text: Student Profiles Evan Kohn '06 Evan Kohn '06 Hometown: Highland Park, Illinois Major: Government and Legal Studies Why did you choose to come to Bowdoin? I had done my fair share of college visits, and despite the cold wind and sideways rain the day my dad and I visited, everything seemed to add up here. I knew I wanted to study political science, so both the Government Department and the college's outstanding academic reputation influenced my decision to come here more than anything else. Additionally, the dorms looked comfortable, the food was surprisingly great, the admissions staff articulated Bowdoin's strengths very well, and the students seemed smart and interesting. I had lived in Illinois my whole life and wanted to live and explore somewhere new. Brunswick, with the coast and Portland nearby, seemed like it would offer a stimulating setting for a college student. I was blessed to have my parents' support and encouragement to get the best undergraduate education possible - and Bowdoin has offered just that. Why did you choose your major? Politics has interested me ever since Rotary sent me to Northern Ireland during a part of my junior year of high school to study political conflict resolution. Speaking face to face with leaders in Belfast inspired me to get to know politics back home and follow the news more regularly. Since my first semester, the Government Department has offered more classes that have interested me than any other and I've ended up taking several more classes than the major requires. Meanwhile, I've tried to take the liberal arts approach as much as possible in taking classes in a variety of disciplines - from anthropology to French to archaeology to economics to Asian studies to drawing to Spanish. What has been your favorite course at Bowdoin? I'm particularly enjoying two of my current courses. The first is "Advanced Seminar in Democracy and Development in Asia" with [Associate] Professor Henry Laurence of the Government [and Asian Studies] departments. The class is small and discussion and writing based. We've explored relationships between economic growth, democracy, and human rights, all while discussing the moral and cultural impacts and effects on each. Professor Laurence does an outstanding job in promoting independent thought, moderating honest discussions, and offering constructive criticism. His sense of humor certainly adds a nice touch as well, especially during intense class discussions or debates. The other class I'm enjoying right now is "Coastal Marine Life" with [Adjunct Assistant] Professor Marney Pratt of the Biology Department. Though it is lecture-based, Professor Pratt's passion and enthusiasm about subjects like sea squirts or mollusks brings the material to life. The class recently went on a Saturday field trip to nearby Bailey Island, where we explored tide pools and got to observe, handle, and collect data on the very creatures we had been studying in class like starfish, sea urchins, and predatory snails. What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Bowdoin? I've worked for The Bowdoin Orient, the oldest continuously published college weekly in the United States, since my first week here. This year, I've had the opportunity to serve as Editor-in-Chief. We have an incredible editorial staff of over 20, and dozens of talented writers, all working 24 weeks of the academic year to put out issues. The reward of seeing members of the College community read the paper every Friday morning makes all the planning, writing, editing, and late nights worth it. And seeing the editorials written by our editorial board influence change on campus has also made all our discussions, debates, and multiple drafts particularly meaningful. Since the paper covers such a wide array of issues relevant to the school and community, there is a lot of room for creativity. I've been able to speak with and interview political figures like democratic presidential candidates in New Hampshire and even the governor a few weeks ago. I've also been a member and leader in the Bowdoin Outing Club (BOC). I have led two pre-orientation trips for first-years to Isle au Haut, participated in leadership training, and have led weekend trips hiking on the coast or up Mt. Katahdin. The Outing Club is a special gem for Bowdoin; it offers students a countless number of opportunities to explore the great state of Maine from rafting to hiking to sea kayaking to snowshoeing and much more. Finally, I volunteered a lot during my freshman and sophomore years at the Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick. Along with a friend I organized some of their volunteer efforts. I got to work with formerly-abused or abandoned dogs and met some friendly and caring people there. I miss my dog, too, so going to the shelter and walking dogs through the nearby pine forests has served as a good cure for that. Did you study abroad during your time at Bowdoin? I spent the spring semester of my junior year in Geneva, Switzerland, and had an outstanding experience. I took five classes in international economics and government, and lived with a non-English-speaking woman in a wonderful apartment downtown by the lake. I did two internships in Geneva, one with an international law institute and a longer one with a human rights law non-governmental organization (NGO). In the first internship, I researched and compiled reports on humanitarian law under the president and head professor of the institute. For the second, I followed the U.N. Commission on Human Rights every morning from the chamber floor sitting beside ambassadors from countries around the world. Each day, I'd brief the NGO's legal advisors on the previous day's happenings before discussing resolutions and mandates. I had the opportunity to meet political leaders and legal experts from around the world, and gained professional experience that I will be able to use in the future. Moreover, my program went on many field trips relevant to our studies to places like the U.S. Mission to Geneva, the Turkish Mission, the World Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, the Swiss Parliament in Bern, and the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. Through my home stay, I got to practice French and Spanish with my host lady every day. I also had the privilege of finding time to travel on my own by train to places I never thought I'd see, like Slovenia, Sweden, and Hungary. What is your best Bowdoin memory? It's impossible to narrow it down to just one since there have been so many. A few in particular do come to mind. After finals freshman year my BOC leadership training class went on a whitewater canoeing trip for our final expedition on the east branch of the Penobscot River. It started near the northern part of Baxter State Park and finished outside of East Millinocket. We had a blast, the river was incredible, and being out in the quiet, untouched wilderness offered a perfect setting in which to reflect on my first year at Bowdoin. Another highlight was meeting Christopher Hill '74 three years ago when he came here to accept Bowdoin's Preservation of Freedom Award. He was then-Ambassador to Poland and is now the country's Chief Negotiator in North Korea. His admirable contributions to diplomacy in the Balkans and Eastern Europe were evident in his acceptance speech as he recounted all he had done abroad. He spoke in one of my government classes as well, and after class told me about his old room in Coles Tower. Also, just a few weeks ago I spent the afternoon taking pictures around campus. Photography is one of my passions and with all the fall colors I couldn't take enough pictures. Taking time to really enjoy the quad makes you appreciate how quintessential Bowdoin's campus really is. What are your plans for after graduation? I plan on attending law school in a year or in a few years, but until then I'd love to work in politics - whether it's starting on a campaign this summer or working as a legislative staffer for a politician. I interned with a senator this past summer on the Hill and found the environment to be both engaging and very exciting. I'm also interested in consulting or business, and am exploring my options regarding those fields right now as well. I hope to contribute my legal knowledge to the world of politics again after law school, but right now I'm taking it one step at a time. What advice would you give to a prospective student or first-year about the Bowdoin experience? One of Bowdoin's best characteristics is that it encourages students to think independently. Any prospective or first-year student should think introspectively and decide what he or she wants out of a college education because it is what you make of it; college is the time of your life to explore and find out what inspires you (cliché, but very true). While Bowdoin offers one of the best environments possible in which to do such exploring, it will only take you so far. You have to actively use it. Take advantage of Bowdoin's small size. President Mills often and with good reason encourages students to take advantage of all the leadership opportunities available here. Use Bowdoin's location to explore Maine, and meet as many Mainers as you can because they're some of the most down-to-earth people in the country. Use Bowdoin's diverse student body to meet people from Boston to L.A. to Burma. Get to really know a few professors - the faculty is the engine that keeps Bowdoin's spirit alive and all are among the most knowledgeable and gifted in their fields. Lastly, find a way to give back to the College or Brunswick in some capacity - whether it's through community service or tutoring a local student. You'll feel like a more integral part of the community. Bowdoin is a truly special place. Take time to appreciate and recognize the College's countless attributes. In doing so, you will likely get the most out of the incredible opportunity that is a Bowdoin education. Story posted on November 11, 2005 « Back | More Student Profiles | Go to News Home


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Seven school districts committed to working with charter schools to improve student achievement will split about $25 million in grants from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, officials announced Wednesday.
The funding is designed to deepen the collaborations among educators in Philadelphia; Boston; Denver; New Orleans; New York; Hartford, Conn.; and Spring Branch, Texas.
"These cities are particularly committed to advancing college-ready strategies in both district and charter schools," said Vicky Phillips, education director for the foundation's College Ready program in the U.S. "What we're most excited about is the common ground that's getting established."
Charter schools, which are publicly funded but operate independently of school districts, have been a lightning rod in the debate over education reform. Supporters say they provide innovative and sometimes safer alternatives to traditional neighborhood schools. Opponents contend they drain resources from school districts without providing a better education.
The seven grant recipients are among 16 communities that entered into compacts designed to reduce tension between districts and charters. By signing the agreements, which entail sharing resources and best practices, districts received $100,000 and qualified for further funding.
Over the next few years, Hartford will get nearly $5 million and Denver about $4 million. The other districts will receive between $2.2 million and $3.7 million each.
Funds will go toward projects including universal enrollment systems, leadership training for aspiring principals and joint professional development for charter and district teachers.
Chris Gibbons, the CEO of Strive Prep Charter Network in Denver, said the compacts are formal recognitions "that resources of the public sector are available to all students ... (and that) the responsibility to educate all students well is the shared responsibility of an entire city."
In Philadelphia, the compact includes collaboration with private and Catholic schools. Lori Shorr, the city's chief education officer, said Philadelphia needs all types of high-achieving schools to reduce poverty, enhance public safety and attract economic development.
She also acknowledged that managing charter growth has been a contentious issue in the financially struggling district, where about 30 percent of the 207,000 students attend charters.
Shorr said some tension stems from "early animosities" about charters that have hardened and led to misunderstandings and misperceptions. The important thing, she said, is to "put adult foolishness aside" and focus on what's best for students.
Spring Branch, a district that includes part of Houston and its suburbs, is slated to receive nearly $2.2 million. Superintendent Duncan Klussmann said a new partnership with two charter school operators is designed to spur innovation and a cultural change in the district, which is striving to double the number of students who obtain a degree or certificate in higher education.
"To do that, we have to have strong partnerships and collaboration," Klussmann said.
Follow Kathy Matheson at www.twitter.com/kmatheson

subset: commoncrawl


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Sheikh Shady Al-Suleiman lecture on "Fast The Month Of Ramadan With Firm Belief".
July 29, 2012
Sheikh Shady Al-Suleiman : Fast The Month Of Ramadan With Firm Belief
Labels: Bayan in English, Ramadan, Sheikh Shady Al-Suleiman
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Best meteor shower of the year is tonight
I've always been fascinated by the heavens above. So when astronomers say that the best meteor shower of the year will occur on a night when locally we have clear skies and a dark new moon, it gets my attention.
The Geminid meteor shower is expected to start about 11 p.m. tonight (Thursday, Dec. 13). Meteors should be visible until about 3 a.m. on Friday, the experts say. The best viewing should be shortly after midnight. One should be able to see as many as 100 meteors an hour.
Look toward the constellation of Gemini to the east in the evening.
According to EarthSky.org, the Geminid meteors are named for the constellation of Gemini the Twins.
Here's an interesting fact: We have always called meteors "shooting stars," but EarthSky says that they have nothing to do with the stars. These meteors are a phenomenon of our own solar system. Around mid- December each year, our planet Earth will cross the orbital path of an object called 3200 Phaethon, which may be an asteroid or an extinct comet that is orbiting our sun. The object is about 3.2 miles in diameter and is shedding ice and other debris due to its orbit of the sun.
Debris from the object burns up in our Earth's upper atmosphere giving us the annual meteor shower.
As an added attraction, NASA has announced that there may be a second meteor shower tonight that may coincide with the Geminids. It should cause a significant boost in the number of meteors that will be visible tonight. The second meteor shower is linked to the Comet 46P/Wirtanen. It should produce up to 30 meteors an hour.
That means we have about 130 meteors an hour in the night sky.
Enjoy the light show in the cosmos tonight! You don't need any special equipment to watch the meteors. Just find a spot away from bright lights and watch the sky to the east.
— Jeff McDonough


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SOURCE: Astro-Med, Inc.
April 18, 2013 09:30 ET
Astro-Med Has Been Awarded Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) From the Federal Aviation Administration; Astro-Med's PMA Approval Enables the Company to Independently Sell Its ToughWriter 4 Ruggedized Airborne Printers for Certificated Production and Retrofit Aircraft Installations in the United States
Astro-Med Has Been Awarded Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) From the Federal Aviation Administration; Astro-Med's PMA Approval Enables the Company to Independently Sell Its ToughWriter 4 Ruggedized Airborne Printers for Certificated Production and Retrofit Aircraft Installations in the United States
WEST WARWICK, RI--(Marketwired - Apr 18, 2013) - Astro-Med, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALOT) announced today that it was awarded Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) by the FAA for a configuration of the ToughWriter® 4 ruggedized airborne printer. The PMA approval is significant because it permits Astro-Med to independently provide its ToughWriter 4 ruggedized airborne printers for use on certificated production and retrofit aircraft in the United States.
PMA is a combined design and production approval for modification and replacement articles. PMA was awarded after an intensive audit of Astro-Med's Quality Management System focused on how Astro-Med designs, manufactures, and installs replacement or modified ToughWriter 4 ruggedized airborne printers.
"Our success in being granted FAA FAR Part 21 PMA approval from the Federal Aviation Administration is an important step in the expansion of our Avionics business and it allows us to better serve a broader spectrum of this market. With this first PMA under our belt, Astro-Med intends to pursue additional printer models and other products for PMA approval in parallel with expanding our aircraft eligibility installed base. We are proud of having achieved this milestone," said Thomas C. Carll, Vice President.
The Astro-Med ToughWriter 4 ruggedized airborne printer is designed for both cockpit and cabin environments and provides crisp, uniform printing on 8.5-inch wide letter width roll paper. There are multiple versions of the ToughWriter 4 to fit the varying demands of commercial aircraft, and multiple options available including night vision compliant display lighting, and different front panel colors to match cockpit or cabin color scheme. For more information about the ToughWriter 4, visit http://www.astro-med.com/ruggedized_products/high_speed_printers/toughwriter_4.
About Astro-Med, Inc.
Astro-Med has been designing and manufacturing ruggedized airborne printers for more than a decade. These ruggedized printers and related ruggedized Ethernet switches are used in the most demanding military and commercial environments, including airborne, shipboard, and ground vehicle applications. Astro-Med is currently furnishing airborne printers for the Airbus A380 and A400M, the Boeing C-17, B-787, B-777, B-747, and the Lockheed C-130. Astro-Med is certified to AS9100, the quality management system specifically designed for manufacturers of aerospace industry products. Additional information about Astro-Med's ruggedized printer products is available at http://www.astro-med.com/ruggedized_products.
Thomas C. Carll
Vice President
Tel: 877-867-9783www.Astro-Med.com
Thomas C. Carll
Vice President
Tel: 877-867-9783www.Astro-Med.com
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Hello Everyone,
I just joined today, though I have visited the site sporadically over the past ten years perhaps. I studied Greek and Latin at university, and am now trying to regain it. I'd love to learn both, but am focusing on Greek --at least for now.
A quick question: Does anyone know of a scholarly online lexicon that gives not just translations of compound words but their etymologies also?
Best regards,


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Beginning with an online interactive exploration of Karijini Gorge in Australia and Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona, AZ, learners gather geologic evidence regarding the formation of the red rocks found in each. They then apply that information to support... (View More) a hypothesis as to why the rocks on Mars are red. Educator resources include a 5E instructional lesson and alignments with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education; Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts; and A Framework for 21st Century Learning. This resource is part of the Infiniscope space exploration experiences. (View Less)
Materials Cost: Free
Students are tasked with virtually designing a spacecraft to withstand the harsh environment of the Van Allen Radiation belts- the location of many communication, GPS and weather satellites. The details of the challenge, along with videos on... (View More) radiation, a materials list (including descriptions, densities, costs, and testing), and subsystems information are included. (View Less)
This iOS app for iPhone, iPad and iTouch, allows families and educators to investigate and learn about the Sun at home, at school, or anywhere. It provides 13 free, easy to use, hands-on activities, plus live images of the Sun from NASA's SDO... (View More) satellite, videos of the Sun, and more. Each activity includes material lists, step-by-step instructions, and detailed explanations. Some of the activities and media pieces are also available on the project website. The activity materials are widely available and inexpensive. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students
This article and interactive image compares the sizes of Hurricane Katrina and Typhoon Haiyan. SciJinks is a joint NASA/NOAA educational website targeting middle school-aged children and their educators. It explores weather and Earth science through... (View More) articles, videos, images, and games. (View Less)
This interactive visualization illustrates changes in Earth's climate. Manipulate a sliding timeline to view the impacts on our planet of four climate related variables: sea ice, sea levels, carbon emissions, and average global temperatures.
This website features a range of interactive games, hands-on projects and fun facts about Earth, the Sun, our Solar System and Space.
This interactive program focuses on the role of sea level in climate change. Sections include an overview and a list of relevant NASA satellite missions and their objectives. A third section, entitled Global View, covers the following 5 topics:... (View More) Latest View, Large El Niño, Hurricane Katrina, Indian Ocean Tsunami, and La Niña. (View Less)
These short leader guides are designed for a novice user to pick up and implement the activities with ease. They address a range of topics all related to asteroids - most especially Asteroid Vesta. Activities are tagged to quickly find ones that are... (View More) active (involves movement), edible (involves food), calm (stationary) or informative (about NASA's Dawn mission and Vesta). (View Less)
This interactive illustrates how images from space get to Earth and how we interpret the images. Users are encouraged to experiment with images to get a firm grasp of how scientists use color filters to interpret data. Click on the initial image at... (View More) the site to start the interactive. (View Less)
This is an online sorting game that compares the lifetime risk of death from an asteroid impact to other threats. For example, are you more likely to be killed by an amusement park ride or an asteroid impact? It is part of the Killer Asteroids Web... (View More) Site. The site also features a background overview of the differences between asteroids and comets, information on different types of asteroids (rubble piles vs monoliths), a discussion of how at risk Earth really is to an asteroid or comet impact, and background information on light curves. (View Less)


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Allen Lessels' College Hockey: UNH, Notre Dame share 3rd in Hockey East pollBY ALLEN LESSELS
New Hampshire Union Leader
September 24. 2013 9:53PM
BOSTON -- THE University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish hockey team comes to Durham to take on New Hampshire at the Whittemore Center in a two-game set on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
The two teams — one a founding member of Hockey East and the other its newest contender as it begins play this year — already have something in common.
UNH and Notre Dame shared the No. 3 spot in the league's preseason coaches' poll released on Tuesday during Media Day at the TD Garden.
UMass Lowell and Boston College tied for the top spot in the poll. The River Hawks pulled down seven first-place votes and the Eagles picked up the other four.
It's a new-look Hockey East as the league enters its 30th season.
"We're just getting stronger within our league," said longtime Boston College coach Jerry York. "It used to just be Boston College, New Hampshire, Boston University and Maine (at the top) and it was, who's going to win? Now there's Lowell, Providence, Vermont. Merrimack has made some runs. Now we reach out and bring in Notre Dame. Let's make this even harder. I think it's good."
Lowell went 28-11-2 under second-year coach Norm Bazin last season and won its first Hockey East regular season championship, its first Hockey East tournament title and beat UNH, 2-0, in the Northeast Regional championship game to advance to its first Frozen Four.
It's a new-look league on several fronts.
There are new coaches at Maine and Boston University. There is Notre Dame, the first new team since Vermont signed on for the 2005-06 season. There is a new tournament format. There's even a new schedule.
Teams are now playing each other just twice a season rather than three times. That leaves them with 20 league games — which will jump to 22 next year when the University of Connecticut opens play in Hockey East — and allows more room for scheduling teams from outside the conference on their way to a 34-game regular season schedule.
"There are some big changes in the league, obviously," said UNH coach Dick Umile. "It's a good change as far as adding Notre Dame and going from three to two league games is going to be great."
That adjustment has allowed UNH to set up two-game home series against Michigan (Oct. 18 and 19), Nebraska-Omaha and Union this year and the Wildcats will also be playing in a holiday tournament in Florida against Cornell and either Maine or Princeton.
UNH and Maine have already announced that they will play two extra nonleague games in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. One game each season will be at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester and the other at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.
For the first time since the 1995-96 season, all of the league's 11 teams will participate in the Hockey East tournament.
The first five teams will receive a first-round bye and the No. 6, No.
7 and No. 8 teams will host a single-game playoff. After the first-round the three surviving teams will be reseeded for a best-of-three quarterfinal series. The final four teams will be re-seeded again for the championship round at the TD Garden on March 21 and 22.
Red Gendron, a native of Berlin and former player at New England College in Henniker, takes over at Maine for Tim Whitehead, who is now coaching at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden.
David Quinn has returned to Boston University, his alma mater, to replace Jack Parker.
UNH, 20-12-7 overall last season, plays an exhibition at home against Arcadia on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Wildcats open the season against Clarkson on Oct. 11 in the first game of the Ice Breaker tournament at Minnesota.
They play either Mercyhurst or Minnesota the next night.
DAN PARKHURST, a 1993 UNH grad and longtime radio and TV voice of the team, was named the 2013 winner of the Concannon Media Award for his coverage of Hockey East on Tuesday. Parkhurst lives in Conway.
ECAC Hockey released two pre-season polls on Tuesday at its Media Day in Lake Placid.
Dartmouth was picked No. 7 in the coaches' poll with one first-place vote and was tied at No. 5 with Cornell in the media poll.
Yale led the coaches' poll and Rensselaer was second. Rensselaer was tops in the media poll and Yale was next.
Dartmouth finished 15-14-5 overall and 9-9-4 in the ECAC last year.
The Big Green play an exhibition at home against the University of Ontario Institute of Technology on Friday, Oct. 18.
They open with games on the road at Princeton on Friday, Oct. 25 and at Brown on Saturday, Oct. 26.
They start a four-game home stretch with contests against Union on Friday, Nov. 1 and Rensselaer on Saturday, Nov. 2.
firstname.lastname@example.com On Twitter: @AllenLessels


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(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)
When I talked to LeAnn Rimes about her upcoming music last week, I also asked about her Twitter bio. It's the place where celebs usually describe themselves as a singer, dog lover, beach walker, wine drinker, etc. But Rimes' simply says, "Human." She told me she wrote that because at the end of the day, no matter what we all do for a living, that's all we are. "We make mistakes, we have vulnerabilities, and we have wonderful triumphs. To me, that's who I am," she said. "And that's what I'm sharing: my humanity."
You can see exactly how much Rimes shares if you're one of her roughly 315,000 followers. She even posts personal pictures, many of which are of her and husband Eddie Cibrian at the beach. And since I've never seen her in the same bikini twice, I had to know: How many bikinis does Rimes have? "A ton. Literally. I have so many, I can't even count. Like, two huge trunks of bathing suits," she laughed. "Hey, look. I'm on the beach. I'm not wearing a fur. There's only so much time between my chronic psoriasis that I've had since I was 2 — and the time that my butt starts sagging — that I can walk out on the dang beach in a bikini and feel comfortable."


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Archer: Season Four (US - BD RA)
Gabe returns to the Danger Zone with the finest secret agent this side of 007...
Adam Reed's Archer continues its run as the best animated comedy on cable television. Well, when Venture Bros. is on hiatus. Anyway, it's back for a fifth season on FX and, in celebration, I've written a quick and tardy review of the season four Blu-ray release, divided by episode.
Fugue and Riffs
'Sour Mix? In a Margarita? What is this, Auschwitz?!?'
Mostly ignoring the extra-planetary adventures of last season's two-parter, Space Race, season four begins with an unexpected crossover. Noting that H. John Benjamin was also voicing the title character of Fox's Bob's Burgers, Archer creator Adam Reed decided to turn Archer into his very own John Munch (the Richard Belzer character that appears on various NBC/Fox police dramas). The episode begins with Archer (H. John Benjamin) as Bob Belcher, working in a burger joint and married to Linda Belcher (John Roberts, who also voices the character on Bob's Burgers). When Russian goons come to kill him, 'Bob' has a Long Kiss Goodnight moment, murders them all spectacularly, and heads off to discover whom this 'Archer' is. The rest of the episode concerns a sting the ISIS crew hatches to cure his amnesia. Fugue and Riffs is a fabulous introduction to the season.
The Wind Cries Mary
'This is Rodney, he's the new, whatever...Gun Librarian.'
'Armoury Supervisor!'
Archer sets out to find his best friend, Lucas Troy (Timothy Olyphant), who faked his death during a failed ODIN sting. Despite his co-workers insisting that there's more between them than friendship, Archer is blind to Troy's advances. Worse, Troy is planning on funding their 'new life together' with stolen uranium. Meanwhile, Pam (Amber Nash) attempts to do staff peer reviews and is met by the usual passive aggression and heavy sarcasm. Cyril's (Chris Parnell) threateningly negative review of Lana's (Aisha Tyler) performance is particularly amusing. More great moments here include one where Archer finds Cyril's clothes and briefly assumes that The Predator (from the movie of the same title) is hunting people, Troy's constant stream of 'Your Mom' jokes, and the look on Lana's face after learning what Troy did to Archer one night after he passed out.
'So, it's going to look like I'm leaving, but that's only because I'm leaving'
Dr. Krieger (Lucky Yates) offers to make Ray (Adam Reed), who is still a paraplegic following the events at the end of season three (for real, this time…), robotic legs. Though he initially resists, Ray decides that it's a good idea, much to Archer's dismay. Meanwhile, Malory (Jessica Walter) has granted Rodney (Andrew Donnelly), the new armoury supervisor, more power, making it more difficult for the ISIS staff to waste resources doing stuff like trying to make Ray into a cyborg…or using a rocket launcher to kill cyborg Ray. The horrendously gory imagery used during the human-to-cyborg surgery scenes is a high point, not to mention Pam's beer-fueled attempts at being a surgical assistant. During one of the amusing asides, it is established that Krieger replaced mole agent Conway Stern's arm sometime after season one, which is most likely just a random joke, but also might be hinting at the character's return in future seasons.
Midnight Ron
'The butterfly effect. You know, a butterfly in Africa lands on a giraffe's nose, the giraffe sneezes, that spooks a gazelle, the gazelle bonks into a rhinoceros, and the rhinoceros blindly stampedes into a phone booth, calls New York somehow and says 'Hey, go kill this idiot Ron, for a suitcase,' because the rhinoceros speaks English!'
Archer is forced to bond with his new stepfather Ron Cadillac (Ron Leibman), when Ron decides to rescue him from a passport and money-free trip to Montreal. Unfortunately, Ron's secret criminal past comes back to haunt him and make the trip home difficult. This episode does a good job of securing Ron's place in the show and earns huge points for its unexpected and violent turns, including a transgender trucker snuff ring.
Viscous Coupling
'What, you said be convincing!'
'Convincing, not deliberately hurtful!'
Katya (Ona Grauer), Archer's one-time cyborg girlfriend, contacts him, looking for her current beau and Archer's mortal enemy, Barry (Dave Willis). The only problem is that Archer and his ISIS friends left Barry stranded on a space station. In hopes of winning Katya back, Archer hatches an idiotic plan to save his arch-nemesis and drags the less professional members of ISIS along for the ride. Viscous Coupling isn't an easy episode for non-fans to go along with – it requires too much previous knowledge to understand callback jokes and character references – but, in the context of the entire series, it might be the season's best. It's fast-paced, well-layered, full of twists, and sets track for more serialized, fan-friendly episodes.
Once Bitten
'I mean, look, I don't want to sound racist but –'
'…but you're gonna power through it…'
Archer is bitten by a venomous snake while on mission, leaving Cyril (who is too insecure with his relationship with Lana to call for extraction help) and Ray (who injures his back trying to lift their jeep out of the sand) to drag him around Turkmenistan as he's slowly driven insane by hallucinations. As he lays dying, Archer is given the 'Ghost of Christmas Past' treatment from a cut-rate James Mason, where we learn more snippets of his back-story. Meanwhile, Lana is offended that Malory didn't send her on the Turkmenistan mission and their passive/aggressive interactions boil over. The episodes best gag is a series of misunderstandings between Cyril and the Turkmenistanese, who use the same word for their leader, their leader's dog, bread, and snakes. It sounds like a cheap joke, but it is so well-executed.
Live and Let Dine
'Yeah, 'child-murderer' shouldn't be hyphenated. That makes it seem like he's a murderer who's also a child.'
ISIS is sent undercover as wait staff in an upscale restaurant that also happens to be the home base of a reality show called Bastard Chef, starring a celebrity chef named Lance Casteau (voiced by real-life celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain). Live and Let Dine is a generally funny, episode on its own merits, but is especially funny because it so perfectly apes the ridiculous style and structure of a Hell's Kitchen-like cooking show. Every time someone makes a particularly snide remark they call for it to become a pre-commercial 'bumper.' The B-story concerns Malory holding Pam's betta fish, which she needs for an underground beta fish fighting ring, prisoner.
Coyote Lovely
'Since when is babysitting Archer my jo—oh my God that is exactly my job!'
ISIS is sent to capture a Mexican coyote (the kind that sneaks people over the border, not the kind that looks like a puppy), but things go wrong when Archer realizes that this particular coyote is a particularly attractive woman (Carla Jimenez). After betraying Cyril and Lana, he takes the coyote and her passengers across the border in a junker of a station wagon. Meanwhile, back at headquarters, ISIS tries to figure out where Archer and the Mexicans have disappeared to. Archer's interactions with Lupe, an elderly Mexican lady that only replies to him in Spanish, are among the episode's highlights. Also note that ISIS' computer tech, Bilbo, dies of a heart attack this episode when Malory berates him, something that is alluded to in a earlier one.
The Honeymooners
'I'm coming, Cyril!'
'Lana, wait! Bet that's the first time you ever said that. Right? Huh? Okay, now we can go.'
Lana and Archer go undercover as newlyweds in a ritzy New York hotel (the Tuntmore Towers) to uncover a North Korean uranium smuggling ring. But the job becomes secondary when Archer spends his time enjoying room service and bugging Lana into performing her 'wifely duties.' Meanwhile, Pam, Cyril, and Cheryl set themselves up across the street to spy on the fake couple. The biggest laughs in this episode tend to be non-contextual, like the thwap thwap sound of Archer scurrying up Tuntmore Towers with suction cups or the little boy that takes a picture of him and Lana as they argue outside his hotel window. Cyril screaming 'Suppressing fire-extinguisher!' (a callback to him screaming 'Suppressive fire' during a shootout) is another gut-buster.
Un Chien Tangerine
'Something about nukes in Pakistan. Or one of the 'akistans.'
Lana and Archer are again trapped in a hotel room together; this time in Morocco, where they have been sent to rescue a member of ISIS, who turns out to be a Saint Bernard named Kazak that has issues digesting kafta. Meanwhile, Pam tries to prove she's worthy of fieldwork. Watching Archer interact with animals, which he treats like human equals in conversation, is always entertaining. Un Chien Tangerine (the title is a Luis Buñuel/Salvador Dalí joke) is also the beginning of more Pam-centric episodes.
The Papal Chase
'Who am I? Cypher? The gayest X-Man?'
'I don't know, Gambit looks like he knows his way around a pair of…'
ISIS is sent to foil an assassination attempt on the Pope. This elaborate scheme involves using Woodhouse (George Coe), Archer's long-suffering, heroin-addicted manservant, as a decoy. Pam is sent along to prove her skills as a field agent. Meanwhile, Cheryl tries to figure out why Cyril is so afraid of Catholic costuming. The Papal Chase isn't the season's cleverest episode, but it brimming with quick wit and slapstick, like a bit where Pam drops a giant mirror on the sleeping Pope or the bit where Archer is thrown naked from a moving vehicle. Archer also makes reference to Lucy, Daughter of the Devil, an Adult Swim series Benjamin worked on.
Sea Tunt: Part 1 and 2
'And what is he getting out of this?'
'I guess whatever useless thing philanthropists get out of squandering their money on the poor.'
The two-part season finale sends ISIS into the Bermuda Triangle, where they are set to retrieve a stolen nuclear device to
Part two brings the action down to an underwater lab beneath the Triangle, where an impulsive captain named Murphy (Jon Hamm) threatens to unleash missiles laced with nerve gas unless his environmentally friendly demands are met. This is clearly in reference to Reed and company's first show, SeaLab 2021, including Murphy's appearance and the design of the lab itself (right down to the break room). The isolated space and science-fiction-y location do recall the previous season's finale a bit too much, but there's an awful lot going on here and all of it is incredibly funny.
Like Reed's other shows and most of the cartoons that appear on FX, Adult Swim, and Fox's ADHD, Archer is a simple, Flash animated series. The characters are simple vector drawings, usually with one colour shade, and no gradient blends. Textures and patterns are also rarely utilized, so the clarity of the animated elements are almost strictly found in the vibrancy and clarity of the colours, and the solid nature of the black edges. On these simple terms, I have no complaints concerning this full 1080p, 1.78:1 transfer. The episodes are stretched over two discs, so compression artefacts aren't an issue, save maybe a bit of low level noise on the darker warm shades. The backgrounds are, for the most part, Photoshop-filtered photographs, but have begun to include more texture and digital effects with the fourth season (the action scenes are especially impressive, compared to previous seasons). This is much more obvious in straight-from-the-Blu-ray 1080p. On television artifacts make the backgrounds appear painted. The filters create some edge-enhancement effects that I'm thinking are unavoidable. The contrast between the more graphic-animated character elements and the static, more natural backgrounds is a bit muddier on the DVD release, which loses plenty of the smallest details.
Archer comes fitted with a relatively modest DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that more than adequately fits the bill. The uncompressed quality makes for a cleaner and generally louder experience than the Dolby Digital 5.1 HDTV airings, which are also a bit more muddled. The mixes are usually quite simple and heavily dependent on dialogue and sounds nice and clear. Stereo channel jokes are pretty common, usually when an off-screen character has a sarcastic quip to lob at that on-screen characters. When there is some kind of explosion of sound, it's usually in the form of literal explosions or gunshots (the KGB shootout in episode one is pretty spectacular), though there are a handful of aurally expressive car chases. These exceptions to the rule are plenty clear and expressive in terms of movement, but the effects are usually pretty low in terms of volume. The music is also consistently a bit low on the track for my liking considering the generally cool quality it adds to the action sequences, but the opening and closing titles sound great.
The brief extras are relegated to disc two. These include Fisherman's Daughter (3:30, HD), a short, anime-style cartoon starring Krieger and his computer girlfriend (revealed to have been created by the Doctor and Pam), and Archer Live! (20:00, HD), footage from a live table read/Q&A with fans.
Archer is still a great series and going strong with this fourth season collection. It's difficult to boil the show down to its 'best' season, but there are certainly some classic series moments here. Fox's Blu-ray is sharp and aurally crisp, though there isn't exactly an excess of special features for fans to chomp into. The new (fifth) season is also off to a great start, by the way, so those without a cable television subscription or willingness to buy the episodes in iTunes/Amazon have even more to look forward to.
* Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray and have been resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking the individual images, but due to .jpg compression, they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Existing Posts
Archer is one of the most entertaining series in a long time. One of the very few shows I currently watch on TV.
Season 4 is now showing here and the show hasn't lost any of its ability to make me laugh and laugh! I'll pick this up with Season 3 real soon.
Season 4 is now showing here and the show hasn't lost any of its ability to make me laugh and laugh! I'll pick this up with Season 3 real soon.
Suppressing fire... extinguisher! was one of my favourite gags in the whole series. I also loved the whole non-diegetic sound thing with Carol/Cheryl. Oh, and Krieger's 'Jazz hands!'. So many fantastic lines in this show. The callbacks are especially great.
This product has not been rated
Disc Details
Release Date: 7th January 2014
Discs: 286
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: PAL
Aspect: 1.78:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Extras: Fisherman's Daughter Short, Archer Live!
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Various
Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, George Coe, Amber Nash, Timothy Olyphant,
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation and Comedy
Length: 2 minutes
9Review Guide
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text:
Photographer Boo George puts Sean O'Pry through his paces at London's Kingsway Boxing Club and in the studio for "Kingsway" in the new Man of the World.
+ Sean O'Pry on VGL
+ Boo George on VGL
Model | Sean O'Pry @ VNY
Images | Boo George @ Streeters
Stylist | TBD
Publication | Man of the World #8 | Summer 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Kingsway | Sean O'Pry by Boo George
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Julien Quevenne by Jimmy Backius for Café
Julien Quevenne @Ford Models and photographer Jimmy Backius head to what looks like Old Havana for this editorial featuring relaxed yet elegant menswear for Spring/Summer for Swedish mag, Café.
+ Julien Quevenne on VGL
Model | Julien Quevenne @ Ford
Images | Jimmy Backius @ Cameralink
Stylist | TBD
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Ton Huekels by Bryan Huynh | Metal Magazine
Ton Huekels @ Wilhelmina and Models 1 is featured in this all-Louis Vuitton S/S 2014 special in Metal magazine.
The editorial was photographed by Bryan Huynh and styled by Santi Rodriguez.
+ Ton Huekels on VGL
+ Metal Magazine on VGL
Model | Ton Huekels @ Wilhelmina + Models 1
Images | Bryan Huynh for Metal Magazine
Stylist | Santi Rodriguez
Clothes | Louis Vuitton S/S 2014


text:
Abuse report leads to drug charges for 2 Ind. men
Abuse report leads to drug charges for 2 Ind. men
A report of abuse led to drug charges against two southern Indiana men.
Mark A. Dean, 52, and his brother, 44 year-old Wallace Dean are both facing dozens of charges, including possession of paraphernalia.
Police say they found several hypodermic syringes, pills and a powdered substance at a home on Henry Road.
State troopers were originally called out to the home for a report that an elderly woman was being abused.
As part of the investigation, troopers also arrested 50-year-old Tony Eden on a parole violation.
All three men are in the Jefferson County jail.


text:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100, at first sight, might look like just another point and shoot. But with a newly designed sensor that boasts a robust 20.2 million pixels the RX100 is out to prove it can makes its way to the top of the charts.
- Excellent still image quality
- Good autofocus and shutter lag performance
- Good ISO performance given resolution
- Full manual controls along with fully automatic and RAW shooting format
- Cost
- No external battery charger
- Below average printed user's manual
- RAW converter must be downloaded
Read Our Full Review: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 Review: Simply Amazing


text:
Linked by Mufasa on Tue 13th Jul 2010 15:57 UTC
I read David's post worrying about the end of the free internet and I had to respond, as I strongly disagree that free and advertising-supported content is the future. If anything, it is advertising-supported content that is destined to be a niche strategy, because of new internet technology that enables entirely new models and empowers consumers to have exactly what they want. Advertising will not support much content creation, so I suggest what will.


text:
- Premier League
Klopp tells United Dortmund bond is 'unbreakable'
Borussia Dortmund are ready to reject any approach from Manchester United for their manager Juergen Klopp.
The coveted manager will stay at the club "until 2018 - no ifs and buts", they insisted to ESPN after David Moyes was sacked on Tuesday.
Similarly, Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola also laughed off speculation when asked about the United job ahead of his side's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
The managers to restore United's pride
- Borussia Dortmund may be confident of keeping Jurgen Klopp as their manager but their resolve may well be tested by Manchester United. The German is among the front runners to replace David Moyes at Old Trafford with Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs also contenders.
- Find out why Klopp would be a popular choice among fans and in the United boardroom here
But Klopp, clearly flattered by the reported interest from United, has also claimed he would not break the contract he has at Dortmund which has four years to run.
He told The Guardian: "United are a great club and I feel very familiar with their wonderful fans. But my commitment to Borussia Dortmund and the people is not breakable."
On Monday, when news emerged that Moyes was about to be sacked, Klopp was linked as a priority target for those in charge at Old Trafford.
The Bundesliga club are adamant that he is going nowhere. "Juergen Klopp already dismissed rumours linking him to Barcelona on our official homepage on Saturday. He will stay until 2018 - no ifs and buts," Dortmund director of communications Sascha Fligge told ESPN on Tuesday morning.
Klopp, who has also been named a possible Gerardo Martino replacement at the Nou Camp, was quoted as saying: "No one needs to worry. We are all still a bit in love with this club and the way things are handled here."
The former FSV Mainz coach extended his contract until 2018 in October, and, at the weekend, guided Dortmund to qualification for the Champions League for the fourth successive season, a feat unprecedented in the club's history.
Before renewing his deal at Dortmund, Klopp was linked to the United job as a possible successor for Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 and for Moyes, once his grip on power at Old Trafford started to look tenuous and another successful season at Dortmund revived interest in the 46 year old.
However, Borussia Dortmund are bullish about holding their manager to his contract. "We've already had this last year, but that's final, even if some people don't want to believe it," Fligge said.


text:
Getting Started With SharePoint Web Services
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SharePoint supports interoperability and remote operations through a set of web services, and by SharePoint I am referring to WSS 3.0 (Windows SharePoint Services) and MOSS 2007 (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server). There are number of approaches for programmatic access to SharePoint, such as the object model, web services, RPC over HTTP, as well as WebDAV, all of which have their benefits and their place depending on the needs of the application. The SharePoint RPC protocols can be useful and powerful and it certainly has its strengths, especially when it comes to adding content. The object model is much more robust and feature rich than the web services, but it does not offer support for remote operations, so in order to leverage the object model your code must be running on the SharePoint server, and you must be writing .NET code in order to leverage it. There are a number of different reasons for working with SharePoint data remotely, be it administrative scripts or the need to work with SharePoint content such as tasks in an application running on a client machine, or non-SharePoint applications in the enterprise. The SharePoint web services are built on top of the object model and expose a subset of features available in the object model, and allow for remote operations and the use of any language and platform that supports the consumption of web services. For most tasks the web services that ship in SharePoint are adequate, but you may find needed operations in the object model that have not been surfaced in the web services, which will require extending the web services with a custom web service implementation. In this article we will take a look at the web services available in WSS3 and MOSS 2007 out of the box, and how to consume them from Java and .NET.
Web Services Architecture Overview
I will not go in to the detailed differences between the WSS and MOSS, as there are a number of articles that do a very good job explaining this, only as needed and where related to the web services. Keep in mind that MOSS 2007 is built on top of WSS 3.0, which is also built on top of ASP.NET 2.0 and runs in IIS (Internet Information Server). A solid understanding of IIS and ASP.NET is important, and go long way in working with and understanding SharePoint. A majority of the SharePoint web services we will discuss are included in WSS 3.0, but there are a few additional ones that are included in MOSS 2007 to leverage the additional features that ship with it, such as the more advanced enterprise search features.
The SharePoint web services are implemented in ASP.NET Web Services (ASMX), and you will find the physical files for most of these web services in the "Microsoft Shared" directory under "web server extensions\12\ISAPI" typically located at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\ISAPI". The admin web service for the Central Administration tool is located in the ADMISAPI folder for which the central administration console contains a virtual directory named "_vti_adm". When a SharePoint site is created it will contain a virtual directory named "_vti_bin" that points to this location. IIS does not contain any application or virtual directories for subwebs, they do however contain mapping to the _vti_bin virtual directory through SharePoint metadata and HttpModules.
For each service you will find a *.wsdl.aspx file that generates the service WSDL (Web Services Description Language), a *.disco.aspx providing the service discovery implementation, and the actual *.asmx endpoint files, most of which simply contain a page directive referencing the SharePoint assembly and type containing the actual implementation for the service.
|Service File Type
|*.wsdl.aspx (search.wsdl.aspx)
|File that generates the WSDL (Web Services Description Language) in SharePoint
|*.disco.aspx (seach.disco.aspx)
|File that provides the discovery implementation
|*.asmx (search.asmx)
|Web services endpoint, most of which contain a page directive referencing the SharePoint assembly and type containing the actual implementation for the service
Out of the Box Services
There are a number of web services implemented OOTB (out of the box) in SharePoint that will address most of the common and basic tasks, from administrative tasks to search and working with list data, and much more. Below is a listing of the SharePoint web services with an overview of the functionality exposed for your reference. A simple expanded list like this helps me in working with the web services giving me a quick view of the overall services and methods available.
|Administrative methods for creating deleting sites and retrieving languages used in the deployment
|Alerts (Alerts.asmx)
|Methods for working with SharePoint list item alerts
|Authentication (Authentication.asmx)
|Client proxy that provides user authentication for sites that use forms-based authentication
|Copy (Copy.asmx)
|Methods to copy files between or within sites
|Document Workspace (Dws.asmx)
| Methods for managing Document Workspace sites and data
|Forms (Forms.asmx)
| Methods for returning forms that are used in the user interface when working with the contents of a list
|Imaging (Imaging.asmx)
| Methods to create and manager picture libraries
|List Data Retrieval (DspSts.asmx)
|Perform queries against sites and list in SharePoint
|Lists (Lists.asmx)
|Methods for working with Lists and List Data
| Create and manage Meeting Workspace Sites
|Resolve and find Principals
|Permissions (Permissions.asmx)
| Methods for working with permissions for a site or list
|Directory Management(sharepointemailws.asmx)
| Methods for managing Active Directory e-mail distribution groups and their memberships
|Site Data (SiteData.asmx)
|Methods that return metadata or list data from sites or lists
|Methods for returning information about the collection or site template
|Methods for searching via search services
|Users & Groups(usergroup.asmx)
|Methods for working with users role definitions and groups
|Versions (Versions.asmx)
| Methods for working with file versions
|Methods for working with list views
|Web Part Pages(WebPartPages.asmx)
|Methods for working with Web Part Pages
|Methods for working with sites and subsites
|MOSS Search (Search.asmx)
|Methods for searching via MOSS (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server) Search services, which also includes a method to retrieve the managed search properties
Consuming the Query Services
Now that we have an understanding of the SharePoint web services, there is nothing like kicking the tires and taking a ride after reading through the owner's manual. We don't have time here to dive deep in to all of the web services, and will save the others for the next article. For some reason a number of the web services in SharePoint either take or return an XML Node or an XML encoded string, and unfortunately without a typed schema the tools are unable to infer what this should be and generate those nice proxy objects for us. I have seen a number of implementations using string formatting with the web services to address the lack of a typed schema, and have searched long and far for a schema that describes the XML passed and returned from these services. I ended up creating queryresponse.xsd which was inferred from a combination of the documentation and the xml passed in and out of these services, allowing me to generate the class representation using xsd.exe for .NET users and JAXB for java users.
Note: There are two different search web services, as discussed previously, search.asmx for MOSS and spsearch.asmx for WSS. These services are very similar in their schema, but attempting to call spsearch.asmx on a machine running MOSS will throw an exception due to the fact that the WSS indexing and query services have been disabled in favor of the more advanced search features in MOSS.
Example using .NET
Consuming the SharePoint web services from .NET is rather simple and straight forward, you simply need to add a web reference and use the generated proxy. We will add a step to leverage the XSD we created to generate a set of classes representing a query and response that we will use to serialize the XML sent and deserilize the XML returned.
Configure Visual Studio 2005 to add XSD.exe to the menu
Visual studio includes a tool called XSD.exe that can be used to generate .NET types from an XSD. This is however a command line tool and I like to add a menu option to visual studio to do this from the IDE. If you have already done this or have some other add-in to do something similar you can skip this step.
- Open the "External Tools" Dialog in the Visual Studio "Tools" menu
- Click "Add"
- Set the necessary properties and click "Ok"
|XSD >> CSharp
|C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\SDK\v2.0\Bin\xsd.exe
|$(ItemPath) /c
|Initial Directory
|Use Output Window
Download the XSD files
Download the XSD files from here which will be used to generate the proxy classes used to serialize and de-serialize the search requests and responses. Unpack the downloaded file to a working directory; this file contains the XSD along with the completed project.
Create a Project and Generate a .NET type from the XSD Now that we have the XSD we will create a Windows Forms project and generate a .NET type form the downloaded XSD. After opening up Microsft.Search.Query.xsd, go to the tools menu and select the XSD menu item that we created in the previous step to generate the Microsoft_Search_Query.cs file.
Add a web reference
We are going to start by adding a web reference to the search web service, by right-clicking on the "references" node for our project in the "solution explorer" window. There we will select "Add Web Reference", enter "http://<server_name>/_vti_bin/spsearch.asmx" in the URL textbox and then click "Go". You may be prompted to login to the SharePoint server and you should now have a list of Methods supported by this service. Add "SPSearch" for the "Web Reference Name" and click "Add Reference".
Subclass the generate proxy
To simplify things even further, we will subclass the generated proxy with our own so that we can wrap the QueryService to hide the validation, serialization, and de-serialization of the XML passed and returned in the Query method using our class we generated from the XSD.
Create the application to call the service
Now we simply instantiate a query class and QueryService class, and then pass the query object to the Query method on the QueryService class.
SPSearch.QueryService search = new SPSearch.QueryService();
Microsoft_Query_Request request = new Microsoft_Query_Request();
Example using Java
Consuming the SharePoint web services from Java is not much different, the fundamental steps are the same, generate our class from the provided XSD, generate a web services proxy, and build the application. Most of the challenges you will face in consuming SharePoint web services from java are with authentication and the use of DataSet's in the SharePoint web services. There are a number of Java IDEs available to simplify working with web services, but since I primarily work with .NET these days I will show an example using the SDK and in this case leave the choosing of an IDE to you.
Note: This example was built and tested using J2SE 6.0 Update 3
Java SharePoint Sample Project Directory and Root Files
The full project and generated files are included along with couple of batch files to build and run the sample. You will need to modify "xjc-build.bat" and "build-run.bat" with the home directory for your JDK bin folder to run this, and edit wsspsample/Main.java with your server settings (endpoint, username, and password) before building and running.
Import the Service WSDL
I start by retrieving the WSDL from my SharePoint server to my development machine for a couple reasons. We will need to modify any WSDL that uses ADO.NET Data Sets, so as to work properly with the tools. Also, access to the WSDL on the SharePoint server typically requires authentication and the Java generated proxy requires the WSDL in the constructor, making authentication a bit of problem for me.
Retrieve the Search WSDL
For Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 search service open up Internet Explorer and navigate to Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. then from File|Save As..., save the page to the working directory as spsearch.wsdl. If you are working with MOSS 2007 then you will use Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Modify the Search WSDL
The QueryEx method as well as the MOSS 2007 GetSearchMetaData method returns ADO.NET Data Sets. An ADO.NET Data Set is dynamically bound and is represented in WSDL with a cyclic reference to the WSDL schema attribute, which causes some problems for us with the JAXB wsimport tool. I found some workarounds that worked well with previous versions of the Java JDK, but these did not work with the version I was using. Instead I chose to modify the WSDL as follows by opening it up in notepad and searching for instances of "s:schema" to modify where it was used as a ref in a schema "element" element, and remove the cyclic reference and leaving the schema "any" element.
<s:element ref="s:schema"/>
Was change to the following:
<s:any minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
Import the WSDL
Now that we have our WSDL locally and it has been modified, we can use JAXB wsimport.exe tool to generate the proxy classes.
wsimport -p wsspsample.webref.spsearch -keep spsearch.wsdl
wsimport -p wsspsample.webref.search -keep search.wsdl
We use the -keep flag with the import to keep the java code so that we can tweak the generated code for our application. The tools generate code with an absolute path, so if you are planning on moving the application to a different directory and storing the WSDL with the application we will need to modify "webref\search\QueryService.java" url and build it ourselves. To do this we simply remove the absolute path to the WSDL and use a relative path instead.
url = new URL("file:search.wsdl");
Generate Request Response Classes
To generate the Request and Response classes you are going to need to use the four "Microsoft.Search" XSDs that I have created and the JAXB xjc.exe tool. In the following we simply suppress generation of package level annotation and specify a target package, and the tool creates our classes for us.
xjc -npa -p wsspsample.xom.query -d . Microsoft.Search.Query.xsd
xjc -npa -p wsspsample.xom.response -d . Microsoft.Search.Response.xsd
Use the Generated Classes
We have an class representation of the Query and Response packets passed to and returned form the QueryService Query method, as well as a Query service proxy. Now it's time to put that to use in an application. The first thing we need to do is create a QueryService instance, the constructor for this object will go and retrieve the local copy of our WSDL and load settings. From the QueryService instance we retrieve a QueryServiceSoap instance via the getQueryServiceSoap method. Note that you will need to hang on to and use the QueryServiceSoap reference as we do with the qsp variable, since the getQueryServiceSoap method seems to return a new instance. We can then modify the endpoint address here to something other than what is contained in the WSDL to make our application more dynamic allowing it to connect to other SharePoint sites and SubSites other than that set in the WSDL.
QueryService qs = new QueryService();
QueryServiceSoap qsp = qs.getQueryServiceSoap();
BindingProvider bp = (BindingProvider)qsp;
//bp.getRequestContext().put(BindingProvider.USERNAME_PROPERTY, "Administrator");
//bp.getRequestContext().put(BindingProvider.PASSWORD_PROPERTY, "pass@word1");
Now we create methods to serialize the query and deserlialize the response packets.
public static String SerializeQuery(QueryPacket qp)
JAXBContext jc =JAXBContext.newInstance("wsspsample.xom.query");
Marshaller ma = jc.createMarshaller();
ByteArrayOutputStream os = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
ma.marshal(qp, os);
return os.toString();
catch(JAXBException ex)
return "";
public static ResponsePacket DeserializeResponse(String s)
JAXBContext jc = JAXBContext.newInstance("wsspsample.xom.response");
Unmarshaller um = jc.createUnmarshaller();
StreamSource source = new StreamSource(new StringReader(s));
return (ResponsePacket)um.unmarshal(source);
catch (JAXBException ex)
return new ResponsePacket();
From here we simply create a QueryPacket and necessary classes, set our values and call the service.
// Create a Search Query Packet Object
QueryPacket qp = new QueryPacket();
QueryType qt = new QueryType();
ContextType ct = new ContextType();
QueryTextType ctt = new QueryTextType();
// Set search values
ctt.setType("STRING"); //This is the default - not necessary
ctt.setLanguage("en-us"); //This is the default - not necessary
// Call the web service query
String sResponse = qsp.query(SerializeQuery(qp));
// Deserialize the response
ResponsePacket resp = DeserializeResponse(sResponse);
Build and Run the Application
We have our generated web services proxy and object model for query request and response, as well as the application that leverages them, now we simply need to cross our fingers, build, run, and test this. You will need a SharePoint server setup and will want to set the correct endpoint address used in Main.java to your test SharePoint server as well as the credentials if necessary.
References and Links
Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Web Services Reference.
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does Sharepoint support WSRP ? since I'd found any official resources about sharepoint interop through WSRP.
Java Sample Code Missing
Steve Reynolds
XSD files
Garth Sweet
In the article you mention under the "Download the XSD files" section that we can "Download the XSD files from <here>...." but <here> isn't actually a link to anything. Can you point me to the XSD files?
Re: Java Sample Code Missing
Diana Baciu
I've just added the download link.
Re: XSD files
Diana Baciu
I've added a link for the zip file containing the XSD files
NTLM Authentication
Steve Reynolds
Thanks for posting the code. I have been trying to connect to the SharePoint Search Web Service via Axis2, but can not get it to work with NTLM Authentication. I am getting a similar error with your method: Exception in thread "main" com.sun.xml.internal.ws.client.ClientTransportException: request requires HTTP authentication: Unauthorized
I was wondering if any has tried this with NTLM Authentication. The SharePoint server I am connecting to has Basic Authentication turned off because it sends the credentials in plain text. Note: I provided a valid administrator username and password in Main.java. Looking at the BindingProvider API, I don't see any other properties that I need to provide. I'm out of ideas.
Re: XSD files
tamer morsi
The xsd.zip file; the article says: this file contains the XSD along with the completed project.
but there are no other files in the xsd.zip,
are their any missing files ?
thanks again
Re: NTLM Authentication
tamer morsi
check out:
// Setup Authentication parameters
String username = "Derek.Miller";
String password = "mypassword";
String host = "moss.syddev01.mymachine.com";
// NOTE: Important to ensure fully qualified domain name is used
String domain = "syddev01";
String realm = "syddev01";
int port = 80;
// Configure authenticator
HttpTransportProperties.Authenticator auth =
new HttpTransportProperties.Authenticator();
// Ensure NTLM authentication used
List authPrefs = new ArrayList(1);
// Get stub
ListsStub lists =
new ListsStub("http://moss.syddev01.mymachine.com/_vti_bin/Lists.asmx");
// Set authenticator
(org.apache.axis2.transport.http.HTTPConstants.AUTHENTICATE, auth);
// Get request and execute
GetListCollection req = new GetListCollection();
GetListCollectionResponse res = lists.GetListCollection(req);
DisplayResult(req, res);
Re: XSD files
Floyd Marinescu
Re: XSD files
tamer morsi
This class is different from the generated xsd classes & is a wrapper class that the author refers to & the author says it is included in the xsd zip file ...
though i maybe wrong on this;
either way thnks
Re: XSD files
aladin sohaili
Thanks for the Article and for the different posts.
i modified the absolute path for the WSDL,and i modified the Main.java to point to my sharepoint server and to use the correct credentials.
i'm trying to run the code, i'm having this exception:
com.sun.xml.ws.client.ClientTransportException: request requires HTTP authentication: Unauthorized
at com.sun.xml.ws.transport.http.client.HttpClientTransport.checkResponseCode(HttpClientTransport.java:212)
at com.sun.xml.ws.transport.http.client.HttpTransportPipe.process(HttpTransportPipe.java:149)
at com.sun.xml.wss.jaxws.impl.SecurityClientPipe.process(SecurityClientPipe.java:208)
at com.sun.xml.ws.api.pipe.helper.PipeAdapter.processRequest(PipeAdapter.java:115)
at com.sun.xml.ws.api.pipe.Fiber.__doRun(Fiber.java:595)
at com.sun.xml.ws.api.pipe.Fiber._doRun(Fiber.java:554)
at com.sun.xml.ws.api.pipe.Fiber.doRun(Fiber.java:539)
at com.sun.xml.ws.api.pipe.Fiber.runSync(Fiber.java:436)
at com.sun.xml.ws.client.Stub.process(Stub.java:248)
Thanks a lot for the help.
Re: NTLM Authentication
Kathryn Steel
I can get basic-authentication working but we need to get at least basic authentication with SSL or NTLM working.
For SSL I get an
java.lang.RuntimeException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Which suggest an object not populated that .NET is expecting.
I changed the URLS to be https:// for the ListsStub()
Authenticator auth = new Authenticator();
ArrayList authSchemes = new ArrayList();
copyStub._getServiceClient().getOptions().setProperty(HTTPConstants.AUTHENTICATE, auth);
With NTLM I get Unable to respond to any of these challenges: {basic=Basic realm="melwwsinr08-basicauth"}
org.apache.axis2.AxisFault: Transport error: 401 Error: Unauthorized
HttpTransportProperties.Authenticator auth = new HttpTransportProperties.Authenticator();
// Ensure NTLM authentication used
List authPrefs = new ArrayList(1);
copyStub._getServiceClient().getOptions().setProperty(HTTPConstants.AUTHENTICATE, auth);
Has anyone got working for SSL or can help further with NTLM ?
Re: NTLM Authentication
Kathryn Steel
System.setProperty("javax.net.ssl.keyStore", "c:/client.keystore");
System.setProperty("javax.net.ssl.keyStorePassword", "test12");
System.setProperty("javax.net.ssl.keyStoreType", "JKS"); // JKS or PKCS12 ?
System.setProperty("javax.net.ssl.trustStore", "c:/client.keystore");
System.setProperty("javax.net.ssl.trustStorePassword", "test12");
System.setProperty("javax.net.ssl.trustStoreType", "JKS"); // JKS or PKCS12 ?
System.setProperty("javax.net.debug", "ssl");
And I can see the SSL debug happenning and the application data content type 23 going over the wire encrypted but it gets an error. as I said saying Object reference not set to an instance of object coming back.
Re: NTLM Authentication
Ken Nagel
Did you ever get your answer? My guys are stuck here as well, and cannot get through NTLMV2 auth
Re: NTLM Authentication
Dilip Kumar Aerroju
permissionsStub._getServiceClient().getOptions().setProperty(org.apache.axis2.transport.http.HTTPConstants.AUTHENTICATE, auth);
GetPermissionCollection req1 = new GetPermissionCollection ();
GetPermissionCollectionResponse res1 = PermissionsStub.GetPermissionCollection(req1);
UserGroupStub groupStub = new UserGroupStub("http://apstra-87lg198t:44894/_vti_bin/usergroup.asmx");
groupStub._getServiceClient().getOptions().setProperty(org.apache.axis2.transport.http.HTTPConstants.AUTHENTICATE, auth);
GetRoleCollectionFromUser collectionFromUser = new GetRoleCollectionFromUser();
GetRoleCollectionFromUserResponse collectionFromUserResponse = groupStub.GetRoleCollectionFromUser(collectionFromUser);
my problem is that very time authenticate for permission and userinfo. is there any way authenticate only once
Re: XSD files
ian smith
org.apache.axis2.AxisFault: Transport error: 401 Error: Unauthorized
Stefaan Somers
There are 2 important questions I have :
- how can I check which authentication mechanism is used (NTLM or BASIC)
- can I get a more clear response, indicating me where the problem lies. Unauthorized is a bit too general. Moreover with the same user-name & password I can open the sharepoint URL for the list webservices.
If anyone wants I can send the jar-file so he can try out for himself. I create a test-sharepoint side, where you can work on.
Any help would be most welcome
Re: XSD files
HariKrishna Maharshi
Also, can you explain, how these XSD files were generated? Or can we get them from sharepoint server?
I wanted to interact with remaining services from the sharepoint server (from java).
Re: XSD files
HariKrishna Maharshi
Re: XSD files
Markus Schmidt
I had the same problem and solved it by enabling Basic Authentication for the WebApplication in the central administration (Application Management -> Authentication Providers).
Hope that helps,
Re: XSD files
Peter Trein
This code:
BindingProvider bp = (BindingProvider)qsp;
//bp.getRequestContext().put(BindingProvider.USERNAME_PROPERTY, "Administrator");
//bp.getRequestContext().put(BindingProvider.PASSWORD_PROPERTY, "pass@word1");
doesn't work with ListsSoap.:/ I get error 401.
Anyone can help?
Re: XSD files
David Dudok de Wit
Reading a SharePoint list with Java: tutorial.
Basically the workaround to a lot of authentication problems (NTLM, SSL, ...) is to use a local copy of the WSDL file to generate stubs (just save it from your browser). After that, the Web Services just use a simple login/password problem.
I hope this helps.
David D.
Re: org.apache.axis2.AxisFault: Transport error: 401 Error: Unauthorized
Peter Trein
NTLM authentication fails with org.apache.axis2.AxisFault: Transport error: 401 Error: Unathorized.
The question is: I have a user in a domain DOMAIN\user and the server is on port 8888. how to put it in the code because I believe this is a source of the problem?
My code:
import java.rmi.RemoteException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import com.microsoft.schemas.sharepoint.soap.*;
import org.apache.axis2.AxisFault;
import org.apache.axis2.Constants;
import org.apache.axis2.client.Options;
import org.apache.axis2.transport.http.HTTPConstants;
import org.apache.axis2.transport.http.HttpTransportProperties;
import org.apache.commons.httpclient.auth.AuthPolicy;
public class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
HttpTransportProperties.Authenticator auth = new HttpTransportProperties.Authenticator();
auth.setUsername ("user");
auth.setPassword ("pass");
auth.setDomain ("DOMAIN");
List<String> authPrefs = new ArrayList<String>(1);
ListsStub lists;
try {
lists = new ListsStub();
lists._getServiceClient ().getOptions().setProperty (HTTPConstants.AUTHENTICATE, auth);
Options options = lists._getServiceClient().getOptions();
ListsStub.GetListCollection req = new ListsStub.GetListCollection();
ListsStub.GetListCollectionResponse res;
res = lists.GetListCollection (req);
} catch (AxisFault e) {
} catch (RemoteException e) {
Re: XSD files
Peter Trein
indeed you made some good job. Right now I'm having the problems as described in the post from yesterday. I will try with your new tutorial. Maybe it will work.
Re: QueryOptions
Leonid Sokolin
I need to get a list of subfolders and it is apparently possible, if Folder option is specified as follows:
I am not sure though how to assign this value to GetListItems.QueryOptions.
blue fish
I'm also struggling with java and sharepoint search/query service, unable to get any query to work.
I've dl the source, modified Main.java to point to our sharepoint server search.asmx/spsearch.asmx. Initially I got error 401, since our server only have windows authentication enabled; so I just enabled Basic auth, just for test purpose; I get response below.
Server Status: ONLINE
Response Status: ERROR_NO_RESPONSE
any help is greatly appreciated
Re: ERROR_NO_RESPONSE
blue fish
also, how to get .xsd files (from java environment)?
I can only get wsdl file from sharepoint server.
bp.getRequestContext().put(BindingProvider.ENDPOINT_ADDRESS_PROPERTY, "http://myserver/_vti_bin/search.asmx"); //okay, got result
// bp.getRequestContext().put(BindingProvider.ENDPOINT_ADDRESS_PROPERTY, "http://myserver/_vti_bin/spsearch.asmx"); //Server Status: ONLINE Response Status: ERROR_NO_RESPONSE


text:
Fourteen tagged fish worth $200-$300 caught in Kansas so far
PRATT — Cabela's and Wanna Go Fishing TV have tagged hundreds of fish in lakes near select Cabela's retail stores, including several in Kansas, and as of mid-June, 14 of these fish have been caught in the Sunflower State.
While Cabela's has not released the last names of winners yet, first names of anglers and the reservoirs where they have caught tagged fish include Elijah R., Kanopolis; Ron M., Cheney; Ralph A., Kanopolis; Bruce W., Glen Elder; Donnie A., El Dorado; Wade J., Glen Elder; Robert H., Kanopolis; Jeff H., Glen Elder; Monte N., Kanopolis; Anh H., Cheney; Gary D., Kanopolis; Tuan T., Cheney; Jerry P., Kanopolis; and Dennis H., Milford. These tagged fish have been worth various prizes worth $200 to $300.
To view winners in other states and to keep abreast of new winners in Kansas, go online to contest.wannagofishing.com/cabelas/fish/winners.
Only anglers registered for the contest are eligible for prizes, but by catching the grand-prize tagged fish while using an Abu Garcia reel spooled with Berkley line, anglers can double the winnings. Catch the grand prize fish while sporting Costa sunglasses or Sperry Top-Sider shoes, and you can increase the prize package by $100,000. By using all of the equipment, and catching the grand-prize tagged fish, the package more than doubles from $1 million to $2.2 million. The 50th tag redeemed will win a $10,000 Cabela's shopping spree that can be redeemed in a store or online.
Full contest details are available at www.cabelas.com/fishformillions or at any Cabela's retail store. Anglers need to pre-register on the website and hit their local lakes between May 14 and July 14 for their chance at millions.
Tagged fish have been released in Milford, Glen Elder, Cheney, Cedar Bluff, Hillsdale, Clinton, Kanopolis, and El Dorado reservoirs. All prize winners will be announced online after July 14.


text:
MILAN (AP) — Sophia Loren wore green silk and sunglasses for her date with the taxman, Luciano Pavarotti a suit and sneakers. Diego Maradona gave up his diamond stud earring to pay off a tax debt.
Some of Italy's most well-heeled residents have come under the glare of successive governments who have declared wars on tax evasion, yet it remains a perennial problem for the debt-laden nation. On Wednesday, it was the turn of designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who were convicted of failing to declare 200 million euros ($268 million).
Former Premier Silvio Berlusconi declared a tax amnesty in 2009, repatriating billions at a negligible penalty of 5 percent. He, too, has been caught up in the crackdown: Last year the billionaire media mogul was convicted of tax fraud related to his media business, a charge he denies.
His successor, Premier Mario Monti, dispatched tax police to resorts to ensure that receipts were being properly issued and income declared. While hiding income abroad may suit the jet-set, a more widely practiced and insidious form of evasion in Italy is the failure to issue receipts for anything from handy work to private medical visits to a cup of espresso.
By some estimates, as much as 20 percent of Italy's GDP is lost to tax evasion — a sum that if recouped would help Italy pay down its 2 trillion euro debt.
Here's a look at some of the biggest names in the dragnet:
A Milan court on Wednesday convicted Dolce and Gabbana of tax evasion for failing to declare 200 million euros ($268 million) through a Luxembourg company to Italian authorities. They received a one year and eight months suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay a penalty of 500,000 euros (about $670,000) to tax authorities.
The court, however, acquitted them of misrepresenting income of 416 million euros (around $560 million) each, ruling that no crime had been committed.
The designers have denied the charges, and the defense has pledged to appeal the ruling.
Berlusconi was convicted last fall of tax fraud in the purchase of rights to broadcast U.S. movies on his private TV network. An appeals court in May upheld the conviction, four-year jail term and five year ban on public office.
Berlusconi has contested the convictions, and called the judicial reasoning for the appeal "surreal."
The appellate court said there was "conclusive evidence, oral and documented, that Berlusconi directly managed ... an enormous tax evasion through off-shore companies."
Berlusconi's defense is planning to appeal to the country's highest court.
They lost a separate challenge at the constitutional court level Wednesday that could have caused the trial and appellate court sentences to collapse. That court rejected a defense argument that the trial court judge had improperly gone ahead with scheduled testimony on a day then-Premier Berlusconi had a Cabinet meeting in Rome. It noted he had previously indicated to the trial court his availability.
Soccer star Diego Maradona sold a diamond earring to help pay off his 37 million euro tax bill to Italy. Valued at 5,500 euros, it netted 25,000 euros at a 2010 auction.
Maradona's Italian debts stem from unpaid taxes during the time he played for Napoli from 1984-91.
The Equitalia tax collection agency said the auction take was a drop in the bucket — but sent a message that even celebrities had to pay taxes.
Seven-time motorcycling world champion Valentino Rossi was snagged by tax authorities who monitored his comings and goings to Italy. He had declared his tax home in London, but ran afoul of the tax man when his presence in Italy exceeded the foreign resident test.
Rossi, then Italy's highest paid athlete, paid about 19 million euros in 2008 to settle the dispute with tax authorities, who accused him of not declaring earnings of 60 million euros from 2000-2004.
After reaching the settlement, Rossi said he had decided to live in Italy again.
"London is a very interesting city, but spending more time with my family and my friends has become of greater importance considering all my affairs around the world," Rossi said.
Luciano Pavarotti wore a pinstripe suit over black sneakers for his reckoning with the Italian tax man.
The tenor showed up in person at the Finance Ministry in 2000 to seal an agreement to pay nearly 25 billion lire (around $12 million) to the Italian state after unsuccessfully claiming that the tax haven of Monte Carlo, rather than Italy, was his official residence.
"I cannot live being thought not a good person," Pavarotti told reporters at the time.
Pavarotti, who died in 2007, always denied wrongdoing, and insisted he paid taxes where ever he performed.
"It's very difficult to explain the life of one who travels the world, and who every year visits 50 different cities," he said at the time.
Oscar-winning actress Sophia Loren spent 17 days in prison in 1982 for tax evasion.
An Italian court convicted Loren in 1980 of filing an incorrect tax return for 1970, understating her earnings by 5 million lire, then worth about $7,000. Loren at the time was residing abroad.
Loren decided later to return to Italy to serve the sentence, and was arrested upon landing at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport from Geneva. Fans and fellow inmates at the prison north of Naples cheered Loren as guards ushered into a small pink cell. The 47-year-old movie star wore a green silk dress and tinted glasses.


text:
BRUSSELS (AP) — If an unprecedented debt crisis has been battering the European Union for over three years, isn't it time that EU employees take a sizeable pay cut too?
That was a popular question Thursday as thousands of well-paid and much-maligned workers known as "eurocrats" walked off the job and threatened more strikes later in the month.
At first glance, the question could be asked why it has taken this long to start talking about reining in jobs and pay at EU headquarters.
"The right to strike is a right. But for us, we only see the crisis and a crash in business," said cabdriver Khalid Eluahabi, who found himself waiting far too long near EU headquarters to pick up a fare.
With European companies shedding jobs by the tens of thousands, unemployment lines growing ever longer and millions pushed towards the brink of poverty, the 27-nation EU is facing an unprecedented crisis.
The EU's answer so far has been to impose strict budgetary austerity, a requirement that often forces debt-laden nations to lay off public workers and cut the pay of those who remain.
Those going on strike Thursday said they fear that plans for EU budget cuts will reduce EU staffing and compromise their pay. They also see themselves as part of the solution for Europe's problems and say job cuts would hurt many programs that are good for Europe.
To outsiders, however, it seems that EU personnel have no interest in swallowing their own medicine.
At noon, about 1,000 EU civil servants congregated under the star-shaped headquarters of the EU Commission to push their demands.
But even within the European Commission, there were doubts whether striking was the right move. Up to half of the staff declined to take part Thursday.
"The strike is not at the right moment. In southern Europe, we have people struggling," said Ioannis Sakiotis, a Greek at the EU Commission's fisheries department who was thinking of the deep misery the debt crisis has caused back home. "All working people face a lot of problems."
The trade unions are wary of the Nov. 22-23 summit of EU leaders, which was called to set spending limits for the EU institutions through the year 2020. The unions fear that budget cuts will affect staffing and leave key programs without sufficient personnel. They are considering staging a strike during the summit, too.
Even an EU stalwart like Germany is seeking to keep a lid on its contributions — let alone a euroskeptic country like Britain, where Prime Minister David Cameron is demanding immediate action on EU staff costs.
"There are 16 percent of employees in the European Commission who earn over €100,000," Cameron said at the last summit, noting that Britain has already made sharp government cuts.
Allegations of a bloated EU administration in Brussels have a history of political success in Britain. The Eurosceptic UKIP party — or United Kingdom Independence Party — would like Britain to pull out of the EU altogether and happily found fodder in Thursday's strike.
"The eurocrat axiom seems to be, 'Cream for us, austerity is for the taxpaying plebs,'" UKIP leader Nigel Farage said. "The eurocrat sense of entitlement for money and power is frightening."
USF trade union President Sylvie Jacobs said that even though EU pay for lower-scale jobs is more than in the private sector, other EU pay scales are largely comparable with those from private multinational companies.
Bloated staffing is also in the eye of the beholder.
The European Commission employs 38,000 people, with the European Parliament adding 6,000 and the Council 3,500. They run the EU administration of everything from international trade to antitrust cases and the bloc's vast farm and fisheries policies, among many other issues.
On Thursday, even on a strike day, the EU started a big international trade case against China, chided Israel over its settlement policy and issued several court rulings.
EU personnel include everyone from commissioners to computer experts to cooks — and an army of translators for the bloc's 23 official languages.
By comparison, Britain's civil service counts some 464,000 people. Overall, Britain's public sector employs roughly 5.9 million people — a figure that includes local government employees such as school teachers, police, doctors and nurses.
Even though the timing of the strike was criticized, many people upheld the right to go on strike. That is deeply engrained in European society, where the much-vaunted welfare state has been built partly on the power of workers' willingness to shut down factories and let the streets do the talking to gain concessions that eventually provided a high standard of living.
"In a lot of countries now, they take to the streets to demand what they want," said Sofia Koller, a 22-year-old German student. "They have every right to make people listen."
On Thursday, though, that posed a problem for EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani, a non-striker who found himself without translators when he had to explain the car industry to journalists.
"No Italian today. I apologize," he said.
Raphael Satter in London contributed to this report.


text:
Historical Society Press
If you want to learn about Wisconsin history, the Wisconsin Historical Society Press is your best source. The Society's strong tradition of making good history broadly accessible began in 1855, when it became the state's first book publisher with the publication of WHS's First Annual Report and Collections. Whether you're looking for an analysis of the Progressive Era, or the history of the U.S. Constitution's ratification; a survey of Wisconsin recipes and ethnic traditions, or a guide to Madeline Island and the Chequamegon region; the Society Press offers it all.
The year 2005 marks the 150th anniversary of the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. With that first volume, the Press began its commitment to connecting the people of Wisconsin and the Midwest with their past while illuminating the importance of history in the present. In recent years the WHS Press has concentrated on creating books that appeal to a wider and more varied audience: lively narratives about interesting people and events; fresh and engaging explorations of well-worn topics; stories that speak to our regional community but also reach across borders to new readers.