text:
The Multaqa: Museum as Meeting Point program, an initiative of the German Ministry of Education, Science and Culture that trains refugees from Iraq and Syria for guide positions in a handful of cultural and historical museums, has been widely praised in the Western media. But, as Ariella Azoulay argues in this excerpt from a work-in-progress, it doesn't go nearly as far as it could to undermine the cultural dynamics of imperialism and give rise to a new set of human rights.
It is no secret that millions of objects that had never been destined for display in white cubes were looted from all over the world only to be carefully handled and preserved in Western museums as precious objects. Once looted, these objects were made inaccessible to the people who had created them and to the communities in which they had been produced, used, and exchanged.
Jerusalem, Mamila Street, November 1947
The UN's newly unveiled partition plan is contrary to the wishes of most of the country's inhabitants. Palestinians took to the streets in protest. This was the last time Palestinian protest was perceived as a civil movement. Since then they have been doomed to expulsion and have been viewed as mere assailants from without. Unknown photographer, Central Zionist Archive.
The time has come for Palestinians to return to Palestine. It is time for Israeli Jews to cease the reproduction of violence, maintaining the consequences of the constitutive violence of 1948 that made Israeli Jews citizens, and Palestinians - non-citizens of their homeland. The time has come for Israeli Jews to recognize the constitutive disaster – the Nakba – not only as a Palestinian catastrophe but as a catastrophe in the production of which they are implicated on a daily basis.
The time has come for the second generation of perpetrators – descendants of those who expelled Palestinians from their homeland – to claim our right, our fundamental and inalienable human right: the right not to be perpetrators. Without this fundamental right one can never be a citizen governed equally with others.


text:
Baseball Falls at No. 20 Texas Tech, 6-3
March 11, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - TCU baseball dropped the rubber match of its five-game season series with No. 20 Texas Tech 6-3 Tuesday evening at Dan Law Field. The setback was the Horned Frogs 12th in 14 games versus Tech and kept the Frogs from claiming its first season series over the Red Raiders since 2000.
Things looked good for TCU (11-9) early in the contest, as the Frogs banged out three hits in the first inning and took a 2-0 lead. A two-run single from Mike Settle (Fort Worth, Texas/Country Day) gave TCU the early advantage.
After Red Raiders plated a run of its own in the bottom of the first, the Horned Frogs regained a two-run advantage in the top of the second, thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat of second baseman Will Lewis (Texarkana, Ark./Texarkana).
However, Texas Tech (16-6) scored the final five runs of the contest with one in the second, two in the third and another pair in the sixth to earn the triumph. Tech pitching was the story of the contest, as the Red Raider hurlers allowed no runs and just three hits in the final six innings of the ballgame.
Texas Tech starter Tanner McElroy earned his first victory of the season, allowing just three runs on six hits in six innings of work, striking out six. Jeff Karstens struck out three Frogs in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to register his third save of the campaign. Horned Frog starter Kyle Shoemaker (Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe) gave up four runs on three hits in three innings to fall to 2-1 on the season.
Leading the Frogs offensively were Chris Meeks (Brownwood, Texas/Brownwood), Jake Duncan (Marshall, Texas/Marshall) and Lewis with two hits apiece. Duncan and Lewis both extended their personal hitting streaks to six games in the losing effort.
TCU returns home this weekend to open the Conference USA season with a three-game series versus No. 21 Tulane. Game times are slated for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 3:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Lupton Stadium and Williams-Reilly Field.
Academics @TCUAASO
Baseball @TCU_Baseball
M Basketball @TCUBasketball
W Basketball @TCUWbasketball
Equestrian @TCUWEquestrian
Football @TCUFootball
M Golf @TCUMensGolf
W Golf @TCUWomensGolf
Rifle @TCURifle
Swimming & Diving @TCUswimdive
Soccer @TCUSoccer
M Tennis @TCUMensTennis
W Tennis @TCUWomensTennis
Track & Field @TCUTrackField
Beach Volleyball @TCUBeachVB
Volleyball @TCUvolleyball

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Critical Java Updates Released and Available for Download
(Links may not work, downloads have not been recently tested for safety)
Oracle has just released new updates that patch 37 security holes in their Java Runtime Environment software. So if you are one of the individuals who needs Java on your system for Minecraft or other specific apps, then you need to download the latest update to make sure your system is as secure as possible.
It is highly recommended that you do not wait to install the new updates as the vulnerabilities being patched are quite severe.
From the Krebs on Security blog post: Oracle has pushed a critical patch update for its Java SE platform that fixes at least 37 security vulnerabilities in the widely-installed program. Several of these flaws are so severe that they are likely to be exploited by malware or attackers in the days or weeks ahead. So — if you have Java installed — it is time to update (or to ditch the program once and for all).
Affected Java SE Versions:
- JRE 7u51
- JRE 6u71
- JRE 5.0u61
Note: If you do not need Java on your system, we recommend uninstalling it entirely or disabling the browser plugin.
You can download and read through the details about the latest Java updates by visiting the links shown below.
Download JRE Version 7 Update 55 (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Solaris) Note: This is the version you will need if you have chosen to continue using Windows XP.
Download JRE Version 8u5 (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Solaris)
April 2014 Critical Patch Update Released
Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory – April 2014
Critical Java Update Plugs 37 Security Holes [Krebs on Security] A recommended read!
[via Krebs on Security and ZDNet News]


text:
Gun Control Relativity
Posted in the Jonesboro Forum
Cathouse Mouse
Since: Aug 10
Cathouse Mouse
#536 Jan 25, 2013
To believe that a vaginal organism is already a baby is believing steak is already human crap.
Both have to complete a process.
#538 Jan 25, 2013
Never, it was horrific, but the handling of the whole situation was wrong!
#539 Jan 25, 2013
I've tried to find where he said this. I can't. I also never heard him say anything to that effect.
#540 Jan 25, 2013
Most women get pregnant with no orgasm. Guys, women do not have anywhere near the orgasms you think they do. There are a rare few.
Cathouse Mouse
Since: Aug 10
Cathouse Mouse
#541 Jan 25, 2013
I said "organism".
#542 Jan 25, 2013
I'm sorry but Waco & Ruby Ridge were unfortunate situations but ultimately the blame lies with the person or persons that created the problem, not the federal government. Koresh was fanatically nuts and Weaver made a choice to break the laws that ultimately led to federal charges. The shootings were regretable but accidental and he Weaver put his family in that situation by his own free will choices. There are excesses in government law enforcement but responsiblity for these 2 incidents lies on these two individuals.
#543 Jan 25, 2013
Belinks, I wasn't aware that you'd done extensive investigations into the number of orgasms women have but it's certainly good to know they don't effect inpregnation! lmao I'm sorry but that's too funny.
Sept-îles, Canada
#544 Jan 25, 2013
...with guns easily obtain
#545 Jan 25, 2013
Yeah, like the ones that went up against the crown.
#546 Jan 26, 2013
You seem perfectly willing to believe that the troops that come from homes across the nation would just up and follow the leadership of some group seizing power. They are citizen soldiers. They haave families and friends in the places they hail from and you think they're just going to follow orders to supress the American people? Well, you are an idiot so you might buy that but the rest of us don't. They're not taking away anybody's guns in the first place so what are you worried about. You really should change your handle to Anti-Intelligence-Tool; it would be more accurate.
#548 Jan 31, 2013
Guns are bad ummm kaaa
Since: Jan 13
United States
#549 Feb 1, 2013
Guns are a tool the gun does not have a mind of it's own it's the man or woman behind the gun. Alcohol kills more people in theU.S than guns Tylenol kills more people than guns. Vehicle accidents kill more people than guns and these are only a few things why not make everything illegal that kills because then we'd have NOTHING! I don't believe civilians need automatic weapons and I do believe there should be stricter laws toward purchase of semi auto rifles.
Since: Jan 13
United States
#550 Feb 1, 2013
To say guns kill people is ignorant. If a gun kills someone then your saying the person that used the gun is innocent thus could kill many people without any charges because it was the gun not the person.
Also, if you made them illegal then the only people that would have them are those who shouldn't have them like criminals gang members ect...
They will NEVER get my guns. What do you think makes my wife feel safe when she is home alone in our neighborhood the 9 mm I bought her is 30 seconds away the police are 15 to 20 minutes away!
Cathouse Mouse
Since: Aug 10
Cathouse Mouse
#551 Feb 1, 2013
Why not have no laws at all, right Rand?
#552 Feb 1, 2013
5. What did we do when we realized hammers were killing us?
Built houses out of legos.
6. What did we do when we realized cathouse mouse was crazier than a shithouse rat and his stupidity was killing us?
Quit listening
Since: Jan 13
United States
#553 Feb 1, 2013
And I'm completely for abortion! This world is overcrowded enough as it is go get the number of abortions in the past 18 years then the first 3 years multiply that by two that's alot more people and that's if those just had one kid! I'm athiest so I font believe in a soul guess im just to educated to believe in a god that doesn't exist. Fact humans aren't self aware til after 1 year old so technically they are just an animal ( I believe we are just smart animals ), pretty much religion jeeps us as a species from reaching our true potential fact religion kills more than it saves ;)
Since: Jan 13
United States
#554 Feb 1, 2013
We need laws it gives us structure gun laws should be stricter. How I see it you can wait a month to get your gun because if you need it that bad then it's extremely possible it will be used for a malevolent purpose.
People die all the time yea a bunch of kids died wow imagine that there are massacres around the world everyday and it's been like thus since history been recorded. We are evil creatures we just need to except this and move on. Personly I would never take soneones life unless mine or my families was in danger. I was in the marines( recon) for 12 years I have taken life as a duty but mine was in danger or my squad Aka family. There is no joy in killing someone there is no honor. We should just do mental exams on everyone and put down all the crazies lmfao
#555 Feb 1, 2013
I'm pretty sure nobody is even mentioning taking guns away from anybody. That is just not even a serious consideration because everybody knows it would never go over. I think requiring background checks for all gun purchases is a good idea for everybody involved. A waiting period is probably a good idea too. Repairing the system for reporting mental situations which could endanger the public so that they are updated into the NCIC is damn sure a good idea. That's about as far as I see anything being productive. It doesn't infringe on anybody's rights and might save a life or lives.
I do think we need to be able to have conversations with people who don't share our feelings about guns without it always ending up with harsh exchanges from both sides. We can agree to disagree and still have a civil conversation. Those of us to whom gun ownership is important need to be able to explain our feelings to non-gun people and they should be able to express their concerns without it having to be 'draw a line in the sand' heated exchange.
United States
#556 Feb 1, 2013
No!! Say no to private sale background checks. Its nothing but registration. No, No, No!!!
#557 Feb 1, 2013
It actually would help cut down on the number of stolen guns sold to honest citizens, would help make sure you're not getting a gun used in a crime, and gives the seller a degree of insulation from potential liability. Unless they repeal the 2nd Amendment it doesn't matter if it's registered and they're not going to repeal the 2nd Am.
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Home › Forums › General Forums › General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion › Hiker mauled by polar bear during trip through park in Labrador
Jul 26, 2013 at 11:19 pm #1305864
eric chanBPL Member
more at link …
Parks Canada says a hiker who was travelling with the Sierra Club was mauled by a polar bear this week during an excursion through the Torngat Mountains National Park in Labrador.
A spokesman with Parks Canada says the man in his 40s was bitten by the bear when it attacked his tent at about 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
"The bears hunt to live and in this case the polar bear attacked the gentleman and dragged him out of the tent," he said.
He said Parks Canada officials followed usual procedure by advising the group to hire an armed polar bear guard, but the eight-person group decided against taking the safety measure.
"The Torngat Mountains National Park is … a fascinating landscape, but we strongly advise all visitors employ the services of an armed Inuit polar bear guard. We can't stress that enough," Mr. Deering saidJul 27, 2013 at 6:12 am #2009937
Mark PrimackBPL Member
@bufaLocale: Cape Cod and Northern Newfoundland
I was with a friend who just retired as Chief Scientist for the eastern National Parks in Canada. He told us about all the polar bears up there in the Torngats, how the bears can stalk humans, and how park employees and researchers never ever camped without a solar-powered electric fence and without at least two people carrying powerful guns.Jul 27, 2013 at 6:50 am #2009940
Dean F.BPL Member
@acrosomeLocale: Back in the Front Range
So, hikers can't carry a firearm in a Parks Canada unit? I assume not, having read the website for this park- it says that the Inuit guiides specifically are allowed to carry a firearm in the park, which sort of implies that others are not.
For some of those far-northern Canadian parks you'd think they would allow it.
Is there any info on how well bear spray works versus polar bears…?Jul 27, 2013 at 12:48 pm #2010008
Eric BlumensaadtBPL Member
@danepackerLocale: Mojave Desert
I hope those park guides that are guarding tourists are carrying something larger than a 30-30. I've seen videos of Eskimos using rifles far too under-powered for the job.
The least expensive gun would be a 12 ga. pump gun with solid copper slugs. Lead slugs msy not penetrate enough.
Does Parks Canada set standards for the guides' guns? I doubt it.Jul 27, 2013 at 1:47 pm #2010027
Andrew USpectator
@anarkhosLocale: Colorado, Wyoming
I would assume that the people native to the area are well aware of the dangers and arm themselves appropriately. Of course, we all know what assuming does…Jul 27, 2013 at 1:52 pm #2010029
I'm surprised the discussion is whether they have big enough guns rather than gun control in the U.S.Jul 27, 2013 at 6:55 pm #2010092
David ThomasBPL Member
@davidinkenaiLocale: North Woods. Far North.
I don't hang with polar bears and I'm usually promoting spray and noise for grizzlies and just 'tude for black bears, but when I've carried as back-up for grizzlies, a 12-guage auto loaded with slug rounds felt like a good balance – accurate enough at range (50-100 yards) although at distance I'd only be trying to finish a bear off, open sights for close situations, and rapid fire.
Grizzlies eat fish, moose and berries, none of which are very smart.
Polar bears stalk seals, which themselves are predators. Their intelligence and strategy is on a different level.
National Parks in Zimbabwe require a minimal of .375 for walking guides although .458s are common.Jul 27, 2013 at 7:09 pm #2010097
Luke SchmidtSpectator
@cameronLocale: Idaho Falls
I believe I recall an Outside article about travelling in the arctic and the guide did carry a 30-30 so who knows.
I also remember a story of an Inuit hunter in the old days who sold a polar bear skull to a scientist. After that he saved all his polar bear skulls just in case the scientist came back. Story was that he had 12 polar bear skulls in his house each with a perfect .22 caliber hole through the brain. Glad I've never been that desperate.
Edit – If guns aren't your thing the 30-30 is a short ranged deer rifle. Cheap and common but not what you want to stop a polar bear or griz with.Jul 27, 2013 at 7:12 pm #2010098
Too bad you're not that good a shot?Jul 27, 2013 at 7:15 pm #2010099
eric chanBPL Member
Is there any info on how well bear spray works versus polar bears…?
a study was done where a bear spray encounters was analyzed … with exactly TWO incidents with polar bears where people in pickup trucks sprayed bears eating whales, ie. not attacking you, the bear went away both times …
personally i think bear spray just means the cute white bear gets some seasoning for his meat …
theres a saying … generalized of course
if the bear is black,
fight back!
if hes brown,
drop and play dead on the ground!
if hes white,
say goodnight!
if hes black and white,
its gonna be alright!
;)Jul 27, 2013 at 7:39 pm #2010109
Tom KirchnerBPL Member
@ouzelLocale: Pacific Northwest/Sierra
"I believe I recall an Outside article about travelling in the arctic and the guide did carry a 30-30 so who knows."
A friend of mine who has worked with First Peoples up in northern British Columbia
says they mostly carry .45-70's of one make or another. Good brush gun and major stopping power. Assuming you can put the round where it'll do some good, as always.Jul 27, 2013 at 7:46 pm #2010112
Luke SchmidtSpectator
@cameronLocale: Idaho Falls
"Too bad you're not that good a shot?"
Actually Jerry when I'm in practice I'm a pretty decent shot but no amount of money could tempt me to take on a grizzly or polar bear with a .22 or a 30-30. I've got enough scars already.Jul 27, 2013 at 7:48 pm #2010113
I'm, of course, just giving you a hard time.
It's amazing, though, that that guy has shot 12 polar bears with .22
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text:
Indonesia Tycoons Said to Weigh IPO of Saratoga Investama
Indonesian tycoons Edwin Soeryadjaya and Sandiaga Uno are considering an initial public offering for their private equity firm Saratoga Investama Sedaya, five people with knowledge of the matter said.
The deal may raise at least $200 million, and investment banks presented proposals to manage the IPO last month in Jakarta, said two of the people, asking not to be identified as the information is private. Saratoga, which may start the share sale in mid-2013, will probably choose banks to arrange the offering this month, one person said.
Saratoga, founded in 1998 by Soeryadjaya and Uno, oversees more than $2 billion according to its website. It closed its third fund in May 2012. Among Saratoga's investments are PT Adaro Energy (ADRO), Indonesia's second-largest coal producer, and PT Tower Bersama Group (TBIG), a provider of telecommunications infrastructure.
Saratoga would become the first private equity firm with shares traded in Jakarta, data compiled by Bloomberg show. At $200 million it would be Indonesia's biggest since PT MNC Sky Vision's $228 million sale in June last year, the data show.
To contact the reporter on this story: Joyce Koh in Singapore at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Philip Lagerkranser at email@example.com


text:
Welcome aboard.
This is a discussion on hello yall from north florida within the New Members Introduce Yourself forums, part of the Welcome To DefensiveCarry.com category; Welcome from Pennsylvania....
Welcome from North Carolina.
Its a shame that youth is wasted on the young.
Welcome from West Tennessee!
,=====o00o _
l_--- \___l---[]lllllll[]
(o)_)-o- (o)_)--o-)_)
Hi and welcome from Fort Worth TX!
- - - - -
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read. -Groucho Marx
Greetings! Be sure the check out the thread about our Orlando, Florida meet on the 15th. The more members the merrier (and more armed).
Gun control can be blamed in part for allowing 9/11 to happen.
"Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum" (Latin)- "If you want peace, prepare for war".
Welcome from Eastern Idaho
Μολὼν λαβέ
USN 78-82/USAF 82-93 Medically Retired
Desert Shield/Desert Storm
DAV Life Member
NRA Life Member
welcome from Texas!
Certified Glock Armorer
NRA RSO, Instructor
Independence is declared; it must be maintained. Sam Houston-3/2/1836
If loose gun laws are good for criminals why do criminals support gun control?


text:
QinetiQ Group plc, the defence, security and aerospace company, today issues an Interim Management Statement covering the period from 31 March 2014 to date, prior to holding its Annual General Meeting at the Pennyhill Park Hotel, London Road, Bagshot, Surrey, GU19 5EU at 11am today.
EMEA Services
The EMEA Services division performed in line with expectations during the first quarter. Utilisation levels remain high, particularly in the Weapons and Maritime businesses. In addition the division is benefitting from continuing productivity improvements and better project execution embedded during QinetiQ's self-help phase eighteen months ago. The Maritime business won a £5m contract previously delivered by a competitor to deploy and maintain the MOD's mobile underwater targets. QinetiQ Training, an 'Explore' business, is also part of a team that won a position on an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract under which the US military procures training, education and exercise solutions and support.
Global Products
The Global Products division has shorter order cycles than EMEA Services and continues to be impacted by the drawdown of overseas US military forces. Visibility and predictability of key orders remains limited and, as previously announced, the division will incur circa $5m costs during H1 associated with separating from US Services infrastructure. A new Proxy Board and Chairman have been appointed to assist management in repositioning US Global Products and addressing its performance, with careful management of its cost base. Commercial products and those developed in the UK continue to record some important successes but cannot yet make up for the shortfall in sales of US conflict-related products.
Balance Sheet
Cash generation during the first quarter remained strong.
The sale of US Services closed on 27 May 2014. On completion, the Group paid £6m into its pension scheme and, at the end of June, paid down its remaining $248m private placement debt.
The Group has commenced the previously announced £150m share buyback and at 18 July 2014 had bought back 10m shares at a cost of £21m.
The outlook for the full year to 31 March 2015 is unchanged from that set out in the preliminary results on 22 May 2014.
Notwithstanding the strong performance in EMEA Services last year, the MOD transformation programme is likely to create some short-term uncertainty in the UK defence market, and the division's performance as a whole is expected to remain steady this year.
At the same time there is a wide range of possible outcomes for the performance of Global Products as the division has a lumpy revenue profile which is dependent on the timing and shipment of key orders. Although newer products are recording notable milestones, the drawdown of American overseas military forces is expected to continue to depress demand for conflict-related products, and the division is unlikely to see significant benefits from the repositioning of its US operations until later in the year.
Notes for Editors:


text:
Phone: 919-660-2500
Fax 919-660-2525
Duke University
Department of Physics
Physics Bldg., Science Dr.
Box 90305
Durham, NC 27708
- Department Chair
- Associate Chair for Teaching
- Director of Graduate Studies
- Director of Undergraduate Studies
The Physics building is located on the West Campus of Duke University. The closest airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
Visitors are encouraged to park in the Bryan Center Parking Garage IV.
Take I-40 west to Durham Freeway-147, Exit onto Durham-147 (going north-west);
On Durham-147 take the Hillandale Rd/Fulton St Exit;
Make a left onto Fulton St and continue until you reach the Erwin Rd;
Make a right onto Erwin road and continue until you reach the TowerView Road (3rd traffic light);
Make a left onto TowerView Road and then make another left at the first stop light onto Science Dr;
You should park in the Bryan Center parking Garage which is located on the right side just before the traffic circle;
The Physics building is just before the traffic circle.


text:
[5 January 2004]
I want to be a pop idol.
Todd Haynes, Velvet Goldmine
If you are a soccer fan stop reading this review after this first paragraph. David Beckham is devoted to the game. His singular ambition is the pursuit of the black and white ball. His devotion borders on a madness which if you share should be illuminating.
But if you are more ambivalent consider the rest of the review. Soccer eclipses everything: family, school, love. It is not that they are unimportant but they are squeezed into the story after the fact. Beckham's acceptable cultural dialogue seems to be solely focused on the game. Of course, autobiographies are, as a rule, self-serving and a lot can be made of the meaning of a sport,or any singular ambition in society. But Beckham only dwells at surface level. Glowing respect is given to coaches and fellow players but no drama. (Even a fistfight with his coach is underplayed.) The book reads as a simple history of his training and playing. Games occurred. Training is hard.
In his introduction, Beckham takes a tone of global understanding and warmth. Americans love soccer and are always supportive of the sport and all sports. Manchester United will forever be the best team, but Real Madrid is the best as well. His first principle seems to be: Alienate no one. A perfect example is the story of joining his first team: "My mum remembers me being spotted playing in the park and a bloke called Stuart Underwood knocking on our front door to ask about me. My dad, though, reckons, there was an advertisement about a new boys' soccer team in the local paper and that afternoon over at Chase Lane was sort of a trial. Either way, I'm grateful." And again: "The three of them—Steve, Stuart and my dad—used to argue a lot but it was all in the cause. They were honest people wanting to make the team as good as they could." He refuses to take a side. Drama needs conflict, but there is no real conflict here. Beckham seems truly a practitioner of "if you can't say anything nice . . ."
Beckham should take a lesson from his fellow countryman Quentin Crisp, who chose the same manner of celebrity, the fame of no offense, and learn that the well-turned phrase can prevent boredom. Although he does seem to have taken Mr. Crisp's advice that books are to be written and not read.
The superstar athlete seems to come in two types: the genuine, true-spirit, the Michael Jordan, the Joe Lewis, and the chaotic, rabble-rouser, the Dennis Rodman, the Jack Johnson. Beckham clearly identifies with the first, idolizing Michael Jordan to the point of fawning over him when he sees him at a restaurant. His parents were hard- working, but made sure he had all the advantages in soccer and the boy, who not pressured, succeeded for them. He is not the pink nail-polished, panty-wearing metrosexual husband of Posh Spice. He is the average bloke who is living the sports fantasy (through hard work and training). He is the soccer equivalent to Dirk Diggler, the super-endowed porn star of Boogie Nights who philosophizes that everyone is good at one thing.
Although it is difficult to tell whether everything is actually as easily worked out as portrayed or whether he is playing nice, the story does perk up when he meets Victoria (Posh Spice), providing an interest other than soccer. And he does devote several mildly interesting pages to her and his children. But even the early clandestine rendezvous lack a certain intrigue as he comments on his lust as like that of a teenager (Beckham being in his twenties at the time) and the events surrounding an attempted kidnapping of his children are bracketed by the details of an on-the-field action. These stories could be mined for much more power to present us Beckham the Human, or even Beckham the Star, but for now we're stuck with Beckham the Soccer Player.
Published at: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/beckham-both-feet/


text:
Multiferroics: a discovery worth €750,000
The Körber Prize is awarded annually by the Körber Foundation in Hamburg. This €750,000 prize honours exceptional and innovative research projects that have great application potential. This year it was awarded to the British chemist and materials scientist Nicola Spaldin, also Professor for Material Theory at ETH Zurich.
Professor Spaldin was recognised after creating a new family of crystalline compounds that could lead to a radical change in the world of technology and computers. These compounds, called multiferroics, can respond both to electric and magnetic fields. By applying electric fields, the magnetic structure is influenced. This means that multiferroics will revolutionize our actual computers, turning them into ultra-fast, smaller and highly efficient devices (for example, they could replace the silicon in the chips that controls the computing capability of PCs and smart phones). But this discovery doesn't concern only the world of computers: it can be applied also to tiny, nanometrical motors and high-precision magnetic sensors or to superconductors that function at room temperature.
Nicola Spaldin, who will use the prize to move forward her research and studies, also has an extremely positive attitude towards the future: she has shown that structural transformations in multiferroic crystals can furnish model systems to study the early development stages of the universe.
Pic Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steverwatson/2221824432/


text:
foodnik n food + suffix nik Ð someone for whom food and eating are main joys of living and are full of sacral significance.
He invites me to cook together a dinner, but I will hardly meet his expectations. He is a real foodnik.
by Mikhail Epstein November 06, 2003


text:
Archive for December, 2006
Post Christmas Post
Evil Santa indicates the true meaning of christmas (out of shot).
This is one of the first pictures I created when I tried out Painter 5.0 + graphics tablet, several years ago. I really should have drawn something new and made cards this year, but unfortunately I have been just too damn lazy.
And here's a semaphore elf (also of christmas past).
You can see a lot less work has gone into this one, and it's mostly compositing. Next year I will make cool stuff again, so I guess that's my first resolution for 2007.
Gift-wise, I think my ideology is showing… For christmas this year I received both The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and [finally] Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion.
The 2006 Annual Intepid Awards for Online Goodness
Pharyngula – Best Science Blog. I only discovered this recently but have found myself reading (and commenting) a lot. In a sense I read it more for the politics than the actual science, but hey, it's still a science blog.
Neopoleon – Best Personal Blog. Entertaining and shamelessly narcissistic. Needs more cartoons.
Woot! – Best…errr.. something. A perfect example of how clever writing can really make a difference.
Language Log – Best Language Log. Lots of great stuff here, about language in media, politics and everyday life.
The Perry Bible Fellowship – Best Web Comic. Surreal and slightly rude, in a variety of visual styles.
Crooks and Liars + Wonkette – Best US Political Commentary. Shamelessly liberal, both of these sites act as clearinghouses for media snippets that will make your blood boil with righteous indignation.
Drawn! – Best Art Blog. Constantly showcasing different work, showing just how much talent is out there (makes me jealous, in a good way).
′Tis the season
Even without my recent attempts to appropriate the asterisk I still think this a mildly interesting idea. In this case the symbol can be considered a wildcard, and therefore more deliberately inclusive as a holiday greeting– although I guess you could also imagine it standing in for a swear as well…
The font used here is Palatino Linotype, one of the minority featuring a five-lobed asterisk.
2006 Pre Post Mortem
Nearly twelve months ago, I made a bunch of resolutions for 2006. Here's how I score on them so far:
Get a decent flat (and car) – Done.
- Get out of debt – Done, although it still hurts to think about.
- Not be tragically single for the entire year – Shitshitshit.
- Grow a pair – Hard to say, I haven't really had the need.
- Not take up smoking again – I am still a non-smoker, although I have smoked once or twice for old time's sake. Chances of me picking it up again seem to be near zero right now.
- Submerge myself in a naturally occurring body of water at least once – I did go swimming at the beach last summer.
- Not be grumpy on my birthday – Hard to say, but I'm suspecting I failed this one, since I didn't even post that day, and in the next entry I'm buying crap to make my life feel less pointless. Still loving the electric shaver though, and still swearing at this stupid Mac keyboard.
- Learn something new (unrelated to work/programming) – Another hard one, very subjective. I guess I'd have to say yes, but I haven't learned anything particularly earthshaking.
- Chide someone who deserves it – This falls into the same category as 4, I haven't really had the need to (I'm quite good at avoiding evil people)
- Write a bestselling novel about a computer programmer who solves a two thousand year old mystery encoded in the pages of the New Testament – Ok, so this I've totally failed at, but then it's just a typical dumb joke resolution to undermine the real ones.
Don't slouch
…or you may step out of the shower one day, attempt to put some pants on, and wind up lying on the floor in agony wishing someone would come and inject some morphine into your spine. Luckily I had my phone with me and was able to call a health advice line, where they basically told me to call an ambulance, which seemed a bit excessive (the pain had subsided by this point so long as I didn't move). So instead I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling for a bit, then rolled onto my side and stared at the wall for a bit, then rolled onto my stomach and observed the carpet for a bit, then finally managed get up onto all fours and crawl to the arm of a sofa where I spent another fifteen minutes or so hauling myself into a kneeling position.
An hour or so (and some codeine + paracetamol) later and I am sitting bolt upright in a chair wondering if I'll be able to stand up again anytime soon, but planning to do some research before I try.
Make Pretty!
Many years ago I was fooling around with Photoshop when I noticed that a particular combination of filter and blend amounted to a quick and easy photo enhancement technique, which at the time I christened the "Make Pretty" filter. I have never seen a portrait photo which couldn't be substantially improved using this technique (especially if it was taken using a flash).
The photo below was taken at a dinner a couple of weeks ago, and before processing is typical of the sort of photo that I hate because it makes me look like a pasty git. After processing I think maybe it's worth keeping, especially because it is almost impossible to find a photo of me smiling.
Three easy steps to making [white] people look better using Photoshop:
Adjust levels and move mid point to lighten the shadow areas (in over-exposed shots you may need to darken rather than lighten).
Apply a Gaussian blur with a radius such that facial features are still discernable but small details (eg a zit or greasy highlight) are smoothed out. Depending on image size this could be anywhere from 3 to 16 pixels.
Use Edit->Fade and set the blend mode to overlay and the opacity to somewhere between 40% and 70%
-> -> ->
The actual numbers will vary from image to image, but the process is fairly straightforward after you've experimented a bit. The net result seem to be that the blurred version combines with the original in such a way as to bring out facial structure and color while de-emphasizing surface detail. The above sample was processed with a blur of 3 pixel radius and a 70% overlay blend. I also cheated a little and desaturated my teeth in this case, but that step isn't essential to achieve an improvement.
Using values 70% or higher for step 3 you will see significant saturation of colors, to the point where you might want to reapply the original colors (keeping the luminosity from the new image).
Hmmm I think I'll avoid posting any more pictures of myself for a while, since looking back over recent posts I'm starting to seem a little obsessive over my appearance…
BTW I'm not planning to make a habit of OSX'ing my images– I just like experimenting in Photoshop to reproduce various effects.
My pictorial output has been pitiful lately, what with all the working, moping, eating and hair-coloring. Jujusketch is still in super crappo prototype concept phase, in spite of the fact that people have expressed interest everytime I've talked about it. Meh. One of these days I'm going to put aside a bit of time to work on Drivey too– it's been so damn long since I had anything new to show.
I seem to have a lot of visitors at the moment but I'm not sure where they're coming from (no obvious surge in referrer traffic). Hi to all who are new here, hope you're real people and not just some weirdo forcing a refresh on my front page every 5 minutes…
BTW Drivey related posts can be viewed using http://intepid.com/sub/drivey
Cautious Optimism
Kevin Rudd, in his inaugural speech as leader of the (opposition) Australian Labor Party:
Compassion is not a dirty word. Compassion is not a sign of weakness. In my view, compassion in politics and in public policy is in fact a hallmark of great strength. It is a hallmark of a society which has about it a decency which speaks for itself. For us in the Labor movement from which we proudly come and have come this last century, these values of security, liberty and opportunity are not incompatible with equity, with sustainability and with compassion, because that in our view is what the Australian people are about as well.
The Australian people are a decent bunch. When you talk to Australians around the world, they cannot help but be engaged in the interests of other people. Australians are not by their nature a selfish mob. The Australian people are deeply concerned about the wellbeing of others. What we have seen instead on the other side of politics is an attempt to corral that basic decency of Australians into an alternative vision for the country′s future – a vision which simply legitimises a doctrine of me, myself and I; a doctrine which says that we as a country can only be about the aggregation of personal greed. That is what it is about. They try to make you feel good about the fact that that is what you are on about. I think that is a great tragedy of the way in which this government has attempted to shape this country over the last decade.
If nothing else, a change of leadership offers the party the opportunity to reaffirm its principles, and Rudd is far better at articulating these than Kim Beazley (previous leader) has been over the last few years. I watch with interest.
(thanks Richard)
More fun with hair
Ok, I am well sick of fake blonde now, after trying three different levels I've concluded it always looks bad, so I've decided to try an equally unrealistic color at the other end of the spectrum…
Dying hair black is a LOT messier than I realized… the actual process took less than half an hour (I'd even bought a second treatment in case it didn't come out black enough haha), but the cleanup took forever. After mixing the goo to a light tan color and rubbing some in my hair, I looked down to mix some more and when I looked in the mirror it suddenly appeared that someone had emptied a chemical toilet over my head. Wow.
I also tried a bit on my eyebrows (you can see my aim is terrible) but it didn't seem to make so much difference. I think the reason it worked so quick up top was that after bleaching the hair is incredibly damaged and porous and just sucks the pigment right up. It will be interesting to see what color it is by light of day (I think there's a fair bit of blue in there).
Another point to note is that fingernails are made of keratin, the same protein that hair is made of. This means that unless you want blue-black nails you should not remove your gloves during the process!
Children of Men
When I saw the preview a while back I loved the look of it (and you can't go wrong with a bit of Sigur Ros for a soundtrack) and the concept is just so big and chunky that I knew I had to see it.
Sure there's not so much by the way of story… but the theme, the setting, the premise, the design, the cinematography– I loved it!


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About Us
The Society for Participatory Medicine is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting the concept of participatory medicine, a movement in which networked patients shift from being mere passengers to responsible drivers of their health, and in which providers encourage and value them as full partners.
- To guide patients and caregivers to be actively engaged in their health and health care experiences.
- To guide health professional practices where patient experience and contribution is an integral goal of excellence.
- To encourage mutual collaboration among patients, health professionals, caregivers and others allowing them to partner in determining care.
The Society seeks to bring together all of the stakeholders in healthcare (patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, payers, and others) to encourage collaboration, communication and cooperation that will foster provider/patient engagement, patient empowerment and education.
This partnership of cooperation is enhanced with the Society's Four Pillars:
Provide a participatory medicine forum for collaborative research exchange and evidence based practice project collaboration.
Provide resources, reference tools and best practice standards that support participatory medicine.
Ongoing work with government officials, policy-making bodies, patient advocacy organizations to foster the ideals of participatory medicine.
Encourage collaboration and networking among members and organizations who are ambassadors for the participatory medicine movement.
- Should Hospital Patients Have Bedside Access to Their Complete Medical Records?
- Lessons Learned in Implementing Patient Family Advisory Councils in Ontario
- The Journal of Participatory Medicine Success
- Activating Racial and Ethnic Minorities to Engage in Preventive Health: Patient Preferences for Health Reminders


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Tauranga is growing at a phenomenal rate but what will our city be like in 2050? And are we prepared for the big changes ahead? Carly Udy reports.
If you live in Tauranga and don't like change, you might be living in the wrong city.
This is the view of Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Max Mason, who says whether people like it or not, Tauranga is set to transform over the next 40 years. And that, he says, calls for courage.
"It won't remain the same," Mason says with an emphasis on the word and a shake of his head. "There's a wave of change and we either choose to surf the wave and retain a degree of control, or we can be overcome by it."
Mason says Tauranga's population is set to change, along with inevitable property price and rates rises. "If people don't like that, they may have to live elsewhere - in a less attractive area. We can't have people moving here and demanding the rates be left low. They need to accept they are part of the population problem and that it's expensive to live in paradise."
The city's main aim going into the next 40 years is ensuring "quality rather than quantity".
"If we just want people to pour in and it's just about money, then we will kill the golden goose. Everything should be about quality. It's about recognising and retaining the natural beauty of the place and doing that at all costs."
We're upstairs in the chamber's boardroom. It's a gloomy day. Rain is falling outside. We sit at a long oval table. Mason sips a cup of tea, while I scan a document he's typed up that details his analysis of what's going to happen to Tauranga. The list is long.
Mason says buildings will go upwards, land values will keep rising, bigger businesses and the economy will continue the integration with Australia, Maori will have more economic influence, kiwifruit will diversify into other horticultural industries, climate debate will become radical, international resorts will pop up on Mayor, Matakana and Motiti islands and Tauranga will be become a retirement mecca like never before.
He's right about the last one. The most pivotal thing to have changed for Tauranga by 2050 is our demographic make-up. Out of a population of 285,000, more than a third will be aged over 60, and about 35,000 will be aged over 80.
In a report to the Bay of Plenty Health Board, the Population Ageing Technical Advisory Group estimated the number of people aged 80-plus will grow from less than 3000 in 2006 to 35,000 in 2050. In the Western Bay, the 65-plus demographic will double by 2031 (up 27,600).
In 40 years' time, Mason himself will be 90. He baulks at the thought. He believes old age in 2050 will pose a tough moral debate.
Who is going to pay for all these elderly people in Tauranga?
"What government agency makes the decision to pull the plug when I've been taking my last breaths for three months on scarce taxpayers' money? It becomes a moral choice. Is that money being best used for the common good?"
University of Waikato demography professor Natalie Jackson says even now the average age in Tauranga is older than in the whole of New Zealand. The trend is one that's set to continue.
Eighteen per cent of Tauranga's population is aged 65-plus, compared with 13 per cent nationally. Tauranga has almost nine people aged 65-plus for every 10 children aged 0-14.
Jackson says the region is ageing faster than total New Zealand due to largely migration but also low birth rates.
"One would assume that these trends will continue and that almost all Tauranga's future growth will be at the older ages."
Bay of Plenty District Health Board general manager of planning and funding Helen Mason says the organisation plans to spend more on hospital and support services to cater for the growth of people aged over 65.
Housing is another thing that will change.
Tauranga property developer and director of The Thorne Group Bob Thorne says economically, Tauranga will be forced into having more homes - smaller houses on smaller sections.
"The cost of development has far exceeded incomes.
"Construction costs continue to rise and smaller houses will result," he says.
Thorne, a property developer of 25 years, has developed the housing subdivision Urban Ridge in Brookfield, where the average section is no more than 388 square metres - less than half the quarter acre of years past.
The next stage of development in Urban Ridge sees bigger sections of up to 674 square metres.
The streets and homes in stage one look to me like a retirement village. For starters, homes are narrowly spaced with little or no yard. Driveways are no bigger than a car parking space and there are no footpaths. Try to fit a trampoline on one of these properties and it would be near impossible.
But Thorne says less than 10 per cent of the residents are retirees and all houses are owner occupied.
He says smaller is the way of the future.
"We initially assumed this development would appeal to the 55-plus. Instead we have noticed that the demographics are widely spread from 25 years through to 90."
Thorne has contracts on 70 per cent of the stage two development. The houses in Urban Ridge are slick. They are "apartment living with garden" and equate to smaller borrowings and less maintenance for the working couple.
Thorne says it's a trend that is likely to take off in the years to come.
"People want to live close to facilities and there will be re-development of existing housing close to amenities.
"We cannot continue carving up productive land for housing development.
"The cost of land has got off balance with the cost of building ... costs to develop greenfield subdivisions [starting from scratch] are prohibitive ... ratepayers cannot afford rate increases."
Despite this, it's the kind of living Otumoetai couple Lisa and Andy Adams despise.
The husband and wife have 1972sq m of land in Otumoetai (just under half an acre) but fear their three boys aged 5, 4 and 2, will never get the opportunity to own a property like it.
The 42-year-olds say inner-city living is about to change and they don't think it's good.
Sitting at their expansive, wooden dining table, Lisa says matter-of-factly: "It guts me."
Andy agrees: "A section this size will be worth so much and you either won't be able to afford the mortgage or you'll be too old to look after it. You'll have to sell it and it'll be cut up."
The couple do not like the "chicken coop-type sections" some developers are building on around Tauranga.
"They look like little poultry boxes - there's just people living in them instead of chickens," Lisa says.
The stay-at-home mum says whether its 2011 or 2050, she can't see parents changing their minds about wanting space for their children.
On their property is a playhouse, bikes lying on the driveway and birds rustling leaves.
They say Tauranga's future worries them.
The Adams anticipate changes around technology and say electric cars are likely to take off by 2050 and the city's landscape will have begun to go sky-high.
Lisa imagines the Mount one day looking like a slightly understated Surfers Paradise.
Population to double
ASK chairman of SmartGrowth Bill Wasley how he expects Tauranga to look in 40 years and his face flashes a smile.
It will look something much different to the view he's looking at now from his upstairs office on the corner of Spring and Durham Sts.
In 2004, Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council adopted SmartGrowth - a 50-year plan for Tauranga, which will be updated next year after this year's census.
The plan recognises that as Tauranga grows there will be a need for more housing, new types of houses, more business land, more community, cultural and educational facilities, more health care services, better roads, more efficient public transport and ensuring water and wastewater services can cater for the growth.
At the same time, the environment needs to be protected.
The city outside Wasley's office is quiet for a Thursday afternoon. Cars pass by but there are few pedestrians.
Wasley says that will change.
"We're looking at a community that will essentially double in population to what it is now," he says, eyes still focused on the outside world.
Wasley says population growth in Tauranga is similar to greater Christchurch.
The trouble with that is while Christchurch is "well founded" with a long history, Tauranga as a city evolved much later. "In 1945, we were a fishing village of 4000."
There has been significant growth in the past 20 years but, with growth, comes pressure on local government funding.
"There is limited funding available so it's about being creative.
"It's about building a community, not just the physical aspect."
Wasley says the number of traditional families will have doubled in Tauranga by 2050 and single and two-person households will have trebled.
At Tauranga City Council, there is a team of people working towards Tauranga's future.
One is environmental policy manager Andy Ralph, who says there are still some "major discussions" to be had.
One is how far the city sprawls.
"Because there are costs to a city spreading out over new farmland. I think there will be redevelopment of existing areas to different forms of housing. You can spread a city but Auckland has proved there's a huge cost."
Ralph has a map of Tauranga on his wall. He uses it, like a teacher, to do a condensed lesson on what changes we might expect to see. While the suburbs will see a mix of housing, the city centre, he says pointing to the map with his pen, will see more houses per vacant piece of land.
And Te Puna could face pressure as the city sprawls out towards farmland. Papamoa is likely to have bigger sections than in town.
Ralph says Tauranga has a problem looming with housing affordability and, therefore, it's imperative to look at how land and building costs can be kept low.
Among other challenges is pressure on Tauranga Harbour with recreational and port activities.
"Very strong leadership will be required by councils to manage that harbour."
Tauriko and Papamoa have areas set aside for industrial action and, in another 20 years, there will be a shopping centre in Papamoa East.
"I'd like to say there's some radical change but it's just not the Kiwi way," Ralph says. "We'll just evolve. The provincial harbour city image is a really good image to have."
Mayor Stuart Crosby says he'll do his best to see Tauranga City does not become "over-manufactured".
His council office is the size of a small living room and has a view over the city and down to The Strand. It's a daydreamer's paradise for contemplating the future.
Crosby moved to Papamoa from Gisborne at 7 and says coming to Tauranga was like travelling to a "completely different" place.
"We got dressed up to go to Tauranga, white shirt, pants below my knees."
Papamoa's population was 250.
"I'd hate to see the city over-manufactured. I think we need to let it evolve on its own and form its own identity. We are, to a degree, still struggling to find our sense of identity and a lot of that can relate to rapid growth."
When asked if he's thought about Tauranga in 2050, Crosby replies: "I always think about it."
"The decisions we make have an enduring impact, time wise. We need to understand what the look of our city in 2050 might be."
Crosby says there is no intention to develop high rises any more than what's seen now in 2011.
"To my mind, I would see four to six or seven storeys but no higher than that; with adequate green areas and adequate lighting. New Zealanders still like their piece of land around them."
I ask Crosby if Tauranga will be a better place in 50 years. "That will depend on us, the city leaders of the day," he says, with the voice of responsibility.
Bill Wasley, of SmartGrowth, says Tauranga is already preparing itself well for 2050 by building the future Eastern Link. We also have the current Harbour Link and, in time, people could travel between Tauranga and Papamoa to Te Puke on trains.
Whereas the city's commercial and retail activity is currently dispersed, with it stretching as far as Papamoa and Mount Maunganui, the CBD will, over time, become more of a place where people live and have a cultural heart.
The chief executive of economic development agency Priority One, Andrew Coker, envisages Tauranga in 2050 to be a centre of research in IT, horticulture and titanium. "I think we will also catch up in arts and culture ... it will be a sophisticated city that highly paid people seek."
As well as a downtown university campus, Coker wants to see the development of the waterfront go ahead, creating a parkland setting, with a boardwalk for walking, cycling, picnicking, and holding events including markets. And his ultimate vision is that of a future $80 million Sulphur Point marine precinct project. He says there has been interest by financial backers for staged development over the next few years.
The vision is for a travel lift, all-weather refit shed and 6000sq m of marine shops, cafe/restaurant and offices for the first stage on the waterfront underneath the harbour bridge.
Later development would include further refit and maintenance facilities, a 600-tonne syncrolift (taking vessels up to 55m in length out of the water), an environmental paint hall, engineering and other workshops, more office/retail buildings and expanded boat-building activities across the road.
Ultimately, the development would pump an additional $100 million a year into the local economy and create jobs for nearly 300 skilled workers earning an average gross salary of $53,000.
For those who think outside the square, the sky is the limit.


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Dubai Winter Carnival opens with a different look
The Dubai Winter Carnival begins Thursday night, and this being Year 4 of Meydan, the glamour racing palace rising from the Dubai desert no longer shocks with opulence quite the way it did in 2010. But even as the return of racing to Meydan has become routine, there are changes afoot at the Winter Carnival.
Frankie Dettori, the runaway leading Dubai World Cup meeting rider and a regular fixture throughout the Carnival, split with Godolphin last fall and is under a suspension lasting until May resulting from a positive test in France for a prohibited substance. In Dettori's absence, Mickael Barzalona, Silvestre DeSousa, and Ahmed Ajtebi will ride for Godolphin, which won the 2012 World Cup with Monterosso.
Closer to home, U.S.-based horses might finally make an impact on a Dubai World Cup card at Meydan after flopping in recent seasons. The prospective American contingent for World Cup races would be the strongest since Meydan opened if it holds together. Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is targeting the $10 million World Cup, a race that also could include Dullahan, a synthetic-surface star whose talents might be well suited to the Tapeta track at Meydan, and champion Royal Delta, a troubled ninth in the 2012 World Cup. Both Dullahan and his stablemate Little Mike are scheduled to have prep races for World Cup Night starts in March 9 races at Meydan, with Little Mike pointing to one of the two major turf races on the World Cup program, the Sheema Classic or the Duty Free. Point of Entry, narrowly beaten by Little Mike in the Breeders' Cup Turf, remains a candidate for the Sheema Classic.
The string of trainer Mike de Kock, always a central figure in Carnival racing, includes three high-class horses trained during 2012 by Aidan O'Brien: Await the Dawn, Treasure Beach, and Daddy Long Legs. Await the Dawn might be ready to run sometime next month, while Treasure Beach, most recently 10th in the BC Turf, and Daddy Long Legs, who won the 2012 UAE Derby at Meydan, might not start until the Super Saturday program on March 9.
Also in de Kock's yard is the star South African filly Igugu, who is set to showcase her talents outside South Africa for the first time this winter. Igugu could see her first action of the winter on Feb. 21 in the Balanchine Stakes.
Headlining Thursday's seven-race program is Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge, a Tapeta race contested over about one mile and around one turn. The 10 entrants include names familiar to American racing followers, chief among them Out of Bounds, who is set to make his first start since winning the Sham Stakes last January over Secret Circle. Trained then by Eoin Harty, Out of Bounds now resides in the yard of trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Also in the race is Tajaaweed, who won the 2011 Arlington Handicap for trainer Dan Peitz and who makes his first start since February.
The horse to beat, however, appears to be Fulbright, who will have Barazalona in the irons for trainer Mahmood al Zarooni. Four-year-old Fulbright, making his first start in Dubai, has won eight of 20 races and captured the Group 2 Dubai Challenge Stakes when last seen in October at Newmarket.
Transplanted American Arthur's Tale makes his first Dubai start for Al Zarooni in the card's fourth race, a 1 3/16-mile handicap on Tapeta.
Race 3 is a good handicap contested at about five furlongs down the straight part of the Meydan turf course and should yield runners for turf-sprint stakes later this winter.
Royal Delta should be here in the states running against the boys. Little Mike will not fare well over there. He doesn't fit and the trip may knock him out til fall. AK and Dullahan definately have big shots in the DWC
Hopefully those sheks wont kill 5 horses on this year WC card. That marathon stakes race that they ran and then reran last year still makes me sick. I think that place is nothing but a sand pile with backwards thinking people. May all the horses be safe.
I for one will miss the Great Frankie Dettori and his Great riding! The show will not be the same with out him!
This comment has been deleted
Becouse DWC is bigest race in the whole world, its more important that bigest race in us
Why? The horse won the Derby. Leave it alone.


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Gov. Gregoire to outdoor industry: recreation, tourism, volunteerism can boost West's economy
October 5, 2011
PORTLAND -- Gov. Chris Gregoire today called on the private sector to help grow the Western region's recreation and tourism sectors, which will in turn strengthen the West's economy and create jobs. Gregoire is chairman of the Western Governors' Association, and spoke before the Outdoor Industry Association at its annual meeting today.
"We in the West have a God-given asset to show the rest of the country and the world, but the time has come when Washington and other states can no longer afford to do it all," Gregoire said, adding that the public and private sectors have to count on each other "to better connect to a national and worldwide market to show people there is simply no better place to recreate than the Western United States."
The governor said growing recreation and tourism is particularly important to rural communities, where jobs are often even harder to find.
"The Western Governors' Association is working with a wide range of outdoor recreation businesses and organizations to measure the many ways that Western States benefit from all types of outdoor recreation - especially in rural communities," she said. "I can't overstate how much rural communities could use the jobs that would come with more people seeking recreation."
Gregoire and her colleagues launched WGA's Get Out West! initiative this year and created an advisory group of stakeholders to help identify policy barriers and actions related to job creation, increased volunteerism, and greater conservation of and access to open lands and waterways that provide outdoor recreation opportunities.
"As big as drawing in more outdoor enthusiasts and tourists is, Get Out West! is as much about our young people and instilling in them an inherent love and appreciation for the outdoors," she said. "Our children, for whatever reasons, are losing the connection to our great land and our great outdoors. We need to figure out how to get them outside and away from their smart phones to experience the solitude of an empty desert and the roar of a great river.
"With the help of this outstanding group and others, we will work to make sure our open lands and waterways stay that way, and we will engage volunteers in conservation efforts, such as maintaining our trails," Gregoire said, adding that "everybody owns the land and water and everybody is responsible for it."
For more information about Get Out West! visit the WGA Web site at www.westgov.org.
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Liu: City Pension Fund Will Vote Against Wal-Mart Directors
New York City Comptroller John Liu's office announced on Tuesday that the city's pension fund will vote against five Wal-Mart's directors at the annual shareholder's meeting next month. The move comes in the wake of reports that Wal-Mart officials allegedly sought to cover up hi-level bribery in the company's Mexico division in the middle of the last decade. The city's pension funds hold nearly $278 million worth of Wal-Mart stock.
"Wal-Mart presents itself as a leader in corporate ethics, but it is clear that the company's leadership does not practice what it preaches," Liu said in a statement. "The bribery allegations are damaging, but reports of a widespread cover-up, involving Wal-Mart's top executives, could have even more devastating consequences."
The Comptroller's office says efforts were made in 2005 under the previous comptroller, Bill Thompson, to get "Wal-Mart's audit committee retain independent counsel to conduct a comprehensive review of Wal-Mart's legal and regulatory controls and issue a report to shareowners with findings and recommendations."
"Time and again our Pension Funds have approached Wal-Mart's board with serious concerns about its practices in the U.S. and abroad and received only empty reassurances," Liu said. "This board has failed its shareholders."
A spokesperson for Wal-Mart said the company is not commenting on the news.
The Comptroller's office said it would specifically vote against Michael T. Duke, chairman and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; H. Lee Scott, Jr., the former CEO; Christopher J. Williams, chairman and CEO of The Williams Capital Group, L.P. and Williams Capital Management, LLC.
"Directors Duke and Scott failed to act in shareowners' best interests when confronted with credible allegations of widespread bribery, while Mr. Williams bears responsibility for the audit committee's failure to ensure adequate internal compliance controls, notwithstanding repeated shareowner concerns," the comptroller's office said.
Additionally, the pension fund will vote against the current audit committee director Arne M. Sorenson, as well as the Chairman of the Board, S. Robson Walton.
The city pension fund holds more than 4.7 million shares in Wal-Mart.


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One story, unlimited endings — back the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System on Kickstarter now and make a saving of planetary proportions!
Lomographed the local mardi gras that is annually celebrated in the parish of San Roque, Alabang on the eve of the new year. Used my Diana Mini to capture square and colorful wonders during the festive parade of young people in carnival costumes.
rik041, neja, sonya1980, agenciafleur, robter, volker-jp & usha_berg.


text: I can't stand it @bluedawg. I think it's a low move on his part, but it's the way college football goes these days. I wish it would change, but I don't think it's going to. Always have more respect for the programs that do it the right way, like MSU and U-M.


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Less square footage allowed homeowner Josh Lozada of Moss Bluff to splurge on qualities like wood cabinets and floors, granite countertops and quality paint and trimwork.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 11:29 AM
By Rita LeBleu / American PressStarting small hasn't cramped the style of Josh and Lauren Lozada at all. In fact, the contrary is true, according to Josh. Some of the elements that stand out most in the couple's 740-square-foot home are those that Josh said he would have never added if the home would have been built bigger.
The Moss Bluff cottage's beautiful, high-end details include rounded wall corners and trim, high-end cabinet hardware, oak cabinets and floors, granite countertops, and window and door headers. Doors are arched and beaded.
Twenty-four-year-old Lozada has been exposed to the world of home-building since he was a teen, working for Bellon Construction, at first, picking up trash and helping out where needed. Now he's a project manager who has designed and built his own home.
Finding the lot was the couple's biggest challenge. "It's hard to find a small, affordable lot in a place that's not restricted," he said. He built with the idea that his home would appreciate and it already has, he said.
The beauty of the Lozado home is that, because space is at a premium, all areas are carefully edited. The décor and furnishings fit beautifully and special touches get the attention they deserve. The couple also adhered to an important design strategy for smaller homes. They weren't afraid to have a piece of big furniture or deep color on the walls. Lozada used a Sherwin Williams latte-colored interior paint. Window coverings were kept simple — dark wood blinds.
"We were planning our wedding at the same time as we were picking paint colors so my wife left the home-color choices up to me," he said. He left the wedding colors up to her.
Lozada doesn't recommend the most expensive paint product available, but he steers clear of "cheap" paint. "In paint, you get what you pay for," the construction project-manager said. "It just goes on easier and goes further when it's a better paint."
The couple dines at the bar rather than at a separate table, plus they added extra seating and a small table in the living area. When asked about the beautiful granite countertop that covers the bar, Lozada pointed out that one of the kitchen counter surfaces was created with remnants at a savings.
His wife likes the fleur-de-lis and that symbol is used in cabinet pulls, inset into the tumbled marble backsplash and is also used on the window and door headers.
Photographs, including a digital frame (another space-saving device) are displayed throughout the home.
Over the enclosed laundry is wall decor given to her by her grandmother, who used them over her laundry area. These vintage pieces which were originally purchased at the local Western Auto at least 40 years ago, according to Lozada, are perfect on the latte-colored walls. "We didn't even have to repaint them," he said.
To form the rounded wall corners, a bull-nosed piece was used to cover corners, and then the piece was mudded. Extra trim does not have to be added, but was for the Lozada's home. The crown molding is 5 inches, which Lozada said has become fairly standard in new homes.
The couple installed an extra-large tub in the spacious bath and use one of the bedrooms as an office. They stash seasonal clothes and decorations in what Lozada calls a "good-sized attic." A pantry, a linen closet and a large closet are packed full and carefully organized.
The little cottage in Moss Bluff is as distinctive on the outside as the inside, painted a deep green and trimmed in cream with a large treated-wood porch. On it is another cherished item from a grandparent, the last cypress swing that Lauren's grandfather ever made.
The Lozada home on Parish Road may be a small starter home, but the finishing touches give it loads of character, making it special in a big way.


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when a nurse is changing an old mans diaper only to find that he has ejaculated in his adult diaper.
I fuckin hate workin at the old folks home. Benjamin always has a slimy geezer suprise waitin for me in the morning.
by caleb is not my real name July 01, 2010


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A truly personalised world class experience, Goin' Off Safaris is a locally owned and run business showcasing the very best secrets of South Australia's untouched Eyre Peninsula. There are very few places in the world where you can interact with marine life in their own natural environment, but Goin' Off Safaris can share these amazing experiences with you.
Come face to face with the great white shark, swim and feed with farmed southern bluefin tuna and then swim and play with the sea lions and resident dolphins in Baird Bay. Hand feed kangaroos and koalas, sand board towering sand dunes, snorkel and kayak in crystal clear waters, beach fishing and fish charters, cruise the beautiful waters of Coffin Bay, explore the Talia Caves, then relax watching the sunset on your water's edge accommodation whilst feasting on fresh seafood and local wines.
If you're after a holiday with a difference, then the best way to do this is with an elite personalised tour in the comfort of a luxury four wheel drive with everything provided and an itinerary that best compliments the stunning surrounds in the fresh outdoors with the friendly and outgoing characters of the unique Goin' Off Safaris.Visit Website
Car park, Crewed charter, Diving equipment, Fishing equipment, Guide
Animal Viewing, Astronomy, Barbecue, Birdwatching, Bush Tucker, Bushwalking, Camping, Canoeing, Caving, Crabbing, Cruising, Cycling, Dolphin Watching, Farm/Station, Fishing - Beach, Fishing - Deep Sea, Fishing - Estuary, Fishing - Game, Golfing, Kayaking, Meditating, Off Road Driving, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Sandboarding, Scenic Flights, Seakayaking, Snorkelling, Surfing, Swimming, Whale Watching, Wine Tasting
Adventure, Beach, Cruise, Educational Tourism, Farm Stay, Fishing, Flora/Fauna, Food and Wine, Health and Wellbeing, Historic/Heritage, Indulgence/Luxury, Industry/Mining/Agriculture, Island, Lakes/Rivers/Dams, Marine, Nature based, Outback, Sport, Wildlife


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Records Management is the creation, maintenance, use, and disposal of records for efficient business practices and regulatory compliance. Best practices ensure that records are retained and kept as required, stored correctly, accessed as needed, and disposed according to policy.
The University creates, gathers, and maintains operational and historic records of its activities in compliance with Federal and State laws and regulations as well as University policy. The University of California Records Management Program encapsulates policy and provides guidelines for best practice lifecycle management of University records.
Program objectives:
- Compliant creation, organization of, and access to records
- Compliant records and information security and privacy
- Protection of records vital to the University
- Preservation of records of historical importance
- Secure, compliant records destruction
- Best Practice Information Governance


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Jack PeñateView in iTunes
To preview a song, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to buy and download music.
In many ways, Jack Peñate is Lily Allen minus the sarcasm and the party frocks. The South Londoner's music is slick, radio-ready pop, but its heart is rooted in the Two-Tone ska revival and the more soulful end of '80s pop, along the lines of the Style Council and the Housemartins. Add in Peñate's striking vocal resemblance to the young Billy Bragg and he's like the post-millennial equivalent to the U.K. student discos of two decades previously. Jack Fabian Peñate was born in Blackheath, a fairly posh London suburb, on September 9, 1984. While still in his teens, Peñate formed a band called Jack's Basement, which also featured his schoolmate Felix White, later lead guitarist for neo-Brit-pop act the Maccabees. When that group broke up as its members went off to different universities, Peñate began a solo career, backed by bassist Joel Porter and drummer Alex Robins. While developing a strong live following due in large part to his frenetic on-stage dancing, Peñate signed with the Young Turks label and released his debut single, "Second, Minute or Hour" (each of the 1,000 limited-edition vinyl copies containing a Polaroid self-portrait of the artist), in the fall of 2006. The single's favorable buzz allowed Peñate to jump to the larger indie XL Recordings for 2007's Matinee and 2009's Be the One. ~ Stewart Mason
Top Albums
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09 September 1984 in Blackheath, London, England
Years Active:
'00s, '10s


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Oh wow...caramel apple heaven!
So I'm going out to dinner tonight to celebrate one of my best friend's husband's 35 birthday. His favorite flavor dessert is caramel apple so I decided to bake him these cupcakes by Rachael Ray:
Oh wow...SO good! I did alter it a bit...the caramel topping in the recipe cools to a hard coating and it's really difficult to eat. So I just bought some premade cream cheese frosting and mixed in some caramel topping that you put on ice cream. Then I drizzled more of the caramel over the top. Oh em gee...super sweet caramel-y apple goodness!! Wow...of course, only 8 fit on the plate soooooo, I HAD to leave a few at home! ;-) HA!


text: thoughts? I know that I can physically do it but I am worried about any special tools or anything of that nature. I have a limited space and limited amount of tools to work with. I know that the cost at a shop will be rather high but I am worried that the difficulty level may be beyond my means. Thoughts?