text:
They hit us at precisely 8:41 p.m, just a few miles west of Saco, and they hit us hard.
Not that we didn't feel it coming. From the time we'd left Glasgow, stuffed on ribeye steaks and baked potatoes, we'd felt the wrongness. Both of us had.
"Stay sharp," Jack Hill advised from his shotgun seat, his eyes scanning the horizon. At that moment, there was still a bit of horizon to scan, after sundown but not quite pitch black yet.
"Ngh," I grunted. "You feel it, too?"
My question wasn't really a question. After a moment, thinking it over, I kicked the big Ford dually out of cruise control and eased back from the 67 mph we'd been running to a foot-steady 55. Which might not seem like such a big deal, but it most likely saved our lives.
Although it didn't go down for nearly another hour after that, an hour in which night had truly fallen. It was the dark of the moon, a time of the month that always brings to mind the old C.W. McCall song lyric from his hit tune, Convoy.
Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June
In a Kenworth pullin' logs
Cab over Pete with a reefer on
And a Jimmy haulin' hogs
We is headin' for bear on I-one-oh
'Bout a mile outta Shaky Town
I says, "Big Ben, this here's Rubber Duck.
And I'm about to put the hammer down."
No convoy this night, though. Just one big black Montana cowboy/welder/salesman and his lily white, long-lived bald-headed old sidekick, pulling not logs but an empty horse trailer. All in all, we'd had a great week, had sold a lot of Rodeo Iron and then called our women from the restaurant to let them know we'd be stopping for the night in Havre, grabbing some Z's at The Duck Inn, and they could expect us home sometime tomorrow.
Best laid plans of mice and men.
Neither Jack nor I said another word as we toodled on westward, eating up the miles on Highwyay 2. The psychic pressure was increasing the farther we went. Had there been another route we could take, a way around whatever was lying in wait for us up ahead, we'd have taken it.
But there wasn't. Not unless we wanted to tackle the back country dirt roads, the sort of dark running that can get you lost or at best find you angling up through the southern end of the Ft. Belknap Indian Reservation, taking your chances with the Wings and the Mains.
For those who don't know, the Wings and the Mains are a sort of Indian version of the Hatfields and McCoys–they'll feud 24/7 with each other, only combining forces when some dumba** outsider stumbles along.
No, we had to eiither turn around and go look for a room in Glasgow or bull on ahead.
So bull it was…and then some.
Saco was buttoned up for the night by the time we rolled through that little town. Fortunately, we'd topped off the Ford's tanks in Glasgow. The boss had outfitted the sales truck with 100 gallons worth of capacity when he bought it, so we had enough fuel on board to run clean across Montana plus a bit, had we so desired.
Highway 2 was pretty much deserted already. When we topped a low rise to see headlights in the distance, they were the first in the past eight, maybe ten miles.
Didn't seem to be moving, but that can be deceptive. There was somebody at the wheel, anyway. When he flipped his lights at me, tellling me to dim mine, I did so without thinking.
"No!" Jack snapped, and I slapped the big halogens back up on bright. Which was the second thing that saved our lives.
There was something in the road ahead, just now visible in a dip in the highway, a low dark line clear across–
I slammed on the brakes. Uncle B.J. had driven out, met us in Glasgow after hearing about the near wreck with the deer, and helped me rework those brakes just yesterday. We'd cut the ABS crap out of the loop, so yeah, we laid skid-mark rubber for a good 200 feet.
Yeah, another thing that saved our lives. There were a lot of them, that night.
It was an old telephone pole; I could see that much before we hit. No way to avoid it, no workable ditch. The pole was lying completely across the highway, buttressed against ends of guardrails on either side.
Whoever had planned this had planned it well.
The truck slammed into the pole at 41 mph; I noted the speedometer at point of impact.
Had we been moving at our normal 67 mph, it would have been all over but the screaming. As it was, it was still enough to somersault the dually arse over teakettle. What the trailer was doing behind us, I couldn't begin to imagine–nor did I have time to think about it.
We weren't belted in. Neither Jack Hill nor I believed in seat belts. After dark, we never wore them.
Another thing which saved our lives.
Later, reconstructing the wreck, the two of us figured out the trailer must have come on up with the rear end of the pickup when it flipped–but the main thing was that the whole mess went spiraling off to the right, vaulting the guardrail and crashing down on the driver's side in the little creek that ran under the bridge.
Right then, I was suddenly kind of out of it. Old Jack Hill wasn't, though. With his help pulling after he'd gotten himself out through the busted upside window, I made it out, groggy as a sumbitch but moving, knowing somebody had just tried to kill us and we weren't dead yet but we had to keep moving–
"This'll do."
Took a second to register, that whisper in my ear. "I'm kinda out on my feet," I whispered back.
Then he squeezed my arm, and I knew to be silent.
It's funny, the sort of things that go through a man's mind at such times. Well…not funny funny ha ha, but you know what I mean. My pants were wet, but not from peeing myself or anything; we were hunkered down in a stand of willows growing right out of the water. Jack had gotten us a good 80 yards upstream from the bridge, and none too soon.
But what I was thinking? I was thinking that Tania was going to be ticked at me for losing my hat. She'd just bought me that Resistol for my birthday, and now….
When I was done thinking about that, I realized I wasn't thinking clearly at all, really. Concussion? Most likely.
The rig blew up.
Do you have any idea how big a bang more than 80 gallons of fuel can make?
Neither do I, 'cause if that truck didn't have help exploding, I'd eat my now-toast hat.
My gaze met Jack's, our faces bathed in the firelight despite the willow screen. If what he saw in my eyes was anything like what I saw in his, our enemies had just bought themselves a whole pack of trouble. Not that we knew exactly who those enemies were…not quite yet. But there was no doubt this related to the Wolf War.
All those law enforcement types we'd buffaloed at the welding shop that day…apparently weren't buffaloed at all. They'd just called our bluff.
Except we weren't, and never had been, bluffing. Just yesterday, Jack had gotten word. The backing for the enhanced genetics program, producing wolves with something of human intelligence, had been traced as far as a company called WSI. Wolf Support, Inc., headquartered on 40 acres along an unmarked cove known to its locals as Wolf Bay. In Wisconsin.
Wolf Bay, Wisconsin. We were getting close…obviously too close.
Our view of the burning wreck wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad, either. Over the roar of the flames, we began to hear voices. They were pretty much yelling at each other, two men whose faces appeared along the edge of the road, peering at the little holocaust, shading their eyes.
They had to yell to be heard, that close to the fire–which meant we could make out what they had to say.
"Nobody lived through that." This from the stockier of the pair. I couldn't make out their features, but the general build was clear enough.
"Certainly not," his partner agreed.
"Hold the fort," Jack whispered at just that moment, scaring me about half to death.
With that, the old man was gone. Where, I'd no idea, nor why–but that he knew what he was doing, I had no doubt. The man had fought in the Civil War, for cry-yi. On both sides.
My rifle was in my hands. How had–?
Jack. He'd not only gotten me clear of the wreck; he'd salvaged the .25-06 as well. And it had a scope.
Aha. Mr. Stocky's features were more than clear enough now. I'd not forget them any time soon. Not with my eidetic memory, I wouldn't. My head was clearing rapidly.
My finger caressed the trigger, wishfully.
The other guy was lean, dark complected, face like a hatchet and pockmarked to boot.
What the–? A new sound, also loud enough to be heard over the flames. Why would a chopper…?
I thought about scooching farther back in the willows, but any sort of motion might be a really bad idea right at the moment. I stayed put.
The first thought was that they'd brought in a gunship to blow us to smithereens, but that wasn't it. The helicopter, dimly glimpsed by the flame-light washing its belly, turned out to be a Sikorsky Skycrane. A logging helicopter, there to remove the telephone pole that had served as such a simple and yet such an effective ambush.
No doubt that same chopper had dropped it there in the first place. Duh.
How long had they had us under such tight surveillance? That had to be a pretty tricky move, helicoptering in a giant log (aka aged telephone pole) to catch just us and nobody else. Of course, from the air it would be simple enough to spot headlights from at least 10 miles off on a clear starlit night like this, but still.
We were talking a real high-dollar hit here.
Shoulda made me proud, them feeling they had to go to all that trouble. That wasn't exactly what I was feeling, though.
"Think we'd better look around just to be sure?" That was Hatchet Face, talking to Stocky Man after the Sikorsky was long gone with its telephone pole.
"Nah." Stocky Man sounded sure of himself. "The scanner lost signal on both phones. They're burned up."
"Well then," Hatchet opined, sounding satisfied, "let's call it a night."
At that moment, the box of .25-06 rounds in the truck's glove box finally began cooking off. I knew what they were, what they had to be–but the bad guys didn't. Nor, apparently, did they care to find out.
They were gone.
Minutes later, Jack slid back into the water beside me, but we waited a good while before getting to our feet and starting our hike down the highway.
We knew Malta was still a good 20 miles down the road, but that was the county seat of Phillips County, and the ambush had been sprung inside the Phillips County line, so that's where we headed. My main carry bag had burned in the wreck, which meant my night vision monocle was gone forever, but Jack had his. Which was the main reason he took the lead, making sure we didn't step on any rattlesnakes while trudging along the shoulder of the highway.
There weren't many vehicles out, but whenever a set of headlights came within half a mile of us, we'd hit the ditch and lie flat until whatever it was rolled on by. We weren't taking any chances.
Amazingly, the old man had not only gotten me and my rifle out of the Ford before it blew; he'd rescued quite a bit of other stuff as well. Not our jackets, and it was a bit chilly on this late summer night, but neither of us was complaining. We were both alive and relatively healthy…and well armed. The .25-06 Winchester only had three rounds in the magazine, but three high velocity rifle rounds in the hands of an expert is nothing to laugh at.
Additionally, the .22 Walther was in its usual holster in the small of my back under my shirt, and Hill had even managed to snag my Glock .40. Which was impossible to hide, so I just belted the thing on, wore it right out in the open. Although not as expected as in, say, Arizona, it's not illegal to carry openly in the Big Sky Country.
And I was feeling testy enough to almost hope somebody would have something to say about it.
What Jack was packing didn't show and I didn't think it was my place to ask, but that he was heeled was a given.
We were both wearing cowboy boots, but with walking heels. 20 miles was doable.
"You come out of that without a ding?" I asked my partner, trailing two steps behind him like a good little squaw.
"More or less," he replied, speaking over his shoulder. "The way the truck landed, you smashed your skull up against the seat belt mount, I think."
"Yeah. I believe that's what did it. Headache's almost gone, though."
"That's good. Anyway, you landed, and then I landed on you, more or less. Had a hold of the grab handle, but you took a fair bit of my weight."
"Don't remember that."
"Unh. The passenger side window had cracked, but it was still more or less in one piece. So I tried the control, and dang if it didn't work, rolled right down."
"Hunh. I thought it must've busted."
"Nope. We'd have cut ourselves up on the shards if it had."
"Never thought of that."
"Wasn't a lot of time for thinking."
We fell silent then, trudging, trudging, trudging, ducking into the ditch when headlights came, trudging, trudging, trudging. By the highway markers, we'd covered a couple of miles before I spoke again.
"I heard them guys say our cell phone signals were gone."
"We're not chipped, you or me, so that meant to track us, they either had to have a bug on the truck itself or be following the phones."
"Coulda been satellite surveillance."
"Yeah. Coulda been. But if it was, I couldn't do anything about it, so I did what could be done. Took the cells out of both our pockets and pitched 'em back in the cab."
"Ah." It made sense as soon as he said it.
More quiet trudging. A lot of it, in fact, till somewhere shortly after midnight. Jack suddenly stopped. I nearly ran into him. He took off his starlight monocle, passed it back to me so I could see what he'd seen.
Turned out to be the biggest rattlesnake west of the Mississippi, just crawling across the road all easy-like. The reptile was a good 30 feet ahead of our position, so we did the intelligent thing. I just stood there, watching through the monocle, while Hill got out his starlight-capable digital camera and took photos.
"Believe I'll forward these to my friend Ghost down in Arizona. Let him do a writeup on the critter."
"Tell me more about that camera." He had me some curious now, this being the first time I'd seen him use the thing.
"Not a lot to tell." He shrugged. "It's basically a second cousin to a standard Canon PowerShot, only fitted with a toggle switch and a bit of extra technology to let you do really low-light stuff without painting a red laser dot on your subject's forehead."
"Did you get pictures of all that B.S. as it was going down?"
"Indeed." His chuckle was dry as the Sonoran desert just before the monsoon rains hit. "Got close to 300 photos on here right now, before the rattler. Got great shots of the Ford burning down to slag, some of the telephone pole on the ground, the Sikorsky lifting the pole outa there, and some super Jim-dandy portraits of our two friends."
"I could have shot at least one of them." It bothered me some that I hadn't, but of course the opposition would have been notified we were very much alive, had I squeezed the trigger. Besides which, these were nothing but the lowest of the low, mere trigger men.
The guys we wanted were the guys who hired the guys who hired the guys who hired the trigger men.
We'd get 'em, too. There was a fire in my belly now, a banked blaze that wouldn't be going out until the enemy had been not just defeated but utterly destroyed. I was beginning to take a distinct dislike to these people.
"What about our families?"
Jack Hill must have been thinking about that, too. At any rate, he replied promptly enough. "I doubt they're in any immediate danger."
I didn't believe so, either, but that could have been wishful thinking. "Why not?"
"Number of reasons. The one time those yahoos tackled us on our home turf, we kicked their butts. And despite the quasi-remote area in which we're all located, there are 20 or more potential witnesses–and who knows how many potential warriors–living within a three mile radius of Sam's place. Plus, Sam Trace especially is well established in the County; attacking him or his near to home would stir up a sh*tstorm of local media, and I'm thinking our foemen don't want that."
It made sense…and it was reassuring to hear him say it. Not a guarantee. There's never a guarantee. But good enough to be going on with.
We walked into the Brown Bag in Malta mere minutes after its 6:00 a.m. opening. If the waittress spotted the Glock on my hip, she had the good grace not to say anything. Sheriff Scott Moran, on the other hand, gave my shooter the open eyeball.
The Winchester, clearly a hunting rifle, wasn't even worth noticing.
Turned out the good sheriff had his morning coffee at the Brown Bag every sunup, with breakfast when he had the time. This morning, he had to take a rain check on the bacon and eggs.
Phillips County, the second largest county in all of Montana, is policed by just 7 officers–including the sheriff. He gave us a ride down to his office to take the full report on a double attempted murder in his jurisdiction. When we were done giving our statements, he leaned back in his chair and summed it up rather neatly.
"Gentlemen, you say you're with Rodeo Iron?"
"I am," I told him. "A partner, along with my uncle B. J. Hennessey and Sam Trace."
"Well…that tells me your story is straight. Which is my way of saying I'm believing every word you've just told me both on and off the record. Sam and I go way back…and believe it or not, we've had a few run-ins with your genetically enhanced wolves, too."
"This far from the mountains?" I was visibly surprised, though Jack gave me a look that said I should have known better.
"We've got hills," Sheriff Moran said drily, "and there's plenty of action along the Milk River. But what you need to understand is this. There's not a prayer in Hell we're going to be able to catch the guys who pulled this stunt or, for that matter, even prove there was an ambush."
I just looked at the lawman, but Jack nodded. "Understood, Scott. We just figured you had the right to know what was going on. There are a few things you could ask your deputies to look out for, though."
"Like?" Moran looked a bit skeptical, but interested.
"Well, I don't figure we need to tell you or your people how to suck eggs, so of course they'll be looking for marks on the ends of those guardrails consistent with slivers from old telephone poles."
"Of course."
"I'd also suggest you take castings or whatever of our boots, you know, for elimination purposes."
He wouldn't admit it, but I had a hunch the sheriff hadn't thought of that.
"And this." He fished a folded piece of note paper from his pocket. "See this sketch here? One of those a-holes wears a left shoe with this bar mark across it, here. I ain't none too certain, but my guess is it's the hatchet faced fellow. He seemed to me like he was moving a little awkward."
"Now," Moran admitted, "that is something."
We left it at that. Later, Jack would email the sheriff copies of the pictures he chose to share–shots of the Sikorsky Skycrane, the flaming wreck, the telephone pole as it was being hoisted back into the air, even portraits of the two men I'd rifle-scoped by firelight.
But not yet. Not until those pictures and a hundred more had reached one of Hill's contacts, a contact who would make sure this story busted wide open on the Internet before another 24 hours had passed.
The sheriff would no doubt be pi**ed about that, about us withholding information pertinent to such a major investigation. He would be flame-hot and ready to smack us in jail for spitting on the sidewalk, next time we showed up where he could get his hands on us.
Couldn't blame him for that, but we couldn't take a chance, either. Until we had this out to the public in such a massive way that no coverup, no matter how massive, could ever succeed–until then, we couldn't risk it. Which meant we'd best be tippy-toeing through the tulips, next time we made a sales run through Phillips County. Law enforcement folks have memories longer than the average elephant.
Whether or not Sheriff Scott Moran would accept our apology, accept our assertion that we'd done it that way to protect him and his people from the high powered bad guys as well as for our own protection…that remained to be seen.
At the end of our visit to his office, the lawman designated one of his deputies to run us on in to Havre, where we could arrange for a rental car to get us back to the ranch. As we piled into the SUV, I noticed a buzzard circling overhead.
An omen, I thought, but had not the wisdom to read it.


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Critical Updates!!*30-07-09* Security for your Personal Computer!1/5
Preventing Internet and Spyware Attacks
February 16, 2005 – by Ric Dörner
Latest Security Hazards HAZARDOUS SECURITY ALERT
These guys seem to better notify the common user, just red yellow or green. 🙂
Revised 31-07-09
Adobe Flash Player v10.0.32.18
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ (page is not updated yet, get from below links)
Direct Download link for Firefox, Safari, Opera http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flash…lash_player.exe
For IE users: http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flash…h_player_ax.exe
Note: Uncheck any toolbar offering in the installer, it's not needed to run/use Flash Player. Update as soon as possible to take advantage of critical security fixes. See the bulletins here
Uninstaller of old version is in http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html
*PLUS* See this page for the rest of the critical *Updates*………
Click on the image below to check your computer.
1. Global Privacy Settings:
Always deny or Always ask
2. Global Storage Settings:
Move the slider to far left so it will show "None"Uncheck the "allow 3rd party flash content to store data.."
If any website that has flash content that need space, it will ask for your permission anyway.
3. Global Security Settings:
Select "Always Deny"
4. Global Notification Settings:
Uncheck the "notify me" if you do not want it to check for updates automatically.
5. Website Privacy Settings:
Select always deny
6. Website Storage Settings:
Move again the slider to far left so it will be "just a bit!"
Don't stop when you find the first piece of malware. It is not uncommon for a computer that has been exploited through a security flaw to have been penetrated more than once. Also, some malware opens backdoors that facilitate the installation of software that enables use of the infected computer by remote control.
Check the suggested scanners F-Secure and X-Cleaner at least, more if you find things… 🙂
Most links on this site are going to open in a new window if you just click on them, but if you press down the ball on the mouse it will open a new Tab.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I213211E4-Symantec's Security Check
This summer, F-Secure Online Scanner will make that task easier. The Online Scanner checks PCs thoroughly, detecting any viruses, spyware or other malware.
The Online Scanner, used by millions of people annually, has long been a popular feature of F-Secure's website and has helped clean up hundreds of thousands of PCs from viruses.
F-Secure's statistics show that about 20% of the Online Scanner users do in fact have viruses, worms or other malware on their computer (not including tracking cookies). The Online Scanner is free to use for anyone concerned that their computer has been infected with a virus.
Sean Sullivan from F-Secure Security Labs says, "After you scan for viruses with the Online Scanner, it's always a good idea to use the F-Secure Health Check tool, also free, which finds any vulnerabilities on your PC. Used together, the Online Scanner and Health Check provide a great way of checking that your PC is safe to use online."
It is important to remember that the free Online Scanner gives a manual scan that checks and cleans the PC but does not provide automatic protection after that. To prevent a PC from being infected again, you should install a full security product with real-time protection.
Keeping your Windows OS updated has become relatively simple with Microsoft Updates.
Web browsers such as Firefox also regularly prompt for updates.
But what about the rest of your applications?
It appears that many people are uncertain if their computers are fully patched when there are third party updates involved.
Q — What can you do about it?
A — F-Secure Health Check.
Health Check is a free online tool designed to help consumers identify security updates needed on their computers.
Health Check currently requires Internet Explorer. Additional browser support will be added in the future.
The official launch page: http://www.f-secure.com/healthcheck/
Click here to launch Health Check directly.
Webroot Software Free Spy Audit
By FaceTime Security Labs, makers of the X-Cleaner Spyware Remover
*If you need more sites for an online scan try these……*
McAfee Avert Stinger
Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and scan performance optimizations.
AntiTrojan Scans – Run one:
Download it directly from this page…
(Win2K, XP, 2003 and Vista)
Greetings and welcome to a
(TONS) of information site that can help you, your family and everything you do on the internet.
But please this is for personal computers only
Clean Up your computer
EasyCleaner http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/files/EClea2_0.exe
WARNING GIVEN BY A MICROSOFT MVP……..*This Program is not suggested by Microsoft* About CCleaner, courtesy of Sandi Hardmeier – Microsoft MVP: "Be very very VERY careful with CCleaner.
Simply do not change any checks in the box on the left!
I see no reason to load a toolbar!! be sure you do not install it!
Also note there is a few other great Programs for cleaning your computer…
Windows CleanUp! by Steve Gould,,,
Thank you for that cleaning first, this will assist you in what you really require and the stuff here are security programs this should ensure that the program functions the way it should. Also note these programs are being used from Win 98 to XP no problem but Ram is require best upgrade for your computer and not expensive.
Suggested Programs running on 512MB at least!!
Please remember there is only One antivirus for each computer! running two on the same Computer will cause trouble, same with firewall just ONE!
Winner: Avast
In a world filled with high-priced subscription-based antivirus programs that bog down your PC while protecting it, Avast stands out. This program is one of the few free antivirus applications that do as good a job as any of the big boys. Avast includes more than seven different varieties of shields, safe-surfing tools, and real-time virus protection for your OS, as well as for Outlook. The program downloads and installs updates automatically, and Avast works with both Windows Vista and XP. Given all this, why pay?
ZoneAlarm This free firewall still beats anything Microsoft puts into Windows, including the features in Windows Vista. It offers outbound as well as inbound protection. BE sure Not to add the OPTIONAL TOOLBAR!!! There is a toolbar app inside the exe from zonelabs, Please Uncheck it!! no need for such an obscure item!
There is an issue with the new antispyware SpyBlocker/ Ask.com Toolbar in ZA Free XP/2000 – only.
We highly recommend to users of the products by the said vendor to ALWAYS check for updates. Their programs is not in any way bad but we do not want users to be at risk by installing a toolbar that has questionable reputation. Unchecking the installation of the toolbar is easy but NOT ALL USERS are advanced users. There are thousands of BEGINNERS that can fall into installing a questionable toolbar and most of this million beginners DO NOT know that it is NOT necessary to install such toolbar to operate the program.
ZA zonealarm automatically disables windows firewall good thing but remember this when your uninstalling it too.
Though not everyone is a fan of Microsoft's antispyware program, we love some of its tools. We're particularly fond of the Software Explorer feature, which lets you disable programs that launch on Windows startup.
Spybot-S&D 1.6.2 is finally ready, available starting today on the first mirrors, with more becoming available as they're added.
We still adore this perennial favourite. But remember — since no single antispyware program can detect and kill all spyware, Spybot should be just one piece of your security arsenal. Now with rootkit detection.
Spybot – Search & Destroy can detect and remove adware files and modules from your computer. Spybot also can clean program and Web-usage tracks from your system. Modules chosen for removal can be sent directly to the included file shredder for complete elimination. It also allows you to fix Registry inconsistencies related to adware and to malicious program installations.
Safe Computing Tips
- Install and use an anti-virus program and keep it up to date. Always use up-to-date anti-virus software that is capable of scanning files and email messages for viruses, worms and Trojan horses. This can help prevent your computer system and files from being corrupted or lost. A variety of anti-virus software packages are available on the market today and many of these products install anti-virus updates automatically, as long as you have the update feature enabled. Avast
Use a personal firewall. Any computer or device connected to the Internet that is not properly protected may be vulnerable to a variety of malicious Internet intrusions and attacks. A personal firewall can help protect you from intrusion because it creates a barrier between your computer and the rest of the Internet. A number of firewall solutions are available in the marketplace today. They can be a hardware device, a software application or a combination of the two. Most firewalls can be set up to alert you if anyone tries to access your computer system. Online Armour *or* ZoneAlarm
Use strong encryption. The stronger the encryption your Web browser uses, the more difficult it is for intruders to intercept your online activities. It is recommended that you ensure your browser supports at least 128-bit encryption. Firefox optional NoScript
Use unique passwords and change them regularly. Always choose unique passwords that are difficult to guess. Longer passwords that have eight or more characters and mix letters, numbers and special characters are much more difficult to figure out than shorter, more straightforward ones. Don't share your passwords, use different passwords for different accounts and remember to change them regularly. try this site for better Passwords, always keep your user name and password together for each site! Password generator.
Keep security patches up-to-date on your computer. After software has been released, security holes or bugs that may have been missed prior to its release are sometimes identified. Most major software companies today provide software patches or updates to address these issues. It is important that you regularly visit your software vendor's Web sites and stay informed of any security related patches and updates they provide. Evaluate these updates and install them as necessary. Windows Updates *AND* Secunia PSI!
Be aware of the risk posed by installing software or files from unknown sources. Avoid downloading programs and software from sources you are not familiar with and don't download or use pirated software. These programs may contain viruses or other malicious code that could cause harm to your computer or be used to steal private or confidential information like account numbers and passwords. These programs may also come bundled with other programs that you may not be aware of. Programs such as spyware and adware may also be simultaneously installed on your computer for the purpose of tracking and reporting on your computing and browsing habits. It is important that you read the terms and conditions that come with any program or software carefully before installing it on your computer.
- EULAlyzer™ 2.0Analyze license agreements for interesting words and phrases!
License agreements can be a pain and a bore, but not reading them can be dangerous.
EULAlyzer makes it all easy – download today!
Spyware Blaster:New Version 4.2 on 10-04-2009
- SpywareBlaster 4.2
Prevent the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software!
Download the latest SpywareBlaster version and you'll be secured by the most powerful anti-spyware protection solution anywhere!
Click the above heading to see the full article! 8′)
"SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, dialers, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs. It can also block spyware/tracking cookies in IE, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, and many other browsers, and restrict the actions of spyware/ad/tracking sites.
SpywareBlaster also includes a System Snapshot feature, which lets you take a snapshot of your computer in its clean state and later revert, undoing many changes made by spyware and browser hijackers.Prevent the installation of spyware, malware, and other potentially unwanted software!"
Please Note…
There is a total of five pages to securing your computer, this is page one, Page 2 Has the Hosts file page this is really good to have but it is your choice, Page 3 Informs you as per step For each program I suggest looking at least! Page 4 is about email, other things you could do Plus HIJACK THIS how to. Page 5 is more upon how fast malware changes. Thanks for coming and reading. * Use the roller button (middle of your mouse) to open any link on your browser to open a NEW TAB
Firefox 3 is a stability and security update to Firefox 3.0.0.x.
If you have not downloaded it yet what are you waiting for? Goto Mozilla.com and check your versions Be sure to check Thunderbird's too!
Securing Your Web Browsers document
Do not forget NOSCRIPT!!
- Improved sensitivity of ClearClick ClickJacking protection (thanks Eric Lawrence for report).
- Experimental X-FRAME-OPTIONS compatibility support.
- Page-level Script Surrogates.
- Customizable Script Surrogates to seamlessly replace blocked code and improve out-of-the-box site compatibility (Google Analytics surrogates provided by default).
- Evernote Web Clipper compatibility.
- New exclusive protection against JSON and E4X hijacking.
- Improved compatibility with some Amazon, Smugmug and Ebay features.
- Anti-XSS filters performance optimizations.
- Support for the Fennec Alpha 2 mobile browser.
- Several improvements in blacklisting mode: even if whitelisting is still the recommended safest mode, you can use Allow scripts globally and still block sites you mark as untrusted. More important, you can still enjoy full Anti-XSS protection or be protected against ClickJacking and JSON hijacking even while you're keeping JavaScript allowed everywhere.
Main good news:
x Fixed about dialog size to correctly show contributor list in any language
Click on your Firefox "tools" ADD ONS and update!!
Same with your Thunderbird some ADD ONS may require updating!
Wichtiger beratenden: Du bist stark gefördert, um die Verbieten Flash, Verbieten Silverlight und Verbieten anderen Plugins Einstellungen des NoScript Optionen | Plugins Bedienfeld, um zu verhindern, Angriffe auf bekannte und unbekannte Plugin noch Schwachstellen wie die Zeit genutzt QuickTime Fehler in der Wildbahn. Sie werden weiterhin in den Genuss von multimedialen Inhalten Stücke auf vertrauenswürdigen Sites oder es ihnen ermöglichen, individuell, wie hier erläutert. Da ich bin ernsthaft Schiff nächsten NoScript Versionen mit diesen Optionen standardmäßig aktiv, Kommentare sind sehr willkommen
I suggest getting it Directly from them using….
Greetings everyone, It is time you become familiar with RSS! For I am having troubles keeping you all up to date by this one page, so I just enter a new blog and you will see when something new appears to view it and or simply do it.
RSS a wonderful explinantion about RSS 2.0 from Harvard Law. For the use Firefox quite simple really just use this symbol [
You can merely add it as a bookmark but then you must click it each time to see if there is something new, I prefer the RSS feed but then also Thunderbird woks great also! The picture below should assist you to easily keep up to date. God Bless!
I have left the First Pic so you can configure your Thunderbird (suggested) for RSS feeds. But those of you using your browser, there was a annoyance with the one i had suggested so I now have the resolve….
REM click on Picture to make Big.
Please Read STOP ? THINK ? CLICK – 7 Practises for Safer Computing, here:
Prevx CSI – FREE Malware Scanner
Prevx Computer Security Investigator (CSI)
Totally FreePrevx CSI for business can be used free of charge in low volume (up to 250 PCs) by business users and large enterprises, subject to a simple registration process.Updates from the program
Belarc Advisor
The Belarc Advisor displays a detailed profile of your installed software, hardware and vulnerabilities in your Web browser.
Click here to download a free copy for personal use.
The Belarc Advisor is not permitted to be used for any commercial purposes.Belarc Advisor Security Advisor installs the latest version of the Belarc Advisor's security definitions which includes all Microsoft security bulletins through
How does one get rid of a possible, Bot, computer take over, zombie or my computer is not working for me not accepting what I tell it to do. Hackers and spammers may be using your computer right now. They invade secretly and hide software to get access to the information on your computer, including your email program. Once on your computer, they can spy on your Internet surfing, steal your personal information, and use your computer to send spam — potentially offensive or illegal — to other computers without your knowledge. Computers that are taken over this way often become part of a robot network, known as a "botnet" for short. A botnet, alsoknown as a "zombie army," usually is made up of tens or hundreds of thousands of home computers sending emails by the millions. Computer security experts estimate that most spam is sent by home computers that are controlled remotely, and that millions of these home computers are part of botnets.Spammers can install hidden software on your computer in several ways. First, they scan the Internet to find computers that are unprotected, and then install software through those "open doors." Spammers may send you an email with attachments, links or images which, if you click on or open them, install hidden software. Sometimes just visiting a website or downloading files may cause a "drive-by download," which installs malicious software that could turn your computer into a "bot." The consequences can be more than just annoying: your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may shut down your account. It can be difficult to tell if a spammer has installed hidden software on your computer, but there are some warning signs. You may receive emails accusing you of sending spam; you may find email messages in your "outbox" that you didn't send; or your computer suddenly may operate more slowly or sluggishly. Botnets are not inevitable. You can help reduce the chances of becoming part of a bot — including limiting access into your computer. Leaving your Internet connection on and unprotected is just like leaving your front door wide open.The FTC encourages you to secure your computer………….
Now that you have done all the updates needed, we could attempt to close a "few more windows" so bugs won't come in.
John has created a great document on this topic.
So there is no reason why you would not connect to his site. And over look it anyway.
Hardening Microsoft Windows – STIGS, Baselines, and Compliance NIST.org
Got a weird file you want to check?
Perhaps an email attachment you feel is suspicious? and you want to check it with more than one AV?
I would use this Site *OR* try this Site to check the file or any files you may suspect suspicious.
Remember the programs I suggest are free, I would not rely totally on them, but rest assured they will help to prevent infections.
The security experts at Agnitum have put together a 'Top 15' of Internet security questions you should be able to answer correctly if you really want to be safe when you're online.
Ready to check your Security Wiz rating?
Click here to go to the Wiz Quiz.
The Webpage links spoken of,
Russ Harvey Consulting for the internet services that are suggested…
This is the page I began the discussion with.
Defending Your Machine, here:
REMEMBER if you leave Windows open the BUGS come in
Though viruses and worms put the data in computers they infect at risk, an equally serious problem is that many infections continuously broadcast network requests or attempts to find other vulnerable computers. In this way, infections perpetuate themselves, and their collective broadcasts can result in the large-scale traffic that comprises Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.what is that? Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)Unfortunately many of the people whose computers are infected just don't realize this problem. They may be casual computer users who don't have anything "confidential" on their systems and therefore don't see a need to protect it. They don't realize that their systems can be co-opted to compromise the security of the internet at-large. If you are reading this, Chances are you are familiar with issues pertaining to computer security. But what about your friends, neighbours and family? Is their anti-virus software up-to-date?Have they applied O.S. patches? Are they behind a firewall? Do they know enough *not* to click on unknown attachments or not to install dubious software?
Back to the
There are 5 in total for you to read at your leisure
Updated* Security for your Personal Computer!1/5
*NEW* Security for your Personal Computer! 2/5
*NEW* Security for your Personal Computer! 3/5
*NEW* Security for your Personal Computer! 4/5
*NEW* Security for your Personal Computer! 5/5
See anything that you think requires my attention? I have changed some things due to your requests, If for any reason you have not heard from me please scan your computer with the suggested programs above. Thanks for I do always reply, but the mail has to reach me first. Good Luck.Well then feel free to click on image. I will respond either soon or immediately!Truth is the way things are.
Gerry permalink15-11-2007 01:38
Your site is great and I hope you keep up the good work. thanks for giving me the chance to protect and keep my pc running .
Don Fisher permalink12-5-2008 03:13
I have a possible problem that will be easier to
explain over the phone Please call at your convenience.
***Hi Don** please check your mail. Ric***
Les permalink17-4-2009 00:15
Hi, I am testing NoScript, thanks for the computer help
Stewart Engelman DNI Services permalink5-8-2009 19:09
Another hint that may be helpful. If your A/V software discovers a virus that it can't clean, don't just automatically delete the infected file. Always go to the antivirus library at your A/V software vendor's web site, and follow the detailed instructions for manual removal. Some viruses not only detach a payload to your PC, but also place batch command files there as well, and may also make registry entries. The upshot of all this is that if you don't purge the malware's entities in the correct order, it can reinstall itself without your even knowing it. Following the expert advice for removal can protect you against this problem.
Gerry B permalink17-12-2009 20:04
Hi Ric. Just dropping in to say hi and to wish you and your sister a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Jenienne and are are also trying to get u on skype now so why havent you got back lol. Please let us know how u are doing. I know u are gone because your phone is changed or no longer in service. wishing you the best Gerry,Diane and Jenienne

subset: commoncrawl


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Site help
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To read stories in The Courier, use the Main menu in the black bar under the masthead.
You can also search for stories from The Courier with the search bar at the top right of the window.


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Media Production - Beyond the Eye
These are the ten photos I made for my VCE Unit 3 & 4 Media Production. My chosen theme was "Beyond the Eye", the intention was to create images that cannot be observed by the Human eye. Techniques I used include HDR, high-speed, long exposure, panorama, and cross-polarisation.
By the way, there's no Photo 4. I was trying to do a high-speed photo of a light globe being smashed, but I couldn't get it to work. I then replaced it with Photo 11.
Photo 3 - This is a composite image of a perspex prism, being lit from behind by an LCD monitor and with a polariser on my lens. The plastic is exhibiting a property called birefringence, making the colours diffract causing the crazy pattern.
Photo 5 - This is a 360° panorama of Melbourne from the northern bank of the Yarra river, morphed to polar co-ordinates causing the circle effect. The sky is actually from the Northern Territory, because it was cloudy when I took the panorama.
Photo 6 - A HDR image of Princes Bridge and the Melbourne CBD, taken across the river from the Arts Centre.
Photo 7 - This is a high-speed shot of a drop of milk into a cup of coffee as it is hit by another drop, i.e. one drop splashes back up then is hit by the next.
Photo 8 - This is a HDR image of the Eureka Tower in Melbourne. About a 30 second exposure, which allowed the clouds to blur slightly.
Photo 9 - First I took a bunch of photos with my flash as a wireless slave and pointing at various angles. Then I colourised them and combined them, and put a long exposure of a sparkler over the top of it all.
Photo 10 - This is a macro-ish (not really proper macro, but close) shot of my little brother's eye. There are crazy colours because I used a polarising filter on my flash and lens.
Photo 11 - A high-speed photo of a strawberry dropping into a glass of water. I actually combined two different splashes, because one exploded straight up and another more outward, so together they look better.
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Chicken leg recipes are a versatile and cheap way to use this tasty meat. When cooked in the right way they are full of flavour! Check out our top ten chicken leg recipes that will make you see chicken legs in a different way!
Chicken legs are succulent cuts of meat that can hold buckets of flavour. These recipes will show you just how easy they are to cook.
We have lots of chicken recipes including creamy risotto, comforting casserole and speedy stir-fry. However, the following 11 recipes will help you make the most of the chicken legs, a cut of meat that is usually overlooked. In most of the recipes you'll see that you can use chicken thighs instead of the leg or a combination of the two.
This One-pan roast chicken with beetroot and carrots recipe gives you all the flavours of a roast dinner without all the fuss (and dishes)!
We hope that the recipes will inspire you to appreciate the chicken legs a little more! Chicken legs can be used to make hearty foods that please the whole family. From easy one pot roast dinners, to light broths and hearty pies, the leg meat is incredibly versatile. You'll never throw left over leg meat from your roast dinner away ever again!
You can buy chicken legs in most supermarkets for a reasonable price. You can buy them deboned and with or without skin which might suite certain recipes or your personal preference.
Click through the gallery to see all of our favourite chicken leg recipes…
Slimming World's green curry chicken drumsticks
Give the ultimate picnic food a Thai twist by serving up these spicy-coated chicken legs at your next barbecue or picnic, they're sure to be a hit. This healthy Slimming World recipe lets you enjoy classic finger-food, guilt-free!
Roast lemon chicken with potato wedges
This recipe has just five ingredients! It is another easy-peasy recipe that is perfect for in the week. You could add garlic and shallots to the roasting chicken if you please, but it is also delicious without.
Get the recipe: Roast Lemon chicken with Potato Wedges
Maple-glazed chicken with butternut squash
Chicken legs can help you save money and they make a delicious dinner. If you don't have any maple syrup for the sticky glaze, try using honey instead. This recipe is cheap to buy and easy to cook, what more could you want?
Get the recipe: Maple Glazed chicken with Butternut Squash
Spring chicken with veg broth and minted pea purée
Packed full of fresh vegetables with spring chicken and a lovely vegetable broth, this recipe is well worth waiting 55 minutes for it to cook. It works well as a filling dinner for all the family or you could try it as a hearty weekend lunch.
Get the recipe: Spring Chicken with Vegetable Broth and Minted Pea Purée
Chicken and vegetable bake
This is a fuss free recipe that will put a smile on everyone's face around the table. Simply chuck all the chopped ingredients into a large roasting tin and put in the oven. You can serve gravy with this dish and could use thighs instead of legs if you prefer.
Get the recipe :Chicken and Vegetable Bake
Chicken noodle broth
A classic homemade broth is the perfect comfort food for a rainy day. This low-fat lunch or dinner will keep you satisfied for hours afterwards thanks to its high protein ingredients. It is a handy way to use up left over vegetables and meat from a roast dinner and can even be frozen!
Get the recipe: Chicken Noodle Broth
Gordon Ramsay's jerk chicken
Gordon Ramsay's quick and easy marinade adds buckets of flavour to your chicken legs. The trick is leaving the chicken to marinade as long as possible, overnight if possible. Serve with a fresh salad or homemade chips for a treat!
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay's Jerk Chicken
Chicken and mushroom pot pies
Can you guess the cheat ingredient in this super easy chicken pot pie recipe?
The creamy pies are oozing with flavour and are a great way to use up left over leg meat. They are a perfect winter warmer or they can be enjoyed in the fresh spring sunshine with seasonal greens like asparagus.
Get the recipe: Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pies
Indian fried buttermilk chicken
The prep for this dish is what takes longest but the results are worth it! They only take 20 minutes to cook and can be served alongside couscous, salad or chips. You don't have to stick with Indian flavours, you can add any spices to the flour, why not try five-spice for a Chinese kick?
Get the recipe: Indian Fried Buttermilk Chicken
Chicken with parsley pesto
This recipe uses walnuts instead of pine nuts with the parsley to make the pesto. If you have any left over or want to make it in advance, the pesto will store in the fridge for up to two days. Serve with a simple salad and some crusty bread.
Get the recipe: Chicken with Parsley Pesto


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The Sea-Shells
Paul Verlaine (1844-1896)
Each shell, encrusted, we see,
in the cave where we achieved love's goal,
has its own peculiarity.
One has the purple colour of souls,
ours, thief of the blood our hearts possess
when I burn, and you flame like hot coals.
That one affects your languorousness,
your pallor, your weary form
angered by my mocking eyes' caress:
this one mimics the charm
of your ear, and in this I see
your rosy neck, so full and warm:
but one, among them all, troubled me.
From Fêtes Galants, 1869


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Government projects GDP growth of 6.7% in 2017
Thursday, 2017-10-12 18:10:24
NDO/VNA – The Government has projected a GDP growth rate of 6.7% in 2017 in a report submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee during the Committee's 15th session in Hanoi, on October 12.
According to the government's report, the macro-economy has been stabilised, while inflation has been kept below 4%. The gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at VND5,000 trillion or nearly US$225 billion.
Based on the socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020 adopted by the legislature, the projected performance of the economy in 2017 and the current domestic and international situation, the Government envisions that the GDP is expected to expand by 6.5-6.7% in 2018 and export turnover is expected to increase by 7-8%. The consumer price index would rise by an estimated 4% and total social investment would account for 33-34% of the GDP next year, according to the projection.
The majority of the NA Standing Committee members shared the Government's view that most of the major socio-economic development targets would be completed this year, noting that the economy remains stable and the environment for business and production continues to improve.
However, they expressed some concern that the economic restructuring process, in combination with shift to new growth model, raising productivity and economic competitiveness remains slow and below expectations.
Many of them expressed reservations with regards to the fulfilment of the 6.7% GDP growth goal, stating that there is not much ground for expanding domestic consumption, foreign sector exports, manufacturing, and processing in the remaining months.
NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said that it is the first year that all of the 13 socio-economic criteria would be met or surpassed.
He asked the government to explain to the legislature as to which factors would help bring about the required results and which resources could ensure a 6.7% growth rate.
The Vice Chairman also requested that the Government clarifies why it is confident that State budget collection will meet its target in 2017, when domestic revenue only rose 2.1% from the estimate and revenues collected from State, foreign-invested and non-State enterprises failed to meet the estimates.
NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty said that in order to achieve a 6.7% growth rate this year, the figure for the fourth quarter must hit 7.4-7.5%, which is a challenging task. Moreover, disasters and floods will still pose challenges to the farming sector.
He asked the government to devise the most feasible plans with which to fulfil the set targets.
On the socio-economic development plan for 2018, Ty called on the government to identify the factors that can affect the impact of domestic production and free trade agreements on the growth rate.


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Specialist support for recycling & environmental management businesses
Waste material management has become an increasingly high profile business sector in recent years as society and the economy has sought to minimise environmental harm and maximise the value of the by products that are created through industrial activity.
NR Barton possesses a strong track record in working with businesses across all parts of the recycling and environmental management spectrum.
With clients in metal recycling & re-fabrication, waste management consultancy, landfill, and toxic waste neutralisation, we understand the issues, dynamics and opportunities that apply in this industry.
NR Barton can offer seasoned advice in key areas that include:
- Real time advice for real time problems
- Advise on stock management systems
- Advise on cash extraction
- Share buy backs and succession planning
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- Employer
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
- Location
- Tampa, FL, US
- Posted
- May 14, 2018
- Ref
- Discipline
- Clinical, Clinical Development, Clinical Trials
- Hotbed
- Ideal Employer
- Required Education
- Bachelors Degree
- Position Type
- Full time
The Biometric Sciences Statistical Programmer I provides elementary programming support to clinical project teams to support the development, regulatory approval and market acceptance of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) products. This position is primarily responsible for the implementation of technical solutions for integrating, analyzing and reporting clinical data, including developing and troubleshooting code for these technical solutions. Apply knowledge of the drug development process, clinical trial methodology, and common statistical terminology to support analysis and reporting of clinical data
- Review key planning documents (e.g., statistical analysis plan, data presentation plan, data review plan) to ensure alignment with assignment objectives and requirements
- Perform programming in accordance with project standards, programming conventions and programming specifications
- Maintain simple to moderately complex programs and utilities in accordance with predefined specifications and BMS standards
- Develop and debug simple to moderately complex programs for the analysis & reporting of clinical data
Minimum Requirements:
- 0-3 years programming experience in industry, US Military or Academic environment ( Academic experience or related coursework will be considered towards experience requirements)
- Rudimentary knowledge of SAS (Statistical Analysis Software): i.e. Base SAS product, with general computing knowledge related to clinical development activities preferred
Ideal Candidates Would Also Have:
- Some clinical / statistical programming experience related to pharmaceutical clinical development
- Knowledge of the drug development process, clinical trial methodology and statistics preferred
- Experience with the Unix operating system
Other qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in statistics, biostatistics, mathematics, computer science or life sciences required
- US military experience will be considered towards industry experience requirements


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Leading Change in practice: Nushelle de Silva
Leading Change in practice: Nushelle de Silva
Queen's Young Leader, Nushelle de Silva considers how improving her profile and change by design have helped her become more confident – and more useful – as a leader.
When I first read Lauren Currie's work on design thinking and Pete Mosley's The Art of Shouting Quietly on the Leading Change course, I was struck by their three-part call to action.
- First, as a young leader, I should endeavour not only to be mentored, but also to be a mentor.
- Second, mentoring others requires that I make myself findable, whether in person or virtually.
- Third, to make myself findable, I must confidently take ownership of my expertise, clearly articulating and sharing knowledge in the areas where I am a leader.
I found this last to be terrifying. Until then, I was content to think of myself as a perennial student, absorbing information and mulling it over before making any response.
In a world of over-sharers, I was a serial under-sharer. I prided myself on being careful, thoughtful and considered. But I was failing to admit that in my quest for perfection, I actually wasn't saying anything at all.
Shouting quietly
While I am still admittedly quite cautious about what I share, I am taking real steps to owning and honing my expertise, and to making myself findable. Here are a few different ways I now 'shout quietly' – to use Pete's words.
First, I tested my expertise within the Queen's Young Leaders network. Over the past year, I have reviewed and edited content for the Leading Change course – crafting to-do lists to make clear what was an action item or simply food for thought. I crafted at-a-glance summaries for the modules, and made suggestions for re-arranging some content so that it would be simpler to grasp.
Discovering my knack for presenting information made me think more seriously about how I could make myself useful to a global community.
I reflected on the leadership training I have received through the Queen's Young Leaders Programme and elsewhere, and could immediately see patterns and connections I wanted to make more explicit.
Leadership blog
So, secondly, I launched a 12-part leadership blog series this year, which distills the advice I received into a series of monthly challenges that will run until the end of the year.
Previously, I would have embarked on lengthy personal notes that I would perfect and polish laboriously, but ultimately abandon for lack of time before ever reaching an audience of more than one.
This time, I simply sketched out a general plan, and trusted myself and my abilities to see where each month took me.
The structure has changed over the past five months, and will continue to do so each month. This is a fact I am now comfortable with, because I've realised that expertise is not static, and grows through sharing as much as through absorbing ideas.
Sharing as a novice
Thirdly, I've learned that that you can share your journey while still a novice, inviting others to join you. To that end, I've been sharing my forays into design thinking, even while I am still in the midst of planning to new workshop series for Building Bridges – launching in August – that will adapt some of these methods for teaching creativity to middle-school students.
Lauren's and Pete's words have encouraged me to be simultaneously vulnerable through sharing, and empowered through owning my strengths. This has given me new insight into the meaning of courage.
Did you like this?
Subscribe to our newletter for more Leading Change articles, news, events and updates.Subscribe to our newsletter


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The 51st annual Hilly Hundred will be held October 6-7, 2018, in scenic Monroe, Morgan, Owen, and Brown Counties. The event is sponsored by Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA).
The riders will take on the hills riding about 50 miles each day, returning to Ellettsville where the Start - Finish Line is.
Hams are used at all Rest Stops and as APRS SAG's. To be a SAG (Support And Gear) vehicle, you need to be able to carry at least 3 bicycles and riders. Of the 5,000 + riders each day, not all will finish and the SAG's will carry them to either Rest Stops or to the Finish Line. They are dispatched by an APRS Net Control to make better use of time and urgency.
Want to help? Contact the Bloomington Amateur Radio Club rep Tom Myers, K9TEM at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Drama and Acting Audition Preparation
Rock 'n Roll High is proud to introduce former New York actress Kristen Rogers to spearhead our brand new drama coaching classes. These classes will be perfect for young people who wish to specialise in acting as well as those musicians who recognise the value of persona in stagecraft or, who may want to pursue a career in musical theatre.
Kinder Drama
This class is a fantastic way to introduce little people to the world of theatre arts. They will learn the very basics of performing through improvisational games and theatrical play. At the same time they will be taught the skills to be a respectful audience member. This type of class inspires confidence and builds little imaginations. Perfect for children with a flair for the dramatic as well as ones trying to pop out of their shells and shine.
Junior Drama 8-12
This class introduces budding performers to the world of Acting and improvising. Kids will learn improvisational comedy through games and excercises that inspire quick thinking and team work. They will learn the fundamentals of reading a script and performing with emotion, diction, and projection. Most of all they will have a really great time learning to conquer their inhibitions and tap into their creative sides. Kids will perform as well as watch their fellow classmates perform, learning to be respectful audience members as well. A perfect class for the drama kings and queens in your life as well as the more reserved.
Senior Drama
This class is suitable for beginning performers as well as the more seasoned. We will delve a bit deeper into script work and improvisational skills. We will even be throwing in a bit of Shakespeare. Students will learn how to add depth to characters in a scene or monologue through emotion, movement, and body language. They will learn the importants of supporting their fellow actors, a skill important on stage and in life. Our young actors will have a blast with improvisational games and excersises, and will also get the opportunity to perform some more advanced improvisational comedy.


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While there are always opportunities to serve, from time to time, we will list special opportunities below.
The best way to get plugged in is to visit our contact page and give us your phone number or email and mention SERVE in your message and, if you can, give us an idea of how you would like to serve. One of our pastors will contact you soon.


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Obama presses Congress to resolve fiscal cliff
Dec. 29 - U.S. President Obama calls for resolution to fiscal cliff talks in weekly address. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.
U.S. President Barack Obama continues to press Congress to resolve the fiscal cliff in his weekly address. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING: "We're now at the point where, in just a couple days, the law says that every American's tax rates are going up. Every American's paycheck will get a lot smaller. And that would be the wrong thing to do for our economy. It would hurt middle-class families, and it would hurt the businesses that depend on your spending. And Congress can prevent it from happening, if they act now," After closed door meetings at the White House Congressional leaders were cautiously optimistic that a deal could be reached. Without a deal $600 billion in tax hikes and federal spending cuts will begin to take effect January 1st.


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Cambridge-Lee: Commitment and Compassion
Andrea Funk arrived at Cambridge-Lee Industries, Reading, six years ago as chief financial officer and moved into the CEO role several years later. The company, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, has about 420 employees and manufactures and distributes copper tubing for various markets. Via Lehigh Valley Business: http://bit.ly/2oNpyou


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Note: This post was uploaded with the blessings of KF's Rodgil Flores
Now that the cat is out of the bag, there is no use pretending we don't know what's really happening. Above is a photo of (left to right) Miss International 2017 Kevin Lilliana, Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco and Miss Grand Indonesia 2017 DEA Rizkita during their KF trainings.
There is mutual respect between Filipino and Indonesian beauty queens so we should not make it an earth-shaking (no pun intended) issue that they trained here. The latter respect our expertise in the pageant industry. And whatever they learned in our shores are not CIA-protected secrets that nobody outside the country knows. From their end, it is a kind of validation of what they already know or what they might know.
Fate also plays a big part in the mix. If they won their respective competitions abroad, then it is in their destiny to claim it.
Of course, there are other "hard-to-classify" factors nobody among us (including KF) are no longer in control of or privy to. And I won't go discussing about matters I have no factual basis for.


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The Cabinet Office, with the agreement of the Permanent Secretary, Intelligence, Security and Resilience, has established an interdepartmental group on security and intelligence records. The group, now known as the Consultative Group on Security and Intelligence Records, held its first meeting in July 2004 and plans to meet at roughly six-monthly intervals to consider a range of issues concerning security intelligence–related records.
Tue, 04/01/2011
Reports released following requests for drafts of RDS Occasional Paper No 67 'Migration: an economic and social analysis' published in January 2001.
Thu, 09/09/2010


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Get the most out of your storage with an Active-Active setup!
Recent test comparison of Open-E DSS V7 iSCSI Active-Active and Active-Passive Failover proved, how beneficial for the storage system can be to apply the Active-Active configuration. Better throughput and faster switching time were among the main conclusions from the tests.
There is no room for complacency though, while our developers make their progress in improving our product for you, our testers evaluate it under new environments using different scenarios.
Wait, how fast?
Fresh test results delivered by Open-E QA Team, showed very promising results. It appears that in the specific environments, the Active-Active configuration can outperform the Active-Passive configuration even further.
The tests made with Iometer were conducted with higher number of volumes per node (4 targets and 4 logical volumes per target). Additionally, each Iometer worker was testing the separate volume of the storage (see test topology below).
In the iSCSI Active-Active Failover configuration, read operations were performed 5-6 times faster with smaller block sizes (4-32 KB) and up to 2 times faster with bigger block sizes, reaching the maximum of 622 MB/s with 64 KB block size (to 306 MB/s with Active-Passive setup) (see table below).
Faster, better ..
What makes the difference with the Active-Active cluster? The main reason behind it, is the way the Active-Active Load Balancing Cluster works, utilizing 100% of your storage resources.
In the popular failover configuration represented by Active-Passive setup, one node may sometimes become a bottleneck, so its performance is reduced. This may happen in very demanding environments, where the data is more complex and causing greater I/O rates.
Balancing the workload not only prevents the storage overload, so the quality of service does not deteriorate, but also allows to achieve the maximum performance, so the cluster can process a high number of read and write operations even faster.
Such benefits provided by Active-Active setup makes it ideal for demanding virtualization environments, database applications or video surveillance systems. Among other criteria, those environments require:
- Optimal speed for data processing (both read and write)
- Maximum utilization of the storage space
- Storage overload prevention
- No Single Point of Failure
As proven by our test again, all of those requirements are assured by Open-E DSS V7 with iSCSI Active-Active Failover Feature Pack.


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Dream Big Gala to Honor Musical Director Rickey Minor
The non-profit organization Choice Group Inc. will also host the evening with performances from Mary Mary and singer Akelee.
Nonprofit organization Choice Group Inc. will host its second annual Dream Big gala at Annenberg Community Beach House on Oct. 24, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The evening will honor Emmy-nominated Tonight Show musical director Rickey Minor, who will receive the 2013 Choice Group Impact Award for his dedication to support and promote opportunities for inner-city youth.
PHOTOS: Seth Rogen, Backstreet Boys Fight Alzheimer's at Star-Filled Fundraiser
"I'm thrilled to be a part of Choice Group because they fill an important need for our youth by sustaining music education, and more broadly, arts education," Minor said in a statement.
Along with music and art by Choice Group kids in the L.A. area, the fundraising event will also feature special performances by Grammy-award winning recording duo and CGI board members, Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary, and L.A.-based singer Akelee.
Choice Group Inc.'s gala will help raise funds to provide at-risk and foster youth with a safe environment that promotes music and art-related programs. More information can be found here.


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Florida Panthers
Stephen Weiss' time with Florida Panthers might end
For a good number of NHL players, including Florida's Stephen Weiss, Friday will become their independence day.
Weiss, like many others, is free to sign with any other team as the league's free agency period begins at noon.
The Panthers have said they had been working to keep Weiss with the only organization he has known, but as expected, Weiss will be a free agent for the first time. Reports say Weiss is being heavily courted by Detroit — close to where he played junior hockey in Plymouth, Mich.
Weiss and agent Pat Morris did not respond for comment.
Weiss was the fourth overall pick of the 2001 draft held in Sunrise; he made his NHL debut with the Panthers in 2002 and became the franchise's all-time leader in games played in 2012.
The Panthers are expected to be in the market for a few players, although with about $45 million committed to players already under contract, Florida isn't expected to be a big player in the free agency market.
General manager Dale Tallon said as much Tuesday.
The Panthers' payroll doesn't include unsigned players such as goalie Jacob Markstrom and center Shawn Matthias.
Tallon, handcuffed by an internal budget, said the Panthers will likely try to find free agent deals once the dust settles and the likes of Weiss, Nathan Horton and Danny Briere have found their new homes for more money than Florida can afford.
"We'll probably be more active in August. We're not going to overpay on July 5," Tallon said. "We're going to sit tight and be patient and get some good players at the right price."
Florida is expected to be much closer to the salary cap floor ($44 million) than the ceiling ($64 million) with money from a recent buyout of defenseman Filip Kuba counting against the cap.
The Panthers put Kuba on waivers Wednesday so they can buyout the final year of his $3.7 million contract.
"We want more speed, more skill, more grit," Tallon said.
Florida will have to pay two-thirds of Kuba's contract spread out over the next two years so Kuba will get $2.6 million and is free to sign with another time. The Panthers' $45 million payroll includes Kuba's buyout number.
With Kuba gone after just one season, the Panthers will look to strengthen not only their defense but also bring in at least a center and right winger. Florida is letting Tyson Strachan walk, but the defenseman could return on a two-way deal.
Florida currently has 14 forwards and eight defensemen with NHL experience under contractual control. At least two of those players — Ed Jovanovski and Kris Versteeg — likely won't be ready to start the year after having surgery last season.
Look for the Panthers to be young next year with Alex Petrovic, Colby Robak, Mike Caruso, Nick Bjugstad, Quinton Howden, Drew Shore and rookie Sasha Barkov all expected to make the team.
Goalie Jose Theodore is also a free agent.
"We're not going to go crazy. There aren't a lot of free agents available," Tallon said. "The prices are going to be high for those particular players. We'll just sit tight and see what happens. If it makes sense and a player wants to come here badly, we'll be aggressive."


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Takes 2 to Tango
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
|"Takes 2 to Tango"
|Eurovision Song Contest 2004 entry
Mika Toivanen
|Finals performance
|Semi-final result
|Semi-final points
|Appearance chronology
|◄ "Addicted to You" (2002)
|"Why?" (2005) ►
"Takes 2 to Tango" was the Finnish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, performed in English by Jari Sillanpää. The song was composed by Mika Toivanen, and Sillanpää wrote the lyrics himself.
As Finland had not participated in the 2003 Contest, the song was performed in the semi-final. Here, it was performed first (preceding Belarus' Aleksandra and Konstantin with "My Galileo"). At the close of voting, it had received 51 points, placing 14th in a field of 22 - four places outside the top ten which would qualify for the final, thus requiring Finland to perform in the semi-final at their next appearance.
As implied in the title, the song is inspired by tango music, and deals with a mythical meeting between "the angels and devils", at which both groups "dance, they caress each other holding on so tight". It can be argued that the song describes the balance and close relationship between good (the angels) and bad (the devils) in the world. The performance of the song also featured several pairs of tango dancers.
It was succeeded as Finnish representative at the 2005 Contest by Geir Rönning with "Why?".
|This Finland-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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Teen pregnancy rates tumble, but is it less sex or more birth control?
But why?
The data show national birth rates for teen girls between ages 15 and 19 fell by 6 percent in 2012, hitting a new low of 29.4 births per 1,000.
Here in Palm Beach County, the trends have been much the same.
But what's behind the trend?
I chatted with Dr. Marsha Fishbane, who heads the Palm Beach County Health Department's division of community and school health. She also chairs the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach. Her take?
It's not that teens are having less sex.
The school district has been surveying local high schoolers about risky activity for a decade, and the percent of high school kids who report sexual activity has held steady at about 50 percent that whole time, she said.
"Based on what our teens are saying, abstinence education hasn't changed anything in the last decade," Fishbane said. "Something they are doing is preventing pregnancy."
Evidence published by the respected Guttmacher Institute suggests teens are more apt to use contraception. Also, they're having their first sexual encounter later in life.
According to Guttmacher:
•The use of contraceptives during first sex by females aged 15-19 has increased, from 48% in 1982 to 78% in 2006-2010.
Condom use has increased. But there's another factor to consider:
Emergency contraception, aka Plan B and Ella, have become more available. These are not abortion pills, but progesterone pills that can inhibit or delay ovulation. In 2006, Plan B was approved over-the-counter for women 18 and older. Ella was approved in August 2010.
So what's your take? Less sex? More condoms? Or Plan B?


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We all know that colouring your hair causes it to become dry and frizzy and generally just the worst. But now there's an in-salon treatment that can totally fix this.
It's called Olaplex.
So What Is Olaplex?
Formulated by a team of California-based US Scientists, Olaplex maintains the health of your hair, even after it's been highly processed. We're talking the key to nailing that Chloe Moretz bleached bob without making your hair fall out. YAS.
Hairstylist to every blogger ever (Zoella and Tanya Burr included) Samantha Cusick explains:
'Olaplex is the miracle revolution the hair industry has been waiting for. A single ingredient chemistry that not only stops chemical damage happening to hair but actually repairs it!'
How Does Olaplex Work?
'Olaplex is like nothing else out there, it's a whole new molecule that works inside the hair strengthening and repairing the structure that has been compromised.
It seeks out any broken disulphate bonds and links them back together making your hair feel fuller, thicker, stronger and healthier.'
When Would Olaplex Be Used In A Hair Salon?
According to Samantha Cusick, kind of all the time: 'We recommend Olaplex to all our clients in the salon. It is especially important to use Olaplex in all colour services.
'In darker and vibrant hair colours it helps to massively reduce fade and maintains your hair's integrity.
'In lightening services, from balayage to full head bleaches, we are religious with Olaplex. We want all our clients to have beautiful healthy hair they can maintain at home and Olaplex allows just that.'
In lamens terms? Because Olaplex gives the hair such strength, you're able to colour it more often and go lighter and brighter without the fear of it snapping off.
How Do You Use Olaplex At Home?
'In cases of severely damaged hair I would recommend a series of stand alone Olaplex treatments teamed with at home application of Olaplex No.3 until the hair is in good enough condition to colour.
'Apply Olaplex No3 to damp hair (it's a pre shampoo treatment) and gently brush through with a tangle teezer. Bleached hair is suuuper fragile when it's wet so be careful.
'For best results sleep with Olaplex No3 in your hair and wash out in the morning with a moisture rich sulphate free shampoo and conditioner. You'll feel a difference instantly! Do it once a week to keep your hair health on point.'
What Are The Benefits Of Olaplex?
- Colour-treated hair is kept in optimum condition - it feels fuller, healthier and glossier.
- It works on virgin hair as well. Undo heat and sun damage with a stand alone treatment and at home applications.


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Audio Converters and Video converters are definitely a must have software on any computers, since there are tons of formats available and you may have a favorite in which you may want to store all the media files.
In the past we have written about several free tools to help you manage and convert your media files, including audio and video files, which we have clubbed together to create a Ultimate List of Tools to manage your Digital life.
Must Read: Top 3 Free Online Media and Document Converters
Just came across another handy freeware called Quick Media Converter that will help you convert audio and video files to any format of your choice. Quick Media Converter can also be termed as a universal media converter, since it supports conversion to and from a large number of formats.
Quick Media Converter Features
- Convert Video files from one format to another.
- Convert Audio files from one format to another.
- Extract and convert Audio files from video or audio media.
- Extract and convert Video without sound.
- Preview and/or listen to video and audio files with FFPLAY Multi format player.
- Support most of the audio and video formats.
- Supports batch files processing to convert multiple media files.
- Supports drag and drop of files to the active worksheet.
- Allows you to capture output from your webcam and convert the output to any format.
- Features open source screen recorder Camstudio that will help you record your screen activities and share it online.
Download Quick Media Converter


text: DigitalCrippled with Debt, American Folk Art Museum to Sell Its Building to Museum of Modern ArtBy Steve Delahoyde|May 12, 2011 ShareBy Steve Delahoyde|May 12, 2011 ShareWe've known that New York's American Folk Art Museum has been struggling financially since last summer, when it was reported that the museum was "unable to make upcoming payments on a $32 million bond it borrowed from the City's Trust for Capital Resources." At the time, they said the troubles stemmed from opening an expensive new building in the same decade as when the bottom fell out of the economy, which led to plummeting attendance numbers and fewer endowments (an issue that has plagued the whole industry now for years). Adding to the uncertainty, it was announced last week that the museum's director, Maria Ann Conelli, would be stepping down as of July to return to academia. Though they'll still have to hunt for her replacement, the financial issues now seem solved. In a release by the museum earlier this week, they've announced that the Museum of Modern Art has agreed to buy the American Folk Art Museum's building. After the sale is complete, they will be moving to a smaller space in Lincoln Square. However, given that their future home is "only 5,000 square feet, one-sixth the size of the building it is selling," it's likely a given that a portion of its current staff will be laid off (this also helps possibly explain Conelli's exit). As for how this will affect the financial weight they've been carrying, the NY Times reports, "Neither museum would say what MoMA was paying for the building, but the folk art museum's president, Laura Parsons, said it was enough to retire the museum's debt." It's expected that the MoMA will use the new space, and the vacant lot that separates the two, for future expansion plans. For a bit of history on the Folk Museum's troubles, and how this deal came to pass, we recommend reading ArtInfo's great report. Sharehttp://adweek.it/2l4hb5V copy Adweek Adweek


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Saturday, July 18, 2015
Marie-Hélène Sambou
I have been under the weather all week, feeling rotten and physically broken, and trying my best to keep it all together under a polished veneer. It worked out splendidly, well...aside from the weeping on Monday night, and then again on Wednesday night.
I don't mind a little sadness every now and then. Especially when it's for no particular reason (other than simply being a psychic sponge and a hypersensitive organism navigating through an extroverted planet). It's moments like these when I reflect on my past and the people I have lost, some for the better, others, at great expense.
Do you have friends or acquaintances, people you have known and who have either brought sunshine or drastic change in your life, people that you often wonder about after many years of not having seen them? How difficulty would it be, you ask, in this age of social media, to not find someone you were looking for. You would be surprised.
I talked myself into making a list of these fascinating people. There are two that I would love to describe to you. I would also love to see them again but I know it would be a difficult quest. One of them, I will speak of now.
Marie-Hélène Sambou
That is her real name. I knew this lady for the first 10 years of my life when I lived in Dakar and in Nantes. And then I moved to Australia with my parents and never saw her again.
Who was she?
In common parlance, Marie-Hélène was our 'bonne', which is what we French-speaking expats living in Senegal called our 'help'.
But she was more than that.
From what I remember, my grandmother appointed her from the time I was born, or perhaps earlier. She was a young woman from the southern region of Casamance, a region I wrote about here. She could not read nor write. She was a Christian minority in a country that was and is still predominantly Muslim and she was, to me, absolutely fascinating.
Marie-Hélène took care of me from the time I was a baby. When I was separated from my mum aged 10 months, until the age of 3, Marie-Hélène came with me to France and continued to care for me at my grandparents' home.
Oh these were pretty cool days.
Here I am running alongside her in my grandmother's garden in Nantes. I was her star, I reckon.
She braided my hair into rastas. She liked that.
She played with me.
You could probably say she was like a mum to me.
Later when we lived in Dakar, at my grandparents' home. She and another lady (her cousin, Therese Sambou) did everything for us - that is to say they catered for a family of 7: my grandparents, my parents, my sister, my brother and I.
They rose with the sun. They washed all laundry by hand, waited on us at meal times, they scrubbed, mopped, tidied our rooms, cooked most meals, washed dishes by hand, made errands at the market daily, and prepared all ingredients.
When I say they prepared all ingredients, you probably wonder what I am talking about. Don't we all prepare ingredients?
Not really. In Senegal, well back in those days, preparation is time consuming. There is no packaging at the market, aside from rolled newspaper sheets and canvas bags. The only packaging you can expect is from imported products purchased in a Lebanese or French deli. It goes without saying that most food arrives home in its raw form.
So you bought a chicken? Good for you. Now go home, kill the chicken, pluck it's feathers, disembowel it. You can ask someone to chop off its head for you at the marketplace but you still have to prepare it when you get home.
Same story for the fish that my dad would bring back from his fishing trips and that would lay in a pool of blood on the concrete kitchen floor - Marie-Hélène would gasp at its size (much to my dad's pride) then haul it up upon the sink, scrub off its scales with a metal brush, and proceed to chop it into large pieces.
The rice we bought was crawling with vermin, mostly dead from the pesticides. Marie-Hélène had to sift through the rice manually to remove all insects. She did this every time we ate rice. And I can tell you that we ate rice almost every day.
I wrote about Marie-Hélène a few years back. I regularly miss her and wonder what she is up to. I feel sad knowing that I never got to have an adult conversation with her. I feel regret for all my brat behavior and for dobbing her in whenever I felt indignant or bullied by the authority she had to show to get me to shower, sleep, behave or just obey my parents.
Truth is she was just an angel and she worked so hard, so damn hard. I remember that when I was eight, and we were living in France before coming to Australia, I would often sleep with her. One reason was that I loved the way she smelled and I felt comforted by her. But the other reason is that she was so entertaining. I pestered her non-stop to tell me stories of magic and sorcery from her native Casamance and she begged me to let her sleep but I loved her stories so much, loved the way she told them so much, that I couldn't resist asking for more. Sadly the next day, after having had little sleep, she was up at four working at her chores, while I curled up in bed without a care in the world. All this makes me sad and I miss her terribly.
Marie-Hélène always gave of herself, despite the volume of chores she had to carry through. She was also always there for me. When she left us to return to Senegal before we emigrated to Australia, I remember how much she cried. She had been in our family for years and it would have hurt her enormously to leave. Leave where? Back in Dakar, somewhere. Or maybe in her village, in Casamance...
Where? I have no idea where. And that is what hurts so much. I feel as though a part of me is gone.
Posted by Laura at 12:08 AM
Labels: autobiography, Nantes
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The rain attacked fast, hard and loud this morning, so I got up early and went out on the front balcony to think about my problems. They're not so big in the scheme of things, but they're all mine. It always soothes my soul to write letters to distant friends, so I did some of that. People here face so much greater difficulties than I've ever had to, with such good humor, that it forces me to suck it up and not be a baby -- I leave that to Mukisa. Besides, he does it with much more charm.
I finished the letters and gazed out at the rain and the refrain from that Toto song came pounding into my head, damn it. I like the song alright, but do the radio stations have to play it 57 times a day? However, even that can't dampen my love of rain, and Uganda is really the place for rain lovers. It comes on hot and heavy, has its way with you, gives you a cigarette, shakes its ass, and skips out the door. "See you tonight, love," it says. "Get some rest so you're ready." Was rain always sexy or did we make it sexy with all our literary and cinema allusions? No matter. I like everything about it. In the words of Doc Watson, "Let it rain, let it pour, let it roll across the floor." I'd like to hear Doc Watson sing that Toto song. I think he'd kill it.
Rain or no, Africa doesn't stop. Just as I lapsed into feeling especially sorry for myself because of all my terrible problems, I heard a brass band approaching. We live on a secondary dirt road. Not exactly a parade route if you're looking for an audience, but there are scads of people everywhere here so audiences can quickly form just about anywhere. The band was knocking out some real John Philip Sousa stuff, heavy on the drums and tubas, very rousing. The rain intensified as the band approached; the band played louder. The band was good, good and loud, even drowned out the rain. It was from a nearby Muslim school, boys and girls, brightly dressed and in high spirits, playing their hearts out, importing a high-decibel load of fun into our very damp but beautiful neighborhood.
That was the second best part of the day. The first best part was when Sophie, our angelic nanny, showed up after being away for two days. I heard her knock and yelled to Mukisa and Ruth, "Sophie's here!" As I passed the room where they were lying down, I saw Muki go into a convulsive fit of ecstasy when he heard the name of his adored Sophie; it was like he was possessed, but in a good way.
I could still hear the band as it circled the roundabout a couple blocks away, but I could not remember for the life of me what I'd been fretting about.


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text:
- Paperback: 624 pages
- Publisher: Wrox (April 10, 2006)
- Language: English
As the .NET Framework and Common Language Runtime (CLR) continue to mature in terms of platform adoption, robustness, reliability, and feature richness, developers have an increasing need to understand the foundation on top of which all managed code runs. This book looks at the underlying platform commonalities that all developers can use, regardless of language choice or development tools. This includes languages such as C#, Visual Basic, C++/CLI, and others.
You'll begin with an in-depth look at CLR fundamentals. From there, you'll review first the Base Class Libraries (BCL) and then the more advanced Framework libraries that are commonly used in most managed applications. With an abundance of working code examples and unique depth of coverage, this book will quickly get you up to speed on what the .NET Framework and CLR 2.0 have to offer.
What you will learn from this book
- Details of the CLR's architecture, including garbage collection, exceptions, just-in-time compilation, and the Common Type System
- How assemblies work and options for deployment, from executables to shared to private libraries
- Specific portions of the BCL, as well as advanced Framework libraries such as the new transaction libraries
- Advanced services of the CLR, such as the secure programming model and forms of isolation and concurrency
- How the CLR's rich metadata is used for dynamic programming and runtime code-generation
Who this book is for
This book is for developers experienced either with the Microsoft (.NET 1.x, Win32, or COM) or Java platforms who want to understand and program with the .NET Framework and CLR.
Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.