text:
Guten tag, Janke! Geben Sie uns Ihren Mappen, bitte.
(Better not talk about my German abilities.)
Hi there everyone
I'm from austria (and better not talking about my english abilities) and new to digital mapping. I've done a little bit of drawing maps with pencil and paper for worldbuilding and sometimes just for fun before. Now it's time to learn how do it digitally!
Anything else about me? Well, I've some usual hobbies like reading, p&p roleplaying, larp, writing, drawing, archery and so on...
Hope to learn something from you guys
Guten tag, Janke! Geben Sie uns Ihren Mappen, bitte.
(Better not talk about my German abilities.)
Venus Public Transit, Map Of Ceres, Jack Vance's Ports Of Call & Lurulu ... why do I only have 3 maps here?
Welcome Aboard!
My Finished Maps | My Challenge Maps | Ghoraja Juun, my largely stagnated campaign setting.
Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Nett, nett
Good to know there is someone who understands german.
thanks for welcoming
Herzlich willkommen
Check out my City Designer 3 tutorials. See my fantasy (city) maps in this thread.
Gandwarf has fallen into shadow...
Welcome to the Guild!
Daniel the Neon Knight: Campaign Cartographer User
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will suffice!
Any questions on CC3? Post them with CC3 in the Subject Line!
MY 'FAMOUS' CC3 MAPS: Thunderspire; Pyramid of Shadows; King of the Trollhaunt Warrens; Demon Queen's Enclave


text:
The Royal Canadian Air Force has received its first two (of 15 ordered) CH-149 Cormorants (aka EH-101 Merlin) which will replace the CH-113 Labrador in the SAR role. The first two Cormorants have been sent to CFB Comox in British Columbia where they will be used by the Air Force's SAR training programme.
For pictures of the new Cormorants you can visit this RCAF official link.
Please check your spelling (press "Check Spelling" above)
©Copyright 2016 Demand Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mental Health America Store
Bullying: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know contains resourcful information abou thte effecrts of bullying and steps t take if your child is being bulied or bullying others.
You might also consider:
To view answers to frequently asked questions about the new store, including information on discounts, logins and purchase orders, please download this document. To access these materials and other information on a variety of mental health topics, call Publication Sales at email@example.com or 800-969-6642 x7534 (or 703-838 7534).


text:
Discover a selection of top forums road gamebattles on the internet. Come to share your passion on forums road gamebattles and meet other fans of road gamebattles. Then, why don't you create your own forum of road gamebattles ?
A forum for the responsible pickup enthusiast.
pickup, truck, forum, rolling, coal, #road, pickups, pickuptruck, pick, work, luxury
A community dedicated to furthering the knowledge and enjoyment of off-road Jeeps in northern Massachusetts.
north, shore, jeeps, community, dedicated, furthering, knowledge, enjoyment, off-road, northern, massachusetts
A place for off road and motocross enthusiasts to bench race, collect/share performance tips, organize rides and be ourselves. Racers, riders, it's all good here!
dirt, bike, bags, place, #road, motocross, enthusiasts, bench, race, collect/share, performance, tips, organize, rides, racers, riders, it's, good
We are a group of RC Enthusiasts in Singapore. Join us for our weekly RC Meet ups and ad hoc RC meets!
rc4wd, crawlers, scale, trucks, axial, scx10, ax10, dingo, tamiya, hilux, highlift, clod, buster, ford, toyota, traxxas, summit, racing, savage, flux, cr01, venom, creeper, competition, rock, crawler, #road, radio, control, honcho
Yuma, Arizona's definitive home for 4X4 enthusiasts!
yuma, arizona, club, offroad, trails, rock, crawling, #road, offroading, toyota, jeep, jeepin, jeepers, nissan, samurai, sidexside, side
Road Racing
#road, racing
Discussions, messages, notices for the DCWR motorcycle group, Kentucky Chapter A of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, GWRRA.
derby, city, wing, riders, discussions, messages, notices, dcwr, motorcycle, group, kentucky, chapter, gold, #road, association, gwrra


text:
DETROIT (AP) — Wayne State University is preparing for the inauguration of school President Dr. M. Roy Wilson.
Wilson is scheduled to be sworn in April 4 during a ceremony on Wayne State's campus in Detroit's Midtown.
Ohio State University's incoming President Michael Drake will deliver the keynote.
Wayne State's Board of Governors unanimously elected Wilson in June. He has focused on growing research at the 28,000-student school since taking the job.
Pre-inauguration events are to begin April 3 and include a concert and faculty research symposium.
Wilson formerly was deputy director for strategic scientific planning and program coordination at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health. He also has served as dean of Creighton University's School of Medicine.


text:
"Lighten up a little ?
Not so sure the music being performed requires this.
Isn't there very often an intellectual, emotional mood produced in the creation of classical music that applause between the movements might cause an distraction or breakdown of the mood ?
Not so sure I would welcome applause between movements of La Mer
Haydn's 49th - I guess that's the wonder of listening thru different ears. I felt the RPO(Sat.) did not play with conviction until the last movement.
To me. it seemed as if they were very hesitant and not together for much of the symphony particularly the second movement where the solo parts/section playing was difficult to hear from the Loge.
PS. Those horn parts are a B.... !
Couldn't help but wonder if they were saving themselves for the Bartok.


text:
Foreign-based companies are increasingly considering expansion into Japan to grow their business, gain market share, acquire distribution channels, or obtain know-how.
Newsletters on the latest Japanese taxation developments, such as outlines of the annual tax reform and amendment of double tax treaties.
This survey is KPMG in Japan's annual survey of the published financial statements of foreign banks in Japan
KPMG in Japan is seeking talented consultant expertise who can provide consulting services such as risk management, internal audit and business process improvement.
KPMG Tax Corporation is seeking a number of exceptional people interested in dynamic roles as members of one of our professional service lines, working on a varied portfolio of interesting clients.
Welcome to KPMG in Japan
KPMG is the general name which represents a group of 7 KPMG member firms, providing audit, tax and advisory services in Japan.
Click here for contact and location details for KPMG in Japan.
© 2016
KPMG AZSA LLC, a limited liability audit corporation incorporated under the Japanese Certified Public Accountants Law and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
© 2016 KPMG Tax Corporation, a tax corporation incorporated under the Japanese CPTA Law and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International") is a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-a-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm.


text:
Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide sales rights, excluding Japan and Korea, to Lee Sang-Il's feel-good film, "Hula Girls." Set in 1965, the film is based on actual events surrounding a move to build a Hawaiian tourist village in a Japanese coal mining town. In the film, a dance instructor teaches local young women to dance the Hula and along the way they "become a phenomenal success as heroes of their hometown, as well as an inspiration throughout Japan," according to an announcement. Produced by Cine Qua Non, the film will be released in Japan in September and includes music from the acclaimed Hawaiian ukulele musician Jake Shimabukuro. "This is one of those feel-good, heart-warming films that comes along so infrequently yet easily transcends cultural and language boundaries," said Fortissimo's Michael Werner in a statement. "With that Hawaiian music and the hula - it's irresistible." [Eugene Hernandez]
By Indiewire | Indiewire August 1, 2006 at 9:41AM


text:
I tried to use the maven-antrun-plugin to check in a first execution if a file exists and then set a property accordingly. In another execution (another phase) of the antrun-plugin I want to make use of the property. But the property set in one execution cannot be used in another execution since it's an ant and not a maven property and doesn't get propagated.
Is it possible to propagate the ant property to maven or in other words set a maven property from ant?
Using another Maven build like in this question is not an option.
Another way that might work somehow would be an external build.xml but that's not an option too, because I have to keep things in one pom.
I've read about using GMaven to set a Maven property but I would like to stay with ant.


text:
what I make with this archive txt? also use bypass firmware...
what I make with this archive txt? also use bypass firmware...
HERE to get the ps3 proxyserver to work and bypass the firmware check at the same time. But instead of using the update.txt link he has use this one instead, cause it is the us version.Use chuanwc's method
In the second box of the ps3 proxyserver program delete the .pkg text in the box. You will then see the links from the ps3 to start showing up. Hope it works for you and have fun.
i used the gripshift demo to install it, and it works. i later then tried fL0w but no luck.
I setup a couple pcs in order to capture all traffic from my ps3, and also use simple dns to bypass firmware check (using 2nd pc).
all traffic in and out of the ps3 goes through my main pc, since it has 2 nic cards that i bridged together. so the ps3 gets all it's internet access from the main pc, which i then run Ethereal on. (can't run the DNS Sever on same pc the ps3 is getting internet connection from - this is why i had to use a 2nd pc for simple dns).
anyway, i bought a copy of Qbert from the sony store so i can capture all the traffic in steps (hoping to see how it works with installing paid for games). If any of the hardcore experts who are working on trying to decrypt the games want to look at the capture, let me know. (soon as i make sure there is no credit card info in that part of the capture - there shouldn't be, since i captured the process in steps)
Ethereal picture of what happens when downloading a paid for game. Shows handshake process with the server that i think activates the games:
And here is the link for the paid for qbert, for you all to play around with... not sure if it will run without paying for it (or until someone figures out a way around it). I can't even play it, even though i paid for it, cause you need to upgraded firmware to latest. Basically i did it to capture a paid for game download
and as a bonus, here is the the .PNG for qbert
You can clearly see the SSL activity to and from your PS3 in the box you highlighted. Please post the network traffic when you can.
It was the first 'scene' PS3 PKG release basically... things on the Web and on P2P etc don't count (to them) only what is released by established groups on topsites. Mainly they just release them so that it becomes more wide-spread, versus only people who know of a few PS3 Web sites finding out about them.
It would have been a lot nicer if they released one that wasn't already working and told us how to fix it, but maybe that is still to come... we can always hope, eh?
That will probably be "their" next release ROFL!!
i'll share the ethereal.cap files on the net, and post links.. soon as i make sure that there is no financial info in it.
I broke my whole capture process into 4 separate caputures.
1. logging into the sony store.
2. adding money to my cart
3. confirming the purchase
4. download and install.
the only thing that is preventing me from posting the #4 cap file is the SSL portion of it (boxed out in my ethereal picture in my previous post)... it is communicating with the same servers it did for when i added money to my cart, ect.
some of the servers it is talking to in the SSL section:
[Register or Login to view code]
here is the link for tekken 5 dark ressurection jap
just installed it and I'm running firmware v1.10, and it's telling me a system software update is required, if I need to update the system what version should I install so I can still maybe still use the iso loader later.
PS3 Backup Game Managers
• GameSonic PS3 Manager Updates
• Hybrid Manager PS3 Updates
• IrisMAN PS3 Manager Updates
• Iris Manager PS3 Manager Updates
• MultiMAN PS3 Manager Updates
PS3 CFW (Custom Firmware)
• DARKNET PS3 CFW Updates
• Ferrox PS3 CFW Updates
• Habib PS3 CFW Updates
• Prometheus PS3 CFW Updates
• PS3ITA PS3 CFW Updates
• Rebug PS3 CFW Updates
• Rogero PS3 CFW Updates
• Sky PS3 CFW Updates
• Starz PS3 CFW Updates
PS3 Homebrew Apps
• Movian PS3 Media Center
• PS3 CCAPI (ControlConsoleAPI)
• PS3 NOR & NAND Patcher Updates
• PS3Xport / PeXploit Updates
• No PSN / NoPSN Patch Updates
• PSNDL / PSNDL v2 Updates
• PSNPatch / PSN Patch Updates
• PSNStuff+ / PSNStuffX Updates
• PSN / SEN Enabler & Disabler Updates
• TrueAncestor PS3 Tools Updates
• WebMAN Mod Plugin Updates
• Yutolio's PSN Database Updates
PS3 MFW (Modified Firmware)
• PS3 CFW Creator / PS3MFW UI
• PS3MFW Builder / Our MFW Updates


text:
When Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the measure was supposed to resolve the nation's illegal immigration problem. It didn't work.
Twenty years later, lawmakers took another crack at the issue. But a deeply divided Congress was unable to reach agreement, and immigration reform died in 2007.
By then, a new front in the immigration battle had opened. In June 2004, Kris Kobach, a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, authored a paper suggesting that states could help improve national security in the post-9/11 era by enforcing federal immigration laws. He argued that federal immigration law contained a clause that gave states some limited enforcement authority. Kobach spoke from experience: From 2001 to 2003, he had been an immigration specialist in the U.S. Attorney General's Office and, after the terrorist attacks of 2001, was put in charge of efforts to tighten border security.
As national immigration reform was collapsing, Arizona state Rep. Russell Pearce, a Republican from Mesa and an outspoken critic of U.S. immigration policy, decided to test how far his state could go in regulating illegal immigration itself. He settled on the workplace as the spot to focus enforcement efforts.
"When you start having different procedures in different states, it starts to open the door to all kids of discrimination complaints. We want one national system."
—Lynn Shotwell, executive director, American Council on
International Personnel
Pearce sponsored a bill to make Arizona employers confirm the legal status of all newly hired workers, relying partly on Kobach's argument as the legal basis for the measure. The bill passed and Arizona's new employer sanction law was signed in July 2007, mandating that all employers in the state use the federal E-Verify system, which had been set up as a voluntary program.
A coalition of employer groups sued in federal court that same month to block the law. One of the key arguments was that states do not have the authority to enact immigration laws. The first round in Arizona federal court went to the state and an appeal was heard June 12 in federal court in San Francisco. A ruling may come later this summer.
Meanwhile, other states and cities began enacting their own laws. The National Conference of State Legislatures found that 41 states enacted 170 immigration-related laws in 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, state legislatures considered more than 1,100 immigration-related bills.
"We are really concerned about these state laws," says Lynn Shotwell, executive director of the Washington-based American Council on International Personnel, which represents large multinational corporations. The hodgepodge of rules not only complicates the hiring process for large corporations, but also raises the potential of mistakes that can lead to legal problems, she says.
Workforce Management, June 23, 2008, p. 52 -- Subscribe Now!


text:
Real news. Real funny.
Real news. Real funny.
If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.
NO headlines found matching 'election promise'
NEW To Fark? Find Out HOW TO FARKX
Displayed 0 of about 894 links -- join TotalFark to see them all
Submit a Link »
In Other Media
Stories from our partner sites:
Someone Really Methed Up This Burrito
Badass 7-Year-Old Attempts To Stop A...
Here Are Some Dudes Who Live Their Li...
Watch This Strongman Pull A 9.5-Ton T...
More news at HuffPostWeirdNews »
YouTube 'Fire Challenge' Burns 40% of...
This Might Be the Heaviest Baby Girl...
Study Floats 'Provocative' New Theory...
Oops: School Let Hitler, ISIS Quotes...
More news at Newser »


text:
It's easy to see the difference diversity can make.
Our employees will always be the heart of our company; united through different ideas, opinions and approaches, which are encouraged
and valued. The best outcome is that the company, employees, suppliers, members and the communities we serve, benefit as a whole.
We're Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the company behind the Blue Cross and Blue Shield divisions of Illinois, New Mexico,
Oklahoma and Texas. Our workforce is as diverse as the communities we serve, because to HCSC, diversity is a companywide
commitment. We are committed to partnering with minority, women-owned and other diverse businesses for products and services
because it adds value to what we do for our customers, as well as promotes prosperity in the communities where we live and work.
We're proud to recognize the many differences that make us Blue. We hope you'll join us as we continue on our journey of promoting
diversity and a healthier world for all.
To learn more about our company, our services, our careers and procurement
opportunities, log on to our company web sites.
Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
This drawing was created by an employee's child for our annual Diversity Calendars, which span several years.


text:
Worked With:
David Marshall Grant
Birth Name: David Marshall Grant
Born: 06/21/1955
Birth Place: Westport, Connecticut, USA
Born: 06/21/1955
Birth Place: Westport, Connecticut, USA
While continuing to act onstage in "The Survivor", "The Tempest", and directing a Los Angeles production of "Bent", Grant performed in TV-movies ("Kent State" 1981, "Legs" 1983) and appeared prominently in interesting if minor films including "Happy Birthday Gemini" (1980). He attracted attention opposite another new face, Kevin Costner, as the younger and more reckless of two bicycling brothers in "American Flyer" (1984). Grant would later play other gung-ho characters, both sympathetic and not, in "Bat 21" (1988) and "Air America" (1990). Similarly magnetic TV roles included Robert Kennedy in "Citizen Cohn" (1992) and a sly Nazi in "Breaking Point" (1989). He portrayed an ambitious politic... Continue Bio >>
Popular Movies:
More Credits >>


text:
Dickey teases Toronto teammate with fastball
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — R.A. Dickey threw a fastball at about 84 mph, freezing Brett Lawrie.
"Right down the pipe!" Toronto's third baseman said as a few Blue Jays' teammates around the batting cage laughed.
Known for his knuckleball, Dickey can mix in a fastball not noted for its velocity.
"That can be a weapon, too, if you use it in the right place, if a guy has tracked 10 or 11 knuckleballs in a row," he said. "When you throw a fastball in there, it's a whole different animal. It looks a lot harder than it really is, so you can play with the optical illusion from time to time."


text:
11/24/2008, Greenlee Mountain Estates
It is dark as I post this. I've got the gen on and the lights blaring in the motorhome. Rolling Stones playing the radio and then The Clash. About to start dinner. Something vegetarian since I had a huge green chili burrito for lunch at my favorite place in Safford. Very good, but I wasn't sure whether it came from a can or was homemade. Met one of my neighbors here in this remote anchorage. Nice guy. Can't believe this appears to be the last night of the trip.
11/24/2008, Greenlee Mountain Estates
I'm parked at the entrance of development where the 40 acres is located. The picture shows the view from the fire pit Jodi and I constructed. That and the dirt road going to the land is all that has been developed on it. We took the motorhome all the way up to the acreage a year or two ago but I'm not sure the Rebounder is altogether up to that anymore. The hike there and back this afternoon was the toughest the dogs and I have experienced the whole trip. This is vast, rugged, open country. It is located in the southeastern part of Arizona, near Safford but closer to Clifton. I'm debating whether to stay here tonight or head down to Roper Lake and the hot spring bath. Can't believe I have internet access out here.
We had TV and electricity and everything.
11/23/2008, Lordberg, NM
I'm parked tonight at the KOA in Lordsberg, NM. I thought I would get farther but the sun was setting and I wanted to get off the road and here is where I wound up. $31 more than Walmart, I'm splurging. Nice day driving through southern, New Mexico. Good southwest weather. I picked up this dinner in Hatch, the chili capital of New Mexico. It appears to be red even though its green chili season at present. I had a craving. It was so hot I didn't dare take down the Hachul.
11/22/2008, Presently blogging from Las Vegas, New Mexico
11/22/2008, New Mexico/Colorado area
This photo was taken at a rest stop hours south of Denver after a sleepover at the home of childhood friends Brett and Heather and their two little girls. Although no dogs live in the house, they allowed Jake and Anne into their home for the night. We slept in the guest bedroom on the 3rd floor. For the record, I did not sense any ghosts whatsoever. I was tormented, however, by the two dogs who determined to sleep with me on the otherwise very comfortable futon. Visiting friends in Denver was a very special little adventure. Back to the picture, traveled through this land for hours and it continued for hours after we departed this location. The highway between southern Colorado and northern New Mexico is awesome, especially leading up to and including sunset. I came this way years ago in a car with my mom. We enjoyed the same experience together. It has become much dryer and sunnier since we entered the west. Big sky, vast open areas of land. Almost like an inland sea.
11/20/2008, Omaha, Nebraska
This picture shows (from left to right) Brother in law Andrew, sister Kimberly, niece Brenna, nephew Brett, niece Sydney, and me. Andrew and Kimberly honored their 19th wedding anniversary by including all the kids in their fancy dinner. That is so like them. How lucky are Jake, Anne and I to have immediate family in Nebraska and California and Arizona that are all so great.
I am blogging presently from the Holiday RV Park in North Platte, Nebraska, about 300 miles west of Omaha. It's supposed to get down to the teens tonight, colder with the windchill factor. So nice to be hooked up with electricity. I've got the new electric space heater going full tilt but the propane ducted heat system is still going on frequently to keep us warm and toasty. This place has 80 cable channels and the Rebounder has two cable-ready tv sets, so we're styling tonight. For $24 it's just not worth it to stay at the Walmart and run the generator to supplement the house batteries. Tomorrow we'll be heading on to Denver to hopefully visit childhood friends Brett and Heather and their two girls.
To the kind blog groupie who pointed out that I seem happier on land than cruising in the Bahamas... I think you may be right and I'm sorry for my defensiveness. Sometimes the truth hurts a little. Blog groupies are entitled to keep me real. I love cruising and adventure and I'm sure there will be many more adventures ahead... but I think I love being with family and friends and dry land even more. Now if I could somehow manage to combine the two, that would be something truly special. All in due time.
11/20/2008, Strategic Air Command Museum
I just spent several wonderful days in Omaha with my sister, brother in law, nieces, and nephew. It was so nice to be with family after all this time and they were so kind to us. Jake and Anne were in heaven with so many people and other dogs to play with, not to mention all the rawhide bones. The last afternoon we sprung Brett from school an hour early so I could take him to the air and space museum. I almost made him hurl from too many high speed rolls, climbs, and inverted loops (this simulator literally rolls and inverts, thus the roller-coaster-like restraints), but we still had a blast. Never underestimate the aerobatic skills of a former two time speech and debate team captain. This morning Brett returned the favor by decimating me on the X-Box.


text:
Kiva Zip makes 0% interest loans for 100% social good
How it Works
A Big Boost for Small Businesses
Thousands of entrepreneurs get rejected for loans every day. With Kiva Zip, you can support small businesses with 0% interest loans and enable them to access the capital they need to grow their businesses. It only takes $25 to make an impact.
Banking on People
Kiva Zip is about human connections. As a Kiva Zip lender, you have the chance to become a customer, brand ambassador and business adviser to the borrowers that you're funding with interest free loans.
"I love the spirit of helping others. It is a gift to them, and to my heart."
Jean, Saint Louis MO
"Seeing lenders chip in from across the country was exciting and encouraging."
Sean, Portland OR
Character Based Lending
Kiva Zip uses an entrepreneur's network as a measure of creditworthiness. Borrowers invite family and friends to start their fundraising. After reaching a designated threshold, the Kiva Zip community takes care of the rest. It's a simple, transparent way to help small businesses.


text:
At this point in his career, Zac Efron can take on pretty much any film role, endorsement, reading of the phone book, etc., and his die-hard fans will line up to see him. With such enthusiastic supporters, it could be easy to take them for granted and sign on to whatever project suits his fancy. When MTV News caught up with the teen heartthrob, however, we learned that this is not the case.
When asked why he took on his role in "Charlie St. Cloud," out this Friday, instead of another musical, for example, Efron revealed that he puts a lot of thought into his fans' wishes.
"I was trying to figure that out for so long," Efron admitted. "What do the fans want to see? I could do another musical. I could stick to my guns and try to do more of that. Try and do another cool musical and try to stick with that genre. Is that really what the fans want to see? I mean everyone is like, 'How can you make that transition? How are you going to get the fans to follow you into this new kind of stuff?' "
Efron said he doesn't think it's the responsibility of his fans to follow him, rather it's his responsibility to stay relevant. "The only way that I know how to do that is to stay a little bit ahead of the audience. Experience life, make movies about those experiences, and by the time the audience catches up, and maybe realizes that life isn't always like 'High School Musical,' maybe they will have a movie that helps them through that next challenge that they face in life."
The forward-thinking 22-year-old added that he'd prefer his career to be based in that kind of relevance, rather than what he thinks is fun. "I don't want to look back and say I just made movies because it was fun, you know? I want to make movies because it's challenging and it's an opportunity to help people. Otherwise it's just, you know, kind of selfish, I think."
Check out everything we've got on "Charlie St. Cloud."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.


text:
Specialist Extraction Hood Cleaning & Oven Cleaning
Here at UK Commercial Cleaning, we provide specialist industrial oven cleaning and duct cleaning services for industrial kitchens across the UK at competitive prices.
If regular oven cleaning, duct cleaning and extraction canopy cleaning is not undertaken, then greasy deposits left in the ducts will attract fibrous build-ups as time progresses. Eventually, this will carbonise and become baked-on, making removal extremely difficult and time consuming. What's more, air flow efficiency can be seriously impaired by deposits, which leads to a greater use of energy.
If all of these areas are not professionally cleaned and maintained, then this can quickly become a fire risk, whilst bacteria developing in grease deposits can also create a hazard to health; this means that business efficiency and profitability is bound to suffer.
Furthermore, failure to carry out regular oven and duct cleaning can invalidate buildings insurance cover. We are aware of many cases where insurers are refusing to pay out on millions of pound worth of claims following fires where the insured has not complied with the warranties on their buildings insurance policies regarding regular cleaning of duct and extractor hood systems.
UK's Premier Providers of Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Services
UK Commercial Cleaning can provide expert oven and duct cleaning services that operate to BESA TR/19 standards.
For insurance purposes, we will supply certification after every oven cleaning and duct cleaning service is carried out; we also supply grease deposit measurements before and after the clean, as well as photographic evidence.
All of the aforementioned and more will make up your post clean info pack, which can be presented at any time to food hygiene or insurance companies for analysis.
It is a legal requirement to ensure that all industrial kitchen ovens and grease extract systems, such as canopies, filters, ductwork, risers and fans, in kitchens, restaurants, hotels, pubs, canteens, food production areas, hospitals and schools, are cleaned as required by your buildings insurance policies, and in accordance with Fire Safety Regulations and Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) regulations.
The Oct 2005 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order came into effect in April 2006. This places the onus on building operators to appoint a responsible person for fire safety and this responsible person needs to have a fire risk assessment carried out. Such a risk assessment should include any kitchen extract system within or passing through a building and should identify fire risks and ways of removing or reducing the risks. Failure to carry out a risk assessment and precautionary actions identified as risk reduction measures could, in the event of injury or death could lead to an HSE prosecution of the individual(s) and company responsible.
For more information about any of our commercial cleaning services including duct cleaning and oven cleaning, please contact a member of our team today.
To find out more about the range of commercial services we provide, please contact us on
0800 032 9533 or e-mail us at email@example.com.


text:
Burning Tear (poem by me)
Burning Tear
I feel the fire
in my heart
slowly rising and growing
taking my breath
whispering into my ears
"Welcome to Death"
it is a relief from my fears
fears, taking over my life
cutting my veins like a knife.
Burning Tear
destroying my eyes
ending my light
ending my sight
showing me oh how tight
life and death are combined
it is impossible to find
a way to escape.
Burning Tear
making it seem so clear
what went wrong
what I´ve done
how I wasted my time
how I threw my soul away
without wantong to say
a thing.
Burning Tear
oh how I enjoyed his touch
the touch of his hands
holding up my chin
living through lust and affection
living through those affectionate sins
m aking love an addiction.
Burning Tear
making my heart go lit
resembling the feeling when I did sit
on his lap
his hands on my skin
carefully finding their ways
through my layers
of clothes.
Burning Tear
past is past
it went all too fast
it didn´t went on to last
long enough for me
to see
that he´s alright
and not my enemy.
Burning Tear
he burned my soul
instead of easing my pain
I took the next train
to run away
hoping once to be able to lay
down again with closed eyes
because so far all my tries
Burning Tear
here I sit crying
longing for his kiss
that I´d never thought I´d miss
longing for the touch of his hands
but I lost
lost you.
Burning Tear
running down my face and leaving
just like you.


text:
See what's new on the site
How to use DailyStrength
Check out our page
Read our tweets
Shirts, Hats, Baby Wear
A group that tries to share with each other how they deal with being a good supporting parent of a prisoner and the unique problems that arise. What to share or not, how to deal with spouse of prisoner, ex-spouse of, children of prisoner which we may not see either anymore,so forth
- Founded On:
- Jul 31st, 2008
- Founded By:
- tiredtiredt...
- Members:
- 343
lF YOU LOVE ME, LET ME FALLPosted by tiredtiredtired - 09/14/10, 10:42 pm
Good Read, Probably what I didnt do for my son Posted on 09/04/10, 06:38 pm IF YOU LOVE ME, LET ME FALL IF you love me let me fall all by myself. Don't try to spread a net out to catch me, don't throw a pillow under my ass to cushion the pain so I don't have to feel it, don't stand in t...
Good Luck
darktower7 (02/25/14)
This is a wonderful site.I am so glad I found all of you. I will be sharing again soon.
I'm With You
darktower7 (02/25/14)
I am feeling so lonely tonight and missing my son Michael.


text:
A free way to build your virtual collection, make lists, and share them. It's your new home on Criterion.com.
Learn More »
cinewolf: "Theres something about the look & feel of these films that transports me back to being a kid seeing them ona rainy wknd afternoon. Pure nostalgia trip"DVD Learn more »
cinewolf: "If you ever need a reminder of what true beauty looks like. Its Irene Jacob in this film. Body, mind & soul."Blu-Ray Spine #359 Learn more »
cinewolf: "Its remarkable how lush & fresh these 2 films look given their age. Some regrettable avant garde stylings mar part 2 IMO but marvelous timeless works."Blu-Ray Learn more »
cinewolf: "Next to Hayworth's Supernova of charming dancing sluttiness Glenn Ford is kind of a Red Dwarf by comparison, but really, who wouldnt pale next to her?"Blu-Ray Spine #795 Learn more »
cinewolf: "Well worth the time one and all, but there is something particularly vibrant and real about Laughtons Rembrandt, his real wife playing the same here."DVD Learn more »
cinewolf: "All 3 films are very distinctive but add up to one of the most humane in cinema history. Sharmila Tagore is just perfectly sublime in the finale."Blu-Ray Spine #782 Learn more »
cinewolf: "Art Direction, Cinematography & Screenwriting working to create a mesmerizing soft pillow of horror with which to smother your face. Stop struggling!"Blu-Ray Spine #90 Learn more »
cinewolf: "The intertwining characters can be a little confusing to sort at first, but the twists & turns keep coming; a truly classic heist film from a master."DVD Spine #448 Learn more »
cinewolf: "Maybe not quite my favorite gangster film, but possibly my favorite gangster. Gabin oozes fateful charm & had me all the way. Bittersweet & beautiful."DVD Spine #271 Learn more »
cinewolf: "I wasnt prepared for how beautifully this was shot (& those long tracking shots; wow) or how ahead of its time its themes are. Superbly acted as well."Blu-Ray Spine #778 Learn more »
cinewolf: "Pretty unrelentingly bleak, but Ingrid still looks amazing in this work approaching the end of her career."Blu-Ray Spine #60 Learn more »
cinewolf: "I dont care if youre jaded & expecting it- the emotional journey. I dont care how old it is. This is a beautiful, beautiful film, and always will be."Blu-Ray Spine #201 Learn more »
cinewolf: "Best review headline I ever saw was for this film: "Merchant-izing Ivory Soap Opera". But it does have its merits. Really."Blu-Ray Spine #775 Learn more »


text:
I just got off the TT bike. The fit is still off, but it's better. I did a scheduled training ride, which included some lengthy efforts above FTP. I had to go on PE and HR because I don't have power on that bike. It was hard, and the numbers sort of bear that out! I noticed that my heart rate, once I started the TT efforts, went to a "sweet spot", right at or a little above LTR, and just sat there. I've never seen it do that before - and it DID hurt! I stayed in the aero bars the entire efforts, and I was going pretty fast on the flats, but that damn TT thing is slower uphill. That's a function of ill fit, I'm sure. I've got some more saddle fiddling to do.
Racer Ex..."Don't know if the shop is under new ownership. If not feel free to shoplift stuff and break bottles in his parking lot."
Nice job, Sara.
When my HR pegs and I can't push it much harder, I'm tired. Like yesterday during criss cross. Tough day on the bike. Lots of lingering effects from the strength work the day before. I bet I start to see some form next week.
Takes me a bit to recover from the strength work as well, though it doesn't make me as sore as it did before I had done them a few times. I have a day off, after two cycles of strength last night, with TallWife joining me for one of them.
Strength work impact on TSS is a function of duration, intensity AND most importantly the amount one has done and for how long. I am a Cat 1 when it comes to strength training. i have been doing it consistently since 1977. I can do a strength maintenance workout with zero impact to TSS or in fact aid recovery. Likewise, i can crush it and take on fatigue.
When i trained with the Russians, they had a torture strength circuit at their cycling gym. We had to do 10 sets of 10 to 15 reps over 6 exercises designed to strengthen the pedal stroke. We had to move as quickly as possible from exercise to exercise. The routine took about an hour. After completion, we would quickly get on our bikes that were set up on a trainer and ride 8x 4 to 5 minute low cadence intervals. Now that hour circuit kicked my ass for a couple of days. We had to do that twice per week from October to January 1. Most of the racers hated it but the Russian pros that they trained did it just as we did but with a lot of weight.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle
Cat: Killer
I think I could do with a shot of testosterone. Water back.
Racer Ex..."Don't know if the shop is under new ownership. If not feel free to shoplift stuff and break bottles in his parking lot."
I'm doing a charity ride tomorrow. Poker run. Sigh. When you're shut down for racing, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I'll do some tempo on the way out and maybe on the way back. Depends if there's beer at the barbeque. Hopefully I won't get run over by a bent. The charity is a local one for kids with cancer, and the brother of the victim rides with us. So at least there's that going for it.
I did a local charity ride a couple of weeks ago, a metric century. It showed me to be in a strange place - I'm considerably faster than that crowd (used to be my crowd) now, while still being considerably slower than experienced racers. They did have home made chocolate chip cookies the size of small pancakes.
Demain, on roule!
Stay safe Shovel.
I don't mind charity and other fun rides as long as I stay out of charity ride pacelines.
"Real men wear pink."
See my cycling photos at http://www.pbase.com/cleavel/bicycling
See my bikes at http://www.pbase.com/cleavel/mybicycles
Visit my blog at http://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: http://www.lightningvelo.org/
Racer Ex..."Don't know if the shop is under new ownership. If not feel free to shoplift stuff and break bottles in his parking lot."
I spent a fair amount of time in that "betwixt and between" phase as I worked my way up the learning curve. In its simplest expression, my primary goal when I started training was to "hang with the big dogs". For a long time, that meant falling off the back of tougher and tougher packs of dogs. I finally got to where I could hang with -almost- any group, except for those times (like significant climbs) when a group is going to totally splinter. And of course there are some small get togethers of truly fast guys I'd have no business joining. But being able to do the "A" training race, knowing I wasn't going to be dropped, was a huge accomplishment for me. So what I'm saying is: if you keep up the focused training, you'll get there, and when you do, it will be a real blast. When you can respond to the hard efforts and say "Hey, I'm still here." it's a great feeling.
I'm just getting back to that point now, after having fallen off the pace post-crash. Not quite where I was in January in some important areas, but I'm getting closer and closer.
I did 5' criss-cross intervals and then over-gear intervals this morning. That range a bit above FTP (~110%) is one of the areas where I'm not where I was just yet. Hard for me to hold the target power, whereas before it wasn't an issue (and the target was higher). At the same time, I can crank out more power when fatigued than I used to, which is of value. If the 40K on Tuesday comes down to a sprint (not likely!), I'm "Going Gary" on everyone.
Our track races were rained out tonight. The last four races I intended to do we're rained out. Doubt is creeping in. I wanted to do a crit in Columbus on Sunday but one or our boys is visiting. Guess I will be riding in the cementery on Sunday doing hard lap/ tempo lap for one hour.
oldschool areodynamic brick
Lots of obstacles this season. Good thing you are so good at sorting out how to do your needed workouts.
AJ, as AzT said, your experience is showing! Hang in there.
AzT, I did the over-gear intervals yesterday, the 110% and 115%. Man, they were hard! I don't know what my power really was, the TT bike doesn't have power, but PE told me I was burying myself. I'm at that extra 1 - 2% right now, I can see the subtle differences it makes. Thinking about the men's Cat 5 road race I did, and how disappointed I was with not staying in the peloton (I promised myself and Shovel that I would), I see that I did do pretty well, in reality. I was there. I set a PR for over 9 miles, half of that on my own. I could NOT have done that in January. So, yes, I am stronger, probably a little smarter, but OMG do I have a long way to go.
Racer Ex..."Don't know if the shop is under new ownership. If not feel free to shoplift stuff and break bottles in his parking lot."
All of us have a long way to go, in our own way.
Sara, you have done remarkably well, and you are just beginning. Age group racing is where it's at in Masters. You can race up most of the time, and then race on the same page as everyone else. I don't think you've had a chance to do that yet. If PSG is your first shot, then just race smart. You will have the strength.
Pardon me while I get ready for my fred ride.
Headed out for a recovery ride on the TT bike. I'll bring my saddle tools with me and plan to adjust. What I arrive at for fit after this ride is what I'll have for PSG. It will work.
Racer Ex..."Don't know if the shop is under new ownership. If not feel free to shoplift stuff and break bottles in his parking lot."
The adventures of shovelfred, part 2. Long. Warned.
The idea was to ride to this charity ride and back and get some work in. On the way out, I warm up and then hit the gas for 30-40 minutes of tempo/SST/threshold. I felt good so I knew this would be a good day. I arrive at the ride HQ, register, stash my swim trunks for later, top off my bottles, and get ready to start. Only 15 minutes wait time. Good. We ride easy through town. When we hit a section of long flat road I tell the front of the group that I want to get some work in. They can work with me, ride my wheel, or let me go, their choice. Nobody has any issue with it. I start taking 3 minute pulls. A small group is behind me. They rotate through but only the front two. No problem. Three pulls later and it's down to three. Two more pulls and it's me and one guy, Johnny, a Cat3 cross racer. I'm doing SST to threshold pulls. Johnny and I work for a bit and then he's gone. I decided to keep going and meet up at the first rest stop. I have to stop to get my poker card. So I wait for 15 minutes and none of the front group is anywhere. I decide to move on. I hit the next section, a 13 mile loop with some climbing, at good solid high tempo pace. When I wrap back around to the rest stop, there's Johnny. Hmmm. He latches on and we ride for about 10 miles at low tempo, chatting. We go through the next rest stop, but Johnny is fading on the hills. He's got a compact with an 11-28. I'm on a standard with an 11-23. So I wait at top of the grades but he's OK on the flats. After the next rest stop Johnny is falling apart. We decide that maybe it would be best if he limped in. There were still plenty of riders on the course, he had his cell, and he lives in the area. So I went on ahead, wicking it up for another 10-12 miles of mid tempo to finish it off. I pull into the ride HQ, change into my swim trunks, and drop the core temp in the pool. Temps on the day ranged from 85-95 degrees. I get out of the pool, and ask where the barbeque was. They won't even start cooking for another hour. Damn. I'm down at least 2Kcal and I gotta eat. So I changed back into my kit, headed into town, sat down and had a slice of pizza (barbequed chicken and mushroom) and a beer (Brooklyn Lager). I finished up, and rode endurance home into a headwind. I ended up with 100 miles and 280TSS. During the times I was alone I tried a few town line sprints at about 70% effort, no problem with the shoulder. It was sore when I got home, but that is to be expected. So I met all of my goals for the day. Got a good workout in, had some fun, and tested my shoulder without hurting it.
Thanks for reading.
^ Sounds like a heck of a ride and a whole lotta fitness.
"Real men wear pink."
See my cycling photos at http://www.pbase.com/cleavel/bicycling
See my bikes at http://www.pbase.com/cleavel/mybicycles
Visit my blog at http://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
Lightning Velo Cycling Club: http://www.lightningvelo.org/
I had a similarish day as Shovel. I met some teammates at 7, we rode over to Davis, did the Wheelworks ride, and rode back. I finished with 93 miles and 269tss. I considered riding around the park a few times to get the even 100, but then thought better of it.
Cyclists of the world, unite! You have nothing to lube but your chains!
Shovel, shame on you for hurting all of those nice Freds!!! (Heavens, I'm mean!)
About an hour of recovery on the B2 this morning. I did a little more fiddling with the fit. It's not quite right, maybe Magic Fitter Ex can have a look at me and the bike on Monday and do some hocus-pocus on it. Other than that, I can ride it as is - even though I feel a little scrunched up on it.
On another note, the carbon wheelset arrived today. They're on the CAAD, along with Koolstop Salmons, and I will try it tomorrow for a short ride. I may be racing those wheels this week - I didn't expect that.
Racer Ex..."Don't know if the shop is under new ownership. If not feel free to shoplift stuff and break bottles in his parking lot."
Looking for a bit of advice, please. Until now I have been racing sparingly, maybe one crit/circuit race per fortnight. That has been easy to work into a training plan. For the next few weeks I am going to be racing two or three times per week, a mixture of crits and road races. Mostly Tuesdays and Saturdays or Sundays, with the occasional Thursday thrown in.
Obviously I'm going to back off the intensity on the intervening days. I'm thinking I'll maintain the volume, though, with several hours of low-intensity endurance/recovery rides on Wednesday, Friday, and whichever of the weekend days I won't be racing. Any observations?
I wonder if you would be better off with just hour-ish recovery rides, assuming you have banked the volume over the spring.
Cyclists of the world, unite! You have nothing to lube but your chains!


text:
Make sure to check out this gallery throughout the day, because it will be updated with some of the hottest photos of celebrity sightings and red carpet pics as they come in!
Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine and girlfriend Behati Prinsloo take a cruise in Los Angeles, California, and Brad Pitt films the final scenes for new movie World War Z on the South coast of England.
True Blood star Anna Paquin out for a walk with one of her twins in Venice, California, while Britney Spears and her sister Jaime Lynn Spears take her sons Sean and Jayden out shopping at Target in Thousand Oaks, California.
So, go ahead and launch the gallery to check out today's hottest celebrity pics and sightings!


text:
The Integration of Guerrilla Armies into Conventional Forces
Lessons Learnt from BMATT in Africa *
Maj Genl A W Dennis, CB, OBE (rtd)
from the UK, previously Director of Military Assistance Overseas
Paper presented at a conference on Changing Dynamics: Military-Strategic Issues for a Future South Africa, hosted by the Institute for Defence Politics in conjunction with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, CSIR conference centre, Pretoria, 6 August 1992.
Published in South African Defence Review Issue No 5, 1992
Let me first make clear exactly who I am and what my credentials are. I was for 34 years a member of the British Army. I retired in January 1985 and have had no significant links with the services or defence intellectual circles in the intervening 7 1/2 years: indeed I have been running the fourth largest fund raising charity in the UK during that time. However, my last 3 years in the Army, 1982, 1983 and 1984 were spent as the United Kingdom's Director of Military Assistance Overseas. As such I managed the United Kingdom's military assistance on a tri-service basis world wide. Though not intimately involved in any individual commitment (that was the job of the Team Commander in country) I was responsible for advising Her Majesty's Government (HMG) and the government of the countries involved on the assistance that could sensibly be provided and, once the team was committed, for ensuring that it was functioning effectively. Given that experience I suppose I have some qualifications for speaking to you today.
But in doing so I must make several things clear. The views I express are my own. In formulating my ideas I am drawing on my own experience, on reading of much literature, and on private conversations with erstwhile colleagues, but I have received no official help or support from HMG and nothing I say should be thought to reflect British government policy in any way. Next, in order to keep my subject within reasonable bounds, I am going to confine my comments to land forces and will not try to cover sea and air forces as well. And finally I must make it clear that I speak as a soldier not a diplomat. I hope I will not say things that offend but if I do I crave your understanding. I am not an expert on South African affairs. I can only do my best to express views that I believe to be in the general interest. Where, as in this country, opinions are sharply divided as to the general interest, I think it almost inevitable that some of what I say will prove unpalatable.
I am basing my presentation on a brief historical survey of the activities of the British Military Advisory and Training Team Zimbabwe (generally called BMATT), hoping to draw some principles out as I go along. Having outlined the history of BMATT I will examine whether any of the lessons learned could be applied to the South African situation and if the answer seems to be positive I shall conclude by making some suggestions as to how this might, in my view, be done. I will also touch briefly on the activities of BMATT Namibia even though I have no first hand experience of this work.
The Lancaster House agreement, signed in December 1979, is the obvious place to start. That agreement contained provision for the introduction of a Commonwealth Monitoring Force to supervise the cease-fire, to encourage the Patriotic Front (PF) forces to report with their weapons to nominated rendezvous points (RVs), to move those that did report to the RVs into Assembly Places in which they could more easily be looked after administratively in the longer term and, of course, to oversee the withdrawal of the Rhodesian Security Forces to their barracks. It was a truly remarkable operation which, before the event, was thought most likely to end in complete disaster and widespread bloodshed. These misgivings arose largely from the understandable distrust that existed on all sides despite the signing of the agreement at Lancaster House. The distrust was not just between the Rhodesian Security Forces and the Patriotic Front but also between ZIPRA and ZANLA as well. After all we had a situation where three armies had been involved in a long and bloody conflict which no one had lost in a military sense. Indeed all three probably felt that they could have won militarily, given time. And all three elements, for differing reasons, initially distrusted the Monitoring Forces; the whites because they were being "sold down the river," the Patriotic Front because they thought the predominantly white monitoring forces would be partial to white Rhodesian interest.
But despite the deeply ingrained distrust the operation worked. Why? First, because a genuinely joint command and control system was established at the outset with all three factions and members of the Monitoring Force being represented at equal ranks at all levels. Patriotic Front Commissioners were deployed with Monitor Team Liaison officers to supervise PF activities at RVs and Assembly Places. Second because it quickly became apparent to all that suspicion of the Monitoring Force was unfounded - they acted in a totally even handed manner. Third, because of the bravery of small detachments of monitoring force personnel and their ZIPRA and ZANLA Commissioner teams in the RVs who never overreacted even in potentially very dangerous circumstances. Indeed half way through the week long RV phase it became apparent that success was not to be achieved by sitting waiting for suspicious PF members to report to RVs and detachments bravely went into the bush in ones and twos to overcome PF fears. By D+8 no less than 15 730 members of the PF had reached Assembly Places. And finally, because the Monitoring Force successfully undertook a task that was completely unexpected, the feeding and support, including medical support of PF members in Assembly Places while belated arrangements were made by the Government to take on this task.
Some simple principles can be deduced from this operation. First, that an outside agency, in this case the Monitoring Force, can help to allay the natural antipathy of people who have seen each other as enemies for many years. Next, that joint and equal representation at all levels, assisted by a neutral umpire, can resolve problems. That professionalism, calmness, bravery and flexibility are all essential attributes for the neutral umpires. And finally that one way to men's hearts is through their stomachs; had the administrative needs of PF members in the Assembly Places not been met trouble would almost certainly have arisen.
The next milestone occurred in March 1980 with the election of ZANU and Robert Mugabe with an absolute majority in Parliament. The Monitoring Force then left and BMATT was established. At this stage the threats in the emergent Zimbabwe probably fell under three heads:
Civil war or
coup d'etat
Political schism caused by Joshua Nkomo and ZAPU
A general exodus of whites with all that that would mean for the economy
Certainly the risk of the first and third of these threats would be significantly lessened if properly integrated security forces could be created quickly and a stable security situation achieved. And stability was also essential if foreign investment was to be forthcoming. It was probably for reasons such as these that Mr Mugabe asked the UK to provide Zimbabwe with military assistance. An added attraction of a UK BMATT was probably the reassurance it would provide to the white population, who would perceive it as a moderating force in the country.
A significant problem in achieving integration is common to both Zimbabwe in 1980 and South Africa in 1992 - only the old established security force had the framework of administration, command and control upon which a single army could be constructed and those security forces were totally mistrusted by the guerrilla forces. Another significant problem was the impossibility of simply discharging large numbers of unnecessary soldiers - all had to be found places in the new army or elsewhere if trouble was to be avoided. And to compound the problem, all three armies had totally different military backgrounds - the RSF based on the UK model, ZANLA with Chinese backing and ZIPRA trained on Russian lines. There was, therefore, no natural "meeting of the minds" and progress had to be "brokered" by much difficult negotiation. In the early days the white dominated RSF were clearly endeavouring to preserve their position by, for example, insisting on the need to maintain so called "standards" that ZANLA and ZIPRA did not have the training to meet. The Patriotic Front were naturally frustrated, not least because black majority rule was now a fact and yet they did not seem to be "calling the shots". It is not difficult to envisage a similar situation arising in South Africa, is it? So, at the highest level, the principle task of BMATT was to act as an active catalyst to keep the factions together and to provide a neutral element respected by all. This demands the presence of experienced officers of appropriate rank - in the case of Zimbabwe an infantry Major-General has headed BMATT from its inception. If a similar role is envisaged in South Africa, my view is that nothing less than 3 star rank will suffice.
BMATT Zimbabwe was not originally established to provide a presence in all the training establishments in which integration was being undertaken. Indeed the original concept was to train a cadre of leaders and instructors only and for them to train other instructors who would then train the rank and file. In the event this proved unsatisfactory partly because lack of a "neutral" presence in some establishments allowed trouble to erupt and partly because the process was proving too slow - again a recipe for disaster. So the whole process had to be speeded up. With the help of BMATT, a large number of ZANLA and ZIPRA potential senior, middle-piece and junior leaders were selected and put through a standard one month course focusing on basic skills, discipline and administration. A battalion's worth of leaders were then "married" to some 450 men each from ZANLA and ZIPRA and with the assistance of a BMATT major and warrant officer for 6 months trained their battalions. The initial rate of progress was one battalion every 2 weeks. It had been intended that a large proportion of ZANLA and ZIPRA would become so called Soldiers Employed on Economic Development (known as SEED) but this apparently excellent idea foundered due to lack of commitment and by late 1980 it had become obvious that every PF soldier would have to be integrated and the process was further speeded up to create 3 battalions per month, with a consequent increase in the size of BMATT. However, serious interfactional violence occurred in early 1981, indeed 3 of the 14 battalions that then existed were actively involved. Once again the "neutral" members of BMATT were able to play a part in cooling things down, though by far the greatest credit for re-establishing control belonged to the old Rhodesian Army and Air Force. In the event that outbreak proved three important things:
It became evident that neither ZIPRA nor ZANLA was strong enough to impose itself on the other;
The Joint High Command and the Government held together; and
The former Rhodesian Army and Air Force proved loyal and could be trusted.
By the time Robert Mugabe's Government was one year old the most pressing problem was to extend the unification process up the chain of command above battalion level. In February 1981 twenty seven potential Brigadiers and Colonels were selected and after special training assumed many senior appointments; indeed by August 1981 the Joint High Command gave way to a Defence Headquarters co-located with the Ministry of Defence with former PF officers in the posts of Army Commander and Deputy Commander, two of the three chiefs of staff and 4 brigade commanders. At the same date the white component, which had been 2 800 at independence, of which 680 were officers, had fallen to 1 135, many of them rather too old for comfort.
By early 1982 integration itself was complete. The army was some 65 000 strong, staff training courses were well underway, the Military Academy was producing platoon, company and battalion commanders and a start had been made at creating appropriate logistic systems. All in all a pretty remarkable achievement in less than 2 years since the election of Zimbabwe's first black majority government. It has to be acknowledged though that the force that had been created was far larger than any perceived threat warranted, that discipline and training still left much to be desired and that administration was only of a rudimentary nature. It is on these aspects that BMATT has largely focused in the ten years since then.
One reason for the apparently slow rate of progress in these ten years has been the involvement of the Zimbabwe army in operations in Mozambique. As early as 1982 the decision was taken to assist with the defence of the communications corridors through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. A brigade was committed in the Biera Corridor to start with but more troops were later deployed to protect the civilian engineers undertaking major repairs to the railway which runs parallel with the Limpopo River and joins the south of Zimbabwe to Maputo. About two thirds of the Zimbabwe army was deployed on operations either on the Mozambique border or along these corridors in 1991. This operational role had an affect on BMATT in that the role of the Battalion Battle School at Nyanga was adapted to provide appropriate training lasting about 2 months for battalions before they deployed. By 1989, however, the rapid turnover of units meant that training time had to be limited to the provision of a short, sharp refresher course rather than the previous course which covered both conventional and low intensity techniques. I think Zimbabwe can claim with pride that its units have proved themselves effective and impressive on operations in Mozambique, but I have to acknowledge that their logistic and maintenance systems are still pretty chaotic and that many other major deficiencies exist. Nevertheless, by comparison with most new armies (remember it was only 2 years old when first committed to operations), they have proved themselves in operations to be of well above average standard.
As will probably be known to all of you, others also provided training from time to time - for example the North Koreans, Chinese and Tanzanians. In my opinion, this diversification was a mistake since the differences in military philosophy of these nations must create problems within a single army and in fact none of the other teams actually lasted very long. Perhaps the original reasons for diversifying had to do with the UKs inability or unwillingness to provide a Training Team of sufficient size to meet all Zimbabwe's perceived needs? Or maybe it was felt that too many eggs were in one basket? Or even that inducements in some form or other were being offered? I do not know which of these was the reason; but I am quite clear that if South Africa chooses to invite some other nation to provide assistance it should stick to one nation only, making certain that the provider is prepared to meet the assessed needs of the assistance programmes in both the short and longer term. And in South Africa's case it would not be unreasonable to look for a very substantial contribution to the costs of the providing nation.
BMATT Zimbabwe is to-day principally involved in 3 activities. First, advisory. Here I think the British have demonstrated great sensitivity and a willingness to adapt to local needs rather than trying to impose our own systems. The second role focuses on staff training both at the Junior and Senior Staff Colleges which the team originally commanded and provided all the instructors but now only deploys several members of the Directing Staff. The third area of activity is in logistics, particularly at the Logistics School in Harare. In my experience lack of appreciation of the need for properly functioning logistic and maintenance systems is the biggest single failing of most African armies. It still is in Zimbabwe as indeed it is in armies elsewhere in the world.
Turning now briefly to Namibia. You will no doubt recall that the Angola accords were signed in Luanda on 22 December 1988. In November 1989 SWAPO won 57% of the votes in the Namibian General Election and immediately requested the help of a British Military Advisory and Training Team following independence on 21 March 1990. The team, initially 55 strong, was duly deployed on 26 March 1990 and the first leaders cadre, for the 1st and 2nd Battalions, was run from 17 April to 2 June. By 1 July the 1st Battalion, about 1 000 men strong, accompanied by 5 BMATT Advisors, had deployed to the northern border. By November 1990, only four months later, the 5th Battalion had deployed and in early 1991 the 21st Guards Battalion had also been formed, four staff courses had been run, support weapons and logistics training was well advanced (indeed a logistics battalion deployed as early as July 1990) and an operational test exercise had been conducted. In addition the Ministry of Defence, a mixture of civilian and military personnel, was operating as a department of state. No-one would pretend that everything was working perfectly, nevertheless, a great deal had been achieved in the first year following independence. Most people would probably agree that at some 7 500 strong the Army is unnecessarily large, but sensible plans will need to be made for the employment of any surplus soldiers before they are discharged. Integration has not been easy to achieve, at least in part, because of the need to use several interpreters to cope with the wide variety of languages involved. Battalions are made up of approximately 70% ex-PLAN and 30% ex-SWATF. This mixture could have proved explosive but hounded by their BMATT instructors they united in a common task (or perhaps in the face of a common enemy!) and soon realised that they could work well together. At the higher levels, integration has been more patchy, at least in part because of the departure of most white South African and SWATF officers. But the Government's intentions seem clear in that it decided to split the four MOD directorates evenly, appointing two white and two black (ex PLAN) directors. In all this, BMATT Namibia has played a role remarkably similar to that of BMATT Zimbabwe.
Looking back with the benefit of hindsight I conclude that the most important achievements of BMATT Zimbabwe and Namibia were:
To gain the trust of groups who initially distrusted each other and all of whom distrusted BMATT;
Having gained that trust BMATT was able to play the role of "honest broker" and thereby enable progress to be made more easily between erstwhile enemies;
By including people of appropriate seniority and experience the Team was able to suggest and develop ideas - in short to be a catalyst for change;
By virtue of their own professionalism they were able to create, and where necessary run, training and other establishments;
And, most important of all, to accept that their most prized objective is so to improve standards in their field of activity that they work themselves out of a job, and the sooner the better.
What then of the integration of the South African Defence Force, MK and TBVC forces? Here you must bear with me as I will inevitably display a degree of naivety about the affairs in your country. But as an outsider looking in I can see several similarities in the military spheres between South Africa in 1992 and Zimbabwe in 1980. However, we must be quite clear that in at least two important respects the situation is totally different. First the size and military capability of the SADF is far greater than that of MK, whereas the RSF, ZIPRA and ZANLA were more evenly matched; and second the scale and nature of the wars that proceeded integration were quite different. But dealing now with the similarities.
First the fact that the SADF, like the RSF, is an effective conventional force in being and with the necessary infrastructure to support it. As with ZIPRA and ZANLA, the same cannot be said for MK and TBVC forces. So, like it or not, if a conventional force is required, the most efficient way to achieve it is to base it on the SADF.
Next, a similar degree of distrust seems to exist between SADF and MK as existed in Zimbabwe. This distrust is compounded by the direct involvement of SADF in internal security. A significant reduction in the level of distrust would probably be achieved if the SADF could be disengaged from its internal security role - a tall order perhaps but a true statement in my judgment.
The sooner genuine integration can be achieved the better since only then will ingrained distrust be overcome. In achieving acceptable integration the existing SADF must recognise the need speedily to incorporate members of MK and TBVC into key and senior positions. To enable these positions to be filled effectively, special training requirements will have to be met.
Large numbers of MK, largely untrained for conventional operations, will have either to be absorbed speedily into the new Defence Force (which will impose significant training requirements) or be otherwise suitably employed. The latter is preferable since the former will result in a Defence Force of a size well beyond South Africa's needs with all that means for the economy.
The higher management of defence will need to be changed to accommodate political imperatives. At the same time the new Defence Force must be created as an apolitical one with loyalty to the government of the day and firmly under civilian control. A Ministry of Defence combining civil and military would seem essential.
A careful reassessment of force roles and strengths will be necessary. To an outside observer like myself, it is difficult to see any threat to South Africa's security that requires the state to maintain forces even on the present scale and with the heavy equipment of the SADF, let alone that which will result if MK and TBVC forces in their present numbers are integrated with it.
Indeed, integration would probably be easier to achieve if the role of the Army were to be changed significantly. Let me explain why I argue on these lines. If the existing Army remains and its role and equipment are unchanged, integration will simply be a question of incorporating MK and TBVC into it - a role for which they are untrained and in which they would be numerically outnumbered. Given a different role, all three elements would be involved in the creation of something new to which all could have a significant contribution to make despite, or even by virtue of their differing experiences and backgrounds.
With these rather broad comparisons made, you will not be surprised if I conclude that a BMATT type of operation might be helpful if integration of SADF, MK and TBVC forces is required in South Africa. There may be differences in detail but many of the problems are so closely paralleled that the experience of BMATT Zimbabwe could, in my opinion, be used as a useful role model. Much care would have to be lavished on getting the design of the team right to begin with and forecasting how requirements will change with time. Priority tasks should, in my opinion, be:
Providing an "honest broker" element at the top levels of defence management to ease tensions and assist progress. I believe an officer of at least 3 star rank will be required to perform this role properly. He will need appropriate support, including perhaps a civil service element to help with designing systems for civil control of the new defence force.
Improving quickly the expertise of members of the MK, particularly senior and middle-piece officers and instructors of all sorts, to enable a proper proportion of key roles to be filled by them. Assistance could be provided both in South Africa and in the country providing the Advisory and Training Team.
Providing a presence on the ground to advise and assist at training establishments. Some might advocate a small "roving" team. Drawing on the Zimbabwe experience, I would recommend a presence at all training sites being used for integration to act as "neutral umpires". This will be expensive, but not as expensive as a serious breakdown of trust could turn out to be.
Next, while not a lesson from Zimbabwe, I would recommend a major commitment to the improvement of the general acceptability of the Police. Until that is achieved it is hard to see how the Defence Force can be dissociated from internal security and if it is so involved, I find it very hard to see how proper integration can be effected.
Finally, two concluding observations. I repeat again my view that if a BMATT type operation is envisaged all its functions should be provided by one country. Diversification will result in the introduction of differing and probably incompatible military philosophies. This will impede, not assist integration. I am, of course, talking about integration. My comments about single nation assistance would not apply if peace keeping or situation monitoring was the task. In that case, multi-national forces have positive advantages to offer - not the least of which is a demonstration of concern by the international community as a whole.
And lastly, while I do not speak with any official authority, I would be surprised if the UK would agree to provide a BMATT unless the request came as a joint one from all interested parties.


text:
Lion Brand Yarn - New Patterns Newsletter
This Week's Kit - Tree of Life Afghan
Featuring our most popular afghan pattern for January, this heirloom knit afghan makes a perfect housewarming gift with its simple and elegant look. Get all the yarn you need for 20% off! NOW $37.52 (originally $46.90) Click here to view pattern details.
Crochet Sunflower Stripes Hat and Scarf Set
Thanks to the bold color combination of Heartland, this crochet beret and scarf will make you feel like you're wearing modern art.
Click here to view pattern details.
Lush Plush Arm Knit Cowl
Combine the super bulky Homespun Thick and Quick with arm knitting, and you'll have a ready-to-wear cowl in 30 minutes or less! Watch this easy arm knit video tutorial here.
Click here to view pattern details.
Crochet Ski Cap
Crochet this earflap hat for something bright and stylish; top it off with The Pom for a fun hat to wear while playing in the snow.
Knit Slip Stitch Pom Scarf
Make a fashion statement on the ski slopes with this striking pattern using neon colors and pom poms.
Crochet Falling Water Shawl
The painterly shades of Homespun® help create the unique color-striping effect seen in this V-stitch shawl.
Knit Modular Cowl
The self-striping colorways of Unique, paired with geometric triangle patterns really make this infinity cowl a one-of-a-kind design.
Crochet Lacy Stripes Throw
Get ready for spring by crocheting this eyelet afghan using Vanna's Choice®


text:
Use the Fence/ Railing/ Decking Product Finder to narrow your results.
CertainTeed® is among the leading PVC railing manufacturers. Our vinyl products are ranked number one in sales among all PVC railing manufacturers and brand names, and our products continually earn high marks for their exceptional quality and performance. CertainTeed's EverNew® line of vinyl railing offers a winning combination of exceptional beauty, durability and easy care.
More on Fence/Railing/Decking
Add a unique touch to your home with trim products from CertainTeed. Explore your options with our interactive Trim-It visualizer tool.


text:
Terms and conditions for use of Album at LeoKrut:
General notes:
Album at LeoKrut is a place for amateur photographers to test their artistic skills in the open for all competition.
Free publication.
We accept photo pictures from anyone free of charge.
To submit photo user have to register into our database providing valid verifiable e-mail.
We establish limit number of free uploaded photos from one user. The limit can be modified by performance. Particular by accepting a photo into Hall of Fame. We in general do not accept photos promoting porno, gambling, violence. We could also reject obviously bad quality photos.
Open competition.
There is open for all continual competition for best photographer. Best pictures will be accepted in Hall of Fame. User who's photo is accepted in Hall of Fame will receive increase of limit to upload pictures. Upon possessing three photos at Hall of Fame user will be rewarded by space for text link for free advertisement by his/her choice for free. Decency content limitations could apply.
Forbidden content.
The following content is considered strictly prohibited at Album at LeoKrut: obvious and explicit promotion of porno, gambling or criminal activity.
We do not guaranty privacy of posted information. We consider all published content as intended for public domain.
User of uploaded picture solemnly responsible for all legal aspects of copyright law and uploaded content. By checking "Agree" box user certify that the copyrights of uploaded materials belong to him/her and he/her transfer limited copyrights of them to LeoKrut. Specifically user permits LeoKrut any usage of materials - photo and description inside LeoKrut site without right to sell them to third parties without permission of user. User also permits to LeoKrut to use uploaded materials into collages and/or as raw material for creative activity of LeoKrut forfeiting copyrights on the final products in case of significant modifications of initial materials.
Copyright notice of user will be displayed only if User will provide his/her name during registration process. Absence of provided Name means that user transfer all copyright to LeoKrut in full entirety.
Termination of the publication.
We reserve the right to delete any photo without explanation with or without increasing limit of permitted uploaded by affected user.
We also reserve right to change number of permitted uploads for any user with or without explanation.
Electronic signature.
By marking "Agree" check box in submitting form user
effectively signs these terms.
Return to main page.
|Data analysis Crystal growth simulation Internet robot Photoshop and image analyzer NetCDF editor Calculator
|Software archive Expert database Photo album Maverick thoughts Open forum Search for cheap sale
|Home Products Partners Service Contact
|Copyright © by LeoKrut


text:
YOU ARE HERE >> Banner Research > Locations > Banner Sun Health Research Institute > Research > Research Programs > Neuropathology
Civin Laboratory of Neuropathology
The real questions to what causes diseases or occurs in the brain and body will only be fully answered through the study of donated tissue.
Through the process of clinically examining participants during the last years of their lives and then receiving their tissue at death, many medical mysteries are being unveiled. More than 2,000 area residents have donated brain and body tissue to the program.
Scientists in the Civin lab are growing cells that provide a model of what's happening in the blood vessels of the brain of an Alzheimer's patient, and how inflammation, cholesterol and amyloid may all come together in this model to cause vascular and, ultimately, brain damage in the disease.
In addition, scientists in the Civin lab are also leading research on potentially toxic molecules that appear to accumulate in the brains of Parkinson's patients and cause nerve cells to die.


text:
In the spirit of making bold predictions, something I am not ashamed to do especially given the anonymity these forums provide, here is my glimpse into the future of that is in store around the July 31 trade deadline.
The Sox will not acquire a starting pitcher. Not anyone we think of as one, anyway.
The Sox will trade Brandon Workman (and possibly Keury de la Cruz) to the Cubs for Carlos Villanueva. Villanueva is not the sexy name fans might want to see, but he is a versatile pitcher capable of getting hitters out. He has experience in middle relief roles, starting roles and even in the AL East. He is also under contract for next season (at $5mill). Workman is an Epstein draftee who could end up as a victim of a 40-man roster crunch. The inclusion of de la Cruz also helps with potential 40-man roster issues in December.
There are two possibilities for a second trade for 2013, and Sox fans will not like either of them. The more likely one is that the Sox will trade a very minor player (Cody Kukuk? ) to the Dodgres for Juan Uribe and his entire salary. The other, grander possibility is that the Sox make a fairly big splash in acquiring Trevor Plouffe from Minnesota for a fairly comparable haul that would probably include 2 from Brentz, Marrero, and Alamanzar. Uribe is FA after 2013, is having a good season, and is a better defender. Plouffe is controlled through 2018, plays about anywhere, but couldn't catch a cold if he was naked in Norway. The much cooler possibility for 3B would be dealing Stephen Drew for David Freese. The Cards get a better hitter than Kozma at SS, could move Matt Carpenter to 3B, and bring up top prospect Kolten Wong for 2B. It won' t happen. Freese, lackluster as he has been this year, is controlled for longer than Drew, and Drew is not exactly making himself marketable by being on the DL.
In a future implications move, the Sox will trade Will Middlebrooks to the Angels for Hank Conger. Both Middlebrooks and Conger are former highly-regarded prospects who have proved very little in limited opportunities. Each fills a positional need for the other team in the near future. With Iannetta signed through 2015, and top 3B prospect Kaleb Cowart struggling in AA ball, the Angels need to look beyond Alberto Callaspo at 3B, and do so cheaply. The Sox are loaded at 3b, but their catcher situation after Saltalamacchia is unclear, with potential candidates including Lavarnway, Butler, and Vazquez. There are pluses and minues to each, and usually more minuses. Vazquez is probably the best option, but he is also an AA guy right now. Lavarnway appears to be a backup at best. Butler clearly is, and is a potential DFA candidate this December. Conger is not exactly a sure thing, but at least gives another potential candidate to throw into the mix, and one with a very significant upside. This deal could also wait until December, so don't hold your breath.


text:
This topic is archived and can not be replied to any more.
|In Defense Of The DC10.. posted Tue Aug 29 2000 09:27:04 by JETPILOT
|Check Out This Segment Of The A 380's Testflight posted Tue Sep 5 2006 18:03:09 by Mortyman
|TWA Plane In Silence Of The Lambs posted Sun Mar 26 2006 18:43:53 by RJpieces
|Pictures Of The Interior Of The A-380 posted Thu Jan 12 2006 16:11:01 by RICARIZA
|Delta 757 Operating JFK-BOS In Middle Of The Night posted Mon May 30 2005 08:18:04 by RJpieces
|In Praise Of The 'Airport' Movies posted Mon Feb 23 2004 02:29:00 by Cedarjet
|In Honor Of The Wright Bros., I Flew Today. posted Thu Dec 18 2003 05:10:26 by GulfstreamGuy
|In Defense Of UAL posted Tue Dec 9 2003 05:49:00 by Mariner
|Seat Right In Front Of The Toilet Door! posted Mon Sep 15 2003 11:47:35 by 777MAS
|In Praise Of The Golden Tail (And Three Stripes) posted Sat Sep 6 2003 17:16:02 by Matt D


text:
Does conservatism give Christianity a bad name?
I've been thinking more about the conflation of conservatism and Christianity among many people I know. In a recent issue of Newsweek, Michael Gerson describes three evangelical approaches to politics, embodied by a prophet (James Dobson), a priest (Billy Graham), and a kingmaker (Pat Robertson). Gerson argues that all three approaches are declining:
"Leaders such as Robertson mainly exercise broad influence in the imagination of liberals. Evangelicals, particularly younger evangelicals, are undergoing a shift in attitudes. Many have little interest in the self-destructive purity of the prophet or the raw pragmatism of the kingmaker. They remain culturally conservative, but uncomfortable with a harshly judgmental tone in their politics. They find the model of the religious right too narrow and are increasingly motivated by a broader range of social concerns."
Columnist Andrew Sullivan, meanwhile, was enthusiastic about Gerson's point of view:
"It seems to me that our society needs Christian witness - on charity, on caring for the environment, on protecting the vulnerable, on seeking peace, on opening dialogue - as much as it doesn't need Christianist intolerance, politicking and campaigning. It's especially important, it seems to me, that Christian witness also regain humility and an indifference to power. Forsaking a partisan identity is critical to this."
Part of the problem, I think, is that a conservative philosophy is largely one of restraint on most government spending , with an expectation that local, voluntary initiatives will do more to assist the poor and downtrodden than any government program. Conservative Christians involved in politics, therefore, project an image of being "against" assistance for the poor, "for" war, and far more concerned with stopping gay marriage than stopping AIDS. They want much of what we call mercy missions to be off the political agenda. Conservatism, in other words, is worlds apart from Christianity -- it fosters a space for effective mercy, but it doesn't embody mercy. Insofar as people identify Christianity with conservative political action, therefore, they are likely to come away with a slanted view of what our faith really means.
It can be problematic, then, when politicians trumpet their Christian credentials; if 90 percent of what a politician stands for doesn't advance Christian principles, but instead advances conservative principles, then perhaps the perception of Christianity, among the unchurched, is done a disservice when they perceive the politician to embody what a Christian is all about. Likewise, of course, when a notable Christian endorses such a politician. C.S. Lewis once remarked that what we need are not more Christian writers, but more great writers who are Christians. Perhaps the same applies to politicians.
The best innoculation, I think, to a wrong perception that Christianity is equivalent to conservatism is the mercy work of many good churches. For every politico a non-Christian sees claiming the Christian label, we want him to see a hundred Christians in his community, quietly, humbly doing the work of our Father. The more we can accomplish that, the harder it will be for people to identify Christianity with whatever happens to be popular among politicians who claim to act on Christ's behalf. "You will know them," Christ said of the good and the bad, "by their fruits." My prayer, in the current political season and the decades to follow, is that more non-Christians will come to know us in that way, by lifechanging encounters with loving Christians.


text:
Arrive in Cairns, where you spend two nights at the fine Shangri-La Hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore on your own. This evening gather for welcome drinks and dinner. (D)
Spend the morning exploring, taking the renowned Kuranda Scenic Railway to the lively town of Kuranda, known for its markets and galleries. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)
A morning private charter flight brings you to Rabaul, the capital of the island of New Britain, where the town was buried in ash by the massive eruption of Mt. Tavurvur in 1994 — a landmark event. Have a guided exploration of Rabaul, with views of the ash-covered town and see the remains of a Japanese ship hidden in a cave during World War II. Then embark Oceanic Discoverer, your home for the next ten nights, and sail past Tavurvur for a close-up look at the ash clouds and pyrotechnics. (B,L,D)
The fringing reef surrounding Garove Island offers fine swimming, snorkeling and views from the glass bottom boat, and you will spend the morning there. As you approach Garove in the afternoon, you may be greeted by colorfully dressed local residents in outrigger canoes. The headdresses are particularly elaborate. After landing you will be treated to a "singsing" by your enthusiastic hosts and will have a chance to tour the church and recently built community house. (B,L,D)
Tiny, volcanic Crown Island offers a fine walk up a trail, where you can look for giant lizards, birdlife and butterflies. The island's beaches are important turtle nesting grounds. Spend the afternoon exploring the pristine nearby reefs, where the snorkeling and viewing from the glass bottom boat are excellent. (B,L,D)
The communities along the Sepik River are renowned for their traditional dress and body decoration, for maintaining many of their traditional ways, and for the art which they produce. Sail up the serpentine course of the river, and visit a community where you have a chance to meet local residents, learn about their lives and can take photos and purchase artwork. Also look to go bird-watching along some of the channels along the river. (B,L,D)
The picturesque town of Madang lies on a peninsula backed by mountain ranges. Visit lovely Haya Village, set in the hills, and take in a "singsing." Afterward, those who wish can walk the steep trails of the surrounding rain forest in search of wildlife. This afternoon, explore the markets and shops of Madang on your own, and be sure to look for flying foxes in the trees! (B,L,D)
Tuam Island's friendly residents make their living by conducting trade between the outer islands and the New Guinea mainland. They'll guide us to their village and you'll have a chance to take in "singsings" and see the handicrafts. Tami Island, where you'll spend the afternoon, consists of coral atolls that offer outstanding snorkeling and glass bottom boat excursions — a setting that very much lives up to its location in the South Pacific. Look at the reefs and colorful fish that inhabit them. (B,L,D)
The village of Lababia is the gateway to the forests and wildlife of the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area. The adventurous can tackle the renowned, steep David Suzuki Trail in search of birds that include cockatoos, parrots, hornbills and, if you're lucky, perhaps even a bird of paradise. There will also be opportunities to swim and visit the village. (B,L,D)
Remote Tufi consists of a spectacular network of fjords flanked by towering basalt cliffs. You'll have a variety of activities here, including excellent snorkeling and viewing by glass bottom boat, a visit to a village to learn about its culture, and an excursion by ship to a picturesque waterfall. (B,L,D)
The cultures of the Trobriands have been studied extensively, most famously by the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski, who developed methods of study used to this day. Learn about the complex traditional exchange system called the Kula exchange, and, on Kitava Island, will visit a yam house; yam exchanges are key to the lives of the islanders. You'll also visit a school and a village. (B,L,D)
The volcanic islands of Fergusson and Dobu form part of the D'Entrecasteaux group, named after the French explorer who visited them in 1792. On Fergusson, visit the impressive Dei Dei Hot Springs, where the landowner shares the mythical and spiritual tales of these hot water and mud springs. You will be greeted by a flotilla of canoes as you approach the anchorage at tiny Dobu, and after landing the local primary school children welcome you with a traditional dance performance. This evening, gather for farewell cocktails and dinner aboard ship. (B,L,D)
In the morning, disembark the Oceanic Discoverer and fly from Alotau to Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, where you will stay at the fine Airways Hotel. This afternoon, explore the town, seeing the National Museum, the outside of the Parliament building, built in the style of a spirit house, and a nearby village built on stilts. (B,L,D)
Transfer to the airport for your independent connecting flights home. (B)


text:
November 30, 2013
Eating Cotton Balls Is Bad
According to Medline Plus, a bezoar "is a ball of swallowed foreign material (usually hair or fiber) that collects in the stomach and fails to pass through the intestines… Chewing on or eating hair or fuzzy materials (or indigestible materials such as plastic bags) can lead to the formation of a bezoar…Generally bezoars are mostly seen in females aged 10 to 19." On another webpage, Medline Plus tells that pica "is a pattern of eating non-food materials, such as dirt or paper… Pica is seen more in young children than adults. Between 10 and 32% of children ages 1 – 6 have these behaviors." It is often due to a nutrient deficiency.
Why gives these two definitions? Well, because an alarming new trend has come to the forefront of news. It is called the cotton ball diet, as ABC News reports, but there is no diet in this whatsoever because a diet implies ingesting nutrients. The "diet" (and I'm using the word loosely here) consists of eating five cotton balls that have soaked in orange juice, lemonade, or a smoothie. Some eat five before a meal to "fill up" so that they eat less while others simply eat cotton balls, and that is all. Clearly, there are little to no nutrients there.
So, obviously, this alleged diet can lead to a bezoar, which, trust me on this, is pretty gross. A quick search on Google images will give an idea just how yucky a bezoar is. Not to mention how painful such a thing must be. Oh, and if a bezoar is not gross enough, eating cotton balls could lead to bigger problems like multiple blockages or full obstruction, which both may lead to death.
Yeah, that is definitely worth avoiding this "diet."
However, many people are engaging in this "diet" because they wish to lose weight, quick. They do not take into consideration many issues. Obviously, the bezoar, blockages, and obstruction are really bad, but most cotton balls are not made from pure cotton. In fact, the ABC News article explains that synthetic cotton balls are bleached, polyester fibers that contain many chemicals.
So, one who engages in eating soaked cotton balls puts her system into malnutrition, risks bezoars, blockages, and obstruction, but she also gives her system only synthetic chemicals to sustain. None of this is worth "being thin."
I use the feminine pronouns here because the article notes that the cotton ball diet seems to be catching on with teenage girls as shown by the YouTube videos of some of these young girls. They were ages 9-16, which falls smack into the range for bezoars.
So, why the definition of pica? Well, the co-director of the eating disorders clinical and research program at Massachusetts General Hospital thinks the cotton ball diet is a form of pica, only she does not think teenaged girls are eating soaked cotton balls because they crave some other nutrient. She believes that it is a form of an eating disorder.
Call it a pica, fine, but don't call eating cotton balls a diet. I do not even think giving this really bad idea the title of trend or fad or crash diet is a good idea. Diet implies eating something that provides nutrients. Eating cotton balls soaked in juice does little of that. Plus, it is really dangerous and can lead to much bigger health issues.
Let me be perfectly clear on this: eating cotton balls is bad. It is not healthy. It is seriously dangerous.
Don't do it. Lose weight the healthy way by eating right, exercising, and talking to a medical professional. Do not eat cotton balls.
Image Credit: Thinkstock


text: We are evaluating Zimbra as a possible solution. The important factor for us is using Sun One directory as a directory source. We want to do sync based on change logs after initial load to zimbra directory. The challenge is Zimbra does not have any framework for this. Has anyone done similar implementation?


text:
Franchise Index: Previous Season / Next Season
12-4-0, NFC East Division · 1989 NFL Season Summary
SRS: Total 6.4, Offense: 1.9, Defense: 4.6, SoS: 0.4, avg is 0.0.
Scored 348 points (21.8/g), 12th of 28 in the NFL. Allowed 252 points (15.8/g), 2nd.
Differential of 96 points (6.0/g), 4th. Expected W-L: 10.9-5.1.
Bill Parcells (12-4-0)
Offensive Coordinator: Ron Erhardt
Defensive Coordinator: Bill Belichick
Other Notable Asst.: Tom Coughlin (Wide Receivers), Romeo Crennel (Special Teams) and Al Groh (Linebackers)
Stadium: The Meadowlands
Training Camp: Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison, New Jersey)