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Calls to outlaw non-medical circumcision in Sweden are growing as the southern region of Blekinge moves to ban the practice.
"Male circumcision that lacks medical motivations should be forbidden," Blekinge county commissioner Per-Ola Mattsson of the Social Democrat party told local media.
Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, a member of Sweden's Jewish community and an adviser to Sweden's Liberal Party, plans to submit an asylum application to the Swedish Migration Board this week.
She said she wants authorities to extend to Jews the kind of protection afforded to others who have well-founded reasons to fear persecution due to their religious beliefs.
Calls to ban circumcision resurfaced in Sweden last week.
The right-wing Sweden Democrats tabled a bill to criminalise non-medical circumcision, and the children's ombudsman — together with representatives of several healthcare bodies — published an opinion piece in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter claiming that circumcision contravenes human rights.
A motion to ban the circumcision of males younger than 18, unless for medical purposes, has been presented to the Swedish parliament.
Two members of the right-wing, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party brought the motion forward on Tuesday. Their party, which holds only 20 of the 349 seats in parliament, argues it is the next step after Sweden's ban on female genital mutilation.
A ship used as a floating bar and restaurant in Norfolk helped rescue Danish Jews in the Holocaust, it has been revealed.
The Albatros was Europe's last functioning cargo sailing ship until 2008, when it made its final commercial voyage.
Sweden's royal couple have come under fire for posing in keffiyehs during a visit to a northern Swedish town as part of the King's 40th jubilee celebrations.
The scarves featured images of the al-Aqsa mosque and Arabic writing, which translates as: "Our Aqsa and not their temple".
Israeli singer Moran Mazor was under heavy security protection during her stay in Malmö, Sweden, where she competed in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israeli journalists told Swedish radio that they were followed by a group of young men who said they wanted to bomb the Israelis' hotel rooms.
Pro-Palestine groups in Malmö, Sweden, are planning a series of actions to protest against Israel's participation in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, which the city will host in May.
Other Malmö residents are planning a "kippah march" on the day of the Eurovision final to protest against antisemitism.
Sweden's Social Democrat party is in crisis after it was forced to remove the Swedish Islamic Society president Omar Mustafa from its board just six days after his appointment.
The party came under fire after an anti-racism magazine drew attention to Mr Mustafa's links to notorious antisemites and virulent anti-Zionists.
After witnessing growing segregation and tensions among young people in Malmo, Sweden's third city, entrepreneur Daniel Sachs and Social Democrat politician Luciano Astudillo decided to intervene.
Through their newly-launched initiative, 'The Future Generation', the two partners hope to encourage youths to build a common future, Mr Sachs said.


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- Filed Under
Disappointment hung in the air over a disconsolate Monmouth University women's basketball team. Again.
Her head resting on her right arm, Monmouth guard Alysha Womack was a portrait in dejection as she sat at a table in the media room at Sacred Heart University last March after the Hawks had fallen in the Northeast Conference Tournament final for a second year in a row.
"You know what the result was last season and the year before (a loss to St. Francis, Pa., in the final)," Womack said last week. ...

subset: commoncrawl


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RN to BSN Admission Requirements
RN to BSN Transcript Evaluation
RN to BSN Application Information
Health & Human Sciences Bldg
Room 336
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828.227.7467 tel
828.227.7052 fax
WCU Prog. at Biltmore Park
28 Schenck Pkwy, Ste 309
Asheville, NC 28803
828.654.6499 tel
828.654.6507 fax
Please complete the following 3 steps when applying to the RN to BSN Program. Pay careful attention to Steps 2 and 3, as both steps are required for RN to BSN admission consideration.Step 1. Contact the RN to BSN Student Services Specialist prior to applying in order to have your transcripts reviewed. This is to help confirm that all prerequisites will be satisfied before the program begins. Use this to help you complete Step 3. ♦ You may apply without the transcript review, but it is advised to use the evaluation to help you complete the application to the program due to the prerequisite requirements. Step 2. Complete the Distance Learning WCU University Application for the WCU Office of Admissions* as either a "Transfer from Another College" or "Former WCU Student". ♦ Send all official transcripts+ of all previously attended community colleges and/or universities (along with any official CLEP/DANTES/Etc. exams) to the Office of Admission on the Cullowhee Campus: Office of Undergraduate Admissions Western Carolina University 102 Cordelia Camp Building Cullowhee, NC 28723 ♦ Both step 2 and 3 must be completed by the application deadline to be considered an applicant. Step 3. Complete the RN to BSN Program - Application**
- The deadline application for the spring 2016 semester was 9/10/15. - The application for Fall 2016 will be available by January and will have a deadline of 3/10/16. (Open as a PDF in Adobe to complete before printing).
♦ Send the RN to BSN Application, copies of all transcripts and resume to: RN to BSN Student Services Specialist WCU School of Nursing Biltmore Park 28 Schenck Pkwy, Ste 309 Asheville, NC 28803
** List any prerequisites in progress on your application: - For the Fall application, list any spring and/or summer courses - For the Spring application, list any summer and/or fall courses
You will receive an email from the Educational Outreach Office and another from the Admissions Office confirming you submitted your online WCU application. These will contain further information and instructions. You will then receive a physical university distance education admissions letter* or a letter requesting further information regarding your application.
An additional email from the School of Nursing will be sent stating your RN to BSN Application was received within a few weeks submitting
to our office. Follow-up emails will then be sent as applications are processed.
After the application deadline, applicants are ranked and accepted based on the following criteria: number of prerequisites in progress to be completed, NCLEX passed, and cumulative GPA. All prerequisites must be completed before starting the program. RN to BSN letters of acceptance or denial are expected to be emailed out from the SON sometime in October or November depending on the number of applications received.
Acceptance into the RN to BSN program is based upon the School of Nursing's Office of Student Services unofficially evaluating all transfer coursework. Student Services will complete transcript evaluations and process applications for admission, however, the WCU Registrar's Office has the final decision on how Liberal Studies courses will be transferred for students upon acceptance into the RN to BSN Program. In the event that the Registrar's Office determines a course not to be equivalent to a Liberal Studies prerequisite, students must complete any pending prerequisites concurrently with the program curriculum.
* Please note that acceptance to the University does not guarantee admission to the RN to BSN Program.
+ An official transcript is issued from the issuing institution in a sealed envelope. It must bear an institutional validation (such as seal, logo, letterhead), date, and appropriate signature. It must also arrive in hard copy, in a sealed envelope from the institution. WCU does not accept electronic transcripts. Any official transcripts sent to the School of Nursing will not be forwarded to another department, including Admissions.
Have questions about the application process, admission prerequisites and eligibility, or other program details? Please contact Student Services.


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Now ten years into his retirement, Ty Cobb penned this letter to Tiger owner Walter Briggs. The year was 1938, and this missive is squarely pertinent to the game. In its entirety, the letter reads,
"Dear Walter:- Now that the season is near its close and you will be free of baseball worries, I shall try to tell you how pleased and thrilled I was knowing of your thought and kindness in my behalf concerning the day you have in mind giving in my honor.
"I think the change of plans from this year to next was the best for you knew conditions etc. Naturally I shall be guided by your wishes as to date etc. I was sorry to see Detroit finish as they did, for I have always and always will have a deep feeling and interest in the success of the club I was identified with from a youth I might say until 40 years of age also the friends and acquaintances I was privileged to meet. Should you come this way at any time I would like to see you and if your plans did not bring you near me I would come to where you were. If I come east I surely will see you.
"I have been very happy after the many gruelling days in baseball with the travel, heat and being away from my family so much Oh! yes and the eternal competition and battle of the game.
"With every good wish to you I am, [signed] Sincerely Ty."
To our knowledge, Mr. Briggs never got around to staging this Ty Cobb Day, but it's the thought that counts. The letter, meanwhile, is a classic. Typically Cobbian in its free-handed punctuation, the two-pager is entirely in his penmanship, it's fluidly legible with not an overwritten error -- ultimately "9-10" throughout. From the collector's standpoint, this one is particularly impressive because it was penned on single sides, thus affording full, single-vantage display. The stationery bears Cobb's letterhead and we qualify its condition to report staple holes in the upper left, a small pencil notation (also in the upper left), and a stamp of receipt. With standard compacting folds, the medium is acceptably EX. LOA from Steve Grad/PSA DNA and LOA from James Spence Authentication.
© Software Copyright 2004-| SimpleAuctionSite | All rights reserved.


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Balcony (8F): Carnival Legend Cabin Reviews
Carnival Legend Cabin Categories
Oceanview stateroom with private balcony and twin beds that convert to king. Every Carnival guest is assured of spacious, comfortable accommodations. All staterooms have carpeting, ample drawer and closet space, private facilities (shower, basin and toilet), telephone and color television showing first-run films. Our SuperLiners all feature staterooms above ocean level for a more comfortable cruise.
Balcony (8F)
Decks: Deck 8
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Pleasantly Surprised DalzellGood size, quite good condition, over the dining room but no noise.
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Phenominal cruise bagelsnbrew7193,7195
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Western Caribbean on the Carnival Legend faycruiseCabin 7166 Plenty of room, ample closet space, NOT in a noisy location, easy to get to elevators
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A CHRISTMAS LEGEND pljoneseyCabin 7264 was quiet and located a couple of doors down the corridor from the aft lifts so was handy for the Serenity deck area and Truffles restaurant. It was a bit choppy on our way back to Tampa and the boat was rocking quite a bit but as we were aft it was better than if we had been upfront. Nice comfortable cabin with a good steward.
Read entire member review >>
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PROS and CONS hibiscus19528200. Excellent location, very quiet, balcony excellent, plenty of room
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Getaway from the kids Cruise F18PilotRoom: We went with a Balcony (8210)! Awesome! Used balcony for coffee in the mornings, lounging in the afternoons with cocktails and got to see most of the ports from the port side. Did not hear scraping of chairs (we were under Unicorn Cafe), but the window washing unit could be heard at night. It cleans windows/balcony of Lido deck above. 3 closets for lots of space. Bring hangars! The hangars provided are not moveable. Enjoyed having the "sofa" unit and moveable table in room. Bring extra plug strip if you charge electronics. The hair dryer provided was quite adequate. The 8th deck was very convenient to the pools, food, gym, adult area all on the 9th deck. We only used elevators to go to the 2nd deck for entertainment and evening dining. Will definitely choose this space again!
Read entire member review >>
Legend has Potential But phantomjww8219 One floor below the Lido Deck, nice location, easy to elevators and stairs. Typical balcony room. Could hear noise from above on Lido deck. Would not choose room again because of sound coming all night from above.
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Awesome Legend cruise wranglerguycabin 6166vocean suite. awesome room, plenty of room for a family of 4.
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Carnival Legend delivers SamuraiCruisercabin 8188, an outside balcony with a private balcony was comfortable. as we were directly under the lido buffet there was occasional noise from chairs being moved during mealtimes or for cleaning. air conditioning never was truly fixed to our satisfaction as we tend to like our living quarters on the cool sides, especially in the summer caribbean heat
Read entire member review >>
First time cruiser review weaselgirlBelow Lido deck - first night I heard the carts rolling around, but the rest of the nights, I was so exhausted by the end of the day, I wouldn't have heard a zombie invasion and slept like a log.
Read entire member review >>
Legend, So-So cavertravelerNo complaints about this cabin.
Read entire member review >>
VACATION TO PARADISE didichgoWe had a balcony which was on 7Th floor aft. I thought it was great view and very comfortable. The "Safe Box" method for locking was faulty. Stop filling up refrigerator with drinks that will be charged to room if drank. Door to balcony was very heavy and difficult to open.
Read entire member review >>
Below Expectations kamomiltWe were in 8194, a balcony cabin on the port side. The room was ok, nothing terribly special, and dated in the decor. No serious complaints, our cabin Steward Gomez was extremely accommodating and very courteous! The only thing that was really maybe a con to this cabin, was that very late at night you could hear the crew moving the lounge chairs around the lido deck, which was directly above us.
Read entire member review >>
First time cruiser onboard the Legend kate_2010Balcony Cabin, it was enough room for two but the balcony was so small.
Read entire member review >>
Wonderful! cmpresetExtended balcony is the only way to go!!! The agent booked us on the 7th deck. He said the 8th deck is right below all the public areas so he steered us away from that. We were very grateful. Plenty of closet space for 3 people (3 closets!). 1 outlet only, and batteries need to be charged, hair needs to be curled, computers plugged in - it was a juggle.
Read entire member review >>
First time on Carnival sasjp-DO NOT book stateroom 8175. These couple rooms are right below the dance floor on the Lido Deck and on four nightly occasions, we heard the Cha-Cha-Slide ALL NIGHT LONG above us until 1am. Every morning we were awakened by the sliding of chairs at 6am on the deck above us by the morning cleaning crew.
Read entire member review >>
If Costco had a cruise line, this would be it SouthsideCruiserTight for 3, but it made us spend more time out looking for things to do.
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Ready to go again! hokiesatseaGreat view, mid ship near elevators
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beyond imagination funmomrn01027cabin 7145, starboard side, great location. close to elevators/stairs, quick access to lido deck, easy navigation of ship, balcony is a must! had pull down bed and left it down all week, at our request, and still had plenty of room. Lots of storage with three closets. we had two teenage girls who do NOT pack lightly and still had plently of room. no need for over the door hangers as suggested. Brought power strip and never used it. who needs gadgets when your busy with everything on the ship.
Read entire member review >>
Sponsored links
Carnival Legend DecksCarnival Legend Deck 1 - Riviera Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 2 - Promenade Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 3 - Atlantic Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 4 - Main Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 5 - Upper Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 6 - Empress Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 7 - Verandah Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 8 - Panorama Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 9 - Lido Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 10 - Sun Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 11 - Sports Deck
Carnival Legend Deck 12 - Sky Deck
Similar Cabin CategoriesAft-View Extended Balcony (8N)
Aft-View Extended Balcony (8M)
Balcony (8E)
Balcony (8D)
Balcony (8C)
Balcony (8B)
Balcony (8A)
Balcony (obstructed views) (7A)
Extended Balcony (8K)
Extended Balcony (8J)
Guarantee - Balcony (BL)
Premium Balcony (9B)
Premium Balcony (obstructed views) (9A)


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Cairo Inn Reviews
- Info
- |
- Rates
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- Map & Directions
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- Reviews
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- Facilities
Reviews & Ratings Explained
The rating percentage is calculated from customers who booked within the last 12 months.
All ratings and reviews are based on the feedback and opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up-to-the-minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is.
Read our review guidelines »
It was really wonderful: great breakfast; great staff and lovely room.
- Novice Nomad
- Anonymous
- England
- Female, 25-30
- (4 reviews)
Untrustworthy. Not recommended. Google for other people's reviews and experiences.
- Novice Nomad
- Anonymous
- Female, 31-40
- (1 review)
I felt to be like in my home. Excellent hospitality!! Nice view from my room ,many restaurants all round., organised for me two all day trips not expensive, great location in the middle of old Cairo downtown, opposite the Groppi cafe - Museum and food/services/shopping/bars all within walking distance. hotel staff was respectful and friendly. the room was very clean and the WIFI was perfect.
- Novice Nomad
- Anonymous
- Australia
- Female, 25-30
- (1 review)


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One of the thunderclaps during a thunderstorm that passed Amsterdam in the morning of the 16Th of July 2007. Recorded with an Edirol-cs15 mic. on my balcony plugged into an Edirol R09.
thats great !
very good !
thats great! really clear sound
That totally scared the heck the out me! Nice one!
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text:
Home › Forums › General › Technical Support › IWEAR NOT DETECTED
This topic contains 0 replies, has 1 voice, and was last updated by Laurence V 1 year, 1 month ago.
I'm working with STAR 1200XLD. I have installed VR Manager 4.2 and SDK 3.3.
When I connect my glasses and I run VR Manager, the IWear is not detected and the IWEARDRV.dll Version is not found. (IWRSTDRV.dll is found).
The controller light is also flashing.
Does anybody have an idea how to fix this ?
Thanks a lot.
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My modern life history, so I'll call it, began at age fifteen. I fell in love with a girl from California.
Yea. So. What happened?
Since that brief little love episode, I've scooped ice cream and delivered pizza in Connecticut, been a marketing intern in New York City, a student in Delhi, India, and a sustainability evaluation intern in Kathmandu; A festival organizer, corporate social responsibility manager, mobile fundraising manager, organization founder, surf bum and concert photographer in California; A journalist, photographer, consultant and business development director in East Africa. I've presented at national conferences, hunted with pygmies in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, photographed the Dalai Lama, and chewed Miraa on a sorry excuse for a bus filled with Somali refugees.
Now, as the pages of my life and this little piece continue to be written at just twenty-four, I find myself sitting comfortably at a cafe in the pulsing heart of my newfound home, Nairobi, Kenya.
I say this not to boast accomplishments, blow my own horn, or impress the masses. In fact, I says this because it's not what I've done which is important — it's what has brought me to all of these exciting points in my life.
It's people. Lots of people.
An endless string of chance encounters, fortuitous conversations, serendipitous meetings, lucky run-ins, fateful circumstances, divine interventions. Call them what you may, but whatever they may actually be, there is one definition that can fit them all: Opportunities.
It's these connections that have shaped my world, and in fact, shape the world we live in today. They push and pull us in directions we could never anticipate, stretch and bend us in ways that we never thought possible. They build the fabric of our world. They make it move. But only if we recognize them.
A revolution is every day. It's in every person you meet. It is an encounter where you keep your mind, soul, body, and spirit open to the endless possibilities of the world, and wherever your fellow passengers on this great round spaceship of earth might take you.
It is, as Dan Eldon once wrote, living 'Safari' as a way of life. "Safari is about constant play, constant curiosity, constant resourcefulness. It's a perspective on life, a life lived in eternal exploration."
My life has taken so many directions simply because I've kept myself open to the people I meet, and the possibilities they held. If I hadn't fallen in love with that girl from California, I probably never would have wanted to move there at 18 (though not for her). If I hadn't stumbled into the wrong classroom as a freshman in college, and opened myself to the dreadlocked visionary inside, I may have never stayed in California, organized festivals, or become deeply involved in issues of sustainability, which brought me to live India.
If I hadn't stumbled into a random garage sale in Los Angeles, and asked, and more importantly listened to, why the woman was selling all her things, I never would have landed myself in east Africa a month later. If I hadn't taken a last minute meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, and followed the string of connections that resulted, I never would have met the person who helped inspire my journalism career.
Revolution is whatever you want it to be, and it's wherever you want it to go. It's there, waiting for you. And the people you meet, from the mundane to the most inspiring, are the ones who will unlock it, break it open, or help you find it.
Take a look at where you sit now. Who brought you here?


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Tom Owen III, President of Affordable Managing Consulting, lectures extensively from coast-to-coast to thousands of chiropractors and students annually. He is the author of Chiropractic from a Business Man's Perspective, and has spent the last 25 years in the day-to-day trenches of the chiropractic profession. He lives by his quote that "In the end, all that is left are the lives we've touched and to what extent they were changed."
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G is for Ghostly International
By Michael Kaufmann
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Everything about Ghostly International (music, website and packaging) is so artfully and intentionally curated. Even its iPhone application speaks to a high level of aesthetic quality that makes the label stand out. What is also amazing to me about Ghostly International is that it is a label that has effectively survived the IDM backlash. Was there ever a real IDM backlash? I don't know, but it did seem that the poorly named genre would barely survive. Intelligent Dance Music had seemed to considerably wither a few years back. Fortunately there are few labels who evolved the genre beyond itself. These labels dedication to explore and support artists working with experimental music and electronics while not sacrificing quality and a pop sensibility has allowed for the music to reach a wider audience. Ghostly International is one such label, and they have taken the ideas and lessons of IDM and experimental electronics and have exploded its boundaries through its curatorial choices. By blurring definitions and genres the focus is once again not on a particular style, but on the music and the artists. Birthed out of the love for Detroit techno, and based in Ann Arbor Michigan (what's not to love about a label started in Michigan), the ten year old Ghostly will undoubtedly thrive in the new era of the music industry.
Asthmatic Kitty has had the joy of working with many artists on Ghostly. Michna, digital pop maestro and saboteur, recently remixed DM Stith. The textural and cerebral Lusine remixed My Brightest Diamond. The boogie down destruction and delightful tomfoolery of The Chap made for perfect remix candidate criteria for JOOKABOX.
1. Choir Of Young Believers "Hollow Talk" from This Is For The White In Your Eyes
2. Lusine "Two Dots" from A Certain Distance
3. Michna "The Joy Of Your Dome" from Eggstra EP
4. The Chap "They Have A Name" from Mega Breakfast
5. The Sight Below "Murmur" from Murmur EP
6. Syntaks "Twentytwohundred" from Ylajali
7. School of Seven Bells "Connjur" from Alpinisms
8. Mux Mool "Ballad of Gloria Featherbottom" from The Nocturnal Suite
9. Cepia "Hoarse" from Natura Morta
10. Kiln "Fyrepond" from Dusker
11. Dabrye "Get It Together (feat. Invincible and Finale)" from Two/Three
12. Tycho "The Daydream" from Ghostly/GHO Summer Solstice Sampler Mix
13. Shigeto "Is This All for Real" from The Nocturnal Suite
14. Matthew Dear "Don and Sherri (Original Mix)" from Don and Sherri
Filed under: akradio, labelsbyalphabet, music


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Check our ProductPage for login details http://www.magextended.com/dropship.html
This is the Demo Enviroment for the Ultimate Dropshipping Module
The Product on this website have different suppliers. In this case we have a Computer Supplier, Clothing Supplier, Funitures Supplier and more..
When a customer orders products from multiple Suppliers the order will be split and a email with the ordered product from the supplier will be sent. Other output options are a XML or CSV file.
These options can be configured per Supplier.
The quickest way to see the splitting in action is to add you email to the BCC options in the module setting. Order a lot off different products and you will receive BCC's of every mail to each supplier
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PRINCE LOGAN. (M) Is a spoiled rotten prince who thinks very high of himself. He is very well known for being a cruel person. He is the BEAST.
BETTY. (F) Is a maid/ server to PRINCE LOGAN. She hates him very much.
XAVIER. (M) Is a prince from the next town over. He is truly ugly but the kindest person anyone can meet.
FAIRY GODMOTHER/FATHER. (F/M) Is Betty's guardian and puts curses on people who are mean to her.
CAMERON. (F) Is a kind-hearted peasant with great hopes to see PRINCE LOGAN.
PEASANTS. (F/M) Are hungry beggars that coem to the castle to beg for food and money.
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text:
fired up
to have spontaneous nights around the fire pit
now that the nice weather is finally here!
(Although really a fire pit can be enjoyed 12 months of the year even if you live in New England like we do!)
Our fire pit was a
found at Target at the end of the season a few years back for 50-something dollars.
(Check out my makeover of our neglected fire pit next week.)
Here's some eyecandy of beautiful fire pit options if you're in the market for one this summer:
Photo: Elle Decor
Photo: Frontgate
Photo: Grandin Road
Photo: Home Depot
Photo: outdoorpropanefirepits
Photo: sprite elements
Photo: Ballard Designs
Photo: Lowes
Photo: Oasis Fire Pits
And if you're planning to make your fire pit part of your landscaping,
check out these beauties!
Photo: Charles and Hudson
Photo: Source Unknown
Photo: Bennett Bros. Stone
And the absolute McDaddy of all firepits is from the show
Rock Solid Landscapes on HGTV!!!
Are you kidding me?
It's fun to dream!
Okay, I'm just happy to have any kind of fire pit
to sit around with friends and family,
enjoy a nice glass of wine and toast marshmallows with the kiddos!
S'mores at the Cape last summer with some of my favorite peeps
More thoughts on fire pits next week
(I'm almost embarrassed to show you the state of mine
after sharing these beautiful pictures...but I will!),
along with some s'mores recipes...
you can really bring the whole s'mores thing
to a whole new level.
I'm signing off for a few days for a much-needed
weekend away with the fam.
Before I go I want to say
a special
to all the
courageous people
who have served our country!
Have a wonderful
Memorial Day weekend!
I'm linking to Melissa's Friday inspirations at the Inspired Room. Pop on over there for tons of ideas of ways to spruce up your space! Thank you Melissa for hosting this great weekly party!


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Department of Transportation—Tickets, Non-Moving Violations
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Opinion of the Attorney General
Subject: Authority of Department of Transportation Enforcement Personnel to Issue Tickets for Non-Moving Violations
[PDF] This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF Reader or learn more about PDFs.


text:
More locked doors, stricter identification requirements and more intruder drills are being implemented at Lancaster County schools - but no armed guards have been hired, at least not yet.
While schools in other parts of Pennsylvania have added gun-carrying guards to protect students in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, county schools aren't following suit.
But several of the county's 17 districts have upgraded their security procedures, and at least three - Donegal, Manheim Township and Manheim Central - are considering adding armed police officers to their staffs.
Officials at other districts said they're also likely to consider the merits of hiring a municipal police officer, known as a school resource officer or SRO, to work at their schools.
Read more here.


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A man will spend 18 years in prison for a fatal shooting sparked by a fight over the location of a parked car.
A man will spend 18 years in prison for a fatal shooting sparked by a fight over the location of a parked car.
Tino L. Bell, 21, pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault, each with gun specifications, and a weapons charge in return for an 18-year prison term.
Bell had been scheduled for trial Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court on a murder charge, which carried a possible sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Dennis Barr said the plea was the result of negotiations between the prosecution and defense, as well as consultation with the victim's family.
Bell shot 20-year-old Anthony Dazey multiple times with a 9 mm pistol on July 8 near 10th Street and High Avenue NW, according to authorities.
Police said Bell shot Dazey after the two men got into a fight when Bell told Dazey to move a parked car.
Bell and an independent witness said Dazey had brass knuckles, but witnesses connected to Dazey disputed that claim, and no brass knuckles were found, nor did Bell have severe facial injuries, Barr said.
The case was assigned to Judge John G. Haas.
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Location, ST | website.com


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Bats outfielder B. J. Szymanski hasn't gotten enough at-bats to get in a groove at the plate, thus he's hitting just .182.
Louisville Bats players often speak about the unselfish nature of their team and clubhouse, and outfielder B. J. Szymanski could be their spokesman.
Szymanski was promoted from Double-A Chattanooga on June 4 to replace outfielder Corey Patterson, who went up to Cincinnati. In Triple-A, Szymanski has accepted the unglamorous role of situational player.
"B. J.'s in a tough situation," Bats manger Rick Sweet said. "He doesn't get to play a lot, and when he has played he's made the best of it." ...


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Michael Brown, also known as Mike London, center, and the family and friends who he says were denied seating at a North Charleston, S.C., restaurant.
A black South Carolina man says a restaurant in North Charleston refused to seat his party of 25 family and friends and asked the group to leave after a white customer complained of feeling threatened, according to reports.
The man, Michael Brown, also known as Mike London, could not be reached but his Facebook post in which he gave details of this experience indicates the group waited two hours to be seated at the Wild Wing Cafe before a manager approached and later refused to seat the group.
The chief marketing officer for the chain of restaurants based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., said the manager ...


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Watermill Rejigs Small-Scale Martin Guerre, 16 Jul
Editorial Staff • West End • 5 Jun 2007
Directed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, with musical arrangements by the Tony Award winner Sarah Travis, the Watermill's new staging is the latest in a long line of modifications to Martin Guerre, which has had several incarnations since its original production in July 1996 at the Prince Edward Theatre.
Originally presented in the West End by Cameron Mackintosh, and directed by Declan Donnellan, the musical initially opened to poor reviews, prompting the writing partnership behind Miss Saigon and Les Miserables to drastically revise the material before reopening, after a three-week hiatus, in November 1996 to more favourable notices and a run of more than 700 performances. It went on to win the 1997 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The show underwent further revisions prior to a UK tour in December 1998, when several new songs were added.
In the predominantly sung-through musical, young French peasant Martin Guerre reluctantly marries Bertrande de Rols, the daughter of a well-off family. After failing to consummate his marriage, Guerre is mercilessly taunted about his masculinity and abruptly disappears to war. Five years later, a man claiming to be Martin Guerre returns. His wife is overjoyed. At first the villagers accept him, but soon doubts begin to arise over the true identity of the returning Guerre.
The French folk story has also been adapted for the screen twice: as the 1982 French film Le Retour de Martin Guerre starring Gerard Depardieu and Hollywood's 1993 American Civil War-set offering Sommersby led by Richard Gere and Jodie Foster.
Best known as a choreographer, Craig Revel Horwood's West End credits include Spend, Spend, Spend and >My One and Only, both of which garnered him Olivier nominations, and the original production of Martin Guerre, on which he assisted Bob Avian. He also choreographed last year's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? on TV. His directing credits include Beautiful and Damned, South Pacific and, at the Watermill last year, Hot Mikado.
Sarah Travis' previous Watermill credits include the actor-musician productions of Mack and Mabel, Gondoliers (both also in the West End), Fiddler on the Roof, Pinafore Swing and Hot Mikado, She became the first woman to win the Tony Award for Best Orchestration last year for the Broadway transfer of the Watermill's actor-musician staging of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, which also ran in the West End where it won two Whatsonstage.com Awards.
The Martin Guerre cast is led by Andrew Bevis as Martin Guerre, Karen Mann (the original Mrs Lovett in the Watermill Sweeney Todd as Madame de Rols, Kelly O\'Leary (Bertrande) and Ben Goddard (Arnaud du Thil). Completing the twelve-strong company are Esther Biddle (Catherine), Michael Howcroft (Priest/Judge), Ken Orton (Andre), Rosie Simpson, James Traherne (Pierre Guerre), Jez Unwin (Guillaume), Susannah van den Berg and Johnson Willis (Benoit).
Prior to Martin Guerre, the Watermill Theatre will present Propeller Theatre's two Shakespearean co-productions with the Old Vic – The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night – which were seen at the London venue earlier this year.
- by Jake Brunger
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|Hotel Miranda Icheon (호텔 미란다 이천)
|VisitKorea does not guarantee the quality of products or services introduced on its site and is not responsible for any direct or indirect losses resulting from use of said products or services.
|Hotel Miranda is the largest four-star hotel in Icheon and includes a main building (B1-10F), an annex (B1-3F), and a spa. Icheon SpaPlus (run by Hotel Miranda) opened its doors in December 2002 and measures an impressive 10,000 pyeongs (33,060 square meters). The hotel and spa are located a mere 50 minutes from Seoul, making it a convenient weekend destination.
* Hot Springs Introduction
Icheon in Gyeonggi-do is well known for its rice, ceramics, and hot springs. The Icheon Hot Springs have a history of over 500 years and are full of sodium and other natural minerals good for the skin. The water is believed to ease neuralgia and women's diseases as well as benefit pregnant mothers and those who have recently given birth. Drinking the mineral water eases gastroenteric disorders.
Visitor favorites at Hotel Miranda are the round outdoor hot springs tub and the 5-story, 140-meter Aquatube Slide.
|Guestroom Information
|Ondol (Korean style heated-floor) rooms, Double rooms, Twin rooms
|Number of Guestrooms
|209 rooms
|Room Amenities (Colored backgrounds designate availability)
|Guestroom Kitchen
|Not available
|Check-In Time
|Check-Out Time
|Room Rates
₩ 195,000~
* The room rate is the lowest price for this accommodation. Rates may vary according to season, room type and whether or not guests are entitled to discount rates. Please make sure to check the exact rate in advance before making your reservations. The room rate listed above is subject to change.
|Additional Taxes
|VAT is included in room rate
|Service Charges
|Service charge is included in room rate
|Peak Season
|July, August, December, January
|Available (not included in room rates)
|Subsidiary Facilities
|Bowling center, food court, sports massage center, convenient store, spa, banquet hall
|Korean restaurant, Western restaurant, fusion restaurant, fast food restaurant, cocktail lounge, coffee shop
|Parking Facility
|600 parking spaces
|Facilities for the Handicapped
|Parking spaces
|Phone: +82-31-369-5118/5114 (For Banquet Hall, call +82-31-639-5111~3)
Online: www.mirandahotel.com (Korean)
|Credit Cards
|Pickup Services
|Not available
|Assistance for Foreigners (Available Languages)
|Available (English, Japanese)
|Not available
|Baby Stroller Rental Services
|Not available
|Not permitted
|From Icheon Bus Terminal (이천종합터미널), go left (south) for 80m.
At the end of terminal building (Cheongkwanjang, 정관장 shop), turn left at the first inersection.
Continue straight for 200m. You will cross the street at a 4-way. Then take your first right. Walk for 100m and the hotel entrance will be on your left.


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Hyder Beds
BedroomWorld is very pleased to introduce the Hyder Beds range of children's and adults' bed frames. Whether you're looking for something in a rich faux leather, contemporary metal or classic wooden finish, Hyder Beds offers an impressive selection of attractive bed frames to choose from. For children, there is a wide variety of bunk beds, high sleepers and mid sleepers to create the perfect bedroom look.
Bringing you an impressive collection of bed frames, Hyder Beds create stunning adult bed frames in a range of styles. We believe that they really do have something to suit every taste. Included in their latest range are a series of sumptuous faux leather bed frames that complement rich and luxurious bedrooms. We also stock traditional wooden frames that look perfect surrounded by cushions and other charming homely features.
If you are looking to purchase a new bed for the smaller members of your family then we've found the perfect supplier for you. Hyder Beds provide a fantastic range of kid's bunk beds. Your children will delight at being able to sleep high up above the ground, whilst we are sure that you will be pleased with the clever storage solutions that are on offer.
Hyder Beds have a great reputation for reliable bed frames and our sales team can help you to choose a convenient delivery day. Don't delay, contact Bedroom World today and you could be sleeping in a fantastic new bed by tomorrow night!


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It's called the January Thaw - when a period of 2-3 days of above normal temperatures in January provides a temporary respite from the bitter cold of New England winter. What we get this week is the January Melt. That's because temperatures in the upper 40s and even some rain later this week will melt away all that snowcover in central Mass.
This week is more like mid- to late-March.
So who is not liking this forecast? Skiers, snowshoers, ice fishermen and businesses that depend on those folks to make a living.
According to one meteorologist, the long range forecast for later this month shows that we could see some arctic air and get very cold. We'll see. Here's a link to some long range forecasts.


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"Residence of J. Pierpont Morgan, New York"
Here is the New York mansion of J. P. Morgan, inside which Morgan and the nation's top bankers worked through the night of Saturday, October 19 to stabilize the panic of 1907.
- Date:
- 1904 circa 5 years
- Original Format:
- Photographic Print
- Item#:
- 1900.0168
- Height:
- 2229px
- Width:
- 2817px
- download hi-res watermarked image
Related Categories:
All Licensed images are available for download as jpeg files at 300 dpi of original size.
If your project requires an image at higher resolution, please contact us (be sure to include item number). Custom requests may require an additional charge.


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London Pass BlogBack to Blog
Learn about community food-producing for things to do in London
Published: Wednesday 22nd of September 2010
Visitors planning their trips to London attractions such as the Renoir Cinema can benefit from an unusual educational experience during their time in the capital.
On Saturday, September 25th, Capital Growth Open Gardens Day will allow public access to community-based gardens such as the Highbury New Park Project and the King's Cross Orchard.
It is the perfect opportunity to learn about these initiatives and catch some behind-the-scenes action. Gardeners will also be on hand to disseminate useful advice and clarify any queries that visitors may have had.
Those interested in seeing more than one garden could also benefit from cycle tour and may want to download a map in order to facilitate easy transfer between venues.
Recently, the capital also played host to Origin: The London Craft Fair. The exhibition showcased works of over 200 craft-makers including some established names as well as novices.
Visitors were able to buy works from artists themselves as well as pick up some handy tips for their own craft projects.
Get free entry to over 55 top London attractions with a London Pass.
Posted by Samantha Reed
Related articles
Follow The London Pass blog to learn about the latest news with attractions, sights and sightseeing events in the city. As well as useful tips, hints and advice for visitors to the city and how to make the most of your sightseeing time in London. We hope you enjoy…
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Visit the second oldest botanical garden in Britain for things to do in London
Thursday 31st of January 2013 Visit the Chelsea Physic Garden, the second oldest botanical garden in Britain.
London attractions: Learn about Trog, Flook and Humph too at the Cartoon Museum
Thursday 31st of January 2013 The Cartoon Museum is hosting an exhibition that will delight those with an interest in the art form.
London attractions: Learn about waterways and ice cream at London Canal Museum
Thursday 31st of January 2013 London Canal Museum is one of the most unique museums tourists will come across in the English capital.
Glide by London attractions on a Thames River Cruise
Thursday 31st of January 2013 There are plenty of different options when it comes to sightseeing in London.
Delve into the history of cars at London Motor Museum for things to do in London
Thursday 31st of January 2013 People seeking things to do in London could visit the London Motor Museum's impressive collection.
London attractions: Discover the early 19th century at the Fan Museum
Thursday 31st of January 2013 The Fan Museum offers visitors another way to view the turbulent early 19th century in Europe.
London attractions: Visit the medieval Jewel Tower
Tuesday 29th of January 2013 The Jewel Tower is one of just two remaining buildings from the medieval palace of Westminster.
Enjoy London attractions from a Bateaux London Restaurant Cruise
Monday 28th of January 2013 Diners on a Bateaux London Restaurant Cruise can enjoy delicious food against a breathtaking backdrop of London attractions.
London attractions: Visit the moving exhibitions of the Jewish Museum
Sunday 27th of January 2013 People who have always been interested in Jewish culture in Britain should not pass up on the chance to visit London's Jewish Museum.
London attractions: Learn about the iconic guardsmen at the London Guards Museum
Saturday 26th of January 2013 The London Guards Museum is a great option for people who want to learn more of the eye-catching soldiers stationed outside Buckingham Palace.
Learn about Fate, Hope & Charity at the Foundling Museum for things to do in London
Friday 25th of January 2013 A moving exhibition entitled Fate, Hope & Charity opens today (January 25th) at the Foundling Museum, and will run until May 19th.
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About Us
Teacher Retirement System - Mandatory
Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is a defined benefit retirement plan governed by Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a). This type of plan provides a set monthly retirement benefit to eligible employees based on a formula determined by the state legislature.
In comparison, a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b), provides a retirement benefit that is determined by market performance.
Best Features
- Extremely rich plan, rarely offered by companies
- Established benefit allows members to easily plan for retirement and explore other retirement plans with more risk
- Disability, death and survivor benefits available to TRS members
- Variety of retirement benefit options
All eligible employees, known as active TRS members, are automatically enrolled in TRS on their first day of employment. Members are guaranteed a retirement benefit after five years of service.
Eligibility for a Retirement Benefit
To receive a full retirement, most members must meet one of the following requirements:
- Be at least 65 years of age if you have at least five years of service credit OR
- Any combination of age and service totaling 80 with at least five years of service
Other employees whose current TRS employment began on or after Sept. 1, 2007, may have additional criteria. Early retirement benefits are also available. To verify your eligibility, please call TRS at 800-223-8778 or log in to My TRS.
Contributions are pre-taxed through payroll deduction with the following rates for FY16:
- Employee: 7.2% of pay
- MD Anderson: 6.8% of pay
Retirement Benefit
The amount of your monthly annuity depends on several factors including your years of creditable service and highest average salaries. To verify this amount, please call TRS at 800-223-8778 or log in to My TRS.
Working after Retirement
TRS retirees working at MD Anderson or another TRS covered institution, should follow the return to work restrictions to avoid forfeiting their monthly annuity. Your retirement date and length of separation may require you to work within a maximum number of hours to maintain your full annuity. See schedule below.
Contact Information
Teacher Retirement System
Useful Links
Familiar Faces
Duc Hoang
Sr Applications Sys Analyst
Administrative & Financial Services
The TRS retirement plan provides financial security to my family and me. Knowing that throughout my retirement I will receive a set amount of money each month from TRS provides a good safety net and allows me to look into other types of investing. Very few of my family or friends have this type of benefit anymore.


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Welcome to Planet Cyber Computer Center, Your #1 Stop for all your technology needs. Planet Cyber provides a wide verity of products and services.
IT Services - Planet Cyber is well known in Los Angeles for proving computer IT repair services of all major brands of PC & Mac computers, tables, cell phones; while being better, faster, and cheaper than that the Apple Store / Best Buys Geek Squad. Common services include virus removals, computer tune-ups, upgrades, network setups, laptop repairs, screen replacements, business IT support, software development, and web design services.
Computer Rentals - Since 1999 Planet Cyber is Los Angeles's oldest and safest internet cyber cafe, hosting a lush luxurious environment for computer users on an hourly basis, while enjoying a full-fledged coffee shop and cafe which provides a wide verity of food and snacks. Patrons of all ages and video gamers experience the best of quality of gaming on high-end, large screen monitors, while paying top notch blockbuster hit video games on solo modes, or multiplayer modes. Many clients rather come play the games at PC instead of purchasing expensive hardware and software at Gamespot or frys.
Location: California > Los Angeles > San Fernando Valley > Canoga Park


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For the second time in as many years, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs has handed the keys to his $320 billion tech darling to Tim Cook.
Cook, 50, is widely respected in the industry and as Apple's chief operating officer has been Jobs's trusted No. 2 for years. He also took the reins at Apple in April 2009 when Jobs took a medical leave of absence to receive a liver transplant after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Apple's stock is already tumbling in Frankfurt (U.S. markets were closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day) as investors ponder life without Jobs, the face and brains of the highly-successful tech company.
From an operating standpoint, Cook is as good as it gets as a No. 2. He's been with Apple for more than a decade -- he joined in March 1998 -- and has also worked at Compaq, Intelligent Electronics and IBM (NYSE:IBM), where he led its North American manufacturing and distribution functions for PCs.
"He's an incredibly good No. 2," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
At the same time, "He doesn't have the magic or charisma Steve Jobs does. He certainly can't replace Steve Jobs. Right now Steve Jobs is largely irreplaceable," Enderle said, comparing him to Walt Disney, the founder of Disney (NYSE:DIS).
Hailing from Alabama, Cook attended Auburn University and went on to receive his MBA from Duke University, where he was a Fuqua Scholar, in 1988.
He's more of a big-picture guy, rather than the hands-on, micromanager that is Jobs. Enderle called Cook a "good operational manager" and said he is "very well known and well regarded inside" Apple.
After being recruited by Jobs himself, Cook revamped Apple's supply chains to ensure the company became more efficient and stock levels were at a minimum.
But he's not the PR-savvy showman like Jobs, who seems to bask in the glory of the attention his product announcements always have. According to the U.K.'s Guardian, Cook hasn't even unveiled a new product in front of an audience.
"With Tim cook in place, Apple is not as valuable a company. You are talking about a company that is valued significantly less," said Enderle.
The problem for investors is that Apple hasn't given a timetable for Jobs's return. He will stay on as CEO, but Cook will be in charge of the day-to-day operations. The company could give clues about the situation during its conference call with analysts and reporters after releasing its quarterly results on Tuesday after the bell.
"Apple is very good at spinning bad news," said Enderle. Then again, "without Jobs they won't be as effective in spinning this, so we'll see."


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Michael C. Hall
Yvonne Strahovski Fans, Unite! This Is Your Night!
Originally posted 05/05/2014 06:15PM
Yvonne Strahovski appears in two shows Monday night. Isn't that wonderful? It is if you happen to be a Strahovski enthusiast, as I am.
It may even be more wonderful if you don't know her yet, and take the opportunity to watch FOX's 24: Live Another Day, premiering at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and the second of two back-to-back episodes of FX's Louie, which begins a new season at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
I first became intrigued by this Australian actress during season 7 of Showtime's Dexter, starring Michael C. Hall. She played serial killer Dexter Morgan's soul mate, Hannah McKay. Hannah also had a string of murders to her credit, but she killed with rational premeditation, not for kinky satisfaction.
Harry Styles Tears Up at Pal Zach Braff's Sundance Film
Originally posted 01/20/2014 02:05PM
Who knew they were pals?
The Dexter Finale: So, What Happened?
Originally posted 09/23/2013 09:00AM
After eight seasons of blood and fun, Showtime's Dexter ended Sunday night on a note of ponderous sorrow and penitence. You might as soon have expected Hannibal Lecter to open a funeral home for the indigent, or the Talented Mr. Ripley to sculpt balloons into animals for nursing-home patients.
So what happened to Michael C. Hall's Dexter Morgan, the Miami forensic analyst who, in secret, was a serial killer who got off on murdering fellow serial killers?
SPOILER ALERT: Plot details to follow.
Daniel Radcliffe Seen Kissing Costar Erin Darke in Sundance
Originally posted 01/19/2013 01:00PM
On screen, Daniel Radcliffe's playing adult roles now. But offscreen, he's still a young wizard, conjuring up some magic with his Kill Your Darlings costar
Erin Darke – with the two seen sharing a kiss and a cuddle at the Sundance Film Festival Friday.
At the Grey Goose Vodka Lounge dinner at the Blue Door in Sundance for the movie Kill Your Darlings – about a 1944 murder involving the literary heroes of the Beat Generation, with the actor playing poet Allen Ginsberg – Radcliffe, 23, was having some fun by dancing with costar Michael C. Hall, who attended with his novelist girlfriend, Morgan Macgregor.
But it's Darke who seems to have a leg up with Radcliffe.
While Macgregor sat on the sofa flanked by Hall (his arm around her) and Radcliffe, Darke sat in the chair next to the couch and continuously rubbed Radcliffe's knee. They also shared a brief kiss.
Bite Into a Killer Dexter-Themed Dessert
Originally posted 09/30/2012 03:30PM
As if Sunday's return of Showtime's popular slasher series Dexter wasn't sweet enough, pastry chef Sarah Magoon of Fort Lauderdale hot spot Steak 954 has created a dessert recipe inspired by the show.
Magoon got the idea for her Dexter-themed dessert – a cheesecake brulée topped with any berry compote – from the show's opening sequence.
"The presentation reminded me of when Michael C. Hall is going through his morning routine of cooking eggs and cutting open a blood orange," she told PEOPLE. "There are all of these different things, especially food-wise, that are reminiscent of blood splatters."
Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter Cuddle Up Post-Divorce
Originally posted 02/09/2012 05:30PM
Love lost between Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter? No way.
The Dexter costars – who wed on New Years Eve in 2009 – and were divorced two years later – were spotted looking cozy during an evening out Wednesday in Venice Beach, Calif.
Hall, 41, clutched Carpenter's arm as the pair grabbed coffee before heading to the beach to watch the sun set. Once there, the actor pulled his ex-wife in for an embrace.
Exes Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter Spotted Out Together
Originally posted 01/20/2012 05:55AM
Talk about friendly exes!
Not only do Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter still work together on Dexter (where they play siblings), they also appear to enjoy each other's company off set.
The former couple, who just finalized their divorce last month, were seen having a friendly meeting at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills on Wednesday. But sources tell PEOPLE it wasn't a romantic rendezvous.
"It was not a date," said a source. "Jennifer and Michael are friends. They spend time together. They work together. It was not romantic."
Michael C. Hall Tries Out a Top Chef Restaurant in L.A.
Originally posted 01/13/2012 05:55AM
Michael C. Hall stepped out for dinner with a male pal at former Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio's new L.A. eatery, Ink. The Dexter star and his friend sat at a corner table for their casual meal where fellow diners left them in peace to enjoy their meal. The guys ordered several courses – and wine – during dinner. – Jessica Wedemeyer
Jennifer Carpenter, Michael C. Hall Finalize Divorce
Originally posted 12/06/2011 05:00PM
It's officially over for Dexter costars Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter.
The exes, who play siblings Dexter and Debra Morgan on Showtime's hit series, had their divorce finalized on Friday, according to court documents.
Hall, 40, and Carpenter, 31, wed on New Year's Eve in 2008.
Separating in August 2010, Carpenter then filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, in December. They have no children.
– Dahvi Shira
Michael C. Hall Talks Quality Time with His Cats
Originally posted 08/05/2011 10:45AM
Since splitting last year from his ex-wife and Dexter costar Jennifer Carpenter, Michael C. Hall has been able to make time for a few other loved ones.
"I spend a lot of time with my cats," the actor, 40, tells PEOPLE of the pets he adopted with Carpenter in 2009. "They're both boys, they're both very affectionate. Their names are Preacher and Ford. They're my four-legged friends."
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Jimenez, Osvaldo
Academic Background
Ph.D., Learning Sciences & Technology Design, Stanford University, 2013
M.A., Learning, Design, & Technology, Stanford University, 2003
B.S., Computer Science, Stanford University, 2002
Teaching Interests
- Software Engineering
- Computer Programming
- Video Game Development
- Human-Computer Interaction
Research Interests
- Educational Games
- Video Game Development
- Computer Science Education
Recent Publications
Jimenez, O., Arena, D.A., & Acholonu, U. (2013). Educational Video Games: The Devil is in the Details. Presented at the American Educational Research Association's Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Jimenez, O., Arena, D.A., & Acholonu, U. (2011). Tug-of-War: a Card Game for Pulling Students to Fractions Fluency. In C. Steinkuehler, C. Martin, & A. Ochsner (Eds.), Proceedings of the Games, Learning, & Society Conference 7.0 (pp. 119- 127). Madison, WI: ETC Press.
Alexander, A., Blair, K.P., Goldman, S., Jimenez, O., Nakaue, M., Pea, R., & Russell, A. (2010). Go Math! How Research Anchors New Mobile Learning Environments. In 2010 6th IEEE International Conference on Wireless, Mobile and Ubiquitous Technologies in Education (WMUTE) (pp. 57-64)


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Corn, Jamie, peas give our patch a chance
- From: Mercury
- March 15, 2014
A COMMUNITY vegie patch in Hobart is vying to become part of Jamie Oliver's healthy eating crusade.
The Tasmanian Community Food Garden at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens was yesterday announced as the state's finalist in the search for the best location for Jamie's Australian pop-up kitchen.
A finalist has been chosen from each state and territory out of 170 applications. The winner will be announced in Sydney tomorrow.
Those behind the Tasmanian submission want Oliver to bring his healthy cooking advice here.
Community food garden board member Tony Kennedy said the patch epitomised the fresh food philosophy of Jamie's Ministry of Food.
"We have this beautiful vegetable patch where community groups learn how to grow food, harvest it and cook it," he said.
The garden is currently developing a kitchen alongside it, to teach people how to prepare the healthy produce.
"Tasmania has arguably the best produce in the Southern Hemisphere, but an alarmingly high
number in our community do not take advantage of this," Mr Kennedy said.
"They either cannot afford it, don't know how to grow it, or don't know what to do with it. To have
Jamie's Ministry of Food pop-up kitchen here, demonstrating how to cook and the advantages of
eating healthy food would be wonderful for the community," he said.
Mr Kennedy is flying to Sydney tomorrow to meet Jamie ahead of the announcement of the winner.
The search for a location for the first pop-up kitchen is sponsored by Huon Aquaculture.
Huon Aquaculture co-owner Peter Bender said a need for food education was evident in Tasmania's substandard health statistics.
The Ministry of Food pop-up kitchen aims to teach inexperienced cooks how to make a meal from scratch.
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Green Festival Exhibitors
NYR Organic
This authentic, ethical, certified organic health and beauty brand began 33 years ago in Covent Garden, London. Today we are world leaders in award-winning healthy beauty.
Skin Care (Babies to Aging Skin) - Body Products - Aromatherapy - Cosmetics - Home Fragrance - Nutritional Supplements
NEW! - Frankincense Intense with Fairwild certified organic frankincense oil


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In This Issue:
GS1-128 and Print & Apply: Perfect Partners
Did you know ink-jet printing systems on brown corrugated are not GS1-128 compliant? Print technology selection can be the difference between failure and success in a barcoding application. Read detailed explanations on how thermal-based, print & apply systems are a superior choice over ink-jet printing systems in any barcode printing application. Read this white paper.
5-Minute Podcast: Cloud Backup
In Part 5 of this series, participants share insights on the best vertical markets and size of customers for a cloud backup solution. MSPs Chris Johnson, CEO of Untangled Solutions, and MJ Shoer, president and virtual CTO at Jenaly Technology Group, share their insights along with Ted Roller, VP of channel development at Intronis.
Listen to podcast...
Executive Commentary
97% of consumers search online when looking for a local business. Have you taken the necessary steps to ensure that when they do search, your company is found?
Full article...
One way you can distinguish yourself from your competitors is by adding the appropriate certifications and IT business credentials.
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Tools of the trade
The term fixed assets has become a misnomer in an age of portable high-tech equipment. But those wandering assets still need to be accounted for
You get out of the taxi and stagger into the hotel lobby, lugging your laptop and luggage. It's 11 p.m., and you hope your guaranteed room is still available. Your sales team has already arrived for the big customer meeting tomorrow. In all, your company has some eight personal computers, a fax machine, a liquid-crystal-display projector, and a new digital camera floating around the hotel somewhere. Across the country, another sales team is carrying similar equipment into another hotel. You suddenly realize that the computer equipment your business has on the road represents about 10% of your company's total assets!
Fixed assets aren't as nailed down as they used to be. In fact, the complexity of fixed assets--defined as tangible property with a useful life that exceeds a year--has increased exponentially with the advent of high technology. In the 1980s most small companies' fixed assets included furniture, a copier (if it wasn't leased), perhaps a few vehicles, and a PBX phone system. High-tech equipment constituted a small fraction of the fixed-asset ledger and was rarely even inventoried.
Today furniture and vehicles are small potatoes compared with networks of PCs, servers, scanners, printers, and the like. For most company owners, one briefcase filled with the CPU chips of all the office computers would be worth far more than all the office furniture.
Unlike low-tech assets, such as desks and filing cabinets, high-tech assets are defined by bewildering terminology that changes rapidly, and their useful lives often prove to be shorter than the accountant's depreciation schedule. That means companies have a tendency to overstate the value of high-tech assets on their balance sheets. Does your company still have 486 PCs on its books? If so, you can look forward to an asset write-down that hits your bottom line in the not-too-distant future.
And that's not the only complication we confront in managing fixed assets as we shift from heavy desks to portable high-tech equipment. We also have the problem of tracking. High-tech assets are swapped, combined with other components, used at home, and frequently junked for the latest version. It's virtually impossible to keep all the necessary information up-to-date on paper and filed neatly away in a drawer. Yet consistent tracking of high-tech fixed assets can yield a number of important benefits and put real dollars on your bottom line.
* You'll know where those valuable assets are. How often has an employee left the company only to be drawn into a controversy about what he or she has stashed at home? ("Oh, that laptop. The sales team borrowed it months ago.")
* You can better estimate the residual value of your equipment. Remember, a $4,000 desktop PC purchased four years ago is probably worth less than $100 today.
* You can predict replacement cycles with more accuracy and develop a systematic plan for asset reinvestment. Unlike furniture that can be used for decades, long after the depreciation schedule has ended, high-tech assets must be replaced constantly just to maintain your level of capability. In a sense, it takes a lot of running to stay in the same place. All too often, companies fall behind technologically (and, thus, in their operations) because they have misjudged the replacement cycle of a critical information system.
* You can analyze what you have. Most managers have no idea what is really deployed in the field. For future purchases, for example, it's helpful to know which assets are heavily used and which ones sit in a dark corner somewhere. Did those expensive projectors you purchased for the sales team two years ago really result in higher unit orders? What percentage of your installed base of PCs can run Windows 98? How many service reps working out of their homes have high-speed modems?
So how do you do all that? Luckily, high tech can come to the aid of high-tech assets. What you need is a database application--a specialized type of software program that can log everything, keep it organized in useful categories, print out helpful reports, and turn your company into an outstanding example of thoughtful fixed-asset management.
Some commercial accounting-software packages are good at tracking fixed assets. Many, however, can't handle the complexities that high-tech assets bring. If you don't have suitable off-the-shelf software but do have someone in your company with information-systems expertise, it's relatively easy to build a fixed-assets application using a database package like Microsoft's Access.
Eric Kriss is CEO of Workmode Inc., which provides Web-site construction and management services to growing companies. He was formerly the CEO of MediVision and MediQual, both Inc. 500 companies.


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Oil, gas lease spending debated at Pa. Fish and Boat Commission meeting
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HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commissioners tweaked one of their policies Wednesday but not in the way John Ball was hoping.
Ball of Zelienople is president of the Hereford Manor Lake Conservancy and Watershed Group, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding a lake on the site of the former Upper and Lower Hereford Manor lakes.
Those Beaver County impoundments, previously among the most popular in the state because of their stocked trout, were drained in 2012 after their dams were deemed no longer safe.
Both sit empty. Fish and Boat Commission officials have said they want to build a new lake at the site but don't have the estimated $12 million that it would take.
The commission is leasing rights to the oil and gas below its Hereford Manor property. That netted a one-time up-front payment of $1.346 million and a $224,250 "conservation donation." It also will earn 18 percent royalties on the oil and gas mined.
That won't necessarily benefit Hereford Manor, however.
In adopting an oil and gas leasing program in 2011, commissioners mandated that all revenues go into a dedicated fund, earmarked specifically for high-hazard dam repairs. But money generated at a site doesn't have to be spent there. It can be used on any of the nine dams statewide in need of repair.
"We note that one of the (commission's) criteria for assigning priority for dam repair includes 'funding commitments by local partners,' " Ball told commissioners on Wednesday. "We respectfully suggest to you that the gas beneath the feet of the residents of Beaver County represents that funding commitment by local partners.
"Please don't ask the local residents to deal with the inconveniences of drilling in the Beaver County area without reaping the benefits from the sale of those resources."
He suggested the commission tweak its policy and allow enough of the revenues earned at Hereford Manor to cover the design and engineering work on a new lake. That might open the door to Gov. Tom Corbett authorizing money through the state's capital budget, he said.
Commissioners did not ask Ball questions or offer comment.
They did, however, give executive director John Arway the authority to spend $192,761 of the money previously set aside for dam repairs on payroll.
The commission is facing a $9 million budget shortfall that needs to be addressed by July 2015. One money-saving idea the board is expected to address this week is a proposal to lay off nine seasonal, semi-skilled workers, several of whom work in Western Pennsylvania.
Arway said he decided that work needs to be done, so he asked the board to let him pay for it out of oil and gas money. Commissioners agreed unanimously.
One, Len Lichvar of Somerset County, said the work those crews perform is vital, especially in regards to keeping anglers and boaters coming back to the water. If it didn't get done, he said, "this will all damage and tarnish the commission's standards and appearance to the public eye."
Bob Frye is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com or via Twitter @bobfryeoutdoors.
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Individual skills camp takes place July 9-11, followed by a team camp July 16-18
A few spots still remain for the 2012 Eagle Volleyball Skills Camp and Team Camp, held on the campus of Eastern Washington University.
The skills camp, geared toward female volleyball players ages 12-18, will run from July 9-11 at Reese Court in Cheney, Wash. Cost for the camp is $220 for day campers and $320 for residential.
Team Camp will take place the following week July 16-18, and will provide an opportunity for squads to work directly with coaches and counselors on different rotations and team tactics that will prepare them for the upcoming seasons.
Both camps are under the direction of EWU head volleyball coach Miles Kydd, and his experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff of current and former players and assistant coaches who are all committed to taking each athlete to the next level.
To register, visit www.ewuvolleyballcamps.com and follow appropriate prompts. You may also contact the EWU volleyball office at 509-359-7355 for more information!


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A friend and I spent last weekend in Amsterdam. Quite a lot of things went wrong. We arrived to find a rather inappropriate transparent shower cubicle in our shared room, I got sick, we crashed our hired bicycles in the middle of a major junction causing chaos and we missed both our trains home. Through sheer grit and determination however, we did manage to fit in some good grub.
After 5 hours of train and tram travel, we were starving and headed straight to Albina in Albert Cuypstraat for some Surinamese food, a cuisine I'd never even heard of until we started looking into places to eat in the dam. The South American Republic of Suriname was a former colony of The Netherlands and so there are a lot of Dutch Surinamese living (and cooking) in Amsterdam. Completely coincidentally, a reader e-mailed me about Surinamese food almost as soon as we arrived back in London (weird), so I know that our first dish of fried potatoes topped with a kind of fish floss is usually made with cassava. Maybe it even was cassava. She also told me that the floss on top is called teloh, made with cod. Like kids in a sweetshop we excitedly doused it with the various condiments on the table, our favourite being a kind of sweetened soy concoction.
Moksi meti (above) was a dish of roasted chicken, pork, sausage and green beans in a sweet sauce; it was lovely but no match for the flakiest of rotis which came atop a mild chicken curry (below). Underneath the roti nestled boiled potatoes, which had spent their time soaking up all the precious sauce and were to be squished, savoured, treasured and fought over. Despite being full to bursting we managed to pack away most of this. The boiled egg however, was a bridge too far.
The next day we managed to pack in a bit of sandwich action despite my sickness, in the form of herring rolls from a stall called Frens Heringshandel. Two glistening fillets of rich herring were beautifully soft, contrasted by crunchy nuggets of diced onion and sweet/sharp pickles. I would have liked twice as many pickles but then, I always do. An excellent sammich. I warn you though, it makes you stink of fish and onions. This wasn't a problem for me and my mate; we'd been sharing a bed and a room with a see through shower compartment and a toilet in the middle. Fishy onion breath was nothing.
On the subject of street eats, I'd definitely recommend also grabbing a cone of chips at the awesomely named Vleminckx Sausmeesters on Voetboogstraat. The chips seemed triple fried to me as the exterior was thick and crunchy. Topped with a sweetened mayo and diced onion they were excellent. The service was very fast, which is just as well as the queue was constant; a steady stream of tourists and locals, with more than the odd incredibly stoned person after a cure for the munchies.
On the other end of the street food scale, there's the Febo automats. That's deep fried stuff, plus burgers and sausages, from a vending machine. I kid you not. The poor burgers looked incredibly sad and the shrivelled sausages were a sorry sight but we chose a deep fried sausage shaped thing which was labelled 'vegetarian'. It turned out to be filled with a very salty cheesy mushroomy gloop which was actually rather addictive, and I wasn't even drunk. Worth a try if you're game for a laugh.
So there's a few pointers for you, in case you find yourself in the dam with an appetite. Ahem. We also visited a fancier restaurant which my friend assures me was lovely; I wouldn't know because it was then I got sick and so ended up sitting there watching her eat it alone. Woe! Still, I pushed on through in the name of research, even grabbing a second herring sandwich for the train home. The one we were a spectacular two hours late for.
Eurostar return to Amsterdam from £99. It takes 5 hours but for someone like me who has a fear of flying, it's an appealing option.
Albert Cuypstraat 69, 1072 CN Amsterdam
Frens Heringshandel
Singel Hoek Koningsplein, 1017 AW Amsterdam
Vleminckx Sausmeesters
Voetboogstraat 31, Amsterdam
Leave a Reply
39 thoughts on "Eating in Amsterdam"
doing travel and food shots in amsterdam is always amazing, when i found the vending machine i can eat till drop some local food, really miss to back there again
Don't forget Indonesian food when you're in Holland! Another former colony, and as some commenters mentioned already, the satay (or as the Dutch say: saté) is another very nice street food.
This satésaus is also used along the sweetened mayonnaise on your fries. It's called "patatje oorlog", and usually served with diced onions as well.
In recent years, a combination of fries with doner kebab, salad, and grilled cheese on top has become very popular under the name "Kapsalon", which means "hairdresser". Yes, very strange. If you get it at a good place, it can be a very calorific experience you won't forget.
If you have a sweet tooth, do go for a nice pancake with bacon and cheese and syrup on top. Mmmmm…
Personally, I also miss the nice tenderloin steak of Cafe Loetje, near Museumplein. They also have very nice smoked eel as a starter. Very popular with the locals. They don't ask you how you want your steak, because if you go there that means you like a good steak, and a good steak should be served medium rare. Period.
Yaaay, now I'm really looking forward to going back there next week. But how to eat all that food in just a few days
Off to Amsterdam this weekend and am looking forward to trying out the Suranamese place. Thanks.
Febo! It's hilarious and disgusting and irresistible all at the same time. Yuk. But, yum! Keep up the good work!
Amsterdam a Place of restaurents. i enjoyed very much when ever i was in amsterdam and its was just amazing movement.
I remember those vending machines, there was one snack that my mate and I loved. We went round the Dam searching all the machines for it.
Last time was with the girlfriend, we found the most amazing cake shop, goodness knows where, the best cake I have ever had, no they were not space cakes. Also we found the Ben and Jerrys ice cream parlour, massively bigger than any U.K. one I have seen.
You had a herring and onion sandwich – hooray! They are excellent.
An ex with a Dutch mum introduced me to the ways of Dutch cuisine and even though the Dutch insist they don't have any food worth considering, I think it's excellent stuff. Mostly because it's based around potatoes, onions, cake and noodles. Who doesn't love that?
Although, I'm disappointed to see no novelty chocolate penis among your haul from the market on Albert Cuypstraat market. You aren't going to tell me they don't sell them anymore. A holiday in Amsterdam with no novelty chocolate genitalia is an incomplete trip, imho.
Very fond memories of coming across Febo for the first time, about 20 years ago… it was during my first visit to dam, and after my first visit to a coffee shop…. wandering the streets, searching for something to curb our crippling munchies, we came upon this cathedral of fatty snacks. It almost seemed to be bathed in heavenly light (it was the neons) and we spent a good long time in there that night, chomping away…
Great piece…
Always remember Bill Bailey on Dutch food, even if it does seem a bit unfair in the light of the food you found: "You wanna toashtie? We got ham toastie, cheese toastie… cheese and ham toastie… you want a bit of onion?? Oho, you crazy man!"
Also I feel your pain but I'm glad now I'm not the only one to sit in a posh restaurant watching other people eat…
I am sooo happy to find out that you and Hollow legs are friends! I have loved both of your blogs for ages, being a south east London girl myself (Walworth Road) and a huge food lover.
Great writing! Keep it up! – And if you ever need a food taster or person to accompany you on random south east food adventures I would gladly help out ; )
Those chips look so nice! I could eat them now…sorry the overall weekend wasnt legendary though….
Sorry to hear about all the things that went wrong. But food makes everything better, right?
Great pictures!
I once met 2 guys from amsterdam, funnily when I was travelling in Thailand. We were talking about food, and they said there's nothing to eat there except potatoes and onions, apparently very boring repetitive food. As a result, I've never had the urge to go there, but I'm glad you showed me it's not that way at all!
The novelty of the Febos shouldn't be underestimated. I've got such fond food memories of Amsterdam. Particularly the apple cake. I think I ate my body weight in apple cake while we were there.
Those chips look great. I have been to Amsterdam many times and they are typically a bit thinner than that. There are some really good Indonesian places there, The rijsttafel (rice table) can be really good if you find a good one.
Genius! I'm going next week
Oh, you just made me miss Amsterdam so bad. I think a spring visit is on the cards.
Especially for the chips. With lots of 'Dam style satay sauce.
Oh yum! Potatoes look awesome. I visited Amsterdam a long time ago and really loved it. Would love to go back, especially now that I know there are many more delicious things to try.
Wow, what interesting food.
Ha reading this makes me miss Am*dam a bit 😉 You definitely had the best herring in town and also the best 'vlaamse frieten' =fries.
The veg snack is called 'kroket'.
Those are indeed fried cassava and the dish is called teloh and that floss is cod.
Come to dinner here some time and I'll cook for you 😉


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Vintage furniture, a bit run-down, Cafe Brecht is all about "Gemütlichkeit" – coziness, the translation is an approach at best. One of the ancestors of your German grandmother could have lived here, nothing would have changed, only time would have eroded the walls since then, and a bar and more lazy chairs would have been added.
Tea is served in a teapot that looks like it was taken right out of your grandmother's cupboard, there is freshly made cake, also a thing that you might be familiar with if you know a typical Berlin living room cafe. A selection of several German beers complete the menu.
It is very relaxed inside, time doesn't seem to play a role, you can tell by the knitting gear that decorates the tables and invites you to just continue knitting, just like your grandmother would have done. Since its opening three years ago, Brecht became a rather popular spot – the closer the weekend the more crowded the evenings – this is the reason they gave up on the poetry readings and live performances they used to have: lack of space.
Actually what I like most about Brecht is that they sell my favorite brand of German beer – which is the original black forest beer "Tannenzäpfle", and it's the only place where you can get it in Amsterdam (correct me if I am wrong).
Cafe Brecht | Bars, Coffee & tea | Tannenzäpfle € 3
Weteringschans 157 | +31206272211
Sun – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 03:00


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High Performance Programming Techniques on Linux and Windows
In his introductory column Dr. Bradford introduced measurement tools and plans for future performance investigations on Linux and Windows 2000. His focus this month is on a simple operation, memory to memory copy, and how long it takes to move bytes around in memory.
Memory Copy
Memory copies are frequent and pervasive in computing. They show up in networked applications, database applications, scientific applications, and almost any other application or service you can think of. Because they are so universal, programmers are somewhat cavalier about memory copies and perform them with a variety of programming techniques. Memory copy can be a simple movement of an entire block of memory, or it can be something like an access pattern, which is not a copy at all.
An access pattern is formed by accessing the columns of a matrix. You may, for instance, need every twelfth word of a 12×12 matrix. Those twelve words would represent the first column of the matrix. Frequently a column access requires only 32 or 64 bits per column element; rarely are more than 64 bits required. Complex matrices might require two 64-bit values per column element. The number of bytes between accesses is called a stride, and access to memory is parameterized with a stride value.
Measuring Block Memory Copy Speeds
In this installment we will look at only block memory copies, which are pretty common even in first-year programming courses. Measuring memory copy speeds is tricky because computers have level-1, level-2, and sometimes level-3 caches, so the tests have to deal with cache sizes. We will simply look at the end result, which is how fast the data can be moved. The point is to understand the code path length rather than system buffering or cache issues, both of which will be addressed in a future article. Code path is important because it gives an indication of how fast bytes can be moved and how much overhead is associated with such a move.
Memory transfers are carried out with simple programming techniques. Simple for loops and the memcpy() library routine are the most frequent mechanisms. Less frequent are structure assignments and file IO techniques.
Memory transfers often play only a small part in the overall performance picture. When they do play a part, it is good to know what the operating system and hardware can deliver as a team.
There are too many dimensions to investigate and cover in one column, so the focus here will be narrowed down. This means that a usable conclusion won't be available until we expand our scope. Some of the parameterizations available for examination include:
• Stride – as mentioned above, relates frequently to matrix access
• Total transfer size – total amount of data moved
• Block size – how much data is moved in a single operation (closely related to the next parameter)
• Programming technique – such as memcpy, (char*, double*) pointer
• System page size
• Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) size
The objective here is to fix the total transfer size at 16 MB. We will also fix the stride at 0, which means doing simple block memory transfers. The block size will be varied by varying the programming technique. The system page size is 4K in Windows 2000 and 4K in Linux. And since the computer is the same, the TLB size is the same. There are no threading issues because only a single thread will be used to move memory.
Test Program
The program we will use is called memxfer5b.cpp, which has gone through several versions. Its usage message follows:
memxfer5b usage message
Usage: memxfer5b.exe [-f] [-w] [-s] [-p] size cnt [method]
-f flag says to malloc and free of the "cnt" times.
-w = set process min and max working set size to "size"
-s = silent; only print averages
-p = prep; "freshen" cache before; -w disables
-csv = print output in CSV format
0: "memcpy (default)"
1: "char *"
2: "short *"
3: "int *"
4: "long *"
5: "__int64 *"
6: "double *"
The "-p" option is useful because the initial copy in most of the test runs was slower than the remaining runs. The implication is that the cache was being loaded. The measurements here are specifically aimed at code paths and not memory transfer speeds. For that reason, we use the "-p" option to "prime" memory. The goal is to achieve the very fastest (shortest time) memory transfers possible. In real situations, it is more likely that the initial transfer with the un-primed cache would be the environment the program would experience. Nevertheless, if we choose the code path that leads to the best performance in the tests, we are likely to be on the right track for optimal production code performance.
Memxfer5b can use seven different memory transfer techniques. "Recommended" memcpy() API is available on Linux and Windows. Six different pointer types are also available.
Memxfer5b.cpp compiles easily with either of the following commands:
gcc -O2 memxfer5b.cpp -o memxfer5b
cl -O2 memxfer5b.cpp -o memxfer5b.exe
Memxfer5b.cpp uses the same support routines as described in my introductory column. Add a routine called Malloc() to the list of support routines. Malloc() behaves just like malloc(), but it prints an error message and exits if it cannot allocate memory. For our purposes this is sufficient. We are not measuring the speed of memory allocation; any failure to allocate memory in this test probably means there is a bug in the program, or we have reached a system limit. In either case we wouldn't want to proceed. (The Malloc() routine was also mentioned in my introductory column, but it was not included in any of the source code. It is included in this installment — see Resources.)
Previously, we looked at the various options on the Microsoft C++ compiler, to see if there is anything better than "-O2". In our tests, we found nothing and a continued search was abandoned. However, if one of our readers compiles memxfer5b.cpp with his or her favorite optimization parameterization on cl.exe AND it yields better performance, please let us all know by using the discussion forum; click the Discuss icon at the top or bottom of the article. Searching the parameter space of cl.exe is more efficient when a large number of people contribute.
The main loop of memxfer5b.cpp is the part that actually moves memory and brackets the moves with calls to our timing routines. Memxfer5b.cpp can explore other areas of block memory transfers. A future version will add striping so we can simulate matrix operations.
Test System
We will compile and run this test on Windows 2000 Advanced Server Service Pack 1 installed, Linux 2.2.16 and Linux 2.4.4. The Linuxes are running in the Red Hat 7.0 environment. On Linux we will be using the gcc that is included with the Red Hat 7.0 distribution. On Windows 2000, we will use the Microsoft C++ Version 12.00.8168 from Visual Studio 6.0. Our test system will be ThinkPad 600X Model 2645-9FU with 576 MB of memory and a 12 GB disk drive. The 600X is a 648 MHz Pentium III machine according to Windows 2000 and 647.767 MHz according to Linux. The Windows 2000 and Linux "mechanisms" for determining that information are:
Windows 2000 navigation path to MHz:
Control Panel/
Administrative Tools/
Computer Management/
System Tools/
System Information/
System Summary
Linux command to display MHz:
cat /proc/cpuinfo
The program prints the resulting memory speed in megabytes per second. If the "-s" flag is specified, then the memory copy speed is computed over the "cnt" runs. Otherwise, each run is printed. Our test will be done as follows:
memxfer5b -p -s -csv 16m 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
memxfer5b -p -s -csv 16m 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
memxfer5b -p -s -csv 16m 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
memxfer5b -p -s -csv 16m 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
This gives us four of eight runs. Don't expect to see a lot of variation; the repeated attempts will either verify our expectations or give us some bounds on what to expect.
Test Results
The results are shown in the following table. Both the older version of Linux and the newer version seem much faster in memory transfers than Windows 2000. It is not clear what is going on here. Further investigation is required.
An examination of the assembly listing for the Windows memxfer5b.exe program shows that the Microsoft C++ compiler uses a "rep movs" instruction when it sees a call to the memcpy API. Otherwise, it dutifully uses the character-by-character move for "char *", a word-by-word move for "short *", and, surprisingly, a dword-by-dword move for "int *", "long *", "__int64 *", and "double *". (Memxfer5b avoids all mis-aligned boundary conditions.)
A similar examination of the Linux binary shows (almost) the same code. The only exception is that gcc actually uses the memcpy() routine. Both compilers move bytes, 16-bit words and 32-bit words only. The generated assembly code for both Linux and Windows is quite similar.
One possibility for the differences in memory copy performance is that Windows does more work in the background than Linux. To test that theory, let's write a very small computationally intensive program that calculates a single fractal point. With no arguments, fract2.cpp iterates the fractal formula until either 100,000,000 iterations has transpired or the point "escapes". Fract2.cpp is a simple program with a short floating point (double) loop computation.
We found the following:

 Operating system	 Time to complete (seconds)

 Linux 2.2.16-22	 4.065

 Linux 2.4.4	 4.087

 Windows 2000 AS	 4.300

The times suggest that more computation can be accomplished on the same hardware if it is running either version of Linux. Again, when the two optimized compile programs were disassembled we found that the generated loop was almost identical. In fact, the Linux loop contained two more instructions than the Windows generated loop.
The fract2.cpp times do not account for the large difference in the memory copy speeds. Fract2.cpp might account for some of the differences, but not all of them.
At this point in our investigations, we don't have enough information to fully understand the memory copy anomaly. Furthermore, we have only looked at one small aspect of block memory moves. For that reason, no justifiable conclusions can yet be drawn about the merits of Linux versus Windows. We can conclude that using memcpy on both platforms is a good idea for sixteen megabyte transfers. We might also conclude that there is a small amount of additional overhead with the Windows operating system as demonstrated by the fract2.cpp program. However, it would be best to let the readers comment on the techniques used here and offer suggestions as to how to make either system more efficient on these two small and insignificant tests.
This article has raised more questions than it has answered, and we will be looking more closely at memory performance in upcoming articles. Until that time, the question of whether one system can move blocks of memory better than the other remains open.
• Participate in the discussion forum on this article. (You can also click Discuss at the top or bottom of the article to access the forum.)
• Read the introductory article that launched this column; it defines the measurement tools Ed uses.
• Participate in the discussion forum on this article by clicking Discuss at the top or bottom of the article.
• Get files mentioned in this article:
• memxfer5b.cpp is the test program; it can use seven different memory transfer techniques.
• The main loop of memxfer5b.cpp is the part that actually moves memory.
• fract2.cpp is a simple program with a short floating point (double) loop computation. It iterates the fractal formula until either 100,000,000 iterations has transpired or the point "escapes".
• Find more Linux resources in the developerWorks Linux zone, including these articles:
• Operating system flexibility