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Reverse Engineering a Dot Matrix Plasma Display
May 2nd 2012, 11:26 pmAwhile back, I bought a lot of arcade parts from somebody on Craigslist with the intention of getting some parts and marquees for my house. I wanted to try my hand at reselling as well to see if I liked it. Most of the garage has been sorted, sold or thrown away at this point and in the back corner I found a box labeled "Betson Replacement Screen." I pulled it open and found a brand new dot matrix display. Remembering a post by a friend on his progress reverse engineering a LED display from the 80s, I decided that I had to get a picture on it.The first thing I did when I got it upstairs was flip it over and google the model number, "APD-128G064A-1". My initial excitement was dashed when I realized that the copious links all pointed to the same 2-page PDF document that was almost entirely devoid of information (datasheet here). It did go over the theory of use at a very high level. Also, thankfully, it discussed voltage requirements. With that bit of information I decided that my best course of action would be to get power to it and see if it did anything, followed by attempting to trace the circuit and figure out what pins did what. Since the datasheet called out the method by which the screen could be updated, I just needed to get a good idea of which pin was for each of the six signals listed. Then I could experiment with a microcontroller and confirm my guesses.There was a nice test fixture (possibly for probing converted voltages?) that mentioned Vcc, so I stupidly hooked 12V to that and ground to the gnd pin. Nothing happened, and I shut off the power supply and re-read the data sheet. I realized that it called out two different voltages, one for DC-DC conversion to run the plasma display, and one for the logic. With that bit, I re-examined the ignored 4-lead cable attachment and realized that it was probably the power connector. Vcc as labeled was traced to a pin, ground to two more, and I guessed that the last would be the 12-36V DC-DC input. I re-soldered to these instead of the test points and turned the power on. I was immediately greeted with a zapping noise and several of the dots lit up temporarily. Before I could congratulate myself, the power supply tripped. No matter, I knew I had the power lines connected right.With a renewed excitement, I soldered wires to the used pins of what appeared to be the logic connector and began tracing the circuit out. Every chip on the circuit was a 7400 series chip with the exception of the shift registers. All of them had data sheets online. I managed to probe out several of the connections, concentrating on the circuits that fed the clock and data in pins on the shift registers. After a good hour or so of probing, I had the following crudely sketched schematic and was 99% sure as to the use of four of the six inputs. The other two were either row clock or row data, but I could figure that out by trying both combinations.
Backside of the display.
Schematic bits.I hurried to Fry's to pick up an Arduino board and they had what they called "Arduino Compatible" OSEPP Uno boards. I got it home and after a bit of googling learned that you had to manually select a different board type. I burned the blinking light test binary on and it worked, so I was off throwing together a quick test application. Armed with a new, beefier power supply, I tried my code. The first thing I attempted was to display a test pattern to the screen. It failed outright. I figured that since the display claimed that the row needed manual resetting that I wasn't clocking the row line in properly. After a bit of time experimenting, I had a program that took the random garbage that showed up on the screen when it booted and stepped it down one line per second. I now knew which line was row clock and which was row data. After a few ore hours of throwing code together, I came up with this program. I powered on the display and below is what I was greeted with:I had officially achieved liftoff! There was a pesky problem with wobbly pixels in some areas, and the screen refreshed so slowly that it flickered like hell. Also, there was garbage at the bottom of the screen that I couldn't account for. Now that I'd prototyped it, it was time to get rid of the Arduino libraries (they are very slow) and go to raw register accesses. Also, I wanted to create some sort of protocol by which I could update the display using the USB to serial connection provided on the Arduino. I briefly tried creating 3 color and 4 color grayscale images by displaying images 1/2 of the time, and then 2/3 and 1/3 of the time. The screen stopped lighting all the pixels when refreshed too quickly and when I slowed it down well enough to get a clean picture, it flickered, so that was out. Also, since there was only 2 KB of SRAM, I had to place half the image in EEPROM which meant that access times for the two frames were not in sync. I finally settled on a simple serial protocol by which the EEPROM could be rewritten, a 1KB buffer in SRAM could be rewritten, or text could be rendered onto the screen using the EEPROM image as a 128 character 8x8 font.The program took me a few nights to complete, thanks to some setbacks with the Arduino programming environment. However, I got the column data clocking out via SPI instead of bit banging which drastically improved the refresh speed. I also converted to raw port accesses which helped. The images now displayed crisply and I could dump data to the screen using a test program in Visual Studio. I put my friends to work helping me format an 8x8 font bitmap and drawing black and white images to display, and the results are below:
Text rendering using font burned to EEPROM
A cat!
Milhouse is not a picture.The current source code to the Arduino application is available here. The visual Studio application that I developed into a console application is available here. They're probably not much use to anyone who doesn't happen to have one of these screens available but I figured they would be educational to the curious. The serial protocol can currently accept a 128x64 image for display or burning into the EEPROM. It can accept text to be rendered. It can clear or invert the screen. It can force text to be drawn normal or inverted. It can also move the cursor. I plan to add several more functions to the serial API such as scrolling and scaling, blitting and other high level graphics operations one might expect from a nice display driver. I would take the easy route and just upload full processed images but unfortunately I can't push the serial past 57600 baud or the interrupt can't keep up with the image refresh.That isn't all, however. I plan to pick up an old laptop from a friend and put Linux on it. From there, I'll need to port the console application and add a web server. I want to put up a simple PHP script that allows poeple to upload images or text to the screen from the internet. Possibly, I also want it to take twitter updates or texts on a google voice number. Basically, I want this to be an interactive toy that guests who come to my parties can interact with using their phones. Stay tuned for more development!


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Beware ye olde Facebook.
Its turning me into a stalker. Admit it, its turning you into a stalker too.
But its not really my fault, honest. If FB throws every little update and wall and quiz and Black Sheep at your home page, you have to be ridiculously innocent not to at least follow one 'see wall-to-wall' and stalk. And the fact that almost EVERYONE shouts out every little thing/feeling they do/feel is an almost open invitation, isn't it?
I don't know about you, but I feel a little jump of joy every time someone likes my status. I'd be on the moon if someone comments. I'm knocked unconscious if lots of people like it.
So yeah, that means that you actually want that attention. Following Isa's train of thought, if you say you aren't that means you're a hypocrite. Hahah, i seem to love this simple logic, where everyone is vain. That's why people adore facebook in the first place, it allows them to be known. (or is it to make friends?) Judging by the amount of self-explanatory and intimately revealing quizzes on FB ( like what does your underwear say about you), i'd bet on the former.
Which brings us to the initial question. I'm not really stalking if facebookers actually crave people like me. tee hee. Or maybe it is considered stalking, and facebook is teaching us that its alright to stalk as long as someone implicitly allows it. Brrrr.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
if only we could see who views our profile
Beware ye olde Facebook.
Posted by The Author at 11:38 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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Commercial General Liability Insurance
- Course Delivery: On Demand
- Credit Hours: 3
- Credit Type: General
The peril of liability is one of the most severe risks facing any organization today. Operating an organization without liability insurance puts owners at risk. Learning about liability insurance is a great way to prolong the life of your organization! This course covers broad issues of liability insurance and Workers' Compensation.
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- List the basics of workers compensation and employers liability insurance.
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Commercial General Liability Insurance - Ohio Department of Insurance
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- 614-644-2658
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- 614-644-3743
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UPDATE: Bangladesh factory collapse death toll now at 250; 2,000 pulled from rubble (video)
DHAKA, Bangladesh -- The death toll from the collapse of an eight-story building in Bangladesh reached 250 late Thursday as thousands took to the streets of Dhaka in protest.
The demonstrators shouted, "Hang them!" and demanded the arrests of the owners of the building, which collapsed Wednesday, as well as the garment factories it housed.
More than 2,000 people have been pulled alive from the wreckage of the Rana Plaza building in Savar, northwest of Dhaka, police officer Mohammad Asaduzzaman said.
More than 1,500 people were injured, and an unknown number of people were still trapped.
Zahidul Islam, a director in the fire service and civil department, said 24 people were rescued on Thursday.
Meanwhile, private broadcaster Independent Television reported that six of 40 people found alive under the rubble were also freed. The 40 were found in a room by rescuers squeezing through gaps in the rubble, a day after the building collapsed.
"We will continue the search for one more day ... as a person can remain alive for 72 hours in such conditions," said Syed Hasan Suhrawardy, an army officer supervising the rescue operation.
One victim was stuck between a pillar and a large chunk of broken wall. "I want to live. Please help get me out of here," he said in footage aired on the ATN Bangla news channel.
"We are going to bore holes through the roof and go inside," said Brig. Gen. Mohammad Siddiqul Alam Sikder, who was also supervising rescue operations.
The protesters blocked highways and damaged vehicles. Several hundred workers surrounded the headquarters of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association in Dhaka, demanding the death penalty for the factory owners they blamed for the deaths.
"Arrest them! Hang them!" the protesters chanted.
The Home Affairs Ministry ordered the arrest of Sohel Rana, the building owner and a local leader of the ruling Awami League party, after he reportedly assured factory owners of the building's safety, saying it had been tested by engineers a day ahead of the collapse.
Rahan was accused of using substandard building materials, Asaduzzaman, the police officer, said.
The collapse took place as a ninth floor was under construction and after a large crack developed in the building, workers said.
Police and the Dhaka development authority filed two cases against the owners of the building and the garment factories while the government formed four teams to investigate.
The High Court ordered the authorities to bring before it the building's owner as well as the chairmen and managing directors of the garment factories by April 30.
Television footage showed hundreds of people near the site, some weeping as they clutched photographs of their missing relatives.
Bodies were lined up on a school playground, wrapped in plastic and cloth, as relatives filed past to identify loved ones.
Rescuers from the army, fire service, and civil defense and police departments were joined by several hundred college and university students as well as local residents in clearing the rubble, a witness said.
The rescuers were trying to supply water and oxygen through gaps in the rubble to those trapped.
The national flag flew at half mast at all governmental and many other buildings as a day of mourning was officially declared.
Employees said more than 5,000 garment makers worked in the building. Garment manufacturers put the figure at 2,200.
Accidents in the garment industry, which accounts for 79 percent of Bangladesh's export earnings, have raised questions about safety standards in the sector.
In November, 112 workers were killed when a factory caught fire near Dhaka. Sixty-four people were killed when a factory collapsed in the Savar suburb in 2005.
In 2006, at least 22 people were killed when another building collapsed in Dhaka.
&Copy;2013 Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (Hamburg, Germany)
Visit Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) at www.dpa.de/English.82.0.html
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Rescue effort continues in Bangladesh building collapse
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Peer-Reviewed Publications
Found 6 resultsTitle
Filters: Author is Graci, Valentina [Clear All Filters]
Age Differences in Occupant Motion during Simulated In-Vehicle Swerving Maneuvers." Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(6)."
The Effect of Vehicle Countermeasures and Age on Human Volunteer Kinematics During Evasive Swerving Events." Traffic Inj Prev. 2020;21(1):48-54."
Characterization of the Motion of Booster-seated Children During Simulated In-vehicle Precrash Maneuvers." Traffic Injury Prevention. 2019."
Effect of Automated Versus Manual Emergency Braking on Rear Seat Adult and Pediatric Occupant Precrash Motion." Traffic Injury Prevention. 2019;20(Sup1)."
Effect of Age on Kinematics during Pre‐crash Vehicle Manoeuvres with Sustained Lateral Acceleration.". In: IRCOBI Conference. Athens, Greece; 2018."


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Today as I was documenting another branch of my Foss family tree and I hit a snag in Family Tree Maker 2010 for the Mac. The issue seems to manifest itself when I attach two people that already exist in my Family Tree Maker file.
Issue: Israel Foss and Dorcas Foss are siblings. They are both children of Benjamin Foss and Sarah Mitchell. One of Israel's daughters, Caroline, married Jonathan Clark. As always, I wanted to document his parents for my file. I found that his parents were Edward Clark and Dorcas Foss. I entered Edward Clark manually as the father of Jonathan Clark and then used the "Attach Mother" menu item to attach Dorcas Foss as the mother of Jonathan. Unfortunately, the relationship does not show in the 4-generation chart.
In the screenshot in the chart above you can see Dorcas Foss does not show her mother and father, but it shows the parents correctly for Israel Foss.
In the next screenshot you can see Israel as the sibling to Dorcas. Also, Benjamin & Sarah are shown as the parents. However, in the small chart above the relationships, note that her parents are not shown in the chart.
I checked to see if there was a software update available and there was not one available at this time.
Has anyone else seen this issue?


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My name is Diana Calvo and I work as a Membership Advisor for Edinburgh Leisure. We run more than 30 Sport Centres all around Edinburgh.
Being a casual visitor of the Forest Café and having seen the really interesting activities that you run have given me the idea of offering you an "exchange".
Edinburgh Leisure is a non-profit Organization too so we have been doing some outreach work as an alternative to Advertising. In those Events we try to bring some more members to our centres and help people to get to know more about the activities and facilities that we have.
I know that you have an "Alternative Space" where you offer all sorts of things and get people involved. And there is where I thought that Edinburgh Leisure could give a hand offering for example a fitness class (Body Balance, Combat, Pilates or even a Boxing session) or just bring some free passes for Forest Café customers.
The main aim of this exchange will be to get more and more people to know a bit more about us and to add something new to do to the already large list of Events at Forest Café for everybody to enjoy.
You can find more information about us in our Website: http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk
I will be looking forward for your answer. If you have any questions in the meanwhile do not hesitate to contact me and I will be more than happy to help.
Diana Calvo
Membership Advisor
Royal Commonwealth Pool
Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh EH16 5BB
t: 0131 667 72 11
forest and edinburgh leisure:
Post Reply
5 posts • Page 1 of 1
should we suggest a weekly or monthly workshop in the hall. for free? or charge them?
Post Reply
5 posts • Page 1 of 1


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The archeological site "Gradiste – Brazda" is situated nearly 15 km north of Skopje, on a humble hill that rises over the village of Brazda. According to information (data) obtained through past researches, the site is classified as a fortified early antique settlement, dating from the 5th to the 3rd century BC and spreading over an area of 3.5 ha, which make it the largest settlement in the Skopje valley.
With the excavation of the monumental architectural edifice, known as "The Royal tomb" in 1986, the archeological site Gradiste claims a significant place in the archeological circles as well as the wider public.
With its specific characteristics, the Royal tomb at Brazda represents a unique instance of its kind on the wider Balkan peninsula.
It is a representative structure with a rectangular chamber with dimension of 9.8 by 6.6 meters and a dromos (passageway) with over 20 meters in length that steeply descends toward the west entrance of the tomb. The entire structure is built from large travertine blocks with an average weight of 500 to 1500 kg. Although it is a structure buried in the ground, the chamber blocks are decorated with a smooth rectangular frame encompassing the salient middle. The exquisite decoration of the rock, as well as the fact that the closest travertine mines are on a distance of 20 km from the site, are arguments enough to determine the economic power of the deceased and the settlement at large which was one of the more important settlements in the 5th century BC.
Nevertheless, the city's name, its function, meaning and regional administrative status are still unknown. Who were the citizens of Gradiste? This cannot be determined with certainty as well. The presence of red-figure vases among the ceramic findings is a confirmation of the existence of cultural and economic relations with Athens. Whether it is a matter of colonists from the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula who inhabited the settlement or maybe it is a result of the driving development of the local Paionian inhabitants are question left to archeology to resolve.
The idea for the project or to turn this place into a tourist attraction so it finally receives the attention it deserves was born when we first visited this archeological site as archeology students. A monumental royal tomb dating from the 5th c. BC towered before us with it massive stone blocks, but the entrance to it was nearly impossible and the whole place was overgrown with wild vegetation and buried under year and years of piled garbage. There were no signposts or information panels, thus the visitor can neither be led to nor informed about the immense historical heritage that they unknowingly pass by. The general public was completely unaware of its existence and more importantly so was the world.
After many years and many tries to realize the wishful idea, in 2012 the association "Archaeologica" in partnership with the Museum of Macedonia and supported by ELEM through its social responsibility program, finally started working on the field in order to change the appearance (image) of this important cultural heritage turning it into the first archeological park in Macedonia – the Archeo Park Brazda.
The Archaeologica team toiled for months to arrange the site and its surroundings.
– The interior of the tomb and the passageway (dromos) were completely cleaned from wild vegetation and debris which increased the visibility of the site,
– The plateau in front of the tomb was cleared and leveled,
– An approach to the tomb was ensured by building an access path with two bridges,
– A small square was built and wooden benches were placed,
– A voluntary action was organized to clear the riverbeds of garbage
– The landscape around the park was horticultural refined
– Information panels and signposts were placed,
– Informative flyers were printed and distributed
– The opening of the Arheo Park was covered by media – A web site about the park was developed (www.arheoparkbrazda.mk)
We paid particular attention to using natural materials in the realization of the project, materials that do not stand out from their surroundings.
By opening the first archeological park in Macedonia, "Arheo park Brazda", we strive to bring archeology closer to our fellow citizens, to raise the standards of archeology in Macedonia and to simply enrich the offer of cultural landmarks.
The aim of the project is to protect as well as present a rare example from the world cultural heritage to raise the cultural and environmental awareness of the local authorities and the local population in the municipality of Chucher-Sandevo and to develop the tourism in this rural environment.
This kind of development and widening of the touristic offer of Skopje would contribute to the development of the village of Brazda se well, and of the surrounding area in this vivid and picturesque region.
The short distance to the city and the well organized road infrastructure enable a fast and simple approach to the attractive recreational locations such as, the village of Banjani, the village of Gornjani, restaurant Chardak, etc. Simultaneously, in the vicinity of village Brazda numerous cultural and historical monuments dating from the 14th to 19th century can be found, dispersed through the foothills of Skopska Crna Gora: the church of St. Nikita in Gornjani village, the church of Holy Salvation and the monastery of St. Archangel in Kuchevishte village, the churches of St.
George and St. Ilija in the village of Banjani, etc. And finally, by adding the Gradiste site to this group of cultural landmarks, we arrive at an unforgettable whole-day experience, a tourist walk through the past in Skopje and the vicinity, from the beginnings of ancient times to today.
The interest in this cultural monument significantly rose after mounting the signposts and the official opening of the "Arheo Park Brazda". Apart from casual passersby that would learn about this place from the signpost, organized groups also visit the park. As the local inhabitants inform us, the site receives daily visits from foreign and domestic tourists who are in awe of everything this site has to offer from a cultural aspect as well as from the natural beauties that abound. The undertakings so far are just a part of the overall conceptual solution for this arheo park. Due to the heightened interest in the park, as well as the increased number of visitors, we are planning a realization of the second phase of the project that would include: setting up a wooden gazebo which would serve as an educational nest for the students of archeology and the pupils from primary schools located the vicinity of the site, as well as for larger groups of tourists; building access paths to Gradiste; setting up litter bins and additional horticultural enrichment along the paths and around the tent, as well as maintaining the park; mounting new signposts on key crossroads so as to alleviate access to the site, printing informative leaflets, etc.
We wholeheartedly hope that we will have an opportunity to realize these steps i.e. the second phase of the project, which would raise the Arheo park to world standards and contribute to the protection and promotion of the Gradiste site as a significant cultural inheritance, attract even higher numbers of foreign and domestic visitors, and encourage the development of rural tourism.


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Liberty News
President Falwell: Students' well-being is 'foremost concern'
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr. expressed his deep concern and sadness during a press conference on campus Tuesday afternoon regarding a shooting incident at the Residential Annex II in the early morning hours.
Falwell told the media that he is "deeply saddened by what has happened" and that the university's "first and foremost concern is the well-being of our students and our community that was impacted by this incident."
"Our deepest concerns are with the people affected, with the students here, and the family of the young man who was shot. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family and also with the officer who was involved in the shooting," he said.
He said the university received reports that a Liberty University Emergency Services officer was attacked by a male student in the lobby of the women's-only residence hall early Tuesday morning. The student was shot and killed and the officer was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital for treatment.
Falwell thanked the Lynchburg Police Department, which is conducting the investigation.
"We appreciate the professionalism and the way they stepped in and dealt with it and we'll continue to cooperate with them," he said.
The university has complied with a search warrant.
"We have taken every action that we believe could be taken at this point, and we're standing by waiting on more facts from police," Falwell said. "Our focus will continue to be on the safety and emotional health and well-being of our students and our community."
Liberty has been providing professional counseling services to students and staff throughout the day and will continue to offer support services in the weeks ahead.
Falwell said he has received an outpouring of support from people across the state and nation who have contacted him to offer their prayers and services, including Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and presidents of other colleges.
Falwell will address the student body during Wednesday morning's Convocation in the Vines Center and prayers will be offered there for all involved.
"It's events like this where we feel like it's our duty as a Christian university to pull together and to support everybody as much as possible," Falwell said. "That's what our focus has been all day today and will continue to be throughout this ordeal."
- View official statements from the university released on Tuesday, Nov. 19.


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In a typical week, I am shattered by Friday morning. I've spent the week staring down a microscope, collected a lot images, and/or passed a couple afternoons staring at a green and white screen of the SEM. I have learned that it's not good to spend too much time in the microscale. It's important to remember that while the work I am doing is very detailed and requires a good bit of microanalysis, there also is a wider cultural component that is important on the macroscale. This morning, I have been reading some archaeological theory about the spread of ancient technology, operational chains, and the cultural importance of material production. This is the part I enjoy the least, but, as I've been reminded on several occasions, is just as important as the analytical details. In fact, there is little reason to even begin the analysis without a Bigger Picture reason for doing so.
Figure 1. This is my desk in its clean state. That stack of papers is what I've been reading for the last 2 weeks. Usually there is a stone cold half-cup of coffee sitting there as well.
Actually, this is where the real work is done. All of the sample analysis and data collection would mean nothing if I didn't spend many more hours pouring over the results, trying to tease out some sort of meaning from black and white images and long series of numbers. This is the part where I get to make charts! And data tables! This is the part I enjoy most.
In the afternoon, I was able to escape back to the lab and do some initial prep work for the petrographic work I am planning for next week. Here is the rig I am using:
Figure 2. I'm using a polarizing microscope with an attached video camera. There are four lenses from 4X to 40X, and the homogeneity of the concrete samples and variable particle sizes of the inclusions mean that all lenses are useful at some point or another.
Before starting a quantitative point count, I take some time to get the know the sample. That involves having a look to see what the components are, if there is anything unusual about the sample, any unexpected components, etc. I take notes on a high resolution scan of the thin section and capture images of what I'm seeing down the eyepiece (you can sort of see an image on the screen there). For these initial examinations I usually work with the 4X objective lens and move up in magnification as needed. When I feel like I have a good idea what I'm dealing with, I set up the parameters I'll need for the point count.
Figure 3. Here, I've mounted a computerized microstepper to the microscope stage, which moves the slide a specific distance. This way, I can be sure that the step distance between each is point is standardized and precise. The microstepper and PETROG software have been generously loaned to me for the duration of my research by the manufacturers.
At each point I identify and record what I am seeing with the 10X objective lens. The software allows me to record the data in a database for subsequent analysis. (I also keep paper records because the computer I am using is rather old and prone to crashes) What I've done this afternoon is program in the area of the thin section I want to count, the number of points I am aiming for (500-600), and the step distance (1 mm). Now I'm all set to do the full point count on Monday, which should take me about 6 hours.
When I'm finished with the microscope work, I will have generated a good description of the concrete fabric, recorded the size and nature of voids and cracks, and quantified the types of aggregate. I'll also have a good idea which areas I want to target with finer detailed analysis with the SEM. All of this will (hopefully!) go a long way toward determining the original mix designs of the concrete, which I will compare across the site.
So that's a typical Friday for me in the lab. A bit of reading, a bit of playing with data, a bit of exploration, and some planning for the week ahead. I have a few more samples to get through this summer and then I'll be collecting more samples at the end of the summer. I am hoping to have everything analyzed by this time next year and to have my thesis submitted by the end of next fall. Fingers perpetually crossed.


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Now, I have been giving the 'open source' ambiguity some thinking (well, about a month or so...), and came to the following conclusions:
- open source has the exact same meaning in both Bradley-like open source chemistry, and BO-like open source chemoinformatics
- both have the same goal
- it's just the research topic that is different
Ad 1: same meaning of 'open source'
I think 'open source' just means that every has the right to reproduce (and distribute and the same or modified shape) products created from the source.
In 'open source chemistry' (Bradley-like, sorry for the term :) the source is are the details about the chemical reactions to perform, the product being being able to run the whole reaction pathway.
In 'open source chemoinformatics' (Blue Obelisk-like) the source is the procedure that described how to get from one set of bits to another, really quite like getting from one molecule to another. Chemoinformatics, being IT science, just makes it a lot easier to distribute the algorithm to do that. (Sure, CMLReact is getting along quite nicely.)
The analogy even goes further, both science do not only depend on open source. Like Bradley-like open source science allows embedding proprietary stuff (glass-ware, closed-source software, chemical both from Acros (now Fisher), ...), so does BO-like open source science, which uses tons of proprietary stuff too (computers, Sun's JVM, MS-Windows).
Ad 2: same goal
I can be short on this one. For both 'open source' initiatives the goal is to share knowledge and make science reproducible.
Ad 3: different topic
So, the confusion was just coming from the fact to what extend 'open source' tools are being used. Can you do open source science without using open source chemoinformatics? Sure. In a utopic situation, all tools and small bits are 'open source' (though some are agnostic to this). But fact is, that many Blue Obelisk members use 'closed source' tools all the time, even if they do not have too. At least everyone is doing 'open source' on their specialisms, both in open source chemistry and in open source chemoinformatics.
I guess we should just be stop being short on 'open source software' to remove any ambiguity of the term 'open source'. As a spin-off, this would make Bradley's work fit in nicely with ODOSOS: open data, open source, open standards.


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Jimmy Coppolo
Los Angeles, CA
Years Building: 13
Wait Time: Up to 6 months
(all basses built to spec)
Price Range: Starting at $2400
Contact: (909) 981-9019
Bass pictured: LG4 ClassicJimmy Coppolo is a combination of vintage bass collector, luthier, artisan and businessman. He combines all these talents to make spectacular basses. Jimmy's product line is a no-compromise, best-of-the-best product that is not hindered by production numbers or pricing guidelines. His high-end client list seems to agree.
Tell me about the vintage product line. What sets it apart?
My product line sets out to capture the feel, tone and vibe of the old-school Pre-CBS and some of the early to mid-seventies era Fender basses. The product line is based around the original old-school values, but because of the needs and demands of today's player there are some modern conveniences, like a properly trued and fretted neck, tight neck pocket, preamp option, high-quality hardware, etc. The KBP series (vintage P-style) is available passive only. The LG series, our '60s J-style is an alder/ rosewood combo bass but includes our bypassable two-band preamp. The LM maple/ash combo and RA maple/alder combo are our '70s J-style bass—just like the '70s Jazz Basses, the bridge pickup location is slightly closer to the bridge, as opposed to the more industry-standard '60s bridge pickup location. Back in the day, Fender didn't offer a "usable" five-string bass. My clients requested and pushed me to produce a vintage-influenced five string, so the entire bass line is offered in five strings too. The response to the fives has been positive, and they're our biggest sellers. The feedback is that our fives sound, feel and play like an old fourstring… the way they would have been built during the '60s.
Does having the preamp detract from the vintage vibe you seek?
Well, most players request the preamp, especially with five-string basses. A player can't predict when a little more boost or EQ could be helpful. The control set up is Vol/Vol/Tone, Treble Boost, Bass Boost, the second volume being a push-pull preamp bypass.
Are your components sourced or manufactured in-house?
Just about everything is done in-house. We cut our own bodies and necks on the shop's old pin router. I recently purchased a CNC machine and will convert over soon. The CNC is more accurate, consistent, quicker and definitely safer. We use our laser cutter for block or custom inlay work and more often to cut the bobbins for our homemade pickups.
So you actually custom-build your own pickups?
Yes, we build and assemble our own pickups from the ground up. My wife, Sebnem, is our pickup tech. The pole pieces are loaded into the fibers we cut to make the bobbin, then sealed, wound, magnetized and potted. We currently have two auto-winders that I personally programmed. I still have my foot controlled wire feed winder that I use from time to time for either prototyping or vintage pickup rewinds.
I was looking at your website before the interview; your hardware looks custom. Is it?
As a standard for the five-string basses, we use the Hipshot style B Bridge. A vintage-style stainless steel five-string bridge is available on our higher end models. All the four strings have a vintage-style nickel-plated stainless bridge, just like in "the good ole days." All the basses come with Hipshot tuners that… after a little NY-Italian-style persuasion have "custom" oval keyhead shapes (just kiddin'): one vintage sized for our four-string basses and one slightly undersized due to spacing for our five-strings.
Tell me about how you got your start.
When I was about 10 years old, my dad took me to West 48th Street, NYC… Music Row. From that moment, I knew I wanted to be in this business, but at that time I was too young to know in what capacity. Around eight years later, I landed a job there at a famous high-end shop.
Who is the Alleva in the Alleva-Coppolo partnership?
Alleva-Coppolo is not a partnership, just my biological makeup. My mom's maiden name is Alleva and my dad's last name is obviously Coppolo. My great, great grandmother Pina Alleva introduced Italian cheeses to America, and in 1891 she opened her shop—a national landmark that is still open today in NYC's Little Italy. The Coppolos were an influential New York Italian family, too. As a child, I once noticed both names printed on my mom's checks and promised myself that I would use the names together. Who could've guessed it would be on electric basses and guitars?
What is your objective for the product line?
KBP4 Classic
First, as you know, I'm a huge vintage guitar nut. At one point or another, you name the guitar or bass… it's either been on my repair bench, sales showroom or part of my personal collection. One of the biggest inspirations to build vintage-influenced instruments is the musicians who desire such classics but are on a limited budget, and can't pay the inflated market rates. It's not rocket science. You need the fundamentals, of course: good wood, a concept of building, a good ear, and it helps if you can play. My objective is to provide players with an instrument that has that "old" familiar sound with that comfortable "just right" wornin feel… with no issues and ready for any gig.
Who is your target audience?
The majority, if not all, of my clients are working musicians—anyone from the struggling musician working the local club scene to session musicians, Broadway musicians, all the way up to players who are on some of the biggest touring acts.
What's on the horizon for Alleva-Coppolo?
We're always listening to players… always tinkering, always coming up with something, so who knows?
Next up: Mike Lull Custom Basses...


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Guess what I just bought?
There's nothing I HATE more than finding out about something LAST!
You've probably even heard of this before I did!
Cooper Belmont's "Rock the Stock" already has almost 5000 members!
They're all looking so happy and content it's making me sick.
They're making so much money I want to puke.
Why am I always the last one?
If I'd started with all of them I'd probably be sitting on a $100k right now.
Have you seen it?
Well, I guess it's not too late, I'm not sure if he's going to stop it or anything -
there's an option for a lifetime membership...so that probably won't happen.
Oh, there's also a 45 day trial if you don't want to subscribe :)
Our address is Pacific R.1512, British Virgin Islands,
If you do not wish to receive future email, click here.
(You can also send your request to Customer Care at the street address above.)


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Intelligence Task Force To Recommend Cosmetic Changes... While The White House Pre-Rejects The Biggest One
from the that's-the-punchline,-right? deptRemember the supposedly "independent, outside experts" that President Obama had invited to be on a task force to review the NSA's surveillance? The same task force that was actually set up by and reported to director of national intelligence James Clapper? The one that was actually made up of intelligence community insiders, who kicked things off by having two of its key members not bother to to show up for a meeting with civil libertarian groups?
Right. So their report is "due" to be delivered this Sunday, and some of the details have leaked. While the Wall Street Journal suggested that the recommendations would "constitute a sweeping overhaul of the National Security Agency", almost everyone looking at the details suggests something completely different. Instead, it's looking a lot more like some stern language accompanied by cosmetic changes that "leave spying programs largely unchanged." For example, it appears to recommend that bulk collection of metadata continue, but potentially with that data residing at the telcos, instead of in the NSA's own databases.
If that sounds familiar, it's because this is exactly the "concession" that NSA boss Keith Alexander himself proposed. When the task force is directly pitching the same "solution" the NSA's own boss has proposed, that's hardly a "sweeping overhaul".
Oh, and what appears to be one somewhat substantive move suggested in the report -- definitively splitting the NSA and the US Cyber Command -- has already been pre-rejected by the White House. If you don't recall, these are supposedly two different organizations -- but they're currently both run by Keith Alexander and are housed in the same place. The NSA is supposed to just be obtaining "signals intelligence", not conducting offensive operations. US Cyber Command, on the other hand, does conduct offensive operations, launching numerous attacks on computing systems around the globe. Many, many people see significant problems with this, as the roles of the two can be merged in dangerous ways -- such as rather than having the groups protect the US from computer attacks, having them help to create new vulnerabilities for their own purposes (basically, exactly what's happening).
Many have argued that Cyber Command should have civilian rather than military leadership, and the task force is rumored to support this. But without the report officially being delivered, the White House has already flatly rejected the idea.
"Following a thorough interagency review, the administration has decided that keeping the positions of NSA Director and Cyber Command Commander together as one, dual-hatted position is the most effective approach to accomplishing both agencies' missions," White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in an e-mailSo, we end up with a task force report that has cosmetic changes to the surveillance program, and one big change they're going to recommend has already been dismissed out of hand before the recommendation was even made. In other words, this whole task force was as much of a farce as everyone expected.
Remember how, when President Obama set it up, the main purpose was to supposedly "restore the trust" of the American public in what the NSA is doing? That doesn't seem to be working.
Filed Under: barack obama, intelligence task force, keith alexander, nsa, nsa surveillance, surveillance, task force, us cyber command


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Activision may not be giving up Brütal Legend to EA without a fight—or at least a payout. Activision, which abandoned the game last year following its merger with Vivendi, thinks it still has publishing rights.
According to a report from Variety, Activision Blizzard has informed Electronic Arts of its claim to Double Fine's Brütal Legend, saying that it was still negotiating with the developer about its publishing plans. While everyone else seems to think differently—Activision Blizzard sure seemed to have shrugged the heavy metal-themed game off, like so many other Vivendi Games titles it absorbed—Activision thinks it's owed.
Owed what? Certainly not the opportunity to ship such a risky title, as Activision Blizzard doesn't seem interested in publishing anything but the safest of safe properties. Variety theorizes, quite logically, that Activision simply wants to get money from EA.
Or maybe Activision simply thinks that since Double Fine founder Tim Schafer believes that Brütal Legend's existence was partially due to the success of Guitar Hero, there's some royalty owed. We're not lawyers!
According to what we'd heard, Double Fine was under the impression that it was free to find another publisher, after the title contractually slipped through Activision's fingers. That publisher eventually turned out to be Electronic Arts.
EA told Variety that it doesn't expect to be hit with a lawsuit, as that would be as ridiculous as "a husband abandoning his family and then suing after his wife meets a better looking guy." Oh yes. They said that. Variety has the full statement.
Activision: Brutal Legend is ours. EA: Activision is a jealous ex-husband. [The Cut Scene]


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Dobies Growing Guides
Vegetable Garden Planner
Create an architectural feature in any garden. Sweet Bay's dark green leaves are also great for cooking! Ideal for border or container. Simply trim back in summer to the original shape. Supplied as an established standard with a 40cm stem and full head. Available in pot sizes from 2-7.5 litre pots. (Please note that the decorative pot featured is not included with the plants.)
Nothing brings more of a feel of style and sophistication to a garden or patio than evergreen plants that have been trained and clipped into formal architectural specimens. They create instant drama and will provide structure and interest for 12 months of the year, for many years to come! A pair either side of a doorway will always create the 'wow!' factor.
Code: 257845
Code: 247338
Code: 264594
Code: 264598
Code: 259630
Code: 262498
Plug or Potted Plant:Potted
Aftercare - Easy:False
Aftercare - Moderate:False
Aftercare - High:False
Edible Flower:False
Likes Acidic Soil:False
Grows in Sun or Partial Shade:True
F1 Variety:False
An evergreen shrub or tree suitable for container or ground growing. The dark and evergreen foliage can be pruned into formal shapes and give a timeless and contemporary feel to any house and garden.
Remove the plant from the packaging and water if the compost is dry.
You may want to pot up your plant into a larger pot or you can grow it on for a little while in the pot it has arrived in. Use a John Innes No 3 potting compost.
Re-pot bay every two years in spring. Tease out some of the roots and trim off excess roots if planting it in the same sized container. Re-plant in fresh compost.
Grow the plants in a warm, sunny position that is sheltered from cold, drying winds which can damage the foliage. In colder areas where the temperatures fall below -5ºC (23ºF), over winter in a greenhouse or conservatory.
Once or twice during the summer months trim the plant to shape.
Keep well watered during the summer months but keep pots on feet so that any excess water can drain away freely. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every two weeks from mid spring to late summer. Reduce watering in the winter and don't let the compost become soggy or waterlogged.
All Dobies products should reach you in perfect condition, just as they left us. If you are dissatisfied in any way with their condition on arrival, please let us know within 14 days. We are only liable for the cost of the goods as quoted on the website plus the cost of delivery if the goods are faulty.
Order online or call 0344 967 0303 For product or any other queries, please email Customer Services Customer Services call 0333 240 5933
Dobies, Long Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7SX


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How effective garlic in lowering your cholesterol level
by, 05-02-2019 at 10:41 PM (26831 Views)
Cholesterol is also one of the essential nutrients for our body as like glucose, vitamins, minerals, etc. Cholesterol is a lipid that makes the cell membrane along with proteins. It is synthesized inside the cells and does so many functions in our body like aids digestion, it is also a precursor for steroids, vitamin D and certain hormones. The cholesterol is present and produced by every cell in our body and revolves around the body with the help of lipoproteins. There are different types of lipoproteins, they have different purposes and named as HDL, LDL, and VLDL. Cholesterol is also present in foods and in animal sources like meat, egg, butter, cheese, etc. As we know, everything in a limit is good otherwise leads to trouble. Cholesterol if present under limits it is good but in excess, it leads to cholesterol deposition. These depositions may occur in arteries named as plaque and this condition is called atherosclerosis. Mainly high cholesterol level affects our Cardio-vascular system
LDL Low-density lipoproteins are called bad cholesterol. These lipids attach to certain proteins and move to other parts via blood. Low-density lipoproteins in excess amount lead to plaque deposition.
VLDL Very low-density lipoproteins are also considered among bad cholesterols as they also lead to plaque formation in arteries but they are different from LDL. They carry triglycerides as they are one of the components of VLDL. A high level of these triglycerides can build up plaque, hence in his manner, they are bad for our body.
HDL High-density lipoproteins often called good cholesterol. It helps in lowering down the excess LDL level by bringing them back to the liver. The liver is a well-known organ for its fat storage property but if they are in excess it will eliminate them out from the body.
Diet Our diet is a major part that gives rise to diseases. A diet that includes cheese - butter (all dairy products), fried, high sugar, potatoes, chocolates, and non-vegetarian food products will raise cholesterol levels.
Lifestyle Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, sleeping during day time, etc. are the causes for various diseases and conditions, one among them is hyperlipoproteinemia or hypercholesterolemia
Genetics It is also categorized among inherited diseases thus affects generations.
Risk factors or triggering factors
a) Obesity An abnormal deposition of fat is obesity that triggers cholesterol deposition by disturbing our metabolism. So, those who are obese are at high risk for diseases related to varied cholesterol level.
b) Diseases History of diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, etc. lead to cardiovascular diseases.
c) Age Adults above 40 are prone to high cholesterol level.
d) Habits Drinking alcohol Alcohol affects our liver and the liver is the major organ which aids cholesterol and fat metabolism.
Smoking It lowers the HDL level and raises the LDL level in our body.
Diagnostic criteria to check the level of Cholesterol in our body is a simple blood test i.e. Lipid profile. The normal range of these lipids is -
Total cholesterol > 200
Triglycerides - < 150
Mostly it doesnt show any symptoms but immediately it creates emergency issues like heart attack, strokes and other symptoms pertaining to the cardiovascular system. Few more symptoms are
Dyspnea - Breathing difficulty
Fatigue and lethargic
Reduced energy level
Weight gain
For cholesterol management, Ayurveda is the best choice because herbal medicines will not only reduce the LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol level but also helps to increases HDL level in our body which is required for good health. For this, Garlic is the best choice.
A golden key can open any door this phrase is suitable for explaining the action potential of Lashuna. Garlic can open all the blocked channels/ arteries in our body due to the high cholesterol level.
The Latin name of garlic is Allium sativum belongs to the Liliaceae family. The ayurvedic name is rasona or lashuna. Garlic is considered as the best cardiac tonic. It helps to reduce the cholesterol level in our body. As per our classics the properties of garlic are :-
Rasa (Taste) amla varjit pancharasa Composed of all 5 tastes except sour.
Guna (Quality) Tikshana (penetrating), guru (heavy to digest) and snighdha (viscous) property
Virya (Potency) Hot in nature
Vipaka (the End product of digestion) - Katu (pungent)
Dosha karma (Effect on dosha) Alleviates Kapha dosha, balances vata dosha and aggravates pitta dosha in our body.
It helps to increase strength and aid digestion.
Bhagna sandhan kar - It helps to unite bones hence helpful in fractures.
Kanthayo Treats throat problems
Bala varna karo Enhances strength and complexion
Medha hito Boosts up memory
Netrya Improves vision
Rasayan Acts as a rejuvenator
In Ayurveda vitiated kapha or ama is an entity that is correlated to this bad cholesterol. As per the properties of garlic bitter-pungent-astringent taste, hot potency subside kapha and elevate pitta dosha, help to deplete the LDL and triglycerides level in our body.
Rasona also has pachana (digestive) property. Thus it helps in digestion of ama (cholesterol), which does srotosanga (obstructs the channels) and results in clearing channels.
Lashuna has hrudya property which means it strengthens the heart, along with that it also helps to improve the cardiac functioning. It supports the endothelial lining of arteries which is damaged due to plaque deposition.
It also subside the triglycerides in our body. As triglycerides are major components of VLDL, these are fatty acids present in blood that help in the bidirectional transference of adipose fat and


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Columbia, TN- Associate veterinarian wanted at a growing mixed animal practice(90% small, 10% large). A perfect opportunity to practice quality medicine in a quality environment. Competitive salary and benefits. Experienced veterinarians or new graduates considered. Please call Dr. Kevin Bowlds at 931-388-6215 or 931-698-6468 or email at firstname.lastname@example.com
Must be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Tennessee.


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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas fullback Kiero Small and the rest of the Razorbacks didn't know who was going to be their head coach for the 2012 season during the Red-White Game last April.
Bobby Petrino had been fired. Assistant Taver Johnson was placed in charge of the program for the rest of spring practice. So the spring-ending scrimmage didn't exactly serve as a celebration for the program still wrapped up in turmoil.
Small had a much different feeling Saturday, roughly two hours after the Razorbacks took the field with coach Bret Bielema by their side.
"We're all happy it's over," Small said. "We can all put it behind us. It's not a story anymore. It's not a thing that concerns us anymore. We can put it behind us and go play football. That's what we all love to do."
Arkansas' new era – one with significantly less drama to this point – unofficially began during Arkansas' Red-White Game in Razorback Stadium. A record crowd of 51,088 filed into the stands to get their first taste of Bielema ball, which concluded with the Red (offense) team's 34-27 win against the White (defense).
The score hardly mattered. Arkansas, instead wrapped up its first spring under a new coaching staff by showing off its progress after 15 practices.
Bielema said his team isn't where it needs to be for the 2013 season when the scrimmage ended Saturday. But he couldn't be more impressed with the way his new group has handled its first spring under his watch.
"I think we're in a great position where a lot of people in the world of college football, maybe in the outside world, don't think a lot about Arkansas right now," Bielema said. "But I guarantee you they will in short fashion.
"I really, really like the progress we made."
On the field, quarterbacks Brandon Allen and Brandon Mitchell combined to complete 23 of 33 passes for 296 yards with two touchdowns and an interception during Saturday's game. Bielema didn't officially name a starter heading into summer workouts, but it's clear Allen has emerged as the leader with his spring.
Bielema said Allen "continues to impress us, continues to do some very, very positive things." Bielema did not make his quarterbacks available for comment Saturday, but center Travis Swanson said Allen's growth has been tremendous.
"He's progressed probably more than anyone else on this team," Swanson said. "He's so much better of a leader now, which is hard to see in a young guy. You've kind of seen him grow up from the first practice to now."
The same can be said for an offensive line that Bielema called one the most improved units this spring. It was a necessity for what the Razorbacks are trying to accomplish on offense next season, transforming itself into a power running team.
Arkansas got 185 rushing yards on 34 carries from its top four running backs (Jonathan Williams, Nate Holmes, Kody Walker and Patrick Arinze). They enjoyed success with the off-tackle power play Saturday, which will be a staple of the offense's philosophy next season.
"We're going downhill," Small said. "We're going straight at people. In order to win, I believe, in this conference that's what you've got to do. In order to win the big games you're going to have to go and line up. Because at the end of the day you're going to have to line up and punch somebody in the mouth eventually."
The defense even showed it has a solid foundation to build on with a defensive front led by veterans like defensive end Chris Smith and defensive tackle Byron Jones.
It's no secret Arkansas was, statistically, one of the worst units in the Southeastern Conference last season. And there are still questions to be answered, especially among a crew of linebackers featuring three first-team players (Braylon Mitchell, Daunte Carr and Jarrett Lake) who have barely seen the field in their careers.
But Bielema liked the ebb and flow of the battles between offense and defense Saturday. Defensive end Chris Smith said both sides had moments this spring.
"Some days the defense beat the offense, and some days the offense beat us," Smith said. "We're coming together as a team, and I can't wait until fall camp."
Bielema said he has told players repeatedly that becoming a championship level team will be a steady process. But he has noticed key moments on the field in the past week, convincing him Arkansas is moving in the right direction.
"We had probably the best practice we had of the entire spring on Thursday." Bielema said. "I'm not just giving lip service or coach-speak. That's sincerity and I think our players felt it."
Swanson did. He said it carried over to Saturday, which became a good way to finish an important spring for players who felt "kind of iffy" a year ago because of the uncertainty still facing them when practices ended.
There was a different vibe when the Razorbacks wrapped up spring drills with the Red-White Game on Saturday. Stability under Bielema is a welcomed feeling.


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Julian Castro, Noted for Early Ed. Push, Reportedly Picked for Obama Cabinet Post
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro has been reportedly tapped by President Barack Obama to be the new U.S. secretary of housing and urban development.
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro has been reportedly tapped by President Barack Obama to be the new U.S. secretary of housing and urban development.
President Barack Obama put training more math and science teachers and taking big steps to boost school safety high on his second-term wish list.
NCLB waivers, the presidential election, and the Race to the Top competition were big stories this year.
Over the past two years, the split partisan control has meant a lot of sniping and not much action on big issues, including the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Tonight, your Politics K-12 team will be up late, late, watching edu-election returns.
President Obama is leading Republican challenger Mitt Romney by 17 percentage points among likely youth voters.
Newspaper endorsements are rolling in for both President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential nominee, with K-12 policy and spending figuring into the equation.
President Barack Obama has been touting the success of the School Improvement Grant program, but the U.S. Department of Education has yet to release long-promised student achievement data.
A new emphasis on cutting college costs and boosting STEM education could be on the agenda if President Barack Obama wins re-election.
President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney tangled over class size, teachers, and education funding during Monday night's foreign-policy debate.


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GARDINER — Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Rep. Chris Gibson on Friday promised Hudson Valley farmers a new farm bill that would take their special circumstances into consideration, and not just cater to sprawling commercial operations in the Midwest and West.
GARDINER — Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Rep. Chris Gibson on Friday promised Hudson Valley farmers a new farm bill that would take their special circumstances into consideration, and not just cater to sprawling commercial operations in the Midwest and West.
Among the measures discussed were improved crop insurance for fruit and vegetable growers, reduced export fees for apple producers and access for new farmers to capital and training programs.
Their stop at the Wright's Farm came a day after Gibson and 215 fellow Republicans in the House voted to remove the food stamp program from their version of the farm bill for the first time in 40 years.
On Thursday, Gillibrand slammed Republicans for putting "critical food assistance for our children, seniors and military families at risk."
Yet on Friday, she called Gibson "a great ally in the House" when it came to agriculture. The two serve on their houses' agriculture committees.
After addressing two dozen local officials and others with agricultural interests, Gillibrand expressed confidence that the Senate and House will agree on a bill including food stamps, which make up 80 percent of farm bill costs, before the current bill expires Sept. 30.
"If they're not included, it will be vetoed by the president," Gillibrand said.
The food stamp program can continue as it is without further legislation. A Senate bipartisan farm bill would cut $4 billion from food-stamp spending over 10 years. The House proposed $20 billion in cuts over 10 years before the Republican leadership removed food stamps from the bill this week. That sets the stage for a debate on how much to ultimately cut.
"It's a mandatory spending program," Gibson, R-Kinderhook, said of food stamps. "We took a step forward. We can now go to conference, and the House and Senate can work together "� . We'll work this out."
Splitting the bill was opposed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation's biggest farm lobby. Connecting subsidies for farmers with food stamps has traditionally been seen as a way to win the votes of representatives of urban areas with nutrition concerns.
Locally, farmers want recognition from government that their efforts deserve more attention in terms of access to disaster aid and marketing assistance.
"As an apple grower, I'd like to see specialty crops acknowledged," said Michael Boylan of Wright's Farm, "so if there's a disaster and assistance is needed, they'd be included."
Charles Noble, a beef producer and board member of the Rondout Valley Grower's Association, said "agriculture in the valley is a different animal" from what's found out West.
"They're all family farms, not corporations," Noble said. "They all have a deep love and appreciation for what they're doing "� But it's also a business, and many are struggling. To be sustainable, we must be profitable."


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Blest Sunday
Meowllo evewypawdy hope yous all havin' a gweat weekend. It's too quickly comin' to an end. It's been stowmin' here fur days. There wuz no stwoller time, hawdly any time fur da Pawis twip wiff Andy and da cat scouts and vewy little play time wiff mommy. Now da last one wuz meez fawlt cuz me wuz hidin' fwum da funder boomers and lightnin'. But da west is cuz mommy won't let us play on da puter ifin weez havin' wedder like dat cuz herz dusn't want it too cwash. Da stowm got bad on Furiday so me didn't even get to post yesfurday. And as you know me joined da Bloggin' A to Z blog hop so da letter wuz P. But dat's okay, cuz me will just use dat letter today an talk 'bout Purrs and Purrayers on this Blest Sunday. Cuz stowms or not we awe vewy blest.
Sis Lexi be duin' okay considewin' and mommy ordered sum baby food fur sissy to take hers medicine wiff. Mommy kuld do dat cuz ow facebook awnty Jennifer and grand awnty Peggy sent us a gift cawd to Walmart. And meez gotta tell ya' me tasted sum of da baby food noms and it wuz purretty yummy. Mommy sez it's not a well balanced meal so we have to eat ow udder food too. And fur da most pawt sissy's been eatin' good. She gave us a scawe Furiday night when she didn't seem to be able to move, but me purred and mommy purrayed and she seemed all better Caturday meownin'. She seemed better than fine when she wuz scawfiin' down dat ham baby food let me tell ya'.
We did get a couple small bweaks fwum da stowm when mommy let us on da puter and we saw an email 'bout fwum da CKD/CRF suppowt gwoup dat we joined. Seems one of da kitties wuz allowed to go outside aftew bwekky and nevew came home. We have all kinds of feelins 'bout this cuz as you know weez not believe any kitty belongs outside; but we also know da guilt and panic hims owners must be feelin'. So weez askin' fur all ow pawsum furiends and fwaminly to send up sum Purrs and Purrayers dat this sweet kitty make it home. We awe so vewy blest dat mommy keeps us inside and safe. And weez be dubbly blest cuz we know ifin we ask you all to purray, you do. We awe so glad to have so many wunnewful furiends and fwamilly.
Me did get a chance to go by cat scouts fur a little bit yesfurday. And check it out…Andy and me went hanglidin'. It's taken all Caturday and sum of Synday to wight this much in tween da stowms, so meez better go afur anudder funder boomer comes cwashin' down.
Till da next time………………………………………..Be Blest
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses
Dezi and Lexi
Posted on April 19, 2015, in Blest Sunday, Blog Hops, Cat Scouts and tagged Andy, Blest Sunday, Bloggin' A to Z, Cats, Dezi, Lexi, Purrs and Purrayers. Bookmark the permalink. 59 Comments.
Dezi, Lexi & Mom Audra.
We hope you are all drying out. We are trying to get caught up on our blog reading.
Mom just noticed the cute picture you posted that included Charles. Thank you so much. We will be adding that our picture book.
Hugs to all.
C S Charles & mom
Hope all of your storms are gone. The trip to Paris was wonderful. Andy enjoyed it so much and of course it was because you were there with him. Love, Cali, Andy, Tater and Shelly (C.A.T.S)
Hi you gorgeous gals! We was just checkin in to see iffen you were ok after the storms. We hear there might be more this week up this way. Pffffft!
Our Angel Prancer Pie would always eat up ham baby food if nothing else appealed to him, too. It must be very yummy. We kits have never had it.
We are always purring for and thinking of you, even if we don't always get around. (our Mommy is her Mommy's provider and stays pretty busy)
Hope you are having a great Monday!


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Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne changed his audience's lives, mourners at his funeral heard.
The former presenter of Ireland's flagship television show died earlier this week aged 85 following a long illness.
RTE's former director general Bob Collins paid tribute to his "profoundly human" colleague who put viewers at ease with his informal style on The Late Late Show and was a natural and empathetic listener.
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joined Mr Byrne's wife Kathleen and other members of the broadcaster's family at funeral Mass in Dublin.
Mr Collins said: "The audience knew instinctively that here was the genuine article.
"Here was one who spoke to and for them.
"Here was one who could and did change their lives.
"He made a difference in our world and for that our society will be forever in his debt."
The former host of RTE's popular Late Late Show and father-of-two had been undergoing treatment for cancer.
He died in Howth, a pretty seaside town in Co Dublin, surrounded by his family.
A host of well-known names attended his funeral in St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin city centre.
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin was among clerics presiding at the service.
He alluded to one of his predecessors, the austere and influential Archbishop Charles McQuaid, who decades ago raised concerns with the head of RTE at the time about one of Mr Byrne's then-risque shows.
Mr Collins said television in the 1960s was revolutionary and his friend discerned what was coming, but noted that broadcasting required judgment.
"We are in the realm of the profoundly human and that perhaps more than anything else is what marks Gay Byrne as special.
"For that too we have reason to be thankful."
He said Mr Byrne was courteous at all times and professional to his fingertips.
He had a good sense of humour and engaged with his audiences, at times in side-splittingly funny fashion, Mr Collins added.
He was involved in broadcasting for 37 years and more recently supported children's health care and road safety.
Mr Collins paid tribute to the star's resilience and talent, empathy and patience, and said his audiences knew he was genuine and spoke to and for them.
"Gay showed us to ourselves and he had the ability to reach out to a vast audience by speaking to each person individually.
"I firmly believe that public service broadcasting at its best is our community's conversation with itself.
"If that is right then Gay Byrne is first among those we have to thank for the ability to talk and to listen to ourselves."


text: The French manufacturer for outdoor furniture Tectona presented its new collection including pieces by Inga Sempé, Nendo and Wieki Somers. The latter created 'Grasshopper', a family of furniture which lives up to its name. The Dutch designer achieved what we often miss of weather resistant garden furniture – lightness and elegance. 'Grasshopper' consists of two tables and a chair in powder-coated aluminium and steel.


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A few of my friends have mentioned lately they don't decorate for St. Patrick's Day. I want those of you who are St. Patrick Day decorationless (yep I made that word up) to know YOU ARE MISSING OUT! St. Patricks Day is all about green, rainbows, gold, leprechauns and kissing. Yep, I said kissing. Even if you're not Irish you can pretend to be for a day :) Now I'm not a St. Patrick's Day fanatic but I do think it's a fun holiday. Since Easter is late this year we all have a little time to explore some green....
Today I'm going to tell you how to make a quick, easy decoration for St. Patrick's day. This cute little leprechaun hat...
Grab yourself a 4x4 wood block and a 6 inch piece of 2x4. Sand and paint your block. I painted mine with Creamcoat's leaf green. I then picked out some of my fav green polka dotted scrapbook paper, patterned scrapbook paper for the buckle and ribbon. Mod podge the paper on. Weave the ribbon in your paper and glue it to your hat. Glue your wood pieces together with Gorilla Glue. Your set and ready to wow everyone with your holiday decor!
Good luck creating!
Monday, March 7, 2011
St Patrick's 2x4 Hat
Posted by Melinda at 8:50 AM
Labels: St. Patricks Day, wood
3 comments:
Very Cute! Could you tell me how you get your 2x4's cut so cleanly? My dad cuts wood for me but the edges are always raggedy-he says they're as smooth as he can but i see yours are clean as butter! I do sand but yours start out better!! I got my box of the leprechaun heads from your contest-thank you! Merry ÜReplyDelete
Love the little hat! I'm going to make a couple with my kids today after school. My 1st grader has a St. Patty's day program at school tomorrow, so this holiday is big for us this year =)ReplyDelete
How cute! Next year's project.ReplyDelete
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Simply a truth teller, he covers a lot here, a great listen…
Monday, October 19, 2009
William K. Black - "The financial and real economies are unhinged…"
Posted byAmy Jamison at6:46 PM
World View & Market Commentary.
Forest first; Trees second.
Focused on Real & Knowable facts that filter through the "experts" fluff and media hyperbole. Where we've been, what the future may hold and developing a better way forward.


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Today, we here at Hungry Girl are saluting one of the most divisive ingredients in the HG arsenal. Some people love it; some don't get the appeal. Either way, this email is for you, because this incredibly low-calorie pasta swap is worth getting to know a little better. So dive into a bowl of information about the best guilt-free noodles around... House Foods Tofu Shirataki!
House Foods Tofu Shirataki Noodle Substitute PER SERVING (4 oz., 1/2 bag): 10 calories, 0.5g total fat (0g sat fat), 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g sugars, <1g protein -- SmartPoints® value 0* "Tofu Shirataki is a great pasta alternative made from blending the root of the Konnyaku -- a member of the yam family -- and tofu. It is a healthy, uniquely textured noodle. [It] pleases people of all ages!" Yes, this low-carb pasta swap is a bit "bouncier" and slightly more slippery than conventional noodles... But if you eat lots of pasta (or want to eat lots of pasta!), give these noodles a try. Find them in the refrigerated section where the tofu is stocked -- click for a store list -- floating in bags of liquid. Don't be scared! We'll talk you through exactly what to do with them -- read on!
The Fun Shapes! This noodle swap is readily available in fettuccine, spaghetti, and angel hair shapes. (Pssst... The angel hair gets tangled kinda easily!) A macaroni-shaped variety was recently added to the lineup, so look for that in select locations or order online! (It's really good.) The Swap Factor! While the texture isn't EXACTLY like that of regular pasta, the facts are plain -- ounce for ounce, ordinary cooked pasta has about ten times as many calories as Tofu Shirataki noodles. BOOM. The Volume! Even though a serving of these noodles is technically half the bag, we almost never eat less than a bagful. Which is OK, because that's ONLY 20 calories! The Versatility! These noodles are amazing in creamy sauces and all sorts of Asian-style dishes. (They don't work quite as well in thin tomato-based sauces.) You can microwave them, prepare them in a skillet, or bake them. See? VERSATILE.
The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss Cheese - This cheese is prone to showing up on BFF lists... but that's just because it gets along with everyone! A wedge of it is 100 percent integral to our Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo... as well as a bazillion spin-off recipes. (If the original Girlfredo is Happy Days, these recipes are like Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy.)
Doppelganger Alert! Miracle Noodles - This shirataki-only noodle product is not the same thing! Sure, it's practically calorie-free... but we don't like the texture quite as much as today's tofu-added honoree.
Strainers, Scissors, and Paper Towels - Allow us to explain in a special section called...
It's as easy as 1-2-3... 4!
Step 1: Empty your noodles into a strainer, and rinse them with water to get rid of the liquid they were packed in.
Step 2: Dry them as thoroughly as possible by blotting with paper towels -- remove as much moisture as possible. We cannot stress enough how important this is.
Step 3: Cut them up a bit; they can be VERY long. (Fun fact: We once found a noodle that was six feet long!) Kitchen shears (scissors you use only for food) make this super-easy.
Step 4: Heat your noodles for a minute or two in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove. (If microwaving, you may want to blot for liquid one more time before adding sauce.) TADA!
Now put all this noodle-y knowledge into action with these recipes! So Low Mein w/ Chicken - An old-school recipe that we love just as much as the first time we made it and tasted it. True love lasts a lifetime! Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo - Our most beloved pasta dish... Try it and see why! Totally PUMPin' Fettuccine - Pumpkin is AWESOME on pasta. No joke! Rockin' Tuna Noodle Casserole - A guilt-free spin on a classic recipe. Make our version -- we won't tell Mom. Chicky Pad Thai - SO much less fat and fewer oily calories than restaurant versions. This swap is worth making! Super-Delicious Shrimp Scampi with Fettuccine - If buttery seafood with pasta is your downfall, our recipe will pick you right up. YUM! Simply the Pesto Spaghetti - Fresh herbs? Check. Yummy cheeses? Check. Lots of oil and unnecessary carbs? NOPE! This dish has everything you want and nothin' that you don't. Cin-sational Cincinnati Chili - Who wouldn't want nicely spiced chili served over pasta? Our recipe will even appeal to non-Ohioans. Crazy-Good Cold Sesame Noodles - Another fabulous takeout swap. Reduced-fat peanut butter really does the trick here... Beef Strogataki - Noodles... beef... creamy sauce... onions... We're craving this dish right now!!! Super-Duper Spaghetti Pie Part Deux - We're betting you've never had anything quite like this pie. And it has PUMPKIN in it. (WHAT?! We know!) Chicken Carbonara a la Hungry Girl - Who would've thought that a creamy, bacon-y pasta dish could be low in calories? Ye of little faith...
Chances are, you know a few people who don't know about these noodles yet. Click "Send to a Friend" to spread the word!
Today, December 2nd, is National Fritters Day. We're suggesting a wacky spin on classic fritters -- Sweet Cinnamon Fritter Fries! They ROCK.
SmartPoints® value not what you expected? Click here for more info on how the values are calculated, plus more FAQs about PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® values on our website.


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Old Time Faith
Father Moses Berry combines African-American
heritage and Orthodox Christianity at the
Unexpected Joy Orthodox Church
by Jim McCarty
From the outside
the tiny white church standing in a field just west of Ash Grove looks
like thousands of others gracing the Missouri countryside. But when Father
Moses Berry opens wide the doors of the Theotokos Unexpected Joy Mission
and ushers visitors inside they often stare in wide-eyed amazement at
the rich colors of the religious icons that cover the walls.
When Berry speaks
of that "old time religion" he takes you back to the first century of
When Barry returned
to the family farm in Ash Grove three years ago he brought with him his
faith as an Eastern Orthodox priest. It wasn't long before the priest
established a place for other Orthodox followers to worship.
"I didn't think
we would have a church for 5 years," says the priest. "But God had other
The Orthodox
Church is closely related to the Roman Catholic Church. The two faiths
split in 1054. The Orthodox faith has changed little since that time,
clinging to traditions that are centuries old. In fact, those who worship
with Berry follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar
used by much of the world.
Incense, candles
and the ever-present icons are a big part of their faith. Their services,
held with the congregation standing, are steeped in tradition with the
priest chanting the scriptures.
If the little
church seems out of place in rural Missouri its 51-year-old priest is
not. His roots run deeper in Ash Grove than perhaps any of the town's
other 1,100 residents. He can trace his lineage to the 1830s when Nathan
Boone and his family homesteaded land near the community northwest of
Berry's great-grandmother
was a slave named Caroline who was owned by the Boones. She married William
Berry after being set free and the two started a 40-acre homestead. In
1873 William built the farmhouse where the priest was born and now lives
with his wife, Magdalena, and their two children, Dorothy and Elijah.
On his father's
side, Berry's great-grandfather was Wallace White, a former slave and
the first black soldier in the Union's Missouri 6th Cavalry.
Wallace was working
in the fields when the cavalry rode by. They asked him if he wanted to
join their ranks and his reply was, "Deed I do."
Only 14, he left
the field with the clothes on his back and an iron padlock from his slave
chains. Today that lock is one of the many artifacts Berry hopes to turn
into the Ozark's first African-American heritage museum.
Since returning
to the family homestead three years ago Berry became caretaker of a vast
treasury of family artifacts. Besides the old lock he has a massive neck
iron, leg shackles and a medallion from the A.G. Brock Slave Trading House
that advertised "healthy, strong slaves."
He has trunks
full of old quilts, some pieced prior to the Civil War. He has a cabinet
that was a present from Nathan Boone and a clock made in the 1700s.
When a housing
project threatened Ash Grove's Lincoln School, started for children of
slaves, Berry talked its owner into letting him have it. As soon as Berry
raises the funds, the school will be rebuilt to house the museum.
In frequent talks
around the country Berry tries to reconnect African-American history with
the American experience. When he shows off his ancestor's chains he says
white students are often ashamed and black students indignant.
"I tell them that
it is part of our collective history," he says. "You have to step back
to look at history or it gets too emotional. I take advantage of everything
around me to explain this or else they wore these things in vain."
Father Berry
fixes a tombstone disturbed by the elements in the cemetery his
great-grandfather set aside for former slaves, American Indians
and paupers. This stone marks the grave of Mother Charity, who worked
to help runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad.
Another part of
his heritage is the cemetery located on a corner of the old homestead.
The burial ground was set aside by William and Caroline for slaves, American
Indians and paupers. Part of the priest's work is restoring the cemetery,
which he found in sad shape.
Buried here are
many family members as well as a number of unknown souls including Indians
under mounds. One tombstone marks the grave of Mother Charity, a woman
who helped runaway slaves escape through the Underground Railroad. Former
Kansas City Monarchs pitcher Lewis Frank Yokum is also buried here.
The cemetery was
in continuous use from 1875 until Mamie Berry was buried here in 1967.
Then the farm was leased and the cemetery nearly forgotten. Plans are
in place to restore the cemetery. It will be part of the Heritage Museum
which will also include room for lectures and workshops on various aspects
of African and American Indian life.
For Berry, coming
home was the completion of a life circle that started when he was born
in the old house and later hitchhiked his way down Route 66 during the
"When I was young
I couldn't wait to get out of here and when I got old I couldn't wait
to get back."
He said as a youth
he resented the way his small-town neighbors knew everything he did. Now
he sees this as neighbors looking out for each other and it's something
he treasures.
"Now I am thankful
for it because my children live here," he says. "People keep an eye out
for you."
For more information
on Father Berry's work write to 14617 West Farm Rd. 74, Ash Grove, MO
65604 or call (417) 751-2761 or send e-mail to email@example.com.