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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Navy used every option at its disposal Saturday night.
The biggest of all might have been the motivation to honor their coach's mother.
Two nights after coach Ken Niumatalolo's mother died in Hawaii, the Midshipmen put a heart-shaped decal on their shoulder pads and played like a wrecking crew. Keenan Reynolds rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns, Darius Staten added another 106 yards on the ground and the Midshipmen ground out a 41-35 victory at Indiana in their season opener — their first road win over a Big Ten foe since 1979 at Illinois.
"It was hard, but I felt at peace," Niumatalolo said. "I could feel my mother's presence here, just during the whole week, I wasn't super emotional out there. I just tried to stay glued into the game and tried to find a way to win this one for my mom."
The greatest tribute might have been the way Navy responded Saturday.
On a night the Midshipmen (1-0) held an almost two-to-one advantage in possession time and rushed for 444 yards, they committed only five penalties, had no turnovers and wound up with only three negative rushing plays — one of those coming on a kneel-down on the game's final play.
They methodically used the clock against Indiana, even forcing the Hoosiers to waste a precious timeout late in the game as they attempted to milk the clock.
Navy won for the first time in three tries in Bloomington and beat a BCS foe for the 20th time since 2003 — the most of any non-BCS school in the nation over the last decade. And the Midshipmen who did make the long bus trip from campus and the family members who got an undisclosed financial assist from Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay to also make the trip, responded by repeatedly singing "Anchors Aweigh."
Why not?
Reynolds kept the ball on Navy's throwback triple option 32 times. Geoffrey Whiteside ran nine times for 97 yards, and DeBrandon Sanders carried five times for 68 yards. In all, the Midshipmen ran 70 times, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, and never even bobbled the ball on a pitch. Navy threw just five passes with Reynolds completing two for 71 yards.
But afterward, it was all about their heartfelt emotions.
"My mom's here, so I can't wait to see her," Reynolds said. "It just makes you realize how precious life is and that life is more than just a game on Saturdays."
The Hoosiers wanted to avenge last year's late debacle at Navy, a game in which the Midshipmen rallied for a 31-30 victory by scoring 10 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes.
Quarterback Nate Sudfeld did what he could, going 31 of 42 with 363 yards and three TDs.
The difference was defense.
Hoosiers fans thought their revamped defense was vastly improved after a 73-35 rout of Indiana State. Instead, they were no match against Navy, which jumped to a 17-0 lead and never gave Indiana a chance to tie the score or take the lead in a game that Navy never punted.
"We had a couple close plays, just couldn't make the play we needed to," coach Kevin Wilson said. "Had a chance to get a stop a couple of times and didn't. Offensively, we had only one punt but we had one turnover."
Navy made it look easy, too.
The Midshipmen opened the game with 29 consecutive runs, churning out 212 yards in roughly 1 1/2 quarters and finished the first half with 255 yards rushing — just two fewer yards than it had in last year's game against the Hoosiers.
They finished with 18 carries of at least 10 yards, and it started quickly as Whiteside ran for 31 yards on Navy's first offensive play and went for 18 two plays later. Eventually, Reynolds scored on at 1-yard TD run to make it 7-0.
Then, after stopping Indiana on a fourth-down try at the Hoosiers' 34-yard line, Chris Swain scored on a 3-yard run to make it 14-0. Navy settled for a 23-yard field goal on its next possession and, after Sudfeld threw a perfect 45-yard TD pass to Kofi Hughes, answered with another long scoring drive that Noah Copeland capped with a 3-yard TD run to make it 24-7.
That was all the Midshipmen needed.
"We knew how they were going to line up and just decided we had to outexecute them. We knew they were pretty much going to keep doing the same thing as last year," Reynolds said.
Things didn't change over the final 30 minutes.
Reynolds opened the scoring with a 2-yard TD run to start the third quarter and his third scoring run of the night made it 38-21.
Indiana could have had a chance to tie the score if it recovered a late onside kick, but the Hoosiers recovered out of bounds and Reynolds ran out the clock.
"I coach great kids," Niumatalolo said. "They presented me with the heart, that was all their idea. I'm the luckiest coach in the world."
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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Neenah to convert former firing range to new park
Money needed to decontaminate land
NEENAH, Wis. — The city of Neenah has agreed to remove lead bullets from a former firing range, clearing the way for the land to become a public park.
Once the12 acres are cleaned up the land will be handed over to the town of Clayton.
The Post-Crescent of Appleton reported Neenah police used the land as a shooting range for 50 years.
The land used to belong to the late John and Inez Noffke. Their estate has offered to donate it to Clayton.
Before that can happen, Neenah has to remove any lead contaminants by May 2014. That could involve spending $75,000 to excavate and dump contaminated soil.
But police Lt. Jeff Malcore said that's a small price to pay in exchange for decades of free use of the land.

subset: commoncrawl


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In the past three years, I got very few interaction with my adviser who appeared to be ignoring me all the time, maybe because my project is a very sided non-mainstream project. He always chats with other lab members about their research and publishing. I feel that he just doesn't care what I do and how I feel, leaving me to flounder. Although I have been trying to be very positive in the lab, I feel very bad about myself for choosing this lab at the beginning. I regret I chose my current adviser who seems not to like guys much.
I started looking for jobs in the summer of 2008 in the US, but the response I got from potential employers has been pretty sparse. So far, I only got three on-site interviews and a couple of phone interviews. One of my on-site interview was in a big pharmaceutical company located on the east coast, but they turned me down after the on-site interview. Two other on-site interviews were in research universities and one of them has rejected me already. The only hope I have right now is from the third lab in a very prestigious university. The PI asked me to tell him if I get offers from other places before I make a final decision, and he promised he will do the same. All I can tell is that he is very interested in me as a postdoc candidate, other than that, I don't know exactly what he means. He cannot make a decision until the job advertisement expires in 60 days, per their university policy. I am not sure whether this is just an excuse or it's a real policy (weird though, postdocs are not permanent positions!). This PI has called my current PhD adviser for reference, and the feedback my adviser gave me was very very positive. He said my perspective PI at the prestigious university is very excited about me.
As I have only three months left before graduation, I have been very anxious to get a postdoc position. Sometimes, I feel depressed and cannot sleep at night. I still keep applying for postdoc positions, but I got very few responses. I wonder what else I could do for now.
Edited by RCholic, 02 February 2009 - 09:26 PM.


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Tyler Haugen donated 2016-09-14 07:47:08 -0700
All proceeds help in maintaining and expanding SCV Education Foundation programs such as Read With Me, Bag of Books, Student Scholarships, and Teacher Innovation Grants.
Thank you for being a part of this movement. By joining forces to give generously, we can make huge strides in education.Donate


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LL Cool J is standing by "Accidental Racist," y'all.
The rapper, who's featured on Brad Paisley's controversial Southern anthem, is happy with the song and its ability to spark discussion.
"Music is about, and art is about, connecting different people and building bridges and breaking the rules," he told CNN Sunday at the ACM Awards in Las Vegas.
U.S. & World
"If it's not compelling and it's not complex and it's not interesting, then what are we doing it for? So I think that's the right move."
Hear more from Brad about why "Accidental Racist" is important to him
"I needed to do something that was going to be interesting like that, and shake things up, and jump out of the box," he added. "I'm really proud of it, and I hope the world hears it and enjoys it."
Brad agrees with LL wholeheartedly. He tweeted Tuesday that he "wouldn't change a thing" about the country song. "This is a record meant to be FAR from easy listening," he added. "But fun. Like life. Have a ball, ya'll."


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Things are getting hairy for Justin Kirk. Actually, make that furry.
After eight seasons as the freewheeling, slacker brother-in-law Andy on "Weeds," Kirk takes center stage in his own NBC sitcom "Animal Practice," playing the flashy, arrogant but secretly soft-hearted veterinarian Dr. George Goodwin.
On getting competitive with scene-stealing co-star Crystal the monkey ("The Hangover 2"):
Believe me, in the beginning, I won't lie, there was some jealousy, a little competitiveness – and that was just from her. I think we both think we're the star of the show, but I had a breakthrough recently, and this is quite honest: she's my best friend and I think she only serves me and I her. That's this job. That's part of something that I'm looking forward to: actually acting with her.
On playing someone new after eight seasons of "Weeds":
It was a very strong, specific character that I knew I would know how to act, and it was also 180 degrees from Andy Botwin, and so that was exciting, also. Andy Botwin takes life at full speed and loves him everything around him. This guy is maybe not as emotionally generous. He has a smaller emotional range, I think, but maybe that'll come out in interesting ways.
On comedy on broadcast TV versus cable:
We don't get to swear or show boobs, but I've done a lot of that in my career, and so I'm looking forward to the [broadcast limits]. Hopefully that won't restrict us. 'Parks and Recreation' is, I think, the best sitcom on TV right now, so funny is funny and quality is quality.
On animal ownership:
I don't have any animals at home because if you're doing a TV show or if you're doing movies or plays, you've got to leave for long periods of time and I don't want to stick my dog in the kennel. I grew up with dogs, a big dog that looked like Old Yeller, and I had a three-legged dog. I grew up in a very rural area when I was a kid, so we found her after having her leg caught in a trap. Not "rescue"-rescue – we lived in the middle of nowhere, so that was a real rescue.
On shadowing a real vet:
One of my closest friends in New York is an exclusive cat veterinarian, and so I've spent some time with him, and I'm going to continue to do the same while I'm in L.A., yes. I think that's probably important.
On comedic role models – and future guest stars:
For me it all goes back to 'SCTV.' That's my childhood inspiration. The great thing about 'SCTV' was true performers. All of them were geniuses and they were all starting out. Eugene Levy. Joe Flaherty. Andrea Martin. Catherine O'Hara. Dave Thomas. Rick Moranis. Martin Short. I mean, every one of them are my heroes and I'm hoping that some of them come and join us.
On the end of "Weeds":
I could never put into words how much it's meant to me, and all of us. It's just been great. I think that's the reason why it went on so long is that they had the courage to reinvent it every couple of years – because who wants to see the same show in Season Eight that it was in Season one?
Justin Kirk on the Monkey Business Behind "Animal Practice"
'Weeds' supporting player scrubs up for sitcom stardom.
Things are getting hairy for Justin Kirk. Actually, make that furry.


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Arnette Releases Digger-Exclusive Snow Goggle
Now that summer camp snowboarding is over, the diggers can finally take a rest. Arnette appreciates these unsung-hero's grueling work, so in the early summer we created an extremely limited edition goggle just for them. In the spirit of the digger vibe, we created an all matte black Series 3 goggle with a special pin on the strap featuring a classic pirate-style "skull & cross bones" with our own twist.
"During my first summer at HCSC I was a 'dig to ride' all 6 sessions. I've been in their shoes, so I wanted to do something special just for them", says Robbie Sell, Arnette Sports Marketing.
Keep in touch with all Arnette snow news, and check out the full line of new product and team at Arnette.com.
Find out more at:
www.arnette.com | www.facebook.com/arnette | www.twitter.com/arnetteeyewear


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Care For the Whole Person, For Those Who Need it Most
Guided Care® helps primary care practices meet the complex needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions. In this proven care model, a trained Guided Care nurse works closely with patients, physicians and others to provide coordinated, patient-centered care.
This site provides the resources, tools, and assistance you need to integrate Guided Care into your practice, and improve care for your patients who need it most.
Your organization can obtain a license from Johns Hopkins University to use Guided Care. This license will allow you to use the Guided Care model and the Guided Care service mark. For more details, click here.


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Kim Kardashian hairstyles:Kim Kardashian has become the most famous celebrity in 2010.
Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian (born October 21, 1980) is an American celebutante, socialite, television personality, producer, actress, and model. She also is the daughter of late attorney Robert Kardashian. She is widely known for a sex tape with her former boyfriend Ray J and her E! reality series which she shares with her family, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Since then, Kim has launched multiple fragrances, guest starred on numerous shows and competed on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. She also has had roles in movies such as, Disaster Movie, and Deep in the Valley.
Kim Kardashian is known for her long, thick shiny dark hair and usually you see Kim wearing it straight and sleek or full of volume with loose waves.
Kim Kardashian wavy hairstyles:
Kim Kardashian ponytail hairstyles:
Kim Kardashian's beach wave hairstyle is a popular summer hairstyle however I love that her beach waves don't lack volume at the roots, and although the ends of her hair scream beach hair, the fullness at the top keep her from looking like a drowned rat.


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A couple years ago, I took on a geeky project, creating a WebCenter VM. The goal was to get WebCenter running so I could kick the tires and build something.
It didn't end well, thanks to a variety of factors, but one good thing that came of the effort was a conversation with Justin (@oracletechnet) about how valuable a WebCenter VM would be to the Oracle community. He agreed, apparently, because last year, a WebCenter 11g Patchset 3 VM appeared on OTN.
Update: Turns out Christina Kolotouros and Pieter Humphrey actually built the WebCenter VM for the virtual developer day series for OTN. Kudos to them.
My new role as an evangelist/advocate for WebCenter has brought my back to the same place I was in 2009, in need of a good VM. This time, however, I want a VM that's also convenient for developers. We want people to try out WebCenter, and the easier I can make that process, the better.
Talking to friend of the 'Lab Bex Huff (@bex) recently, the idea of achieving productivity in 30 minutes with any new product came up as a bar to use for success. I like this because it's measurable and catchy. So, my goal for the WebCenter VM will be to see how close we can get to 30 minutes to productivity.
I describe the entire adventure below, but if you're interested in the executive summary, I was able to fit the entire, decompressed OTN WebCenter 11g Patchset 3 VM onto a 32 GB thumb drive. And, more importantly, it's actually possible to run the VM from the thumb drive, a la Ubuntu Live CD.
You read that right. I was able to run the WebCenter VM off a 32 GB thumb drive.
This is kind of a big deal, given that a live CD/USB gives you the ability to test drive software without leaving any trace on your machine. No install, no configuration, no mess when you're done.
Finally, it's entirely possible to get a WebCenter VM up and running and more importantly achieve productivity within 30 minutes. There are some caveats, but this is also a big deal. Read on for the skinny.
Getting Started
Providing a way to test out new products is critical to success within a development community, and OTN has done a fantastic job of this for the Oracle community for a really long time. So, I began my second adventure with the OTN VM, rather than trying to roll my own, again. After all, they've done all the heavy lifting.
So, the WebCenter VM, it's 22 files, totaling 14.5 GB. So yeah, it's big. I set about downloading the files, which ultimately took me about three (3) hours over a 10 mbps connection.
Once I'd downloaded all the files, I moved on to decompressing them; OTN provides detailed instructions on the best way to do this, i.e. using 7-zip (Windows), p7zip (Linux) or 7zx (Mac). These tools reconstitute the compressed files into two .vmdk files, which can be imported into VirtualBox.
One protip here for Ubuntu users, like me. You can install p7zip directly from the Ubuntu repos like so:
sudo apt-get install p7zip-full
Anyway, regards of your host OS, when you're done, you'll have three files:
Decompression took about 10-15 minutes. So, I'm at 195 minutes, if you're scoring at home.
Once you have these three files, simply open the .ofv file in VirtualBox to import the VM. Import took me about 15 minutes, and the decompressed, imported VM came in at 28 GB.
By this point, I've invested 210 minutes, or 3.5 hours, but I'm hopeful I can cut this time dramatically using a flash drive.
My idea is to put the decompressed VM on a flash drive and see if it will run from the flash drive, live USB style, just like Canonical offers with Ubuntu Live CD.
This is the best way to get developers to test your software because it leaves no lasting traces on their machines. No fuss, no mess. If they like it great, they can copy over the VM from VirtualBox and run it locally; if not, they have a nice flash drive keepsake from the WebCenter evangelism team.
Even if live USB won't work, I'll still be able to save some time, considering it took 210 minutes to download and decompress the files, then import the VM into VirtualBox.
So, I bought a 32 GB flash drive (this one) and set off to test my theories.
My first order of business was to reformat the drive. First, this removes the software that comes bundled with it, saving space, and second, I know I'll need a cross-platform partition format in order to make the drive readable from Linux, Mac and Windows.
I decide to use exFAT because it fits the cross-platform bill, and unlike its cousin FAT32, it supports file sizes larger than 4 GB, which is a must for the WebCenter VM whose .vmdk files are 3.4 and 11.1 GB respectively.
ExFAT is relatively new, but it's supported by many different OSes, including OS X 10.6.5 (Snow Leopard) and 10.7 (Lion), Windows 7, and Windows XP (with an update, KB955704). With Linux, your mileage may vary, depending on the distro.
I run Ubuntu 11.10, and installing FUSE exFAT added the drivers I needed. See here and here for easy instructions.
Once I had the drive partitioned, which took maybe 5 minutes, I was able to copy the files without any hitches. That process took about 3 hours.
After the files copied, I had a ready-to-test thumb drive. Drum roll please.
Initially, I was worried about running the VM at all, given the hefty hardware requirements listed on OTN:
- At least 3GB of RAM (recommended 6GB)
- At least 30GB of free disk space (Note: virtualization works best with contiguous space so if using Windows as the host operating system, it is a good idea to run a defragmenting program, and make sure you are using NTFS for your file system to handle large files)
- 2GHz processor
My hardware doesn't come close to the recommendations, despite being pretty sweet. My Macbook Pro sports a 2GHz quad-core Intel i7 CPU and 4 GB of RAM, and my Dell running Ubuntu rocks a 2.4 GHz quad-core Intel i5 CPU and 4 GB of RAM.
The VM imported itself with a default setting of 2 GB of RAM, and I didn't really expect it to run well, given previous experience with allocating 50% of the host's RAM to a VM.
I was wrong.
The WebCenter VM boots up quickly and runs smoothly on the host. Plus, the VM includes handy scripts to start all the services required by WebCenter, as well as a hands-on lab, which helps get you on your way to productivity.
Services take about seven (7) minutes to start, but keep in mind, I'm starting a database instance, WebCenter Content (formerly UCM), and WebLogic Server, with only 2 GB of RAM. Once everything is running, you can open the Avitek sample portal and get started right away.
So, by my count, that's less than 10 minutes from VM start to Avitek. Not too shabby.
OK, sure, you have to copy the files from the flash drive to your machine, which could take several hours, but this is an operation you can leave overnight, unlike downloading 22 files.
Just saying.
But what about running the VM directly from the flash drive as a live USB?
Turns out this is possible, but it takes patience.
I ran the live USB from my Mac, and the VM booted up quickly. I didn't time it, but it felt like a couple minutes tops. Starting the services is where the patience begins. It took about 23 minutes to get the database instance, WebCenter Content, and WebLogic Server started.
After the services were started, opening Avitek took another five (5) minues, but once it was running, the response times were pretty snappy.
So, even running the live USB VM, you could get to productivity in about 30 minutes. Your mileage will definitely vary here, given your hardware specs. I suspect there are I/O constraints over USB 2.0 that would prevent times from ever reaching the direct I/O speeds you see off a hard drive.
Still, it's possible.
Admit it, you're surprised, and I am too. This is great news.
Final notes
So, what have I proved?
Well, primarily that it's possible to get started with WebCenter in 30 minutes or less.
That's a big deal. OTN has done a huge favor to the community by providing the WebCenter VM, and now, I want to go even further and save you that 210 minutes or so required to download, decompress and import the VM.
Why? Because we want you to try out WebCenter, silly. We know you're busy, so let us do some legwork for you. I hope to get some flash drives produced with the OTN VM on them to hand out to interested people I meet at events. So, watch this space if you want to meet us, talk WebCenter and score on of those drives.
Or hey, if you're really stoked to give it whirl, leave a comment, and we'll talk.
I should mention that the OTN VM throws an error when it boots if you don't have a specific Windows temp directory to map.
This is a Shared Folders setting, and all you need to do is delete that share to avoid the error, which is harmless anyway.
If it matters, I did my testing using the current version of VirtualBox, 4.1.8, and you'll need to ensure you install the corresponding Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack for whichever version of VirtualBox you're running.
Also, the VM includes an older version of the VirtualBox Guest Additions, which might matter to you. If so, check out Chet's (@oraclenerd) post on how to install them on OEL.
So, that's it. I finally got my WebCenter VM, and I hope this has been edifying for you. Next project: WebCenter Content on a stick.
Find the comments.


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Below are key drivers of ViacomCBS' value that present opportunities for upside or downside to the current Trefis price estimate for ViacomCBS:
For additional details, select a driver above or select a division from the interactive Trefis split for ViacomCBS at the top of the page.
ViacomCBS makes money primarily through advertising on Television Network, licensing of TV shows, fees charged to cable and satellite operators for carrying premium channels such as Showtime, and advertising revenues earned by its owned TV stations, radio business, and billboards.
Cable Networks are most valuable for ViacomCBS primarily due to their consistent revenue growth rate and high margins.
Cable Networks revenues stood at around $12.3 billion in 2019, with the expected growth being attractive. Given the demand for premium content, stability of subscription business, newly launched streaming service and annual fee increases, we expect these revenues to grow to over $15 billion by the end of our forecast period.
Furthermore, this business has high EBITDA margins of around 28% compared to 20% for TV Entertainment, 4% for Filmed Entertainment and around 16% for Publishing.
Increasing competition among pay-TV providers such as Comcast, Time Warner, DirecTV, AT&T, and Verizon is favorable for media companies. In such a scenario, ViacomCBS can gain negotiating power in discussions regarding the pricing of subscription fees for its programming content.
Even though competition among pay-TV companies is increasing, they cannot continue bidding up subscription prices for channels. In order to protect consumers, pay-TV providers are increasingly taking a stand against media companies, leading to frequent channel blackouts.
With the growth of online streaming companies such as Netflix that monetize primarily older content, licensing opportunities have expanded for media companies. However, given a decline in traditional television viewership, ratings are hit hard and this has resulted in lower advertising revenues for most of the media companies. So far, licensing revenue growth has not been able to completely offset the declines seen on the advertising front. Having said that, broadcasting networks, such as FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC have been able to contain the advertising decline due to their exposure to sports programming, which garners very high viewership and better ad pricing.
There is a massive demand for streaming services and for certain premium networks such as Showtime and HBO, it makes sense to go over-the-top and tap the 70 million homes, which haven't subscribed to these networks. Accordingly, the company launched All Access for CBS programming and Showtime Anytime for Showtime's programming that is now being offered as a standalone streaming service. In the early months, these services are seeing good traction and are likely to drive future profits for the company.
How do we get the historical numbers for this chart?
Trefis has a team of in-house Analysts who gather historical data from company filings and other verifiable sources. When historicals are available, we explain how we got them at the bottom of the Trefis analysis section below.
Who came up with the Trefis forecast for future years?
The Trefis team of in-house Analysts considers a variety of factors when projecting any forecast. The rationale for our projections is explained in the Trefis analysis section below.
How does my dragging the trendline on the chart impact the stock price?
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text:
We have an experienced team of scientists at the BGS who use their specialist skills to build bespoke 3D models.
BGS geologists have a unique breadth of experience in geological settings which enable them to create accurate and specific 3D models.
The adjacent map of Britain shows our coverage of current geological models at varying resolutions.
We can build customised 3D geological models for specific areas of interest that can include your own data.
Contact Enquiries for more information about licensing an existing model or for commissioning custom 3D geological models.
The models are an excellent tool to visualise the subsurface setting and properties such as engineering type and permeability can be added to each of the geological units.
3D models are beneficial because they can easily show:
We have built bespoke models for a range of users such as the engineering and construction sector, the Environment Agency, utility companies and local authorities.
These models have been used in all aspects of subsurface management such as the assessment of groundwater resources, conceptualisation of contaminant pathways, risk assessments of buried infrastructure and management of planning permissions.
Sample models are available for download.
A 3D modelling study of the Holderness area commissioned by the Environment Agency concluded:
'The 3D model has revealed extensive sand and gravel units both beneath and within the main till sequence, plus a deep sand and gravel-filled buried channel that cuts into the Chalk bedrock in the Holderness coastal area. A morainic deposit, consisting of intermixed sand and gravel with till, in places extending down to bedrock, was identified in the previous study carried out for the Hull area. These more permeable units are likely to impact on groundwater in the area.'
Read the case study: 3D superficial model of Holderness
A 3D assessment of the aquifer vulnerability of the Knowsley Industrial Park in the North West of England enabled:
'the development of a hazard identification and prioritisation scheme for future improvements to the buried sewerage network serving Knowsley Industrial Park'
Read a research paper presented on the work.
In Scotland, BGS is developing integrated and attributed shallow-earth 3D models in partnership with Glasgow City Council and other organisations. The CUSP project states that:
'The 3D models and related GIS layers are the potential keys in Glasgow to helping planners and developers in key decision making, understanding problematic ground conditions and optimising developers' site investigation budgets'
Read the article in GeoConnexion about the work in Glasgow.
For more information contact firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Striking Verizon landline workers have harassed and even fired a BB gun at those still on the job, blocked trucks from getting to Verizon facilities and kept work from being completed, the telecommunications company said as it pursued legal action in five states to limit picketing and stop what it claims is demonstrating gone too far.
The company filed papers Wednesday in New York and got a court order Monday in Pennsylvania. The company got a similar order Wednesday in Delaware and has legal action going in New Jersey and Massachusetts, spokesman Richard Young said.
"Verizon has encountered numerous instances at work locations in New Jersey and other states in which striking Verizon workers have been illegally blocking entrances and exits to garages and work centers, denying access to Verizon managers and other employees," said Lee Gierczynski, a Verizon spokesman.
A Communications Workers of America spokeswoman didn't immediately return a phone call Wednesday. The union has said it doesn't condone any illegal activity.
Some 45,000 Verizon landline workers went on strike Sunday from Massachusetts to Virginia, fighting management demands for contract givebacks. The strike comes amid tension over the role of the company's traditional but declining landline business in an age of mobile phones.
• Verizon picketer places daughter in front of oncoming truck, video shows
• Verizon strike could be prolonged and disruptive
• Striking Verizon workers are again picketing, rallying
• Verizon strike could last months as picketers seek new contract
• Thousands of Verizon workers in NJ go on strike
The union says New York-based Verizon Communication Inc. is seeking $20,000 per worker in annual concessions, and workers bristle that their jobs are being characterized as unprofitable when, they say, their work help build the company's lucrative, non-union wireless business.
Verizon acknowledges that wireless isn't totally independent of the landline workers, but it says it wants to change benefits that date from a time when the telecommunications marketplace was less competitive and landlines were ubiquitous. Verizon wants workers to pay more for their health insurance and wants to freeze their pensions but is willing to enhance their 401(k) accounts, according to Young.
Talks continued Wednesday as management staffers kept filling in for the striking workers, Young said.
Over the past few days, strikers have fired a BB gun at a non-striking worker in the Bronx, pushed another into a scaffolding and injured his arm in Albany, crowded around a Manhattan manhole where workers were sent to splice a cable and refused to leave when police were called, according to the company's legal filing in New York. It says pickets also blocked postal trucks from getting into a Verizon billing center in the Long Island community of Massapequa and gathered by the dozens to harangue people going into and leaving various Verizon locations.
"We have no issue with striking workers picketing and protesting outside our facilities, but it's irresponsible and dangerous when they take the extra step of blocking our employees from entering or exiting," Young said. "Our phones are lifelines for people who may need to make emergency communications."
There have been more than 70 incidents of sabotage to Verizon's facilities and equipment in the region since the strike began, temporarily knocking out service to thousands of customers in all, though it's unclear who's responsible, Young said. New York state police said Wednesday they were investigating damage to Verizon equipment that disrupted service in parts of central New York, including 911 emergency calls in two counties.
A union spokeswoman has called the mention of sabotage "a management tactic." And strikers have said two demonstrators were hit by a replacement worker's car near Buffalo.
A judge in Montgomery County, Pa., limited pickets to six at a time and barred them from blocking Verizon entrances, among other instructions in Monday's ruling. The Delaware court papers weren't immediately available.
The workers are represented by the CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
AT&T Inc., the only U.S. phone company larger than Verizon, wrung some concessions from unions in 2009, when contracts covering about 90,000 workers expired. The negotiations ended without a strike and with workers shouldering some premiums and co-payments for their health insurance.
Star-Ledger staff writer Leslie Kwoh contributed to this report.


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If an app isn't working as you expect
After you upgrade macOS, you might find that some third-party apps don't work or act as you expect. An app might not open, run, or install, even if you try to reinstall it.
You might see this issue if:
- Your Mac has software installed on it that's known to be incompatible with your new macOS version. This software is placed in an Incompatible Software folder during the upgrade process.
- Your Mac has software installed on it that conflicts with updates to System Integrity Protection in macOS High Sierra.
Make sure that you have the latest version
If an app doesn't work after you upgrade, make sure that you have the latest version:
- Check for an updated version of the app that is compatible with your new OS. Apps in the Mac App Store list their compatibility and system requirements on their product pages.
- Find out whether the app developer has a new version or plans to release a new version of the app that is compatible with your new OS.


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|As part of their young curators program "Short Cuts"
Curated by Yarrow Slaps
Opening Reception: Thursday, Feb 4, 2010, 6-8pm
The Luggage Store
1007 Market Street
Last Thursday we braved a very wet wet walk from Frey Norris, where we saw Tomokazu Matsuyama's show (photos), through the Tenderloin down to The Luggage Store to see the next installment of their young curators series, Short Cuts. Custom clothing and some paintings. Love the atmosphere of the Luggage Store.
The Luggage Store is pleased to present jumbo prawns art club*, a group exhibition featuring the work of SCATHA ALLISON, JASON DUNMAN, and JULIAN PRINCE DASH.
The jumbo prawns art club* is a collective of arbitrary artists, hungry people and designers who make everything independently in the outbacks of the bay area. Their studios will be lifted up and transported to the luggage store gallery for three weeks.
The artists moved their studios into the Luggage Store.
Ran into Marty who did the great blog for Fecal Face Live and Work on a Container Ship.
The lower level of Luggage Store featuring, what I'm guessing, is from their permanent collection.
That sticker's been there for many years.
Monster raccoon on Market St.
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LMC Welcomes Dr. Nicholas Limperos and Dr. James Wells
Lexington Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Nicholas Limperos and Dr. James Wells III to its Network of Care. Dr. Limperos is a new surgeon with Southern Surgical Group and Dr. Wells is a new oncologist with Lexington Oncology Associates
Dr. Nicholas Limperos graduated from Mount Union College in Ohio and received his medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. He joins Southern Surgical Group specializing in state-of-the-art general, vascular, endovascular, laparoscopic and thoracic surgery.
Here's a video of Dr. Limperos talking about what he likes about LMC.
Dr. James Wells received his undergraduate degree at Furman University and completed his medical degree and residency at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is a member of the Christian Medical Dental Association, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology and the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Volunteering is also important to Dr. Wells, having traveled to Venezuela and Romania to help patients in need with the Medical Campus Outreach Summer Medical Institute.
"I am pleased to join Lexington Oncology Associates because of the high quality care they provide while working as a team to improve the lives of cancer patients in their local community," said Dr. Wells.


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by Tyann
Thor Costume Photo 8 of 10
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This homemade costume for men entered our 2013 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Ashley, the 'Thor' costume creator:
My boyfriend is a high school special education teacher in Brooklyn, New York. Once he decided to grow out his hair to donate all of his students started telling him how much he looked like... Read more »
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January 29
Authentic Authority
By Marsh Chapel
Click here to hear the full service.
Click here to hear the sermon only.
Mark 1: 21-28
Jesus greets us today as the voice of authentic authority, in our own experience.
Three aspects of his authority are announced today, in the Gospel According to St. Mark. We shall trace their emergence in our hearing, and attempt to apply them to our spiritual benefit.
First, notice the lingering power of tradition. Not traditionalism, but the forms of inherited tradition. The dominical voice of authentic authority whistles through the willow branches of tradition.
Jesus speaks.
When does he speak? On the Sabbath. Where does he speak? In the synagogue.
How does he speak? As a teacher.
All three of these aspects of his speaking are named for us, though we might have inferred two of the three from just the mention of one, or another. They go together—holy time, holy space, holy words. The gospel means to emphasize by repetition.
There is, at the outset, a regard, a lingering respect for what has been, for what one inherits. For tradition, though not traditionalism. The Sabbath is the occasion. The synagogue is the setting. The role of teacher frames the message.
A time of rest and refreshment, Sabbath, here receives Jesus' blessing, at least in the manner of his recognition and participation. Sunday can be a time of Sabbath rest. A time for sleep, for recovery, for reading, for gathering. We are a sleep deprived people, somnambulant in a sleep deprived culture. So a traditional occasion, a time for retreat and renewal can feed us, if we let it. There are none so weary as those who will not sleep.
Following my sermons, some arise inspired and some awake refreshed. Both are good outcomes.
Likewise, synagogue, a coming together, is a traditional form. It means, a gathering together. Blessed are the hosts, for they shall be called the cooks of God. When you have had a hand in gathering together a gathering together, you have brushed close to something good, something godly.
The other Sunday, a cold one, I made the mistake of walking to worship without a hat. Brr! I put my hands over my ears. I hurried on to come here, eager to see who would be with us in church, eager to hear a response from the listening congregation, eager to be nourished by the ministers of music, eager to be gathered into a warm, inviting, loving, embracing community. When it is cold enough, you can really appreciate a heated church home. When it is relationally cold enough, you can really appreciate a gathering together. When someone finds a church family to love and a church home to enjoy—when the gathering together holds—there is a holy moment.
So, too, the role of the teacher. A familiar role, a familiar social location. It is not in some exotic form that Jesus greets his hearers today. The form is familiar, the teacher. We may sometimes look too far, too wide for what we most want and need, when nearby, familiarly so, our health awaits.
Sabbath, synagogue, rabbi. Tradition. Here Jesus is more than willing to don the raiment of inheritance, to be harnessed by the yoke of tradition. Jeremiah recommended the old paths. Matthew prized every jot and tittel. We hunger for those voices that will help us translate the tradition into insights for effective living.
Some memories of college years, here, will be connected to the particular sound of our choir. Some recollections of exams passed or nearly passed, will be held in earshot of a meal or a trip or a talk, here. Some remembrances of things past, even of hard moments of loss or regret or disappointment, will have about them a shaft of light through stained glass, an echo of truth through scripture read, an admission of prayer needed and offered.
Our gospel today, which announces Jesus' voice of authentic authority, notices the lingering power of tradition.
It is in the midst of this house, this lineage, this inheritance that Jesus speaks, not absent it.
His hearers are astonished. He is not confused in their hearing with their hearing of the scribes, his usual opponents in the flow of this gospel. They know a different voice when they hear it. A voice of authority, authentic authority.
But we are not told what exactly made the voice authoritative.
Like last week, in the calling of the disciples, the two sets of brothers. We are told nothing, there, about what made them move, what caused their decision, what set them free. And this week, in the authorization of teaching, we are told nothing about what made the sermon so good. Only that it was.
Over time, we all finally decide what constitutes authentic authority, what such authority sounds like.
Sometime a bit of old tradition can sound and seem like a new teaching. Our neighbor at Boston College, Kerry Cronin, teaches students about an old fashioned tradition called 'dating'. She gives them a script. She advises: women should ask men too; ask in person not by twitter; if you ask, you should pay; enjoy talking for an hour; make it alchohol free; you cannot pass her course without going on a date. "If we can retrieve from the old dating script a set of low level expectations…that would be great…The script can ultimately give you more freedom. (CC, 1/25/12, 29)
Jesus greets us today as the voice of authentic authority.
Three aspects of his authority are announced today, in the Gospel According to St. Mark. We shall trace their emergence in our hearing, and attempt to apply them to our spiritual benefit. First, tradition.
Second, notice, and how can you help it, the centrality of confrontation. Here there is an unclean spirit loose, loose amid the holy time and place and role.
Authentic authority calls out his nemesis. We are straightway here in the realm of apocalyptic, cosmic apocalyptic, battle.
Last week we hosted a memorial service here in Marsh Chapel as now we do three times or so a month. With some of our BU family we grieved, remembered, accepted and affirmed. As is not uncommon in some religious traditions, though perhaps not common for many of us here today, as the service began we heard a long, low wail. The crie de couer continued, ramped up in volume, split out in thunderous cacophony, then trailed off again, only, again to ramp up in volume, split out in thunderous cacophony, and trail off again. I can remember the first burial, now nearly thirty years ago, in which such wailing occurred in my hearing. It was startling, as, for many, here, it was last week. But it was true and real. That is, now and then, people still 'cry with a loud voice', sometimes, in church.
Our worldview is not cosmic apocalyptic confrontation. We do not see a convulsive as one demon, of an unclean sort, challenging another Jesus demon of an authoritative sort. We are late modern people, women and men who do not cry out in public, unless we are at a sporting event, drinking heavily, or about to call the police into a domestic dispute. Maybe, in compensation, that is why sports and drinking and all become so central to us.
Authentic authority involves confrontation, not just pleasant courtesies of disagreement, but genuine squaring off. To your roommate you finally say: 'One of us is wrong and I think it is you.' To your boss you finally say: 'Look, do you want to do my work or will you let me do it?' To your political economy (known by the way for good reason as 'capitalism' not 'laborism', because capital rules labor in capitalism) you finally say: 'One way or another my son needs a job.' To your good friend, gently, you say: 'I am sorry you feel that way. Goodbye'. To your spouse you say: 'You can have me or him but not both at the same time'. To your warring world you finally shout: 'My son is not your cannon fodder'.
One thing I truly admired about my dad was how he easy he was around confrontation. A man would stand up and shout and carry on a church meeting, walk out of worship the next Sunday, or send a blistering hand written hate note to the pastor, and my dad would shrug and smile and say, 'I like to see him get worked up. It is worth the price of admission just to see him so angry.' Less naturally and more slowly, I too have learned to honor and receive anger. Mark would understand.
Here Mark is starting his gospel, with a confrontation. The verb here rendered 'be silent' (so polite) means 'to muzzle'. Be muzzled. Shut your trap. (so J Marcus, loc. Cit.). Matthew begins his public gospel with the Sermon on the Mount. Luke begins his public gospel with the sermon in Nazareth. John begins his public gospel with the wedding in Cana (again, Marcus). But Mark? He begins with demons and confrontation.
When we get angry we get in touch with something deep inside, something not necessarily at all related to what we think we are angry about. We are not so very far from the 'unclean spirit' of Mark 1. We are complicated creatures.
You see and hear this again in the current play, 'Freud's Last Session', an imagined conversation between Sigmund Freud, the great psychologist, and C. S. Lewis, the great apologist. Bombs are falling on London. Freud is suffering with mouth cancer. Lewis is struggling with his young man's sexuality. And through it all—the question of God. Freud and Lewis confront each other. They lock horns for 90 minutes of verbal combat. Each memorizes and delivers the equivalent of two Sunday sermons. They square off and argue. Good.
Lewis: 'in pleasure God whispers, in pain God shouts'. Freud: 'just why are you living with your best friend's mother?' Lewis: 'I got on my cycle an atheist, and got off a believer, all one day'. Freud: 'you might want to see somebody about that'. Lewis: 'faith is most reasonable thing on earth'. Freud: 'yes, such a good God—bombs, death, disease, pain'. Lewis: 'I will pray for you'. Freud: 'you do that'.
Yet at the very end, though Freud has turned the radio off to mute the music in carries for much of the play, and of course Lewis, in good Freudian fashion, has asked why the good Dr. cannot listen to the music, and has given his spirited and spiritual analysis, at the end and alone, dying and in pain, the great psychoanalyst slowly turns up the music, and Mozart rings out.
There is no resolution—how could there be in 90 minutes? But there is confrontation that exudes an authentic authority.
Jesus greets us today as the voice of authentic authority.
Three aspects of his authority are announced today, in the Gospel According to St. Mark. We shall trace their emergence in our hearing, and attempt to apply them to our spiritual benefit. Second, confrontation. It takes the exorcising power, the authentic authority, finally, of love, to move us.
Third, response. Notice the response. The emphasis falls on an acknowledgement of authority, authentic authority. 'With authority…a new teaching…he commands…even the demons obey…his fame spread throughout the north country'. It works. Whatever he said, whatever he taught, it helped somebody. We wish we knew what it was!
Yet, there is a quieter wisdom in the silence of Scripture here. If we knew, we would be tempted just to repeat rather than to rehearse. We need to have the tradition, in the moment of confrontation, translated into insights for effective living which, in response, we can use. That is authentic authority in the full. If we knew that he used the 100th Psalm, we would repeat it every Sunday. If we knew he preached on Jeremiah, we would invariably do so. If we knew he taught specific proverbs, we would ignore the rest. No, there is freedom in the silence of the gospel, here, a freedom to live and love with authentic authority. To respond.
Freud finally turned on the music.
And you?
I am a Christian because the best people, leading the best lives, in my experience, have been so. I respond to the freedom and love I see in other people of faith, now 65 generations after the exorcism in Capernaum, and the response all across Galilee. In other lives I have seen glimpses of what I could be and do, if I would only straighten up and fly right. Some of those lives are in this room. Some are in memory. Some are out there waiting to be introduced. Don't kid yourself. Especially, especially in a University setting, people are taking your measure. Good. Your example counts, matters, lasts, works.
Tradition and confrontation evoke a response. The unclean spirit leaves. The congregation murmurs. The report goes forth.
Let me turn it around. When you fail somehow, and we all you do, sometime, you know the negative influence of your own response. Give yourself some credit then, on the up side of the ledger. Dean Jones gave me a book. Professor Jones listened with care. That TA gave me the benefit of the doubt. I will always be grateful for what Chaplain Jones did for me. Let me say to those of us thirty years old and more: eyes are watching, ears are listening, minds are considering what path to take. Your example makes a difference in their response, right here, right now, right at Marsh Chapel. We are forever teaching and learning, learning and teaching.
Someone taught you. A High School band director? A Latin teacher in college (Agricola, agricolae…)? A chemistry professor who lingered with you in the lab? Who?
Nellie responded to her Latin teacher. Bob responded to his science teacher. Jan responded to her history teacher. Jen responded to her family matriarch. Larry responded to his theology professor. As Carlyle Marney put it: "Who told you who you was?"
Somehow, with four growing children and a preacher's meager salary, my parents managed to give us all piano lessons. My teacher was a farm wife, thirty years younger than her husband. The distance from the barn to the house, from the manger to the piano, was very short, in both geographic and olfactory senses. I feel the warmth of that space and that tutelage today, even though those precious parsonage dollars were almost entirely wasted on me, to my regret. I can't play a scale, after at least 5 years of lessons. I can though appreciate the difficulty of what others do. And there was something more, somewhere between Lewis and Freud, in those afternoon lessons, which usually began with an honest question: "Did you practice?" and a less than honest response: "Some".
You know, looking back that was one of the few places and times, week by week, when I was in the sole presence of a non-parental adult: honest, trustworthy, kind, caring. Now where the farm was there is an auto dealer and a pizza parlor. But the hay, the barn, the milking, the home, the warmth, the music, the teaching, the—may I call it friendship?, live on. In her forties she died of cancer, three fine children, one great marriage, several years of crops and evenings and mornings of milking, and some less than stellar piano students later. At her funeral the minister preached this sermon: 'You Are Song That God Is Singing'. That itself is thirty years ago, but I remember it in full. 'You Are Song That God Is Singing'. You are too. And so are you. And so are you.
The music is playing all around us, all through us, in our triumph and in our tragedy. We just need to respond. To lean over, and turn the dial, and set the music free.
Five winters ago a young woman in graduate school stopped to talk after worship. She said, 'That sermon was about me.' She started coming every week. She found her ministry here. She took on a major responsibility, and then a big job. A whole lot of you all who are here in this sanctuary this morning are here because of her outreach, her welcome, her embrace. She heard, and she responded. Then she met another graduate student, another Texan, on the T of all places. A romance on the T. They started to like each other. That had all that Texas stuff in common after all. Pretty soon they were in love. Not long later they were engaged. And then they got married. And then moved by the United States Army to some place in Oklahoma. Elizabeth and Brian both responded and evoked response. You can too, starting today. This is your moment. You are a song that God is singing.
Oh, I wish they hadn't moved. Of course I miss them. But that doesn't worry me. I wish they were closer. But that doesn't make me anxious. I wish they were in the pew this morning. But they aren't and I am not concerned. Because I know those two fine young people will let their music resound wherever they are. And those in any chorus with them will be the richer for their presence. Authentic authority is found in real response.
The Gospel According to St. Mark starts off with a voice of authentic authority. When you are searching for a sense of reliable, authentic authority, then hunt around a healthy bit of lost tradition, and for a courageous and cleansing moment of confrontation and for a real and personal, public response.
~The Reverend Dr. Robert Allan Hill,
Dean of Marsh Chapel


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Digital Production
The Gnomon Workshop offers the most comprehensive set of Digital Production tutorials anywhere. The broad scope of the tutorials contained in this section range from foundational understanding of the software tools all the way to the professional application of these tools and concepts used by artists working in the film and game industries.
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The Gnomon Workshop offers professional training on most of the software applications used in today's digital pipelines. There are foundational titles to introduce users to the software and tools, as well as advanced production titles that discuss application tools and processes vital to the production of digital assets and media.
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The Gnomon Workshop seeks out the most highly-regarded traditional and digital artists and technicians currently working in the entertainment and design industries. Our instructors have shared their practices working at such top studios as Pixar, ILM, Blizzard, and many more.Instructor GalleriesInstructor Interviews
Chris Stoski is one of the leading matte painters and concept artists in the visual effects industry. His clients and employers include Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm, Matte World Digital, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Dreamworks, Touchstone Pictures and The Cartoon Network to name a few. Recently he authored a book entitled "d'artiste: Matte Painting" in conjunction with Dylan Cole and Alp Altiner, and published by Ballistic Publishing. His film credits include Star Wars Episode III, The Ring, The Last Samurai and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. He currently works for ILM as a Lead Digital Matte Artist.
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On Coyotes and All That Disappears
At some point I fell in love with the fog that rises up on this hill. Then I fell in love with it again and yet again. The fog rises from the water along the bay where I am from so that many mornings you couldn't see a car a foot from you. Everything shrouded, moving as if we were each of us a ship sailing though open waters.
This house up on this hill, the same. It's the odd thing that has hooked and attached me to Tennessee. The Gulf Coast salt water girl in me realizing, ahhh, the fog, the wind. Like sisters of familiarity that wrap me close and help me to remember who I am. Not so far from things I've known.
That wind.
Along the Gulf the wind is a constant on most days. Some light, some heavier but a constant that is not realized until it stops in the dead of summer. In dog days with heat lightning and a stillness that will weight down the steps of the youngest, strongest man. Otherwise it's constant. It has taken me awhile to understand my happiest days are when the wind hits the house on this hill with such force we take sail. It whistles and moans and the house breathes and we move along at the breakneck speed of nothing. But something in it sounds like the familiarity of home and it settles my soul in its whining.
This year in a desperate attempt to save Mom's Florida plants - great palms and rose bushes and gardenias and all manner of things I have no name for that were not planted in the ground (she the green thumb, mine the black) I had a friend nail up thick visquine around the porch. So thick it blocks the view. My favorite thing - gone. So now when we look out the living room windows we see a haze of plastic instead of trees etched against the sky, rolling off into the air, the ridge beyond. My mother finds it comforting I think. A flatlander at heart. It's a simply lovely grey and is more grounding. She has the most beautiful views from her bedroom windows. She keeps the curtains closed. This is a life-long battle of mine that I should soon forget, give up, it's over. Let's keep it cozy, she would say while I scream for light. Air. Freedom.
I would do good to live at sea.
The plastic. It had to be reinforced around the little porch top to bottom and to the side. It's where I'd made rescue Kevin's bed, blankets upon blankets by the chairs. A heating pad for freezing nights. His food bowls. Out of the cold and wind. He eyes the plastic suspiciously. I sat with him on the porch floor, my back against the wall as the great wind rolled up the hill and slammed into that visquine and filled it like a mighty sail, released it and then slammed and filled it up again. He rolled his eyes at me. It's ok boy, I said. We're just like a ship at sea. His doubt etched deep into his eyes. When I'm not there he sneaks down the stairs to the leaves on the side of the house, hunkered down into the certainty of the ground of Tennessee. No boats life for he.
The last two nights the coyotes have came calling. Down the hill in the direction of the old farm. It started up low and then quickly grew and then it seemed a hundred of them howling and calling. I rose from my Nyquil slumber having been hit with this dystopian wildfire flu that assails the country and hung my head out the window. I'm not much a party to screens for this reason. I fight those blasted bugs just because I long to lean, to see the moon, the branches etched against the ground in that strange light of night that remains a wonder - after all these years. Me still child like hanging out beneath the stars. And there they sang and then Kevin joined in but his song is a deeper one - a low lament because it sings, I am alone and I am alone, because that's the only song he knew before I brought him home.
He has other words, bear growls and grumbles that he uses when I pet him, stroke his fur. But these are different, these are at once, thank you and don't leave me and what took you so long to find me and you don't know the trouble I've seen and I've been so alone.
Because unlike Big Dog Titan who would wake and bark from inside the house when the coyotes started it up, he never had a human to wrap an arm around his big shoulder, pat his head and say, There, there boy, it'll be alright. It's just coyotes singing and soon the morning light. Now, let's go back to bed.
Tomorrow the meadow goes to auction, all one hundred seventeen acres of it. And I think the coyotes know. I think they sing a song of mourning, of moving on. Of change to come. Surely they feel it in their bones. They'll be searching for higher ground. Somewhere safe to live in shadow.
Like most of us. That song. That lament. Searching for home. For someone to say - there, there, it will be alright. Soon, so, very soon - morning light.
Thanks so much for reading, liking and sharing with friends.
July 2020


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News from the world of Maths
Yesterday's refusal by the UK government to posthumously pardon Alan Turing makes sad news for maths, computer science and the fight against discrimination. But even if symbolic gestures are, symbolically, being rebuffed, at least Turing's most important legacy — the scientific one — is going stronger than ever. An example is this week's announcement that scientists have devised a biological computer, based on an idea first described by Turing in the 1930s.
Another postcard from Plus' temporary Cambridge/Boston office!
A quick postcard from Plus' temporary Cambridge/Boston office!
How does Olympic success correlate with a nation's GNP? How does the location of the Olympics affect the chance of record breaking? How can simple statistics help us understand the likelihood of winning streaks and the chance that an innocent athlete will fail a drugs test? What events should an ambitious nation target as the "easiest" in which to win Olympic medals. John D. Barrow will explore these question and more in a free public lecture at Gresham College in London tomorrow, 17th January 2012.
In the corner of the garden between the Centre of Mathematical Sciences and the Isaac Newton Institute in Cambridge, sits a reminder of our ongoing quest to understand gravity: an apple tree that was taken as a cutting from the tree at Newton's birthplace, the tree that is said to have inspired his theory of gravity. Newton's theory was extended to the cosmological scales by Einstein's theory of general relativity – but can supergravity explain how gravity works in the quantum world?
"Astronomers are used to large numbers, but few are as large as the odds I'd have given this celebration today," is how Astronomer Royal Martin Rees started his presentation at Stephen Hawking's birthday symposium yesterday. He was talking about the 1960s when he first met Hawking who was then already suffering motor neurone disease. But Rees' prediction has been proved wrong. Hawking turned 70
yesterday and since the time of their first meeting he has made enormous contributions to cosmology and physics.
It's Stephen Hawking's 70th birthday this week and the University of Cambridge is celebrating with a conference in his honour. If it's going to be as exciting as his 60th birthday, and it definitely looks like it will, then we're in for a treat! We'll be giving you articles and podcasts from the conference soon, but in the meantime, here's what we did for his 60th.


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text:
• immaculate •
im-mæ-kyê-lêt • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: 1. Spotlessly clean, without stain or blemish, flawless. 2. Free of sin or failure, without any shortcoming, faultless, as an immaculate record.
Notes: Today's word is ostensibly another orphan negative, a negated word without a positive correlate, but it is not. Though we normally do not speak of maculate clothes and thoughts, maculate, meaning "blemished, stained", is an English word found in all dictionaries. So why not use it? The adverb for today's word is immaculately and the noun, immaculateness. Maculate has a corresponding set of derivations.
In Play: The best way to remember the meaning of today's word is "without a blemish" in the literal and figurative senses of that word: "If Madeleine's academic record were as immaculate as her clothes, she would have her pick of the Ivy League universities." Do keep in mind, however, that as a result of phrases like immaculate conception, there is always a hint of righteousness lingering about this word: "Only someone with an immaculate mind could have programmed this software."
Word History: This Good Word is the English version of Latin immaculatus, the negated past participle of maculare "to blemish, soil", made up of in- "not" + maculatus "blemished". The verb comes from the noun macula "spot, blemish". The origin of macula is rather cloudy, possibly because it has lost an initial S, a not uncommon occurrence in the history of Indo-European languages. If the original word did begin with an S, it is probably related to German Schmutz "dirt" and maybe even to schmieren "to smear". (Today we thank Luis Alejandro Apiolaza, Uncronopio in the Alpha Agora, for maintaining his immaculate record of suggesting only fascinating words for our series.)
P.S. - Register for the Daily Good Word E-Mail! - You can get our daily Good Word sent directly to you via e-mail in either HTML or Text format. Go to our Registration Page to sign up today!
Come visit our website at <http://www.alphadictionary.com> for more Good Words and other language resources!


text:
There are a lot of projects that I've been working on. I really like to have various projects going on at the same time. When something doesn't quite work with one, I switch to another so my subconscious can figure it all out (she's clever like that).
Here we go:
A triple zip pouch for the Triple Zip Pouch Swap on Flickr .
A small pouch or drawstring bag for a little swap between soon to be besties.
Finish this quilt that has been waiting patiently for me for a long time. The top is good to go, just the rest of it needs to get done.
I'm working on a crocheted scarf that is part of a small challenge that my friend Lysa and I gave ourselves. It has to include a certain piece of trim that she bought on a trip.
There are a few that don't have pictures yet:
- Lala Salama Quilt- A charity quilt for a hospital in Africa
- Secret Tote Swap- Don't have my partners info so I haven't pulled fabrics for it yet
- Pattern test a block for Tartankiwi- needs to be done within about a week. You should really check out her patterns if you haven't already.
- 4 Bee blocks- I'm planning on making at least one extra bee block for each of the ladies in my hive that sent out blocks. I may need to ask for some angel blocks as well from the larger group so they receive, hopefully, as many blocks as they sent out.
- Finish setting up and getting started on a new bee called Stash Fabulous Bee that my friend MissRiain and I are starting. It'll be a year long bee from February to February. That way there's a little flexibility with the holidays and everyone's schedule. Gosh, that means I'm planning into 2015 already. Wow.
On that astonishing note I'll add that I originally wanted to link up to the Finish-A-long on Littlest Thistle but my computer refused to pull up her website. Silly computer. I wish you a lovely weekend.


text:
Nintendo's Selects line of $19.99 Wii titles expands by two next month, when Mario Power Tennis joins the long-awaited North American release of New Play Control Pikmin 2 in retailers "games too inexpensive to be in the case" sections.
One of the best alien plant-based real-time strategy games ever created, Pikmin 2 originally hit the Gamecube in 2004, capturing the hearts of gamers everywhere with its unique mob-based gameplay and delightful design. In 2009 Nintendo released the New Play Control version of the game for the Wii in Japan, while fans stateside half-heartedly picked at the New Play Control version of the first game, wondering when our time would come.
Well there you go.
Along with the new Nintendo Selects games comes price drops on two of the Wii's greatest titles, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Donkey Kong Country Returns, each to be available at $29.99. Apparently they are too good to be seen with those low-rent $19.99 Selects titles. Snobs.


text: ASUS GTX TITAN Black: Built to Power the World's First Gaming Supercomputers The world's fastest graphics card with GTX TITAN Black GPU and beefy 6GB GDDR5 memory.GPU Tweak helps you modify clock speeds, voltages, fan performance and more, all via an intuitive interface.GPU Tweak Streaming tool allows you to share on-screen action in real-time. Add scrolling text, pictures, and webcam images to the streaming window easily.Dynamic clock speed maximization based on game workload pushes performance to new levels with NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 technology.Immerse in your game with hardware-based frame metering, ultra-fast TXAA/FXAA advanced antialiasing, and Adaptive Vertical Sync technology.Transform hundreds of PC games into full stereoscopic 3D with NVIDIA 3D Vision and dual-GPU power. Shop Modal header Supercomputer technology. Revolutionary gaming. ASUS today announced GTX Titan Black, a graphics card powered by the brand-new GeForce® GTX Titan Black graphics-processing unit (GPU) clocked at 980 MHz and bundled with exclusive GPU Tweak technology for advanced overclocking. With 6GB of super-fast GDDR5 video memory and NVIDIA® GPU Boost 2.0 and G-SYNC™ technologies, GTX Titan Black is a powerhouse graphics card for the very best gaming experiences. I/O Ports Highlight 1x Native DVI-D 1x Native DVI-I 1x Native HDMI 1x Native DispalyPort GPU Tweak with Streaming Real-time intuitive graphics tuning Shows detailed specs and actual card status with GPU-Z Monitoring widget provides real-time detailed multi-parameter info Automatically checks and updates drivers and BIOS versions Stream online instantly GPU Tweak streaming tool that lets you share on-screen action in real time – so others can watch live as games are played. It's even possible to add to the streaming window scrolling text, pictures and webcam images. Powered by NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX TITAN NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ Transform hunreds of PC games into stereoscopic 3D and enjoy immersive full HD 3D gaming across three displays at an incredible 5760 x 1080 resolution. NVIDIA® GPU Boost 2.0 Technology for intelligent monitoring of clock speed, ensuring that the GPU runs at its peak and the game is at its highest frame rate possible. It offers new levels of customization, including GPU temperature target, overclocking, and unlocked voltage. NVIDIA® Adaptive V-Sync Get more than just faster frame rates. Get ultra-smooth gaming every time with NVIDIA® gaming innovation Adaptive Vertical Sync. This technology dynamically adjusts vsync to current frame rates for maximum playability. PCI Express 3.0 Delivers double the bandwidth per lane of PCIe 2.0 for faster GPU-CPU communication. Microsoft DirectX® 11.2 Brings new levels of visual realism to gaming on the PC and get top-notch performance.


text:
About braindead
isn't McCain one of those ppl who claim there is no such thing as FairUse?
and that is why he settled and issued a public apology
actually you should be smart enough to never buy a DRMed product.
2009: Publisher decides an ebook was a mistake and tells Amazon to pull it. Amazon may or may not think that's a hot idea, but they have to comply if they want to keep their deals with the publisher. Ebook is pulled, Amazon gets blamed.
of course they will, if they want to keep there customers they should protect them. If you have books but no customers your not going far, but if you have customers then publishers will have no choice but to deal with you, I am sure you are familiar with the saying "if you build it they will come"
Honestly, the story is somewhat surreal and feels quite like the trial itself: a lot of people not really taking things seriously.
have you ever been to TPB? they use to have a section where they posted letter they received by companies asking them to remove that is copyrighted or threatening them to sue with the responses they sent. TBP staff always made fun of them in there replies.
sheltering the child from real life issues is hardly a way to protect them from harm.
if protecting them from harm is really the issue then the children should be informed about said harmful issues.
"A UK judge has required the unveiling of an anonymous police blogger, claiming blogging is "essentially a public rather than a private activity," and thus, there is no right to anonymity."
Not that I am agreeing with the Judge but he has a point in what he said, it should certainly not be dismissed so fast.
lets put in in an other way.
you send your car to the shop or a car wash, while working on your car they find a human finger. Aren't they required by law to report it?
how is that any different.
im waiting for the article that explain how the AG is a shareholder in some of those papers
"Savvis -- who had audited the security of CardSystems' computer systems and determined that the company "had implemented sufficient security solutions and operated in a manner consistent with industry best practices."
lawsuit will go nowere Savvis never said data is secure it only said:
the company "had implemented sufficient security solutions and operated in a manner consistent with industry best practices.
which has nothing to do with Data breach:
-Everyone (or at least most ppl) know that its impossible to have a 100% secure system.
-Savvis never rated security of system, it simply said system is with in the norm.
so unless that system was below standard (and some1 can prove that) Savvis has no liability what so ever.
@ John Duncan Yoyo agreed,
I just think that they're not happy about this and decided to go along cause there was no other alternative.
"It looks like maybe the PRS is beginning to understand that without useful distribution (like that provided by YouTube), its members' content loses a lot of value[...]"
i think PRS feels its getting the short end of the stick and i bet if they could sue youtube for black mail (or what ever else) that's what we would be reading about on TechDirt today.
by his reasoning a person isn't allowed to appoint his lawyer or his financial manager to renew that service.


text:
Friday 25 January
|Heosemys (1)
The origin of its common and specific name is immediately apparent from the sharp, pointed, spiky-edged carapace, and spiny keel, of this unique turtle, also known as the 'cog-wheel turtle'. There are also smaller spines on the pleural scutes, creating the effect of a walking pin cushion (4). It is thought that this spiny 'armour' acts as a deterrent to predators, such as snakes (5). However, this unmistakable, strongly-serrated carapace edge and spiny keel become worn down and are lost with age, so that larger individuals are much smoother than juveniles (6) (7). The carapace is brown with a pale streak down the central keel, and the head and limbs are greyish-brown, usually with a yellow to red spot behind the eye and similar-coloured speckling on the legs (4) (5). This cryptic colouration helps camouflage the turtle amongst the leaf litter of its forest floor habitat (6). The plastron is buff coloured with an intricate pattern of dark radiating lines on each scute (4) (7).
The spiny turtle has not thrived in captivity and relatively little is known of its breeding habits (8). Mating behaviour is apparently stimulated by rains, with males becoming excited when sprayed with water in captivity, chasing females in an attempt to mount. Nesting behaviour is unknown in the wild, but generally one or two eggs are laid per clutch (clutches containing three eggs have been recorded) in captivity, usually at night or in the early morning (7). Up to three clutches have been produced a year (7), and to enable the passage of these relatively large eggs, a hinge develops in the female's plastron to allow greater flexibility during egg-laying (5). There have only ever been a handful of successful captive breeding efforts of the spiny turtle, and those that have been successful have had incubation periods of 106 days (2), 110 days (9) and 145 days (10).
The spiny turtle is apparently herbivorous in the wild, preferring fruits and vegetables, but will accept some animal foods in captivity (5) (7).
The spiny turtle ranges throughout Southeast Asia, from Thailand and possibly southern Myanmar southward through Malaysia to Sumatra, Borneo and Natuna, numerous small Indonesian Islands and the Philippines (1) (7).
This semi-aquatic species is found in shallow, wooded mountain streams, but spends considerably time on land foraging or burrowing amongst the leaf litter of the forest floor (4). At least in captivity, juveniles appear to be more terrestrial than adults (7).
Like most Asian turtle species, the spiny turtle is in grave danger of extinction due to over-collection from the wild for the Asian food market and international pet trade, as well as being threatened by the destruction of its habitat (11). Wild populations are thought to be plummeting, particularly in Indonesia, where they are considered Critically Endangered and known trade volumes have recently declined by about 50 %. Elsewhere, the species is restricted to small and isolated populations over much of its range (1). When they reach the West and enter the pet market, imported Asian turtles are often parasite ridden and mortality is relatively high (4) (8). Many have also had to endure poor and incredibly stressful conditions in food markets, and are dehydrated and malnourished from their long journeys from the Asian food markets to the Western pet trade (8). Unfortunately, the extreme difficulty in breeding this species in captivity means that all specimens found in pet stores today are still caught from the wild and freshly imported from Asia.
Like many other species, the spiny turtle would benefit from captive breeding programmes or 'turtle farms' to supply the food and pet market, and thereby mitigate the demand to remove large numbers from the wild (4). Unfortunately, this species is notoriously difficult to breed in captivity and only a handful of institutions have ever successfully bred the species, including Zoo Atlanta and Knoxville Zoo in the US., and Durell Wildlife in Jersey, Europe (9) (11). Nevertheless, these few successes provide fresh hope that a captive breeding programme might one day be able to haul the species back from the brink of extinction (12). It is also hoped that these successful reproductive attempts will help provide more information about the biology and ecology of this beautiful yet complex species, information that can prove invaluable for conservation action in the wild (11) (12).
For more information on the spiny turtle see:
For more information on the captive breeding and conservation of the spiny turtle see:
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
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text:
NEW YORK, NY – December 6, 2011 – NBC Owned Television Stations today announced it has entered into agreements to create new and innovative cooperative news gathering and reporting arrangements with locally-focused, non-profit news organizations in four of the markets it serves. These partnerships with ProPublica in New York, The Chicago Reporter, WHYY in Philadelphia and KPCC in Los Angeles are the result of NBC's longstanding commitment to localism, which was affirmed through a voluntary commitment made by Comcast and NBCUniversal during the regulatory review of their transaction by the Federal Communications Commission. These four agreements, plus an existing one in San Diego, mean that the NBC Owned Stations division is engaged in similar partnerships in 50 percent of its markets. The new partnerships are expected to start immediately.
The model for the new arrangements is based on the successful partnership between the NBC-owned station in San Diego and voiceofsandiego.org, a non-profit news organization that has been providing news and information to the local San Diego community for the last six years.
"Over the last several months, we've made significant investments in our 10 stations to boost our news gathering capabilities and deliver the best local news and information in the marketplace," said Valari Staab, President of the NBC Owned Television Stations. "Our new partnerships will complement these efforts, giving us even more resources to enterprise stories that are important to our viewers in the communities we serve and helping us offer even more diverse programming and viewpoints. They will also offer an even larger platform for these non-profit news organizations to have their independent and diverse voices heard."
The four non-profit news partners include:
ProPublica, New York
ProPublica (www.propublica.org) is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. In 2010, it was the first online news organization to win a Pulitzer Prize and in 2011, ProPublica won the first Pulitzer awarded to a body of work that did not appear in print. ProPublica is supported primarily by philanthropy and provides the articles it produces, free of charge, both through its own website and to leading news organizations selected with an eye toward maximizing the impact of each article. Based in New York, ProPublica will work with all 10 NBC Owned Stations.
The Chicago Reporter
The Chicago Reporter (www.chicagoreporter.com) is an investigative news organization that publishes a website, blog and bi-monthly magazine. It identifies, analyzes and reports on the social, economic and political issues of metropolitan Chicago with a focus on race and poverty. The Reporter serves a wide, diverse and influential audience of policy makers and government officials, traditional and new media, social service providers, the academic community and members of the general public. The Chicago Reporter will work with NBC 5 Chicago.
WHYY, Philadelphia
WHYY (www.whyy.org) is a leading public media provider in the Greater Philadelphia area, serving Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and all of Delaware and reaching over 400,000 radio listeners each week, and 750,000 television viewers and 170,000 unique website visitors at www.newsworks.org each month. Their coverage focuses on news, education, arts and culture. WHYY will work with NBC 10 Philadelphia.
KPCC, Los Angeles
KPCC (www.kpcc.org) is Southern California Public Radio's flagship station, reaching more than 650,000 listeners every week in the Los Angeles area and Orange County with award-winning local news and public radio's signature programs. KPCC's news is available online at www.kpcc.org along with public event schedules and membership information. KPCC will work with NBC4 Los Angeles.
Earlier this year, NBC issued a multi-city call for potential partners, searching for non-profit organizations with robust news gathering capabilities, a track record of accuracy, fairness and independence in their journalistic efforts and an ability to provide diverse viewpoints and programming. After a thorough and rigorous evaluation process of more than 30 applicants, which included in-person interviews with the finalists, the four organizations were selected. The partnerships will feature a variety of elements, including developing stories, conducting research and investigations, sharing footage and other content across multiple platforms, providing promotional assistance and cross-linking websites.
"ProPublica is very excited about our partnership with the NBC owned stations," said Richard J. Tofel, General Manager of ProPublica. "We're confident this agreement will extend the reach and impact of ProPublica's groundbreaking news applications and result in great local stories for NBC viewers around the country. Beyond that, we're very grateful for NBCUniversal's commitment to supporting innovative non-profit journalism in the public interest."
"The recent recessions have taught us many things, among them is that there is a great need for the voices of the disenfranchised to be illuminated," said Kimbriell Kelly, Editor and Interim Publisher of The Chicago Reporter. "The Chicago Reporter is looking forward to combining our 40 years of investigative reporting and analysis around race and poverty with the heft of the investigative staff at NBC. As newsrooms cut back on resources, it's refreshing that NBC/Comcast has remained committed to expanding its capacity through strategic community partnerships."
"We're really looking forward to working with NBC 10 Philadelphia on this partnership," said William J. Marrazzo, President and CEO of WHYY. "When you combine the strengths of WHYY's radio news operation and our respected NewsWorks website with the substantial reach of NBC's local news team, there is tremendous potential to focus attention on issues in ways that will benefit the whole region."
"Working with NBC4 Los Angeles is a natural for KPCC," said Bill Davis, President and CEO of Southern California Public Radio. "Combining radio and TV and our commercial and non-commercial newsroom talent will let us report on more stories in greater depth. The audience for both KPCC and NBC4 LA will benefit from this new relationship."
To watch a NBCU Direct video featuring interviews with each station and non-profit organization, please visit http://www.nbcudirect.com/nbcownedstations120611/.
About NBC Owned Television Stations
NBC Owned Television Stations is the division of NBCUniversal that includes 10 local television stations and their digital channels and websites, as well as a group of out-of-home properties and a production company. The 10 stations produce and deliver compelling and unique local news, information and entertainment programming to viewers in the communities they serve, which include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Miami, San Diego and Connecticut, with a goal of connecting to their audiences anytime and anywhere


text:
Activists: Government airstrikes kill 44 in Syria
BEIRUT -- A string of government airstrikes on rebel-held areas in northern Syria killed at least 44 people Saturday, activists said, as al-Qaida-linked rebels captured one of the country's major oil fields in the east.
An attack on the rebel-held town of al-Bab near the northern city of Aleppo was the deadliest of the three raids, killing 22 people, said Rami Abdurrahman, the director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Fighter jets also bombed two rebel-held districts of Aleppo, Syria's largest city. Government warplanes missed their target in the Halwaniyeh neighborhood and sent bombs into a crowded vegetable market, killing 15 people, Abdurrahman said. Seven people died in a third airstrike in the Karam el-Beik district, according to the activist group. The Observatory has been documenting the conflict by relying on a network of activists on the ground.
Air power has been Syrian President Bashar Assad's greatest advantage in the civil war. Over the past year, his forces have exploited it in a wide-ranging offensive to push back rebel gains in the north and around the capital, Damascus.
Syrian state television confirmed the fighter jets were in the north, but said they targeted "gatherings of terrorists" in Aleppo, killing a large number of them. Syrian state media routinely refers to rebels fighting to topple Assad's government as terrorists.
Another activist group, the Aleppo Media Network, confirmed Saturday's airstrikes and posted a video of what it says was the aftermath of the al-Bab raid. Plumes of smoke rose from twisted metal and chunks of broken-up concrete strewn on the ground in the video.
The video appeared authentic and was consistent with The Associated Press' reporting of the airstrikes.
Meanwhile, fighters from al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra ousted government troops from the al-Omar field Saturday during an overnight battle, Abdurrahman said. Syrian state media and officials did not mention it.
It is not clear if the field is operational. Before the uprising began in early 2011, the oil revenues provided around a quarter of the government's budget. In 2010, Syria produced about 380,000 barrels a day.
Oil exports have ground to nearly a standstill since. Assad's government now imports refined fuel supplies to keep up with demand amid shortages and rising prices.
In late 2012, rebels began seizing oil fields in Deir el-Zour, one of two main centers of oil production. In February, they captured the large Jbeysa oil field after three days of fighting. A year ago, rebels briefly captured al-Omar field -- only to lose it to government troops days later.
Rebels largely have been unable to benefit from the oil fields. The country's two refineries remain under government control and the threat of airstrikes make working the fields difficult.
Rebels fired mortar rounds Saturday at the oil refinery in the central city of Homs, setting ablaze a tank carrying thousands of liters (gallons) of fuel, a local official in the city told the AP. Firefighters fought to control the blaze, which threatened to spread to a larger tank nearby, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
In the predominantly Kurdish northeastern town of Qamishli, a car bomb exploded at a local police station, killing two, the Observatory said. The bombing comes as Kurdish fighters battle jihadis in predominantly Kurdish areas of northern Syria.
In the Damascus' eastern Ghouta suburb, the Observatory said fierce fighting overnight with government forces killed 25 rebels -- including six local commanders. It added that many soldiers were killed in the battles. There was no mention of the fighting in official Syrian media.
Also Saturday, a pro-government television station said gunmen fired at a vehicle belonging to a Syrian Cabinet minister, killing his driver. Al-Ekhbariya said Minister Ali Haider was not in the car when it came under fire while traveling on a highway that links the central city of Hama with Tartous on the Mediterranean coast. A government media office confirmed the report.
Syria's civil war started as a peaceful uprising against Assad that deteriorated into all-out civil war after a government forces violently cracked down on protesters. The conflict has killed some 120,000 people, activists say. The United Nations said in July that 100,000 Syrians have been killed, and has not updated that figure since. Millions of Syrians have been uprooted from their homes because of the fighting.
Associated Press writers Diaa Hadid in Beirut and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, contributed to this report.