text:
« November 2003 |
| January 2004 »
Worrying about the intelligence of the so-called intelligence community... 2003
Okay, so the FBI has warned us to be on the lookout for suspicious people carrying almanacs.
"The practice of researching potential targets is consistent with known methods of al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations that seek to maximize the likelihood of operational success through careful planning," the FBI wrote.
Y'know, a careful planner who likes to maximize his likelihood of operational success seems like the kinda guy who might just figure out what he was going to blow up before leaving the house instead of wandering around downtown with a big fat frickin' reference book.
But don't you feel safer knowing that the FBI will be dicking around hassling tourists, students and trivia buffs?
(Then again, all this snarkiness should really be directed at the news media who decided to run this story as "everybody look out for strange people with almanacs & report them to the Feds!" instead of "FBI Advises Law Officials To Make Note Of Suspiciously Annotated Reference Material Found In Searches").
Posted on December 29, 2003 at 05:17 PM in privacy | Permalink | Comments (2)
Are they or aren't they? 2003
As many who know me could attest, I have a soft spot for guys who like guys. I think it's sweet & sexy. Little surprise, I suppose, that I have lots of gay friends and decided to live in the Castro. It's not just that I am not homophobic; I'm positively homophilic. So, with, as Sir Ian McKellen puts it, the "gaggle of beauties" in the cast of the Lord of the Rings films plus all the deep affection between both the characters and the actors, it's not news that I as much as anyone else thought:
"Frodo and Sam have got to be a couple. What other interpretation could there be? Maybe they haven't done anything about this smoldering romantic passion, but, jeez, there's no denying the devotion between them."
And that remained my interpretation after seeing the first two films and rereading the first two books. But now that I've seen and reread Return of the King, I've changed my mind. Certainly, it's possible to imagine a romantic relationship between these characters - lines like Sam's (from the book) "I love him, whether or no" don't make it much of a stretch - but now I do not feel that is the relationship which Tolkien wrote or the filmmakers intended or the actors portrayed. And, most importantly, this lack of sexual attraction doesn't make the relationship any less significant.
To their credit, all of these storytellers (intentionally or otherwise) have left room for interpretation and personal reaction, but I believe that the relationship between Frodo and Sam which they describe is one for which we do not have a contemporary model. I've read of Sam as Frodo's "batman"; of their relationship as that between a WW1 officer and the enlisted man who acts as a servant to look after his belongings and take care of him. Oddly enough, that relationship, though it was known less than 100 years ago, is not as familiar and understandable to us today as that of a knight and his esquire.
What is essential to understanding their relationship is the context of a society divided by class; Frodo and Sam are unequal. They are master and servant, well-connected gentlehobbit and working-class gardener. It is Sam's duty, his role, to support Frodo in whatever way he can. Sam is not expected to understand Frodo or the great matters in which he has become involved. Today we would see that as unfair to Sam, as subjugation. "Don't worry yourself with matters above your station" is not an approach which we in the 21st-century West consider good or just. We want Sam to be recognized - by himself perhaps more than by anyone else - as Frodo's equal. But with them as equals, we have no model for Sam's unstoppable, selfless devotion other than romantic love.
Think about that for a moment. Our culture doesn't have a model for that kind of love. It's like not having a word for some concept in your language. What does it do to us not to be able to express an idea? Or imagine such a relationship? Perhaps our problem is that we use the same word, "love", to describe many forms of affection, quite a few of which are completely non-sexual.
I am interested to see how these characters will be interpreted in the future as Tolkien's intent, the model for the relationship, and widespread experience of friendly but class-divided relationships fades. Will the devoted same-sex friendships of Lord of the Rings create a new model for loving, non-sexual relationships? Will Frodo and Sam be claimed as role models for gays and bisexuals? Or will the current rifts remain? Will homosexuality remain something that the characters are "accused of"?
This topic all came to mind when I was rereading Return of the King and got to this bit near the very end:
When all was at last ready Frodo said: 'When are you going to move in and join me, Sam?'
Sam looked a bit awkward.
'There is no need to come yet, if you don't want to,' said Frodo. 'But you know the Gaffer is close at hand, and he will be very well looked after by Widow Rumble.'
'It's not that, Mr. Frodo,' said Sam, and he went very red.
'Well, what is it?'
'It's Rosie, Rose Cotton,' said Sam. 'It seems she didn't like my going abroad at all, poor lass; but as I hadn't spoken, she couldn't say so. And I didn't speak, because I had a job to do first. But now I have spoken, and she says: "Well, you've wasted a year, so why wait longer?" "Wasted?" I says. "I wouldn't call it that." Still see what she means. I feel torn in two, as you might say.'
'I see,' said Frodo: 'you want to get married, and yet you want to live with me in Bag End too? But my dear Sam, how easy! Get married as soon as you can, and then move in with Rosie. There's room enough in Bag End for as big a family as you could wish for.'
That passage reminded me of a similar one in the last Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, "Thrones, Dominations", in which two characters with a very similar relationship, Lord Peter and his manservant, Bunter, are deeply depressed by the prospect of having to part ways when Bunter marries. What I had forgotten until just now when I went to see if I could find the passage quoted on the Web is that it was not written by Dorothy Sayers half a century ago, but was Jill Paton's relatively recent completion of Sayers' final unfinished work. Perhaps Sayers included the conflict and its pleasing solution in her notes, but it is equally possible that it is the invention of a mind of the latter half of the 20th century, perhaps even one which had been exposed to Sam's dilemma.
Notes & additional reading:
1 - Nancy Marie Ott's "JRR Tolkien and World War I"
2 - Web Behrens' "The queerness of Hobbits"
3 - r. savage on "Forms of Love" and the tower of Cirith Ungol sequence
Posted on December 28, 2003 at 09:22 PM in sex | Permalink | Comments (11)
Let's not mince words 2003
"War is a sign of failure. A putative war leader is someone who has failed. Failed at diplomacy, failed at compromise, failed to make his point, failed to persuade. Failed."
- Sir Ian McKellen circa February 2003 (cited in a nice little interview in the Independent)
Posted on December 23, 2003 at 08:03 PM in quotes | Permalink | Comments (7)
Known Spammer IP Addresses 2003
Since I've been getting so much comment spam lately, I thought it would be useful to provide the list of IP addresses which I have banned from commenting on my site. If your software allows you to ban them as well, I encourage you to do so:
188.8.131.52 comment spam 2003.12.23
22.214.171.124 Comment spam 2003.12.23
22.214.171.124 comment spam 2003.12.23
18.104.22.168 comment spam 2003.12.23
220.127.116.11 comment spam 2003.12.22
22.214.171.124 comment spam 2003.12.20
126.96.36.199 comment spam 2003.12.19
184.108.40.206 comment spammer 2003.12.17
220.127.116.11 comment spam 2003.12.15
188.8.131.52 comment spammer 2003.12.10
126.96.36.199 comment spammer 2003.12.06
184.108.40.206 comment spammer 2003.12.05
18.104.22.168 comment spam 2003.11.30
184.108.40.206 comment spam 2003.11.16
18.104.22.168 comment spam 2003.11.13
126.96.36.199 comment spammer 2003.11.12
22.214.171.124 comment spam 2003.11.07
220.127.116.11 Suspected comment spammer. Just didn't sound real or useful. 2003.11.07
220.127.116.11 Comment spam 2003.11.06
188.8.131.52 comment spam 2003.11.01
22.214.171.124 comment spammer 2003.10.03
18.104.22.168 spam comment 2003.09.28
18.104.22.168 blogspammer 2003.08.20
And I'm pretty sure these guys were comment spammers too, I just noted the post date rather than the reason for the ban. I don't recall ever banning anyone for any other reason, so you should be safe locking the door against them as well:
126.96.36.199 2003.04.07 2003.08.09
188.8.131.52 2003.02.16 2003.08.09
188.8.131.52 2003.02.09 2003.08.09
126.96.36.199 2002.11.07 2003.08.09
188.8.131.52 2002.05.31 2003.08.09
220.127.116.11 2003.07.05 2003.08.09
126.96.36.199 2003.05.17 2003.08.09
Posted on December 23, 2003 at 10:17 AM in warnings & kvetches | Permalink | Comments (1)
No juice. 2003
Boy oh boy do I like electricity. Being without it for 29 hours this past weekend was very irritating. When I left home this morning we still had no internet connectivity, but at least we have power & heat again.
On the bright side, my fussiness over my cooking setup worked to our benefit since the gas stove allowed us to have a hot meal. Also the gas water heater provided hot water. I should mention as well my continued and usually unstated appreciation of clean water piped into my home and sewage piped away. Our weekend was definitely and annoyingly disrupted, but it could have been worse.
Posted on December 22, 2003 at 11:49 AM in tools | Permalink | Comments (1)
Posted on December 19, 2003 at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
The Day Is Finally Here 2003
I've been waiting for this day for 3 years or so. Today I get to see Peter Jackson's Return of the King. I know it will be the best of the trilogy. I know my expectations are very high. I know I won't be disappointed.
And I know I'm going to like the extended version even better - just one more year to wait for it!
It's 11am. I got up around 9:30 - hooray for a vacation day and making up for lost sleep - and I have a few hours to spend before the film. Gonna go buy some new eyeglasses. Maybe do a little holiday shopping.
Is it 3pm yet? No? How about now?
Posted on December 17, 2003 at 11:00 AM in Film | Permalink | Comments (2)
Boozy Goodness 2003
I forgot to mention last week when it came out that I have another piece in the Bay Guardian. This one is about my friendly neighborhood wine shop.
(Note to editrix: A, I have the next column written, I'm just letting it breathe before I give it a bit more polish. Should have it to you tonight. -D)
For archive purposes here is that column from December 10, 2003:
Drink and be merry
Indie wine store Friendly Spirits has something for everybody.
By Metagrrrl
IF YOU'RE LOOKING for a festive bottle of wine for one of the many holiday parties you'll attend in coming weeks, I recommend you visit the lovely corner wine shop Friendly Spirits (572 Castro, S.F. 415-864-2262). The bustling store is a shining example of how to do small business right, and I consider myself blessed to live just a few blocks away from its great selection and excellent service. The store is stocked with interesting goods, infused with personality, and staffed by warm, intelligent people.
In their eight years running the business, owners Ken McDonald and David Jessup have mastered the delicate art of balancing high quality and good prices. You may not find a bottle of Two Buck Chuck here, but Trader Joe's isn't going to offer a "take care of half your holiday shopping in one 'swell foop' " deal like the one Friendly Spirits has going from now until Dec. 15. If you buy any 12 bottles, including champagne and liquor, you get 20 percent off the lot. And this isn't just any random assortment of boozy beverages: the choices are great. It's this combination of quality and low-key neighborliness that really makes the store shine.
I spoke to McDonald about the challenges of selling wine and spirits. It's one of the most heavily regulated forms of retail, so if the thought of licensing, Health Department regulations, and alcohol sales laws gives you the heebie-jeebies, this is not the business for you. It's also an entrepreneurial venture that sometimes leads to unwelcome surprises. Recently, as part of the push for safe festivities in the Castro, Friendly Spirits and other liquor stores in the area were asked to close on Halloween night, normally one of their busiest nights of the year.
McDonald told me that holiday ups and downs are always a big challenge: the wine shop also has to be "on the pulse of the seasons" and follow food trends as well. Wine is closely tied to gastronomy, and they don't call those little drinks aperitifs for no reason. Fortunately, the Friendly Spirits folks have what it takes. As with any good small business, the true value of the store lies not only in the merchandise but also in the knowledge of the people behind the counter. Have a question about wine decanters? Ask Jessup. Want to explore Australian wines? Stop by some night and let Mark pick out a bottle for you. Hoping to learn more about the difference between merlot and zinfandel? Sign up for one of McDonald's classes. Through skill, hard work, and a great attitude, Friendly Spirits truly lives up to its mission statement: "Provide the best quality product at the best possible price and sell it in the best possible way." So stop by to learn from its example, and while you're there, pick up a bottle or two. If you're going to go into retail, trust me, you'll need a stiff drink. Friendly Spirits is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and also sells online at www.friendlyspirits.com.
Posted on December 15, 2003 at 01:00 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink | Comments (0)
Less Shush, More Lush 2003
[A wonderful shirt design which was put forward by some fine librarian folks who then got too busy to keep making them. Alas! is2.dal.ca/~mdelia/tees/shush.html. Shared on Flickr on this February 26, 2004.]
Posted on December 14, 2003 at 09:15 PM in librarianship | Permalink | Comments (0)
Happy to be your info bitch. 2003
[A wonderful shirt design which was put forward by some fine librarian folks who then got too busy to keep making them. Alas! is2.dal.ca/~mdelia/tees/shush.html. Shared on Flickr on February 26, 2004.]
Posted on December 14, 2003 at 09:15 PM in librarianship | Permalink | Comments (0)
Good Cat Seeks Home 2003
For the second year in a row I am assisting with finding a home for a sweet little black cat. This one is a 6-year-old male, but unlike Oban last year is not named after a single-malt scotch. He currently goes by Licorice, but I'm sure, being a cat, wouldn't mind if you wanted to rename him Laphroaig.
He's short-haired, very loving, but somewhat shy right now. The only home he's ever had was with my aunt's mother, who had to move into an assisted living facility, and he couldn't go with her. He likes to be brushed and purrs a lot.
He's boarding at the Feline Bed & Breakfast in El Cerrito (near the Target store), and my aunt could arrange to meet anyone who would like to consider giving him a home.
Please drop me a note or leave a comment if you're in the San Francisco bay area and interested in giving him a home.
A little more about him from my aunt:
Licorice would love to be an indoor/outdoor cat, I think. The place where my Mother lived before the rest home didn't allow outdoor cats, so he was indoor - but he got out occasionally. He would wander around the golf course, probably using the sand traps for purposes the maintenance crews didn't appreciate, and then return home when he got hungry.
He lived with another black cat, Tiger, and they got along quite well - sleeping cuddled up together, sitting in the window together, etc. Tiger, though, made his escape during the moving process and hasn't been seen since. He's somewhere in Albany, and I hope some kind soul took him in.
I go to see him every week, and take a brush with me. He purrs and rubs his head on my leg while I brush him. Then I leave him in his little room, and he looks so sad....
Posted on December 14, 2003 at 09:05 PM in friends & family | Permalink | Comments (1)
Catching Up, Sort Of 2003
I just deleted about 250 email messages from my inbox which I have read and don't need to keep or do anything with.
That brings me down to 977. *sigh*
Posted on December 14, 2003 at 06:56 PM in mundania | Permalink | Comments (0)
Rotten Apple 2003
Apple makes really swell hardware, but sometimes their software really pisses me off. I was just removing one of the Mail accounts (in Eudora speak, a "persona") which I had used to grab mail off my server without going through Knowspam (and more about my Knowspam experiment later). I didn't read the warning message carefully enough and failed to notice that deleting the instructions for downloading from an account will also delete all the messages in your inbox which came to you through using those instructions.
There does not appear to be any way to undo this mistake.
Apple's Mail program doesn't move the mailbox it deleted into the trash; it's apparently just gone. One not too obvious warning that this doesn't work like other mail programs you may have used in the past and then "Sorry, Charlie. You lose."
Bad user experience.
(By the way, if you've sent me email since November 30th and want me to respond to it/have it to keep, please send me a new copy. Thanks.)
(p.s. Yes, I'm switching to Eudora)
Posted on December 13, 2003 at 12:04 PM in tools | Permalink | Comments (5)
A Great Try 2003
I'm sorry Matt isn't mayor. Very sorry, but not disheartened. Not at all. One quarter of this fair city came out to support Gonzalez's vision of a progressive, inclusive, creative, vital and compassionate community. Just because he isn't our mayor (yet!) doesn't mean we can't work towards that vision.
We have his clear statements of specific actions to take to make this city a better place. Let's act on them. Let's do what we can in our neighborhoods to effect the kind of change we want. We don't need the mayor's office to tell us what San Francisco needs. We know.
Posted on December 9, 2003 at 10:09 PM in politics & philosophy | Permalink | Comments (1)
How the vote tilts 2003
I'm supporting Matt Gonzalez for mayor of San Francisco. Mostly because I agree with his politics in general, but also because I believe that real positive change takes time and Matt will stick around long enough to make it happen. I do not think Gavin Newsom would be satisfied with his career if he were still mayor of San Francisco in 12 years. I think Matt loves this city deeply and will continue to work to make it the kind of place I want to live for many years to come whether he wins the election or not.
But in the runoff for District Attorney, I was much less committed to a particular candidate. I didn't know much about Terence Hallinan other than that those who lived here longer than I seemed to have strong opinions both pro & con. I met Kamala Harris very briefly while volunteering at the Castro Street Fair and thought she seemed nice and committed to communicating with the electorate (and she accepted a Dean for President sticker from me). I voted for her in the election. Since then, I noticed that Gonzalez is endorsing Hallinan and that Harris has endorsements from Willie Brown and Dianne Feinstein. Hmm, not looking so attractive now. This morning I was thinking of maybe voting for Hallinan in the runoff, but was still undecided.
Tonight I have been bothered with two pre-recorded calls endorsing Harris. Plus we got another piece of mail from her campaign.
I don't recall getting a single piece of mail from Hallinan and his campaign certainly hasn't called.
At this point, I've changed my vote. Anyone want to try to swing me back to Harris?
Posted on December 6, 2003 at 05:47 PM in politics & philosophy | Permalink | Comments (3)
Chronological Clarity 2003
I've just added an extra indicator of the year of each post to make things clearer in my category archives. Now that this weblog is over 5 years old and I'm backfilling posts about the rest of my life, I think it's helpful to have a little more context as you start to read a post. (This idea came to me when I was reading one entry and thinking "Boy, I hope they realize I wrote this over 20 years ago...")
Posted on December 6, 2003 at 03:37 PM in Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Busy can be wonderful 2003
It's been a busy week, but a very good one. I had my review at work and it was mixed. I've definitely made significant mistakes in my first 16 months at this job, but I've also had great successes and my average work is good. It was a tough review because I really had to face some deep-seated bad habits. This time, with the support of my boss, my sweetheart, my family and friends, and some reserve of strength I found in myself, I've finally turned a corner. I recognized that I have been taking the lazy, painful way out by kicking myself and feeling shitty when I blow it, but not doing the much harder thing of actually changing my behavior. This time I decided to change. I didn't decide to try to change; I just did it. It feels really great. I am much less stressed, more productive and happier.
I just watched the special features about the Weta Workshop design team and the stunt team for Lord of the Rings on the extended edition DVD of The Two Towers (which finally came today) and I am so inspired and grateful and proud. These films make me proud to be human. We are wonderful creatures. To create something so amazing, so rich and deep and powerful, is the best thing in the world. It's the same feeling I get from seeing Cirque du Soleil or hearing incredible musicians. This is us at our best. And it doesn't have anything to do with race or creed or gender or nationality. The best happens when we set those things aside to make something together.
Yeah, of course I think "gee, if only I'd stayed a theater arts major, I might have ended up working on the costume team for these films". Sure I want to make magic. But then again, I make the gateway to magic. Librarians link people to ideas, to stories, to the tools that enable people to create. Making software for libraries isn't so very far away from other kinds of creativity.
And I never have to wear prosthetic makeup, work in the middle of the night for 3 months straight, and fall off 30 foot walls. There are some compensations for taking the tamer path.
Posted on December 3, 2003 at 10:23 PM in work | Permalink | Comments (0)
On the tip of my tongue 2003
I don't remember enough of this quote to find it via Google apparently, so I'll try the more quirky power of human memory. I think it was from an interview with a comic book writer, Grant Morrison or Neil Gaiman or Alan Moore, and it was something about how it was no surprise that superheroes were always beating each other up what with those tight spandex outfits, incredible bodies and never getting any sex.
It was funny when he said it.
Posted on December 2, 2003 at 08:29 PM in quotes | Permalink | Comments (1)
World AIDS Day 2003
"According to UNAIDS estimates there were 38.6 million adults and 3.2 million children living with HIV at the end of 2002, and during the year 5 million new people became infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35. 95% of the total number of people with HIV live in the developing world. But HIV still remains a threat to people of all ages and nationalities." Avert.orgUse a condom
Posted on December 1, 2003 at 10:17 AM in health | Permalink | Comments (0)


text:
The Queen's Young Leaders Awards recognise and celebrate exceptional young people aged 18 to 29 in the Commonwealth who are driving change within their communities and transforming people's lives. Now in its third and penultimate year, the 60 young people announced today become part of the growing Queen's Young Leaders community, a unique network of influential young change-makers who are coming together and being supported to become an even greater force for good. They will receive their Award from Her Majesty The Queen at a ceremony in London next year.
This year, Award winners are leading projects tackling global issues including education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality. Twenty-six-year-old Aditi Lachman from Johannesburg has been acknowledged for working to encourage more women to take up careers in engineering, and Farai Mubaiwa, a 21 year old also from Johannesburg is being celebrated for her work to empower young people in Africa. Chantelle De Abreu, 28 years old from Cape Town has been chosen in recognition of her dedication to providing education and mental well-being services to marginalised young people who are currently pursuing a career in sports.
Chantelle De Abreu said, "I believe this Award will help me become an effective leader within my organisation as well as the community that I work in. It will provide a unique opportunity to platform Educating Athletes and help generate wider support."
The Queen's Young Leaders Programme was established in 2014 by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with Comic Relief, The Royal Commonwealth Society and the University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education, in recognition of The Queen's lifetime of service to the Commonwealth. Each year for four years, 60 Queen's Young Leaders receive bespoke training, mentoring and networking opportunities, and take part in a week-long residential programme in London, to empower them to build on the work they are leading in their communities which is changing the lives of others for the better.
Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said:
"We are delighted that these incredible young people have been selected as Queen's Young Leaders, and wish our warmest congratulations to each and every one of them. The Queen's Young Leaders Award is designed to inspire and nurture the talent of exceptional young people from all over the Commonwealth, so that they can create and lead others towards securing positive changes in communities. The work being undertaken by the latest cohort of Queen's Young Leaders is addressing some of the most crucial issues facing the Commonwealth today. We cannot wait to see how their impressive endeavours grow and develop over the course of the year to come and beyond."
To see a full list of Award winners and Highly Commended runners up, and read more about their stories please visit www.queensyoungleaders.com.
For more information contact:
Notes to editors
Queen's Young Leaders on social media
Twitter: @queensleaders
Instagram: @queensyoungleaders
Facebook: facebook.com/queensyoungleaders
Hashtag: #QueensYoungLeaders
The Queen's Young Leaders Programme
The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief, The Royal Commonwealth Society and the University of Cambridge's Institute for Continuing Education, established The Queen's Young Leaders Programme in honour of Her Majesty The Queen's 60 years of service to the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee. Guided by the values of the Commonwealth Charter, the goal of the Programme is to enable young people to step up as leaders and improve the lives of people across the Commonwealth.
Award details
Each year from 2014 to 2018, 60 exceptional young people will be selected to receive a Queen's Young Leaders Award and become 'Queen's Young Leaders' – one for every year that The Queen had served as Head of the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee. This year's Award winners are aged between 18 and 29 and are working to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of different issues including education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality.
As part of the Award, winners will receive bespoke mentoring and online learning provided by the University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education. Award winners will attend a week-long residential programme in the UK in June, when they will receive their Award at Buckingham Palace from Her Majesty The Queen.
Criteria to win an award:
Nominees will have proven experience of working to improve their communities locally, regionally or at a national level and will show evidence of their achievements
Nominees will be aged between 18 and 29 for the year of the Award and be citizens of a Commonwealth country
Nominees will demonstrate evidence of their leadership qualities
Priority will be given to individuals who have overcome challenges to achieve their goals
All nominees will need to be supported by a suitable referee
The Partners
The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust
The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust is a charitable foundation, established in 2012, to mark and celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's 60-year contribution to the Commonwealth. The Trust has received donations from governments, corporate partners, trusts, foundations, community groups and individuals from across the Commonwealth, and its programmes work in alliance towards eliminating avoidable blindness and to empower a new generation of young leaders. With a five-year timeframe in which to deliver successful programmes, the Trust's aim is to leave a lasting legacy, owned by the whole Commonwealth, to honour Her Majesty The Queen. For more information go to: www.jubileetribute.org
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is a UK charity which aims to create a just world, free from poverty – where everyone is safe, healthy, educated and empowered. Since 1985, Comic Relief has raised over £1 billion. That money has helped, and is helping, people living incredibly tough lives, both at home in the UK and across the world.
For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com
Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland)
Royal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), founded in 1868, is a network of individuals and organisations committed to improving the lives and prospects of Commonwealth citizens across the world. Working through a range of educational, civil society, business and governmental networks, the RCS addresses issues that matter to the Commonwealth citizens. For more information go to:www.thercs.org
The University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
ICE was founded in 1873 and offers a wide range of part-time and short courses for adults, covering topics from the arts and humanities to the sciences and professional qualifications. Based at Madingley Hall in Cambridge, ICE welcomes thousands of students each year to its popular short courses, part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and growing number of online courses.
Article Courtesy: SA Good News

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Serve at UBC
We're so glad you are interested in volunteering at UBC! Serving is a great way to get connected, meet others and most importantly, serve God. We have many ways for you to get involved and we're excited for you to join our team!
God gives all of us different gifts and passions with some wishing to serve inside the church, others wishing to be more in the community, and still others with a vision for the world. Whatever your heart is, we have a place for you at UBC. If you see a ministry or open position that you would be perfect for, just e-mail us about your interest and we'll get you connected.


text:
Juan Martinez strolls through the parking lot at the Carlingford Apartments, a sprawling complex in southwest Houston, carrying a plastic sack filled with Miller High Life cans.
Martinez, a recent Houston transplant, is returning from his job at a nearby carpet and flooring company where he makes $6.65 an hour. He's happy to be in Houston, but he's a little irritated at the large number of illegal immigrants — Nicaraguans, Salvadorans and Mexicans — in the area. He thinks they are driving down his wages.
"It makes it difficult for us," Martinez says, "because we are here legally."
Cuban immigrants
And unlike many of the Cubans who enter the country by crossing the Texas border, Martinez actually left Cuba legally. He was granted a U.S. visa through a system that Cubans refer to as "el bombo," or the lottery, which has provided tens of thousands of visas to randomly selected Cubans since 1994.
Martinez opted for Houston over Miami because job prospects seemed better and the cost of living was lower. According to workers at local resettlement agencies, Martinez isn't alone. Houston is increasingly becoming a popular destination for those Cubans lucky enough to win the lottery.
Cubans who receive a visa are flown to Miami courtesy of the U.S. State Department. At the airport, they are connected with different refugee resettlement organizations, including Catholic Charities and Interfaith Ministries.
Both agencies provide rent assistance, help with Medicaid and Social Security processing, job training, legal counseling, medical examinations and a transportation service.
In Houston, the agencies also help Cubans find an apartment, usually at one of several complexes on South Gessner Road, including the Carlingford and Boca Springs. The apartments are often meagerly furnished with items donated or left over from previous residents.
At Boca Springs, the Bilingual Education Institute teaches English classes three nights a week in an unoccupied apartment outfitted with a chalkboard and plastic folding chairs placed around wooden tables.
"Our main goal is employment," says Agustín Socorro, the Cuban program coordinator at Interfaith Ministries. "Our Cuban population is easier to settle...with our Spanish-speaking population, it's easier to find employment. All the Cubans I have are working."
Socorro himself won the lottery in Cuba and acquired a U.S. visa in 1995. He was not able to leave the country, however, until eight years later, when he could afford to pay processing fees to the Cuban government.
Marcos Fernandez, director of the Cuban resettlement program at the Houston office of Catholic Charities, says that his agency provides service to about 200 Cuban families a year.
Most Cubans are able to find work in Houston, Fernandez says, through a friend or a relative. If they seek vocational help through Catholic Charities, most Cuban men are trained and hired as truck drivers, with women being placed as nursing assistants.
Cubans can also leave the island by being sent on "missions" to countries where Cuba maintains diplomatic relations. The Cubans are under obligation to return to the country when their mission is over, but they often escape to the United States.
Cuban doctors are a prime example. The Cuban government sends a large number of its doctors to Venezuela on one-year missions, in an attempt to strengthen ties with Hugo Chavez's fledgling socialist revolution. According to Socorro, Cuban doctors are currently arriving in Miami at a rate of three per day.
One of them is Alexy Sebasco, a Cuban doctor who chose Houston for his resettlement.
"We were supposed to be ambassadors for the Revolution," says Sebasco, a handsome 33-year-old who arrived in Houston in May. "I went to the rallies and chanted 'Viva Fidel.' I was hoping that someone powerful would see my face and give me a visa to leave."
Cuban authorities sent Sebasco to a poor neighborhood in Venezuela, where he immediately started looking for a way out. He found an underground network of Venezuelans who help Cubans leave the country. It was a risky venture, he says, because Venezuelan police officers are paid $1,000 for each Cuban doctor they capture trying to escape.
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When Sebasco arrived in Miami, caseworkers showed him a map of the United States and told him that if he wanted to leave Miami, he could choose Kentucky, Las Vegas or Houston.
"When I said I was a doctor, they suggested I go to Houston," Sebasco says.
Now, Sebasco says it's all he can do to fight off the boredom of part-time work in a hotel and life in a nondescript apartment complex on South Gessner, which is provided by Interfaith Ministries. He's applied for jobs at local hospitals, but Sebasco knows that he won't get hired until he learns English.
"I want to get back to a hospital. I'll clean the floors to start out. I don't care. I just want to get back to my work as a doctor."


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Analysis of temporal behavior of climate variables using artificial neural networks: an application to mean monthly maximum temperatures on the Spanish Central Plateau
A forecasting model for the mean monthly maximum temperatures (TMaxMean) using an artificial neuronal network (ANN) of the multilayer perceptron type (Multilayer Perceptron, MLP) has been developed. This model forecast the TMaxMean variable one month ahead after the last data point of the climate series. The study area considered is the central plateau of the Iberian Peninsula (Castilla y León and Castilla la Mancha). The data series of mean monthly maximum temperature (TMaxMean) were obtained of the observations at the stations of the synoptic and climatological network of the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET). The data set is divided into two samples of training and testing. The training data set is used for the model development and the test set is used to evaluate the established model. The parameters of the ANN are fitted experimentally. A supervised training of the MLP ANN is performed. We used a backpropagation (BP) training algorithm with a variable learning rate. After that we evaluated the forecasting skills of the model from the coefficient of determination (R2), the mean square root error (MSE) and the dispersion and sequence graphics of the real and simulated series. The results obtained with the model (indicates a good fit between the real and simulated series) are compared with those obtained with ARIMA models. The results are similar, while the model ANN is able to adjust the extreme values of the real series and certain anomalies, which is not the case with ARIMA models.
Prognostic models, maximum temperature, neural networks; multilayer perceptron; backpropagation


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Summer is house guest season if you live in a coastal gem of a city like Vancouver, BC! These tips on how to enjoy your guests when you'd rather book them into in a hotel are from me. An introvert who hates making small talk when she wakes up and loves her daily routine.
And I'm not alone…
"I try and put this whole houseguest thing in perspective," writes Mary on 6 Ways to Stop Stress Eating Late at Night. "After all, it's good for my kids to get to know their extended family. And I benefit from having houseguests because they do make my house look good. Not because they come wearing a work belt and slinging a cordless drill, but because the mere idea that people from the outside will be stepping foot inside my house sends me on a spree of cleaning, shopping, organizing, and decorating."
One way to enjoy having house guests is to play games with them – it's a traditional way to spend time with family and friends. A bestselling game on Amazon is Perplexus Maze Game by PlaSmart, Inc. — it's gotten tons of excellent reviews, and will spice up your time with your guests. It'll ensure they come back every summer! :-)
And, here are a few tips for enjoying your house guests when you'd rather they booked a hotel room…
Accept your wish to be alone, your personality traits, yourself
"I'm so glad to hear there are other people like me!" says Jeannine on Are You an Introvert? A Test for Introverted Personality Traits. "I get so stressed every year doing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, and I hate overnight house guests."
This is normal for introverts like Jeannine and me – we find other people draining and tiring. Introverts get their energy from being alone; extroverts get their energy from other people. Extroverts love house guests all year long. The more the merrier! But, introverts would rather be alone…or stay in a hotel and let their house guests rule the roost.
Here's another woman who isn't fond of guests staying in her home:
"I HATE having house guests," says Mrs.Peters.to.be on Who here actually enjoys having house guests? "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I am a creature of habit and hate having my routine messed up…my fiance is out of town and his friend stayed in our guest room for four days this time. Every…single…morning…he was up before 5 am. This wouldn't bother me, but for the fact that once someone is awake in our house the dog is up too. Once the dog is awake this means I am also awake…I'm the type who wants to make sure my guests have clean towels and the bathroom stays shiny etc, so it was tough feeling like I had to run around for a guest when I'm just too busy. I would much rather have the house to myself. Of course it is a different story if we've booked time off for a visit or someone who we haven't seen in forever is coming to stay.
Am I alone? Is there anyone who actually ENJOYS having a house guest?"
Like, me, Mrs.Peters.to.be is from BC! I wanted to share her perspective to make you feel better if you'd really rather be alone instead of having house guests.
Consider asking your guests to stay in a hotel
Telling your guests they'd be more comfortable staying in a hotel instead of your home won't be the easiest thing you'll ever do, but it may be the most honest! Especially if they're planning to stay for more than four nights. That's the maximum number of nights for me: four nights. Unless it's my in-laws – they've stayed with us for two weeks, and I was sorry to see them go.
If you suggest your house guests stay in a hotel, give them a list of reasonably priced accommodations. There may be some great B & B's in a quiet area of your city – or maybe your guests would enjoy staying amidst the hustle bustle of the downtown core.
If your house guest is a family member who is super-critical, you may find When Nothing is Good Enough for Your Mother helpful. Sometimes the best way to deal with difficult people is to change yourself…not your circumstances.
Encourage your guests plan their own time
Don't let your house guests rope you into planning their summer activities!
When someone calls or emails me about staying with us for a weekend in the summer, I often send them a website that lists things to do, see, and eat in Vancouver. I tell them I've done those activities and seen those magnificent sights several times so won't be joining them, but I hope they don't miss them.
Don't forget to give them transportation information – car rentals or bus/train schedules. If your house guests don't have a car, make sure you provide them with the info they need to plan their visit. You can still love and care for them, even if you don't want them in your house!
Share your schedule with your house guests
I'm a freelance writer and blogger, and I check in with my Quips and Tips blogs every day. I like to post articles regularly, answer comments, and tweak my websites. What helps me enjoy house guests when I'd rather have the house to myself is scheduling my work time. I'll work for a couple hours before breakfast, or mid-morning, or when they're sunning themselves on the deck.
One of the best tips for enjoying your house guests is to tell them in advance that you'll need X number of hours per day for yourself. Be honest that you need your time alone – you're glad your house guests are around, but you need a few hours a day to do your thing.


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While the wainscoting work was going on, we also painted the basement walls blue and green. It's a kid's playroom so we had license to go a little bananas with color. Nobody is inspired to play Halloween dinosaur ghost* in a beige room.
*actual game played by my children at least once a week.
The north and south walls are Meridian Blue by Benjamin Moore.
The west wall is painted with Shades of Spring, with yellow Banan-Appeal in the window wells to reflect the minimal light that comes in.
Just a note here because I don't think I've mentioned it elsewhere–we used Benjamin Moore Natura throughout the entire house because I insisted on using zero-VOC paint. It's odorless and there's no subsequent off-gassing so it's much healthier for your indoor environment–especially important for rooms where kids are going to spend a lot of time. We used low-VOC paint in the past that was a gummy nightmare to apply. Not so with Natura–it goes on like a dream. There's my pitch. Use it.
We left the east wall white so that we could decorate it with a stencil. We found a circle stencil pattern and used the wall colors from the other three walls. Here's how it turned out:
The problem, of course, is that it looked incredibly stupid. Wah-wuh. So we scrapped that idea and my mom and I scoured wallpaper books looking for a pattern to complement the already painted walls. (Nothing like designing backwards.) We found this one:
It's supposed to be hung vertically but my mom had the idea to run it horizontally along the wall.
Here's the result:
Good save.


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Shipping Note: Can only be shipped within the United States to the billing address.
- Details
- Specs
- Reviews
- Manuals
- What's Included
Control from Anywhere
Honeywell's reliable and highly-rated app allows you to program your thermostat from your computer, tablet, and smartphone, whether you're across the room or around the world.
Simple Setup
The Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat learns the exact amount of time necessary to reach your perfect temperature and acts accordingly, so energy isn't wasted and your comfort isn't compromised. Program each day to fit your unique schedule, or select multiple days that have the same schedule to make programming quick and easy. Set different temperature schemes for days when someone will be home all day and for days when the house is empty. With Honeywell's smartest thermostat ever, scheduling is as simple as answering a few questions about your daily routine and your nightly routine. Tell your Wi-Fi smart thermostat what temperature you prefer while you sleep, and enjoy the comfort of perfectly climate-controlled slumber every night
Customizable Color Touchscreen
The bright, easy-to-read touchscreen can be color customized to fit your mood, match your paint, or support your favorite team! Select your favorite from a collection of suggested color themes. Is it an Emerald kind of day? With your Honeywell Wi-Fi smart thermostat, you can change your screen color as quickly as you change your mind, all at the touch of a button. Use the totally customizable color touchscreen to create a color scheme that's as unique as you are. If you crave complete control, then you'll love this thermostat's customizable color touchscreen. Enjoy control at your fingertips over everything from the background color and brightness to the display font color.
Smart, Flexible Scheduling
This Wi-Fi smart thermostat offers flexible scheduling options for the unique needs of homes and businesses. When you set your thermostat for business use, the Honeywell Wi-Fi smart thermostat automatically pre-loads common holidays, so you don't waste energy heating or cooling the building when it's unoccupied. For a business, simply select the temperature that you prefer when the building is occupied, and you won't have to worry about cold mornings or hot afternoons. You can also select the temperature that you prefer when your business is unoccupied, so you won't have to worry about wasting energy.
Smart Response
TThis smart thermostat even learns your heating and cooling cycle times to deliver just the right temperature, right when you want it. Every home is different, which is why we designed the Honeywell Wi-Fi smart thermostat to learn the particularities of your home - including exactly how long it takes to heat and cool your home to your specified temperature. The Honeywell Wi-Fi smart thermostat learns the exact amount of time necessary to reach your perfect temperature and acts accordingly, so energy isn't wasted and your comfort isn't compromised. Expect perfect comfort 24/7. With its Smart Response technology, the Honeywell Wi-Fi smart thermostat ensures that your home will be at your ideal temperature, so you'll be at your ideal level of comfort
Locking Touchscreen
Honeywell's smartest thermostat ever offers three different locking modes, ideal for use in business settings and in homes with children:
Unlocked: all features function normally
Partially locked: the temperature can be adjusted, but no other features may be changed
Fully Locked: no features may be changed
An Optional password protection allows only designated users to access the security settings and locking options. A 30-second lockout affords you the opportunity to clean the thermostat, so you don't have to live with fingerprints on your touchscreen device.
General Specifications Manufacturer Honeywell Manufacturer Product No. RET97A5E, RTH9580WF UPC 085267815321 HVAC Specifications Compatibility 24-volt Heating and Air Conditioning Systems (C wire required) Single Stage Heating and Cooling Yes Multistage Heating and Cooling Yes Heating Only Yes Cooling Only Yes Furnace (Warm Air) Yes Central Air Conditioning Yes Heat Pump without Auxiliary Heat Yes Heat Pump with Auxiliary Heat Yes Hot Water Yes Steam or Gravity Yes 750 Millivolt No Gas Fireplaces (24 Volts) Yes Electric Baseboard Heat (120-240 volts) No Feature Specifications Control from Anywhere
- Free via iPhone, iPad,Android and computer
- No monthly service fee
Fully Flexible Programming Options
- Program based on your homeschedule
- Program based on your small business' schedule
- rogram based on your utility company's peak rate pricing
Intelligent Alerts
- Filter change reminder
- Hi/Lo temperature notification
- Loss of internet connection /internet connection restored
- Humidifier pad change reminder
Customizable Touchscreen Full color, bright and easy to read View Local Weather and 5-day Forecast Yes Reliable, Secure Network Ensures app availability Auto Change from Heat to Cool Automatically determines if your home needs heating or cooling to provide maximum comfort Humidity Readout View indoor and outdoor relative humidity levels Permanent/Temporary/Vacation Hold Adjust temperature to suit your schedule Fan Operation
- On/Auto/Circulate Settings
- Circulate keeps air moving throughout your home
- Fan control dependent on wiring configuration
Display Options
- Screen-saver on/off
- English/Spanish/French language interface
- ° C or ° F temperature display
- 12 or 24 hour clock
Minimum System Requirements for Use with Wi-Fi:
- An active broadband account is required for connection of this device and a wireless router to the Internet
- A compatible 802.11b/g/n wireless router
- To complete initial set-up, a device with Wi-Fi capabilities and a web browser is required (i.e. smartphone, laptop, etc.)
- An internet browser supported by Total Connect Comfort: Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 4, Safari 5, and Chrome 9 or higher
9 Reviews
- Nice looking smart thermostat Review by Susan
Nice looking smart thermostat
Easy to use. Easy to set up. You can add multiple thermostats in the same house, or a second home, and manage within the one app.
Posted on 4/1/2018
- HoneyWell WiFi thermostat Review by Richard M
HoneyWell WiFi thermostat
Richard M
I love it. I had a 20 year old programmable one I was replacing.
I love how it learns how your house heats up. Once it learned it the temp doesn't fluctuate.
If you set it at 69 and the indoor temp is up to 69 than it doesn't move up or down.
The thermostat runs the furnace before you have flucuation in the temp and keeps your home a constant temp.
I've had to rethink my settings because you don't have the temp swings, 1 degree below setting than the 2 degree over temp like the old style.
Very highly recomend!
Posted on 1/23/2017
- The best Thermostat ever plus the Greatest customer service ever. Thank you Honeywell Review by NIN
The best Thermostat ever plus the Greatest customer service ever. Thank you Honeywell
I am a perfectionist and I love electronics. I bought this item after researching it along with others that are similar ,BUT definitely not as good as this item. If you want top of the line along with efficiency this is the thermostat for you. I am so glad I bought it. Amazing features and so easy to install. I had a couple questions and emailed Honeywell. They replied within minutes and I feel we now have a wonderful relationship. They taught me all I needed plus treat me as if i am not just another customer. AMAZING!! I run their app from my Droid smartphone. AAA++++
Posted on 8/29/2016
- HOWEYWELL WiFi Thermostat Review by njh30303
HOWEYWELL WiFi Thermostat
...works just as stated with my Central A/C and was easily programmed within minutes. The Indoor/Outdoor TEMP and HUMIDITY display readings are LARGE and easily seen from across the room. Received as a GIFt and I LOVE it!!!!
Posted on 8/9/2016
- dual fuel Review by hvac guy
dual fuel
hvac guy
This tstat may not work w/all dual fuel kits. Had one today that needed separate contacts for aux and W2, which are combined on this tstat. also, when did Honeywell start making a 9000 series tstat that does not have built in dual fuel setup?
I disabled the second stage function on this system until get a fossil (dual) fuel enabled tstat w/ wifi.
Posted on 2/18/2016
- Dave Review by Dave
I've had the unit for over a year. I read the reviews prior to purchasing, and glad I did. The thermostat has performed perfectly and is so intuitive. I love being able to change the settings when I'm not at home.
Posted on 9/19/2015
- What they don't tell you until it is installed. Review by Deceived Dave
What they don't tell you until it is installed.
Deceived Dave
I bought this thermostat and installed on a heat pump with gas furnace auxiliary heat. What they don't hint at until it is installed with a yellow triangle is that you need to purchase a fossil fuel kit to use the thermostat with auxiliary heat. Honeywell tech support advises this be installed professionally. There is apparently no upgrades to add this capability via an outdoor sensor to start with and a couple lines of code. This is a step backwards from my present Honeywell 8320 without WIFI. There solution is to buy the 8320 with WIFI.
Posted on 2/25/2015
- Review of 300690 Review by JOHN
Review of 300690
Very easy to install, instructions were easy to follow. The color display is very easy on the eyes. Only complaint is that you can NOT adjust the temperture display to the room temperature so the display is always higher than the actual room temperature.
Posted on 8/16/2014
- Review of 300690 Review by Mark411
Review of 300690
Aesthetically pleasing. Low profile no edge design. Fit nicely into high end home décor. Extremely easy to program from smart phone. Takes 60 secs to adjust whole schedule and submit.
It would be nice if several stats could all be synchronized together as a group rather than programming them each separately. That would also be nice when temp holds are made.
Posted on 7/22/2014
Leave a Review
- 1x - Thermosta
- 1x - Wallplate
- 1x - Set of Screws and Anchors
- 1x - Set of Wire Labels
- 1x - Quick-Start Guide
- 1x - User Guide
- 1x - Thermostat ID Card


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Kia Sorento scores win at AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards
The Sorento faced tough competition throughout AJAC's week-long comprehensive testing period, known as TestFest, which occurred in October at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville Ontario.
"Kia Canada is thrilled with the category win of the all-new 2016 Kia Sorento, stemming from AJAC's comprehensive testing program," said Ted Lancaster, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Kia Canada Inc. "Facing fierce competition within its category, the Sorento's victory is a true testament of the vehicle's strong value offering to Canadians, modern design elements and high quality attributes."
This prestigious award automatically qualifies the all-new 2016 Kia Sorento for consideration as the 2016 AJAC "Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year" title, which will be awarded on February 11th 2016, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.


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The Adult Shelters Department has two distinct programs. Each program features:
The Salvation Army's Emergency Family Shelter is the only family shelter in Onondaga County licensed by the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. With 81 beds and 10 cribs, we provide temporary emergency housing and counseling services for homeless families of any configuration, including extended families, men with children, older male children and single pregnant women. Crisis counseling, comprehensive social work assessment services and linkages to community resources for aftercare support are provided to secure and maintain permanent housing.
The Salvation Army's Women's Shelter provides temporary emergency housing for adult women without children, who have serious mental health problems and psychiatric disabilities. Crisis counseling, comprehensive social work support services, mental health services and linkages to community resources are provided to help the women obtain housing stability, income supports, mental health treatment and supportive services. The Women's Shelter has 15 beds and 16 subsidized one bedroom apartments.


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Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Alternative Titles:Vampire Hunter D (2000)
Genres:Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi, Vampire
Continuing his quest to rid the world of the Nobility, the Vampire Hunter D, a Dhampir (half human, half vampire), is summoned by the Elbourne family to rescue their daughter Charlotte from the captivity of Meier Link. The race against time not only involves saving the girl, but also the additional hiring of the Markus Brothers; a volatile and infamous group of Hunters known for their tendency to rid themselves of the competition by any means necessary. To make matters more complicated, when Charlotte is found she is more than reluctant to leave the side of her new love...


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|Oracle FAQ
|Your Portal to the Oracle Knowledge Grid
Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> more on Oracle/PeopleSoft
>From SearchDatabase.com today
Despite Craig Conway's indignation over Larry Ellison's $5.1 billion hostile takeover bid, the PeopleSoft chief executive officer had approached Oracle just one year ago to discuss a possible deal between the two firms. The two companies went as far as signing a nondisclosure agreement on June 5, 2002, and had introductory discussions about a combination that lasted two days, according to paperwork Oracle filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.
For the full details, click:
Sounds like a policical campaign...
-- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: Ron Rogers INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).Received on Wed Jun 11 2003 - 13:11:55 CDT
Original text of this message


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The Balance Metal Accent Tree by Diamond Sofa is a unique, yet functional backdrop by providing architectural height element to the room's decor. Can be used as a stand alone unit as a hat or coat rack or used throughout the room as a visual decor element. This Steel Powder Coated Accent Tree is Available in Black & White Gloss finishes, with wood peg hook accents. Unique and functional, a great addition to your home's decor.
- Dimension: 23 x 20 x 71
- Color: White
- Material: Metal
- Fabric: N//A
- Powder Coated Steel in White Finish
- Wood Peg Accents
- Perfect Addition to any Room's Decor
- Architectural Design Style Home Accent
- Some Assembly Required
This item from Diamond Sofa & Furniture is available to order from
Z Furniture Store
5618 General Washington Drive
Alexandria VA 22312
Tel: 703-941-5042
Email: email@example.com


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Business Focused. Community Minded. Future Driven.
Bowling Center/Bar/Lounge, family owned since 1954. Fully stocked pro shop. Available for parties. Glow Bowl with DJ, karaoke every Friday night.Leagues for all ages and abilities. (Bumper Bowling)
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Phone: 518-585-6619
Fax: 518-585-9184
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (April through October)
8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (November through March)


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Data Hardware Depot, LP 2018 ™
With the industry's highest quality, we offer DHDOptics branded transceivers. The DHD Optics line is a cost-effective alternative to OEM with next day availability on most parts. DHD Optics offers an extensive portfolio of legacy to leading edge connectivity solutions for data centers and telecom applications.
Learn more...
"Actions speak louder than words. We work hard to follow the commitment to service, quality, and trusted relationships come before profits. The feedback we receive is consistent. I would strongly recommend working with DHD to anyone."
"DHD's passion and dedication to their customers is something I wish all companies should strive to match."
"As a company, I look forward to doing business together with DHD for many years and continue to strengthen our partnership together."
"DHD is more than a supplier for us. They are our partner."
"Having the option to leverage the Cisco Excess option with DHD allows flexibility in my budget and we often pick up a couple extra devices for spares or expansion."
"I installed the DHD's QSFP-40G-SR4 in place of an FS.com part and the DHD Optics worked great."
"We are more appreciative than can be expressed in a comment box. As such DHD can be assured of our business for the foreseeable future."


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For Referring Dentists
Referring Dentists
> PreViser
> Dentist Referral Forms
> Dentist Referral Checklist
> Seattle Study Club
> Great Blue Heron Seminars
> Relevant Links
We value the relationships we've developed with you and your dental team, and appreciate patient referrals to our practice. It's our priority to make sure their treatment is in line with your vision and preferences, and we see our services as an extension of your overall treatment plan. Dr. Cohen, Dr. Gottlieb, Dr. Bennett, and our staff will work with you to create an easy and seamless transition for your patients while they're receiving care from us.


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Jane is with us today for Simply Saturday and a beautiful canvas, showing you not only how to use your canvas but die cuts too.
I have used the 15x15cm canvas and sprayed it with Dylusions Ink Sprays
I then die cut some long Parisian Accents and joined them in the corners to make a frame which I stuck onto my canvas.
The words were stamped several times and each line cut out seperately then added to canvas
The flowers were also die cut and put together using brads. Copy paper was used for all diecuts..
Dylusions Ink Spray - Bubblegum Pink, Lemon Zest, Vibrant Turquoise
Spellbinders - Parisian Accents, Foliage, Carnations Creations
Stamps - Personal Impressions Lindsay Mason - Creative Thoughts
Now that you have had a lot of inspiration for your canvases,
we are offering 10% off all canvases/sticky canvas
from today until Monday 7th
Just enter the code CANVAS10 at checkout
see you tomorrow


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Durians -- Spiky and smelly!
Durians -- Spiky and smelly!Bombs schmombs. Who needs explosives when you have stinky food? The President of Iran, who was in New York last week for a UN General Assembly, practically cleared out the entire Hilton hotel because of the horrible smell that came from his food made by his personal chef.
Perhaps a trial run with their newest war weaponry?
While it hasn't been released exactly which kind of food was the cause for the evacuation, we can make some guesses.
Durians: Also known as the "king of fruit," durians are extremely popular in southeast Asia. The smell has been described as overripe cheese, rotting fish, unwashed socks, and a city dump on a hot summer's day. Ironically, durians have also been said to be an aphrodisiac. Just be sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly before getting it on.
Vieux Boulogne Cheese: It took a team of scientists to dub this as the world's stinkiest cheese, though I'm sure the French townspeople of Boulogne, where the cheese is made, already knew that.
Curry: We all love it. But we also hate that guy that brings it back to the office for lunch, and unfortunately for those of us here at The Stir, we work in an area of town that's known as "Curry Hill" because of all the Indian restaurants in the area.
Kiviak: Imagine the smell of something that's been buried in the ground for up to six months. Then imagine eating it. That's exactly what Kiviak is. It used to be a traditional Christmas food in Greenland that is a seabird stuffed inside of a seal, then buried until liquefaction. Its popularity has decreased in modern times, though I can't imagine why.
Shrimp Paste: A common ingredient in southern Chinese cuisine, it's made from fermented ground shrimp that has been sun-dried and then cut into fist-sized rectangular blocks.
Surströmming: This northern Scandinavian delicacy comes in a can, and upon opening it, the smell hits you like a ton of bricks. But it's all part of the experience right? It's made from herring that has been brined for months and is spread over bread and often topped with onions, you know, just to make it smellier.
Kimchi: A traditional Korean side dish that's made of fermented vegetables (oftentimes cabbage) topped with various seasonings. The smell is so strong that many Koreans have a special kimchi fridge that they keep in the garage or basement.
Have you ever tried any of these foods? Would a horrid smell deter you from trying them?
Image via YimHafiz/Flickr, _pdra's portfolio/Flickr, clayirving/Flickr


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Merrick Engages Series
Join Murray Dalziel, dean of the Merrick School of Business as he talks with Robert Weinhold, chief executive of the Fallston Group—a Baltimore-based reputation firm—as he brings insights into the basic truisms that many leaders' strengths and shortcomings are magnified during the most difficult times.
Event Details
A conversation with Robert Weinhold, alumnus and author of "The Art of Crisis Leadership."
Date: Mar. 6, 2018
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Student Center 5th Floor
R.S.V.P.: UB Events Calendar
More About the Conversation
Murray Dalziel, dean of the Merrick School of Business, will explore "The Art of Crisis Leadership" with Robert Weinhold and lessons learned about saving time, money, customers and careers.
About the SpeakerRobert Weinhold, Chief Executive of the Fallston Group
After several decades of private and public sector leadership service, Rob Weinhold continued his career mission of helping organizations during critical times by launching Fallston Group (fallstongroup.wpengine.com) in 2009. Fallston Group is a Baltimore-based firm designed to build, strengthen and defend reputations each and every day. Throughout his distinguished career, Rob has worked on the core executive leadership team at all three levels of government and privately on Cal Ripken Jr.'s core executive team in Baltimore, Maryland where he oversaw all aspects of Cal's core business. It was in this role that Rob was responsible for sales, public relations and marketing, business development, sponsorships, customer experience, design/build and operations.
During his public service career, Rob most notably served in a sworn capacity for the Baltimore Police Department and was ultimately promoted to Public Affairs Director. He also served as Chief of Staff for the United States Department of Justice and senior executive within Maryland's Governor's Office. While in these roles, Rob also served as chief spokesperson for the entities he represented; he has conducted thousands of media interviews and is thought of as an expert communications strategist. He has provided formal media training to countless executives and spokespeople.
Rob maintains extensive experience in the areas of executive leadership, organizational strategy, crisis management and communications, marketing, business management and operations. His clients often refer to Rob as their CRO—Chief Reputation Officer—as he operates at the critical intersection of leadership, strategy and communications. Rob has been routinely recognized for his unique ability to lead by creating vision and building consensus across diverse stakeholder bases, even during the most sensitive of times. This skill-set has allowed him to grow and develop brands while creating heightened levels of awareness for both individuals and organizations while advancing their business goals. He is routinely called upon by members of the national and local news media to provide perspective on crisis leadership, public safety and communications.
Rob has provided business and leadership guidance to corporate executives, high-profile professional athletes, the U.S. Attorney General, White House domestic policy staff, U.S. Congresspersons, state governors, public safety experts and other high-ranking public service officials. Rob earned his graduate degree (MSM) from The Johns Hopkins University and undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Baltimore. He is nationally published and has trained and lectured in a variety of professional and academic settings on the topics of crisis leadership, communications, media relations, and public safety and security.
What is the Merrick Engages Series?
Merrick Engages is a series that takes a close look at contemporary business topics through the lenses of successful business leaders. Each business leader sits down with Murray Dalziel, dean of the Merrick School of Business, and they engage in a conversation that aims to better inform us, and provide a new perspective into the business world. Each dialog delves into topics pertaining to careers, business transformation and life lessons-learned.


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Back in January, we shared that the SmartPak Mobile Store is back in action on the West Coast! (You can read more about how we kicked off 2017 here.)
Over the past couple of months, I've been taking the SmartPak Mobile Store to shows and expos, and I've been having a blast connecting with riders of all different disciplines. Here are some of my favorite moments so far:
In February, I went to the Western States Horse Expo at the Pomona Fairplex. There were two halls filled with everything ranging from supplements to tack to trucks – it was like everything in the horse world was there. If you haven't been, I highly recommend that you check it out next year! Along with shopping at the SmartPak booth and all of the other booths, there are clinicians showing off their techniques and giving advice. Our own Dr. Lydia Gray was there to talk about ColiCare and senior horses this year! I loved being able to chat with the expo's attendees and even got to meet one of the biggest fans of our "If Horses Were People" video series. (Haven't seen "If Horses Were People" before? You're missing out! Check them out here.)
After wrapping up the Western States Horse Expo, I headed down to the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, CA for Weeks II and V. At this show, I was lucky enough to meet Colleen McQuay and her riders and I loved being able to participate in the awards ceremony for the SmartPak $25,000 Grand Prix each week.
To finish off the month of February, I got to switch it up and head to the Silver Dollar Circuit at South Point Hotel in Las Vegas! At this show we got to debut our new offering of Kimes Ranch jeans, jackets, and hats. I was really excited to share our new selection because I know that it's a very popular brand here on the West Coast. (If we're missing your favorite brand from our selection, be sure to let us know so that we can consider it for the future!).
Stay tuned for the March edition of the Adventures of the SmartPak Mobile Store!


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I've just added a lot of new items to the Space Art By Christopher Doll store and here's the latest plus a few previews.
Original Art!
I've been painting a lot of new images recently and I am making these available to you now! A number of these are smaller watercolor paintings which you may have seen if you've been following my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts. Thank you all for the wonderful comments, by the way, your feedback is appreciated.
Along with my traditional space and science fiction themes I've been exploring some more traditional views like some of my favorite lighthouses of the Pacific Northwest, and sea battles.
Sea battles, really? I've long been a fan of the Patrick O'Brien books featuring Jack Aubrey, and the movie Master and Commander – which is probably the best Star Trek movie in ages.
All of these are available now in my store at the link below
Still Available
I still have some of my hand-painted planet globes in the store, and once these are gone it will be a long time before I offer them again. These were a special gift item for the holiday season last year and I'm not yet certain what will be on the agenda this year. So if you'd like one of your very own please let me know soon!
About Prints
I've explored a few options for offering prints of my work through my site, and there are a few of them available now in the store. The prints I have are quality prints, and a fine affordable addition to your own collection. They have been sourced from a variety of vendors and based on the numbers it will make more sense for us to create our own prints going forward. So we are in the process of securing a quality Giclee printer and materials to offer more prints, and we'll let you know once they are available.
As many of you know, my wife Stephanie and I are opening our own bakery near our home. To do so it means that we're going to need a lot of equipment, and that means we need to build up some cash reserves. I'm going through my collection of scale models and collectibles, and a number of these will be hitting the store very soon. Some of the models will be build-ups that I've already completed, some will be kits, and there are a few collectible items that I'd love to see go to a new home. Look for details soon!


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Post investigation - legal action
The investigations that have been described in the previous sections result in a picture of the Complex at the time of the incidents which fell short of the BP Group's high expectations for the management of safety and environmental performance.
It should be noted that good fortune played a large part in minimising the consequences of the three incidents and in fatalities or serious injuries being avoided as a result of the incidents which occurred. However the potential for significantly increased damage to property, increased harm to personnel both on and off-site and increased harm to the environment existed.
Following on from the investigations it was considered that BP at the time were in breach of statutory legal requirements and the Competent Authority considered carefully the grounds for prosecution of BP for breaching safety legislation and for prohibition of continuing operation of the Complex or parts of the Complex.
Following the series of incidents and subsequent investigations a report recommending legal proceedings on indictment was prepared and submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, the Scottish public prosecutor (www.procuratorfiscal.gov.uk). Close liaison with the Procurator Fiscal (William Gallacher) had been a feature from the outset of investigations.
The HSE alleged breaches of health and safety law for the FCCU and MP steam rupture incident. In the power distribution failure incident evidence to prove a breach beyond reasonable doubt required for a criminal law case was not available.
Charges recommended to the Procurator Fiscal by the HSE were:
- COMAH Regulation 4 (alternatively Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2) for the FCCU major accident; and
- Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (alternatively Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 3) for the MP steam main major accident.
Alternative charges are a feature of Scottish law.
The Procurator Fiscal and Crown Office served an indictment on BP Grangemouth Oil Refinery Limited for breaches of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2 and on BP Chemicals Limited for breaches of the Heath & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 3.
Indictment procedures are held before a Sheriff and Jury and have unlimited fine potential due to the serious nature of the offence and the size of the company.
The case was heard on indictment in Falkirk Court in front of Sheriff Albert Sheehan on 18th January 2002. BP Chemicals Limited was fined £250,000 for the steam main offence and BP Grangemouth Oil Refinery Limited was fined £750,000 for the FCCU/Cat Cracker offence. BP was heavily criticised by Sheriff Sheehan for "gross dereliction of duties…"
In association with
- COMAH: Notification form
- A guide to the COMAH regulations 2015 (L111)
- Leadership for the major hazard industries
- Better alarm handling


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Puzzle Games Sudoku Logic Puzzle
Sudoku Naked Pair Method
The Naked Pair method is a more advanced method that can be used when other methods cannot solve the puzzle. This may be required for medium difficulty puzzles. This method is also known as the Disjoint Subset method.
In both of these examples, look at the cells marked with green. Notice how the numbers 1 and 7 are both the only possibilities. These are a naked pair. Since 1 and 7 must occur in these two cells, we can eliminate 1 and 7 from the cells marked with red.
A Naked Pair can become a Hidden Pair if there are extra possible values for those cell. In this third example on the left, the cells marked with green make a Hidden Pair with the numbers 1 and 7. We can safely remove 3 and 8 as candidates for the green cells because we know that they must contain either 1 or 7.


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mike flanagan, the 1979 american league cy young award winner who won 141 games for the orioles in 15 seasons with them, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in august of 2011. the team, for which flanagan had also been a broadcaster, coach, and executive, wore a memorial patch in his honor for the remainder of the season.
manager buck showalter wore the patch on his pullover windbreaker as shown on his 2012 topps heritage card
i did not realize that it was flanagan who gave don stanhouse the nickname 'stan the man unusual', nor did i know that his nicknaming abilities may have been what inspired chris berman. i did realize early on in my baseball fandom, however, that flanagan was a good pitcher, winning 19 games in 1978 and then his career-high and league-leading 23 in 1979. later, i learned that wins weren't the best barometer, but i still knew that flanagan could pitch as i rooted for the blue jays as my american league team in 1987 and flanagan threw 11 innings in game 161, trying to stave off the tigers.
flanagan's suicide has been attributed to despression, which he struggled with for a long time, according to his widow. he was 59 years old.


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Please see the Tent Protocol page for listing and order of Canoe Family presentations during the week.
Today we are on Day 3, July 22. CLICK HERE to view Tent Protocol listings. (Schedules are subject to change.)
Filed under: Canoe Journey related events, Journey 2010, Paddle to Makah 2010 | Tagged: Makah Tribe, Native Canoe journeys, Paddle to Makah, Tribal Journey 2010 | 2 Comments »


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New York Presbyterian hospital program helps begin healing process for abused children
No child is too young to avoid being scarred by domestic violence or abuse, says Cynthia Arreola, who manages New York Presbyterian Hospital's program for treating the youngest victims of abuse.
"We know even when very young children are exposed to traumatic events, the effects can be harmful and long-lasting," Arreola says.
New York Presbyterian's Family PEACE – Preventing Early Adverse Childhood Experiences – Trauma Treatment Center helps begin the healing process for abused children up to five years of age and moves them and their moms toward being more resilient, Arreola says.
The program also trains hospital staff on how to effectively screen patients for signs of serious trouble at home. "We are talking about physical, sexual and emotional abuse," says Wanda Vargas, the program's lead psychologist. "It is often a partner who is abusive toward the mother and the child witnesses it … or the partner is abusing the child."
The program provides clinical services to children and their caregivers who live in the Washington Heights neighborhoods of northern Manhattan – an area hard hit by cases of domestic violence and abuse. Therapists work to build a trusting and secure relationship between parent and child.
Most clients receive weekly, yearlong counseling designed to "help the parent understand the child … and, as the child becomes more verbal, we help them understand what has happened to the parent," Vargas says. "And we develop a narrative about the trauma that has occurred."
Nearly 200 families last year received counseling through the program, which is supported by a $400,000 five-year grant from the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key partners include the Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership (NMPR), a maternal child health organization that provides critical health and social services to communities throughout Manhattan.
Families are referred to the Family PEACE center through social service organizations, like NMPR, law enforcement agencies and the hospital's clinics.
The trauma can manifest itself in children's anger, aggression, sadness, despair, depression and regression – an inability to do things they could do before they experienced the abuse or violence. Without the early intervention provided at the Family PEACE center, these at-risk children wouldn't make it in kindergarten, Vargas says. They would be expelled or placed in an outpatient behavioral treatment program.
"That is why we do this," she says. "These are children who are scared. They are worried about their mom and their own safety. They don't have much resources left to sit in a classroom and act like other five-year-olds."
The program is making an impact on the population served, says manager Arreola. For 2016 participants, more than 50% of children had fewer behavioral problems; 75% of adults felt less depressed, and nearly 70% of them said they were less stressed because of the counseling they received at the center.
"We have the power to make change for the family and interrupt the intergenerational transmission of domestic violence," Arreola says. "These young boys are not going to grow up to be batterers."


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Last Sunday, my father-in-law came down for a brief (two day) visit. On Monday, while I was at work, he went into Washington, DC, with my wife and son to see the cherry blossoms, monuments, museums, and so forth. (It was a good day for it; he would have gone back for more on Tuesday but it was raining.) Here are some of the pictures he took.
Above: the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial.
The cherry blossoms in bloom. The National Cherry Blossom Festival brings in a lot of tourists every Spring.
Miss Piggy at the National Museum of American History. There was a larger exhibit of The Muppets which just closed recently; Q was disappointed that Miss Piggy was the only one left when she got there.
Springtime for DC
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The new four-kilometer Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX) has officially opened today at 1400 hours. In line with this, MCX has introduced the rates of the newly-opened toll road.
The toll fees are as follows:
Class 1 - PhP17.00
Class 2 - PhP34.00
Class 3 - PhP 51.00
The management of MCX also stated that vehicles fitted with E-Pass or RFID can pass through the expressway with ease.
However, MCX stressed that the toll fee collected at the new road will be integrated with the toll fee from one's destination on SLEX/Skyway to Susana Heights.
For example, toll from destination on SLEX/Skyway to Susana Heights is PhP 187. A Class 1 motorist will just have to add PhP17.00 and the total amount would be PhP204.000.
The MCX will serve as an alternate route from Metro Manila to Cavite and vice versa. It will be able to cut travel time by as much as 45 minutes and will also decongest traffic in Cavite, Las Pinas and Muntinlupa City.
The PhP 2 billion roadway is a Publc-private Partnership project of DPWH, with Ayala Corporation as the private proponent.


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- Autumn -
Freitag, 18. September 2015
- Autumn -
Another gorgeous take on our Dusty Attic Mood-board!!!AntwortenLöschen
What a beautiful page! Thanks for joining in at The Dusty Attic.AntwortenLöschen
Such a beautiful take on this month's mood board! Wonderful design and thank you for playing along with us at Berry71Bleu!AntwortenLöschen
This is really a stunning layout! I think you've combined some lovely elements and a gorgeous color palette. I also thought it was genius of you to have the brightest colors come from the photo, which make it really stand out nicely. You are always so skilled and have a great eye for design. Thanks so much for sharing your work with us here at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!AntwortenLöschenAntworten
Many thanks Andrea for this lovely compliment, that makes me happy :-)Löschen
WOW - this is so pretty - Thank you for taking part in the Mood Board challenge at Dusty AtticAntwortenLöschen
Delicious page! That background texture is just lovely & I adore they way you've the metal in your cluster:) Thanks so much for sharing with us at Dusty Attic!!AntwortenLöschen
Wow, you have captured the mood board perfectly!! Love love the distressed parts of this gorgeous layout!! Thank You for joining us at Dusty Attic for the Mood Board Challenge!!AntwortenLöschen
Another beautiful layout!! Love this!AntwortenLöschen
Wow this is simply stunning!! Fabulous use of this month's mood board. Thank you for playing along! :)AntwortenLöschen
Wow...absolutely amazing and beautiful! I love the colouring and the amazing photo! ;-) Thanks so much for playing along with us at Berry71Bleu! ;-)AntwortenLöschen


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The Storm selected Shekinna Stricklen, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward out of Tennessee. She was named to the First Team All-SEC this past season, when the Lady Volunteers made a run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
In Seattle, she'll help plug a hole this year as star Lauren Jackson plays on the
U.S. Australian Olympic team. Jackson will return to the Storm after this summer's Olympic Games, as Seattle tries to repeat its championship run two years ago. The Storm were national champs in 2010, and have appeared in the postseason every year since their 2004 national title.
"They have the best fans. Storm crazy!" Sticklen told ESPN2 after being selected Monday. "I can't wait to play there."
The Storm season begins May 18 against the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. at KeyArena. Seattle also will host an exhibition game May 12 between the U.S. Women's National Team and the China Women's National Team, at 7:30 p.m. at KeyArena.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle news. Contact Nick Eaton at email@example.com or on Twitter as @njeaton.


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The Barony of Carolingia is the chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism located in Eastern Massachusetts, centered in the Greater Boston region. The SCA is a 501(c)(3) educational organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe.
The SCA sponsors events such as tournaments, feasts, and university sessions where members dress according to medieval and Renaissance styles, and participate in activities based on the civil and martial skills of the period. Activities include costuming, armoring, and combat arts (including archery and rapier combat), calligraphy, dancing, music, cookery, and board and field games, plus a variety of technical and social skills which help establish the ambiance of life at a period court. Society events are open to the public, but, in keeping with the emphasis on living history rather than dramatic performance, all attendees are expected to make an attempt to preserve the atmosphere and fit in with the SCA's standards of dress and behavior.
A statement from the Baron and Baroness
Greetings to the Barony, Thomas and I want to reach out to all of you during this troubled time. First we would li…
Missive from their Excellencies – A Note on Inclusivity
Hello,We have some thoughts on inclusivity that we would like to share with the Barony. When Thomas and I stepped up,…
There are tens of thousands of active SCA participants, and local chapters of the SCA in all fifty states plus dozens of countries abroad. The Barony of Carolingia was started in 1970 and is one of the oldest chapters in the SCA.
If you are a maker, an athlete, a performer, a researcher, an artist, a cook, an archer, a dancer, a lover of history or simply someone who loves to learn new skills and information – there is something for you in the SCA.


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Prayer of the Week:
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without You, may by You be enabled to live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Scripture Focus:
Sunday—Psalm 92:8-15, Leviticus 26:1-13
Monday—Psalm 93:1, 2 Kings 1
Tuesday—Psalm 93:2, 2 Kings 2
Wednesday—Psalm 93:3, 2 Kings 3
Thursday—Psalm 93:4, 2 Kings 4:1-20
Friday— Psalm 93:5, 2 Kings 2:21-44
Saturday—Psalm 93, 2 Kings 2:1-15
Prayer List: Delferd Sloan, Larry and Jesse Grossman, Save-a-lot employees, Heather Martin, Deran Braxton, Michele Raglin, Family of Sue Cox * Young family * Carl Rider, Faye Doyle, Amanda Collins, Destiny Collins, Greg Tyson, Deonte Braxton, Timothy Jimerson, Wanda & Mandell Collins, Michelle Collins, Yvette Raglin * Wanda Palmer, Zack Swain and family at the loss of his grandfather * Jeannine Hope * Delferd Sloan, Larry and Jesse Grossman, Ruth Donohoe, Brianna Hope


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What's better than dedicating a whole day to smoking brisket? Having someone else do it for you. Ideally a bona fide pit master.
Here are our picks for takeout barbecue this summer and a few tasty catering options from each. We'll be keeping this list handy for those inevitable too-hot-to-cook days ahead.
Roundup Texas Barbecue, Cold Spring
Barbecue connoisseurs have been touting this Texas-style down-home restaurant on Route 9 as the real deal for years. Run by former Texans Bill Villetto, Linda Vaughan and Roy Hammond, the menu is true to their Texas roots — meaning everything is dry rubbed (sauce on the side) and very beef-centric. Brisket is cooked for around 18 hours and melts in your mouth in a smokey, juicy bite. If you can spare the time, order a Lone Star and dive into a plate of ranch beans and ribs at one of the outdoor tables. Off-site catering services are also available for private parties.
Takeout: Texas-style smoked brisket ($18.50 per pound, or on a sandwich for $6.50); Racks of ribs (full rack $23.99, half rack $12.99); whole chicken with choice of two sides ($15.99).
Go: 2741 Route 9,Cold Spring, 845-809-5557, www.rounduptxbbq.com.
Bobby Q's Smokehouse, Suffern
The former pit master at Bailey's in Blauvelt and Johnny's in Pearl River, David "Fink" Finkelstein, is now in Suffern, serving his "Metro-Q," which is not as sour as Southern and not as sweet as Kansas City. While the full sit-down restaurant menu is worth certainly worth the trip, catering options are just as lip-smacking. Full trays weigh about 10 pounds, and half trays weigh six. Bobby Q's recommends 1/2 to 3/4 pounds of meat per adult, assuming you will be serving sides, like the garlicky pinto beans, homemade coleslaw and spicy Southern greens.
Takeout: Half or full tray of pulled pork ($90, $150, which is about $15 per pound); Half or full tray of beef brisket ($96, $160, about $16 per pound); Texas lollipops ($1.75 each), Barbecue chicken ($39 for three birds, $78 for six).
Go: 32 Orange Ave., 845-533-4033, bobbyqsny.com.
Holy Smoke BBQ, Mahopac
Bourbon, barbecue and craft beer. The atmosphere is casual and full of happy noise — mostly the sounds of groups diving into large platters of crispy spring rolls filled with Texas brisket, pulled pork quesadillas and the incredibly popular Trash Ribs. But if you can't stay, grab dinner-to-go. Holy Smoke asks for three days notice for large catering orders, and off-site catering services are also available.
Takeout: Texas brisket, barbecue pulled chicken, homemade smoked sausages ($10.95 per pound); whole Long Island smoked duckling ($6 per pound); full rack of barbecue St. Louis ribs ($20.95); full rack of barbecue baby backs ($21.95).
Go: 241 Route 6N, 845-628-9795, www.holysmokebbq.net.
D & A Smokehouse, Scarsdale
Owner and pit master Douglas Lo Cicero has brought slow-cooked, dry-rubbed, down-home 'cue to Central Avenue in Scarsdale, and hungry New Yorkers are flocking. Call early for the burnt ends of brisket — they sell out fast! — and save some room for the truffle mac 'n' cheese. Take-out meals are cooked low and slow (around 14 hours for ribs and brisket) with Lo Cicero's in-house rubs and sauces, and made to order.
Takeout: Family Meal with St. Louis ribs, 10 wings, brisket, pulled pork, half barbecue chicken and four sides ($65.75, serves four); smoked St. Louis ribs (half rack $13.50, full rack $23.50); you must order brisket by the half pound ($16.50, or $33 per pound), and it comes with two sides.
Go: 749 Central Park Ave., 914-725-6400, dnasmokehousebbq.com.
Q, Port Chester
Decor is clean and unfussy, service always speedy and polite. And most importantly the barbecue comes in big, meaty portions that will have you smacking your lips. Most entree orders come with the choice of two side dishes, and we like the collard greens, hickory pit baked beans and biscuits with maple butter. Bonus points to Q for curbside service. Whether you order a lunch salad or full rack of ribs for dinner, let them know when you arrive and enjoy delivery right to your car. A guaranteed crowd-pleasing meal to bring home after work. Gluten-free, nut-free and children's menus are also available.
Takeout: Wood-smoked St. Louis ribs with choice of two sides and cornbread (full-slab $26.95, half-slab $19, quarter-slab $13.25); Q Sampler Plate with chicken, brisket, pulled pork, two sides and cornbread ($29.50); barbecue chicken wings with two sides and cornbread ($16). By the pound: brisket ($18.50); pulled pork ($17.50); sausage ($17.75).
Go: 112 N. Main St., Port Chester, 914-933-7427, qrestaurantandbar.com.
Bailey's Smokehouse, Blauvelt
Both locations, the sit-down restaurant in Blauvelt and butcher shop and take-out spot in West Haverstraw, share the same to-go menu, with favorites like Texas lollipops (smoked sausages wrapped in bacon and dipped in apple butter barbecue sauce), BBQ Burnt Ends (bite sized end cuts of brisket and bacon tossed in barbecue sauce), wings, barbecue platters, fried chicken and those all-important sides (including their famed corn soufflé and mac 'n' cheese). Bailey's also offers full off-site catering services with party packages for groups of 35 and greater start at $20 per person.
Takeout: Full rack of ribs, choice of St. Louis-style spare ribs or marinated baby backs ($20.95); barbecue sampler for two with choice of pulled pork, pulled chicken, brisket, sausage, barbecue chicken or ribs plus two sides ($29.99); whole Southern fried and barbecued chicken with three sides and fries ($35.95). By the pound: pulled pork ($15); pulled chicken ($15); sliced brisket ($17); spicy smoked sausage ($17). At least 24-hour notice required for large orders.
Go: 136 Erie St. E. 845-365-4004. www.baileysny.com.
Northern Smoke, Carmel
Southern-style barbecue with a Northeastern twist, all meats are smoked with cherry and hickory for a bold flavor. There are several tables to sidle up to with your pulled pork sandwich, barbecue-style burrito or sliced brisket Ruben, but platters and combo meals are perfectly suited for take-out. There's also a nice build-your-own-barbecue option for hand selecting menu items like salads, sandwiches and something from the pit for one big order.
Takeout: Chicken and ribs combo with a half chicken, half rack of spare ribs, two sides and cornbread ($21.95); Hog Sampler with pulled pork, full rack of ribs, house-smoked sausage, bacon, thee sides and cornbread ($59.95); Sampler for one that includes choice of three meats— pulled pork, pulled chicken, brisket, sausage, half chicken or spare ribs— plus two sides and cornbread ($21.95).
Go: 166 Stoneleigh Ave., Carmel, 845-669-8600, nsbbq.com.


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Eclipse DemoCamps November 2009/Braunschweig/Hanover
< Eclipse DemoCamps November 2009
Revision as of 11:52, 16 October 2009 by Ralph.eclipse.org (Talk | contribs) (→Attendees)
Braunschweig/Hanover Demo Camp, Wednesday 25th November
Coming soon
Date and time
25th November, time TBC
Bredex GmbH
Brox IT-Solution GmbH
If you would like to present at the demo camp, please feel free to add your name and topic to the list. Depending on the number of people interested we may have to limit the number of presenters and time of each demo.
1. Name, Topic
If you plan on attending, please add your name and company to the list below.
1. Name, Company
- Ralph Mueller, Eclipse Foundation