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What is ACM ?
ACM stands from Association for Computing Machinery. ACM is widely recognized as the premier membership organization for computing professionals, delivering resources that advance computing as a science and a profession; enable professional development; and promote policies and research that benefit society.
What is HU-ACM Student Chapter ?
It is Helwan University's student chapter supported by the ACM organization-the world's largest educational and scientific society-. it is a nonprofit organization managed by a group of Helwan University students from different faculties & different academic years.
Our Vission
The Vision of the Chapter is to develop the Computer Science Skills in Helwan University Students and Decreasing the Gap Between (BIS,CS, Engineering ) Students and the Labor Market in Egypt and also Develop Preparatory & Secondary Schools Students in the Field of Technology to teach them to love and rely on technology in their lives.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to Qualify Helwan University Students to the World Finals of ACM - ICPC in the Future and also Reach the International Competition of Robocup in the future .and also the Chapter will develop & help the Students who love Researches in Technology and qualify them to join ACM Student Research Competition. and also Train & Develop Schools Students for Egyptian Olympiad in Informatics.
Our Goals
- Provide Courses in Competitive Programming for the Students who want to join ACM Programming Competition, EOI & IOI.
- Provide Workshops in Apps Development for the Students who want to learn about Development.
- Provide Events & Short Trainings for the Students who want to join ACM SRC Program.
- Provide Workshops in Robotics for the Students who want to join Robocup.
- Qualify the Students of Helwan University to be able to be the Instructors of the Upcoming years Courses & Workshops


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Police arrests woman who threw her one day old baby into a pit
A woman who threw her one-day-old child into a pit has been arrested by the police in Ogun state. In her statement, she reports that this is her sixth child and she couldn't afford to take care of him.
A woman who threw her child into a pit has been arrested by the police in Ogun state. The police released a statement that they received a distress call from neighbours who heard the cries of a child from a soakaway pit. On receiving the information, a team of policemen led by DPO Owode-Yewa, Sp Olabisi Elebute, quickly rushed to the scene and rescued the baby with the help of members of the public.
Risikatu Olabintan: The Woman Who Threw Her Child Into A Pit
According to Oyeyemi, their investigation reveals Risikatu Olabintan gave birth secretly and threw him into the pit before 5 am on 17 November 2019.
After her arrest, she confessed to the act. Also, she reveals that the one-day-old baby is her 6th child. However, taking care of him would be a struggle for her since her husband abandoned their family.
The commissioner of police, Cp Imohimi Edgal directed the case to be transferred to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Investigation and Intelligence Department for proper investigation.
Also, the police spokesperson notes that "both the baby and the mother are presently in the hospital for medical attention and the baby is responding positively to treatment"
What Other Options Did She have
There are other options Risikatu could have chosen instead of committing her baby to death. She could have used a contraceptive or given the baby up for adoption.
Contraception is used to prevent unwanted pregnancy and is instrumental in family planning. However, even though you may rejoice at the thought of having too many options, it can be overwhelming.
So before you head to the nearest drugstore, understand the need to use female contraceptives:
Now that you have identified the need for female contraceptives, you might want to explore the market to select your options. This is the tricky part. Since there are so many choices, there is a likely chance that the sheer volume of information available on the subject may overwhelm you.
3 different types of contraceptives that are readily available and can be quite effective.
Intrauterine Device
What: An Intrauterine Device (IUD) is a surgically implanted copper device, which prevents sperm from coming in contact with the egg. These are available as Mirena and ParaGard in the market.
These IUDs could be medicated with progesterone and on insertion into the vagina release the hormones. This hormone prevents sperm motility. It also thins the lining of the uterus, thereby, preventing sperms from attaching to them or the eggs.
Dosage: This is another type of invasive female contraceptive where a doctor inserts the IUD into the vaginal cavity. It lasts for a period of two or more years.
You should not use it if: you have never given birth or plan to get pregnant in the next two years.
Birth-control shot
What: A doctor gives this shot once every month or once every three months. It is a long-lasting hormonal method that provides effective contraception. You may experience weight gain, headaches, dizziness, pimples and greasy skin, bloating, weight gain, breast tenderness, abdominal discomfort, and changes in mood and sex drive.
Since the hormones cannot be removed from the body once the injection has been administered, side effects may continue from the time of the injection and for some time afterwards. They are available as Depo-Provera, or DMPA shot in the market.
Dosage: This injection is usually taken once every three months.
You should not use it if: You have a fluctuating weight or have suffered from an ectopic pregnancy.
What: One or two small, soft, plastic rods containing a progestogen reservoir are inserted under the skin of the upper arm. This is done in a minor surgery which should be carried out by a trained doctor, midwife or nurse. The progestogen is released in tiny doses through this implant. You will get this implant called Implanon or Norplant from the doctor and it is not available off-the-counter.
A minor surgery removes this at any time you need to. The implant is particularly suitable for women who want long-term contraception and wish to avoid the daily intake of a contraceptive. It is also suitable for breastfeeding women. Fertility returns to normal after removal of the implant. An additional benefit is that it may also reduce heavy, painful periods.
Dosage: The female contraceptive implant is usually effective for three to five years.
Some women may experience headaches, breast tenderness, bloating and changes in mood and sex drive. Irregular bleeding may occur for the first few months.
You should not use it if: You are overweight and struggle to maintain a constant weight.
Read also: 12 most effective female contraceptives
Source: Vanguardngr.com, Africa parent.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's been only 48 hours since I wrote my blogpost on how to track a "troll" online. The blogpost itself was inspired by Leo Traynors story how online trolling and harrasment crossed over into real life and how he managed to find his tormentor. Since then I've had several thousand hits on that particular blog-post and have received phonecalls and emails from different media-outlets with questions on this topic. It's obviously a hot issue…
My blogpost was not meant to serve as a manual on how to track someone online but was more as an insight that, yes indeed, you can legally track someone online and find out their identity and/or location. It was however also meant to serve as a warning of sorts on how much private information people put online using various social networks. This second issue needs elaborating on in my opinion as it's an often ignored issue or at least one that elicits a lot of ignorant commenting.
First rule of online privacy: DON'T PUT ANYTHING ONLINE THAT YOU WOULDN'T SAY TO A COMPLETE STRANGER!
The above is the simplest but most effective rule; don't make any comments about someone online that you wouldn't say to their face and don't put any images online which you want to keep private. Adhering to that rule will save you a lot of trouble. Also remember that anything online, once it is indexed by Google, will stay accessible online forever. That's right, Google caches every website that it indexes. That means that there will be a publicly accessible copy of that content on a Google server. Google will in certain instances remove content from its servers but rarely because the content is offensive or untrue and this is even less likely if you are not the owner of the website. So getting content which you put on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook and have since removed to be also removed from Googles cache is as good as impossible. The point is to *not* put said content online in the first place.
Second rule of online privacy: USE YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS!
Most social networks have privacy settings. USE THEM. Even Twitter let's you protect your tweets by setting your account as private or just straightforward block people. Note: Not a lot of people realize that if they block someone on Twitter that the blocked person can still read their tweets when they run a search for them. The only way to really prevent someone from seeing your tweets is to protect them.
On Facebook you have a lot more flexibility in regards to your privacy settings. You can have one setting for who can see your details, another for who can see the images you upload and so on. It gives you multiple levels of control. USE THEM! There is no reason why something that you put on Facebook should be seen by someone who you do not want to see it.
Third rule of online privacy: WHAT HAPPENS ON THE INTERNET STAYS ON THE INTERNET!
Yes that's right; anything that is put up on the internet (websites, blogs, social media and *everything else*) stays on the Internet. Forever. The reason for this is Google. In order to be able to serve you with these fantastic search results Google uses software (so-called spiders) to index everything on the internet. Once they have indexed the content of a page Google stores a copy on their own servers. This process is called caching. So if you have put something online, once it's indexed by Google (and this is done very quickly) it is there for all eternity. You can remove the content, delete the page and even format the server that it was one but it will still show up in Googles search results and these search results will link to a copy of the content in Googles "cache". Of course you can attempt to get Google to remove the content from its cache but this will eventually result in the need for legal action with a limit success rate. Not a lot of people have the energy or more likely the funds to go down this route.
So, should you put nothing at all online? While this is obviously the most foolproof route to protect yourself from embarrassment it is not necessary. You can still be a prolific social media user without exposing everything about yourself. Take my own case, I blog, have 200,000 tweets to my name, check in on Foursquare regularly and much, much more. However not *everything* I do finds its way online. If I go somewhere, or do something that is private I just refrain from tweeting about it and certainly don't check-in while doing so. By being such a prolific social media whore while leaving private matters out it also creates a case where one can't see the forest for the trees.


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Department of Human Evolution
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 350
fax: +49 (0341) 3550 - 399
e-mail: streiber@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Stephanie Melillo
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Department of Human Evolution
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: 0049 (0) 341 3550 865
fax: 0049 (0) 341 3550 399
e-mail: stephanie_melillo@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Research Interests
Stephanie Melillo is a paleoanthropologist interested in the evolution and adaptation of fossil hominins. One focus of Stephanie's research is the evolutionary transformation of the shoulder. She is particularly interested in understanding shoulder structure and function in early hominins like Australopithecus afarensis, and in addressing questions about when the unique structure of the modern human shoulder appeared. Stephanie conducted the comparative description of the scapula and clavicle from the Au. afarensis partial skeleton nicknamed "Kadanuumuu". She is using geometric morphometric methods to improve reconstruction of the shoulder skeleton in combination with musculoskeletal modeling to better understand functional capabilities.
Stephanie is also interested in the paleobiology and systematics of early hominins. Stephanie is co-PI of the Woranso-Mille Paleontological Research Project (Afar region, Ethiopia) with Yohannes Haile-Selassie (since 2019) and has been a project member since 2006. Stephanie is involved in studying the hominin craniodental fossils from Woranso-Mille, which have been particularly important in addressing evolutionary relationships among the early australopiths and taxonomic diversity in the middle Pliocene. The Woranso-Mille team recently announced the first cranium known for the species Australopithecus anamensis.


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We had fun deciding to use pipe cleaners for mouths and pom poms for eyes/noses/buttons. We lost our snowman kit so we had to be more inventive. We tried using candies too, but they wouldn't stay in very well and they were too small.
We also found if we used a popsicle stick to create a hole that the pom poms would stay in place more securely.
We had so much fun using our imaginations to come up with ideas for their hair. We have always used hats in the past and the evergreen tree pieces and dead flowers made such a creative alternative. Snow Paint makes another great way to decorate a snowman too.
While making these snowmen my daughter commented on how these snowmen will make people smile
since our neighbors always enjoy seeing our creations. I think she remembered when we made a Snow Bunny and a neighbor put treats in the bunnies basket. So another value of creating snowmen could even be brightening someone's day. Once the snowmen begin to melt there will be a Science lesson on the temperature of when snow melts. The lessons are endless....Who would of thought?


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Otis Gibson, founder and chief creative officer at Gertrude, said that the agency is currently working on an integrated campaign slated to launch in a few weeks in the US, Tokyo, and France. It will run through April and include PR, social media, experiential events, and advertising.
"We're using PR to launch every aspect of the campaign," he said.
He explained that the scope of work was initially US-focused and, throughout the planning process, expanded to include global duties.
In July, North America director of marketing Charles Chaicharee told PRWeek that Gertrude, which had participated in the competitive RFP process, was at the top of the company's list. He also said that the agency selected would likely enter a trial period "to see if it fits the brand and image."
Gibson said that there is not currently a contractual end-date to the relationship.
Singha did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


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Clustering is the process of abstracting patterns from data sets. Moreover, it is the labelling of a data point as belonging to a group of similarly identified data points.
Clustering is facilitated by algorithms, which are well-defined instructions for carrying out some task. Clustering algorithms encompass the preprocessing of the data, extracting clusters from the data, generating descriptions (labels) of the identified clusters and any post-processes like assessing cluster quality.
The use of clustering type schemes has become somewhat ubiquitous in many industries. As an example, clustering is used by retailers to abstract customer types and related behaviours. Consider Joe Bloggs Clothes Shop. The managers of this shop are able to employ a range of clustering algorithms to isolate specific types of shoppers - perhaps within some customer loyalty program. That is, a clustering algorithm may identify a group of female shoppers who made greater than three high valued purchases in the previous summer season range. Coming into the next summer, Joe Bloggs is able to send these customers specific catalogues and promotions that will encourage these shoppers to return to the store and repeat their previous behaviour.
An area in which clustering and clustering algorithms alike were arguably forged is in web applications. Web search is perhaps the most obvious of these applications. A lot of modern day web search engines return results to search queries as ordered lists of site links, and small descriptions of the related site. However this can be a somewhat clumsy and incumberscent approach to search, especially in the case of a general search entry (see previous "rugby" example). An alternative approach is search result clustering, through which results are clustered into groups of similar results.
Clustering and clustering algorithms emerged with the advent of the technologies that facilitate them, obviously computers. Thus as a field of science, it is in its relative infancy. See evolution progression in the following chart.
In recent years there has been significant developments in clustering algorithms for web applications. There has also been an observable emergence of new applications for these algorithms. Recent advances in clustering have been in part due to broad multi-disciplinary contributions in the wake of wide adoption.


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I had some prayer time with God today while I went for a walk, and I was confessing some things to God, among them an addiction (I have tried not to call it that, but it is what it is) to gambling. I used to love going to the casino and playing/watching poker, largely because I was decent at it, and so didn't lose the money that most do at a casino. God put a question on my heart today in trying to help me realize some various points He needed to hammer home. The question is this: "If you had $100 to do whatever you wanted with, no repercussions, what would you spend it on?" I wrestled with this. Would I go gambling? Would I spend it on my wife or daughter?
Ultimately I came to the realization that I wouldn't gamble, which helped me draw the conclusion that God has helped me overcome that addiction. But what was worse was that God made it clear that in trying to choose between a small handful of things, I neglected to ask, "What would You have me do with that?" See, while I might have overcome my addiction, what I have yet to overcome is the selfish attitude that the casino touts as glorious and the word deifies as success. Not once until God made it clear to me did I think that maybe buying food for the homeless or donating it to missions might be a better use of that money than on myself. I didn't think about what would bring Him the most glory.
Why does God ask us to do these things? It's a question that I had to ask myself when an atheist recently asked me to put myself into Abraham's shoes when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac. Though I tried to make myself appear humble by quoting Isaiah 55:9, it made me stop and ask myself what the purpose of going through these things is. I came to a couple of conclusions:
1) God's ways are not our ways. In the Abraham/Isaac situation, we tend to base the morality of the situation on the action being performed. God's morality is based on how we treat the request. Our way goes on the physical nature of the act; God's way goes on the heart's intent behind the act.
2) God would not ask anything of us that He's not willing to do Himself. God asks for our sacrifice because He has sacrificed. God asks for us to set ourselves apart because He has set Himself apart. God asks us to go and pursue men because He has pursued us. God asks us to be obedient because He is always obedient to His own nature, since He is clear that He will never change.
I cannot possibly hope to understand everything God does in this world, and why He does it. I only know that He asks something of me, and I do it because there is no reason not to. God has demonstrated why He asks, what He is looking for. When I study, when I listen, He is clear. Perhaps there is so much moral ambiguity because we spend all of our time deciding what we think is right instead of listening for why His way is right.
My verse for this week I think sort of fits in this jumbled mess of a post, because it is about letting self go and understanding that God's ways are not my ways, but His power is greater than any way I can possibly fathom to get it done:
"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." — 1 Peter 4:11


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RAA, First All JavaScript Ransomware
RAA is delivered as a .js file. Criminals attach this file to spam email, frequently disguising it to look like a Microsoft Office document so that users might download and execute the code contained in the file. Emsisoft security researcher Fabian Wosar, in January of this year discovered Ransom32, the first ransomware family written in JavaScript, Ransom32 however was only coded in Node.js, and thieves continued distributing it as an executable. Continue reading this story here.


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Building on our December learnings, GDPR is a hot topic within many of our client companies and all companies right now – even if they are US based selling into either US locations or selling outside US.
The fines for non-compliance are heavy at 4% of global revenues per year and the risk of inability to sell/market in the European region on an ongoing basis. Surprisingly, many companies are not putting much energy behind compliance of their data processes or systems.
What sometimes gets lost on the compliance penalty is the actual benefit of embarking on this project – for the first time, Marketers will have true intention indicated by relevant database prospects. GDPR forces out the 'great unwashed' of disinterested prospects or non-relevant contacts. Said differently, reporting from a Marketing viewpoint will be pinpoint accurate in the EU region or on EU affected records. Never has there been a time with such Marketing measurement precision.
We've conducted nearly a dozen free diagnostic tests (let us know if you want one?) to benchmark performance for our clients on their databases and have a few observations on the GDPR projects and data results:
- We see GDPR projects falling across two lines:
- Part 1: prospecting part which impacts primarily systems and processes that are outbound oriented in nature (eg Marketing Automation, some aspects of Salesforce, and the processes that touch those)
- Part 2: customer data which primarily impacts systems and processes that house or store customer level data (systems like Salesforce, Salesforce communities, and any other IT system that houses billing information or product information, etc.)
- Every company is approaching GDPR differently organizationally
- Usually the initiatives are marketing led initiatives for prospecting processes, IT led initiatives for customer processes
- Legal is almost always involved regardless of the prospecting or customer aspect
- Legal/Finance/IT are often funding the initiative that Marketing and/or Sales is executing
- Benchmark data
- We're finding US companies with US focus surprisingly having some records in their database that would cause them to be in jeopardy of violating GDPR. We've seen upto 1% of the database contain GDPR records on our testing.
- Of the non-US focused companies, we're finding global SaaS companies having a 4% or more impact on overall database of records that would also be considered GDPR eligible.
- We're finding there are two levels of testing records – matched and unmatched records. Unmatched records require a deeper investment to assess properly but statistically fall in line with matched records relative to the entire database.
- What is less noticeable are records that are tabbed as GDPR records but are NOT in the EU but are owned by the EU. These types of records are the 'gotcha' records so be careful!
- Primary territory records (eg French Guiana – and others – owned by France)
- Outermost territories (eg Aruba and others owned by Netherlends)
- These kinds of records are not going to be as easily detected by automation systems and are the 'gotcha' type records. Studying your record types and origins is important!
A prediction – I'd expect to see GDPR for US based companies in 2019. We've seen the recent data issues with Facebook in the news, so expect to see more, not less, privacy regulation in the US.
What trends are you seeing in GDPR for your company?


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By James Deng Dimo
WAU, 23 March 2018 [Gurtong] - According to the State Primary Health Care Director, Hennery Gabriel Sasa, the vaccinations targeted everyone from 1 year and above.
He said the campaign was run by the UN humanitarian agencies including WHO, IOM and UNICEF.
"We conducted a cholera vaccination campaign for three days which begun from the 20th up to 22nd of this month and the campaign was done in coordination with UN agencies, UNICEF, WHO, IOM and the State Ministry of Health," said Sasa.
Sasa said the aim of picking the protection of civilian sites was due to the fact that the area has been reported to be unhygienic and the aim is to stop any outbreak of cholera.
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Gurtong Trust - Peace and Media Project |


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Scientific Review Committee
The University has established a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) to review the scientific validity of hypotheses and study design. The Committee is chaired by Dr. Jimmy Waldrop. Meetings are usually held the fourth Wednesday of each month at noon in the UTCOMC Conference Room (Suite 100, Whitehall Building).
A submission to the SRC must include the following:
Once a submission is approved and added to the agenda, the SRC Administrator (Stacey Hendricks) will assign the principal investigator a time to present at the SRC meeting. Attendance is required for SRC review. The investigator may be accompanied by key research personnel (e.g., the faculty mentor, coordinator).
Questions regarding submissions or committee decisions should be addressed to Stacey Hendricks (423-778-3818, email@example.com).


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Ruby's debut was a hit and I'm so glad you liked her! She returns again this week in a set called Ruby's Tidbits. Though she's not as crass as Stella, she's got personality & attitude, she loves to shop and when it comes to choosing shoes...well let's just say she's a bit indecisive.
This set of 39 designs includes 7 Ruby designs in filled and redwork for both the 4x4 and 5x7 hoops and 9 separate sentiments for the 4x4 hoop and 2 for the 5x7 hoop. Use the designs with or without the sayings on t-shirt, shopping totes, card stock, quilt tops and more! View Ruby's Tidbits I here.


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An insurer selects risks from a population that consists of 3 indep groups.
The claims generation process for each group is poisson.
The 1st group consists of 50% of the population. These individuals are expected to generate one claim per year.
The 2nd group consists of 35% of the population. These individuals are expected to generate two claims per year.
Individuals in the 3rd group are expected to generate three claims per year.
A certain insured has two claims in year 1.
What is the probability that this insured has more than two claims in year 2?
A. Less than 21%
B. At least 21%, but less than 25%
C. At least 25%, but less than 29%
D. At least 29%, but less than 33%
E. 33% or more
I got the answer was 23.98%, which is B. However, the answer sheet says the correct one is C.
I calculated the probabilities of the insured has more than two claims in year 2 for each group, then times the each groups' proportion of the population. I did not use the condition that the insured has two claims in year 1, since I think year 2 is indep with year 1. Is there anything wrong?
Thank you very much


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Rated Kansas City's Best Heavy Duty Mobile Diesel Mechanic Service Shop
Our mobile team has one goal. Get you and your truck back on the road, and put Kansas City in your rear view mirrors as efficiently as possible.(913) 717-8229
Contact Us
Our Process
Our History
At Blue Truck Repair Inc, we bring forth a cumulative experience of 150 years to cater to all your truck servicing and maintenance requirements. We have multiple locations in the Kansas City metro area with over a dozen diesel truck experts at your disposal. Blue Truck Repair Inc, is primed to get you back on the road and making money, faster than any other truck repair shop.
- Diagnostics Experts
We fix the problems correctly! The first time. We pride ourselves on the ability to find the root cause of the issue, and not just replace parts.
- Customer Service Experts
We strive to take the stress out of breaking down. We provide every driver with a free hotel, and shuttle to and from the shop. We want you to be fully rested so when you get your truck back you can go right to work.
Emergency Repairs
- 24 Hour Mobile Mechanics
- 24 Hour Towing
- Stop Engine Diagnostics
- Check Engine Light
- D-Rated Diagnostics
- After treatment
- Diagnostics and Repair
- EGR Repair
Non Emergency Repairs
- Preventative Maintenance
- Wheel Seals
- Brakes
- Oil Leaks
- Coolant Leaks
- King Pin Replacements
- Overhead
What We Work On
- International
- Volvo
- Freightliner
- Peterbilt
- Kenworth
- Maxxfrce
- Paccar
- Cummins
- Cat
- Detroit
Customer Service
- Free Hotel with Every Repair
- Free Shuttle to and from Hotel
- Free Continental Breakfast
- Excellent Communication During Repair
- Fast Repairs Minimal Down Time
We have multiple locations in the Kansas City Metro area to serve you. Call us first. We will guide you to the location with the lowest wait times to insure you get back on the road as fast and efficiently as possible. We have multiple mobile mechanics, and tow vendors on speed dial to get to you ASAP.
(913) 717-8229
24 Hours


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What People Are Saying
What a great idea! Excellent service and great value products – highly recommended. Keep up the good work……
Fast delivery, personal touches, kitkat, free samples. Very impressed with Freebird Teas…go check them out, the smell coming from this box is divine!!
– Ruth
Great service and amazing teas! Love the personal hand written notes and of course the fact that the teas are ethically sourced! Keep up the good work guys!
Lovely tea. Lovely person who gave me the tea. I recommend this product. Good luck guys n gals 🙂
Questions? Check out our FAQ


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A North Carolina-based seafood distributor has been fined $100,000 for mislabeling imported shrimp sold in Louisiana.
The U.S. Justice Department says Alphin Brothers Inc. was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in February to making or submitting false records. The court ordered the forfeiture of more than 21,000 pounds of shrimp.
Authorities say an employee directed the mislabeling 25,000 pounds of farm-raised, imported shrimp as wild-caught shrimp from the U.S.
The company will be on probation for three years and will educate its employees on labeling requirements under the sentence.
Company lawyer Wade Smith says the mislabeling was done by one rogue employee and was not known by the company. Smith says the firm accepted responsibility.
Smith says investigators securitized the company for six years and found only this one offense.
To sign up for free CityBusiness Daily Updates, click here.


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373 S. Monroe St., Suite 303
San Jose, CA 95128
1688 Willow St. Suite A-1
San Jose, CA 95125
San Jose area restorative dentistry at TodaysDentistry can produce natural-looking results. If you have a damaged or missing tooth, we can help.
Our highly skilled team will assess your need for a crown, bridge, implant or other procedure to restore or improve your smile. Our goal is to provide quality dental care for your life-long oral health.
San Jose area cosmetic dentist Peter LEE, D.D.S. has extensive experience creating beautiful smiles. They're one of the first things people notice about you.
Our professional team will be happy to discuss your aesthetic dentistry options. The attractive results you'll get from TodaysDentistry can change your life!
TodaysDentistry is a trusted San Jose area dental implants practice providing natural-looking, comfortable tooth replacement. We make it our mission to use a gentle touch during the process.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards to replace missing teeth and provide you with natural-looking results. Our goal is to restore your confidence and your bright, healthy smile.
If you're looking for attractive porcelain veneers, San Jose area veneers dentist Dr. LEE can help. Our friendly team will evaluate your situation to make sure you're a good candidate for dental veneers.
Then we'll develop your individual plan for the process. Your cracked, chipped or discolored teeth will be transformed to look completely natural so you can enjoy your bright new smile.
TodaysDentistry has many happy patients in the San Jose area and we'll be happy to provide you with their references. With the great treatment provided by Dr. Peter LEE, it's no wonder that so many of his patients are lining up to sing his praises. Come experience for yourself why so many patients are recommending Dr. LEE.


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DigiRedo does Rotterdam
October 13, 2007 Leave a comment
Today we have been on location in Rotterdam and Zeeland (South West of the Netherlands) for shooting the podcast 'Oliebollen' (Dutch Doughnut). Beautiful day, and a lot of fun with the street interviews. All kuddos to Kurt, an old-time friend and our interviewer for this assignment. He did a great job asking the right questions to the baker and the Oliebol Expert, and find some people on the street to eat an Oliebol and answer his two famous questions.


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2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 2.0L 4 cylinder from North America
A piece of trash. Avoid
The check engine light comes on every 250 miles. I've stopped taking it to the dealer for each occurrence, due to the fact they charge me every time. Had the car to the dealer (under warranty) 7 times in the first year to fix: airbag light (4X) and the check engine light (4X). Dealer is HORRIBLE.
Rear brakes are gone at 30,000 miles, I think the O2 sensor is gone, as the check engine light is on AGAIN and the exhaust smells of sulfur.
The car is garbage, glad I leased and get to turn it back in. Only 9 months to go, woooohooo!
My old VW Corrado with 135K miles was more cost effective and reliable than this. AVOID!!!
General Comments:
Seats are very uncomfortable, especially for long trips. Better off replacing seats with plywood, or some straw mats.
Nice looking, but that's about it.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 24th March, 2003


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But with the literally hundreds of wig choices available, what wigs are the best for the thrifty yet fashion-conscious owner? Which wigs are likely to please all members of your family, no matter the species, and no matter the outfit or season? Here's a few of my top suggestions for the most wonderful, versatile and wow-inspiring wigs that are just itching to go on a-head.
5. Curly White Wig with Bow
This elegant white wig was a gold prize from the JubJub Power Bounce Game during winter/Valentine 2011. It was popular from its release, trading up to almost 10 caps in value, before being re-released in JJPB suitcases in spring 2012, when its value has fallen to a more pleasingly affordable 5 caps.
The curly wig has a low crown and beautiful, old-fashioned white curls that curl delicately around a pet's face, and is finished with a pleasing violet bow on one side. It is one of the few short but feminine wigs, and its curls end just above a pet's shoulders. Its colour and shape make it versatile – ideal for a formal, but not too gaudy, look.
It is beautifully worn paler base colours such as white and grey, but is also versatile enough for deep, solid colours such as pink, purple, faerie or desert. Some ideal items to wear with this wig include elegant feather dress, wonderland gloves, and delicate ultra white shrug.
Perhaps the only criticism of this wig is that its crown can sometimes sit too low on a pet, giving the wearer's head an almost "flat" look. And as its description suggests, it may look a bit "old-fashioned" and formal. That said, it is a popular, versatile and affordable item, and earns a deserving fifth-place in this list.
4. Isca Wig
This soft, glowing pale aqua wig has a long, straight and fluid shape that immediately reminds one of a Peophin's mane as it swims majestically through the ocean. It is aptly named, and is obtainable (at the time of writing) by activating an Isca Key Quest Token. It has been popular and commonly sought, placing its value at an expensive (but obtainable) 20 caps.
The Isca Wig has a central, straight hairline that helps give a heart-shaped appearance to a pet's face. The long and flowing hair that flows down from this centre sits well and in proportion with a pet's head, giving an overall pleasing look.
Its colour and shape are not overly feminine, and it is this, and its wonderful underwater quality that has given it wide acclaim among customisers. It works best with light, aqua colours such as water, white and ice. Avoid it with earthy or strong, bold colours such as brown, desert, pink or gold. Popular items worn with this wig include Iscas Dress, Isca Handheld Plushie, and to underline the water theme, a background such as Pretty Tropical Lagoon Background or Gulp... Underwater Reef Background.
It is unique as one of the few water-themed wigs that look truly wonderful on pets of all species, especially Draiks and Kacheeks; however, its popularity has made it a tad unaffordable, and as such it wins a deserving fourth place in this list.
3. Silk Wig with Flowers
This bright, floral wig was created from a Crafting Faerie Quest – crafted from Silk Flowers and Spools of Silk Thread. This quest is now retired (no longer obtainable) and the wig trades for around 4 caps, which is a very affordable price considering its versatility.
The silk wig with flowers flows delicately down around a pet's head, and its loose, natural shape is highlighted by the delicate pink and purple flowers that are intertwined in its body. Its dark, rich purple colour means that it works perfectly with many of the darker, more solid base colours – for example, purple, pink, eventide and even Darigan (although your Darigan may not appreciate all the silk flowers intertwined in her locks!). Avoid it with colours on the other end of the colour wheel, such as desert, green or zombie.
It is a very floral, flowing and feminine wig, and as such it is best paired with spring or garden outfit designs. It works especially well with items such as Fyora Collectors Dress and Butterfly Dress. The pleasing shape and affordable price of this floral wig makes it a deserving bronze medal recipient.
2. Altadorian Wig with Gold Ribbon
This stunningly elegant wig was the prize for completing the Altador Cup V NC Challenge on June 25, 2010. Since then its value has skyrocketed to a (at the time of writing) stunning 70 caps! Wow! But just try this wig on your pet's head, and you will realise why it is so popular, and hence why it is so expensive and difficult to find.
The Altadorian wig with gold ribbon, commonly abbreviated to "AC wig", sits simply perfectly on a pet's head. The crown of the wig is not too high nor poofy, the fringe of the wig does not hang too low, the flow of the wig is simply beautiful, resembling soft, luscious natural hair, and the resplendent gold ribbon throughout is perfectly set off against the warn brown hair colour. It works well with literally every species of Neopet, and it has the surreal ability to turn even the most homely farmer girl from Meridell into a right proper Altadorian noblewoman.
The AC wig works best with base colours that match its gold and brown – gold, brown, desert, chocolate and island will be able to pull it off nicely. Despite its aesthetic shape, it is best to avoid strong, solid base colours that clash with its colour scheme – pink, purple or maractite for example. Its limited versatility and high price tag is this wig's main downfall. That said, I don't know of a single fashion-conscious owner or pet who would pass the opportunity to have this wig in their closet!
1. Tower Princess Wig
This lovely, angelic and feminine wig was first introduced to the NC mall in July 2009 and really is the most versatile buyable wig out there, in that it looks lovely on literally every species and with almost every outfit conceivable. It is truly the best wig to buy if you have some neocash left over and don't want to go through the hassle of trading for other wigs (that might not even look as good!). Of course, the downside is that it is extremely feminine – this wig is released as part of the Tower Princess Superpack, and its name is a reference to that famous fairytale princess.
The wig features long, beautiful golden locks with flower highlights at the side of the crown and down throughout the braid. It will sit plumply on a pet's head, with its fringe flowing down beyond most species' brows, thereby highlighting their eyes.
This wig has won the gold prize in this list because of its versatility – it works well with all base colours, a feat that is very difficult to achieve. It can be, and is, worn with almost every feminine outfit, its golden colour and aesthetic shape often providing the highlight that caps off the whole outfit. It is a very girly wig however, so you might want to consider your pet's character before putting it on your proudly Darigan pet. Versatile, beautiful, and affordable – there's not much else that a customiser could want!
So there you have it! This wig-lover and customiser's pick of the 5 most versatile wigs for your pet to wear. There are, of course, many hundreds of wigs out there, and your opinion may differ from mine. The important thing is to find the style that you and your pets love, to let your personality shine through, and to never stop discovering the wide range of wearables that are introduced every day. There has never been a better time to be (or become) a wig-lover and customiser!
"Well, what did you expect? You told a joke about OLIVES."


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Iraq / Cities and Towns /
Arabic: 'al-kūfa
Kufa is one of three religiously important cities that lies in a cluster south of Baghdad, together with Najaf and Karbala, the most important town in Shi'i Islam.
Kufa holds a typical Shi'i shrine built over the tombs of Muslim ibn Aqil and Hani ibn Arwa. Next to the shrine lies the extensive headquarters of Ali, protected by a 4 metres thick wall.
Kufa was for a couple of centuries one of the leading centres for Muslim theology, for Arabic grammar, philology, literary criticism and literature.
In Kufa one of the most famous Arabic typefaces was developed, the Kufic. It is marked by square and angular letters. This script was widely used for coins as well, Kufic coins, that were in widespread use even all over Europe.


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Engineered to keep you comfortable during stormy Winter weather, Quicksilver's Patrol Mid Waterproof Shoes are built tough. The Patrol has a waterproof synthetic nubuck upper sitting on top of a Michelin technical sole that features rubber compounds and traction pods derived from their high-performance tires. Needless to say, these shoes are built tough and provide incredible traction on surfaces covered with water and ice.
Patrol Mid Black & Blue Waterproof Shoes from Quicksilver.
Mid-top design.
Synthetic nubuck upper with a no-sew welded upper for structure and water resistance.
360 degree waterproofing.
Stretch neoprene boottie construction for warmth and flexibility.
Woven heel and tongue tab for easy on/off access.
Cinch lock boardshort laces.
EVA cupsole for cushioning and impact support.
Michelin OCX rubber compound outsole: very sticky climbing compound for durable traction with multi-tread pattern for improved traction on water/ice.
Quicksilver and Michelin Tires logo details throughout.


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Look for special offers in your mailbox from SaveOn magazine
Look for special offers in your mailbox from SaveOn magazine
Janet Genn brings over 25 years of experience to this venture; with expertise that crosses merchandising, marketing, purchasing, and of course interior design. A celebration of the home, Extra Oomph! is a store for the quality – and style – conscious consumer. Providing unique, eclectic and affordable home accents and gifts, we intend to generate a fair return to finance continued growth and expanded community involvement.
Extra Oomph! will inform, inspire and show you, our customer, how to create an expression of yourself within your home. Through custom services, smart pricing and a sense of trust, it is our desire that you will look to us as your valued resource to achieve a personalized home environment.
Extra Oomph! is a Proud Member of the West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.


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Свяжитесь с нами
Онлайн чат с представителями Tek. Доступно с 9:00 до 17:00 CET.
Загрузить руководства, технические описания, программное обеспечение и т. д.:
Fast Services
Don't pay a premium to wait for calibration
Unlike other providers, Tektronix doesn't charge premium pricing for standard service, so quick turnarounds are always within your budget. With our nationwide network of labs and our focus on efficiency, we can offer faster turnaround times at a lower cost than the competition. If your calibration request is sitting in a long queue of requests because you don't pay for premium service, it might be time to find a partner who cares.
We are open for business and are offering the following services:
- Calibration in our service centers
- Onsite calibration, or "virtual onsite" calibration
- Local pick-up and delivery where available
Calibrate Your Lab Now
Reopen your lab fasterIs your calibration partner open? We understand that essential businesses need support and dark labs need to get equipment ready to reopen fast. So we're still open and calibrating. If your service provider can't get your lab up and running now, we'd like to help.
Your one-stop service centerOur expert technicians can service more than 140,000 instruments from 9,000 different manufacturers, including Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, LeCroy and more. We want to be your calibration partner no matter where you purchased your equipment.
The Hidden Cost of Low-Cost Calibration
The lowest cost calibration service provider may not be the lowest total cost to your business. Learn how cutting corners can cost you in the long run.
Calibration Basics and Best Practices
An overview of everything you need to know to run an efficient calibration program.
Finding the right calibration interval
Find out how you can optimize your calibration program by using the right calibration interval.


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REVIEW FROM www.livingtradition.co.uk
FIONA MACKENZIE - Orain nan Rosach
Fiona Mackenzie is leaving her mark on her tenure of the Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship. She's already recorded Seinn O, a double CD of Gaelic song that's been distributed throughout Highland schools besides reaching an audience of song-learners much further afield. Not long ago, she researched and published Orain nan Rosach, a book of Ross-shire songs - and she brings some of these songs to life with this recording. According to Fiona, "the songs and the people of Ross-shire are at the heart of this collection". A couple of archive recording samples are included - and they help place these songs in perspective.
Mod-winner Fiona is accompanied by the vocal talents of her daughter Katie Mackenzie, Julie Fowlis, Alpin Stewart and Lauren MacColl. Eamon Doorley, Andy Thorburn (who also produced this album), Carol-Anne Mackay, and Jim Gaitens provide assured instrumental backing.
It's a soothing and lyrical collection that demonstrates the beauty of the songs of Ross-shire, and it is beautifully sung (the vocal arrangements are both lovely and generous in the way they allow each singer's vocal strengths to be appreciated). The tone of the recording is warm and intimate, and Fiona has chosen her material well, including unaccompanied and Gaelic choral harmony songs. Other highlights include tales of hunting, love, and loss, including the gorgeous, unaccompanied Ailean Dubh à Lòchaidh and Ribhinn a'Chuil Bhàin where the voices of Fiona, Julie and Katie are joined by a lone, plaintive fiddle. There's a charming contribution from the children of Dingwall Primary School, and a beautiful and stirring hunting song performed by Inverness Gaelic Choir.
This album is well worth seeking out for the lovely song arrangements, and the opportunity to hear little-known songs that have such deliciously lyrical tunes!Debbie Koritsas


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We very much hope that you are happy with our school. However, we recognise that there might be times when you wish to complain because you feel that things are not right.
In the first instance please come and talk with us, tell us why you are not happy and we will do our best to put things right.
This document outlines the school's complaints procedure.
If you need any further information please contact Mrs Cross (headteacher) or Rev Cindy Rigneyt (Chair of Governors).


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Your miles from nowhere, your cellphone battery has enough juice to survive the ordeal, but your worried as hell, that you might lose some of that much needed lifesaving power, that could be needed in an emergency or disaster situation.
You naturally decide to converse your battery power by shutting your phone down until your ready to use it the next time around – but, in some cases, its not really the case to begin with, i.e., you decide to leave the phone on for emergency purposes, which makes it a logical idea to begin with in the first place.
Last weekend, my youngest Cousin and I went to a local Boat and Sportsman Show here in Eugene. While there we came upon a vendor that was selling some Go Zero Emergency power products at their booth – I had seen them advertised before but never had seen them up front and personal, except for on the web and their website.
Goal Zero is an innovative technology that sells an array of portable power supply equipment for those on the go and for emeregency preparedness purposes, such a solar panels and rechargeable battery packs the technology makes it a neeeded benefit in any go pack, bag or disaster preparedness kit.


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Government Partner Exchange Launches April 26th with a Digital Event Series - Register Now!
Join uson April 26th as we kick off a virtual event series and partner collaboration community for Asia Microsoft partners focused on the government market.
The virtual event series gives you an overview of Microsoft's solutions for Government, partner opportunities and examples, and practical roadmaps for accelerating your business. You'll also be able to find and network with partnersas well as go deep on topics in discussion communities with Microsoft experts and your colleagues. The Government Partner Exchange is free-of-charge and only requires a very quick and simple registration process. See below for the list of the monthly topics we will be covering.
Learn more and register here .
Attend Events
Watch, learn and get your questions answered live
Government Solution: Spring Virtual Event Series
Innovation in Citizen Services
Thursday, April 26th, 1 – 2 pm Singapore
An overview of how Microsoft, working with its partners, combines personal citizen information with cloud-sourced data and services. We'll highlight an end-to-end integrated Citizen Services framework. Abstract and full agenda here.
Efficiency in Government
Thursday, May 24th, 1 – 2 pm Singapore
An overview of how governments are modernizing their ICT resources to serve citizens and becoming SMART Governments. Abstract and full agenda here.
Open and Transparent Government
Thursday, June 21st, 1 – 2 pm Singapore
Today, governments need to meet the demands of increased expectations on performance management and transparency as budgets become more closely scrutinized. Abstract and full agenda here.


text: I've seen a lot of people ask how to start a blog and get it running and stuff, so I thought I'd put together a post where all of the common questions I see are answered in one place. I hope this helps, and if you have additional questions I'd love to answer them in the comments. :) Continue reading "Blogging Questions Answered"


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Inquiry Topic Question:
Why is it important for us to learn about Rock Pools?
If we didn't learn about our Rock Pools we might carry on polluting our waterways and rock pools and the water will be too poisonous for plants and animals to grow in them. That would be very sad.


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Private guided tour: Behind the Scenes in Carouge Discover the hidden aspects of the Carougeois scene
A visit backstage: set, costumes, final touches, stage fright...
The story of the theatre in Carouge begins in the 18th century when Voltaire came here to circumvent the laws that forbade theatrical performances in Geneva. Later on, another beautiful theatrical adventure was born in the rear courtyard of a bar: the Théâtre des Amis which soon became irresistible. Today, famous producers and script writers continue to make Carouge renowned worldwide.
Private guided tours 7 days a week, pre-booking required, groups of from 2 to 20 people. Reservation required.
- Address
- Avenue Vibert 12 - 1227 Carouge
Web: http://www.illico-travel.ch/ Email: email@example.com Telephone: +41 22 300 59 60
- Group price: 250 CHF
Tel.: +41 22 300 59 60


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You can now buy a 'tiny house' on Amazon, get it delivered
Amazon is officially changing the home selling game.
Apart from delivering everything from liquor to laundry materials to food, the company is now selling a prefabricated tiny home, which they can deliver straight to your door.
SO INSPIRING: Texas tiny home for sale just the start of one man's incredible dream
According to the Amazon listing, the 320 square foot shipping-container "house" was manufactured by MODS International and is a fully-furnished including a bedroom, shower, toilet, kitchenette, living area, heating and air conditioning, and more.
The MODS International company got its start after the president, Doug Larson was working to assist New Orleanians after Hurricane Katrina.
According to the website, the construction crews were living in motorhomes during the rebuilding efforts, and when he returned home he noticed a shipping container that was about the same size and shape as the RVs they'd been living in. Shortly after, he began building temporary homes inside the containers and MODS was born.
The MODS 40-foot tiny house is listed for $36,000, plus about another $3,800 for shipping, but if you're looking to downsize this could be a great choice (and you don't even have to pick it up).
Take a look through the gallery above to see other cool tiny houses.
Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli is a digital producer at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on twitter at @Dani_DiNapoli.


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Wolfeboro, NH27 Umbrella Point
Est. Mortgage: $/month
MLS Number 4803031
- Residential Single Family
- Construction Existing
- Bathroom 5
- Bedrooms 6
- Square Feet 8,183
27 Umbrella Point, Wolfeboro! This 3-acre waterfront property has it all. Great location, great views, a marvelous home boasting floor-to-ceiling windows & walkout decks from almost every room. Picture 180 degree south & western views of Lake Winnipesaukee, the islands and the Belknap Mountains. There is an incredible boathouse with an over-the-water deck doubling as the roof. This estate has 3 levels of living space, plus a separate guest quarters giving you over 6,000 square feet of living space! Most rooms have 10+ feet of ceiling height. The Kitchen is front and center, with 100% glass facing the waterside. Granite counters, cherry hardwood floors, a center island with space for both prep work, serving and seating. The kitchen opens to the living/dining front room, again all overlooking your massive decks and patios to the far western shoreline. The master suite encompasses an entire floor, with separate baths, walk-in closets, plus a private screened porch and deck off the master sleeping area. The lower level is above ground and has a wonderful family room, small kitchenette, 2 large bedrooms and baths, all with walkout decks. There is an attached 3-car garage, plus a separate 4-stall heated (radiant floor) garage, finished off and with a gym on the main floor. Home is sold furnished and also includes boat and water jetskis! This is a one-of-a-kind property, and must be seen in person. Schedule your private appointment today!
Listed by Randall Parker of Maxfield Real Estate/Wolfeboro
Virtual TourSave FavoriteSchedule TourAsk A QuestionMore Details


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Worthington was incorporated as a mining town in 1892. On October 4, 1927, at 5:50 am, the mine, and part of the town collapsed into a fault line. There were no deaths, however, thanks to the vigilance of the foreman who evacuated the town the night before, having noticed abnormal shifts in the rock.
Some additional information available at Wikipedia.


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The Call of the Wild
The Call of the Wild is a movie starring Karen Gillan, Harrison Ford, and Cara Gee. A sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon.
Genres: Drama, Adventure, Family
Actors: Karen Gillan, Harrison Ford, Cara Gee, Dan Stevens
Director: Chris Sanders
Country: USA


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Though flights and hotels can make up the bulk of your traveling costs, you'll spend a sizable chunk of your holiday budget on food. Without actually letting yourself go hungry, there are a few ways you can reduce your travel expenses in the food department. Not only will you reduce your costs, some of these ideas will actually help you to enjoy your trip more by getting more immersed in the local scene.
Pass on Tourist Spots
Big chain restaurants that operate in hotel areas are going to be more expensive than smaller locally-run places to eat. While it can be comforting to have the same menu that you're used to at home, why not be more adventurous and try something different. You may have to travel a little farther away from your tourist zone but it can be worth a little extra effort. Prices can be dramatically lower, and you might even find the food is better.
Pack a Snack
You don't necessarily have to be spending extra cash every time you get a little hungry. Buying a few packaged items you can carry with you is a lot cheaper than finding a restaurant or snack bar at a tourist attraction. Prices are always lower at a grocery store or supermarket. Whether its just a little fruit or a granola bar, or you can take it one step further and pack a whole lunch to enjoy while you're out and about.
Cook Your Own
If you get a hotel room with some sort of kitchen facilities, you can make light meals on your own and save a ton of money. Nobody wants to be tied to the kitchen while on holiday but having some easy to make foods, even just breakfast cereal, around the hotel room can mean savings without sacrificing a lot of time cooking. Sandwiches can be a simple lunch that only requires a few ingredients and a fridge in your room.
You'll need to find a local place to get some basic groceries, which can be a fun adventure on its own as you taste and try new foods that you may not see at a typical restaurant.
Take a Doggie Bag
When you have leftovers from your meal, ask to have them packed up to go. You paid for that food and may as well get the most of it. It would be the most helpful if you have a fridge in your room though it's not strictly necessary (depending on what kind of leftovers you're dealing with). You can have a quick lunch the next day, or even breakfast if you want, without having to spend again.
If you are hoping to save some money when it comes to food, the one thing you don't want to do is skip meals entirely. Allowing yourself to be hungry because it's too expensive to eat is not a wise idea, and can lead to health problems that you might not want to deal with while away from home.


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DAVIE, Fla. – New Miami Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey is working under a 2-year contract.
Multiple sources told ESPN that Hickey was signed to a short-term deal.
The typical contract for a General Manager is between 3 and 5 years.
The Dolphins interviewed many candidates before finally selecting Hickey from Tampa Bay's front office.
Hickey's contract has the same length left as head coach Joe Philbin.
In his two years in Miami, Philbin has a record of 15-17.


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By - Kenneth Roberts
We in the Counterjihad need to show more righteous indignation, as did Martin Luther King, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Alexander Solzhenitsyn in their various righteous struggles. We should study their examples to see what our approach should be to defeat political Islam.
The Counterjihad is, in fact, young, only about 13 years old. We have so much to learn about getting our point across effectively and to make it reality.
Why would our struggle be safe or easy? After all, it wasn't easy for the anti-slavery abolitionist movement or for the American civil rights movement or for the democracy and freedom movement behind the iron curtain of the evil Soviet empire. Nor did it seem obvious or easy to the Abolitionists or to King's civil rights marchers or to the Samizdat movement in the USSR as to what they should do next! One thing that is common to those three struggles is the unrelenting moral indignation that led them to victory. Righteous, moral indignation was their strongest method.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn used this method in the dying days of the Soviet Union to oppose Godless totalitarianism. For one, he never smiled for the camera for several years, because he knew smiling photos would receive wide circulation and be used against him by the Soviet authorities to suggest 'things aren't so bad'. Secondly, he stayed close to the problem and refused to diminish contacts with other intellectuals or leave the Soviet Union when asked to leave. Finally, having him in the Soviet Union was causing too many public relations problems. Soviet authorities forcibly expelled him from the USSR in 1974.
There are a number of BIG factors from 1968-1990 that led to Solzhenitsyn's vindication and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union:
-1960s 'Samizdat' (self-publishing) movement: Vladimir Bukovsky summarized it as, "I myself create it, edit it, censor it, publish it, distribute it, and get imprisoned for it."
-1960s Solzhenitsyn, author of best-selling books, 'Ivan Denisovich' and 'Gulag Archipelago' (Russian 1968) (English 1973)
-1968 January Prague Spring
-1970 Solzhenitsyn wins Nobel Prize for 'Ivan Denisovich'
-1973 energy crisis and birth of small-is-beautiful, opposing Soviet gigantism
-1974 Solzhenitsyn expelled from USSR
-1975 Margaret Thatcher, opponent of communism, head of Conservatives from 1975 to 1990
-1977 Václav Havel, signatory of Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism (launching the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism), dissident and famous playwright, imprisoned from May 1979 to February 1983
- 1978, Pope John Paul II, an opponent of Soviet communism, elected October 1978. In June 1979, Pope John Paul II travelled to Poland where ecstatic crowds constantly surrounded him. This first trip to Poland uplifted the nation's spirit and sparked the formation of the Solidarity movement in 1980
-1979 Margaret Thatcher elected, PM from 1979 to 1990
-1980-Solidarno, anti-Soviet patriotic Polish trade union federation, formed August 1980. Pope John Paul II supports Solidarno and identifies the concept of solidarity with the poor and marginalized as a constitutive element of the Gospel and human participation in the common good
- 1980 Lech Walesa, co-founder of the Solidarity trade-union, prominent in the establishment of the 1989 Round Table Agreement that led to semi-free parliamentary elections in June 1989 and to a Solidarity-led government
-1981 Ronald Reagan, American president 1981-1989, spokesman of freedom, enunciated righteous indignation against totalitarianism
-1985 Mikhail Gorachev General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, began Glasnost (openness) in 1988-89. During an interview in 1989 Mikhail Gorbachev is quoted as saying "I detest lies"...showed internal doubt about totalitarian communism at the top
-1991 office of General Secretary CPSU abolished
The above shows that Solzhenitsyn built on the work of Samizdat. That is where the Counterjihad Movement is now. I believe an inspiring writer will soon come on the scene to galvanize public opinion against political Islam.
My conclusion regarding the present state of the Counterjihad is that many factors are required for it to succeed, including 1) a big book (similar to 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' or 'Gulag Archipelago') and 2) some big politicians such as Lincoln, Thatcher, John Paul II and Ronald Reagan and 3) sufficient time for the fire to incinerate political Islam.
As I pointed out, we are only 13 years old. It took 23 years from Prague Spring until the abolition of the Soviet Union, but from the death of Stalin and the beginning of the Soviet dissident movement in the 1950s and early 60s...that would be 35 years.
We are now 13 years after 9/11. We are probably only one-third of the way in the Counterjihad. We are in the Samizdat (self-publishing) phase right now. We are abandoned by powerful interests and contradicted by them. But we believe in the cause of freedom and we are not wrong. We do not yet have any great politicians (save Geert Wilders) or great novelists to inspire popular imagination, but as sure as night follows day, that will come.
Christians' support will eventually come to the Counterjihad as it came to the issues of abolishing slavery, of civil rights and of ending the Soviet empire. Our Counterjihad is a matter of 'charity and justice'. Politicians will eventually see too that Islam is unable to detach itself from strangling the state and human rights, so they will have to oppose it. It's a matter of time. Time is on the side of Counterjihad because of the Internet and a plumetting Muslim birthrate. However, we should not stop our efforts, but intensify them.
A new generation is growing up imbued with the wisdom of us the Counterjihad pioneers. Very soon, they will reach maturity and they will make their presence felt on the international stage. Writers will write novels, politicians will make speeches, political parties will call for reform of immigration policies, laws, international agreements and technologies that helps Islamic supremacism and misogyny. There will be a growing awareness of the evils of jihad and Islamic hatred of the Kafir and women. It is happening now.
Our moral and righteous indignation should be stirred up intensely in this historic struggle that we in the Counterjihad Movement are bringing to fruition. Islam has no moral arguments to defend itself, so it will fall. We have valid moral arguments against Islam, so we shall overcome.
Bill Warner, Director, Center for the Study of Political Islam
Permalink: http://www.politicalislam.com/blog/counterjihad-solzhenitsyn-and-righteous-indignation/
copyright (c) CBSX, LLC, politicalislam.com
Use as needed, just give credit and do not edit.


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Murattian Boys FC are a Grassroots football team made up of 7 team members.
The team is from Monopoli, Bari, Italy.
Murattian Boys FC started using TeamStats in July 2020.
You can access their full TeamStats team profile using the link below:
TeamStats is the ultimate app for running your football team.
Everything you need in one intuitive platform.


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My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is Hilarious!
Bravo! "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" is hilarious! Nia Vardalos is a comedy genius! Often a sequel, especially one that pops up 14 years later, is not as good as the first movie and leaves the audience disappointed. This is not the case here! It doesn't hurt that the original cast with their same comedic chemistry returns. You will laugh, tear up at the heartfelt moments and even cry with laughter! My daughter and I were laughing so hard we were screaming!! We took my mom with us and she loved it too! My Mom is Italian, the Xeni (foreigner) married to my father, the native Greek, also named, Gus! My daughter and I determined that she is a cross between Thea Voula and Yia Yia Maria – so you see, this movie isn't just for Greeks, most families of European culture can relate to the Portokalos family; that's what makes this franchise classic!
Watch the official trailer here:
At the conclusion of the original movie, we learned that Ian (John Corbett) and Toula (Nia Vardalos) have a daughter and they couldn't help but carry on the expectation that she attend Greek School. Now, we meet Paris, (the Miller's 17-year old daughter, who finds herself smothered by the entire Portokalos extended family.) As is often the case, we find ourselves doing all the things that our parents did to us and Toula is no exception! Though she and Ian do realize that they need to let Paris (Elena Kampouris) make her own choice as to where she will go to college, they make it pretty clear their preference is for her to remain in Chicago.
Her Grandfather, Gus (Michael Constantine), in his true Greek Papou brutally honest nature, tells her that she should not waste her eggs and needs to find a Greek boy to marry, while Yia Yia Maria (Lainie Kazan) reminds her to keep her "poulaki" covered (Greek word for little bird and cutesie slang word for female privates!) Toula understands how it feels to be smothered and realizes that she needs to take a step back and let her little bird fly from the nest. Being a Greek mother of my own 17-year old daughter, one of my favorite quotes from Toula was, "even though I'm taking a step back, I will always be right here."
As is typical for all Greek families, everyone has their nose in each other's business and everyone pulls together through good times and bad. Thea Voula (Andrea Martin) is back with her meddling personality and her candid/personal stories which always contain TMI! Ian's parents are back too and in true Greek fashion have become part of the extended Portokalos family. The entire family has their hand in planning yet another "Big Fat Greek" wedding and it's fantastic! Rita Wilson shows off her beautiful voice by singing a classic Greek Song at the wedding.
This movie celebrates Greeks, family, and a young girl's struggle for independence from her Greek family! Ironically, it's no coincidence that it opens on March 25 – the day all Christians celebrate the Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel of the Incarnation of Jesus to the Virgin Mary. March 25 is also Greek Independence Day; the day Greeks celebrate Independence from the Turks!
The root of the word "ironically" comes from the Ancient Greek word, εἰρωνεία (eirōneía), which means "dissimulation, feigned ignorance." So, there you go, Nia Vardalos was not ignorant in her decision to open a Big Fat Greek movie on a Big Fat Greek holiday!!
We screened the movie at the Palladium, which was also screening Batman vs. Superman. Even though the Marvel movies are extremely popular, fans came out in droves to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. While the line for the Batman/Superman movie slowly grew, the theater line was over capacity for this movie. Our friends, who arrived a few minutes after us, were turned away. For a while it looked like we weren't going to make it into the screening either. Even though I've been screening and reviewing movies for a long time, my passes are "first come first served." (@UniversalPictures can you hear me? press passes, PLEASE! ) We had to sit in the second row, which took some adjusting for this far-sighted girl and made for a much bigger and fatter Greek experience!!!
The word "hilarious" comes from the Greek: ἱλαρός (pronounced hilaros,) meaning joyous, cheerful. So, there you go. You will find yourself in a state of hilarity while watching "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2." You will leave believing you are Greek. After all we are all descendants of Alexander the Great, aren't we?! When the movie was over, I heard many people saying, "I wish I was Greek." So, here's my unsolicited but freely given advice to you – you MUST see this movie! My advise to Nia Vardalos – don't let your ink dry – you know we Greeks do everything in three's, so start writing "3" ASAP, we don't want to wait another 14 years for a Big Fat New York wedding!!! OPA!
After you see the movie, please share your comments.


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From Robert Spencer's Jihad Watch:
Maybe Pope Francis said something about the people who actually did kill these Christians, and why they did it, in some other part of his homily that isn't reported here, but I couldn't find any such reference in any news account. The jihad murderers who murdered these Christians declared: "And we will conquer Rome by Allah's permission, the promise of our prophet, peace be upon him."
In response, the Pope decries the evil in the heart of man, which is unarguably the root cause of all this, and apparently says nothing about Islamic jihadists or the doctrines of jihad that gave rise to these murders, but instead excoriates…arms traffickers. So apparently if we just had more restrictions on the sale of weaponry, there would be no jihad — since after all, as the Pope has explained, "authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence." A little gun control, and all will be well.
The idolatry of the papacy that afflicts the contemporary Roman Catholic Church has made these fatuous delusions into semi-official church policy. Then liberal bishops who don't care about the Pope go along with the liberal zeitgeist, because that's their true religion. Bishops in the United States routinely obfuscate and deny the root causes of Muslim persecution of Christians, and work to prevent any honest discussion of these issues in their churches and church organizations. They are abdicating their responsibility to tell the truth, make their people aware of what is happening, and prepare them for what is coming. Catholic publications (such as the hopeless Aleteia) tag along, spreading the fog of falsehood and deception and secure that in doing so, they're obeying the Holy Father.
Another problem here is the prevailing tendency within the Church to confuse charity with niceness. Far too many people think they're being charitable when they're ignoring or glossing over unpleasant truths. But in reality it is never charitable, or worthwhile in any way, to deny the truth. Looking around at all the strictly enforced head-in-the-sand action, one could reasonably get the impression that "Islam is a Religion of Peace" is a new dogma of the Catholic Church, to be believed upon pain of excommunication. (As for me, as their old friend Martin L. once said, "Here I stand. I can do no other.") This cult of flaccid niceness and denial is leading to a persecution of the Church on a scale never seen before, as Christians who were kept in ignorance and complacency by their leaders are led to the slaughter.
What if Islamic State jihadis do enter Rome and the Vatican? Is that so far-fetched, given that they're in Libya now? And if they enter the Pope's apartments, will he explain to them how they are misunderstanding Islam as they are leading him away to be beheaded?
"Pope celebrates Mass for the 21 Copts killed in Libya, 'for sole reason of being Christian,'" Asia News, February 17, 2015 (thanks to C. Cantoni):
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – "We offer this Mass for our 21 Coptic brothers, whose throats were slit for the sole reason of being Christian". This is how Pope Francis began his homily at Mass this morning at Casa Santa Marta.
"Let us pray – he continued – for them; that the Lord welcome them as martyrs, for their families, for my brother Tawadros, who is suffering greatly." A thought, the latter, which already yesterday afternoon had pushed Francis to call the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Tawadros II, to express its deep sympathy for the pain of the Coptic Church for this barbaric murder.
Continuing his reflection, the Pope returned to condemn the arms trade, "of death". Francis was inspired by the biblical passage on the Great Flood to say that "man is capable of destroying all that God has done." The Pope noted with regret that man, "seems to be more powerful than God", because he is capable of destroying the good things that God has made.
Pope Francis pointed out that in the first chapters of the Bible we find many examples – Sodom and Gomorrah, the Tower of Babel – in which man reveals his wickedness. "An evil that lurks in the depths of the heart".
The Pope noted some people would urge him not to be so negative, but – he continued – "this is the truth. We are also capable of destroying fraternity: Cain and Abel in the first pages of the Bible. They destroy fraternity. This is where wars begin. Jealousy, envy, so much greed for power, to have more power. Yes, this sounds negative, but it is realistic. You only have to pick up a newspaper, any newspaper – left-wing, center, right-ring … whatever. And you will see that more than 90% of the news is news of destruction. More than 90%. We see this every day".
Pope Francis then asked the question: "What is happening in man's heart?". He said Jesus reminds us that "from within, out of the heart of man, comes evil." Our "weak heart is wounded". He observed that man always "desires autonomy": "I do what I want and if I want to do something, I will! So, if I want to make war, I will!
"Why are we like this? Because we are capable of destruction, that's the problem. There are wars, arms trafficking … 'But, we are businessmen!' Yes, but of what? Of death? And there are countries that sell weapons, are at war with one side but also selling weapons to them, so that the war continues. A capacity for destruction. It's not coming from our neighbors: it's coming from us! 'Every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually'. Everyone has this seed within, this possibility, but we also have the Holy Spirit who saves us! We must choose, in the little things".
Pope Francis went on to warn against using gossip or slander against our neighbor: "Even in parishes and associations", "jealousy" and "envy" can push people to go to their pastor to speak ill of others. He warned: "This is evil and we all have this ability to destroy". As Lent begins, the Church "invites us to reflect on this". Pointing to today's Gospel where Jesus rebukes the disciples who are arguing among themselves about having forgotten to bring bread. The Lord tells them to "watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod". He gives the example of two people: Herod who "is bad, a murderer, and the Pharisees who are hypocrites." In doing so, Jesus reminds them of when he broke the five loaves and urges them to think of the Salvation, of what God has done for all of us. Pope Francis went on to note that "they did not understand, because their hearts were hardened by this passion, by this evil need to argue among each other and see who was guilty of having forgotten the bread".
Pope Francis said we have to take the Lord's message "seriously". "There is nothing strange in this, these are not the words of a Martian", "man is able to do so much good", he continued citing the example of Mother Teresa, "a woman of our time". All of us, he said, "are capable of doing good, but we are also all capable of destruction; destruction great and small and even within our own family. [We are capable of destroying] our children", not allowing them to grow "in freedom, not helping them to mature; cancelling out our children". We are capable of this and this means that we need to constantly "meditate, pray, discuss things with each other, so as not to fall into this evil that destroys everything":
"And we have the strength, Jesus reminds us. Remember. He says to us today: 'Remember. Remember Me, I shed my blood for you; remember Me, I have saved you, I have saved you all; Remember Me, I have the strength to accompany you on the journey of life, not on the path of evil, but on the path of goodness, of doing good to others; not the path of destruction, but the path that builds: builds a family, builds a city, builds a culture, builds a home and much, much more".
The Pope concluded: "We ask the Lord, today, before the beginning of Lent for this grace: to always choose the right path with his help and not be misled by temptations down the wrong path."
In related news:
The current Poope is not only an Idolatrous cretin, but also a muslim-enabling criminal himself.
Islam can be easily studied and known in its entirety, by anyone. It will never change!
So, when Western people won't educate them *selves* about islam because our culture defers all thinking to those "authorities" we PAY to do our thinking and research for us, while they secretly know full-well that the salesmen in charge will always sell us all out, they ARE CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT INFANTILE DELINQUENT TRAITORS TO RATIONALITY AND CIVILIZATION!
It should never be allowed by backwards people to be considered "illegal" to accuse these criminals (muslims) of their crimes, allegedly because the painful truth might offend them or hurt their feelings, and so "make" them commit even more crimes!
No problem was ever solved by ignoring it, and nobody is doing even these muslims any favours, by indulging their historic lies that islam is a "religion" (at all, much less one "of peace") or a "race" (much less one of poor oppressed "People Of Colour")!
Pretending there is NOT a Muslim problem but only a white racist problem accepting diversity, is criminally negligent TREASON.
"What if Islamic State jihadis do enter Rome and the Vatican? Is that so far-fetched, given that they're in Libya now? And if they enter the Pope's apartments, will he explain to them how they are misunderstanding Islam as they are leading him away to be beheaded?"
ONE CAN ONLY HOPE ("pray") FOR THAT VERY RESULT TO OCCUR – SOON!


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In February 2014, a bunch of twentysomething cyber security researchers, slouched at their work stations in a decrepit highrise in central Delhi, were tapping away in the dead of the winter night. Their computer screens were aglow, the digits were dancing and the smell of warm pizza was in the air. Suddenly, one of the young men let out a loud war whoop, says an eyewitness. The hacker had cracked open the WiFi router at B-28, South Block, the office of the chief of naval staff on Raisina Hill, a stone's throw from Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan. And, worse, also found that somebody a continent or two away was also looking at what he was.
In the Dilton Doiley world of computer geeks, it was a breakthrough moment, no question.
For over three weeks, the researchers had slogged 15 hours a day to break into the internet protocol (IP) addresses of the bold-faced names of Lutyens' Delhi, to show how vulnerable their WiFi routers were—and every computer connected to them. At the end of Operation Sarkar as they informally called it, the hackers had managed to "test-scan penetrate" over three lakh routers in the heart of the capital and expose India's best-kept secret: that 95 per cent of them, in such critical departments as defence, finance, space and communications, were leaking and being exploited by rogue entities based in China, Ukraine, Malaysia and elsewhere.
The router of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Timarpur: unsafe. The router of the commanding officer at Coast Guard in Purana Qila: unsafe. The router of the National Thermal Power Corporation in scope complex on Lodhi Road: unsafe. And so it went on, as the researchers did high-five after high-five as router after router of banks, income-tax authorities, election officers, police, the narcotics bureau, phone service providers, public works departments succumbed to the overtures of their keystrokes. Why, even the router of the air force station on Race Course Road, bang opposite the PM's residence: unsafe.
The message was simple: nobody—and nothing—was safe in the new, wall-less cyber age.
The most vital institutions in the national capital were unknowingly sending information to rogue servers on foreign soil. And this was being done not by the old-fashioned way of hacking into individual computers through malware and spyware but by plugging into the WiFi routers to which other computers are plugged in, and then redirecting users to malicious websites or stealing data. So, that February night when the young man broke into the naval chief's router bearing the internet protocol (IP) address 18.104.22.168, he was not only getting into the chief's computer but those of others who were simultaneously connected to the internet through it.
In other words, pretty much the cream of the Indian establishment was being hacked wholesale, not retail.
For the record, Union home ministry officials downplay the data leak. "Most of these computers have no secret content. Sensitive information is stored in standalone or air-gapped computers, and most ministries do not have more than one or two such machines. Intelligence agencies at the level of joint director and above are the other ones who have these standalone machines," says one official. But he admits that even standalone computers are not safe, "which is why pen drives were banned a year ago at the home ministry". Even that is no consolation. In July, experts at the University of Negev in Israel wirelessly extracted data through electromagnetic waves using a simple smartphone with an FM radio receiver.
B.J. Srinath, director-general of India's cyber security watchdog, CERT-In, says that the leakage of data due to the vulnerability of the routers in Delhi is "speculation": "If a router is compromised, it starts generating abnormally more traffic. That happens because the command and control is with someone else outside. They turn the computer into a slave computer and use it at will for data leakage if the computer has sensitive information. We are not seeing any Denial of Service attacks from non-sensitive computers. That is not happening at the moment."
Maybe, but industry experts say the danger is clear and present. Says Pavan Duggal, cyber expert and advisor to the Indian Infosec Consortium, "Cyber security breaches are becoming routine in our country and the appropriate sensitivity is strongly missing. In fact, it is not even given the importance it merits. And this when both state and non-state actors are interested in data from India."
So how exactly were rogue servers situated on foreign soil gaining access to routers based in India? The cyber security researchers found that the DNS (domain name system) addresses of the sensitive systems were being changed to redirect traffic to rogue servers located abroad. "Researchers discovered that several sensitive systems in Delhi...have already been compromised by external entities and their data is being routed through external servers across the globe," concluded their report, Espionage on Sensitive Indian Machines, presented to then Union IT minister Kapil Sibal.
The researchers found that the espionage spanned continents, from Denver to Manchester, from London to Providence. In each case, the enemy targeting Indian institutions was unknown, as was the final destination of the data stolen: it could have been a foreign power, a business house, or even a band of playful hackers. The servers that had breached the navy chief's South Block computers, for instance, were tracked to the United States. Another router designated for the chief of naval staff at Sena Bhavan was compromised by servers traced to Lithuania. The location of a server is no indication of who the spy is since the entity carrying out the spying is invariably located in a third country.
Says Dr Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT Madras, "Routers being compromised is an extremely serious issue, and not sufficient attention has been paid to this aspect. I am certain that these devices are designed to trigger listening in and it is extremely difficult to figure out that there has been a breach. A solution is that, for sensitive installations, we should have devices built by Indian companies or companies that we trust."
A year-and-a-half after the initial exercise, a smaller group of researchers conducted what in cyber parlance is called Penetration Testing on a smaller group of routers. This time, over 25,000 routers were informally checked, again mostly in Delhi. Over 3,000 were confirmed to be compromised. It wasn't clear if the routers were targets of espionage, but what was clear once again was that the systems were vulnerable to attacks. Says cyber expert Prof Arun Mehta, "Despite repeated attacks on Indian websites, the matter is not being investigated by the Indian government. For India, hacking mostly means defacing a website; stealing of sensitive files and information has never been investigated."
This is not the first time sensitive Indian computer security systems have been shown up to be made of cheese and butter. The most high-profile cyber attack on India took place on July 12, 2012. It breached the e-mail accounts of about 12,000 people, including officials from the Union ministries of external affairs, home, DRDO and, surprisingly, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). This time, of course, the investigation found that the technique used for hacking was different. The modus operandi was to send fake e-mails with attachments apparently relevant to the recipients' work. When opened, the attachments allowed hackers to monitor and search for data covertly.
On its part, CERT-In, which comes under the Union ministry of communications and information technology and is tasked with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing, says it has known of the problem for years. "One of our intelligence agencies had in 2010 discovered some of our modems were compromised in what was considered a major security breach. A study was undertaken and it was discovered that over 1,00,000 modems were vulnerable. Some gaps were plugged and some could not be," admit officials. Which of the gaps were not plugged is anyone's guess, but by 2012, the situation had worsened. This time the National Security Council secretariat, which falls under the PMO, came into the picture. "Service providers were told to disable remote management of routers over VAN and change default passwords," say NSCS officials. They were also told to either get a security upgrade or change these routers. So far, no compliance report has been filed with CERT-In by service providers.
It isn't that the powers-that-be are unaware of the gravity of the threat of data loss via leaky computers and routers. Ten months after the naval chief's router was breached, then cabinet secretary Ajit Seth said "the government is fully conscious of the threat to our cyber space". The head of the BJP's IT cell Arvind Gupta confessed at a hackers' conference after Narendra Modi had come to power that the PM's and the BJP's websites were one of the most targeted. But privately cyber security experts are a worried lot. They point to the fact that most systems that were hacked in 2010 did not have updated security software.
Sceptics of the router leak suspect a determined 'desi' drive to hammer down Chinese manufacturers, but there is a clear economic rationale. The state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), for example, in its attempt to get the cheapest ADSL routers, chose to overlook a crucial security feature while awarding tenders to the lowest bidders. The routers were mainly bought from China as they are the cheapest at Rs 500 and did not have the crucial TR-69 interface, CERT officials say. The feature enables service providers to remotely plug or repair loopholes which would otherwise make these routers vulnerable. "Routers were not TR-69 compliant due to budget constraints." Says advocate and cyber expert Prashant Mali, "When the leak was first discovered, the home ministry had recommended that we should stop buying routers and modems from companies like Huawei and zte. But countries like China objected and the issue got lost in red tape."
A router enabled with the latest security features costs about Rs 2,000. But government agencies baulk at the thought of getting all ADSL routers of vendors like MTNL changed. Compromising a system through a router is a serious security breach since it connects to any number of computers. Security officials admit it not only corrupts other systems but it can also be used for spying further. "This exercise proves we are sitting ducks on a massive scale and the gravity hasn't been judged by the institutions concerned," says Jiten Jain of Indian Infosec Consortium, a group of cyber experts.
Despite the growing threat, the fact that India views cyber espionage as a low-priority area is reflected in the minuscule amount it spends on cyber security. The budgetary allocation towards cyber security (including CERT-In) is Rs 42.2 crore ($7.76 million) for 2012-13, up 19 per cent from Rs 35.45 crore in 2010/11. In comparison, the US spends seven billion dollars through the National Security Agency, $758 million through the Department of Homeland Security and $103 million through US Computer Emergency Readiness Team or US-CERT.
One estimate by US-based information systems giant General Dynamics stated that India's cyber security budget should be at least 10 times larger than what it is now. Officials admit that more work needs to be done in areas such as capacity building and R&D. Among other things, the objective is to minimise the dependence on foreign IT products and to produce indigenous security solutions. A Cisco report says India needs at least four lakh cyber security experts. It is woefully short of that figure.
Little wonder then that Steve Santorelli, former director of investigations at Microsoft and a former Scotland Yard executive, says India is just one step below Vietnam as the mecca of hijacked routers.
Hack Attack: How Nations And Institutions Have Paid The Price For Data Leaks In Recent Times
Year: 2014
Target Sony Pictures
Sony was victim of the worst cyber attack in corporate history when hackers brought operations of Sony Pictures to a halt, affecting business worth billions of dollars. The hackers, FBI alleged, were from North Korea and were demanding the cancellation of the release of a comedy film made by Sony, The Interview, about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea denied involvement.
Year: 2013
Target NSA
Former CIA employee Edward Snowden leaked classified data from the American National Security Agency (NSA). The leak unveiled a global surveillance program being run by the US NSA on internet and phone communication. It created tensions with its allies and the US charged Snowden with espionage and the biggest theft of US secrets ever.
Year: 2012
Target Saudi Aramco
In August 2012, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's national oil producer, reported an attack that damaged 30,000 computers on its network. Any disruption in production and distribution by the world's biggest oil producer is a nightmare scenario for the global economy. It was believed to be
sponsored by Iran.
Year: 2012
Target Government of India
Despite a clear warning from NTRO, government officials in India failed to secure their computers, resulting in 12,000 e-mail accounts of the home, defence, external affairs ministries, DRDO and NIC being hacked. The data stolen included deployment and location of troops and communication between ITBP, DRDO and MHA. Similar attacks were reported on the Indian navy's Eastern Command systems. The Eastern Naval Command oversees maritime activities in the South China Sea as well as the development of ballistic missile submarines.
Year: 2007
Target Government of Estonia
The entire Baltic nation was brought to its knees in the cyber attack alleged to have originated from Russia. The denial of service attacks were allegedly in protest against the government's removal of the Bronze Soldier monument, a relic of the Soviet war. The Estonian parliament,
ministries, banks, telecommunication, defence and media came to a standstill for three weeks.
Year: 2006
Target US government
Julian Assange, an Australian computer programmer, exposed to the world the real picture of US brutality in Guantanamo prison in Iraq, the Afghan and Iraq wars and other military secrets. Called the biggest leak in US military history, Wikileaks painted a grim picture of the most powerful democracy in the world. Assange was slapped with charges ranging from espionage to sexual assault and has been given asylum in Ecuador's London embassy.