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It is not the very lightest method, but I strongly recommend the Aerobie Aeropress as a very portable way to make excellent coffee. It can easily be customised to hold ground coffee in the plunger.http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm
Nice, fun article, Mike!If anyone is sensitive to caffeine, or likes a hot drink before bedtime without the buzz keeping them awake, I just discovered a coffee substitute: Oskri's Barley Coffee. Its an instant drink that, although does not taste exactly like real brewed coffee, can help those who need to do without caffeine.Considering that it's not even coffee, Oskri does a really good job with the flavor!
Edited by T.L. on 09/09/2010 19:51:53 MDT.
I 3rd Joe's comments. Coffee is like sex. We all have different tastes and techniques but it can really perk up ones day (no decaf allowed) .
Mike, if there were a tip jar I'd stuff it with bills.
The Jetboil French Press also works with the new GSI Minimalist :)
Dang - I could barely read this without getting all excited.
and this is no exception.After reading this, I went to our grocer to find the Republic of Tea strainer...instead, I found one from ForLife. Sort of in between the MSR and the RofT...cost $9, and weighs 3oz., and has a lid like the MSRhttp://www.forlifedesign.com/infusers-strainers/433.html
Seriously, I never knew there were so many ways to make coffee. I honestly give it up on the trail, only because I usually keep myself so busy I forget. But, these ideas might get me to change my mind. Excellent read and drawings.
Try this on for size ."Combat espresso, on the other hand, is brutal. The creamer, instant coffee and sugar are poured directly into one's mouth and then washed down with water. In 2004, I survived on those things for two weeks with a Marine company during the battle for Falluja." From the NYT today .http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/weekinreview/05gilbertson.html?hpw
Heh, hilariously hard-core, John. :-) (Understandable, given the circumstances.)My standard "ultimate dirtbag hiker breakfast" challenge is a ground-up NoDoz tablet sprinkled on a PopTart. Nobody's taken me up on it...yet.Cheers,Rick
Thanks for all the kind words about the article. This thing was written a while back, and my system now includes STARBUCKS VIA packets. Yes, these are instant, but they are actually quite good. Expensive, but VERY light and simple. These are also good cold.Presently - I use these solo camping. Two packets per cup. But - If I am with a pal, I would do COWBOY coffee in the titanium pot.cheers,Mike C!
There goes my sub-10lb base weight.
...my comment about the abundance of UL down jacket reviews that seemed to become a weekly feature was in no way a sleight on the quality of reviews here on BPL (because on the whole they are very, very good). I just felt that they could have been tested and reviewed side-by-side in one article, freeing up editorial for more articles like this one by Mike (and his Groovybiotic article) and other highly informative, some may say legendary, technique articles such as the winter footwear trilogy, the one about winter soft-shell systems and the one about surviving persistent cold rain. These are the kinds of specific 'UL' articles you just can't find anywhere else. Just my 2 kroner.Oh, and as for coffee, I like Ethiopian through a filter at home and use Via on the trail. I may put a sachet of sugar in the first one of the day. Forgive me Mike for I have sinned... ;-)
Mike,What about coffee bean storage? How do you keep the ground beans as fresh as possible in the backcountry?
You are cracking me up!!! I just wish everyone was a coffee drinker so we can all share the deliciousness of it all!! Not ultralight, but one luxury I afford myself are the single serving creamers (real stuff with no flavors added)that you can now purchase at the grocery store...real cream with my coffee outdoors and it could rain for days, I wouldnt care :)
Not sure if it was mentioned, but sugar cubes are available in most grocery stores. These are great for just plopping a couple in a cup of java or tea. No need to measure out before your trip...just multiply cubes per cup by meals. I always throw a few extra in the ziplock for a late night brew or a particularly rainy day.
x2 packs of VIA bold + Hershey's Cocoa + 1 powdered creamer single = Backcountry satisfaction of the highest degree. Excellent article Mike, I definitely needed this one and enjoyed it fully.
We've taken Via on our last couple of trips. Easy and fast, tastes pretty good. For extra coffee goodness during the day, I like to eat chocolate covered espresso beans. A very small handful of those puppies gets me climbing hills like nobody's business. Love 'em.
For the purists - Kyocera ceramic hand grinder at 8.4 ounces : http://www.orphanespresso.com/Kyocera-Ceramic-Coffee-Grinder-CM-45-CF_p_1993.htmlIn use:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e0ABtsARso
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Each bag makes one loaf of original white bread--just add beer. Made with 100% all natural ingredients, this is the mix that started it all. It's a comfort bread with a slight sweetness with a moist, dense texture. Change it up by baking this bread with different beers or adding additional ingredients to make it different each time.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Madeline's last cheer
If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing - Benjamin Franklin
Madeline McTier will not soon be forgotten.
A quick scan at one of the Facebook pages set up for her — PrayforMadeline — has posts from not only all over the country, but from foreign countries.
The junior and cheerleader at East Coweta High School died Tuesday after a long bout with brain cancer.
Students from Coweta's three high schools plan to wear grey — representing brain cancer awareness — to the various home football games tonight. Many wore pink, Madeline's favorite color, to school on Wednesday. And many held prayer circles before school. The opposing football teams are planning to wear helmet stickers.
Madeline McTier will not soon be forgotten.
"In 17 years, she was able to do what a lot of people don't do in a lifetime," East Coweta Principal Coweta Evan Horton said in one of our articles. "She has been able to bring people together through the way she fought and through the person she was. What a lasting legacy."
No parent should have to bury a child, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the McTier family. A memorial service will be held Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any contributions be made to the Madeline Fund at any Bank of Georgia branch. They can also be sent by mail to 10 Baynard Park, Newnan, Ga., 30265.
That fund will in turn be dispersed to organizations and charities to honor the passions in Madeline's life. We encourage you to give what you can to ensure that legacy.
Madeline McTier will not be forgotten.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:38)


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Jimm Juree was a crime reporter for the Chiang Mai Daily Mail with a somewhat eccentric family. When she is forced to follow her family to a rural village on the coast of Southern Thailand, she's convinced her career—maybe her life—is over. So when a van containing the skeletal remains of two hippies is inexplicably unearthed in a local farmer's field, Jimm is thrilled. Shortly thereafter an abbot at a local Buddhist temple is viciously murdered.
Suddenly Jimm's new life becomes somewhat more promising—and a lot more deadly. And if Jimm is to unravel the inexplicable events, it will take luck, perseverance, and the help of her entire family.
©2011 Original material © 2011 Colin Cotterill. Recorded by arrangement with St. Martin's Press, LLC. (P)2011 (p) 2011 HighBridge Company
"Cotterill understands people and writes subtle humor like a master." (Library Journal)
"May be the best new international mystery series since the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." (Booklist)
"Cotterill's excellent first in a new series . . . combines a wry narrative voice with an appealing picture of a world unfamiliar to most Americans." (Publishers Weekly)
Because I had read all Cotterill's "Dr. Siri" series and loved every one for its humor and wonderful characters, I hesitated to listen to the first of this new series believing I would be disappointed. The opposite happened and I was delighted with his fresh characters and relieved that he continues to construct a good mystery laced with lots of humor. It's a four star mystery with an extra star for all the other goodies.
"Culturally Savy Mystery Story- Fun Thai Character"
This is my favorite Cotterill novel so far. I enjoyed his two first mysteries involving the Laoation Coroner, the lead in this mystery set in Thailand is a 30-something, crime reporter Jim Jurree, who is forced by circumstance to relocate to a small southern village in Thailand.
Every character is surprising and delightfully original. Quite an accomplishment. The reporter's older brother, turned sister, Sissy, a Transgender beauty queen, might just be my favorite for her inventive schemes.
It took a bit to get used to Park's accent - story told in first person - used for the Thai reporter. However, her ability to depict a wide range of unbelievably diverse characters won me over. I have not listened to other Jeany Park's performances.
"Good book, bad narrator"
I like the author (Dr. Siri Paiboun series) and the book very much, but the narrator is very boring.
"Dr. NO"
I know that Cotterill is capable of 5 star listening experiences - I fell in love with Dr. Siri and his Laos of the 1970's.
Killed at the Whim of a Hat doesn't just fall flat, it falls off a cliff... or maybe a skyscraper... or maybe both. Jimm Juree and contemporary Thailand are both huge bores. Overall the book comes across as a failed attempt at chick-lit, self-indulgent and precious; every character is a caricature or stereotype except perhaps for the dogs and some clever villagers.
Too-cute, chick-detective mysteries? Yeah I'm turned off from this genre.
I'd give Jeany another chance.
Dog justice.
"Dull, couldn't make it past 3rd chapter"
1) A more interesting story - i love this author, but, after 3 chapters, nothing happened except a continuous repetition of the main characters whining.
2) The narrator not good - if this was a good book, she made it into a bad one.
I had to quit after 3rd chapter.
She made it duller than it seemed to be. Her accent was very artificial, she kept giggling - it was really sad, how the narrator became the problem.
2 of the first 3 chapters, they seemed very repetitious.
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Grace Brethren rallies in fourth quarter to defeat Big Bear
After falling behind early in the second quarter, Grace Brethren School rallied back in the final four minutes of the game to defeat Big Bear by a score of 30 at Moorpark College on Friday night in a non-league game.
Grace Brethren (1-0) scored the winning touchdown with just 13 seconds left to play when Max Leffler found Mack Miller open in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Big Bear (0-1) extended its lead to 30-18 on Craig Hall's 30-yard field goal.
Following the field goal, the Grace Brethren offense finally woke up after struggling in the second half up to that point.
Leffler led Grace Brethren downfield on a 62-yard drive in just less than three minutes, and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. He followed the touchdown by running in a 2-point conversion to make the score 30-26 with 3:40 to play.
The defense answered with a huge stop by holding Big Bear to a three-and-out possession leaving 1:44 on the clock for the offense to do its thing. The Grace Brethren offense answered with the winning drive.
The key play of the drive was an 11-yard scramble by Leffler on fourth-and-10 from the Big Bear 41-yard line with less than one minute left in the game.
Leffler, a junior, finished the game with 259 passing yards and three touchdown passes while completing 26 of 54 pass attempts. Leffler also ran for 77 yards and one touchdown.
When Leffler wasn't making big plays on offense, he made them on defense — including a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the third quarter.
The Grace Brethren defense started out strong by forcing fumbles in Big Bear territory on Big Bear's first two possessions of the game.
Jerry McClure and Jack Gilliland recovered the fumbles for Grace Brethren. Unfortunately for the Lancers, they were only able to convert one of the turnovers into a touchdown.
After fumbling on its first two possessions, Big Bear put together an 81-yard touchdown drive that featured three plays that gained 17 yards or more, including a 21-yard touchdown pass from Craig Hall to Hans Hausner.
Grace Brethren forced four turnovers in the game while committing none.
Big Bear scored twice more in the second quarter and held a 20-12 lead at halftime.
The teams exchanged third-quarter touchdowns. The first was Leffler's interception return, but Big Bear answered when Aaron Gibbons scored on a 1-yard run late in the quarter.
Big Bear's offense was led by Gibbons, who rushed for 74 yards on 17 carries, and Hall, who ran 18 times for 78 yards.
Eight different receivers caught passes for Grace Brethren, led by Zach Hogan's seven catches.
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How does a TV series change over time? And can we measure it?
Excel on Overthinking It
"Movies" vs. "Films": Oscar Speeches Versus the World
Adding statistical and linguistic fuel to the "Oscars are out of touch" fire.
Trucks in Country Music Lyrics, 2005-2014, Part 2
Ford vs. Chevy, Men vs. Women, Obama vs. Country Music Fans.
Trucks in Country Music Lyrics, 2005-2014
Just how often do country songs reference trucks, and why?
Have We Reached Peak Superhero? Part II: The Winter Statistician
A revised look at the statistics of superhero movies and if there's any indication that they've hit their peak.
"Movies" vs. "Films" in Oscar Speeches, 2005-2014
Is it useful or constructive to have a shorthand way of distinguishing between popular cinema versus arthouse cinema?
The Evolution of Escapism in Romantic Comedy
Changes in male and female income in romantic comedies over time… with a graph!
The Desolation of Statistics: Book Length vs. Movie Length, Part 2
Does the density of a movie adaptation of a book have any effect on its quality? Is there an ideal length of a movie based on the book's word count?
An Unexpected Journey: Book Length vs. Movie Length in Adapted Franchises
We crunched the numbers on novel length vs. movie length to see who's guilty of "Hobbiting" a single book into multiple movies.
Movies Gone Rogue: The Increasingly Negative Portrayal of the US Government in Movies, 2001-2012
As public trust in the US government declines, it's depicted less favorably in Hollywood.


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Bishop urges international community: don't destroy Syria
Catholic World News - January 06, 2014
As representatives of 30 nations and four organizations prepared for a January 22 conference on the Syrian conflict, a Syrian bishop urged the international community not to "destroy" the nation.
"The participants at the Geneva II conference will have to start respecting the characteristics" of Syria, said Bishop Antoine Audo, SJ, the Chaldean Catholic bishop of Aleppo, according to a Fides report. "We believe that we must respect the country with its problems, support it in its progressive journey towards justice and freedom, rather than taking advantage of its weakness simply to destroy it."
"As men of the Church, this is the perspective with which we look at the present and the future of Syria," he added. "And we ask ourselves what and why is there the need to destroy a country that was stable and also safeguarded treasures of civilization. Maybe someone thought that Syria was like Libya, that it was easy to change the system from the outside, perhaps for economic interests. As it turns out, it was fallacious conjecture."
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The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek.Love where it takes you.
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Thursday and Friday, practice is on pavement only — one lane at a time. The stadium floor won't be set up until Sunday morning, so no dirt for a while.
Most of the 12 teams invited to this competition are on the track for the two-hour stint. They alternate between lanes, since the lanes aren't connected.
Even today, practice is fierce. Although the track looks tight and confined, drivers are already pushing for higher speeds. Encounters with barriers are constant. The air is full of dust; sand; bits of rubber; and the smell of tires, brakes, and exhaust.
That "little" jump in the straight of the outside course gets the cars airborne far more than one would think. Block/Gelsomino are among those who stand cars on their noses.
Two more hours of practice, but not everyone participates.
Competitors drift the turns with all drive wheels spinning. Rubber soon delineates the cornering lines — normal for paved tracks. And every once in a while, there's a crunch of metal and plastic punching the barrier walls.
Through the chaos, one car appears unscathed — the #45 of McShea/Clarke. Just as impressive as the other cars on the Subaru factory team, #45 looks to be someone to beat.
The cars seem quicker today. The intensity among the teams grows. During most rally weekends, pressure builds stage after stage when trying to retain or make up time; this weekend, it builds during practice. There is only one "stage" in the bracket-type setup for race day. Once a car is eliminated, it's gone.
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So, with tax season coming up, I can't help but think about the extra freed up cash that comes with it. Then I started thinking, what if I could make extra money all the time? My cousin has been involved in online marketing since like 2005, and is a major player for SEO Phoenix. He suggested that I look into maybe checking out some paid writing gigs, so I checked out a few that he recommended. I went to iWriter, hireawriter, fiverr, and freelancer.com and I signed up for them all. I figure since I really enjoy writing for my own blogs, that I would see if I could write for others.
Guess what? My first day on fiverr I had an order! I offered to write 350 words for about 5 bucks, which I think is a pretty good deal for an American writer with a degree. I turned the work around fast, and got a positive review right out of the gate, so I am hoping that I can build a little portfolio and make myself some extra spending money! I think it is great that these sites exists and that you don't need any special talents (aside from the skills you already have) to make money. While I am pretty sure I am not going to get rich making 5 bucks at a time, I do feel like if I can make a extra hundred bucks a week or something, it will definitely add up. Stay tuned for more updates on this, and let me know if you found something like this that you can do to make a little spare money online!


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The Storage Team Blog about file services and storage features in Windows and Windows Server.
Hi, this is Scott Johnson and I'm a Program Manager on the Windows File Server team. I've been at Microsoft for 17 years and I've seen a lot of cool technology in that time. Inside Windows Server 2012 we have included a pretty cool new feature called Data Deduplication that enables you to efficiently store, transfer and backup less data.
This is the result of an extensive collaboration with Microsoft Research and after two years of development and testing we now have state-of-the-art deduplication that uses variable-chunking and compression and it can be applied to your primary data. The feature is designed for industry standard hardware and can run on a very small server with as little as a single CPU, one SATA drive and 4GB of memory. Data Deduplication will scale nicely as you add multiple cores and additional memory. This team has some of the smartest people I have worked with at Microsoft and we are all very excited about this release.
Hard disk drives are getting bigger and cheaper every year, why would I need deduplication? Well, the problem is growth. Growth in data is exploding so much that IT departments everywhere will have some serious challenges fulfilling the demand. Check out the chart below where IDC has forecasted that we are beginning to experience massive storage growth. Can you imagine a world that consumes 90 million terabytes in one year? We are about 18 months away!
Source: IDC Worldwide File-Based Storage 2011-2015 Forecast: Foundation Solutions for Content Delivery, Archiving and Big Data, doc #231910, December 2011
This new Data Deduplication feature is a fresh approach. We just submitted a Large Scale Study and System Design paper on Primary Data Deduplication to USENIX to be discussed at the upcoming Annual Technical Conference in June.
We analyzed many terabytes of real data inside Microsoft to get estimates of the savings you should expect if you turned on deduplication for different types of data. We focused on the core deployment scenarios that we support, including libraries, deployment shares, file shares and user/group shares. The Data Analysis table below shows the typical savings we were able to get from each type:
Microsoft IT has been deploying Windows Server with deduplication for the last year and they reported some actual savings numbers. These numbers validate that our analysis of typical data is pretty accurate. In the Live Deployments table below we have three very popular server workloads at Microsoft including:
Below is a screenshot from the new Server Manager 'Volumes' interface on of one of the build lab servers, notice how much data that we are saving on these 2TB volumes. The lab is saving over 6TB on each of these 2TB volumes and they've still got about 400GB free on each drive. These are some pretty fun numbers.
There is a clear return on investment that can be measured in dollars when using deduplication. The space savings are dramatic and the dollars-saved can be calculated pretty easily when you pay by the gigabyte. I've had many people say that they want Windows Server 2012 just for this feature. That it could enable them to delay purchases of new storage arrays.
1) Transparent and easy to use: Deduplication can be easily installed and enabled on selected data volumes in a few seconds. Applications and end users will not know that the data has been transformed on the disk and when a user requests a file, it will be transparently served up right away. The file system as a whole supports all of the NTFS semantics that you would expect. Some files are not processed by deduplication, such as files encrypted using the Encrypted File System (EFS), files that are smaller than 32KB or those that have Extended Attributes (EAs). In these cases, the interaction with the files is entirely through NTFS and the deduplication filter driver does not get involved. If a file has an alternate data stream, only the primary data stream will be deduplicated and the alternate stream will be left on the disk.
2) Designed for Primary Data: The feature can be installed on your primary data volumes without interfering with the server's primary objective. Hot data (files that are being written to) will be passed over by deduplication until the file reaches a certain age. This way you can get optimal performance for active files and great savings on the rest of the files. Files that meet the deduplication criteria are referred to as "in-policy" files.
a. Post Processing: Deduplication is not in the write-path when new files come along. New files write directly to the NTFS volume and the files are evaluated by a file groveler on a regular schedule. The background processing mode checks for files that are eligible for deduplication every hour and you can add additional schedules if you need them.
a. Post Processing: Deduplication is not in the write-path when new files come along. New files write directly to the NTFS volume and the files are evaluated by a file groveler on a regular schedule. The background processing mode checks for files that are eligible for deduplication every hour and you can add additional schedules if you need them.
b. File Age: Deduplication has a setting called MinimumFileAgeDays that controls how old a file should be before processing the file. The default setting is 5 days. This setting is configurable by the user and can be set to "0" to process files regardless of how old they are.
b. File Age: Deduplication has a setting called MinimumFileAgeDays that controls how old a file should be before processing the file. The default setting is 5 days. This setting is configurable by the user and can be set to "0" to process files regardless of how old they are.
c. File Type and File Location Exclusions: You can tell the system not to process files of a specific type, like PNG files that already have great compression or compressed CAB files that may not benefit from deduplication. You can also tell the system not to process a certain folder.
c. File Type and File Location Exclusions: You can tell the system not to process files of a specific type, like PNG files that already have great compression or compressed CAB files that may not benefit from deduplication. You can also tell the system not to process a certain folder.
3) Portability: A volume that is under deduplication control is an atomic unit. You can back up the volume and restore it to another server. You can rip it out of one Windows 2012 server and move it to another. Everything that is required to access your data is located on the drive. All of the deduplication settings are maintained on the volume and will be picked up by the deduplication filter when the volume is mounted. The only thing that is not retained on the volume are the schedule settings that are part of the task-scheduler engine. If you move the volume to a server that is not running the Data Deduplication feature, you will only be able to access the files that have not been deduplicated.
4) Focused on using low resources: The feature was built to automatically yield system resources to the primary server's workload and back-off until resources are available again. Most people agree that their servers have a job to do and the storage is just facilitating their data requirements.
a. The chunk store's hash index is designed to use low resources and reduce the read/write disk IOPS so that it can scale to large datasets and deliver high insert/lookup performance. The index footprint is extremely low at about 6 bytes of RAM per chunk and it uses temporary partitioning to support very high scale
a. The chunk store's hash index is designed to use low resources and reduce the read/write disk IOPS so that it can scale to large datasets and deliver high insert/lookup performance. The index footprint is extremely low at about 6 bytes of RAM per chunk and it uses temporary partitioning to support very high scale
c. Deduplication jobs will verify that there is enough memory to do the work and if not it will stop and try again at the next scheduled interval.
c. Deduplication jobs will verify that there is enough memory to do the work and if not it will stop and try again at the next scheduled interval.
d. Administrators can schedule and run any of the deduplication jobs during off-peak hours or during idle time.
d. Administrators can schedule and run any of the deduplication jobs during off-peak hours or during idle time.
5) Sub-file chunking: Deduplication segments files into variable-sizes (32-128 kilobyte chunks) using a new algorithm developed in conjunction with Microsoft research. The chunking module splits a file into a sequence of chunks in a content dependent manner. The system uses a Rabin fingerprint-based sliding window hash on the data stream to identify chunk boundaries. The chunks have an average size of 64KB and they are compressed and placed into a chunk store located in a hidden folder at the root of the volume called the System Volume Information, or "SVI folder". The normal file is replaced by a small reparse point, which has a pointer to a map of all the data streams and chunks required to "rehydrate" the file and serve it up when it is requested.
Imagine that you have a file that looks something like this to NTFS:
And you also have another file that has some of the same chunks:
After being processed, the files are now reparse points with metadata and links that point to where the file data is located in the chunk-store.
6) BranchCache™: Another benefit for Windows is that the sub-file chunking and indexing engine is shared with the BranchCache feature. When a Windows Server at the home office is running deduplication the data chunks are already indexed and are ready to be quickly sent over the WAN if needed. This saves a ton of WAN traffic to a branch office.
Deduplication creates fragmentation for the files that are on your disk as chunks may end up being spread apart and this causes increases in seek time as the disk heads must move around more to gather all the required data. As each file is processed, the filter driver works to keep the sequence of unique chunks together, preserving on-disk locality, so it isn't a completely random distribution. Deduplication also has a cache to avoid going to disk for repeat chunks. The file-system has another layer of caching that is leveraged for file access. If multiple users are accessing similar files at the same time, the access pattern will enable deduplication to speed things up for all of the users.
Even with RAID and redundancy implemented in your system, data corruption risks exist due to various disk anomalies, controller errors, firmware bugs or even environmental factors, like radiation or disk vibrations. Deduplication raises the impact of a single chunk corruption since a popular chunk can be referenced by a large number of files. Imagine a chunk that is referenced by 1000 files is lost due to a sector error; you would instantly suffer a 1000 file loss.
Well, the Data Deduplication feature doesn't do everything in this version. It is only available in certain Windows Server 2012 editions and has some limitations. Deduplication was built for NTFS data volumes and it does not support boot or system drives and cannot be used with Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV). We don't support deduplicating live VMs or running SQL databases. See how to determine which volumes are candidates for deduplication on Technet.
To aid in the evaluation of datasets we created a portable evaluation tool. When the feature is installed, DDPEval.exe is installed to the \Windows\System32\ directory. This tool can be copied and run on Windows 7 or later systems to determine the expected savings that you would get if deduplication was enabled on a particular volume. DDPEval.exe supports local drives and also mapped or unmapped remote shares. You can run it against a remote share on your Windows NAS, or an EMC / NetApp NAS and compare the savings.
I think that this new deduplication feature in Windows Server 2012 will be very popular. It is the kind of technology that people need and I can't wait to see it in production deployments. I would love to see your reports at the bottom of this blog of how much hard disk space and money you saved. Just copy the output of this PowerShell command: PS> Get-DedupVolume
Online Help: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831602.aspx PowerShell Cmdlets: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh848450.aspx
Very very nice! So this is a complete overhaul of what SiS was/is if I follow correctly. Also, if I'm not mistaken, while SiS worked more or less at the duplicate file level, this goes deeper and de-dupes chunks of identical data from one or more different files?
Yes, Dedup in Windows 8 works at sub-file level. Hence if the completely different files happen to share some chunks, the identical chunks are stored only once.
Some really great stuff in here !
There are some things that still remain unclear to me, perhaps you can shed a light on it:
Will it work with DFSR ?
Will it work with bitlocker ?
Will it work on dynamic disks ? (mirror volumes etc.)
What happens when I take a drive with DD enabled and plug it into machine with older operating system like 2008r2 ? Especially in situation when 'non-deduplicated' data would be bigger than drive real capacity.
Hi Bob!
DFS-R Support: Yes, there is interoperability with DFS-R. Optimizing or un-optimizing a file will not trigger a re-replication, since the file didn't change. DFS-R will still use RDC for over-the-wire savings and not the chunks in the chunk store. The files can be optimized using deduplication on the replica if it is running Windows Server 2012.
Bitlocker = Yes, Bitlocker sits below us. Deduplication and NTFS don't know that there is encryption on the disk and they function normally.
Dynamic Disks = Yes. You can still create Dynamic Disks and put NTFS volumes on them. NTFS volumes can have deduplication applied as long as it isn't system, boot, etc.
The down-level OS experience is briefly mentioned in the "Portability" section above. You can only read the files that have not been processed by Deduplication.
Thank you for answering that DFS-R question but to bad I can't take advantage of the chunks if all replicated members use deduplication.
Just a little scenario, let's imagine I have a excel file that is 200mb and is deduplicated (it occupy around 30mb on disk), a user open it and change 10mb of data in it and save it. If I get it correctly the file not occupy 40mb on disk at least until the next optimization pass, am I right?
And a last question Hyper-V hosts is listed in the not good candidates for dedup. Why is that? Because of the performance impact or because the vhd files are lock by the hypervisor and that optimizations would need the VM to be offline to succeed.
Must of the data on a server's system partition is static it would definitely benefit from deduplication.
Excellent feature !.
Can I control memory cache for Dedup, File Server feature like CSV memroy cache ?
Hi Scott,
Nice write-up, I have been experimenting with dedupe on windows server 8 beta, I had deduped a 320GB Disk (SATA), I then removed it off my Windows Server 8 Beta Computer and Plugged that drive (while it was deduped) onto my new Windows Server 2012 Box.
On the second-box, deduped drive was coming up as Foreign Disk under Disk Management, I selected Import Foreign Disks and it came up fine.
Now the interesting part, as this drive and it's data was de-duped on my previous Windows Server 8 Box, I noticed that for some .rar and .zip files, I can't open them, I can't open a few photos I had on this and a few other file types, video files were fine...this was a bit scary....
I then installed the Deduplication feature under file services role and when I did a powershell "Get-DedupeVolume, it showed me the the same drive and after this I was able to access all data which was surely not opening up before installing the dedup role.
Like in SIS on windows 2003R2 Storage Server till 2008 Storage server, un-linking was not very clean, I think this dedup feature is far more stable and reliable....
Your thoughts will be very helpful !!
Hi Scott, I have a Server 2012 RC hyper-v host with a Server 2012 RC hyper-v guest on it.
The guest is running DFS replication and Deduplication.
Using DFS-R we replicated roughly 250 GB of data; the vhdx grew to 275 GB as expected.
We then applied deduplication and the volume shrunk by roughly 50% down to 125 GB (yay!).
Shut down the guest and ran a Compact operation on the vhdx expecting it to shrink - it remains at 275 GB.
This effectively negates any benefit to the deduplication - is there something special we need to do to actually reclaim this space and shrink the vhd?
Here ya go Scott.
Volume is a typical 39GB home folder volume for 200 users:
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-DedupVolume
Enabled SavedSpace SavingsRate Volume
------- ---------- ----------- ------
True 10.9 GB 35 % E:
This is an interesting implementation to the OS. Below are the results from my small server enviornment. This is of course using "real" data, on live servers.
Drive T: contains all my applications, drivers, as well as ISO's, pictures, music, and roaming profiles.
FreeSpace SavedSpace OptimizedFiles InPolicyFiles Volume
--------- ---------- -------------- ------------- ------
I suspect my results would be about typical rather than test enviornments where the same files are copied several times. From my understanding this would not have a large deduplication percentage in a production enviornment so much as an archiving / backup enviornment. I can see if you have a bunch of archived VHD's this would be able to save space, but even more can be realized when it comes to a backup enviornment.
Compressed video's and music in general have a great deal of variation, so I would expect there to be minimal savings from them.
If your company is in the habit of duplicating files and modifying only a small portion (say PowerPoint files) this could be a large savings in those instances.
Hi Jorge D.
For your excel file example, it depends on how excel updates the file with 10MB of additional data. If excel writes to a new file of size 110MB and then deletes the original file and then renames the new file to the original file, the system will consume 140MB. The 30MB storage may be reused when the new file is deduplicated or may be reclaimed when gargage collection is run. Eventually after deduplication and garbage collection is run, the excel file should consume 40MB or less.
If excel simply appends 10MB to the original file, then the system will consume 40MB immediately after the append. When the file is re-deduplicated, it may consume less than or equal to 40MB, depending on the deduplication and compression ratio.
For Hyper-V host, yes, deduplication is not recommended because of performance impact and because deduplication requires a file not in use.
Hi Yoshihiro
For Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate, there is no such feature in dedup like the CSV Cache.
Hi Mutahir,
Regarding to the issue that you couldn't access some files on the Windows Server 2012 box before installing deduplication feature on that box, this is expected. Some of the files on a deduplicated volume are converted to deduplication specific reparse point files. They are not accessible unless deduplication feature is installed. For the files which were accessible without deduplication feature installed, it is likely that they were not converted to deduplication specific reparse point files.
Hi Scott, do you know if there is a bug in 2012 RTM's Windows Server Backup? I am trying to do a dedup-aware "optimized" backup using WSB but no matter what I do, when I select a deduped volume I get the error noted here (have replicated this in a few environments now): g0b3ars.wordpress.com/.../hyper-v-3-0-server-2012-deduplication-yay-and-vhdx-files


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Court TV greenlights John Waters-hosted series
- Court TV has begun production on its first original scripted series 'Til Death Do Us Part. Each episode will dramatize bizarre cases of happily married couples whose rel...
- Read more
Four words I didn't want to hear: The Simple Life renewed
- Being talentless, rich and stupid is still enough to keep Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie on television. E! just announced that it'll bring the witless wonders back for ...
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Heavenly honeymoons can lead to nuptial nightmares in this murder mystery series drawn from actual homicide cases. The Groom Reaper attends each happy couple's wedding, but the rest of the episode traces how things go terribly wrong for the spouses, leading to murder - although viewers don't know which partner is the victim until the end of the episode.


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The Grove Presents: Performance by Cast Members of Mary Poppins
Join cast members from Broadway's perfectly magical musical Mary Poppins in a special free performance at The Grove. Actors will answer questions from Mark Wallengren of KOST 103.5 FM. Mary Poppins is now on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre through February 7.
Friday, December 4, 3pm
189 The Grove Dr. Los Angeles CA 90036 – 323.900.8080


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2004 Domaine Des Baumard Savennieres
|Rating Details
2004 Domaine des Baumard Savennieres:
The Baumard 2004 Savennieres introduces a fascinatingly musky, faintly sweaty, animal suggestion to a nose otherwise dominated by lemon, grapefruit and peach. In the mouth, it blossoms to layers of fresh peach and quince, brine and chalk minerality, finishing persistently with musky florality, anise, and subtle bitterness of herbs, alkaline minerality, and fruit skin. This should be fascinating to follow over at least a 6-8 year period. As my descriptors indicate, both the 2003 and 2004 Baumard Savennieres give prominence to the rather reductive youthful side of Chenin, and I cannot help but wonder whether this has been enhanced by their use of screw caps as closures.
by David Schildknecht, Issue #172, August 2007
--The Wine Advocate
DOMAINE DES BAUMARD Savennières 2004:
This is still tight, but shows piercing intensity to the lime, mineral, quince and pear flavors. The long, stony finish really reverberates. Could use a little time. Drink now through 2011. 5,000 cases made.
by James Molesworth, May 31, 2007
--Wine Spectator
2004 Domaine des Baumard Savennieres:
Pale yellow. Mineral-driven aromas of lime, lemongrass and green apple, with notes of quinine and honeysuckle adding complexity. Dry, stony and sharply focused, with tangy citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a steely, slightly bitter quality on the back end. Gains weight with air and finishes with good grip and spicy persistence. This is drinking well right now. 89 points
By Josh Raynolds
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 10
--Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Domaine des Baumard 2004 Chenin Blanc (Savennières):
A beautifully crisp wine, fresh and leaping with green fruits. This wine is characterized by its steely core and great acidity, with green plum skins and a structure that promises a long, slow development.
by Roger Voss (10/1/2007) 90
--Wine Enthusiast
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February 1, 2010
A new stadium in Durban to showcase World Cup
By Nicole Megan Gounder
Reporter, Youth Journalism International
Photographs of the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa, which will host its first World Cup match between Germany and Australia on June 13: (See the FIFA World Cup website for more information.)
Help The Tattoo thrive! Your donation can help us continue to provide the world's premier teen journalism.


text:
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Vikings rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson made his first trip Sunday to Lambeau Field.
He wasn't too impressed.
"It's really not that loud here,'' Patterson said after the overtime ended with the Vikings and the Packers tying 26-26. "It wasn't loud at all. I guess the crowd wasn't into it like they should be. But once that overtime started, the crowd picked up a little bit.''
Patterson believes the Metrodome is much louder than Lambeau Field.
"When we're back in the Metrodome, it's always rocking,'' he said. "We're louder, of course. Most definitely. We got the No. 1 fan base in the country.''
Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.


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On April 11, Natalie of Natalie's World conducted an interview with SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.SKID ROW's new EP, "United World Rebellion - Chapter One", is available for streaming in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below. Released in North America on April 16 via MRI, the effort is the first in a series of EPs that the reincarnated band — Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass), Scotti Hill (guitar), Johnny Solinger (vocals) and Rob Hammersmith (drums) — plans to release in the near future. SKID ROW's rebellious tunes hit the big time in the late 1980s. However, after several Top Ten singles, gold and multi-platinum sales, No. 1 Billboard-charting tracks and more, the band split in 1996. In 2000, to the delight of fans everywhere, SKID ROW reformed and returned to the stage to open for KISS. They then released two new musical offerings in the form of 2003's "ThickSkin" and 2006's "Revolutions Per Minute" with new singer Johnny Solinger out front. "United World Rebellion - Chapter One" will be released in Europe at the end of May via Germany's UDR Music. The European version of the EP will include two bonus tracks, both of them cover tunes. "I won't say what they are," guitarist Scotti Hill told Eyes From The Mosh Pit. "One of them you'll know very well and one of them you may have to go back into the archives… [It's] a little more obscure. But it's really cool." "United World Rebellion - Chapter One" track listing: 01. Kings Of Demolition
02. Let's Go
03. This Is Killing Me
04. Get Up
05. Stiches


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The power of preferences
The UK and the Alternative Vote: A missed opportunity…
Last year the United Kingdom missed an opportunity to significantly reform its electoral system. On offer was the alternative vote (AV), the same system used for the election of the House of Representatives in Australia. The UK voting-public voted against the proposed reform. What might the alternative vote have brought to politics in the UK? At the very least the major UK parties would have been compelled to take minority voices more seriously. Instead, status quo politics reigned supreme.
Prior to last year's referendum, when alighting from a train in the northwest of England, I was confronted by a billboard with an earnest and somewhat chiselled soldier staring down at me. The sepia-styled image of the soldier, imploring a sense of honour, bravery and all things masculine, was accompanied by a fluorescent backdrop and large-type declaring:
He needs bulletproof vests NOT an alternative voting system
The 'No to AV' campaigners, who were responsible for the advertisement, scraped the bottom of the barrel when they suggested that the well-being of soldiers is dependent on how an individual might vote in an unrelated national referendum. It was nothing less than a well-versed appeal to a not-so-underlying sense of nationalism in the hope that it would thwart any level of change to the UK electoral system. Arguably, it worked. The referendum returned a resounding no vote of nearly 68%.
Of course, the real sentiment here is the concept of change in and of itself. The grumblings came from factions within both the Conservatives and Labour, you could sense them smarting: 'Things are fine as they are. Just leave it be, thank you very much'. Status quo politics is always about favouring those with power.
Yet the UK electorate consistently feeds back, whether through polls, surveys or vox pops, that politicians and their parties are not sufficiently held to account. It is a recurring theme that parliamentarians are untrustworthy, that they do not listen, or once elected they do as they please. Similarly, there is a sentiment that votes are wasted in the current first-past-the-post system or, to make an impact, one must resort to tactical voting.
AV would not have solved all of these problems. Any claim that it will result in a properly representative parliament is false (in respect to all votes cast across the national electorate as a whole). It would have, however, gone some way to alleviating the deficit. What was on offer was a more representative and accountable system. Not just in terms of the distribution of parliamentarians, but the manner in which minority voices would be taken more seriously by the major parties.
As it stands major parties can push aside the concerns of minor parties – only needing to respond to them if they happen to chance upon a particular zeitgeist. However, for the most part, they can be ignored allowing the big players to argue about who manages the economy better or who is tougher on immigration. They set the agenda, they frame the debate. How, then, would AV have challenged this?
Well, first, a change in system would not have resulted in a cavalcade of new MPs from fringe parties descending upon Westminster. Far from it. AV would have resulted in changes to the make-up of the parliament, primarily in the form of a more equal distribution of parliamentarians according to what is called the 'two-party preferred' vote. Further, at its core AV remains a majoritarian system and (the current Australian government excepted) nearly always returns a majority government; a cherished notion in the electoral systems of the Anglo-sphere.
AV, instead, calls the major parties to account; not only by their members, trade unions or business groups, but by the platforms of smaller parties. Why? Well, because of the how-to-vote card. A party-political leaflet distributed to voters, usually just prior to entering a polling station, indicating to them how they might vote.
Understandably the wider UK electorate is unfamiliar with how election day unfolds in Australia. Usually at each polling station, whether it be a primary school or a community hall, a small army of volunteers from each of the political parties will descend. Over the course of the day the party helpers will good-naturedly attempt to hand out their small slips of paper. These how-to-vote cards simply rank each candidate within a given constituency in an order determined by their respective parties.
More than half of Australian electors, by conservative estimates, follow how-to-vote-cards (it's even higher in the upper house). Why? The reasons vary from ease of voting, to not wanting to vote incorrectly, the absence of party affiliations on ballot papers or, importantly, because of an appreciation as to why parties have preferenced in a particular way.
Currently in the UK if you vote for a minor party your vote will generally not count. Under AV this would have changed. If a voter wished to vote for the Greens, but had previously felt that it would be a wasted vote, they would have had, under AV, the opportunity to rank one of the major parties second (or at least above the other major party). This would have allowed the vote to 'flow on' should the Greens be eliminated from the count. Had the UK switched to AV, how-to-vote cards would have emerged, not least to assist voters with a new system. More importantly, within a relatively short-time, the cards would have come to represent the dynamic between parties that are looking to maximise their electoral base.
This comes down to preference deals. Party A, a minor party, will tell Party B, a major party, that they will preference them second if they take on board their concerns over a particular issue. So an environmental party may well tell a workers party to take their nuclear concerns seriously, while a fox-hunting party might tell a centrist party that they would need some concessions if they wished to secure their second preferences. A consensus politics of sorts emerges. It is not a proportional system that is so feared in the Anglo-world, but it is a 'stable' majoritarian system that incorporates a level of co-operation.
Had AV been adopted in the UK, then the major parties could not continue to ignore the smaller parties – especially in an era of fracturing voting patterns. To do so would risk the preferences going elsewhere. Of course, major political parties consider the cost and benefits of potential preference deals. AV, however, changes the equation. If an idea has value or importance to a significant number of people, as opposed to an overwhelming number, as is currently the case, the major parties will be forced to listen. This dynamic can play out within a single constituency or across the whole national electorate. What it adds is a proportional-like element to election campaigns. How the major parties listen takes a variety of forms and it can include excluding particular groups.
In the Australian election of 1998, far right candidate Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party sought re-election on an anti-immigration and ostensibly racist ticket. In response to considerable community protests both the major parties listed her last on their how-to-vote cards. This effectively excluded her from the election as the likelihood of winning more than 50% of the votes on first preference was unlikely. As it was she secured the most first preference votes at 36% – but she lost her seat "on preferences". Some have suggested that this process is undemocratic, but I would argue that it is quite the opposite.
The two major parties were forced to listen to concerned communities, including some minor parties, and form a consensus position on the involvement of certain far right groups. Indeed, the moment one of the major parties conceded, the other had to quickly follow or risk losing the moral argument (and the preference deals of the other minor parties across constituencies). Although Hanson's first preference vote was considerable – she would have been elected under first-past-the-post – the national voice, one of tolerance, impacted the result. Anyone fearing the rise of far right groups in the UK can look at this participatory approach as an effective means to engage the wider community in a debate on the appropriateness of particular political platforms.
Of course, AV is not without its flaws, but it is a system that encourages a greater diversity of debate without abandoning the perceived stability of a two (and a half) party system. It allows individuals to vote upon principled lines without wasting their vote. Also, given the difficulty for a minor party to win a single member constituency, it gives the smaller parties some teeth – little ones, but nonetheless teeth. Even if they do not win a seat, so long as they have a history of securing enough votes to make them a relevant force, they will be listened to.
What AV doesn't do is endanger the lives of soldiers sent to Afghanistan and, earlier, Iraq by and with the continued support of both of the major UK parties. An issue on which many of the concerns of minor parties fell on deaf ears.


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Tariffs & Policies
Tariffs & Policies
|Room Type
|April 2010 – March 2011
|Single room
(Double for single occupancy)
|£42 - £48*
|Double room
|£60 - £68*
|Twin room
|£62 - £68*
|Triple Room
|£70 - £78*
Family Suite (triple room & single room sharing the en suite facilities):
|2 people
|£ 75 - £ 80*
|3 people
|£ 82 - £ 87*
|4 people
|£ 100 - £ 112*
( * = Lower Rates Apply to Off-Season / Off-Peak Times)
All rates are per room per night and include english breakfast.
Cancellation Policy
Unless we are able to resell the rooms, cancellations received 5 days or less prior to arrival will be charged in full.
For payments made by cheque or cash 1 night deposit will be required. There will be no charge for payments made by cards but we reserve the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.
Check in and Check out times
Our rooms are ready for check in at midday but guests are welcome to check in earlier if rooms are ready. Our check out time is 10 am but up to 1 hour extension may be considered whenever possible. Please check with us.
Luggage and cars
can be left with us after departure but please make arrangements with us first.
Breakfast times
Full breakfast is usually served from 8 am. The last order is taken at 9 am but please let us know if you have different requirements and we will do our best to accommodate them.
Gift vouchers
We have introduced gift vouchers for every occasion: a great idea to offer the people you love an opportunity to celebrate a special occasion. Please ask for details.
Winter Short Breaks (subject to availability - contact us for more details)
Recent reviews
Review 1
"We recently stayed at Brook Lodge for a couple of days and were very impressed with the accommodation. Our room was lovely, spotlessly clean and nice and quiet. Barbara and Giovanni were very welcoming and helpful in suggesting places to visit. We would definately stay there again and would not hesitate in recommending Brook Lodge to our friends and family"
- Quote taken from Trip Advisor
Review 2
I booked a stay of one night with two friends initially. We arrived an hour early, not knowing what to expect. Giovanni, the owner, let us book in anyway and was really friendly, and even upgraded us to a suite for no extra cost! It was only a one mile walk up the straight road into the town centre (past Morrisons and the train station if you're interested). I was so impressed that I booked again four days later and took my 4 year old son with me! We got a fab welcome when we arrived...Anne Hathaway's cottage is a 10 minute walk across the road and there's a great little kids' park next to it for the evening if you want... The next morning, we had a lovely breakfast, catered just the way we asked for it. My son even had little chicken egg warmers on his boiled eggs and Barbara made him toast soldiers to go with it. I had such a perfect stay (both times) at Brook Lodge and will definitely go back! I can't imagine what anyone would be looking for in order to fault this place....?!
Review 3
"Delighted to be upgraded. Room very warm and comfortable. Tea/coffee facilities welcoming on arrival. Excellent breakfast. Friendly staff. Information in hall useful. Great parking facility."
- Quote taken from Booking.com
Review 4
"Giovanni the owner was wonderful. The breakfast was spectacular. The facility was quaint, comfortable, and convenient. This was our best lodging in Europe during our two week stay."
- Quote taken from Booking.com
Review 5
"Easy parking. Comfortable bed. Friendly hosts. Nice breakfast. Very convienient location. All the big things you look for were in place. Biggest plus was the ability to book for 1 night only."
- Quote taken from Activehotels.com


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Figure 1: Front cover of Egyptology: The Missing Millennium. Ancient Egypt in Medieval Arabic Writings by Okasha El Daly (London: UCL Press, 2005).
Book Review of 'Egyptology: The Missing Millennium' by Okasha El-DalyLEARN MORE
Egyptology: The Missing Millennium published by Okasha El Daly is an invaluable resource showing the extent...
Figure 1: Front covers of two recently published books on the scientific legacy of the Islamic tradition and its impact on modern science: Aladdin's Lamp: How Greek Science Came to Europe Through the Islamic World by John Freely (Knopf, 2009) and Science and Islam: A History by Ehsan Masood (Icon Books, 2009).
Shining light upon lightLEARN MORE
Two science histories dissect the transfer of knowledge between the Greco–Islamic and European civilizations...
Figure 1: Front cover of The Dialogue of Civilizations in the Birth of Modern Science, by Arun Bala (Source).
Book Review of The Dialogue of Civilizations in the Birth of Modern Science by Arun BalaLEARN MORE
The book "The Dialogue of Civilizations in the Birth of Modern Science" by Arun Bala introduces a dialogical...
Figure 1: The cover page of the book Turkish Cuisine, edited by Arif Bilgin and Özge Samanci (Ankara, 2008).
Turkish Cuisine: A Book ReviewLEARN MORE
Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement...
Figure 1: Cover page of Tuhfat al-kibâr fî asfâr al-bihâr by Kâtib Çelebi in the edition of Idris Bostan (Ankara, 2008).
A Jewel of Ottoman Naval History: The Book of Kâtib Çelebi on Naval CampaignsLEARN MORE
This is a review of the book prepared by Prof. Dr. Idris Bostan for the Turkish Undersecretariat of...
Figure 1: Front cover of Handsat Ūqlīdis fī aydin 'arabiya (Euclid's geometry in Arabian hands) by Ahmad Salīm Sa'īdān (Amman, 1991).
Ahmad Salim Sa'idan: A Palestinian Historian of Arabic MathematicsLEARN MORE
Since the middle of the 20th century, the history of Arabic mathematics evolved as a sub-field of history of...
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Tory Burch
'Small' Perforated Logo Drawstring Tote
|Item # 625881
Details & Care
Upgrade your sporty style with a drawstring nylon tote embellished with a perforated logo and creamy leather trim.
- Drawstring with magnetic-snap closure.
- Optional, adjustable strap.
- Exterior magnetic-snap slip pocket.
- Interior zip, wall and cell-phone pockets.
- Nylon with leather trim.
- By Tory Burch; imported.


text:
TEXAS READS: How to attract butterflies to your Texas garden
If you love butterflies and would like to attract more of them to your garden, "Butterfly Gardening for Texas" should be just the book for you.
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Studying for the LSAT / Re: Can a 155/156 get to a 160 in 5 weeks?« on: August 31, 2004, 01:03:04 AM »
Heh.. not that I would presume to think that you guys care about what happens in Canada...
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Messages - Silversoma
Studying for the LSAT / Re: Can a 155/156 get to a 160 in 5 weeks?« on: August 31, 2004, 01:03:04 AM »
Heh.. not that I would presume to think that you guys care about what happens in Canada...
Studying for the LSAT / Re: Can a 155/156 get to a 160 in 5 weeks?« on: August 31, 2004, 01:00:37 AM »
I'm just wondering... might her 6 years of experience working as a paralegal have anything to do with getting waitlisted at UF? It seems that many schools in Canada value work/life experience just as much as numbers on standardized tests...
Studying for the LSAT / Re: 153 on practice test« on: August 31, 2004, 12:43:59 AM »
If you are planning on February, you have plenty of time to study and up your score, so...
I would suggest self-study for the next few weeks, write 5-10 official preptests from the LSAC, and then decide if you really want to drop $1000 on a prep course.
If you are motivated, I really think that using the Powerscore prep materials and writing lots of practice tests can get you to a 170, with the 5+ months that you have to prepare.
P.S. You forgot to buy the official LSAT preptests available from the LSAC...
Studying for the LSAT / Re: Are you memorizing anything for the LSAT? [word lists, etc]« on: August 31, 2004, 12:33:17 AM »
Aww, where did all the love go?
By the way, are there any other white people out there who secretly wish that they could speak/read/write Chinese? I was sooo jealous of my school friends who went to Chinese school on Sunday afternoons to learn all that, but for some reason they never did invite me along
Okay, the silly Canadian will shut up and go smoke her dope now
Studying for the LSAT / Re: How old are you guys?« on: August 31, 2004, 12:16:43 AM »
I am 92. Good news is that they do not consider my grades inflated. Bad news is that I might die of old age before I get my JD.
Hey Franz, are you for real? I hope I'm as sharp as you when I am 92!
If I make it to 92... good on ya, man!
Studying for the LSAT / Re: Predict the Higher LSAT score: English major or Computer Science Major?« on: August 31, 2004, 12:12:14 AM »
Verrrry interesting...
So, what happens when you are getting a combined degree in English and Chemistry?
All one of us...
Oh Canada! / Re: UofT students« on: August 26, 2004, 07:50:41 PM »
LOL, you can tell I've never been there before!
Oh Canada! / Re: experience with LSDAS...« on: August 26, 2004, 07:49:26 PM »
Are you applying to law schools in the US? Because I am only applying to schools in Canada, and I was under the impression that one did not have to register for the LSDAS for Canadian schools...
Oh Canada! / Re: Anyone studying for the LSAT in Calgary?« on: August 26, 2004, 07:47:04 PM »
Well that's pretty damn close.
Wait a minute, you live in Edmonton? You poor, poor bastard
Studying for the LSAT / Re: How old are you guys?« on: August 26, 2004, 07:32:07 PM »
22... will graduate with 2 degrees this april (after turning 23)...
... am writing on Oct. 2nd...
... planning to go to law school Sept. 2006...
... And, if all goes well, finish law school by the time I'm 27.
So, I'm not going to have a real job, technically, until I am 27 years old (is that too old?)


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Tim Floyd, the coach responsible for selling out UTEP's basketball arena Friday, is a man without a contract.
Even so, Floyd has made about $370,000 in salary and incentives in the seven months since the University of Texas at El Paso hired him as men's basketball coach.
"I'm just working and not really concerned with my contract at this point," Floyd said during a late-night practice last week.
Richard Adauto, executive vice president of UTEP, said he wants to reach a contract agreement with Floyd within the next two weeks. In May, Adauto said he hoped they would reach a formal agreement within 30 days.
Neither Floyd nor the university is disputing the terms of the contract, Adauto said. He said that is why Floyd is receiving contractually specified incentives, despite not having signed the agreement.
"It's just a matter of reviewing the details," Adauto said. "It's a good-faith effort on both our parts just to move along and get this done."
Floyd signed an offer letter in April that gave him a $250,000 annual base salary. He has received about $166,600 of that amount.
He also received about $204,000 in incentives from speaking engagements, public appearances and ticket sales, according to documents obtained by the El Paso Times through a state open-records request. The university did not release details about incentives or any type of buyout agreement stipulated in Floyd's unsigned contract.
But, university officials have said, Floyd probably will make more than $550,000 annually.
Floyd, who most recently was an assistant coach with the NBA's New Orleans Hornets, returned to UTEP to take the helm of the program where almost a quarter-century ago he was an assistant to Don Haskins.
Floyd, 56, will be the highest-paid coach in the history of UTEP's basketball program. But he made considerably more money in the NBA, where he twice was a head coach, first with the Chicago Bulls and then with the Hornets.
Adauto and Floyd have both cited the coach's busy schedule as a reason that the contract has not been made final.
"His immediate attention was recruiting, making sure he had his full complement of players, getting the program operating and going," Adauto said. "This is what he has been doing and, obviously, he has done it very well."
Six years ago, UTEP missed out on a special payment when Texas A&M lured away head basketball coach Billy Gillispie.
Because Gillispie had not signed his contract with UTEP after two seasons with the Miners, Texas A&M did not have to pay a $100,000 fee to buy him out of the agreement.
Adauto said he was not concerned about a similar situation with Floyd.
"We'll be fine with Tim," he said.
Adauto said Gillispie had a record of not signing agreements. He did not sign a binding contract when he landed his dream job at the University of Kentucky in 2007.
Zahira Torres may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com; 512-479-6606.
Times sports reporter Bill Knight contributed to this story.


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Ubisoft Alludes to Shared Assassin's Creed and Watch_Dogs Universe
15 Jun, 2013
During a show floor interview with our very own Randy Yasenchak this past week at E3, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag game director Ashraf Ismail chose his words very carefully when asked about AC4 and Watch_Dogs sharing the same universe.
"I don't want to ruin the surprise for people," Ismail admitted, "I don't want to give anything away. I will say, for the people who love both games, for the people who will play both games; there are some Easter Eggs that may be a bit hard to find, but when you find them, it will blow your mind."
While by no means a direct confirmation, Ismail's demeanor and less than subtle method of circumvention of the topic leads to the reasonable possibility of an Ubisoft timeline covering multiple different IP.
Be sure to check all of our post-E3 coverage here on the site, and on our YouTube channel!
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Class of 1977
Halfback, Flanker >>> 6-1, 197
(Southern California)
1952-1960, 1962-1964 New York Giants
Frank Newton Gifford ... All-American at USC ... No. 1 draft pick, 1952 ... Starred on both offense, defense, 1953 ... All-NFL four years ... NFL Player of Year, 1956 ... In eight Pro Bowls, playing defensive back, halfback, flanker ... Retired in 1961, came back as flanker, 1962 ... Totaled 9,862 combined yards ... Record includes 3,609 yards rushing, 367 receptions, 484 points ... Born August 16, 1930, in Santa Monica, California ... Died August 9, 2015, at age 84.
By the time that Frank Gifford joined the New York Giants as their No. 1 draft choice in 1952 he had already experienced unusual gridiron success in both high school and college. At the University of Southern California, Frank played both offense and defense and had won All-America honors as a senior.
It took only a few days for Giants coach Steve Owen to realize he had a prize as Gifford could run, pass, catch, play defensive back, and return punts and kicks. In 1953, he even played two ways in an era of one-platoon specialists, averaging almost 50 minutes every game.
In 1956, he was the NFL's Most Valuable Player as he paced the Giants to a league championship. Six times he was named first- or second-team All-NFL. Then in 1960, a severe head injury suffered in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles put Frank on the sidelines.
When he decided to retire before the 1961 season, there was every reason to believe the sparkling Gifford era was over. But in 1962 he returned to the game he loved. Facing and conquering the dual problems of regaining his touch after a long layoff and of learning a new position – he was switched from halfback to flanker to take advantage of his great pass-catching skills – Gifford attained star status once again.
No better yardstick of Frank's great versatility can be gained than from his eight Pro Bowl selections. He was named to the Pro Bowl at three different positions – first as a defensive back, then as an offensive halfback; and last as a flanker in 1964.
The Giants won big during the Gifford years and, while the team was loaded with many great pro football names, no one played a more dynamic role, year in and year out, in bringing the Giants success than did Frank Gifford.
Full Name: Frank Newton Gifford
Birthdate: August 16, 1930
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California
High School: Bakersfield (Calif.)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 8, 1977
Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 30, 1977
Presenter: Wellington T. Mara, President Giants
Other Members of Class of 1977: Forrest Gregg, Gale Sayers, Bart Starr, Bill Willis
Pro Career: 12 seasons, 136 games
Drafted: 1st round (11th player overall) in 1952 by New York Giants
Uniform Number: 16
Mobile-Optimized Bio >>>
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Airport parking charges can bump up the price of your trip. But planning ahead will help keep costs down.
You might have bagged a bargain break but holiday extras can soon add up, making a cheap getaway far more expensive.
Airport parking is one of these easily forgotten extras and in some cases holidaymakers can end up paying hundreds of pounds to park their car nearby.
But being savvy can save money. We explain how to avoid a car parking nightmare.
When it comes to airport parking there are a wide array of options. They range from parking at the airport terminal to off-site carparks, from parking yourself to handing over your keys and having your car parked for you.
Meet and Greet services involve having your car picked up at the terminal and then delivered back to you there on arrival, meaning you don't have to wait for shuttle buses.
The best way to research your parking options is to go online.
Lots of airport and private operators will be competing for your business but it's important to choose an established company rather than just go for the cheapest quote.
Sites such as Airport Parking Shop are a good starting point and allow you to select criteria, such as an approved car park, which are important to you.
For a booking at London Heathrow between August 20 – 26 2011, prices ranged from £39.49 for an unapproved car park, to £132.80 for valet parking. The average charge was in the region of £50 - £60.
Sites such as Sky Park Secure offer a similar airport parking price comparison service.
Anthony Clarke-Cowell of holidayextras.com advises booking ahead to cut costs.
He says: "That's our number one tip - always book in advance. Don't ever turn up and pay on-the-day prices as that can be extremely expensive."
"The best way to ensure your car is safe and secure in your absence by choosing a car with the 'Park Mark' status which will have been vetted by the police," says James Harrison, spokesperson for the British Parking Association.
He also recommends British Airport Association (BAA) approved car parks as havinghigh standards.
Some parking arrangements involve leaving your keys with the parking company, which will then have your car parked by one of their staff.
Some people prefer this arrangement, as there isn't a risk of losing your keys on holiday. Others worry that their cars will be damaged by negligent staff or even used as a runaround in their absence. Established companies such APH or Purple Parking come highly recommended.
Some deals allow for cancellations and amendments while others don't. And some companies charge booking fees so watch out for these.
Check out transfer times to the airport and the frequency of buses. Also, look at the insurance provision the company offer to protect against any damage to, or loss of, your car when it's in the car park.
It's also important to allow for delays. Add a couple of extra hours or more when booking your parking slot so you don't get stung for extra charges if your flight comes in late.
It's also possible to arrange parking packages that include a hotel. This might sound more expensive but the cost includes leaving your car at the hotel whileyou're away and it often works out to be far cheaper than standalone car parking – especially for longer holidays. It's also particularly useful if you've got an early flight.
You could also make arrangements to park on someone's private driveway or garage via a company such as parkatmyhouse.co.uk. However, you will then have to allow for the cost of transport to the airport terminal.
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Maria McCarthy is a motoring and lifestyle journalist and author of The Girls' Car Handbook and The Girls' Guide to Losing your L Plates published by Simon and Schuster. She's also a regular on BBC Breakfast news, and local and national radio, commenting on motoring matters. Her pet motoring hates are potholes and high fuel prices.View more from Maria
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Port Canaveral police Sgt. Ron King has defended himself in a nearly 5-minute YouTube video, saying his firing for displaying shooting targets resembling Trayvon Martin was "based on lies, false information and political agendas."
And King said Port Canaveral interim Chief Executive Officer John Walsh's accusation that he offered hoodie-style targets to other officers to shoot was "a complete fabrication."
Local 6 reached out to King on Monday but no one answered at his home.
Local 6 News partner Florida Today reports that King took shooting targets resembling Trayvon Martin to an April 4 training session at a Brevard County Sheriff's Work Farm shooting range in west Cocoa.
A fellow officer reported the incident, triggering an internal investigation. King was placed on paid administrative leave Friday and given a notice of termination.
Seated behind a computer monitor during his nearly 6-minute video statement, King apologized to Martin's family and fellow officers.
"I remain a professional law enforcement officer and a professional firearms instructor. I refuse to sit by while others use the Martin family and myself as a way to further their own political and career agendas," he said.
King said he should have never offered a hoodie-style target to the fellow sergeant who filed the complaint against him. He also speculated that the sergeant wants to bring bad publicity to the department to discredit Port Canaveral Police Chief Joe Hellebrand.
"Because the Trayvon Martin incident is a high-profile case, it is being used to distract from the true agenda. And this is where both I and the Martin family should feel used and violated," King said.
But Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon Martin's parents, was highly critical of King.
"It is absolutely reprehensible that a high-ranking member of the Port Canaveral Police, sworn to protect and serve Floridians, would use the image of a dead child as target practice," Crump said. "Such a deliberate and depraved indifference to this grieving family is unacceptable. The citizens of Port Canaveral deserve better."
Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who faces a second-degree murder charge in Martin's February 2012 shooting death in Sanford, is set to go on trial June 10.
Referring to witness statements in his internal-investigation case, King said he referred to the targets as "a no-shoot training aid." He denied that he suggested anyone shoot at the target, which features a faceless silhouette of a person in a hoodie holding a beverage can, a pack of Skittles candy tucked in a pocket. Crosshairs appear on its chest.
King's firing has garnered national media attention. Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Tom Weinberg deferred comment Sunday to Walsh and Rosalind Harvey, the port's senior director of communications and community affairs. Neither returned messages left on their cellphones. As a firearms instructor, King estimated he has trained more than 1,000 people during his career.


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Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds forward Drew McDonald tries to stop the shot of Ballard Bruins guard Brandon Berry, right. Ballard struggled with a tough Newport Central Catholic in the second semi-final game of the King of the Bluegrass tournament at Fairdale High School. Dec. 22, 2013
Coryontez Thomas scored 38 points and Caleb Longacre added 33 points and 10 rebounds to lead host Fairdale over Johnson Central 85-73 in a fifth-place semifinal of the King of the Bluegrass boys' basketball tournament last night.
The duo came up big down the stretch to keep the Bulldogs (4-3) in the lead late. After a Shane Hall dunk cut the Fairdale lead to 72-68 with 3:05 remaining, Longacre responded by putting back his own miss to make it a six-point game. On the Golden Eagles' next trip down, they tried to feed a triple-teamed Hall, who finished with 19 points, only to have it taken away.
"We ...


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Jon Chattman's music series features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometime humorous) way. No bells, no whistles — just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing.
Artists Who Have Appeared on A-Sides Include:
imagine dragons
portugal. the man
mike doughty
coheed & cambria
air supply
billy corgan
the chevin
biffy clyro
sharon jones and the dap-kings
mary c and the stellars
andy grammar
eric hutchinson
our lady peace
dashboard confessional
youngblood hawke
kimberely locke
creed bratton
tim noyes
a silent film
american authors
only son
obi trice
james iha
xander bleck
the kooks
caravan of thieves
matt hires
rachael yamagata
foy vance
jake miller
willy moon
semi precious weapons
gary clark, jr.
alice ripley
shiny toy guns
clementine and the galaxy
skinny lister
the ugly club
the jezabels
el sportivo
the gift
grace weber
robert delong
eric benet
civil twilight
duran duran
moon taxi
electric guest
zz ward
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text:
By By Christopher J. Boman, Fisher & Phillips LLP, and Dennis B. Moschella, HR.BLR.com
While workplace violence and bullying are not necessarily new problems, they've garnered recent attention as the recession continues to take its psychological toll on workers. Company downsizing, increasing responsibilities and an ongoing lackluster economy are adding to stressful work environments that can spark bullying amongst employees, as well as lead to workplace violence concerns.
Each day, thousands of American workers are harassed, intimidated, threatened and verbally or physically attacked. And bullying is three times more prevalent than sexual harassment. While only the sensational cases seem to make the headlines, threats and harassment in the workplace are a serious concern for employers. But employers can manage their risk in this area by implementing preventative measures—protecting both their staff and their reputations.
The key to helping manage workplace violence and bullying involves employers taking measures to reduce their liability in advance. From conducting thorough background checks during the hiring process to educating the workforce about these issues and ensuring the company's workplace violence and harassment policies address bullying, employers must ensure their due diligence can't be questioned.
Employers are encouraged to consider the following tips to help protect their workforce, stay out of the courtroom, and manage the potential risks associated with workplace violence and bullying.
Conduct Thorough Background Checks: Employers could be liable if someone carries out a violent act and has a criminal record including charges for carrying a concealed weapon, stalking, battery, etc. Ensure thorough background checks and drug tests are conducted for every hire and that risky behavior indicators are reported to HR and employers.
Expand Company Policies: Studies show that fewer than 30 percent of businesses have a workplace violence prevention policy. Adopt and publicize a zero-tolerance policy regarding threats, harassment (including bullying and cyber-stalking) and violence in the workplace. While there is no explicit law against bullying, company policies prohibiting it can help prevent potential problems before they escalate into something more destructive. In addition, regularly train all managers and employees on company policies, violation reporting guidelines and investigation procedures.
Understanding the Psychology of Bullying: Studies show 71 percent of bullies outrank their targets and that 40 percent of bullying targets don't ever tell anyone. This is an important step in helping staff report bullying, as it shows that most people don't report it because it's their boss bullying them. Understanding both the bully's and the victim's psychology can help employers address issues in a manner that yields positive results.
Learn the Warning Signs: Warning signs can indicate a potential problem, including verbal threats, paranoid behavior, overstated moral righteousness, expression of extreme depression, disregard for the safety of co-workers, or a romantic obsession with someone in the workplace. Ensure that both management and staff report any potential warning signs.
Don't Discount Third Party Harassment: Remember that many employees deal with vendors and other third parties throughout the workday, and that employer liability can extend to interaction with these individuals. If bullying or other harassment by third parties is conveyed to employers, the company must address the problem as soon as it's been reported.
Don't Forget the Financial Impact: The financial costs to businesses each year as the result of bullying and workplace violence threats and incidents are estimated to range from $36 billion to $120 billion. These numbers reflect absenteeism, decreased productivity, high turnover, theft and sabotage at work, medical care, increased accidents on the job and litigation. Experts advise that the return on investment for a business to implement a workplace violence prevention and education program is real and quantifiable.
The Practical Impact of Bullying: One study indicated that 75 percent of people bullied in the workplace will leave their jobs. Because bullying is often a crime of jealousy, you may lose some of your best workers if they're being targeted.
Call Upon the Experts: Consultants and legal experts are a smart investment to identify potential risks, mitigate actual threats, and offer solutions for companies to protect themselves and their employees.
Are You a Target of Workplace Bullying?Download Our Bestselling Resource:
What Every Target of Workplace Bullying Needs to Know
Learn how to avoid the traps, stop bullies in their tracks and get your life back. More Info.
Thank you for the excellent resource and insight. Reading your book has been so helpful to me. What a blessing it is to find there are people who care and are passionate about helping. - reader feedback


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BEST ENTRANCE: Use Entrance 1 near Ross Dress For Less
LOCATION IN MALL: Located in Neighborhood 1 near Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.
(678) 847-5306
Then Get Our Can't Miss Style Reports, Retailer
Offers and Event News Before Everyone Else.
Plus you'll be entered to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree.


text:
Meredith Gray
Meredith Gray was 49 years old when she received a second diagnosis of breast cancer. An annual mammogram had revealed abnormalities in her left breast. She would learn that she had the aggressive HER2+ form of the disease—and no way to pay for treatment.
Three years earlier, Meredith had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ in her right breast. Following a lumpectomy, she underwent eight weeks of radiation therapy and walked away from the experience feeling cured, thankful, and fortunate.
This time, the situation was different. Her new insurance carrier had required that she waive her right to make any cancer-related claims for an "indeterminable future" because of her pre-existing condition—breast cancer. She also faced a difficult decision. Without a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy, the chance that her cancer would metastasize was significant. Within weeks, surgeons amputated both her breasts and began reconstruction.
Meredith's mother died of pancreatic cancer at age 53. Meredith was 15 years old. Fear and secrecy surrounded her mother's diagnosis. No one was willing to discuss the "C-word." No one helped her understand what her mother was experiencing. No one helped her understand what had happened to her family. Years later, she realized that many women don't know what to expect when they receive the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer and decided to share her journey in the most intimate way she could. She decided to get naked—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Frustrated by her personal dilemma with health insurance while confronting a life-threatening diagnosis, Meredith sought a documentary filmmaker to chronicle her battle not only with the disease but also with the failure of the American health care system to provide adequate help for the hundreds of thousands of women who have had, have, or will have breast cancer. Just three weeks after the lumpectomy, award-winning producer Roynn Lisa Simmons started shooting Naked.
After Meredith's first diagnosis, she began to volunteer for breast cancer causes in Connecticut. In addition to mentoring newly diagnosed women, Meredith writes magazine and newspaper articles profiling breast cancer survivors and serves on fund-raising committees for breast cancer organizations. After her insurance provider twice refused to pay more than a fraction of the cost of her reconstructive surgery, Meredith enlisted the support of Connecticut Governor Jody Rell (also a breast cancer survivor), and the provider reversed its decision. She has also corresponded with Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman James Himes on health care reform issues.
Collaborating with photographer Claudia Hehr, Meredith is finishing the memoir of her most recent battle with breast cancer. Also titled Naked, the book is a narrative of her 12-month journey accompanied by powerful images of her body as it changed, as she lost her breasts, her hair, her sense that she could depend on her body.
In the world of fashion, where Meredith has spent her career, body image is everything. She is determined to break down the stereotype of the "perfect body" and wants all women to understand that the loss of a breast or breasts does not make them less than whole. She hopes both the documentary and the book will help women discover the true meaning of beauty—the beauty found deep within.
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