text:
The Fair Trade Marketplace at ECS provides a selection of fair trade, sustainable, affordable gifts for socially and environmentally responsible holiday gift giving. We invite children to the Chickadee's Nest where they can shop independently for gifts under $10. Enjoy some soup and baked goods after you shop. Open to the public!
When: Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 10am – 4pm
Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 12 – 4pm
Where: Environmental Charter School (Upper School), 829 Milton Ave., Regent Square 15218
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Like us on Facebook!
About Fair Trade
Fair trade products come from non-profit organizations and ethical businesses which prioritize people and the planet before profit. They offer a wide variety of unique, handmade products at affordable prices. Through fair trade, artisans and farmers in developing countries are able to earn an honest living, to provide for their children, and to be gainfully employed in a job that brings dignity and joy. Fair trade organizations build partnerships with these individuals and contribute to the development of communities through educational, nutritional, environmental, and health programs.
With its attention to environmentalism and equality, fair trade shopping demonstrates not only true ECS school spirit, but also holiday spirit–no matter which winter holiday you're celebrating!
Fair Trade? Free Trade? What's the difference? The Fair Trade Federation explains: Fair Trade, Free Trade: Similar in Name Only.
Our Fair Trade Vendors
Acacia Creations
The mission of Acacia Creations has always been to improve lives in a long-lasting and sustainable way. They go beyond fair trade by creating jobs, providing training, and giving back to communities through their education and healthcare initiatives. They work directly with thousands of craftsmen and women at our Nairobi, Kenya studio and across Asia to improve their skills and product designs.
Amizade Global Service-Learning has been empowering individuals and communities through worldwide service and learning since 1994. Amizade partners with CEOLI, a center for disabled youth, which was founded in 1986 as an oasis of caring, education, and help, and serves nearly 150 children and young adults in the Cochabamba area of Bolivia. For several years, a small group of severely disabled young artists, led by talented art teachers, has been hand-painting greeting cards of typical Bolivian scenes. These beautiful cards make a thoughtful gift and show your commitment to creating a more equitable world.
Building New Hope
Building New Hope is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, PA and Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, they partner with a worker-owned coffee cooperative, operate two schools for at-risk youth, and sponsor high school scholarships. In Pittsburgh, they engage with local schools, faith groups, farmers, and businesses to spread awareness about and appreciation for the culture, coffee, and communities in Central America.
Divine Chocolate
Divine Chocolate is co-owned by the 85,000 farmer members of Kuapa Kokoo, the cooperative in Ghana that supplies the cocoa for each bar of Divine. As owners, they get a share in the profits, a say in the company, and a voice in the global marketplace.
For over 20 years, dZi has been designing and promoting handmade and Fair Trade products created by Tibetan and other Himalayan artisans. As a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation, they strive to uphold fair trade principles; promote sustainability, recycling, re-usable and renewable packaging; and provide economic opportunity and empowerment for artisans.
Education & More
Education and More is a non-profit, fair trade organization that assists disadvantaged artisans in marketing their handcrafts thereby creating economic opportunities for artisans who are otherwise unable to earn an income in rural Guatemala.
Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate the contribution of worker co-operatives and fair trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.
Haiti H2O
Haiti H2O works with rural Haitian communities, cultivating hope and opportunities. They work to provide basic necessities like clean, running water and to develop sustainable business projects in these villages, like community farming projects.
INTO is a fair trade organization working directly with families in Ecuador. They aim to give their partner artisans the opportunity to establish sustainable living through their skilled work.
Through artistic collaboration, superb craftsmanship, sustainable design and amazing teamwork, Lucuma Design's collections spread beauty and cheer to consumers and artists alike! By building win-win partnerships for the long run, we create opportunities that empower Peruvian artists to help themselves and their communities. Lucuma Designs has been a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation since 1999.
Marquet is dedicated to importing handmade accessories, gifts, and decor from Thailand and Vietnam. We travel around the world to meet craftsmen and find new and exciting products. Our goal is to empower artisans and entrepreneurs in developing countries by expanding their potential to reach a larger audience.
Mira Fair Trade
Mira Fair Trade empowers women artisans by helping them attain long-term sustainability and economic independence through the Fair Trade model, rather than via traditional charitable donations. They offer customers a wide variety of eclectic, unique home decor made ethically with many recycled materials.
Mr. Ellie Pooh
Mr. Ellie Pooh is an eco-friendly fair trade company that sells handmade paper products made up of 30% fiber from elephant dung and 70% post consumer paper. Mr. Ellie Pooh's papers are handmade, acid free and as organic as it gets. Ellie Pooh paper has an important role in the saving the population of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka.
Pocket Disc
As members of the Fair Trade Federation, Pocket Disc is committed to supporting and improving the lives of the Maya that create these flying works of art. In 2011, we installed water filtration systems in 20 different villages. As a Green Certified Business, we further our mission of environmental ethics through a nearly paperless office environment and by sponsoring and organizing local events like river clean-up days.
Project Have Hope
Project Have Hope is a non-profit organization that seeks to empower women in Uganda by providing education to both the women and their children and assisting the women to establish business opportunities to promote economic stability and sustainability. Project Have Hope has tapped into the artistry and industriousness of these extraordinary women. We have developed markets for these individual works of art and use the revenue to fund educational and economic programs.
Redemption Song Foundation
Redemption Song Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to spread hope by growing healthy communities and sustainable ecosystems in Africa, starting in Uganda. RSF aims to empower people and communities to rise above their circumstances through education of all types, spiritual development, and music — as Bob Marley sings in Redemption Song, "emancipate yourself from mental slavery, only yourselves can free your minds."
Serrv is a nonprofit, fair trade organization dedicated to lifting disadvantaged artisans, farmers, and their families out of poverty. We partner with 55 small-scale artisan/farmer organizations and cooperatives to bring you unique, handcrafted product collections. We emphasize the word "partnership" in our work because that's what these relationships are–we've created a system of creative collaboration built on mutual respect and trust, creating high-quality and well-designed items using sustainable materials and production techniques. Some of these partnerships have lasted for over 35 years!
Silk Road Bazaar
Silk Road Bazaar is a wholesale representative of marginalized artist groups located in Central Asia. We connect with artists who are far from the capitals, who have limited market access, who do not possess modern marketable skills but have carried on traditional craft culture.
Ten Thousand Villages
Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships. One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries.
THREEafrica is a fair trade non-profit organization that helps provide access to education and employment for young Malawian women. Our goals are to engage local Malawian women with employment opportunities and fair wages; to provide access to education for young Malawian women by using our profits to establish secondary education funds, and to empower Malawian women through fair work, education, and opportunity.
Working side-by-side with talented Peruvian painters, Wanderlust Jewelry produces a unique assortment of handmade jewelry. They have maintained a standard policy of fair wages for the artisans in Peru for almost thirty years.
Women of the Cloud Forest
Women of the Cloud Forest is a fair trade organization based in Pittsburgh, PA that works with artisans in Costa Rica to produce jewelry using sustainably harvested seeds from tropical forests. Recently, they added a new line of jewelry from a group of talented artisans in the mountain community of San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua.
World Finds
WorldFinds' mission is to create positive change, build hope, and design beautiful, sustainable products for a better world. It's a business using fashion and design to combat poverty.


text:
From Toilet to Faucet
"(The s)ystem takes already-treated wastewater from the sanitation district next door and sends it through a rigorous three-step cleaning process. It's washed through microfiltration, pressed through rows of reverse osmosis membranes, and then blasted with ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide. After 45 minutes, out comes clean, drinkable water.
The final product doesn't go directly to the tap. Instead, half of it flows into a seawater barrier and the other half into a freshwater pond that replenishes the county's groundwater basin. In the end, the recycled water makes up about 20 percent of the drinking water for roughly 2.3 million people.
It's not necessarily the technology that has garnered Orange County such attention from water utilities around the globe. Recycling wastewater has been going on to lesser degrees elsewhere for some time. What has intrigued many is that the system met almost no public resistance when it came online in January.
"Technologically, it's almost trivial for us to do this now. The key is to get public acceptance and political buy-in," says Dr. Cooper, an early pioneer in water reuse practices."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dunedin, FL (PressExposure) July 23, 2007 -- Detox foot baths have become increasingly more popular over the last two years and interest in them continues to rise due to the fact that many people have experienced a reduction or complete elimination of pain, improved mental clarity, and a host of other detox phenomenon. As each individual is different, the results vary from person to person, but one fact remains, detoxing from a foot bath seems to be here to stay!
This heavy duty unit is not only for use in a practitioners office, but can easily be used in the average home. The sturdy casing houses state of the art electronics that have a triple safety system and unlike some of the earlier models, the Renovati Cleanse units takes some of the guess work out of its regular use.
It is designed with a built in timer, a current adjust and an easy to read LED screen. It will also tell you if you need to add more salt or if you have too much salt during your session.
For the practitioner who wants to optimize the use and time with the Renovati Cleanse lV, these units can be sent home with the client. The on screen information center reports the current time left, amperage and the system status. The client will be charged for time used.
Earlier models of the BBS foot baths came with a 3 year warranty. The Renovati units come with a 5 year warranty. The modules that get immersed in the water last for 90 to 120 uses. That is up to 80 more uses than the average competitor foot bath.
BBS is committed to producing quality products for consumers who are interested in improving the quality of their life through detox foot baths.


text:
Wood Window crank
A home owner from USA says:
October 9, 2014
Do you have crank similar to 39-020 with a 6" arm?
Tom from SWISCO responded:
October 9, 2014
I'm afraid not. Are you sure the 39-020 is a match? If you want, remove your operator from the window and take a few pictures of it separately for us to see. From there, we can try to find a good match. Thanks!


text:
Get an overview of this hotel3-star family-friendly hotel near Universal Studios Florida™
Popular property highlights
With a stay at Holiday Inn & Suites Across From Universal Orlando in Orlando, you'll be in a shopping district and convenient to Hollywood Drive-In Golf and Universal Studios Florida™.
This family-friendly hotel is within close proximity of Orlando International Premium Outlets and Universal CityWalk™.
Make yourself at home in one of the 390 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary, while video-game consoles and cable programming provide entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and desks, as well as phones with free local calls.
Enjoy recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, an arcade/game room, and gift shops/newsstands. If you're planning a day at a nearby theme park, you can hop on the complimentary shuttle.
Grab a bite to eat at the hotel's restaurant, which features a bar, or stay in and take advantage of room service (during limited hours). Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available for a fee.
Featured amenities include complimentary wired Internet access, a 24-hour business center, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Planning an event in Orlando? This hotel has 11000 square feet (1022 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Holiday Inn & Suites Across From Universal Orlando
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
In addition to an outdoor pool, Holiday Inn & Suites Across From Universal Orlando provides a 24-hour fitness center and a children's pool. The hotel offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary.
This 3-star property offers access to a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms. Event facilities measuring 11000 square feet (1022 square meters) include conference space. This family-friendly hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, an arcade/game room, and multilingual staff. Onsite self parking is complimentary.
Holiday Inn & Suites Across From Universal Orlando is a smoke-free property.
- Bar/lounge
- Free theme park shuttle
- Elevator/lift
- 24-hour front desk
- Conference space
- Porter/bellhop
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Meeting rooms 7
- Restaurant
- Free self parking
- Free WiFi
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Free wired Internet
- Outdoor pool
- Smoke-free property
- Children's pool
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Conference space size (meters) - 1022
- Area shuttle (surcharge)
- Luggage storage
- ATM/banking
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- 24-hour business center
- Conference space size (feet) - 11000
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Laundry facilities
- Television in common areas
- Total number of rooms - 390
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Number of floors - 10
- Wedding services
- Arcade/game room
- Multilingual staff
- Free newspapers in lobby
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pool
- Children's pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Theme park shuttle (complimentary)
- Laundry facilities
- Arcade/game room
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Premium TV channels
- Video-game console
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Free newspaper
- Phone
- Free local calls
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower/tub combination
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Cable TV service
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Room service (limited hours)
- Pillow menu
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
Where to Eat
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge.
TGI Friday - This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Nearby Things to Do
An outdoor pool and a children's pool are on site. Other recreational amenities include a 24-hour fitness center.
- Golfing nearby
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- Roll-in shower
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Up to 3 children 17 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 50 per pet, per stay
- 2 per room (up to 65 lb)
- Specific rooms only, restrictions apply
- Pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: USD 13 per person (approximately)
- Pet fee: USD 50 per pet, per stay
Hotel Name
- Holiday Inn Orlando Universal
- Holiday Inn Orlando Universal Hotel
- Hotel Holiday Inn Orlando Universal
- Holiday Inn Across Universal Orlando Hotel
- Holiday Inn Across Universal Hotel
- Holiday Inn Across Universal Orlando
- Holiday Inn Across Universal
We should mention
Up to 3 children 17 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation. The property allows pets in specific rooms only and has other pet restrictions (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


text:
In the middle of a huge kitchen renovation, to bring my kitchen into the 21st century, I suddenly drop my trowel in exhaustion only to realize that I had to cook my menu for the Gutsies!! Love that name. Luckily for me, I had marinaded my lamb early Sunday morning, so that by dinner time it would be ready to go. So even though my body was screaming order in, I took out my lamb, my cooking utensils and started cooking.
The easiest thing to make and something I've never tried was Tabbouleh. It has many spellings on that word but they all mean the same thing. Tabbouleh is a salad made of bulgur, finely chopped parsley and mint, tomato and seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice. I will admit, I LOVE olive oil. I put olive oil on everything, yes even my hair and may I say my hair looks great.. ok, ok..I digress. Back to the Tabbouleh. I've never tasted tabbouleh before so I was not sure what I was getting myself into, but you know what, I like it, I like it very much. It has a sorta refreshing taste to it. The mint and the lemon juice give it a nice kick.
The next menu item the Gutsies had to cook was Lamb Tagine with couscous. First of all, lamb is pricey around these parts. But I bought a small pack of already cubed lamb (so that was half the battle done for me) and followed the recipe word for word. I don't own a tagine, which is a type of pot used in making tagine in Morocco, Tunisia and other North African countries. So I used my go to pan. It never lets me down.
In the picture above, I'm browning the lamb with onions, cumin, pepper, salt and thyme. After the browning process, the lamb with the orange juice/flour mixture is baked in an oven for 1 hour after which you then add the apricots. My husband and I love it, thought it was sweet and not so sweet but not sour. The lamb was tender not chewy. The couscous was a no-brainer. I used Near East boxed brand. My daughters ate macaroni and cheese because in their own words, they would not eat "Mary's Little Lamb".
Now on to next week's menu which depending on the state of my kitchen, may or may not get cooked. Then Thanksgiving is also around the corner. I think Monica should give us a pass!!


text:
iPhone And Its Move On Professional Photography
Posted on Jul 10, 2010 | Comments 1
iPhone has already made a revolution, but in a world of super technologies this sounds pretty logical. There is one branch, which will surely change after the iPhone era. This is the digital photography.
Many professionals refuse to admit it, but shooting with an iPhone is already part of the game. The old-fashioned approach to the digital photography has its advantages, but still the pictures made with an iPhone technology are considered as the very best from the digital art.
Shooting with iPhone 3Gs has its bonuses. First and more important is that you are no longer limited to your camera. The latest DSLR and the pro look are guaranteed by the options that iPhone is giving you. Take a look at the creative side from your work. You don't need a studio, heavy equipment and you can create professional images anywhere you want.
As for the all common concerns of any photographer – the contrast, the color and the distortion- they are no longer issues.
The professional model of the iPhone is now offering a complete set of all the options one can need, while shooting. The sharpness of the image, as well as the chromatic aberration is now even better than the traditional and well known photography instruments.
Posted in: Digital Photography Tips and Tricks
Comments (1)
I love love love iphoneography. =) I'm glad it's such a revolution!! I have the new iPhone 4, and it's awesome!! I loved my 3g S, but the iPhone 4's camera is so damn crispy!! =) I <3 my 5 megapixel camera.


text:
Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Anna Laetitia Barbauld (20 June 1743 – 9 March 1825 / Leicestershire, England)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
To Mrs. A.
You whose clear life, one fair, well-ordered day,
In useful tenour calmly glides away;
In whom the eye of Malice never spied
read more >>
- Hits: Number of visitors who read the poem on the given date.
- Posts: Number of visitors who posted the poem to a friend (via e-mail) on the given date.
- Dates that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list.
- Dates, poems and poets that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list. Statistics are generated daily.


text: Papel is a small studio with a passion for helping your business thrive providing affordable and convenient printing and design services. We work hard to deliver exactly what you are looking for to promote your business. We see each project as an opportunity to make your business a success. This way, each client gets something unique, something that works for their company.


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 15, 2009
|Filing date
|Jun 6, 2007
|Priority date
|Nov 14, 2002
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Vic Alfano
|Original Assignee
|Topside Research, Llc
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (46), Non-Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (7), Classifications (15), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This patent is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/295,399 filed Nov. 14, 2002.
The present invention is related generally to the operation of switching networks, and more particularly, to a system for reordering sequence based packet segments in a switching network.
Communications networks now require the handling of data at very high data rates. For example, 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) is common. When it is required to process data at these speeds, multiple high-speed parallel connections may be used to increase the effective bandwidth. However, this may result in one or more transmission problems, since the data streams must be divided to be distributed over the multiple parallel connections, and at some point after parallel transmission, recombined to form the original streams.
Once the frames are received by the fabrics, they are transmitted to the destination processor 104. The destination processor receives the frames in the order they arrive and combines them for transmission to another network entity, as shown by stream D.
A significant problem that exists with current transmission systems, such as the system shown in
Additional problems can occur in systems where the transmitted data frames have been segmented before transmission. In these systems, it is possible that both the frames and/or individual segments of each frame are transmitted out of order. Thus, even if the frames maintain the correct order with respect to a transmitting source processor, segments within the frames may be out of order.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a way to reorder frames of data in a transmission system so that the frames are output in the correct order, thereby improving transmission efficiency. Furthermore, it would also be desirable to have a way to reorder frame segments so that both the frames and their corresponding segments are output in the correct order.
The present invention includes a system for reordering sequence based packet segments in a switching network. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a reordering system is provided that receives packet segments from multiple sources and reorders the received packet segments based on sequence information associated with each segment so that both the segments, and frames constructed from the segments, are output from a destination processor in the correct order.
In one embodiment included in the present invention, a system is provided for reordering packet segments in a packet switch network, wherein a plurality of source processors transmit the packet segments to a destination processor via one or more network fabrics. The system comprises encoder logic at each source processor that operates to associate a unique segment identifier with each of the packet segments before they are transmitted. The system also comprises a memory and map logic located at the destination processor that operate to receive the packet segments, map the segment identifier associated with each of the packet segments to a memory region in the memory, and store each received packet at its respective memory region. The system also comprises a Dequeue processor coupled to the memory and operable to determine when enough packet segments are stored in the memory to form a complete data frame. When enough packets are received, the Dequeue processor operates to output the packet segments that form the complete data frame.
In another embodiment included in the present invention, a method is provided for reordering packet segments in a packet switch network, wherein a plurality of source processors transmit the packet segments to a destination processor via one or more network fabrics. The method comprises steps of: including a segment identifier with each of the packet segments before they are transmitted from the source processors; defining one or more memory regions in a memory located at the destination processor; mapping the segment identifier associated with each received packet segment to a selected memory region, wherein the received packet segment is stored at the selected memory region; updating a memory map; identifying when enough packet segments have been received to form a complete data frame; and outputting the complete data frame.
The foregoing aspects and the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention includes a system for reordering sequence based packet segments in a switching network. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a reordering system is provided that receives packet segments from multiple sources and reorders the received packet segments based on the transmitting source, a sequence number, and a priority level associated with each segment. Thus, various embodiments of the system included in the present invention are discussed in detail in the following text.
During operation of the system 200, the source processors 204 receive data streams containing data frames. The segment encoders 202 operate to segment each of the data frames into packet segments and encode a unique sequence identifier for each segment prior to transmitting them to one or more fabrics 206. In one embodiment of the invention, the segment encoders 202 also assign a priority to each segment in addition to the sequence identifier. Thus, each segment that is transmitted to the fabrics 210 includes a sequence identifier, and optionally, priority information. Furthermore, an identifier that identifies the transmitting source processor is included with each segment. The addition of the source identifier to the segments may be part of the operation of the source processors 204, or may be part of the operation of the segment encoders 202.
Any technique can be used to include sequence identifiers and/or priority levels with the packet segments. For example, the segment encoders can encode sequential sequence numbers into header information included with each segment. The priority indicator can be selected from one of several priority levels and also encoded into segment header information. Thus, any suitable technique can be used within the scope of the invention to associate a sequence identifier and priority information with each data segment.
The system 200 also includes a segment reordering system 206 at a destination processor 208. The reordering system 206 operates to receive the packet segments from the fabrics 210 and process the segments based on their respective sequence identifiers and priorities to reorder the segments, and thereby the frames, into the same order as when transmitted by the source processors. Thus, frames are reordered so that with respect to each source processor, the frames are placed in an identical order as when transmitted.
The destination processor may operate on the reordered data frames and segments in other ways to facilitate their transmission, but these other processes are not essential to the operation of one or more embodiments of the invention, and so will not be described in detailed. For example, the destination processor may serialize the frames for transmission, or provide known error detection and correction processes that are independent from the reordering system.
The segmented frames are transferred to sequence and priority logic 308. The logic 308 operates to associate a sequence identifier with each of the segments it receives. For example, the sequence identifier may be a 10-bit sequence number and the segments are encoded with a consecutive sequence numbers. Furthermore, the logic 308 optionally operates to associate a priority indicator with each segment, where all segments within a frame are given the same priority level. For example, a 3-bit priority level indicator provides eight priority levels. However, any number of priority levels is suitable for use with the present invention.
Once the segments have been processed to include sequence identifiers, and optionally, a priority indicator, they are transferred to a source transmitter 310 where they are transmitted from the source processor to a destination processor via one or more network fabrics. As part of the transmission process, each segment will include a transmitting source identifier.
The basic function of the segment reordering system 206 is to keep track of the order of all of the segments as they are received at the destination processor. In one or more embodiments, a combination of the source identifier, unique sequence number, and priority assigned to each segment and inserted into the segment header prior to transmission from the source processors are used to track the segments. At the reordering system, the transmitting source identifier and the priority will be used to sort and store the segments into one of 320 reorder queues (assuming 64 source processors and 5 priority levels). The unique sequence number, associated with a particular queue, will be used to index a segment into its proper location in a memory. The segment reordering system also reassembles the segments into frames before sending them on to a transmitter for transmission to other network entities.
A segment receiver 402 receives one or more data streams 412 that are transmitted to the destination processor via one or more network fabrics. For example, the receiver 402 receives the streams 412 via the fabrics 210. The receiver 402 is coupled to a memory 404 and segment processing logic 406. The segment processing logic 406 operates to process the source identifier, the sequence identifier, and the priority level associated with each segment to determine a free memory location in the memory 404 where each segment will be stored. The processing logic 406 also operates to update a memory map 414 that indicates used and unused portions of the memory 404. Another function of the processing logic is to update and maintain a set of pointers 418 that are used to indicate the segments that have been received. If there are enough received segments to form a complete frame, the complete frame is transmitted to another destination. The processing logic 406 may comprise any suitable hardware such as a CPU, gate array or other hardware logic, and may also include any suitable software to operate in conjunction with the hardware.
The memory 404 may comprise any suitable memory type or technology, such as RAM, DRAM or FLASH memory. Included in the memory 404 is the memory map 414 that is used to indicate used and unused portions of the memory. The memory map 414 allows the memory 404 to be efficiently utilized, and thus minimize the required total memory. The memory is designed to allow high-speed operation of the network fabrics. In one embodiment, the memory has a size of four megabytes (4M), however, larger or smaller memories may be used in accordance with the present invention. A more detailed discussion of the memory 404 and the memory map 414 is provided in another section of this document.
Segment Dequeue logic 408 is coupled to the memory 404 via control channel 422 and operates to control the output of reordered segments into reassembled frames. For example, in one embodiment, the Dequeue logic 408 operates to control the transfer of segments from the memory to the segment transmitter 410 based on block values it receives from the memory map 414 and the pointers 418. A communication channel 420 couples the Dequeue logic 408 with the segment processing logic 406 so that the Dequeue logic can access the pointers 418. The pointers 418 (
A segment transmitter 410 receives segments transferred from the memory 404 by the Dequeue logic 408 and transmits these segments, and the reassembled frames they comprise, in the correct order to other entities in the network via a transmitter output 416. Thus, the reordering system 206 operates to perform reordering of segments and the reassembly of frames in accordance with the present invention.
The memory structure 500 includes a segment memory 502 coupled to a memory controller 504. The segment memory comprises a 64K portion of memory for each transmitting source. The 64K portion of memory is grouped into 16 blocks (0-15) with each block having the capacity to store 64 segments each having 64-bytes.
The memory controller 504 is coupled to all the 64K portions of memory so that segment data 506 may be stored and retrieved from any memory location based on a received memory address 508. The memory controller comprises any suitable hardware logic and/or associated software to access the memory 502.
In one embodiment, each memory portion comprises a total of 65536 (64K) bytes of storage that is dedicated to each transmitting source processor. If there are sixty-four source processors transmitting segment data, the memory 404 is sized to have a capacity of 4,194,304 bytes (4 Mbytes).
The map processor 602 is coupled to the memory tables 652 via a bus 618. The memory tables include a free list FIFO 620, a priority 0 table list 622, a priority 1 table list 624, a priority 2 table list 626, a priority 3 table list 628, and a priority 4 table list 630.
Associated with each priority table list is a valid list that contains valid bits. For example, the table list 622 is associated with valid list 632, the table list 624 is associated with valid list 634, the table list 626 is associated with valid list 636, the table list 628 is associated with valid list 638, and the table list 630 is associated with the valid list 640.
The group of memory lists are used to store the indirect location of the selected memory block 502 where the segment data is written. A set of these same lists exists for each source processor that is transmitting segment data to the destination. Therefore, if there are sixty-four source processors transmitting segment data, there will be sixty-four groups of memory lists. For example, as shown at 642, there are sixty-four bus connections that connect the map processor 602 to sixty-four groups of lists that are used to store segment data from sixty-four transmitting source processors. Although the memory lists shown are based on five priority levels, more or less priority levels may be used and result in a corresponding number of memory lists.
The map processor 602 operates to map segment data into the memory 404 for storage. The map processor uses the source identifier 608 to select which group of lists to use to map the segment data. For example, if the source identifier is twenty-three, the group of lists used may be the group of lists shown in
The map processor 602 uses the sequence identifier included with each segment to indirectly map a block in the selected priority table list to a block in the memory 404 where the segment will be stored. For example, the map processor uses the upper four bits of the sequence identifier to select one of sixteen entries in the selected priority table list. The contents of the entry in the selected priority table list will be used as the block address 614.
However, if the entry in the selected priority list contains an invalid block address, then the map processor operates to obtain an available block memory address from the free block list 620. The map processor enters this newly obtained block address into the entry in the selected priority table list, and validates the valid bit. Thereafter, sequence numbers whose upper bits point to this entry in the selected priority table list will obtain this block address to be used to store the segment data. The valid lists contain bits that indicate whether an address in the corresponding priority table lists is valid. These bits are validated or invalidated depending if the specific block of memory is being used or if all of the segments in that block have been sent.
An example of the mapping process will now be described. Assume the memory 404 is configured to have a total of four Megabytes of storage. This allocation will support segments transmitted from sixty-four source processors; each allocated 64 k bytes to store all of their incoming segments. These 64 k bytes will be further subdivided into 16 blocks representing a total of 1024 segment storage locations. Each segment storage location contains a block of 64 bytes of data. The incoming segment will be stripped of its segment header and CRC, and the remaining 64-byte segment payload will fit within the 64-byte block.
The 16 blocks (or groups) representing a total of 1024 segment storage locations can be dynamically allocated to any of the segment priorities as needed. The four MSB's of the sequence number included with each segment indirectly maps into one of these 16 blocks of memory. The mapping is stored in the priority lists and any unused groups are stored in the free list FIFO 620.
The free list FIFO 620 hold 16 group addresses. Each group address is 4-bits wide and directly maps to a memory address as the block address 614. There are a total of 64 free list FIFOs, one for each transmitting source.
There are 5 priority table lists and each can store up to 16 block addresses. The valid bit associated with each entry will determine if a valid block address is stored in that entry. After initialization or reset, the free list FIFO 620 will contain all 16 block addresses and all of the valid bits associated with the priority table lists will be cleared to indicate that no entries in the lists are valid.
When a segment arrives, the four most significant bits (MSB) of the sequence number 604 are used to find the block address 614 that the segment should be written to in the memory 404. The source 608 and priority 606 of the segment will determine which priority table list to use, and the four MSB's of the sequence number 604 will be used to address into that table to find a selected entry.
First, the valid bit for the selected entry will be checked to determine if a group has already been assigned to the sequence number. If a group has been assigned, the valid bit will be a one, and the contents of that entry will be used as the block address 614 for addressing the memory 404. If the valid bit is not set, then a new group will be obtained from the free list FIFO 620, inserted into the table list at the selected entry, and the corresponding valid bit will be set to a one. Thus, segments that follow having the same source, priority, and four MSB sequence number will use this new group address.
In this example, it will be assumed that a segment is received from a source processor having a source identifier 608 of twenty-three with a priority of zero, and the four MSB's of the sequence number are 0011. A check in the priority 0 table list 622 at entry three shows that the valid bit is zero, as indicated at 644. A new address group is needed and the map processor operates to obtain it from the free list FIFO 620. The new address group has the value 0111 and is inserted into the table list 622 at entry three and will also be used as block address 614 to access the memory 404. The valid bit at entry three will then be set to a one to indicate that the address is valid (not shown in the
The lower 6 bits of the sequence number 604 are directly mapped into one of the 64 memory blocks as the sequence address 612. If another segment comes in from transmitting source twenty-three with a sequence number of (0100xxxxxx binary) and a priority of two, the map processor 602 will map a value of 1111 to the block address 614. This value is determined from the priority 2 table list as shown at 626. Also shown is the control channel 422 that allows information from the map processor to flow to the Dequeue logic during the dequeue process.
The map list 702 includes a current frame segment (CFS) pointer 706 and a first invalid segment (FIS) pointer 708. The CFS pointer is the location of a segment that contains the start (head) of a frame currently being stored in the memory 404. The FIS pointer 708 is the first location, relative to the CFS, indicating where a segment has not yet arrived. In other words, it is the next missing segment in a series of segments starting from the CFS pointer. Values for both the CFS and FIS pointers are entered into the map pointer 704.
The map pointer 704 also includes a length value 710 and an offset value 712. The length value is the total length of the single frame (in bytes), whose head is located at the CFS pointer. The length value can be found at the head of a segment or it may be embedded within a segment if the frame ends within the segment and the next frame is packed at the tail of the ending frame. The offset value, measured in bytes, determines where the frame head starts within a segment. Again, the offset value can be found at the head of a segment, for example, by receiving a segment with an offset of zero or extracted from a segment while de-queuing.
The map list 702 keeps track of all the segments that have arrived and are ready to be reordered. For one source/priority, the corresponding map list contains 1024 bits of data. These bits directly map to the 1024 segment storage locations in the memory 404. The sequence number is used to directly map the bits in the map list to the segments that are stored in memory. As a result, a bit in the map list will be set valid when a segment arrives, and cleared when the segment is de-queued.
At block 804, the frames are segmented and are encoded with a sequence identifier, a priority value and a source identifier. In one embodiment, the segment data payload is 64-bytes long. At block 806, the segments are transmitted to a destination processor via one or more network fabrics.
At block 808, the transmitted segments are received at a destination processor. The destination processor receives segments from one or more transmitting source processors via the network fabrics.
At block 810, the source identifier, priority level, and sequence identifier are extracted from each received segment. For example, the segment decoder 603 extracts this information from each received segment. At block 812, the extracted information is used to determine a memory address in a memory where each segment is stored. For example, as shown in
At block 814, each received segment is stored into memory at the address determined from the previous step. At block 816, the pointers 418 are updated to reflect how many segments have been received.
The above steps describe the flow of segment data from transmitting source processors to a destination processor via one or more network fabrics. Once the segments are received at the destination processor, they are stored into a memory in accordance with the above steps. The following steps are used to unload the segments from the memory for transmission to another network entity. In the process of unloading the segments, the segments and corresponding data frames are reordered in accordance with the invention. It should be noted that the reception, reordering, and transmission of frames as described by the reordering process of
At block 818, a frame check is performed to determine if enough segments have been received and stored into the memory to form a complete frame. For example, as segments are received and stored in the memory, and map lists are used to keep track of the sequential number of segments that have been received. For example, if the memory map as provided in
At block 820, assuming a complete frame has been received the completed frame is unloaded from the memory. The logic reads the CFS and FIS pointers and length from the associated context that was selected and dequeues the associated frame.
At block 822, a test is performed after the current frame is unloaded to determine if there are enough segments in memory to unload another frame. For example, there may be another frame beginning with the next segment directly after the current frame that was unloaded. In another situation, there may be another frame that is partially packed within the last segment of the current frame. For example, the header for the next frame is packed into the last segment of the current frame. If there are no other complete frames to unload, the method proceeds to block 824. If there is another frame to unload, the method proceeds back to block 820.
When the frames are being unloaded, the CFS pointer will be updated to the point where the last frame ended to become the new CFS pointer. If another frame is found, the length of that next frame, the FIS pointer, and the new CFS pointer are used to determine if next frame can be dequeued. This process will continue until there are no more frames that can be dequeued.
At block 824, when there are no more frames to be dequeued, the Dequeue logic writes back the new CFS pointer, length and offset to the Context Memory. The new CFS pointer will be pointing to indicate the location of the start of the next frame in memory.
At block 826 the memory usage maps are updated. For example, the last function that is performed is that all of the valid bits from the old CFS pointer to the new CFS pointer are cleared, and if any memory blocks need to be de-allocated, they are put back onto the free list FIFO 620 so that they may be reused to store additional received segments. The method then continues at block 818.
In accordance with the present invention, segments transmitted from a particular source are reordered to have the same order as when initially transmitted. Therefore, one or more embodiments included in the present invention provide a system for reordering segments in a switching network. After the context is dequeued, and there are no more frames that can be dequeued from that context, the Dequeue logic clears the selected ready flag. The segments associated with the frame are read out of the memory. The frames are then passed to the segment transmitter 410 and the frames/segments are sent on to the next destination in the system.
Thus, the present invention includes a system for reordering packet segments in a packet switch network. The embodiments described above are illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments described. Accordingly, while several embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Aug 8, 1979
|May 18, 1982
|Compagnie Internationale Pour L'informatique Cii Honeywell Bull (Societe Anonyme)
|Universal arrangement for the exchange of data between the memories and the processing devices of a computer
|Dec 4, 1978
|Jul 19, 1983
|Compagnie Honeywell Bull
|Apparatus and method for transferring information units between processes in a multiprocessing system
|Dec 31, 1986
|Apr 26, 1988
|Bell Communications Research, Inc.
|Multicast routing algorithm
|Aug 6, 1986
|Jun 28, 1988
|American Telephone And Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories
|N-by-N "knockout" switch for a high-performance packet switching system with variable length packets
|Apr 28, 1995
|Aug 27, 1996
|Nec Corporation
|Method and apparatus for performing priority control for cells in output buffer type ATM switch
|Jan 3, 1995
|Sep 10, 1996
|International Business Machines Corporation
|Crossbar switch apparatus and protocol
|Jul 11, 1995
|Feb 25, 1997
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
|Sync restoring method for variable-length decoding and apparatus thereof
|Dec 21, 1995
|Dec 1, 1998
|Apple Computer, Inc.
|System for generating and sending a critical-world-first data response packet by creating response packet having data ordered in the order best matching the desired order
|Aug 1, 1994
|Jan 12, 1999
|Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
|Instruction set for a content addressable memory array with read/write circuits and an interface register logic block
|Aug 27, 1997
|Apr 27, 1999
|Lucent Technologies Inc.
|Packet network interface
|Sep 11, 1997
|May 18, 1999
|Fujitsu Limited
|Data transfer system which determines a size of data being transferred between a memory and an input/output device
|Dec 16, 1996
|Jun 1, 1999
|Juniper Networks
|High speed variable length best match look-up in a switching device
|Sep 5, 1997
|Jul 13, 1999
|Motorola, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for interfacing a processor to a coprocessor
|Mar 7, 1996
|Nov 9, 1999
|Lsi Logic Corporation
|ATM communication system interconnect/termination unit
|Dec 31, 1996
|Feb 15, 2000
|Northern Telecom Limited
|High performance fault tolerant switching system for multimedia satellite and terrestrial communications networks
|Feb 22, 1996
|May 23, 2000
|Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
|Full duplex buffer management and apparatus
|Mar 24, 2000
|Jan 9, 2001
|Ramtron International Corporation
|First-in, first-out integrated circuit memory device incorporating a retransmit function
|Sep 21, 1998
|Feb 20, 2001
|Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
|Using multiple decoders and a reorder queue to decode instructions out of order
|Dec 24, 1997
|Jun 12, 2001
|Nortel Networks Limited
|Method and apparatus for re-ordering data packets in a network environment
|Mar 17, 1999
|May 14, 2002
|Motorola, Inc.
|Data processing system having a fifo buffer with variable threshold value based on input and output data rates and data block size
|Jul 2, 1998
|Aug 13, 2002
|Pluris, Inc.
|System and method for switching packets in a network
|Dec 30, 1998
|Aug 27, 2002
|Intel Corporation
|Method and system for bypassing a fill buffer located along a first instruction path
|Aug 27, 1999
|Oct 1, 2002
|International Business Machines Corporation
|Network processor, memory organization and methods
|Jul 24, 1997
|Dec 10, 2002
|Juniper Networks, Inc.
|Memory organization in a switching device
|Mar 30, 1999
|May 27, 2003
|Hitachi, Ltd.
|Packet switch and switching method for switching variable length packets
|Jan 28, 1999
|Jun 3, 2003
|Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
|Architecture of data communications switching system and associated method
|Mar 31, 2000
|Sep 30, 2003
|Intel Corporation
|Segmentation and reassembly of data frames
|Jul 3, 2001
|Feb 3, 2004
|Sony Corporation
|Data stream generation apparatus and method of same, variable length coded data stream generation apparatus and method of same, and camera system
|Sep 5, 2002
|May 11, 2004
|International Business Machines Corporation
|Data reordering mechanism for high performance networks
|May 10, 2001
|Jun 22, 2004
|Pmc-Sierra, Inc.
|Flexible FIFO system for interfacing between datapaths of variable length
|Feb 23, 2001
|Aug 24, 2004
|Netrake Corporation
|Queue engine for reassembling and reordering data packets in a network
|Apr 13, 2000
|Sep 21, 2004
|International Business Machines Corporation
|Method and system for network processor scheduler
|Oct 23, 2001
|Jan 11, 2005
|International Business Machines Corporation
|Network switch using network processor and methods
|Mar 7, 2000
|Jun 14, 2005
|Cisco Technology, Inc.
|Communications interconnection network with distributed resequencing
|Feb 4, 2001
|Aug 23, 2005
|Cisco Technology, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for resequencing of packets into an original ordering using multiple resequencing components
|Jan 11, 2002
|Nov 22, 2005
|Internet Machines Corp.
|System for reordering sequenced based packets in a switching network
|Feb 26, 2001
|Dec 20, 2005
|Hitachi, Ltd.
|Shared buffer type variable length packet switch
|Apr 19, 2001
|Jan 17, 2006
|International Business Machines Corporation
|High speed network processor
|Oct 14, 2003
|Aug 22, 2006
|Broadcom Corporation
|Peripheral bus switch having virtual peripheral bus and configurable host bridge
|Feb 15, 2002
|Mar 25, 2008
|Verizon Business Global Llc
|Method and system for implementing an improved universal packet switching capability in a data switch
|Jan 31, 2003
|Jul 22, 2008
|Broadcom Corporation
|Efficient routing of packet data in a scalable processing resource
|Mar 29, 2004
|Jan 20, 2009
|Cisco Technology, Inc.
|Distributing packets and packets fragments possibly received out of sequence into an expandable set of queues of particular use in packet resequencing and reassembly
|Apr 4, 2005
|May 5, 2009
|Sun Microsystems, Inc.
|Reorder mechanism for use in a relaxed order input/output system
|Mar 21, 2001
|Nov 1, 2001
|Van Doren Stephen R.
|Distributed address mapping and routing table mechanism that supports flexible configuration and partitioning in a modular switch-based, shared-memory multiprocessor computer system
|Feb 21, 2001
|Nov 7, 2002
|Crossbeam Systems, Inc.
|Network application apparatus
|Aug 14, 2001
|Feb 20, 2003
|Mehdi Alasti
|Method and apparatus for arbitration scheduling with a penalty for a switch fabric
|Fahmy, A Survey of ATM Switching Techniques, Aug. 14, 2001, Department of Computer and Information Science, The Ohio State University.
|Gupta, Scheduling in Input Queued Switches: A Survey, Jun. 1996, Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, California.
|Petaswitch Solutions, Inc., Company Overview, 2001, http://www.peta-switch.com/markets/overview.htm.
|Petaswitch Solutions, Inc., PetaSwitch Solutions Announces Raising $4 Million in First Round Financing, Press Release, 2001, http://peta-switch.com/newsroom/press-releases.htm.
|Petaswitch Solutions, Inc., The Pisces Chipset, Product Brief, 2001, http://www.peta-switch.com/products/product-brief.htm.
|Schoenen, et al., Distributed Cell Scheduling Algorithms for Virtual-Output-Queued Switches, Dec. 1999, pp. 1211-1215, vol. 1, Globecom, IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference.
|Stiliadis, et al., Rate-Proportional Servers: A Design Methodology for Fair Queueing Algorithms, Dec. 1995, Computer Engineering & Information Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz.
|Stoica, et al., Earliest Eligible Virtual Deadline First: A Flexible and Accurate Mechanism for Proportional Share Resource Allocation, Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Sep 29, 2009
|Nov 6, 2012
|Fujitsu Limited
|Data distribution apparatus, relay apparatus and data distribution method
|Mar 10, 2009
|Dec 18, 2012
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
|Interface system and method of controlling thereof
|Oct 25, 2012
|Aug 12, 2014
|Fujitsu Limited
|Storage device, and storage device control method
|Oct 15, 2013
|May 31, 2016
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
|Backbone channel management method and backbone channel management apparatus
|Mar 10, 2009
|Sep 24, 2009
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
|Interface system and method of controlling thereof
|Sep 29, 2009
|Apr 29, 2010
|Fujitsu Limited
|Data distribution apparatus, relay apparatus and data distribution method
|Oct 25, 2012
|Jun 20, 2013
|Fujitsu Limited
|Storage device, and storage device control method
|U.S. Classification
|709/223, 370/392, 370/400, 370/394, 709/238, 709/224
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jul 11, 2007
Owner name: INTERNET MACHINES CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ALFANO, VIC;REEL/FRAME:019542/0641
Effective date: 20021105
|Jul 16, 2007
Owner name: TOPSIDE RESEARCH, LLC, VIRGINIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERNET MACHINES CORP.;REEL/FRAME:019560/0086
Effective date: 20070418
|Jan 4, 2013
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Mar 13, 2017
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8


text:
|One-Handed Hitch & Release
•Just depress button to release hitch pin
•No more hassles, no lost parts
•Auto-lock for all lawn tractors
•Nickel plated, heavy duty, heat treated
•1/2-inch diameter x 5-1/8 inch shaft length
Welcome | Sign In or Contact Us
Receive Weekly How-To Tips & Specials
Buy Good Vibrations KingPin Quick-Connect Hitch Pin at Power Equipment Direct. Read reviews and articles. Wide Selection of accessories available, including Good Vibrations Hitchin' Post 3-Way Hitchplate.


text:
Van omits Makaay and Davids
By Alex Livie
Last Updated: 01/01/70 1:00am
Edgar Davids and Roy Makaay have been left out of the Dutch squad.Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie have been included in Marco van Basten's Netherlands squad to face Italy on November 12, but there is no room for Edgar Davids and Roy Makaay.
Van Basten has a plethora of striking options available to him, with Manchester United man van Nistelrooy and Arsenal youngster van Persie joining the likes of Ryan Babel, Romeo Castelen, Dirk Kuyt and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the squad to face the Azzurri in Amsterdam.
Makaay has endured a barren run in front of goal for Bayern Munich and he has been left out by van Basten.
Middlesbrough man George Boateng has been included, but there is no place for Tottenham star Davids.
Barcelona star Mark van Bommel has also been overlooked, as has Chelsea flyer Arjen Robben, but the door is unlikely to be closed ahead of next summer's World Cup finals.
Squad: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar); Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Nigel de Jong (Ajax), Ron Vlaar (AZ Alkmaar), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Khalid Boulahrouz (HSV Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Jan Kromkamp (Villarreal); Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Rafael van der Vaart (HSV Hamburg), George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Philip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven); Ryan Babel (Ajax), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven).


text:
GraphicRiver Assorted Journalism Flat Icons 9411495
Stock Vector \ Conceptual \ Technology \ Media
Journalism \ Isolated \ Transmission \ Television \ Reporter \ Signal \ Symbol
Stock Vector - Assorted Journalism Flat Icons 9411495 by neyro2008 @ GraphicRiver
Stock Vector \ Conceptual \ Technology \ Media
Simple Various Journalism Flat Icons Graphic Designs Isolated on White Background.
Last Update: ; Layered: No; Graphics Files Included: JPG Image, Vector EPS; Minimum Adobe CS Version: CS.
Left Analytical And Right Creativity Brain; Treasure Island Vector Map In Hand Drawn Style; Dinosaur Prehistoric Concept Backgrounds Set In; Pirate Treasure Island Vector Map; Pirate Objects Vector Set; Black Friday Light Frame, Vector Retro Billboard; Child Room For The Newborn Baby. Vector Flat.
Keywords: accreditation, antenna, article, audio, badge, broadcasting, camera, car, color, column, communication, daily, flat, icon, isolated, journalism, journalist, microphone, news, newspaper, photo, photography, reporter, signal, symbol, television, transmission, tv, vehicle, video.


text:
Brad Fuller is a 2004 Mississippi State agribusiness graduate who left Washington to found YeHive, a start-up whose social media app and website launched last year. Blending features from several social media outlets, YeHive takes photos and videos from an event and deposits them in a central location. Q — What is YeHive? A — YeHive is an event-centered social ...Read More »
Monthly Archives: May 2013
CRAWFORD: Move cautiously on virtual training
More and more parents choose to home school their children. National statistics show the number of home schooled children grows about seven percent each year. Likewise the number of students in charter schools continues to increase, growing about 12 percent each year. A growing number of states, 31 at last count, allow virtual public schools where students go to school ...Read More »
Special panel ready to explore funding for road and bridge maintenance
A Senate study committee made up lawmakers and citizen representatives will convene June 12-13 in Jackson to look at ways to fund upkeep of the state's roads and bridges. Sen. Willie Simmons, a Cleveland Democrat who chairs the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, will lead the panel. It will continue to meet through the summer and prepare recommendations for legislators ...Read More »
Home sales rising in parts of the state
People in the real estate business aren't exactly doing cartwheels, but in some areas of the state homes sales have picked up at an encouraging pace. "I will tell you from conversations with individuals around the state that things are looking up," said Ken Austin, a Mississippi Coast Realty real estate agent who is president of the Mississippi Association of ...Read More »
CARTOON: Mike Chaney explains Affordable Care Act
Seth Case-Price to lead USM Children's Center
Sarah Case-Price began her affiliation with The Children's Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi more than a dozen years ago as a student worker. On July 1, she will take over the reins as director. Case-Price has served in several capacities at the center since becoming a full-time staff member in 2006, most recently as ...Read More »
Seth Case-Price to lead USM Children's Center
Sarah Case-Price began her affiliation with The Children's Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi more than a dozen years ago as a student worker. On July 1, she will take over the reins as director. Case-Price has served in several capacities at the center since becoming a full-time staff member in 2006, most recently as ...Read More »
State's struggling road builders conflicted by study committee
Late in the last legislative session, state lawmakers approved a resolution to form a study committee to look into the issue of funding for road and bridge work. It seemed that Mississippi's struggling road builders had finally caught a break. But now local roadbuilders are wondering if the study is a positive step or not after learning they will not ...Read More »
Mississippi road builders continue working on projects around the state
A proposed road project in a small Mississippi town is a good example of what is keeping the state's road builders up at night — and idled during the day. Residents of Smithville were told not to worry over the prospect that a Mississippi Highway 25 bypass would negatively affect the town's Central Business District. At least not for a ...Read More »
The wait continues for Edison Walthall hotel buyer
Hopes for injecting more life into downtown Jackson's Capitol Street through a renovation and possible conversion of the vacant Edison-Walthall sustained a setback when the hotel did not get an acceptable bid at auction. For now, the circa 1927 lodging landmark will remain with the Landmark Center office building a block away as once-major properties on downtown's main thoroughfare awaiting ...Read More »


text:
I read where Geylang was an interesting district and the Malay Village was worth a look to see traditional arts and crafts like batik painting, kite-making and kampong games such as top spinning.
The Museum is supposed to feature a a good collection of artifacts like weaving tools, musical instruments and an extensive display of a traditional Malay wedding garments, and other things offering insight into the lives of Malays in Singapore.
Anybody been here or thinking of going? Worth a half day for a repeat visitor?
Recent ActivityView all Asia activity »
- 1 Internet in SE Asia
- 2 Spa Bangkok
- 3 A trip to Mahabaleshwar (India)
- 4 Bhutan paro Tshechu
- 5 Please help me to start planning a trip to Bhutan
- 6 Please recommend a hotel in Mumbai
- 7 Vietnam, Cambodia & Hong Kong - Fall 2017 Trip Report
- 8 Using a Starling Bank card in SE Asia
- 9 best way to travel between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Siem Reap, Cambodia
- 10 cooking school in Chiang Mai?
- 11 Anti Malarial tablets in SE Asia
- 12 need your help with japan itinerary
- 13 Japan in July with 20 year old
- 14 Laurel and Hardy in Drag Do Bangkok
- 15 Best guidebooks for SE Asia
- 16 RHK's Fall SEA Trip
- 17 Hotel in Vang Vieng
- 18 A comprehensive guide for tourists visiting North Goa
- 19 4 DAYS in KERALA...
- 20 Nywoman an older single traveler explores Taiwan
- 21 VN + Japan 6 wks March/April - which order?
- 22 Travel options from Negombo to Mirissa
- 23 Family trip to Thailand for Christmas and possibly New year
- 24 Skiing in Japan - need advice
Singapore: Geylang - Malay Village
I read where Geylang was an interesting district and the Malay Village was worth a look to see traditional arts and crafts like batik painting, kite-making and kampong games such as top spinning.
Report Abuse
The Malay Village has not been doing well and has become very run down. Locals do not visit the place at all.
Suggest visiting the Peranakan museum instead.
Report Abuse
Is the Peranakam Museum the Asian Civilizations Museum? If so, I can definitely second the recommendation - I spent so long there one of the guards asked if I was doing research!
BTW, degas, if you're looking for things to do in Singapore, don't miss the night safari at the zoo, or afternoon tea at the Raffles (raspberries and cream, scones and clotted cream....)
Report Abuse
Thursdays, the Peranakam Museum is/was one of the two branches of the Asian Civilizations Museum. The main branch is now (back) at Empress Place, but I really loved the Peranakam Museum as well.
Report Abuse
The Geylang area itself is quite interesting and has tons of good and cheap restaurants so I would definately include that in your itinerary. It is more off the beaten tourist path as well. Lots of little shop houses and alleyways called "Lors", each with a number, running north and south off Geylang, there are hawker stalls and outdoor restaurants all along Geylang and down the Lors. Although part of it has a reputation of being a red light district (and it's actually the transvestites that you really notice IMO), most of that occurs in the very late evening and virtually all of it almost all on the even numbered Lors running north off Geylang. (This is Singapore after all, where even sin is highly regulated…) It is also quite safe so I would have no worries on that score.
If you can arrange your visit around a siginifcant Malya holiday (esp the end of Ramadan, known as Eid ul-Fitr, or generally reffered to locally at Hari Raya Puasa), this area is hung with lights and is quite lively with celebrations and special foods are on offer. It is a good time to visit. The month of Ramadan changes each year based on moon phases, so check calendars.
I like the Beef Kway Teow Place at Lor 9 (called simply Beef Kway Teow), and at Lor 11 is the Fo You Yuan Vegetarian that is very good. Really, just walk along and try what looks good, it's hard to get a bad meal, and you won't spend a lot of money.
With regard to the Peranakan Museum on Armenian Place, do check the website (http://www.acm.org.sg/home/home.asp) because it had been closed for a few years for renovations, the last time I was there (Feb) it had not yet re-opened but was scheduled to do so shortly. If it has reopened, IMO it would be quite interesting. Also, the main Asian Civilizations Museum at Empress Place has a quite good permanent collection of textiles, including many Malay and Indonesian textiles and IMO is worth a look at well.
Of course Malaysia itself is just about 30 minutes by car accross the cauesway and easily reached for a trip. You can even water ski to it.
Report Abuse
Thanks for all the great the feedback. I hope to add this area to a future trip, and also the Peranakan Museum, if it is open.
Report Abuse
degas - the Peranakan Museum is indeed open. We visited last month and it was one of the surprise highlights of our trip. We planned to visit the large Asian Civilisations Museum, but decided to check out the Paranakan Museum because we were in the neighborhood. We are so glad we did because it was really interesting. The architecture of the building itself would be worth a visit.
Also, you can buy a dual ticket for both museums since they are managed together and save a few dollars.
Sign in to comment.


text:
Brooks Saddle - Oops, I got the Woman's model
So being budget minded and being a cyclist is usually a losing proposition. You buy the cheapest stuff the first time - which isn't really all that "cheap" - then it breaks / doesn't work right and you are faced with buying the right / better / thing that works.
So somehow in the flurry of WANTING a Brooks bad, my dad and I managed to get ourselves a great price. On the Professional S.
In the excitement I didn't put this together. I got it last night, applied the Proofide like a good Brooks drone should, installed and mounted it. TAINT CRUSHER.
Got the nose down a little further and went on a 10-miler this morning to test it out. Obviously the new leather was a little rough on the sit-bones but altogether better than before.
Now I'm the moron here so I don't feel right about trying to get the company I got it from to refund my money. They provided their end of the deal. And putting the proofide on there...still its doesn't feel at all bad on the 'bad spot' but I did notice some discomfort if I slid too far (particularly during shifts).
I will post a pic later, maybe you guys could advise on making this work. Or not...
PS - I've heard the S is just "small", which makes sense because it looks sort of tiny. Fortunately I'm pretty light in the trunk currently.
The S means short, as opposed to regular.
Start with it perfectly level, and adjust it for position (fore/aft)
Once there, make sure you are situated so yur sit bones impact in the middle of the spot you sit on.
Adjust it nose up/down until you don't slide fore or aft while pedalling.
Fine tune the tilt if you can feel the saddle anywhere but the sit bones.
Enjoy the ride.
Read the fine print; you now have to get a sex change. Sometimes less, as they say, is more.
The only difference between a men's Brooks and a women's Brooks is that the women's Brooks is ever-so-slightly wider, and shorter. That's it.
And with Brooks saddles, you don't want to tilt the nose down ... you want to tilt the nose up. Go look in the Long Distance forum at the Century Bicycle thread and have a look at all the Brooks saddles in there. Most are tilted up in front. Tilting the nose up forces you to sit on your sitbones.
And proofide just protects the leather.
Good core strength also helps with riding well on a Brooks. Suck your abs in, and tilt your pelvis under just a bit.
Why don't you want to check into exchanging it for the saddle that you really want?
What's the problem? I use an Ideale mod. 92 Diagonale "Dame" saddle on one of my bikes, and my weenie hasn't fallen off yet.
If you go to a Specialised dealer- they have an "Assometer". it is memory foam that you sit on and the width between the sit bones can be measured. That will denote the width of saddle to be used.
I am short- slim and lightweight- but "apparantly" I need a wider saddle than I currently use. Road bikes and I have narrow- Flite saddles but MTB's are a bit wider and on the offroad Tandem- where I sit more than on the other bikes- I have a wider still saddle. It is a San Marco "TransAm"- the womens version. On the Tandem it is comfortable- not on any other bike but it definitely is right for the Tandem.
So either get the sex change or fit it to an offroad Tandem. (Think it would be cheaper to have the sex change though)
The only difference being that the B-17 S is 7mm wider, and 35mm shorter. About 1/4" wider, 1 3/8" shorter. Actually preferred by some....
Phone the seller, if you want - you've nothing to lose "either way!"
Saddle pointed upward? I have found a pretty good position with it currently about level, but I do find myself "scootching" more than I feel like I should.
Perhaps this is a personal thing, but whenever I put the nose up that creates a TON of perienial pain. Does that indicate incorrect saddle height / fore-aft position?
But yes, Brooks saddles are slippery to start with so you might have to get past that stage first.
And, you should not feel it anywhere but your sit bones in your normal riding position.
personally, I order the women's models on purpose, they are a bit wider and I like them better that way
|All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:14 PM.


text: After putting gas in my truck a few months ago, I turned the key and the truck wouldn't start! Luckily a friend of mine who is much more mechanicaly inclined than I was there to help. He banged on the gas tank with a hammer and my truck started right up. He told me my fuel pump was going bad and if it happened again to bang on it a few times and start it up. It happened 4 or 5 times today and after banging on it for a few she started right up! I plan on getting it into the shop soon, but is this "band-aid" fix OK for now? How long before it won't start period? Does this sound like a fuel pump issue? Any ideas on how much this will cost? Money is pretty tight right now and it seems like every month I'm putting $ in this dang truck! Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks! I have also noticed a buzzing sound sometimes when I get out of the truck!


text:
Transformative Assessment at ASU West. Colleen Carmean IT Consulting Director ASU West NLII Fellow 2002. goal. Define the purpose of the assessment activities and align these with institutional goals. Understand practical applications of basic assessment concepts.
Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server.
Colleen Carmean
IT Consulting Director
ASU West
NLII Fellow 2002


text:
Our Pretties
I love summer - I like sunbathe, swim. I like meet dawn.
I since the childhood play volleyball
I very much like roses and camomiles but in the summer I can't resist from beauty of wild flowers
My favorite color - red
I prefer bright colors
Abraham Lincoln
I have very active lifestyle, I love walks, play volleyball and soccer
My dream have a big family
I want to live in a quiet, secluded place. Alone with darling. There is a wish to be in a cozy place.
Yes, I like to travel and learn constantly something new


text:
- Description
DetailsJiva Skin Toner Cream contains Anar, Majuphal, Akarkara, Siris etc. Jiva Skin Toner Cream helps get rid of pimples, acne, and blackheads and rejuvenates dull and oily skin. Its regular use helps rejuvenate facial skin, restoring that healthy glows back to your skin. Benefits of Jiva Skin Toner Cream: Naturally tones the skin Tightens skin pores Can be used as a daily night cream Direction of use: Wash face and dry with the towel. Apply Jiva skin toner cream to the face and neck, massaging gently. Leave overnight. Can also be used as a general body massage cream. Use under medical supervision.
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Manufacturer Jiva Ayurvedic Pharmacy Ltd
- Reviews


text:
† Summary_ You all know little loveable Chikita: the little black cat who sticks around Kira, can grow 7 feet tall, chases Timcampy around, & thoroughly enjoys tormenting a certain red-headed Junior Bookman; but do you know what actually goes on in this little kitties head? JOINT STORY TO SONG OF THE FOURTEENTH~!
† Warning_ May contain cursing in multiple languages (mostly from Lavi). This story is taking place from Chikita's point of view- or, in other words, a CAT'S point of view. Try to remember that~ Also, this a joint fanfic to SONG OF THE FOURTEENTH (kinda like A FORGOTTEN PAST), so these events only go so far as up to the latest update from SOTF.
† Claimer_ All things not mentioned in DGM or copyright to me unless posted otherwise.
† Disclaimer_ I do not own DGM or any characters, plots, sayings, etc that are in DGM.
Questioning Coincidence
There were many things Chikita enjoyed doing in the old farm house. In fact, she'd fallen into a kind of routine, being a creature of habit as she was. In the morning, she'd wake up a little before her charge, Kira, and groom herself. Once her human had woken up, she'd slip down the stairs to where the Old Man would be eating his breakfast. After successfully nabbing a couple tidbits from his plate while he was reading the morning paper—which could actually be quite challenging since the Old Man had not lost his peripheral vision, nor speed—she'd escort Kira through her morning chores, chasing the few remaining chickens while she was at it.
If only the humans would let her catch one… but both the Old Man and Kira would get upset if she did, so she settled for chasing them instead. Kira would find it amusing—the Old Man, not always. Apparently, he didn't like scrawny, muscled chickens for dinner… which may explain why there were only three chickens left.
Anyway, once Kira had finished her chores, Chikita would slip away and scout the area. She was the guardian of the home after all, so she had to make sure no threats were attempting to come by. Usually she'd chase off a dog or two—fairly dumb creatures when they realized she wasn't one to run away—quite speedy too—but otherwise it was fairly peaceful.
It would probably be more amusing if she was the size she used to be—but that wasn't something to bother her now. Being small had its advantages, after all.
Once done with scouting and patrolling the land's borders, Chikita would speed back home just in time for lunch. Usually, if she was good and hadn't left "presents" in the house, Kira would give her a little treat, which could vary from a small piece of chicken to a butter roll.
Chikita had acquired a taste for butter rolls. Not even the little cat understood why. Perhaps it was because her charge's father had always given her butter roll bits?
After her treat, Chikita would once again groom herself. She'd probably take a nap as well.
A couple hours would pass, and then Chikita would be up and at 'em again.
The rest of the day would be spent lazing around.
However, one day, everything changed.
Her routine was interrupted.
The storm wasn't all that big a deal. It left everything dark, and Chikita enjoyed the shadows—the lack of light allowed her to blend in and play more affectively.
Which was exactly what she spent a lot of the day doing.
Even when Kira decided she'd watch the storm, Chikita had not given up her game. It was quite a bit of fun to test her charge's senses and reactions. Kira was getting really talented with her peripheral vision, as well as spotting her more quickly.
Of course, that didn't ruin Chikita's fun. In fact, she would just up the playing a little more, and pounce at Kira instead of nip playfully at her.
Kira enjoyed this immensely, which made Chikita happy.
The young human girl didn't have many other humans around her. Most humans stayed away from her.
Chikita always felt a bit… guilty in consideration that she knew the cause and… more…
But it was for her charge's safety. She could not break her promise to her former human…
Oh, it seemed as if Kira was thinking again. Chikita looked up, perking her ears curiously as she allowed her body to be stroked by the young girl.
"How old are you really, Chikita?"
If only I could tell you…
Chikita let out a loud begging purr, seeking more loving strokes.
Her charge need not worry about such a thing…
Hopefully, she wouldn't need to.
However, it seemed as if her lack of scouting for the day would nip her in the tail. For at that moment, a pulse of familiar Holy energy singed the edge of Chikita's senses. The little cat tensed in surprise, not having sensed such a feeling and power in a long, long time. However, she was knocked out of her confusion when Kira exclaimed something before suddenly jumping up and racing down the stairs.
The feeling that had hit the little cat earlier was fading, which meant the energy wasn't being used anymore. She could only guess that whoever had been using that power had succeeded in defeating whatever it had been fighting.
Why hadn't she noticed it until now?
Chikita, fur bristling in a sense of wariness and even a bit of excitement, jumped off of the window seat she and Kira had originally been occupying and slipped down the stairs.
What could this mean? Why were they here?
Yes, there were a couple Dark Matter enemies around, but Chikita had been sure she'd been able to keep the amount of them to a minimal number—not enough to attract their attention.
So why had they come?
The sound of the door slamming shook the house.
"Are you three insane? Only an idiot would be out in this kind of storm!"
Chikita jumped the last three steps at once and skidded to a halt to peak around the corner of the kitchen that looked to the dining room and entrance to the small farm house.
The smell of blood crashed into her scent glands. It made the little cat wrinkle her nose, even though she was plenty experienced with that particular scent.
Chikita's amber eyes narrowed as they locked onto the three strangers.
The distinct smell of traces of Dark Matter contaminated their clothing, giving away that they had indeed been fighting creatures of Dark Matter. Smoke, grass, and rain scents were prevalent as well. Otherwise, she could only distinguish—barely—the special scent of each individual human. However, other scents masked these three human's particular scents, so she couldn't gauge exactly what they were.
Even so… she could feel the soft disturbances in the air… two Holy powers.
One chained, the other contained.
Accommodators then?
She felt her fur bristle with a hint of nervousness.
The Holy power that was contained was strong. Very strong. This human had a synchronization with their Holy power beyond 100%.
Could it awaken her charge's?
That would be troublesome indeed…
"Sorry, Miss… but my companions and I are… injured and in need of immediate help…"
The human on the left was speaking hoarsely. Chikita eyed him, trying to identify his scent amongst the other distracting ones. However, she was only able to comprehend that he was the oldest of the three, and he wasn't one of the Accommodators.
A "Finder" perhaps? But he wasn't wearing the trademark cloak the Finder humans wore. Had they changed the uniform again?
"Grampy, grab the medical kit in the kitchen cupboard."
Chikita's ears perked. It seemed as if Kira was taking control of the situation.
The young girl turned to the human that had spoken earlier.
"What's the condition of these two?"
As the human listed off the two other human boys' conditions, Chikita kept an eye on the Old Man as he found the medical box thing. The scent coming off of him betrayed his wariness, though his facial expression remained passive.
How would he react to this unpredictable occurrence? This event of chance?
Or was it chance?
"What's your name?"
"Link, Howard Link—"
Chikita did not recognize that name… but from the way the human was now holding himself, she found herself deciding that he could not be a Finder human. He did not show immense, albeit annoying, respect for the two accommodators injured upon the floor.
"…it down on the bed up there—it's to the left—then come back down and get Lavi up there."
So Kira was bringing them to the attic, her room… well, it was more spacious up there. Chikita twitched her tail at the thought of sharing the room with more than just her charge. She wasn't too keen on sleeping in a crowded room.
"Grampy, could you get some sheets? I'm bringing these two to the attic. If you can't get up the stairs…"
"I'm not that old, Kira," the Old Man chuckled a bit dryly. "Don't worry about me, worry about these crazy youngsters."
I beg to differ, thought little Chikita, tilting her head slightly as she eyed the Old Man.
He was deep in thought—no doubt, trying to figure how to proceed with this situation.
Partially eyeing her charge as the young girl picked up the most injured boy to follow the others up to the attic, Chikita slipped away from her spot and trotted over to the Old Man who was getting out some old sheets. Still sensing the staticky feeling of unease coming from the old human, the little cat pushed her body against his leg reassuringly.
The Old Man paused and looked down at her before releasing a sigh.
"I was hoping for more time," he commented—perhaps mostly to himself, or maybe to Chikita herself, the little cat couldn't be sure.
However, Chikita replied with a soft meow in agreement anyway.
| † | † | † | † |
Chikita watched the proceedings occurring in her charge's room from where she crouched hidden in the shadows under the bed.
Medical supplies were scattered everywhere. If this had been a lighter atmosphere, Chikita would have wasted no time in messing around with a couple of them.
Especially the shiny ones.
But right now, the air was almost stifling with seriousness.
The Old Man had gone back downstairs. He was still troubled, but a bit calmer. Meanwhile, Kira and the human called Link were working on patching up the two Accommodators. Much to Chikita's irritation, Kira had ended up – by some twist of Fate—patching the Critical Point Accommodator.
It was as if someone was trying to make Chikita more and more stressed.
The last thing she wanted was her charge having her Holy power awakening. Chikita's job was to protect Kira. Getting her entangled into the Holy War would NOT be protecting Kira.
The little cat sniffed before plopping her head down on the floor, ignoring the little plume of dust that tickled her nose.
All her careful planning… all her cautious moves… everything to be one step ahead… all gone in a puff of smoke.
Her former human would be turning in his grave.
Well, perhaps, not yet… if she could just make sure her charge didn't get into too much trouble—
Chikita gave a low growl of irritation.
What was she thinking? Young Kira was ALWAYS getting into trouble—without actually realizing it to boot!
"How is he?"
Chikita idly perked her ears, swiveling them towards the source of her human's voice to have better clarity in sound.
"He'll live," replied the human called Link. "Besides the dislocated shoulder, all he had were a couple cuts and bruises… and Allen?"
Kira's hand shifted ever-so-slightly in a way that signaled she was feeling a bit uncomfortable. Chikita's eyes narrowed, easily distinguishing what exactly was making her have such an emotion.
But what about him made her uncomfortable?
Now that Chikita eyed the blonde human a bit more closely, she spotted two red dots upon his forehead.
She twitched her tail, her eyes narrowing even farther.
It couldn't be…
But it made sense.
It also explained the faded, funny rank that she had scented coming from his pockets earlier.
Chikita had never been fond of sorcery. Even in the form that the humans from Central used.
Wrapped in her musings, Chikita missed what Kira had replied with. However, she caught what Link said.
"Miss Kira… I think it is appropriate that I inform you that Allen is cursed."
Chikita lifted her head off of the floor, all attention upon the human boy being attended to by Kira.
"Cursed? You mean… his arm…" Kira spoke uncertainly—Chikita could see the young girl thinking from the way her eyes went slightly unfocused.
Link cleared his throat.
As weird as it may sound, Chikita had always had the urge to have a hairball at that strange human noise. She resisting the urge to do so right now—
"Ah, no. I believe you'll understand what I mean if you take a closer look at the boy's face."
Chikita resisted getting up to take a peek for herself as her charge leaned over to look, cleaning the human boy's face off to see whatever was there better.
"If you do not wish to further be close to him, it is quite understandable—"
Woops. Not a smart move.
Sure enough, Kira's reaction was fairly sharp. The girl had never handled discrimination very well. However, the discussion didn't take too sour a turn, for both seemed to apologize for their reactions.
Chikita, at this point, plopped her head back down. However, her attention was still solely focused on the human boy who contained Innocence.
A curse… how curious…
| † | † | † | † |
Night had befallen.
Chikita rose carefully from her spot on Kira's bed, stretching languidly for a moment to wake up her muscles. After smoothing her ruffled fur with a couple licks, she jumped quietly off of the bed and padded over to the two sleeping, injured Accommodators.
Time to investigate in the appropriate way.
First, she went over to the red-headed human whom she'd heard was named "Lavi". His breathing was fairly heavy, showing he was deep, deep asleep. Chikita leaned over and sniffed his cheek—he apparently felt it distantly, for he made a sound in the back of his throat.
Chikita backed off a little, mulling over what she'd found so far.
He was a young human, that was for sure. Probably around the young adult age. She could distinguish the distant scent of books amongst the antiseptic and medicine smell.
After a moment, the little cat began to search for the source of Lavi's Holy power. Sure enough, she found it, attached to his belt.
A small hammer.
Chikita touched her nose to the Holy chained substance.
It glowed briefly as it sensed her own power before fading as she furthered her distance from it.
Ōzuchi Kozuchi.
Interesting—it was a Japanese name. However, this young human did not look to be Japanese. Perhaps he was one of many languages?
The synchronization of the hammer was fairly strong… but also oddly distant. Almost as if this Holy power had yet to actually synchronize with the heart of the young human Lavi…
Once done examining the red-headed human, Chikita moved on to the other.
She was more cautious this time.
Even though he was unconscious from what his state of breathing told her, Chikita was still unsure whether or not her contact with his Holy substance may wake him. Considering his body was what contained the Holy substance, the reaction it may hold towards her could do near anything—including activating.
After a moment of hesitation, the little cat slinked over to his right—determining that his left arm was what held the Holy substance from what she'd gathered through conversation and sense. Carefully, she leaned over to look at the white-haired human boy.
A boy indeed.
Just by looking at him, Chikita could tell he was young—very young. Maybe only a year or two older than Kira.
The Holy War knew no age limits.
Chikita breathed in his scent… and a sense of confusion fell upon her. His scent… she couldn't even determine it. It was confusing and mixed… almost as if there was no scent at all. Was it because the Holy power's presence was muddling her senses?
Or maybe it was the curse mark?
Curiosity overcoming her earlier caution, the little cat walked around the young human boy and to his left side.
Being only a couple inches from his Holy substance caused a reaction, just as the little cat had suspected. However, it was a much more subtle reaction than what she planned for. First, a warm glow as it sensed her presence; then, a curious pulse of power.
Crown Clown.
Chikita refrained from affiliating too much with this powerful Holy substance. She wasn't sure how exactly it would react to her considering just how close it was to its Accommodator. However, she did touch her nose lightly to the young human boy's left arm—hoping to show that she didn't mean harm.
It seemed to work, for after a moment the warm glow faded to an extent so that only the embedded cross within the young human boy's hand held a dull glow.
Satisfied with the result, Chikita moved back to examining the young human boy himself, shifting her position to be next to his face.
Her amber eyes locked onto the ragged scar that cut into his face on the left side. The pentagram etched on top of the marking took her attention immediately.
Indeed, it was a curse mark.
However, something was different about it… and not just in the way that it was affecting her judgment of the white-haired boy's scent.
The design of it…
Chikita briskly licked a paw and brought it over her ear.
What was she thinking?
It just couldn't be. It made no sense.
However, even as she made her way back to her charge's bed, she couldn't help but flash a glance back at the youngest of the three strangers that had entered the Malcolm family's domain.
That name…
Could all of this really be just coincidence?
A / N : Okay, so this isn't the Deleted Scenes I mentioned in the lastest chapter of SONG OF THE FOURTEENTH- but this is something I've been thinking about for a while. Why not write things from Chikita's perspective? Has anyone ever heard or read the Warriors Series by Erin Hunter? Well, it's a series about cats, to be blunt, and I used to be OBSESSED with that series; so much, in fact, that I roleplayed with people and even made a fansite at one point. Writing from Chikita's perspective reminded me of how much fun I had roleplaying back then, and I must say I think I'm really going to enjoy this Join Fanfic- hopefully ya'll will enjoy it as well~ So, what did you think? Is it worth continuing? I can tell you, there are plenty of funny scenes with Lavi and Chikita that I haven't touched on- and I'll definately be mentioning them here, haha. So, Read and Review, please! Opinions? Suggestions? All are welcome~


text:
Mortgage Strategy reports that the recovery in the remortgage market has continued in September with the major high street banks reporting a 40 per cent year-on-year increase in approvals.
Banks approved 24,859 remortgage loans in September, a significant increase on the 17,705 loans approved 12 months earlier. This marks the sixth consecutive year-on-year increase among the major banking groups.
House purchase approvals increased 14 per cent year-on-year, from 39,048 to 44,489, while the number of approvals for other secured lending increased 40 per cent, from 5,721 to 8,025 over the same period.