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Is a CMDB even possible?
Posted by Glenn O'Donnell on April 3, 2009
- 506 Recommendations
- 3 comments
This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get in my many interactions with people on the topic of CMDB. The short answer is, "A CMS is possible, but the common model of CMDB is not." I have even been challenged on Twitter that CMDB is nothing more than an endless time sink (follow glennodonnell to see the threads). Sadly, this is a common perception that is fueled by the many failures resulting from an unrealistic view of CMDB as a monolithic database.
Herein lie the real gremlins of the CMDB and the primary reason Carlos Casanova and I set out to write The CMDB Imperative in late 2007. Yes, the book is now available from your favorite book retailer <wink!> (including Kindle <another wink!>)! The main problem with CMDB is the term itself. The right way to think about the configuration management database (CMDB) is not to think of it as a database at all. It is an organized collection of databases and other data sources that are very likely to be in multiple formats in multiple places in multiple tools from multiple vendors. Some may be in a home-grown Oracle database, some in an HP network management tool, some in an EMC storage tool, some in your HR database, etc.
A monolithic CMDB has several problems, most of them around the challenges of maintaining accurate contents. It might be good to highlight this issue with a little story.
My team and I built our first CMDB in 1986, although we didn't call it a CMDB. We were too young and naïve and none of this had yet evolved to a reasonable point. It was more an asset database than a CMDB. It was a decent model of our newly complex environment of distributed Sun workstations and servers, but it was a grand failure. We didn't capture the many relationships needed in a real CMDB, although that was not our fatal mistake. Our youthful naiveté led us to believe we could maintain its accuracy. It was all manual. We had no automated means to populate our CMDB to reconcile it with reality. We quickly abandoned it, but we did learn from that debacle.
Our "CMDB" failed because it was what many beleaguered CMDBs are today – what I like to call unified ambiguity. These CMDBs are consolidated repositories, but the contents are of dubious quality. If you can't trust your CMDB, you are in trouble. Your decisions are driven by the CMDB. Good data yields good decisions. Bad data results in flawed decisions and sloppy execution. When you make the wrong decision, you need to go back and do it all over again, usually more slowly because you now also have to gather and verify the state of your relevant environment. In The CMDB Imperative, we point out other flaws of the monolithic model, but unified ambiguity is the greatest curse against the CMDB.
So, if the CMDB is no good, what is a CMS and how is it so much better? ITIL v3 introduced the concept of a configuration management system (CMS) that finally abandons the notion of a consolidated data repository. Instead, the CMS incorporates many CMDBs – what we should really call management data repositories (MDRs).
An MDR is a tightly focused information repository. It is not an attempt to build a model of the entire world. It maintains a view specific to its focused domain. You will have one for your network, one for your servers, maybe another for your virtual servers, one for your mainframe(s), one for your distributed applications, and so on. An MDR has two distinct benefits: it is fine-tuned for that domain and it is far easier to keep it accurate.
A network router has different attributes than a virtual server and a J2EE application is very different than a SAN, so it is best to have MDRs dedicated to each and tailored to reflect the precise model of each. A "one size fits all" model is a compromise, the proverbial jack of all trades and master of none. An MDR must be a master of one.
By restricting an MDR to a specific domain, we can keep it more accurate. Most notably, we can implement discovery technology to "learn the truth" about the domain. This has quickly become a key focal point of the CMS, especially with regard to practical solutions you can buy and implement today. With discovery, you can ensure a high degree of accuracy in this particular domain. Each MDR can be its own pocket of the truth. Pockets of the truth are far superior to unified ambiguity!
Here we get to the meat of the "What's real?" element of the CMS versus what is yet to come. The whole vision of federating the MDRs into a cohesive CMS is still at least a year away, probably more for most of us. There are indeed actions we can take now and technologies we can buy now that will help us in our journey. My June 30, 2008 Forrester report A Federated CMDB Remains Distant, But Start Now, addressed this very issue. At the top of the realistic steps we can take is automated discovery. Other steps of course, are involved with planning. If you try to embark on a CMDB/CMS without the right planning, executive support, and staffing, I guarantee doom to your entire mission. Do not attempt this as a "lone wolf" or "skunk works" within your organization. Both are politically dangerous tactics, especially in economic times like these!
At nearly the same time ITIL v3 was published, a group of leading CMDB vendors collaborated on the release of the CMDBf specification. Its name, CMDB Federation Working Group, may not have been very original, but the work that came out of the CMDBf is profound. Some of the language is a bit different between CMDBf and ITIL v3, but the philosophies are perfectly aligned. CMDBf puts more meat on the bones of what ITIL v3 espouses, as it clearly defines the technical details of how tools will share their data.
ITIL v3 tells us that the data will exist in pockets. CMDB tells us how to link these pockets. In the ultimate view of federation, we don't try to copy data from one MDR to another. Instead, we "point" to the data using metadata and web services. This is well defined in the CMDBf specification. As we navigate the data for the intended purpose, we jump from MDR to MDR and back as defined by abstraction models that represent the higher-level use case we are executing.
For example, an application will likely be an abstraction model that tells us how the various servers and other elements constitute that application. I show a highly simplified n-tier application example here. The application model contains several infrastructure elements and their relationships. We need not pull all of the data about each of these into a single point. The application model will link to the appropriate MDR(s) for the network devices, which hold the truth about those network devices. It will also link to the relevant server MDR(s), which contain the server truth. Others MDRs are included, but the abstraction that represents the application is relatively simple and concise. The means by which they are assembled gives us the full picture and therefore, the full value of what we need to do.
Is this really all possible? Absolutely! We need to wait for a few of the technologies to mature, however. Vendors are moving swiftly, but we will be well into 2010 by the time the various parts of the CMS will fit together. Even then, legacy tools will be a challenge, probably needing some custom federation adapters. Throughout this period, we will experience small steps forward, many of them already in progress. CMDBf support is already emerging from the major vendors. Others will follow.
We must also view these tools as merely enabling the processes we execute. Good process is still the number one missing link in the IT profession. The tools accelerate the process execution. You can do good things faster or do bad things faster. The choice is yours, but the answers are there if you play your cards right.
Check out Glenn's research.
re: Is a CMDB even possible?
Comment from null on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 01:57
Thankyou Glenn for saying process is more important. Wish you'd said it up front though :)And thankyou for saying CMDB and CMS are blue-sky ideas that are currently undeliverable.The point where I must most strongly disagree is "CMDBf ...clearly defines the technical details of how tools will share their data". No it doesn't. It defines a basic query language for any one isolated CMDB island. There is no schema, no semantics, i.e. no mechanism of passing data at all, and zero about thornier concepts like federation or reconciliation... It says bupkis about sharing. At the current rate we are more than five years away from a CMDBf standard for federation or even the most basic of sharing, and there is no incentive for the vendors to deliver: they all want the proprietary monolithic lock-in. Please don't over-sell CMDBf.
re: Is a CMDB even possible?
Comment from null on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 02:05
ooh ooh forgot to link-drop. More about CMDBf and what it doesn't deliver here http://www.itskeptic.org/node/1258
re: Is a CMDB even possible?
Comment from null on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 14:58
As one of the authors of the CMDBf spec, I have to agree with Rob that it doesn't currently support "federation" in a meaningful way. But it provides a lot of value to lay the groundwork (helps integration if not federation) and is indeed very relevant to the discussion at hand. I do question how many different MDRs you want to have anyway. More here:http://stage.vambenepe.com/archives/673
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text: The US secretary of state, John Kerry, answers questions from senators ahead of a series of votes on whether to take military action against Syria. Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, says limited air strikes do not entail all-out war. He is urging the Senate to vote for the resolution authorising military strikes, a vote that could take place next week

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text:
Its recurring phrase is now the deadening, argument-stifling "As a mom," cited frequently by jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd.
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Like many of you I was shocked yesterday when I heard about the Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax story. Having seen the interviews before the big BCS championship game and heard his heart-wrenching story from his own mouth on TV, I could not accept that this whole story about his girlfriend who died of cancer was a hoax. Then I listened to the news conference from the AD at Notre Dame, as well as 12 hours of the talking heads on TV and radio, and had a chance to go over it in my own head.
As I sit here writing this, I still don't know if Manti Te'o is telling the truth or not. I don't know if he was in on this whole thing as a way to enhance his Heisman Trophy status. If it was a little white lie that he and a friend started that grew bigger than they ever could imagine, eventually ensnaring themselves in a trap they couldn't escape. Or maybe, giving Te'o the benefit of the doubt, he really is the victim here. He was just an innocent, naïve young athlete who was taken in by some online fraudsters. No different than all of those crazy people who really do believe that the bank official in Nigeria has picked them to help dispose of the 12 million dollars left in a bank account of someone who died with no relatives.
Regardless of whether you believe Te'o or not, though, there is a lesson to be learned here. Many people are saying Te'o was either the victim of a "Catfish" scheme. In any event, you should be aware of what they mean by Catfish. Maybe we should call it "Catphish." The term references a controversial documentary released in 2010 about a young man who developed a relationship with a woman he only met online. Their relationship is filmed by his two friends. Eventually, they go to the woman's home and, of course, they find out that on the Internet "no one knows you are a dog."
But, seriously, it is a fascinating study in how we believe what we want to believe and how unscrupulous people can play with our emotions and lives using the Internet. I am embedding the trailer from the film below this paragraph (you may have to reload the page for it to show up). Have a look and then continue reading my story.
Unfortunately, this type of scheming has been going on long before the Catfish movie. I was using online services since way before the Internet was commercial. I remember Compuserve, Genie, AOL and more. How many of you have had conversations with people you met online? How many of you single or even married folks have spoken to others in a flirtatious manner online? I remember a funny cartoon I read years ago. It was an older, heavier guy playing on his computer in the dark. The bubble shows some talk between him and what is supposed to be a woman in a chat room. His wife says to him, "Herb, get out of that chat room, the 'girl' you are talking to is just another old, bald, fat guy like you."
Even before the AOL chat rooms, though, there was another service I belonged to. It was called the Imagination Network. My good friend Billy Nicholson and I were members. It had lots of different "lands" where you could play different games and activities. One was "Casino Land," sort of built in a Leisure Suit Larry sort of way (if you remember that great old computer game). You had to fax proof that you were 18 to get into Casino Land. Once in there you could create your own avatar (it was so ahead of its time), designing your look and persona. You could gamble (not real money) at various games. For most people, though, it was an online meat market. You could chat up other people there and go into private chat rooms. In the chat rooms you could give others flowers, hearts and even kisses, as well as chat. Remember, this is back in like 1994 or 1995. It was very cutting-edge over a 1200 or 2400 baud modem.
Anyway, it was my first exposure to online flirting. I was already married and not really looking to meet anyone. But the idea of talking to people from anywhere in the world in this "adult" atmosphere was alluring. Billy and I would go in pretty often and chat up anyone and everyone. It never occurred to us that the people we were chatting might not have been who they said they were. Yeah, we figured they were lying about their looks and whether they were married or not, but why would a guy say he was a girl? What would anyone gain by playing someone else? Anyway, when I started getting emails (that was still pretty new then) from some of the folks I spoke to in Casino Land, I realized that playing around online could quickly lead to trouble in real life. I stopped online chatting quickly before someone came knocking on my door one day.
But the game remains the same. The Internet is one of the greatest meeting places for romance that has ever been invented. You are not going to stop online flirting or people meeting via the net. Nor do I think we want to. In fact, the online dating industry being a multi-billion dollar industry is proof of that.
The real question is how do you avoid becoming the next Manti Te'o? How do you not wind up as Catfish? For me, the answer is the same as how you avoid any other online scam. You don't leave your common sense at the door to the computer room. You need to remember and you parents out there need to teach your kids, not everything is as it appears or true on the Internet (I am reminded of the commercial with the girl dating a French model, Bonjour). We are all looking for love and friendship and our emotions sometimes can cloud our better judgment. But before you dive in head first, have some common sense please. Having another set of eyes look at what you are doing is not a bad idea. I always tell people: "step away from the keyboard and really think about this." There is nothing wrong with asking for some kind of proof of who you are talking to online. If it smells fishy, it usually is. If it is too good to be true, it probably is.
I don't mean to put a wet towel on all of you who have found love and romance online or who are looking for love and romance online. But if you do believe what Manti Te'o claims, that he is the victim here, let it be a lesson to you. Don't be the next one!


text: DraftExpress: NBA Pre-Draft Camp Measurements and Combine Results Some very interesting data. Acie's athleticism will really be in question. Jason Smith, the C from Wyo. really showed quickness and the 37.5 vertical is impressive. Crittenden not as athletic as advertised. Oden had a 34 inch vert at 257 lbs. Conley cat-quick, but under 6'.


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'Dorner's Last Stand' Game Hits The Web
A video game was released by a user on 4chan's /v/ board on Thursday, just 24 hours after the standoff that ended with authorities cornering Dorner in a cabin. The game is offensive on many levels, obviously. First, you're shooting LAPD officers in an attempt to escape from the burning cabin. Add to that the frequent use of the n-word and ability to power-up by finding boxes of Kentucky Fried Chicken and you're still only scratching the surface of things that would shock the average player. Also, Charlie Sheen makes an appearance. It's all a bit much.
Bottom line: Watching the video below will likely offend you. Playing the game is even worse. Here's a video highlighting the gameplay:


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La habitación era perfecta y muy cómoda. Nada
Las habitaciones son terriblemente pequeño. No se puede ajustar el calor. El personal no era servicial.
El personal era muy agradable y limpio No hay plancha en la habitación
Todo era genial!
me gusto mucho que te prestan bicis para conocer chicago
Hotel de lujo La habitación es mucho más pequeña de lo que parece en las fotos. Las paredes son tan finas que hace la privacidad muy difícil. Preparaos para oír a los vecinos.
Limpia! Hermoso! Ojalá las bañeras eran un pelín más grandes!
Perfecto para fin de teatro. Gran ubicación, habitación preciosa. Las comodidades bien pensadas.
Era muy cómodo. La habitación era más pequeña de lo que pensaba que iba a ser. Necesitan poner un cortina de ducha.
Las habitaciones eran increíblemente pequeña. Los ascensores no funcionaban.
Habitació king super pequeña. Pagas por el vestíbulo.
La habitación era agradable, baño amplio, limpio. Buena ubicación. El personal era agradable. El bar de la terraza era agradable, con buena comida y bebidas. El precio por guardar el coche durante la noche es caro.
Experiencia bien pensada; fantásticas habitaciones y decoración única. Es una bonita casa lejos de casa.
We like the intimacy of the hotel. The staff made us feel welcome. The location is walking distance from theaters, shopping, lake front. Parking is very expensive: tip - 3 blocks west of the hotel is public parking lot and we paid $15 for the whole weekend.
The hotel was perfect and beautiful. The style blended well with our modern tastes but need for historic romance. The beds... were... AMAZING. All the linens as well.
Loved all the old architectural features. The rooms were small but the architecture, view, location and excellent air conditioning made up for the size. My suggestion is to add a quiet seating area near the stairs and elevators on each floor so that guests that awaken early can read and have coffee while a child or partner sleeps. Joan
The building, itself, is a renovated office building across from Macy's on State St. The location is ideal for sight seeing in the Loop. It's unique. A lot of art deco trim. It's nicely decorated, the staff is pleasant. They serve complimentary wine at 5 p.m. It's boutique hotel, not a monster one. The rooms are small.
Beautiful; FANTASTIC service provided by all areas; clean Mattresses were hard
Desk staff quite friendly and helpful. Everything classy and elegant. Umbrella iin closet was a nice tough. Didn't patronize the Atrwood? Restaurant although attractive ambience, Prices were prohibitive. Cup of cofffee: #$4.00, Eggs bENEDICT: $15.00 Fugget about it.
I had an excellent room with a view of both State and Washington Streets and Millenium Park!
I liked the location and the quite comfort of the room. I liked the variety of contents in the minibar, even though I didn't actually eat but one thing. My room was a little noisy, but I just wore earplugs and that worked out for the most part.
Staff was very friendly and very helpful. Rooms were clean and very nice. Only complaint was elevator on Sunday morning. Most people are trying to leave and the maid staff had most cars filled with there carts. Maybe staging a cart on every floor would help that congestion. Otherwise it was a great place to stay.
Staff were amazing! They took care of all the details with great courtesy. The room was beautiful, the bed was super comfortable and everything was very clean. The Atwood Cafe food was delicious, and they modified reservations for us without a fuss. I would definitely stay here again and recommend it to family and friends.
Warm, accommodating staff. Great location. Quaint, historic building. The hotel was more than adequate for our needs, but guests should not expect huge rooms.
Under construction


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1ST BIRTHDAY: Zachary Kolarik
Zachary Russell Kolarik, son of Frank and Nichole Kolarik, of Armagh, celebrated his first birthday on July 7.
A sports-themed party was held in his honor with family and friends.
Zachary is the grandson of Russell and Claudine Bishop, of Homer City, and Frank and Kathy Kolarik, of Berlin.
He is the great-grandson of John and Rosemarie Kuhar, of Vintondale.


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i've moved this into electrical
some pointers if i may...oem colour temp is in the 4.3-4.5 kelvin range as this gives the whitest,brightest light.
6k is as blue as you really wanna go because the human eye doesnt pick up blue that well...any higher than this and you will struggle to see where you are going at night.
i run a 6k kit and reckon it matches the std halogen luminousity,but with that funky blue tinge


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Road Trip Tricks and Tips
In need of a cool adventure this spring break or summer? How about a road trip! More often than not it is a cheaper way to unwind and have fun all while taking in an epic adventure. Here are some tips, tricks and suggestions to make your road trip awesome!
1. Prep!
Before you head out, plan ahead.
-How many people are going?
-Where are we going? Select a route and plan it out, but give it a loose outline. Here's where we want to go and how to get there, and whatever happens along the way is just a bonus, but it's good to have a destination in mind. There are a bunch of really great websites to plan your road trip for you: here, here, here and here!
-How long will it take to get there?
-Where can we sleep? Where can we eat? Where's the best place to get gas? Research spots on your route that are best for lodging, dining and refueling so that you're prepared and not just driving around hoping for the best.
-Make snacks
-Purchase a gas card (gas cards more often than not have rewards points, after your first few stops you may have enough points to get gas with just the rewards!)
-Stock up on quarters and small bills to pay tolls.
-Get your car maintenance taken care of (change your oil, refill your windshield wiper fluid, clean out your car, take that laundry bag out of your trunk from two Februarys ago, get a new air freshener, etc)
2. Gather your travel pals and watch some road trip movies to get you all in the mood.
-Little Miss Sunshine -National Lampoon's Vacation
-Sideways -Zombieland
-Road Trip -Due Date
-Planes, Trains and Automobiles -Tommy Boy
-Something Wild -Black Sheep
-Away We Go
Snackage is important on any journey; however, eating out can get really expensive after your fourth stop at Lucy's Diner in the middle of west Jabip. Stock up on snacks for your trip before you head out!
-Trail mix -Juice boxes -Crackers -Bread -Cut up veggies
-Water -Hard cheeses -Cheez Its -Dry Cereal -Nutella
-100 Calorie Packs -Any of our Snack Like a Southerner recipes!
4. Make a playlist!
Driver picks the music. Make a playlist of your favorite tunes to help pass the time. Check out our weekly playlists for some suggestions!
5. Passengers
Road trips really must be done in groups not only for safety, but for the most fun.
-Give each passenger a job: trash, GPS, food keeper, "doctor" (in charge of the First Aid kit), DD (if you find yourselves at a bar during your trip), valuables protector, photographer, etc.
-Rotate out drivers as well as shotgun. It's best to travel in at least groups of three, that way each person gets to drive, sit shotgun and sleep. Shotgun's responsibility is to keep the driver entertained and awake, which is a really important job!
-Each passenger selects a tourist spot he wants to got to or see. When it's his turn to select the destination, he drives!
6. Safety First!
Don't pick up hitchhikers, just, just don't. Whether they have a handsome face and a six pack or a bloodied axe swung over his/her shoulder, don't pick them up. Also here are some other safety tips:
1. Keep your valuables in a large CD case. It's innocuous.
2. Have a "back home buddy" that you can call or text when you arrive at certain destinations so that your road trip doesn't turn into an episode of Criminal Minds.
3. Know where you are going. Unless it's the absolute worst case scenario, stick to your route as close as possible.
4. Stay charged! Make sure at least two of your passengers have charged cell phones.
5. Be prepared for something to go horribly wrong with your car. There's a high chance that you'll get through your whole trip without smoke coming out of the hood of your car or anything like that, but it's better to be prepared. Keep an extra set of keys in case you get locked out, make sure you have jumper cables and a spare tire, things of that nature.
6. Keep an extra blanket in the trunk.
7. Theme it!
Come up with a fun theme to your field trip.
-Food! (Check out fun restaurants or factories of your favorite places)
-Internet Friends (Your parents have probably stressed to you not to talk to strangers since your MySpace days that you don't want to talk about, but now that you're grown up enough to make your own bad but probably great choices, go pick up the pals you have been Skyping with over the years! Or if you have a friend that moved somewhere far far away, go pay them a visit.)
-Music Festivals or Concerts (We just published an article in regards to country's hottest artists and their tour dates, give it a read! Or make a list of bands or festivals your friends want to see and follow it on the road!)
-Sports (Follow your favorite sports team or go to national landmarks regarding to your favorite sport.)
-Tourist Traps (Those places for fannypackers and moms! Check out the world's largest whatever, museums, monuments, weird historical sites, fun and almost free attractions, etc.)
-Scavenger Hunt (Plan out a scavenger hunt in which you have to get a picture or weird memento from the locations you wanna go on your trip. Make it a points system, the passenger with the most points get some kind of prize at the end-cash prize that you all chip in for, drinks, a pat on the back, etc.)
-Haunted Places or Ghost Towns
8. Pick a famous route.
-California Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway)
-Vermont Route 100
-Georgia Golden Isles
-Northshore Drive Minnesota Route 61
-Route 66 Texas
-Blue Ridge Parkway
9. Document your travels.
-Take photos (tell a story with your pictures, post them to Instagram, make your own post cards, take photos with strangers, do a theme, etc.)
-Take video (documentary style, fun shaky cam, etc.)
-Write in a travel journal (expectation vs reality, fun and not fun, letters back home, etc.)
10. Play games!
From ISpy to the License Plate Game to a scavenger hunt. Keep the ride fun and friendly with fun games.
Have fun and stay safe on your road trip. Take some photos and tag us! You could be featured on our social media.


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In the last year and a half, Gregg Akkerman has built a 50-student USC Upstate jazz program from what had been a band of five.
The 39-year-old director is poised to push the program further in 2006.
He hopes to continue boosting enrollment in several campus jazz groups, which he hopes will have the quality to enter regional jazz festivals in a few years time.
"We're taking all comers - we'll try to find a place for them," Akkerman said.
Last spring Akkerman convinced USC Upstate to add a jazz minor to the school's offerings. It is the school's only music degree, though Akkerman hopes to change that.
He has proposed a commercial music degree, which would be geared toward getting students jobs in the performance environment of pop music.
He is also attracting national talent to the school, including a January workshop by noted guitarist John Pizzarelli.
Akkerman lives with his wife Therese, a classical piano major at Converse College.
Akkerman received his doctorate of arts at the University of Colorado.
Before that he performed as a pop and jazz pianist in the San Diego area.
-- Alex Morrison


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WestCoast Whistle
Credits & Info
- Uploaded
- Nov 4, 2007 | 7:06 PM EST
- File Info
- Song
- 2 min 26 sec
- Score
- 3.73 / 5.00
Related Content
Heard in 1 Entry!
View all submissions featuring this audio file.
You might also enjoy:
Licensing Terms
Please contact me if you would like to use this in a project. We can discuss the details.
- Score:
- Rated 3.73 / 5 stars
- Plays & Downloads:
- 4,212 Plays | 203 Downloads
- Share Links:
- Genres:
- Hip Hop, Rap, R&B - Hip Hop - Olskool
- None
Author Comments
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
i like that beat it brings me back to older days sounds like some dre thing though it was good though keep it up man
thanks man
Rated 3.5 / 5 stars
That's from NFX's Dr.Dre Beat Recipe hehe ^^ I also don't really digg the samples(not all of them).. anyways, keep trying man, and try to find out you're own melodies by just playing on a keyboard. With the note you start, also end with that.
Good luck further :)
Thanks man.. Im glad you new it was the dre beat recipe from nfx's tutorials.. good ear man!
it was a good little project to learn some sort of hip hop style beat!
this submission is quite old tho.. more from when i first started... Im more into other genres but I guess I could try this one again with the new skills that I have!
Thanx again:D!!!
Rated 4 / 5 stars
Check it out
Man I would almost pay you to take that piano
and put it on a new beat. Or just revamp this one
a little. George lucas this shit man.
Haha.. This is a very old project that i cannot delete because it is also in a flash...
so i might aswell re create it.. thanx for the idea
Rated 2.5 / 5 stars
Repetitive :S
The sound was good but repetitive so try to work harder on it.
Alright thanks:D!!!
Rated 0 / 5 stars
The beat was VERY generic...and it was off key as hell..If you don't have the ear try looking at a chord or scales chart.
good review and i appreciate it because I understand that Im not good at making hip hop.. havent spent any time at all trying to get better.. not my style.. I dunno about the shitty score tho.. not sure if this deserved a ZERO out of 10 but w.e... everyone has their own opinion... this shouldnt even be on here but it cannot be deleted because someone used it in a flash..


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Interfaith Group to Aid Urban Negroes
By GEORGE DUGAN ();
March 15, 1968,
, Section , Page 36, Column , words
Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish leaders joined yesterday in pledging $10-million to be used in five urban centers within the next eight months to help Negroes achieve full equality by their own efforts.
March 15, 1968
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New York Times subscribers* enjoy full access to TimesMachine—view 129 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared. 99¢ for your first 4 weeks.
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Follow Harriet on Twitter
About Harriet
- The Poetry Foundation's blog for poetry and related news.
- More about Harriet
- Contributors
- Archive
The Bounce and The Roll
Marjorie Perloff has claimed that, often, a poet's career is rarely made on one book, rather it's the long and slow accrual of publications, activities, community service, and so forth that firmly establish one's reputation. A perfect example of this would be the career trajectory of Charles Bernstein. While it's hard to name Bernstein's "best" or "iconic" book, it's the decades-long tireless life in poetry which has made him one of our most important and beloved poets. His activities in support of poetry — be it his pedagogy, his work on cross-cultural poetics, his many volumes of criticism and essays, the founding of both the Electronic Poetry Center and PennSound, his tireless advocacy for poets, in addition to his own poetry — all add up to an admirable and solid career.
But these things take time. The cycle of book writing itself is a slow roll. A book can take years to write, more years to get published, and finally just as long to be received. Once they're published, they don't disappear: they hang around shelves, are passed on to friends, or sold to used bookstores. How different this is, say, from the visual arts, where the art-going public is focused on what's in front of them at the moment. Often people don't remember individual shows (yet they do recall specific bodies of work). After an exhibition, visual art works disappear: into collections, into warehouses, into museum basements, back into studio storage, often never to be seen again. The slowness of writing is an occupational hazard, although it's a pace that I suppose many writers prefer. There's something far-ranging, even transcendent, about it; by placing the work and career outside of normative cultural modes, poets are freed from quick-paced cycles and seasonal fads & fancies, something that even visual artists are not immune to.
And yet, we now live in a moment of the bounce, where Google Alerts are triggered at the mere mention of an author's name or work, or tweets can ricochet information about a book to thousands of followers in an instant. It's certainly gratifying for authors — often working alone — to know minute-to-minute that someone out there is engaging with the work. And it can be addictive. I have a poet friend who has every type of search term and alert set up, not only for his name but also for the names of his books. Every morning, he harvests even the most minuscule mentions and PDFs them for his archive. He enacts what Andy Warhol said, when asked how he feels about his reviews: "I don't read them. I just measure the column inches." Like a marketer crunching his numbers, Warhol was obsessed with the quantification of taste, which, in Warhol's case, often resulted in higher financial returns. And yet my poet friend is just like Warhol with a profit motive replaced by the ego. In this era of statistical obsession, writers can literally quantify their reception in terms of hits, retweets, "likes," "followers," and "friends." Every day, he checks the number of his Twitter followers, angling on how to better drive traffic to his feed. The more followers he has, he argues, the more visibility he has as a poet, thus increasing his power base and name-recognition.
Now whether you feel this is a silly game — all of this for, really, no verifiable return whatsoever — or not, a significant change concerning a poet's career and self-esteem is underway. So much so, that I'm beginning to suspect — definitely, in the case of my friend — that this cyber-steam is starting to become more important to him than his actual poetry. In fact, it's crossed my mind that this may actually be his new literary production. While we saw this coming years ago, with writers obsessively checking their Amazon ranking and often trying to finagle it higher, we might have turned a corner where, in fact, for many people, the marketing, accounting, and management of their career has actually become their art. And who can forget Ron Silliman's obsession with his blog's stats — the millions of hits and users — something he loudly trumpeted for years?
The first glimpse of this was the controversial 3,785-page Issue 1 [PDF, 4mb] anthology, when a few years back, the poetry world awoke one Saturday morning to find that most of us had been included in an anthology of which we knew nothing about. How did we know this? We all received a Google Alert telling us of our inclusion. Rushing to find out what it was all about, we downloaded a massive PDF, searched for our name, and found that the poem attributed to us bore no resemblance to our work. Upon further investigation, we learned that our poem was, in fact, generated by a computer and randomly assigned to our name. The responses were numerous and varied: some were upset that they were included, others equally upset that they were omitted.
What was lacking, though, was any discussion about the poems themselves. But to discuss them would have been besides the point. As there really wasn't much to discuss about the poems—in regard to everything else going on about this gesture, they seemed pretty irrelevant—we were forced to consider the conceptual apparatus that the anonymous authors had set into motion. With one gesture, they had swapped the focus from personally-forged content & meaning, to anonymously-generated context & distribution. Its as if Issue 1's creators were saying that in the age of Google Alerts, what is written has become secondary to how a literary work makes its way out into the world.
And they may have a point. In the new information landscape, it's the re- gestures (the retweet, the reblog) that seem to carry the most weight. For example, the popular blog Boing Boing doesn't create anything: they simply point at cool things. And the gesture of Boing Boing pointing at something always trumps the thing at which they are pointing, making us aware that the new power-base is in the filtering, distribution and management of information, not in the original creation of it. For example, If I tweet something that I know takes a long time to digest — say, a lengthy experimental abstract film — a minute later, I find that it's been retweeted by dozens of people. Now while many may be familiar with that work, most aren't. And most haven't even engaged with it. But rather, it's the name-check and the cool-factor of the information combined with the passion for sharing it, which creates a bounce. The citation, the act of moving that information, has more cache than the object to which its referring.
All of this is to point out the new quandary that writers — whose notions of literary production and reception were forged in the age of the slow roll — face in the age of the bounce. To construct a career based on the ephemerality of the meme is at once thrilling and terrifying. Embracing it is like jumping off a cliff and freefalling, throwing away the script that we've come to know so well. Yet it seems inevitable; it's clearly the next move; it will happen. The question is how it will happen and how much human intervention will be necessary to successfully sustain it as a viable literary practice. If Issue 1 is any hint, then it's clear that machines will need to play a much more central role in the discourse; although it was curated and collated by humans, what made it possible was the fact that a computer wrote all the poems and then they were distributed and propagated electronically.
But we're not there yet. Even though many writers may derive works from those (Google searches, data-scraping, etc.), I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a writer who doesn't have their eye on the bigger picture; I can't name a writer — even the most radical and "uncreative" — who would choose the model of a bouncy meme over the slow roll of literary history. But that too will soon be changing.
Posted in Uncategorized on Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 by Kenneth Goldsmith.


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April 22, 2009
Sarah Bickerstaff won first place in the female community division during the Spring Triathlon on April 18 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Janet Sheik and Harriet Bickerstaff completed the race in second and third places, respectively.
Twelve individuals participated in the Spring Triathlon at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in the J.R. Holder Wellness Center on April 18. There were two teams and six individuals who participated.
Participants were required to swim eight laps, ride five miles on a stationary bike and run one and a half miles on the treadmill. There were four divisions with an overall male and female winner.
Winners and categories are as follows:
TEAM DIVISION: first place – Kim Pearson Team with a time of 33:50:00. Team members were Kim Pearson, Casey Bolz and Jenny Bolz, Covington junior; second place – Nicki Chaffee Team with a time of 40:34:00. Team members were Nicki Chaffee, Denise Reed and Kacy Hibdon, Oklahoma City senior.
FEMALE COLLEGE DIVISION: first place – Lindsay Stewart, Alva senior; 33:02:00; second place – Crystal Herber, Alva junior; 34:01:00.
FEMALE COMMUNITY DIVISION: first place – Sarah Bickerstaff, 26:51:00; second place – Janet Sheik, 45:37:00; and third place – Harriet Bickerstaff, 48:03:00.
MEN'S COMMUNITY DIVISION: first place – Henry Bickerstaff, 27:18:00; second place – Steve Tanio, 28:39:00.
OVERALL FEMALE WINNER: Sarah Bickerstaff.
OVERALL MALE WINNER: Henry Bickerstaff.
"We are very proud of our member's success with this individual and team challenge," Lendi Gourley, assistant director of the Wellness Center, said.
"All the participants did great, and for a few of them, it was their first time to ever compete or at least do something of this nature."
Contact Gourley at (580) 327-8109 or at firstname.lastname@example.com to become a member of the Wellness Center or with questions on summer events.
MISSION STATEMENT: Northwestern Oklahoma State University provides quality educational and cultural opportunities to learners with diverse needs by cultivating ethical leadership and service, critical thinking and fiscal responsibility.


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Local bakery takes on national competition in "Cupcake Wars"
Tiffany's Sweet Spot ready for exposure
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- - Had you asked Tiffany and Ben Thorpe on their wedding day what they would be doing in 12 years, baking cupcakes and creating art on cookies would not have been their answer.
Now, they have four children under the age of 10, and an award-winning bakery tucked away in a quiet shopping center off Highway 111 in La Quinta.
"Tiffany's Sweet Spot" won't be un-known for long. The small bakery, shared with Dot's Cake Shop, was featured on the December 28th episode of "Cupcake Wars" on Food Network.
Unfortunately, Tiffany and Ben didn't win the bout of Cupcake Wars which aired on Friday.
"Everyone would come in and say, 'Have you heard of "Cupcake Wars"? You need to be on the show!' So we owed it to our customers to give it a try," explains Tiffany.
Tiffany and head-baker husband Ben were tight-lipped about the show, but here's what Food Network released:
"It's the mother of all horse races, as four cupcake bakers vie for the chance to have their cupcakes at the center of the legendary Breeders' Cup World Championships. To get there, they must win over guest judge Bo Derek, iconic actress, model and Breeders' Cup Ambassador. At stake is a $10,000 prize."
The ingredients had to include things a horse would like, such as carrots and apples, but Tiffany says that wasn't the hard part.
"We're in a foreign kitchen, we're not used to where everything is, you have this time crunch, you have to communicate with your partner, it's really loud, there's a lot going on... So yeah, it's wild and very stressful to say the least."
Ben was a construction worker when he was laid off with three children and a stay-at-home wife. Tiffany started researching ways to make their daughter's birthday parties fun, and taught herself how to professionally decorate masterpieces on sugar cookies.
"Once I was proud of my creations, I posted them on my Facebook page and my friends were starting to ask to order these cookies and it just exploded," says Tiffany.
Facebook made her creations into a business, and Ben added cupcakes to the mix.
"Raising kids is a job by itself, but nobody pays you for that," Ben confides, "So this is a great way we can all be together. When I was doing construction, I had to go to Pomona or San Diego and I was away from my family all day, and that wasn't any fun."
Now a family of six, Tiffany and Ben say life couldn't be sweeter.
Tiffany's Sweet Spot is located at 79410 Hwy 111, Suite 101, La Quinta, CA 92253.
For more information, visit http://www.tiffanyssweetspot.com.
Follow Samantha on Facebook and Twitter.


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Dr Christine Kenyon Jones is Writer in the External Relations Directorate at King's. She was Director of Public Relations for the College from 1991 to 1999.
She is the author of an informal illustrated history of the College (2004), and a history of its Council (2007), and edits the King's annual magazine-style Report and Profile booklet. She completed her PhD at King's in 1999 and is an honorary Research Fellow in the College's Department of English.
© 2017 King's College London | Strand | London WC2R 2LS | England | United Kingdom | Tel +44 (0)20 7836 5454


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Parent Organization: University of New Hampshire
The Ski and Board Club is an entity of Campus Recreation. Founded in 1999, the club has been providing rides from ski mountains since. Currently, it provides transportation to Loon Mountain and Sunday River. Trips run every Saturday during the winter season while school is in session. Club dues are $80, which covers all transportation to and from the mountain. Ski passes need to be purchased separately. Throughout the year, the club premiers ski and snowboard movies, which are open to all.


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CANADA STOCKS-TSX may open lower despite global recovery hopes
March 14 (Reuters) - Toronto's stock index looked set to open lower even as positive U.S. retail sales helped bolster hopes of a global economic recovery.
* Soaring unemployment and biting austerity will top the agenda at a summit of EU leaders, with the social consequences of the region's debt crisis now seen as the greatest threat to the survival of the single currency.
* President Barack Obama met with his toughest critics in Washington - House of Representatives Republicans - and made little headway in convincing them to accept his demand for tax increases as part of a deficit-reduction deal.
* China's parliament formally elected heir-in-waiting Xi Jinping as the country's new president.
* BlackBerry will offer a solution to separate and secure work and personal data on mobile devices powered by Google Inc's Android platform and Apple Inc's iOS operating system.
* Media and telecommunications conglomerate Quebecor Inc reported a 89 percent fall in quarterly profit after it booked a debt refinancing-related charge and on higher costs.
* Honda Motor Co Ltd will recall nearly 250,000 vehicles globally, including some Acura MDX crossover SUVs, due to braking problems, the automaker said.
MARKET SNAPSHOT Continued...


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Shannon Lacy enters her second season at USC as a capable addition to the Trojan midfield with an ability to transition to the front lines for USC.
Lacy appeared in nine games and started one as a freshman.
Won four league titles at Monte Vista High in Danville, Calif... Team was North Coast Section champion in 2005... Earned all-league honors in 2005 and 2006;;; Named to ANSCAA/adidas all-region team in 2006... Student of Excellence in 2006... An honor student... Sophomore class president... Played club for Mustang Blast, winning Cal-North State Cup six times and Far West Region champs twice... Won 2004 USYS National title... Also member of Cal-North ODP team.
Has not decided on a major but would like to pursue a medical degree... Parents are Steve and Christine... Has two brothers, Ryan and Stephen, who was a member of the USC men's water polo team... Lists Jim Braddock as her biggest sports hero... Birthdate is Aug. 11, 1988.
GP-GS Shots Goals Asts Pts GWG
2007 (Fr.) 9-1 0 0 0 0 0


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Question tags
On this pageGrammatical form
General usage
Degrees of certainty and intonation
Inviting agreement
Responses to question tags
Double positives : positive statement, postive tag
Other exceptions
See also:auxiliary verbs - so / neither
auxiliary verbs - sounding interested
auxiliary verbs - avoiding repetition
Grammatical form
General usage
We can use question tags to check something we believe to be true.
I am fairly sure his name is David, but I'm not 100 per cent certain, so I say,
Your name's David, isn't it?
I think he likes fish, but I'm not absolutely sure, so I say,
You like fish, don't you?
I don't think he's coming to the meeting, so I say,
He's not coming to the meeting, is he?
Note: If the first part is grammatically positive, the tag is usually negative; if the first part is grammatically negative, the tag is usually positive.
Degrees of certainty and intonation
The intonation of the tag can change. It depends how sure you are of the information you want to check.
If you are very certain of something, the intonation of the tag falls:
You were here yesterday (I'm almost a hundred per cent sure), weren't you? (falling intonation)
You're expecting the person to say 'yes'.
If you are less certain, and you think the answer might be 'no', the intonation of the tag rises:
You were here yesterday, weren't you? (rising intonation)
Inviting agreement
Sometimes we use question tags to express an idea and invite other people to agree with us. We are not really asking a question:
It's cold in here, isn't it?
You are not asking whether it is cold. You think it is cold. You want the other speaker to agree.
(It's a) Lovely day, isn't it?
Responses to question tags
The use of 'yes' and 'no' here can be tricky.
When the first speaker is right
If the person responding agrees with the speaker, they follow the grammar of the tag and use 'yes' for a positive, 'no' for a negative.
In the following examples, speaker 1 (S1) is correct and speaker 2 (S2) confirms that:
S1: You're David, aren't you?
S2: Yes, I am.
S1: You don't live here, do you?
S2: No, I don't.
Note in the last example, S2 says 'No' (I don't), meaning that S1 is correct.
When the first speaker is wrong
If the statement is positive, it's possible to answer with 'no'
S1: You're David, aren't you?
S2: (No) I'm not, actually. I'm Michael.
But if the statement is negative, it is not usual to answer with 'yes'
S1: You don't live here, do you?
S2: I do actually. I live just across the road.
If the person responding does not agree with the speaker, they do not always use 'yes' or 'no'. Often some other word or phrase is used to show contradiction.
In the examples below, 'actually' + some other evidence ('I'm Michael'; 'I live just across the road') are used.
Double positives : positive statement, postive tag
Sometimes, the normal rules (positive statement - negative tag; negative statement - positive tag) do not apply:
Suggestions with 'Let's'
Let's go for a drink, shall we?
Some requests with will / won't
When we make a request starting with an imperative, it's common to use a positive tag:
Give me a hand, will you?
Shut the door, will you?
Other exceptions
I am....aren't I?
When you make a statement in the first person (I) and the verb to be, the tag is
aren't I?. It is true that amn't I? would be logical, but it doesn't exist.
Note The slang term ain't is not the tag for 'I am'.


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#MeatlessMonday is always super fun when you get to experiment with making veg-friendly foods more appealing to the carnivores across the table. Meaty 'shrooms instead of ground beef? Smoky eggplant for bacon? For real, guys. They might be craving meatloaf and bacon burgers, but once you try these sneaky tricks to fool them, those meat-eaters will be diving into veggie fare without abandon. Are you drooling yet?
Eggplant Bacon: Liquid smoke is the sneaky ingredient starring in this delish brunch recipe from Chef Isa Chandra. All you do is need to bake the eggplant, douse it with the liquid smoke and some soy sauce and, tada: veggie bacon is yours. Careful, though–you just may convert those meat eaters to veggie bacon fans for life! Pile it high on pancakes with maple syrup, on a BLT or tossed in a Caesar salad.
Tempeh Sloppy Joes: Tempeh is pretty much a vegetarian's BFF when it comes to substituting for ground beef. SO what is tempeh, you ask? It's basically fermented soybeans, but unlike tofu, it's pretty firm in texture and contains the whole soybean, meaning it's less processed than tofu as well. Tempeh has a nutty flavor and actually looks like ground beef, not to mention that it's loaded with filling fiber and protein, which'll please the minds and bellies of co-dining carnivores. With a quick and healthy homemade sauce featuring fresh veggies like zucchini and peppers, this is a serious home run of a recipe.
Portobello Philly Cheese Steaks: Cut the fat — not the flavor — of the traditional Philadelphia classic hoagie with these light yet incredibly satisfying vegetarian subs that cleverly use mushrooms instead of meat. With the smoked paprika, fresh mozzarella and crusty hoagie rolls, these babies are definitely not lacking the flavor department.
Image Credit: Courtesy of the Vegetarian Cow


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Towering solutions: Using GNSS, BIM and a head-up display for speed, safety
Modern tower cranes can reach a height of more than 200 meters. They operate in a complicated, chaotic and constantly changing environment. This creates obstacles for the crane operator: poor visibility and dead angles — places the operator can't see. Aiming to solve the problem is the Augmented Crane Navigation System (ACNS) project, which provides innovative intelligent operation of tower... read more


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Howdo folks, It's the Unjustified Crew again.
This time for our 34th release we have a nice little Ragga release from Baga Sound, First track 'Inna Di Jungle' is a top notch steppy roller that would fit nicely in any set be it Jungle or straight up Dnb as a dancefloor feet mover, infact, It's Scientifically impossible not to shuffle your feets to this. Second track is '2012' again another top little dubby dancey number packed with positive vibes and reggae influence. Just do yourself and download it, I know I'll be dropping these tunes for ages =)
Download HERE
As usual the release is free, just do us and the artists a favour, visit our soundcloud, comment and spread the word….go on… just tell 1 mate
Much love


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Nov. 29, 2012
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh men's and women's track teams will kick off the 2012-13 season this Friday and Saturday with the annual Blue/Gold Intersquad Meet at the Cost Center and Fitzgerald Field House.
The meet will get started at 4:00 p.m. on Friday with the men's and women's high jump and will go until 5:55 p.m., closing with the women's 60 meter finals. Saturday will see the action continue at 8:30 a.m. with the men's and women's 150 meter competition.
Pitt's upcoming indoor schedule will take both teams to Kent State, Penn State, Akron and the Spire Sports Training Institute, culminating with the Big East Indoor Championships on February 16-17. USATF Nationals will be held February 24-25 in Albuquerque, N.M. The outdoor schedule commences on March 14 in Charlotte, N.C. and finishes with the Penn Relays April 25-27. The Big East Outdoor Championships will be held at Rutgers University May 3-5.


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Contact Information
We do our best to respond to all emails within 48 hours.
Nemeth Whips Australia
NWA is one of the leading whip makers in Australia. They make outstanding bullwhips and stock whips, in either kangaroo hide or redhide.
Karaka Whips
Karaka makes innovative synthetic whips that crack exceptionally well, yet are durable and easy to maintain.
Economy Whips
Not ready for a professional quality whip yet, but want something that works well? Need a whip for a costume or prop? These cowhide bullwhips are just the ticket.
Redhide ......Redhide leather is cowhide that has been specially tanned to be strong and flexible for use in whips. It creates a nice loud crack and is a less expensive alternative to kangaroo leather. The tanning process gives it a reddish color, hence the redhide name.
Cowhide ......Cowhide is sturdy harness leather that makes a good, economical whip.
Synthetic ......Synthetic whips, when made properly, are perhaps the easiest for beginners to learn on. They are maintenance-free, can be washed with water, and work great in all weather conditions.
A whip consists of the handle, the thong (the main body of the whip), the fall (the leather strip at the end of the thong), and the cracker (a nylon piece at the very end that aids in making the cracking sound). In a stock whip, the handle is a separate piece, with the thong attached by a strip of leather (the keeper). In a bull whip, the handle is integral with the thong.
Whips are made by brading strands of leather (plaits) around a central thong. The more plaits in a whip, the stronger and more flexible it will be.
The central thong (belly) of the whip is a strip of leather, except in the case of lead loaded whips, where the central piece is made of connected lead beads. The lead beads add weight, which allows the whip to move faster and create a louder crack.
Leather whips - The number one rule is to keep your whip well oiled. If the leather gets dry, it gets brittle and will break under the stress of cracking. You can use any kind of leather oil, neetsfoot oil, or beeswax dressing. Get it nice and wet (dripping is good!) and let it soak in for a bit. Then wipe off the excess and you're good to go! Keep in mind that oiling the whip will darken the leather - this is normal and nothing to worry about.
Synthetic whips - Wipe off with a damp cloth. That's it!
Bull whips are measured from the base of the handle to the end of the thong. The whip fall and cracker add about another 3 feet to the length.
Australian stockwhips are measured differently than bull whips. The measurement stated is the length of the whip thong only (center plaited piece). A 7 foot stockwhip will measure approximately 11 foot total length including the handle and the whip fall. Generally the shorter the whip the better control you have; the 7 and 8 foot whips are the most popular.


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MMA Forum - UFC Forums - UFC Results - MMA Videos (http://www.mmaforum.com/forumindex.php)
- UFC (http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/)
- - Ask the Cage Counsel: Is UFC-Strikeforce a monopoly? Could a fighters' union follow? (http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/88841-ask-cage-counsel-ufc-strikeforce-monopoly-could-fighters-union-follow.html)
Ask the Cage Counsel: Is UFC-Strikeforce a monopoly? Could a fighters' union follow?
Yeah, one of the big things I have mentioned before when people say the fighters should start a union is that they are all contractors.
Still good read, +rep on the find.
Well they will need one , because when SF is gone and Dana has some personal vendetta against you, who is to say he cant axe you without any reason.
Without one i can see fighters being paid alot less on average since fighters like Henderson and Werdum who went to SF before now wont have any option if similar cases happen and just forget negotiating a new deal unless you have GSP stardom because you will be booted asap, and i can see fighters being cut for 1 or 2 losses rather than the usual 3.
Sure it´s a monopoly, the deal would never go ahead in the EU.
One bad thing for young fighters is that Unions are very controlling and very rule centric. They would get paid more, but they would have to pay a portion of their winnings to the union which may mean they make the same or less, but they also would be limited on how often they could fight and who they could fight for. We would never get a chance to see someone like Leben fight 2 fights so close together ever again, or last minute replacements may become a thing of the past, etc.
The best thing that would come out of the union would probably be health benefits, but the UFC does cover for any injuries that occur during a fight. But outside the fight things like training accidents are a personal expense. But who knows, maybe the UFC has a pretty good health plan that fighters are allowed to buy into?
If you're a revenue producing fighter in any capacity, ZUFFA wants you around. If you're a no-name fighter with zero revenue generating power and Dana axes you, then that's just real life. In a giant company, you're worth what you can produce.
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text:
Saturday Afternoon: Help Staff Adoption Events at our Adoption Facility
Cause Areas
WhenIt's flexible! We'll work with your schedule.
Where959 N. Harrison AvenueNorthwoods Market Shopping CenterCary, NC 27513
Cat Angels Pet Adoptions is a no-kill, cat and kitten rescue shelter and adoption center in Cary, NC. Our cats and kittens are well-loved, and well-cared for in a loving home-like environment while they are waiting for their forever home.
We need help staffing adoption events. Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Sit at desk in reception area and greet entrants
- Control traffic and coordinate hand off of persons with filled-out applications to adoption team
- Give tours to people who have not filled out an application
- Ensure someone is physically in the reception area at all times
- Keep vials filled with L-Lysine and Probiotics for go home packages
- Have a dozen go-home bags prepared and in plastic bags, loosely tied one time (instructions given at the adoption center)
- On go-home days, confirm which bag of dry food is to be included and have the bags ready for the go-home interview
- Make a note of all donations that day and give to Adoption Team member at the end of the shift
This particular opportunity is from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays.
To get the ball rolling, please fill out our volunteer application at our website:
- Animal Care / Handling
Good Match For
Teens People 55+
Requirements & Commitment
- Must be at least 16
- Orientation or Training
- A minimum of 4 hours per week is required.
- Under 18 may volunteer with a parent or guardian


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High-Tech Military Suit Gives Soldiers Superhuman Abilities [Video]
The TALOS project will allow a soldier to walk through a barrage of bullets unharmed.
The U.S. military has commissioned a Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) that sounds like something from an Iron Man movie. The suit will give the wearer superhuman abilities such as night vision, amplified hearing, and enhanced strength. It will even enable the wearer to walk through a barrage of bullets without being harmed.
The TALOS project aims to increase mobility and protection for the army's Special Operation Forces. The suit will combine nanotechnology and Kevlar to become the ultimate full-body armor.
The high-tech suit will utilize MIT's research of liquid armor. According the the press release, the material can transform from a "liquid state to solid in milliseconds when a magnetic field or electrical current is applied."
Watch the video below for what the suit could be capable of:


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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – After a 1-0 shutout of Southern Utah in its conference opener, the Northern Arizona soccer team (3-5-2, 1-0-0 BSC) hits the road this weekend for its first Big Sky road games of the season at Weber State and Idaho State on Friday and Sunday respectively. With just the top-four teams in the conference qualifying for the Big Sky tournament, picking up points on the road will be critical to the Lumberjacks' chances at a postseason bid.
"This weekend, the stress is on getting points on the road," said head coach Andre Luciano. "Our ultimate goal is to win our home games but to take points away from teams on the road. Our main focus on Friday is to play at our best so we can steal some points away from Weber State."
The Lumberjacks struggled away from Flagstaff during the non-conference portion of the season as NAU was only 1-3-1 on the road with its only victory a 2-0 defeat of Florida Atlantic in a neutral match in Las Vegas. However, the Lumberjacks head into Friday's match at Weber State with the most momentum they've had all season after posting a 2-0-1 mark during their recent homestand.
In NAU's last three games, the Lumberjacks' three goal scorers – sophomore Diane Buzzard, redshirt freshman Malia Tano and freshman Demi Schmieder – all notched their first career goals. Following her game-winning score against Southern Utah, Schmieder is now tied for the team-lead in points (5) with freshman Haley Wingender, who recorded the assist on Schmieder's goal. Wingender still leads the Lumberjacks with two goals scored.
A big part of NAU's recent success has been the play of its defense, who has limited its last three opponents to just one total goal. Over this three-game span, junior Lauren Weaver has lowered her goals against average from 2.10 to 1.21 and upped her save percentage from .773 to .824 while making 11 saves. Buzzard, senior Georgia Foltz, junior Alana D'Onofrio and freshman Alexia Gonzalez have also provided continuity in the defensive backline starting the last two games together and all playing the total 180:00 minutes. The defense as a whole has allowed the offensive attack to strike, as the Lumberjacks have outshot each of their last three opponents, something they hadn't done in their first seven games.
Weber State enters the weekend with a 1-1 conference record after splitting last weekend on the road at Eastern Washington and Montana. The Wildcats shut out Eastern Washington, 1-0, in their conference opener, but then fell to Montana by the same score. Weber State is accustomed to 1-0 games as six of its 11 games have been decided by that score. Picked to finish fourth in the conference after reaching the Big Sky tournament final last year, the Wildcats (3-8 overall) are led by Mackenzie Harrison, who leads the team with three goals and seven points in her first season at WSU. Sophomore Mackenzie Day, last year's Big Sky Co-Newcomer of the Year, is right behind Harrison with two goals. Ryann Waldman, a 2011 All-Big Sky honorable mention selection, is third in the Big Sky in saves with 45.
While NAU could be locked in a low-scoring affair with Weber State on Friday, it will take on the conference's most potent team in Idaho State on Sunday. The Bengals (5-4-1, 0-1-1 BSC) enter the weekend with a Big Sky best 18 goals scored despite playing just one of their first 10 games at home. Idaho State, picked seventh in the preseason poll, has been shutout in just one game this season and is 5-1 in games in which its scored multiple goals. They sport three of the conference's top-four in points led by Rachel Strawn. Strawn leads the Big Sky with 17 points courtesy of a conference-best eight goals. Amanda Ellsworth, the other half of last year's Co-Newcomer of the Year, is third in the conference with 11 points while Anna Pingree is fourth with 10 points. Ellsworth also is the conference-leader with five assists.
"We understand that we're going to be dealing with two completely different types of opponents from Friday to Sunday," Luciano said. "It's the reason we play tough opponents and travel a lot at the beginning of the year to get acclimated to that. Everybody is excited to play conference. Conference is a completely different animal."
NAU is 5-11-2 all-time against the Wildcats with four of the five victories coming on the road. The Lumberjacks have won the last three meetings between the two teams in Ogden. Last year, the teams played to a 1-1 tie in Flagstaff. The Lumberjacks are 7-7-3 all-time against the Bengals, but are just 1-5-2 at the Bengals' home facility. Last year at home, NAU overcame two deficits to defeat the Bengals, 3-2.
The Lumberjacks will play at Weber State in Ogden, Utah at 2 p.m. on Friday. Sunday's match at Idaho State in Pocatello, Idaho will commence at 10 a.m. Live stats and a free audio stream for the Idaho State game will be available.


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December 2012 WIM Meeting - Ornament & Gift Exchange
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM (CST)
Event Details
Wednesday, December 19th
Networking at 11:30am, Luncheon from 12pm-1pm
Ringside at Sullivan's Steakhouse
Join us to celebrate the holidays with good friends and good cheer!
This year we're combining our traditional white elephant gift swap with last year's fast and fun ornament exchange game. To participate, please bring an unwrapped gift/gift card OR Christmas ornament valued at $10-15.
We will begin promptly at 12pm to allow enough time for the exchange game, but we encourage everyone to arrive at 11:30am to make your entree selection. Please confirm your attendance to the luncheon by Monday, December 17th.
On the Menu:
Baby Mixed Greens with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Choice of Filet Mignon or Roasted Chicken Breast
Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
Sauteed Green Beans
Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
When & Where
5252 Corporate Blvd
Baton Rouge,
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM (CST)
Add to my calendar


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post8254369171748184597..comments2017-05-09T05:31:12.946-07:00Comments on The Linux Experience: The wonders of DigikamChema Martínhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-61692130379674627852011-11-11T12:27:48.993-08:002011-11-11T12:27:48.993-08:00Nathan, which distro are you using? Most distro...Nathan, which distro are you using?

Most distros (GNOME included) will offer Digikam already packaged for you, plus their package managers will deal with dependencies on its own as required.

Any reason why you are thinking of doing it manually?Chema Martínhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-6428998100335796042011-11-11T09:51:04.936-08:002011-11-11T09:51:04.936-08:00can somebody tell me what libraries I need to inst...can somebody tell me what libraries I need to install to get Digikam to run on a Gnome desktop?Nathan Salapathttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-67220174425738510912011-05-10T15:47:07.380-07:002011-05-10T15:47:07.380-07:00When I installed digikam on gnome it didn't ap...When I installed digikam on gnome it didn't appear in the menu bar or in the open with context menus....email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-25812814202133985932010-09-29T05:13:24.817-07:002010-09-29T05:13:24.817-07:00PCLinuxOS 2010 KDE on my Pentium-M 1.8GHz single c...PCLinuxOS 2010 KDE on my Pentium-M 1.8GHz single core and 1.5 GB RAM runs quite fast, responsiveness is good. A few seconds to open larger applications, overall I'm pleased. The lighter DEs are instantaneous everthing ofcourse. Anyway, I really want to use DigiKam but it always has issues with scanning my drives for photos, I'll have to work on this since Picasa no longer supports Linux directly.oldmanskateshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-9300475838879330642010-09-20T21:06:03.556-07:002010-09-20T21:06:03.556-07:00. I have been avoiding the use of KDE despite the .... I have been avoiding the use of KDE despite the reported improvements because it's a resource hog.

Yes, my mom's 6-7 year old Celeron laptop running PCLinuxOS sure is crawling.

And my Dell Mini 9 netbook running KDE4.5?
unusable it seems you are telling me....

Needles to say the CoreDuos are barely moving under the weight of the DE.

But hey, if THATs the story you need to tell yourself why you are not using something, feel free to0 share it.
I on the other hand will tell you to stand in the shallow water and not let the water splash you in the wading firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-29832321809751778652010-09-20T06:44:32.317-07:002010-09-20T06:44:32.317-07:00Great Post, I use digikam on gnome, Ubuntu 10.04 6...Great Post, I use digikam on gnome, Ubuntu 10.04 64bit, works good. I also have taken Darktable for a test drive! (Like Lightroom from Adobe) Its shaping up quite well!...And Yes I love to see awesome desktop setups! I haven't used KDE much, but wish I could make it look like your setup! Kudos!beckhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-90983881064160980962010-09-20T06:05:51.850-07:002010-09-20T06:05:51.850-07:00Thanks! You can find it HERE.Thanks!

You can find it HERE.Chema Martínhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-41848474686562317582010-09-20T02:00:16.054-07:002010-09-20T02:00:16.054-07:00I love the calendar with the butterfly. where can ...I love the calendar with the butterfly. where can I get firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-43388136945288489062010-09-20T00:08:29.881-07:002010-09-20T00:08:29.881-07:00Your desktop is really cool, the clock blends phen...Your desktop is really cool, the clock blends phenomenally with the sky backround. Where can I download the wallpaper?L4Linuxhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-25235175948545280092010-09-19T22:28:17.560-07:002010-09-19T22:28:17.560-07:00@SAB: I agree that does not feel right, but Linux...@SAB: I agree that does not feel right, but Linux is about freedom after all.

@Barista Uno: Like frank392 said, Digikam may be installed on GNOME and it will work perfectly. The only "downside" is that a large number of KDE libraries need to be installed, but that should not be such a big deal unless you are a "purist".

As for KDE being a resource eater, I honestly believe that should no longer be a concern. KDE 4.4 series were an amazing step forward, and 4.5 are improving even further.

I used to be a GNOME fan but I hardly ever use it now in comparison. I have to say that PCLinuxOS is also partially guilty of that, it is an amazing KDE integration work.

Thanks for your comments!Chema Martínhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-38312555553697327472010-09-19T19:28:39.030-07:002010-09-19T19:28:39.030-07:00@Barista Uno Digikam works perfect on Gnome!!@Barista Uno

Digikam works perfect on Gnome!!frank392http://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-47061429007574920152010-09-19T10:59:13.037-07:002010-09-19T10:59:13.037-07:00I wish there would be a Digikam edition for the gn...I wish there would be a Digikam edition for the gnome desktop. I have been avoiding the use of KDE despite the reported improvements because it's a resource hog. Shotwell just isn't good enough yet.Barista Unohttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551341941797780401.post-15642496244443642032010-09-19T06:05:13.449-07:002010-09-19T06:05:13.449-07:00Digikam is a fantastic piece of software but the b...Digikam is a fantastic piece of software but the biggest problem for Linux right now is a quiet "fight" between Gnome and KDE.SABhttp://email@example.com


text:
Reader Graig M. needs your help. He writes:
I'm a daily reader of Anti-Racist parent, but I only occasionally post.
I work in education, and recently a friend of mine started writing a book for educators on how to teach multi-racial children. As the adoptive parent of a multi-racial daughter, she asked me to write about my experiences for a chapter in the book. I put together a piece that's about 2000 words long.
Before I approve it's publication, I wondered if I might share it with the readers at Anti-Racist Parent. Perhaps they could give me feedback about how to make it the best it can be for wider publication?
I read Graig's wonderful story and knew I had to share it with all of you. Please let him know what you think.
During her third grade year, I accompanied my daughter Ashley's class to a play. Before the performance, I was sitting between my Ashley and a classmate named Ashlee. The other girl was the class outcast. Poor, unkempt, and socially awkward, she was the kid that no one else wanted to sit next to. I'm drawn to those kids, so I was happy to sit with her and be her conversation partner.
As I talked with Ashlee about whatever 9 year-olds like to talk about, I could tell that my Ashley was growing impatient. Not only was her dad talking with someone else, he was talking with the one person that no one was supposed to talk with.
Ashlee soon made an abrupt transition. "You know what's funny," she started. "Her name is Ashley, and my name is Ashlee. She's black, and I'm white."
"I'm BI-RACIAL," was the immediate response from my right. Ashley had whipped her head around me, her neck stretched to its limit and her eyes glaring.
I knew it was time to refocus my attention. And it was time for some discussion about identity.
Yes, Ashley is bi-racial.
I'm white. So is my wife.
Ashley is adopted. When she joined her family at age 6, we had a lot to learn about race. She had lived with her white biological mother, but had never known her black biological father.
When you adopt a child, one of the things that you're taught is how to help the child tell their own "adoption story". Indeed, almost right away Ashley needed to be able to explain that she was adopted. In first and second grade, her classmates would regularly look at me, turn their puzzled looks to her and then spit out some form of "Is that your dad?" that always made it clear something didn't fit.
Of course it was race that tipped them off, but at that age the conversation didn't readily go there. Ashley's practiced adoption story at that point was pretty simple. "Yeah, I'm adopted." When pressed, she could add "My biological mother couldn't take care of me so I came to live with my new parents."
On the day of that third grade field trip, it became clear that the issue in question was not adoption. It was time to help Ashley convert her adoption story into a story about race.
"I'm not black. I'm BI-RACIAL." That statement is loaded with so much baggage. How do you help a nine year-old pick it apart?
To start with the first half of the statement, we had to examine why it was so important to Ashley that she make it clear that she wasn't black. Initially, her response was that a third Ashley in their class was the black one. She wanted to distinguish herself from both of her like-named peers.
But of course children that young can learn the power of race and internalized racism along with it. With white parents, it's saddening but not surprising that our young daughter would exhibit signs of such.
It would be naïve to see the vehemence behind Ashley's statement as based in pride. It was clear upon utterance that she was rejecting her blackness. Remember that it had been prompted by her white classmate's racial comparison – "I'm white, she's black".
Ashley's response stung me when I heard it. Even as a white parent, I was keenly aware of the internalized racism inherent in the statement. Flooded with complex feelings, my thoughts flew. We hadn't done enough to make her comfortable being black. She didn't know how to talk about her race. My own racism even played out in briefly blaming Ashley for dropping a racial dialogue bomb, when clearly her white peer was equally involved. What a mess.
It's been a struggle since her adoption to help Ashley find strength and pride in her blackness. In fourth grade we had advocated for her to be in a program for academically gifted students, and once she got in it she wanted out because there were no other kids who looked like her. In sixth grade, she told us with confidence that white kids are smarter than black kids.
Early in our life with Ashley, we were advised to recruit black god-parents to help us guide her development. God-parenting was not a part of either side of our family's traditions. So we had no idea what role such people should play in our daughter's life or our own. However, we did understand that god-parenting is a common part of African-American culture, and it was one way that we could bring the culture into our family's life.
Luckily, we were able to recruit a wonderful couple who don't have children of their own to share their love with Ashley. They provide her with many forms of support, but their most constant message to Ashley is guidance on how to balance the various burdens of being a strong, beautiful, intelligent, and independent black woman. Obviously they provide a perspective that we can't, both because of our race and because children always seem to hear things differently from people who aren't their parents.
It has been more difficult to ensure that Ashley gets the same identity affirmation in school. Now in high school, there are still a shortage of high achieving black kids in her school. When she is in advanced classes, she's often one of three or fewer kids of color. In school-related settings where there are more black kids (such as the track team), academic success is often de-emphasized.
To counter this pressure, we've tried to make sure Ashley is enrolled in some of the many special programs designed to support achievement among African-American students. Like any youth organizations, some have been better than others. The best are ones that provide a space where students like Ashley can work together to build positive identities. Spaces that support the image of blackness that Ashley's god-parents emphasize: strong, intelligent and independent.
Let's go back to the second half of that statement. "I'm BI-RACIAL!"
Just as Ashley had developed an "adoption story" earlier, she needed a "bi-racial story." I hated adding to her burden of always having to explain herself, but her life's path had been cast. We needed to help her deal with it.
"Ashley," I began later that evening., "I don't think that she had any idea what you're talking about. Do you remember when we taught you how to tell your adoption story? It's just like that. People don't understand just by looking at you and me. They need us to give them more information."
There was a point when she was about seven that she got a huge identity affirmation while at the beach. Looking at lots of tanning white women, she said to her mother "Look, they all want to have the same color as me." It's always been easy to emphasize the beauty of her skin color, because people tell her how beautiful she is all the time.
But bi-raciality is about culture as much as color. Her color cues people to ask questions or make assumptions. But what's always harder for her to explain (and maybe to understand) is her relationship to black culture as a kid growing up in a white family.
To help her develop her "bi-racial story" we had to dive deep into this story. We had to figure out how to help a nine year-old understand why white kids wouldn't identify with her because of her skin color, but black kids wouldn't identify with her because of how she speaks and acts as well as who her parents are. Really, it was a conversation about her whiteness.
The specifics of that day's conversation elude me after seven years, but in truth it's a conversation that has never ended. There have been so many examples of times that we've rehearsed her responses to peers who push her on identity issues.
There have been times in sports, such as when two black girls in her gym class told her that they were sitting out the tennis lessons because tennis was for white girls. Perplexed, Ashley brought that one home for discussion. She easily pointed out the success of Venus and Serena Williams. But the deeper struggle was about why the girls would sit out and risk failing to make a stand about racial identity. This struggle can't be pulled apart from the idea that white kids care more about school success.
As the parent of any bi-racial kid knows, identity issues come up all the time in issues of dating. My favorite example came in eighth grade when Ashley started breaking down the complex rules of who gets to date who in her class. Her description was entirely about white and black kids. I asked her "Who do bi-racial kids get to date?" She replied "There's a Brazilian boy who I think is cute." A creative but ultimately unfulfilling answer, she knew she wasn't going to get white racial privilege or black cultural currency in the dating game.
For most of those tough middle school years, her "bi-racial story" went something like this: "I'm bi-racial, but I'm also adopted and my parents are white." The most common reply from her peers was "So are you black or white?" Ashley would roll her eyes and say "Both." Almost any other question, such as "Why do you talk like a white person?" would be met with another eye roll and a typically pre-teen "I don't know."
These days, as an older teenager, Ashley is prone to telling people she's "mixed." I feel that term is shorthand, and for years I didn't like it at all. I felt it was crass.
I remember being on a business trip and meeting a work colleague's son. My colleague was white, his wife was black, and thus his some was bi-racial. I said to the son, "My daughter is bi-racial." The ten year-old turned to his dad and said "What's bi-racial?" "Mixed, son. Like you." I really did cringe.
Now it doesn't bother me so much. I understand that Ashley's peers have developed an increasingly complex understanding of race. In part simply because their older, but also because bi-raciality is increasingly common in their lives. Most of the time, saying she's "mixed" is enough to get Ashley by without having to pull out her whole bi-racial story again. Honestly, sometimes I'll use the shorthand too.
In preparing to write this, I asked Ashley for her current assessment. She said "I just tell people I'm mixed. Sometimes I'll say black, but I never say white." Pause. "Sorry if that offends you."
"No, that doesn't offend me," I replied. "I know how the world sees you."
The world is confused by her. People know she's not white. They also know she's beautiful. What she never knows is what other assumptions they harbor based on her skin color. I'm sure her story will continue to evolve over time. I just hope that the world's view evolves with her.
[I wrote this final part about adoption, but I didn't think it fit in well with the piece above. It could be added as a comment to the post or just left out.]
Most adoptive parents know that some day their child is going to drive a very specific stake through their hearts: "You're not even my real parents." Intellectually, this is a preposterous statement to hear from a teenager, but both parties know that it carries huge emotional weight.
Adopting Ashley trans-racially, we knew that she'd also have another zinger up her sleeve one day: "You don't understand because you're white."
The two sledgehammers actually came within close proximity to one another. During a period of struggling with a daughter in her early teens (which is not uncommon for any parent-daughter relationship!), Ashley tried to use both of them within a week. The adoption line really hurt my wife. I played it off by telling Ashley it didn't hurt because we'd always known she would say it at some point. Still, internally I was lamenting losing my secret dream that we would good enough parents that she would never say it!
But the "you're not black" line really was a laugher. At this point several years later, I can't remember the exact situation that precipitated it. But when it came up, I literally laughed in Ashley's face. That didn't help the situation given her percolating anger. But I quickly pointed out that my understanding of whatever she was complaining about was based on being her parent and not my (or her) race. It was true, and her argument was foiled.
Still, I made sure to bring it up again. Later when heads had cooled, I made a point to tell Ashley that race was not something that should get in the way of us understanding one another.