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Cross-Cultural Blog
He Said: 他说
Follow along as our two bloggers, Nick, an American living in China, and Tommy, a Chinese living in the U.S., discuss topics from their own unique perspectives.
Nick Compton is a native of Strawberry Point, Iowa, completing a Master's degree in journalism at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He's been back-and-forth between Iowa and China since 2007, when he spent a semester studying Chinese in Tianjin while he was a sophomore at the University of Iowa. Nick is fascinated by Chinese culture and language, and thinks Chinese food is the most delicious type of food on earth.
Tommy was born in Shanghai and spent time studying in Singapore when he was 15 years old. He enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa and earned his bachelor degree in Public Relations in 2012. He is currently working in Iowa coordinating a community project.
I remember the scene vividly:
Late last year, I was eating lunch with a Chinese friend who was obviously upset. When I met her at the gate of the student canteen, she tried her best to make small talk, but something was clearly wrong. Her head hung low, her eyes were glued to the floor, and she spoke in one-breath answers, quiet and polite.
Finally, when we'd grabbed out trays and dug into the cafeteria food, she told me what was on her mind.
"My parents don't agree with my boyfriend," she said, elaborating that the couple had been dating for four years, and she could sense he was on the verge of marriage proposal. She loved him, she said, and she was sure he loved her.
But her parents, working-class people from central China, were practical to the bone. They didn't like the fact that he was a librarian in Beijing, or the fact that he was a few years shy of 30 and didn't own a car or an apartment. They asked my friend how he could possible support her, and what use it would do to start a family with a man who could barely afford to feed himself, let alone a second (and potentially third) mouth.
My friend's arguments did no help. Her parents disagreed. That was final.
A few weeks after our meeting, just before the Chinese New Year and a family reunion that would have been painful had she disobeyed her parents, she broke up with him. There was no other way, she told me.
Such is the dilemma in modern China, where young adults must balance cultural and family expectations with the overpowering desire to blaze their own path and do things their own way –touting individualism over collectivism.
The expectations are fairly clear cut, and the roles are almost typecast from a Hollywood movie. Men are expected to secure a steady job and then lean on their families to buy a car, an apartment, and anything else that proves handy in landing a wife and starting a faily. Women, for their part, are expected to succumb to their gender roles: Marry before 30, have a child, and raise him/her (preferably a boy) to success. In many circumstances, desperation kicks in if a woman is approaching 30 and hasn't married yet.
What I would argue is that this set of cultural expectations isn't unique to China, but from what I've seen firsthand, it can be a sort of a poisonous culture that acts to tamp down dreams before they've had a chance to blossom.
For instance, I have so many smart, capable, Chinese graduate student friends who will forgo a career in whatever their skillset or interests are in favor of what their parents tell them to do, or what they foresee as the most stable option.
Society as a whole suffers from this, when innovative, talented people are pigeon-holed into the feeling of living a life and a career that is not their own, but is merely what is expected of them.
"我父母不同意我和我男朋友," 她说,接着介绍道他们俩已经在一起四年了,她也觉得男方差不多准备提出求婚了,她爱他,并十分肯定他也爱着她。
Four years ago as I was preparing to come to the United States and to University of Northern Iowa, I had no idea what I am going to major in or what I am going to do after graduation. My mum then told me to choose accounting as she explained the stable future of accounting major and the ease of finding a job. "Besides, UNI has a great accounting program and high CPA pass-rate." She concluded.
So that's what I did. I joined the one of the majors that most other Chinese students chose as well. However, I realized that accounting was not for me within the first half of the semester. After a weeks of long and painful "discussions", I changed my major to Public Relations.
Since then, I talked with many students, both Chinese and American, to find out who chose their major and what they feel about their major. Not surprisingly most Chinese students followed their parents' advice while most American students chose the major on their own. Most American students said their parents didn't care what they choose.
However, what came as a surprise to me was the fact that not many Chinese students are as unhappy about the choice as I thought. Most of them said they didn't know what else to do so they followed their family's advice. Don't get me wrong, not all of them are doing great in these majors, but they just endure the suffering (in my opinion), and keep working hard on the subjects they have no interest in at all. "That's what everyone else does," one of them commented.
I am pampered in a way. My parents and I both did not like to work too hard on something if there is an easier way out. So I cannot understand why people would spend so much of their energy on majors they don't enjoy. If they end-up in the industry they might even need to endure it for a good amount of year before they can do something else. And as far as I know, the longer you spend in an industry the harder it is for you to switch.
The reason for such a different mindset of parents is easy to figure out if you consider the difference in society norms. In China, most children nowadays are the only child of the family due to the one-child policy. When there is no one else to take away the attention from the parents, all the expectations fall upon one child. This then naturally caused the parents to map out everything and want their child to make as few mistakes in life as possible, whereas most American parents would spend their attention on multiple children and those families with single child would still be influenced by the society's norm and not interfere their children's life as much.
What the Chinese parents fail to realize is that avoiding mistakes will not only leave the possibility of making greater mistake in the future, but also leave the child to wonder for the rest of his/her life: what if I did/did not….? With this thought, they cannot focus on their current job because they keep thinking they might be doing something wrong. Thus making it hard to give 100% of what they have at work.
There is no easy way to change a society's norm, but I am really glad that I came to University of Northern Iowa for my undergrad degree because it is really easy to switch majors in the United States.
Before coming to China I, like most of my friends and relatives back in the U.S., assumed that China was one, huge, homogenous chunk of land – where everyone spoke "Chinese," looked "Chinese," and shared a common culture and history.
After living on-and-off in China since 2007 and traveling throughout much of the country, I can resolutely say that notion is false. Just like in the United States, each geographic region of China (province in China's case) is distinct with its own cuisine, culture, and in many cases, dialect. Although an overwhelming majority of the people, close to 92 percent according to government statistics, are Han Chinese, there are 55 other ethnic minorities in China. Some, like the Uighurs in China's extreme northwest, look nothing like the image of the "typical" Chinese person that was burned into my mind before coming.
Now, having just traveled to Shenzhen in China's southern Guangdong Province, I've become aware of another division that shares a parallel with the U.S. – the distinction between northern China and southern China.
In my experience, if you ask a Chinese northerner (north of the Yangtze river) the difference between northern China and southern China, they'll tell you that southerners are more interested in earning money and less interested in politics. They eat rice instead of noodles and steamed buns, don't dine on jiaozi (dumplings) during the spring festival, and are generally darker-skinned.
Of course, if you ask a Southerner about a Northerner, they're likely to say that they're taller, stronger, and eat heartier food, but are a tad less "cultured."
In Guangdong province, the heart of China's Cantonese culture, I experienced southern culture at its apex. In Beijing and Manchuria (dong bei), I experienced northern culture at its apex.
Just like in the U.S., each region has a rich heritage and culture. In southern states in the U.S., you're likely to hear voices flavored by a Dixie accent, and will probably see a confederate flag or two, a remnant of an era that came and went.
In China, I've found that the stereotypes of north and south are, by-and-large, spot on. Like the culture as a whole, southern cuisine is carefully prepared, subtly spiced, and neatly served. In the north, food is blasted with flavor and sauce, and served on huge, heaping platters.
It's tough to say which culture I like better, but because I've spent most of my time in China in Beijing, I've become more familiar and comfortable around the northern culture. Still, the allure of the warm, subtle south is alluring.
What's most important is for an outsider to understand that China, like the U.S., is far from a homogenous country. The geographic divisions, north-south especially, play an important role.
就像美国一样,每一个局域都含有自己独特的文化与习俗。在南美洲,你会听到迪克西口音, 而且你还会看到人们挂着盟旗,用来纪念一段历史。
Some of us were talking about the problem of littering in office today. For me, who grew up in Shanghai, studied in Singapore and finished college in Cedar Falls, Shanghai has the most serious littering problem. However, as I have always seen America as a homogenous entity, I failed to realize the difference people came from different places would have. From what was described to me, cities like New York has a much worst littering problem than Shanghai.
This did make me start to think about the difference people show in my four years in the States. Americans do not have dialects like we do in China, but some of them do have a very distinguishable accent. Another thing I noticed was Americans usually have a very strong stereotype for each state whereas in China, most of the people are grouped into North and South.
The reason for the difference in my opinion is that more people want to travel and move into bigger cities in China which created a bigger flow of population. I think there are enough opportunities here in the States so people can do well without depending too much on their location. But it is very different in China, most people believe in going to a bigger city would bring them more income and ultimately lead to a good life. While this idea is true in many cases, I feel there are many opportunities missed in smaller communities.
Most of my American friends could not understand the difference between a dialect and a language and are usually surprised to learn that people from the north can sometimes do not understand a single word someone from the south is speaking even though they can both write in the same language. I personally believe this is a very important aspect of Chinese culture and should definitely be preserved and this can be a good indicator of geological identity.
When I graduate with a Master's Degree from Tsinghua University in four months, I will enter perhaps the world's toughest job market – China. While the official government unemployment rate has hovered around 4 percent since before the Olympic Flame was extinguished at the Bird's Nest Stadium, recent college grads (my Chinese friends among them) tell a completely different story. Unless you have remarkable skills in a red-hot area like computer programming, it's nearly impossible to snag a promising job that you're interested in, and can pay the bills, fresh out of college.
As far as I can tell, the reason rests in simple statistics.
In 2012, China pumped out nearly seven million college grads, according to its ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. That's seven million educated grads with sky-high expectations entering a job market that is still heavily tilted towards low-paying manufacturing jobs. And those jobs are, indeed, there for the taking.
A serious shortage of willing labor has caused many factories in southern China's industrial belt to engage in all-out recruiting campaigns, sometimes, my friends say, even, venturing into China's most prestigious universities like Tsinghua and Peking University to fling out job offers.
More often than not, these recruiters are scoffed at. Factory work is looked down upon, considered far below the abilities of well-read, worldly college grads. Perhaps they shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the idea, though. Reports came out last year that detailed how these factory jobs paid more, on average, than the starting salary of a college grad in China.
The problem is that so many in China, like the U.S., hold themselves out for the perfect job – one that pays well, challenges them, and fits their area of expertise - when the jobs available don't at all fit this criteria. That leaves Chinese college grads, just like their American counterparts, settling, in desperation, for low-paying service jobs, working in fields that have nothing to do with the fields they studied.
My Chinese friends at Tsinghua who will soon graduate are, like me, scrambling to send out resumes, network with potential employers, and score reference letters from their professors and internship coordinators. I can't help but feel, though, that I, as a foreigner and native-English speaker, have a leg up in the rat race.
All seven million Chinese are competing against each other for that perfect job. Most drag through the official hiring process at big multinationals and huge Chinese firms – applying online, taking tests, going through group interviews….Outshining their fellow applicants is near-impossible when some positions attract thousands of very bright, ambitious go-getters with internships under the wings and connections to pull on.
I, on the other hand, can often just email a company executive to inquire about an opening. Being a foreigner is sometimes that much of a novelty.
Whatever the case, I wish my friends, both foreign, and Chinese, the best of luck while job hunting before this graduation season, and I urge them all to look beyond their ideal jobs and settle for something a little more feasible.
I have always thought before I graduated that working in the United States would be difficult. This idea was largely affected by articles and other media pieces either about either illegal immigration or barriers for foreign national individuals to find job in the United States. Many of my friends and I heard a lot of stories about the hardship people went through when they were looking for a job. All these added up and made me believe firmly that it would not be a fun experience to look for a job here. I learned later that finding a job here is not difficult as long as you know how to look for one. In my opinion, the barrier is usually there to prevent foreign nationals from taking jobs with lower pay or unfair advantage over United States citizens. As long as you can prove your value in the work you have done or demonstrate the importance of your work, there should be no problem for you to be able to work in the United States.
Luckily for me, I managed to get hired as a full time staff member to work on the Blue Zones Project for Cedar Falls. This is a community wellbeing improvement initiative. I grew more and more passionate about my job everyday because I realized that this is such a great opportunity for me to experience working and learn more about engaging different people. However, I couldn't help but to compare the working environment and employees' attitude towards working here with Chinese culture.
It seems that Americans are more likely to quit a job without knowing what their next step would be. Most Chinese workers would not leave their current job until they know they have another job waiting for them. Americans seem to care more about finding passion in the job and will not continue once they do not feel good about what they are doing.
Some may say this kind of action is reckless and irresponsible, but I think it is really important to be doing whatever you feel is right for you. I believe firmly that doing something with passion will make you one of the top employees in the industry. It would motivate you to keep on learning and improving. However, I also think that before leaving a job a person should at least have a general idea of what should come next instead of just leave and start searching later.
All in all, I have had an awesome working experience here in the States and this definitely would help me in my future career development.
I consider myself a runner. I've completed dozens of 5k and 10k events, stretching back to a time when I still hadn't shed all of my baby teeth. The last few years, as my life became busier and my stresses multiplied, I used running as my crutch – embarking on long, slow tears to clear my head and enter a sort of meditation.
In this way, inadvertently, my conditioning improved, and I began not just finishing in the races I entered, but competing. I won some, placed in others, and slowly but steadily improved my times. After finishing a half marathon in New Orleans, and thinking "that wasn't so bad," there was only one frontier left: a full marathon.
The difficulty ahead of me was forbidding, however: I was moving to Beijing.
That meant a near deathblow for my training. If I wanted variety and hoped to escape Tsinghua's campus, I would have to putter along car-choked highways, dodge throngs of people, and endure throat singing smog. Running inside on a treadmill was OK for the first hour or so, before it became intolerably boring.
Still, I pushed ahead, and formed the habit of waking up with the sun to beat the morning crowds and run a few laps around my corner of Beijing. I joined the marathon group on campus, all Chinese graduate students who capitalized on a sliver of free time to embark on long, slow runs every Sunday around Tsinghua's campus.
In early October, I was ready and excited to run the Beijing Marathon. Because of the 18th Party Congress, however, the event was delayed, and my registration was voided. I watched with disappointment as the event came and went, without even the chance to tie my running shoes.
So, my friends and colleagues in China recommended I register for the Xiamen Marathon, a well-respected run in China's beautiful southern port city. The climate is perfect, they assured me, and the race well organized. So, without giving it much thought, I registered online, and booked a plane ticket from Beijing to Xiamen.
When my plane lifted off from Beijing, I looked down on a landscape frozen in ice and dusted with snow. Dropping down in Xiamen, the ocean sparkled brilliantly, and the hills surrounding the city were lush green. The temperature difference, I noticed as I grabbed my luggage and stood in queue for a taxi, was dramatic – I took off my jacket and wished I was wearing shorts instead of jeans.
My hostel was owned and operated by a family who spoke next-to-no English, rarely entertained foreign guests, and was fascinated by all things Western. Using my hesitant, choppy Chinese, I explained to the owner, his wife, his brother, and his college-aged niece, that I was in Xiamen to run a marathon in a few days, and just wanted to rest before the race. Over tea and sunflower seeds in their garden patio, they questioned me about my hometown, my siblings, my studies at Tsinghua.
"You know," the owner said, pointing to his young niece, "She still doesn't have a boyfriend. Maybe you could help."
I politely ducked away from that suggestion, reminding them that I had a girlfriend, and few of my friends were single.
On the day of the marathon, I popped out of bed at 5:30 a.m. and gathered my things in order to catch a cab in time for the race's early morning start. As I stepped out of the door and entered the lobby, I was floored by the owners' thoughtfulness. On the front desk was a large, folded cardboard sign that said 'Nick, You Are the Best.' It was obviously written in the niece's careful hand, and immediately motivated me – knowing that I had support in such an unfamiliar place was hugely important.
The marathon was as promised. It was well organized, the route was gorgeous, with the pale blue ocean in sight most of the time, and the weather was ideal. What struck me most, though, was the support I received from thousands of locals who stood near the path and shouted words of encouragement, "jia you, jia you, kuai pao!" Some brought bananas or water to pass out to the runners. Others dressed up in costumes to cheer even louder.
As I passed the 35 kilometer mark, my legs already rubber and my will power beginning to fade, I saw a familiar sign – 'Nick, You Are the Best.' The owner and his niece were standing along the path, yelling my name, yelling for me to suck it up and run faster. Seeing them, knowing that they went out of their way to come root for me, sent a surge of new energy coursing through my body, and I pushed through the last 7 kilometers, finishing in just more than three hours.
Meeting with the owner after the race, I thanked him and told him how much his support meant to me. He laughed and once again pointed to his niece.
"She still doesn't have a boyfriend," he said, hoping, one last time, that I might reconsider.
The first time I know I was going to do a long run instead of a short lap run I was in middle school in China. The guys were required to run 1000 meters and girls 800. Some of my friend had leg cramp after the run. Most of them did not finish it. I was never a fast runner, but I managed to finish the run without stopping.
However, Singapore requires their students to run 2400 meter a few times each semester, and a 5k cross-country each year. I felt I almost died the first time I ran, but I slowly adapted to it. That was when I started to like doing long runs.
I had a minor knee injury when I was younger, so few years ago doctor told me running was really bad for my knee as it puts a lot of pressure on it. I slowly stopped running after that and have not been running since I got to the United States.
Many of my American friends run on a regular basis whereas I do not see or hear any of my friends back in China who runs. I think the running culture is very different and it's a more common practice in America than in China. The environment can be an important factor but also most sidewalks are not runner-friendly. Not many trails were in place for people to use and not many people use them anyways. To me this has become a vicious cycle because nobody would care to push the city planning department to build more trails for people to run or walk.
I wish cities in China can become more suitable for citizens to exercise, have fun and live.
After two full weeks of firecrackers, feasting, and a whole lot of red, the Chinese New Year, the biggest annual holiday in the Middle Kingdom, officially wrapped up a week ago. I've been back-and-forth between China and the U.S. since 2007, but this was the first time I spent the holiday season in Beijing, and I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed by all I experienced.
As all of you studying overseas know, the phenomenon of culture shock is not a myth. At first, everything – from the food, the buildings, the customs, the language – all seems backwards and upside down. But, as with all else in life, after you get past the growing pains and come to a deeper understanding of something, it seems less strange, less foreign, and more easy to come to grips with.
So it was for me and the Chinese New Year (春节)
Leading up to the holiday season, I was schooled in the traditions of the holiday by my Chinese friends, and repeatedly told, "This is as important to Chinese people as Christmas is to Americans." It's as much about family as anything else, they said. My American friends who had ridden the holiday out in China before gave me a different tone of advice: "It's boring, man. The whole city shuts down, and there's nothing to do." They said I best buy a cart-full of DVD's or a stack of good books and hunker down until the city sparked back to life.
I quickly learned that my American friends were not joking. When my University broke for the holiday, there was a mass exodus to a scale I've never seen. The campus transformed from a bustling, mid-size city unto itself into an eerily quiet ghost town. Likewise the migrant-built city of Beijing, which probably lost half its population when workers journeyed back to their hometowns to visit family. The subway lines emptied out, stores shut down, and fireworks began.
The Spring Festival is the only time it's legal to light fireworks in China, and the locals savored what time they had. Late into the night I'd hear the deep bark of firecrackers and the fizzle of colorful bursts lighting up the sky. The best display came on New Year's eve, the pinnacle of the festival, which also happened to be my birthday.
On that night, I joined my academic advisor, her family, and a banquet room full of other professors, officials and businessmen to celebrate with a traditional feast. We tore into big, steaming plates of dumplings, stuffed buns, boiled fish, braised lamb, and roasted duck, as the elderly professor sitting next to me talked about his childhood in central China, surviving for weeks on nothing but sweet potatoes, soy, and cabbage.
Etiquette was of the utmost importance. All the younger guests, including me, were expected to circle the table and toast, one-by-one each of our elders. We cheered with cups of fiery rice liquor and glasses of expensive French wine. No harsh words or negativity was allowed, as it would set the year off on the wrong foot.
By the end of the night, after many toasts and much rice liquor, I was feeling warm and happy. Then the group, realizing it was my birthday, ordered a traditional birthday dish for me – a bowl of extra long noodles signifying a long life. I slurped the noodles and thanked the group, before heading out to catch up with a group of friends to watch fireworks over Beijing's Hou Hai lake.
This experience, an intimate feast with a group of people I've known for only a year, makes me appreciate the genuine kindness and welcoming spirit that I have found repeatedly in China. When I think back on this Chinese New Year, it is this meal, the toasts, the traditions, the noodles, that will forever stand out.
It has been 10 years since I last celebrated Chinese New Year with my grandparents in China. I always had to go to school during that time of the year. However, at least I get to celebrate it with my parents most of the time. This year they visited me for two week for Chinese New Year since I had to work. I consider myself very lucky for being able to do this with my parents almost every year because traditionally this is the most important festival and family members are supposed to get together.
The Chinese Students and Scholars Association usually celebrations the two major Chinese Festivals, one being the Chinese New Year and the other being the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is for most of the Chinese Students here who would not get to celebrate them with their family since both of these festivals are traditionally times for family members to get together. These celebrations are usually open to all UNI students for free and there would be Chinese food, performances and games with prizes.
However I feel that fewer and fewer students are showing up every year. Back when I first came, most of the students see this as a good opportunities to gather and make some new friends. Now more students have cars and are better connected so they do not see this gathering as important as we used to see it. Some of them also chose to go to other celebrations instead of the student-organized one.
With a not-so-big Chinese students population on UNI campus, it takes a strong leadership and a lot of effort for a foreign student group to build a culture here. My experience with the American students here on campus is that a lot of them are very interested in the Chinese culture but there is no way for them to learn more about the culture from real-life Chinese students. I hope that someday this will change and the Chinese students can get more involved on various campus activities and not only hang out with each other. When that day comes, I believe this would be an awesome experience for them as well as the American and other students on campus!


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Water Treatment
Need help getting started? Read our four-part guide to backcountry water treatment:
Part 1: Proper Hydration
Part 2: Keeping Your Water Supply Safe
Part 3: What's in Backcountry Water?
Part 4: Methods for Making Water Safe
Pump and Gravity Filters
Bottle and Inline Filters
Chemical Treatments
Filter Accessories
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subset: commoncrawl


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SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii, Nov. 1, 2005 – While on a dismounted patrol along a rocky dirt path, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, stayed alert of their surroundings as they made their way to the Military Operations in Urban Terrain site here.
When it was time to enter the site, the platoon-sized element stopped in the wood line and came up with a plan of action.
Minutes later, a micro air vehicle operator called and provided information on enemy locations.
As soon as the troops had a good location of the enemy, they maneuvered on to the site grounds. When the enemy spotted the troops, a firefight ensued.
The troops remained alert and moved tactically into nearby buildings. They cleared every room until they reached the rooftops, where they began to return fire.
Using its two onboard cameras, the micro air vehicle system assisted the troops in figuring out where the enemy was located.
"I think this training is good for us because it's new equipment that a lot of people haven't gotten the opportunity to train with yet," said Pvt. Gregory Goodrich, a cavalry scout with 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment.
"It isn't just training on the micro air vehicle equipment, it also helps us train more on our tactical and basic Soldiering skills," said Goodrich, who was one of the system operators during the training.
The micro air vehicle technology was designed to gather and transmit information to soldiers on the battlefield.
According to the Website, spacewar.com, each system is comprised of two air vehicles, a dismounted control device and associated ground support equipment that is carried by selected platforms and dismounted soldiers.
The micro air vehicles use autono-mous flight and navigation with vertical take-off and landing and recovery capabilities.
Two cameras are mounted on each vehicle; one looks ahead of soldiers, the other looks down at the ground. The vehicles also carry chemical sensors.
"The micro air vehicles are the future," said 1st Lt. Mario A. Quevedo, a platoon leader with 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment. "These young soldiers that are out here training with it will see it again, and they will already know how to use it."
For the past month, 40 soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, have been training with the new, high-tech surveillance vehicles.
"This training is very beneficial to these soldiers because when we go down range in the future, this equipment will go with us," Quevedo continued. "The micro air vehicles are here to stay."


text:
GStreamer on TI DaVinci and OMAP
|2010-03-08 08:06:03
|ti-gstreamer 1.01.00 installation on DM365 DVSDK 3.10
|Posted By: amit pandya
Join Date: 2010-03-01
Location: INDIA
Hi all,
I am trying to install the ti-gstreamer 1.01.00 on DM365 DVSDK 3.10(latest version).
i am getting the following error while doing "make all install" ( Please refer the attached file for error)
I have Given "CROSS_COMPILER = CS_2009Q1 " in the Makefile.common file.
Can anyone suggest ,how can i resolve the errors?


text:
Copyright © Octavia 2012
Thank you for registering your interest in Elizabeth House, Wembley, Octavia Living's exciting new development consisting of 69 private sale, one, two and three bedroom apartments.
We will keep you updated with build progress and look forward to inviting you to our Launch of the development in our new Marketing Suite in early 2013.
Thank you for your interest in Elizabeth House.
The Sales Team
020 8354 5601
Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding our exciting new scheme Elizabeth House coming shortly in Wembley, by Octavia Living. We will be selling 1 and 2 bedroom beautifully appointed apartments for shared ownership, and are due to launch in early 2013.
Meanwhile, you may wish to register at First steps London to ensure you are eligible for the scheme, please go to www.firststepslondon.org.
We look forward to updating you with further information and an invitation to our launch very soon


text:
Ready To Charge: Foresight Mobile Edition 1.0
With the release of its Mobile Edition 1.0, Linux distribution Foresight has joined the race to dominate the netbook market.
This first release utilizes the Ubuntu netbook remix desktop, Conary packet management from Rpath and according to developers, has been tested on the EEE-PC from Asus and Intel's Classmate computers. The mobile distribution is based on Foresight Linux 2.0 with a Gnome 2.22 desktop enabling the use of quite a few Gnome applications like F- Spot, Pidgin and the Gnome Movie Player. Music is provided by Banshee and the browser is from Firefox.
Foresight hit the headlines when hardware producers Shuttle decided to bring its KPC computer (the small dice-shaped Barebones) together with Foresight onto the US market. In Europe it was distributed with Suse Linux as operating system.
Former CTO of Red Hat, Eric Troan, worked on the distribution, together with Rpath developers Michael K. Johnson and Matt Wilson. Whoever wants to test the Mobile Edition 1.0 can find the relevant ISO's on the Foresight webpage.
Credit Where Credit Is DueWhile Erik, Matt, and I certainly have done plenty of work on core technology (Conary, rBuilder, and so forth) that is used to build and manage all flavors of Foresight Linux, the real credit for Foresight Mobile Edition goes to Ken VanDine and António Meireles, who both spent long hours tuning Foresight Linux for use on netbooks and other small systems. Kudos to both of them, and thanks!
Issue 178/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
Qemu Flaw Lets the Guest Escape
Xen project announces a privilege escalation problem for Qemu host systems
Android Bug Threatens Millions of Users
Attackers can compromise an Android phone just by sending a text message
Lenovo and Canonical Announce Laptop Deal
PC vendor will pre-install Ubuntu on portables in India.
Mozilla Firefox Blocks Flash
More embarrassment for Adobe's embattled multimedia tool
Security Problem in Firefox's NoScript Add-On
Mozilla's script blocker add-on could be putting malware sites on the whitelist.
RIP SSLv3
The Internet community officially banishes the notoriously unsafe Secure Sockets Layer protocol.
Mate 1.1 Arrives
Popular desktop environment continues the Gnome 2 legacy – with new support for the Gnome 3 toolkit.
US Government Requires HTTPS
The Obama White House has issued a memorandum telling all US government agencies they must use HTTPS for all websites and web communication.
Mozilla Signs Firefox Add-Ons
New program will dial up security for the Firefox browser.
Fedora 22 Arrives
Red Hat's community distro embraces the cloud.


text:
Six inmates graduate with GEDs
Six inmates at the Rutherford Correctional Center reached a milestone recently when they earned their GEDs from Isothermal Community College.
The program allows the inmates to complete their high school studies while detained. The aim is to provide a constructive educational experience for the inmates in hope that they will continue on a positive path when released.
Dr. Kim Gold, vice president of Academic and Student Services and Institutional Assessment at Isothermal, shared some words of encouragement with the new graduates.
The 2013 graduates were Aaron Collins, Keith Hamilton, Joseph Smith, Bobby Terry, Travis Warren and Wesley Williams.
Thad Harrill, the college's vice-president of Community and Workforce Education and Institutional Advancement, welcomed the students to the ceremony.
The college's president, Walter Dalton, introduced Gold and congratulated the graduates.
George Peebles, College and Career Readiness coordinator, presented the candidates to Donna Hood, Isothermal's dean of Continuing Education, who awarded the diplomas.
Music was provided by pianist Rinda Wilson. A reception with light refreshments for the graduating inmates and their families followed the ceremony.


text:
SSR backup to multiple hard drives
I would like to establish a backup schedule that will backup to external hard drive 'A' daily for week one. Then for week two, backup to external hard drive 'B'.
For week three, go back to external hard drive 'A', for week four external hard drive 'B', etc. etc. etc.
Comments 4 Comments • Jump to latest comment
Please check below link
Additionally check the below thread too,
Hope that helps
Don't forget to give a "Thumbs Up" or Mark as "Solution" if someones advice has helped you.
If you want to use mutiple drives you will need to define seperate jobs
Refer to
It talks about the reason why we recommend to use one drive per job
Finally about your question,
Can I just power down & disconnect the usb cable?
Yes if they are not getting ejected then yes you may do that because just plugging out the cable may damage the disk ...
Hope that helps
Don't forget to give a "Thumbs Up" or Mark as "Solution" if someones advice has helped you.
Hello George ,
You can use external Drive "A" and "B" by swapping the same , by creating a Independent recovery point set kind of Backup , make sure you use a Unique Drive letter for both the drives and SSR considers it has the same destination.
The better option is to use an Offsite copy, have a permanent primary destination and create an offsite copy , you can now unplug the offsite and take out of office and plug in again whenever required
Please refer : How Offsite Copy works - http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO48460
About using external drives as your offsite copy destination - http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO48461
About using unique names for external drives - http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO48438
Hope this helps
Please mark thread as solved if you consider this to have answered your question(s)
We are requesting you to mark the forums as Solution , so that is makes easier for the viewer to search and refer the posts with "Solutions"


text:
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Fabulous Fifi, Romantic Prairie Style and an Email From Fifi Herself...
Most of you know Fabulous Fifi through her blog "Chez Fifi" and as Editor of our favorite magazine "Romantic Country"... I have "met" her several times through our emails to each other, one time inquiring about her yard~sale items and one time asking permission to borrow a photo from her beautiful blog (I am very serious about following proper blogger etiquette!)... and to ask her about the town in France my ancestors are from...today, I sent her an email about her beautiful new book, "Romantic Prairie Style", and asked her several questions... she is called "Fabulous Fifi" for a reason!... she immediately emailed me back, answered my questions, and attached the following photos for me to post when I told her I wanted to post about her new book... I mentioned to Fifi that I thought I had read on one of her posts that she was sixty~something years old... and how incredibly beautiful, creative and full of energy she is... Fifi wrote back that she is sixty~five years old (can you believe it???), and yes, to include that in my post... I am sixty one and not ashamed to say so... with so many movies, tv programs, beauty products, clothes, you name it, being geared towards the "twenty~somethings" these days, it is sooo refreshing to see that getting a bit older does NOT mean getting OLD... this is a current photo Fifi sent me, and she looks stunning!... she is so vibrant and full of life... no wonder we all adore her!...I could spend hours (and some days I do!) browsing through all of the beautiful photos on her blog, and watching "Fifi Tv"... Fifi is the real thing... kind and sweet with a heart of gold... I love that she cares so much about Nature and animals... and her cute "assistants" have their prominent place on her sidebar... so when I found out she had a new book coming out, I wanted to know more... here is the front and back cover photos she emailed me...Isn't this dreamy... with so many different decorating styles out there, I can honestly say THIS is my style... this is ME... I can't wait to see more!... I have always loved the country style, with a touch of romance... it reminds me of my grandmother's home... cozy and comfy but with lace and pretties mixed in with Nature and rustic furnishings...I LOVE the photo on the back cover below of the sweet horse grazing in the pasture as you look out that beautifully accented window...if you have followed my blog at all (thank you!), then you know what a Nature lover I am and I love simple things... her description of what the book is about enticed me so... "Romantic Prairie Style embraces simple pleasures, comfort, and the long~cherished ideals of natural beauty, simplicity, and harmony with the earth. It's a style that says "home" wherever you may be"... doesn't that captivate you as well?...Fifi was kind enough to send me the direct link to pre~order her beautiful book... here is the link that will take you right to Amazon and Romantic Prairie Style...I love what Fifi wrote in her latest post, "Hey, even a skinny girl AND her cats have to eat, so the more book I can sell, the more tuna I can buy for the kitties"... mine is already pre~ordered!...I hope you will pre~order one too... let's help those kitties get LOTS of yummy tuna!... (can we really wait until May????)... oooh I want mine now!... if you have not visited Fifi before at her fabulous blog, Chez Fifi, I hope you will click on my link and say hello... please tell her Julie Marie sent you if you are going from my blog to hers!... Bisous...
14 comments:
LOVE Fifi, love her blog. Would LOVE the book lol, but it will not be here, so will have to drool haha.ReplyDelete
Love and hugs from Marian
Fifi, sounds like a very nice person. she looks much younger her actual age. lovr country style with as you say romantic. liked the photos in the magazine. roseReplyDelete
Wowie! Just another reason I love coming to your blog - you have some of the coolest connections! Yes, I agree that Fifi is amazing! Yes, I agree also that May seems like an eternity away - but I also know how fast the months are flying by these days! Thanks for the link, Julie Marie! Hugs!ReplyDelete
Hi, Julie Marie, my friend,ReplyDelete
I did not know that Fifi had published a book. Thank you for letting me know. It looks wonderful! I love Romantic Country Magazine, a personal favorite of mine, so know I will love her book, too. Hope you are having a terrific autumn weekend~love always~Vicki
Hi Julie Marie,ReplyDelete
Looks like a wonderful book...thanks for sharing....I will definitely pick one up when it comes out!
Happy day!
Hello friend.....I , too, love Miss FiFi....and that book looks scrumptious....I'm going to order mine.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 18, 2010 at 11:09:00 AM MDT
Oh, I just love Fifi. I visit her blog regularly. I went ahead and pre-ordered her book as you suggested. Thanks for the share.ReplyDelete
HELLO SWEETIE...ReplyDelete
Good Evening Julie Marie,ReplyDelete
Thanks for letting us know about this new book of Fifi's, it looks so beautiful and I am sure it is filled with so many pretty creations.
I am happy to hear you are having such a nice Autumn, isn't it just so wonderful, God created such joy for us all
God Bless
I love Fifi! How exciting. I'm off to pre-order right now. Thanks for sharing this!ReplyDelete
Oh...I have to get that book when it comes out....Thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
Hi Julie Marie, Fifi, sounds like a wonderful person, I'm sure her book is going to be amazing, I'm headed over to visit her blog... thanks for sharing!!! hugs~~~ DaphneReplyDelete
I'm shocked that Fifi is 65 and that you're 61!! You look fabulous daaahling!! I'm 61 too and feel it's only a number... life and age is what you make it.ReplyDelete
Bisous, Sherry
Such a great post! It is so refreshing to read about women who are proud to announce their age ~ Fifi's new book looks amazing and I am looking forward to it. How exciting to have received an email from her ♥ And Congratulations on being published in your friends magazine! Well deserved.ReplyDelete


text:
Letters to the editor
Law overrides common sense
In a recent story regarding "Did firefighter have the right to stop a suspected drunk driver," I think this illustrates how legal issues can override common sense.
This case, which was before the N.C. Court of Appeals, was to decide if a Chapel Hill fireman was legal in stopping a suspected drunk driver by use of a fire truck. The firefighter had witnessed multiple unsafe vehicle maneuvers, suspected DWI and called for police assistance prior to stopping the vehicle. The driver, intoxicated (.23 blood alcohol) was offered a driver to park her car and a call to have someone come get her. Refusing, she drove off only to be stopped by police a short time later, charged, and pleaded guilty to DWI with a record of previous DWI.
The question before the court: Was the fireman acting as a government agent or as a private citizen. Seems obvious to me since he was on duty he was acting as a government official. One judge ruled the fireman had no authority to stop the vehicle since it is not specified in law.
Firemen like other emergency responders are tasked with saving lives and property. Prevention is the best course of action. This driver was almost certainly an accident in waiting. What would the story have been if she had run over a child while being followed by the fire truck?
Common sense! I say well done to firefighter Lt. Gordon Shatley and Judge Elaine Bushfan for displaying it.
Kent Fletcher
Mission impossible
Congress should not endorse President Obama's shot into the bow of Syria' ship of state. The motive to redeem Obama's credibility is a mission impossible considering his long list of false statements and broken promises. A symbolic strike exposes us to risks without benefit.
The credibility of the United States can be redeemed only by removal of this president.
John Randall
Exciting start-up
I am very excited to read about the start-up success of Organic Transit ("Organic Transit to add West Coast solar-powered trike assembly operation," Aug. 29).
In these political times it's good to have stories of success from a company devoted to helping protect the environment. Ideally this success represents just a small step towards Durham's becoming a national leader on issues like climate change.
Imagine a Durham where all most of it's power came from the sun, and everyone could travel across the city without using a car. Wouldn't that be a great place to live?
David Rogers


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Let's face it. Ole Miss is not a basketball school. They have been to the NCAA tournament a total of 6 times, and made it to the sweet sixteen, exactly once. They have never won an outright SEC title beyond one modern tournament win (1981).
Basketball at Ole Miss is just not a priority, they are a small school in a small southern town, with a old, small gym. Basketball used to be something for the football players to do in the winter. In fact, back in the 50's, the head basketball coach had done such a good job with the team, he was given a promotion to assistant football coach.
What success they have had over the last 15 years has been accomplished with small town players from Arkansas (with a few Jackson guys thrown in). Rob Evans finished 86-81 after 6 years in 1998, taking Ole Miss to the NCAA tournament for the second time ever. Coach Evans truly built the program from the ground up. There was no basketball program to speak of before Rob Evans.
After Evans left for Arizona State, assistant Coach Rod Barnes took the team to the NCAA tournament 3 out of his 8 years and finished at 141-109. With the program trending downward and with a taste of success, Ole Miss made what looked to be a good fit hire.
Andy Kennedy, a Mississippi native, was the interm head coach at Cincinnati in 2005 and won 21 games under some dire internal circumstances between Huggy Bear and the school administration and team injuries.
A little recruiting and time to rebuild, and the consensus was AK would have Ole Miss right back in the NCAA tourney. He won SEC division titles in '07 and '10, hit the NIT in '08 and '10, but the "big dance" has proven elusive.
What basketball fans are at Ole Miss, are getting restless.
So what do you do? AK has won more games in 5 years than any coach ever at Ole Miss (105). Coach Kennedy has had 4 20+win seasons in 5 years. But you play to win. The measure of any coach is playing to win a title, or at least improving toward that goal. He hasn't given up, nor has the team, after a gutsy win in Fayetteville last night.
I believe AK's biggest problem has been the relative success of Rick Stansbury. Recruiting and MSU's better facility has given Rick a slight edge, and those few extra wins make the difference between getting in the tourney or not.
AK is in a rebuilding year, coming off the graduation of star Chris Warren, and I will say, he has done an admirable job pushing this team without a real outside shooting threat.
With a lame duck athletic director, Coach Kennedy is a lock to return next year. If he can survive long enough to see the new stadium built (in 2015) he will be in the cat bird seat. At that point you will find AK as the top coach in Mississippi, as Stansbury will likely no longer be at MSU. But in order to last that long he has to find a way to get off the bubble. And soon.


text:
Quote of the Day: Charlie Manuel on Delmon Young
Jan 29, 2013, 3:45 PM EDT
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com asked Charlie Manuel about his projected lineup and the Phillies manager uttered this quote regarding new right fielder Delmon Young possibly batting fifth:
Yeah, he can hit fifth. He definitely can hit fifth. I think once we get to spring training and put him in and let him play, I think hitting is definitely his strong point. I think he's a good hitter.
Basically all you need to know about Young's career is that he has a .317 on-base percentage and .425 slugging percentage in 880 games and yet saying "hitting is definitely his strong point" is undeniably true.
By the way, Young has batted fifth more often than any other lineup spot during his career, logging 1,352 plate appearances there. And he's hit .267 with a .294 on-base percentage and .385 slugging percentage.
- DelawarePhilliesFan - Jan 29, 2013 at 3:49 PM
$750,000 contract – he will come through or get cut before April Fools day
- darthicarus - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:03 PM
Other things Delmon Young is good at:
tying his shoes
putting on his uniform
wearing a glove on the proper hand
staring off blankly into space
- evan5 - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:26 PM
You forgot making hilarious catching attempts in the outfield.
And running like a penguin. He's good at that too.
- historiophiliac - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:34 PM
How nice of you to put 4 things ahead of eating. That's a consideration Delmon rarely gets on this blog.
- darthicarus - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:45 PM
I was actually expecting the first comment on my list to be something about being anti-semitic…so perhaps the community has turned a new leaf!
- chacochicken - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:13 PM
Look at that head. He would wreck the neck hole of sweater. Cashmere before swine.
- unclemosesgreen - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:15 PM
You're out of your frickin mind. I got a serious case of the giggles from that one. Delmon is a button-front and v-neck only guy for sure. Hee hee.
- schlom - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:37 PM
I'm not sure I get the point of this. When the Diamondbacks said negative (and from their end, truthful) things about Justin Upton everyone piled on them. Now Charlie Manual is saying positive (and probably not truthful) things about one of their players and everyone will make fun of him.
So you if you trade a guy away you must say positive things about him, whether it's truthful or not. But you have to say truthful things about your own players, even if it's negative.
- sargespeak - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:43 PM
Wow! Really? What pollyanna sports town do you come from? Sounds like DC to me, but perhaps KC.
- kevinbnyc - Jan 29, 2013 at 5:58 PM
The difference: Justin Upton is good. Delmon Young is terrible.
- weaselpuppy - Jan 29, 2013 at 4:38 PM
FatGeisha WANT CHEESESTEAK!
- tfbuckfutter - Jan 29, 2013 at 5:57 PM
I've always wondered….has he made more money off of playing baseball or off of royalties for being the Mr. Potatohead model?
In fact…..why isn't his nickname Taterhead?
- macjacmccoy - Jan 29, 2013 at 6:40 PM
i dont even know why you would mention his obp in this story. Charlie was talking about his hitting ability not his ability to get on base. He is a career .284 hitter.
- greymares - Jan 29, 2013 at 7:46 PM
the Phillies set out to improve the bullpen and the offense they got a 300 hitting centerfielder agood hitting 3rd baseman a bopper in rightfield an 8th inning guy and some other bullpen pieces. all it cost them was a little defense with that starting staff there won't be many balls hit hard enough to field anyway
- phillyphreak - Jan 29, 2013 at 7:49 PM
I think I missed the good hitting 3B and bopper in RF signings…..
- thegreatstoneface - Jan 29, 2013 at 8:42 PM
sure, delmon can hit fifth. he can hit ninth. he can hit anywhere in the lineup.
he's not going to be very fucking good at it, really, no matter where you bat him. but, charlie'll figure this out pretty quickly, i'm sure…
- fmlizard - Jan 30, 2013 at 11:24 AM
4 organizations, a hate crime, throwing a bat at an ump, at least 50 pounds, and being so disposable his team traded him to a division rival in a pennant race ON THE WAY TO PLAY THEM and did not care at all what they got in return.
After all that you think they would take the 5 tool player stuff out of his scouting report and realize he might not even be a 1 tool player at the MLB level.
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text:
EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS: Carolina Tiger Rescue wins high honor
Carolina Tiger Rescue — a Pittsboro group which operates a 55-acre non-profit sanctuary and is dedicated to saving and protecting wild cats of all kinds, both in captivity and in the wild — has received the highest award the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits bestows, the Stewardship Award.
It was one of three winners this year, along with a multi-county Partnership for Children based in Rocky Mount and a pro-literacy group in Asheville. The award is given to non-profits "that use exemplary practices to be sure they always earn the public's full trust."
According to a list on the N.C. Center for Nonprofits' website, this is first time any group from our local region of Chatham, Lee, Moore or Harnett counties has won the award, which has overwhelmingly been granted to groups from Asheville or the Charlotte and Research Triangle areas since it was established in 1995.
The N.C. Center for Nonprofits' president, Jane Kendall, had this to say according to a write-up on the award website: "Carolina Tiger Rescue saves wild animals, but it also rescues and re-uses millions of pounds of materials that otherwise would go to local landfills.
"We are honoring Carolina Tiger Rescue today as a creative nonprofit that focuses on extraordinary conservation of natural, human, and financial resources. They do this by collaborating with just about everybody in Chatham and surrounding counties."
Other contest judges praised the group for its sound financial accounting practices and ability to get 150 regular helpers working seven days a week, 365 days a year despite a detailed vetting process and conflict-of-interest policy for paid staff, board members and volunteers alike.
In other news...
* The Harnett Health Foundation will host its eighth-annual Benefit Weekend on Friday and Saturday. There will be a golf tournament starting at 10 a.m. Friday at Chicora Country Club, and live and silent auctions will be held Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. at The Barrington House in Dunn. Proceeds from these events, as well as from a raffle, will go toward a Women's Imaging Center and a new CT Scanner for Harnett Health, which owns Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn and Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington. More information can be found at www.harnetthealth.org/benefitweekend or by calling 910-892-1000 (ext. 4483). Tickets for the raffle are $20 and can be purchased by calling that same number or at the front desk of either hospital.
* Carolina Town & Country is hosting a customer appreciation day beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 12, featuring special pricing on select feeds and a drawing for a $500 gift card. More than 30 vendors will also be on-site displaying new products and answering questions. Finally, customers will have the opportunity to enter in the national Purina Check-R-Board sweepstakes for a chance to win a 2013 John Deere XUV 550, one ton of Purina Feed or other items.
* Business fluctuations: In the past week, one new corporation formed in Lee County — Mine Design Systems — while one corporation, RP Auctions and Services, was dissolved.
Have business news? Contact Will Doran at email@example.com or (919) 718-1217.


text:
Narrow your search
Apple will switch to the TLS encryption standard after disclosure of vulnerability that could expose encrypted data.
Commentary: With less than two weeks to go before its July 29 launch, the latest version of the new software seems stable and to have moved beyond its testing quirks. Microsoft needs it to stay that way for the masses.
You can bypass the SSL vulnerability in OS X with a couple of temporary changes, until a software fix is made available.
Tumblr blog owners can encrypt all visits to their sites, as long as they opt in. Why didn't Yahoo just make SSL the default setting?
New tech used by Apple and Microsoft promises to uncork bottlenecks. That's great for computer users who want new features, but brings new complications for those who build our software.
If you're short on space at home, the Sho U KiBoJet pico projector-keyboard combo can turn a blank wall into a monitor.
Facebook once again turns to encryption in efforts to boost individual user privacy.
We find out just how much better the Scion FR-S sports coupe can be get with a vital upgrade where the rubber meets the road.
In a bid to make the Web a safer place, Mozilla's security team proposes making encrypted connections necessary for using new Web technologies. Google's Chrome team has a similar idea.
Apple announced today that the new Photos app is available as part of the Mac OS X update from the Mac App Store.


text:
What Are Some Common Foot Problems In Chickens
by Debbie McKenzie
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Common foot problems in chickens are something that most people raising chickens have to deal with at one point or another. Raising backyard chickens is usually pretty straightforward and easy. As long as you provide clean living spaces, shelter, food and fresh water, you should be on your way to raising happy, healthy chickens. But there are some common foot problems in chickens that you may have to deal with.
Foot problems in chickens are not uncommon at all. Remember, they only have two legs and feet so if one or both of them have a problem, then it is going to affect the mobility of your chicken. Even if only one foot is affected at first, the other foot will become sore from the extra work.
What causes the common foot problems in chickens?
- Some foot problems are genetic or may be caused by growth that happened too fast. When chickens grow too fast, too much pressure is put on the still developing feet and problems result.
- But other foot problems in chickens are a result of nutritional deficiencies and poor living conditions. Scaly leg mites for example, dig under the leg scales and make your chickens lame.
- Old hens are also prone to developing arthritis which can be very painful.
How can you tell if your chickens are having foot problems? The best way is to take some time and just watch your chickens every day for any signs of problems. Chickens are fun to watch as they scratch around so it shouldn't be too hard to do. If you notice any chickens that aren't moving around like they should or any that appear to be lame or holding a foot up, they need to be looked at more closely. Look for swollen feet, obvious cuts or injuries, scabs on the foot, etc. Take care of any problems that you notice immediately so they don't get worse.
How can you help prevent foot problems in chickens? - One of the best ways is to practice good hygiene in your chicken houses, chicken runs and any other areas your chickens are allowed to roam.
- If there is a large drop from your chicken house to the ground, then provide some ramps because constantly dropping down to the ground can cause injuries.
- Make sure that your chicken flock has soft ground, grass or hay to stand on to cushion their feet.
- Only give your chickens high quality feed to ensure that they are getting the proper nutrients that they need.
- Provide different sized perches with different surfaces to help prevent arthritis from developing and to make it more comfortable for your birds.
Birds that have foot injuries should be isolated from the flock until the problem resolves itself. That way your chicken will be to eat, drink and roost without having to compete with the other chickens and possibly injure itself further.
Another thing to keep in mind is that birds with foot problems should not be bred because there may be a genetic component. You don't want an entire flock of birds with foot deformities or foot problems.
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Introduction to India
India (Hindi: भारत), is the largest country in the Indian Subcontinent and shares borders with six fascinating countries including Pakistan, China and Burma. Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia are all close by too – making India a great choice for your gap year.
It's the seventh largest country in the world by area and, with over a billion people, is second only to China in population. If you visit India on your gap year you'll be rewarded with extreme diversity in geography, climate, culture, language and ethnicity. Vibrant, crazy and fascinating are all words often used to describe beautiful India – with a rich heritage and a wealth of fascinating religions and ethnography, a gap year in India will open your innocent eyes to the world.
India Highlights
India is full of intriguing historical architecture, most famously, the Taj Mahal in Agra. This white marble mausoleum was built in 1652 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Not surprisingly the Taj Mahal can get pretty busy so it's best to get their early in the morning to get as fewer tourists in your photos as possible. In the evening you can take a boat down the Yamuna River and watch the colours of the sunset paint the building pink.
To really grasp the culture of India, the religious city of Varanasi in North India is worth visiting. This Indian city lies on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, and is the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism, believed to be the favourite city of the Hindu Deity, Lord Shiva. The ancient buildings and holy people really make this place a unique experience.
If you plan your trip well enough, you could be lucky enough to participate in one of India's biggest and brightest festivals, The Kumbh Mela. The celebration involves a huge pilgrimage of Hindus who gather at the sacred river, and is held every three years on rotation at either, Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik, and Ujjain. Brave backpackers can join the locals and sadhus by dipping themselves into the Ganges, Shipra, or Kushavart River, which is believed to cleanse the body and soul.
In the North of India, backpackers can test their limits by climbing the mighty Himalayas. Pack some warm clothes, a tent, a stove, and some friends, or better yet, a guide! There are several trekking routes through the Himalayas in India so you can pick the best one to suit your fitness levels.
Backpacking in India
Make sure to take a camera, and a strong constitution - they don't call it Delhi Belly for nothing!


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Class Notes
Get behind the most interesting education stories, research and trends with the Express-News education reporters.
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It probably won't surprise you to learn that twice as many Americans know Paula Abdul was a judge on American Idol than know "government of the people, by the people and for the people" is a key phrase from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address. But the Washington, D.C.-based Intercollegiate Studies Institute is only too happy to […] [Read More]
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Jan 20 2010
Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me
I realize there are real problems in the world.
My laundry situation is not one of them.
I wonder…if I were to convert this photo to a vintage look, would I somehow fool myself into thinking these children…these jeans…this filth…are not mine?
Nope. Didn't work. Just makes it look dingier.
I think what I needed today was just to reach out about a serious domestic disturbance in my life.
Since this is the Home and Garden section of my website, I thought it was the best place to stick it.
Thank you for being here for me.
360 Comments
Lindsey On Wednesday, January 20 at 12:56 pm
I have so many pictures from my childhood that look like that!
Rikki On Wednesday, January 20 at 12:57 pm
I will never complain about my Mt. Laundry again.
Renee On Wednesday, January 20 at 12:58 pm
Embrace it and become one with it! Sort of….
SherylBeryl On Wednesday, January 20 at 12:58 pm
…..if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all…..
I miss HeeHaw!
Cate On Wednesday, January 20 at 12:59 pm
I see your pain. Maybe Mike-Super Laundry Man will come to your rescue?
Sherillyn On Wednesday, January 20 at 12:59 pm
And this, too, shall pass…………all much too fast!
Cheri M. On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:00 pm
oh, you poor thing! I am glad that we have 4 feet of snow, covers up the mud!
Regina On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:04 pm
How in the world do you wash chaps?
Becky A On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:05 pm
Ree, I don't know how you do it! Do you have to replace or service your washing machine frequently? Cuz I freak out after we go camping and get muddy (not your kind of muddy!) and I have to wash the jeans. How do you do it? Again, you are too amazing for words.
Andrea in WI On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:05 pm
I do not envy you or that pile of laundry…
Mandy Stonehocker On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:06 pm
Honey, that's when you get the water hose after those legs!
Joanna On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:08 pm
we all feel for you right now. Then we jump up and down, clap our hands and yell at the top of our lungs how grateful we are .. . . that we don't have to was that! Good luck!
mary b from toronto On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:09 pm
what you need is a power hose or a maid!
NormaB On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:09 pm
I'm wondering exactly how long it takes for them to get that muddy!!! My guess is not very long at all, probably minutes some days!!
Good thing for laundry machines rather than the old wash boards!!!!
Trisha On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:10 pm
How did Mary Poppin's say it, "just a spoon full of sugar…." Chocolate is the answer. Then you can handle anything. :^) Just be careful because you don't want to accidentally set your candy bar down by those pants you may never find it again.
Jennie On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:11 pm
No, thank you. Makes me feel a tad better about my teenager's room I just cleaned. Talk about real problems in this world….
aurorafedora On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:13 pm
oh, those kids!!!! what would life be without em? cleaner, but at what price??!!!!
KristiLynn On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:13 pm
Can you say WATERHOSE???!!!!
Mary Karshner On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:14 pm
What you need is an old fashioned wringer type washing machine, that would cut the dirt in a hurry and of course, use the solar dryer, now you'd be a real pioneer woman…hee…hee.
Greeneyes Martha On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:14 pm
I'd take the hose to them.
I'm serious.
You poor thing.
Deanna - The Unnatural Mother On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:14 pm
So neat, excellent photos!!
Mary Karshner On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:15 pm
Jana On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:16 pm
I felt sorry for myself because the not potty trained 2 year old just pee'd his pants, and I had to start a load of laundry. I shall repent.
Kim O On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:20 pm
Wow ! how does one get all that mud out ? Very curious ! Nice photos though and I bet there are some smiling faces too !
Michelle On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:20 pm
Come hither while I lend you my shout and oxiclean
Michelle On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:21 pm
Shouldn't there be a warning before you post something so frightening?????
Ann On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:21 pm
Seriously, what do you do? Do you take a hose to them? Is there some sort of mud-wringer that you use in the back yard before you let them into the house? I'm assuming there's manure mixed in with the mud. . . ewwww. . . Do you make them undress on the back porch before they come into the house? I grew up on a farm and we had mucky boots, but never to this extent.
Summer On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:23 pm
Beautiful dirt can be the best thing for us…it is a blessing! Quite the full corral of dirt and denim, but oh the life!
Bless you as you take care of business.
PS give Charlie a kiss from me!
Lynnette On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:23 pm
Ok, I feel for you!!! I hate, detest, despise laundry and I can't imagine how much work it takes to get those clean. You poor woman! I will not complain about my laundry today, I have it easy in comparison!!!
Erin On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:25 pm
Hmm… I'm going to go home today and enjoy the fact that I have no kids, and my husband and I have desk jobs
Llama On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:25 pm
You should own stock in Tide…or do a commercial for them!
JackieS. On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:27 pm
How many washing machines do you go through in a year?
If I could I'd come and help you get it done.
Daphne Summers On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:27 pm
Do you ever contemplate not washing it, just leaving it outside and letting them crawl in and out of the same clothes for awhile? Set a rule: Leave your dirty clothes on the front porch before you enter.
Meredith On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:27 pm
will you do a post (or several) about just how you do ranch laundry?
TeiLea On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:28 pm
Oh, I have to laugh! I LOVE the dirt on his little face! It reminds me of my boys (I have a hard time getting them inside) and there is just something so incredibly sweet about it. Especially when they are so nonchalant about it being there. I do feel for ya on the laundry side. Ick. Not a fan of laundry. My daughter isn't either – she usually has to fold!
AZPrincess On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:30 pm
I sure hope you use Tide.
Julie in OK On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:30 pm
Sorry, the only advice I can give is…hose'm down!!!
Julie in OK
Southern Gal On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:32 pm
I don't even want to think about your laundry. Don't study on it too hard. I'm sure it only makes the gag reflex worse.
Janet On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:32 pm
Looks like those pants need a good hosing off before they even get close to your washer!!! I once took my dirt-bike riding son AND his motorcycle to the car wash and hosed them both down real good. Didn't know what else to do; he had mud packed ear to toe! Worked like a charm. Of course, he was a willing participant; can't go car washing the unsuspecting!
Wendy On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:33 pm
I don't understand how you do it!!! How DO you get all that caked on mud off of everything? I saw some on MM's cowboy hat…how the heck do you get it off of a WHITE hat??????? OMG!!! Good luck to you! XO
Kristin On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:35 pm
how do you wash chaps?!!
martinpharm On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:35 pm
all i can say, is i'm with you man. i came home to a laundry sink full of dirty and "smelly" if you know what i mean, laundry that looked like that also. my husband was kind enough to not pile them on the floor. it's a good most farms have a "mudroom" huh? it's seems extra bad this year as the moisture is just hanging around. i dont even like to go to my car these days, because it's a landmine to try to step around mud to get into the car these days. i washed it today just to get some of the filth off, but when i go home and down the "rock" road it will be filthy again. heaven help us.
Diane in Cincinnati On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:38 pm
Oh my! What do you do with all that dirt? Do you pressure wash first? What about the shoes/boots??
Beamie Jeanie On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:40 pm
Mother would have cured this with Tide and maybe a prescrub with Felsnapatha yellow brick soap. LOL. Maybe a litlle rub on the scrub board. Thank the Lord we have better ways to take care of serious laundry problems like yours. My hat is off to you, Ree, as some would run away from clothes like these, maybe even throw them away rather than wash them, but I KNOW you will git 'er done!
Jen S. On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:42 pm
I will no longer complain about my laundry. I do have piles and piles, but thankfully, none look like that!
Kristy On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:43 pm
If you used those pictures to endorse whatever washing machine you use, I'm pretty sure a whole lot of us would run right out and buy one! Seriously. What machine survives that?
sandi On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:43 pm
I LOVE LAUNDRY! Send me yours. PLEASE.
Hilltop Farmwife On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:43 pm
At least you have to wash only 4 pairs of those jeans. Missy has to do the other 2 and it looks like she gets the dirtiest !
I am so thankful for Heavy Duty washing machines!
Messy @ Bungalow'56 On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:44 pm
TOO FUNNY! My post today is a picture of my laundry pile and how it resembles a mountain I have to climb. You are a kindred spirit Pioneer Woman!
Liz On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:45 pm
I feel your pain. Speechless.
KCRanch On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:46 pm
Oh Ree – I think you should hold a "post your dirty kids" picture contest!!!
SoupAddict Karen On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:46 pm
A power washer and a deluxe bottle of Dawn. Seriously, it did wonders for the poor Exxon water birds….
Mary On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:47 pm
Though I can do a number myself on getting pretty dirty when I'm digging in the garden in the spring and summer, I am thankful I don't have to deal with this!
Barbara On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:47 pm
Be strong sistah…be strong!
Tim's kids…Pinkie and Big Guy? Who's the eldest? Pinkie is tall!
melanie On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:48 pm
Listen Ree, I turned 40 today. Talk about issues? I got them!
Dee Dee On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:48 pm
At least they're wearing shoes. It's my kids' muddy socks that kill me.
Are your washer and dryer in your mud room?
Lynette On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:50 pm
Oh my goodness…thank goodness we have domestic help here in South Africa…(you know it is hell to live in Africa…lol!)
Jessica On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:52 pm
I don't even know what my mom would do with that!!
Amy On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:52 pm
I am luaghing because you actually have someone in the comment section volunteering to do your laundry…that is love.
Well, I am not going to wash your clothes, but have you tried those new Tide stain release booster things? They look like the cubes you put in your dishwasher. I put one in with the really bad laundry & set it to soak overnight. In the morning, when I run the wash (extra rinse cycle), I have super clean clothes.
Heather Schilling On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:53 pm
I think that someone should invent a line of disposable clothes for children. Especially socks.
Amy On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:53 pm
P.S. That photo is AWESOME and you should frame it and hang it either (1) in the bathroome by the tub or (2) in your laundry room…cute, cute, cute!!!
Becky in VA On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:53 pm
I guess poop/mud happens!! Sure hope you have a separate washing machine for "pre-rinsing" – seriously HOW do you do laundry – considering you have more than just 'dirt' to wash out!
p.s. Good Luck!
Lisa On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:54 pm
Thanks for stirring up my old Hee Haw memories…now I can't get that song out of my head. "Deep dark depression, excessive misery….if it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all…" You gotta love it! (the song, not the laundry)
Elizabeth H On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:54 pm
I, too, will (try to) never complain about my laundry again! At least you have a washing machine, though, and don't have to use a creek & some rocks! {grin}
Lori T. On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:55 pm
I can't even imagine that much laundry -we have three people at my house and I do laundry just about every day – but never, NEVER is it that dirty! You need those mega sized laundromat washers for that stuff!
terry On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:55 pm
hahaha….um, oops. i'm sorry. ok, so im a tad bit jealous!!! no, not of the laundry you'll have to do, but of the whole kids in chaps and the great outdoors! thats fantastic..and well worth the price you'll pay in laundry. enjoy! and think of those of us who are stuck in a world where things like that just don't exsist. man i miss the west
bonniebeth On Wednesday, January 20 at 1:56 pm
Looking at this picture makes me feel better about my boys when they decide to play mud soccer in the rain ~
The Hunter's Wife On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:01 pm
Can I ask if that is mud or manure? Not sure I want to know.
cait On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:01 pm
I'm telling you, Ree, I'll do your laundry. Just send it over and I'll get it back to you PDQ
Christine Poteet On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:03 pm
Oh I share in the pure joy of that pic having 6 boys and 1 girl! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Laundry is evil, but it's a must! Oh I sure wish my boys and girl could just jump in with yours and get muddy on your millions of acrege!
JackieS. On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:05 pm
My poor mom had a temperamental wringer washer to clean the clothes for a family of 9 and a dryer that was suspended over the back yard. The job required washing, wringing, rinsing and wringing again with a manuel empty and refill between each 'cycle' while the wet clothes sat in a bucket waiting to go back in. She would start with the whites and not so dirty things so she could use that rinse water to pre wash the really dirty stuff In the winter clothes were freeze dried then stood up to thaw indoors. During rainy seasons clothes took up residence on clothes horses and chair backs all over the house – normal. My mom was made of STRONG stuff! I give thanks for my lovely automatic washer and dryer every time I remember her feeding clothes through that wringer or standing on the back porch hanging them out to dry. I won't even talk about the lack of disposable diapers or the ironing. She turned 80 on the 6th of this month and is still going strong! So take heart… laundry might be unpleasant but it is not fatal. There now, don't you feel better.
Oh yes, if we had come home wearing clothes with as much mud (and other stuff) as your kids had on them we would have been met at the back door by mom with a hose in her hand and then been ordered to strip to our undies before we got into the house!
Penny in VT On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:08 pm
… speaking of Hee Haw
Carole On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:09 pm
Can you hose off chaps? And isn't that the purpose of chaps-to keep the dirt off the pants. Not sure if that theory is working here.
stacy On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:09 pm
that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. bless your soul.
Karen in Brookville On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:11 pm
I have to know how you handle this laundry and what machine you use. Post pics, information, whatever you have.
You have to admit, those pics are adorable… as long as they aren't my kids and I don't have to clean it up.
Sapeylissy On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:14 pm
I so feel your pain…..
Chris A. On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:15 pm
Okay, do you hose them off at the end of the day? You definitely need like an automatic child/man washer (picture a drive through car wash for people) before they come in the house.
If only the Jetson's mechanization materialized in the real world!
My deepest sympathies and condolences.
Hattie On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:16 pm
Girl I feel your pain! I have four boys so I know exactly what you're going through.
Norah On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:21 pm
I used to hose my kids jeans off outside – then bring them in to the washer – hahahah – Love red dirt!
Gayle Miller On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:21 pm
There are women in Beverly Hills who pay serious money to have mud put all over their bodies for beautification purposes. Your kids are getting all that for free!
Seriously, I detest, loathe and despise doing laundry. But those beautiful faces would be worth it! I think so anyway!
Jody On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:21 pm
My mom is/was a farmer's wife. My dear dad/farmer died two years ago. I remember her ringer/washer. I was on the other end of it many years ago, creating the mess in the barnyard with my dad then bringing it home. Memories made with my dad are priceless. I'm guessing that's what your kiddos are doing!!
nickel On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:24 pm
Feelin the pain of the mud w/ ya. We need mud boots just to get from the door to the van, a whopping 4 feet away! Did I mention that i have 3 girls? Prissy girls? My middle one got mud on her pink velor pants the other day and wouldn't ya know it, the world came to a halt! (did i mention that she is the middle one?) I love her! She is me and I am her! Thanks for the hee haw ref. It was my dream as a child to be on the show and a member of the All Jug band…of course this was before I knew that it wasn't in reference to the instruments……
Ranger On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:29 pm
Now, that's the kind of dirty laundry that needs to be pounded on a wet rock down at the stream. On that day, cattle and horses shouldn't drink water from downstream.
Thanks be to God for automatic laundry-rocks.
hinderosa On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:29 pm
Oxyclean…… The modern woman's duct tape. It even removes red wine stains… incase you spill while killin' the pain of all that laundry!
marcia e On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:32 pm
My suggestion would be:
~pop the clothes into the washer
~bake a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies (it will make the house smell like chocolately bliss….ahhh)
~while laundry is still going go buy yourself some new jewelry pieces from Tweak
Guaranteed to lift the laundry woes
Erin On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:33 pm
just think how accomplished you'll feel when they're clean! Post an "After" pic.
Hilary Murphy On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:34 pm
So do you hose them off in your front yard first? Lol
I thought of your family when I was looking at a friends website. He makes handmade spurs, bits and buckles. He does great work! You will have to check him out at : http://www.woolfolkbitsandspurs.com/
Linda On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:37 pm
Looks like enought soil there for a patio planter. I recommend geraniums and some calibrachia:)
Carolina Girl On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:38 pm
Oh my, I am sooo glad my boys are past that mud stage!! Not to say that the laundry isn't still never-ending, just not as dirty!!
Suzanne On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:38 pm
That's bad! My kids are in the middle of their 4-H livestock shows right now. They show pigs. They may not get covered in pig doodly doo, but just a little smudge of pig doodly doo stays with you a LONG LONG time. I bet the smell of that pig doodly doo is harder to remove than that Oklahoma mud or even cow pooky. Enjoy!
Janet On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:40 pm
Love the stairstep pose! Won't be too long before the boys shoot up and are taller than the girls are!
Val - SRN On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:41 pm
Thank goodness for Tide Mountain Spring! =)
Janet On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:42 pm
At least it's mud. Have you ever tried getting soot from coal out of your clothes?
Caryn On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:43 pm
*sigh* my children also look like this…and we don't live in the country!
Jen V On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:43 pm
Just think that if you really were a pioneer women
you would be washing all those dirty clothes in the creek.
SierraSnowSoaps On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:44 pm
I am with the "call your brother" bunch!
I can send you some soap that will at least smell better!
Michelle in NV
JoAnn-WI On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:44 pm
I would love a blog post (and photos) of your worst laundry day. C'mon, we all have them!!
Vicki On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:47 pm
Haul out that power washer of yours, lay these muddy jeans on concrete and go out it. Of course the kids would probably volunteer to wash each other's while they are still in them, being kids and all.
I swear this here soap is like aroma therapy. It gets out horsie mud and smells better than anything I've ever used. http://www.ecos.com/ecosliquid.html
Get the kids each one of these. Of course they might try to fold other things other than laundry in them but that's the price one pays for having creative children.
Better yet, since MM has ranch hands are you not entitled to have a laundry hand? Isn't there a lady or teenager who could use pocket money? You're a career blogging woman with a fulltime blogging job and author as well. I'd say it's a downright necessity.
cath c On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:50 pm
you only get a smidge of sympathy from me, resident laundress of family of 6.
Liz On Wednesday, January 20 at 2:51 pm
Along with #53, I can get pretty dirty when I do yard/garden work. I do love the smell of dirt and digging in it. The best way to get weeds out and plants planted is on one's knees. I don't especially like cleaning up after myself, though. I have to remember to calculate clean up time into my day so that I'm not completely worn out when laundry time comes.
Happy Laundering!


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