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SoftHype 1.0
SoftHype is a software products submission tool. Submits to 298 sites. Daily updated site database. Auto-fill product details on submission forms. Auto-fill affiliate details for RegNow, ShareIt!, eSelleate, RegSoft, etc. One-click submission on some sites, very simple on most others. One-click search for your product on sites. Download your fully functional FREE Copy Now!!
See also: promosion, submition, submision, submittion, download, tracker, tracking, developer, advertising, shareware, PAD, promotion, web, submit, submission
Shareware Tracker 188.8.131.52
Sophisticated and feature-rich submission software for commercial, demo, freeware and shareware authors and publishers. Supports semi-automated submission to over 400 shareware download sites, software directories and search engines. Numerous submission tools enable the submitter to speed through submissions, increasing link popularity and visitor and download traffic in hours and days instead of weeks and months, tracking progress along the way.
See also: tracking, track, submit, solution, software submission, download, shareware tracker, promotion, submission, shareware, web sites, download sites, web
IOTracker Pro 2.0
IOTracker Pro is the premier in-out board with true client/server capabilities and unlimited users. Now, with just a click of the mouse, you will know where your employees and/or co-workers are at any given time. You will know when they are available to attend a meeting or just out to lunch. This easy-to-use software also allows users to log in from anywhere in the world. Tracking your employees has never been easier.
See also: iotracker, io tracker, io tracker pro, io-tracker, io-tracker pro, chronsoft, in out board, electronic in out board, in-out board, in/out board, out, in out, in-out, in/out, inout, in and out board, in and out, in or out software, out board, in board, electric board, magnet board, employee management, computer inventory, hardware inventorymagnetic board, electronic board, status board, office status, employee status, employee status board, pegboard, employee pegboard, wallchart, chat, chat softwarewall board, message board, message program, phone message, check-in, check-out, check in, check out, office productivity tools, collaboration, teamworktelephone message pad, telephone, telephone software, caller, phone, receptionist, message, scheduler, task, user management, resources, meeting, scheduling, microsoft, office, download, productivity, where, soft, fax, company, email, web, management, mail, workgroup, computing, networking, networks, order, about, government
Ultimate Ad Tracker w/Resell Rights 2.1
Ultimate Ad Tracker 2.1 With the Ultimate Ad Tracker package you will be able to run your own professional tracking system designed to give you precise statistics on your links! Track your ads, downloads, affiliate links and more! Software complete with FULL MASTER RESELL RIGHTS.
See also: Ultimate Ad Tracker, marketing tool, software master resell rights, free web master tool, reprint resell right, resell right, master resell right, resell right package, information product resell right, ebook resell right
Website Monitoring Software 188.8.131.52
Website monitoring software monitors uptime - downtime performance of web pages and tracks web host, IP address, remote hosting server and network availability. When your website is down, responds very slow or becomes unavailable due to various reasons like Low Bandwidth, Connection Failed, Host not Found, Low Connectivity Network Status etc, websites tracking utility notifies you instantly via email, beeps a sound or runs a specific program.
See also: website, monitoring, monitor, uptime, downtime, web, site, page, availability, performance, real time, tracking, notification, service, check, remote, server, host, traffic, tracker, alert, network, down, checker, address
Website Stats Counter 4.1
Free invisible website counter and stats. Track multiple websites and web pages from one location. Monitor pageloads, hits, returning visitors, unique visitors, referring websites, referring search engines, operating systems all from our graphical interface. Analyze your visitors hit paths and what parts of your website they like most and least.
See also: website stats counter, hit counter, hits, counter, stats, web stats, tracker, statistics, analytics, analytic, web tracker
Website Downtime Monitoring Tool 188.8.131.52
Website monitoring tool continuously checks the uptime and downtime status of your websites of any HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, POP3 or SMTP servers placed at any remote location. Software keep records, when your sites goes down due to any reason like low bandwidth server or host not found, not responding then it alert you via email, beep alarm or run a specific program. Utility monitors uplink, downlink or ping status of your business or personal sites.
See also: website, monitoring, monitor, real, time, uptime, downtime, traffic, performance, server, tracker, check, uplink, downlink, remote, network, host, address, alert, web, site, tracking, page, checker, service, availability
Website Downtime Watching Software 22.214.171.124
Website monitoring tool can increase the performance of your business or personal website by informing you about uptime and downtime status of your site placed on a remote server. Software continuously watches availability, ping status of all your WebPages and notifies you through email, beep alarm or runs a specific program. This real time tracking utility tracks all host servers, internet protocols (POP3, HTTP, SMTP, FTP and HTTPS) etc.
See also: Website, uptime, downtime, monitoring, monitor, host, traffic, network, server, performance, tracker, check, remote, address, track, site, web, tracking, checker, notification, real time, page, availability, service
Trouble Ticket Tracker 2.0
Trouble Ticket Tracker is an enterprise software system that tracks and manages support issues. A Web-based help desk solution for e-business support management
See also: web based help desk, help desk software, trouble ticket tracker, issue ticket tracker, trouble ticket sofware
Website Uptime Checker 22.214.171.124
Site uptime tracker tool is an advanced website monitoring utility to check website online performance status including uptime, downtime, ping status and response time and immediately responds user by notification alert mails when website loads improperly, responds excessively slow or inaccessible to visitor. Website uptime checker offers functional support to all internet services such as HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, FTP, POP and other internet protocol.
See also: Website, real time, performance, tracker, online, web, status, checker, uptime, downtime, ping, analyzer, internet, server, Microsoft, Vista, network, monitor, protocol, service, availability, finder, application
The Docket System 2.0
Docket System is a Web-based software that tracks productivity across employees, projects, and activities to help companies improve efficiency by tracking and managing deadlines
See also: the docket system, web based time tracking, time tracking software, time tracking system, project tracker
Web API Sample Code 3.1
The new-fangled version of Resume Parser 3.1 web API will be godsend for job portals and who are looking forward to add resume parsing functionality to their portals. The ready to serve version can be installed to the server which will further return the XML in HRXML format after parsing and analyzing the resumes.web API is a web based resume parser,Online Recruiting Software is accessible in two models, Rchilli SAAS and Rchilli Web API.
See also: web based resume parser, web based recruiting software, applicant tracking systems, Recruiting Software, Resume Management Software, resume tracker application, hr tracking software, resume database software, staffing recruitment software, agency recruitment software, job resume software, information extraction software
Web Traffic Stats Script 1.1
Run your own traffic stats service website with ease. This full featured Web Traffic Stats Script is very easy to install and to use. It is a hand coded script, designed under the newest security aspects and PHP 6 ready. In the admin panel you can make many settings. Online demo is available. Use this PHP script also for your web sites.
See also: web, traffic, stats, script, php, statistic, service, analysis, tracker, tracking, site, visitor, live
KDT Web History Tracker 1.1.0
KDT Web History Tracker enables the user to track and log internet activity via a professional password-protected interface. The application includes the ability to run discreetly and automatically upon Windows start-up. The software comes complete with a simple and effective way of delivering log file information; including date and time of website and URLs visited, in addition to offering the ability to view visited websites.
See also: monitor, track, website, web, history, tracker, internet, surveillance, spy, websites
Web Tracker Script 1
The�Web Tracker Script�offers you a highly configurable web tracker and detailed real-time web stat script. You will be able to analyze and monitor all visitors of your website.Our script is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
See also: track visitors, Analytics Solution, Visitor reporting, webcounter, web-counter, page count, hit count, free counter, web counter, access count, web site statistics, web tracker, counter
Alchemy Network Inventory 6.2
Network Administrators use this tool to inventory computers in the corporate networks for the software and hardware configuration, generate software licenses reports, etc. The program does not require the client module to be installed on each individual workstation, but can be configured to inventory all network computers by only copying the files to a single shared folder on a file server.
See also: asset management, software license compliance, help desk software, help desk, network management, cost of ownership, data mining, inventory tracker, hardware inventory, software inventory, network information, software distribution, asset tracking
TimeCEO 2.3
TimeCEO is an automated time-tracking program for those who want to take control over time spent on the PC. TimeCEO offers the most comprehensive info about selected applications usage, in numeric and graphic formats. It helps to detect your working time consumption, time leaks and working time efficiency as well. This software is especially useful for freelancers, for hourly employers and those who care about time management.
See also: personal time tracking, time tracking system, working time, actual working time, time tracking software, working timesheet, working time tracking, time tracking, work time tracker, time management, time reporting software
Hit Inspector 4.1
You won't find web site analytical software like Hit Inspector, we have built in all the tools you need. Our detailed reports are built automatically, so you can figure out exactly where your visitors are coming from. Hit Inspector installs on your local desktop and gives you instant access to auto generated downloadable Inspector log files. Automatic graphs and html reports give you the interface you need to make the right decisions.
See also: website analyzer, analyzer, targeted visitors, unique visitors, website visitors, unique stats, traffic statistics, ROI tracker, visitor tracker
Network Monitoring Software 5.2.6
Network Monitoring Software used by thousands of Information System specialists, system administrators, and IT solution providers around the world performs constant monitoring of many aspects of your network infrastructure and provides notification alerts when it detect failure, threshold exceeded, or other defined problem, and reduce down time of your network. Network administration tool continuously monitor your network performance.
See also: monitoring, monitor, downtime, uptime, performance, notification, real time, traffic, tracking, service, check, down, remote, host, server, tracker, alert, network, address, checker
My CalStep 1.0
Step and Calorie tracking software that will encourage you to eat less and exercise more by keeping you aware of your calorie intake as well as tracking your steps. Enter in each food and calorie value and My CalStep does the calorie tracking for you, showing you your day's progress. Progress bars show you where you're succeeding and when you need to pick up the pace, or put down the cookie. You'll enjoy the feeling of reaching your daily goals!
See also: calorie, diet, weight, step, pedometer, health, nutrition, calorie tracker, calorie tracking, calorie counter


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Saw this movie last night and really enjoyed it.
I know it's release has been widely anticipated on this board, so what did you all think???
I have never read the novels, but after seeing this, I would really like to.
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Saw this movie last night and really enjoyed it.
I know it's release has been widely anticipated on this board, so what did you all think???
I have never read the novels, but after seeing this, I would really like to.
Spare a thought for me here in the UK who has to wait til 3rd June to see SC at the theatre.
Jees, no wonder online piracy is so rife... ;)
Glad to hear you liked it - it looks awesome.
I'm dying to see it. I think I'll run out this afternoon and see it. I'll let you know the verdict!
I'm seriously considering going to see it again soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hector
:) I probably will too :)
"It's time to prove to your friends that you're worth a damn.."- Dwight (Clive Owens)
This may in fact be new all time favorite movie line. This is movie is ubber violent but does a fantastic job covering the gore with artistic color and lighting, much like the comic book. This is certainly superior to Kill Bill and may to date be the best Robert Rodriguez film ever, or pretty damn close to Desperado. My little Alexis is all grown up in this movie.
Superior to Kill Bill (Vol. 1)? *eyes widen* REALLY? Okay... guess what I'm doing tomorrow night! :D
Saw it, Loved it! It rocks, it rules, it's amazing! What more can I say?
"That's a nice coat you're wearing" - Marv.
So/so feeling on the film as a whole, but some parts I really enjoyed. Violence is NOT my thing, so it was hard to watch - even if it is unrealistic at times. Benecio Del Torro/Clive Owen driving pez scene was probably my favorite.
LOVED IT beyond loving it. I'll for sure see it several more times in the theater.
I had to literally clamp my hand over my mouth so as not to explain things to my husband or exclaim my delight for certain scenes. But I exclaimed and squealed and laughed and nodded.....I nodded and nodded. It was all done sooooo right on. I just grinned and nodded. And exchanged knowing grins with almost everyone around me.....there was a lot of chatter and pointing during the movie. Portland is a comic-reading city and from what I heard after the movie, a lot of the audience knew the stories and loved the movie.
I really loved Elijah Wood as Kevin. OMG. Chills aplenty. Those white glasses. I wanted to high five myself when I saw those white glasses.
It took my husband a while to get that Nancy was Nancy....same character throughout. And that That Yellow ******* was kid from the beginning of the movie....I can see how someone who doesn't know the stories could be going, "what?" It was good for me to see it with him.
I thought the violence was do-able for me.....and I totally agree that this movie was cooler than Kill Bill. I thought Kill Bill was the perfect movie for me, but this one kicked its ***. For me.
Clive Owen as Dwight.....sexy mf-er. Damn but he's hot. Oh, to be his ho. :devil:
:D You will have to share him with me ;) HOTTIE!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by stinkerbell
will I get this without having read the books?
I haven't read them and I enjoyed the movei- didn't feel left out or like I was missing anything. On Saturday, I did a search for some of the art from the novels and the movie is an amazingly good translation of these graphic novels to the screen- it is a very faithful reproduction. I think you will like it Neph- treat yourself for your birthday :)
The presentation if this film - The storytelling, the cinematography, the voiceovers - is nothing short of beautiful. The movie is graphic at time, and it's an odd balance between the fantastically stylish presentation and the grim, gritty stories. Jessica Alba is, of course, beautiful (the small smirk on her face when Hartigan is beating on Yellow ******* at the end of the film is both incredibly sexy and somewhat creepy at the same time), but I found her upstaged by Devon Aoki's Miho. I can't praise the acting in this movie enough. I don't care much for Mickey Rourke, but he was Marv. He was fantastic. Clive Owen had Dwight down, and I really hate Benicio Del Toro, and so his casting was perfect...
This is a true example of what can be done when the creator is involved with the film on a daily basis, and refuses to compromise his vision (paying attention, McFarlane?).
I am very surprised by the amount of women who like this movie. I rather thought they'd be put off by it. But the showing I attended was about 33% women. A pleasant surprise! I'm glad, and hope it stays that way...
And don't worry, Nephythys, you won't be lost if you haven't read the books. There are some little goodies in there for fans, but they don't detract from the storytelling. You'll follow it just fine.
I am under the impression that is is Film Noir style. Is this true? Cause Im always u for a good film noir....

subset: commoncrawl


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Can kiss my grits like Flo, on "Mel's Diner"
from Ice Cube – The Predator Lyrics on Genius
"Kiss My Grits" was the catch phrase generally uttered by Flo, a waitress at Mel's Diner, on the classic TV sitcom "Alice".
In this case it's directed to District Attorney Ira Reiner who failed to successfully prosecute the four LAPD officers accused of beating Rodney King.
To help improve the quality of the lyrics, visit "The Predator" by Ice Cube Lyrics and leave a suggestion at the bottom of the page


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Publications (51)42.36 Total impact
Conference Paper: Nested bounds for the constrained sensor placement problem
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ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper is to find numerical upper bounds on the optimal solution to the sensor placement problem. Given noisy measurements and knowledge of the state correlation matrix, the sensor placement problem can be formulated as an integer programming problem using a linear minimum mean squared error estimator. Since finding the optimal placements of a fixed number of sensors in a large network is computationally infeasible, finding bounds for the optimal solution is a fundamental task. In this paper we present a family of nested bounds using matrix pencils and their generalized eigenvalues that upper bound the optimal performance. In the analysis we consider nodes that we want to place sensors and other nodes where we cannot or do not want to place sensors. Finally we compare the upper bounds with the optimal solution using simulations on a 5 by 5 grid network.Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP), 2013 IEEE International Conference on; 01/2013 -
Conference Paper: Adaptive kernel principal components tracking
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ABSTRACT: Adaptive online algorithms for simultaneously extracting nonlinear eigenvectors of kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) are developed. KPCA needs all the observed samples to represent basis functions, and the same scale of eigenvalue problem as the number of samples should be solved. This paper reformulates KPCA and deduces an expression in the Euclidean space, where an algorithm for tracking generalized eigenvectors is applicable. The developed algorithm here is least mean squares (LMS)-type and recursive least squares (RLS)-type. Numerical example is then illustrated to support the analysis.Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP), 2012 IEEE International Conference on; 01/2012 -
Conference Paper: A novel augmented complex valued kernel LMS
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ABSTRACT: A novel class of complex valued kernel least mean square (CKLMS) algorithms is introduced with the aim to provide physical meaning to the mapping between the primal and dual space termed the independent CKLMS (iCKLMS). The general class of CKLMS algorithms is also extended in the widely linear sense to develop online kernel algorithms suitable for the processing of general complex valued signals, both circular and noncircular. The so-introduced augmented complex kernel least mean square (ACKLMS) algorithms are verified on adaptive prediction of nonlinear and nonstationary complex wind signals.Sensor Array and Multichannel Signal Processing Workshop (SAM), 2012 IEEE 7th; 01/2012 - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This paper considers the placement of m sensors at n > m possible locations. Given noisy observations, knowledge of the state correlation matrix, and a mean square error criterion, the problem can be formulated as an integer programming problem. The solution for large m and n is infeasible, requiring us to look at approximate algorithms. Using properties of matrices, we come up with lower and upper bounds for the optimal solution performance. We also formulate a greedy algorithm and a dynamic programming algorithm that runs in polynomial time of m and n. Finally, we show through simulations that the greedy and dynamic programming algorithms very closely approximate the optimal solution. The sensor placement problem has many energy applications where we are often confronted with limited resources. Some examples include where to place environmental sensors for an area where there are large amounts of distributed solar PV and where to place grid monitors on an electrical distribution microgrid.Smart Grid Communications (SmartGridComm), 2012 IEEE Third International Conference on; 01/2012 -
Conference Paper: Real-time state estimation on micro-grids
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ABSTRACT: This paper presents a new probabilistic approach of the real-time state estimation on the micro-grid. The grid is modeled as a factor graph which can characterize the linear correlations among the state variables. The factor functions are defined for both the circuit elements and the renewable energy generation. With the stochastic model, the linear state estimator conducts the Belief Propagation algorithm on the factor graph utilizing real-time measurements from the smart metering devices. The result of the statistical inference presents the optimal estimates of the system state. The new algorithm can work with sparse measurements by delivering the optimal statistical estimates rather than the solutions. In addition, the proposed graphical model can integrate new models for solar/wind correlation that will help with the integration study of renewable energy. Our state-of-art approach provides a robust foundation for the smart grid design and renewable integration applications.Neural Networks (IJCNN), The 2011 International Joint Conference on; 09/2011 - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The most popular method used in traditional power system state estimation is the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE). It assumes the state of the system is a set of deterministic variables and determines the most likely state via error included interval measurements. In the distribution system, the measurements are often too sparse to fulfill the system observability. Instead of introducing pseudo-measurements, we propose a Belief Propagation (BP) based distribution system state estimator. This new approach assumes that the system state is a set of stochastic variables. With a set of prior distributions, it calculates the posterior distributions of the state variables via real-time sparse measurements from both traditional measurements and the high resolution smart metering data. In this paper we discuss the step-by-step method of applying the BP algorithm on the distribution system state estimation problem. Our approach provides a seamless connection from the monitoring of transmission system to the feeder circuit, thus filling in the gap between the traditional energy management system (EMS) and the micro-grid customer level optimization. Furthermore, the proposed state estimator can not only be applied to the multi-level electrical coupled grid, but also accommodate the spatial-temporal model for the correlated distributed renewable energy resources. It provides a way of integrating the distributed renew able energy management system into the Smart-Grid Distribution Management System (DMS) and automated substations.IEEE Computational Intelligence Magazine 09/2011; · 4.63 Impact Factor -
Conference Paper: Micro-scale smart grid optimization
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ABSTRACT: The adoption of smart grid technologies will allow for more distributed generation of energy and for residential and commercial users of electricity to make intelligent decisions about energy usage. In previous research by Livengood and Larsen, a stochastic dynamic programming problem is formulated for a micro-scale smart grid system. A mathematical model of energy usage is developed where the goal is to optimize a finite horizon cost function reflecting both the cost of electricity and comfort/lifestyle. This paper extends this work by assuming key models and forecasts are unknown and implicitly learned via the softmax algorithm with neighborhood updating. The algorithm implements approximate dynamic programming with a goal of reducing dependancies on models and forecasting while achieving good performance. Simulations are conducted using the softmax algorithm showing that the solution approaches the optimal dynamic programming algorithm solution.Neural Networks (IJCNN), The 2010 International Joint Conference on; 08/2010 -
Conference Paper: Optimisation of real functions of complex matrices for the adaptive estimation of complex sources
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ABSTRACT: The second order Taylor series expansion (TSE) of scalar functions of complex matrices is explored in order to provide a new tool for gradient-based optimisation in the complex domain. The expansion is provided both in the augmented real and complex matrix spaces, as well as the multidimensional complex domain. The duality (isomorphism) between the augmented spaces is established and consequently the relation of the first- and second-order terms (gradient and Hessian) of the TSE in these spaces are introduced. Finally, a study of the trade-off between performance and computational complexity of algorithms for the estimation of complex sources in the two augmented spaces is performed.Green Circuits and Systems (ICGCS), 2010 International Conference on; 07/2010 - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In this paper we discuss a new set of nonlinear adaptive filters based on kernel methods and compare them to the least mean square (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) adaptive filters. In recent years a new class of nonlinear kernel adaptive filters have been developed that tradeoff performance for complexity including the Kernel LMS (KLMS) and Kernel RLS (KRLS) algorithms. Earlier work discussed a complex augmented implementation of the kernel algorithms. This paper continues this discussion and compares the performance and complexity of the algorithms for wind time series prediction.01/2010; - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Smart grid envisions the potential to manage diverse energy resources and enable a future self-dispatch and self-healing grid. This would first require the micro-grid visibility of node behavior (i.e. electrical parameters). In this paper we propose a novel approach to construct a stochastic model that makes global inference on every node at the micro-grid level. The micro-grid system can be modeled as a factor graph addressing proper correlation functions including distributed re-newable generation correlation. We conduct statistical inference on the factor graph using Belief Propagation (BP) algorithm. The purpose is that given incomplete measurements, marginal probability distribution for unmetered node behavior can be derived. Simulation of the BP algorithm is performed on a simplified micro-grid model with linear local correlations. The results demonstrate that loopy BP can converge to optimal state estimates efficiently.01/2010; -
Conference Paper: Applications of complex augmented kernels to wind profile prediction
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ABSTRACT: This paper combines complex signal processing with kernel methods for applications in wind prediction. Specifically, we consider developing least squares kernel algorithms for both complex data and augmented complex data. The augmented complex kernel algorithms have advantages over complex kernel algorithms in both the areas of performance and complexity. Use of kernels also allow implementation of nonlinear algorithms by working in the dual space. We apply our algorithm to wind series time prediction and show that our augmented complex algorithms outperform other complex least square algorithms.Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, 2009. ICASSP 2009. IEEE International Conference on; 05/2009 - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: APSIPA ASC 2009: Asia-Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association, 2009 Annual Summit and Conference. 4-7 October 2009. Sapporo, Japan. Oral session: Signal Processing Theory and Methods II (7 October 2009). This paper discusses some recent advances in the development of nonlinear adaptive filtering. Specifically, it studies online kernel adaptive filters. We study the performance and complexity of a suite of kernel online algorithms from kernel recursive least square subspace (KRLSS) algorithms to kernel least mean square (KLMS) algorithms. A key to the kernel algorithms is that updating is done in the dual space via evaluation of kernels, the number of support vectors is controlled by using an information criterion, and the number of information vectors is controlled for KRLSS These algorithms have advantages in that they are nonlinear filters that are relatively easy to implement and have a number of parameters that can be adjusted to tradeoff performance for complexity.01/2009; - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: a b s t r a c t This paper presents a novel approach for the simultaneous modelling and forecasting of wind whereby the wind field is considered as a vector of its speed and direction components in the field of complex numbers C. To account for the intermittency and coupling of wind speed and direction, we propose to use the recently introduced framework of augmented complex statistics. The augmented complex least mean square (ACLMS) algorithm is introduced and its usefulness in wind forecasting is analysed. Simulations over different wind regimes support the approach.Renewable Energy. 08/2008; 34(1). - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In this paper we apply distributed kernel regression methods to perform sensor network localization. This follows up on earlier work where a centralized kernel regression algorithm was considered to perform localization. Here we examine the tradeoffs between using distributed algorithms versus centralized algorithms in terms of communication costs, computational costs, and performance of the estimate. Simulation results demonstrate that distributed methods work well with comparable performance to centralized algorithms with less communication costsAcoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, 2007. ICASSP 2007. IEEE International Conference on; 05/2007 - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In this letter, we comment on "Pruning Error Minimization in Least Squares Support Vector Machines" by B. J. de Kruif and T. J. A. de Vries. The original paper proposes a way of pruning training examples for least squares support vector machines (LS SVM) using no regularization (-gamma = infinity). This causes a problem as the derivation involves inverting a matrix that is often singular. We discuss a modification of this algorithm that prunes with regularization (gamma finite and nonzero) and is also computationally more efficient.IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks 04/2007; 18(2):606-9. · 2.95 Impact Factor - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In this paper we study an evolving email network model first introduced by Wang and De Wilde, to the best of our knowledge. The model is analyzed by formulating the network topology as a random process and studying the dynamics of the process. Our analytical results show a number of steady state properties about the email traffic between different nodes and the aggregate networking behavior (i.e., degree distribution, clustering coefficient, average path length, and phase transition), and also confirm the empirical results obtained by Wang and De Wilde. We also conducted simulations confirming the analytical results. Extensive simulations were run to evaluate email traffic behavior at the link and network levels, phase transition phenomena, and also studying the behavior of email traffic in a hierarchical network. The methods established here are also applicable to many other practical networks including sensor networks and social networks.Physical Review E 11/2006; 74(4 Pt 2):046109. · 2.31 Impact Factor - [Show abstract] [Hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This paper considers the sensor network localization problem using signal strength. Unlike range-based methods signal strength information is stored in a kernel matrix. Least squares regression methods are then used to get an estimate of the location of unknown sensors. Locations are represented as complex numbers with the estimate function consisting of a linear weighted sum of kernel entries. The regression estimates have similar performance to previous localization methods using kernel classification methods, but at reduced complexity. Simulations are conducted to test the performance of the least squares kernel regression algorithm. Finally, the paper discusses on-line implementations of the algorithm, methods to improve the performance of the regression algorithm, and using kernels to extract other information from distributed sensor networks.10/2006: pages 1280-1287; -
Conference Paper: Towards Qualitative Assessment of Machine Learning Algorithms: Utilising Signal Modality Characterisation
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ABSTRACT: A novel method for the assessment of the qualitative performance of machine learning algorithms is proposed. This is achieved by a modification of the recently proposed "delay vector variance" (DVV) method for the signal modality characterisation. Based on the local predictability in phase space we propose to employ the scatter diagram of DVV features in order to gauge the changes in signal nature after being processed by machine learning algorithms. A set of comprehensive simulations on representative data sets supports the analysis.Machine Learning for Signal Processing, 2006. Proceedings of the 2006 16th IEEE Signal Processing Society Workshop on; 10/2006 -
Conference Paper: Dynamic Ad Hoc Network Localization Using Online Least Squares Kernel Subspace Methods
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ABSTRACT: In this paper we apply complex least squares kernel subspace methods to the problem of ad hoc network localization. We use Gaussian kernels and a neighborhood kernel to estimate the locations of mobile nodes. Our algorithms do not require preprocessing of raw data like other statistical methods. Furthermore they use one-step regression directly, instead of existing two-stage classification methods, and work on a fairly small subset of training data. These salient features allow our algorithms to successfully solve the dynamic localization problem with low communication and computational costs. Simulation of ad hoc networks with random node movement demonstrates the success of the algorithms. The methods and algorithms can also be applied in other applications like target tracking and sensor data representationInformation Theory, 2006 IEEE International Symposium on; 08/2006 -
Conference Paper: Sequential Detection Using Least Squares Temporal Difference Methods
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ABSTRACT: This paper considers sequential detection problems where we learn from sets of training sequences. The sufficient statistics can be learned quickly using a least squares temporal difference (TD) learning algorithm. This algorithm converges much quicker than previously applied TD learning algorithms. The algorithm can easily be implemented in an on-line manner and can also be applied to more complicated decentralized detection problemsAcoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, 2006. ICASSP 2006 Proceedings. 2006 IEEE International Conference on; 06/2006
Publication Stats
179 | Citations | |
42.36 | Total Impact Points | |
Top Journals
Imperial College London
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
London, ENG, United Kingdom
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- Department of Electrical Engineering
Honolulu, HI, United States
Honolulu University
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Dalian University of Technology
Lü-ta-shih, Liaoning, China
Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, United States


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- State of the Union Tax Proposal Would Hurt Middle Class | RedState
January 23, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
During his seventh State of the Union Address, President Obama outlined his vision for an economic plan he claims will help the middle class. And for the seventh year in a row, President Obama has advocated for tax increases that will likely end up hurting those that he claims to help.
Related: Tax and Fiscal Policy - Minimum wage increase is wrong way to ring in New Year | The State Journal
January 22, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
These have been a difficult few years for the West Virginia economy. The coal industry is under attack by the Environmental Protection Agency and West Virginia jobs have borne the brunt of the affront. As coal-producing states fight the heavy hand of the federal government to keep their mines open and employees working, some state lawmakers are making matters worse by increasing the cost of some of the remaining jobs.
Related: Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development - Minimum wage hike has an adverse effect on jobs for young workers | Baltimore Business Journal
January 21, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
Gov.-elect Larry Hogan and Maryland's political leadership face no simple tasks in the months ahead. Along with a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, they will be forced to confront the fallout of big-government policies enacted by previous administrations. One such policy is the new $8.00 per hour minimum wage that went into effect Jan. 1. Maryland's minimum wage will again increase another 25 cents in July and, through a series of hikes, will reach $10.10 by July 1, 2018.
Related: Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development - A Free Market State Legislative Agenda for 2015 | RedState
January 20, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
President Obama will lay out his plan for the nation during the State of the Union tonight, but state legislatures convening across the country in January should not wait for him to act. Legislators are already meeting to discuss fresh ideas and create plans of action to address the many issues facing their states. A 2015 legislative agenda for the states should break out of existing policy and address problems with new solutions. State legislatures have the power to set innovative and bold agendas, and legislators should prioritize policies that put the American people and their livelihoods first.
- Year of the Tax Cut | The Wall Street Journal
January 20, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
In tonight's State of the Union address, President Obama will call for higher taxes on death and investment. But there's little he can do to stop a national trend toward lower tax rates. The Republican Congress is unlikely to act on his proposals, while state lawmakers of both parties are busy reducing the burden on taxpayers nationwide. Jonathan Williams of the American Legislative Exchange Council notes that 14 states enacted significant tax reform in 2014 and he tells us that "it is quite likely we will see 20-25 states…
Related: Tax and Fiscal Policy - Minimum Wage Increase Prices Job Seekers Out of the Labor Market | VTDigger.org
January 18, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
On Jan. 1, the state minimum wage in Vermont increased by 42 cents to $9.15 per hour. Between now and 2018, the state mandated wage floor will increase another three times until it eventually reaches $10.50 per hour. Despite the argument that a higher minimum wage is necessary to help the least fortunate, minimum wage hikes — especially to levels as high as Vermont's future $10.50 per hour — actually threaten inexperienced, young and undereducated workers by removing current job opportunities and jeopardizing future earning potential.
Related: Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development - New York's Minimum Wage Increase: The Wrong Way to Ring in the New Year | RedState
January 5, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
Last night, as shivering tourists gathered in Times Square to watch the New Year's Eve Ball drop, something much more impactful rose across the entire state of New York. Rising from $8.00 per hour to $8.75 per hour on December 31, New York's minimum wage became the fourth-highest state minimum wage in the nation. Yet advocates continue to call for a higher minimum wage, some even as high as $15 per hour.
Related: Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development - A dozen states ring in new year with lower taxes | The Washington Times
January 4, 2015 | News Coverage, Press Releases
Taxpayers in a dozen states rang in the new year with more enthusiasm than usual. Thanks to the work of the wise in the state houses, residents of Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Wisconsin will get lower tax bills in 2015. There's a message here for the new Congress.
Related: Tax and Fiscal Policy - Top 5 Wins And Losses For Taxpayers In 2014 | The Daily Caller
December 31, 2014 | News Coverage, Press Releases
This was a year of ups and downs in world events — the Winter Olympics, the World Cup, and Ebola. The same was true for tax and fiscal policy in the states. Like 2013, there were many pro-taxpayer victories, but also losses and causes for concern these past 12 months. Without further adieu, here are the top 5 best and worst moments for taxpayers in 2014.
Related: Tax and Fiscal Policy - Look for tax-cutting wave to continue across the country | The Oklahoman
December 29, 2014 | News Coverage, Press Releases
EIGHTEEN states cut taxes in 2013. Fourteen states, including Oklahoma, did so this year. Thus, 32 states have done in the past two years what the federal government seems incapable of doing — restructuring a tax system. Tax-cutting is clearly a bipartisan priority at the state level. This isn't a red state phenomenon. Can you guess which state won the 2014 Outstanding Achievement in State Tax Reform award from the Tax Foundation? It was New York, long considered a bastion of high taxes.
Related: Tax and Fiscal Policy


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May 20, 2009
Down Syndrome Network is an amazing organization. The board members in this organization are incredibly well-informed and fantastic networkers. This group provides social events, educational events, national news, local news, as well as medical talks and information. This group supports DS research. The connecting of so many people with so much info. makes it a progressive group.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Spreading the news about best practices for working with students with Down syndrome.
More feedback
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
I have made some incredible friendships.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
increase the educational functions so more people would know how to work with students with Down syndrome.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
Board Member & Director of Education, Past President, and General board member.


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Lentran Courtyard Cottages 4
from £75 /night help
Cottage | 3 bedrooms | sleeps 5
Key Info |
The Cottages, situated round a small courtyard at Lentran Farm have been refurbished to a very high standard providing quality accommodation in a beautiful, quiet rural setting.
Views from the cottages are across the surrounding farmland to the Beauly Firth and Ben Wyvis.
Only 5 miles from Inverness, the cottages are a perfect base for touring the Highlands.
Cottages 1 & 2 sleep 4.
1 King Size Bed,
1 Twin Bed
Bathroom with bath & separate shower, heated towel rail, basin & WC
Cottages 3 & 4 sleep 5
1 King Size Bed
1 Twin Bed
1 Single Bed
Bathroom with bath, separate shower, heated towel rail, basin & WC.
Additional shower room with shower, heated towel rail, basin & WC.
All cottages have:
WiFi Installed.
Very spacious lounge/kitchen area with dining table.
Television with Freeview, DVD & CD player.
Fully equipped kitchen with hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge & freezer.
Conservatory with cane suite.
Utility room with washing machine and tumble drier.
Double glazing.
Oil fired central heating.
Bedlinen, towels, heating & electricity all inclusive.
Barbecue & Garden Furniture.
Cot and high chair available on request.
Sorry, no dogs.
No smoking in the property.
Size | Sleeps up to 5, 3 bedrooms |
Will consider | Short breaks (1-4 days) |
Access | Car essential, Wheelchair users |
Nearest Amenities | 8 km |
Nearest travel links | Nearest airport: Inverness 20 km, Nearest railway: Inverness 10 km |
Family friendly | Great for children of all ages, Suitable for people with restricted mobility |
Notes | No pets allowed, No smoking at this property |
Features and Facilities
Luxuries | DVD player, Sea view |
General | Central heating, TV, CD player, Wi-Fi available |
Standard | Kettle, Toaster, Iron, Hair dryer |
Utilities | Clothes dryer, Dishwasher, Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Washing machine |
Rooms | 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms of which 1 Family bathrooms and 1 Shower rooms |
Furniture | Single beds (3), Cots (1), Dining seats for 5, Lounge seats for 5 |
Other | Linen provided, Towels provided, High chair |
Outdoors | BBQ |
Access | Parking, Wheelchair users |
The Scottish Highlands region
Availability Your dates are available
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Write a review21 Oct 2014
"Fantastic mini break with our family - will recommend to others"
Spacious, cosy and spotlessly clean. The setting was lovely and quiet yet within easy reach of Inverness and local walking routes e.g. Glen Affric. The cottages would also make for perfect larger gath… More
7 Sep 2014
"Great location and lovely, well equipped and comfortable cottage."
The cottage is in a great location, quiet but close enough to Inverness. The cottage (4) was very well equipped, clean and comfortable. Doug and Sheena have thought of everything and are warm and fri… More
28 Aug 2014
"Lovely quiet spot"
Well equipped cottage and plenty of room for 2 couples. Everything we needed was there and in good working condition. Doug and Sheena came to ensure we were comfortable and had a welcome pack in t… More
11 Aug 2014
"Well-placed, well-equipped holiday home."
Though no view to the Firth from this property, farmland views were enhanced by nightly fly past of barn owls. Rural setting with all home comforts and very friendly and helpful owners. However, quite… More
8 Sep 2013
"Highly recommended"
At the end of August I spent a week in one of these cottages, together with my husband and a couple of friends. We chosen a cottages with 2 bathrooms. We were very impressed with the accommodation whi… More
16 Jun 2013
"Comfortable, clean accommodation and a lovely welcome"
This property has beautiful views over the Beauly Firth in a country location. We were given a very friendly welcome by the owners. The property was on one level which was very convenient for my eld… More
This advert is created and maintained by the advertiser; we can only publish adverts in good faith as we don't own, manage or inspect any of the properties. We advise you to familiarise yourself with our terms of use.
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Calendar last updated:22 Jan 2015
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Recent comments
Oklahoma City National Memorial is a Fine Memorial, But It's Not a National Park
Lone Hiker is making an important point.Since the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has capture the imagination of so many Americans, there is becoming an immediate 'default drive' to construct a memorial as 'closure' to every tragic drama of death and loss. Not very long after 911 in New York a plane crashed having nothing to do with a world-historical issue. It was a horror of course for the families, and great and real empathy swept the city, so soon after 911. From the perspective of history, it was another tragic plane crash. But it became politically essential and inevitable that the City design and install a memorial, because now it seems a memorial is the only response people can think of to sudden and dramatic tragedy.
This is not the same as a memorial commemorating a critical piece of American history or to commemorate the life of a historically significant person. Such as the Lincoln Memorial, or the Arch in St. Louis to commemorate western expansion.
Lone Hiker clearly has no intention of disrespect toward the dead. I don't, either, but I am concerned that even discussing the possibility that a federal memorial is not always appropriate will no doubt arouse opprobrium from some. Part of the problem here is you can't even openly discuss whether such an event is nationally significant during the living memory of the event.
But to me some of the memorials that immediately follow mass death feel more like large graveyard monuments, of particular significance to the family and friends of those who were lost.
From a national perspective, how can this be the way to determine what is nationally significant about a site? What if the event that seizes the public's sympathy or fear is one of a kind, with no particular long term significance. What if it is one of a series of far worse struggles with terrorism?
What would London be today if, at the site of every night of bombing by the Germans the British established a memorial? Over 50,000 people died in London during the blitz, over a period of time. Should the site of every tragedy be frozen for all time?
How is Cape Hatteras National Seashore Faring Under Travel Restrictions?
yall are a bunch of ignorant people with more concerned about birds than humans and threatened not endangered at that...you will spin your tales and invent figures that dow/as/and selc seem to make appear out of thin air without
any shread of proof of those figures..
pardon my spelling but folks like you posting garbage like this and pawning it on an uninformed / unsupecting public
and using my tax money to sue is a criminal offense and i hope congress passes the law that dole and her foks want and outlaw suing the fed gov't over trivial matters such as this..
dow and as have no other purpose than to waste tax payer money of lawsuitsme out...
Oklahoma City National Memorial is a Fine Memorial, But It's Not a National Park
Meaning no measure of disrespect either to the thousands of victims past and those to become so in the future, but does this set a precedent for the NPS to be given the go-ahead to commence "advertising" this and other soon-to-be memorials to the victims of domestic and international terrorism, particular to incidents that occur within our boundries? This harkens back to a previous discussion about what qualifies as "worthy" of NPS considerations to be in the all-inclusive club.
National Park Quiz 14: Historic Houses
Question 9 seems perhaps a bit ambiguous. [Ed: The Hauptquizmeister agrees that item #9 was more than a bit ambiguous in it original form. Item #9 has been extensively revised and should now past muster.]
Oklahoma City National Memorial is a Fine Memorial, But It's Not a National Park
Interesting points, Bob, Anonymous & Paul "Barky" Dionne:
Of course, we have memorials that ARE units of the National Park System (the Lincoln Memorial & the Roger Williams National Memorial, for example, of many) and others that are not.
Many "Affiliated Areas" -- units that are not part of the National Park System but were designated by Congress and do have a built-in relationship with the NPS -- are included in the NPS website, and look a lot like parks in that site. In several cases Affialiated Areas are as significant as National Parks but are not owned or administered by the NPS, so the congressional protection strategy was to make them Affiliated. The Touro Synagogue National Historic Site -- an Affiliated Area-- is, for example, is an extremely important piece of colonial architecture and also has a nationally significant history, but it continues to be an active synagogue and generally the policy is active churches cannot be administered by the US government. The NPS tried to put together a policy statement on Affiliated areas, but it was a pretty silly and contradictory document.
Oklahoma City National Memorial has very troubling issues all its own.
First, though, Paul "Barky" Dionne, I would argue that the Oklahoma City experience DID have an impact on the nation. I wouldn't try to compare it to the Port Chicago, of course.
Prior to OK City bombing, there was building in America a vigilante-type rhetoric and hostility to government. The press was full of government agents being shot at, lots of talk about the legitimacy of the "posse comitatus" movement, talk about government agent's in Black Helicopters and on and on. In Oklahoma City, there was an enormous sense of common ground, and recognition that the many federal workers killed in the building were good community members and what each of them did as individuals and as government workers was important. That spirit in Oklahoma City went Nationwide as people everywhere responded in their hearts to what had happened. When it became known that the killers were anti-government fanatics, that only reinforced the feeling. There was a real lessening of hostile comments by right wing congressmen and women, as they realized that kind of talk no longer would play in Peoria, or any where else. Yes, we still have Limbaugh and some outrageous stuff on the web, but for the most part the American People got a wake up call on who the real enemy is.
ON THE OTHER HAND, how the park was set up and how it was managed out of its NPS status, THAT is something else. This is the text book case in how not to do, and what happens if you do.
For the congressional designation of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, there was no normal "special resource study" prepared in advance by the NPS to guide the development of the project or the legislation. An SRS managed by a good team of planners has the opportunity to develop close connections over time with the stakeholders, which leads to the development of the right sort of legislation for a site. Especially in the case of a partnership site, like a heritage area, the most successful sites are the ones where the NPS and the site partners develop a strong relationship long before the bill passes congress.
But Senator Nichols (R-OK) approached this differently. He is the father of both the park designation, and de-designation. Senator Nichols was never known as a friend to the National Park Service. (Perhaps this reputation is unfair, and I hope Friends of Nichols at this site will get a whole lot of comments demonstrating Senator Nichols as a secret admirer of parks and preservation.) When he ran the finance committee he kept a very tight lid on overall NPS spending, or any preservation spending for that matter. But he had the power to ram an extremely unorthodox bill through Congress to do something he normally did not like to do -- spend money on national parks -- to authorize the creation of the park and spending park money on its development. No prior relationship had been developed with the stakeholders, national or local, and NPS staff.
Immediately the local stakeholders objected to federal hiring rules and federal contract rules. The first park superintendent was highly regarded in the NPS both for holding up the standards of the NPS, while also for advocating for the needs of the local stakeholders. But he was soon gone. Then Mary Bomar, the current Director of the NPS, was named superintendent, her first superintendency. Senator Nichols conveyed to us in Washington that he was highly impressed by Superintendent Bomar. Soon after, a new deal was arranged cutting out the park status and a great deal of the NPS authority over who the money was spent. Rather than this being a disaster in the career of a brand new and sparcely experienced superintendent, Mary Bomar was instead promoted Superintendent of Independence National Historical Park, one of the real jewels among the historic parks of the nation. The Philadelphia newspapers suggested that the previous superintendent was being pushed out for not being supportive of "park partners." When Mary Bomar arrived in Philadelphia, her Press Release said she had great success working with partners. This is a new meaning of 'success.' There is lots of evidence that the interpretive story in Oklahoma City was very tighly controlled by the local stakeholders, and little sign that anyone asserted the normal expectation that the National Park Service must make sure that the whole story is told.
It is hard to imagine more inappropriate behaviour than Senator Nichols first ramming through a new national park without a study as required by law, and without developing any relationship between NPS and the stakeholders, never clearly preparing the stakeholders for what a federal designation would mean, and then after the bulk of the money flowed in, working out a way to strip away the federal accountability and designation for the site, but then still continuing to create a pipeline of money to the future. The NPS people working there do not have any authority over the management, but are there to lend the international identity and repution of the National Park Ranger to the site, while depriving the NPS of any authority that usually goes along with the NPS credibility. All the effort conducted in good faith by the first park superintendent to try to implement Nichol's law was completely undermined and cast aside. This is certainly a new definition of "park partnership." Lucky for Mary Bomar that she did not have to stay and work with what had been so quickly created, or broken down depending on your point of view.
Senator Nichols then went public after September 11, 2001 opposing the federal appropriation for rebuilding New York City in the wake of the attacks there. It is interesting though, in the same way he could not keep Hilary Clinton and George Bush from getting the money for New York, Nichols could not be stopped in the way he went for the park in a lawless way and the money for Oklahoma, and then pulled the rug out.
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
Raise more money for the NPS, by having a two-tiered pricing structure. American citizens and legal residents pay a reduced price. Foreign tourists pay more. This is done in the EU. EU passport carrying people get in at reduced prices or free at certain museums and sites. This would raise more money for the parks without squeezing taxpayers anymore.
Odes to the National Park Rangers Who Wear the Grey and Green
Who would lead us on hikes if there were no rangers?
In 2006 my wife and I visited the Canadian Rockies. We found a few park wardens in uniform, but none were involved in leading hikes. When we stayed overnight at Moraine Lake Lodge, the Lodge offered guided walks and evening programs free of charge to all lodge guests. I went on both the morning hike to the Consolations Lakes and the afternoon hike to Larch Valley. These hikes were both led by a Moraine Lake Lodge employee wiho had a degree in the environmental sciences. She was able to do quite well with her groups, and she could field questions about the park as well as about the subject of climate change (her specialty at school). In the evening, she was dresssed in all white as our server in the lodge dinning room.
The free evening interpretive programs at Moraine Lake Lodge turned out to be creative. They were mostly skits performed by former Parks Canada interpreters who have gone private. They often changed costumes and acted out their roles as park fauna and flora with personality. I found the acting and costumed aspects of these presentations somewhat "over the top."
As a former NPS park ranger-naturalist, I would prefer that the guided hikes and evening programs in parks be given by uniformed rangers. I would also hold the information content and quality of the experience to an exceptionally high standard. I believe that the outdoor educational mission of the NPS needs revitalization. Attending a guided walk in the company of a uniformed and knowledgeable national park ranger is an important part of the national park experience.
I would not like to see the NPS go in the same direction as has Parks Canada, but my fear is that this may already be the case in many our parks where visitor services are now provided by park volunteers, Natural History Association employees, and concessioner guide services.
Owen Hoffman
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 -
Odes to the National Park Rangers Who Wear the Grey and Green
Good grief! Buy your own uniform. Nobody has ever funded my work wardrobe...
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
"The National Park Service likes to promote that visitors give the National Park System a 96 percent approval rating."
One of the problems I have with this statistic is with its implications when compared to the total visitation to our parks. For example, if we were to say that current park visitation is on the order of 100 million per year, and if there is a 96% positive approval rating, then this means that 4 million park visitors per year are having a less than totally positive experience. This is a lot of people for whom a park experience is less than optimum. That's far too many negative impressions to conclude that the status quo is acceptable.
The NPS is making great strides to professionalize and increase its staff of law enforcement officers. I would hope similar strides could be made by the NPS to regain its former leadership in interpretation/education/ resources management and scientific research. On the other hand, I would hope that all uniformed employees of the NPS, including law enforcement and resources management specialists have, as part of their professional mission and training, the objective to engage the park visitor to enhance their park experience. This objective should be shared by all NPS employees; it should not be a specialty mission reserved for the park interpreter-ranger.
With respect to the issue of park visits by pet owners: This is a very important and growing segment of society. Many families, and even seniors, are having second thoughts about a park visit because of a perceived anti-pet policy. This did not seem to be the case on my recent (2006) visit to the Canadian Rockies where pets (dogs) on a leash seemed to be permitted on all park trails, other than those routes posted for Grizz.
On the trails of Banff National Park, the few dogs I encountered were on the leash and well behaved, and I had no difficulties with barking, droppings, etc. Many family pets were encountered with groups hiking in mid-September to Larch Valley above Moraine Lake.
In Germany and Norway, pets were permitted in trains and restaurants, as well as in the forests and on trails. While in Austria, our German Shepherd even slept with us in a mountain hut on flanks of the Gros Glockner. Are dogs on trails (on the leash) really that big of a problem? If so why are dogs on or off leash permitted in non-NPS wilderness areas?
I would rather permit pets than firearms in parks. I would rather permit pets than expand campgrounds to provide for motor-home versions of RV's with all amenities hook-ups. I would rather permit pets than expand the capacity of high-end luxury hotels. The price of a room at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite makes me blanch.
I think the NPS should encourage the use of parks for outdoor education. Hiking and traditional tent camping under the stars should be encouraged. I'm abivalent about the use of pack animals and equestrian use because of trail and meadow damage in areas of high visitation.
Some purists would say that NPS campgrounds should not have hot showers. At age 63, I think it would be wise to provide such facilities, otherwise the absence of showers contributes to a self-selection for more formal lodging. The Crater Lake Mazama Campground commercial showers, however, are substandard. There should be some means for the park visitor to issue the NPS and the park concessions a report card at the conclusion of their visit. Maybe in this way, we can increase the percent positive park approval rating from 96% to 99% (where it should be).
There shoud be more primitive, walk-in type campgrounds, however, with no fees and no amenities. Front country walk-in style campsites might have a simple wash house with clean toilets. Of course, the back country should remain as wilderness, and camping should entail minimum impact. Evening ranger programs without slides and recorded music should be encouraged.
For the larger more heavily visited/impacted parks, the NPS will have to wrestle with and establish visitor carryiing capacities. However, I think that if the carrying capacity were to focus on the private automobile, most of the apparent problems, including in-park crime, would be solved.
The economic/political importance of parks to gateway communities and regional incomes, will always have to be considered as an entity in future park planning. To do otherwise, will almost certainly guarantee a shorter-than average career for any aspiring park manager. Nevertheless, where there is a conflict, conservation, preservation, and protection of park resources must take precedence over visitor use and tourism. This paradigm, however, will be easier to say than put into practice. Ask any former NPS Director or park superintendent.
I agree that park developments, including park visitor centers, should be the minimum necessary to facilitate a park visit. They should not become the event in and of themselves. I agree that the Arches NP VC is a bit too much. Certainly the NPS could have done better.
On the other hand, the VC's at the Needles section of Canyonlands National Park and at Natural Bridges and at Hovenweep National Monuments were the right size and outstanding. I even found law enforcement rangers assisting at the information desk and enjoying themselves as they fielded a variety of visitor questions.
Owen Hoffman
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 -
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
"If it could be some sort of national trust, with an independent board of directors, like other not-for-profit institutions, it would be better."
Ahhh....at last someone else is on to one of my favorite long-term solutions for the administration of the national parks. Take Washington, DC out of the day to day reality of the NPS and let's see what great things could possibly happen. Glad to have you aboard Barky.
As for Frank's bad experience with NPS interpretation, which I also had the misfortune of encountering this year in two separate Utah parks, I think has a lot to do with a general lack of standards and accountability within the management ranks of the NPS. Naturalists are just not as important as they used to be. The major thrust in the agency these days seems to be on bigger guns, specialized law enforcement badges and acronym laden, overblown initiatives that most rank and file employees try to forget the day after they are announced.
Interpretation, maintenance and resource management are all in general decline and importance as law enforcement and fire management is where the action is now. I know of many younger employees tilting towards these areas to become more "marketable" for a career ladder climb.
For all the hype about interpretive "renaissances" and such the average interpretive programs being offered today are far less creative, well thought out and entertaining than they were just 10 years ago. The old codgers who taught me and influenced my programs were most often dedicated seasonals who generally thought outside the box and loved their craft. Unfortunately they are a dying breed that are not being replaced with rangers who attain the same level of intellectual quality and insight. Even worse is that I don't really think the agency cares.
Good thread Kurt.
How is Cape Hatteras National Seashore Faring Under Travel Restrictions?
I have recently volunteered for the US Fish and Wildlife Service at Pea Island NWR located within the national seashore. I have followed the recovery programs for piping plovers along the East Coast since they were listed in 1986. At that time I was located in Rhode Island where our population of plovers had decreased to only several pairs due to heavy pedestrian traffice on beaches and also to limited vehicle traffic. With similar recovery efforts that have finally been enacted on the National Seashore, Rhode Island population of plovers has recovered to somewhere around 70 pairs of plovers.
Senator Dole, the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in North Carolina should be ashamed of themselves for the lack of action over the past 22 years. While political groups and state and federal protection agencies have played games over the last 22 years - the population of piping plovers has declined by half. This is an outrage. There is no reason in this world why people cannot give up travel over a small portion of the coastline during nesting season for the birds. Not only the plovers are suffering but also other beach nesting birds. The damage that is done to the beach itself is also worth mentioning. The repeated travel over the sand destroys the beach habitat for invertebrates and other things living in the sand along the shoreline.
During my stay at Pea Island, we traveled down to Cape Point and I was appalled at the damage done to the beach front by vehicle traffic. People will still come to the beach. People will still come to fish. It has been proven in Northeastern states such as Rhode Island, on Cape Cod in Massachusetts that both people and birds can survive together on the beach. The problem in North Carolina is that certain groups of people are too selfish to compromise for the benefit of the wildlife.
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
The best suggestion I have for the NPS is to free itself from the political toilet that is our "democracy" and create its own federal entity, unbeholden to the garbage that currently is responsible for allocating funding, and function as a self-sufficient "federal business".
I absolutely love this idea! Although I fear for it (witness how pathetic Amtrak, a current "federal business", is), it would take the politics out of the NPS. Unfortunately, it would bring the business into it, which, IMO, is just as unethical, shortsighted, and stupid.
If it could be some sort of national trust, with an independent board of directors, like other not-for-profit institutions, it would be better.
We all know our elected officials are failing the parks. Few alternatives could do worse.
My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com
Oklahoma City National Memorial is a Fine Memorial, But It's Not a National Park
This is a case where I feel I am too close to make an objective call on this topic.
I remember clearly that day when the Murrah Building was blown up, taking all those lives, including the kids in the day care center. I remember it so clearly because I have friends in the greater OKC area and instantly feared for their lives (they actually didn't work anywhere near the place).
I wonder if this incident has happened too recently for the NPS to make the call whether or not to mark the site. In the aftermath of any tragedy, you want to memorialize the incident. But, years later, one has to ask if the incident in question was historically significant. Did the OKC bombing result in a fundamental shift in America?
I look at the Port Chicago site in California, part of the NPS. It marks the explosion of weapons transports in WWII that killed hundreds of men ... mostly African-Americans who were working the docks without any safety equipment or rudimentary training. That was an event that led to further tragedy (court-martials of African-Americans who refused to go back to work under such conditions) and eventual changes in military safety rules and racial discrimination. That was an event that led to direct change in the country.
So, the question is: did the OKC bombing cause a sea change in American life? Frankly, I can't see that it has, other than in the lives of those directly affected. It was just an isolated incident by a couple of nut jobs. The country went on the way it always did -- until 9/11, that is.
My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
After my recent visit to Mount Rainier National Park, I have the following two very specific suggestions:
First, have hand soap in the campground bathrooms. It seems to me that MORA is trying to save money by not having soap in the campground bathrooms. This seems to pose a public health risk. When talking to the seasonal maintenance staff, they said management told them they didn't have soap because campers would bring their own soap. I suppose this has some logic to it, but it's kind of inconvenient to go number 2 and then, discovering there is no soap, to have to open the door with unclean hands and walk back to camp and dig through everything with contaminated hands to find some bar soap and then walk back to the bathroom to wash one's hands. Perhaps the NPS could divert money SEKI is spending on a Rae Lakes eHike, done to make the parks' web content more "hip". In my opinion soap, clean bathrooms, and toilet paper are more important and more relevant to ACTUAL park visitors than hip web content. The NPS could cut any number of social engineering projects and divert that tax money to providing high-quality basic visitor services.
Secondly, hire quality seasonal interpretive rangers who have proven teaching experience and talent rather than hiring people from certain ethnic groups to "diversify the staff". I sat through the worst evening program in my life at Mount Rainier last week. The NPS has moved from Kodak slide projectors in favor of PowerPoint, but newer technology alone cannot guarantee a higher quality visitor experience. The interpretive ranger had PowerPoint slides with far too much text, including grammatical and spelling errors. Each slide stayed up for several minutes as the ranger droned on and on and on without a solid theme. Her public speaking skills were atrocious, and she mispronounced and misspoke numerous words. Small maps on slides were too hard to read. The program was just horrible. I had to apologize to my wife, who had never seen an evening program. I told her about the amazing programs I saw over the last 22 years and how special they were and how you just had this magical feeling at a campfire program. How did this person get hired? Well, she is an ethnic minority, and the NPS has an unofficial policy of preferring "underrepresented" minorities to "diversify" the staff rather than hiring people based on talent and experience alone. No amount of technology can mask incompetence.
How is Cape Hatteras National Seashore Faring Under Travel Restrictions?
Here we go with our beloved Congress again: they'll look at the economic downturn as an excuse to ramrod their own peeves through to legality. "Oh, the economy is bad, it must be because we aren't letting people tear up the beach with their ORVs." Forget that we have an oil crisis and food costs are going up. These things are keeping people home, not rules on beach usage.
But Congress, being Congress, will use this downturn to trod on the law to the benefit of their friends.
My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com
How is Cape Hatteras National Seashore Faring Under Travel Restrictions?
the negative response to the consent decree seems to be overstated and without sufficient basis. I have seen signs that indicate that the government is trying to "close Hatteras." I can only conclude that these signs are intended to misinform the public and to sway public opinion through a campaign of misinformation. I walked the beach along the cape shore this morning (8/5/08) and the ORV's clearly still have sufficient access to the beach and prime fishing areas. The restricted areas seem to be confined to what is reasonably necessary to protect wildlife and, at the same time, allow access for beach driving. The restrictions are limited in time and scope. The park service has clearly provided a throughway for vehicles to pass through the areas restricted for protection of wildlife so that people who want to fish in the surf in more remote areas can continue to do so. I am in Salvo for a 2 week vacation (spending limited personal income for this vacation) and the limited restrictions are in no way a disincentive for my visit. To the contrary, I am pleased that the park service is working towards protecting the valuable and pristine natural resources, including wildlife, on these outer banks, which resources are clearly a draw to tourism. I am not personally or professionally involved in this dispute or litigation but wanted to offer my observations and view of the situation based on my experience as a visitor and someone who enjoys both state and national parks.
Odes to the National Park Rangers Who Wear the Grey and Green
This is a fine piece to be sure, but not all NPS rangers wear the green and grey. Indeed, many of us wear green polo shirts and khaki pants since we are Centennial employees and Congress didn't fund our uniforms, and due to this many visitors don't see us as park employees. Perhaps a better title would be "Odes to the National Park Rangers Who Wear the Arrowhead".
Oklahoma City National Memorial is a Fine Memorial, But It's Not a National Park
I agree that the OCNM is not a national park, however, because it is a very importnant piece of American History, that is a popular place of interest, and this may be one of the reason's that it is listed on the NPS's website (besides the reason(s) given in the article). Unless one has visited the site in person they will not fully understand the impact OCNM has on every person who visits (I know, I was one who did). There are plenty of Memorials across the nation that are not parks, but I assume that they are probably also listed somewhere on the NPS site and have the same FAQs indicating that they're not an actual park, but an affiliate, and therefor listed with NPS as park like.
Example: Cemeteries are not Parks, but goto nationalparkstraveler.com and search for "Arlington National Cemetery" and you can find ANC listed on "nps.gov" because it is a park (http://www.nps.gov/archive/arho/tour/parkinfo.html ) "Park Information"
"Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial is part of the National Park System and is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a 7600-acre national park area protecting the landscape, native habitat and cultural history of the Potomac River shoreline. " (Last Updated: 20 October 2006, 7:40 AM by Keith Drews).
Notice right in the opening page quote that it reads "part of the NPS" I believe the reason ANC is listed as a park is because of every man and woman that served this country to defend our rights for the "pursuit of Life, Liberty, and Happiness" w/o the guarantees of absolutely receiving them.
As Janiskee points out it is all about the "know" of what you are looking for and how much research you are willing to put forth in the truth of your information and passing there onto. -
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
These suggestions are aimed at Congress for the management of NPS and its units:
1) NPS units should never -- ever-- be designated solely to boost tourism revenue for nearby towns. National Parks should exist to educate and celebrate and preserve ecosystems, landscapes, landmarks and our natural and cultural history.
2) Ditch the entrance fees. The importance of our national parks and the education and enlightenment visitors receive there should be entirely taxayer-funded. No potential visitor should ever have to question whether he or she can afford to enter a park after spending a fortune to get there.
3) Maintain the no pets rule. NPS should never be in the business of managing dogs and cats and their excrement. Park resources are too precious for their managers to be distracted by pets and their testy owners.
4) Put resource protection above infrastructure improvements -- period. Controversial, I know, but the sleekness and extravagance of a visitor center (the new Arches NP monstrosity is a perfect example) is far less important than protecting the very resources the parks were presumably designated for in the first place. That said, when infrastructure must take priority, do it right. New visitor centers should be humble, accessible and artful, following the tradition of the best and least gaudy Mission 66 and previous projects while not being extravagant and grandiose. Economical aesthetic value is important: When Arches erected new roadsigns last year, they lacked the traditional (albeit scant) NPS aesthetic value, looking like boring instutional block-letter highway signs. Please show the least bit of artfulness.
5) All new structures and infrastructure should fit the landscape and should employ "green," energy efficient architecture.
6) The goverment should attempt to purchase land around national parks that can serve as buffer zones between development and the parks themselves, each acting as a transition between the developed environment and that of the protected park setting.
7) Congress and the NPS should vigorously oppose any and all energy development surrounding national parks. Canyonlands NP last year had a giant drilling rig set up within view of the Island in the Sky entrance station, while flaring oil wells can be seen at night from Arches National Park's Windows section. Such development (most of it on public land) degrades our parks and their air quality. Congress should pass a moratorium on any resource extraction on public lands within 10 miles or or within view of a national park boundary regardless what anti-park locals have to say about it.
8) It should go without saying that pumping tax dollars into our parks is an investment in our heritage, national identity and future. Neglecting parks and the resources they protect is an affront to all Americans. What we choose to protect and celebrate is a telling commentary on who we are as a nation and a people. Don't squander this opportunity. -
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
I have been visiting National Parks since a baby here in Utah and have gained so much more in life because of it. Any extra cost is worth it, if a person can pay $40 for ONE DAY at a Six Flags I think we can manage $80 for a year worth of National Parks and the additional parking fees. However, the parks should notify patrons of the parking fees or supply a list of parks that charge these fees.
I also have another recommendation: Free Days. In Ogden, Utah there is a program called R.A.M.P that charges a tax in order to have the local museums offer a day free. This allows people of lower income or people who would normally not pay to go to local parks/museums a free day to try it. This program has led to me buying multiple season pases to local museums, because I did not realize what they had to offer. National Parks should offer this to build up visitation, thus lowering costs or just to allow people the chance to view. -
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
As touched on briefly above, I don't want my "national" parks to be in the business of supporting overseas interests. I don't need "Native American" artifacts made in China, clothing stitched in Cambodia, DVD's produced in Mexico, and disposable cameras from Japan. Have we as a country descended down the path of ineptness to the depths that we are no longer capable of manufacturing products in this country that until recently, were accepted by the world as the benchmark of quality? Has outsourcing become such an accepted way of doing business, centered solely around the corporate bottom line, that we've grown too lazy to do it ourselves, even when we are the ones who stand to directly reap the benefits of our labors? What better forum to display OUR ability and genius than in OUR national treasures? Unless we, as a nation, have no national pride and insist on being the doormat for every international refugee what comes along, to the point of "not wanting to insult or denigrate their heritage by demanding they conform to our society" as the quote goes. What about OUR heritage? Or have we completely lost track of what pathetic little history we've created within the bounds of these shores?
Maybe due to the fact that I maintain a much earlier schedule that do most of you, I've never found parking to be an issue, per se. Finding a convenient spot is one thing, paying an additional fee is indeed totally unacceptable. If there is any justification for the collection of additional access fees it would most assuredly be to recoup the costs incurred from providing a regular, reliable and convenient shuttle service. Until the shuttles are provided and available system-wide as the norm rather than the exception, I find fee collection and the associated congestion and pollution issues to be an abomination within the NPS. You don't have to be of superior intellect to institute routing for each park. But the initial influx of revenue to purchase the equipment and erect the infrastructure is awaiting Congressional approval. Or more accurately, awaiting Congressional interest, of which there exists precious little in Washington. It's a shame and a sham how politicians are allowed to ruin public lands while protecting the interests of pathetic little maggots such as oil barons and foreign investors. But since that manner of person invests heavily in purchasing puppets who wear the label of Senator and Congressman, what more should "we the People" expect from our representatives, who only pay lip-service to OUR interests during election year campaign speeches, which as anyone should be able to diagnose, as nothing short of a large, stinking pile of crap aimed solely at the mindless American once-in-a great-while voter?
The best suggestion I have for the NPS is to free itself from the political toilet that is our "democracy" and create its own federal entity, unbeholden to the garbage that currently is responsible for allocating funding, and function as a self-sufficient "federal business". Become the land managers, preservationists, environmentalists, wildlife managers and ecologists that you were trained to be; exercise and develop those skills that you have not been encouraged or allowed to demonstrate due to constrictions placed on you under the guise of "federal guidelines" enacted by the subservient jesters of special interest "America", your political representatives and mine. Grasp the reigns of a runaway system away from those who have proven they have neither the education nor inclination to "manage" our unique national treasures. Only then, with internally managed allocation of resources, could we expect the see the "right things" done: rebuilding existing and expanding the required infrastructure, improvements to trail access for ALL, oversight of concessionaires on a system-wide basis, in short......less political influence and more of a focus on national pride. We're alleged to be a "first world" nation. It's time we demonstrated to the world that our commitment to every other nation's real estate extends to our own shores as well.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Won't Ban ORV Use, But Will Restrict Travel
Frisco Fran - based on your observations, I nominate the ORV people for sainthood
Hidden Hall of Records at Mount Rushmore
So essentially it's a very elaborate time capsule? Could he not have used a shoebox like the rest of us?
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
Beamis, let me interject two important points of clarification. First, Mather and Albright didn't birth the National Park Service. Congress did that in 1916 with the Organic Act. Mather and Albright were administrators. While they were given limited authority to make rules and regulations, they were never given authority to designate or proclaim national parks. Secondly, even before Mather and Albright were hired (in 1917), Congress had made it clear that nationally significant historic sites -- that is, sites commemorating human events or the works of humans -- had a place in the National Park System. Those things said, I share your concern about the politics surrounding the designation and management of our national parks.
What Suggestions Do You Have For the National Park Service?
Yes, the problems with the National Park Service are not problems of the National Park Service, they are the problems of Congress and the Executive Branch. They simply do not care enough about the parks to adequately fund them.
Without a Congress that cares enough to adequately fund the parks, the NPS doesn't have a chance of doing any improvements.
My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com


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Gypsies and their horses
August 12, 2011 in Uncategorized
The gypsy caravan in the last post got a lot of attention :-). Seems as though I'm not the only one in love with "all things gyp".
LOL, these two seem to be "Tinkers", the Irish gypsies that are all over UK. The continental Roma don't acknowledge these as "real" gypsies due to different genetic roots, and yet: Their lifestyles are very similar; their languages are fusing; the two different gypsy "races" are intermingling. (Don't you love the eye-twisting designs and colours on that cart?)
I wanted to show you the beautiful horses they breed. Gypsies are ace horse breeders and traders; it's one of their traditional trades. (More modern ones are car trader, salesman, office worker, … )
The first four images are from
Gypsy music:
…leaving on that note …
I like this post and am too lazy to construct another one tonight so I'll just add it in here:
ONE WEEK to go to Arkenaten's LAUNCH!
Of his DEBUT NOVEL!
"Almost Dead in Suburbia"
Find directions and a map HERE.
Be there or (b)(b)!
Er, wait – wrong book. Let me do this again:
There you go.


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