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Neither looking to the right nor the left, neither knowing nor caring whither he went, Matthew Grice took the first turning he came to, which led him out of Baregrove Square. It happened to be the street communicating with the long suburban road, at the remote extremity of which Mr. Blyth lived. Mat followed this road mechanically, not casting a glance at the painter's abode when he passed it, and taking no notice of a cab, with luggage on the roof; which drew up, as he walked by, at the garden gate. If he had only looked round at the vehicle for a moment, he must have seen Valentine sitting inside it, and counting out the money for his fare.
But he still went on--straight on, looking aside at nothing. He fronted the wind and the clearing quarter of the sky as he walked. The shower was now fast subsiding; and the first rays of returning sunlight, as they streamed through mist and cloud, fell tenderly and warmly on his face.
Though he did not show it outwardly, there was strife and trouble within him. The name of Zack was often on his lips, and he varied constantly in his rate of walking; now quickening, now slackening his pace at irregular intervals. It was evening before he turned back towards home--night, before he sat down again in the chair by young Thorpe's bedside.
"I'm a deal better to-night, Mat," said Zack, answering his first inquiries. "That good fellow, Blyth, has come back: he's been sitting here with me a couple of hours or more. Where have you been to all day, you restless old Rough and Tough?" he continued, with something of his natural lighthearted manner returning already. "There's a letter come for you, by-the-by. The landlady said she would put it on the table in the front room."
Matthew found and opened the letter, which proved to contain two enclosures. One was addressed to Mr. Blyth; the other had no direction. The handwriting in the letter being strange to him, Mat looked first for the name at the end, and found that it was Thorpe. "Wait a bit," he said, as Zack spoke again just then, "I want to read my letter. We'll talk after."
This is what he read:--
"Some hours have passed since you left my house. I have had time to collect a little strength and composure, and have received such assistance and advice as have enabled me to profit by that time. Now I know that I can write calmly, I send you this letter.
"My object is not to ask how you became possessed of the guilty secret which I had kept from every one--even from my wife--but to offer you such explanation and confession as you have a right to demand from me. I do not cavil about that right--I admit that you possess it, without desiring further proof than your actions, your merciless words, and the Bracelet in your possession, have afforded me.
"It is fit you should first be told that the assumed name by which I was known at Dibbledean, merely originated in a foolish jest--in a wager that certain companions of my own age, who were accustomed to ridicule my fondness for botanical pursuits, and often to follow and disturb me when I went in search of botanical specimens, would not be able to trace and discover me in my country retreat. I went to Dibbledean, because the neighborhood was famous for specimens of rare Ferns, which I desired to possess; and I took my assumed name before I went, to help in keeping me from being traced and disturbed by my companions. My father alone was in the secret, and came to see me once or twice in my retirement. I have no excuse to offer for continuing to preserve my false name, at a time when I was bound to be candid about myself and my station in life. My conduct was as unpardonably criminal in this, as it was in greater things.
"My stay at the cottage I had taken, lasted much longer than my father would have remitted, if I had not deceived him, and if he had not been much harassed at that time by unforeseen difficulties in his business as a foreign merchant. These difficulties arrived at last at a climax, and his health broke down under them. His presence, or the presence of a properly qualified person to represent him, was absolutely required in Germany, where one of his business houses, conducted by an agent, was established. I was his only son; he had taken me as a partner into his London house; and had allowed me, on the plea of delicate health, to absent myself from my duties for months and months together, and to follow my favorite botanical pursuits just as I pleased. When, therefore, he wrote me word that great part of his property, and great part, consequently, of my sisters' fortunes, depended on my going to Germany (his own health not permitting him to take the journey), I had no choice but to place myself at his disposal immediately.
"I went away, being assured beforehand that my absence would not last more than three or four months at the most.
"While I was abroad, I wrote to your sister constantly. I had treated her dishonorably and wickedly, but no thought of abandoning her had ever entered my heart: my dearest hope, at that time, was the hope of seeing her again. Not one of my letters was answered. I was detained in Germany beyond the time during which I had consented to remain there; and in the excess of my anxiety, I even ventured to write twice to your father. Those letters also remained unanswered. When I at last got back to England, I immediately sent a person on whom I could rely to Dibbledean, to make the inquiries which I dreaded to make myself. My messenger was turned from your doors, with the fearful news of your sister's flight from home and of her death.
"It was then I first suspected that my letters had been tampered with. It was then, too, when the violence of my grief and despair had a little abated, that the news of your sister's flight inspired me, for the first time, with a suspicion of the consequence which had followed the commission of my sin. You may think it strange that this suspicion should not have occurred to me before. It would seem so no longer, perhaps, if I detailed to you the peculiar system of home education, by which my father, strictly and conscientiously, endeavored to preserve me--as other young men are not usually preserved--from the moral contaminations of the world. But it would be useless to dwell on this now. No explanations can alter the events of the guilty and miserable past.
"Anxiously--though privately, and in fear and trembling--I caused such inquiries to be made as I hoped might decide the question whether the child existed or not. They were long persevered in, but they were useless--useless, perhaps, as I now think with bitter sorrow, because I trusted them to others, and had not the courage to make them openly myself.
"Two years after that time I married, under circumstances not of an ordinary kind--what circumstances you have no claim to know. That part of my life is my secret and my wife's, and belongs to us alone.
"I have now dwelt long enough for your information on my own guilty share in the events of the Past. As to the Present and the Future, I have still a word or two left to say.
"You have declared that I shall expiate, by the exposure of my shameful secret before all my friends, the wrong your sister suffered at my hands. My life has been one long expiation for that wrong. My broken health, my altered character, my weary secret sorrows, unpartaken and unconsoled, have punished me for many years past more heavily than you think. Do you desire to see me visited by more poignant sufferings than these? If it be so, you may enjoy the vindictive triumph of having already inflicted them. Your threats will force me, in a few hours, from the friends I have lived with, at the very time when the affection shown to me, and the honor conferred on me by those friends, have made their society most precious to my heart. You force me from this, and from more--for you force me from my home, at the moment when my son has affectionately entreated me to take him back to my fireside.
"These trials, heavy as they are, I am ready to endure, if, by accepting them humbly, I may be deemed to have made some atonement for my sin. But more I have not the fortitude to meet. I cannot face the exposure with which you are resolved to overwhelm me. The anxiety--perhaps, I ought to say, the weakness--of my life, has been to win and keep the respect of others. You are about, by disclosing the crime which dishonored my youth, to deprive me of my good fame. I can let it go without a struggle, as part of the punishment that I have deserved; but I have not the courage to wait and see you take it from me. My own sensations tell me that I have not long to live; my own convictions assure me that I cannot fitly prepare myself for death, until I am far removed from worldly interests and worldly terrors--in a word, from the horror of an exposure, which I have deserved, but which, at the end of my weary life, is more than I can endure. We have seen the last of each other in this world. To-night I shall be beyond the reach of your retaliation; for to-night I shall be journeying to the retreat in which the short remainder of my life will be hidden from you and from all men.
"It now only remains for me to advert to the two enclosures contained in this letter.
"The first is addressed to Mr. Blyth. I leave it to reach his hands through you; because I am ashamed to communicate with him directly, as from myself. If what you said about my child be the truth--and I cannot dispute it--then, in my ignorance of her identity, in my estrangement from the house of her protector since she first entered it, I have unconsciously committed such an offense against Mr. Blyth as no contrition can ever adequately atone for. Now indeed I feel how presumptuously merciless my bitter conviction of the turpitude of my own sin, has made me towards what I deemed like sins in others. Now also I know, that, unless you have spoken falsely, I have been guilty of casting the shame of my own deserted child in the teeth of the very man who had nobly and tenderly given her an asylum in his own home. The unutterable anguish which only the bare suspicion of this has inflicted on me might well have been my death. I marvel even now at my own recovery from it.
"You are free to look at the letter to Mr. Blyth which I now entrust to you. Besides the expression of my shame, my sorrow, and my sincere repentance, it contains some questions, to which Mr. Blyth, in his Christian kindness, will, I doubt not, readily write answers. The questions only refer to the matter of the child's identity; and the address I have written down at the end, is that of the house of business of my lawyer and agent in London. He will forward the document to me, and will then arrange with Mr. Blyth the manner in which a fit provision from my property may be best secured to his adopted child. He has deserved her love, and to him I gratefully and humbly leave her. For myself, I am not worthy even to look upon her face.
"The second enclosure is meant for my son; and is to be delivered in the event of your having already disclosed to him the secret of his father's guilt. But, if you have not done this--if any mercy towards me has entered into your heart, and pleads with it for pardon and for silence--then destroy the letter, and tell him that he will find a communication waiting for him at the house of my agent. He wrote to ask my pardon--he has it freely. Freely, in my turn, I hope to have his forgiveness for severities exercised towards him, which were honestly meant to preserve him betimes from ever falling as his father fell, but which I now fear were persevered in too hardly and too long. I have suffered for this error, as for others, heavily--more heavily, when he abandoned his home, than I should ever wish him to know. You said he lived with you and that you were fond of him. Be gentle with him, now that he is ill, for his mother's sake.
"My hand grows weaker and weaker: I can write no more. Let me close this letter by entreating your pardon. If you ever grant it me, then I also ask your prayers."
With this the letter ended.
Matthew sat holding it open in his hand for a little while. He looked round once or twice at the enclosed letter from Mr. Thorpe to his son, which lay close by on the table--but did not destroy it; did not so much as touch it even.
Zack spoke to him before long from the inner room.
"I'm sure you must have done reading your letter by this time, Mat. I've been thinking, old fellow, of the talk we used to have, about going back to America together, and trying a little buffalo hunting and roaming about in the wilds. If my father takes me into favor again, and can be got to say Yes, I should so like to go with you, Mat. Not for too long, you know, because of my mother, and my friends over here. But a sea voyage, and a little scouring about in what you call the lonesome places, would do me such good! I don't feel as if I should ever settle properly to anything, till I've had my fling. I wonder whether my father would let me go?"
"I know he would, Zack."
"You! How?"
"I'll tell you how another time. You shall have your run, Zack,--you shall have your heart's content along with me." As he said this, he looked again at Mr. Thorpe's letter to his son, and took it up in his hand this time.
"Oh! how I wish I was strong enough to start! Come in here, Mat, and let's talk about it."
"Wait a bit, and I will." Pronouncing those words, he rose from his chair. "For your sake, Zack," he said, and dropped the letter into the fire.
"What can you be about all this time?" asked young Thorpe.
"Do you call to mind," said Mat, going into the bedroom, and sitting down by the lad's pillow--"Do you call to mind me saying, that I'd be brothers with you, when first us two come together? Well, Zack, I've only been trying to be as good as my word."
"Trying? What do you mean? I don't understand, old fellow."
"Never mind: you'll make it out better some day. Let's talk about getting aboard ship, and going a buffalo-hunting now."
They discussed the projected expedition, until Zack grew sleepy. As he fell off into a pleasant doze, Mat went back into the front-room; and, taking from the table Mr. Thorpe's letter to Mr. Blyth, left Kirk Street immediately for the painter's house.
It had occurred to Valentine to unlock his bureau twice since his return from the country, but on neither occasion had he found it necessary to open that long narrow drawer at the back, in which he had secreted the Hair Bracelet years ago. He was consequently still totally ignorant that it had been taken away from him, when Matthew Grice entered the painting-room, and quietly put it into his hand.
Consternation and amazement so thoroughly overpowered him, that he suffered his visitor to lock the door against all intruders, and then to lead him peremptorily to a chair, without uttering a single word of inquiry or expostulation. All though the narrative, on which Mat now entered, he sat totally speechless, until Mr. Thorpe's letter was placed in his hands, and he was informed that Madonna was still to be left entirely under his own care. Then, for the first time, his cheeks showed symptoms of returning to their natural color, and he exclaimed fervently, "Thank God! I shan't lose her after all! I only wish you had begun by telling me of that, the moment you came into the room!"
Saying this, he began to read Mr. Thorpe's letter. When he had finished it, and looked up at Mat, the tears were in his eyes.
"I can't help it," said the simple-hearted painter. "It would even affect you, Mr. Grice, to be addressed in such terms of humiliation as these. How can he doubt my forgiving him, when he has a right to my everlasting gratitude for not asking me to part with our darling child? They never met--he has never, never, seen her face," continued Valentine, in lower and fainter tones. "She always wore her veil down, by my wish, when we went out; and our walks were generally into the country, instead of town way. I only once remember seeing him coming towards us; and then I crossed the road with her, knowing we were not on terms. There's something shocking in father and daughter living so near each other, yet being--if one may say so--so far, so very far apart. It is dreadful to think of that. It is far more dreadful to think of its having been her hand which held up the hair for you to look at, and her little innocent action which led to the discovery of who her father really was!"
"Do you ever mean to let her know as much about it as we do?" asked Matthew.
The look of dismay began to appear again in Valentine's face. "Have you told Zack, yet?" he inquired, nervously and eagerly.
"No," said Mat; "and don't you! When Zack's on his legs again, he's going to take a voyage, and get a season's hunting along with me in the wild country over the water. I'm as fond of the lad as if he was a bit of my own flesh and blood. I cottoned to him when he hit out so hearty for me at the singing-shop--and we've been brothers together ever since. You mightn't think it, to look at me; but I've spared Zack's father for Zack's sake; and I don't ask no more reward for it than to take the lad a hunting for a season or two along with me. When he comes back home again, and we say Good-bye, I'll tell him all what's happened; but I won't risk bringing so much as a cross look into his eyes now, by dropping a word to him of what's passed betwixt his father and me."
Although this speech excited no little surprise and interest in Valentine's mind, it did not succeed in suspending the anxieties which had been awakened in him by Matthew's preceding question, and which he now began to feel the necessity of confiding to Mrs. Blyth--his grand counselor in all difficulties, and unfailing comforter in all troubles.
"Do you mind waiting here," he said, "while I go upstairs, and break the news to my wife? Without her advice I don't know what to do about communicating our discovery to the poor dear child. Do you mind waiting?"
No: Matthew would willingly wait. Hearing this, Mr. Blyth left the room directly.
He remained away a long time. When he came back, his face did not seem to have gained in composure during his absence.
"My wife has told me of another discovery," he said, "which her motherly love for our adopted daughter enabled her to make some time since. I have been sadly surprised and distressed at hearing of it. But I need say no more on the subject to you, than that Mrs. Blyth has at once decided me to confide nothing to Madonna--to Mary, I ought to say--until Zack has got well again and has left England. When I heard just now, from you, of his projected voyage, I must confess I saw many objections to it. They have all been removed by what my wife has told me. I heartily agree with her that the best thing Zack can do is to make the trip he proposes. You are willing to take care of him; and I honestly believe that we may safely trust him with you."
A serious difficulty being thus disposed of, Valentine found leisure to pay some attention to minor things. Among other questions which he now asked, was one relating to the Hair Bracelet, and to the manner in which Matthew had become possessed of it. He was answered by the frankest confession, a confession which tried even his kindly and forbearing disposition to the utmost, as he listened to it; and which drew from him, when it was ended, some of the strongest terms of reproach that had ever passed his lips.
Mat listened till he had done; then, taking his hat to go, muttered a few words of rough apology, which Valentine's good-nature induced him to accept, almost as soon as they were spoken. "We must let bygones be bygones," said the painter. "You have been candid with me, at last, at any-rate; and, in recognition of that candor, I say 'Good-night, Mr. Grice,' as a friend of yours still."
When Mat returned to Kirk Street, the landlady came out of her little parlor to tell him of a visitor who had been to the lodgings in his absence. An elderly lady, looking very pale and ill, had asked to see young Mr. Thorpe, and had prefaced the request by saying that she was his mother. Zack was then asleep, but the lady had been taken up stairs to see him in bed--had stooped over him, and kissed him--and had then gone away again, hastily, and in tears. Matthew's face grew grave as he listened, but he said nothing when the landlady had done, except a word or two charging her not to mention to Zack what had happened when he woke. It was plain that Mrs. Thorpe had been told her husband's secret, and that she had lovingly devoted herself to him, as comforter and companion to the last.
When the doctor paid his regular visit to the invalid, the next morning, he was called on immediately for an answer to the important question of when Zack would be fit to travel. After due consideration and careful inspection of the injured side of the patient's head, he replied that in a month's time the lad might safely go on board ship; and that the sea-voyage proposed would do more towards restoring him to perfect health and strength, than all the tonic medicines that all the doctors in England could prescribe.
Matthew might have found the month's inaction to which he was now obliged to submit for Zack's sake, rather tedious, but for the opportune arrival in Kirk Street of a professional visitor from Dibbledean.
Though his client had ungratefully and entirely forgotten him, Mr. Tatt had not by any means forgotten his client, but had, on the contrary, attended to his interests with unremitting resolution and assiduity. He had discovered that Mat was entitled, under his father's will, to no less a sum than two thousand pounds, if his identity could be properly established. To effect this result was now, therefore, the grand object of Mr. Tatt's ambition. He had the prospect, not only of making a little money, but of establishing a reputation in Dibbledean, if he succeeded--and, by dint of perseverance, he ultimately did succeed. He carried Mat about to all sorts of places, insisted on his signing all sorts of papers and making all sorts of declarations, and ended by accumulating such a mass of evidence before the month was out, that Mr. Nawby, as executor to "the late Joshua Grice," declared himself convinced of the claimant's identity.
On being informed of this result, Mat ordered the lawyer, after first deducting the amount of his bill from the forthcoming legacy, to draw him out such a legal form as might enable him to settle his property forthwith on another person. When Mr. Tatt asked to be furnished with the name of this person, he was told to write "Martha Peckover."
"Mary's child has got you to look after her, and money enough from her father to keep her," said Mat, as he put the signed instrument into Valentine's hands. "When Martha Peckover's old and past her work, she may want a bank-note or two to fall back on. Give her this, when I'm gone--and say she earned it from Mary's brother, the day she stopped and suckled Mary's child by the road-side."
The day of departure drew near. Zack rallied so rapidly, that he was able, a week before it arrived, to go himself and fetch the letter from his father which was waiting for him at the Agent's office. It assured him, briefly, but very kindly, of the forgiveness which he had written to ask--referred him to the man of business for particulars of the allowance granted to him, while he pursued his studies in the Art, or otherwise occupied himself--urged him always to look on Mr. Blyth as the best friend and counselor that he could ever have--and ended by engaging him to write often about himself and his employments, to his mother; sending his letters to be forwarded through the Agent. When Zack, hearing from this gentleman that his father had left the house in Baregrove Square, desired to know what had occasioned the change of residence, he was only informed that the state of Mr. Thorpe's health had obliged him to seek perfect retirement and repose: and that there were reasons at present for not mentioning the place of his retreat to any one, which it was not deemed expedient for his son to become acquainted with.
The day of departure arrived.
In the morning, by Valentine's advice, Zack wrote to his mother; only telling her, in reference to his proposed trip, that he was about to travel to improve and amuse himself, in the company of a friend, of whom Mr. Blyth approved. While he was thus engaged, the painter had a private interview with Matthew Grice, and very earnestly charged him to remember his responsibilities towards his young companion. Mat answered briefly and characteristically: "I told you I was as fond of him as if he was a bit of my own flesh and blood. If you don't believe I shall take care of him, after that--I can't say nothing to make you."
Both the travelers were taken up into Mrs. Blyth's room to say Farewell. It was a sad parting. Zack's spirits had not been so good as usual, since the day of his visit to the Agent's--and the other persons assembled were all more or less affected in an unusual degree by the approaching separation. Madonna had looked ill and anxious--though she would not own to having anything the matter with her--for some days past. But now, when she saw the parting looks exchanged around her, the poor girl's agitation got beyond her control, and became so painfully evident, that Zack wisely and considerately hurried over the farewell scene. He went out first. Matthew followed him to the landing--then stopped--and suddenly retraced his steps.
He entered the room again, and took his sister's child by the hand once more; bent over her as she stood pale and in tears before him, and kissed her on the cheek. "Tell her some day that me and her mother was playmates together," he said to Mrs. Blyth, as he turned away to join Zack on the stairs.
Valentine accompanied them to the ship. When they shook hands together, he said to Matthew; "Zack has engaged to come back in a year's time. Shall we see you again with him?"
Mat took the painter aside, without directly answering him.
"If ever you go to Bangbury," he whispered, "look into the churchyard, in the dark corner amongst the trees. There's a bit of walnut-wood planking put up now at the place where she's buried; and it would be a comfort to me to know that it was kep' clean and neat. I should take it kind of you if you'd give it a brush or two with your hand when you're near it--for I never hope to see the place myself; no more."
* * * * * * *
Sadly and thoughtfully, Valentine returned alone to his own house. He went up at once to his wife's room.
As he opened the door, he started, and stopped on the threshold. Madonna was sitting on the couch by her adopted mother, with her face hidden on Mrs. Blyth's bosom, and her arms clasped tight round Mrs. Blyth's neck.
"Have you ventured to tell her all, Lavvie?" he asked.
Mrs. Blyth was not able to speak in answer--she looked at him with tearful eyes, and bowed her head.
Valentine lingered at the door for a moment-then softly closed it, and left them together.
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text:
- January 23, 2013
- 12:02 p.m.
- Suggest removal
- Reply to this post
wisecracker writes:
in response to liberty_67:
Apparently that is not entirely true, at least according to the latest Pew Poll-
Thanks for citing the recent Pew report, but if you look at the full report (pdf), page 2 and page 6, you will see that over 47% of Americans find abortion to be morally wrong.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
A majority of dynamically created websites on the web today are backended* by MySQL. Even though NoSQL solutions like project voldemort are all the rage, for a majority of people not doing Facebook type traffic, MySQL is still going to be the backend of choice. In other words, the reports of MySQL's death are greatly exaggerated and that means scaling MySQL is still going to be a talent and skill required for web application architects.
Which MySQL Cluster?
Often when you see web based application white boarded the entire DB backend is referred as the "SQL cluster". When you're dealing with MySQL that could mean many things. There is a high-availability, high-redundancy version of MySQL called "MySQL Cluster". The non cluster versions of MySQL can replicate data to multiple SQL servers via a master/slave relationship and multiple servers set up in this fashion are often called a MySQL cluster. Do not confuse the two! The official "MySQL Cluster" only supports one type of storage engine – NDBCLUSTER.
So if you develop your application to use MyISAM
or InnoDB
then you have to perform some major rewriting or some other surgery for your application and data or you're going to be out of luck. For many environments that makes the official "MySQL Cluster" a show stopper. If you're not using data from a current MySQL Cluster, or you haven't been coding/creating with the NDBCLUSTER
engine and it's limitations in mind from the get-go, then using the official MySQL Cluster is a no-go. This product is a specialized version of MySQL with it's own quirks and it's use must fit the problem you are trying to solve. For this exercise in scaling we'll use the regular MySQL and not the clustered versions because the databases and application code were all designed around InnoDB.
Our MySQL Scaling Goals
Our scaling goals for this project are simple. In our configuration the application has been well thought out and it expects a read only database for read only queries and a write database for everything else, we want to take advantage of that. We also know that read traffic is executed seven to ten times more than write traffic from testing. The first goal is high availability. We don't want to change any web server config files or have our application wait for MySQL to timeout before switching to another SQL server. Switching from a slow or down server has to happen automatically. The second goal is higher performance. In our example we have 4 servers available for our backend, plus a monitoring server (build monitoring into your application architecture upfront and save yourself the downtime later). The final goal is the ability to grow to meet demand.
A quick note about our goals: If you divorce your application from the database architecture you won't be able to have an application that scales or performs very well. In this article we're looking at a pure backend solution, but what that architecture looks like was dictated by the application itself! In the real world high performance applications should be able to take advantage of a caching layer provided by something like memcache and code needs to be designed from the get go to look at multiple SQL clusters or to separate read queries from writes etc. In many cases memcache alone could replace or mitigate the need for more SQL servers. Relying on pure MySQL replication to scale only gets you so far and there is a point of diminishing returns. Kellan Elliot-McCrea from flickr brings those points home in his article "using and abusing mysql".
Getting the right tools
The very first thing we need to decide up front is, which compiled version of MySQL do we want to use? Do we want to compile them ourselves? Do we use our vendors binaries or the pre-compiled binaries from MySQL or do we want to look at one of the MySQL project forks? Here's my advice, for most people in small, low transaction environments use what your vendor provides or the official MySQL built binaries. The releases are well supported and updates are rolled out on a regular basis. When you start needing other capabilities or need to squeeze more performance out of your SQL server, then it's time to look at the high performance forks. In our case we've been very happy with the percona MySQL builds, especially the ability to use their XtraBackup program. This makes setting up MySQL slave servers easy and much faster, especially with larger data sets and InnoDB
tables. (In actual testing doing a raw mysqldump and setting up a slave server with a 47G data base took almost an hour, using XtraBackup the same function took less than 15 minutes on a rather vanilla server).
Get, use, and love MMM (Multi Master replication Manager for MySQL). It is a collection of scripts that performs automated fail over of your MySQL cluster in much the same way as UltraMonkey does for other services. The advantage of MMM is that it is specifically designed for MySQL. It allows you to define servers by their role (writer or reader). With MMM only one node is writeable at a time, this prevents data getting out of sync in large waterfall environments. Reader roles can be balanced across several servers. More importantly MMM will detect if a server's replication is running behind and remove it from the being queried, until the servers replication catches up. In the real world this is a life saver.
Get the maatkit tool set and install it on all your MySQL servers. This toolkit should be de rigeur for any MySQL installation that has replication. It is a collection of scripts that allows your DBA to more easily manage MySQL. It has hooks built in for memcache and postgres as well. Like MMM it is a project that grew out of google code.
The Architecture
We set up the first two MySQL servers in master/master replication mode. Here's the twist, we will probably want to add more master SQL servers to the cluster later on, so plan for it now. You can add several MySQL servers fully synced in a water fall style configuration. When you create your my.cnf file configure the auto_increment_increment to a value of two times the expected number of master servers. So if you expect to only ever have five masters in replication, ensure that auto_increment_increment=10. This allows you to add more servers to the cluster with a minimum of downtime. Never set auto_increment_offset to zero and no two servers should ever have the same offset (common mistakes).
Our decision here was to have two servers in master/master replication with each master server having it's own slave. With a read load seven times the write load we need to spread those selects across the cluster. This is where MMM really shines. The read load is spread out among all of the machines while the write load is quarantined to the master servers alone. The cluster can handle a huge read load and is orders of magnitude faster under load than a single server, satisfying the performance goal. If a server goes down or starts to fall behind in replication, it's removed from the cluster so it has a chance to catch up. This happens automatically and without intervention, satisfying the high availability part of our goals.
We satisfy our scalability goal by planning the architecture to grow upfront. If we see a spike in read traffic we can add more MySQL slaves on the fly. If we see the need to spread out write traffic, we can add more master servers. Proper monitoring and logging provide those statistics.
Since we've planned for more masters up front we don't have to restart each server. The ability to add a master sever on the fly without taking down the entire cluster is what makes MMM and the Percona Xtrabackup tool so critical. When we run the Xtrabackup tool it provides us the logfile name and position as part of the output! That means we have all the information required to setup and start a slave, performed in one action. We use the MMM scripts to take servers in and out of service and also monitor their status.
The architecture offered here was for a specific problem where we had some good metrics. If the read vs write traffic was more even we would have set up the servers in a waterfall configuration. All of the servers were using directly attached storage utilizing SAS drives in RAID 10. The databases were small enough so directly attached storage provided the best redundancy and performance for the cost. Once you start talking BIG databases then one needs to look at SAN architectures and ensure those considerations are baked into any design.
*While backended isn't really a word, it perfectly describes what we're talking about. Please feel free to use backended in your next database or application discussion.


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Tax Day with the 99 Percent Spring: Occupy Nothing
By Fritz Tucker
Street Theatre off Broadway
Last Tuesday, April 17, I attended the 99% Spring's Tax Day protest in Midtown Manhattan. Around one-thousand people showed up to do the usual: marching, slogan-chanting, holding up signs, taking part in street-theatre. I did what I usually do when coerced into attending these events. I wandered around, talked to some strangers, made snarky comments about the chants and street-theatre, and discreetly discarded of every sign I was handed.
One of my favorite quotes of all time is from Arundhati Roy, who described to Al Jazeera why she supports the occasional use of this form of protest, but not an ideological adherence to it. By "the forest," she is referring to central-India's jungles, where India's indigenous communities are fighting the state to keep their land.
"The Gandhian ethos is a very frightening ethos in the forest; because the Gandhian ethos [is a] performance that requires an audience... And in the forest, there's no audience… In a society that doesn't belong to the rest of society… how do hungry people go on a hunger strike? How do people who don't have any money not pay their taxes or do civil disobedience?"
Not having attended an overwhelming amount of protests, I thought this "performance that requires an audience" thing was a metaphor. Last Tuesday's Tax Day protest, however, was certainly a performance, complete with a team of Tax Dodgers in baseball uniforms, and cheerleaders with hula-hoops to represent tax loopholes.
The show started across the street from the new Bank of America skyscraper on 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. The first act was a mock trial for Bank of America, ExxonMobil and a few other major tax dodgers. A woman dressed as a colonial-era judge—powdered wig and all—read a list of grievances pertaining to taxes that were not paid by these corporations. The culprits—including two very white people in white-face—retorted that they didn't care, and wouldn't share their wealth, all using the exact same rhymes, which were less inspired than those of the guys hustling hip-hop tapes outside of the Empire State Building.
My favorite comment of the day came when Rose, my comrade in snark for the day, said something along the lines of, 'so my partner and I were at a show the other day. And the opener was a performance artist, some girl dressed only in a unitard thong that just barely covered up her wee-bits. And her whole performance consisted of her sitting in front of a mirror crying and throwing Smarties candies at it. And that went over better than this.' It was true; the crowd seemed to get a bigger kick out of the guy in the audience shouting profanities in agreement with the charges than it did from the mock trial.
After the judgment was handed down, we began to march through Midtown. The streets were well guarded by hundreds of police. The mile-long route had been barricaded ahead of time to ensure nothing extraneous was occupied. Along the way, we stopped at a few locations: Chase Bank, Wells Fargo, Trump Tower. At each stop, a speech was delivered by a member of the groups that organized the march, including Move On, Make the Road, United NY, SEIU and CWA.
The two most inspiring speeches were about the prison industrial complex and the detention of undocumented people, both given by Latina women. Both of these speeches, however, were marred by their endings, which tried to blame these immense and complex problems on corporations not paying their taxes. Posing this as the heart of the problem lead one to believe that there's a simple solution—corporations should pay their taxes—and that this solution can be arrived at through legislation enacted by the Democratic Party. Rather than blaming the speakers, I got the sense that there were leaders behind the protest who had to approve of every message before it was allowed in the march. This suspicion was heightened when another friend informed me that a march organizer had told her not to hand out anti-war fliers. Almost every poster and piece of literature at the protest was professionally made, was about taxes, and was directed at corporations or Mitt Romney. The one hand-made sign I saw said something like, 'I'm Gay, I Pay My Taxes. Corporations Should Pay Theirs.'
Everything about the protest made me long for the genuineness, creativity, and openness of Occupy Wall Street, which is ironic coming from somebody who was silenced by the facilitators during an OWS General Assembly. Similarly, I was put off by the protest's emphasis on spectacle and one-way communiqués. These communiqués, ostensibly about challenging and mocking authority, were given authority—when lacking in coherence and ability to agitate—by pompous, hyperbolic language, amplification, and a team of 'marshals' whose job it was to surround the speaker and keep the crowd at bay. In the background, a team of people in red shirts buzzed about, talking to each other on headsets, making sure everything was going according to plan. Occupy Wall Street may have not been good at it, but structured, participatory activities and real communication—two, three, many-way-dialog—were central components of the Zuccotti Occupation. Furthermore, OWS' rudimentary public democracy gave it a degree of spontaneity completely lacking at the 99% Spring's Tax Day protest.
For reasons that I never completely became aware of, the march ended with a mass chant and dance across the street from the post office near Penn Station. I went home more pessimistic than I'd been since last September.
Moderate, Radical and Mass Movements
You can't help stumbling upon debate in the media these days about whether Occupy Wall Street is being co-opted by the 99 Percent Spring. I wrote about the coming co-option of OWS back in October, when the movement was only a month old, and have had the displeasure of seeing it happen from the inside. The answer to the co-option question, however, depends on what exactly a movement is.
Intuitively, I thought the 99% Spring was an attempt to co-opt OWS. My instincts were later affirmed by everything I saw, heard and read. Upon further thought, however, I believe that the 99% Spring is technically only co-opting Occupy Wall Street's slogans, and that the two are distinct movements that briefly came together last fall to form a mass movement.
Occupy Wall Street is the loudest, most influential part of the U.S. Occupy movement, which is a small and not particularly significant part of a worldwide mass movement led by Arabs, Persians and Southern Europeans. This movement is about physically wresting control over public—and private—space and replacing the ruling organizations with new ones. Its roots date back to Jesus' march on Jerusalem, the French, American and Bolshevik Revolutions, and the struggle for an independent India. It is important to note that this form of struggle—Occupy—also describes the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem, the French and British occupations of Africa and Asia, the Indian occupation of Kashmir, and the U.S. and Soviet occupations of Afghanistan. Thus, both the rulers and the radicals who fight to overthrow them can be considered occupiers.
The 99 Percent Spring, on the other hand, is part a movement amongst people who want things to be a little—but not fundamentally—different, and so appeal to society's rulers to tweak their policies. This movement can trace its roots to the Israelites who tentatively collaborated with the Roman occupation of Jerusalem, the Brahmans who collaborated with the British but were outraged when the British tried to tell them not to burn their widows alive, the Russians who collaborated with the Nazis—or the Stasi—and the Arab dictators who collaborate with Israel and the U.S. Since moderate "movements" are predicated on keeping the current society in place, a more accurate descriptor would be "statics."
For anybody who desires a society fundamentally different from the one we live in, the moderate movement is only useful insofar as it facilitates the creation of radical "occupations" and alternative forms of human organization. Moderate movements, however, are usually much larger than radical movements. Radical progress is generally made only when radicals inspire mass movements. This involves the absorption of many former moderates into radical politics, something that generally happens only when the status-quo becomes intolerable to most rational people.
A friend and I have had a longstanding debate about the goals and tactics of mass movements. He's been arguing for the necessity of moderate goals in mass movements, partly because of the momentum moderate successes give radicals; I had been arguing that moderate demands are usually met in order to diminish the momentum of radicals. I recently realized, however, that both of these arguments were erroneous, being based on the belief that mass movements operated – like people – using rational thought and linear logic. Mass movements, instead, reveal the many lines of logic that exist among a society's inhabitants, the many emotions felt by the millions of people for myriad reasons, the level of organization among different segments of society.
Mass movements contain radical and moderate elements. The African-American struggle for equality was most often referred to as the "civil rights movement" because the Civil Rights Act's passage in 1964 was the ultimate goal of so many moderates—particularly the movement's white allies. This struggle was also referred to as the "civil rights movement" by moderate elements of the ruling class, who aimed to pacify the public with the narrative that progress is handed down by the government. One cannot blame the passage of the Civil Rights Act for the lag in momentum that occurred shortly afterward, for part of the movement existed only because of the popularity of that demand.
Similarly, one cannot one argue that because a popular demand has been met, the next popular demand will necessarily be more radical. Certain goals are focused on, and articulated in ways that catch the popular imagination, provoking masses of people to action. Nobody can tell what will spark mass movements; we can merely do our best. The African-American struggle for equality was less often—but commonly—referred to as the "black-nationalist struggle" by the African-American radicals who fought for independence, or the overthrow of the U.S. government. This struggle was also referred to as the "black-nationalist movement" by the most radical elements of the ruling class, to justify violent repression and to terrorize the public.
The Democratic Party and labor-union led 99 Percent Spring didn't co-opt a radical mass movement. Occupy Wall Street was only a mass movement when the Democrat's mass base and the labor-unions got involved, at which point it wasn't particularly radical. The 99% Spring – at least what I witnessed of it on Tax Day – is a separate movement, devoid of occupation and participatory organizational structures. It seems to be doing its best to recapture the hearts and minds of the many people who were radicalized last fall, as well as those who were disenchanted by OWS' shortcomings. In a testament to the power of language, however, the 99% Spring has blatantly co-opted the most popular slogan from Occupy Wall Street—"We Are The 99 Percent!"—which was an incredibly vague, meaningless slogan that practically begged co-option. While I'm happy to see the slogan go, I'm saddened by possibility of mass departure from radical movements into an acceptance of moderate static.


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- Free breakfast
- Free Wi-Fi
- Self parking
Situated near the beach in Plymouth, this bed & breakfast is close to Elizabethan House, Mayflower Steps and Royal Citadel. Also nearby are National Maritime Aquarium and Smeatons Tower.
Amenities at Barbican Reach Bed & Breakfast - B&B include complimentary wireless Internet access and self parking.
In addition to complimentary wireless Internet access and coffee/tea makers, guestrooms feature hair dryers along with irons/ironing boards and private bathrooms.
The closest major airports to Barbican Reach Bed & Breakfast - B&B are:
Plymouth (PLH-Plymouth City) - 6.4 km / 4 mi
Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.) - 65 km / 40.4 mi
The preferred airport for Barbican Reach Bed & Breakfast - B&B is Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.).
Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property's location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance.
Distances are displayed to the nearest 0.1 mile and kilometre.


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Coconino Community College
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Bingo Party Deluxe
In BINGO PARTY Deluxe, play with up to four players in 75-Ball BINGO, 90-Ball BINGO or BINGO PARTY game modes. (Additional controllers are required for multiplayer game play and are sold separately.) The more you play, the more BINGO points you collect. Keep collecting BINGO points to unlock fun goodies such as new game modes and BINGO card patterns. All BINGO game modes can also be played with computer players, and the difficulty setting can be easily adjusted to match your skill level. The exclusive BINGO PARTY game mode adds excitement by having players compete to find and stamp BINGO numbers on multiple BINGO cards, eventually completing patterns to earn big points. Players can also enjoy the classic 75-Ball BINGO and 90-Ball BINGO game modes. There's plenty of fun for everyone.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
2009 - My Make or Break Year
I'm no spring chicken. To make so many changes at the same time might have been as one of my Toronto/Caribbean friends says, "a little wackadoo."
However, despite early tears shed at the Comune when the level of Italian red-tape really gave the French a run for their money, it has been a great experience. I want to stay.
One needs to actually make money in order to live unless they have a trust fund. I do not. It would be hard for me to stay in Rome without income. While my parents are very generous, after over 11 years in the "biz" I need to finally "make it."
The money I earned as a producer on TRAITOR (p.s. the DVD just came out in the States. Don Cheadle and Guy Pierce fans need to get a copy.) will be finito soon. Savings? What is that?
I know the realities of Hollywood and what my chances are regarding a screenwriting career. Yet I keep going. I'm in the middle of two specs (original scripts) and enjoy what I'm working on. That said, at some point I have to sell something. My manager back in L.A. is not going to rep me forever. It would make no sense.
This year is the one. What is my Plan B? I don't have one. Plan A is going to have to work. ha. Even late last year I was hesitant to say I was a writer. Now I'm claiming it and moving full steam ahead.
I have quite a few goals for 2009 but one of the biggest is to sell a project in LaLa land. For the first time I don't feel like my life is on hold, or a spectator in it. This year all the hard work, 8 years of being underpaid and working with crazy people will pay off. I know it.
I'm very thankful I still have my Italian project. Without it I would be in a Defcon Level 2 financial situation. We're waiting to hear back from an Italian screenwriter. If she says yes, the next step in my deal goes forward. Fingers crossed.
I've pitched a few other ideas to the same company and hopefully they will respond to one or two.
I have to believe with all the various projects percolating something will pop this year.
I'm not Catholic but I think prayers to Saint Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists wouldn't hurt. I might add Saint Jude, patron saint of impossible causes to the mix as well. There is a specific patron saint for TV writers but none for film. Strange.
View from my former office.
38 comments:
- Tina said...
There is no such thing as an impossible cause. Keep plugging along my friend. You will do juuuuust fine! I know it. :-) You know it. :-) We all know it.
You're an inspiration! - 10:21 AM
- Diana Strinati Baur said...
You are an inspiration and a lot of people are behind you and commend what you are doing and trying. I don't know if I could have made all these changes if I had been single -- having a partner means sharing the burden. I respect everything you are trying to do and I know it will pay off for you. I think, although you may sometimes feel otherwise, that you are a very strong person. Hang in there and remember there is a cheerleading squad out here singing "Don't give up, we are proud of what you are!"
- Anne in Oxfordshire said...
Keep going, I am sure you will achieve your goals!!
I know that I could never make those changes, on my own, that is a huge achievment on its own.. Well done :-) - 10:46 AM
- Beatriz Macias said...
You have the right attitude, keep thinking positively and keep working at it, you shall be rewarded. We should find a patron saint for you... I bet there is one...
- milanese masala said...
If you believe it, it will come. Just look back at all the things you've accomplished so far. Pretty amazing, don't you think. And you can do so much more. Remember, you're in the city of miracles.
- Megan in Liguria said...
You have worked hard and took a BIG step moving here. I applaud you for that. You have already accomplished so much.
My fingers are cross and good karma is being sent your way for that big break through in 2009. - 12:35 PM
- joanne at frutto della passione said...
Keep that positive attitude, it is half the battle!
- Kim B. said...
Diana said what I'm thinking so much better than I could. This is your year!!!! I feel it!!!! Keep plugging away, you're right, it's all going to come together.
How about a view from your current 'office'? - 2:09 PM
I can't believe your friends called pursuing your dream "wackadoo". Wackadoo is remaining in a career for 15, 20 or 30 years because you can't figure out what else to do. Wackadoo is 50 years going through the motions of everyday life, just existing, not living fully in the moment.
Keep doing what you're doing. It'll pay off. - 2:27 PM
- Skywalker said...
What you're doing is an inspiration in and of itself. I love reading your posts about Italy.
I kinda wish I pack up and leave too but alas a husband who requires constant care.
It will come - just keep chugging out the ideas. Put some pen to pad and go. And no you don't need to be a Catholic to pray to Saints - you just need a cause. - 2:51 PM
My bible says in Hebrews 1:1 "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen". Believe that and keep the Faith. God will do the rest.
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
tina - thank you!
diana - grazie for the support. Reading about your creativity (and seeing it) and your move is an inspiration as well.
anne - thanks for the encouragement.
beatriz - thanks. let me know what you find out on the saint front.
milanese - seriously, being here helps a lot.
megan - thank you for the good vibes.
joanne - yes it is. I hit a rough patch after the last script was rejected and finally snapped out of it by starting a new one.
kim b. - Within a few blocks are some pretty spectacular views, which I appreciate a great deal.
monica - I realized when I was in Toronto if I didn't make a change I was going to be in big trouble. Even my dad told me I was just "existing" not living. My life has changed so much since I moved here, I can't even begin to describe how.
skywalker - grazie. I do have quite a few causes. I need to narrow them down.
gypsygirl - it's funny I do have faith that things will work out and have no idea why. It's kind of crazy given the odds are most def. not in my favor. Oh well, I'll try to hold on to that feeling and see what happens. - 4:38 PM
- ninety9 said...
Despite what your friends say, I think you have way more courage and conviction than most people. I mean really, how many of us would leave the unfamiliar, move to another country where English is not the predominant language, and start from scratch? I thought my life as a grad student was tough. I wish you all the success you deserve.
- SDG said...
I wish you the best of luck and hope that you can make all your hard work pay off in 2009.
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
ninety9 - thank you. There are days when not being fluent is difficult. It's like I'm back in kindergarten. I keep reminded myself that I know more Italian now than I did six months ago so there is some progress. And six months from now I will know even more.
sdg - grazie. I'm curious to see how this year will shape up. - 5:46 PM
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
ouch, excuse the typos
"reminding" - 5:47 PM
- 'A Tuscan view.....from Umbria' said...
We should start a 'no plan B club'!
Keep the faith!
amanda x - 7:10 PM
My fingers are crossed and my candles are lit.
I feel a hat-tossing sequence is in your future 'cause it's you girl and you should know it. With each glance and every little movement you show it ....
2009 is the year!
xoxoxo - 7:47 PM
- glamah16 said...
You know I was just thinking ST Jude. Hes my personal favorite. Dont give up.You have come to far.
- Diana Strinati Baur said...
Where do we sign up for the No Plan B Club? I need to know.
- Jessica said...
Good luck! I know quite well that it takes a lot of courage to do what you're doing, so keep heading in the right direction. The first year is the transition, from here on in is when it really gets fun. In bocca lupo they say and I know you will have great success.
- Jean-Pierre said...
ahhhh, i can relate so much to your post. i've worked in film/tv in toronto for years now and getting to the point where i'm losing interest on working on other's projects - reminding myself why i got into this stuff to begin with.
i admire the path you've taken! - 2:30 AM
- City Girl said...
Things really do always work out for those with determination and courage and you have plenty of that. I will keep you in my thoughts - and thank you for always being such an inspiration to live an authentic life, where you truly live instead of existing in the day-to-day.
- wordtryst said...
That was quite a view you had there.
I can't help thinking that since this feels so right for you, since your life now 'fits' and you're following your inner guide, this move cannot not work for you.
That said, I'm a Catholic (non-practising) and there've been times when the prayers to St. Jude (slipped to me by a friend who knew an impossible cause when she saw one) were all that saved my sanity. Can't hurt to cover all your bases! :)
Signed, No Plan B club member. - 5:05 AM
- WineGrrl said...
We are all rooting for you!
- BigCNYC said...
You're so going to get that script sold, I feel it!! You're still my inspiration. I don't know about any saints so I'll just stick to Jesus. :O)
- Petulia said...
You are doing great things, and all your blog followers can testify that!
I am sure 2009 will be your make year, and you will make it big! In bocca al lupo- and remember we are here if you need us:-) - 8:40 AM
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
amanda - thank you. I read an interview with Will Smith where he said he didn't have a Plan B because it would mean he assumed his Plan A would fail. Will is doing well so I'm going to try this idea. ha.
sue d. - you are too funny. thank you for the positive vibes. I will so toss up my hat when I sell something. I'll see if I can get friend to take a picture. :)
glamah16 - I need to read up some more on St. Jude. Thanks for the support.
diana - I like the way you think. Maybe I can make up some buttons.
jessica - grazie. It helps to hear from other expats about their experiences. I do feel like last year was the building the foundation year.
jean-pierre - thank you and good luck with your projects.
citygirl - grazie!!
wordtryst - thank you fellow club member. :)
winegrrrl - thank you!
bigcnyc - ha. Jesus works. :)
petulia - grazie mille. See you soon. - 11:37 AM
- Dana Kaplan said...
Just to say that reading your blog has been an inspiration to me, as well obviously to so many others. What you've achieved already is amazing. Here's my inspirational quote for the day, which I saw on someone else's site but can't again find, so thank you to whoever it is:
"It's not because things are difficult that we do not dare...
...it is because we do not dare that things are difficult."
(Could it be a slogan for the 'No Plan B' club? I love that club idea...)
Good Luck to you! Dana - 2:39 PM
- Michellanea said...
Great post and thanks for being so honest. I'm a big believer in going for broke and up to now it has served me well. I look around me and many of the people who took the "safe" route do not seem happy. Or their carefully constructed lives are beginning to fall apart. Which isn't to say you have to be this huge risk taker to get anywhere in life. But I would MUCH rather be in your situation - as economically precarious as it is in this moment - than in many, many other situations. There was a great photography show at the MOMA in New York many years ago called "Pleasures and Terrors of Domestic Comfort." When I want to freak myself out and think about how or where I could have ended up, I pull out the book and flip through the pictures. You go girl!
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
dana - thank you. That quote is fantastic.
michellanea -grazie!! I understand what you're saying. Most of my friends in the States are doing very well but with this economic climate even they are worried. Sometimes the safest route can still be unpredictable. At least my over head is low. I would be freaked out if I had a 5k mortgage.
Then there are the friends and associates from my film life who are making millions and yet are the most unhappy people I know.
We only live once. I don't regret going for broke. Even if I don't succeed with in all my goals I've tried. - 5:46 PM
- ActsofFaithBlog said...
This hits home. I've been spinning my wheels. I've also tried a few things that didn't pan out. Yet I have no "career" to fall back on. I was always counting on the pursuit of my art to pay off. Now I realize there are some things I need to be doing differently. My outlook has taken a huge blow. I want to turn things around this year. I have to make a big change in the next few weeks because I have to cover basic expenses first. But now I just found out I've received Inauguration tickets and I'm trying to figure out how to get to D.C. and whether I should in fact go. I think it's the kick in the pants I need. I also have to physically move myself to a different environment and I have accumulated months of clutter. I was hoping I could get rid of it in 3 days but it's not just physical- it's emotional. So now I'm debating whether I should take the next week and go through this stuff or go to DC in 3 days and then come back and take care of this. Getting those tickets changed everything and I don't want to devalue the significance.
- Texas Espresso said...
girl I feel your pain! My Italian @ 40 changed careers and went back to school. Its been a lean few years (I love the defcon reference) but the end is near and I've decided despite whatever the economic forecast says - it will be a good year!
It takes courage and strength of will to start over mid-career. sucks at times but I fully believe it is the best thing to do if you feel the need.
savings? - are you supposed to have that? HA - 8:06 PM
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
actsoffaith - I say go to DC. It will be packed and cold but it will be a memorable experience. I went to Clinton's and it was incredible.
I feel you. I was in the same place a few years ago. I had a job but the company shut down right before Christmas, my parents moved out of the country, my siblings got married and I was starring down the barrel of a big birthday. I was broke, single and def. not happy. Then at the last minute I came to Rome for a week. It was my first trip and everything became clear to me sitting in Santa Maria in Trastevere. I went back to L.A. with a different outlook. Good luck. Have a great trip and I hope '09 is your year.
texas - more people are making careers changes mid life. Some of course are forced to due to layoffs, etc. It's still difficult...best of luck to your Italian. Regarding savings I do wake up at night worried about my retirement. What the heck is going to happen to me? Then I remember I need to worry about paying rent later this year and then that keeps me up instead. - 8:19 PM
- Jen of A2eatwrite said...
You made it this far; it only seems logical that you'll make your goals.
Talk to your guardian angel. ;-)
I hope the writing projects continue to go well and that you'll hear from the Italian screenwriter soon! - 3:06 AM
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
jen - thank you! I have a meeting today about another potential project. Fingers crossed.
- erin :: the olive notes said...
hey arlene....can you believe i'm still catching up on posts since i got back. loving this one though...you did have a major year last year, and it will be exciting to see what happens this year. it's fun living without a plan b :)
- nyc/caribbean ragazza said...
erin - we will support each other. I see you have already made some big changes this year. Here's to a great '09!


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Sold-Out ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2013 TRAVEX Showcases More than 460 Booths
Over 1,000 exhibitors from across ASEAN have snapped up more than 460 booths at ATF TRAVEX 2013. This strong exhibitor line-up, which is 40% larger than the previous ATF TRAVEX showcase, represents a wide range of diverse products and services from the 10 ASEAN countries.
The exhibition boasts 75 corporate booths, the highest number achieved by the event thus far. With new exhibitors comprising 35% this year, and strong booth take-up from returning exhibitors, ATF TRAVEX consolidates its position as the leading travel trade event showcasing the largest contingent of ASEAN destinations, products and services.
Ms. Hera Adiwikarta, Corporate Director of Sales at Santika Indonesia Hotels & Resorts said, "When we were at ATF last year we had about 30 hotels. This year we have close to 50 hotels in Indonesia alone. We want to generate business from potential wholesalers or travel agents for our rapidly expanding business, and look forward to meeting buyers from ASEAN, Eastern Europe, China and US at ATF 2013."
Host country Laos participates with its largest ever contingent at ATF and aims to meet and create relationships with buyers and the international and regional media. The host committee is excited at the amount of exposure the event has garnered thus far, and expects publicity to continue escalating in the lead-up towards ATF. International media registrations have also hit the 170 mark.
Talking about the country's progress in tourism development, Mr. Saly Phimpinith, Director-General of Tourism Marketing Department in the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Laos said, "Laos is constantly improving its service standards in the tourism industry. We have begun to classify hotels and guesthouses and are actively promoting Community Based Tourism in order to improve the standard of living in remote areas. We are happy to give ATF TRAVEX delegates a glimpse into the beauty of Laos through the pre-show city tours and post-show tours."
Hosted Buyer Programme
The show's coveted hosted buyer programme attracted close to 1,100 registrations, of which only some 380 quality buyers will be selected for hosting at the event. In addition, more than 50 buyers will attend as non-hosted buyers. Through focused efforts over the past year, the TRAVEX Secretariat has attracted buyers from new countries such as Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Ireland, Israel, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. In all, 57% of buyers are expected to be new at this year's event.
Said Mr. Umesh Rimal, Executive Director of Paradise Tours & Travels, Nepal, "Being a Nepalese travel agent for 30 years, I have seen great business potential in the ASEAN region. ATF TRAVEX, unlike other events, gives me an opportunity to explore my objective of establishing long term business relations with the participating travel trade professionals from around ASEAN."
Ms. Eva Klejmova, Director of J&T Concierge, Czech Republic said, "Nowadays, our clients are looking more towards experiential travel and ATF Laos is a good opportunity to extend our portfolio of suppliers. We are eager to promote new places, find exclusive properties and deliver new and unique experiences. I believe that at ATF Laos I will meet like-minded, passionate individuals who share the same drive to create authentic and genuine travel experiences for increasingly knowledgeable and demanding clientele."
City Tours and Post-Show Tours
The host committee has crafted tours to give delegates an authentic experience of Vientiane and other popular destinations in Laos. Three city tours around Vientiane and Buddha Park will give visitors an insight into the history of the capital city. The post-show tours will take delegates on 3 Days - 2 Nights trips to two of the most celebrated and beautiful locations in the country, Luang Prabang and Pakse/ Khong. Registrations to the tours are filling fast as delegates sign up in large numbers.
ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC)
In keeping with the ASEAN region's consistent efforts to promote sustainable tourism, the theme for ATC 2013 is 'Road Map for ASEAN: Fostering Sustainable Growth, Promoting Eco Tourism.' The keynote address will be delivered by PATA Foundation Chairman, Mr. Mario Hardy, who has been an active member of PATA since 2009. PATA Foundation's mission is to contribute to the sustainable and responsible development of travel and tourism in Asia Pacific through the protection of the environment, the conservation of heritage and support for education.
For more information, programme updates and to register for ATF 2013, visit www.atflaos.com
About ATF 2013
ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination. ATF TRAVEX is the longest-running annual ASEAN leisure travel trade event, showcasing the largest contingent of ASEAN sellers. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 ASEAN member nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Each year the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries. Lao PDR will host ATF 2013 and is all geared up to welcome over 1,500 delegates which includes more than 400 international buyers and 100 international media. ATF 2013 marks the 32nd anniversary of this event since its inauguration in Malaysia in 1981.
2013 TRAVEX Dates: 22 to 24 January 2013
Venue: Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre (Lao ITECC)
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- What is Domestic Violence?
- Real Stories
- What about teen dating violence?
- How can I get low cost legal services?
- How can I safely leave?
- What can I do to be safe?
- How can I volunteer to help?
What can I do to be safe?
Come up with a safety plan and decide how you will escape more violence. This includes where you will go, how you will get there, and what will you take.
Let friends and neighbors know about what is going on so they may assist you in calling the police if something happens.
During a violent episode, call the police and provide them with as much information as possible. They must respond and investigate your complaint.
If you believe you have been or might become a victim of domestic violence, obtain a TRO and strictly enforce it.
For more information see Safety Planning.


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Open Arts Day
Presented by The Arsenal Center for the Arts at The Arsenal Center For The Arts
May 7, 2011
On Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Arsenal Center for the Arts invites the community to celebrate its fifth anniversary at a free open house, Open Arts Day. Open Arts Day will showcase the diverse programming of the Arsenal Center for the Arts, as well as its four resident companies: New Repertory Theatre, Watertown Children's Theatre, Quilters' Connection and Improv Jones. Throughout the day there will be...
The Arsenal Center For The Arts
321 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Admission Info:
General Day and Time Info:
11 am - 4 pm
Phone: 617.923.0100
The Arsenal on the Charles complex has a centrally located 6 floor parking garage that is completely free, as well as a large number of ground level parking spots around the campus.
Accessibility Info:
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>Last night I was with my friend Dr. Neil Roodyn. Given that he was a Tablet MVP, now MVP for Windows Live Development, he and I decided to rip a podcast (please don't sue me Apple).
Now one thing you need to understand about Neil and I is that we both love public speaking (weird I know) and we're both considered to be volume challenged (i.e. loud).
So if you're game, or just plain willing to listen in on a couple of geeks have a mobile tech chat, hop on over to Dr. Neil's Notes show #21:
Welcome to Show 21
- Welcome back special guest Hugo "UberTablet" Ortega
- Hugo is a Tablet PC MVP
- Dr. Neil is now a Windows Live Developer MVP
- Touchscreen tablet for a 3 year old with cerebral palsy
- Redmond – what has Dr. Neil been doing there?
- Where is my UMPC pod blaster?
- This podcast was recorded on a Samsung Ultra Mobile PC with Castblaster
next post: Mobile PC News: October Edition » »


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AP photographer Muhammed Muheisen made a nice little visual joke with this picture. And Irish writer Jamie O'Neill deserves the credit for the headline.
Muhammed Muheisen / AP
Boys swim in a large pool of rainwater to cool off as the temperature rises on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, on Aug. 19.


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Hotel Arsenal has very large comfortable rooms and the customer service is very good. My only complaints were that at night it was a little noisy from the club next door. The room had a nice balcony, however, the door to the balcony was falling off its hinges when we opened it so we didn't use it. Also, when we... More
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- The hotel is designed for the contemporary adults, who travels constantly for business or simply search the enchantment and magic that Cartagena de Indias can offer. It is located in the Zona Rosa sector of the city and only a few steps of the Convention Center, in the Getsemani district, near recognized discotheques and the old city, ideal site to initiate a walk thru the splendorous and fascinating sites of Cartagena. Its exclusive soundproof system allows our guests to enjoy the serenity and comfort of an exclusive and private atmosphere. Come and experience all the magic that Cartagena de Indias offers sleeping in Arsenal Hotel. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Booking.com, Venere, Travelocity, Priceline, Hotels.com and Tingo so you can book your Arsenal Hotel reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


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Antenatal Courses | 4D Scanning | Pregnancy Development | Baby Massage | First Aid | Breast Feeding | Homebirth | Waterbirth | Health Professional | Bump Casting | Loyality Card
Why not have a cast at the same time.... an aquanatal group, coffee group or antenatal group.
We would be happy to help you arrange a casting party. Minimum 3 casts. Reduced price of only £30 per basic cast
Gift Vouchers available for purchase. Valid for a year and can be used against any Baby Dolly products
NEW Dolly Pots - Pop in and Paint! Need a special gift for a friend, relative... you cant beat a personalised ceramic item that can be used everyday - click here>>>
Bump Casting is a safe, simple process which involves laying wet plaster (often used in hospitals) all over the pregnant bump and torso at around 35+ weeks. The plaster does not stain clothes and we can even cast over underwear if you are feeling shy.
This quickly hardens to create a perfect replica of the pregnant form. The whole process should not take more than an hour. This can be done in our HQ or at your home.
We can either create your work of art with the minimum of mess or fuss or you can just purchase a simple cast and complete the process yourself at home.
Pricing and costs
Your Bump Cast can be left exactly as it is or smoothed, painted and/or decorated - the choice is yours.
All content included on this site is the strict property of Baby Dolly Ltd. © Baby Dolly 2012. All Rights Reserved. 9 Church Walk, Hinckley, Leics, LE10 1DW. Tel: 01455 441036 email: email@example.com
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You can hold public meetings and announce them in the newspaper, of course. And it doesn't take much more work to post them on Facebook. Who knows? Maybe someone will even comment or give you a "Like."
If that pretty much sums up your city's community engagement strategy, you've got a big problem…. And a big opportunity. There are so many innovative, exciting ways to do great community engagement these days, and cutting edge communities are inventing new ones every day. Whether you're from a thriving metropolis or a one-stoplight town, trying some of these new tools (from the high tech to the low tech) should help you reach more people, get different kinds of participation and feedback, and change the way your community thinks, works, and plans.
You probably get the same 10 or 20 people showing up at all city meetings, right? We bet that if you run a community photography contest, you'll attract dozens of people you've never seen at city hall. These simple activities can be designed with nearly any topic in mind (capture the Heart & Soul of your community, or your favorite cultural site, or the spot that most needs revitalization); can be organized on just about any timeframe and budget; and can be used to kick off larger projects, from fundraisers like community calendars to full-scale community planning and visioning processes.
Games are most definitely not just for kids. This online, interactive game, built by Emerson Professor Eric Gordon, brings people together over the course of several weeks to complete planning-themed missions. Players earn virtual currency, which they can "spend" on values that matter to them for the future of their community. Players walk away with a better understanding of planning, more interest and capacity to change their communities, and great ideas to take to decision-makers.
The holy grail of modern community meetings would be events where anyone could participate and chime in, from wherever they happened to be, in meaningful and collaborative ways. There are dozens of tools to help make that a reality, and these days, most of them have to do with connecting people digitally. We're big fans of mixing and matching the right technologies for your town, and the heading "electronic town meetings" is a good catch-all. If you put all the pieces in place, it might look something like this: digitally record what happens at the event, share that with people who can't be there in person (such as live-streaming video), and give them a way to add their own feedback, such as through surveys, Twitter, or other online platforms. If you want to get really fancy, keypad polling –handheld polling devices for use in meetings – can add another layer of excitement, engagement, and balanced participation.
Find out about more great engagement tools in the Planning Tool Exchange and add your own thoughts and examples!


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Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at Nevada's non-conference opponents in the 2013 football season. We start with UCLA, who Nevada opens up the season against Aug. 31 at the Rose Bowl.
A trio of more TV games were announced for the upcoming Mountain West football season.
Kevin Nutt and Blake Wright, two 1,000 yard rushers from Edison High in Fresno, Calif., have verbally committed to play football for the Pack in 2014.
Nevada picked up their second recruit in the 2014 recruiting class.
Who will step up and be Nevada's next running back.
Nevada is looking to add some more suites and other new amenities at Mackay Stadium.
The Heisman Pundit named four Mountain West players to watch in regards to the Heisman Trophy
Nevada's Duke Williams was selected by the Bills.
Sophomore Don Jackson is looking like the favorite to replace Stefphon Jefferson as the teams starting running back for the 2013 season.
Nevada was able to secure a home-and-home with Toledo and Purdue in the upcoming years.
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£400,000Guide Price
Guide Price £400,000
A Brick fronted period property, Second Avenue, London E17 An extremely well located a symbol of character! We are privileged to offer for sale a well designed four bedroom terraced family home. Layout is split over three floors and accommodates four spacious bedrooms, two separate large reception More details ›
Marketed by Completion Sales & Lettings Ltd, London.Telephone: 020 3324 7622 Local call rate
Standard geographic charges from landlines and mobiles apply and calls may be included in your telecom provider's call package.
On Rightmove you can search over one million UK properties to buy or to rent, and thousands of overseas properties to buy.
Keep your finger on the pulse with actual property prices, or get the inside line on price trends.
Did you know that you can receive automatic property alerts when you create an account with Rightmove?
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Have yourself a Magnificent little Christmas. Shop our new store now. The shipping's on us.
Not sure if you should wear that Tommy Bahama shirt out tonight? The magnificent bastard is here to help. Go ahead. Ask away.
If you know about something you think we should know about, let us know (so we can then pretend that we knew about it all along.) Send a tip.
During yesterday's coverage of the Verizon Heritage, CBS did a small promo piece for hillbilly PGA tour player Boo Weekley's new clothing line. From the man who last year used the front bunker at 18 at Harbour Town Golf Links as spittoon (top), next time tee it up with the "Boo" jersey stretch long sleeve mock neck in "mossy oak duck blind" print (middle). In other news, winner Brian Gay took a 3-shot lead into Sunday. You reckon tournament organizers could've found a tartan plaid jacket within 3 sizes for the likely winner? Sheesh.


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House Member Apologizes For 'Sieg Heil' Comment
UPDATED 5:53 AM EDT May 16, 2012A New Hampshire state representative apologized Tuesday for a remark that led for some to call for his expulsion.
The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


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Privacy Keeper 7.0.1
Privacy Keeper overview
Powerful privacy software to erase online Internet tracks and program activity.
Privacy Keeper Details
PIMASOFTDeveloper :
7.0.1Version :
Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP Platform :
0.8 MbFile Size :
Freeware License :
September 17, 2005 Date Added :
Privacy Keeper screenshotScreenshot :
Rating :
Keywords : privacy, keeper, eraser, remove tracks, privacy guard, guard, personal information, error fixer, internet activity
Privacy Keeper Review
Privacy Keeper is a safe and easy-to-use privacy protection tool that securely deletes online Internet tracks and program activity records that are stored in your browser and other hidden files on your computer. Privacy Keeper guarantees your privacy by ensuring all traces of your online Internet and computer activities are permanently erased and unrecoverable on your PC.Changes in version 7.0.1:
Fully functioning for 7 days.
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Tag Archives: classism
Social Justice Alert: RIP South Park Bridge
The bridge is up for the last time and, quite frankly, this sucks. The 79-year-old bridge is damaged beyond repair- a fact that has been known for almost a decade when it sustained further damage in the Nisqually earthquake (2001). … Continue reading


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- December 31, 2008
- 3:59 p.m.
- Suggest removal
- Reply to this post
Silmaril writes:
I agree with the first poster, Chester may have respiratory problems later on, please take him to a vet to get him checked out.
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- Structures of Selenomonas ruminantium Phytase in Complex with Persulfated Phytate
Structures of Selenomonas ruminantium Phytase in Complex with Persulfated Phytate
Structure, Volume 12, Issue 11, 1 November 2004, Pages 2015-2024
Hsing-Mao Chu, Rey-Ting Guo, Ting-Wan Lin, Chia-Cheng Chou, Hui-Lin Shr, Hui-Lin Lai, Tsung-Yin Tang, Kuo-Joan Cheng, Brent L. Selinger and Andrew H.-J. Wang
SummaryVarious inositide phosphatases participate in the regulation of inositol polyphosphate signaling molecules. Plant phytases are phosphatases that hydrolyze phytate to less-phosphorylated myo-inositol derivatives and phosphate. The phytase from Selenomonas ruminantium shares no sequence homology with other microbial phytases. Its crystal structure revealed a phytase fold of the dual-specificity phosphatase type. The active site is located near a conserved cysteine-containing (Cys241) P loop. We also solved two other crystal forms in which an inhibitor, myo-inositol hexasulfate, is cocrystallized with the enzyme. In the "standby" and the "inhibited" crystal forms, the inhibitor is bound, respectively, in a pocket slightly away from Cys241 and at the substrate binding site where the phosphate group to be hydrolyzed is held close to the −SH group of Cys241. Our structural and mutagenesis studies allow us to visualize the way in which the P loop-containing phytase attracts and hydrolyzes the substrate (phytate) sequentially.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (857 kb) - Crystallographic Snapshots of Aspergillus fumigatus Phytase, Revealing Its Enzymatic Dynamics
Crystallographic Snapshots of Aspergillus fumigatus Phytase, Revealing Its Enzymatic Dynamics
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Qun Liu, Qingqiu Huang, Xin Gen Lei and Quan Hao
SummaryUnderstanding of the atomic movements involved in an enzymatic reaction needs structural information on the active and inactive native enzyme molecules and on the enzyme-substrate, enzyme-intermediate, and enzyme-product(s) complexes. By using the X-ray crystallographic method, four crystal structures of Aspergillus fumigatus phytase were obtained at resolution higher than 1.7 Å. The pH-dependent catalytic activity of A. fumigatus phytase was linked to three water molecules that may prevent the substrate from binding and thus block nucleophilic attack of the catalytic imidazole nitrogen. Comparison of various structures also identified the water molecule that attacks the phosphamide bond during the hydrolysis process, and established the hydrolysis pathway of the intermediate. Additionally, two reaction product phosphates were observed at the active site, suggesting a possible product release pathway after hydrolysis of the intermediate. These results can help explain the catalytic mechanism throughout the whole acid phosphatase family, as all key residues are conserved.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (1250 kb) - Enzyme Mechanism and Catalytic Property of β Propeller Phytase
Enzyme Mechanism and Catalytic Property of β Propeller Phytase
Structure, Volume 9, Issue 9, 1 September 2001, Pages 851-858
Sejeong Shin, Nam-Chul Ha, Byung-Chul Oh, Tae-Kwang Oh and Byung-Ha Oh
SummaryBackground: Phytases hydrolyze phytic acid (myo-inositol-hexakisphosphate) to less-phosphorylated myo-inositol derivatives and inorganic phosphate. Phytases are used in animal feed to reduce phosphate pollution in the environment. Recently, a thermostable, calcium-dependent Bacillus phytase was identified that represents the first example of the β propeller fold exhibiting phosphatase activity. We sought to delineate the catalytic mechanism and property of this enzyme.Results: The crystal structure of the enzyme in complex with inorganic phosphate reveals that two phosphates and four calcium ions are tightly bound at the active site. Mutation of the residues involved in the calcium chelation results in severe defects in the enzyme's activity. One phosphate ion, chelating all of the four calcium ions, is close to a water molecule bridging two of the bound calcium ions. Fluoride ion, which is expected to replace this water molecule, is an uncompetitive inhibitor of the enzyme. The enzyme is able to hydrolyze any of the six phosphate groups of phytate.Conclusions: The enzyme reaction is likely to proceed through a direct attack of the metal-bridging water molecule on the phosphorous atom of a substrate and the subsequent stabilization of the pentavalent transition state by the bound calcium ions. The enzyme has two phosphate binding sites, the "cleavage site", which is responsible for the hydrolysis of a substrate, and the "affinity site", which increases the binding affinity for substrates containing adjacent phosphate groups. The existence of the two nonequivalent phosphate binding sites explains the puzzling formation of the alternately dephosphorylated myo-inositol triphosphates from phytate and the hydrolysis of myo-inositol monophosphates.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (404 kb) - …more
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Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved.
Trends in Plant Science, Volume 7, Issue 3, 118-125, 1 March 2002
Engineering crop plants: getting a handle on phosphate
Henrik Brinch-Pedersen , Lisbeth Dahl Sørensen and Preben Bach Holm
In plant seeds, most of the phosphate is in the form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is largely indigestible by monogastric animals and is the single most important factor hindering the uptake of a range of minerals. Engineering crop plants to produce a heterologous phytase improves phosphate bioavailability and reduces phytic acid excretion. This reduces the phosphate load on agricultural ecosystems and thereby alleviates eutrophication of the aquatic environment. Improved phosphate availability also reduces the need to add inorganic phosphate, a non-renewable resource. Iron and zinc uptake might be improved, which is significant for human nutrition in developing countries.


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Doescher, Paul
Professor, FES Department Head
Office Location:
321 Richardson Hall
Email Address:
Restoration Ecology
Educational Background:
- B.S., 1975, Forestry, University of Illinois, Urbana
- M.S., 1977, Resource Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula
- Ph.D., 1983, Rangeland Ecology, Oregon State University, Corvallis
Research Interests:
Restoration of native plant communities; fire ecology; ecological and physiological dynamics of plant species.
Current/Recent Programs:
Restoration of shrub steppe and woodland communities in the Intermountain West; large-scale, integrative research programs; undergraduate education; curriculum development.
Graduate Students:
- Michael Reisner (PhD—Forest Resources)
- Louisa Evers (PhD—Environmental Sciences)
- Gabrielle Snider (MS—Forest Science and Forest Resources)
Selected Publications:
- Evers, L.B., Miller, R.F., Doescher, P.S., Hemstrom, M., and R.P. Neilson. 2013. Simulating successional trajectories in sagebrush ecosystems under varying management inputs Using a state-and-transition modeling framework. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 66: 313-329.
- Reisner, M., Grace, J., Pyke, D., and P. Doescher. 2013. Conditions favoring Bromus tectorum dominance of endangered sagebrush steppe ecosystems. J. Appl. Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12097
- Buonopane, M., Snider, G., Kerns, B.K., and P. S. Doescher. 2013. Complex restoration challenges: Weeds, seeds, and roads in a forested Wildland Urban Interface. Forest Ecology and Management 295:87-96
- Witwicki, D.L., Doescher, P.S., Pyke, D.A, Perakis, S.S., and N.M. DeCrappeo. 2013. Nitrogen limitation, 15N tracer retention, and growth response in intact and Bromus tectorum-invaded Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis communities. Oecologia 171:1013-1023
- Mazzola, M. B., K. G. Allcock, J.C. Chambers, R. R. Blank, E. W. Schupp, P.S. Doescher and R.S. Nowak. 2008. Effects of nitrogen availability and cheatgrass competition on the establishment of Vavilov Siberian wheatgrass. Range Ecology and Management 61: 475-484.
- Allcock K., R. Nowak, B. Blank, T. Jones, T. Monaco, P. Doescher, T. Tanaka., D. Ogle, L. St., John, M. Pellant, D. Pyke, V. Satyal, J. Tanaka, E. Schupp, and C. Call. 2006. Integrating weed management and restoration on western rangelands. Ecological Restoration 24:199-200. Invited paper.
- John D. Walstad, Mark D. Reed, Paul S. Doescher, J. Boone Kauffman, Richard F. Miller, Bruce A. Shindler, and John C. Tappeiner. 2003. Wildland Fire Ecology: A new course in distance education. J of Forestry 101:16-20.
- Aaron Liston, Barbara L. Wilson, William.A. Robinson, Paul. S. Doescher, Norman Harris, and Tony Svejcar. 2003. The relative importance of sexual reproduction vs. clonal spread in an aridland bunchgrass. Oecologia 137: 216-225.
- Waichler, W. S., R.F. Miller and P. S. Doescher. 2001. Community characteristics of old-growth juniper woodlands. J. Range Manage. 54:518-527.
- Doescher, P. S. 2001. Technical Note: Early Harvest of Squirreltail Seed. J. Range Manage. 54:197-1999.
- Meays, C.L. , A.S. Laliberte and P. S. Doescher. 2000. Defoliation response of bluebunch wheatgrass and crested wheatgrass: Why we cannot graze these two species in the same manner. Rangelands 22:16-18.
- Goodwin, J. R., P. S. Doescher, L. E. Eddleman and D. B. Zobel. 1999. Persistence of Idaho fescue on degraded sagebrush steppe. J. Range Manage. 52: 187-198.