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The movie opens with the dramatic scene of a ship in crisis. Cyper Raige (Will Smith) attempts to calm his son, Kitai (Jaden Smith). Suddenly, the fuselage tears and Cypher is pulled off screen. Kitai is next seen on the forest floor, apparently injured. In voiceover, he explains that Earth was a paradise until we polluted and destroyed it. Humanity was sent to other worlds in huge ships. However, an aggressive alien species was competing for the same worlds. They deployed creatures, called ursas, that tracked human by the scent of fear pheromones. Cypher Raige, an emotionally cold leader, masters the ability to control his fear and "ghost" himself, becoming invisible the the ursa's heightened sense of smell.
A title card reads "Three days earlier," and we see Kitai running a course with other rangers/cadets. He pushes himself more than he needs to and leads the pack by a wide margin. Unfortunately, though his "studies" are exceptional, his commander refuses to advance him to ranger, claiming that he falls apart in the field. Kitai pleads that his father is returning from a mission, and it's critical that he is a ranger when Cypher arrives. The commander gently refuses Kitai's request and wishes his father a welcome home.
Cut to Kitai at home with his mother, Faia (Sophie Okonedo). Kitai relates that he is not a ranger. His father, barely masking his disappointment, says that the commander knows best and that his judgement is sound. Kitai can barely contain his anger over his dad's lack of support and prepares to leave the table only to be told to sit down. During the exchange, it is clear that Kitai is blaming himself for the death of someone (we find out later it's his older sister, SenshiZoe Kravitz). Later, Faia tells her husband that his son needs him. He's going on one last off-world mission before retiring. Faia convinces him to use the time to bond with his son. He agrees and tells Kitai to pack his bags.
In the boarding station, a wounded ranger approaches General Raige. His leg was lost in battle, but the General saved his life along with several other rangers. He struggles to salute the general in a show of respect. It impresses Kitai that his father inspires such loyalty. Kitai also notices a bizarre object being loaded into the cargo bay. His curiosity is piqued. During the trip, Cypher seems to mellow out a bit and encourages his son to catch some rest. Once everyone is snoring. Kitai goes exploring and stumbles into a restricted area. He is confronted by a ranger who asks why he ignored the clear warnings. Kitai is undeterred and wants to know what the cargo is. A second ranger tells the first that this is the Supreme Commander's son, and they decide to test him. The cargo is an ursa that they are transporting to help other rangers to "ghost." Cutting back to Cypher, he is startled into consciousness. He senses something is wrong and presses his ring against the hull, detecting an odd tremor. He also guesses that Kitai is where he shouldn't be. Calmly walking to the restricted area, he tells Kitai to get back to his seat and secure himself. The rangers whip themselves into shape and instantly respond to his orders.
Cypher heads to the cockpit to inform the pilots of his concerns. He inquires about "asteroid storms" and his suspicions that graviton readings indicate they might be in for trouble. After initially disputing his opinion, a sudden explosion puts them into the heart of an asteroid field which is pelting the ship. He tells the pilots to go into hyperspace to protect the ship. They express concern, but it's pretty clear that they're dead if they don't do something. They jump the ship and emerge in orbit around a large planet. A computer warning indicates that the planet is under quarantine. They CANNOT LAND HERE. Cypher realizes where they are, and orders another jump, but the ship simply can't manage it. He begrudgingly orders them to set down, and we see the ship heating up as it hits the atmosphere.
Cypher makes it back to Kitai, who is FREAKING OUT. We're back to the scene that opens the movie. This time we see the whole sequence. The ship is basically disintegrating. People getting pulled into the slipstream, whole pieces of the hull disappearing, then impact. Kitai was buckled in and appears to be OK. However, he quickly notices that the atmosphere is not breathable. He slips his mask back on until he can seal the hull (by removing a dead crewman). He searches around until he finds his father, apparently the only other survivor. However, Cypher is badly injured. After discovering that the beacon in the cockpit is damaged, Cypher explains that Kitai must retrieve and launch the beacon from the tail of the ship. Of course, it's more than 100 kilometers away on a planet that has evolved to kill humans. Not for nothing, there MAY be an ursa roaming around out there too. SIDE NOTE: The new technology seems to be much more organic than previous Earth tech. This isn't a major plot point, but it was interesting to see how humans apparently evolved in their thinking about how to be more "green" in their thinking.
After Kitai performs a self-check, Cypher lays out the plan. He has six cartridges that will allow Kitai to more efficiently process the limited oxygen in the atmosphere. That should be more than enough for him to reach the tail and launch the beacon. He's got a special suit and weapon and wrist communicator that will allow Cypher to monitor and guide him. It won't be easy, but if Kitai fails, they'll both die. So get to it! Almost as soon as Kitai is gone, we see that Cypher was dramatically underplaying his injuries. He's opened the artery in his thigh and requires a shunt to keep him alive. Frankly, he would have bleed out in a couple of minutes with a wound that severe, but we get it. The clock is ticking.
Oh, by the way, the planet has wild temperature fluctuations, so Kitai has to make it to geothermic "hot spots" to keep from freezing to death on his trip. So ANOTHER clock is ticking. Cypher sends out a bunch of probes to get the lay of the land and track the ursa. Kitai freaks out when a tarantula crawls on his hand providing the first big laugh. Cypher asks him to self-evaluate and Kitai notices that he "feels heavier." Earth gravity is stronger than on Nova Prime (his homeworld). After scaling a peak and getting a good look around, Kitai is clearly impressed. It's beautiful. Not for long though. Cypher is tracking a predator and Kitai needs to move... NOW (the suit changes colors to indicate a nearby threat). A feral baboon has Kitai cornered. Cypher advises him to stand down, but Kitai ignores him. Impulsively, he throws a rock to frighten the animal, but this only incites the beast to call for backup. Soon, Kitai is being chased through the forest by a wild pack of animals. Cypher directs him to a stream, which stymies the baboons, but also exposes Kitai to a leech who introduces a deadly toxin into his system.
Instantly, Kitai's suit changes to a distress color, and he begins to lose control of his body as his nervous system shuts down. Feverishly, Cypher guides him through a two-step anti-toxin protocol that saves his life. The downside is that his body shuts down completely while the venom is purged from his system. When Kitai finally regains consciousness, the temperature is dropping quickly, and he needs to find shelter. He makes it to the hotspot and asks his father how he overcame his fear. Cypher relates how he was attacked by an ursa and was held underwater. He thought the beast was trying to drown him, but eventually realized that it could no longer "see" him, now that his scent was masked. This is the "Danger is real, fear is a choice," speech. Kitai is comforted.
When Kitai wakes, he discovers that two of his remaining "breathing capsules" have been damaged in his escapade with the baboons. He lies to his father, claiming that he has the full four. Cypher isn't buying it, but isn't ready to call of the mission. Yet. Interspersed with the action, we see flashbacks of Senshi, Kitai's older sister. Their house was attacked by an ursa, and she hid Kitai in a sealed terrarium to prevent his scent from drawing the monster. She was killed, and Kitai clearly blames himself (and suspects his father blames him too). Which leads us to water falls. Cypher asks his son about the breathing capsules, insisting that he show them to the monitoring camera. He runs a simulation that indicates more than 3 days journey climbing down the mountain. The trip could be made more efficiently if Kitai were to skydive down, but Cypher is unwilling to risk it and orders Kitai back to the ship (presumably to die together). Kitai is devastated and they begin to argue. He wants to press forward, but Cypher is resolute. Instinctively, he understands that diving down will make the trip possible and he leaps off the cliff. This draws the attention of a huge condor who tracks him in a thrilling aerial sequence resulting in Kitai's capture and the destruction of his communicator.
Awaking in the condor's nest, he is greeted by the gentle pecks of condor babies. The mother condor has taken him in as one of her own. Suddenly, the nest is under attack by some oversized tigerish felines who, despite the best efforts of Kitai and mama condor, slaughter all her babies. Realizing that he's lost contact with his dad he sets off on his mission to find the tail. As freezing time approaches, he follows some wild boars into a cave. Of course, the cave has a freaky flying cobra that snacks on a piglet. Meanwhile, Kitai remembers his father's instructions and maps out a potential route to the tail. He knows he's pretty close and simply has to finish the mission.
Come morning, he assembles a raft and sets it adrift downstream. While he sleeps, he dreams of his sister, who comforts him. She asks if he's scared. He says he's tired. Senshi comments that it's good that he's replaced fear with something else. Abruptly, Senshi changes her tone. She REALLY wants him to wake up while Kitai wants to remain in the dream. It's only when her face transforms to an ursa-savaged corpse that he snaps out of it. The chill is descending rapidly, and he has to find shelter. As he stumbles of the raft, we can see the indications of the temperature drop. His suit changes to the distress color again, and he falls down just as he sees some birds flying into shelter. But his body has just given up. He's a goner for sure. Then, something drags him away from the open conditions and into a makeshift shelter. He wakes suddenly, realizing that he's been saved. It's mama condor! He tries to thank the bird only to realize that she gave her life to protect the last of her "children." Her sacrifice inspires him to move on, and he spies a piece of the broken tail section. He can see it! With the last of his breathing capsule failing, Kitai makes it to the tail. He stumbles upon a cache of the capsules sucks a couple down. Rummaging through the wreckage, he finds the beacon, a replacement weapon and a new communicator.
Unfortunately, ionic interference in the atmosphere makes communication with Cypher a one-way street. Kitai can't hear his dad, though dad can monitor him. Also, the beacon can't get a signal through the interference either. He needs a higher vantage point to punch the signal through. Kitai is frustrated and starts tearing through the wreckage. He sees the broken ursa cocoon and realizes it's on the loose. It's not fair. Then, almost as if he knows what his father would say, he calms down and assesses the situation. He realizes that he needs to get above the interference layer and that the nearby volcano is where he's got to go. Meanwhile, Cypher has gotten progressively worse. A jerry-rigged shunt has failed, and he's LITERALLY on his last legs. So, OBVIOUSLY it's time for the ursa to appear.
Kitai heads for the mountain. On the way, he discovers the dead body of a ranger. All of them WEREN'T killed in the crash, but the ursa has tracked and killed all the survivors. Now it's tracking him, and all Cypher can do is watch until the inevitable happens. Kitai ducks into a cave, but the ursa has his scent. It attacks, mildly injuring Kitai with a wound reminiscent of his father's injury. A much smaller figure than the ursa's usual prey, Kitai is able to wrangle himself through tight spots where the ursa can't manage. He's got to get to the peak to set off that beacon! He crawls up a narrow shaft only to have the ursa grabs his leg. He wrestles free and climbs out of the crevice. Moments later the ursa leaps from the rocks and grabs him/ Kitai is battered and in the midst of his pain, has a moment of zen. He remembers his father's story, he remembers Senshi's sacrifice... and replaces his fear with resolve. The ursa is confused, no longer "seeing" Kitai's fear. Bursting with adrenaline, Kitai engages in a bullfight with the monster, disabling it bit by bit until he kills it with a double-bladed coup de grace on the edge of a cliff. His father sees the whole exchange by way of Kitai's monitor which fell off during the battle. Kitai grabs the beacon and activates it as Cypher slips away.
Defying theoretical physics, the beacon reaches an outpost and an extraction team arrives to save them both. Kitai is uncertain of his father's fate. He tentatively walks past an attendant who is viewing Kitai's EPIC battle from the communication pack recordings. A team of doctors hover over Cypher's unmoving body. Then, his hand brushes them away as he asks them to help him stand. In a callback to the departure scene, Cypher rises to salute his son who rushes to hug him. Father and son agree that they would much rather follow Faia in her low stress work environment. Senshi had told her father that she was reading a REAL COPY of the novel Moby Dick. It was a recurring theme throughout the film. In the closing shot, the shuttle gracefully glides over a pod of mutant whales. Credits roll.
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Cypher Raige is an emotionally cold, military leader whose relationship with his son, Kitai, is fractured by the violent death of his daughter. In an attempt to bond with his son, they travel together only to be marooned on Earth, which had been abandoned after centuries of environmental havoc. Now, with his injured father helping him from the damaged ship, Kitai must retrieve a beacon 100 kilometers away on a hostile planet with ravenous beasts, freakish weather patterns and a monster that can smell his fear. Kitai succeeds, saving the day and earning his father's love and respect.
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Welcome to the exciting world of Mecha Aces, a mecha anime RPG built upon the FUDGE system. Mecha Aces uses the FUDGE system as a foundation, and builds upon the system to create the perfect synergy between a pilot and their machine. Mecha Aces re-examines the mecha/pilot paradigm in RPGs, and establishes an innovative system built around the simplicity of the FUDGE system, and the power within the systems potential.

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Subtotal: $3299.87
Average Review:
2lb Wood Loaf Mold:
Locally made from Baltic Birch plywood the sides and base have a shallow groove notched out for a perfect tight fit. The entire mold is held together with easy to use carriage bolts and wing nuts. When using you don't need to take the mold apart - just loosen the wing nuts and slide your soap out! The wood is unfinished and the mold should be lined with every use (which is easy to do with our custom silicone liner).
Mold dimensions (inner): 7-1/2" (l) x 3-1/8" (w) x 2-1/2" (h)
Click here for instructions on lining the mold with paper.
Or click here to purchase the perfectly sized silicone liner for this mold and quickly and easily line the mold and unmold your soap every time!
I just used this mold for the first time and I absolutely love it! EXCEPT...I made what I thought was a 2lb batch of soap using 32oz of oils. So the completed batch is more than 32oz. and I had a ton of soap left over. Thankfully I purchased 2 of these molds so I was able to use the rest in a second mold. So my question is how many of ounces of oils do I need to calculate into my recipe so that my final batch will fill this mold?
Terah from Bramble Berry replies...Hi Kristina! I'm so glad you love our 2 lb Wood Loaf Mold! Though, it does hold a full 32 oz (2 lb). Keep in mind if you make soap with 32 oz of oil you are then adding lye and water into it so it's going to be more than 32 oz! The amount of oils you need for a two pound batch is dependent on the oils you're using. Just run your recipe through the Lye Calculator then resize the batch until your "total yields" hits 32 oz!
This is the first wooden mold I've picked up so far, since I haven't scaled up to a 5lb setup yet, but this mold is a solid starter, especially when paired with the silicone liner.
I love this little mold...perfect for me as I just make soap as a hobby, so I can make a ton of batches, have lots of fun, and not have too much extra soap around using up expensive supplies. I will say that I understand the last reviewer's confusion on what it holds because when I see 2-lb batch recipes, they usually mean 2 lbs. of oils. I thought that's what this would hold. But, no worries...I just re-size my recipes to 22 oz. of oils, run them through the lye calculator, and that works out just about right. Thanks, Bramble Berry, for such great products!
I'm new to soaping. I got this mold as a gift. I'm a bit confused. How do I figure out how much to use to make a batch to fill this and not have extra soap batter? It holds 2 lbs, but does that mean it holds a total of 2 lbs of lye water, oils and fragrance? In other words, when I am making a recipe do I just make the portions add up to 2 lbs? Sorry for this newbie question, but I want to make soap with it, but I don't want to have a bunch of left over soap batter since this is the only mold I have.
Terah from Bramble Berry replies...Hi Chad! When a mold says its capacity it means total, that means the total yield of your recipe (oils, water, lye, etc) should equal 2 lbs. The oil weight for a 2 lb recipe is dependent on what oils you're using so there's not flat oil weight number I can give you to go by. The best way to formulate a recipe to fit into your mold is to start with percentages of the oils you want to use on our Handy Dandy Lye Calculator. Then for the oil weight choose a number close to your total yield. Once you press calculate it will give you your total yields, which will most likely be larger than you want for your mold. You can then play around with resizing the batch from that page by changing the oil weight until you hit your perfect number! I will email you personally to discuss this further.
It is great and...cute!!!..I love it...I am making my first CP loafs with this mold and it is so easy to work ..it opens very well and I can get out my loaf very easy...great quality...great buy !!!..:)
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Route Grade Votings
Total votes cast 12
Adjacent Routes
1) 5+, 20m. A popular and pleasant first pitch.
I think 6aplus for the top pitch is realistic. The previous grade -5plus?-for this pitch was a sandbag.
So glad you've regraded this. The day we were there two parties struggled on it so we tried it. We had a struggle too! Not only thin 6a+ but the bolts aren't well placed at the crux either. Great situation though!
Solid 6 a plus for the top. Both the moves off the belay and the move into the crack are quite hard. The flake will kill someone (passer-by at the bottom?) one day, but it's fun while it lasts.
3 stars for the line and exposure...oh and the moves and the quality of the rock....didn't find the flake an issue.


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Kim Zolciak-Biermann and her 20-year-old daughter Brielle Biermann won't be traveling to Germany anytime soon.
The reality star mommy-daughter duo were on their way back from Italy with the rest of their family when they were stopped before boarding a flight back home in Germany.
Kim took to Twitter to (angrily) recap the entire situation. "Crazy ass airport n Germany! So extra told me its my government thats why they r searching all my stuff! Throwing my wigs around & s--t," she began.
"I went through security they searched my carry on, squeezing all my nutri grain bars, throwing my stuff around, obviously I didn't have anything," she continued, explaining how they had somehow missed the huge water bottle her other daughter, Ariana, had in her bag. "[They] said I needed further testing, swiped my hands & bag and said I tested positive for 'explosives.'"
Kim said officers were yelling at her husband Kroy Biermann to "back up" before searching her again.
"Obviously I didn't have anything," she continued. "I had to put all my [belongings] back together & we headed to our gate, upon arriving to our gate we are met with 3 security guards who said my hubby & producer had 2 go all the way back to security and be searched again! INSANE!"
Crazy ass airport n Germany! ?? So extra Told me its my government thats why they r searching all my stuff! Throwing my wigs around & shit ????— Kim ZolciakBiermann (@Kimzolciak) March 20, 2017
When she expressed how "crazy" the whole situation was, Kim said one security guard responded, saying, "No it's because of YOUR government."
At that point, the Tardy for the Party star said they barely made it to their gate only for her producer's ticket to be "rejected again."
can't wait to get back to america— brielle biermann (@BrielleZolciak) March 20, 2017
Luckily, they eventually made it on their flight. "On my way to Atlanta thank God," she tweeted. "Italy was amazing the ppl were too!! Never in all my years of traveling had I EVER experienced this!"
Brielle expressed her anger in a bit of a different way, telling Germany's airport staff off all together.
"Germany airport every single person who works here can go f--k themselves," she tweeted before adding, "Can't wait to get back to america."
The family had traveled to Italy over the last week, visiting major cities like Florence and Venice.


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IRS Notice of Intent to Levy: What it Means, What to Do
What the Intent to Levy Notice Means
If you have received this notice it is likely something has went really wrong with your taxes and you have not taken any action to resolve that problem. The sending of this letter is a required step of the IRS before they can begin to levy assets. Before the IRS can begin to levy they must satisfy the following conditions set forth by US Congress:
- Give Written Notice of Intent to Levy explaining your right to appeal the levy
- The notice must be delivered personally, left at your home, or sent by mail to your last known address 30 days prior to them taking action
- Must include an explanation of the reason for the levy, the levy process, your collection alternatives
The notice of intent to levy satisfies all of these conditions and once you receive you will have 30 days to take action to prevent the levy from taking effect. If no action is taken the IRS will levy against you and can legally take some of the following assets from you in order to satisfy tax amounts due.
- Garnish Wages from your employer
- Take contractor or vendor payments due to you
- OPM retiirement benefits
- SSA benefits
- Employee travel advances
- Bank accounts
- Commissions
- Property
- Rights to Property
- Any other thing the IRS thinks they can use of yours to satisfy the tax liability
This is the final threat letter you will receive from the IRS before they do take action. Out of all letters you receive from the IRS, this is the one that you should not ignore because it is only a matter of time before the IRS begins their enforced collection process.
Common Notices IRS Sends With Intent to Levy
The IRS has a variety of letters they send. Below are some of the most common intent to levy notices they will send to taxpayers.
What Can You do About the Intent to Levy Notice?
The easiest thing you can do in order to prevent the IRS from levying your assets is to pay the entire amount owed in full and that will instantly halt any collection actions against you. If you cannot pay the taxes owed in full you have to understand that there are other options. The main reason many taxpayers get into the situation of a tax levy is because they don't realize that the IRS is willing to work with them on some other form of payment arrangement. If you agree that you owe the tax owed and you cannot pay in full then your two main options are either enter into an installment agreement or file for an offer in compromise.
- Installment Agreement
As stated in the notice of intent to levy, the IRS says you must pay or make alternative arrangements to pay. The suggested arrangement to pay is typically an installment agreement. With an installment agreement you will be able to make monthly payments towards the total tax amount owed. Once you enter into this agreement it will stop penalties from being charged, only interest will be charged going forward. Once you enter into an installment agreement you will be considered to be in good standing with the IRS as long as you keep up on the monthly payments.
- Offer in Compromise
An offer in compromise is a settlement option offered by the IRS that allows taxpayers to compromise their tax debt and settle for less than the total amount they owe. This option is only available to those that are extremely financially burdened. If the IRS accepts this type of filing, you will be considered to be in good standing with the IRS. This filing is a complicated filing and the taxpayer must meet strict IRS requirements in order to qualify.
What if You Don't Agree with the Levy Notice?
At times the IRS makes mistakes and will issue a levy notice when it shouldn't have been issued. If you believe the levy has been issued in error it is important to call the IRS right away at the number that is given on the notice. If you have made prior corrective action, such as entering into an installment agreement or filing for an offer in compromise then it is still important to call the IRS to ensure that your account is being reflected correctly. If you don't agree with the levy it is important that you file for an appeal. Even if you talk to someone over the phone you should still file because your time is limited before the IRS begins to levy and you don't want to risk losing your right to appeal and a phone call is not an official request of appeal.


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On average, how many upvotes do I receive for each answer I give?
Q&A for programmers
-- How many votes do I receive per answer?
-- On average, how many upvotes do I receive for each answer I give?
DECLARE @UserID int = ##UserId##;
WITH VotesOnPosts AS (
SELECT v.Id AS VoteId
, p.Id AS PostId
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FROM Votes v
INNER JOIN Posts p ON v.PostId = p.Id
INNER JOIN VoteTypes vt ON v.voteTypeId = vt.Id
, Answers AS (SELECT OwnerUserId AS UserId, Id AS PostId FROM Posts WHERE PostTypeId = 2)
, Counts AS (
(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM VotesOnPosts WHERE VoteTypeName = 'UpMod' AND UserId = @UserID AND PostTypeId = 2) AS TotalUpVotes,
(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Answers WHERE UserId = @UserID) AS TotalAnswers
SELECT TotalUpVotes, TotalAnswers, (CAST(TotalUpVotes AS float) / TotalAnswers) AS VotesPerAnswer FROM Counts


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•Says state debt profile is N38bn
By Gbenga Olarinoye
OSOGBO—Parents of public secondary school students in Osun State, yesterday gave the government a five-day ultimatum to return boarding facilities to the schools where the facilities existed before the introduction of new education system by the present administration in the state.
The parents under the aegis of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, threatened mass protest should the state government fail to return the boarding system before the end of the ultimatum.
Chairman of PTA in the state, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, who received protesting parents in his office in Osogbo, appealed for calm, saying their request would be channeled to the appropriate quarter.
The state government had in its Schools Reclassification Programme closed all the boarding facilities in public secondary schools in the state.
The parents however appeared uncomfortable with the new education system and called for a reversal of the system, urging the state government to return boarding system to public secondary schools in the state.
Meanwhile, the state government yesterday said the actual debt profile of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration wasN38 billion.
The opposition parties' candidates, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Social Democratic Party, SDP, Elder Segun Akinwusi, the immediate past Head of Service in the state put the state debt at betweenN300bn and N400bn.
Commissioner for Finance, Budget Development and Economic Planning, Wale Bolorunduro, said the figure represented the loans and bonds taken by the government and the money owed contractors handling various ongoing projects in the state, adding that the situation was not gloomy as the state was ranked among the five least indebted states in the country based on the record of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Abuja.


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Pop duo Jason and deMarco bring new energy to the dance floor
In the music world, spirituality and queer sexuality are no longer mutually exclusive. Through a successful collaboration, partners Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio, better known as Jason and DeMarco, are uniting two seemingly divergent groups faith-based and gay-flavored pop.
Since the duo first began performing in 2002, the self-referred "Double Trouble" team has broken down barriers booking an act that's billed in both churches and gay clubs.
"The gay community doesn't know what to do with us because we're spiritual," deMarco says. "And the spiritual community doesn't know what to do with us because we're gay."
Jason adds: "We never intended to become the poster boys for the gay community of faith. But I think we represent hope that what so many long for, does in fact exist a healthy, young, gay, committed, spiritual, successful couple doing good work and reaching out to others."
That's a lot of adjectives. But, they believe each description is vital. Their career and their music aren't easily segmented, and that's exactly how they want it.
"We just want to "'be' and quit all the labels," deMarco says.
"We've had record industry people say, "'If you guys weren't gay, you'd be signed.'" Jason says. "Obviously, the music industry still is unwilling to take a chance on gay artists. It's sad that this is still an issue."
Although they are Christian, they do not consider themselves "Christian" artists.
"We laugh because sometimes people are afraid to curse or drink or smoke in front of us. We're not these holy self-righteous guys," Jason explains. "We're just two guys trying to do the best we can do in a world that tells us that our love is sinful and immoral."
"We're not interested in compromising who we are to have mainstream success," he adds.
Mainstream success could be close at hand. Their new album, "Till the End of Time," features music that they describe as "romantic rock pop." Seven of the 12 tracks were written by Jason and deMarco, with additional writing credits attributed to two-time Academy Award, Grammy and Golden Globe nominated songwriter Allan Rich, who has penned hits for Whitney Houston, The Backstreet Boys and Patti LaBelle.
The new album is also important to Jason and deMarco because of its accessibility.
"There have been so many people who have said they've heard of us and like our music, but they either didn't want to go to a church to see us, or they couldn't afford an expensive ticket for charity events such as the HRC galas and Matthew Shepard benefits that we perform at," Jason says. "I am excited that these people now have the option to see us at a club or at a mainstream event that works for them."
Their newest single of dance remixes of "Trying to Get to You" by Tracy Young "became the number-one seller at PerfectBeat.com, the country's largest on-line dance retailer, the first week of its release," deMarco says.
Of the new album, each singer has his own personal favorite. For Jason, it's "Falling."
"It was a last-minute addition to the album that I wrote on the fly and ended up being one of the album's best songs. I love when things like that happen," Jason says.
DeMarco's choice, on the other hand, is "This is Love," written by the album's executive producer, Alan Lett.
"It's just so cute," deMarco explains. "Very acoustic and very California."
As if their blossoming career wasn't enough to keep them busy, they're also involved in several other ventures. Their new album was recorded in Houston, at RJN Music, a digital recording studio that Jason and deMarco recently opened.
"One of the reasons we opened this studio together was so that we could offer quality recording in an open and welcoming environment to local Texan GLBT musicians and singers at reasonable rates," deMarco says.
They're also premiering a new "Inspirational" album aboard a Carnival Cruise that sails from Galveston on Oct. 15. Through the end of June, friends and fans can register for the cruise at jasonanddemarco.com.
As for the future, Jason and deMarco also hope to develop a center for youth who have been rejected because of their sexuality.
"As we travel, we are finding many who want to be a part of this dream, and it becomes more obvious with every city that we visit that something like this is necessary. So many of our youth have nowhere to turn," Jason says. "We want to use our music as a tool to raise awareness of many of these issues, and create solutions. The music is great, but there's a much bigger purpose to everything we are doing."
Jason and deMarco perform at Promise Metropolitan Community Church, 2527 West Colorado Blvd. June 16 at 7 p.m. Visit jasonanddemarco.com or spiritpop.com for more information.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, June 16, 2006.


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Blanchard Forest Strategy agreement
A collaborative citizens advisory group comes up with an innovative solution and new type of forest conservation for Blanchard Mountain near Bellingham.
Landmark recommendations
Blanchard State Forest, a parcel of public lands forest managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a uniquely spectacular area, well loved for its beauty, mature forests and recreational opportunities. It is surrounded by lands at its foothills that either have been converted to development or are at great risk of conversion.
The DNR had for years planned to clearcut much of the mountain, crisscrossing its core forest with miles of logging roads. Those plans have met fierce resistance from conservationists, recreation enthusiasts, and the broader community.
Blanchard Forest Strategy Group
In 2006, to break a long stalemate, the DNR convened a group of diverse interests, including representatives from Conservation Northwest and Friends of Blanchard Mountain, to create a collaborative forest management plan for Blanchard's forests. It was an opportunity for the Board of Natural Resources and DNR staff to work with citizens finding a proactive solution to protect this remarkable mountain and its forested trails and wildlife habitat.
The BSG was impressive in its balanced composition and in its open and transparent process and fair facilitation. Conservation Northwest was joined by Skagit Land Trust and Friends of Blanchard Mountain in representing wildland conservation and recreation interests. Intermediate roles were played by reps of Backcountry Horsemen, who have a major stake in recreation on the mountain, and two people with extensive credentials in a mix of both conservation and resource issues. The other seats were Skagit County, a local forester, a prominent and independent-minded Skagit County citizen, and the DNR itself. The facilitator was John Howell, who has served as president of Cascade Land Conservancy.
Photo looking south over the Skagit River delta, from the top of Blanchard Mountain.
Blanchard Forest Strategy agreement
In late 2006, a historic collaborative agreement, the Blanchard Forest Strategy, was reached for forest management of Blanchard State Forest and Blanchard Mountain, the southernmost tip of the Chuckanut Mountain range and the only place where the Cascades touch the sea. The agreement was signed in January 2007.
This collaborative agreement recommended that a 1,600 acre core area be protected. The core protects most of the recreational resources such as the top of Blanchard including the Oyster Dome, trails, and lakes. The other two thirds of Blanchard will remain working forest. Meanwhile, to replace the core, the Strategies Group members would seek funding from the legislature to purchase nearby private forestland that is at risk of conversion to residential use. This will sustain the working land base for generating revenue for the Burlington-Edison School District and other specific trusts
The core is 1,300 acres more than the DNR wanted to give up and 1,000 acres less than what conservationists have been fighting for the last 10 years. It was a painful agreement all around. But in the eyes of the conservationists, the Blanchard Forest Strategy agreement is exciting because it demonstrates that habitat and working forest can be protected by finding common ground.
Working forest, not development
Several other members of the Blanchard Strategies Group had valid concerns about how protection of the core would affect them. These DNR lands provide revenues to Skagit County, and are an important component of the timber industry and the jobs associated with it. In our state, working forests are quickly being lost to suburban home development. The timber industry had expressed concerns that protection of Blanchard's core would contribute to the problem. The Blanchard Forest Strategy agreement includes provisions to assure that replacement timber lands are purchased, preferably adjacent to Blanchard, to both assure the timber industry has room to operate, and that Skagit County continues to receive revenue from timber sales.
The Public Land Commissioner accepted the recommendations and the Washington State Legislature has shown their support over the course of three legislative sessions by providing $5.5 million of the $12 million in appropriations necessary to fund the replacement land purchases. Conservation Northwest and our partners on the Blanchard Strategies Group continue to work with the Legislature to ensure the fiscal needs of the Blanchard Forest Strategy agreement are fulfilled.


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I would recommend Barbara Ehrenreich's 2001 essay "Welcome to Cancerland":
More so than in the case of any other disease, breast-cancer organizations and events feed on a generous flow of corporate support. Nancy Brinker [then the head of the Susan G. Komen Foundation] relates how her early attempts to attract corporate interest in promoting breast cancer "awareness" were met with rebuff. A bra manufacturer, importuned to affix a mammogram-reminder tag to his product, more or less wrinkled his nose. Now breast cancer has blossomed from wallflower to the most popular girl at the corporate charity prom. While AIDS goes begging and low-rent diseases like tuberculosis have no friends at all, breast cancer has been able to count on Revlon, Avon, Ford, Tiffany, Pier 1, Estee Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Lee Jeans, Saks Fifth Avenue, JC Penney, Boston Market, Wilson athletic gear -- and I apologize to those I've omitted. You can "shop for the cure" during the week when Saks donates 2 percent of sales to a breast-cancer fund; "wear denim for the cure" during Lee National Denim Day, when for a $5 donation you get to wear blue jeans to work. You can even "invest for the cure," in the Kinetics Assets Management's new no-load Medical Fund, which specializes entirely in businesses involved in cancer research.


text: Instagram [ Rihanna, 'Diamonds' Video: See Photos From the Set By Contessa Gayles October 22, 2012 Filming for the Rihanna "Diamonds" music video is underway! RiRi hit the set for the visuals for her new lead single, and steamy photos of the songstress are popping up all over Instagram... Read More Category: R&B, R&B Videos Tags: Rihanna, Rihanna Diamonds, rihanna diamonds photos, Rihanna Diamonds Video, rihanna diamonds video shoot, RihannaDiamonds, RihannaDiamondsPhotos, RihannaDiamondsVideo, RihannaDiamondsVideoShoot EMAIL SHARE TWEET Pin it! REDDIT Share on Tumblr!


text:
Hi, I need to know if someone has tried to import incident templates via Powershell?
Also, where could I find a map/list of all available class types in Service Manager? I support the Authoring tool could give me that, but I was thinking more of something like a common class model type diagram.
Thanks in advance!
Maybe the diagram in the SCSM jobaids.zip is helpful:
Andreas Baumgarten | H&D International Group
Yes, this diagrams works:)
Thank you, it'll definitely help with preparing the import.
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text:
D-Link mydlink Video Camera Recorder - 4 Channel, Standalone NVR, Networked, 2x USB 2.0 Ports, Motion Detection - DNR202LItem#: DHD-102320096 | Model#: DNR202L
Currently Out Of Stock!
You May Consider This Alternative
Additional Resources
DLink DNR-202L Camera Video Recorder Product Details
D-Link mydlink Video Camera Recorder - DNR202L
The D-Link mydlink Video Camera Recorder is a Network Video Recorder (NVR) that can support up to four mydlink-enabled cameras recording M-JPEG, MPEG4, or H.264, with a storage option of up to two attached USB hard disks up to 8TB (4TB each). The D-Link mydlink Video Camera Recorder can record video from mydlink cameras directly to disk storage without the need for a dedicated PC. Simultaneous live view or playback while recording as well as complete video management and easy custom configuration, make the NVR DNR-202L a convenient and reliable network video recorder that is perfect for your home or small office use.
Versatile Monitoring
Users have a variety of options for viewing and organizing camera footage on-screen. Camera names and recording statuses are clearly displayed for easy reference. Moreover, multi-camera/ full screen live viewing and ultra-smooth pan/tilt and zoom functionalities3 let you monitor with precision and confi dence from the connected cameras.
Easy to use, yet powerful camera recording solution The DNR-202L features clear and simple interface for straightforward confi guration including compression, resolution, and frame rate for all connected cameras. Once the cameras have been set up, recordings can be made continuously with automatic overwrite function, or according to a user-defi ned schedule. The NVR also provides event recording based on specific triggers such as when motion is detected.
Effortless Installation With the mydlink camera Video Recorder (DNR-202L), it has never been easier to create a complete monitoring system for your home or small business. Simply run the setup wizard, assign your NVR to your mydlink account or if you are a fi rst time user, set one up, and you are ready to go. The DNR-202L will even automatically discover your mydlink-enabled cameras in your network. Unlike traditional CCTV recording solutions, the NVR provides an economic solution by utilizing existing IP infrastructure and makes storage much more fl exible with your own USB drives.
mydlink Technology Powered by mydlink technology, the DNR-202L provides direct access to remotely view live video or play recorded video using a web browser and mobile app over the Internet, from anywhere, anytime. With the mydlink View - NVR app for iOS and Android devices5, you can quickly and easily see your camera feed from anywhere with a Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G connection.
What It Is And Why You Need It:
- mydlink Enabled; enables easy setup of remote viewing and playback over the Internet
- Quick and Easy Setup; Simplifi ed mydlink camera discovery, setup, and management
- Concurrent Viewing and Recording; Simultaneously record video and view real-time video from up to four mydlink cameras
- Mobile view; delivers your footage through a mobile device
- 2x USB 2.0 port; lets you directly connect two Hard Drives
- 4 Channel DVR; Connect up to 4 surveillance cameras for more secure coverage
|D-Link mydlink Video Camera Recorder - DNR202L
Free Mobile App for Remote Viewing:
Recording Made Easy:
Easy Search and Play Recorded Video:The DNR-202L provides easy access to playback of recorded video locally using the included NVR management interface from anywhere using the free mydlink mobile app and portal. Select the recorded video by date/time then choose the cameras you want to view. Its that easy.
Effortless Do-it-Yourself Installation:
Video Recording Storage on Your Terms:Locate the mydlink Camera Video Recorder in a safe, secure place and record camera video to the attached USB external drives. Start with one hard drive and easily expand storage by attaching a second USB drive. You can attach 1 or 2 USB drives for up to 8TB of storage Bring Your Own Drive for added convenience and cost savings.
Additional Resources: Product Manuals
Recommended Items
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Manufactured by: D-Link
Warranty provided by: D-Link
UPC No: 790069386398
Mfg Part No: DNR202L
Box Size:
( Length:6, Width:6, Depth:4)
Shipping Weight: 0.1000 pound(s)
Dimensional Weight: 1pounds
What is Dimensional weight?
Click here for full warranty and support information
- D-Link logos are registered trademarks of D-Link. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


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Saturday, September 12, 2015
Stacking The Shelves {Week 4}
Posted by Danielle Meek at 4:00 AM
7 comments:
- Grace Fonseca said...
Binge reading can be fun. I hope you love all of your new books this week. They look amazing.
Grace @ Books of Love
- September 12, 2015 at 10:31 AM
- vvb32 reads said...
How to Seduce a Scot looks like a fun one ;-) Enjoy.
- September 12, 2015 at 10:42 AM
- Lexxie Lin said...
It seems like you got some great romantic suspense novels this week, Danielle, all your new books look good.
Have a fantastic weekend and happy reading.
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
- September 12, 2015 at 11:08 AM
- Sofia T. said...
That's quite a few books by Maya Banks. I love Never seduce a Scot but I'm very behind on the KGI series (like on the third book or something). Hope you enjoy everything you got!
Sofia @ SofiaLovesReading
- September 12, 2015 at 4:53 PM
- Lovin Libros said...
Oh I'm excited for Claimed! I love Elle Kennedy's books! I'll have to try a Maya Banks book at some point. Happy reading!
- September 13, 2015 at 10:18 AM
- Elizabeth Rodriguez said...
These look steamy hot! I love the cover for How to Seduce a Scot since I like historical romances a lot. I hope you love them all!
- September 13, 2015 at 5:46 PM
- Natalie Natflixandbooks said...
Lots of books this week! I hope you love them all, and that you can find the time to do your binge read! Happy reading!
- September 13, 2015 at 6:26 PM


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Reba, 'Good Morning America' Interview: 'Malibu Country' Star Tackles TV Rumors
Reba McEntire is enjoying her recent return to the small screen, starring in the sitcom "Malibu Country." While the country music icon is, no doubt, a talented actress, Reba admits that her role on the comedy is fairly easy to play.
"What you see is what you get," she tells "Good Morning America" about her character, also named Reba. "I am pretty much that character. I try to raise my kids right, I try to discipline them, just like in real life. [I'm] having a blast. Lily Mae, who is Lily Tomlin's character, is a lot like my mama. We were buddies, best friends, and that's the way we are on the TV show."
Viewers also got a sneak peek at this week's episode, airing Feb. 8. In an attempt to restart her career, Reba has to convince her friend and music industry lackey, Geoffrey, played by Jai Rodriguez, to get her a meeting with a red-hot songstress. After some pleading, he agrees but warns her not to "act her age." Her response is that she'll do it "Hammer style," before busting out into her best M.C. Hammer moves.
"I did Google M.C. Hammer doing that and I didn't do it like he did it," Reba admits. "It was kind of silly, but it was fun."
Rumors have circulated that there's another TV character based on the Oklahoma native, Connie Britton's role on "Nashville," which also airs on ABC. "The more I watch it, I don't think that it is," Reba reveals. "It's a great show. I love how they portray the music business, and I love the great scenes they are getting of Nashville. It's a great publicity drive for Nashville itself. I'm loving the show. I wish them nothing but the best of luck."
See Reba's "Good Morning America" interview here.
"Malibu Country," which also stars Sara Rue, airs Friday nights at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.
Watch Reba and Lily Tomlin Talk About 'Malibu Country'


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Congress mission welcomes first election of the Yerevan mayor and calls for a better democratic culture in Armenia
Strasbourg, 01.06.2009 – "Our satisfaction in seeing the citizens electing their city council, has been tempered by deficiencies in the conduct of the vote", said the head of the Congress observation delegation to Yerevan, Nigel Mermagen (UK, ILDG).
The Congress delegation welcomed the fact that by these elections, Armenia proceeded on its way to implement local democracy. The overall organisation of the elections has been broadly carried out in compliance with European standards. In this respect, the election observation mission of the Congress noted a considerable step forward in comparison to the local elections which took place in Yerevan in September 2008.
Nevertheless, the Congress delegation found that the political actors in Armenia should change attitude and behaviour so that the practical conduct of elections, as well as the democratic culture of the country could further improve in the future.
"Democracy is not only about the organisational framework of elections. It is about electoral conduct and culture. Elections have to be clear, fair and transparent even beyond polling stations", concluded Nigel Mermagen.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe was the only international observer which monitored the municipal elections on 31 May in Yerevan. From 3 to 6 May a three-member pre-election mission was carried out. The actual observation mission was organised from 27 May to 1 June. It included nine Congress members and three members of the European Union Committee of Regions from United Kingdom, San Marino, Poland, Italy, Hungary, France, Estonia and Belgium.
During both the pre-election and the election observation missions, the members of the delegation met with representatives of the government, the political parties and the media as well as with NGOs and Ambassadors.
Contact in Yerevan:
Renate Zikmund, Head of the Congress Division of Communication, International Relations and Election Observation,
tel. +33 6 59 78 64 55; email@example.com


text:
Blood Donor Registration/Greeter - Boise
Cause Areas
WhenIt's flexible! We'll work with your schedule.
WhereIdaho Location5380 Franklin RoadBoise, ID 83705
As the first person donors see when they come to give blood, a volunteer in this position warmly greets and thanks blood donors while providing registration instructions. As a Donor Ambassador, volunteers in this position will work at blood drives in our community and also at our Center. Volunteers may also be asked to make calls to scheduled donors to remind them of their appointments, take incoming calls from donors who want to schedule appointments, and ask donors to pre-sign up for their next blood donation at that site.
- Customer Service
Good Match For
Teens People 55+
Requirements & Commitment


text:
Luigi's Mansion
Review by kermie
"Classic Nintendo Feeling"
Gameplay (10/10) - Wow! This game is fun! After reading many online reviews, I didn't have high expectations for this game. Granted, the game may be short compared to many others these days, but it is just the right length in my opinion. Sucking up ghosts, rescuing Mario, and tip toeing through a haunted mansion is just plain fun. The control mechanics are perfect. The use of two analog sticks was pure genius, and the controller feels as if it was made for this game alone. One thing I also noticed is the rumble feature in this game was executed perfectly. The puzzles in this game weren't too hard, but not as easy as expected. The way the puzzles were introduced in this game reminded me a little of the Zelda series. It's as if Mario and Zelda games were crossbred, and Luigi's Mansion was the result. Absoulutely stunning results in my opinion.
Story (6/10) - The story is elementary and nothing to write home about. Don't expect a Final Fantasy epic with this game. Everything in the story came at no surprise to me. It was typical of a Nintendo Mario title.
Audio/Video (10/10) - The lighting effects in this game are revolutionary. I purchased six of the Gamecube launch titles, and Luigi's Mansion has the best graphics found in any of them. I'm sure in years to come, people will look back on Luigi's Mansion and recognize it as a pioneer in lighting and physics in video games. The little graphical touches in this game really make it stand out. Things like paper fluttering in the air and realistic shadows cast by every object imaginable really boggles the mind. Kudos to the experts at Nintendo for developing some amazing algorithms. This game is the perfect example on how graphics can be used to enhance gameplay.
Replayability (4/10) - This would be higher, except I really have no desire to really go through the game again. Bigger and better things are on the way. But I'm sure in a couple of years, I'll probably pick it up for a quick play.
Overall (10/10) - I recommend you purchase this game, especially if you're a collector like me. Nintendo has a reputation for developing ''kiddie'' games. While sucking ghosts with a vacuum cleaner may sound ''kiddie'' to a few teenagers, it certainly was appealing to this 26 year old. That's what's great about Nintendo's games. They appeal to all audiences. Lugi's Mansion is a Nintendo classic, and you will definitely enjoy it for years to come.
Reviewer's Rating: 5.0 - Flawless
Originally Posted: 11/26/01, Updated 11/26/01
Got Your Own Opinion?
Submit a review and let your voice be heard.


text:
Glam lez couple Lindsay Lohan & Sam Ronson are turning heads and raising eyebrows as they cavort in New York City.
First they hit the Sephora Tenth Anniversary party as LiLo showed off her $22K luv ring from Sam to mom Dina Lohan and brother Michael.
Then, after being spotted candoodling on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, they hit the late night Manhattan club scene before slipping off for some quality hand holding in the Hamptons.
At the Grey Goose Manor the modern-day Bonnie & Clyde fashion trend setters engaged in even more PDAs in between sipping their favorite vodka.
"Sam is very sweet to Lindsay," a source said.
"She's a good influence in her life."
Sam, the vinyl spinning daughter of rocker Mick Ronson, has now updated her Facebook profile status to — surprise — being "in a relationship".
Click HERE for LiLo pix — from child star to wild child!


text:
I am experiencing a weird issue, it has to do with the number of applications I can run under a specific user account.
My application is network based and when it receives a command, it will spawn a specific program to be launched, this program can be launched many times on the same server as its isolated from others. When I run this application under one user account,
my application stops spawning new processes when there is about 100 of these applications started.
If I start another version of my listener under another user account, I can as well get to about 100 instances of the spawned applications starting.
I do not believe this is a server limitation as when I log in as another user, I am able to spawn more applications. Does anyone know what the limitation is here, and if it can be raised safely? I have also tried to run my listener as a service,
but it seems the maximum number of applications I can get running while doing that is far less than running under user accounts. As a service I seem to only get about 10 instances of my application to be launched. (my application is not specially
developed to be run as a service though)
Windows Server 2008R2
Listener application is written in C++
I am not sure how this "network based" application works exactly but it sounds a bit like
Remote App or
App-V from Microsoft. You basically run a remote app on a server in a sandbox and it appears to be running locally on the client.
For this scenarios Microsoft has WSRM. With Windows System Resource Manager you can manage server processor and memory usage with standard or custom resource policies.
You can use Windows System Resource Manager to:
More about WSRM here:
Now if you are interested in limiting the number of instances a user can run check out these links:
Limiting Simultaneous Users of an Application:
How to limit 32-bit applications to one instance in Visual C++:
I hope this helps.
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text:
Imported from Slovenia in 2005 and approved for breeding by Dr. Jaromir Oulehla in 2008, Betalka is a well-balanced easy-to-ride mare and proven broodmare…SOLD
Beautiful gelding by imported Lipizzan 261 Maestoso Samira XXI out of Takoma (Pluto II Balmora IV x Triesta) with great movement and personality. Started…SOLD
Sami measures 159 cm. Imported from Slovenia in 2005, Samira has lovely conformation and a willing attitude. Approved by Dr. Oulehla >80%. Won TL dressage…SOLD
SOLD This gentle giant is a dream horse. Reliable, sweet, athletic, willing, and smart. Ceasaro has won numerous awards including Western NY Dressage…SOLD
14 yr 14.3 Lipizzan gelding He is quiet, quiet, quiet (not super lazy, but more on the laid back/push ride type). Has been ridden by Ammies and older…SOLD
Tango is a wonderfully athletic, coming 5, grey gelding, now being offered for sale at REDUCED PRICE--- his owner has no choice, which is the reason he…SOLD


text:
> My issue is that that I will probably have to do Postgres work like this in > the future so I don't want to have to repeat this same generic task for each > job that comes up. A generator would just be nice and it'd be one less > argument against psql for the mysql-nazis. :) Check out: http://pear.php.net/package/DB_DataObject_FormBuilder Chris
Next: From: Aftab Alam Date: 2005-11-18 11:19:26 Subject: trigger Previous: From: Christopher Kings-Lynne Date: 2005-11-18 02:00:18 Subject: Re: PHP Generator For PostgreSQL?


text:
- //Home
- //Music
- //Reviews
- //Gil Scott-heron
Ain't No New Thing
Gil Scott-Heron reinforces his position as Godfather of Rap on Free Will, an introspective and soulful album roughly the length of a demo tape. Police brutality, the consequences of violence and self-exploration on this 2001 re-issue make excellent arguments for his place in the canon of spoken word—not only because of his lyrical content and profundity, but because he was a master of delivery, even in his idealistic twenties.
At times, Free Will is sometimes abstract and waning, like on "The Middle of Your Day", where the message is lucid and haphazardly delivered or "Wiggy", a haiku-like appreciation of natural black hair. Scott-Heron is most effective during meditations on potential freedoms and where they can be found, when he allows his theories to blend with the melancholy music that plays throughout.
Gil Scott-heron
Free Will
US: 28 Aug 1972
UK: Available as import
It's also a fitting thirty-year-old album and ironic. At a time when civil liberties are increasingly challenged and police brutality continues to be a national issue, it's haunting to listen to Scott-Heron's anxiety and piercing indictments of what is meant to be a description of the past. The introspection at work here are vivid reminders of the journey of a people struggling with self-love and respect; a stark 12-track ode to freedom of mind and spirit that pulses under the skin with funky riffs.
What makes Free Will a standout is not what has defined Scott-Heron's legacy—he's less angry here than agitated. Instead, his subdued delivery and potent lyrics are easy to listen to because of his conversational tone. After publishing a novel in 1968 and delivering a potent debut with "Small Talk at 125th and Lenox" in 1970 and the critically acclaimed "Pieces of a Man" in 1971, Scott-Heron had progressed the point of musical experimentation when he recorded Free Will. The voice of a fiery movement and known best for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"—a thorough manifesto of political agency for black folks concerned with dismantling the apathy inherent in a technological age—was more tentative and smooth his third time out.
The title track not only showcases Scott-Heron's long-time collaborator Brian Jackson but also offers the fluttering of Hubert Laws' flute combined with a meditation on personal responsibility. The extended version of the song is also found here and flows better. The music sometimes feels dated, but the lyrics are what transcend decades.
"Get Out of the Ghetto Blues" is just that—a valiant sketch of those who "think you're cool 'cuz they bus your kids to school", with a relentless guitar and speakeasy vibe of a juke joint on Saturday night. Part of Scott-Heron's appeal is not only that he throws barbs at the masses, he speaks directly to his personal experience as a Tennessee boy affected by the prejudice he faced during the integration of public schools.
The intentionally slow "Speed Kills" is a poignant story of addiction, but it drags along. Heron's voice is at its raspy best throughout, especially on "Ain't No New Thing", an amusing look at the appropriation of black music and culture by the American mainstream. When he says "we used to white people tryin' to rob us / Why don't they try stealing some of this power / It ain't no new thing anything they don't understand / They try to destroy / We used to having black innovators copied and sent back to us We used to having people try to rob us, it ain't no new thing" he is the bold voice of his folk, stressing a theme a new generation of music fans have applied to lauded rip-offs like Justin Timberlake.
This is not an introductory album into the mind of Gil Scott-Heron, because too much of it leans on sentimentality in lieu of artistic merit—that weighs down songs like "Did You Hear What They Said", a short song meant to be a glimpse at a mother who has lost her son to violence but becomes a lilting whine relegated to a little more than three minutes. Although many of the songs suffer from their brevity (only one is more than five minutes long), Free Will is still an contemplative journey in all its understated glory. It's ironic, too, how his life progressed, and ironic. But his ideas and thoughts linger long after the CD ends, which is the best reason to listen to it at least once.
Rising Appalachia 'Alive' (album stream) (premiere) // Music
Lost Bayou Ramblers "Allons a Lafayette" (video) (premiere) // Music
Jean Caffeine "Winter of Hate" (video) (premiere) // Music
"No Dollars in Duende": On Making Uncompromising, Spirited Music
// Sound Affects
"On the elusive yet clearly existential sadness that adds layers and textures to music.READ the article


text:
user comments 57 comment(s)
|first porst (3:05pm est wed dec 08 2004)
so whats is the big deal?
– by me
|it's all military (3:06pm est wed dec 08 2004)
china is communist. that means that the gov't runs business. the government also runs the military (or the other way around). business, government and military can not be separated in a communist economy.
still, they could just buy the chips from someone else. preventing them from making them themselves would not prevent anything.
– by archerb
|what? (3:28pm est wed dec 08 2004)
"the u.s. government established technology-sharing restrictions to prevent chinese companies from developing sub-250 processes for fear that they will be utilized by the chinese military."
the should have prevented smic from stealing this ip in the first palce. the thought of the chinese developing anything on their own makes my nuts ache with laughter. now, we just need to figure out how ti stole it. – by swm
|communism in china (3:50pm est wed dec 08 2004)
is just the name of the governance. in reality china might be the most capitalistic country in the world nowadays. – by bee
|haha (4:18pm est wed dec 08 2004)
it's really funny to see comments like those. it just shows how ignorant americans are of the world outside us.
if chinese people can't invent things, probably the western civilization is still in the stone age – by yea
|lol (4:18pm est wed dec 08 2004)
damn chicoms…., tell me, how much is bussiness / millitary / government seperated nowadays in the us of a?
your goverment is just drooling jealous how the chinese goverments restricts the media and internet access, tenet wants to have the same thing – by georgeorwelll
|chang (4:29pm est wed dec 08 2004)
"smic wants nothing to do with the military."
does the prc military care what smic wants? smic producs *will* make it into the hands of the pla in quantity, no doubt about it in my mind. you think people in the us have nmh (not made here) bigotries? the chinese are famous for insisting they do things themselves *without* western assistance (lest they appear infererior to the rest of the world).
sure, they developed this themselves. anyone remember the wonderful "dragon" 486-class cpu that they came up with last year? mighty big strides for such a short time… i guess you could say i'm skeptical. – by jrink
|re: swm and bee (4:30pm est wed dec 08 2004)
there's no reason to believe that they stole the technology. there are educated people in china, and most of the necessary information is available through academic channels. the equipment is difficult to produce, but then they didn't produce it, they bought 193nm lith tools from some international manufacturer. so they developed it themselves as much as anyone else.
as for chinese capitalism, it's rather interesting. most people (knowledgable about the subject) i have spoken with describe china as a sort of enormous version of the us during the industrial revolution. it is supposedly a truer free-market economy. or rather that is the majority. there is still the communist undertone and the government has control over some economic faculties. but there are not as many rules, regulations, and restrictions on business practices.
on the other hand, "pure" capitalism, entirely unregulated, has been shown to breed monopoly, which is contrary to the basis of capitalism, competition.
i think the whole china thing is quite interesting and poses interesting challenges for the future.
– by drsengir
|re: drsengir (4:36pm est wed dec 08 2004)
"there's no reason to believe that they stole the technology"
yes, there is:
the list is endless – by swm
|a snip (4:39pm est wed dec 08 2004)
first, the first two links are of the same story. my apologies.
second, this is a snip from the third link(just incase you don't read down that far:
90%? hmmm – by swm
|a test of wits. (6:22pm est wed dec 08 2004)
a communist corporation, fucntioning in a communist nation, tells a democracy their technology isn't for military consumption.
and…we're to believe this? – by sociallambs
|re: swm (6:41pm est wed dec 08 2004)
the thought of the chinese developing anything on their own makes my nuts ache with laughter. dont laugh. you better go see the doctor to check it out see if you are being testis cancer? – by good
|re:swm (6:50pm est wed dec 08 2004)
it's thought that some 90% of the software in china has been pirated, where did you come out with this number 90% on it? damn…. can i say something. it's thought that some of 99% of the oil in usa has been stole or rob from the iraqi? damn…. – by hehe
|technolgy for military? (6:53pm est wed dec 08 2004)
oh ok. so american army never use any of new technolgy nowaday. cool. sh!t…….. – by smmm
|my last post. ever. (6:59pm est wed dec 08 2004)
well sports fans, i've been posting here for the better part of year…and it's time i stop.
h.l mencken said that the new goal for american education is 'simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality.'
i've realized that this community is merely an echo of mencken's theory. you're literally all consumed with self congratulatory quick thrills. a people unaware of limits necessitated by consumption, you�ve buried yourselves in trinkets…and feed off innovation to support your ever shallow lives.
some of you…are educated. you know who you are.
the rest? you're merely the processed remains of our 'education' factories. you are in essence…schooled, not educated. you've been homogenized into uniform sameness. a people of intellectual mediocrity purposefully dimmed for the 'new american century' of authoritarian control, and corporate manipulation. you were designed for malleability, and what our society idolizes is a reflection of just that goal.
some of you…actually had remarkably insightful comments. thank you 'focus/focused, dr sengir, goatguy, etc…'
as for the rest of you, there's good news…
i just saved a load of money on my car insurance by…
|switchingtogeiko (7:28pm est wed dec 08 2004)
you forgot to mention wd.
thanks for playing… – by wd
|switchingtogeiko (7:33pm est wed dec 08 2004)
good post.
i recommend you read the 'principles of secondary education' by alexander inglis.
you'd be amazed by his six functions of modern academics.
– by focus
|wait! (7:36pm est wed dec 08 2004)
i wasn't mentioned!
does that make me a person of "intellectual mediocrity purposefully dimmed for the 'new american century' of authoritarian control, and corporate manipulation"
damn it! post again and mention my name this time! – by nameless
|why such a surprise ???? (8:00pm est wed dec 08 2004)
asian people know how to shrink things….just look at their willies !!!!! – by microdildo
|re:microdildo (8:23pm est wed dec 08 2004)
are you asian? or else how would you know so much about the asian's – by ???
|????? (8:29pm est wed dec 08 2004)
hehehhe…are you living in a cave ????
still in the ice-age ????
everibody knows !!!!
– by microwilly
|re: geiko (9:09pm est wed dec 08 2004)
i don't have time (and won't for long after this post is sent to the archives) to read the articles now. but i will mention that most of the articles i have read, and i do read quite a few, refer to the high levels of piracy in china when they speak of copyright or patent infringement and stealing.
that, although unethical, is not the same as the sort of stealing they are being accused of here. i have read that most chinese companies that use windows use pirated versions of it, same with other expensive software such as anything by microsoft or adobe. (as a side note, the russians are often criticized for similar reasons). the problem there is the high software costs and lack of competition (who competes with framemaker? and by "compete" i mean really compete, word and openoffice and such do not compete with framemaker).
but you don't see any chinese coming out with a framemaker clone comprised entirely of stolen framemaker code and selling it globally.
and, like i said, there's no reason for them to "steal" this process technology. all they need to know to make it work is available through academic channels, and the physical machinery, which would be very difficult to build from the ground up (so might be worth "stealing") is available through normal commercial channels. where is the theft? did they steal the "idea" of a 90nm process? that's silliness.
– by drsengir
|re: swm, dr. sengir (11:06pm est wed dec 08 2004)
where do you come off thinking piracy is restricted to china only?
just to let you know, windows was stolen from apple's steve jobs by bill gates. but don't feel bad for steve. he stole it from xerox labs. even more comic, what technology is xerox known for?
i don't think 90 nm technology itself can be stolen, since there are only a few ways (limited by available 90 nm equipment on the market) to make it commerically. – by digger
|military use of 90 nm (11:17pm est wed dec 08 2004)
i don't see where 90 nm can be used by the military other than 90 nm cpus in pcs or workstations used by the military.
in that case it is unavoidable in any country regardless of manufacturer, since such military applications are indistinguishable from many business applications. i'm sure many terrorists use intel-powered laptops for instance.
it would be a different story if china wanted to build its own supercomputer. that would be more press-worthy than this article. in fact, a geek.com columnist speculated that a recent western-built supercomputer would be put to defense use. – by digger


text:
(cats) Grayson and Briella
(dogs - Toy Poodles) Ryker and Canyon
Printable View
Here is a list of all the pets we've had. Some are long gone, but never far from memory:
Dogs: Hancock (Hank), and Chestnut (Chessie)
Cats: Smithy, Slusher, Frosty, Hazelnut Snowshoe (Hazel), Shivers, Viggo
Parakeets: Millennium (Lennie), Pace, Oliver (Ollie), Pippin (Pip)
Ducks: Sweetie, Candy, Brownie
wow, this thread is amazing!
past pets:
My parents pets when I was born: Thor (German Shepard), Max (white cat), Katie (ginger cat) and Bon-Bons (tortoiseshell cat) all cats),
My pets: Angus (Westie), Solar (orange and white kitten), Polly, Meters, Little Black, Speedy, Caramac, Holly (all guinea pigs), Sooty (all black cat)
My sisters pets: Daisy (Westie), Sirius (black kitten), Beth, Chocolate Buttons, Lolly, Holly Jr (all guinea pigs, again), Fish (black and white cat)
And then countless hamsters, including Nipper, Huggles, Nina, Nina, Rose, Blossom, Billy-no-mates and Rupi
current pets:
Cats: Mouse (another tortoiseshell, about 1000000 pounds overweight, sisters), Phoenix nn Nix/Nixy (black kitten w/ white paws), Sam (black cat, twin of Sooty, mine), Anya (ginger cat, my baby)
Hamsters: Mole (grey Syrian, mine) and Blizzard nn Blizz (white Russian, sisters)
future pets I will own:
Two German Shepards (dark colouration) or Alaskan malamutes called Loki (Norse god for mischief, ties in with Thor and coincidentally also Avengers) and Herondale (William Herondale..need I say more?)
Former pets:
Two cats: Spencer and Poquito "Pokey" means small in Spanish. R.I.P great animals.
Two dogs: Pitbul: Jacob Marley. Jacob after the wolf in Twilight, but we named him Jacob Marley in reference to A Christmas Carol
Twix Michael: He looks like the inside of a Twix bar and Michael after Brett Michaels.
Currently I have a cat named Ollie (rescue) and two goldfish called Splodge and Specko. Previous I have had a dog named Waffles, another cat called Tiger, two boy bunnies called Jiffy and Fluffa, two girl bunnies called Peppa and Willow, a guinea pig called Squiffy, three other fish called Flipper, Flubbles and Ginger and a hamster called Sparky
Dog: Beauregard- Bow
Mice: Snowball, Pepper, Angel, Cinnamon
In the fish tank -
Oscar, Nebula, Galaxy, Star, Luna, Onyx, Ruby, Arielle, Apollo, Storm, Venice, Topaz, Jazz, Merlin, Pheonix, Casper, Monroe, Willow, Chuck, Nemo, Rome and Finn and then the tetras (which don't have names apart for the biggest called Cruz)
And one day I would like to own an Italian Greyhound called Remy.
Other names I like for pets:
My dog's name is Epcot and my cat's name is Doodle.


text:
PlayStation Plus members, as of today, are able to download Vigil Games' Darksiders for free. Granted, you won't be able to download it until the PlayStation Network update is available, which is a bit unfortunate. On the bright side, we all love free games! Not to mention that just about every gamer adores riding into the apocalypse on a fiery horse!
Those who plan on downloading Darksiders will ultimately love the game, but will utterly be disappointed upon trying Darksiders 2, as it is plagued with bugs that destroy the playability of the game. Hopefully we'll be seeing bug fixes for the game after company's are done bidding on THQ's assets later this month, but I wouldn't hold your breath for a third installment unless something miraculous happens.
Sony began 2013 with free game downloads like NBA Jam: On Fire Edition along with Mega Man 9 and 10. Mega Man 9 and 10 are still available for download as of this writing, but will no doubt be removed within the next week or so. Star Drone, as of today, is half-off, costing a mere $2, whereas it normally costs $4.
Sony is really doing an outstanding job with their PlayStation Plus service. How can you resist getting it when Sony keeps throwing free games in your face week after week? It ultimately pays for itself if some of the games they offer for free were games that you wanted to get in the future. Besides, there really isn't a reason to not get it if you own a PlayStation 3.
source: Gameinformer


text:
Jane Seymour To Appear At Carnegie Hall, 11/29; Tickets On Sale Now
Join multiple Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress Jane Seymour and PBS composer Tim Janis for musical journey The Christmas Rose on Thursday, November 29th at Carnegie Hall. A cast of 400 performers will fill the stage for an evening of music, dance, and drama. This whimsical, heartwarming story is destined to become a treasured Christmas memory for the entire family.
Under the incredible artistic direction of Brad Kenney and legendary producer/actor/director James Keach (Walk the line), additional guests will include the country's premier concert boys choir The American Boychoir, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, and internationally renowned and Ireland's own Damhsa Dance Company.
Tickets for Tim Janis The Christmas Rose will be available via CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800 and at www.carnegiehall.org starting September 28th at 11am.


text:
Photo: The B's (flickr)
Dearborn Patch editor Jessica Carreras described herself as not particularly religious, so she was open to spending a day experiencing Ramadan as a Muslim would.
She awoke early to begin the fast, realizing abstaining from food and water would take a "conscious effort."
She broke the fast with friend and freelancer Mariam Dahoui-Charara, who taught her how to wear a head scarf for prayer. After attending prayer services with Charara and her family, Carreras discussed her experiences in the video below (see the second post.)
This experience taught me that one of the most important things about Ramadan is that it reminds us to slow down and make time for our families and friends. Close the laptops, gather around the table every night and enjoy each other's company.
Read More:
For more Muslim Voices updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!


text: Senate to vote on meth bill By Eric Eyre February 25, 2014 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Legislation that would stop the West Virginia Crime Victims Compensation Fund from being used to clean up methamphetamine labs will be up for passage today in the Senate.Meth lab cleanup claims have drained the crime victims fund amid a sharp increase in the clandestine labs statewide."This fund was not intended to clean up properties and compensate for property damage," said Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley. "This fund was intended to help people."On a narrow voice vote Tuesday, senators approved an amendment to a bill (SB204) that removes a section of state law that allows the crime victims fund to reimburse property owners for meth lab cleanup costs.Sen. Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, said landlords -- not the state -- should be held responsible for fixing up their properties."If somebody walks into your rental unit with a ball bat or hammer and tears apart the place, we don't compensate for that," Carmichael said. "It's the responsibility of the landlord."West Virginia is the only state that pays property owners for meth lab expenses. Other states require property owners or convicted meth lab operators to pick up cleaning costs.During the past two years, the crime victims fund has paid out $1.2 million to clean up West Virginia's meth mess. Last year, the fund distributed $849,146 for meth lab claims, up from $378,404.Out-of-state landlords who own meth-contaminated properties in West Virginia received $100,000 of those payouts for cleanup costs since January 2012. Payments went to property owners in Kansas City, Mo; Surfside Beach, S.C.; Arlington, Va.; and Cincinnati.In 1981, the Legislature set up the crime victims fund to help victims of violent crime. The fund typically pays for crime victims' medical and funeral expenses.Six years ago, as meth labs began to proliferate in West Virginia, the Legislature passed a law that allows property owners to file claims with the state to help pay for meth cleanup.Initially, the fund paid $5,000 for cleanup costs. State lawmakers raised the reimbursement amount to $10,000 two years ago. Since 2012, the crime victims fund has paid more than $668,000 directly to companies that specialize in meth cleanup, while the remaining funds went to property owners.On the Senate floor Tuesday, Sens. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, and Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, urged their colleagues to continue state payouts for meth lab cleaning costs. They said landlords who unknowingly rent to people who use or cook meth shouldn't be stuck with the cleaning bill. "We do truly have victims of crime," Barnes said.McCabe said the crime victims fund helps fix up properties and keeps affordable housing on the market."This [meth lab cleanup] is not something covered by insurance," McCabe said. "In many cases, it makes the unit uninhabitable unless it's remediated."To pay for the surge in meth lab claims, the state Court of Claims has tapped a reserve fund the past several years. The reserve account was set up to pay out injury claims after a catastrophic event, such as a school shooting or terrorist attack.The reserve fund has dropped from $6 million to $2 million during the past four years.Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to no longer allow the victims fund to be used to clean up meth, but the Senate Finance Committee reinserted the provision at a Monday meeting. The amendment approved Tuesday stops the crime victims fund from reimbursing property owners for meth lab cleanup costs.West Virginia law enforcement officers seized 533 meth labs last year, nearly double the 288 labs found in 2012.Earlier this month, the Senate approved legislation (SB6) that aims to reduce meth labs by requiring a prescription for some cold medications containing pseudoephedrine, a key meth-making ingredient. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to consider the bill next week.Reach Eric Eyre at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-4869. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Congressional opioid investigation targets drug wholesaler Miami-Luken 2 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 3 WVU hopes to get injured defenders back for TCU 4 Rhode Island bank claims Justice companies owe $4.2M on helicopter loan 5 Safety shutoff disabled prior to June coal-mining death, report says WVU business center partly funded by Kochs Previous Story Remains of photo business fill East End building Next Story


text:
by Ken Newquist / January 28, 2007
If your Xbox 360 is red-ringing, and you're looking for half a clue as to why, check out the AV Science Forum's 3 Red Rings Xbox Diagnostic. It explains how to put your 360 in to diagnostic mode, and what the different patterns of flashing lights mean, such as "0001 power supply problem" or "0022 GPU Error / GPU Overheating".
It didn't work for me -- my 360 went into diagnostic mode, but didn't give me any codes (or at least, none that I immediately grasped). Still, it's worked for others, including a friend of mine, so it's worth checking out.


text:
Rising worksmith, REi, hits the interwebs today with a dope new banger for our listening enjoyment called "Super Bowl Status". The track comes in perfect timing for the Super Bowl, which takes place this weekend in New Orleans, and also serves as a dope introduction to the skills of REi.
The track finds REi, who is under the tutelage of DJ Toomp, linking up with B.O.B. for an infectious banger as they hit the track with their braggadocious bars. This shit is smooth, DJ Toomp, keep them bangers coming. Check out the track after the jump and let us know what you think.
Signed, Jesse James


text:
Unimed-Midwest Econo Emergency Spill KitItem#: YYSP-UMIKITBMW | Model#: UMIKITBMW
Currently Out Of Stock!
Unimed-Midwest Econo Emergency Spill Kit Product Details
- Econo Emergency Spill Kit
- 1 x Biowipe bag
- Instruction sheet
- 1 x Heavy-duty Towelette
- 2 x Nitrile Nonlatex Gloves
- 1 x Isagel Antimicrobial Hand Wipe
- 1 x 2 oz. Cavicide Disinfectant Spray
This quick, simple cleanup kit complies with OSHA guidelines and covers all basics needed for a simple spill while easily storing in briefcase, glove compartment or desk drawer. EPA-registered kit includes one Biowipe bag, one 2 oz. Cavicide Disinfectant Spray, two Nitrile Nonlatex Gloves, one Heavy-duty Towelette, one Isagel Antimicrobial Hand Wipe, and complete instruction sheet in English and Spanish. All contents are sealed in zip-lock bag with content label on front.
Manufactured by: Unimed Corp.
Warranty provided by: Unimed Corp.
UPC No: 000000000000
Mfg Part No: UMIKITBMW
Box Size:
( Length:10, Width:10, Depth:3)
Shipping Weight: 2.0000 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- Unimed Corp. logos are registered trademarks of Unimed Corp.. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


text:
In February, when Kevin Butler, the marketing facade of Sony, retweeted, "@TheKevinButler Lemme guess... you sank my Battleship? RT @exiva: 46 DC … C2 Come at me, @TheKevinButler," Sony unwittingly published its PlayStation 3 master signing key for the world to see and use. Two months later, we learned developer James Laird reverse-engineered the Apple AirPort Express private key by dumping the read-only memory (ROM) contents. These are just two examples in a long history of high-profile security breaches, causing embarrassment and expense to many. Unfortunately, this begs the question: "If corporate giants like Apple and Sony can't protect their embedded systems, how can I?"
Securing an embedded system can seem like a daunting task, but the best way to begin is by clearly understanding the answers to the following fundamental security questions:
• What are you trying to protect?
• Who are you trying to protect against?
• What is the cost if the information you're trying to protect is compromised?
With in-depth answers to these questions, developers can better tailor security solutions to their system's specific needs. When determining what to protect, the following questions must be explored:
• What software or data must be kept secret?
• Which communication channels need to be secure?
• Will you allow third party applications?
Hackers are not omnipotent beings; they are intelligent, motivated individuals and groups with ample time and resources. By understanding hackers' goals, developers can focus resources on protecting their devices from those who wish to cause harm, and mitigate the risk of attack from those who don't (e.g. homebrew developers). This will not only reduce the cost of the solution, but it will also increase the robustness.
Figure 1 illustrates how to secure an embedded system. This system needs to protect both the measurement of power and communication of those measurements to the operator, and it needs to be protected from anyone seeking free power. If a meter is compromised, this could represent a significant cost for the company. Like many embedded systems, the location at the end users' home or business gives attackers unfettered access to unprotected hardware or software.
To adequately protect this embedded system, developers might use the following security tools:
1. Make sure the software running on the meter is trusted and authentic. Verify that secure boot capabilities start from a hardware-based root-of-trust and use authentication algorithms such as RSA 2048/4096 or elliptic curve cryptography.
2. Protect the debug port allowing only authorized service technicians access to the meter. Use a device that allows operators to only open an individual system, not a single global password.
3. Incorporate tampering protection that reports back to the operator. Tamper protection should actively monitor the system and decide, based on the event, the appropriate response.
As the list of security breaches grows and technology pushes into critical markets such as medical devices, security has become a requirement for many embedded systems. Fortunately, the ability for developers to protect software and hardware exists and will only improve as offerings from companies become more widespread. By understanding the answers to the fundamental security questions, developers can create robust and secure embedded systems and take charge of their security future.


text: On Sat, Jun 12, 2010 at 3:57 PM, David Cournapeau <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote: > On Sat, Jun 12, 2010 at 10:27 PM, Sebastian Walter > <email@example.com> wrote: >> On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 6:48 PM, Sturla Molden <email@example.com> wrote: >>> >>> I have a few radical suggestions: >>> >>> 1. Use ctypes as glue to the core DLL, so we can completely forget about >>> refcounts and similar mess. Why put manual reference counting and error >>> handling in the core? It's stupid. >> >> I totally agree, I thought that the refactoring was supposed to provide >> simple data structures and simple algorithms to perform the C equivalents of >> sin,cos,exp, dot, +,-,*,/, dot, inv, ... >> >> Let me explain at an example what I expected: >> >> In the core C numpy library there would be new "numpy_array" struct >> with attributes >> >> numpy_array->buffer >> numpy_array->dtype >> numpy_array->ndim >> numpy_array->shape >> numpy_array->strides >> numpy_array->owndata >> etc. >> >> that replaces the current PyArrayObject which contains Python C API stuff: >> >> typedef struct PyArrayObject { >> PyObject_HEAD >> char *data; /* pointer to raw data buffer */ >> int nd; /* number of dimensions, also called ndim */ >> npy_intp *dimensions; /* size in each dimension */ >> npy_intp *strides; /* bytes to jump to get to the >> next element in each dimension */ >> PyObject *base; /* This object should be decref'd >> upon deletion of array */ >> /* For views it points to the original array */ >> /* For creation from buffer object it points >> to an object that shold be decref'd on >> deletion */ >> /* For UPDATEIFCOPY flag this is an array >> to-be-updated upon deletion of this one */ >> PyArray_Descr *descr; /* Pointer to type structure */ >> int flags; /* Flags describing array -- see below*/ >> PyObject *weakreflist; /* For weakreferences */ >> void *buffer_info; /* Data used by the buffer interface */ >> } PyArrayObject; >> >> >> >> Example: >> -------------- >> >> If one calls the following Python code >> x = numpy.zeros((N,M,K), dtype=float) >> the memory allocation would be done on the Python side. >> >> Calling a ufunc like >> y = numpy.sin(x) >> would first allocate the memory for y on the Python side >> and then call a C function a la >> numpy_unary_ufunc( double (*fcn_ptr)(double), numpy_array *x, numpy_array *y) >> >> If y is already allocated, one would call >> y = numpy.sin(x, out = y) >> >> Similarly z = x*y >> would first allocate the memory for z and then call a C function a la >> numpy_binary_ufunc( double (*fcn_ptr)(double, double), numpy_array *x, >> numpy_array *y, numpy_array *z) >> >> >> similarly other functions like dot: >> z = dot(x,y, out = z) >> >> would simply call a C function a la >> numpy_dot( numpy_array *x, numpy_array *y, numpy_array *z) >> >> >> If one wants to use numpy functions on the C side only, one would use >> the numpy_array struct manually. >> I.e. one has to do the memory management oneself in C. Which is >> perfectly ok since one is just interested in using >> the algorithms. > > Anything non trivial will require memory allocation and object > ownership conventions. If the goal is interoperation with other > languages and vm, you may want to use something else than plain > malloc, to interact better with the allocation strategies of the host > platform (reference counting, garbage collection). I'm just saying that the "host platform" could do the memory management and not libnumpy. I.e. libnumpy could be just a collection of algorithms. Reimplementing half of the Python C API somehow doesn't feel right to me. Those users who like to use C++ could write a class with methods that internally call the libnumpy functions: -------------- example code ----------------- class Array{ numpy_array *_array; public: const Array operator+(Array &rhs) const { Array retval( ... arguments for the right type and dimensions of the output...); numpy_add((*this)->_array, rhs->_array, retval->_array); return retval; } }; -------------- end code ----------------- I.e. let C++ do all the memory management and type inference but the numpy core C API does the number crunching. In other languages (Python, Ruby, R, whatever) one would implement a similar class. I cannot speak for others, but something about these lines is what I'd love to see since it would make it relatively easy to use numpy functionality even in existing C/C++/R/Ruby codes. Sebastian > > >> The only reason I see for C++ is the possibility to use meta programming which >> is very ill-designed. I'd rather like to see some simple code >> preprocessing on C code than >> C++ template meta programming. > > I don't think anyone is seriously considering changing languages. > Especially if interoperation is desired, C is miles ahead of C++ > anyway. > > David > _______________________________________________ > NumPy-Discussion mailing list > email@example.com > http://mail.scipy.org/mailman/listinfo/numpy-discussion >