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Don't Miss ILACSD's 33rd Annual Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 16
Registration for San Diego County's largest cleanup of the year, Coastal Cleanup Day, is now open. I Love A Clean San Diego's (ILACSD) 33rd Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. as part of the International Coastal Cleanup effort, taking place in over 100 countries. ILACSD invites the community to participate locally by choosing from 105 sites where more than 7,000 San Diego-based volunteers will work alongside a half million volunteers worldwide. Volunteers of all ages and ability levels are welcome to register for a site of their choice at www.CleanupDay.org.
Although the name suggests that it is a beach cleanup, ILACSD's volunteer efforts will reach far beyond the coast. With 80 percent of marine debris originating in inland areas, ILACSD expands its Coastal Cleanup Day reach to include both inland and coastal territory. This year, 65 percent of the cleanup sites are located inland. Nearly 75 percent of the cleanup sites are located inland along rivers, creeks, canyons, and urban areas where debris can be stopped before making its way to the ocean. At 114 cleanup sites last year, volunteers removed 185,000 pounds of debris from San Diego County – the equivalent weight of 10 garbage trucks. It is crucial that this debris is removed, as it is detrimental to the quality of life for San Diego residents and wildlife alike.
While litter removal is a large focus of the event, volunteers will also participate in beautification projects such as graffiti removal and replacing invasive species with drought-tolerant landscaping. ILACSD and its volunteers work to preserve San Diego for current and future generations to enjoy. Leading the way to a zero-waste, litter-free, and environmentally engaged San Diego region, ILACSD encourages all community members to take action in their neighborhood by joining in on Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 16.
In an effort to reduce waste produced by an event of this size, Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers can pledge to bring at least one reusable item to the cleanup. When volunteers bring their own reusable water bottle, work gloves, and bucket to collect litter, they prevent thousands of single-use bags and disposable gloves from entering San Diego's landfills. ILACSD also collects valuable data that helps us understand how we can better prevent litter. Instead of using paper data cards, ILACSD is asking volunteers to download the Ocean Conservancy's user-friendly mobile data collection app, Clean Swell, onto their smartphones as another way to cut back on waste. Registration information and details regarding Coastal Cleanup Day can be found at www.CleanupDay.org.


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The Bonhams Watch department has well-respected and experienced specialists based around the Globe. With bi-annual specialized international auctions in London, New York and Hong Kong and regular sales in Knightsbridge London, Bonhams is renowned for offering first class service and realizing top selling results for fine wristwatches. In particular we have achieved outstanding sale results for military Rolexes, complicated Patek Philippes and independent watchmakers such as George Daniels and Kari Voutilainen. As well as these we are also prominent in the auction of watches by Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, Heuer, IWC and Omega to name but a few.
If you are considering buying or selling at auction our experts can give you confidential professional advice on all aspects of the watch market.To receive a complimentary auction estimate click here

subset: commoncrawl


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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KTLA) — Santa Monica may soon crack down on outdoor fitness classes that draw dozens of people to public parks.
City leaders will decide Tuesday whether to move forward with a new ordinance that would ban trainers and large groups from some parks.
Supporters of the ordinance say big exercise groups are destroying historic parks.
Fitness instructors holding classes in designated areas would be charged a $100 permit fee, plus 15-percent of revenue under the proposal.
Classes would be limited to fewer than 150 people, and trainers would be required to carry insurance to cover any injuries.
Parks that could ban the classes altogether include Euclid, Joslyn, Muscle Beach, Ozone, Pacific Street, Park Drive and Schader parks.
The Santa Monica City Council is expected to discuss the issue around 7:00 p.m. at Tuesday's meeting.


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Former CIA Director Morell Skips Surveillance Review Board Meeting; Pats Self On Back For Not 'Distracting' Congress From Shutdown
from the taking-one-for-the-team dept
Former CIA director Michael Morell has decided that the Surveillance Review Board (SRB) shouldn't meet again until the government shutdown is over. The board met last Tuesday with members of the Senate and Congress, but Morell opted out and took his high horse out for a spin.
"I simply thought that it was inappropriate for our group to continue working while the vast majority of the men and women of the intelligence community are being forced to remain off the job," Morell said Saturday in response to a query from POLITICO. "While the work we're doing is important, it is no more important than - and quite frankly a lot less important - than a lot of the work being left undone by the government shutdown, both in the intelligence community and outside the intelligence community."Showing solidarity for furloughed government workers would be somewhat admirable if a) he hadn't decided to speak for the board and declare its work unimportant and b) he had been a bit more of an active participant in the first set of meetings.
The debut of the SRB featured a pair of meetings. The first meeting, held at the White House and featuring mainly by tech industry lawyers, was attended by Morell. The second meeting, held a few blocks away from the White House and featuring representatives from civil liberties groups like ACLU and EPIC, was skipped by Morell (and former Bush anti-terrorism chief Richard Clarke).
Arguably, the SRB shouldn't have to miss any meetings. Certainly, representatives from the intelligence community should be available. The Pay Our Military Act (POMA), which was rushed through the House and the Senate last week, authorized the uninterrupted payment nearly all civilian Defense personnel, under which the NSA's civilian workers fall. (So much for Morell's laborious lament that so many in the intelligence community are "forced to remain off the job…") The SRB reports directly to James Clapper, meaning it would fall under this purview as well. But that ultimately doesn't matter as the board is unpaid. The travel expenses, however, are no longer covered.
Despite being a day into the shutdown, the panel met last Tuesday -- without Morell.
The Review Group's meeting with Congressional leaders on Tuesday went forward without Morell. Feinstein and the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, attended the session, according to a Senate aide. House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) also took part, a House aide confirmed.Once the government is back up and running, it will be interesting to see if Morell can come up with more excuses to stay disengaged from the SRB. So far, he's skipped two out of the first three meetings -- not exactly a sign he's thrilled with the position. But, as Morell takes pains to point out, this isn't (just) because he doesn't think the SRB has an important job to do, it's that there's so much more out there that deserves time, attention and money.
Morell said part of his decision to bow out last week was driven by the desire not to distract members of Congress and their staff from what he believes should be their No. 1 priority. "I just firmly felt Congress should be focused on one thing and one thing only, which is ending the shutdown," he said.
"How could this be more important than kids starting cancer trials at NIH?" Morell asked.Ah, cancer: the Hitler of the pathology field. Nothing shuts down an argument no one was making like comparing Pursuit A with "curing cancer." I don't think anybody implied the SRB's work was more important than treating and studying cancer, especially picturesque, tear-jerking kid cancer. In fact, I find it hard to believe anyone did anything more than ask Morell why he didn't attend Tuesday's meeting. But let's spin that for second: is returning hundreds of NSA and CIA civilian contractors to work more important than starting pediatric cancer trials? If not, then maybe Morell should use his free time to hassle every single member of the House and Senate for passing POMA rather than finding a way to restart the government or secure funding for cancer trials.
I don't mind if the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board and SRB have to take time off during the government shutdown. It's somewhat annoying that the surveillance will continue unabated (including domestic surveillance) but "national security" continues to trump everything, so it's hardly a surprise. What bothers me is when someone clearly uninterested in the job at hand portrays it as though his self-serving absence is borne of clarity, objectiveness and vast stores of empathy. It's even more annoying when the portrayal trots out "poor furloughed government workers" and "pediatric cancer" as set dressing.
Filed Under: government shutdown, michael morell, nsa review, surveillance, surveillance review board


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Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Efficacy and mechanism of sub-sensory sacral (optimised) neuromodulation in adults with faecal incontinence: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: Faecal incontinence (FI) is a substantial health problem with a prevalence of approximately 8% in community-dwelling populations. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is considered the first-line surgical treatment ...


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KDE Ships December Updates to Plasma Workspaces, Applications and Platform
Today KDE released updates for its Workspaces, Applications, and Development Platform.
The list of 71 recorded bugfixes include improvements in the Dolphin file manager and Kontact email and groupware client. KDE's development platform has received a number of updates which affect multiple applications.
<3 your writing style! :-)
See subject.
By Anonymous at Wed, 2012/12/05 - 3:31pm
known bugs list?
Is there a list of known bugs and regressions?
There is a regression since 4.9.3: Bug 311214 (clicking on an opendocument file opens it as zip-file.)
It's already been fixed in source but it needs to be released.
By Pascal d'Hermilly at Thu, 2012/12/06 - 7:57am
bugzilla or your distro can help you...
As far as I know there's nothing else than a smart bugzilla query you can try. Meanwhile, you can try to ping your distro team to include the fix in their packages. It seems the openSUSE packages already have it as I can't reproduce this on 4.9.4 here.
By Jos Poortvliet at Fri, 2012/12/07 - 11:52am
Perhaps a wiki in future
Could be nice to have a wiki page for these kind of releases, so we can stand on each others shoulders.
By Pascal at Fri, 2012/12/07 - 12:40pm
Apparently they fixed the Folder Refresh Bug!
From the list of bugfixes it looks like they have finally tackled the very long-standing bug where Dolphin/Plasma folder widgets would not show updates to files in a directory unless manually refreshed... YAY! This bug has been reported many times and I'm going to test it out to see if they have finally squashed it for good.
By DonCornelius at Thu, 2012/12/06 - 9:53pm
Let's see ;-)
Aw, that's cool. Hope it works with Nepomuk: I have a 'recent files' folderview on my desktop but after booting it shows that Nepomuk is not running - just a timing issue and a refresh solves it. I'll check it later today :D
By Jos Poortvliet at Fri, 2012/12/07 - 11:54am
High Memory Usage
In my system (Kubuntu 12.04) "plasma-desktop" is taking >90 MB after the update. I would be glad to know the appropriate forum to discuss it.
By Rajendra at Sat, 2012/12/08 - 10:46am
By Carl Symons at Sat, 2012/12/08 - 3:49pm


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Our two current shows are 'The Political Week' and 'Open Door'. 'The Political Week' takes a topical look at current British political issues and 'Open Door' explores national and international issues with experts and activists. Click on the links above for a complete listing of all of the previous shows in each series.
Fri, 4 November 2011
part 3
Direct download: 3._1_trillion_of_promises.mp3
Category:Open Door -- posted at: 1:58pm UTC


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The Austin Urban Trails Program promotes pathways for recreation and active transportation. These trails are designed for users of all ages and abilities! Currently there are approximately 30 miles of urban trails in Austin. The Urban Trails Master Plan envisions 47 additional miles of high priority trails to be built over the next two decades.
View Austin's current urban trails projects.
Want to know how many people are using the trails? View the real-time trail usage counts!


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Sony's new XBR10—known overseas as as the ZX5—is their new flagship. It heralds the return of LEDs that the XBR9 skipped, but is sidelit. That means it's skinny, but doesn't do localized background dimming. *Tears!*
It does, however, stream 1080p from a wireless source. That and the clear plastic block design—appearing as if the panel is suspended in a thin block of Lucite, like a visible LCD version of Han Solo—mean it's guaranteed to look oh so purdy hanging on a wall and from the side. What remains to be seen is how good the XBR10 looks compared to the XBR8. (The obscenely over-engineered set from two generations ago looked better to reviewers than the XBR9.)
The set has a few more things going for it, too. Like DLNA media streaming, Youtube, Amazon on Demand and "later in the fall, Netflix". (There are also other services, but I have no doubt they'll be of lesser value than the ones I mentioned.) It plays 24p content and has 240Hz tech, which interpolates 3 frames for every one (a tech that no one can see.) And it'll have the cross media interface.
The thing about the XBR8 was that it was expensive; the picture quality alone could not justify the $3000-$4000 cost. So, how does a wireless set like this one get away with costing $4500 and $5000 for 46 and 52-inch flavors?
New XBR10 LCDs Feature 1080p Wireless High Definition Leaving the Cables Behind
ATLANTA (CEDIA Booth # 1409), Sept. 9, 2009 – Sony today introduced a new line of ultra-thin BRAVIA™ LCD HDTVs featuring an advanced edge-lit LED backlight and exceptional contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1.
The XBR10-series models also deliver full 1080p wireless transmission of high definition signals from a separate media box to a receiver embedded in the TV, allowing source components to be placed out of sight.
"BRAVIA is on the cutting edge of television technology and the XBR10 series pushes the limits of industry-leading, innovative features," said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of the television business for Sony Electronics. "Not only will this TV look striking when hanging on a wall, the wireless feature clears the clutter of components and messy tangles of unsightly wires, allowing you to hide components away across the room."
The XBR10 models also feature an Ethernet connection allowing them to directly access Sony BRAVIA Internet Video content using an existing broadband network. The platform offers one of the largest selections of free and premium movies, TV shows, sports, music and more from an array of partners like, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube®, Slacker Internet Radio, and, later this fall, Netflix.
Bravia Internet Widgets, powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, also expand and personalize the TV experience by adding on-screen applications that provide such information as weather reports, stock information, financial news, Twitter, and additional content.
The full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive (1080p) models also feature Sony's Motionflow™ 240Hz technology, which delivers exceptionally crisp and detailed images with natural motion. The Motionflow algorithm goes beyond traditional 120Hz technology by quadrupling the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs and interpolating three new frames.
The models are Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compliant, enabling easy access to digital photos, music, and video stored on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB® interface and the TV's remote control. They also offer a USB input for displaying digital photos or playing digital video and music files from a USB storage device.
Other notable features include:
BRAVIA Engine™ 3
24p True Cinema™
xross media bar™ (XMB)with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen
BRAVIA Sync™
4 HDMI inputs
Single PC, component, composite and component/composite selectable inputs


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Naomi Campbell admits handling 'blood diamonds'
Tells Charles Taylor's war crimes trial of 'dirty stones'
Naomi Campbell has admitted that she was given diamonds in the form of "dirty stones" by henchmen of former Liberian president Charles Taylor.
Campbell was subpoenaed to appear before the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague, where Taylor stands accused of 11 counts of war crimes in Sierra Leone, "including charges of murder, rape and sexual slavery", the Telegraph reports.
He's also accused of "arming rebels in return for diamonds illegally mined by kidnapped civilians, many of them children", and prosecutors considered claims that Campbell had received a huge "blood diamond" from Taylor as vital evidence.
In court, Campbell said she'd actually been gifted a selection of smaller gems following a 1997 charity bash at Nelson Mandela's house.
Two men knocked on the door of Campbell's room late at night, explaining "there is a gift for you". They handed her a pouch which she opened the next morning and found it contained "a few small very dirty looking stones".
She told the court: "I guess they were diamonds."
At breakfast the next morning, Campbell told fellow guest Mia Farrow of the surprise, and it was the latter's testimony which eventually prompted Campbell's court appearance.
Back in April, Campbell insisted she "never received a diamond", and in May told Oprah Winfrey "she did not want to be involved in Taylor's case and feared for her safety if she were".
Campbell was driven to the war crimes tribunal in a blacked-out van to deprive the waiting press of a view of her "cream jacket and matching skirt", the Telegraph notes.
Regarding the ultimate fate of the diamonds, she said she "gave the stones to an organiser of a South African children's charity". ®
Sponsored: Webcast: Build the next generation of your business in the public cloud


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Coping with stress and huge life changes can be extremely challenging as our lives can quickly spin out of control in this zany world we live in. We are pulled in so many directions, expecting more and more of ourselves (as we feel others expect an ever-increasing amount out of us). Businesses are running lean and mean and focusing on newer, more efficient ways to do handle transactions which can leave you feeling as if you handle the workload of multiple people at the end of the day!
This is precisely why taking a moment out for yourself is more important than ever, particularly for those of us who used to use food as a way of coping with stress before bariatric surgery. And the great news is that we have more resources than we've ever had to unwind and get in touch with ourselves when things get hairy. My experience has been that I actually live a higher quality life when I make some "me" time on a regular basis, not just when I'm feeling overextended. Of course, one might say that this is easier said than done. With a very long commute into the work place each day, I've tried to get creative with my time to maximize my "me" time opportunities.
One of the best things I ever did for myself was get a membership to an online audiobook distributor. Having this has allowed me the opportunity to listen to a myriad of audiobooks on my MP3 player during my two- to three-hour commute each day. A great distributor will give you a free, trial membership so you can see if you like their product, and they usually have tens of thousands of audiobooks, lectures and all sorts of things to listen to. I also have used that time commuting to brush up on other languages I wanted to learn, and to catch up on some of the fabulous podcasts that are out there, most of which are free! May I recommend the Nutrition Diva from the Quick and Dirty network of podcasters? She's got a wealth of information tucked under her health belt!
Another way I've captured a little time for myself is to actually take my lunch to work, find an office or conference room that isn't being used when it's time for me to take a break, and I jump in, shut the door, turn off the lights, set the timer on my phone and drift off into about a twenty-five minute meditation. Some people prefer to meditate without guidance, some with guidance, some with music alone and some people (like me) enjoy listening to binaural beats during meditation. If you're interested, but there are loads of great meditation resources out there. Just grab your headphones and MP3 player on the way out the door before you start your day and you're set! I often find that this midday reset feels terrific and there's usually still time to nosh on something yummy I've brought from home for lunch (and it's a terrific money saver, too)!
Lastly, on Friday nights, my finance and I always enjoy "Italian Date Night" which consists of delicious Italian food together at home. It's become a tradition for us (yes, you can still eat delicious, Italian food after bariatric surgery!). Afterwards we try to make it a habit of dancing in the living room to fun music. If you can picture this in your head, then I'll go ahead and apologize now. Seriously, today there are so many fun "games" on the market for anyone interested in shedding some serious calories and simultaneously reliving stress, it's amazing! One of our favorites is something we recently purchased for the Xbox 360 called "Dance Central." Any kind of working out indoors is beneficial during what can be the most biting of winter months.
Maintaining a low level of stress in my life and not falling into the old habits I used to have in using food to cope with the stress has been an ongoing challenge for me. But having tools to deal with it which was jump-started with the surgery, has been key for me. It's my hope that you find the same for your life!


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Welcome to Dragon-Brood! Be sure to stay and post a lot!!!
The site name is drawn from the mythical race within the Breath of Fire series, The Dragon Clan, which is also known as the "Brood"
We welcome you into the arms of the loving fan family and wish you an enjoyable stay while using our site. True, the main focus of our forums will be, of course, the Breath of Fire series, but the place also offers you a chance to talk and share your opinions about your own personal interests.
The forum was created for you, so post away and add your own personal touch. Be sure to read our rules before posting. If you run into any trouble, feel free to PM the staff or E-mail us at: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Hospice offers end-of-life care
Hospice of Warren County began with community members in 1979 as a non-profit hospice agency, with volunteers befriending terminally ill patients and their families, offering respite and support.
The desire was to make this special level of caring available to the people of Warren County, affording people dealing with a serious illness dignity and quality of life. Today, over 150 trained and professional staff and volunteers work everyday with these same goals in mind.
Hospice care is appropriate for people dealing with a life-limiting illness and who also desire a less invasive approach in managing their illness, wanting to focus on treatments that are helpful that can be managed out of the hospital if possible, so life can be as normal as possible, given their difficult circumstances related to illness. Caregivers providing the day-to-day care for these patients need resources of trained people, supplies, medications and equipment if the patients are to meet their goal of ultimate quality of life even in the midst of serious illness. Hospice workers are prepared to meet the needs of these patients and families, and provide advocacy for the patients' and families' wishes, dignity, and quality of life.
Most insurances offer some type of hospice coverage. Some do not. Some patients have no coverage. No patient is turned away due to inability to pay if in need of the services of Hospice of Warren County. The variety of needs of the various patients and families we serve, along with the increased constraints of the insurance industry, make balancing insurance income and meeting needs challenging. We rely on community support, such as the United Fund, for us to provide high-standard hospice care to the community.
Our hospice program has greatly grown in size and scope over the past 34 years. Initially serving only terminally ill patients and families, our agency has found ways to utilize our expertise to benefit people at any stage of a serious illness, not just the terminal stage. We have found throughout our years of experience that people at ANY stage of a serious illness can benefit from a variety of services that we are equipped to provide, as our experience gives us a keen understanding of issues that go along with a serious illness.
We now have the following services available, most of which are of no cost to the patient and / or family:
Palliative Care:
A consultative service designed to offer assistance to patients and families dealing with any stage of a serious illness. Our team of skilled professionals helps with symptom management, practical support, and defining goals of care for a patient and family. Serious illness affects not only the patient but the entire family unit. The outcome of consultative services through our Palliative Care program is often expressed relief by patients and families at having a skilled support service along the ebb and flow of their journey of illness. Our services may be needed for a short or long time, depending on the individual situation.
Grief and Loss Support:
Certified grief counselors offer individual and / or group counseling for anyone who has endured the loss of a loved one. Individuals do not need to have been connected with hospice or palliative care to access this service. Our counselors work closely with the Warren County School District, educating school counselors and providing sessions for children. Services are offered for a full year to primary caregivers of hospice patients.
DeFrees Support:
This program offers befriending, similar to the way our agency began, utilizing volunteers and / or the program's Coordinator to provide support and connection to community services the patient and / or family may not realize exist or that they are eligible for.
John and Orpha Blair Hospice Residence:
This alternative to an institutional setting provides a home setting for hospice care when, for whatever reason, the patient cannot remain in their own home. One of 4 hospice residences in the state of Pennsylvania, a maximum of 3 patients permitted to reside at our Residence offers intimate care, personalized to the patient's preferences. Care is provided 24 hours a day by skilled hospice staff and a patient may stay as long as he / she is eligible for hospice. A room-and-board fee is charged for this service.
Hospice of Warren County does special outreach to veterans, and is poised to do outreach to the pediatric population within Warren County. We are working on a "Living Legacy" project which creates a memory book for families, enabling their loved one's legacy to remain with them throughout their lives.
Our Medicare certified agency is the only non-profit Hospice serving all of Warren County since 1979. Hospice of Warren County utilizes funds we receive from the United Fund Torchlight Campaign to support and advance our services to meet the needs of our patients, families, and community.


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The Powder Road Revisited
For most ski bums, the dream road trip involves a few pals and a bunch of skis bundled in a couple snowmobile-toting rigs aimed at the snowiest destination. The 2005 chronicle The Powder Road thoroughly captures that dream. Four pals chasing powder from Boulder to Alaska uncover much more than soft snow. It's a dreamlike tale of bliss and tribulation that draws back the veil – through stunning photography and introspective writing – on the life and times of powder addicts on the prowl. It encapsulates the powder culture. Led by Boulder's Stephan Drake, founder and designer for the one-of-a-kind DPS ski, The Powder Road was unveiled in video chapters on Boulder-based website Stellarmag.com before it hit bookstores. This month, Drake and his cohorts, including the outrageously gifted Swiss photographer Oskar Enander, embark on the The Powder Road 2 North / South. This time the four-pack of rippers are girded with biodiesel rigs and new four-stroke sleds. And this time, they are dropping in from AK and heading into South America on what promises to be the ultimate skiing road trip. Follow their snow-bound exploits at www.outyo.com, the latest incarnation from Stellarmag and a trove of outdoor news, videos, blogs and photos. Incidentally, the public adventure hub of outyo.com – co-founded by Mike Slone and Drake's brother Philip - was launched last month and has quickly established itself as a gathering place for all sorts of outdoor players.
Here's the new Powder Roadster. Via outyo.com


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Frequently Asked QuestionsPlease be aware that policies and procedures are set by individual libraries and may vary from location to location.What is the Library District?How do I place a hold?How do I renew an item?Problems placing a hold request?How do I get a library card?How do I pay fines?How do I log-on to the databases? How do I request an item not in the Library District catalog?How do I download audio books?How do I search for materials just at my local library?Do Pinal County libraries have Wi-Fi access?How do I access the wireless service at the library?How much will I have to pay to use wireless access at the library?How do I check out an eBook? I'm receiving phone calls and/or mail from the library for someone else, how do I make it stop?!
What is the Library District?The Library District is supported by a secondary property tax rate of $.097 per $100 assessed valuation. Each year, the Library District receives State Grants-in-Aid funds for $23,000. This amount is distributed equally among the member libraries and used for library-related expenses and projects. The Pinal County Library District also administers support services to twelve affiliate libraries. Three libraries are located in unincorporated communities (Arizona City, Oracle, and San Manuel) and are staffed by volunteers. The remaining nine are municipal libraries with paid staff (Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Eloy, Florence, Kearny, Mammoth, Maricopa and Superior). All twelve libraries are affiliates, not branches. The relationship is established through Intergovernmental Agreements with the county library district, which sets out the terms of cooperation.
How do I place a hold?
If you'd like a visual, check out this PDF to see how it looks when you place a hold in our catalog.
How do I renew an item?
Please be aware that policies and procedures are set by individual libraries and may vary from location to location. In order to determine which items can be renewed, how long they can be renewed, and how many renewals you are eligible for, please contact your local library. In order to renew items online:
You may also renew items through our automated phone line at (520) 866-6032 or toll free at 1-888-502-4744.
Problems placing a hold request?There are several reasons why our online catalog will not accept your holds request. There may be a problem with your account, such as an overdue item or other fines on your account. In addition, libraries typically retain a new item for their patrons' use for six (6) months and some libraries may not lend that particular material type (e.g. DVDs or video games). Each library has their own policy covering which items they will lend to another library and how they deal with fines. This policy may differ from the one at your local public library.
How do I get a library card?While each library has its own policies, in most cases, please have a valid photo ID and a document with your current mailing address. If for any reason you cannot make it to your local library, we do offer a card which grants access exclusively to digital content and online resources, called the Virtual Library Card. Click here to learn more and apply online.
How do I pay fines?Please visit your local public library to pay any fines and fees.
How do I log-on to the databases? To access some of our databases, you will need to enter your library card number (without spaces) and your password. If you are having problems logging in, please contact your local public library.
How do I request an item not in the Library District catalog?If the library does not own the item you want, you can visit your local public library to place an InterLibrary Loan request or you can recommend a purchase by filling out this form.
How do I download audio books? Please view these resources available from OneClickDigital:
How do I search for materials just at my local library? (Advanced search)
Do Pinal County libraries have Wi-Fi access?Yes. Each of the thirteen affiliate locations have Wi-Fi access. Once I'm at a library location, how do I access the wireless service?Your Wi-Fi-enabled laptop will detect the wireless signal when you power it on. Simply open a new Internet browser window to enjoy this service. Note: To access free wireless access at Apache Junction or Casa Grande library locations, you will need to have your library card number. How much will I have to pay to use wireless access at the library?It is a free service.
How do I check out an eBook?For more information on checking out eBooks using the 3M Cloud Library service, please head over to our eBooks page.
I'm receiving phone calls and/or mail from the library for someone else, how do I make it stop?!These notices are sent to you from our automated system. If you are receiving a call or mail in error, please contact your local library. Be sure to have the phone number or address readily available so they can make any necessary corrections.
Pinal County Government Web Disclaimer


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Samsung's new Chromebox is essentially a desktop version of its Chromebook. It's a little bit cheaper at £280, instead of £380 for the Chromebook Series 5 550. It lacks the display, but has a lot more connectivity - especially in terms of video output.
But £280 isn't especially cheap. For that kind of money, you could get a Windows-based PC using some reasonable components. We aren't talking gaming rig here, but certainly with a little more oomph than the Chromebox.
And it's only £100 less than the Chromebook, which offers a lot more portability, with virtually the same level of computer power.
Stylistically, there's not much to say about the Chromebox. It's a box. A black one, within which are some pretty standard PC components. There is, for example, 4GB of RAM and an Intel "Core" processor. Not a high-spec machine by any standard, but recognisable as a PC nonetheless
Connections are also incredibly generous. There six USB sockets dotted around the machine: two on the front, four on the rear. Also out back are a pair of DisplayPort connections and a single DVI port. The two DisplayPort sockets are HDMI compatible, although you'll need an adaptor to connect it to an HDMI device. The DVI port is also VGA compatible, so with some adaptors, there's pretty much no screen the Chromebox won't work on.
We suspect there are no HDMI ports here because they require a licence, whereas DisplayPort does not. Basically, this means that the cost of plugging this device into an HDMI-equipped screen is passed on to you, the user, rather than the cents ($0.04) needed for Samsung to pay in HDMI royalties. DisplayPort to HDMI adaptors start around £5.
There is Wi-Fi built in, or you can use the Ethernet socket on the back of the Chromebox. Happily, wireless is 802.11n and the wired connection is Gigabit-speed capable. We're always happy to see this, but we're not sure what you're going to be doing on the Chromebox that will require Gigabit speeds.
Obviously, you'll have to provide your own keyboard and mouse, but we had no problem using wireless hardware with it. There was no installing drivers or messing about with settings - aside from the mouse speed - and we were up-and-running in seconds. All computer experiences should be like this.
You'll also find a headphone jack on the front, and a mono speaker built-in. The speaker is actually very good indeed for casual watching of online video or music - although it's not a hi-fi speaker! Headphones, however, are the best solution for listening to anything.
What's it for
Honestly, we're a little stumped by the Chromebox. We understand the Chromebook a little more, to be honest. There, it's a light, simple laptop that uses the internet to ensure that you're always backed-up, and accessing up-to-date cloud storage.
When it comes to the Chromebox, it's unlikely that it will be moved about much - although it is both small and light. What's more likely is that it will end up being deployed in internet cafes the world over, where it will be a safe, secure and easy-to-maintain computer that can't easily be ruined by clueless backpackers.
And, that model can be used for other places too. We could, for example, see this box being used in places where employees don't need access to anything more than an internet-connected computer with Office support and email access. Of course, this all works really well if you're a company that has migrated to Google Apps - and several have. It works less well in a world of Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes.
But perhaps to businesses, the Chromebox will be attractive for its inability to be broken by users. This is virtually an maintenance-free computer. It's pretty hard to get a virus, and you can't install countless stupid apps or toolbars. And, at least, in theory, it should be as fast in 10 years, as it is today.
Massive potential that's so far untapped
We can also see the Chromebox being a big deal in home media. If there were apps for Netflix, Lovefilm and Plex - our favourite home media streaming system - then it would be THE device to plonk under your TV and use to enjoy media from the internet and your own collection.
But sadly, looking at the Chrome Web Store, there isn't all that much to draw you to use the Chromebox as a media player. Like any new(ish) platform, there is still a distinct lack of apps available to do useful things.
And, indeed, the apps that Google has on its web store are just web apps. This means, for the most part, they just look like webpages. Google doesn't appear to have encouraged the development of apps that, while built on HTML 5 and other web technology, look like standalone programs.
Here, Microsoft has confusingly taken the lead with Metro. We may not love Windows 8, but it's fair to say that Metro apps are a clever way of presenting quite simple programs. On the Chromebox, there are times when you just want a full-screen app. Take for example the remote desktop service: it's quite good, and works well, but it's not possible to make it full screen, so controlling a 1080p desktop from the Chrome 1080p desktop isn't a brilliant experience.
There are some games on the Chrome store, again though, these are browser-based and you could play them on pretty much anything. We also had problems with some apps, which refused to load on the Chromebox, but worked fine on our Windows machine.
Chrome as an operating system
Chrome has recently had a pretty substantial overhaul. It looks great now, and there's a proper desktop too, with your apps available in a grid format. Everything remains simple. There are no more than a few simple settings to get up and running. Really, you tell it your Google login details, and show it a wired or wireless network, and you're done.
This is good, from an ease-of-use perspective, but not so great if you want to adjust the way the OS runs. But having said that, Chrome is so cut-down, there's really not a lot to adjust anyway. At its core, there's Linux running under here, but Google prevents you from ever seeing that - the Chrome devices have a developer mode that allows it, but it's not especially simple to get to, or user friendly when you do.
Viruses and malware aren't generally a problem though, which is good. Of course, users will still be open to phishing attacks and social engineering. It would be remiss of us to claim that this is the answer to your security problems, but it's likely to be a lot safer than a Windows machine.
This is where things start to get a little confusing. The Chromebox is a pretty modest computer, but it's powerful enough to run Windows at a basic level. The problem is, Chrome OS still feels a bit like pushing through treacle. This seemed to be a combination of the wireless connection feeling quite slow - again, fine on our other devices - and the slowish mouse.
We used a Microsoft wireless mouse, and on the Chromebox we were never able to make it responsive enough. On a PC it's fine - if a little bulky to push around - so the the lack of cursor speed can only really be blamed on Chrome.
We like the OS though, and visually it's quite attractive. You can watch video and listen to music without much hassle. The file manager is really simple, but actually works well. For the most part, files will be stored in the cloud, so there aren't many occasions when you'll need this.
After our time with the Chromebox, we did feel quite attached to it. It may not feel fast, but when you're using Google's apps and whizzing about the OS, it is a pleasant and simple process. Our only slight issue is, we did end up getting a little bored at how little we could do, and run. But perhaps we're just expecting something that Google doesn't want to provide.
If you want a Chrome device, then the Chromebox is a decent enough machine. It feels a bit slow - it's certainly not as enjoyable to use as our Windows-based desktop and it's obviously a lot more limited.
Really, the Chrome computers need a killer app. You might think the internet is that app, but there's something missing here. As good as the Chromebox is for accessing Google's services, and the apps from its app store, if you have aspirations of more, you will be disappointed.
Those who have their heart set on a Chrome device won't be disappointed. Those who want a cheap PC should just buy a PC or laptop. You probably won't have to pay much more for one, but you'll get a lot more functionality, including the option of Linux, if you want it.


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Gerard Bennet, from the Mount Argus group of Passionist Companions, took a number of photographs at the Final Profession of Gareth Thomas CP in Holy Cross, Ardoyne, last September. I've finally got round to loading some of them onto YouTube.
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Mary is the Mother of hope, the most expressive icon of Christian hope. Her whole life is an ensemble of attitudes of hope, beginning with the "yes" at the moment of the Annunciation. Mary did not know how she could become a mother, but she entrusted herself totally to the mystery that was about to take place, and she became the woman of waiting and of hope. Then we see her at Bethlehem, where he who was announced as Savior of Israel and as Messiah is born in poverty. Then, while she is at Jerusalem to present him in the Temple, with the joy of the elderly Simeon and Anna, she hears the promise of a sword that will pierce her heart and the prophecy of a sign of contradiction. She realizes that the mission and the identity itself of that Son exceed her being Mother. We then arrive at the episode of Jesus who is lost in Jerusalem, and she asks: "Son, why have you treated us so?" (Luke 2:48), and Jesus' answer, who moves away from the maternal concerns and turns to the things of the Heavenly Father.
Yet, in face of all these difficulties and surprises of God's plan, the Virgin's hope never hesitates! Woman of hope. This tells us that hope is nourished by listening, by contemplation, by patience, so that the times of the Lord will mature. Also at the Wedding of Cana, Mary is the Mother of hope, which makes her attentive and solicitous to human things. With the beginning of his public life, Jesus becomes the Teacher and the Messiah: Our Lady looks at her Son's mission with exultation but also with apprehension, because Jesus becomes increasingly the sign of contradiction that the elderly Simeon had pre-announced to her. At the foot of the cross, she is the woman of sorrow and at the same time of vigilant waiting of a mystery, greater than the sorrow, which is about to take place. Everything seems truly finished; every hope it could be said was spent. At that moment, recalling the promises of the Annunciation, she also could have said: they have not come true, I was deceived. But she did not say it. Yet she, blessed because she believed, sees blossom from her faith the new future and waits with hope for God's tomorrow.
Pope Francis, 21 November 2013
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Window: The Triumph of the Cross,
Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne
This Sunday, 15 September, our province will celebrate the Final Profession of our brother Gareth Thomas C.P.
Gareth, who is from Wales, was a novice at the Passionist Retreat Centre, Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar, County Down; he is now studying theology at Heythrop College, London. The profession will take place during the 12.00 Mass in Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne, Belfast. In preparation, there will be a Vigil of Prayer for Vocations this evening at 7.00 p.m. in Holy Cross. The Vigil will begin with Mass and continue with Eucharistic Adoration. If you can't be in Belfast this weekend, both the Vigil and the Profession Mass can be followed here. Here is a prayer for Passionist Vocations:
you gave your life on the Cross
so that we could share in God's own life
and know his love for us,
May the love that flows from the Cross
transform our hearts,
so that we can bring your love and compassion
to those whose lives we touch,
especially those who are suffering.
Give the light of your Holy Spirit
to those young people who have received
the grace of a Passionist vocation.
Inspire them to give their lives
as Passionist priests, brothers or sisters,
keeping the Memory of your Passion alive
in their own hearts and in the hearts of others.
May Mary, who stood by the Cross, be their example,
and may Saint Paul of the Cross be their guide. Amen.
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"What does it mean that Jesus is risen? It means that the love of God is stronger than evil and death itself; it means that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom. The love of God can do this!
This same love for which the Son of God became man and followed the way of humility and self-giving to the very end, down to hell – to the abyss of separation from God – this same merciful love has flooded with light the dead body of Jesus, has transfigured it, has made it pass into eternal life. Jesus did not return to his former life, to earthly life, but entered into the glorious life of God and he entered there with our humanity, opening us to a future of hope." (Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi, 2013)
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I'm in Rome for the 46th General Chapter of the Passionists, where I'll be working in the secretariat. The Chapter, which opened on Sunday and lasts for four weeks, is being held at Saints John and Paul, our Generalate house. There is a special blog site for the General Chapter where a daily bulletin will be published. Please remember all the members of the General Chapter in your prayers during these days. Meanwhile, here is a glimpse at the opening prayers of the Chapter when we gathered around his statue, recalling one of the miracles worked by Saint Paul of the Cross after his death at the Retreat of Saint Michael the Archangel at Vetralla.
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"During holy Advent humble yourself the more in considering the Infinite Goodness of God who wished to reduce himself to our humanity concealing himself in the unblemished womb of the Immaculate Virgin. Love this Infinite Good with the sweetest heart of the great Lady Mary Most Holy. God will teach you." (Saint Paul of the Cross, Letter to Agnes Grazi, 28 October 1734)
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Room of Saint Paul of the Cross, Rome
'About twelve o'clock on the following morning [19 October 1775], they carried the body down the inner staircase into the Basilica, chanting as they went along the solemn prayers of the ritual. They placed it in the centre of the church without any pomp and only four torches burning around it. No sooner were the doors opened than numbers of persons crowded in, anxious to obtain a sight of the remains, and, in spite of the unfavourable state of the weather, in a very short time the church was quite full. Nobles and plebeians, ecclesiastics and seculars, all were equally eager to approach the corpse of the servant of God to kiss his hand and to take away with them some part of his habit or a portion of his hair. This was carried to such an extent that, to prevent the body being completely stripped, they were obliged to form an enclosure around it with benches, and a German cavalier, a great friend of Father Paul, stood within to protect the body and to distribute little pieces of the clothes. The same concourse of people and the same devout enthusiasm continued throughout the day. All this time Masses were being celebrated by our Fathers and by several other priests who, out of affection for the departed, wished to offer the Holy Sacrifice for his soul. Among these the most distinguished were Cardinal Boschi, the Titular of the church, Bishop Marcucci, the Vicegerent, and Bishop Tiberio Ruffo. At ten o'clock Office for the Dead was chanted by the whole community, and High Mass sung, followed by the customary absolutions. It was a beautiful and moving sight to see the multitude of people remaining unweariedly in the church, weeping and praying and reminding one another of the heroic deeds of him whom they already considered a saint. It was more touching still to see that pale and placid corpse lying upon the boards in the habit of penance with ashes sprinkled upon the head and a crucifix clasped in the hands – it seemed to bring so vividly before all eyes the road of mortification, abjection, and contempt of the world through which he had so faithfully trod in the footsteps of his crucified Lord. There was a glory on his countenance which made those marvel who gazed upon it and forced them to exclaim, "A Saint is dead!" One holy priest of spotless life noticed when he took Father Paul's hand to kiss it that there came from his virginal body an odour of ineffable sweetness. He confidently mentioned this circumstance to the attendant who had waited upon him, asking if he had poured any scented water upon the corpse. The brother replied that nothing of the kind had been near it.
'In the evening of the 19th of October, the remains were placed in a wooden coffin, which was to be enclosed in a case of lead, according to the command of His Holiness. Bishop Marcucci then ordered the church to be cleared, but it was found impossible to send all the people away. Many insisted on remaining, among them several persons of distinction. The doors were closed and a plaster cast was taken of the venerable Father's head, after which the coffin was carried to a room called the sepulchre, at the bottom of the basilica on the left side of the entrance, opposite those holy remains.'
(Saint Vincent Mary Strambi, Life of Father Paul of the Cross)
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At events in 265 cities in 43 countries, including China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, thousands of people took part in a day of solidarity to mark two months since the Arctic 30 were detained. This was following a peaceful protest against Arctic oil drilling on September 18. A Russian court has charged the Arctic 30 (twenty-eight Greenpeace International activists, as well as a freelance videographer and photographer) with both piracy and hooliganism, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 and 7 years, respectively.
© Greenpeace
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A Southern California native, Emilio Villalba received his BFA from the Art Institute of California in 2006, and his MFA in Painting from the Academy of Art University in 2011. He currently lives in San Francisco where he teaches at the Art Institute of California and Cogswell College.
Collections: Emilio Villalba, Emilio Villalba: The Next Day
Artist: Painting
Shipping costs will be added at checkout. For an exact quote, please use the 'Quote Shipping' option and we will invoice you separately. If you would like to arrange a free pickup, simply select the 'Gallery Pickup' option at checkout. For expedited rates or specific delivery requests, please contact the gallery.
We ship all orders out in a timely manner, and in the order that they are placed. You will receive a tracking number by email once the order has been dispatched.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us anytime via email (email@example.com) or by phone (415) 956-3303 during regular business hours.
Thank you!


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Pro Chef Medium Oven Tray
The Pro Chef Medium Oven Tray is made from carbon steel with non-stick surface, heat resistant up to 230 degrees C. This high quality bakeware is oven proof, dishwasher safe and freezer safe. Ideal to use in your home or mobile kitchen when cooking and baking.Read Full Description
Priority Order Line: 01255-830-229
One of our friendly Sales Advisors will be happy to process your order by telephone. Simply call our Priority Order Line and quote the product code displayed below. Please make your product selection before quoting the product code.
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Father celebrates son on Father's Day
Son returns home from 10 months serving in Afghanistan
While many people will be celebrating their dads on Father's Day, one man is celebrating his son.
"Words can't express how proud you are of something like this," said Brent Larrison.
Larrison's son, Spc. James Cody Cole, returned home after spending nearly a year serving overseas in Afghanistan.
"Ten months seemed like an eternity," said Larrison. "Every day you expect to see him and you get used to seeing him and then you don't. It's very hard."
About 40 soldiers from the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Clarksville returned home Saturday afternoon.
The soldiers provided security for 10 different locations in Afghanistan, in addition to overseeing 64 improvement projects.
For Larrison, having his some home just in time for Father's Day couldn't be more perfect.
"Cody is an exceptional individual," he said. "He is a great father, a great husband and a great son. I couldn't be more proud of him."
The Coles said they don't have any plans for the next few days, just spending quality time together after nearly a year apart.


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- Home /
- Wetsuits /
- Quiksilver Wetsuits /
- Men's
Men's Quiksilver Wetsuits
Quiksilver has utilized its team of professional surfers over the years to improve and innovate their wetsuit technology. With new features like Fuseflex, and Hydrolock, Quiksilver Wetsuits are no doubt up there with other top quality wetsuit brands. If you are looking for an entry level wetsuit the Syncro is one of the best in the biz, or if you are looking for top of the line tech, then look no further than the Cypher.


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The James Moy F1 art collection captures the art of the world's greatest Motorsport.
Professional F1 photographer James Moy's images bottle the scent, thrill and the glamour of Formula One for your walls.
This striking art print captures the beauty of an F1 car disappearing at speed around the smooth corners of the Barcelona testing track in 2013.
Each stunning photo in this F1 Art series is printed on heavy 270gsm satin paper and professionally framed in a contemporary black brushed-aluminium frame, with conservation-grade white mount.
Framed print measures 65cmW x 52cmH and is protected with museum-grade perspex 'artscreen' instead of glass - you won't be able to tell the difference when it's hanging on your wall.
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Reducing the total size of network requests speeds up page load time and saves your users money that they would have spent on cellular data.
See Highest Correlation To Load Time to view the correlation between requests and load time.
See What Does My Site Cost to calculate the cost of viewing your site around the world. You can adjust the results to factor in purchasing power.
Click View Details to see your page's requests. The largest requests are presented first. Reduce the size of the requests to reduce your total payload size.
Here are some strategies for reducing payload size:
- Defer requests until they're needed. See The PRPL Pattern for one possible approach.
- Optimize requests to be as small as possible. Possible techniques include:
- Enable text compression.
- Minify HTML, JS, and CSS. See Minification.
- Use WebP instead of JPEG or PNG. See Serve Images As WebP.
- Set the compression level of JPEG images to 85. See Optimize Images.
- Cache requests so that the page doesn't re-download the resources on repeat visits. See HTTP Caching and Service Workers: An Introduction.
More information
Lighthouse sums up the total byte size of all resources that the page requested.
The target score of 1600KB is based on what a page can theoretically download on a 3G connection, while still achieving a time-to-interactive of 10 seconds or less. See googlechrome/lighthouse/pull/1759 for the original discussion.
The 0 to 100 score is calculated from a lognormal distribution.


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What is Data Avenue?
The Data Avenue is a file commander tool for data transfer, enabling easy data moving between various storage services (such as grid, cloud, cluster, supercomputers) by various protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, SFTP, GSIFTP, SRM, iRODS and S3.
Why Data Avenue is good for me?
With Data Avenue you can up- and download your data to storage services for scientific computation. Additionally, you can copy, move and delete files as well as you can create and copy folders. The biggest advantage of Data Avenue is the widespread support of protocols, enabling easy data moving between various distributed computing infrastructure (DCI) storage resources by various network protocols.
- If you do not want to use command-line solutions as a connection to your storage, but you would like a convenient solution, then Data Avenue is your tool.
- If you need to move your file between different resources or you need to use different transfer protocols, then Data Avenue is a suitable solution.
- If asynchronous file transfer is necessary, then Data Avenue is the tool you need.
- If you do not want to use your local environment for temporarily storing files during data transfer, then choose Data Avenue.
What do I need if I want to try out Data Avenue?
- Click on 'Sign in' on the top right hand side of this page.
- Log in with your Facebook account by clicking on the Facebook link (below the Sign In button).
- Go to the 'Try it out' page.
- You will need to have access to the infrastructures you are planning to use. You need to own credentials (such as keys, passwords, other authentication data depending on the used protocols) for grids and clouds as well as you have to know the corresponding URLs to access remote data sources.
If you need help about using the Data Avenue, please go to the 'Manuals' page.
What else do we have?
The Data Avenue family consists of three main actors:
The Data Avenue Blacktop is the core service that provides unified access to different types of storages. It offers a web service interface for performing different operations on the supported storages (http, https, sftp, gsiftp, srm, s3), and an HTTP server for convenient data up- and download. The Data Avenue core service can be accessed with an easy-to-use Java API making integration with existing software components an easy task.
The Data Avenue is the user interface that makes data transfer very easy and user friendly. As soon as we think that most of the bugs are fixed, it will be downloadable for everyone.
The Data Avenue @SZTAKI is our installation of the Data Avenue service. It can be used by those who choose not to install their own or just would like to see how it works! To have a look, go to the 'Try it out' page.


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Since the KONY 2012 video was posted the on-line community has certainly gone into over-drive, and as always the critics are out. Overall I find backlash against these things interesting because it really comes down to whether you look at the positives or negatives of a situation. So often people want to pull people and/or groups down when they take action and work to make a difference.
Everyone has a different passion and action approach for making a difference in the world and that should be valued. Change happens when people take action. If this video gets people thinking and talking on all different levels then that is a positive. Surely it is better than another article on a celebrity who went out with a pimple and un-brushed hair!
What we can take from this video is we are powerful not powerless. So often people think they do not have a voice and/or cannot make a difference to their own life – let alone the lives of others.
People can make a difference if they know what the issues are or how they can help.
I agree that we do not yet have the solution or best answers to fight the cruelty, injustice and suffering we see in the world – whether that be in our own country or abroad – but when we use cruel words to shut down others we do not get closer to finding a positive solution. Change can happen when people know they can have a voice and have the power to be part of the change.
When the first computer was developed its capacity was laughable by today's standards. But we had to start somewhere. You do not start with the Apple 4.0 – which will be obsolete in 5 years (if you're lucky for it to last that long!) – we start at a point and we learn and we create something better, and that is HOPE.
If KONY 2012 provides a new kind of awareness of some of the issues we face globally we are moving forward as a race.
Absolutely the issues are complex. I know people who make their own lives complex a lot of the time! That doesn't mean they should sit down and do nothing or over-compensate by trying to do everything. Doing not much for so long is no-doubt how it got to this stage in the first place.
Is knowledge power? Knowledge is only power if the right action is taken to follow it up. Knowledge without action produces zero change. Using 'knowledge' to shut people down is not the use of power anyone needs.
I have seen some people take the position of what I call a 'knowledge of information snob'. Some of the comments and blogs I have read have put people down for 'not knowing' the issues. This is quite sad. We are not born with all knowledge, nor will we ever know everything. Learning and development in all areas is a constant process for everyone. Let's not get angry at people for 'not knowing' what 'we know'. Without doubt they have something they could teach us. If we are going to create any change and raise awareness of the real issues it is a matter of teaching not belittling people for their level of awareness or understanding.
KONY 2012 is to be a part of something bigger and to have your voice heard. Margaret Mead said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Unfortunately we can be quick to jump to the negative and to shut people down who are trying to make a difference.
The KONY kits (which I believe are now sold out) cost $30. However, before buying any more merchandise or sitting back because they have nothing else to purchase what I recommend is thinking about the cost of the kit and what you are/were willing to give to the Invisible Children and do a little homework.
There are many great non-profits and social businesses in Australia (or insert own country here) and overseas. Check a couple out and choose one to donate your $30 too. Pick the one which you most believe in and are passionate about (after your research this may be The Invisible Children). Don't do something because others are and don't do nothing because you are un-certain what to do. Find out for yourself. There are great websites now which help you to go through different charities if you find it too much – which is understandable as there are a lot of options out there.
For example, if depression or mental health issues have touched your life then maybe this is something you would be interested in helping people through. Maybe you like the idea of micro-finance and giving people a hand-up through business or maybe it is people with disabilities, the environment and tree planting, education or refugees. Make your dollars count. You are powerful and can make a difference through your donations whether it be $s or time.
Real difference and change happens through working with people. There is a place for charity in this world and there is a place for creating lasting change by working together as the global community that we are.
Whether you like the video and campaign or not KONY 2012 is finally starting a conversation that needs to happen. It is never too late to create change.
If you haven't watched the 30 minute clip yet the link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
(as at writing this blog 57,733,541 had already watched it – impressive for just 5 days)
And finally: "Be the change you wish to see in the world" Ghandi
If you are looking for more reading I recommend
The Life you can save by Peter Singer
Half the Sky by Nicholas D Kristof & Sheryl Wudunn
A couple blogs commenting on KONY 2012
KONY 2012 – A conversation worth having
Since the KONY 2012 video was posted the on-line community has certainly gone into over-drive, and as always the critics are out. Overall I find backlash against these things interesting because it really comes down to whether you look at the positives or negatives of a situation. So often people want to pull people and/or groups down when they take action and work to make a difference.


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Jupiter, Venus, & Mercury+a 1 degree FOV on the morning of May 11th.
(Created by the author in Starry Night).
The planetary conjunctions reach a climax this week, with a close apparent pass of the two brightest worlds in our solar system, Jupiter and Venus in the dawn sky. These worlds seem to meet on the morning of May 11th, with Jupiter shinning at magnitude -1.9 about 0.5 degrees from -3.8 magnitude Venus. This will place both within the same field of view using a low power eyepiece, and may illicit queries of what are those two stars low in the sky? [Read more...]


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About Concordia
At Concordia University Chicago, you'll experience learning that enriches, faith that uplifts and leadership that takes you places. Our distinctive academic programs are designed to meet the needs of the world in which we live, serve and work. A CUC education opens doors to your career and prepares you to make a difference in the lives of others.
What sets Concordia University Chicago apart? It's the way certain characteristics combine to give your education purpose and value:
Our proximity to Chicago provides students endless opportunities for internships and jobs, social and cultural events, connections with leaders in business, the arts, government and the nonprofit sector—access that lets you apply your knowledge to the real world even before you graduate.
A CUC education "equips men and women to serve and lead with integrity, creativity, competence, and compassion in a diverse, interconnected and increasingly urbanized church and world." Concordia-Chicago graduates are well prepared to serve in whatever vocation or career they choose.
Our strong Christian and liberal arts foundation provides a well-rounded education focused on faith, values and the individual, and service to others.
Service Learning
Service learning is an integral part of your college experience at Concordia-Chicago. Textbooks and classroom discussions quickly translate into hands-on opportunities to serve within local and national communities where you can change and improve the lives of others.
Find out more about why Concordia could be your perfect fit.


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UH President receives honorary doctorate from Doshisha UniversityUniversity of Hawaiʻi
External Affairs & University Relations
KYOTO -- University of Hawaiʻi President David McClain was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Doshisha University in ceremonies held in Kyoto, Japan on October 25. The presentation in UH's centennial celebrates the University's oldest international relationship, dating back to 1921.
"In this centennial year, I am deeply honored to accept this recognition on behalf of the University of Hawaiʻi community," said McClain. "We greatly value our strong and enduring relationship with Doshisha University, which has made such a difference in the lives of so many faculty and students over the past century."
At the degree conferment, McClain delivered the 31st Neesima Lecture, honoring Doshisha's founder, Joseph Hardy Neesima, entitled "Island Societies and Globalization: Lessons from Hawaiʻi and Japan." Neesima Lecture invitees are recognized for "distinguished service in the fields of academics, arts and society."
On the following day, the UH President was the keynote speaker at a symposium concluding Hawaiʻi Week at Doshisha. The symposium theme was "Doshisha, Hawaiʻi and Japan: The History of An Unknown Japan-U.S. Relationship." He was joined by UH Mānoa Professor Emeritus Paul Hooper and Associate Professor Noriko Asato on the symposium program, which also featured papers by several Doshisha faculty.
In 1921, Doshisha's seventh president, Dr. Tasuku Harada, became the first professor of Japanese Studies at UH. Upon his retirement in 1932, Dr. Harada was presented with an honorary doctorate, only the second honorary degree granted during UH's first 25 years. Faculty and student exchanges have continued over the years; the Center for Japanese Studies at UH Mānoa currently coordinates a student exchange agreement with Doshisha.
President McClain's Neesima Lecture is available online at:
His symposium keynote address is at:
About Doshisha University
Founded in 1875, Doshisha University is one of the oldest and most prestigious private universities in Japan. More than 25,000 students are currently pursing degrees at Doshisha.
For more information, visit www.doshisha.ac.jp/english/.
About the University of Hawaiʻi
Established in 1907 and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the University of Hawaiʻi is the state's sole public system of higher education. The UH System provides an array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees and community programs on 10 campuses and through educational, training, and research centers across the state. UH enrolls more than 50,000 students from Hawaiʻi, the U.S. mainland, and around the world. For more information, visit www.hawaii.edu.
For more information, visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/op/2007/1025doshishadeg.html


text:
Lo! in the orient when the gracious light
Lifts up his burning head, each under eye
Doth homage to his new-appearing sight,
Serving with looks his sacred majesty;
And having climb'd the steep-up heavenly hill,
Resembling strong youth in his middle age,
yet mortal looks adore his beauty still,
Attending on his golden pilgrimage;
But when from highmost pitch, with weary car,
Like feeble age, he reeleth from the day,
The eyes, 'fore duteous, now converted are
From his low tract and look another way:
So thou, thyself out-going in thy noon,
Unlook'd on diest, unless thou get a son.
Sonnet 7: Translation to modern English
Look! In the east when the glorious sun raises his burning head, all men's eyes pay tribute to his new, fresh appearance, serving his majesty with looks of awe. And having climbed that steep hill to heaven like a strong youth in the prime of life, mortals still worship his beauty as they watch his golden climb into the sky. But when he staggers away, old and feeble, from his highest point with weary horses, the eyes that were dutiful before, now turn away from him and look elsewhere. So you, yourself, declining from your noonday glory, will die disregarded, unless you beget a son.


text:
"What I really want my students to get from studying economics is power. Through a greater understanding of what's going on around them, I hope to give them confidence that they can understand the world and become involved."
Geoffrey Williams took an unusual path to becoming an economics professor. He began his education in acting school at New York University, where he earned a B.F.A. degree before moving on to graduate programs in economics.
"Ironically, I was kind of afraid of school," he says. "I was intimidated by the discipline of college, so it was an easy way out. So I'm sympathetic to the students who are having a rough time, but I also really want them to pull it together."
He says if he had it all to do over, he would have focused more on math in college. Even so, that acting experience gave Williams some of the teaching skills he uses today, like presence in front of an audience and self-confidence to tackle any sort of presentation.
"A lot of the teachers here, actually, remind me of acting friends of mine. You've got to communicate well, and you've got to have a certain persona."
Williams conducts research on crime and social policy, using economic models and tools to try to understand why people commit crime. Lots of research argues that crime is based mostly on income level, but Williams believes that it's just as much, if not more, behavioral. In the research he's done, measures of impatience and self-control seem to be much more powerful than measures of income or economic situations.
This has gotten him interested in the role that early childhood health and education play in long-term lifetime outcomes, and the surprising impact of some policies. For example, some researchers argue that when the government mandated that lead, a highly toxic substance that inhibits brain development in children exposed to it, be removed from gasoline in the 1970s and 1980s, it caused a reduction in the national crime rate.
"What happens in the first couple years of life is incredibly important, and that's one of the reasons early childhood stuff is so interesting to me. Even if someone comes from a low-income background, there are things you can do to set those traits."
It's a concept Williams tests daily with his two-year-old son.
"Definitely part of my interest in early childhood issues comes from being a father."


text:
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