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US 7594167 B1 Abstract A method and computer system are described for conducting commercial transactions. An enhanced type of XML schema may be used which supports integrity constraints and polymorphism. Schemas are identified by the use of Uniform Resource Names. XML processors residing on transaction servers or trading partner servers parse document instances by retrieving the URNs corresponding to the schemas used to interpret the document. The URNs are converted to location-dependent URIs in order to locate the schemas. URNs are resolved to location-dependent URIs by use of the LDAP protocol. URNs may be converted to LDAP URLs which are used to search LDAP compliant directories. The directories serve as registries for the URI values corresponding to the URNs.
Claims(9) 1. A method of extending a definition of a first tag used in a first electronic document, wherein the first electronic document is encoded in a markup language, and the first electronic document is stored on a server in a computer network, the method comprising:
defining the first tag in a first schema, wherein the definition of the first tag includes a plurality of elements from the markup language;
defining a second tag in a second schema, wherein a definition of the second tag includes
a reference to the first tag in the first schema, wherein the reference identifies the first tag as being extended; and
an additional element from the markup language; and
providing references for locating the first schema and second schema in a second electronic document, wherein the second tag is polymorphically used to encode text within the second electronic document;
whereby the first and second schemas respectively allow use of the first or second tag and applications and document types that use the first or second tag can evolve separately;
wherein the markup language is XML.
2. The method of
parsing the first electronic document, wherein the first electronic document is parsed by a parser for the markup language, the parser being stored on the server.
3. The method of
4. The method of
parsing the second electronic document, wherein the second electronic document is parsed by a parser for the markup language, the parser being stored on the server.
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. A computer network system including at least one processor for processing a document instance of a markup language, the computer network system comprising:
means for defining a first tag, including a plurality of elements from a markup language, in a first schema in the computer network system;
means for polymorphically extending a definition of the first tag by use of a second schema residing on the computer network system, the second schema defining a second tag by reference to the first tag that incorporates in the second schema the plurality of elements from the markup language and by including additional elements, including using the second tag in a location otherwise used by the first tag in the document instance; and
means for importing reference to the second schema into the document instance;
wherein the markup language is XML.
8. A method of extending a definition of a first tag used in a first electronic document, wherein the first electronic document is encoded in a markup language, and the first electronic document is stored on a server in a computer network, the method comprising:
defining the first tag in a first schema, wherein a definition of the first tag includes plurality of elements from the markup language; and
defining a second tag in a second schema, wherein a definition of the second tag includes a reference to the first tag and an additional element from the markup language; and
providing references for locating the first schema and second schema in the first electronic document, wherein the first and second tags are polymorphically available to encode text within the first electronic document;
whereby an application designed to work with the first tag in the first schema can process the text encoded using the second tag in the second schema, when the encoding is within the scope of the first tag, without modifying the application, whereby document types and applications can evolve separately;
wherein the markup language is XML.
9. The method of
Description The present application claims priority as a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/173,854 filed 16 Oct. 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,391 A entitled MARKET MAKERS USING DOCUMENTS FOR COMMERCE IN TRADING PARTNER NETWORKS, which remains pending in the continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/633,365 filed on 7 Aug. 2000 entitled MARKET MAKERS USING DOCUMENTS FOR COMMERCE IN TRADING PARTNER NETWORKS. The present application is related to the commonly assigned, issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,260, filed on 28 Jan. 2000, entitled METHOD OF RETRIEVING SCHEMAS FOR INTERPRETING DOCUMENTS IN AN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEM, by inventors Kelly Schwarzhoff and Ramshankar Venkat. 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the exchange of electronic documents in an electronic marketplace. In particular, the invention relates to methods for extending schemas which are used to interpret electronic documents used in business to business transactions. 2. Description of the Related Art Techniques exist for supporting the exchange of electronic data between trading partners. A prominent and commonly used standard is Electronic Data Interchange, more commonly referred to by its acronym EDI. EDI refers to a set of messages used for business-to-business communication. The messages are compiled into business documents, which are exchanged to facilitate transactions between trading partners. Each organization using EDI typically stores its data in a private format. As such, trading partners employing EDI are typically required to contract in advance and develop software programs to map between their private data sets. Each time a new trading partner is added to a client list, a new translation program is required to format their data in conformance with the other trading partners on the list. The EDI approach for supporting a commercial communications standard is to include the union of all universally required features into a global standard. EDI effectively includes a messaging standard for each transaction conducted between each set of trading partners. The inefficiencies which result from this system include the effort spent in generating a translator for every pair of trading partners and the redundancy inherent in generating original documents to facilitate largely similar transactions. Techniques also exist for facilitating the safe evolution of code distributed over computer networks. Examples of such technologies include communication systems for distributed objects such as CORBA, DCOM, and SOAP. These systems allow communication and collaboration amongst objects distributed over networks. As such, they support object-oriented facilities such as inheritance and polymorphism, which enable objects to be modified safely and efficiently. However, these systems comprise interfaces between objects which are implemented in programming languages, rather than schema languages for encoding electronic documents distributed over computer networks. Accordingly, it is desirable to establish an effective communications standard for encoding electronic documents. This standard should allow document types to evolve in order to facilitate new transactions, while preserving the integrity of the existing document types and the transactions they support. Because the library of document types which are used in such a standard will be shared by all trading partners in the marketplace, these resources should be available throughout the marketplace. The invention enables the creation of an electronic marketplace by facilitating the exchange of electronic documents between trading partners. Embodiments of the invention include communications standards for the electronic documents which enable trading partners to (1) construct documents which reflect the particular constraints of their transactions and (2) make such documents easily available throughout the marketplace. The communications standards employed in this invention optimize the efficiency of the creation and retrieval of the electronic documents, and, as such, the efficiency of the respective transactions. In an embodiment of the invention, commercial transactions between trading partners are conducted via a computer network referred to as a transaction services network. The transaction services network is operated by a market maker interested in supporting an electronic marketplace, and the network provides services which facilitate the commercial transactions. The transactions are conducted by the exchange of electronic documents between trading partners. The transaction services network provides services for facilitating these transactions, such as matching trading partners to conduct certain types of transactions; routing documents between trading partners; providing information about trading partners; and establishing protocols to govern the transactions. The trading partners access the transaction services network via private servers which connect to the transaction services network via the Internet. In embodiments of the invention, the documents supporting the transactions are written in an enhanced form of the Extensible Markup Language, XML. The XML standard is a markup language which allows document writers to define the elements, or �tags� which are used to express document instances. The ability to define the tags which are used in a document provides document writers with the facility to convey the semantic content of document instances by use of the tags embedded within the document instances, a feature which is unavailable in earlier generations of markup languages. XML document instances are interpreted by the use of schemas which are cited in the document instances; the schemas define a collection of tags which are used to encode the document instances. As a schema may be used to interpret multiple document instances, the schema classifies a document type. The document types which are available in the invention support commercial transactions such as purchase orders, purchase order acknowledgements, order status checks, availability checks, price checks, invoices, and invoice acknowledgements. XML allows document writers to create schemas as necessary to support novel transactions. Embodiments of the invention also introduce aspects of object-oriented programming into XML. Some embodiments of the invention include mechanisms for extending document types, so that a document type can be explicitly defined as an extension of a pre-existing document type. In embodiments of the invention, a first element defined in a first schema may be extended by defining a second element in a second schema, wherein the second element extends the definition of the first element. In some embodiments of the invention, the first element may comprise a plurality of sub-elements, and the extended element may comprise the plurality of sub-elements with one or more additional sub-elements. In embodiments of the invention, the first and second schemas may reside on separate servers on the transaction services network. Embodiments of the invention also support polymorphism. In such embodiments, an instance document may be a legal instance of more than one document type. Some embodiments of the invention support polymorphism with type extension. In such embodiments, any document instance of an extending document type will also be a legal instance of the extended document type. In embodiments of the invention, a document instance may import a first schema and a second schema, wherein the first schema defines a first element, and the second schema defines a second element that extends the definition of the first element. In some embodiments, the second element may be cited in the document instance in any context reserved for the first element. In embodiments of the invention, the first schema and second schema may reside on separate servers on a transaction services network. The extension mechanisms supported in the invention enable the safe evolution of schemas supported on the transaction services network. Applications that are implemented to handle documents of a specific type can also handle documents of any types that are extensions of the original type. Thus the extension mechanisms allow the introduction of new document types or the extension of existing document types while preserving the integrity of existing applications. This feature enables document types and applications to evolve separately. In an embodiment of the invention, the document instances contain identifiers for the schemas they cite. These identifiers are persistent and location independent. As such, the identifiers enable schemas to be identified irrespective of changes in the configuration of the underlying computer system. In some embodiments, the location identifiers are Uniform Resource Names (URNs). In embodiments of the invention, URNs for schemas are resolved to location-dependent Uniform Resource Identifiers, or URIs, which indicate the locations for the schemas. These locations may include HTTP sites, FTP sites, or file locations. In embodiments of the invention URNs are resolved to location-dependent URIs by the use of a registry which maps URNs to the location dependent URIs. In embodiments of the invention, the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, version 3 (LDAP v3) is used to search the registry for the location-dependent URI. This protocol provides an efficient tool for searching the registry and locating the location-dependent URIs. The URN registry is stored in an LDAP v3 compliant directory server. The LDAP compliant directory server may be an x.500 server. In some embodiments, the URN is converted to an LDAP URL. The LDAP URL is used as a key to search the LDAP directory for the location-dependent URI. In an embodiment of the invention, the directory server is accessible to any trading partner server or other server on the network which interprets XML documents. The use of a central directory server eliminates the need for replicated repositories, thereby lending scalability and consistency to the URN registry. In an alternative embodiment, the registry may be federated, so that different nodes of the directory reside on separate servers, thereby allowing control over particular URNs to be vested with the parties responsible for the resources identified by the URNs. The invention addresses problems faced in the construction of an electronic marketplace for business to business transactions. In particular, the electronic marketplace considered by the invention includes a computer network system which facilitates transactions between trading partners; these transactions are conducted by the exchange of electronic documents which correspond to the particular transactions. For example, a purchase order from a seller to a buyer may be conducted by exchanging a PurchaseOrder document between the trading partners which specifies the terms of the transaction. The types of commercial transactions supported by the invention can include, but are not limited to, purchase orders, purchase order acknowledgments, order status checks, availability checks, price checks, invoices, invoice acknowledgement, and/or catalog documents. Various services are required to facilitate such business to business electronic transactions. For instance, buyers and sellers may be matched to conduct certain types of transactions; documents are routed between trading partners; information about trading partners should be readily available; and protocols should be established to govern the transactions. Moreover, a market system which facilitates commercial transactions should be scalable, as a system flexible enough to support a multitude of transactions should allow for trading partners to be continuously added to the marketplace. In an embodiment of the invention, these services are provided by a network of computers illustrated in Previous attempts at establishing electronic marketplaces have lacked an adequate standard for communication between trading partners. This deficiency results in the generation of redundant documents, and fails to provide efficient tools for constructing new transactions from old documents. As such, it would be desirable to enforce a communications standards within the marketplace which expedites the modification of existing documents and eliminates redundancy in the collection of documents, while retaining the flexibility to accommodate novel transactions. It is desirable to establish a communication standard for encoding the transactions which are conducted in the electronic marketplace. The standard should be flexible and expressive enough to encode any possible transaction between trading partners. The standard should also enable the efficient creation of new transactions from old transactions, and thereby eliminate the need to create and interpret redundant messages in the electronic marketplace. In an embodiment of the invention, the transactions are encoded in documents written in markup languages. These documents are exchanged between trading partners to facilitate transactions in the marketplace. Documents written in a markup language are interpreted by the use of embedded tags; examples of such languages include HTML and SGML. In an embodiment of the invention, the markup language used to write the electronic documents is an enhanced version of XML. Standard XML is a markup language which allows a document writer to define the set of tags which are used to interpret a given document �instance�. The collection of tags are defined in a file referred to as a �schema�, and every instance of an XML document is interpreted by reference to the schemas cited by the instance. Because a schema defines a collection of tags which may be used to interpret multiple document instances, a schema is said to define a �document type�. Correspondingly, an instance of a document type comprises an XML document which cites the respective schema. In standard XML, schemas are defined in Document Type Definition files, or DTDs. A DTD may be external or internal to the respective document instance. XML document instances are checked at two levels: each document is checked for (1) conformance to XML syntax and (2) validity with respect to referenced schemas. This distinction can be illustrated by example. Consider a specific purchase order document instance of the document type PurchaseOrder. Suppose we have a document type PurchaseOrder and an instance of PurchaseOrder that we call PO_Instance. PO_Instance would be a specific purchase order sent through the marketplace. If PO_Instance conforms to a set of general syntactical criteria specified by standard XML we say that PO_Instance is �well-formed.� If, in addition, PO_Instance is correct with respect to PurchaseOrder we say that PO_Instance is �valid� with respect to PurchaseOrder. Validity is a stricter requirement than well-formedness, as a document instance can be well-formed even though it is not valid with respect to its document type. In an embodiment of the invention, the XML document instances are parsed in an XML Processor. The XML Processor is an application which is responsible for understanding well-formed XML syntax and for validating XML documents. In an embodiment of the invention, each transaction server and each trading partner site may have an XML Processor, which allows each server to understand the documents exchanged within the marketplace. Standard XML alone, however, is not entirely adequate to facilitate the electronic marketplace. Amongst the deficiencies of standard XML as an e-commerce protocol is that the language does not provide adequate means for checking integrity constraints on data. Moreover, conventional XML does not support polymorphic changes to schemas. As such, schemas must be entirely rewritten to accommodate minor changes to conventional transactions which have pre-existing schemas. Moreover, the changes to the schemas would have a global impact on applications that create and process document instances. The absence of polymorphism results in duplicated effort to create largely redundant schemas. This deficiency can be illustrated by example. Consider a transaction such as a purchase order. Each individual seller in the marketplace is likely to have constraints or extensions on purchase orders which are unique to its business, and which should be reflected in any purchase order which it communicates to a buyer. Because standard XML does not allow polymorphic changes to existing schemas, each buyer in this example will have to write a purchase order schema to reflect their transaction constraints. This results in duplicated effort, and a multiplicity of largely similar schemas. As such, the invention includes enhancements to XML which resolve these deficiencies. In embodiments of the invention, the standard XML schemas are extended with an enhanced schema language which supports polymorphism and integrity constraints in XML Documents. Non-limiting examples of enhanced XML schema languages include Commerce One's SOX language and Microsoft's XDR standard. Embodiments of the invention support type extensions. In such embodiments, the enhanced schema language allows document types to be explicitly defined as extensions of pre-existing document types. As such, the enhanced schema language allows the creation of an extension hierarchy of document types. Alternative embodiments of the invention also support polymorphism, so that an instance of a document type T may also be a legal instance of a document type T′. Embodiments of the invention combine type extensions with polymorphism. In such embodiments, applications that are implemented to handle documents of a specific type T can also handle documents of any types that are extensions of the type T. Thus, by combining type extensions with polymorphism, the schema language allows type safe extensions in runtime. As such, the combination of these features decouples the evolution of document types and applications, which is desirable on a widely deployed transaction services network. The utility of polymorphic schemas in the electronic marketplace can be illustrated with an example depicted in
Suppose that <Address> is utilized by document instances of type PurchaseOrder and that a particular trading partner ACME wishes to make a simple extension to the <Address> element used in PurchaseOrder.sox 200. In particular, ACME wishes to extend the PurchaseOrder.sox 200 schema to allow the <Address> element to contain telephone numbers. As illustrated below, the present invention enables such an extension of the <Address> tag; the polymorphism feature allows the extended <Address> tag to be used in instance documents of type PurchaseOrder, while preserving the integrity of the PurchaseOrder.sox schema and the existing instance documents of that type. The <Address> tag may be extended by using the SOX schema language to create a small document type ContactAddress, whose corresponding schema ContactAddress.sox 204 extends the CBL.sox 216 definition of <Address> to include a telephone number. The extended tag, or element, is referred to as <Contact>, and this element is defined in ContactAddress.sox, which is given as follows: <schema uri=�ContactAddress.sox�>
</schema> The new document type ContactAddress includes an identifier 206 for CBL.sox 216. A document instance 208 of type PurchaseOrder incorporates the new <Contact> tag by import statements which reference the schemas ContactAddress.sox 204 and CBL.sox 216 respectively. Note that the <Contact> tag may be used in any place in the document instance reserved for the original <Address> tag. The benefits of polymorphism are apparent from this example: we have extended the <Address> tag to create the <Contact> tag by writing a new, short document type ContactAddress. Thus the new document type ContactAddress extends the functionality of the original PurchaseOrder document type while preserving the integrity of PurchaseOrder. Without support for polymorphism, extensions to the <Address> tag would require a rewrite of the PurchaseOrder. This would alter a fundamental document type which is an agreed upon standard amongst trading partners, one upon which a number of document instances and transactions are constructed, in order to accommodate a minor change. As a result, either (1) every trading partner would have to agree on the new PurchaseOrder, and software would need to be rechecked to ensure compliance with the new definition, or (2) the new schema would have a different name, and each time a trading partner wishes to send a purchase order, they would need to ensure whether the other partner supports the new PurchaseOrder or would need a translation to the old version. To support polymorphism, the schemas should have the following characteristics:
As such, the enhanced schema languages introduce new challenges to the implementation of a document exchange system. One of these challenges arises from the fact that the schemas in such languages evolve. To facilitate an e-commerce document exchange system, documents which are written prior to schema modifications should be able link at the time they are parsed to the modified schema. As the revised schema may reside in a different physical location in the document exchange system, the link to the schema in the document instance, which was written prior to the schema change, should remain valid. As such, the use of polymorphic documents within the document exchange system entails a need for permanent, location independent identifiers for schemas. It is also desirable for XML entities to exhibit modularity, i.e., to allow XML entities to be re-used. To illustrate the desirability of this feature, suppose there is an XML document schema which is well-understood, and which defines tags that may be used in multiple document instances. If such a schema is available, it is desirable to re-use this schema in the multiple instances, rather than re-write it for each instance. In order to re-use a schema in multiple document instances, it is desirable for the schema to have a universal name, which may be used by any of the document instances referring to the schema. This name should also be persistent, so that document instances referring to the schema remain valid indefinitely. Additionally, it is desirable for such names to be location-independent, so that references to the schema remain valid even if the schema locations change. Thus the modularity of XML code also suggests a need for persistent, location-independent identifiers for XML entities. The invention offers a solution to the problems addressed above. In an embodiment of the invention, schemas are identified by static, location independent names. In a preferred embodiment, these identifiers include Uniform Resource Names, or URNs. Uniform Resource Names are described in RFC 2079. URNs are names for resources which may reside on LANs, WANs, or on the Internet. These names are characterized by two signal features:
In an embodiment of the invention, each schema is identified with a URN. This is illustrated in The syntax of URNs is specified in RFC 2141. They are specified in the following format:
wherein the NID is
and the NSS is
When an XML processor reads a schema, the processor locates the schema from the URN. This requires resolving the URN to a physical location, such as a network location, URLs, or file location. As such, embodiments of the invention also include a method for resolving URNs to physical locations. In an embodiment of the invention, URNs are mapped to physical locations by converting the URNs to URIs, or Uniform Resource Identifiers. Uniform Resource Identifiers, which are described in RFC 2396, identify physical locations for computer system resources. URIs may take the form of network locations such as HTTP, FTP, or Telnet sites, or file locations within a computer system. To resolve URNs to physical locations, the present embodiment maps URNs to URIs, and correspondingly maps permanent, location independent identifiers to actual physical locations. The method used for this mapping should be scalable, in order to facilitate the addition of new schemas and document types to the marketplace, and should allow for easy retrieval and updating, as the network locations of the schemas may change frequently. Moreover, the mapping method should enable each server in the marketplace with an XML Processor 302, i.e., buyer sites 102, seller sites 104, transaction servers 108, to access the schemas, and interpret documents. As such, the method of URN resolution should also be accessible to each server in the marketplace. Embodiments of the invention address these issues by employing a registry for mapping URNs to URIs. The registry resides on a directory service which is accessible by any site in the electronic marketplace, i.e., by any of the trading partner sites or any of the transaction servers within the transaction services network. To resolve the URNs by use of the registry, an access protocol is needed to retrieve the schema name from the x.500 directory. An embodiment of the invention utilizes the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, or LDAP. The LDAP v3 protocol is a client-server protocol for performing lookups on a remote directory server. In the invention, the protocol is used to enable the transaction servers and trading partners to retrieve resource locations via the registry. In an embodiment, the LDAP compliant directory service 308 used to resolve the URNs comprises an X.500 server. In alternative embodiments, the directory service 308 may be any other type of directory service which has functionality similar to LDAP v3. The X.500 directory server is described in detail in RFC 2253. In an LDAP compliant directory service such as X.500, the directory service stores primary keys as �Distinguished Names�, which are commonly referred to as �DN�s. A DN is composed of a string of attribute values. The types of attributes include:
A DN comprises a string of one or more attribute values for the attribute types listed above. The attribute types are organized in a tree-based hierarchy, which facilitates the search and retrieval of distinguished names. In the invention, the DN serves as the primary key for retrieving a corresponding URN from the x.500 directory. Prior to using the DN as a key for retrieving a corresponding URI for a schema, the URN for that schema should be mapped to the DN. This step is performed by use of an LDAP URL. The LDAP URL standard is described in RFC 2255. This standard specifies a syntax for converting URNs to Distinguished Names. In an embodiment of the invention, the Entity Manager 304 is responsible for converting the URN to an LDAP URL. The Distinguished Names are then available to the LDAP protocol to search LDAP compliant directories. The search through the directory is performed by the LDAP Lookup Service 306. The schema retrieval procedure outlined above comprises the following steps:
In this example, a PurchaseOrder.sox 200 schema is to be retrieved by an XML Processor 302. The URN for PurchaseOrder.sox 200 is specified as: urn::x-commerceone:decument:com:commerceone:marketsite:businessservices:PO.sox$1.0 which comprises the following components: NI=x-commerceone NSS=document:com:commerceone:marketsite:businessservices:PO.sox$1.0 In an embodiment of the invention, the Namespace Identifier, or NI, for all schemas is �x-commerceone.� The Namespace Specific String, or NSS, is divided into two parts, one representing the �logical directory� and the other portion representing the version of the document. These two portions of the NSS are delimited by the �$� token. Hence the logical directory is given by document:com:commerceone:marketsite:businessservices:PO.sox and the version is given as 1.0 The logical directory is a hierarchical name for the document which is delimited by colons �:�. This hierarchy corresponds to the hierarchy in the LDAP directory relative to a Schema Root in reverse order. The Schema Root is a Distinguished Name representing the logical origin for the schema entries in the directory tree. In this example, the Schema Root is given by: ou=schema, o=Marketplace B The next step is to convert the URN as specified above into a corresponding LDAP URL. The format for a standard LDAP URL, as specified is RFC 2255, is given as follows:
en=PO.sox, ou=n1�0 ou=businessservices ou=marketsite ou=commerceone ou=com The remaining parameters in the LDAP definition are not used. Hence the LDAP URL for the Purchase Order should be LDAP:///cn=PO.sox,ou=n1�0,ou=businessservices,ou=marketsite,ou=commerceone,ou=com An example of an algorithm which performs the mapping is given as follows:
The schema retrieval system described in this example meets the criteria which were established earlier, such as persistence and location-independence, and exhibits a number of virtues which may not be immediately apparent. These features merit further elaboration. Amongst the criteria listed for the schema identifier are persistence and location independence. The persistence and location independence of the URN is achieved by the provision of a centralized URN Repository which is easily updated. The registry, in an embodiment of the invention, is an x.500 directory, with a directory tree as given in Maintaining a centralized URN Repository lends scalability, integrity, and flexibility to the schema retrieval system. The provision of a centralized repository eliminates a need for replicated lists of schema locations. This frees memory in the system for other uses. The centralized repository also contributes to the scalability of the system, as any new server added to the system can access schemas simply by accessing the URN Repository. The elimination of replicated lists also preserves the integrity of the schema locations, for the system makes updates to the registry relatively simple, as elaborated above, and the centralized nature of the repository eliminates the possibility of contradictory location information for schemas. Embodiments of the invention also expedite schema retrieval. Because the URN Repository is stored in a directory tree, the search for the network location is faster than a flat file repository by a logarithmic factor. Additionally, the object-oriented features supported by the enhanced schema language of the present invention enable the safe extension and evolution of elements defined in the language. Type extension allows elements to be defined as extensions of pre-existing elements. Polymorphism allows the extended elements to be used in contexts reserved for the original elements. By coupling polymorphism with type extension, the schema language enables type safe extensions at runtime. Thus document types and applications can evolve separately on the transaction services network. As such, the extension mechanisms in the schema language allow trading partners to modify existing document types easily while preserving the integrity of document instances and applications that rely on the original document types. Trading partners can modify or extend existing document types to accommodate novel transactions while preserving the integrity of applications that rely on the original document types. Thus the enhanced schema language lends flexibility in creating and modifying transactions while preserving the integrity of existing applications on the transaction services network. An alternative embodiment for the repository includes a federated directory service, in which the individual nodes of the directory service reside on separate servers. In an embodiment of the invention, schemas unique to particular trading partners are stored on sites which are operated by the trading partners. For instance, a particular buyer may modify a PurchaseOrder schema to suit their requirements. In an embodiment of the invention, those nodes of the LDAP tree which lead to a leaf with the URI for the modified PurchaseOrder reside on sites under the control of the buyer. This embodiment enables the buyer site to update nodes leading to a particular schema location itself, without going through a central directory service. As such, this embodiment decentralizes the process of updating the Directory Service, while preserving the integrity of the directory and eliminating the need for replicated URN repositories. The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent. Patent Citations
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Creating a Sacred Space: The Birthplace of the Buddha
Description:What is necessary for a Buddhist place to become marked as sacred? Issues of the development and maintenance of a sacred space are more prevalent in present day Lumbini, Nepal, than anywhere in the world. In addition to being an UNESCO World Heritage Site, various organizations and individuals are explicitly attempting to establish and present Lumbini as "the Fountain of World Peace and Holiest Pilgrimage Shrine for all the Buddhists and peace loving people of the world." (16:37)
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Tags: Creating Sacred Space: Birthplace of the Buddha , birthplace of the buddha , buddhist pilgrimage shrines , buddhist sacred places


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Spicy Green Beans
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 pound green beans
4 scallions, diagonally sliced
2 shallots, minced
3 medium cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon of Sriracha Hot Sauce (more or less depending on your tolerance level)
*Note-Make sure everything is prepped and ready to go before tossing anything in the pan. It will take just a few minutes to cook everything. It will go by quickly.
Combine the soy sauce, white vinegar, sugar, Sriracha and red pepper flakes in a bowl and whisk until combined.
Mince the garlic, and cut the scallions
Place the iron skillet over high heat for at least 5 minutes.
When everything is chopped and ready, toss in the oil, swirl until it coats the bottom of the skillet, and add the green beans. Cook until they are tender, about 4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so. It will look like youre murdering them, but be patient. It will work.
Dump in those neatly cut scallions and shallots and cook about another 4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.
Add the garlic and cook just until it becomes fragrant; add the soy sauce mixture. Cook for another 20 seconds or so, and then turn off the heat, and plate. - Adapted from the Paupered Chef
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New Delhi: School children and activists
here on Friday remembered Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and took a
pledge to fight terrorism on the eve of his 113th birth
Leading a march at Subhash Chandra Bose Park in the city
was Anti-Terrorist Front chairman M S Bitta who said the birth
anniversary of Netaji "provides us an opportunity to remember
our great freedom fighters".
"Let`s take a pledge to fight terrorism, including
political terrorism on this day. Together we can and together
we will do it. Rukhsana and her brother provide us an example
in fighting terrorism," he told the children.
Rukhsana and her brother, two youngsters hailing from
Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, killed a top Pakistani militant
and injured another after a group of ultras barged into their
house in Shahdra Sharief village on September 27.
Netaji`s slogans -- "Give me blood and I will give you
freedom" and `Jai Hind` -- reverberated in the air.
Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa.


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Saline County, Arkansas
How to Use this Information
Pesticide Table for the Arkansas Fatmucket | About the Arkansas Fatmucket
Arkansas Map | ESPP Home
Arkansas Fatmucket
Table of Pesticide Active Ingredients
Active Ingredient | Code |
43 |
Limitations On Pesticide Use
Code | Limitations |
1 | Do not apply this pesticide within 20 yards from the edge of water within the shaded area shown on the map for ground applications, nor within 100 yards for aerial applications. |
43 | Do not apply this pesticide within 100 yards of water within the shaded area shown on the map for ground applications, nor within 1/4 mile for aerial applications. |
Arkansas fatmucket [Lampsillis powelli]
The Arkansas fatmucket is a medium sized freshwater mussel approximately 3.9 inches in length. Its shell is shiny olive-brown with a pearly, bluish-white interior. This species is found in deep pools or backwater areas with sand or gravel bottoms and a fast current to prevent silt or detritus buildup. The fatmucket, like other mussels, feeds by filtering food particles from the water and is sensitive to silt which clogs their feeding siphons.
The historic range of the Arkansas Fatmucket mussel was believed to have been widespread in Arkansas in the Caddo River, the Ouchita River, and the Saline River. However, it is now only found in select locations and in limited numbers in these three rivers. The decline of the Arkansas fatmucket has been attibuted to construction of dams, alteration of channels, gravel dredging, and other practices that have destroy the species' habitat. In addition, the regions water quality has suffered significant degradation by the runoff from mining operations, improperly treated sewage, fertilization, and other industrial and agricultural runoffs.


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North-West Thailand
Chiang Mai
» Cooking and Kissing Elephants
Cooking and Kissing Elephants
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Round the World
North-West Thailand
Chiang Mai
April 13th 2010
Published: April 13th 2010
Chris and Lisa
A wee snack
After making it back across the mighty Mekong and through immigration without anything untoward happening we headed into Chiang Khong and straight to the bus station to catch the next available bus to Chiang Rai. To our utter dismay the next bus proved to be one of the local buses - which basically meant no air con, small plastic seats and very cramped - which made the 3hr journey seem to go on forever. Smelly, hot and tired we eventually arrived in Chiang Rai and headed for a hotel, the Tourist Inn, which had been recommended to us by Mel, one of our tree house companions. At 250 baht (£4.50) a night we felt we had a good deal and, as they had a small bakery which provided a nice breakfast, we were very happy. As we were only spending one night in Chiang Rai we can't comment too much on the town as all we saw of it was the ride from the bus station to the hotel, a pizza place (we were all in desperate need of something other than rice and veg to eat) and the ride to another bus station the following day, but it seemed really
Not a statue
but a real monk, honest.
nice and laid back and somewhere we would definitely like to visit when we have more time.
An early start the following day secured us places on a VIP coach to Chiang Rai, and to our surprise it really was a VIP bus with all the mod cons - so nice. The journey flew by and we were soon at the Mini Cost hotel and to our delight a booking error meant we had very nice rooms at a reduced rate - hurrah. After depositing some rather unpleasant jungle coated washing with the laundry service Chris and I decided that a visit to Wat Phra Singh was in order, Matthew being exhausted opted for a siesta instead. The first impressions of the compound, with its main building and typical naga staircase, were good. It was constructed in 1345 and contains one of Thailand's three Phra Singh Buddha images. Around the inside of the viharn are lovely colourful murals, albeit somewhat decaying, which depict two different stories: on the right hand wall that of an old folk tale, the Sang Thong and on the left hand wall the story of the mythical swan Suwannahong. The temple compound also boasts a
How hot?
do these ingredients look
wooden scripture repository inlaid with mosaic which is surprisingly well-preserved and extremely intricate. The whole area is a haven of peacefulness even though chattering young novice monks and local schoolboys were ever present.
The following day Chris wanted to chill for the day and catch up on these blogs whilst Matthew and I headed out to partake in some authentic Thai cooking at one of the many cooking schools. We had chosen the Thai Farm Cooking School and were so pleased that we did. We were picked up from the hotel and taken to a local market where the ingredients we would be using were displayed on stalls jam packed with every conceivable type of food. We wandered around the market for a while taking in all the sights and smells, rushing past the tank crammed full of live fish, about to be de-scaled alive, in favour of the savoury smells of the spices. A short ride took us to the organic farm, where the school was located, and a brief talk on some of the home grown herbs and spices was a good introduction to the ingredients we would be using. We found the cooks very easy to
Watch out Gordon
the Pad Thai pair are learning fast
understand and with a hilarious sense of humour the day was extremely enjoyable. Matthew had chosen to make red curry paste, red curry with chicken, Tom Yam with shrimps, chicken with cashew nuts, spring rolls and mango with sticky rice. Unfortunately it didn't start off too well with his red curry with chicken looking extremely anaemic and slightly reminiscent of something very unpleasant (no-one was brave enough to try it). Happily things went better from then on and by the time he made the spring rolls he was an expert. I had decided to make yellow curry paste, yellow curry with chicken, Tom Yam with shrimps, chicken with cashew nuts, pad thai fried noodles and mango with sticky rice. Unlike Matthew, I was proficient right from the very beginning (of course) and only lost the plot with the pad thai which did get thoroughly burned - oops. Our class of 6 had a lovely long lunch trying each other's creations (except Matthew's curry) and everyone agreed that it had been a great day. Armed with our copies of the cook book and some spring rolls for Chris to try we headed back home, stuffed and pleased with our new found
big bugger
but magnificent
cooking skills - time will tell. It was a great day doing something completely different and the cooking school was professionally run without spoiling any of the fun - we would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to have a go at creating some authentic Thai culinary delights.
Not needing anything to eat that night we decided an early one was in order as we were being picked up the next day for another adventure - the Elephant Nature Park - www.elephantnaturepark.org . We had found this particular elephant conservation park on-line whilst trying to book into another elephant adventure - time would tell if we had made the right decision. The following morning we met Eric, who would be our guide for our entire stay at the park, and headed off in luxurious transport (a very nice mini bus) to pick up the other intrepid adventurers who would be our companions for a few days. As we neared the park we watched a video on the bus explaining about the work of the park and its founder Lek. Although her name means tiny/small in Thai, and she certainly lives up to that name in stature, there is nothing
New Girlfriend?
or just a quick peck?
small or tiny about her personality and her drive to save injured and mistreated Asian Elephants, one elephant at a time if necessary. The park was established in 2003 although she had begun to rescue injured and mistreated elephants in 1992. Her drive and enthusiasm can be felt everywhere in the park, from the mahouts who diligently follow their charges as they roam around the grounds to the many volunteers who give up their time in order to spend a few valuable days with these beautiful gentle giants.
As we drove through the park entrance we were greeted with our first glimpse of elephants roaming alongside the road - and we were astounded. The itinerary for those visiting for the day or staying overnight was very well organised not only ensuring that everyone had time to spend with the elephants, but also providing them with background information on the lives of domestic elephants in Thailand, some of which turned out to be quite graphic, but certainly opened our eyes to the unbelievably cruel training practices that some of these intelligent, docile, loving creatures have to endure.
We never thought in our wildest dreams we would be kissed by
Chris knows he can't compete
elephants, but before lunch Hope, one of Lek's most mischievous young male elephants, graciously planted a big, wet, hoover-like kiss on each of our cheeks. What a kiss: a combination of slobbery wetness and gentle sucking noises left each of us breathless and wanting more - an interesting technique we thought. Soon feeding time began which saw the elephants queuing at their usual spot and eager humans handing over bananas and water melons to gently enquiring, probing trunks which adeptly grasped the desired meal. Meal time for the humans involved similar queuing (and just as noisy) and turned out to be surprisingly delicious.
After lunch, the event that we had all been waiting for arrived - bath time - not soaking in a bath tub with bubble bath but in the river with elephants. Shorts and t-shirts donned, buckets and scrubbing brushes at the ready we all eagerly headed down to the river to enjoy a splash around with the first lucky pachyderm in need of cleaning. Taking into account the health and safety instructions we had received we started chucking buckets of water over the grateful animals and ourselves as well. There were a few times when us
sneaking a scoff
from someone elses basket
fragile humans had to get out of the way of the elephants as they enjoyed the water and standing so close to these beautiful creatures certainly made us constantly aware of our own insignificance, but they were always gracious and polite in allowing us to take part in a very social and pleasurable past-time for them. It was such a wonderful experience and bath time will quite honestly never be the same again.
After getting thoroughly soaked we had to vacate the river so the babies and their mums could come and have a bathe. These mums are so protective of their babes that it would be unsafe to allow us eager visitors to bathe them, so we watched from the viewing platform as both adults and little ones enjoyed the cool water. As with most babies they were thrilled in everything they did and watching them cavorting around in the water was hilariously funny and heart-warming and as they wriggled and writhed between the legs of their mums the gentleness and patience of these huge parents was only too apparent. It was also possible to discern the different personalities of the elephants; the little boy was the more
applying the sunscreen
after the water comes the mudbath
mischievous as he jumped on and climbed all over the baby girl, used his mum's tail and trunk as something to attack and was obviously delighted that his little trunk could either be used as some kind of periscope or helicopter type rotor blade. The baby girl was much more docile although her delight in the cool water was all too apparent. The fun didn't stop either after bath time as the older ones came out and administered their sun cream (dirt) and the little ones attempted to do the same, but with much less control over their wayward trunks. But all too soon the temptation of the water was too much for the little boy as he made a break from his mum and headed at full pelt into the water to bathe again with another group of gentle giants, who put up with his antics with gentle forebearance. These delightful afternoon interludes with the elephants were interspersed with informative videos of the park and the plight of the domestic Asian Elephant, which has certainly changed our attitude forever.
After an absolutely delicious dinner, a Thai massage for Chris and Matthew, and a great night's sleep in very
Soooo Cute
pleassssseee can we take him home?
good accommodation we awoke anticipating our walk amongst the elephants but our first task of the day was helping to wash the elephant's food. Task accomplished and our guide for the morning walk, Jodi, was knowledgeable about each of the elephants, energetic, enthusiastic and obviously loved it at the park. As we walked around we were able to get up close to a number of the elephants, some of which had the most horrific stories and had both mental and physical scars to prove it. What was obvious to us during this time however was that, not only had they learned to adapt to any physical disabilities they may have had, but they had also learned to trust people again and this was solely down to the loving care that Lek ensured they were given at the park. Whilst wandering around and enjoying meeting some of the older ladies, we bumped into the naughty Hope again (him of the hoover-like kisses) and his two mahouts (he is too boisterous to just have one). Apparently he was starting to come into musk which made him even naughtier than usual and to the delight of the spectators, but not his mahouts, he
or bathtime?
was determined to escape them. On more than one occasion we saw Hope charging at full pelt, trumpeting triumphantly, across the open terrain with one or both of his ever-present companions in hot pursuit, it was so unbelievably funny how he would dodge away from them only to be seen a few minutes later running in another direction with them in hot pursuit.
Once the walk was over we again took part in feeding time and bathing time where a water fight erupted between helpers and mahouts and we all ended up wetter than the elephants who kept looking at us with distinguished disdain. Afterwards we were very lucky as we were able to get close and stroke the babies. They are so lovely with their hard, wrinkled, hairy skin and trunks which seem to take on a life of their own, amusing not only to us but them as well. It was difficult to come away from them as we could have stayed and watched them for hours, they are so entertaining. For a second time we were kissed by elephants and the experience was just as memorable.
A final activity had been arranged for us: a
bathtime helpers
float down the river in tubes. The water was quite low so in places we ran aground and had to haul ourselves along but it didn't stop us from having fun. Matthew seemed to be incapable of balancing in his tube and spent as much time out of it as in it! It was a real laugh, but unlike most tubing, our destination loomed up in the shape of elephants. All too soon our two days were up and it was time for us to leave, we were really worn out, but had had a brilliant time. We never imagined we would be able to get so close and personal with elephants and we can only hope that Lek and her dedicated team succeed in saving injured and mistreated Asian elephants one elephant at a time if necessary. Her next dream is to obtain permanent land where her beloved elephants can roam more freely. We hope that her dream comes true and these majestic, gentle, gracious creatures are given a safe haven to live out their lives in peace. She is also trying to get as many signatures on a petition as possible in order to try and get the
Better than a rubber duck
Bathtime buddies
Thai Government to recognise domestic elephants and protect them from some of the truly horrific training methods they have to endure in the name of money. Again we hope she succeeds. The whole experience had an incredible impact on us and the privilege of sharing a few moments in the lives of these beautiful creatures has not only left an everlasting imprint on us but also given us some priceless memories.
Sorry to leave we headed back to Chiang Mai and a bit of retail therapy at the night bazaar. As Chris would rather pull his teeth out without an anaesthetic than go shopping, Matthew and I headed off to lighten our wallets a bit. What an absolutely great market with a huge amount of stalls offering a range of the usual holiday stuff to the more unusual hill tribe goods. A great evening and we eventually made it back to the hotel with certainly poorer but happy.
Finally we were heading back to Bangkok and the Red Shirt demonstrations. We had based ourselves in the Silom area for this part of the trip and glad we did as this was some way away from the demonstrations. We
Sun shelter
even getting too hot for the locals
had decided to spend Matthew's last few days chilling around the hotel pool and visiting the Chatuchak weekend market to buy some of those all important gifts for Matthew to take home with him, and an extra bag to put them in. Apparently the market has 8,000 open air stalls, and whilst I can't attest to the exact number it was the biggest market I have ever seen. The demonstrations had meant that the sky train was closed and so we had to take a taxi to the market and after a few hours in the sweltering heat and shopping finished we tried to make our way back to the hotel - easy we thought, wrong. The sky train was still closed and we found out that none of the taxi drivers would take us - slight problem. Luckily the metro was still open and so we managed to get the train to a stop near our hotel and then a taxi from there. That evening, just to finish off the shopping experience we took Matthew for a sightseeing trip down the infamous Thanon Phat Pong to see a few lady boys and for me to buy my lovely knock-off
nodding off
Jimmy Choo bag which had kept me awake for a few days after first seeing it. After some very hard bargaining I managed to knock the price down by 2,000 bahts and the lovely bag was mine - hurrah.
The riots/protests have been a bit surreal, you know it's happening only a few Km away but unless you are in that location it seems like a world away. Even when we see on the news that 21 died and 800 were injured it's like reading about somewhere else. We don't really understand what it is all about but the Thais are certainly passionate about democracy.
Time for Matthew to leave and Chris and I to start thinking about Vietnam.
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Chris and Lisa
Hi All. Fed up with working all the hours only for the taxman to take most of it away so we have decided to do what we have always dreamed about and take off round the world. We are currently planning our trip and have been inspired by all the great bloggs on here, thanks. We are looking to leave in Sept 2009 and travel first to the USA. I have visited many times but mainly for work, now is the time to see it for real. Then onto New Zealand to meet family, some for the first time, and see that beautiful country. Next Australia to catch up with some 'old' friends - Diane and Richard ...
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great chance
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family pach!!
14th May 2010
Sandra McKinney
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Looks like you had a fantastic time with the elephants - so jealous x
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"Dr. Death" is dead....How's that for the Economist's Caption Competition?
It is indeed anthema to be right when others are wrong.
It is hard not to support Kevorkian as a champion of those in pain, and a defender of the ultimate individual right- to end your own life. It is cruel to ask someone wracked with the agony of mortal pain to endure it until the bitter end just to satisfy YOUR OWN sense of moral propriety.
Even those clients of his that were not mortally ill wanted to die. It was their choice, not his. He did them a favor, and I don't think it is a stretch to compare him to Martin Luther King- he was after all campaigning for the rights of a significant but forgotten group of people- the terminally ill.
That being said, I personally don't think Kevorkian's motives were entirely altruistic. As the article states, he has always been fascinated with death. His moniker 'Dr Death' was first given to him by colleagues in medical school because of his macabre fascination with dying. His choice of career and specialty, as well as his macabre paintings, prove there was something unnatural about his desire to be close to people who were dead or dying.
I think he was a repressed serial killer who needed to see people die. Just like a pederast will look for a job as a scout master to be close to young boys, Kevorkian chose to become a pathologist to be around death. I think he 'helped' so many people to die because he enjoyed it. If he did not have this somewhat legitimate way to satisfy his hunger to see and cause death, I think he would have been a serial killer. And in the end, that's what he really was. 130 victims can testify to that.
A clearly emotional issue, to which religiously leaning people will have an immediate aversion. But the idea of being able to choose whether or not to end one's life in the face of terminal illness (because of the pain, the burden on families, etc) got quite a lot of attention because of this man. Of course, assisting the non-terminally ill is a vile abuse and will likely be the one for which he will be remembered. Death is difficult to think about and it takes a huge amount of strength to be with someone when they die. I'm not saying Dr Kevorkian did it for the right reasons (it seems like he was more interested in death for his own ends). What I am saying is the nurses/sisters who work in hospices (with the terminally ill) are some of the most courageous people in the world. I'm sure some people will react negatively to my comment, but think about the central issue (of the right to choose death over terminal suffering), rather than this particular man's actions (obviously assisting people who aren't in serious pain and can be cured is horrible, deplorable and murderous).
It matters not to me whether the people he helped would have died anyway or were suffering from disease. If our lives are not our own to end, then they are not ours at all. The man may have been distasteful, I don't know; he may have wound up hurting the cause he sought to promote in that way, which would be shame. It's easy to see, though, how one could be bated into a such behavior by battling so long with irrational, officious laws masquerading as justice.
Dr. Kevorkian was Pontiac Michigan's Madeline Murray O'Hare. We invited him to our university Christian group. Of course, he lectured us on atheism. In retrospect, though, it is surprising that he showed us the respect and courtesy of accepting our invitation. Another surprise: he dated a (girl) friend of mine who was 15 years his junior.
He started out with good intentions and in the very beginning I took his side - yet as the article points he became a buffoon of a self-promoter and in the end set back what should be an honorable debate on giving a "dignified death" (if such a thing exists) to those suffering.
I did not know until reading this article however that some of the people who used his services we not actually suffering - that makes it all the more worse.
Actually, he was "sellin'" the right to choose between a natural death or assisted suicide. So he was "buyin'" what he was "sellin'"
Very disappointed that the Obituary this week went to Jack Kevorkian. Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleberger would have been a much better article.
My understanding is that he chose a natural death.
So, apparently he wasn't buyin' what he was sellin'.
Whatever you think about the man or his methods, I believe that he helped raise public awareness of the subject of death, dying and choice.
My guess is that he did the legalization of assisted suicide more harm than good.
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Mushroom Fettuccine Florentine
Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions; drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Place pasta in a large serving bowl; cover and set aside. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil until hot. Add mushrooms, onion, salt, and black pepper; cook until mushrooms are golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in creamed spinach and tomatoes; cook until tomatoes are heated through, about 3 minutes. Spoon over reserved pasta. Sprinkle with cheese; toss to coat adding reserved pasta water according to desired consistency. Serve immediately.
WECN HOME | RECIPES HOME APPETIZERS | SOUPS/SALADS | SIDES/MISC. | MAIN COURSES | DESSERTS ©2008 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News


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Characteristics of Zr-based single- and multiple-barrier superconducting tunnel junctions


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KAREN's Profile
Title | Last Reply |
Sourcing organic dried unsweetened cherries I was just at Qi yesterday buying dried cherries. I just don't know whether they are organic or not, or if they have added sugar. Qi Natural Food, 219 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, 416-437-1428 |
Best masala chai tea bags in Toronto? I find the Stash Double Spice Chai to be bitter. But if you are looking for it in the city you can buy it in Kensington at the organic shops or at strictly bulk on bloor at ossington. |
Sourcing organic dried unsweetened cherries did you try Qi on Roncesvalles? i know they have dried cherries but i don't know if they are organic or sweetened. |
has any tried the ramen at R-Shop Cafe on King W? |
you can definitely ask for no spice. i have friends who have done it in the past. they don't mind at all. |
where to find the BEST cinnamon bun? TTC accessible would be preferred... West end would be perfect! |
any sightings any where in toronto? thanks |
romantic drinks with good food a plus thanks to Rabbit for suggesting Czehoski in the Coca posting http://www.chowhound.com/topics/354814 any other suggestions in downtown toronto? |
Pho Phuong - Vietnamese Fine Dining The noodles aren't suppose to be chewy, I'm guessing you mean al dente. For the best pho they should actually be using fresh noodles, which are definitely not 'chewy'. How does this place compare to Golden Turtle? |
blowfish... the food is much better. so are the drinks. don't know what the occasion is though! either way though... blowfish. two totally different types of food as well though. |
that place is horrible! water downed, under spiced, just disgusting. if i remember correctly, their naan is actually pita bread. |
B restaurant at Dundas W and Roncesvalles Has anyone tried this place yet? It looks like an interesting breakfast spot. |
looking for thai around 400 and 7 anyone have a recommendations in this area? going to a movie tonight and hoping for thai after. thanks! |
any one been? thanks! |
fionn maccools has it on tap, at least the one on king. |
where is a good place to grab a drink in the middle of an afternoon? somewhere quite, for conversation. downtown west or annex is preferred. thanks |
Just tried the website and it is no longer... I know it used to be there. Any word on the status of this restaurant? I was hoping to try it tonight. If it is still open, do I need a reservation for two people for an early dinner? Thanks |
where can i find a large selection of this brand of tea? has anyone seen the bengal spice in toronto? or the sweet coconut thai? thanks |
i would suggest coco rice. it is small and service is always fast. the food is tasty and you could reserve the whole booth that runs the length of the wall. |
after the glowing recs here for Red and White, i tried it a few weeks back. i took one bit and then forced a second, and then threw it out. it was disgusting. |
you didn't give much in the way of price range that you are looking for, so i hope this helps. first thing that came to mind in Crush Wine Bar, they have private rooms that are quite beautiful. |
can someone suggest a winery with great wine, chow worthy food and offers a bike tour? a great b & b would be the icing on the cake! thanks in advance. |
Where can I find the best cheesecake in toronto? preferably something with caramel. I'm looking for a whole cheesecake for the office. |
looking for cheap greasy diner breakfast... what is this place on queen west at lisgar on the north side called? one of these old school greek run places. anyone tried it? thanks |
i just noticed that there is a karen, all lower case, and i have been using KAREN all upper case for as long as i can remember. this seems confusing to me. for a moment, i thought that someone was logging in under my account. |
where to buy orange blossom water? thanks... good point. do you remember what that brand was so that i can avoid it? i'm trying to replicate the orange blossom pink lemonade at mezzetta. |
can anyone explain the flavour of ovaltine... i'm always wondered. |
where to buy orange blossom water? some where downtown is preferred... kensington? thanks for the help |
recs for after work drinks/food thanks to both... where is C Lounge? Is the food good? Or just free? |
i deal in kensington for coffee... |


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Information Session-Summer teaching opportunity in Beijing
2014 Tsinghua University English Summer Camp
UT undergraduate, graduate students, faculty and staff are invited to apply for a unique opportunity, working to help Chinese university undergrads hone their English speaking and communication skills at the Tsinghua University English Summer Camp in Beijing. Tsinghua University is one of China's top universities.
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Angel Pictures: Graveyard AngelsI regret I don't have more of pictures of sepulchral angels; there are so many good ones on the web. It's also sad that so few photographs some with information on the date or artist. In death we are all anonymous… See Art Discussion and Megasites : Community of Angels Project.
Historical galleries:
Ancient-Medieval |
14th-18th Centuries |
19th Century |
Jewish |
Muslim |
Orthodox Christian |
Graveyard Angels |
Dore and Hoet |
Raphael's Cherubs
Contemporary galleries: Light Fantasy | Medium Fantasy | Dark Fantasy | Pinup | Fine Art | Community of Angels | Photography | Religious | Sentimental | Tattoos | Collectibles | New Pictures
If you enjoy this site you may like these other sites by me: Cleopatra on the Web. Everything about Cleopatra VII of Egypt, in history ad the Western imagination. |


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For the yeast dough:
1 1/2 cups milk or evaporated milk
To make stuffing:-
1. Brown meat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add onions. Cook until translucent. Gradually add cabbage and cook until tender, mixing frequently. Add water as necessary to maintain simmering. Season with salt and pepper. Drain. Set aside.
To make dough:-
2. Grease a large bowl and a baking sheet and set aside.
3. Scald milk. Cool about 10 minutes. Add salt, sugar and butter. When mixture cools to between 105 and 115 degrees, add yeast and let stand 5 minutes.
4. Beat in eggs. Add flour 1 cup at a time. When dough begins to pull away from sides of bowl and can be gently kneaded, shape into a ball and place in greased bowl.
5. Cover with waxed paper and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
6. Punch down dough and roll to about 1/8 inch thick. Using a pizza cutter, cut in 4-inch squares.
7. Place a heaping tablespoon of meat filling in centre of square. Fold up edges of dough and pinch to seal filling inside. Place pinched-side down on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until browned. Serve warm or cold.


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The surname SHILLINGSFORD is not included in the US Census Bureau's ranking of surnames with 100 or more people. Since fewer than 100 people with this surname were included in the 2000 Census, it is relatively uncommon.
Source: "Genealogy Data: Frequently Occurring Surnames from Census 2000", US Census Bureau.
Accoring to the US Census Bureau, Shillingsford ranked #78,236 in frequency out of 88,799 surnames for which statistics were released from the 1990 Census.
Source: "Frequently Occurring Surnames from Census 1990", US Census Bureau.
Histopolis currently has 0 grave(s) with the surname Shillingsford.
The surname Shillingsford has a Soundex code of S452. The following 328 surname(s) may sound similar to Shillingsford since they share the same Soundex code.


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Fired Hartsfield-Jackson Designers Sue Atlanta For $60 Million
ATLANTA (AP) -- The designers of a planned international terminal at Atlanta's airport were fired from the project and promptly filed a $60 million lawsuit against the city.
In the lawsuit, the design team, led by the architectural firm Leo A Daly, claims Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport owes $10 million for unpaid work and at least $50 million for damaging their reputation.
Airport General Manager Ben DeCosta fired the team Monday, calling their plans ''over-designed'' and ''luxurious.'' He said they did not finish on time and that costs had soared at least $140 million above the initial $688 million budget.
But the lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims the city-run airport acted in bad faith and with ''malice and fraud'' when it terminated the contract. Airport officials overseeing the project had been aware of growing costs - and kept adding to the project without wanting to pay for extras, the designers said.
''We put our hearts and souls into this terminal,'' said Jerry Voith, head of the design team. ''This is a great design. ... I can't tell you how disappointed I am.''
DeCosta said the airport will rebid the project. The new terminal, part of a larger expansion plan, was originally supposed to open next year but has been pushed back several times.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press


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Time course of focal slow wave activity in transient ischemic attacks and transient global amnesia as measured by magnetoencephalography. | |
MedLine Citation:
PMID: 11059893 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
In this longitudinal study multichannel MEG was used to localize and to quantify focal pathological spontaneous neuromagnetic activity in six patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and two patients with transient global amnesia (TGA). Slow (2-6 Hz) and beta (14-30 Hz) activity were monitored up to 10 weeks. Results were compared with normative data, and changes over time were statistically analyzed. MEG detected pathological activity that persisted clinical symptoms. Focal slow activity originating from sensorimotor (TIA) and mesiotemporal (TGA) cortices exceeded normal values up to 14 times during the first hours after the attack and recovered to normal within 11 days. Focal beta activity was not useful to monitor the time course of TIA or TGA. |
C Stippich; J Kassubek; H Kober; P Sörŏs; J B Vieth |
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Publication Detail:
Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
Title: Neuroreport Volume: 11 ISSN: 0959-4965 ISO Abbreviation: Neuroreport Publication Date: 2000 Oct |
Date Detail:
Created Date: 2001-01-29 Completed Date: 2001-02-08 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID: 9100935 Medline TA: Neuroreport Country: ENGLAND |
Other Details:
Languages: eng Pagination: 3309-13 Citation Subset: IM |
Department of Experimental Neuropsychiatry, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. |
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
MeSH Terms | |
Aged Aged, 80 and over Amnesia / diagnosis, physiopathology* Brain / pathology, physiopathology Female Humans Ischemic Attack, Transient / diagnosis, physiopathology* Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnetoencephalography* Male Middle Aged Reference Values Time Factors |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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Facilities & Resources Welcome to our Facilities and Resources section. Please choose a link from the table below for more information. Facilities and Resources at BU
More info in our Student PortalTo get a feel for the other facilities available to you as a BU student, please visit our Student Portal website. |


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Trip Start
Apr 02, 2011
Trip End
May 15, 2011
Where I stayed
Tahitian Princess
We would only be in port for half a day from 07:00AM until 1:00PM. That would be all of the time allowed for our adventure out onto the Rock. We left the ship early, just after the gangplank had been lowered into place. It was still too early to shop, but we wanted to walk into town and catch the cable car lift to the top of the mountain that is the Rock of Gibraltar. We walked quickly thru town as we would return later in the day after exploring the Rock. In that way the stores would be open and we could look around the town area at the base of the mountain. We arrived at the cable car station just in time to watch the attendant put out a sign saying the Cable Car would not be operating due to the strong winds that were blowing on the mountain side. We looked up the mountain and watch the lengths of cables that stretched from the small building we were beside, up the mountain ,up past tall towers that held the cable in place and even further up to the very top of the mountain where the cables enter another small building. Today we would not take the cable car ride to the top of the mountain.
Just outside of the lift building, was a set of tour vans, they were another way to go to the top. They offer a tour of the complete top of the Rock from the Pillars of Hercules to St. Michaels Cave on pass the Ape Den and out to the Great Siege Tunnels. We accepted the tour along with three other couples from the ship, thus we began our adventure on the Rock of Gibraltar. It was a small white van that held nine people including the driver. So off we drove, up the mountain and into our Gibraltar Adventure.
Our first stop was at the Pillars of Hercules, where legend says Hercules broke the land bridge between Europe and Africa and pushed the continents apart. This is the site that the ancient Greeks refer to as the Pillars of Hercules.
Out next stop was at St. Michaels Caves. This is a series of natural caverns formed by water erosion. They have found evidence of cavemen in the caverns and today it serves not only as a cave tour, but as a small theater for underground theatrical performances. We wander thru the cave and caverns seeing the large stalactites and stalagmites that make up a water erosion cavern. This was unexpected for us as the Rock of Gibraltar is not known for its natural caves.
From the natural caverns of St, Michaels Cave we drove along the mountain toward the far end of the mountain. About halfway across we stopped at the Ape's Den. This is a place where the famous Barbary Apes of Gibraltar are normally located. They can also be seen in lesser numbers all along the top of the mountain. As we go out of the van, I stood on the side of the road next to several large boulders. Suddenly something jumped on my shoulder and was holding my head. It was a Barbary ape that wanted to visit with the humans that had come up to his home. He sat there very gently and calmly as if this was just another perch for him to sit. I was immediately assailed with request to face every person who had a camera. I was now an attraction on the Rock of Gibraltar. Our guide patiently waited for all of the members of the tour to take a picture, then he waved his hand at the ape and it jumped back to the boulder that was its prior perch. Yes, we were in the Ape's Den. This is where the military feeds the apes so that they will not be a nuisance to the town or the tourists that frequent the Rock. The Barbary ape is a tailless monkey that is native to this area of land. Legend has it that Britain will retain the Rock as long as the Apes live here. Does anyone believe the legend? In 1944, the middle of World War II, Winston Churchill was concerned that the ape population was growing too small, so he sent to Northern Africa for ape-reinforcements. Today the ape population is approximately 60. Although they are wild they are also used to humans and know that they are protected and will not be bothered by humans. We hiked to the top of the Ape's Den, so that we could look in on direction and see the Mediterranean on the right and the Atlantic on the left. This really impressed on us the narrowness of the Rock of Gibraltar.
From our vantage point, we stood on the tip of Europe and saw Africa just eight miles away. From here you can appreciate the significance of this rock at the end of the European Contingent. The Ancient Greeks were here during their time of dominance on the stage of mankind. In 711, a Moorish army led by Tariq ibn Zeyad crossed from Africa and began the conquest of Spain on the Rock of Gibraltar. The Spanish recovered control of the Rock in 1462, just thirty years before they sent Columbus around the Rock and out into the Atlantic on his voyage to the undiscovered New World. The Rock remained in Spanish control until 1704, when the British Navy under Admiral Rooke took the fortress and the town. It was called Rooke's Rock for some time after the takeover by the British. The Spanish and the French tried to jointly recapture the Rock with the Great Siege (1779-83) during the American Revolution. The siege was to become one of the greatest sieges in history. The British dug tunnels in the side of the mountain to protect themselves during the siege.
These Great Siege Tunnels were our next destination on the tour. It is estimated that in one day of heavy fighting there was over 4,000 rounds fire in total by both sides. The British Army tunneled into solid rock to escape the bombardment. They dug tunnels that went over 300 feet into the mountain. From these tunnels they were able to fire down on the harbor and the enemy ships. We walked back into the tunnels and imagined the fierceness of the battle. Large rings were seated in the side of the tunnel. These rings were used to move the large siege cannons thru the tunnel. Today the smoke and smell of gun powder was not evident, just the cool silence of history. The height of the roof in the tunnels was varied from one inch shorter than I am to a few inches taller than I am. Along the side of the tunnel were periodic openings to allow for cannon and observation of the siege occurring below the mountain.
After leaving the tunnels we headed back down the Rock to the town that lies between the Rock and the ocean. It is a small town of about 30,000 inhabitants that are part of the British Empire by referendum requested by the United Nations in 1967. The town is a mixture of a military town and a tourist town. Its main street is mainly a walking street and is called Main Street. We had a leisurely walk back thru town and toward the harbor and the White Lady. As we approached the end of the town there was a large military parade occurring in the main square of town. As a British Army location, all of the pomp and ceremony that the British Army is known for was present at the ceremony. It was a ceremonious reminder that this is still a place of military significance.
We returned to the White Lady in time to have a nice lunch before the crew removed the gangplank and slipped the ship gently from the dock and out into the Straits of Gibraltar toward the Atlantic Ocean. We will cruise for the rest of the day and night to awake tomorrow morning in Lisbon, Portugal.
Hunt for Harriet Results:
Linda, Sharon, Brenda, and Chrystal were able to located Harriet amidst the crowds of St. Paul de Vence. Today she is on the streets of the Town of Gibraltar waiting to be discovered by you.
Where is Harriet? Hunt
Today she is on the streets of the Town of Gibraltar waiting to be discovered by you
Brenda on April 25, 2009
Another really tough one and hard to describe. I think Harriett is standing behind the people sitting at tables on the left of center picture. She is to the left of the person standing in the red top.


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NPRA 2007 Annual Meeting
U.S. Middle Distillate Demand Changes
Heavy duty vehicles
drove historical
distillate demand
Any signs of emerging
growth in light duty
diesel market?
Shifts in relative pricing
of diesel versus
Note: Transportation includes on- and off-highway,
rail road, farm use, marine.
Source: EIA Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales
Over the past decade, the heavy-duty vehicle fleet kept diesel demand growth higher than gasoline.
Jet demand fell back after 9-11, which kept its average growth over the past decade down to 1.2%.
(Future jet fuel growth is projected at 2.3% over the next decade.)
Transportation distillate demand grew on average 3.0% per year.
The other sectors were flat or declined.
In 2004, diesel-fueled vehicles were 3.2% of new light-duty vehicle sales.
Most of them were the heavier light-duty trucks within the light-duty vehicles.
While automakers have announced a number of new light-duty diesel-fueled models becoming available in the next few years, there are no clear signs of how many U.S. buyers will opt to buy a diesel-fueled light-duty vehicle.
The price advantage diesel fuel had over gasoline seems to have vanished, and U.S. buyers have memories of the unattractive features of older diesel-fueled vehicles that must be overcome.
Still, the new diesel-fueled vehicles are very different than the old models, offering both power and efficiency without the old diesel-vehicle smell.
Interest in light-duty, diesel-fueled vehicles could increase substantially. J.D. Power and Associates estimates light-duty diesel sales will exceed 10% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2015.
Last year we presented a high diesel-penetration case (15% of light-duty vehicle sales by 2015).
That growth in penetration dropped gasoline sales by 192 thousand barrels per day in 2015 and increased diesel by 139 thousand barrels per day relative to the base case that kept diesel penetration at roughly today's rate.
Should this kind of adoption of diesels by Americans occur, it could impact gasoline and diesel growth rates
-- increasing diesel by +0.3% per year, and decreasing gasoline by -0.2%.
Regardless of the diesel penetration rate into the light-duty fleet, U.S. diesel demand should still see high growth rates from the heavy-duty vehicles alone.