text:
OH's parents retired and moved to a small rural (72000 ppl) city some 300+ km east from the capital. Something like moving from Auckland to Palmerston North, I guess. They bought a new house there, about the same size as before, next to a lake. Nothing fancy, nothing special, the price was very similar to the price of average house in New Zealand. Sauna, parquet floor with underfloor heating, two stories, large triple windows, LED lights, all the standard stuff.
They had ordered in advance a standard ADSL2+ connection with the IPTV services and unlimited cloud storage. A week before they were supposed to move, the telco called and said that they cannot deliver anything, please return all the equipment to the nearest shop. "WTF?"
Turned out the construction company had made a deal with another telco and the property was equipped only with cable tv and fiber, no phone copper of any kind. This is a pretty standard procedure today for new builds everywhere around the country. Phone copper is regulated so they prefer to provide fiber instead.
They moved in and the next monday walked to the new city centre to the telco shop. The package they ordered was a 100/10 broadband connection with IPTV services. It includes a HD IPTV set top box with a bunch of free channels, 3000 hours of recording to the cloud, video rentals, streamed documents. 24 month contract, no setup fees, 39.90 euros a month (69 NZD/month).
They promised to have the service delivered in two weeks.
We visit the house and I put everything ready for the installation with instructions -- these folks aren't very comfortable with computers and networking.
The house had a double cat5e cabling around the rooms, connected to a central patch panel. From the panel there were two cat6's to the nearby cabinet. In the cabinet there were cat6's to other houses, fiber from the telco and two Ericsson ethernet switches. Unfortunately the builders locked the cabinet and I didn't get a photo op - but I think all the ports were GE, at least the upstream was.
Early next week an installer arrived, connected the cat6 in the cabinet to the switch and tested that the ethernet connection in the house was working. However they had not received anything else yet; the IPTV set top box, a "service router", or anything -- during the week they received several packages in the mail and monday next week, the last package with the "service router" arrived. Couple of letters as well for the e-mail mailbox details and the IPTV registration account details. The parents had no idea what all the stuff was.
The ethernet connection they received in about a week was the basic, "naked" broadband. It's available for the same 39.90e/month but why would you buy it when you can get the extra services for free.. 10/10 over the fiber would be 29.90e/month so they are also trying to get people pay a little more for 10x the speed.
A typical DSL costs from 23.90 to 29.90e/month (41-52 NZD/month), ADSL2+ is everywhere. If you want cheaper for random use, you go mobile -- from 4.90e/month (8.5 NZD). All are uncapped and unlimited, you pay for the speed if anything. In the fiber domain the telcos have priced the 10/10 or 25/10 to be similar to the DSL (to keep regulator happy?) but the premium for 100/10 is quite small. 100/100 is a bit more expensive.
"Support by the phone" begins. I thought the "service router" would be Thomson TG789 but it was a very simple Zyxel NBG-417N. The Zyxel has just one WAN ethernet port and four LAN ports, and a WiFi AP. We didn't plan to use the bundled WiFi but had an Apple Airport Express installed ourselves.
The parents actually went to the local telco shop to ask if the Zyxel was a right device -- they didn't know. After calling around they finally declared that yes, it's the right device. But they didn't know anything about.. They ¨ said that they still need to receive a modem before the broadband can be used. At this point even the parents were smart enough to leave.
Getting everything working was actually pretty simple. Just plugged the incoming cat6 to the NBG-417N WAN and the rest to the LAN ports; the HD IPTV stb, Airport Express and our own GE switch for future expansion. But it takes time over phone when the other end has no idea what they are doing and can't tell HDMI cable from an ethernet cable :)
The IPTV works in it's own VLAN and it will not consume the purchased capacity. For example if they had bought 10/10 connection, the IPTV traffic would be on top of that. Everything is auto configured.
The Thomson TG789 they sometimes/often deliver has also an DSL-port that can do VDSL2 and ADSL2+, for example in some housing areas they use VDSL2 over local phone cables for the last metres from the fiber. If there's no fiber around, they can offer the same package over ADSL2+ copper as well.
Notice something? I haven't said anything about voice or landlines. They simply can't get a traditional landline. The "service router" they received doesn't have any VoIP ports. The Thomson has two but I haven't found any indication that they actually sell the service. The parents haven't even considered having a landline.
This country has turned mobile. Call minutes in the mobile networks are 10x the fixed network. Mobile calls are as long on average as fixed calls. Mobile networks add over 100.000 subscribers a month, tens of thousands fixed subscribers are gone every month (5.5m population, almost 9m mobile subscribers, very soon less than 1m fixed subscribers). Telcos are not investing in fixed voice any longer, my telco will even close their VoIP service next month.
On the IPTV service the STB works pretty much the same way as any digital TV receiver. All the channels are there, EPG, one can click broadcasts on the EPG to be recorded. Watching recordings is streamed from the network. Pay-channels are available. The set top box is from Motorola.
They have also cable-TV which offers similar channels and channel packages using standard DVB-C but for recordings you need an old-fashioned PVR. What actually happened was that when they heard that they will not get the ADSL2-based IPTV service, they went and bought a top-of-the-line DVB-C/T 1T PVR for ~800 NZD. They didn't quite get the idea behind the fiber IPTV.. Interesting to see if they actually get familiar with the IPTV STB or continue to use the built-in tuner in the TV and the PVR.
Speedtest.net gave them 87.28 Mbit/s downstream, 31.35 Mbit/s upstream. I will do some more research the next time we visit them but I wish had such a speed myself.. I've been stuck with my ADSL2+ since 2004. Sucks. I've had similar IPTV service since late 2008 with 5 terabytes of capacity in the cloud. Sold my PVR on local Trademe..
The service was built by a national telco, one of the incumbents. No government support or subsidies, just part of normal business and investing in the infrastructure. Right now the fiber access is not regulated, you have to sell capacity but it's priced out of reach for anything useful to the other telcos in the consumer space. However the regulator is in talks with the telco's so one day also the access to the fiber access will change.
But right now, with every telco is also working with the fiber, the competition is a decent driving force to keep the prices down. Also pretty much every cable TV company is offering up to 200M internet access, which is a good counter balance against the fiber folks. The biggest "loosers" are folks like me, no cable TV, and a bit off the major roads. They were putting fiber some 200 metres away last summer but I can't do anything about the 200 m..
But.. if technically everything was pretty smooth, the service packaging sucked big time. There was no way the parents could have managed to get everything working on their own. They received the equipment in multiple shipments, without any instructions what is still coming or how to actually connect everything together. Perhaps that is an intentional decision -- the telco owns a "Helpson" service that will come and install everything for you for about 140 NZD. Perhaps they want to compensate the lack of installation and equipment charges. But in the process forget that the customer will be pretty pissed with the telco after an evening trying to figure everything out by themselves..
These retired seniors didn't really have any clue what they were buying. They didn't think that fiber was something extraordinary -- more like it was their only option. "Ten times faster" and "that's what I could buy" were reason enough to go for 100/10 instead of 10/10. They do notice that the broadband is fast but that's about it. Nobody talks about triple or double play, they don't think the IPTV set top box is any different from those DVB PVR's. But a few months with the 100/10, I doubt they'll want to go back to DSL.
We just finished configuring Skype on their new Samsung 8-series TV and had a living room to living room video chat. One way to shorten the 300+ km distance..


text:
Getting Past The Uncanny Valley In Targeted Advertising
from the from-creepy-to-useful deptA few years back we talked about how the concept of the "uncanny valley" could be applied to targeted advertising. Of course, the general concept of the uncanny valley is usually discussed in the field of robotics. It's the notion that people are comfortable with robots that clearly look like robots, but at a point where they become too similar to humans, but not actually human-like, people feel rather uncomfortable. However, if a robot appears fully human, then people go back to being comfortable with them -- even to the point of identifying with them and feeling empathy for them. The problem is the area where they're "too human" but just different enough to just... feel "off" that somehow makes it "creepy." As we noted the same thing really was kind of true for targeted advertising. As advertising gets more "targeted" it seems to creep people out, because they feel like they're being spied on.
A perfect example of that is seen in this recent NYTimes Magazine piece, talking about the details of how Target mines its purchasing data to figure out who's pregnant and when they're due. And it's not because they're buying diapers or something like that:
The only problem is that identifying pregnant customers is harder than it sounds. Target has a baby-shower registry, and Pole started there, observing how shopping habits changed as a woman approached her due date, which women on the registry had willingly disclosed. He ran test after test, analyzing the data, and before long some useful patterns emerged. Lotions, for example. Lots of people buy lotion, but one of Pole's colleagues noticed that women on the baby registry were buying larger quantities of unscented lotion around the beginning of their second trimester. Another analyst noted that sometime in the first 20 weeks, pregnant women loaded up on supplements like calcium, magnesium and zinc. Many shoppers purchase soap and cotton balls, but when someone suddenly starts buying lots of scent-free soap and extra-big bags of cotton balls, in addition to hand sanitizers and washcloths, it signals they could be getting close to their delivery date.But, of course, Target then appears to have run into the "uncanny valley" problem of having just enough info to target ads... but doing so in a way that feels creepy:
As Pole's computers crawled through the data, he was able to identify about 25 products that, when analyzed together, allowed him to assign each shopper a "pregnancy prediction" score. More important, he could also estimate her due date to within a small window, so Target could send coupons timed to very specific stages of her pregnancy.
"If we send someone a catalog and say, 'Congratulations on your first child!' and they've never told us they're pregnant, that's going to make some people uncomfortable," Pole told me. "We are very conservative about compliance with all privacy laws. But even if you're following the law, you can do things where people get queasy."Target appears to have recognized just how creepy this appeared -- and once they discovered that the reporter was working on this story they cut off his access to the researcher and wouldn't talk to him at all, other than to make bland PR statements about "delivering outstanding value," and, later, to try to convince him not to publish his story.
About a year after Pole created his pregnancy-prediction model, a man walked into a Target outside Minneapolis and demanded to see the manager. He was clutching coupons that had been sent to his daughter, and he was angry, according to an employee who participated in the conversation.
"My daughter got this in the mail!" he said. "She's still in high school, and you're sending her coupons for baby clothes and cribs? Are you trying to encourage her to get pregnant?"
The manager didn't have any idea what the man was talking about. He looked at the mailer. Sure enough, it was addressed to the man's daughter and contained advertisements for maternity clothing, nursery furniture and pictures of smiling infants. The manager apologized and then called a few days later to apologize again.
On the phone, though, the father was somewhat abashed. "I had a talk with my daughter," he said. "It turns out there's been some activities in my house I haven't been completely aware of. She's due in August. I owe you an apology."
However, there are indications that Target tried to cross the uncanny valley.... by making the extremely targeted advertising appear more "life like" by not being "too perfect." That is they still sent targeted ads, but mixed them in with unrelated ads, so people wouldn't realize how targeted they were:
"We have the capacity to send every customer an ad booklet, specifically designed for them, that says, 'Here's everything you bought last week and a coupon for it,' " one Target executive told me. "We do that for grocery products all the time." But for pregnant women, Target's goal was selling them baby items they didn't even know they needed yet.I'm sure that this disturbs some people, who may sense that there's "trickery" going on here, but I'm not sure that's the case. It seems like this actually creates something rather useful. After all, perfectly targeted ads actually provide useful information in that it's ads/deals/coupons targeted for exactly what we need, such that we'll actually save money on the key things we want. That's a benefit to consumers. But if it's done in a way that doesn't feel as creepy, then there aren't those lingering concerns of being tracked -- and that seems a more reasonable fear.
"With the pregnancy products, though, we learned that some women react badly," the executive said. "Then we started mixing in all these ads for things we knew pregnant women would never buy, so the baby ads looked random. We'd put an ad for a lawn mower next to diapers. We'd put a coupon for wineglasses next to infant clothes. That way, it looked like all the products were chosen by chance.
"And we found out that as long as a pregnant woman thinks she hasn't been spied on, she'll use the coupons. She just assumes that everyone else on her block got the same mailer for diapers and cribs. As long as we don't spook her, it works."
Filed Under: advertising, creepy, target ads, uncanny valley
Companies: target

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Monkey Monkey Music started a Facebook fan page. Please like us!
Monkey Monkey Music children's music videos are now airing on Kids Thirteen in addition to NJTV in the NYC Metropolitan area! Public television is deeply committed to providing educational, non-commercial programming for its youngest viewers. Please support local public media by making a contribution to WNET or your local public television station.
Monkey Monkey Music is a kids' music entertainment brand
that produces award winning videos, kids' songs, and performs live kids' music concerts, for schools, parties, and cultural arts centers. We are honored that our children's entertainment is viewed by millions of families in the U.S. on over 100 PBS stations and internationally in over 175 countries on the American Forces Network.
Are you looking for original and unique kids music entertainment for birthday parties in NYC, NJ, CT, and Long Island?
Many parents contact us because their children love our music videos and want us to perform for their child's birthday party. Even though Monkey Monkey Music is regularly seen on television, we love celebrating children's birthday parties with our one of a kind special kids music entertainment for birthday parties in NYC, NJ, and CT. If you're looking for a really upbeat, unique type of kids music entertainment for your child's birthday party, please contact us anytime. Kids are really responsive to music and that is why choosing kids music entertainment for birthday parties in nyc and the surrounding metropolitan area is a really smart choice. Monkey Monkey Music has performed for over 1000 kids birthday parties and is an expert at providing outstanding kids music entertainment for birthday parties in nyc, NJ, and CT. Kids love our music videos seen on Kids 13 and NJTV and dance live to our shows they way they do at home.
Click on the YouTube link to watch Monkey Monkey Music children's music videos.
Most of the videos seen on public television are not on YouTube but can be enjoyed by purchasing our kids music DVDs. By purchasing our children's music DVDs, you are supporting the creation of educationally minded media for children. If you love what we do, please support our work by purchasing our kids music DVDs and CDs.
Children's singer Meredith LeVande, began her children's music career as a prominent NYC Kids' musician for parties
and now has acclaimed national recognition. Catch Monkey Monkey Music on many PBS member stations across the country such as WETA Kids, NJTV, KCET, Idaho Public Television, and over 100 PBS stations in the U.S. In the New York market, Monkey Monkey Music videos air daily on Kids Thirteen and NJTV.
Monkey Monkey Music was featured in:
NJTV celebrated its 1st birthday with our "Happy, Happy Birthday" song in between the PBS Kids' Breaks. Elmo even played the drums to our song on NJTV's 1st birthday party video! As a performer who served smaller audiences through the NYC kids' birthday party entertainment circuit, it is a great honor to now serve larger children's audiences through public television. We are deeply grateful, and committed to making media that has a healthy impact on children's lives.


text:
Each year the Independent Games Festival awards recognize what are often the most interesting, most innovative games of the year. This year was no different.
Here are your winners:
Best Student Game
Technical Excellence
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Excellence in Design
Desktop Dungeons
Best Mobile Game
Helsing's Fire
Excellence in Visual Art
Bit.Trip Runner
Excellence in Audio
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
IGF Audience Award
Nuovo Award
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
As Monaco developer Andy Schatz put it: "The IGF is not intended to make a small thing big, it's a reminder that there is beauty hidden in the shadows of the big things."


text:
Coming to Austria EU citizens, along with citizens of many other countries, only need a valid proof of identity or passport to visit or travel through Austria. Here is all the information about passport and visa requirements, in addition to customs and duty regulations.
The Taste of Austria Local farm produce, award-winning wines and the best of home-cooking are the key ingredients to savouring Austria.
Climate Austria has a temperate climate and is therefore an ideal destination at any time of year. Here you can find out more about the weather in Austria and have a look at the latest forecasts for your destination.
Leisure Austria offers a wide range of opportunities for enjoying your free time. Whether you're a culture vulture, a sports fanatic or simply want to relax after a long day, Austria has plenty to offer. Here you can find out more about Art and Culture, Skiing and Hiking locations and Spa and Beauty...
Travel Tips Everything you need for your trip to Austria - from transport options to public holidays. What are the average daily expenses? What do you need if you require medical assistance? Here's a collection of useful information to help during your stay in Austria.


text:
Your shopping cart is empty
Be the first to review this product
Please note: most signs are made-to-order. Please allow 5 to 7 business days for any custom orders.
BACKORDER Express Shipping Available @ Checkout
Only registered users can write reviews. Please, log in or register
Checking "Remember Me" will let you access your shopping cart on this computer when you are logged out
Back to top
WorkSafeGEAR Australia


text:
Follow the escalating violence of Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number through the eyes of multiple factions driven to violence by the events of the original game.
Step into the murderous mind of several distinct characters - each with their own methods of execution and uncertain motivations - as storylines intersect and reality slips away into a haze of neon and carnage.
Question your own thirst for blood as the blistering combat, unmistakable visual style and powerfully intense soundtrack push you to the limit.
See it in action


text:
Forgot Valentine's Day? Zero to dinner in two hours flat
Oh, you are in trouble. Big trouble.
Yes, you forgot it was Valentine's Day. Fortunately, help is on the way, with the role of Cupid played by experts in the field of romance -- Bay Area chefs and an award-winning mixologist. Once they stopped laughing at the idea of the poor schmo who managed to forget Valentine's Day, they rallied to offer a game plan -- several, in fact -- to get you from panicked commute to candlelit dinner in two hours flat.
First, they said, you need to set the mood. Light the candles. Cue up some music on Pandora or Spotify -- may we suggest a hip, romantic play list from music critic Jim Harrington?
Next, pour a perfect cocktail with a little fizz, something like a Heaven Help Us from Joe Wrye, the mixologist at San Francisco's Waterbar. It's a rosy mixture of peach and orange liqueurs and sparkling rosé, garnished with a twist of orange peel and a cherry. The ingredients are straightforward -- no need to search the universe for esoteric bitters and Italian liqueurs you can't even pronounce. Wrye prefers Grand Marnier but says you can use Cointreau or triple sec. It's the combination of flavors that makes the drink so seductive.
"Serving such a drink indicates one had to put in effort," Wrye says, "even if it is 'after the fact.' "
A lovely cocktail like this one buys you time, too, especially if you serve it with cheese and crackers or some marcona almonds. Then head for the kitchen to cook together, says chef Bibby Gignilliat, founder of San Francisco's Parties That Cook.
"I think it's really romantic to cook with your partner, fun things that have a little aphrodisiac focus," she says. "Salmon is an aphrodisiac, so do spice-crusted salmon with coriander, fennel and cumin. Make a pasta with garlic and red chile flakes -- chile is an aphrodisiac -- or fusilli, burrata and spinach. Leafy greens are also an aphrodisiac."
The fusilli dish, with its bright lemon, garlic and spinach flavors, comes together faster than you'd think, and the fresh mozzarella gives it just enough heft to stand on its own as a vegetarian entree. It's also lovely with chicken.
Cooking for a steak lover? Steak frites, that classic of French brasserie cuisine, makes a perfect entree, says Jodi Liano, chef and co-founder of the new San Francisco Cooking School. "The whole meal is done in under 45 minutes, and it feels as special as any steak frites I've had at a restaurant."
Boneless rib-eye is Liano's "go-to steak for special occasions." Cooked on a "screaming hot" cast-iron skillet, the steaks come out with a browned, crusty exterior and medium-rare interior that goes beautifully with red wine, a peppery arugula salad and bistro-perfect crispy potatoes, done in the oven.
Of course, you'll want to end the evening on a sweet note, and there is no better way than with chocolate -- another aphrodisiac and the perfect path to any valentine's heart.
Make Gignilliat's luxurious hazelnut-chocolate mousse, a Nutella-based, five-ingredient recipe that comes together in minutes. Or take a tip from Yigit Pura, the pastry chef behind San Francisco's Tout Sweet Patisserie and first season winner of "Top Chef: Just Desserts."
His patisserie is known for its sorbet-hued macarons, glorious gelees and delicate cakes. But when it comes to Valentine's Day desserts, he says, "It definitely has to be chocolate. One of my favorite things is a die-hard classic, a chocolate souffle. It's one of those things people think is a lot harder than it is. It's a good way to impress people, and it won't take you more than half an hour or 40 minutes."
Best of all, the souffle batter can be made ahead and popped in the oven, in individual mousse cups, seven to 10 minutes before serving. A chocolate souffle is pretty fabulous on its own, but Pura likes to add a drizzle of chocolate sauce or a scoop of salted caramel ice cream.
"It has great heat and texture," he says, "the steaming souffle and ice cream, fluffiness and creaminess."
The only rules to souffle success: Don't underwhip the egg whites, don't open the oven door to peek, and the only correct answer to, "OMG, you are amazing," is a simple, "Why, yes, I am."
More Valentine Tips
§ A formal white linen-draped table isn't necessarily the most romantic place to dine. Dress up your coffee table with black paper and some artful chalk -- je t'aime, sweetheart -- for a quick, simple and seductive tablescape, inspired by It's Overflowing blogger Aimee Lane and interior designer Moll Anderson, author of "Seductive Tables for Two: Tablescapes, Picnics, and Recipes That Inspire Romance" (Moll Anderson, $19.95, 240 pages).
§ You don't have to cook the entire dinner. Swing by your favorite market to pick up gourmet components, as well as Valentine chocolates.
§ Whether you're cooking side-by-side or facing each other across a kitchen island, cooking together can be very romantic, says Bibby Gignilliat. So is cooking by candlelight, she says, but you will need enough candles to actually see. Want to mess up someone else's kitchen? Parties That Cook is doing Valentine's Day Couples cooking classes Feb. 14 and 15 in San Francisco and Redwood City, and Date Night classes March 8 and April 20 in San Francisco. Details: www.partiesthatcook.com.


text:
Training workers and assuring their reliable performance of critical tasks is one of nine elements in the RBPS pillar of managing risk. In this chapter, the context of process safety management systems, the meaning of training, the attributes of a good training system, and the steps an organization might take to implement a robust training program are described. Introduction to Training and Performance Assurance.
For more in-depth information regarding managing risk, please see CCPS' Guidelines.


text: Event RCF Boosts Fan Experience at Bridgestone Arena For the first time in 20 years an NHL hockey team has won all their consecutive NHL home games during the playoffs. That team – the Nashville Predators. The venue – Bridgestone Arena. The excitement is building for the team, and much of it is being related to the fan experience at the facility. "AV is an integral part of that experience," notes the arena's Senior Director of Technical Operations Ben Bosse. "More than integral, it is an essential item," attributing the music and video as a big part of the "total game experience" relating both pre-game and post-game productions and inciting the crowd during in-game breaks in the action. According to an ESPN Ultimate Standings fan survey from this past fall, "The Bridgestone Arena topped the charts in stadium experience, and it seems like it will only continue to improve," as management had already announced plans to improve the arena. Into the mix comes Durrell Sports, a Nashville-based sports stadium consultant. "Bridgestone has always been a home town favorite to our company," says Durrell principal John Horrell. "We have been connected to them, as being their main sound consultant, lessor of audio equipment, provider of Media Services and supplied audio technicians for the past twelve years. Watching the success of the building (rated in the top five most used stadiums in the country 10 years running) and the success of the Predators team have been exciting to say the least." Durrell was involved with the selection of the original system 12 years ago. Recognizing that system was showing its age and in need of repairs, and with the commitment from the facility management for needed upgrades, Horrell started to explore new solutions. Read more Installation ORIGINAL BIERKELLERS OOMPAH THROUGH RCF $dataLeanFields_separator.text_container.text.getData() Read more Installation Polygone Equipement reinforces Lille-Métropole Stadium for three-day event Full audio visual service company, Polygone Equipement, were recently brought in to provide auxiliary sound reinforcement for the prestigious European Athletics Team Championships at the 18,000-seat capacity Lille-Métropole Stadium. Formed in 1994, Polygone Equipement has been an RCF partner for most of that time, and working on the event for the first time they had no hesitation in picking a combination of high premium TTL33-A active line array and HDL20-A, RCF's popular and huge selling composite system to supplement the stadium PA. They used 12 of the TTL33-A, supported by eight elements of HDL20-A, underpinned with four TTS28-A subs, while a pair of TT25-A were detailed for monitoring purposes for the official speaker out on the central field. The TTL33-A's were arrayed in four main stacks, spaced around the stadium, each containing three enclosures plus a TTS28-A sub. Four additional stacks of dual HDL20-A line array modules were deployed with appropriate tilt angles for optimum coverage of the tribune seating. The FOH mixing console provided sources from CD players and jingles, while the five wireless mics offered long distance capability. All sound was processed through BSS Omnidrive and broadcast splits were sent to France Television for live transmission. According to the installation team the set-up had been straightforward because of the ground stacking design, while the RCF active line array solution proved a big advantage when it came to cabling issues. "The system sounded great, with plenty of power and perfect intelligibility and clarity," stated Polygone Equipement's Gerard Coucke. Read more Installation French Beach Rescue Centres turn to RCF horns for superior voice evac RCF partners, Dipsonic, have equipped a number of beach rescue centres on the north coast of France with HD6045EN fibreglass long-throw multicell horns, which are designed to withstand the most adverse weather conditions. Le Touquet-Paris-Plage is the highest profile resort to receive the rescue voice application but others nearby include Stella Plage, Merlimont Plage and Sainte-Cécile Plage. The work was commissioned by Citeos, VINCI Energies' Lighting and Urban Equipment brand, and the RCF solution was specified by M. Lefebvre from locally-based Dipsonic. His selection was based on the fact that the HD6045EN, rated at 133dB@1m, offered the highest SPL available for such a horn enclosure. In terms of design, two of these horns are pole-mounted and set side by side in a 'V' configuration, facing out in front of the central beach. At Sainte-Cécile they are directly fixed on the Rescue Centre wall itself. At Le Touquet-Paris-Plage an additional 25 RCF HD3216/T compact, lightweight and watertight horn speakers, will complete the installation along the 500-metre long sea wall, to increase the paging coverage at medium throw distance. The horns are powered from RCF's UP 8000 series amplifiers, suitable for 70V/100V applications via the PR4093 9-in/3-out pre-amp, which has been purpose designed to provide a flexible solution for paging and music application in PA systems of this nature. All the RCF Resort Centre installations have replaced previous voice evacuation systems. Read more Event RCF HDL 50-A boosts Alan Parsons Live Project Germany Alan Parsons and his band were back in Germany for 13 dates throughout the country in May. Read more Event RCF Audio Academy sounds good in Trinidad and Tobago $dataLeanFields_separator.text_container.text.getData() Read more Corporate Come to visit RCF at Infocomm, Orlando 14-16 June Booth 6953 During Infocomm, RCF will showcase its latest innovations in sound reproduction and amplification. The RCF's new product line will feature improvements, design upgrades and exciting new technologies, like the new FiRPHASE processing, on-board on an extended range of loudspeakers. Follow RCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and don't miss the occasion to attend our product demos as shown below. HDL 6-A DEMOS Daily June 14-16 Demo Room W230A 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. 11:00 - 12:00 a.m. 01:00 - 02:00 p.m. 03:00 - 04:00 p.m. RCF's big-selling HD-Line series, spearheaded by the HDL 20-A, welcomes the RCF HDL 6-A: an ultra-compact bi-amped 2-way active touring system for small to medium events, both indoors and outdoors. Despite the size and the ultralight-weight, the playback clarity is incredible, thanks to the built-in 1400W, 2-way class-D amplifiers and the FiRPHASE DSP processing. DON'T MISS THE CHANCE TO VISIT US AND DISCOVER OUR ENTIRE PRODUCTS RANGE! BOOTH 6953 June 14-16 Orlando, FL Read more Installation DUTCH HOCKEY STADIUM upgrades with RCF P-SERIES Hockeycomplex 'Oosterplas', Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)- The field hockey club which is also known as HC Den Bosch, recently underwent a complete new sound system installation, turning to RCF for the solution. RCF's weatherproof IP55-rated P-series is no stranger to stadia and arenas throughout the world and has frequently been the architectural choice both for indoor installations in tough environments as well as outdoor applications such as stadiums and arenas. With three sides of the field open, all 20 of the P 3115-T, run 100V line, are distributed evenly along the roof of the single tribune, which also includes a central cluster. The full range, wide-dispersion, coaxial two-way loudspeaker system provides substantial power and efficiency. The HF section is a constant directivity CMD horn loaded to a 1" RCF Precision compression driver with a 1.5" diaphragm assembly. The LF transducer is a 15" woofer with 2.5" voice coil and the selectable line transformer makes is suitable for 70-100 volt applications. Commenting on the installation, Henri van Bergen, of RCF Netherlands, stated: "The most important consideration in stadiums like these is the Speech Transmission Index (STI), as well as fact the that the system must also sound great with music. "The client realised, during the final stages of decision making, that the RCF P-series gave them the best of both worlds." Read more Installation Good Success Church built on RCF sound from the ground up JANDAKOT (PERTH), AUSTRALIA: After operating from hired premises for many years, the board at Good Success Church (formerly Mighty Living Waters Life Fellowship) made the decision to develop a permanent home. A new building in Jandakot, south of Perth was chosen and so the journey began. The committee at Good Success Church contacted AVL consultant Rob Scott of Trans Media Alliance (TMA). Rob's business is reasonably unique in that Rob had spent many years in the AVL industry and many as a committed church member. Rob started life as a professional musician and these credentials have given him the background to consult and design audio, lighting,and vision systems for churches, large auditoriums and performing arts centres. Good Success Church required a sound and lighting system appropriate for dynamic live services which at the same time were suitable for television program recording and live media projection. Five companies were invited to tender on the TMA specifications, which Kosmic Sound and Lighting won due to price, experience and professionalism. Kosmic worked closely with Group Technologies to present a tender-winning speaker system for the building which is 30 metres wide yet only 20 metres deep. The RCF HDL 20a active line array system was chosen. Each hang consisted of three full-range line array elements coupled with additional LF on the ground. Additionally,two boxes of HDL10a were used as centre fills. A Xilica Uno processor was used to process the system. Xilica's high audio quality and powerful DSP platform allowed for everything from simple system tuning to pre-set system configurations depending on the size and scope of any event in the space. TMA consulted with both the architect and acoustic consultants to match the room acoustics to the performance of the RCF system. Roof heights were changed along with a custom design for the walls, ceiling panels and diffusers. The resulting room sound is spectacular. "It makes such a difference to the outcome when I am consulted before the project is built." Rob Scott TMA We found the Kosmic team professional and flexible to work with during the building and fitout process…. Kosmic also provided training and after completion support for transition to the new system. The result achieved with the acoustic treatments and audio system are ideal " Pastor Rajan, Snr Pastor, Good Success Church. Recognising that LED technology has reached a stage where it's possible to present a modern professional stage lighting system without dimmers and tungsten fittings, TMA were able to design a lighting system suitable for live performance, television recording and multimedia projections while reducing ongoing power operating costs. "This is an exceptionally professional AVL integrated system installation, indeed a reference model for the new modern systems using line array and LED technology. Congratulations to Good Success Church for your foresight, and Kosmic for your professionalism" Rob Scott, Consultant www.rcf.it www.kosmicsound.com.au www.transmediaalliance.com.au Read more Corporate RCF Audio Academy 2017 - New Location The new Audio Academy, dedicated to the culture of sound, will be situated in a new building at the RCF headquarters in Reggio Emilia. Set on pitched floor, and with 46 upholstered seats, the classroom has also been acoustically treated, while a natural/artificial mixed lighting system provides maximum comfort. Finally, the classroom is equipped with audio-video systems and includes a spacious foyer for reception and refreshments. RCF Audio Academy will continue the series of state-of-the-art seminars hosted by the RCF product specialists, teachers and engineers both in the new HQ and laboratories. Since 2010, 127 courses have been organized, welcoming more than 2,200 participants, 381 indoor product demos and 374 outdoor. The new venue will also host the Sound-Engineering University Course, organized by the Department of Science and Methods of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, in collaboration with RCF, now in its sixth edition. In professional fields such as audio recording and live, through to commercial audio and integrated systems, a complete and thorough knowledge of the subject is the most effective way to use technology at its best. Thanks to its many achievements and strong technical pedigree, RCF has contributed in large part to the history and development of sound. Today, after nearly 70 years, RCF continues to play a major role in the hi-tech advancements of the international electroacoustic industry. Since 1949 this knowledge sharing has been promoted, thanks to the experience and expertise of our engineers in training, seminars, and demos, at the same time providing enormous internal support to help the customer in the design of complex systems. The topics of the courses embrace all the areas of audio signal processing and amplification. The updated list is available by clicking here or accessing the Education section of the site www.rcf.it. Map: goo.gl/maps/8XJQGTVdL5m Directions:www.rcf.it/it_IT/education/locations www.rcf.it/education Read more Page 15 of 51 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 — 10 Items per Page Showing 141 - 150 of 505 results. ← First Previous Next Last →


text:
Quiz: Web application threats and vulnerabilities
This quiz will help you determine how knowledgeable you are about securing your Web apps and whether you need to hone your Web security skills.
Web applications are subject to a barrage of threats and vulnerabilities that can put an entire enterprise at risk. Our quiz will help you determine how knowledgeable you are about securing your Web apps and whether you need to hone your Web security skills.
1.) True or False: It's OK to put sensitive information in HIDDEN form fields; after all, they're hidden.
a. True
b. False
2.) In what type of attack does an intruder manipulate a URL in such a way that the Web server executes or reveals the contents of a file anywhere on the server, including those lying outside the document root directory?
a. cross-site scripting
b. command injection
c. SQL injection
d. path traversal attacks
3.) Which of the following is true of improper error handling?
a. Attackers can use error messages to extract specific information from a system.
b. Attackers can use unexpected errors to knock an application off line, creating a denial-of-service attack.
c. Unexpected errors can provide an attacker with a buffer or stack overflow condition that sets the stage for an arbitrary code execution.
d. All of the above.
4.) True or False: The "NO-CACHE" cache-control response header prohibits documents from being stored on the client.
a. True
b. False
5.) Which of the following is NOT recommended for securing Web applications against authenticated users?
a. Client-side data validation
b. Filtering data with a default deny regular expression
c. Running the application under least privileges necessary
d. Using parameterized queries to access a database
6.) In which of the following exploits does an attacker insert malicious coding into a link that appears to be from a trustworthy source?
a. cross-site scripting
b. command injection
c. path traversal attack
d. buffer overflow
7.) True or False: Encrypted data is not at risk by keyloggers.
a. True
b. False
8.) In which of the following exploits does an attacker add SQL code to a Web form input box to gain access to resources or make changes to data?
a. cross-site scripting
b. command injection
c. SQL injection
d. buffer overflow
9.) Which of the following is characteristic of spyware?
a. Blocking access to antivirus and antispyware updates
b. Aggregating surfing habits across multiple users for advertising
c. Customizing search results based on an advertiser's needs
d. All of the above
10.) True or False: Web application variables can still be manipulated even when both client and server are using digital certificates to authenticate themselves and establish an SSL connection.
a. True
b. False
How'd you score?
9-10 correct: You're an authority on Web application security
6-8 correct: You're adept in Web application security
3-5 correct: You're a Web application security apprentice
0-2 correct: You're a Web application security amateur


text:
Consumer spending—or more precisely, the lack of it—continues to hamper the U.S. economy as Americans reconsider what it takes to make them happy.
This thrift paradox has become increasingly apparent as Americans, after their earlier decades of spending and indebtedness, have gotten into the habit of saving their money to the detriment of national growth, according to a recent report from Harris Private Bank.
At the same time, the "economics of happiness" suggests that the relationship of income and wealth to well-being is more complex than economic policymakers have traditionally assumed it to be, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke noted Monday in a speech before the International Association for Research in Income and Wealth in Cambridge, Mass.
Exclusive attention to aggregate numbers, without considering factors such as people's sense of belonging to a community and the level of optimism about their future, paints an incomplete picture of what many individuals experience, Bernanke said.
In short, it looks like post-recession Americans have truly learned that money doesn't buy happiness.
"An interesting finding in the literature is that the overwhelming majority of people in the United States and in many other countries report being very happy or pretty happy on a daily basis, a finding that researchers link to people's intrinsic abilities to adapt and find satisfaction in their lives even in very difficult circumstances," Bernanke said.
At the same time, however, the Fed chairman did acknowledge that many Americans are struggling and not too happy about their finances.
"Even though some key aggregate metrics—including consumer spending, disposable income, household net worth and debt service payments—have moved in the direction of recovery, it is clear that many individuals and households continue to struggle with difficult economic and financial conditions," he said.
Income in the United States rose 0.5% in June while consumer spending stagnated, signaling that many Americans are using earnings to increase their savings and pay down household debt, says Harris Private Bank, part of BMO Financial Group. Indeed, the U.S. savings rate is at its highest level in a year, at 4.4%.
Those numbers point to a "paradox of thrift," which could have a negative impact on economic growth, according to Jack Ablin, chief investment officer of Harris Private Bank.
"Americans have taken to saving more and reducing their debt load, and this may be causing a paradox of thrift in the U.S. economy," Ablin said in a statement. "This paradox states that, while pinching pennies works on the individual level, it has a disastrous impact on the economy if everyone does so at the same time. If we all save more money, then aggregate demand will fall and will, in turn, lower total savings in the population, because of the decrease in consumption and economic growth."
The report suggests that the trend toward saving and debt reduction will continue. And that means downward pressure on domestic growth for the rest of 2012, Ablin said.
Read War of Borrowers Against Savers at AdvisorOne.


text:
Christmas Show 2019
The Little Mermaid show, December 2019
'very impressed with the school's clear sense of purpose in preparing its students for life after school. '
'Pupils' relationships with adults are excellent, and they learn respect and appropriate behaviour from the staff. Pupils are accepting of each other's varying needs, and show pleasure in each other's successes.'


text:
- For Attendees
- Co-Located Events
- Computer Animation Festival
- Courses
- Exhibition
- Exhibitor Tech Talks & Sessions
- General Information
- Featured Speakers
- Reception
- Registration
- Special Sessions
- Technical Papers
- Technical Sketches & Posters
- Travel & Housing
- Bookstore
- Jobs
- SIGGRAPH Asia 2010 e-Newsletter
- For Presenters
- For Volunteers
- Seoul
- For Exhibitors & Sponsors
- Registration
- For the Media
For Volunteers
ACM SIGGRAPH is a volunteer-based, professional organization, and the SIGGRAPH Asia conference is a volunteer-driven event. We welcome motivated and enthusiastic people who enjoy helping others, working with exceptional and supportive colleagues, and contributing to the vitality and ongoing development of the field of computer graphics and interactive techniques. Volunteering for SIGGRAPH Asia is also a wonderful opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Student Volunteers
This unique opportunity is available to undergraduate, graduate, and vocational students (except high school) who want to work behind the scenes of a world-class conference. Student Volunteers dedicate 25 or 15 hours in exchange for full conference access (when not on duty) and additional exclusive student-volunteer-only mentoring and professional development events.
Complete information on how to apply
International Resources
The goal of the International Resources program is to enhance SIGGRAPH Asia 2010's multi-cultural flavor by encouraging the international community to submit their work and participate in all conference sessions, activities, and events. To volunteer for the International Resources Committee or the English Review Service, which helps submitters improve their written English, please contact the International Resources Committee.
Future Conference Committees
SIGGRAPH conference chairs, program chairs, committee members, jurors, and reviewers are all volunteers. To volunteer for positions on future conference committees, please contact us.


text:
Food & Wine's Unconventional Tumblr Strategy
Taps non-food bloggers to cover signature event
There are a lot of creative ways media outlets use Tumblr: to post niche content that wouldn't otherwise get published, surface archived material, interact with their audiences and answer subscriber questions. But with as much freedom as the platform allows, companies tend to draw from their own resources and audiences.
That's what sets apart Food & Wine's Tumblr initiative for its signature event, the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. The American Express Publishing brand has hosted the Classic for 31 years, long enough for it to have been covered to death by food journalists.
This year, editor in chief Dana Cowin enlisted three photographers not known for food, per se, and asked them to shoot the event, which kicks off Friday, for their followers. They are food/lifestyle photographer Alice Gao, interiors photographer Noah Kalina (who was part of this digital self-portrait project) and Instagram star Chris Ozer, who focuses on portraits and landscapes. A fourth, Nicole Franzen, who was commissioned by the initiative's sponsor, Stella Artois, to blog on its behalf, is known for her still lifes.
Cowin said she was inspired by a Disney Tumblr project that had photographers from around the world shoot its theme parks. "This event has been covered by journalists forever," she said of the Classic. "But we've never had that insider, more personal, artistic point of view. We're giving the bloggers access to everything. It's really to have them showcase their point of view."
The images the four produce from the Classic will be posted on their own Tumblrs as well as on Food & Wine's, potentially reaching a much bigger audience than the epicurean title's own. One image will be picked to run for a single day (June 19) on Radar, Tumblr's ad unit that gives the sponsor a major share of voice across the social platform.
Tumblr global head of sales Lee Brown said that while a lot of brands have used creators from across the social network to promote their message, Food & Wine is unusual in that it's going outside its domain.
"Brands are looking for influencers to help tell their stories in new and interesting ways," Brown said. "This is a rare example of a brand taking creative from our community and creating content from the event and using a paid placement to promote it across the network."


text:
Hands Up who knew these facts? 😀
Reblogged from:Bookish Quotes
I don't know anyone who doesn't know or like Sherlock Holmes. This sophisticatedgentleman gained more respect and likeliness than any other know fictional detective regardless of howirritating, stubborn and sassy guy he is. Well, who doesn't like intelligent and witty badass boys? 😉
Adam Frost and Jim Kynvin from The Guardian looked through Sherlock's adventures and ended up with impressive number of data presented in elegant infographics. Love them! To see all click here.
Original post:


text:
1463 S Redbud Court
$275,000, .6 Acres
About This Property
Located at 5,200 feet in the beautiful Four-Season Ogden Valley, surrounded by majestic Peaks, Trappers Crossing presents an unspoiled setting, stunning views and activities for your perfect mountain home. Set upon 80 acres of picturesque land with panoramic views, just 26 single family home sites will be offered on this unique hillside. Mountain biking, horseback riding, fly fishing, three ski resorts, water sports at the overlooking Pineview Reservoir and championship golf are just outside your front door. Retreat home into breathtaking scenic beauty. This community has been meticulously planned to compliment the spectacular panoramic surroundings, with unrivaled privacy and sensitivity to the land. Unwind and Relax into this Four-Season Lifestyle. Buyer/Buyer's Agent to verify all.
Courtesy of: ERA Skyline Eden.
Essential Information
Community Information
57 - Huntsville/Snowbasin/Eden/Liberty
School Information
Additional Information
Listing Details
1463 S Redbud Court, Huntsville (MLS® #11906476) Property History
The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. All properties are subject to prior sale or withdrawal. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate, and should be independently verified.
The multiple listing information is provided by Park City Board of Realtors® from a copyrighted compilation of listings. The compilation of listings and each individual listing are © 2020 Park City Board of Realtors®, All Rights Reserved. Access to the multiple listing information through this website is made available by Summit Sotheby's International Realty as a member of the Park City Board of Realtors® multiple listing service. No other entity, including a brokerage firm or any franchisor, may be listed in place of the specific Listing Broker on the foregoing notice. Terms of Use
Listing information last updated on October 24th, 2020 at 4:28pm MDT.


text:
Costa Rica has animals, really cool, eXotic animals- sloths, macaws/parrots, iguanas, monkeys and about 135 species of snakes, just to name a few. Many people love exotic animals, so much in fact, they want to keep them as pets. These people usually have no idea as to how to care for them. Needless to say, as the 'wild' animals start becoming adults, they tend to act just how they are- wild. Most folks don't manage 'wild' very well. Luckily there's a few places around Costa Rica who take in these wild, semi- domesticated animals and try to acclimate them back into their natural habitat. La Fortuna has such a place.
D'Angelo and I recently visited it. Check it out.
And of course one of our favorite animal rescue centers- Jaguar Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo.
TONS of Costa Rica Tavel Info and VIDEOS on our websitc: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!


text:
Chinese State Media Attack Apple
The People's Daily newspaper ran a front-page article accusing Apple of discriminating against customers in China. The WSJ's Paul Mozur talks about why the Chinese Communist Party's main propaganda outlet decided to highlight this issue.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... I'm back at Apple in the latest article people daily ... that ... country accusing Apple of discriminating against Chinese consumers ... with me to discuss this is Paul Mozur our technology correspondent in Beijing all thanks so much for joining today ... sell in China is now Apple's second biggest market in the world ... this article yesterday created some ways because it's so basically that Apple is switching its Chinese consumers differently ... than other consumers tell me more about that ... write to the shootings is the mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party's with the highest be periwinkle the People's Daily ... in for a long time to time him who has eaten into it what the party is thinking about all sorts of policy and it's ... not that common Anidjar foreign company will come up on the cover of it ... this is a front page article ... I the article itself actually thousand from a TV show that was on about two weeks ago ... on Chinese television across the country has also gaining on Apple ... Siemens warranty policy was different in China ... then the rest the ... rest of the world ... so what they're complaining investing in China a different opinion if the user returns ... the product to be the biggest effective for some reason ... they don't actually get a new phone ring or a new product the anti skid ... overplayed ... the insides it replaced and back covers of the country with the I phone four and four S ... are saying this is unfair and any different I did when Apple those across the rest the world and ... can be on the company for that reason ... well what's the reaction been light and shine on social media to this ... photo initially when the TV show came out on getting people to live in fear that if you are on ... the winter Tuchman is effectively a personal problem that something where ... you know this is a warranty issue for people buying the most expensive of smartphone you can buy when I give a country that has him it opened in more than ten thousand things ... in pigs washing up in certain reimbursed ... serious environmental issues real Libor problems in factory in areas of the country ... doing a lot of people console when it was is the government pushing back against Apple ... most recently with the People's Daily article came out on social media ... with two people were grumbling ... about ... Apple and its product to help basically you know there are in such a rich country where they have you know ... put the customer so hard when they're paying so much money for this product to the death only has created a bit of a week from some Chinese consumers ... who are upset about Apple's practices ... now I know that Apple has basically declined to comment on this and this whole on ... add drama ... but I mean the timing of this comes right after the Friday of course which was on as Anderson a consumer rights in China correct ... and today the country's known for hitting out at foreign companies right around this time is the isthe coincidence that the timing ... when reading into Apple was on the initial show during consumer embraced a dwindling to get out ... and this is basically a follow suit the second strip ... that back into the back that running with Apple's iPad weed seed media ... digits are the one two punch to the company ... and what we think is ... going on here is that the smartphone market something has been ... beastly dominated by foreign companies Apple and Samsung particular hardware perspective ... and Google's Android software perspective really ... have a stronghold on the on the market here and ... we've seen some Chinese companies had some success ... to the late teen indication that the government's Mr. do will do more to help out its local champions ... outcome is like falling Lenovo ZTE pour in the smartphone game but haven't really gotten the momentum ... that the major foreign players guide ... Hall thanks so much for joining us today we will keep updating this story with breaking development ... answer watching Asia Today Ahmadi the Sanchanta ...


text:
Apple's Jon Ive is Pushing for Starker and Simpler "Flat Design" in Next iOS
Apple's Jon Ive is Pushing for Starker and Simpler "Flat Design" in Next iOS
Apple's Jonathan Ive, who took over recently as Apple's overall human interface manager, is said to have been sitting in on the design review sessions that the company's human interface (mobile software) teams hold regularly. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Ive is pushing for a "flat design" in iOS 7, that has been described as "starker and simpler".
Ive's ability to influence iOS' look is an indication that the internal dynamics of the company is undergoing a significant change towards an increase in "collaboration across hardware, software and services," -- starting with design. This company goal was stated by Apple CEO, Tim Cook, when Scott Forstall was forced to leave the company last year.
Source: Wall Street Journal


text:
You probably know someone who overestimates her competence. She might be a member of your Bible study who has a subtle way of telling others how to run their lives. Maybe it's a coworker who takes control of everything around her.
On the other end of the scale are those (often women) who revel in false humility. They tell themselves and everyone else how incapable of anything they are.
In contrast, there are those who understand that their abilities are God-given. They realize that their talents are gifts, recognize their limitations and welcome others' input. They don't think of themselves as superior but consider others' needs before their own. Being around these people frees others to be the best they can be.
True competence begins with humility, recognizing our natural abilities but acknowledging that they can only carry us so far. With that knowledge, we begin to realize that our incompetence is merely a starting point. We don't have to be perfect; we have the freedom to be the uniquely gifted, talented and competent women God created.
Elisa Morgan, president of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International, wrote:
>"I'm probably the least likely person to head a mothering organization. I grew up in a broken home. My parents were divorced when I was 5. My older sister, younger brother, and I were raised by my alcoholic mother.
>"While my mother meant well—truly she did—most of my memories are of me mothering her rather than her mothering me. Alcohol altered her love, turning it into something that wasn't love.
>"Ten years ago, when I was asked to consider leading MOPS International, a vital ministry that nurtures mothers, I went straight to my knees—and then to the therapist's office. How could God use me—who had never been mothered—to nurture other mothers?
>"The answer came as I gazed into the eyes of other moms around me and saw their needs mirroring my own. God seemed to take my deficits and make them my offering."
- How have you found your natural abilities insufficient?
- How does knowing that you can rely on God's competence give you confidence?
- What might you try to do for God's kingdom if you knew you could not fail?
2 Corinthians 3:4–5
Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.


text:
The Super 8 Bridgeview of Mackinaw City is the only fully log cabin hotel in Mackinaw City. The Super 8 Bridgeview is conveniently located directly across from a thousand feet of beach on beautiful Lake Huron right at the base the spectacular Mackinac Bridge and the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. We have bridgeview and lakeview rooms with private balconies so you can enjoy Mackinaw City's natural beauty.
Colonial Michilimackinac and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, two of Mackinaw City's treasured historical attractions are within 500 feet of the hotel. Downtown Mackinaw City shopping and restaurants are located just a few blocks south of the hotel's excellent location. Enjoy a drink at the historical Dixie Saloon or O'Reilly's Irish Pub & Restaurant just moments from the hotel, a free nightly video light show inside Mackinaw Crossings, and free concerts in Conkling Heritage Park.
Mackinac Island ferry service is within easy walking distance.
While at the Super 8 Bridgeview of Mackinaw City, enjoy our indoor heated pool, the dry sauna, and whirlpool jacuzzi, as well as our other amenities. A hot "Super Start Breakfast" greets you in the morning.
Things To Do
Dining, Freighter Watching, Gift Shopping, Hotel, Music and Theater Performances, Recurring Cultural Event, Scenic Viewing, Swimming, Water Feature Viewing
Mackinaw City, MI 49701


text:
BySiobhan Gorman
WASHINGTON—National Security Agency officers on several occasions have channeled their agency's enormous eavesdropping power to spy on love interests, U.S. officials said.
The practice isn't frequent — one official estimated a handful of cases in the last decade — but it's common enough to garner its own spycraft label: LOVEINT.
Spy agencies often refer to their various types of intelligence collection with the suffix of "INT," such as "SIGINT" for collecting signals intelligence, or communications; and "HUMINT" for human intelligence, or spying.
The "LOVEINT" examples constitute most episodes of willful misconduct by NSA employees, officials said.
In the wake of revelations last week that NSA had violated privacy rules on nearly 3,000 occasions in a one-year period, NSA Chief Compliance Officer John DeLong emphasized in a conference call with reporters last week that those errors were unintentional. He did say that there have been "a couple" of willful violations in the past decade. He said he didn't have the exact figures at the moment.
NSA said in a statement Friday that there have been "very rare" instances of willful violations of any kind in the past decade, and none have violated key surveillance laws. "NSA has zero tolerance for willful violations of the agency's authorities" and responds "as appropriate."
The LOVEINT violations involved overseas communications, officials said, such as spying on a partner or spouse. In each instance, the employee was punished either with an administrative action or termination.
Most of the incidents, officials said, were self-reported. Such admissions can arise, for example, when an employee takes a polygraph tests as part of a renewal of a security clearance.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.), who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, said the NSA told her committee about a set of "isolated cases" that have occurred about once a year for the last 10 years, where NSA personnel have violated NSA procedures.
She said "in most instances" the violations didn't involve an American's personal information. She added that she's seen no evidence that any of the violations involved the use of NSA's domestic surveillance infrastructure, which is governed by a law known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
"Clearly, any case of noncompliance is unacceptable, but these small numbers of cases do not change my view that NSA takes significant care to prevent any abuses and that there is a substantial oversight system in place," she said. "When errors are identified, they are reported and corrected."
New Details Show Broader NSA Surveillance Reach
Secret Court Faulted NSA for Collecting Domestic Data
Related: WSJ reporters discuss how Obama's recent announcements on surveillance highlight his administration's failure to live up to his campaign promises of eschewing secrecy.


text:
In The Encounter (a movie I can't really recommend, due to the low quality acting and predictable story), Officer Deville is found guarding a road that has been closed due to poor weather conditions, forcing three vehicles to turn back to the Last Chance Diner, where the story unfolds between the occupants of the vehicles.
At the end of the film, Deville comes to the diner and informs everyone that the road has been re-opened, and that it's perfectly safe. The cafe owner, Jesus, says Deville is lying, but one of the diner customers chooses to trust Deville, leading to his predictable demise.
My question is: Why was Deville guarding the road in the first place? If he wants to deceive and harm the travelers, as is clearly the case, why was satan, posing as an officer, guarding the road?
It's quite possible this was simply another oversight, but the movie is clearly an attempt at allegory. Was there something more meaningful going on here, that I didn't catch?


text: Find local expertise. Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Wyoming is a state that is meant to be experienced. Feel the splash of wild river rapids, grip the rock of a towering crag, or sense the rush of snowmobiling across open terrain. This state surrounds you with invigorating activities, leaving you with the decision of which to try first. If you don't have the proper gear or would like to try these activities for the first time, you can leave your options open with the assistance of an outfitter or guide. Outfitters can rent out gear and organize your trip from arrival to departure, ensuring you have the proper supplies, food and place(s) to sleep. Guides can provide local expertise along the way, helping you learn technical skills and showing you the best locations. With help from these trusted resources, all you have to worry about is taking in the views and enjoying your outdoor adventure. In addition to being a top destination for outdoor recreation, Wyoming is also a premier hunting and fishing state. Vast landscapes provide opportunities for game bird, small game, trophy game and big game hunting in different regions. Similarly, any angler (from experts to first-timers) has endless opportunities to catch fish in Wyoming's blue-ribbon waters. Guidance from a local can be the difference between bagging the big one and going home empty-handed. Our friendly outfitters and guides are waiting to show you all that Wyoming has to offer. Find the perfect guide or outfitter for your trip by browsing our listings, below. Here, I'm Free. The only thing holding back your next great adventure? Your imagination. Visit the Cowboy State to find your inspiration. Explore this video to plan your own Wyoming adventure. Sponsored Content Guiding America since 1959 Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Association Wonderful outdoor experiences in Wyoming are made possible by the state's outfitters and guides. Whether you visit for a hunting or fishing experience, professionals from Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Association make your time in the outdoors spectacular. Learn More Wyoming Outdoors Wyoming's rivers, wildlife and scenic beauty are vast, and the Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Association provides Wyoming Outdoors to help you plan. With this manual in hand, you have all that you need for your next guided outing. Learn More Narrow Your Search Region Black to Yellow Grand Teton National Park Park to Park Rockies to Tetons Salt to Stone Yellowstone National Park City Afton Aladdin Albany Albin Alcova Alpine Alta Alva Baggs Banner Basin Bedford Beulah Big Horn Big Piney Bondurant Boulder Buffalo Buford Burlington Carlile Casper Centennial Cheyenne Chugwater Clearmont Cody Cokeville Cora Daniel Dayton Devils Tower Dixon Douglas Dubois Edgerton Elk Mountain Encampment Evanston Evansville Farson Fort Bridger Fort Laramie Fort Washakie Four Corners Gillette Glendo Glenrock Grand Teton National Park Granger Green River Greybull Guernsey Hanna Hartville Hawk Springs Hiland Hudson Hulett Hyattville Jackson Jackson Hole Jeffrey City Jelm Kaycee Kelly Kemmerer Kirby La Barge LaGrange Lander Laramie Leiter Lingle Lovell Lusk Lyman Marbleton Medicine Bow Meeteetse Midwest Mills Moorcroft Moose Moran Mountain View Natrona Newcastle Pavillion Piedmont Pine Bluffs Pine Haven Pinedale Point of Rocks Powell Ralston Ranchester Rawlins Riverside Riverton Rock River Rock Springs Rozet Saddlestring Saratoga Savery Shawnee Shell Sheridan Shoshoni Sinclair South Pass City Story Sundance Superior Ten Sleep Teton Village Thayne Thermopolis Torrington Upton Wapiti Wheatland Wilson Wolf Worland Wright Yellowstone National Park Reset Showing 1 - 12 of 200 Results EcoTour Adventures 1300 Carol Lane Jackson, WY 83001 US Website 1836 More Alcova Resort & Marina 24025 Lake Shore Drive Casper, WY 82620 US Website More North Platte Lodge 20400 W. Grey Reef Rd Alcova, WY 82620 US Website More A Quiet Canyon at Devils Tower B&B 40 Red Rock Trail Devils Tower, WY 82714 US Website 55 More Above All Climbing Guides and Rock Climbing School PO Box 66 Devils Tower, WY 82714 US Website More AlpenGlow Tours 1807A Ellingwood Lane Jackson, WY 83001 US Website More Box Y Lodge & Guest Ranch Mile Marker 28 Greys River Rd Alpine, WY 83128 US Website More BrushBuck Guide Services 490 S US HWY 89 Jackson, WY 83001 US Website More Buffalo Roam Tours 3065 Blair Drive Jackson, WY 83001 US Website 311 More Classic Cruise Control Goodrich Lander, wy 82520 US Website More Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary 599 State Hwy 11 Laramie, WY 82070 US Website More Flat Creek Inn of Jackson Hole 1935 N Us Highway 89 Jackson, WY 83001 US Website 708 More Pages 1 1 of 17 2 3 4 5 …Nextlast » Sponsored Content Discover More Wyoming Fall in Love with Cheyenne Climb aboard a train at the Douglas, Wyoming Railroad Museum How to Plan a Backpacking Trip: Travel Deeper into Wyoming's Wilderness with these Tips Lander: Wyoming's Outdoor Adventure Haven


text:
"Eye Candy," a new creation from Kelly Cooper, author of just-published COOKIES for GROWN-UPS (Red Rock Press) does more than just sit on spring-holiday tables looking good. Its surprising delicacy can be enjoyed by almost everyone.
Leavening-free, it is a perfect Passover treat. "I always bake Eye Candy for my Jewish friends this time of year," says Kelly Cooper. Crunches of coconut and pistachio meat come together with a hint of white chocolate in this not-too-sweet coconut macaroon. Simple and fun to make, Eye Candy's are flavorful, light, and enjoyable.
Flour-free, it's a great choice for a gathering that might include the gluten-intolerant. Light, with a nutty sweetness, it's a perfect ender for a big Easter dinner.
White chocolate, coconut and pistachio give this cookie its unique flavor. Even those who rarely bake will find Eye Candy easy to make.
French macarons (we say "macaroons") may have been last year's cookies of the year but now an inventive baker from San Jose, California shows us there is a better and lighter way.
Cooper pairs each of her baked treats (many are savory cookies) with a grown-up drink in COOKIES for GROWN-UPS, where she suggest Riesling for Eye Candy. But she says, this cookie also goes well with a red dinner wine, which can be kosher if that is preferred.
Yield about 2 dozen
Step 1:
� cup sugar
2� cups coconut, sweetened
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt
� cup grated white chocolate (not chips, real chocolate)
⅓ cup roasted, unsalted pistachio meat, chopped
Baking Instructions
Step 1:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, gently mix together all ingredients.
Step 2:
Scoop mixture by 1 tablespoon portions, pat together with hands, and place 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined or nonstick baking sheet
Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until just golden. Let sit for a few minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. Cool 10 more 10 minutes before serving.


text:
When I try to launch Minecraft, I get an extremely laggy cursor, and a black window where the log in window should be. It's not the "black screen" issue that people talk about, as this is happening before I even log in. I've tried completely removing my .minecraft folder and redownloading the minecraft.exe, but neither of these worked. It's been laggy starting up the launcher on this computer for ages, but it used to work up until recently.
EDIT: My computer is more than adaquate for the game:
Intel Core i5 CPU (second gen I thinK) ATI Mobility Radeon 5650 GPU 6GB dual-channel DDR3 RAM
Only thing that's a bit slow is the HDD, at 5400 RPM.


text:
Click To Enlarge
All Blockley 3 and 5 block tires are DOT and speed rated to 130 MPH
A good-looking 3 block tread pattern, with an authentic pre war feel to it,
the design of which has far superior wet weather performance.
Its overall width is of a slim nature,
which is not only traditional but helps with airflow to the brake
drums on higher performance cars, negating the need for offset rims.
The tread width itself offers maximum contact area.
A product that looks correct on any pre war car.
For the appropriate tube for this tire, see the quick link below.
5.20" Section Width
3.70" Tread Width
- Manufacturer: Blockley


text:
Closing Argument
If you ever needed a freeze frame on the volatility of closers, you're seeing it in Washington right now. Joel Hanrahan lost the job quickly, but not as fast as Manny Acta's closer-in-waiting Garrett Mock. Instead we are told to expect a committee consisting of Julian Tavarez and Kip Wells. Until next week when Joe Beimel will come off the disabled list and either "join the mix," or supplant those co-closers. And don't forget that a year ago today, Chad Cordero was still active and supposed to eventually swap jobs with his impermanent replacement Jon Rauch.
It is not just franchises in chaos that remind us of how, if all managers are interim, then all closers (except, perhaps, Mariano Rivera) are temporary. Since Bobby Cox returned to the helm in Atlanta in 1990, this has been the succession (and I'm deliberately ignoring a couple of "closers for a week" like Joe Hesketh).
1. Joe Boever, 1990
2. Mark Grant and Kent Mercker, 1990
3. Mercker and Juan Berenguer, 1991
4. Alejandro Pena, 1991-92
5. Jeff Reardon, 1992
6. Mike Stanton, 1993
7. Greg McMichael, 1994-95
8. Brad Clontz, 1995
9. Mark Wohlers, 1995-98
10. Kerry Ligtenberg, 1998
11. John Rocker, 1999
12. Ligtenberg and Mike Remlinger, 2000
13. Rocker, 2000-01
14. Steve Karsay, 2001
15. John Smoltz, 2001-04
16. Danny Kolb, 2005
17. Chris Reitsma, 2005
18. Kyle Farnsworth, 2005
19. Reitsma, 2006
20. Ken Ray, 2006
21. Bob Wickman, 2006-07
22. Rafael Soriano, 2008
23. Manny Acosta, 2008
24. John Smoltz, 2008
25. Soriano, 2008
26. Mike Gonzalez, 2008-09
And they won stuff during that merry-go-round. Moreover, Gonzalez is formally Cox's closer at the moment. Yet only last night did he pull out of a tie with Soriano for the team lead.
Well here's the oldest time-waster by a blogger: ballplayers who look like actors. But I think three of these are new; certainly two of them are bizarre.
Khalil Greene and Sean Penn as Spicoli from "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" – observed first, I think, long before Greene made the majors.
But what about Rocco Baldelli of the Red Sox and the actor Aidan Quinn?
This one jumped off the scoreboard at the Mets-Nats game Saturday. The new official publicity photo of Adam Dunn, and Will Ferrell?
And my favorite, applying only when he has that lip-curl snarl while at bat, somewhat enhanced by the Yankee colors: Mark Teixeira and Little Steven Van Zandt in his "Sopranos" role of Silvio Dante?
A maroon.
I have been pleading for a week for somebody to identify the "classical music" used by the Yankees during their otherwise tedious scoreboard "Great Subway Race."
Did you know Danny Elfman was a famous 17th century classical composer?
I knew I'd heard it in the Pee Wee Herman movie. That's because it's part of the soundtrack of the Pee Wee Herman movie.
It's "Breakfast Machine."
Well thank goodness that's over.
19 Comments
Haha! Your photos of baseball players and their look-a-likes made me think of the Simpsons and the people who look like things. There's a pop culture reference for you! 🙂
I think Trevor Hoffman should be included along with Rivera as constants in the closer role.
Here is something for the FYI file: Maroon comes from the word marronage or American/Spanish cimarr�n. It means "fugitive, runaway", "living on mountaintops"; it was a term used to refer to a runaway slave in the West Indies, Central America, South America, and North America. That's the anthropologist in me coming out. Thanks for taking that moment to indulge me.
Maybe it's just me, but Mark Teahen reminds me of Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Jackson:
And you can't forget…
Mike Lowell — http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2007/11/19/1195504846_8000.jpg
George Clooney — http://i.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/george_clooney/george_clooney_01.jpg
"Well here's the oldest time-waster by a blogger: ballplayers who look like actors."
From someone who wastes as much time reading your time-wasting research: this entry was hilarious.
I wasted even more time by forwarding it to my best friend, who grew up in Granda Hills, where "Fast Times" was filmed, and through which I drive every day to and from work.
(Kathleen, loved your anthropological info – very interesting!)
Oh Keith, you're no "maroon." That's Elmer Fudd, and you sure as **** don't look like Mr. Fudd. Besides, in some alternate universe, maybe Danny Elfman IS from the 17th century. Expand your mind! 😀
Actually, that's Bugs Bunny, and the full quote is, "whadda maroon. What a ta-ra-ra-GOON-de-ay."
What you good sir, refer to as a waste of time, I call a stroke of genius.
I drive my friends and family nuts by saying every time I see Adam Dunn in the last few years "And here is Adam Dunn, played by Will Ferrell in this film"
I love nothing more than figuring out who looks like somebody.
how about Chone Figgins
And Willie Randolph
Bobby Cox should have listened to Dodger broadcasts. Jerry Doggett, who was Vin Scully's partner for 31 years (too many thought he was terrible, mainly because they compared him with Scully, the best ever), once said on the air that Alejandro Pe�a seemed to him to lack "the killer instinct" that a closer needs. I think it was a great description.
And Keith, don't feel bad about Danny Elfman. Nearly 20 years ago, I took the fellow Columbia grad student I was dating (she wasn't dating me, but that's another story) to the New York Philharmonic. I let her choose the program, which was all Mendelssohn. As we were leaving, I told her there was a section I recognized but couldn't put a finger on. She said I must have heard it on public radio or something. I said no, that wasn't it. Finally, as we were walking out of Lincoln Center, I turned to her and said, "That's it! It was in the first Road Runner cartoon!" The looks the people around us gave me. She thought it was hilarious. I thought the others were forgetting where they first heard classical music.
At least they got the scoreboard pictures right during the Mets/Nats game. During the second Cards/Braves game last week they put up a photo of ex-Cardinal Barton with new Cardinal player Barden's stats. And, if I remember correctly, Barton had just been traded to the Braves.
On the subject of the Nationals, what do you think about them landing Strasburg on June 9th? And what do you think about the whole Strasburg myth, both his talent and his "buddy, not agent" Scott Boras?
On the subject of the Nationals, what do you think about them landing Strasburg on June 9th? And what do you think about the whole Strasburg myth, both his talent and his "buddy, not agent" Scott Boras?
With too much time on my hands I delved into the murky back-alleys of this here inter-web in search of the subway race/music – and turned up a big, fat zero. But, as it's from a film I've still yet to see (just one i missed, I guess), I would not have recognized the music had I been successful. Glad, I am the riddle is solved.
Meaning no disrespect to both the Cincinnati Reds reliever David Weathers and the DreamWorks animated franchise character "Shrek," I would like to add that the two do indeed share quite a resemblance.
And believe it or don't, there was indeed an early 18th Century Composer (and cellist) by the name of Francesco Zappa. I kid you not.
Oh – the news show in shirt sleeves the other night I think was a good karmic balance to having earlier gone to a ballgame in the work clothes.
And, FWIW – boy, we Astro fans are sure liking Pudge in the local uni.
The Greene/Spicoli comparison has to be my favorite. But I'm surprised that nobody ever compares Phil Mickelson with John Lackey…i swear, if you dressed Phil up in a Halo uniform the only thing that would throw you off would be the fact that he'd probably pitch left-handed
Well, at least it wasn't Hoyt Curtin's music you heard, Keith. (OK, obscure pop-culture reference: Hoyt Curtin is the man responsible for that stirring piece of music "Flintstones, Meet the Flintstones…". Hell, he wrote pretty much ALL the Hanna-Barbera theme music, I think.)
Funny you mention the Nats. I just got finished watching yet ANOTHER bullpen disaster tonight. What had been a 4-all tie after 8 innings…turned into a 9-4 Cards win.
Go ahead. Make a mockery of me on "Countdown" over this. I've become numbed by the experience.
Nasty Nats Live Here (and Everywhere)
You?! A maroon?! For shame! Man, I've got you as the top pick for my "Biggest Celebrity Crushes" on my Facebook! And no, it doesn't work like your top five stories on "Countdown". You're the top pick because you really are my top pick. I'm on to you! 😉 (The other four are Jensen Ackles, Hugh Jackman, Zach Levi and Adrian Pasdar…) And I wouldn't put just anybody up there…
And as far as you being a time-waster, I'm probably worse than you because I sit here and read about your time-wasting adventures and I love it. My sister insisted that Danny from "American Idol" looked just like Robert Downey Jr. I denied it of course because that's just me and I'm contrary. Just for the sake of being contrary. Until Danny said on Idol this week, "If someone were to play me in a movie, it would be Robert Downey Jr." And now I'm thinking, "Great. He just confirmed it. Now I'm never gonna hear the end of it." Because Danny and Mr. Downey have a uncanny resemblance to each other when they've got the same look going on.
So as you can see, I'm the maroon. Not you, sir. Definitely not you.
Lol, love Breakfast Machine!
I wish I'd known about this blog sooner – this is a lot of fun to read!
Jared Washburn (Seattle) and Kefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer)
1YankeeDog in Surf City
Pity the Padres' sale-driven house cleaning deprived us of Greene. A common sight at Petco were the #3 jerseys with SPICOLI across the back. We'll see fewer of them now…
Just wanted to drop a comment and say I am new to your blog and really like what I am reading. Thanks for the great content. Look forward to coming back for more.


text:
Franklin, too, believed that
science transcended conflicts between nations. During the war
he issued a passport for Captain Cook, the British
explorer, who had set out on a voyage before the war began. He addressed a letter to all American ships,
recommending that Cooks ship not be seized, for the increase of geographical knowledge facilitates the
communication between distant nations . . . whereby
the common enjoyments of human life are multiplied and augmented, and science of other kinds increased
to the benefit of mankind in general.
The republic also transcended class lines. The
social backgrounds of American men of science ranged from the Boston Puritan establishment and the Southern planter aristocracy to that of Franklin himself.
Benjamin Rush, by Charles Willson Peale, 1783 and 1786. Winterthur Museum; gift of Mrs. Julia B. Henry, 1959.


text:
Horn Studio
Welcome to the horn studio web site at the University of Kansas, where Toto is nowhere in sight, the University is perched atop high, majestic tree-covered hills, and (modest) skiing is but an hour away!
Here at the KU Horn Studio, which has currently around twenty students, we have a supportive yet challenging environment for horn players. The studio is dedicated not only to mastering the technical side of the instrument, but in finding and communicating your unique solo voice. If you are looking to win an orchestral or military band position, get into that elite graduate school or simply want to play and teach the horn better, this is the place for you!
Feel free to peruse the site, and if you have any questions or would like more information, don't hesitate to contact me at email@example.com, or phone me at (785) 864-4525. I would be delighted to respond!
Dr. Paul Stevens
Professor of Horn
University of Kansas
Your first stop is to meet the KU Brass Faculty and get a general overview of the Brass Division.
"...Provides up-to-date news on horn events worldwide, interactive resources for horn enthusiasts, information on the activities and publications of The International Horn Society, and much more." (IHS site)
Includes a vast collection of printable excerpts and audio clips
MIDI-based accompaniments of horn solos»
These are great to practice to when you don't have an accompanist handy, plus with most MIDI software, you can vary the tempo, etc. to your own tastes
Professor Thomas Bacon's Horn Page is extremely well-done and offers a wealth of information to both the amateur and professional hornist
For more information contact: Paul Stevens


text:
Next weekend, composer Samuel Jones is retiring from a remarkable run as composer-in-residence of the Seattle Symphony. He has held that post for an unprecedented 14 years. As a fitting end of a great tenure, the orchestra will premiere his "Reflections: Songs of Fathers and Daughters."
Jones is the former dean (he was their first dean) and composition professor at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He was also a prominent conductor and teacher of conductors. One San Antonio connection comes to mind–he was one of Larry Rachleff's teachers. I worked with him when the Amarillo Symphony commissioned him to write a major work to commemorate its 75th anniversary. That work was called ROUNDINGS: Musings and Meditations on Texas New Deal Murals.
The Seattle Times reported,
"Amidst all the predictions of doom and gloom that art music is dying," says Jones, "every year comes along a new wave of high-school kids burning with desire and ability and talent to keep this art form alive. It's the most affirming thing I can think of in terms of the future of our art."
Jones' own artistic output is hardly slowing.
"I just finished the busiest compositional period of my life," he says. "I had four major premieres this year. I have a number of pieces people have asked me to write that I've had on the back burner. I've never written a string quartet, for example, and I'm extremely interested in that great challenge."
The piece he wrote for the Amarillo Symphony was the subject of a PBS television special that aired around the country. It was also released as a CD by Naxos. Here is the last minute of that PBS show with the Amarillo Symphony, James Setapen conducting.
ClassicsToday accurately described Sam Jones's music:
"Jones' musical style falls within the great American symphonic tradition of Copland, Barber, Hanson, and Piston, utilizing a primarily tonal language accented by occasional dissonant and atonal elements. The music's beauty and narrative quality keeps you ever attentive and listening for the next sequence, which is always rewarding." —Victor Carr, Jr. ClassicsToday
In an era where contemporary classical music is often marginalized, Sam Jones' s tenure in Seattle is an example of how to do it right. Along with the Atlanta Symphony's Atlanta School of Composers, it is one of the few programs that has had enough consistency to produce a body of work worthy of the title "Composer-in-Residence."
Congratulations, Sam!
P.S. Sunday (May 29) at 3 pm is the last Camerata San Antonio concert of the season. They perform two string quintets at the Travis Park United Methodist Church.
Jack Fishman
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
For more blogs by Jack Fishman visit: www.sasymphony.org/blog


text:
I was really wondering what I had just done. On the road with a young family which seemed like an eternity, only to land in some desolate town in the hills of Calabria. What on earth was I thinking, that I could just walk into a village in southern Italy and hook up with my long lost Calabrese relatives? We barely spoke any Italian; our lives were as different from these people as they could be. We had two young children, one in diapers, and we arrived in the midst of harvest, typical Americani.
I looked over to my wife, shrugged my shoulders and said "Let's walk back to San Fili, take the train and go back to Cosenza. There's nobody here who will claim us as kin." She could see the despondency in my eyes, hear it in my voice. I walked hunched over, at a loss to know where to go next. And then.
A fellow on a donkey ambles over in our direction. Kind of gruff and looking like Ray Bolger's scarecrow character in the Wizard of Oz. But we weren't on the yellow brick road, were we?
Mind you, my Italian was rudimentary, and we were deep in the hills of rustic Calabria, where the dialect was used more often than the vernacular Italian. A mixture of Italian, Greek, Albanian with some Spanish thrown into the salad bowl, making a language folks twenty miles away could barely understand. But we were young Americans, and the folks still remembered the soldiers who came through less than a generation before liberating the country from the Germans and the Fascists. They remembered the kindness of the Americani and we were in a place where hospitality was paramount.
What does one really mean to do when they come upon their roots? Is it expected there be a meaningful exchange that will last a lifetime, or is it simply an acknowledgment of those beginnings and then back to a life as one knows it? In those times, Americans were big into "roots". We had no wars; the economy was slumbering but moving, albeit at a snail's pace. It was the 70's, not one of those decades people long for nostalgically, like the 60's. The themes weren't big and heroic. But for a small family and one with limited means at that, this was a way to connect to something bigger than oneself. And it was a theme that would be repeated over the time of my life more than once.
And then they dropped a bomb on us. Out came a box with old letters postcards and photos. My grandmother must have missed her old country and family very much, because she wrote a lot of letters back home. And in one of them there it was, the key to our connection – a letter telling her family of the wedding of her daughter Elissa a young man, Louis. My parents. And a photograph to go with it.
And just like that, we had the connection. We were in. We'd come home. Family.
To be continued...
written by Alfonso Cevola limited rights reserved On the Wine Trail in Italy


text:
Lunate Cuff Bracelet - Odette, NY
Odette New York is a Brooklyn-based jewelry line inspired by organic and industrial shapes, natural specimens, uncommon artifacts, and primitive forms; made using ancient and modern wax carving techniques and hand fabrication.
With an emphasis on artistry and craft, each design begins from a pencil sketch that is carefully translated by hand into wax like a small-scale sculpture before being cast into recycled sterling silver or brass. Designer and maker Jennifer Sarkilahti is known for her hand-textured surfaces and use of highly polished brass as a signature to the collection.
This Lunate cuff is delightfully substantial. It's adjustable and comes in solid high polished brass.
Read more about our play date with Jennifer and see exclusive photos on our Journal


text:
Pineapple-Dulce de Leche Torta Recipe
Pineapple jam can be made up to three days in advance; cool completely and refrigerate in a covered container.
I prefer goat's milk dulce de leche, such as Coronado, but any variety of store-bought dulce de leche will do. For easier spreading, right before assembling the torta, place dulce de leche in small bowl and microwave 10 to 15 seconds.
I used two (14-ounce) packages Dufour brand frozen puff pastry for this recipe. If using Dufour, roll each thawed puff pastry sheet to a 20- by 14-inch rectangle and cut in half crosswise to yield the four sheets of baked puff pastry needed for this recipe.
You can also use two (17.3-ounce) package Pepperidge Farm brand frozen puff pastry, too. If using Pepperidge Farm, roll each thawed puff pastry sheet to a 16- by 10-inch rectangle.
This dessert is best served the day it is made.
- Yield:8 to 10
- Active time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Total time:2 hours, 30 minutes
- 1 large, ripe pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
- All-purpose flour for dusting counter and rolling pin
- 2 sheets Dufour brand frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package instructions (see notes)
- 1 1/2 cups dulce de leche (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Place pineapple in food processor and pulse until it becomes a thick puree. Transfer pineapple to large pot.
Whisk cornstarch and water in small bowl and stir into pineapple. Stir in sugar and salt and bring mixture to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until golden and jam-like, 45 to 60 minutes. Off heat, stir in butter. Cool completely, 30 to 45 minutes.
Lightly dust clean, dry counter and rolling pin with flour. Roll one thawed sheet of puff pastry to a 20- by 14-inch rectangle (see notes). Cut in half crosswise and transfer to prepared baking sheets. Prick pastry all over with fork and bake until golden, alternating sheets halfway through baking, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks. Once sheets are cool, transfer pastry sheets directly to cooling racks, roll out second sheet of thawed puff pastry, and repeat baking procedure. Cool pastry completely, about 20 minutes.
Transfer one baked and cooled puff pastry sheet to large platter or inverted baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread half of pineapple jam over puff pastry sheet. Top with second puff pastry sheet. Spread 3/4 cup dulce de leche over pastry (see notes). Repeat with remaining puff pastry sheets, pineapple jam, and dulce de leche. Dust confectioner's sugar over top. Cut into pieces with sharp knife and serve.
This Recipe Appears InDulces: Pineapple-Dulce de Leche Torta
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
The Olive Tree
Seminary Music: Book of Mormon
There's a call that comes to you and me.
Strong and clear, to share His truth and light.
It's our time to serve and bring new life
To a waiting, waiting world in need.
Each new day we'll nourish with his words.
Those who seek direction from above.
With our hands we'll share the Master's touch.
With our hearts we'll spread Hiss endless love.
Until He comes and His work is done,
We'll labor and we'll reap.
What joy we'll find this last time,
As we serve the King of Kings.
Heaven's eyes smile down as we declare
Words of peace so precious and so rare.
As we reap with tenderness and care
Truth and hope bless nations everywhere.
Text: Don Stirling
Music: Kurt Bestor
Arranged By: Brian Jensen
Artist: Felicia Sorenson