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Health Aware is an ongoing series designed to help you be proactive in managing your health and healthcare by taking advantage of the many resources available to you as a Penn faculty or staff member.
Open Enrollment Ends April 18
If you haven't yet taken the opportunity to review your benefits coverage during the 2008–2009 Open Enrollment period, now is the time—this once-a-year chance to make any changes you like to your benefits elections will end this Friday, April 18. Detailed information about your healthcare plan options is available in the personalized Open Enrollment packet you should have received at your home address in early April, or from the Human Resources website at www.hr.upenn.edu.
Even if you don't intend to make changes to your healthcare plan(s), alter your pre-tax expense account contributions or life insurance amount, or add or remove a dependent, it's still important to make sure you understand the changes being made to existing plans in the upcoming plan year (July 1, 2008–June 30, 2009). Keep in mind that new coverage rates will be reflected in your June 2008 paycheck, since healthcare premiums are deducted a month in advance (pre-tax expense account contributions will begin with your July 2008 paycheck).
Now through April 18, you can update your benefits coverage 24/7 by logging on to www.upenn.edu/u@penn
and clicking on "Open Enrollment" in the "Announcements" section at the top-left of the page. If you don't have internet access, or are having problems enrolling online, please call the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENN-BEN (1-888-736-6236) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday–Friday.
If you are an active faculty or staff member who will be covering dependents in the 2008–2009 plan year, remember to prepare for the dependent eligibility audit. When the audit begins in May, you will be asked to provide documentation that verifies the eligibility of your dependents under Penn's plan rules. Open Enrollment serves as an audit amnesty period, during which you can remove ineligible dependents from your coverage with no penalties and no questions asked. More information about the audit, including the rules governing dependent eligibility and a list of acceptable documents to verify different types of dependents, is available online at www.hr.upenn.edu. When the new plan year starts on July 1, unverified and ineligible dependents will be dropped from coverage, and the individuals attempting to cover them may face financial and disciplinary consequences.
Free Medical Premiums Drawing
As you consider how best to manage your healthcare—and your health—in the new plan year, remember that through April 30, active faculty and staff currently receiving healthcare coverage through Penn can enter a drawing for one full year of free medical premiums.* To earn a chance to win this exciting prize, simply fill out an online health risk assessment.
A health risk assessment is a confidential survey that asks basic questions about your health habits and history. In return, you'll receive an easy-to-understand health report that gives you a non-clinical overview of your current health status, as well as your health risks and how to manage them. Whether you choose to share this report with your personal doctor or just use it to build a healthier lifestyle, your health risk assessment is a powerful tool.
Complete your health risk assessment by April 30 and you will automatically be entered into the free medical premiums drawing. Three winners will be selected at random from among all eligible entrants, and announced in May. To learn how to fill out your health risk assessment, visit the HR website at www.hr.upenn.edu and select "Health Risk Assessments" from the "Benefits" menu on the left-hand side of the page. You do not need to have attended an on-campus health screening to fill out your health risk assessment.
*Copays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses are not included.
— Division of Human Resources


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A NEW price-record has been set for a painting by the Edinburgh-born artist Peter Doig after one of his works sold for more than £8.4 million.
Country-Rock (Wing-Mirror) is one of three paintings of a Toronto tunnel and enjoys "supreme status" among Doig lovers.
The 1999 painting sold at Sotheby's in London last night is one of three depicting a landmark rainbow tunnel in Toronto, Canada, which is a recurring feature of Doig's work.
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The tunnel was repainted by an anonymous artist more than 40 times in 20 years as the authorities tried to remove it. The painter finally identified himself as Berg Johnson, who said he first painted the tunnel aged 16 as a tribute to a friend who died in a nearby road crash.
Doig was born in the capital, but has also lived in Canada and currently lives in Trinidad, where he has an artist's studio in Port of Spain.
Cheyenne Westphal, Co-Global Head of Contemporary Art at Sotheby's, said: "For lovers of Doig, this work enjoys a supreme status.
"We were thrilled to see it set a new benchmark price for the artist … affirming yet again the market's huge appreciation for his work."
Having remained in the same collection since the year it was painted, Country-rock (wing-mirror) belongs to a series of three works which together rank among the most celebrated and desirable in the artist's oeuvre.
It was painted in London at a key turning-point in the artist's career,
Meanwhile, a Francis Bacon sold for a landmark £26.6million. The sum paid sets a new benchmark for a small-scale triptych by the artist, eclipsing the previous record of £23 million for a work in this format.
Depicting the man who was the love of Bacon's life at the moment when they were most deeply involved, Three Studies for Portrait of George Dyer (on light ground) is described as an exceptionally rare lifetime depiction of Dyer and full of the painterly exuberance that marks out Bacon as one of the greatest painters of the 20th century

subset: commoncrawl


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About Vonschnitzenberg
A modern day flâneur. More than happy to tell you any stories behind my photos! Please let me know if you would like any of these in black and white - happy to mix it up a bit!
Vonschnitzenberg joined Society6 on March 3, 2012. Verified on August 26, 2014.


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JAMES E. MARTIN KILLED IN AUTOMOBILE CRASH; Death Witnessed by His Wife, Son, and Daughter-in-Law. SEVERAL OTHERS INJURED One Car Overturned While Two Autos Were Speeding Between Bayside and Flushing. JAMES E. MARTIN KILLED IN AUTOMOBILE CRASH
James E. Martin of 803 Fifth Avenue was killed in an automobile accident yesterday afternoon, midway between Bayside and Flushing. The accident which cost him his life was witnessed by his wife, his son, and his son's wife, and followed an impromptu brush of speed beetween the machine in which he was riding and that which his son was driving.
December 25, 1905
View the full article in TimesMachine.
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Or, download a high-resolution PDF of the individual article.
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The Security Confidence Gap Infographic
Find out why confidence in the security of the IT environment drops as workers become more mobile, despite widespread policy enforcement.Find Out More
Harris Interactive Survey Results: Be Data Safe
37% of IT decision makers in the US and Canada reported unintentional exposure of company data in the past 2 years via theft or loss of removable storage devices. View this survey now to understand why these exposures occurred.Find Out More
When 'secure enough' isn't enough
Meeting compliance regulations is important, but even the strictest compliance requirements still can leave sensitive data vulnerable to malicious parties capable of breaking into encrypted USB storage devices and extracting confidential data from them. This paper from Imation Mobile Security explains when compliance alone may not offer the protection companies ...Download Now
IronKey Enterprise S250 and D250 Solutions Video
IronKey delivers secure portable data storage solutions, including hardware-encrypted USB flash drives and external hard drives, for your mission-critical mobile workforce and the invaluable data they carry.Watch Now
IronKey Enterprise Management Console Video
Centrally administer access and usage policies across thousands of IronKey Enterprise flash drives and Workspace drives with the cloud-based or on-premise IronKey™ Enterprise Management Service or Server. Securely recover access to user devices, force a device to be in read-only mode, remotely force password changes, and re-commission devices that are ...Watch Now


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More delays in Hill case; judge allows three more weeks for state analysesMar 18, 2014 By Bob Moen, The Associated Press
CHEYENNE -- State schools Superintendent Cindy Hill will have to wait longer in her effort to regain control of the Wyoming Department of Education.
Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell decided Tuesday not to issue an order immediately reinstating Hill's former duties.
In January, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled that a 2013 law that removed the elected superintendent as department head was unconstitutional. Legislators enacted the law after complaints about Hill's performance. Hill then filed a lawsuit to get her duties restored.
While the Supreme Court sided with Hill, it left it up to the district court to decide how the lawsuit should be resolved.
Campbell ordered attorneys for the state and Hill to file written analyses over the next three weeks on whether any parts of the law are constitutional.
Also Monday, an administrator in the Wyoming Department of Family Services said she is running for state superintendent of public instruction.
Jillian Balow is the first Republican to announce for the position. She plans a formal announcement Thursday.
The other state superintendent candidate so far is Democrat Mike Ceballos, a retired phone company executive from Cheyenne.
Current State Superintendent Cindy Hill is not seeking re-election. Instead, she has mounted a Republican primary challenge against Gov. Matt Mead as he seeks re-election.


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What is the Best Cream to Use for Lightening?
I am an african lady light in complexion but due to the sun exposure, it made me black READ MORE
Can an Indian Regain Original Skin Color?
I am a 20 year old indian from south africa , I was born with light skin , over he past 8 years I have drastically darkened due to sun exposure , is... READ MORE
What Are Some Good Chemical Peels for Lightening African American Skin Due to Sun Exposure?
I want to lighten my face, neck, and forearms to match the rest of my body. READ MORE
I'm civil engineer who works in sunlight all day. What Skin Lighting Treatment would you recommend?
Sir, i am a civil engineer whole day i m working in sunlight and i also use a sun skin lotion but my face is day by day dark. so please give me a... READ MORE
Darkness on upperlip and chin. How cna I get rid of it?
Hi doctor My wife having darkness on upper lip and around chin when we spoke to dermatologist she said it's due to sun exposure (tan) Suggested peel... READ MORE
Skin Whitening?
Hello, I am interested on whitening my skin.Does an legitimate procedure exist?I was white back when i was a child but now because i've been exposed... READ MORE
How can I get back to my white, fair color? (Photo)
Im an athlete since im 10 yrs old,which training is under heavy sun for past 8yrs.Now im really brown.Im feared to use any skin products as it might... READ MORE
How do i remove dark spots on my face? (photos)
I am 40 and i developed the dark spots 6 years ago when i was pregnant with twins. They have since spread to both cheeks and i have no idea if their... READ MORE
What's the best way to lighten my skin? I'm African American, aged 50 (Photo)
I exercise in the mornings the sun has darken me. I also was tested for skin cancer. I don't have it. READ MORE
Is cryosurgery helpful in long lasting or permanent whitening of face?
My face has tanned a little with time and Sun exposure. I want to get rid of the tan. Also, which treatments would you prefer for losing the unwanted... READ MORE
How to Get my Original Skin Tone Back?
Iam 19ys old.my original colour of skin is fair yellowish white.just a week ago, iam very fair.but my colour darkened(to light brown or average skin... READ MORE
I want a fair skin permanently so how to get it.
Actually my skin was good but after playing in sunlight my body and face skin get burned so i want my previous skin back READ MORE
Certain Parts of my Face Just Wont Get Lighter?
Hello, I am African-American, and my skin (on my face and neck) has gotten very dark from sun exposure. I have tried different skin lightening creams... READ MORE
Discoloration of skin after using Melamin Skin Bleaching and correcting creme? (Photos)
I've been using Zo Medical's Melamin Skin Bleaching and Correcting creme by Zein Obagi for a few weeks now. As recommended I put on sunscreen spf 50.... READ MORE
What treatment do you recommend for darker face and neck due to sun exposure?
I am a 29 year old Indian woman with fair complexion.Due to prolonged sun exposure,skin on my face and neck is considerably darker than the rest of my... READ MORE
How to remove farmer's tan and get original skin colour back?
I'm 18 year old male from India , I have a farmer tan from 1 year by the sun explosions . I want to get my original skin colour back...Please suggest... READ MORE
Can I Regain My Facial Skin Color Back To A Lighter Tone?
Hi Doctor , I am 18 years old. First My full Face Skin colour was very lighten. But On 19/7/2014 I Travelled From my bike to my college at 11am The... READ MORE
Is there any creams to help fade freckles?
When I was younger I spent alot of time in the sun and was very freckled on my face. Is there any creams or procedures that can help lighten or even... READ MORE
Body is 3-4 shades darker than my face/hands/feet. (photo) What can I try to get a full body lightening effect long term/permane
I've always had a medium/warm skin tone, but I've noticed that my stomach, buttocks, back and back of my neck are dramatically darker than my face,... READ MORE
How should I go about getting my skin back to normal if I bleached it too much?
I quit using hydroquinone and want to get my skin back to its normal tone. I'm African-American and medium-to-dark brown. Should I just stand in the... READ MORE


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MN : Red alert sounded in Khammam dist
Tue, Dec 02, 2014, 03:01 PM
Police have issued a red alert in Khammam district in the wake of Maoist attack in Chattisgarh. The red alert has been issued following an ambush by Maoists in Chattishgarh boarder area on Monday in which 14 CRPF jawans were killed and 13 others injured. In view of the Foundation Week being observed by the Maoists from Dec 2 to 8, large number of central reserve police force personnel have been deployed in the forest areas of Khammam district. CRPF personnel have been carrying out intensive combing operation.


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Posted by admin on May 23, 2012
Full Featured – Linux – Freeware/Open Source
GRAMPS 3.4.0 has been released.
• Lots of changes and bug fixes to every part of Gramps, including XML import/export, image handling, gedom handling, Gramplets, date handling, citations, reports, more.
• Some platform-specific fixes (Windows, OSX, Linux).
• Many translation updates.
Log in to leave a comment. Sign In / Sign Up


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Money and Ethics
Name: Michelle Westermann-Behaylo, J.D. Ph.D.
Question: Each semester for the past few years, I have showed my students a clip from Paul Solman on ethics in business education, and the oath that many MBA students were taking to be responsible business persons upon graduation. The clip was from 2009 I believe. Your archives have moved, and I can't seem to find that clip any more. Would you be able to help me locate that clip so I could use it to initiate discussion in my business ethics and corporate social responsibility classes this fall?
Paul Solman: As we've already written to Dr. Westermann-Behaylo, I never did a story about the MBA oath in 2009, nor, it seems, did anyone else at the NewsHour. But her email is a good excuse to link to a couple of business ethics stories over the years that were particular favorites of mine, and that may prove useful in classrooms. One is already online in streaming video and every few years someone I randomly encounter mentions it: "Silent Watchdogs." From 2002, I think you'll agree that's it's almost spookily prophetic of the crash to come.
But the real reason for printing Dr. Westermann-Behaylo's email and this response is that it affords the opportunity to post our all-time favorite on business and ethics — or the lack thereof. The transcript of the story and the "Realaudio" has long been online but here, for the first time, is the video. Really, the Stew Leonard saga is amazing. So too the ethics class at Babson College.
Please remember, teachers: we not only allow but urge you to use our stories for free in your classrooms. A number of them have been embedded in skeleton lesson plans on the NewsHour's Extra and all of them, over the past few years, are up at the Council on Economic Education's Econ Ed Link web site, with accompanying teacher questions for your students, though there tends to be a lag between the time they run on the air and when they appear online. Just scroll down and click on "Making Sen$e with Paul Solman." We also have a full lesson plan on the concept of "Moral Hazard."
Let us know how we can be of further assistance, if you would. We consider teaching the highest of callings and have no higher mission than to help you educate Americans about business and economics. I've tried to make myself available to teachers, often via Skype, whenever logistically feasible.
This entry is cross-posted on the Rundown– NewsHour's blog of news and insight.


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I had the microdroplet technique for acne scarring 8 weeks ago and still have a small area of swelling on one of my cheeks. The area is about an inch long and 1/4 of an inch wide. It is fairly minimal. My doctor seems to think it is not worry some and may just take more time to resolve. The area was bruised the longest also. Is it possible this is just excess swelling? And if so, how long until I should be concerned? And what do I do about it?
Swelling After Silicone Microdroplet Treatment?
Doctor Answers 5
Swelling after Silicone Microdroplet Injections
It can certainly be simply bruising that is causing the raised area. This can be "normal" after injections of any kind, not just silicone. Superpotent topical cortisones, oral cortisone, intralesional, and intramuscular cortisone injections all play a role in calming these reactions. Your doctor is the best person to guide you through this issue.
Localized swelling 2 months after silicone acne-scar injections may be improved.
Feel free to re ask your query with a photo showing your concern, as this would be helpful for us to help you. If you have a raised area that was more bruised than other areas, this will likely resolve with time. A dilute triamcinolone acetonide (steroid) injection may prove to be beneficial for a more immediate response.
Hope this is helpful for you.
Dr. Joseph
Learn more: http://ericmjoseph.com/
Liquid silicone complications
Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS
Learn more: http://kareplasticsurgery.com/revision/silicone-removal/
You might also like...
Watch and wait patiently after Silikon injections
The bruising after the injection probably caused most of the swelling, and not overcorrection. Try massaging the area firmly several times daily and see your doctor if that does not work after several weeks.
Learn more: http://www.specialface.com
Persistent Swelling 8 Weeks After Filler Treatment in the Cheeks
Based on your description, it could simply be residual bruising or swelling that is causing the area to look more full. And this can happen from any filler, not just silicone. However, if the fullness/swelling you see is still present in a few more weeks, I would return to your doctor to discuss possible treatments to bring it down. The most effective treatment for this is intralesional cortisone injections which your doctor should be very comfortable doing if necessary. Good luck!
Learn more: http://www.barnettdermatology.com/treatments.php?id=16
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


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Chilean miner fights to complete NYC Marathon
Just weeks after being trapped underground in a collapsed mine for over two months, Edison Pena crossed the finish line at the New York City Marathon. Typically, people train for up to six months with professional running coaches and support groups before running a marathon. Not Edison Pena, he practiced jogging up and down crumbling mine shafts in the dark and all by himself. His marathon finish was not easy nor was it without injury, but he still finished nonetheless. Read about his accomplishment on page 5A of today's Times and tell us how inspired you are to complete your goals here on our blog!


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One Direction's Louis annoyed by Harry Styles' 'relentless' womanising
The 'relentless' stream of women brought home by One Direction's
Harry Styles is a source of annoyance for bandmate
Louis Tomlinson.
Harry has been romantically linked with a number of women of late, including Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack .
It seems Louis, who shares a flat as well as a stage with the young lothario, cannot believe how many different women Harry is bringing home.
He told The Sun: 'The worst thing about living with Harry is the constant stream of women he is getting through our door. It's relentless.'
Louis insists he has no desire to go out on the pull with his bandmate, having recently become involved with model Eleanor Calder .
'I am a one-woman man with Eleanor. It's still not quite official. We haven't put a name on it but I really like her, she's cool,' he added.
Still, living with Styles has the odd perk – as it seems the teenager is pretty useful in the kitchen.
'He cooks for me â fajitas and tacos. The fajitas are good, they are very good,' said Louis.
One Direction performed their new single Gotta Be You on the X Factor results show last night, and will soon be gearing up for their first UK tour, starting in Wolverhampton on December 21.


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Pertaining to, or derived from, the European bay or laurel (Laurus nobilis).
(Science: chemistry) lauric acid, a white, crystalline substance, C12H24O2, resembling palmitic acid, and obtained from the fruit of the bay tree, and other sources. CH3(CH2)10COOH = dodecanoic acid, laurostearic acid, dodecoic acid. Obtained from various vegetable sources. Sodium salt used as a detergent.
Please contribute to this project, if you have more information about this term feel free to edit this page.


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At Gemvara, we believe that the yellow gold solitaire aquamarine knot jewelry you wear should be precious because it's personal. Every beautiful Gemvara design is made just for you, in your choice of gems and precious metals. Your child's birthstone in rose gold. Your favorite gem in yellow gold. Add your own meaning to every design, creating beautiful memories and brilliant reminders. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from a wedding or graduation to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Our inspired Mother's Day gift ideas with a personal touch will make this Mother's Day memorable. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your yellow gold solitaire aquamarine knot jewelry with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. Our wide selection of yellow gold solitaire aquamarine knot jewelry by David West, Carl Ansley, Damon Washington, and other talented designers means you can find jewelry that's just your style. Gemvara's stunning solitaire styles add timeless glamour to everything you wear. Our lovely Love Knot jewelry celebrates emotion and family ties that keep us connected to the ones we love. Aquamarine captures the icy beauty of the sea. Classic 14 karat yellow gold is both beautiful and durable. Gemvara also offers every design in rich 18-karat yellow gold, which has a more buttery color and is 75 percent pure for long-lasting value. Clean your yellow gold solitaire aquamarine knot jewelry with mild dish soap: use a soft brush where dust collects. Gemvara's fine quality yellow gold solitaire aquamarine knot jewelry is designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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HPI RACING Axle Shaft 6X31Mm (2Pcs) - 88012
|(Item # 4944258880129 88012 HPI RACING UK) - Shadow stock. Available to order, if in stock with our suppliers.
|Genuine HPI quality spare part for easy maintenance and repairs.See below for kit reference.
As with any product, specification is subject to change without prior notification. You are advised to confirm current availability and specification before buying.


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Lord Heseltine says government must go 'further and faster' for growth
Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has urged the government to go 'further and faster' in its bid to restore the UK economy to growth.
In a 228-page report commissioned by chancellor George Osborne , the former Conservative cabinet minister says the recovery could be secured by 'unleashing the power' of cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.
Lord Heseltine said the current growth strategy was too London-centric, and called for government funds to be employed to 'mobilise the potential' of other UK regions.
Mr Osborne has welcomed the report's findings, but Labour said Lord Heseltine had given a 'damning indictment' of the coalition's record.
Speaking to the Today programme, Lord Heseltine admitted his proposals would go down like a 'lead balloon' as they amounted to Whitehall departments surrendering more power.
Although he said the government was doing an 'extremely good' job, the peer continued: 'There are things we can do further and faster than we are already doing. There is an urgency. Across the world there are emerging economies after our jobs. They are using every known device to get part of what we want.
'We have to mobilise every resource. We have enormous excellence in companies and universities, but the average needs to be jacked up.'
He is advocating a single growth fund instead of individual ones administered by different departments, which local partnerships would then bid for slices of.
John Cridland, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, welcomed the proposals.
'His key point is that we need more local action and leadership, which must be right,' he said.
'To successfully rebalance the economy towards private sector growth, every part of Britain needs to grow – we mustn't just rely on the usual suspects of London and the south-east.'
Mr Osborne commented: 'I wanted Lord Heseltine to do what he does best: challenge received wisdom and give us ideas on how to bring government and industry together. He has done exactly that. This is a report bursting with ideas and we will study it very carefully.'
But shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves said the report was embarrassing for the government.
'Half way through this parliament, a former Conservative cabinet minister is still calling for a plan for growth,' she said.
'Since the spending review two years ago we've had growth of just 0.6 per cent compared to the 4.6 per cent growth George Osborne said he would deliver.
'The result of the government's failure is that families are worse off, long-term unemployment is rising and borrowing is going up.'


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Europe Scratch Map
- Europe Scratch map edition - scratch off a country as you travel around
- Perfect way to show just how well travelled you are - ideal for tourists/travellers
- Features grey foil top layer on blue background with countries beneath
- Includes scratchable landmarks, phrases, and traditions along the side
- Dimensions out of the tube: Map is approx 54.5 x 44.5 cm
More product info
Have you or someone you know travelled extensively on the Continent? Introducing the Europe Scratchmap. For those unfamiliar with the concept of the scratchable map, the idea is that whenever you've been somewhere, in this case, Europe, the Scratch Map allows you to log your travels by scratching off the top foil of the place you've visited, revealing the finer details beneath. Working like a lottery scratch card, it's a fabulous way to teach yourself a bit of geography and is heaps of fun keeping track of your travels. If you're planning on travelling Europe by car or even better still, a camper van, then don't leave home without it! Once your journey is over, display it as a poster on the wall for all to see and admire.
The European Scratch Map comes packaged in a protective cardboard tube so its easy to post out as a gift. Ideal office stationery or decoration for a child's bedroom.
Scratchmap features
- Material: Laminate, card, coloured foil
- Beautifully packaged in a sturdy card tube
- Details revealed when you scratch the foil


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Can I Stop The Guey-Ness Of My Sugar Piece?
Decorating By trumpetmidget Updated 16 Nov 2008 , 4:03am by Cakepro
I am making a cake for tomorrow - our pastor is celebrating 10 years at the church. It is a 5 tier stacked cake. The topper is a cross with a flame (the methodist cross) made out of sugar. I followed a hard candy recipe, molded it and it looks great. But, with the rain and humidity, it is sweating and is really guey. The black part of the cross is starting to run down the red flame. Is there anything I can do to make it better? Will it survive?
Thanks for the help!
LOL, 'guey.' I had to say it out loud to understand it!
Sugar is so hygroscopic that as long as your piece is in a humid environment, it is going to continue to be gooey. You can try putting it in a food dehydrator to stop the sweating/melting but you can't undo the running colors.
Sorry for your troubles!


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Don't miss Fourth of July events this year, including the Scottsburg and Clarksville parades and fireworks, a celebration at Patrick Henry's home near Brookneal and shows at the Prizery in South Boston.
Scottsburg Parade: At 10 a.m. on Thursday July 4, about a half hour northeast of Oak Grove Plantation Bed & Breakfast. You'll see fire trucks, antique cars, floats, horses and local pageant winners during the parade. Kids will enjoy the candy thrown to them from passing paraders. Then there is a day of food, music and games, followed by fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
Patrick Henry Home: Enjoy fireworks, live music, Patrick Henry delivering his celebrated speech, 18th century interpretations (many are hands-on!), tours, kids' games, arts & crafts vendors and more! Events begin at 3:00 p.m. July 4, with fireworks at dusk. Bluegrass band Tara Mills and Yankee Dixie of Charlottesville, VA will play from 5:00 to 7:00pm! The gate closes at 9:00 p.m. The home is in Red Hill, about an hour northwest of Oak Grove.
Red White and Broadway: This musical revue, starring professionals brought to South Boston for the summer theater program, can be seen at 7:30 p.m. on July 4 and continues through July 7 at the Prizery.
Clarksville Fourth of July: Sponsored by the Clarksville Ruritans, this year's lineup will include decorated bicycles, floats, antique cars, trucks and tractors, decorated golf carts, fire trucks, bands, Color Guards, and Shriners Motor Corps miniature cars. It starts at 11 a.m. July 4 and is about a half hour east of Oak Grove.


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I have been asked to do Red Velvet Petit Fours for a 40th Anniversary in May. The hostess experienced my first (and pretty horrible in my opinion) attempt at petit fours and wants me to do them anyway, so at least I am starting out on even ground.
I am wondering if anyone has advice for me before I get started. Should I use a regular Red Velvet Cake recipe (maybe Sarah's RV Cake) or would you recommend that I do something different? I haven't ever made a RV Cake, so this will be a new experience all around.
I am thinking a thin layer of cream cheese frosting and poured fondant glaze. I realize that the cake will show through the glaze, but there is no way around that. I am ordering a "40" candy mold and will probably use red candy melts for the tops.
There may be a forum that specifically addresses this topic, but they are all coming up empty for me right now. I will do a search again later, but thought I would just get some expert advice in the meantime.
Thanks to you all. Happy baking!
Your plan sounds pretty good, you just have to be very careful with red velvet. It can become very crumbly if over baked. If you have time, I would try a few different recipes to see which you like better and to get timing down. In my own experience, some of the recipes call for 2 oz of red food coloring, but I think it makes the red too dark. If you want a really bright red, I would only use 1 oz, or even less. If the recipe does call for 2 oz, use water to make up the extra liquid. HTH and good luck!
Thanks, Amber. There is a recipe in Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor that is almost identical to Sarah's Red Velvet Cake ... except for the cake mix, of course! Do you think that a cake mix base might be better for this purpose? No one will get enough cake in each petit four to know if it was scratch or not and it might hold up a little better.
I have never had a problem with doctored cakes, and they do tend to be a bit more stable. I think it is a great option. It should stay moist as well since its a mix. Scratch cakes can be picky
Also, I have seen a version where there is a layer of chocolate ganache under the cream cheese icing, and it is yummy! You could do something like this, or even invert it so the chocolate ganache is on top as you previously mentioned
"Chocolate chocolate" ganache or white chocolate? I have used ganache a lot - either bittersweet or semisweet dark - but not white. It is my understanding that you have to use twice as much of the white. That would certainly help to cover the cake though. You wouldn't still do glaze, would you?
I've seen chocolate chocolate (is there any other kind?) I think white chocolate would be way too rich for a red velvet cake. Not sure about the glaze though, I have never used one.


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not old fashionedTuesday, November 24th, 2015
Recipe: old fashioned doughnuts
We piled ourselves, the dog, and eight pairs of skis into the car over the weekend and made our way south and west to Crested Butte. I patted myself on the back too soon for catching Neva's puke episode in a strategically placed plastic bag, because when we stopped for gas in Buena Vista, she threw up again – down the back of the driver's seat and on her doggy bed. Then when we opened the door to get her out of the car, she projectile vomited all over the door and on Jeremy's shoes and pants. But we did eventually get to Crested Butte and we were all very happy for it. We gave Neva lots of treats and snuggles and warm blankets for her to curl up in, and I googled how to clean vomit from car upholstery.
this was the best moment of the drive: spotting bighorn sheep
Here in Crested Butte, Jeremy and I just want to hole up with our pup so we can ski and work in peace for the week. As usual, we have no grand plans for a Thanksgiving-style feast. We like to keep things simple and low-stress in general, but especially over the holidays. The only thing that will make an appearance from a typical Thanksgiving menu will be mashed potatoes. We're grilling steaks because 1) they taste better and 2) they are quick and easy. And I plan to roast lots of vegetables because honestly, that green bean casserole (I don't care HOW fresh you make it) is disgusting. The argument "This is how we've always done it," doesn't sit well with me. That line has gotten humans into a lot of trouble through the years… including overeating at Thanksgiving.
we try our best to do the opposite of stuffing ourselves at thanksgiving
a steady climb into the beautiful high country
neva loves her exercise as much as we do (probably more!)
I try to approach life from a more pragmatic perspective. Traditions that I used to blindly follow now come under heavy scrutiny. Does it cause anyone harm? Is it a source of unnecessary stress? Is it a stupid waste of money or time? Is it just plain stupid? The only part of this holiday that I do really like is the reminder to give thanks and to remember (i.e. help) those who are less fortunate. If you don't know what you are thankful for, perhaps take some quiet moments – step away from your phone, no really – and mull that one over. It's important and it's good for you.
a peaceful frozen alpine lake rests under a mesmerizing cloud pattern
What might not be so good for you are these old fashioned doughnuts. But they're awfully tasty and no one said you had to eat all of them. Just have one… or two… or… Old fashioned doughnuts rank right up there with French crullers for me. I read several recipes and was surprised to find the doughnuts were so easy to make! Except for me, they weren't easy at all. My first attempt was a bit of a disaster and I spent several days troubleshooting and researching, which led me to this 1940 research paper on deep-fat frying at altitude. Turns out if you live at or near sea level, you're golden. Follow the recipe as is. If you live at elevation – let's say above 5,000 feet – you might want to make a few adjustments which I list in parentheses in the recipe below. The photos in this post are from the first batch, but the final photos are of the second batch.
sour cream, sugar, shortening, cake flour, egg yolks, salt, baking powder, nutmeg
whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg together
**Jump for more butter**


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A Good Day to Die: A Novel of Cuba After Castro
A gripping novel of war set in the days following the death of Fidel Castro. "Renders tense emotions in a tale of a doomed mission and a search for redemption."--BooklistIn a Cuba of the near future, Castro is dead, but his crumbling regime remains, and soldiers, rebels, guerrillas, and The Company--the CIA--all vie for control. War-weary and emotionally shattered after years of black operations in Beirut, Belize, and El Salvador, Jorge Ortega finds himself installed as the expendable americano leader of a small band of Cuban revolutionaries. The Company is planning a full-scale invasion, and they need a decoy: Ortega's mission, which two other agents died trying to implement, is to lead this ragtag bunch of rebels into the coastal town of Santa Rosa, storm the local radio station, and provide intelligence and support for the incoming troops.But as Ortega prepares the rebels for the fight of their lives, he is haunted by nightmares of past Company missions, and begins to doubt that the invasion planned to support his offensive will even take place. Meanwhile, his affair with Gloria, a beautiful but war-scarred rebel in his company, churns up stark memories of a death for which he cannot forgive himself. Smart, brisk, tough, and dramatic, A Good Day to Die tracks Ortega's three-day sojourn in Cuba and the heroic efforts of his small band of soldiers, in an extraordinary novel from a fresh and compelling American voice.
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Young boys, bright-eyed and clutching miniature gloves, gather in ballparks and dream of their own futures as part of a professional team.
It is not unusual that John Turney shared this fantasy, growing up in Yokohama, attending games with his mother as a child. But how this British national, who uses skills he gained across three continents, made his dream a reality is unusual.
Since 1998, Turney, 37, has been the Yokohama BayStars' strength and conditioning coach. The seeds to his success were planted in England. Turney's father, Alan, naturally had his own dreams as a boy. Studying judo in London, where he grew up, Alan became fascinated with all things Japanese. His love of the language, literature and budo would eventually take him as an adult to Tokyo.
Fluent in five languages, he found a job as a linguistics and literature professor at Seisen Woman's College, and met his wife-to-be, Masumi. John is the second of their two children.
Turney credits his successful path to the BayStars to his father's love of judo and his mother's love of baseball. Although John was educated entirely in English, mostly at Yokohama International School, his father encouraged martial arts for both him and his older sister, Erika.
Turney studied karate for 10 years in the Japanese community near his home. He also played tennis, but his mother's favorite sport was baseball. "As a kid, we always watched baseball on TV and went to games at the stadium in Yokohama," Turney says.
While in high school helping his tennis coach at a children's summer camp in England, he began to consider a career in coaching. "I thought, maybe I can find something like this in baseball, not skill-related, but more conditioning-related."
His choice of baseball took him to yet another country, as Turney realized the U.S. could offer more specialized training in baseball.
Although he started his undergraduate program on the U.S. East Coast, he transferred after one year to the University of Puget Sound in Washington state and stayed on the West Coast to complete his masters in exercise science.
"Every year, I wanted to come back to Japan, during Christmas break and summer." The West Coast was a little closer to home.
Turney's experience with a number of cultures, as a student at an international school, as a foreigner in the traditional Japanese community of karate, in America with a bicultural perspective, all helped when he faced his biggest challenge — entering the world of Japanese baseball as an outsider.
Turney needed both language ability and cultural finesse. Luckily, he had both. "Karate taught me the Japanese qualities of reigi, politeness, respectfulness. They taught you traditional Japanese beliefs, and that overlaps with the baseball culture and the society, so it was easy for me to accept things and to blend in."
Studying karate for 10 years also helped maintain his Japanese skills while enrolled at an international school and immersed in English. His language and cultural skills gave him the opportunity, and the BayStars organization gave him time.
Adjusting to the baseball world required almost three years. Although Turney's big chance grew out of a two-month internship with the organization while still in university, he was not familiar with the routines of professional ball. "They didn't throw me into the deep end until my fourth year.
"At first, I was not a coach; I worked in Yokosuka with the Shonan SeaRex," which is the BayStars farm team. "I needed to learn how things were done, the practice routines, the actual reality of what's going behind the scenes, so I would be able to smoothly enter the world as a watcher."
Turney watched and learned the technical side of his job as well. "Graduate school laid the foundation, but I quickly realized my American perspective did not really work all the time with Japanese athletes. I learned a lot on the job, watching the other coaches, considering the Japanese physique, the way the players here react to training."
Neither did Turney forget what he had learned from karate, such as "the stretching and physical workings." He used every resource to create the best possible programs.
Observing remains a key element of his success. "I'm constantly looking at players, trying to figure out how best to help. Even while a player is just walking out onto the field — maybe he's a little slouched or his chin is sticking out — I know his hips have dropped out, his lower back is a little tight, his quads must be tight. So I call him over, stretch him, reset his body."
Turney was called up to ichi-gun of the BayStars at the start of his fourth year with the club and has remained with the top team ever since. Throughout his years with the organization, he has worked with five different head coaches. Each year he works from a one-year contract, as is common in the profession.
Turney keeps focused by concentrating on his objectives. "My responsibility is for the 28 players on the top team from when they get called up, to make sure they are prepared for the game, health-wise and condition-wise.
"I think about running programs for their general fitness, I strengthen them, taking them through individualized weight programs and make sure their overall condition is up to par for their best performance."
Turney admits it is an enormous job, with a lot of pressure and responsibility to help the team win. He may work with as many as 50 different players per year, as the team shuffles players back and forth between the farm team and the top team.
Currently, he works with another strength and conditioning coach in the top team, along with four trainers responsible for injuries. Turney also collaborates with the other BayStar coaches to ensure everyone works together to help the athletes achieve top performance.
"Coaches are ex-players, and they have a lot of pride in what they have been doing and what they've gone through with conditioning experiences as well. They sometimes each have different views.
"I have to be able to communicate well with each coach, work together, sometimes sticking to the traditional way of doing things while still implementing other conditioning ideas."
Turney's job therefore involves a good deal of diplomacy and requires a thorough understanding of rank. "In the baseball world, it is all about age, and if you are one year younger than a certain person, you are below him."
With his observer's skills, none of these differences proved too much of a challenge, but Turney admits there are frustrations on the job: "No matter how well you do your job, and you are satisfied with what happens, you create a program, a player does it, and you see their progress, it can happen that the player doesn't perform well on the field or the team does not win.
"It's not like you put so much in and you get so much back — it's a mental challenge. You just have to believe. Even if you lose today, and it's tough to lose . . . the players are stronger, and you have to believe it will all come together some day."
With his experience, Turney is understandably proud of how Japanese baseball has performed recently on the world stage. "I would like to see even more openness in Japanese baseball.
"The level is very high now, the baseball world here so unique, it is a good opportunity for everyone to learn.
"The level is high enough to allow an even more open attitude and to let more foreign players in to give more of an international feel to Japanese baseball."
Turney himself is comfortable as a British national permanent resident in Japan. "I wouldn't say I have my father's qualities with multiple languages," Turney laughs, but he is obviously at ease navigating in a Japanese world with a multicultural perspective.
In the competitive world of sports, Turney acknowledges that his career with the BayStars can not last forever. "In the professional world, on average, you are out in four or five years.
"This is my dream job, and since I achieved my dream at such a young age, sometimes it is hard to think about what I will do next. I try not to worry about next year, just think about this year and the players.
"It's all about helping the players to be better, so if they continue to do so, it's great."
One thing that interests Turney is helping those bright-eyed kids in the stands. "When I was in university, one of my courses was with 'adapted school education', basically working with physically challenged children in physical education."
Turney was assigned a specific child, and adapted physical education programs to fit the child's special needs. "It really touched me, these kids trying so hard and really enjoying sports despite their limitations."
Turney organized season tickets for physically challenged children while he was still with the farm team and hopes to become involved with handicapped children in the future.
Even if this is a disappointing season for BayStar fans, the men behind the team, like coach John Turney, are working hard to give children in the stands something to cheer about.
Turney knows what it feels like to have a dream and watch from the bleachers. When the BayStars pitched him an opportunity, he managed to meet it with success.


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Wolfgang Wadsak0000-0003-4479-8053
Wolfgang Wadsak was born in 1972, he studied chemistry at the University of Vienna, Austria. He completed his postgraduate diploma in radiopharmaceutical chemistry/radiopharmacy at the ETH Zurich, Switzerland. He also received the European Radiopharmacy Certificate in 2007. Wadsak won the THP Award twice for basic scientist in nuclear medicine in 2005 and 2007. In 2004, he was awarded the Schering-Dr.Pfeiffer Stipendium in nuclear medicine. Wadsak also lectures at different academic institutions in the Vienna region and has supervised several Ph.D. theses. Since 2010, he has been the head of the Radiochemistry and Biomarker Development Unit at the Medical University of Vienna. He has coauthored more than 60 peer-reviewed articles. Wadsak has also been the Production Manager at PET, radiopharmaceuticals at the Vienna PET Centre since 2001. He is responsible for the preparation of more than 25 radiotracers for patient routine and clinical research such as 18F-FDG, 18F-FETO, 18F-FET, 11C-Methionine, 11C-Acetate, 11C-WAY100635, 11C-DASB, [11C]-Raclopride, [11C]-PHNO, 13N-NH3, and 68Ga-DOTATOC. His main research focus, however, lies in the medicinal radiochemistry while paying special attention to the preparation of fluorine-18- and carbon-11-labelled radiopharmaceuticals, microfluidics, and preclinical evaluation of radiotracers. On a more personal note, Professor Wadsak is married and a father of four and currently holds the position of Associate Professor.
Biography Updated on 30 July 2012


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Boyd Gordon's been the best Edmonton Oilers forward thus far in 2013-14, just ask his coach
Centre Boyd Gordon is the hockey equivalent of the carpenter who comes to your house to build some shelves and make some baseboards, then nods yes when you ask if he wouldn't mind hanging a couple of light fixtures and maybe check on the wonky doorbell.
He does a bit of everything, and he's been the Edmonton Oilers' best forward through three games.
Two goals, three points, 61.8 percent on face-offs. Only winger Ales Hemsky has been as solid an Oiler in the first week of the season.
"Every shift seems like it might be Boyd's last because of his compete level," Eakins said.
"He's a selfless, courageous guy, even in the exhibition season, sticking his foot out to block shots … you don't see a lot of vets do that. He's doing everything right for me; that was a real good (free-agent) pick-up by Craig (GM MacTavish)."
The Oilers signed Gordon to a four-year deal worth $11 million in the summer.
"When we have the puck, he always gives such great support, and when he does get the puck, he clearly recognizes danger," Eakins said.
"He knows when there's a play to make or put it in behind the defenders and try to get it back," he said. "He's firmly in front of the opposing net when we have the puck, he back-checks hard.


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Cryptography Resources
The word "cryptography" comes from the Latin words for "secret writing." It relates to the science of concealing the meaning of something. In a modern-day sense, the word cryptography often relates to information security — the means by which digital files or transmissions are secured so that they are only visible to authorized users.
The Origins of Modern Cryptography
Egyptians were known to use codes as early as 1900 BCE, although these were thought to be recreational, rather than designed for serious security purposes. The ancient Greeks and the Romans had methods of codes and ciphers, while the Arabs were the first to use cryptography in a way that we would recognize today, around 1,000 years ago.
Early attempts at cryptography were often inspired by war. Messages would be encoded as a way to communicate without interception by the enemy. In the modern world, millions upon millions of secure, encoded transmissions happen online each day -- and cryptographic standards are used to protect everything from banking data to health information, and even simple instant messaging.
Classical Encryption Techniques
- Classical Encryption Techniques Explained at Purdue University (PDF): these lecture notes describe historical encryption methods, and explains how many of them are still used today.
- Analysis and Elements of Various Classical Encryption Techniques (PDF): this presentation provides detailed historical information on various forms of encryption.
- Introduction to Classical Cryptography by Noted Textbook Author: this overview explains how classical cryptography techniques relate to the modern day.
- Integration of Classical and Modern Encryption Techniques (PDF): this research report seeks to discover and discuss effective ways to integrate classical and new encryption.
Why Cryptography is Critical Now
Without cryptography, ecommerce as we know it would be impossible. Most of the other information exchanges online would be fraught with risk; the simple act of using social media could be a treacherous proposition. The methods we now use to encrypt even the simplest kind of information are incredibly sophisticated, in an attempt to outpace malicious users.
Developers have three potential ways to encrypt data: a secret key system, a public key system, or a hash function. All of these have their own pros and cons. Additionally, many of the methods we use today involve uncrackable ciphers — or systems that are equivalent to being uncrackable. For example, the AES256 algorithm is one of the most commonly used encryption algorithms on the planet; it would take billions of years for a supercomputer to crack the code.
Hackers are constantly looking for ways to bypass security, meaning no system should ever be considered impenetrable. Constant evolution is essential. In many cases, it's easier to simply trick a user into revealing their password or key, rather than trying to solve a cryptographic puzzle, or use brute force hacking to gain access to a system.
Finite Fields
A finite field (or Galois field) is a mathematical construct with a finite number of elements. This concept forms the basis of most encryption techniques.
- Finite Fields (PDF): learn how a finite field is constructed.
- Basic Introduction to Cryptographic Finite Fields: this detailed paper discusses both finite fields and alternative ways of implementing the same forms of cryptography.
- Storing Cryptographic Data in the Galois Field (PDF): this report discusses the concept of cryptographic finite fields, particularly in the context of algorithms like AES256.
- Comparing Finite Fields to Elliptic Curve Encryption (PDF): this essay focuses on how elliptic curve encryption could be used to build on and enhance finite fields.
Advanced Encryption Standard
The AES standard led to algorithms such as AES256. These have been widely adopted across the internet, mainly because many governments use them as their chosen standard for encryption.
- Overview and Presentation on the History of AES (PDF): this series of presentation slides serves as an introduction to the AES encryption standard.
- Detailed Technical Review of the Advanced Encryption Standard: this page provides a historical background of AES and summary of how the different components work.
- Research Report Reviewing AES and Different Implementations (PDF): this illustrated guide demonstrates one conventional method of implementing AES in programming.
Confidentiality Using Symmetric Encryption
Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. These are sometimes referred to as secret key algorithms.
- Description of Symmetric and Asymmetric Encryption: this Microsoft primer describes the important differences.
- Symmetric Versus Asymmetric Encryption Discussed (PDF): this set of lecture notes discusses the pros and cons of "secret key" versus "public key" encryption.
- Detailed Discussion of Symmetric Encryption and RSA Algorithms (PDF): this technical review of symmetric encryption implementation discusses algorithms in detail.
Number Theory and Hash Algorithms
In the context of the internet, hashing is often used to obfuscate passwords and other pieces of data. There are many different hashing functions and methods, including MD5 and SHA-1.
- Hash Functions in Cryptography (PDF): these detailed, illustrated notes were originally written for college students. The document introduces hash algorithms, and their function in data security.
- Number Theory and Cryptography at Cornell: this set of notes and problems introduces advanced number theory concepts and tests comprehension. It also offers an interesting explanation of the RSA algorithm.
- Applied Number Theory in Cryptography (PDF): this introduction to number theory goes into great depth about its many applications in the cryptographic world.
- Hash Functions and Cryptography in Business: this article specifically discusses the importance and applications of hash functions in the business world.
Digital Signatures
Digital signatures are used to verify the identity of a sender or recipient. They are often used when transmitting financial details, or exchanging business contracts.
- Discussion of Digital Signature Implementation and Issues (PDF): these notes discuss the problems of digital signatures.
- Basics of Understanding Digital Signatures: this overview from the US federal government's US-CERT security team provides accessible information for consumers.
- Future Applications of Quantum Digital Signatures (PDF): this essay is an interpretation of how advanced digital signatures can be implemented with current technology.
Authentication Applications
Authentication applications make cryptography easier. Kerberos is one example of a protocol that is used in a range of applications.
- Authentication Applications: Kerberos and Public Key Infrastructure (PDF): this report discusses two of the most powerful authentication applications and how they can be implemented to enhance security.
- Information on Kerberos Protocol from MIT: this detailed overview of the Kerberos protocol provides information on its various releases and how to implement it.
- The Official Kerberos Consortium: this is the official watchdog organization that develops and publishes standards for the Kerberos authentication application.
- Public Key Infrastructure Defined and Described at PC Magazine: this is an overview of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and how it is used to secure information.
- Public Key Infrastructure Approaches to Security: this documentation from Oracle discusses the elements of PKI and how they can be used in different technical scenarios.
Electronic Mail Security
Email is inherently an insecure method of communication. The resources below detail various ways that email can be made more secure.
- The OpenPGP Alliance for Electronic Mail Encryption: this is the site of a nonprofit organization that maintains OpenPGP, a popular email encryption standard.
- Berkeley Lab Recommendations on Implementing Electronic Mail Security: these recommendations from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory can be adapted for use by consumers and enterprises by using the cryptographic resources suggested.
- GnuPG Nonprofit Privacy Application for Linux-Based Systems: based on the PGP concept, GnuPG is a nonprofit method of implementing email encryption in Linux-based systems.
- Basic Primer on Email Security for Consumers from CNBC: this report from news network CNBC discusses the issues around email encryption and security as they relate to consumers in a world of ever-increasing electronic spying.
IP Security and Web Security
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It's fundamental in the provision of ecommerce stores, online banks, and digital services.
- IP Security and Encryption Overview from Cisco Systems: this detailed information on the IPSec protocol and related security matters comes from Cisco, one of the top brands in hardware and software for online security.
- HTTP vs HTTPS Comparison: this page is an introduction to "secure" HTTP connections (HTTPS) and how they differ from basic HTTP connections.
- What Is SSL and What Are Certificates: this page expands further on the concept of SSL and how security certificates work to authenticate the transfer of sensitive data.
- Summary Overview of SSL and How Related Protocols Work Together (PDF): this illustrated guide goes a step further by describing how SSL interacts with other protocols.
- What You Need to Know About Heartbleed: the Heartbleed bug is a critical security flaw in SSL, which discloses the secret key and other data. It lay undetected for two years, and was described as a catastrophic internet security failure.
A firewall is a software application or hardware device that controls access to a computer or network.
- What Is a Firewall and What Types of Firewalls Are There: this introduction serves to define and compare the different kinds of firewalls and how they operate.
- Basic Concepts for Managing a Firewall: aimed at network administrators, this guide digs deep into the fundamental concepts to master in order to make a firewall effective.
- How Firewalls Work and How to Use Them: this introduction summarizes the basics of firewalls, some specialized types, and how a firewall "rule" should be designed.
- Basic Firewall Information and Use for Consumers: this overview from the nonprofit "Get Safe Online" helps consumers understand fundamental firewall concepts and use.
Further Reading and Resources
We have more guides, tutorials, and infogragphics related to using the internet safely:
- Is the Password Dead?: this infographic looks at the future where we no longer need passwords.
- 8 Worst Security Breaches: even the pros get hacked. Find out about the eight biggest security breaches on the internet.
- How to Earn Bitcoin with Affiliate Programs: our guide to earning this popular cryptocurrency.
How to Create the Perfect Password
Confused about how to create a great passowrd? Check out our infographic, How to Create the Perfect Password.


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Lindale is a semi-soft cheese made using pasteurized cow's milk, produced by Goat Lady Dairy in North Carolina, US. Made using traditional Dutch methods, the cheese is matured in special caves for 4 - 8 months. Lindale is very similar to Gouda in shape (round and flat), creamy and smooth in texture with buttery and sweet flavour.
Other American cheeses:


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Delkor Systems opens new facility in St. Paul, Minn.
To accommodate its growth, Delkor Systems recently moved its operations to 4300 Round Lake Road West in St. Paul, Minn. The 114,000-sq.-ft. plant is located at the intersection of Interstate Highways 35W and 694.
"We are thrilled to be in our new facility," says president Dale Andersen. "Our design team had as its goal to build a state-of-the-art packaging machinery manufacturing operation, and we are all very pleased with the results."
Delkor Systems manufactures packaging equipment for cartoning, case and tray packing, flat pad shippers and robotics. It also offers a diverse assortment of shelf-ready packaging solutions for retail needs.
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Reviews - Leapark Hotel3
Customer Reviews
Our reviews are from genuine LateRooms.com customers. We verify that the customer has stayed before leaving a review.
Very Good
91% would recommend it to a friend
Customer service
Food quality
Room quality
Will be back
We had an amazing time, albeith just the one night, staff were naturally happy to help and smiling, so helpful.
Bedroom was beautiful, comfy bed, plenty storage, clean and fresh. Spa in the bathroom was fantastic. Meals were freshly cooked and excellent portions. Unbelievable value for money. Cant say a big enough thank you to all.
Read More Less
cannot fault the food or the service but the room was very dated and not so clean especially in corners
Friend's wedding
Excellent wedding, meal, breakfast and service
Leapark Hotel
Good accommodation, bathroom a little tired, food great value
Very friendly staff, changed rooms when we arrived as the room was lovely but the bed had seen better days, the second bedroom in adjoining house was a family room which was very quiet, spacious and very comfortable, dinner was lovely and very reasonable, breakfast was filling but my wife has very specific dietry requirements and was a little let down, as hotel knew about this before we arrived but only catered for gluten free but not lactose free so dry toast and no milk not very good, in saying this we would stay at this hotel again.
Enjoyable pleasant stay
Actually stayed an extra night due to work but did not regret it.
Nice feel to the hotel and the staff were pleasant and helpful, the food was of good quality with a wide choice and priced to suit any budget. The bedroom was a nice size with all facilities provided. Location ideal for visiting the Falkirk Wheel and other famous attractions. Reasonably priced would definitely stay again.
Read More Less
Leapark Review
Friendly staff, good sized rooms and a plentiful breakfast selection.
Good night's stay at the Leapark
The room was just as expected & at a very reasonable rate too.
Very clean.
Read More Less
Very professional operation
Not a seaside retreat, but a good romantic getaway.
Leapark Hotel
Food top class rooms are realy comfy.
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text: Wallace & Barnes cargo short in black Item G4652 Color: BLACK Size: All sizes are US sizes. 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 38 Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit 10 1/2" inseam. Product Details Wallace & Barnes is built on the foundations of traditional workwear, vintage uniforms and outdoor gear. For our new cargo shorts, we turned to old-school miltary styles to create a modern update, crafted in a cotton-nylon fabric with water-repellant properties. Cotton. Zip fly. Machine wash. Import. Select stores. Item G4652.


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Reviews: Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Israel, Male, 18-24
- Novice Nomad
They were full in dorms when I got there so I stayed in one of the new private rooms, really good room. Over all really good place, an oasis in the middle of Africa. I could have spent days sat by the pool with a cold Mosi! And thanks guys for the safari you booked me on, canoeing on the river was an amazing experience I will never forget. Thanks I will recommend you to everyone I meet!
- Anonymous
- Israel, Male, 18-24
- Novice Nomad
Great place to start my African trip, felt really welcome by all the staff and super helpful advice on my trip planning. The dorm was clean and the sheets were spotless, it was little noisy but the bar was busy only until 11 and I realise I booked the cheapest bed they had. It was never an issue getting to sleep. location is good, I could walk back from Long Street but not be in the middle of drunk people when i was waking up. Thanks guys, I'll keep in touch.
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Shopping Bag 0
Traditional Charms
All of your favorite animals, objects, sports, initials and more can be found in our traditional charms collection. With hundreds of charms to choose from, our collection of traditional charms is nothing short of incredible. Select your favorite charms for your charm bracelet to create the perfect expression of who you are.


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Get an overview of this hotelFamily-friendly hotel with 8 outdoor pools and full-service spa
Collecting Nectar Points
Special Offer: Book by 2 August 2017 and collect double Nectar points!
Simply enter your Nectar card number when you check out. Your points will be credited 35 days after you return from your trip.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Popular property highlights
This family-friendly Torremolinos hotel is located near the beach, within a 15-minute walk of Pablo Ruiz Picasso Cultural Centre and San Miguel Archangel Parish. Aqualand Torremolinos and Bajondillo are also within 1 mi (2 km).
Hotel Features
Along with 8 outdoor pools, this hotel has a full-service spa and a restaurant. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, an indoor pool, 2 poolside bars, and 2 bars/lounges are onsite.
Room Amenities
All 273 rooms offer free WiFi, minibars, and LCD TVs with satellite channels. Guests will also find room service, hair dryers, and safes.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Sol Don Pedro
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Sol Don Pedro features a full-service spa, 8 outdoor swimming pools, an outdoor tennis court, and an indoor pool. Dining options at the hotel include a restaurant and a coffee shop/café. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of the hotel's bars, which include 2 poolside bars and 2 bars/lounges. Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access.
This family-friendly hotel also offers a children's pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center. Parking is available onsite for a surcharge.
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Free WiFi
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- 24-hour front desk
- Children's club (free)
- Total number of rooms - 273
- Babysitting or childcare
- Number of floors - 5
- Number of bars/lounges - 2
- Number of poolside bars - 2
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Coffee shop or café
- Elevator/lift
- Fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- Children's club
- Rooftop terrace
- Arcade/game room
- Garden
- One meeting room
- Restaurant
- Outdoor tennis court
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Spa tub
- Children's pool
- Indoor pool
- Number of outdoor pools - 8
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pools
- Indoor pool
- Children's pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Outdoor tennis court
- Children's club (free)
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Arcade/game room
- Playground on site
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Self parking (surcharge)
Room Amenities
- Room service (limited hours)
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Minibar
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Bathtub or shower
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Satellite TV service
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
Restaurant Cordoba - This buffet restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Bar Romano - This bar serves light fare only.
Bar Bangkok - Onsite bar.
Bar Patio - This bar serves light fare only.
Bar Andalucia - This bar serves light fare only.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Nearby Things to Do
8 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with an indoor pool. In addition to a children's pool, other recreational amenities include an outdoor tennis court, a spa tub, and a fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Scuba diving nearby
- Playground on site
Spa Services
Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa, Delfinus (Sol Don Marco). Services include massages, facials, body wraps, and body treatments. The spa is equipped with hot springs/mineral springs, a sauna, and a steam room. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including hydrotherapy.
- Steam room in spa
- Body wraps
- Hydrotherapy treatments
- Sauna in spa
- Hot springs/mineral springs in spa
- Massages
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- In-room accessibility
Hotel Policies
Check-in time ends at 2 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
- Cribs (infant beds) are not available.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Optional extras
- Breakfast fee: EUR 12 per person (approximately)
- Self parking fee: EUR 20 per day
Hotel Name
- Sol Don
- Sol Don Pedro
- Sol Don Pedro Hotel
- Sol Don Pedro Hotel Torremolinos
- Sol Don Pedro Torremolinos
- Sol Don Pedro Hotel Torremolinos, Costa Del Sol, Spain
We should mention
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 2500, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation.


text:
Activation of PPARγ reverses a defect of surfactant synthesis in mice lacking two types of fatty acid binding protein
Lung surfactant is a lipid-protein-film covering the inner alveolar surface. We have previously shown that double knock-out (d-ko) mice lacking both the epidermal-type (E-) and the heart-type (H-) fatty acid binding protein (FABP) exhibit a defect of surfactant synthesis in alveolar type II cells that can be corrected by feeding pioglitazone, a drug that activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Here, we demonstrate first that healthy surfactant at collapse pressure produces protrusions composed of bilayers but not folds, second that the d-ko effect profoundly perturbs lipid/hydrophobic protein composition, pressure-area isotherm, and structural organisation of the surfactant at nanoscale, parameters that are critical for the normal breathing cycle. In support of these data in vivo measurements of lung function reveal that maximum compliance in d-ko vs. wild-type mice is significantly reduced. Further, we show that the biophysical phenotype can be corrected substantially with pioglitazone. Finally, we show that d-ko alveolar cells up-regulate liver-type (L-) FABP, a member of the FABP family that we have previously shown to interact with PPARγ. Taken together, these data suggest that PPARγ agonists could be a tool to repair surfactant damage caused by dysfunctional alveolar lipid metabolism, and provide in vivo support for L-FABP aided signaling.
|Additional Metadata
|Fatty acid binding protein, Fatty acid signaling, Lung compliance, Phospholipid synthesis, Surfactant organisation
|Persistent URL
|dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.04.010, hdl.handle.net/1765/30282
|B B A - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids
Schachtrup, C, Malcharek, S, Haitsma, J.J, Lachmann, B.F, Owada, Y, Binas, B, … Spener, F. (2008). Activation of PPARγ reverses a defect of surfactant synthesis in mice lacking two types of fatty acid binding protein. B B A - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1781(6-7), 314–320. doi:10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.04.010


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Responding Effectively to FDA 483 Observations & Warning Letters
September 2014, Q1 Productions Medical Device Quality Management Systems Conference, Atlanta, GA
Prominent Medical Device Lawyer Joins Covington
September 22, 2016
WASHINGTON—Pamela Forrest has joined Covington in its Food, Drug, and Device practice, resident in Washington. Ms. Forrest has more than 20 years of experience advising clients on a broad range of FDA regulatory issues. Her practice focuses on FDA medical device matters, including premarket review, product recalls, medical device reporting (MDR), Quality System ...
March 2011, Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry
April 2007, The Fundamentals of Life Sciences Law: Drugs, Devices, and Biotech


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Increased security
Peter Guy looks at the attractions of ETFs, or exchange traded funds
Exchange traded funds - ETFs - are gradually finding their way into the world of Asia's retail and corporate investors, who are discovering their unique portfolio characteristics and relatively lower costs.
ETFs are securities that track an index, a commodity or a basket of assets, like an index fund, but that trade like a stock on an exchange. Their fans say they give the diversification of an index fund with the ability to sell short, buy on margin and buy as little as one share.
Despite some recent ETF withdrawals from the Hong Kong market, indicators for ETF acceptance and growth in Hong Kong are still buoyant.
The major benefits of ETFs for investors - liquidity, transparency, trading flexibility and diversification - are still the key benefits and standards that ETFs must achieve in order to drive the more important trends in the local investment scene.
Globally, the Exchange Traded Products (ETP) industry has continued to grow in 2012, despite market turbulence in Europe. It attracted US$18.4 billion in net new assets during February, according to BlackRock. Global assets held in ETPs reached US$1.72 trillion at the end of February, an increase of 12.8 per cent year to date, with combined inflows for January and February standing 111 per cent higher than recorded in the first two months of 2011.
Emerging market equity ETPs saw significant inflows as a result of a positive global trend by gathering US$7.9 billion of new assets in February and US$14.5billion year to date. This represented the strongest-ever start to a year for this product category and reversed the outflows experienced in the second half of 2011. Currently there are 89 ETFs listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, representing about US$26 billion in assets under management.
However, in March Lyxor International Asset Management (a wholly owned subsidiary of Societe Generale ) applied for the deauthorisation and delisting of 12 of its ETFs on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The most likely reason, according to market participants, was probably a lack of trading volume and turnover.
The key to a successful ETF is the popularity and liquidity of the underlying asset that is being traded. According to Marco Montanari, head of Deutsche Bank ETFs and db-X funds, Asia: 'The key to meeting investors' needs is to create ETFs with genuine demand. This not only means a useful investment theme, but strong underlying assets and ETF liquidity that allows active and accurate buying and selling.' Indeed not all ETFs are equally popular, as a large majority of global ETF assets sit at about 100 of the more than 1400 ETFs in the US.
The low interest rate environment that is expected to continue since the US Federal Reserve announced low rate policies has ignited the rise of dividend-focused emerging market ETFs. Emerging markets have not traditionally been the place to look for dividend yield, but the relatively stronger balance sheets and financial health of Asian corporates has created an opportunity.
Keith Chan, head of listed product sales for HSBC, says: 'Low interest rates and the ability to design an ETF that is based on balance sheets rather than market capitalisation allow originators to serve this demand.' ETFs for emerging markets have enjoyed a strong start this year, with record combined inflows for the first two months of US$14.5 billion for January and February according to BlackRock.
For example, Wisdom Tree manages a fund called DEM Emerging Markets Equity ETF, which has attracted inflows of US$820 million in 2012, making it the ninth fastest growing US ETF this year. DEM is the first emerging markets dividend ETF: launched in 2007, it has accumulated assets of more than US$3.3 billion. Between 2008 and 2011 investors could have made better returns by investing in the MSCI emerging markets index than from the US stock market. At the end of 2011, DEM was offering a dividend yield of 6.4 per cent, which is substantially better than the 3 per cent yield on the MSCI emerging markets index and 2.2 per cent on the S&P 500.
With such results, emerging markets are now an important area for investors looking for both dividend yield and potential dividend growth. Other large ETF sponsors launched emerging markets dividend index funds, such as BlackRock's iShares Emerging Markets Dividend Index Fund, which was launched on the NYSE in February 2012. This fund tracks the performance of the Dow Jones Emerging Markets Select Dividend Index.
Active ETF strategies were given validation when Pimco launched the ETF version of its huge Total Return Fund in March. This ETF will reflect the performance of Pimco's Total Return Fund, which is the world's largest bond mutual fund with nearly US$245 billion in assets.
It is an important development space because it is a version of a well-known fund run by a famous manager, Bill Gross. Previously, active ETFs were only a small part of the ETF universe. According to Deutsche Bank, there are only about 40 actively managed ETFs in the international markets, representing just 0.5 per cent of the total ETF market, so this means they have struggled to attract sizeable assets and trading volumes. Pimco's new ETF is setting a new standard for the ETF space. Montanari says: 'The local market may not be ready for active ETFs, as 90 per cent of ETF volume in Hong Kong is linked to Hong Kong or China indices.'
Increased collateralisation requirements for Hong Kong-originated and listed synthetic ETFs were announced in August 2011 by the Securities and Futures Commission. New rules improved the level of the collateral and transparency of domestic synthetic ETFs in an effort to strengthen protection for investors. ETF managers who administer locally originated, synthetic ETFs will be required to increase collateralisation to ensure there is no uncollateralised counterparty risk exposure.
Synthetic ETF managers will also be required to increase collateral to 120 per cent of the related gross counterparty risk exposure in the event that the collateral is represented by equity securities. Perhaps memories of the Lehman mini-bond collapse still represent a hurdle that both local regulators and ETF managers must confront, even though the issues concerning collateral between local ETFs and mini-bonds are completely different.
Most market professionals believe that additional assurance of security for investors will be good for the local development of ETFs. Montanari says: 'Deutsche Bank already collateralises its ETFs by 100 per cent for counterparty risk.' Montanari says that even though Asia only represents 5 per cent of the world's ETF market, it could equal Europe's size in five to 10 years.
Hong Kong-originated ETFs are now supported with 100 per cent to 120 per cent collateral assets that are held by an independent custodian. Even before the Securities and Futures Commission imposed new measures, collateralisation was 80 per cent. However, the Lehman mini-bonds were not collateralised. Instead they were backed by a guarantee by Lehman Brothers, which failed investors when the bank itself was forced into bankruptcy.
One of the most useful features of ETFs is their ability to track and emulate a group of stocks or sectors in countries or areas that would be too expensive or difficult to assemble for your average investor. Their ability to access restricted markets or replicate sectoral investment themes at a low cost is attractive to investors looking to execute specific strategies.
For example, BlackRock's iShares CSI A-Share Consumer Discretionary Index ETF uses derivative instruments linked to China A shares, which emulates the performance of 300 mainland consumer stocks. It covers sectors such as household durables, cars, speciality retail, car components, hotels, restaurants and multiline retail, among others. Sandra Lee, managing director of BlackRock, says: 'Investors who want to specifically follow the Chinese retail sector and an industrial group that is not as heavily influenced by government policies as others will find this to be an ideal access tool.'
Contrast this ETF with China Construction Bank International's China Policy Driven Fund, launched on January 2009 and currently with assets of US$315 million. Its investment objective is to invest in a diversified group of equities that can benefit from the policies of the mainland. Without a reference benchmark, this mutual fund executes a total return strategy based on political, economic and sectoral analysis. Timing, sector concentration, switching and tactical re-allocation between mutual funds and ETFs are adding more choices to the diversity and conflict of investment viewpoints.
Asian fixed income ETFs are also a new and popular product area because they provide investors a chance to access returns from a diversified portfolio of Asian bonds at a generally lower cost than investors could realise by trading or assembling their own portfolio. In December 2011, BlackRock (Singapore) added two more Asian fixed income exchange traded funds to its Singapore-listed fixed income ETF line. The iShares Barclays Capital USD Asia High Yield Bond Index ETF is the world's first ETF to provide access to the Asian high-yield credit market. The iShares Barclays Capital Asia Local Currency 1-3 Year Bond Index ETF provides access to Asia's local currency bond markets with less sensitivity to interest rate movements than existing products due to its shorter duration.
These instruments effectively trade like listed securities, but provide an investor with exposure to the bond market, tracking the performance of fixed income indices and investing in a basket of bonds, all without requiring the investor to actually buy bonds. Investors are beginning to see more choices in ways to invest in Asian bond markets at varying levels of risk adjusted return that suit their investment requirements. Sandra Lee of Blackrock says: 'Historically, Asian investors haven't considered using the fixed income sector because it was expensive or cumbersome to invest in. ETFs brought accurate tracking, practical access and cost efficiency to Asian bonds.'
All of these developments in the global and Asian ETF markets point to trends providing greater choice, lower costs and better efficiency for local investors.
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What do students who study abroad take away from their experiences? New research shows the effects of studying abroad go beyond cultural understanding and foreign language skills; the experience is also said to have a positive impact on personality. Students who studied abroad scored higher than those who had not in the "Big Five" major personality areas: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and openness. Read more about the impacts of studying abroad.
The Positive Impact of Study Abroad (Inside Higher Ed)
July 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment


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Catching up with Application Server Debate: WebSphere Liberty Profile Strikes Back
Almost two years ago (wow, hasn't time flown by!) we ran a report on application servers, specifically around developer productivity and user experience. The WebSphere Liberty Profile (WLP), a lightweight WebSphere profile was new to the scene at the time, in comparison to others in the report.
However, since then it seems to have had many new features and additions which we'll look at in this blog post. In fact, we'll stay true to the report style and check out what has changed in the most interesting categories, including:
- Download and installation
- Tooling support
- Server configuration
- Documentation & community
- Real performance metrics
- Features & Open Standards compliance
- Administration & Management/UI
So, we start with the download and installation. Starting at the WASdev site, we're given a couple of options of how we can get the runtime on our machine. Either we download the runtime directly and work through the command line, or we download via Eclipse after installing the WebSphere Developer Tools Eclipse plugin.
I did it both ways to see how easy they were. The plugin is a standard install with another license agreement I tend not to read although probably should, followed by an annoying restart of Eclipse. Then you add a new server, which is fairly standard, although when looking through the list of add-ons, there were 96 (yah, I counted them) integrations, samples, clients and features I could have chosen.
Kind of overwhelming for new users, and not exactly what I wanted to see on a simple install, but I carried on without selecting any further options. One more license acceptance and install later and I have a new runtime on my machine. Creating a new server was very straight forward and I can start it in Eclipse in the usual manner. Overall, a reasonable experience. Oh and there's also the option to download the update site to host locally for enterprises that don't allow access to the marketplace, which is nice. Out of curiosity I tried to download and noticed it was 400MB – WOW! That said, this isn't the kind of thing the average developer will need to download.
The raw download of the runtime from WASdev was pretty standard too. Although the IBM lawyers still see it necessary to have a license agreement on install, plus a license agreement and additional license agreement on extraction (I guess they can sleep easy though). Interestingly the extended version only seemed to install over an existing Liberty Profile version, meaning I had to download both, and yep, you guessed it, accept the license agreement and additional license agreement on extraction. Not a great deal to skip and agree to, but I do start to wonder how many of my children IBM actually own.
Next, onto Tooling support, and as we've already seen Eclipse support is good and always was for install. I also noticed I was still able to open my server configuration in a rich editor for editing:
I was most keen to see how the other IDE support had improved as it was certainly something that was missing the last time I looked at the Liberty Profile.
Out of the box support does exist on IntelliJ for recognising a Liberty Profile Server and deploying onto it, but there's little else you can really do compared to the nice features eclipse provides, like the server configuration, download & installation etc. This is a real shame for those developers already using IntelliJ, but I guess in the bigger IBM shops, most are RAD/eclipse focused. Netbeans doesn't seem to have any support at all as this bugzilla report from Dec 2014 would suggest, so if you're a Netbeans user wanting to play with the Liberty Profile, you can vote for it there!
Maven support was always very good and there's a great new listing on WASdev with Github repositories which include integrations with Gradle, Ant, Chef and Puppet scripts too – nice job.
Server configuration was always something of a huge plus point for the Liberty Profile, with it's dynamic OSGi based services runtime that reacted instantly to configuration changes plus the extremely lightweight config file that isn't more verbose than it needs to be. I remember last time I looked it had seven or so lines of config, let's look again:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<server description="new server">
<!-- Enable features -->
<!-- To access this server from a remote client add a host attribute to the following element, e.g. host="*" -->
<httpEndpoint id="defaultHttpEndpoint"
httpsPort="9443" />
Pretty much the same – 7 actual lines of XML, with 2 lines that really carry interesting information. Well done IBM and the WebSphere team! It's all too easy to add to this kind of file and give it bloat and unnecessary config and I think they've been extremely disciplined to keep it down to these 7 lines.
What's more, there's an interesting way you can now add features. To jog your memory, features are the component modules of the server. If you want to use JDBC, you add the JDBC feature, if you want to use OSGi, you add the blueprint feature. So that new interesting thing… The Liberty Profile Repository hosts a large number of additional features which you can install and use in your runtime. This nicely searchable page provides you with the ability to pull down just what you need and install that – a testing nightmare? Yes, I'm sure it is, but let's leave that with the IBM folks.
Oh hang on, this is the same vast list of add-ons that we saw at server creation during our installation! I think it's more relevant now, given we realise at this stage what is and isn't included in our installation rather than at install time, particularly for a new user. To be honest, I think I'd be more likely to install once and clone that environment than go through installation time and time again anyway. It would be super cool if you could mention a remote feature in a server.xml and have the runtime go and download it from the repository and then use it, but that isn't available at the moment.
Well, the Liberty Profile still scores very highly on server config, and it's ability to change at runtime in a Mystique style makes it all the more pleasurable to work with from a development point of view.
Documentation and community was an interesting one for the Liberty Profile, as in the past it was noticed that it had a good site, with reasonable tech info (There's even one about how to use the Liberty Profile and JRebel, if you have time to read one, pick this one, it's an instant win!), but as it's still a newish profile, it struggles with community numbers, certainly in comparison with the likes of Tomcat or Jetty where you might expect to hear of many who have similar config problems or exceptions that can help you. The site looks to have got a lot more content, particularly around integrations and samples which really do help. Kudos to Laura Cowen and others for making that a really resourceful site.
In the last report, the Liberty Profile didn't fare too well when it came to the speed test, so we're going to run the same tests on the latest version to see how it looks these days. First, I must start with the fact, that this is just on my MBA and not overly scientific, but will give a good gut feel on how the app server has changed. I actually still had the previous version of the Liberty Profile on my mac which I ran previous tests on and after rerunning the tests on that install, the results I got today were very comparable with when I ran them previously, so lets see how the new version stands up.
|Liberty Profile 184.108.40.206
|Liberty Profile 220.127.116.11
|Empty server startup
|Server startup time with petclinic installed
|Server startup time with jenkins installed
|Petclinic app deploy time
|Jenkins app deploy time
|Petclinic init time (1st req)
|Jenkins init time (1st req)
|Server startup, deploy petclinic & invoke
|Server startup, deploy jenkins & invoke
OK, so clearly some serious improvements have been made, particularly looking at the last number, and on initialization time. On just looking at the numbers it looks like an amount of the initialization of the application is done more on deploy of the application or start up of the application server, rather than the first time the application is invoked. I think this is a good thing, as a 21 second wait previously for a jenkins init was just too long.
Not that we can compare this latest version of numbers to previous versions of the other application servers as that clearly wouldn't be fair, but I would bet it would really stand up against them today and be among the fastest of the servers. Perhaps another number run with all the app servers is in order!
Feature wise, the Liberty Profile has hit a milestone since my last blog on the server, achieving Web Profile compliance at Java EE version 6 (Since WLP v 8.5.5), although it's not full profile Java EE compliant yet at any version. So congratulations and it's going to be interesting to see if it goes for the full Java EE profile compliance. On top of the Java EE 6 features, it also supports some JSRs from the Java EE 7 specification, including Java Servlet 3.1 (JSR 340), Java API from WebSocket 1.0 (JSR 356) and Java API for JSON processing (JSR 353).
One other part that was considered lacking, in our last Liberty Profile review was the server administration, outside of hacking XML. Yes, there is the rich eclipse editor, but at the time that only worked for local managed servers, and specifically in the Eclipse IDE. While this remains very Eclipse focused, you are now able to configure and manage remote Liberty Profile servers from an Eclipse instance which is a big advancement. But how about an actual administrative console? Well, a quick repository search unearths the following:
So two options, I tried the top one briefly, but ran into SSL problems. I believe it's the 'mobile friendly' admin version which I didn't get on with the first time I ran a review, but the admin package I believe to be new, so I moved onto that next. This required a download, and yeh, more license agreement followed by an installation not too dissimilar to the product itself. This time I got the following:
The specified product installation is at version 126.96.36.199 and this product addon only applies to version 2015.1.0.1.
So while I was really interested in seeing the admin console, I couldn't yet, but will try to do so in future and update this post!
I must say that it's been a very pleasant experience all in all, playing with the Liberty Profile again, to write this post, and as one of the more exciting application servers on the market today, it's exciting to watch it change and looking forward, see what's coming around the corner. I'm sure many existing WebSphere users fear the worst going forward that the Liberty Profile might turn into a more bloated version, like it's big brother, the full WebSphere profile, but kudos to the team, they've stuck by their theme and have kept the Liberty Profile lightweight and developer friendly.
My biggest fear for the Liberty profile is where their users come from. Is the Liberty Profile a tool that a green field developer would use for a new project? Or is it a great tool that companies who use WebSphere in production will use in development. I'd love to think it's the former as it does have great potential, but right now I think it's in the latter category, giving existing WebSphere developers a deserved breath of fresh air. It's going to take a lot of hard work and education to make the Liberty Profile a contender in developer's minds as well as a contender just on paper.
Do you have any experience with WebSphere Liberty Profile, what are your thoughts on it? Write to us in the comments below, or join the conversation on Twitter: @sjmaple.