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Essentially, the Business Object Model (BOM) is the representation of the domain model in scope for efficient rule processing. It is this representation of the model against which rules are written. BOM elements are the classes, attributes and methods grouped into packages. Natural-language verbalization is attached to the BOM elements to make rule authoring user friendly. Verbalizations on all the BOM elements form the vocabulary that business policy managers use to define rules using JRules.
The BOM is not the model used during runtime – that would be the Execution Object Model (XOM). Loosely speaking, the XOM is related to the BOM as database table is related to a database view or an implementation model is related to the logical model. The XOM is defined either as Java™ classes or XML schema definitions. At runtime, it is the methods on instances of the XOM that are executed as rule conditions and actions. The BOM-to-XOM mapping (B2X) defined in the BOM is used to translate the BOM into the corresponding XOM element.
Since the BOM is the foundation on which rules are written, creating a good BOM is a crucial part of the rule development process. On the face of it, creating a BOM seems like a straightforward process, especially since a XOM can be directly used in a Rule Studio wizard to generate the BOM. However, experience has shown that there are several pitfalls in creating a BOM that can get in the way of rule projects delivering on their promise of easy maintenance. Down the line, these pitfalls can lead to expensive refactoring or even failure. This article examines these missteps and pitfalls and suggests ways to avoid them.
Note: The screen captures and examples in this article use JRules, but the techniques described are also applicable to the new version of JRules, WebSphere Operational Decision Management.
This article is written for the intermediate JRules developer. It is assumed that the reader has a basic understanding of WebSphere ILOG JRules (or WebSphere Operational Decision Management) from a developer's perspective. Refer to the Resources section for relevant links to help you acquire the prerequisite knowledge for completing this article. The product version used in this article is WebSphere ILOG Rules Studio V7.1.x.
Pitfall: Neglecting business in the BOM
As should be evident from its name, the essence of a BOM is that it is the business users' view of their domain. However, this basic tenet is sometimes overlooked, leading to detrimental effects. This usually happens when the decision service uses an enterprise model or industry standard information model as the XOM. These models tend to be complex and large in their breadth and depth because they need to cater to all of the data requirements across all of the enterprise applications. Enterprise models deal with classes that do not necessarily correspond with the concepts used by policy managers and subject matter experts (SMEs). The class names and attribute names tend to be IT-centric and are usually not business friendly. The least cost path of then directly using this XOM in a Rule Studio wizard to generate the BOM leads to a BOM that is unsuitable for writing rules. Some of this can be mitigated through appropriate BOM verbalizations. However, more troublesome is when rule authors need to understand and navigate through a complex class hierarchy, one that is very different from their conceptual model. This discrepancy leads to cognitive dissonance, which is a feeling of discomfort and confusion that results from simultaneously holding two models at variance.
As an example, consider an insurance company that has decided to use ACORD (See Resources for additional information on ACORD) as its standard. This in itself is a fine enterprise-level architectural decision as it promotes interoperability among applications within the company and potentially even across partners in the industry. Data is passed between applications using ACORD data types. The insurance company uses a JRules rule application to provide online insurance policy quotes for new customers for which the ACORD format is used in the service contract design. Therefore, this decision service receives data in ACORD format.
Figures 1 and 2 show a slightly modified view of a portion of the ACORD model. The input to the decision service is an ACORD object. As depicted in Figure 1, navigation to the policy quote request itself requires jumping across two links on the class diagram starting from the root ACORD request.
Figure 1. Navigating to the Policy Quote request
(See a larger version of Figure 1.)
From the policy quote, we need to jump through four more links to navigate to the birth date of the driver in a rule that references the age of the driver, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Navigating to the birth date of the driver
(See a larger version of Figure 2.)
In other words, a simple conceptual attribute, such as "age of the driver" requires the rule author to navigate through six classes!
Consider a simple business policy: "Refuse policy if any drivers are under 21 years of age in CA and NV."
The following code listing shows a business rule implementation of this policy using the above BOM.
definitions set 'State' to the controlling state prov cd of the pers policy of the pers auto policy quote inq rq of the insurance svc rq of 'request Acord'; set 'persAutoLineBusiness' to a pers auto line business from the pers auto line business of the pers auto policy quote inq rq of the insurance svc rq of 'request Acord'; set 'persDriver' to a pers driver in the pers drivers of persAutoLineBusiness; set 'Driver Info' to a driver info from the driver info of persDriver; set 'Personal Info' to a person info from the person info of 'Driver Info'; set 'CurrentAge' to the calculated age using the birth dt of 'Personal Info'; if all of the following conditions are true : - State is one of { CA, NV } - CurrentAge is less than 21 then …
Clearly, the above rule is unnecessarily complex, hard to read and hard to maintain. Moreover, as it does not match the policy manager's conceptual model, it feels obscure and burdensome to maintain for the business user. The conceptual model in the policy manager's mind is radically simpler than the enterprise model. For example, they may conceive the policy quote request (or a portion of it) as a simple model, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Conceptual policy model
The BOM should mimic this conceptual model. With the BOM aligned with the conceptual model, the same rule can be expressed in a much simpler and straightforward manner, as shown in the following listing, thereby eliminating the cognitive dissonance.
definitions set 'driver' to a driver in the drivers of 'policy request'; set 'currentAge' to the calculated age using the birth date of 'driver'; if all of the following conditions are true : - the controlling state of 'policy request' is one of { CA, NV } - currentAge is less than 21 then …
Although this example highlights the problems inherent in directly using the ACORD structure as the BOM, this applies to most other industry standards as well, such as the MISMO model for mortgage loans and the Primavera model for insurance.
As is evident, the BOM should present a very specific viewpoint of the domain that is suitable for the policy manager to conceptualize and author business rules. Anything that upsets this viewpoint, be it new concepts, new terminology or discrepancy in relationships, introduces cognitive dissonance. Another situation where this may occur is when the modeler decides to model the "real world" instead of just the specific business viewpoint. With this intent, the modeler zestfully introduces many new concepts and associations that are at best superfluous to the business viewpoint and at worst actually discordant with it. This real world BOM may start to look like an enterprise model, with all its negative consequences.
Traditional object-oriented analysis (OOA) makes the distinction between analysis models and design models. The chasm between the BOM and the decision service model runs even deeper than this distinction in the aforementioned examples because the BOM should represent the rule analysis model while the external model should represent the object-oriented design model.
Techniques for avoiding the "neglecting the business in the BOM" pitfall
As illustrated in the above example, the BOM should match the conceptual model of a policy manager. However, the input data into the decision service is the enterprise information model. So how do we reconcile these two seemingly conflicting requirements? There are two ways:
- Use a Transformer in the decision service.
- Build a BOM adapter layer using a BOM to XOM layer (B2X).
Both of these approaches essentially utilize a data adapter layer to build a façade.
Using a Transformer
In this approach, we build an XOM that is aligned with the simple conceptual model, essentially ignoring the enterprise model until later. Therefore, the BOM derived from this XOM is also simple and easy to use for rule authoring. However, the service contract is based on the enterprise model. During rule invocation, a Transformer is used in the decision service to convert the request sent by a rule client from the complex enterprise model into the simple XOM. The Transformer may just be some simple Java classes or may employ XSLT. Alternatively, if using service-oriented architecture (SOA), it may be a transformation service provided by service-oriented integration (SOI) middleware or an enterprise service bus (ESB). The transformed XOM objects are then sent to the rule engines for rule execution using the Rule Session API. The rule response also is transformed from the XOM objects to the enterprise objects before returning to the rule client, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. Using a transformer to convert the enterprise model into a simple XOM
This approach leads to a loosely coupled system and has the advantage that the rule developer can practically ignore the complexities of the enterprise model. Only the decision service developer, who is responsible for providing the integration layer needs to even be aware of the enterprise model. Additionally, unit testing of rules is easier using the simple model. The disadvantage is that a new component, namely the Transformer, has to be built as a data adapter. Moreover, as the ruleset evolves, if a rule makes use of an existing enterprise model element that has thus far not been included in the BOM, a new BOM element will need to be added. This requires modifications to the Transformer and redeployment of the Rule Decision Service.
Using a BOM Adapter layer
This approach uses the complex enterprise model as the XOM. However, the BOM is not directly derived from this XOM, but is created as an empty BOM entry in the Rule Studio. The rule developer then builds all the BOM classes as virtual classes by cherry-picking from the enterprise model and applying verbalizations and BOM to XOM mappings, thereby providing a view of the enterprise model that matches the conceptual model. The B2X mapping is used to flatten the enterprise model vertically (class hierarchies) and horizontally (multiple navigations), which eliminates the need for complex navigations when authoring rules. Figure 5 shows the rule execution environment and rule authoring environment with the B2X adapter layer.
Figure 5. Using B2X to map to a simple BOM
Implementation of the BOM adapter layer for a portion of the BOM outlined
in Figure 3 is described below. As illustrated in
Figure 6, a virtual
PolicyQuoteRequest class is
defined, which has the
ACORD class as its
superclass as well as its execution name (in its BOM to XOM mapping).
Figure 6. The virtual PolicyQuoteRequest BOM class
Attributes are defined on this virtual class to match the conceptual model.
For example, as illustrated in Figure 7, the
controllingState attribute is defined with a
suitable verbalization and an appropriate data type (in this case,
StateType, which is an enumerated list defined
in the enterprise model).
Figure 7. Defining the controllingState member on the virtual class
Since this is a synthetic attribute, the BOM to XOM mapping is used to
actually map to the execution model. The BOM to XOM mapping for the
controllingState, shown below, navigates
through a series of objects of the enterprise model to retrieve the
controlling state code.
return (com.ibm.schemas.ibm.acordtypes.StateType) this.InsuranceSvcRq.PersAutoPolicyQuoteInqRq.PersPolicy.ControllingStateProvCd;
Only these virtual classes are verbalized and therefore rules are only offered the business view of the domain in the BOM. The ugly complexities are hidden in the BOM to XOM mappings.
The main advantage to this approach is that the entire enterprise model is available for potential use in the future. Adding a new BOM element that references an existing enterprise model element can be handled through suitable B2X edits in the BOM editor and is deployed as part of the ruleset, with no changes to the Rule Decision Server. Therefore, it can be "hot-deployed."
The biggest drawback is that it requires a lot more development effort to build out the B2X. Also, unit testing is much harder, especially using the Decision Validation Services (DVS) module, since the data is much more nested and complex. Moreover, it is not straightforward to test the rules, since building a test case requires knowledge of how the enterprise data is mapped to the BOM elements. Another drawback is that the performance is slightly compromised because the B2X code is not as efficient as Java code.
Considering these drawbacks, unless hot deployment of new BOM elements is critical, it is better to use the Transformer approach.
Since the BOM is detached from the enterprise model, a side benefit of either approach is that the rule project is insulated from changes to the external model. This is tremendously valuable when the enterprise model is in a state of flux.
Both these approaches prevent cognitive dissonance by minimizing new concepts in the BOM. In addition, the structure and cardinality of relationships that the policy manager uses in his or her view of the domain is carefully preserved.
However, there are cases where we may need to introduce a new element to the BOM to facilitate rule processing; for example, we may use a "processing status" to keep track of whether the claim has already been denied, thus avoiding further processing. In such cases, it is very important to educate the business users on the purpose and usage of these elements. The policy managers should be fully cognizant of and comfortable with each and every verbalized element in the BOM.
Pitfall: The abstract BOM
Philosophically, abstraction is the thought process where ideas are distanced from objects. This thought process, applied to modeling, leads to higher order concepts, taxonomies and ontologies. These are very useful in certain areas, but can be detrimental when applied to a BOM. As the adage goes: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
This is precisely because abstraction introduces new concepts which lead to
cognitive dissonance, as discussed in the previous section. This is best
illustrated through an example. Consider a claim processing rule
application that is responsible for automating the decision of whether to
deny or permit a claim. There are several checks that would need to be
made on the claim. One such simple rule that a policy manager may
verbalize is:
"If the effective date of the policy is after the date of service on any of the service lines, then deny the claim."
Using a BOM in which a claim and the associated policy are input parameters, this can be implemented using the following simple rule:
definitions set 'the service line' to a service line in the service lines of 'the claim'; if the effective date of the policy is after the date of service of the service line then deny the claim
This rule utilizes a simple BOM that matches the business viewpoint of the
model, a portion of which is shown in Figure 8. It has concrete classes
such as
ServiceLine and
Figure 8. Simple claim model
However, with the goal of flexibility in mind, one may model the claim as a form with several form fields in it. Additionally, one may identify a policy as a just a relationship between the insurance company and the payer and note that these are all entities that have several attributes associated with them. These can then be used to create an abstract model, or an "adaptive object model," as shown in Figure 9, containing concepts that may be understandable, but not commonly used by a policy manager.
Figure 9. An abstracted claim model
This model is highly flexible because new forms and form fields can be added without making any changes whatsoever to the XOM. New relationships and attributes can be dynamically added, too. But at what price? Following is the sample rule implemented with this model as the BOM:
definitions set 'the service line' to a service line in the service lines of 'the claim'; set 'dos field' to a form field in the form fields of 'the service line' where the name of this form field contains "Date of Service"; set 'the event date' to the value of 'dos field'; set 'payer' to a relationship in the relationships of 'the claim' where the name of this relationship is "Payer"; set 'the policy effective date attribute' to an attribute in the attributes of 'payer' where the attribute name is "dateOfService"; set 'the policy effective date' to the attribute value of 'the policy effective date attribute'; if 'the policy effective date' converted to date is after 'the event date' converted to date then
From a business user's standpoint, this rule is simply horrific! As can
easily be imagined, the policy manager does not find this easy to read,
easy to author, or easy to maintain. There is a large gap between how the
policy manager conceptualizes it and how it is verbalized. This frequently
leads to a technical developer having to handle rule maintenance and
impact analysis, thereby defeating one of the key potential benefits of a
business rule management system. Moreover, using this XOM one cannot
answer even simple static structural questions about the model, such as
what the attributes of a
Claim are. This makes
it hard for the invoking application to correctly pass the data, and
errors are detected only at runtime, not at compile time. Even if
flexibility requirements demand such a flexible XOM, the policy manager
should be shielded from this through techniques described in the earlier
section titled Techniques for avoiding the "neglecting
the business in the BOM" pitfall.
Pitfall: The loose BOM
With the intent of keeping the model flexible, a modeler may sometimes
choose not to use strong typing of the data. For example, consider an
Account class, as shown in Figure 10,
where all of the attributes are defined to be of type
String. Since the account type is defined as
just a string, there is no restriction on what account types may be passed
in. So as new account types are added, there is absolutely no change
required to this model. Additionally, the
establishDate attribute can accept dates in
different formats.
Figure 10. Loose data types on Account
However, when writing a business rule with this as the BOM, several problems arise:
- During rule authoring, no hints are provided about the possible list
of values of any of these attributes. The rule author is required to
know this list; for example, that the account type value may only be
- Mistakes made in the string constant, such as incorrect letter case or invalid use of spaces in the string, are not detected during rule authoring. They are detected only during runtime when a rule does not fire as expected. Even unit tests may not catch this mistake since the unit test data may use the same string constant used in the rules.
- The rule client that has to populate the rule request data does not
have any restrictions or hints on the values for any of these
attributes. For example the model does not tell the rule client if the
dormant indicator should be entered as
- Rule conditions have to convert from string to the required data type for usage in methods. For example, in the following listing, the establish date needs to be converted into a date object before comparing it with the current date.
- The biggest chunk of time spent by JRules execution is in XOM method
execution. Using Strings, and thus equals operators, through the Rete
networks operations eventually proves costlier than using
if the type of the account is "Consumer" and the dormant indicator of the account is "NOT DORMANT" and the establish date of the account converted to date is after today then …
When using a strongly typed BOM, as shown in Figure 11, some flexibility is
sacrificed, but the aforementioned problems are overcome and the rule
authoring and testing process is greatly facilitated. In this model, a
Java enumeration called
AccountType restricts
the values that can be passed in from the rule client for this attribute.
Since this is a Java enum, there is no possibility for entering illegal
data in the rule client. All of the other attributes are strongly typed,
Figure 11. Account class with strongly typed attributes
With this strong typing, the JRules Intellirule Editor prompts the rule author with the appropriate set of values, as shown in Figure 12, so there is no need for the author to guess the exact string representations and the possibility for errors is eliminated.
Figure 12. Intellirule prompts for auto completion
Also, no intermediate functions are necessary for rules to use the
attributes, as seen in the
establish date usage
in the following rule definition.
if the type of the account is CONSUMER and it is not true that the account is dormant and the establish date of the account is after today then …
As already noted, the strong data typing approach comes at a price – that of flexibility. This is particularly true in the case of enumerations. For instance, consider a scenario in the future where an account type is added. This requires a change to the XOM thereby necessitating a change to the rule client, redeployment of the decision service and possibly even changes to the decision service WSDL. So what about those situations where the model needs to be dynamic and redeployment is not an option? Well, there is a solution: the XOM is not strongly typed for those dynamic attributes and restrictions are implemented in the BOM layer. For instance, the account type is defined not as a Java enum, but as a string in the XOM. In the BOM, there are two approaches to restrict this string value to a list of values.
- Using literal domains
- Using a virtual enumeration type
Using literal domains
A simple way to restrict a string attribute in the BOM is to use a list of
literal values as a literal domain. For example, as shown in Figure 13,
the account
type is defined as a string with a
domain type consisting of the literals
Figure 13. Literal domain
Although this approach is simple, the drawback is that these literals may need to be redefined in multiple places. For instance, if the account type is used as an argument in other methods, these literal domains will have to be redefined for each usage of account type as an argument. In such cases, it is better to define a virtual enumeration type.
Using a virtual enumeration type
In this approach, a virtual enumeration type is defined as a BOM class. For
AccountType is defined as a BOM
class, as illustrated in Figure 14. The execution class in its B2X is
specified as
java.lang.String and so is its
Figure 14. Virtual AccountType BOM class
Now each of the possible values is defined as members of this virtual
enumeration class, with the type of that virtual class. For example,
BUSINESS is defined as a read-only static final
member with a data type of
AccountType and a
B2X mapping of
BUSINESS, as shown in Figure 15.
Figure 15. Member definition of virtual AccountType
This virtual enumeration type is used as the data type for the attribute in
Account BOM class, as shown in Figure
Figure 16. Usage of virtual enumeration class in Account
The main advantage of using this approach is that this virtual enumeration
class can be reused to restrict other attributes and methods that utilize
accountType. However, this approach requires
more development effort, and when dealing with a large list of values,
this approach can get very tedious. In those cases, it would be preferable
to use dynamic domains, which is beyond the scope of this article, but you
can refer to the Resources section for a tutorial
on the subject.
Pitfall: Ignoring the rule author
The BOM should be well verbalized because it forms the vocabulary that is used by rule authors when defining rules. Superfluous or poor verbalization leads to rules that are hard to read and maintain, and becomes an impediment to the rule author.
Poor verbalization
Frequently, blind usage of the Rule Studio wizard to generate the BOM from
an XOM leads to a BOM with less than ideal verbalizations, especially when
it comes to methods with multiple arguments. For example, consider a Java
XOM method on an
Util class that adds a
notification given an account, the notification message, an error ID, the
name of the rule producing this notification and the current timestamp, as
public static void addNotification(Account account, String message, String id, String rulename, Date timestamp) { …
This creates a default verbalization of:
util.addNotification({0}, {1}, {2}, {3}, {4}
A rule action using this method looks like this:
then util.addNotification ( the account , "Account not yet established must be dormant", "W2101", the name of this rule , today ) ;
There are several issues with this approach:
- The rule author is prompted to enter a string for the second, third and fourth arguments, but there is no contextual information on what these strings are. The author has to know that the message is to be entered first and then the ID, and so on.
- The verbalization is Java-like and not business friendly.
- For each occurrence, the rule author has to include the rule name and date, even though these are the current values.
To alleviate these problems, it is better to not verbalize the
Util.addNotification method, but instead create
a new virtual static method on the same
class that only takes the necessary arguments (that is, without rule name
and timestamp). Following is a business friendly verbalization that
provides contextual information:
add a notification using {0, account}, {1, message}, {2, id}
When the rule author uses this method, there is an indicator of what the argument represents, as shown in Figure 17.
Figure 17. Context-specific argument information
(See a larger version of Figure 17.)
Since this is a virtual method, it needs a B2X mapping. Notice that the rule name and timestamp are not passed in as method arguments, but are added in the mapping, as follows:
String name = ilog.rules.brl.IlrNameUtil.getBusinessIdentifier(instance.ruleName); java.util.Date now = new java.util.Date(); Util.addNotification(account, message, id, name, now);
Pitfall: Superfluous verbalization
In a rush to generate the BOM from the XOM, the Rule Studio wizard for BOM creation may be used indiscriminately, without paying attention to which of the attributes and methods should actually be verbalized. This often results in many superfluous verbalizations, especially among setter methods of attributes, thereby needlessly cluttering the drop-down lists provided during rule authoring. This impedes ease of use from a rule author perspective. To avoid this, carefully select only those attributes and methods that do need verbalization.
Another scenario in which BOM elements may be redundantly added is when
different rule projects refer to some common XOM elements. For instance,
consider a rule project that has to determine the credit rating of a
mortgage customer and another that determines the price to charge for the
mortgage. Typically, the common business entities such as
Account and
would be in a
CommonXOM Java project, while
credit specific classes such as
would be in
CreditXOM while classes such as
PricingSheet would be in
PricingXOM. Now, the
PricingRules rule project depends on both the
common XOM and the pricing XOM, so it could have a BOM with two entries
mapping to it, the same as with the
CreditRatingRules project, as shown in Figure
Figure 18. Common BOM elements duplicated in Pricing BOM and Credit BOM
However, that would be a mistake because the common classes are now
duplicated in the BOM entries or
and in
CreditRatingRules. Any change to the
common BOM would need to be propagated to both these entries, creating to
maintenance issues.
The technique to avoid this issue is to create a separate BOM rule project
that contains only the common BOM and that is reused by the two rule
projects, as shown in Figure 19. Thus,
PricingRules references the common BOM that is
defined as a separate rule project and the BOM entry in
PricingRules contains only the BOM classes that
are specific to pricing.
Figure 19. Common BOM is externalized and shared
In addition, if some classes and members of the common BOM apply only to
the Pricing or Credit rules, that can be handled by creating two
categories called
pricing and
credit, assigning appropriate categories to
those BOM elements, and filtering them during rule authoring using rule
category filters.
A poorly designed BOM can greatly impede the productivity of rule authors and the maintainability of rule projects. The most important consideration is to prevent cognitive dissonance by absolutely minimizing new concepts and terminology in the BOM and by preserving the business viewpoint.
There may be a big chasm between the BOM and the XOM because the BOM is a product of rule analysis, while the XOM is the design model that is produced through object-oriented analysis. The BOM is the business view of the domain from the viewpoint of a policy manager. The XOM is designed with flexibility and performance in mind. This article has described techniques for bridging this chasm.
When introducing new concepts or terminology, it is very important to educate the business users on their purpose and usage. The policy managers should be fully cognizant of and comfortable with each and every element in the BOM.
The Rule Studio wizard for importing the XOM to create a BOM is an extremely useful tool, but should not be used blindly. Not only is this true to maintain the necessary separation in viewpoints of the BOM and XOM, but also to judiciously control the verbalization of the BOM elements. Additionally, when BOM elements are to be reused across different projects, one should enable reuse by creating a separate rule project just to house the common BOM.
- WebSphere ILOG JRules Information Center
- WebSphere Operational Decision Management Information Center
- WebSphere ILOG JRules product information:
- WebSphere Operational Decision Management product information
- ACORD: ACORD (Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development) is a global, nonprofit standards development organization serving the insurance industry and related financial services industries.
- Abstraction: Definition in wikipedia
- The Adaptive Object-Model Architectural Style: This paper describes the Adaptive Object-Model architecture style along with its strengths and weaknesses. It illustrates the Adaptive Object- Model architectural style by outlining examples of production systems. (PDF)
- Customizing WebSphere ILOG JRules for rule authoring, Part 1: Exploring dynamic domains: This series of articles explores various techniques for customizing the authoring environment of the WebSphere ILOG Rule Team Server. (Nasser & White, developerWorks, 2010)
- Agile Business Rule Development: Process, Architecture, and JRules Examples: The authors' presentation covers all four aspects required for a successful application of the business rules approach: foundations, methodology, architecture and implementation. (Boyer & Mili, Springer, 2011.
- Proven practices for enhancing performance: A Q&A for IBM WebSphere ILOG JRules 7.0.x.: This IBM Redpaper provides information on the performance aspects of WebSphere ILOG BRMS 7.0. A question and answer format is used in order to cover as many dimensions as possible. Furthermore, performance is considered from various perspectives, with an emphasis on production environments and execution.(Paumelle, IBM Redbooks, 2010)
- developerWorks BPM zone: Get the latest technical resources on IBM BPM solutions, including downloads, demos, articles, tutorials, events, webcasts, and more.
- IBM BPM Journal: Get the latest articles and columns on BPM solutions in this quarterly journal, also available in both Kindle and PDF versions.
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all, they call her Betsy, instead of Elizabeth Ann. But they don't just change her name. They change her whole life.
Things she has never done before, she is suddenly expected to dothings like driving a wagon, taking care of kittens,
and doing her own hair. At first Betsy doesn't know what to think. And then she realizes that life on the Putney farm
is much more exciting than life in the prim old city house.
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Marie Osmond
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As part of a family act that came to be virtually synonymous with wholesome entertainment,
Marie Osmond
enjoyed a lengthy career switching between several different areas of show business. Born Olive Marie Osmond in Ogden, Utah, in 1959, she was raised in a strict Mormon family along with her eight brothers. She made her first TV appearance at the age of three, when her oldest brothers performed on
The Andy Williams Show
the Osmonds
After spending the '60s as variety-show fixtures,
the Osmonds
shot to pop stardom in 1970, and before long the group's management encouraged
to try her hand at recording as well. She made several concert appearances with her brothers (though she was never officially a member of
the Osmonds
), and in 1973 she cut her first single, the country tune "Paper Roses." The song was a gold-selling smash, going to number one on the country charts (the first time a female artist's debut single had ever done so) and into the Top Five on the pop charts. Her accompanying album of the same name also topped the country charts, and
followed it with two more albums for MGM and several more singles, none of which matched its success.
In 1976, she and brother
began hosting their own weekly variety show,
Donny & Marie
, which ran until 1979. In the meantime, she also began to pursue acting; she famously turned down the lead role in
because she didn't approve of the script's moral content but found limited success in a series of TV movies and later did voice-over work for several children's cartoons. In the mid-'80s, she returned to country music and signed with Curb, scoring a number one hit right out of the box with the
Dan Seals
duet "Meet Me in Montana." Her solo follow-up, "There's No Stopping Your Heart," also topped the country charts, and she landed two more big hits in 1986 with the Top Five solo track "Read My Lips" and the number one
Paul Davis
duet "You're Still New to Me." None of her subsequent singles breached the country Top Ten, though 1987's "I Only Wanted You" came close, and she charted for the final time in 1990 with "Like a Hurricane."
spent much of the '90s in touring musicals and returned to television in 1998 as co-host of the daytime talk show
Donny & Marie
, which ran for two seasons. In the early 2000s,
made prominent appearances on the reality television shows
Celebrity Duets
(as a judge) and
Dancing with the Stars
. In 2007 she released the seasonal Magic of Christmas, her first studio album in almost 20 years. It was followed in 2010 by I Can Do This, a collection of spirituals and hymns.
has also written several self-help books, including one dealing with her own bout of postpartum depression. In 2016, she released her tenth studio album, Music Is Medicine, which featured guest appearances from Olivia Newton-John, Sisqo, John Rich, Alex Boye, and others.
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SYCODE - 3DM Import for SketchUp :
Rhinoceros 3DM file import Plug-in for SketchUp
3DM Import for SketchUp is a Rhinoceros 3DM file import plug-in for Google SketchUp®. This plug-in gives SketchUp the ability to import polygon meshes from 3DM files.
3DM Import for SketchUp reads polygon mesh data stored in 3DM files and imports it into SketchUp. A polygon mesh in a 3DM file is comprised of a set of triangular and/or quad faces. 3DM Import for SketchUp reads these faces and knits them into objects in SketchUp.
3DM Import for SketchUp is very easy to use. Once installed, it automatically loads itself into SketchUp and adds a new submenu called "3DM Import for SketchUp" to the SketchUp Plugins menu containing these newly added commands.
(click to enlarge)
System Requirements
Hardware, software and operating system requirements for Google SketchUp plug-ins running on the Microsoft Windows platform.
Back to Top
Download & Purchase
Please download a fully functional trial of this product by clicking "Download". To start using the software, you need a license key. A license key can be of two types: Trial or Permanent. A trial key is issued to you instantly and completely free of cost so that you may try the software before you purchase a license. A permanent key is issued after you have purchased a license. If during the trial period (10 days or runs, whichever is earlier) you find this product useful, you may return to this page and click the "Buy Now" button to place your order. In the order process you will be asked to enter your Host ID that appears in the "SYCODE License Server" dialog box (which appears when you run any of the product commands). SYCODE will create and send you your key by email within 2 business days. To avoid disruption in your workflow, place your order before the trial period ends.
Subscription is highly recommended since it will keep your software up to date and grants a second free perpetual license for your laptop, among many other benefits. For details please read the SYCODE License and Subscription Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Installation & Usage
Since 3DM Import for SketchUp is a plug-in for SketchUp, it must be loaded into the SketchUp environment before it can be used. Please follow the simple instructions in the 3DM Import for SketchUp ReadMe document which is copied into the installation folder. After you have loaded the plug-in file into SketchUp, simply click on the menu items in the "3DM Import for SketchUp" submenu to run these new commands. Truly, software made simple!
The '3DM Import for SketchUp' menu consists of the following commands:
The 3DM Import for SketchUp submenu
3DM Import for SketchUp comes with detailed documentation for each command as well as a tutorial to get you started in the shortest possible time. There is also an online version of the help file which you can view by clicking the link below.
Online Help
The 3DM File Format
The 3DM (3D Model) file format is the native file format of Rhinoceros, the NURBS modeling software from Robert McNeel & Associates. The OpenNURBS Initiative was founded by Robert McNeel & Associates in January 2000, with the sole purpose of providing CAD, CAM, CAE and computer graphics software users reliable methods for transferring 3D geometry between applications via the 3DM file format. TerrainCAD, our terrain generation, editing and modeling software, also uses the 3DM file format as its native file format.
Sycode Software Licensing TermsOur licenses are single computer licenses and are locked to each computer they are installed on. Basically, the license key is specific to the computer's Host ID (the MAC address of the computer), and will not work on another computer. The installer picks up the physical MAC address of the network card connected to the computer which is basically Ethernet adapter Network Connect Adapter. So unless you change your network card, the key will always work even if you reinstall your operating system. If your internal network is periodically assigning a different Host ID to your computer, then please find a solution for this with your IT department.
For more information, please visit the vendor website.


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This current awareness service is prepared by the WSU Energy Program Library with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program. This information is provided for energy professionals and interested members of the public to highlight recent energy-related news, articles, and reports that discuss energy efficiency, energy conservation, and renewable sources of energy in engineering and policy circles.
Check out all of the posts tagged with 'Incentives' below. If you still can't find what you are looking for, try using the search box.
KPLU, Apr. 14, 2016, by Tom Banse.
"People who are interested in solar energy but don't own the perfect roof on which to install solar panels may have the option to buy into a bigger, centrally-located project. These are called shared solar or community solar. There's a boomlet of such projects in Washington state right now, while there are hardly any in sunnier Oregon and Idaho. But Washington's generous solar incentives are coming under scrutiny."
Wall Street Journal, Mar. 25, 2016, by Cassandra Sweet.
"Many U.S. states are considering dialing back solar-power incentives amid growing pressure from local electric utilities, potentially dealing a blow to the companies that install home solar systems around the country."
Utility Dive, Oct. 1, 2015, by Herman K. Trabish.
"What will happen if the federal investment tax credit (ITC) so many solar developers depend on isn't extended? "If the investment tax credit is not extended, we see it as a disruption, not a death for the industry," said Maddy Yozwiak, U.S. Power and RECs analyst and co-author of the recently-released report, "How extending the investment tax credit would affect US solar build," from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF)."
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL-181290, June 2015, by Mark Bolinger and Edward Holt.
"High up-front costs and a lack of financing options have historically been the primary barriers to the adoption of photovoltaics (PV) in the residential sector. State clean energy funds, which emerged in a number of states from the restructuring of the electricity industry in the mid-to-late 1990s, have for many years attempted to overcome these barriers through PV incentive and, in some cases, loan programs. While these programs (incentive programs in particular) have been popular, the residential PV market in the United States only started to achieve significant scale in the last five years – driven in large part by an initial wave of financial innovation that led to the rise of third-party ownership."
Report to Housing Virginia by the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, Feb. 10, 2015.
"The purpose of this report is to identify and verify possible benefits of the shift in housing policy by the Virginia Housing development Authority (VHDA) to encourage energy efficiency (EE) in the affordable rental stock in Virginia through the LIHTC [Low-Income Housing Tax Credits] program. The research addresses key issues related to energy efficiency and affordable housing through a rigorous measurement of economic impacts for low-income residents, distinguishing the effects of design, construction, technologies and behavior per unit."
ACEEE Blog, Nov. 4, 2014, by Steven Nadel.
"The E2e project released a working paper recently that evaluates the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP), funded in 2009 by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In the paper, authors Sebastien Houde and Joseph Aldy find that the SEEARP program provided little economic stimulation or energy savings."
Business Energy, Jul/Aug 2014, by Mark Scott Lavin.
"One of the boldest experiments in energy efficiency collaboration in the US is now well underway in Vermont, where cold winters and other factors drive some of the highest energy costs in the country. It's spearheaded by a new kind of utility known as Efficiency Vermont and run by the non-profit Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC). This new utility is the first of its kind, though similar initiatives have emerged in Oregon, Washington DC, and the Ohio region. Efficiency Vermont provides electricity to stakeholders, not by building power plants, but by helping existing consumers use less energy and use it wisely."
Air Conditioning/Heating/Refrigeration News, Sept. 11, 2014.
"Hawaii Energy, the ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program for Hawaii, Honolulu, and Maui counties, is launching the Hawaii Energy Efficiency Auction. The auction is an open call for contractors, developers, energy efficiency solution providers, energy service companies (ESCOs), energy vendors, and property managers to submit qualified energy efficiency projects to compete for up to $2.1 million in incentive funds to offset project costs."
Hydro Review, July 2014, by Luke Rose and Rebecca K. Blood.
"With its revival for fiscal year 2014, the Hydroelectric Production Incentives Program shows promise as a new federal revenue stream for hydro facilities."
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Research Report U1406, Aug. 6, 2014. (Free registration required for access to full report.)
"Compared to single-fuel programs, combined natural gas and electric energy efficiency programs often deliver additional energy and dollar savings at lower cost to utilities and consumers. They also enhance customer satisfaction. Many leading dual-fuel programs demonstrate these benefits. This report presents successful examples of combined natural gas and electric programs—residential, commercial, and industrial—in every region of the country in which there are both types of programs."
The Energy Newsbriefs Blog is a continuation of the weekly Energy Newsbriefs. Please bookmark this site and return frequently. Although we will not be accepting comments from within the Blog, we would be happy to hear from you by email at firstname.lastname@example.com


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So I'm sitting here with my DS who is 7.5 yrs old. We watched free willy, then he started watching free willy 2. I was in the kitchen, he comes in and says, "mommy did you know that willy has a brother and a sister?" I say oh really, that's cool. he says, yeah he has a mom too, and she's big and huge, you're kinda like her lol! so i say are you trying to tell me I'm huge and fat? He says no!! just that you're like a giant whale!! LMFAO!! It's a good thing i was able to laugh instead of let the hormones throw me into a sobbing session.Ā
I know some of you must have hilarious stories... lets hear em!!!


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Ada Louise Huxtable, dean of architecture critics, died today
Ada Louise Huxtable, the dean of architecture critics, died today. She was the first architecture critic for The New York Times and the first journalist to win the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1970. Writing into her 90s for the Wall Street Journal, she contributed a piece on New York City's Public Library just last month.
"Every architecture critic will be in her debt forever," said architecture critic Paul Goldberger on Twitter. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Actor who plays Walter White Jr. to speak at Marquette University
R.J. Mitte, who plays Walter White, Jr. on the acclaimed AMC series "Breaking Bad" will speak at Marquette University Thursday at 7 p.m.
Like his character Mitte has cerebral palsy, and will speak on overcoming adversity and bullying. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Elvis Costello & the Roots; Billy Currington and more
Elvis Costello & the Roots »Read Full Article
Trampled by Turtles to headline New Year's Eve at Riverside Theater
The band Trampled by Turtles will headline a New Year's Eve bash at the Riverside Theater at 9 p.m. Dec. 31.
The Madison band PHOX also is on the bill, which includes a midnight countdown. »Read Full Article
Fundraising for War Memorial upgrade to follow signing of new deal
Fundraising campaigns to pay for renovations to the War Memorial Center will soon be launched following Tuesday's signing of an agreement guaranteeing ongoing county support and setting a new legal framework for the building's tenants — the War Memorial and Milwaukee Art Museum.
Art Museum Director Dan Keegan said a drive to privately raise $25 million for renovations to the art museum's galleries and a new east atrium would go public soon. Some $15 million already has been pledged for the project, Keegan said. »Read Full Article(1)
'Harlem' hitmakers New Politics to open for P!nk at BMO Harris Bradley Center
P!nk is getting political at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The pop star--recently crowned Woman of the Year by Billboard magazine--has recruited Danish alternative rock trio New Politics to open for her Milwaukee concert Nov. 3. »Read Full Article
'Ain't Them Bodies Saints' joins Milwaukee Film Festival lineup
"Ain't Them Bodies Saints," the buzzed-about feature debut by Waukesha native David Lowery, has been added as a late starter to the lineup of the 2013 Milwaukee Film Festival.
The movie, which stars Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck and Ben Foster, will have a one-night-only screening at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave. Tickets are on sale through the film festival box office. »Read Full Article
On Tap Today: Free outdoor show with Familiar Looking Strangers
British band Familiar Looking Strangers is performing a free show on the Summerfest grounds tonight. Photo courtesy of band. »Read Full Blog Post(2)


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Book festival trip planned Aug. 30
SHEPHERDSTOWN - The Scarborough Society and the Shepherd University Foundation are sponsoring a bus trip to the 14th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival on Aug. 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
The festival will feature more than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators in several pavilions. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are honorary chairs for the event.
A full-size motor coach will leave Shepherd University at 8:30 a.m. and return to Shepherdstown at 6 p.m. The cost of the trip is $35 and will include water, snacks and fruit. To reserve a seat on the bus, send a check to the Shepherd University Foundation, P.O. Box 5000, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 or contact Meg Peterson at 304-876-5021 to pay by credit card. RSVPs are needed by Aug. 25. The festival is free and open to the public (www.loc.gov/bookfest).
For more information, call Phyllis Smock at 304-264-0560.
'Destination ARTS!' events this weekend
WAYNESBORO, Pa. - "Destination ARTS!" activities continue in downtown Waynesboro this weekend. Six galleries will be open today through Sunday. Events include a painting demonstration, live music by The Lowdown Grasskickers and Patric Schlee, magic by David Wayne and Miss Penelope and more.
For more information, visit artsalliancegw.org.
Artists Guild show slated this weekend
SHEPHERDSTOWN - The Potomac River Artist's Guild will be having the first of two 2014 "Fine Art Show and Sales" from Friday to Sunday at the Shepherdstown Community Center at the corner of German and King Streets.
Made up of 20 local artists, the Guild will show all original wall paintings in various mediums including oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel and collage.
A reception, free and open to the public, will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Shepherdstown Community Center.
For more information, visit potomacriverartistsguild.org or call Tom Nebel at 304-671-1669.
Balloon festival to begin Friday
GREENCASTLE, Pa. - The "Summer Sky Fest" will be held Friday to Sunday at the Green Grove Gardens Event Center, 1032 Buchanan Trail East. The event will feature hot air balloons, carnival games, inflatable attractions, pony rides, helicopter rides and more. Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. Saturday; and noon Sunday. Admission is $20 per car load on Friday; $25 for Saturday and Sunday. Three-day pass is $50 per car load. Advance tickets available at a discounted rate.
For more information, visit www.summerskyfestival.com.
Historic ghost tour scheduled Saturday
CHARLES TOWN - Charles Town Ghost Tours will be hosting a themed "Cemetery Stroll" at 8 p.m. Saturday. Participants will hear tales of Victorian Era hauntings, mourning practices of the period, and learn what the meanings of grave markers from 1861-1901 really are. The group will be meeting at the main gate of Edgehill Cemetery and reservations are required. The cost for this historical and haunted tour is $12 per person. Due to subject content, this tour is only open for guests over the age of 13.
For more information and to make a reservation, call Ann Khiel Fern at 304-724-6741.
'Meet the Author' event slated Saturday
SHEPHERDSTOWN - A "Meet the Author" event, featuring Dr. Sigrid Fry-Revere will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St. Fry-Revere is the author of "The Kidney Sellers." She is the first Westerner ever to interview kidney sellers in the one country in the world that claims to have solved its kidney shortage. All author royalities will go to support the Center for Ethical Solutions's SOS (Solving the Organ Shortage) Project.
For more information, visit www.StopOrganTraffickingNow.org; or www.Ethical-Solutions.org.
Country western dance Saturday
MAUGANSVILLE, Md. - Hagerstown Country Western Dance Association will sponsor a country western night from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Maugansville Ruritan, 18007 Maugans Ave., Maugansville, Maryland. Line dancing for singles and couples. Cost is $7 for non-members and $5 for members.
For more information, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Summer cruise-in planned Saturday
INWOOD -The Inwood-Bunker Hill Summer Cruise-In will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at Mill Creek Intermediate School. The event will feature concessions, door prizes and dash plaques, provided by Powder Coating Pros.
For more information, call Lion Randy Trenary at 304-676-4862 or Lion Dan Lohr at 540-533-6697.


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NBA commissioner David Stern last month said he expected to hear some definitive news on the sale of the Detroit Pistons sometime in November.
November is here. And it sounds as if the completion of the sale is right around the corner.
Mike Ilitch was in Toronto on Monday to watch Detroit Red Wings executive Jimmy Devellano be inducted into the Hall of Fame. While there, he was asked how his efforts to acquire the Pistons is going.
"We're getting close," Ilitch told the Detroit Free Press. "We're getting close."
Ilitch was asked whether the Red Wings could move to The Palace of Auburn Hills while he attempts to get a new arena built to house the Red Wings and Pistons.
"I don't want to get into all that," he said. "We're going to build a stadium in Detroit. … I want two teams in one building, so that's all I can tell you."
The Ilitch family entered into a 30-day exclusive negotiating agreement with Pistons owner Karen Davidson in the first week of October. At that point, the sale of the team to the Ilitches appeared to be just a matter of time.
Sounds like the time has come.


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Heading into 2003's summer movie season, Ang Lee was hot off of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, comic book movies were big business, and it seemed to many like Hulk could be the next big franchise to hit theatres. Naturally, Vivendi saw this coming and signed up Radical Entertainment to develop a game based on the film, hoping for a Spider-Man style movie tie-in that would sell like crazy. While neither project would be considered a failure, in retrospect both faced certain limitations -- the movie's special effects overshadowed its story, while the game followed the movie so much that it missed out on some of the qualities that make the Hulk character ideal for a game.
Given this structure, Ultimate Destruction is drawing comparisons to the console version of Spider-Man 2 -- Radical's design team is even using the term "locomotion" to describe their movement, like SM2 did to describe its web swinging. The primary difference between the two games is that while Spider-Man 2 was more finesse-based, the latest Hulk is -- note the title -- all about destruction. "Scale illustrates what Hulk can do over and above any other character," says Holmes. "Sure, a few games have you blowing up cars and so on -- maybe you have to shoot it for 30 seconds and then it catches fire, but no other game has destruction with the ease, power and scale of the Hulk experience. Hulk does three impossible things before breakfast."
As producer Vlad Ceraldi puts it, "We wanted...to give [players] the freedom to lose control."


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Drag Becomes Him - Updates!
Hey all,
We sure have taken a while to fill all of the Drag Becomes Him rewards. We apologize for that. I do want to let you know that all... Read more
The World Premiere of Drag Becomes Him is Here!
We're excited to finally announce the World Premiere of Drag Becomes Him. If you're in the Seattle area, join us on April 29 for this fabulous event. If you're not... Read more
Drag Becomes Him - Fall 2014 Update
Thanks for being patient on the release of Drag Becomes Him. Since pushing back the original July 2014 deadline, we've been editing and filming new material. We're nearing a second... Read more
An Update from Drag Becomes Him
It has been a busy couple of months since you've last heard from us. In the time since the campaign ended until now, we've been busy filming and editing Drag... Read more
Thank you!
Drag Becomes Him was successfully funded and we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you so much.
We'll be collecting reward information over the next couple weeks and providing... Read more
This is so exciting!
Wow. We are humbled by everyone's generosity. We reached our first stretch goal. This is truly spectacular. With just 70 hours left, all donations go into our last two stretch... Read more
We're getting to work!
The Kickstarter campaign isn't over and we're already rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. In fact, we're planning on having our first rough edit done by the end... Read more
Let's make this happen!
Thanks to all of your donations — and our new Executive Producers — we've reached our initial goal of $20,000 with 8 days to go. We're so excited to be... Read more
We nominate Jinkx Monsoon!
It's Academy Awards day and we nominate Jinkx Monsoon! We've got 10 days left to fund the "Drag Becomes Him" documentary and our daily push begins. Please continue to help... Read more
We're half way through the campaign, but not at 50% funded yet.
Today is the half-way mark on this Kickstarter campaign. Unfortunately, we're not half-way funded. We're hoping you can help bridge the gap by sharing this campaign again, telling your friends... Read more
Ten days in and we're doing good.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Jinkx Monsoon feature length documentary project.
We've reached 34% in our first ten days. From what we know, campaigns like this begin... Read more
Day 1 was amazing. We've added a new reward for day 2!
Thank you for getting us to 15% of our initial goal in just one day. We had a fabulous outpouring of support. We're feeling so hopeful about our community's ability... Read more


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Nice article!
Though I do have to disagree that a pound feeds a family of four. It's not a proper burger unless it falls in the 1/3 to 1/2 lb range!
"Sometimes, you need to make sure the angel on your shoulder has a wingman." -Me
My primal log
In my calorie-counting days I used to make measly 1/4-lb burgers. The guy would always look at them and sigh, but eat anyway.
He's much happier with his burger size nowadays. :P
My Primal Meanderings
"Sometimes, you need to make sure the angel on your shoulder has a wingman." -Me
My primal log
I make them bigger than the palm of my hands now.
A pound will just barely feed me and my husband, lol! I like my burgers like, a squished tennis ball.
I'm a paleo foodie, come check out my recipes: http://strangekitty.ca/
i HIGHLY disagree with #7. I hate thin patties.
I like thick, juicy burgers that are charred on the outside and dripping pinkish red on the inside. At least a 3/4" thick.
I like thin sliders. Small, thin, easily eaten. Still end up eating over a pound between hubby and I, but you feel better, because you've indulged in eating so many. I like them cooked on a flattop with caramelized onions ala white castle. Just, you know, with good meat and a primal bun or lettuce wrap.


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RANGOON—While Burma opens up to ideas and fashion from abroad, foreigners are increasingly taking an interest in the country's culture, and the longyi clothing style seems to enjoy particular popularity.
At Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon many foreign visitors can be seen donning the country's national dress, praising its comforts in the local tropical climate or its stylish appearance.
One such visitor was Dutch tourist Thorsten Roobeck, who arrived only one day before but was already appreciating the benefits of the garment, which consists of a piece of cylindrical cloth that is worn around the waist and runs down to the feet.
"I was in shorts when I came here [at Shwedagon], but I thought it was more appropriate to wear this," he said. "It's comfortable and has good air circulation for this hot weather."
"I do have problems with the knot; in the beginning it fell off but some people helped me," said the student, who was traveling with his sister. "The only thing is that it lacks pockets."
Asked if it felt unusual for a Western male to wear a dress-like garment, Roobeck said, "It depends on how you look at it. The Scottish, they wear a similar type dress [a kilt]."
"In Holland I would prefer shorts because people might look at me strange [if I wore a longyi], but they would accept it. They might think you're a hipster or something," he added.
Souvenir and clothing sellers at Shwedagon Pagoda said the longyi was very popular among the growing number of foreign tourists.
"Usually I sell about seven longyis per week" to foreigners, said Ko Zaw Myo Htet, 29, who owns a stall at the pagoda's eastern causeway. "But sometimes when I have a good day I sell 10 or 15. They come in a group and then they all buy one."
"Most customers come from Australia, Italy and France. I teach them how to wear it. First fold it left and then right, and tie it," he said, adding that his Mandalay-made longyis cost about $3.
"They like [longyis] because it's very easy during walking, the air can also move freely," Myo Htet said with a smile. "When they visit Burma they want to experience Burmese styles. It's unusual for them, so they are interested."
"It looks very good," his partner added. "They wear their longyi villager style, up around the knee—most people in the city wear it long" until their feet.
Among Burmese men and women the traditional longyi remains popular and is widely worn in the country, including in ethnic areas, while silk longyis are favored at official occasions.
In June 2010, the generals in Burma's military government swapped their uniforms for silk longyis and traditional white jackets to signify the change to quasi-civilian rule, and they have worn it in Parliament and during official occasions since.
The current style Burmese longyi came from India during colonial times, but it was preceded by a similar Burmese garment called the paso for men and htamein for women.
George Scott, a 19th-century colonial administrator and journalist, was among the first to describe Burma's traditional wear in his classic 1882 book "The Burman: His Life and His Notions."
"The dress is very simple and picturesque. The paso is a long silk cloth […]. It is wound round the body, kilt fashion, tucked in with a twist in front, and the portion which remains gathered up and allowed to hang in folds from the waist, or thrown jauntily over the shoulder," wrote Scott, who on occasion wore a paso himself.
Another foreigner who has come to appreciate the comforts—and stylishness—of the Burmese longyi is David Stout, website editor for the Democratic Voice of Burma.
"It's comfort, it's cool … It's practical with the weather, stylish and very classy," he told The Irrawaddy recently, adding that wearing a longyi on holiday in Rangoon three years ago felt like "liberation of the man."
"I come from a culture where if a man wears a skirt everyone thinks there's something a little wrong with him. Maybe it's a little right—maybe Burma's onto something," Stout said.
He also recalled the positive reactions he got from local people after a monk at Shwedagon Pagoda got him and his friend fitted with longyis.
"I got a blue one and my buddy got a maroon one—and the response was spectacular," Stout said. "Walking down the street, I have this vivid memory of this guy coming to his balcony and yelling 'chaw tae' at me, which I believe means 'handsome.'"
Additional reporting by Charlie Campbell
I will be visiting soon with my 3 children, ages 10, 7 and 5. Do children wear them too?
Smaller ones. Different pattern and fabric and the way it tucks in for boys and girls. Needs a bit of a practice to wear. Otherwise use a belt with it.
They do though you are more likely to find them in shorts or dresses especially the younger ones. The other unique feature you will like is the ubiquitous thanaka bark paste they wear on their faces.
Everyone wears them, just like you would wear pants or skirts or dress regardless of age
Up with the longyi. When my sons started to wear those baggy shorts American style, I said to them they reminded me of a Chinaman frying noodles in Burma when I was growing up. Longyi is just a unisex term for the garment. It puts us on the map as a unique culture where both sexes wear skirts even if they may not be aware that we also remain a matriarchal society with no surnames.
Just as well. As the Burmese themselves are moving away from Longi in droves.
For feeble mind, being modern or progressive means being slave to others and forgoing own culture. Look at the New Year Drinking Binge.
As an consultant working with international investors in Yangon, I find that wearing a longyi and a taikpon provides are far greater impact avout being 'local'.
Of course i wear the silky classy ones that a bit stiff to wear in the first hour, I do notice that my clients take a good look at it and some of them end up wearing them in the subsequent meetings.
The longyi will be around for a long time. It may even become a event signaller such as when you see someone wearing a certain design or quality you know that they have come back or going to a certain high government or social event.
Incidentally, Burmese gets Longyi from the Indians and Taikpon from the Chinese.
Now we are "Highly Advanced and Progressed" it is time to dump these backward and shameful Burmese things and start celebrating the "New Year" , Gay Parades (because we are strong liberals) and we will simply copy and wear whatever the Americans and Korean soap actors do.
Even Aung San Suu Kyi's faux-Burmese dresses are not really authentic. Advnaced fashion statements. Advanced Style as befit Advanced Beings. Hilary Clinton's "Burmese" top (as she copied Aung San Suu Kyi's style of putting on appropriate "Ethnic's dress", even though those ethnics being slaughtered is OK) when she came to Burma first time decidedly looked like those of a high class waitress.
He may be likes to wear the longyi but is very disrespectable of having bare arms in a temple, I never did when I visiting temples whatever the temperature.
Hello i live in the US and i am very interested in traditional burmese clothing. Does anyone know if there is an online shopping service or a business that has an online shop where i can buy traditional burmese clothing like the longyi and hta mein? Or even personal dresses that you are selling yourself would also help. I am not on this page a lot to reply to your message, just email me at [email protected] with your information. Thank you!


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Additional Information
This lean, dark-red meat is tender and supple. You won't find any gamey taste here. Rather, venison offers a woody, almost fruity sweetness and a depth of flavor.
If this sounds more like a description of red wine, you're not far off. Venison offers a range of flavor notes similar to wine (it's great fun to pair with your favorite reds).
Forget what you've been told about slow cooking venison. The tenderloin should be treated with care.
Think filet mignon, and slice it into medallions, then sear it hot and fast. Don't forget: keep it rare to medium rare.
Just the facts
- Authentic, Cervena-certified venison
- Sustainable and humane farming cooperative
- Grass fed, pasture raised
- No antibiotics, hormones or steroids
- High in protein, lower in fat and calories than beef
- Sold as single tenderloin or four per pack
- Sold in an uncooked state
- Product of New Zealand
- Use within 3-5 days of receipt
For our venison, we trust a cooperative of ranchers in New Zealand who raise Red deer according to the strict standards required by the Cervena name.
Cervena is a trademarked appellation which certifies that all the venison in their cooperative has been humanely pasture-raised and 100% grass-fed with only minimal supplemental feed such as hay. The pristine pastures of New Zealand offer conditions that are essentially wild, but in which the ranchers can still monitor and protect the deer.
Another reason we respect the cooperative is that they reject the use of steroids, growth hormones and antibiotics. Only in cases of extreme disease will antibiotics be administered, and then the animal is tracked and not allowed to be processed.
Cervena also requires that animals be less than three years of age at the time of processing, and that processing take place at accredited facilities that are specifically licensed and regularly audited by an independent agency.
All of this focused care brings out the best in the venison; it is lean, consistently tender, deep red and full of sweet flavor.
Naturally low in calories and fat, yet packed with nutrients like iron, zinc and B vitamins, Cervena venison is a high-quality protein and one of the healthiest red meats available today. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, venison has about 20% less fat and about 100 fewer calories per 3.5 ounce serving than beef. It's the ideal meat to include as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
The venison tenderloin should be treated as a beef tenderloin; cooked quickly at high heat so that the interior remains rare to medium rare. It does not require the slow-cooking and low temperatures traditionally used for wild deer, so think outside the braising pan. The tenderloin does not need to be marinated or stewed to render it edible.
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424 search results for Ryan Murphy
Ryan Murphy is Schooling All of Hollywood
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Ryan Murphy is Schooling All of Hollywood | Girls on Film
Type: Video | Date: Tuesday, Jul 5, 2016Roth Cornet, Alicia Malone, and Miri Jedeikin dive into the example that Ryan Murphy is setting that all of us ought to follow.
The newest 'American Horror Story' trailer hints that all seasons are connected
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Type: Video | Date: Tuesday, Aug 23, 2016The girls of Kappa House are dying for new pledges. SCREAM QUEENS is a new killer comedyhorror series from awardwinning executive producers Ryan Murphy (Glee American Horror Story) Brad Falchuk (Glee American Horror Story) and
The People Vs. OJ Finale Review with Alan Sepinwall | Fandemonium
Type: Video | Date: Tuesday, Apr 5, 2016Alan Sepinwall and Roth Cornet review the finale for The People Vs. O.J. Simpson and ask if the series nailed the landing.
Ryan Murphy offers details on Michael Chiklis' 'Freak Show' role
Type: Article | Date: Friday, Jun 27, 2014Just what sort of circus performer will Chiklis be?
Ryan Murphy spreads his anthology wings to 'Scream Queens' on FOX
Type: Post | Date: Monday, Oct 20, 2014Comedy-horror anthology series receives a 15-episode order for Fall 2015
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Type: Post | Date: Tuesday, Mar 29, 2016Another tense, sympathetic hour for Clark, Darden, and Cochran


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Smith didn't show up to practice Tuesday, and Wednesday indicated to the UCLA coaches he intended to leave the program. BruinReportOnline.com first reported the news Wednesday and the team later confirmed.
The coaching staff tried to convince him to stay, but Smith ultimately decided to leave and informed UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero of his decision.
Smith, the 6-10 junior center, has had a tumultuous career at UCLA. He came into the program as one of the best post prospects in the nation and a McDonald's All-American. In his freshman year he showed flashes of dominance, while overcoming a weight and conditioning issue.
Last season as a sophomore he struggled and didn't develop from his freshman season.
So far in the 2012-2013 season, Smith's junior year, he has been coming off the bench and his playing time has been reduced.
UCLA junior center Joshua Smith has chosen to leave the men's basketball program and has been granted his release, effective immediately.
Smith participated in all six contests UCLA has played in thus far in the 2012-13 season and averaged 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in 13.5 minutes played.
"Joshua is a fine young man who has meant a lot to this program," said UCLA head coach Ben Howland. "I know I speak for myself and my staff when I thank him for his time in Westwood and wish him well in his future endeavors."
A native of Kent, Washington, Smith entered his junior season with the Bruins averaging 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 19.5 minutes played in 65 career games (24 starts) over his first two years in Westwood.
"I have made the decision to leave the program for personal reasons," Smith said. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at UCLA and am grateful for the opportunity that has been presented to me here."


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The Miss Earth Pageant
The MISS EARTH 2013 Delegates
Select a Delegate
Miss Argentina
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Miss Aruba
Miss Australia
Miss Austria
Miss Bahamas
Miss Belgium
Miss Belize
Miss Bolivia
Miss Bosnia and Herzegovina
Miss Brazil
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Miss Crimea
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Miss Thailand
Miss Trinidad and Tobago
Miss Turkey
Miss Uganda
Miss Ukraine
Miss Uruguay
Miss USA
Miss Venezuela
Miss Wales
Miss FRANCE
Age: 22
Height: 175 cm
Measurements: 33.5-25.5-35.4
"Water is to the Earth what blood is to human beings: Life."
Tweet #missearthFRA
Describe your childhood growing years:
My childhood was very fulfilling, punctuated by school year, sport (swimming mostly) and my passion for nature.
I was part of an association called «nature club «during eight years aimed at teaching children the flora and fauna. Many outings were held each month: drill, parks, beaches, nature reserves, wildlife parks and aquatic centers. In addition, we have a Center of studies with over 70 animal races, and a large outdoor farm allowing us to gain experience in real contact of the animal world.
But especially over the educational side, all students were aware of environmental problems, and thus we were participating in many pickups waste on the beaches of northern France, touring sorting centers to treat the waste, value through recycling. I have acquired some experience in this area by participating in various projects in my area.
My childhood was also marked by a very rewarding family life, I practiced dance and do theater, and my favorite sport: the «yachting ", 3-wheel vehicle powered by a veil, as a boat by the force of the wind!
What a pleasure to browse through the vast expanses of sand, with a clean energy, and in total silence!
What lessons did you learn from your childhood?
Childhood is a benchmark from which everyone will be determined.
For me, it has taught me:
• Respect for people, elders and the world around us, to be sensitive to our environment
• Education
• The meaning of work
• Discipline
• Patience
• Love and appreciation for nature that sustains us.
Any special facts or story about your family?
It is difficult to give a special about my family history, as there are several and they are quite personal.
But I will mention here a simple memory that causes me a lot of emotions. We were on holiday in France at the mountain chalet. My greatest pleasure was to find myself in the morning along with my parents and my little brother on the balcony in front of this incredible panorama, with the pure and fresh air for breakfast.
It was my special moments that we can find in this quiet, family to the magical beauty of a landscape full of purity. I keep of it a sweet and wonderful memory.
What is the most unusual thing you have ever done?
We have in France magnificent mountain ranges and one of my dreams was to climb one of them. This winter, my dream came true, and I climbed to the top of Charmanson at a height of 6125 feet. What an amazing show! A view as seen in television reports and also amazing that in my imagination. No noise, just a huge blanket of snow spread over the mountains of sight with such a pure blue sky is endless.
What is your most memorable moment?
One of the highlights of my life was the birth of my godson. My cousin was about to give birth while I was with her, and I bring him to the hospital. Everything happened very quickly and I was allowed to accompany childbirth. Incomparable as to be present at a single time, so magical and beautiful location! THE BIRTH OF LIFE!
And on a more personal level directly, I will quote my time on the show and the most watched channel in France, for the Miss France!
Because it has changed my life forever, I experienced moments so intense and emotionally rich! Sought for many invitations, it has allowed me to meet wonderful people.
What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose this?
Environmental problems are many and include deforestation, degassing, climate damage but also the pollution, and mainly water pollution! Men have a strong impact on the environment via waste. It is estimated that all of humanity produces about 4 billion tons of waste per year.
The absence of waste management and poor sewage treatment is common in less developed countries or developing, resulting in negative impacts on the environment, human health and quality of life of people. The ocean surface is about two- thirds of the earth and they have long been used as trash the planet.
My attention will particularly focus on water pollution because it is a major cause of human, animal and plant mortality on a massive scale. Since the late twentieth century, with the use of plastics mainly glass and stainless very poorly degradable, the impact of marine human waste has become increasingly important ! ! Various studies have now found plastic particles in the oceans of the world and at all depths : 100 million tons of plastic waste are scattered in the world's oceans .
You should know that water pollution has various origins:
1. Industry : Chemicals and hydrocarbons emissions of heavy metals are one of the most important sources of water pollution .
2. Agriculture : excessive use of chemicals , which end in groundwater or rivers.
3. The automobile oil spills that go into the rivers they are not picked up and recycled properly.
4. Wastewater : if they are not handled properly.
The fight against pollution is difficult, because what is at the bottom or diluted in water is often invisible. In addition, some toxic infiltrated into the ground often produce their effects after a long time ! However , we can act ! ! As we see, the plastic is the material that occupies most of the waste found at sea and eliminate waste, it must first collect.
I was born in a region of France called "the Nord Pas de Calais ." It is full of resources and wildlife and offers a wide variety of flora. I decided to spend some of my time to respect and awareness of it. I participated in this year prevention in schools with children, explaining the actions of eco-citizenship possible in the life of every day. Cleanings of our beaches have been made, often polluted by many litter, the sea throws during strong winds and high tides. "INITIATIVESOCEANES.ORG " an international website was created by a combination of surfers who fight against marine pollution desorma and organize collective pickups . I am proud to be a member of this association. The collection of waste on beaches is a solution that allows us all to act for the planet !
It is urgent because many animals die after ingested some of these wastes. Plastic bags are swallowed because confused with jellyfish or floating algae, sea glass are combined with plastic granules called mermaid 's tears or nurdle.
After the plastic pollution waste, I also denounce degassing and desludging, the illegal practice of dumping pollutants at sea (oil), causing considerable voluntary pollution. To this is added the oil spills where oil remains suspended for many kilometers. Birds and fish swallow the oil during oil spills which sometimes leads to the disappearance of species. WWF (World Wildlife Fund) was estimated at 1.5 million tonnes the amount of oil released only in the Mediterranean Sea, a sea in the south of France, because of outgassing and wild ballast tanks.
I would also like to draw attention to an overseas territory of France is currently experiencing a major pollution problem : Guadeloupe. Like all island territories that host many tourists, Guadeloupe difficulty in managing its waste. While sorting and collection is set up, most waste ends up in landfills, streets, gardens or waterways . Then ensue all health issues, living conditions, mortality of the population, preserving the fauna and flora, facing pressure from interests in the tourism business.
As he deteriorated, the environment has become a common good value, it is necessary to support all life species. It's a heritage to pass on to future generations. It is an ecological, economic and socio - cultural. It gives everyone the vital natural resources (water, air , soil, food , etc.) That we must preserve. One of the key points of the message I want to convey turns to the prevention and education of young people.
For the view that I have today, the world around me, I owe it to my parents and people who knew me when I inform my little young. The children of today are the people responsible and eco-citizen of tomorrow.
My recent notoriety of the Youth Ambassador of my country does not give me great power but a duty imposed upon me by example and promote an image and principles that I want to use to serve the causes I to heart . In reality, it is certain that all major decisions and plans of action belong to large industrial and large politicians and at my level it is difficult to change the world.
I can not stop deforestation or carbon emissions.
But if I have the chance to become your new Miss EARTH, I will do what I can to carry out my plans , plans on a global scale , thus contributing to improve our future! We can change our habits to reduce our negative impact on the planet, be responsible! Our planet needs the efforts of all , we now to give a future to your children!
What makes you proud of the country you are representing?
In my country I'm particularly proud of:
1. French movies
2. French gastronomy
3. the fashion
4. the diversity in the landscapes we have. We do have a lot of different climates
5. magnificent buildings such as our French symbol : the Eiffel Tower.
What can you promote about your country?
My country is a widespread erstwhile country which belongs to the European community, so we have a huge cultural heritage. Also, as we are a developed country it is very difficult to promote one thing rather than another, but as I'm a little greedy and French, allow I first mention our French gastronomy.
I also quote :
1. That we have a very big diversity concerning our landscapes (we have wonderful beaches, mountains and the nature's beauty changing through the seasonal changes).
2. The richness of our history through the centuries, gives us an exceptional cultural heritage and an architecture of all styles (the gothic and roman cathedrals, several churches, castles and one of the most known: the palace of Versailles)
3. I also want to mention our advanced technical support for our environment due to many years of scientific efforts to move along a sustainable development path to protect our environment.
France is geographically rich in water thanks to its five main rivers and also thanks to its position as France is surrounded by the sea. A multiple of facilities exist on these sites such as some hydroelectric dams or tidal powers or even some hydrokinetic systems.
© 2001-2015. MISS EARTH is a Registered Trademark of Carousel Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Im trying to move a 4.22GB file to my external hard dive, and keep getting
the error
"can't copy file. There is not enough free disk space."When i check how much
free space i have left on my external drive it says 123GB free. How can I
move the file?
Im running XP and the external drive is an acomadata 250gb drive.


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River Road schools are drying out after Sunday flooding filled a hallway at the high school and outer walls at the middle school and caused the elementary school roof to leak.
High School Principal Paul Fenstermaker said water filled one hall near the counselor's and nurse's offices. An art class was relocated as the room was dried out.
Fenstermaker said custodians began working to dry out the floors early Monday and are now assessing damage. He said the decision has not been made to replace carpet or tile.
"There was so much water at ground level it just couldn't hold it all," he said.
Superintendent George Malkuch said the outer wall of two classrooms, a science lab and the band room of the middle school filled with water but were drying out Tuesday.
The elementary school roof leaked in about four classrooms, but no classes had to be moved.Malkuch said the district will look at repairs and a system to ensure heavy rain is drained away from the building to prevent any future flooding.
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