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Cornish Boy (Pirate) is having some consistent results this season at BE 90 including a 2nd place at BCA.
HOORAY! Cornish Boy has qaulified for the Badminton Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships.
What a great way to end the season a win at Novice with Sky Crest (Sky). A big thank you to Sky Crest's owner Alex for all her support over the last few years, Sky is now going to retire from British Eventing and will now have fun competing with Alex in Dressage competitions. Good luck to them both.
« go back to news


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Great KIDS offers training on the topics below, as well as other youth related topics, throughout the year.
See our EVENTS page for upcoming dates open to the community.
Contact us today to set up a FREE training for your agency, organization, church, neighborhood association or parent group on one of the following topics:
40 Developmental Assets
Learn about the 40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS, as defined by the Search Institute, and ways to build ASSETS in children and adolescents. ASSETS are the positive building blocks that young people need to grow up to be healthy, caring, responsible adults. More is better! The more ASSETS young people have, the more likely they are to engage in positive behaviors and less likely to engage in "risky" behaviors. Learn how to intentionally build ASSETS in kids.
Say Yes to No—Teaching Kids Self-Discipline
Research indicates a strong link between self-discipline and success in life. But what does self-discipline look like and how do we teach it? Based on the book "No: Why Kids of All Ages Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It," this class will address setting boundaries and expectations for children and using "NO" to build self-discipline.
Other training opportunities:
Mental Health Training Series
The Mental Health Training Series is a luncheon series held five times per year at the Allen County Public Library as a part of the Mental Health Specialty Track of Allen Superior Court. The training series, a collaboration between Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES and Allen Superior Court, Family Relations Division, is offered free of charge and is funded in part by the Court Improvement Project. These trainings are open to professionals and volunteers working with children and families involved in the court system.
Youth, Family and Community Development Series
Great KIDS offers trainings throughout the year on a variety of youth related topics. Registration is open to the community and is usually free.
Annual Conference on Youth
The flagship training for Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES is the Annual Conference on Youth. The Annual Conference on Youth emerged from Allen Superior Court, Family Relations Division's desire to ensure that all agencies working with children and families operated with the same strengths-based philosophy the court espoused.
In 1989, the Court offered its first Annual Conference on Youth on IPFW's campus. Since then, the Conference has grown to over 800 participants, and is currently held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. This yearly training, sponsored in part by the Foellinger Foundation, brings in top professionals in the field of youth and family services to train area workers on strengths-based practices.

subset: commoncrawl


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The next day, we all had a very special date at my friend Erin's farm. Erin had a big bonfire and barbecue, and it was a great time. The weather was perfect! It was also a milestone day for the Taylor family...Sam and Sloane's very first pony ride. I even got John on a horse, for the first time in 30 years. :)
It was a pretty perfect weekend, and what I hope was a pretty memorable birthday for John.
One boot Sloane.
Aunt Terri and Sloane
Sam and John on Gordo...Sam was not impressed, per usual. :)
Look! It's an urban cowboy!
Sweet Sam, enjoying the stock tank with the goldfish in it. A pasture full of ponies to ride, and my kid wants to play with the fish. Typical.
Me taking Sloane on her first pony ride. She loved it! There will be many more to come.


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Abu Dhabi developers eyeing new pricing strategy | Trade Arabia
The UAE's prominent real estate developers, particularly those based in the capital, are gearing up to create and unveil new pricing strategies for investors at the upcoming industry expo Cityscape Abu Dhabi.
A leading regional event for the real estate industry, Cityscape Abu Dhabi will be held from April 17 to 19 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
New reports on the Abu Dhabi and UAE real estate market have cited a swathe of developers introducing more attractive payment plans in light of current market conditions, said industry experts.
Research heavyweights JLL and Cluttons have both reported that 2018 will likely witness a new wave of attractive off-plan pricing deals as developers work harder for investment.
Read complete article here:


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Call for Proposals and the Nomination of Academic Directors for the 2020 W G Hart Legal Workshop
31st October 2018
The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is seeking proposals and Academic Directors for the 2020 W G Hart Legal Workshop from law schools across the UK.
The W G Hart Legal Workshops are directed towards the advancement of legal education at the academic stage. The Institute hosts the Workshops on behalf of the University of London and invites applications to provide the academic leadership of the 2020 workshop; it will particularly welcome proposals that continue the Workshop's long tradition of breaking new ground.
The Workshop is held at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies at the end of June each year.
For further information on the 2020 workshop terms of reference and responsibilities of the workshop directors can be found here.


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Young drivers who display risky behaviour behind the wheel are more likely to experience mental health problems than those who drive more safely, a study has found.
Australian researchers gave questionnaires to 761 young drivers in order to assess their driving behaviour and levels of psychological distress.
Publishing their findings in the journal Injury Prevention, the study authors revealed that risky behaviour - such as speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone behind the wheel - was associated with psychological distress and anxiety.
Overall, 8.5 per cent of increased risky driving behaviour was attributed to psychological distress.
The researchers claimed: 'Young people presenting to medical and mental health professionals could be screened for current psychological distress, particularly if they have incurred injury through risky behaviour.'
They also suggested that youngsters who are found to be suffering from mental health problems could be targeted with measures to improve their road safety.
According to road safety charity Brake, one in five new drivers crashes within six months of passing their test.
Furthermore, one in three drivers who die behind the wheel are aged 25 or under, despite the fact that this age group accounts for just one in eight licence holders.


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Online Course for Conscious Prenup Prep
For California couples who want to enter the Prenup process prepared and informed
Most couples are surprised to find out that for a Prenup to be enforceable, it has to be an engaged process over a period of time. A Prenup is not just a document. And, the less prepared you are for that process, generally, the more it will cost.
By taking the Prenups with Heart Course, you can save time, money and heartache - and you can even have fun!
This is the first time we were able to have a conversation about money and have it turn out productive...and it wasn't even that hard. And, this course saved us time and money with our professionals - we came in way prepared! -SF Client
We have distilled the most essential information and useful skills from years of live couples workshops into bite-sized videos and activities which you can watch from the comfort of your own home at your own pace.
The Prenups with Heart Course:
• demystifies the prenup process, so you can be an educated consumer
• teaches you the basics of California community property law, so you can be focused in your work with your attorney
• supports you in gaining clarity about your financial styles, so you can have your needs met
• helps you communicate with your partner with ease and joy, so you can navigate the prenup process and your life together from a place of strength and heart
More than 5 hours of Prenup Prep and Relationship Strengthening Videos!
Yes, I want to save on my prenup!
Our free intro course will show you how to save time, money and heartache...and so much more.
Sparkles & Spreadsheets?


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TW: islamophobia, sexism, heterosexism
In case you missed it, part of the response to the on-going anti-abortion legislative shenanigans in Texas was one protester searching to find a visual vocabulary for how the new policies in Texas impacted her, and dressing herself like this:
(A protester dressed in a burqa while holding the accessories of a beauty contest winner, from here.)
In a word, she donned a mock burqa. Another protester held up a sign conflating these new measures with Islamic sharia law, apparently unaware that sharia law permits abortion in many cases and is typically interpreted as merely disapproving of (not banning) abortion in other cases. That sharia and burqas were the first words that protesters grasped in trying to describe the violence that Texas' SB5 and subsequent bills enacted on the people of Texas shouldn't come as much of a surprise – that's become a common part of political language in the United States.
Less than two weeks previously, former NOM spokesperson Maggie Gallagher discussed the fact that Justice Kennedy found arguments against striking down the Defense of Marriage Act unconvincing as a "fatwa" against supporters of it. A fatwa is a declared opinion from an Islamic scholar, which in systems of sharia law may be legally binding. For Kennedy's legally relevant decision to support the liberal justices' opinion to be considered a "fatwa", you must technically consider him to be as much as moral and religious figure as a political one, and at that an Islamic one.
More or less, this is an established part of how people in the United States conduct their political trash talk – by inflating or explaining the gravity of an act or decision by their opposition in specifically Islamic terms. Often, these are even radically misapplied concepts, but they're still a part of the vernacular. This is particularly common in discussing actions that are, or a person wants to be considered to be, violent. It's become positively colloquial to refer to centers of fanatic reverence for any particular idea or person as "Meccas", showing how these more political uses are built on and reinforce popular ideas of what Islam is like.
Again, it's always an image of Muslims that frames them as unjust, unreasonable, and even openly hostile. This sort of language, common in discussions that have nothing to actually do with Islam, is rooted in islamophobic ideals. In short, an immovable part of how many people in the US think about themselves and their society is based in opposition to their understanding of who Muslims are and what they believe. It's become an essential part of our cultural conception of ourselves, as an antithesis to Islam.


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I get a lot of questions about what I eat. I work full time like most of you and I understand that it can seem impossible to maintain this lifestyle with a break-room of donuts, happy hours, office pizza parties and no time or energy left at the end of the day to cook or prepare lunches for tomorrow. I have found that the key to success is planning ahead, feeding your body whole satisfying foods throughout the day, and keeping some snacks and teas on hand for when temptation strikes. Practicing these points everyday provides you with the necessary nutrition to curb cravings, the support of healthy snacks and drinks to turn to in moments of weakness, and ultimately the ability to end your day feeling good from the inside out. This does not mean you have to eat the same things everyday - far from it. Unless I'm on a certain "kick", I rarely eat the exact same meal two days in a row. Even my greenks change day to day. To give you a detailed view of what I eat, here is my menu from yesterday:
First Thing | Lemon Water
Every morning I drink a glass of warm lemon water. I started doing this when I began Dr. Alexander Junger's CLEAN Program and the habit stuck. The reason for starting your day with this is that lemon juice is naturally and powerfully detoxifying, especially when introduced to your system, more specifically your liver, on an empty stomach. The lemon juice triggers detoxification in the liver which in turn begins clearing the junk that builds up in your digestive tract. Drinking lemon water each morning has also been know to cause a decrease or even elimination of cravings throughout the day. Get drinking!
After sipping my lemon water while watching the weather and traffic report, I chop up my fruits and veggies for my greenk (two items down). I set out my tea bags, lunch and snacks. Then, I go get dressed and ready for the day.
On My Way to Work | Tea
Before heading out the door, I boil water and prepare a cup of tea each for Jon and me. Jon is currently liking Allegro Organic Indian Chai with some raw honey. While I love that tea I am currently clearing my system of caffeine (almost one month strong now WOO!!), so I prefer Traditional Medicinal's Organic Roasted Dandelion Root or Allegro Organic Happy Tummy Tea (I love the minty refreshing taste of this tea so much I drink it whether I have an upset stomach or not).
Another habit I picked up during my time doing the CLEAN program was adhering to the "twelve-hour window". According to Dr. Junger and many other experts in this field, it takes about 8 hours from your final meal of the day for digestion to complete. After those 8 hours, your body is notified to enter detox mode. You want to allow your body 4 hours to get a really great detox going. This is so important! If you don't wait 12 hours from your last meal before consuming your first meal the following day, you haven't let your body clean house. That means before you even start your day, your body is already overwhelmed and playing catch up. After weeks or months or a lifetime of toxic overwhelm, your body is going to fight back or give up - when that happens, illness, cancer, diabetes, digestive discomfort and overall poor health take reign. You don't want that. So, if you finish dinner at 8:00PM, don't eat breakfast until 8:00AM the next day. Too easy!
Breakfast | GREENK
When I get to work I get my laptop hooked up to my monitor, fill my water glass and usualy after checking emails, I enjoy my greenk! For a more detailed look at why I drink a greenk every single day see this post here. This particular day I made a double batch and left one in the fridge for Jon. I used organic baby spinach, celery, cilantro, kiwi, chia seed and pink lady apple. Starting the workday off with a giant greenk gives me a steady stream of energy, gets my body fueled up with an intense helping of nutrients and keeps me satisfied. You can find a list of my favorite greenk recipes here.
I've been on a BIG soup kick lately! So much so that some mornings I have been replacing my greenk with a green soup! Some mornings I wake up and all I can think about is how delicious that pea soup was that I whipped up before bed last night. Plus, I get really cold in my office and sometimes I just prefer starting my day with something warm. It might seem strange to you that I would crave veggies first thing in the morning, but you'll find that as you journey further along in organic life your relationship with food becomes completely recolored, and you desire much different things. So, even though I didn't choose soup this particular day, I did start my morning today with some Spicy Pea and Kale Soup and wanted to share my recipe with all of you:
- 1/2 bag frozen organic peas
- 3 Cups Kale, washed, ribs removed
- 1 avocado
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 small yellow onion
- 1 Tbsp Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce (or half of a small cayenne pepper, if I have one on hand)
- 1 Tsp Chili Powder
- Juice from 1 Lime
- Organic Chicken Stock or Vegetable Stock (use to your desired thickness)
- 1/2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
- Saute onion and garlic in coconut oil, seasoned with salt & pepper. While they cook up, steam the kale and peas together. Once both have cooled a bit, add to blender with remaining ingredients & blend-baby-blend! I like to sprinkle some crushed red pepper over top. Sometimes I serve with 2 Suzie's Thin Cakes, or a couple Mary's Gone Sticks & Twigs pretzels crushed overtop. SO good!
Snack | Coconut + Almond Butter + Raisin + Crudités
So, as I mentioned at the start of this post, one of my keys to success is having satisfying organic snacks on hand. When I'm traveling in the car I always have some homemade trail mix or veggies with me. At work though, I am a big fan of this simple treat: Raw Almond Butter + Unsweetened Coconut + Organic Seedless Raisings served with Celery and Carrots for dipping. I almost always have some version of this "dip" with me. Sometimes I will swap out the coconut for some cacao powder or chop up some dates instead of the raisins. When I need a little salty crunch I even swap the carrots or the celery (not both, leave one of the veggies!) for some gluten free pretzels. With a sweet and savory snack like this, you never feed deprived - ever! You don't even care about the stale donuts because you have healthy fats from the almond butter, sweet raisins and fresh coconut and cacao powder to indulge in!
Lunch | Arugula + Asparagus + Wild Salmon
Again, I'm on a really BIG soup kick right now. If I'm not eating it for lunch, you can bet I'm eating it at lunch time. However, this particular day I had beautiful wild alaskan salmon from Jon's Alaskan relatives, marinated in my soy lime marinade and grilled asparagus all leftover in the fridge. So, over a bed of arugula they went with a squeeze of lime juice and some salt and pepper and there was lunch! Too easy. Too yummy (if there is such a thing).
Soy Lime Marinade
- 1 large fillet of wild salmon (our was alaskan sockeye)
- 1/4 cup Bragg's liquid aminos (you can use soy sauce, if you're eating soy but be sure it is Organic / GMO-Free)
- Juice of 1 lime
- Freshly grated ginger
- 1 Clove of garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp raw honey
- Bring everything but the salmon to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Once cool, marinate salmon in shallow dish for an hour or two (or over night). Bake at 425* for 20 minutes.
*I'm sorry I don't have a photo - next time I make it (which will probably be soon!) I will upload one!
Snack | Grapefruit
I don't always snack in the afternoon. It really depends on how I was able to space my meals, whether or not I got good fats and proteins at lunch or breakfast, and just my appetite that day. Again, for this reason, since snacking is not a necessary part of my eating plan, but is, instead, a common occurrence, I like to keep myself stocked with good choices. This day I had a nice large organic red grapefruit and I enjoyed it around 3:30PM. I think I also had a few raw walnuts (I can't remember!). Especially on days when I am working out immediately after work, I like to get a little extra fuel in before the end of the workday. A nice combo of raw, low-glycemic fruit or vegetable and some protein (nuts, seeds, tuna) gives me the perfect amount of energy to get the most out of my workout (and the rest of my workday).
Dinner | Bacon Squash Frittata + Sweet Potato Pancakes + Fresh Fruit
For dinner, Jon and I had an awesome take on a breakfast favorite: Bacon, Eggs and Hash Browns! Seriously!! When we were at the farm this weekend, Jon was thrilled to find local organic pastured bacon. I knew he was probably dying to try it out so I incorporated it into a summer squash frittata, prepared with diced onions, tomatoes and pastured eggs. I wanted to recreate hash-browns in a body-friendlier way. At first I thought to make my grain-free zucchini cakes, but since the base of the frittata was summer squash, I decided to try it out with some organic sweet potatoes we had also picked up at the farm. Paired with some fresh kiwi and blueberries, it really hit the spot for both of us!
Cook bacon in large skillet. Remove when crispy and place on paper towel lined plate (to soak up grease and leave extra crisp). While the bacon cooks, combine potato pancake ingredients in mixing bowl, use your hands to really get in there and make sure all of the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout. Once you've removed the bacon, leave grease in pan over medium heat. Form small patties with your hands and place sweet potato mixture into the bacon fat. Bacon fat is a natural and stable cooking fat. Unlike olive oil or vegetable oil which can ruin over a certain temperature, bacon fat is a stable, pasture-animal-based cooking fat perfect for these little cakes. If you just can't get down with cooking with bacon fat, use coconut oil. Cook the cakes 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove and place on paper towel lined plate.| Bacon Squash Frittata
- 1/2 large summer squash
- 4 slices pastured nitrite/nitrate-free bacon
- 1/2 medium tomato
- 1/4 small yellow onion
- 4 pastured eggs
- 1/2 Tbsp pastured butter
| Sweet Potato Pancake
- 2 cups grated sweet potato
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp ground flax seed
- 2 Tbsp coconut flour
- salt & pepper
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped or grated yellow onion
- sprinkling of cinnamon
| Instructions
Drinks | Water & Tea
I drink large glasses of water and cups of tea all day long. I used to drink a lot of coffee but recently quit cold turkey. If you're still drinking coffee, see my recommendation here. It is extremely important for detoxification that you flush your system regularly. If you're not peeing every hour - get drinking! Here are some of my favorite teas (all organic):
- Traditional Medicinal's Roasted Dandelion Root
- Yogi Green Tea
- Allegro Indian Chai
- Allegro Happy Tummy
- Allegro Feel Like Zeus
- Traditional Medicinal's Ginger
- Yogi Comforting Chamomile
- Yogi Cinnamon Vanilla Healthy Skin (I can't speak to the skin benefits but it is mighty yummy! For clear skin, I recommend trying an elimination diet, drinking lots of water and eating lots of veggies. But again, this tea is tasty.)
I hope this gives you a good idea of the kinds of meals I prepare for myself. I do not follow vegetarian, vegan, paleo, low-carb, low-fat or any other particular "diet". I focus on eating whole raw organic fruits and vegetables, sustainably raised meats and marine animals, raw grass fed dairy and some organic sprouted grains, legumes, nuts, seeds etc. I listen to my body. What works for me may not work for you on a nutrient to nutrient basis. However, if you take anything from my sharing my meals with you, I hope it's that IT IS POSSIBLE. It is possible to live an organic lifestyle amidst an extremely inorganic world, amidst stressful and tempting environments and despite what may seem like days without enough hours in them. I will try to do this more often, to provide you with lots of examples and inspiration for your own meal plans! If you have any questions at all about the recipe, please leave them in the comment section below or over on my Facebook Page and I will answer them all!
Keep it Real,


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Liah is a plump 20 year old high school drop out with a lot of experience as far as sex goes. She normally likes to sell her ass to old perverted men for money. And now she's graduated to fucking old perverted fuckers on camera….LOL This girl was another fucking freak! She is into being pissed on, messy enemas, you name it. Most of the stuff she does, we can't release for mail order for legal reasons because it was just to fucking raunchy. A real kinky chic this girl. But I might let it rip in the members area when I finish that part of the site. But this is a very, very nasty girl to say the least, and she gets turned out admirably in this video. She has a beautiful little hair bush and a perfectly plump ass with some cute little freckles on her cheeks. I love her ass.
File Name : LeahFT18-DD.mp4
File Size : 1351.12 MB
Resolution : 1920×1080
Duration : 00:43:30
Download via Uploaded


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Updated May 23, 2007
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I've been having one of those weeks where I feel like I'm spending entirely too much money. I'm eating out, buying stuff I don't need and have to spring for my biannual hair appointment. And as such, I started trying to save money in the weirdest ways. Like refusing to buy meat because it's just too darn expensive. Instead, I looked into my cupboards to whip up a low-cost taco - and found red lentils. These guys are a protein-rich meat replacement for vegetarians...and a component of fat-rich Indian food for me. Nonetheless, I decided to give them a shot in a taco.
Taking inspiration from the refried bean/rice pairing of a burrito, I mixed the lentils with basmati rice (though any rice you have will do) and added a mix of vegetables and spices. The mix came out spicy and flavourful, but the toppings are what really made the lentils sing. A salty cheese and tart crema play off the lentils perfectly, while the avocado and cilantro round out the team. Not bad for a new recipe!
Red Lentil Taco Recipe
Serves: 20 tacos Prep Time: 30 min Cook Time: 30 min
1 cup red lentils
1/4 cup white rice
1 jalapeno
1/2 tomato
1/2 onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp Mexican oregano
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Corn tortillas
Cotija or feta cheese
Prep It
Wash the lentils in water, until the water runs clear. Place in an uncovered pot with 3 cups of water and 1/2 tsp of salt. Bring to a boil for 15-20 minutes. Set aside. Cook rice as per packaging. Set aside.
Cook It
Heat oil in a skillet on medium high. Dice the onion, garlic, jalapeno and tomato. Add onions to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, before adding garlic and cooking for another 5 minutes. Add the lentils, rice, jalapeno, tomato and all the dry ingredients - plus a 1/2 cup of water. Mix well and continue stirring intermittently until water has evaporated, about 15 minutes.
Serve It
Place a heaping spoonful into a warm corn tortilla. Top with cilantro, diced avocado, cheese and crema.


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'Chawal' stalls doing brisk business in Chandigarh
From coaching institute students to office workers and government employees – a diverse crowd mills around in Sector 34, one of the city's two downtown areas. The day has just begun and the sun is already shining bright.chandigarh Updated: Jun 01, 2015 10:07 IST
Hindustan Times
From coaching institute students to office workers and government employees – a diverse crowd mills around in Sector 34, one of the city's two downtown areas.
The day has just begun and the sun is already shining bright.
Suddenly there is frenzied commotion in one corner of the office blocks.
On the side of a parking lot a man has just put up two benches under a tree's shadows to set up his own little "eatery".
And, judging by the throng of people soon descending on his open air stall, it's evident his arrival has been anxiously awaited.
From 'manchurian chawal' and 'rajmah chawal' to 'chana chawal'' and 'kadhi chawal' – the orders pour in, with something for almost everybody.
Yash Kumar, 37, is one among hundreds of 'chawal walas' in the city who offer a quick and inexpensive bite.
Both taste and price are the USP for him and many others who serve thousands of hungry people every day.
A primary school dropout, Kumar doesn't even remember when he joined his father, who was offering just 'dal-roti' at the time at his stall in Sector 22.
About a decade back when the Inter State Bus Terminal was moved from Sector 17 to 43 after stalls offering a quick meal gradually began going out of favour.
Kumar then shifted to Sector 34 and the change of location brought a change in clientele too.
He has since "reinvented" his "business" by introducing 'manchurian chawal' and other popular dishes.
"Here we found a large number of youngsters, so we thought manchurian would be a good option and it turned out to be a hit," he says.
On a typical day people from all walks of life, from car drivers, office goers, students and even some well-heeled women can be seen lining up at Kumar's stall. Hoshiar Singh, a chauffeur, often takes his lunch there.
He asks to be served first. "Madam has to leave for a meeting and I need to be there in five minutes," he tells Kumar.
Meanwhile, 5 km away in Sector 17, Shyam Lal, 38, arrives near the front of the Chuttani Medical Centre at 11 am sharp as he has been doing for the past 17 years.
The next hour will be spent packing rice, 'rajmah' and 'kadhi' in separate packets to deliver them to open air stalls during the peak hour that starts around 12.30 pm.
Lal came to the city in 1997 and a year later he took up this "business'.
He and his wife start cooking at five in the morning and prepare about 100 lunches a day. Keeping it spicy and clean is his mantra.
"Business is fairly good. Most of the time I'm able to sell all the meals," he says.
First Published: Jun 01, 2015 08:54 IST


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DOE PHEV Grant
June 15, 2008
UMTRI to participate in $30-million PHEV grant
UMTRI will participate in a U.S. Department of Energy grant to study plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The project will test PHEV fleets and improve battery technologies.
The $30-million DOE grant consists of three projects awarded to General Motors (teamed with UMTRI), Ford, and General Electric. Over three years, the partners will test PHEV fleets and improve mass production of PHEV battery technologies. Each project will employ up to 80 vehicles, each with an all electric range (AER) of a minimum of 10 miles. The project is broken into three 12-month cycles, where vehicles introduced in each cycle will be comprised of more advanced PHEV technology than those in the previous cycle. The long-range goal for AER is 40 miles.
General Motors is working with UMTRI, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to enhance lithium-ion battery packs, charging systems, powertrain development, and vehicle integration. GM will deploy a plug-in test fleet as part of the project. Following development, the PHEVs will be deployed over a three-year period into a demonstration fleet in three regions of the U.S.
UMTRI's primary role for this project is to conduct consumer behavior surveys associated with the project as applied to participating vehicle operators. Along with routine background surveys on driver gender, profession, income level, education level, driving patterns, etc., survey work will also be devoted to pre- and post-participation surveys regarding expectations and experience. There is particular interest in perceptions of vehicle performance, charging frequency and state of charge upon charging initiation, fuel stations stops, mileage, cost savings, and other metrics. The project will start in early 2009.
Ford is working with Southern California Edison and Johnson Controls-Saft in a project to identify a pathway that accelerates mass production of PHEVs.
General Electric is working with Chrysler to build plug-in vehicles that contain an innovative dual-battery energy storage system capable of 40 miles accumulated electric driving range.
For more information, read the DOE press release.
For details on another PHEV grant that UMTRI won through DTE Energy, click here.


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Album Review: Black Label Society – "Grimmest Hits"
Now entering their twentieth year as a band, albeit with numerous different band members over that time, Black Label Society have returned with their newest album, Grimmest Hits. Contrary to the title, this is not a compilation of BLS's most beloved tracks from over the years, but a whole new album of fresh material.
Grimmest Hits is very much what you might expect from a Black Label Society album; it has big riffs, big solos and melodic vocals that give way to screams at regular intervals. The bass-heavy intro of opening track Trampled Down Below gives way to a massive riff, and a typical BLS chorus. This theme continues with Seasons of the Father, which features about as close to a sing-a-long chorus as BLS will likely ever do. The Betrayal again features a huge riff, and an epic Zakk Wylde solo.
However, Grimmest Hits also features a number of surprises. All That Once Shined has a more bluesy quality to it, with a very 80s-style chorus and The Only Words goes a step further with a very country-esque feel verging on a straight ballad. This struck me as unusual, but I can't say it wasn't a welcome distraction from the expected BLS sound. Interestingly, there are even more melodic soulful elements to later songs, including The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away which is a very surprising, middle of the road ballad that sounds vaguely like a bad Lynyrd Skynrd impression, while album closer Nothing Left to Say is actually quite a mellow, reflective affair, it still sounds Black Label Society but it certainly showcases a bit more of Wylde's vocal range. Of course there are also tracks which are stone cold classics, like Illusions of Peace which has an intense, fast riff that is classic Zakk Wylde. Finally, Bury Your Sorrow is fairly typical fare for BLS, but does verge into almost stoner rock territory, which is no bad thing in my book.
The one thing that hangs over Grimmest Hits for me is the Ozzy Osbourne factor. So much of this album, and Black Label Society's work has many, many echoes of late 80s/early 90s Ozzy, and at times they sound like Ozzy-lite. Given Zakk Wylde's close association with Osbourne it shouldn't come as a surprise, but it does mean that at times it is hard to judge Black Label Society without that notion creeping into things. I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely impacts the ability of the band to have a defined identity or a completely unique sound.
All in all, Grimmest Hits is a fine album, if a little less than spectacular. This is very much a Black Label Society album, and for fans of the band it shouldn't disappoint, but I can't see it being a memorable album when people discuss BLS in the future.


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Fresh off the press…
The Fashion Ambassador has released it's newest post "HUMAN ART," some of which was inspired by Team Frida Kahlo's self portrait. The dynamic duo, Casanova Demonista & Ana Stone highlighted 3 of the most prominent locales in New York City. Check out the photos below.
Want to live lavishly? Rent any of our available units today. [Click here]
Be sure to follow The Fashion Ambassador blog and connect with them on Facebook.
Thank you for your love, laughs and patronage.
Joi Price
Chief Visionary Officer & Creator of New York City and Fashion Feed of SL
www.joiprice.com | Facebook.com/joiprice
www.newyorkcitysl.com | Facebook.com/newyorkcitysl
www.fashionfeedofsl.com | Facebook.com/fashionfeedofsl


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Rock'n'roll, cafe racer, brat style, custom culture, pin-up girls, tattoos, hot rods.
Sunday, 2 November 2014
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- Home
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- Ultimate Beginner Series: The DJ's Guide to Scratching
Ultimate Beginner Series: The DJ's Guide to Scratching
Product Description
This edition to the "Ultimate Beginner Series" shows today's DJ the essential scratch moves to help them polish up their scratching routine. The instructor, the infamous P-Love, guides you through several turntable tips to keep their dance mix in the groove. For anyone who has ever wanted to play their turntable in a band, P-Love shows the way through his soulful, musical and highly imaginative sounds and instruction. Whether for a beginner, intermediate or experienced dance DJ, this video has something for everyone. ©2000. VHS Video.


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Fly from Lebanon to NY or Boston At Reduced Fares
If you are looking to travel to Boston or NY for the holidays, Cape Air at Lebanon Airport has a deal for you. For the month of December 2016, Cape Air has lowered their fares and is offering flights to Boston from just $29 each way, and to White Plains New York from just $69 each way. As with regular fares to New York, complimentary car service will take you from Cape Air's station in White Plains to the heart of Manhattan at 35th Street and 8th Avenue.
Head to each destination to celebrate the holidays or fly someone home to celebrate with you. Booking dates are December 6 – December 30, 2016 for travel between December 7 – December 31, 2016
For more information or to book your flight online, please visit:
https://www.capeair.com/travel/deals/index.html or call 800-227-3247
Work to Start on Sunapee Bridge Dec. 15
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) announces bridge repairs are scheduled to begin Thursday, December 15, 2016 on the NH Route 103B bridge over Sucker Brook in Sunapee.
This bridge deck repair project is expected to take three and a half months to complete and will require single lane alternating traffic controlled by signs.
Surveys May Be Required for Some New London Building Permits
If you are applying for a building permit in New London, you may need to submit a survey. The New London Select Board recently voted to require surveys to be submitted with some applications. Instances where a survey by NH licensed surveyor are required when the property owner request changes in or near site features like wetland, streams or if the property is in any of the town's Overlay Zoning Districts. The overlay districts include Shoreland, Floodplain, Wetland, Streams conservation, Floodplain, Steep Slope, or other areas that serve to protect natural resources. Also, if the property's survey is over 10 years old the applicant must affirm in writing there are grounds to believe the survey is reliable. Tax maps should not be relied on to prepare the plot plan for application of building permits. For more information on this new rule contact the Planning and Zoning Office at 526-4821 ext. 20.
Claremont's Pick for City Manager
Claremont may have a new city manager. The Claremont City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday night to authorize Municipal Resources Inc (MRI) to make a conditional offer of employment for the position to David Johnston of Maple Valley WA. The conditional offer is based upon a successful negotiation of an employment agreement and background investigation. Johnston served as City manager of Maple Valley, WA, from 2009 to June of 2016.
Maple Valley is a community in the Seattle metro area with a population: of approximately 25,600, with 45 full time and 35 seasonal employees and an an annual budget of $29 million.
Johnston received his BA in American Studies at Notre Dame, a MPA in Urban and Regional Planning from Purdue University Indianapolis, and a certificate in economic development from University of Oklahoma — Economic Development Institute. It's not certain when Johnston will start the date will be determined once an employment agreement is reached.


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North Charleston Performing Art Center
Westgate Myrtle Beach
Get ready for the best-selling Christmas show of all time – as Mannheim Steamroller rolls into the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in late November! Headed by founder and creator, the Grammy Award-winning Chip Davis, Mannheim Steamroller's annual Christmas extravaganza will feature Christmas classics, as well as a selection of Fresh Aire compositions along with the usual amazing multimedia effects that mesmerize audiences.
One of the longest-running tours in the music industry, this year marks the group's 30-year anniversary of holiday magic and 40 years of Fresh Aire compositions. The event is part of an exciting three-night getaway at Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort where you'll enjoy spacious studio suite accommodations.
Located along the beautiful South Carolina Grand Strand of beaches, Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort offers a heated beachfront swimming pool, lazy river, seaside café, spa and an expert on-site golf director who can help you choose between more than 100 area golf courses.
As with all Westgate Events, you'll also be entertained with a VIP welcome party complete with dinner, open bar, prizes and a DJ, plus personal concierge services and no-hassle transportation to and from the concert.
In addition to luxurious accommodations and special amenities at Westgate Resorts, you'll enjoy VIP treatment throughout the length of your event vacation, including:
– A fun-filled VIP Welcome Party complete with DJ, open bar, dinner and prizes
– Personal Concierge Services
– Complimentary transportation to and from your event
– Late check-out on final day
The North Charleston Coliseum is a 13,000 seat multi-purpose facility. Since its opening in 1993, the Coliseum has been the home ice of the South Carolina Stingrays hockey team and hosts the biggest names in live entertainment. The North Charleston Coliseum campus is owned by the City of North Charleston and includes the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and the Charleston Area Convention Center.
If you're going to play on the beach, why not stay on the beach at beautiful Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort. Located along South Carolina's Grand Strand, Westgate puts the Atlantic Ocean at your doorstep. For a dream vacation – either as a couple or as a family – it's hard to imagine a place with a more bountiful selection of activities for everyone.
Sunshine. Golf. Shopping. Water sports. Water parks. Theater. Fishing. Nightlife. Amusement parks. Fine dining. Luxurious accommodations. Myrtle Beach is one exceptional destination with an endless array of possibilities. One of America's favorite beach playgrounds, Myrtle Beach offers miles of beautiful sand that provides recreation from swimming, tanning and shell collecting to parasailing, sand castle building and body surfing.
Of course, being situated on the Atlantic Ocean also makes Myrtle Beach synonymous with seafood and the area features two seafood centers known worldwide – Murrells Inlet and Calabash. Both founded as fishing villages, you'll find the freshest catches at fabulous prices. Myrtle Beach also offers dozens of shops, boutiques, restaurants and fun-filled family attractions, not to mention some of the very best championship golf courses in the world.
• Heated Outdoor Pool
• Heated Lazy River
• Lap Pool
• Hot Tub Spa
• Children's Water Play Area
• Seaside Café & Lobby Bar
• Coconut Willy's Pool Bar
• Catamaran Cafe
• Westgate Pizza Company
• Lighted Complimentary Registered Guest Parking
• Concierge & Golf Director
• Room Service
• Newsstand
• Housekeeping
• Laundry Facilities
• Business Center
• High-Speed Wireless Internet Access – Fee will apply
• Pet Friendly
Guests of the Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort enjoy the convenience of onsite dining at the casually elegant Seaside Café, which provides a diverse menu and spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Sample menu items include steaks, ribs, chicken, fish & chips, pulled pork, seafood, pasta, burgers, chicken sandwiches, garden burgers, chicken tenders, pizza and chicken wings, as well as sandwiches, salads and appetizers. Save room for one of the delicious desserts. Breakfasts include omelettes, pancakes, French toast, baked goods and fruit. An all-you-can-eat buffet is available seasonally. The Seaside Café is open daily for breakfast and dinner. Hours are seasonal.
Room service is available for breakfast Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM and Saturday and Sunday from 7 AM to 10:30 AM, and for dinner nightly from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
Enjoy your favorite cocktail, live entertainment and scenic oceanfront views at Coconut Willy's Pool Bar, which serves lunch daily. Sample menu items include burgers, hotdogs, chicken tenders, sandwiches, French fries and salads. Open seasonally.
Room service is available for breakfast Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM and Saturday and Sunday from 7 AM to 10:30 AM, and for dinner nightly from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
The spacious oceanfront indoor/outdoor patio at the Catamaran Grill is the right place for a sandwich, snack or libation as refreshing as the atmosphere surrounding it.
You can order delicious, fresh, hot pizza and other tasty dishes to be delivered directly to your room from Cordovano Joe's Authentic New York Style Pizza. Hours of operation vary.
VIP Check-in
Welcome party, dinner, drinks, dj
Leave for North Charleston
Mannheim Steamroller
Breakfast and VIP resort preview
Lake check-out
New Westgate Events are added frequently and many sell out quickly.
Simply subscribe to our email list and you'll be notified of our newest events and our biggest and best sales!


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Networked architecture for enabling automated gathering of information from Web servers
A data-gathering and reporting system for collecting WEB summaries from the Internet for individual subscribers to a Portal subscription system has a plurality of gatherer servers each connected to the Internet, to an ascending hierarchy of work request distribution servers, and to a ascending hierarchy of collector servers. A work request generator at the top of the hierarchy of distribution servers generates work requests for collecting WEB summaries, and a filer server at the top of the hierarchy of collector servers writes data to a database. Work flow is by work requests from the work request generator down the hierarchy of distributor servers to the gatherer servers, where work requests are accomplished by gathering WEB summaries from Internet servers according to the work requests, and by data collected from the gatherer servers up the hierarchy of collector servers to the filing server.
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The present invention is related as a continuation in part (CIP) to a patent application entitled "Method and Apparatus for Obtaining and Presenting WEB Summaries to Users" filed on Jun. 1, 1999, for which Ser. No. 09/323,598 is assigned, having U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,077, and which is incorporated herein by reference, which is a CIP of application Ser. No. 09/208,740, filed Dec. 8, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,073, also incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention is in the field of digital network information gathering from network servers and pertains more particularly to methods and apparatus for providing and operating a networked system of machines dedicated to performing automated data gathering, processing, and presentation of such data.
The information network known as the World Wide Web (WWW), which is a subset of the well-known Internet, is arguably the most complete source of publicly accessible information available. Anyone with a suitable Internet appliance such as a personal computer with a standard Internet connection may connect to the Internet and navigate to many thousands of information pages (termed web pages) stored on Internet-connected servers for the purpose of garnering information and initiating transactions with hosts of such servers and pages.
Information travels over the Internet network through many connected computers known as nodes in the art. Internet nodes include any hosted machines dedicated to performing a service such as file serving, data storing, data routing, and so on. Such nodes are generally loosely associated with each other only by universal resource locator (URL) addressing and mapped network paths.
Some data initiated by or requested by users is not protected from being intercepted by some network-connected nodes and therefore may perhaps be observed by third parties due to the nature of publicly-shared bandwidth over the Internet. However, various means for protecting data from being observed by third parties are established and routinely practiced by entities hosting pluralities of nodes connected to the Internet. Such methods include the use of firewall technology, secure servers, and private sub-networks connected to the Internet network.
Many companies doing business on the Internet host semi-private data networks comprising a plurality of computer nodes dedicated to the provision of proprietary information and related data. Certain authorized users such as those working for the company or those having password access and/or active and verifiable accounts with the company may access such data. For example, a large company may host a plurality of file servers, including connected data storage systems wherein users may search for and access data stored for the purpose by the company. Such sub-nets, as they are often termed, use the Internet as a connective wide area network (WAN) and the data travels through shared bandwidth connections. Although a user may be protected from third party interceptions of data sent or requested the user must generally navigate to each URL where data is available. If a search engine is provided to assist a user in searching for specific data made available by the company, it is limited to searching only the nodes hosted by the company or data from third party nodes that is made available through cooperative URL linking or posting.
An information gathering, summarization and presentation system known to the inventor and described in the related patent application listed under the cross-reference section uses an Internet portal and software suite to allow users to request and obtain data including Web-page summaries containing specific data found by using a unique scripting method supplied by a knowledge worker. In some embodiments such data may also be pushed to a user subscribing to the service.
A service such as that described above requires a considerable amount of processing power in order to service a very large client base in terms of job processing. A desired goal is to automate such an information gathering and presentation service so as to be wholly or largely transparent to individual users. Prior art network architectures do not possess the processing power nor the dedicated cross-communication capabilities that would be required for such a service to be wholly automated and be able to serve a mass clientele.
What is clearly needed is a dedicated and hierarchical network of cooperating computer-nodes that is adapted to fulfill a very large number of automatically-scheduled and user-initiated data requests in a wholly automated and transparent fashion. Such a networked system could be scaleable in that it may be easily expanded in terms of adding machinery according to user demand. Such a system would save users and service providers much time and labor associated with obtaining optimum and efficient results from an information gathering and presentation service.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a data-gathering and reporting system for collecting data from a wide area network (WAN) is provided, comprising a database stored in a data repository; a first server having access to the data base and organizing data-gathering work assignments from data in the database; a hierarchical network of distributor servers having a highest level connected to the first server and expanding to a lowest level, with distributor servers at different levels connected by data links and distributing work assignments to lower levels on demand from the distributor servers at lower levels; a plurality of gatherer servers connected by data links to the lowest level of the hierarchy of distributor servers and to the WAN, the lowest level of distributor servers distributing work assignments to the gatherer servers on demand from the gatherer servers, the gatherer servers accomplishing the work assignments distributed by the distributor servers and queueing data collected from the WAN as a result of the work assignments; a hierarchical network of collector servers having a lowest level connected to the gatherer servers and contracting to a highest level, the gatherer servers communicating data collected to the lowest level of collector servers, with collector servers at different levels connected by data links and delivering collected data to higher levels; and one or more filing servers connected to the highest level of collector servers, the filing servers communicating with the database in the data repository, the collector servers delivering collected data to the one or more filing servers, and the filing servers writing the collected data to the database.
In one important embodiment the WAN is the Internet, and data is collected from WEB servers on the Internet. Also in a preferred embodiment gating of work assignments and data between one server and another in the distributor server hierarchy is by the one server having a queue with an adjustable threshold, and demanding data or work assignments from the other server as a result of the queue level falling to the threshold. Latency and database writing efficiency may be adjusted by adjusting queue thresholds among servers, and server power and capacity required in a system is adjusted by scaling the number of servers and number of hierarchical levels of servers.
In some embodiments priority is assigned to work assignments, and work assignments and collected data are gated from server to server according to assigned priority as well as by need. Also in some embodiments work assignments are expressed in a markup language, allowing all information required to fill an assignment to be encapsulated such that only the one or more filing servers need be connected to the database.
In a preferred embodiment the system is associated with an Internet subscription server, and the work assignments are for collecting data from WEB pages associated with individual subscribers. In this case some work assignments may be automatically scheduled for individual subscribers and some assignments may be on demand from individual subscribers.
In another aspect of the invention a data-gathering and reporting system for collecting WEB summaries from the Internet for individual subscribers to a Portal subscription system is provided, comprising a plurality of gatherer servers each connected to the Internet, to an ascending hierarchy of work request distribution servers, and to an ascending hierarchy of collector servers; a work request generator at the top of the hierarchy of distribution servers, generating work requests for collecting WEB summaries; and a filer server at the top of the hierarchy of collector servers, the file server connected to and writing data to a database. Flow is by work requests from the work request generator down the hierarchy of distributor servers to the gatherer servers where work requests are accomplished by gathering WEB summaries from Internet servers according to the work requests, and by data collected from the gatherer servers up the hierarchy of collector servers to the filing server, and wherein flow is gated on demand down the hierarchy of distributor servers by each server from a previous server in the direction of flow.
In this system gating of work assignments and data between one distribution server and another is by the one server having a queue with an adjustable threshold, and demanding data or work assignments from the other server as a result of the queue level falling to the threshold. Latency and database writing efficiency is adjusted by adjusting queue thresholds among servers, and server power and capacity required in a system is adjusted by scaling the number of servers and number of hierarchical levels of servers. In some cases priority may be assigned to work assignments, and work assignments and collected data may be gated from server to server according to assigned priority as well as by need. Also in a preferred embodiment work assignments are expressed in a markup language, allowing all information required to fill an assignment to be encapsulated such that only the one or more filing servers need be connected to the database.
In another aspect of the invention methods are provided for practicing the invention using the system of the invention. In the embodiments of the invention taught below in enabling detail, for the first time a scalable and very efficient system for gathering large amounts of data on the Internet is provided, where the data collected may be directed by work assignments in small increments. There are many advantages. For example, the system of the invention relieves the user of the necessity of navigating the clutter of the Internet to find what is needed on a daily basis. It also provides immediate access for the user to information from multiple sources, because information is gathered on behalf of a user continuously. Various second-level service may also be provided, such as access from wireless internet appliance devices.
FIG. 1 is an architectural overview of a data-gathering network, components, and connectivity according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a network diagram illustrating hierarchy and communication direction of part of the automated data-gathering system of FIG. 1.
It was described in the background section that in order to provide a viable data gathering and presentation system for servicing a mass clientele, such a system should be dedicated, automated and possess enough processing power to fill a large and continuous user demand. To this end, the inventors provide a scaleable networked architecture that is dedicated to achieving the goals of the present invention in an automated fashion and that is transparent to the user. Such an architecture is taught in enabling detail below.
FIG. 1 is an architectural overview of a data-gathering network 109 and components thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention. Network 109 comprises a Data-packet network 111, an automated data gathering system 115, a PSTN network 113, and a plurality of connected users 145.
Data-packet network 111 may be any type of wide area network (WAN) that is known in the art that is capable of data-packet communication. In this embodiment, network 111 is the well-known Internet network, and will hereinafter be referred to as Internet 111. The advantage of using Internet 111 is that it is the largest publicly-accessible data-packet medium available. Another advantage to using Internet 111 is that data communication protocols are well established and standardized. However, any data packet network may be used as long as suitable communication protocols, of which many are known, are in place. Other than the Internet such networks include private corporate Intranets and the like.
Internet 111 comprises a plurality of exemplary WEB servers, 119, 121, 123, and 125, connected to an Internet backbone 117 as is known in the art. Servers 119-125 are adapted as normal file servers dedicated to serving WEB pages in a familiar format such as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). These servers are equivalent to servers 23, 25, and 27 of the cross-referenced patent application Ser. No. 09/323,598, from which Web summaries may be gathered.
Internet 111 is connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 113 as is generally known in the art of Internet access. Typical public Internet access involves such as an Internet service provider (ISP) represented herein by element number 141, which is accessed over a conventional telephone network connection system represented by element number 143. A plurality of users 145, shown connected to ISP 141 represent the most common method for public access to Internet 111. There are several other methods known in the art for accomplishing access to Internet 111 such as continual corporate connections, satellite connections, etc, and the system shown is merely exemplary.
Network 109 uses the Internet 111 and PSTN 113 in order to establish convenient access capability for users 145. Users 145, in this example may be assumed to have typical internet access capability as is known in the art, typically including a PC, a telephone line, and a modem for dialing up the ISP. Users 145 may also be operating satellite connections, WEB TV cable connections, or any other known Internet connection that may be completed using one of a variety of Internet-capable appliances, including appliances having wireless connection, such as combinations of cell phones with personal organizer and computer capability. Although there are only four users 145 represented in this example, it will be appreciated that there will be many more such that a mass clientele is established creating a heavy demand on system 109.
It is disclosed in the cross-referenced patent application that users may obtain WEB summaries relating to virtually any WEB page available on the Internet. Such Web pages include those URLs in individual URL lists maintained for the users (subscribers), any other URL that may be identified to the system by a user, and individual Web accounts. This process is automated except for directional input by the user and scripting supplied by knowledge workers, and is a function of server 128 shown in FIG. 1 within architecture 115. Server 128 is equivalent to server 31, of FIG. 1 of the cross-referenced patent application, and provides portal functions including the obtaining and presenting of Web summaries to users, as well as automatic authentication of user's accounts as gathering is done, through the features of the Portal server, which is the subject of cross-referenced patent application Ser. No. 09/208,740. In order to insure that an information gathering and summarization service such as the one described in the related application will be able to service an exceptionally large client base, a unique architecture comprising dedicate machines and networked connections must be provided Architecture 115 represents an automated data gathering and presentation system adapted to provide optimum performance in the processing of mass information requests coming in continually from users such as users 145. In this embodiment, architecture 115 is centralized (housed in one location), however; a centralized architecture is not required in order to practice the present invention. In an alternative embodiment architecture 115 may be distributed geographically throughout Internet 111.
Architecture 115 comprises a dedicated network of cooperating machines adapted to practice the functions of the present invention. Architecture 115 is hierarchical in construction in some parts meaning that pluralities of slave components at intermediate levels are ultimately directed by one master component. Architecture 115 comprises at least one scheduled update server 127 adapted to enter into and identify data-gathering job assignments that are stored in a database. A database holding such work may be stored in such as a mass repository 129 that is illustrated as connected to server 127. Mass repository 129 is in a preferred embodiment an off-line storage facility and may be accessed and updated by server 127. Mass repository 129 is large enough in terms of data-storage space to contain all user-profile and user initiated requests for information. In alternative embodiments, more than one mass repository such as repository 129 may be used. Mass repository 129 may be of any type known in the art such as an optical storage facility, or other known mass storage system, or a combination of different types.
Database server 127 distributes scheduled work assignments in hierarchical fashion to a plurality of connected distributor servers 135. Distributors 135 are connected to each other and to server 127 by dedicated network 139, as is described below with reference to FIG. 2. Each distributor server 135 contains a work queue (not shown) adapted to hold job assignments until they are requested from another distributor further down the hierarchical line, thus the distribution of tasks for distributors coupled to server 127 is by pull technology, providing efficient loading. This effectively provides a distributed queue that automatically load balances on the number of servers available. In this way work is pulled down from distributor to distributor, as respective work-queues become able to handle more work. The ultimate goal of each distributor is to pass all of it's work assignments down until they are ultimately received by a plurality of connected gatherer machines 137.
A second scheduling server 130 is connected to server 128 and is dedicated to handling not scheduled, but instant-update requests from users 145. Users may communicate such information-gathering requests to server 128 via the Internet, and server 130 acts through a second set of instant-update distributors 136 to gatherers 137. Distributors 136 do not operate by pull technology, but rather on demand to immediately execute instant update requests. These distributors have their queues refilled by user requests rather than by database queries.
Gatherers 137 are adapted to obtain work assignments from distributors 135, and perform the assigned functions with respect to each job. Each gatherer 137 has a work queue (not shown) adapted to hold job assignments passed down from distributors 135. As individual work queues become depleted, gatherers 137 request additional work from associated distributors up the line. Dedicated network 139 connects gatherers 137 to distributors 135.
It is the objective goal of all gatherers to navigate Internet 111, and pull data from WEB servers such as from servers 119-125 and process the data according to their job assignments. To achieve this purpose, each gatherer is afforded a full-time Internet connection represented herein by a data connection line 117a illustrated as teeing off backbone 117. Database server 127 also has a full-time Internet connection illustrated herein as a branch of data connection 117a. In addition to having an Internet connection for navigating Internet 111, each gatherer is provided with enough additional processing power and suitable software to perform its organization and rendering of data into a suitable format as to be compatible to users such as users 145.
Internet connectivity with respect to server 127 allows users 145 to upload data requests using suitable software on their Internet appliances. Such software is not shown here. However, a suitable example is taught in the cross-referenced patent application. The Internet connection afforded to server 127 is a user connection allowing bi-directional communication. In contrast, the Internet connections afforded to gatherers 137 are dedicated to allowing them to navigate Internet 111 and retrieve particular data according to job assignment. There is no user communication with gatherers 137. The navigation process generic to gatherers 137 is wholly automated and transparent to users.
As gatherers 137 complete their job assignments, the associated data is passed on to a plurality of machines represented herein by element number 133 and termed collectors by the inventors. Collectors 133 are computer nodes adapted to efficiently collect data and to pass the data back to the database held in mass repository 129. Collectors 133 are connected to gatherers 137 via digital network 139. Each collector accepts completed data packages passed on to them by gatherers 137. The movement of data through the hierarchy of the collectors is by push technology.
Eventually, collectors pass completed jobs on to powerful filer processors. Filers 131 are dedicated and adapted to writing finished data directly into the database stored in repository 129. In this example, following the disclosure of the cross-referenced patent application, finished data represents WEB summaries requested of system 109 by users 145 as taught in the cross-referenced patent application. Similarly, the software used in conjunction with communication system 109 could be identical or similar to the software taught therein.
It is noted here, and supported by repeated references to digital network 139 that the entire architecture 115 is held off-line (not connected to the Internet) save for the described connection to server 127 and connections provided to gatherers 137. In this regard, digital network 139 is a separate and dedicated network adapted for swift transmission of data between connected machines. In this way, no competition exists for precious bandwidth resources. In a centralized scenario such as is exemplified in this embodiment, network 139 may be implemented economically and efficiently.
Network 139 may or may not be adapted to communicate via Internet protocol as long as database server 127 has a means for interpretation and rendering of alternate data formats into HTML, XML, or another suitable format for serving the data information to users 145 (typically in the form of a WEB page). The language in any case is a markup language, and is therefore extensible over time. In order to save storage space architecture 115 may use a metadata system of communication between connected nodes and storage facility 129.
It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the exemplary architecture described above may be used with virtually any type of information gathering service that uses a client and parent software application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, a large corporation or technical campus may practice the present invention privately using the architecture described above on a private or corporate WAN instead of the Internet. One may also run on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on top of the Internet backbone. The inventor intends that architecture 115 may be used with the WEB-summary service described in the related patent application referenced above, and therefore, is designed for that purpose in this embodiment. Slight modifications may be made to machines and connections in order to adapt architecture 115 to other variations of WEB-based or network-based information gathering and presentation services.
The unique hierarchical connection scheme provided to architecture 115 provides optimum scalability to accommodate increased or decreased user demand. Furthermore, a fact that only one machine is required to have bi-directional communication capability with storage facility 129 insures economy and practicability with regard to socket connection requirements. More detail regarding the hierarchy of architecture 115 is provided below.
FIG. 2 is a network diagram illustrating hierarchy and communication direction of part of the architecture 115 of FIG. 1. In this example, architecture 115 is held on a separate digital network 139 as described above with reference to FIG. 1. However, in an alternative embodiment, architecture 115 may be distributed over a WAN using the WAN, which could be the Internet, as a communication medium rather than a separate digital network as described in FIG. 1.
In the above-described embodiment, all nodes would be slaved to their master nodes by addressing techniques on the WAN rather than hierarchical connection by a separate network. In still another embodiment, a separate digital network may still be provided to run in parallel with the WAN. The purpose of using a separate dedicated network to connect all nodes is to speed up transmission of data in the loop.
Referring back to FIG. 2, architecture 115 for scheduled updates utilizes database server 127 at the very top of the hierarchy. Server 127 manages data stored in repository 129 and communicates to users via Internet path 117. Server 127 has access to user-profile address lists, and users 145 (FIG. 1) also upload special requests to server 128 (FIG. 1) which are handled via server 130 and distributor hierarchy 136 (not shown in FIG. 2). As data gathering requirements come due according to user profiles and requests from users 145 are logged and stored, work assignments representing unfulfilled request are created and distributed over network 139 for scheduled requests to distributors 135 using a trickle-down pull technique as illustrated by the directional "communication" arrows connecting each distributor. For example, there are six distributors 135 represented in this hierarchical tree. The top distributor pulls assignments from server 127 and passes them on to two distributors "down the tree", which in turn pass them on to three distributors further down the tree. The passing on, however, is controlled by queues at each distributor having adjustable thresholds. As a queue at a distributor falls below a specified threshold, the distributor requests more work assignments from the higher-level distributors to which it is slaved.
It will be appreciated by one with skill in the art that there may be more than one distributor at the top of the tree passing assignments to still more distributors down the tree than are illustrated in this embodiment. The inventors intend to illustrate only the nature of cascading assignments to more and more distributors situated down the tree, by the queue-controlled pull technique.
Ultimately, a lower level of distributors 135 will distribute assignments to gatherers 137. It is the gatherer's job to accomplish the job assignments by navigating the Internet (111) by virtue of Internet connection 117a and the URL lists associated with the job assignments, and to retrieve information requested in each given job assignment held in their queues. To achieve this end, each gatherer 137 is equipped with suitable navigational software and parsing capability as described in the cross-referenced patent application. The inventors also refer to gatherers 137 as agents. In this embodiment, gathers 137 also summarize and organize retrieved data into WEB-summaries according to user direction as passed on with the work assignments. The exact nature of job performance attributed to gatherers 137 will, of course, be dictated by the software and processing capability afforded them. As previously described, other information sourced from the Internet or any other data network may be obtained and processed according to predetermined rules.
Gatherers 137 have connection ports provided and adapted for pulling information from distributors 135. Gatherers 137 are similarly provided with connection ports that are adapted for passing information to collectors 133 as illustrated by the directional "communication" arrows. These ports are associated with network 139 and not with Internet 111. A third port is provided for each gatherer to access the Internet or other designated WAN.
The gatherers are queue-managed, as are the distributors, so the gatherers pull work assignments from the distributors according to queue thresholds, just as lower-level distributors work with higher-level distributors. The collectors 133 push collected data from completed assignments from the gatherers up the collector network to the filer or filers.
It can be seen in this example that a hierarchical loop is created that ultimately ends back at repository 129. For example, A top-level collector or collectors 133 pass completed job assignments to filers 131, which are connected to and write data directly to repository 129 updating the database. Filers 131 may be provided as one or more powerful processors, or a larger number of less powerful processors. Moreover, a secondary or failsafe contingent of filers 131 may be provided and adapted to take over in the event that first-line filers fail for any reason.
Processing power may be regulated with respect to all connected nodes such that data is continually being streamed down and back up the loop created by network 139 without being held up. In one embodiment, additional failsafe connections may be provided between connected nodes at a same level in the tree such that if one node appears ready to fail or needs to be withdrawn from the hierarchy for any reason, it's queue may be emptied to adjacent nodes.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a means for detecting and mirroring duplicate requests is provided. This is provided in one embodiment in the form of a second database representing completed assignments and user attributes and a software module that checks for duplicate requests coming into server 127 against a first database containing all unfulfilled requests and those requests already in process. If a duplicate or more than one duplicate request is discovered such as, perhaps, return today's New York Times headlines, then only the leading request (one being processed) of the same nature is allowed to proceed. Once the request is written into repository 129 by one of filers 131, it is mirrored or made available to all of the users that initiated the same request. In this way, much unnecessary work may be eliminated from the process to affect streamlining.
In still another embodiment, a priority system may be used in the queuing and distribution of work assignments. In this embodiment, on-demand requests may take priority over requests that will be accessed at a later time by users. For example, priority requests may be tagged according to priority upon receipt by any means known in the art and caused to trickle through each queue according to that priority such that they may gain on and surpass other requests of lesser priority moving through the system. Any priority system may be adopted and used by system 109 according to enterprise rules.
In still a further embodiment of the present invention, gatherers 137 may, if overloaded to a point wherein they are causing an unacceptable amount of latency, use their Internet connection to send completed job assignments over Internet paths 117a and 117 to a duplicate or mirrored site that is distributed elsewhere on Internet 111. Such a mirrored site may have a separate digital network and nodes connected thereto just as architecture 115. It may be a case wherein the second site is not operating to capacity and could handle the extra load. Such a second site may be connected to a first site via Internet connection as described, or may also have a dedicated data link connecting to the first site and adapted to become active only when required for load balancing.
Server 127 is, in a preferred embodiment, adapted to notify users 145 when their requests are available in the case of user-initiated requests, and to schedule delivery of updates according to stored user profiles. This is accomplished via Internet path 117. In some cases, requests may be delivered if so ordered. In other cases they may be pulled from server 127 or another connected server adapted for the purpose. As to network 139, a push system is used. Work assignments are pushed from each node to the next. This concept acts to discourage any overload. A separate data storage facility may be provided wherein users may access completed requests. Un-accessed requests may be purged after a period of time. Similarly, requests that have been accessed or delivered are also purged from the system.
If the entire system is operating at maximum capacity, then server 127 may be programmed to slow or stop the receiving of requests until such time that the system is deemed capable of handling more work at the desired pace. Such a condition would alert system administrators of a need to scale-up according to more demand. Similarly, if there is a lull in workflow, then parts of the system may be shutdown without affecting system performance. Ultimately, a system could be scaled down if needed.
Primary access to system 109 may be provided at the ISP level such as with the Internet Portal server described in the cross-referenced patent application. Subscribers may first have to verify identity and perhaps use a password before being allowed to access server 127. In some cases, interface servers may be provided and distributed over different regions wherein requests from those servers are delivered to a server such as server 127.
It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that a networked system architecture such as architecture 115 may be wholly automated and adapted to perform a wide variety of information gathering and presentation services. For example, architecture 115 may be used for obtaining and presenting WEB-summaries as is the case in this example, or it may be adapted to such as returning review summaries to administrative workers regarding such as completed cases or other such review work. There are many possible and varied implementations. Therefore, the method and apparatus of the present invention should be afforded the broadest scope. The spirit and scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.
1. A data-gathering and reporting system for collecting WEB summaries from the Internet for individual subscribers to a Portal subscription system, comprising:
- a plurality of gatherer servers each connected to the Internet, to an ascending hierarchy of work request distribution servers, and to a ascending hierarchy of collector servers;
- a work request generator at the top of the hierarchy of distribution servers, generating work requests for collecting WEB summaries; and
- a filer server at the top of the hierarchy of collector servers, the file server connected to and writing data to a database;
- wherein flow is by work requests from the work request generator down the hierarchy of distributor servers to the gatherer servers where work requests are accomplished by gathering WEB summaries from Internet servers according to the work requests, and by data collected from the gatherer servers up the hierarchy of collector servers to the filing server, and wherein gating of work assignments and data between one server and another in the hierarchy of distributor servers is by the one server having a queue with an adjustable threshold, and demanding data or work assignments from the other server as a result of the queue level falling to the threshold.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein latency and database writing efficiency is adjusted by adjusting queue thresholds among servers.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein server power and capacity required in a system is adjusted by scaling the number of servers and number of hierarchical levels of servers.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein priority is assigned to work assignments, and work assignments and collected data are gated from server to server according to assigned priority as well as by need.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein work assignments are expressed in a markup language, allowing all information required to fill an assignment to be encapsulated such that only the one or more filing servers need be connected to the database.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein some work assignments are automatically scheduled for individual subscribers and some assignments are on demand from individual subscribers.
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Patent History
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 27, 1999
Date of Patent: Feb 11, 2003
Patent Publication Number: 20020023104
Assignee: Yodlee.Com, Inc. (Redwood Shores, CA)
Inventors: Ramakrishna Satyavolu (Santa Clara, CA), Suman Kumar Inala (Santa Clara, CA), P. Venkat Rangan (San Diego, CA)
Primary Examiner: Joseph H. Feild
Assistant Examiner: William L. Bashore
Attorney, Agent or Law Firms: Donald R. Boys, Central Coast Patent Agency, Inc.
Application Number: 09/362,914
International Classification: G06F/1730; G06F/1700; G06F/1516;


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The Russian space agency has correctly identified the reasons behind the August crash of a Soyuz rocket headed for the International Space Station (pictured) and taken steps to protect the next launch, according to an independent NASA review of the incident.
As we reported back on August 25, the unmanned Soyuz rocket made an unexpected return to Earth just five minutes after launch, and crashed into the Siberian desert with its payload of ISS supplies. The crash was especially notable here in the U.S., given the current reliance on the Russian space agency for travel to and from the space station now that NASA has ended the space shuttle program.
According to Space.com, the Russian space agency (Roscosmos) found that contamination of the rocket's fuel lines or stabilizer valve was the likely cause of the rocket's failure, and the agency is taking appropriate steps to ensure the problem does not occur again.
William H. Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, presented the agency's review of the Russian data last week to Congress during a hearing of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
"Roscosmos and its contractors have a plan in place to validate engines for the near-term launches including improving quality control, such as adding additional inspectors and video-taping critical actions related to component assembly," said Gerstenmaier.
The next Soyuz rocket launch is expected to occur October 30.


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tuesday morning i went to work, early. i was tired and i don't remember much, except for that i successfully avoided terrie all morning. when i left after a 6-hour shift, she was in the parking lot, and i didn't even see her, but she said bye to me, all friendly, and once i got over the shock, i responded, 'good morning,' which would have been fine if she had said 'hi,' but is a rather strange response to 'bye.'
then i went to udf. i don't remember much about that either, except for that i was really tired. i was in charge, though. i know that. i've been there not even a month, and i had more seniority than the other two people working with me, so i had to send raj to stock the cooler so i could stay up front. i had to control the safe and make sure everything got done and i hate bossing people around, so i just did most of it myself, which made me even more tired.
and i had a relapse. i saw this girl and she looked like christine. i took my tote full of backstock and followed her around, stocking the chips while she looked at chips, and switching to candy when she looked at that. when she went to the register to check out, i followed her up there, like i needed to get something behind the counter, and then i just listened while she talked to paul. she sounded sort of like her too. her hair was a lot longer. i don't think hair can grow that fast. and her shape was a little different too, but it's been so long since i've seen christine... maybe it was her... when the girl left, i grabbed my trash and took it out to the dumpster and watched her walk across the street. i miss christine. i miss her like crazy. and now she's everywhere again, in the cigarettes and in the candy, and in all the food, i see it in my grocery store, in the proper isle, with christine in front of it. everybody is christine again. the white girls all look like her. the black girls all look like her girlfriend. she won't go away, and i need her to come back, only this time i can't even remember why. she made things better, that's all i know. somehow she'll fix everything, even if i can't remember what needs fixed.
and then somehow religion comes into my mind and i don't remember what i thought, but i know it bothered me a lot. something about preaching tolerance. love the sinner, hate the sin, and that's good? loving is a sin? but they think they're being open-minded, and reasonable, and compared to other churches, they probably are. i don't know who 'they' are. i just know that it makes me wish i could talk to christine about it.
i came home and went to bed and slept for quite a long time... i slept through half my morning class, and got up and went to the last part, just to get my midterm back. on the way there, i couldn't stop looking for christine. i looked so hard that i found her where she wasn't... in cars that looked like hers, and in shoes that looked like hers, and under hair that looked like hers... god, i was doing so good... yeah, i thought about her, but it wasn't this constant... it was getting reasonable... she was at the beginning of the path to becoming just another pleasant memory... only now she's back...
i got an 88% on the midterm. that's lower than i had hoped for but probably higher than i deserved, so i guess i shouldn't complain. i came home, took a nap, and slept through half my next class. i went to the last part and we still didn't get our midterms back, and this one, i took over a week ago. i went to the next class, and molly was waiting for me outside the classroom, with my midterm. we skipped class and went home. i got a 67%, which impressed me, considering that i felt like i should do about as well as your average bubble-filling monkey. AND the teacher announced that we can replace our lowest midterm score with our highest... which basically means we drop our lowest midterm, and i got a 94% on the first midterm, so i'm fine. i loved that decision!
i had to go to the bank (in my store) to get rid of a few udf paychecks, so molly decided to come with me and go grocery shopping. it was a good time to go because terrie wouldn't be there and marie would be running self-check, so it wasn't a coincidence that i suggested it then... we went and terrie was there, for some reason, getting overtime... she stood behind us in the self-check line, with a bag of chips (she was eating from it as she waited...) and listened to molly and me try to figure out how to split up the groceries we had. we were so busy discussing that we didn't notice one of the stations open up, and terrie snuck in front of us. she was joking about it though, being real obvious and then laughing like she thought she was the greatest. we just laughed. neither of us cared. she was in a hurry and she had one item. i'm always glad when somebody lets me go in front of them when i'm on break...
molly and i used the same station, and i went first, so i could go stand by marie to wait for her. marie wrote all over my reciept, and i wrestled her for the pen a little. she asked when i was on self-check and i told her i wasn't working today. she said i should just do it right now, so i said i would just take her name tag and do it. i took it off her and put it on me. when molly was ready to go, i told marie i would just wear her nametag home, and turned to go. she came after me, and instead of coming around front, she stayed in back of me and wrapped one arm around me and reached her other arm over me and took it off. i wonder if it's a coincidence that we seem to end up in such comfortable positions, or if she likes touching me as much as i like touching her.
molly and i went crazy cooking and cleaning. i felt like such a mom... we made hamburger and macaroni and pizza and chex mix and puppy chow. we cut up a honeydew and washed grapes and blueberries. we are now set to eat for a week with no effort. then we did all the dishes, and i cleaned the kitchen floor while she cleaned the bathroom. i swept the main room, too. now lauren and alana have no right to complain that we don't do our fair share.
i wonder if christine will ever go back to school. i wonder how much longer she's living with terrie. i wonder if terrie speaks to her, or if terrie would talk to me about her, or if terrie ever talks about me to her. i wonder if she's still dating that girl and still working at that restaurant. i wonder if her family is still mad at her. i wonder how her sister's baby is doing. i wonder if she remembers me, if she ever thinks about me, if she still cares about me... i wonder if i'll ever stop wondering about her...
i thought about doing homework, but (surprise) i didn't. i wonder if christine could change that. will i ever start caring about school again? did i ever care about it in the first place?