text:
According to a recent Incentive Magazine article, "As wellness incentives have matured over the past decade, employers have broadened their approaches as far as types of healthy behaviors encouraged."
Taking into account that there is more to being healthy than just watching what you eat and exercising, Summit Group gives its employees the opportunity to attend monthly wellness seminars on a variety of topics.
While the emphasis remains on the fitness and healthy eating side, the topics range from learning about how to avoid heat-related injuries and illnesses, sleep, stress, and more. In exchange for attending these seminars, lunch or other prizes, such as incentive points that can be cashed in for merchandise, are given to employees. See "Inspire" post for more info on incentivizing your employees.
Summit has found that providing seminars on a variety of topics gives everyone the opportunity to learn, even those who are already hitting the gym every day and eating what they should on a regular basis.
To read this Incentive Magazine article, click here.
Does your company use the holistic approach to wellness? Summit Group has expertise in developing employee communications and website for custom employer-funded health and wellness programs. Contact us for more information! Check out how we have helped one employer here.
Think we might be worthy of a conversation? We'd love to hear what you have in mind.


text:
Everything Is Art
A plus size mannequin in a regular store. Now if we could only put a head on her.
On a recent trip to Philly I saw this incredible piece, "Continuous Life and Death at the Now of Eternity" by teamLab. I'm fascinated by the work they are doing. It was contanstly changing yet remaining true to itself. Wondering how I can apply this to my work and still show. They're doing a fascinating combination of at and technology. Hard to explain but there's lots to see on their website.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A Poem and A Song - I: A Series to Celebrate Art in All Forms
It is actually quite amazing when you find the same thought being expressed through a picture, a poem, a song, or even a gesture.
Perhaps it happens because the thought has sunk deep into you, at least for the time being, and you just view a certain picture, read a certain poem and hear a certain song as expressions of that singular thought.
Or perhaps they really are conveying the same thought, but in different shades and hues.
And it just so happens that when that very thought captured your attention, certain pictures, poems and songs also appeared before you allowing you to delve deeper into the thought and let it reveal its deeper essence to you.
Regardless of how it happens, it is always a moment to relish and cherish the beauty. The beauty of the picture, the song, the poem. The beauty of the experience. The beauty of the moment.
Dream by M.A.R. Chughtai
How does one write anything about a piece of art like this? It captures the essence of love between a lover and beloved, between two souls merging to become one, become earth and sky, become Radha and Krishna. No words are necessary. Only a feeling. Or if you must have some words, let them be of Rumi. Or of Amir Khusrow.
Love is reckless
Love is reckless; not reason.
Reason seeks a profit.
Love comes on strong,
consuming herself, unabashed.
Yet, in the midst of suffering,
Love proceeds like a millstone,
hard surfaced and straightforward.
Having died of self-interest,
she risks everything and asks for nothing.
Love gambles away every gift God bestows.
Without cause God gave us Being;
without cause, give it back again.
Singer: Ustad Shujaat Khan, Lyrics: Amir Khusrow, 1253-1325


text:
I often wonder if we have it right in North America. The pace that we live life is such that when we finally slow down, the next thing you know there is something else that we have to be at or to do. For many of us Monday feels like that.
As I drove to work this morning I decided to drive my wife to work at the hospital first and then take Foster Thurston toward the KV area. As I witnessed summer construction at its best I was able to get a perspective on the masses of people trying to make it to work. Lined up on the other side of the construction I would estimate that 3 KM's of cars were waiting.
2 Corinthians 9 suggests that we are going to receive abundant blessing (verse 8) and that we will be enriched in every way (verse 11). It seems that as we toil with going to work everyday and pacing life with so much going on that there are times where it does not seem like a blessing or abundant. This can be witnessed in the eyes of the commuter waiting in a line of construction trying to get to work.
With trying to make ends meet in society today Paul calls us to a level of giving that seems unreachable for some of us. Give cheerfully Paul says in verse 7…but I worked hard for this.
The principle that I close my thought on with this is an illustration that my favourite preacher shared about tithing. When we want to hold on to so much we are less able to receive the blessing and abundant life that God has promise.


text:
Here is the product of about three days of work:
|The schematic. Ain't it pretty? I taught my protégé the fine art of mitering everything so that it looks professional. Ignore the crossed wires though...
|Here's the board. The huge traces are because it's rated for automotive things -- 15A pumps, 15A fans, etc. The big rectangular blocks at the sides are kickass solderable lug terminals. The connector at the bottom is a 35-pin right angle ampseal connector.
Actual board pictures are forthcoming once I get off my butt and take them. The amount of solder I laid on the traces is amusingly stupendous.
Here are the pictures:
|The copper side of the board. Look at those huge blobs of solder! The flywires are some conduction paths that wouldn't fit on the board. The rectangular bits poking out on the right are the lug slots.
|Topside. Looks pretty neat...
|Tall, dark, and handsome. Enjoys long walks on the beach and switching motor loads.


text:
When do the top college prospects for the 2015 NBA Draft take the floor on Friday for the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament? What will NBA scouts be looking for when they do?
-NCAA Tournament Round of 64 NBA Draft Prospect TV Schedule: Thursday
-NCAA Tournament Round of 64 NBA Draft Prospect TV Schedule: Friday
-NCAA Tournament Round of 32 NBA Draft Prospect TV Schedule: Saturday
-NCAA Tournament Round of 32 NBA Draft Prospect TV Schedule: Sunday
-NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 NBA Draft Prospect Viewing Guide: Thursday
-NBA Draft Prospect First Weekend Overview
-DraftExpress NCAA Tournament Schedule Grid
Note: The numbers listed next to players' names is their standing in the latest iteration of our Top-100 prospect rankings.
All Times Listed are EST
7:15 PM (11) UCLA vs (2) Gonzaga (CBS) Houston
#11 UCLA #19 Kevon Looney, #53 Norman Powell, Tony Parker, Isaac Hamilton, Thomas Welsh
#2 Gonzaga #44 Domantas Sabonis, Przemek Karnowski, Kyle Wiltjer, Kevin Pangos
These two teams met in mid-December on UCLA's home floor, resulting in a resounding victory for Gonzaga behind a scintillating 24 points from Kyle Wiltjer in just 30 minutes. This game will likely be even more challenging for UCLA on a neutral court in Houston, especially with the roll Gonzaga is on, evidenced by their 19-point shellacking of Iowa in the Round of 32.
Kevon Looney had a solid outing against Gonzaga last time around, scoring 14 points, pulling down 8 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists before fouling out. He was able to take advantage of the poor defense of Kyle Wiltjer inside the paint, and will need to do so once again if UCLA is to have any chance at advancing. The shine has worn off the UCLA freshman somewhat in the past months, as scouts are increasingly saying they are worried about his average frame, athleticism and conditioning level. It will be very interesting to track Looney's head to head possessions with Domantas Sabonis if the two match up. The Lithuanian is considered Gonzaga's best pro prospect.
With that said, Kyle Wiltjer has been Gonzaga's best player on the season, and has scored 47 points in 56 minutes in the NCAA Tournament thus far, including six of his nine 3-pointers. Wiltjer's poor frame, wingspan and defensive potential has kept his NBA draft stock grounded thus far, but he's truly one of the most skilled players in the college game. With the emphasis NBA teams are placing on 3-point shooting these days, he will certainly get a look as a Mirza Teletovic or Anthony Tolliver type of prospect.
7:37 PM (8) N.C. State vs (4) Louisville (TBS) Syracuse
#8 North Carolina State Anthony Barber, Trevor Lacey, Beejay Anya, Abdul Malik-Abu
#4 Louisville #20 Montrezl Harrell, #39 Terry Rozier, Wayne Blackshear, Chinanu Onuaku
N.C. State is the surprise team of the Sweet 16, a talented group of highly rated players (three top-50 RSCI, seven top-110) coming into college that found a way to get it together when they needed to most, winning two games by a combined total of four points. We'll see how that holds up against a top five defense in Louisville that absolutely stifles opponents with highly aggressive and changing schemes.
What's interesting about N.C. State is not only are they one of the most iso-heavy teams in college basketball according to Synergy Sports Technology, they are also one of the most efficient. They resort to one on one play almost ten times per game according to Synergy, but score just a hair under one point per possession (.976) when doing so. They've been forced to go iso 32 times in the NCAA Tournament thus far, and it hasn't really hurt their effectiveness in the half court, scoring 30 points in those situations.
They couldn't have run into a worse matchup statistically, though, as Louisville ranks as one of the best iso defenses in high-major basketball, and is tops among remaining NCAA Tournament teams. Opponents barely even try to attack their defense in one on one situations. At the head of N.C. State's hero-ball efforts will be speedster point guard Anthony Barber, who reeled off 15 isos of his own last weekend, a huge number, and was able to score 17 points, a NCAA Tournament high thus far.
9:45 PM (5) Utah vs (1) Duke (CBS) Houston
#5 Utah #14 Jakob Poeltl, #31 Delon Wright
#1 Duke #1 Jahlil Okafor, #7 Justise Winslow, #28 Tyus Jones, Quinn Cook, Matt Jones, Grayson Allen
This will be one of the most anticipated games of the Sweet 16, a matchup featuring five players currently projected as first rounders in our latest mock draft.
The numbers imply that this matchup is a lot closer than the seeding suggests, as Duke and Utah are currently ranked 5th and 6th in the KenPom rankings, with Duke boasting the superior offense (#2 in NCAA, Utah 15th), while the Utes have a much more intimidating defense (7th best, Duke 56th).
The matchup inside will be the one drawing the most scrutiny from NBA scouts, particularly with the extremely impressive flashes of talent Austrian 7-footer Jakob Poeltl has dropped glimpses of throughout the tournament (his offensive efficiency [1.58 PPP] ranks #1 in the NCAA Tournament thus far among remaining players). Poeltl has terrific agility and instincts for a player his size, but does he have the strength and experience to compete with Jahlil Okafor, one of the most gifted offensive centers we've seen in years? More importantly, can he stay on the floor (and out of foul trouble) for long enough stretches to give Utah a chance?
The perimeter will boast plenty of intrigue as well, with projected first rounders Delon Wright and Tyus Jones going head to head, even if Wright may see some time guarding Quinn Cook, who is a superior scorer. Utah's point guard will tower over both backcourt players regardless, which should give him an excellent vantage point to make passes. Wright wasn't at his best in the first weekend of the tournament, shooting just 4/14 from the field, but his playmaking, rebounding and defense were huge factors in Utah's second half surge to put away Georgetown.
10:07 PM (7) Michigan St vs (3) Oklahoma (TBS) Syracuse
#7 Michigan State #97 Branden Dawson, Denzel Valentine
#3 Oklahoma #54 Buddy Hield, TaShawn Thomas
Michigan State got to the Sweet 16 thanks to their outstanding defense (ranked third in the Tournament among remaining teams after Kentucky and Duke) and surprisingly, their terrific play in the open court. 30% of their points have come in transition thus far in the Tournament, according to Synergy Sports Technology, and they've been stellar when able to get out in the open floor, at 1.56 PPP. Beyond that, it's been a real struggle for the Spartans to score in the half-court, where they have the worst offensive efficiency (.81 PPP) in the tournament among remaining teams.
Oklahoma has been more balanced thus far, but also had the benefit of only going up against double-digit seeds in Albany (#14) and Dayton (#11). Buddy Hield has struggled with his shooting, hitting just 4/17 attempts from beyond the arc. He'll have to get back on track for the Sooners to advance.


text:
Face of FashionPhotographs by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Corinne Day, Steven Klein, Paolo Roversi, and Mario Sorrenti
Availability: In stock
Any fashion photographer can make a flattering portrait, but the contemporary masters featured in Face of Fashion don't even try. This striking volume presents the intensely unconventional, often unnervingly intimate portraiture being made by some of today's most creative and original fashion photographers.
Each photographer is represented by a range of portraits, including several commissioned especially for this book. Some of these portraits were produced as ads, others were commissioned for editorial features. Many of the subjects are celebrities—Kate Moss by Corinne Day; Madonna by Steven Klein, and by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott; Sting by Paolo Roversi—but others are as anonymous as Mario Sorrenti's Woman I. Essays by Susan Bright and Vince Aletti illuminate the collaborative nature of this radically new approach to portraiture, as well as how it diverges from earlier work by Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, and others. In addition, interviews and candid descriptions of the process by the photographers and subjects themselves provide rare insight into the potent mix of fame, fashion, and photography seen here.


text:
- This week's Ring of Honor Wrestling TV features Karl Anderson vs. Michael Elgin, Davey Richards vs. Kyle O'Reilly and MsChif will be in action.
- This Saturday, May 4th, prior to the Border Wars PPV, The Briscoes, Taiji Ishimori, Adam Cole, Jay Lethal, Paul London and Maria Kanellis will be available for an autograph signing from 6-7 pm.
- A free "Fan Appreciation" autograph signing will also be held on Sunday, May 5th prior to the Border Wars weekend TV taping.
- RD Evans has announced that his tag partner QT Marshall will be at Border Wars this Saturday.
- Pepper Parks has just officially signed on to compete at the Border Wars weekend TV taping on Sunday, May 5th.
- In honor of Paul London's return to Border Wars this weekend, ROH has released an ROH Street Fight match from 2002 that pitted Paul London against Michael Shane.
- Kevin Steen doesn't have a match this Sunday, but he has promised that he will be at Border Wars to confront SCUM.
- On May 11th, ROH will be heading to Belle Vernon, PA for a DVD taping. reDRagon will be defending the ROH Tag Team Championships against the Briscoe Brothers as the main event.
Source: ROHWrestling


text:
Actual AMD Opteron benchmarks?
Actual AMD Opteron benchmarks? news post from TweakTown's online news computing and technology content pages.
Published Fri, Oct 18 2002 1:27 AM CDT | Updated Tue, Jun 16 2020 4:29 PM CDT
German site 3D Center claim to have the first actual benchmarks of AMD's up-and-coming Opteron processor running at 2GHz. Benchmarked from within AMD labs, they compare the Opteron against an Athlon XP, Athlon Thunderbird, Pentium 4, Pentium 4 Xeon, Itanium 1 and 2 under SPEC CPU2000. The translation is fairly shady but all we really need to see are the numbers, which I stress, should be treated as speculation at this stage. Don't ask me how they managed to run the tests, for all we know an AMD employee could have done them.
On the Microprocessor forum in San Jose, California, announced AMD first of bench mark to 2,0 GHz of a Opteron of processor. Contrary to not at all estimated values uncommon with server processors in the preparatory phase (which however mostly nevertheless are correct) this bench mark on a material Opteron system in the AMD laboratories rule-fairly and offer after the values Clawhammer prototypes on 800 MHz from June this yearly the first halfway reliable numbers were measured to AMD's of new processor generation.More information @ 3D Center (translated)


text:
Twisted Vine Wine & Tap is a wine and craft beer establishment that serves delicious and unique shared plates and appetizers, small plates, flatbreads and desserts.
Twisted Vine is owned and operated by Share The Wine LLC otherwise known as "the guys that brought you Perfect Blend Café & Bakery". Daniel Casey and Brendan M. McCann, co-owners of Perfect Blend Café & Bakery, dreamt up the idea for a wine and craft beer bar in the Delmar area awhile back and brought their dream to fruition in early 2015.
Dan holds a degree in baking and pastry arts from Johnson & Wales. Dan and and our kitchen staff were integral in planning the menu for Twisted Vine and taking ideas on a piece of paper and turning it into an appetizing selection for our patrons to enjoy.
Brendan is an alum of Siena College with a degree in Marketing & Management. He has put his experience in the food industry and as owner of Perfect Blend Café & Bakery to good use managing the business end of this establishment.
Collectively, we strive to produce an outstanding product at an affordable price in a very comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. With over 50 wines, 20 beers and a variety of good eats to choose from, you can stop in once a week and never have the same thing twice! We use local products whenever possible and will continually change our menus and offerings to suit the changing seasons and palates of our customers.
Eat, drink and be merry! Welcome to Twisted Vine Wine & Tap!
Sunday thru Tuesday – CLOSED
Wednesday – Saturday: 4pm – 9:30pm (last seating 8pm)


text:
I've often said that I don't classify myself a photographer or artist. While I do travel far and wide across Second Life visiting regions and art installations and taking photos, amassing several thousand images as a result, I do so more for the purposes of illustrating this blog than for any attempt at artistic endeavour on my part.
Similarly, while I do publish to Flickr, and occasionally share images in various groups there, I do so more because Flickr gives me unlimited storage space when compared to the limited space offered by WordPress, which I tend to use more for images and audio used with news, opinion and update pieces.
Nevertheless, all that said, in taking up curating art exhibitions at Holly Kai Park and Holly Kai Garden, I was given the opportunity to establish my own studio at Holly Kai Garden for displaying my work for those who might like to see it in-world.
Located between the koi carp pond and the public terrace at the garden, and facing the two art terraces, it provides me with room to display 26 images, and I plan to rotate those on display on a fairly regular basis. The split level design offers what I hope will be a cosy little seating area on the upper level, with armchairs places before a warming fire. A coffee machine on the shelf dispenses hot beverages for those in need of some caffeine 🙂 .
I've also added lighting to the studio to add a little atmosphere, so having advanced lighting enabled when visiting may add to any visit you might make, but you don't need to necessarily have shadows enabled, so hopefully this won't be much of a performance hit if your system does find shadows hard to handle.
The studio will be open alongside of art exhibitions on the Holly Kai Garden terraces, and while I can't promise to always be there myself, I hope that those of you who do drop in to Holly Kai Park and / or the garden to enjoy the exhibitions staged in either, might also enjoy a visit to the studio as well.
And in terms of the park and garden, don't forget Holly Kai Park features an outstanding group of artists in the first of the renewed Art at the Park series, which runs through until February 7th; while just opened at Holly Kai Garden is Paintings of the Dutch Masters, beautifully curated by Drw. There will be a celebratory party for the latter at the garden on Friday, January 29th starting at 16:00 SLT, featuring the music of DJ Anthony Wesburn.
You can follow all the latest updates concerning Holly Kai Park and its facilities via the Holly Kai website.
SLurl Details
- Holly Kai Garden main landing point (Rated: Moderate)
- Holly Kai Park main landing point (Rated: Moderate) – follow the signs to the garden


text:
Login with username, password and session length
Hey Alvin,Thanks much for the suggestion to send a message to Dave T. I will get that done.Effective software development projects maintain a database to track bugs/issues (includes fixes and enhancements). One of the attributes tracked is when the bug fix was added to a software release, so producing such reports should be very easy.To answer your questions:1. A notice of an update was pushed to my desktop yesterday. I have been having significant issues with screen renderings of 2D walls, so I wanted to install it and see if any improvements had been made. However, I have been at the application development game (as PM) for long enough to know the importance of understanding what the update will fix. So, I looked for a list of fixes for the update and couldn't find one. I also could not find any announcement of an update to V19.1 Professional x64 on the TC website nor the TC Forum, and that also seemed strange to me. Perhaps I do not know where to look.2. I tend keep up with that stuff (build numbers), especially when I am having continuing issues and am not receiving timely responses from Technical Support. For example, there are times when my entire screen clears after editing a block and coming back to model space. I am forced to restart the application to get the contents of the model space to reappear. Annoying! I have several active trouble tickets on this and similar issues.3. The version and build number is found in Help -> About TurboCAD. Look at the top line of the window.It is pretty cool you are very productive using V 11.2. When was that version first released?? Geeks tend to hop on the "latest and greatest" version of an application 'cause it has *got* to be better than an older version---right??? Naw, t'aint necessarily so.Kate---
It's coming up in the low right corner of your screenTorfinn
Page created in 0.28 seconds with 24 queries.


text:
Alderley Edge is a quaint and welcoming village and within the area of Cheshire East and the county of Cheshire, England. The village presents for its growing population of visitors a good choice of Alderley Edge Hotels that are designed for all needs, for pleasure or business and for overnight stays.
Alderley Edge lies 5 miles to the northwest of Macclesfield and 12 miles south of Manchester. The village is a fascinating place as it has two faces one is historic and ancient and of specific interest to science, the area is in fact partially owned and controlled by the National Trust and has been specifically designed as a ''Site of Special Scientific Interest''. The area is open to the public and allows for wonderful adventures around wooded lands. Its modern face shows a trendy hip appeal the perfect destination for day trippers from Manchester and the nearby towns, to visit specialist shops and pretty pavement cafes
Perhaps the most important or at least the most written about and photographed family to live in Alderley Edge is The Beckham family while David played for Manchester United. Another famous celebrity was Alan Garner the novelist who literally grew up here and the majority of his novels base themselves on Alderley Edge and its surroundings.
Accommodation options in Alderley Edge generally ranges from 3 and 4 star rated properties with larger hotel chain options available in the wider area. Service is friendly and efficient with modern facilities such as Wi-Fi internet connectivity available as standard. Local hotels offer easy access to the village itself and surrounds and also convenient access to those who wish to visit the nearby city of Manchester.
Transport links in the area are excellent as Alderley Edge lies not far from the M6 motorway and Manchester International Airport lies just a few miles to the north.
Alderley Edge Hotels


text:
I wrote this 3 years ago for a friend of a friend. Even though I was only 2 years out of college, surprisingly most of the advice still holds true. I just copied and pasted it, so some stuff might be immature, but I still agree with mostly everything I wrote.
Here is the unadulterated version of what I wrote:
Kimesha: I just got this to open, and it is getting late. I will do my best to answer your questions. If you have any other questions, please call me XXXX, or drop me an email at email@example.com. I want to get this to you asap, so I will burn the proverbial midnight oil.
1. There is a story behind every successful person. How did you get your foot in the door? How did you start?
I answered a classified ad in the newspaper in December '03. I was very persistent with getting the results while they were making their decision. I didn't get the job, but a month later, the person they hired didn't work out and I got the call back. I've been at WLNY TV for almost 2 years.
2. Some people have a Master's Degree in Anthropology, and has a career in Accounting. What was your educational preparation for your career?
I have a BS in computer science from Binghamton University. I did learn some programs that have helped me, but mostly I gained the ability to understand how a computer works and how programs operate. I can quickly pick up most programs put in front of me, which has been very valuable for me at our station because we have been upgrading our equipment to a more computerized newsroom since I came here.
Most of my education in the television station came from extracurriculars and an internship. I noticed you mentioned internships later in the questionnaire so I will hold off with that info.
3. I've been told that the end result of most successful careers start with an excellent internship. Where did you work before this job? What is your professional background?
I interned at Binghamton University for a local news station, the NBC/ABC affiliate. They took themselves very seriously, but were small enough so that I could play a part in the show. I had a very comprehensive internship, one day a week I went out with reporters and filmed and helped write and edit for the show. The other day I was in the control work making graphics, and helping in any way I could. I never had to do any of the classic production assistant things like get people coffee or donuts. I know they did have other interns that basically did nothing the whole time they were there. We have a lot of interns at our station, and I can see how some make a success out of the internship and some don't accomplish much at all. If you show interest and want to learn for a purpose, you will succeed in the internship. This is the most important thing you can do at university. Many people get jobs right after the internship at that station. Two people just became writers at my station after interning.
I also worked as a control room operator in Binghamton University at a distance learning facility. This was great professional experience, and I was given a lot of responsibility there. It definitely showed me the finest example of how a working environment should be.
During one summer I worked as a lab technician in the research and development department of a company which made pot (potentiometers). This gave me some technical background, and showed me a very successful business. I was 19 or 20 when I worked there, not quite mature enough to fully grasp how to get the most out of these opportunities. I feel this did show my technical abilities on résumé's, so that was good.
4. It's very important to enjoy what you do. What do you like most about your job? Or least?
I like most being creative. About half the time, we have a lot of discretion as to editing or creating graphics. I like to be able to make my own vision come true.
What I like least is the commercial influence and the control over what we air on television. When I think of it as a business, I understand more and feel better about it. Unfortunately, the business end of the news is more discreet to the viewers, so I sometimes feel they are the innocent victims.
5. After a 12, or 13 hour shift working in a restaurant, I've seen it all. What's a typical day like in your career? Describe yesterday?
My work comes in gradually throughout the day. I type in the words that go on the bottom of the screen that usually tell the location or the name of the person talking. I also share duties making graphics such as over-the-shoulder boxes (you usually see them on a top corner when the anchor is speaking) and full-screen graphics. Also, I make the maps that you see on a newscast, where they zoom into a location. Sometimes I do some editing for the show. If there is any digital editing to be done, it is usually done by myself or my supervisor (together, we are the graphics department). During the show, I either operate the teleprompter, camera, tape decks, or graphics station. Yesterday I operated the teleprompter.
6. During your experiences throughout your career, what are some of the most exciting, surprising, challenging, and/or rewarding events you've faced?
It is very exciting seeing the heads of the company operate and make decisions. These people are here for a reason. Most are extremely dedicated and consistently make the most prudent decisions. Others are born into it. There are characteristics that all of these most successful individuals hold, one of them is to think of solutions, not problems. This is such an excellent way to think, it will always get you places. There is still a lot to learn.
Something challenging has been office politics. There is always such a dynamic with how everyone gets along and their issues with eachother. It's a game. I would compare it to monopoly, its fun when you're winning, but when you stop playing you realize you just wasted all your time playing a stupid game.
7. Things and time changes, as they do, how are you prepared to stay on top?
Always say yes. If any opportunity presents itself, say yes. You will go nowhere being reluctant. There are a bunch of proverbs on this subject, you can pick one. I regret only what I have not…
8. What are some of the challenges facing the industry today, whether it affects you personally or not?
An issue recently has been with the FCC mandating that we broadcast to new standards. Starting in January, all news programs (maybe all programs) must have closed captioning. We had to update our system to a computerized system. This is good for me now actually, they are more dependent on me as we are moving to a more computerized newsroom. I am usually the first person they turn to to learn the new programs, and then I can teach other people on the crew. For my current situation, it works to my advantage.
9. It's important to know how to handle a give situation, in any line of work. What are the most important skills to develop, and master to succeed in the media biz?
Networking is extremely important. In almost any business. Don't think of it as 'networking', that is an awful word because monster.com and all of these articles and shows hound us to network. It is so much better just to think of it as meeting people. That's all. Meeting people, letting them know what you are interested in, and knowing what they are interested in.
There are so many jobs in media. Not only on air, but everything in the business end of it.
The most important thing is knowing how to talk to anyone. And also how to dress well.
10. If given the opportunity to do it all again, what would you change? Or would you change anything?
I don't want to change anything.
There are advantages and disadvantages to every decision. If you want to be more successful in a career faster, I would suggest getting a more specialized degree than computer science. I could have been more specialized though, there were opportunities, I was more focused on my extracurricular media activities when I went to school.
11. For someone who is very interested in your field of work, and in the media in general, what advise can you offer.
The past 10 questions have been advice!
Okay, to go over it quick:
Say YES. Meet people, and be interested. Dress how you want to be seen.
The people who brought you up gave you your blueprint for financial and career success. They instilled on you what you are capable of and your comfort zone. You were trained how much you should be hoping to make, and what goals you are to accomplish. Destroy it.
12. I feel as if I've benefited greatly from your time and information however, is there a question that I didn't ask?
It's almost 3am, I wanted to get this out as quick as possible, I probably sacrificed some clarity for timeliness. I would love to elaborate on these answers more. I saw the date was October 1, it is probably due soon. If you would like to talk about these things more, don't hesitate to give me a call or email at any time. I love to talk about life after college, and what opportunities are available.
Oh, I don't know where this would go, but I have learned that people don't change. Most people are the same person they were when they were 20, no matter what age they are now. Beneath a couple of layers they are the same. When we are 40, we will be the same basic person, with the same eccentricities, the same mannerisms. When we are 60, 80, the same. Its there. And a point to this paragraph is there somewhere, too late to figure out where.
Theres so much more to say about this industry and about careers. If I was to fill this out tomorrow morning, the answers would be completely different, still true, but different.


text:
The USB 2.0 PHY performs low-level protocol and signaling functions. While transmitting, the PHY serializes data, generates Synchronize (SYNC) and End-of-Packet (EOP) packet fields, and performs bit stuffing and Non-Return-to-Zero Inverted (NRZI) encoding. While receiving data, the PHY recovers incoming data and clock, de-serializes data, strips SYNC and EOP fields, and performs bit unstuffing and NRZI decoding.
The USB 2.0 PHY is a full-featured on-chip physical transceiver. It has Electro Static Discharge (ESD) protection and fully supports all OTG and host functionality. An optional charge pump generates a 5V supply to power external USB peripherals while in host mode. On-board clock generation and PLL blocks provide for accurate, high-speed data transmission from and to the transceiver. When this USB PHY core is used, a minimal number of external components is required.
- Complies with USB specifications, rev. 2.0 and 1.1
- Complies with UTMI+ specification, level 3, rev. 1.0
- Supports 480Mb/s (HS), 12Mb/s (FS) and 1.5MB/s (LS) serial data transmission rates
- Supports 8-bit unidirectional Parallel Interface Engine (PIE) bus for HS, FS and LS modes, and Serial Interface Engine (SIE) for FS and LS modes
- Supports USB 2.0-defined test modes
- Supports OTG USB 2.0
- Supports single-ended data interface
- Digital I/O for Tx and Rx USB OTG cable status
- Rail-to-rail common mode differential receiver
- NRZI encoding and decoding
- SYNC and EOP generation and detection
- Bit stuffing and un-stuffing with error detection
- Optional Charge Pump
- Short-circuit protection for Charge Pump
- Supports full junction temperature range of -40°C to 125°C
- Dual 3.3V/1.2V supply
- Integrated HS and FS/LS terminations
- Area <1mm2 at 130nm
- On-chip decoupling capacitors to minimize digital switching noise
- Silicon proven
- GDSII layout and layer map
- Place-and-route views (.lib, .lef)
- LVS and DRC verification reports
- Verilog Sim Model (NC-Verilog)
- Gate-level netlist and SDF timing
- Test guidelines, layout guidelines and application notes
View USB 2.0 PHY TSMC 40G full description to...
- see the entire USB 2.0 PHY TSMC 40G datasheet
- get in contact with USB 2.0 PHY TSMC 40G Supplier


text:
Actor Billy Zane, who terrorized Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic, will soon be doing the same to Eddie Cibrian on NBC's The Playboy Club. Billy will play the recurring role of Oscar Bianchi beginning in the sexy series' sixth episode.
Oscar is described as the cool-headed but ruthless younger brother of Chicago Mafia boss Bruno Bianchi, who was murdered in the first episode during an altercation with Bunny Maureen (Amber Heard). He returns to Chicago to avenge the death of his brother and challenge his nephew, John Bianchi (Troy Garity), for leadership of the entire organization.
After Titanic, Billy recurred on such series as Boston Public, Charmed, Samantha Who? and the short-lived legal drama The Deep End.
How do you feel about The Playboy Club being taken over by mobsters? Would you prefer to focus on the bunnies, or are you interested in more Sopranos-esque intrigue?
Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!


text:
Massive Overly Due Post
Howdy people. hope all is well. I personally am super pumped and happy, because next wednesday school finishes, and then the beautiful 3 month summer holidays begin. I have not been that active on the blog seeing as I have been studying and what not, but alas, yesterday was my last test of the whoooole … Continue reading
Retro, Dreamy, Cool vibes
Good morning, good evening and goodnight to you all. Here I want to give you all (including myself), a good dose of fashion inspiration, or just inspiration in general. Ya know, to make ourselves feel more motivated and stuff, entertaining our eyes with beautiful photography from the past and present! Soooo here you go!! Buon … Continue reading


text:
Flying Phoebe Cloth Doll Club
"Mixed Media Figurative Artists"
Search This Blog
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
EJ Taylor Workshop - October
The club had a fantastic opportunity to host EJ Taylor's workshop in Oakland. The 5 day event was fantastic and the opportunity to learn from a master artist - inspirational. Here Gerry is learning proportions for the figure from EJ and below,
Marcella and Sally are engrossed creating their figures.
Every body hard at work making our figures come to life.
Posted by
Flying Phoebe Cloth Doll Club
2 comments:
Newer Posts
Older Posts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)


text:
Random as car sleuthing story?
I live in Australia, today I saw a new Ford F250 truck, still left hand drive. It had a small sticker on the drivers window that read "CAUTION: This vehicle is fitted with prototype systems that may not adhere to Federal Safety...blah blah" and sitting on top of the dash was literally a big red button (emergency stop style) on a little box with a wire leading down into the dash.
My coworker and I were pretty curious about this, and he used to work at a place that converted them to right hand drive, who also became very curious about, and asked his mate that worked at Ford R&D (we are all located in the same suburb just streets from each other hence the coincidences) and he said "I can't say anything other than its Ford's big secret".....
And I will leave it at that.


text:
Mark Manning, DMD, MSD, FRCD(C)
Dr. Manning graduated from Case School of Dental Medicine in 2004 where he completed his Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD). Following graduation, Dr. Manning purchased a dental practice in Fergus, Ontario where he spent the next six years as a general dentist. A passion for Endodontics led Mark to Louisville, Kentucky where he obtained his Certificate of Endodontics and Masters of Science in Dentistry in 2013.
Mark is a friendly and personable specialist in the field of Endodontics and takes pride in the work he performs. Past patients comment on his thoroughness and attention to detail.
Dr. Manning and his three children enjoy many outdoor activities including soccer, skating, camping and hiking along the beautiful trails of the Niagara Escarpment. Mark also spends his personal time long distance running.


text:
I couldn't have a blog about food and sustainability without mentioning hemp, that much maligned and misunderstood plant (which has none of the narcotic effect of the marijuana plant). In fact, I had a nice helping of shelled hemp seeds with my yogurt and honey this morning. They've got a rich, buttery texture similar to pine nuts or cashews, and taste a bit like sunflower seeds (yum!). Hemp seeds are one of the healthiest things you can eat. Here are a list of some of the benefits of adding hemp seed and hemp oil to your diet (courtesy of Hemp Oil Canada):
-Excellent source of essential fatty acids including Omega 3, 6 and GLA
-Lower blood LDL cholesterol levels
-Lower blood pressure
-Improve cardiovascular circulation & function
-Improve immunity levels
-Reduce symptoms of PMS & menstrual cramps
-Reduce inflammation and the symptoms of arthritis
-Reduce & treat dry skin and hair conditions
-Reduction of many degenerative diseases through preventative measures
-Hemp products are GMO-Free, Gluten-free, Herbicide & Pesticide free
The Canadian government legalised hemp cultivation in 1998 (farmers must be licensed and use approved seeds, so I won't be growing it in my backyard plot anytime soon). This is actually the one crop that my Dh feels strongly enough about that he has seriously considered dropping everything and becoming a hemp farmer.
We've got a great store in town (www.hemptown.com) that sells hemp clothing and other products, and on any given day one of us is wearing something made with this amazing plant. Hemp fibre requires no pesticides and much less water to produce than cotton, and the fibres are a lot stronger. It could also replace trees for making paper products and has great potential as an alternative fuel (it can be grown almost anywhere and could supply regions with locally produced biodiesel). Check out the links below to learn more.


text:
Shares dropped 0.6 percent yesterday on reduced trading, shedding 42.20 to 6,901.48, as investors said a short-term pullback is possible before the March 20 election -- and that the recent surge to break 7,000 on the TAIEX was not healthy.
\n"The benchmark fell on sell-offs meant to lock in profits ahead of the presidential elections," said Renee Chan (
'BIG LOSS': This year might see the last generation of Huawei's Kirin chips, as their production would stop next month because they are made using US technology Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co (華為) is running out of processor chips to make smartphones due to US sanctions and would be forced to stop production of its own most advanced chips, a company executive has said, in a sign of growing damage to Huawei's business from US pressure. Huawei, one of the biggest producers of smartphones and network equipment, is at the center of US-Chinese tension over technology and security. Washington last year cut off Huawei's access to US components and technology, and those penalties were tightened in May, when the White House barred vendors worldwide from using US
'WHITE BOX': The open platform would give local firms access to Cisco's cloud-based mobile network to develop 5G telecom equipment and tap into the global market The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) yesterday introduced a new 5G "open lab" in collaboration with US-based information technology and networking giant Cisco Systems Inc to address the rapidly growing "white box" 5G networking equipment market. The open lab will be a platform where Taiwanese manufacturers can access Cisco's cloud-based mobile network to develop their own 5G telecom equipment, such as small-cell base stations, network switches, modems and Internet of things (IoT) devices, a ministry statement said. The open platform would allow Taiwanese manufacturers to tap into the lucrative 5G telecom equipment market, which was previously monopolized by Nokia Oyj, Ericsson AB
CORPORATE SCANDAL: Cathay Life has invested NT$13.3 billion in Bank Mayapada since 2015, but the latest loss of NT$8.8 billion has completely written off its investment Cathay Life Insurance Co (國泰人壽) yesterday said it would recognize an investment loss of NT$8.8 billion (US$298.1 million) in Indonesia's Bank Mayapada Internasional Tbk PT due to concerns about the lender's operations amid a corporate scandal. The company said it would revise its earnings result for June, from a net profit of NT$6.52 billion to a net loss of NT$520 million, its first monthly loss over the past 17 months. After booking an investment loss of NT$5.2 billion in Bank Mayapada earlier this year, Cathay Life has so far recognized total investment losses of NT$14 billion in the lender, executive vice president
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday reported that revenue last month expanded 25 percent annually, but fell 12.8 percent month-on-month to NT$105.96 billion (US$3.59 billion). In the first seven months of this year, the chipmaker's revenue surged 33.6 percent to NT$727.26 billion, compared with NT$544.46 billion a year earlier. TSMC has said it aims to grow its revenue by more than 20 percent this year. The company has since May 15 stopped taking new orders from Huawei Technologies Co (華為), its second-biggest customer after Apple Inc, due to the US' restrictions on exports containing US technologies. TSMC has no plans to


text: Looking for the CDMCS member resources? Below are a few example materials you might find helpful. The CDMCS provides many safety awareness resources, topic papers, and training aids to its members. Access the full Toolbox Topics section requires a membership. Not a member? Please visit our Membership Page for more information.


text:
Hello! I haven't posted for ages as life has been pretty busy but I promise I have not abandoned the blog. The recent lot of ordinations got me thinking about all the new people joining the clergy spouse (CS) club – I hope it was a joyful time for you seeing your other half ordained but if you had more mixed feelings about it all please know you are not alone. I have now been to two ordinations and a licensing for my husband and to be honest I felt quite weird at all three even though I am very supportive of his work. I felt detached, looking on and feeling happy for my husband but aware that this all has a huge impact on me without really knowing where I fit into it all. Seven years on from that first ordination I am still figuring that out.
The ordinations and some conversations I have had recently got me thinking in particular of the expectations we face as CSs and how to navigate them healthily. Some advice I have come across declares that you should simply live without regard to others' expectations. I find this strange because we all have expectations of the other people in our lives and many of these expectations will be reasonable. CSs are hardly the only people who encounter the expectations of others. However they are unusual in that it is their other half's job which sets the context for many of the expectations they face. You are not the person in the job but are very closely associated with it. You have not been interviewed and selected, you do not get a job description and you have no official role. Yet you live in the vicarage and the community which your other half serves, you may well attend the church they work in and be involved in church work. You are a public figure without having a defined role. How you live with these expectations can have a significant impact on your well being. So far I have learnt the following: Continue reading


text:
Dithering in Kiev Russia Begins to Lose Patience with Ukraine
One hundred and fifty people are standing in front of the regional administration building in Dnipropetrovsk. They are packed into thick down jackets with stocking caps pulled low over their foreheads, many are wearing balaclavas. The thermometer stood at a frigid minus 12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit) in the morning -- but they remain here day and night nonetheless.
The square is sealed off with barbed-wire and a special police unit stands by. There are several posters proclaiming: "Fascism Won't Win." The "fascists" referred to are those opposing Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the local powers-that-be are afraid that the demonstrators could storm their offices. Hence the police protection and the 150 thugs-for-hire with their baseball bats and clubs. They are there to defend the will of the people. Dnipropetrovsk has long been a bastion of support for Yanukovych.
The city is Ukraine's fourth largest, with a population of 1 million, and is home to much of the country's arms industry. Rockets and satellites are produced in the city as well.
But there are government opponents here too. More than 1,000 of them have gathered in a nearby park. Storming the administrative headquarters is clearly not an option; in comparison to the protests in Kiev, 1,000 demonstrators are not many. But in Dnipropetrovsk, that is enough to sound the alarms. On this Thursday in February, though, the situation remains calm.
Just a few weeks ago, only a dozen protesters at most had found the courage to take to the streets. But since opposition leader Vitali Klitschko and his allies called for a "second front" to be opened in eastern Ukraine, which tends to be loyal to the Yanukovych government, pro-Europeans have begun demonstrating in cities like Kharkiv, Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk.
Nothing More to Negotiate
Indeed, only Kiev has remained calm on this day. The president has flown to Sochi for the Winter Olympics and to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his absence, the opposition has suspended negotiations with the government camp.
The government, for its part, is acting as though there is nothing more to negotiate. Opposition demands have been met, Yanukovych's people claim. Plus, they say, Klitschko and Co. no longer represent the interests of those protesting in Maidan Square. Other, more radical leaders have long since taken over, the government says.
The president of the country's parliament has followed suite, saying that a new constitution, which protestors have demanded, cannot be adopted before September. "It needs time," he said. And acting Prime Minister Sergei Arbuzov said that the conflict was slowly cooling down.
If only that were the case. The country still hasn't replaced the government which resigned en masse at the end of January and each day it slides a bit further towards bankruptcy. Even the smallest of sparks would be enough to trigger a new flare up of hate and violence. Yet those currently in power are trying to create the impression that everything is going according to plan.
Yet they know that the situation is precarious. Still, Yanukovych continues to avoid making a decision. Should he play the hardliner and crush the protests or should he pave the way for new elections? He has done nothing but waffle and delay -- for 10 straight weeks.
There is one person who may soon run out of patience: Vladimir Putin. Even as the West believes that President Yanukovych is a friend of Russia's, Moscow has long since had enough of him and the Kremlin would rather be rid of him sooner than later.
Destroying Russian Civilization
Russian media outlets have become increasingly strident in their demands that the Maidan Square protests be brought to an end. Alexander Prokhanov, a Russian author loyal to the state, recently traveled around Ukraine only to say on talk shows after his return that Yanukovych is a "traitor" because he has done nothing to beat down the protests. He is afraid of spilling blood, Prokhanov scoffed, even as "the wave of the revolution" destroys Russian civilization.
Until Thursday of last week, one could ignore such sentiments as the rambling of an ultra-nationalist Russian. But on that day, the Kiev newspaper Kommersant printed an interview with Sergey Glazyev, Putin's official advisor on Ukrainian issues, in which he made the same claim.
Instead of defending the state, Kiev is negotiating with revolutionaries as though they were law-abiding citizens, Glazyev raged. He accused the protesters of being controlled from abroad and said they received $20 million each week from the United States. He added that the Americans were training rebels on the grounds of their embassy in Kiev and were promoting a violent overthrow of the Ukrainian leadership. "In a situation where a power is confronted with a coup attempt, it has no other option" than to use force," Glazyev said.
One can imagine what Putin might have told Yanukovych in Sochi if a man like Glazyev is calling for blood.
In Russia, it is simply the case that few can imagine that tens of thousands of people would stay on the streets and endure bitterly cold temperatures just to demand fundamental democratic rights and a fair distribution of power. Furthermore, the Kremlin is concerned that what is happening in Ukraine could spread to Russia and reanimate the country's opposition. That too explains why Putin sees the Ukrainian president as a failure.
His advisor Glazyev says that those in power in Kiev are simply "afraid for their billions" and would do nothing that could get them in trouble with the West. On that point, he could be very close to the truth. Not just Yanukovych and his family have accumulated great wealth in recent years. Many of his closest confidants have as well. Every second Ukrainian is convinced that the country's leadership has shamelessly enriched itself.
Hub for Wealthy Ukrainians
Still, many were surprised at the audacity of ex-premier Mykola Azarov, who traveled to Vienna immediately after he was relieved of office to get his business affairs in order. He is the same man who torpedoed Ukraine's rapprochement with the European Union. Azarov's son Alexei, a member of Ukrainian parliament, owns a villa in the Währing suburb of Vienna in addition to other properties, a fact that was confirmed by Austrian businessman Reinhard Proksch. Proksch manages the assets of millionaire clients in Vienna, London and Vaduz.
Asparov's daughter-in-law Liliya is also active in Vienna. Austria's Der Standard newspaper reports that she has a 50 percent stake in Publishing Deluxe Holding, a company the puts out glossy magazines in Vienna, Dubai and St. Moritz for people with an upscale lifestyle.
Vienna is considered to be a hub for wealthy Ukrainian investors, a fact also illustrated by the case of the Klyuyev Brothers. Multimillionaire Andrei Klyuyev was appointed at the end of January by President Viktor Yanukovych as his new chief of staff. As the head of the Security Council, he ordered the forceful clearing of protesters from Kiev's Maidan Square on Nov. 30. His brother Serhiy has a seat in the Ukrainian parliament with Yanuvoych's party and is a member of the supervisory board of the National Bank of Ukraine.
The Klyuyevs used to be the majority owners of Active Solar. The company, which is registered in Vienna, is Ukraine's leading solar power enterprise and is believed to have been given considerable preferential treatment and tax advantages from the government. Now Active Solar is also controlled by Proksch, who told the Standard he holds the shares as a proxy for Serhiy Klyuyev's son-in law.
Few in recent years have risen into the league of the richest Ukrainians as quickly as the Yanukovych family. Yanukovych's eldest son Alexander, educated as a dentist, has built up a network of companies that managed to secure contracts to the tune of €5.5 billion from the state over the past two years. The contracts range from the construction and mining technology industries to railways and power generation equipment.
Plummeting Currency
It is believed that Yanukovych senior controls numerous financial operations through a straw man in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. The Yanukovych clan has even managed to push Donetsk-based entrepreneur Rinat Akhmetov, previously the country's most powerful oligarch, down to No. 2 on the list of Ukraine's richest men.
Nevertheless, Akhmetov, the owner of the Shakhtar Donetsk football club and co-owner of over 110 banks, mining, energy and media companies, could emerge as a key figure in finding a solution to the crisis in Ukraine. Around 50 members of parliament in the governing party are aligned with Akhmetov and oligarch Dmytro Firtash, who dominates natural gas trade with Russia. Their votes could quickly turn away from Yanukovych.
Particularly given that Geoffrey Pyatt, the US ambassador in Kiev, recently invited Akhmetov to a meeting at his residence during which the diplomat threatened to freeze the oligarch's bank accounts in the West if protesters were violently removed from the Maidan. He wanted Akhmetov to exercise his influence on Yanukoych so the crisis could be solved peacefully.
In the wake of that meeting, Akhmetov declared on his website that the use of force against the protests would be a mistake and that compromise should instead be forged at the negotiating table. Other oligarchs have also since publically expressed their sympathies for the Maidan Square protesters because they don't want to threaten their business ties to the West.
Regardless what the Americans or the oligarchs want, though, Russia still has greater leverage. Inside the Kremlin, officials are taking a relaxed approach to developments, even as the Ukrainian economy deteriorates by the day. Last week, Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, plummeted to a five-year low and the National Bank's currency reserves are fast disappearing.
Furthermore, although Russia may has decreased the price of natural gas deliveries, Ukraine must still service some €2.5 billion worth of debt to Moscow this month. The country doesn't have the money, and Yanukovych has been forced to ask Putin for yet another deferral.
That, of course, is the kind of development that pleases the Kremlin. Even if the Kremlin is unable to sway Yanukovych to bring a forceful end to the protests, observers in Moscow believe Ukraine will fall into Russia's lap anyway.


text:
It has been a wild ride for currency markets. Central banks may have actually gone too far and markets are starting to see notable price movements. Last week may have been the tip of the iceberg.
We also discuss some of the important news of the week as well as the market outlook.
See this week's stock picks HERE
Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter
Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter
Charts discussed in this episode


text:
Ronhill Finesse Headband
Running Headbands & Neckwear
- Stetchy warm headband for cooler days;
- Soft double-sided fabric;
- Contoured design to cover your ears;
- Reflective graphic.
Delivery & Returns
UK Orders over £10: FREE
UK Standard: £2.95
UK DHL Express: £6.50
International Express: from £14
International Standard: from £12
UK Orders: FREE RETURNS
You might also like...
Delivery Information
UK Delivery is FREE on orders over £10.
International Delivery within 3 working days via DHL (prices vary according to country).
Priority First Class Delivery within 3 working days (charge £5).
Next Day Delivery available weekdays on orders placed before 3pm for next working day delivery (charge £7).
Orders placed Monday - Friday before 3pm will be dispatched the same day.


text:
Open Sauce
Stuff And Things
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
emacs javasscript
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Informative bash prompt
export PS1='($IP) [\!]\[\033[00;32m\]\u\[\033[01m\]@\[\033[00;36m\]\h\[\033[01m\]:\[\033[00;35m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\[\033[01;33m\]`git branch 2>/dev/null|cut -f2 -d\* -s`\[\033[00m\]\$ 'e.g
Monday, August 20, 2012
Loading jquery/javascript libraries from CDN if online etc local
I added some local flags too to enforce local loading : if they're not present then normal offline/online checks are done on the first library in the onlineJavaScriptLibs array. Short and sweet. See the code image here. I realise that the test for the first jquery lib using fopen doesnt gaurentee the others are there but if thats not there there are worse things. I could check for each and every library but meh. Even then php pass doesnt really guarentee the client can access the online library. The fopen checks looking for offlinejs work on a per web (custom/offlinejs) or on an all web (lib/offlinejs) and is really there for people testing/running my framework using a local code base where they might be offline. I had tried the method of loading jquery and then checking in javascript if window.jQuery was defined but simply couldnt get the document.write() method working : I then tried using jquery to append newly constructed script/link objects to body for the offline/onlie scripts but , well, it simply didnt work. Work effort v covenience v results.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Emacs customisation files on Github
My Emacs Files At GitHub
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
de-mothballing my Thinkpad T60
I switched on my T60 last night : it hasnt been used since May 2011. Some
maintenance required. Amazingly the Linux way was so SO much quicker despite
more needing to be done : it having a lot more config changes to put it
inline with my netbook. The Debian installation first needed to be upgraded :
sudo aptitude update, sudo aptitude upgrade. It took about an hour to download
and install the huge amount of upgrades to Debian Squeeze since May. It worked
I then had to install Dropbox, sync it and link all my bash type control files
to the Dropbox equivalents. That took about 45 minutes. This included all GnuPG
data for secure encryption etc. Worked fine.
Finally clone the GIT repo containing various web stuff and restore the MySQL
databases : that took 2 minutes.
Restarted (there were new kernels installed too) and .. worked flawlessly.
Alas, Windows XP : nothing much to do per se (I dont do any development on it
and its usually just an iTunes host) but it needed 5 reboots and only after each
reboot did it then decide various other pakages needed upgrading. It took 5
hours with NO system reconfig on my part. Even now it takes 3x longer to be
ready to work on after booting up.
My Emacs Files At GitHub
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
ido-mode and virtual buffers
From the Manual
ido-use-virtual-buffers is a variable defined in `ido.el'.
Its value is t
Original value was nil
If non-nil, refer to past buffers as well as existing ones.
Essentially it works as follows: Say you are visiting a file and
the buffer gets cleaned up by mignight.el. Later, you want to
switch to that buffer, but find it's no longer open. With
virtual buffers enabled, the buffer name stays in the buffer
list (using the `ido-virtual' face, and always at the end), and if
you select it, it opens the file back up again. This allows you
to think less about whether recently opened files are still open
or not. Most of the time you can quit Emacs, restart, and then
switch to a file buffer that was previously open as if it still
This feature relies upon the `recentf' package, which will be
enabled if this variable is configured to a non-nil value.
my ido settings are currently:-
'(ido-create-new-buffer (quote never))
'(ido-enable-flex-matching t)
'(ido-enable-last-directory-history nil)
'(ido-enable-regexp nil)
'(ido-max-directory-size 300000)
'(ido-max-file-prompt-width 0.1)
'(ido-use-filename-at-point (quote guess))
'(ido-use-url-at-point t)
'(ido-use-virtual-buffers t)
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Javascript utilities
See : jshint and Javascript Lint
My javascript set up:-
(require 'js-beautify)
(add-to-list 'load-path "~/.emacs.d/jquery-doc")
(require 'jquery-doc)
(add-hook 'js2-mode-hook 'jquery-doc-setup)
(require 'flymake-jshint)
(add-hook 'js2-mode-hook
(lambda () (flymake-mode t)))
(add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.js$" . js2-mode))
;; (add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.js$" . js2-mode))
(add-hook 'js2-mode-hook '(lambda () (js-beautify)(define-key js2-mode-map (kbd "M-t") (lambda()(interactive)(js-beautify)))(define-key js2-mode-map [(shift f10)] (lambda()(interactive)(jslint-thisfile)))))
;; javascript lint
(defun jslint-thisfile ()
(compile (format "jsl -process %s" (buffer-file-name))))
(defun jslint-thisfile-test ()
(compile (format "jsl -process %s" (buffer-file-name))))
(provide 'rgr-javascript)


text:
Brisbane Broncos 2017 Men's Home Jersey
In Stock
Any 2 Or More Save $5
Product Code: BB17HJS1A
Size Chart
Product Code: BB17HJS1A
Size Chart
Sold Out
Cheer on the Brisbane Broncos as they carve up the competition with a 2017 Men's Home Jersey. The jersey has been constructed using performance fabric for durability and comfort. The chest logos have been embroidered and all sponsor logos have been sublimated.


text:
As promised, I began keeping a food journal and it's already been gratifying! When I went to grab my morning snack of toasted pumpkin seeds, imagine my utter dismay upon realizing a 1/4th cup serving provided me with over 300 calories. Insanity! Next when ordering lunch I looked up the dressing on the Internet and that alone added an additional twenty grams of fat. Lesson learned–hidden calories and fat are abundant even in so-called "healthy" foods.
One cup of pumpkin seeds=1,200 calories, almost as many calories as I am supposed to consume in a day!


text:
M E's Cookbook
(Recipe Collection)
20 Recipes Created by TRANQUILSPIRIT
Recipes in this Collection
These tasty roasted vegetables can be cooked on the grill or roasted in the oven! The pineapple adds a wonderful sweetness to the vegetables. Submitted by HONEYLEA
Asparagus both tastes great and is high in folate and potassium!
Baked butternut squash with a sweet twist.Submitted by PSPEARSJR
A sweet fried rice dishSubmitted by GRYPHONKIN
Meatloaf with lots of flavor and great as sandwichesSubmitted by NOMI_822
An Italian treat for dinner.Submitted by PEYTONT1
This dish may be low on calories, but it is won't leave you wanting for taste.Submitted by SAIYAJINGIRL
Submitted by DETERMINED_2008
Tasty Low fat/Low calorie version of the bar room favoriteSubmitted by ANGIERSJ
Absolutely Delicious and HEALTHY tostadasSubmitted by HEATHERLYNN03
Submitted by MICHTOTMAN
You can have your pasta and eat it, too!Submitted by HEALTHIERLYNN
Submitted by JENTHEGEOLOGIST
a delicious, heart-healthy meal!Submitted by JENNIFERKATZ
Submitted by GRIMLEY_ED
Protein Packed Vegetarian Comfort Food!Submitted by FLYFIGHTER
Healthy and YummySubmitted by ELLE299


text: "Different from Plato, for whom "ideas" were by definition not visible, Schopenhauer considered art "materialized idea": You are more or less aware that it presents the condition of life in detail. For Schopenhauer, art is not representation, pointing to something else; it is what it is, an invitation to stillness, and a meditative break where the will is quiet. We watch people die in a film and are moved, but we do not feel threatened. Still, words can interrupt this calm and connect us to the world as representation of the will, drawing us back into the misery of life. This is the reason why Schopenhauer considered music the genuine art and the sound of being. In the playing of and listening to music all our senses, including the sense of the mind, are attuned to the bad and good fortune of living, without music itself becoming a focus of attention. Art is the world mirror and its gift of "lucid stillness" (T. S. Eliot) is ephemeral but—as the Romantics emphatically stated—a way from aesthetics to ethics…..As the "materialized idea" ("anschauliche Idee"), art shows us how life is—without engaging us in its suffering. The event of art, for creator and audience alike, is the exceptional state of calmness." – Taken from "The Essential Schopenhauer" [p. 15-16, 17 E-pub ed. Oct 2010 – HarperCollins e-book] in a foreword written by Wolfgang Schirmacher.


text:
Noomi Rapace's Exposed Tittays Make Her Head Mick Jagger's Ballz Explode In Rolling Stones Vid!
WARNING: This NSFW video makes Caligula look like Toy Story! We know what you're thinking, "this porno has a phenomenal soundtrack"! Considering this NSFW vid's abundance of areola, the myriad … Continue reading
November 22, 2012 · Leave a comment


text:
In recent years, entrepreneurship has become the new buzzword in the business and development communities in Egypt and the region. It is being promoted as one of the solutions to problems of economic development and widespread youth unemployment, and social entrepreneurship is being presented as a solution to pressing developmental issues pertaining to education, healthcare and poverty alleviation.
However, both entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship are problematic concepts that tend to obscure the deeper constraints impeding economic and social development in Egypt and beyond. Entrepreneurship implies that instead of relying on the government or the private sector to provide employment opportunities, young people should take the initiative and set up their own businesses or start-ups.
The dream of every young man or woman should thus be to become an entrepreneur and to establish his or her own start-up company. With access to the new technologies the ambition for many young people is to develop a form of software or an application that could gain the attention of investors and large corporations, allowing them to cash in on their innovative ventures and ideas.
While this dream might be accessible to bilingual and highly educated young people, it is beyond the reach of the vast majority of young people in Egypt and the region who lack the education and the skills needed to become entrepreneurs. Moreover, access to financing is restricted, and very few start-up companies are able to meet the conditions for financing placed by banks and other financial institutions.
Moreover, while entrepreneurship and start-ups are being celebrated and success stories such as Uber and Careem presented as models of what can be achieved by young people who have relied on their own resources and creativity to create successful companies, in reality the failure rate for start-ups is very high and only a small percentage of new companies are able to survive, let alone grow and thrive.
As a result, entrepreneurship is only a very partial solution to problems of youth unemployment, and it cannot be used to obscure larger problems such as inadequate education and skills, the difficulties of securing financing, and the many legal and bureaucratic obstacles that hinder young people from establishing companies.
Even more ambiguous is the notion of social entrepreneurship, which is being presented as one of the solutions to pressing social problems. Social entrepreneurship similarly emphasises the idea of self-reliance and innovation. It implies that instead of waiting for the state or for charitable organisations to provide solutions, communities should take the initiative and come up with innovative and sustainable (ie profit-oriented) ideas to solve long-standing social problems in the areas of education, healthcare, the environment and so on for themselves.
Initiatives such as Karmsolar, which provides clean energy solutions, or Educateme and Tadamun, which provide educational and vocational training in poor neighbourhoods, or Injaz Egypt and Nahdet Al-Mahrousa, which provide support for young people seeking to establish new business, are celebrated as examples of successful social-entrepreneurship projects.
However, while social entrepreneurship might have led to the establishment of successful initiatives here and there, it is hard to imagine how these limited initiatives can provide solutions on a national level in areas such as education and health care. The problem of poor social services cannot be resolved without targeted public policies and significant budget allocations and large investments on the part of the state and large corporations.
The current celebration of the idea of entrepreneurship must be viewed as part and parcel of the neo-liberal solution to problems of economic and social development. With the emphasis on balancing budgets and cutting public expenditure, public investment and spending on social services often suffer the most. And the burden of economic and social development is shifted away from the state towards private and societal actors.
In the 1990s, international financial institutions promoted a developmental framework in which the state would provide the regulatory framework, the private sector would spearhead the process of economic development, and the civil-society sector would address social and welfare problems. However, the reality proved to be much more complex.
Processes of economic liberalisation and privatisation led to rampant corruption and monopolistic and inequitable economic growth, in turn leading to deepening social and welfare problems. Growing unemployment and a sharp decline in public and social services became endemic and contributed to growing social unrest.
While the civil-society sector did expand significantly in the 1990s and assume a growing role in the areas of social-services provision, this expansion had a steep political cost, with Islamists often stepping in to provide the bulk of these services. As a result, the Islamists were able to translate their growing social influence into political influence, undermining the stability of the former Mubarak regime.
The events of the Arab Spring in Egypt and the ensuing turmoil led to an unprecedented crackdown on the civil-society sector in order to curb the rising social and political influence of the Islamist movement. Moreover, political instability and the deepening economic crisis significantly weakened the ability of the private sector to generate growth and employment.
With the decline of the role of the private sector and civil society, entrepreneurship has emerged as the new buzzword within the development community. In the absence of a developmental state, a growing private sector, or a thriving civil society sector, the burden has been shifted to the individual to come up with solutions to problems of social and economic development — hence, the celebration of the idea of entrepreneurship.
Obviously, this paradigm is inadequate in many ways. While entrepreneurship might be accessible for a narrow elite within the youth sector, it remains out of reach for the majority of Arab young people. Similarly, while social entrepreneurship might help us experiment with new and alternative ideas for resolving long-standing social problems, it is no substitute for sound public policies and substantial budget allocations and investments in essential social services.
By celebrating entrepreneurship and inflating its potential impact, we obscure deeper problems of economic and social development that can only be resolved through sound public policies and substantial public and private investments.
The writer is a senior researcher at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.
*This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly
© 2010 Ahram Online.


text:
I had just finished writing my last post when I opened my e-mail and found the following from my sister-in-law Diane. It seemed totally appropriate to follow the serious with the hilarious --- especially when the ages matched! Many thanks to the original author.
A young person recently asked me "What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?"
"We didn't have fast food when I was growing up," I informed him and continued
"All the food was slow."
"C'mon, seriously. Where did you eat?"
"It was a place called 'at home,'" I explained.
"Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it."
Note from Gail: When our kids were growing up we had a chalkboard prominently and permanently on display. It read
By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table.
Here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it :
- Some parents NEVER owned their own house, never wore Levis, never set foot on a golf course, never traveled out of the country or had a credit card.
- In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears & Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died.
- My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer.
- I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow)
- We didn't have a television in our house until I was 19. It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at midnight, after playing the national anthem and a poem about God; it came back on the air at about 6 a.m. and there was usually a locally produced news and farm show on, featuring local people.
- I was 21 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called 'pizza pie.' When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It's still the best pizza I ever had!
- Pizzas were not delivered to our home But milk was.
- I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the living room, attached to the wall, and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know weren't already using the line.
- All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers-- my brother delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which he got to keep 2 cents. He had to get up at 6 AM every morning. On Saturdays, he had to collect the 42 cents from his customers. His favorite customers were the ones who gave him 50 cents and told him to keep the change. His least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.
- Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. There were no movie ratings because all movies were responsibly produced for everyone to enjoy viewing, without profanity or violence or most anything offensive.


text:
Al Yusr Holds the First Shari'ah Supervisory Board Meeting for 2018
Muscat, April 22, 2018: Al Yusr, the Islamic Banking Window of Oman Arab Bank (OAB), recently held its first Shari'ah Supervisory Board meeting for the year 2018. The meeting, held at the Al Yusr Administrative Office in Al Ghoubra, was attended by Dr. Essam al Enezi, Chairman of the Al Yusr Shari'ah Supervisory Board, Dr. Ahmad Ayyadi, Dr. Abdulaziz Al Qassar, Dr. Khalifah bin Ahmed Al Ghammari, General Manager of the Al Yusr Islamic Banking Window, and Internal Shari'ah Department staff. The meeting reviewed the most important activities and works achieved during the first quarter of 2018. The board reviewed reports issued by the Internal Shari'ah Department of the Islamic Window, including the Shari'ah audit and compliance reports as well as the most important banking jurisprudential issues faced by the Islamic Banking Window during the same period.
Commenting on the importance of such meetings, Dr. Khalifah Al Ghammari, said, "As per our financial results for the year ending December 2017, Al Yusr entered profitability marking a significant milestone for us. This meeting (our first meeting for the year 2018), focused on reviewing the most important activities and works achieved during the first quarter. In addition, it discussed the path forward for the upcoming year to ensure sustainable growth, whilst ensuring continued adherence to the stipulated regulatory framework for Islamic Banking Services as set by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO). As such, on behalf of the Al Yusr team, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all Board members for their continued support in helping us provide quality services and products that are in line with the principles of Islamic Banking."
The members of the Board expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Al Yusr and its employees in offering Shari'ah compliant banking products that meet the needs of all customers, individuals, and institutions. The Board also praised the team for achieving profitability and for the remarkable growth in efficiency of the Internal Shari'ah Department and the quality of services offered. This significant development had a direct impact in raising the level of trust and awareness of the community in Islamic Banking, which will contribute to the growth of market share for Islamic Banking in the Sultanate.
Al Yusr is the Islamic window of OAB. Established in 2013 and started its operations on July 14 of the same year, the Islamic banking window provides its services via seven branches; two in the Muscat Governorate (Athaiba and Wattayya), and others in Salalah, Nizwa, Falaj al-Qabail, Ibra and Al-Buraimi. Al Yusr customers also have access to 148 OAB ATM's located across Oman. Al Yusr Islamic Banking Window provides its retail and corporate customers as well as investors a wide range of shari'ah compliant products and services.


text:
The Bike to Work Scheme
A few years ago, when I was employed by a leisure center, I was looking for a way to cut down on my traveling costs and discovered that you could get a subsidised, brand new bike through the Bike to Work scheme.
If you are employed, you can save up to 42% on the cost of bikes/equipment and spread the cost over weekly/monthly interest free payments. It makes owning a decent new bike achievable and gets you straight out on the road or in the parks - dont' forget to get a helmet as part of your package though!
Most big and small bike shops operate schemes and there are lots online if you Google 'Bike to Work' or 'Cycle to Work'.
I also did a quick bit of research today to see if there was a way of getting a bike and getting fit for free and discovered loads of bike on Freecyle at £0!


text:
Acid Violence: Consuming Humanity
A form of violent assault, acid attack is formally defined as the act of throwing acid into the body of someone else with the intentions of disfiguring or injuring out of jealousy or revenge. The statistics show that more than eighty percent of the acid attack victims all over the world are women and children. Although quite prevalent even in states of America and other developed nations, acid violence seems to be almost unique to the Africa and South Asia region with most incidents happening in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
These acid attacks happen all over the world but are notably more prevalent in Cambodia and India as well due to the cheap prices and easy availability of acid.A large number of Indian households use concentrated acid to sterilize their kitchens and bathrooms, as Americans use bleach.
The studies carried out across the world have revealed that most of these acid attacks are used as punishing measures towards women who have refused to accede to the commands of the men. These acid attacks are used as tools against the women who have in general stood against the atrocities of men. The effect of these acid attacks on their lives has been destructive and these women are often forced to face social isolation and ostracism from their community. The physical and psychological trauma of such incidents is enormous and long-lasting. A large number of these acid attack victims also develop suicidal tendencies due to the fear of rejection and agony of living forever with these marks.
The results of these acid attacks are heinous. The acid generally eats through the skin and bone of the victims, leaving burn marks which can permanently disfigure, maim and kill them. Apart from personal reasons like family disputes, estranged lovers and domestic violence, these attacks are also widely used to mar the physical attractiveness of women in a lot of cases.
With the world moving towards complete transformation into a technological hub where men and women are given equal rights and opportunities to grow as a career oriented professional, it is gruesome to see that such heinous acts of crime are like a slap on the face of development.
Of the total registered cases of acid attacks, a large percentage is contributed by domestic violence and family disputes. It has been observed that in a lot of cases, men have attacked their wives with acid when they simply refused to succumb to their demands such as throwing themselves into prostitution to fend for money and refusing to give their consent for the second marriage of their husband.
"I screamed in pain. Acid burns immediately. It is like when you light a piece of paper and how fast the flames consume it. That is how the acid works. It moves inside, consuming you." woman in Uganda who was a victim of acid attack recalled her memories.
In India, a large number of cases of acid attacks have been the result of love relationships gone sour. Often, a large number of rejected lovers tend to take up to this crime when they feel that the girl they love is not responding accordingly or has out rightly rejected their proposal. The fear of seeing the one you desire going up with someone else is something which takes the human out of the person's mind.
In Afghanistan and Pakistan majority of women faced acid attacks as part of their domestic violence sufferings. Countless women have faced the horror of this in human acts of violence at the hands of their husbands and in laws. These incidents have not only ruined the lives of victim but also affect many others of the same gender psychologically.
The terror of acid in most these victimised regions are such that women now feel insecure to their very life and safety whether they are alone or at home.
This has also been observed that a large number of these cases remain unregistered and therefore a lot of victims fail to receive any help from the concerned agencies. In a large number of such cases, due to acute scarcity of money, these victims don't even get proper medical treatment and have to live with this agony for the remaining parts of their lives.
Apart from the fear of being burnt and disfigured, perhaps the most dangerous thing about these acid attacks is the fear that is created by these attacks. Some time back, a case was reported in Afghanistan, where some bikers had thrown acid on a group of school going girls to create havoc and to send across a clear message to their parents to keep their daughters at home. Backed by Taliban, this attack was largely condemned all over the world.
It is high time that the people around the world should realise that they are humans and not mere animals who can kill or slaughter anyone else to fulfil their own petty interests or to avenge something which could simply be overlooked as something extremely trivial.
Besides, it needs to understood by men that women, often known as the fairer sex, are not mere toys to seek pleasure and be thrown once used. They are also human, who have equal intellectuality as men. This should now be accepted by people that women can actually contribute a lot to the development of the households and society at large and that they should be given equal opportunities like men. Not merely chopped and burnt when desired!
On behalf of the entire team of The Oslo Times, I strongly criticise these acid attacks that have tarnished the fabric of humanity all over the world and request to the authorities and influential people in various regions to come forward and help these women whose life is being spoilt by this act of tyranny by some inhuman cluster of people.
The governments around the world should banned and regulate the retailing of such harmful and destructive chemicals which are being sale openly in the consumer market and are easily available to any common person without any check or purpose. We should by all means try and make this world a better place to live in, not a hell where nothing good can be expected.


text:
Like many businesses, Sir Plus started small.
For two years the bedroom in our office (home) stored enough waistcoats to supply male guest of the Royal Wedding five times over.
The dining room became the boxing room stacked high with our briefs in all different styles and sizes. It was a house come office, stock room and it rocked.
However, the time came to move on and we found this little gem of an office just off Bethnal Green. A converted church now houses a host of young businesses in a friendly environment, all sharing and growing.
The pics don't do it justice, but if you're in the area - do pop round for a waistcoat fitting, collection, tour, or just to say hi.


text:
My poem "Character Assassin" is featured in that issue (print edition, not the website).
Short entry tonight - I'm bushed. I'll leave you with a poem from my challenge month:
George Washington's Teeth
They reside inside a glass pedestal
in the museum by his homestead.
Unlike the legend, they are not wood,
but a discolored composite of ivory and gold,
with spring-loaded jaw hinges.
Were these the same teeth
that pronounced the resigning of his commission,
thereby handing the reins to Congress?
Did these teeth work with lips and tongue
to utter the first oath of office?
Could these same teeth have nibbled Martha's neck
in a rare unbridled moment of passion?
So help me, I mean no disrespect,
but when I see these antique dentures
they remind me of those windup chattering teeth,
not that I would imagine novelty choppers
inside George Washington's head.
But I could certainly see them in the mouth
of a certain other president.


text:
One of the difficulties of being is a sound engineer is that everywhere you go, you experience bad sound. And you can't just put up with it - you have to moan about it for the rest of the day to the people you're with who don't really see what the problem is.
This is particularly so in places where they play 'background music'. Bars, pubs and restaurants are the prime offenders because one of the reasons you go there is to talk to the people you're with.
But while you try to talk comfortably, there is a horrible noise in the background that is pretending to be music, and worse still it is drowning out your conversation.
Partly this is the result of inappropriate equipment, partly poor installation, and if the manager chooses to turn up the volume too high... all of these have to be right, otherwise we all suffer.
However, just the other night I was in a pub restaurant enjoying a quiet drink with pleasant company, and I found myself enjoying the music. I don't know what it was but it featured some excellent, jazzy Hammond organ playing in a style I very much admire.
I was sat there enjoying and discussing the music.
Hang on... I was enjoying the music without thinking about the sound. For me, that rarely happens. Either the sound is good or it is bad, but I always hear it and take note (and often complain!).
But this time I was just enjoying the music.
When I brought myself to my senses, I took a look around at the loudspeaker system. I was amazed to see that it was a Bose Acoustimass 3, which incorporates a smallish subwoofer with tiny little satellite speakers for the midrange and high frequencies.
I had never even thought to check out this system before because plainly it can't work. The satellite speakers are too small to handle midrange and the sub is to small to handle bass. Also, the lack of small, dedicated tweeters means that high frequencies will be sluggish and overly directional.
Yes, every law of loudspeaker design is broken. Yet subjectively it sounded entirely right in its context.
I am sure that technical measurements would have shown quite clearly the shortcomings of this system.
But I enjoyed the music. And I'm sure I'll go back there again.
Here's what Bose have to say in their product literature...
The Acoustimass® 3 speaker system delivers a surprisingly rich performance while practically disappearing into your décor. It offers lifelike sound from your stereo components and, when connected to your surround sound receiver, it's also an appropriate choice as a rear channel home theater speaker solution. The speakers' size makes them a great choice for smaller rooms.
Acoustimass® technology for smaller spaces
Patented Acoustimass® speaker technology delivers the ear-pleasing low tones of a bassoon—or the deep, dramatic effects of movies. The Acoustimass module produces these notes without audible distortion and can be hidden behind furniture. Rich, full music and movie sound appear to come from the small cube speakers, rather than from the module, hidden out of view.
Remarkable richness and clarity emanate from the two Virtually Invisible® cube speakers. Music from your existing stereo equipment sounds natural and true. These diminutive speakers can be wall mounted or displayed on speaker stands with our line of accessory mounting options.And the Acoustimass 3 speaker system easily handles more than music. Connect this speaker system to the rear channel outputs of your home theater equipment, and enjoy the same superb sound quality from your movies as you do your music.
You can enjoy Bose® Lifestyle® system performance in another room of your house by adding the Acoustimass 3 speaker system/SA-2 amplifier package. Get clean, crisp sound in smaller rooms by easily connecting the amplifier to your Lifestyle® system and speakers. Best of all, with select Lifestyle® systems and the SA-2 amplifier, you can listen to music in one room, while a movie or different music plays in another. If you already own a Lifestyle® system and Acoustimass 3 speaker system, simply add an SA-2 amplifier and enjoy the same benefits.
Same old Bose 'baffle 'em with bullshit' really. But I have to conclude that the technical measurements we take for loudspeakers don't tell the whole story. Just because a speaker measures well doesn't mean it sounds good.
And conversely, a speaker that doesn't have a particularly good specification might have redeeming features that somehow we omit to measure.
Opinions?Come on the FREE COURSE TOUR
Great home recording starts with a great home recording studio. It doesn't need to be expensive if you know how to select the right equipment for your needs.


text:
For anyone who thinks that Lady Gaga and Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney make an odd couple, wonder no more what makes them tick.
"Well, he's a hidden weirdo. He is extremely strange, actually, and we complement each other's weirdness," Gaga explained to Ellen DeGeneres in an interview airing Monday on Ellen.
"That's actually one of the first things he ever said to me. It's a Dr. Seuss quote that you find in someone else a compatible weirdness. And it was one of the first things he's said to me. It was so...and you know it's funny. The first time he met me it was one the set of the 'You & I' video—oh, you have to show a shirtless picture," the singer added as a photo of her hunky beau flashed onscreen.
Gaga recalled looking "ridiculously crazy" on the set of the video, which featured Kinney as her love interest.
"So I've got these pins sticking out of my head and I'm wearing cork and I got no hair and I'm bald. And I mean, why he found me attractive just completely behooves me," she marveled. "And we were in the middle of this scene and I remember that he kissed me and it wasn't scripted for him to kiss me and I was sort of like was, 'Um, you know, was that real or was that fake?" And he didn't really say anything and that was fine by me and we kept filming. And you know, at the end of the day he's my best friend and having your lover be your best friend. I mean, it's the best thing ever. It's the best thing I can say about it."
"We're boys," she added. "I wear his flannels, we eat pizza, we watch TV and then I play him my next single and ask him if he likes it. And that's our normal life.
Doesn't sound that weird to us!
So we're guessing that her current beau didn't provide the "unfortunate sexual experience" that inspired "Dope," off of her new album, Artpop.
"'Dope'" is like that moment at the end of the party when you just had a little too much to drink and you start to, you know, think about your own mortality and think about your life, and I wrote a song that's essentially an 'I'm sorry' to my fans, to my parents, to my lover. And I'm saying I'm sorry that I withdrew so much...I guess that's kind of a really personal thing to talk about, but here we are," Gaga explained.
She reiterated that her art, including how she dresses, is a true reflection of who she is, and not some put-on for show.
"And whether that makes me crazy or insane I don't know, but it's my truth, so I'd rather just be open about my own insanity than allow anyone to think that I'm like in a room somewhere generating what next thing I'm going to shock you with. That's not what I do," Gaga insisted. "What I do is, I'm myself everyday and I make records that I hope will touch one fan's life. That one person that feels the same sort of insanity that I feel."