text: And at $1.1 billion, Apax Partners' deal to acquire rue21 ( RUE) this year for nearly 10.9 times the $101 million in EBITDA it generated for its fiscal year ended Feb. 2 was one of the richest, proof that lucrative deals for mature brands are possible. In contemplating a high multiple, Sycamore could be hoping to leverage the experience of its grizzled retail veteran Stefan Kaluzny to ring operations savings out of the troubled clothing conglomerate, and sell off underperforming parts of it in the process, while holding on to its higher-margin footwear and accessories businesses of brands such as Stuart Weitzman, Kurt Geiger and Nine West. Or perhaps Sycamore and KKR will simply split the spoils, with Sycamore taking the apparel brands, an area in which it has the most experience, and KKR owning the footwear and accessories business. Holding onto the most valuable brands and selling the underperformers would be a similar play to Sun Capital Partners' 2007 $762 million acquisition of St. Louis-based apparel conglomerate Kellwood in July, the jewel of Kellwood's portfolio, contemporary clothing brand Vince, filed for an IPO. At the same time, Sun Capital divested itself of BLK DNM, Baby Phat, Phat Farm, Zobha and Adam, while focusing on its high-growth businesses, including women's contemporary apparel brand Rebecca Taylor, women's luxury wear brand David Meister and women's urban wear brand XOXO. Remaining brands in Kellwood's portfolio that could have a sale tag on them include women's apparel brands Sag Harbour, Jax, Briggs New York, Rewind, Democracy, My Michelle, Sangria, and Jolt. Likewise, Jones Group divestitures, whether they come before or after a leveraged buyout, could include its Jones New York dress and suit business, as well as its denim business, not to mention its Anne Klein apparel brand, according to people familiar with the situation. In 2011, Jones Group was near a deal to sell its denim business to Delta Galil Industries for about $350 million, but after sales at the division dropped by double digits, Israel-based Delta Galil canceled the transaction in January 2012. The pressure to sell brands came from activist investor Barington Capital Group. According to news reports, however, Jones Group chose instead to put the whole company on the block. Prior to Barington's moves on the company, Jones Group was attempting over the last few years to improve earnings by acquiring footwear and accessories brands. Those deals included the acquisitions of footwear and accessories businesses Stuart Weitzman Holdings LLC and Kurt Geiger Ltd., both complementary to its Nine West footwear brand. Written by Richard Collings.


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Nice and New: Umbra U+ Collection Photo Clock
If my job is any indication, I'm not exactly a numbers person. But, paint-by-numbers? That's another story. So, when I spotted the Umbra U+ Collection Photo Clock ($80) on a recent trip to the SFMoMA (in the gift shop, of course), I thought I'd died and gone paint-by-numbers heaven. A clock, with a beautiful design, ornate hands, that I can personalize with my own raw direction-following talent? Where do I sign!? Lucky for you, the clock is new at Velocity Art & Design, so you won't have to fly to SFO to pick one up. And, if you want to be a real rebel, you can paint reds where the greens go, or use your own color palette to be a badass DIY queen. Oh, and if mechanical clocks aren't your thing, you can order the matching frame on sale ($19) from the SFMoMA's online shop.

subset: commoncrawl


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As many years as I've lived in Atlanta, I'm always surprised to discover new destinations in the city that I've never been. One such destination is the Sweet Auburn Curb Market located downtown. I was one of a lucky few Twitter folks that were invited by Atlanta Culinary Tours to be part of their Sweet Auburn Curb Market tour.
Atlanta Culinary Tours is run by ATL locals Beth and Dave. Beth writes the Atlanta Ethnic Foods Column for the Examiner and Dave writes the blog Eat Buford Highway, so both have a great deal of experience with exotic cuisine. Their tours provide a unique opportunity to sample a variety of stores / cafes / restaurants. And not only that, but it is nice to have a little history of the destination or restaurants that you are touring, which they do a great job of.
Founded in 1923 the Sweet Auburn Curb Market offers a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood. Need pigs ears, frogs legs, or oxtail? They got you covered. In addition, there are several small cafes that operate out of the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. The market is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am until 6 pm. However, hours for cafes may vary, so be sure to check with individual cafes before heading down there.
Our first stop on the tour was Ciao Boca – Fresh Italian foods. We sampled a Meatball Slider as well as an Arugula topped bread. Super yummy!
One of the other stops on the tour was Afrodish Restaurant which is Caribbean food, where we thoroughly enjoyed the Oxtail dish we got to taste – so tender and full of flavor. And for a true taste of the South, we visited Metro Deli Soul Food. With favorites like collard greens, mac n cheese, sweet potato casserole, and meatloaf, there's certainly something for everyone here.
Next up was Miss D's New Orleans Pralines. Miss D was there herself to give us a little background of how she got started. She shared with us she came to Atlanta after Katrina struck New Orleans and started fresh making her goods here. She makes New Orleans Pralines from fresh Georgia pecans, as well as making candied apples and flavored popcorn. From the looks of it, she does quite the business too!
A visit to the Market, wouldn't be complete without a stop at the Sweet Auburn Bakery. They feature cupcakes, tarts, danishes, brownies, muffins and of course cheesecake! We were able to sample the Sweet Potato Cheesecake and it was delightful!
Our last stop was at Cafe Campesino . All of their coffee is Fair Trade organic, which means the workers in the countries that supply the coffee beans get a fair wage for the work they do. They also treated us to some delicious scones to enjoy while we sipped on our coffee. They open early (7am) on weekdays and have their own entrance for guests to pop in before the market officially opens at 8 am.
Overall, we left completely stuffed full of yummy treats. Our tour lasted about three hours. Beth and Dave do a fantastic job of organizing these tours. Each vendor was prepared to greet us and serve up our food when we got to their space at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market.
In addition to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market tour ($39), Atlanta Culinary Tours takes you to some of the highlights of the Inman Park / Old Fourth Ward restaurants ($39) on that tour and even tours Atlanta's Chinatown ($28) in yet another tour. Most tours visit six to seven eateries and last about three hours. Looking for something different for a date other than the typical dinner and a movie? This is terrific option.


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Remember Barack Obama's pipe dream put forward during the 2008 presidential election cycle - that he was going to usher in an era of "post-partisanship" and change from "the politics of usual" in Washington? How's that working out? Not so well according to NBC "Meet the Press" moderator David Gregory.
Gregory appeared on NBC's Dec 21 "The Tonight Show" and was asked by host Conan O'Brien about the prospects of health care reform becoming a reality - which Gregory praised as some sort of monumental achievement.
"Look, his most ardent liberal supporters think they did compromise too much away, namely the idea of a public option, which was not actually a big part of the campaign but became a bigger force in the world of health care," Gregory said. "This is a big achievement and, whether Sen. Ted Kennedy, who, you know, fought for this for years. This was his issue. And look, going back 60 years, no one has achieved even what they are on the brink of achieving, which is covering 30 million additional Americans, having some real insurance reforms."
The "Meet the Press" moderator wasn't sold on every talking point trotted out by congressional Democrats and members of the Obama administration, specifically that the bill will bend the so-called "cost curve." But he did suggest the process gave the public a glimpse into the sausage-making process of Washington, D.C.
"Does it really cut costs over time? I think that's still an answer that's a lot more murky," Gregory said. "But, this is a big achievement. Look, it underscores a couple things. How hard it is to pass, I mean, this is complex, especially since people don't really understand how the health care system works 'cause our employers pay for it. We don't pay for it out of our pocket as much if we're covered at work. And it also shows you how Washington works which is always not so pretty."
But that underscored a larger point according to Gregory. This current debate, with one-sixth of the U.S. economy on the line, was a demonstration on how "polarized" things have become in the nation's capital.
"It's also - look, I think it is an incredibly polarized time," Gregory said. "You know, presidents come in, going back to President Bush saying, 'I want to be a uniter, not a divider and change the tone in Washington.' It is a hard thing to do and I do think it is a serious issue for our country about how paralyzed we are as a country to solve really big problems because we're living in a time of really big problems. Whether it's education, whether it's climate control, whether it's financial stabilization with our financial system, a global system - we've got some very difficult problems and we've got to find a way to make it work."
O'Brien noted he was disappointed not a single Republican would vote for the bill, as did Gregory.
"It's disappointing, but you go back to Social Security, you go back to Medicare - there were a lot of Republicans on board for those votes," Gregory said. "And Washington has changed."


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PASCAGOULA — Navy Secretary Ray Mabus says the commissioning for the submarine USS Mississippi will be in Pascagoula rather than Gulfport.
"Due to concerns about insufficient channel depths in Gulfport … the new commissioning site for USS Mississippi is Pascagoula with a scheduled date of June 2," Mabus, a former Mississippi governor, said in a statement.
The channel is deeper in Pascagoula.
Port of Pascagoula director Mark McAndrews said that it has not yet been determined at which terminal in the harbor the ceremonies will take place. But, he said, with the harbor at 38 feet deep, "the vessel could come in tomorrow."
Construction of the Mississippi began in February 2007. The new attack submarine was christened in Connecticut in December.
"I am pleased that we will conduct this once in a ship's lifetime ceremony in the submarine's namesake state of Mississippi and greatly appreciate all the support we've received from the entire Gulf Coast area to determine an appropriate site for the commissioning," Mabus said.
General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., and Newport News Shipbuilding, which is a Virginia-based division of Huntington Ingalls, are building the new Virginia-class subs for the Navy. The vessels are christened at events their builders control.
The commissioning is a separate ceremony, which the Navy controls, and the decision about where to have the ceremony was up to Mabus.
The Mississippi is the latest in the Virginia class of submarines, which are built in partnership between Groton-based Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding at a cost of about $2.6 billion each. They carry torpedoes as well as Tomahawk missiles and have features including a torpedo room that can be refigured to hold Navy SEALs.
U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss, who represents south Mississippi in Congress, said: "I appreciate all the hard work community leaders from both Pascagoula and Gulfport did to bring the commissioning to Mississippi. From the veterans who served and worked to make this happen, to the ship builders who equip our nation's war fighters; this is a proud day for Mississippi."


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Design Cafe FloorplansDecember 21st, 2011
Coffee Shop Floor Plan Software Coffee shop owners can create restaurant floor plans in minutes with SmartDraw's floor plan maker software. This designer will design or redesign your restaurant for a fee of $2500, with no limit as to square footage. Create detailed and accurate schematic documents with professional drawing tools – ConceptDraw, MINDMAP and Project. Use simple floor plan software to maximize your creativity quickly and easily design floor plans. How to Create a Free Restaurant Floor Plan. Restaurant floor plans are drawn before Basic Restaurant Floor Plan Ideas. way of setting up your restaurant with accurate floor plans and aid in selection of just the right restaurant equipment.
Design Cafe Floorplans
- One of the best tools the owner of a cafe can have is a floor plan.
- A successful restaurant starts with the floor plan.
- Today, my team and I love to provide bar, coffee shop and restaurant interior design, branding, financial modelling and strategic insights with acumen.
- The floor plan is driven from your specific menu and concept for your cafe or coffee shop.
- Restaurant Design Projects :: Restaurant Floor Plans.
- This typical Cafe Floor Plans set is in AutoCAD format (2007 version) and gives you the freedom of customizing the drawings to your particular location.
More information about Design Cafe Floorplans on the site: http://


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TEL AVIV (Sep. 17)
The Cairo radio today said an "armed clash" took place between Egyptian and Israeli forces Sunday at Sabha, an Egyptian outpost in the Sinai desert. The spokesman did not report casualties.
Brig Gen. Moshe Dayan, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, declared today that there is only one way to defend the lives of Israelis who drill for oil or water along the frontiers, "and that is by setting a high price for their lives." He made his statement in addressing the new graduating class of cadet officers who were inducted into the Army today.
"The Army's mission must be carried out," said Gen; Dayan, "and we must remember that, if the borders were to be deserted there would be no more borders. Our Army must be alert, prepared, and must master new weapons. Israel is strong, it would fight to the last man, for its soldiers are unlimited in their devotion to the State."


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Bogota (AFP) Nov 17, 2010
Furious storms that have been lashing Colombia all this year have killed another six people, pushing the overall death toll to 136, the Red Cross told AFP Wednesday.
The new deaths occurred Tuesday. A mudslide in a slum on the outskirts of Bogota claimed four of the lives, the national director of the Red Cross, Carlos Marquez, said.
The organization estimated that 1.2 million people in Colombia had been affected by the record rains, with 1,700 homes destroyed and nearly 3,000 damaged. Secondary roads in most of the country have also been hit.
The storms were being blamed on atmospheric disturbances from La Nina, a phenomenon in which cooler-than-normal water circulates in the Pacific Ocean around the equator.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Saturday made an appeal for international help to cope with the situation.
"We are doing all we can, but it's not enough and we need help from everybody, from private companies to international aid, to mitigate the suffering of so many of our people," he said.
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A reply to an RTI query has revealed that many teachers across colleges in Kolkata who had obtained funds from UGC under the Faculty Improvement Programme (FIP) for completing their MPhil and PhD are yet to complete their degrees or refund the money.
Hiralal Barman, an RTI activist, had filed an RTI seeking information from the office of the Joint Secretary, Eastern Regional Office of UGC about those teachers who availed the Teacher Fellowship programme but haven't completed their degrees. UGC had forwarded the application to all the 374 colleges in the state of which only 37 colleges replied. The information from the colleges revealed the names of 10 teachers who have not completed their M Phil and PhD degrees. These teachers after receiving money had gone on leave for a specified period and drawn full salaries.
"It is strange the UGC never asked them (the teachers) to return the public money which they had availed but never utilised," remarked Barman.
After this startling revelation the authorities started taking action, while these 10 teachers have been asked to refund the money given by UGC, the remaining 337 colleges which have not provided information in the matter have been sent showcause order by the Central Information Commission.
"Why penalty should not be imposed upon them (these 374 colleges) for not responding to the RTI application within the mandatory period," said Annapurna Dixit, the Central Information Commissioner.
It is to be noted that Barman did not get the information after filing the RTI within the stipulated time of 30 days; he then filed a complaint to the appellate authority of the UGC. With no response, Barman finally went to Central Information Commission and then he was called for a hearing on December 31 last year.
Meanwhile, the UGC authorities who have been given showcause notice continue to claim that they had forwarded Barman's application the delay occurred at universities end.
UGC's Faculty Improvement Programme is a scheme under which the Commission provides financial assistance of 10,000 per annum along with travel allowance for award of "Teacher Fellowships" for doing M.Phil. or completing Ph.D. to permanent teachers of those Universities and Colleges which are included in the list maintained by the UGC under Section 2(f) and 12 (B) of the UGC Act, 1956. The objective of the scheme is to provide an opportunity to the teachers of the Universities and Colleges to pursue their academic/research activities leading to the award of M.Phil./Ph.D., degree.
The names of the 10 teachers revealed in the RTI reply:-
*Dilip Kumar Mondal of Barjora College
*Deepak Giri of St Joseph College
*Anuradha Lahiri of Birbhum Mahavidyalay
*Probodh Kumar Ghosh of Garhbeta College
*Apurbo Kumar Roy of Deshbandhu Mahavidyalaya
*Jayashri Mukherjee of Birbhum Mahavidyalaya
*Swapna Sen of Syamsundar College
*Sabita Barui of Charuchandra College
*Santosh Kumar Roy of Deshbandhu Mahavidlyaya
*Sushnat Kumar Barik of Syamsundar College
[Sources: Indian Express]
I think it is a right move.
I think it is a right move. If UGC is giving funds for completing Ph. D. /M.Phil. within a particular time then the funds must be utlized for completing Ph. D./ M.Phil. It is mentioned in the UGC circular that atleast 60% of the work must have been completed before applying for FIP so that teacher can complete 40% of the work withing the time period.
Most of these Bengali people
Most of these Bengali people have been involved such fraud case. They got full money from Colleges and stipends from UGC. They have good nexus with Jadavpur University and IIT Kharagpur. They just enjoy their double salary and hardly worry for Ph.D. degree after the 3 years of time.
Definitely penalty should be
Definitely penalty should be imposed upon such teachers and colleges who are yet to provide details
this kind of things should be
this kind of things should be done in other states and colleges and also regarding recruitment of faculty and staff in universities, for faculty especially their pg departments
This is a great insult to the
This is a great insult to the nation. Teachers of higher education they should accord justice to the salary which they are drawing.
It is really shameful. If the
It is really shameful. If the teachers present such example how can we hope to get 'honest new generation' ?
It is really shameful. If the
It is really shameful. If the teachers present such example how can we hope to get 'honest new generation' ?
After 2009 regulation by ugc
After 2009 regulation by ugc for ph.d, how a teacher can complete ph.d degree through FIP scheme of ugc. Because ugc provide fellowship for FIP after ph.d registration, but before registration course work is bounded. Without leave how we can complete the course work.
Sunil Congratulations to
Congratulations to Shri Burman for bringing this issue to light . These teachers have really done a shameful and a dishonest act . UGC wants to promote research and teachers are busy in pursuing research while less concentrating on teaching .
UGC is providing huge amount
UGC is providing huge amount of financial assistance for college , faculty development and research work.But 90% of the fund is misused ..Building grant is really a wastage of money because most of the traditional colleges are getting such fund ..Traditional degrees are increasingly becoming irrelevant and should be discouraged. It should be allowed in open and distance mode only .Only technical and vocational education should be fostered and support should be given to such colleges only .Moreover Minor / major research grant should be categorically stopped .In India huge public ( govt ) money is wasted in the name of so called research ..


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Coaches, Athletes and Teams To Be Recognized at New Orleans Hall of Fame Banquet
Monday, July 21, 2014
Seven prestigious annual awards will be among a full slate of honors to be presented at the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Greater New Orleans Sports Awards Committee, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, selects annual award winners in a variety of categories, in addition to selecting each year's Hall of Fame class and Amateur Athletes of the Month. Overall, 27 individuals and three teams will be honored at the banquet. This year's Hall of Fame class will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday) and the Corbett Awards, which recognize the top male and female amateur athletes in the state, will be announced Wednesday.


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Janson Media is headquartered in The Cunningham House in the historic Hudson River Valley village of Tappan, New York, about a 45-minute drive northwest of midtown Manhattan.
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Tappan, NY 10983
Tel: 1.845.359.8488


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Mon Nov 19, 2012, 07:37 AM
HiPointDem (20,729 posts)
Chicago's Dark Legacy of Police Torture
On January 25, 1990, the Chicago Reader, the free alternative weekly, published a cover story, nearly 20,000 words long, titled House of Screams. Written and reported over the course of a year by journalist John Conroy, the investigation exposed, in meticulous detail, a long and chilling history of abuse by police against suspects on the South Side of Chicago. At the Area 2 Violent Crimes Unit, Police Commander Jon Burge had overseen and participated in the systemic torture of an untold number of African-American men, dating back to the early 1970s. They had been beaten, burned against radiators, suffocated with plastic bags and, most disturbingly, had their genitals subjected to electric shocks. Fun time was how Burge referred to the electrocution sessions, which, Conroy would later reveal, drew on his experience as a military police officer in Vietnam.
Despite its bombshell revelations, the story did not spark immediate or widespread outrage. Even the local dailies failed to run with it. So over the next seventeen years, Conroy would write twenty-two more articles about Chicagos police torture regimestories that laid bare the extent of the abuse and decried the total impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators. Among those who knew about the torture was former Cook County States Attorney Richard Daley, sworn in as mayor months before House of Screams was published...
I saw My Kind of Town on June 30. It was auspicious timing; that same day, the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commissioncreated in 2009 to investigate several dozen claims of police abusehad officially gone out of business after state lawmakers announced it was being defunded. The stunning move, over a relatively paltry budget request of $235,000, came just as the commission had finally recommended its first set of cases for judicial review. Its chump change, the commissions executive director, David Thomas, told the Chicago Tribune about the money saved by the state. But we dont have a real political constituency. Our people are all in prison...
That goes for the media outside Chicago, too, which mostly ignored the story for years. This is the biggest national police scandal of the past fifty years, Conroy says, reminding me of the innocent men who landed on death row. Corruption is one thing. This was attempted murder.
0 replies, 460 views


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Oral and Poster Presentations
2010 Holland, B.S. & R.P. Hoan. Trouble in paradise: comparative
molecular systematics of invasive amber snails (Succineidae) from agricultural
shipments entering Hawaii and Oregon. Evolution, Portland OR, poster.
2010 Pascua, M. & B.S. Holland. Effect of juvenile density on birth rate in two endangered native Hawaiian tree snails. Tester Symposium, UH Manoa, poster.
2009 Holland, B.S. Moderator, Invertebrate Evolution and Diversity, Pacific Biosciences Research Center Second Annual Symposium on Biodiversity. May, Hawaii Imin Conference Center, East West Center, University of Hawaii.
2009 Holland, B.S. What can molecular studies tell us about conservation of island species? College of Micronesia, Pohnpei. Invited oral presentation for Department of Biology seminar, as a 2009 URM program mentor.
2009 Holland, B.S. ōSurvivors of many a precarious voyageüE Oceanic
island biogeography & systematics. College of Micronesia, Pohnpei. Invited oral
presentation for Department of Biology seminar, as a 2009 URM program mentor.
2008 Holland, B.S. & R.H. Cowie. Hawaiian land snail diversity,
its decline and replacement by aliens. American Association for the Advancement
of Science, Pacific Division. Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Waimea, Hawaii. Invited
oral presentation.
2008 Holland, B.S. & R.H. Cowie. What can phylogeography tell
us about conservation of endemic island snails? American Association for the
Advancement of Science, Pacific Division. Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Waimea,
Hawaii. Invited oral presentation.
2008 Holland, B.S. Understanding large radiations on small islands: phylogeography and conservation. Pacific Biosciences Research Center Biodiversity Symposium. East-West Center, University of Hawaii, Manoa. Invited oral presentation.
2007 Bird, C.E. B.S. Holland, B. Bowen, & R. Toonen. Using patterns
of population structure to revive a crashed multi-species fishery. Biodiversity
Extinction Crisis Conference - A Pacific Response. University of New South Wales,
Sydney Australia. Oral presentation by C.E. Bird.
2007 Holland, B.S. Is the answer ōBlowinüEin the windüE Comparative dispersal potential predicts population structure in native Hawaiian snails. Evolution, Christchurch, New Zealand. Poster presentation.
2006 Holland, B.S. & R.H. Cowie. Phylogeography of the multi-island
endemic Hawaiian land snail Succinea caduca. American Malacological Society,
Seattle WA. Oral presentation. 2005
Holland, B.S. Evolutionary Patterns in Hawaiian Land Snail Radiations: Comparative Biogeography of Two Major Groups, the Succineidae and the Achatinellinae (Achatinellidae). Symposium on Ecological and Molecular Approaches to Island Biology, Japan Evolution Conference, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. Invited oral presentation.
2005 Bird, C., A. Kay, & B.S. Holland. Growth rates and reproductive patterns in opihi. A.L. Tester Symposium, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI. Oral presentation.
2005 Bird, C.E., B.S.Holland, R.J.Toonen, & B.W.Bowen. Molecular
systematics and population structure of opihi (Cellana spp.) inferred from mitochondrial
DNA sequences. A.L. Tester Symposium, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI. Poster
2005 Holland, B.S. & R.H. Cowie. Phylogeography of the endemic
Hawaiian amber snails (Gastropoda: Succineidae). SICB, San Diego. Poster presentation.
2005 deMaintenon, M., B.S. Holland & R.H. Cowie. The shell game:
reconciling morphology with DNA to reconstruct biogeographic and systematic patterns
in succineid land snails. SICB, San Diego. Poster presentation.
2005 Evolution, diversification and conservation of the Hawaiian Succineidae. American Malacological Society. Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA. Invited oral presentation.
2004 Molecular approaches to understanding marine bioinvasions: case studies and applications. UH Hilo, job candidate seminar. Invited oral presentation.
2004 Olival, K.J., B.S. Holland, & M.G.Hadfield. The conservation
and management of endangered OÆahu tree snails (Genus: Achatinella). Balancing
the Arc: Invertebrate Conservation. American Museum of Natural History. Poster
2003 Holland, B.S. Mauka to makai: characterizing, quantifying and understanding biodiversity for conservation of Hawaiian invertebrates. Hawaii Conservation Conference, July 10-11. Honolulu, HI. Invited speaker and panelist in Genetic Tools and Management session. Oral presentation.
2003 Rundell, R.J., B.S. Holland, & R.H. Cowie. Molecular phylogeny
and biogeography of endemic Hawaiian succineids. American Malacological Society
meeting, Ann Arbor, MI. Oral presentation by R. Rundell.
2003 Holland, B.S. & M.G. Hadfield. New insights into the origin,
diversification and island colonization patterns of the endemic Hawaiian tree
snails. Frontiers of Biogeography, International Biogeography Society, Mesquite,
NV. Poster presentation.
2003 Rundell, R.J., B.S. Holland, & R.H. Cowie. Molecular phylogeography
of endemic Hawaiian succineid land snails (Pulmonata: Gastropoda). Frontiers
of Biogeography, International Biogeography Society, Mesquite NV. Poster presentation.
2003 Faucci, A., B.S. Holland, & M.G. Hadfield. Reconciling
host-association with phylogeography: patterns of genetic variation in the tropical
nudibranch genus Phestilla. Frontiers of Biogeography, International Biogeography
Society, Mesquite NV. Poster presentation.
2003 Holland, B.S. Comparative phylogeography of Hawaiian tree snails. UH Hilo, job candidate seminar. Invited oral presentation.
2003 Holland, B.S. Conservation genetics: what DNA can tell us about the past, present, and future of a species. UH Hilo, job candidate seminar. October 8. Invited oral presentation.
2001 Holland, B.S. Molecular approaches to quantifying biodiversity and evaluating management units. U.S. Army Garrison, Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, HI. Invited oral presentation.
2001 Holland, B.S. & M.G. Hadfield. Islands within an island:
conservation genetics of the endangered OÆahu tree snail Achatinella mustelina
(Achatinellinae). Society for Conservation Biology. Hilo, HI. Oral presentation.
1999 Holland, B.S. & M.G. Hadfield. Conservation of HawaiiÆs
achatinelline tree snails. Hawaii Conservation Conference. Honolulu, HI. Poster
1998 Holland, B.S. Genetic architecture of a marine bioinvasion. International Workshop on Marine Genetics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Oral presentation.
1992 Holland, B.S., S.R. Gittings, S.K. Davis & T.J. Bright.
Application of mitochondrial DNA sequencing to studies of Scleractinian larval
dispersal and gene flow. Seventh International Coral Reef Symposium. Abstract.
(R.H. Richmond, ed.). 2: 657. Mangilao, Guam. Oral presentation.
1990 Gittings, S.R., B.S. Holland, & T.J. Bright. Five years
of coral recovery following a freighter grounding in the Florida Keys. American
Academy of Underwater Sciences, 10th Annual Symposium Pp. 89-105. St. Petersburg,
FL. Oral presentation.
1990 Gittings, S.R., T.J. Bright, K.J.P. Deslarzes, & B.S.
Holland. Ecological monitoring on the Flower Garden Banks: study design and field methods. Proceedings: American Academy of Underwater Sciences, 10th Annual Symposium. pp. 107-118. St. Petersburg, FL. Oral presentation.


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Model Mayhem Admin
Raven Von SorenModel Female Sacramento, California, US
My Website: Raven's Myspace
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Hi there, my name is Raven, a hard-working gal with classic looks who can create any mood imaginable with her eyes.
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Coal companies will miss out on the free emissions permits that other energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries such as steel manufacturing will receive, which the coal industry says will force marginal mines to close.
Instead, coal companies with high levels of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions – underground gasses which escape during mining – will be offered $1.3 billion in assistance over six years to offset their carbon tax bill.
Coal producers will also receive $70 million to investigate carbon abatement technologies over six years on a co-contribution basis.
But the industry has slammed the assistance package, saying it goes nowhere near the level of support offered to other polluting industries like steel manufacturing.
Anglo American's Metallurgical Coal chief executive officer
The industry has also questioned the government's ability to accurately monitor fugitive emissions from coalmines using available technology.
"The irony of this is that measurement of fugitive emissions is almost impossible and technology to abate them is at least 10 years away," he said.
Under the $1.3 billion coal sector jobs package, mines with a fugitive emissions intensity in 2008-09 of at least 0.1 tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent per tonne of saleable coal produced will be eligible for assistance.
Assistance will be provided to eligible coalmines for up to 80 per cent of their fugitive emissions exposure above the 0.1 tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent per tonne of saleable coal threshold.
The assistance package for gassy mines will not be available to new mines or mine expansions.
Documents released yesterday state the package will be reviewed after the six years. However, a spokesman for Resources Minister
The industry says marginally profitable coalmines will be forced to shut down. "The assistance package is aimed at very gassy mines but the mines that suffer aren't necessarily gassy mines," Ralph Hillman, Australian Coal Association executive director, said.
The Australian Financial Review


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Ask Health Experts and Get Answers to Your Health Question ASAP
The views expressed by me are for educational purposes only and do not establish a doctor patient relationship.
Thanks for your question.
Vitamin B12 can be found in the diet as well especially in animal proteins like meat, fish etc.
High B12 level is not clinically significant since your other blood tests are normal.
Rarely, elevated B12 level is found in liver disease and also leukemias
However, in such cases, your blood count and liver enzymes should also be abnormal.
Hence, complete blood count, and liver function test should be checked if not already.
Best wishes,
Please rate the chat Good or Excellent, if you are satisfied with our conversation and do not have any further question, so that I get rewarded for my time & effort. Thank you!
Please bookmark my profile for asking further questions!This is the link to my profile: http://www.justanswer.com/medical/expert-mysticdoc/
Are you able to read my replies above?
Thanks for your answer. I've been having problems on the site being able to reply -- it's like the screen was frozen or something.
My WBC was 7.6 and RBC was 5.07. Which results indicate liver function?
I don't see results for ALP, but the AST is 18.0, ALT 39.0 and bilirubin 0.8. So I guess I'm okay.


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Perpetual Kid is offering these 1.5 oz ceramic shot glasses in sets of 3 which are shaped like trash cans and drums of toxic waste. Surely you'll need some bigger ones when your stomach decides to empty the trash later on.
Hit the jump for an additional pic.
Product Pages: Get'n Trashed / Toxic Waste'd ($11.49)


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Need Appliance Repair Help? Ask a Technician for Answers ASAP
Thank you for using Just Answer. I will be glad to assist you in your answer. Think about safety when doing repairs, electric, water, gas, ect.
This is defrost water from the cooling coil, located behind the rear inside panel of the freezer. You will need to add a drain probe to the heater under cooling coil that extends down into the drain hole to prevent freezing again. This is a strap of aluminum that warps around the heater and the rest goes down the drain. It comes with a screw to secure it with. You will not need the tube that comes with it. Here is the part# XXXXX cost about $12. Please give me a great rating for answering your question if this was helpful. You can still respond back after rating if needed for more information until satisfied. Thank you
You will need to defrost all the ice before you reassemble the unit again. Also, use some water and make sure the drain is clear. Also, pull the fridge out, and remove the back lower cover where the compressor is, and make sure the drain tube is not kinked, or damaged as well. Thanks again
This is not enough info for me. I already did thaw and pour boiling water into the hole to drain. Once I take off the panel in the back of the frig, I can see the drain pan and I had to take out a lot of water. But I could not see a heater, or I do not know what the heater looks like. Or do I know where the cooling coil is. Does this part # XXXXX have instruction how to attach? Does it need electricity for hookup?
How do I know if the unit is fully defrosted? Last time I used a turkey baster and pour boiling hot eater doen the hole inside the back of the freezer. I ended up with water in the drain pan so I figured it was thawed out? Are you saying this will continue to freeze and that this drain probe will solve the problem? HOw does the probe work?
Thanks Sue
Okay. I live in rural Alaska where there is NO service people available since the closest is 245 miles away. I have to do all my own repairs. I have already taken that panel off. I will try what you have said. But I will keep this open until I can figure this out. I would have to order the part and have it shipped. Takes too long and shipping was half the price of the $14 part. How long are you on line?
I ended up completely defrosting the freezer for the third time. I found other problems that caused the freezing & leaking. I ended up going to blogs and found much more information on how to remedy my problem. There were many more suggestions to help me in the problem with the drain which needed done. Finally after days, this seems to be rectified.
The part you mentioned or the copper is probably useful, but I had other problems that needed attention. The rubber cup over the end of the drain had a piece of plastic in it. Who knows where it came from. Maybe from defrosting. Thawing the back out completely and making sure the water could flow through the drain was the big problem.
I did cut the check valve a bit larger 1/16 inch & put the copper wire into the drain. Things are now working.
That should be a good repair.....Great job....Thanks again


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- {{matchup.date.fullday}}{{matchup.date.month + ' ' + matchup.date.day}}
Colorado Falls 9-3 Against San Francisco - Game Recap
Colorado dropped a 9-3 decision at AT&T Park on Saturday as San Francisco legged out a win behind winning pitcher Matt Cain.
San Francisco won as a -245 favorite, while Over-Under bettors who played OVER the total of 7.5 were rewarded at the payout window.
San Francisco got 7 1/3 innings from Matt Cain, who gave up 2 earned runs on 7 hits, while striking out 6. He earned the victory, while the Giants got 2 RBIs from Angel Pagan in the win.
Colorado's starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz worked 4 innings, giving up 6 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 3 in the loss. They got 2 hits from Eric Young in a losing cause.
San Francisco outhit their counterparts 13-9 in the game.


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Western University is dedicated to offering the best support possible for its undergraduate students. Click here for all the services and resources available during your time here at Western.


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back into action at Aussie Open
About the only mistake Agassi made in a 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 win over 18-year-old Tomas Berdych on Wednesday came when he changed rackets early in the third set and accidentally carried the plastic cover on court.
"Today felt really good. I think there was a lot of quality ball striking going on, from both sides," said Agassi, who has won 23 consecutive matches at Melbourne Park.
Agassi had never played the young Czech, making it hard to formulate a game plan to counter his youth and speed.
"It's hard," he said. "I prefer playing anybody in their late 20s or on," Agassi said.
Agassi next faces Thomas Enqvist of Sweden in pursuit of his fifth title here and his ninth Grand Slam.
Agassi was on center court only 1 hour, 22 minutes. Meanwhile, Andy Roddick sped through his 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Bohdan Ulihrachmatch nine minutes faster, firing 20 aces along the way.
Roddick set up triple match point with a curling forehand winner down the line and finished it off with a booming first-serve winner.
"My serve felt great today," said Roddick, who will next take on fellow American Taylor Dent.
On the women's side, Justine Henin-Hardenne, ranked No. 1, had a 6-1, 6-4 win over childhood friend Camille Pin of France, and fourth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo advanced in straight sets.
"I'm just happy to come through and win this match in two sets," Henin-Hardenne said. "I've been sick for two or three days. I was tired and out of energy."
Fifth-seeded Lindsay Davenport advanced 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 over Emilie Loit of France. Davenport won 10 of 12 points after Loit took a medical time-out to get her thigh taped at 3-0 in the third. She broke Loit's serve in the last game.
Unlike the upset-laden first two days, only three seeds lost Wednesday, all on the women's side: Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova (15), Russia's Elena Bovina (21), and Bulgaria's Magdalena Maleeva (24).
Agassi took the first set in 18 minutes, and Berdych didn't have a game point until he held serve while already down 0-2 in the second set.
Thursday Rod Laver Arena Day session: Play begins at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday Filippo Volandri, Italy, vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (3), Spain Maria Elena Camerin, Italy, vs. Kim Clijsters (2), Belgium Lleyton Hewitt (15), Australia, vs. Karol Kucera, Slovakia
Night session: Play begins at 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday Fabrice Santoro, France, vs. Mark Philippoussis (10), Australia Jeff Coetzee and Chris Haggard, South Africa, vs. Joshua Eagle and Patrick Rafter, Australia
Vodafone Arena Play begins at 6 p.m. ET Monday Sargis Sargsian, Armenia, vs. Todd Reid, Australia Vera Douchevina, Russia, vs. Venus Williams (3), U.S. Jeff Morrison, U.S., vs. Roger Federer (2), Switzerland Bob and Mike Bryan, U.S., vs. Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu, Chile
Margaret Court Arena Play begins at 6 p.m. ET Monday Rafael Nadal, Spain, vs. Thierry Ascione, France Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic, vs. Tim Henman (11), Britain Lindsay Lee-Waters, U.S., vs. Maria Sharapova (28), Russia Not before 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday David Sanchez, Spain, vs. Wayne Ferreira (31), South Africa
Berdych had more winners than Agassi, 27-23, and had more aces, 12-7, but was much more inconsistent, committing 35 unforced errors to just 10 for Agassi.
Roddick, who recorded the fastest serve of the tournament so far at 140 mph, moved into a showdown with Dent, seeded 27th, who overcame Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 in 3:30.
Dent was frustrated after mixing 83 winners with 77 unforced errors.
"I got by with smoke and mirrors somehow," said Dent, whose serve was broken 10 times. "I'm looking for solutions. I don't have them now."
He knows he must find something soon to be competitive against Roddick.
"I hope I don't get broken 10 times, otherwise it's going to be a short match," Roddick said.
Frenchman Nicolas Escude, winner at Doha earlier this month, had a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over Robin Soderling to extend his stretch to seven matches without dropping a set since his return this month from a hip problem that sidelined him since Wimbledon.
In other men's matches, 16th-seeded Sjeng Schalken beat David Ferrer in four sets; Austria's Jurgen Melzer beat Spaniard Galo Blanco in three; and American Todd Martin outslugged Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7).
Martin withstood 33 aces from the big-serving Croatian in a match where neither player dropped serve.
Sebastien Grosjean, seeded ninth, had a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win over American Jan-Michael Gambill; James Blake beat Nicolas Lapentti 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-1; and three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten had a 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 win over Ivan Ljubicic. Kuerten hadn't gone beyond the second round in seven previous trips to Melbourne Park.
Russia's Marat Safin, who won the U.S. Open in 2000 and had a brief appearance atop the rankings, downed Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan, seeded 13th, advanced when France's Jerome Golmard defaulted in the first game of the second set after losing the first 6-3.
American Robby Ginepri, seeded 32nd, advanced by beating Australia's Chris Guccione 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.


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At the yearly gathering of booklovers held in Chicago's McCormick Place convention center June 22 – 27, Wordsworth the Better World Bookmobile is...
C. J. Mahaney
Sean Runnette
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A concise audio encouraging Christian athletes to see sports as a true gift from God, created for his glory. "Why is it that sports seem to bring out the best and the worst in us?" asks author C. J. Mahaney. "Sports are a gift from God. But as soon as you introduce the human heart, things get complicated." For the Christian athlete, sports are one of the key battlegrounds in which pride and self-glory are regular temptations. If sports are indeed a gift from God, why are playing fields and courts so often arenas for our egos? How are we to enjoy sports in a godly way? Self-described "pastor athlete" C. J. Mahaney looks to Scripture for principles that speak to the role of sports in our lives. This booklet outlines how Christian athletes are to play for the glory of God and model gratitude, humility, and service. With candor and humor, Mahaney recounts his own story with sports and through illustrations and practical applications exhorts athletes not to waste their sports.
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New Zealand's electoral system strengthened
Hon Judith Collins
Minister of Justice
18 March 2014 Media
New Zealand's electoral system strengthened
A bill to improve New Zealand's electoral law has passed its third and final reading in Parliament today.
Justice Minister Judith Collins says the changes made by the Electoral Amendment Bill will help maintain the high integrity of New Zealand's electoral system and improve services to voters, candidates and parties.
"We're lucky to live in a nation where our electoral system has a high level of integrity," Ms Collins says.
"However, it's important that we don't take this for granted, and that we build on the lessons learnt from previous elections to ensure the law remains relevant going forward."
The Bill implements changes arising from a parliamentary select committee review, which is routinely carried out after each general election.
Measures in the Bill include:
• allowing people to enrol and update their details fully online using RealMe, the government online identity verification service;
• making loans to parties subject to disclosure rules, similar to the disclosure rules that already apply to donations; and
• allowing parties to lodge bulk candidate nomination and party list documents by email.
"While the changes in this Bill are largely technical, collectively they will improve services to voters, candidates and parties and will have a positive impact on the smooth running of this year's General Election and future elections," Ms Collins says.
Electoral Amendment Bill FAQs
What does the Electoral Amendment Bill do?
The Bill mainly implements changes that stem from the Justice and Electoral Select Committee's Inquiry into the 2011 General Election. The proposals in the Bill primarily reflect recommendations made by the Committee that require legislation and can be put in place in time for the 2014 General Election.
The Bill will:
o Improve services to voters, candidates and parties – for example, allowing for parties to lodge bulk candidate nomination and party list documents by email;
o Improve efficiency by allowing greater use of technology – for example, allowing people to enrol and update their details fully online using Electronic Identity Verification; and
o Improve the integrity of elections by simplifying and clarifying the law – for example, the Bill clarifies that the High Court can direct the Electoral Commission to recalculate and amend the allocation of list seats following a successful electorate seat petition. For example, when an electorate seat winner changes after a vote recount.
The Bill also makes some other minor changes to clarify and correct current provisions in the Electoral Act.
What changes did the Select Committee recommend to the Bill?
The Committee recommended several changes including:
o preserving the current law regarding electioneering on polling day;
o removing clauses which would expand the use and purpose of EasyVote cards; and
o a number of other minor additions to the Bill.
The Government supports these recommendations.
Does the Bill clear the way for e-voting?
No. The changes in the Bill will allow for full online enrolment, not voting. Once implemented, new and existing electors will be able to enrol or update their details fully online using RealMe (the Government's Electronic Identity Verification Service). Paper based methods of enrolment will still be available.
The Electoral Commission will investigate e-voting as priorities allow, however implementing e-voting is still some way off.
What are the new provisions about disclosure of party loans?
Currently, while donations to parties are disclosed, there is limited disclosure of loans made to fund political parties.
Providing transparency of political parties' financing recognises that voters have a legitimate interest in knowing who is funding election campaigns. This applies whether funding is provided in the form of donations or loans.
The Bill creates new disclosure rules for party loans that reflect current rules for disclosure of party donations, including:
o parties will have to disclose details of every loan exceeding $15,000 as part of an annual return;
o parties will have to disclose details of every loan exceeding $30,000 within 10 working days of the loan being entered into; and
o it will be an offence for a person to enter into an agreement or arrangement with any other person with the intention of circumventing these requirements.
Regular commercial loans from banks are excluded.
Does the Bill affect the Māori Electoral Option?
No. The Bill does not make any fundamental changes to the Māori Electoral Option. However, it does allow Māori to choose the option online and modernises the wording of the Māori electoral option provisions.
Māori representation (including issues such as Māori seats in Parliament) was part of the Consideration of Constitutional Issues. The Constitutional Advisory Panel reported back in December 2013. The Panel's advice was that the current arrangements should remain while the conversation continues. The Government is considering the Panel's report.
Will the Bill affect the current review of electorate boundaries?
No. This is a separate process being undertaken by the Representation Commission. The Representation Commission released its proposed boundaries in late November for consultation. Final boundaries will be announced by Easter 2014.
Why was the inquiry into the 2011 election carried out?
After each general election the Justice and Electoral Select Committee conducts, as a matter of routine, an inquiry into the election. The Government of the day then responds to the recommendations of the inquiry.
The Committee reported to the House on its inquiry into the 2011 General Election in April 2013. The Government presented its response to the House of Representatives in July, and introduced the Electoral Amendment Bill to Parliament in August. The Committee then considered the Bill after its first reading in September, and reported back in December.
Does the Bill deal with all the recommendations from the Committee's inquiry into the 2011 election?
The Government response in July outlined that:
o One recommendation, to allow overseas voters to scan and upload their ballot papers to a secure elections server had already been addressed by amending the Electoral Regulations in March 2013 to enable the Electoral Commission to offer this service.
o Seven of the Committee's other recommendations do not require changes to the law to be implemented. The Government will work with the Electoral Commission to action these as appropriate.
o The Government would work through the remaining recommendations and where practicable look to make changes before the 2014 General Election.
The response noted that some recommendations require policy development that can't be completed in time for this Bill or the 2014 General Election and that the Government will consider including these in future law changes.


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A Guide To Authenticating Users With Mozilla Persona
Having only twitter and facebook authentication so far, I decided to add Mozilla Persona to the list for my latest project (computoser, computer-generated music). Why?
- I like trying new things
- Storing passwords is a tough process, and even though I know how to do it, and even have most of the code written in another project, I don't think that I should contribute to the landscape of every site requiring password authentication
- Mozilla is an open foundation that has so far generated a lot of great products. Persona implements a BrowserID protocol that may be supported natively in browsers other than Firefox in the future (for now, you need to include a .js file)
- 3rd party authentication has been attempted many times, and is a great thing, but isn't mainstream for a couple of reasons. Being a bit different, Persona might succeed in becoming more popular.
- This explanation by Mozilla makes sense
So, I started with the "Quick setup" guide. It is looks really easy. Way easier than OpenID or OAuth authentication – you don't have to register anything anywhere, you don't need 3rd party libraries for handling the verification on the server, and you don't need to learn a complex authentication flow, because the flow is simple:
- user clicks on the signin button
- a pop-up appears
- if not authenticated with Persona, the user is prompted for registration
- if authenticated with Persona, the user is prompted for approval of the authentication to your site
- the popup closes and the page redirects/refreshes – the user is now signed in
Of course, it is not that simple, but there are just a few things to mind that are not mentioned in the tutorial. So let's follow the official tutorial step by step, and I'll extend on each point (the server-side language used is Java, but it's simple and you can do it in any language)
1. Including the .js file – simple. It is advisable to get the js file from the Mozilla server, rather than store it locally, because it is likely to change (in order to fix bugs, for example). It might be trickier if you merge your js files into one (for the sake of faster page loading), but probably your mechanism allows for loading remote js files.
2. The signin and signout buttons. This looks easy as well. Probably it's a good idea to add the logout handler conditionally – only if the user has logged in with Persona (as opposed to other authentication methods that your site supports)
3. Listening to authentication events. Listening to events is suggested to be put on all pages (e.g. included in a header template). But there's a problem here. If your user is already authenticated in Persona, but his session has expired on your site, the script will automatically login the user. And this would require a page reload in a couple of seconds after the page loads. And that's not necessarily what you or the users want – in my case, for example, this may mean that the track they have just played is interrupted because of page refresh. It can be done with AJAX of course, but it is certainly confusing when something in the UI changes for no apparent reason. Below I'll show a fix for that. Also, the logout listener might not be needed everywhere – as far as I understand it will automatically logout the user in case you have logged out of Persona. This might not be what you want – for example users might want to keep open tabs with some documents that are not accessible when logged out.
4. Verifying the assertion on the server. Here you might need a 3rd party library in order to invoke the verification endpoint and the parse the json result, but these are pretty standard libraries that you probably already have included.
Now, how to solve the problem with automatic authentication? Declare a new variable –
userRequestedAuthentication – that holds whether the authentication has been initiated explicitly by the user, or it has been automatic. In the signin button click handler set that variable to
true. Here's how the js code looks like (btw, I think it's ok to put the code in document.ready(), rather than directly within the script tag. Assuming you later need some DOM resources in the handler methods, it would be good to have the page fully loaded. On the other hand, this may slow down the process a bit). Note that you can include an empty onlogin handler on all pages, and have the complete one only on the authentication page. But given that the login buttons are either on the homepage, or shown with a javascript modal window, it's probably ok having it everywhere/on multiple pages.
<script type="text/javascript"> var loggedInUser = ${context.user != null ? '"' + context.user.email + '"' : 'null'}; var userRequestedAuthentication = false; navigator.id.watch({ loggedInUser : loggedInUser, onlogin : function(assertion) { $.ajax({ type : 'POST', url : '${root}/persona/auth', data : {assertion : assertion, userRequestedAuthentication : userRequestedAuthentication}, success : function(data) { if (data != '') { window.location.href = '${root}' + data; } }, error : function(xhr, status, err) { alert("Authentication failure: " + err); } }); }, onlogout : function() { window.location.open("${root}/logout"); } }); </script>
As you can see, the parameter is passed to the server-side code. What happens there?
@RequestMapping("/persona/auth") @ResponseBody public String authenticateWithPersona(@RequestParam String assertion, @RequestParam boolean userRequestedAuthentication, HttpServletRequest request, Model model) throws IOException { if (context.getUser() != null) { return ""; } MultiValueMap<String, String> params = new LinkedMultiValueMap<>(); params.add("assertion", assertion); params.add("audience", request.getScheme() + "://" + request.getServerName() + ":" + (request.getServerPort() == 80 ? "" : request.getServerPort())); PersonaVerificationResponse response = restTemplate.postForObject("https://verifier.login.persona.org/verify", params, PersonaVerificationResponse.class); if (response.getStatus().equals("okay")) { User user = userService.getUserByEmail(response.getEmail()); if (user == null && userRequestedAuthentication) { return "/signup?email=" + response.getEmail(); } else if (user != null){ if (userRequestedAuthentication || user.isLoginAutomatically()) { context.setUser(user); return "/"; } else { return ""; } } else { return ""; //in case this is not a user-requested operation, do nothing } } else { logger.warn("Persona authentication failed due to reason: " + response.getReason()); throw new IllegalStateException("Authentication failed"); } }
The logic looks more convoluted than you'd like it to be, but let me explain:
- As you can see in the javascript code, an empty string means "do nothing". If anything else is returned, the javascript opens that page. If not using spring-mvc, instead of returning a @ResponseBody String from the method, you would write that to the response output stream (or in php terms – echo it)
- First you check if there's an already authenticated user in the system. If there is, do nothing. I'm not sure if there's a scenario when Persona invokes "onlogin" on an already authenticated user, but if you are using other authentication options, Persona won't know that your user has logged in with, say, twitter.
- Then you invoke the verification url and parse the result to JSON. I've used
RestTemplate, but anything can be used – HttpClient, URLConnection. For the JSON parsing spring uses Jackson behind the scene. You just need to write a value-object that holds all the properties that Persona might return. So far I've only included: status, email and reason (jackson detail: ignoreUnknown=true, spring-mvc detail: you need
FormHttpMessageConverterset to the
RestTemplate). It is important that the "audience" parameter is exactly the domain the user is currently on. It makes a difference if it's with www or not, so reconstruct that rather than hardcoding it or loading it from properties. Even if you redirect from www to no-www (or vice-versa), you should still dynamically obtain the url for the sake of testing – your test environments don't have the same url as the production one.
- If Persona authentication is "okay", then you try to locate a user with that email in your database.
- If there is no such user, and the authentication action has been triggered manually, then send the user to a signup page and supply the email as parameter (you can also set it in the http session, so that the user can't modify it). The registration page then asks for other details – name, username, date of birth, or whatever you see fit (but keep that to minimum – ideally just the full name). If you only need the email address and nothing else, you can skip the registration page and force-register the user. After the registration is done, you login the user. Note that in case you have stored the email in session (i.e. the user cannot modify it from the registration page), you can skip the confirmation email – the email is already confirmed by Persona
- If there is a user with that email in your database, check if the action has been requested by the user or whether he has indicated (via a checkbox in the registration page) that he wants to be automatically logged in. This is a thing to consider – should the user be asked about that, or it should always be set to either true or false? I've added the checkbox. If login should occur, then set the user in the session and redirect to home (or the previous page, or whatever page is your 'user home')("context" is a session-scoped bean. You can replace it with
session.setAttribute("user", user)). If the authentication attempt was automatic, but the user doesn't want that, do nothing. And the final "else" is for the case when the user doesn't have an account on your site and an automatic authentication has been triggered – do nothing in that case, otherwise you'll end up with endless redirects to the registration page
- in case of failed authentication be sure to log the reason – then you can check if everything works properly by looking at the logs
A cool side-effect of using the email as unique identifier (make the database column unique) is that if you add Persona later to your site, users can login with it even though they have registered in a different way – e.g. facebook or regular registration. So they can set their password to something long and impossible to remember and continue logging in only with Persona.
The details I omitted from the implementation are trivial: the signup page simply gathers fields and submits them to a /completeRegistration handler that stores the new user in the database. The /logout url simply clears the session (and clears cookies if you have stored any). By the way, if automatic signin is enabled, and Persona is your only authentication method, you may not need to store cookies for the sake of keeping the user logged in after the session expires.
Overall, the implementation is still simple, even with the points I made. Persona looks great and I'd like to see it on more sites soon.
7 Responses to "A Guide To Authenticating Users With Mozilla Persona"
line 22 in the first listing appears to have a typo. it's printed as :
shouldn't that be window.location
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text:
|Home > National News > Article
"I didn't know until I read The Sun-Herald that there were so many deaths or how bad it was," Mr Waldron said. "My mother had up to 10 times the prescribed amount of the drug in her body and nobody can tell us why.
"The Government says there are no suspicious circumstances but things just do not add up.
"It has been 2 years since my mother's passing yet we still do not have the answers. This long, drawn-out process does emotionally drain us, is upsetting and in a sense the grieving process has not gone."
Gwen Coquillon's grandmother Edna Paget died in the home on January 13, 2000. "I had no idea she was part of the cluster of deaths," Mrs Coquillon said.
"No-one in the family had any idea about the inquiries. She is our relative and we have a right to know what is going on. I wasn't happy with the treatment she was getting in the home, either."
Neville Fyfe, whose mother Gwendoline died in the home on February 20, 2000, said: "I had heard nothing about any of this from the home. It's all come as a complete shock to us. I think we should have been told."
Both Government inquiries investigated the Allara home and found nothing untoward. But a coronial investigator described the cluster of deaths between January 13 and February 20 as "startling". Three people died on one day alone. By comparison, the normal death rate at the home was around one person per month.
The owners of the home at the time, Conform Health Group, did not contact the families to tell them about the spate of deaths. It has refused to comment.
A NSW Government Health Department spokeswoman refused to release details of its investigation into the home to safeguard "patient privacy".
"Further, there is a coronial inquest being conducted and release of the reports could prejudice that process," she said.
The Federal Government produced a detailed analysis report of the deaths at the home in November 2001 and found "no suspicious circumstances".
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Fredwrote a review of Black Diamond Bombshelter Tent: 4-Person 4-Season on April 15, 2010
Complete allrounder
This review is based on substantial usage for almost 2 years under various conditions and settings. The tent has been used during summer with high temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, during autumn with over 25 mm rain during 24 hours, and during winter in snow with low temperature of -18 degrees Celsius, and it has been used in winds up to 28-33 knots. The tent has been used in an arctic climate, where the above mentioned conditions are considered to quite normal, but it will put any tent to the test. So far I've spent almost 400 nights in various tents, and 40-55 in the Bomb Shelter tent and should be subject to a somewhat qualified review.
Space: In my opinion the tent does not hold more than 3 persons (adult male) if you are supposed to live and operate comfortably, considering every person has to bring some equipment into the living space for drying, large sleeping bags during winter, extra clothing, food etc.
The height of the tent is very good. I'm 6'3 and can sit upright in the mid position of the tent and operate whatever very comfortable.
The two vestibules are small, but can function as cover for backpacks, stoves, fuel and food, during hard weather. They main entrance vestibule (the largest of the two) are a bit too small to use efficiently as a cooking area, especially during winter, melting snow etc. But it is possible:) The small vestibules make the tent stable in high winds, so its a good compromise.
Material: The singular layer ToddTex functions very well under all conditions. I'm impressed with the technology and its performance, and have yet to see any real problems with condensation. Some condensation has to be expected on poles and floor, especially during winter, but compared to other tents and materials I've been using; this is the most versatile and complete. I've yet to experience penetration of outside water during heavy rain. The fabric of the two vestibules however, is very exposed to condensation and heavy rain and is usually wet the morning after. But this does not affect the comfort in the living quarter. NOTE: The doors can never be completely closed, and some ventilations and air circulation is needed to secure high comfort level and as little condensation as possible.
The material is durable, but is exposed to tear and ware with of extensive usage.
Poles: Light weight durable poles, 4 identical for raising the tent and one for the main vestibule. This is sufficient to hold the tent upright and in a very satisfactory tension in heavy winds and snowfall. I have not once used the extra cords on each side for extra stability. The tent is very much stable by itself. One person can easily raise the tent by him/her self in 5 minutes with some training and experience.
Weight: This is where this tent shows why it is clearly my favorite. 3 kg for at 4 season tent with all above mentioned capabilities and performance makes this an easy choice to bring along for any expedition, (in extreme conditions you might want to meet other demands) but this tent is surely the best all-rounder I've ever tried.


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Cherry and Almond Loaf
This was a spur-of-the-moment quick bread made with leftover frozen cherries and toasted almonds. It turned out so moist and flavorful with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg along with the crunch of the almonds and sweetness of the cherries. This recipe is adapted from a Hawaiian Mango Bread recipe I picked up a zillion years ago while traveling through Honolulu. Just add chopped mango, coconut and macadamia nuts in place of the cherries and almonds and you'll have Hawaiian Mango Bread. Actually, you can use any fruit and nut you desire and come up with your own version. Be sure to use the yogurt as it activates the baking soda and baking powder giving you a super light crumb instead of a dense and heavy mass.
Do try this recipe. It is great toasted or just warm from the oven with butter if you dare. Let a few slices dry out and make French toast with it. Its absolutely the bomb with flambeed fruit and ice cream or warm homemade fruit syrup.
The recipe given is for a standard 9X5-inch loaf pan, or 12 cupcake size muffins, 6 Texas size muffins or 4 mini loaves. Add this recipe to your Christmas baking – great gifts from your kitchen.
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 2 cups cherries, halved (fresh, frozen or dried)
- 1 cup toasted almonds, roughly chopped (or almonds of your choice…slivered, sliced etc.)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil of choice
- 1 cup sugar of choice (light brown sugar or raw sugar adds that molasses tone)
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or 1/2 tsp each vanilla and almond extract
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a loaf pan or muffin tin.
- In a medium sized bowl mix all dry ingredients with a whisk. Toss dry mix with fruit and 1/2 cup of nuts.
- In a separate bowl beat the oil with the sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition. Add the vanilla and yogurt.
- Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until all flour is moistened, about 10 or 12 strokes with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with remaining chopped nuts.
- Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove to a cooling rack, let set 5 minutes before turning out loaf.
- Allow to cool another 10 minutes or more before slicing.


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The article continues: It is also in the southwest where Latino voters could make the biggest impact.
They came up from the southwest, with the sun and the wind behind them.
Pueblo is the gateway to the southern Colorado community and the southwest.
But on the southwest Chief—and Amtrak trains in general—food and beverages are a financial drain.
But of course, drought will continue to be an intensifying problem for the southwest.
"They turn to the southwest now," Blaise commented after a time.
But his own tribe were just about to set out on a grand hunting excursion, to the sunny realms of the southwest.
Other directions are northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.
Raising their anchors, and keeping near the shore, with frequent soundings, they pressed on toward the southwest.
Soft white summer clouds hung so sleepily in the southwest they scarce suggested motion.


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MacArthur Square Station
- MacArthur Square Station is located between Bank and Atlantic Streets on the east and west and between City Hall Avenue and Plume Street on the north and south.
- Walk-on, side-platform station
- Serves the central Norfolk Central Business District.
- Easy walk to many office and commercial buildings in the Norfolk downtown area.
- Across from the MacArthur Center, the MacArthur Memorial and Norfolk's Central Library.


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The Burke Junction Merchants Association of Cameron Park presents the first Cameron Park Art & Wine Jubilee at The Junction.
This new event is rapidly approaching and the merchants association is busy planning this spectacular jubilee that will take place at the Burke Junction shopping center over the next three months.
The 2013 Cameron Park Art & Wine Jubilee at the Junction is slated to take place the third Saturday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. This affair begins June 15 and will continue through Sept. 21 on each respective Saturday throughout the summer months.
Everyone is welcome to attend this event. In addition to viewing the beautiful art work that will be displayed by local artists and available for purchase, attendees can enjoy refreshments and wine tasting, live music, shopping in the Junction, children's activities and dining at the local merchants.
Burke Junction features 20 different businesses in Cameron Park. Nestled behind the Food 4 Less in Cameron Park right off Highway 50, the center that features unique old town architecture and a family fun atmosphere is home to several retailers, restaurants, hair salons, a popular sports bar as well as florists, insurance companies, vacuum and sewing specialists, jewelry stores and more.
In addition to the friendly merchants and great hospitality, Burke Junction also hosts a number of special events throughout the year including a Farmer's Market every Wednesday morning, a Classic Car Show on the last Tuesday of each month. Bring the kids out for a day at Burke Junction where they can enjoy train rides on the famed BuJu Line Express on weekends.
For more information on the upcoming Cameron Park Art and Wine Jubilee visit Burke Junction online at burkejunction.com. Burke Junction is located at 3300 Coach Lane in Cameron Park.


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Q: What do you think of preferred stocks?
A: If you're like most investors, you probably buy some common stocks and some bonds. They are by far, the most popular assets.
Many investors overlook preferred stocks. Preferred stocks have been around since the late 1800s and have been a key holding for many old-money families, says Kenneth Winans of money-management firm Winans International and author of Preferreds: Wall Street's Best-Kept Income Secret.
Preferred shares are a mix of stocks and bonds, which may contribute to investors' confusion.
Like bonds, preferred shares are commitments by a company to pay a set amount of interest to shareholders. And like bonds, in most cases, the payments you get from preferred stocks are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. Preferred stock payments, most of the time, do not qualify for the lower capital gains tax rates.
But preferred shares have some characteristics that make them unique. First, just as with common stock, preferred stockholders are behind bond holders in line for a company's assets if it runs into a financial problem. If a company fails, money is repaid to bondholders first. This adds default risk to preferred stock, although bond holders don't usually do all that well if a company is liquidated either.
And, just as with dividends paid on common stock, a company may decide it no longer wants to pay the preferred dividend. Preferred stock owners, though, have a advantage here. If a company stops paying a preferred dividend, it isn't off the hook. The company must repay all the money it would have paid to preferred shareholders before it can pay a dime as a dividend to common shareholders.
Another important characteristic of preferred shares is that sometimes, but not always, they give their owners the right to convert that preferred stock into common stock at a prearranged price.
If you can buy bonds for income and stocks for price appreciation, why bother with preferred stock? The simple answer is they have been solid performers over the long haul.
Since 1900, preferred stocks have returned a 7.4% average annual compound rate of return, Winans says. That falls short of stocks' long-term returns of about 10%, but it tops the average 6.4% return of corporate bonds.
But before you rush out and buy preferred stocks, there are additional risks to be aware of. Firstl, as you'd expect since they have higher historical yields, preferred shares tend to be more volatile than bonds.
Preferred stocks lose value about 24% of the time, while corporate bonds only fall one in five years, or 20%, Winans says. And when they do fall, preferred stocks lose about 5.6% of their value, vs. a 3.5% average decline by corporate bonds.
Last year, preferred stock investors got a taste for the risk they took.The Winans International Preferred Stock Index (or WIPSI), which tracks the value of preferred stock, lost 13.8% of its value in 2007. That was the index' worst year since 1994. The Vanguard Total Bond Market index fund, meanwhile, gained 6.97% in 2007. The Vanguard index owns government bonds in addition to corporate bonds, so it's not a perfect benchmark, but it gives you the idea.
Many investors may decide the added risk is worth the additional return preferred stocks may provide. Certainly, with several high-quality companies paying 7% or higher yields on their preferred stock, now is a great time to consider the investment.
There's another wrinkle, though. Actually investing in preferred shares is somewhat problematic. The largest exchange-traded fund (ETF) currently available that tracks preferred stock is the iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index fund (PFF). However, this ETF is built in such a way it is heavily weighted toward preferred stock from financial companies, including mortgage companies such as Countrywide Financial. Since financials are doing so poorly, that has dragged down the performance of the ETF. It also has a huge 9% weighting in Ford Motor's preferred stock. The ETF may not be ideal for investors looking for a diversified basket of preferred shares.
There are also several closed end mutual funds that own preferred shares. But, as is the case with most mutual funds, the performance of these funds has largely lagged market benchmarks.
That means investors interested in preferred stock may be best off, for now, buying shares of individual preferred stock, Winans says. But that not only exposes investors to company-specific problems, but also requires investors to do their own research on the companies. "For the smaller investors, a tough area to buy into," Winans says.
One suggestion might be to look at preferred stocks as something to buy in addition to or instead of owning the stock. If you own Ford stock and want to hold it, you may consider adding Ford preferred stock. You can get a list of preferred stocks in Barrons' or at epreferreds.com. There is a charge, though.
As an alternative, you can check out QuantumOnline.com, which offers free registration. QuantumOnline has a list of all preferred stocks, and a list of preferreds that qualify for the 15% tax rate. They can be found under "Income Tables" on the site.
Finally, some readers wonder if now's a good time to scoop up preferred shares of some of the troubled financial firms. Some investors are betting that even if these firms suspend their preferred dividends, if they wait five or ten years, eventually they will be paid. Remember, companies must pay investors the preferred dividends they owed, even if they weren't paid when they were due.
While it's true the dividends could eventually be paid out, Winans points out one giant catch: The dividends aren't inflation adjusted. Let's say you buy shares of a company that pays $1 in preferred dividends. And the company stops that dividend and doesn't pay it for 10 years. If you wait 10 years to get the dollar, you're really only getting what's worth 74 cents, assuming 3% annual inflation. So, are you really making out?
The bottom line? Preferred stock can be an attractive investment for investors looking for income. But, there are important considerations. Preferred shares are riskier than bonds, so you may see larger short-term losses, which may be unacceptable in some more risk-averse portfolios. Second, there aren't many good ways to buy a diversified basket of preferred stocks yet. That may change. But in the meantime, you'll need to identify individual preferred stocks yourself, which may require more homework than you're willing to do.
Matt Krantz is a financial markets reporter at USA TODAY and author of Investing Online for Dummies. He answers a different reader question every weekday in his Ask Matt column at money.usatoday.com. To submit a question, e-mail Matt at email@example.com. Click here to see previous Ask Matt columns.
Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.


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London Centre for Book Arts Open Day
This event has now finished. Sun Feb 3
Time Out says
An open day at the new centre dedicated to book arts, founded by artist Simon Goode. The 2,000-person capacity centre in Fish Island will be hosting workshops in paper making, letterpress, typesetting, printing and binding alongside running a studio for hire. At the open day vistors can look at the facilities, get a taste of the activities and sign up for courses.
London Centre for Book Arts details
Address Britannia Works, Dace Rd, E3 2NQ
Transport Hackney Wick
Sun Feb 3 noon-6pm


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Hearty Cabbage and Meatball Soup
Similar in taste to Hungarian-Style Stuffed Cabbage, this hearty soup is made with beef meatballs, chopped cabbage, tomatoes and broad egg noodles. It only takes a little over an hour to prepare, but if you can, make it a day in advance to give the flavors extra time to develop. Served with a green salad, it makes for a satisfying meal.
Hearty Cabbage and Meatball Soup
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
- Ingredients:
- 1 medium head green cabbage (about 1-1/2 lbs), chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 can (15-ounce) diced tomatoes with liquid
- 2-1/2 cups beef broth
- 3-1/2 cups low-sodium tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 6 ounces broad egg noodles, cooked and drained
- For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1 clove garlic, very finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Make the meatballs first. Place the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion in a large bowl. Combine thoroughly and form into 1-inch diameter meatballs.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook until lightly browned on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Discard any fat remaining from the meatballs, add the olive oil to the pan and heat on a medium setting. Add half of the chopped cabbage and cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is soft and wilted, about 6 minutes. Add the paprika and some freshly ground black pepper along with the remaining cabbage and continue cooking until all of the cabbage is tender, about 6 to 8 minutes longer.
Stir in the tomatoes, beef broth, tomato juice, Worcestershire, vinegar and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer, add the meatballs, cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 45 to 50 minutes.
To serve, place a portion of egg noodles in the bottom of individual serving bowls and ladle the soup over top. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes:
You may notice that the only salt in our ingredient list is a small amount in the meatball mixture. This isn't an oversight though. Even the low-sodium varieties of tomato juice and beef broth can be rather salty, so it's best to be cautious when adding salt. We do however, go rather heavy with the quantity of black pepper we add to this soup. We really like the little bite that it adds to the cabbage. Experiment and do what suits your taste.
Filed under: Soups, cabbage, egg noodles, ground beef
SOURCE: MyGourmetConnection.com
comments & replies
I made this soup (with slight variations) and I and family must say it is the best I've ever made. I browned the beef in my Presto Cooker, removed it and sauteed a large onion with celery, green bell pepper, and a little garlic, and then added Worcestershire, diced tomato's, beef bullion, 1/2 a small can of tomato sauce, paprika and plenty of black pepper plus additional water to cover. Brought it to a boil and then simmered for several hours. Unplugged and put the covered Presto (after cooling a bit) in the Fridge. Next day added raw cabbage and uncooked noodles and plenty of water to cover, brought to a boil and then simmered till cabbage and noodle were tender. A really hearty soup. I make a fantastic chicken noodle soup but it doesn't come close to this soup.
Made this soup this evening, but not as soupy as the recipe suggested. Used ground pork, because that's what I had, and savoy cabbage. It rocks. I used all tomato leftovers in my fridge and a can of stewed tomatoes. My husband and I loved it and we'll have leftovers for another couple of meals. This is just the flavor I remember from my childhood of my grandmother's stuffed cabbage and half or a third of the work. Thanks for coming up with this.


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posted by phil .
Why does it take longer for strong acids to react than weak acids?
I don't know that it does. Do you have an example?
In my last lab, we timed how fast hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, and water react with baking soda. Our results showed that water did not react, acetic acid did it in 40 seconds, and HCL was 105 seconds. I do not know whether our data is wrong or not.
Were the concentrations different? Was the soda in solution or dry? Did you measure the volume of gas produced? Was the time what it took to ???what? stop fizzing? That is, how did you know when the reaction stopped? That is, what did you time?
The soda was dry, the concentrations were the same, we did not measure volume of gas produced, yes it was the time to stop fizzing, which is what we timed