text:
Integrating with Oracle Fusion Applications: Discovering Integration Artifacts
By Simone Geib-Oracle on Mar 19, 2012
Rajesh Raheja, software architect at Oracle, has recently posted the first of a series of blogs on the topic of integrating with Oracle Fusion Applications, which is the next generation of enterprise applications built on top of Oracle Fusion Middleware. His goal is to share the ease with which integrations are now possible using standards-based technologies with enterprise applications. You can find his full blog post here.


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Audio Visual Services
Lone Star College's Office of Technology Services (OTS) offers audio/visual services that include professional audio/visual presentation support, computer display, sound reinforcement, and audio recording services.
- Promotes student engagement
- Enhanced classroom experience
- Professionally trained A/V technicians
- State-of-the-art A/V equipment
- Video and audio recording and editing
- Video projection and computer display
- Sound reinforcement
- Audio recording services
- Audio/visual equipment setup and operation
- Video teleconferencing
- Live events
What to Expect?
- Please request special A/V services at least 3 business days in advance.
- Services are based on equipment and personnel availability.
Customer Responsibilities
Report lost or damaged equipment immediately to the OTS Service Desk.
How to get support or make a request
Contact OTS Service Desk 24/7/365. We're happy to help!
Visit the LSC Service Center or call 832.813.6600 (toll free 866.614.5014).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Age / Gender:
- n/a, Male
- Location:
- Finland
- Joined:
- 3/16/09
- All Stats >
I'm pretty gay.
User Statshot
- Community Stats
Level 8 Gamer
Normal Whistle
Ranked as Civilian
Contact Info / Websites
Favorite Audio
|Frozen in Black and Silver
|Techno Song
|Techno Song
|This Way DEMO
|General Rock Song
|Now you're a hero
|Video Game Song
Favorite Movies
Mechanical Angel Rated 3.6940 Stars Discover the marshmallow man and experience his close encounter with a disguised guardian. Comedy - Original Awesome's Creed Rated 4.3944 Stars What if Egoraptor did Assasin's Creed Comedy - Parody How Valve Got Their Logo Rated 4.4257 Stars The Left4Dead survivors show how Valve got their logo! Comedy - Parody Legend of Miyamoto Rated 4.4220 Stars Shigeru Miyamoto falls into the world of Mario, how will he get home? Music Video
Favorite Games
SteamBirds: Survival Rated 4.2793 Stars The next version of the popular game "Steambirds", featuring "Survival Mode." Strategy - Other Vuvu Hero Rated 4.1389 Stars Do you have what it takes to be the vuvuzela hero? Rhythm Fry Soundboard Rated 3.9609 Stars A soundboard of a the main character from Futurama- Fry! Gadgets - Soundboards Road of the Dead Rated 4.4539 Stars Escape the quarantined city through a highway filled with zombies, carnage and chaos! Action - Other


text:
Contact Information
Office: SCA 322
Phone: 813/974-4694
Email: email@example.com
Home page: https://sites.google.com/site/davecivitello/home
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FKV707cAAAAJ&hl=en
PhD.. Biology, Indiana University,, 2013
B.A. Biology, Colby College University of Pittsburgh, 2002
My research focuses on ecology, epidemiology, and physiology. I am specifically interested in the connections among environmental conditions, key traits of hosts and parasites, and disease dynamics in natural populations and communities. In particular, I am fascinated by factors that drive variation in parasite transmission and reproduction. My approach to science combines field surveys, experiments, and mathematical models. During my dissertation, I linked pollutants, nutrients, and host density to the magnitude and severity of fungal outbreaks in populations of the planktonic grazer, Daphnia dentifera. I am now shifting my focus to the human zoonotic parasites, Schistosoma spp., and their intermediate snail hosts. I am interested in building and testing body size- and resource- explicit models for Schistosoma epidemiology.
Civitello, D.J., Cohen, J., Fatima, H., Halstead, N.T., Liriano, J., McMahon, T.A., Ortega, C.N., Sauer, E., Sehgal, T., Young, S., Rohr, J.R. In press. Biodiversity inhibits parasites: broad evidence for the dilution effect. Proceedings of the National Academy of the United States of America
Civitello, D.J., Penczykowski, R.M., Smith, A.N., Shocket, M.A., Duffy, M.A., Hall, S.R. Resources, key traits and the size of fungal epidemics in Daphnia populations. In press. Journal of Animal Ecology
Wilson, C., Caughlin, T.T., Civitello, D.J. Flory, S.L. in press. Combining mesocosm and field experiments to predict invasive plant performance: A hierarchical Bayesian approach. Ecology
Halstead, N.T., Civitello, D.J., Rohr, J.R. 2015. Comparative toxicities of organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides to aquatic macroarthropods. Chemosphere 135:265-271
Rohr, J.R., Civitello, D.J., Crumrine, P.W., Halstead, N.T., Miller, A.D, Schotthoefer, A.M., Stenoien, C., Johnson, L.B., Beasley, V.R. 2015. Predator diversity, intraguild predation, and indirect effects drive parasite transmission. Proceedings of the National Academy of the United States of America 112:3008-3013
Latta IV, L.C., Peacock, M., Civitello, D.J., Dudycha, J.L., Meik, J.M., Schaack, S. 2015. The phenotypic effects of spontaneous mutations in different environments. The American Naturalist 185, 243-252.
McMahon, T.A., Sears, B.F*, Venesky, M.D., Brown, J.M., Deutsch, K., Halstead, N.T., Lentz, G., Tenouri, N., Young, S., Civitello, D.J., Ortega, N., Fites, J.S., Reinert, L.K., Rollins-Smith, L.A., Raffel, T.R., Rohr, J.R. 2014. Amphibians acquire resistance to live and dead fungus overcoming fungal immunosuppression. Nature 511:224-227 (cover photo and featured cover story)
Civitello, D.J., Rohr, J.R. 2014. Disentangling the effects of exposure and susceptibility on transmission of the zoonotic parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Journal of Animal Ecology 83, 1379-1386.
Civitello D.J., J.L. Hite, and S.R. Hall. 2014. Potassium enrichment stimulates the growth and reproduction of Daphnia.Oecologia 175, 773-780.
Penczykowski, R.M., S.R. Hall, D.J. Civitello, and M.A. Duffy. 2014. Habitat structure and ecological drivers of disease.Limnology and Oceanography 59, 340-348
Civitello, D.J., S. Pearsall*, M.A. Duffy, and S.R. Hall. 2013. Parasite consumption and host interference can inhibit disease spread in dense populations. Ecology Letters. 16:626-634.
Civitello, D.J., R.M. Penczykowski, J.L. Hite, M.A. Duffy, and S.R. Hall. 2013.Potassium stimulates fungal epidemics in Daphnia by increasing host and parasite reproduction. Ecology. 94:380-388.
Civitello, D.J., P. Forys*, A.P., Johnson, and S.R. Hall. 2012. Chronic contamination decreases disease spread: a Daphnia-fungus-copper case study. Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 279:3146-3153.
Duffy, M.A., J. Housley Ochs, R.M. Penczykowski, D.J. Civitello, C.A. Klausmeier, and S.R. Hall. 2012. Ecological context influences epidemic size and parasite-driven evolution. Science (Cover Article). 30:1636-1638.
Bozarth, C.A., S.L. Lance, D.J. Civitello, J.L. Glenn, and J.E. Maldonado. 2011. Phylogeography of the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in the Eastern United States. Journal of Mammalogy (Cover Article). 92:283-294.
Civitello, D.J., E. Rynkiewicz, and K. Clay. 2010. Meta-analysis of co-infections within ticks. Israel Journal of Ecology & Evolution (Invited for Special Feature). 56:417-431.
Weston-Glenn, J, D.J. Civitello, and S.L. Lance. 2009. Multiple paternity and kinship in the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Mammalian Biology. 74:394-402
Civitello, D.J., S.L. Flory, and K. Clay. 2008. Exotic grass invasion reduces survival of Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology. 6:867-872.
Clay, K., O. Klyachko, N. Grindle, D. Civitello, D. Oleske, C. Fuqua. 2008. Microbial communities and interactions in the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum. Molecular Ecology. 17:4371-4381.


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PREVIEW: Barons at Milwaukee
Barons continue set of three games in three days in Milwaukee
|ONLINE TV: AHL Live (PPV)
RADIO: How to Listen Online
PUCK DROP: 6:00 p.m. MST
LAST 10: Oklahoma City 6-3-0-1; Milwaukee 6-4-0-0
Season Series: Tonight is the third of four meetings this season between Oklahoma City and Milwaukee. The Barons won each of the previous two meetings, both at the Cox Convention Center. On November 16, Mark Arcobello scored in overtime to win it and the very next night, the Barons defeated the Admirals 5-2.
Big Story: The Barons are looking to get back on track after a pair of losses in regulation. They are currently in seventh in the Western Conference but could jump as high as fourth with a win. 11th place Milwaukee has 35 points and could move into a tie with Rochester for the eighth and final playoff spot with a victory.
Team Scope:
Barons: OKC is No. 1 in overall power play percentage at 25.7, with 37 goals in 144 opportunities. The Barons are 5-for-9 on the power play in their last 3 games and have a man advantage goal in 6 straight, during which they're 10-for-26. Taylor Hall is tied for the AHL lead in power play goals with 8.
Admirals: Milwaukee has played some of their best hockey of the season lately. They have won four of their last five games to move within a stone's throw of the playoff picture with their last time out being a 4-3 win over Chicago on January 3. Taylor Beck is the Ads' leading scorer with 22 points (17 assists) in 26 games. The team's leading goal scorers are Austin Watson and Chris Mueller with 12 goals apiece in 32 games.
Who's Hot: Defenseman Justin Schultz leads the AHL in assists (28) and power play points (23), while second overall in points (46). Schultz, the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for October and Rookie of the Month in November, has multiple points in 16 of 33 games, including 10 games with 2 assists. Schultz is third in the league in goals (18), 2 away from tying the rookie goal scoring record for defensemen (20), set by John Slaney of Baltimore in 1992-93. Schultz, held pointless on Tuesday at Houston, has been kept off the scoresheet in just 5 of 33 games and in 3 of those the Barons were shut out.
Injury Report: Antti Tyrvainen (wrist) is out. Dan Ringwald (arm) is out. Kristians Pelss (suspension) is out. Brandon Davidson (cancer treatment) is out. Chris VandeVelde (suspension) is available to return to the lineup. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is in Ufa, Russia for the World Junior Tournament.
Puck Drop: The Barons have out-scored the opposition in the first period 44-23, totaling the most first-period goals in the AHL. OKC has gone 7 games without allowing a goal in the opening period. Their last first-period goal against came on Dec. 16 at Houston. The Barons have had a lead or tie at the first intermission in 17 straight games, during which they are 8-7-0-2. The last time OKC trailed after 1 period was Nov. 21 at Texas, when the Stars led 3-1 after 20 minutes in an eventual 6-4 OKC win.
- Marc Ciampa, edmontonoilers.com, with files from Jim Byers.


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What is your agency's strategy? Can you easily articulate your organization's strategic goals without having to dust off a binder…
About Us
Who We Are
We have but one passion: to build a strong nonprofit sector. We provide thought leadership and high value organizational development consulting services in support of this sector. Our team is comprised of like-minded professionals interested in organizational development and effectiveness, performance management, process improvement, human resources and leadership development, program evaluation, and systems thinking. We have come together with a unified purpose to serve missions that matter. Whether working with locally-based or international nonprofits we pride ourselves on delivering consistently outstanding service, and our high number of referrals shows it.
Our Team
Elizabeth Scott PhD, CEO/President
Elizabeth Scott, PhD has expertise in strategic planning, process-improvement and human capital development. Her wealth of experience managing complex projects is evident in her proven track record working with clients to increase organizational and business efficiency and effectiveness.
Jennifer Till Senior Consultant & Executive Coach
Jennifer Till has delivered proven results in leadership development, coaching, and facilitation for the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. She has also successfully developed planning, marketing and operating programs for many industries, including health care, manufacturing, and publishing.
Paula Adkins-Boyland Operations Manager
Paula Adkins-Boyland is adept at managing teams (virtually and in person), building strong internal partnerships, and fostering open communication between team members and clients. She approaches each new situation with efficiency, purpose, and open-mindedness.
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Rachel Gaines uses her finely honed marketing skills to help companies build brand awareness, grow their sales and revenue, and produce high quality small and large scale events for more than 10 years.
Recent Posts
How do you feel about teambuilding in your nonprofit agency? Do you enjoy being a member of a team, or…
"Cheshire Puss...Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on…
501cTECH celebrates the power of technology to change lives. Since 2003, the Technology Innovation Awards (TIA) have recognized D.C. area…


text:
APR 01, 2013 - Yahoo! News
A Must Read - Share
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - An Alaska State Troopers helicopter crashed during a rescue mission, killing all three people on board, officials said on Sunday. Emergency workers reached the wreckage early on Sunday and found the bodies of the pilot, a state trooper and a snowmobiler who had been rescued after becoming stranded near the small town of Talkeetna. The helicopter had failed to arrive at a rendezvous site to meet medics late on Saturday, Alaska State Troopers said in a statement. (Reporting by Yereth Rosen; Editing by Pravin Char and Angus MacSwan)
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Hey you have no friends!!! Get to work and start inviting friends to help build your Comunitee. Click Here to invite friends.
© 2011 Comunitee, Inc.


text:
Never mind the nasturtiums; the real reason to attend the Chelsea Flower Show is for the wonderful people-watching
Of course, the real prize specimens at the Chelsea Flower Show have nothing to do with plants. Rather they are to be found wandering around the display gardens, sipping Pimm's, or stocking up on wind chimes and birdbaths. This is the place to find all of Middle England.
Imagine a very well-spoken, well-behaved rock festival. The pace is slow, the atmosphere convivial. Instead of beer tents there are exquisite hand- crafted gazebos, yours for £14,000. "Have you sold many?" I ask. Yes. Lots.
Like every festival, the Chelsea Flower Show has its distinct tribes. Predominant are the stalwarts, faithful members


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FCD Coach discusses Jackson and Nunez
Two of the more intriguing players currently on the FC Dallas roster are midfielders Jackson and Ramon Nunez. Of course, Jackson has been here since the 2010 season and while he has shown flashes of greatness, he has been wildly inconsistent, much to the lament of Hyndman and his staff.
"We'd all like to see more consistency out of him, right? I think that's the thing that we're a little concerned about but we also all know what a good player he is and all the things that he can do for you," Hyndman said.
As for Nunez, a player who played for the current Dallas gaffer at SMU, he is well into his second stint with FCD after recovering from a knee injury last fall and much like Jackson, there have been flashes of great things in his game, but he just hasn't been able to put it all together.
And reading the following quote from Hyndman, it now seems that a simple numbers game at the No. 10 spot is also limiting Ramon's opportunities to play meaningful minutes.
"I think Ramon does a lot of good things and what we need to do is just get him to do a little bit more for the team. Ramon does a lot of things very, very well. It's just that the best position for Ramon right now is attacking midfield. And the best position for David [Ferreira] is attacking midfield and the best position for Mauro [Diaz] is attacking midfield," Hyndman said. "So we have to be able to get more."


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Råd, reiseruter og kuriositeter: detalj
29 Mars 2011
Pompeii by night, every tuesday.
After the huge success of last year share the opening night of Pompeii. A fascinating show not to be missed.
From March 29 you can visit the Suburban Baths specially illuminated for the occasion.
Every Tuesday, by appointment, the number is: +39.81.8575218.
Gå tilbake!


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Hungary Cuts Policy Rate To New Low, Slows Pace of Easing
BUDAPEST–Hungary cut its policy rate to a new record low Tuesday but at a somewhat slower pace as it sought to balance efforts to jumpstart a lackluster economy with increasing volatility in emerging markets.
The National Bank of Hungary cut its policy rate to 3.80% from 4.00%, extending an easing cycle that began in August 2012, when the policy rate was 7.00%.
The move was deeper than analysts' expectations for a smaller, 0.10 percentage point cut. Only four of the 18 analysts and investment banks polled by The Wall Street Journal predicted prior to the rate decision that the bank would cut rates by yet another quarter of a percentage point, the size of the successive monthly clips of the past 12 months.
The smaller rate cut likely reflects rising caution ahead of the anticipated end of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monthly bond purchases. Concerns that the Fed will soon begin tapering its liquidity injections have hit financial markets across the developing world but Hungary and much of Eastern Europe have so far escaped the turmoil relatively unscathed.
"The MPC clearly has turned a little more cautious in the face of global headwinds from China, Fed tapering and more generalised emerging market risk sell off, although it also clearly still wanted to push rates as low as possible as fast as possible," said Nomura economist Peter Attard Montalto.
Hungary's rate setters hope to help revive a nearly stagnant economy, which grew a mere 0.1% in the second quarter from the previous three months after it emerged from recession in the first quarter.
"In light of the significant monetary loosening until now and with taking into account the development of Hungary's risk assessment [among investors], it is warranted to reduce the pace of the easing," the seven-member panel said.
It also noted that global financial markets have become volatile again after a temporary stabilization and warned that a steady and tangible move in the country's risks assessment may limit the monetary policy elbow room in the future.
Analysts were baffled by the central bank's out of market-consensus rate cut, which has pushed the Hungarian currency to its weakest level against the euro since the end of April.
Central bank Governor Gyorgy Matolcsy said last month that future rate cuts may be less than the quarter of a percentage point increments seen each month since August last year but he specified 0.10 percentage point clips as possibly "good" thus markets had expected that.
"It is difficult to decipher why the size of the cut was neither the earlier 25 basis points, nor the suggested and expected 10 basis points but rather 20 basis points," said Raiffeisen Bank economist Zoltan Torok. "The surprising move doesn't support the image of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank as being a conservative and reliable institution. But we wouldn't like to attach too much importance to it after all, and rather see [the step] as an example of opportunistic behavior."
The central bank likely wanted to take advantage of low inflation while the current, otherwise emerging-market negative investor sentiment has left Hungary largely unaffected, Mr. Torok added. Annual inflation was 1.8% in July, significantly slower than the central bank's 3% medium-term target, and still near the 39-year record low of 1.7% hit in April.
Hungary is among those emerging market economies that has benefited greatly from the loose monetary policies of major central banks, including the Fed and the Bank of Japan. Hungarian assets have been attractive to investors thanks to higher yields, allowing Hungary to wean off from external aid. In July, the central bank called upon the International Monetary Fund, which bailed the country out in 2008, to close its local office, and the government paid off the country's outstanding IMF debt earlier this month, more than a year ahead of its maturity next year.
Write to Margit Feher at email@example.com


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Reformatting and restoring a PC is not fun - in the same way spending two hours in the dentist's chair is not fun. You have to back up all your data (and pray that you haven't forgotten anything), reformat the hard drive, install Windows, track down missing drivers, find and reload all your software, restore your data, and pull out clumps of hair over the things you inevitably neglected to save. (Firefox plug-ins, anyone?)
Definitely not fun - yet it's something that most PC users end up doing at least once. When your machine becomes so sluggish, flaky, malware-infested, or ill-behaved that no optimisation utility can help, sometimes the only remedy is a full system-wipe and restore.
If you're smart, however, you'll look upon this as an opportunity - not only to return your PC to its former out-of-the-box glory but also to make it better than it was before. I'm talking about implementing a bulletproof backup system to thwart future disasters, organising your folders and desktop to keep clutter at bay, cutting performance-clogging security software to a bare minimum, and making sure that if you ever need to reformat and restore again, the process will go a lot easier.
In other words, you've cleaned house. And now it's time to get that house in order.
Create an image of your newly restored system
Windows installed, updated, and personalised to your liking? Check. Important apps loaded? Check. Drivers working? Check. Now step back and bask in the glow of your perfectly configured, smoothly running PC. Don't you wish you could capture this moment forever, and even preserve it for the future in case something goes awry?
You can, by creating an 'image' of your system as it exists right now. An image is essentially a full-system backup, but one that contains all the extra stuff that gets added after a fresh Windows install. By making that image your go-to restore source, you can save a ton of time if you ever need to do another system overhaul. (Remember, however, that an image isn't intended to preserve your data; that's an entirely different kind of backup.)
Countless drive-image utilities are out there, but I'm partial to Macrium Reflect Free. It's easy to use, and it can save your image file to an external drive, a network drive, or even CDs/DVDs. It'll also build a bootable rescue disc for restoring the image, just in case you're trying to resurrect a seriously compromised system.
Add a Linux partition
Admit it: you've always wanted to try Linux. It's a fast, robust operating system, stocked with all the software that most users need for everyday computing. Plus, it's free - and if your Windows install ever becomes too messed up to boot, you might be able to use your Linux install to save it.
This is the perfect time to create a dual-boot environment, to devote a chunk of your hard drive (a partition) to Linux. When you're finished, you'll be able to choose Windows or Linux every time you boot; it's like turning one PC into two. And in the unlikely event something goes wrong during setup, no major harm done: You could just whip out the drive image you created earlier and restore the system to its previous pristine state.
I recommend the Ubuntu version of Linux, though you can find countless others to choose from. To install Ubuntu alongside Windows, you'll need to download the OS, burn it to a CD, create a partition within Windows, and then boot the Ubuntu CD and follow the instructions. Ubuntu's own Windows dual-boot help page spells all of this out in much greater detail.
NEXT PAGE: Set up an automated backup system
- Make the restore process smarter and easier
- Set up an automated backup system
- Better unistallers
We show you how-to implement a bulletproof backup system to thwart future disasters, organise your folders and desktop to keep clutter at bay, cut performance-clogging security software to a bare minimum, and even make sure that if you ever need to reformat and restore again, the process will go a lot easier.
Set up an automated backup system
No more excuses! Your data has survived this far, but you're computing on thin ice. A devastating malware attack or hard-drive failure might be just around the corner. The time has come to start making backups on a regular basis, just as you always promised yourself you would.
I recommend two approaches. First, schedule a weekly full-system backup, using an external hard drive as the destination. The aforementioned Macrium Reflect Free works quite well for this task, as it can automatically create image files at scheduled times. However, consider springing for the £20 full version, which supports both differential and incremental backups. (The latter means the program adds only the files and data that have changed since the last backup, a huge timesaver.)
Second, enlist an online backup tool such as Carbonite or Mozy to save your most crucial data (Office documents, financial records and so on) to the cloud. They're both a great set-it-and-forget-it choice.
Organise your files, folders and desktop
Just like moving into a new house, moving back into a restored PC gives you the rare opportunity to put everything in order: your files, your folders, and even your desktop. Let's start with the last - it's time to stop leaving icons strewn across the desktop like so many clothes on the bedroom floor. Instead, organise and corral them with Fences, a free utility that turns cluttered desktops into tidy ones. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
As for your files, it's always good to physically organise them as best you can, putting documents in one folder, photos in another, videos in a third, and so on. But even if you have this kind of stuff spread out across hundreds of folders (and/or different drives), Windows 7's Libraries feature makes finding what you need easy. In fact, it's a much better approach than the age-old folder/subfolder system. The only trick is getting Libraries set up properly, which you can learn to do in 'Simplify file organisation with Windows 7 libraries'.
Slim down your security measures
A lot of PCs suffer from security overkill. Assuming that more must be better, users install a firewall, an antivirus program, an antispyware program, a rootkit blocker, and perhaps even an entire internet-security suite on top of all that. (And you wonder why your system takes 10 minutes to boot?)
Resist the urge to overprotect your PC that way again. Instead, take a simplified approach to security, one that starts with Windows 7 itself. (Sorry, XP users - your OS is a leaky bucket.)
Believe it or not, Windows 7 has almost everything you need to stay safe online: a firewall, a spyware and pop-up blocker, an improved User Account Control system, and a host of malware and phishing protections built into Internet Explorer 8. Top everything off with the free Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus utility and the Web of Trust browser add-on, and you have an extremely well-protected PC. The only extra you might need is a spam filter, though most web-based email services (Gmail, Yahoo and the like) do an excellent job filtering it for you.
NEXT PAGE: Better unistallers
- Make the restore process smarter and easier
- Set up an automated backup system
- Better unistallers
We show you how-to implement a bulletproof backup system to thwart future disasters, organise your folders and desktop to keep clutter at bay, cut performance-clogging security software to a bare minimum, and even make sure that if you ever need to reformat and restore again, the process will go a lot easier.
Install a better uninstaller
If there's a program you no longer use, uninstalling it makes sense, right? You'll free up disk space and help Windows run more smoothly. That's the theory, but in reality many uninstalled programs leave behind traces of themselves - configuration files here, Registry entries there, and so on. That's just the kind of gunk that makes Windows sluggish over time.
What you need is a better uninstaller, a program that will remove every last vestige of any application. Regular readers know of our fondness for Revo Uninstaller, but lately my tool of choice is IObit Advanced Uninstaller, which offers a few perks that Revo lacks. One of them is batch uninstalling: You can select multiple programs to be removed instead of having to hit them one at a time. That feature is a great timesaver during those spring-cleaning sessions when you want to clear out several months' worth of unwanted apps.
Plus, IObit's program is tiny (just 700KB) and portable, requiring no installation (meaning one fewer program gunking up your PC). And you can't beat the price: it's free.
Create a driver library
One of the biggest hassles in restoring a PC is tracking down the drivers for all your components and peripherals. Even if you restored from an image file as described on the previous page, you might end up with some drivers that are outdated. And trust me: driver discs always go missing just when you need them.
Get proactive and make driver backups a part of your regular backup regimen. The free utility Double Driver 4.1 accomplishes the task quickly and easily. It scans your PC, automatically detects and selects drivers that aren't part of the operating system, and then lets you back them up to a USB drive, a network folder, or another storage device.
Keep your PC booting quickly
It's an unofficial (but undisputed) law of nature that over time Windows boots more and more slowly. Blame software: every program you install seems to insist on loading a piece of itself when you boot the machine. It's like an onrush of traffic trying to merge onto an already crowded motorway.
Put freeware utility Soluto on the job as your traffic cop. (Yes, I see the irony in installing yet another program to wrangle your existing programs, but hear me out.) The tool analyses the software and services installed on your PC, and then gives you the option of eliminating them, delaying their startup, or leaving them alone. Even better, it offers recommendations, complete with statistics on what other users have done; it's like a crowd-sourced startup manager.
It works better than any other startup manager I've ever used, too. (It even eliminated a couple of weird pop-ups that had begun to appear on my system right after Windows booted.) If you're concerned about the fate of your fast-booting machine, Soluto is the solution.
See also: Speed up Windows by stripping it down
- Make the restore process smarter and easier
- Set up an automated backup system
- Better unistallers


text:
The PCU Protective Combat Uniform: A Buyer's Guide and Clothing System History
During the early part of the war in Afghanistan, US forces were suffering under extreme cold weather conditions; poorly served by... View ArticleView Article
I've seen quite a few different types of hand warmers on the market the past few years and have really never given them much consideration, until now. Like many of you, my only exposure to hand warmers has been the air-activated Hot Hands style warmers, which have never worked very well for me.
I recently decided to purchase two of the Zippo Outdoor Hand Warmers from Amazon to see if they lived up to the marketing. Being that I really like Zippo as a brand and that their products are made in Bradford, Pennsylvania, I had high expectations. I also can't discount how much I love the smell of zippo fluid burning either.
Each Zippo Hand Warmer is much larger than I expected it to be, as the product photos I'd seen didn't do a good job at showing the relative size. Each hand warmer measures roughly 4″ tall x 2 3/4″ wide and comes with a protective fabric bag to store it in during use and also a small plastic filling cup.
The concept behind the Zippo Hand Warmer is that through the combustion (ignition) of zippo fluid (light petroleum distillate) it becomes a catalytic heater, relying on a catalyzed chemical reaction to break down molecules and create heat. Being a device which burns fuel means that it also consumes oxygen and creates carbon monoxide. With adequate ventilation, this isn't an issue, just something I wanted to mention so you're aware of it.
Zippo isn't the first manufacturer to make a catalytic hand warmer, but it's the first one I've had exposure to. The process for ignition is pretty straight forward and easy, provided you follow directions. I haven't managed to mess up the instructions thus far, but as you read on, it will be easy for you to also see how someone could.
The first step is determining how long you want these hand warmers to run, because once their ignited, there's no safe way to stop the heating action according to Zippo. The small plastic filling cup has two markings on it, one for 1/2 full and one for full. 1/2 full will provide around 6 hours of heat and filling them all the way provides 12 hours. I have tested this for myself and found these times to be fairly right on. I'd say my results have been anywhere from 5 1/2 hours to six hours on 1/2 full and 11 1/2 to 12 hours filled all the way.
Once you've measured out your desired amount of fuel, ensure the catalytic burner unit cover is removed from the hand warmer body and pour in the fuel in from the small filler nozzle side of the filling cup. Next, pour the fuel into the cotton-like material at the top of the unit while keeping it upright, making sure you don't mash down the material. If you do mash it down, the instructions say to come back with a toothpick after filling to fluff it back up.
The next thing is to keep the hand warmer upright for about two minutes before ignition, to allow the fuel to be fully distributed in the cotton-like material so it's available to the catalytic burner. Don't lay the hand warmer down after filling and before ignition. Once it's lit, it's ok to set it down, put it in a pocket (with the protective cover,) etc.
The big take home at this stage of the instruction is to REMOVE the catalytic burner unit cover BEFORE filling. If you dump the fuel through the catalytic burner, or don't hold it upright you'll wind up with a flame when you light it, rather than the nearly invisible burn. A flame means over filling or that fuel has leaked onto the catalytic burner.
Last thing is to affix the catalytic burner unit back in place and apply a flame for about 10 seconds, continuing to hold it upright. This can be from a lighter or even a match. I've found that I can tell it's lit by simply waving my hand over it and feeling for that first bit of heat. When you toss the hand warmer lid back on, just keep in mind that it does take a good 10-15 minutes before it reaches maximum burn, so be sure to allow it to get plenty of air for awhile before dropping it in a pocket. Also note that it does need oxygen to function. If you smother the hand warmer and it can't get air it will go out.
The protective fabric bag you drop the heater into is necessary to prevent burns, as they do get pretty hot and are made of metal. I haven't found that they get so hot that they'd burn the skin, but the instructions state that a low temperature burn of the skin is possible if you don't rotate position and allow it to remain on one part of your body. They also state not to use these while sleeping.
I'm pretty impressed overall with the Zippo Hand Warmers I purchased. I think they've lived up to my expectations and I've used them in jacket pockets during some pretty cold days we've had here lately in Texas. I also used them up in Chicago during some -15 degree weather. I think their usage is fairly limited though to situations where you'd actually have your hands in your pockets, such as walking or standing around. Any "work" you might be doing would render them useless as hand warmers unless your gloves had pockets on them for these. They could work for body warmers in a chest pocket or something like that, keeping in mind the oxygen requirement though.
The quality of the Zippo Hand Warmer is great overall and the only thing I've noticed is that one of my hand warmer lids doesn't fit as tightly as I'd like and seems to come off easier than the other. I do like that the protective fabric bags seem to be made well and don't feel like some cheap overseas bag. The small bead on the string for the bag does cinch it down well too. American made usually always gets my vote and in this case I feel that the price point is still very good being American made.
Other than the loose lid, I do worry a bit about the carbon monoxide it puts off. I'm sure it's minor, but still something to consider with these and other catalytic hand warmers on the market. Just be safe and keep it in mind.
Zippo Hand Warmers are sold individually and available in a chrome, black or Realtree camo finish. You'll also need Zippo Fluid to go along with these, or another brand of lighter fluid. The directions state that Ronsonol Lighter Fluid is the only other recommended type. Additionally, the catalytic burners are expendable and will wear out after repeated use. I've used mine probably 20 times now and they still work great, so I'm not quite sure how long they'll last. I purchased two replacement burners when I bought these on Amazon too.
While Hand Warmers aren't a necessity, it was an interesting creature comfort to try out for this review. I'm certainly going to remember them when I'm out Hog Hunting or during another outdoor activity where I'll be stationary for long periods of time, they're perfect for those occasions!
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I'm heading on a month-long backpacking trip this summer and will be hiking at altitudes where something like this could be handy. I'm not so much interested in it as a hand warmer, but instead I want something small and portable that I can put in the bottom of my sleeping bag at night for my feet. I have a circulatory condition that makes them extremely cold, even in mild temperatures, and I usually put a hot water bottle at the bottom of my bed each night even at home. I'm wondering if anyone who owns one thinks this would work? I know it requires oxygen, so I'm thinking maybe the bottom of a sleeping bag would be enough to smother it? The carbon monoxide emissions might also become an issue if it's left down there all night? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
I just wanted to add a quick FYI. I have an older unit that I must've had for around 15 years. I don't recall the brand, but I see everywhere that you "can't turn them off" . I don't know if Zippo et al have decided to leave this out on purpose (due to our current litigious society) but the easiest way to extinguish a liquid fuel hand warmer used to be as follows:
1. Remove warmer from protective bag.
2. Remove cap from warmer.
3. Find a non combustible and heat proof surface. For example; a rock, metal sheet... the ground. Anything that won't melt or burn.
4. Very carefully use a knife blade, key, etc. to pop the catalytic burner from the top of the warmer.
After a few minutes the burner should be cool enough to handle. Re-assemble and go.
Like I said, I'm not sure why this procedure is no longer part of the standard instructions for these things, as it was definitely in mine when I first got my unit. Now, if anyone gets burned or melts their counter top, etc. I'm not taking responsibility. Just sharing the instructions as they used to be.
Anyone else have an older unit that told them to operate it in this way? It has me curious now.
I find simply closing the "bag" tight will extinguish the burner.
They're always in danger of being smothered just from putting them deep in a chest pocket.
I use naptha from the hardware store in mine. Turns out that lighter fluid is naptha. I use these hand warmers in a softside cooler to keep my 12 volt SLA radio batteries warm in the winter. I can keep the inside of the cooler at least 60 degrees all the way down to 10 below.
I've used one for many years - 2 points that are frequently overlooked.
1) The temperature (and the burn time) can be altered by the way the unit is placed in the fabric bag.
a) it burns *hottest* when out of the fabric bag.
b) it burns hot when placed in the fabric bag ( top side of the unit - facing the open side of the bag)
- it burns a bit cooler if you close the draw string of the fabric bag.
c) it burns coolest when the top side of the unit - is placed into the *bottom* of the fabric bag. In other words the bottom of the unit is seen from the opening of the bag. ( this "throttled back" position produces the longest burn time, which I use during the fall & spring). As its starts to cool down in the evenings - I pull the unit out of the fabric bag, and reverse its position leaving the top side of the unit closest to the opening of the bag.
2) If I want to extinguish the unit - I drop it into a *PLASTIC* bag (within its protective fabric bag), roll the plastic bag up squeezing out most of the air, and in about 10 minutes... its out & cold. A zip-lock bag works nice too - if you have one handy.
Happy hand warming ... Dave
My son bought me one for Christmas, even had my name engraved on it... i use it for hunting, never seemed to spook the deer, great gift, easy to use.
Todd in KY
Picked up one of these for my wife this Christmas. It seemed to be working well for the first 3 uses. We used it everyday for 3 days straight. I fired it up as soon as I woke up this weekend and it didn't seem to get very hot. Previously I had filled it up for 12 hours of use, but this morning I chose to only go for 6. It didn't seem to get very warm over the first 15 minutes, so I just let it sit there for a while. After about 30 minutes I went to pick it up and it was basically cold to the touch. The burner still burning, the cotton fill inside fluffed enough to reach the burner, and with more fuel added it was still not warm to the touch. I tried it again yesterday and it doesn't seem to get warm to the touch, even out of the bag provided. This morning I gave it another go, and even after 2 hours, it is still lit, but even when taken out of the bag, it is only so warm, but still mostly cold to the touch on the bottom. It says the burners have around 70 uses, but for some reason I think this is the culprit. It was very warm, even hot when taken out of the bag, so I know it does work well.
I still have the package for my old Zippo hand warmer and it is marked,"Made to Zippo quality standards in Japan". They do not specify the manufacuter but the flat burner looks identical to the one used on later model Peacock brand warmers. The newer "made in Taiwan" warmers have a completely different looking burner.
I still have the package for my old Zippo hand warmer and it is marked,"Made to Zippo quality standards in Japan". They do not specify the manufacuter but the flat burner looks identical to the one used on later model Peacock brand warmers. The newer "made in Taiwan" warmers have a completely different looking burner.
Nice, I wish I had this while I was deployed... or maybe now in this crappy Maryland weather.
As far as I know Zippo never made a hand warmer. They used to sell one that was made in Japan and was the same shape and used the same burner as a Peacock Brand warmer. The later ones were cheaper to buy but made by some company in Taiwan as far as I know. The old Jon-e warmers were made in Pennsylvania but the new ones are made in Taiwan too.
The Jon-e fuel was hard to get so I read on the Peacock site that "white gas" would work with their warmers. Found out that camp stove fuel was white gas so I have been using that for my warmers for the last couple of years and it has worked fine. It also works well in my Zippo lighters. Sadly, Coleman has brought out a new and "improved" pink fuel that stains the packing and seems to sputter more.
I got one of these in November from amazon and have used it a few times. When it gets below 20F outside our furnace can barely keep up to 69F inside. This thing did great keeping me warm just being around the house as long as there is good ventilation. Well worth the money.
Thanks for the write up Byan. I had one of these years ago and always liked it. I do have to comment though that I got a good chuckle out of you using a Bic to light a Zippo product!
@Davis_45 Thanks brother, it's honestly what I carry :)
I purchased one for a ski trip to Mont Tremblant. Worked great, would purchase again. Only issue: if you're flying, you'll have to source the lighter fluid locally, as it's prohibited on airplanes.
Also, @bryanpblack what hoody or jacket are you wearing in that picture?
@TommyRuss X2 on the warning about not transporting lighter fluid on aircraft. Local sourcing should not be too difficult. Hardware stores and likely (for a while anyway) pharmacy stores like CVS will carry Ronsonol. My local grocery store carries it too.
@TommyRuss Good tip about sourcing lighter fluid locally on a trip. That's a ScotteVest Brad Thor Alpha Jacket I've been putting through its paces for a review on ITS.
Working on a range in NJ years ago we all got the charcoal handwarmers sold at sporting goods stores. They worked pretty well but the charcoal sticks had a tendency to go out or not put out enough heat if it was really cold. These look like a very viable alternative. If I ever decide to go farther North than Tallahassee in the winter I am going to pick up one or two of these. Thanks for the article.
@Doc Hewett Thanks brother!
I received one for Christmas and will soon buy a second. I'd like one for each pocket.
I must assume you can't get into a stadium event with these.
@sam I'm sure there wouldn't be an issue depending on the venue.
I see those Columbia pants....
@Zachary Reed Mountain Hardware ;)
im not trying to be an a$$ or anything, but the zippo hand warmers are made in Taiwan.
@RadTac I couldn't find anything to say they weren't made in the US, I'll keep researching that tough.
@bryanpblack @RadTac I actually contacted Zippo via their Twitter account and email. Both reps that answered my question said they're made in Taiwan to Zippo's standards. I don't guess you still have the packaging after so long, but if you ever happen to spot them in a store, take a look at the back. It does state that they're made in Taiwan. That was what prompted me to contact Zippo with my question.
I noticed they're using the same kind of date coding on these warmers that they use on their lighters. Just an observation I found amusing.
I have a couple of the old Peacock brand warmers from japan circa 1940's. They still work great and are perfect for my position- usually standing in front of bars in the wind/cold while bouncing. I've been contemplating getting a zippo one so I can save the old antiques from more wear. Great product for sure.
@NoahRiot Thanks for the comment!
@ITStactical @Zippo I think they work very good
My father picked one up two weeks ago at Cabelas, and has been using it nearly every other day as these successive snow waves have come across the Midwest. He loves it--it makes for the ideal device for him to use when he is out shoveling snow and his hands become cold. He pulls out the warmer, takes a break to warm his hands up, and then gets back to it. Easier, he says, than the disposable packs that go into his gloves, and reusable to boot. He says that cinching the bag retards the heating, so he can extend in a way the burn time--but he's not out there for six hours shoveling snow either. He also had the problem with the cover not being as tight as he'd like it to be. Barehanding it was not a problem--not too hot, he said.
I took a pair of of wire crips and made 4 "divits" around my top. Now i have to put some force to remove it.
I've wondered about these compared to the old "Johnny Heaters" I got years ago. The ones I have are very temperamental and always seemed especially sensitive to oxygen deprivation. Even in a jacket pocket & removing it frequently they still struggle to stay lit.
Anything like that with these?
@GumbyDammit It depends, if you cinch up the bags they will have trouble staying warm, but I haven't found that these go out in jacket pockets.
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This centrally located self-catering apartment has a beautiful view of Springbok in the field above Riebeek Kasteel. It offers a queen-sized bed with crisp linen, small, well equipped kitchenette with microwave, two plate stove, kettle and fridge. It has a covered braai area and use of pool, a small TV(SABC 1,2&3), wall heater and aircon. Get your free Wi-Fi.
Self-catering country cottage in vineyard setting with 180-degree mountain views. Two spacious, stylish bedsitter rooms available, both with own en suite bath/shower, extra-length double beds, ceiling fans and traditional log fireplaces.
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Set in a quiet street, overlooking a vineyard and with mountain views, Obiekwa Country House sleeps up to six guests in three luxury bedrooms, all with en-suite bath/shower. There is an open-plan living and dining area leading out to a large covered patio, with barbecue. One of the bedrooms has its own kitchenette, patio and barbecue, for greater privacy. There is a swimming pool and petanque strip for a fun game of French bowls. Off-street parking is provided. The local music, food and sports bar is two hundred metres away.
An one hundred year old house welcomes you with Victorian charm. Self-catering accommodation with own braai facilities. Two en suite bedrooms sleep 2 each. One family room en suite sleeps 4.
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Three en-suite bedroomed cottage in the heart of the village. Quirky and casual.
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De Oude Kasteel Guesthouse and Country Cottages: Three dwellings in a row De Oude Kasteel, Sunrise Cottage and Honeymoon Cottage ideal for large groups. Sleep up to 13 in absolute comfort.
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text:
Reds have plenty of answers for preseason questions
Lots of options for the rotation
Published 10:05 AM EDT Mar 12, 2013
It's not that spring training camp is entirely quiet. It's just that there isn't a lot of news coming out of Goodyear, Ariz.
There seem to be a lot more answers than questions.
Can Shin Shoo Choo play centerfield without getting himself or someone else hurt? He told WLWT News 5's Ken Broo he will be fine patrolling for fly balls between Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick.
Choo went four-for-four in Sunday's exhibition win over the White Sox.
The only major question is whether Aroldis Chapman join the starting rotation. If he does, how will the Reds control his power so he doesn't run out of steam before the season is over?
Copyright 2013 by WLWT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
The similarities between Uncharted 2 and 3 continue online, where Deception has such competitive modes as "Deathmatch," two and three group "Team Deathmatch," and its own version of "Capture the Flag," as well as some co-op ones that include a Horde-like survival one and a story-driven section where you shoot up the place and complete objectives. All of which work as advertised, with the requisite leveling system, loadouts, and character customization options required by law.
And therein lies the problem. As with Thieves, none of Deception's online modes offer anything new or different. Which is good news for those who enjoyed Uncharted 2's multiplayer, but if you're looking for someone unique enough to tear your friends away from Call of Duty, it's not going to happen.
It also doesn't help that these modes remove most the story-telling aspects and acrobatics, reducing Deception to a simple shooter. Granted, it doesn't ruin these modes, but it does give them a "so what" quality normally reserved for sugar free cupcakes and any Jane's Addiction album without Eric Avery on bass.


text: Talking to reporters here, minister of state for home Siddharam Mhetre described the cheerleaders and their dancing at the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches as "absolutely obscene". "We live in India where womanhood is worshipped. How can anything obscene like this can be allowed?" he asked. "The organisers may have invested crores of rupees organising such matches. But this does not mean that they make semi-nude women dance in front of people," he said.


text:
Winning Back Trust
Start climbing againKeep your nose to the grindstone and your feet moving. Falling down a few ranks doesn't have to break your mind. A demotion is not the end of the world unless you want to roll over, but that's what goomahs are for. Wake up in the morning and start setting the world on fire — but not like Frank Notarantonio did.
get back up thereRegardless of how much remorse you feel or how willing you are to change, once people know about your temporary downfall, you will endure a period of sneers and jeers. So be it. In life, you might wash 10,000 windows, but people will only remember the one that you fell through. Self-doubt may eat at you, but if you work hard to prove yourself, the wisecracks will eventually stop. The betrayal will be forgotten by those knuckleheads, and the person you betrayed will begin to notice that you aren't such a deadbeat after all.
Mr. Mafioso answers your email
Editor's note: This reader's e-mail has not been edited and is presented as is.
Dear Mr. Mafioso,
I'm 16, yeah it sounds young, but I don't look it. My mom's side's last name is Curcio, and it was my great-grandpa who immigrated here from Italy, but my dad ruined my Mob wishes by having a last name like O'Neal. Did he screw my Mob wishes up as badly as I think he did?
Steve O, Gillette, Wyoming
What was your dad thinking, being Irish? Actually, kid, I don't think your dad screwed up your chances as much as where you live did — I'm unfamiliar with any Wyoming mafia. Of course, you could always start your own, but I'm not sure what's in Gillette, other than steers and coal mines. Normally, people grow up with a racket that is already in place, one that came about because of a power struggle for protection and money back in the time of Moses.
Now in Gillette, unless Snuffy Smith's cow got into an onion patch, I'm not sure what your group could do to protect people. Be glad that you are where you are kid — you've got wide-open spaces. Also, I don't suggest you come down to my block and start asking locals where to find the mob. It's just not a good idea. Keep in mind, however, that plenty of wiseguys have been Irish (Henry Hill, John Duffy), German (Dutch Schultz), Latino (Pablo Escobar) — you name it. Nearly every ethnic group has a criminal or two that budding miscreants can look up to.
Stata Buon,
Mr. Mafioso


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A light was first looked for by the Coast Guard in 1843. The Board favoured a beacon but the project was postponed towards the end of 1845 due to difficulties in obtaining the ground. By June 1848 the tower was complete and fitted up as a Harbour Light. The light was first established on 1st June 1855. Broadhaven Lighthouse was converted to unwatched acetylene on 1st December 1931 and on the 21st September 1977 it was converted to electric operation. The station is in the care of an Attendant who visits the station regularly to carry out routine duties.
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text:
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Flowering decreases in too much shade. Plants tolerate some drought, but prefer moist, humusy, well-drained soils, particularly in hot summer climates. Somewhat intolerant of the heat and humidity of the deep South. If flowering stops and/or plant foliage depreciates in the heat of the summer, shear plants back to rejuvenate, shape and/or encourage additional bloom.
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To download the December '10 Dragon Sicilian games directly in PGN form click here:
>> Previous Update >>
Yugoslav Attack [B75-79]
I have not long finished a stint of commentary at the fantastic London Chess Classic (well worth a visit if you are ever around when it's on) and indeed we kick off with...
Yes, Short-McShane: It was brilliant to see Luke playing the Dragon and an extra bonus was that it was in the currently fashionable Yugoslav Attack 9 g4 Be6 10 Nxe6 fxe6 line that has been a slight cause for concern recently:
Well here Luke brings some new ideas to the table and this game is rich in possibilities.
Tompson-Hunt: Based on a subscriber submission (thanks for that Phil!) we are now onto the 9 Bc4 Yugoslav but with the extremely rare 12 Nd5:
I have to say though that I have certainly seen many worse moves get far more practical outings!
Macieja-Jones is the Soltis variation with 14 f4 and if we flick in Kb1 and ...Re8 then 15 f4 is Areschenko-Amonatov:
Yep, plenty of action for those that like their Dragon of the h4 and ...h5 variety!
Moving on to 9 0-0-0, and at the London Chess Classic (coincidentally at the same time) we had two big encounters in the 9...d5 10 exd5 Nxd5 11 Nxc6 bxc6 12 Bd4 Bxd4 13 Qxd4 Qb6 14 Na4 line:
Yes, in the last round on board 1 of the Open event we had McDonald-Jones which went 14...Qc7:
and in a huge game in the main event it was 14...Qa5 15 b3 Qc7 that was seen in Howell-McShane:
Okay my apologies go to Grandmaster John Emms who I know is a great fan of our Levenfish games and indeed sorry to anyone else who likes to see variations away from the Yugoslav Attack. We will be back on the case of the Classical and Accelerated Dragon variations soon.
Okay take care everyone!
Best wishes, Chris and Gawain
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To get in touch with me subscribers can email me at Chris email@example.com.


text: Catalog » Tuners & Metronomes Korg Combo Tuner Metronome SKU/ID: TM-50 Price: $29.99 DescriptionManufacturer's Description: Refine your skills as a musician with the help of the Korg TM50 Instrument Tuner and Metronome. The Korg TM50 tuner allows you to use the tuner and metronome simultaneously. Since this single unit is all you need for both pitch and rhythm training, it has become a favorite lesson tool for brass bands as well as many other types of musicians. The TM50 tuner features a two-level backlight that enhances the visibility of the LCD display. It uses a needle-style LCD for excellent response, and even greater tuning accuracy. In a first for this series, the Korg TM50 provides the Sound Back function that allows the speaker to generate the reference tone that's closest to the input sound, giving you a great way to develop and refine your sense of accurate pitch. The TM50 is the perfect daily practice partner that will support your development as a performer. Korg TM50 Instrument Tuner and Metronome Features Tuner and metronome can be used simultaneously or independently; you can practice your pitch and rhythm at the same time Highly responsive LCD needle-type meter Wide detection range from C1 to C8 Sound Out function produces a reference tone in a three-octave range from the built-in speaker Sound Back function generates the reference tone that's closest to the input sound, while the meter indicates the pitch discrepancy between the reference and the input sound Calibration supports a range of concert pitches Marks indicate pure major and minor third intervals A wide tempo range of 30-252 beats/minute 15 rhythm variations let you practice with a broad range of musical styles Easy tempo settings with two types of tempo step patterns plus a tap tempo function Large LCD with backlight brightness that's adjustable over two levels for enhanced visibility Even more compact and lightweight Stand and battery cover for enhanced usability Memory Backup and Auto Power Off Tuner delivers outstanding functionality The Korg TM50 tuner features extremely fast response to audio input from wind and other instruments, and the redesigned meter display method allows the pitch to be accurately and instantly shown without any time lag. Wind players will no longer experience the problem of their pitch changing spontaneously before it can be displayed accurately; this ensures that you'll be able to develop stable and drift-free pitch. The detection range is extremely wide, extending from C1 (32.70 Hz) to C8 (4186.01Hz) which covers the note ranges of wind, string, and most other types of instruments. Even potentially difficult instruments that have a low pitch and numerous overtones can be tuned accurately, thanks to Korg's proprietary high-precision technology. The built-in high-sensitivity mic also allows easy and accurate tuning of acoustic instruments such as guitar and ukulele; alternatively, you can use the separately sold CM-100L contact mic to send the vibrations directly to the TM50 tuner for even greater reliability. Sound Out Function In addition to visual tuning using the meter, you can use the Sound Out function to produce a reference tone from the internal speaker or headphones, and tune by ear with the Korg TM50 tuner. You can specify the reference tone in a three-octave range from C3 (130.81 Hz) to C6 (1046.50 Hz) which covers a wide variety of instruments. The TM50 tuner can be used not only to detect and inform you of pitch discrepancies, but also as a tool that helps you develop the ability to hear and produce the correct pitch. That's why the TM50 provides the proprietary Sound Back function.* Detecting the pitch of your audio input, this function sounds the nearest reference tone from the speaker while the meter shows the pitch difference between your input and the reference tone. *This function is available for input via the INPUT jack or when using earphones. Marks indicate pure major/minor third intervals When performing in a brass band or orchestra, incorrect pitch is particularly noticeable for harmonic intervals of a third, yet by slightly skewing the pitch of a major or minor third interval from the equal-tempered pitch, you can obtain a more pure-sounding harmony that satisfies the ear. The meter scale of the Korg TM50 provides marks that indicate pure major and minor thirds relative to a given pitch; simply by tuning. When the needle aligns with the appropriate mark*, you'll be able to produce beautiful harmony when playing in an ensemble. *When tuning to a pure major or minor third, the note that should be adjusted will depend on the music you're playing. Fifteen Rhythm Metronome Fifteen types* of rhythms are built in, including time signature numerators from 0 through 9, duplets, triplets, triplets without the center beat, quadruplets, quadruplets without the center beats. The tempo can be freely set in the range of 30--252 beats per minute. Sophisticated rhythms such as triplets and quadruplets with the center beats omitted can be useful for a diverse variety of styles including classical, rock, and jazz. The volume can also be adjusted, so you'll be able to use the metronome in any situation. *If you're using the tuner and metronome simultaneously, triplets, triplets omitting the middle beat, quadruplets, and quadruplets omitting the center beats will not be available. Easy Tempo Settings When setting the tempo of the TM50, you can choose either 'pendulum steps' where the tempo will increment or decrement in the same numerical steps as on a mechanical metronome, or 'full steps' which allows you to specify any tempo between 30 and 252 in one-step increments. In addition, you can also use the tap tempo input to specify the desired tempo simply by pressing a switch in time with the beat. Large LCD with Backlight The large LCD display of the Korg TM50 tuner has a backlight that lets you adjust the brightness in two levels. In conjunction with the LED guide at the top of the display, this ensures excellent visibility, even when you're performing on a dim stage or in an orchestra pit. The characters shown in the display are also larger for improved readability. Even More Compact and Lightweight The Korg TM50 is even more compact and lightweight than previous models, and also boasts longer battery life. Attention has been paid to every detail, even including the back cover, and a folding stand is provided for stability in a free-standing position. The battery cover is now unified with the main case, eliminating any possibility of loss. Memory Backup and Auto Power-Off Even when you turn off the power, the Korg TM50 tuner will remember the tempo, beat, rhythm, calibration, and reference tone settings that you've specified (these settings will be initialized when you replace the battery). The Auto Power-Off feature will automatically turn off the power if twenty minutes have elapsed without any sound being input to the tuner while the metronome is not running.


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Feature Article
Supercomputers for Education
Importance of ASA SupercomputersAlabama has a surprisingly large number of companies involved in modeling and simulation. According to a survey presented by Dr. Schroer of the University of Alabama in Huntsville at the 2005 Modeling and Simulation Society conference, there are about 6,080 modeling and simulation jobs in Alabama (4,600 in industry and 1,480 in federal government). One reason that these companies can be successful is the availability of skilled scientists and engineers that have received their college education in Alabama. The Alabama Supercomputer Authority maintains a facility that gives students the chance to do computation intensive work as part of their degree.
ASA Supercomputing Resources
The Alabama Supercomputer Authority (ASA) is a state-funded corporation founded in 1989. It operates the Alabama Supercomputer Center, located in Huntsville, and the statewide Alabama Research and Education Network (AREN). Over the life of the center, the computing facilities have included a Cray X-MP, N-Cube, Cray C90, and a Cray SV1. The Center currently has a 60 CPU SGI Altix 350, and a 144 CPU Cray XD1. The current systems provide both shared memory and distributed memory computing environments.
Figure 1: Cray XD1 & SGI Altix 350 (left to right)
ASA Supercomputing Upgrades and Upcoming Events
ASA recently completed an upgrade of the SGI Altix 350. This upgrade included increasing the number of CPUs to 60, adding additional memory, and adding an additional 1.2 terabytes of disk space. In the coming months, additional disk space and memory will be added to the Cray XD1. There are also plans to add field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) to the Cray. These upgrades are being funded through the ALL*STARS educational outreach initiative from NASA. This month, ASA will be promoting the expanded Alabama Supercomputer Center facility at the Supercomputing 05 (SC05) convention in Seattle.
ASA Supercomputer Uses
Students utilize ASA Supercomputers both for research and as part of the course curriculum at the research universities in Alabama. The systems have been utilized to a lesser extent by teaching colleges and even by high school technology programs. Classes that have recently utilized this facility include courses in parallel programming, computational chemistry, computer networks, turbine design, numerical methods, and electrostatics. Research utilizing this facility is being done by faculty and students in departments as diverse as chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, music, meteorology, medicine, and various branches of engineering.
More About ASA
The Alabama Supercomputer Authority has expanded its role in Alabama by taking the initiative in providing network services to schools, libraries and governmental offices. This is done through a statewide network, the Alabama Research and Education Network (AREN), run by ASA. AREN connects higher education institutions, K-12 school systems, libraries and more to one another, to the Internet, and to Internet2. Network upgrades currently in progress will provide redundant links to allow network service to continue when primary network links are lost.
Through these initiatives, the Alabama Supercomputer Authority and educational institutions are working together to provide Alabama students with a strong background in information technology. This in turn provides technology-oriented companies with a skilled workforce to staff their Alabama offices. For more information go to ASA's web site (www.asc.edu) or send email to Dr. David Young, HPC Computational Specialist at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Thurman to get rid of 'bloopers' vs. Soto Karass
Keith Thurman on fighting fellow welterweight puncher Jesus Soto Karass: "I plan on doing what we're supposed to do, which is hitting and not getting hit, but I also plan on creating that knockout."
Keith Thurman on fighting fellow welterweight puncher Jesus Soto Karass: "I plan on doing what we're supposed to do, which is hitting and not getting hit, but I also plan on creating that knockout."
Former junior middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez: "I have a contract with Golden Boy Promotions with which I am very happy."
Richard Schaefer said Canelo Alvarez, "today, is bigger than he ever was," in the wake of the 23-year-old's loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday night.
Jesus Soto Karass on his fight with Andre Berto: "The bottom line is that I want to win. Yes, I'm going to give a great performance, like I always do. I'm ready to die in the ring like every Mexican."
Mark E. Ortega compiled notes on Jessie Vargas, Matt Korobov, Karim Mayfield, Alfonso Gomez and others while covering the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show in Las Vegas and the UniMas Solo Boxeo card in Inglewood, Calif., on Saturday.
Unbeaten welterweight Keith Thurman in advance of his fight with Diego Chaves: "I don't know if there is another fighter out there that's hungrier than me. They've been feeding me, but I'm still starving."
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sept. 14: "A victory will signify everything. It will be the most important victory of my career because this is the most important fight of my career."
Arturo Gatti was involved in a Ring Magazine "Fight Of The Year" four times throughout his career, but was most known for his three bouts against Irish Micky Ward — the first and third of which earned Ring Magazine's "Fight Of The Year" honors.
Saul Alvarez on Austin Trout, who defeated Alvarez's older brother, Rigoburto, in 2011: "Beating him will make a statement, and in so doing, I plan to avenge my brother's loss to him and bring victory home to Mexico."
Saul Alvarez says he's focused on his 154-pound title unification bout with Austin Trout on April 20, but he also says wants to headline a big show on Sept. 14 even if it competes with Floyd Mayweather's planned pay-per-view date.
Images from welterweight Shawn Porter's unanimous decision win over Alfonso Gomez and light heavyweight George Groves' sixth-round knockout of Francisco Sierra.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being profiled on HBO's "Floyd Mayweather: Speaking Out" on Saturay night in advance of his May 5 showdown with Miguel Cotto.
Saturday night debuts the HBO 24/7 series chronicling the events leading up to the May 5 clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto.
Golden Boy Promotioins has announced the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto fight slated for May 5 in Las Vegas.
Oscar De La Hoya presided over the final press conference for the junior middleweight showdown between WBC titleholder Saul Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez, which takes place in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez fielded questions and worked out in Los Angeles to prepare for the September 17 defense of his WBC Jr. Middleweight title against Alfonso Gomez.
Alfredo Angulo's looking for a fight, Erislandy Lara's likely off the card
Fans will get a split-site coverage of four televised bouts, including Erik Morales against Lucas Matthysse, Saul Alvarez opposite Alfonso Gomez and Floyd Mayweather versus Victor Ortiz.
Alfredo Angulo-Vanes Martirosyan is WBC's mandatory for Saul Alvarez
Saul Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will make title defenses on Sept. 17, Paul Williams' vulnerability encourages rivals and promoter Dan Goossen experiences two earthquakes in a day.


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Six Simple Steps to Winning at Negotiation
You hold a pair of nines in your weekly poker game. As you go around the table, everyone else folds. It's down to you and a new player who has just joined the game. You lack knowledge about his style of play, and he doesn't provide clues through body language. So is he bluffing when he ups the ante?
With nothing else to go on, most card sharks — and anyone else involved in situations involving an opponent — seem to resort to mind reading, says Elke U. Weber, a Chazen Senior Scholar who cowrote "Mind-Reading in Strategic Interaction" with fellow Columbia Business School professor Daniel R. Ames and London Business School professor Xi Zou.
The researchers say that negotiators with insufficient information instinctively fall back on two shortcuts: They either project their own mindset — for example, how they would act in their opponent's shoes — or impose stereotypes — i.e., that psychology majors are more trustworthy than MBA students, or that women are less competitive than men.
"The more similarities an individual sees with his counterpart, the more likely he is to project," says Ames. The reverse is also true: if your partner is nothing like you, you're likely to grab for stereotypes.
These shortcuts can lead to quick and effective predictions about what someone else is thinking, but they can also lead to trouble. The professors, both of whom teach courses in negotiation, suggest steps to improve your mind reading skills and steer an opponent, who's also trying to read your mind, toward your desired outcome.
1. Do some reconnaissance. Even if your opponent hasn't been forthcoming, you may find past behavior telling.
Example: Did researching your counterpart's previous mergers reveal contentious outcomes? Is the other side defending an inordinate number of lawsuits? "If you perceive repetitive acts of hostility," says Weber, "it's likely the other side won't be willing to explore integrative solutions that make you both better off."
2. Examine the source of your judgments. "It's a reality check," says Weber. "Step back and ask yourself what you are basing your expectations about your counterpart on," she says, noting that mind reading is often intuitive and performed subconsciously. "If it's stereotyping, does your opponent really fit the pattern? If it's projection, are you hearing what you expect to hear?"
Example: If you're from a Western culture and your opponent is Asian, you may expect that person to be indirect and hesitant to disagree. As a result, you may be stating your position in vague and uncertain terms, even if your opponent would prefer that you be more forthright.
3. Try to determine your opponent's mind reading method. If the other side is drawing wrong conclusions, "look for ways to signal you're not part of a stereotype, " says Weber.
Example: If you fear they are stereotyping you by gender ("women are conciliatory"), emphasize another aspect of your character — that you are a banker ("bankers are ruthless").
4. Be willing to switch your behavior. If you realize your assumptions are leading you astray, adopt another form of mind reading — or try to remain neutral. If your opponent presents evidence, forego mind reading altogether and base conclusions on what you've learned.
Example: You begin negotiations with a supplier by offering a cooperative action, such as asking for concessions other than a price cut. If your opponent refuses, switch to a defensive action in the next round and protect yourself with an equally competitive action (e.g., demanding a price cut).
5. Test your hypothesis rather than confirm it. Confront people with what you're expecting, especially if you feel either of you may be using a counterproductive stereotype. Both of you may be surprised that you are working with faulty assumptions.
Example: "Look for evidence that runs counter to your assumptions," says Ames. "If you expect the market will grow, ask instead why the market will likely shrink."
6. Lay your cards on the table. "A case can be made for transparency," says Weber. "Rather than play games, just tell your opponent what you want. You're asking the other side to move beyond stereotyping or projection and move more toward mutual trust."


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