text:
Man up you ****s.
None of you will want to watch after day one Gabba anyway.
WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie
The modern conservative is engaged in one of mans oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - JK Galbraith
"Do you know why I have credibility? Because I don't exude morality." - Bob Hawke
#408. Sixty three not out forever.
MSN Messenger: minardineil2000 at hotmail dot com | AAAS Chairman
CricketWeb Black | CricketWeb XI Captain
ClarkeWatch: We're Watching Rikki - Are You?
Up The Grecians - Exeter City FC
Completing the Square: My Cricket Web Blog
Staying up past 12am to watch #4 in the world take on #5 in the world.
You're keen as mustard. True lovers of cricket, it must be said.
Last edited by Jono; 26-10-2010 at 10:14 PM.
"I am very happy and it will allow me to have lot more rice."
Eoin Morgan on being given a rice cooker for being Man of the Match in a Dhaka Premier Division game.
Follow on Cricinfo and on weekends stream in an internet bar or watch in a bar. First session (except Perth) starts before 9am Chinese time. Followed South Africa in Aus fairly easily last time around but my job then was more flexible and my internet connection at home was good.
You could just ask him to not turn it off tbh
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text:
The portal brings together chemical, physical and microbiological data
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) teamed up with the National Water Quality Monitoring Council to launch a brand new Water Quality Portal for water quality data. The portal brings together chemical, physical and microbiological data from USGS's National Water Information System (NWIS) and EPA's Storage and Retrieval Data Warehouse (STORET).
"As we constantly look for ways to break down the artificial barriers between government agencies that make it harder to accomplish important work, the launch of the Water Quality Portal is yet another step in the right direction," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "For decades, both USGS and EPA have been collecting water quality data for different purposes and different missions, but today all data is accessible in one place with a few mouse clicks."
The portal provides a single, user-friendly web interface showing where water quality information is available from federal, state, tribal and other water partners. It reduces the burden to data users searching, compiling and formatting water monitoring data for analysis, and provides scientists, policy-makers and the public with a single Web interface to query data stored in STORET and NWIS.
Data users can choose from a variety of filters, including geographic and sample parameters, to narrow down the dataset by state, county, organization, watershed and sites of interest. Downloaded data can be served out in comma-separated, tab-separated, MS Excel, Keyhole Markup Language and Extensible Markup Language file formats.
The portal utilizes the common nomenclature known as the Water Quality Exchange (WQX) to retrieve data from NWIS and STORET and publish it in a consistent format. The portal is designed to support additional data sources that are integrated with the WQX template. EPA offers a Web-based data entry tool called WQX-Web that enables data owners to upload their data for use by the portal.
Future enhancements to the portal include the development of the portal's interface, web services and compatibility with popular mapping tools.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
City auditor pothole report
The city of San Diego spent more than $1.3 million repairing 30,000 potholes but still has no way to determine the average response time or to track which neighborhoods have the most frequent need, an audit released Friday concludes.
From what auditors could tell from the error-riddled data, the average repair time nearly doubled over the past year, from eight days in 2011 to 15 days in 2012, the review states.
"The Transportation & Storm Water Department indicated that it relied on self-reporting, which revealed issues with recording, data entry, accounting procedures and crew assignments," the report says. "It stated the issues have been corrected for Fiscal Year 2013."
The city system for responding to pothole complaints also could be improved, the audit found.
The division in charge has no specific mechanism to identify and fix unreported potholes. That lack of any standard means council districts receive different levels of repair service, the review said.
The audit included four recommendations to improve the department's response to potholes:
• Standardize data collection
• Improve data-entry controls
• Implement a regional deployment strategy
• Track repairs on a per-pothole basis to reflect efficiency
The audit was requested by Councilman Kevin Faulconer, whose coastal area district reported the second-most of complaints over a nine-month period.
Faulconer said the audit reveals flaws in the city's pothole program.
"The current system is inefficient and frustrating to citizens," he said. "These reforms will change that, and I'm urging the mayor and City Council to implement them."


text:
|Country Of origin:
Formed in Toronto in 2006, Canadian metalcore band Abandon All Ships combine elements of electronic music and post-hardcore and technical metal into a strangely triumphant hybrid. Consisting of Angelo Aita (vocals), Martin Broda (vocals/bass), Sebastian Cassisi-Nunez (keys/programming), Kyler Stephen Browne (guitar), Andrew Paiano (guitar), and Daniel Paiano (drums), the group originally formed to play Norma Jean covers, but the bandmembers soon branched out and began writing their own music. They eventually merged dance-pop and metal together, creating a heavily programmed sound weaving between pulsing dance grooves and Auto-Tuned vocals and anguished, breakdown-heavy metalcore. The band released its first album, a self-titled EP, in 2009, and would later get a boost in popularity after appearing on Canadian music channel MuchMusic's show Disband. In 2010, Abandon All Ships made their full-length debut on Universal Music Canada with Geeving. ~ Gregory Heaney~ Rovi


text:
Get close to your customers with CRM software
What is CRM software?
CRM software helps companies stay close to their customers by managing all aspects of the relationship. That spans the entire customer lifecycle: first contact, ongoing inquiries, lead nurturing, conversion, renewal and long-term interaction. "CRM" stands for customer relationship management, which goes far beyond chasing leads and closing sales.
Zendesk integrates smoothly with CRM software packages. The result is better customer relationships. When companies have full management of their sales and marketing tools in one place, integrated with their help desk, customer service wins.
È arrivato Zendesk Duet, a soli $59.
Un pacchetto di grande valore. Un ottimo prezzo. Un abbinamento perfetto per le vendite e l'assistenza.
More than just a contact database
CRM encompasses marketing and sales activities, both inbound and outbound. The relationship between a company and its customer base is too important to leave to one-off products and tools that do not integrate well with larger CRM solutions. Eventually, CRM grows from the management of the company-customer relationship to management of many other sales details about prospects, vendors, co-workers, pricing, pending deals and even competitors. Without CRM, the complexity and connections become too difficult to follow.
CRM software has evolved beyond client tools to cloud applications that users can access from anywhere at any time. Smart companies provide their users with 24/7 cloud access from computers or a mobile app to offer customer support in the moment when it is most needed. Integrations with software for the management of enterprise resources and supply chain draw companies even closer to their customers.
Good customer relationship management
Customers also benefit from a well-implemented system of CRM. The better a company integrates all the information about its relationship with a customer, the better it can deliver customer service and the more the customer is satisfied. The essence of CRM systems is to enable large, medium and small businesses to understand their prospects and customers and deliver optimal customer service. Software is the best way to accomplish that.
In most companies, IT manages the implementation of the CRM system and handles integration with other business software and applications. The sales team then manages day-to-day operations and processes for users. With adequate management, the return in customer satisfaction far outweighs the cost of maintaining a CRM system.
When are users ready?
Some vendors provide free trials of CRM software, but as the saying goes, "If the software is free, then you're the product." Among the most important features in a CRM solution are flexible pricing, client software, a mobile app, cloud integration for always-on access, and the ability to manage leads all the way through the sales funnel. Free software for customer relationship management may include those features, but will it scale up as a long-term solution?
Eventually, integration between the CRM and other business software solutions also becomes a priority. Free CRM systems do not always include the API (interface) support needed for successful integration, and the business ends up with a strong contact app but not a robust CRM platform. An initial investment - even a gradual one - in CRM software pays off in long-term customer satisfaction.
Zendesk integration with CRM
Zendesk excels as a customer support tool, once the customers start arriving. To build out their marketing and sales efforts and manage customer service, many businesses integrate their CRM with Zendesk. They deploy both CRM and Zendesk because of low subscription costs, simplicity, workflow, customer login access, community forums and social media integration.Manage your customer relationships into fabulous success
Risorse ulteriori
Abbiamo un elenco zeppo di utili riferimenti. Dai un'occhiata qui sotto.
There's a lot more where this came from. Keep exploring the world of customer management systems, global customer relationships, and CRM.
Ticketing systemHelp desk interniIT help deskHR help deskOpen ticket systemOpen help deskOnline ticketing systemOnline help deskHosted help deskTrouble ticket software


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2020 Superbike World Championship
Date: 28 February - 1 March 2020*
Promoter: PI SBK Pty Ltd
Australia will once again launch the 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, with the Yamaha Finance round at Phillip Island to be held from February 28 to March 1, 2020*.
The 2020 Australian event will set a new record being the 30th round to be held at Victoria's world- acclaimed Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. The WorldSBK championship has returned every year since 1990, bar 1993.
No other circuit on the global tour has hosted as many rounds with riders, teams and fans flocking for three decades to the sweeping turns and thrillingly fast 4.445 km circuit that borders the stunning ocean vista of Bass Strait.
Event Info
Visit the Australian Round World Superbike website
*Subject to FIM Ratification
All Dates
- d-M-Y 09:00 - 17:00
Powered by iCagenda


text: ZBx, or zero-based mindset, is a new way to look at profitability through four zero-based approaches.The speed of change will never be as slow as it is today thanks to digital and other new technologies. To keep up, companies need to take out non-working money that doesn't support the business strategy for future growth goals. ZBx, or zero-based mindset, is a new approach, more holistic than ZBB. It impacts profit, growth and sustainability and trust. Unleashing ZBx involves gaining forensic visibility into spending and funneling savings back into growth initiatives.


text:
"United States": Singular Noun, or Plural?
Paul Starobin, the author of an informative primer on foreign policy realism, had an interesting piece in the weekend's Wall Street Journal on the topic of breaking up the United States.
Devolved America is a vision faithful both to certain postindustrial realities as well as to the pluralistic heart of the American political tradition—a tradition that has been betrayed by the creeping centralization of power in Washington over the decades but may yet reassert itself as an animating spirit for the future. Consider this proposition: America of the 21st century, propelled by currents of modernity that tend to favor the little over the big, may trace a long circle back to the original small‐government ideas of the American experiment. The present‐day American Goliath may turn out to be a freak of a waning age of politics and economics as conducted on a super‐sized scale—too large to make any rational sense in an emerging age of personal empowerment that harks back to the era of the yeoman farmer of America's early days. The society may find blessed new life, as paradoxical as this may sound, in a return to a smaller form.
Today's devolutionists, of all stripes, can trace their pedigree to the "anti‐federalists" who opposed the compact that came out of Philadelphia as a bad bargain that gave too much power to the center at the expense of the limbs. Some of America's most vigorous and learned minds were in the anti‐federalist camp; their ranks included Virginia's Patrick Henry, of "give me liberty or give me death" renown. The sainted Jefferson, who was serving as a diplomat in Paris during the convention, is these days claimed by secessionists as a kindred anti‐federal spirit, even if he did go on to serve two terms as president.
The anti‐federalists lost their battle, but history, in certain respects, has redeemed their vision, for they anticipated how many Americans have come to feel about their nation's seat of federal power. "This city, and the government of it, must indubitably take their tone from the character of the men, who from the nature of its situation and institution, must collect there," the anti‐federalist pamphleteer known only as the Federal Farmer wrote. "If we expect it will have any sincere attachments to simple and frugal republicanism, to that liberty and mild government, which is dear to the laborious part of a free people, we most assuredly deceive ourselves."
Bonus points to Starobin for pointing to the same passage from George Kennan that I've taken to quoting. Kennan worried whether " 'bigness' in a body politic is not an evil in itself." As a result, he wondered "how it would be if our country, while retaining certain of the rudiments of a federal government, were to be decentralized into something like a dozen constituent republics, absorbing not only the powers of the existing states but a considerable part of those of the present federal establishment."
The most obvious objection with which Starobin doesn't deal is that you'd have a hell of a time selling this scheme on Washington, which happens to have–how to put this politely?–the means to ensure it gets what it wants.
A related objection would be the eternal political question "who gets the guns?" What sort of armed forces would a decentralized United States possess? Under whose control would they be? Would we distribute nuclear weapons to each of the States in order to ensure none of them would get too skittish?
People smarter than me have argued that size isn't an obstacle to republican government in the case of the United States. Note, though, the first of the four premises on which the pro‐size argument rests:
In the first place it is to be remembered that the general government is not to be charged with the whole power of making and administering laws. Its jurisdiction is limited to certain enumerated objects, which concern all the members of the republic, but which are not to be attained by the separate provisions of any…
If the case for centralism rests on premises like these that are artifacts of a long‐since‐squandered legacy, we probably ought to reconsider the arguments against centralism. At the very least, those of us who want a very small government ought to think hard about the viability of a situation in which a small, weak federal government administers a giant, powerful nation.


text:
Clever coincidence or outright browser conspiracy?
On the day Mozilla released Firefox 6, Google released a new feature available for Chrome and Google Bar users on Internet Explorer.
Google Related will automatically suggest related content to user searches by sending your data back to Google, who will then in turn offer related topics.
A thin bar will show up at the bottom of the browser minimized, showing related searches that could include maps, videos, images or reviews of restaurants users are searching for.
If interested in a related search, simply click on the related link and a new window or tab will open.
Users concerned about privacy can either turn of the service off or read more about how Google uses the data.
Google's New Feature Doesn't Relate to New Firefox
Clever coincidence or outright browser conspiracy?


text:
LikaJoon 5star Chick (Studio Performance) [Unsigned Hype]
A reports "Up and coming artist from the DMV, LIKA JOON. Persian Princess is making her mark in this game, WAY MORE TO COME. DMV STAND UP, Directed by Alex Acosta."
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
Isolation and Inoculation of Endophytic Actinomycetes in Root Nodules of Elaeagnus Angustifolia
8 strains of endophytic actinomycetes were successfully isolated from root nodules of Elaeagnus angustifolia by the methord of nodule-slicing respectively on three mediums S, FTW and DPM. And these strains were analyzed by 16S rDNA phylogenetic studies, the result showed that 5 of these strains belonged to Micromonospora, and the other 3 strains was Nonomuraea, Pseudonocardia and Planotetraspor, repectively.Inoculation of these isolated strains to the host plant, although no root nodules were obtained, the growth degree of the plant was obviously increased compared with the control.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Modern Applied Science ISSN 1913-1844 (Print) ISSN 1913-1852 (Online)
Copyright © Canadian Center of Science and Education
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text:
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Rainbow Bee-eaters
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
22 comments:
Hi MickReplyDelete
The angle of the light causes the green and blue colours to change their appearance.
I have noticed the same with Sacred Kingfishers - sometimes green, sometimes almost royal blue.
Lovely images, and one of my favourite birds.
I never get them here - but they were common around Canberra.
Just one of the things one misses out on when moving.
Hi Denis, thanks for your comment. Interesting about the light causing those changes. I think these birds are beautiful in any light! Yes, I would miss them too if I moved away.ReplyDelete
Beautiful photos again love all the colours.ReplyDelete
Thanks Neil.ReplyDelete
Hi Mick: Best seen, but hard to position, from slightly above. They seem to have stayed around up this way with the very mild 'winter'.ReplyDelete
Could I also suggest, without wishing in any way to set myself up as a worthy example, that you give the birds a touch more air when you crop them.
Hi Tony, thanks for the suggestion. I shall try that next time. Re seeing them from above - wish I could! I've only ever seen them high up in the trees.ReplyDelete
You make me wanna hop in the next plane with showing off these Beauties (also all the migrants and the Whistling Kites).ReplyDelete
Hi Nicole, we love tourists out here and the birds are especially good right now!ReplyDelete
Beautiful birds Mick and you captured the iridescence of the feathers so well.ReplyDelete
Love these beautiful and colorful birds, great captures.ReplyDelete
I saw bee-eaters when I visited Camargue. Not this one though. I really enjoyed seeing them catching insects. And the color is likely to change a bit due to light.ReplyDelete
I don´t know. You usually visit me early. If you did and came to last weeks post it is because I fogot to label the new one. Here is this weeks entry:
What gorgeous colouring on the head.ReplyDelete
Thanks for commenting Phil, Eileen, NatureFootstep, and John.ReplyDelete
Don't you just love the colors of the bee-eaters? We have two species here (Blue-tailed and Blue-throated) and both of them also show off different color shades depending on the light.ReplyDelete
Great photos, Mick!
Bee-eaters are a family of birds I can't wait to see one day. I love their colors and shapes.ReplyDelete
Thanks for commenting Idaho Birder and Bob. The bee-eaters over your way sound lovely , Bob. It would sure be nice to see them.ReplyDelete
Wow! These little guys are beautiful. How lucky you can see them every day.ReplyDelete
Thanks HalcyonReplyDelete
Do they really eat bees? Wonderful looking bird.ReplyDelete
Hi April, I've seen them catch all sorts of insects and even butterflies on the wing.ReplyDelete
Incredible shots of the Rainbow Bee-eaters Mick! They are so colorful, I would love to see them in action.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 25, 2010 at 7:15 PM
wonderful colorful birds.ReplyDelete


text:
Did you know a hero died this week? I suppose the argument could be made that heroes die every day of every week of every month but a hero died this week. Jeanne Manford passed away at the age of 92 after living a life of acceptance with grace and compassion. Manford founded PFLAG; Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. In 1972 she marched in the New York City Pride Parade carrying a sign in support of her gay son, Morty. Morty's life was cut short, as so many of my queer parents and siblings lives' were, by AIDS. Jeanne Manford continued to fight for acceptance of LGBTQ people; she evolved with the times, moved with the movements, and was an ally and a presence for her entire life.
We lost a hero this week. The LGBTQ community lost not only an ally but a parent and a grandparent. Because of activism like Jeanne's so many of us were able to go further, faster, and with less fear of not being accepted and knowing we were entering a world with greater understanding. She didn't solve the problem of families that don't accept their children but she helped let those children know that other people did accept them. She brought allies into the movement; a necessary step in bringing the oppression of LGBTQ people into the greater public knowledge.
A prayer for the heroes
Thank you, God, for giving us the heroes
The down to earth folks who speak quietly
From living rooms
And computers
And through small acts of kindness
Thank you, God, for giving us the heroes
That shout from the rooftops
And the pubs
And the street corners
Whether anybody listens or not
Thank you, God, for the grandparents
Who stand up and say
Oppression wasn't okay in my time
And it's not okay now, either
Thank you God for the younger siblings
Who never question who you are
Since you're always the person
Who stole Halloween candy
When you were eight
And thank you, God
For the blessing of those who stand
When we cannot be our own hero
Or when we don't want to be
Or when one voice isn't enough
Thank you, God, for the allies
Who stand by our sides
And let us lead
And follow with gusto
Thank you, God, for the heroes
The every-day
And the extraordinary
And the old
And the young
And the visible
And the invisible
God, thank you for the heroes.


text:
Navable re-styling navable - removing shadows, etc.
adesouza, in DMS & Legacy Products
Recommended Posts
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By imagineutopia
I have a client who wants a tight subnav up top.
I am using hero nav and want to use navable as my sub menu.
it looks pretty good but I know they will complain about the shadow and gradient.
I'm going to try and make it be totally white and push it down near the curve a little tighter.
is this possible though css? I basically just want it to be transparent.
Top is how it currently is and below is ideally how I'd like it to be.
By KristaD
Hi there, I'm working on: http://kristardesign.com/genaleenolin/wordpress/
The client wants the nav bar tabs to be blue when viewing that page. So if you click on Thyroid Sexy from the HOME page, the tab will look blue, not the default gray. I tried Firebug and can't figure it out. Thanks!
By thebastion
Hi there,
I bought the Navable section today, but have since discovered CrackBar which would appear to be exactly what I was after in the first place.
They are both created and sold by Nick Haskins, would it be possible to exchange? Navbar really isn't customisable enough for what I need.
Many thanks
By innovot
A nice feature would be able to center the menu within the bar. Is that possible please ?
By innovot
Have just purchased Navable but when adding to the site and changing the base colour and text nothing happens. I have refreshed multiple times and published but it stays the default grey. What am I doing wrong ?
No rhyme or reason why but it has started worked :)


text:
I'm not sure how these websites are setup behind the scenes, so I don't know how ridiculous a request like this really is. Would it be possible to get a single RSS output of all my activity across all four sites?
Granted, I could build my own PHP script to routinely pull them all together, but that would just stink :)


text:
Seattle Public Utilities Mami Hara, General Manager/CEO
Directions to South Transfer Station
130 South Kenyon Street, Seattle, Washington 98108
(located south of the First Avenue South Bridge and two blocks north of the old transfer station)
Southbound directions
From I-5 and West Marginal Way:
- Take the Corson/Michigan Street Exit 162 from Interstate 5.
- Turn right (west) on Michigan Street.
- Follow signs to SR-99/First Avenue South; drive south over the First Avenue South Bridge.
- Take the first exit (South Park/99) after the bridge.
- Stay right and follow the street as it curves under the bridge.
- Continue to stay right and go straight through intersection at S. Holden St.
- Take the next right exit (South Park/South Kenyon Street); follow Transfer Station signs.
- Enter through second gate on right.
Northbound directions
From State Route 509 northbound:
- Take SR-99 South/W. Marginal Way exit and merge into right lane.
- Turn right at light onto SR-99 South/W. Marginal Way.
- Take South Park/S Kenyon St.
- Turn right onto S Kenyon St.
- Enter through second gate on right.


text:
Dr Martens 1460 Black Smooth: Black: 7
The 1460 is the original Dr. Martens boot.
Its instantly recognizable DNA looks like this:
8 eyes
Classic Dr. Martens Smooth leather
Grooved sides
Yellow stitching
Comfortable, air-cushioned sole
Original 8-eye boot
Built on the iconic Dr. Martens air-cushioned sole, which is oil and fat resistant with good abrasion and slip resistance
Use Wonder Balsam to keep your boots clean, protect the leather, and keep it soft and supple
Please bear with us, we are delivering but might be slower than usual.
Contact us on 01284 755551
We despatch by 3pm every day except weekends and bank holidays
- UK Orders over £40 - delivery is FREE 1-3 days 1st Class Royal Mail Signed For - often arrives next day
- UK Orders below £40 - delivery charge £2.95 1-3 days1st ClassRoyal Mail Signed For - often arrives next day
- All packages require a signature upon receipt
You can contact us on 01284 755551
We love selling good quality clothes and gifts to people who will enjoy them.
If you have a problem please don't hesitate to contact us. Talk to us!
You can return any item within 14 days of delivery for a full refund. No Quibbles, No Hassle
Returned items must be unused, with tags /labels still attached and with any original packaging undamaged
Packages are your responsibility until received by us. We suggest a Signed For service and that you keep a proof of posting
Please include your original packing note/invoice, otherwise it can be difficult to allocate the item(s)
Comments on the reason for return are appreciated, they help us improve our service
If an item is faulty, we will be happy to exchange it or refund you, and refund the cost of returning it
Please provide a receipt for the shipping cost.
Please return all items to the following address:
Returns Department
Sunrise Direct Ltd.
83, St John's Street
Bury St Edmunds


text:
Engage your audience
Scale with peace of mind
Through a software defined content delivery network (SD-CDN) layer, online video is delivered with improved geographic reach and reliability by having a built-in backup process with intelligent traffic management.
Deliver anywhere, to any device
Live content is automatically transcoded in the cloud for delivery to virtually any device, with adaptive bitrate support to reach a range of connection speeds. Includes support for website and social network embedding.
Track and measure in real-time
Track viewership in real-time, with insights including geographic location and device used while monitoring stream performance. Download full reports that offer individualized tracking for those who registered.


text:
WestJet introduces child-free cabins
Airline unveils Kargo Kids, a travel program to create a serene travel experience
WestJet today introduced Kargo Kids, an exciting new program allowing guests to travel on select child-free flights, creating a quieter and more relaxing inflight experience, while children travel in a "special VIP" area of the aircraft.
"As Canada's low-cost airline, we are constantly looking for innovative and fun ways to enhance the guest experience," continued Richard Bartrem. "The initial feedback on Kargo Kids has been quite positive and we're looking forward to the peace and quiet while we get families where they need to be."
Promo code
The promotion on this page has expired.


text:
Well, folks, I was hoping to share the latest HorsePLAY! LIVE HD video with you guys buuuutttt.. Twitch has been funky. We'll get into that but time is of the essence! Here's last week's video instead. It's relevant.
We have some HUGE news and time-sensitive items so be sure to read on, gang.. There are critical items for Kickstarter and Twitch users here!
HorsePLAY! EP34 is up on iTunes, Stitcher, and our official GANG podcasts feed. Here is the embedded MP3 player, for your convenience. In this episode, a girl joins us. JanelNo5, a rising Twitch superstar, makes this show a non-sausage fest – YAY!
Kickstarter: Fire With Fire PvP Tower Defense Game
First things first, Fire With Fire is close to being funded but we only have a couple of days. On Sunday, August 10th 2014, this Kickstarter project comes to an end. Currently, we need around 300 backers if everyone pledges the $6 or more (the minimum is $1). We can make someone's dreams come true! #GeeksUnite
Other indie games we are excited about on Kickstarter include Factions and Bacon Man, which end on August 10th and 15th, respectively. Spread the word. It only takes a few minutes to help good content go viral!
Major Twitch Changes & What You Need To Know TODAY
Twitch has wasted no time mixing things up now that Google is backing them with their bottomless pit of munnies. Justin.tv closes it's doors which leads us to believe Twitch will start to compete with Ustream, Playstream, and other streaming platforms. This worries me a bit.
My concern is that the focus will shift from gaming and Twitch will become as noisy as YouTube. This is great for established video personalities but terribad for the rest of us. Let's not forget that the Twitch brand implies gaming (i.e. twitch gaming like we see in MOBAs and FPS games). Diversifying content would ruin the brand identity. I guess only time will tell!
Hosting is one of the biggest features to come. After months of testing, now everyone can now host their favorite streamers on their own channel. This is a great alternative to simulcasting or Twitch raids, but it will not replace it. There are some key distinctions between hosting and comparable tactics:
- All followers and views go to the hosted streamer.
- The host will not generate video archives.
- Hosting channels will not appear live on the mobile app (yet).
Twitch CEO has announced a new VOD policy on the official Twitch blog. Starting August 27th, past broadcasts will be removed unless there are highlights associated with them. Partnered streamers and Turbo users will have more time to work with their archives but everyone else will have a 3 to 14-day window to work with old videos.
During EP34, I went off on a rant because the changes to how Twitch handles VODs came suddenly. Sure, we saw the writing on the wall but now we have to hustle to make sure all that content we have created over months or years doesn't go to waste. There are lots of things that need to be in place before Twitch enforces these changes.
Ironically, soon after our live show, I realized Twitch implemented quick exports and highlighting. Now you can do exports as a two-step process without loading up different pages and tabs. This was desperately needed. Sadly, I am noticing that YouTube is getting overloaded and bouncing back videos during batch jobs. Argh. BTW, they are aware of the server capacity issues (officially as of August 6th 10:50am PT).
Video highlighting is much easier and cleaner now. You can create multiple highlights during one session. Again, brilliant.. And this update actually works properly so YAY! You can also see all highlights associated with a source video at a glance AND export without creating a highlight first. This is far more intuitive so great job, Twitch!
The best part about this policy change is that it will remind Twitch streamers to do what they should be doing already: creating highlights and bookmarks. I can't tell you how many channels I visit that are barren when they are offline. It's quite sad.
Now that Google is in the mix, I am hoping for some SEO enhancements. Tagging, social integration, commenting, and enhanced search would rock. I would also love to see differentiation between live and archived content. This would give archived content far more value and give streamers like myself more of an edge by allowing us to create themed content and events.
To our fellow streamers, the best tip we can offer now is to make sure you not only click "Save Forever" on videos but also highlight and export whenever possible. Don't forget to bookmark, too! It looks really seksy when you have a wide variety of content available on your channel when you're offline. In some ways, I like the presentation better than what YouTube currently does.. But a little customization wouldn't hurt here!
Oh wait.. We forgot the biggest update!
Copyrighted music on streams is now a no-no. Google is not enforcing strikes or other stupidity yet but they have gone back and retroactively muted all video segments where music is found.. Unless it is royalty-free or officially licensed (they are not set up for the latter yet, obviously).
We saw this coming but it sucks. We recommend avoiding song requests or background music all together because it will limit the value of your recordings, even if you focus 100% on the live experience. Of course, there is always the option of playing your own music for yourself or only having in-game music but be wary of games like Typing Of The Dead: Overkill, which uses licensed music. I learned the hard way to lower game music just to be safe; otherwise, no YouTube highlights, which sucks!
1.2 Billion Passwords Stolen.. Google Responds
Holds Security of Milwaukee reports that Russian hackers have stolen 1.2 billion passwords to online accounts worldwide. The affected sites and platforms have remained undisclosed but, just to play it safe, you may want to change your passwords. I recommend using unique passwords for your most critical resources like online banking, control panels, and government sites, just to be extra safe.
Google has responded to this news by offering rewards to more secure sites. Using SSL, encrypted passwords, login lockdowns/timeouts, CAPTCHA, and other security methods will increase your search rankings. I wonder if there will be less of a penalty for longer load times since security hardening tends to compromise performance.
Assassin's Creed: Rogue Confirmed After Leak
Ubisoft confirms that Assassin's Creed: Rogue is coming this year as a Christmas Season 2014 release alongside the highly-anticipated "next gen" Assassin's Creed: Unity. This news comes after a video was leaked. Now console gamers on both sides of the generation gap will be covered.
We have mixed feelings about this. Personally, I love the AC series (though the original is really hard to go back to now) but I think this overkill. Major franchises like this should not be annualized because quality suffers and discerning consumers are overwhelmed with too many options. Yes, game publishers, not all of us spend $5000 or more on video games each year, no matter how hardcore we may be.
I feel gamers have plenty of content to catch up on and enjoy as it is. This news only frustrates me. I may be in the vocal minority here but what do you guys think? Let us know via voicemail or in the comments below.
Our First HorsePLAY! LIVE iTunes Review
We usually don't push for iTunes reviews because we realize people are using other platforms.. And iTunes isn't very intuitive when it comes to leaving reviews.
That said, we got our very first iTunes review from Normii477 from Zombie Cast and Knuckleballer Radio. Thank you, Normii! Your words really touch our hearts and get us even more fired up to bring you more great content. I agree that what I love most about our show is the chemistry Obi and I have since we contrast and compliment each other so well (some would say we are a married couple LOL). Of course, the live interaction on the GeekyAntics Twitch channel keeps things interesting every week. We love you guys – even the trolls!
You guys really get what we are about and that's awesome. We want HorsePLAY! LIVE to be the radio show and interactive platform where geeks can get their fix on a wide variety of discussions, events, and news. Keep the reviews coming, gang!
Stitcher is still our preferred mobile podcast app so please use their Facebook integration to leave us comments and give us some thumbs up lovin. Don't forget to tune into us on AllGames.com every Thursday at around 5pm Eastern. AllGames.com has their own live chat – join the IRC channel and tell them the GANG at HorsePLAY! LIVE sent ya. You'll get a warm welcome, just like we did when we joined the network! BTW, we'd LOVE more voicemail messages and bumpers at (206) 415-4987 – save our live listeners the torture of having to listen to us rant for two hours or more. *wink-wink*
Play hard and play smart, geeks! *insert heart here*


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Site Access or Application Problems
The phoenix.gov website is designed to work best in all the most popular browsers and screen resolutions in use today
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The phoenix.gov website is designed to allow users to control the size of fonts directly from their browsers. This ensures that everyone, including people with vision issues or disabilities, can fully enjoy the site. In the vast majority of browsers, the font will default automatically to your browser's specified font settings.You may enlarge or reduce the font via your browser's preference settings. In Internet Explorer, the default text size is "medium." Click your browser's Help button for more information on how to control your font sizes.
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The city's website is designed to provide reasonable user response at all times. Due to the high demands on the phoenix.gov site, the explosive growth that the Internet is experiencing on a constant basis, and technical difficulties that occur on the Internet from time to time, phoenix.gov response time can vary greatly throughout the day. We strive to provide the public with at least 24-hours advance notice on specific pages that will be down for maintenance or intermittently unavailable. Watch for these messages on the pages you are visiting for maintenance updates that may affect your access to the site.
If you are able to connect with other Internet sites without problem, but are having problems with only the phoenix.gov site, contact us at
firstname.lastname@example.com. If you are experiencing problems with the majority of Web sites, please contact your Internet Service Provider.
If you need technical assistance with paying your municipal services (aka water) bill online, please call 602-262-6251, 8 to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday, for customer services.
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For the days when a nice (not so naughty) treat is in order, these Martha Stewart chocolate biscotti are the perfect solution.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined; set aside. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg, egg yolk, and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in the vanilla and oil until well combined.
- With the mixer on low, beat in dry ingredients until combined. Fold in walnuts, chocolate, and ginger with a rubber spatula (dough will be stiff).
- With moistened hands shape the dough into 2 logs, each about 9 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide. Bake until set on top, about 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
- Transfer logs to a cutting board and, with a serrated knife, cut each log on the diagonal into 16 slices, each 1/2 inch thick. Bake until crisp, about 20 minutes, turning the biscotti over midway through. Cool for 5 minutes on a baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.


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This article reviews the use of MMF for the treatment of several bullous conditions, and assesses the evidence gathered from clinical trials and case series. According to numerous case series, MMF could be of value in treating refractory disease. The few randomized clinical trials conducted to date of patients with pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid report a similar efficacy for MMF to other immunosuppressants. (Source: Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America)
from MedWorm: Pemphigus http://www.medworm.com/index.
php?rid=6018247&cid=c_297_3_f& fid=33229&url=http%3A%2F% 2Fwww.immunology.theclinics. com%2Farticle% 2FPIIS0889856112000252% 2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes
from MedWorm: Pemphigus http://www.medworm.com/index.


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The TSA will allow small knives on planes again, so we can finally get back what we missed most about flying: reenacting the Beat It video.
— Jim Grammond (@jgrammond) March 6, 2013
My brain still refers to a large group of people other than myself as "grown ups".
— Mary Radzinski (@MaryRadzinski) March 5, 2013
Sorry officer, but whipping rocks at birds is part of my religion.
— Joe Moore (@thejoemoore) March 4, 2013
I have an Odometer in my car. It tells me how many times a day Lamar Odom wishes he didn't marry a Kardashian. #125431
— Jim Ginty (@Jim_Ginty) March 4, 2013
75 Trombones?! That's not enough for this big parade! #paradeproblems #moretrombones
— Brendan Kennedy (@brendankennedy) March 5, 2013
Every time my cat sleeps next to my baby I feel like the internet has come to life.
— Lora(@LoraNeely) March 1, 2013
Playing video games online is like middle school. It's where I go to get made fun of by thirteen year olds.
— Luke Giordano (@lukegiordano) March 3, 2013
"Do you wash your jeans?" -Someone Who Doesn't.
— Blake Wexler (@BlakeWexler) March 4, 2013
Follow Witout on Twitter for updates from our site, as well as retweets of more of the best 140-character-or-less jokes from Philly comics.


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Program Overview:
The Indian Education Program is a federally funded program that supports American Indian students in a variety of ways. The Indian Education Program serves American Indian students by developing their understanding and appreciation of their American Indian history and culture. The Secondary Program focuses on students in grades 7 -12 and is designed to assist students with educational opportunities beyond high school. The Indian Education Program is committed to working together with parents and families to meet the unique educational and cultural needs of American Indian students.
Indian Education Program services include:
Student Eligibility
What is a 506 Form?
In order to apply for a formula grant under the Office of Indian Education, Robbinsdale Area Schools must first determine the number of American Indian students attending its schools by having those families fill out a 506 Form.
Families are not required to fill out a 506 form. However, if you choose not to submit a form, the district cannot count your child for funding under the program.
This form will be kept with the Indian Education Program and is confidential.
Required Forms:
Johnson O'Malley form
Johnson O'Malley Explanation
506 Form
506 Form Instructions
Contact Robbinsdale Indian Education Program
Robbinsdale Indian Education
Robbinsdale Middle School
Room 2
3730 Toledo Ave N
Robbinsdale, MN 55422


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At lunchtime, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan and Education Secretary Duncan participated in the Department of Education's summer reading initiative, "Read to the Top!" During the reading, Secretary Locke read, "Those Shoes," a picture book by Maribeth Boelts to a group of District of Columbia grade school students. The Department has partnered with community organizations nationwide to combat summer reading loss in response to President Obama's national volunteer campaign, "United We Serve," which challenges all Americans to engage in sustained, meaningful service to meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn.
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Hey guys,
A newbie question (again).
Just got myself a Realistic Pro-2006, so wanting to make the most of it i have gone for a new antenna and low loss co-ax.
Antenna is a Sigma Scan King SE1500 and i've invested in 20 meters of RG213 co-ax, given it's low loss properties.
So having invested in this kit my question is, do i spend a little bit more and get my antenna mounted on outside of house on pine end well clear of any obstructions, OR put my antenna in the loft next to the pine end ?.
Will i lose much signal by putting in attic ?, or will i be wasting my money already paid out ?.
I'm hoping someone can put the antenna mount up for me for around £40.00 is it worth the investment ?.
I had a stroke 5 years ago so doing myself is impossible, i'm shaky enough on the ground let alone up a ladder 40ft in the air !!!!!!!!!!
Any replies appreciated


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One dimension of Accenture's journey to becoming a digital business is to improve the employee experience by bringing digitization to Accenture people in the same ways that they experience as consumers. This means our people expect to accomplish things on their mobile devices in simple and productive ways.
Recognizing this shift, our internal IT organization initiated a program to examine how mobile plays a role in Accenture people's overall experience with the company. The program is focusing on capturing common "moments" employees have when interacting with key company systems and simplifying those moments through a mobile platform.
The opportunity—and challenge—for our internal IT is to move from a complex systems landscape to one that provides unified, integrated services and experiences across websites, devices and touchpoints. It's also an opportunity—and a journey—to go beyond standard approaches and transform the way mobile apps are developed on an ongoing basis by creatively innovating, designing, developing and delivering.


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Sunday, September 30, 2018 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Head to Blue Lightning Tubing before your trip back home! Experience the thrill of snowtubing year-round! Offer is for Sundays only, 10 am-12 pm.
Pay $16.00 for Blue Lightning Tubing and get a 2nd rider for free!
Show your Villas at Tree Tops & Fairway guest card, Blue Lightning Tubing or Pocono TreeVentures armband to receive the special discount.
Owners at Tree Tops & Fairway Villas receive a 50% discount when they present their wristband or membership card.
*Open weather permitting.
Blue Lightning Tubing
124 Golf Drive
East Stroudsburg,, PA 18302


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11:11 AM: Ballmer is urging everyone to check out Windows Phone in stores, and for everyone here today? They're getting a Windows Phone too. People are applauding. And the lights are up. And we're off to get get some hands on time with these devices. Thanks for joining us on Wired's liveblog!
11:08 AM: Ballmer is saying "we reinvented Windows Phone around you. You met Joe's ohone earlier, you met Jessica's phone earlier, and you certainly had a chance to meet my phone. I don't think you're ever going to mistake me and Joe, and I bet you're never going to mistake me and Jessica, but perhaps as importantly, you're not going to mistake our phones for each otehrs' either. They're all unique."
11:07 AM: Hardware partners, retailers, carriers and developers are "all in" says Ballmer. And so too is Microsoft. And again we're back to how well they work together. Microsoft is pushing that integration hard, but it really is a great selling point.
11:05 AM: Ballmer guarantees us that between Windows 8, Microsoft Surface and Windows Phone 8 we won't be able to turn on a TV or open a magazine without seeing a Microsoft ad.
11:03 AM: Now we see a slide on the Samsung ATV S, and we're already off to the Windows Phone 8X from HTC. (Sorry, Samsung!) This phone was built from the ground up inspired by Windows Live Tiles, says Ballmer, probably proudly. He loves the build, audio and wide angle lens on the front side of the phone. All of these phones "and many many more" will go on sale this weekend in Europe. In the US, you're going to have to wait, depending on your carrier. Verizon has phones for sale by Thanksgiving, T-Mobile by November 14, and AT&T in November. Also the Microsoft Store will carry every Windows phone in every color option.
Honestly? It seems like a confusing roll out.
11:01 AM: Ballmer begins by talking about the Lumia's display and camera. That's interesting given that Microsoft opted out of focussing on these in the Surface RT.
11:00 AM: "There's one more thing that really sets Windows Phone apart," says Ballmer, "and that is new, killer hardware." Now we're gonna see some phones, starting with the Nokia Lumia 9201.
11:00 AM: Again, we're hearing about integration here, and how the Windows Phone will be the perfect companion for Windows 8, how the Microsoft account helps deliver the same experience from device to device. "Just log-in once and everything you care about will light up on your PC and your phone."
10:59 AM: Pinning items to your Start screen makes it personal, claims Ballmer. "Pin your best friends, your sister, your brother, your co-workers." Um.
10:58 AM: "When we set out to reinvent the smartphone we didn't want to build a single phone for all of us, we wanted to build a phone that could be personal for each of us." I think we're seeing a theme here....
10:57 AM: "Over the weekend we saw an incredible response to Windows 8 and Microsoft Surface," says Ballmer. He says the demand and response exceeded that for Windows 7. "Today we're bringing phones into the Windows family with Windows Phone 8."
10:55 AM: YES! BALLMER IS HERE. BALLLLLLLLLLLLMMMMMMEEEEERRRR!!!!!!! He looks happy. I hope he's happy.
10:54 AM: Belfiore is wrapping up. A surprise visitor is coming out to talk about phone availability. Who will it be? Oh please let it be Steve Ballmer....
10:53 AM: There's a MacSync app to move your playlists and music from iTunes to your phone, there will be similar app for Windows 7.
10:53 AM: Now we're' talking music – Windows Phone 8 and Xbox music service. Again, this is all about integration. You can listen to the same music on your phone, computer and xbox. Create a playlist on your phone and it's there on your desktop.
10:51 AM: SkyDrive starts with 7GB free, and you can add more so you won't run out of space. SkyDrive lets you keep the photos as long as you want and lets you organize them however you want.
10:49 AM: Now we're moving on to photos. Windows Phone 8 has "lenses" by which they mean filters. You can share photos all sorts of places, and photos are automatically uploaded to SkyDrive in the background.
10:48 AM: Belfiore is showing how he can start editing a document or spreadsheet on his PC, and pick up where he left off on his phone–and vice-versa. It also has voice commands and voice transcription, so you can record a note on your phone and see it on your PC.
10:46 AM: Now Belfiore is describing how we don't use phones in isolation. Here comes the big vision. Windows, Xbox and Windows Phone 8 all working together. "With Windows Phone 8 you can move your documents, photos and music across all those devices," he says, "the star player here is Sky Drive." Sky Drive is Microsoft's cloud-based hard drive feature.
10:45 AM: Rooms can incorporate people on different platforms, and they get to see some of the features. An iPhone user will see calendar updates, for example.
10:44 AM: Back to features. Belfiore is now talking about the People Hub, which is Microsoft's rethinking of contacts. He's talking about how it has a new feature called "Rooms" that is basically a group. There's a Family Room that's included by default. You can pin Live Tiles from various rooms to the Start screen. You can also send private messages, share notes and send photos privately to everyone in the room. You can use it for things like sharing grocery lists, he notes.
10:42 AM: "This is the best tech crowd I've ever been in front of," says Alba.
10:40 AM: Now we're hearing about all the other things Jessica Alba loves about her Windows Phone. (What a surprise!) She's also talking about how easy it was to get her settings from iTunes into Windows Phone. I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict we're going to hear how easy it is to switch from Apple to Microsoft a lot in the coming months. Also? What a role reversal.
10:37 AM: "They're adorable, kids are amazing," notes Alba. She also says she loves Kid's Corner and her daughter is totally into it, as is Alba because it keeps the kids out of the social media. Alba says that when her daughter was two, she got into her Twitter feed and posted a bunch of nonsense.
10:36 AM: Now we're watching a video of a working mom who loves Windows Phone Kid's Corner. Oh, it's Jessica Alba. And she's on stage now. She seems kind of surprised to be here?
10:31 AM: Belfiore is demoing how you set up Kid's Corner and turn it on. You check off certain games and apps, basically whitelisting them, one by one, and then only those will run when you launch Kids Corner. "Really the feature is for you," says Belfiore, "because when they're doing this notice how quiet they are! You get to have dinner in peace!" The kids can customize Kid's Corner with custom tile sizes and colors. Apparently Microsoft has found this to be tremendously popular.
10:31 AM: This kid-blocking feature is called Kids Corner, where they can do things you designate on the phone–play games, run certain apps–but don't have full access. And now Belfiore is bringing his three kids onstage to demo this. One is nine, the other two are five. This is genuinely very adorable.
10:30 AM: Oh, there's a "Daddy, can I play on your phone feature." Belfiore is noting how it keeps your kids from, say, accidentally sending a text message or doing other things when you let them play with your phone. My phone has this feature too. It's called me saying "no."
10:27 AM: Microsoft is claiming that you get "45 percent more web browsing on the same data plan." (This should be a good test.) It needs carrier participation, and Verizon will offer it starting this Fall.
10:26 AM: Data Sense compresses web pages as you browse. It understands when you are connected to Wi-Fi, and also helps find Wi-Fi hotspots on a map. When you get close to your limit, it can automatically adjust your data usage (by doing things like not updating it in the background) to help keep you from going over. You can also see how much data each app uses, and there are pop ups to alert you to when you are coming up on your limit.
10:24 AM: Now Belfiore is talking about how Windows Phone 8 will help control data costs. Built into the platform is a feature called Data Sense. "You can surf the Web more and use less data when you do." It also helps you learn how the system lets you learn which apps are consuming how much data. Now we're going to see how it works.
10:23 AM: The Windows Phone 8 software developers kit will be available tomorrow at no cost.
10:22 AM: "There is one app we wanted to announce, and couldn't fit it on the slide." Oh, you tease, Belfiore. "Get ready for Pandora for Windows Phone 8, which we'll have ready for early 2013." It will include an entire year's worth of free music and no ads.
10:19 AM: "We think once these apps are all implemented and available we'll have 46 of the top 50 most heavily used and implemented apps on other platforms on Windows Phone." Urban Spoon, Temple Tun, Living Social, Angry Birds Star Wars, Cut the Rope. Urban Spoon has been updated to take voice commands. "Now you can ask Urban Spoon to find you a restaurant."
10:17 AM: Here come app announcements! We've already heard about Facebook. There' s a new version of Twitter built for Windows Phone 8. I also see logos for CNN, The Weather Channel, and (yes) Angry Birds. But Belfiore wants to talk about the new Skype. It's always on, and runs in the background. That is kind of cool, if it indeed does not drain the battery.
10:16 AM: Belifiore is explaining how the updates Windows Phone 8 Facebook app will push "the photos you are experiencing" right to your lock screen. "Now whenever I take out my phone I get greeted by a surprise," he says "these moments of delight that help you connect with your phone." You can also use other apps and icons to customize the lock screen. Windows Phone 8 is the only phone that allows apps to do this in a standardized way, he says.
10:14 AM: Windows Phone 8 also has Live Apps. They want apps to be able to interact with each other. They're also designed to update information right on the lock screen. "That lock screen is the ultimate glanceable UI because you see it so many times a day." It's going to surface content, like photos and scores and news, sent right to your lock screen.
10:14 AM: Here come the product features, starting with Live Tiles. With Live Tiles the idea is "you can find the things and people you care about and put them front and center." Essentially, what we're seeing are tiles instead of icons that can push data and updates to your home screen.
10:12 AM: And now we're seeing an ad that focuses on how it's designed to be personalized. "We didn't make one for all of us, we made one for each of us." I'm told Jessica Alba appeared.
10:11 AM: "It's not just having a lot of apps to choose from, it's being able to choose aps that light up and improve your smart phone experience." Which is exactly what you should say when you don't have a lot of apps on offer, I guess.
10:08 AM: Belfiore is talking about how the phone interface hasn't evolved much in the past five years. "It was standardized by Apple and the iPhone and really it was copied by Android." Oh, snap! He also called that experience tired and old. "People are the focus of our design."
10:08 AM: Available in 50 languages, and tripling the availability of Windows Store to 191 countries.
10:07 AM: Belfiore notes that they've worked closely with Qualcomm to optimize the OS for the chipset, and that there are now more than 120,000 apps for the phone.
10:06 AM: Belfiore is excited to wrap up the big week of Windows with the announcement of Windows Phone 8, which includes a new core OS that's shared with Windows 8. Today we're going to see the features built on top of that.
10:06 AM: Belfiore's asking if anyone is excited about the World Series sweep. He knows how to work the room!
10:05 AM: It's a spot for Joe Belfiore's Windows Phone, and he's on stage now. He's asking people to hold up Windows Phones, almost everyone is.
10:04 AM: Lights are going down, and a video is starting. Here we go.
10:02 AM: An overhead announcement just informed us that we'd be starting in a few minutes. I hope so!
9:59 AM: Inside the room, Fun's We Are Young is cranked. While I recognize it from shopping at the mall, Microsoft was playing this at the Surface launch back in June too. Time to update that playlist.
9:57 AM: Everything is lit in blue – the walls the floor, even overhead – guessing that will change to match the phones various hues.
9:54 AM: And and the doors just opened. We're elbowing our way in.
9:14 AM: We're inside the hall. Waiters are circulating with trays full of Bloody Marys and Mimosas. Microsoft almost always has booze at its launches. Thank you Mr Ballmer.
9:01 AM: We're outside waiting to be let in. There are a handful of reporters here. Everyone is looking at their phones. While looking at my phone, I was nearly run down in the street by a Twitter employee. Metaphors, yo.
8:57 AM: Outside the Windows Phone 8 event.
Hot on the heels of its Windows 8 and Surface RT launches in New York, Microsoft is holding a Windows Phone 8 event in San Francisco on Monday. Join us on our liveblog starting at 10AM PT/1PM ET to catch all the action. ____


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New CIO and former Virginia Delegate Sam Nixon on what went wrong with the state's battered IT outsourcing effort and how he hopes to right the course.
Photo: Sam Nixon, CIO, Virginia. Photo by David Kidd
When Bob McDonnell took office as governor of Virginia in early 2010, he brought with him renewed hope that the state's troubled IT outsourcing contract with Northrop Grumman could be salvaged. At the time, there was talk of scrapping the agreement -- a move that would cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars. But rather than sever ties with Northrop Grumman, McDonnell turned to a man who, seven years ago, was instrumental in forging the partnership.
On March 15, McDonnell signed legislation that restructured the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) and put the state's CIO directly under the governor's authority. Shortly thereafter, McDonnell appointed longtime Virginia lawmaker Sam Nixon to this post. Nixon, who has several decades of IT experience, was one of the lawmakers who helped write VITA into existence in 2003.
Now he was tasked with rescuing the colossal outsourcing deal that he helped set in motion.
It's no secret that since Virginia and Northrop Grumman struck the IT outsourcing deal, both parties have encountered several high-profile problems. The 10-year, $2.3 billion contract was written such that Northrop Grumman would provide the state's IT services. But the project -- the largest of its kind among the nation's state governments -- has been plagued by delays, cost overruns and poor service.
The partnership between Northrop Grumman and VITA -- created in 2003 when then-Gov. Mark Warner launched a major initiative to centralize and overhaul how the state invested in and managed its technology and networks -- originally was hailed as a bold new approach to large-scale outsourcing. But poor planning, ineffective governance, lackluster service delivery and unrealistic service expectations nearly caused the contract to self-destruct.
Despite the best intentions, in hindsight the many moving parts designed to help one another ended up doing the opposite. VITA was tasked with overseeing the contract between the state and Northrop Grumman; the Legislature-created Information Technology Investment Board was given independent authority to appoint the state CIO; and Northrop Grumman agreed to a contract that required too little accountability on its end and too little governance on Virginia's part.
The situation became a crisis in June 2009, when VITA fired then-CIO Lem Stewart. Reports at the time claimed that Stewart's dismissal came on the heels of his failure to pay Northrop Grumman on a multimillion dollar invoice. Stewart suggested in several presentations that the lack of payment was due to his belief that the vendor was not meeting its contractual obligations.
Stewart's firing set in motion a game of CIO musical chairs. After several temporary CIOs, private-sector software executive George Coulter was hired by the Information Technology Investment Board. Coulter's time at the helm was also short-lived due to a change in the governor's office.
McDonnell followed the VITA restructuring with a restructuring of the Northrop Grumman contract. The move was greeted with both optimism and skepticism, as the new deal increased payments to the company by $105 million, but also added stringent performance requirements and accountability conditions.
The contract modifications added clarity and scope that were missing from the original agreement, according to Nixon. "If we had known four years ago what we know today, we would have started out differently," he said.
As an author of the original VITA legislation, Nixon has intimate knowledge of the thought process behind the outsourcing arrangement. He said some of the deal's shortcomings could only be discovered once the plan was set into motion.
"There were things that only time and experience could foretell," he said. "I don't want to say there were flaws, but there were certainly gaps in a contract this complex, this huge that when it came time to operationalize and actually do those things, it wasn't until then that those gaps became apparent."
The contract modifications came after a 2009 legislative audit slammed the agreement between Virginia and Northrop Grumman. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission pinned the blame on both parties. The audit found that Northrop Grumman's inadequate planning and VITA's inadequate understanding of agencies' needs led to most project delays. Among the audit's other findings: the complexities of state government were not adequately understood by Northrop Grumman; VITA's authority to address delays was inadequate; VITA and the Information Technology Investment Board failed to reach an agreement on how to address performance problems; and both the CIO and the governor lacked the needed authority and accountability.
The new contract provisions are designed to improve performance and boost efficiency. For instance, the amended contract calls for Northrop Grumman to create Rapid Response teams to quickly resolve individual IT issues; expedite replacement of damaged desktops and laptops by replacing equipment within 24 hours of repair determination; consolidate and strengthen performance-level standards, with a 15 percent increase in penalties if the company fails to perform on performance standards; and add new services to the contract, such as improved disaster recovery and enhanced security features.
The new contract also requires Virginia to release $15 million in previously withheld contract payments and includes $105 million in additional cash payments over nine years.
Virginia certainly is not alone in encountering problems during large-scale IT outsourcing endeavors. Like most enterprisewide projects, it was for a noble cause that Virginia began this journey. Yet like many grand visions, critical details in Virginia were overlooked or never perceived.
"Northrop Grumman and the commonwealth as a whole saw the value of moving toward a shared-services model to providing the containment of cost, stability, considering more mature services in our case [and] providing services that we didn't have before, but that there is a considerable amount of complexity related to the technology component of making that happen," Nixon said. "And I think that the rate and the scope of change, particularly the scope, was much broader, much more complex than anyone had anticipated. We had an extraordinarily diverse technology environment here that has grown over many decades.
"The state and Northrop Grumman decided to hold hands and together step into a puddle," Nixon continued. "Neither side knew just how deep that puddle was at the time."
One major oversight -- which happens surprisingly often in state enterprise projects -- was the failure to bring agencies into discussions. In Virginia, before the contract restructuring, agencies had little or no say in the outsourcing arrangements that would impact their operations.
Giving agencies a stronger voice was what drove the creation of a CIO Council -- a group comprising state agency CIOs that meets every other month -- during Coulter's brief tenure as state CIO.
"Those meetings are for us to communicate with them, but we also have a town council-style interaction with them where they can provide their concerns to us," Nixon said. "We're also standing up an executive-level council called the Information Technology Advisory Council, ITAC. And that's going to be composed of the business owners, not IT people, but business owners of government. That group will have yet another conduit into VITA, and what I hope would happen, my vision is that group will focus on enterprisewide applications and enterprisewide initiatives."
Also problematic for Virginia was that because the CIO reported to the Information Technology Investment Board and not the governor, authority over the project on Virginia's side was never clear.
"We thought [that] was a creative and unique way of governing IT," he said. "And that worked well for a long time, but it stopped working pretty quickly at the point in which conflict began to raise its head within the partnership."
Complicating matters was the fact that no entity had the authority to compel agencies to do what VITA was asking.
"All the people who were here before say the change in the governance model is a good thing," Nixon said. "And again, it's painful for me to sit here and say in retrospect that the old governance model was broken. ... I don't know that it was broken, but it definitely became broken along the way."
This was because once things became confrontational, there was no one to step in, call a time-out and send everyone to their rooms, he said. "We do have that now with the governor," Nixon added. "So I think it's an important difference and one that has been very helpful since I have been here."
Nixon isn't ready to say that the governance changes and contract restructuring are enough to ensure smooth sailing into the future. And many state lawmakers remained unconvinced that the changes are enough. Several talked to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, expressing their concerns in a June 21 article.
"There's still some nervousness among the [budget-writing] committee," Delegate Scott Lingamfelter said. Delegate Chris Jones told the paper he wonders what will happen when the contract runs out in 2019. And Delegate Johnny S. Joannou, though pleased Nixon was named CIO, cryptically likened the outsourcing deal to a "bowl of spaghetti that's messed up."
Delegate Steven Landes, a longtime lawmaker who knows Nixon well, talked to Public CIO about his concerns regarding the restructuring. He echoed Jones' sentiment, wondering if the state is painting itself into a corner.
"One of my colleagues, Chris Jones from Suffolk, asked at the last preparations meeting, which I thought was on target, what's going to happen with the hardware when the contract is finished?" Landes said. "Does Virginia own the hardware or does Northrop Grumman? Those are some of the things we're still going to have to work through. But I think we're getting there."
Landes went on to say that he believes Nixon is the right person for the job, especially given the way the governance model has changed. Yet Landes remains unconvinced that the outsourcing arrangement is in taxpayers' best interest.
"As elected representatives, it's our job to make sure money is spent appropriately and that the state contracts are good for the taxpayer," Landes said. "From the state's standpoint, we have responsibility for the problems that ensued, and I think Northrop Grumman does too. And I think early on one of my concerns was it didn't seem like Northrop Grumman thought that there was any real responsibility, they felt like they were meeting the tenets of the contract. But as a contractor with a government entity, there is a little higher level of accountability than just in the private sector. It's not just private entity money that you're dealing with or a group of stockholders, you're dealing with the taxpayers, you're dealing with the average citizen."
Nixon said the experience with IT outsourcing -- from conception to present -- has changed his perspective on the process, were he to do it over again.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready to change my views on outsourcing, but maybe it has changed my views on how we constructed or went about the outsourcing," he said. "We probably got ahead of ourselves, particularly with VITA, which was still a fairly new organization."
In other words, he said, it was like trying to live in a house at the same time it was being built -- at the same time Lowe's showed up with a bunch of lumber, but they didn't have any hammers or nails.
"There were just a lot of things about that that were not sequenced properly," Nixon said. "Looking back, it's really easy to see those things. Back then it wasn't nearly as apparent. It was all shiny and new and all looked like a good idea, but when it came time to actually making things happen, that's when it became very difficult, very quickly."


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India and Japan- One is blessed with abundant fertile land, the other is cursed with abundant hostilities from nature.
The former has let all its advantages go in vain, the latter has made the atrocities bow their head and retreat.
India had good potentials to become a modern country with its root deeply dug in its heritage- agriculture. But the small loopholes became abyss due to negligence and nonchalance. Now the children of farmers too rush to towns to toil under someone else, whereas they might have had every potential back at home if the administration was strong, reliable.
The main problem with Indian farmers is the too little size of their lands and their primitive methods of farming.
When I first read about these two problems the first thing that popped in my mind was group of farmers uniting their lands, dividing the profits. Now, if the administration was reliable then it would have been quite a smart thing to do, but in India every farmer is logically afraid that he will end up losing his land.
Therefore in place of a group of neighbours combining their lands legally with valid documents and confidence, aiming for the profits of a large piece of land they keep toiling in their small field, facing all sorts of adversity.
There is no big scope for saving money for their next crop, so they borrow money from money lenders at a horrible rate and repay with harvest, if crops go wrong commit suicide.
Every year it's a pattern, one or dozens of farmers committing suicide because they can't pay the money to the moneylenders back.
If this keeps going on and on then what's the meaning of all the claims about researches and studies done to improve the condition of farmers. Apart from apathy corruption is a great threat. Because of this well nurtured, well groomed monster all these big talks about improving this field of Indian economy draws blank in case of small farmers, medium scale farmers. Just because of excessive corruption in administration from highest to lowest rung- they know that they will need the votes of these people because they are huge in number, so they take care that these people are never out of their hand to mouth status, that is, naïve prey status, so they can come there when they need their votes, promise them seventh heaven and vanish.
I wonder if things will ever change for these people, if ever they will see the days the farmers of USA, UK or dozens of other countries have seen. I keep praying because after all they supply the food on our plates for almost nothing. We pay good price, they get nothing somewhere in between the whole money vanishes.


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The following events occurred in the 2000s:
The 2000s was the decade that followed the second wizarding war with Lord Voldemort from 1995-1998, unlike the first wizarding war which ended abruptly on the 31st October 1981 where although Voldemort's body was vanquished his spirit lived on for many years, this time however Voldemort was killed for good and the Order of The Phoenix and their allies won.
The 2000s saw many positive changes in the wizarding community of Britain, such as the removal of dementors from Azkaban, massive reforms in the Ministry included the removal of pro-pureblood laws and discrimination laws against half-breeds were abolished.
- Late '90s or early '00s: Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley are married.
- Late '90s or early '00s: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are married.
- Late '90s or early '00s: George Weasley and Angelina Johnson are married.
- Late '90s or early '00s: Percy Weasley marries Audrey.
- Late '90s or early '00s: Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass are married.
- Late '90s–'10s: Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott are married.
- Late '90s–'10s: Cho Chang marries a Muggle man.
- Late '90s–'10s: Dolores Umbridge is put into Azkaban for mistreatment of Muggles.
- Late '90s–'10s: Ron Weasley leaves the Auror Office to join his brother George Weasley at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
- Late '90s–'10s: Hermione Granger transfers from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
- Early '00s: Ginny Weasley retires from playing Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies to have a family and work for the Daily Prophet.
- 2007: Harry Potter becomes head of the Auror Office.
- 2008: Hermione Granger translates the original runes of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and J. K. Rowling publishes the translated copy as a children's storybook.
- 1 September, 2009: Ted Lupin starts his education at Hogwarts.
- '00s or '10s: Luna Lovegood and Rolf Scamander are married, "rather later" than her friends' marriages.[1]
- '00s or '10s: Neville Longbottom becomes Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts
- '00s or '10s: Minerva McGonagall retires as Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Bill and Fleur Weasley's children
- 2 May, either 2000 or 2001: Victoire Weasley
- '00s or '10s: Dominique Weasley
- '00s or '10s: Louis Weasley
Percy and Audrey Weasley's children
- '00s or '10s: Molly Weasley II
- '00s or '10s: Lucy Weasley
George and Angelina Weasley's children
- '00s or '10s: Fred Weasley II
- '00s or '10s: Roxanne Weasley
Ron and Hermione Weasley's children
- c. 2006: Rose Weasley
- c. 2008: Hugo Weasley
Harry and Ginny Potter's children
- Between 2002 and 2005: James Sirius Potter
- c. 2006: Albus Severus Potter
- c. 2008: Lily Luna Potter
Draco and Astoria Malfoy's child
- c. 2006: Scorpius Malfoy
Rolf and Luna Scamander's children
- '00s or '10s: Lorcan Scamander
- '00s or '10s: Lysander Scamander
Behind the scenesEdit
- 2000s at Wikipedia
- July 2000: The novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is first published. Interest in the Harry Potter novels reaches a crescendo, particularly in North America, where overnight line-ups and near-instant sell-outs of the book receive wide media coverage, bringing Harry Potter to wide mainstream attention.
- 2001: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages are first published. These are the first official Harry Potter spin-off works by J. K. Rowling and are published for charity.
- November 2001: The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is released by Warner Bros., launching the film series. The US release is retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
- 25 October, 2002: Richard Harris, who portrayed Albus Dumbledore in the first two movie adaptations of the Harry Potter books, dies of Hodgkins' Disease.
- November 2002: The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is released.
- June 2003: After a three-year interval, the Harry Potter novel series resumes as the novel Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is first published.
- May 2004: The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is released.
- July 2005: The novel Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is first published.
- November 2005: The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is released.
- 26 June 2006: The Queen's Handbag, a specially filmed mini-adventure featuring the cast of the Harry Potter films, is shown as part of Children's Party at the Palace, a celebration of the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.
- July 2007:
- The long-awaited final novel in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is first published. Joanne Rowling signed for eight hours books of 1500 people.
- The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is released.
- 2007: The Tales of Beedle the Bard is first published in an extremely limited edition for charity.
- 2008: The film Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey, is released to theatres. Produced by David Heyman (producer of the Potter film series), the movie contains several references to the franchise, includes footage from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and a scene in which Carrey and Zooey Deschanel dress up as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, respectively.
- June 2008: A short story by J. K. Rowling, dubbed the "Harry Potter Prequel" is first published online.
- December 2008: A mass-market edition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard is released to the general public.
- June 2009: Michael Jackson (a.k.a. the King of Pop) dies. He is among the celebrities that became a fan of the Harry Potter series. He invited Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint on his last concerts tour in London, however the concerts didn't happen because of his death.
- July 2009: The film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is released.
- 2009: Less than eight years after it began, the Harry Potter film series has now become the highest-grossing film series ever, surpassing the 45-year-old, 22-film James Bond series.
Notes and referencesEdit
See alsoEdit
|21st century
|2000s - Between 2010 and 2017 - 2017 - After 2017


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The Brazilian city of Campo Grande, in Mato Grosso do Sul state, is going through one of the worst dengue epidemics in its history.
As of Saturday (January 19), the number of people reporting to hospital with dengue-like symptoms was at 600 a day.
Lucia de Fátima Leite is one of those people. On Saturday (January 19) she seemed in good spirits, but doctors were still keeping her in hospital.
"My immune system is down, so until it goes up I need to stay here (in hospital)," she said.
Campo Grande city officials have already declared a state of emergency to allow for the hire of extra hospital staff and the purchase of new medicine.
Campo Grande mayor, Aucides Bernal, paid a visit to the city's main hospital and admitted that the situation is dire.
"In the beginning of the year we registered 300 cases, it then went up to 500, and today we have more than 700 cases per day. We have registered more than 7,000 cases in these last 16 days, and the situation is expected to get worst," he added.
Health officials were also candid about the seriousness of this new dengue epidemic.
"In comparison to the previous epidemics from 2007 and 2010 there's a much greater number of cases, so in comparison to those years this is becoming the greatest (dengue) epidemic of all time, that's because there's are different types of viruses circulating around, today we have type 1, type 2 and type 4 viruses going around," said Victor de Oliveira, Coordinator of the Health in Action program.
As a precautionary measure, Campo Grande officials are fining people who neglect their backyards, especially the ones with swimming pools, and don't take proper care of their land, as these are breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus.


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"A romance of beauty and power from Italy to India . . . so delightful an homage to Renaissance magic and wonder."
–Michael Dirda, The Washington Post Book World
"This is 'history' jubilantly mixed with postmodernist magic realism."
–Joyce Carol Oates, The New York Review of Books
"A baroque whirlwind of a narrative . . . [Rushdie helps] us escape from the present into a dreamlike past that ultimately makes us more aware of the dangers and illusions of our everyday lives."
–Alan Cheuse, Chicago Tribune
"Brilliant . . . Rushdie's sumptuous mixture of history and fable is magnificent."
–Ursula K. Le Guin, The Guardian (London)
"For Rushdie, as for the artists he writes about, the pen is a magician's wand. . . . One of his best [novels]."
–John Sutherland, Financial Times
"[A] prodigious fever dream of a book."
–Lisa Shea, Elle
"Beyond its magical razzle-dazzle lays a work of steely contemporary resonance, rich in slyly metafictional allusions."
–Hephzibah Anderson, Bloomberg News


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The Olympic flame in Sochi has become a selfie hotspot
Taking a self-portrait with a cellphone camera has become wildly popular, and the opportunity do it with one of the most iconic Olympic symbols in the background is proving to be one of the biggest attractions at the Sochi Games.
In fact, so many people are doing it upon entering Olympic Park that a bit of a competition has broken out, with fans going for unique poses to set themselves apart from the flood of flame selfies on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
U.S. & World
A state-run children's ballet ensemble from the nearby city of Rostov-on-Don broke into a choreographed dance when Swan Lake came over the loudspeakers, while their instructor took pictures with the flame just behind them.
"We're seeing it for the first time," Yulya Podgurskaya says. "It's very beautiful."
For some Russians, it's become a can't-miss chance to express some patriotism and revel in having the biggest sporting event in the world in their backyard.
Philip Shustov went one step further, putting his 10-year-old son back in Moscow on FaceTime on his iPhone to let him see the flame.
Shustov says the flame is the defining symbol "of the games, of New Russia. I don't remember previous Olympic Games because I was only 3 years old. Now it's history here in Russia."
Russia is hosting the Olympics for the first time since the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.


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Much like OMA's daring design scheme for the CCTV Headquarters building, China's latest skyscraper, Guanghzou Circle, is meant to break away from the traditional skyscraper design ethos of the west—and it does so in dramatic fashion.
The 452-foot-tall, 914,000-sf building takes the shape of a giant doughnut, or more accurately described, a super-sized ribbon spool, with the floor space housed in a series of boxes suspended between two massive "wheels."
The project's architect, Milan-based Joseph di Pasquale Architect, drew inspiration from China's numerological tradition of feng shui, namely the jade bi-disk, which served as the royal symbol of the ancient Chinese dynasty that reigned in the area some 2,000 years ago. The architect describes the form as "an 'urban logo' that works as a reference in the panorama of the city, just as the characters are used instead of the alphabet in Chinese writing."
The interior houses office space and a trading floor for the Guangdong Plastics Exchange, the country's largest plastics trading floor, where some £30 billion worth of plastic raw materials and goods are traded annually, according to Sky News.


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As shown below, and forgive the hyperbole, much more than they sound the same all Linkin Park songs look the same. And while it's easy to criticize the band for their overuse of a formula that's by now cliche, the similarity between their tracks at least holds a lesson on the importance of song arrangement in pop music production.
The Linkin Park Formula
The standard Linkin Park structure looks like this:
- Quiet intro: Each song has a relatively quiet two-measure intro.
- The instrumental kicker: The full band come in together on the down-beat, and play two or four high energy measures, usually instrumental.
- Quiet verse: The song eases off for a verse or two, heightening the dynamic contrast between the song's sections.
- Heavy chorus: Usually the same chords established in the kicker, with Chester screaming over top for added emotion.
Here's how it "looks" in practice. Each image below shows the audio level in (roughly) the first 90 seconds of a Linkin Park song. Note that I adjusted the tempo of a few tracks for better visual alignment:


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It can't be because of other distractions. He's back from China, he's signed or vetoed every bill on his desk, and the belated budget deal is all but done. Still, Arnold Schwarzenegger has not weighed in on the governor's race, or just about any other race for elective office. The giant who came in first among 145 candidates in the recall election of 2003 and cruised to re-election in 2006 has been a political mouse when it comes to endorsing his successor. Why, and what does it mean?
Both questions are tough to answer. As to why, the most logical answer is that Schwarzenegger is not committed to either candidate. That makes sense with respect to Democrat Jerry Brown. After all, why would Arnold endorse a Democrat?
But Meg Whitman? A fellow "moderate" Republican? Why has Arnold not weighed in on what would seem to be a natural endorsement?
Two possibilities come to mind. First, it may be that Schwarzenegger has issues with Whitman, particularly with respect to their differences on AN 32 and Proposition 23. Schwarzenegger sees AB 32 as a job creator, while Whitman sees AB32 as a job killer, which is why it was so hard for Whitman to take a position on Proposition 23.
Second, it may be that Whitman has asked Schwarzenegger to stay out. That might seem odd until you see that Schwarzenegger's public approval now ranks with that of Gray Davis immediately before his demise. From Whitman's point of view, why ask for an endorsement from the captain of the Titanic when the ship is already below sea level?
Either way, Schwarzenegger's lack of involvement in the campaign may be insignificant except for the play of one group--moderates. Whatever his antipathy from Democrats and conservative Republicans, Schwarzenegger still has cache with moderates, and it's moderates who may tip the balance in the election.
Still, no Arnold.
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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PLEASANTON — Gap is scouting for offices in Pleasanton so it can shift hundreds of information technology employees from San Francisco to the East Bay, this newspaper has learned.
The office operations of the retailer are running out of space in San Francisco, according to Edie Kissko, a spokeswoman for Gap, whose retail brands include namesake The Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy.
"We are exploring additional satellite space within the Bay Area for Gap Inc. Information Technology staff expansion," Kissko said in an email response to this newspaper's inquiry about the retailer's hunt for space. She said the move would initially involve 200 to 300 employees.
San Francisco-based Gap's hunt for space is focused on Pleasanton, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the retailer's intentions. The retailer's headquarters are expected to remain where they are.
"We are committed to our presence in the city of San Francisco," Kissko said.
The company intends to occupy all or a portion of a building in the California Center office complex on the south side of Interstate 580 between Santa Rita Road and Hacienda Drive, three sources said.
"Anytime you have a company of this size moving operations to Pleasanton, that bodes very well for the market," said Ted Helgans, a senior managing partner with Colliers International, a commercial realty brokerage.
The building, located at 4450 Rosewood Drive, is about 136,000 square feet in size and is vacant. It could accommodate 500 to 600 employees. It wasn't clear whether Gap would fill the entire building at some point, the sources said.
"Social media companies and other tech companies are competing for space in San Francisco," said Edward Del Beccaro, managing director with Transwestern Real Estate. "So other companies have to consider whether to renew their leases in San Francisco or look for other locations."
With the expansions by firms such as Twitter, Zynga and others, the reduction of available offices has caused rents to jump in San Francisco.
"You will see more companies looking to do what Gap did in order to control their rental costs and get more space," Del Beccaro said. "You see these cycles from time to time. When rents get too expensive in San Francisco, companies look to the East Bay to relocate. I expect more companies to follow suit."
In decades past, Chevron, Pacific Bell and AT&T pulled major operations out of San Francisco and shifted them to cities such as Pleasanton and San Ramon.
In the past year or two, however, Pleasanton has suffered from departures by high-profile firms. Polycom moved its headquarters and entire operation to San Jose, Robert Half shifted regional offices to San Ramon and Ross Stores struck a deal to relocate its headquarters to Dublin.
"It would be great for Gap to pick a site in Pleasanton," said Pamela Ott, Pleasanton's economic development director. "We also have attracted a large expansion by Clorox. We hope this will lead to more relocations to our area."
Contact George Avalos at 925-977-8477. Follow him at Twitter.com/george_avalos.