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How prepared are you to build fast and efficient web applications? This eloquent book provides what every web developer should know about the network, from fundamental limitations that affect performance to major innovations for building even more powerful browser applications—including HTTP 2.0 and XHR improvements, Server-Sent Events (SSE), WebSocket, and WebRTC.
Author Ilya Grigorik, a web performance engineer at Google, demonstrates performance optimization best practices for TCP, UDP, and TLS protocols, and explains unique wireless and mobile network optimization requirements. You'll then dive into performance characteristics of technologies such as HTTP 2.0, client-side network scripting with XHR, real-time streaming with SSE and WebSocket, and P2P communication with WebRTC.
Ilya Grigorik is a developer advocate and web performance engineer at Google. He spends his days and nights working on making the web faster and building and driving adoption of performance best practices. Prior to focusing on web performance Ilya was the founder and CTO of PostRank, a social analytics company which was acquired by Google and became the core of social analytics reporting within Google Analytics. Whenever not thinking web performance, or analytics, Ilya can be found contributing to open-source projects, reading, or building fun projects like VimGolf, GitHub Archive and others.
View Ilya Grigorik's full profile page.
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Browser APIs 0 A Real World Discussion
By Al
from Norwalk CT
About Me Maker, Sys Admin, Tech Enthusiast
Comments about oreilly High Performance Browser Networking:
Review of "High Performance Browser Networking" By Ilya Grigorik Reviewed by Alfredzo Nash Fairfield County Area Datto Linux User Group. High Performance Browser Networking (HPBN) was shared with me by a fellow System Engineer. Considering my generalist understanding of Networking (self-proclaimed "Network Guy") and Browser APIs, I immensely enjoyed High Performance Browser Networking (HPBN) by Ilya Grigorik. HPBN was full of delectable informations on the history of TCP/IP, UDP, TLS, WIFI, cellular networking technologies and the various browser- and server- based APIs (SSE, WebRTC, XMLHttpRequest) that govern the intricate Internet infrastructure we know today. Grigorik provides an extraordinary roadmap through the harsh "network weather" that can be encountered at various levels of the OSI Model. He meticulously revisits the history of deployed network technologies while recommending proper optimization procedures throughout each chapter. Starting with Part I (Chapters 1-4), I observed Grigorik's emphasis on "Networking 101" was delivered loud and clear. Grigorik levels the playing field for most readers regardless of their professional experience (i.e Network Engineers, Front End Developers, etc.) within this section. He immerses the reader using a detailed "Primer on Latency and Bandwidth", which taught me a new mantra: "Latency, not bandwidth, is the performance bottleneck for most websites!". Unfortunately, prior to reading "High Performance Browser Networking," I naively viewed bandwidth metrics as the culprit for all "lag" and "sluggish" web experience complaints I have encountered in my career. From now on, I will make a better effort to identify problem areas for latency related. Understanding the demand for Web Performance Optimization (WPO), Grigorik wraps up this section by introducing the reader to the building blocks required to tune TCP (TFO, SSR, Window Scaling), UDP (STUN,TURN, ICE) and introduces TLS optimization techniques.Part II (Chapters 5-8) was my favorite, because it dives deep in and out of the political confines of every pain point that annoy mobile device owners today. Chapter 5 and 6 opened my eyes to how important Wireless Networks are within the Mobile Web App development community. Grigorik warns the reader of the poor Wireless Performance conditions that exist in our current ecosystem by referring to these conditions as "Network Weather". He encourages the Mobile app developer become familiar with Wireless Performance fundamentals such as Signal Power, Bandwidth, Modulation and measuring Real-World WIFI Performance during the development process in order to deliver an excellent user experience Chapter 7 and 8 cover how consumers are affected by QoS semantics. To understand the full story, it is necessary to delve into mobile data caps, horrendous service coverage, poor battery life, and tricky marketing strategies involved within the End-to-End Carrier Architecture. Grigorik artistically paints a vivid picture in this section. He encourages all developers to become aware of the complex pitfalls that await their mobile applications by detailing a "Brief History of G`s" for Mobile Networks . This is a historical recap of international advancement from 1G to 4G (US) and HPSA+ (EU) which is I found very informative. In short, Grigorik recommends planning accordingly for rapid adoption of WiMax, VoLTE and similar emerging technologies by building resilient mobile applications that pay homage to our "Multigenerational Future".Intriguingly, I found the last 2 sections (Parts III and IV) of High Performance Browser Networking to be very difficult to comprehend. In all fairness, I know this is related to my lack of exposure to HTTP and Browser APIs from a Dev-centric viewpoint. Part III (Chapters 10-13) provided a "Brief History of HTTP" and the associated optimizations for Application Delivery. Professionally speaking, Im glad Grigorik included this section. However, he recommends reading the separate HTTP Definitive Guide by Brian Totty that will provide a thorough understanding of HTTP for beginners. I will plan on reading this section again after checking the definitive guide out. Part IV (Chapters 14-18) dives deep into the browser APIs that bind the browser networking to the actual network protocols *whew*. Grigorik does an excellent job of providing a detailed history of XHR, SSE, Websocket, and WebRTC. However I became too entranced in the history involved in how the we have gotten this far with browser APIs. At the time of this writing I am still reading Chapter 18, and would like recommendations on how to understand the Browser APIs more efficientlyFinally, careful explanation paired with "good news… bad news..." humor provided a pleasant reading experience for me (a QA Engineer). I recommend that IT professionals of all levels read "High Performance Browser Networking" and dive deep into the optimization morsels reviewed within.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
Simply amazing
By chrone
from Indonesia
About Me Sys Admin
I learned a lot from this book though I'm up to Chapter 4. Wish there would be more server configuration tweaking tips and tricks for Apache and PHP in Chapter ahead. :D
For a deep understanding
By Michael
from Canada
About Me Developer, Educator, Full Stack
Purchased the book as an early edition which was later updated. It provides the reader with a very complete understanding of every step involved in initiating and managing resource requests (network connections), from the low-level hardware used in cellular phone radios to internet gateways, traffic routing, and finally up to the browser. Importantly, the author provides examples and guides to best leverage each part, as well as historical caveats to keep in mind when future-proofing your application design.The majority of the concepts are also applicable outside the browser; I think (mobile) native application developers would get a lot out of it, especially the first three-quarters of the book.
(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
Needed to be written
By Jorge Nerin
from Zaragoza, Spain
About Me Developer, Sys Admin
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Definate Buy
By networking
from USA
About Me Network Engineer
This review is on the incomplete version of the book. However, I have to say that just the beginning of this book where it talks about TCP and how it can affect applications sums up most of my conversations with our applications department. I would highly recommend this book to application developers wanting to know how network protocols can affect them and to network engineers that need an easy resource to help troubleshoot these types of issues.
© 2016, O'Reilly Media, Inc.
(707) 827-7019(800) 889-8969
All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on oreilly.com are the property of their respective owners.


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i have a brand new mk3 cabrio roof rack with every piece of hardware, templates to drill the holes, even the instruction manual
im looking for 550+shipping or to trade for mk3 coilovers! no racelands or rokkors, weitecs. h&r, fk, or cx racing, must go low enough to lay frame and ride excellent.
im located in ct

subset: commoncrawl


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Tuesday August 6th, 2013 1:20am
A couple of months ago, I was asked to give my input on an MLL story for the June issue of Inside Lacrosse. I thought it was a no-brainer to write one on the New York Lizards. I mean, what other team has remade itself into a championship contender in the offseason as aggressively as the 2013 Lizards? Well it's a good thing I didn't write it because I'd look pretty stupid right now. (Moreso than usual, anyway). At 3-6, the Lizards are mired in the basement with Ohio eating mom's meatloaf and watching re-runs of Friends as other MLL teams pull away from the pack.
This is the team that pulled off the biggest trade of the 2013 draft for one of the most exciting prospects in the league in Mark Matthews. The team that stole Steve Waldeck and David Earl from Hamilton like they were Snickers bars in the grocery store checkout aisle. The same team that waited 503 days for one of the best players in the history of college lacrosse to strap on their Black and Neon.
How did this happen? What is the problem? Can this team be fixed?
Rob Pannell
Acquired for: Matt Danowski and Stephen Berger.
Since Berger is basically a wash in this transaction — they reacquired him after one year — it bodes the obvious question: Is Rob Pannell better than Matt Danowski? I mean, he's better by one point in the NCAA, but that means nothing in MLL. The answer right now is no. Danowski is the best player on his team and regularly wins games for his team. Pannell might be the best player on this Lizards team, or more suitably he is developing into the best player, but he's not on Danowski's level. Not yet. I'll wait for you to pick up your jaw. Yes, I just typed that sentence. Yes I believe it. Would the Lizards be better off with Danowski's 29 points? Of course. However, Pannell as a rookie is about as advanced as you can hope for, especially since he had another year in the college game to develop.
David Earl and Steve Waldeck
Acquired for: the fifth pick in the 2013 MLL draft (Josh Hawkins).
This is a good trade no matter what. That pick could have been anyone from Mike Sawyer to Scott Ratliff. Earl and Waldeck as a package deal for one rookie is an absolute coup. Until you factor in that neither player has been as good as they were in Hamilton. Yet.
Mark Matthews
Acquired for: Will Mangan and the 29th pick in the 2013 MLL draft (Eric Law. Ouch.).
The Eric Law portion of this trade really stings since he has more points in four games (16G, 3A) than Matthews has in seven games as a Lizard (11, 5). Still, it's a small sample size and there is no doubt that Matthews is a special talent. The Will Mangan side of this trade definitely took away some grit from the Lizards and although Mangan's stats aren't particularly impressive (4, 2), he has played better in Denver than he did in Long Island/New York. Mangan is a hustler all over the field and Stagnitta has really tapped into that and made him a more focused contributor. You do your job with the Outlaws or you don't play. That's not always the case with the 2013 New York Lizards.
Jack Reid
Acquired for: Boston Cannons 6th round pick in the 2014 MLL draft.
Reid is clearly missed in Boston. Without him the Cannons were abused in the crease in the first five games as teams feared no slide. Reid was expected to bring more toughness to the Lizards' young defense this season but he hasn't had a chance to play inside as much because teams are attacking the Lizards from behind a lot more than they did with the Cannons. Often-times Reid finds himself on the outside looking in when balls are being plucked out of the net. He may be the only true close defenseman on the 2013 Lizards roster, but he hasn't had the chance to guard the guys he did in Boston when Sweeney and Belisle snapped up the other teams two best attackers.
Stephen Berger
Acquired for: Colin Briggs*, Ryan Young and a third round pick in the 2014 MLL draft.
*Briggs was flipped to Boston in exchange for a second round pick in the 2014 MLL draft.
This trade has not panned out. We don't even know who those 2014 guys are yet, and I can say that because Ryan Young is an all-star that trips on GLE on every drive and still scores. Young is one of the best second attackmen in the league in Charlotte and Berger is struggling to retain his 2012 All Star MVP form.
Matt Dolente
Acquired for: John Antonaides.
Dolente played his first game for the Lizards against Rochester this past Sunday and went 0-3 on his draws. Greg Gurenlian looked really hobbled for most of the game, and Dolente probably should have taken more snaps, but he's there for insurance. It may be time to collect on that policy, but it is too early to tell. Either way, it seems like the best transaction on the board and that's pretty frightening.
The main problem that the Lizards have on offense is that they have a number of players that like playing at similar points on the field. The roster is a cadre of doppelgangers. Matthews and Gibson make their living sitting on the left side of GLE looking for feeds and shots and junky balls that bounce into their sticks. Palasek does his best work dodging from X, but Pannell can do more from that position than just dodge and score; he's the quintessential feeding attackman — the heir to Ryan Boyle's vast fortune of assists. Peyser and Seibald have managed to co-exist for a few years with Peyser settling for a more angled look at the cage from up top as opposed to Seibald's penchant for dodging right down the middle. Berger and Earl both are at their best dodging on short sticks from the top, but are both susceptible to back checks — look at both Chesapeake games where they beat their longpoles but were dispossessed continuously by aggressive chase checks from the rear. Even the Untersteins, who have been regular contributors in transition, are less effective on the other side of the line than someone like Mike Ward; the king of the alley run to X when carrying the ball. More fundamental than fundamental — it's too bad he's injured.
The constant competition between players for their own spots is great in theory, but the depth has hurt a lot of guys. So many Lizards are playing out of position in an effort to get on the field. Gibson and Matthews in particular look really out of place when they don't have time on/with the ball and have made a lot more mistakes in 2013 than they ever did in 2012. Those guys aren't midfielders. You can send them in from the box all you want, they will drift to their comfort zones regardless. Other players have adapted of course, Palasek in particular has become a lethal dodger from the wing, but the points and goals are few and far between.
The offense has not evolved to accommodate the players. Square pegs are being jammed into round holes with the subtlety of Thor playing whack-a-mole in a dingy seaside arcade. As a result, all of the players — with the notable exceptions of Pannell and Palasek — are reduced to one-on-one dodgers with eyes that only see the cage. There is no draw and dump, just draw-draw-shoot, maybe roll out and look for the open guy at the top of the 2-point line. That can't work.
The man-up unit has been a comedy of errors as well. The Lizards are currently converting just 19% of their extra-man opportunities, a number that would be unacceptable at any level, but in MLL is simply inexcusable. Players like Peyser, Seibald and Berger are taking shots that are either out of their range (Berger) or rushed (Peyser and Seibald). Other players (Matthews, Gibson — even Pannell at times) are waiting for their turn chomping on their mouthguards hoping the ball somehow gets down to them.
The Lizards would do well to learn a lesson from another put-upon team in the first half of the season — the Boston Cannons — and play with a more fluid passing style to spread more touches and more chances around the field. The Cannons have utilized a two attackmen behind the cage formation with systematic cutters from the high crease to facilitate more looks on cage with their feeders Ryan Boyle, Will Manny and newly-minted apple picker Paul Rabil. The Cannons have adapted due to necessity and it has paid off with three straight victories.
The thing is that the Lizards already have two guys that can distribute and dodge from behind in Rob Pannell and Matt Gibson. Pannell has had to become more of a scorer in the early going, scoring 11 goals and assisting on 10 others so far this season. Gibson has struggled as Matthews has eaten into his time on the left side and Gibson's numbers are quite low: 4 goals and 5 assists in 6 games. Increased ball movement will lead to more opportunities in front of goal for guys like Berger, Earl, Seibald and Peyser. This team needs to trust the players that got it to championship weekend in 2012 after a disappointing start. Palasek, Gibson, Peyser, Seibald, Adams — these guys are the backbone. Use that famous sandpaper and sharpen that now-shattered backbone into a useful shank, don't whittle it down to nothing. These new players shouldn't be the gun; they should be the upgraded night vision sight that let's you aim at championship weekend.
Trusting Gibson to mesh with Pannell behind the cage is a good start. Letting Peyser and Seibald become the focal points of the offense once again is a necessary move. Spot offense from the ever-opportunistic Palasek is a given regardless. Relegating and/or separating Berger and Earl is integral to the team's success. Letting those guys move more off the ball rather than looking for their own shots — guys who often get in the way of each other, their teammates and even themselves in the current offense — will open up the field. Both Earl and Berger are extremely intelligent lacrosse players; sending them into the mix from the top and letting them clear out on the wing will allow smooth rotations and more chances from the outside shooters to hitch their man and get inside to force slides and/or get better looks. Berger is great at catching and finishing; we just haven't seen it this year. Similarly, Earl has maintained his ability to blow by his man, but not his finishing from years past.
As for the man-up unit, it would be easy to switch to a traditional 3-3 set that looks to draw and skip to the weak side, but the Lizards don't have a lot of players that enjoy giving up shots to hit the low attackman. So they play with Pannell behind the net to back up the bad shots, effectively taking their best initiator and passer out of the set. If Pannell and Gibson sat on the low corners and crept towards the back in a 3-3 they will be able to sneak in for a quick dump AND recover from the deep attempts that have been absolutely killing the conversion percentage. Matthews on the crease would be a monster on man-up and force opposing defenses to pole the interior, opening up an opportunity for any of the other players on the outside for higher quality shots. Any change to the man-up is a good change at this point.
You'll notice that I haven't even spoken about the defense yet. The defense in and of itself is not great, but it doesn't have to be great. It just has to be tighter with its slides. Every defender in MLL gets beat, but the threat of a longpole coming at you from the inside has to be ever present. With the Lizards that threat is Jack Reid, but he has been pulled more and more to the wing by opposing attackmen and has not had many chances to drop his hammer on anyone. As a result the responsible party is often Mike Skudin, who is not the fleetest of foot and is relegated to guarding the opposing team's third attackman.
With slow initial slides and the complete absence of a two-slide, teams are content to take their chances against the short sticks and dump to open wingmen who backdoor their man. Not to pile on, but Drew Adams has not had his best season (12.04 GAA, 54.2%), either and has somehow become very vulnerable to giving up midrange rips to the opposition. He's still amazing inside and, when he can see the ball, is one of the best stick stuffers in the business. The Lizards need to tighten up and establish better position on the interior if they want to be successful. No team would like to trade for a true close defender — Waldeck and Karalunas routinely play out of position down low — than the Lizards. This is a case where one more decent defender that can run and bang would change the entire outlook.
The real question isn't "can this team be fixed?" The question is, "Is it too late to fix this team nine games deep into the season?" With the most recent loss to Rochester highlighting all of the problems detailed so far it's a question with the most ominous of answers.


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Confirming the government's latest attempt to curb damaging disclosures by senior officials close to ministerial private offices, Mr Straw published a Cabinet Office plan that would "remove one of the incentives to publish" - the six-figure sums which authors can obtain, often from hostile newspapers.
In evidence to the public administration committee of MPs Mr Straw deplored past lapses, most recently the memoirs of Sir Christopher Meyer, the British ambassador to Washington during crucial Bush-Blair encounters, which were serialised in the Guardian.
Mr Straw said he did not write a diary - and felt "uncomfortable" working with people who did. His old boss, Barbara Castle, had done so and and been "very nice about me on every page".


text: I've been using GPS type units way back to Loran era in my vehicles, boats and motorcycles. I enjoy the luxury of the additional travel aid but my 2011 SRX is the first built in unit I've had. I've been wondering if anyone has got past the POI stop issue. I'm sure the whole world recognizes that the passenger can make adjustments on the screen while moving and it's not the driver. This makes the whole scope of safety a moot point. Radios including AM/FM/XM & HDD/USB, etc., have long been able to be fiddled with by changing stations or features, and you can turn on/off headlights, windshield wipers when it rains and just about every feature on the car which would be a distraction, even for a minute but no manufacturer stops you from being able to use these features. You can adjust your side mirrors while moving and that is a distraction from moving down the road at the same time. You can talk on your Bluetooth telephone or call Onstar while traveling yet you can't adjust your GPS because of some misconceived issue about the level of inattention to driving. You can check all your systems with the menu on your signal lever and that takes your eyes away from the road. So I was wondering why they zeroed in on the GPS since it's just one of the more useful items in the vehicle yet restricted by some unrealistic safety concern. So back to the question; has anyone got past this moving restriction on the GPS? On Motorcycle's you can cut one of the speed sensor wires on the vehicle harness and eliminate this irritant; of course your warranty is out the window.


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President Robert Mugabe came out swinging in a speech on Friday in which he accused his opponents of being financed and directed by British agents who are trying to overthrow his government in order to re-establish British colonial rule. Even as he spoke, his Zanu-PF party members were establishing torture sites where opponents of the Mugabe regime were being beaten and tortured for daring to vote the wrong way in last month's election. The Human Rights Watch organization said it had intrviewed over 30 people who describe how Zanu-PF members have set up these torture camps that systematically "target, beat and torture people suspected of having voted for the MDC(Movement for Demcoratic Change) in last month's elections."
The Election Commission which so far refuses to reveal the accurate vote count from last month's election is now conducting a recount in parliamentay districts which no doubt will result in a victory for Zanu-PF candidates even though previous figurs indicate they lost control of parliament by a vote of 109 to 97.
It is difficult imaginging a man like President Mugabe who has been president for 28 years resorting once again to this program of torture and abuse of his own people. He is a pathetic meglomaniac ruler who will never give up any power.


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Before we get started with this weeks "what did you do to prep this week" I would like to say thank you and give a shout-out to Mr. Bill D for his support of this blog via a snail main donation, I would also like to thank Angela M, Vanessa M, and Charles P for their support via PayPal.
Now let me see what did I do to prep this week…
Unfortunately, I did not get a whole lot of prepping done this week – I spent most of the week (about 80 hours) setting up my new news site The Daily Collapse Report – Documenting the Collapse into Anarchy..
The site is offering news from a number of sources all in one place with my personal commentary and perspective, with the main thrust being the physical, economic and moral decay of our once great country. My goal is to make it a one stop destination for preppers, where they can quickly find the news that's important to them.
All with my unique commentary and political slant.
So far the site is off to a great start, the hard part is getting other sites to mention and recommend the site to their readers (a lot of site owners are afraid to link out because they are afraid of someone taking their readers), and to building a large readership, my goal is an average of 50,000 unique visits per day.
Please tell your friends and contacts…
Now what else do I do to prep this week…
Dug up about 100 pounds of potatoes from my garden, put a fresh coat of paint on my 18 x 25 foot storage building, and bought 20 cans of vegetable soup and 15 of peaches.
Well that's it for me this week – I hope to have more to report next week, but now it's your turn – what did you do to prep this week?


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OUTSOURCING has been a successful instrument to achieve cost savings, but emerging developments across industries have triggered a growing emphasis on creation of value as well as cost reduction in outsourcing relationships.
Organisations must be sure that outsourcing arrangements reflect all contributions to the health of their businesses. Businesses which continue to consider outsourcing through the lens of cost reduction alone face missing a range of other benefits which could yield further contributions.
Outsourcing is a well-established route for businesses to transfer operations to an external party, but once the last ounce of cost saving has been extracted, what next?
A relatively recent development is the extent to which areas previously considered core are commonly featuring in outsourcing deals. Some traditionally retained capabilities in government, for instance, such as welfare claims assessments, have been outsourced to commercial organisations on behalf of the UK Department for Work and Pensions, in a trend which is likely to continue.
The transfer of core functions is not limited to government either. In the UK telecommunications sector, BT Wholesale is an established provider of telecommunications products to competitors of its own sibling BT Retail, largely through UK regulatory conditions, and the model is often replicated in other industries. Some leading technology firms may, for instance, outsource product design and development to third parties (including competitors) in mutually beneficial relationships.
Outsourcing operations in mission critical areas is not without its risks. Much comment has been made on the suitability of outsourcing capabilities, such as in the area of public services, where the nuances and sensitivities of delivery may not always be fully appreciated by the partner. We have observed cases where a partner may occasionally fail to "get it", and unwittingly risk a critical area of operations with potentially serious implications. Recovering lost ground in such cases proves to be a costly and complex exercise with far reaching impact.
This being the case, organisations looking to outsource should be sure equal importance is assigned to benefits other than cost savings.
Balance cost savings with added value
The anticipated benefits of an outsourcing relationship should address all likely outcomes. Cost is naturally one factor, but what about the agility of the outsourcing partner in responding to market conditions, or to make available a new platform or process capability which you can consume with minimum fuss and impact? Properly documented, validated and recorded, a clearer balanced picture will emerge of the overall value of the relationship. Consider using structured Benefits Management techniques to formalise recording target outcomes. These can help to articulate the resulting competitive advantages from outsourcing.
Lead your organisation
FDs should lead the organisation in valuing benefits appropriately. Avoid the common approach of scrutinising the bottom line to the exclusion of other assessments. While few will be guilty of 'knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing', we nevertheless recommend that the message is reinforced to the wider organisation that the business case has to reflect strategic objectives as well as pure cost drivers. Business cases should place equal merit on strategic alignment as well as the numbers. And don't discount the impact poor or indifferent service has on the customer experience; in many industries, such as telecommunications, utilities and financial services, customers will easily move to competitors.
Recognise outsourcing as a relationship
'Transactional outsourcing' has been replaced with closer engagement between organisations and outsourcing partners, based on mutual understanding of each other. Providers need to understand their clients' businesses almost as well as the clients, and clients need to recognise the broader capabilities the partner can bring to the table. Beware stifling any synergies which might otherwise emerge through viewing the services as commodities to be purchased at lowest cost. Some of the best relationships we have seen foster genuinely collaborative environments where it is difficult to tell who is from the business and who from the partner.
Know your outsourcing partner
Make sure that you know who you are about to strike up a partnership with, their own capabilities and how they do business. If you know you are looking at a comparatively inexperienced organisation, for instance, be sure you understand the balance of risk and potential reward. If hungry for your business, the provider may be more flexible to your needs, so this needs to be factored into any assessment. Or if partnering with an established player, test how responsive they could be to your needs. It could be that a safer pair of hands may not be agile enough.
Allow your partner the space to innovate
If organisational relationships are working, your partner will feel comfortable to propose new solutions to tackle what are 'joint' business problems, and the chances of realising unanticipated benefits grow. Innovation is key to successful enterprises, and they recognise a healthy dependency on partners to foster that innovation.
In the quest for competitive advantage, innovation and market share, outsourcing approached in the right way has much to offer organisations, and being clear on what organisations are looking for from outsourcing arrangements, and how these are gauged, is key.
Shan Ali is a manager at Moorhouse
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Travel Guide Europe Austria Styria Graz
Check the website of ÖBB (Österreiche Bundesbahn) for information and timetables.
|Best Western Hotel Drei Raben
|Annenstraße 43
|Hotel Academia Graz
|Untere Schönbrunngasse 7-11
|Jugend & Familiengästehaus Graz
|Idlhofgasse 74 A-8020 Graz
|B&B Graz
|Metahofgasse 21
|Biohof Adam
|Oberfahrenbach 44 Gro�klein
|A&O Graz Hauptbahnhof
|Eggenberger Straße 7
Internet cafes are common in bigger cities. Hotels in cities do normally have internet terminals, more expensive hotels provide internet access directly in the rooms. There are many free WiFi Hotspots and quite a few restaurants, cafes and other places offers free wifie. McDonald's has free Wifi, as does Starbucks. Note that some places might charge a fee or includes just limited amounts of time. Be sure that your smartphone is not roaming data, as this will mean a huge bill, especially if you are from outside the EU.
See also International Telephone Calls
The general emergency number is 112.The country calling code to Austria is: 43. To make an international call from Austria, the code is: 00.
Austria has a perfect GSM and 3G (UMTS) network coverage of nearly 100%. If you bring your own cell phone with you assure yourself that it operates on 900 MHz / 1800 MHz (GSM) or 2100Mhz (3G WCDMA). There are cell phones that operate at 1900 MHz (e.g. networks in the United States) which are not supported in Austria. If you plan a longer visit in Austria it might be useful to buy a new mobile with a prepaid card from a local cell phone network provider. Be aware that some remote areas (especially mountainous areas) do not have network coverage yet, though this rather the exception than the rule.Austria has a large number of cell network providers including A1, T-Mobile, Orange (former called One), Drei (3G), Telering, Tele2, Bob and Yesss. Bob and Yesss have the lowest prices. Prepaid card costs €15 including 100 minutes talking time.
For more information, it is best to check the Austrian Postal Service. They have more information about posting letters, postcards and packages to places both in Austria and to other countries in Europe and intercontinental destinations. The standard price for sending domestic letters/postcards is €0.55. Within Europe the price is €0.65, other places in the world are €0.90 to €1.40 for standard letters and postcards. Post offices typically are open between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday, though the main ones are sometimes open a few hours longer and on Saturdays (sometimes only mornings) as well. If you want to send parcels internationally, you might consider using an international company like DHL, TNT, UPS or FedEx, as they offer fast and reliable services at relatively affordable rates.
We have a comprehensive list of accommodation in Graz searchable right here on Travellerspoint. You can use our map to quickly compare budget, mid-range or top of the range accommodation in Graz and areas nearby.
as well as Herr Bert (7%), The LostRo (3%)
We don't currently have any Travel Helpers for Graz
This is version 14. Last edited at 7:29 on May 23, 14 by Utrecht. 10 articles link to this page.
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Take CableTV.com's Advice and Make DIRECTV Your Next TV Service Provider
When you want to find and compare cable companies or other television services available in your area, independent consumer surveys are extremely useful. That's why data from independent consumer surveys was the basis for our rankings of providers in Lyndonville, which puts DIRECTV at the top. In other words, DIRECTV was found to be the best TV service provider among satellite TV or cable companies in Lyndonville, NY.
We make it easy to browse the highest rated providers available in Lyndonville—that way, there's no confusion about the prices, packages, and channels that each has to offer. This means you can quickly determine which plans allow you to catch the latest and New York Giants games, along with all your other favorite programs—before you're locked into a contract. Generally, major networks are available everywhere, but TV packages in Lyndonville might have a different selection of smaller channels compared to similar packages in other cities. So when you're looking for the best cable company in Lyndonville, NY that not only meets your budget, but also gives you the channels and features you want, the ability to compare packages and prices before you buy is essential.
There are many things to look for when choosing a TV provider. For example, while it is important to find a package that includes your favorite channels, you also need to consider the company's reputation for customer support and service reliability. CableTV.com uses these factors and many others when ranking providers and making recommendations. This means that when you use CableTV.com to find a cable company in Lyndonville, NY, you'll be able to compare options and find a provider that meets your specific needs while offering the best level of service.


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This is my first attempt at carving a Wood Duck.
Tan Cork body, cedar head, glass eyes, pine bottom board,
Jansen's Traditions paint, except for the interference, which is Golden's.
I'll add an Oak keel to it this week
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text:
ADHD in kids tied to organophosphate pesticides
By Frederik Joelving
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children exposed to pesticides known as organophosphates could have a higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study.
Researchers tracked the pesticides' breakdown products in kids' urine and found those with high levels were almost twice as likely to develop ADHD as those with undetectable levels.
The findings are based on data from the general US population, meaning that exposure to the pesticides could be harmful even at levels commonly found in children's environment.
"There is growing concern that these pesticides may be related to ADHD," said Marc Weisskopf of the Harvard School of Public Health, who worked on the study. "What this paper specifically highlights is that this may be true even at low concentrations."
Organophosphates were originally developed for chemical warfare, and they are known to be toxic to the nervous system. There are about 40 organophosphate pesticides such as malathion registered in the US, the researchers wrote in the journal Pediatrics.
Weisskopf said the compounds have been linked to behavioral symptoms common to ADHD -- for instance, impulsivity and attention problems -- but exactly how is not fully understood.
Although the researchers had no way to determine the source of the breakdown products they found, Weisskopf said the most likely culprits were pesticides and insecticides used on produce and indoors.
Garry Hamlin of Dow AgroSciences, which manufactures an organophosphate known as chlorpyrifos, said he had not had time to read the report closely. But, he added, "the results reported in the paper don't establish any association specific to our product chlorpyrifos." Continued...


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Welcome to PreAP Geometry! Are you ready to work? Geometry is a world of its own. It will be very different from the math courses you have taken up to now. There will be some topics that are similar, but we will jump into points, lines and planes which will open up a whole new world. And yes, we will also experience some proofs along the way.
Geometry is all around us. It is one of the most useful maths that you will learn. The home that you live in was built with geometry. I hope that by the end of the course you will have a different perspective and a greater appreciation for the world around you.
If you are absent, click the link below to get notes for any lesson that we have done. You will have to copy and paste it into your URL. Copy the notes. Look for the corresponding assignment that is posted on this blog. If you have questions, bring your notes and your assignment with you to my classroom in the morning.
I expect you to have copied the notes by your return to class. If you were out for extracurricular activities, then school policy dictates that you to return with all assignments completed.
If you were absent due to illness, then # of days out = # of days to return work.
Don't forget to turn in the assignment that was due on the day of your absence on the day of your return.
Link to the notes for PreAP Geometry!
Remind 101:


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Sessions on American Culture
The Merit Myth
Conservatives like a certain genre of fables they believe illustrate the absurdity of liberal attempts to combat inequality. The best-known example is probably the affirmative action bake sale, a popular event where collegiate conservatives use an inequality-based pricing scale to demonstrate that whites are actually the ones discriminated against in college admissions.
The bake sale fable is a serviceable illustration of conservative myth-making. The story is typically a snappy scenario that drastically simplifies reality into a kernel of unassailable logic—logic that unfailingly illustrates that a privileged class is actually the one being victimized. This method is apparent through countless conservative bestsellers, from Dinesh D'Souza's The End of Racism to AEI president Arthur Brooks' The Battle, which describes an economic culture war where a small anti-capitalist cabal has stiff-armed its way to cultural power and brought America's free enterprise system under attack. Argued, incredibly, at a moment when the clout of industry and finance in Washington has never been more formidable, Brooks' book is a perfect example of what Marx would describe as capitalism buying the consent of its underlings. As capitalism's inevitable inequalities and exploitation become apparent, its tales of its own victimization must grow ever more shameless.
It's no surprise then, that an attack on the progressive income tax recently published in the Hoover Institution's Policy Review opens with a fable. Three brothers take different paths with their work and investment, and end up with drastically different amounts of wealth. When they decide to pool their money on a civic improvement project, the less wealthy brothers expect the very rich one to pay the most despite the fact that each has received the same benefit from the project. Though the author of the paper eventually concedes that his fundamental corner-cutting—having his characters all begin with identical levels of opportunity—"changes the picture significantly," the fable nicely encapsulates the thrust of his argument: that the rich have earned their wealth with their intelligence and hard work, and that asking them to pay a larger share of the tax burden is tantamount to punishing their success.
This is a common belief on the right, but it is based on a credulous faith in what the individual human work ethic is able to accomplish under our "free enterprise system." Even more credible conservative economists take as gospel that hard work leads to increased success or financial improvement. There are plenty of inspiring accounts of the hustling entrepreneur who turned abilities and passions into a profitable business. It's a path deeply woven into the American psyche, which is perhaps why it still inspires such populist reverence even after it has been shown to be the exception to the rule. All Americans, not just conservatives, like to believe they have a real opportunity of being rich at some point in the future. But an American born today has an infinitesimally small chance of substantially improving his or her social condition; in fact, the chances of that happening are smaller here than in almost any other developed nation in the world.
David Sessions is the founding editor of Patrol. His writing has appeared in Slate, New York, Politics Daily, and others. Follow him on Twitter.
Sessions column, "Sessions on American Culture," is published on alternate Wednesdays on the Progressive Christian portal. Subscribe via email or RSS.


text: eGauge is an affordable, flexible, secure, web-based electric energy and power meter that can measure up to 12 circuits on up to 3-phases (120V−480V, 50−60Hz). Use it to measure and record total building electrical consumption, solar, wind, consumption of individual circuits, such as appliances or geothermal system pumps, and motors. eGauge is best suited to provide:


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The brutal campaign undertaken by President Mugabe of Zimbabwe to destroy all opposition to his rule has made impossible even the pretense of a run-off election for president on June 27. It is now clear his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC), has absolutely no way to ensure people who vote for him will not be beaten up or tortured by the police. Under these circumstances, the MDC has apparently agreed to accept the reality of 2008 and do its best to protect the people of Zimbabwe. Secret negotiations are underway in South Africa under the auspices of the South African Development Community(SADC) because Tsvangirai has lost all confidence in President Mibeki of South Africa whose close friendship with Mugabe has hindered compromise.
Under proposals put forth by former Zimbabwe Cabinet minister, Simba Makoni, the run-off would be cancelled and a coalition government organized on model adopted last year by Kenya. A few days ago, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia asked his friend, Mugabe, to move toward such a compromise solution. Morgan Tsvangirai would become prime minister in the new coalition government and there would have to be some agreement that provides him with power over certain aspects of government.
In the compromise scenario, the "bad buy" Robert Mugabe continues in power but there is some possibility, in the long run, that democracy may one day flourish in Zimbabwe. Sometimes in life we do the best we can.


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March 24, 2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - With a tough weekend series now in its rear-view mirror, No. 9 Tennessee (24-6, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) looks to quickly rebound within the league by hosting SEC Western Division foe Arkansas (18-10, 7-1 SEC) for a mid-week doubleheader on Wed., March 25th, at the Lee Softball Stadium. First pitch for the two-contest set is slated for 4 p.m. ET.
The Lady Vols hold a commanding 23-11 advantage over the Razorbacks in a series that dates back to the league's inaugural season of softball in 1997. UT has emerged victorious from 11 of the last 12 overall meetings between the two programs and maintains a 14-1 record versus UA in Knoxville. The Big Orange's lone home defeat to Arkansas occurred back on April 14, 2001, by a 3-0 count, the year prior to the arrival of co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly to helm the program. Tennessee went 2-1 last season in its trip to Fayetteville, Ark., losing the opener, 5-2, before rebounding to take the series with 11-2 and 4-2 victories.
Last weekend's visit to Gainesville, Fla., to battle No. 1 Florida ended in a difficult sweep at the hands of a veteran Gator squad. If history is any guide, Tennessee will learn from the experience and bounce back quickly as the last time UT was swept on the road in league play occurred back during the 2006 campaign. Following that tough weekend, the Big Orange immediately embarked on an eight-game win streak and won 20 of its next 22 contests on its path to an eventual Women's College World Series berth and a top three national finish.
From an individual standpoint, junior outfielder Nicole Kajitani took advantage of her chance to start during all three games of the Florida series by hitting a team-best .286 overall while tallying a RBI off UF All-American pitcher Stacey Nelson. Sophomore catcher/first baseman Jen Lapicki, senior outfielder Lillian Hammond and junior second baseman Erinn Webb each posted doubles during the three-contest set.
Entering Wednesday's mid-week doubleheader in Knoxville, fifth-year head coach Jamie Pinkerton has his Arkansas Razorbacks playing with a lot of confidence, having started their conference season at 7-1 overall to lead the SEC Western Division. UA will be looking to prove something to any naysayers by facing top-10 rated Tennessee, however, as those seven league victories have come at the expense of teams currently in possession of the two worst conference records in the SEC (South Carolina and Mississippi State) and a 5-4 Kentucky club.
Arkansas rates second in the SEC in batting average counting only league contests at .306, but sits just eighth considering all match-ups on the season at .263, while plating 4.5 runs per game and having blasted 26 homers in 28 contests. The 'Backs currently rate third in SEC ERA at 1.72 but only ninth counting the entire campaign (3.21 ERA).
Senior catcher Whitney Cloer guides the UA offense with a .386 batting average and team-highs in both home runs (7) and RBIs (24). Freshman infielder Brittany Griffiths (currently the SEC Freshman of the Week) has contributed a .340 average, while junior outfielder Jessica Bachkora is hitting .311 with seven doubles, five HR's and 20 RBIs.
Five hurlers have contributed this year to the team's 3.21 ERA with reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week Miranda Dixon having worked the most innings (96.0). The junior from Edmond, Okla., is 11-2 overall with a 2.26 ERA and 81 K's. Sophomore right hander Kim Jones has added a 5-5 mark with a 2.93 ERA and 50 strikeouts. Freshman Kelsie Vallies (6.52 ERA in 9.2 innings), sophomore Layne McGuirt (9.55 ERA in 3.2 IP) and junior Teighynne Hulsey (11.55 ERA in 6.2 frames) have combined for a 2-3 record and 14 K's. From a defensive standpoint UA has struggled, having committed 38 errors for a .955 fielding percentage, rating last in the 11-team league.
First pitch for Wednesday's doubleheader with Arkansas is set for 4 p.m. ET at the Lee Softball Stadium with the second match-up currently slated to be broadcast live on "The Sports Animal" (AM 990, 99.1 & 99.3 FM). Live stats and video will be available through utladyvols.com.


text:
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This step is elective but will drastically enhance your chances of getting interest from other over 40s members on the site. Write a few sentences about yourself, your hobbies and upload your best photo.
Use our website's cutting-edge search to spot over 40s members who match your criteria. Or just leaf through listings and spot singles that interest you.
Discovered someone who is attractive to you? Send a letter to them or just a wink and take it from there. With a little luck you'll be on your way to a once in a lifetime experience.
It only takes a few minutes


text:
Jimmy Fallon leads a game of charades last night on The Tonight Show.
Jennifer Lopez out to dinner.
John Mayer all cleaned up for a date. Wait Katy Perry is out of the country. Interesting.
Joe Simpson and his sole "modeling client" arrive back home.
Justin Theroux filming his television show.
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys filming The Americans.
Kevin Spacey looking particularly creepy.
Kiefer Sutherland and his lady of the night.
Lady GaGa is a pink Q-tip.


text:
The first edition of Physlet Physics was an interactive book and CD for the teaching of introductory physics on the high school and college level. Physlet Physics was originally published as part of Prentice Hall's Series in Educational Innovation. The second edition to Physlet Physics represents a major change in how the 800 Physlet-based interactive materials are delivered to teachers and students alike. Instead of accessing materials off of the CD that came with the first edition, now users simply access the Physlet Physics 2E AAPT ComPADRE web site via a Java enabled browser on desktop and laptop computers.
The Java-based materials described in this book do not run on most tablets. However as described in the Preface, the book can be run from desktop/laptop computers via a browser that can access the Google Play Books section of your Google account.


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Writer's block is the bane of any writer's existence whether they're a journalist struggling to think how they're going to write eight paragraphs on a story (oooh, meta) or they're 'Star Wars 7' scribe Michael Arndt.
Chances are Arndt has suffered some kind of writer's block, but probably not as bad as in this short skit for comedy site Funny or Die, starring Andrew Bowler as Hollywood's most pressured writer.
[Related story: Watch the original 'Star Wars' in sixty seconds]
The video blog, here claimed to be a Blu Ray extra for the upcoming film, starts confidently enough: "'Star Wars: Episode VII'.... A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...."
Then it gets a bit tricky.
A couple of the gems that follow include, "Sir, we've identified the nerf herder... he has a herd of nerfs" and "Yoda's alive!... How?... Explain later I will."
[Related story: David Prowse aka Darth Vader talks big fat Star Wars cheques]
"Arndt" then has a go at playing with our nostalgia for the originals in the way every 'Star Wars' fan would dread to see in the finished product.
"There ARE the droids you're looking for. Haha, you flip it, and then it's... terrible."
After consulting the 'Toy Story 3' script, for which Arndt was Oscar-nominated in 2011 - "This is good, I know what I'm doing." - he then wonders how he'll admit to J.J. Abrams that he has nothing and wants to quit.
You can watch the video here.


text:
- 1[only before noun] being the total amount of something before anything is taken away gross weight (= including the container or wrapping) gross income/salary (= before taxes, etc. are taken away) Investments showed a gross profit of 26%. compare net
- 2[only before noun] (formal or law) (of a crime, etc.) very obvious and unacceptable gross indecency/negligence/misconduct a gross violation of human rights
- 3(informal) very unpleasant synonym disgusting "He ate it with mustard." "Oh, gross!" Thesaurusdisgustingfoul revolting repulsive offensive grossThese words all describe something, especially a smell, taste, or habit, that is extremely unpleasant and often makes you feel slightly ill.disgusting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:What a disgusting smell!foul dirty, and tasting or smelling bad:She could smell his foul breath.revolting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:The stew looked revolting.disgusting or revolting?Both of these words are used to describe things that smell and taste unpleasant, and unpleasant personal habits and people who have them. There is no real difference in meaning, but disgusting is more frequent, especially in spoken English.repulsive (somewhat formal) extremely unpleasant in a way that offends you or makes you feel slightly ill Repulsive usually describes people, their behavior, or their habits, that you may find offensive for physical or moral reasons.offensive (formal) (especially of smells) extremely unpleasant.gross (informal) (of a smell, taste, or personal habit) extremely unpleasant.Patterns disgusting/revolting/repulsive/offensive to somebody to find somebody/something disgusting/revolting/repulsive/offensive to smell/taste disgusting/foul/revolting/gross a(n) disgusting/foul/revolting/offensive/gross smell/odor a disgusting/foul/revolting/repulsive/gross habit disgusting/repulsive/offensive/gross behavior a disgusting/revolting/repulsive man/woman/person
- 4offensive synonym crude gross behavior
- 5very fat and ugly She's not just fat, she's positively gross!
- noun [uncountable]
NAmE//ɡroʊs//(grosser, grossest) Senses 1 and 2 have no comparative or superlative.
grossnessjump to other results
Check pronunciation: gross


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New Lee coalition puts onus on school district for cutting arts
The Lee County School District is planning to cut half or all of the music and art programs for kindergarten through fifth-grade students next year. The decision hinges on whether the school board adopts a controversial plan to raise property taxes by a small amount for one year, says the district's spokesperson, Joe Donzelli.
Mr. Donzelli laments the cuts to music and art, saying state lawmakers, whose class-size rules cost the district millions, have backed them into a corner. Florida schools are funded with shifting sources like property taxes and impact fees related to construction, he adds, which cost the district $91.5 million in the last 2 ½ years as the economic downturn deepened.
"Art and music is a vital part of an education," Mr. Donzelli said. "We all know the data. No one is arguing that point. What it comes down to is if you only have $5, you can't pay $10."
But a group sponsored by the Florida Department of Education, Arts for a Complete Education, is a new voice in Lee County, refuting the district's claims that state lawmakers are to blame. ACE members point out that music and art programs in elementary schools are mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. ACE also advocates partnerships between school districts, teachers, parents and community groups.
"If it all depended on Tallahassee, we wouldn't need a school board," says Susan Burke, executive director of the Florida Alliance for Arts Education, which helps start ACE coalitions in counties. "Across the state, every student gets the same allocation of money and no other county found it necessary to cut all of their art and music teachers.
"(Art and music) is part of what's funded when they give the per student allocation in Florida. It's part of the curriculum. It's part of the funding. How (school districts) are going to spend that money is a local decision."
Many Florida counties have established ACE coalitions since 1990. Lee County's was established just this month. If Lee County cuts half its music and art teachers, Ms. Burke says, "that's not enough to teach the curriculum that is approved by the Florida Department of Education."
But spokesperson Mr. Donzelli says the district has no choice other than cutting music and art teachers. He calls the No Child Left Behind Act and Sunshine State standards "unfunded mandates."
With the property tax increase Superintendent James Browder has proposed, about 40 teachers would lose their jobs, he says. Eighty would be cut without the tax hike. The increase would mean a homeowner who owned $125,000 worth of taxable property would pay about $31.25 more next year.
"If you adjust for inflation, Florida is funding its schools at 1990 levels," Mr. Donzelli says. "How are you supposed to have a 21st century education using 20th century dollars?"
Florida Arts Education Director Ms. Burke says the school district is trying to evade responsibility for the cuts by putting the onus on state lawmakers. "They wanted people to go away and quit bothering them," she says.
A last-minute rescheduling of a recent Lee school board meeting had others wondering the same thing. When a group of arts advocates showed up to the 5:30 p.m. meeting, they found out it was rescheduled for the following Monday, May 11, at 3:30 p.m., an inconvenient time for teachers and parents.
School board Chairman Jane Kuckel explained to those present that it was the only time all five members could be there. She also said the cuts to music and art are "not disproportionate" as Ms. Burke and others claim.
More than a dozen teachers, parents and others made it to ask the board not to cut music and art programs. They included Andrew Kurtz, conductor of The Gulf Coast Symphony; Jim Griffith, director of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center; and a grade school student from Pelican Elementary.
"As a clinical psychologist, I know what the arts do and that's why I support the arts," said Joshua Myers. Mr. Myers said he was there in part to represent "at least a dozen other professionals who could not be here today," because the meeting was rescheduled. "All the taxpayers deserve to be heard," he said.
ACE members in other counties say the coalitions strengthen and unify these diverse arts advocates so that it will be more likely they will be heard.
"ACE is probably the most important way to keep in touch with other arts education organizations in Florida," says Pablo Remonsellez, community coordinator for Viera-based Brevard Cultural Alliance.
"When you do advocacy by yourself, you're just loco. When you have a unified front all through Florida, people really listen to you because you are part of a stronger voice," he added.
ACE aims to partner with teachers, parents, arts organizations and businesses, as well as with the Lee County School District, to create ongoing support for music and art education in schools here and at the state level. Jussi Doherty, choral director at Diplomat Middle School, is the group's communications director in Lee County.
"What we are really hoping to do is have a broad spectrum from the community concerned about having a strong arts education in school," he says. "We would like parents, business owners, real estate agents, whoever, to get involved. And we don't mean there's a whole lot of work to be done — just sign up for our e-mail list, come to our meetings. Anyone is welcome."
You can contact Mr. Doherty and Lee's ACE Coalition by sending an e-mail to leeacecoalition@ gmail.com.


text: Once the holiday break is over for the students at Naples Central School, they will have a brand new junior and senior high school. The new design combines some of the original 1939 architecture with modern upgrades. There is a central area with a skylight, a new cafeteria, places to display student artwork, a heated outdoor entryway, and a high-security guest entrance. The only thing left to finish is a new pool and locker room, which are expected to be done in June. Tours for the community will be held at the board of education meetings the first Wednesday each month.


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Connecticut Gov Wants Transpo Funding to Fill Budget Holes
(Neena Satija -- CT Mirror) Coming from a supposedly "pro-transportation" governor, the proposed budget of Dannel Malloy has a lot of transportation advocates confused.
"It's hard to follow the dollars here," Joe McGee, of the Business Council of Fairfield County, said Wednesday afternoon.
"I work with these numbers all the time. I know these budgets. And I'm confused. What am I missing?"
On the one hand, Malloy's budget calls for a $1.26 billion special transportation fund for the coming fiscal year. Transit advocates have also been heartened by the work on the Hartford-to-New-Britain busway and the New Haven-Springfield high-speed rail line.
On the other hand, transportation -- like all other state services -- faces steep cuts as the administration tries to claw its way out of a several-hundred-million-dollar budget hole. And though next year's proposed spending is about $42 million above current levels, it falls $90 million shy of the level needed to maintain current services, according to nonpartisan legislative analysts.
The special fund supporting Connecticut's highways, bridges and railways would be raided for non-transportation programs under Malloy's proposed budget, continuing a trend that began roughly a decade ago.
Two days earlier, Republican state Rep. Gail Lavielle of Wilton had suggested changing state law to convert the roughly $1.3 billion fund into a "lock box" that could not be used for other purposes.
"If you don't do something to make some structural changes to the budget to leave money to spend on transportation, I fear for the consequences," Lavielle said. "We have trains that are unsafe, we have bridges that are unsafe."
While campaigning for governor in 2009, Malloy promised to preserve the Special Transportation Fund. In 2011, he tried, shifting $30 million away from the general fund and into transportation.
But as state finances have fallen into deficit, things have swung the other way. About $70 million was taken from transportation and put into the general fund this year, and Malloy wants to take another $75 million next fiscal year.
"He has broken his promise regarding the transportation fund for the second budget in a row," one of Malloy's chief critics, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, said Wednesday.
Car, bus commuters asked to give more
Malloy's budget also assumes a major increase in the wholesale tax on gasoline and other fuels signed into law in 2005 by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. As far as motorists are concerned, about 3.8 cents per gallon will be added to the price of gasoline starting July 1, and the state expects to collect an extra $32 million next fiscal year.
Malloy spokesman Andrew Doba responded to McKinney's charge Wednesday, saying, "Governor Malloy has proposed a robust investment agenda for our state's infrastructure projects, as inconvenient as that may be for the senator."
The transportation fund expects to close this year with a $159 million reserve that is projected to grow to $164 million next year.
"Most residents, at least those not running for governor, would think taking surplus funds and using them to address what would be painful cuts that would affect our most vulnerable, is just common sense," Doba said.
But those reserves apparently will not be used to offset other cuts that many say will hurt the state's poorest residents, as well as worsen its already crumbling infrastructure. Bus fares will jump under the proposal, and many commuters with disabilities will also be asked to pay more. The state's rail budget will be cut by $2 million, and expenditures on road maintenance for towns will be shifted to the state's credit card.
"Those have consequences," said Steve Higashide, of the advocacy group Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "It feels like few areas were spared in this budget, and transportation wasn't spared either."
Lavielle was also concerned that the rise in fares for bus riders and riders with disabilities were going toward filling in the state deficit, rather than improving the transportation system. She has proposed separate legislation that would prevent this.
"If you are collecting money off rail and bus fares, that money should be used for rail and for buses," she said. In recent years, the legislature has also raised fares for Metro-North riders, with the increase in revenue going toward the state's general fund rather than the rail system.
Ben Barnes, secretary of the state's Office of Policy and Management, said it was incorrect to assume that increases in bus fare would go toward services other than transportation. But nowhere in the proposed budget is that made clear.
"Is the money raised for transportation staying with transportation, or is it being used to cover part of the deficit? It's unclear to me," said McGee of the Business Council of Fairfield County.
A ride on the public bus costs $1.25 right now. Under Malloy's plan, it'll go up to $1.50 in 2014 and raise $4 million next year. For riders with disabilities that prevent them from riding regular public transit, they'll have to pay 4 percent more to ride what are known as paratransit vans provided for them under federal law.
Advocates say the fare increases will impact commuters who are already suffering.
McGee credited Malloy for continuing to focus some investment in transportation, but he questioned whether Connecticut has an overall comprehensive plan.
"We know he's committed to transportation. But it's confusing," McGee said. "[W]e are not clear exactly on what his intentions are."
Neena Satija also blogs over at CT Mirror's Rant and Rail. Follow her on Twitter.


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Open daily from 10:00 to 17:45
Open Friday from 10:00 to 22:00
This was for an editorial project where we were to choose an article with a picture and illustrate it, replacing the picture in the layout with our own. I chose this story from The Oldie magazine about how a black tom cat moves in on the relationship between a woman and her little lady moggy. I wanted to show the love between the woman and her cat, and how this was threatened by this new masculine influence. The cats are based on my own and a friends, so I was able to work from photos and experience.


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Washington beats Idaho State 56-0
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Keith Price passed for 213 yards and three touchdowns Saturday and No. 17 Washington beat FCS Idaho State 56-0 -- the biggest Huskies blowout in more than 31 years.
Things are about to get a lot tougher.
Washington (3-0) won its first three games for the first time since 2001 under Rick Neuheisel, but a daunting stretch of Pac-12 opponents looms in the coming weeks.
The Huskies open conference play next week vs. Arizona at home before going to Stanford, then hosting Oregon and playing at Arizona State.
After wins over Boise State and Illinois, Saturday's game against the Bengals gave Washington's second- and third-stringers an opportunity to see snaps.
Cyler Miles threw for 97 yards and a touchdown behind Price and led all players with 89 yards rushing, including a 61-yard run.
Price was 16-of-21 and Miles went 5-of-7.
Idaho State (2-1) was coming off wins over Dixie State and Western State and will open Big Sky play next Saturday at UC Davis. The Bengals will play up again later this season in a Nov. 16 game at BYU.
Justin Arias was 18-of-39 for 140 yards and two interceptions for Idaho State.
The 56-point rout wasn't the most lopsided win by an AP Top 25 team Saturday. No. 4 Ohio State beat Florida A&M 76-0 and No. 7 Louisville defeated FIU 72-0.
The Huskies had a 42-0 lead at halftime. They scored three touchdowns in the first quarter despite Jaydon Mickens' fumble on their first possession.
They got the ball back on Arias' fumble and Bishop Sankey scored on a 3-yard run. Jesse Callier added an 8-yard touchdown run and Price had a 1-yard score for a 21-0 Washington lead after the first quarter.
Price hit Joshua Perkins for a 1-yard touchdown early in the second and Sean Parker's interception set up Price's 6-yard touchdown pass to Austin Seferian- Jenkins. Price added a 5-yard touchdown throw to Dwayne Washington for Washington's 42-0 lead at the break.
Idaho State's Brendon Garcia missed a 47-yard field goal try after halftime and Miles threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to John Ross for the only points of the third quarter, making it 49-0 Washington.
Cleveland Wallace's interception of Arias set up Deontae Cooper's 4-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter.
Garcia later missed a 38-yard field goal for Idaho State.
Game Notes
It was Washington's largest margin of victory since a 55-0 win over UTEP on Sept. 11, 1982 ... It was the first time Washington scored at least 56 points in a victory since a 58-28 win at Arizona on Oct. 18, 1997. The last time the Huskies scored that many points was the 2011 Alamo Bowl, a 67-56 loss to Baylor ... Washington's modern-day record for points is 66 against Oregon in 1974.


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Jack Stilgoe
Lecturer in Social Studies of Science
For 2013-14, Dr Stilgoe teaches the following modules:
- HPSC3036 Governing Emerging Technologies (link)
- HPSCGA47 Responsible Science and Innovation (link)
- HPSC1004 Introduction to Science Policy
- BASC1002 Interdisciplinary Research Methods (link)
I work on science and technology policy, particularly the governance of science and emerging technologies and public engagement with science.
I was previously a senior research fellow at the University of Exeter, where I was working on a framework for responsible innovation. I have spent my professional life in the overlap between science policy research and science policy practice, first here in STS, then at the think tank Demos, then at the Royal Society. My most recent research project has involved advising the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on the governance of emerging technologies.
My current research is on the governance of geoengineering - defined by the Royal Society as the "deliberate, large-scale manipulation of the planetary environment".
I am on the editorial board of Public Understanding of Science, a member of the Sciencewise steering group, advising the UK Government on public engagement with science, and a member of the Research Councils UK Public Engagement with Research Advisory Panel.
PhD, Sociology of science, MSc, Science and technology policy, BA (Hons), Economics
There is more about me, including my publications, at my blog jackstilgoe.wordpress.com
I am part of a group that runs the Guardian Political Science blog
I am on Twitter:@jackstilgoe
Here is a lecture I recently did as part of UCL's Lunch Hour Lecture series
For a list of my publications, see Google Scholar


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SCA's NPS Academy Inspires New Generation of Park RangersKCWY-TV 13
College students with a desire to be National Park rangers learn about the job at Teton National Park.
The National Park Service Academy is a week long course designed to showcase what a park ranger really does.
SCA CEO Jaime Matyas on Confirmation of Ryan Zinke as Interior Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC – Statement by Jaime Berman Matyas, president and CEO of the Student Conservation Association, following the US Senate's confirmation of Rep. Ryan Zinke as the Secretary of the Interior.
SCA, S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation Team Up to Advance Nature-Based Youth Development
(Arlington, VA) —- Young conservation volunteers have long helped shape America's public lands.Read more
Urban Parks Transcend National PoliticsNational League of Cities CitiesSpeak.org
by Jamie B. Matyas, President/CEO, Student Conservation Assoociation
My Turn: Alaska's National Parks Need Infrastructure SupportJuneau Empire
by Jeff Samuels, SCA Alaska Partnership Director
In the Nation's Capital, Youth Heed King's Call to ServeYouth Today
"Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve," Martin Luther King Jr. famously said. "You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."Read more
Groups See Boost in Community Service for MLK DayThe Washington Post
Some community organizations, churches and schools hosting service projects throughout the nation this weekend in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day say they are experiencing an increase in participation.
SCA, Penn DCNR to Expand Summer Work Program for YouthThe Wilkes Barre Times Leader
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has joined with the Department of Labor and Industry to expand a youth program in state parks and forests throughout the state, including the Wilkes-Barre area.
Former SCA Crew Leader Named Cleveland Sustainability ChiefCleveland City Hall
Mayor Frank G. Jackson has sworn in Matt Gray as Chief of Sustainability at Cleveland City Hall. The swearing-in ceremony was held in the Mayor's Red Room among co-workers, family members and friends.
Donate Southwest Points to SCARewardExpert.com
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) strives to inspire youth to engage with nature and to become lifelong stewards of the environment through hands-on service opportunities.Read more
Contact Media Relations
Kevin Hamilton
[email protected]
Get News & Updates
About Us
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is America's conservation corps. Our members protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces in all 50 states.


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Buy Moon MapGuide Paris
Sixth Edition, July 2016
Pages: 130
Price: $14.99 USD
Moon MapGuide Paris
Moon MapGuide Paris puts the best the City of Light has to offer at your fingertips. This compact guide puts the essentials of Paris's must-see neighborhoods on discreet fold-out maps, helping you navigate the city without looking like a typical tourist.
Colored tabs make it easy to quickly flip to the location and activity you want. Find exactly what you're looking for—whether that's people watching in the Jardin des Tuileries, grabbing a bite to eat on the sun-drenched terrace of Café de Flore, experiencing Parisian Style at its finest at Colette, or meeting the green fairy at Vert d'Absinthe—without wading through what you don't need.
For easy reference, Paris is divided into 10 color-coded maps of distinct, must-see neighborhoods:
- Quartier Latin/Les Îles
- St-Germain-des-Prés
- Invalides
- Tour Eiffel/Arc de Triomphe/Trocadéro
- Grands Boulevards
- Louvre/Les Halles
- Marais
- Bastille
- Montmartre
- Canal St-Martin
Browse them individually to find stops as you go, or peruse more than 120 pages of things to see and do. Want an already-planned itinerary? Embark on three self-guided tours: The Best of Paris, Paris for Foodies, and Paris for Fashionistas.
Compact and easy-to-use, Moon MapGuide Paris offers travelers a simpler way to explore—unfold the city!
Aurelia d'Andrea
Journalist Aurelia d'Andrea's infatuation with Paris began in high school French class, but it was in 2004—during a year-long adventure in the City of Light fueled by a steady diet of baguettes and Bordeaux—that she realized she was in love. Five years later, she packed up her San Francisco apartment and schlepped her husband, her dog, and seven bicycles back to the French capital. Today, bread, wine, and urban exploration still dominate her daily to-do list.
Besides being a source of non-stop creative inspiration, the city is a feast for the senses—and that's what keeps this expat's passion for Paris alive. After years of dedicated research, she can now share where to go for the best views of the city, which Louvre entrance has the shortest line, and which boulangerie bakes the best pain au chocolat.


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Relax and Renew
Come relax and renew your spirit in one of our three private cottages on our secluded 15 acres centrally located in the Texas Hill Country. Each cottage is uniquely decorated with antiques and hand painted furniture. All cabins are equipped with kitchenettes and private baths. Savor a delicious home cooked, three course breakfast delivered to your door each morning in vintage picnic baskets. During the day you can enjoy birding and our nature trails or simply relax in a hammock under the trees. For birding enthusiasts there are four special feeding stations scattered throughout the property and a professional photography blind. We have identified more than 103 species of birds.
Check out Songbird Meadows in 'Remote B&B's from Bed and Breakfast.com
The Peace and Quiet of the Countryside
Songbird Meadows Bed & Breakfast features three private cabins located in the peace and quiet of the countryside just outside of Johnson City, Texas. Each cabin features a kitchenette and private bath. You can enjoy the outdoors from your private porch or relax in a hammock under the trees. You will have a delicious breakfast delivered to your door each morning during your stay - watch for the vintage picnic basket to arrive!
Join us for a relaxing and rejuvinating get away. Spend time exploring our walking trails or bird watching. Wind down by our one acre pond with its own island connected by a walkover. At night you can enjoy star gazing our dark skies away from the glare of big city lights. Join in the conversation at the fire pit (weather permitting) and even indulge in a s'more or two! Or use your private cabin as a comfortable central location to return to each evening after spending your days exploring more of Central Texas, including nearby historic Fredericksburg, Marble Falls & the Highland Lakes, San Antonio and Austin. Or check out the famed nearby music venues and dance halls of Luckenbach and Albert, Texas!
Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
- We accept Master Card, VISA and Discover. Please call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. for reservations.
- The owners live on the property.
- If you are Gold Star Parent or Family, we would like to hear from you . . .


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Amazon's Drone Fleet Delivers What Bezos Wants: An Image of IngenuityBy
In his 2010 internal "Amazon.Love" memo to senior executives, Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos identified a serious problem that can plague big, successful companies: They tend to be feared and, in some quarters, hated. Retailers in particular often engender anxiety as they displace smaller, sympathetic competitors and as the frugality that pervades their operations starts to look suspiciously to some like exploitation of their own workers. Bezos had an answer to the perennial big-company image problem. "Risk taking is cool," he wrote. "Inventing is cool."
The memo—excerpted in my book about Amazon—was written more than three years ago but it perfectly captures current Amazon's conundrum. The company is on track to record $75 billion in sales this year, and by most accounts it is winning the e-commerce holiday war. For today's online spending spree known as Cyber Monday, Amazon plans to take 300 orders a second. Yet criticisms abound: Workers in Germany are striking, and a recent investigation by the BBC suggested there are physical and psychological consequences to the menial labor required of workers in Amazon warehouses.
So the decision by Bezos and his colleagues on Sunday to reveal the company's latest lofty goal of delivering packages via unmanned aerial vehicles seems like a characteristic retort, directing the spotlight elsewhere. In a largely flattering segment on 60 Minutes, Bezos allowed correspondent Charlie Rose to tour a 1.2 million-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center and then pitched an eye-popping service called Amazon Prime Air. An army of small autonomous octocopters, Bezos told Rose, will one day leave Amazon warehouses, take to the skies, and transport packages up to 10 miles away, effortlessly dropping into customers' picturesque backyards to deliver a single order.
The plan is utterly audacious, and before yesterday it would not have seemed out of place as the topic of a satirical news headline in the Onion. Bezos conceded there are plenty of issues that must be worked out first and that the actual service might not launch for years. The FAA is evaluating (PDF) new rules for commercial use of drones and must ensure total safety before opening up the skies to Amazon and other companies. There is also a universe of possibilities around interference: Won't folks make a sport of stealing these vehicles or shooting them out of the sky?
And would Amazon's coming drone army even be an efficient way to deliver products? Bezos said the drones can carry up to five pounds, which encompasses 86 percent of the items Amazon delivers. But many small items ordered by customers in the same shopping session are combined in larger boxes, and then those boxes are crammed into trucks with thousands of other shipments destined for customers who all live near each other. Dispatching an aerial vehicle for each individual order does not seem very efficient, particularly in high-density urban areas or during peak shopping seasons.
Yet all that is beside the point. The aerial drone is actually the perfect vehicle—not for delivering packages, but for evoking Amazon's indomitable spirit of innovation. Many customers this holiday season are considering the character of the companies where they spend their hard-earned dollars. Amazon would rather customers consider the new products and inventions coming down the pipeline and not the ramifications of its ever-accelerating, increasingly disruptive business model.
Judging by the largely awed reactions in the press and on social media to the 60 Minutes piece: Mission accomplished.


text: People who fight with Allah will Perish like this. Intrest & Materialism has brought them this Calamity and it will be worst in furture by the will of Allah. The time is runnig out for all Give up the Intrest & Materialism right now other wise it will be too late. Mirza Abbas Ali - India Leave a Comment