text:
After Effects CC 2014.2 (13.2): what's new and changed in this update
After Effects CC 2014.2 (13.2) is available.
If you have a Creative Cloud membership, you always have access to the latest version of After Effects. Ideally, you should install the updates automatically through the Creative Cloud desktop application or by choosing Help > Updates, but you can also directly download the update packages from the download page for Windows or Mac OS by choosing the "Adobe After Effects CC 2014.2 (13.2)" update for your operating system.
For more information about Creative Cloud, see this overview video and the Creative Cloud FAQ list.
For information about updates for all of our professional video and audio applications, see this page.
For details of what was new in After Effects CC 2014 (13.0), see this page.
For details of what was new in After Effects CC 2014.1 (13.1), see this page.
Please, if you want to ask questions about these new and changed features, come on over to the After Effects user-to-user forum. That's the best place for questions (and, if you follow that link, you'll find more information about how to communicate with us). Questions left in comments on a blog post are much harder to work with; the blog comment system just isn't set up for conversations. If you'd like to submit feature requests (or bug reports), you can do so here.
top new features for After Effects CC 2014.2 (13.2)
- scripting improvements for text layers
- expression access to dynamic layer bounds
- new keyframe icons
- many bug fixes
details of what's new and changed in After Effects CC 2014.2 (13.2)
Here is a virtually comprehensive list of changes, with detail beyond the summaries of the top items listed above. We'll be posting a more detail in the coming weeks, and the outline below will be populated with links to in-depth articles and tutorials, so bookmark this page and check back.
scripting improvements for text layers
You can now read additional information through scripting about the properties of a text layer, including the layer coordinates and additional character properties.
These new attributes for the textDocument object are read-only. The value returned is for the first character in the text layer at the current time.
The following attributes return a boolean value:
The following attributes return a float value:
The following attributes return an array of (
[X,Y]) position coordinates for paragraph text layers only:
boxTextPos: returns the layer coordinates from the text layer anchor point
sourcePointToComp(): converts layer coordinates, such as
boxTextPos, to composition coordinates
compPointToSource(): converts composition coordinates, such as
sourcePointToComp, to layer coordinates
Example usage:
For a text layer with fauxBold enabled and horizontalScale set to 50%:
var isFauxBold = myTextLayer.sourceText.value.fauxBold;
// returns true
var valOfHScale = myTextLayer.sourceText.value.horizontalScale;
// returns 0.5
For a paragraph text layer:
// Returns [x,y] position from layer anchor point in layer coordinates.
// e.g. approximately [0, -25] with default character panel settings.
var boxTextLayerPos = myTextLayer.sourceText.value.boxTextPos;
// Converts position in layer coordinates to comp coordinates.
var boxTextCompPos = myTextLayer.sourcePointToComp(boxTextLayerPos);
expression access to dynamic layer bounds, including text layers
You can now read the rectangle bounds of a layer's content, including the corrected bounds of a text layer, for any time in a composition. The
sourceRectAtTime() method from the After Effects scripting API is now accessible in expressions as a read-only layer object attribute.
The values returned are calculated before effects and layer styles are applied.
layer.sourceRectAtTime(t = time, includeExtents = false)
t: the time index, in seconds. A floating-point value.
includeExtents: true to include the extents, false otherwise. Extents apply to shape layers only, increasing the size of the layer bounds as necessary.
Returns a JavaScript object with four attributes:
[top, left, width, height]
Example usage for a text layer named myTextLayer:
// Returns width value at the current time as a number
var textLayerWidth = myTextLayer.sourceRectAtTime().width;
new keyframe icons
We received a lot of feedback that keyframe icons in After Effects CC 2014.1 (13.1) are difficult to visually distinguish in the refreshed user interface design. In After Effects CC 2014.2 (13.2) all keyframe icons have been updated to address this feedback. The new icons are a little bit brighter overall and have bright edges instead of dark edges so that they stand out better against the background.
The icons for roving keyframes and summary keyframes (displayed when a property group is collapsed) have been updated but are changed to the dark dot that appeared in After Effects CC 2014 (13.0) and previous, instead of the bright dot that appeared in After Effects CC 2014.1 (13.1).
We will be making additional improvements to the user interface for all Adobe applications based on user feedback in updates scheduled for the coming year, including additional customizability.
a few choice bug fixes
We fixed a lot of bugs in this update. Here are a few that I think are especially worth calling out:
- Applying animation presets from Bridge works as expected and no longer results in an error message.
- Color management no longer causes a color or gamma shift in rendered images when multiprocessing is enabled.
- Warp Stabilizer effect has been updated to fix a cause of crashes on the late 2013 model Mac Pro.
- A cause of poor Dynamic Link performance when the main After Effects application is open has been fixed.
- The sampleImage expression method no longer causes multiprocessing to disable.
- The cursor icon changes immediately when you press a keyboard shortcut to change the active tool.
- Layers now highlight as expected in the Composition panel when you roll over the layer in the Timeline panel.
- Dragging an instance of an After Effects text template composition in Premiere Pro from the Project panel to the Timeline panel no longer causes a delay before the composition can be dropped.
- Creating shape layers from Illustrator layers no longer creates the shapes at the wrong coordinates if the Illustrator artboard uses a video preset and the layer was imported at layer dimensions (instead of document dimensions).
- Layers in a .c4d file in an After Effects CC (12.x) project retain their visibility state in the Cineware effect when the project is opened in After Effects CC 2014.2 (13.2).
- Windows high-DPI displays now correctly draw layer controls (anchor point, mask path, layer handles, etc.).
- Multiple fixes for Mac OS Retina displays: layer wireframes now draw correctly; setting the ruler origin in viewer panels no longer has an offset.
- The color of all characters are now the same in the value of a property with an expression. For example, the % symbol in Opacity values is now red instead of blue.
- Rolling over the value of a property with an expression no longer changes the value's text color to yellow.
- A cause of crashes on startup if the Adobe preferences directory is set to read-only was fixed.
- A cause of crashes on quit after Video Copilot Element 3D is used was fixed.
- A cause of crashes when effects make certain OpenGL requests was fixed.
- Aliases to files and folders on Mac OS 10.10.1 and later are now resolved correctly.


text:
- Introduction
- What is DNA microarray technology
- Types of DNA microarray technology
- Glass cDNA Microarrays
- Advantages of cDNA Microarrays
- Disadvantages of cDNA Microarrays
- In situ oligonucleotide array format
- Advantages of in situ oligonucleotide array format
- Disadvantages of in situ oligonucleotide array format
- Principles of DNA microarray experiments
- Application
This novel technology started to appear during the second half of the 1990s, has historically evolved from the initial experimental reports published in the mid 1970s which indicated that labelled nucleic acids could be used to monitor the expression of nucleic acid molecules attached to a solid support. However, it was not until 1995 that the first article describing the application of DNA microarray technology to expression analysis was published in the scientific literature by Patrick Brown and his colleagues at Stanford University (Brown., et al. 1995).
Today, however, there is prominent evidence that the technology has made a dramatic advancements since its development and gained an increasing popularity among scientific researchers. It is also unquestionable that many scientific researchers are presumptive about the novelty of this technology regarding it as an indispensable as well as a needful research tool.
Such widespread adoption of DNA microarray technology in both industry and many academic research laboratories, was largely due to its aptitude to provide scientific researchers the opportunity to quickly and accurately perform simultaneous analysis of literally thousands of genes in a massively parallel manner, or even entire genome of an organism e.g. (Bacteria, Yeast, Virus, Protozoa, Mouse or Human) in a single experiment, hence providing extensive and valuable information on gene interaction and function.
Here, our aim is to give a brief overview of cDNA microarray technology, particularly explaining (Watson., et al. 1998) what is a cDNA microarray technology (Sinclair., 1999) the various types/platforms of cDNA microarray technology, highlighting both their advantages and disadvantages as well as how they are fabricated or manufactured (Burgess., 2001) the technology's basic fundamental principles and how it works are also outlined, as well as potential applications.
However, for detailed information of the potential and the scientific value of cDNA microarray technology in modern research, the reader is advised to look up the large number of excellent reviews of DNA array technology available (Rhodius., et al 2002). We particularly recommend the January 1999 supplement of Nature Genetics (Bowtell., 1999).
In it's broadest term, DNA microarray technology may be defined as a high-throughput and versatile technology used for parallel gene expression analysis for thousands of genes of known and unknown function, or DNA homology analysis for detecting polymorphisms and mutations in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomic DNA.
However, in its precise and accurate definition DNA microarray is an orderly arrangement of thousands of identified sequenced genes printed on an impermeable solid support, usually glass, silicon chips or nylon membrane.
Each identified sequenced gene on the glass, silicon chips or nylon membrane corresponds to a fragment of genomic DNA, cDNAs, PCR products or chemically synthesised oligonucleotides of up to 70mers and represents a single gene.
Usually a single DNA microarray slide/chip may contain thousands of spots each representing a single gene and collectively the entire genome of an organism.
A schematic diagram of the two most commonly used DNA microarray formats to date are shown in Figure 1 and 2.
Figure 1. Glass complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray produced by using
high-speed precision robot. This type of DNA microarray can bear between
10,000 - 20,000 spots (genes) on an area of 3.6 cm2. Each spot represents
the product of a specific gene and is generated by depositing a few nano
liters of PCR product representing that specific gene usually at concentration
of 100-500 µg/ml. The diameter of each spot is also typically 50-150 µm.
Figure 2. Illustration of a DNA GeneChip (Affymetrix).
There are currently two platforms/types of DNA microarrays that are commercially available.
1. Glass DNA microarrays which involves the micro spotting of pre-fabricated
cDNA fragments on a glass slide.
2. High-density oligonucleotide microarrays often referred to as a "chip"
which involves in situ oligonucleotide synthesis.
However, from a manufacturing point of view, there are fundamental differences between the two platforms in regard to the sizes of printed DNA fragments, the methods of printing the DNA spots on the slide/chip, and also the data images generated.
Glass DNA microarrays was the first type of DNA microarray technology
developed. It was pioneered by Patrick Brown and his colleagues at Stanford
University and is produced by using a robotic device, which deposits (spots)
a nanoliter of DNA (50-150 µm in diameter) onto a coated microscope glass
slide surface in serial order with a distance of approximately 200-250
µm from each other, one spot-one gene. These moderate sized glass cDNA
microarrays also bear about 10,000 spots or more on an area of 3.6 cm2.
As the name suggests, glass cDNA microarrays use specially manufactured glass slides with desired physico-chemical characteristics e.g. excellent chemical resistance against solvents, good mechanical stability (increased thermal strain point) and low intrinsic fluorescence properties.
However, to produce a complete whole genome glass DNA microarray, a series of consecutive steps are followed, ideally each step requiring an appropriate and careful approach. Here, we will not discuss in detail how each step is performed, but briefly outline these steps in the order they are followed.
The first step of manufacturing a glass cDNA microarray is selecting
the material to spot onto the microscope glass surface e.g. the genes
from public databases/repositories or institutional sources. This is followed
by the preparation and purification of DNA sequences representing the
gene of interest. In the preparation process, PCR is used to amplify the
DNA from library of interest using a universal primers or gene specific
primers and the purity of the DNA fragments representing genes of interest
are generally checked by sequencing or using on agarose gel to concomitantly
obtain an estimate of the DNA concentration. This is an important step
because all the DNA fragments should be of similar concentration/molarity
and size, to achieve similar reaction kinetics for all hybridisations.
The third step is spotting DNA solution onto chemically modified glass
slides usually with poly(L-lysine) or other cross-linking chemical coating
materials such as polyethyleneimine polymer p-aminophenyl trimethoxysilane/diazotization
chemistry and dendrimeric structure. It is these substrates that are coated
on the surface of the glass slide that determines how the DNA solution
will be immobilised on the surface e.g. covalent or non covalent. However
in the course of poly(L-lysine) the negatively charged phosphate groups
in the DNA molecule, form an ionic bond with the positively charged amine-derivatised
surface. This spotting step is achieved via a contact printing using precisely
controlled robotic pins or other equivalent delivering technology such
as inkjet printing.
The last step of manufacturing glass DNA microarrays is the post-print processing step involving the drying of the DNA on the slide overnight at room temperature and the use of UV cross-linking to prevent subsequent binding of DNA, and to decrease the background signal upon hybridisation of a labelled target.
Figure 3. Steps of manufacturing glass cDNA microarrays.
Advantages of Glass cDNA microarrays include their relative affordability
with a lower cost. Its accessibility requiring no specific equipment for
use such that hybridisation does not need specialised equipment, and data
capture can be carried out using equipment that is very often already
available in the laboratory and flexibility of design as necessitated
by the scientific goals of the experiment. In addition to that, Glass
cDNA microarrays also have increased detection sensitivity due to longer
target sequences ( 2 kbp).
Despite their wide spread use, glass cDNA microarray have a few disadvantages
such as intensive labour requirement for synthesising, purifying, and
storing DNA solutions before microarray fabrication. Further, more printing
devices required thus making microarrays more expensive. Also during microarray
experiments in the laboratory, sequence homologies between clones representing
different closely related members of the same gene family may result in
a failure to specifically detect individual genes and instead may hybridise
to spot(s) designed to detect transcript from a different gene. This phenomena is known as cross hybridisation.
In situ (on chip) oligonucleotide array format is a sophisticated platform of microarray technology which is manufactured by using the technology of in situ chemical synthesis that was first developed by Stephen Fodor et al. (1991). However, the industry leader in the field of in situ oligonucleotide microarrays (Affymetrix) has further pioneered this type of technology to manufacture so-called GeneChips which refers to its high density oligonucleotide based DNA arrays.
The basic principles of manufacturing Affymetrix's GeneChips is the use of photolithography and combinatorial chemistry to manufacture short single strands of DNA onto 5-inch square quartz wafers. Unlike glass cDNA, the genes on the chip are designed based on sequence information alone, and then using an industry chip synthesiser, sequences are directly synthesised onto the surface of the 5-inch square quartz wafer at a pre-selected positions.
Detailed stepwise synthesis of in situ synthesis of oligonucleotides (Affymetrix GeneChips) is beyond the scope of this overview, but we will briefly outline some of the concepts related to the fabrication process.
The fabrication process of Affymetrix's GeneChips using a DNA photolithography process starts by the derivatization of the solid support, usually quartz with a covalent linker molecule terminated with a photolabile protecting group. This is firstly achieved by washing the quartz to ensure uniform hydroxylation across its surface and then placing it in a bath of silane, which reacts with the hydroxyl groups of the quartz and forms a matrix of covalently linked molecules.
The in situ synthesis of oligonucleotides occur in parallel, resulting in consecutive addition of A, C, G and T nucleotides to the appropriate gene sequences on the array. At each step in the synthesis process, oligonucleotide chains that for example require adenine in the next position are deprotected by light at the appropriate positions by a mask. The quartz (chip) is then flooded with a solution containing activated adenine nucleotides with a removable protection group, which are coupled to the deprotected positions. Uncoupled adenine residues are washed away and another mask is applied to further carry out the deprotection of the next nucleotide. Finally, repeating the process ~70 times, with 70 different masks, allows synthesis of the complete array of thousands of 25-mer oligonucleotides in parallel.
Advantages offered by the in situ oligonucleotide array format include speed, specificity and reproducibility. Speed, in terms of generating the array is prime advantage because, spotting the DNA onto the chip requires only that the DNA sequence of interest be known, therefore no time is spent in the handling of cDNA resources such as the preparation and accurate determination of handling bacterial clones, PCR products, or cDNAs, thus reducing the likelihood of contamination and mix up. However, before manufacturing the array, prior knowledge of the genome sequence is required to design the oligonucleotide sets, and when this is not available, alternative methods of printing isolated genetic material may be preferred.
Other advantages of the in situ oligonucleotide array format include high specificity and reproducibility. Both of these attributes are due to the way oligonucleotide sequences to be printed on the chip are designed and the use of multiple, short sequence(s) representing the unique sequence of genes. For example, when designing oligonucleotide sequences for a gene, each sequence is designed to be perfectly complementary to a target gene sequence, at the same time an additional partner sequence is designed that is identical except for a single base mismatch in its centre. This sequence mismatch strategy, along with the use of multiple sequence(s) for each gene increases specificity and helps to identify and minimise the effects of non-specific hybridisation and background signal. This strategy also allows the direct subtraction of cross-hybridisation signals and discrimination between real and non-specific signals.
There are several disadvantages to the in situ oligonucleotide array format including practical limitations in terms of affordability and flexibility. Firstly, in situ oligonucleotide array formats tend to have expensive specialised equipments e.g. to carry out the hybridisation, staining of label, washing, and quantitation process. Secondly, ready made in situ oligonucleotide array format (GeneChips) are still expensive, although there has been reductions in cost as the market of microarrays has expanded. Thirdly, although short-sequences used on the array confer high specificity, they may have decreased sensitivity/binding compared with glass cDNA microarrays. Such low sensitivity however is compensated for by using multiple probes.
In situ oligonucleotide array format also offers reduced flexibility although this is not the case with respect to the array design. However, there are occasions when the production of the array, hybridisation and detection equipment are restricted to centralised manufacturer facilities, thus limiting the researcher's flexibility. Similarly, the cost and time needed to manufacture the in situ oligonucleotide array format makes it uneconomical for an average laboratory to synthesise its own chips.
The principle of DNA microarray technology is based on the fact that
complementary sequences of DNA can be used to hybridise immobilised DNA
molecules. This involves three major multi-stage steps;
1- Manufacturing of microarrays: This step involves the availability of a chip or a glass slide with its special surface chemistry, the robotics used for producing microarrays by spotting the DNA (targets) onto the chip or for their in situ synthesis.
2- Sample preparation and array hybridisation step: This step involves mRNA or DNA isolation followed by fluorescent labelling of cDNA probes and hybridisation of the sample to the immobilised target DNA.
3- Image acquisition and data analysis: Finally, this step involves microarray
scanning, and image analysis using sophisticated software programs that
allows us to quantify and interpret the data.
However, here, we will concentrate on how microarray experiments are performed in the laboratory, rather than the technological developments involving array construction or manufacturing using precision robotic devices.
Typically, a microarray experiment involves the comparison of a query or experimental sample representing the expression pattern of genes in a specific set of conditions, with a control sample representing all the genes that are expressed in the cells/tissue to be analysed.
An example of this is comparisons made between expression profiles of
bacteria within infected cells (query) and the same bacteria cultured
under standardised in vitro conditions of growth (control). Or
similarly a comparison made between an isogenic mutant and the wildtype
There are four major steps in performing a typical microarray experiment.
1. Sample preparation and labelling
2. Hybridisation
3. Washing
4. Image acquisition and Data analysis
Sample preparation and labelling
There are a number of different ways in which a DNA microarray sample
is prepared and labelled. All of these different approaches however have
their own advantages and disadvantages with respect to many factors such
as the starting amount of RNA or DNA required, through to cost, time and
data acquisition and transformation. However the choice of which one to
use depends on these factors as well as the type of microarray technology
used, for example the slide type and the detection equipment. Here, we
used the term "sample" to refer to the free, fluorescently labelled cDNA,
not to confuse with the immobilised DNA known as reporter element (s)
Initially, the sample preparation starts by isolating a total RNA containing messenger RNA that ideally represents a quantitative copy of genes expressed at the time of sample collection (experimental sample & reference sample). This step is crucial, simply because the overall success of any microarray experiment depends on the quality of the RNA.
For example purity in the sense of homogeneity or uniformity of the mRNA is
a critical factor in the downstream hybridisation performance, particularly
when fluorescence is used, as cellular proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates
can mediate significant nonspecific binding of labeled cDNAs to matrix
surfaces. The sample mRNA extracted from the biological sample of interest
and the reference are then separately converted into complementary DNA
(cDNA) using a reverse-transcriptase enzyme. This step also requires a
short primer to initiate cDNA synthesis. Next, each cDNA (Sample and Control)
are labelled with a different tracking molecule, often fluorescent cyanine
dyes (i.e. Cy3 and Cy5)
Array hybridisation
Hybridisation is the process of joining two complementary strands of
DNA to form a double-stranded molecule. Here, the labelled cDNA (Sample
and Control) are mixed together, and then purified to remove contaminants
such as primers, unincorporated nucleotides, cellular proteins, lipids,
and carbohydrates. Purification is usually carried out using filter spin
columns such as Qiaquick from Qiagen. After purification, the mixed labelled
cDNA is competitively hybridised against denatured PCR product or cDNA
molecules spotted on a glass slide. Ideally, each molecule in the labelled
cDNA will only bind to its appropriate complementary target sequence on
the immobilised array.
Before hybridisation however, the microarray slides are incubated at
high temperature with solutions of saline-sodium buffer (SSC), Sodium
Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to reduce background
due to nonspecific binding.
The slides are washed after hybridisation, first to remove any labelled
cDNA that did not hybridise on the array, and secondly to increase stringency
of the experiment to reduce cross hybridisation. The later is achieved
by either increasing the temperature or lowering the ionic strength of
the buffers.
Image acquisition and data analysis is the final step of microarray
experiments. The aim is to produce an image of the surface of the hybridised array. Here the
slide is dried and placed into a laser scanner to determine how much labelled
cDNA (probe) is bound to each target spot. Laser excitation of the incorporated
targets yield an emission with characteristic spectra, which is measured
using a confocal laser microscope. Classically, microarray software often
uses green spots on the microarray to represent genes upregulated compared
to control, red to represent those genes that are downregulated in the
experimental sample, and yellow to represent those genes of equal abundance
in both experimental and control samples.
Figure 4. Microarray experimental principles.
The range of applications for microarray technology is enormous. However,
although in depth details of each one is beyond the scope of this overview,
there are two distinctive applications of microarrays that are in wide
spread use.
1. Gene expression profiling to measure the expression of genes between
different cell populations.
2. Comparative genomics to analyse genomic alterations such as sequence and single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Microarray as a gene expression profiling tool
The principle aim of using microarray technology as a gene expression
profiling tool is to answer some of the fundamental questions in biology
such as "when, where, and to what magnitude genes of interest are expressed.''
Clearly, if a gene is not expressed in a defined time/condition at a defined
cell compartment, then it is possible to imagine it can play no role in
that subnetwork. This approach is based on the assumption that cellular
genes are expressed in response to a particular state and that the expression
profile represents the subset of gene transcripts or mRNA expressed in
a cell or tissue. In addition to that, expression profiling by microarray
analysis provides another approach to measure changes in the multigene
patterns of expression to better understand about regulatory mechanisms
and broader bioactivity functions of genes.
It is therefore appreciable that the knowledge obtained from microarray
gene expression analysis will probably increase our basic understanding
of the cause and consequences of diseases (pathogenesis), how drugs and
drug candidates work in cells and organisms, and what gene products might
have therapeutic uses or may be studied further as an appropriate targets
for therapeutic intervention.
For example, in the context of microbiology, microarray gene expression
is used to analyse complex cellular behaviour and to explore the complex
interaction between host and microbial pathogens. This ambitious and plausible
attempt to understand such molecular interaction is achieved by directly
comparing gene expression profiles of host cell to the expression profile
of the pathogen. Also an ex vivo measurement of gene expression
for host cells before and after they are infected with a microbial pathogen
can greatly increase our understanding of such complex molecular interplay.
Furthermore by following the pattern of gene expression at different times,
it is possible to elucidate which host or pathogen genes are up or downregulated
over the course of infection to further identify critical target genes
and drug-specific targets in both host and microbial pathogens.
Microarray as a comparative genomics tool
Another important application of microarray technology, which is also
finding a widespread use is gene mutation analysis to analyse genomic
alterations such as sequence and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Currently,
in the context of microbiology microarray gene mutation analysis is directed
to characterisation of genetic differences among microbial isolates, particularly
closely related species. For example detecting the presence or absence
of DNA sequences/gene(s) between pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains
of the same species. Such informative approach would allow us to reveal
genes exclusively present in the former that may be required for infectivity,
virulence or adaptation to a particular host niche
Similarly, DNA microarray technology can be used to compare between a fully sequenced genome and an unsequenced but related genome of closely related bacteria. Interestingly, such approach can provide us a valuable information about the diversity and evolution of pathogens and symbionts. Comparisons of this kind use a microarray containing representations of all the open reading frames (ORFs) of the sequenced, reference strain and labelled DNA from the unsequenced, experimental strain. The resulting hybridised array will then reveal genes common to both strains and genes that are present in the reference strain but absent in the experimental strain. This method, however, may not detect genes present in the experimental strain, but missing in the reference strain, although the use of multi-genome (species array) may detect genes present in the experimental strain. This method may not also detect point mutations, including frame-shift mutations, small deletions and deletions in homologous repetitive elements, rearrangements of the genome that have not resulted in deletion of a gene from the experimental strain. However the use of affymetrix gene chip can identify these mutations.
An elegant and well known example of using microarray as a comparative
genomics tool is the comparison made by Behr et al., 1999 between several
Mycobacterium bovis vaccine strains e.g. the genome composition
of the sequenced M. tuberculosis laboratory strain H37Rv with the closely
related pathogenic species, M. bovis, and with several strains of the
bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine variant that was produced by serial
in vitro passage of M. bovis between 1908 and 1921.
This particular study, has revealed several chromosomal deletions in the different vaccine strains in comparison to their progenitor, these deletions are possibly thought to be responsible for the variable effectiveness of the BCG vaccine seen worldwide.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dit vak wordt in het Engels aangeboden. Omschrijvingen kunnen daardoor mogelijk alleen in het Engels worden weergegeven.
Doel vakAfter completing the course, students will:
- Understand how the properties of digital technologies require, as well
as enable new approaches to working and organizing
- Have knowledge of relevant theories of how working, coordinating, and
managing in these new environments is different from traditional
workplaces and critically reflect upon the underlying assumptions
- Understand the interplay between technology and work practices and be
able to analyze and demonstrate that interplay
- Be able to apply academic insights to analyze and develop solutions
for a real life case
Inhoud vakIn this course we focus on the demands digital technologies put on
organizations and society, and on how new ways of working and organizing
help adapt to these challenges. Topics addressed in this course include,
amongst others, how new ways of working (for example workers as digital
nomads, expert systems as alternative for legal workers, or production
done by 3d-printers) and new distributed and networked organizational
forms (for example peer to peer communities or crowdsourcing) have
advantages and disadvantages over traditional organizational practices
and structures. In addition to learning about these topics in
interactive lectures, students will also be required to fulfill a number
of assignments related to "real-life" challenges of new ways of working
and organizing. The assignments are related to a particular
organizational problem and will require students to apply theories
discussed during the lecture to a particular case. These "hands-on"
assignments are aimed to get a better understanding of the connection
between theory and practice. With the assignments, students become
academically prepared to understand and support the design, introduction
and use of digital innovation and its implications for new ways of
organizing and working in new distributed
OnderwijsvormThe course will consist of a combination of interactive lectures, guest
lectures, seminars, and assignments. The lectures will also include a
critical discussion of selected readings, stimulated by obligatory
individual reflections on the literature. The seminars will be used to
have students present, discuss, and further develop the assignments.
ToetsvormIndividual assignments and Group project assignment
Vereiste voorkennisNone
LiteratuurA selection of readings (mostly academic papers, but also book chapters
and thoughtful business magazine articles) will be made available before
the start of the course.
Algemene informatie
|School of Business and Economics
|dr. A. Sergeeva
|dr. A. Sergeeva
Praktische informatie
Voor dit vak moet je zelf intekenen.
Voor dit vak kun je last-minute intekenen.
|Werkcollege, Hoorcollege
Dit vak is ook toegankelijk als:


text:
I created this blog to allow anyone who wishes to follow the life and times of Susan Betke and her family.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
Ben and Elias at the doctor
We are still working on figuring out Ben's needs. He met Eli's pediatrician today. I like the family doctor he goes to but Ben may just need a bit more attention. We got the Connors scale to complete. As for Eli he has a bit of thrush but that is expected after starting daycare this past week. And the fact that he takes more bottles than nursing it was bound to happen especially because he takes a paci. He weighs 9 pounds 4 ounces and is 21 inches long. That puts him at the 2nd and 4th percentile. Ben weighed 44 pounds and was 46 inches tall. No worries.... No reason for everyone to be big and tall.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Congratulations Elaina
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
I interviewed for a transfer within a company that I just started working for again. I met with the director today. Health Insurance, 401-K, discounted childcare for my 3 youngest children. I really can't ask for more. I like where Etta and Elaina go now but it is just not convenient. I can't wait to hear back with more details. A 401-K!!!!
Interview outfit
Work uniform
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Bennie's appointment
We are trying to get to the bottom of Ben's needs. He went to the psychologist today for just his intake appointment. You have to start somewhere. The psychologist graduated last year. She seems nice with her Harry Potter and Dr. Who stickers on her laptop. We shall see where this journey leads. He was thrilled that he got to watch SpongeBob while waiting. We don't have internet or cable at home so tjst was a treat.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
A new bead order...
Mother's Day
Well, I made Connor go to church today. He was very polite and asked that I never do that again....
I received flowers, Etta is carrying them in for me, and a mug from the church. That was very sweet of them. They honored mothers in a very touching sermon. Evan picked out a chocolate hazelnut tea for me to try in my new mug.
I received flowers, Etta is carrying them in for me, and a mug from the church. That was very sweet of them. They honored mothers in a very touching sermon. Evan picked out a chocolate hazelnut tea for me to try in my new mug.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
My portrait
I am so proud thst Ben tried his best. But his school says he does not need help from the OT and he missed getting an IEP by one point on one test. I am trying to restart his private OT. This is a prime example of cognitive and fine motor delays... He was asked to draw a picture of me. In comparison to his classmates his picture is very different.
We are looking at a small private school for him if we can afford it.
Friday, May 12, 2017
Faces of depression
Not everyone knows what Dysthymia is or what double depression is. Few know what serotonin syndrome is either. Well, I do. Dysthymia is lifelong depression. Serotonin syndrome means you are basically, for lack of a better meaning, allergic to most anti-depressants. Life is very hard for me sometimes. Ok, all the time. I have learned to take it in public and in the work place for the most part of I keep my distance. My husband and mother try to understand and put up with a lot. More than I ever would from someone that is for sure. Today I chose to start medication that my body may tolerate. I don't want to. I have fought the idea of it for years. I feel like a failure and broken. This medicarion may change who I am. What if I get lost?
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Elias getting a snack...
Back at it...
Monday, May 8, 2017
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Eli's first bath...
He wasn't very happy about it but he is officially clean with a real hair washing. Then his hair got a good brushing.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Spit up king....
Elias is such a spitter. I am pumping mainly. He will nurse sometimes but I am just more comfortable pumping this go around. Eli is getting some formula too. He throws up no matter what. I have always sort of made fun of parents for buying expensive gimmick bottles. Well, I broke down and got the new Dr. Brown bottles that fit on breast pumps. Guess what? They seem to be working. Eli has kept more milk down since I got them....
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Happy Birthday Annika
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Kombucha + Prosecco
I woke up this morning on my day off to a nasty cloudy sky. Shortly after, it started pouring outside. Really?! On my summer Friday when I don't have to work? Well, after a couple hours, the clouds parted and (cue music) HERE COMES THE SUN (dunna nunna). After a few morning chores and errands, […]Read More


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Archive for April 2010
Planet Harmony – Tree Sound
An audio exploration of Tree Sound and Rock Star Farms worth sharing. Paul Diaz: "I was just joking with a friend of mine who is a hip-hop producer and I was like, Dude, you're a hip-hop producer and I am a beet farmer…" Hip-Hop and environmental action. Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta combine both, so…Read More
Scholastic Administrator: Mr. Royal goes to the Bronx (Qwizdom)
March 15, 2010 | Author: Ken Royal Archimedes Academy a Bronx Gem The ancient Syracuse problem-solver Archimedes would have appreciated his namesake Archimedes Academy in the Bronx. This 6-12th grade math, science, and technology NYC public school is run by Miriam Lazar—a modern day mathematician, principal, education entrepreneur, author, and problem solver. Unlike Archimedes, her tasks are…Read More
Treehugger – Green Festival San Francisco Hosts Impressive Speaker Line-Up
Green Festival hit San Francisco for the first springtime event. If you haven't hit one of these events yet, you're missing out. From DC to Chicago, from Seattle to San Francisco, Green Festival is the largest event focused on sustainability that you'll likely ever attend…Read More
The Daily News: Hankinson receives grant for PolyVision eno interactive whiteboards
by Kathleen Leinen • Daily NewsPublished/Last Modified on Thursday, May 6, 2010 3:21 PM CDT The Hankinson School District received a Classroom Transformation Grant of $20,000 from the North Dakota Educational Technology Council.Because of this grant, the district will install 15 Eno interactive whiteboards and projectors in the elementary and high school classrooms.An interactive whiteboard has…Read More
Trendhunter Magazine: Forwarding Dallas Will Include Vegetation Covered Buildings
TRENDHUNTER MAGAZINE, the futurist/consumerist platform read in over 100 countries, has been picking up more and more architecture content lately – including the Re:Vision Dallas' winning design by Portuguese firms Atelier Data and MOOV. View their photo gallery for the project by clicking here. A rundown area of Dallas, TX is being given an eco makeover by…Read More
VIDEO-VAN JONES: Repost – Van Jones interview with David Gottfried "Re:Claiming ourselves"
The Re:Visionary Project – Van Jones from Urban ReVision on Vimeo. Van Jones is an eco-visionary, award-winning human rights attorney and powerhouse speaker. He is the founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (EBC), a strategy and action center, working for justice, peace, and opportunity in urban America. He has served on the…Read More
NBC Pittsburgh visits New Brighton MS (PolyVision)
By: Jessica Fera, WPXI.com NEW BRIGHTON, Pa. — Technology is not only changing the way millions of Americans live, work and play, it's changing the way students are learning in one Beaver County School District. "Little New Brighton is on its way to being a premiere district in Beaver County. It really is," said director…Read More


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Today I share with you a recipe that is quick to make, uses up leftovers and is light on the purse strings – Ham and Chicken Pasta Carbonara. For this delicious carbonara, I'm going to show you how pre-cooked ham and chicken by Welly Foods works really well for super quick meals!
Imagine dinner taking fifteen minutes to prep and cook, and actually tasting good? Win win hey.
So what do you need for this tasty carbonara?
You will need
- WELLY Wafer Thin Roast Chicken
- WELLY Wafer Thin Honey Roast Ham
- Cream cheese – Anything from Philadelphia to own brand will work
- A splash of milk (about 30-50mls)
- 100 grams Frozen peas
- 50 grams of grated cheese or parmesan to sprinkle on top
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Teaspoon of English mustard (optional)
- Garlic – one or two cloves should be plenty (optional)
- Half an onion – chopped (optional)
Fool-proof Instructions
To make this WELLY ham and chicken pasta Carbonara, boil your pasta as per the instructions on the packet.
About 3 minutes before it's finished, pop in a handful of frozen peas.
If you want to add onion and garlic, fry it in a pan until it looks translucent.
Chop up your WELLY ham and chicken.
Once cooked, drain your pasta and peas and pop them back into the pan.
Add the cream cheese, milk, WELLY ham, WELLY chicken, and if you're using them, the onions, garlic and mustard, to the saucepan.
Stir and heat through. It's that simple!
If you want a quick and simple recipe without the faff of pre-cooking chicken and bacon then this is for you. We used the pre-cooked wafer thin chicken and honey roast ham by WELLY and they worked really well in this dish.
Welly Foods are based in the UK and only use one producer for all their pork, and one farming partner for all chicken. They work closely with the RSPCA to ensure the welfare of their pigs and chickens. If you want to find out more about Welly Foods and read their story, you can do so here.
*Disclaimer – This is a sponsored post with WELLY. As always thoughts and opinions are my own 🙂


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The good news is there's light at the end of the injury tunnel for full-back Dan Jones, the bad news is that it's not as close as once hoped.
Successive recent trips to see specialists have finally got to the bottom of the 29-year-old's persistent foot problem, with Jones now going under the knife again to solve the underlying issue.
Manager Danny Wilson went into further detail: "Dan will have to go in for another operation, unfortunately. It's a bone graft that he's going to have done on his foot, the last one didn't seem to take. We're expecting Dan out for another couple or three months.
"First and foremost it's settled his mind a little bit that they know exactly what it is, we've been jumping from one thing to another in the last few weeks and nobody's been able to pin it down.
"Thankfully we now know what it is and the surgeon expects to be able to remedy it, so that's good news in the long term. In the short term it's a frustration for Dan but there's nothing he can do about it, that's football."
The foot problem first surface last November against Swindon Town, and after returns to first the reserve side and then in pre-season were curtailed due to continued pain in the area, Jones is now hoped to be back before Christmas.
Wilson feels his defender still has plenty to offer during this campaign: "By the time he does come back there will still be a hell of a lot of football still to play. We'll have 20-plus games still to play, if not more, so there's a lot still to look forward to and work towards."


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Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) refers to a number of conditions affecting the two TM joints, and may also include problems with the jaw muscles, ligaments, joints and discs which enable you to chew and speak properly. Often referred to as TMJ disorder, TMD is a relatively common problem among Americans, with over 15 percent of adults suffering from chronic facial pain. TMD may cause frequent headaches, jaw aches, and earaches. While there isn't a single cause for TMD, the dentists at Apex Dental can diagnosis TMD and recommend specific treatments to help alleviate the pain.
In most cases, chronic pain caused by TMD may be treated and relieved through non-surgical methods. TMD is often caused through muscle strain or nighttime teeth grinding brought on by stress and anxiety. Simple daily jaw exercises can often help to relax the jaw and change these subconscious negative habits. Other times, more assertive measures must be taken, in which case our doctors can prescribe the patient with a nightguard to prevent grinding by allowing the teeth to smoothly glide past one another when the jaw is clenched down. Certain drugs such as muscle relaxants may also be prescribed in rare instances to help the patient get into the habit of relaxing the jaw muscles.
If the doctor determines that stress and teeth grinding are not the root cause for the TMD, another common cause may be bite misalignment. A misaligned bite, which refers to how the top and bottom arch of your teeth come together, causes improper stress and strain on your jaw muscles and nerves. If such a problem isn't corrected early on in the patient's life, it may progress toward permanent jaw damage and chronic facial pain. Our doctors at Apex Dental in Utah are able to diagnose if misaligned teeth are indeed the cause of the TMD, and will recommend proper orthodontic treatment to make necessary corrections.
TMJ stands for temporal-mandibular joint. Temporal, as in temple area of skull; mandibular as in mandible, or lower jaw; joint as in where the head and jaw meet. Problems in this joint may be caused by a misalignment of the teeth, trauma, or excess muscle tension. Aside from the two bones that meet there, cartilage buffers them and five muscles are involved in the area. If something goes wrong a good deal of trouble can result.
TMD can cause the following problems:
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Trouble/soreness in opening and closing the mouth
- Clicking or popping of the jaw
- Pain in the jaw muscles
- Soreness in the area, sometimes extending to the face
Dental treatments for the condition can include replacing missing teeth, moving teeth, adjusting the bite, filling gaps between teeth, nightguards, etc. There is no one solution that is right for all cases. Sometimes a plastic mouthpiece is used to prevent clenching or grinding that is contributing to the problem. If untreated and taken to extremes, surgery may be required to repair a badly damaged joint. It is best to visit the dentist as soon as you suspect the onset of TMD in order to correct the problem before it worsens.


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Mount Athos Worry Beads with Cross – Natural Wood
Athonite Worry Beads consist of natural wood and stand out thanks to their unique desing and quality. They have been crafted by Athonite Monks and are the perfect gift for your loved ones.
Beads: Black, Red
Mount Athos Worry Beads with metal cross in two colors
Athonite Worry Beads have a pleasant feeling in the hands. They give peace and joy during their playing and consist of 100% wood.
Choose between the black and red, the one that suits you the best. They bear a silver colored metallic cross with the capitals IC XC NI KA on them.
Mount Athos worry beads are the perfect gift for your loved ones, because they are an extremely rare and beautiful monastic handiwork.
Worry Beads: What the word means
The etymology of kompoloi (κομπολόι) – worry beads – comes from the word knot (=κόμπος) and speech (=λόγος).
Pope Gregory JG established the first Sunday of October as a day for the beads to be worn, because as the tradition says the Archangel Gabriel taught Saint Pachomius and Saint Dominic how to craft the chaplets.
In the Orthodox faith, beads were only worn by monks and clergymen. During the last few years, they are also popular among worshipers as they consist an essential complement of our daily prayer.
Beads: Black, Red
Net Weight: 26g
Additional information
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The Onion speaks more truth than it would care to admit, as always:
With fuel prices rising and the cost of food at an all-time high, experts have said Americans have far less cash to recklessly fritter away. However, many have reportedly managed to continue splurging on stupid shit by finding ways to make their wasted dollars go further.
"On the one hand, it kills me to go another month without winged-skull seat covers for our Suburban, but on the other, I can't bear the thought of my kids opening the kitchen cupboard and finding only three or four different kinds of Doritos," Schmeltzer added. "But right now we just can't have both. It's a nightmare."
If you are fortunate enough to still be able to spend money on "stupid shit" in today's economic climate, do consider sending it somewhere it's needed. [The Onion]


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Beautystat.com is a beauty maven's dream. The largest online beauty community connects consumers with beauty truths and dispels all beauty myths. At the same time, Beauty Stat gives consumers product recommendations based on their custom profiles. By allowing consumers to connect directly on the site and keeping an open, honest approach, Beauty Stat has become the "honest beauty bff" of the World Wide Web.
CEO Ron Robinson share a few of the ingredients on the recipe of Beauty Stat's success. Like what you see? Come see Ron at Cosmoprof North America's "Social Marketing: The Power of Social Tools," taking place on Tuesday, July 24th, from 11:00-12:30.


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Best Before : 07/2020DOUBLE IPA 9%. The sheer amount of hops in this beer makes us so euphoric we shout: Hosanna!
Houston, we're fine! No one is in trouble here!
We're so fine in fact, we have a seasonal beer to celebrate it – Hosanna, our double IPA hop love bomb. Extra bold and extra fruity.
'Hosanna' is a Judeo-Christian exclamation of praise and joy. It came upon us when during a meeting, one of us shouted: "Now everything is still Hosanna…." For us this captured it all.
Whether you're crying out for divine intervention, or thanking the gods for all that is good, Hosanna is the beer to express your jubilation.
Modeled after our favorite American DIPAs, Hosanna is a hop forward Double India Pale Ale. We combined a simple malt bill with pilsner malt, a bit of Münchener malt and some honey to really let the hops shine. This beer is brewed with Cascade and Simcoe, and dry hopped with another addition of Simcoe and Hüll Melon.


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I'd like to know the easiest way of creating a bash script that will run an app in MacOSX (it's a UNIX based system so I assumed this was the right place). wait for the program to exit. If the exit wasn't a crash, run it again. Otherwise leave the crash report window open and exit.
I'd like this script to run forever until either the crash or manual termination.
I've a vague idea but not sure. Here is what I have so far:
echo "Launching Autorun…"
if ["$1" -eq "0"]; then
# Application exited successfully. Restarting.
# An error occured. Do nothing and exit.


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Home Buyers In Hawaii – We Analyze The 3 Ways To Sell
Looking For Home Buyers In Hawaii? We Analyze The 3 Ways To Sell Your Home In Hawaii If you own a home and are thinking about selling to home buyers in Hawaii, you have a number of selling options available to you. In this blog post, we'll look at those 3 ways and break them down … Continued


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The 2nd installment of the Word N Sound Festival is on the cards. After last year's humble beginning, the 2012 festival will raise the bar another notch.
06 October 2012
Emonti Dinner On Bree _ Cnr Quinn & Bree Street, Newtown JHB
R100 (Tickets available at the door)
– Love Glori
WNS Open Mic Poetry League Challenge Finalists
– Mandi Poefficient Vundla
– Masai Dabula
– Andrew Manyika
– Cornelius Jones AKA Sbu Simelane
– Forgotten Planet (Ahimsa & NoLife)
WNS Poetry League Showcase Artists
– Mpho Khosi
– KB Kilobyte
– Bonga Ndziweni
– Vuyelwa Maluleke
– Diema Dika
– DJ Duce
– Plizy Lee
– truejOnes
– MF Benzo
– DJ Kwasa


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Those terms have close links in the financial bog that holds nearly all and devours many Americans. For these, the boomer generation who was supposed to know and do better than their often delusional parents are not stepping up to extract us from the mire.
My generation really doesn't have the excuses of lack of resources and information. We also are not so dull-witted as many moderns, who say, "I wasn't even born yet," as though that excuses every ignorance and lack of analysis. Instead, we largely grew up at my end of boomer-hood studying under pressure. We were the Sputnik/space race era, driven to learn history and civics as science and math. We read newspapers as well as books. We took standardized tests only for class assignment heading junior, then senior high, and for SAT, not to placate the rules-are-rules education overlords.
So everyone really should expect more of the early half of the boomer generation. Unlike the apple-skin thick mini-fact view of history, foreign policy and economics favored now, we had to discuss current events as well as historical ones daily and often at home. After all, our parents were of the WWII generation, who eagerly lectured us on their interpretation of history and humanity. Grunting saying you had no opinion was not acceptable.
So, you'd think that boomers 1.0 would:
- Not live in the economic fantasies of an endless growth spiral as our parents did, the Utopian lifestyle that made the U.S. founder repeatedly
- Not engage in military adventurism so favored by Presidents Kennedy through Reagan...and unbelievably into the next three boomer ones
- Have learned from the examples of nearly every ally and enemy not to sacrifice the commonweal to irrational, unsustainable military spending (Russian was the exception and suffered even more than we)
- Laughed off the pretext that we operate under a pure capitalistic supply-and-demand economy, and installed safeguards on the crooks and liars in huge corporations and financial institutions
But noooo, as the SNL types are so fond of calling.
I expect more of the boomers and shall continue to demand it. We and the whole nation are at stake. Join me. If you are of a different generation, likewise demand that your peers get their act together.
To the opening terms here, we don't have to pore over enough sources to strain minds and exceed internet-age attention spans. Consider a few pieces in the Financial Times:
Tasting Recovery
To the opening terms here, we don't have to pore over enough sources to strain minds and exceed internet-age attention spans. Consider a few pieces in the Financial Times:
- Rep. Barney Frank castigating former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan for crazy money talk.
- An analysis of how fund managers are doing their best at robbing the economy.
- My favorite FT columnist Clive Crook on how to keep the fragile U.S. recovery healthy.
Read the three. Recapping them would be far too sketchy. I do see a seminal theme among them though.
Frank spotlights Greenspan's laissez-faire fantasy, the fund-management piece details how overpaid managers are sucking over a trillion out of our economy instead of leaving it for recovery, and Crook mentions the cowardly (my word) avoidance of hiring and paying well by cash-rich U.S. corporations when the economy needs the opposite. Together, these shine lights from different angles on how it is we are staggering and sputtering toward a recovery.
Facts include that government needs to pay enough attention and guide enough to keep money flowing and economies growing. We can't justify pretending we have a 19th century or earlier world economy before massive industrialization and global interdependencies. We as a nation share the European reality that we can no longer suck human and natural resources from developing nations for our own growth. They no longer are our real or de facto colonies.
Moreover, I return to a frequent theme here and on Left Ahead — corporate heads need to show some guts and wisdom. We early boomers grew up on a diet of history books and message movies. Americans are supposed to show courage, take calculated risks, and advance the nation. Companies that sit on bags of cash, refusing to do their parts in healing our economy by hiring and paying enough to provide disposable income, are abject failures at the American ideals.
We can see and smell and taste recovery. This is absolutely the wrong time to allow greed and irresponsibility to drown us all.


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Cute Safari Themed Kids Bedrooms features Planked Walls Lined by Aleksandra MiecznickaBruce Wayne
DescriptionThe Safari theme look cute in this room and I think many kids would probably love it. I love how the designer places a large safari map. It makes the fantasy of Safari expedition look real knowing that kids will have their own imagination. But it seems the color tone of the bed is out of place. I think the designer should give the color tone that has a connection with nature. Soft green will be the best option to display natural tone. The lion doll also amazing it can make the imagination of wild jungle look real. I also love the idea of featuring wooden material for the wall and the dim light on the desk. It's absolutely an inspiring room for kids.#brown steamer trunk nightstand #daybed with trundle for kids #daybeds for kids #glass column lamps #gray kids daybed #gray nailhead daybed #gray safari animal pillows #kids daybed bedding #kids daybeds #plush lion #safari animal pillows #safari bedroom theme #safari postcard art #safari themed boys room #safari themed kids bedroom #steamer trunk nightstands #teddy bear lamps #union jack bolster pillow
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By Mana Lonescu, Lightspan Digital
LinkedIn is one of those social networks that still gets the side-eye – "really, I should spend time there? Convince me!" Yet, when it comes to B2B marketing, Facebook gets the same level of scrutiny, although LinkedIn is supposed to be THE B2B social network. And truth be told, social media in general is under a lot of pressure to prove itself. So, should you spend time there?
Well, every social network is worth considering, as long as your audiences are there and you're ready to give it what it takes to connect with them, in meaningful ways. And this year, LinkedIn is putting up quite a battle to keep you active on the network and keep up with the other social networks.
This year alone they launched:
- Regular insights, case studies and tutorials via email
- Native video (from mobile-only)
- Retargeting
- Hashtags
- Snapchat-like geofilters for events
[Read more…] about Why LinkedIn is Relevant and Hacks to Boost Your Results


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Samples of Freescale's Vybrid F series VF3xx, VF5xx and VF6xx devices are now available. The Vybrid VF3xx family is a single-core (ARM Cortex®-A5) solution with 1.5 MB on-chip SRAM, dual XiP quad SPI memory interface, XGA display controller, dual high-speed USB with PHY, dual Ethernet and an L2 switch. The Vybrid VF5xx family increases performance and adds a DDR2/3 memory interface. The Vybrid VF6xx family adds an ARM Cortex-M4 processor and an analog video ADC.
Vybrid devices also provide a powerful combination of on-chip encryption, secure boot, anti-tamper and anti-clone capabilities to secure sensitive or critical infrastructure applications such as smart grid or industrial control.
By combining ARM Cortex-A5 and Cortex-M4 processors, Vybrid VF6xx devices eliminate the need for an external microcontroller (MCU) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA). With this architecture, system developers can create complex control systems with a user-friendly application HMI. This integration helps reduce development effort, component count, circuit board area and power consumption.


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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Merry Christmas to you Frank. Happy smoking in 2016 !
Merry Christmas to all and hopes for a smoke filled New Year!
Right back atcha SL
Happy Christmas one and all.
Samantha Phillipe's of the smokers club international and smokers rights monthly news letter passed away today as far as I know from Brain Cancer. A prayer her and her family will do us and hers great honor.
Merry Christmas everyone!
And to you and your wifey, harley, thanks for your unceasing, sledge-hammer efforts!
Merry Christmas to all!
Merry Christmas Frank.
I don't really 'do' Christmas but wish everyone well nevertheless. I love the picture, Frank.
Marry Christmas from me too!
Merry xmas Frank and all.
I have spent some time this xmas writing code to generate a chart of the global rise and fall of lung cancer in comparison to the nuclear fall out period.
A full list of countries can be found on my blog here
Best wishes for 2016! Een voorspoedig 2016!


text: Gladys Marín Millié, Chilean political figure (born July 16, 1941, Curepto, Chile—died March 6, 2005, Santiago, Chile), opposed the brutal regime of Augusto Pinochet as a leader of the Chilean Communist Party. Marín joined the Communist Party at age 17 and served in the Chamber of Deputies during the presidency (1970–73) of Salvador Allende, but she was forced into hiding following the Sept. 11, 1973, coup that brought Pinochet to power. She eventually fled to the Soviet Union, where she remained until 1978. That year she returned to Chile by posing as a Spanish citizen, and she later held key leadership positions in the Communist Party, including those of undersecretary (1984–94), general secretary (1994–2002), and president (2002–05).


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Hi there!
Pecan and Chocolate Tart
Adapted from the Delicious Sweet recipe book.
For the pastry:
25 g pecans
225g plain flour
110g butter, cubed and cold
110g icing sugar, sifted
1 egg
For the filling:
50g butter, softened
125g brown sugar
150ml golden syrup
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g dark chocolate
200g pecan nuts, chopped
Icing sugar for dusting
For the pastry, place the pecans in a food processor and process to fine crumbs. Then combine the flour, sugar and butter in with the pecans until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and combine until the mixture comes together and forms a ball. Form into a disc, enclose in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.
Grease a 23 cm loose-bottomed tart pan. Roll out the pastry between 2 pieces of baking paper, large enough to fit the tart pan. Press into pan and refridgerate for another 30 minutes. If you have some leftover pastry which is what happened to me, you can make some smaller tarts as well. This can happen if your tart pan is quite shallow.
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line the chilled pastry with baking paper, then fill with pie-weights or uncooked rice and blind-bake for 10 minutes. Remove paper and weights, then return to the oven for a further 5 minutes until golden.
While the tart case is in the oven, prepare the filling. For this, place the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a bowl and beat until smooth. Add the egg, vanilla, chocolate and pecan nuts and combine. Pour into the tart case and bake for 30 minutes or until set. The smaller tarts will take less time to bake. Mine took 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Dust with icing sugar and serve at room temperature with cream if desired. Enjoy 🙂


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The startup community is made up of investors, entrepreneurs and dreamers. Balance sheets and general ledgers can be an after-thought or even stifle creativity.
Anders helps startups like yours achieve success by concentrating on the comprehensive financial needs of startups and entrepreneurs and allowing you to focus on developing and launching services and products, as you should.
From an understanding of the St. Louis market and business climate, to assistance with entity selection and structuring, outsourced accounting, valuation, mergers, acquisitions and expansions and well as traditional tax and audit services, Anders provides the complete scope to help startups become standouts.
Business Structure
- Accounting System Sourcing, Setup and Training (including QuickBooks)
- Entity Selection and Structuring
- Operating Agreement Planning and Consulting
- Capital Table Building
Financial Dashboards
Outsourced Accounting & CFO Services
- Bookkeeping
- Cloud Accounting
- Accounts Payable/Receivable and Bill Pay
- Payroll Preparation and Tax Reporting
- Financial Statement Analysis and Preparation
- Procedures and Quality Control
- Benchmarking Strategies
- Profitability Analysis
- Budgeting and Cash Flow Forecasting
- Runway and Burn Rate Analysis
Attracting Investors
- Fundraising Consulting and Planning
- Term Sheet Analysis
- Financial Modeling
- Equity Planning and Structuring
- Capital Table Planning and Modeling
- Future Planning
- Company Valuation
Tax Consulting
Tax Planning and Compliance
- Federal, State and Local Tax Compliance and Returns for Business and Owners
- Income Tax Planning for Business and Owners
- Entity Conversions
- Research and Development Tax Credit
- Small Business Stock Planning
- State and Local Tax Planning
Audit and SaaS Accounting
Audit and Advisory Services
- Audits, Reviews and Compilations of Financial Statements
- Software as a Service Accounting
Business Valuation
- Business Valuation
- Purchase Price Allocations
- Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
- Buy/Sell Agreements


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Seize the play
LuckyDiem is a new local search platform that provides businesses with a turnkey game-based promotion and loyalty solution that removes time and cost from the digital marketing equation. LuckyDiem is the first and only platform to offer retail businesses full attribution for online to offline marketing with flexible, multi-level promotions without any additional hardware or software necessary.
Mar 16, 2017


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The United Way of Central West Virginia made news recently for announcing that it would cut disbursements by 34 percent to 32 organizations. Pledges and collections are down in the ailing economy, just when more people turn to charitable organizations for help.
In a recent column, I listed the cost-cutting efforts in the United Way's central office. At the top of the list were pay cuts, including a 10-percent cut for United Way President John Ballengee, who was paid $105,551 plus $6,333 in benefits, according to the agency's 2007 Form 990 sent to the IRS.
When writing about non-profits, I like to take a look at the most recent audited financial statements. United Way's 2008 audit by Herman & Cormany shows no problems. A separate Oct. 31, 2008 letter warns the United Way that because of increased costs and uncollected pledges — 4 percent instead of the budgeted 3 percent — the agency was in danger of having to pay its funding obligations from its reserves.
Continue reading…


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Every so often a great business idea will pop into your head, a moment of clarity on something that could potentially work well. When the time is right and you have that great idea, you need to be prepared to get started with your business as quickly as possible. Read these Internet promotion tips below so that you can position yourself to profit.
A mailing list of your clients is essential. Include a place on your website for visitors to request information. Use these emails and the ones you acquire during purchases to compile your mailing list. Later, you can incorporate this information to market to your customers, as well as send them promotional materials or inquire about customer feedback.
Make sure any tags on your web site are directly associated with its core content. The tag for your site, at the top of the browser window, is a big factor in how people see your site. A misleading tag can divert visitors. A tag that clearly identifies your site will bring Traffic academy, lead generation the right visitors to it.
If you want to promote your product, a FAQ should be created. To address each question or concern, offer thoughtful responses, and also be sure to mention some products that you have for sale as solutions. Although it's a good idea to avoid the impression of advertising too directly, you can couch the questions in terms that make it reasonable to talk about your products when click here you write the answers.
Check out what your competition is up to. Look at your competitors' sites to get a better idea of how they are marketing their products or services. You can also get a good estimate of how many visitors they have, which allows you to gauge how your site is doing.
When you are starting out your site and are trying to make the best site you can for marketing your product on the internet, start small. Search engines are more capable of cataloging sites with fewer subpages, than sites that have large quantities of pages.
When promoting a small business via web marketing, pay attention to detail and the content you are providing your customers. Work hard to ensure that your content is interesting and valuable. Unique content can represent your business in a favorable light and even educate your consumers on your mission statement. This alone should compel you to update your content frequently!
Sometimes webmasters forget the benefit of keeping websites clean and simple. Glitzy multimedia tools, such as Microsoft Silverlight and Adobe Flash may lure website owners, and professional web designers frequently offer these tools. Smart owners are aware that not all users are interested in dealing with this kind of technology. Functionality and readability are the most important elements of any website.
Success and profits are the goals of the day. The tips located in the above article will help you get a firm grasp on Affiliate marketing. With a bit of focus and some dedication, you can reap the rewards of a successful online marketing strategy.


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You are here
Here are the raft of One Church Brighton policies and the relevant people to talk to should you have any questions. We ensure that our policies are in line with our five values and that we review them regularly to ensure that they are relevant to our community and organisation. If you have a question about our policies in general, please contact our Operations Manager Jen Storey.
GDPR - Claire Bird: email@example.com
Adult and Child Safeguarding - Andy Malcolm: firstname.lastname@example.com
Adults: Safeguarding Adults Policy
Children: Safeguarding Children Policy 2016


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Try some of the communication games and activities on this site - ELTgames.com. There's a lot of emphasis on students speaking and interacting and there should be something there you can use with your class.
The speaking section is particularly good with intermediate students to stimulate lively student-centred debates and conversations.
English Teacher


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We provide the very latest in control panel technology to allow full automated pump control. Available for single or multiple pumps with integrated warning systems, our panels can be finished in plastic, steel or stainless steel.
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text: Welcome to Boy Scout Troop 92's website! Boy Scout Troop 92 has been a proud and active member of the Antioch community for more than 60 years. We would like to invite you to join our family of Scouts. Please feel free to contact us for additional information about our troop and how you can join our family. You can also visit with us during one of our weekly troop meetings at the Scout House in Antioch.


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The 1.5X bar magnifier measures 1.5" x .75" and has a .23 central viewing strip with side shading to concentrate the focus on the reading line. A soft touch grip encircles the lens, protects it and makes it easy to move. Comes with a protective pouch. This model comes with a blue frame; the red framed model is #5850/22.
Questions and Answers


text: A Better Way to Buy and Sell Real Estate Thank you for visiting www.carolinacoastrealtyhomes.com! This is a one-stop real estate website for all your home buying and selling needs in Leland, NC. We are professional real estate brokers and agents who will help make your search for a new home an enjoyable experience in the Leland area. We encourage you to check out our website for local neighborhood and school details, mortgage information, interactive maps, listings of homes for sale, and many more features. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the Leland real estate market, or buying or selling a home in Leland, NC. Thank you for visiting www.carolinacoastrealtyhomes.com!


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Grants for Science Or Technology Films Being Commercially Produced
Seeking Grant Money Today
Sloan Foundation, which seeks to create and develop new scripts and films about science and technology and to see them into commercial production with national and international distribution. From The Foundation Center. Deadline: July 6, 2009 Film Independent Accepting Applications for Sloan Foundation Producers Grant The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will award one participant of Film Independent 's Producers Lab the second annual Sloan Producers Grant.


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The gas pump represents your most direct link between your c-store or gas station and the fueling public. Drivers everywhere are seeking greater conveniences and technology when they stop to use your fuel dispenser. Customers who purchase fuel from your gas station are looking for in-dispenser media technologies, upgraded payment protection – including compatibility with the new EMV credit card payment standard; and loyalty programs and discounts
If you are interested in upgrading your fuel dispenser to meet the demands of today's gas station consumer, Patriot Capital can help you unlock the value of your desired upgrade in a hassle-free financing and leasing transaction that makes sense for you and your fuel marketing business.
Patriot Campital provides gas pump financing and financing for all gas pump related equipment needed to serve your customers, including upgrades to help you meet the deadlines for gas pump EMV conversions. We also finance underground storage tanks (UST), above ground fuel tanks, fuel tank gauges, and CNG & natural gas dispensers. Best of all, they provide easy, low-interest financing and rapid approval, so you can begin dispensing and selling more immediately.
They even have special gas pump financing programs for dispensers and technologies from, Gilbarco, OPW, Veeder-Root, and more.


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Original Article published at MyBroadband
South Africa will start commissioning new energy capacity by 2022 at the earliest, the Department of Energy said on Tuesday. The department briefed Parliament's portfolio committee on energy on the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which were released last year for public comment. The department said the initial energy capacity in the base case scenario (the starting point) will come from a combination of photo-voltaic (PV) energy, wind and gas. Commissioning for the base load power, the department said, would be "highly linked" to Eskom's plant retirement schedule and would include:
- conventional base load, which is coal, by 2028
- nuclear by 2037
- 1 000MW of hydropower around 2030
With regard to the energy mix, the department said gas and renewable energy would form the "biggest chunk" of installed energy capacity by 2050 and there would be a significant reduction in the installed capacity from coal…
See the entire article.


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Mobile Transfer Express 4+
Brother Industries, LTD.
- Free
iPhone Screenshots
Mobile Transfer Express is an application that allows you to use a mobile device to transfer compatible label templates, databases and images with P-touch Transfer Manager (Windows version) onto a label printer.
[How to use]
Create a Transfer File before using this application.
Check FAQ for instructions on creating a Transfer File.
This application can be used in the following ways:
- Sharing Transfer Files saved to the cloud by using the application's sharing function
- Saving Transfer Files attached to email messages onto the mobile device
[Key Features]
Load *.BLF & *.PDZ files from any app.
Utilize mobile device or cloud services as unlimited external storage of the printer.
Connect to the printer using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
[Compatible machines]
MW-145MFi, MW-260MFi, PJ-763MFi, PJ-773, PT-D800W, PT-E550W, PT-E800W, PT-E850TKW, PT-P750W, PT-P900W, PT-P950NW, QL-1110NWB, QL-1115NWB, QL-710W, QL-720NW, QL-810W, QL-820NWB, RJ-2050, RJ-2140, RJ-2150, RJ-3050, RJ-3050Ai, RJ-3150, RJ-3150Ai, RJ-4030Ai, RJ-4040, RJ-4230B, RJ-4250WB, TD-2120N, TD-2130N, TD-4550DNWB
[Compatible OS]
iOS 10 or above
What's New
Version 2.4.2
Optimized for iOS 13
Ratings and ReviewsSee All
- Provider
- Brother Industries, LTD.
- Size
- Category
- Utilities
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 11.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
- Languages
English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2014-2018 Brother Industries, Ltd.
- Price
- Free
Family Sharing
Up to six family members will be able to use this app with Family Sharing enabled.


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It's officially spring. The bulbs are starting to bloom, the grass is trying to turn green, and two robins had such fun that I had to refill the bird bath. But don't even think about tomatoes yet. It's not safe to put out tomato plants until after the mesquite blooms. Everyone knows this.
Monthly Archives: March 2014
Fiction Research
Fiction is all made-up stories, as everyone knows. So why am I surrounded by research books? (Besides being CDO [that's OCD but properly alphabetized] and Odd). Because I can't, just can't, leave things half-done, even in a made-up world.
Orson Scott Card's book on writing science fiction makes a good point about "bolognium." You can only serve readers one slice before you start straining their beliefs. In other words, if you have Faster Than Light transport, say, that depends on a new type of physics, that's fine and you can do some handwavium without upsetting readers. But if you need a second major chunk of imaginary technology, or psychic powers, or a species of walking and talking plants that depend on infrared radiation rather than photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, then you'd better be prepared to do some serious explaining and some basic research. Historical fiction and alternate history are no different.
Randall Garret's Lord Darcy fantasies are a good example. He reset the clock and the world by having Richard III decide to stay home and start a family, thus assuring the survival of the Angevin Empire into the (mostly) 19th Century. In that world, magic is a tool used for all sorts of things, and no reader would bat an eye. That first change told everyone that "OK, different world with different rules."
Although set on a colony world (ColPlat XI, or Solana if you read the sales brochures), the Colplatschki stories include alternate history elements. And "real" history elements. Because I am a historian by trade, I could not just write the original story without some background research, especially not once I realized that the "one-off short story" had become a novel. So I loaded up on history of the analogous time on Earth, along with several works about logistics and early modern militaries. That research helped give the world more depth, and added details and complications for my characters.
Without going into too many spoilers [can you have a spoiler for a book that has not even been started yet? Anyway,] water supplies and plumbing play major roles in the next two Colplatschki books. The Babenburg family were civil engineers who made good, as Elizabeth of Starland explains. But just what kind of civil engineering? And what water system could last for 400+/- years, how would it be maintained without high-tech tools, and what problems would you face? Where does the electricity for those lightening bulbs around the courtyard of the palace come from? How do you supply clean water for a city of, oh, 35,000 people and get rid of the waste, without drinking from the Donau Novi?
Those questions play major roles in the next two books (Circuits and Crises and There is a Fountain). As a result, in addition to reading about the development and politics of the Hapsburg Empire (Jean Berénger's book, among others, for those who are curious), I now have a book on medieval water systems, one on Roman water systems, and the absolutely magnificent Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World propped up against the side of my desk. Don't worry, I'll try to avoid Weber-esque info dumps. But engineering is fascinating, and I suspect I'll end up with a few short stories to go with the books. I've read a fair amount about more modern water systems and sanitation, so the "language" is not new, but the mechanics are. At least, new to me.
My goal is not to bore readers to death. My goal is to have a rich background and a believable scenario, so that I can slip in a little bolognium without pushing readers out of the story. But I can't be happy until I get the facts right, so readers won't recoil and say "Hey! Your gravity flow water system goes uphill and there's no sewage disposal. What else did you screw up?"
And yes, I'm a historian. If it doesn't have footnotes and citations, it didn't happen. 😉
Hubris for Kindle
Hubris: The Azdhagi Reborn is now available for Kindle/ mobi readers.
SpellCheck 1: Translator 0
I have done some translation and interpretation over the years, and I sympathize when good translation goes bad. "There but for the grace" and so on. That said . . .
I skimmed through one of those glossy, small tourist guides to Germany the other day. It's a nice little book in that it covers more than just Frankfurt, Berlin and Bavaria, and the text and captions are pretty decent. But one paragraph sent me into a fit of laughter, because I knew exactly what had happened. The topic was the farming products of the Black Forest and adjacent Rhine Valley. The list of crops included "emmer, unicorn, and spelt." The grain is Einkorn, a type of wheat. Something (or someone) read it as Einhorn, or "unicorn." And either no-one double-checked the translation, or the translator had been ordered not to amend or correct the original manuscript.
So, alas, no fields of wildflowers and unicorns blow in the breezes off the western slopes of the Black Forest.
Choral Magic
I love singing classical* choral music, and music that refers back to classical themes. (OK, vocal jazz fans, throw the produce now if you want.) About ten years ago, I made the musical acquaintance of a composer named Morten Lauridsen and fell in love. The semi-pro chorus I sang with did his "Magnum Mysterium" as part of a Christmas concert. I'm not certain if his setting or de Victoria's setting (1572) move me more. I've done both, and they are quite different treatments of the same text, with equal beauty and power.
Two years later the same chorus did Lauridsen's cantata, "Lux Aeterna." The central movement, "O Nata Lux" moved me to tears. The simplicity of the initial line shifts into a flowing, soaring harmonic pattern that resolves again into a gentle close that matches the text beautifully. The entire cantata flows well, even the parts that are fiendishly tricky to get the pitches to lock. (The opening two pages of the second movement are a capella and in tight dissonances that require the singer to memorize the pitches and aim for the correct dissonant, slightly sour, sound.) The first and fifth movements mirror each other, using different text to open and close the entire composition. Continue reading
Cat Among Dragons Update
The cover art for Hubris is almost finished. Barring bad 2d6 life rolls, Hubris: Rebirth of the Azdhagi will be available for purchase Wednesday, March 27, if not sooner.
Two little genes can destroy an empire.
Maker Seeri promised to create the perfect super soldier: strong, fast, telepathic, and endothermic. Three generations later, the survival of the Azdhag Empire, and perhaps of the Azdhag species, depends on six Azdhagi and an undersized True-dragon barkeeper.
Lord Kirlin's disapproval of genetic technology rivals his disgust with Lord Tarkeela. Tarkeela thinks the Pack Lords deserve the disaster they created. Tarkeela's ears on the street, the story-catcher Cheerka, suspects the Makers and Pack-Lords know more than they admit about the surge in dead and dying juniors. When the truth boils out of hiding, Pack Lords and commoners must hunt together, reunifying the Azdhag Pack before all hell breaks loose and hubris becomes nemesis.
Colplatschki Series
The world's longest short story may be getting even longer. I'm considering two more novellas/books, one about the founding of the Babenburg family (just before and after the Great Fires) and one to bridge between Circuits and Crises and Elizabeth of Starland. Let's just say that Matthias Corvinus showed up yesterday afternoon and wanted to know when I intended to start writing.


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Hubby doesn't like cucumbers all that much. So only a small amount ends up in his salads and stir fries (yes, they are good cooked), not enough to make a dent in the harvest. I'm a pickle lover, so I've made a few jars of pickles, enough to last me a long time. Humm....still too many cukes. There's lots of recipes for using cucumbers, but again, hubby's not fond of them.
I've resorted to making some cucumber dishes for trading purposes. Some pickles, of course. Some cucumber salad and cucumber salad dressing for a friend who supplies me with goat milk.
I recently discovered that I like a cucumber smoothie, much like cold cucumber soup. Blend up a juicy, very ripe cuke along with some yogurt, dill, onion or garlic chives. Yum. I made one using mint and basil instead of dill and chives. Yum. Sometimes I add a bit of milk so that it blends easier, other times it's ice cubes. I'm getting hooked on these for breakfasts.
One of the community garden volunteers makes cucumber ice cream. It's sounds weird, but it is really good tasting. Everybody loves it.
I still had an excess. I gave some to a veggie seller at the farmers market. I took a pile to the senior center to hand out. Any that have blemishes I'm feeding to the rabbits. They greedily love them. So at last, none have to become compost. At least somebody benefits from them.
The bummer is that the cuke vines have stopped flowering for now. So shortly I'm going to be in the opposite situation, cukeless. Looks like it's either feast or famine.


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Health and Safety
Safety is always at the top of the list for any home. Our home gets locked up at night just like yours. We do ask all visitors to check in and out for your personal and emergency safety protection. Your health and safety is important to us. Our community observes 24/7 security to protect our vulnerable folks so they can enjoy everyday activities safely. All Lenity team members undergo a thorough background check, extensive background check for certain disease, and have appropriate training to deliver safe and efficient care as required by law.
Our recordkeeping systems are carefully updated, monitored, and maintained to protect your privacy. You may view your records at any time. In addition, all Lenity team members receive continued educational training to ensure and provide the highest level of health and safety.


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• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I'm the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
November 29, 2006
Thomas Friedman's Writing Finally Compared To Bestiality
I try not to read anything by Thomas Friedman, because his writing tends to make me wish I were dead. But Chris Floyd was man enough to read his latest column, and had this reaction:
This, ladies and gentleman, is what passes for Establishment thought on the most respected newspaper in the land. This complete and utter moral perversion -- like unto an act of sexual congress with the beasts of the field -- is now the conventional wisdom of the chattering classes, the "public intellectuals," and the powerful elites whom they so cravenly serve. This blood-flecked drivel -- a precise echo of the genocidal fury being voiced on what once was once considered the lunatic fringes of the far right -- is now at the heart of American political life.
In the rest of his post, Chris also has some less positive things to say about Friedman.Posted at November 29, 2006 05:31 PM | TrackBack
Arthur Silber has a similar take on TNR's call for a more 'muscular' liberalism.
Neocons ... neolibs.
Republicans ... Democrats.
They're all the same.
I like it, but Friedman is a very easy target.
From Bill Bonner: "We always try to get our day off on the right foot by reading Friedman's column before breakfast. There is something so gloriously naïve and clumsy in the man's pensée, it never fails to brighten our mornings. It refreshes our faith in our fellow men; they are not evil, just mindless. We have never met the man, but we imagine Friedman as a high school teacher, warping young minds with drippy thoughts. But to say his ideas are sophomoric or juvenile merely libels young people, most of whom have far more cleverly nuanced opinions than the columnist. You might criticize the man by saying his work is without merit, but too that would be flattery. His work has negative merit. Every column subtracts from the sum of human knowledge in the way a broken pipe drains the town's water tower.
Not that Mr. Friedman's ideas are uniquely bad.
Many people have similarly puerile, insipid notions in their heads. But Friedman expresses his hollow thoughts with such heavy-handed earnestness, it often makes us laugh. He seems completely unaware that he is a simpleton. That, of course, is a charm; he is so dense you can laugh at him without hurting his feelings.â€ÂÂ
From Matt Taibbi: "Thomas Friedman in possession of 500 pages of ruminations on the metaphorical theme of flatness would be a very dangerous thing indeed. It would be like letting a chimpanzee loose in the NORAD control room; even the best-case scenario is an image that could keep you awake well into your 50s.â€ÂÂ
"Friedman is an important American. He is the perfect symbol of our culture of emboldened stupidity. Like George Bush, he's in the reality-making business. In the new flat world, argument is no longer a two-way street for people like the president and the country's most important columnist. You no longer have to worry about actually convincing anyone; the process ends when you make the case.â€ÂÂ
I'd give Bonner the gold, Floyd the silver, and Taibbi the bronze, but everyone who competes in Friedman bashing is a winner.
This was a good day for Friedman bashing. He is my own least favorite pundit at the NYT. My favorite Friedman bashing oeuvre was the Get Your War On series about how his magic mustache could transform your powers of understanding and make you agree with him (the "Mustache of Understanding").Posted by: Anna in Portland (was Cairo) at November 29, 2006 09:25 PM
I always hear such nice things about From Beirut to Jerusalem...Posted by: buermann at November 29, 2006 11:37 PM
Not that anybody should care too much what I think, but I always considered Thomas Friedman a sort of morbidly interesting freak. Then when he had his "a-ha the world is flat" epiphany I realized he's a moron.Posted by: Maezeppa at November 30, 2006 08:05 AM
buermann, I've heard the same thing, as well as the notion that back in the 80s he still was a half-way decent writer, but gradually over the course of the 90s, ego-bloat set in, like a sort of intellectual fog rolling in.
I think we should clone him, and start over.Posted by: Jonathan Versen at November 30, 2006 03:15 PM
Beirut to Jerusalem was nauseating, in my opinion. At it's end you are invitied to feel the pain of Tom and the Israeli's as they soul-search after mass murdering and raping an encampment of refugees who had already been disarmed. They felt awful.


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Peep London's PLACES + FACES photos of the hip hop V.I.P.
In honor of MADE Sydney, our Fashion x Skate x Music event this November, we're catching up with some of our talented content creators. See more here.
Get passes now to MADE Sydney on November 11-13 at Carriageworks to shop more exclusive MadeMe and 10+ other designers here.
Tags: MADE SYDNEY


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As usual around this time of year someone accuses me of being a Bah Humbug Scrooge as I'm often found muttering darkly about various aspects of this holiday which I don't care for. Being an Atheist I have no religious reasons for liking Christmas but I am particularly keen on socialising with family and friends. So, here's a list of my Christmas pros and cons. please feel to add your own suggestions to the list.
- good time to socialise with family and friends.
- wonderful food.
- getting to drink things like mulled wine and eggnog.
- giving and getting gifts.
- see kiddies reactions on Christmas morning.
- Dotor Who Christmas special.
- some other decent tv
- European Parliament Office in Scotland's annual end of year reception.
- chocolate gingers.
- Christmas markets.
- shopping hell!
- the amount of people in supermarkets buying enough food to survive a nuclear winter.
- Christmas stuff appearing in the shops in September.
- feeling like a lemon in the women's lingerie section of Fraser's. I escaped this year ;-)
- masses of people in pubs who don't know how to behave and think it's clever to tap money on the bar counter in a vain attempt to attract the attention of a member of the bar staff.
- getting a card from someone whom you hadn't sent one to when it's too late to get one in the
- never getting a white Christmas.
- over eating and over drinking.
- wrapping presents.
- public transport meltdown.
- Santa hats and reindeer antlers (particular hatred of Santa hats in old firm colours).
- 90% of TV being crap.
- the racket from "neds on ice" which takes place in George Square for 4 weeks in the run up. (this deserves a post of it's own)
- office nights out (excluding my own of course!)
- the train to the office being full of 'ladies who lunch'.
I guess that more will be added as my bile gland refills or my goodwill to all meter is replenished.
Update: Friday 21st December 15:00
Well the bile gland has refilled first so here are a few more CONS:
- bagpiping buskers.
- red cowboy hats with white "fur" trim.
- shopping in Glasgow the last Friday before Christmas.
- availability of taxis.
- women using prams & pushchairs as battering rams.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Christmas pros and cons
Posted by Iain Rubie Dale at 14:00
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