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Manage impacts of technology advancements on TMC operations.A Survey of National TMC Operators Identifies Strategies for Managing Technology Impacts on TMCs
Engage political champions to keep controversial High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane projects on track.Experience with the variable pricing projects in Los Angeles (Interim Results)
Consider implementing interim traffic management systems (ITMS) for long-term construction projects.Lessons Learned in the Palm Beach ITMS Deployment and Operation
Recognize that the Smart InfraRed Inspection System has promise for increasing productivity of inspection personnel but not yet ready for national deployment due to lack of accuracy in flagging commercial vehicles with potential defects.Experience from a field operations test for commercial vehicle inspection enforcement.
Design a trip planning website to capture and convey real-world factors such as gas prices and congestion information.Evaluation of a Multimodal Trip Planning System (MMTPS) in Northeastern Illinois
Consider New Approaches to Address Distracted Driving when Designing and Developing ITS ApplicationsThe USDOT evaluated Eight National ITS Application Test Sites to determine whether these projects met goals and to extract lessons learned in development and deployment
Consider the User Experience when Designing and Developing ITS ApplicationsThe USDOT evaluated Eight National ITS Application Test Sites to determine whether these projects met goals and to extract lessons learned in development and deployment
Establish contacts early and assure continued communications between planners and stakeholders to promote public and political acceptance of proposed pricing plans.Experience with road pricing projects around the globe
Focus on the integration of business processes at the institutional or programmatic level rather than at the operations level.Experience from industry experts in the United States
Install message signs at strategic locations to provide commuters en route with real-time information of the parking availability status at a major transit station.Experience of Montgomery County Department of Transportation
Enforce congestion toll collection and create integration linkages between pricing system and motor vehicle registries to process violations.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
For successful implementation of a road pricing program, strive for simplicity in policy goals and strong championing of the program by the executive and legislative leaders.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Develop public outreach programs based on the cultural and political context of the project location and provide clear, salient, and timely messages about the purpose and benefits of congestion pricing.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Develop a statutory and legal framework for as a foundational step for levying road pricing fees and utilizing revenues.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Consider stakeholder outreach and education, transport modes that offer an alternative to driving, performance measurement, and area geography with high importance in the planning phase for road pricing programs.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Be prepared to face the opportunities and challenges posed by political timetables, project deadlines, as well as pricing-equity issues for road pricing procurement and implementation.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Commit to acquiring the proper level of staffing and knowledge required for the operations and maintenance of Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS) prior to deployment.Lessons learned from a synthesis of domestic and foreign state of highway signal control practice.
Define clear goals and pay attention to key institutional and technical factors for successful implementation of road pricing programs.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Be sure to conduct a detailed evaluation prior to installing an Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS), and be aware that conducting a public education campaign on ATCS risks building expectations too high.Experience acquired from multiple agencies in the United States and Canada.
Consider advantages of open-source designs and beware of legal challenges in road pricing systems procurement.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Beware that schedule and costs of road pricing projects are affected by various factors including legislative outcomes, clarity and specificity of scope, and contracting methods.Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia
Grow regional road pricing policies from individual projects and develop modeling tools that reflect a wide range of impacts.Experience in four metropolitan areas
Understand the Impacts on Public Sector Infrastructure due to Connected Vehicle DeploymentsA survey of lessons learned through deployment of V2I test beds
Identify functional boundaries and needs for cross jurisdictional control required to implement adaptive signal control and transit signal priority systems.Smart Corridor experience in Atlanta, Georgia
Ensure proper placement of variable speed limit (VSL) signs in a work zone and operate the VSL system consistently on a long term basis.Virginia's experience using variable speed limit signs in a work zone
Adopt a long term perspective identifying a business reason or an operational need for ITS based solutions and embrace performance measures.Nationwide state and local agency imperatives for ITS deployment
Assure public acceptance prior to implementation of electronic congestion pricing solutions.International experience with congestion pricing
Resolve conflicts between traditional data sources by using archived data.Results from the Planning for Operations Case Study from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco California
Beware of accuracy and privacy issues in using truck transponder data for developing real-time traveler information applications.An Oregon Department of Transportation Experience
Consider user acceptance of driver fatigue detection systems to be dependent on ease of use, ease of learning, perceived value, driver behavior, and advocacy. Nationwide experience with driver fatigue detection measures and technologies
When implementing traveler information systems that promote voluntary changes in travel behavior, incorporate functions for feedback, advice, and action-planning.Experience with Mobility Management in Japan.
Consider deploying ITS in a work zone to improve traffic safety and mobility during construction.Arkansas' experience using ITS in work zones.
Use Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) to identify gaps, determine constraints, and invest in the best combination of Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) strategies.Experience with the AMS framework on the ICM Test Corridor, San Francisco.
Package road value-pricing strategies with technology upgrades and conduct extensive outreach that involves champions, stakeholders, and the general public.Experience nationwide with FHWA's congestion and value pricing pilot programs.
Facilitate integration of CVISN by establishing cooperative relationship among stakeholders and promoting incentives to improve mobile communications and enhance enforcement.Nationwide experience of CVISN Managers
Identify key design issues in the deployment of advanced parking management systems (APMS).Experience from APMS deployment sites.
Examine route-specific opportunities and constraints, and assess corridor market potential for transit services prior to implementing BRT running way improvements.National experience developing BRT
Involve all appropriate stakeholders in a formal and collaborative manner during each phase of the advanced parking management systems (APMS) project.Experience from APMS deployment sites.
Address toll enforcement issues during the initial phase of planning process; with particular attention paid to the legal structure and potential enforcement technologies. The Washington State Department of Transportation's experience with planning for tolling implementation.
Ensure electronic toll collection systems are interoperable with neighboring toll facilities.The Washington State Department of Transportation's experience with planning for tolling implementation.
Evaluate pros and cons of different methods for electronic toll collection.The Washington State Department of Transportation's experience with planning for tolling implementation.
Optimize back office tolling operations.The Washington State Department of Transportation's experience with planning for tolling implementation.
Consider various toll methods to push traffic demand away from peak hours.The Washington State Department of Transportation's experience with planning for tolling implementation.
Consider dynamic natural conditions and surrounding landscapes when selecting technologies for animal detection system deployments.Montana and Pennsylvania's experience with deploying animal detection systems.
Build a strong partnership between transportation and public safety agencies, and establish clear operational rules from the start.An experience operating a CAD-TMC (Computer-Aided Dispatch - Traffic Management Center) in Washington State.
Understand the issues, strategies and trade-offs that motivate agencies to join in a regional partnership and provide appropriate support.Experience of seven partner public transportation agencies in the Central Puget Sound region of Washington in setting up a regional fare card program.
Consider the value of implementing a limited fare pass system initially to serve as an interim experience base for a comprehensive region-wide electronic fare card system.Experience of seven partner public transportation agencies in the Central Puget Sound region of Washington in setting up a regional fare card program.
Maintain, reinforce, and expand existing programs to improve traffic signal operations.Wisconsin's experience with operating and maintaining a statewide traffic signal system program.
Adopt best practices for integrating emergency information into Transportation Management Center (TMC) operations to improve performance and increase public mobility, safety and security.Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.
Invest in research and development for emergency integration.Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.
Extend the application of emergency integration best practices to further improve emergency operations.Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.
Integrate weather information into Transportation Management Center (TMC) operations to enhance the ability of operators to manage traffic in a more responsive and effective way during weather events.Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.
Exercise careful planning in preparation for issuing an RFP to help mitigate cost, schedule, and performance risks.The Riverside Transit Agency experience with the methods of award and terms and conditions used to procure equipment and software for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and computer-aided dispatch (CAD).
Consider issuing separate awards for specific project components when procuring divergent technologies, equipment, or services.The Riverside Transit Agency experience with the methods used to procure equipment and software for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and computer-aided dispatch (CAD).
Determine agency capability level when selecting the most appropriate ITS procurement package. Experience from a review of ITS contracting methods and practices. Step 4 of the Decision Model.
Create a Transportation Management Center staffing plan that ensures appropriate staffing, staffing skills, and organization adaptability.The United States and Canada's experience with Transportation Management Center staffing and scheduling.
Create a Transportation Management Center plan to handle potential emergencies and special events.The United States and Canada's experience with Transportation Management Center staffing and scheduling.
Consider tolling as a tool for managing travel demand and increasing efficiency, as well as for generating revenue.Recommendations from the Washington State Comprehensive Tolling Study
Engage in project planning and make initial decisions about the ITS procurement process. Experience from a review of ITS contracting methods and practices. Step 1 of the Decision Model.
Select the applicable Systems Engineering Process in the procurement of ITS.Experience from a review of ITS contracting methods and practices. Step 5 of the Decision Model.
Use a flexible approach and accepted techniques for project management.Maryland, New York, and Connecticut's experience with electronic toll collection and electronic screening.
Consider requirements definition and system design Issues for Archived Data Management Systems.Experience from six Archived Data Management Systems case studies.
Develop a Concept of Operations (ConOps) to help project partners stay focused on the true needs of an ITS deployment.The City of Lincoln, Nebraska's experience in using systems engineering practices to define needs for an Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) project.
Incorporate mechanisms for capturing user feedback for system evaluation, including the ability to intercept incoming 511 calls for survey or focus group recruitment.An Arizona Department of Transportation experience in 511 implementation.
Install an electronic transit card system to enhance rural transit agency performance and coordinate human service transportation between agencies to achieve more efficient services.New Mexico's experience with the implementation of Intelligent Coordinated Transit Smart Card Technology
Develop a user-oriented system for displaying travel time messages on dynamic messages signs. Four American Cities' experiences with Travel Time Messaging on Dynamic Message Signs.
Optimize travel time messaging operations by improving the way in which data is collected, analyzed, and displayed. Four American Cities' experiences with Travel Time Messaging on Dynamic Message Signs.
Evaluate administrative and support staffing needs to close gaps in ITS operational support.A New Jersey Department of Transportation experience with ITS operations and maintenance in Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs).
Develop a unified approach for a statewide intelligent transportation systems (ITS) deployment policy.A New Jersey Department of Transportation experience with ITS operations and maintenance in Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs).
Strengthen existing maintenance and repair capabilities at Transportation Operation Centers (TOCs).A New Jersey Department of Transportation experience with ITS operations and maintenance in Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs).
Develop a detailed cardholder recruitment plan in the planning phase of the project, to provide guidance on processes to set pricing, and to ensure high user involvement and loyalty.Orlando, Florida's experience with a Field Operational Test (FOT) on using a single smart card for transportation payments at facilities operated by multiple regional agencies.
Incorporate operational performance measures in strategic and long-range plans.A Washington State DOT experience in linking performance measurement to strategic planning.
Engage in comprehensive planning and coordination of managed lanes projects.The experience of managed lanes projects in California, Texas and New Jersey.
Consider using real time traffic control system to overcome mobility and safety obstacles in a work zone.An Illinois Department of Transportation experience using ITS in work zones.
Assure success by involving all the relevant state agencies and the motor carrier industry early in the CVISN development process.A State of Connecticut experience with CVISN deployment.
Maintain frequent and open communications with other states and the federal government when developing and deploying new, complex ITS technologies.A State of Washington experience with CVISN deployment.
Develop a strategic maintenance and operations plan to improve efficiency and productivity.Kentucky's experience with employing strategies to support and coordinate ITS maintenance and operations activities.
Recognize the value of other agencies' experiences when planning an ITS project.TriMet's experience with the deployment of Transit Tracker in Portland Oregon.
Use a regional approach for traffic signal systems operations to realize cost efficiencies.The City of Minneapolis Department of Public Works' experience.
Coordinate extensively with other stakeholder agencies.New Mexico's experience planning, deployment and operating a work zone traffic and incident management system.
Consider co-locating transportation and public safety professionals to improve interagency cooperation for traffic incident management.Minnesota DOTs experience with co-location of incident management partners.
Use ITS to implement a reliable communications system in work zones.New Mexico's experience in planning, deploying and operating a work zone traffic and incident management system.
Investigate procurement alternatives of leasing, buying, or building equipment to minimize operations and maintenance costs.Montana Department of Transportation's experience in procuring hardware and software for the statewide 511 traveler information system.
Anticipate and plan for potential institutional barriers, especially in multi-agency deployments.Alaska DOT&PF's experience integrating a common technology into its ITS and IT plans.
Identify innovative solutions for deploying Information Stations that report real-time data for weather and traffic monitoring in the event of a hurricane.Experience from nine transportation management projects on hurricane evacuation preparedness.
Consider using incentives to encourage the participation of private sector freight operators.The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's experience in developing the FIRST system and gaining participation from industry stakeholders in the system's operation.
Monitor emerging security requirements and legislation that may impact commercial vehicle business processes.The IMTC ITS CVO – Border Crossing Deployment stakeholders experience with changes in security policies in Washington State and British Columbia.
Use an interoperable transponder to assure maximum benefits to both the private and public sector.The Washington State and British Columbia experience in using transponders as part of the IMTC ITS CVO – Border Crossing Deployment.
Adopt adequate and thorough procurement processes which cover purchases of both standardized commodity type equipment and highly complex integrated ITS components.Silicon Valley Smart Corridor's experience with procuring equipment for the development of an integrated freeway, arterial and incident management system.
Understand that deployment costs of 511 systems will vary based on system capabilities and anticipate the challenges of identifying these costs early in the process.A national experience with the development and deployment of 511 Systems.
Recognize that interoperability is becoming an important issue in achieving the vision of a nationwide 511 system.A national experience with the development and deployment of 511 Systems.
Implement infrastructure-based collision avoidance technology to mitigate risks at crash prone intersections.A research project based on literature reviews and working with Virginia, California, and Minnesota.
Maximize Field Operational Test (FOT) success by creating a sound experimental design and data acquisition plan.Experience from a Field Operational Test (FOT) in Michigan to evaluate a Roll Advisor and Control (RA&C) system for commercial vehicles.
Recognize that institutional and organizational issues will require considerable attention throughout the ITS project deployment process.Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.
Ensure effective public and stakeholder outreach in order to garner support for HOT lanes. Texas and California's experience with deploying High Occupancy Toll lanes.
Train staff throughout the deployment of transit ITS projects to ensure successful implementation and use of ITS resources.Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.
Utilize standard highway project management procedures and tools to successfully implement HOT lane projects.Texas and California's experience with deploying High Occupancy Toll lanes.
Consider different operational strategies when deploying ITS.Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.
Examine multiple funding sources and anticipate unforeseen costs associated with deploying transit ITS.Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.
Design an ITS procurement process carefully to ensure the best outcome for vendor selection and performance.Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.
Consider various technical applications and processes, such as using GIS, evaluating systems compatibility and the facility for upgrades, when deploying ITS.Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.
Establish and follow a comprehensive project plan in anticipation of the deployment of ITS resources.Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.
Set toll prices and vehicle occupancy requirements to maintain favorable travel conditions on HOT lanes. Texas and California's experience with deploying High Occupancy Toll lanes.
Establish the fundamental technical nature of the ITS project, and be realistic about the participants' associated technical capabilities and limitations.A Washington State Department of Transportation implementation of a regional ATMS.
Address critical issues early in the ITS work zone management system development and deployment processes, and allow sufficient start-up time.The experiences of four state DOTs using ITS in work zones.
Use a systems engineering approach for technical integration of ITS.Nationwide experience with ITS integration.
Create multi-modal ITS plans focusing on needs and update them frequently, balancing process and projects and considering communication and coordination while ensuring that adequate resources are dedicated to implementation.National experience with ITS strategic planning at the overview level.
Use the systems goal/objectives as the initial source of desired system functionality and then use concepts in the National ITS Architecture to develop appropriate ITS projects.National experience identifying desired ITS functionalities and developing projects to perform them.
Identify regional needs from the bottom up and ensure that specific rural needs are not neglected in state/regional ITS strategic plans.National experience with performing regional inventories and defining needs for ITS strategic plans.
Analyze system performance beyond traditional notions of average conditions to reveal impacts of various combinations of ITS and infrastructure elements and be sure to choose appropriate performance measures to fully understand theses impacts.Seattle's experience with evaluating ITS alternatives.
Design the system to withstand the demands of the physical environment in which it will be deployed.Virginia's experience implementing a pilot automatic vehicle location (AVL) system in an urban winter maintenance operations setting.
Consider seven key planning requirements of an effective ITS Program.Experience from a case study of the Virginia Department of Transportation's I-81 ITS Program.
Plan for system redundancies to ensure appropriate incident response activities and continuity of operations during emergency situations.The National Capital Region's experiences in emergency response after September 11, 2001.
Identify financial resources and expected costs to conduct a cost/benefit analysis.Nationwide experience with assisting transit system managers in deploying ITS.
Use a three level approach to identify the needs of the transit system: assess, analyze, and predict.Nationwide experience with assisting transit system managers in deploying ITS.
Be aware that ITS deployment contracting is complex and may be subject to changes in technologies and market forces.Virginia DOT's experience with delays in contracting for the Hampton Roads Advanced Traveler Information System deployment
Establish technical requirements during the planning stages of the project and monitor on-going performance of those requirements.Ventura County's experience with an automated transit fare collection system.
Integrate freeway and alternate route operations to achieve greater benefits.San Antonio's experience with integration of freeway and arterial management systems.
Consider reconfiguring and integrating existing roadway management IT systems whenever possible to save costs associated with implementing new systems.Phoenix's experiences with integrating roadway management IT systems.
Use an appropriate procurement mechanism to support the implementation of multiple advanced traveler information technologies.Institutional lessons from a partnership to implement emerging ITS technologies in the Seattle metropolitan area.
Involve the private sector in the implementation of multiple advanced traveler information technologies.Institutional lessons from a partnership to implement emerging ITS technologies in the Seattle metropolitan area.
Select Transportation Management Center (TMC) design and location based on individual TMC needs and traffic realities.Eight states' experiences with design and location considerations for TMCs.
Anticipate challenges with the ITS technology being tested, including problems with software modification and adaptation of previously developed technology.A Washington State Department of Transportation's experience with testing of new variable speed limit technology to reduce winter accidents on a mountain pass.
Install Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology to greatly enhance transit agency performance.Different transit agencies' experience with AVL.
Define roles and responsibilities clearly in a public/private project to reduce delays.Institutional lessons from a test of a wide-area network to communicate traffic conditions in the Seattle area.
Understand the market during the development of an Advanced Travel Information System (ATIS) to reduce project development uncertainty and produce a more functional end product.Institutional lessons from a test of a wide-area network to communicate traffic conditions in the Seattle area.
Select appropriate technologies to enable emergency notification and response systems to complement traditional 9-1-1 service.Colorado and Washington's experience with emergency notification and response systems.
Do not build if you can buy existing software products.A national experience in acquiring software for ITS projects.
Make use of different approaches and techniques to manage software acquisitions.A national experience in acquiring software for ITS projects.
Consider cost-saving strategies and long term needs when making communications investments.National experience with making communications investments for incident management.
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text:
Will do man. I hope you feel better. I'll get those last couple of matches by today, hopefully.
Just wanted to let you know that I'm getting a quick bite to eat and I'll send you the stuff.
No problem man. I'll get everything I have so far ASAP.
4 hours from now. Also, I was wondering if you could take the ME off my hands? If not, I'll be able to do it.
I'll have it all in at once by 10. If good with you. Also, can I ask you for a favor?
I'll be sending you my part within the hour. Again, sorry for the delay.
Possibly by the latest.
Didn't we say that we move the show to Tuesdays?
Thanks for letting me know man. I will send him a message.
I'll be working on it, since i couldn't this weekend. I just wanted to keep it quiet to actually surprise people LOL.
Normal Member
The Trinity
Fresh Member
Black Ninja!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Party Time Rentals
- Phone
(Steve or Jerrod)
- Website
- www.partytimeonline.com
- email@example.com
- Serving:
- Serving Los Angeles CA
- Address:
- Visit Our Website For More Info
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- Chatsworth, CA 91311
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More than 2.3 million refugees have now fled violence in Syria and are in desperate need of shelter, food and water. Over half of them are children.
Three years on, the scale of the Syria crisis is still deepening, particularly as winter has now hit hard, leaving relief agencies overstretched and struggling to cope with massive numbers of refugees, who are often living in inadequate shelter in neighboring countries.
Oxfam is now helping half a million people affected by the Syria crisis across Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. We aim to reach 650,000 by the end of March 2014. Any donation, no matter how small, will help us support more families caught up in this crisis.
Oxfam aid delivery to Syria
Syria peace talks
Thanks to the more than 100,000 people in over 150 countries around the world, who signed the joint agency petition in support of Syria peace talks. The announcement of a date for the Geneva II peace talks marks a key step towards a much-needed resolution to the conflict in Syria.
Ultimately, there needs to be a political solution to this crisis.
All countries must cease providing weapons to all parties to the conflict. Moreover, parties to the conflict should use the momentum of recent diplomatic agreements to push for a ceasefire.
The scale of the Syrian crisis
The humanitarian suffering caused by the crisis is already staggering. More than 100,000 lives have been lost and more than two million people have fled to neighboring countries. Fighting continues to escalate across northern Syria and its western border. With large numbers of people still fleeing the conflict in Syria, the situation long has been critical. Aid agencies and host countries have almost reached their capacity to cope with recent surges.
- The UN estimates that more than 9.3 million Syrians are in need of assistance (40 per cent of the country), including 6.5 million internally displaced.
- Thousands continue to flee Syria daily.
- The total number of refugees in neighboring countries is now more than 2.2 million, nearly half of them are children.
- It is estimated that the population of Lebanon has increased by more than 25% and the population of Jordan by 6%. This is putting extreme pressure on local infrastructure.
Additionally, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, the majority of Syrian refugees in Jordan live in urban areas, outside of formal camp settings. This makes it harder for them to access vital help.
What Oxfam is doing
We've launched a $48.9 million appeal, to support our goal of reaching 650,000 people in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria with emergency relief over a 12 month period.
In Lebanon
Oxfam is helping Palestinian refugees arriving from Syria and Syrian refugees who have fled the violence in their country. Since rental prices are soaring, we're providing vulnerable families with cash to help them afford safe housing, and also buy the basic needs for their families. We're consulting the inhabitants and local landowners over the siting and installation of water and sanitation facilities, to ensure people have access to safe sources of drinking water.
New survey: Debt levels spiraling out of control as refugees from Syria slip further into poverty
We are also working with a local NGO, Najdeh, to provide psycho-social support to women refugees living in Palestinian camps.
Early in the year, we worked with our local partners to distribute warm clothes, mattresses, blankets, heaters, rugs, kitchen utensils, hygiene kits and plastic sheets for weather proofing.
In Jordan
We're working in Za'atari refugee camp - providing people with access to water and sanitation, and coordinating hygiene training to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases. We have currently reached some 20,000 Syrian refugees with emergency latrines and are handing over recently completed shower, toilet and laundry blocks to reach 8,000.
Outside Zaatari, we are also working with the vulnerable refugees who are living in informal settlements – mainly tents – and communities in Balqa district to provide cash support. We have now started supporting families in host communities through cash to help them pay their rent. ATM cards have been given to refugees so they can withdraw the money themselves. Hygiene products are also being distributed as well as water filters to ensure people have safe water to drink.
In Syria
At the end of November the number of people we reached with aid in our Syria response increased dramatically following the installation of two truck-sized generators to power two water treatment plants in Damascus city and the greater Damascus province. In partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources and the local water boards, we are now delivering safe, clean water to an estimated 250-300,000 people.
The generators are the first two of 18 to be installed, and are powering plants connected to two springs that have been supplying Syrians with water since ancient times. The new power generation enables the huge water processing plants to treat and pump more than 700,000 additional liters of water per hour uninterrupted from power outages. In line with Sphere standards, for every hour the generators are running, close to 50,000 people will have access to the minimum quantity of 15 liters per person per day.
Photos of our recent shipment of 20 tons of water equipment to Syria.
There remain serious access and security challenges to working in Syria. Nonetheless, we are exploring all methods by which to immediately and effectively assist civilians across Syria, and those Syrians in urgent humanitarian need in Lebanon, Jordan and other neighboring countries.
Updated 13 December 2013.
You may also like
Blog: Syria peace talks: After 1,000 days of conflict, a glimmer of hope?
Blog: Syria's refugees: Surviving through the kindness of strangers
New survey: Debt levels spiraling out of control as refugees from Syria slip further into poverty
Infographic: How the Syria crisis is affecting more than one million people


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So I had just put all my sweaters away, zipped out the sides on the jeep, put away the sorels, and busted out the sunscreen and BAM! 8 inches yesterday forced me to break out the gear I had just retired, and have one more go at the mountain. Although it was only partially open and very sticky, it was nice to take one more lap on closing day 2012.
Last 24 hrs: 8 "
Overnight* 8 "
Last 48 hrs: 8 "
Last 7 days: 8 "
Base Depth 49 "
Season Total 228 "


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- November 5, 2012
- 2:56 p.m.
- Suggest removal
- Reply to this post
MIOCEN (Inactive) writes:
Here is the truth behind the MIRACLE RACKET; and how it works.
Holy apparitions are the result of randomness, self delusion, wishful thinking or the over-exuberant imagination.
There are millions of tree stumps, rusting oil tanks, grottos and windows, and each day various shapes or apparitions are appearing in (or on) one or more of them.
You might see an cat figure, Mickey Mouse or the shape of a wagon wheel, but no one gets excited because Mickey Mouse is not a god.
The face of Adolph Hitler for instance once appeared on the side of a cliff after a rock slide. (Northern Valley Tribune 4/18/41); Natural ROCK FACES can be seen all over America, there were at least 40 unsuccessful attempts on Hitler's life, and ghostly apparitions are said to be seen all over Charleston, South Carolina.
Other perfectly reasonably-sounding people speak of apparitions of Bigfoot, sea monsters, space aliens and flying saucers.
So you see, it is just a matter of time before the random pattern of natural phenomena matches up with what we were led to believe is HOLY, in the form of the particular apparition that one is looking for. (see Pareidolia )
One then focuses on IT, the one which FITS IN with their particular religion; with the subjective elimination of all the others; which are saved for someone ELSE'S religion, interest, belief or whatever.
The occurrence of a nun who recovered from illness after praying to Pope John Paul II was NOT the result of a miracle; nor was it in response to prayer.
You See: Each day millions of sick people pray to the pope. In a LOTTERY of this size it is only a matter of time before a random number of faithful heal after prayer simply because of the large number of tickets (or prayers) in the pool.
The Vatican pulls off the Scam SUCCESSFULLY because it holds ALL THE TICKETS in the lottery it chooses to run. (MILLIONS of faithful prayers to choose from)
ie: If YOU always held ALL the tickets in the Florida Lottery, you would win; and you would have YOUR Miracle.
THIS time the Church ran a lottery to canonize John Paul II. So out of the few hundred or so winners out of the millions of prayers; it found a Tailor-made winner in its inventory; and THAT is the one the Vatican Zeros in on.
Phony miracles, empty prayers and the promise of an afrterlife is how guys like GRAHAM keep the faithful snapping at the dangling carrot of Eternal Salvation; and grow rich and powerful doing it .
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ZOMFG Gundam Unicorn 2 now subbed! (there are streams, not torrents yet though, that would be inevitable anyway lol) Also to pass some time for you guys: http://www.somoe.org/typing/ It's been a long time since I last visited it, there are a lot of new songs now.
Gundam Seed sucked and so do narrow minded people who dismiss entire series or genres because of 1 $%it title.
Gundam look like kids toys to me, that and the kiddy invented tricks... Eva's and Macross look better to me... Even the good old 80's transformers...
Thats probably why kids love the anime... EVA is for the grown up gundamn for kids... Eva VS Gundamn, creating more flame wars on forums than any other topic for years...
to clarify they look like your generic run of the mill robot kids toy there's nothing unique about there design that really sets them apart hell zone of the enders had better mechs imo i bet if you asked 100,000 ppl what a mech looks like they would describe a gundam
Because Gundam is the staple for almost all mecha anime and some American TV shows. Of course they would describe a Gundam. Besides, you seem to be under the believe that a "generic" description of a bipedal mech from one series is vastly different than one of the others. Lets test: It is a large bipedal tank with multiple weapons including lasers. They have different color schemes and each has a strange and unique weapon all their own. Except for the general military issued ones which are all grey and/or flat green in color. Anyone care to guess what anime I am talking about?
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=2042392&postcount=5824 Gundam has nothing on other mecha shows. Escaflowne, Robotech/Macross, Eureka Seven, Code Geass. The problem is that they recycle teh same plots every damn season. there's nothing original in gundam anymore.
Yeah dropped after 2 episodes of generic mecha action... Escaflowne are some of the most awesome mechs ever... Never watched eureka for the simple fact its about mecha... Code geass was cool... Macross zero and F were great... Strangely enough, it seems i watch at least a mecha anime every year, now watching Star driver, like many say, its FABULOUS!! Basquash was really cool last year, an original mix of sports and mechs... There was also Xamdou, it was awesome... Edit: I watched Gasaraki, Japan Mythology more mechs was an interesting combo...
See, I'm a gundam fan, but I am with you all on the rewashing of the same plot.. I really didn't care for Destiny at all due to how repetitive it was. Gundam was a gate way to start watching all the mech anime that was out there.. Gundam and Escaflowne was it for me. I love Escaflowne so much it was my first box sets of both the anime and the movie.. Now, do I feel that the other "mecha" anime is better.. Yeah, it is.. I'm just one to stick to something I liked when it was from my child hood..
I just finished checking....while that is not what it was when I wrote that....it works for that too.
I don't like Gundam because my "gateway" to mech anime was the original NGE. That tends to raise your mech anime standards above average.


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Don't Pick a Fight With a Retired Boxer Unless you want to take a nap on the concrete. 5/15/2013 10:31:15 AM 60,578
Russian MMA Is Crazy Only in Russia would you find some crazy tag team style MMA fighting. Looks awesome! 4/16/2013 10:00:00 AM 26,862
Boxed Wine in the Microwave Guess what happens when you microwave a whole box of wine? KABOOM! 3/31/2013 12:10:00 PM 14,543
Fighter Gets Huge Cut in UFC Bout Dude's forehead just opened up. He'll need a handful of stitches for that one! 3/24/2013 12:11:38 PM 30,762
Epic Halloween Costume That can't be very comfortable. Cool costume though. 2/11/2013 11:53:58 AM 6,739
Funniest Muay Thai Fight Ever These 2 guys are a riot. It goes back and forth. 2/2/2013 10:24:44 AM 22,467
Little Girl Would Kick Your Ass She's currently the reigning kindergarten champion. 1/29/2013 8:50:12 PM 18,645
Wake Up The Box 5 The boxes are back! Draw shapes and let gravity take it's course in order to wake up each level's box. 1/11/2013 12:00:00 AM 11,794


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Fire Corps, a program that connects community members with fire/EMS departments to perform non-emergency tasks, is offering free online training in March to help departments expand their local program. Fire Corps Academy is a series of free training sessions and resources designed for Fire Corps program managers, department leaders, department staff and local Fire Corps volunteers who wish to start and/or participate in a Fire Corps program. These courses will teach how to market a program, recruit youth and senior volunteers and utilize Fire Corps volunteers to implement a community assistance program for after critical incidents.
Online courses are limited to 30 attendees per session.
Register for online sessions at by clicking on the Upcoming Sessions tab under Live Sessions.


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Shaggy and Scooby created a new sandwich--and a new monster! Navigate 4 levels of the supermarket and use your spelling skills to help them escape! Spell words to splat the monsters and stop them from chasing Scooby and Shaggy. Collect clues as you play to reveal the monster's true identity.
Teaches: Phonics skills, Word building, The alphabet and Consonants
TM & � Hanna-Barbera. (s11)


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This week in the news: Canon finally entered the mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera market; Fujifilm came out with a new EXR sensor camera; Sony announced a new lens, and lots more.
This is your B&H Photo Pulse News Roundup for July 27th, 2012.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter.
Every now and then, we will give the spotlight to select photos from our awesome fans posted on our Facebook. Troy Shinn's photo above was recently selected, and it received an outpouring of love from amongst our other followers.
We were so awe-struck by it, that we asked Troy to share with us how he shot it. Here's Troy's story.
Dodging and burning is a technique where portions of a photograph are selectively darkened (burning) or lightened (dodging). This is where you can add emphasis to certain portions of a photograph, or just bring back detail in certain areas. It's a powerful technique for composition and creativity. The terminology comes from the traditional darkroom where an enlarger—combined with cupping of hands and cutouts on wire—were used to control the amount of light on different portions of a photograph.
Editor's Note: This is a guest blogpost from Colin Smith of PhotoshopCafe.com. If you find this useful, we encourage you to check out the RouteCS6 tour that he is currently doing.
This week in the news: We say goodbye to an old friend; Panasonic announces a bunch of new cameras; a medium format camera back with more megapixels than you'll probably ever need; Voigtlander announced a new lens, and much more.
This is your B&H Photo Pulse News Roundup for July 20th, 2012.
When I first started to do some research for this article, I decided to look up the word "Magic" because that's how I feel about photography and—for that matter—any other art form. These are the words used to describe Magic: Enchanted, Thrilling, Powerful, Mystery, Supernatural, and Exquisite. If someone were to describe my work, these would certainly be the words I would want them to use. So the question remains: How do you create Magic with your work? How can you design a beautiful portrait of a person, landscape, animal, food etc. that warrants this kind of description? Let's not forget that we are also trying to make money and stand out from the crowd—at least that's what I'm trying to do.
For me, the magic process begins with the image I've created in the camera. Lighting is everything. It's my primary concern, regardless of what I'm photographing. In my case, though, it's usually a person. I make my living photographing children and families, and creating maternity portraits.
Editor's Note: This is a guest blog post from Judy Host of the Monte Zucker Creative Design Tour. BHInsights readers get a discount with customer code BNHCDTS.
We've previously written about Gaffers Tape being an unsung hero of photographers and videographers. Taping down cords, pulling clothing back for fashion photography, and solving light-leak issues are only some of the uses we discussed.
We decided to talk to a number of photographers about how they used Gaffers Tape.
Photo by Rick Joy via the B&H Photo Flickr Group
This week in the news: Nikon announced an 800mm lens, but had a massive recall on battery packs for some of their cameras; Canon also had a recall on a couple of cameras; there was a boost in Western Digital's Cloud service, and more.
This is your B&H Pulse News Roundup for the week of July 13th, 2012.
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Cardew & Co.
Popular Teas from Cardew & Co.
See All 3 TeasRecent Tasting Notes
Lovely refreshing cup. Has a slight sweetness to it, almost a hint of honey.
Had a cup of this yesterday with breakfast. I was craving a nice strong, dark black tea and this really hit the spot!!
Had this tea this morning (okay this afternoon) before class. It was delightful as always!
First cup of the day. YUMMY!
Birthday breakfast tea!!
I love love love this as my morning pick-me-up!
Was in the mood for a good solid black tea this morning and this was it!
Had this tea this morning with homemade blueberry waffles = yum! I love this tea. It is a very sturdy breakfast tea, the best I have ever had :-)
I made a pot of this last night, it is the first time I have ever made this tea in a pot. It is a little weaker then when I make it by the cup – I think that it is because the water wasn't hot enough to start. It is still delicious though – oh and I am having it iced by the way. I think it holds up nicely and is refreshing. I am on my second cup now which is just as good as the first.
Also I just realized that I believe I am the only one that rated this tea and yet the average rating is an 80 – how does that work – haha.
A wonderful cup of tea for a miserable (weather wise) day.
Had this this morning. It smells so delicious. I wish my whole apartment smelled like this tea. It smells rich and exactly like black tea should smell. I slightly over-steeped it but it was still pretty good, but then again anything that has caffeine tastes good at 6:30 in the morning.
Decided to try this with milk today. I like it better without but it was still pretty good and gave me an energy boost before class.
A really pleasant black tea. This tea is very light and relaxing but also has a strong black tea flavor. It smells absolutely delicious and has a hint of something that distinguishes it from Irish & English Breakfast tea that I can't quite put my finger on. I would definitely recommend this tea.


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Our next Kenosha NAMI support groups will be on Thursday, December 12th, at Paul's Lutheran Church on the corner of 88th St and 39th Ave. We will have 3 support groups at 6:00. One support group is for people that are coping with a mental illness, a second support group is for the family members and friends of those coping with a mental illness and our third support group is for people under the age of 18. These will be our only support groups for the month of November.
We will be having our annual consumer and members Christmas party on Saturday, December 7th at Reuther High School in downtown Kenosha. Doors will open at 5:00 PM and we will start serving food around 5:30. All mental health consumers in Kenosha County are invited to attend. For more information call our number above.
We are also planning to offer Family To Family Classes in both Engish and Spanish in January 2014. The tentative starting dates for both classes will be Tuesday, January 14th. The classes will probably run from 6:30 to 9:00 on 12 consecutive Tuesdays. The English class will be held at the County Building at 8600 Sheridan road and the Spanish class will be at the Boys and Girls Club, 1330 52nd St. Call our number above for more information or to register for the classes.


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Spiritual Arts
Price: | $13.99 |
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There is a scriptural path toward transformation and growth: the spiritual arts. You could call them qualities or disciplines, but Jill Briscoe shows why they are much more than that. Humility, ministry, generosity, tranquility … these and others are arts you can practice with patience to experience God more deeply and fully.
ePub, Reflowable$6.99
"I like to think of the work of The Holy Spirit in the lives of men and women as art."
Spiritual life is not just a gift; it is a skill we must work to develop.
Using Paul's letter to the Philippians as her guide, Bible teacher Jill Briscoe uncovers eight "spiritual arts" that Christians are called to practice regularly; contentment, intimacy, suffering, simplicity, ministry, tranquility, humility, and harmony.
Jill pulls no punches in challenging Christian readers to do their part, Spiritual Arts is a discovery study of practices we need to learn if we are to live life as God intended---full of great joy, deeper intimacy with God, and an exciting impact in the lives of others. With patience, wit, and probing questions, Jill challenges the faithful to a different ethic and a more active, focused way to follow Christ.


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1 hr ago | Times-Standard
Grammy nominees: What voters got right and wrong
Kanye West shares with the Design Miami/ Basel audience parts of its unreleased new album Yeezus during a listening session at Design Miami/ Basel on June 12, 2013 in Basel, Switzerland.
Should all gun buyers receive a background check?
How much do you know about Islam?
5 hrs ago | Examiner.com
Hip Hop and Rap are becoming synonymous when Rap should always be defined as a sub-genre of Hip Hop.
9 hrs ago | JAM! Showbiz
R. Kelly: 'I met my match in Lady Gaga'
Lady Gaga and R. Kelly perform "Do What You Want" at the 41st American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California November 24, 2013.
It had been 14 years since the release of Malcolm D. Lee's 1999 hit, 'The Best Man,' and 21 years since the actors were first-time co-stars in John Singleton's street-life classic 'Boyz n the Hood.'
Miles in Marvelous MonoBy Malcolm Jones
Monaural recorded sound has made a comeback, and it's more than a gimmick-for proof just listen to Miles Davis's classic work in its original format.
Billy Joel, 4 others receive Kennedy Center Honors
Billy Joel joins Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, opera star Martina Arroyo and actress Shirley MacLaine in receiving the Kennedy Center Honors.
Jay Z tops Grammy nominations with nine nods
Jay Z easily led Grammy Award nominations announced on Friday night with nine, but left-of-centre rappers Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Kendrick Lamar were among a group of new stars who took many of the major nominations.
When Parents Refused To Talk, Angelou Explained Sex - And Healing
When I was 13, sex was something I was very interested in, but in a studious way.
Grammy nominees 2014: What voters got right and wrong
Kanye West's controversial "Yeezus" was snubbed in the best album category, a major oversight by Grammy voters.
Maya Angelou's Poem For Nelson Mandela
Yesterday, the U.S. State Department unveiled a tribute poem written by Dr. Maya Angelou for Mandela "on behalf of the American people."
Pressure on as X Factor final looms
Pressure ramped up ahead of next week's X Factor final - with the emotion getting the better of one of the show's youngest contestants.
Jennifer Muniz wants to be Lopez again
J.Mu? It doesn't have quite the same ring to it as J.Lo, does it? The singer has filed papers in her divorce from Marc Anthony seeking to change her legal name from Jennifer Muniz - Anthony's real last name - back to Jennifer Lopez.
Katherine Jackson determined to `take down` Conrad Murray
Washington, December 7: Katherine Jackson has decided to take Dr. Conrad Murray "down" as she is upset with all the things he said about her late son Michael Jackson.
Performers announced for live Grammy nominations show hosted by LL Cool J
Two-time Grammy Award winner LL COOL J hosts the live Grammy nominations event on CBS Television Network on Friday evening.
Jay Z tops Grammy nominations with 9
Vice President Joe Biden says North Korea's release of an elderly U.S. tourist detained for more than a month is positive news.
Grammy nominations: Jay Z leads with nine; Macklemore & Lewis, Kendrick Lamar get major nods
Ryan Lewis, left, and Macklemore pose backstage at the Grammy Nominations Concert Live! on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
Actress to attend Kentucky State's convocation
Actress Terri J. Vaughn is scheduled to speak at the Dec. 12 event on campus. She will then join graduating seniors for the Fall Graduate Luncheon.
The best and worst albums of 2013
Kanye West shares with the Design Miami/ Basel audience parts of its unreleased new album Yeezus during a listening session at Design Miami/ Basel on June 12, 2013 in Basel, Switzerland.
Janelle Monae playing shows, including Hammerstein Ballroom with Schoolboy Q and Just Blaze
Boundary-pushing soul singer Janelle Monae , who has been seeing her 2013 LP The Electric Lady ending up on some year end lists , has announced a few winter dates for 2014.
The Jackson Five: Jackson police have plan to enforce marijuana...
Welcome to the Jackson Five, your weekly peek at five Jackson-area government and school stories you may have missed, and a look ahead at what to expect next.


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Your Round of 32 Billies winners & updated standings
Two Billy Packer Chronicles votes are in the books and Charles Barkley takes home the top spot yet again for this amazing clip revolving around his excitement for Hardcore Pawn. However, in spite of taking home the first two votes, Sir Charles doesn't lead our standings because of the overall body of work and valutility of one of CBS's game analysts. The envelope please...
10) "He once ate the entire turkey at Christmas, not this year, he's svelt." - Tim Brando on MSU's Derrick Nix. (via AA)
9) "This Kentucky team sure has raised a lot of eyebrow lately" - Ernie Johnson (via arineliza)
8) "You want a sandwich, Verne? Pickles, burger, Mayo!!" - Bill Raftery (via LochNessMunchys)
7) "And Norfolk State, shocking victors over Duke yesterday." - Verne Lundquist (via AA)
6) "It's weird that when you challenge shots, the shooting percentage goes down." - Clark Kellogg (via ryan_balke)
5) "That's just a gangster move right there" - Len Elmore (via jackhammer619)
4) "There's a block charge" - Reggie Miller (via Michael Necci)
3) "I absolutely guarantee that I'm right. Unless I'm wrong." - Seth Davis (via crippenstation)
2) "And yet, only a 2 possession, actually a 3 possession game, 5 point deficit" - Clark Kellogg (via RYbbc34)
1) "I know what I'm gonna watch tonight! Oh, sorry, wrong spelling... I saw four letters and got excited!" - Charles Barkley on Hardcore Pawn (via AA)
Round of 32 Top 5
1) Clark Kellogg 22 pts
2) Charles Barkley 20 pts
3) Reggie Miller 15 pts
4) Bill Raftery 10 pts
5) Matt Winer 9 pts
Others receiving votes - Seth Davis 8 pts, Bob Wenzel 6 pts, Len Elmore 6 pts, Ian Eagle 4 pts, Verne Lundquist 4 pts, Dan Bonner 2 pts, Ernie Johnson 2 pts, Tim Brando 1 pt, Kenny Smith 1 pt.


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Things I liked:GREAT PRICE FAST SHIPPING JUST AS DESCRIBED Things I would have changed:NOTHING What others should know:GREAT PRODUCT Things I liked:How long they last with a revolver, also more bang for your buck with an ok low price. By the way i loke the shipping arrangement. Things I would have changed:Nothing at all. What others should know:you only need one of thee and your good for awile. Things I liked:They work as advertised, no complaints. Things I would have changed:Nothing, more capacity maybe, but I doubt you can fit more in a powerlet. What others should know:These are the standard C02 powerlet as far as I am concerned. Show Other ReviewsCreate an online review and share your thoughts with other customers
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I love this set! I love it so much that I bought one for a friend. No more scrabbling around in the bottom of my tool box looking for a driver. This kit has them all, the wire brush and screw thread starters are a bonus as well. Buy one, buy three! these are the perfect tech screw drivers!
Almost everything you need for all those small parts on your guitar. Very portable, have yet to be disappointed.
This has been one of my favorite purchases from StewMac. I like test fitting the bits BEFORE i work on them; ensuring patience and quality work. Plus it saves bench space!
Fantastic small tool kit! The tools are high enough quality and very handy.
This is exactly what I've been looking for! A small toolbox with quality bits that might just save a life on a gig! Those who already experienced some kind of embaressment just before starting to play know what I mean. Ok to be out of this world it would be great to have files, chisels, pliers, rulers and a hammer but seriously, this is it!
If you are reading about this compact tool set, just stop right here and place your order for one, its that good
assembled a tel partcaster.
The Guitar Tech Screwdriver set is a great little package. Im 16 and recently finished a Les Paul studio build. This set came very handy when putting the finished product together. It has everything youll need from setup to final assembly. One thing i would like to add is that it was a little smaller than i expected but i was imperssed none the less. Another great product from Stew-Mac!
Great product. Has really everything you need for most adjustments. No more need for alan keys to adjust action. Great case and size. Fits in your guitar case.
I do repairs and set-ups for the two guitarists in my band. I've been playing guitar myself since 1984. I've just finished building my first (bass) guitar, and today have used several parts of this set to mark screw positions, drive screws in, and thread pilot holes, set my saddle heights, and adjust intonation. I always take this with me to gigs, as it has pretty much everything I could need to sort a guitar. I highly recommend it.
To add items to your order, select the check box next to the item you want. You can edit the quantity you wish to purchase here, or in Your Order.
To add items to your saved list, select the check boxes next to the items you want. You can edit the quantity you wish to save here, or in your Saved List.


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• 2013 Emmy Awards Predictions: Who Are The Favorites To Win?
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• The Morning Roundup: J.K. Rowling Angry Over Pseudonym Leak, Netflix Scores Emmy Nominations With 'House Of Cards'
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PPG, commercial banks (INT, current US$)
Public and publicly guaranteed commercial bank loans from private banks and other private financial institutions. Interest payments are actual amounts of interest paid by the borrower in foreign currency, goods, or services in the year specified. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
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Sandy earth tones cross paths in an understated grid of wool-silk yarns, double woven and dotted with the intriguing texture of natural slubs. Our decorative pillows include your choice of a plush feather or lofty down-alternative insert at no extra cost.
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Behaviour expert John Bayley visits...
- Home
- Pupils/Students
- Education Professionals
School Leaders
Support Staff
- Parents
Health & Safety
- Businesses/Charities
In this programme, the art departments of two schools reveal the strategies they use to help pupils understand how to improve their levels.
Kate Bullivant, head of art at St Michael's Catholic Grammar School in north London, has been experimenting with breaking down level descriptors and applying them to a Year 8 urban environment project.
Although the project is still new, Kate is already optimistic that it is successfully raising achievement and will lead to pupils performing better at GCSE.
Three miles away at East Barnet School, a large comprehensive, head of art Paul Chatterton feels it is important to regularly evaluate his pupils' work.
The programme looks in on a Year 7 Face of Objects lesson in which pupils are instructed on exactly how to improve their levels.
Part of the series: The Scottish Experience
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Spotlight Article:
Resolving the Circulation Dilemma in Multifamily Buildings
Demand-controlled pumping for hot water distribution holds high value in multifamily buildings.
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What's New in Water Heating?
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Resolving the Circulation Dilemma in Multifamily Buildings
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Navigating the New Market
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Leaking Shower Diverters: An Overlooked Energy Waster
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Did Cash for Appliances Work?
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Canadian building scientists and a family of four set out to build a home that uses nine times less energy than the average - and half the water. [continue reading]
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Does Your State Reward Energy Efficiency?
Homeowners throughout the United States can find incentives for making their homes more energy efficient with federal and state government ...
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Renewable energy can be generated using multiple methods throughout the United States, and one of the primary forms of renewable ...


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Manufacturer #: IP-1814
Product Weight:0.1 pounds
Product Dimensions (in inches):8.0 x 4.0 x 1.0
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Craftsman All Rubber Garden Hose 5/8 In. x 50 Ft.
Item# 07169602000 | Model# 69602Specifications & Dimensions
Dimensions and Capacity: | |
Hose Length (Ft.): | 50 |
Hose Length: | 50 feet |
Color and Styling: | |
Color/Finish: | Black |
Product Overview: | |
General Warranty: | Full lifetime |
Item Weight (lbs.): | 11.6 |
Materials & Finishes: | |
Hose Material: | Rubber |
Coupling Material: | Nickel Plated Brass |
Included with Item: | |
Nozzle Included: | No |
Performance: | |
Hose Action: | Single stream |
Usage: | Above ground |
Hose: | |
Diameter: | 5/8 in. |
Convenience: | |
Kink Free/Resistant: | Kink resistant |
Ratings & Reviews
Product Description
A Garden Hose That's Built To Last
Don't drag that busted old garden hose around your yard another summer. Instead, grab the durable Craftsman 50ft garden hose and forget the yards of tape, leaky couplers and pin-hole leaks that rob you of the pressure you need to wash the car or send water out to a thirsty garden.
A resilient build allows this garden hose to withstand hot water temperatures up to 160°F while remaining flexible and easy to use all the way down to -25°F, so you can use this hose in the garden, driveway, to flush the water heater, or drain a pool for winter. No matter how you need to move your water, this tough garden hose will help. And forget about corroded couplers that you need a pair of pliers to get on and off, the nickel plating on each of the hose-ends ensure easy use for years to come. A solid piece of equipment you can count on, get that water moving with Craftsman.
- Garden hose features a new concave hexagonal shape
- Durable rubber matrix stands up to abrasion
- Reinforced radial tire cord provides 500 psi burst strength
- Crush-proof brass coupler
- Available for Gift Wrap
Added on April 15, 2010
Overall, others give this:
Reviewers may have received a benefit, like a sweepstakes entry or rewards program points, in exchange for writing a review.
Those benefits were not conditioned on the positive or negative content of the review.
Most Helpful Reviews
Arlington, VA
via sears.com
Fittings are made to last. It does not kink, and I don't not have to take it inside during winter. It costs a little more, but well worth it.
Salinas, CA
via sears.com
This is a really strong hose. Worth every penny.
Pacific Grove, CA
via sears.com
It is better than any hose we have used. It is easy to roll even after many days of use.
Ventura, CA
via sears.com
We have two now. Mice or something eating holes in inferior hoses and we have not had any problems with this type of hose. Winds up great for storage.
via sears.com
The hose seems to be very sturdy. The fittings also seem very durable. I did have trouble at first with twisting and tangling (like a old telephone cord). The only real complaint is the fittings are a little short, so screwing them on and off can be a little awkward. Still I bought 2 and am happy.
Little Rock, AR
via sears.com
I bought this hose because where I water I have to leave it stretched out. Even on the hottest days this hose continues to hold its form were other hoses would swell up and eventually burst.
The reviewer indicated they are affiliated with this product.
Concord, CA
via sears.com
Nice hose. Heavy. Seems like it traps a lot of air, but that could be because it's new, maybe? Anyway, it's a good, heavy hose. Seems like it will last for a while.
via sears.com
I've been replacing my other garden hoses with these hoses from Sears. They are much more flexible and don't kink like the other ones do.
Durham, NH
via sears.com
This hose doesn't claim to be kink resistant but when you do get a kink and then pull it comes right out. The hose is light too. Very happy with this hose.
Stokesdale, NC
via sears.com
This hose is a great purchase for around the house. It is VERY durable and i have no doubt that it will last a long time. If you need a good quality hose, give this one a shot.
- Members get 3% in points or with Sears Card get 10% in points. Offer ends 26-Dec-2013 See details.
- FREE shipping! Orders $59 or more Offer ends 31-Jan-2014 See details.


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GAA Digest: Tough Galway battles in All-Ireland draw against Kilkenny
Brian Cody and Anthony Cunningham have insisted their All-Ireland hurling final sideline spat is behind them as they prepare for the replay on Sunday fortnight after the teams battled to a 2-13 (Galway) to 0-19 draw.
The pair engaged in a heated debate after a late free was awarded by referee for a foul on Davy Glennon which Joe Canning sent over the bar to bring the game to extra-time.
Kilkenny boss Cody told RTE, "I'm not going to get involved with it.
"The game is over. I'm sure there are several instances of frees if you like that were given or not given during the game that several people at that match thought were right or thought were wrong.
"That is a personal opinion. I don't referee the game. I'm not considered to be a very good referee, for some reason, Barry Kelly is and that is fine.
"Look there were about 81,000 people there today. Every one of them was fairly excited and roaring and fierce passionate at that stage of the game.
"Surely to God the two managers are entitled to be excited. If that's a strange thing to see then you haven't been at too many hurling matches.
Galway manager Anthony Cunningham added, "Look at any team that plays and there's a close call coming up to injury time, you're going to challenge it with the ref. That's what happens.
"If it was me, I'd be challenging it on the other side. But that game had no false strokes and there was great sportsmanship from both sides. That's always the way with Kilkenny. They're tough but honest."
Cody conceded, "It was a point, they scored a point from it, so that was a very important score.
"Look, I don't referee the game. I don't even have a good reputation with the referee it seems.
"I'm sure there were different incidents during the game where I might have disagreed with, Anthony Cunningham might have disagreed with, that's the nature of the game.
"I'm sure there were several – it will be blown up a bit because it happened to be the last one."
Kilkenny went back to training on Tuesday night ahead of the replay on Sunday, September 30.
Cody said, "At the end of the day it ended in a draw which I suppose is very unusual seeing I think since 1959 there hasn't been a draw in the All-Ireland final.
"To make it even stranger the minor final ended in a draw so certainly the spectators got value for money I would imagine.
"Obviously the replay is a long time away. Normally you have a draw in a game like that and you would be getting ready for a replay maybe the following week or the very most two weeks.
"Three weeks is a long time. But I'd be happy to wait six months for an All-Ireland final. It is worth waiting for. We'll certainly take it on."
Cody also defended the decision made by Henry Shefflin to point a second-half penalty rather than go for goal.
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I asked, "What in the world is that?" He told me and I said, "No. If you want chili, we'll just make some." I lost that battle; it really wasn't that big of a deal. And for the next six years I would roll my eyes, make puking sounds or just look away when he opened up this thing called "canned chili."
But then I started noticing what he actually did with that canned chili. He added it to his macaroni and cheese and deemed it chili mac. It was his quick meal and he loved this stuff. Six years later, I finally gave in. And it's good. It's quick and we always have these two ingredients on hand. You simply make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese as you normally would then stir in a can of Stagg Chili. Get it all nice and warm, and then enjoy a total comfort food.
I'll be honest, as much as I love (and prefer) making 100% from-scratch food that is organic and local purchased. I don't. I can't always afford it and I don't always have time. I have to be realistic with myself and my family. So yes, we buy mac and cheese, ramen noodles, canned soup and frozen pizza. And guess what? We enjoy them. I call them our convenience foods.
I actually think this is a very interesting topic. Sometimes I think others perceive food bloggers and foodies for thinking they are 'above' certain foods or simple, quick-fix meals made at home. (Though I will say, I hate store-bought ranch in bottles and it takes a lot for me to use margarine.) But in reality we are honestly just hobbiests or professionals who genuinely love to cook, love to discover new ingredients and make food for those we love. All which are true. But I think sometimes as readers and friends we forget that food bloggers and foodies don't just eat what they post. They have lives outside their blog and yes, they sometimes use a {gasp} cake mix. I know for a fact I'm not making an amazing meal and dessert every night.
I think that's why I love this meal. Not only is it tasty, but it reminds me that sometimes it's more important to get to a party on time, not photograph every meal and to just live life. Do you have lazy day, convenient meals? What are your thoughts on this topic?
Easy Chili Mac Recipe
1 box Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (make sure you have all the other ingredients it needs.)
1 can Stagg ChiliDirections:
Make Kraft Macaroni and Cheese according to package directions. We usually just make it as is, sometimes we leave out the butter. Then stir in Stagg Chili til combine. Heat all the way through till it's nice and warm. Eat and enjoy.


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Hello good citizens of the forum! Come to Castle 2_5_2 to relax! Discuss whatever it is that is on your mind this great day!
I am the King of Swissland, KingWarman88. It is nice to meet you. This is me with a variety of medals I have received. I am a Hussar by trade you see.


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Keys to prosperity
While Democrats talk about providing Band Aid solutions that take Las Cruces and El Paso taxpayer money to provide transportation to rural Doña Ana County, Republicans want to give you the keys of opportunity.
I recently attended a Democratic candidate's forum in the south valley hosted by the Anthony Chamber of Commerce. Fortunately there was time for a question-and-answer period where a woman, in Spanish, asked the candidates what they would do to provide public transportation for her.
Each candidate responded by telling her that they would work with both the cities of Las Cruces and El Paso to provide public transportation services to those areas that were in need. This solution sounds easy enough, plausible right? Ask an existing government entity to do more for the citizens of rural Doña Ana County.
There is one significant problem with this Band Aid solution — not enough money.
If you give us a chance
If the funds were there and if it were a priority for the existing legislative and county representatives, transportation would already be provided in the south valley. In a Democrat perfect world, the government will provide transportation at a bus stop that might only come two or three times a day, controlling how often and where you can travel.
Republicans, however, if you give us the chance, would provide a dynamic economic climate where small and large businesses alike will set up shop in and throughout the south valley and New Mexico. This climate will usher in a period of prosperity because business will be able to expand, hiring and providing more jobs for our family, friends and neighbors; it would also be the time for some of us to pursue our own small-business ventures.
If our fellow citizens who are able to work had more choices for a better source of income, they would be able to purchase their very own vehicles, drive their vehicles wherever they want and as often as they want.
Choose wisely
While Democrats talk about providing Band Aid solutions that take Las Cruces and El Paso taxpayer money to provide transportation to rural Doña Ana County, Republicans want to give you the keys of opportunity and, yes, maybe your very own transportation by providing better employment opportunities for all!
We all know someone who is hurting from the bad economy, underemployment or unemployment that has been caused by the very same Democratic leaders who time and time again support an anti-opportunity environment with higher taxes, more regulations and more government control over your life. Our families, our neighbors, OUR New Mexico deserves better.
Do you want to continue to wait at the bus stop, or do you want to jump in your very own vehicle? The choice is yours. I recommend you choose wisely.
Russell Allen is chairman of the Doña Ana County Republican Party and a candidate for the District 35 seat in the N.M. Senate.
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Needed - a truer war against terror post the killing of Osama Bin Laden
Srinivasan Ramani, Newsclick , May 8, 2011
Acres of news space has been devoted to the finding and the ultimate killing of wanted fugitive and global terrorist, Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad in Pakistan. Everywhere the same question is being asked - how did the Pakistan security apparatus manage to keep the most wanted terrorist in safe haven in an area close to its capital hoodwinking seekers from the United States for nearly a decade. But the more important question seems to be seldom asked - what on earth was the Pakistan security establishment's calculus in providing safe haven at all to the likes of Osama Bin Laden?
The quick answer however is not too hard to fathom. As security analyst Brahma Chellaney says in The Hindu, the penetration of jihadi elements in the Pakistani military establishment and the nation's espionage unit, the ISI has been to the extent of full entrenchment and it is to no surprise that even the hotly pursued terrorist and leader of the Al Qaeda was provided full backing in his hide and seek game. Chellaney also correctly points out to the supremacy of the military establishment in Pakistan to set strategic and foreign policy initiatives, effectively allowing it to be immune to civilian government's protestations - if they were any in any case. And he also finishes the story with the more important aspect - of the failure of the US' own "carrot and stick" policy vis-a-vis Pakistan; the cultivation of the Pakistani military as the main interlocutor in US-Pakistan relations and the refusal to allow breathing space to the civilian establishment when it attempted to make the ISI accountable to the government. That is a good quick answer. But it fails to answer the more "substantive" why. Why does the US, embroiled for more than a decade in the ideological "Clash of Civilisations" feel it necessary to provide enough carrots in its engagement with Pakistan? Why hasn't the civilian government denounced in clear and present terms - the very apparent jihadi role and presence in the Pakistani security apparatus? How has Osama Bin Laden managed to retain a degree of protection from the Pakistani security establishment despite it being engaged in a war of attrition against the Pakistani equivalent of the Taliban? And that too despite the multiple attacks from the "non-mainstream extremists" in Pakistan at the security establishment itself? And so on.Conventional tools of geopolitics do not look deeper into the larger manifestations of internal political dynamics in that country beyond rough constructions of the "good and the bad". Let me explain. From Chellaney and others, you will get a good picture of what short term interests guide American policy in Pakistan and why the calculus of this short term interest set determines why the US prefers to continue the status quo despite the Pakistan security establishment providing material support to its greatest adversary of the last decade. How the US needs to use Pakistan as a transit point for continuing its war in Afghanistan, use the country's resources to fight "terrorist" elements from within that country and continue its strong military-military relationship to answer its short term concerns in south and west Asia.
They would also quickly show you who the protagonists are from within the Pakistani ruling classes who prefer to continue this game of hoodwinking the US into providing them with enough carrots for a country that suffers from an abysmal tax to GDP ratio. And as to explaining the Pakistani strategic aims, they would tell you how the establishment would want to continue its policies of yester-decade in Afghanistan - using the influence it created through the Taliban to give it a permanent strategic heft in that otherwise barren but drug trade influenced economy nation. Or indeed as to how it is rational for the "Scotch-whisky sipping" Pakistani generals to puppeteer the "mullahs", effective as they are in giving Pakistan a geostrategic influence on Kashmir and in keeping intact its closeness with Wahabi Saudi Arabia and the sheikdoms of west Asia.
And therefore the solution they would offer from this "rut" would be to suggest a state based response - for the US to ramp up its "sticks" - "sanctions and stepped up drone attacks" as Chellaney calls them; for India to engage in a form of diplomacy that sharply delineates a difference between the civilian and the military establishment in Pakistan; for heightening a security response and readiness to the "Pakistan problem" and so on. I would argue that none of these would be very effective as the questions answered by the "geopolitical specialists" are too minimalistic as to explain the "problem".
Firstly, it is in the character of the US to want to pursue a set of strategic aims which despite nuantic differences, are basically from a similar mould across various kinds of executive presidencies in that country. It has always been in the US' strategic interest to kill nationalistic, secular, progressive regimes in countries with Muslim majority populations and replace them either with authoritarian, pro-imperialist lackeys (Suharto in Indonesia, the Shah in Iran, support for Hosni Mubarak and so on) or indeed "mainstream political Islamists" (of the Wahabbi kind in Saudi Arabia, lets say) or even "non-mainstream extremists" (support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan against communist rule which in one way created the Osama phenomenon; overt support for the Taliban as well for a point of time in Afghan war history and so on). For years, the US influence in Muslim dominated nations has been destabilising, regressive, anti-democratic but remarkably consistent with strategic goals that has suited the plutocrats who have circulated in power in that country representing the admixture of the highest stages of capitalism and military power.
It is therefore not surprising that short-term or long term, the US perceives the Pakistan ruling class to be a stable ally - irrespective of the problems that have cropped up vis-a-vis the "war on terror". How else would one explain the fact that the US launched a major war in Afghanistan against the then Taliban ruled nation, instituted regime change and embroiled that nation in a prolonged civil war, numerous civilian deaths, and so on on the pretext that the Taliban provided safe haven to Osama Bin Laden; but has merely limited its frustration and angst with Pakistan's harbouring of Osama Bin Laden to diplomatic undertones and loaded statements? Or that the US actually went to war with Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq, attacked that country with pretexts based on lies and hyperbole, and destroyed that country's economy, let it mired in civilian strife for more than a decade despite no evidence of Al Qaeda having any link with ruling circles in that country. It serves the US ruling classes' interests to continue its business interests - Big Oil in particular, that of the military industry complex, the Israel-lobby dominated finance capital in that country to keep its ties with regimes in west Asia from chief strategic ally, Israel, to other partners such as the Saudi regime, Pakistan and others. This also explains the US' schizophrenic response to the popular pro-democracy uprisings in the Arab world - at one level, the US has supported efforts to control and even crush them in nations where the ruling classes are fervent allies of the US such as in Bahrain, while it has supported intervention to promote a somewhat dubious current from within such uprisings as seen in Libya.
As for the illusion that the civilian government in Pakistan could emerge as a stanchion for democratic voices against the military and the security establishment in that country; it is what it is - an illusion. As Ayesha Siddiqa would tell you, the deep nexus between business and the military in that country - what she calls, MILBUS provides the military establishment with a preponderant say in the running of Pakistan. The MILBUS itself managed to entrench itself by support from "political Islam", an alliance that was stitched with strong seams during Zia Ul Haq's rule. The civilian leadership at the same time, is dominated by political units scraped out of a deeply feudal structure. The best that this civilian leadership can do to counter the Islamist fundamentalist base that is actively encouraged by the MILBUS is to compromise. That was evident in the manner the civilian leadership reacted to the "blasphemy" issue, the assassinations of liberal political leaders, the attacks on minority institutions and places of worship and feeble responses to military schemes that have halted any move for making it accountable to the civilian leadership. At one level, there exists a seemingly conflictual relationship between the "political Islam" base that props up and is propped by the Pakistan military and US imperialism which is a strategic ally of the military establishment. And it results in conflagrations such as the Raymond Davis affair now and then. But the Pakistani military has found a way as it has in the past to hedge this conflictual relationship. At times, they seemed to draw a line between the anti-US and the anti-Indian jihadi forces (as if there remained such a distinction in the first place). But when such a line was too impossible to draw at all, the military has turned on a clear hoodwinking game, accepting US aid to arm itself against the purported threat of the Pakistani Taliban while providing enough support to the Quetta shura that hosts the Afghan Talibani leadership. And despite action against Osama Bin Laden, recent strategic moves from the US suggest a compromise with the Afghan Taliban - expressed in the "engage with the good Taliban" strategy that increasingly seems to have a resonance within NATO.
So what is it that can be done in the medium and long term to address this almost unsalvageable situation? For one, the onus is on the Pakistani public to emulate their counterparts in the Arab world in effecting systemic change in Pakistan's polity. A positive step was made when dictatorial rule by the Machiavellian Pervez Musharraf was brought to an end partly by peoples' praxis, seen in the pro-democratic lawyers' movement among others. But that step was never taken to the logical conclusion, even if baby steps towards addressing structural issues in Pakistan were brought about - better federalisation and decentralisation of power for example. The Gordian knot tying Islamism and governance, a legacy of the Zia Ul Haq past, however has never been untied or even attempted to being untied. Unless this happens, expecting any degree of shift in strategic policy and structure of the Pakistan security establishment is nearly futile. Howmuchsoever the Indian political establishment tries its utmost to engage with the civilian leadership, no substantive change is bound to happen unless the aforementioned structural changes are effected by democratic praxis. The secular progressive section of the Pakistani polity is however limited - the Left is practically decimated but still heroically tries to function in a hostile environment; the liberals are cut off from mass politics generally and conservatism generally rules the roost.
Expecting the US to alter its strategy vis-a-vis Pakistan thereby effecting a geopolitical shift against jihadi forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan is also quite futile. Irrespective of Osama's death, the Frankenstein monster that is jihadi terrorism which was watered and given life to by the US decades ago, is still sustained by the mis-steps of US imperialism and the US' geopolitical strategy in the west Asian and south Asian regions. A true "regionalisation of the region" - a getting together of all nations in the immediacy of south and west Asia, equally affected and threatened by jihadi terror in providing regional security and succour to war ravaged Afghanistan and an isolation of the military dominated establishment in Pakistan is the only way out. That would require at the formal level the getting together of India, China, Russia, the central Asian nations, Iran, in alliance with the progressive regimes that are bound to come to power in the Maghreb to act in cohesion against "non-mainstream extremism" represented by the likes of the Al Qaeda and "mainstream authoritarian political Islam" as articulated and seen in the GCC.
The expectations of such a getting together are founded on difficult assumptions - nations such as China and India would have to learn to develop a less conflictual strategic relationship - difficult as Indian foreign policy has tended to bandwagon with US interests in the region and has in a way attempted to "balance Chinese power", besides of course political differences because of longstanding border problems and the likes between these two most populous nations. China, has also irrationally decided to continue its not-a-fair-weather "strategic" friendship with the Pakistani military hegemonised leadership. It is therefore essential that individually within these nations themselves, a greater democratisation and progressivism involving greater agency from the people themselves need to be effected in tandem.
The long and short of it is that the true fight against "terror" is interlinked and entwined in the fight against authoritarianism, feudalism and most importantly, imperialism; both from without and from within. It is not as easy and simple formulaic as our "pragmatists" and "strategic experts" make it out to be.