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Opposition 'treating national security as political plaything'
SHADOW attorney-general George Brandis's decision to go public with details of a briefing he received from Australia's intelligence agency has drawn criticism from a string of fired up ministers.
Four Corners aired allegations on Monday night that Chinese hackers had stolen top-secret blueprints of ASIO's new headquarters in Canberra.
When asked about the matter during question time on Tuesday Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the program contained "unsubstantiated allegations".
But Senator Brandis told Sky News on Wednesday he was told during his ASIO briefing the security breach had occurred "some time ago", and effectively accused Ms Gillard of misleading the Parliament.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus slammed Senator Brandis, describing his actions as "foolish, dangerous and incompetent."
Earlier Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese told reporters he was "surprised" Senator Brandis had shared details of the meeting.
"I'm not comment on a briefing to which I wasn't a part of between a security agency and a shadow attorney-general and frankly, I'm pretty surprised that the shadow attorney-general is commenting on briefings from ASIO," an angry Mr Albanese said.
"I don't intend to do it. I don't care what he says. I don't intend to comment on a briefing between ASIO and the shadow attorney-general to which I wasn't at and frankly, security briefings that I've had, I don't comment on."
The Coalition spent most of Wednesday attacking the government's national security credentials.
It hammered the government during question time, even taking the unusual step of asking backbencher Anthony Byrne a question.
On Monday Mr Byrne, as chairman of the intelligence and security committee, raised concerns in the Parliament about funding cuts to ASIO
In response to a question from Christopher Pyne, Mr Byrne accused the opposition of treating the issue of national security like a "political plaything".
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott raised Mr Byrne's concerns while addressing his national security team on Wednesday before they received a briefing from former ASIO boss Paul O'Sullivan.


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What Killed this GIGANTIC Mastodon and When?May 22nd, 2020
The Lone Star Mastodon is not just a big elephant, he's actually a huge reminder of our not too distant past. Estimated to be between 13-14ft at the shoulder, this behemoth took up a lot of space and ate a ton of food. A conventional elephant can put away 300 lbs of vegetation a day. Since Lone Star weighted upwards of 12 tons that's 24,000 lbs., it means his daily intake must have been almost twice that.
Found in a Texas gravel bed in 2004. Only the head and lower jaw survived, the two massive tusks were missing. What means ended this huge animals life is the mystery we are attempting to unravel.
From our "forensic eyeglasses", we begin with establishing what incontrovertible evidences first that help us understand the circumstances of this pachyderms demise?
The Evidence:
#1 Buried in soil that later became a mineable source of gravel.
#2 Skull in a fossilized condition
Let's explore what a gravel bed is first:
Gravel Bed – Wikipedia states: "Gravel is often produced by quarrying and crushing hard-wearing rocks, such as sandstone, limestone, or basalt." 2 are sedimentary (water based) or and 1 is volcanic.
Fossilization – These 3 atop aforementioned types of rocks provide one of the perfect conditions for fossilization.
Therefore this beast was encased in silt or volcanic ash, under extreme pressure, trapping its remains so quickly that oxygen could not begin normal tissue process decay. Time passed and voila a fossil.
But what knocks down a 16,000 lbs mammal and then encases it in dirt so fast, so complete that fossilization conditions can be met? To me it's hard to imagine our big tusked friend getting stuck in a watering hole, die and then somehow get covered in the manner required for fossilization to occur. It had to be fast and furious. Catastrophic.
Interpretation: Experts beliefs on cause of death and the age of the fossil.
Evolutionists claim that the last North American mastodon survived till approximately 8,000 B.C. and was killed off due to hunting. That's 10,000 years ago.
Creationists believe 2 events could have killed and fossilized Lone Star.
#1 – Caught in the worldwide flood 4,500 years ago.
#2 – After Noah's flood subsided many lakes and dams holding back the post-flood residual waters, burst and sent a secondary wave of catastrophic water inland and buried many animals, fossilizing them.
Let's sum this up:
Either way the time-line here is in question. Is it the evolutionists 10,000 years or the creationists 4,500 year age of the fossil?
Evolutionist's state every fossil is between 10,000 to 3.48 billion years old.
Creationist's believe most fossils are 4,500 years old resulting from a massive flood which caused the perfect conditions of rapid fossilization to occur.
Which then brings us back to the main question…
"How did our big buddy die? and when?"
Was it 10,000 years or 4,500 years ago?
Bomb Shell Evidence….in 2003, buried in a sand pit 50 ft away, from a fossilized Mammoth, in Clute Texas was found a wooden bowl, carbon dated at…4,200 years! The significance of this apparently anomalous find challenges the Mammoth and or Mastodon extinctions of 10,000 years ago.
4,200 year old Bowl next to Mammoth vs. Scientists dating of Mammoth no earlier than 10,000 years ago.(This particular fossil WAS determined to be 38,000 Yeats old) Which is it? Are the creationists correct in their 4,500 year dating?
To understand the further significance of this wooden artifact, go to our VIDEO which explains the Clute bowl in detail. Then ask yourself Apes, Aliens, or Adam?…You decide.
Now Showing!
The Lone Star Mastodon
at the Lost World Museum
75 State St. Phoenix, NY 13135
And can be viewed 24/7 at the Museum's
Exterior lit window display only.
Bone Digger Joe Taylor 15 minute Audio Interview CLICK HERE
Download *FREE* Q & A poster of the Lone Star Mastodon CLICK HERE
How to purchase a full scale replica of the Lone Star Mastodon CLICK HERE
Lost World Museum Opening May 25th 2020April 16th, 2020
For those who've been following us since 2005…thank you! For those here for the first time, buckle your seat belt.
15 years of build-up has created a very potent purpose for this site and museum. Which is for the express purpose to begin or begin again a dialogue in the mind of each visitor or among their friends, to discuss the origins question of whether we came from an Ape, an Alien or Adam.
No matter your conclusion, the museum environment will be free of a critical spirit that you find on many sites that espouse one flavor of the answer to the query.
So what does this all mean?
In the coming days and weeks we will be dropping more about us, it and why it matters, a little at a time before the official launch in May 2020.
World Famous Cy Kitten Finds a New HomeApril 13th, 2019
When the world was first shocked
On December 2005 an API national news story splashed on the Internet and newspapers with a photo of a one-eyed cat affectionally named Cy. Short for cyclops because Cy was a baby kitten born with one centrally located eye. The world 's reaction to the cute yet repulsive image was mixed with affection, amazement and unbelief. Many could not buy that the shocking photo was real. "Photo-shop" they claimed!
The Lost World Museum realized the poor kitty would allow our 1 year old web site on the Internet to piggy back the international recognition she had received but more importantly the cute one-eye mutant would exemplify a major talking point in the evolution vs. creation debate…Mutations.
Creation vs. Evolution debate
Cy was a product of genetic mutation. Evolution's main tenant of belief is that "Positive mutations" are vital to morph a rodent to a monkey to a human.
What we countered or rather what Cy said was, a mutation is either negative or at best neutral never "positive". Mutations usually kill organisms or reduce any kind of positive forward momentum in the evolutionary. That there are not any examples of "positive" mutations casts doubt that RNA 3 billion years could morph that RNA to us humans today.
2019 Cy Moves to a New Home
Joe Caltabiano from Oddities Bizarre contacted us through eBay and was very enthusiastic in becoming Cy's new owner. We decided to let Cy go to Joe and I'll tell you why. When we first launched the Lost World Museum with Cy, the media branded us as an oddity museum. This is far from our mission. And Cy, even though she fits so well with our evolutionary mutation discussion and mission had one problem. To see this specimen floating in her alcohol bottle environment, people found her as an oddity more so than the spokes kitten for creationism.
It was a tough decision, but Cy marched on to a better home with a new context with Joe Caltabiano as the new owner. To learn more about Cy. First visit Joe's web site at www.odditiesbizarre.com and read his cool story of the Cy-clops kitten by Clicking Here
Also visit our Lost World Store. Cy still has an amazing story to tell. On the back of this 3-part photo card set, Cy goes into detail about her short life, the media reaction plus she challenges the evolutionary position of "positive" mutations as a building block for evolution's amoeba to man hypothesis.
We wish Joe Caltabiano at Oddities Bizarre all the best…and fair well Cy.
The Last Jedi – Star Wars Fans Frustrated.December 18th, 2017
*UNWARNING* (This article contains NO spoilers)
Since the release of the new Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi, it has been met with intense fan dissatisfaction to the point, and I quote, "Terrible movie…..I'm done with Star wars….I've read over a 100 star wars books…I'm out" Fans are feeling empty, the movie franchise has not made good on what people are looking for.
Back in 1982, while in the US Navy, each night I'd listen to the Empire Strikes Back on audio cassette, a dramatized recording which fed an intense desire to join Han and the crew to fly aboard the Millennium Falcon saving the universe.
Frustrated! No matter how much I wanted to step though the movie screen or melt into the pages of a Han Solo novel, it was impossible because it's a fictional story, there is no Han Solo, light sabers are press camera light bulb handles and Ewoks are fuzzy costumed actors conceived in Lucas's commericalized mind.
Two years later, while relaxing on board my ship, the USS Alamo, I was taking a break and uncharacteristically read the Book of Revelation, a prophetic book found in the Bible. As I read these 1,900 year old verses, something so incredible, so unexpected, totally changed the course of my life…I discovered The Real Star Wars Story;
Enter the graphic novel by Jim Pinkoski titled The Star Lords Controversy. Pinkoski captures the essence of this story from the scriptures, with an easy to read compelling captions with colorful illustrations retelling the original good vs. evil story. Guaranteed to fill and satisfy your wants of true adventure. Because it's a true story, it will not, it cannot disappoint.
Take a closer look at this incredible graphic novel HERE

subset: commoncrawl


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The news that many progressive US senators as well as vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine signed on to an Israel lobby letter designed to limit President Obama's actions against the Israeli occupation, now nearly 50 years old, has been widely reported, but the plain facts need to be stated.
Yesterday the Israel lobby group AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, flexed its muscle against President Obama and on the side of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu by posting a letter signed by 88 senators warning President Obama not to back any international measures that would pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories.
We urge you to… make it clear that you will veto any one sided UNSC [UN Security Council] resolution that may be offered in the coming months.
The brave senators who did not sign this letter include Democrats Patrick Leahy of VT, Bernie Sanders, Tom Carper of Delaware, and Dick Durbin of Illinois, along with Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky. The letter was circulated by NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and got many progressive signatures: Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken, Amy Klobuchar, Ron Wyden, Tammy Baldwin, Chris Murphy, Barbara Mikulski, Barbara Boxer, Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey, Jack Reed, right along with John McCain, Mike Lee, Lindsey Graham and John Barrasso.
AIPAC issued a press release announcing the letter and highlighting this passage: "Even well-intentioned initiatives at the United Nations risk locking the parties into positions that will make it more difficult to return to the negotiating table and make the compromises necessary for peace… we must continue to insist that neither we nor any other outsider substitute for the parties to the conflict."
The letter is entirely consistent with the Democratic Party platform pushed through by Hillary Clinton in July, which removed references to occupation and settlements; Cornel West said then that the party was "beholden to AIPAC."
Haaretz's Barak Ravid's interpretation:
Fearing post-election UN peace push by Obama, 88 Democratic and Republican senators tell president even well intentioned initiatives could make it more difficult to resolve conflict.
Jason Ditz at antiwar.com:
The letter was penned by the lobby at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office is concerned that years of acrimony between him and Obama might lead Obama to not veto a French resolution on the peace process if it comes between the November election and the day he leaves office.
There is that French initiative:
In the absence of any US led initiative, France has since made a push for a multi-lateral regional summit and has spoken of a resolution before the United Nations Security Council to set the contours of a new peace process.
President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are to meet today in New York. The president is expected to launch some sort of initiative re the occupation in the last months of his presidency. His speech yesterday to the UN General Assembly offered just one line on the conflict:
And surely, Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel, but Israel recognizes that it cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land.
Obama aide Ben Rhodes told a press briefing yesterday, "I wouldn't rule out the President taking any particular step on the issue," but he dampened expectations, with pointed reference to settlements:
In terms of our own plans going forward, we don't have plans for the President to pursue a new initiative at this point. We do want to raise our concerns directly with the Israeli government, and the President said in his speech today that he does not believe that, ultimately, it's in the interests of Israel to continue an occupation and to continue settlement activities.
At Tablet, Yair Rosenberg reports that Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Ben Sasse all did not sign the letter because it didn't go far enough in support of Israel (and against the two-state solution, in Cruz's case). All three are being drawn right by Sheldon Adelson's financial contributions to Republicans. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is another firebreather who did not sign the letter.
The collapse of so many progressive Democrats can also be laid at the feet of campaign finance.
Emily's List founder Stephanie Schriock explained the influence of AIPAC on progressive congressional candidates at a J Street event in June:
[W]here [are] you are going to go to raise the money that you needed to raise to win a race. And you went to labor, you went to the choice community, and you went to the Jewish community. But before you went to the Jewish community, you had a conversation with the lead AIPAC person in your state and they made it clear that you needed a paper on Israel. And so you called all of your friends who already had a paper on Israel – that was designed by AIPAC – and we made that your paper.
JJ Goldberg of the Forward said at that same public session that of the 14 biggest donors to Democrats, only one is not Jewish. "That's gigantic in the terms of American politics." He also said:
You ask a Democratic fundraiser, where do you get the money from? "Well from trial lawyers, from toys, from generic drugs, from Hollywood. From Jews." Those are all essentially Jewish industries… When you are raising money, you need to find rich people who are not right wing, and there are not– pardon me for saying this, there are not many rich goyim who are not right wing. Forgive me for saying that….
Elizabeth Warren ran away from questions about the Gaza slaughter of 2014. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has led the noble effort to cut off aid to Saudi Arabia because of atrocities committed in Yemen. But he refuses to say a word against Israeli atrocities in occupied territory. Chris Murphy and Rand Paul joined in this effort at the Center for the National Interest two days ago. There was no mention of Israeli war crimes there either. Though Rand Paul did not sign the AIPAC letter.


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Dozens of Indiana schools are taking part in Project Lead the Way -- an innovative program designed to prepare students for jobs in high-tech engineering. Currently, more than 130 high school students participate in the program, enhancing their job prospects in a challenging economic climate.
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text: The Triumphant Quartet (formerly Integrity Quartet until 2005) is a United States Southern Gospel group that performed at the The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. They sang at the theater from 2003-2005, when it was known as The Louise Mandrell Theater. They now travel on a full-time concert schedule. The group consists of David S… Read More


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Westminster Community Homes' Intermediate Rent Scheme
This scheme, available on properties owned by Westminster Community Homes only, is aimed at assisting applicants earning between £20,000 and £39,000.
The scheme will offer access to a limited number of one bedroom properties located throughout Westminster. These are let on an 'assured short-hold' tenancy agreement for 12 months. There will then be the option to sign up to further one year tenancies (subject to you still qualifying for intermediate rent at the end of each 1 year tenancy), for a maximum tenancy of 3 years in total.
Ultimately, the scheme is aimed at encouraging people to save a deposit for their onward move, whether that be becoming a home owner via one of the low cost home ownership schemes or renting a new home elsewhere.
Applicants who are ineligible to apply – those who currently have intermediate rental tenancies in Westminster, also those who have previously been Westminster Community Homes intermediate tenants.
All Homeownership Westminster residents will automatically be considered for this scheme and prioritised according to their priority banding. It is therefore important to ensure that those interested in the scheme are fully registered with the service.


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Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève
Centres of interest
Nature en Ville (in french)
The Garden of smell and touch
The Ethnobotanical Gardens
Useful Tropical plants
The Greenhouses
The Winter Garden
The Greenhouse complex alongside the railway track
The garden of smell and touch
The most interactive part of the Botanical Garden, situated in the Terre de Pregny, the Garden of smell and touch facilitates the tactile discovery of numerous plants and the identification of species by their odour. For certain of them perfume diffusers are provided. This area is especially adapted for people with diminished eyesight, handicapped people and young children.


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Dr Irvin Yalom is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Stanford University. He has won two major awards from the American Psychiatric Association. He continues to run his clinical practice and lectures widely.
"[A] collection of insightful case studies that read like life-affirming short stories. It's a must-read for human psyche buffs." --Express in the UK, one of the best books of 2015 "With every page come new introspections, each retelling reveals more of Yalom's genius therapy techniques and of the human capacity for mental healing and growth...The book as a whole is simultaneously quite intellectual and astoundingly accessible." --San Francisco Book Review "[A] highly engaging book... Whether Yalom has figured out how therapy works will probably be less important to most readers than his brilliant writing, deep insight, and candid sharing of occasional clinical errors. As he's done in popular offerings such as Love's Executioner..., the author employs colorful prose and a practiced eye to make each client full blooded... By sharing his fascinating interior monologues from the clinical hour, Yalom also offers a master class in how to do good therapy. This is one of those rare books of equal interest to beginning therapists, advanced practitioners, and nonprofessionals curious to learn what goes on behind closed doors in the sanctity of the therapy chamber." --PsycCRITIQUES "Creatures of a Day is a series of moving, if partly fictionalized, tales illuminating Yalom's hand-crafted approach to treating grief, loss, regret and, above all, encroaching mortality... [Yalom] is a student of the human condition whose literary, as well as therapeutic, voice mixes wonder and humility." --Boston Globe "[Creatures of a Day is] a book that circles around the crisis of our mortality and finds redemption in our capacity for growth, in love and in language... [Yalom] tempers his admissions of his shortcomings with a confident narrative voice and a generous attitude toward both himself and his patients." --Palo Alto Weekly "Like Love's Executioner, which established Yalom's preeminence as a storyteller illuminating the drama of existential therapy, Creatures of a Day is funny, earthy, and often shocking; it is a radically honest statement about the difficulties of human life, but also a celebration of some of the finest fruits -- love, family, friendship -- that life can bear. We are all creatures of a day. With Yalom as a guide, we can find in this book the means not just to make our own day bearable, but meaningful -- and perhaps even joyful." --Between the Covers blog "In a profession that exists exclusively behind closed doors, it's rare and precious to get a real peek through the window to witness the raw power of the therapeutic process... This book is the best of its kind I've read to date, offering a tender and credible look behind the curtain, through a powerful series of vignettes." --Miranda Palmer, PsychCentral "Creatures of a Day serves as something of a companion volume to Love's Executioner, again offering 10 revealing and creatively crafted clinical case studies of real people... Throughout, Yalom is wise and well-read, citing passages from Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Marcus Aurelius, Yeats and Greek mythology... Through Yalom's gentle wisdom, expertise and leading -- coupled with dream recognition and patients taking him through the minutiae of a day in their lives -- bonding and healing occurs... [He] welcomes each new case and patient dilemma with an analytical mind, personal empathy and an innate curiosity that drives and shapes the two-person narrative dramas that fill this book." --Kathleen Gerard, Shelf Awareness "Novelist and psychiatrist Yalom offers 10 tales from his clients that illuminate the gifts of psychotherapy, particularly the hopeful lessons one can glean from it in the context of aging and death... [He] has genuinely inspiring insights to share about the value of therapy... The stories Yalom offers of his patients' failures and triumphs are frequently moving and will invoke the reader's empathy." --Publisher's Weekly "Poignant and beautiful insights from a wise therapist looking back on a career, a therapist who happens to be a writer I greatly admire -- Creatures of a Day is just what the Doctor ordered!" --Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone "In Love's Executioner, Irv Yalom invented a new literary genre: narratives of psychotherapy with the pathos of great fiction and the insight of great essays. For those of us who learned so much about human nature and the human condition from Yalom, the publication of Creatures of a Day is a reason to celebrate." --Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and The Sense of Style "Personal, honest, sensitive, and respectful, Yalom, now in his 80s, describes frustration and mistakes amid much success. His combination of confidence and humility shows how these qualities work in psychotherapy -- a process too often burdened with theory and/or mystique... This book will inspire therapists at any stage along with lay readers intrigued by the psyche, relationships, and the possibilities of change." --Library Journal (starred review) "[Yalom] writes amiably, certainly sympathetically, and always wisely from his point of view as an octogenarian therapist who has seen it all -- well, maybe almost all -- and who has some useful thoughts about the mysteries of the mind... [He] offers plenty of pointers for up-and-coming therapists and does so without staking out ideological territory in the ongoing battles among post-Freudians, post-Jungians, and post-everyone-elsians. A humane, highly knowledgeable glimpse of the therapist's couch." --Kirkus Reviews "Reading these tales is like having a quiet chat with someone who has had a very interesting day. There is no scholarly effort needed; the stories speak for themselves. They also offer a dividend -- greater insight into life in general and perhaps a situation in particular, with some pretty vivid characters along for the journey." --Buffalo News "Yalom keeps the reader enticed with personal narratives that are concise, profound and well-woven into his overarching theme... Rather than adopting a fatalistic view of the inevitable, Creatures of a Day embraces the power of human resilience. And by demonstrating the capacity to repair and better ourselves through an authentic healing relationship, this book presents us with a remedy more powerful than any fad or pill could promise." --Washington Post "Irvin Yalom has, over the last 40 years, become a master of the art of psychotherapy storytelling. To his latest collection of clinical tales, Creatures of a Day, Dr. Yalom has brought his characteristic warmth and wisdom, but there is something new here as well: urgency... The result is a collection of tightly written and deeply moving testaments to the brevity of life and the existential imperative to live it well." --New York Journal of Books "Yalom is a magisterial writer, of both novels and psychological nonfiction. And he has done it again in this well-crafted, beautifully written, and thoughtful compilation of 10 different case studies of patients dealing with their anxieties about death, loss, and the passage of time, all highlighting the importance of coming to grips with our brief span of life in the psychiatric therapeutic encounter... This is an erudite book, profound yet straightforwardly conceived and captivatingly executed." --American Journal of Psychiatry "[A] poignant and bracing collection of stories based on [Yalom's] therapeutic work. Yalom, a published novelist with decades of clinical experience, offers vivid and generous descriptions of patients brought face-to-face with their mortality... Watching 'Irv,' as his patients call him, convince patients to unpack their baggage is the chief pleasure of this book. He is overtly kind, sympathetic, and generous, but subtly merciless." --Los Angeles Review of Books "[A] stunning collection of essays chronicling [Yalom's] years as a therapist." --Salon "Yalom presents case histories like puzzles needing to be solved, stories in which Detective Yalom reveals his methodology while highlighting the sometimes frustrating yet ultimately fascinating uncertainties of his profession... [T]his is a wizard who pulls back his own curtain, allowing readers an intimate behind-the-scenes view of the elusive therapeutic process." --Barnes & Noble Review "A quarter of a century ago, I wrote a review in the Tribune of Yalom's first book for the general public, Love's Executioner & Other Tales of Psychotherapy, a similar collection of case studies. What struck me then and what strikes me now with his latest book is Yalom's willingness to expose his flaws and failures... Just as Yalom's description of the hard-working but flawed therapist rings true, so do his descriptions of his patients and their struggles, especially their struggles with the reality of death... Yalom sees the therapist as a poet. He sees therapy as an art. And he sees his clients as fellow poets, working the high wire, alone and with him. In their sessions, he and they are alive to the moment -- or trying to be. And that's what life is, isn't it?" --Patrick T. Reardon, Chicago Tribune "Irvin Yalom has produced a book of such piercing depth that to enter into it is transformative. You feel less like you are reading Creatures of a Day than that it is reading you. Only a handful of books can accomplish such a feat. Give praise that one more has entered this rare and precious list." --Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, MacArthur Fellow and author of Plato at the Googleplex and Betraying Spinoza "I've been a deep admirer of Irvin D. Yalom's writing -- in fiction and nonfiction -- for many years. In Creatures of a Day, he brings together his profound sense of human suffering and joy with a novelist's eye for detail, for narrative moment. These tales of therapy ring with truth, inviting us to consider the most pressing (moral, spiritual) questions with awe, with hope for transformation. A moving and original work." --Jay Parini, author of The Last Station "These individual accounts of emotional challenges and resolutions shine a brilliant light on what it means to be human and to need help. Together they disprove the book's title in a glorious way: they are a permanent beacon of sanity and compassion and thus transcend the very fact of mortality that they often concern." --Daniel Menaker, author of The Treatment and My Mistake: A Memoir


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Configurable Infrastructure
UKCloud for Oracle Software is provided within the UKCloud Information Assured cloud platform with a wide-range of network connectivity. UKCloud provides and maintains the core infrastructure that will allow you to bring your own Oracle licensing and build a solution unique to your needs. This provides flexibility to scale your resource usage as your needs evolve, without the historical on-going hardware investment associated with Oracle.
This service is provided within the UKCloud's Multi-Cloud platform with a wide-range of network connectivity. UKCloud for Oracle is designed to enhance our unique capabilities such as; assured connectivity to PSN, HSCN and Janet communities, multiple security domains and 100% UK sovereignty via a licencing compliant Oracle specific technology cloud.
UKCloud for Oracle Software has been designed and tested for compatibility with the most popular Oracle applications used in citizen-facing solutions today, including:
eliminates compatibility, performance and support issues as the cloud is designed specifically for Oracle software
compliant with Oracle's licensing requirements, enabling you to license only the processor cores used
means that Oracle workloads operating on the UKCloud platform aren't subject to the types of movement that can unbalance Oracle applications running on other cloud platforms
enables you to add or remove resources in line with your understanding of the performance requirements of your solution
this can be spanned across on-premises, private cloud and Crown Hosting to support your hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, as well as mitigating risk through geo-resilience
create solutions spanning multiple geographically dispersed UK sites to increase resiliency of your solution. This also allows a secondary site to be utilised as a Disaster Recovery region
feel supported to get the best from your application
architect solutions with confidence that applications and services remain available
make compelling citizen facing services, whilst ensuring data remains safe
have confidence in who has access to your data
solutions on a cloud that aligns with NCSC best practice
choose the right network to connect your solution to
This service allows you to:


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Teuta Rexhepi
Haus properties are one of the most professional agencies that we have encountered in a long time. To tell the truth, we sought the services of haus properties because of Laura - she is amazing at her job, always happy to help and professional throughout. She is reliable and delightful to work with. She made the whole process of renting our property pain free and smooth and I'm absolutely sure we couldn't have rented out property in such short notice without her 'magic'.
Mark Holmes
Laura Purvor at the new Haus Properties Askew Road branch, hit the ground running, found me ideal new tenants, and timed the handover to perfection. She 'kept calm and found a solution' when we hit an administrative hiccup. Brilliant. Great Haus team too.
Julian Brown
This agent is a breath of fresh air!! A highly professional, yet informal approach to their business. A combination an energetic attitude, good advice and fun approach, makes for an excellent result. Sales and lettings are first class.
Oliver Borch
Quality people and outstanding service. Haus Properties were with us from start to finish and incredibly helpful, responsive and pleasant throughout. One of the best experiences I have had with an estate agent and would highly recommend them.
Matt Smith
Haus Properties are by far the most professional, friendly, and helpful agents we have ever dealt with. They helped us to achieve well over the price we expected for our house, so we were delighted! Thank you so much to the Haus team for all your hard work and advice throughout the process.
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I recently sold my house with Haus properties and was very happy. James and Becca provided a great service through out always available for advise and updates, plus it was always nice to visit the office on Wandsworth bridge road and get a coffee. great estate agents.
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My visit to Haus Properties was impressive . I was looked after by Dicky as the lettings negotiators were out running viewings. The warm welcome and hospitality fits the interior design it portrays .."home feel" ! I'm very big on costumer service and am also studying property , therefore I am very happy to rate you "5 stars". First impressions last even though I left details and wasn't called back - the warm initial welcome was enough to push me to call back the next day.
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Accounts Tim Allen
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Max Bromfield
Highly consultative Negotiator, only showed me properties that fit my exact criteria and a pleasure to deal with throughout. Couldn't recommend more.
Sophie Goodwin
The boys at Haus are just brilliant. Endlessly kind and helpful, in my opinion they're forging a new way forward in the property market. They give impartial, wise and intelligent advice, which (and this is the important bit) will benefit YOU and not just them. Every Haus outfit is full of smiles, they aren't annoyingly pushy and you are guaranteed to have an excellent experience. Oh and they are honest and trustworthy too. AND the office in Shepherd's Bush has a swing.


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Bobby Bowens
Bobby Bowens
Born Horace ''Bobby'' Bowens in
Edisto Island, South Carolina and started his music career at an early age,
singing in church choir's and playing drums at record hops while attending Jane
Edwards Elementary and Baptist Hill High Schools. He migrated to New York city,
where he perfected his talents, playing in different bands and with hundreds of
Bobby Bowen & Shades Of Magic "Gotta Keep Reaching For The Top" (Galactic Star/Move 1984)
1 Let's Stop The Clock (Vocal)
"It's All About Love" (Tampa Soul 2004)
1. Affection
"Great, Great Woman" (Tampa Soul 2005)
1. Doin it on the beach
"The Rump Shakers" (Tampa Soul 2007)
1. She's Got a Lump For a Rump
**1/2 "Rump Shakers" has some mid-quality, keyboard-based, booty-bumpers like "She Got A Lump For A Rump (Rump Shakers)" & "Scratch Your Itch" that could get some radio adds in the unstoppable Southern Soul underground. There's also a couple fine slowies like "One In A Million" and "Get Down On It". The latter chimes in on the continuing "what women want" in the sack dialogue.
The first seven songs appear to be the newly recorded jams as the following seven are obviously transferred from LP or cassettes from different eras, making this feel like a mixtape. Personally I find it frustrating when the professional mastering process was skipped and you have tracks with different volume levels (EQ) back to back on the same disc. You know what I'm saying, you pop a CD in, adjust your stereo's volume for the right loudness but before you know it the next song blasts from your speakers, nearly giving you a heart attack! Or worse the volume drops to almost nothing and you have to adjust the volume on each song. It's enough to give you carpel tunnel. Fortunately, it only happens once here, on the awful track number 8, "The Way You Love Me". From there we take a trip down memory lane from the 80s Pop of "Can't Get Enough Of You" to the New Jack Swinger "Let's Do It Again", followed by synth Funk, "Reaching For The Top" and the appropriately-titled "Flash Back", which is late 70s Disco. The liners don't explain but many of these tracks likely come from an LP called "Bobby Bowens & Shades Of Magic" for Move Records in Scotland(!) or Bowens' rare solo album "Let's Do It Again". Whatever the case he was a better vocalist back then compared to now (the first seven tracks).
"Shining Star" (Tampa Soul 2010)
1. America Rises and Shines
"Luvin Those Young Girls" (Tampa Soul 2012)
1. I Need to Be With U Tonite


text:
13-Year-Old Pitching Phenom Mo'ne Davis Will Release A Memoir Early Next Year
The book, to be released by Harper Collins Children's Books, aims to "encourage young readers to reach for their dreams."
Mo'ne Davis, the 13-year-old girl who made history as the first girl to pitch a shutout game in the Little League World Series, is taking her inspirational story from the plate to the page.
Harper Collins Children's Books will release Mo'ne Davis: Remember My Name on March 17, 2015.
From the jacket copy:
An inspiring story of a courageous young girl who learned to play ball with the boys, only to outshine them on the national stage in the most watched Little League World Series of game of all time. Mo'ne Davis's story is one that will encourage readers to reach for their dreams no matter the odds, young girls to play ball with anyone, and add a new chapter to the rich history of women in baseball.
In October, Davis starred in a commercial for Chevrolet, in which she proudly says, "I throw 70 miles per hour. That's throwing like a girl."
In an announcement, Lisa Sharkey, Senior VP, Director of Creative Development, HarperCollins Publishers, said:
As the mother of 3 former little league players (one of whom is a girl) there was nothing that excited me more than watching Mo'ne Davis hurl that fastball, turn heads, make news and delight fans, boys and girls alike. I know Mo'ne will inspire legions of fans to get out there and do what they think is impossible and not let anything hold them back.
Lindsey Adler is a sports reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Lindsey Adler at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Got a confidential tip? Submit it here.


text:
Pairing: Liz/Wesley
Spoilers: through 4x22
Word Count: 2,751
Summary: Liz and Wesley run into each other on a couples' cruise. And then get shipwrecked. Alone. Together.
Author's Note: vega_ofthe_lyre gave me the prompt 'Shipwrecked,' as could apply to anyone or anything. Yesterday, I was struck with this grand epiphany. Mwa ha ha.
So, guess what, world: there's something worse than booking tickets for a couples' cruise with your awesome boyfriend, breaking up with your awesome boyfriend for the seriously messed up reason that he's too awesome and it was starting to freak you out and, honestly, kind of make you bored (sidenote: get a cat, just bit the bullet, just do it, this is your life now. Cats), going on said cruise solo for slightly petty reasons along the lines of SUCK IT, THE SKY, finding out that hey, you are super-prone to seasickness, and stepping out of your room after three days of steady barfing to discover that the person in the cabin next to you is none other than Wesley freaking Snipes, and you wish you were talking about the one from Blade.
And that worse thing is getting shipwrecked off the coast of Alaska on day number seven. And being the only survivor. Apart from, yep, Wesley freaking Snipes.
Still not the one from Blade.
"Really, Liz," Wesley says, after spitting a bunch of salt water into her face, "you had your chance."
"That was mouth-to-mouth. I was saving you, moron."
Wesley gives her a smug look that is somehow extremely British. "That's what they all say."
"Who's all?" Liz demands.
Wesley goes conveniently deaf.
"And what the hell kind of island is this?" she continues furiously, glancing around them. The sky is gray, it's freezing, the beach is covered in rocks instead of sand, and there's a dense thicket of spruce trees like fifty feet inland. The odds of Josh Holloway striding out of the jungle shirtless get lower and lower every second. Not that she had actually been ... counting on that. "Couldn't we at least get shipwrecked somewhere tropical??"
"Ahh," Wesley says appreciatively meanwhile, as it starts to rain. "It's rather reminiscent of the first flush of a fair English summer, you know. It's just like Wordsworth once said--"
"Bite me so hard, you pretentious British idiot?" Liz suggests.
"I believe that was Byron," Wesley replies, untroubled. He chuckles. "A saucy rogue, if there ever was one."
Liz sighs.
Liz starts gathering what driftwood she can -- signal fires are a thing, right? Although she's not really sure how they'll do the actual flames part -- and tells Wesley to rearrange all the bigger rocks on the beach into a sign, in case any planes fly over. He huffs and puffs his way through that, while Liz huffs and puffs her way through wood-gathering, and she thinks that if the universe keeps being an asshole and forcing them into each other's lives, maybe they should both get a gym membership or something. Assuming they survive.
Actually, if they survive, she kinda just wants to go home and eat a lot. And catch up on all the episodes of So You Think You Can Dance she's missing.
"All done!" Wesley calls after about a half hour.
Liz comes over to survey his handiwork.
"Wesley," she says slowly, "this says 'pus.'"
"Well, of course it does, silly," Wesley replies, like she's the stupid one in this conversation. He adds, super-pointedly, "P.U.S. -- 'preserve us swiftly.' Duh. Maybe you've heard the classic ABBA song of the same name. But I suppose I wouldn't count on it, considering your lackluster taste--"
He scoffs. "Maybe in America--"
"I thought this was part of Russia," Wesley muses. "Isn't that what that rather charming minx of a bespectacled woman sa--"
Liz sinks down onto the ground and decides to wait for death.
"D'you think they can see us from here?" Wesley adds, peeking hopefully out at the horizon. He waves jauntily to the imaginary Russians.
Liz decides she's too hungry to die.
"Never fear, my sweet!" Wesley says. "I shall pluck sustenance for you from the ocean's tumultuous depths."
"My sweet?" Liz repeats, baffled, and reminds him, "Wesley, you hate me."
"I know that," Wesley says. "I just figured, well -- you, me. An exotic isle. No other options." He wriggles his eyebrows. "What do you say?"
"I say no. A lot."
"But Liz, loathsome as the idea is, it really does seem like the universe is trying to make a point here--"
"Yeah, well, the universe can suck it. The only reason we kept running into each other was so you could lead me to Carol. Got it??"
"Ah, yes, Carol," says Wesley. "How is that fiancee-stealing brigand?"
He knows. He so knows.
... To be fair, he found her alone on a couples' cruise.
"Go fish," Liz orders grumpily.
Wesley beams. "Tally ho, mon cherie!"
"Ugh," she mutters.
Wesley actually gets a fire going by rubbing two sticks together, so that they can cook the three fish that he plucked from the ocean with his bare hands. When Liz points out how freakish this is, Wesley modestly replies that he's watched a lot of Man versus Wild. Or, well, what he says is Bloke versus the Outdoors, but she's already getting pretty good at translating British-to-American in her head.
Sitting in the dark by the crackle of the fire and trying not to pay attention to the fact that what she's eating right now has a face, Liz informs Wesley, "Carol is perfect."
She just feels like it's important to get that out there.
"Well, huzzah and hey-nonny-nonny for Carol," Wesley scowls.
"He is," Liz says firmly. "Perfect. Like ... really just ... so ... perfect."
"Your point being?" Wesley demands, raising his eyebrows.
"My point being, I earned him. And yes, I get it if that sounds entitled and stupid. But I did. After Dateline predator subway heroes and ... and wonderful guys with their Caitlin-shaped marital bliss, and hooks for hands, and you -- oh, God, especially you -- I earned perfect, okay??"
"Okay," Wesley says, looking at her like she's the bonkers one. Pfft.
"And ... you know, okay, yes, maybe it got to me a little. How his face would always light up when he saw me, and how our senses of humor were so similar that we kept finishing each other's jokes. Which was awesome at first, but then kinda just got like, 'Well, what's the point of jokes?' And, you know, sometimes, I just want to be grumpy! On a coffeeless morning! Or during a certain ... month time--"
"Ugh," says Wesley.
"--and, you know, usually I'm surrounded by freaks and weirdos, and I'm okay with snapping at them once in awhile! It's just me. They get that. They do way worse to me on a regular basis, so I feel like I'm entitled to a little bitchiness. But Carol -- Carol was always so nice to me. Not everyone. Just me. Like I was ... his really special lady. Like I could do no wrong. And sometimes, I would just find myself looking at him and thinking I WANT TO BITE YOUR FACE OFF."
She realizes that she's strangling the air a little bit.
Wesley stares at her.
"Besides," she adds in a yeah-I'm-not-weird kind of grumble, "he looked like a slightly older, less hot Matt Damon, and I've always been an Affleck lady."
"Liz," Wesley says, "would you like to bite my face off?"
"All the damn time, Wesley," Liz replies truthfully. "All the damn time."
"Hmm," Wesley says, and smiles a little.
They huddle together when they go to sleep, for reasons like body heat and survival. There's a lot of 'Oh, jeez' and 'No hands there! No hands there!' and 'Was God drunk when She--' (eyeroll) '--conceptualized your bone structure?', but finally they reach a spooning-esque position that's doable. Liz, of course, has to be the big spoon.
Ooh, Liz! says the voice in her head that sounds a lot like Jenna. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!
What, Voice in My Head That Sounds Like Jenna? Liz replies with a mental sigh.
Stranded on a deserted island sex!
Uh, Jenna Voice, there is no way I'm--
Oh, come on, Liz! We're always talking about how you need to embrace your inner hoochie mamma.
That's you who talks about that. Only you.
That's not important. Anyway! What better chance are you going to get than right now?? You could make a memory that would last forever.
Jenna Voice, I hate him. You know that I hate him.
Oh, that will just make it better! Like the time Andy Dick and I got stranded at that shopping mall--
Hmph, says the voice in her head that sounds a lot like Jenna.
Liz wakes up to a vague rustling sound. The first thing she realizes is that somehow during the night they shifted around enough that Wesley's arm is around her waist now, which surprisingly isn't so bad.
The second thing is that there is a BEAR LIKE TWENTY FEET AWAY FROM THEM.
"Wesley, Wesley, Wesley, Wesley, bear, bear, bear!!!"
"There's no time for that now, Rose, the daleks are invading!!" Wesley says sluggishly without opening his eyes.
"WESLEY," Liz says, punching him in the shoulder.
He opens his eyes and does this stupid flailing thing at the sight of the bear. Which stands up on its hind legs and says, "RARRRRRR."
"This is not good," Liz says. "Wesley. Quick. Solution."
"We could ... exeunt," Wesley suggests, with a lofty little wave of his hand.
"Pursued by a bear???"
"Well, excuse me! I haven't had my Twining's Lady Grey yet, I'm hardly to blame if I'm not firing on all cylinders!"
"Oh my God, just switch to coffee, you freak--"
"Never! A vile liquid--"
"RARRRR," says the bear again.
"Quick," Wesley says, "dance at it. That stupid thing you do with your elbows. It'll flee at once. Maybe even drown itself in the ocean. Lord knows I wanted to."
"Uh, one: that dance is not that bad. It's quirky on purpose, okay. It's endearing--"
"You certainly seem to think so," Wesley mutters.
"--and two: when have you ever even seen me dance??"
"I may have caught an episode of your little television programme," Wesley says. "Streamed illegally from London, by the way."
"Someone cares enough to stream us illegally?" Liz says, going momentarily starry-eyed.
"No," Wesley says waspishly. "And -- and anyhow, it was that one where no one came out onto the stage for five minutes, and then you appeared, went, 'I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time -- to party!'" (His impression of her is freakishly accurate, down to the expression of poorly concealed self-loathing.) "And then -- well --" His elbows jut out in the stupidest imitation of her not-that-stupid dance ever.
"Jenna and Tracy got into a spur-of-the-moment dance off during the commercial break," Liz says reminiscently. "Some things got sprained. I had to act fast."
"Yes, well. Anyhow. It was terrible."
"You've been keeping tabs on me," Liz realizes.
"As you blasted Americans say: nuh uh."
"You have."
"Perhaps I just wanted to ascertain," Wesley says stiffly, "that it was a good thing that the one that got away ... got away."
"RARRRR," says the bear, who seems a little pissed about being ignored.
"We should probably get away," Liz says. For like .5 seconds she actually feels a little relieved that they're about to get bear-mauled, because at least it stops her from having to pay attention to whatever feelings she's having about this. Not that there necessarily are any.
Turns out, they don't get eaten by a bear. A conveniently located helicopter lands on the beach, which sends the bear running past Wesley and Liz and into the woods. Jack steps out of it. Which is somehow simultaneously the most and least surprising thing in the world.
"Lemon," he says, "what on earth are you doing here?"
"Shipwrecked. What are you doing here?"
"Avery and I are partaking in a spot of bear viewing before the Palin-Johnston wedding this afternoon. But Lord knows I didn't expect to see you."
"Well, thanks," Liz says. "For saving us from getting eaten by a bear."
"You could have just done your elbow dance at it," Jack replies. "I'm sure that would have taken care of things quickly."
Wesley makes an approving little noise.
"Ah, Mr. Snipes," Jack says, looking at him. "What are you doing here? Wait, Lemon -- wasn't this a couples' cruise?"
"We ran into each other," Liz replies sharply. "On accident."
"I'm sure you did," Jack says, in this totally condescending I'll-humor-you way.
"Hallo, Jackie boy," Wesley says, grinning.
"Ah, Wesley," Jack says, shaking his hand with way too much enthusiasm. "A pleasure to see you again, old chap. Did I do that right?" he adds, of his (totally legit) attempt at Brit speak.
"Not at all," Wesley answers, still beaming.
"Why do you like him???" Liz demands of Jack.
Jack merrily ignores her.
At the wedding reception, Liz gets mistaken for Sarah five times. Two of those five times, it's Todd sneaking up behind her to grab her ass. Really just the best day ever.
She spends most of the evening sitting by Wesley at one of the tables (the centerpieces are bullet-ridden beer cans with tinsel draped daintily around them) and guzzling champagne while she watches Levi and Bristol dance like awkward middle schoolers at a dance. Until a fast song comes on, in which case things get very quickly grindy and gross. She idly ponders what TGS skits could come out of this, and wonders if Danny would be willing to dress up like Bristol.
Her gaze drifts over to Jack and Avery. They're in each other's arms on the dance floor, and they look polished and elegant and sophisticated, but also just ... really, really happy. Avery's just starting to show, and Jack's hand keeps drifting absently to her stomach. It tends to make Liz hit the champagne harder. She's happy for Jack. That goes without saying. He's one of her best friends, and he and Avery are great together. But at the same time, it's like: he had two amazing women who were totally ready to make a life with him, and he played them in a distinctly douchey way, and what did he get out of it? A gorgeous young girlfriend and a baby on the way.
Liz gets that she's not the world's best person or anything, but -- she's wanted a baby a lot longer than Jack has, and she's tried a lot harder (and looked a lot stupider) shooting for the whole happiness thing.
Why, she thinks, didn't I just stay with Carol?
The answer is: because it wasn't there. She's not sure what it is. Just that she and Carol didn't have it.
Still. Carol never made fun of her elbow dance. Carol danced way dorkier than her.
Liz sighs, and watches Jack dip Avery down and then pull her back up into his arms again. They laugh and kiss.
Oh, yuck, she thinks, because sometimes she just has to be five. She sighs.
"Are you all right, Liz?" Wesley asks. He sounds way too discerning.
"Yeah," Liz answers as airily as she can. "I'm just ... sad for Kathy Griffin, that's all. She had a lot invested in ol' Levi."
Wesley casts a glance to their right, where Kathy sits on a corner of the dance floor fake-sobbing dramatically and getting handed tissues by her assistants.
"She's certainly no Catherine Tate, is she?" Wesley says, sniffing.
Liz looks back at Jack and Avery. "Do you want kids, Wesley?"
"Wesley II, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Eugenia Maud," Wesley answers promptly. Then he clears his throat and awkwardly adds, "Er. If the right bird were to come along. But it's hardly a big deal, I'd say. If it never happens, so be it. No skin off my shin."
"Not an expression," Liz reminds him.
He ignores her. "Why? D'you?"
"Yeah," she says simply.
He looks at her. She just stares back. She's tired and she still smells like salt water, and sometimes hating him just plain requires too much energy.
"You wanna dance?" she asks him.
"Oh God no. Well, all right."
He stands up and offers her his hand, and for a fleeting instant or two he seems practically gallant. She slides her fingers into his and prepares to have her feet stepped on.


text:
Just so you know, I am sharing my WYLTC project today... and its awesome. Just saying.
A few weeks ago a neighbor friend of mine asked me if I could help her daughter make a project for personal progress. Her daughter had a good idea of what she wanted to make, just didn't know how to go about it. I was so excited. I got to a have an apprentice!
It was so much fun taking her shopping, teaching her how to use modge podge, and helping her design the graphics to cut in vinyl. And it turned out adorable!
Didn't the ribbon flower turn out cute?!
It was fun helping her and even more fun seeing how proud she was of it.


text:
Audio: http://peihsf.ca/leaders-debate
Video: http://peihsf.ca/debate-video
Transcript: http://peihsf.ca/debate-transcript
The 11 questions that were posed to all 4 leaders were:
- Do you support the election of school board trustees to the English Language School Board?
- What qualities will you look for in your key leadership positions: the Minister and Deputy Minister of Education?
- We heard this morning about a group in Nova Scotia that includes unions, home & school, schools boards and the department that works collaboratively to develop a unified, cohesive plan for education. Would you commit to establishment of a similar group on PEI?
- The current commitment is to outfit all Island schools with wifi in 4 to 5 years. Is this soon enough?
- How do you propose to address the current inequities across the province with respect to French education?
- This morning the Home and School Federation passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a province-wide school lunch program. Will you commit to working with home and school to move this issue forward?
- The School Act establishes free school privileges for all students. Yet there are an increasing number of student fees, sports fees, and obligations to fundraise. What will you do to return PEI to being a leader in the provision of free, equitable education?
- There are many important services that are offered outside the classroom by professionals: psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists. These services have long waiting lists. How will you address this?
- What is your position on the role of standardized testing in the education system?
- Our classrooms are larger and more complex than they have ever been. The school board tell us "there's no gas left in the tank" for staffing, and teaching positions continue to be cut. Will you commit to returning our schools to adequate staffing to ensure well-resourced, inclusive classrooms?
- Our schools range in size from 60 students to more than 1000. Do your plans include possible school closures in the future?
Many more questions were formulated as part of the morning discussion at the annual meeting. All of these questions are being collated and will be distributed shortly as an aid to inspiring discussion with local candidates. Stay tuned to the PEI Home & School Federation website for updates on those at http://peihsf.ca/.


text:
CSCI 243 - Continuity and Risk Management
Course DescriptionThis course presents the principles, structures, and processes of risk management. Methods for applying general risk management theory, best practices and resources to the different phases of emergency management will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on the application of risk management strategies in mitigating and preparing for disasters and major emergencies.
Sample Course OutlineDistance Course Outline (subject to change)
Relevant Programs
- Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Digital Forensics : Required Courses
- Emergency Management and Response Planning : Required Courses
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) : Electives (select 2)
- Survival in Urban Disasters and Emergencies : Required Courses (select 3)


text:
What's a liberal to do with Yoo?
No, I'm not especially inclined to reopen this can of worms, but looking at Brad DeLong's latest foray into the John Yoo controversy seems to me to be a helpful way to bring into clearer relief some important aspects of the debate over liberalism that's lately been raging in these parts and elsewhere. So here goes.
Depending on your perspective, you might think that what John Yoo did during his time in the OLC was some or all of the following: (1) gravely sinful, (2) grossly immoral, (3) criminal, (4) an instance of shoddy legal work, or (5) a serious violation of professional standards. (Of course, you might also think it was heroic, terrific, patriotic, or basically unobjectionable, but in those cases this post isn't the post for you.) Not all of these judgments constitute, however, sufficient reasons for Yoo to be fired from his post at Boalt Hall: academia is a funny place, after all, and tenure is tricky, and we don't just go firing people simply because they've said or done things we happen to find (even extremely) wrong or objectionable. And so predictably, DeLong bases his argument for Yoo's dismissal on considerations in the vicinity of nos. 4 and – especially – 5, though he does raise the charge of criminality as well: Yoo's arguments in the torture memos were, he says, a poor model of the sort of professional behavior that law professors are supposed to model for their students; they were not an example of the sort of honest scholarship becoming a university; there is reason to think that Yoo's arguments were a matter of political convenience rather than a forthright expression of his own views. "Academic freedom", writes DeLong,
… is a powerful and important principle. But I do not believe it provides a shield for weathervanes. I do not believe it shields those whose work is not the grueling intellectual labor of the scholar and the scientist but instead hackwork that is crafted to be convenient and pleasing to their political master of the day.
Now, looking closely at the situation it's hard to believe that judgments of gross immorality aren't a significant factor here, too; in any case, it's hard to imagine his case garnering this kind of attention if the moral and political stakes weren't so high. But the crucial thing to see is that from a certain perspective the issues of scholarly shoddiness and professional misconduct – and perhaps criminality, though I'd be happy to explain in the comments why I think this turns out to be much less relevant than one might think at first glance – ought to be the only ones that matter in a case like this: if you think (as is, of course, a natural thing to think if you're in these parts) that academic freedom, and freedom of expression more generally, constitutes the supreme value in the academy, then you're likely to insist that no mere utterance, unless it was one that amounted to something akin to a breach of contract, is itself grounds for the loss of an academic post; hence DeLong's letter centers on the claim that Yoo's arguments were not the sort of speech that falls under this rubric, and he
seems to grant chooses not to challenge (ed: see Prof. DeLong's comment below – JS) the assumption that if they were an instance of such speech then they'd not have been a fireable offense.
This can, however, be a hard consequence to swallow, and it's not a long way from there to a position like the one that Noah alluded to in response to Damon Linker, namely that while freedom is certainly a value, it's not at all obvious that it's the supreme one, and in any case making the argument that it ought to have such a status is going to require venturing into territory that looks suspiciously metaphysical. And it is, I think, precisely with an eye to staying out of this latter territory that so much of the criticism of arguments like DeLong's take a primarily legalistic form, focusing on the claim that universities aren't allowed to fire or censure people like Yoo, rather than straightforwardly arguing that they shouldn't do so. Free speech rules, because that's the law; just don't ask me to say any more than that.
That's not, of course, to say that there are no reasons why someone who thinks that Yoo's work at OLC was criminal, sinful, or severely unethical might not still think that he shouldn't be fired; for an argument to this effect that goes beyond the purely legalistic, see the post of Brian Leiter's that Reihan excerpted here. And it may be that that argument, or another like it, should carry the day; to be quite frank I'm horribly conflicted about this question, and am much less confident that John Yoo should be fired than that he should be made the subject of a war crimes investigation, and perhaps pelted with eggs. But the point is just that if you think that John Yoo did what I think he did and still think that he shouldn't be fired, then you seem to think that the University of California is a rather extraordinary place: not just a "neutral" place, but a place where the commitment to neutrality has been elevated to such a height that it calls for some sort of substantive – and dare I say metaphysical? – justification. Why isn't it possible, one wants to know, for other sorts of values to figure in our deliberation, and to be weighed against the value of academic freedom to see which one triumphs? (All of this is made much more complicated by the fact that the alternative values on offer here are in a very important sense liberal ones; no one is proposing that professors be held to religious tests, or forced to take an oath of loyalty, but only that they not provide flimsy legal cover for moral atrocities.) Free speech, goes the thought, is a good thing, and we ought to protect it – but not in every case, and not at every cost.
To sum up: either you agree to weigh the value of freedom against other values, in which case you're doing metaphysics; or you defend the value of freedom as absolute and inviolable, in which case you're doing metaphysics; or you eschew such concerns and focus only on the legal questions, in which case you're avoiding metaphysics at the expense of failing to face up to the weightiness of the issues at hand.
P.S. I really liked this comment from Alan's earlier post on this subject:
Having a sexual affair with a student might not be illegal, but the university can recognize it as a moral scandal and fire you for it. I wish the moral scandal of helping the USA become a nation that tortures people were equally obvious.


text:
One of the reasons my dad is great is because when my son Graeme asks him to draw a pirate, he grabs whatever paper and writing implement is to hand and effortlessly produces stuff like this:
Or this:
At this point I need to make a confession.
"Forgive me, Parents who have been Parenting Longer than I, for I have sinned. Before I had children, I was inclined to Judge Thee In My Heart Without Knowing What the Heck Your Life was Like."
"I wrongly believed that any Child Enamored of Violence Had Been Left to His Electronic Devices to Absorb the Evil Influences of Movies, TV, Violent Video Games, and Martial Arts."
Now that I'm six years into this parenting racket, I'm not ready to call "nurture" an "assumption", but I'm much less Blank Slate than I used to be. My boys, they have a very limited media diet. I'm a pacifist, for cryin' out loud! Nonetheless, my boys crave pirates, knights, and anything involving weapons. They just do. They always have!
Graeme (3) even wants to change his name to "Graeme Pirate Stone." Oh, and? He's not satisfied if a pirate has just one deadly weapon. They must have, at least, a sword and a dagger–
My dad was initially reluctant to give in to every request for a drawing, fearful that Graeme would not stretch out his own little creative wings and make his own art. Never fear, Dad. Graeme carries the pictures around with them, colors them in, scribbles on them, and is {finally!} starting to produce his own Scary Art:
{Have I mentioned that Graeme also has a thing for TEETH? "Make teeth, Grandpa. Scaryteeth."}
But the best part of Graeme's obsession with his grandpa's art is the way he sits by, watching delightedly, occasionally even panting with utter delight and anticipation as he watches Grandpa's squiggles, dots, and lines become something that quickens his pulse, frightens him just a little, and fascinates him a lot.
Watching that tiny boy's delight is almost sacramental, and I don't say that lightly.
{Even if I do wish he was delighted in Grandpa's drawing of somewhat less gruesome subject matter.}
Those of you who have children: have you ever been surprised by the things that capture their imaginations?


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Project Description
EGH Home Care is a great example of how US Signcrafters designs and manufactures signage to match existing building designs creating a cohesive viewing experience. This project features a large road side main ID sign with an EMC, dimensional building signage and a smaller ID sign that marks the actual entrance. All were elegantly designed to fit in with the surrounding architecture.
Project Details
- Client Beacon Health
- Date June 13, 2014
- Tags Architecture, Design, Manufacturing


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Purchase & Sale
DJP's Real Estate attorneys work closely with our client to structure, negotiate, finance, and document real estate purchase and sale transactions across a spectrum of asset classes, including commercial, industrial, residential, retail, and resort properties; mining and mineral estates; apartment complexes and condominiums; department stores, shopping centers, hospitals, hotels, storage and warehousing facilities, subdivisions, and raw land.
Significant Areas of Service
- Purchase and Sale
- Secured Lending
- Environmental Law
- Water Law
- Public Land Law
- Construction Law
- Development and Management
- Zoning and Land Use Planning
- Affordable Housing and Community Development
- Fund Formation and Investment
Patent Primer: Learn the legal steps to protect your idea
We're Here For You
With more than 90 attorneys, Durham Jones & Pinegar is a leading law firm in Utah, offering a spectrum of services in various practice areas. These include Business & Finance, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, Estate Planning, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, Employment, Family Law and more. The firm was named No.1 in Utah for its business and transactions law practice by Super Lawyers.


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- The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 27, Issue 2_Part_2, 1 Mar 1978, p. 398 - 399
Klamath (KLA)
Strain: M-1056
Information from: Harald N. Johnson, California Department of Health, Viral and Rickettsial Disease Leboratory, Berkeley, California.1
Antigenic group: Ungrouped.
Original source: Isolated by H. N. Johnson at Virus Leboratory, Berkeley, California, from brain and lung tissue of immature Microtus montanus found dead while under observation in laboratory. Trapped alive on 29 January 1962 in upper Klamath Leke area, Oregon, Let. 42°N, Long. 122°W. Habitat: Irrigated pasture at elevation of >4,000 feet. Storage: Tissue specimens inoculated at time of collection.
Method of isolation in laboratory: Tissue suspension inoculated into infant mice by ic route on 5 February 1962.
Validity of isolation: Virus not reisolated but first isolation of this virus in the laboratory. A total of 3 isolations was made from the same animal; 2 from brain and 1 from lung.


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Here is our list of the top 5 must have travel apps for any getaway. The apps have been tested by our staff and customers and have been perfect for use with our travel sim cards. Without further ado, here is our list!
Forget about collecting separate apps for all the airports and airlines you will be using and let FlightAware collect them all in one app for you. FlightAware will allow you to track any flight in real-time, receive alerts and be instantly notified of airport delays. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices and it's free!
With many of our customers visiting many American airports in their USA adventures, this app is perfect with out USA Travel SIMS.
Google Translate
We know, this is one that we are all aware of already! But it would be a crime to keep it off the list, as it will always be so damn useful in any foreign language country. We particularly loved using Google Translate while navigating our way through the Tokyo train network with our Japan travel sim cards. Google Translate is available for both iOS and Android departments.
AroundMe is a fantastic app that lists all nearby banks, bars, hotels and all the other things you'd be very interested to find while travelling. Don't waste anymore time wondering aimlessly on your trip – let AroundMe do all the wondering for you. Available in iOS and Android.
Flush – The Public Toilet Finder
We may not be proud of it, but it has most definitely happened to each and every one of us. When you have to go, you really have to go and your body cares not where you are. Flush uses your phones GPS to find the closest public toilet to you. Between us, I desperately used Flush while in Bangkok and with the help of my Thailand travel sim, I avoided a messy situation. Available in iOS and Android.
Lounge Buddy
Flight delayed and got hours to kill? Well then this is the app for you. This app provides you will instant access to over 170 airport lounges world wide. Book entry right through the app! Available in iOS and Android.


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About this Holiday House
Enjoy Waihi Beach holidays at One Fyfe: a chic, sophisticated and stylishly comfortable bach just a few minutes' walk from the popular north end of Waihi Beach. • Electric blankets on all beds • Underfloor heating in the bathroom • Wood fire and heaters • 5 minutes walk to the beach • Recently renovated bathroom and kitchen with nespresso, nutribullet and dishdrawers • Blackout blinds for a great nights sleep • Huge lawn and double story tree house • Kid friendly: boogie boards, beach trolley, highchair and travel cot This unique seaside retreat has recently been renovated to a standard worth writing home about. No fusty, mismatching garage-sale furniture or outdated seashell designs here! One Fyfe's interior is a haven of peace and tranquillity. A captivating coastal theme is woven throughout, creating a bright, breezy and effortlessly cool space that's perfect for kicking back, relaxing and soaking up everything this stunning location has to offer. One Fyfe's living area is presented as one airy space with a lounge, dining area and fully fitted kitchen complete with Nespresso machine and double DishDrawer. In the lounge, a muted palette of soft whites and greys is complemented by a golden rimu floor, while the kitchen is crisp and clean in matte white with a tonal stone bench and whitewash-effect tiles. The stylish bathroom is thoughtfully designed with an integrated utility area and underfloor heating for the cooler months. Our three bedrooms comfortably sleep up to seven adults, and are equipped with everything you need for a peaceful night's rest. Laid-back hues and bold maritime blues are teamed with bright white furnishings and sumptuously soft fabrics to create a serene ambience and true home-from-home comfort. For our littlest guests, a travel cot provides a cosy place for sweet dreams of seaside adventures. Out back, One Fyfe boasts an enormous open space for children to play games and explore, with the added benefit of being fenced along the road frontage. Our amazing multi-storey tree house – complete with pirate flag, bean bags and a top deck with ocean views – provides hours of fun for kids young and old! Just 350 metres away is Waihi Beach itself, with nine kilometres of sweeping white sand and one of the safest surf breaks in New Zealand. One Fyfe's location at the north end of the beach, where the sand is at its widest and the surf lifesaving club is nearby, makes it the perfect choice for anyone wanting to try their hand at water sports. One Fyfe is ideal for couples and families looking for a relaxing summer holiday with the freedom to do your own thing. The fully equipped kitchen and BBQ make it easy to self-cater, but if you'd rather explore the local eateries you'll find Hot Pipi Café, Waihi Beach Hotel and the newly refurbished Flat White Café just a stone's throw away. Please note: There is a small gap in the fence at the rear of the property. Love to Reno? Love the beach life? Suffering from insomnia? We suggest you follow One Fyfe Beach Bach on twitter @OneFyfe for regular dispatches on building work, barefoot recipes and gems discovered on the #RoadToWaihiBeach. If Facebook's more your thing then search One Fyfe Beach Bach and Like our page. And if you fancy going all the way we are also on Pinterest and Instagram @OneFyfe. Just sayin.


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Indicative Rate * AU$20 to AU$100
Backpackers In Paradise is situated in the heart of Surfers Paradise, just a minute's walk from the transit centre, beach, clubs, restaurants and tourist attractions
Free: wi-fi, breakfast, courtesy bus pick up, fresh linen, Jacuzzi, swimming pool, hammocks, table tennis, sundeck, luggage storage, movies, sports channels, barbecue area, body boards, sunscreen, on-site parking and nightclub passes.
Facilities include en-suite bathrooms in all rooms, rooms cleaned daily, female only dorms, large communal kitchen, massive central courtyard ,lockers in all rooms, cinema room, 50 foot pool, 24 hour full site Wi-Fi, pool tables, laundry, bike and surf board hire, tour desk and nightly entertainment.
Their on-site Paradise Cafe is open in the morning and evenings and serves hot meals and barista made coffee, while their famous Billabong Bar mixes you up the coolest drinks.
Guests can come into the hostel and use facilities before the check-in time from 8am.
The four bedroom dormitory consists of two bunk beds, large mirror in the bedroom, lockers for guests, fan and a bathroom with shower and toilet.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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« The Pace of Change is Not Just Faster — It's Speeding Up | Main | Every Student Can Become a Good, Capable, and World-Improving Person »
The Goal of Education is BECOMING (Not Learning)
Is the goal of education "learning"?
Pretty much everything you hear and read about education these days assumes that "learning" is the goal for our students. And all this focus on "learning" — how it occurs, whether it's happening, how to measure it, how to make more of it happen better and faster is leading us astray from our real goals.
Our real goal in educating our kids, and sending them to school, is NOT learning. The real goal of education, and of school, is becoming — becoming a "good" person, becoming a more capable person then when you started, and becoming someone who is world-improving.
Learning is nothing but a means of accomplishing the goal of becoming, and it is misleading to confuse the ends with the means.
Learning might be the right aspiration if we wanted our children to become learnèd (in the old sense of "knowing stuff"), or scholars, as some parents and teachers still demand.
But that's hardly today's ambition for most of us — or our kids. Although we all like our kids' getting good grades, what we really want, through education, is for our children to become the very best people they can be, capable of effective thinking, acting, relating, and accomplishing — in whatever field they enjoy and have a passion for.
Yet, with the exception of some independent schools and the small character-based education movement, the only type of becoming that our conversation about education and school seems to focus on is the one in which young people "become" a member of a particular college class.
School focuses almost exclusively on kids' learning four basic subjects: math, English, science, and social studies (My personal acronym for this is the MESS). Our tests — big and small —are an attempt to put numbers around learning the MESS and to rank students in their acquisition of it. Ad infinitum we ask: How much are our kids learning? Are they learning enough? What is the best way to measure their learning? How do they learn best? What gets in the way of their learning? Are their schools making adequate yearly progress?
But wouldn't it be more instructive — to our kids and to us — if, instead of asking our kids "What did you learn in school today?" we asked them "What did you become today that you weren't before?" If we asked "Have you moved in a positive direction to better yourself and society?" That's the information we really want to know as concerned parents, citizens, employers, and taxpayers.
Rarely do we require our K-12 kids to become anything because of school — besides good test-takers. We certainly don't expect them, by means of their education, to become what the Dalai Lama would call "good" people. Nor do we expect them to become good thinkers, actors, relaters, or particularly effective in our rapidly changing world, except, perhaps, in tiny and often outmoded number of ways. We talk with students about "changing the world," but rarely do we use their school time to do projects that actually improve the world.
Don't misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong with our kids' learning; in fact, there is a great deal to be said in favor of it. But it should be seen as a means to an end. Learning for its own sake — enjoyable as some may find it — is pale compared to learning as a means to becoming. There are probably billions of people in the world who have finished school without "becoming" what they could have — people who may have acquired knowledge and skills through their education, but have accomplished little or nothing.
We can do much better.
(Next: A better means to "becoming". )
Your comments are always welcome.
(Note: A version of this post was originally published in Education Week)


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The last couple of years have been quite eventful for the folks at Yahoo.
First, they locked down Geocities during October 2009, followed by employees being laid off the next year. Shortly came the news that Delicious might just shut down as well, which was then explained as an idea of changing handsand not let the service die on it's own.
Oh and the company also have a visitor tracking community system or something called MyBlogLog which is also going to shut down in May24 2011.
But wait, there must be something in the middle. Flickr Head of Product Matthew Rothenberg has recently announced that he will be leaving Flickr shortly.
Here is what the tweet reads:
Here goes: after 5 years, I will be stepping away from Flickr. Will miss working with such a talented, hard-working, and hard-drinking team.
As it turns out, Yahoo will lose yet another loyal employee who has been working as product head of Flickr for the last 5 years. This is the third departure in a row in the last couple of years, the earlier resignations were signed by Flickr Co founders Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake in 2008.
Flickr has been under fire for quite some time now. With the growing popularity of other photo sharing and community websites like Facebook, it's no wonder that Flickr is unable to generate the attentionand continue it's growth in numbers, interest and popularity. Only last month, the company accidentally deleted thousands of photos of a Zurich based photoblogger, leaving his precious photo collection dead in internet space.
MG Siegler from Techcrunch has an official declaration from Yahoo, which reads:
Matthew Rothenberg has made the personal decision to move on to a new endeavor. In the interim, Markus Spiering will be stepping in as head of product management. Flickr continues to have an innovative, energetic and creative leadership team that is dedicated to its community of members. Flickr remains a key priority for Yahoo! and we are fully committed to making it the best photo-sharing experience on the Web.
Don't get busy backing up all your Flickr photos yet – they will remain alive for some time, I guess.


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COMMITS information
"Small businesses criticize recertification"
The Commerce Department is preparing a solicitation for the successor to its Commerce Information Technology Solutions (COMMITS) governmentwide acquisition contract.
The new vehicle will give smaller companies a better chance of winning work, and it will incorporate changes in an effort to provide agencies with better value, said Michael Sade, director of Commerce's Office of Acquisition Management.
COMMITS is designed for small businesses and is largely geared toward technology firms. The sequel, to be called COMMITS NexGen, will continue that tradition.
The proposed changes are not final, Sade cautioned. Commerce has sent the GWAC's business case to the Office of Management and Budget and expects to issue the formal solicitation later this month.
Several strong themes emerged, however, as the department considered what it had learned through the first COMMITS contract, he said at a meeting of the GWAC special interest group of the Industry Advisory Council.
The follow-on contract will not evaluate a company's teaming arrangement with other firms when determining if the company will win a place on the contract, he said. It makes little sense to judge the capabilities of teams before the companies are hired to solve a specific agency problem, he said.
"We formed teams around tasks that we had no idea what they were going to be," Sade said of the first COMMITS effort. "What we will evaluate is your capability to build a team. I think that's more important than who are you bringing to the table for unknown tasks."
Commerce officials also plan to create a tiered system, so the smallest of the small businesses won't have to compete with larger small businesses. "Small companies will be able to compete up," he said. "Large companies will not be able to compete down."
This decision is partly a response to the Small Business Administration's proposal to require small businesses on GWACs to recertify their size annually, an idea Sade dislikes.
"Small businesses don't become large businesses overnight," he said. Fostering business growth is "our mission, and I don't think you take a company's business away just because they are successful."
Sade plans to watch the companies on the new contract to ensure they use it well. Some companies on the current vehicle have ignored counsel from Commerce or other advisors on ways to make more sales.
"I'm not sure we need to be spending government funds to help companies that don't what to grow, that don't want to help the government find solutions," he said. Commerce may choose not to exercise optional extensions of the contract for companies that behave that way on the new vehicle, he said. Sade also envisions maintaining a "second string" of companies that narrowly miss the cut for the new vehicle and a mechanism to add some of them as vacancies occur.
The new contract's ceiling has not yet been established, but Sade said it will be higher than the $1.5 billion limit set for COMMITS.
Although Sade is enthusiastic about the new contract, he cautioned that federal agencies may be too quick to look to GWACS or General Services Administration schedule contracts to avoid holding full and open competitions.
The multiple-award contracts have their own limitations, he said. They limit competition to the firms already on the contract, meaning the government may miss a broader range of technology options. The contracts also make it difficult for agencies to use contracts with performance-based incentives for companies.
The multiple-award vehicles "should not always be first choice, which they often are today," he said.
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Real World article
(written from a Production point of view)
(written from a Production point of view)
- From the back cover
- Greetings, old comrade!
- I trust that this message finds you well and that your career is going smoothly. It has been a long time since we were in contact, and so it is difficult for me to presume by asking for a favor. What I ask I cannot explain, but much depends on this.
- You will be contacted by a Vulcan named Salak, who is on a mission of utmost secrecy dealing with a renegade Romulan. I urge you and a few of your best fellow officers to aid him with his mission, though you will have no official Star Fleet sanction.
- Do not attempt to contact me. I cannot respond, and would be forced to deny all.
- For whatever it is worth, I wish you all the luck that humans seem to put so much faith in.
- …Sonam"
- Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.
- Editor-in-Chief: William John Wheeler
- Production Manager: Karen Vander Mey
- Art Director: Dana Knutson
- Cover Art: David Deitrick
- Graphics, Layout, and Illustration: Dana Knutson, Todd Marsh, Norman Miller
- Typesetting: Karen Vander Mey
- Proofreading: Donna Ippolito
Community content is available under CC-BY-NC unless otherwise noted.


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With the season now nearly six weeks old, and with a slight pause in the racing this week before Strade Bianche on Saturday, and Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico the following week, it's time to look back at the opening races of the year and pick out some of the winners and losers.
Despite missing out at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne this weekend, Quick-Step Floors have been the most successful team so far this year, racking up 13 UCI wins already, courtesy of six different riders.
>> Subscribe to Cycling Weekly this Autumn and save 35%. Enjoy the luxury of home delivery and never miss an issue <<
Six of those victories came at the Vuelta a San Juan thanks to Fernando Gaviria, Tom Boonen, and Maximiliano Richeze, before Marcel Kittel swept up three stages and the overall at the Dubai Tour.
Two wins behind Quick-Step are BMC Racing. Along with Greg Van Avermaet's win at Het Nieuwsblad last weekend, the team has managed to take overall victories in three stage races thanks to Richie Porte at the Tour Down Under, Ben Hermans at the Tour of Oman, and Rohan Dennis at the Tour de La Provence.
At the other end of the spectrum come Cannondale-Drapac, who are the only WorldTour team yet to take a victory in 2017 after Dmitry Gruzdev took Astana's first win of the year at the Asian Cycling Championships yesterday.
The closest that Cannondale have come to a victory is Simon Clarke's second place on stage five of the Ruta del Sol, with Sep Vanmarcke's third place in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad being the team's only podium in a WorldTour race.
Alongside Astana there are two other teams with only a single victory: Bahrain-Merida, whose only win came back in January at the Vuelta a San Juan, and Bora-Hansgrohe, who have Peter Sagan to thank with his win at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Among Professional Continental teams Direct Energie are the most successful with four wins, while six teams are yet to chalk up a victory.


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From 2005, we, Nawab Enterprises, are working to take the style bar of people high with our Fashionable Clothing as well as home furnishing items. Our trend focused company with efficient human & capital resources is designing and serving an impeccable product range to the customers. We have maintained hi-tech machines & equipment for all the works including cutting, stitching, finishing, dyeing, etc., so as to have perfection in the array. Moreover, our well expanded shipment network and focus on taking the feedback of customers have helped us in improving and registering tremendous growth in the market. Our Impressive ArrayNawab Enterprises, is a Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh, India) based famous company, which deals in the following mesmerizing products:
Key Facts:-


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Performance: Games Testing
Our test beds were well equipped to handle gaming too, delivering strong performance across the board on our games tests. We ran four modern games, to get a general idea of performance: Codemasters' Dirt 2, Activision's Call of Duty 4, Eidos' Just Cause 2, and GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. The tests were run at a 2560-by-1600 pixel resolution, with the highest possible settings.
That their performance is nearly identical isn't too surprising. The Core i5 2500K doesn't offer Intel's Hyper Threading technology, but in this case, the graphics card is the limiting factor. That said, these are rather strong results. Our tests are performed on a 30-inch display, with every conceivable setting cranked up -- lower the settings a bit, and even the aging discrete graphics card won't stand in your way.
Intel's second-generation of integrated graphics aren't quite ready for enthusiast level gaming, however. When the the graphics card was removed, our Core i5-2500K testbed failed to offer playable frame rates at any resolution, on any of our tests. If you'd rather not purchase a discrete card (or your new PC doesn't offer one) less demanding titles -- browser-based games, or Blizzard's World of Warcraft, for example -- will perform reasonably, at medium settings.
But all is not lost: new features like support for 1080p Blu-ray playback and stereoscopic 3D will make things a bit more appealing for Compact desktops, or smaller notebooks and netbooks that rely on integrated graphics to maintain a low profile.
Media Encoding with Intel's Quick Sync
Of special interest on the revamped integrated graphics is the new, hardware-based accelerated video processing -- Intel has dubbed it Quick Sync. Quick Sync is designed to speed up video encoding tasks without the aid of a discrete graphics card, when you're using software that supports the functionality.
It's all invisible to the end user. We gave Quick Sync a try, and compared its performance to video encoding on several other machines. We tried the Core i5-2500K testbed running on Intel's integrated graphics and using an AMD Radeon 5870, the Core i7-2600K equipped with an AMD Radeon 5870, an All-in-One desktop equipped with a Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM, and a midtower desktop sporting an AMD Phenom II X6 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a Radeon HD 5750 graphics card.
We used the latest version of Cyberlink's Media Espresso 6, which supports Intel's hardware decoding, and the open-licensed (and hilarious) Big Buck Bunny. It's a 900MB 1080p clip that's just under 10 minutes long. We encoded the clip for playback on an iPhone 4 and an iPad, at 720p. On the chart, "IGP" refers to a test using the Core i5-2500K's integrated graphics.
The results are impressive -- Intel's new integrated graphics beat out machines equipped with discrete graphics cards in all but one instance, and ran circles around the Core i3-based All-in-One. CPU utilization hovered at around 35 - 40%, and the system responded snappily even while churning through my video processing demands.
AMD and Nvidia would do well to take note, as this is a clear shot across the bow at discrete graphics cards. If your video demands are heavy and you've no interest in gaming, a PC equipped solely with Intel's second-generation integrated graphics has become a palatable option. Integrated-only Compact desktops can be had for as little as $300 -- expect to see many PC manufacturers touting quiet, small PCs as dedicated media machines with a bit more muscle this year.
Next: Power efficiency and final thoughts