text:
Thank you for signing up for the ticket newsletter!
One more step: you will receive an email shortly. You must click on the link in that email to activate your subscription to the ticket
Congratulations on confirming your subscription to the ticket newsletter!
Enjoy the best sports stories of the day sent directly to your inbox.
You have been unsubscribed from the ticket newsletter.
Please check your email for one final email confirming your removal from the list.
Gubie Tuesdays: Favorite college football team Watch Now
Gubie Tuesdays: Who is your favorite baseball Hall of Famer? Watch Now


text:
Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (1994)
Mar 12, 1994 48 min Watch Trailer
overview : The film opens with a Saiyan Space pod flying through space and crash-landing on Earth out of which a wounded Saiyan crawls out: Broly, the Legendary Super Saiyan. The wounded Broly shouts out in frustation and turns into normal form. The place soon freezes, trapping him in it and he falls into a coma.
Genres : Action, Animation, Science Fiction
Tags : anime
Masako NozawaSon Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)
Takeshi KusaoTrunks (voice)
Bin ShimadaBroly (voice)
Yuuko MinaguchiVidel (voice)
Mayumi TanakaKuririn (voice)
Jōji YanamiNarrator (voice)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has ruled out any reduction in power tariff despite demands for the same following the monsoon. There are, however, indications that the board might soft-pedal on filing a surcharge petition with the regulator to recoup an additional amount of Rs 2,000 crore it spent on purchase of high-cost power last financial year.
Board sources said the state government had not given a green signal to the filing of surcharge petition before the electricity regulatory commission. Though the board technically needs no clearance from the government for filing a surcharge petition, the general practice is that it files such petitions only after seeking the consent while the commission approves collection of surcharge from consumers in equal instalments.
Former electricity minister A K Balan and a few others had recently appealed to the board to cut the tariff after the state received more rainfall than expected this monsoon. The board, however, contends that the monsoon doesn't improve the board finances.
"Till 90s, the KSEB used to meet 90% of the domestic demand with hydel sources. Now, even during the peak of monsoon, the maximum the board can generate from hydel sources is 75%, and that too for a few days. There are also other reasons that go against any tariff reduction. While the board could save only Rs 71 crore owing to monsoon, the additional expenditure on power purchase during April and May alone was Rs 260 crore," member (finance) S Venugopal said.
According to the board, it spent Rs 816 crore for power purchase in April against Rs 667 crore approved by the regulator for the month. Similarly, it had spent Rs 825 crore for power purchase in May against Rs 714 crore approved. The purchase bills came down by Rs 12 crore in June and Rs 24 crore in July from amounts approved. It could also sell power to the tune of Rs 35 crore till August 23.
"In effect, the monsoon helped the board meet Rs 71 crore of the Rs 260 crore it spent additionally for power purchase just before the onset of monsoon. However, over Rs 2000 crore the board spent to meet power demands during last year remains to be realized,'' Venugopal said.
The board had also signed agreements for purchase of 400 MW power, which it is not drawing now. It pays a penalty of Rs 2/unit for surrendering this power.
Source- TOI


text:
Erin Herrmann Named MIAA Most Valuable Runner In Outdoor Track & Field
Hope College's Erin Herrmann has been selected the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Runner for the 2017 outdoor track & field season.
The senior from Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton-Warrenville South) was honored by the league's
coaches after winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase and helping the 4x400 relay claim
a MIAA title last week during the 126th MIAA Field Day at Calvin College.
This is the 10th time a member of the Hope women's track & field team has been named a MIAA Most Valuable Athlete.
Herrmann joins a group that includes Jane Pearson in 2015 (field performer), Sarah Venlet in 2013 (track performer), Heidi Grooters in 2011 (field performer), Kara Vande Guchte in 2011 (track performer), Nora Kuiper in 2009 (track performer), Marcia Vandersall Bannink in 1993, Mary Busscher in 1999 and 1998, and Paula Smith in 1986.
Herrmann headlines an All-MIAA team that includes three teammates: juniors Rachel Satkiewicz of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (Seaholm) and Rachael Webb of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grandville), and freshman Chelsea Miskelley of Holland, Michigan (Black River).
Satkiewicz earned her spot by winning the 400 meters at the MIAA Field Day. This is her third All-MIAA honor in outdoor track & field.
Webb finished first in the 800 meters at the MIAA Field Day. This is her second All-MIAA honor in outdoor track & field.
Miskelley led off the victorious 4x400 relay.
Herrmann won the 3,000-meter steeplechase for the third consecutive season. This is her third All-MIAA honor in outdoor track & field.


text:
Happy Birthday Oscar the Grouch!!!
Carroll Spinney has been the voice and puppeteer behind Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird since the first episode of Sesame Street in 1969.
It always amazes me that the voice my grand children are hearing is the same voice I heard in my childhood. It just seems so permanent. The show started 3 years before I was born, and is still on. Reality is Carrol Spinney has been Oscar the Grouch longer then I have even been alive.
I was born in 1972, which means I never knew him being yellow or orange. They say he is still orange under the green. He looks green because he never bathes and is covered in mold and moss.
Regardless, my favorite song from Sesame Street has always been I LOVE TRASH ! While his looks have changed, the song remains the same.
You might even remember our first giveaway was an Oscar the Grouch Pop Funko from Amazon.
I am not sure if my love stems from his grouchiness or something else. I Just know that Oscar has always been my Muppet.
Looking back it seems silly to try to imagine life without Sesame Street. As a child, it felt like we watched it from the time we woke up until the time we went to bed. As I got older my perception of time changed.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
did you just sing it? did you see a pin ball bouncing around a machine?
Well Oscar, Happy Birthday!


text:
About Us
Our mission is to provide the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to enable individuals and teams to perform to their maximum potential. Read More about "About Us"… Continue Reading About Us
Learning styles refer to the characteristic strengths and preferences in the ways people take in and process information. Due to personality and environment factors, individuals have different ways of perceiving and processing information. By understanding your particular learning style, you can better understand the strengths and limitations of that style. Additionally, by utilizing this knowledge, it is possible for people to work in ways that fit their type, which benefits their performance
Different people learn in different ways. People have different learning styles based on personality types. Some people tend to understand information better when it is presented verbally, others when it is presented through pictures.
There are several resources that can help assess an individual's learning style. Among these are:
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was developed by Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs based on the teachings of Carl Jung. The MBTI is a self-inventory questionnaire helps identify a person's personality type, strengths, and preferences. The questionnaire is designed to measure psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.
The model classifies individuals according to their behavioral preferences on scales derived from Jung's theory of psychological types. The MBTI system uses a four-scale structure for identifying and categorizing individuals, and each of the four scales represents two opposing preferences. Based on the answers to the questions, people are identified as having one of 16 personality types.
The ultimate goal of the MBTI is to allow people to explore and understand their own personalities including his or her strengths, weaknesses, and general preferences. It can also help determine career preferences that would best match his or her personality.
According to MBTI model, there are four areas of personality that affect learning. The model categorizes results based upon four dimensions:
|Area of Personality
|How A Person
|Extraversion vs. Introversion
|directs their energy
|Sensing vs. Intuition
|processed information
|Thinking vs. Feeling
|makes decisions
|Judging vs. Perceiving
|organization preferences
Learners may be:
|Extraverts (E)
|try things out, focus on the outer world of people
|Introverts (I)
|think things through, focus on the inner world of ideas
|Sensors (S)
|practical, detail-oriented, focus on facts and procedures
|Intuitors (N)
|imaginative, concept-oriented, focus on meanings and possibilities
|Thinkers (T)
|skeptical, tend to make decisions based on logic and rules
|Feelers (F)
|appreciative, tend to make decisions based on personal and humanistic considerations
|Judgers (J)
|set and follow agendas, seek closure even with incomplete data
|Perceivers (P)
|adapt to changing circumstances, resist closure to obtain more data
The MBTI type preferences can be combined to form 16 different learning style types. For example, one person may be an ISTJ (introvert, sensor, thinker, judger) and another may be an ENFP (extravert, intuitor, feeler, perceiver).
The 16 preferences:
Kolb's Learning Style Model uses four areas to determine an individual's learning style.
In Kolb's model, learners perceive and process information in a continuum across two dimensions, based on how people perceive information (how they take information in) and process information (how they internalize information). In this model, learners perceive and process information in a continuum from concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation.
This model classifies learners as having a preference for;
1) concrete experience or abstract conceptualization, and
2) active experimentation or reflective observation.
|concrete vs. abstract
|how people perceive information (how they take information in)
|active vs. reflective
|how people process information (how they internalize information)
Individuals tend to develop strengths in one experience-grasping approach and one experience-transforming approach. The resulting learning styles are combinations of the individual's preferred approaches. Each different area is based on how a student prefers to learn.
Kolb believes people come to prefer one style more than the others. The four learning styles or preferences are:
|Concrete experience
|being involved in a new experience
|Reflective observation
|watching others or developing observations about one's own experience
|Abstract conceptualization
|creating theories to explain observations
|Active experimentation
|using theories to solve problems and make decisions
A typical presentation of Kolb's two continuums is that the east-west axis is called the Processing Continuum (how we approach a task), and the north-south axis is called the Perception Continuum (our emotional response, or how we think or feel about it).
These learning styles are the combination of two lines of axis (continuums) each formed between what Kolb calls 'dialectally related modes' of 'grasping experience' (doing or watching), and 'transforming experience' (feeling or thinking):
These learning styles are as follows:
|Convergers(abstract, active)
|characterized by abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. They are good at making practical applications of ideas and using deductive reasoning to solve problems
|Divergers(concrete, reflective)
|tend toward concrete experience and reflective observation. They are imaginative and are good at coming up with ideas and seeing things from different perspectives
|Assimilators(abstract, reflective)
|characterized by abstract conceptualization and reflective observation. They are capable of creating theoretical models by means of inductive reasoning
|Accommodators(concrete, active)
|use concrete experience and active experimentation. They are good at actively engaging with the world and actually doing things instead of merely reading about and studying them
This model is very similar to the Kolb Model. There are four areas of personality that contribute to learning in this model. They are active or reflective, sensing or intuitive, visual or verbal, and sequential or global. A combination of these styles makes up the individuals learning preferences.
This model classifies learners as:
The Herrmann Brain Dominant Instrument is a learning style based on the idea that individuals have a preference for using one hemisphere of the brain over the other hemisphere. This method classifies people in terms of their relative preferences for thinking in four different modes based on the task-specialized functioning of the physical brain.
Herrmann developed the four-quadrant model of cognitive preferences and a questionnaire called the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI). The inspiration for this model came from dividing the brain into as four different systems with four preferred styles:
A: Left cerebral hemisphere – analytical
B: Left limbic system – sequential
C: Right limbic system – interpersonal
D: Right cerebral hemisphere – imaginative
The left hemisphere of the brain is rational, analytical, and verbal, while the right hemisphere is holistic and intuitive, responsive to visual imagery. The two halves of the brain can be further divided into a front and back half, making four sections in the brain. Individuals are dominant in one of these four areas, which is connected to their personality type.
The HBDI identifies four thinking styles. Individual preferences among these thinking styles influence how we think, learn and communicate.
The four modes or quadrants in this classification scheme are;
Howard Gardner's theory suggests that our school systems have been teaching two primary kinds of intelligences and neglecting other equally important intelligences. He has proposed that there are at least eight kinds of intelligences and when this theory is applied in the educational setting, there is an increase in successful student achievement.
Gardner's multiple intelligences, understanding the various areas where individuals can demonstrate particular strengths and weaknesses is a first step in understanding self as learner. Gardner proposed that there are several areas in which people can excel, with no one area receiving any more emphasis or weight than the other areas. These areas of multiple intelligences include: interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical, naturalist, bodily kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, verbal-linguistic and visual-spatial. Traditional formal education emphasizes the verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences over the other areas of intellect. The challenge for the learner and the facilitator is to integrate curricula that include equal emphasis on all areas of intelligence so equal learning opportunities are provided to all learners.
This simple grid diagram illustrates Howard Gardner's model of the seven Multiple Intelligences at a glance.
|Intelligence type
|Capability and perception
|words and language
|logic and numbers
|music, sound, rhythm
|body movement control
|images and space
|other people's feelings
A person learning style cannot easily be changed. However, learning strategies can be employed to enhance learning in various situations. Learning strategies are dynamic and adaptable to different circumstances and conditions. It is not enough to develop an awareness of one's learning style. This awareness must be translated into the development of learning strategies. Learners should develop a repertoire of strategies that favor their preferred learning style as well as strategies that help them deal with situations where the preferred learning style is not the method of delivery.


text:
Decorating the Christmas tree is one of my favourite things to do, so much so that I am always tempted to do it mid-November just so I can enjoy it for the maximum Christmas time available. As a mainly blue-grey themed girl, I thoroughly enjoy the traditional reds and golds mixed in with some whites and silvers to add a bit of ommph, and of course the whitest of white clean lights that basically blind you.
But don't just take my word for it, you can see how I've decorated the tree this year in today's new video! A few little arty farty shots of us setting up the tree, sorting through the mountains of red, white, silver and light gold baubles, bright lights and getting fully in the festive spirit.
Of course, loads of these (okay, all of these) are from Homesense which is my favourite place in the world, and all their decorations are so unique that it makes your tree feel a little bit extra special and reflects your style of cosy winter nature – I'm definitely a cosy traditionalist mixed with bright and light cravings, the more silver the better!
If you want to see the decorations I picked out in more detail, you can watch my haul here which also features some pieces from George at Asda and Paperchase, and also don't forget that I'm now uploading twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays at 9am) so get subscribing to youtube.com/brittonloves ASAP for all the hauls and festivity!
Leave me a comment here and on the video telling me how you'll be decorating the tree, and don't forget to give the video a thumbs up and SUBSCRIBE for all the awesome videos. Not biased at all, nope, never.
Lots of Love,
Lauren x
Some products in this post may have been sent for review or gifted, and will be marked with a * or c/o. All opinions are mine are not influenced by brands or companies. Please see my full disclaimer for more.
Website | Flickr | Tumblr | Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest


text:
25 CRPF men killed in Maoist attack
Maoist killed 25 CRPF personnel and injured seven in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. Around 10 to 12 Maoists were killed in retaliatory fire by the CRPF personnel. Firing lasted for almost three hours.
It is the worst Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh in seven years.
The incident took place when a team of 100 CRPF personnel, that belonged to the 74th battalion of CRPF were on duty and were providing protection for a road construction work in the area.
The area is part of Chintagufa-Burkapal-Bheji axis which is the hotbed of Maoist activity and has witnessed attacks on security forces in recent times.
How was the attack executed:
- The Maoists initially send some local villagers to check the location of the CRPF team and then launched a surprise attack
- Some villagers even carried weapons and were also used as a shield by the Maoist
- The Maoists were also in possession of automatic weapons such as AK-47, SLR and INSAS
- The terrain in the area is rocky and uneven
- The CRPF troops were initially distracted through distraction fire, but majority of the firing came from the other side
The response from security forces:
- CRPF personnel gave a befitting reply but the Maoists used the geographical position to their advantage
- 10 to 12 Maoists were reportedly killed in the attack, though no bodies have been recovered yet
Concerns that were raised after the attack:
- The country's largest paramilitary force is without a full time chief for almost two months
- An attack in the same area left 76 CRPF troops dead in 2010
- Local support from villagers whether voluntarily or due to fear, put a question mark on our developmental initiatives
- Lack of interstate coordination among the various police forces have led to a situation where we are unable to contain Maoist activities
Five-pronged strategy adopted by the center to contain Left wing extremism(LWE)
- Taking up developmental programmes in the Naxal affected area
- Creating awareness among communities, not to take the path of violence
- Use of modern technologies that include unmanned aerial vehicles
- Creating a communication network in the area by installing mobile towers
- Emphasizing on developmental in field of education, health, communication etc.


text:
Moorish Modern/
The Living Room of designer Mark Christofi's house as seen in the June '07 issue of Metropolitan Home really caught my eye! I love the wall graphics and the combination of objects. I am partial to any room that mixes the Mies Barcelona Table with the unexpected (I have that table myself!) . The use of the funeral drapes to cover the armchair requires a great sense of humor. I love that.


text:
When it comes to music, I thoroughly enjoy listening to new music that I've never heard of before, especially when most of what makes up so-called popular music is X-Factor cast-offs or pop groups that have been so obviously manufactured you can still see the welding joints. Now, before you start throwing the F-word my way, by which I mean "flannel", there are plenty of popular music acts that I enjoy listening to. Unfortunately, there's only so many times I can enjoy the angelic tones of Miley Cyrus before I begin to crave something more, something different.
JamStation is a music discovery app for the online service Jamendo, providing a radio-like way of listening to new music. While basic, it delivers on its singular promise of providing you access to new artists.
The Service
Jamendo provides music from artists who have published their work using the Creative Commons licensing. It's a treasure trove of artists and music you're almost guaranteed never to have heard before, making it a great way of finding music you've never heard of.
The App
JamStation works like most other radio services, a constant stream of music is provided for you to listen to with the ability to switch between genres like radio stations.
The app, looking like a cross between an iPod nano and a car stereo. Despite the app's relatively small footprint, there's no option to have it float above all other windows like the Mini Player in iTunes. It's a shame too, as the main viewing area of the app displays track and artist information, along with album artwork.
The app has very few controls, though with a music discovery app such as this, anything else would just be superfluous. There are controls to change the volume and station you're listening to. A "power" button turns the radio on or off, though it seems pointless since you're probably going to quit the app if you're no longer listening to it.
The lack of controls does have one benefit which is that you can control the app all from the cursor keys on your keyboard, no holding of modifier keys or using the media keys on your Mac's keyboard, only to find iTunes pops up instead (an annoyance I constantly do battle with in Spotify). But since you'll have to switch back to the app, as it doesn't float above other windows, this isn't as useful as it sounds.
JamStation features a decent number of genres you can listen to, from Classical to Metal. They aren't listed in any kind of order so you'll need to constantly tune through the different stations until you find the one you want. Furthermore, there's no way of jumping directly to a station — you have to keep scanning through. While this may closely mimic a traditional radio, it's a huge annoyance and one that can really put you off. Something to quickly jump between stations, a menu or a list, anything would be preferable.
Thankfully, when you do get to the station you want to listen to, the music is exceptional. This doesn't have any real bearing on the app since JamStation isn't responsible for the music, but the app and web service are responsible for allowing me to listen to it, something I give them credit for.
Favourite Tracks
Hidden in a panel at the bottom of the app is a favourites window. Clicking the star icon on any currently playing track will add it to your list so you can listen to it later. Tracks can't be listened to again via JamStation, but double-clicking will open the track on Jamendo's site. While it may not sound ideal, Jamendo allows you to not only stream the track through the website, you can download the track for free.
While the favourites list may serve as a great way to save music you want to download later, you can't edit the list at all. There's no way to remove tracks you've saved so the list will just keep growing and growing. Eventually, the list will become so large that its usefulness will diminish into nothing.
As far as the app is concerned, JamStation is quite flawed and too basic. Its lack of controls, especially when changing stations, can be quite infuriating at times and the inability to clean up the favourites list means it will eventually become a cluttered and unusable mess.
But it does have one redeeming quality, however, and that is it works well and features some great content. While it may be basic, its ability to provide easy access to a wide variety of music make it a great app to have playing music. I've found myself using this app on a regular basis and have discovered some great new artists to listen to.
While the app itself is far too basic and lacks some decent control, the service and content it provides in top-notch.
- JamStation 1.1 |
- Free |
- Jamendo


text:
After laying down two big posts about happiness and a dare to change, I am enticed to have a go myself. There's this urge to take the challenges, and to actually write some more, toning up my writing muscle (and my eyes' muscles, since I tend to write till dawn).
so, Happiness Commandments.
The background story is the one of the blogs that I regularly visit nowadays; Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. Every day Gretchen will have an article or a video that touches on the subject of happiness, to then be explored from different perspectives. From my mini manifesto about happiness, I am intrigued to come up with my own list of happiness commandments.
What I have in mind is, by having the list of things or suggestions on how to be happy, I will have to at least learn to know about myself. What makes me happy, what makes me sad, or annoyed, etc. Sometimes we have to be asked the right questions that in order to answer them, we've got to really think and open up who we really are. To be brave and be not ashamed of what matters to us and what doesn't. And by committing to this list, hopefully, I will have an exciting journey of rediscovering myself and, fingers crossed, be a better person.
Gretchen, in her page on how to start your own happiness project, wrote that the first step is to write your own version of happiness commandments. These commandments can easily end up like a to-do-list, because we might identify where our problem is (e.g. I shall wash my plates right after I'm done with my food), and drop the pin like the ones on your GPS, and work excessively just on that one bit. We will end up with pages of lists if that's how we're doing it. We need to broaden up our target, and that one resolution may fall under a larger self-command, like "clean while you cook", or "unclutter is cool", for example. The process of constructing the commandments will take time, I'm sure, because I will have to identify what areas that I am more sensitive with compared to the others.
I don't know why I'd need 400 words to start writing up my commandments. I guess I'm buying time, again, because I'm so NERVOUS!! *cold, sweaty palms*
Okay, my number one is pretty easy and straight-forward and it's because first of all, I took it from Gretchen's list. Hee.
Be Yuko.
As in, be myself. Easy, straight-forward, a tad too cliche perhaps, but at times proved to be a heck of a challenge.
You know what, I think I'm going to do what Gretchen's done in her website. I'll set up a widget somewhere on my blog site, list down my commandments, and link each of them to separate posts where I will explain myself why I choose to do or have that point in my list. Oh, and I also need to work out on naming the list. It's gotta be catchy, you see. It'll be easier to remember whenever I need some 'help' out there. So, my next post will be a "Be Yuko" post and why.
Alright! Enough for now. Have to get ready to go to church soon! We've got Om Djohan in the house tonight, for our Joint FA 😀


text:
+0034 958 860044 / +0034 670 917602 +0034 958 860044 / +0034 670 917602
Address: Plaza Santiago, Nº 7 Postal code 18.800 Baza (Granada) - Spain -
Code: v451 Property types: Country home Bedrooms: 9 Visits: 453
SOLD Excellent potential near Baza¸ detached 3 storey structure for completion with 10ha of land surrounding and 5 separate outbuildings 100m from house. Unobstructed 360° views of the area from 3rd storey roof terrace. 5000sqm around house and outbuildings fenced in security fence. Isolated from neighbours but near amenities in Baza. Excellent land for animals¸ motorcross or 4x4. -------------------------- 3 storey house with roof terrace and excellent views. Garage on lower floor¸ upper 2 levels undistributed. Electric and water previously connected. Good structure¸ house easily finished to your taste. In another area of the property there are 5 outbuildings perfect for storage/animals or finished as possible rental accomodations. Given the land available and location¸ great spot for raising animals. The rolling lay of the land would also be ideal for a motorcross or 4x4 circuit. Utilities for reconnection.


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242237432019-05-20T04:59:25.777-04:00Cranial SoupPeas, carrots, green beans, and gray matter.Apphttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-5013511313887977112008-06-08T05:48:00.002-04:002008-07-05T13:22:47.777-04:00Win a Microsoft Visual Studio Team Suite Package Worth Over $10,000
DonationCoder is running another whopper of a coding contest, with the help of Chris Hanscom (who runs veign.com).

The prize is a copy of Microsoft Visual Studio Team Suite with MSDN Premium subscription (almost every application from Microsoft!), worth over $10,000!

So what do you have to do to enter?

Code a new, never-released application, using one of the free versions of Microsoft Visual Studio Express.

Provide the source code for your application (but you do not need to release this publicly if you don't want to).

The winning program must be freeware or donationware.

Code any kind of program you want.

Post a reply to this forum thread and email mouser stating your intention to enter, well in advance of the deadline.

When is that deadline?

July 1st, 2008

Oh, my! That's not too far away, so go read about the full contest rules and information and get coding.

Good luck!
Apphttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-73118573582505324032007-12-06T21:48:00.002-05:002008-06-02T16:06:32.787-04:00DonationCoder N.A.N.Y. 2008 Programming Challenge
This is a challenge for anybody with any kind of coding skills, even at the beginner level.

The challenge is to release a new freeware/donationware application on or before January 1, 2008.

It was a lot of fun last year and it got quite a bit of publicity. It was covered by ShellCity.net, CybernetNews.com, and ghacks.net, along with many other sites & blogs.

So if you can code, you might want to take the challenge this year.

I have been a member of DonationCoder for quite some time now, and it has been a wonderful experience for me.

One of the great things about this site and the community behind it, is the feedback you get from users, which helps you to improve your software and make it the best it can be. It is a kind of co-operative endeavor, with the end users and the developers working together as a team. You don't have any idea how great of an experience it is until you experience it for yourself, either as a user or a developer.

This entire team approach of software development brings the developer and end user together in a way that most people never have seen or experienced before. The results are amazing.

 When you are coding for an unknown mystery user, it is easy to assume what he will want and like and what he will use your software for, having no clue what he really wants, likes, or needs. The reality is that you end up coding for yourself, and hoping the end user has the same tastes as you. It is quite easy to become disconnected and out of touch, when you are just coding and posting your creations on your own personal site for others to download, with no real interaction with the people you are writing for.

And as software users, it is easy not to think of developers as approachable people that will listen to you and consider your comments & suggestions seriously. It is also too easy to think of software as not having a human element behind its creation. This can lead people to not really care where their software comes from or appreciate the amount of work that goes into making it. It's this not caring attitude that can be an element contributing to the issues with software piracy that exist today. It's a bit harder for a user to bring themselves to pirate software, when they are hit with the reality that the stuff they are using actually has a 'face'.

Now before you get the wrong impression of what this is all about, let me explain what it isn't. This isn't a situation where a coder creates, users make demands, coder submits to demands, working himself to death and becoming resentful...or all he gets as feedback is bug reports or complaints. It's not like that at all.

And it's not a matter of users getting everything they want, which results in a bloated application full of useless features, that does everything except make your bed for you.

 This is ongoing honest discussions, with not just feature requests, but an explanation of why they want the features, discussions between the developer and the users about which would be the best features to add and/or remove, and discussions on how the best way to present them would be.

Many of these discussions are between the users themselves, where they have to make up their minds and come to an agreement of what they really want & need, as a group. And the developer helps with guiding them and keeping things realistic and explaining what is or isn't possible, or what is or isn't within the limits of their coding abilities.

When something is outside the coder's abilities, there are other developers on the site that can be helpful and provide resources to learn from, and share some of their knowledge & experience so that you can do things you thought were impossible, and learn a lot in the process.

And the users really do appreciate the developers that will listen to them and be honest with them, with many showing that appreciation with donations. But don't do this for the money, because you will never get rich from freeware or donationware. Do it instead for the experience and the fun it will be, and the greater sense of connection to the people you are coding for, and how it will help to keep you from losing touch with your userbase...or the realities of real world software use.

 So think about something you can make and accept the challenge today. You have about 3 weeks to come up with something you can release. And if you are out of ideas, you can take a look at the Coding Snacks section of their forum and maybe fill a request for a small tool that someone needs.

http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=11206.0
Apphttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-1167288509835879552006-12-28T01:48:00.000-05:002008-08-27T10:30:26.849-04:00Best of the Web 2006Here is my list of my best website discoveries of 2006:

donationcoder.com

Seriously...that's it!

Nothing else matters. Nothing else can compare, in my mind.

Anybody that has been reading my blog knows I love that site and it has become my online home.

But I am just one person, and my opinions on what is best would only reflect my opinions. If you want a great list of what is best try this one:

DonationCoder.com's Best of the Year 2006 list.

It contains the best

software

websites

essays

debates

flash games

humor

fun

gadgets

programming stuff

entrepreneur related articles

and more

all selected from their fantastic forum postings of the past year.

This isn't the usual single person who just comes along and gives their opinion of what they think is the best...you can find that on any other website.

What makes this list special is that this is a huge community of dedicated enthusiasts that has collectively scoured the internet for the best of everything. No single person could have come up with a list like this, and it sure would have taken them a lot longer than a year to put it together if they tried.

If you would like to become part of the team and possibly contribute to the Best of 2007 list, register on their forum and become part of the community. You won't regret it.

It is my best discovery of 2006.

http://www.donationcoder.com/2006/Apphttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-1142888827242958642006-03-20T15:51:00.001-05:002008-06-02T16:54:46.053-04:00Linux vs Windows"The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion."
-- GK Chesterton

This is especially true in technology themed chatrooms.

Recently a programmer was engaged in a discussion about .net programming and how much he loved it and the whole idea of it. There are a few in the room that share his feelings for .net...and a few that don't.

One such guy that didn't share that point of view, decided to twist the discussion into an argument, claiming that Linux was superior to Windows and anything Microsoft could churn out. Of course the programmer didn't agree with him and started making some very valid points to support his own point of view. This ended up becoming a personal attack war with the Linux guy verbally attacking the Windows/.net programmers of the room.

The host of the room, the .net programmer he was mainly aiming his attacks at, ended up having to ban him for awhile, so the Linux guy could go cool off.

Instead of the Linux guy doing that, he hit the room's forum and proceeded to carry on with his attacking there, at which point the host of the room ended up having to delete his posts and was accused by the Linux guy of censorship.

A few days later I came across this little gem:

"The Unix/Linux community is very supportive. Think about your favorite sport and then imagine the team with the most rabid, loyal fans. Linux users are pretty similar except that if you show up at the game cheering for Microsoft, they will 'flame' you (post nasty messages on their forums about you) instead of beating you up in the parking lot."

(read full page...)

I guess Windows is better than Linux...at least Windows won't give you a case of rabies. :-P
Apphttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities
It was the best of times, it was the worst of the times, it was frankly more of the same. Another week in life's hopper. Actually on balance a pretty good week although it certainly had its peaks and valleys. I have definitely enjoyed better shows, but it broke the recent bad streak I was on and I like the way I did it. Kid got his mojo back.
I was active on the floor, searching for value and then after putting a smaller than normal margin on top, flipped pretty much everything I bought. Bought some great material. It's sure fun when its flowing and I think that it flowed for a lot of people this weekend. Nice when the gears line up. Rare these days.
Would have sold near everything except I let an old couple bring a Bertha Lum print back because the colors didn't match their couch. Old softie that I am. Basically I got down and dirty and just grinded all week. Bloody knees and elbows but I feel purty good. One of the high points for me was when they made the announcement that there would be a two o'clock lecture on the history of the use of plastics in antiques. I already feel like a throwback, that one put me right over the edge. It's your planet now, have at it.
The best part of the week was seeing my younger brother John and his family. He is an engineer in San Jose. We have been estranged for too long, my fault entirely and I had never met my 9 and 11 year old niece and nephew. Criminal. Great to see Connie, John and the whole family.
I introduced them to some friends that live in their area and we made plans to spend more time together when we get the next opportunity.
I found Koi Palace on Yelp a few years ago looking for the best dim sum in the city but still haven't made it there in the daytime when dim sum is traditionally served.
I am crazy about the food there, it being clean and of high quality. The fish in the tanks don't look tumor ridden and radioactive like in some chinese restaurants.
Our party was seated at a large table with a lazy susan and we all sipped chrysanthemum tea while we perused the menus. We ordered quick and ruthlessly, the table being inhabited by mostly hard core foodies.
The menu is interesting and well illustrated. There is a set menu and a family dinner menu. Birdseye menus and Superior menus too, it can get pretty fancy and expensive.
Like the pretty lady out front said, when you are there you have to try the seafood.
We started off with hot steamed pork buns and fried tofu, which were sort of like soy tater tots. I thought about the fifty three dollar bowl of soup, which is called buddha jumped over the wall but passed. Not sure what's in it but I'm trying to stay off rhino horn and shark fin at this point of my life. Pork buns were delicious.
They have large special dinners there like this one as well. Have to order the whole suckling pig one day. I am a sucker for maraschino eyeballs.
One diner thought that the crab tasted like it was seasoned with barbecue potato chips, but in a good way. Caked and beautiful, it's taste and texture were awesome. Both times I have visited the crab was delectable. They tried to hook us on some $65.00 a lb. fish but we settled on a perfectly fine swimmer for a third of that. Squab were fat and juicy, perfect. Not Le Cheval perfect but perfect.
We gorged. I ate until I felt like it could have been me up there on that platter with the maraschino eyeballs. I think my companions felt the same, many who have been friends with me back to the seventies and early eighties. Comfort in old friends.
There are so many things I want to try here in the future. The lobster was about three foot long and the giant crabs were crawling out of the clean tanks.
Melissa is recently back from France and she gifted us with some premium olive oil from Brittany? Somewhere, also gave us some local Bay Area gin she is favoring these days.
Yesterday she gave me some freshly shot wild duck from her Chico gig that Leslie is going to prepare tomorrow, maybe on the barbecue if we can figure out the high fat/flare up thing. Thanks, Melissa.
|My breath must be really bad if you can see it.
I was basically on my own at this show, Cam helping Bill with Dan's estate. Continuing my recent poverty chic tour, I stayed at the tony Howard Johnsons in San Mateo, a slight step up from the elaborate, detention facility like, Motel Six in Carpenteria.
Tried to read, hated the book, an Ishmael Reed compendium. Hit IHOP one morning and realized that I couldn't see, or resolve my visual information anyway, blurry vision all day. I am trying to set up an operation, hope it takes care of things.
Waiting for cardiac clearance. My ophthalmologist, who I called that night, said it was probably the visual stress of driving that whacked my system. The rapid degeneration has been amazing in its speed. Seeing better today, after 15 hours in the car yesterday.
So I am trying to get down and dirty as I said and have even hit Denny's on this tour, if only to reinforce my proletariat street cred.
Michael took me to a crowded and trendy bruschetta restaurant in San Mateo. B Street and Vine. I wasn't crazy about it. You order four different bruschettas for $12. They have panini too. I did the bruschetta and it was a mistake. Too many disparate food elements in one's digestive tract. I call it the French Laundry syndrome. Salami and feta and dates and pistachio, all mixed up, well, you get it. Was okay, wouldn't go back.
O.B. Chicken Town in Berkeley. Excellent, although the chicken seemed a little sweet to me. Needs more bite. Noodle sausage and regular sausage as well as a couple other dishes.
Great place, neat traditional korean atmosphere. Sweet host, very friendly, I might add, recent korean research be damned.
Bravo Farms at the Kettleman City 41 junction.
The great highway is full of Del Tacos and your normal corporate road food but the sign said barbecue and ice cream and I thought, what the hell? Rare to find anything resembling food. Guess it is part of a small chain.
This place is such a step up, if you are traveling north on the five. check it out. Honestly, e coli, listeria and all, it beats the road competition hands down. I have got vestigial organs for filtering stuff I hardly ever use. Delicious beats occasionally deadly every time.
Bravo Farms.Very friendly, knowledgable and helpful staff. Good food. Really.
Person pulled out ahead of me in a souped up flame orange charger, almost tore off my front quarter panel he/she was so close. Driver tore into a gas station. I followed close behind. Didn't know who was driving. Screeched in, I'm pissed.
Guy pops out in a red 50's bowling shirt, modified mullet greaseback, fancy rock and roll shoes. Big bald spot. Fading central valley rocker gone to seed.
"Did you know you almost hit me pulling put out back there," I inquired in my peeved tone. Asshole almost didn't register, blinked twice, said he was sorry and slithered away like nothing happened.
That's about it for now. Soon.


text:
I used the Love You Much stamp set. On a Previous post on Sunday, I showed you the rest of the cards, using this colour combination. Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla and Real red. The cards at the back all have a fun insert - An Explosion Card.....
I added some punched out hearts to the inside and the paper is from the Jackpot paper pack. You have to use paper to do this as cardstock would be too thick really.
To make best use of a piece of 12" x 12" of paper. Cut the paper into Four, ie Either 6" x 6" or 15cm x 15cm.
Step 1. Fold the paper diagonally from corner to corner.
Step 2. Turn and to this again.
Step 3. You will end up with the cross in the middle as below.
Step 4. Having the paper facing you bring down the top edge, and marry up with the bottom corners.
Step 5. You will end up with the piece looking like this a smaller folded triangle.
Step 6. Now bring in the corners to the centre, as below.
Step 7. Turn over and do the same to the back, bring in the corners to the centre.
Step 8. Your paper will look like this.
Step 9. Now open up the top slightly and tuck in the corners. As shown on the right. Do this to all four corners.
Step 10. There you are finished. Add this to the inside of your card...
You could add some confetti inside for a bit of fun!!!! But you might not be very popular with the mess......:-)
Add double sided tape to the top and bottom of the outside. Add to the inside of your card, with the point up against the score line in the middle of your card, not going over it though! Then close you card and the top will stick in the correct position. If you remember to take the backing of the double sided tape!!!!
If you are using designer paper, choose which side you want on the inside and then when folding it make sure that is on the inside of the first fold.
Card Sizes then by cutting 12" x 12" into four......
The card base needs to be 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square to use a 6" x 6" piece of paper folded up.
The card base needs to be 9.5cm x 9.5cm square to use a 15cm x 15cm piece of paper folded up.
If you need to make a 4" x 4" or 10.5cm x 10.5cm You will need the paper to be 7" x 7" or 18cm x 18cm but you could only get one from a piece of 12 x 12.
Hope this Helps.
Thanks for looking,


text:
We've had a couple calls recently from people who made the same mistake. They each purchased a property without enough research.
One guy, let's call him Clint, meet with Rick to discuss plans to demo the house and build a new custom home. No can do, buddy, you live in a historic neighborhood where houses must maintain their historic integrity – at least from the front. Meaning that Clint can do a huge addition to the back of the house, but he must keep the front of the house looking as cute as it did the day it was built. Surprise! He was so disappointed.
The 2nd guy, his name is, um, Wagner, he bought his property at an auction and called to ask about the existing plans for a new house. Turns out that the Planning Application has expired and he has to start almost from scratch to get approval to build a new home. He didn't ever call the City to ask about this property. Its gonna cost him an extra tens of thousands of dollars and, maybe 6-9 extra months of mortgage payments to get this approval.
Please pay attention! If you are buying property, do a little research before signing your name on the dotted line! Go down to the City or County and ask to talk to a Planner about the property. Some cities will even allow you to find out about permit history for the property online.
Don't expect your real estate agent to do this on your behalf, its not her job. Find out if a property is viable for the type of project you have in mind. The ultimate responsibility is yours. You can sue anyone you want, but you'll still be the one with 'FAIL' stamped on your forehead. 😉


text:
Researching the realm of dropshipping? This page makes all of it straightforward to understand for any beginner. The maximum amount of money that may be borrowed via Financial institution of America Apply Options is $5,000,000 (subject to change). How did Phaedra make her money? She is an entertainment attorney and managing accomplice of the Parks Group PC regulation firm. She was additionally a legal analyst for NBC and Fox information. These packages are used for writing any form of proposals for any situation (government, private sector, training, medical, and many others.). Nice article and really nice concepts. This is one of the finest blogs that I've read just lately. These concepts will show to be very useful for nay one that is prepared to start out a business in a small amount.
Create a contact management system that works for you. Discover ways to manage, tag, and back up necessary contact data—business cards, social media connections, and more. Good detailed lens. Sometimes, customers will be tough and there are times even if you're proper, its higher to simply see when you can accommodate the purchasers downside. That includes giving a refund exterior the conventional refund period. Hello. I am planning to set up a webshop and promote T-shirts, Polos ++ from Thailand to prospects in Europe and America. How can I do this in a authorized way. I cannot take any possibilities of breaking the law in LOS.
For over 30 years I've taught on the facet, in stay classroom … Read More . . .


text:
Dan Brotsky wrote: > ... > In no case does a client ever assume that "the text it sent with the PUT > is what would be retrieved by the GET." That's not what the etag is > for. The etag is to reassure the client that the value on the server > *has not changed since the PUT completed*. No guarantees are issued > that the value doesn't change as part of the PUT; that would be a part > of the PUT semantics for that server and are outside the scope of > WebDAV. > ... Thanks, Dan :-) So let's look at what clients are interested in again: - they want to avoid fetching an ETag after PUT, - in some cases, they want to be able to find out whether the server stored exactly what they sent, - if they interleave PUT and PROPPATCH, they want their ETags to continue to work. I believe all of these things can be accomplish by protocol extensions, and I'll be happy to spec them out. On the other hand, I don't think it would be a good idea to rush them into RFC2518bis, which was supposed to be finished around this time of year (if I may remember). Best regards, JulianReceived on Tuesday, 20 December 2005 09:18:38 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Wednesday, 7 January 2015 15:01:34 UTC


text:
Under the U.S. Capitol Dome, inside the Library of Congress, it does not get more legislative than this…
In the spirit of our "House of Cards" Washington, DC tour – we continue to take peaks inside famous buildings around the capital. This sunny and warm late February (?!) day, we headed over to the U.S. Capitol. The heart of the legislative branch, place where laws are made, democracy exercised, Presidents inaugurated and hearings and debates held.. Also, I am sure many would agree – the ultimate stage where political intrigue, drama (nowadays more than ever) and power games reign.
Setting aside history, legislation and politics, I am always curious about details and design of these important structures. Let's peak inside.
The inside of the Dome, mostly used for ceremonial purposes, is truly majestic. The light coming through arched windows, the painted ceiling, the elaborate decorations are quite something.
An underground tunnel connect the Capitol with the largest Library in the world – the Library of Congress.
There were many good angles and lots of opportunities for cool photography. A collage below.
I will leave you with another cool shot, as we were leaving the great halls, hungry, in awe and smarter for few new facts we learned. Wishing you a great week, with a touch of political intrigue!


text:
Arts Culture & Heritage
North Bay's strength as a community today begins with a deep respect for our history and heritage. From these roots has emerged a dynamic community built by the creativity and imagination of all those who came here to build a life for themselves and their families. Today we draw strength from our diversity and a shared sense of community and identity. Our culture and heritage is the glue that connects old residents and new, our past and our future.
North Bay provides many opportunities to experience arts, culture and entertainment in the downtowndistrict. There is always something happening be it an annual event, the Farmer's Market or one of the many activities listed on the 'Calendar of Events'. You can be sure there is something for everyone!
"See it, Hear it, and Live it Live" at the Capitol Centre. Enjoy the new and wonderful live performances or a presentation of one of the local theatre groups in the 1000 seat theatre.
Dine and experience local and regional live entertainment presented each week at a variety of local restaurants. Enjoy North Bay's finest musicians
Our abundance of talented visual artist's can be viewed at local art galleries or join a Gallery Hop and take a tour of as many as six galleries along the way.
Learn about our history by enjoying our downtown historical walk. A 2 kilometer walk between historical sites. Each site has an interpretive sign which provide information about the site. Visit our local historic sites and monuments.
Discovery North Bay is our museum which hosts regular interesting displays and a gift shop for local souvenirs. Participate in the Haunted Hikes that take place during the summer months to experience some of 'North Bay's shady or just plain scary past'.
The North Bay and District Multicultural Centre has been identified as a remarkable community asset that provides resources to our diversity of ethno-cultural communities and more recent immigrants to North Bay and area.
The cultural traditions and practices of the First Nations are a tremendous part of our community. The North Bay Indian Friendship Centre provides a wide array of programs and services to support Aboriginal people of all ages.
North Bay's Cultural Directory is a work in process. It provides a listing of cultural resources such as theatres, galleries, artists, musicians, historical sites and art businesses that is growing on a daily basis. Check it out to find what you're looking. If you are a 'cultural resource' in North Bay, be sure to add yourself, organization or business to it.
The Cultural Plan for North Bay was completed in December 2011. Find out more in the Culture Plan Report.
For a complete list of all arts and culture resources in North Bay try visit the North Bay Cultural Directory.


text:
Fraud Alerts
Stay informed about the latest fraud and security alerts.
We publish these fraud alerts to help keep you informed of potential suspicious and fraudulent activities. We encourage you to check this page often to help protect yourself from becoming the victim of fraud.
- December 2017 - U.S. Marshals won't call you about jury duty
- September 2017 - Equifax
- May 2017 - DocuSign email Breach
- February 2017 - Arby's Restaurants Data Breach
- September 2016 - Yahoo Data Breach
For a glossary of terms related to fraud and identity theft, please click here.
Help Us Help You
It is very important that we have your current contact information on file including phone numbers for home, work, mobile and email address in case we need to contact you if we suspect your cards have been compromised. Your participation in responding to our contact efforts is critical to preventing potential risk and avoiding restrictions we may place on the use of your card.
Contact us with your most up-to-date contact information
Notify us if you will be traveling and using your debit card
Report a Lost or Stolen Visa Card at 888-436-1847


text:
Eyebrow, Youbrow
To that end, here's a cheap and easy way to temporarily change your eyebrow color. It's not the most natural look ever, but it works and it's something anyone can do. I do think it'll work best if you have thin, groomed eyebrows. I don't have the ideal brow for this myself. My eyebrows are somewhat thick and dark, and I was trying to turn them white. So I think the fact that this worked reasonably well for me despite all that means it would work quite well for other people.
What you need:
Elmer's School Glue - This is the standard Elmer's glue you used on all your school projects when you were 8. (Some of you probably also ate it, which is okay because it's non-toxic. Though not especially nutritious.) Make sure it says washable on the bottle. If it DOESN'T say washable it is THE WRONG GLUE and you should NOT put it on your face.
Acrylic Paint - Any brand is fine. Feel free to mix colors to tweak the shade just like you would if you were going to paint something other than your facial
What to do:
1) Put on your other makeup first. I tried this a couple ways, and it worked better when I didn't put it over any makeup at all. So if you have the option of not putting makeup on the area around your eyebrows, that's what I suggest. If you don't have that option, just make sure to put any other foundation, eyeshadow, or body paint on before you do your eyebrows.
2) Cover your eyebrows in Elmer's Glue. What I did was squeeze a line of glue right onto my eyebrow and then spread it with my fingers. A paintbrush would also work I think. Don't worry about the glue getting stuck in your eyebrows. If you got the right glue, I promise you it will wash out with soap and water. You'll want to cover your eyebrows completely, but don't overdo it. Try not to go onto the skin around your brows too much, and try not to coat them overly thickly. The thicker you lay on the glue, the less natural it's going to look. (But note you DO want to cover them completely because you want the paint on the glue not on your actual hair.)
3) Wait for the glue to dry. Think 10ish minutes. If you did more than one coat of glue it may take a bit longer.
4) Brush the acrylic paint onto your eyebrows with a paint brush. Again, a lighter touch is better. Since I do have thick brows and I was trying to go from black to white, I tried really slathering it on at first to cover all the black. But I think it's ultimately better to have a little bit of the old color showing through than to have a solid, plastic looking mass of glue and paint. You want to cover the old color, but you also want to limit yourself as much as possible to the hair itself without spreading out to the skin around the brow. Basically you still want your eyebrows to look somewhat like they're made of hair, and if you go too far overboard they won't. Once you're happy with it, let the paint dry. It should take less time than the glue.
And that's it. Your eyebrows are now a whole new color!
5) When you're ready to return to your normal citizen costume, wash your eyebrows with soap and warm water. (Cold water is okay for this too, I just think warm water is nicer.) You may have to comb through your eyebrows a bit with your fingernails to get all the glue out, but I've done this a couple times and I promise you will not have to shave off your eyebrows. Washable glue. It WILL wash out.
Labels: eyebrows, sharing the knowledge


text:
In 1998, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, told an annual meeting of the US Securities Industry Association, that money itself was undergoing a dramatic period of change. "The financial instruments of a bygone era, common stocks and debt obligations," he opined, "have been augmented by a vast array of complex hybrid financial products, which allow risks to be isolated, but which, in many cases, seemingly challenge human understanding."
Greenspan was right. A new, post-modern era of money was well under way. The recent upheaval in the global financial markets, which started with apparently marginal problems in the American property market, the so-called subprime mortgage crisis, is beginning to look like the first comprehensive test of that post-modern finance. Global financial markets have for over two decades been developing characteristics that create a typical post-modernist anxiety: "What is real?" The anxiety is now reaching fever pitch, in part because so little is understood about the threat. Like much of post-modernism, the complexity is apparent but the truth remains elusive.
Consider the progression. In the pre-modern era, money was a tangible thing, often gold, whose value was equivalent to what it denoted. The modern period began when, in addition to bank lending, capital was raised in the form of equity (shares) and bonds. Now, most developed economies have a reasonably equal balance of the three. It had the effect of greatly expanding the quantity of money, although until the removal of the gold standard in the 1970s, the volume was constrained by how much gold was available. There were also heavy restrictions on cross border flows of capital.Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month.
The post-modern period first started to emerge in the mid-1980s, when financiers created a layer above – a meta level – that sharply increased the quantity of money again. It began with excessive lending to Latin American countries. Western bankers, flush with petrodollars from the Middle East, began with a modernist assumption – that sovereign governments would never default on debt – and constructed a massive artifice of credit for those governments. They loaned money recklessly until the governments did exactly what they were not supposed to do, and defaulted. Arguably the first post-modern crisis ensued, imperilling the world's banking system.
Techniques to blur the line between debt and equity (hybrids) were next. Financial engineers found ways of creating debt-equity hybrids which were in turn used to raise much larger quantities of capital. The notorious "entrepreneurs" in the late-1980s in Australia were mostly using this method; the "junk bonds" devised by Michael Milken and Ivan Boesky were a similar sleight of hand.
These were early examples of the coming dangers, but post-modern finance really got underway with the sharp rise of the derivatives market in the mid-1990s. Derivatives are financial instruments, derived from primary transactions, which are meant to insure traders against adverse market movements. For example, a futures contract on the wheat price to ensure that a minimum price is paid when the wheat is delivered, is meant to be a form of protection against adverse market movements.
Derivatives are supposed to be on the margin, but they now occupy centre stage. The catalyst was the de-regulation of global financial markets. As governments removed controls over capital flows – controls which were designed, among other things, to minimise risk – the quantity of cross-border capital flows sharply increased. So did the risk, especially the risk of volatile currency movements. In response, financial markets started using derivatives to manage the risk. It was quickly discovered that large profits could be made out of this meta-level of trading.
Governments soon found themselves outgunned, beaten by the post-modern financiers. The seminal event was Black Wednesday, September 16, 1992, when hedge fund trader George Soros took on the Bank of England in an effort to break the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), a government backed structure for keeping European currencies trading within a range against each other. He won. The ERM was dead. So, too, was government's control over the quantity of money.
Derivatives trade is now massive; the post-modern financiers are rampant. The layer of transactions above the merely economic is assuming a size that is out of all proportion compared with the so-called "real" economy. According to the Bank for International Settlements, about $US3.2 trillion is transacted in the global capital markets each day, about four fifths of which are derivatives. Global GDP is a mere $US50 trillion, about 18 days worth. The result is something like two mirrors facing each other: money being endlessly made from money, risks being continually taken with the management of risk. According to the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, the credit derivatives market has grown from an estimated total notional amount of nearly $US1 trillion outstanding at year-end 2001 to over $US34 trillion at year-end 2006. Such growth can be very lucrative for participants if they can take just a small percentage of the trades. But the eventual dangers are now becoming all too obvious.
In such an environment, the question, "What is the quantity of money?" has no ready answer. On the face of it, what is happening in the global derivatives market should be seen as a dangerously inflationary expansion of the money supply, although it is not viewed that way because it is not included in government statistics. And in any case much of the activity is notional, that is, many derivatives are not realised. The US Federal Reserve's response was simple enough. They abandoned conventional estimates. In 2005 M3 was rejected as a measure of the broad money supply. The consequences for economic and policy analysis are profound. With no reliable way of assessing the quantity of money, how can the Fed exercise its traditional mandate of controlling the money supply?


text:
Man Shot to Death Near Montebello River
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau is assisting Montebello Police investigate the death of a man who was fatally shot and whose body was found near a Montebello river embankment on Friday night.
Montebello police Lt. Larry Jackson told EGP that officers responded Friday Nov. 2 around 9:38 p.m. to a call reporting a "person down" on the Rio Hondo River embankment near Beverly Boulevard and Rae Drive near Great Rea Park.
When the officers arrived, they discovered a male victim unconscious on the ground. Montebello paramedics discovered that the unidentified victim had been fatally shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputy Mark Pope from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department told EGP they do not have yet have any leads on a possible suspect or suspects, or a motive for the killing.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
Bell Gardens Police Seek Driver In Fatal Hit and Run
Police are asking for the public's help to find the person responsible for a hit-and-run that killed a man in late October.
Bell Gardens Police Capt. Jeff Travis identified the victim as Salvador Lopez, 52, of Maywood.
Lopez was struck on Oct. 21 around 7p.m. as he was crossing the street on the 8300 block of Eastern Avenue. The driver stopped but never exited the vehicle before driving off, said Travis. Lopez was pronounced dead around 2 a.m. the following day.
Travis told EGP an eyewitness described the suspect vehicle as a Nissan Quest minivan with a license plate containing "6K."
No other witnesses have come forward, but Travis told EGP that "Sometimes people talk," adding, "The vehicle may have come home with some damage, so maybe a neighbor would see the damage to a car."
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Bell Gardens Police Department (562) 806-7600.
Man Accused of Double Killing In Boyle Heights
A man was in custody Wednesday for allegedly killing his brother and another man in Boyle Heights.
The shooting, which occurred around 4 p.m. Tuesday at 3301 Hunter St., involved a "family dispute," said Los Angeles police Officer Cleon Joseph, who did not elaborate.
Gustavo Lopez, 29, died at the scene, and Rafael Aguilar, 22, died at a hospital, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. Both men were from Los Angeles.
Israel Lopez, 25, was booked on suspicion of murder, with bail set at $1 million.
Vernon Workplace Shooting Conviction Upheld
A state appeals court panel Tuesday upheld a Santa Fe Springs man's conviction for fatally shooting his boss and a co-worker at a Vernon lumber yard nearly 3 1/2 years ago.
The three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Saul Gastelum Moreno's claim that his trial attorney was ineffective for failing to request a "pinpoint" jury instruction on the issue of provocation as it relates to premeditation and deliberation.
The appellate court panel found in its 13-page ruling that there was "ample evidence Moreno made a reflective decision to kill" Alan Bohnhoff, the owner of Bohnhoff Lumber Co., and co-worker Jaime Sanchez.
The May 18, 2009, shooting deaths — which were captured on surveillance video — followed a work-related dispute.
Moreno was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of evading police, and sentenced in August 2011 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Too Toxic to Trash: Free Countywide Household Hazardous and E-Waste Roundup
Saturday, November 10
9am-3pm—Too Toxic to Trash: Free Countywide Household Hazardous and E-Waste Roundup in South Whittier. Residents can safely discard of household hazardous waste such as antifreeze, unused medications, car batteries, used motor oil, paint, pesticides; sharps waste such as hypodermic needles, pen needles, syringes, lancets, and intravenous needles; universal waste including household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and electronic waste (e-waste) such as TVs and monitors, computers, VCRs, stereos and cell phones. Drop off site: LA County Sheriff' Dept STAR Training Center- 11515 South Colima Rd. South Whittier. For more information, call LA County Dept. of Public Works at 1(888) CLEAN LA or go to www.888CleanLA.com or the Sanitation Districts of LA County at 1 (800) 238-0172 or www.lacsd.org.
The Montebello Chamber of Commerce's 4th annual Taste of the Town
Friday, November 9
6-9pm—The Montebello Chamber of Commerce's 4th annual Taste of the Town will be Nov. 9 at The Bagramian Hall, located behind Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral. Culinary extravaganza features sampling of delectable delights from more than 20 local restaurants, fine wine and spirit tasting, live entertainment, and lIve auction. For more information or tickets, call (323) 721-1153, or visit www.MontebelloTaste.com.
Opening Ceremony: "Honoring the Valor, Traditions and Dreams of Our Warriors"
Friday, November 9
10am—Opening Ceremony: "Honoring the Valor, Traditions and Dreams of Our Warriors"- 2012 American Indian Heritage Month Celebration presented by the Los Angeles City/County at Los Angeles City Hall-Council Chambers-3rd Floor. Program & reception follow in Forecourt. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/HeritageLA
Los Amigos of the East Los Angeles Library Book Fair & Holiday Boutique
Thursday, November 8
2-8pm—Los Amigos of the East Los Angeles Library Book Fair & Holiday Boutique: runs through Nov. 18-Mon-Thurs. 2-8pm/Fri-Sun 1-4pm. Book, holiday novelties & more. Proceeds benefit the library, located at 4837 E. Third St., LA 90022. For more information, call (323) 264-0155.
Paying Tribute to American Veterans –Guide to Local Events
Originally a day to honor the heroism of World War I veterans and the "armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany [that] went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month," President Wilson in 1919 proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, the day we now observe as Veterans Day. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, in 1954, the 83rd Congress, "at the urging of veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938," removing the word "Armistice" and inserting "Veterans" in its place, thus acknowledging those who fought during World War II, the greatest mobilization of U.S. troops in American history, and during the aggression in Korea. "With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars." That tradition continues today, with many local veterans groups, cities, and others holding public ceremonies to honor veterans from all sectors of the U.S. Armed Forces. The following is a list of some of the local observances taking place:
Today, Thursday Nov. 8
Noon-1pm—East Los Angeles College 1st Veterans Day Celebration honoring all armed service veterans but especially all student veterans who have made the choice to return back to school to enrich their lives through higher education. Location: Foyer of the Rosco C. Ingalls Auditorium –ELAC. To register or for more information, email for this event, firstname.lastname@example.com
Friday, Nov. 9
7-9pm—Veterans' Concert at Mark Keppel High School. The tribute to veterans concert at the school's auditorium is open to the public, and free to veterans. Keppel High is located at 501 East Hellman Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91801. For more information call (626) 572-2242
Saturday, Nov. 10
10-11am—El Sereno Veterans' Day Ceremony presented by the Office of Councilman Jose Huizar in coordination with El Sereno Veterans Committee. The Tribute to American War Veterans will take place at the Dr. Donald Newman Flag Pole, located at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Eastern Avenue. For more information call the councilman's El Sereno Field Office: (323) 226-1646.
1-4pm—City of Los Angeles First Annual Veterans Appreciation Festival in front of the new USS IOWA battleship museum at the Port of Los Angeles. The event is free to the public, tours of the USS IOWA are free to Veterans and their families. The festival includes free food, resource booths for veterans, presentation of the colors, live music, as well as a children's play zone and patriotic Harley riders. Official program starts at 1:45 pm. The USS IOWA is located at 250 S. Harbor Blvd. in San Pedro. On-site parking. For more information, visit http://www.portoflosangeles.org
1-7pm—Free Veterans Day BBQ and Concert at West LA VA Medical Center Campus. Event will include a BBQ and free concert by America for Veterans, military members and families. BBQ: 1-4pm at the Rose Garden, behind building 220 at the WLA Medical Center, and is free for all Veterans, military members and family members on a first come first served basis. The concert is from 5 to 7 pm, doors open at 4pm at the Wadsworth Theatre on the West Los Angeles VA (WLA) campus: 11301 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90073. For more information visit www.losangeles.va.gov or call (310) 478-3711, ext 42441.
Sunday, Nov. 11
10am—Veterans Day Ceremony at Cinco Puntos in Boyle Hights. Public is invited to join state, county and local officials, veterans, and others as they pay homage to local servicemen and women. Formal ceremony concludes at 11am; a reception follows at the Eugene Obregon American Legion Post 804. The Mexican American All Wars Memorial at Cinco Puntos is located at the intersection of Lorena, Indiana and Cesar Chavez in Boyle Heights. For more information, call Tony Zapata (323) 261-8533 or the American Legion Post 804 at (323) 268-2982.
11am—Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills presents "Honoring a Life, Honoring A Veteran-53rd Annual Veterans Day Ceremony. Special presentations by the American Military Museum & the Ft. MacArthur Military Museum; military equipment displays; patriotic music and the Golden Stars Skydiving Team. No charge for admission or parking. Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, LA 90068. For more information, call 800-204-3131 or visit ForestLawn.com.
11am—Montebello's Veterans Day Ceremony at Montebello City Park. Public invited to attend ceremony near the Memorial Monument at the park located on Whittier Boulevard and Taylor Avenue. U.S. Marine Core Sgt. John Eric Mejia will be the keynote speaker. Ceremony will include placing of wreath, posting of colors and riffle volley by the American Legion Post 272, along with Schurr High School's marching band playing patriotic music. Light refreshments will be served.
10am—City of Commerce Veterans Day Ceremony will include a processional march for all branches of the US Armed forces. Commerce resident and US Army and Iraq War Veteran Julia Thompson, will be the key note speaker. Entertainment and light refreshments; Bus shuttle to Veterans from Bandini, Bristow and Rosewood Parks. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to the basketball gym at Veterans Memorial Park, located at 6364 Zindell Ave., Commerce, 90040. For more information, call Rachel Baltierra at (323) 887-4404.
11am—Monterey Park Veterans Day Ceremony. City officials and American Legion Post 397 will present this ceremony in front of the Monterey Park City Hall. Veteran William Sanchez, a World War II prisoner of war, will be one of the speakers. Post 397, located across the street from City Hall, will host a free lunch and open house following the ceremony. Monterey Park City Hall is located at 320 W. Newmark Ave, Monterey Park, 91754. For more information, call (626) 571-9211.
11am-3pm—7th Annual Northeast Los Angeles Veterans Day Ceremony & Parade. The day's events begin with a Solemn Ceremony at Eagle Rock City Hall to honor military veterans, and will include a gun salute and the placing of a wreath at the Veterans of all Wars memorial. The parade begins at 1pm at the LAFD Fire Station 55, located on Avenue 45 in Highland Park and will end at Veteran's Square, located at the southeast corner of the intersection of York and Figueroa. Entertainment at Veteran's Square begins at 2:30pm. For more information, visit nelavetsparade.org or call Ruby de Vera (323) 258-0776 or Heinrich Keifer (323) 385-4935.
2pm—Bell Gardens Hometown Heroes Closing Ceremony. Local Veterans featured on banners throughout the city as part of the four-year program, will be presented with their banners during a ceremony at Ross Hall, located at Bell Gardens Veterans Park, 6662 Loveland Street, Bell Gardens. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call Nick Razo at 562-806-7702.
11am-4pm—City of Bell Celebrates 85th birthday with Veterans Day commemoration and family-friendly activities at Veterans' Memorial Park: 6500 Wilcox Ave, in Bell. Celebration begins with a salute to veterans at 11am, with birthday celebration activities, including live entertainment, arts & crafts for kids, a free Zumba Class, In-N-Out Burgers for $1 to the first 500 residents and more immediately following. Bring out blankets and lawn chairs as entertainment will take place in the baseball diamond at Veterans' Park
November 6 General Election – Unofficial Results State and L.A. County
U.S. President
Barack Obama (Dem) 59.1 %
Mitt Romney (Rep) 38.6%
U.S. Senate
Diane Feinstein (Dem) 61.4%
Elizabeth Emken (Rep) 38.6%
U.S. House of Representatives
27th District:
Judy Chu (Dem) 63.4%
Jack Orswell (Rep) 36.6%
32nd District:
Grace Napolitano (Dem) 65.4% David Miller (Rep) 34.6%
34th District:
Xavier Becerra (Dem) 85.6%
Stephen Smith (Rep) 14.4%
38th District:
Linda T. Sanchez (Dem) 67.2% Benjamin Campos (Rep) 32.8%
40th District:
Lucille Roybal-Allard (Dem) 59.4%
David Sanchez (Dem) 40.6%
California State Senate
33rd District:
Ricardo Lara (Dem) 80.5% Lee H. Chauser (Rep) 19.5%
California State Assembly
48th District:
Roger Hernandez (Dem) 58.8% Joe M. Gardner (Rep) 41.2%
49th District:
Edwin "Ed" Chau (Dem) 56.6% Matthew Lin (Rep) 43.4%
51st District:
Jimmy Gomez (Dem) 60.2% Luis Lopez (Dem) 39.8%
53rd District:
John A. Perez (Dem) 82.7% Jose Trinidad Aguilar (Rep) 17.3%
58th District:
Christina Garcia (Dem) 71.5% Patricia A. Kotze-Ramos (Rep) 28.5%
Statewide Ballot Propositions
Proposition 30- Temporary increase in sales tax and income taxes on higher income Californians.
Yes: 53.9% No: 46.1%
Proposition 31:Budget Reform
Yes: 39.2% No: 60.8%
Proposition 32: Bans Pay Check deductions for political causes.
Yes: 43.9% No: 56.1%
Proposition 33: Auto Insurance Rates.
Yes: 45.4% No: 54.6%
Proposition 34—Ends the State's Death Penalty.
Yes: 47.2% No: 52.8%
Proposition 35: Harsher penalties for people convicted of human trafficking.
Yes: 81.1% No: 18.9%
Proposition 36: Changes Three Strikes Law.
Yes: 68.6% No: 31.4%
Proposition 37: Food Labeling.
Yes: 46.9% No: 53.1%
Proposition 38: Higher Income taxes to pay for education.
Yes: 27.7% No: 72.3%
Proposition 39—Changes tax code for multi-state corporations.
Yes: 60.1% No: 39.9%
Proposition 40—Approves Citizens Commission's Redistricting Maps.
Yes: 71.4% No: 28.6%
County of Los Angeles
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey 54.99%
Alan Jackson 45.01%
Measure A–Only advisory, this measure asks voters if they are in favor of making the County Assessor an appointed rather than elected position.
Yes: 22.2% No: 77.7%
Measure B–Would require performers in adult films to use condoms while engaged in sex act
Yes: 55.8% No: 44.1%
Measure J– To advance Los Angeles County's traffic relief by accelerating light rail/subway construction within five years.
Yes: 64.7% No: 35.2%
City of Commerce
Measure AA. Sales Tax Increase to Fund Essential Services.
Yes: 67.2% No: 32.7%


text:
"Expanding on the themes they developed in BARAKA (1992) and CHRONOS (1985), SAMSARA explores the wonders of our world from the mundane to the miraculous, looking into the unfathomable reaches of man's spirituality and the human experience. Neither a traditional documentary nor a travelogue, SAMSARA takes the form of a nonverbal, guided meditation. Through powerful images, the film illuminates the links between humanity and the rest of nature, showing how our life cycle mirrors the rhythm of the planet.
The filmmakers approach non verbal filmmaking with an understanding that it must live up to the standard of great still photography, revealing the essence of a subject, not just its physical presence. SAMSARA was photographed entirely in 70mm film utilizing both standard frame rates and with a motion control time–lapse camera designed specifically for this project. This camera system allows perspective shifts to reveal extraordinary views of ordinary scenes. The images were then transferred through the highest resolution scanning process available to the new 4K digital projection format that allows for mesmerizing images of unprecedented clarity. SAMSARA will be a showpiece for the new, high–resolution 4K digital projection, the HD format, as well as standard digital and film projection."
"Zoomorphic presents a startling new trend in architecture – buildings that look like animals. Animal resemblances arise for various reasons. An architect may wish to create a symbol, as architects have always done. Or, there may be a functional explanation for why a building comes to share elements of its design with that of some living creature.
Until now, the Art Nouveau was perhaps the high water mark of architecture's attempt to embrace nature. Today, with computers and new materials, architects are able to design and build more freely so they are exploring the natural world once more."
(Victoria & Albert Museum, 2004)
Sign-Up or learn more.


text: The University of Notre Dame Office of Community Relations promotes mutual understanding and supportive collaborations between the University and its neighbors in the surrounding community through events, programs, and partnerships that contribute to strengthening our relationships. One example of this is the creation of The Global Experience. The Global Experience not only serves as the signature series for the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture but also as a conduit for collaboration and education locally and regionally.


text:
If you're looking for an extra special Easter or spring gift for your little one, then you can't go wrong with the adorable Spring Felted Rabbits Playmat Set from one of our favorite Etsy shops, Sewn Natural. This beautiful play set is sure to be cherished for years and will inspire countless hours of imaginative play. Waldorf based and lovely, this set comes with the play platform complete with grassy hills and a bubbling stream, a pair of sweet bunny rabbits, carrot garden with 4 loose wool carrot toys, climbing rocks and pretty flower patches. The set is handmade to order in a nut-, peanut-, synthetic scent- and cat- free studio with eco-friendly wool and is sturdy enough for kids to handle.
+ Spring Felted Rabbits Playmat Set $70.00


text:
Most real estate investors have heard that their success relies on both building a network of strategic partners and surrounding themselves with the right influencers. However, many still get this wrong…
As a real estate investor who you hang out with every day with make a huge impact on your success. You can laze around watching TV, relax with broke friends that make you feel comfortable but who have terrible money habits and won't encourage you to reach your full potential or you can lunch, dine and network with those who can lead you to powerful connections, bring referrals and augment your real estate education.
Who are you hanging out with this week?
You should be regularly surrounding yourself with positive and powerful acquaintances. Have a lunch or dinner or two set up with local industry related pros and why not host a BBQ for prospects and potential investors on the weekend? Attending real estate investing networking groups and connecting with others to build your real estate education and database is smart too as is getting a mentor or investing in regular coaching.
However, not all mentors and contacts are always as beneficial as you may perceive, even if they appear to be wildly successful themselves. Ask yourself if they are really influencing you to make the right moves and employ an investment strategy and live a lifestyle which is conducive to long term real estate investing success. Or are they seducing you down a path to over-spending, splurging and leveraging toys with bad debt instead of or worse taking short cuts which could wreck your reputation and sabotage your investments, financial solvency and perhaps freedom down the road?
Align yourself with those who are doing things right, who plan to be around for the long term and who have devoted their efforts to creating systems and building businesses that are solid. This is the type of coach you want to replicate and the type of referral partners who will be there to keep feeding you deals in 5 years from now, not fighting over your commissary in the local jail after things fall apart.


text:
ECE hosts Alumni Meet 2017
- Details
- Start Date :2017-12-28
- End date :-0001-11-30
The ECE Alumni Meet 2017 was held in the ECE department on 16 December, 2017. Several alumni of the department from across the globe attended the event. The alumni were warmly welcomed by the Chair ECE,. while Prof. Neelesh Mehta made a presentation on "ECE Today". Current students organized a "fun quiz". The event concluded with the planting of trees by the alumni around the department.


text:
Kerala seeks Army help, flood toll is 24 (Intro Roundup)
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 9 (IANS) The Kerala government on Thursday sought the Army's help as the death toll in the rain-related incidents rose to 24 with large-scale damage reported from various parts of the state.
A team of the Army's Military Engineering Group is set to arrive at Kozhikode and Ernakulam, officials said, adding that some Army officers from Kannur had already reached the flooded Wayanad.
The worst affected districts include Idukki, Malappuram, Palghat, Kozhikode, Wayanad and parts of Kannur.
Following the opening of the Idamalayar dam gates, the flood water from the Periyar river entered the Cochin International Airport compound, forcing the authorities to temporarily shut operations in the afternoon. The airport reopened after the water receded at 3 p.m.
A Home Ministry statement said 22 persons died in overnight rains and landslides on August 8-9. Idukki alone accounted for 11 deaths.
Two Class 12 students who ventured out for fishing in the flooded waters near Kochi were also swept away. Their bodies were found, officials said.
Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force have left Chennai for Kerala. An inter-ministerial Central team is visiting the flood-ravaged area and Army support is also being mobilized from Bengaluru, the statement said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said rains have caused extensive damage to life and property across the state. "The Centre has agreed to extend all help," he said.
Since more rains are forecast, as a matter of abundant caution, it has been decided to postpone the upcoming Nehru boat race on the Punnamada lake, he said.
"We call upon all to donate to the Chief Minister's Fund," Vijayan said.
Power Minister M.M. Mani, who is from Idukki, said the situation in the district was "pretty bad".
"The shutters of the Idamalyar dam were opened. We will open a shutter of the Idukki dam also," he said.
The capacity of the Idukki dam is 2,403 meters. At 12.30 p.m., when the water level crossed 2,399 meters after a gap of 26 years, one shutter of the dam was opened.
"At the moment everything is under control," said Idukki legislator Roshy Augustine.
The Malampuzha dam, which was opened a few days, sent out waters which have created havoc in certain areas of Palghat, which borders Tamil Nadu.
Water has entered houses in many low-lying areas of the district.
Earlier, Vijayan held an emergency meeting and appointed senior official P.H. Kurien to lead the rescue and relief operations.


text:
First of all, apologies for the pun. I couldn't resist! But it really is in a good cause… because on Sunday I went along to a charity lunch on the shores of Windermere. It was in aid of PIES (Partners in Education Swaziland), which raises funds to provide education to desperately poor people in this particular African country, and is supported by, amongst others, the local Rotary Club and Soroptimists.
The lunch is held once a year at a house on the shores of Windermere, with stunning gardens that sweep down to the water's edge, and views across the lake to the old Claife Viewing Station, a Victorian relic that the National Trust have just finished renovating. This year, the weather was kind and we were able to sit at tables on the patio. Luckily the patio is large, because the turnout was really impressive – over 80 people had turned up for their lovely, home-cooked two course Sunday lunch, plus stalls, plus plant sales, plus a raffle.
Looking around for something I could donate, at the last minute I realised I could take a signed copy of my book along. The organisers fell on it with glee, placed it at the front of the raffle stall, and it was won during the afternoon by… someone, but I didn't get a chance to see who it was. So if you are now clutching a copy of 'Raise the Blade' then thank you for choosing it – and I really hope you enjoy reading it.
The event was a resounding success and raised over £2,000 in one day for the cause. And I'm glowing, because although I never win anything, I won first prize in that same raffle – a M&S gift card to the tune of £50!


text:
I was tagged for this challenge by the amazing Matt @ Matt and his cats. 🙂
I don't only like his blog, I like him as a person too. He is one of the few people I like interacting with. 🙂 Do check his blog out. You will definitely not be disappointed. 😀
Check Matt's post for this challenge here. 😀
The Rules
– Share this image in your blog post
– Write about 5 people in your life you are thankful for
– Write about 5 things in 2015 that you are thankful for
– Spread the love and challenge 5 other blogs to take part
5 People I am Thankful for
I am grouping people. Otherwise my family will alone mean 3 people. Right? 😛
My Parents– Why? I don't have all those emotional things to say when people mention family. I am thankful for them because they are quite cool and all of my friends are jealous. 😛
Not exactly is that the reason but my parents are more understanding than all the parents I know and I've never felt the need to hide anything from them. I can tell them anything and everything. They also share everything with me. We share a friendly bond and that's what makes me feel thankful for them. 😀
My brother– My brother is the person whom I never have to impress. He is the only person who I allow to see me at my worst, he teases me but still supports me. He is younger to me by 3 years but he has always supported me in everything and I love him for that. ❤ He has listened to my every stupid dream and helped me with whatever new things I try. He taught me that taking life seriously is stupidity. 😛 😛 Don't tell him I told this to you guys. 😛 Right now he fought with me for my tablet and succeeded in making me give it to him. Now he wants me to mark answers in his text book. He is a jerk and is about to get a head shot from the pillow. 😛
My close friends– All those who support me, tolerate my mood swings without complaining, and listen to me blabber. 😛 😛
People I talk to through this blog– They provide me with the needed human interaction that I try to avoid in real life. 😛 😛
Authors who send me books– Well, I don't even have to explain this one. 😛
5 Things I am Thankful for in 2015
- My changed self- trying to be an introvert, that is.
- My decision to blog- This blog has helped me increase my reading while giving me people to talk about it. This blog gave me the opportunity to read books before they are published, communicate with authors, and be a part of this amazing blogosphere. ❤
- My tablet- I read so many ebooks on my tablet that saves me from the small talks that I would have had to make otherwise. 😉
- My dreams and goals- They have given me something to work with, something to look forward to, something to keep me sane. 😀
- Engineering- It's a twisted thing actually. Engineering is what fuels my passion for reading. 😛
It was quite difficult for me to think of things that I am thankful for, so I centered myself and pointed out things. Can't say you will all agree to it but it still is something that will make a big difference in the long run for me. 🙂
5 Nominations for this Challenge
- Nicola @ Rust and Stardust
- Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse
- Nikki & Amy @ Every Book You Need To Read And More
- Rosema @ A Reading Writer
- Morgan @ A Secret Diary of a Computer Science Student
These are some of my favourite people in the blogging community. ❤


text:
Coffee & Espresso Makers
6 Cup Espresso Maker
Harold Import Co., Inc.
Classic Italian method of brewing espresso, the 6 Cup Stove Top Espresso Maker quickly produces rich, aromatic espresso. Stove top espresso makers are easy to store and easy to use.
This heavy weight cast aluminum espresso maker features a safety-release valve and features a durable flip-top lid with a heat resistant knob and handle that allows for easy, safe pouring.