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We're Still Here (November 15, 2017)November 15th, 2017
We haven't abandoned this blog / website / organization. The ladies in the organization were in the process of relocating to a different town north of Connecticut.
We have been reading your delightful emails and are still in the process of replying to each and every single one of them. Plese bear with us.
In the meantime, we leave you with our favorite quotes from the good book.
Check back soon and look for our replies to your email.
from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands
This is an instance, explaining the above general rule; which subjection lies in honour and reverence, ( Ephesians 5:33 ) , and in obedience; they should think well of their husbands, speak becomingly to them, and respectfully of them; the wife should take care of the family, and family affairs, according to the husband's will; should imitate him in what is good, and bear with that which is not so agreeable; she should not curiously inquire into his business, but leave the management of it to him; she should help and assist in caring and providing for the family; and should abide with him in prosperity and adversity, and do nothing without his will and consent: and this subjection is only to her husband; not to any other man, nor to her children, nor to her servants, or any brought into her house; and this consideration should render the subjection more easy, voluntary, and cheerful: and which is but reasonable that it should be; as may be gathered from the time, matter, and end of the woman's creation, she was made after him, out of him, and for him; and from her fall, and being first in the transgression; and from her being the weaker and inferior sex; and from the profitableness and comeliness of it; and the credit of religion requires it, that so the word of God be not blasphemed: wherefore it follows, -Ephesians 5.22
from 1 Peter 3:1 – 3:6 (Amplified Bible)
IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives,
When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him–to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].


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As I write I'm high above the clouds courtesy of British Airways after a pre-Christmas trip home to England where for two weeks I felt as if I'd stumbled onto the set of Love, Actually, the movie that pays homage to our interconnectedness and to love of all kinds, and throughout which writer and director Richard Curtis threads humor, pathos, great music and loads of BBC festive nonsense. Whatever your spiritual leaning this has always been the season of Love and Light, as we plunge towards the heart of winter.
Friends and family gather for better or for worse and for a few weeks our Hamptons homes take on a celebratory air bringing nature and luminosity indoors, enhanced by all things shiny and sparkly.
Our front doors present our face to the world and make a statement about our personalities and interests. Some even display a welcoming wreath year round to beautify the entrance to their Hamptons home. Both wreaths above are taken from English Home and Country Homes and Interiors magazines and are elegant examples of the variety of styles and decoration available. There remain many exquisite hydrangea blooms on our garden bushes which can be trimmed and put to good use indoors right now. Add eucalyptus and white silk roses to an evergreen frame for a truly beautiful and fragrant display. An alternative more rustic wreath drawing from the ancient traditions is constructed around a frame of twigs and features dried fruit and cinnamon. The orange, red and brown hues shown here work extraordinarily well against the mullion window and gray front door of the home. Always make sure the size of wreath fits the proportions of your door.
Whereas bold use of color in home décor is to be encouraged more often than not, December's winter solstice lends itself to a more liberal use of old white, ivory, cream and magnolia reflecting the frost and snowfall of the season as well as communicating spirit and peace. The sparkling white table setting above, courtesy of English Home, uses a silvery, twinkling garland running along the table center with silver and glass votive candle holders. White heart accents are displayed on napkins, silver cruets and dinner plate creating a far more feminine, peaceful dining experience than the usual heavy dark greens and reds representing the holly and the ivy.
For a more traditional yet creative approach Country Homes and Interiors introduces us to an inventive setting by mixing red patterned and white china and place mats further enhanced by silver ornaments, birch candle holders and a dark crimson dahlia flower. A truly beautiful table setting make excellent use of seasonal tartans and plaids.
The final area of major importance to be considered is the fireplace and mantelpiece which grace many a Hamptons dwelling. Traditionally hung with heavy evergreen garlands the feeling can become overpowering especially as the home becomes crowded with extras like house guests, gifts, dogs and the occasional fir tree. A lighter and more feminine approach has been used on the mantel above from English Home magazine. An antique white, pale pink and pale gold garland with tiny pine cones graces this elegant white art nouveau fireplace and surround. A small matching wreath, using our friend the hydrangea head, is placed between two white pillar candles with gold and glass ornaments and photo frames—very easy on the eye, light, airy and peaceful. An instant stress reducer when taken with a large Tanqueray, tonic and lime.
To bring a festive, seasonal and wintery feel to powder rooms, hallways, kitchens and guest bedrooms alike place small silver votive holders filled with warm brown hazel nuts next to sprays of fresh green pine. And this time of year go overboard bringing in the light. You can't have too many white candles and votives scattered singly or grouped together, layering different heights, throughout your Hamptons home.
Peace and love be with you and yours this yuletide season, and may the New Year fill your home with abundance and beauty.
Helen Lind is an interior decorator, organizer and home stager working in Long Island and Manhattan. You can contact her at (516) 922-3518 for a proposal or consultation, or visit her www.englishivyinteriors.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Europe GFS Snow Forecast +96 hour Chart
- location
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe
- New Zealand
- North America
- South America
- model
- BoM 10-day
- US 8-day
- CMC 6-day
About GFS
Global Forecast System. The operational numerical weather forecasting model run by NCEP. The GFS superceded the AVN and MRF models, on which it is largely based. Forecast data from the GFS is available out to 180 hours at full resolution and 16 days at a reduced resolution.
Weather News
Severe to extreme heatwave conditions expected across south-east, eastern parts of Australia
The first significant heatwave of the season is here, and it's ending what's shaping up to be the nation's hottest November on record with a sizzle.
November heat records could be broken during sweltering weekend in NSW
November heat records could be broken today as the mercury climbs across New South Wales ? and there is no southerly change due until Sunday afternoon.


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Buttons for your site
I would be happy if you downloaded a button here to show your pride on your own website, but it's not neccesary.
However, if you decide to link back, you must download the button and upload it to your server.
To download: Hover the image, right click and choose "save image as". Link back to: http://dragon.fanfreak.net
Donations are very welcome!
Donations are always more then welcomed!
If you have previously donated codes to any fanlistings that belong to the FanFreak.net collective, select your name from the dropdown list below. Otherwise, enter your name and URL in the new donor form. Select the number of codes you would like to donate and click continue.
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Matthew Brady was a prolific photographer who left behind a legacy of Civil War photos that allow us a glimpse into the daily lives of soldiers, important figures, and pivotal battlefields.
We have assembled several into a labelled classroom ready resource.
For more on teaching this era check out our:
US History PowerPoints
- Colonization to Reconstruction: US History Review
- First Industrial Revolution in America: 1790-1860
- Westward Movement
- Slavery in America
- Expansion and Reform: The United States from 1829-1860
- Causes of the Civil War
- The Civil War
- Reconstruction: 1863-1877
- The West: Miners, Ranchers, Farmers, and Native Americans
Classroom History Games
- Causes of the Civil War Game
- American Immigration Game
- Critical Decisions Lincoln, part one and part two
US History Image Library – Pre-20th Century
Historic Film Collection, Part 1


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PLEASE NOTE: PaTTAN has implemented a single-sign-on system for both the new website and our online registration system for events. If you already have a user name and password to register for trainings, use those same credentials here to login.
The following navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Left and right arrows move through
main tier links and expand / close menus in sub tiers. Up and Down arrows will open main tier menus and toggle through
sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the
site rather than go through menu items.
Thursday May 11, 2017 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Although language sample analysis is an integral component of a language assessment, many SLPs do not routinely include it because they perceive it as too time consuming. This presentation will show how to make language sampling an effective, efficient, and clinician-accessible tool for diagnosis and intervention planning. Using features common to many word processing programs, this presentation emphasizes efficient methods of transcription and analysis to complete language sampling in 30 minutes.
After completing this program, participants will be able to:
Speech and Language Pathologist
Individuals attending this workshop must arrive on time and stay the duration of the workshop in order to receive Act 48 Professional Education hours.
Stacey Pavelko
Distance Learning
800-446-5607 x6884
Elizabeth Christopher


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See more from the Pali Marina collection.
This is a generic image for a conversion rail. The rail you receive may not look exactly the same as it is pictured here, but the functionality will be the same.
Pali Marina Universal Rail (White)
With one simple purchase, you can ensure that your child has a comfortable bed to sleep in, forever! The Universal Rail from PALI transforms the Marina Crib into a full bed, so you don't have to find a new bed at each segment of your child's development.
width: 59.00 inches
depth: 32.00 inches
height: 46.00 inches
NOTE: This is a special order item. Please allow 6-8 weeks for shipping. For any further information, please contact us at 877-88-BAMBI.
The perfect way to make your nursery last a lifetime is by converting it, and Pali Furniture offers you the ability to just that! Pali Universal Rails for the Pali Marina Collection and all other collections are available for purchase separately or by purchasing a Pali Conversion Kit. We also sell Pali Toddler Rails to keep your precious child safe.
View More Pali Nursery Sets
View More Pali Cribs
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After a two-year stay at the Imperial Court of Maria Theresa and Francis I in Vienna (1763-1765), during which he proved his creative talents in a variety of media, Jean Pillement accepted the invitation of the newly elected King of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski, to come to Warsaw in order to take on the post of court painter. It would prove to be an exacting appointment. The young King well educated and well travelled (he had sojourned at the courts of Dresden, Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, London and St. Petersburg) was a genuine lover of the arts, a discerning collector and strove to create an enlightened court by bringing to Warsaw architects, painters and sculptors, theatre, opera and ballet artists and generally create favourable conditions for learning, the arts and art collecting. This ambitious programme, however, placed on his artists stringent demands dictated by Stanisław August according to his own vision of what he wished to be done. It was particularly tedious for such a free spirit like Pillement, but he obediently complied with the King's wishes by executing multiple orders not necessarily related to his art and ranging from the project of a royal monogram; a project of gondolas; another of Rococo wall brackets; sketches of paintings of history inspired by texts by Plutarch, Titus Livius and Suetonius presented according to the written descriptions of the King; furthermore, views of antique ruins after Piranesi: the Acqua Julia and the temple of Minerva Medici, both in Rome. And finally - patriotic Polish allegorical compositions. Mercifully, the King's orders included also topics in which Pillement excelled, namely Rococo wall decorations for the King's study and two pairs of large, superb panels for the royal summer residence of Ujazdów, which are now in the collection of the Petit Palais in Paris. Pillement also painted numerous pastoral landscapes for the king's private apartments. Four of them are used today as overdoors at the Royal Castle. Following the example of Stanisław August, prominent aristocratic families, such as the Czartoryskis, the Branickis, the Potockis, the Sapiehas, the Zamoyskis and the Mniszechs also collected Pillement's drawings and paintings. In appreciation of Pillement's services, the King granted him a royal patent to the title of Premier Peintre du Roy (also appears spelled as Roi) de Pologne.
The first two hard-paste porcelain manufactories in Europe were established in Meissen(1710) and in Vienna(1718). In its early phase Viennese porcelain was at least as important as Meissen, and in this early period Vienna also played the leading role in the area of painted decoration. The recipe for the paste was not stolen from Meissen as it is always assumed, in Vienna a different chemical compound was used. A private individual, Claudius Innocentius du Paquier, was the founder of the Viennese porcelain manufactory. In Meissen the ?owner? was the King of Poland, the Elector of Saxony, Augustus the Strong. He provided the necessary financial support for the Meissen manufactory, whereas in Vienna only a special privilege but no financial assistance was granted to Du Paquier's manufactory by Charles VI. Thus, as the production of porcelain is a very costly and risky venture, the Viennese manufactory was threatened by financial shortages throughout its existence, until in 1744 Du Paquier had to give up and his company was taken over by the state. Since Du Paquier's porcelain had no mark, and changing fashions made it no longer sought after, in the course of time Du Paquier's name and porcelain fell into complete oblivion. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that once again the attention was drawn to Du Paquier's porcelain. Unfortunately, very little was published since then. My aim in this short essay is to stress what an important role this porcelain played in Europe in the early 18th century and to demonstrate with the aid of photographs how very fascinating it is.
Jacques Lipchitz assigned to his works the role of an "image magic" that could modify reality. As a young artist he initially embraced the Cubist manner but he didn't devoid of deeper semantic manner and sought literary themes. It was probably because of his Jewish education which assigned greater relevance to concepts than to form. To explain Lipchitz's artistic procedure the author uses the term "bi-sociation", described by Arthur Koestler as "an unconscious mental linkage whereby previously unrelated and seemingly incompatible ideas are brought together and combined". The example of using by Lipchitz this kind of creative process are bird-headed Prometheus Strangling the Vulture and related works. Bi-sociation involves making meaningful connections where none existed before. In the case of bird-headed Prometheus the linkage involved an integration of themes drawn from Greek mythology and Jewish literary lore with visual motifs originating in other civilizations and meaningful references to political actuality. The author investigates Lipchitz's artistic process in a broader perspective and shows how extraordinary appeal of described works arises from artist's belief that emotional energy he invested in them endowed the creative activity with a virtue beyond the aesthetic.


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Can you believe it's been four decades since Sesame Street first aired? This lovable and reliable educational show has been there to boost our kids education and tackle problems they might be going through, as we've mentioned before. Sesame Street's 42nd season which debuts this September 26 is no exception. Sesame Workshop has lots of new and exciting material for our niños, and, as always, they have their eyes and ears on the look out for what our children need.
So what's on the agenda for this season? A new curriculum, lots of Spanish fun, a long list of celebrity appearances, and a reliable good doze of laughter to go along.
Their new S-T-E-M curriculum, which is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math, focuses on these areas because Sesame Workshop has taken note that this is where U.S. kids are falling behind (yikes!). The S-T-E-M curriculum is really tackling this problem in a couple of ways. Sesame is introducing fun segments and characters like the new furry orange friend Murray in "Murray's Science Experiments," and some of our kids favorite characters like Elmo, Oscar, and Abby making observations and taking on hands on activities; all to reinforce our kids to say "Let's find out!"
Our Sesame Street friends are more curious than ever, encouraging our kids to think critically and take on complex problems, all in the tradition of Sesame's laughter and learning style. Science and math topics will be addressed throughout the season in street scenes, animations, and live-action films. Like Hubert the Human Cannonball who will visit Sesame Street, and Baby Bear will engineer a launcher for him.
The fun doesn't end there. They have an incredible line up of celebrities for this season, and, in honor of Hispanic Heritage month, Sesame Street is premiering a special episode "The Latinization of Marco." This episode will feature Gina teaching her adopted Guatemala-born son about his roots and his heritage language. The special guests teaching Elmo some Spanish words on this episode will be Juanes and Sofía Vergara, teaching the word "baile", and an appearance of the Ballet Hispanico. How great is that!
Check out this sneak peek of "The Latinization of Marco."
Of course, we'll have to celebrate Sesame Street's 42nd season with a giveaway! We love giveaways, so we have one DVD set: Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days for one lucky winner.
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner: Shaunda!
We have one Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days for one lucky winner.
To enter just leave a comment telling us who your favorite Sesame Street character is and why.
That's all you have to do to enter this giveaway. If you want to up your chances at winning, then this is how you can get additional entries (only after you've completed the step above):
**Please leave a separate comment for each so we can count them and avoid mistakes.
1. Subscribe to receive blog updates and subscriber-only content via email and leave us an extra comment letting us know you did so or that you're already a subscriber. Make sure to leave the comment using the same email you subscribed with.
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway including a link to the post and @SpanglishBaby. Copy the link to the tweet in an additional comment on the giveaway's post.
3. Like SpanglishBaby on Facebook and join a thriving community of parents.
This giveaway ends Tuesday, September 13 at midnight EST and is open to everyone over 18 years of age. Check out the Giveaway Rules.


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Basketball shop
Top brands guaranteeing the highest quality and a wide diversity of the offer, is what makes our online shop one of the best places to search for your sports gear. Basketmania is, as the name implies, a basketball shop, which originated on the basis of real passion and true love for the game. As professional players and coaches we do know which sneakers really perform the best and which clothing and accessories will meet your high demands. Choose your footwear – Adidas, Nike or Jordan shoes – and join other 'basketmaniacs'!
Basketball shoes
Quality appreciated by the greatest NBA stars and amazing design which aims at improving the level you play your game on. Select the sneakers which provide better protection, fantastic cushioning and traction, allowing you to keep perfect control even during the most intensive moments on the court. The basketball shoes are a perfect choice for every professional athlete, as well as amateur looking for the best quality sports footwear. Make your choice now and feel the difference the next time you play!
Jordan shoes
Legendary style and innovative technology combined into amazing footwear. Low weight, perfect stability, protection and control on the court gives you more freedom in performing even the most explosive slam dunks or unorthodox plays. Jordan shoes have introduced numerous improvements, which are developed and appreciated by professional athletes, which allow them to take their game to the next level. Employ all of these advantages and select the perfect basketball sneakers for your aesthetic taste and quality requirements.


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The many colors of Cuba come to life through the eyes of the people: Cuban artists, musicians, architects, dancers, fishermen, farmers and even baseball players. Share in the customs and traditions of an island nation that's been shrouded in mystery for 50 years via one-on-one conversations with the locals, demonstrations and exploration.
From its beautifully adorned churches and vintage cars to world-renowned cigars and a lush, tropical climate, Cuba will transport you to a bygone era, waiting to be rediscovered.
Cuba is truly an island of enchantment with fascinating museums, meticulously preserved colonial cities, white-sandy beaches, and cobbled streets filled with brightly assorted vintage cars and grandiose squares begging to be explored.
Visit Havana's incredible Malecón, or seawall, which stretches five miles and is decorated with students, tourists and live musicians.
Get lost between the historic walls of the University of Havana, built in 1728 it has a rich heritage and beautiful buildings.
Whet your appetite with delicious Cuban sandwiches and succulent pork-filled empanadas from street food vendors.
Although much of Havana feels like a time warp, no place is a better representation of Cuba's colorful heritage than the beautifully restored Plaza Vieja. Brightly painted and home to art museums, outdoor cafes and more, it's one of the most popular squares in the city.
End your day with a visit to the incredible Morro Castle, which was built in 1762 to guard the entrance of Havana or with a tour of Finca Vigía, Ernest Hemingway's prized Cuban home.
Take the bus to Baracoa and enjoy rich chocolate, one of the city's biggest exports.
Enjoy the stunning views of El Yunque Mountain, the second-tallest mountain in Cuba, located inside a tropical rainforest.
Spend a lazy afternoon soaking up the sun on Varadero, Cuba's most illustrious resort town with more than 3,000 miles of sparkling coastline.
There's so much to uncover, taste, and experience in Cuba – get there while it's still unchartered.
Contact one of our travel experts to start planning your own colorful Cuba getaway.
Your information will only be used to connect with this travel specialist


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FREE Extras For Your Journey!
As an Omega Rental Cars customer, not only will you save money with our everyday low rates, but you will also receive the following FREE extras to make your journey easier:
Omega Rental Cars operates one of the largest independent New Zealand car rental networks, so no matter what type or size of NZ hire car you require, you'll receive the best value New Zealand car rental rates at Omega! And if you're arriving internationally at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown airports, we can pre-arrange your NZ rental car collection as soon as you clear customs, even if your flight lands in the middle of the night!
AA 24hr Roadservice: Please note customer charges apply in the event of a non-mechanical call out. Read more in our FAQ section >
Planning to visit both the North and South Islands, read more about Interisland Ferry Crossings and how to plan your NZ car hire accordingly. Read more ›
Looking for Things to See and Do while renting a car in New Zealand, take a look at Our Blog or Like us on Facebook ›
And for answers to some Frequently Asked New Zealand car rental questions, check out our FAQs ›
Car Rental New Zealand
At Omega Rental Cars we are here to help make your NZ rental car experience safe, easy and economical with great rates, friendly service and all the right travel tips!
DriveSafe.org.nz has been developed to help visitors to New Zealand safely enjoy their self-drive holiday. Driving is a great way to experience all New Zealand has to offer. But driving in New Zealand may be unlike driving in other countries and you will need to decide whether self-drive is an appropriate option for you. This site provides basic information about New Zealand road rules and etiquette, along with links to more details about everything that those unfamiliar with our roads need to know. And, here's another link that will help you understand 'What's different about driving in NZ'
Travelling on a Budget? – Our Budget Car Hire Tips are designed to steer you in the right direction and make sure you don't pay too much for your NZ car rental. Read more ›


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Vecna Robotics real-time IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) actionable data impacts process improvement for warehouses and manufacturers.
John Hayes, VP of Vecna Robotics, recently reported in IoTGlobalNetwork.com, "Vecna Robotics sends these data directly to a highly skilled team of support engineers; corrective actions are executed and/or recommended before down-time occurs. This translates into bottom-line throughput improvement. Manufacturing throughput time is the amount of time required for a product to pass through a manufacturing process, thereby being converted from raw materials into finished goods."
Without IIoT monitoring, plant managers, operations managers, logistics coordinators throughout manufacturing and distribution sectors lack the data collected offering real-time continuous vehicle status and health information of the vehicle. This is a frequent complaint of Industry 4.0, Big Data, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Too much data, little of which can be accessed and used effectively. From tuggers, AGCs (Automated Guided Carts), and AGVs, there is a real need to include IIoT monitoring
The inclusion of IIoT monitoring ensures increases in operational efficiency. Eliminating the ripple effect caused by stopped vehicles is a metric of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). The widely utilize data point, OEE, evaluates how effectively a manufacturing operation is utilized. The results are best used to identify scope for process performance improvement, and how to get the improvement.
IoTGlobalNetwork.com provides transparency and promotes business development for the IoT market. The network is the ultimate intelligence platform for the global machine-to-machine communication value chain.
To read more, go to: http://bit.ly/2xg4Izr
Vecna Robotics Materials Handling Leadership:
Vecna Robotics (https://robotics.vecna.com/) has quickly become the materials handling leader in the fork truck free environment while utilizing comprehensive Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies. Vecna Robotics ensures manufacturing engineers have best-practice lean manufacturing solutions, driving prices down, improving both productivity and throughput.
With e-commerce exploding and customer expectations on the rise, distribution and fulfillment centers as well as third party logistics (3PLs) providers and manufacturers require Vecna Robotics innovation. Case picking, goods-to-person, person-to-goods, robot-conveyor hybrid systems, Vecna Robotics has cost-effective solutions. All systems are safety certified to operate along-side people and can accommodate the operational model that achieves the best efficiency with unmatched flexibility. Follow on Twitter @VecnaLogistics.
Media Contact
Company Name: Vecna
Contact Person: Brent Watters
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 617-864-0636
Address:CAMBRIDGE CAMPUS 36 Cambridge Park Drive
City: Cambridge
State: Massachusetts
Country: United States
Website: https://www.vecna.com/


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SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) — A state lawmaker wants to set basic standards for the short-term day care centers that are growing in popularity at fitness centers, shopping malls, grocery stores and other businesses.
Democratic Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco says SB766 would provide some protections for families. Unlike full-time child care providers that are regulated by the state Department of Social Services, drop-in child care centers are not regulated or required to be licensed because parents are on the premises.
His bill would require workers at these drop-in day care centers to undergo criminal background checks and be at least 18 years old. The centers would have to meet a minimum ratio of staff to children.
Yee's bill will be heard for the first time Tuesday in the Senate Rules Committee.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed)
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Black Pete is an old tradition.
When Sinterklaas, as Santa's known in The Netherlands, arrives, he's accompanied not by the elves that would be familiar to American children, but rather by "Black Pete" — a white man dressed in black face and assisting St. Nick.
BBC reporter Anna Holligan says the tradition dates back some 300 years. According to historians, Black Pete was originally a sort of demonic character who would capture bad children and take them back to Spain — where legend says he originates.
"As the years progressed, he turned into a freed slave," Holligan said. "And people here say, 'you know, he's been liberated and Sinter Klauss is his friend.' And now, if you ask people how did this character come to have black skin? They say, 'well, he goes down the chimney, so it's just soot from the chimney."
At least, that's the argument made by many in the Netherlands. But not everyone in the Netherlands buys into that story.
A minority group approached the the UN Council for Human Rights about the tradition and a representative of the UN wrote to the Dutch government, expressing its concerns, Holligan said.
"The key point was that, sometimes, cultural rights and the people's rights to express their culture, which has been historically OK, can sometimes be in conflict with human rights," she added. "This isn't a homogeneous country anymore. After the second world war, there were lots of people coming from Turkey and Morocco. And people tell me their kids are running home from school and trying to scrub their skin because they've been called 'Zwarte Piet' in class."
She said it's a painful piece of history for many Dutch.
"If this is ever to be abandoned, it will be the Dutch people deciding that they want to move on, and that they recognize that, for some minority groups living in this country, calling this country home, it's no longer acceptable," Holligan added.
The Sinterklaas festival kicked off this past weekend — and once more included a brass band of Black Petes. The festival ends Dec. 5, when Black Petes come down the chimney.
"Legend has it that you leave your shoes by the fireplace and the Black Petes will deliver gifts, traditionally, a chocolate letter (as in the alphabet) in your shoe," Holligan said.
While the debate continues in the Netherlands, some Dutch are showing their support for Black Pete.
Holligan visited a tattoo parlor where one woman named Michelle was having a Black Pete tattooed between her shoulder blades.
"She believed it was her cultural right to express herself," Holligan added.


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23rd July 2020
10:00am - 3:30pm
Are you a parent or carer of children aged up to 5 years old?
If yes, come and join us for our 8 week course where we discuss everything you need to know to get your little one off to a great start!
Mealtime, Sleep, Stress & Active play. Yes! Our programmes are fun, interactive and a chance to share about each other's experiences.
You will also receive plenty of freebies for the whole family.
Ticket price: free
Event email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Event phone: 02084965223


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Blog Archive
- ► 2018 (17)
- ► 2015 (26)
- In Need of Apple Pie Judges
- New Orchard Magnets
- Autumn Decor
- Book Discussion at Lapacek's Orchard
- How we pick our apples at Lapacek's Orchard
- Arlet (Swiss Gourmet) Sauce-sational Analysis
- Miniature Succulent Gardens
- Morning at Lapacek's Orchard
- Limited Edition Chocolate Chip Caramel Apples
- Orchard Rainbow
- please don't squeeze my apples #selfie contest
- ▼ September (11)
- ► 2013 (124)
- ► 2012 (123)
- ► 2011 (119)
- ► 2010 (95)
- ► 2009 (167)
Informative Blog Posts
Sauce-Sational: An Experiment in Applesacue
- Akane
- Arlet (Swiss Gourmet)
- Baker's Mix - August
- Baker's Mix - October
- Bella
- Bonnie's Best
- Braeburn
- Cameo
- Chenango Strawberry
- Cortland
- Cox Orange Pippin
- Crimson Crisp
- Crimson Gold
- Dandee Red
- Duchess
- Empire
- Fireside
- Frostbite
- Fuji
- Gala
- Ginger Gold
- Golden Delicious
- Golden Supreme
- Granny Smith
- Haralson
- Hazen
- Honey Gold
- Honeycrisp
- Idared
- Jonagold
- Jonamac
- Jonathan
- Jumbo
- Keepsake
- MacIntosh
- Macoun
- Melrose
- Northern Spy
- NW Greening
- Overall Summary
- Paulared
- Red Gravenstein
- Regent
- Sansa
- Scarlet
- Shizuka
- Silken
- Smokehouse
- Smoothee
- Sno (Famuese)
- Snow Sweet
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Arlet (Swiss Gourmet) Sauce-sational Analysis
It's time to get back at my saucesational analysis! I went through the list of apples I hadn't analyzed on my blog yet and the first to ripen is the Arlet, aka Swiss Gourmet. So, I peeled/cored/sliced some Arlet apples up and put them into my trusty pot.
Arlet is described to be 'A modern apple for people with a modern taste.' I'm going to have to say that I must not be very modern as it definitely is too tart for me (don't forget though – I'm a sweet apple girl). Jared and Diane both really enjoy this apple though. And we've also had many customers from last season coming in looking for that apple that started with 'Swiss …' which is Swiss Gourmet aka Arlet.
Anyway – it cooked down into a chunkier sauce, definitely browning up slightly in color (which doesn't bother me) and had a full bodied taste that was on the tarter end of my taste bud spectrum. I wouldn't say it is a horrible sauce but a few sweeter varieties mixed in (like the ginger gold and or silken) would definitely create a sauce with a lot of depth and flavor.


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17 July, 2017 – Columbus Mississippi – Movie producer and director Kelly Tippett proudly announces the completion of the feature "Romanorum" on YouTube. The movie "Romanorum" was storied by Tippet in 2006 and scripted by VickyL. Neal a year later. It has been in the production process since 2008, with final narration by Anthony Lund added in early 2017.
"This is going to be the Godfather of backyard movies," joked Gray Barbour
The film has Barbour play Mental Stanonand abandoned farm in 2010. While on set he leads a band of vampire hunters to track down two freshly bitten brothers. Stan and his hunters are accompanied by a priest, played by Kelly Guimbellot. One of the brothers is killed and the other, Rajah, escapes. Jonathan Murphy portrays Rajah, who out for vengeance murders women putting them on the priest's doorstep.
"Romanorum" was made available in ten episodes and uploaded on YouTube in May 2017.The first episode was submitted on June 27th to Amazon Studios as a concept video under their open-door policy. At the time of creating this article, the project is still under evaluation at Amazon.
The opening scene is in color but changes to black and white as it follows the anti-hero, John, played by Alec Hawkins. He was once a Roman soldier that helped crucify a god and is cursed to walk the earth forever. He is hired by a vampire drug lord to kill vampire hunters being rewarded with cash and heroin.
Rajah, whose brother was killed before his eyes by the priest and hired vampire hunters is out for revenge as he kills young ladies and places them on the priest's door step. John decides to stop Rajah with the hope of being redeemed and made mortal again.
John visits the priest to find out more information on the dead girls and finds help, but not the kind of help he expected. He cleans himself up from drugs as best he can and starts his journey to stop a killer.
To stop them, John realizes he must find out who the next potential victim is and befriend them. Then he can lay in wait for when the killer will strike.
"This film is one of the best projects and hardest I ever engaged in. The locations were all over the place, and everyone did a fantastic job….I am proud of this movie," Tippett commented.
To view this amazing movie, please click on the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0yCroy36f4&list=PLL6r4qhw-J1hPLx4GjB8H1s1J9G23AIfe
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Gold + Black Hexagon Chevron Earrings
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These last couple of weeks have seen the biggest changes that Worcester Museum has witnessed since the 1890s. We have shared our current building with Worcester Public Library since 1896 and before that, a building across the street, but during June 2012 they have moved out of our beautiful Victoria Institute into Worcester's new HIVE building.
Consequently my day of archaeology has been about new and exciting developments as the museum expands into the library space, our new temporary displays and helping our colleagues as they get the HIVE ready to open on July 2nd 2012.
Our new temporary exhibition at the museum is designed for our summer audience and is all about fantasy, film, brave princesses, honourable knights and really beautiful Anglo Saxon archaeology from our collections. We don't have very many Anglo Saxon artefacts and those that we do have were collected by Victorian antiquarians in the main. Our technicians have been building and installing the exhibition all week – big oak doorways, crows with beady eyes, heavy iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. We are installing the artefacts today. There is a cruciform brooch, disc brooches and amber beads from Upton Snodsbury, a scabbard chape and spearhead from Bredons Norton, pottery, shield bosses and a beautiful Anglo Saxon bucket from Bidford on Avon that was excavated in the 1920s. Our local archaeological society, Worcestershire Archaeological Society have sponsored the exhibition for us – part of their mandate to become more involved in archaeological work of all types in the county.
Downstairs in the space that the library used to occupy we have installed a fourth plinth (a bit like the Trafalgar Square one but shorter) and today's residency is called Quilos and the Windmill. There is masking tape all over the plinth and it continues to grow. It's called sitewriting and I understand it's to do with mapping experiences and daydreams and the like. I don't entirely understand it but I'm pleased to say that most of those around me absolutely do. We usually walk through this space without a thought but during the fourth plinth project we have a webcam filming the whole thing including the staff!
The rest of my day is spent at The HIVE. This huge gold building that has sprung up in Worcester over the last year or so is opening on Monday. Our colleagues in Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Worcester Public Library and Worcester University Library have all moved into the new space. We are working on the content for the display cases. We have been given the theme of memory and we are filling cases full of nostalgia, the results of research projects and items from the collections of museums across Worcestershire. My favourite part of the displays are quotes from some of the County's custodians of memory – the archaeologists, archivists, curators and researchers who are so passionate about what they do have been kind enough to tell us why they do what they do and why they love it. The results have been poignant and inspiring. The curator of the new Infirmary Museum talks about her responsibility to those who lost husbands, wives and parents in her ex-hospital building, The curator of Kidderminster Railway Museum describes himself as a young boy looking through the steam into the cab of an engine wishing he could be a train driver and our archivist describes the excitement and anticipation he feels when he opens a package of papers for the first time in 200 years to see what lies within it.
As we leave on Friday we are exhausted but Worcester is feeling like a place full of potential for heritage services at the moment – the new HIVE building is daring and ambitious and we who are staying put in our Foregate Street building have new space and new projects and lots to look forward to.


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7th September, 1960: This is the Birthday of Biswanath College.First Classes of the college were held at Anandiram Saikia Hall of Chariali H.S and M.P School. Later, on 1st August, 1961, a pompous inauguration Ceremony was held at the own premises of the college that saw Religious Rites, Kirtans and women chanting Urulis while the College Gate was inaugurated. The Gate has since then opened up the futures of many bright students who have brought fame to the land and its people. In the evening of 7th September, 1960, an inaugural meet had been organized presided by then Social Activist, late Nabin Chandra Bhattachraya, and the seat of Chieft Chief Guest was decorated by Late Sayeed Abdul Mallick who was an eminent Professor at Jagganath Baruah College, Jorhat.
Present Governing Body
GB Members
- Shri. Biren Bhagawati (Donor Member)
- Shri. Diganta Borthakur (Guardian Member)
- Shri. Padma Borah (Guardian Member)
- Prof. Rajeswar Boro (Teacher Representative)
- Mrs.Leena Hazarika (Librarian, Member)
- Shri.Surjya Chetry(N.T Representative)
Established in 7th September 1960, by a group of visionaries, Biswanath College today is the 3rd Largest College in Sonitpur District. With a large spacious and green campus with scenic surroundings, Biswanath College has continued to excel in producing talents that spread all over the world. People like Santa Ujir and Late Rimjhim Baruah, the famous vocalists of Assam, Tarun Saikia, the great Dramatist and the of Assam and famous actress Mridula Baruah, all had been students of this College ! The College celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 22nd, September, 1996 and its Golden Jubilee on 5th September, 2010. And even today, after more than 53 years from its inception, the College happens to be the Dream of many bright Students and people from as far as Arunachal Pradesh have sent their wards for Higher Education at Biswanath College. Equipped with spacious classrooms with Overhead projectors, advanced Science Labs, a Large Spacious Library with more than 20,0000 books and a Hi-Tech Knowledge Hub, the college is an exalted centre for Higher Education.
Minimum Qualifying Marks:
Arts Stream
- 45% in H.S for General
- 40% in H.S for ST/SC/OBC/Physically Challenged
Science Stream
- 50% in H.S for General
- 45% in H.S for ST/SC/OBC/Physically Challenged


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DURHAM – The University of New Hampshire's Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL), a collaboration between UNH's Institute on Disability and New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice, has launched a free online tool that provides information and career guidance to current and potential direct-care workers in New Hampshire.
The Direct Care Career Guide was developed through the CACL's DirectConnect project, which is funded by a $2.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Direct Care Career Guide is an easy-to-use interactive career resource tool for individuals interested in entering the direct-care field or advancing their career in direct care. The guide identifies direct-care career opportunities tailored to fit individual needs, preferences, and career aspirations.
"This is a significant step in raising awareness of this important workforce," says Jennifer Rabalais, DirectConnect project director. "It is important that we continue to develop a vital workforce. We are excited to have the opportunity to provide people with promising new career paths that truly make a difference."
Direct-care workers provide personal support and assistance that helps individuals maintain independence and connection to their community. New Hampshire's population is aging faster than the national average, creating an increased demand for services provided by direct-care workers.
To explore the Direct Care Career Guide, visit www.directconnectnh.org/careerlattice.html.
The CACL is a collaboration between the Institute on Disability and the New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice at UNH that is actively engaged in projects related to aging and long-term care. By maximizing available resources and providing assistance, CACL ensures that New Hampshire will benefit from an integrated center for applied research, evaluation, and trainings relevant to aging and community living.


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Chris Thompson lives in Cinncinati, where he is mayor of a Chipotle and visited Dunkin' Donuts at least 116 times in the last year. Mr. Thompson writes the About Foursquare blog, a website devoted to full coverage of Foursquare's growth, apps, new badges and feature changes. He updates multiple times daily.
"The blog really started by accident," Mr. Thompson told The Observer in December. "I was helping out as a superuser on Foursquare's customer support forums and there was no way to add an FAQ, so I started a site with some FAQs that we could all link to. People kept writing me and asking me to write about badges and changes to Foursquare and it really just started growing from there. I've had a blast with it!"
The existence of a dedicated trade publication puts Foursquare, with its relatively small userbase of about 4 million in the U.S., in the same league as Facebook, which has AllFacebook.com, and Apple, which has collected a network of fan/news sites (Apple Insider, TUAW, 9 to 5 Mac). Mr. Thomspon now runs advertising on his site, which includes an FAQ and forum for Foursquare users.
He's never met founders Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai, he said, but he has corresponded with them before.
Mr. Thompson first checked in on Foursquare one year ago today, and he marked it by posting his Foursquare statistics in an infographic. The most dramatic illustration is the superimposed circles that show how much Foursquare's user base has grown.
ajeffries [at] observer.com | @adrjeffries


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USER EDITORbeowulf579
Harley recounts how she became involved with the Joker.
Tired of "turnstile justice," a Gotham City judge takes matters of punishment into his own hands.
Bruce Wayne's new wife entangles him in Poison Ivy's latest plot.
Roxy Rocket, a villainess for whom cheating death is the ultimate thrill, leads Batman on a citywide chase.
Killer Croc teams with demented child actress Baby Doll to perpetrate crimes throughout Gotham, but Baby Doll is romantically interested in Croc--a feeling he doesn't share.
When a rock star refuses the advances of her special effects man, Garfield Lynns, he becomes Firefly, a madman who vows to burn down the city.
Under the influence of the Scarecrow, Batgirl dreams her own untimely death and the resulting public revelation that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
Bruce resorts to black magic as he fights a demon released from an ancient artifact.
Page Monroe, a disgruntled model, creates chaos in Gotham as she avenges her forced exile from a youth-oriented fashion world.


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DirecTV to Provide SEC Network at Launch
DIRECTV and ESPN have entered into an agreement for DIRECTV to provide the new SEC Network to fans and followers of the Southeastern Conference when the network launches Aug. 14. The first college football game on the new network will air Aug. 28 featuring #20 Texas A&M vs. #9 South Carolina.
"The SEC boasts powerhouse athletic programs, especially in football, representing deeply loyal communities, many of which do not have any professional teams," said Dan York, DIRECTV's Chief Content Officer. "The depth of SEC competition and the quality ESPN brings to game production and complementary programming makes SEC Network a valuable addition to our sports programming lineup, and we're excited to bring it into our customers' homes and on their devices."
"Our agreement with DIRECTV continues to push the SEC Network towards one of the most successful network launches when it debuts on August 14," said Sean Breen, Disney and ESPN Media Networks Senior Vice President, Affiliate Sales. "We're proud to deliver the SEC Network nationwide via DIRECTV in advance of the Texas A&M and South Carolina game later this month."
The SEC Network will deliver at least 45 exclusive SEC football games this season. Recently released pre-season polls rank seven SEC teams in the college football preseason top 25, ensuring consistently close, competitive match-ups on SEC Network. The network will also serve as an all-access pass to nationally competitive events, news and information, expert analysis, classic games and in-depth features on the most storied conference in college athletics.
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said, "With opening day now firmly in sight, we are happy to count DIRECTV, the country's largest satellite provider, among our many distributors for the SEC Network. The SEC is home to the most passionate fans in college sports and I am pleased to have such a wide distribution by launch date for the benefit of SEC fans everywhere."
"With the launch of SEC Network just days away, we look forward to serving these legions of current and prospective students, alumni and loyal supporters with quality content and coverage nationwide," added Justin Connolly, ESPN Senior Vice President, College Networks.


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by Celeste E. Tolliver-Kelley
The Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity in collaboration with the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness hosted the 7th Annual City-Wide Revival and Faith-Based Substance Abuse Conference on Saturday, July 14, 2012 through Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Under the leadership of Council President, Dr. Michael Andrew Owens (Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, East), the Conference focused on reviving the city, with a specific highlight of youth in the community. Many city leaders gathered and rallied in support of the Conference. Among those leaders was State Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi who stated, "There's not a block in the city that doesn't need healing."
On Monday, July 16th the youth focus opened with a prayer covering for the youth of the city by Rev. Daniel Ridgeway, keynote youth message by award-winning author, Minister Eddie Conner, and revival message by Rev. Tolan J. Morgan, Sr., Pastor of New St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Morgan's sermonic presentation, "Will You Be Made Whole?" moved the congregants to an experience of worship and praise, as he proclaimed the need of deliverance from tradition. He further declared that there has to be a deliverance of the mental, personal, social and spiritual nature. A special highlight of the evening's service was an old school musical rendition of "Amazing Grace" by anointed psalmist, Evangelist E. Theresa Moss, the sister of PAJAM Music Group's J. Moss.
The Conference also encompassed informational workshops by the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness relating to marijuana and synthetic Drugs, toxic relationships, and anti-bullying. The Bureau of Substance Abuse operates under the leadership of Director, Dr. Kanzoni Asabigi.


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While contemplating the changes for Kent Avenue and Northside, and the proposed rezoning of the Broadway Triangle, I have found myself referencing the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning Action from 2005. At the time, I expressed to anyone who'd listen that the rezoning proposal was incomplete because it did not provide the transportation planning necessary to make the rezoning sustainable. I find that saying "I told you so" in this instance is distinctly unsatisfying.
I dug up the testimony I gave at the Brooklyn Borough President's public hearing on the rezoning, and am offering it here, as a meditation on failed opportunities and what still needs to be done. Please note that I have not edited this statement, which was made in the context of that time.
December 9, 2004 Public Hearing, Office of the Brooklyn Borough President
My name is Teresa Toro. I am a Greenpoint resident and the transportation committee chair for Brooklyn Community Board 1. I oppose the Department of City Planning's proposal for the Greenpoint and Williamsburg community for a variety of reasons, but in particular because the proposal will create more traffic on our already overburdened streets.
Overall, the DEIS is alarmingly incomplete regarding its assumptions for traffic and transit in the rezoning proposal, and has therefore made incomplete and irresponsible mitigation recommendations. This rezoning proposal should not go forward unless the transportation impacts are thoroughly reevaluated and addressed by the Department of City Planning, especially in the form of a traffic calming study similar to the project for Downtown Brooklyn.
The DEIS does not adequately estimate or address increases in vehicular traffic likely to arise from new development, and it relies excessively on additional parking supply to accommodate the travel demand growth it does produce, which will likely add to more vehicular traffic. Additionally, the DEIS states that truck traffic won't be a problem because industrial activity has largely left the CB1 community. That may be true, but every transportation analyst in New York has predicted a minimum of a 30% increase in truck traffic volumes over the next twenty years due to globalization.
The rezoning that DCP is undertaking will attract a more affluent residential (and business) demographic, and that demographic will be a major traffic generator through demand for goods and services, as well as increased personal auto trips. What's more, local truck routes still run through our community, and the volume of those trips is increasing. We are going to be overwhelmed by more and more truck and auto traffic unless an array of real solutions is applied to our streets, and this cannot be accomplished without a traffic calming study.
Regarding transit services, the DEIS does not acknowledge that there is a severe budget shortfall at the MTA, and its assumptions about future transit availability and accessibility are therefore inaccurate. The DEIS must be immediately updated to reflect the nature of the MTA's budgetary problems as they affect the CB1 area: We stand to lose two local bus lines (B24 and B48) within a year and a half, and to my knowledge there is no rolling stock on order or planned for the G or L subway lines to accommodate the significant boost in ridership that the development will induce on all subway lines in the district, including the J train. We are losing five token booths in the district, and that will also affect local pedestrian and auto traffic patterns.
As some of the newcomers to our community will surely be car owners, and the community will continue to attract many additional tourists seeking waterfront and upland recreational opportunities, I recommend that the DEIS adopt more stringent traffic management options, such as adjusting parking regulations and adopting commercial and residential parking permits. DCP must make a concerted effort to get residents out of their cars and into our mass transit system whenever possible.
For example, DCP's proposal should incorporate the City's plans for a Bus Rapid Transit pilot program, and propose a BRT corridor from Red Hook to Queens Plaza, connecting North Brooklyn's communities, as well as opportunities for transfer to existing mass transit transfer hubs. The BRT will serve two purposes: it will provide a link between various commercial, residential, recreational and cultural destinations; and it will provide sorely needed additional transfer options at all major existing mass transit links to subway service.
Last, a total reevaluation of the traffic study hours is still needed, because the DEIS has drawn inaccurate conclusions regarding the type and volume of traffic in the CB1 area. One of the most disturbing aspects of the rezoning proposal is that it only evaluates traffic conditions on weekdays, during peak morning and evening hours. Greenpoint and Williamsburg have a strong commuter population, but we also have a bustling nightlife and are a destination for tourists and New Yorkers who patronize our restaurants, bars, art galleries, and nightclubs. Traffic counts must be taken not only during peak commuter hours but also on weekends and night time hours, to provide an accurate picture of the volumes of people traveling in and out of the area via all travel modes.
Transportation improvements in the rezoning proposal should minimize the diversion of highway auto and truck traffic to our local streets; improve and create additional opportunities for pedestrian/bicycle travel; increase the effectiveness and accessibility of mass transit; address the specific needs of emergency response personnel and vehicles; and enhance opportunities for the efficient movement of goods and other commercial services. This DEIS does absolutely none of that; in fact, quite the opposite.
DCP is recklessly adding to our community's chronically overlooked transit needs by passing the buck – other agencies will be forced to compensate for DCP's lack of transportation planning, and the community as a whole will suffer for it, both environmentally and economically. I see no evidence of genuine urban planning anywhere in this DEIS.
To sum up, the traffic and transit portions of the DEIS are incomplete, unrealistic and inadequate. Without real transit investment and thoughtful planning – as evidenced in our award-winning 197a plans – Greenpoint and Williamsburg will not be able to accommodate the growth that will result from this rezoning plan, and will become the latest victim in a city which has turned a blind eye to gridlock.
I respectfully ask that the Borough President take CB1's recent vote into full consideration when drafting his own recommendation, and pay particular attention to the traffic and transit difficulties that will be imposed upon us if the current proposal is approved. Thank you.
(... and to make a note, Borough President Markowitz did in fact support CB1's vote in opposition to the rezoning, for which I thank him yet again.)


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Hello Good People who evidently still read this blog…
I keep trying to give up this blog for good but it's up there in cyberspace without me, just like the millions of photographs of teenagers on Facebook, who may at some time, rue the day they allowed photos of, and information about themselves, to be handed over to various companies and intelligence agencies who rule the net. My blog will outlive my initial enthusiasm for bi-weekly blogging ,and like many a dead rock star's music, will probably outlive me.
I did go to Solfest this year , and I guess that by the number of hits on the day it ended, many will have to checked in to see if I have done a review like I have done the three previous years.
In a word "no", and I'm not really going to. It is still the greatest UK hippie festival that I have experienced this millennium,although a few less punters this year and slightly more zealous security. Well actually, I mean specifically one guy. A young security steward who wore large sunglasses day or night , wore a "security hat", and obviously took his job extremely seriously. He questioned and scrutinised people at the gates of Solfest as if they were non-EU citizens of "Asian" origin trying to get through passport control at Heathrow. It was only one enthusiastic Nazi in the whole organisation, but one too many, plus he never seemed to go off duty. Maybe he dreams of being head of all security services one day…in which case, don't work at a hippie festival, run by hippies.
Backstage the air of hippiedom was also occasionally marred by the odd territorial argument over which loo one could use .One group of people in particular, got hysterical if other members of crew used "their" portaloo and shouted to me "don't fill our loo up or we can't use it", which I found mildly insulting. There was also by the end of the weekend, a row over who could have access to my nearest water supply. Various people started to attach their own personal pipes,to the general standpipe going directly to their tent or caravan, leaving no access to water for the humble camper without extra water-pipe fixtures, and a trickle of water to all trying to get their direct private supply, due to low pressure. It was exemplary of the follies and injustices of Capitalism, which I hoped to get away from completely during my stay at Solfest. I am hoping that the hippie spirit of sharing resources over and above stupid claims to exclusive access to basic amenities will return next year in the backstage area.
I have not written a review of Solfest, why ? Because I am not often here.
I've turned my back on blogging, Myspace, Facebook, hotmail, Googlemail, all mainstream TV news, most TV programmes, and most Radio programmes. I do still use youtube quite a lot, especially if I want to hear music from the other side of the world. I mainly watch TV if I have visitors who want to watch it or if I am just too tired or ill to think of anything else I can do. I read newspapers if I find them lying on the tube, and yet without the internet or the media intruding in my life as much, I am not suffering from any withdrawal symptoms. Quite the opposite, I actually talk to real people face-to-face, go to real places, and don't feel like my life is over because my hair is dull or I don't have a car, or I don't know what David deCameron said today, and I haven't suffered any more patriotic military propaganda passing for news on a daily basis.
However I will entwine this rant against second hand communication and experiences with a bit of music from Solfest.
In spite of my previous negative comments, Solfest is still friendly, creative, and the happiest weekend of the year for me. I always meet great people, have long rambling conversations, dance to loud music even though I feel I am too old to do so, laugh at the inventiveness of fancy dress costumes, discover new music, see amazing landscapes, feel hopeful that there is a little bit of the year that is not cynical and under surveillance but is creative and flourishing. I love going up north, can't cope with southern festivals ever since my first Solfest. Ironically it has now become a yearly gathering point for people I know from London, Brighton and South Wales.
Every ageing hippie seems to have their favourite yearly festival, the one where they will see their old friends again and maybe have a little smoke even if they gave up on New Year's day 2000, laugh like teenagers again, and show their kids how to power generators by pedalling like crazy, how to make things out of wood, and basically introduce them to various degrees of alternative living.
Some of my favourite musicians at Solfest 2010.
Here is John Fairhurst playing sitar music on the guitar. I saw him on the main stage on Saturday, strumming hard and fast, blending slide guitar with flamenco and ragas, very impressive. Unfortunately there is no footage of him playing at Solfest, so here he is playing in 2008 at an album launch party.
John Fairhurst , a sublime creative guitarist. Here he starts quietly and gradually builds up momentum, then later explodes into a raucous manifestation of many guitar genres peeping out from one another to say a brief hello. Are you following me? Good, if not, don't read any more, have a cup of tea instead.
My favourite Drystone stage act at Solfest was Richard Barry and The Chaps from Manchester. Maybe I am biased, I met Richard at a residential songwriting workshop in 1999. His sense of humour, charm and excellent musicianship make him always worth catching. Yet again, there is no Solfest footage his performance. It was pouring down with rain when he started but he still gathered a crowd, and then the sun came out!
Richard Barry and The Chaps – Please Don't Ration My Fags.
I spent a lot more time in the Dance Tent than I intended to, especially on Saturday night where I danced to Eat Static, now a solo act, but still doing "his"/ "their" thing, and this guy DJ Adsorb who did an interesting set. Well I enjoyed it but I am frankly not an expert in dance music at all! I'm more of an acoustic guitar person myself. I just liked Adsorb's set because there was plenty of variety.
Now maybe it's because I have never taken the right drugs , or possibly because I haven't taken the correct amount of drugs, or more likely because I don't even know by what acronyms the drugs I'd have to take, and ask for, from someone two decades or more younger than me, leads me to find the brain-shaking tones of "doofff-doofff-doofff-da-da-dooff-dooff-doofff etc…" looped for an hour, and somehow so loud that they obliterate any other sounds in the mix…..B.O.R.I.N.G..
However this Solfest having spent much time talking to DJs in the Chill-Out tent who had taken the correct drugs, with their abbreviated names, in the right amounts, to like every type of Dance Music, I was re-assured that what I was referring to, was music that was "relentless".
You can actually pretend to like it, then when in the company of those you truly trust, complain that in fact it was "relentless" possibly shaking your head to demonstrate just how relentless it was.
So now I can blend in with people who know and appreciate all types of dance music by saying " God, that was relentless!" and show the punishment I endured with a little downwards shake of the head.
But as you can tell I don't pretend to be anyone but the anonymous person I am pretending to be.
I cannot find much footage of Solfest 2010 itself!
But here is some footage from the Dance tent, I don't know which DJ this is but I am sure someone will tell me, it could very well be DJ Adsorb, this is then contrasted with the Dogs in Space ( Chill-Out) tent, where you will see a few seconds of an amazing trio driven by the jazz beats of the Van Der Graaf Generator drummer: Guy Evans, along with psychedelic guitarist, Nigel Mazlyn Jones and flautist/guitarist Jim Nield. I caught the end of their set and they created a sound as colourful and ambient as the décor and lightshow of the Dogs in Space tent itself, shame there are only a few seconds of this available to show. I thoroughly enjoyed their mesmerizing set of jazz drumming and psychedelia.
The Damned played but I didn't go to see them, the youtube clips are pretty poor quality soundwise.
Another act who played twice in the Dogs in Space tent and performed in cafés all over the site were the excellent Marley Chingus, from Liverpool,played rich bebop jazz covers as well as their own compositions, their long-haired and bearded trumpet player was particularly outstanding although all of them are very highly skilled musicians. Again no footage of them at Solfest but here they are with one of their own compositions, no trumpet player but a great sax player instead.
Marley Chingus -Neolithic Chant.
Well I'm off now to make some tea and maybe listen to some music. In the meantime I asked a DJ who came to visit my place last night what his favourite Gong tune was. He told me this one because of the electronics in it, the synths were played by Tim Blake. It's a fantabulous track beginning with synths, echo and tabla and building up nicely into a freeform jazz jam with psychedelic lead guitar, slide "glissando" guitar, with other sounds and many instruments thrown in for good measure.
So, I'll leave you with the brilliant and mind-awakening : Gong – A Sprinkling of Clouds (1974)
Love and Peace to all of you
and remember hippies are cool, superficial people are… well …superficial


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The Honest Broker
Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics
- Author: Roger A. Pielke, Jr, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Date Published: May 2007
- availability: In stock
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521873208
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For scientists seeking to play a positive role in policy and politics and contribute to the sustainability of the scientific enterprise, scientists have choices in what role they play. This book is about understanding this choice. Rather than prescribing what course of action each scientist ought to take, the book aims to identify a range of options. Using examples from a range of scientific controversies, The Honest Broker challenges us all - scientists, politicians and citizens - to think carefully about how best science can contribute to policy-making and a healthy democracy.Read more
- Relevant to a wide range of scientific disciplines
- Practical and accessible style helps all scientists to understand choices they face in their career, whether in public or private sector
- Engages with many high profile and controversial issues such as stem cell research, GAO, climate change and governmental interference
Reviews & endorsements
Decision-making can be an important problem, both in everyday life and when science, politics and policy are involved. The Honest Broker broadens the options of decision-making by going beyond the traditional roles of the 'pure scientist' or the 'issue advocate'. Scientific knowledge can be integrated with stakeholder concerns if the policy context is taken into account in an adequate way. Based on extensive experience in the analysis of decision-making relating to scientific and technological issues, Roger Pielke Jr. goes a long way to be an honest broker himself: between science and democracy.
Helga Nowotny, Vice-President of the European Research Council and Fellow, Wissenschaftszentrum WienSee more reviews
"Pielke's framework provides a helpful starting point for investigating factors that complicate the science-society relationship. . . Pielke deftly shows how scientists selections among these options can affect outcomes... [T]he book's direct language and concrete examples convey the concepts to a wide audience. By categorizing different roles in the often vexed but necessary relations between scientists and their social world, Pielke clarifies choices not only for scientists but also for the diverse members of democratic society, for whom scientific perspectives are an essential component of better policy."
Science, Nathan Hultman, Georgetown University
"Happily, the book by Roger Pielke Jr. on the engagement of scientists in policy offers a pithy, insightful basis for discussing the contributions scientists can make to advising policy-makers...This is a clear, thought-provoking book that helps move us away from thinking of science as 'pure' and distinct from policy."
- Andrew A. Rosenburg, University of New Hampshire, Nature
"The Honest Broker is a must-read...An important book...it should be read by everyone."
Robert T. Lackey, BioScience
"In effect, Pielke's book is a primer that can be a valuable introduction to clarifying the wide roles scientists can and do play, and can be useful in explaining what lies behind some of the controversies so evident today…Piekle clearly has been through the wars of science policy issues and shows his experience and, by implication, his frustration with those scientists who advocate policies they argue are dictated by scientific facts, without recognizing (or admitting) that their views are a result of their commitment to certain policy outcomes. He demonstrates a solid grasp of science and policy interactions, a sophisticated knowledge of U.S. science policy and institutions, and can write and express important ideas clearly and convincingly. For those reasons, the book is a valuable addition to the science and policy scene."
Eugene B. Skolnikoff, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Review of Policy Research
"...for anyone interested in a policy-oriented perspective on science advice, The Honest Broker offers an accessible and stimulating guide to improving the role of science advisors in politics and policymaking."
Mark B. Brown, Minerva
"Pielke's discussion of climate change politics is excellent. He seizes on the central issue in climate change politics: that those opposed to action (based on value decisions) raise scientific uncertainty as a reason for delay or inaction. In response, scientists focus on reducing or eliminating uncertainty to undermine grounds for opposition to action rather than focusing on the merits of the argument, which is really a values-based decision irrespective of the science. The basic framework of the book and its discussion of the importance of considering values and uncertainty are strong. the numerous examples he offers are instructive. Anyone engaged in policy, even on the periphery, would benefit from this discussion."
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Mark Shafer, Director of Climate Services at the Oklahoma Climatological Survey
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Product details
- Date Published: May 2007
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521873208
- length: 198 pages
- dimensions: 236 x 160 x 18 mm
- weight: 0.466kg
- contains: 3 b/w illus. 4 tables
- availability: In stock
Table of Contents
List of figures
List of tables
1. Four idealized roles of science in policy and politics
2. The big picture, science and democracy
3. Science and decision making
4. Values
5. Uncertainty
6. How Science policy shapes science in policy and politics
7. Preemption and the decision to go to war in Iraq
8. When scientists politicize science
9. Making sense of science in policy and politics
Instructors have used or reviewed this title for the following courses
- Culture and Professional Communication
- Democracy & Sustainability
- Introduction to Scientific Inquiry
- Science Curricula: Current Approaches
- Science and Policy Integration
- Science and Public Policy
- Science, Technology, and Public Policy
- Seminar in Public Policy
- The Problem of Expertise in a Democratic Society
- U.S. Environmental History & Policy
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You may have seen these intriguing posters across the city in the last couple of days. A plain black piece of paper asking you to 'Type it into Google' with a bold yellow arrow showing you what to type: 'Paul Strange Presents'
Being quite surprised by the originality of the message, I actually typed it in! With a bit of efforts, I found the Paul Strange Presents website, which is actually a club promoter in Sydney.
I have found that strategy brilliant in many ways and I am quite convinced that the Paul Strange Presents website will get many hits, PR and Blog post through this strategy. However, from a search marketer's point of view, the implementation could have been even more effective.
The Great things about the strategy
Paul Strange Presents (or their advertising agency, I am not sure) have been really innovative in their approach. It is not so common to come across businesses able to understand the power of search engines to drive online traffic from an offline media.
In fact such strategy was outlined by Willie Pang, the Head of Yahoo Search Marketing, at the latest AIMIA Conference on the future of search engine marketing(unfortunately for him, they chose Google). Willie Pang considers search engines as
a gateway to engage customers with your online activitiesIn his presentation Willie Pang demonstrated that 26% of online users find a website from print advertising and 67% of online search are performed as a result of an exposure to offline media. He also demonstrated that people are not always able to remember or will forget an URL and therefore the potential traffic generated by offline media might never reach your website.
Integrating Search engines in a offline campaign is a great to easily connect both offline and online media and make sure that potential traffic will reach your website. In that case, people have to remember only one simple phrase 'Paul Strange Presents' and that is it!
More work on the Search Strategy
Quite often a brilliant idea is not followed by a brilliant implementation. In the case of Paul Strange Presents, the search engine presence is not optimal, which might result in some users not being able to find the website.
While the website ranks first on Google.com.au pages from the web (see below), the website does not rank on the first page of the SERPs when you search pages from Australia. It is little tricky especially if you are in Australia and advertise to an Australian audience. It would have been wise work on some SEO activities beforehand, to avoid this.
Another thing, some sponsored links appears on the right hand side of the page. This could also be really tricky if a competitor decide to advertise in this spot. They might be able to capitalise on the print campaign to drive traffic to their website at a low cost.
The Amnesia Blog suggest that a SEM (Paid Search) strategy could have been a good (but maybe expensive) to guarantee maximum placement. It is a good idea and it could actually be done in a shoestring budget as the keyword 'Paul Strange' does not have high CPC (unless a competitor decides to bid aggressively on it).
What I would do is to simply contact Google, fill in the trademark registration form (It is highly likely that Paul Strange Presents is a trademark) and make sure that no other advertiser is actually able to display ads... It would not cost anything and would be quite effective to remove the competition.
Finally, Paul Stranges Presents could have highly optimised their online presence in the SERPs by making sure that most of the other results are linking to their website or alternatively to display information of their website. They have done it with the MySpace page, but could have pushed this a bit further.
Even better, they could have taken advantage of Universal Search. Paul Strange Presents could have easily uploaded a YouTube video with a quick preview of one of the party they organized. At the moment, the YouTube videos that appear in the SERPs are not related at all. Paul Stranges Presents could have also used Google images to display picture of the party right in the search results.
Doing so, they could have made sure to convert the buzz effect from their print advertising campaign into traffic to their website... Well it is still a brilliant strategy, and if someone from Paul Stranges read this post, they have most of the elements to optimise their campaign :-)


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Justice Samuel Alito's speech shows that originalism will be the parole of the Court going forward, and that Alito will be the originalist of tradition.
Marketplace Fairness Act
Demography is only destiny if we allow it to be, by accepting the left's transformation of culture.
The Social Dilemma's conclusion that we are all helpless consumers, hoodwinked by big tech, is a depressing misunderstanding of humanity.
There are no dictionaries of sustainability's Newspeak. Its mavens rely less on new words than on perverting or reversing the meaning of old ones.
Capacious liberalism is the prerequisite for successful, empirically based social reform and the rule of law.
Let 2020 be the year America rediscovers the reverent art of Thanksgiving in the midst of troubled times.
The authority to proclaim a Thanksgiving might seem trivial to us. But it is, in fact, fraught with meaning.
If intersectionality is not defeated, Americans will learn the truth that power, not freedom, is truly irresistible.
A newsletter worth reading.
Pirates are still piratical. And just reprisals are still a lawful way to bring them to justice.
Section 230 has not kept pace with the times and now presides over a very different internet from the one it was designed to govern.
Previously unnoticed evidence provides new support for the proposition that the Second Amendment articulates an individual right to personal safety.
Policy inertia means that the Republican Party of 2024 will share more with the Republican Party of 1924 than that of more recent decades.
Three contributors discuss Joshua Mitchell's new book and the trajectory of identity politics.
A gathering at George Mason University to remember the late, great judge.


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Story highlights
- Nilay Patel: 2013 is the year of refinement and reckoning in the tech industry
- Patel: There are five big developments to keep an eye on
- He asks whether Apple will get its mojo back and what will Microsoft do?
- Patel: Can Facebook grow up, and will Amazon be able to compete with Google?
2013 will be a year of harsh change for the tech industry. We've just experienced five years of rapid, messy and disruptive innovation, and smartphones and tablets aren't the future any longer -- they're the present.
Powerful mobile devices connected to broadband-speed cell networks are now an everyday reality, and it's going to take more than a bigger screen or faster processor to make an impact this year. Think of 2013 as the year of refinement and reckoning.
Here are five big developments to keep an eye on:
1. The future of Microsoft
Microsoft has been very candid about "missing a generation" of mobile innovation after Apple introduced the iPhone, and 2012 was all about the results of a furious catch-up effort: the company launched the completely rethought Windows 8 for PCs, Windows RT for tablets and Windows Phone 8 for smartphones. CEO Steve Ballmer also repositioned Microsoft as a "devices and services" company, and he introduced the Surface and Surface Pro, two tablets designed by Microsoft itself to compete with traditional PC companies such as Dell and Sony.
That's a lot of bold bets, and they all have to pay off in 2013. The PC era is over, and Microsoft has to show consumers it has something to offer in a world dominated by tablets and smartphones. Windows 8 and Surface sales appear to have been slow so far, so we'll see how the company does. There is one all-but-guaranteed bright spot, though: a new Xbox is due to be announced this year.
2. Can Apple get its software mojo back?
Apple found success in 2012 by introducing an iPhone with a bigger screen and an iPad with a smaller screen, but it'll have to focus on software in 2013 to stay ahead of the competition.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has now launched two iPhones since taking over for Steve Jobs, and both of them have come with buggy, incomplete flagship software features -- the iPhone 4S launched with the charming-but-not-so-useful Siri voice assistant, and the iPhone 5 launched with a homegrown Maps app so buggy that Cook was forced to apologize to customers.
In the meantime, archrival Google has begun shipping some of the best iPhone apps around -- I've replaced most of Apple's apps on my iPhone homescreen with Google-built replacements such as Gmail, Google Maps, Chrome and YouTube. Most of my peers in the industry have done the same. That's not a good sign.
Cook just fired Scott Forstall, the controversial head of iOS development who presided over Siri and Maps. Designer Jony Ive is now in charge of both hardware and software, so we'll see if the company can regain its reputation for state-of-the-art software design with the next iPhone and iPad.
3. Will Amazon go head to head with Apple and Google?
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was very blunt when he introduced the new Kindle Fire HD in September -- he called it the "best tablet on the market." That was an obvious shot at Apple and the iPad, but Amazon's real competitor may well be Google, especially as the market for books, music and movies moves entirely online.
There's no way Amazon wants people searching Google to find content and products from multiple sources. Amazon wants to build an ecosystem so robust you never want to leave. Think of what Apple did for music with the iPod and iTunes and then imagine Amazon doing that for everything.
But the Kindle Fire products aren't good enough to compete with the iPad yet, and Amazon doesn't have all the services it needs to compete with Google either. It needs to offer at least e-mail and search, and a social experience wouldn't hurt either. That's not a small undertaking, but Amazon is one of the few companies with the scale, infrastructure and resources to make it happen. The rumors are getting louder. We'll see whether Amazon makes a big move in 2013.
4. Can Facebook grow up?
2013 will be Facebook's first year as a public company, and it has to prove that it can be a stable, reliable investment. That's no easy task: Facebook figured out how to make money selling ads on its website just as most of its users switched to smartphone and tablet apps.
Selling ads on mobile isn't nearly as easy, and Facebook has to figure out how to display relevant ads to smartphone users without crossing the privacy line -- a line about which users are increasingly worried. But CEO Mark Zuckerberg has to answer to his investors now, and the pressure to cross that line will increase every day that Facebook isn't making money in mobile.
5. Can Google take Android back from Samsung and the wireless carriers?
Here's the brutal truth of the smartphone market: the only companies that make any money are Apple and Samsung. Every other company, from HTC to Sony to Google's own Motorola, is struggling. And that's a huge problem for Google.
Apple obviously writes its own software for the iPhone, but Samsung's phones all run a customized version of Google's open-source Android, and Samsung is so dominant that it could very well split off and start building its own version of Android, just as Amazon did with the Kindle Fire. That would be a huge blow to Google. If the rest of the market can't make money using Android soon, it'll provide a big opening for Microsoft.
Google also has to find a way to limit the influence of wireless carriers on Android. Companies such as AT&T and Verizon are all too happy to load up Android devices with unnecessary crapware and bloatware that ruin the user experience while delaying important software updates.
The animosity between Google and the carriers has gotten so deep that Google's new Nexus 4 flagship device doesn't have an LTE radio; the carriers simply wouldn't cooperate.
That's in stark contrast to the iPhone experience, which is pristine and controlled by Apple from the start. It's a control that irritates power users but offers a sense of support and security to the rest of Apple's millions of customers. There's a happy balance between the two extremes, and Google needs to find it before Android begins to slip away entirely.
These are just five of the many interesting things to look out for in 2013, from the future of TV to the rise of wearable computing. After several years of rapid change, we've all got computers in our pockets. The next few years will be about what we do with them to make our lives better.
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Returning to middle school may not sound like your ideal Thursday night, but the organizers of the Recreational Adult Dodgeball (RAD) League in Oakland have worked hard to create a significantly more appealing recess experience — one suited for adults. The amateur sports league, which meets in the gym of Claremont Middle School in Rockridge, hosts Thursday league nights in which hundreds of players across eight teams square off in fifty-minute matches that closely resemble the dodgeball competitions of your childhood. Head shots are not allowed, and the RAD Leagues uses soft "no sting" balls designed to ensure the games are pain-free. The group also hosts open gym nights outside of the league, which can give interested participants a chance to try out the game and practice dodgeball skills before committing to a team. After game nights, players usually head to George and Walt's, a nearby sports bar, where teammates can focus on the primary mission of RAD Dodgeball — meeting new people and socializing.
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