text:
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER The San Francisco Giants took down the Oakland A's 5-4 to take the Bay Bridge series before a crowd of 47,321 at the Coliseum Sunday afternoon. Evan Longoria's three RBI's led the Giants to a sweep of the two game weekend series in Oakland, enabling them to …Read More »
A's use small ball to take third straight from Houston 8-4
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER Chris Bassitt and the A's overcame a shaky start before settling down to pitch six strong innings Saturday afternoon and help Oakland to their third straight win over the Houston Astros by a score of 8-4 at the Coliseum. With the win, the A's have now shaved …Read More »
Chapman's eighth inning blast lifts A's past Brewers
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER Matt Chapman's two run eighth inning home run came at a perfect time to break out of a 1-27 slump, giving the A's a 5-3 come from behind win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a battle of playoff contenders at the Oakland Coliseum Thursday afternoon. The win keeps Oakland …Read More »
Twins come back to beat A's in ninth 7-6, split four game series
BY J.A. SCHWARTZ The Twins rallied dramatically for two runs in the bottom of the ninth off A's closer Liam Hendriks Sunday afternoon, winning the final game of the four game set 7-6 in a back and forth affair. Max Kepler drilled the winning hit to left field, following an …Read More »
Davis clutch ninth inning single propels A's past Twins 5-4
BY J.A. SCHWARTZ A line drive single by Khris Davis off Twins closer Taylor Rogers with two out in the ninth inning led the A's to a dramatic, come from behind 5-4 victory in Minneapolis Saturday night as Oakland celebrated their second straight victory over the first place Twins with …Read More »
A's bash Seattle 10-2 in Bailey's debut to extend hot streaks
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER The red hot A's bashed their way to a sweep of their five game home stand, slamming six home runs, including two each by Mark Canha and Jurickson Profar, to romp to a 10-2 win over the Seattle Mariners Wednesday afternoon in Homer Bailey's debut in an …Read More »
Semien's slam seals series win against Twins 7-2
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER Marcus Semien's eighth inning grand slam broke open a close game Thursday afternoon, leading the A's to a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in an Independence Day matinee at the Coliseum. Semien, who also hit a solo home run leading off the fifth, blasted the first pitch …Read More »
Laureano's blooper leads A's to another walk-off against Indians
BY RICK PORCARO Ramón Laureano's bloop single against the Indians A.J. Cole in the bottom of the ninth inning led the A's to their second consecutive walk-off victory against Cleveland Saturday on a sun-splashed afternoon at the Coliseum by a score of 3-2. ©DANIEL GLUSKOTER Ramón Laureano of the A's …Read More »
Reds pitching shuts down A's bats 3-0 to avoid sweep
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER The Cincinnati Reds rode Derek Dietrich's two run first inning home run, and Tanner Roark threw six shutout innings to salvage the final game of their three game series with the A's by a 3-0 score Thursday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. ©DANIEL GLUSKOTER Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez …Read More »
Pinder's walk-off single leads A's to 6-5 win, sweep of Rangers
BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER Chad Pinder's two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning drove home Stephen Piscotty with the winning run, giving the A's a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum and a sweep of their three game series. ©DANIEL GLUSKOTER Chad Pinder laces a two out …Read More »


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Scanning the business addresses as I cruised down Eastlake looking for my destination, I didn't see anything that screamed delicious Mexican food and a stellar view of Lake Union, though I'd heard tell of both. It turns out that Little Water Cantina is hidden behind a rather unassuming new condo façade, just down the way from the Eastlake Bar and Grill. EB&G is the spot that everyone knows for its bustling deck and proximity to Lake Union, and it looks as though they have a new neighbor with similarly compelling qualities.
Once inside, the space opens up into a large lounge-y area, long bar, open-air dining room, and enormous patio, all with a great view to the water and boats of Lake Union. Granted, it was a sunny, summer late afternoon when we were there, but the whole interior has an extremely inviting, casually breezy feel. Rough hewn wood tables paired with light metal chairs, picnic tables on the patio, and red cushy bench seats and backs in the lounge and dining room. The latter might be my favorite, with strings of lights criss-crossing the ceiling and huge doors that accordion all the way open to catch the breeze off the lake. Given the gorgeous day, the patio and dining room were packed, and on weekend nights I can imagine that the lounge and bar are hopping as well. The crowd was a mix of ages – older folks, younger folks, babies – so seems to have wide appeal.
But how about the food, right?? We were there for happy hour, and I can't say that the fare was anything extraordinary. We sampled the (perfectly good) guacamole, coctel de camaron (a few white gulf shrimp, guacamole, red cocktail sauce, and corn chips), and the special taco of the day (a Pacific ling cod). Not the best value in happy hour food, in my opinion, but I was so distracted by the restaurant's interior, excellent service, and gorgeous view that I hardly noticed.
I'll definitely be back – hopefully before this beautiful weather deserts us again for nine months – and I'll give the dinner menu a spin. The diver scallops with mango-habanero sauce and fried kale sound delicious, as does the wild boar ahogada (a "drowned" sandwich, explains Wikipedia) with grilled pineapple and fried onions. Given everything else to recommend it, Little Water Cantina deserves another shot at good food. Or maybe this is one of those "drinks and atmosphere only" places, a worthy category all its own in my book.

subset: commoncrawl


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My rescue cats are very strange!
They like to dress up as Superheros and Science Fiction characters and make Youtube videos.
Sometimes when I come home, I find pictures on my camera of what appears to have been a Cat Geek-A-Com that they held at my place while I was gone.
Has anyone else noticed strange geeky things left on their computer or camera or found strange costumes hidden under the bed?
I swear this is just one more confirmation that cats are taking over the world.
Be afraid....Be very afraid!!!!!!!!!!


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Nokia 3120 Classic reviews
The Graphite Nokia 3120 Classic is a 3G phone that is big on features and small on size. Featuring high speed web browsing, the 3120 Classic also includes a 2.0 Megapixel camera with a powerful flash and support for video recording as well as a secondary front facing camera for video calling. The Nokia 3120 Classic also features Bluetooth, an FM radio and MP3 player plus expandable memory via a MicroSD slot you won't be short on places to store all that music.


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The American Society of Anesthesiologists, under the direction of the Committee on Standards and Practice Parameters, has produced evidence-based practice parameters since the early 1990's. All evidence-based parameters have been published in Anesthesiology, and those published in 1995 or later have also been available on-line at the Anesthesiology website.
Now, the bibliographies used to develop the practice parameters have been added to the Anesthesiology website. Previously, these bibliographies have been available only by written request from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
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text:
Community manager Maurice Tan has confirmed.
Posted By Martin Toney | On 09th, Feb. 2015 Under News | Follow This Author @@Martintoney2012
Homefront: The Revolution was, at one point, a shooter that many players were looking forward to playing. But in the wake of the financial troubles over at Crytek UK, the game was sold to the respected video game developer and publisher, Deep Silver of Saints Row fame.
Speaking by way of the NeoGAF forums, the community manager Maurice Tan has confirmed that the game is still being worked on and is very much alive, he said, ""Homefront: The Revolution is still in development, now under our wing at Dambuster Studios…". Dambuster Studios were formerly known as Crytek UK.
He went on to compare the game to other titles that have been in development hell and commented on the fans questions, "Sometimes we get questions from fans if it's going to be another Prey 2 or Duke Nukem Forever. But rest assured that the team at Dambuster is still working hard on the game and it's not going to be vapourware."
There's no real reason to doubt that the game will be released soon, the only real concern is what the end quality of the title will be.
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Chocolate Kiss Peanut Butter Pie
"This recipe has a wonderful combination of a chocolate and peanut butter. It's simple and inexpensive. I make this pie for a restaurant owned by my mother,...
heavy cream, milk, +peanut butter, +milk chocolate chips
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I recived this from a chef that worked at the Opryland Hotel (in Nashville, Tenn.). I hope you enjoy this! Cook time is chill time.
heavy cream, milk, +cream cheese, +graham cracker crust, +peanut butter, +sugar
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
milk, heavy cream, +peanut butter
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milk, +flour, +baking soda, +butter, +peanut butter, +eggs, +sugar, +brown sugar, +milk chocolate, +salt, +vanilla extract
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This recipe is from TOH "quick cooking" I haven't tried it yet, but am posting it so that I can organize my -Want to try- recipes. Cooking time...
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A Survey of Social Change in an Imperial RegimeDecember 24, 2011, 9:19 am
By A.P. Kannangara,
(Published by Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2011) –
by Leelananda De Silva
The British period in Sri Lanka's history has been well excavated by academics and other scholars, some in pursuit of their postgraduate studies. In recent years, there have been efforts to bring to light what has remained unpublished. A large number of academics in History and Economics of the 1940s and the 1950s did their research on the British period. Several of them focused on issues of social change – the rise of the plantation economy, the emergence of the English educated classes, the birth of an urban working class, the rise and fall of castes, the activities of the missionaries and so on. It can be argued that British rule in Sri Lanka really touched only a minority of the population (10 to 15 percent), who lived in the urban areas. The rural population was ignored, by and large, by the British administration and was left to the mercies of the local feudal administrators. Caste relationships determined the pattern of interaction between various segments of the rural population until well into the 20th century. There was no social change in the rural areas, and when these studies, including the one under review, refer to social change, it is about what happens in the urban areas and the plantation economy.
The volume by A.P. Kannangara, (popularly known as Kapi) to all intents and purposes, is a joint production of him and his wife, Monica. Based on the notes Kapi left, when he died in 2004, Monica has converted them into an eminently readable book, of particular interest to the general reader. Kapi was a brilliant student at the university in the early 1950s and a popular and much sought after figure. He read for a law degree but his affection was for history. He left these shores, first for London and then to Paris. He did his postgraduate studies at Oxford, and obtained a D. Phil. based on a brilliant thesis on the division of Bengal by the British. This has been commended as a remarkable study by leading scholars of India. Kapi undertook this work as he felt that a comparative piece of work of this nature could enable him and others to understand the demands for division and separation in Ceylon. Kapi's thesis is one of the very few by any Sri Lankan on a subject relating to a foreign country. Monica (sister of Denzil Peiris, redoubtable journalist and editor) read English under E.F.C. Ludowyke, and since then had been an inspirational teacher of English in Colombo, London and Paris. As Monica and Kapi have been away from Sri Lanka for so long, younger generations do not know them.
The comparatively slim volume of 250 pages, offers a broad perspective of the changes in Sri Lankan society during the British period. It consists of two parts – the first part, on the impact of British rule in Ceylon, and the second, on ancient status symbols, primarily associated with caste and hierarchy. Altogether the book consists of nine chapters, in addition to a long preface by Monica. The focus of the volume is on the role of caste and how that has shifted over the years, responding to the various changes made by the British. This book might even have been titled "Caste and Hierarchy in British Ceylon". British administrators in general, and as a matter of policy, upheld caste and its attendant practices in key aspects of governance. Provincial and rural administration was largely based on caste factors. The volume is lavishly embroidered with stories and snippets of changing social mores.
An intriguing chapter on Caste in the Emerging Class Hierarchy offers many insights into how the caste system operated. The rise of professional classes led to some diminution in caste practices, but even this happened gradually. In the early years of the 20th century "when the young Rajaka Lawyer, George E. de Silva, took his seat at the Bar table in Kandy for his first appearance the other lawyers walked out". In an appendix to the volume there is a bewildering classification of "contemporary castes and sub-castes in order of rank". There are twenty five caste groups. Within the Govigama caste alone, there are nine sub-castes ranging from Radala to Guruvos (conch bearers). Each of these castes has their own symbols and practices.
The chapter on "The Rise and Fall of the Mudaliyar Class", refers to petty struggles among the Ceylonese upper classes, to obtain favours from the British and to be bestowed with honours. The local grandees wanted the Mudaliyar system to be kept within the narrow confines of class and caste. The days of the Mudaliyars were however, numbered. In Colombo, the British introduced a departmental system of administration, each department specializing in a selected area of work. The Mudaliyars were generalists, recruited on caste lines, and not on merit. Merit and technical skill were required for a growing, complex system of departmental administration. So the Mudaliyars had to go but they remained until the 1930s. Another interesting aspect of caste comes up when examining the jury system. So-called superior caste jurors refused to sit with those whom they considered as of lower caste. There were major tensions within the Sinhalese themselves, based on caste and hierarchy.
The volume examines other issues in social change – the rise of the English educated class, the growth of the small Sinhalese entrepreneur, and internal migration. Many small new towns emerged both in the low country and in the upcountry. The upcountry towns were largely peopled by those migrating from the low country. A new entrepreneurial class grew up, and the author discusses several of the enterprises, and the families associated with them (Malibans, Gunasenas). The successful middle level entrepreneurs supported the growingly articulate Buddhist movements of the late 19th and the early 20th centuries. There is a close relationship between new emerging families and Buddhist temples in their areas (the Rankot Vihara and the Diases of Panadura, for example). Buddhist practices and this kind of entrepreneurial activities appeared to work harmoniously.
The second part of this volume on ancient status symbols and their devaluation gives a detailed account of the system of honours and ranks that were held by or bestowed on the Sinhalese. The author says that "the people of Sri Lanka are very keen on titles. This weakness has been commented on by many foreigners in the past.Robert Knox was one of the earliest to recognize this". The British exploited this weakness to their own advantage. While maintaining some of the old titles such as Mudaliyar, Muhandiram, Arachchi, and others, they also bestowed their own titles. There was quite a tussle when the philanthropist, C. H. De Soysa, campaigned for a knighthood. Several Britishers lobbied for him, while there was resistance from other Sinhalese. His attempts failed and it was his son, Wilfred, who was knighted in 1897. Before that, in 1893, "A First Class Goigama" Harry Dias, a Puisne Judge was given a knighthood.
Symbols of status were associated with dress forms. As late as 1938, Deva Suriya Sena, (son of Sir James Peiris) wore the traditional dress of a Kandyan chief at an Oxford function. Photographs appeared in the local press. Three Kandyan chiefs objected, considering this to be an affront to the Kandyan chiefs in general. The protest went up to the Secretary of State in London, who ordered that Deva Suriya Sena should be "apprised of his disapproval". The British are presumed to have a sense of humour, and did the Secretary of State have nothing better to do than get involved in these petty squabbles? The volume refers to a more serious incident at less exalted levels. "As late as 1949 near Tangalle in the Southern Province, there was what the newspaper headlines called a battle of the 'banians' when local people of the Nekati caste began to disregard the ancient prohibition of people of their caste wearing anything above the waist. Some boys of that caste came to school wearing banians. There were riots in the bazaar and the boys were beaten up by adults of other castes". While caste barriers still persist in more invisible forms, this kind of crude reaction has probably disappeared.
The Kannangara volume offers many insights for future studies. During the entirety of the British period, and particularly through the operation of caste factors, supported by the then colonial government, human rights of the vast majority of the people of Ceylon were violated. The situation improved only with universal franchise in 1931, and with the onset of democratic processes of government since 1948. How strong is the caste factor nowadays – at the political, social and business levels? Janice Jiggins, in her path-breaking book, "Caste and Family in the Politics of the Sinhalese" - in the late 1970s, made many observations which threw some light into the murky operations of the caste factor after 1947. This work of Jiggins needs to be updated, as there are many new aspects to a rapidly evolving situation. It is arguable that only someone from outside Sri Lanka can examine the more recent developments in the unfolding caste saga. There is so much human rights activism nowadays, that the caste factor should not be neglected.
There was much social change during the 150 years of British rule, although it was largely confined to a limited segment of the population. Since 1948, there has been a dramatic transformation in Sri Lankan society, through government action and economic expansion. The social structure left by the British – the plantation economy and the landed classes, the hierarchies of mudaliyars and knighthoods, English schools, the English educated in public administration, the parliamentary system of government - have all disappeared. Rural change has been brought about as a result of universal franchise, colonization schemes, expansion of education and health, the recognition of vernacular languages and through many other forms of public action. The market economy since 1977 has brought about a new class whose wealth is not based on land. Sri Lanka is now a remittance economy. The influence of the diasporas is evident. A new English educated class and elite international schools can now be observed, while at the same time there are the unemployed graduates. It is time for historians to evaluate social change in Sri Lanka since 1948. The Kannangara volume also suggests to me that it would be timely for a short general study of the British period, drawing on the extensive academic work done, so that a generation which has little knowledge of British administration is made more aware of its recent history.
(The reviewer is a former member of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service who has served both in the provinces and Colombo, quitting the public service in 1978 as Senior Asst. Secretary of the Ministry of Planning. He has since worked as UN Consultant based in New York, Geneva and London)
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- Not to be confused with Mannimarco.
King Mantiarco was ruler of Solitude in early Third Era. He was also husband of the infamous Queen Potema Septim.
King Mantiarco's first wife was Queen Amodetha, who was beloved by the people of Solitude. From this marriage Mantiarco's first son was born. He was named Bathorgh. After growing up Prince Bathorgh became one of the mightiest warriors of Solitude.[1]
Unfortunately, Queen Amodetha died and left the King widowed.[1]
As a sign of peace between Solitude and the Septim Dynasty, King Mantiarco and Emperor Uriel Septim II signed a Promise of Marriage. Galana Septim was to marry the old king.[2] During his ambassadors visit in 3E 80, the Promise was stolen and hidden from the Hall of Records by the young Potema Septim. By doing this she accidentally became the promised bride herself.[2]
One year later in 3E 81, then 14-year-old Potema married King Mantiarco. Despite the nature of the marriage and the vast age difference, Mantiarco truly loved Potema and allowed her to do whatever she wished.[1] Surprisingly, 15 years later in 3E 97 Queen Potema gave birth to Mantiarco's second son. The old king wanted to name the boy in his own honor, Mantiarco the Second. Potema, however, had far greater plans for her son, thus he was named Uriel Septim III.[1]
After investigating rumors on treason in 3E 97, King Mantiarco found out that his firstborn was in fact son of Queen Amodetha and his trusted warchief Lord Thone. Prince Bathorgh was stripped of his rights to the throne and expelled from the kingdom, never to be heard of again.[1]
It is unclear if this was indeed truth, as Queen Potema may have created false evidence placed by her trusted warchief and succesor of Lord Thone, Lord Vhokken. This way Queen Potema also ensured that it was her son that would gain the throne after death of Mantiarco.[1]
King Mantiarco died in 3E 99, only short while after death of Emperor Pelagius Septim II. He was 81 years old and never had a chance to see his heir reach adulthood.[3]
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (mentioned only)
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (mentioned only)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (mentioned only)


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You should throw away any lip products you use when you're sick – at least, that's what one health and safety investigator in the U.S. claims should be done.
Morgan Statt, who works for ConsumerSafety.org, spoke to The Independent recently about germs found on beauty products, and points to lip products as the worst offenders for harbouring pathogens.
According to Statt, you should dispose of any lip product after using them while sick, as she says your "lip lining are a natural gateway to your respiratory tract," which can leave you at an increased risk of infection and illness.
And it's not only cold and flu viruses, she says, but also the Herpes simplex virus.
Is that true – and if so, is it really necessary to throw out your lip products every time you get over an illness?
Yes, it's possible for viruses to live on lip products, Canadian microbiologist Jason Tetro says, but it's not necessary to throw away your lipstick or lip balm every time.
"There are antimicrobial preservative compounds that are in different types of makeups and cosmetics, and those are fairly good at being able to prevent growth and spread afterwards," Tetro explains. "They just take a long time to work."
And having these preservative compounds has become an international standard, Tetro adds.
So with that in mind, he says, we'd have to look at how long the viruses and bacteria could potentially survive.
In the case of cold and flu germs, they only live a couple hours, however, for herpes and the mumps pathogens, they will survive for several days.
"Do you need to throw them out? Probably not," Tetro says. "But the thing is, if you're sick and you're applying them, you probably don't want to be sharing them – and more importantly, after you've recovered, just let them sit for about a week before you use them again."
This will give any germs present on your lip product the chance to disappear, Tetro explains.
But it's also important to remember that any makeup and beauty product has the potential to spread pathogens if they're shared.
For example, sharing mascara could result in an eye infection, like pink eye, Tetro points out.
"Anything that is going to be touching your skin is potentially going to become contaminated," he says.
So if you really feel the need to disinfect your products, Tetro says, there are wipes available that are impregnated with alcohol that can do the trick, and can be found in many places that sell makeup and beauty products.
But if you're keeping the products just for yourself, there's no need to worry about getting sick again, he adds.
"The golden rule is not to share bodily fluids," Tetro says. "You really should not be sharing your cosmetics with anyone else."
Credits- globalnews


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Ups and downs
Mike Mussina -- Winner -- Two exceptionally pitched games in a week. The three-hitter against Cleveland was near-perfection. Get the long-term deal signed.
Jeffrey Hammonds -- Loser -- Maybe he's physically able, maybe not. But if hewasn't going to play for the O's, sending him down was the right thing to do.
Leo Gomez -- Loser -- Tough week. He loses arbitration case, makes big error and the gets benched...
Jeff Manto -- Winner -- ...in favor of this guy. They call him Mickey Manto.
Rafael Palmeiro -- Winner -- Mission control, we have liftoff.
Brady Anderson -- Winner -- Season's hottest Oriole contributes
game winning home run and 30th straight steal.
Luck -- Even -- Strange happenings had owner talking mojo, but strange win against Detroit kind of evened things out.
"Baseball doesn't have a justice system."
Closer Doug Jones, who blew a save try on Tuesday night and nTC then came back to save Thursday's unorthodox victory. In each of his starts, Mussina made 100 pitches, and threw 67 strikes and 33 balls. (His string of 24 straight innings without a walk came to an end.)
The Week ahead
At Oakland: For two years, Mark McGwire has been sitting out with a variety of injuries, but now he's back with a vengeance, ranking among the major-league leaders in homers and RBIs. Orioles will start their best two pitchers, Kevin Brown and Mussina, against the Athletics. Over the last two seasons, the O's are 17-7 vs. Oakland.
At Seattle: The Orioles typically play well against Seattle. Ben McDonald in the Kingdome usually isn't pretty: He's 1-3 with a 6.31 ERA during his career. On the flip side, Rafael Palmeiro loves hitting in Seattle; he's got a .331 lifetime average, with a .516 slugging percentage. This is a road trip on which the Orioles need to succeed, because these are some of the weaker teams they will see in '95.
A move that paid off...
On Thursday night against Detroit, Orioles manager Phil Regan ordered a double steal with two outs, Brady Anderson and Kevin Bass taking third and second, respectively. Both runners subsequently scored on an infield error.
... and the one didn't
On May 12, Regan had Bass moving on a 3-1 count to Harold Baines, with two outs, figuring that Baines would get a pitch to hit. Baines sweung throguh the ball, and Bass was thrown out at third to end the inning
The good
Last Tuesday, the Orioles hammered out a season-high 16 hits. First baseman Rafael Palmeiro had two home runs and four
RBIs, and the O's scored eight runs. Big Night Nevertheless, they still lost. Starter Ben McDonald was awful, struggling for his control and departing after 22Z3 innings, and then the Tigers scored a couple of runs in the ninth inning against Doug Jones on an error, a bloop single by Kirk Gibson and a flair double by Travis Fryman.
The Ugly
Cleveland's Kenny Lofton hadn't hit into a double play this season, but against Kevin Brown last Friday, Lofton hit into two double plays. He had problems vs. Mussina Saturday, and was benched Sunday.


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text:
The Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF) is pleased to announce that after an extensive process, Daniel Salazar has been selected to be MVF's next Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective May 2.
"Daniel has the right combination of financial and accounting experience and skills that will serve MVF extremely well, and I look forward to having Daniel as part of my senior leadership management team," said EVP Dave Humpton. Salazar has worked as MVF's Senior Accountant since November 2016, has had steady career growth and is a CPA in Maryland.
The CFO is responsible for the overall leadership of the financial affairs of MVF working extremely closely with the EVP on budgeting, strategic and long range financial planning. In addition, the CFO staffs the MVF Audit and Investment committees. MVF's Treasurer also works very closely with the CFO on monthly financial reporting, financial policy updates and auditor selection.
Congratulations, Daniel, on your new role at MVF!


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Identity Theft 101 with Oconee State Bank
Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 5:30 p.m.
Kristi Greer from Oconee State Bank will cover everything you need to know about identity theft and steps you can take now to keep your information safe. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call 770-725-9443.


text:
December 31, 1999, Section E, Page 43Buy Reprints
In the era before Abstract Expressionism few American artists had a larger public presence than Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975). A grass-roots painter who turned away from Modernism to focus on rural America, he was the first artist to make it on the cover of Time magazine (1934), which praised him as one of a stellar trio of regional painters -- including Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry -- in touch with the true spirit of America.
Riding the wave of publicity generated by Time, Benton -- a well-trained draftsman who had studied in Paris and started out as a serious abstract painter and theorist -- played the role of ''Ozark hillbilly,'' as he put it, to the hilt. He broke his ties with Modernist and leftist buddies to form a new, jingoistic alliance with Curry and Wood known as Regionalism. He denounced the European avant-garde and its American followers as effete, and left New York, where he lived from 1912 to 1935 (he had been an important teacher and mentor for Jackson Pollock), to return to his native Missouri for good.
With support from the antimodernist art writer Thomas Craven, Benton fashioned a reputation as a homespun artist uncorrupted by European decadence. His trademark works, with brash colors and stylized figures -- often verging on caricature -- in rhythmically swirling overall compositions, mythologized American rural folk and their ways.
A prolific muralist, he populated institutions all over the country with garrulous sagas celebrating American history and occasions that, in the words of the curator and art historian Douglas Dreishpoon, are ''a cross between Michelangelo, Cezanne and Walt Disney.'' (One of Benton's best murals, the 1930 ''America Today,'' a movielike cross section of life in the United States, is in the lobby of the Equitable Life Assurance Company headquarters at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, near 51st Street.)
Benton's reputation died with the advent of Abstract Expressionism, and by the time of his own death he was considered a fossil. But somehow his work keeps popping up. In the last decade, with interest growing in mass-audience art, it has been attracting new attention. A Benton retrospective, originated by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo., was mounted by the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1990.
Now, close to the 25th anniversary of his death, ''On the Road With Thomas Hart Benton: Images of a Changing America,'' a selection of 75 paintings, lithographs and drawings from his estate, is traveling to small institutions across the country. Organized by the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Ga., it is on view at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts here.
As Benton saw it, the United States was divided into a series of cultural and geographic entities, each with its own anima: cities, mountains, rivers, the South, the West and Missouri, and the Middle West. With his sketch pad he traveled the country -- much earlier, to be sure, than the Roosevelt administration's dispatch of artists and photographers on a similar mission -- to capture what was left of the real America, before it it was swallowed up by urban and suburban sprawl. He worked some of the sketches into finished paintings, others into prints and a few into murals; many stand on their own as drawings.
The show in Springfield, a hodgepodge of a few finished paintings, smaller oil sketches for paintings, and drawings and prints, is more or less arranged according to Benton's categories. There are some familiar images, among them a black-and-white lithograph, ''Threshing'' (1941), after his painting of the same name, in which an undulating panorama of wheat fields, hills and sky is invaded by men and harvesting machinery, and ''Wreck of the Ol' 97'' (1944), a lithograph from a 1943 painting that commemorates a storied turn-of-the-century train catastrophe. (Railroad nostalgia was a favorite Benton subject.)
The most dramatic works depict river and flood scenes, several done for newspapers, that record disasters like the Ohio-Mississippi floods of 1937. In a large painting, ''Flight of the Thielens'' (1938), a family is depicted theatrically struggling in high water as angry waves wash over their house and barn. Calmer river subjects include the boating expeditions that Benton was fond of making with friends, among them ''Jon Boat'' (1973), a painting that shows three fishing pals in an outboard on calm water in his beloved Ozarks.
One result of a Benton venture into book illustration is the corny lithograph ''Huck Finn'' (1936), portraying a sleazy-looking Huck and his friend Jim on their raft in the Mississippi, a smoking paddle-wheeler in the background. In his 1937 autobiography, ''An Artist in America,'' Benton likened his childhood to those of the Mark Twain heros Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.
Whether fictive or real, people get high priority in the Benton nostalgia-rama: hillbillies, country musicians viewed in close-up playing fiddles or harmonicas, miners working coal seams, field hands picking cotton or harvesting sugar, camp-meeting preachers and their flocks. True, they are types rather than real people, but such was the stagecraft of Benton's work. He is at his best in the informal drawings he made on his sketching tours, like ''Main Street, Borger, Tex.'' (1927), an oil boomtown that grew in population from zero to 90,000 in a few months.
Although his heart (and livelihood) was in the countryside, Benton spent most of his life in cities: as a child in Washington, where his father, Maecenas Benton, was a Congressman from Missouri; Chicago and Paris, where he studied art; then New York, where many of his early country scenes were executed; and finally Kansas City, Mo., his home for the last 40 years of his life. In the ''Cities'' section of the show, the fine pencil drawing ''New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge'' (1926) is an upbeat version of the iconic span, backed by a visionary cluster of skyscrapers, that bears testimony to his onetime engagement with urban matters.
If this show proves anything, it is that Benton's real talent was for illustration. His more ambitious paintings, with their formulaic compositions of repetitive rhythmic shapes and garish colors, become tedious. For those who don't know his work, this show will serve as an introduction; for those who do, it will confirm him as a painter who made stage sets of American life.
''On the Road With Thomas Hart Benton: Images of a Changing America'' is at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts, 220 State Street, at Chestnut Street, Springfield, Mass., (413) 263-6800, through Jan. 9.


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A first-time river cruiser and avid photographer, our very own Chris Bryan talks about his first time cruising the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia
Chris joined our eight-day Lost Civilisation cruise aboard the Jayavarman in Vietnam and Cambodia.
What is your favourite thing about travelling?
Living in the moment and knowing that no matter what's around the corner, it's something that you've never seen or experienced before. Having the ability to be free gives me energy to want to explore, and my most memorable moments in life have started with overseas travelling.
Was this your first time River Cruising?
Yes this was my first ever river cruise. Having never experienced this style of travel, I was excited to see how it compared to group tours I had done in the past.
The Jayavarman, Chris's first ever River Cruise. Image by Chris Bryan
What were your expectations before you left?
I was really looking forward to the shore excursions but was unsure about the amount of spare time that we'd have on board. I love photography and planned to use this time to go through photos and prepare for the shore excursions.
What surprised you the most?
The service delivered by each and every one of the staff on board. They were unbelievably friendly and went out of their way to deliver exceptional but most importantly, personalized service. The food on board the Jayavarman was both incredibly fresh and delicious, provided all passengers on board with the required energy to enjoy the excursions during the day.
Were there any challenges you faced on the trip?
River cruising offers relatively light excursions and easy to manage schedules during the day, so my greatest difficulty was building up the appetite to fit in the next extravagant meal!
What was the most exciting part of the trip?
Meeting the locals was the most exciting part of Chris's trip and a fantastic opportunity for photography.
Walking through the villages and getting the opportunity to socialize with local villagers and interact with children who have had such a rural upbringing was very exciting for me. I love portrait photography and really enjoyed interacting with the locals.
What were the OTHER passengers like?
We had a group of 3 Vietnam War Veterans who were on an annual trip, and a lovely couple from Australia. Everyone was very friendly and despite our different backgrounds, all passengers on board were very easy-going and like-minded. There was a very social atmosphere on board and we got along really well.
Can you tell us a few of the highlights of the trip?
The chance to get hands-on with activities both on board and on the shore wad the highlight of Chris's trip.
We started each morning with a relaxing but surprisingly energizing 30 minutes of Tai Chi, which was a great way to start the day. There was also a new swimming pool on board, which was very refreshing on the hotter days on the trip. The touring was very small-scale and the guide provided ample opportunity for us to interact with both Vietnamese and Cambodian locals in all of the villages that we visited.
We got a unique insight into the daily lives of the remote towns scattered along the Mekong and were constantly given chances to engage in hands-on demonstrations. This included pottery making, climbing palm trees to collect ingredients for palm sugar, tasting rice wine and feeding fish in the farms. On board the boat we also engaged in a fresh Vietnamese cooking class, as well as a fruit carving demonstration.
I was given ample opportunity to take beautiful photos of the breath-taking natural settings and friendly locals. The local guide on board the ship assisted me to communicate with the kids and older villagers, so that I could learn more about their stories.
How do you think travelling in Asia by River Cruise is different to travelling by land?
Seeing parts of rural Cambodia and Vietnam that are inaccessible to other tourists is what makes cruising unique
Travelling on a cruise gives you access to remote locations that most travellers don't get the opportunity to visit. Given how difficult some of the locations are to get to, there are no accommodation options or dining choices available for tourists. Being on a cruise means that you have all the luxuries of a 5 star floating resort, while enjoying local touring that no other tourists are able to experience. We were the only travellers in any of the locations that we visited, and were given an unbelievably unique opportunity to explore remote areas that are otherwise inaccessible.
I know you are interested in photography, were you able to get some good pictures?
I had ample opportunity to take beautiful photos of both the beautiful landscape and amazing people that we met along the way. River cruising is a dream come true for any photographer wanting to capture the adventure that lies ahead in both Vietnam and Cambodia.
What advice would you give others considering a River Cruise in Asia?
Do your research to get a better understanding of the type of cruise that you want to embark on. Closely read the excursions and make sure that you are booking on a river cruise that'll deliver the type of touring that you want to experience, and the cabin type that best meets your needs. The majority of your time is spent on the shore exploring the multiple excursions on offer, or enjoying the lounging areas and variety of facilities on board. Most importantly, get a good nights sleep, because you'll want to be fresh in the mornings and won't want to miss any of the amazing shore excursions!
Any insider tips from your trip?
Meeting the locals makes any shore excursion unforgettable.
Take part in all excursions, even if it doesn't sound like something you'll love. The professional guidance of the tour leaders on board and the interaction with the locals during the excursions makes any tour unforgettable. Make an effort to interact with both the guests and the staff on board. You'll be surprised at how many amazing people you'll meet along the way. And lastly, be sure to enjoy what's in front of you. This opportunity will never come around again (until your next river cruise commences that is!)


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Although it had been rumoured and talked about for some time, we now have it officially confirmed - The Last Of Us, Part II is happening.
This evening at the PlayStation Experience, NaughtyDog unveiled the very first trailer for the sequel to 2013's game and brought us right back into the action. Players will recall that the end of The Last Of Us was something of a cliffhanger, so it makes sense to bring people back with a first look at Ellie and Joel.
Speaking at the launch, NaughtyDog creative director Neil Druckman said that "while a sequel may have seemed like a foregone conclusion, that wasn't the case. We knew that it needed to be a story worth telling and, perhaps more importantly, a story worthy of Joel and Ellie."
"After spending years on different ideas (and almost giving up), we finally uncovered a story that felt special - a story that evolved into an epic journey."
Right, that's enough filler. Here's the trailer. Let us know what you think in the comments.


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Samsung vs Apple saga continues with cases all over the World. While Samsung has been able to win some cases, Apple has won most of them with the biggest victory of getting a $1.05 bn. Fine in their favor. The cases continue and the second case in US will be started in 2014.
Apple and Samsung are head to head in the case which saw a hefty fine of $1 bn. imposed on Samsung.
The Fine was reduced by $450 million only because it was for 14 devices for which the fine was miscalculated. Now Judge has decided to run a separate case for these 14 devices
The 14 devices are being judged seperately due to the conditions used to calculate their damages were incorrect. Judge Lucy Koh was of the opinion that the second case should be started after Samsung is done appealing about the first fine. In a latest ruling, she has allowed the new case to proceed which will start in March 2014.
Will Samsung be able to save $450 million or will it have to pay more? We will have to wait for the case


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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Aug 8 (NNN-Bernama) -- ASEAN countries have been urged to take the opportunity to enhance trade with each other amid the US-China trade tensions, given the bloc's huge population of 642 million.
Minister of International Trade and Industry Darell Leiking said collaboration should focus on strengthening ASEAN economies, particularly in the digital market, which is expected to be worth US$200 billion (US$1 =RM4.07) by 2025 from US$31 billion in 2015.
Focus on what we (ASEAN) have, while other nations (such as the US and China) are going through their rough times.
With the talent we have, we should create more interactions through Google, Facebook, e-portals and other social media platforms.
We must be ready to embrace the digital marketplaces and enhance our economy, Darell told reporters after his welcoming remarks and presentation on Unlocking the Potential of E-Commerce in conjunction with the 51st ASEAN Day celebration here today.
He said to facilitate cross-border e-commerce transactions in the region, the ASEAN Agreement on e-Commerce is currently being finalised and is targeted to be concluded at the end of this year.
We will update on the agreement when the time comes, he said.
The objectives of the agreement, he said, include creating an environment of trust and confidence in the use of e-commerce, while driving inclusive growth and narrowing development gaps in the region.
Darell also said that he will be in Jakarta on Aug 10-12 to meet his Indonesian counterpart to discuss and enhance bilateral ties.
Asked if online transactions would be subjected to the new Sales and Services Tax (SST), Darell said he was not aware of the matter.
I have not read that it will (be subject to SST), but if it is, we will address it accordingly. At the moment, the government has not touched on the issue but I am not sure if our other trading partners (ASEAN) have done the same, he added.
Source: NAM News Network


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|Bohol's heritage churches
severely damaged by the recent earthquake
I agree with commentators who opine that President Aquino shouldn't have travelled to South Korea in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake that hit the Visayas, most especially Bohol, the epicenter, and Cebu. The killer quake killed scores of people and severely affected the lives of an estimated three million people who now have to survive in tents amid scarce resources, and the still largely uncalculated damage to property---including the tragic collapse of centuries-old heritage churches in Bohol and Cebu. Medical facilities will continue to be scarce as even hospitals have been hit.
The magnitude 7.2 quake of just two days ago and its huge swath of damage and disaster should have been enough reason to cancel---or at the very least postpone--- P-Noy's two-day visit to Seoul, where he was billed as the first Head of State to be received by new and first female South Korean President Geun-hye. Aquino is to receive an award for his father's Manila Times coverage of the Korean War at the age of 17. Palace spin-masters also lost no moment pointing out that South Korea is our major source of tourists.
But the Koreans would have understood if P-Noy cancelled his trip, but he did not. Masyado siyang nali sa gloria (pardon the pun).
The only thing good that could conceivably come out of that Korean trip is the certainty that the President would receive hefty contributions from the moneyed Koreans to his calamity fund---but his absence from his countrymen's side at the disaster scene at a time like this would be difficult to explain even to the Koreans.
Our country will need gargantuan amounts of funds to undertake the massive reconstruction of the quake-affected provinces. Yes, this should include the full restoration and reconstruction of our damaged centuries-old churches in Bohol (28 in total in Bohol, three of them totally destroyed, namely Loboc, Dauis and Baclayon churches) and Cebu (the belfry of Sto. Nino de Cebu Basilica totally destroyed) with public funds, as these churches are part of the national cultural heritage.
The damaged or totally destroyed churches should be reconstructed and not leveled to the ground and new churches built instead---as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is said to be mulling as an option, according to NCCA lawyer Trixie Angeles-Cruz. There are extant records of how these damaged/destroyed Visayan churches looked, so that a faithful reconstruction can be made. It will just take money, determination and modern technology and expertise.
The gargantuan funding that the massive reconstruction of Central Visayas will need immediately brings us citizens to think of the much-maligned pork barrel funds. Senate President Franklin Drilon asserts that the senators could either realign the PDAF item in the proposed P2.268 trillion budget for 2014 to government agencies. The entire Congress allocation for PDAF in 2014 would be a little over P25 billion, and realignment could be done with mere manifestation of their intention to give up their respective allocations, said Drilon.
Then, by all means, let all 24 senators and 280 representatives redeem themselves somewhat by channeling their over P25 billion pork funds to the massive reconstruction fund for the Visayas.
Interestingly, House appropriations committee chair Isidro Ungab of Davao thinks that such realignment for quake victims can be done but "it's a long process, as we still have to conduct committee hearings for this purpose." Really now, Mr. Ungab, when you and your fellow pork-feeding reps grabbed those PDAF funds, you did it in a jiffy---no hearing, in fact, not even projects in the case of many reps and senators, just fake NGOs. You know darn well realignment can be done fast when you want them!
Going back to the President, he should really buckle down to work, for disasters have been hitting us not just in the Visayas. The Mindanaoans haven't even recovered from the crisis in Zamboanga that spilled out to other provinces in the big island; now there's floods in many parts of storm-battered Luzon, including severe threats in the area of the huge dam in Pangasinan. In Central Luzon, such as Tarlac, there have been prolonged brown-outs.
Someone I know who went to Quiapo recently to look for spare parts for his commercial lawn-mower was shocked to find the whole area looking like a big flea market, with generator sets displayed out in the streets. As this fellow told me, there's panic-buying out there as folks from Central Luzon are grabbing gen-sets to bring home for the long brown-outs.
With all the huge problems piling up on our country, a serious issue seems to be coming to a head, as more and more of our media colleagues asserting this (the latest is Star columnist Dick Pascual today), not to mention business and political leaders. There's now an earnest questioning of the capability---and disposition---of President Aquino to tackle the increasing and gargantuan problems of our country and whether he should be called upon to resign and a replacement be seriously considered.
Sometimes the call takes the form of an oblique or caustic remark or two, or even a pointed wisecrack. Let me cite a most recent case.
Sometimes the call takes the form of an oblique or caustic remark or two, or even a pointed wisecrack. Let me cite a most recent case.
Last Oct. 4, a significant high-powered forum was held at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), titled "US, China and Asean: The evolving realities in the West Philippine Sea." Sponsored by the AIM Policy Center, the forum drew about 60 leaders from the American and European Chambers of Commerce, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, top brass of the AFP as well as retired officers such as former AFP Chief and Defense Secretary Renato de Villa and former PAF Chief Antonio Sotelo, and a few political personalities.
The all-morning forum was perceived as a sort of precursor to the visit of US President Obama which was later aborted on account of the perilous US budget crisis. Announcement then came that US Secretary of State John Kerry was to come here in lieu of Obama, but the Kerry visit was also called off allegedly due to the typhoon here.
A popular perception was that the two top-level US visits were called off owing to the political typhoon in the Philippines.
At any rate, since American officials were already here as advance party, the AIM forum was held on the complexities of the trilateral issue involving the US, China and Asean, with presentations by Walter Slocombe, former US Secretary of Defense, Admiral Dennis Blair, former Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Command, and SC Senior Justice Antonio Carpio.
Their papers were subsequently posted on the web, but what was more interesting---and perhaps indicative of the prevailing political mood in our country---were the subsequent comments of former President Fidel Ramos during the open forum.
FVR congratulated the speakers for their "excellent" papers and then he queried whether there was any official from Malacanang Palace present. Up rose a hand from the audience, but apparently that Palace personality was not known to the crowd (Defense Secretary Volt Gazmin wasn't around and neither was the National Security Adviser).
That's the problem, huffed FVR, "whenever there is a high-level briefing such as this, no one from the Palace shows up." It was a missile aimed at the student government.
That's the problem, huffed FVR, "whenever there is a high-level briefing such as this, no one from the Palace shows up." It was a missile aimed at the student government.
Then the former President queried whether there was anyone from Congress in the audience. But before Bukidnon Rep. Joey Zubiri and a committee chair could raise their hands, FVR had already quipped, "Why, are you already all in jail?"
The remark was, of course in direct allusion to the pork barrel scandal and charges filed before the Ombudsman against three opposition senators, and perhaps soon vs. presidential allies in both chambers of Congress.
The generals shook with laughter over that remark.
The remark was, of course in direct allusion to the pork barrel scandal and charges filed before the Ombudsman against three opposition senators, and perhaps soon vs. presidential allies in both chambers of Congress.
The generals shook with laughter over that remark.
For comments/reactions, please email:


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Joe Hanson contracts the solar system to a relevant scale in the episode of "It's Okay to be Smart." Some actually great stuff in here, even if you've seen a scale demonstration of our cosmic area before. Hanson traces on habitable zones, the Voyager spacecraft, the misrepresentation of asteroids in our solar system's asteroid belt, and much more.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL


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THE Stormont Minister for Employment and Learning paid a visit to Holy Trinity Primary School in Turf Lodge shortly before the summer break to see the work of an after-school club that's helping encourage girls to take an interest in computers. Dr Stephen Farry MLA was joined on his visit to the school's 'Computer Clubs 4 Girls' programme by representatives from E Skills UK – which helps promote IT skills among schools and employers – and by representatives of software company Northgate.
Speaking during his visit, Minister Farry said: "The ICT sector is very important to the success of the Northern Ireland economy and I support this initiative which aims to encourage young girls to consider this sector for a future career.
"Research shows that 92 per cent of those participating in the Computer Clubs 4 Girls said they would consider studying ICT at GCSE, A-Level or degree level, and I hope that some of the participants here today will enjoy a career in ICT in the future."


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I confess I CANNOT WAIT to see this movie....like I'm pretty certain it's going to the best thing ever
I confess, I did not like Bachelor Ben at all....until he played David Gray on the piano for Lyndsi....he now
has points in my book.
Ohh I am smitten with Pinterest as well:) Muah, sweetie
I've been on pinterest now for months and have yet to understand why it's such a craze! Explain. :)
And yoga pants doubled as regular black pants -- not going to lie, I do it at least once a week, hahaha!!!
I love your confessions. Keep em up!
what a good idea for a post! You should celebrate you joined pinterest, not confess. : ) And I am a big david grey fan too!
I heart Rachel McAdams, I can't wait for that movie either! She needs to play in more stuff! and I've heard the Lululemon leggings can totallly be worn as "real" leggings under stuff!
I LOVED THIS. I only have almond milk, water, and wine at my place. I had no idea you WERENT early twenties!! You look so young! Uhmmm hello doughnut... now I am craving. :(
Can't WAIT TO SEE THE VOW! It looks so awesome!!!
Yogapants = everything pants...just do it!
I am NOW the only girl NOT on pinterest...thanks a lot ;)
I confess I don't know what movie you are referencing above. Am I going to feel silly when I find out what it is???
I confess.. I totally want to see that movie too - like REALLY want to see it! Ha! Its going to be a total chick-flick-cryfest.. and I'm all in!
Your confessions crack me up - I too like to disguise yoga pants for real pants! :)
Ahh when Ben played that song on the piano I about lost it. I confess I will totally wear a "work out" outfit to the grocery store even though I haven't stepped foot near a gym or done any form of exercise. Hey, it's comfy.
Glad you're onto Pinterest now! I have gotten so many ideas for home decor- it's awesome!
I totally confess to wearing yoga pants into my corporate office job... a long tunic-y top and no one knew any different! ;)
Love this!!! Esp that Pinterest photo! Bahaha... totally me. What?! A girl can dream.
I SO def can't wait for The Vow!!! <3
have you been to Sublime Donuts? they're down by GA Tech - their donuts are AMAZING! You have to go there if you haven't already, yum yum yum!
haha well clearly we're on the same wave length because I posted mine today too!
I buy one donut all the time from SHEETZ.. the south needs SHEETZ ASAP so I can move down there.
I wear yoga pants as real pants sometimes... I always wonder if people know haha
I cannot wait to see The Vow either!
I try to wear my yoga pants way too many places. But with the right top, I convince myself that I can pull them off.
I am beyond excited for that movie! It looks adorable and I love the excuse to stare at Channing Tatum for hours :)
Haha, I looooved that he played that song on the piano! Defnitely got points from me too...... buuuuuuut I still don't like him.
oh gosh, i melted when Ben played that song for her! AND im so glad he didnt give out that final rose.
Yoga pants are real pants. Major props to pulling them off at dinner. Rock it.
I've been dying to see The Vow for like a year!
Do you like Jillian's protein drink? I was looking at it and wondering it about it...Let me know. :)
I can't wait to see The Vow!
And I wasn't sure how much I was going to like Ben on the Bachelor but my heart melted when he played that song for Lindzi.
i cannot wait to see that movie too! sooo excited for it!
the vow. OMG melt my heart I cant wait to see it!!
also youtube the trailer for The Lucky One. Also cry-worthy!
yoga pants as real pants are fantastic!
YAY PINTEREST! prepare to be addicted!
ahhh ive been so MIA on blogs...catching up this week MUAH. Thank god i have you as my text buddy ;-)
OMG. I will be turning 26 this year and not to be dramatic but I'm not looking forward to being closer to 30 than 20. AND I am so excited to see the VOW. I don't think it will disappoint!
mmmmmm donuts! I can't just eat one either... it's bad... the bag of like 30 mini chocolate ones? that taste kinda waxy? you bet I can eat the entire thine in one sitting! grosssss
I'm so glad you're on pinterest now! it's addicting (:
ummm I'm definitely counting down the days to see The Vow! love me some Channing Tatum!
Ohh lawd I am quite sure that I will be blubbering like an idiot when I see the Vow, kind of like when I saw P.S. I love you. That movie still puts me in a fit of tears! You will totes become a Pinterest addict but fear not bc mine wore off after a few weeks! Last but not least, I borrowed this post from Rissy last week :)
The real question -- I need details on this event. What was the point of having to choose an age group? At 26 myself, I don't feel like I'm in my late 20s, but I consider early 20s college.
Just reading about the name tag debacle freaked me out. How dare they try to divide up the 20s!!
Haha! I totally would wear yoga pants out to a dinner, you are so not alone!
I am dying to see that movie!! Looks soooo good! Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close looks great too!
ooh i'm excited about pinterest - i'm so obsessed. it's a major time waster. and i can't wait for the vow either! and eek i can't wait to watch the episode tonight online - generally guys who play piano aren't super high on my list, but i'm starting to like it more and more.
haha! Pinterest is addicting and dangerous. Proceed with caution. And if you invited me offer and offered me a protein shake I would have seriously considered it!
Haha that thing about Pinterest is so true it's sad! I always wear yoga pants disguised as real pants...oooooops haha. xo
Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget
I also just joined Pinterest and am a little lost! And, I turn 27 in a few weeks and am NOT ready to be that much closer to 30!
Again, your blog is the first one I read on my phone in the morning. and then I get to work and never comment because I get consumed by other things! anyways, I can't wait to see that movie either, I love them. LOVE I tell you. I am so surprised I have never read the book.
And bachelor. That show is so crazy. But one thing I love about it, is us girls are all the same. Like I feel a togetherness because we ALL watch it. think the same things and love certain parts, and Ben playing David Gray was amazing. I sat there with stone watching it and got goosebumps. That song, its perfection. and on the same bachelor- girl- togetherness-note: I loved how once the girls saw Shawntel's face they knew EXACTLY who she was, "it's the funeral director. Shawntel!" We all watch this show. And I love that
And I am the same way about food. I will go anywhere for it, drive the distance to suffice the delicious craving. I was in a weird taco bell phase one random time in college, and when I was home for Christmas I really wanted it. the closest taco bell was 20 minutes. I drove 20 minutes there. and 20 minutes back and then ATE it at home, because I had to wait till I could sit down and had everything in place to thoroughly enjoy it.
i can't wait to see the vow either, waterworks for sure! and i don't like ben either he is putting me to sleep. exceopt for the fact that he owns a jack russell and i have two but that is the only reason!
Life without yoga pants wouldn't be nearly as comfy!
i have 0 doubt that i would have stood there for 3+ minutes as well. who clumps lower 30's into upper 20's? that's not fair...but depending on the event i also wouldn't have wanted to be considered lower 20's. i'm 26, so i would have had the some argument with myself...even though clearly i'm upper 20's. yikes.
and i love yoga pants. i wish i could get away with them at work, but someone would say something i'm sure of it. sometimes what i consider to be relaxing is just coming home from work, throwing up yoga pants or leggings and lounging on the couch. it's the best.
Best post EVER!
I am loving the idea of disguising yoga pants to a night out!
And you are not the only one who has driven to multiple stores for a donut! Except I buy them in bulk. Yes, I have an addiction and yes, it is a problem!


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Did you know that today is the shortest (read: darkest) day of the year in North America? Today the sunset in New York will take place at 4:32pm. Zoinks!
Does it feel dark where you are? Do you ever get winter blues? It's hard not to, when the days are so dark. But! The good news is, the days will now get brighter every day for the rest of the winter. So if you can make it through today, you're all set. :)
(Actual photos of the earth at night by NASA)


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Phone: + 7 (845 2) 33 92 02
Fax: + 7 (845 2) 28 07 07
Website: http://pags.ru/
About the university: Stolypin Volga Region Institute of Administration (SVRIA) is a federal public establishment of higher education located in Saratov, Russia. Founded in 1991 by the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, SVRIA has six faculties with 500 academic staff members, and provides training, professional development, and advising service to a student body of 6,500.
The Department of Economics, part of the Faculty of Economics and Management, conducts research in the following areas:development of rural/underdeveloped regions in Russia; cross-border cooperation of regions in Russia and Kazakhstan as a way of enhancing integration into the Eurasian space; strategy for economic and social development of the Saratov region; public-private partnerships; and Russian trade policy in the context of the WTO accession.
Areas of expertise:
Courses offered: SVRI offers Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in various areas of economics, management, political science and public administration. The Department of Economics offers a Bachelor's degree in with specialization in municipal management, a Master's with specialization in regional economics, and a specialist programme in Customs operations. The Department of Secondary Vocational Education offers specialist diplomas in Management, Jurisprudence and Economics. The programmes comprise courses on international and regional economics, international economic relations, history of economic thought, trade policy, economics of customs operations, management of international trade operations, international trade agreements, international financial relations, free economic zones, and external economic relations of the Russian Federation.


text:
Note: In this post, I always refer to MariaDB. As far as I know, the techniques and the limitation I'm describing here also apply to Percona Server and MySQL, including 5.6. But since I didn't test the examples, I just refer to MariaDB (tested on 5.5).
A query is a SQL statement that returns some results (
A Stored Program is a Stored Routine, a Trigger or an Event.
A Stored Routine is a Stored Procedure or a Stored Function.
A Dynamic SQL statement is astring composed by a Stored Program, which will be executed as a Prepared Statement. Even within normal Prepared Statements you can insert some values, for example you can "pass" them an ID which will be used in the
WHERE clause. But there are many limitations: you can't compose the
ORDER BY clause, or decide what columns should be
SELECTed, for example. An example of Dynamic SQL is:
SET @sql = CONCAT('SELECT `', @col_name, '` AS `value` FROM `', @tab_name, '` LIMIT 1;');
The Problem
MariaDB cursors can't be used with Dynamic SQL. Their syntax is:
DECLARE <cursor_name> CURSOR FOR <query>
But is a hard-coded SQL statement, and can not be a variable. So, if you can't hard-code your query because it should contain some variable parts, you can't use a cursor to read the result set.
Hey, wait a moment… can't you? Well, actually you can. You must write some code and use some dirty tricks, but you can.
The solution (Code)
Here's the code we will use to implement "Dynamic Cursors". I will explain it later:
DROP PROCEDURE IF EXISTS `dyn_lock`;
CREATE PROCEDURE `dyn_lock`(IN `query` TEXT, IN `lock_name` CHAR(64), IN `timeout` TINYINT UNSIGNED)
COMMENT 'Get a lock for dyn cursor'
-- output from GET_LOCK()
DECLARE lock_res TINYINT UNSIGNED;
-- error in query
MESSAGE_TEXT = '[dyn_lock] Dynamic SQL returned an error';
-- get lock or exit with err
SET lock_res = GET_LOCK(`lock_name`, IFNULL(`timeout`, 5));
IF (lock_res IS NULL) THEN
MESSAGE_TEXT = '[dyn_lock] Could not acquire lock: Unknown error';
ELSEIF (lock_res = 0) THEN
MESSAGE_TEXT = '[dyn_lock] Could not acquire lock: Timeout expired';
-- create dynamic view
SET @dyn_sql = CONCAT('CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW `', lock_name, '` AS ', query, ';');
PREPARE stmt_dyn_view FROM @dyn_sql;
EXECUTE stmt_dyn_view;
DEALLOCATE PREPARE stmt_dyn_view;
DROP PROCEDURE IF EXISTS `dyn_cursor`;
CREATE PROCEDURE `dyn_cursor`(IN `query` TEXT, IN `timeout` TINYINT UNSIGNED, OUT x TEXT)
COMMENT 'Simulate dynamic cursor'
-- we assume there is only 1 column to be read;
-- TEXT is good for any type
DECLARE val TEXT;
-- no more rows flag
DECLARE eof BOOL;
-- select data from a view. only the view is really dynamic
DECLARE cur_dyn CURSOR FOR
SELECT * FROM dyn_view;
-- set eof flag
SET eof = TRUE;
CALL `dyn_lock`(`query`, 'dyn_view', `timeout`);
-- open cursor on view
OPEN cur_dyn;
-- now that we have the cursor, we can release lock
DO RELEASE_LOCK('dyn_view');
lp_dyn: LOOP
IF eof = TRUE THEN
LEAVE lp_dyn;
FETCH cur_dyn INTO val;
CLOSE cur_dyn;
SET x = val;
Just few notes before explaining this technique:
* The
lp_dyn loop, in the
PROCEDURE, is the part where we do something with the cursor we created. I could have leave out that part because it's not really part of the general solution, but I needed some code which demonstrates that my solution works. If you leave out that part, then you don't need the
OUT parameter and the
val local variable.
* The user should call
dyn_cursor(), not
dyn_lock(). The latter is called by the former. This will be explained later.
dyn_cursor() properly works if you pass a query which only produces 1 column. The last value returned by the query is assigned to the
OUT parameter.
SELECT the variable you pass, to check that your query works and the result set has been correctly read by the cursor.
* To test the procedure, you can
CALL something like these (call them from different connections to test concurrency):
CALL `dyn_cursor`('SELECT `ENGINE` FROM `information_schema`.`ENGINES`', NULL, @var1);
CALL `dyn_cursor`('SELECT 1 AS `uno` FROM `information_schema`.`TABLES`', NULL, @var2);
CALL `dyn_cursor`('SELECT -;', NULL, @var2);
The solution (Theory)
The technique is quite simple. Here's the work flow.
The dynamic query is received through the
IN parameter. This happens in my example – please, note that in real-world examples, you could compose that string in the same
PROCEDURE. Or it could be a
FUNCTION, instead of a
We need to acquire a lock, so we call
dyn_lock(). It is not the table-level lock you would acquire with a
LOCK TABLE statement, but another type of lock. It's more like a logical named lock entirely handled by four SQL functions (
IS_FREE_LOCK()). This kind of locks is interesting, because you may want to acquire locks that are not bound to a table, or you are using techniques that are affected by table locks in a strange way (transactions, triggers, etc). I will not fully explain the mechanism in this post, but here's what we do. We acquire a lock named
'dyn_view' using
GET_LOCK(). If that lock has been acquired by another connection, we wait for the number of seconds specified as
`timeout` parameter. If
`timeout` is
NULL, the default value we decide is 5 (please, use the value you think is most appropriate in your situation). We could define two default values, one in
dyn_cursor() and one in
dyn_lock(). Later, the reason for this will be clear.
If the lock can not be acquired,
dyn_lock() throws an error. The
SQLSTATE '45000' is the one suggested by the MySQL documentation for user errors. The message is not complete, because this is just an example. But it should contain the name of the Stored Routine that thrown it, if you want make debug easier.
dyn_lock() creates a view with the specified name. And then the execution exits from
dyn_lock(). Here we open the cursor (alas, this can't be done within
dyn_lock() because cursors exist at a Routine level), and we release the lock using
Let's talk about the view. Its AS clause is the statement passed through `query` parameter. So, doing a
SELECT * on that view is like directly running `query`. The performances are the same, or almost the same. The advantage is that
SELECT * FROM `dyn_view` can be hard-coded in a cursor definition (we did it in
dyn_cursor()), but
`query` is a string that can be generated dynamically.
Views can not be temporary in MariaDB/MySQL (they can in Postgres). This means that when you create/replace a view, other connections could use it. In our case, we must prevent a concurrency like this:
1) A creates
2) Just 0.0000001 seconds after, B replaces
3) A executes the query on
`dyn_view`, knowing not that it has been replaced.
To avoid this, we use the lock I described.
We want to release the lock as soon as possible, to increase performances. We can do this just after opening the cursor. It will work on a query, not on the view itself – so, we don't need it anymore, and can allow other connections to replace it. In fact, the view is always created (if it doesn't still exists) or replaced. It is never drop, to speed up things.
It is important that the view and the lock have the same name and are created within
dyn_lock(). This way,
dyn_lock() contains (part of) the generalized code. Not only
dyn_cursor(), but also other Stored Routines, can call
dyn_cursor() to get a lock and a view with a given name. If several Routines call
dyn_cursor() passing the the same name, they can't be executed at the same time. For the sake of brevity, I will not show here this case here, but it can be useful. If different Routines call
dyn_cursor() with different names, they can be executed at the same time. But still two connections can not execute the same Routine at the same time. However, it is important that Routines release the lock name they acquired as soon as possible (again, see
To Do (or not To Do)
GET_LOCKS() accepts a timeout in seconds, not microseconds. For short queries, you may want to specify a value like 0.5. Or 1.5. If this limitation is a problem for you, you may consider to re-implement
dyn_lock() and write an unlocking
PROCEDURE. You could acquire locks by inserting your
CONNECTION_ID() into a
MEMORY (but not temporary!) table, and release the lock by deleting that ID. To check if a lock has already been acquired by someone else, you could use a
SELECT ... FOR UPDATE. But there is a complication: a query could be
KILLed before it releases its lock. So, you also need to write in the table a
TIMESTAMP that indicates when the lock has been acquired. After a given timeout (which can be constant or variable), the lock expires.
If you re-implement the locking system, and you have a high concurrency, you may also consider to use more than one view. The
SELECTs on the view must be hard-coded, so the number of allowed views and their names must be hard-coded too. But you could allow 3 view called
dyn_view3, and create 3 locks with the same names in the
MEMORY table. But if you use the
GET_LOCK() and
RELEASE_LOCK() functions, you need to use only 1 lock, and thus only 1 view.
Please, note that re-implementing the locking system will improve concurrency and timeout granularity, but will add complexity, and thus should reduce the performances in an environment where concurrency is almost irrilevant.
For the sake of brevity, errors generated by the Dynamic SQL are not handled here. But you should handle them.
Limitations and Feature Requests for MariaDB
* WARNING: because of a bug, in MySQL you must avoid to pass negative numbers to
GET_LOCK() as timeout, because it is an endless timeout. In MariaDB, this only happens if you pass very low negative numbers (MDEV-4017).
* First of all: if MariaDB adds support for cursors on dynamic SQL statements, all this code will no longer be necessary.
* LIMITATION: This technique can not be used recursively – that is, the query you pass to
dyn_cursor() can not contain a call to
dyn_cursor(). This is because
dyn_lock() uses a Prepared Statement. MariaDB/MySQL's Prepared Statements exist at a connection-level, and are not recursive. I hope that this in the future we will have a way to implement this type of recursivity.
GET_LOCK() should accept a timeout argument with granularity in microseconds.
* Dynamic SQL could generate errors or warnings. In that case, it would be useful to get an error message specifying the name of the Prepared Statement and the Stored Routine that thrown it.
* If a Stored Routine could return a cursor or a result set, we could move the
OPEN and
DO RELEASE_LOCK() lines into
dyn_lock(). If we could do this, the code would be easier to maintain.
I use a lot of Stored Programs, and I am working (when I have the time to do it) on a couple of libraries I would like to release publicly. But there are strong limitations on what you can do with Routines, at the moment. I will write a post about what features I think that could make a developer's life easier. Maybe some of them seem useless, until one starts to use Routines in real life – then, you understand that they could help you writing better (mantainable, general, faster) code. And maybe some of them are not so difficult to implement… at least, I hope so.
See also:


text:
Discussion in 'UPS Discussions' started by susiedriver, Dec 20, 2005.
How do you feel about 'unregistered' posters?
You guys hash this one out and we'll go with whatever the majority decides. Thanks for coming up with the idea for this poll susie. The only thing that I may not be able to do is to show the ip's of unregistered posters. I checked the administrative settings for this board program and cannot find the option for only showing the ip of unregistered users, it may be that we can only show everyone's ip or no one's. I'll keep looking through the documentation and hacks info for another option...
Thanks Cheryl.
This poll is only open for 48 hours, btw.
I don't think the unregistered should be able to post.
I don't see any reason to ban anyone. And I don't understand why anyone would care if you're registered or not.
I always picture the unregistered as a sniper of sorts. The registered folks are the "out in the open" folks. No techno-babble here because I don't understand most of it. Ha Ha !
how about this option Cheryl,simply make it impossible to post unless you register...problem solved, like the chat room is now.
Can unregistered users vote in this poll? Won't that eventually skew the results?
That will be the result if the unregistered posters are voted out.
Unregistered users can no longer vote in polls. Thanks to you guys for pointing out that they were previously allowed to vote.
Just a comment, I hate to see unregistered posters go. At times they add some interesting and useful information and comments. Sure, there are some idiots that hide behind unregistered but there are also some that register. Remember the helper who was never a helper? There are many sites that I do not participate in since you must register. There are enough people who know my information and I limit myself on adding more.
Contemplate... do we throw out unregistered voters in the USA?
I think tomorrow's poll should be whether or not we should be required to wear brown underwear to be allowed to post!
Do whatever makes your life the simpliest. Gee, that would mean shutting down the Browncafe.
Best Holiday wishes Cheryl and you get my vote for Time's Person of the Year for putting up with all of us and the stupidity and chaos we create out of absolutely nothing.
this poll uses divide and conquer tactics so popular with today's politicians.
The original poster desires to ban unregistered posters and gives that as one option. but those who believe the unregistered should be allowed are given 2 choices to split them up and thin them out.
to be fair there should only be two choices to this yes or no question.
Should the unregistered poster be banned or allowed?
(1) banned
(2) allowed
I vote for (2) allowed
You are fairly anonymous even if you register, and actually, in the USA, you must register to make your voice heard at the ballot box.
roboto, the reason for the third choice, is by having IP addresses shown, you can differentiate between posters. Right now you can have a slew of 'unregistered' and it can become difficult to tell them apart. Also, there is the fact that management has posted from UPS IPs posing as hourly. It's not that hard to get a Yahoo e-mail and register.
Personally, the "ban" word seems to have suddenly become in vogue here.
I think the poll was set up unfortunately negatively sounding.
I agree with more and others that unregistereds tend to snipe.
I would make it a requirement to register to post.
Pure and simple.
This doesn't require a hardship for anyone that wants to add something here.
I'm a member of a lot of different message boards online, and all but this one require someone to be a registered member in order to post. I think if someone is able to post they should be able to identify themselves somehow to the members they are posting to. I voted to ban unregistered users.
I think it so interesting that OK, a self proclaimed multi poster under unregistered stating they ought to be banned. Now is that not the way it is, those guilty of something proclaiming those caught guilty be banned.
So which is it there shop steward? Ban yourself for being on the board as several unregistered, or is that for the others you dont like, or dont like the posts they make.
Funny, the poll says they ought to stay. Interesting also that the queen of deviant behavior, guilty of posting the IP information on someone she tries to destroy, wants all that information available to her to use for her agenda.
I think the ayes have it. Unless the owner of this site backtracks, they will stay. It should be up to her.
I assume that there are only two choices that count, ban (choice 1) or allow (choice 2 + 3).
[mouse]You are correct traveler[/mouse]
As of right now I can't find a setting or hack that will only show the ip for unregistered posters. Our community is a pretty resourceful group so perhaps someone else knows how and will help us out.
Does this help? I found it on another board.
Not tested, but should work:
edit newthread.php and newreply.php, find:
// check max images
before that add:
if ($ipaddress AND $postusername=='Unregistered')
(be careful about the caps of 'Unregistered'. Its caps should be exactly as your board uses the word)
That's it..
Separate names with a comma.


text:
Welcome to the Britannia Risks website. You should find it a simple site to navigate, with short clear messages, but if you find you need a bit more information, don't hesitate to contact us.
Our aim is to provide the highest standard of service which meets and exceeds our clients' requirements.
Britannia is an ISO certified company with a great deal of collective experience in the security and risk management sector. We aim to use that pool of experience to draw on the best practice available in managing risk, supplying escort vessels, and protecting oil & gas assets on land or at sea. We are used to working in challenging situations and dealing with risk in ever-changing environments around the world.
Britannia employ former British, European, and Nepalese Military Personnel chosen for their diligence, focus, and reliability. We are devoted to ensuring all personnel meet our clients' high standards through in-house training and competency assurance prior to being deployed overseas.
We invest in the expertise of our management team, chosen for their experience in the security industry, shipping, and business to protect those who work in the most difficult environments.


text:
Buyer Beware: A New Zealand Home Buyer's Guide
How to negotiate the minefield of buying a home in New Zealand today. Property prices going through the stratosphere, leaky buildings, P contamination, bullying body corporates - purchasing a house today can feel akin to entering a minefield. Written by a news journalist who has covered many of the horror stories, this book takes a no-holds-barred look at the challenges facing home buyers and offers savvy advice on how to navigate that minefield. It will appeal to all home buyers, from first-timers hoping for a small apartment to older people looking to downsize and everyone in between. With chapters on the search, mortgages and legal aspects, types of title, buying at auction, buying off plans, checks and warning signs, bodies corporate and the special problems to be found in Christchurch, there is plenty of information for everyone.
The following ISBNs are associated with this title:
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text:
Sweet Bacon and Pear Pizza Recipe 2010-10-05 08:35:55
Sweet Bacon and Pear Pizza
Sweet Bacon and Pear Pizza
- Nonstick cooking spray
5 slices bacon
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1 pear, cored and sliced
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 of an 8-oz. tub cream cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 12-inch Italian bread shell (Boboli) or other pizza dough of your liking
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil
Honey (optional)
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line bottom of rimmed baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Arrange bacon slices on pan; set aside. In small bowl stir together brown sugar and chili powder. Generously sprinkle brown sugar mixture on bacon slices. Bake for 15 minutes or until browned; remove and set aside.
- Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees F.
- In small bowl toss together pear slices and lemon juice; set aside.
- In medium bowl stir together cream cheese, onions, and black pepper to taste. Place pizza crust on clean baking sheet. Spread cream cheese mixture on crust.
- Chop bacon and evenly sprinkle on cheese mixture. Arrange pear slices on bacon. Top with pecans and feta cheese.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until cheese begins to brown. Sprinkle with basil and pass honey for drizzling.
Serves 4-6.
- Category
- Main Dishes, Pizza
- Cuisine
- North American


text: Thousands of people watched a rehearsal of a dramatic fireworks display [Reuters] Jacques Rogge, the International Olympics president, has predicted that the "magic of the games" will overshadow the lingering worries over media freedom, human rights, pollution and politics when the Olympic Games get under way.Rogge's remarks on Saturday came as Beijing held a dress rehearsal for Friday's opening ceremony, which will take place at the Bird's Nest National Stadium. The IOC has come under fire for failing to get China to live up to promises to improve its human rights record, clean up Beijing's pollution problems and provide unfettered internet access to the media. But Rogge compared the situation to the Athens Olympics four years ago, when there were last-minute concerns over whether the venues would be ready on time. "It's a totally different ball game," he said at a news conference. "Today we have absolutely no concerns about the organisation. No regrets. Come the 9th of August [the opening day of competition], the magic of the games and the flawless organisation will take over."Internet accessHowever, Rogge refused to commit to pressing Beijing officials to allow international media full access to the internet as many sites remained blocked to journalists."I'm not going to make an apology for something which the IOC is not responsible for. We are not running the internet in China, it's the Chinese authorities that are running the internet. Let me be very clear, the IOC is in favour of the broadest availability of internet for you, the media people, that is the bottom line," he said. "Secondly, there has been no deal whatsoever at any time between the IOC leadership at different levels and the organisers to say 'we agree with your procedure and we agree with your pattern'," he said.However, the IOC president said that athletes would be free to express their opinions on China's policies, human rights, Tibet or any other issues, as long as they do so away from the Olympic village."If we allow political propaganda, it's the end of the harmony of the Olympic village, and the end of the harmony of the games," Rogge said.Rogge also dismissed suggestions that many athletes will miss Friday's opening ceremony because they are staying away from Beijing until the last moment to avoid the air pollution. He said he expects 7,000 to 9,000 athletes to march in the ceremony.Dramatic fireworksThousands of people from across the country gathered for the rehearsal of the opening ceremony and the huge fireworks display at the nearby Tiananmen Square.Crowds gasped and cheered at a three minute display that featured perfectly circular explosions in the colours of the five Olympic rings, as well as dramatic fountains of multicoloured fire. "The bus I took was very crowded. Many people come here to watch the fireworks. We are so excited. I came a long way here and maybe I can only watch the fireworks for just a couple of minutes. But I still feel it worthwhile and I am very happy," 65-year-old Ms Wang said.About 10,000 performers will take part in the three-hour opening ceremony and which could reach a global audience of more than four billion people. Chinese workers involved in the Olympic project and some of their families and friends were given tickets for the rehearsal, filling the 90,000-seat national stadium to near capacity.Outside the stadium, many more people took up positions where they could get a glimpse the practice, or the second fireworks display of the day."The Olympics is a once-in-a-life-time event. I think I will remember it for my whole life," Mr Chen said as he watched the display. SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies Asia Pacific China


text:
A to Z: Practical Guide to Pray for Your Community (Worthy, November 2016)
Change the world one prayer at a time.
How would our community change if instead of absently saying, "I'll pray for you," we actually did pray–deeply, intensely, and purposefully?
Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Praying for Your Community will help you topically organize your prayer requests and lay the burdens of your community at the feet of our Heavenly Father.
With compassion and encouragement, Amelia Rhodes offers Bible verses and prayer prompts, organized topically for every letter of the alphabet. There are five topics per letter–three prayers of petition asking God to work in a certain area of need, and two more prayers of praise to reflect gratitude for God's presence in the daily issues and relationships of life. Through petition and praise, your specific, focused communion with God will lighten your heart as you place the heaviness of those prayer requests where they belong–on His strong shoulders.
Whether you are praying for a friend's adoption journey, a neighbor's bankruptcy, or a family member's cancer, this book will give you Bible verses, prayer prompts, and prayer starts to guide you through praying for even the most difficult issues that affect the people you know and love. Perfect for either individual or group prayer, Pray A to Z will help you experience the peace that comes from communicating with God.
This book is a great resource for prayer. I love that Amelia covers so many various topics in this books in ways that are unique and creative. Sometimes it's hard to know what to pray or what to say…this simple guide will help you take your prayers and make them more specific, plus allow you the resource you need to truly transform your prayer time. If you are looking for a fun, creative source for making over your prayer life…look no further. Get your copy now!
grand prize winner will receive:
✔ A copy of Pray A to Z
✔ A set of Pray A to Z prayer cards
✔ A custom wood sign made by Amelia's friend
✔ A prayer journal
Enter today by clicking the icon above, but hurry! The giveaway ends on December 20. The winner will be announced December 21 on Amelia's blog.
Amelia Rhodes is a speaker and author of "Isn't It Time for a Coffee Break: Doing Life Together in an All-About-Me Kind of World." Amelia's writing has also been featured in four "Chicken Soup for the Soul" titles, devotionals for the OneHope blog Undeterred and the international devotional "Upper Room." Amelia has a growing speaking ministry and speaks regularly to women's groups on topics of spiritual growth, friendship, and community, offering practical tools for living our faith in the everyday. She lives in Lowell, Michigan.