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October 26, 2011
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How do I save my little girl?
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In both cases you will be able to run Full XP from your USB Flash Drive (UFD) with some different features and capabilities.
Performing the "Format-it-&-Forget-it" way then you can run Full XP from your UFD (from the single working partition) even without any external boot loader, or you can also install "grub4dos" as boot manager in order to load all supported applications too (as ISO, IMA, IMG, etc) selecting from its Menu screen at startup which you want to load.
Format-it-&-Forget-it (Full XP in Single-Booting, running without any boot loader except its own "ntldr")
Performing the "Format-it-&-Boot-it" way then you can run Multiple XP, as well as "Full XP in Single-Booting", "Full XP in Dual-Booting", "Full XP in Multi-Booting", indifferently from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and/or 4th Active Partition of your UFD selecting through "grub4dos" Menu screen at startup which you want to load (included all supported applications as ISO, IMA, IMG, etc, if existing).
Format-it-&-Boot-it (Full XP in Dual Booting, running from the 3rd Active Partition)
Please note that the following way in order to build your "Full XP from your UFD" is the same for any mentioned partitioning configuration and then you can restore either your XP installation or your UFD partition's image-backups to every new UFD and to every partition without ANY modification (except two lines in your "boot.ini" AFTER the restoring on a different numbered partition) and WITHOUT both to pre-install your new UFD or to create a new partition's image-backup (or to modify your XP installation).
You can select in "grub4dos" Menu screen which you want to load at startup (included all supported applications as ISO, IMA, IMG, etc, if existing).
I am literally enthusiastic about the synergy of "grub4dos + dummydisk" that I've experienced: "grub4dos" is GREAT and "dummydisk" is GREAT too and they together are wondeful for me: so absolutely synergistic and so absolutely effective!
Particularly, "dummydisk.sys" has been able to filter ON-THE-FLY the install of all NEW (so never previously recognized) and pre-partitioned USB Flash Drives without the need to PRE-RECOGNIZE them: so it has appeared as the best candidate for this job and most of all for the creation of either your XP installation or your partition's image-backups as well as UNIVERSALLY restorable without modifications (except two lines in your "boot.ini" AFTER the restoring on a different numbered partition) on every new UFD, and on every partition of your UFD you want to boot from (1st, 2nd, 3rd and/or 4th).
This fact means that you will NOT need to re-create (or to modify) your partition's image-backups (or your XP installation) for every new UFD you want to use: so the same backup will be working either for all partitions and/or for all your USB Flash Drives: also for those that you have not yet purchased!
Furthermore, "dummydisk" Filter Driver can be integrate in your customized (with nLite, as an example, just as I did) XP Installation CD-ROM with the same above results, that's with a full POST-COMPATIBILITY with every new UFD, and then ensuring a high-grade of versatility.
"You cannot have your cake and eat it",
then you have to pay the price of a compromise: however in my opinion it will be a (relatively) small price to pay considering the reached advantages.
The price to pay:
1. Only ONE partition will be accessible under Windows when you will attach NOT FOR BOOTING (as if you boot with your UFD all its partitions will be regularly allowed) your UFD under those machines where is NOT already installed a Filter Driver.
The benefits:
1. You can boot your UFD from (reasonably) the most machines with a high-grade of success: as already said now my UFD is able to boot even from a machine that refuses to boot ANYTHING that is not as a Fixed Disk!
2. Simple "newbie-proof" procedure.
3. No special tweaking or physical hacking of your UFD will be needed and no special tool or utility will be used in order to make your UFD bootable, neither "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" nor "PeToUSB" utility, nor "Lexar BootIt", nor other ones: this procedure implies both the widest (reasonable) compatibility and the simplest usage.
4. You can easily "translate" your current "Windows XP Professional SP3" running from your current PC into "Full XP from your UFD" with the minimal tweaking possible.
5. You can restore either your "Full XP" installation or your UFD partition's image-backups to every new UFD without ANY modification (except two lines in your "boot.ini" AFTER the restoring on a different numbered partition) and WITHOUT both to pre-install your new UFD or to create a new partition's image-backup (or to modify your XP installation).
6. You can encrypt (with TrueCrypt) your UFD System Drive with no issue.
7. You can restore a RAW image-backup of your UFD encrypted System Partition to every new UFD without any modification (except a quick and easy TrueCrypt "key data/volume header" restoring from its Menu screen).
Full XP (Generic) on Multi-Partitioned USB Flash Drive
Please, note that "Generic" term means that your will set the Standard drivers (that's not the specific ones just of your machine) for some critical devices in order to run your Full XP from your UFD not only just from your machine, but from the most even different machines without issues drivers-related.
If you want to run a Full XP from your UFD then you will need the following (I suggest to create a folder containing all needed files and to copy it in the 1st FAT partition of your UFD):
01. Your Windows PC running from your hard disk (I've used for all my tests "Windows XP Professional SP3", fully updated).
02. Your USB Flash Drive (I've used almost all sizes: 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB ones, depending on both the final purpose and use; of course Full XP runs better if more space is available on your UFD. In my opinion and until now it seems to me that 8GB in size is a good compromise between space and costs. However you can choose almost every size).
Please note that your UFD must be directly attached to a USB port of your PC and NOT through a USB-HUB.
03. The Anton Bassov's "dummydisk.sys" Filter Driver; http://www.codeproje...ct_hooking.aspx
(Download source files - 5.22 Kb)
04. The "grub4dos" Boot Manager. http://nufans.net/grub4dos/
05. Any PE environment.
06. 3 INF files ("usb.inf", "usbport.inf" and "usbstor.inf") modified by Dietmar or, now it seems better (thanks to marv) in order to solve some issues digital-signature related, "UsbBootWatcher" Service (I've used this service and it works so fine).
07. A copy of "NTDETECT.COM" modified by Dietmar (however under "XP SP3" I have not used it and until now no issue is occurred; sure, it higly increases the compatibility under "strange" machines).
08. To partially follow a Dietmar's tutorial in order to make your Full XP as a "Generic" one.
09. Optionally the Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) environment (strictly needed if you run Full XP from your UFD formatted as NTFS file-system and you do not want to BURN your UFD! However it could be useful to run your Full XP as Write Protect System Volume for many reasons, not last that it will run much faster (from RAM);
Please, note: in the EWF installation you must care that your "boot.ini" file now has the "partition(2)" modified lines (not "1", as the default one), then you have to modify the needed install commands accordingly.
I've just found this great web-page where EWF installation (and download for 2.0.1024 version) is perfectly described with further add-on as an install folder with batch file that works fine.
10. Optionally, TrueCrypt software if you want to encrypt your UFD System Drive.http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads.php
11. Optionally (and NOT needed in order to build your UFD following the complete tutorial), "any" cloning-software (for the record, in all my tests I've used Symantec Ghost): useful if you want to create image-backups of your UFD's working partitions (the RAW mode will be needed only if the partition is encrypted) that then you want to restore to any your new UFD (without any pre-modification of any kind).
Please, note that if you do not want to create image-backups of your UFD partitions then you can however transfer your partition contents (even if encrypted) with cloning-software that allows the drive-to-drive copy (that's without image-backups creation).
About freeware cloning programs that are able to create RAW backups I've already used in the past a great piece of software (in my opinion) named "SelfImage" with excellent results.
However there is also "ODIN (Open Disk Imager in a Nutshell)" of which I read here and that seems very promising (I have not tried it yet).
How To:
01. You can start from a XP SP3 Clean Install or also from your current Windows PC (running your XP SP3 even with all your settings, drivers, programs and preferences too) and simply to bring it on your UFD.
However, starting (as an example) from your running XP SP3 Clean Install the first thing to do is to install "dummydisk" Filter Driver.
02. From your Windows PC Desktop (of your XP SP3 Clean Install that you want to bring on your UFD) create a folder named "dummy" and copy into it the following files (please, store this folder, it will be useful afterwards):
"dummydisk.sys" renamed "dummy.sys" and "dummy.reg"; then install "dummy.sys" copying it in "\system32\drivers\" folder of your Windows PC and adding "dummy.reg" to the Registry, then restart Windows.
[codebox]Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\MountedDevices][HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\MountedDevices][-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase][HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase][HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*aui0200]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96F-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="i8042prt"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*azt0502]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="atapi"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0000]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0100]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0200]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0303]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="i8042prt"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0600]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="atapi"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0a03]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="pci"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0b00]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0c01]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0c02]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0c04]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\*pnp0f0e]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96F-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="i8042prt"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\acpi#processor]"ClassGUID"="{50127DC3-0F36-415e-A6CC-4CB3BE910B65}""Service"="Processor"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\gendisk]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="disk"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#cc_0600]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#cc_0601]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="isapnp"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#cc_0604]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="pci"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#cc_0c0320]"Service"="usbehci""ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1033&dev_00e0&rev_01]"ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_1033&dev_00e0&rev_02]"ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\pci#ven_8086&dev_24cd]"ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\primary_ide_channel]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="atapi"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\PS2_KEYBOARD]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="i8042prt"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\PS2_MOUSE]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96F-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="i8042prt"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\root#swenum]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E97D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="swenum"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\secondary_ide_channel]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="atapi"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usb#class_08]"ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}""Service"="USBSTOR"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usb#root_hub]"Service"="usbhub""ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usb#root_hub20]"Service"="usbhub""ClassGUID"="{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000}"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usbstor#disksony____msc-u01n________]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="disk"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Control\CriticalDeviceDatabase\usbstor#disksony____msc-u01_________]"ClassGUID"="{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}""Service"="disk"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Services][HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Services\usbehci]"Type"=dword:00000001"Start"=dword:00000000"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001"ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,75,00,73,00,62,00,65,00,68,00,63,\00,69,00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00"DisplayName"="Microsoft USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Miniport Driver""Group"="Boot Bus Extender"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Services\usbhub]"Type"=dword:00000001"Start"=dword:00000000"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001"DisplayName"="Microsoft USB Standard Hub Driver""ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,75,00,73,00,62,00,68,00,75,00,62,\00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00"Group"="System Bus Extender"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Services\USBSTOR]"Type"=dword:00000001"Start"=dword:00000000"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001"ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,55,00,53,00,42,00,53,00,54,00,4f,\00,52,00,2e,00,53,00,59,00,53,00,00,00"DisplayName"="USB Mass Storage Driver""Group"="System Bus Extender"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Services\usbohci]"Type"=dword:00000001"Start"=dword:00000000"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001"ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,75,00,73,00,62,00,6f,00,68,00,63,\00,69,00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00"DisplayName"="Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver""Group"="Boot Bus Extender"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Embed\ControlSet001\Services\usbuhci]"Type"=dword:00000001"Start"=dword:00000000"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001"DisplayName"="Microsoft USB Universal Host Controller Miniport Driver""ImagePath"=hex(2):53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,44,00,\52,00,49,00,56,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,5c,00,75,00,73,00,62,00,75,00,68,00,63,\00,69,00,2e,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,00,00"Group"="Boot Bus Extender"[/codebox]05. Shutdown Windows.06. Now boot from your PC running your PE environment.07. Reach your PE Desktop and browse to your Hard Disk (C:) Drive: I will assume that you currently have Windows installed on your (C:) Drive.08. Under your PE environment set all files and folders as unhidden (also SuperHidden ones, that's your Protected Operating System Files) and copy all (C:) drive content (that's "Documents and Settings", "Program Files" and "WINDOWS" folders, and all other system files (that's "AUTOEXEC.BAT", "boot.ini", "CONFIG.SYS", "IO.SYS", "MSDOS.SYS", "NTDETECT.COM" and "ntldr" - do NOT copy "Recycled" and "System Volume Information" folders) in a folder on your PC named "USB_XP_MOD" (or as you want): it will be your working folder.Make a copy of just created "USB_XP_MOD" folder in the same location and rename it as "USB_XP_BAK" (or as you want): it will be useful as possible future reference.09. Now reboot your machine, but this time from your Windows PC (not from your PE environment, that will not be more useful) and reach your Windows PC Desktop.Now browse to "boot.ini" existing in your "USB_XP_MOD" folder and edit its two lines as following:from[codebox]color black/cyan yellow/cyantimeout 30default 0title Active@ Partition Recoverymap --mem /boot/apr.ima (fd0)map --hookchainloader (fd0)+1rootnoverify (fd0)title Linux Parted Magickernel /boot/pmagic/bzImage noapic root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc keymap=us liveusb vga=791 sleep=0 quiet xvesa tmpfs_size=350M ramdisk_size=25000 directory=/bootinitrd /boot/pmagic/initrdtitle Norton Partition Magicmap --mem /boot/npm.ima (fd0)map --hookchainloader (fd0)+1rootnoverify (fd0)title Paragon Total Defragfind --set-root /boot/ptd.isomap --mem /boot/ptd.iso (hd32)map --hookchainloader (hd32)boottitle RecoverSoft Media Tools Promap --mem /boot/mtl.img (fd0)map --hookchainloader (fd0)+1rootnoverify (fd0)title Symantec Ghostmap --mem /boot/gho.ima (fd0)map --hookchainloader (fd0)+1rootnoverify (fd0)title TeraByte BootIt NGmap (hd0,0)/boot/bng.iso (hd32)map --hookchainloader (hd32)title VistaPEmap (hd0,0)/boot/vpe.iso (hd32)map --hookchainloader (hd32)title Windows XP Professionalmap (hd0,0) (hd0,1) map (hd0,1) (hd0,0) rootnoverify (hd0,1) chainloader (hd0,1)/ntldr[/codebox][b]To add/replace in "menu.lst" example for Full XP in Dual-Booting[/b] (very simplified, thanks to [b]jaclaz[/b] and [b]tinybit[/b])[code]title Windows XP Professional (from the 2nd partition)unhide (hd0,1)hide (hd0,2)root (hd0,1)chainloader /ntldrtitle Windows XP Professional (from the 3rd partition)unhide (hd0,2)hide (hd0,1)root (hd0,2)chainloader /ntldr[/code]15. Copy "grldr" file, your customized "menu.lst" file, the "dummy" folder above created and the "UsbBootWatcher" folder just created in the root of the 1st Primary FAT partition.16. Copy the whole "USB_XP_MOD" folder content (just modified) into your 2nd Active Partition of your UFD as following:at first copy all booting-related files, that's first "NTDETECT.COM", then "boot.ini", then "ntldr", then all other files and folders (do not copy "Recycled" and "System Volume Information" folders if existing).17. Now shutdown Windows, disconnect all HDs connected within your machine and boot for the first time from your UFD just prepared.18. Reaching for the first time your UFD Desktop then wait for "Windows has finished installing new devices..." UNTIL it prompts for "Do you want to restart your computer now?" and answer "NO".19. Now browse to 1st FAT partition and open the "UsbBootWatcher\x86\" subfolder, then copy the two files that it contains in your "C:\WINDOWS\system32\" folder that is in the 2nd partition of your UFD.After copying the two files then open a Command Prompt from "system32" folder and install "UsbBootWatcher" Service entering the following line[code]usbbootwatcher.exe /install[/code]then verify that "usbbootwatcher.exe" is in Task Manager Processes and restart Windows.20. Reaching for the second time your UFD Desktop then go in Device Manager and "update" all the following drivers against the already existing and related "Standard" ones (that's the "Generic" ones) [code]A.) IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers \ Primary IDE Channel and Secondary IDE Channel > Standard (All)B.) Universal Serial Bus Controllers > Standard (All)C.) Computer > Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC > Restart Windows Now > YESAfter next reboot: Restart Windows Now (again) > YES[/code]
proceeding as following: in every respective device Properties click on the "Driver" flag and push the "Update Driver..." button > Then > "Install from a list or specific location" > Next > "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install" > Next > Choose "Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller" (it's just an example for "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers": really the important thing is to always choose the "Standard" choice for every already cited drivers).
Do the above for all other already cited drivers (always choosing the "Standard" option).
21. After having completed the standard-drivers-procedure following the EXACT order, Windows will ask to you to "Restart Now" your machine (due to ACPI drivers just changed) and after the restarting Windows will ask to you again to "Restart Now" your machine: you will answer always "YES" (then 2 times).
After the two restarting and after reaching your UFD Desktop again then shutdown Windows, connect all your existing HDs within your PC and boot again from your UFD.
22. Done!
Reaching for the third time your UFD Desktop then it means that all is gone right and that finally you have your "Full (Generic) XP" on your UFD, capable to boot and to run on the most machines!
Encryption Notes
You can smoothly encrypt with TrueCrypt your UFD System Drive - that's just the (C:) Drive where your Windows currently resides - and at the same time to preserve your grub4dos Menu screen at booting (that's you will can choose at every booting if to load "Windows XP SP3, or your "VistaPE", or your "Ghost", etc, if existing).
One of my UFDs contains just a Full XP Encrypted and I've modified my "menu.lst" in order to not choose anything at booting, so that grub4dos automatically load it without any user's input.
Furthermore you can create a partition's image-backup (in default mode; or in RAW mode if the partition is encrypted) of your UFD partitions and then to restore it on every new UFD with both no pre-modification and no issue!
TrueCrypt System Drive Encryption
If you want to encrypt with TrueCrypt your UFD System Drive (that's the partition where your XP currently resides) you have to start and to complete the whole encryption process from your UFD, so copy at first "TrueCrypt Setup 6.1a.exe" from your Windows PC to the root of the 1st FAT Partition of your UFD.
Then boot from your "Full XP" and install TrueCrypt.
After TrueCrypt installation completion open a Command Prompt from "C:\Program Files\TrueCrypt" folder and enter the following line
(thanks to mr_)
TrueCrypt Format /noisocheckit will encrypt your System Drive partition with no "TrueCrypt Rescue Disk.iso" verification.
Wait for encryption process completion then reboot your machine.
In uhis phase you can not see any grub4dos Menu screen at booting because TrueCrypt will have overwritten the existing one with its own one, but really it will be not an issue.
Repeat a reboot in order to further test that all is gone right and that your encrypted Full XP boots with neither password issue nor any other one.
Now rename the "TrueCrypt Recue Disk.iso" just created by process in "tc.iso" and copy it in your "boot" folder existing in your 1st FAT partition of your UFD.
Then you have to re-install "grub4dos" in the MBR of your UFD.
Now you have to add (really to replace) in your "menu.lst" the following lines
"menu.lst" example
title TrueCrypt-ed XP map (hd0,0)/boot/tc.iso (hd32) map --hook chainloader (hd32)Please, note that you cannot place the "tc.iso" in your just encrypted drive (because it cannot be read from disk BEFORE the drive has been un-encrypted!) and then you MUST copy it in the 1st FAT partition or in any other one (not encrypted) if existing.
Now you can reboot your machine and at "grub4dos" Menu screen at startup you can choose "TrueCrypt-ed XP", or any supported application (as ISO, IMA, IMG, etc) you have placed in your "boot" folder (and in your "menu.lst").
Also, you can create a partition's image-backup of your encrypted System Drive partition (in RAW mode, because really does not exist a different way to backup an encrypted partition) and then to restore it on any new UFD performing one of the two following options:
1. Create with Disk Management (Start > Run > diskmgmt.msc) on your new UFD the same disk's configuration of your just backupped UFD configuration: that's a 1st FAT partition, and a 2nd FAT32 Partition with EXACTLY the same size of the original (just encrypted as well) partition.
2. Or, create the 1st FAT Partition of 2047MB in size and let ALL the remaining space of your UFD as Unallocated: your cloning-software would be to restore the RAW backup of your encrypted partition creating at the same time a "new" partition of the same size of the restored partition itself letting the remaining space as Unallocated.
Then if you want you will can create/format a 3rd partition as you want (and most of all, IF you really need that).
Please, note that when you will boot from your UFD for the first time a restored backup of your encrypted partition and you will be on your TrueCrypt's first prompt for password from your new UFD just "restored" you will must use the "[F8] Repair Options" feature of TrueCrypt and will must restore the "key data/volume header" choosing the option "#3", then when TrueCrypt will ask you: "Modify drive 0?", then you will answer "y".
Then you will have to press Enter, then Enter again and then to enter your password: so it will boot!
If you do not do so, then TrueCrypt prompt will always say to you that your password is incorrect and you will cannot boot at all.
Please, note that:
when you have just restored an encrypted partition on a new UFD proceding as above described then you have to do as following in order to boot your UFD - with System Drive Encrypted and with EWF enabled - with or without your Hard Disk(s) connected:
1. Restore both the 1st and the 2nd partitions as above described and installing "grub4dos" in MBR of your new UFD.
2. Copy "MountedDevices_Remove.reg" in your UFD 1st FAT partition.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices]3. Boot from your just restored device WITH your Hard Disk(s) connected within your PC.
4. At "grub4dos" Menu screen choose "TrueCrypt-ed XP": it will load the TrueCrypt ISO image.
5. At TrueCrypt Menu screen choose "[F8] Repair Options" and then the option "#3" (> restore "key data/volume header") then when TrueCrypt will ask you: "Modify drive 0?", you will answer "y".
6. Then wait for both your UFD Desktop AND Windows installing New Devices (it always will occur the first time you will boot a new UFD just restored): please, note that the whole process will complete between about 8 to 16 minutes (depending on some variables).
At Windows prompt for "Reboot Now?" you answer "NO".
7. Please, note: at the first reboot after partition restoring then the EWF environment will result NOT ENABLED.
8. Add in the Registry "MountedDevices_Remove.reg" that you have copied. Please, note that your Floppy Drive (if existing) could have in some circumstances the (B:) letter assigned.
9. Now shutdown Windows, disconnect all Hard Disk(s) within your PC and boot from your UFD again.
10. Done!
Please, note that now your "Full XP (Generic)" will boot from (reasonably) the most machines out there WITH or WITHOUT Hard Disk(s) connected within your PC, the System Drive have the (C:) letter assigned (however it already had it so!), the Floppy Disk Drive (if existing) will have the (A:) letter assigned and the EWF environment will result ENABLED!
After you restore your partition's image-backups of your Encrypted and EWF-ed Drive then if you do not do as above described then you could receive some kind of Stop Error Screen (BSOD) then is better if you do so.
Hint: deleting "MountedDevices" key in the Registry with "MountedDevices_Remove.reg" before to create an image backup of your system drive partition is a good practice.
Good luck!
Full XP, Encrypted, Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) enabled, running from the 2nd Active Partition

subset: commoncrawl


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Racquelle Bella, a Nigerian American stylist invading the Atlanta scene. We just had to pick Racquelle's brain about what she does everyday. Why? Because she is oozes creativity, she's talented with an amazing sense of style. Peep the gram and don't say we didnt tell you. 😉
Favorite all time designer?
Ouch! This is hard, I admire too many. I love Karl Largerfeld, Raf Simmons, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Emilio Pucci, 3.1 Phil Lim, Alaia, Alexander Wang, Prada. – I meannnnn the list goes on!
Describe your style in 3 words?
Versatile. Bold. Comfy
How do you stay up to date on the current trends? Any favorites?
Magazines tend to always keep me up to date when I'm on the go. Vogue, InStyle, Cosmo & Harpers Baazar are some of the magazine companies that help me stay on top of trends and current fashion forecasting.
What are some must have items in your closet?
Statement pieces are always essential in my closet, but the most essential items of all are basics. Basic clothing is a template for whatever statement pieces you want to put on whether top or bottom. Other must have items that should be in your closet are: a unisex sneaker, structured blazer and/or leather jacket, simplistic jewelry, ballet flats, a classic pant whether denim or slack. Neutral pumps are nice to throw on to dress up and outfit, and lets forget about the infamous little black dress.
Where do you go or what do you do when you need inspiration for your work?
When needing inspiration for my work I tend to head to a museum or art exhibit of any sort. Fashion is the highest art form and has never been more accessible to the masses than it is today. Colors, structure,and creativity broadens my horizons while viewing different exhibits and forces me to look at fashion from a different angle giving me the inspiration that I need to conquer my work task.
Could you tell us about your favorite client or project to date?
My favorite project to date is actually happening as we speak. I can't speak much of it but I will say that there big in ATL and now opening up more in the fashion scene.
What is the hardest thing about the industry?
Hardest thing by far is staying focus. It's so easy to get comfortable and work at a slower pace, but time waits for no one & laziness kills.
What advice would you give to that person who is scared to take the leap and pursue their passion?
GO FOR IT! You have one life to live, why not live it doing something that you love.
What are your long term goals?
I'm honestly going with the flow. I'm a lover of not only fashion, but also music. Hopefully one day I can mash it all up and become iconic.
Lastly, if we want to follow you and your work where can we find you?
Instagram is my most updated page right now, you can follow me @RacquelleBella and my blogs IG @S4TB


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Prof Erik P. Bucy
Marshall and Sharleen Formby Regents Professor, College of Media and Communication, Texas Tech University and co-author of Image Bite Politics: News and the Visual Framing of Elections
Email: email@example.com
Section 2: Campaign
- Evidence for the powerful roles of polarization and partisanship
- The emotional brand wins
- Donald Trump's slogan betrays a renewed political fixation on the past
- Dog whistles and dumpster fires
- How Donald Trump bullies with his body language
- Analysing debate questions: is it time to rethink the town hall?
- Air war? Campaign advertising in the 2016 Presidential Election
- US election: what impact do celebrity endorsements really have?
- The backlash of the loose cannon: musicians and the celebrity cleavage
- The curious case of Jill Stein
- The Green Party effect in the US 2016 Election
- US presidential candidate selection
- The #LolNothingMatters election
At the outset of this analysis, let's be clear about one thing: there are dark reasons for Donald Trump's rise. Among these, a nativist, sexist, patriarchal, and ethnocentrist view of the country, and a campaign based on fanciful promises beyond the power of any President to make good on—jobs, walls, trade agreements, repeal of established laws, and abandonment of strategic global alliances. Lack of specifics and news media complacency in pressing Trump about policy, potential cabinet appointments, and plans to investigate Clinton also worked to his advantage, as his candidacy became an ill-defined canvas onto which disgruntled and fearful voters could project their hopes and assuage their anxieties.
Beyond his campaign promises, which were among the least defined and coherent in contemporary political history, Trump's nonverbal communication was quite consistent: angry, defiant, outraged, and disgusted with the political status quo. Although he was undisciplined in his use of facial displays and gestures, fulminating one minute and flailing the next, Trump managed to project ample amounts of outrage in his nonverbal behavior and that clear display of anger gave discontented voters who were not on board with the Clinton agenda something to rally around.
By contrast, Clinton's expressions were much more controlled, diplomatic, reassuring, and polite. During the debates, which she by all accounts won, Clinton outlasted Trump's antics by exuding a calm determination that was buttressed by sharp retorts. It was a diplomatic style with little populist appeal. Except for small glimpses of genuine emotion—the much-heralded "shimmy" towards the end of the first debate, a delightful rallying cry in the rain at the very end of the campaign—her expressive behavior was not a great ally. She strove to project likeability and competence but her high negatives in opinion polls demanded a much more empathetic and still forceful approach.
Clinton did go on the attack at times during the campaign, notably during the third presidential debate against Trump, but she did so more in the condescending mode of an attorney cross-examining a witness than a champion of the people. That subtle but discernible contempt, which perhaps serves as a competence cue for supporters, was likely read as arrogance by Independents and weak partisans and could have hurt her in the end. In an election process that rests on turnout, as this one so agonizingly did, enthusiasm—which gets people to the polls—trumps competence.
While Clinton generated sufficient enthusiasm for a lower volume election (she did win the popular vote, after all) she had less success holding together the coalition of Black, Hispanic, and younger voters that Obama built in previous elections—even with the president and Michelle Obama campaigning on her behalf. In part, she struggled to convince because she struggled to effectively emote.
Meanwhile, Trump emoted in loud attacks, wild accusations, empty promises, and outrageous nonverbal antics. He energized his base enough to get out and vote in states that mattered. Key to his success: Trump's expressions were unambiguous. His message of defiance and threat came across blunt and clear, even with the sound off. Whether by design or happenstance, Trump's confrontational style of campaigning bonded supporters to his cause.
Trump's "go to" expression is an anger/threat display—a menacing expression characterized by fixed stares and visible anger that signals competitive or hostile intent. Research has shown that threat displays are particularly effective with supporters but anathema to critics and undecideds. We witnessed this firsthand in dial tests conducted during the presidential debates with dozens of Texas voters. Republican Party identifiers expressed much more enthusiasm for Trump than Democrats ever did for Clinton.
The screen captures opposite illustrate the high level of positive sentiment that Trump supporters felt while watching their candidate go on the attack against Clinton during the first debate (see top panel, Figure 1). In this moment, Trump deflects a question about releasing his taxes and focuses instead on the thousands of emails that Clinton purportedly deleted before handing over her private server to the FBI. The blue line, which peaks over 90 points on a 100-point sentiment scale, represents not just Republican support but genuine voter enthusiasm.
By contrast, Democratic voters never surpassed the 70-point mark in response to Clinton, and on average felt less positively toward her than Republicans felt towards Trump (see yellow line, bottom panel). Interestingly, Independent voters responded negatively and critically to Trump's anger/threat displays (see purple line, top panel), a trend that was reflected in polls following the first debate that showed weakening support among Independents.
But defections among weak partisans were not in numbers sufficient enough to derail his campaign, although Trump appeared to be all but finished until the late October surprise of the FBI's discovery of yet more emails from Clinton's private server. Clinton was exonerated a week later, just a few days before the election, but the FBI director's reminder was all the opening Trump needed to reanimate his attacks, energize his base for one last push, and infuse his tirades against her alleged untrustworthiness with a sense of renewed force.
Figure 1. Peak ratings of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the first presidential debate.


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Survey: Most students report positive campus experience
In an extensive survey of the University of Colorado Boulder's nearly 30,000 students, overwhelming majorities of respondents had an approving view of the campus' social climate – the extent to which CU-Boulder makes students feel welcome, valued and supported. Around four in five respondents reported feeling intellectually stimulated often or very often. A similar proportion said they felt welcome and accepted, and nearly nine in 10 said they felt comfortable in their classes.
Taken in fall 2010, the survey was the latest edition of CU-Boulder's Social Climate Survey, conducted about every four years since 1994 by the university's Office of Planning, Budget and Analysis (PBA). The online survey was sent to 29,926 degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students, and completed by 7,777, or 26 percent.
The favorable view of CU-Boulder's social climate was generally shared by all subgroups studied: men and women, undergraduate and graduate students, students in all of the university's schools and colleges, politically liberal and conservative students, students in fraternities and sororities, students who are the first in their family to attend college, gay and straight students, students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, students of different races and ethnicities, students with physical or psychological disabilities, nontraditional-age students, students who entered as freshmen and transfers, international students, students affiliated with the military, and students with different religious affiliations, including Catholics, other Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and nonbelievers. Membership in these self-identified subgroups was determined using survey responses provided by the students.
Overall, students described the campus as friendly and welcoming, with 80 percent of undergraduate and graduate students reporting feeling welcome and accepted either often or very often. Some 88 percent said they feel comfortable in their classes, and 80 percent reported feeling intellectually stimulated. Large majorities described CU-Boulder as "accepting of diverse perspectives" in the classroom (81 percent) and outside the classroom (63 percent).
On a broad measure of feeling welcome and comfortable on campus and in the Boulder community, students who self-identified in diverse subgroups generally reported a positive experience – averaging about four on the five-point scale. Although the positive assessment of the campus' social climate was shared across all subgroups, two subgroups of at least 100 respondents did rate it slightly lower – around three and a half – African-American students and students who characterized themselves as having a psychological or psychiatric disability such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Their ratings were, however, still above the scale midpoint of three. There also was a tendency for slightly less positive evaluations of the campus social climate by GLBT students, nontraditional-age students, students of lower socioeconomic status, very liberal students, very conservative students, students not affiliated with a fraternity or sorority, transfer students, and students affiliated with the Buddhist and Muslim faiths. Their ratings were, nevertheless, well above the neutral point on the scale.
Comprising 149 scaled questions, plus another six open-ended questions, the survey collected a massive amount of information – more than a million responses to the ratings, and nearly 23,000 written comments, amounting to half a million words. The thousands of student comments include praise for particular classes that addressed diversity issues, suggestions to increase enrollment of international students and to make tuition more affordable for low-income students, reports of uncomfortable situations involving derogatory comments about women or gays or people of color, descriptions of personal experiences with religious or political prejudice, and accounts of situations that led to better understanding between people of different backgrounds. One student wrote, "Thanks for continuing to educate people on these issues, I feel like a much bigger and better person since I came to CU."
Differences in survey results across 2001, 2006 and 2010 indicate an overall trend of small but consistent and wide-ranging improvements in the social climate on the CU-Boulder campus. For example, students' level of comfort taking part in campus social life was higher in 2010, as were the average levels of feeling welcome, accepted, supported and intellectually stimulated at CU-Boulder. In all three surveys, African-American undergraduate students perceived the climate at CU-Boulder somewhat less favorably than did undergraduates of other races/ethnicities. Compared with 2001 and 2006, however, African-American undergraduates in 2010 reported feeling more welcome on the Boulder campus and more comfortable participating in campus social life and life on the Hill. Other students also reported feeling more welcome and comfortable in 2010.
A campus advisory board representing a wide range of campus units helped guide the survey and data analysis, including the assistant vice chancellor for diversity, equity and community engagement, the associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education, faculty and representatives from student government, Disability Services, the GLBT Resource Center, Religious Campus Organizations, Wardenburg Health Center, the Office of Orientation, the Center for Multicultural Affairs and the Women's Resource Center.
The survey's findings are used primarily to evaluate, revise and develop programs and policies that promote student success by helping all students feel like valued members of the university community. PBA and members of the survey's advisory board have been working together to distribute the results and encourage their use throughout the university community.
"For several years, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement has worked with several campus community committees to assess and maintain the social climate for all students, especially as it impacts learning in and outside the classroom, as well as staff and faculty," said Alphonse Keasley, assistant vice chancellor for diversity and equity. "The results of the latest survey will be most instructive in the ways that various Chancellor Advisory Committees can continue to recommend diversity and inclusion needs to ODECE and senior level administrators that are central to the campus's mission and purpose."
The results will also be used by academic affairs. "The Office of Undergraduate Education will be using specific results of this campus climate survey to fine-tune or modify specific programs which have a significant focus on improving the welcoming climate we want for our students," said Michael Grant, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education. "For example, our McNeil, Daniels, Ethnic Living and Learning and Academic Excellence programs, among others, all work with students who may find understanding and fitting into a research university environment a particular challenge for it is often a really new and different cultural environment. This is also the case for many international students."


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- Guaranteed for 2 full months
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This tutorial is a demonstration of the SLR Lounge Lightroom 4 Preset System. With over 200 presets, the LR4 Preset System has been critically acclaimed as the most powerful and intuitive preset system available for Lightroom 4. DPS users can get 10% off by using the DPS10 coupon code upon checkout. Click the link above to learn more/purchase.
In this Lightroom 4 tutorial, we will show you how to create a warm, sunset-toned look in Lightroom 4. It is a great look that can be applied to a late afternoon outdoor images. I particularly dig this look on shots like this one at the beach. We will also correct for uneven exposure across the image that is caused by the directional lighting of the sun.
If you own the SLR Lounge Lightroom 4 Preset System, this effect can be achieved in 3 clicks as shown below. If you don't own the preset system, please skip to Step 1 to learn how to do it manually.
Lightroom 4 Presets
00 MY MIXOLOGY – 10 SOFT PORTRAITS > 16 SP HDR Light
01 BASE ADJUST – 00 EXPOSURE > 04 Darken -0.5
01 BASE ADJUST – 40 SHADOWS BLACKS > 42 Heavy Brighten (+30, +60)
Warm up Temperature and increase the Magenta in Tint to your liking. To see all the tweaks and adjustments applied, please continue on.
This image from a recent engagement session was shot around 4pm late in December on one of our many SoCal beaches ;). Although it was late afternoon, there were not a lot warm tones in the atmosphere, and the photo lacked dynamic range.
So in the Basic Adjustment Panel, let's warm up the image by raising the Temperature to between 8000K to 10,000K. Additionally, we want to add some Magenta Tint in order to keep the image from looking too green. Without the pink/red tones that will be added from boosting Magenta tones, we end up with an image lacking the rich warmth we desire. This is the one of the advantages of shooting in RAW, you can change the color temperature of the image at will.
The background environment is also a little too bright and flat, and since we want a moodier shot, let's lower the exposure by -0.50 stop and increase contrast by +50.
Next, let's expand the dynamic range of the image by decreasing the Highlights and Whites by -60 while lifting the Shadows and Blacks by +40 and +60 respectively.
Finally, bring down the Clarity by -10. We will reintroduce Clarity with an adjustment brush to everything but the couple's face, hair, hand, and feet.
The Basic Adjustment Panel and the image should look similar to below.
In addition to adding Contrast in the Basic Panel, let's add a slight contrast-boosting "S" curve that pulls down the shadows a bit and boosts the highlights up a bit.
Normally, if you are using the SLR Lounge Preset System, standard Sharpening amounts are automatically applied. Here is what we typically apply to our image:
Because we boosted the dynamic range and pulled up the shadows, we do need to apply some Noise Reduction. We use this setting for Noise Reduction:
Finally, the brightness is not that even along the edges of the frame, so let's add some Lens Vignetting at +30 Amount and +30 Midpoint to even out edge-to-edge brightness.
Here is how your image should look like after applying all of these adjustments.
That is it for the global adjustments, we are now going to use the adjustment brushes and graduated filter to add more clarity and contrast to the environment, as well as work on evening out the overall exposure.
In the Lightroom 4 Preset System, there is an adjustment brush called the "Sky | Cloud | Ocean" that we apply to the sky, cloud, and ocean. The purpose of this brush is to increase the contrast and clarity. Additionally, this adjustment brush also increases saturation.
Here are the settings for this adjustment brush:
We want to apply this brush to the entire scene except for the couple's exposed skin. The quickest way to accomplish this is to fill the entire scene with the brush, then use Erase brush at the bottom of the Brush Panel to remove the effect from their face, hair, hands, and feet.
Hold Alt (Opt on OSX) while in the active brush to switch to the Erase brush.
Because there is a lot of contrast between the subjects and their surroundings, you can use the Auto Mask to allow Lightroom to mask around the individuals.
To make it easier to see what part of the image is being affected by the adjustment brush, press "O" on the keyboard to toggle the Mask Overlay. The adjustment brush is applied on any part of the image that is overlaid in red.
Once you are finished applying this adjustment brush, press "O" again to hide the overlay. Your image should have a punchier look that similar to the deep shadows of the setting sun.
At 4pm, the winter sun had already started its decent to the horizon, which meant that light was beginning to fade quickly. Because the sun is lighting the scene from the far right, the left side of the image was a tad underexposed in comparison to the right side. We want to correct for this subtly, so we will be using a Graduated Filter to slightly brighten the left side of the frame.
One final adjustment I would like to make to this image is just to remove the rock in the water that is just behind and above the male subjects head. But, given the size and position of the rock, this will best be done in Photoshop.
Finally, here are the before and after images comparing the original image to the new image with the warm, sunset mood look.
Warm, Sunset Mood Image
The SLR Lounge Lightroom 4 Preset System is designed to enable users to achieve virtually any look and effect within 3-5 simple clicks. From basic color correction, vintage fades, black & white effects, tilt-shift effects, faux HDR, retouching, detail enhancing, and so much more. The sky is the limit with what has been dubbed the most powerful and intuitive preset system available. Click the link above to learn more/purchase.
You can also purchase the LR4 Preset System as part of the 30 hour 3 DVD Lightroom 4 Workshop Collection set, containing every bit of education and tools needed to run a Lightroom 4 based photography studio.


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This book tries to reread the ideological and theological dimensions intrinsic to the
Markan Gospel, presupposing that such understanding of the image of Christian identity in
its origin would facilitate one to understand further the socio-historical situations of
the Markan community. This work, for this purpose, enables one to journey through a brief
survey of Markan scholarship regarding the Markan community and to taste the use of
social-scientific models and narrative approach to the text in its interpretation. Hence
this book offers a methodological contribution to the Markan scholarship. The illustration
of the social identity description of the Markan gospel by way of treating the theme of
discipleship and decoding the Markan characterization in a simple and intelligible
language, indeed respect the popular readership and their passion for living an authentic
Christian life in today's turbulent world. In this way, this book serves both the ordinary
Christian believers as an attitudinal guide to get their lives transformed as authentic
disciples of Jesus and for any serious student of the Markan gospel as motivational guide
in her/his inquisitiveness.
1. Audience of Mark : A Brief Survey on Scholarly Viewpoints
2. Text, Identity and Hermeneutical Methods
3. Discipleship and Identity Descriptors
4. Characterization and Identity Descriptors
5. Imaging Christian Identity and Markan Community
Dr. Cyprian E. Fernandez holds Master's Degree and Doctorate in
biblical studies from the University of Salamanca, Spain. He also holds Master's Degree in
Psychology (M.Sc.) from the Madras University. He is the author of `Identity in Conflict:
A Socio-rhetorical Reading of the Markan Story of Jesus. He is teacher of the New
Testament in the Pontifical Institute of Alwaye, Kerala. He is a catholic priest of the
Diocese of Quilon.


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I know I said I'd be going in reverse order, on this whole kitchen-reno-reveal thing (feel free to start at the beginning), but truthfully my order is completely nonsensical (hey, a chaotic reno deserves nothing less than chaotic documentation, right?). So the main reason we did this, the instigator of change, the little flicker of an idea that became my new kitchen — The Fung Schway Window. On night I went happily to bed with this over my sink — the point of no return, the sign of tentative progress:
The hole in the wall wasn't quite as much of an inconvenience as the fact that the cabinets had to come down first. We lived for a few months without those cabinets — even got to that point where you stop seeing the state of mild chaos you're living in. We'd have a new visitor to our house, and I'd see their gaze fall briefly, but repeatedly, on our unexplained wall-of-no-cabinets. And then I'd remember that most people don't live this way, with partially-painted drywall instead of cabinets above their countertops.
But soon the window was in, and it was glorious. Not, mind you, the view — while washing dishes, I get to look at our neighbor's window air-conditioning unit and rotting backyard swingset, used for presumably-grown children I've never seen. But no matter, because like an overexposed photo, I can make it all go away, blow it out in my mind, replace it with blinding light.
And it was the light. And openness. And the fact that I could now stand at my sink, and not feel like I was facing a cave wall, or washing in a basement. For some reason, this is important to me (one of my personal imagined levels of hell is washing an endless stack of dishes in a basement).
And then, of course, the shelves. We had to have a place for our dishes and such, since those cabinets came down. I'm a huge fan of open shelving, even though a few members of my extended family perpetually wonder how we will deal with the dust. My answer is usually we don't. Dust is so underrated.
The design was based on a problem that will be covered in a subsequent post about the countertop. But my contractor-husband basically had to build out a section of shelves on the far end, and then we filled in the middle shelves using Ikea iron brackets. It worked out great — I use the larger shelves for jars and storage, and the middle section is reserved for dishes.
I am not a matchy-matchy person, and even relish the fact that my dishes continue to be a hodge-podge collection of everything from restaurant-ware (the best, sturdiest white dinner plates EVER) to thrift-store finds. Most of my serving dishes are visible on the upper shelves so I can always scan the top to see what I need. The under-shelf teacup hooks were a recent addition, and I have plans for adding an under-shelf wine rack to further maximize space.
So thrilled I was with how this turned out, we could have just stopped there. But we didn't — and after splurging on the most expensive part of our reno, a new section of countertop, we just needed to add a few tiny details to make it almost, so-close-to, just shy of perfect (I would be so bored — yet likely much more sane — without fixating on things that need improving).
Next up in the reno series, Best Supporting Actors: the countertop, and our cheap & trendy backsplash.
You might enjoy following the rest of our reno adventure:
Part 1: Julia Child Pot Rack
Part 3: The Countertop & Backsplash
Part 4: Final Details & Cost Breakdown


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6 of 11
Superseed Bar
Yeah, we said natural sugar is not only OK, but necessary before a hard workout, but not every workout is going to be grueling and push you to your limits. Sometimes you need to do a short, easy run, a yoga class, or another workout that just keeps you in the game and balances out the more intense sweat sessions. This bar only has 5.4 grams of sugar, but it has enough carbs, fat, and protein so you're not running on empty. Plus, it's flavored with cocoa, and is super healthy, vegan, chewy, and crunchy.
View Recipe


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- I am a mom, wife, a sister and friend, motivational speaker, coach, writer , artist and listener of life.
- I am a storyteller, making sense of life's complicated emotional confusion by translating it through story into clarity and understanding and actionable, powerful insight.
- I am a vessel through which, when I keep myself open, Profound Unconditional Love flows through, using the tools of writing, words, art, cooking, drama, photography, meditation and prayer.
- I am all of us, as I believe with all my heart that we are one, and whatever we do to the least of us, we do to all of us.
- I am on a mission to spread love, joy and acceptance of all to the entire world. Will you join me?
Why do I do what I do? One of my BIG Why's is because I am a Mother. I want to be the very best I can be for my kids, both here and now, and for the world we are giving to them. And I've learned enough on this life-journey to know that to give them all I've got- I have to make sure I HAVE something to give. I have to be full of love to give them love. The second BIG WHY is everyone else. My relationships are huge Why's in my life. I want to be there for the people that mean the most to me, and the ones I have yet to meet.
I guess all of that can be summed up in this one statement:
"MY BIG WHY is To KNOW- in my gut- that I am using my life to spread the message of Profound Unconditional Love and Grace- through my life, my art, and my work- every day, in my own imperfect way."
Wendi's Bio:
Wendi's Bio:
Wendi Kelly is known as the "Love" Coach by her clients. She started out teaching entrepreneurs how to build their businesses with practical strategies and tools but quickly saw that the majority of them weren't stuck on the how to, they were stuck with an insecure and self-depreciating mindset that kept them mired in an endless cycle of non-action.
The solution? She created a program to transform self-loathing to self-loving and open the flood gates of freedom for them to live the life they have always dreamed of.
Wendi is devoted to coaching creative clients who are ready to take the leap into clarity, happiness and success in business and life. Her clients are transformed from the splatter and chaos of self doubt, smallness thinking and self-abusive habits by plugging into their own personal gifts, unlocking their creative powers and discovering their core truths about who they are truly designed to be.
When she isn't speaking, writing or coaching, Wendi currently is a theater director, active in her church, an artist, photographer and a four- time published author. She has spent her life dedicated to the creative arts including theater, art, writing, directing, music, cooking, gardening and photography. She enjoys finding ways to use her talents as an artist to help her clients achieve their goals. She walks her talk, combining her busy artistic life with a passion for helping others achieving theirs at the same time.
Her Background:
Wendi has thirty-five years invested as a serial entrepreneur in businesses ranging from sales, marketing & promotions, and management & business consulting and coaching. She uses this background and knowledge to create practical strategies and action plans while promoting a love-centered approach to creating positive mindsets, motivation and goal-setting.
A note from Wendi
Thanks for visiting Life's Little Inspirations, the Inspired Circle of the Blue Sun Network. I'm so glad you are here. If you enjoyed your visit, we would like to invite you to subscribe to our community by joining us on our Facebook page and/or by subscribing to our weekly E-zine, Around the Studio, which comes out every Sunday and will keep you updated on all the new happenings around the Blue Sun Network.
You will find the sign-up links to all of this on our home page side bar.
I would be honored if you would share LLI with your friends and social media outlets. Growing the mission of LLI is very important to us. We would love your help!
Welcome to the Blue Sun Network community!
With Love & Grace,
Wendi Kelly
Life's Little Inspirations


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After Smartwatches & Google Glasses here comes Smartshoes which will guide you the right path to walk by giving vibrations using the Google map. Lechal SmartShoes been developed by India's Ducere Technologies.
Basic Functioning :
The shoes will be connected to our mobile Bluetooth to an app that pulls your path from Google Maps. The shoes vibrates to tell you which direction to turn in . A vibrating right shoe means you have to go right. A vibrating left shoe means to go the other way.
The shoes were basically designed to help people with visual impairments navigate more effectively and easily , but the company's founders soon recognized there could be a much wider market so they are adding additional features to it. Such as the shoes aspire to work as a wearable fitness monitor, tracking steps and calories burned.


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Completely remodeled, transitional-style waterfront mansion located on Lower North Bay Rd – Miami Beach's most prestigious address for ultra-luxury real estate. Combining elements of modern & classic to create a seamless balance between both worlds, this luxe home offers expansive living areas, including a grand room with dramatic double-height ceilings with a glass roof, game room, waterfront living & family room, chef's kitchen, & dining with a wine cellar. Lavish master suite, 3 large beds, striking windows, Crestron system, soaring ceilings, & modern edgy details mark the interiors of the main house. Pool deck with a resort-style pool, spa, & patio - ideal for entertaining & enjoying views of Sunset Lake. 2/2 guesthouse - 1 bed converted into gym, 3-car garage, large dock, 100-FT WF.
|Elementary School
|Middle School
|High School
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the participating Associations of the Miami Multiple Listing Service. The MLS data provided for the property above (A10781534) is provided courtesy of (BHHS EWM Realty). The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Data last updated on 10-20-2020. IDX powered by Realty Net Media
REIQ - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty
(305) 542-1131
P.O. Box 402572
Miami Beach, FL 33140


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Due to concerns for community safety and county-mandated closures, all spring 2020 programs as well as French Camp have been canceled. Read more information and details here.
Learn about CIFC's virtual engagement opportunities this summer, including French classes, at this page. All activities are free and open to everyone.
Orcas and Shaw residents! Every Friday, CIFC holds a baked goods sale in support of our unrestricted fund. Consider ordering tasty treats for a good cause. Learn more here.
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Music Monday – When you're sitting in a resturant…
While sitting in a Japanese restaurant after enjoying some katsu curry with several fellow Anime@UTS-ians this afternoon, I heard the slow and delicate plucking of a guitar and a soft, clear voice, rising and falling in a gentle and yet somehow addictive tune over their sound system. It was comforting and pleasant to listen to, and despite the slow pace of the song and what seemed like a slight melancholic note, surprisingly uplifting. Have I ever mentioned I like songs that are uplifting?
In any case, after a few tries with SoundHound, eventually all was revealed. The song was called 'Hana' by Kana Uemura, from the album 'Shiawase no Hako wo Hiraku Kagi' (aka 'The Key to Open the Box of Happiness'). Although I was determined to listen to it again, I wasn't able to find the song anywhere although I scoured the internet for videos (there is this streaming link I discovered), however I did find this little gem:
If I thought 'Hana' sounded familiar to me somehow (and I still can't figure out why), this song stirred even more memories and I immediately thought to myself 'Studio Ghibli!'. Yes, what is it but the theme song to Kiki's Delivery Service.
(And of course, we've all heard about Hayao Miyazaki retiring from doing feature length films. Listen to the song in farewell, won't ya? We'll all miss this great man who brought us such spectacular films.)
Although Uemura's voice reminds me in some ways of YUI, there are moments like in 'Yasashisa ni tsutsumareta nara' where her voice really stands out. It is a clear and honest sound and the guitar she uses compliments her nicely, even though she also sings to loud and fun big band style music now and then… though I can't seem to find that song again either!
In doing all that searching though, now I think I have a second favourite song of hers, 'Milk Tea'. I think Uemura has shown herself to be pretty versatile and I'm loving it~


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Earlier in 2013, MSNBC host Mika Brezinski was clearly upset by a montage of people, including the president himself, saying Obama didn't know about NSA spying and other scandals plaguing his administration. It was striking in the nonchalant way media persons, White House officials, and others pronounced with a straight face that President Obama just didn't know. He didn't know about the IRS persecuting Tea Party orgs. He didn't know about Fast and Furious. He didn't know that Obamacare's healthcare.gov website was gonna bust a Fail Whale.
This was a defining moment because of who Mr. Obama is; presumably the leader of the free world. Yet, Obama hasn't been aware of much of anything. He has even said so himself - repeatedly. This strains the limits of credulity. No CEO of a major corporation or non-profit would ever permit themselves to be on the record deferring responsibility in this way.
Finding out about the Fast and Furious scandal on the news, hearing of the NSA eavesdropping on the private calls of allies and world leaders on the news. What executive would be proud to be kept in the dark this way? What board of directors would ever find this acceptable? Looking back over the years, a clear pattern emerges: NSA spying and overreach; Obama knew nothing. On Bengazi; he found out just before the American people did. On IRS Tea Party persecution; he was as shocked as we were! Fast and Furious; "whew! Wasn't that something?" The Green Energy debacle of Solyndra; Obama wasn't sure he'd ever heard of it until the news media started reporting on it. Even though there are pictures of him visiting the headquarters. And don't forget healthcare.gov. He never even saw that debacle coming.
Our President should never again present himself to Americans touting the idea that he gets his news from the same channels we do. Doesn't his position afford him a level of significant early notification? It does if he can get off the golf course long enough to attend a briefing.
Here's hoping that 2014 is the start of a new trend for him; demanding he is briefed and kept up to speed on pressing national and international issues by his cabinet and staff. The American people deserve much more from our elected leader. Five years in, it's time the president delivered.
"Occam's razor" says that given two equally possible explanations the simplest one is most often the correct one. Basically Barak Obama displays an IQ around the high-normal range. It's nothing to brag about, but nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of this is just too complex and abstract for him to follow. There is a phenomenon called, "The Dunning–Kruger effect". In general when it comes to practical issues people tend to think they smarter than they are because they can't really understand the thinking of people that are actually smarter than they are. In Obama's case he probably rationalizes that he is an "global-thinker" rather than a "detail-thinker". That's probably true, but he probably thinks (and appears to think) that he is more capable of global-thinking than he really is. A great global-thinker can rely on "detail-thinkers" to do the studying and confirming while they take the summaries they supply and incorporate them into a "global view" of issues. But they can do so because their aptitude for this and experience enables them to overlay what they are hearing with 'automatic templates' that help them determine whether the information they are receiving is adequately complete and not contradictory to other elements in their "global view". All real things exist in the same reality and one can use universal rules for assessing whether a new bit of information is consistent with the rules used for assessing other bits of information. If in doubt ... further information is required. Good leaders tend to have exceptional aptitudes for this. Bad leaders tend to think they do, but don't. Good leaders can cover most of what is going on and avoid errors and internal conflicts. Bad leader's delusions about their ability lead them to assume they can cover most of what is going on when they can't. They also develop a tendency to dismiss opinions that are more insightful than their own and suspect the people that present them.


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« Common Core Now Loves Inertia | Main | What Didn't Happen in 2014 »
Curmudgucation Digest (December 21)
Pearson redesigns education, Cuomo declares war, and Arne claims to have learned something, all this week at Curmudgucation.
Punishing Teachers More Effectively
A study suggests that merit pay is more effective if it's more punitive
Schools, Transparency, and the Free Market
A CREDO speaker says out loud that education and the free market don't seem to mesh. No kidding.
Arne Duncan's love of VAM resists data and critical thinking.
The administration's Big Plans for teching up every school in the country may have some nice features, but it also has some trouble with reality.
Six Lessons from Pearson's Assessment Renaissance
This week I waded into Pearson's big essay outlining its views about the assessment renaissance it sees just around the corner. The main takeaways are in the article linked above. If you want to follow me as a I plow through seventy-some pages, you can start with this piece.
The administration plan to evaluate teacher prep programs is one more perverse incentive to drive teachers away from high challenge classrooms.
If Pearson measures everything, who checks their work?
With RttT under legislative pressure, I take a look at what its goals really were.
Andrew Cuomo Doesn't Understand Accountability
Hint: it's not what you're doing when you've decided the answer before you've asked the question.
Cyber-Security and Our Data Overlords
Pearson wants to collect all the data. Current events suggest that's not the best idea.
Arne writes about five years of lessons in fifty states. It's not very illuminating.
Cuomo's office unleashes a poorly written letter that outlines all the ways he'd like to stomp NY public school teachers.
High stakes overtesting is shaping up to be one of the front lines in the battle for US public education. Here's who's defending it, and how.


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Watch this on-demand webinar series to take deep dives into predictive extensions, big data algorithms and cognitive capabilities. Each webinar features detailed demonstrations of techniques that can help you achieve more insightful data analysis.
* Expanding the possibilities: How to enhance IBM SPSS Statistics functionality with predictive extensions
Get more from IBM SPSS Statistics 24 by learning how to install and build extensions using R, Python or SPSS Syntax to expand on its features and functionality. Watch now.
* No coding required: Expand your data mining toolset with predictive extensions
See how predictive extensions for IBM SPSS Modeler can open the door for professional analysts and business users to apply new functionality without writing code. Watch now.
* Turning big data into big insight: New algorithms for big data analytics
The latest release of IBM SPSS Modeler is specifically designed to handle more types and sources of data. Learn how you can use algorithms to find meaningful insights faster. Watch now.
* IBM SPSS Software and Watson Analytics: A powerful combo for the cognitive age
Now you can ask questions of your data using IBM Watson Analytics' Natural Language capabilities and find out which variables are driving outcomes with Watson's Predict module. Watch now.
Solve your organization's data challenges
Watch now on demand and learn how to predict outcomes with a high level of confidence and share your predictive models with decision makers.
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Ever wish you had more time to browse for beautiful interiors for the house/ flat/ office? You know, actually seek out and actively make space for those one-of-a-kind pieces that… Read more
Posts Tagged / vintage
The best charity shops in London
Check out our guide to bagging yourself a few bargains...
According to research by Marks & Spencer and Oxfam, the value of unwanted clothes in British wardrobes is estimated to be £4.6bn, so it's no wonder our local charity shops are… Read more
#PushROUNDUP #26
A little heads up from the team...
The last two weeks have been pretty major. The team jet-set to Taipei to talk luxury fashion projects, hosted a designer vintage showcase in the showroom (check out luxury online… Read more
NYC lowdown from international blogger Luanna Perez
If you've been following us on instagram, you'll know that our native New Yorker Brittany recently took a trip back to the big apple for Fashion Week. She flitted between fashion shows and… Read more
The A-Z highlights for Push PR 2011! P-T
P: PRCA: Last year Push PR became a member of the PRCA because here at push we're passionate about what we do and strive to be the best at it!… Read more
Tara Starlet launches Undergarments range!
We recently went along to the launch of Tara Starlet's undergarments range at Time For Tea in Shoreditch and what a fab time we had! The event had a truly… Read more
Tara Starlet takes Brighton
A few weeks back Tara Starlet shot a new campaign for her website for this S/S. We've just gotten the pictures in and they look great! Take a peep below…… Read more
Come to Carnaby's Shopping Party!
It doesn't take much for us to get excited, for example a new delivery of gorgeous products, the sun shining, or cocktails. But when our two favourite things:- Shopping and… Read more
Blog Crush
No lie. We are obsessed. Vanya's jewellery blog is brilliant! Not only does she write about her beautiful vintage-inspired trinkets, but also about her inspiration and things she finds at… Read more


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"My name's Peter and my dogs and I live in Venice, CA. My big rescue Scooby is 11 and about 105 lbs. He has joint discomfort in both his back hips and a heavy limp in his front right and can really struggle to get out of bed. My vet says his range of motion will continue to diminish as he gets older.
I have tried different phytocannabinoid products in the past but have had to conceal them in ground beef etc because Scooby is a picky eater. I overheard a guy in a pet food store singing the praises of Treatibles and did some research online.
Scooby greedily eats Treatibles and I really notice a change in him after he does. I can see how he staggers with much less hesitation as I believe any discomfort he has is dissipated by the Treatibles. For extended periods of time after walks, he stretches out on the cool floor, wagging with his tongue out. Happy boy.
I'm super grateful to have found something that seems to give him so much relief while also being something he truly adores!
Thanks so much!"
– Peter Giles


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shook wrote: Think you should remove the link, its against the rules
Anyway, with firefox 3.5 its working wonderful!
and now there's a link in YOUR post
Moderator: moderators
If you do Help -> About what version do you see of Firefox?NYK wrote:I'm running the latest version of firefox and kapiskript just fine, is it not working at all?
My adult site activities?jinny1 wrote:i know you dont like them knowing you about ur adult site activitites but google changed the rule to 6 months ( i think) or 1 yearDopamin wrote:No.
I do not like my data stored the next few centuries, so I try to avoid it where its possible...


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The Responsible Safari Company (RSC) and Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP) are in the process of designing a Homestay Initiative through which guests can experience authentic village life in Malawi. The hope is that through guests experiencing day-to-day life and taking part in traditional customs, local people will appreciate the importance of safeguarding their cultural practices and traditions, despite the speed with which the world is changing around them. It will also be an income-generating activity for YODEP, sponsored by RSC. At the same time, guests will learn about Malawi in a totally unobstructed and authentic way.
With that in mind, and to see what I could learn in anticipation of how we would promote homestays to travellers, in early November 2014, I decided to experience a homestay in Malawi myself in the village where the YODEP headquarters are, 10 minutes outside of Zomba town in the south of the country.
A Few Important Homestay Lessons
I arrived at YODEP around lunchtime and was given my briefing by McBlessings, the manager of YODEP. He talked me through what to expect and then Wilfred, a programme officer, took me to meet my family and make introductions. It was quite overwhelming trying to remember – and pronounce – everyone's names and who was related to whom! Lesson number one: In the future we will provide this information to the guests in advance so they can make a start on learning it without the pressure of having everyone there.
We then moved outside and sat on a mat to make disjointed conversation with a lot of pointing and laughing. Apparently my Chichewa accent is very funny. One of the ladies came by and sat her baby on my lap, and from then on the children played around me, edging closer and closer, except when I stretched to tickle them. The absolute hilarity of this helped to break the thin layer of ice that having a muzungu (white person) in the compound had created. Just as I felt out of my comfort zone, I'm sure they did too, but it really didn't take long for me to feel at home and welcome.
We ate lunch – nsima (a maize-flour porridge that is a staple food in Malawi) with beans and dried fish. It was tasty, although it wasn't the first time I've had this. I expect if it had been I might not have felt so comfortable with it. Lesson number two: Try nsima and other local Malawian food before going to a homestay. I think joining in and eating with my hosts helped them feel more comfortable with me there.
We spent the afternoon getting to know each other. One of the girls, Victoria, was 14 and had a reasonable level of English. She took me under her wing and introduced me to her friends. I think I made a bit of an idiot of myself trying to do their extreme version of skipping, but it got a few laughs! Lesson number three: Malawian children can skip. Really well.
In the evening, I went with Victoria to buy the maize flour that goes into the nsima. We bought a big bag of it and she took great pleasure in watching me try to walk with it on my head – unsurprisingly it is very difficult! I could manage about 10 steps per minute but Victoria was hungry, so luckily she took over. Back at the compound, we sat and cooked together on the outdoor fire. We ate the nsima with more beans and "animal" (I'm pretty sure it was goat), followed by a banana for pudding, outside on the mat. I was quite surprised how nice the food was, as it was something I was quite worried about beforehand. Lesson number four: Try everything once!
A Day in the Life
The next morning life started around 5am. We got up, dressed and someone had boiled me some water for a wash. That made me feel a lot better, as 5am is early whatever time you go to bed. I helped Victoria sweep the compound of the twigs and rubbish that had collected over the previous day and night. Then we did some ploughing in the field next to their houses, getting it ready to plant maize as soon as the rains come. It was hard work and, even though it was still relatively cool, I worked up a good sweat. And to think that Victoria does all of this before she goes to school!
We had buttered bread and tea or breakfast whilst Victoria and I sat with her brother, Andrew, listening to Dolly Parton. It was a very surreal moment. Then another course of rice with tomato and egg appeared out of nowhere. I definitely wasn't expecting to eat so much!
I spent the rest of the morning playing with the children and babies. Later, Victoria and Andrew tried to teach me Chichewa by writing the words in the mud. I felt at the time that I was learning a lot, but a few days later I can't remember anything!
Saying goodbye was quite emotional. In just 24 hours I had been welcomed into this family's life and treated like one of their own. I felt really privileged to be able to share this day with them and see into their daily lives. I'll definitely be back over for tea soon!
No Easy Journey
To get to the stage of spending a homestay day and night in the village had taken approximately three months. Whilst everyone had been excited at the prospect since the very beginning, we had to be very careful to act sensitively, collaboratively and in the best interests of the local community, hopefully ensuring the long-term success of the project.
After all, bringing foreigners into a totally new setting such as a Malawian village throws up numerous challenges and potential problems, not the least of which is introducing a new culture to the village that could totally undermine the emphasis placed on local traditions. For this reason before we committed ourselves to the project, we undertook this project in a very slow, controlled and collaborative manner. For example, before even beginning this work, we conducted a thorough desk-based social-impact assessment to identify as many potential problems as possible.
Between RSC and YODEP, we covered a lot of ground, everything from genuine concerns to the truly fantastical. We reviewed numerous scenarios, including the likely increase of litter, wastewater and even begging. We then talked about how we could mitigate against or drastically reduce the risks associated with these challenges. For instance, regarding the potential increase in begging, we decided that there would be zero tolerance for families asking for donations of any kind. Money from the Homestay Initiative will go to YODEP, who will pay the families for their hospitality and cover their expenses for hosting; anything extra will be distributed according to YODEP's established practices, which have proven to be successful and fair over the six years we have worked with them. To do otherwise would undermine YODEP's reputation and belief in community empowerment, sustainable development and independence.
YODEP then conducted six rounds of community feedback research. Results from this showed that local villagers were most worried about their standard of living and how outsiders new to it would cope. It was decided that RSC would provide YODEP with a "business starter pack" financed through our Payment for Ecosystems fund. This money will be used to purchase mattresses, mosquito nets and bedding for the guests; the maintenance and replacement of these materials will then be the responsibility of YODEP.
The feedback also more generally confirmed the need for in-depth and extensive pre-stay communication with both the guests and hosts to ensure that they both know what to expect. Whilst we hope that guests and hosts keep an open mind and adopt a "muck in" attitude, managing general expectations has been found to be very significant for both sides.


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Invest in Gold (I) — Where to Buy Gold, Kitco or Bullion Direct?
By Sun
My first gold investment was made five years ago on February 8th, 2002, when I opened an account with Tocqueville Fund to buy $1,000 of their Tocqueville Gold Fund (TGLDX). At that time, the share price of TGLDX was $18.05. Since then, I bought TGLDX almost every month and have accumulated about 200 shares at the end of last year (I sold 50 shares in 2004). During the same period of time, prices of spot gold has risen from $287.40 an ounce on February 4, 2002 to $645.70 on February 2nd, 2007. And how did the fund do? At the close of last Friday, the fund is priced at $50.64. In fact, TGLDX was one of my top three performers in my mutual fund holdings.
Though so far I am very happy with the performance of TGLDX, which gives me an exposure to the precious metal sector and makes my portfolio more diversified, the fund mainly invests in mining stocks, instead of the physical bullion. Despite the outstanding performance of gold/precious metal mutual funds in recent years, I think when people are talking about gold, the interest is not really about the paper value of some mining stocks, but the stability and security of physical gold. If I want to use gold to hedge against inflation, the only way to go is owning the metal.
Investing in gold is a lot easier nowadays. In addition to gold/precious metal mutual funds and physical gold (coins and bars), there are several gold-backed ETFs launched in the past couple of years to help investors catch the gold fever. In addition to TGLDX, I am also looking for other alternatives to invest in gold, particularly in physical gold.
I have been interested in buy gold for some time, but never got into action. One reason was it is difficult to make a sizable commitment. When investing in mutual funds, I can contribute $50 or $100 at any time without additional costs and a $100 investment today could mean a lot 20 years later. However, with gold, it doesn't make too much sense to buy only $100 and pay $30 fees. Besides, the gold bear market can be very long. As a matter of fact, gold prices hovered around $400 (the prices are not inflation adjusted) nearly twenty years before taking off in 2002. There's a chance that the 700 some dollars I spend on a piece of gold today may worth less that 10 years later. Yet, I still want to own some pieces. Not a big amount, but a couple of ounces every year is what I can afford.
General information
It's very easy to get real-time gold price. Unlike stock prices, which are always delayed for 20 minutes if you don't use your own brokerage, prices of gold listed on various website are up-to-the-minute. The websites I use most often are Goldprice.org and Kitco.com. Goldprice.org also has an on-going series on how to buy gold as well as basic knowledge about gold, very educational. Also, APMEX is offer a free gold investment kit, which is quite informative.
Buy gold
There are many places to buy physical gold (coins and bar) and prices vary. While prices (price of the gold and commission, shipping charges, and insurances) are always important in selecting from which dealer to make a purchase, I also look at the dealer's reputation, reliability, and customer service (the accuracy of the quotes, execution time, price lock, insurance, and return policy, etc). Since I don't have personal experience with any dealer just yet, all I did was collecting information from people who have used them on various websites and compare these sites myself.
For price comparison, I used the close price of spot gold on February 2, 2007, $645.70, as a reference. The following are sites that I am interested in.
Kitco provides comprehensive information on precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, in addition to being a bullion dealer. The bullion products from Kitco include American and Canadian gold coins and gold bar. Real-time prices are available online and purchases can be made online as well.
- American gold Buffalo 1 oz: $685.86
- Canadian gold Maple 1 oz: $682.71
- Certified check, postal money order, cashier's check, teller's check or bank wire
- For personal check, a 3-week waiting period from when payment is received before the order is shipped
- For orders less than $20,000, a credit card authorization is required for price confirmation
Fees & insurance
- $30 flat shipping fees
- $4 per $1000 insurance charges
Bullion Direct
Bullion Direct offers three different ways to purchase gold: Catalog, Nucleo Exchange, and Auction. For non-active trading, their Catalog service is a better choice and it is the one that I am interested in. Purchases can be made online by registering a free account. Real-time price is also available online.
- American gold Buffalo 1 oz: $686.50
- Canadian gold Maple 1 oz: $686.50
- In addition to bank wire, money orders, and checks, credit card payments are also acceptable for Catalog product purchase
- 7-day holding period for personal checks
Fees & insurance
- $9.95 and up shipping fees (depends on destination) and $5.95 + 4% handling fees
- Gold is insured by Lloyd's of London and insurance charges are included
American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX) is a leading online dealer of precious metals, such as silver, gold, and platinum. When this post was originally written in 2007, I didn't know about APMEX, so I couldn't make the price comparison. However, it appears that APMEX does have a competitive pricing, especially when you buy a large quantity. For example, it shows on its website that for 2011 1 oz American Eagle Gold Coin, it will add as low as $74.99 markup over the price of spot. For order with 20 coins or more, the price for the Gold Eagle is $5 per coin less than for an order of 19 coins or less. Bullion Direct, on the other hand, doesn't offer discount for large quantity.
In addition to regular account, APMEX also offers IRA account so that investors can hole precious metals in their retirement accounts as well. Opening an account with APMEX is free and easy and you don't need to put down any money in the account. If you interested, you can try APMEX and get a chance to win a Gold Eagle for free.
For large amount purchase of gold coins, Tulving offers very competitive price. Most of their gold coin products, however, require a minimum of 20 coins and I guess that's why they can keep their prices relatively low. However, they don't have real-time price information online. Call (800) 995-1708 to obtain up-to-the-minute quotes and place order.
- American gold Buffalo 1 oz: $675.00
- Canadian gold Maple 1 oz: $675.99
- Prices are locked in when placing order over the phone and that's the price you will pay
- Bank wire or overnight check only
Fees & insurance
- Free overnight shipping and insurance for all gold orders
USA Gold
In addition to contemporary gold bullion coins and bars, USA Gold also sells historical coins. Real-time price quotes are only available by calling their (800) 869-5115 number. The information on their website are not as complete as others and I wasn't able to find payment information, shipping and handling fees, and insurance policy, though it's a reputable company.
This article was originally written or modified on . If you enjoyed reading this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed. Or you can also choose to have free daily updates delivered right to your inbox.


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Since June, the 29-year-old [Cherish Cornish] has lived on the fifth floor of a temporary housing facility run by Father Bill's & MainSpring, a private nonprofit group in Brockton, Mass. Cornish lives in one of five rooms reserved for homeless female veterans. She's struggling to make a life for herself after the military.
"When I joined the Army, I was barely 20 years old," Cornish says with a Southern accent, a legacy of years growing up in Texas. "I come out, and I'm 23, and so I just kind of came of age in the military. I wind up on my own again in an apartment. It's the first time I've had to pay rent since I was a teenager. It's the first time I had to pay a light bill "" pretty much ever "" and all these responsibilities and budgeting and stuff that I'd really never had to deal with in the military."
There are other complications. Cornish suffers from PTSD. It took the VA several years to diagnose her. Cornish believes her trauma stems from her service in Iraq. She was a transmission specialist working at isolated outposts monitoring and intercepting radio communications. Still, she thinks she lucked out, because often she'd just miss getting physically hurt.


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At first when I thought about 2017 I was focusing on everything that I didn't accomplish. So I wrote down everything that I did in the last twelve months and the list grew to 100 items. Ends up I was more productive than I remembered! For your sake I've cut the list from 100 to my top 16.
16) In January my mom and I visited my cousin Kadie in Taiwan. I loved it so much, that I've decided one day I will live there.
15) I transferred my childhood home videos from VHS to a digital format.
14) I downsized my possessions by 2/3. My excess stuff was holding me back. I kept only the things that gave me joy.
13) I learned how to sell stuff on ebay. I sold things that I'd been holding onto "just in case," like my Grandma's porcelain North Pole village.
12) I got to help my mom declutter and organize her apartment and garage. It was a joy seeing her home transform into a more peaceful space.
11) I launched ElizabethSymington.com. I posted a month long series called, "How backpacking enriched my daily life."
10) I learned the basics to travel hacking. And then I created a list of things I can do now to help prepare for my future travels, like setting up a bank account that waives all ATM fees.
9) I learned the philosophy behind Lightweight Backpacking. That inspired me to asses what I pack and to look for lighter gear options. Overall I cut seven pounds from what I usually pack.
8) I planned my first RTW (Round The World) year long adventure. I want to volunteer at National Parks around the world. I've figured out my itinerary and the budget. Next step is to save, save, save.
7) I use to loath being on the computer, because I was so slow at typing. So I signed up for an online typing course. After two months I went from typing 24 wpm to 63 wpm!
6) I adore researching, which explains why I completed 10 research projects ranging from "No-Stove Backpacking Menu Ideas" to "How to be a certified Braille Transcriber." I also made a brochure of Taiwanese Restaurants in the Sacramento area, plus a Google Maps version.
5) I ended my two year drought of not owning a motorcycle. After adjusting the Suzuki DR650 to fit me and relearning how to ride, I realized that I don't like this style of motorcycle, so I sold it.
4) For six months I tried eating cow's milk. I wanted to see if I was no longer allergic to it, but ends up I still react to milk. I will savor the wonderful memories of eating pizza with mozzarella.
3) I've worked at several custom picture framing shops, but this was the first time I've tried making a framing at home. I framed a family heirloom. It was my Grandma's costume jewelry Christmas tree.
2) I researched how to live plastic-free. I started with evaluating my toiletries and then I slowly branched out from there. For Christmas presents I gave adorable utensil pouches.
1) I entered Scotch Tape's "Most Gifted Wrapper" contest, that was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The challenge was to come up with a new use for wrapping supplies. I entered four very different ideas. One of my entries was Braille wrapping paper.
Thank you everyone for a wonderful year! It was a creative, productive, learning-centered twelve months. I am optimistic about the future and all of the wonderful things that are in store.