first post and complimented it. I thought that would be the best way to introduce myself to the blogging world. It included many aspects of myself and my interests in the whole thing, from linguistics to technology, from science to music, from mythology to Latin. I felt that I was sort of inspired, so to speak, by Douglas Adams, the author of the famous The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (if you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it) and its sequels (except the 6th book).
I regret to inform all who enjoyed the first post that my future posts will not necessarily be like that, though I might make another similar to it, if I feel like it. It's arbitrary. Totally arbitrary. (I will sorely miss having Mr. Doherty as my calc teacher)
This blog's purpose is hitherto not set in stone, but I suppose it will be a sort of repository where I can set down my thoughts and feelings and share them to whomever cares, which, at the moment, appears to be about 3 or 4 people. Quidquid.
This week:
- StarCraft II comes out. I have been playing the beta and it is SOOOOO good. I wish I could actually buy it, though. Blizzard seems to have shut down the beta and here I am, stuck with a defunct copy that can't do anything at all, not even view my own replays.
- I've been rehearsing in a miniature ensemble for a musical: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It is played, sung, acted, danced, produced, etc. by teens, but it is amazing. The quality is astounding and virtually professional. I highly recommend attending one of the many performances we'll be having this summer.
- I am not going to the National Junior Classical League Convention next week in Fargo, ND. All over Facebook, I see people with statuses about the convention (especially Henry Schott's and Amber Houston's). Everytime (that should be a word. I'm making it a word now) I see their statuses, I instantly feel like I'm about to cry. Nationals had been extremely fun the last two times I went, and the thought that my last chance to participate in Nationals as a JCLer is gone is crushing.
Not such a great week thus far, but I think things will be looking up really soon. I'm on my way to college and am looking forward to it!!
Well, this seems to have been a pretty lame blog post. I will be taking suggestions on what to rant about for the next 239581 years. Meanwhile, I'll be thinking of something…


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What's more fated for showbiz than Las Vegas? It's fast, flashy, and fierce, basically everything you want from a city of sin. From its gangster origin to its huge success today, it's a place made to be on our TV screens. Rightfully so, Las Vegas movies are always raved about, but what about the TV shows? Get ready to sit back, relax, and rekindle your appreciation for TV shows set in the world's Sin City.
CSI: Las Vegas
Perhaps one of the only choices that does not make you want to live the lifestyle that is portrayed in the series… "CSI: Las Vegas" follows the lives of the highly elite team of forensic evidence investigation expert's as they work on different cases throughout each episode. The success of the show not only lies in the interesting cases, but also the inherent likeability of the main characters, and how you get a look into each of their personal lives and backgrounds. Watching this show will undoubtedly make you feel less stressed about your own job and thankful that you don't get woken up in the middle of the night to check out a dead body.
Pawn Stars
Set on the outskirts of the Las Vegas strip, 'Pawn Stars' gives its audience a look into the daily routine of the "Gold and Silver" pawn shop. You could almost see it as the very American version of "Antique's Roadshow", but with more arguing. One of the main appeals of the show is the fact it's a family run business, and that three generations of the Harrison family star in the show – "The Old Man" Richard, his son Rick, and grandson Corey. Although the show portrays them in a humorous light at times, there's no doubt that this all-male cast have an incredible skill to be able to spot the junk from the treasure.
Las Vegas
Apart from the more than frustrating ending, 'Las Vegas' is an otherwise incredible show. The series focuses on the fictional Montecito Resort, its Casino, and all the problems that arise within them. It's one of those shows that'll make you want to place your bets on everything and anything (responsibly, of course), and fortunately it's possible to do that from your laptop, without spending huge amounts on a flight to Vegas; you can view all TV/Specials betting market at William Hill, and thank us later. Interweaving your love of betting and watching TV is surely superior to casinos, and martinis, right? Of course, there is plenty of alcohol, and guns, however, there's also a lot of good-natured humour, and not as much sleaziness as you'd expect from a series about Sin City.
'Vega$' stars Robert Urich as Dan Tanna, a cool and charming private investigator. This show contains all the stereotypical glitz and glamour that Vegas so easily radiates, from celebrity cameos to an impressive "drive-in" living room. Tanna cruises around Las Vegas in his iconic Ford Thunderbird convertible and these scenes make it possible to compare 1970s Las Vegas to what it's like today. The show is captivatingly retro, and fun to watch.
Counting Cars
Another addictive reality TV series, and the third spinoff of 'Pawn Stars', this show is based around 'Count's Kustoms', an automobile restoration and customisation company owned by Danny Kroker, a recurring professional that showed up on the 'Pawn Stars' series. The show deals with choppers, motorcycles, hot rods, and basically "anything with wheels and an engine" as Danny says himself. The beauty of this show is that it's not just for vehicle enthusiasts; it can be enjoyed by anyone.
You're now more than likely experiencing the desire to either book a one-way plane ticket straight to Nevada, take part in a poker game, or perhaps wanting to purchase the box sets of each of these shows.

subset: commoncrawl


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Introducing: Take Your Lunch Tuesdays from BUILT!
As you start to tackle that mounting holiday to-do list, don't forget about one very important person: Yourself. It's easier than you think to stay strong and sane this time of year. Just focus on little things, like packing a healthy lunch for work. To start you off on the right foot, we're launching Take Your Lunch Tuesdays from BUILT on The Kitchn. We're offering a 20% discount on BUILT lunch totes (enter code APT20), plus some inspiring lunch recipes and a chance to win a fantastic giveaway from BUILT. Take a look!
Here's the deal: We all know that packing our own lunches for work is a smart move. It helps us resist the lure of the burger joint down the street and save a few dollars while we're at it. But to do it consistently, it pays to get some outside support and motivation.
So every Tuesday from November 9th until December 7th, let's make a collective commitment to bring a homemade lunch to work at least once a week. Put it on your calendar, stick a reminder note on your refrigerator the night before, or find someone in the office to buddy up with—whatever it takes to remember to pack your lunch.
Each Tuesday, we'll do our part by sharing our favorite lunch recipes and lunch-packing tips to keep you motivated. We'll also check in to see how you're doing—keep us posted by sending plenty of pics of your meals! You can also declare your pledge to Take Your Lunch Tuesdays on Twitter and invite your followers to join us: Tweet This!
Bonus: To make it easier to stay committed, BUILT is offering an exclusive 20% discount on all of their lunch totes. They have cool lunch bags to match everyone's style and toting needs. Just visit the BUILT website and use the discount code APT20 when you place your order.
• Sign Up to Receive E-mails from BUILT! Add your e-mail address to the BUILT e-mail list. You will be the first to hear about new products and promotions.
• BUILT Giveaway! BUILT is also giving one lucky luncher a $250 gift card good for any purchase at www.builtny.com. Enter to win below!
Here are a few fantastic lunch recipes from The Kitchn to get you thinking:
• Roasted Beet Salad with Barley, Feta, and Red Onion
• Farmer's Lunch Sandwich
• Chicken Stew with Kale and Cannellini Beans
We're committing to take our lunch to work on Tuesdays. Will you?


text: Starring Sharka Blue! This Hardcore Whore gets her whore-holes worked every which way and starts off our all anal, DP's and 3 on 1's sex film festival with the kind of supersonic bang that is sure to catch your cock's attention! Drilled deep by three stuntcocks, she's all about pleasing her fans!


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A neat little post I came across this morning, from the Detritus of Empire blog. Go read it all, but here's a taste:
There are, or were, specific toasts for each day of the week. As related to me by a couple of Royal Navy Lieutenants* at a pub some years back:Sunday: "Absent friends, absent friends."Monday: "Our ships at sea."Tuesday: "Our men."Wednesday: "Ourselves, as no one else is likely to bother." Alternate version: "Ourselves, Our Swords, Old Ships" Old ships being a reference to shipmates.Thursday: "A bloody war or a sickly season." (The death of more senior officers was the most reliable route to promotion in the age of sail).Friday: "A willing foe and sea room."Saturday: "To our wives and sweethearts." This is the only toast said to still be in common use, as is the customary response from the youngest officer present "May they never meet!"*In the Navy the rank is pronounced much as it would be in America. Lieutenant derives from the French phrase en lieu tenant, or holding a place for another. The British army uses the variant "Leff-tenant" for perverse reasons known only to themselves.
Cross-posted at Medary.com.


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Find out how to request donations from the Levee.
Our meeting space available for your use.
Questions or Comments? Send us a message.
Interested in working at the Levee? Find out how here.
Great gifts that can be used at all Levee venues.
Interested in leasing one of our kiosks?
Information on where to check if you've lost or found an item at the Levee.
Newport on the Levee key names & contact information.
The latest Levee news & announcements.
View photos and videos of Newport on the Levee.


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ATHENS – Ambrose O. Bennett, 74, died Sunday, August 15, 2010.
A native of Madison County, he was the son of the late Coyle O. and Vola Lee Lord Bennett. He was retired from the University of Georgia. Mr. Bennett was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Deborah Bennett; brothers, William E. Bennett, Julian Bennett and George Bennett; and a sister, Mary Ann Landrum.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Campbell Bennett, Athens; sons and daughters-in-law, Travis and Terri Bennett, Arcade, and Tony and Barbara Bennett, Comer; stepsons, Steve Bennett and wife, Kathy, Bishop, Wesley A. Bennett and wife, Teresa, Winterville, Randy A. Bennett and wife, Catherine, Nicholson; brothers, Henry B. Bennett, Center, and Roger D. Bennett, Jackson; sisters, Joyce Bennett Wilkins, Hull, and Sue Bennett Campbell, Kingston, N.C.; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, August 19, at 11 a.m., at Coile Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, August 17, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the funeral home.
Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, is in charge of arrangements.
Ambrose Bennett
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Excessive drinking has, it appears, always been with us.
Even the Norman invaders writing in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 1,000 years ago remarked on how drunk the English soldiers were, said Dr Angela McShane-Jones, a historian at Warwick University.
But she believes it became a defining part of the national identity after the Restoration, when gangs of Royalists would roam the streets in search of Puritans. Those who refused a drink in the local inn risked being beaten up.
"The willingness to get hammered has always been seen as a British thing," she said. "But in the 16th and 17th centuries drinking became a demonstration of loyalty to the Crown and the Church. It showed that you weren't a Puritan, but were a fine upstanding citizen.
"Even today if someone says that they don't drink it's treated as something slightly questionable."
The origins of the drinking culture have long been debated. In the wine-drinking, warmer, Mediterranean countries, alcohol tends to be regarded as part of the diet. It is usually consumed on a daily basis, as part of a family meal.
But in northern Europe, where beer and spirits are the tipples of choice, drinking tends to be more "explosive".
Drinking is more infrequent, but sessions are heavier and often take place away from the table at weekends. Often drinking is an end in itself.
"In the Mediterranean cultures, there are quite strong informal sanctions on public drunkenness - it's frowned on within society," said Geethika Jayatilaka of Alcohol Concern.
"In northern Europe we have followed a historical pattern of being paid on a Friday and going out to spend wages on entertainment. Drunkenness is an indicator of whether you have had a good time."
In Britain drinking became centred in pubs in the evenings and weekends, which concentrated consumption into relatively short sessions. Binge drinking was encouraged further by the practice of buying drinks in rounds.
For a typical British man, 40 per cent of all drinking occasions involve five or more drinks. In France the figure is nine per cent, while in Italy it is 13 per cent.
According to the Institute for Alcohol Studies, a "culture of intoxication" has developed over the past decade.
This has, in part, been fuelled by the drinks industry, which has devised ever more cunning strategies to boost sales - particularly among women.
Smoky and dark pubs have been replaced with fashionable open bars with sofas and clear windows - moves that have encouraged women to drink more. Pubs and wine bars have expanded to the size of nightclubs.
The rise of the alcopop - sugary drinks aimed at teenagers and young women - in the early 1990s gave way to ready-mixed drinks such as Barcardi Breezer and marketing has become more sophisticated. Sex In the City - the cult American television show that appealed mostly to women - was, for instance, sponsored by Bailey's liqueur.
Office for National Statistics figures show that the number of women drinking more than the recommended weekly limit of 14 units (or 14 small glasses of wine) rose from 10 per cent in 1989 to 17 per cent in 2003.
However, binge drinking is not just a problem for the young.
Although it is most common among 16- to 24-year-old men, where 37 per cent binge drink, around 30 per cent of 25- to 44-year-old men and 20 per cent of 45- to 64-year-old men binge drink.
Alcohol Concern said the culture of binge drinking was so strong that only a major education programme could begin to change behaviour.
"The crucial question is if we change the licensing laws, will it help to develop a different drinking culture," a spokesman said. "The evidence from other countries is that it may not."


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1 Min Read
Dec 22 (Reuters) - Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc:
* ARROWHEAD PHARMACEUTICALS FILES FOR REGULATORY CLEARANCE TO BEGIN PHASE 1/2 STUDY OF ARO-HBV Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:
All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.
© 2018 Reuters. All Rights Reserved.


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If there is one thing I hate more than anything, it's people who dine and dash. Too many times, the restaurant makes the server accept responsibility for these lying, thieving asshole customers and it's not fair. (It's also illegal, but we know that silly little things like laws don't always matter in the restaurant world.)
According to Munchies, on New Year's Eve at a Russian restaurant called Chinar on Staten Island, four pieces of scum peeled themselves off of some murky pond water and went to dinner where they racked up a $645 bill. When the time came for them to pay their bill, they decided it wasn't necessary and hopped on into their silver SUV and left. This, after picking up their coats at the coat check where they probably stiffed the coatcheck girl too.
Well, the NYPD would like to find these
three women and one man four pieces of shit so they can have some words with them. Thankfully, there is surveillance video and I am more than happy to share it until the cows come home. If anyone knows any of these deadbeats, please call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577- TIPS (8477) or fill out an anonymous form on the Crime Stoppers website. You can even send a text to 274637 (CRIMES) and use the code TIP577.
Let's bust these sorry excuses for human beings. If you don't have enough money to pay for your meal (and leave a decent tip) then don't go out to a restaurant. We don't need you there and we would rather use our time, energy and tables for customers who are going to pay for their food and tip us for doing a job well done.
Share this, so that we can be a part of sending these losers to jail. Let's do this.


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Second time back
Le 14 April 2017, 11:20 dans Humeurs • 0
Second time back, 52nd minute, Derrick Jones Brian Dumoulin Jersey, Jr. Feed the ball, Alan - Williams hit a jumper. 7 minutes 28 seconds, Price appear pass mistakes, was Cowley - Stein steals. 8 minutes and 53 seconds, Galloway shot in Ulysa foul, give the sun 2 free throws. The great king inside edge, this section were grabbed 21 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds, which Taliaferro a person contributed three rebounds, with the advantage under the basket with 19-point lead. The king played a smooth match Chris Kunitz Jersey, this section of the team completed a total of eight assists, which Lawson a teammate sent three passes. King repeatedly hit the basket, won 14 free throws, penalty 11 goals, free throw percentage reached 78 Justin Schultz Jersey.57%. Half of the end, the king to 19 points lead into the next section. I did not finish the season I wanted. "I thought I was able to get into the league and prepare for the game. I suffered a setback in my career, but it also made me get the learning opportunities that most players could get Rob Scuderi Jersey," Simmons said in a video. The Simmons debut to be all-powerful, his vision and passing ability can also bring great help for the team, the 76 coach Brett - Brown said in an interview, he plans next season to Simmons As the team's starting point guard, then, this will also be a unique concept in the league.


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Linked by Kaj-de-Vos on Fri 10th Dec 2010 18:53 UTC
The CMS that builds the Syllable websites was used on Syllable Server so far, but has now been ported to Syllable Desktop. This was done by porting it to REBOL 3. This screenshot shows Desktop building its own website in static batch mode and synchronising it with Amazon S3. This screenshot shows the Webster browser previewing the built site as local files. Building the websites on Syllable Server is around 35% faster with REBOL 3 than with REBOL 2. A few longstanding problems in the Russian website and Syllable documentation were fixed because REBOL 3 now understands Unicode.
Thread beginning with comment 453164
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Vanders left?
by cipri on Fri 10th Dec 2010 23:15 UTC
I have questions related to syllable (not directly cms, or rebol).
In syllable-forum kaj wrote yesterday:
" The port of the Syllable Desktop GUI to Syllable Server is currently stalled, because the developer left."
As far as I know, Vanders was working on that. Does that mean, that Vanders left?
If Vanders left, it would be very interesting if osnews could take an interview with Vanders, just like they did after Vanders forked syllable from atheos.
It would be interesting to know his reasons and opinions.
RE: Vanders left?
by Kaj-de-Vos on Fri 10th Dec 2010 23:31 in reply to "Vanders left?"


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I hope you all are having a wonderful and relaxed morning! I surely do, and that is probably because of this breathtaking, fantastic (dessert) breakfast! Not only does it look stunning, but it tastes just as well as it looks and is one of the best health boosts you could get in the morning. Berries are the most clever food to eat to maintain a healthy heart health for the rest of your life and to keep you mentally sharp! Easier said, berries are the optimal food as they are full packed with all sorts of antioxidants, vitamins, fibers and other "more complicated" nutrition! All of these benefits packed inside a delicious tasting breakfast (or by all means dessert) makes the ultimate breakfast!
Serves 1
1 cup almond milk
4 tbsps chia seeds
2 tsps acai berry powder
1/3 cup wild berries
1 mint leaf
Combine almond milk, chia seeds and acai berry powder in a glass or bowl, stir and let it sit overnight in the fridge. Before you eat it, pour over some berries and place a mint leaf on top!


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I was pleased with my dress. It fits perfectly. Wonderful product! Love it so much!
Very beautiful as shown. So lovely! Size true to size chart.
This dress is absolutely beautiful. The dress fits like a glove and it looks just like the photo. My daughter loves it.
I am pleased with my dress. It was shipped on time, the color is right and it doesn't look cheap. I will buy another dress from Uk.millybridal.org in the future. Thank you!
This dress is beautiful and well made, I am very pleased with the quality.
I bought this dress for my daughter, with custom measurements. It fits perfectly.
Dress came in yesterday??it was in good condition !!!! The dress is of HIGH quality...beautiful...so much attention to detail??
This is a lovely dress, with thick high quality fabric and a nice pattern.
The prom dress is really elegant. I love the design and it is very unique. Thank you very much. It is the best shopping website I??ve ever known.
I want to thank you for your kindness to me and for your suggestion.Your website is really a good website and I will recommend it to my friends. Thank you very much.


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Laboratory Emergency Preparedness
Biological Emergency Preparedness
Chemical Emergency Preparedness
|MDH Bioterrorism Lab Resources
|Guidelines for LRN Sentinel Laboratories Binder
|MDH Bioterrorism Poster
|Emergency Contact Information
|Other Bioterrorism Lab Resources
|ASM - Sentinel Level Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Guidelines
|CDC-Laboratory Information for Bioterrorism Emergencies
|APHL - Bioterrorism Preparedness Training for LRN Sentinel Laboratories
Each of these intermediate-level, interactive courses review a component of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) protocols for bioterrorism agent identification.
|Non-Lab Bioterrorism Information
|MDH - General Bioterrorism Information Page
|More bioterrorism information and fact sheets for the general public.
|Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
|National information on Emergency Preparedness.


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Welcome to Moon Dance Hollow!
Moondance Hollow is on hiatus for a while.
At Moon Dance Hollow, a crystal-clear, sparkling creek waters the herbs, fruits, and flowers, which are ethically gathered at peak potency, are free of herbicides and pesticides, and are never irradiated or fumigated. We insist on the highest standard for our own garden bounty and for the select product we buy from other Earth Friendly growers.
All Moon Dance Hollow products are 100% cruelty free.Moon Dance Hollow is not a physician and the products of Moon Dance Hollow are not intended to replace the medical & legal advice of trained physicians. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. Consult your health care practitioner before using any products on this website, as well as for any condition that may require diagnosis or medical supervision. Never ingest any skin care product or apply any skin care products to an open wound.


text: In a previous place we toyed with that idea but ultimately went to two cascaded logical standbys that were several thousand kilometers apart. In doing the research at the time we did find out about cascading from a physical standby to a logical one but could not find anything about going the other way around. We also toyed around with the idea of snapshot standbys but the issue of when to make such databases available to developers and report writers became a little tricky as we could never determine when the db would need to be accessed so logical standbys all the way was the choice. Rui Amaral Database Administrator -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Goulet, Richard Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 10:27 AM To: ORACLE-L (oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Subject: Standby databases Has anyone done the following: You have a primary database that is heavy into OLTP and has a physical standby in another geographical location. You create a logical standby locally for reporting/portal purposes because the developers and business users want up to the minute data and need their own schemas with their own views. Since the two databases are different, there is a desire to create a physical standby of the logical in the other geographical location I'm fine with the archivelog destinations that will be needed. The question has anyone built a physical standby of a logical standby? Richard Goulet Senior Oracle DBA/Na Team Leader -- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l NOTICE: Confidential message which may be privileged. Unauthorized use/disclosure prohibited. If received in error, please go to www.td.com/legal for instructions. AVIS : Message confidentiel dont le contenu peut être privilégié. Utilisation/divulgation interdites sans permission. Si reçu par erreur, prière d'aller au www.td.com/francais/avis_juridique pour des instructions. -- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l


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Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'New Member Introductions & Site Assistance' started by Smokey Mountain, Mar 11, 2011.
Greetings from East TN where the Spring Flowers are in Bloom.
welcome to the forum!!
Swype with an Aloha from Hawaii
Welcome to the the forums. Im from Az... where the cactus fruit are not in bloom. :biggrin: WHen they are, they are yummy though.


text: What a fab hotel this is. From a small problem at check in to the moment we left the staff could not do enough for us. Myself and my partner went as it was both of our birthdays. I received a bunch of flowers for our room, and for the table for the evening meal, I also received a birthday... More


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Contraception is a topic more important than ever for women who live in an area with a risk of Zika virus. But many women are concerned with the potential side effects and inconvenience of birth control, and would be happy to find a method that was safe as well as reliable. The IUD may be the best solution for many women.
No method of contraception is 100% reliable and totally without risk (pregnancy itself is not without risk), but there is one method—the Intrauterine Device (IUD)—that may maximize a high rate of preventing contraception with a low complication rate. Besides that, while the initial cost is higher, over the long term, it may be one of the least expensive options.
Besides those benefits, the IUD offers the advantage of being reversible; meaning once it is removed, the woman quickly regains her ability to become pregnant again. While sterilization offers the highest rate of success in preventing pregnancy, it cannot be considered reversible.
The IUD offers even another advantage: once the device is inserted, there is no need to worry about taking a pill each day, or inserting a vaginal diaphragm for each act of sex, or remembering to take a shot each month. Once the IUD is inserted, it reliably prevents pregnancy for anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on the type of device inserted.
The Modern IUD
The IUD is itself a small (about 3 cm. in length), flexible plastic device, shaped like a T, and inserted by a trained medical professional into the uterine cavity. There, the IUD acts as a mild irritant to the wall of the uterus and surrounding fallopian tubes to prevent the sperm from penetrating the egg, and/or preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the wall of the uterus. It does NOT cause an abortion.
There are two main types of IUDs: one containing a copper wire, and the other containing a small amount of the hormone progestin, which is secreted very slowly into the uterine cavity. Both copper and progestin make the uterus an environment inhospitable for sperm or for an egg to implant in the uterine wall.
You should discuss with your obstetrician or gynecologist which type would be better for you, as each has advantages. The progestin IUD has the advantage of minimizing (or in some cases stopping) menstrual flow and cramping in many women, but this type must be replaced with a new one in 3 to 5 years. The copper IUD needs to be replaced only every 10 years, but some women report cramping or increased menstrual flow with the copper device.
Both devices have a low rate of failure, meaning, there is only small chance that a woman will still become pregnant while using the device and having otherwise unprotected sex. The failure rate for the IUDs is less than 1%, but compare that with some other contraceptive methods:
Failure rate over one year (the percentage of women who will still become pregnant while using each method):
IUD: less than 1%
Oral contraceptives: 9%
Hormone injections or patch: 9%
Cervical diaphragm or cap: 12%
Male condom: 18%
The main disadvantage of the IUD is the initial expense of the device and the cost of insertion, but after that, at least for a few years, there should be no further expense. In the long run, the IUD may be less expensive than other methods, and with this method, you don't need to remember to take a pill each day, or insert a device each time you have sex, or go to a clinic for a periodic injection.
So talk to your health care professional and become informed if the IUD would be right for you. SUS covers the copper IUD, and if you have insurance, check what is covered. Finally, remember that while the IUD is a highly successful contraceptive, it does nothing to protect you from DSTs and HIV. If you are using an IUD but having sexual relations with DST/HIV risk, you should ensure your male partner uses a condom, and properly.
Should you wish to find a doctor, of any specialty, anywhere in Brazil, visit our website: www.procuramed.com
See also in ProcuraMed:
The most effective "emergency contraceptive" is the IUD
Esta postagem também está disponível em: Portuguese (Brazil)


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The first package includes a luxurious overnight stay, an entertaining afternoon of clay pigeon shooting, a superb three course dinner in the renowned Adam's Brasserie, a delicious full English breakfast and full use of the hotel's renowned spa and leisure facilities.
For those a little closer to the hotel, Luton Hoo is offering a package which features fresh tea and coffee, a delicious bacon roll breakfast, clay pigeon shooting and a sumptuous three course lunch.
With eight clay pigeon shooting stands all with breath-taking views overlooking the magnificent lake, woodland and the impressive mansion house, guests are sure to feel extremely opulent and even resemble the famous Lord Grantham all while being instructed by Peter Lee, who has more than 25 years' shooting experience.
Both packages are perfect for team building exercises, a weekend break or a fun and memorable get together with friends before a wedding.
General Manager at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa, Matthew Long, commented: "With the right instructor, clay pigeon shooting is an incredibly entertaining sport which is why we are encouraging our guests to have a go. With the magnificent views and exciting sport, they are sure to feel like a lord or lady."
The overnight shooting package starts from £240 per person. The afternoon shooting package costs £119.50 per person.


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UFO for us means Unique Fabulous Originals! :-)
Every now and again, we will sneek into our members stores and snap a picture of some of their Awesome pieces of Art. Then we will bring it back here for all to see. Todays UFO sighting comes from the Etsy store of LisaPetersArt.
If you want to purchase these pieces or see more of Lisa's Awesome UFO's,
go to her LisaPetersArt website or LisaPetersArt on Etsy
Keep watching for more of our BOC Member UFO Sightings!!!!


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Representing UpLift since 2016...
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My favorite quote is "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength." Charles Spurgeon.
A fun fact about me: I am continuously surrounded in a house of males, even my dog is male. I was raised as the only girl in a house of four boys by my father and I have three boys of my own, two step sons and an older step daughter.


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Download EBOOK The Era of the Cold War 1943-1991 PDF for free
Category: Children's Books
The author of the book: Steve Waugh
Format files: PDF, EPUB, TXT, DOCX
The size of the: 16.79 MB
Language: English
Edition: HODDER EDUCATION
Date of issue: 12 June 2009
Description of the book "The Era of the Cold War 1943-1991":Updated for the 2013 Specification. Give students in-depth, topic-focused content plus structured exam guidance for GCSE Edexcel History with this textbook written by experts and endorsed by Edexcel. This series for Edexcel GCSE Modern World History has been written to encourage students to achieve their best. It does this by combining detailed narrative and a rich variety of sources with a highly structured approach to gradually developing students' skills in answering exam-style questions as they work through the course. - Enable students to gain a good knowledge and understanding of the content by outlining and examining the key PDF issues of the GCSE history topic in turn. - Develop students' enthusiasm for learning the topic through a variety of activities designed to engage and motivate them. - Help students feel secure in how they will be assessed by providing dedicated support in how to answer different exam-style questions, including exam-model answers, exam tips and commentary.
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A new report from IHS Technology reveals an unexpected growth in sales of LCD TV panels in the first half of this year, which is linked primarily to the World Cup.
Global LCD TV panel shipments during the first six months of 2014 rose 3 percent from the same period a year ago. Although growth this year was much less than the 9 percent expansion logged during the first six months of 2013, achieving any increase at all was surprising to industry watchers.
According to Ricky Park, director for large displays at IHS, the television industry was doubtful about any increase in shipments during this period, considering the discouraging market indications earlier in the year.
Among the variables driving the sales, the World Cup received the most credit, with the event boosting demand for televisions, especially in Europe and South America. Sports extravaganzas have long been reliable drivers of television sales, and by extension, the LCD TV panels that make up the sets.
In addition to the sporting event, various other factors also kicked in, helping to create an overall favourable environment for the global LCD TV trade in the first half of 2014. These included signs of a continuing economic recovery in North America, one of the world's two largest markets for LCD TVs alongside China; a subsidy program initiated by the Mexican government for its citizens to buy new LCD TVs; and the continued phasing out of bulky, tube-type analogue televisions, now obsolete in many areas of the world.
Strong demand blunted by production problems
Despite the stronger-than-expected demand for the January to June period, a drop in yields and a loss in capacity due to production line modifications caused a shortage of supply of LCD TVs. The effects were felt especially in the ultra-high-definition television (UHD TV) segment of the industry. With four times the resolution of 1080p sets, UHD TVs are priced far higher than conventional high-definition television models.
The production method known as multi-model on a glass (MMG) also faced low production efficiencies resulting in reduced capacity, especially in the advanced production lines for eighth-generation fabs.
Additionally, a growing share of the manufacturing base that once had enjoyed maximised glass efficiency - lines producing TV panels in sizes of 39.5, 42.5, 48 and 48.5 inches - experienced deteriorating yields.
IHS believes production issues of a different nature are likely to occur in the second half, extending current manufacturing woes. A substantial loss in production capacity is expected during the remainder of the year because panel makers in China and Taiwan are slated to use different electrode materials from those currently deployed, ostensibly to improve their UHD products.
Change afoot at Korean suppliers Samsung Display and LG Display
Samsung Display will reduce the thickness of its front-pane glass to 0.5mm as the company increases the production of curved TVs. LG Display is converting part of an eighth-generation line to oxide thin-film transistor technology to produce OLED panels, a rival technology to UHD LCDs that the maker hopes will start picking up among consumers.
TV prices are not expected to dip in the coming months in spite of the ongoing production problems, which will serve to constrict the supply of LCD TVs.
These findings are available in the report titled, 'LCD Supply and Demand Market Tracker – Q2 2014' from the Displays service of IHS Technology.


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Nkele Mathiba
My skin talks to my ethnicity,
it says you are an African
from the smell of apartheid to the scent of the freedom.
From the the smog of the struggle to the smoke of success.
Africa you never died,
you remained the land for our ancestors,
Africa you gave us all the answers.
Africa you remained a shelter for the homeless,
you made a shelter for our homeless minds,
you planted success in our yards,
you let them give birth
and got the darkness in our eyes doomed.
Stars may shine,
lights may sparkle,
rains may fall,
snakes may slither
purring with viciousness
But Africa you remained my home,
Africa my stone.
Africa, Africa
I was born in your hands
Africa you gave me wisdom
Africa thank you for the freedom!
I lost my life on a page,
nothing mattered but my age.
I wrote my heart down on ink,
I read the story of my brains
and I thought... life is life,
and the opposite of death.
I lost and found myself on my own shelf.
I am a young woman with bright eyes,
I can pay attention to my future without any need of a price,
I do not need to be told about the light
because I am wise.
Look at my face,
eyes as a new born snail,
motions in motions with my walks,
Listen to my voice when I talk,
my ears will never shut their doors when I speak my mind.
My beauty never lied,
my visions awaked the blind,
my wings wave peace in the sky,
my voice like a love song,
my tears flow,
I am an angel.
My mind is shaped in all angles,
my heart beats as I sing my soul,
i dig myself like a hole.
I am an angel,
a pretty angel from paradise,
milky tears on my cheeks,
crying from my eyelids.
Symbolise that I'm strong.
I am an angel and I love myself!
Fork and knife, I eat my respect,
peer pressure on reject,
hatred and jealousy in a box.
I am an angel.
Nkele Mathiba
South Africa


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As a new player in the world of online bingo, it's not always that easy to know how to get started, and that is why I have decided to put this little guide together so that you can a few tips on what to do. I'm sure you already know how the game of bingo works, so I've focused on other things in this particular article. If you need a full explanation on how online bingo is played, I recommend you check out the guides on a bingo hub like juego de bingo which is a great place for a beginner to start off at. If you are a Scandinavian bingo player, there is a Scandinavian website called www.bingo.li/se!
So, first of all: Bingo, like any other game or social activity has some unwritten rules that everybody follows. In order for you and everybody else to have a pleasant time in the bingo room you should behave properly when you use the public chat room. This means that you use a proper language when you chat, and don't use any swearwords or express other negative things such as racism or sexism. Be nice to the people in the chat room. It's an unwritten rule that you congratulate players that win big jackpots, even though you might feel slightly jealous at them. After all, when you're the lucky one, wouldn't you like people to congratulate you rather than saying something devious?
When you pick you bingo website, make sure to take a website with good promotions. You want to get as much value of your money as possible, and that means you should aim for a bingo website that offers at least a 100% bonus on your first deposit. Some bingo sites even offer free bonuses for players that sign up, meaning that you don't even have to make a deposit in order to start playing. Other things that are equally important are the running bonuses on the website. You don't just want to get one bonus when you sign up do you? Some bingo sites, like www.ballonbingo.com have free bingo games every hour, every day of the week meaning that you get something extra every time you play at the site.
Also make sure that you find a bingo client that you personally like. Websites can different quite a lot from each other so there's something for every taste out there. Some clients offer casino games as a side game to the bingo, which can be really entertaining for you when waiting for the next game to begin. So if you're the kind of person who likes casino games as much as bingo, then maybe that would be a thing to look for in a bingo site. Always make sure you choose a bingo website that is licensed and registered, as this will provide a much safer gaming environment. Two great bingo portals that have listed a large number of safe bingo websites are bingoya.org as well as jugar al bingo.


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Explore Electricity Act - Sections Search for anything related to Electricity Act!
Section No. 129 : Orders for securing compliance
|Sub Section
|Where the Appropriate Commission, on the basis of material in its possession, is satisfied that a licensee is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any of the conditions mentioned in his licence or conditions for grant of exemption or the licensee or the generating company has contravened or is likely to contravene any of the provisions of this Act, it shall, by an order, give such directions as may be necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or provision.
|While giving direction under sub-section (1), the Appropriate Commission shall have due regard to the extent to which any person is likely to sustain loss or damage due to such contravention.


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What courses can I take?
Empire State College recognizes that you are an individual whose needs are different from those of other students. It is possible to work with your professors to choose course combinations that best meet your career goals.
The list of courses below is just one example of what a typical business management student may take to meet the required minimum of 32 credits:
Core courses may include:
- Managerial Leadership (4 credits)
- Business Ethics (4 credits)
- Operations Management (4 credits)
- Legal Environment of Business (4 credits)
- Business Policy (4 credits)
- Marketing Management for the New Era (4 credits)
Electives, such as the following:
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
- Human Resource Management
- Management Information Systems
- Organizational Behavior


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Policy Review Working Party- an invitation and proposal
Believing that there is a pressing need for artists and arts organisations to develop a set of ideas about the value and purpose of the work they do, in order to make meaningful and informed interventions into future policy development and consultation processes, Belfast Exposed proposes setting up a Policy Review Working Party. The purpose of the working party would be to open up informed debate through critical review of arts and cultural policy, identifying and wherever possible, establishing areas of common ground within the visual arts sector.
We may not discover a consensus of opinion across this extremely diverse sector, on the other hand we may well discover points of convergence and areas of shared concern. At the very least we would learn more about each other's thinking and ways of working as well as creating a space where information and ideas can be shared.
We suggest bringing together a group of around 6-8 people and Belfast Exposed is offering take the lead on setting the agenda for initial discussions. However group members should be prepared to take ownership of the process and put forward their own ideas for discussion and analysis, based on practical experience and individual knowledge and concerns.
Meetings would begin with a member of the group making an initial presentation around a chosen topic. Meetings would be chaired and minuted. While the discussions will benefit from being 'off the record' (the Chatham House rule will be applied), it is hoped that the group will finally publish a discussion paper for the scrutiny of the wider arts sector at which point some kind of shared strategy might be developed, through work-shopping the ideas in an open forum. We would like to get the group underway as soon as possible with a view to publishing a discussion paper by the end of September 06.
The first discussion is proposed for Friday 12th May at 4.00-5.30 pm at Belfast Exposed gallery, 23 Donegall Street, Belfast, focussing on the following set of questions:
Arts Council NI has acknowledged the strategic implications of its decision to shut down the Ormeau Baths Gallery in terms of the opportunity the closure presented to " broaden the appeal of this particular gallery space to the wider public and to provide greater opportunities to artists".
What is the validity of this statement in relation to the OBG's programming and commissioning record? In a more general context, what does 'broadening the appeal' of an arts organisation actually mean, what does it involve and how is it measured? Finally, in what ways do definitions and strategies for accessibility impact on the role and function of artists and arts organisations?
I propose to offer a short opening presentation, but the main purpose is to get a discussion going around the table and to generate ideas for future debate.
If you have a background in the arts, either at a practical or policy level, and feel you could commit 3 hours a month to take part in meetings between May and September, and are prepared to take an active role in presenting and developing ideas, please give me a call or send an email no later than Monday 8 May. In the meantime if you would like to know more don't hesitate to call:
Pauline Hadaway
Belfast Exposed
E: email@example.com


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Civil rule was restored in Nigeria on May 29, 1999, after many years of military rule. But 14 years after, the country is still far from democracy, reports Group Political Editor, EMMANUEL OLADESU.
wasted expectation
Fourteen years after, there is little to cheer. The economy is on its knee. The standard of living is declining. Social infrastructure is comatose. Unemployment, especially among the graduates, is soaring. Corruption in high places is alarming. Security is at a low ebb. The sanctity of the ballot box is not fully guaranteed. The ship of state, analysts warn, may hit the rock, if drastic measures to avert the catastrophe is not properly applied by the rulers.
It is a story of wasted hope. Nigeria achieved civil rule, but it appears that democracy is still illusory. According to observers, the bane is poor leadership.
Expectations were high in 1999, when the military bowed out, following a long and tedious pro-democracy struggle. It was evident that the military rule was old-fashioned because the soldier failed woefully in their self-imposed duty of running the affairs of the country without the people's mandate. This pervading feeling contrasted sharply with the endorsement of the army rule in 1966, following the tension that enveloped the beleaguered country because of bad governance by the first crop of civilian rulers. But military rule also wreck worse havoc. Up to now, some critics have continued to attribute the slow journey to recovery to the prolonged military rule and its far-reaching negative effects national life.
Faulty foundation
Many have also argued that the journey to the difficult future had its root in the mistake of 1914 and the crisis of nation-building it has unleashed. Putting this into perspective, a political scientist, Prof. John Rourke, pointed out that, in Europe and America, while nations generally came together first and only coalesced into states, it is different in Africa and Asia. It is an understatement. For example, Nigeria evolved from the earlier boundaries drawn by the colonial power and does not contain a single, cohesive nation. As Rourke argues, the people of this former colonial state are of different tribal and ethnic backgrounds and find little to bind them once independence was achieved and the common enemy, the colonial power, has left. "This lack of cohesion often results in civil discord and causes regime instability and the resulting internal discord often invites outside intervention and thus, becomes a source of international conflict", he added.
Instructively, the colonial edifice erected on the porous foundation has been shaking because the builders never subscribed to the building project on any agreed term. When independence day broke on October 1, 1960, the political leaders turned up for the lowering of the British flag as ethnic barons without emotional attachment to the evolving nation-state. Nigeria, which, right from the onset, was an amalgam of the incompatible social formations, produced tribal leaders from the distraught regions in hot competition for federal power and resources. Ethnic parties; the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), Action Group (AG) and National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC); maintained their holds on the antagonistic regions, the North, West and East, thereby frustrating the development of national outlook germane to nation-building, cohesion and harmony.
Motivation for power
Greed, avarice and the perception of the corridor of power as an avenue for private accumulation may have motivated many people to enter politics. This may be a simplistic and generalised view. In resolving the puzzle: 'What motivated the members of the political elite to go into politics', especially in the decolonising period, renowned historian, Dr. Nna Mba, posited that "some fought for the control of political power in order to have access to government funds, commercial opportunities and jobs from which they had been denied by the colonial government and firms. Although she acknowledged that some were also motivated by nationalism, power and prestige of potential government, inducement of the office as a career and ideological convictions, historical evidences suggest that they were in the minority.
Mba, in the bibliography, 'Ayo Rosiji: Man with vision', also pointed out that, although corruption, which maniffested in the abuse of political and government office, preceded independence, Balewa Government, which took over from the British, failed to check the practice. But what became the waterloo of the first indigenous government its mishandling of the electoral process and partisan involvement in the Western Regional crisis. Although the First Republic marked the era of true federalism, which permitted the four regions; West, North, East and Midwest; to run their affairs in an atmosphere of healthy competition, political instability and tension still engulfed the polity because of the recurrent conflicts between the ceremonial President and Head of Government, the lopsided balance of federal/regional power, ethnic rivalry, the crisis in the wild wild West which was fueled by the crisis of legitimacy and soaring corruption.
Crisis of legitimacy
When the military came into power on January 15, 1966, the first casualty of the Unifying Decree 34, 1966, which aptly effected radical, but strange federal/regional relations and unified the civil service, was true federalism. After the death, of the first military, Head of State, Gen Moses Auguiyi Ironsi, General Yakubu Gowon who succeeded him he reneged on his administration's promise to hand over to the civilians. He described 1973 as unrealistic, proposing to exit from power in 1976. The civilians were disillusioned. Gowon Government has also been chided for corruption and lack of clear direction. On July 29, 1975, he was toppled in a military putsch led by his cousin, Col. Joe Garba. His successor, Murtala announced a transition programme, which his successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, implemented with tactical, strategic and partisan military guidance. This feat was described by the political scientist, Prof. Bayo Adekanye, as the liquidation of a self-acquired power. But the evidence of residual partisan interest by the departing soldiers was twofold. After the Constituent Assembly submitted its report, the military injected some clauses into it without consultation with the representatives of the people the 1979 Constitution was meant to serve. Also, the Head of State declared that the best presidential material may not get to the Presidency.
Thirteen years after the first military intervention, President Sheu Shagari assumed the reins on October 1, 1979. The country had jettisoned the parliamentary system for multi-party presidential democracy. But the Second Republic was also short-lived. The Federal Government was weak and it failed to embraced the challenges of socio-economic and political development. Many politicians who featured in the earlier dispensation resumed their corrupt activities. The critical sectors were down. Leaders only swarmed in opulence to the detriment of the ordinary people. Alarmed at the economic upheavals, one of the opposition leaders, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, warned that the ship of the state would soon hit the rock. Shagari was overthrowned on December 31, 1983. After him came four Heads of State; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (1984-85), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (1985-93), Chief ernest Shonekan (1993), Gen. Sani Abacha (1993-98) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-99).
Between 1985 and 1999, the country was in tumoil. Crisis had escalated in the aborted Third Republic when the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola was annulled by Gen. Babangida.
Following Abacha's demise, Gen. Abubakar hurriedly implemented a transition programme. But the new civilian administration had to work with a constitution that lied against itself. With the flawed 1999 Constitution as the compass, the Fourth Republic took off on a wrong note.
Tales of three Presidents
The Fourth Republic started on May 29, 1999. In the last 14 years, Nigeria has produced three Presidents-Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (May 29, 1999-May 29, 2007), the late President Umaru Yar'Adua (May 29, 2007-May 6, 2010), and President Goodluck Jonathan (May 6, 2010 toll date).
The military was a factor in 1999. The retired soldiers collaborated with the PDP leaders in the search for a presidential flag bearer. But for the new President, the necessary adjustment from dictatorship to popular participation was difficult. Gen. Obasanjo, has experience. But many have argued that he was ill-prepared for the challenges of civil rule and transformation required after a long years of military rule. It is debatable. On the assumption of power, he took measures to stabilise the polity. The ovation was laud. But when he was leaving office after a two term of eight years, he had mocked his antecedent as a leader who voluntarily handed over power and statesman in the post-1979 period.
Under Obasanjo, the Presidency became a national burden. Assessed against the criteria of the resolution of the national question, anti-corruption war, electoral reforms, respect for the rule of law, and general democratic credential, observers would score the administration low.
Early in the life of the administration, a constitution review committee was set up. Some political leaders drawn from the different political parties were members. Their opinion was that the lopsided federal structure should be redesigned. They also called for the decentralisation of power. The committee's work did not see the light of the day. As laudable as the setting up of the ICPC and EFCC were at their inception, the two agencies became tools of repression and oppression during Obasanjo's second term. They were used to hunt the perceived foes, ahead of the 2007 elections.
The hand of the Federal Government was also heavy on the states. For example, the creation of additional local councils by the Lagos State government was met with stiff federal opposition. For 14 months, the allocations to the Lagos local governments were seized by the President. Although the Supreme Court acknowledged the constitutional powers of the state to create councils, it noted that the new councils were incohate, until they were listed in the constitution. When the Federal Government hesitated to obey court rulings, when Odi was wiped out by soldiers and the President thundered that 2007 was a do or die affair, civilian dictatorship was let loose.
Following repeated calls by the ethnic nationalities for a national conference, Obasanjo agreed to set up the Abuja Political reforms Conference in 2005. But he identified some no-go areas. For a year, the delegates were busy fashioning out a new constitution for the country. At the end of the day, it was clear that the motivation for the conference was the alleged third term gamble. When it was introduced, the conference collapsed. The laudable efforts of many patriotic delegates were in vain.
Between 2000 and 2007, it can be said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) operated in the President's bedroom. The 2003 electoral fraud submerged the Southwest geo-political zone. In 2007, the same scenario was repeated under the leadership of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu. The electoral contest shifted to the court where the stolen mandates were later restored to the winners of the polls.
When the late Yar'Adua assumed the reins, he acknowledged the rot in the electoral process. He observed that the election that brought him onto power was flawed. He proposed electoral reforms. The deceased President promised to abide by the rule of law and pursue the principles of good governance. In furtherance of his commitment, he set up the Electoral Reforms Committee led by Justice Muhammadu Uwais to make recommendations. The President released the outstanding Lagos council allocations. He also set examples by obeying court judgments. Yar'Adua unfolded a seven-point agenda to revive the ailing sectors. However, he was slowed down by prolonged illness. He passed on in 2010.
President Jonathan, who was Yar'Adua's deputy, was immediately sworn in as the President. He inherited many challenges, especially insecurity and comatose economy. To reposition the country, he proposed a Transformation Agenda, which encompasses the infrastructure battle, provision of electricity, and protection of life and property.
Dr. Jonathan was elected the President in 2011. Three years after he became the leader, there has been no significant improvement. Corruption is striving in the national life. The security of life has not been guaranteed. Foreign investors are skeptical because of the un-conducive environment. Roads are death traps. Unemployment has persisted. What seems to preoccupy the leaders are the 2015 elections.
As it was 14 years ago, the challenge is the same-lopsided federalism, insecurity, corruption, poor economy, battered judiciary, electoral challenges, Norh/South dichotomy, rotational Presidency, militancy, lack of internal democracy in the parties, and undemocratic structures in many local governments. Although Nigeria may not have become a failed state, it is already a fragile federation.