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This article explains recovery options, steps to take to recover from a disaster or downtime situation, and Datto resources that can assist with disaster recovery.
- Datto ALTO
- Datto SIRIS
- Datto NAS
Before deciding on a course of action, take the time to define the problem, to avoid wasting time going down the wrong path. Think about the following:
What is the cause of the downtime?
Unless the problem is obvious (such as a natural or physical disaster), determine why your machine is down. Keep these items in mind:
- Has a piece of hardware failed?
- Did the OS become corrupt through infection by viruses or malware?
- Was there a problematic software update?
- Have your recent screenshot verifications been successful? If not, when did the problems begin?
- Is the outage due to a utility or ISP? Get an update from your provider regarding the length of the outage.
The answers to these questions determine the appropriate restore method, and which recovery point to use.
Is there an easy solution?
Try the simple solution first. For example:
- Is the file you are looking for in the recycle bin?
- Do you have malware or corruption that can be easily fixed?
- Did you try a Windows repair disk?
- Keep in mind that it is quicker and easier to restore to the hardware you are already using, if possible.
File/Granular Restore vs. Full Machine Restore
In most cases, you do not need to virtualize an entire machine to recover one or more files. If you need to restore data, the quickest procedure is a file or application restore.
Conversely, do you need the OS volume but not the data? In the case of a large data store, it may be quicker to do a hybrid restore in which you spin up a VM of the OS volume and then do a file restore of the data volume. For this option, you'll need the help of Datto Technical Support.
What Datto product are you using?
The restoration options that you have depend on which Datto product you are using. This article is geared towards Datto's Intelligent Business Continuity Devices - SIRIS and ALTO. But there is also guidance for doing file restores from Datto NAS.
Getting back to business
Once you've determined your recovery objective (what you are trying to restore and from when), decide on your next steps. The following chart can help make the decision process easier.
Figure 1: Disaster recovery decision flow chart (click to enlarge)
Restore Options
Below is a list of restore options that may be available to you depending on the Datto product and the nature of the situation. Several of these options are available directly from the Restore tab of the Datto device GUI.
File Restore
You can perform a local file restore from a recovery point of a protected machine or NAS share. To do so, see the article File Restore With SIRIS. If you need to restore a file from an iSCSI share, perform an iSCSI Restore.
If your Datto appliance is inaccessible or not functioning, you can perform a file restore from the Datto Cloud. See the article Cloud File Restore From Recovery Launchpad.
Full Machine Restore
If you need to restore an entire machine from a SIRIS or ALTO, we recommend that you virtualize a recovery point before doing a Bare Metal Restore (BMR). Then, use that recovery point to do the BMR. There are three advantages to this course of action:
- It allows you to get back to business in an instant.
- It proves that the recovery point can virtualize.
- You would discover any problems with the recovery point right away, as opposed to finding them in the middle of the BMR process.
It's important to test your recovery point before performing a Bare Metal Restore.
Tip: If you are running a Virtual Machine for business continuity, and you choose to back it up, use the backup points it creates to perform the restore of the production machine.
Local Virtualization and Diskless Restore
Unless your Datto device is inaccessible, we highly recommend that you virtualize locally rather than from the Cloud.
Perform virtualization tests (local and offsite) regularly, to find and fix issues before an actual disaster recovery situation.
The following table points you to the appropriate virtualization procedure for your SIRIS or ALTO device:
|Device Type
|Local VM
|Cloud VM
|Hybrid VM
|Local VM
|Cloud VM
|Hybrid VM
|Hybrid VM
Datto NAS appliances do not have virtualization capability; you must do a file restore to recover data from these devices.
If you want to virtualize your system with VMware, see the article ESXi Virtualization Configuration for more information.
If you need to troubleshoot a virtual machine, refer to the Disaster Recovery category of the Datto Knowledge Base.
Diskless Restore
Diskless Restore is a method of virtualizing a system backed up to a SIRIS or ALTO in which you can virtualize from any target hardware capable of booting from a USB stick. The imaged USB boots through iPXE on the network card of the local machine and then virtualizes the recovery point from the Datto. You can use this method when you don't want to use up the Datto device's resources (RAM, CPUs) for the virtualization.
Rapid Rollback
This option does not appear in the Datto appliance GUI, but it is available for all SIRIS and ALTO appliances via the Datto Utilities environment. Rapid Rollback allows you to restore only the files which changed on a production machine since the last backup. Use this option to undo widespread file changes, such as those caused by a ransomware infection, or to restore deleted data to its original state and location on a protected system.
See Rapid Rollback: Getting Started to learn more.
USB Bare Metal Restore
With SIRIS or ALTO, you can do a Bare Metal Restore (BMR). To perform a BMR, your system must meet these requirements:
- The target machine must have 64-bit hardware. 32-bit Windows operating systems are supported by the USB BMR process as long as the target machine is built with 64-bit hardware.
- The target machine must be able to boot from a USB. To force a USB boot, you can try using a boot loader such as Plop.
- The USB Bare Metal Restore environment is not intended to be a server imaging tool. It is meant to act as a tool to restore downed servers. This restore process is not a deployment tool.
- OSes will be restored as a single partition, so if you have a software RAIDed OS, do not use the USB BMR method. Call Datto Technical Support for this type of recovery.
Note: To restore other software RAIDed partitions, restore the OS, and then configure the other partitions in Windows as a software RAID. Once completed, do a file restore on the necessary snapshot on the Datto and transfer it over. Datto recommends contacting Support to copy with Windows file permissions, as a regular file restore cannot do this directly. Support uses Robocopy to perform this task.
For IRIS 2 appliances: Legacy USB Bare Metal Restore: Getting Started
For IRIS 3 appliances: USB Bare Metal Restore (BMR): Getting Started
Restore to a Hypervisor
From ALTO or SIRIS, you can restore as a virtual machine to Microsoft Hyper-V or VMWare.
Export Image
Use this option to export the recovery point to vSphere Hypervisor (via VMDK) or Microsoft Hyper-V (via VHD). You can export to an attached USB drive or a Network Share (CIFS/Samba or NFS).
This option is available for Windows and Linux protected machines.
For instructions to Export an Image, see the article Restore: Export Image.
ESXi Upload
This option uploads a restore point to a connected ESXi host via VMware Converter. Use this option if you want to use the ESXi host for computing power and as a datastore. Depending on the size of your datastore, this may take a while to transfer. Once transferred, there is no disk I/O burden on the SIRIS, nor need for adequate bandwidth between the SIRIS and the ESXi host. The datastore is thick provisioned on the ESXi host, which increases the speed of the virtualization.
This option is available for Windows and Linux protected machines.
Microsoft Exchange Data Restore
SIRIS machines come with licensing for Kroll Ontrack PowerControls for Exchange and SQL. This tool allows you to restore individual Exchange messages, individual Exchange mailboxes, or many Exchange mailboxes. To use this tool, refer to the article Exchange Mailbox Restore with Kroll Ontrack.
Microsoft SQL Data Restore
For the procedure to do a SQL Data Restore with Kroll Ontrack PowerControls for SQL, log into the Web UI of your Datto, and go to Advanced → Granular Restore. For step by step instructions, see the article Granular SQL Restore With Ontrack PowerControls.
Active Directory Restore
We recommend that you follow Microsoft's instructions on how to restore AD. See the Microsoft TechNet article Restoring Active Directory from Backup Media.
Restoring from the Datto Cloud
If you are running a Virtual Machine in the Datto Cloud and need to bring your data back onsite for a Bare Metal Restore or a File Restore, you have two options. If the restore is small and you have the bandwidth to receive the restore in a reasonable amount of time, Datto Technical Support can transfer your data back to your Datto device. If you have a larger restore, we offer a Reverse Round Trip drive. As the name suggests, it is the opposite of seeding your data in the Cloud, as we will reverse-seed your device back from the Cloud. See the article Reverse RoundTrip (RevRT) Process; Physical Data Retrieval From Cloud for more information.
Datto Disaster Recovery Resources
Ensuring business continuity during disaster events is crucial. The following resources will help you prepare for disaster recovery triage of IT infrastructure in an impacted area.
Proactive Disaster Recovery Checklist
- Make sure that all active production machines are protected and backing up. You can use the Partner Portal's BCDR Status view to ensure that all expected volumes are protected. Also, make sure that recent backups are successfully replicated offsite for each production machine.
- Check that all recent screenshots for each production machine show a full boot of the host OS. Successful screenshots are your proof that a production machine will virtualize and restore in the event of a disaster.
- Make sure that any site to which you, your technician, or your end-users evacuate has power generation, Internet, and cell phone connectivity. If possible and if necessary, take your Datto appliances to the alternate site with you.
- Take corrective action as soon as possible. The Datto Partner Portal is your best source for Disaster Recovery resources. You can also use the Partner Portal to connect with Datto Support via chat, email, or phone.
Network Continuity
The Datto Networking Appliance (DNA) is designed to ensure network continuity of an impacted site when disaster strikes. If a client location loses connection to the Internet due to a local ISP outage or an on-site server failure, the DNA can immediately failover to a wireless 4G LTE connection, preserving your site's link to the outside world. See our Datto Networking Appliance: Getting Started guide for more information.
IT Infrastructure Continuity
Ensuring network continuity is only the first step in a disaster recovery scenario. The continuity of your IT infrastructure is also critical. Datto's SIRIS, ALTO, and Cloud solutions provide a variety of failover and restore options when disaster strikes. The following resources will help you prepare.
- Datto Disaster Recovery Guide
- Datto Appliance Restore Options
- Hybrid Virtualization
- Cloud Virtualization
- Rescue Agent
- USB Bare Metal Restore: Getting Started
The Datto Partner Portal
Visit the Datto Partner Portal for disaster preparedness information. For live updates, follow @dattosupport on Twitter.
Datto Help
Datto's new Help Portal is a one-stop location for self-service resources. Featuring a powerful search engine that aggregates results from across the Datto ecosystem, the Help Portal delivers relevant results and can connect you to Technical Support if you need further assistance.
Datto Technical Support
Datto Technical Support is on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Should you need help with any Datto-related solution, here's how to get in touch.
The Datto Disaster Response Team
If you are in an impacted area, there is a good chance that the Datto Disaster Response Team is on the ground with you. Our response teams carry the entire Networking and Continuity product lines with them to assist in recovery efforts. To request their support, call the DRT hotline at 310-956-1200, or email email@example.com.


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Transform your hard copy manuscript into a digital one for at least 50% off our services with several free upgrades. Digitizing your manuscript is just the first step in many different paths.One of which could be reprinting at a moment's notice. If you choose to reprint, take advantage of this special to digitize your manuscript – with many popular upgrades – absolutely FREE! Visit our website for full details.
Digitize Manuscript Special: Only until Valentine's Day! Wednesday, Feb 4 2015
Book Production and Computer & Software and Updates digital, digitize, electronic, half off, improve, manuscript, master, scan, transform, update 11:37 am
February, 2015 Magazine – Computers Monday, Feb 2 2015
Computer & Software and Electronic Magazine catagorize, digitize, dpi, file, graphic, master, maximize, organize, photo, photograph, resolution, size 2:08 pm
Rare is the photograph you'll only use once in your manuscript. Often times, it may also be used online, through social networking, sharing with family, and promotional materials of many types. If you've not digitized a photo yet, we suggest a couple of options:
Keep masters of the highest resolution you have captured or can make – until replacing with updates or improvements. Reduce quality and size for each use from master.
Evaluate all uses you feel you will need and capture or produce graphics of a size that will satisfy them all.
This section is drawn from http://www.gregathcompany.com/service/markting/website.html

subset: commoncrawl


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EPA Proposes Guidance
for Labeling Pesticides Under the National Organic Program
EPA is releasing for comment a draft Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice describing how pesticide registrants can apply to have their labels indicate that a product meets the criteria defined in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) Rule. Under the proposal, registrants can seek EPA approval to place an "NOP" symbol on the labels of pesticide products that are suitable for use on organic farms. Approved label language would state the following: "The ingredients in this product meet the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program."
EPA developed this proposal in support of the recent NOP Rule issued on December 21, 2000, by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. The NOP rule establishes national standards for the production and handling of organically produced products. USDA maintains a national list of approved and prohibited substances, which include pesticide active ingredients, for use in organic production and handling.
According to the proposal, EPA would begin processing applications for review of new or amended product labels when the PR Notice goes into effect and EPA has received a list of acceptable active and inert ingredients from USDA. EPA would only review labeling submissions for pesticide products that are registered or proposed to be registered.
Information on the
USDA National Organic Program is available at www.ams.usda.gov/nop/. The
draft proposal will be available on EPA's web site: www.epa.gov/PR_Notices/.


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Social Media Campaign Review: Vespa India Gets into the Festive Spirit, this Diwali
Another Diwali centric campaign that's cashing in on the festive spirit that sweeps across India this time of the year, Vespa, the automobile brand has chosen the right time to launch a social media campaign.
The contest with Diwali as its theme is a way of engaging with audiences about celebrating life in its little moments.
Hosted on a dedicated Facebook app, the Vespa Diwali campaign encourages fans to share their Diwali moments by:
- Uploading their favorite Diwali photos of their city
- Sharing the photos with Vespa India through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
On Facebook send them an inbox message. On Twitter tweet at @Vespa_In with #VespaDiwali. On Instagram share photos with them @vespaindia with #VespaDiwali. Keep your fingers crossed and you could win exciting prizes!
The campaign is simple with a festive theme. Timed just right as Diwali is the time many people purchase new automobiles and Vespa might just be able to leverage its sales with this campaign. The brevity of the campaign which runs from 31st October to 3rd November is a good thing, the campaign is not a long drawn out one which in fact contributes to keeping interest alive.
Celebrating the festive spirit through photos and winning prizes for the same is not too complicated and fun. The offline aspect is also taken care of. By letting people share photos on three platforms they seek to garner greater participation online.
Scope for Improvement
It is just a photo-upload upload contest, there is nothing unique about it. Moreover, it lacks integration. They have made no ateempt to link the contest app to all the three platforms, for the convenience of the users.
The Brand could have curated this user generated content by quoting their participants or mentioning them across all their social networks.
In keeping with its brand message that encourages people to celebrate life in moments Vespa seems to have picked the right time to get people involved in its festive promotional endeavour.


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Find out more about how you can save water and save money.
That's why we have a dedicated team to help you save water and save money.
We've reduced the amount of water lost through leaks on our network by 50% over the past 10 years, which has helped us to reduce the amount of water we extract from the rivers in Wales to provide drinking water.
On average, we find and fix more than 100 bursts and leaks every day. If you spot a leak on our water pipes, please tell us about it so we can fix it.
The quickest way to tell us is by completing our quick and easy form or you can contact us by webchat or telephone.
The more information you can give us the quicker we can identify and fix the leak.
Things to tell us:
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I just had the biggest scare of my life for this year!!!
I was in the middle of working on my social media calendar and something told me to check my phone. I checked the phone and I had the kids starting at their new school tomorrow!!! I jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to my husband. He instinctively shook his head and asked what did I f@ck up this time (he acts like he knows me after 16 years). I told him the kids start tomorrow and he reminded me that he kept telling me to double check. But I did!!!
I needed a glass of wine, but there was no time to pour it, so I grabbed the bottle!
For those who have seen my daughter's hair, you know that it takes HOURS if I'm doing both heads. I started on Madison's this afternoon, and planned on doing Jordan's tomorrow. Ughhh now what?
No time for hair, it's almost midnight. I slide (literally) to the laundry room to see if they finished their laundry. The clothes were ready but I needed matching socks. Hubby was laughing at me and said to go sit down and relax before I have a full on anxiety attack.
I went back to the bedroom and decided to check the website. I was sure I'd seen 1/4 on there. At the same moment hubby yelled that it was the 4th and to take my butt to bed.
Lol in my defense, the school secretary told me the 3rd on the day I registered them. That's why it was in my phone. Hmmph, I knew I wasn't crazy


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Bobby (Blue) Bland, Soul and Blues Balladeer, Dies at 83Bobby (Blue) Bland, left, with B.B. King, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.Credit...Mark Lennihan/Associated Press
By Bill Friskics-Warren
Bobby (Blue) Bland, the debonair balladeer whose sophisticated, emotionally fraught performances helped modernize the blues, died on Sunday at his home in Germantown, Tenn., a suburb of Memphis. He was 83.
His death was confirmed by his son, Rodd, who played drums in his band.
Though he possessed gifts on a par with his most accomplished peers, Mr. Bland never achieved the popular acclaim enjoyed by contemporaries like Ray Charles and B. B. King. But he was nevertheless a mainstay on the rhythm-and-blues charts and club circuit for decades.
His vocals, punctuated by the occasional squalling shout, were restrained, exhibiting a crooner's delicacy of phrasing and a kind of intimate pleading. He influenced everyone from the soul singers Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett to rock groups like the Allman Brothers and The Band. The rapper Jay-Z sampled Mr. Bland's 1974 single "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" on his 2001 album, "The Blueprint."
Mr. Bland's signature mix of blues, jazz, pop, gospel and country music was a good decade in the making. His first recordings, made in the early 1950s, found him working in the lean, unvarnished style of Mr. King, even to the point of employing falsetto vocal leaps patterned after Mr. King's. Mr. Bland's mid-'50s singles were more accomplished; hits like "It's My Life, Baby" and "Farther Up the Road" are now regarded as hard-blues classics, but they still featured the driving rhythms and stinging electric guitar favored by Mr. King and others. It wasn't until 1958's "Little Boy Blue," a record inspired by the homiletic delivery of the Rev. C. L. Franklin, that Mr. Bland arrived at his trademark vocal technique.
"That's where I got my squall from," Mr. Bland said, referring to the sermons of Mr. Franklin — "Aretha's daddy," as he called him — in a 1979 interview with the author Peter Guralnick. "After I had that I lost the high falsetto. I had to get some other kind of gimmick, you know, to be identified with."
The corresponding softness in Mr. Bland's voice, a refinement matched by the elegant formal wear in which he appeared onstage, came from listening to records by pop crooners like Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett and Perry Como.Image Mr. Bland was honored at the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2012.Credit...Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal, via Associated Press
Just as crucial to the evolution of Mr. Bland's sound was his affiliation with the trumpet player and arranger Joe Scott, for years the director of artists and repertory for Duke Records in Houston. Given to dramatic, brass-rich arrangements, Mr. Scott, who died in 1979, supplied Mr. Bland with intricate musical backdrops that set his supple baritone in vivid relief.
The two men accounted for more than 30 Top 20 rhythm-and-blues singles for Duke from 1958 to 1968, including the No. 1 hits "I Pity the Fool" and "That's the Way Love Is." Steeped in vulnerability and emotional candor, his performances earned him a devoted female audience.
Though only four of his singles from these years — "Turn On Your Love Light," "Call on Me," "That's the Way Love Is" and "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" — crossed over to the pop Top 40, Mr. Bland's recordings resonated with the era's blues-leaning rock acts. The Grateful Dead made "Love Light" a staple of their live shows. The Band recorded his 1964 single "Share Your Love With Me" for their 1973 album, "Moondog Matinee." Van Morrison included a version of "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" on his 1974 live set, "It's Too Late to Stop Now."
Mr. Bland himself broke through to pop audiences in the mid-'70s with "His California Album" and its more middle-of-the-road follow-up, "Dreamer." But his greatest success always came in the rhythm-and-blues market, where he placed a total of 63 singles on the charts from 1957 to 1985. He signed with the Mississippi-based Malaco label in 1985 and made a series of well-received albums that appealed largely to fans of traditional blues and soul music.
Mr. Bland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 1997.
Robert Calvin Brooks was born on Jan. 27, 1930, in Millington, Tenn., just north of Memphis. His father, I. J. Brooks, abandoned the family when Bobby was very young. His mother, Mary Lee, married Leroy Bridgeforth, who also went by the name Leroy Bland, when Bobby was 6.
Mr. Bland dropped out of school in the third grade to work in the cotton fields. Though he never learned to write music or play an instrument, he cited the music of the pioneering blues guitarist T-Bone Walker as an early influence.Image Bobby (Blue) Bland performing in Houston, around 1964.Credit...Michael Ochs Archives, via Getty Images
After moving to Memphis in 1947, Mr. Bland began working in a garage and singing spirituals in a group called the Miniatures. In 1949 he joined the Beale Streeters, a loose-knit collective whose members at various points included Johnny Ace, Rosco Gordon, Earl Forest and B. B. King, all of whom went on to become popular blues performers as solo artists.
Mr. Bland also traveled as a part of the Johnny Ace Revue and recorded for the Chess, Modern and Duke labels before being drafted into the Army in 1952. Several of these recordings were made under the supervision of the producer Sam Phillips at Sun Studios in Memphis; none sold particularly well.
After his time in the service Mr. Bland worked as a chauffeur, a valet and an opening act for the Memphis rhythm-and-blues singer Junior Parker, just as he had for Mr. King. He toured as a headliner throughout the '60s, playing as many as 300 one-night engagements a year, a demanding schedule that exacerbated his struggles with alcohol. He performed widely, in the United States and abroad, until shortly before his death.
In addition to his son, Rodd, Mr. Bland's survivors include his wife, Willie Mae; a daughter, Patrice Moses; and four grandchildren. Rodd Bland said his father had recently learned that the blues singer and harmonica player James Cotton was his half-brother.
Mr. Bland's synthesis of Southern vernacular music and classy big-band arrangements made him a stylistic pioneer, but whatever he accomplished by way of formal innovation ultimately derived from his underlying faith in the emotional power of the blues.
"I'd like to be remembered as just a good old country boy that did his best to give us something to listen to and help them through a lot of sad moments, happy moments, whatever," he said in a 2009 interview with the syndicated "House of Blues Radio Hour."
"Whatever moments you get of happiness, use it up, you know, if you can, because it don't come that often."
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On October 26th, former head baseball and athletic coach at Housatonic Community College, Ed Sylvia, will be inducted into the Diamond Club Hall of Fame for his contributions to baseball in the state.
Ed was hired by HCC founding president, Edward Liston to coach a developing men's basketball team in 1967. Shortly after, he was named Coordinator of Athletics at HCC to develop soccer, tennis, golf and baseball programs.
In addition to actively coaching, he introduced Physical Education courses and intramural sports activities at the college. P.E. included Nautilus fitness training, racquetball, bowling, and swimming. Additionally, he was an assistant counselor in admissions.
Having started during HCC's earliest years in Stratford, Ed recently shared his memories of the school's initial locations. "Every other week we were opening a new site for classes," he said. Bunnell High School, where Ed taught English two years prior to coming to HCC, was one of those places.
"The first year at Bunnell, our athletes shared the facility when they weren't in use by the high school students," he said, "They also practiced at an Armory and at eleven different home fields." He added that playing at Seaside Park was "incredibly cold" with the wind coming off the water. "We would shiver for three hours of practice," he said.
Ironically, the ballpark at Harbor Yard was built within walking distance of HCC's current location the year when Ed retired.
At the height of Connecticut community college athletics, nine of the twelve colleges were competing for championships in over five sports. "Of the hundreds of student athletes I coached in baseball, seven had the good fortune of signing professional contracts. A few of them played minor league Double A Ball, just two steps from major league baseball," he said.
Due to widespread budget cuts in the early '90s, competition disappeared at most of the state's community colleges. "The reason was always insufficient money to support a program," he said.
HCC athletics ended after the final baseball season in 1996, but Ed continued to serve the college as Registrar for a total of 13 years. He retired from the college in 2005 after working 38 years at Housatonic.
Ed's daughter, Shelley Tomey, is HCC Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education and is also the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Inclusive Education Program. "I always know what is happening at HCC since my daughter is there. I love seeing the college expand and grow," he said.


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In 2016, most parts of the UK experienced property price growth. In some areas, such as Bedfordshire, this was significant, with some properties rising by a fifth in value. However, one location skips the trend – and that's London.
If you're interested in investment properties in London, read on.
London Property Prices
According to recent reports, the rate of growth in the capital has dropped below the national average for the first time in nine years. Although overall, prices still continued to rise, they only rose at an annual rate of 3.7%, which was less than the UK average of 4.5%.
Experts suggest that it was only a matter of time before this began to happen. London property prices have been prohibitively expensive for a number of years, particularly in Central London, where it's not uncommon for averagely sized houses to go for over £1m.
At present, average house prices across the capital are £473,073, which is still significantly above the UK's average of £205,937 – but may be set to drop further in the future.
What Does the Future Have in Store?
Property investment agents remain unsure about what the future holds for the London property market. Prices are largely dependent on political and economic circumstances, which are rather up in the air at present, due largely to Brexit.
However, the housing shortage in London is likely to keep demand high – and the current trend seems to suggest that more people than ever are moving into rented accommodation. This is bad news for first-time buyers, but good for UK property investors – and it seems that now is an excellent time to look for buy-to-let properties for sale in the city.
Will the Market Recover?
It's impossible to predict with any certainty what will happen a few years down the line. London is likely to remain a highly popular area, which suggests prices will eventually start rising once more. With increasing numbers of people renting too, becoming a landlord in London seems a wise idea – as demand is currently outstripping supply.
Where to Look?
If you're looking for investment properties in London, the outer boroughs seem to be the most lucrative at the moment – both in terms of rental yield and capital growth potential. This is particularly the case with places due to get a Crossrail station, as the train line has pushed prices up considerably. Savvy investors are now looking at potential Crossrail 2 locations as good investments for the future.
Affordable locations include Bexley, Barking and Dagenham, Balham and Wandsworth – which currently offer good value for money and excellent ROI.
The Buy2Let Shop in Bromley
If you're looking for investment properties in London, The Buy2Let Shop can help. We're a team of expert property investment agents in London, and we're here to assist with all aspects of your search; from finding the ideal buy-to-let property for sale, to sealing the deal at the right price.
We can also offer support with buying a house at auction, and regularly host property investment seminars, designed to boost your knowledge of the UK property market. To find out more, simply visit The Buy2Let Shop website today.


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There are no products matching the selection.
Levi's Jeans
Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world's largest apparel companies and a global leader in jeans. Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis partnered together and created the original blue jeans in 1853, since then Levi's has been on the forefront of all-american fashion and is one of the largest denim brands in the world. Levi's offers various styles, fits, and washes like the famous 501 and 511. Levi's jeans can be found at Zumiez for men and women and offers destructed as well as good old fashion high quality denim. Pair your favorite pair of Levi's jeans with a band shirt for a grungy look, or go for the streetwear vintage style with a coaches jacket or destructed t-shirt. Levi Strauss is a legend in the denim fashion industry and still delivers quality crafted jeans.


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Just like you would commission a painting, you can hire me to create an image (or many images) for you with the medium of digital photography!
Differing from hiring me to shoot pet portraits, your wedding or commercial imagery, this is about creating artwork to end up as a single piece of wall art via photo commissions. This could be a stunning landscape image of a location dear to you, it could also be in a form more art like – like my abstract landscape images, again of a favourite location, should you not see anything that suits in my galleries, or it could be a silky smooth monochrome long exposure that you will find in my older portfolio work.
The style of the final wall art is not set in stone, there are many options out there and actually too many to list but from the classic framed piece, to canvases, to contemporary installations mounted behind high grade acrylic. All of course using the best materials and craftsmanship available out there both locally and nationally.
With such a variance in options and materials, final costs cannot be listed, but I can give you an example of a typical commission.
*Based on location being within 15 miles of Alnwick, Northumberland. Mileage charges apply after. Print supplied unmounted and unframed rolled in a cardboard tube and either hand delivered or posted recorded delivery.
If you wish to commission me, get in touch with your requirements to discuss and for a no obligation quote.


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Chuan-Hua Gershom Lowe biographical sketch
Dateca. 1970
This item is part of a larger physical collection which consists of the correspondence, papers, and selected books accumulated and saved by Chuan-Hua Gershom Lowe throughout his lifetime as student, journalist, Chinese embassy official, librarian, husband, and father. Lowe was born in China in 1902, earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Chicago, lived again in China, in Burma, in India, in Argentina, in Canada, and again in the U.S., dying in 1996.


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Walking Speed Linked With Heart Health
Walking Speed Linked With Heart Health In Older Adults, Finds New Study | Latest News & Updates At Daily News & Analysis
Walking a little faster or for a few extra blocks may be good for older adults' hearts, according to a new study. In the large prospective community-based study of older Americans, modest physical activity was associated with a lower risk of cardi...
Walking Faster, Longer Good For Elderly
Elderly people who walk faster and longer face a lower risk of cardio-vascular disease (CVD), a large prospective community-based study of older Americans has found.
Seniors Can Walk Their Way Towards Better Health
Those that walked an average of seven blocks a day showed a 47% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to those walking up to five blocks a week. A team of researchers at Tufts University, in the US state of Massachusetts, have found that ...


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In three years, she has carved a niche for herself in the fashion world with her fashion sense, trendy styles and designer clothing with a riot of colors, though white is the dominant color. More importantly, she has succeeded in beautifully blending local and international trends, reflective of her culture and global taste. Meet internationally acclaimed Saudi designer Alanoud Alhajri, who hardly needs any introduction.
Designing beautiful outfits that embrace femininity comes naturally to Alharji, who launched her own label 'Alanoud' in 2011 to give expression to her innate desire to create beautiful things. The brand was created to embrace women's femininity and bring about a balance between modern designs and traditional elegance.
The designs focus on the use of the best quality of materials and excellent workmanship, and white is the dominant color in most of her collections, suggesting the simplicity and purity of the brand.
Born in 1989 and raised in Saudi Arabia, the designer, who is a Business Administration graduate from AOU in Kuwait, is married and lives in Kuwait. We met with her to learn more about her, her designs and her future plans.
Excerpts from the interview:
What first attracted you to fashion? Where do you draw your inspiration?
Since my younger days, we would wear hand-made dresses made by my mom. but she would let us pick the colors, fabrics and all kind of buttons. I was raised in a very creative environment and my mother is my inspiration. She always encouraged us to follow our dreams and passions.
Tell us a little about your brand and what made you interested in designing Kaftan and not anything else?
I believe there is nothing more beautiful than a woman in a kaftan. I wanted to blend our culture and the modern world into a piece of clothing, the feminine mother and the ambitious working lady into one piece of clothing. Each piece I design is intended to project the wearer in an elegant and feminine way.
How would you describe your style of fashion?
I would say simple but edgy at the same time. I love being in white. It puts me in a really good mood.
How do you see fashion in Middle East? Do you think fashion is getting the required attention in the Middle East?
Yes. I am so proud of how stylish and well dressed women in the Gulf are. They pay a lot of attention to their style and it's refreshing. I am happy to find that women are encouraging as well.
Tell me first about Kaftans. I've read that they can be worn on casual or formal occasions, is this true nowadays? Or do women opt for Kaftan on special occasions?
It's true. Kaftans can be worn in simple events like iftar in Ramadan or a henna night (a tradition the family of the Khaleeji bride do one day before the wedding). They can be worn on so many occasions and they are getting more and more popular with designers now putting efforts in choosing the best materials that can make you feel light and comfortable yet elegant.
When designing Kaftans, do you follow international fashion trends or do you invent your own trends?
I mix the two.
What are the latest Kaftan trends nowadays?
There are no limits.
Khaliji Abayas have conquered many parts of the Arab world. Do you believe that Moroccan Kaftans can do the same and be worn by many women in Arab countries?
I believe it depends on the acceptance of society. An abaya is designed in a manner where no part of your body can be shown in detail unlike the Moroccan kaftan that embraces a women's body so well.
What kind of embellishments do you prefer using usually?
Lace, lace and more lace.
How do you put colors together?
Depends on my mood and how the sketches look.
Does the making of a Kaftan take time? And how much?
Yes. Production for each collection takes a month. Each piece takes up to three days of really hard work to make it perfect.
What are your future plans for your fashion brand?
Expansion and to add a line for cocktail dresses and gowns.
Where can we find your designs?
Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai and Russia.
Email: [email protected]


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Many associate liver diseases with alcohol, but that's just one cause, says an expert. Water and food are common carriers of the H...
Many associate liver diseases with alcohol, but that's just one cause, says an expert. Water and food are common carriers of the Hepatitis virus that affects the liver.
Ashish Sharma, consultant, internal medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Ghaziabad, explains the different types of hepatitis, the symptoms and vaccines available:
Hepatitis A - It is the most harmless virus of the lot. Contamination of food and water are the prime reasons for the infection. The best way to prevent it is to be careful of what you eat. Avoid unpacked or unsealed food or drinks.
* Symptoms: Inflamed liver, no appetite, jaundice, nausea, vomiting and fever.
* Vaccine: The vaccine is easily available. It can be taken by anyone above the age of one. Two doses are given at a time, six months apart. It can protect you for at least 20 years.
Hepatitis B - This virus can go undetected for decades before irreversible liver damage has been done. It is usually infected through blood, saliva, unprotected sex and from the mother to the foetus. Cuts are very frequent during shaving, so it is advisable not to share the razor because the blood may dry, but the virus can live for a week.
* Symptoms: Frequent stomach pain, skin rashes and dark urine.
* Vaccine: Newborn babies must be immunized within 72 hours of birth and three injections can be given at the ages of zero, one and six. Protection will last for 25 years.
Hepatitis C - It can go undetected for upto 20 years. It has yet to be proved that it can be passed through sexual contact, but blood-to-blood infection is the general route. Tattooing with unsterilized needles is a definite route of transmitting Hepatitis B and C. If sterilized equipment is not used, the virus may spread.
* Symptoms: Poor appetite, jaundice, nausea, disturbed sleep and depression.
* Vaccine: No vaccine is available at the moment.
Hepatitis D - Those who have been infected by Hepatitis B can also be infected with Hepatitis D.
* Symptoms: Fatigue, vomiting, slow fever, dark urine and light stool.
* Vaccine: The vaccine used for Hepatitis B can also be used in this case.
Hepatitis E - It can be transmitted through oral route.
* Symptoms: Jaundice, appetite and weight loss, nausea, enlarged and tender liver.
Courtesy: Yahoo


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It's October! This means that—along with all those ever-important holidays like "Global Handwashing Day," "National Feral Cat Day," and "International Day of the Nacho"—it is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Unlike "Sweetest Day" (which I had honestly never heard of until I moved to Michigan), you do not have to buy someone candy to show your affections, you simply need to make certain that you are taking care to protect your online privacy.
As part of NCSAM, I thought that I would talk a bit about something we do not consider much: the password. Many of us realize that they are unavoidable, but consider them a nuisance that has to be worked around in order to do the things we want or need to do.
The average person spends eleven hours connected to the internet every day. From banking to chatting with friends, uploading a paper on Canvas to registering for classes, there is really no limit to the things we do on a daily basis online. Almost every single resource we use—from Facebook to Wayne Connect—is secured with a password. You may choose to better secure yourself using two-factor authentication (which I covered last year for NCSAM) but the first line of defense is always our password.
Sadly, most of the population is really bad at creating passwords. For example, this past week, I happened to watch the first episode of the Murphy Brown reboot, in which Candice Bergen's character instructs her son to use "password" as the password for a new Twitter account. Amazingly, the IRS was actually discovered to be using "password" for a password for secure systems in 2015.
I find it interesting that we still have lists of worst passwords. In 2017, Time Magazine reported this list of the top ten worst passwords:
- 123456
- Password
- 12345678
- qwerty
- 12345
- 123456789
- letmein
- 1234567
- football
- iloveyou
These few statistics point out exactly why we cannot take risks with simple passwords:
- 10,000 of the most common passwords (such as 12345, qwerty, or 123456) can access 98% of accounts.
- 90% of passwords generated by users are vulnerable to hacking.
- The average user has around 26 online profiles or accounts, yet they only use five passwords for all of them.
- In 2014, five million Gmail passwords were hacked and released online.
- In 2017, Yahoo admitted that the data breach that had occurred three years earlier reached three million accounts.
So, what is important in creating a password?
- Make it unique. Do not use the same password for more than one account. If a hacker gains access to one account, they will have access to every account using that password.
- Make it long. Longer passwords are simply more secure. You should be using at least eight characters.
- Use a phrase. Using more than one word increases its security. Use a phrase no one else would know.
- Vary the characters. Combine uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters in your password. This has become a requirement for many accounts. As an example, using this and the last suggestion, if you wanted to set your password as "happy birthday", write it as "H@ppyB1r+hD@y."
- Avoid personal information and common words. Do not use information that someone could easily find out. If someone can learn your child's name and the day they were born from a simple Facebook post, you are not choosing a good password.
With those thoughts, I would highly suggest that you consider using a password manager to create and maintain unique credentials for all of your profiles. A password manager is a type of software that creates, stores, and protects passwords. The best of these services should have an app for your mobile device that works in conjunction with add-ons for your computer's browsers. This allows you to have your information everywhere you go.
Some of the top password managers are Dashlane, LastPass, and Keeper. Though there are free versions of some of these, they are often limited to the number of passwords they will store or how much you can share a password. Given the cost and hassle that goes along with identity theft, these programs are generally worth the cost. Since most of us have many accounts we are juggling in our lives, we would all be best served by using one.
Good news to remember for NCSAM! I know how much people complain when our Wayne State accounts require us to change our password. Because we would want to encourage all of the Wayne State family to use better passwords, C&IT instituted a policy where we will never again ask you to change your password if it meets certain strength requirements.
Have a wonderful National Cyber Security Awareness Month! Celebrate by spending a little time making certain that your information is safe both at home and work.
If you'd like some more tips for creating a secure password, see this excellent infographic from Mike's Gear Reviews below.


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And The Hits Just Kept On Coming
"I've been getting killed here man. I have seven admissions waiting for you already" and his face did that awful contortion we do when we tell someone they have cancer or something.
I really felt for him. It's not bad enough that the Medical Admitting Resident (MAR) is a powerless job, a triage secretary of sorts, but all he ever gets to do is give bad news to Residents and Interns who end up bitching at him and he ends up bitching about the Emergency Physicians (EP). It's a sort of insult pyramid we pay strict adhesion to, we bitch about him (MAR), MARs bitch about the EP, EP's bitch about Everyone Else.
Well, I admitted ten patients overnight, myself. The other nightfloat added another ten and various other Residents added fifteen more. All together, a really busy f--king night. There was a lot of insulting, bitching, yelling, laughing, and general downright putting down but it all added up to the Medical Madhouse Record of total patients admitted overnight.
When Cardiology COMMISH came in the morning he nearly peed when he found out how many patients we had to "discuss". We had him "EKG'd-out" by the tenth patient and all "Chest-X-Raid fatigued" by the fifteenth, all "damn the CT" by the twentieth and all "Screw Neuro" by the twenty first.
And the hits just kept on coming. Two hours later, morning intake rounds turned into morning intake weekend conference and a look of admiration came upon the other Residents in the room as they had realized that we had accomplished the previously unaccomplished. Not only did we set The Record, but we had the Commish back in his chair, grasping for air, and…all E.K.G'd out!


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Design this box for my little elves. No need support and is very resistant
Fill density =0
none Support
shell thickness 0.8
I was born in Madrid, Spain. I started drawing and modeling in my early childhood. I studied Fine Arts at the University of Madrid (Complutense). I specialized in sculpture and went on to study modelling and ceramics in in Madrid Ceramics School. I worked as a graphic designer for eight years and then as an illustrator for several years. I am also a sculptor and like create articulated dolls. I invite you to see my website http://www.soniaverdu.es


text: agree911 0 Report post Posted January 25, 2013 Hi, I'd like to improve the navigation of our visitors by implementing expandable menus in the left sidebar. By expandable menus I mean that there would be a + in front of some of the menu items, and if the visitor clicks on this +, it expands the menu and shows all the entries belonging to the submenu. I Can't find any relevant topic on your forum, regarding expandable menus, but it may my my poor english that prevents me from finding them. Can you help ? Thanks in advance. --ChT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Topic: New PC... Win 7 x64... Dakota seems to crash system at Win7 shutdown
I posted abiout a year ago on this, exchanged with some of you, solved the problem but can't remember steps... Built a new PC this week and as soon as I get drivers installed for the Dakota, without even actually *using* it (nor launch the Dak tray), I can no longer shut down computer : I get blue screen and reboot - have to shut it down physically...
I now wonder if Dakota was the cause of replacing PC.... (old one had a crashing problem that no one was able to point with certainty - blaming a possible motherboard failure... Well, I don't want to capitulate on this and ... would like to get your solutions first to make it work under Win 7 (64bit). Of course I use last available 64bit drivers (3.15) .
Since I am unsure of the source of problem, I stopped rebuilding software on the machine.


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The Craig School is an independent school that specializes in working with students with learning disabilities in grades 2 – 12. We offer an academic program aligned with the NJ Common Core Standards. Our program features proven, research-based learning strategies including multi-sensory approaches, assistive technology, and organizational skills. These tools allow students to build their academic foundations, increase their ability to be active and independent learners, and develop a sense of who they are as individuals and students.
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CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) — A state-sponsored employer of blind and low-vision people says it has laid off 13 workers in Cumberland.
The Cumberland Times-News reported in its Friday edition that Blind Industries and Services of Maryland says it expects the reduction to be temporary.
President Frederick Puente says the layoffs reflect a drop in orders from a government customer that is switching to a new uniform. He says he expects orders and employment to increase after the transition.
The Blind Industries website says its customers include the U.S. Defense Department and Federal Prison Industries.
Blind Industries currently employs 60 people in Cumberland.
Its website says the Baltimore-based not-for-profit corporation employs 500 workers at eleven facilities in Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky and North Carolina.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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Commissioner Keith is flying high with new poetry book
- 15-May-2017 -
Catriona Stewart from the Glasgow Evening Times reports
Glasgow Airport's chaplain has published a collection of poems about his life to raise money for charity.
Inspired by his mother and written in memory of his late wife, Salvation Army officer Commissioner Keith Banks's book is about life, love and loss. Commissioner Keith began writing poems in his thirties as a way of recording personal moments in his life. Now 74, the father-of-two has gathered a selection of his writings together in a book called Contentment.
It was his mother Muriel's gift for writing poetry that prompted the Salvation Army stalwart to follow suit. "Her playful writing impressed me. I remember laughing with her about the things she had written. My mum derived endless pleasure from perfecting her art. "I started to do the same, although my verses were far less amusing than hers. "I had an inclination to write more seriously but I have no doubt that the desire to do so sprang from the love of crafting words that my mother had given to me."


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I admit, when I was hauling my sorry carcass to breakfast this morning after having a little too much fun at #drinkvis, I was cursing our love affair and calling you not so flattering names. Of course, it was all a lie so I am writing to apologise and to tell you and the State of Search community what a wonderful conference you really are.
It was Think Visibility's fourth outing and my second time heading 'oop norf' to partake in the Leeds hospitality, it did not disappoint – Dom 'The Hodge' Hodgson and his merry band of associates had ensured it was yet again bigger and better than the last event.
For an intimate (around 200 people) conference, it really does pull out the big guns ensuring consistently high quality speakers and some great fun extras that can't be beaten.
Your lanyard not only identifies you to others, it allows you to play Top Trumps with fun facts about your name, and includes some pretty nifty Twitter stickers. Goodie bags included a search engine logo colouring-in competition, an SEO wordsearch, a scratchcard to win a variety of prizes and a box of Ann Summers chocolate bunnies (courtesy of Rishi). With bonuses like this before the day has even started, the Think Visibility team's going the extra mile is already clear.
Despite an unfortunate broken air conditioning situation causing temperatures in the main conference room to soar, the trusty team ran out and bought up Leeds' entire supply of fans, ensuring the show went on without a hitch.
The day kicked off with a keynote from Mel Carson, Community Manager at Bing, on Earning and Learning in Social Media. Mel highlighted some great examples of how important interaction with your audience and advocacy is, explaining how Microsoft have approached their social media strategy – and the technologies they've used – over the last five years.
The Panda Takeaway:
Measure Return On In-Action. It may not be possible to directly attribute ROI to your social media efforts, but what would the cost to your company or brand be if you weren't in those spaces?
There was so much information being shared and so many things to learn, it's difficult to sum it up in one poast but here are some very quick takeaways from the talks I attended:
Rob Kerry on International SEO – predominately a Q&A session – was fuelled by common daily issues faced by multiple country targeting.
The Panda Takeaway:
It's often too expensive and too technically complicated to set up all the ccTLDs for multiple international sites – so place them in a subfolder on your main domain and ensure they are being correctly targeted by setting it in Google Webmaster Tools. If you can buy the domain, 301 or canonical it back to the subfolder.
Lisa Myers on Using Social Media for SEO – huge props to Lisa for presenting in a very hot room, 36 weeks pregnant, without looking even slightly flustered. She summarised some effective and key messages on how to effectively use social media to deliver both traffic and great backlinks.
The Panda Takeaway:
Bad content will always be bad content. It will never get shared or get you links – know your audience and why you are undertaking your campaign before you even think about using social media tools.
Jaamit Durrani on Linkbuilding in Real Life. Jaamit pulled no punches and looked at pro-active link building in detail, immediately delving into tools and methods that are varying shades of grey but which produce results. His slides can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/36889260/Link-Building-in-Real-Life-Think-Visibility-04-09-10
The Panda Takeaway:
Guest blogging – genuine, unique content providing anchor text, in–copy links from well trafficked, decent PR domains. Need you say more?
I also have to mention the interactive Site Clinic seminar that took a look at some previously submitted sites, advising on everything from SEO to user-friendly design, conversion rate optimisation and site monetisation for a number of sites. The panel – featuring Dave Naylor, Michelle Pilcher, Karl Blanks and Kieron Donoghue – really went into depth on every angle of the sites they looked at. Great, actionable advice. More from Dave and Michelle here and here.
Unfortunately I've not yet discovered how to panda-clone so I had to miss out on some interesting sounding talks, which received a lot of great feedback on twitter. These included:
Gary Taylor's introduction to keyword domains and mini-sites – you can see Gary's slides here: http://www.3ac.co.uk/keyword-domains-and-mini-sites-presentation
Karyn Fleeting's PR guide to world domination – her slides are here: http://corporateblogger.co.uk/2010/09/05/think-visibility-4-the-prs-guide-to-world-domination/
Well done to Pete Young and Kieron Hughes who live blogged throughout the day– tropical temperature rooms and #drinkvis hangovers could not have made it easy. More posts can be found here on the Holistic Search site and the Push On blog. Pictures of the event can also be seen on Stephen Lilley's Flickr.
Learning complete, the afterparty kicked off with a charity poker match and the drinks free flowed until the wee hours, with the City Inn Sky Lounge providing an impressive late-night cityscape from high up on the 13th floor.
So here ends my love letter to the #ThinkVis team for constantly bringing together top quality speakers and a great crowd. Now looking forward to Think Visibility 5 in March 2011!
All photo credits go to sk8geek's flickr


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Crossing Nüwa: Book One
For sheltered Robbie, one week of freedom leads to sexual awakening and adventure… but when his world intersects with Theo's, they'll need all their wits and Theo's magic to fight for their future.
Rare male weresnake Robbie has had his whole life decided for him down to his meals. But when the time comes for him to perform an unspeakable duty to his clan, he runs.
San Francisco Pride is in full swing when technomage Theo spots a scared-looking young man with brilliant emerald eyes. He's only looking for a hookup, but before he knows why, he's taking Robbie home and introducing him to champagne and enchiladas. He doesn't have any intention of falling in love.
Robbie doesn't want to return to his clan, at least not without trying to fit a lifetime of experiences into a week, but every day he stays puts Theo in more danger.


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Dear Cubs,
We are at a marina today and tomorrow. I thought going to a marina would be fun because some of them have swimming pools, but now I understand why we go to marinas. We work! 😦 When you are docked at a marina, it means doing laundry, cleaning the heads (bathrooms), shaking out rugs, pumping out holding tanks of waste, refueling, getting water in the water tanks, charging all our electronics, and fixing broken things.
This morning I helped Mrs. Little do our laundry. Then this afternoon I went with Captain James into town to buy a new battery charger for the boat. I forget that we don't have a car to drive. Unless it is really far away, we walk or catch a bus. Today we walked…all 1 ½ miles to West Marina and 1 ½ miles back. Of course I can't complain because I was riding in the backpack. J The captain was tired.
Tonight we are going to watch a movie. Well, they are. I have to go to bed because the movie is rated PG-13. I guess I'll read until I fall asleep.


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1.What makes love last?
- A whole lot of work!
- Realizing that "love" is not always the same as "like"
- Developing common interests and goals while at the same time maintaining an independence
- Turning your relationship over to the Lord and allowing Him to love thru you when times get tough
- Forgiveness
- Patience
- Commitment
- Spontaneity
- Participating in the interests of the other whether they are your favorites or not
2. The Beatles made their US debut fifty years ago this week. Are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite Beatles tune?
Not a fan, never was even after seeing their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. And, I never understood the mania.
3. Valentine's Day-your thoughts? Do you celebrate in any way? Do anything special for the people you love? Expect anything special from the people who love you?
I guess we are old fuddy duds, but, we don't usually celebrate this day any more than others. We used to share a Valentine card, but haven't done that in a long time. We usually go out with friends for dinner, but that's about it. This week, we will join husbands and wives of a new women's organization I recently joined for a special evening. So it will be a get-acquainted time for us as well. I always enjoy time with my Sweetheart.
4. Steak or burger...you have to choose. Now that that's settled, how do you like it?
Right now, we are not eating meats but in the past, give me a juicy, tender Filet Mignon cooked medium well.
5. The Hodgepodge lands on the birthdate (February 12th) of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America. Lincoln is quoted as saying, 'Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test his character give him power.' Do you agree? Why or why not?
I do agree with this. One's true character will always rise to the top when given power. How one handles power is determined by one's character. Persons from pastors, school principals, HOA leaders, politicians and the Occupier are prime examples. Nuff said!
6. Honest Abe's image is featured on the US penny (1 cent coin) so I'm wondering...what do you do with your pennies (or your country's equivalent)? It's been suggested the US stop making the penny, and two bills have been introduced proposing just that, but neither were approved. What say you?
I really have no opinion on this, but having grown up when pennies were actually worth something, I kinda like them. I will admit though getting and giving small change is a bother. What do I do with them? They mount up in my coin purse until I find an opportunity to use them. We also have a container where we collect loose change. Amazing how quickly it mounts up.
7. Do you think pop culture deserves serious study?
Okay, I had to look this up. Wikipedia had this definition:
"Popular culture is the entirety of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes,[1] images, and other phenomena that are within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the late 20th and early 21st century. Heavily influenced by mass media, this collection of ideas permeates the everyday lives of the society."
Now, does it deserve serious study and by whom? Speaking from my personal background, I do think it is beneficial for persons trying to minister to and reach a particular age group to understand what influences them. It is difficult for those who grew up with different mores' and in a different time to understand where a new generation is coming from.
8. Insert your own random thought here.


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Scholarship Options
Cosanti Foundation is currently offering 2 kinds of scholarships:
A limited number of scholarships are offered to qualified individuals who are interested in attending an Arcosanti Workshop programs. The Arcosanti Workshop program consists of 6-week immersive learning experiences at Cosanti and Arcosanti.
- Applicant must participate in Arcosanti 6-week Workshop program and pay $1,300, that includes, tuition, dorm, board and administrative fees.
- Applicant must submit a letter of interest, resume and, 3 professional letters of recommendations
2019 Workshop Scholarship Award: 6-week Hands-on Intensive
Scholarship will be made available for Workshop program at Arcosanti. The Scholarship (valued at $870) covers the rest of the 6-week program fee of $2,170, including tuition, dorm, meals and administrative cost. For further information and for persons interested in participating, please contact the Workshop Coordinator at email@example.com.


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Sweet 'n Sassy Digital Challenge
Go Green -
either use the color green or recycle something
For this week's challenge, I decided to use a splash of green and to recycle a paper sack that had been cluttering my craft room floor. I decided to make a little gift card holder. I cut out a rectangle for the brown bag. Folded a place for the gift card (ideally one to a nursery). Stitched around everything (Yes, I need more practice sewing on paper!) Adhered some ribbon. Because this is a Go Green challenge, I used Sweet 'n Sassy's Gardening Cookie Digital Stamp. Isn't she a delight? I colored her with Spectrum Noir markers, fussy cut her, and adhered. I didn't add a sentiment because I haven't decided if this will be a birthday gift card holder, Mother's Day, Earth Day, Thank You....
Need more inspiration to get those creative juices flowing? Be sure to visit the other design team members!
Thanks for stopping by!


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The iPhone 6s is coming and coming soon. On the morning of September 9th, Tim Cook will stand on the stage and with his team of engineers unwrap the brand new iPhone showing off the device that will most likely be used as the barometer to measure the success of all the devices launched through the year 2015/16. Thanks to the social media being on overdrive and lots of leaked stories, we do have a fair idea of what Apple plans to bring in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and the improvements it will feature over say an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. However, there are a few more things that we wish that Apple would bring despite knowing that no way would Apple do it, at least in the upcoming generation of phones.
1) Magsafe Inductive Charging
We fell in love with the way the Apple Watch charges. In this time where Wireless charging is a bit of an ongoing experiment, we are surprised that Apple has not jumped on the bandwagon. Imagine an iPhone with an inductive charger, with absolutely no need for you to carry the lightening cable everywhere you go. It would be a dream move, especially from the convenience stand point as well as making a statement of moving on to a world without any wires. We cannot help but think, wireless charging as a phenomenon will only really take off when Apple implements it on an iPhone.
2) Taptic feedback for alerts
Put any smartphone on a table and on vibration mode, you are most likely to be more scared of a phone call than be curious or happy that you have received a phone call. While we understand that the same makes sense for phone calls as you usually cannot afford to miss them, notifications are something that can wait. This is where we hope Apple takes more inspiration from the watch and bring Taptic feedback alerts on the device. If you have experienced Taptic feedback you will know how much different it is from the normal vibration. it would be even better if the phone had the ability to detect if its in the pocket of someone or on the table outside and have a feedback based on that. It would truly make the iPhone, the most pocket and table friendly device on the planet.
3) Dual Speakers
The iPhones come with single speakers and while they produce probably some of the most crisp sound you would expect from a mobile phone, you kind of miss the stereo effect from dual speakers. With it pretty much guaranteed that the iPhone 6s will have the same design as the iPhone 6, we can pretty much rule out dual speakers, but imagine iPhones with say an arrangement like the boomsound on the HTC M8, it would be pretty much epic. While we are at it dual speakers, it would not hurt to demand that Apple also increases the volume of the earpiece to sound slightly louder than what it does currently.
4) An iPhone with Physical Shutter Button
I cannot ever emphasize how much I miss a two step physical shutter button on my iPhone 6 Plus. Given that I use the phone as my primary camera, and yes, I am well aware how you can use a volume key as a shutter button, I really wish the phones came with a physical shutter button. It would make the whole process of taking the picture on the iPhone just so much more fun and easier. In fact, just launching the camera then using the shutter button, a bit like the Xperia phones like the Xperia Z5 would be so much easier without having to use the power button to go to the lock screen and turn the camera on.
5) Expandable Storage on the iPhone
Now, this is never ever happening because how could you ever justify picking up an iPhone with say 64 GB storage, but even if there is support to add another 8 GB to your iPhone, it would be a bonus that would make a lot of customers really happy. In fact an option to add another 8 GB on an iPhone would be a really smart move and could to a point justify Apple killing the iPhone 32 GB and only having a 16, 64 and a 128 GB version. You never know, Apple could introduce an altogether new standard or size of expandable storage rather than going ahead with the same, Micro SD card. With Android phones also gradually ditching expansion slots in the high range, the probability of Apple getting one on board doesn't sound a very likely add on.
We are fairly sure that none of the features will be available on the upcoming iPhones, but one can still hope along right. We hope we would bump this post sometime in the future, if not for the iPhone 6s then for the iPhone 7 for sure.


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|Oliver is asking……"Ahhhh dinner!!!
|The rig setup
Score rundown is as follows
Contacts DXCC's Points
81 39 9360
The equipment used was the Elecraft K3 with 500,400 and 250 inrad filters, the Elecraft P3, Begali Contour Key and the Flex control external VFO knob and last but not least the MFJ 1788 Magnetic loop antenna. The software used were N1MM+ contest software, N4PY rig control software and MRP40 CW code reader for the chain saw speed code. I never had Murphy pay me any visits during
|The contest software


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Thursdays – Dawn's Devotions for Writers
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
When I first married, I never planned or expected to personally experience divorce, but after 20 years of marriage, I became single again. The words from Jeremiah 29:11 became my lifeline.
On July 19, 2002, I married my husband Sonny, and our combined four daughters took part in the ceremony. My stepdaughter read Jeremiah 29:11 that day. Two months later, at the age of 19, she was killed in a devastating car accident. Our hope for a happy future could have been destroyed at that moment. Most marriages don't survive experiencing the death of a child, and we'd barely had a chance to start our new life together.
Over the years, hope has helped me deal with grief, a nineteen month job loss for my husband, and other crisis situations. God has given us a wonderful "present" and the hope for even more blessing in the "future." We often look at our three grown daughters and are awed at how God continues to unfold his plans for their own lives.
I'm a planner. It's in my DNA. I plan menus for parties weeks in advance. I'm someone who needs to keep on top of things. As a writer, editor, wife, mom, friend, volunteer—I lean heavily on my Outlook calendar and Excel spread sheets to help keep my life sane.
With all my planning, I still need to remember that God is control. Not me.
Whenever I start to stress about things not coming together as easily or quickly as I'd like—or not at all—I return to Jeremiah 29:11.
The verse also applies to our writing careers. I find comfort in that.
It's important that we do our part. We need to work hard, study the craft, write, and write some more. We need to submit, network, and then write some more. And then once published, we need to do it all over again….
But any success, whether small or huge, comes in God's timing. We can rest in the fact that he knows what's best for us. I know that's true because I've seen it many times over in my own life and in the lives of my children.
We may not know what the future holds for our writing careers, but God does. Trust that. Let it provide you with hope.


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Posts Tagged 'jazz standards'
Classic movies + jazz standards
Recently one of my favorite NY cinemas, the Film Forum, was running a new 35 mm restoration of Otto Preminger's "Laura" from 1944. I went to see it on New Year's Eve (they actually offered a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, how nice was that) – really charming. I've always loved the tune (the melody is pretty clever and mysteriously catchy…), so it's great to know where it actually comes from…
Laura in Amazon Instant Video
Anyway. That made me look up for more classic movies with great jazz standards in them.
So far I've also liked:
"Days of Wine and Roses" (1962) by Blake Edwards. Music by Henry Mancini. Drew out a pretty dramatic story of alcoholism and love. At some point it was a bit cornily moralizing but actually, also really effective (I've been actually trying to drink less after seeing it).
"One Touch of Venus" (1948) by William A. Seiter, starring Robert Walker and Ava Gardner.With Kurt Weill's Speak Low in it (much slower version than how most people play the tune nowadays). Beautiful!
"The Americanization of Emily" (1964) by Arthur Hiller, starring Julie Andrews and James Garner. That one has Johnny Mandel's "Emily" in it as the title tune (nowadays most often associated with Bill Evans's version of it, I guess) and some really great thought-provoking anti-war dialogues there.
The Americanization of Emily in Amazon Instant Video
And then some movies starring the great Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire:
"Top Hat" (1935) by Mark Sandrich. Music by Irving Berlin (With Cheek To Cheek and more).
I noticed a hilarious quote there, Mrs. Madge Hardwick, sharing some of her mature wisdom
with ms. Gale Tremont (Ginger Rogers), who was a bit perplexed about how impassionately she tolerated her husband's affairs: "My dear, when you're as old as I am you take your men as you find them. If you can find them." Maybe I'm wrong but I think nowadays people take expectations on perfection so seriously that they don't even joke about things like that? And also interestingly, despite the emphasis on girl power, it's rare nowadays to come across characters with such striking charm and charisma as seen in these movies… And the sensuality of it (strange how that actually does not necessarily require nudity)…
With US billing address, it's really easy to watch them on Amazon Instant video, for example. (BTW, I support paying for copyright! BTW2: I've added some affiliate links here – it's my first time trying it, but I should actually earn a few cents if you watch it through my links…)
I've been having such a great time discovering those movies lately. Hollywood movies actually used to be quite a bit more chic and witty…?
Well, I heard both 2 sets except for the opening Larry Young tune. With Rodney Green on drums and Eric Revis on bass. They played a Monk tune, Boplicity, Invitation, More Than You Know, When Sunny Gets Blue, Stablemates, Along Came Betty, Dexterity and many more which I can't recall at the moment. Yeah, as killin as Kurt Rosenwinkel is with standards, his own tunes are just so incredible that I couldn't wait to hear him play those :D! Not with this gig, though, obviously. Enjoyed it a lot, though. So I had to take a picture with him, hanging out at the Vanguard – it was just too tempting not to… xD! Read the rest of this entry »


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On the 27th of July I will be teaching as part of the 2014 Dragon Tree Martial Arts Summer Camp! I will be teaching for four hours, with highly recommended guest instructors teaching the remaining time. The cost is just £35. The location is The Dome, Imperial Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3AP. It will be a great day so please book quickly! Profits from the day will help raise funds for The Malala Yousafzai Fund: http://www.malalafund.org/ To book your place and for further details please contact Dave Webster on 07870948180
- 3069 reads


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To my dearest sister
Remember those times when we picked the eyeballs out of locust? Remember when I blamed you for drawing with crayons all over the closet walls? Or did you blame me? Remember the hole in the wall from the recorder? Remember front porch sitting and talking all night long? Remember carting kids to the beach? Remember the aquarium trips? Do you remember Meatloaf and Nashville (That was an EPIC night). Does your butt itch? 'Cause mine does. Yes, we had a few rocky spans of time, but hey, we are all human. All in all, we have a rock solid relationship, I know I can tell you anything. Anything! And you only tell Mom some of it :) And you know I am always here for whatever you need. I wish I could be there for your birthday, to give you a big hug and say, "Thank you." Thank you for being a wonderful sister, friend, front porch buddy, my favorite front porch buddy. Thank you for having such a wonderful family and all that you do for them. So... Have a... 1. wonderful 2. awesome 3. epic 4. super 5. kick ass 6. crazy cool 7. supercalifragilistic 8. beautiful 9. gorgeous 10. relaxing ...day. Make it count and have a happy happy birthday! All my love!


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The irrigation canal in southeast Calgary is drained in late September, and as the water level drops, it exposes lush shorelines with plenty for the birds to eat. From mid-September to freeze-up is the time to get out to look for waterfowl, gulls, and late migrating shorebirds.
Fall colours reflected in the remaining water
I usually explore the sections from the canal headworks near the Max Bell Arena to south of 50 Avenue SE. There are four parking areas, and you can go up and down a portion of the canal from each one. It's a long walk to do it all at once, but a fairly short bike ride.
Click to enlarge the map.
Max Bell Arena: Access from Barlow Trail SE, just south of Memorial Drive. There is a large parking lot north of the arena, and you can walk down to the canal headworks from there, and walk along the east bank. If you want to get to the west bank, you have to cross over at the 17 Avenue SE bridge.
Bow Waters Canoe Club: Access is off 26 Street SE, just south of 17 Avenue. Cross the bridge to get to the paths on the west side. The path on the east side between here and Gosling Way has some steep, difficult terrain, and it is almost impassable by bike. This lot is fairly secluded and I don't like to leave my vehicle there. I prefer Max Bell or Gosling Way.
Gosling Way: Go west off 26 Street SE at 34 Avenue. This is the road that goes to the Inglewood Golf and Curling Club. The parking lot, used by off-leash dog walkers, is just west of the bridge over Deerfoot trail, on the south side of Gosling Way. It only holds about ten vehicles. From this lot, walk down to the bridge over the canal and take the paths from there. In the winter, you can also park at the golf and curling club, but it is a bit of a walk back to the canal.
50 Avenue SE: It is difficult to park here. There are only two small spots, each with room for two cars, at the east end of the bridge over the canal. It can also be a very busy road, so I avoid parking here as well, and usually just walk from Gosling Way.
The canal has a paved path on one side (sometimes on the east, sometimes on the west) and a dirt or gravel path of sorts on the other side. I like to go on the east side in the mornings and on the west side in the afternoons, to keep the sun behind me. This late in the year, the water is usually frozen in the mornings, so there are few birds around. But on warm afternoons the ice melts, and the birds arrive.
Muskrat and female Hooded Merganser
Detail of Gosling Way Parking. Click to enlarge.
Looking north to the bridge on Gosling Way.
Pat and I have each posted about birding the canal before. You can see Pat's post here, and my post here.
Lately I've seen quite a few Canada Geese, Mallards, and Ring-billed Gulls, and a few Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, and Greater Yellowlegs. In past years I've seen Redheads, Blue-winged Teal, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitchers, and Rusty Blackbirds all feeding along the shorelines.
Mallards and an assortment of Yellowlegs.
Muskrat and Mallard sharing the Muskrat's lodge. Background by Monet.
A Black-billed Magpie looks for food on the old canal bottom.
Posted by Bob Lefebvre