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Monday, July 25, 2011
An Epic Conversation
Joan is the VP of engineering at Trendy Startup, a rapidly-expanding company developing a suite of cloud storage products and services.
Joan's organization uses the popular scrum development process to develop its products. Product managers and owners create user stories, allocate them to iterations and releases, and manage them in backlogs. Quality assurance (QA) engineers write tests for the user stories, and developers implement the user stories. Team members meet daily to review the previous day's accomplishments, agree on what they'll do today, and surface any obstacles they are facing.
Joan is proud of her teams and their adoption of agile methods and practices. She touts the Trendy Startup's development processes to her fellow executives and to prospects and customers.
All members of her product teams have embraced agile methods, but two of her independent-minded engineers, Raquel and Oscar, are frustrated and have begun to question the results. They decide to meet with Joan to discuss their concerns.
Joan: "What's up, Raquel? Oscar?
Raquel: "We're concerned about our development process at Trendy Startup."
Joan: "Raquel, you know we're an agile shop. It's important that we all buy into agile practices, and frankly I don't think there's a place in our company for engineers who can't fit into agile teams."
Raquel: "Oh, I have no problem with agile methods. My concern is that I don't think we're really doing agile."
Joan: "Hmm. I'm not sure what you mean. We've adopted all the major practices, haven't we?"
Raquel: "Sort of. But what we call 'stories' are really just development tasks. We're not defining acceptance criteria for our user stories. And our product roadmap is oriented around features instead of what really matters to users."
Oscar: "Exactly! I'm frustrated because we seem to be losing sight of delivering value to customers. I actually don't care whether we are doing 'theoretically pure' agile, but we've gotten too far in the weeds."
Joan: "Ultimately, we can't deliver value to customers and be successful in the market without dealing with the details; things like font sizes, the positions of buttons and other user interface elements, and even grammar."
Oscar: "Of course. But we need to tie these details back to the larger picture of what the user is trying to accomplish as they are exposed to these details."
Raquel: "Right. That's part of what I mean about not doing agile properly. Many of the stories in our backlog are development tasks to 'move the Cancel button two pixels to the left'. But there is no tie-back to a real user story, which should state what the user wants to do and why she wants to do it."
Oscar: "I would go even further. Even when we do have real user stories, I sometimes lose sight of the big picture."
Raquel: "Good point! We've made some attempts to group user stories under features, but that's not how Mike Cohn says to do it. Cohn says to use epics and decompose them into user stories."
Joan: "But we do use epics. We group our user stories into epics such as 'asynchronous storage' and 'cloud infrastructure'."
Raquel: "But those aren't real epics! A story is a narrative. An epic is a long narrative. Look them up in the dictionary! In agile, a story is a placeholder for a narrative that achieves users' goals, and an epic is a placeholder for a longer, end-to-end narrative that captures and implements the larger goals of the users and buyers."
Joan: "Okay, I have to draw the line here. This organization doesn't care what the real definition of 'epic' is. We're not employing poets or novelists here. And in the final analysis, it doesn't matter whether we're doing what some purists think is agile. We care about producing quality software that will sell in the marketplace."
Oscar: "I couldn't agree with you more on those points, Joan, but I think Raquel has hit on precisely why the team loses the user perspective. Users care about what they're doing and what their goals are, not about 'asynchronous storage'."
Joan: "What would you suggest as an alternative? Can you provide an example of what you consider a true epic, Raquel?"
Raquel: "Here's one: 'As a gadget guy, I want to view and edit my documents from any device connected to the Internet so that I'm not dependent on any particular device for access.'"
Joan: "Okay, that seems to capture succinctly what the user wants to do, and the overarching value of our suite of cloud storage products. Your concerns are starting to become more concrete for me. Raquel, how do you suggest we modify our agile process to address these concerns?"
Raquel pulls up the following diagram from a Mike Cohn presentation on user stories.
Raquel: "Let's make sure we include real epics in our portfolio and product roadmaps. Let's decompose epics into user stories and include the user stories in our backlog. When we need to split a user story to fit into an iteration, our first instinct should be to split it by iteratively strengthening the acceptance criteria, not always by decomposing it along functional lines. All development tasks we include in the backlog should reference the user stories they support. Also, let's follow Mike Cohn's template for epics and user stories to ensure they are understandable to users and are verifiable. We can also group stories according to themes, but let's make sure the themes tie back to prospect problems."
Oscar: "Works for me! I really like the idea of epics standing for lengthy, end-to-end stories. They really tie everything together to show the value to customers and users in such a way that I, as a developer, can see how the details fit into the big picture. As a matter of fact, I've noticed a recurring pattern we could employ."
Oscar proceeds to draw the following diagram on Joan's whiteboard.
Raquel: "Pretty cool, Oscar. Your diagram shows a decomposition of an epic into smaller strories. The epic encompasses what the user ultimately wants to do and the unfortunate - but often necessary - system interactions that administrators must perform behind the scenes to enable the true value for end users. You've divided what we would need to implement into chunks our product owner could put in the backlog and our developers could complete in a single iteration. At the same time, none of the individual user stories by itself delivers what the end user needs. The top-level epic captures all of the stories playing out and satisfying the end user's needs."
Joan: "Now that you've explained them, these ideas make a lot of sense to me. We need to make this a team conversation and decision. I will fully support your starting this conversation with the team and proposing your ideas. I suggest a series of 'brown bag' lunches to discuss our process and possible modifications to it. Let's set the expectation that no decisions will be made at these lunches, but through open sharing of ideas and perspectives, we'll naturally converge on some improvements to our processes."
3 comments :
- Larry said...
Realizing the fictitious nature of Trendy Startup I thought I would offer some other suggestions/comments. (I wonder if this is really where @CrankyPM works?)
I am curious as to why Raquel and Oscar are raising these points with the VP of Engineering and coming from the Engineering ranks. Where is the Product Owner and/or Product Manager in these discussions? How come they feel a need to raise these points in a side meeting as opposed to a retrospective. I assume that Trendy Startup is doing them correct? If so, why have the brown bag lunches?
That said, Agile's underlying intention is as a guideline, not a rigid process. Ultimately, the organization should be striving for what works for it not something that conforms to a standard.
The way I have seen (and believe in their use) Epics, Features and Stories laid out is as a series of abstraction layers. Each layer providing more detail. This reduces the level of too-early specificity and decreases the overhead of managing these artifacts in larger systems. Dean Leffingwell Agile Software Requirements
I would actually flip Mike Cohn's diagram on user stories around so that it goes more top down than bottom up. (This is really semantics though)
With this in mind, I would say Joan's initial take on the Agile process was correct. Raquel and Oscar's issue could be alleviated at the story level by better incorporating the user's need there.
- Mon Jul 25, 11:23:00 AM 2011
- Roger L. Cauvin said...
@Larry, anyone in the organization could raise these concerns of Raquel and Oscar, and they could do so in any setting. In this case, Raquel and Oscar just happened to be engineers, and they chose to discuss the concerns with the VP of engineering.
You and Oscar agree that conformance to a standard or to definitions is not what should drive the process.
Did you not notice that, while Raquel expressed her concerns by pointing out inconsistencies with standard practices and original definitions, Oscar concentrated on the practical ramifications of the company having deviated from those practices and definitions? Joan was ultimately able to see that both Raquel and Oscar had legitimate concerns and perspectives. Raquel's perspective was theoretical, Oscar's perspective was practical. The theoretical and practical arguments converged and reinforced each other.
I'm glad you mentioned Dean Leffingwell's abstraction layers (epic, feature, and story). Before writing this blog entry, I read how he uses the terms and concepts, and I was disapointed. In his usage, the terms epic, feature, and story refer to "system behaviors". Raquel and Oscar believe that a system-centric approach is fundamentally misguided. So do I.
Oscar felt he and other developers lacked context, because the organization's so-called "stories" were oriented around the system functionality and development tasks instead of around what the user really wants to accomplish. Raquel agreed with Oscar on this point and extended her complaint to the product roadmap, which was oriented around features instead of what "really matters to users".
Did you know Leffingwell gives "video streaming" as an example of epic? That sort of terminology and categorization does not lend itself well to maintaining the customer perspective in planning and building products. Moreover, Kent Beck, who apparently coined the term "user story", believes storytelling sparks more emotional engagement than mere descriptions of system functionality. A more faithful example of an epic would be, "Monitor and Improve Energy Efficiency". Such an epic would stand for a long narrative in which multiple users interacted with one or more systems to achieve the business value that the name of the epic denotes.
And thought leaders in the marketing and product management community realized decades ago that focusing on "features" has a tendency to:
1. Lead to products that don't solve real problems.
2. Result in marketing messages with limited or no relevance to customers.
3. Stifle innovation.
It's true that some features have tangible and immediately-recognizable benefits to users. Leffingwell gives "spell-checking" as an example of such a feature. But many features do not have such a tangible benefit, at least not ones that are immediately obvious until they are put into the context of something the user is trying to accomplish.
If Trendy Startup is going to ensure its product teams understand and maintain the context and purpose of what they are building, the company needs to adopt the suggestion Raquel proposed and Oscar elaborated. A user story should serve as a placeholder for a narrative expressed from the user point of view. An epic is a longer narrative that encompasses, and a product owner may progressively decompose into, smaller user stories. This progressive decomposition, especially when depicted in the form of a diagram such as the one Oscar drew on Joan's whiteboard, gives the customer and user context at every level.
I'm not sure why Leffingwell chose a rigid, three-tiered framework oriented around system functionality instead of a flexible, customer-oriented framework that stays faithful to the original definitions of agile terms. But it was a major factor in spurring me to write this blog entry.
- Wed Jul 27, 08:20:00 PM 2011
- Scott Sehlhorst said...
Absolutely love this article, Roger!
I've definitely seen this problem play out with team after team, and agree that an epic is, and should be, no more than "a story that happens to be too big to do it one sprint."
I think the issue is that people regularly conflate the concepts of themes and epics.
A theme is a collection of related stories that make sense together - for whatever reason. An epic is a single story that needs to be decomposed in order to implement it piecemeal.
A theme may encapsulate stories for multiple users attempting to realize multiple goals. An epic reflects a single goal (possibly shared by multiple users - leading to an approach to decomposition: do it for user A now (with acceptance criteria 1,2, 5) and for user B later (adding in acceptance criteria 3 and 4, which don't matter to user A).
A theme can be structured in terms of positioning or market message ("better for IT administrators"), or strategic objective ("reach parity with competitor X") or an internal stakeholder-driven objective ("cut operational costs of providing our SaaS by 10% per user").
- Tue Mar 06, 08:28:00 AM 2012


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subset: commoncrawl


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L'Oreal Patented a Secret Weapon for Gray Hair
Taking over the hair care world?
A few years ago, the cosmetic powerhouse L'Oreal Paris, filed an application for patent No. 8,445,004 B2. Its official, super science-y title is: "Administration of agents mimicking dopachrome tautomerase (TRP-2) activity for protecting hair follicle melanocytes." But what that loosely translates to is much more interesting: We have a secret potion that will prevent gray hair. Forever.
Forever might be a slight exaggeration and while we don't know the exact details on when the stuff will hit shelves, or how it'll be delivered to graying heads, we do know that the formula includes something called putrescine. That's an organic chemical compound that gives things like decaying fish, semen, bad breath and other smelly things its distinct foul odor. Intriguing, right?
While the jargon-filled details can be found here, we're curious to see what (possibly stinky) beauty magic awaits our follicles. What really seals the deal are these tweets by a couple of scientists. We're not sure what "goth" means, either but perhaps it's scientist for happy, happy, joy, joy.
L'Oreal has a new patent to use putrecine to cure gray hair (and attract flies, presumably). http://t.co/dTS4UELp9L— Joanne Manaster (@sciencegoddess) July 10, 2013
Goth RT @sciencegoddess: L'Oreal has a new patent to use putrecine to cure gray hair (and attract flies, presumably) http://t.co/cJXwNFF3Rs— Marc Abrahams (@MarcAbrahams) July 10, 2013


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1 dead, 42 injured as Swiss tourist train derailsPolice said six of the injured were in serious condition and most of the passengers were Japanese tourists
By Bradley S. Klapper
The Associated Press
GENEVA — Switzerland's popular Glacier Expess tourist train derailed Friday in the Alps, killing one person and injuring 42 others on its spectacular journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz.
Police said six of the injured were in serious condition and most of the passengers were Japanese tourists. Rescue workers were seen loading a few injured passengers onto medical helicopters to be flown out for treatment in Lausanne and Geneva. Police declined to identify the person who died.
Rail interruptions, let alone accidents, are rare in Switzerland. The Glacier Express — dubbed the "slowest express train in the world" — is known as much for its majestic mountain climbs as for its pedestrian 18 mph (30 kph) average speed.
Valais authorities said two of the train cars drove off the tracks and a third tipped over, but the cause of the accident wasn't immediately known. The three cars were at the back of the train and the derailment took place near the town of Fiesch and the mouth of the Aletsch glacier, Europe's largest icemass.
Rail traffic remained closed near the accident site Friday evening and local police were investigating.
The 80-year-old Glacier Express runs several times a day all year round, carrying some 250,000 passengers a year.
It starts in Zermatt, at the base of Switzerland's iconic Matterhorn mountain, and rumbles through terrain over a mile (1.6 kilometers) above sea level, surrounded by many of the highest Alpine peaks. After 7 1/2 hours, 291 bridges and 91 tunnels, it ends in St. Moritz — one of the world's ritziest winter resorts. Train cars have special large windows that sweep high onto the roof so tourists can take in the vast mountain vistas.
A celebration of Swiss engineering, the Glacier Express offers breathtaking views of mountains, glaciers, viaducts across rushing streams and switchback rail lines that sometimes go in full circles to spiral up or down the steepest slopes.
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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text:
Bella Lewitzky scrapbook, 1937-1950
Lewitzky, Bella, b. 1916 d. 2004
Choreographer, Dancer
Active in Calif.
Collection size: 0.2 linear ft. (on partial microfilm reel).
Collection Summary: Scrapbook containing clippings, theater programs, and newspaper articles about Lewitzky's career as a dancer in the southern California dance troupe the Lester Horton Group and the WPA Federal Theater Dance Group.
Biographical/Historical Note: Ballet dancer, San Bernardino, Calif. Attended high school and junior college in San Bernardino. Danced with the WPA Federal Theatre Dance Group before joining the Lester Horton Group in Los Angeles where she became the group's prima ballerina.
Lent for microfilming 1964 by Bella Lewitsky.
How to Use this Collection
- Microfilm reel LA 8 (frames 901-937) available at Archives of American Art offices through interlibrary loan.
- The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
- For more information on using the Archives' resources, see the FAQ or Ask Us.


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Village Inn Motel


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Having a truly professional WordPress theme for you website or blog can really make a difference. ElegantThemes, one of my favorite WordPress theme developers, have created The Professional and I think is many ways it lives up to its name. It is clearly not a typical blog theme and it is designed to fit clean and elegant business websites very well. It is a page based theme and while there is a nice blog template in the package it is not the main purpose. The effort needed to create a theme like this is serious and higher than creating just a blog template. Further The Professional have four different color schemes. Reason is mainly that there is just a lot more useful page templates to be created, and it is time consuming. In this article I will review The Professional WordPress theme in detail – a really interesting theme for a demanding web site and one of the best WordPress premium themes available. Check out the demo site and see for your self!
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Professional WordPress Theme Review
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text:
Thomas Nelson, religious publisher, to be purchased by HarperCollins
HarperCollins buys out religious publisher
Crystal Cathedral board sells property to local University
Crystal Cathedral board backs sale to university
Congress considers military aid cuts to Egypt because of persecution
Cut is U.S. aid to Egypt touted over persecution
Demonstrators may be asked to leave St. Paul's in London
St. Paul's Cathedral raises doubts over protesters
Local churches in Joplin help to rebuild houses with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
TV makeover show to build 7 homes in Joplin
< Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Going to Isreal
Nov 20, 2012 07:11
Category: General News
Category: General News
Obama Asia Tour Ending
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The Middle East conflict has overshadowed President Barack Obama's efforts to deliver an economic message on an Asian tour. He closed his trip today by meeting with leaders of Japan and China. Obama was trying to broaden U.S. influence in a part of the world long dominated by China.


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OK. We assume that the last three digits on the bills can be treated as random and "uniformly distributed". This just means that on any bill you pick out, the 1000 possible combinations of 3 digits (running from up to ).
For part A, imagine looking at one bill first - it gives you a specific 3 digits. Then look at the other bill - the probability of those 3 digits being equal to those on the first bill is just:
Part B is a little more complicated. To solve it, I'm going to ask a slightly different question:
"You have 10 bills. What is the probability that no two of them share their last three digits?"
This time, imagine laying all 10 bills out in a row. Starting at one end, read the bills one at a time. Stop whenever you see a "match". If you get to the end without reading the same number twice, then (obviously) no two of them are the same.
So, the overall probability of no matches comes by multiplying these nine probabilities together, giving you
- When you look at "bill #1", you get one 3-digit code to hold in your head.
- When you look at "bill #2", the probability of that code not being equal to bill #1 is . And, in this case, you can move on to bill #3.
- When you look at "bill #3", the probability of it not being equal to either bill #1 or bill #2 is (by the time to get to reading bill #3, you know that bills #1 & 2 are different.)
- Keep going. If you make it to bill #10, you'll have 9 distinct numbers in your head, and the probability that bill #10 isn't equal to any of them is .
So, the probability of that there is a match (2 or more codes being equal) is .
- - -
I fear I might have made this look more complicated than it really is. I invite anyone with a more concise argument to jump in. ;P


text:
Exodus 16:24, 1115, 18, 3234comment (0)
April 8, 2010
By Jeffrey S. Quiett
Related Scripture: Exodus 16:24, 1115, 18, 3234
Explore the Bible
Associate professor of marriage and family counseling, University of Mobile
Exodus 16:2–4, 11–15, 18, 32–34
Victory Gives Way to Complaint (2–4)
The Israelites traveled for approximately a month and evidently exhausted all their food supplies. This harsh reality led them to complain against Moses. They forgot their recent victory over the Egyptians as they expressed a lack of confidence in God's ability to provide for them. Like Lot's wife (Gen. 19:26), the Israelites looked backward to their former life in Egypt, and it seemed preferable to what they were experiencing in the desert. Interestingly the Israelites' memory was faulty. The "flesh pots" referred to were kettles full of flesh, but meat was not part of the everyday diet of poor men or slaves in Egypt. It is like the man who remembers the "good old days," which probably weren't quite as good as he remembers.
God responded to the complaints by telling Moses He would "rain bread from heaven." "Bread" in the Old Testament frequently means "food" in general. There seems to be two purposes of God's provision. The first purpose was to feed the Israelites, but the second purpose was to "test" their obedience. The instructions were quite simple. The Israelites were to gather only enough for the day and twice as much on the sixth day to prepare for the Sabbath. Our tendency is to want more than what God has provided. This same tendency tested Israel's obedience.
Complaint Gives Way to Provision (11–15)
Once again, God took care of the Israelites through His miraculous provision. The provision's purpose was to point the Israelites to God. The provision itself was not the focus; the focus was God (12). We often confuse the gift with the gift giver. God is providing for our needs on a daily basis, which is meant to remind us of His presence and love.
In the evening, quail came and lit in the camp, covering the ground. These migratory birds can still be observed on the Sinai Peninsula, traveling in vast numbers. When they light, they are exhausted and can be captured easily by hand in great quantities.
The next morning, dew covered the ground. When it evaporated, a small substance covered the ground and provided additional food for the Israelites. Scholars for centuries have sought to explain this miraculous provision through "natural" means. Some have suggested tree resin, while others have used insect secretions to explain the event. The text, however, suggests a miraculous event, considering the duration and timing of the manna. Moses, once again, made it clear that this unique food was from God. Daily provisions give us further opportunities to know and worship God.
God Provides (18)
Following Moses' instructions, the Israelites gathered the manna each day. What they gathered was just enough for their daily dietary needs. Recent economic problems have intensified the discussion concerning wants and needs. Scripture makes it clear that God provides for our needs as He did for the Israelites so many times. We tend to confuse wants with needs and, like the Israelites, complain that our perceived "needs" are not being met. These "needs," however, are often "wants" when we honestly look at our lives and how God would have us to live.
Remembering God for Needs Met (32–34)
Once the Israelites' needs were satisfied, God through Moses commanded them to set aside a portion of the manna as a testimony of His ability to meet their needs. God's provision gave rise to thankfulness. The needs that God met in the lives of the Israelites were to point them back to Him and give them a reason not to become prideful in thinking themselves self-sufficient. Most scholars agree that "Testimony" is a reference to the Ark of the Covenant. The purpose of God's provision for our needs is always the same. God's provision intends to direct our attention toward Him and not give us a false sense of self-sufficiency. The temptation is to focus on our needs and not on the One who supplies our needs. The manna kept the Israelites alive and challenged them to rely solely on God for their well-being. The ability to live and live fully comes only from God. This is why Jesus later identified Himself as "the Bread of Life" (John 6:58).


text:
19-Feb-2006 - 23-Feb-2006
Seminar for Tourism Planning at Major World Heritage Archaeological Sites
The central purpose of the Seminar is to draw up a proposal on standards for the planning of the public and tourist use of archaeological sites ...
10-Feb-2006 - 12-Feb-2006
Mediterranean sub-region informal meeting
The focal points of the Mediterranean gathered in Rome to discuss items of Action Plan relevant to the conservation and management of world ...
01-Feb-2006 - 01-Mar-2006
Call for Papers for ICOHTEC 2006: Deadline 1 March 2006
The International Committee for the History of Technology's 33rd Symposium in Leicester, UK, 15-20 August 2006'Transforming Economies and ...
Tuesday, 31 January 2006
Call For Papers: Deadline For Submission Of Abstracts 15 February 2006
Documentation for Conservation and Development: New Heritage Strategies for the Future 11th INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR (11-16 September 2006) FORUM ...
30-Jan-2006 - 01-Feb-2006
Meeting on Implementing the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas: Conservation NGOs and WH Sites
The World Heritage Centre, in an effort to develop a more systematic approach to cooperation with our natural heritage conservation partners, and ...
Monday, 30 January 2006
Plantin-Moretus House-Workshops-Museum Complex Celebrates Inscription on World Heritage List
The Complex was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2005 and a special ceremony will take place to mark this event. The Plantin-Moretus ...
26-Jan-2006 - 27-Jan-2006
[in French only] Séminaire pour la préparation du plan de gestion du site de Ouadi Qadisha, Liban
[in French only] La réunion porte sur la présentation de la problématique et des documents préparatoires tels que: - l'état de la question, la ...
16-Jan-2006 - 26-Jan-2006
Sharing Our Heritages (SOH) - Paris / Val de Loire Master Class
Over the past two years the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO has defined a strategy that aims to encourage universities worldwide to develop World ...
16-Jan-2006 - 21-Jan-2006
Seeing with Young Eyes – Teacher Training Workshop
The objective of this third sub-regional South-East Asian Teacher Training Workshop is to bring educators and heritage experts together in order ...
09-Jan-2006 - 15-Jan-2006
Management Plan Workshop - Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor World Heritage site
The purpose of the Workshop is to gather all stakeholders in the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor World Heritage site and involve ...
05-Jan-2006 - 08-Jan-2006
Archaeological Institute of America's Annual Meeting
The Archaeological Institute of America will hold its 107th Annual Meeting in Montréal, Québec, January 5-8, 2006. The AIA/APA Annual Meeting ...
01-Jan-2006 - 31-Mar-2006
The Euromed Heritage Journalistic Award
The Euromed Heritage Journalistic Award is an international press competition dealing with the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. ...
Saturday, 31 December 2005
Call for applicants - The 2006 Marc de Montalembert Grant for the Understanding of Mediterranean Cultures
A grant of 7,000 Euros and the possibility of spending six months at the Marc de Montalembert Foundation in the old town of Rhodes is offered to ...
14-Dec-2005 - 16-Dec-2005
International Seminar on the Protection of World Cultural Heritage
This international seminar is held as a follow-up to the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005 in Kobe, Japan. The seminar ...
12-Dec-2005 - 16-Dec-2005
UNESCO Regional Workshop on Periodic Reporting Follow-up for North-East and South-East Asia
The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Malaysia and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre are jointly organizing a Regional Workshop as a ...
Wednesday, 7 December 2005
European Forum "Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe"
At the current uncertain phase of the building of Europe which is marked by a growing gap between Europe's citizens and Europe's Institutions as ...


text:
Entrepreneur Honors Parents with Engineering Scholarship
Richard L. "Rocket" Ramsey (Engineering '76)
Ask Richard Ramsey (Engr '76) about his undergraduate years in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and he can tell you how the rigorous academics and problem-solving skills he acquired there provided him the tools he needed to become the successful businessman and entrepreneur he is today.
"With SEAS, it was primarily about how to solve problems," said Ramsey, the Engineering School's campaign co-chair. "Even though I never became an engineer, everything I've done with my career has been based on that premise."
Ramsey has started, developed and sold three successful companies—all of them focused on identifying emerging technologies to provide business solutions. The last company, Locus One, was among the first to provide wireless e-mail, several years ahead of the competition.
With a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Locus One, Ramsey set up acharitable remainder unitrust (CRUT). In 2007 he transferred trusteeship of the CRUT to the University based on the strength of the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO), which manages the University's endowment and other related investments. When the trust terminates, a percentage of the remaining monies will support the Priscilla D. and Lyle B. Ramsey Scholarship at the Engineering School.
The scholarship was established by Ramsey in honor of his mother, a World War II Civil Air Patrol pilot and amateur golfer; and his father, a top graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a career naval officer. Through a recent gift of appreciated stock, he was able to designate his family scholarship as one of the first fully endowed Rodman scholarships, reserved for top engineering students.
Ramsey believes the University needs more planned gifts to strengthen the academic, research and leadership opportunities it offers its students.
"The Engineering School produces a lot of leaders during their stay at UVA and it's amazing what our grads get involved in," he said. "Only half stay engineers. The other half become successful in other fields. Giving to the Engineering School—and other schools at the University—is an investment in a small group of highly motivated, highly talented, very conscientious future leaders."
Ramsey would like to see an expansion of the kinds of exciting collaborative initiatives—such as the biomedical engineering program and the ecoMOD affordable housing project—now under way between the School of Engineering and other schools on Grounds.
"We have great centers of learning here," Ramsey said. "The more we can encourage collaboration among schools, the more well-rounded leaders we will have. We've become a society of specialists, but we need to broaden that scope. Students need exposure to the arts, to classics, to undergraduate business programs, to architecture, etc. That's exactly what Thomas Jefferson was looking toward—being good at your area of expertise but also understanding the big picture."


text:
Netanyahu Touts Economic Achievements in Face Global Crisis
At the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touted his government's economic accomplishments and the strength of the Israeli economy relative to the global economy.
"The world is still in a continuing economic crisis, the worst to strike the global economy in 80 years, Netanyahu said. "We are obliged to tighten our belt in order to maintain the Israeli economy."
Nevertheless, Netanyahu said the government has taken action to increase social welfare programs including making education free starting at age three, which just took affect and providing free dental care for children up to age 12.
The Prime Minister said that extending free education to children to the age of three would save the average household NIS 800 ($200) a month.
He also pointed to the reforms in cellar phone market forcing cell phone companies to share their infrastructure, which has allowed several new companies to emerge offering unlimited cell phone plans at NIS 100 ($25) per month or less.
Netanyahu said these moves were "the most social thing" to do, referencing the attacks made on the government by social justice protestors and Labor party leader Shelly Yachamovitch.
In addition, Netanyahu cited the most recent unemployment report putting the unemployment rate for July at 6.5%, which Netanyahu said was "lower than the unemployment rate in the US, Europe and almost every other developed state."
Netanyahu also addressed Iran's nuclear program, reiterating his position that diplomacy has failed because the world has not set clear red lines.
The IAEA "report confirms what we have been saying for some time," Netanyahu said. "While the international sanctions are indeed making things difficult for the Iranian economy, they are not delaying the progress of the Iranian nuclear project."
According to the report, Iran doubled the number of centrifuges in its nuclear facility near Qom, which is buried deep in a mountain and considered immune to Israeli attack.
Although not all these centrifuges are operational, according to The New York Times, the facility has three-fourths the amount of centrifuges it would need to be completely operational.
The Times also reported that the agency found evidence of an extensive clean up at another cite where IAEA inspectors believe explosives tests may have been conducted.Daniel Tauber
About the Author: Daniel Tauber is the Executive Director of Likud Anglos, and a former Opinions Editor at JewishPress.com. Daniel is also an attorney admitted to practice law in Israel and New York and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. You can follow him on facebook and twitter.
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text:
Bombing at police station in Mexico State
From Culmine (February 9, 2011):
But who votes for them? Who lowers their head in deference? Who admires them and wants, or at least wants their kids, to be just like them? Who remains silent in the face of the injustices they commit? There is only one answer: SOCIETY.
—Gerasimos Tsakalos
During the night of February 5, we decided to attack our old enemies. The target was a police station located in the Potrero suburb of Coacalco, Mexico State.
At around 8 p.m., we placed an explosive device made from butane gas canisters and gasoline next to a motorcycle parked near the entrance to the station. A homemade delay activated the fuse and detonated the explosive, causing a loud noise to shake the area. The motorcycle was damaged, as was the façade of the station that gives refuge to the idiotic defenders of those who believe they are masters of everything.
Several vans arrived on the scene, full of police imbeciles dressed in their military uniforms. They showed up just in time to get a look at the remains of our explosive.
This attack was specially planned and designed to occur when the police were most vulnerable in their "workplace." A police van with its siren on right in front of us didn't stop our operation.
They should know that, yet again, they haven't stopped us. They should know that these attacks won't cease. It's as easy for us to leave behind a bag filled with explosives as it is to make an attempt on their lives. We don't care if they might be fathers with families, or any of that shit. They are police, and the only things they deserve are bombs, fire, stones, and death. Do they think we haven't seen them extort? Do they think we haven't seen their convoys, taking note of their lack of courage as they terrorize with their rifles and covered faces? Do they think we haven't seen the bastards from the Coacalco Special Rapid Reaction Squad (GERI-C) making the rounds in their armored trucks, deluding themselves into believing that they are the heroes of Coacalco? Do they think we haven't seen their extreme megalomania as they ride around in their black trucks? They are more like shock troops or paramilitaries than loyal servants of the capital-state's orders. They should know this: The only thing they evoke is not fear, but disgust and revulsion at their righteous authority as well as their uniform.
We don't care if this kneeling, submissive society respects or fears them. It doesn't matter to us if people cheer them or get scared when they pass by. We are not a vanguard, here to defend the "poor little exploited ones." We are not avengers of the "oppressed people." We are sickened by all those leftist causes that only make the system reexamine and repair its flaws. We aren't fighting for a humane ecocide. We're fighting for ourselves as individuals, for the animals, for the earth, for autonomy, and for wild nature.
It's worth saying again: We won't sit around waiting to attack, since we are not part of this cowardly society. We will go to their headquarters and their guard posts, and when they hear an explosion or see something engulfed by flames, every policeman in Mexico and the rest of the world will be reminded of us.
Anytime and anywhere, we will continue to attack despite all the security cameras they've put in the streets and avenues, despite their military-police routines, despite their operations, despite their threats. Now we've made it clear.
The war continues. With or without our imprisoned comrades, the bombs will keep exploding and the fire will continue to light up the night sky, because chaos is not dead!
Direct solidarity with Adrián Magdaleno Gonzales: You're still standing, so go ahead and laugh at the prison authorities who think they've crushed your spirit!
Direct solidarity with Braulio Arturo Durán: You keep smashing the cells that hold you captive, and we'll keep shattering reality on the outside!
Direct solidarity with the "bombings case" prisoners in Chile: No set-up lasts forever!
Direct solidarity with Walter Bond in the United States: Even the FBI can't eradicate your wild conviction!
Direct solidarity with Silvia, Costa, and Billy in Switzerland, and Leo in Italy: Avanti with anticivilization and eco-anarchist ideas!
Direct solidarity with Panayiotis Argyrou, Gerasimos Tsakalos, and the others charged with being members of the Fire Cells Conspiracy in Greece, who are now on hunger strike: Antisocial, nihilist, and anarchist until the end!
—Earth Liberation Front (Informal Anarchist Federation/Global Network)


text:
This is my second self-observation report based on my weekly research that I had been doing since the beginning of the semester. Report 2 focuses on my personal experience of dealing with new information behaviors. Each week I had to post two messages on the Psychology 409b message board on WebCT. One message would be a short summary of my research that I did on a particular topic. The second message was a response to a students research posting.
I was already familiar with using WebCT and doing research on the Web, therefore I did not experience as much anxiety as I did during the previous semester. While doing the research I had to continuously take detailed notes of any of the errors that I made, such as what I forgot or neglected to do. I also had to make notes of my feelings and orientation while trying to complete this task.
This report will touch upon the different parts toward my acquisition of information literacy. First I will describe how I felt and what I was thinking as I progressed through each step of this task. How I coped with frustration and uncertainty and how I progressed through the developmental stages from beginning to end. Including my Affective and Cognitive thought processes. Next, I will list the errors that I made while doing the research and my reason for committing this error. I will then discuss my experience of having to face a due date for completing each task. I will explain how I managed to cope with the anxiety and distress that I felt while completing this task and my strategies for coping with uncertainty and frustration. Finally, I will have my Pre- and Post- ratings in a data table. The table will discuss how this type of self-observation data which can help you (the reader) and others to study information behavior and computer systems.
|My Affective and Cognitive Information Behaviors that I went through while completing each of the sub-tasks for Task 2
|My Affective
Information Behavior
(feelings, emotions, intentions and reactions)
|My Affective Information Behavior
(thoughts, thinking sequences, strategies, plans, interpretations)
|Filled out the pre-ratings form.
|I feel confident that this task will not take very long.
|I should try and put more detail into my pre-ratings rather than just doodling it down on my note pad.
|Logged into WebCT.
|This should be quite routine, since I have already done this research task before.
|I wonder if I am the last one posting.
|Viewed the message board.
|I felt relief that the format of WebCT did not change at all.
|I wished the way the messages are displayed could be improved. The way it is now I have to click to view the thread, then click on each individual message. I do not like to click "next" because it is difficult to tell where the end of each thread is.
|Chose a topic, and a search engine.
|I am relieved that the topics are much more specific this semester.
|I am going to use google.com because I used that search engine last semester and it worked out really well.
|Began to look for articles.
|I feel a bit overwhelmed because even though my search was quite well defined, my search results still had many hits.
|I think I should just go down the list and each site that has potential and simply "right click", and open each page in a different window to save time. Rather than opening a page, waiting for it to load, read it, go back, look over the list again, etc.
|Logged back into WebCT
|I felt relieved that I finished finding an article.
|I better double check all the postings to make sure no one else has the same article as me.
|Posted my research message
|I felt a bit nervous because I was a bit unsure whether or not my message had everything.
|The instructions for posting is much more detailed. I better double check to make sure that I included everything that is required in the research posting.
|Read my message immediately after posting.
|I felt much relief to know that my message looked okay and did not contain any spelling errors.
|Whew! I got this task done, hmmm looks good.
|Filled out post-ratings
|I felt much better that I finished this task.
|The message posting seems much better because it is much more specific, with sub-categories for each main topic.
|My Affective and Cognitive Information Behaviors that I went through while completing each of the sub-tasks for Task 5
My Affective Information Behavior
(feelings, emotions, intentions and reactions)
My Cognitive Information Behaviors
(thoughts, thinking sequences, strategies, plans, interpretations)
|Fill out pre-ratings
|I am feeling really anxious because I always wait until the last minute to finish my assignments.
|I know that procrastination is a terrible attribute, but I notice at times that I concentrate much better and I work much harder when the pressure is on.
|Opened my Report 1 and deleted the content so that the format will be the same for the two reports.
|I feel like making my pages consistent because I hate it when people make pages and each page has a different format. Such as the links being at the top on one page and then off to the left in the next page.
|This should save me some time rather than trying to build a new page from nothing.
|I cut and paste the instructions from the class Home Page and put it temporarily into my Report 2.
|I feel much more reassured that I no longer have to have an extra window open to make sure that I touch upon everything that the instructions talk about.
|All I have to do is separate the instructions and Viola! I have an outline already set up with just a click of the mouse.
|Fill in my outline
|Although the outline is well laid out, I am still taking a lot of time sorting through my notes trying to figure out how I want to separate my steps into this graph.
|I will include as much detailed notes as possible in order to get that A.
|Complete post-ratings
|I felt much less anxious that I finally completed this task, but very upset that I missed the deadline by so many days.
|I think I should go back and look over my notes.
Analysis of Errors for Task 5
Error rating based on a 10 point Likert scale.
(10= Extremely Severe Error 1= Extremely Minor Error)
|Description of Error
|How I felt
|Error Rating (1-10)
|Cause of Error
|Solution for Error
|I did not find the listing for Psychology 409b, on the WebCT site where everyone is supposed to add on a class.
|I felt quite stupid because I could have avoided such a simple error by just taking my time. Rather than just rushing through things, like I usually do.
|I already had experience with this type of task, therefore because of that I was too overconfident that registering on WebCT for this class was going to be a breeze. Without thinking I just scanned through the entire list, with the assumption that my eyes could quickly scan the list and the listing for the class would "jump out" at me. As I held down the "scroll" button I quickly realized that I had already passed it.
|I need to be more cautious because taking shortcuts and not paying attention to detail could possibly lead much greater mistakes in the future.
|I was late with posting my research message on WebCT.
|I felt really overwhelmed with all the other assignments that I neglected to complete my research postings on time, so I felt really disappointed in myself for being such a forgetful and lazy person.
|Since we are given the opportunity to make it up by posting two extra messages the following week, I kept postponing my research posting.
|I should have left Post-It notes on my computer screen, to remind me that I need to be posting two messages per week.
|I could not remember my Password. This was making me very annoyed. I hate it when I cannot remember my password. I had to change my normal email accounts so many times already because I could not remember my Password, and I could never remember the answer to the hint.
|I felt really annoyed after the first few unsuccessful attempts to access my account, I began to feel really discouraged and I was almost to the point where I was going to give up and start up another account.
|I should write it down, but so many people use the same computer that I am using right now it. The wrong eyes may see it. I am just too paranoid and always change my passwords, therefore if I do not go to a certain account I always forget the Password. It is not too safe to use the same thing for every account.
|I just need to write it down on a piece of paper. That would ensure that I do not forget. It is just too time consuming typing things
|There were many good sites, but many times on my first try I would find sites that needed more information
|I felt a bit dissappointed because I thought that I had enough experience where finding a good site would be no problem.
|I was too over confident of my abilities and did not narrow down my search.
|I need to be more specific. That would avoid the hassel of getting many unrelated results.
|Pre and Post Ratings for Task 5
2. Mood
(1= negative; 10=positive)
|By the time I began to fill out my post rating for this task my mood began to get much better because that was one task that I had finished, which was a great relief.
5. Importance of succeeding at this task
(1=not important; 10=extremely important)
|Throughout this entire task the importance of succeeding at this task remained consistent.
6. (Expected) difficulty in performing task
(1=not much; 10=a lot)
|As with many things in life, I made a major mistake and underestimated the amount of time it took for me to complete this task. I thought that this task would be as easy as Task 2. Unfortunately I was very wrong, and it took twice as long as I initially expected.
7. How upset if I failed at task
(1=not upset; 10=extremely upset)
|At the beginning I would not have been as upset, but as the days went on and it noticed how much difficulty I was having with this task, it was bothering me more and more.
8. Degree of certainty in completing task
(1=doubtful; 10=almost certain)
|Throughout the entire task, I remained very persistent in trying to complete this task.
9. Likelihood of becoming good at task
(1=pretty doubtful; 10=almost certain)
|By the time I filled out the post ratings I gained more confidence that I would become good at this task as long as I am motivated and practice.
10. Main reason for completing task
(a=luck; b=skills Ive acquired; c=help from others; d= combination of things)
|I never attribute anything that happens in life to luck. Everything happens for a reason, whether it be good or bad, it all serves an ultimate purpose in the end. The main reason for completing this task I feel is mainly due to the skills that I have acquired.
11. Amount of motivation to complete task
(1=slightly motivated; 10=very highly motivated)
|Thoughout the entire task I was very motivated to complete this task because I had procrastinated for so long, so the pressure was on for me to finish this task.
12. Computers make it easier to perform the task
(1=I strongly disagree; 10=I very much agree)
|I totally agree that computers make this task easier to perform because it makes doing research so much easier. I do not even have to get up and go anywhere. The only problem with computers, are that there are too many distractions, such as visitng other sites, or someone would "Instant Message" me while I was doing my work.
13. (Expected) amount of effort to complete task
(1=not much; 10=a tremendous amount)
From the beginning to the end I had an idea that this task would take much effort to complete.
|Experience of having to face a due date
|My biggest problem of
doing Report 2 was facing the due date. Originally this assignment was due on
November 7, but Dr. James postponed the due date for one week longer. Even with the
extention, I still did not manage my time very efficiently. Having to deal with
work, school and trying to deal with personal problems is much too overwhelming.
So far this entire semester I have just been too stressed out and lately I have been scurrying to complete this task. I am really disappointed that even with the one week extention, I still am working on this after the stated due date.
Throughout this semeseter I have missed many deadlines. Such as the two message postings, I posted many late. Every time I missed a posting for the week I would make sure to write a note that I needed to make up for two postings the next week. I noticed that if I don't make a note about that then there is a chance that I may forget to make it up and I may be short posting by the end of the semester.
I felt very stressed out while completing this task because I was already so very late with uploading this report. I need to work on managing my time better. Many times I would get side tracked and begin to work on another assignment.
|The most common and major error that I made while
completing this task was always waiting until the last minute to finish anything such as;
posting a message, a response, starting on my tasks, etc.
One odd thing that I began to realize is that when I start early on an assignment I get sidetracked very easily. Earlier in the semester while I was doing my web research, every time I went to Google.com and began searching for my topic, I noticed that one by one I would open up another window to check my mail. Then open another to check out other forums, etc. Within an hour I, usually have the first window minimized (my research topic) and I am blasting my music, chatting with someone, downloading music and movies, buying things from Ebay, Amazon, etc. By the time I get off the computer I forgot about what I initially went on the computer for.
The purpose of this assignment was for me observe any errors that I made, while learning to do something new and different. This task is indeed a different task that I have never done in any other class before. Although I did have one class where I had to also post messages on WebCT, I never had a class where I had to post my assignments all on the Web. That was a really new and interesting skill to learn. When I first began taking notes about the errors that I made while completing this task I did not notice how many erros that I made while trying to finish Task 5. Only after I began writtting this Report did I realize the small things that I did not think was a noticable error. Such as getting side tracked by looking up other things.
Another part of this assignment was for me to take notes on my Affective and Cognitive thinking that was occuring while I doing this assignment. The more that I procrastinated made my self-confidense go up because I remembered many times I have procrastinated on an assignment. Then in the end I got a good grade, therefore since I had a good outcome from procrastinating for so long I use the anxiety that I felt earlier to my advantage. With all the stress and pressure to complete this assignment building up, I began to feel more anxious and it helped me to focus much better on the task at hand.
|Advise for future Generations
|These tasks may seem easy at the beginning, but if one begins to fall behind, you better catch up as soon as possible. These due dates sneak up on you so fast and there are so many other things that students have to worry about besides just school. It is always a very good idea to be on top of it. I made a drastic mistake of falling behind on my work. Now I am paying for it because I worry that I may not get a good grade because I may have left something out of this. Yet procrastination maybe good thing because I know it may sound weird, but I like to work under stress because that is when I concentrate the hardest.


text:
The legend, written in Akkadian, describes how Ishtar, goddess of sexuality and warfare, went to the Underworld. Ishtar decided to undertake the journey, although the Underworld was known as the 'land of no return' for humans and gods alike. On the way down she passes through seven doorways and each time the gatekeeper removes from her the symbols and clothes of her divinity. Eventually Ishtar comes face to face with Erishkigal, the goddess of death, and collapses. All sexual activity stops on earth. The gods are distraught and Ea, god of wisdom, creates an impotent boy who is attractive to Erishkigal. He manages to persuade Erishkigal to have Ishtar sprinkled with the waters of life and revived. Ishtar passes back through the seven doors, and regains her clothing and attributes.
Neo-Assyrian era, 7th century BCE, from Nineveh, northern Iraq, part of the library of King Ashurbanipal, 669-631 BCE. (The British Museum, London)
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text:
Find out how you can apply, based on a medical emergency, to receive annual leave donated by other employees.
Heads of Departmental elements, with the concurrence of their servicing Human Resources staff, are authorized to waive the bi-weekly pay limitation for employees engaged in emergency response activities that include, but are not limited to, disaster relief assistance, radiological assistance, and terrorist attacks. This authority will expire December 31, 2015.
The Facility Representative Award Program is a special award designed to recognize superior or exemplary service by a Facility Representative over a period of one year. This special award program has been established in accordance with the requirements of Department of Energy (DOE) Order 331.1C, Employee Performance Management and Recognition Program.
The Safety System Oversight (SSO) Annual Award is a special award designed to recognize superior or exemplary service by an employee who has performed SSO functions.
This memorandum provides policy guidance on how to consistently address misclassified positions within the Department and is effective immediately. There are several different circumstances that affect how a misclassified position will be addressed.
This memorandum provides guidance on determining an employee's Fair Labor Standards Act status within the Department.
Office of the Chief Human Capital OfficerUS Department of Energy1000 Independence Ave., SWWashington, DC, 20585


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A Sincerely Special Sushi Staff
Wednesday - December 19, 2007
Dear Pamela,
I would like to say thank you to the staff of Genki Sushi Ala Moana and the Ala Moana security. One night while enjoying our food, my husband fainted and was heading for the floor. After reaching over to grab him, I yelled for help, and the customers behind me and some Genki Sushi staff came to the rescue. My husband came to shortly after, which seemed forever!
To make a long story short, my husband is fine.
Thanks to the young man and his wife, who helped. Also, our good friend James Meyer, a dear friend and nurse, helped on the phone.
I am so thankful for those people that night. It was one that my children and I will never forget. May God bless all of them!
Lei Hatcher
Dear Lei,
"That's going above and beyond their duty," says Genki Sushi human resources manager Dana Kuboyama. "This is something that came out of common courtesy. It shows how they were brought up. We're so proud that our employees would share their aloha in such a giving way."
Dear Pamela,
I want to express my gratitude to two sales associates at City Mill Pearl City. My wife is recovering from hip surgery and requires a bed step stool. We are in our 80s, and as the caregiver I wanted to get something that allowed my wife to get on and off the bed without difficulty. Our family doctor has a metal bed step stool for patients, and I've tried to locate a similar stool at three medical equipment stores. The one available costs up to $100.
At City Mill, Natz suggested lumber and plywood. Roy in the carpenter shop cut the lumber to the desired size and put together the stool. The charges for everything were less than $30. It was truly a grand demonstration of aloha spirit and the inherent goodness of people. It also demonstrated the exceptional quality of service provided by City Mill.
Takashi Omiya
Dear Takashi,
City Mill Pearl City sales associates Roy Urmementa and Ray Natz say they were just doing their jobs. "I wanted to help him out as best I could," says Roy. "It made me feel good to get the job done."
Dear Pamela,
I would like to send a Big Mahalo to Tim, who found my red plastic container at the Ko Olina Resort lagoon No. 4. It had my driver's license, wedding ring and money in it. I didn't realize it was missing until the next day. I prayed a Good Samaritan would find it and he did. Thanks again and God bless you.
Clovita Ledward
Dear Clovita,
Tim Kurashima, an information specialist with British Aerospace, was at the beach with his family when he spotted your container. "It was in a bush near the showers. I picked it up and looked inside. We couldn't find a phone number, so we thought it best to call police. I'm glad it relieved her mind."
(If you know someone who deserves some Applause, send your letters to Pamela Young, MidWeek Applause, KITV, 801 S. King St., Honolulu, HI, 96813 or e-mail email@example.com. Include your name, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of your "applaudee" so we can contact him or her.)
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Sep 17,2014
Apr 15,2014
Hours of Operation :
Tues - Fri 9am-9pm
Sat - 9am - 6pm
CLOSED: Sunday and Monday
In luxurious style at affordable prices, we welcome you to relax, sip a glass of wine or a fresh cup of Starbuck's coffee and leave your worries at the door.
Our staff of professional, licensed massage therapists, estheticians, and nail technicians are at your service. We offer Swedish, deep tissue, mommy-to-be, hot stone, and corporate chair massages.
Skin care treatments specific for all ages and skin types are available.
Pampering hand, foot and nail treatments, along with body treatments and waxing are available.
Our treatment rooms include the latest technology in spa and massage equipment, a couples massage room, tropical decor, soothing music, and a multi-jet rain shower. We offer a full line of body, hair, skin, and makeup products from Éminence Organic Skin Care and Glo Minerals Cosmetics. Airbrush tanning and airbrush makeup are available from Infinity Sun.
Special packages are available and are a great way to combine your favorite services or simply to experience new treatments. We also host bridesmaid parties, birthday celebrations, and office parties.
Gift Certificates avaiable 24-7 at front desk
Gift Packages are available for holidays, birthdays, or other special events.


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You purchased this item onView this order
Desert Essence, Organics, Lip Tint, Coconut, .35 fl oz (10.35 ml) (Discontinued Item)
- You earn loyalty credit for every order you place at iHerb!
- Loyalty credit is equal to 10% of the value of your order, excluding shipping charges.
- Your loyalty credit will be applied towards your next order as soon as your current order has shipped.
- Your loyalty credits are valid for up to 60 days from the date of your last purchase.
Shipping Weight:?0.06 lbs (0.03 kg)Shipping WeightThe Shipping Weight includes the product, protective packaging material and the actual shipping box. In addition, the Shipping Weight may be adjusted for the Dimensional Weight (e.g. length, width & height) of a package. It is important to note that certain types of products (e.g. glass containers, liquids, fragile, refrigerated or ice packed) will often require protective packaging material. As such, these products will reflect a higher Shipping Weight compared to the unprotected product.
- Product Code: DES-33760
- UPC Code: 718334337609
- Package Quantity: .35 fl oz (10.35 ml)
- Dimensions: 0.7 x 1.2 x 3.4 in, 0.05 lbs (0.02 kg)
- Soothes and Protects Lips
- Infuses Lip with Moisture
- Provides Hint of Natural Color and Flavor
- NSF - Contains Organic Ingredients
- Certified to NSF Organic Standard
- Preservative Free
- Cruelty Free & Biodegradable
Soothe and protect your lips with a hint of color.
Organic Jojoba Seed and Sunflower Oils quickly penetrate lips to deeply nourish and hydrate. Organic Coconut Oil smoothes and softens.
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Artificial Dyes
- Petroleum Based Ingredients
- Glycols
- Vegetarian
- Wheat & Gluten Free
- Recyclable
- Biodegradable
- Renewable Sources
- Cruelty Free=
Suggested Use
Apply as needed for soft smooth lips.
Other Ingredients
Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, beeswax (cera alba)*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, natural flavor (aroma), silica, mica, stevia rebaudiana leaf/stem extract*, titanium dioxide, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, tocopherol (vitamin E), helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, iron oxides, yucca schidigera leaf/root/stem extract (yucca cactus)*
*Certified Organic
No animals harmed or animal testing of raw materials or finished product.
It's more moisturizing than just applying coconut oil straight on your lips, I think. It has a hint of shimmer. I will buy this again for sure.
Cheap and good
Posted by 5713386362190983234 on Dec 02, 2013
A little too much coconut for my taste. But very effective.
Posted by 4635703180196179420 on Jun 30, 2013
texture bien nourrissante
Smells great
Posted by anettemostad on Oct 07, 2012
Nice smell, but no spf
Like it!
Posted by Reviewer2364573 on Jan 06, 2012
Love this one! It sparkels and look really good, no color thogh.
Love this company!
Posted by Reviewer2463340 on Nov 14, 2011
I LOVE Desert Essence products, and use everything of their brand. I only tried the coconut lip tint once and felt a slight tingle on my lips which was uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if it was due to my chapped lips and this product was oily, or if there was an ingredient i was sensitive to. I will probably attempt another application eventually. I highly recommend ALL of Desert Essence's products!


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Anyone who paid any attention to the Washington Redskins last season could tell you that there is something very wrong with their pass defense. Josh Wilson has been underwhelming, DeAngelo Hall has been up and down while providing a persistent headache and no safety currently on their roster is capable of locking down either the strong or free safety positions.
This year's draft will not only focus on the defensive side of the ball, but the early picks will be used to fill the voids in the secondary.
The 'Skins don't have a first-round pick, so they've been working to evaluate talent for their first pick in the second round.
Here are the odds the Redskins pick their top targets with the 51st overall pick in this year's draft.


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Caribbean Sea: Fall 3-week, 2012
Travel Dates: November 29 - December 17, 2012
The Faculty
Rodney Hessinger, Professor of History
Renee Gutierrez, Assistant Professor of Spanish
The Course
INTD 280: Contested Seas: Exploration, Exploitation, and Resistance in the Caribbean Basin
3 credit hours plus 1 credit hour to be taken during fall 12-week session
The Program
Conquistadors, slaves, sailors, pirates, and merchants, among others, jostled for power in a contest over the Caribbean. This course will examine the conquest of the Caribbean basin by the colonial European powers from historical and literary perspectives. It will explore both rhetorical and physical contest, revealing how the major European New World empires rose and fell.
In the course of readings, students will encounter a literary contest over the Caribbean. From the very moment of arrival, the explorer Columbus staked rhetorical claim to the territory he saw, inscribing inhabited lands with new European names. Such presumptions aided and abetted conquest. It did not take long for dissenting voices to rise. Students will see how sailing has a discourse all its own. Needing to master both the open seas and the ship, students will need to learn a series of terms necessary to navigation.
Students will follow this journey in letters while sailing for 17 days aboard a traditional 125 foot schooner in the Caribbean. While aboard, they will learn basic sailing techniques and will be required to participate in the sailing and maintenance of the vessel. The time spent on the tall ship and in the Caribbean seaports will present tremendous learning opportunities. In the sailing of ship they will see how and why barriers of race and class became blurred upon sea-faring vessels. Living in close quarters where men relied heavily upon one another for survival, the niceties of status were often irrelevant to daily life. Expertise and skill counted most of all. Simultaneously, and paradoxically, they might come to appreciate why order was so violently enforced on vessels. Crews completing difficult tasks in concert demanded clear channels of communication and order.
We will visit a series of islands in our travels: San Juan, St. John, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Antigua. On these islands they will visit historic sites that were politically and economically important in the shaping of colonial empires. These sites will include Spanish fortifications in San Juan and the ruins of a colonial sugar plantation on St. John.
Class Requirements
Program participants will be graded on various criteria: a paper due before the trip on the assigned readings, class participation in discussions, an oral presentation on a port of call, reading presentation, their journal entries, 4 long answer quizzes on assigned readings, and a final reflective project on their journey in the Caribbean (completed once back at Hiram College).
Estimated Program Costs
The estimated trip fee of $4,000 (not including Hiram College tuition) includes the round trip airfare, all food and lodging on the vessel, and admission to sites in ports of call.
* Personal expenses, passport fees, and course texts are not included.
Students from Hiram College will not be charged room and board for the days they will be traveling overseas.
Application Deadline
March 9, 2012
A $75 non-refundable fee is due upon receipt of your application. This fee is used to pay for processing costs, an International Student Identity Card, passport holder, and luggage tags.


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This is a surprisingly great pie. I served it at a dinner party and no one guessed it was made from squash. You really have to try it to believe how good it is. I even enjoyed the leftovers for breakfast.
1 9 inch pie crust
3 cups mashed butternut squash* 1/2 cup evaporated fat-free milk 3/4 cup Egg Beaters or 3 eggs 3/4 cup Splenda or sugar* 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup flour 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup chopped pecans 3 tablespoon cold butter or margarine, cut in small pieces
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place prepared pie crust into 9 or 10 inch deep pie pan. In a large food processor, combine all of the filling ingredients. Process until very smooth. Pour into pie crust. Bake for 30 minutes. While this is baking, combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl. Using a pastry blender or a knife, cut butter into flour mixture. Remove pie from oven after 30 minutes and sprinkle topping on top of pie. Return pie to the oven and bake another 30- 40 minutes or until set in the middle. (Baking time is a total of 60 ? 70 minutes.) Cool before serving. Serve at room temperature.
Note: I prefer making my own mashed squash for this recipe from a 3 pound butternut squash. Microwave the squash for about 5- 10 minutes to soften it enough to cut it open safely. Peel squash with a potato peeler and cut into cubes. (Discard the seeds.) In a large covered sauce pan, cook the cubes of squash in boiling water until very tender. Drain well. If you prefer, you can use two 10 ounce packages of frozen mashed squash. If you use frozen mashed squash, you can use an electric mixer but if you use freshly cooked squash, you need to use the food processor to make it smooth enough
*In most recipes, I prefer to use part Splenda and part sugar. I tested this recipe with ½ cup Splenda and ¼ cup sugar.
Note: Garnish pie with whipped cream if desired.
Serves 10
Nutritional Information per serving:
Calories: 240 Fat, gm.: 9 Protein, gm.: 5 Carbs, gm.: 34 Cholesterol, mg.: 10 Fiber, gm.: 1.1


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The place mat is a favorite at many dinner tables: The often-whimsical plastic version catches the slip of spaghetti from a child's fork, while a nice cotton placemat elevates the dining experience without having to set down a tablecloth.
There's something civilized about setting an individual dining place with a frame of sorts. An heirloom set of fine linen place mats dresses the table quickly and elegantly. For something unusual, mats made of imitation or real tropical leaves, lashed bamboo sticks, glitter, pebbles or squares of birch bark create a textural platform for the plate and meal.
Place mats are a relatively inexpensive addition to dining-room decor and can also be used on portable trays or big coffee tables if meals are served unconventionally.
Here are a few new spring options from retailers and designers:
• New York designer Sandy Chilewich continues to experiment with her woven vinyl material, producing an array of textured mats in neutrals, metallics and colors. There's a hand-silkscreened, brushed dot pattern; a delicate filigreed foil mat; imitation printed cowhide; and a hip mod croc pattern in red, black and tan. (www.chilewich.com)
• CB2 has a selection of vinyl, basket-weave squares in on-trend hues such as carbon, chartreuse, orange and white. Textile designer Liora Manne's signature felting technique of layering and interlocking acrylic fibers is used in two very different place mats. A sophisticated plaid mat in layered grays and lime yellow pops when set with white china. And her laser-cut geometric Corte mats in peacock and fire-engine red pack a playful punch. (www.cb2.com)
• Eco-friendly dyes are used to make two midcentury patterned place mats at Crate & Barrel. Dax features a digital linear print in teals and greens, while Gus has a starburst pattern in muted sunset hues. For a more feminine look, there's Oona, an organdy and sateen cotton eyelet-patterned place mat, and the delicate Capiz shell mat, a luminous circle. (www.crateandbarrel.com)
• San Francisco-based Lian Ng's PopMat paper place mats are inspired by children's pop-up books. Made of recycled paper, Ng's mats come in packs of 10 and have a spot to write a guest's name. There are many designs that would work well for themed affairs or just for fun — butterflies, balloons, cakes, trees and even a troupe of safari animals. (www.publiqueshop.com)
• West Elm offers a dramatic graphic place mat inspired by Japanese ink-brush art and British designer Sarah Campbell's floral-print table linens. A trellis design in stone or citron takes the table in a tailored direction, and a denimlike mini stripe heads into farm table territory. (www.westelm.com)
• Elizabeth Liberty elevates lowly burlap to simple chic with hand-painted place mats stamped with cows, roosters and flowers. (www.etsy.com/shop/LibertyByDesign)
• Zazzle.com has a range of place mat designs, from vintage flora and fauna to edgy street art. You can contribute your own design if you're creative; most custom mats sell for about $20 each.
Or make your own place mats using some of the ideas at www.homemadesimple.com. You can cover a favorite fabric with iron-on vinyl using fusible webbing, or decoupage favorite print images on dollar-store mats. For a party, use scrapbook paper as place mats; you can recycle them afterward.
Search the Web for other ideas involving crocheting plastic bags, lashing together twigs, weaving T-shirt scraps and decoupaging greeting cards.


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I enjoy covering fantasy baseball. And every season there are always great fantasy baseball storylines that get a lot of nerdy seamheads like me excited. Last year Carlos Gonzalez made all of his owners incredibly thrilled after his MVP caliber season. As fun as fantasy baseball is, however, it would be criminal to ignore the real life accomplishments of some of the game's greatest teams and players. So, without further delay, let's take a look at some of the more impressive, tantalizing, and intriguing Major League Baseball storylines going into the 2011 season.
2011 Major League Baseball Storylines
By Andrew Burdick ,
These will be the storylines that hit so hard, you'll be glad you wore your cup.
Trying to channel the 1970's with these ugly jerseys? Possibly.
"Hi, I'm Tim Hudson. Quietly one of the best pitchers in baseball again."
There were six no hitters thrown in 2010, capped off by Roy Halladay's second no hitter of the year in the playoffs. The league ERA last year was 4.07, by far the lowest since the 2000 season when the league average ERA was 4.76. To give you an idea of how much the landscape of baseball has changed since 2000, chew on this: in 2000, the team leader in ERA was the Atlanta Braves, with an ERA of 4.05. In 2010, the World Series champion San Francisco Giants led the league with a team ERA of 3.36. You do the math.
Are his shoulder big enough to carry the Reds again?
It was refreshing to watch the seemingly nice-guy Joey Votto win his first MVP award after dealing with severe anxiety and depression in 2009. Votto singlehandedly mashed Cincinnati to a division title last season to the tune of .324/37/113. He even contributed 16 stolen bases to a thankful fantasy community.
Cincy returns the majority of their division winning roster in 2011, so it should be interesting to watch the three legged St. Louis/Cincinnati/Milwaukee race in the Central.
For $13 million a season, you can have all that you see here.
Pitching the first five years of his career in anonymity, Greinke finally lived up to his number one pick hype in 2009 when he had a statistical explosion during his Cy Young campaign. 2010 was a letdown for Greinke, whose ERA ballooned by two points and strikeouts decreased by 25%, while he pitched fewer innings. Separate sources confirmed that he was very vocal about his desire to leave Kansas City last year, and at times he was disengaged from the team because of the constant losing. Greinke got his wish this offseason as he was shipped to the open arms of Doug Melvin in Milwaukee and a contending NL Central Brewers team.
Will the move to the National League and competitive Milwaukee squad help Greinke regain his Cy Young form? We'll be finding out over the next few months in what should be a very competitive NL Central.
The safest witness protection placement would be the 5-slot in Philadelphia's rotation. No one will pay attention to you there.
If you talk to a Phillies' fan about this season, they will make sure to mention how their team has assembled the greatest rotation in the history of baseball. Cliff Lee summed it up best at a preseason press conference, however, when he stated:
I think we haven't thrown a single pitch as a group yet. So it's kind of early to say we're one of the best rotations in the history of the game. Obviously, we're a very talented group, and there is potential for all of that. But it's just that, it's potential.
The highest ERA out of the first four in their rotation last year was Cliff Lee at 3.18. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt struck out 219, 185, 211, and 193 batters respectively last season. Clearly the potential is there to have a run of really, really good seasons in Philadelphia. However, in Philadelphia it will ultimately come down to how many championship rings those players can bring to town.
What Rivera gets paid to do all spring. Keep his arm healthy.
Both the Yankees and Rivera think he has enough to last through two more Major League seasons. The Yankees are hedging their bets, however, by bringing in former Rays closer Rafael Soriano as an insurance policy and more consistent source of saves on Rivera's off days.
Regardless of what he does over the next two seasons, we're witnessing the twilight of arguably the best closer in the history of the game, who threw arguably the most dominant pitch ever. Enjoy it while you can.
Would you like to learn how to become a multi-millionaire in one year? Ask Jose Bautista how he did it.
At 29 years old, Bautista picked a great year to have the best season of his career. Bautista posted a .260/54/124, a .995 OPS and 100 walks. All of those numbers were by far career highs for the former utility player, who parlayed those numbers into a $64 million contract. Dan Szymborski from The Baseball Think Factory has stated that the odds of Bautista hitting 54 home runs last year were about 4.1 billion-to-1. He puts that in perspective by explaining that you would receive the same odds attempting to flip a coin on the same side 32 times in a row.
Definition of a baseball player: See Above.
Chipper Jones currently has 436 switch hitting home runs and is third all-time in that category behind Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray. He's been the face of the Atlanta Braves for the last 15 years and the Hall of Fame arguments have already started on his behalf. Hitting the 450 milestone would make his Hall of Fame case a little bit easier to rationalize.
How many Hall of Fame infielders does it take to win a World Series Championship?
Mr. Yankee is the active Major League leader in hits with 2,926, which leaves him 74 hits away from the 3,000 milestone. He would be the first player in the storied history of the Yankees to reach that milestone, which would be the icing on the Hall of Fame cake that is Jeter's career.
Jeter would probably tell you he'd trade all those hits for another World Series Championship this season, but I'm sure he'll have a little smile on his face when he sees 3,000 on the final stat line of his career.


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As we have seen with Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva, the best can't always stay on top. Eventually someone will have to take their place. These six fighters are the brightest looking stars that could make an impact in tomorrow's UFC.
They haven't looked perfect in every fight but they keep progressing in their skills and some of them could very well be challenging for a title soon. I'm not saying that they will be the next Georges St-Pierre or Anderson Silva but they may very well be at the top of their division someday. Now some of these fighters are not young, or very exciting, but they have the wins piling up, which is what matters most.


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Aaron Owens is good...at streetball. we know nothing about his NBA game. in the last season of the show he did try out with a few teams and made 10 day rosters i believe IF THAT. hes a remarkable talent but could he make it and be AS good as Skip to my Lou?? No.
not saying one is better than the other, BUT Alston did the smart thing and played college ball and got his name out that way aswell. the only reason i have to say Rafer is the choice is because hes the starting PG for the Toronto Raptors and he already has a HUGGGGGGE heads up on Owens.
but yea this is pointless i suppose...
PS professor is overrated.


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Having more available salary cap space than any NFL team, the Oakland Raiders are certain to be active in the free-agency period of the 2014 offseason.
Although some big names have come off the market within the past week by way of re-signings or franchise tags, this year's free-agent group still sets up nicely for what the Raiders need to do.
With the draft ideally being approached through a "best player available" mentality, free agency is where the Raiders can address their needs, and there is plenty of talent on the offensive line, defensive end, defensive tackle and cornerback to name a few.
Here is a look at five players who should be among the Raiders' top free-agent targets this offseason and the pros and cons of each.


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On the lower side of the back, and on the buttocks you will find very sensitive areas for your Libra. When you dance or go out for a walk on the romantic streets, caress her slightly on her loins.
When in more intimate moments, put your hands on her buttocks and take her higher and higher with small circular motions from the base of her spine towards the shoulders.
Push moderately on her skin and then get back to the buttocks for the grand finale. You might be the witness of a Libra melting in the frenzy of love making.
As for the Libra man, well, he goes crazy when her lover touches his loins with her breast. She will never have to do this twice, his reaction will be extraordinarily fast.
The buttocks are a very erogenous zone for the Libra star signs. The Libra woman loves to be massaged, she likes her love to go deeper into the skin, she likes to be caressed and also pinched in that area.
She also loves the sexual positions that allow her lover to admire her buttocks while penetrating her from the back.
Libras are well known by their extremely nice and rounded buttocks, so when you make love to such a woman, don't forget to use the tips and tricks I've told you about, of course, only if you want to drive her crazy.


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Chris Bradley, chief meteorologist for WBNS-TV (Channel 10), said the western half of Ohio is under a slight risk of storms today from the same front that spawned the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma.
There is a greater risk of severe storms, with a slight risk of tornadoes, for central Ohio on Wednesday from the same front.
However, central Ohio doesn't have the same type of meteorological conditions that have produced tornadoes in Oklahoma with winds reaching speeds of up to 200 mph, Bradley said.