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Rosanna Castrini – International Garden Photographer of the Year 2013
Rosanna Castrini (Winner in "The Beauty of Plants") about her photo:
"A corner of sublime 'prairie' in my garden, inspired by contemporary horticultural theories and the practice of 'prairie-planting' gardens. At the beginning of 2013 I decided to redmake a narrow flowerbed next to the house, sowing the plants required. I like informal, flowing effects and I chose fast-growing plants: Ammi majus, Hordeum jubatum, and Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'. Then I documented with photography the evolution of this flowerbed. I was inspired by the soft flow of energy offered by Hordeum jubatum."
Judge about photo:
"We all love single plant portraits – but it is much more difficult to make a successful picture of many plants together in association. To me, this picture is as close to perfection as you can get.
I love the contrasting shapes and textures of the three types of flower. All the plants are in perfect condition. The photographer has recognised a very skilful piece of planting and has made a straightforward rendering of it, in lovely light and with no tricks."
Andrew Lawson
Month of art residence in India
Please, help me to win one month of art residence in India.
If you like my photo, vote!
Two obligatory steps (have to be both!):
1. like my photo
2. like International ArtExpo Facebook fan page
Please, invite your friends to like International ArtExpo Facebook page and to like my image.
Thank you!
Erotic Architecture
Photography Competition / US$ 1000 / registration closing date: January 20, 2013
From competition website:
Erotic and Architecture are not two words often used together. That does not mean they should not be, so we welcome you to change your usual perception of space and look around yourself to find buildings, constructions, bridges and other places and spaces that arose erotic associations.
By Erotic Architecture we don't mean only obvious suggestive forms resembling human body parts. We would like to see work presenting combinations of spatial qualities, materials, rhythms and atmospheres witch in their unique combination could be considered erotic.
The Art of Building 2012
The Art of Building photography competition is an international showcase for the very best digital photography of the built environment. It is open to both professional and amateur photographers.
Voting has now closing. The winner will be announced on the 12th September.
Here you can see photos of finalist.
2012 World Open of Photography – $50,000US Cash Prize
From undiscovered photographers to emerging artists to seasoned professionals, everyone is welcome to be a part of The Open. It exists to discover – and rediscover – the most inspiring photographers of our generation. It is for any photographer who wants to open the door to worldwide exposure, connections and opportunity.
It's simple: photographers submit their best images in any of the 5 categories. A global audience clicks the photos they love. The most-loved images continually move to the forefront for increased exposure. Artists are encouraged to ignite their own social networks to fuel their votes. Half of the 200 finalists are chosen by public appreciation, the other half are chosen by a panel of the sharpest eyes in the business to capture the work of those who may not yet have an online following. The final judging panel awards the category winners and Photographer of the Year. The SOLO prize purse is $25,000.
More info here.
Wildlife Photography Contest
You can win a Custom Signed Copy of National Geographic Photographer Christian Ziegler's Book "Deceptive Beauties: The World of Wild Orchids!!"
More info about contest here
Sony World Photography Awards 2013 – Open Competition
Are you an amateur photographer or a photography enthusiast? If so, then this is the competition for you!
The Open Competition offers 10 diverse categories for you to enter, ranging from Action to Travel. As a Basic Member, you can enter up to 3 photographs for free, submitted into one category or spread across multiple categories.


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Measuring the ROI of social media and blogging
Posted by Unknown in Blogging, Blogs, ROI, Social Media on Saturday, 5 December 2009
How does a law firm measure the Return on Investment (ROI) of its Social media or blogging efforts? that's the question asked in this post "How does a law firm measure ROI on its social media and blogging efforts? from the blog Real Lawyers have Blogs
The short answer is that ultimately it's an increase in "legal business" as long as social media and blogging are part of a well run strategic campaign then this should be the outcome. The post goes on to discuss some of the "milestones" that mark whether you're delivering ROI as well as a set of questions that law firms should ask themselves, these include the following:
- Am I expanding my reach? Are more people within my target audience seeing me? It could be via search engines, but more importantly do they see you quoted in blogs and by reporters? Do they see you speaking at conferences or seminars they attend?
- Am I engaging my target audience of clients, prospective clients, referral sources, and the influencers of those three (reporters, bloggers, association leaders, conference coordinators, and publishers)?
- Am I building my influence among this target audience? Measure influence by how often you are cited in other blogs, Twitter, and the like. Citations are a measure of whether you're viewed as a reliable and trusted authority in your niche.
- Does your target audience request action? Are they asking to talk with you? Do they want to review with you a matter they are working on?
As the post indicates, if you can answer all these questions with good answers then you're definitely heading in the right direction.
This entry was posted on Saturday, 5 December 2009 at 10:00 and is filed under Blogging, Blogs, ROI, Social Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's the Black Guy's Fault (Things to Blame on the President)
Originally posted June 28, 2016
President Obama is just a few months away from his final days as President, but the usual baseless Republican smears continue without mercy or common sense. Obama's political enemies have become less vocal with accusations that he's a Muslim. (He clearly isn't, but so what if he is?) And the bat shit crazy birther nonsense has thankfully subsided. (Seven and half years in, there's really no point.)
Now it's blame time.
Every crisis in the nation and indeed the world, is of course, Obama's fault. John McCain, The Arizona senator whose ass Obama thoroughly butt-bumped in the 2008 presidential election, blames him for ISIS, in spite of the fact that most analysts point to the bipartisan invasion of Iraq which then-Senator Obama opposed.
And now Donald Trump, the Alex Jones of American politics, blames him for Brexit, even though most political observers have blamed, at least in part, the same brand of xenophobic, nationalistic racism that has become the very substance of Trump's campaign.
All of this has me wondering what other terrible things Republicans might want to blame on the President.
Here are a few suggestions:
- The War of 1812
- The Great Depression
- The Crucifixion of Christ
- Original Sin
- Green Jello Salad
- Heaven's Gate
- Disco
- Exxon Valdez
- Keeping Up With The Kardashians
- The Kardashians
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Earwigs
- Polyester Leisure Suits
- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Winning the Grammy for Best Rap Album
- The Trout Pout
- Plaid
- The Reign of Terror
- Justin Bieber (See Number 18)
- Cindy Crawford's Mole
- Keith Richard's Face
- The Spanish Inquisition
- The Extinction of The Dodo
- Auto Erotic Asphyxiation
- Kanye West's Ego
- Trash Cans Made of Elephant's Feet
- Full House
- Fuller House
- Lions, Tigers and Bears (Oh, My!)
- Jar Jar Binks
- Resting Bitch Face
- Gogurt
Top 12 Signs You May Be a Gay Man
(With apologies to David Letterman)
Originally Posted January 27, 2016
12. You understand that a melon baller is not something you buy at your local porn shop.
11. You have a favorite choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance.
10. You refuse to make deviled eggs for the company picnic because you can't find a decent jar of capers at the last minute.
9. You know what capers are.
8. You think Andrew Lloyd Weber has done some solid work, most notably Aspects of Love and Evita, but he lacks the intricate understanding of the innate connection between form and content found in the best works of Stephen Sondheim.
7. You'd like to bitch-slap that little tramp, Rebecca King, for stealing your man, Terry Crews.
6. You can list, in reverse order, your three, all-time favorite award show dresses.
5. That slinky black sequined number with neon highlights that Kathleen Turner wore at the 1993 Tony Awards.
4. The stunning beaded Gucci worn by Charlize Theron at the 2004 Academy Awards.
3. Kidman, Dior, '97 Oscars…'nuff said.
2. You and your three cats all got ringworm at the same time.
1. You have three cats.
How Celebrities Pronounce "Quinoa"
Originally Posted January 3, 2016
Ten years ago, you never even heard of it. Now quinoa is the grain du jour. Touted for its potent nutritional benefits and low fat content, quinoa is the trendiest yuppie health food craze this side of kale. But in spite of its popularity, some people still have trouble pronouncing it. Here's how some famous people might attempt it:
George W. Bush – "Keen – /War"
Hellen Keller– "Keen – /Wa – Wa"
Barbie – "Ken – /Wow"
Kanye West – "/Kahn – /Yay"
Tom Cruise – "Queer – /Nah"
Ricky Martin – "Queer – /Ya"
Prince Phillip – "Queen – /Ohhhh"
Sylvester Stallone – "Keen – /Yo"
Donald Trump – "/Con – You"
Dan Aykroyd – "/Cone – Wearer"
John Hamm – "Keen – /View
Grumpy Cat – "/Me – ow"


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Good Morning!
I have 3 new recipes for you today!!
Ill start with breakfast. Yesterday was a long day, but I started the morning off right!
Many of you have asked me if it is possible to make the Blueberry Muffin Bake in the microwave so I decided I would try it!
Well it was a success!
Microwaveable Blueberry Muffin Bake
I used all the same ingredients:
1/4 cup oats
1 tbsp oat bran
2 tbsp (or 1/2 scoop) vanilla protein powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp almond flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tbsp sugar free maple syrup (or regular)
Approx. 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup blueberries (or more if you want!)
Mix all ingredients together into a bowl.
Microwave for 2-3 minutes!
I also added a little bit of almond butter that didn't make the picture!
After breakfast I headed to crossfit. We did a group workout and it was really fun!
We only made it to 4o abmat situps! It was a great workout though.
Lunch got eaten so quick that I didn't get a picture. I had a chicken bowl from Chipotle (The best) with a little bit of brown rice, chicken, cheese and lettuce. Guacamole on the side 🙂
Afternoon snack: Quest Protein Bar. The peanut butter supreme is by favorite of them all so far! I cant wait to try all the other flavors!
While I made dinner I snacked on some veggie chips.
They are so tasty!
I have another great recipe for you guys! If you love pizza like I do but hate all the extra carbs you will love this one!
Personal Pan Pita Pizza's
Whole wheat pita (20g carbs per serving)
Mozzarella Cheese
Veggie Toppings
Pizza Sauce
Place pita's on a baking sheet and into the oven at 35o degrees for 5 minutes to get crispy.
Add about 2 tbsp pizza sauce to eat pita.
Add cheese and toppings.
Bake for another 8 minutes.
Bake the last few minutes under the broiler to get the top nice and crispy!
Dark Chocolate Protein Blondie For One
1 tbsp chunky almond butter
4 tbsp liquid egg whites
(I actually used one egg white and then added about 1 tsbp of liquid egg whites, so either the real thing or liquid egg white in a carton should work)
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp pumpkin
1/2 scoop (2 tbsp) vanilla protein powder
splash unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 stevia packet – Good with or without!
Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
Spray a ramekin with non stick cooking spray and pour in the batter. Microwave for one minute!
Top with 1 tbsp dark chocolate chips!
Have a great weekend!
We are going to Nada for dinner and bowling tonight!
Anyone have any special weekend plans?


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2004 Jeep Wrangler - Warn 9.5 PowerPlant Air Compressor/Winch Review
Testing Warn's 9.5 New PowerPlant
For those who have loaded a Wrangler or CJ with camping gear, tools, and supplies for an extended wheeling journey, you understand the challenges of getting everything you need to fit in the limited space. While well-known for being light and nimble, two-door open-top wheelers are severely lacking when it comes to cargo capacity. This fact has created an entire plethora of aftermarket goodies designed to secure your extra gear on the outside of the Jeep.
One tool that every serious off-roader has is a winch. As one of the most effective recovery tools on the planet, having a winch can be the difference between hiking or driving out of the trail. Although using a winch isn't always part of our wheeling ritual, airing down is. Most wheelers know that dropping the air pressure in their tires is the cheapest and easiest off-road performance mod they can make. While airing down is easy, airing back up to hit the road can be a little more complicated.
Going back to the original dilemma of interior space (or lack thereof), the Wrangler and CJ platforms don't exactly have loads of extra room to mount a giant air compressor and tank. One solution for those in the market for a new winch and looking for an air source is the Warn PowerPlant. Offered in a 9,500 and 12,000-pound version, the PowerPlant is the merger of Warn's premium series winches with a compact air compressor.
Always looking to improve the efficiency and quality of its products, Warn has launched an all-new PowerPlant. We've had great experience with the older version of the PowerPlant, so we were excited to get our hands on the new model. Bolted to our '04 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, we've spent the past few months giving the 9.5 version a thorough workout.
Using the winch as it was intended (self-recovery tool for those "whoops" moments) we found that it pulled our modified LJ with little hesitation. Line speed is steady but not overly fast. It's by no means slow, but compared to the Warn Zeon winch we have on our other Wrangler, it's noticeably slower. The free-spool lever is easy to engage and the controller wasn't overly jumpy when toggling in or out.
While we've used our winch for a few recoveries, the air compressor's received a tremendous workout. From flat bike tubes to under-inflated trailer tires, and of course, airing back up from a day of trail riding, the compressor has seen its share of use. Speed is pretty important when airing up and was something we focused on with the PowerPlant. We've clocked a 5 to 30 psi fill-up on a 35x13.50R15 Toyo Open Country Mud Terrain at 3:28 on our 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. On average, we would spend around 15 minutes to inflate all four tires from around 5-8 psi back to 30 psi from start to finish.
It's possible we could have used some of our NASCAR pit crew skills to pick up the pace, but we never felt the need to rush. The smaller the tire, the faster the time, but we would say this is perfect for airing up to 37s in under 20 minutes (a very reasonable time). Overall, we liked just about everything about the new PowerPlant. Sure, we wouldn't mind if it spooled in a little faster, but it's not slow by any stretch. It's not an inexpensive winch, but you're getting a lot of quality made-in-the-USA components for your money. In our experience, this is one of those items that you really get what you pay for if you use it frequently. With our old PowerPlant from 2008 still running strong, we hope to get years of service out of this unit as well.
Housed within the PowerPlant is high-output air compressor designed to provide 5 cfm at 90 psi, with a max air pressure of 100 psi. The 1/2-gallon tank helps for those quick burst of air pressure, but you'll find that the compressors stays running continuously when in use.
With the 9.5, you're getting 125 feet of 5/16-inch steel cable and a 9,500-pound line pull rating. The series-wound 4.6hp motor has a thermal protection shutoff switch to ensure you don't damage the winch. The geartrain is a three-stage planetary with a final ratio of 156:1. This provides a steady pace for pulling, but is slightly slower than some of Warn's other premium series winches.
At approximately 100 pounds, the 9.5 PowerPlant is both sizable and little portly. For our LJ, we didn't have any mounting issues as the 10x4.5-inch four-bolt mounting pattern easily locked in atop our Poison Spyder Customs BFH front bumper.
All that is needed to juice the PowerPlant is 12V power. We had plenty of cable to route the leads cleanly to the battery. Also provided with the system is a hose and filter that you'll plumb to the air compressor inlet. We mounted our compressor intake by our air filter to keep it out of harm's way.
The air attachment sits under a rubber door cover that easily pops off. If you have air tools that require low cfm, it will run them. Our air gun and cut-off wheel required too much volume, but we did find that it powers a nail gun and small 1/4-inch-drive air ratchet pretty well.
Included with the PowerPlant are all the necessary items: 20 feet of air hose, air chuck, and gauge. The winch controller operates both the winch and air compressor. Given the winch has an automatic shutoff, we would have liked to have seen a simple on/off button on the compressor itself, so we don't have to grab the controller each time we want to fire on the compressor. We ended up adding a plug kit to the provided tool bag, and swapped out the Warn air gage for one with a core remover. We found the hose to be plenty long for our Jeep and works nice when we need to air up others.


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KELOWNA - Researchers from UBC Okanagan will set up a 'pollinator meadow' near Brent's Grist Mill to help highlight the plight of bees in the valley.
Kelowna council agreed Monday to allow the Pollinator Project to go ahead on half a hectare of city-owned land in Brent's Grist Mill Heritage Park.
Low density urban sprawl has made serious inroads into the natural habitat which sustains pollinator population, the agreement notes.
"The partnership will transform an under-utilized site into a pollinator meadow to benefit a multitude of environmentally-threatened pollinator species," property manager Mike Olson says in his report to council recommending the agreement be adopted.
The agreement stipulates UBC Okanagan is responsible for all aspects of the project, which will be run by Nancy Holmes, an associate professor in the department of critical and creative studies.
Plans are for volunteers to help re-establish native plants in the meadow and establish water conservation on-site.
Once established, the pollinator meadow will be used to attract locals to on- and off-site workshops and presentations.
The one-year agreement allows the city to terminate with one month notice and runs from March 31, 2016, with an option for both sides to extend it by one year.
To contact a reporter for this story, email John McDonald or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.


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International Student Identity Card
If you're a full-time student these cards are serious money savers both at home and overseas! Entertainment, food, clothes, travel… the list of discounts is growing everyday.
ISIC is the only internationally-recognised student ID. It is your ticket to fantastic discounts and services in Thailand and globally. There are over 150,000 discounts worldwide – so you will never be short of a bargain. Want to know more? Check out our local discounts and our international discounts.
What will I get from the ISIC card?
- Over 150,000 benefits worldwide
- Access to exclusive discounts in Singapore on attractions, shopping, food and drink and more
- Preferential travel deals and offers by STA Travel
- Search and redeem discounts using your virtual card on the ISIC app
Am I eligible?
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is for full-time students at school, college or university, aged 12 or over.
What do I need to get an ISIC card?
You'll need the following ready to upload to your online application
- A document that proves that you are currently studying full time at a recognised school, college or university. Examples below:
- A copy of your university or student card, which is dated indicates you are currently a full-time student
- A signed and dated letter on official university or school stationery, which states you are a currently a full-time student
- Proof of identity (Govt issued ID or Passport)
- Passport style head and shoulders photo
Additional Information
Cost - The price of an ISIC card is $25 SGD
Validity - 12 months from the date of issue.
Please note, ISIC / IYTC / ITIC cards are non-refundable.


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Hee hee hee. Here's my paean to AnaLu, and it's all Nissa's fault. She posted earlier about getting photoshop tips from Ana, and I had to go back and staaaare my way through Ana's blog. Crisp clean images with dropshadow behind the figure and a gradient background -- easy poses that highlight the outfit -- good lighting...I'm sure I'm missing something, but I'll keep trying. Thanks for being inspirational, you two.
I'm wearing a frock from one of amerie's Naughty's new releases, topped by the triceratops-like watermelon tourmaline horns and unicorn spike from Something Different. Happy birthday, Fine Delight, and thanks for making these really unique horns! The other lovely part of the outfit is from the ever-creative Bliensen + MaiTai, the Fragile Flowers jewelry. They were so pretty I had to stick on MiaSnow's drow skin to properly highlight the pale delicacy of the flowers.
Anyway. Please to enjoy my photoshopping0rz. I'll probably go back to the much simpler naturalistic photography tomorrow, but it's always fun to mess around.
Tee hee, dunno how I caught such a silly expression on my face.
***Hooves: Sharda Mirabeau's [OB] Faun Legs in Bay
***Tail: Queen Titania's Court faun in fire
***Hair: Calico Ingmann Creations Coronis in Sterling Ivory
***Skin: MiaSnow *mia* Steel Starlet skin 4
***Dress: amerie's Naughty *aN* Girl's Mind
***Jewelry: Bliensen + MaiTai Fragile Flowers necklace, bracelet and earrings
***Horns: Something Different by Fine Delight Watermelon Tourmaline Horns and unicorn horn (so that I can look like a triceratops)


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The first Monday in May was also a night of firsts for some A-listers.
"We've never done this before," Matt Damon told Yahoo Style on the red carpet at Monday's Met Ball. His wife, Lucy, sported a gorgeous new 'do and the two matched designers. "She's wearing Versace. I took about five minutes. She was pretty quick too."


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David Kaufman uses photography to explore culture and history — especially with regard to buildings and places. David's work is rich in colour and detail, meticulously realized. David and I co-designed the site, with the focus being on the best and most unobtrusive way of organizing and presenting his photos on the range of screen sizes through responsive design. I … Read More
Makom Afterschool — Promo Video
Makom Afterschool is a diverse, innovative, after-school program of Hebrew language and Jewish learning based in Downtown Toronto. CGM worked with Makom to refine their message, and then planned, filmed, and edited the footage into a very warm, joyful 2-minute video (as well as a 30-second version) that conveys the essence of the program, as well as details, to prospective … Read More
Savvi Salon Website
Savvi Salon is the new incarnation of the celebrated Salon Iron Butterfly, in Toronto's Beaches neighbourhood. CGM developed a WordPress-based site, using a responsive template that would allow for a full-featured, media-rich experience, to replace the previous Flash-based site. CGM worked on copywriting and envisioning the overall presentation of the site, as well as shooting photos and video to provide … Read More
Paul C. Webster — Website
Paul Christopher Webster is a prolific freelance writer and documentary film director whose work has appeared in prestigious news, science, business, and politics publications. After a few years of maintaining and updating Webster's old site, CGM built a new WordPress-based site using a existing "news" related template. Modifications were made to suit PCW's needs, and the new site is much more scalable, … Read More
ARImusic Website
Ari Posner is an award-winning composer for film, television, and advertising. Ari's old Flash-based website was difficult to maintain, and not visible on newer, iOS-based browsers. CGM designed and developed a responsive WordPress template with a custom media player and slideshow features that work equally well on mobile and desktop browsers. The design is dark, earthy and muted, allowing the … Read More
SATA Interior Design — Website
SATA is an interior design firm based in Montréal, Quebec and Stowe, Vermont. CGM first designed promotional postcards featuring these images, then built this responsive-designed mini-site.
Ryan Granville-Martin Demo Reel
CGM worked with Ryan Granville-Martin to put together this demo reel — consulting, editing existing footage, as well as shooting new footage (the piano performance and sheet music scenes at the beginning and end).
Anudrutam Live Video — Debashis Sinha
Live concert videography by Carlos Gouveia Multimedia — Edited by Debashis Sinha.
Hallelujah video — Aviva Chernick & Joel Schwartz
A live performance video by Aviva Chernick and Joel Schwartz, recorded on the last hot day of the summer. CGM captured and mixed the audio (cicadas and all!) as well as filming and editing the 3 camera shoot.
Mili7 Promotional Video
Mili7 is an online music discovery platform that integrates with Facebook, generating playlists with your favourites and new recommendations based on your social network and preferences. CGM worked with Mili7 on script consultation, then produced, filmed, and edited this video and a short instructional video as well.


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Probability Distributions > Uniform Distribution
- What is a Uniform Distribution?
- Expected Value/Mean and Variance.
1. What is a Uniform Distribution?
A uniform distribution, also called a rectangular distribution, is a probability distribution that has constant probability.
This distribution is defined by two parameters, a and b:
- a is the minimum.
- b is the maximum.
The distribution is written as U(a,b).
The following graph shows the distribution with a=1 and b=3:
Like all probability distributions for continuous random variables, the area under the graph of a random variable is always equal to 1. In the above graph, the area is:
A = l x h = 2 * 0.5 = 1.
This distribution has two types. The most common type you'll find in elementary statistics is the continuous uniform distribution (in the shape of a rectangle). However, there is a second type: the discrete uniform distribution. It still resembles a rectangle but instead of a line, a series of dots represent a known, finite number of outcomes. The following graph shows 5 possible outcomes:
Rolling a single die is one example of a discrete uniform distribution; a die roll has four possible outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5, or 6. There is a 1/6 probability for each number being rolled.
General Formula
The general formula for the probability density function (pdf) for the uniform distribution is:
f(x) = 1/ (B-A) for A≤x≤B.
"A" is the location parameter: The location parameter tells you where the center of the graph is. "B" is the scale parameter: The scale parameter stretches the graph out on the horizontal axis. Note: The A and B here aren't to be confused with lowercase (a,b), which is an interval.
Uniform CDF
The uniform distribution doesn't always look like a rectangle. A special case, the uniform cumulative distribution function, adds up all of the probabilities (in the same way a cumulative frequency distribution adds probabilities) and plots the result, which is a linear graph and not a rectangle:
The variables in a uniform distribution are called uniform random variables.
2. Expected Value and Variance.
The expected value (i.e. the mean) of a uniform random variable X is:
E(X) = (1/2) (a + b)
This is also written equivalently as:
E(X) = (b + a) / 2.
"a" in the formula is the minimum value in the distribution, and "b" is the maximum value.
The variance of a uniform random variable is:
Var(x) = (1/12)(b-a)2
For the above image, the variance is (1/12)(3 – 1)2= 1/12 * 4 = 1/3.
3. Finding Probabilities for a Continuous Uniform Distribution
Sample question #1: The average amount of weight gained by a person over the winter months is uniformly distributed from 0 to 30lbs. Find the probability a person will gain between 10 and 15lbs during the winter months.
Step 1: Find the height of the distribution. The area under a probability distribution is always 1. As there are 30 units (from zero to 30), then the height is 1/30.
Step 2: Find the width of the "slice" of the distribution mentioned in the question. Do this by subtracting the biggest number (b) from the smallest (a), to get b – a = 15 – 10 = 5.
Step 3: Multiply the width (Step 2) by the height (Step 1) to get:
Probability = 5 * 1/30 = 5/30 = 1/6.
Example Question 2: Find P(X≤10) for the above question.
This is asking you to find the probability that the random variable X is less than 10. In other words, you want to know the probability a person will gain up to ten pounds.
Step 1: Find the width of the "box": b – a = 10 – 0 = 10.
Step 2: Multiply the width (Step 1) by the height. We already know the height is 1/30 (from example question 1), so:
10 * 1/30 = 10/30 = 1/3.
Example Question 3: Find P(20≤X≤25) for the above question. This is asking the probability of a weight gain between 20 and 25 pounds.
Step 1: Find the width of the "box": b – a = 25 – 20 = 5.
Step 2: Multiply the width (Step 1) by the height. We already know the height is 1/30 (from example question 1), so:
5 * 1/30 = 5/30 = 1/6.
The More Formal Formula
You can solve these types of problems using the steps above, or you can us the formula for finding the probability for a continuous uniform distribution:
P(X) = d – c / b – a.
This is also sometimes written as:
P(X) = x2 – x1 / b – a.
"d" and "c" (x2 – x1)are the upper and lower bounds of the area you are trying to find.
You get exactly the same answer as if you'd followed the steps above. If formulas work for you…great. Personally, I find it easier to visualize these problems as trying to find an area inside a rectangle. Otherwise, I've just got another formula to memorize.
Stephanie Glen. "Uniform Distribution / Rectangular Distribution: What is it?" From StatisticsHowTo.com: Elementary Statistics for the rest of us! https://www.statisticshowto.com/uniform-distribution/
Need help with a homework or test question? With Chegg Study, you can get step-by-step solutions to your questions from an expert in the field. Your first 30 minutes with a Chegg tutor is free!
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Product Description
SuperPro Differential Mount Bush Kit 40mm OD Datsun 510
Building on 30+ years of knowledge and experience, SuperPro continues their tradition of high quality automotive suspension products for a wide number of applications. Using their ground-up approach, SuperPro's R&D team utilizes rigorous street, track and laboratory testing to develop innovative polyurethane and suspension designs for the best performance suspension and chassis solutions.
- Description: SuperPro Differential Mount Bush Kit 40mm OD Datsun 510
- Position: Rear


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Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has admitted that he needs to increase the size of his squad and is planning to do so in January.
Villa are stretched in certain areas of the squad despite Lambert bringing in seven new players in the summer after the departure of several experienced players.
The club have four centre backs currently on the injured list, with Richard Dunne, Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker and Chris Herd all out of action at the moment.
"The squad needs to get bigger as well. That is important as well. That's normal," the Scotsman told the Independent.
"Everyone has to have competition for places. That is vital.
"It is like the centre-half situation. We lose Ciaran and Nathan and have to put Matt (Lowton) or Chris (Herd) back there.
"It shows you are short in certain areas and you have to improve the squad which we will try to do."
Despite only winning one game so far this season the former Norwich manager is convinced the club are moving in the right direction in the Premier League.
"This was never going to happen overnight. A lot of people just expected us to come in and see a real change in fortunes," Lambert added.
"There is certainly progress, you can see that, but you want to keep going until you think, we're there."
American owner Randy Learner is selling his stake in NFL side the Cleveland Browns which could see the chequebook opening in order to turn around the fortunes of the struggling Midlands outfit.
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I'd love to write about how sick I was yesterday to impress upon you how impossible it would have been to put together this post. Here are two 'markers' of my being sick that tell me it's more than just a head cold or that I'm simply low on sleep: A) An uncharacteristically strong urge to watch absolutely terrible action movies. I actually expended energy on trying to find "Parker," starring Jason Statham, so I could watch it for a second time. B) I cry at everything. Even crappy commercials. Even Clone Wars. There, now you know more about me than most people.
First up, Champagne Drip just dropped a 4-song EP on the heels of the mix he/she/they put together for THUMP. No word yet on the identity behind the project, but that doesn't really matter as much as long as we continue to receive this kind of output from him/her/them. I'm looking at you, Jai Paul. Perhaps the Burial/Zhu route is best for some producers, especially those reluctant to step into the spotlight. Let the music speak for itself and allow the listener to figure out what it means.
This past week, Odesza announced a remix contest for "Say My Name," featuring Zyra on vocals, in partnership with This Song is Sick. They're providing all the stems as well as some inspirational assistance from an interesting variety of producers. If you're looking for something slow and melodic, check Emancipator's rework, and if you're thinking of a more upbeat, in-your-face approach, take a listen to the GANZ version instead. If your remix is chosen by the band, you'll be featured in one of their upcoming No.Sleep mixes
Thom Yorke would like to welcome you to the seedy underworld that is BitTorrent. Okay, okay, so there's a completely legitimate side to BitTorrent that you don't always hear about, because every 'good' story is buried in a hundred other 'bad' stories about how 6.7 petabyes (1 petabyte is 1 million gigabytes) of unauthorized content was exchanged over BitTorrent in 2013, according to a study by NBCUniversal, aka Comcast. Do you see now why they have such a strong interest in controlling Internet traffic?
But I digress, Thom Yorke is attempting to release his music in the most direct way possible, eliminating as many middle men as he can. As much as we'd all like Thom Yorke to show up at our front door and hand over a record, this will have to do for a substitute. The free part of the album is the song, "Brain in a Bottle," along with a video for the same song. The full album is a mere six bucks if you like what you hear.
You'll need a torrent client, of course. I recommend uTorrent, but there are a bunch of alternatives to choose from. Once you're all set, go here for the music.


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Alex, you are not alone. This has happened a couple of times lately and Jagan is on it. There is a possibility it has to do with idle time. As all can see, you are now logged in so I trust anyone else who gets the same greeting will also get past it.
Please, if this happens to you (or anyone else) again, just repeat the process and try to log in.


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Suppose I have a symmetric operad $\mathcal{P}$ defined over $\text{Vect}_{\mathbb{K}}$ with generators and relations in degrees at most $l$. Now suppose I already know $\mathcal{P}(k)$ as an $S_k$-representation for $0 \leq k \leq l$.
How do I determine $\mathcal{P}(l+1)$ from $\mathcal{P}(0), \mathcal{P}(1), \ldots, \mathcal{P}(l)$ ? More generally, how do I determine $\mathcal{P}(k)$ for some large $k$?
My current technique is to find vector space generators for each grade of the operadic ideal of relations by building trees in which some relation appears. Then I use linear algebra and Schur-Weyl duality to determine each grade of the ideal as a representation. This technique is reliable for small cases, but the number of trees grows large and this generating set is usually quite redundant.
I am hoping (perhaps naively) for some combinatorial rule in terms of Young diagrams which can answer the question explicitly.
Edit: Vladimir Dotsenko suggests that I limit the scope, so here's a (more reasonable) question which is also interesting:
Assume further that $\mathcal{P}$ is generated by a single associative binary operation. Now can we determine $\mathcal{P}(k)$ from an initial segment using the combinatorics of Young diagrams?
It seems like the Littlewood-Richardson rule might be of some help here. There also seems to be some plethysm going on. Perhaps these tools are sufficient?


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Analogue Monosynth (Retro)
Reviews : Keyboard
CHRIS CARTER sings the praises of a vintage synth which cost just £199 on its launch in 1978, but which hides a multitude of surprises under its unlikely yellow and black hood...
The Wasp has to be one of the most unusual looking synths ever made, with its shiny black ABS plastic casing, bright yellow knobs and legends, and the infamous flat yellow and black keyboard. It looks so cheap and cheerful that you would almost think it was disposable!
Containing a single PCB with a hybrid digital VCO and analogue VCF design by Chris Huggett, the Wasp was released in 1978 for an amazing £199 by UK company EDP and was distributed by Rod Argent's Keyboards. Advertised as being "One of the biggest advances in synthesizer design -- an ultra low-cost, high-performance instrument unmatched by synthesizers several times the price", it quickly gained cult status. While some pro musicians regarded it as no more than a toy, many more saw it as a Godsend -- who cares what it looked like, it sounded bloody great! Admittedly, the Wasp can sound exceedingly waspish when played through the awful internal speaker, but if you put it through a few effects and an amplifier, it's transformed into an awesome-sounding beast that can really move speaker cones. The Wasp is also capable of producing some classic acid, techno and bass sounds and is often overlooked in favour of the Roland Bassline, long the darling of the dance track -- but it deserves some exposure now, as sonically it outshines the Bassline in many ways.
The heart of any analogue synth has to be the coupling of decent VCOs and a VCF; the Wasp's system is very impressive, with a full bottom end and a glass-shattering top end that really don't equate with its looks. The VCF sounds very distinctive and is superb when filtering a sawtooth wave, especially if modulated by the LFO random output and Envelope Generator. In a blindfold test, you'd be hard pressed to pick out the sound of the Wasp as coming from anything other than a decent Korg, Roland or -- dare I say it -- Moog from the same period.
Along with the Roland SH101, the Wasp must also be one of a very few 'genuine' synths that runs off batteries. I can remember buskers around Covent Garden in the early '80s with a Wasp, a Boss Dr Rhythm, a couple of effects pedals and a hat full of money, doing a roaring trade.
It must be said that the Wasp doesn't have one of the best track records for reliability, and finding one that still works these days is becoming increasingly difficult. I've known a few bands over the years who have gigged with Wasps, which has got to be one of the quickest ways of trashing one, as most clubs have very high humidity, and this plays havoc with the Wasp's keyboard sensitivity. The first sign of trouble is that no matter how much you adjust the keyboard sensitivity and fiddle with the controls, the thing refuses to stop droning -- 'The Droning Wasp' syndrome. Then there's the prospect of the classic 'Flying Wasp' syndrome, which occurs when you dash across the stage doing your Pete Townsend impersonation and trip over the Wasp's lead. The weight of most synths these days would mean either that the lead would come out of the socket or that you would trip arse over elbow, but since the Wasp weighs about as much as a bag of sugar, it simply takes off (probably still droning) and follows you across the stage, smashing effortlessly to the floor or hitting a slumbering roadie -- a dead Wasp either way. The best way to prevent this happening is to lash it to something heavy with lots of gaffa tape.
The Wasp's plastic casing is unsurprisingly fragile and you can make the screws holding it together fall out just by looking at them. This includes the underside battery compartment, which is held in place by six (yes six!) tiny self-tappers. Try unscrewing them on a dark stage in the middle of a gig...
Although the Wasp's front panel is divided into six basic sections, a detailed explanation uncovers many unique features in a synth of this type and price:
This contains a Bend control for the VCOs which can bend a note by one semitone in either direction. As there's very little physical depth to the Wasp, a proper pitch-bend wheel couldn't have been included -- and would probably have added too much to the cost. To get around this problem, an ordinary pot is used, with a 90 degree dead band. For it to have any effect on the VCOs, you have to turn it almost fully clockwise or anti-clockwise -- so, while playing, you don't have to worry too much about making sure the knob always returns to dead centre for everything to remain in tune.
Next in this section is a Glide (portamento) control with an adjustable three-second, two-octave sweep. One quirk is that when you apply Glide to the VCOs they don't track the keyboard as accurately; a side-effect of this is that when you jump from one end of the keyboard to the other, one VCO always lags slightly behind until they reach the correct note. This is quite a good effect and could normally only be created on a regular synth by using a MIDI delay or DDL. Last in this section is a recessed pot for overall tuning (by screwdriver) of both VCOs, by one tone up or down.
VCO 1 has a five-position 'FT' (range) control that can be switched from 32 to 2 (spanning five octaves). There is a Width control for changing the shape of the square wave output, and a three-position Wave Shape selector, with Off, Sawtooth or Square wave available. VCO 2 is slightly different, in that the Width control is replaced by a Pitch control (variable over one octave) that can be used in combination with VCO 1 for tuning two-note chords and intervals. The VCOs are pretty stable as far as tuning goes, and are usually only let down by noisy or worn-out pots, which can make tuning the Wasp a problem if it's old or well used.
This section has a Freq control (rate), with a range of about 1Hz (not really slow enough) to about 100Hz. Next is a Pitch Mod control for adjusting the depth of VCO modulation, and then a six-position Wave Shape selector switch, with sine, ramp, sawtooth, square, noise and random waves available. The Glide control can additionally modify any of these waveforms. Finally, there's a Noise Signal knob; this is just a volume control for the white noise output and feeds the VCF audio input.
This consists of a very musical sounding 12dB-per-octave VCF that has a range of about 3Hz to 16Hz. A Freq control adjusts the filter cut-off, and a Q control adjusts the resonance. Unfortunately, a built-in overload limiter prevents the VCF from going into oscillation (shame!). A very useful mode selector is next, for choosing low-pass, band-pass and high-pass filter types (hurrah!).
Lastly, there are two modulation controls: one for varying LFO modulation depth into the VCF, and the other to adjust the output from the Control Envelope Generator into the VCF. These are unusual in that if they are set to the mid position they have no effect. However, rotating them clockwise will increase the amount of modulation, while rotating them anti-clockwise will give a similar effect but with inverted modulation. This is a very versatile arrangement and works particularly well with the Envelope Generator. If no modulation is applied to the VCF, it will track the keyboard.
The VCA Envelope Generator has a linear Attack control, with a rate variable from 3mS to 2 seconds, and an exponential Decay control, with a rate variable from 3ms to 15 seconds and a switchable Sustain level control. The fastest Attack/Decay settings are very short -- just a click -- and great for Kraftwerk impersonations. If you turn the sustain knob anti-clockwise (past the click position) it turns on an envelope repeat function (LFO 2). The speed for this repeat is then adjustable by a combination of both the Attack and Decay knobs, but only as long as a note is held down on the keyboard. The downside with this is that you do lose some fine adjustment of the Attack/Decay times. The speed of the effect is at its fastest when the Attack and Decay controls are turned fully anti-clockwise (not clockwise, as you would normally expect -- strange!).
The Control Envelope (which modulates the VCF) has linear Attack/Decay controls, with rates variable from 15mS to 6S, and a switchable Delay level control that can apply a maximum 1. 5S delay to the control envelope.
Like the VCA EG, the Delay knob on the Control Envelope Generator can switch on a repeat function (LFO 3), with its speed adjustable by the Attack/Decay knobs. The combination of these two additional LFOs means that some very complex modulated patches can be set up. Great for complex percussive loops and helicopter (!) effects.
This has just one dual-purpose control that adjust the volume and acts as an on/off switch.
The flat, two-octave keyboard works by sensing skin capacitance, so playing with gloves on is out of the question. It was originally advertised as being "Touch Sensitive" but actually the only touch sensitivity is that you need to touch the keys to play it. The keyboard is surprisingly easy to play and is great for fast arpeggios, trills and fancy riffs, as all you need to do is rub your fingers over the surface as fast as you like. The keyboard always gives priority to the highest note played, and if you hold your finger on a low note while your other hand is trilling about at the top end, you can create an impression of a duophonic Wasp.
The main drawback with the keyboard (apart from the fact that it's not touch sensitive) is that the envelope generators won't re-trigger unless you release your fingers and touch the keys again -- but after using the Wasp for more than 12 years I have learned to live with this foible.
You may be interested to know that the design of the Wasp keyboard has a very similar look to the EMS Synthi AKS keyboard, which is also flat. The AKS keyboard is blue and black, and together they make a lovely pair!
On the rear panel are two 7-pin DIN sockets that a lot of people mistake for MIDI sockets -- they are not! These sockets transmit and receive 5-volt CMOS logic signals for linking Wasps together, or for connecting with other EDP products. Most MIDI-to-CV converters have the option of adding (or include) a Wasp 7-pin compatible output.
The Headphone and Line Out jacks are switched and the internal speaker is turned off if either is used. The Line Out produces a -10dBm/600ohm signal, and is adequate for most amps and mixing desks. The Wasp's noise level is said to be -65dBm in its 'quiet state'. I've always found the output to be pretty clean and loud, with very little background noise. The same can't be said of the internal speaker, which tends to hum loudly unless a very stable external PSU (or six 'C'-type batteries), is used. Speaking of batteries, it's best to avoid them, as they tend to get devoured fairly quickly.
As you can see, the Wasp's 24 knobs can go a long way. It has some very useful features and even a couple of fairly unique innovations (at the time), and while it may not really be a classic as such, it certainly has cult status.
The first time I heard the Wasp was in 1978 while I was with Throbbing Gristle and Industrial Records, and happened to hear some demos by Robert Rental and Thomas Leer (who later signed to ZTT). They were writing very individualistic 'electronic' songs using just voices, guitars and two Wasps. The Wasps supplied all the keyboard and percussion parts, and we were amazed at the sound they were producing with these, especially as they were using no drum machines (I think they may have used a Spider sequencer -- see box on other EDP products). We signed them to our label and released their first album, The Bridge (now re-released on MUTE/Bridge1CD). I was so impressed by what they had achieved that I went out and bought a Wasp of my own.
EDP also produced a number of other products to supplement the Wasp:
• First was the Deluxe Wasp; on this instrument, Oscillator 1 gains an external input that allows you to plug in an external instrument and feed it through the VCF, and a volume control for each VCO -- which is more flexible than simply turning the VCOs on or off. EDP also gave the Deluxe nice wooden end cheeks and a real keyboard, a move that was obviously meant to appeal to people who wanted a MiniMoog but couldn't afford one.
• Then there was the Spider digital sequencer, with a 252-note capacity in step time and 84 notes in real time. This also had useful CV and gate outputs and the ability to sync to tape.
• The Spider was was followed by the Caterpillar 3-octave keyboard, powered by a single PPS battery. It was an 8-voice keyboard to which up to eight Wasps could be connected and played polyphonically.
• EDP also produced another synth called the Gnat, which was basically a smaller, even cheaper, single-VCO version of the Wasp.
• Another rarity is the repackaged, MIDI-equipped, rackmount (but keyboardless) Wasp produced a few years ago by the now-defunct Groove Electronics. I don't think Groove got around to making that many, but it does sound like a good idea and worth checking out if you want a Wasp for playing live.
Most of these units are pretty rare and well worth checking out if you come across any of them at a car boot sale. In a press release for the Wasp's launch, EDP mentioned more products to come. These are listed as: Millipedes, Eagles, Cockroaches, Beetles, Grubs, Moths and a Playing Mantis. God knows if these ever got off the drawing board and what they would have been if they had!
Signs to beware of when buying a second-hand Wasp -- if you can find one:
• A heavily scratched or worn away keyboard instantly betrays a Wasp that's had plenty of use.
• Test all the pots and knobs, including the two presets, for crackles and weird effects, as dodgy pots can make the Wasp very unstable and unpredictable.
• If the speaker distorts, the output circuits may be damaged, but if it sounds OK using the line out, then the speaker might just need replacing.
• Look for cracks in the casing and missing screws, and give it a gentle shake for signs of anything loose or floating around inside.
• Weigh any problems against the asking price and bear in mind that there probably aren't that many workshops around these days that could fix one.
Published in SOS February 1995


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I'm awake, bored, and thanks to this post, thinking about old cellphones, so please join me in reviewing my cell phones...
1999: Nokia 252
I liked this one. Felt incredibly sleek compared to some other things out there, and had a bunch of interchangeable faceplates that I never used. Of course plans were still pretty expensive, so I still made most of my calls via landline. Also cellphones were banned at school, though the smaller size meant I wasn't quite showing Zack Morris level contempt for the rules. I do think I broke the battery clip playing with it at some point, it definitely looks weak:
2000: Audiovox CDM-135
College meant a new provider (before we had national networks!) and a new phone (also a new number, this was also before we had porting). I liked this one too. Even smaller than the Nokia, while working perfectly well as a phone. By 2000 I was able to get a plan I could actually afford to make calls on.
I don't remember why I got rid of this. Might have had something to do with the switch away from analog networks, or e-911, or maybe my contract was just up.
2001: Audiovox CDM-4000
Physically this was quite similar to the previous one, but with a less appealing design. I had felt like going from Nokia to Audiovox was a bit of a downgrade. This one looked and felt cheap to me (it probably was cheap). Pretty sure I broke it, but don't remember how.
2003: Samsung SGH-A800
My first flip phone! While fairly small (remember, we were pursuing ever-smaller phones back then), it was still not as compact as the several year old Startac, to say nothing of some other modern flip phones. Still a much more premium feel than the Audiovox. Then as now Samsung's software was bad. Among other things, Samsung had given it some terrible unchangeable wallpaper on the main screen.
One time I flipped it open, and the screen flipped off. So back to shopping for a new phone.
2005: Motorola E815
Lot of firsts for me here:
- First phone clearly bigger than its predecessor
- First camera-phone (the camera didn't get much use, it was pretty crappy, and you had to pay Verizon to get pictures off)
- First color screens (would be pretty sad to take pictures without them)
- First phone that could connect to a computer (didn't work so well, Verizon had a lot of things locked down so you'd use their services)
- First with Bluetooth. Again locked down pretty heavily, but I was able to pair with my computer, and while I couldn't tether data, I was able to use it as a modem, and dial into a university modem pool getting (extremely slow) internet from places where I didn't have it.
Sadly also had to get a new number. We did have porting at this point, but I was buying from some Amazon deal, and it didn't really seem possible to get Verizon to switch over the number. Today I'd probably try harder, but not being able to port numbers was recent enough that it didn't seem like a huge deal.
2008: HTC Touch
Entering the smartphone era, just a few months after the iPhone cracked it open for consumers! The Touch looked and felt great, with a form-factor that was smaller than a deck of cards, and nice soft-touch plastics. Unfortunately, Windows Mobile was never great, and the launcher software HTC installed on top of it was just clunky and terrible. The real problem though was the resistive touchscreen, which was mushy and unresponsive, and pretty much useless if you weren't using the stylus.
I took this phone out of my pocket to find the screen had shattered (The screen itself, well behind the touchscreen, which wasn't damaged. Still not sure how that happened).
2009: HTC Touch Pro
With the Touch out of commission I ended up buying its physical keyboard-having sibling, the Touch Pro (out of contract, and not that long before the Touch Pro 2 was released). I thought that the keyboard would be good, given how awful the Touch's touch screen was, but it wasn't actually necessary. The touchscreen while still resistive, was massively more responsive, and had much less travel than the Touch's. Indeed the real star of the device was the screen, which was 640x480, which doesn't sound impressive, until you remember that it was a tiny 2.8" display (as compared to the iPhone 3GS's 3.5" 480x320 screen), making everything super-crisp, and allowing a lot of content to fit. Additionally it produced some really deep blacks, and vibrant colors. It was well ahead of its time. Windows mobile still sucked, but an unofficial mod to 6.5 brought significant improvements and made it a very usable device.
This was a great phone. I was worried about how huge it was (the 4.3" screen was a big departure at the time), but quickly found it to be well worth carrying a bigger device. WiMAX provided great internet speeds (tailing off towards the end as Sprint shifted from WiMAX to LTE), and Android was finally ready for prime-time after having been clunky in its early versions. The device looked and felt great, though the little kickstand, while fun to fidget with, never really did a did a good job supporting the device.
2013: HTC One
HTC's crowning achievement, this is probably my favorite phone (despite one huge flaw). The phone looks great (and when it was released, like nothing else), feels great, and sounds great, on account of its excellent speakers (for a phone). Android is snappy, and the touchscreen is sharp and responsive. The car mount was great to use, and makes me hate that no phone today (even the high-volume iPhones) has a custom car mount, instead making us deal with clunky universal ones.
The flaw: The dreaded HTC One purple camera issue. Apparently triggered by exposure to excessive heat (when charging, being left in the sun, or in a hot car, etc.) the main camera becomes damaged in such a way that all pictures it takes are cast in a nearly monochrome purple hue. Turning on HDR helps, but it seems there was never any real solution other than sending it in for repair.
2016: Samsung Galaxy S7
I have serious mixed-feelings about this phone. I really didn't like it when I first got it, and considered going back to my HTC One, purple camera and all. It has since grown on me some.
- Big, crisp screen
- Qi charging (seemed like a low-value gimmick, but I've found it useful)
- Waterproof (though I've damaged it enough I wouldn't trust this now)
- Always on screen (especially since it was updated to show generic notifications)
- MicroSD support (one of the reasons I picked the S7 was that Samsung was offering a free 256GB MicroSD. I'm not super concerned with removable storage, but 32GB is clearly no longer sufficient for my usage)
- Ant+ support (nice to be able to use a cheap heart rate monitor when cycling)
- Fast charging is nice
- Feels cheap, and not at all sturdy.
- Slippery back and awkwardly shaped side means it is a lot easier to drop than the One (not that the One's aluminum is slip-proof)
- Painted metal side started chipping immediately
- Despite a fast processor, apps are often quite sluggish and stuttery
- Battery life is poor (this may be related to the always on display, in power-saving mode it's much better)
- Terrible speaker (may be a concession to being waterproof)
- Samsung's software, while not as bad as some earlier phones, can still be a bit invasive.
So that's it, nearly 20 years of cellphones. My contract is up in October, so maybe I'll be adding another new toy then (especially now that I've somewhat damaged my S7). Honestly though none of the current crop jumps out at me as being significantly different or better than what I've got, so I may end up hanging on to the S7 a while longer.


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We're already halfway through January! How did that happen so quickly?!
Now is the time when many of us seem to start slipping on our New Year's goals and resolutions around healthy eating. Fear not!
We've rounded up our Top 10 GREEN Recipes to help you finish January on a strong note and keep you going on that healthy kick!
Click on the recipe images below to get the recipe!
Recipes in order of left to right, top to bottom: Avocado Toast // Mango Ginger Kale Green Smoothie // Super Green Smoothie Bowl // Ginger Colada Green Smoothie // Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie // Coconut Curried Greens // Garlic Brussels Sprouts // Apple Pecan Arugula Salad // Collard Green Spring Rolls // Vegan Nicoise Salad //
Finish January strong (+ delicious!). Be sure to tag any of your creations #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see what you cook up. Cheers!
xo – Minimalist Baker


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We've spotted a new trend in the celeb-o-sphere! Scalp bedazzling, seen recently on Nicole Richie, is a single line of rhinestones strung down the scalp.
Love it? Hate it? If this trend's a bit to blingy for you try out these fun DIY alternatives!
Blingy headband : A plain black, headband can become a pretty piece of bling when you fasten teeny tiny rhinestones to it. Look for a thin one so it looks like the rhinestones are sitting on your hair.
Fasten a flower: I love wearing flowers in my hair. It gives just the right pop of color - and when you add a few similar colored rhinestones, they look like shimmery drops of dew. So cute!
Jazz up a barrette: Get colorful and cover your barrette in rhinestones. It's the perfect way to add some funk and flair.
Check out these fun extras:
Love Fun Hair Accessories? Test Out Your Favorite Style FREE!
Best Shampoo for Unruly Hair and More from the Healthy Beauty Awards!
Want to Get in Shape on Your Own Terms? Customize Your Own Workout!
Posted by Pia Bhattacharya


text: During several decades of research and development in the field of Magnetically Confined Fusion (MCF) the preferred selection of materials for Plasma Facing Components (PFC) has changed repeatedly. Without doubt, endurance of the first wall will decide research availability and lifespan of the first International Thermonuclear Research Reactor (ITER). Materials erosion, redeposition and mixing in the reactor are the critical processes responsible for modification of materials properties under plasma impact. This thesis presents several diagnostic techniques and their applications for studies of materials transport in fusion devices. The measurements were made at the EXTRAP T2R Reversed Field Pinch operated in Alfvén laboratory at KTH (Sweden), the TEXTOR tokamak, recently shut down at Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany) and in the JET tokamak at CCFE (UK). The main outcomes of the work are:


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- Our project will be a text based document which will include graphs and diagrams.
- Our case study will be based on eBay.
Outline for A2
"What is the fundamental economic basis of Internet commerce?"
Introduction to E-Commerce
Introduction to e-commerce, internet business models and economic systems (network, attention, gift etc). Introduction to idea that "connectivity" is the foundation for internet commerce with majority of online business models and economic systems relying on the internet's ability to connect individuals, organisations and communities – across time and space – with each other, information, products and services, in order to create value and generate income. (Steve, you mentioned you felt distribution was key - maybe you want to add something here about that as well?)
Ebay as an Example
Introduction to Ebay's product, business model and role within the internet economy and how it will be used as an example of e-commerce in practice.
Internet Business Models
Discussion of prevalent business models and how the internet creates value through connectivity. Use Ebay as an example of how these methods work in practice (wherever possible). [6]
• Brokerage
• Advertising
• Infomediary
• Merchant
• Manufacturer (Direct)
• Affiliate
• Community
• Subscription
• Utility
Internet Economies
Discussion of the Network, Attention and Gift economies, their use of connectivity and their role within e-commerce. Examples provided within the context of Ebay. [3] [4]
- Network Economy
- The importance of community in building and sustaining an online economy [2]
- Ebay does not generate any of its own content
- Ebay relies heavily (though not entirely) on revenue generated from listing fees and percentage of sales
- The service offered by ebay has changed very little over the life of the site
- Ebay's success relies on ongoing use and support from their customers
- Gift Economy
- Ebay is free for buyers to use, which is one of its major drawcards Compare this to newspaper classified advertising, which requires a purchase to browse the ads. (citations needed)
- Attention Economy
- social value: more effective communication methods [5] (facebook events, lanyrd.com, etc)
Connectivity (and distribution?)
Bring all of these business and economic models together to show how the foundation of internet commerce is the internet's ability to connect the masses and provide new opportunities for people, organisations and communities to generate income and value across time and space. Discuss the Long Tail and Ebay as examples. [1] [2]
- Distribution is key. The internet is a distribution network.
- Creating pportunity without geographical boundaries (crowdfunding: kickstarter, etc)
Summary of information presented.


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Syrah is a wonderful grape which is planted in dozens of countries. Wine geeks are celebrating #ShirazWeek from February 21 to March 1, an event created by Wine Australia to promote Australian Shiraz. Most of you might already know this but in case you are wondering: Shiraz is just a synonym for Syrah. It is the preferred spelling in Australia and South Africa. In the Old World the preferred spelling is Syrah. Australia, however, is not the only country in which Syrah finds excellent growing conditions. Come and join me on a journey thorough Cortona, Tuscany, for #ShirazWeek as we explore the wonderful Syrah from Tenimenti d'Alessandro.
Cortona is a village in South-Eastern Tuscany which was founded by Umbrians many centuries BC. In 600 BC it was conquered by the Etruscans who built a stone wall around Cortona, which still encloses the town in present day. Not far from Cortona are the famous wine-producing towns Montepulciano and Arezzo. Arezzo is the the center of Chianti Colli Aretini and Montepulciano is known for Vino Nobile. So why am I dedicating a post to Cortona and not to Montepulciano you might be wondering? The answer is quite simple. Just like Arezzo and Montepulciano, Cortona is also an important center for wine production. Granted, abroad it is not as famous yet as some of the other Tuscan towns but Cortona is getting more and more attention from international wine lovers and wine critics.
Sangiovese is the the predominately grown grape variety in Tuscany – Brunello, Vino Nobile, Morellino di Scansano and Monteccuo are just a few Tuscan appellation for outstanding Sangiovese-based wines. Cortona is different. The appellation Cortona DOC was only established in 1999 and it covers a wide range of international grape varieties. This is because the soil in Cortona suits a number of grapes like Syrah, Gamy and Pinot Nero. Yes, Sangiovese is permitted, too, but the most famous wines from Cortona are produced with Syrah. Many wines from Cortona are varietally labeled.
White wines are also produced in Cortona but red wine is dominating. The preferred white varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Welschriesling. Cortona is also one of the many Tuscan DOCs in which Vin Santo, a dessert wine from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes, is produced.
Why Syrah?
Syrah has been grown in the vineyards of Cortona for a long time, even before the establishment of the DOC. Credit has to be given to the d'Alessandro family who has been producing world-class Syrah since the early 1990. Their winery called Tenimenti d'Alessandro was founded in 1967. Their Syrah have often been compared to the outstanding Syrah from France's Rhone Valley. The success of d'Alessandro's Syrah inspired other wineries to switch most of their plantings to Syrah, too. Stefano Amerighi is another one of those Syrah wine makers. He produces just a single wine – a varietal Syrah.
The "big guys" in the Tuscan wine business wanted to have a share of the cake, too, and so it is no surprise that Marchesi Antinori purchased an estate in Cortona called La Braccesca. And guess what grape variety is grown at La Braccesca? Gamy? Nope. Pinot Nero? Close. Syrah? Yes! At La Braccesca, Marchesi Antinori process two varietal Syrah, Achelo and Bramsole.
While the Syrah of La Braccesca and Stefano Amerighi are great, I want to continue this post by highlighting three Syrah from Tenimenti d'Alessandro, the "founders" of Cortona Syrah.
Tenimenti d'Alessandro
As mentioned earlier, Tenimenti d'Alessandro was founded in 1967. They own about 40 hectares of vineyards and produce four varietal Syrah, two varietal Viognier as well as grappa, Vin Santo and olive oil. The winery has an estimated annual production of 120.000 – 150.000 bottles (depending on the source).
One of the first things you will notice when you visit the website of Tenimenti d'Alessandro is the reason why they produce Syrah:
"Because we have great faith in the relationship between Cortona terroir and grape variety. We know the potential and believe that our vineyards can produce not only the best Syrah in Italy, but also a Syrah that stands out the international stage."
They sure sound confident, don't they? Let's take a closer look at three of their four Syrah.
2012 Tenimenti d'Alessandro – Borgo Syrah – Cortona DOC
The winery's entry wine, Borgo Syrah, is produced from their youngest Syrah plantings which are about 15-18 years old. The grapes are harvested in the first and second week of September and get fermented in stainless steel vats. Afterwards, the wine ages for about one year mostly in concrete casks and in small parts in used oak barrels. 13% is the label-listed ABV.
In the glass, Borgo Syrah has a deep ruby red color. Fruit-forward nose with redcurrant, blackberries and blueberries. In the mouth, dry, vivid and youthful. Medium-bodied with a fresh acidity and mellow tannins. Good balance but not that complex. Notes of blueberries and licorice.
Top notch everyday wine with a very good quality price ratio.
Rating: 3.5/5
Average price on Wine Searcher: €12
2010 Tenimenti d'Alessandro – Vecchievigne – Cortona DOC
The name Vecchievigne is composed of the two Italian words Vecchie (old) and Vigne (vines). This wine is produced from some of Tenimenti d'Alessandro's oldest Syrah vines from the Il Borgo vineyard. All grapes are hand-picked in mid-September and fermented in steel tanks. Once the fermentation is completed, Vecchievigne aged for about 22 months in parts in French barriques and in parts in large used oak casks. The label-indicated alcohol by volume is 14%
In the glass, the wine has a ruby red color. Vecchievigne opens with aromas of marasca cherries, toasted coffee and cocoa. Followed, after some additional time, by hints of black pepper and plums. On the palate, the wine is dry and of good balance with powerful tannins and a medium body. Notes of espresso, dark chocolate and sour cherries. Vecchievigne has a good strucutre and quite a strong acidity. The balance is alright. Long-lasting aftertaste.
Rating: 3.5/5
Average price on Wine Searcher: €17
2010 Tenimenti d'Alessandro – Il Bosco – Cortona DOC
Il Bosco is one of the two flagship wines of Tenimenti d'Alessandro with the other one being Migliaria. This wine is produced from the winery's very best Syrah vines grown in various vineyards. None of the vines are younger than 20 years and some plantings are even older. These vines have a very low yield and are handpicked in late September. The low yield is in parts achieved by green harvesting grapes in July. The grapes are fermented in wooden vats for about two to three weeks. Once the wine gets transferred into French barriques, the malolactic fermentation takes place and during this phase periodic batonnage are made. After this process, the wine continues to age for another 20 months in large oak casks. The barrels get sampled multiple times and only the finest lots are being selected for Il Bosco. The wine has a label listed ABV of 14%.
Il Bosco has an opaque ruby color in the glass. The nose opens with blackcurrant, blueberries, blackberries and leather, followed by aromas of plums and coffee as well as hints of salty bread crust and black pepper. In the mouth, Il Bosco is dry, very elegant, warm and complex. Excellent, earthy structure. Perfectly balanced with good depth and powerful tannins and a full body. Notes of dark chocolate, coffee and ripe red fruit. Breathtaking, never-ending finish.
Outstanding describes this Syrah best.
Rating: 4.5 /5
Average price on Wine Searcher: €36
There you have it, three Syrah from Cortona, Italy. Il Bosco is my absolute favorite out of the three followed by Borgo Syrah and Vecchievigne. In my personal ranking Borgo Syrah is slightly ahead of Vecchievigne because it has a better quality-price ratio (€12 vs €17). Il Bosco is must-try and I highly encourage you to try this Syrah.
That's it then? No, I have one more wine for you. It is not a Syrah. Since I also tasted the Tenimenti d'Alessandro Bianco del Borgo I thought I give you my tasting notes for it, too, since it fits our topic Cortona well.
2013 Tenimenti d'Alessandro – Bianco del Borgo – Toscana IGT
Bianco del Borgo is one of the two varietal Viognier that Tenimenti d'Alessandro produces. The grapes are harvested between late August and the first days of September. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks and afterwards the wine ages in stainless steel for six months. Depending on the vintage, small quantities of the wine may also age for six months in used oak barrels. 12.5% was the label listed ABV.
Bianco del Borgo has bright pale yellow color with greenish hues in the glass. Green nose with aromas of olives, kiwi, green bell pepper, oregano and flowers. On the palate, the wine is dry, fresh and mineral. Good acidity. There are intense notes of bitter almonds and hints of fennel. The finish is of medium length.
Rating: 3.5/5
Typical similar Viognier similar to those of the Rhone. Perfect with an asparagus risotto. The QPR of the Bianco del Borgo is pretty good.
Average price on Wine Searcher: €10
Parting Words
This concludes my post about Cortona Syrah. It got a little longer but I felt it was better not to split it into two parts.
Don't forget about Cortona the next time you're looking for a Syrah (or Viognier) and celebrate #ShirazWeek with a bottle of Cortona Syrah.
Tenimenti d'Alessandro will showcase their wines at ProWein in Düsseldorf (15.-17. March) and at VinItaly in Verona (22.-25. March).
I had planned to only attend ProWein this year but a few days ago I spontaneously decided to also travel to Verona to taste some excellent wines and take part in a very promising looking master's class on methodo classico sparkling wine. March will be a busy month but one I am looking forward to.
Feel free to share your thoughts about Cortona Syrah in the comment section below. Cheers!


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With Your Children at Christmastime
5. Put up your Christmas tree – get everyone around to decorate it.
6. Teach the children about St. Nicklaus, the generous 4th century Turkish bishop.
7. Set up the Nativity scene – remember Baby Jesus isn't there yet, nor the Kings.
8. Christmas is a season – not just one day.
9. Simplify. Alter traditions to suit YOU and YOUR family. Simplify.
10. Put aside (hide) or make biscuits and other treats to put in the freezer now.
11. Invite your neighbours over for a barbecue – be as lights in the world.
12. Have a gift card making session with your children, maybe invite some friends over.
13. Wrap the presents and place in a 'safe' place.
14. Make an Advent chain with 10 loops of paper and countdown – take off one each night and read the Bible verses or love notes (from God) you've written inside.
15. Together recall the enjoyable memories of Christmas past.
16. Sing carols or put on a music tape to play through the day.
17. Sit outside in the countryside on a fine dark night silently. Think of the shepherds, angels, Mary waiting.
18. Have a family only (half-) day to sit and be and do. Relax – in the park, on the beach.
19. Have an Advent candle lighting ceremony.
20. Go on a pyjama ride with the littlies to see the Christmas lights.
21. Oohh! The anticipation – Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Light, is coming.
22. Visit or volunteer at an old folks' home, women's refuge, Night shelter.
23. Watch a Christmas video or DVD with your children, telling the story of Jesus' birth.
24. O Holy Night, … the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Sing this carol or check out the various versions on YouTube.
25. Happy Birthday, Jesus – Emmanuel, God born as man. Who is coming to your party?
Shalom, God is with us!
© 2004, by Johanna Whittaker for MOPS (NZ) Inc. www.mops.org.nz
Filed under: Christmas, Creative, Following Jesus | Tagged: Advent Countdown, Christmas |


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The Freya Sweet Dreams Chemise is created to fit your bust as well as your body, effortlessly combining comfort and support in beautifully soft fabric in a cool charcoal. Featuring a secret cotton support for added comfort, super flirty shaping with an elegant pleat detail on the neck line. To ensure you choose the correct size for you, select your dress size XSmall, Small, Medium or Large and also your cup size, B-DD if your cup size fits into this range or E-G if your cup size fits into this range. (for example if your bra size is 30G please choose XSmall E-G).
- Be the first to review this product
Write your own review about Freya Sweet Dreams Chemise, Charcoal
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Marco posted on CEP (Complex Event Processing) and GPS (Global Positioning System) recently and his examples really show the difference, to me, between event rules and decision management. He listed some great examples of rules that belong in your event processing environment - they are about events. For instance:
- Trigger when vehicle enters zone B
- Trigger when zone C contains more than 30 vehicles.
- Trigger when vehicle xyz has not arrived to zone D between 3-6 am
Event rules are not the same as the rules behind business decisions, even if the same language can be used to express both. One is tied to the events and the event handling system, one is not.


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#67: Cry of the White Wolf
February 16, 2016
Note: This episode was recorded before the latest White Wolf interviews on February 13-15th. Darker Days intends to record a new darkling in two weeks time to discuss the latest updates.
Mike, Chris, Matt, and Chigg return with the righteous rage of Gaia to discuss the new White Wolf Publishing, a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive. The crew discusses all the news from interviews and Tenebrae Noctis presentations, and throws in some of their own pure conjecture. To round out the episode, Chris presents a secret frequency on the Hollow Earth.
Be sure to check us out at http://www.facebook.com/DarkerDaysRadio or our Google Plus Community at https://plus.google.com/communities/104221086985174488220. Be sure to subscribe through iTunes!
Links for this episode:
Chris, David and Sam head up a new, NWoD centric podcast: https://networkzero.podbean.com/
Midnight Express: https://midnightexpress.podbean.com/
Darker Days Radio Blog: http://darkerdaysradio.blogspot.com
Mike's History Podcast: http://roxlabs.net/unbuttoned/episodes/


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Who am I?
Hello my name is Gico Carlo Evangelista and I am a first generation Filipino-American studying computer science at the University of California Santa Cruz. Early on in life, I quickly found an interest in computers, messing around with my parents old Windows XP desktop at the age of 3. A decade later, I learned my first programming language (Python) and later build my first desktop. My passion for computers and technology led me to decide to pursue computer science in college. Highly motivated and engergized, I am pursuing to be a Software Engineer.


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James A. Beindorf
James began his accounting career at a regional public accounting firm in Atlanta, Georgia, followed by working in the financial forecasting and accounting department at a large company also based out of Atlanta. After obtaining experience both in the public and private industry sectors, James moved back to Vero Beach where he continues to provide tax and valuation services.
James' areas of expertise include:
- Audits and Assurance
- Individual Tax Services
- Corporate Tax Services
- Litigation Support
- Valuation Engagements
- Small Business Consulting
Professional History
Audit / Assurance
While at Faucett Taylor & Assoc, James provided audit and assurance services for various types of entities including property management companies, manufacturing companies, not-for-profit entities and government entities.
Forecasting / Accounting
James worked with the financial forecasting and accounting team at Access Insurance helping with the analysis, forecasting and preparation of the companywide financial statements.
Tax, Litigation Support and Valuation
Since returning to Vero Beach, James has been providing tax, litigation support and valuation services to individuals and entities.
- Post-baccalaureate, Millsaps College
- B.A. Accounting, Auburn University
- Certified Public Accountant
- Certified Valuation Analyst
- Certified in Financial Forensics
- Recipient of the AICPA 2018 Standing Ovation Award for achievements in forensic and valuation services.
Community Involvement
James is a Vero Beach, Florida native and shares the community's passion for giving back and involvement. He is the current Habitat for Humanity Treasurer, Center For Spiritual Care Treasurer, member of the Future Leader Professional Advisory Council of the Indian River Community Foundation, member of the Vero Beach Museum of Art Planned Giving Leadership Council, board member for Child Care Resources and board member of the Harvest Festival.


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Introduction Video for Certify
Try these searches to get started: EM 188.8.131.52 or EM 10.2.0.5
Please send me Hard copy of SCJP certificate.
Oracle Testing ID: OC1158925
1Z0-851 Java Standard Edition 6 Programmer
Certified Professional Exam
Registration: 251168076
Address: Room No-D1;Sangmitra CHS,Gorai-1,Borivali(West)
Unfortunately "Certify" has nothing to do with SCJP certification, or taking exams or classes. You need to contact the team that provided your course. "Certify" has to do with how products are stamped as approved to be used with other products or operating systems, so support can say "yes we support that combination" when it is still a current release or under extended support.


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Designing A Cook dinner's Kitchen
Being a room the place food is ready, and water is consistently in use, it is important to first select a wall that's resistant, sturdy, and lengthy lasting. The most practical kitchen decoration idea is a chalkboard; it's a fun strategy to plan meals and jot down grocery lists. Go to your local Lowe's , where a Kitchen Specialist can guide you thru your kitchen renovation process. This traditional kitchen boasts intricate particulars together with considerate design.
An enthralling ruffled valance of crimson-and-yellow checked cotton softens the curve of the large kitchen window. Your counter tops could make your kitchen a stand-out showpiece, or an understated sanctuary. Kitchen equipment, like baskets, pull out trays and hanging pot holders, are good solutions and aesthetically pleasing.
The dark grey coloration makes the detailing on the cupboards stand out and ties the room together. Price range, mid-vary, and luxurious all have totally different numerous advantages, and simply because you might have a funds does not imply you'll have to sacrifice fashion.
This country-fashion kitchen features a large island that serves as both a dining area as well as a workspace. Find the very best methods to add storage to your kitchen in this information or use this information to kitchen cabinets to get you began. For those who're a fan of up to date design, glossy handleless kitchen items with trendy kitchen worktops in Corian or metal may be up your road.
White Carrera marble tops the tiered kitchen island as well as the perimeter countertops. Concrete flooring on this simple white kitchen and breakfast room have been scored and hand-tinted for a lustrous appearance. On a large piece of graph paper, draw the outline of the kitchen space, together with any doors or home windows that you'll have work around whilst you design your kitchen.


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Annette Atkins
Image credit: Denise Gagner
Annette Atkins is a professor emerita at Saint John's University and the College of Saint Benedict in Minneapolis. A scholar, teacher, and public historian, she specializes in transforming serious research into compelling stories. She is the author of Harvest of Grief: Grasshopper Plagues and Public Assistance in Minnesota, 1873–78 (1984), a book about nineteenth-century rural poverty; We Grew Up Together: Brothers and Sisters in Nineteenth-Century America (2001), a Choice outstanding academic publication about adult sibling relationships; Creating Minnesota: A History from the Inside Out (2007), a path-breaking reinvention of state history which won awards from American Association for State and Local History and Western Writers of America; and Challenging Women since 1913 (2013), a history of the College of Saint Benedict and women's higher education.
Atkins speaks widely at professional meetings, libraries, and Road Scholar and other senior education programs, and she has run writing workshops for faculty and the staffs of historical societies. Her lectures have been broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio where she was the on-air historian for five years. Currently, she's at work on a book that tells the American story by focusing on shoes—their wearers, styles, manufacture, and materials, as well as industrialization, urbanization, globalization, advertising, and popular culture. This book expands on her essay, "Walk a Century in My Shoes" (Minnesota History, winter 1999–2000), and demonstrates her continuing commitment to inviting readers to see themselves as part of the historical story.
- We've Been Here Before: Dangerous Immigrants and Internal Security during World War I *
- Walk a Century in My Shoes
- Writing My Life in History and in Practice
- "Aliens" on the Eve of World War I
Lectures marked with a * are offered as part of the OAH's initiative, Historians' Perspectives on the Rise of Donald Trump.


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Ford Options new finance programme
For customers looking to buy a new car for 2013, Ford Ireland has announced a range of offers on key models that includes an extended five-year warranty.
Under the banner of Ford's "Big Four", customers are invited to visit their local Ford dealer to avail of the offers over four weekends leading up to December 2.
The offers on Ford's top-selling models: Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, are as follows – free road tax on the newly redesigned Fiesta; free 16" alloys, front fogs, premium mats and upgraded console on Ireland's top selling car, the Ford Focus; and single price bodystyle on Mondeo: wagon, hatchback or saloon just one price starting at €26,995
And each model comes with an extended five years full warranty.
Ford is also introducing FordOptions, a new finance package that helps customers purchase their car with the security of a guaranteed minimum future value.
It allows customers to agree with their Ford dealer how much to pay as an upfront deposit and/or trade-in, in addition to the term and monthly repayments.
Then at the end of the term, the customer can decide to 1. renew their car with a new model; 2. return their car with nothing further to pay; or 3. retain the car once the agreed final payment has been made.
"I think our Big Four promotion has something for everyone", said Eddie Murphy, chairman and managing director of Ford Ireland. "For anyone thinking of renewing their car or even for those who thought about it but feel they can't stretch to it this time round, I would say, come in and speak to your local Ford dealer and see what could be possible. You may be pleasantly surprised."


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By placing the CPU and the tiny 16 by 16 pixels screen in the cartridge and not the console, Jay Smith managed to create the very first handheld gaming machine back in 1981: the Milton Bradley Microvision. Sadly the tech and cost limitations of the time meant the Microvision failed to become a success and only got 12 games released for it.
On the other hand, you can bid on eight of those game and the console (which comes with one more game, Blockbuster) to play them on via this MB Microvision eBay auction. Everything works great and comes in its original box. Baseball and Connect Four are sealed.
Seller ships only within the US.


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Over 26,000 young people are enrolled in Civil Air Patrol's cadet program, learning how to become our new generation of American leaders through their interest in aviation. Cadets develop strong leadership skills, and learn how to focus on success, discipline themselves to achieve worthwhile goals, resist adverse peer pressure, and serve as a role model to others.
The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program has its foundation in the military tradition that comes from being the Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. CAP Cadets learn aerospace, leadership, moral and ethical skills, and many other useful life skills in a military environment. Cadets have the opportunity to learn leadership through hands-on leadership opportunities such as being a Flight Sergeant, support staff positions, or one of many other positions. By actually leading fellow cadets toward a common goal, CAP cadets learn teamwork, planning, time management, and leadership skills.
The program is based off of four phases whereby cadets learn more and advance through demonstrating their mastery of the knowledge. Cadets start at the "bottom of the totem pole" but can advance to a position where they are leading others. CAP believes strongly that one must learn to follow before learning how to lead. Three of the four phases are ended by a Milestone Award. These awards require a special dedication to the program and to performance. Attaining certain awards allows cadets to be given more responsibilities, attend more activities, and be eligible for more aspects of the cadet program.
One of the greatest parts of the CAP Cadet Program are the Special Activities. Cadets can attend many different activities throughout their CAP career. Cadets can travel to foreign countries, learn to rescue injured persons, spend time at the Air Force's Space Command Headquarters, and many many other opportunities.
For more information on Cadet Programs, please visit the Minnesota Wing and National Headquarters Cadet Programs information pages. If you would like information on how to join the Civil Air Patrol, please click here.


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NCI Drug Dictionary
The NCI Drug Dictionary contains technical definitions and synonyms for drugs/agents used to treat patients with cancer or conditions related to cancer. Each drug entry includes links to check for clinical trials listed in NCI's List of Cancer Clinical Trials.
- lamotrigine
A synthetic phenyltriazine with antiepileptic and analgesic properties. Lamotrigine enhances the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which may result in a reduction of pain-related transmission of signals along nerve fibers. This agent may also inhibit voltage-gated sodium channels, suppress glutamate release, and inhibit serotonin reuptake. Check for active clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
US brand name: Lamictal


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The Only DBA, Actsoft
Ronald Dameron is The Only DBA at a small software company building planet-scale mobile resource management software.
He has over 20 years IT experience on a variety of platforms. His current interests are Azure, PowerShell, SQL Server 2016 and Linux.
He was a PASS Summit 2015 Speaker Idol contestant and has spoken at SQL Saturday Tampa, Orlando, South Florida, and the Tampa and Orlando SQL User groups. He has recently earned the Competent Communicator Award from Toastmasters International.
He is most active on Twitter as @RonDBA.
Regular Session (60 minutes):


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A rather nice looking guitar with its distinctive S shaped scratchplate and single neck pickup - I guess aimed at a jazzier part of the market. The components are all quite unrefined with barely a curved or chamfered edge. Even the nameplate is simply screwed onto the -almost batwing shaped- headstock giving it, for me, an air of solid functionality about it. This is my kind of guitar, if only it had more pickups, more switches, a little more chrome and wasn't quite so tasteful. From a design point of view (I am a designer by the way - not guitars) there is a lot to admire about this instrument. It follows the aesthetic conceit of "form follows function" even to the extent that the controls are visually linked to the pickup via the scratchplate. Practically the only concession to the un-neccessary is the tailpiece cover but I think we can forgive the makers this time. I just looked at the pictures again and I think it was out of synch with its time. This IS my kind of guitar. Bugger! I think I just fell in love.
David in Barcelona
Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!


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Ambrose Pinney
Lady Mary's diary: Sept 13th 1918
Mrs Pinney and old Mrs Brisk both aged 70 carried me off behind two raging horses to Horn Park - I only went there to see Ambrose. He came in from shooting with old Mr Brisk and his son Joe looking very thin. But fine and gay to see these two young men.
Ambrose has gone through 1000 dangers and all his brother officers are gone. Joe (6ft 4in) frightfully wounded and lame but going back to France next week. I raced back down the hill through the darkening evening


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"Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?" asked a judge in the recent Miss Teen USA Pageant. The brainless reply from Miss Teen South Carolina -- which millions of people have now viewed on YouTube -- was so incoherent that yesterday The Today Show gave her a second chance to answer the question. Even after three days to mull it over, however, she still barely answered it. "I believe there should be more emphasis on geography in our education." You don't say!
Any parent who's viewed the video may be wondering (1) how they can keep their kids from growing up so geographically challenged that they can't locate their own country on a map; and (2) how they can keep their kids from growing up to be Miss Teen South Carolina. To that end, and just in time for Labor Day road or plane trips with the kids, I hereby offer up my five favorite geography-teaching games for youngsters:
(1) Sticker Set Play Scenes: both the Map of the USA and the Map of the World. I picked these up last month at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, and as a consequence my five-year-old now knows the location of every state in the U.S., as well as each state's capital. (Now if only he could tie his shoes.)
(2) Kids Travel: A Backseat Survival Kit: I found this at the DeLorme Map Store in Maine and now, thanks to the "Geography Bee" and "Life List of License Plates" sections, Charlie spends our car trips "collecting" license plates from as many states as possible and checking them off on the map. Boy, was he thrilled this summer when he spotted a Hawaii plate!
(3) Read a Matvinyl placemats, both the world map and the USA map: These placemats, which Charlie and Doug have used since they were two, have inspired dozens of dinner conversations. And, as other moms attest too, they've held up amazingly well, considering the amount of macaroni and cheese, glitter glue, and paint that's been smeared all over them (we do our arts and crafts in the kitchen).
(4) MapTangle World Edition: Perhaps best described as Geography meets Twister, this floor game uses a vinyl 33-square-foot floor mat that is a map of the world. (The MapTangle mat is actually dual-purpose: Twenty minutes before your child's birthday party, should you realize you failed to purchase the requisite Dora the Explorer paper plates, napkins, and tablecloth, you can use the MapTangle mat as a last-minute table cover.)
(5) Junior World Map Puzzleball, which the kids and I picked up at the Toy Shop of Concord in Concord, Massachusetts, two weeks ago: It's a globe that's a jigsaw puzzle. How great is that?!


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The Golgi Structure by Fumihiko Maki, 1968
Maki's Golgi Structures designed in 1968 by Fumihiko Maki was named after Nobel Prize-winner Camillo Golgi, who developed techniques for visualising nerve cell bodies. The structure proposed by Maki alternate dense urban areas with unstructured open spaces. Encasing the latter are light-absorbing cells that facilitate communication, energy distribution and mechanical systems.Continue reading


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Engine Labs
ArenaRed's Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is developed to act as an engine lab data acquisition system. There are analog in- and outputs reserved for connecting additional research sensors and actuators. With the ArenaRed ECU you can turn every cylinder into an individual engine research lab to be used for research or educational purposes. Through the software, which is especially designed for research, you have full control over all the control parameters.
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