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Dulas, a leading British manufacturer of solar-powered vaccine refrigerators, has shipped 113 of its VC50SDD units to Togo, to support the work of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is delivering immunisation initiatives together with Togo's Ministry of Health
Working with their local service partners BEMISS, a solar installation company based in Lomé, Dulas will deliver, install and maintain the vaccine refrigerators across the whole of Togo in the coming months.
Togo is one of the world's poorest countries, with more than 81 per cent of its rural population below the poverty line. The country's health sector often struggles to provide suitable care, particularly in remote areas, and combating malaria and tuberculosis remains one of its key challenges.
In order to ensure effective vaccination programmes, vaccines themselves must be stored and transported at the correct temperature. With a +5°C to +43°C extended ambient operating temperature range, the VC50SDD units will provide a standalone vaccine cold chain, and their small size relative to other refrigerators will ensure they can be deployed in a wide variety of locations.
As part of the initiative, Dulas will also be providing both BEMISS and the Ministry of Health with training in the refrigerators' deployment and use to ensure the refrigerators will be properly maintained well into the future.
Catherine McLennan, account manager at Dulas, commented, "In this instance the VC50SDD was the ideal unit to meet the urgent need for a reliable and versatile vaccine storage solution in Togo – particularly in the country's more remote areas."
The units have already been shipped to Lomé, Togo's capital, for distribution throughout the country, with training to be provided by Dulas' team of technical experts in mid-October.
Alain Charles Publishing, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EX, UK
T: +44 20 7834 7676, F: +44 20 7973 0076, W: www.alaincharles.com


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Yesterday we glanced at some of the top players in the Badger state whose impact on the some of the top teams this season will go a long way in determining whether a state championship can be won. Today we glance at a handful of sleepers who are ready to either break out or whose impact on their respective teams cannot be under appreciated this upcoming season.
Note – Listed in alphabetical order
Malik Abdul-Wahid – 2020 – SF – Brookfield Central
A slashing wing forward with an ability to play multiple positions, Malik is starting to come into his own and on a loaded Brookfield Central team his emergence and arrival so to speak could be just what the Central needs to help get them over the hump in Madison. Equipped with a loaded perimeter cast and talented sophomore forward David Joplin, the Lancers will need this junior forward to be a max effort fill the box score do everything type. His size and length are intriguing and if he seems primed for a potential breakout year.
Chianti Clay Jr. – 2021 – G – Milwaukee Washington
Clay has quietly worked himself into become a solid prospect and after a solid spring and summer campaign he heads into the season holding a couple Division 1 offers and primed to deliver his best season to date. He has range and combines that with handles and vision and his play this season will be critical to the Purgolders who will need a quality background compliment to the front court standouts Deontay Long and Michael Foster.
Tyler Gouin – 2019 – G – Arrowhead
A potential Division 2 sleeper who will be counted on for a big season, Gouin is tough and he has the ability to contribute on both ends while being a solid perimeter shooting guard. With a lot of attention on talented junior Carter Gilmore this season, Gouin could deliver a quality senior campaign that could potentially see him grab a D2 offer if he plays well enough. A potential sleeper whose best basketball is in front of him, Gouin is a solid D2-D3 talent who could have a nice year.
Donneil Gray – 2019 – Madison La Follette
Another talented and quick guard whose primed for a strong senior campaign, Gray is a sleeper whose best basketball lies ahead. He can score at multiple levels, he has the ability to create, and he's shown solid instincts on the defense end at times. La Follette is expected to have a solid year this season and to do so will mean that Gray had a big year himself. Look for him to quietly emerge with each passing month as one of the top producing seniors in the state.
Jeremiah Dotson – 2021 – F – Brown Deer
A long and athletic forward whose best basketball is in front of him, Dotson has the potential when the switch flips to really take off as a prospect. His size combined with his athleticism and ability to finish makes him a potential matchup problem. If he's active and aggressive on both ends this season he could have a breakout season.
Donovan Ivory – 2019 – SG – Kaukauna
A talented scoring guard with range and an ability to score in bunches, Ivory is coming off a solid spring and summer campaign and he's trending upward in a lot of ways. With McCabe now at West Virginia Kaukauna will need someone to pick up the slack. Look for Ivory to be one of the major pieces on the Ghosts board this season and his play combined with that of junior Keaton Ferris will be big factors in determining how the season goes.
Quinton Murrell – 2021 – PG – Milwaukee King
A talented sophomore guard with range, handles, athleticism, and a smooth overall game. While most of the focus in the City Conference will be on Milwaukee Washington this season, Murrell is a talented sophomore in his own right and he could have a breakout campaign for the Generals. Murrell can score and create and he has the potential to be one of the elite guards in the conference whether it's this year or next. He's a sleeper with potential breakout ability this season.
Nolan Rieder – 2021 – F/C – Sussex Hamilton
With Hamilton's focus on a state championship this season and most team's focusing on super soph Patrick Baldwin Jr., the Chargers are going to need some stellar play from their supporting cast this season. They have a number of perimeter shooters that can score on any given night but the paint area will need to be controlled by this big strong emerging sophomore. He can finish around the basket, he's shown an ability to step out to 12-15 feet on occasion, and he has the size, strength, and length to control the glass and alter shots. If he can be active on both ends with consistency and deliver double double performances with consistency Hamilton will be very tough to beat. He's a sophomore that could have a breakout season this year.
Terrance Thompson – 2020 – PF – La Crosse Central
Central won the state title a couple years ago and while the Davis twins take most of the attention trust that for them to capture another gold ball Thompson will have to be a dominant interior force for them. He can finish with both hands and he has dominant rebounding ability as well. Thompson saw his stock start to elevate this past July as he added offers from Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, and DePaul to his portfolio. Maybe not as much as sleeper as he's possibly underappreciated from the outside looking in in terms of looking at the Central attack so to speak. Thompson is primed to deliver a powerful junior campaign and if he does it could very well push Central over the top this season.
Mark Wade – 2021 – SG – Brown Deer
One of the better kept secrets in the state, Wade is an electric scoring talent who can finish at multiple levels and has the desire and ability to compete regardless of the tempo. He can score off the bounce, off the catch, and he has the ability to slash in transition and knock down mid-range jumpers and perimeter shots in half court sets. Brown Deer has a couple talented sleepers and Wade looks primed to take a big step forward and the young sophomore could drop a breakout season for the Falcons this year.

subset: commoncrawl


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VASP - Kebnekaise examples
Example for running VASP on Kebnekaise
VASP has been built in both a normal CPU-only version and a GPU-enabled version.
Depending on which toolchain is loaded one or the other is available.
Use ml spider vasp to see which versions are available, and then look at the specific versions with ml spider VASP/<some-version>, to see which toolchains are available.
To load a CPU-only version make sure that the list of modules to load does not contain CUDA. To load the GPU-enabled version the list must contain CUDA.
A CPU-only example, only the relevant parts of the submit file are shown.
#!/bin/bash #SBATCH -n 56 module add icc/2017.1.132-GCC-5.4.0-2.26 impi/2017.1.132 module add VASP/5.4.1-05Feb16-p02-hpc2n mpirun vasp_std
A GPU-enable example, only the relevant parts of the submit file are shown.
#!/bin/bash #SBATCH -n 28 #SBATCH --gres=gpu:k80:2,xmps module add icc/2017.1.132-GCC-5.4.0-2.26 CUDA/8.0.44 impi/2017.1.132 module add VASP/5.4.1-05Feb16-p02-hpc2n mpirun vasp_gpu
Updated: 2020-07-14, 21:10


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The model is stripping down to her birthday suit.
Kate Upton recently turned 26-years-old, and commemorated her birthday on social media with a revealing snap. Turning her back to the camera, Upton uploaded a Boomerang without a top on, as she enthusiastically raised her arms in a celebratory manner. Her ample bosom was showcased in direct accordance with Instagram's content regulations; however, that did not make the post any less scintillating in its suggestiveness.
She did wear a hat with the words "WILD ONES" written across, which can only foreshadow a rollicking good time had in honour of her 26th-year of life.
More recently, Upton topped Maxim's Hot 100 list, replacing last year's honouree Hailey Baldwin. Speaking directly with the publication, the model/actress notes how she works "really hard on myself - on feeling good, working out, being strong. Being number one on the Hot 100 is a little reward for all of the hard work."
Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan, Candice Swanepoel, and Taylor Swift have all previously been named the hottest woman alive by Maxim; Upton is in good company.


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Mi Huerta brand products started from a desire to bring authentic, quality, Mexican items to the United States.
Our goal is to provide access to these wonderful products throughout the world. Mexican cuisine has become hugely popular, not just in the U.S. but abroad as well. In England they are saying, "One thing I love about Mexican food is that it's very akin to British tastes," says Miers, a svelte businesswoman in her early 30s, who discusses the cuisine above the packed lunchtime cacophony of her Covent Garden restaurant. "We have this tremendous tradition of eating Indian food – the spices, you know, but there are all the English spices which we take for granted – cloves, cinnamon – that pervade Mexican food. They have these amazing flavors of chilies. They are not just hot, but smoky, sweet and tobacco flavors: a whole world of flavors from chilies alone."


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Arguidos answered to 250 questions and refuted involvement in Maddie's disappearance
Maddie: Arguidos answered to 250 questions
Scotland Yard holds on to burglary thesis but the new investigative efforts came to nothing and so far there has been no arrests
By MR/CF
The new investigative efforts of the British police to find out what happened to Maddie McCann continue in Faro.
Four arguidos and eleven witnesses have been questioned within the scope of the Scotland Yard's investigation.
TVI know that the arguidos have agreed to speak up in order to refute the suspicions of being involved in the child's disappearance. They have answered to more than 250 questions. Among these, they were asked if they had murdered the child or if they had burglarized the apartment.
Until now, nothing relevant resulted from this new stage of the Scotland Yard investigation nor there has been any arrests.
As to the sniffer dogs that came from the United Kingdom, they were used in an inspection to a car owned by a relative of one of the arguidos, without success.
Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, seven years ago, just a few days before her fourth birthday.
in TVI 24, July 3, 2012
Arguidos refute involvement in Maddie's disappearance. More witnesses, of the 11 that were notified, were questioned this Thursday
Broadcast by TVI, July 3, 2014 at 8pm
Marisa Rodrigues [Voice Over] - After the disappointment of the searches and the excavations in terrains in Praia da Luz, Scotland Yard had invested heavily on the questionings of the four arguidos. All of them faced over 250 questions: - "Did you murder the child?" and "Did you burglarize the apartment?" were some of the questions that were on the list. The arguidos agreed to talk in order to make it clear that they had nothing whatsoever to do with the disappearance of the child, a conviction, which in any case, is shared by the Judiciary Police who do not consider these men as suspects.
No arrests were made as a result of the questionings, nor has anything significant come out of the investigative steps for the British investigation. The same happened with the eleven witnesses the PJ started to question on Wednesday in Faro. It is known that the sniffer dogs that were brought from the United Kingdom were used at least in one inspection to a vehicle that belongs to a close relative of one of the arguidos, Sergey Malinka. Another investigative step without any results.
The thesis that motivated the return of Scotland Yard to the Algarve is that the arguidos planned to assault the Ocean Club apartment and would have murdered the child.
What happened to Madeleine McCann? To this question, none of the ongoing investigations, the Portuguese and the British, was able to provide an answer. The child disappeared seven years and two months ago. Could this be a perfect crime?
The last witnesses in the Maddie case were already questioned
Broadcast by SIC, July 3, 2014 at 8 pm
SIC journalist - On the third day of the proceedings and on the eve of their return home, the British inspectors left the Judiciary Police premises of Faro without making any statement regarding this new stage of their investigation.
Cut to DCI Andy Redwood walking and an English journalist keeping up pace with him
Unknown English journalist - "Sorry, your departure is linked to my departure, I hope it will be quite soon. Can you give us any guidance at all?"
DCI Andy Redwood - "I can't sorry, sorry."
Unknown English journalist - "Okay. That's alright."
SIC journalist - Without ever explaining publicly, while in Portugal, the line of investigation of the British police, Andrew Redwood has however followed every step of the proceedings taking place in the Algarve that were requested within the scope of the Madeleine McCann case. This Thursday morning, while half of the British team remained at the hotel in the Vale do Lobo area, five Scotland Yard officers including the coordinator of the investigation [Andy Redwood] - who should retire this year, returned to the Judiciary Police headquarters to hear the last witnesses of a group of eleven people, considered as of interest to the investigation.
Seven years later after the disappearance of the little girl, neither the witnesses inquiries nor the questionings to the four arguidos have produced any significant results. The same is applied to the searches that took place on Wednesday to the car of the mother [
It remains to be confirmed if further investigative efforts will take place, such as an inspection to the premises of a commercial business where someone has allegedly seen a man entering with a child similar to Madeleine at the time of the disappearance. An investigative step that could be done without a judicial search warrant if the owners would authorize it.
Half of the Metropolitan police team returned home by the end of the afternoon. The coordinator Andrew Redwood didn't embark on the flight to London. The green light given to the Scotland Yard investigation in Portugal ends this Friday.
Judge refused searches to homes of former Ocean Club employees - May 7, 2014


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QMOS has allowed Jackson to seamlessly coordinate its steel making and rolling operations from the scrap yard all the way to bundling and shipping operations. Furthermore, QMOS has facilitated ease of billet sales to other sister facilities and plants.
Through QMOS' integrated quality control functions, Gerdau Jackson utilizes advanced spec management at the melting and rolling stages allowing for accurate management of quality throughout the production process. Furthermore production scheduling has been significantly made easier through one integrated system that tracks billets from their inception at the caster all the way to the end of their lifecycle upon consumption at the rolling mill.
Billet Yard Live is used in the lab to track billets upon their inception and allowed for a visual aid in the scheduling and planning stage of the RM. Having advanced filters for finding billets of an intended length or chemistry has allowed the QC staff to make better decisions and find the right billets for the rolling mill under unforeseen conditions.
Heat Scheduling in QMOS has allowed for strand scheduling and melting one melt heat for multiple billet sizes. QMOS has further enhanced its heat scheduling to accommodate force combined heats and melting dual or triple grade heats for multiple orders of varying grades.
Nozzle and mold equipment tracking in the melt shop have been enhancements in [QMOS] that Jackson is currently using. The newly developed mold tracking system tracks the life of mold housings and mold tubes by the number of heats and/or hot metal contact time.
Through its advanced shop management modules such as the roll shop, guide shop, stand building and more, the Jackon's setup shops has taken advantage of many functions such as inventory and location management, product setup, shop planning, account summary and much more.
The advanced data analysis tools in QMOS as well as its standard and custom production and KPI reports provide the Jackson plant with great opportunities for targeted process analysis and performance evaluation.
Gerdau is the second-largest minimill steel producer in North America with annual manufacturing capacity of over 9.0 million tons of mill finished steel products. Through its vertically integrated network of 17 minimills (including one 50%-owned minimill), 17 scrap recycling facilities and 46 downstream operations, Gerdau primarily serves customers in the eastern two-thirds of North America.
Quad Infotech is a software engineering and design company that specializes in the development of industrial computer software for the steel industry. Quad's unique combination of steelmaking and rolling process knowledge, combined with computer software design expertise, renders Quad's Level-2 and Level-3 software products unique in the global steel minimill market. [QMOS] has been operating in numerous steel plants throughout North America and Europe since 1994.


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What Braverijah bought for himself at yesterday's GUNSHOW.
At least we can't be faulted for not having an opinion, right?
Feb 28, 2010
Labels: Home-Education, worldview
So we drove around Old Town for about 1/2 an hour...looking for the assisted living home where we were supposed to be. We had just gotten to the point where in defeat....I said, "Maybe we should just go home?"
Directly after that....we stumbled upon the address.
We didn't see anyone we knew in the parking lot. The doors were locked.
This is when Bradley said, "Are we the only ones?"
I looked around.
Something is wrong with us...I swear. We are creatures of comfort. At the first opportunity....we tend to want to be comfortable....get out of the cold. Get out of the rain. Hide in a crowd.
To make a long story...short....we were the only ones. Besides the music director who was leading the worship time....it was Galilee, and Jemima. They were joined by Zion's voice (as she crept up to the piano to minister & be ministered to besides her sisters)...and ours from the back of the room. A handful of residents showed up. Each with the weight of the world on his/her shoulders. What a humbling moment...to be with burdened brothers and sisters whom we had never met praising our Lord together.
Labels: A Day In The Life, Bible, Home-Education
Lest anyone be under the impression that I have my act together....
I'm sitting in church today....and look down at my feet.... only to discover that I am in fact.... wearing two different ballet flats.
Labels: A Day In The Life
Feb 27, 2010
PAUSE my Music Player first.
Feb 26, 2010
Birth Control and Christianity
WOW! If you are interested in the "birth control" conversation....read this.
Thanks, Jeni.
Feb 25, 2010
One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.
Love this video. Found it @ Lori's blog via Jeni. Thanks, Girls.
Crazy for Crazy Heart
I cannot get Crazy Heart out of my mind. Jeff Bridges did such a good job.
This film made me think of Tender Mercies...
...which made me think of Falling From Grace.
Labels: film
Feb 23, 2010
The boys have been spending time in Mexico.
Both sons have been feeling spiritually isolated & stagnant recently and have each experienced their share of growing pains.
After hearing their hearts...we prayed for opportunities for such trips and the Lord provided immediately. I am not kidding when I say...an invite to join an ongoing short term missions group came that very evening.
Bestill this mother's heart.
Photos by Christopher Maddox
Labels: Bible, Home-Education
Feb 22, 2010
Louis Malle's childhood story. Simple. Bittersweet.
It's a bit slow going...which does well to add to the utter craziness and tension of the Nazi presence. The restaurant scene had me squirming in a very understated manner. Accelerated heartbeat. Discomfort.
My favorite moment was when the piano was being played w/out concern for the air raid while classmates were held up in the bomb shelter. And also, the closing shot...farewells to the brave Father....and that last eye contact...made me cry.
Labels: film
A simple character driven tale of desperation.
I am in love with Charlie McDermott and predict a break-out role in the near future.
Labels: film
Feb 21, 2010
1. Mildly warm; tepid
2. Lacking conviction or enthusiasm; indifferent
In other words......blah. Puke worthy.
Feb 20, 2010
Happy Birthday, Damon. We love you and are so proud of you.
Feb 19, 2010
Voddie Baucham
So...Voddie Baucham's preaching rocked my world when I saw him speak at last year's Az. Homeschool Convention.
When a pastor rocks my world like that (far and few between) I get nervous. He has to be crazy, right. There MUST be a downside. Eventually the shoe will drop, won't it?
Waaa....Waaa. That's my SNL Debbie Downer impersonation.
So...there I was at the Convention...and there he was sitting at his booth...patiently and politely greeting people etc.
Over the years I've come up with (out of necessity and self preservation?) a concise list of crazy detecting questions. A litmus test of sorts to cut through the fluff and rigmarole...to hone in on the issues quickly and efficiently...so as not to waste time w/ sentimentality and bunny trails.
I'm so sick of bunny trials.
I'm so sick of shoes dropping.
Well, guess what??????????????????????
Voddie passed my test with flying colors!!!!!!!!!!! He got 100%. An At.
I sure as heck hope he doesn't turn out to be a wacko. If so...I like this guy so much...I just might follow him to the Looney Bin.
Jemima is taking Special Orders for her FABULOUS Tutus & Hair Tutus.
Labels: fashion, Home-Education
It's more than lovely when you live with your muses. Every single time I turn around...they are inspiring me. (When they are not being disciplined for disobeying or dishonoring or acting like the complete and utter stinkin' lil' sinners that they are...that is :)
inspiring a poet, artist, thinker, or the like.
Thank YOU, Lord...for these beautiful daughters of ours.
Labels: A Day In The Life, Photography
So...my posting of this and other info seems to have caused a stir over in my little facebook world.
It's so strange...because those who you would think would be in an uproar over the travesty...were so wrapped up in their liberal mindsets/pro-choice ideologies...that they ignored (seemingly) the evidence placed before them.
Info from Maafa and other sources....info about Margaret Sanger(the woman met w/the Clan for heaven's sake!!!!!!!) and The Negro Project....it mustn't just be info for info's sake.
Do a google search. Do a youtube search.
Spread the word....
Spread the Word.
Feb 18, 2010
I am having lots of fun w/images.
Labels: Photography
Feb 16, 2010
The Jesus You Can't Ignore
"Philosophers have always been obsessed with God. Whether they have assumed His existence, questioned it, denied it, or looked for rational arguments to disprove or prove it , they have universally understood that what a person believes about God is basic to everything else."
"To whatever degree some atheists seek a public veneer of virtue and respectability - as well as when they themselves make moral judgements about others - they are walking contradictions. What possible "virtue" could there be in an accidental universe with no Lawgiver and no Judge?"
Labels: Home-Education
Van Goghish Bedroom
by Jemima
I love our co-op. Every Monday 3 of our kids get Art Lessons taught by a fantastic artist & teacher, Tamara Lynn Swindler.
Super thankful I am, for the commitment, dedication, patience (and looooooong suffering) of the women in my home-educating circle.
Labels: Home-Education
It's so interesting to me how certain "things" exist in our lives because they exist in our "cultures."
Like side hugs.
I get the point of them completely. I understand the reason for their existence. I have grown to appreciate them even...and use them all the time.
Side hugs between me and men other than my husband, dad, or sons are the norm.
I can no longer say side hugs are the norm all the time...though.
You see...we have these friends for whom side hugs MUST translate Cold Hearted Ice Queen. It hit me one day.... that through my very appropriate and proper side hugs.... I was speaking a language these dear loved ones did not understand at all. It had to have been offensive and off putting. At the very least....confusing.
So, now I side hug people who side hug and...
full on hug the full on huggers.
Labels: A Day In The Life, Bible, worldview
Feb 12, 2010
So....Braverijah Sage and Dad have matching tattoos.
Alphonse Mucha's La Passion.
If there is anything a mother wants tattooed on her son foreverandeverandever...it's the Lord.
Labels: A Day In The Life, Bible, worldview
Feb 11, 2010
Photography & Film
Labels: film, Photography
Feb 9, 2010
If you are mulling over the teachings of Calvin (and others)...especially the topic of predestination...you might want to check out this link.
You can find John MacArthur's 6 Part teaching on the subject by clicking below.
And, then there's Spurgeon.
Feb 6, 2010
Damon has a facebook page.
Would you please drop him a note and request his friendship. Let him know that you are praying for him.
Labels: fashion, Home-Education, Photography
Feb 5, 2010
Where are these peoples arms!?!?!????????!!!!!!!!!! How strange is my child?????!??????!!
Girl by Zion
Boy by Zion
Zion is reading Dick and Jane to me. We are at page 60ish.
We are cuddled on the couch...book open... when she looks at me in all seriousness and says.....
Zion: I like reading.
Me: I like reading too.
Zion: We're similar.
Me: We are SO similar.
then...sudden realization....
Zion: "Yeah.................it's like television for the brain."
Tonight, Zion is decorating her Valentine's Collection Box (co-op early celebration)....when her thoughts turn to a little boy with whom she is "in love."
I remind her that the Lord already has a husband planned for her.
She wants to know if this boy might be His choice????????
"Maybe.... I say. We'll have to wait and see."
(then silently ........)
Please oh please, Lord.....we really like his parents.
After a moment of...gluing and decorating....
Zion: No....I'm a "home girl."
Jemima and I CRACK UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She never EVER wants to leave home. Not even for the love of her life.
Labels: A Day In The Life, Home-Education
Feb 2, 2010
As we are getting into the bathtub this evening.
Me: Zion, I have the squishiest butt on the planet.
Zion: No
Zion: Dinosaurs have really squishy butts.
Labels: A Day In The Life
'Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what... is given to her. So, if you give ...her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of sh-t.'
This post from a friend ....whatever it's failures...made me LOL today...and boy oh boy did I need a good laugh. I am either hanging out with the wrong crowd or amongst family.
Labels: A Day In The Life
Feb 1, 2010
Labels: Photography
I have not handled my pain well this week. I am grieved by my sin. The Lord has used Ozzie to soften me.
Today I finished again....A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.... and tomorrow I re-read The Problem of Pain.
Labels: A Day In The Life, Bible


text:
Consider this a gift! These are the 16 questions that will be on the test in one form or another. Remember, you still need to label each part of a plant and animal cell as well know the purpose/role of each organelle.
Short Answer Questions
1. List the six characteristics of living organisms.
2. Identify the characteristics of living things for each of the following examples:
a. Plant roots grow downwards.
b. Human kidneys produce urine.
c. Geese lay eggs that hatch into goslings.
d. The lifespan of humans is around 80 years.
e. We eat everyday.
3. What are the two ideas in the cell theory?
4. When using a microscope, list the path of light from the object to your eye.
5. Explain the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
6. Describe the functions of the two structures that only plant cells have.
7. Plant cells have cell walls, while animal cells do not. Explain why.
8. List the main differences between plant and animal cells.
9. Explain the roles of the following organelles in the production of proteins:
ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus
10. Explain how lysosomes clean up your cells.
11. Using the cell membrane as an example, explain what is meant by selectively permeable.
12. Explain the difference between diffusion and osmosis.
13. Explain how osmosis and turgor pressure are related.
14. Using the cell in Figure 1.3, describe the movement of water.
15. Muscle cells have a greater number of mitochondria than other animal cells. Using the
function of the mitochondria, explain why this is.
16. Describe one example each of permeable, selectively permeable, and non-permeable
materials found around your home.
Chapter 1 Cells Answer Section
Living things are composed of cells.
Living things reproduce, grow and repair themselves.
Living things require energy.
Living things respond to the environment.
Living things die.
Living things produce waste.
a. Living things respond to the environment.
b. Living things produce waste.
c. Living things reproduce, grow and repair themselves.
d. Living things die.
e. Living things require energy.
All living things are composed of one or more cells.
All new cells arise only from cells that already exist.
object, objective lens, ocular/body tube, eye piece/ocular lens
Prokaryotic cells have no nuclear membrane, while eukaryotic cells have their chromosomes contained in a nucleus.
Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll that allow plants to make their own food using light from the sun, water and carbon dioxide.
Cell walls protect and support plant cells.
Plants do not have any support system such as the skeleton that many animals have. Plant cells are tightly packed with their cell walls attached to each other to give plants the support they need.
Plant cells have chloroplasts, animals cells do not.
Plant cells have cell walls, animals cells do not.
Some animal cells have structures that allow them to move, plants cells do not.
Ribosomes are the site of protein production. The endoplasmic reticulum transports proteins through the cytoplasm. The Golgi apparatus stores proteins before packaging them for release from the cell.
Lysosomes contain special proteins that break down waste molecules into smaller useful molecules that cm be re-used by the cell.
The cell membrane allows some materials to enter or leave the cell but not others.
Diffusion is the movement of any substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Osmosis is the movement of water only across a membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
If the concentration of water outside a plant cell is higher than the concentration of water inside then water will enter the cell by osmosis. The vacuole and cytoplasm will fill and swell and push against the cell wall. This is turgor pressure.
The concentration of water outside of the cell is greater than it is inside the cell, so water will move into the cell across the cell membrane by osmosis.
Mitochondria are the organelles that provide energy for the cell by releasing the energy from glucose. Muscle cells function by moving and therefore need more energy than some other cells.
Permeable materials include open windows and doors.
Selectively permeable materials include coffee filters, tea bags strainers, and window screens or curtains.
Non-permeable materials include glass, brick, and plastics.


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Continued Safe Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel
San Onofre, like nuclear power plants throughout the United States, has a process for safely managing and storing used nuclear fuel and protecting workers, the public and the environment. San Onofre safely stores used nuclear fuel on site using a combination of technologies: enclosed, steel-lined pools (spent fuel pools) and sealed stainless steel canisters that are housed in reinforced concrete structures (dry cask storage).
Inspection and Maintenance of Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters (NEW)
SCE is committed to the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel until it can be relocated to a federally licensed off-site location.
Learn more about our inspection and maintenance programs
The Path Forward
After halting spent nuclear fuel transfer operations following the Aug. 3, 2018, canister loading incident, the SONGS team is continuing to move spent fuel from wet to dry storage.
Learn more about the changes we've made to our program
Off-site Storage
SCE is safely and securely storing used nuclear fuel at San Onofre on an interim basis in steel-lined pools and robust concrete structures. The ultimate disposition of the fuel for all commercial nuclear power plants is, by law, the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Energy. However, the federal government does not currently have such a facility. So the fuel will remain on site until the federal government identifies a facility and puts in place a program for the fuel's disposal. Until then, SCE is responsible for its safe storage with strict oversight from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. At the same time, SCE is being proactive in seeking out options for the relocation of the fuel, including an off-site facility.
Learn more about a federal repository and consolidated interim storage
Dry Cask Storage
Currently, about one-third of San Onofre's used nuclear fuel is in dry storage. Now that San Onofre is permanently retired, Southern California Edison (SCE) is in the process of transferring all of the used nuclear fuel into dry cask storage.
Transferring Fuel from Wet to Dry Storage
Learn about the meticulous process SCE and the nuclear industry follows to load used nuclear fuel into robust steel canisters and transfer to dry storage.
Community Support
The chairman of the San Onofre Community Engagement Panel (CEP), David Victor, has taken a strong leadership role advocating for off-site storage of San Onofre's used nuclear fuel, as well as several other local elected officials. SCE is aligned with the community's desire to find a long-term storage facility for its fuel.
Learn more about the CEP's efforts and other support from local elected officials and the community


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Tips for Gardening with Children
Creating a garden is a wonderful way to involve your whole family in a healthy, enjoyable hobby. Gardening has been shown to have many physical and mental health benefits for both children and adults that are supported by research. Children will not only enjoy spending time with the special adults in their lives, but reap the lifelong benefits of exposure to healthy foods, moderate physical activity and positive social interactions while gardening. Additional benefits children gain by participating in gardening include:
- Improved attitude toward, interest in, and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.
- Enhanced understanding of nutrition and likelihood to continue healthy eating habits throughout their lives, leading to the prevention or delay of chronic diseases.
- Increased environmental stewardship with a greater appreciation for natural areas and gardens into adulthood.
- Strengthened life skills, including increased self-efficacy (confidence in controlling their own motivation and behavior) and self-understanding (gaining insight into their attitudes, reactions and strengths).
- Development of positive social and interpersonal skills by working as part of a team (shown in a school garden setting).
- Improved attitude toward education and enjoyment of learning (shown in a school garden setting).
Adults will benefit too. Research shows regular involvement in gardening increases feelings of contentment and relaxation, an increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and an increase in overall levels of physical activity.
Tips for gardening with children:
- Choose fruits, vegetables and flowers that are easy to plant, grow, harvest and eat. Some to include are strawberries, radishes, cherry tomatoes and sunflowers. Look for advice from your local nursery, a good gardening book or check the back of seed packets to learn more about the best choices for your family.
- Make involvement easier for kids with child-sized tools, narrow beds so they can easily reach and clear walking paths so plants aren't stepped on. Container gardening is a great option if you live in an apartment or don't have much
yard space.
- Take safety into consideration by making sure children do not use sharp tools and that you select non-poisonous plants and flowers. Avoid using sprays or chemicals children may come into contact with in your family garden. Also, don't forget sunscreen and a hat when heading outside.
- Dress your child in clothes and shoes that are okay for dirt and mud.
- Set aside a small portion of the garden or flower bed that is just for kids to experiment, dig and play. This allows them to have a spot for creativity without ruining any work in the main garden. This is also a place where they can play while you continue to work in the garden if they have lost interest.
- Pay it forward by donating any extra fresh produce you have to your local food pantry. Your child will gain a valuable lesson about helping others in
the process.
The National Gardening Association: http://www.kidsgardening.org/node/13152
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center: http://www.colorado.edu/cye/sites/default/files/attached-files/Gardening_factsheet_2011.pdf
Garden Organic and Sustain: http://www.sustainweb.org/resources/files/reports/GrowingHealth_BenefitsReport.pdf


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These are the most cost efficient solids that can be paired back to most of our patterns in each collection.
These carefully-selected fabrics can be used in coordination with fabric in each of our collections. They feature excellent cleanability, durability and performance for the most used spaces in your home or work and are perfect as cushion fabrics.


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Reports have surfaced this week that former Sauber driver and Williams' current reserve driver Adrian Sutil and his management are still working with the Sauber team to 'resolve the problem' regarding their driver line ups for this season.
Sutil and his former team mate Esteban Gutierrez were replaced this season in favour of Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson despite signing both of them and also former test driver Gideo van der Garde for this season too.
While Gutierrez has signed for Ferrari as a reserve driver this season, van der Garde took legal action against the Sauber team in an Australian Supreme Court in March which he won but later decided to give up legally 'for the good of the team.'
This week has saw van der Garde stating that he is not interested in F1 anymore despite being approached by Manor F1 for a drive and instead wants to concentrate on driving in DTM or LMP1 for 2016.
Meanwhile, Sutil has signed for Williams as a test driver this season and taking over the role ironically from Nasr. But it would seem that Sutil still wants his case to be sorted using the proper and right legal channels and out of the public spotlight.
And you can understand why after everything with van der Garde why Sutil believes this approach is the best one for him. Despite my thoughts on him as a driver; it is clear that Sutil has a legal case with Sauber and I hope he receives the best possible outcome as a result.


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Mississippi State fans will love this tailgate favorite with your team's logo. Our lightweight, breathable, quick-dry performance fabric stretches four ways for maximum comfort. This solid polo shirt delivers no matter how hot the matchup.
Details & Fit
- Men's 92% polyester, 8% spandex single jersey knit polo
- Knit collar
- Mississippi State Logo embroidered on the left chest
- Performance friendly fit
- UPF 50+ sun protection
- Trocas shell buttons
- Machine wash cold with like colors; tumble dry low


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Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE, colloquially BLE, formerly marketed as Bluetooth Smart) is a wireless personal area network technology designed and marketed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) aimed at novel applications in the healthcare, fitness, beacons, security, and home entertainment industries. Compared to Classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy is intended to provide considerably reduced power consumption and cost while maintaining a similar communication range
Borrowing from the original Bluetooth specification, the Bluetooth SIG defines several profiles — specifications for how a device works in a particular application — for low energy devices. Manufacturers are expected to implement the appropriate specifications for their device in order to ensure compatibility. A device may contain implementations of multiple profiles.
Majority of current low energy application profiles is based on the generic attribute profile (GATT), a general specification for sending and receiving short pieces of data known as attributes over a low energy link. Bluetooth mesh profile is the exception to this rule as it is based on General Access Profile (GAP
There are many profiles for Bluetooth Low Energy devices in healthcare applications. The Continua Health Alliance consortium promotes these in cooperation with the Bluetooth SIG.
- BLP (Blood Pressure Profile) — for blood pressure measurement.
- HTP (Health Thermometer Profile) — for medical temperature measurement devices.
- GLP (Glucose Profile) — for blood glucose monitors.
- CGMP (Continuous Glucose Monitor Profile)
Profiles for sporting and fitness accessories include:
- BCS (Body Composition Service)
- CSCP (Cycling Speed and Cadence Profile) — for sensors attached to a bicycle or exercise bike to measure cadence and wheel speed.
- CPP (Cycling Power Profile)
- HRP (Heart Rate Profile) — for devices which measure heart rate
- LNP (Location and Navigation Profile)
- RSCP (Running Speed and Cadence Profile)
- WSP (Weight Scale Profile)


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International finance is front page news: from litigation against mis-selling banks, to the fall-out of the sovereign debt crises (bail-in), the contentious role of activist hedge funds and the (over)reliance on rating agencies, there is no escape. Banks are perhaps still on the back foot, having to prove their value to the community by mains of delivering sustainable finance. This unit introduces and digs deep into the suite of international financial transactions, with a profoundly practical perspective, whilst also showcasing sustainable and development finance in practice. Key pillars of the unit include lending, capital markets instruments, derivative markets and project finance. Within each pillar specific financial products are analysed, both from a legal and structuring perspective. We look at lending and negotiate a term sheet. We uncover the drivers and documentation of structured finance products such as securitisation and covered bonds. We will also look at the international regulatory reform of for instance the derivatives market and its impact on documentation. Insight is given into credit derivatives. Investor litigation is also a prominent feature of the unit. The lecturer shares his own transactional experience in development finance, from Asia to Africa and Latin America. Guest lecturers from top tier law firms and major banks explain transactions and risks, giving a broader perspective. Case studies and a negotiation session are also included, making this a both challenging and exciting unit. Bottom line: this unit will enhance your skills for application in legal practice. No prior experience in the financial markets is required. To assist students in getting up to speed, some materials will be shared on-line before classes commence. The lecturer is Jan Job de Vries Robbé, who is Manager of Legal Affairs and Compliance at the Dutch Development Bank FMO and has extensive experience in international finance.
Group A (Intensive March): Mar 9, 10 & 12, 13 (9-4) and Group B (Intensive October): Sep 13, 20, 27 & Oct 4 (9-5)
class participation (15%) and 8000wd essay (85%)
Additional information
Academic Profile https://sydney.edu.au/law/about/our-visitors.html. The unit is also available on a Continuing Professional Development basis https://sydney.edu.au/law/study-law/continuing-professional-development.html
Intensive March
17 Feb 2020
Intensive October
21 Sep 2020


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Germany sets biodiesel export record in 2013
At around 480.3 million gallons (just under 1.6 million metric tons), the German biodiesel industry set a new export record in 2013, according to an appraisal by the Agricultural Market Information Co. based on data from the German Federal Statistical Office. The appraisal shows exports from Germany have risen by 20 percent, or roughly 105 million gallons, in comparison to the previous year. The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) notes that, in the same period, biodiesel imports fell from 228.1 million gallons to 168.1 million gallons.
The UFOP states several reasons are responsible for this. The tariffs put on Argentine and Indonesian biodiesel are now showing their effect. Less than only 2.25 million gallons of biodiesel was imported from Indonesia. UFOP also says the export balance "confirmed the competitiveness of the German biodiesel industry and consequently its international marketing expertise." UFOP states that the U.S., with 54 million gallons, is its most important partner outside the EU.


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Peter Van Weelden Twinkleland 100 watt head set
Peter Van Weelden's masterful take on a Dumble Overdrive Special 100 watt head. 10 of them were ever built, of wich 2 are used by Joe Bonamassa, this is amazing amp.
These amps are extremely RARE and well worth the investment.
The complete set contains the 100 watt head, cabinet, switch pedal and twinklelator.
The note to note definition and bloom are incredible. The overdrive is sweet and smooth as you would expect from a classic Dumble ODS.The amp is in perfect condition and comes with a flight case for the head and the twinklelator. the cabinet is without flight case. Be aware that shipping will not get cheap!
Prijs: Sold


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Hi everyone! It's Monday and I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We went to Worlds of Fun with my brother and nephews yesterday. Love the great rides plus we had so much fun!
Today I have a sweet little card using one of the newest releases from Market Street Stamps! Illustrator, Julie Day, did an incredible job with this set! It's called Nuts about Nature.
I know it's short and sweet but I've got lots to get done! As always, thank you for stopping in to see my little blog!
{i'm NUTS about you!}
Stamps: Nuts about Nature (Julie Day for Market Street Stamps)
Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Rustic Cream (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Dies: Strawberry Patch Dies (PTI), Linen IP (PTI)


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Alright so this happened to my other computer and now it is running on my this computer.
My computer was infected with a variety of viruses (including the google redirect virus). I used spybot search and destroy to remove it, but when I restart my computer and log in, I receive a command prompt loop. Essentially command prompt spams my desktop for 1 minute and then it stops. This was a result of me fixing the errors Spybot detected.
Any solutions? Restarting the computer does nothing. It still works. I think that it has to do with spybot because when it "fixes" a registry file, it deletes it and that can cause system instability.
Do you have a Windows XP CD available?.. if so, I'd try the recovery option, if possible.
Helpful tips before getting started: http://www.computing.net/howtos/sho...


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There is a brightness to "Slow Me Down," Sara Evans's seventh album, out Tuesday, that (funnily enough) makes this a stronger outing then her 2011 set, "Stronger."
While there are a few standard contemporary country tracks included in the mix — including a serviceable cover of Gavin DeGraw's "Not Over You," featuring DeGraw on harmony vocals — the tracks that stand out have a fresh appeal.
"Sweet Spot" hits just that, thanks to an earwormy whistled hook, a jaunty acoustic guitar riff, a clap-happy backing track, and Evans's jubilant singing about the rush of the moment when you realize you're falling in love. Come the summer months this should be all over the radio.
The title track, laced with a lovely string arrangement, finds Evans's voice fluttering up the scale expectantly as the narrator hopes for a longtime love to right the departing — and derailing — train. "If I Run," tackles the tale of a gunshy romantic with relatable specificity and features a sparkling piano line to boot.
Vince Gill turns up to work his angelic harmony magic on "Better Off," and sweet closer "Gotta Have You" features some of this Missouri native's loveliest vocalizing to date.
ESSENTIAL "Sweet Spot"
Sara Evans plays Royale on Wednesday.


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Sunday is gloomy? –
Oh! I don't think so.
You must be driven by notoriety
To be so brimful of woe!
Sunday is gloomy! –
I certainly don't think so ;
The day's bright and beautiful,
Even without Antonio.
Sunday is gloomy? –
How can it be so?
White flowers, black coaches –
Naught can steep Sunday in sorrow.
Seress, Javor said Sunday's gloomy –
It would be so much more so,
Were I to pass away abruptly,
Leaving behind darling Antonio.
Oh! Gloomy, gloomy Sunday!
You're weirdly lethal, you know?
So many have killed themselves
Distressed by your woe.
Oh! Gloomy, gloomy Sunday!
What would the lost souls say,
Were we to celebrate Life
With prayers and candles today?
* This poem is inspired by the song, 'Gloomy Sunday', more popularly known as the Hungarian suicide song, which is notorious for causing the deaths of more than a hundred people, including its composers – Rezso Seress and Laszlo Javor, due to its extremely morbid and depressing nature. I've personally listened to three different versions of this song, one of them being the Hungarian original and another being the one sung by Sarah McLachlan, besides a third by an unnamed artist; and I found the song very beautiful, though the lyrics are certainly morbid. Of course, I took the precaution of listening to it while I was at my happiest, since I know from experience that morbid songs coupled with a morbid state of mind is the absolute recipe for disaster. So, if you're planning to listen to the song, please do so AFTER taking the appropriate precautions. Here are the links for all three versions that I listened to (others are available on YouTube) :


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SACMEQ NEWS February 2013
The SACMEQ National Research Co-ordinators and their Deputies posing for a photo with Zambia Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, Hon. Dr. John T. N. Phiri (front row, fifth from left) and Mrs. Toziba Masalila, acting Director of SACMEQ (front row, fourth from left).
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
From 11-15 February 2013, National research Coordinators met for their third working meeting at the Grand Palace Hotel in Lusaka Zambia. The NRCs and their Deputies received training on the new data processing software and procedures that will be used during the SACMEQ IV Project, and "hands-on" practical experience in data cleaning, data analysis, and drawing samples of schools in preparation for the Main study data collection in their respective countries.
The meeting was officially opened by the Zambia Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, Honorable Dr. John T. N. Phiri. In his address to the meeting, Honorable Dr. Phiri reiterated the importance of reporting study results timely with the purpose of informing policy and addressing areas of concern.
The meeting was organized by the SACMEQ Co-ordinating Centre in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, in Zambia.


text: Mars Red Sky's new album is a bit of a reiteration of their self titled album, only not as good. It's like they didn't know how to follow up their orginal release. They're all over the place when they aren't playing old/newish songs with a groovy riff thrown in here and there, 80%.


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Additional information
|2 kg
A real Christmas garland used to be a staple of the festive home, but you'll struggle to find a proper one these days. Made from fresh tree cuttings interspersed with pine cones and decorative stars, and bookended by a couple of red bows, it's a great accessory for your mantlepiece. This garland is 1m long – that's a little over 3ft.
Out of stock
|2 kg
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When I was about ten, my younger brother and I sat at the dinner table alongside my dad with grimaces on our faces as we peered at the foul-smelling, mushy green spheres taking up real estate on our plates. As smelly steam rudely crept into our nostrils, my mother grabbed her purse, kissed us on the heads and scooted off to her monthly neighborhood Bunko night. Before the door closed, she promised over her shoulder, "Just eat 'em, they taste like lettuce."
A bigger lie has never been uttered.
Brussels sprouts, unarguably, have a bad rap. Especially among clans of playground-dwellers. Before I'd ever laid eyes on one, I knew the ominous veggie was no good and that I should do everything in my power to steer clear. They were the butt of jokes and the focus of books in which kids were forced to sit at the table until they choked them down. (Those books also tried to convince you how tasty and nutritious Brussels sprouts are for you, but we knew better.) I considered myself immensely lucky for never having personally experienced such a torment.
Lucky, that is, until that fateful dinner.
Pardon my french, Mama, but lettuce my ass. I'm not sure exactly how they were prepared, but based on their flavor and consistency, I would assume they were left to rot in a dumpster for a week before being heated for a million hours in the microwave.
Perhaps it can be blamed on generations of households where mothers made it common practice to boil the everliving snot out of these naturally crunchy, bright green globes until all life has departed, leaving a soggy, putrid green, malodorous mess. Nevertheless, I was not a fan.
After picking at everything else on our plates and begging my dad for probably an hour to let us feed the little buggers to the dog, I finally strategized a way to get them down. It was my only chance at freedom.
I methodically cut each sprout in half, rationed a small sip of milk for each, and, without chewing, gulped them down, one by one. As I spluttered and pleaded for armistice, aiming pathetic, dying puppy faces in my dad's direction, he rolled his eyes, probably wishing that we'd hurry the heck up with the melodramatics so he could get on with his life. I remember a devastating moment when I realized I may come up short on milk, but somehow I made it out alive.
And for some mysterious reason, the mush balls never made a dinner appearance for the rest of my childhood. (Actually, it may have had to do with the fact that, after taking a couple bites of his own sprouts, my brother immediately projectile-vomited them back onto his plate.)
Regardless, this particular veggie has not held much interest for me until my recent recipe-reading binges. Not one to stray from the foreign, and being aware that I didn't know squat about squat when I was a kid, I picked some up from my favorite market and tried my hand at the following recipe. To my surprise, I became an instant fan of its crisp texture, brilliant color and, being a member of the cabbage family, its vaguely broccoli-like taste.
Also like broccoli is the sprout's cancer preventing qualities, which are preserved by steaming, roasting or stir-frying. Boiling, however, significantly reduces its cancer-fighting compounds. And mushy and useless is just no way to be.
During a recent adventure at Fairway, the king of markets in this here land, with laden with aisles of fresh, organic, and specialty products (it's been a happy substitute for my much missed Central Market), I found a bin of beautiful gigantuan Brussels sprouts and picked out a bag full to take home. Ain't they purdy?
Have a go and you too will see that, despite deeply instilled childhood ideology, Brussels sprouts can be your friend.
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
- 2-3 cups Brussels sprouts, rinsed, halved and sliced
- 1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped and toasted
- 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp. Worscestershire sauce (optional)
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
Rinse Brussels sprouts under cold water, tearing off any discolored leaves. Chop off the tough, white stem, and halve each sprout. Cut each half into thin slices, making shredded discs. Prepare other veggies, if you're using any (I used 1/2 cup thinly sliced cremini mushrooms and 1/4 cup sliced radish). Season with salt and pepper.
Heat butter in a pan on medium heat. Once melted, add the shredded sprouts and other veggies, tossing occasionally.
Meanwhile, in another pan, toaster oven, or conventional oven, toast the chopped walnuts for three to five minutes, being careful not to burn them.
When sprouts are slightly wilted but still bright green and crunchy, add lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce, tossing to coat and adding more to taste.
Add walnuts and toss to combine. Serve warm by themselves or over rice as an easy lunch, side or light dinner.
Any other ideas for Brussels sprouts? Lay 'em on me.
In the meantime, enjoy your greens… even the scary ones!


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Go Chakky! A fun three setter, where Chakky beat the up and coming, or already arrived, number 20, the Hungarian Szavay. I liked Szavay's Fila look, like I like Kuzy's Fila look. I like Fila. That said, her hair was pulled back soooooo tightly, a la Jankovic, that it hurt to look at her head. Because it looked like her head was hurting.
Chakky looked like she was on the verge of tears the whole time. I just love her face. And her extreme Western grip. I will say this- she hits the ball hard and deep- and she should come in after more of those shots! If you hit a ball hard in a corner- come in. Once, I even saw her move up to take a short ball and then- nooo!- move back to the baseline. Gotta come it.
Anyway, I really like watching these ladies smack the living Christ out of those balls. It was inspiring. I want to go hit balls really hard. Fun!
Yours Truly,
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Open de Gaz Final
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Riding on a scooter from coast to coast across the USA? Sounds like a very exhausting adventure. Various climate conditions, thousands of kilometers. But friends Dejan Kovacevic and Patrick Oswald wanted to challenge themselves with this adventure, and even collect money for children with cancer along the way.
What has that got to do with us? Well, Patrick is taking our products with him on the journey, which both men are starting with a rucksack each, and of course their scooters. On February 27th, they set out from Frankfurt with a direct flight to Miami. They are planning to arrive in Los Angeles by March 25th. That's 27 days for approximately 5,000 kilometers. The two men will have to brave the desert, tornadoes and a variety of climate conditions. Which of course raises a number of questions, which Patrick has kindly answered for us:
1. How did you both prepare for this trip? After all, there really couldn't be a more diverse set of requirements than those which apply to this trip.
Patrick: We had a very short time to prepare with our scooters, because we only got them in January. Our main endurance training sessions consist of running.
It is definitely a bit like a Kamikaze trip, for sure.
2. Where did you get this idea to ride from coast to coast?
Patrick: It's spectacular. We did think of other scenarios, for example from the North of Europe to the South. But it's not so cool, and the climate makes it difficult. That's why it turned out to be coast to coast.
3. Why did you choose Bertrand?
Patrick: It's easy to mix Bertrand with water. It lets you have a meal with very little preparation.
If you would like to follow the two men on their trip, take a look at their Facebook page or their Instagram Profile. You can also donate to the Frankfurt Association for Children with Cancer. We wish them all the best for the rest of their trip!


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Coronavirus Update: Please note that some venues may be closed in line with local government advice. Please check the venue's own website for the latest opening hours and information before making your journey. Stay safe and follow the local authority's guidance in order to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus.
Paraportiani Waterfront, Mykonos, Greece
Trendy dance bar and a gay-popular hangout in Mykonos. Jackie O' has two floors with a large terrace overlooking the ocean.
Located at the Paraportiani waterfront, near the gay cruising spot. Great place to check out the crowd, have a few drinks and/or dance until sunrise. Trendy crowd, friendly staff and always a great vibe.
Jackie O' also runs the popular Jackie O' Beach Club located at Super Paradise Bay.
Coronavirus Update: Please note that some venues may be closed in line with local government advice. Please check the venue's own website for the latest opening hours and information before making your journey. Stay safe and follow the local authority's guidance in order to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus.
weekday: from 18:00
weekend: from 18:00
venue Bar | features bar, music, dancing | customers: mixed
| email this to me
| report wrong information | add an event
last updated: 05-Mar-2020
Is there a gay Mykonos ?
"Stuffy staff, full of straight couples, not what I expected from Mykonos's premier gay venue! Great location & decor and music!"
Paora on 21-Sep-2017 | Problem with this review?
Best gay bar in Mykonos
"Came during Xlsior. This is the most popular gay bar. Pretty quiet up until Midnight. Gets packed after that and party goes until sunrise. Located at the waters edge.
Sitting outside is not an option as the water splashes onto the sidewalk. Well drinks are about 12€. Two levels with the same music on both levels. Bar is small so no club lighting. Music is a mix of old and new club hits, along with pop music."
Alan on 28-Aug-2017 | Problem with this review?
Not gay enough
"The place was full, unfortunately not with the crowd we were hoping for. Mostly straight and a lot of (drunk) women. Music was recent and old pop music but no dance or club music. The atmosphere was what you can expect from a crowd like this. Nothing like the happy yet charged vibe gay bars and clubs usually have.
Really disappointed and left early."
Tom on 10-Aug-2017 | Problem with this review?
No Dancing
"About 30 of my friends all said, omg Mykonos is excellent for clubbing and you have to go to Jackie Os, you love dancing and you will love it. Lies, complete lies. No one dances, divas everywhere you look just standing sipping their 15€ beer, (oh yes, I got a beer and a coke, 25€ pls. Lol). Go to Paris pls for the gay scene. You will have so much more fun and be way more satisfied in all senses of the word."
Clubbing on 05-Aug-2017 | Problem with this review?
Tired and outdated
"Same tired old drag queen, doing the same tired old routine, in the same tired old fishnet tights miming badly to a couple of songs - when did the gay community become so accepting of low standards? - drinks are expensive, and I expect that of any holiday island but even more expensive when I suspect they are mixed with [other ingredients - moderated]. "
Michael on 25-Jun-2017 | Problem with this review?
Nice gay bar with a cool crowd
"This famous bar is great for a few drinks a little bit of dancing. Drinks are on the expensive side, but you get to meet the coolest crowd, both locals and tourists. Usually very busy and featuring drag shows. JackieO' is very easy to find. You can't miss it."
Les on 03-Jun-2014 | Problem with this review?
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A simple golden cauliflower puree with golden beets, Indian spices, and coconut milk. A healing and nourishing side dish recipe for gluten-free, vegan, and paleo eaters alike.
March's Theme – It's Income Tax Season, so our brains could use some easy arithmetic; as in seven-ingredient-or-less recipes. Show us the healthy, no-brainer dish you fix for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Think beyond smoothies or drinks, please. (And for those of you living in countries where it's not Tax Season – we're pretty sure you and your readers would still love doing the math for seven-ingredient-recipes!) (Recipe ReDux)Read More


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Matchbox - One Loudoun
Top tags:
New at matchbox: brunchbox, our new unlimited brunch with small plates and drinks. Think: an endless selection of dishes like our avocado toast, breakfast nachos, chicken + grits and, of course, any of our small pizzas
In the heart of Loudoun County is our dining oasis with two light-filled levels--each with shaded outdoor patios for great people-watching.
This spacious location has indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate all event needs. The private Barrel Room accommodates 55 guests and comes with comfortable seating, a wood-burning fireplace and private wine coolers to store your favorite vintages.
Popular dishes
Chicken Pesto
roasted chicken, pesto, mozzarella
4 reviews
Simple Salad
dried cherries, tomatoes, red onions, grana padano, white balsamic vinaigrette
1 reviews
Crispy Calamari
jalapeo jelly
1 reviews
Always a great experience here.
Good Afternoon, Thank you so much for taking the time to review your experience with us! We look forward to seeing you soon! Warm Regards, Marisa Roberts
We frequently dine in and carry out from this location . This was by far the worst dine in experience we've ever had at this location. It might be awhile before we go back.
bad service good food
Service was outstanding! This was our first visit, I will be back.
We've been here before and loved it but unfortunately this time were extremely disappointed. Our server was great but the food was not worth the $200 bill. My salad with steak was $24 and it came as a small side salad with 4 tiny pieces of tough cheap cut steak on it - I actually had to spit most of it out in a napkin I'm embarrassed to say! My husbands Cobb salad came and it was a bowl of mostly chopped romaine with no dressing. finally got some dressing after requesting it. My family members did get a crab cake and some pasta which they loved so maybe they were just off their salad games tonight. They also marked my reservation as a no show even though I checked in! Sad we lost $200 on this dinner but hopefully they will be back on their game in the future.
This is a regular dining spot for us and glad that it has re-opened. They are doing a great job with adhering to Covid guidelines. All dining parties were spaced apart and all staff were wearing masks. Of course, the food was excellent ad always.
Birthday surprise! Service was wonderful and fantastic!
This is a very good restaurant. Food tasted very good. We had a poor server, but witnessed several other tables with excellent servers. We will go back again and give it another try.
Our server, Chris, was outstanding! My friends and I had such a great time! The drinks were great and the food was great!
Outside dining available, hand sanitizer for patrons was not
Claudia provided great service and took very good care of our party. She was very attentive and helpful.
Met a friend for Saturday brunch. The staff was amazingly attentive, professional and masked.. The restaurant was clean, atmosphere and noise level was quite nice. Inside seating was set up for social distancing based on the size of your party which was really nice. While the food was delicious the portions were a little on the small side. Overall a good choice and I would recommend.
Always a favorite! We visited during COVID-19 and found a clean restaurant.
Food was very good. First table they showed us had a cold blast directed down onto the table. Very uncomfortable so we asked to be moved (it made me recall a similar experience last time we ate there!). Only table available was in bar area which was very loud - but it is a bar! Server came quickly and took our drink order which came a bit slowly considering we were in the bar and had a couple of draft beers. Then it took quite a bit of time for server to return to take our dinner order. Food came out fast. We would return but wait until spring/summer as I think the heat system actually creates a number of spots on tables where you feel you are sitting in a draft. Not pleasant.
Great food, excellent service and fun atmosphere! Can't wait to go back.
Our meals were great as always. So happy to see the ginormous meatball incorporated into an entree. It was DELICIOUS!
Great food. Terrible service if you are seated in the bar area.
Brunch was amazing ! Our waitress superb !! Went with the 31.50 brunch all you can eat menu and everything was a HIT ! Huge fan of chicken and waffles and that Deff did hit the spot !!!! I'm going back for sure !!!!!! Oh and the MIMOSAS - nothing beats such a good brunch with those 3$ mimosas! And they are pretty generous with the champagne proportions !
Our server Eric was very personable and knowledgeable. This was our second time trying their brunch and it is fantastic!
Not sure why but we were sat in the bar area that was extremely noisy. It was a date so I couldn't hear my date at all. If it wasn't a date I'd be ok being in the bar area.
Very disappointed! THREE TIMES we indicated to staff that our dinner was to celebrate our daughter-in-law's birthday and NOTHING was done by anyone to celebrate .... not even a cupcake with a candle! Considering the cost ($60 per person) to us, you would think management would chip in something! A scoop of ice cream? A cookie? What a let down. For an "upscale" restaurant (as they sell themselves) I expected a more customer-oriented team than what we experienced. Will NOT return. Also very noisy atmosphere.
This was our second dinner at Matchbox, and it didn't measure up to the first. We had a 6:00 reservation for 4. Our waiter was very nice, but, he had a hard time hearing us and we kept having to repeat ourselves. We finally got our orders in, had calamari as an app. Really disappointed at the portion, it was barely enough for everyone to get a few pieces. For the price, I would have expected that it would have been ample enough to serve a family of 4. We eat out frequently and I travel for work, it was the smallest, most expensive dish of calamari I'd ever seen. Dinner came, in increments, not all the dishes came at the same time. The last thing to come out was sweet potato fries . . not an item that should've come 10 minutes after the rest of the meal. The food was good, not great, honestly for 4 people that had a couple of drinks, and app and dessert, with a bill over $200, it was not even close to the best $200 meal I've had. Very disappointed with the overall experience.
Great brunch ( the breakfast nachos and the cinnamon rolls are amazing). Service was excellent. Love the casual atmosphere.
Matchbox offers a fun atmosphere that is family friendly as well as great for a date night. Our dinner was a girl's night out and perfect spot to catch up with friends. The food was just the right amount and super yummy. I would definitely come again.
A little pricey but great service and the food was excellent.
Came here for my wife's birthday dinner , food was excellent, service is a bit shaky , but slow . Long wait for drinks , long wait and several asks for take out boxes for left overs
Our group enjoyed our first time lunching here. The food was great—soup of the day excellent. Server took good care of us—promptly refilling our drinks. The speaker & music over our upstairs table was a little loud & couldn't really be adjusted just over our table. We had some lunchers who could have used elevator but weren't offered the service. Our server did offer & was very sure to tell us that coming out in the kitchen was where we should be—otherwise we probably would have gone back to ground floor wondering about our mistake. Thanks for a great lunch.
Too loud . Sat in the back room. I felt like they need to do something for the excessive loudness of the room. People seemed like they were yelling to each other.
Our server was very nice.
Service is always lacking and slow here for some reason. I have been here many times and it is consistently off.
The BEST. Good for any occasion!
Brunch was excellent. They have a flat fee unlimited tapas style brunch, where you can try small plates of tasty food. It was the perfect brunch experience.
The service was terrible. We had to wait to try to get a drink at the bar and then we waited 25 minutes after sitting down before we saw a waiter. My husband had to go speak to the manager. Once we saw our waiter he was good, but they need to improve the system to check in with customers sooner! Food was delicious. I would recommend... if you are not in a hurry!
Wonderful service and incredible food. Very busy for Valentines Day and they were on top of the reservation schedule. Food was quicker than expected (maybe a little too quick?) but was hot and very well prepared. Husband loved his rare ribeye that was a true rare! Our waiter was excellent- knew the food, had good recommendations. The tuna tar tar tacos were incredible. Brought my wine with the entree like I asked and didn't rush us out the door. I had the rigatoni and it compared to the pasta I had in Italy two years ago. Well done, will come again!
Valentine's Day dinner
We had a reservation at 6:45 didn't get seated until 7:10 due to the hostesses forgetting about us (wasn't too happy about that). When I went up to tell the hostesses about the wait they tried to tell me it was my fault due to them texting and calling me. When they did text me at 6:50 I immediately went up and told them and they said to wait a little longer. I continued to wait for 20 more minutes before I went up again to ask about our seating because I noticed people coming in well after us were getting seated before us. They proceeded to tell me they were trying to reach me and implied that it was my fault but I let them know the situation as to when I did get a text, they told me to wait longer. Once I made that clear to them they immediately got us a table. After that everything was wonderful. The waiter we had was fantastic and recommended such amazing food. All in all matchbox is an amazing place, they just need to work on not forgetting about people being seated.
Valentine's Day dinner. Food average anymore, price value no so good and you feel rushed in and out.
Not a bad place but there are better choices. The most annoying issue is the quick service to scoop up your plate and to ask if you need anything else. While on the surface, it may seem like prompt service but the reality is they are trying to turn over the tables very quick. I would probably go to TGIF before I went to Matchbox again.
Great food outstanding service!
The service was horrible! We had 8 people (it was my baby shower lunch) so I get it, it's more than the normal 4 top but three peoples orders we're screwed up upon arrival (which they just kept them because we waited so long). Some people's meals were brought out 15 later than others, it was just not great. I've eaten there before and the food is normally good but the service was just terrible.
Great experience but it was a little loud. We were seated directly over the bar
Matchbox - One Loudoun does offer delivery in partnership with Caviar and Uber Eats.
Matchbox - One Loudoun is rated 4.4 stars by 355 OpenTable diners.
You can book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size.


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EASE Focus is a software that allows the modeling of acoustic sources, in particular line arrays, in two dimensions. It considers the direct field created by the complex addition of the sound contributions of the individual loudspeakers or array elements. Based on an intuitive and consistent interface, the design of EASE Focus is targeted at the end user, but also at the R&D engineer.
Aiming and color mapping display:
Presets for audience areas and array setup
English and German language version
Acoustic calculation:
TOA has been a long time supporter of EASE software and uses this simulation software to design many of clients venues with real-life accuracy. Contact TOA Canada Corporation's technical support department for more information, or to obtain the EASE data files.
1-800-263-7639 ext. 320 or press 2


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Most of America is bringing in 2018 with an arctic blast. I cannot tell you the last time it was this cold in New Orleans but I'm just happy to actually have a true winter.
It was 25 degrees in New Orleans when I returned home after the holidays but it felt like 13 degrees. I had a different dish in mind to prepare for Hunger Trap this week but as soon as I got back all I could think about was SOUP.
With the cold weather that's sweeping the nation, I can guess that a lot of you feel the same way I do right now. You probably do not feel like going anywhere. You do not feel like cooking. And If you do cook, it better be something hot and fast that will warm you up. Am I right?
So instead of my original plan I went to the store and got the basics for a great vegetable soup: onions, celery and carrots. I also remembered that turnips and kale are in season so I grab a couple of each. Now, I know a lot of people don't eat turnips at all let alone in their soup but enjoy potatoes year round. What you don't know is, turnips actually have a potato texture and sweeter flavor without all the starch. They are great in soups or as a side dish and can be be simply cooked with a little butter and herbs.
As I pulled together the ingredients I thought, "this vegetable soup needed one more thing to make it filling since I was not using potatoes". Pasta! That's right pasta in soup; it is filling and absorbs all the wonderful flavors of the broth like a sponge. I recommend you use a small pasta like orzo, small shells, macaroni or my new find radaitore (they look like a car radiator).
Smaller pasta can fit with the other ingredients on your spoon. That'll allow you to enjoy everything in one bite.
Tips for Success:
This soup is vegan-friendly not by design but because I wanted a true vegetable soup without any meat in it. However, if you insist on adding meat I recommend adding mini meatballs, chicken or sausage to the soup. It's your soup so remix it how you like it. I hope as the winter months continue you make this your go-to soup.
P.S. Do not forget the crackers
latest Recipe Video:
Winter Vegetable Soup
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 shallot chopped
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 3 carrots peeled, halved, chopped
- 1 bunch kale washed, stemmed, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- ½ teaspoon dry thyme
- ½ teaspoon dry oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup red wine
- 3 quarts vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- ½ pound pasta orzo, macaroni, small shells
- ½ bunch parsley chopped
- saltine crackers optional
- crusty bread optional
- In a pot over medium heat, add avocado oil, onions, shallots, celery, carrots and kale cook for 3 minutes.
- Add garlic, thyme, oregano, bay leaves cook for 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste, wine, stock salt, and peppers. Bring to a boil and let cook for 10 minutes, covered.
- Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes. Adjust seasonings, divide into bowls and garnish with parsley, serve crackers or crusty bread on the side.
If you make this recipe, make sure to take a picture and share it on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @kennethtemple so we all can see that deliciousness!


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Events for April 10, 2019 › Events
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8:00 pm
AROMATHERAPY FOR HOME USE with Sylvia McCormick
Your tutor Sylvia McCormick is a qualified Spa, Holistic & Massage Therapist & tutor.
This is a fun course, where you will learn how to safely use aromatherapy essential oils in a number of ways
We will make some blends & you will each take a blend to use at home.
All materials & notes will be provided
Blending essential oils
How to use essential oils for cleaning
Beauty care & essential oils
First aid & essential oils
Learn & receive a hand & head massage
Booking essential please contact Sylvia - email@example.com or phone/ txt: 0892544639


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Tag Archives: Music
Media 360
As television users embrace the adfree environment with TiVo, more premium content, while broadcasters scramble to figure out how to add more ads that are un-"zappable" etc- Music listeners will begin to embrace the ad filled environment in exchange for free content. While labels and big-wigs scramble to figure out the best way to implement. But commercials during streaming? That's hardly original… isn't that just what (terrestrial) radio does?
I guess tried and true is what they're aiming for.
What about required ad viewing during downloads- that will only last as long as people have speeds <T1, or maybe have mandatory "holding" periods like MegaUpload and other sites do, you can pay for VIP access to skip… but what stops people from reposting on their own server?
You could also reward people for looking at ads with bonus content… but that only goes so far too.
What is the world to do?
iLike Danger
But apparently iLike doesn't or at least it has absolutely NO idea who or what DANGER is… Observe: Danger is not, classic rock, hair band, anti-folk alternative or rap/hip-hop, but pairing it with Van Halen, that's just funny- maybe trying to do a more abstract reference like 80s glam rock with electronica featuring 80s style synths?
Now for those of you who don't know, DANGER is the French producer, graphic designer and electronic musician/remix artist Franck Rivoire. His style is unique and consistent through his tracks and remixes utilizing lots of breaks and stutters in his beats, stereo flange/phase and house synths. I digg his tracks and his remixes are even better, my favorite probably being the We Are Scientists—Chick Lit (Danger TV Remix Edit). Other electronic artists such as Justice (also French) also rock my socks especially with DVNO, Waters of Nazareth and their Death From Above 1979—Blood On Our Hands Remix. Also, on the topic of foreign electronica, Yelle is pretty good (and you gotta check the Ce Jeu remix by THE VIDEOBAND) but I gotta give it up to The Touch, especially for this vid (effects by Richard Wikström who basically painted it frame by frame, (I asked him)- his real life like rendition of Krang has to be one of my favorite Cartoon-to-Life illustrations I've seen.
music for you
cool animation. watch in HQ.
Best new "supergroup" from 2008.
The Mighty Underdogs is a hip hop "supergroup" formed by rappers Gift of Gab from Blackalicious and Lateef the Truth Speaker of Latyrx, and producer Headnodic of the Crown City Rockers.
– wikiP
How well does iTunes Genius automated playlist work?
The quick answer: Pretty decent actually.
An Overview
Get past the shameless excuse to push the iTunes music store on you, asking you to download related music you'll probably like and tracks you may be missing from a particular album or artists discography- the actual playlist creator is pretty decent. I imagine it uses the category/genre, artist, featured artists, producer, label information combined with related purchase history of customers and ratings of that song. UPDATE: I found an entry by Ryan Faas who seems to have more detailed information about how the Genius feature works- basically inline with what I previously thought. One interesting thing I found is that it seems to evaluate each track individually. I found this with the Steel Pulse playlist (viewable at that bottom of page), all the tracks looked legit except you got Mims in there… But, if you listen to the track, that specific track actually is a remix that features Reggae style artists Cham and Junior Reid.
Here's an example of the first one I tried. Built off the Postal Service – Nothing Better
And here's one for Portugal. The Man – Gold Fronts – not too bad either…
And One for Saves the Day – Jesse And My Whetstone
So How Smart is a "Genius"?
Now, it's not perfect, as repeating artists in a playlist is typically a no-no. Especially repeating artists twice in a row. Unfortunately I could not find an option to keep it from repeating artists, however you can use the "refresh" button to regenerate a playlist until one you are happy with is created. All the ones I've posted here are the initial playlist generated for each track, I did not press refresh.
Also, in terms of goal, it is definitely a success, although you may do things slightly differently when manually trying to create that "perfect playlist", part of the stated purpose of Genius Playlists is to
help you discover songs in your library you never knew you had — and rediscover forgotten favorites.
Source: Apple.com
Being a music horder/packrat/scavenger I have a relatively massive library with many tracks I've never even listened too yet, it definitely has assisted me in that aspect so far. It also helps me discover specific tracks from artist they did in a style not typical to their own (just a raw example, Mims). It's great for artists like Broken Social Scene who have a huge variety of styles.
You can also regenerate a playlist anytime along the line- so for example say you started with everything based off of RATM – Bulls On Parade and it gets to Incubus – Wish You Were Here, and you think, hey, that's a decent mood change, just make sure Incubus is highlighted and click the little atom/genius button again and it will recreate a playlist based on Incubus – WYWH. Pretty cool. You can also do that with any track within the playlist without it actually playing, just select it- but note, pressing the genius button will switch to the selected track (and create a new playlist).
So What's the catch?
Now remember, for the actual playlists (not the suggestions) you actually have to have the music in YOUR library (I was unable to get it to pull in music from any shared libraries I was connected to). So the accuracy, variety and general decency of your generated playlist will probably be related someone directly to your music library size.
Another catch, to generate a playlist off a song- that song needs to be available in the iTunes store- so tough luck for all you fans of The Beatles and AC/DC. I also imagine that for a song to be indexed by Genius and thus included in a generated playlist it needs to be available in the iTunes music store as well.
When saving the playlists it creates, they remain dynamic- this is good and bad. Good, meaning you can still refresh it and use the dynamic genius options- Bad because, unfortunately, once you refresh it, you cannot revert back to the one you originally saved/generated.
Do you have a good playlist Genius generated? Post it in the comments! Or, have a track you want to see a playlist generated for, let me know, I'll do my best to get it up.
The IQ Tests
Here are some more playlists I generated for additional examples/reference. I tried to show a variety of music genres.
NOTE: I believe the queries I ran to be pretty fair representations as it was pulling the songs from a library of 21,011 tracks, over 105 Gigs of music.
PS- on the topic of new iTunes 8 features, I'd just like to say, that although an improvement, the "New" iTunes visualizer,
is not that visually impressive. I'll still take Leopard's Jelly any day.
UPDATE: I partially take that back. Although Jelly, appears "smoother"- it seems I was using the wrong music to truly see the new improved responsives and upgrades. I put on the new visualize to some chiptune (Stu – chiprape) and it was actually pretty sweet. Really cool.
The Vampire Weekend
Alright, so at this point, they're nothing "new". They're on this months cover of SPIN. Their CD came out almost a month ago (Jan 29th, 08) and they've had a single (demo) out for almost a year. People are starting to catch on. That's not the point though. They're music rocks. I'm a bit obsessed. I first got to hear them when I played them on my radioshow in early Jan when we got an early release of their CD. If you haven't done so, listen to them. As my girlfriends says- it's perfect spring music. In my mind, you just can't not be happy when you listen to it. It's so damn unique, catchy and upbeat.
Afro-beat indie fusion amazing-ness.


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Skip to 0 minutes and 3 seconds Hello I want to talk about Grameen Bank and what we can learn from their experience. Grameen Bank has been a very very powerful institution in its own right. Today it serves over 8 million customers in Bangladesh, but more than that Grameen Bank has been the inspiration for the entire microfinance movement. There were other pioneers but no founders no pioneers were as public and as articulate as Muhammad Yunus. So today I want to go back to the nineteen eighties and then nineteen nineties to see what was so exciting about Grameen, and to see what we can learn looking back at their experience. Grameen Bank showed that microfinance could be very attractive for donors.
Skip to 0 minutes and 51 seconds Grameen Bank established that poor customers, poor women in remote villages even could be bankable but they only wanted small sized loans and hopefully that would increase their productive power and ultimately allow them to gain income that would reduce poverty and introduce a fundamentally new way of Banking.
Skip to 1 minute and 18 seconds Donors were attracted by this for a number of reasons: one, it's always appealing to help people help themselves, but there's also a more practical reason which is the donor saw that they could help to start a bank like Grameen and then eventually Grameen could become profitable and then the donors could remove themselves, and so subsidies and grants were just meant to be temporary as they planted seeds in different places to start new microfinance institutions or to build in new areas. So the idea of microfinance was always very commercial as an ultimate goal but there was always a place for subsidy to get things going.
Skip to 2 minutes and 4 seconds So it's helpful to look back on the real experience of Grameen Bank, because one of the powerful claims that Muhammad Yunus and others made was that while Grameen was growing and expanding and serving millions of poor women in Bangladesh they were also making profits, not huge profits, but profits nonetheless. And in fact, if one looks at that crucial period from when they started as a real bank in the middle eighties, in the nineteen eighties, to a period in the middle nineteen nineties Grameen claimed that over that period in fact they had earned profits something to 1.5 million US dollars. That's very impressive given the kinds of places they were working.
Skip to 2 minutes and 53 seconds I was curious about this claim because it's so important as a part of the narrative in part of the appeal of microfinance so I want to go back to the data and really understand how Grameen had done that. Now, counting profits should be simple no profit is just simply revenues minus costs. But when we look at a microfinance institution it turns out not to be so simple. What are revenues? What are costs? Especially for an institution which is receiving subsidy. And so when we looked at this we went back to revenues.
Skip to 3 minutes and 32 seconds Now first revenues, the obvious source of revenues, is that as a lender you're making loans and you're receiving interest back from your borrowers, so that's the most important source of revenue. But it turned out that Grameen Banks was also including grants from donors as part of their revenue now that certainly was part of their income, as part of what made them work, but it wasn't part of their commercial enterprise, so if we want to really understand the profitability of Grameen Bank we need to remove those grants to see what they were really just earning from their lending business. So that step removes about 16 million dollars worth of what they counted as profit or what they counted is revenue.
Skip to 4 minutes and 21 seconds Now that's the revenue side, but what about costs? So it's also a little unclear. One step in calculating costs for a bank involves making provisions for loan losses. The banks make loans not all of the loans will be repaid. Almost all will be paid, but not all of them. So a bank has to account for that when they calculate the profits and losses. It turned out the Grameen Bank was not being very standard, was not using standard accounting methods to do that provisioning to make those accommodations.
Skip to 5 minutes and 5 seconds Grameen was setting aside money for assuming about a one-percent loan loss rate whereas in fact about five or six percent of the loans were not being repaid after two years, so by my calculations that was another 20 to 40 million dollars that was not being properly accounted for, and those also have to be added to costs. And then the last component has to do with the costs of capital. Now most banks that you know they probably take savings and they pay their depositors and interest rate and those are the cost of capital. They use that capital, those savings, to then lend to other people.
Skip to 5 minutes and 46 seconds Grameen Bank, like most other microfinance institutions, instead borrowed money from outside and lent that to poor people in villages in Bangladesh. A lot of the money came from donors. And when the money came from donors, they did charge interest on those outside loans, but the interest that was charged was very low, it was very low relative to the true commercial value of that money, so there's an indirect subsidy also involved in the cost of capital. This turns out to be a big thing. Grameen on average was charging about two or three percent for its interest on the money they were borrowing from outside.
Skip to 6 minutes and 36 seconds My calculation and the calculation of other experts is that they should have been paying about ten to fifteen percent as interest on that money. What that means is there was an indirect subsidy about 81 million dollars coming through those outside loans and another 47 million coming through an equivalent calculation having to do with their assets or equity. So putting it all together Grameen reported profits about 1.5 million dollars but once we do all of these adjustments we see in fact there was a subsidy, not a profit, a subsidy of about a hundred and seventy five million dollars over this period 1985 to 1996.
Skip to 7 minutes and 22 seconds So that subsidy is about eleven cents for every dollar lent, about eleven percent of their loan portfolio was covered by subsidy. Now there's nothing wrong with subsidy the purpose of this exercise is not to criticize Grameen Bank, not at all. Grameen Bank has done inspirational things in very difficult environments. The point of the exercise is to be transparent about the use of money. Much of the subsidy is hard to see. It's indirect, is coming through these soft loans and soft equity. This subsidy i think in many ways a very good thing, it permitted the growth of a world-changing institution, it inspired a global movement, and Grameen is certainly not alone and using subsidy.
Skip to 8 minutes and 18 seconds So there's nothing wrong with subsidy, but we need to have an open and transparent conversation about how to use subsidy and how important it has been in creating the microfinance movement.
Importance of subsidies in the emergence of the microfinance sector
We understand that funding is crucial to sustain for social enterprises. Most microfinance institutions started their operations with subsidized funding.
In this video, Jonathan Morduch will talk about the importance of subsidy in the emergence of the microfinance sector, including leading organisations such as the Grameen Bank. Jonathan is Professor at the New York University (NYU), in the US. He is probably the most well-known microfinance researcher in the world. For his contributions in the field of microfinance Jonathan Murdoch was awarded the ULB Honoris Causa distinction in 2009.
Let's listen to him in the video to find out more about the emergence of subsidy in microfinance!
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