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Several months ago, I worked with a customer who was rolling out a new version of an ecommerceWeb portal.The application, which is used primarily by the customer's partners, exposes sales data and other confidential information. The customer wanted to use SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services, but was concerned about security and report proliferation. Specifically, the customer wanted answers to two key technical questions: How can we use Reporting Services in an environment in which Windows Authentication isn't available and how do we deploy a common set of reports for the entire application—without the risk of one partner seeing another's data?
Because these questions are common in environments that deploy applications across the Internet or extranets, I'm going show you how to first, deploy a custom authentication scheme for Reporting Services and second, develop reports that filter data at run time based on which end user is viewing the reports.You can also use this filtering technique with Reporting Services' default security model.
Authentication and Authorization
Let's first quickly review the concepts of authentication and authorization. Authentication is the process of establishing who you are, whereas authorization is the process of determining what you can do. For example, when entering the fitness club, I use my membership card to establish my identity (authentication). Once inside, I have the privilege of using certain parts of the club (e.g., pool, tennis court) based on the authorizations I've been granted. Sadly, I rarely make it the fitness club—but that's a topic for another article...
By default, Reporting Services 2005 uses Windows Authentication mode to establish identity and its own set of roles to grant privileges (referred to as Tasks) to Windows users or groups.This security model works well for companies that use Windows Authentication within the organization.
However, when it comes to providing reports outside the company firewall (or when a company is trying to integrate with a different internal authentication standard), Windows Authentication is often not an option. Fortunately, the Reporting Services security model is extensible (like many other parts of the product). In this case, the product's extensibility lets you replace the default Windows Authentication mode with a custom authentication provider. Specifically, a developer can implement the .NETbased IAuthenticationExtension security extension interface to handle the job of authentication. We're going to do just that (and a bit more) in this article. (For a discussion of using Web Services as an alternative solution, see the sidebar "What About Web Services?")
Reporting Services Security Extension Basics
Reporting Services is built on top of the .NET Framework and uses a modular architecture designed for extensibility.You can use .NET code to extend several areas of the product, including report data sources, delivery, rendering, and security. To leverage custom authentication, you implement the IAuthenticationExtension security extension interface, and to use custom authorization, you use the IAuthorizationExtension interface. From a deployment standpoint, your implementation of these interfaces is compiled into a DLL.You deploy the DLL to the Reporting Services directory and modify a set of configuration files accordingly.
Reporting Services 2000 used this security extension architecture, and it hasn't changed much in the 2005 release. However, Microsoft has improved the architecture's documentation and now provides a sample security extension. I'll let you read the detailed explanation of the security extensions in SQL Server 2005 Books Online (BOL) yourself, but here's a summary of the two extension interfaces we'll be implementing:
IAuthenticationExtension. This interface represents an authentication extension and contains the following three methods:
- GetUser—Returns the User Identity. In an Internet environment, you'll typically get the user identity from the Web server's http context (e.g., HTTPContext.Current.User.Identity).
- IsValidPrincipalName—Called when the Report Server sets security on an item. You'll configure this method to query your custom store of users.
LogonUser—Used to submit credentials to the Report Server for authentication. After a successful call, the Report Server uses HTTP headers to pass an authentication ticket (i.e., a cookie) from the server back to the client.The client then uses this cookie for subsequent requests during the remainder of the session. Figure 1 shows a graphical flow representation of this process.
IAuthorizationExtension. This interface handles authorization through three methods:
- CheckAccess—An overloaded method that determines whether a user is authorized to access an item (e.g., a report) for a given catalog operation (e.g., ExecuteReportDefinition). CheckAccess actually has 10 different signatures, so to save time, I strongly recommend using the sample code as a starting point.
- CreateSecurityDescriptor—Used to serialize the access-code list applied to a report server item. Similar to an access control list in Windows, the access code list contains the access rights each user has to particular Report Server database items, such as folders or individual reports.This method is used by the CheckAccess method.
- GetPermissions—Used by the Web service GetPermissions method, this method returns the set of permissions granted to a specific user for a given item.
When I first reviewed the security extensions, I wondered whether it was really necessary to implement IAuthorizationExtension. For example, suppose I'm interested in replacing Windows Authentication with Forms Authentication, but I don't want to replace the built-in roles and tasks that my authentication mode uses for authorization. It turns out that you do need to implement the authorization extension. Fortunately, you can still use the roles and tasks within your authorization logic, and this is what we'll do in our samples. Now that we have a basic understanding of the interfaces, we're ready to dive into a sample implementation.
Getting Started: Installing the Sample Security Extension
We're going to start by installing the CustomSecurity sample security extension that ships with SQL Server 2005. (Note that samples aren't installed automatically during setup. For instructions about how to install the samples, see the BOL topic "Installing Samples.") The default location of the CustomSecurity sample, which uses Forms Authentication, is the Extension Samples\ FormsAuthentication Sample subdirectory of the Reporting Services Samples directory. So the path looks like this:
C:\Program Files\ Microsoft SQL Server\90\Samples\ Reporting Services\ Extension Samples\ FormsAuthentication Sample.
The sample is available in both C# and VB.NET versions.
A few words of caution before you begin. First, be aware that implementing a security extension isn't necessarily complex, but it does require several manual steps. Except where I've noted in my tips below, you'll want to carefully follow each step of the BOL topic "Security Extension Sample \[Reporting Services\]" to deploy the sample. In the sample subdirectory, you'll also find a Readme file that's the same as the BOL topic except that the Readme file incorrectly repeats some of the initial deployment steps.
Second, you'll see that BOL warns, "Reverting back to Windows Authentication after migrating to a different security extension is generally not recommended." I suggest that you install a new named instance of Reporting Services 2005, which you can uninstall later without affecting any existing instances.
Third, when I went through the sample, I encountered a few problems that I don't want you to have to work through. To save many hours, while installing the sample, keep the following tips close:
- The VB.NET sample (Authorization .vb) contains errors in its implementation of IAuthorizationExtension. To work around these errors, use the C# sample code or download the updated version of Authorization .vb that's included in this article's download .zip file at the top of the page via the "Download the Code" link.
The Building the Sample section of the sample directs you to generate a strong key file but doesn't tell you what to do with the key file. After you generate the file, you need to update the Strong key file path of the Project. To point to your new key file, select the Project, CustomSecurity Properties menu item, navigate to the Signing tab, then select the
item in the Choose a strong name key file: drop-down box.
- Don't use localhost in the RSWebApplication.config file or during testing. Instead, always use your machine name (e.g., http://yourmachinename/ReportServerFA).
Once you've built and deployed the sample code and modified the necessary configuration files, you should be able to navigate to the sample screen that lets you create and register an initial administrative account and log on from the Report Manager. Microsoft also provides a second logon screen for the ReportingServices URL. These sample logons obviously aren't secure or production-ready, but they offer a simple way to get started.Take some time to create additional non-administrative accounts (e.g., add them to the built-in Browser role in the Home folder) to verify the authorization extension logic is also working properly.
Not Quite What We Wanted
I distinctly remember my first impression after working through the sample: This isn't quite how my customer wants things to work.The customer already had an application with its own login screens, so we didn't want to create additional login screens within Reporting Services. My customer also didn't want end-users to have to log in twice (once for the application, again for Reporting Services).
After further review of the sample extension, we began exploring the option of having the application and Reporting Services share a cookie to manage requests after a client has been validated. ASP.NET supports forms authentication in a distributed environment, so this is the route we decided to take. (For information about this functionality, see the Microsoft article "Forms Authentication Across Applications." ) The key to configuring this distributed authentication (which you can see in action in my second downloadable sample available at the top of the page) is setting a few identical attribute values in the Forms element of each application's web.config file (and adding an identical MachineKey element).=
The Second Sample
To illustrate what my customer's environment ended up looking like, I built another integrated sample of the CustomSecurity project (with three major parts) for you to download and evaluate.The first part of this sample consists of a custom ASP.NET Web site, FormsAuthSample, which uses Forms Authentication along with the new ASP.NET 2.0 membership classes and login controls.The membership classes provide a standardized way of validating user credentials, and managing user settings against a custom data store such as SQL Server.The login controls work on top of the membership classes. (For information about how to use these features, see Rick Dobson's article "Making the Most of Login Controls with ASP.NET.") Usernames and passwords are stored in a SQL Server 2005 relational database, which I created by using the Aspnet_regsql.exe tool (which creates a schema that the SQLMembershipProvider can use—see Visual Studio 2005 documentation for more details).
To force the ASP .NET Web site to issue a persistent cookie to the user, I set the RememberMeSet property of the Login-Control to true and set the DisplayRememberMe property to false. This means that in a production environment, you'd need to first determine whether the user's browser is configured to accept cookies.
The FormsAuthSampleWeb site uses the AdventureWorks sample database as a data source for reports and is designed as if the AdventureWorks company decided to set up an extranet for its vendors. Thus, when you're using the Web site, it will be as if you're a vendor.
Note that when you're testing or debugging this Web site, you need to make sure you run it inside Microsoft IIS—don't use the Visual Studio 2005 built-in Web server. This point is important because, as I previously mentioned, you need to avoid the use of localhost in your URLs and instead target your machine name. You can still debug inside of Visual Studio, but make sure you open the Web site from Local IIS, not from the File System, as Figure 2 shows. You'll also want to change the StartUrl (located on the Start Options tab of the Project Properties dialog box) to reflect your machine name.
The second part of my updated sample is an implementation of the CustomSecurity project. My changes to the original version resulted in three key differences:
- The two logon pages are left in place but they redirect the user to our Web site's login page.
- The LogonUser method calls a Web service (hosted in our Web site) to verify the username and password. Note that LogonUser is now no longer invoked by end users (or our Web site), because our Web site handles user verification and the issuing of cookies. But Visual Studio or the Reporting Services Web service uses the LogonUser method when you're deploying reports from Visual Studio; the method would be called if you wanted to use a Reporting Services Web service API.
- The IsValidPrincipalName method calls a Web service (hosted in our Web site) to verify usernames.
To work with the updated version of the CustomSecurity project, you can simply copy the updated .dll to the two Reporting Services bin directories. You'll also need to update the authentication element and add a machineKey element to the ReportServer web.config file, as the code in Listing 1 shows.
Finally, the third part of the updated sample is the set of reports we'll use to demonstrate report filtering (RSFormAuth-Sample). In the article download at the top of the page, find and open the RSFormAuth-Sample project in Visual Studio and update the Target-ServerURL property accordingly.Then, deploy the project to your report server. You'll be prompted to enter credentials; use the Admin username and password you created.
With everything deployed and configured, you should be able to start the FormsAuthSample Web site, login, and view reports from the My Account page, the ReportManager, or the Report Server URL without having to login again. If you later navigate directly to the ReportManager and your cookie has expired or you've deleted the cookie, you should be redirected to the FormsAuthSample login page. Pretty cool!
Report Filtering
Once forms-based authentication is working, we can focus on the problem of how to filter reports so that users see only their own data. The solution to this problem is actually fairly straightforward. Every time a user executes a report, Reporting Services exposes a set of global values, one of which is User!UserId, which represents the name of the person executing the report. Depending on the nature of your source data, you might be able to pass this value into your query to filter the resulting dataset. Reporting Services 2005 makes this approach a bit easier than Reporting Services 2000 does because it lets you specify parameters as "Internal." Thus, you can set the default value of a parameter to User!UserId and use the parameter in your SQL statements. All the while, the user will never see (nor be able to modify) this parameter.
To see filtering in action, first log in to the FormsAuthSample Web site as an Administrator, noting the two Vendor user accounts listed at the bottom of the Login screen. In the Report Manager, add these two accounts to the Home folder as Browsers.Then, log out and log back in to the application, this time using one of the Vendor accounts. Next, take a look at any of the three sample reports provided. As Figure 3's example shows, you'll see only the information that's allowed for the Vendor account you selected.
Putting Extensibility to Use
The broad extensibility of Reporting Services 2005 is something you don't always find in other software applications. I hope that after reviewing this article and its accompanying code samples, you're excited and comfortable with the idea of using Reporting Services both within and outside your organization.


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Peachford Hospital is seeking a dynamic and talented Admissions Representative (Patient Registration).
Located in the beautiful Dunwoody neighborhood of Atlanta, Peachford features individual units for children, adolescents, adults and seniors, serving residents of Georgia and beyond. We offer inpatient acute care, as well as partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. (www.peachford.com)
The Admissions Representative (Patient Registration) will facilitate the orderly admission of patients to Peachford Hospital, balancing the patient's comfort and ease with the organizations operating needs and financial goals.
Key Responsibilities of Admissions Representative (Patient Registration)Â include:
Conduct admissions in compliance with applicable standards, regulations and hospital protocol.
Supervise and assign areas of responsibility for RNs, LPNs and MHAs and unit secretaries during shift.
Collect and analyze data regarding the patient's physical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, and anticipated discharge planning needs.
Determine patients' alcohol or drug toxicity and identify signs of withdrawal.
Develop a comprehensive outline of care and specific goals and interventions to be included in treatment planning.
Administer medications in a safe, accurate, and timely manner utilizing the "Five Rights� of medication administration.
Monitor patients following nursing unit policies and procedures.
Communicate changes in patient's status (legal, psychiatric, physical) with attending physician.
Inform incoming shift of any changes or problems with patients to promote continuity of care.
Serve as back-up/relief House Supervisor for the facility.
Participate in hospital emergency codes necessary to the unit's and the hospital's safe operation
Review patients' records for accuracy and ensure that treatment plan and progress notes clearly reflect progress of patient and family.
Comply with safety and security policies and procedures, including those regarding incidents and injuries.
This Admissions Representative (Patient Registration) opportunity provides the following:
Peachford Hospital is a Challenging and rewarding work environment
Growth and development opportunities within *UHS and its subsidiaries
Competitive Compensation
One of the nation's largest and most respected hospital companies, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Steadily growing from a startup to an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenue nearing $10 billion. In 2017, UHS was recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #276 on the Fortune 500, and listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America's Top 500 Public Companies.
Our operating philosophy is as effective today as it was 40 years ago: Build or acquire high quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets, invest in the people and equipment needed to allow each facility to thrive, and become the leading healthcare provider in each community we serve.
Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has more than 81,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates more than 320 acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom.
*UHS is a registered trademark of UHS of Delaware, Inc., the management company for Universal Health Services, Inc. and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. Universal Health Services, Inc. is a holding company and operates through its subsidiaries including its management company, UHS of Delaware, Inc. All healthcare and management operations are conducted by subsidiaries of Universal Health Services, Inc. To the extent any reference to "UHS or UHS facilities" on this website including any statements, articles or other publications contained herein relates to our healthcare or management operations it is referring to Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Further, the terms "we," "us," "our" or "the company" in such context similarly refer to the operations of Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Any employment referenced in this website is not with Universal Health Services, Inc. but solely with one of its subsidiaries including but not limited to UHS of Delaware, Inc.
UHS is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at UHS via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of UHS. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by UHS as a result of the referral or through other means.

subset: commoncrawl


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Salem teen helps police look even more professional
SALEM - Decades old and made of crumbling particleboard, the lectern inside the Salem Police Department had definitely seen better days.
Used by the local police force during promotional ceremonies, news conferences and other community events, officers have long known it was time for a replacement but other needs were more immediate.
"It certainly wasn't impressing anyone," Capt. James Chase said of the dilapidated lectern.
So when the new school year began, local police approached students in Jay Hudson's Woodworking Technology II class in hopes someone might be willing to lend a crafty hand. Sophomore Michael Poulin didn't hesitate to volunteer.
"I can do that," he told the police.
Just three days into the school year, Poulin had already sketched out some ideas, which he shared with Detective Robert Genest and Officer Chad Clark.
The two school resource officers liked what they saw, and Poulin got right to work, spending about an hour and a half each school day working on the project. Poulin completed the lectern earlier this month.
"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "Mr. Hudson helped me out a lot because I just wanted everything to be absolutely perfect."
Working with wood has since become one of Poulin's favorite pastimes, he said, and projects like the lectern have proven both challenging and worthwhile.
"You get to be really creative - you have to plan things out as part of the process and make sure everything fits together," Poulin said.
The finished lectern, which police are now outfitting with their official logo, will be an important part of local police proceedings for years to come, Chase said.
"I couldn't believe it when I first got a good look at it. This podium looks like it was made by a professional," he said. "We'll definitely put it to good use. All of our presentations will be made all the better."
Members of the Salem Police Department plan to honor Poulin with some special surprises this May, when the department hosts its annual awards ceremony.


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OLYMPIA During a ceremony in November, Rep. Shelly Short received the 2013 Legislator of the Year Award by the Washington State Farm Bureau.
"It's an absolute honor to receive this recognition by the Washington Farm Bureau," said Short, R-Addy. "Ranchers, farmers and orchardists make up a significant part of our economy in Central and Eastern Washington, and especially the 7th Legislative District. With much of Olympia being dominated by urban, Puget Sound interests, the need to constantly educate my fellow legislators on the needs of our rural agriculture-based economy is paramount."
Short serves as the ranking Republican on the House Environment Committee.
During the 2013 regular session, she introduced legislation to increase accountability and transparency within the departments of Ecology, and Fish and Wildlife. Her bills require the agencies to identify the peer-reviewed science specifically, scientific literature and other sources of information reviewed and ultimately relied upon before taking significant agency action related to certain agency programs.
Both bills were signed into law after several years of research and educating fellow legislators.
Short is the fourth different 7th District legislator to win the award in the past 16 years.
Rep. Joel Kretz won the award in 2009 and 2007; Sen. Bob Morton won in 2000; and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers won in 1997.
"Joining this list of area legislators who've received this award in the past is humbling," Short said. "However, there is more work to be done to continue to ensure our region remains the best place in the state and nation to live, work and raise a family."
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Because SANs provide a direct connection from storage to host, making that storage look like it's plugged directly into the host, SAN storage is generally a good choice for when you need a lot of storage presented to a relatively small number of hosts for independent, specific purposes. SAN storage is usually big, expensive, and fast, but if you have lots of servers and each server needs a lot of fast storage, then a SAN can be more cost-effective than loading up each of those servers with disks—both in actual up-front cost and also by providing a centralized point of management for all that storage. What a SAN generally doesn't do very well, at least not without a lot of help, is provide a way for multiple hosts to access the same allocated bunch of storage.
Why is this? Remember that a SAN exposes storage to a host as if that storage were a local hard disk drive specific to that host. What would happen if a hard disk drive could be plugged directly into two computers at the same time? The results would be bad—since both computers would think the disk is theirs, there'd be no way to control who gets to write where and when. Even if both computers were using the same type of filesystem, there would be no way to know who had what files open for reading or writing—no shared method of lock arbitration—and the results would be chaos. Half-written files, trashed permissions, corrupt metadata, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.
There are exceptions to this, of course—for example, clusters of computers have methods where all hosts in the cluster can access the same SAN allocation, because the cluster itself provides the coordination of which host is doing what and prevents corruption—but the general rule is that SANs aren't to be used for shared storage.
So what do you do if you want to take a bunch of storage and share it out to a bunch of different hosts? Having big single-purpose SAN allocations is great if you need a few terabytes for a big database or for VMware disks or something, but what about the terabytes of user-created files that tend to accumulate in a business? Rather than just stick them on a bunch of random servers' local storage, can't we put them on a SAN, too?
The NAS alternative
The answer is NAS, Network-Attached Storage. Unlike SAN, where storage is accessed directly by single hosts over a medium that transmits block-level commands, NAS refers to storage that's accessed over a network by hosts that talk in terms of higher-order objects like files, rather than cylinders and sectors. When you say NAS today in the enterprise world, you're almost certainly talking about a big bunch of storage hosted either on a SAN-attached server or on a specialized NAS system, which is accessed by end-users over an Ethernet network using a protocol like NFS (for Unix-y hosts) or CIFS/SMB (for Windows hosts).
Notice I said "on a SAN-attached server." One common way of creating a NAS is by taking a host with a bunch of SAN space attached to it and sharing that space out using the host's operating system over a network. Recall that SAN space is direct-attached and doesn't come with any method of arbitrating between different hosts accessing it at the same time; sharing a host's chunk of SAN space out over a network overcomes this because the host that's doing the sharing also controls the access to the storage. NAS provides a way to take SAN space, which would ordinarily be available only to servers, and makes that space available to all your users so they can all take advantage of it.
You don't need anything particularly fancy to take a server and make it into a NAS, though there are specialized operating systems (like Windows Storage Server) that automate and ease a lot of the management. However, there are a few bad things about taking a SAN-attached server and making it into a NAS. Firstly and most critically, you introduce a single point of failure into the picture, and in the enterprise world, single points of failure are a very bad thing. SAN arrays themselves typically come with significant amounts of redundancy—there's usually at least two of just about every component so that the disks are can be organized into RAID or RAID-like configurations for availability and recoverability in the event of failure, and there are typically multiple Fibre Channel (or whatever your SAN protocol of choice is) paths from the array to the SAN host. When a single SAN host shares its storage out as a NAS, though, that SAN host then becomes the weak link in the chain—if the host goes down for whatever reason, all the SAN redundancy in the world won't stop that storage from becoming unavailable to the users who need it.
A workaround for this is to introduce redundancy at the host level by clustering—having more than one host tied together as a single virtual host and spreading the load in some way between them. This handles the availability issue, but trades off uptime for complexity. Plus, now you have multiple servers, each running a full operating system (with all the overhead that entails) simply serving files. Clustered, SAN-attached, commodity servers functioning purely as file shares does sometimes make sense, but it doesn't scale well to large environments—the amount of overhead and infrastructure needed as the thing grows tends to make it scale poorly when you have many terabytes to serve, for a lot of different reasons.
So, past a certain point, many enterprises choose to use dedicated NAS appliances rather than commodity servers with SAN attachment. These NAS appliances are a far cry away from the kinds of things you or I might have at our houses—taking their cues from the SAN world, they typically provide many servers' worth of capability in a smaller physical footprint, along with redundancy to match the SAN side of the house. The biggest players in the enterprise NAS space today are EMC and Netapp, both of which have very fast and very powerful NAS systems which, at the high end, can be accessed by many thousands and thousands of users at the same time.
There are lots of reasons besides uptime and availability why you might want to use a dedicated NAS system rather than a commodity server. Like SANs, dedicated NAS systems typically provide a single point of management for what might be hundreds of terabytes' worth of used capacity; they can fold the work of dozens or hundreds of physical servers into a much smaller physical space and save money on power and cooling; they have lots of tools and tricks to get the absolute most usable space out of a given amount of allocated space (things like virtual provisioning, and automatically tiering data across different types and speeds of disks, and data de-duplication) and they can generally offer much faster performance with a lot less tuning than a data center full of commodity servers.
So what's Isilon got?
We've gone far afield of the original subject here, so let's swing back to it. As I said a few paragraphs back, Isilon makes a scale-out NAS product that you'd use to hold files. What makes Isilon different from other NAS systems, though, is that it's particularly suited for providing very fast access to very large files, which makes it a shoe-in for the entertainment industry and for other areas where you need to manipulate big file-based data sets.
An Isilon system consists of a minimum of three Isilon nodes, each of which are individual servers running "OneFS," a heavily modified FreeBSD derivative, and connected to each other through a fast private IP network. Instead of Ethernet, this private network uses Infiniband for its transport, which Isilon chose because of the extremely low latency it offers versus traditional Ethernet. Unlike a regular SAN or NAS, the nodes all work together in a grid to present a single volume, equal in size to the aggregate capacity of all the nodes' disks. As nodes are added to the system, their capacities are seamlessly added to the one big volume, without the need to futz around with RAID groups or LUNs or mapping or masking or storage pools or anything else, really. This one single huge volume is Isilon's core feature—even with all the features and tools that an enterprise NAS system gives you, there aren't many NAS systems that can present a single, unified multi-petabyte namespace.
It's not just storage that gets added when you drop a new node or a new bunch of nodes into the system—the nodes contribute their CPU and memory (which is used as global read and write cache) to the cluster, as well. Node additions therefore bring with them performance upgrades in addition to capacity. It's this broad ability to augment multiple aspects of the system at the same time that's behind Isilon's reference to its product as a "scale-out" NAS. A traditional enterprise NAS—which you could call a "scale-up" NAS—has a fixed number of NAS heads (or filers or whatever you'd like to call them) serving as the controllers and access points for its storage; an Isilon system has the ability to add not just storage but computing power and cache incrementally with every single storage addition.
This ability to scale out is customizable, too, as Isilon sells multiple node types. The product line is somewhat in flux right now, with a lot of the branding and model names shifting under the EMC umbrella, but there are nodes that have fast 15,000 RPM disks and solid-state disks that give the cluster the ability to execute more and faster reads and writes; there are nodes that are big containers of SATA disks designed to give a big bump to the overall raw capacity of the system; there are even nodes that have no disk but big chunks of CPU and cache that are designed to function as throughput accelerators, pushing up the ability of the system to serve up big amounts of data to end-users. It's kind of like LEGO, but for storage!


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2790 Harrison St (@24th St) SF, CA 94110 | 415.550.6971 | website | visited 6.16.09
Once again, I made the pilgrimage to the fabulous Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream Parlor, where you can transport your tastebuds out to whacked out and fearless frontiers with startling flavors like boccalone prosciutto, pear miso, red wine and cola, and the elusuive foie gras ice cream sandwiches. These ice cream sandwiches are infrequently made and in such small quantities, so one must be diligent in the hunt. I've been following them on twitter, just waiting for the word. At long last, (seriously… it had to be months) I was sitting with my new co-workers eating lunch at Chipotle, when I happened to check and saw it:
On your marks! Get Ready! Get Set! Foie Gras Ice Cream Sandwiches today! 11:55 AM Nov 6th from web
I immediately called and asked that they hold one for me and gleefully skipped in to claim my sandwich the next day. It really was love at first bite… I mean look at it, it is petite and cherubic and had a lopsided home made appeal… but one bite and you know that it is anything but humble…
several bites in I realized that I had surrendered myself to devouring the worlds most delicious gingersnap cookie, barely noticing the ice cream. My eager tastebuds were one hundred percent zeroed in on the snappy flavors of the cookie, which I think must always accompany every single scoop of ice cream consumed in the universe.
I had to stop and take a deep breath. I decided to eat the top cookie so that I could focus on the foie gras ice cream… The ice cream was rich and buttery, lightly salted with a nice fatty feel on the tongue… it certainly didn't taste like liver… it tasted like buttery toffee with a light cappuccino finish. Strangely, it is the cookies that I'm thinking about… and I probably should have eaten another one, in the name of research.
The ever increasing lineup of Humphry Slocombe confections that have been made with Boccalone products: lard caramels, lard shortbread, and the devilishly addictive bacon peanut brittle.
I noticed they had something new, Boccalone Lard Caramels.
The lard leaves a greasy film on your fingers that you must immediately lick off… The caramels look remarkably like bacon drippings, there are little particles of pig suspended within. These are absurdly delicious, sticky sweet, salty and rich.
Mmmmm, I would love to find some of these treats tucked into my stocking…


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An eclectic blend of mohair, wool, camel fiber and just a smidgen of magical metallic sparkle, Pixie Dust is uniquely hand-spun in a thick-and-thin style you won't see anywhere else. The singular texture of this yarn (almost to the effect of felted beads strung together) works up into a truly fantastic bobbled and bumpy fabric you can't help but admire -and so will everyone else!
What about yarn that have the same look and feel? Find more yarn that is fair trade and ethically sourced, and a thick and thin texture.
We provide endless possibilities for you including yarn, knitting gifts, needles, kits, sale yarn, free knitting patterns, and more!Jimmy Beans Wool is Your Local Yarn Store... Online!


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It's only fair to share...Statoil Oil & Gas Group – Hiring Now Statoil working since 1972 facing the challenges in oil & Gas Industry. Operating in more than 30 countries around the world including in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania as well as Norway. It is …Read More »
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Events that cause negative stress are known as traumatic events. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, traumatic events are "marked by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury or the threat of serious injury or death… and affect survivors, rescue workers and the friends and relatives of victims who have been involved."
People who go through a traumatic event can experience serious emotional distress. Furthermore, witnesses of an event or those who watch an event unfold on television can also be affected.
Farm supply retailer Southern States Cooperative kicked off its annual FFA fundraiser on March 1 in an effort to support agricultural education, according to a company news release.
The annual "FFA Paper Emblem" campaign benefits the National FFA Organization's local, state and national levels to provide funding to the youth organization that prepares students for leadership roles, personal growth and career success in agriculture.
The Kentucky Hemp Research Foundation and Atalo Holdings, Inc. report that new markets for Kentucky's organic hemp farmers were announced at GoOrganic!, a seminar on organic agronomics held on Feb. 29 at the Hemp Research Campus in Winchester, according to a news release.
On March 23, Frankfort will turn into a sea of green when thousands of Kentucky 4-Hers, volunteers and professionals converge on the state capital as part of 4-H: A Capitol Experience.
The daylong event allows young people to learn about the inner workings of state government, meet their legislators and tour political and historical buildings.
For many years, 4-H has been in the business of helping shape the leaders of tomorrow, and many of the current legislators are a testimony to its effectiveness, as they are 4-H alumni.
It may be the mumps!
Last week, three students at the University of Kentucky were diagnosed with mumps, a contagious virus whose tell-tale symptom is swelling near the neck and jaw.
Although the overwhelming majority of people who get mumps recover completely, it's important to know the signs of the virus and what to do if you think you have it.
UK Health Care has shared some information on this outbreak with us.
What is mumps? Mumps is an illness caused by the mumps virus.
By Levi Berg
Henry County Extension Service
Storm water runoff carries pollutants such as fertilizers, oil, animal waste and dirt to local streams, lakes and ponds and may contribute to flooding during heavy rainfall events.
Rain gardens are manmade landscape features that reduce storm water runoff. By installing a rain garden, homeowners can intercept storm water and keep it on their property, allowing it to soak into the soil.
By Cathy Toole
Copyright © 2018
The Henry County Local is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Eminence, KY and the surrounding area.


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Aurore Eaton's Looking Back: Manchester's Joseph Kidder, an eyewitness to life during the Civil War
August 27. 2013 12:40AM
Through his daily diary entries, Manchester store owner Joseph Kidder left behind a rich accounting of civilian life during the Civil War.
Although the War did not touch the Kidder family directly, the psychological effects of the years of death, destruction, economic distress and political upheaval took a toll on Joseph. He wrote of General Grant's Overland Campaign in May and June 1864, "A series of the most terrible battles known in history is now taking place in Virginia. Thousands upon thousands have fallen until a vast extent of country is covered with the dead and dying. The scenes are described as awful indeed. The annals of history furnish no parallel."
On February 3, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln met with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens in an attempt to work out a peace agreement. This failed, and the next day Joseph wrote, "…to all human observers this Peace is now further from us than it was three years ago. Then we thought we could reasonably hope for Peace — but now it looks dark — all dark with no prospect of Peace but war — all war — for an indefinite period in the future. God have mercy!"
Joseph found solace in his family life with wife Sarah and daughters Maria, Sarah, Annie, and Mary. On January 13, 1864, he wrote, "For a business man engaged as I am from morning till night there are few things more agreeable to him than spending an evening with his children, enjoying their incessant sports and merry laugh. It does me good more than medicine. Such has been my case tonight." Joseph also enjoyed the camaraderie of his Odd Fellows' lodge, and he also joined the local Masonic lodge. And he occasionally engaged in one lighthearted pastime or another. On April 26, 1864, he wrote, "There is no game more innocent or to me more interesting than the game of dominoes. With two or three friends I frequently play and we enjoy it 'highly' as the saying is. We have played tonight and some pretty hearty laughs."
A major source of fulfillment for Joseph was his involvement as a trustee of the Reform School. This had been founded in 1854 on what had originally been the farm of General John Stark in north Manchester along the Merrimack River. The School housed children who had been in trouble with the law, many of whom were orphans or who had simply been abandoned on the streets. Joseph visited the school often to check the progress of the students, and he would occasionally lecture them on historical and moral topics. He wrote on July 5, 1864, "Somehow I love to visit the Reform School. I love to see the boys and girls and look into their faces and speak a kind word to them. Kind words do them good and help to lead in the right way."
The Confederate Army under General Robert E. Lee finally surrendered on April 9, 1865. Everyone in Manchester rejoiced. The celebration ended abruptly, however, when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14. On April 19, Joseph wrote, "Such universal sorrow has never pervaded the people of this country as now. Almost every house is trimmed in badges of mourning as though the head of their family had departed. The very air deemed oppressive with the sounds and symbols of mourning."
Concerning the death of the murderous John Wilkes Booth on April 26, Joseph Kidder wrote, "Booth, the assassin of the President, was shot and killed by a squad of cavalry… He died a miserable death, being a just punishment as may be for the horrible crime that he committed. I believe it is just and right that he depart from earth."
Finally, Joseph Kidder allowed himself to express, with some caution, that peace and prosperity may now be possible for his beloved country. He reflected on May 5, 1865, "God knows my heart when I say that I hope our national troubles may soon be settled up and peace and prosperity once more reign in our midst. We have had enough of bloodshed and it seems to be time to cultivate the social amenities of life."
Next week: A Valley Cemetery Story — Joseph Kidder in old age and family notes. .
Aurore Eaton is executive director of Manchester Historic Association; email her at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Zac Efron & Taylor Swift: People's Choice Awards 2011!
Zac Efron meets up with Taylor Swift on the carpet at the People's Choice Awards 2011 on Wednesday (January 5) at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
The 23-year-old actor suited up in Burberry while Taylor wore a gorgeous J Mendel dress.
She finished off her look with Neil Lane jewelry, Prada shoes, and Jimmy Choo's Tube clutch.
FYI: Zac won the award for Favorite Movie Star Under 25, while Taylor picked up the award for Favorite Country Artist!
15+ pictures inside of Zac Efron and Taylor Swift at the People's Choice Awards…


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File Extension Php
File extension database with complete windows integration for unknown documents and files
SearchExt is a standalone application as well as a fully integrated file context menu extension to search for unknown documents and files with its extensions of unknown or maybe dangerous files on your...
Platforms: Windows
|License: Shareware
|Cost: $18.63 USD
|Size: 2.82 MB
|Download (229): SearchExt Download
FileCure is an innovative software product that identifies the file type of troublesome files, lets you know which program opens that file extension and then links you to the software you need. This powerful utility can deal with file extension errors on Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP...
Platforms: Windows
|License: Demo
|Cost: $29.97 USD
|Size: 2.36 MB
|Download (589): FileCure Download
BiOptimizer is a powerful piece of software that is meant to unleash the power of your computer by running a series of optimizations designed specially for the Windows operated systems. Optimizes Windows through a serie of procedures: repair and cleaning of the Windows registry.File Extension...
Platforms: Windows, Other
|License: Commercial
|Cost: $29.97 USD
|Size: 4.6 MB
|Download (84): Bit Optimizer Download
DownloadFileOpener provides an easy way to find the very file viewer that you need! Supports over 6000 file types. Database is reviewed daily to provide accurate and updated information about file extension types. Guide you to find the most suitable file viewer/opener program for your PC, and...
Platforms: Windows, Windows 8, Windows 7
|License: Freeware
|Size: 1.32 MB
|Download (143): DownloadFileOpener
Windows can not open your file?
With free File-Extensions.org Search utility you can easily find the information about any file extension that you are looking for including programs associated with it.
The application offers you a quick access to File-Extensions.org database and...
Platforms: Windows
|License: Freeware
|Size: 2.17 MB
|Download (218): File-Extensions.org Search Download
ExtInfoEditer is a small, easy to use application specially designed to help you create or edit relationship between 'file extension' and some programs.
for WindowsAll
Platforms: Windows
|License: Freeware
|Download (63): ExtInfoEditer Download
Tells you what a file is, and what program created it. All you have to do is right-click on the file, and select 'Bloody Hell! What's this File Type?' (other text available if you're sensitive). If you have a file extension and you have no idea which application it is for, try this search. If we...
Platforms: Windows
|License: Freeware
|Size: 414 KB
|Download (63): What's This File Type Download
This script associates or launches an action to be performed by the os based on filename extension. For example, assoc.py -e test.c will launch emacs. The optional extra_args allows you to add additional settings to the command associated with the file extension. More complicated actions may...
Platforms: Windows, Mac, *nix, Python, BSD Solaris
|License: Freeware
|Download (32): Launch a program based on file extension Download
This function parses a full file specification into tuple of: a) list of drive and folders b) file name c) (last) file extension (including dot)A full file specification consists of drive letter, folders, file name, and extension. Unless you're on UNIX. Unless there's more that one extension....
Platforms: Windows, Python,
|License: Freeware
|Download (40): Parsing a full file specification Download
WeFileSystem is a web-based , user frienldy interface, multi user, File Manager, php&mysql.You can upload, download, copy, delete files&folders, share folders with other users. Rules for powerusers and users, advanced search history tool, manageable mail notifications & more. Whats New in This...
Platforms: *nix
|License: Freeware
|Size: 163.84 KB
|Download (86): WebFileSystem Download
This file extension lookup widget allows you to find out information about thousands of Macintosh and Windows file extensions, using the FileInfo.net database. Each file extension entry includes the file type, file format, a description of the file, and a list of programs that can open the...
Platforms: Mac
|License: Freeware
|Download (222): File Extension Lookup Download
With Folder2List, you can quickly and easily list and print folder contents. Create folder and file lists, to present important properties such as size, modification and creation date, or the file extension in a clear format. Through the support of metadata such as Exif, ID3 and IPTC, the...
Platforms: Windows
|License: Demo
|Cost: $19.95 USD
|Size: 3.56 MB
|Download (91): Folder2List Download
A file sorter/folder organiser which will automatically sort you files into folders based upon rules that you create about it's file extension, name, file size, mp3 tags, date created or date modified as new files are added/downloaded to a folder.
The full verison of peacock sorter costs only...
Platforms: Windows
|License: Freeware
|Download (40): Peacock Sorter Download
FileTypeDetective is a library designed to detect file types by header and not by file extension.
Every file has an extension and if it is a binary file, it has magic numbers in the header of the file that indicate what type of file it is. It is not always easy to work out programmatically what...
Platforms: Windows
|License: Freeware
|Download (33): FileTypeDetective Download
Ever have files on your computer that you can't seem to open? File extension advanced pro helps you find the right programs to open and edit those files.
Platforms: Windows
|License: Freeware
|Size: 832 KB
|Download (69): File Extension Advanced Pro Download
Rename multiple files in a directory based on file extension. Has undo function to correct any mistakes. Can also rename all files in sub-directories recursively. Free to try, the trial version can rename twenty files.
Platforms: Windows
|License: Shareware
|Cost: $5.00 USD
|Size: 509 KB
|Download (31): Multiple File Rename Download
WHAT2 will create a structured list of all files in directory by file extension.Thanks to Matlab, this was based on the built-in function "what.m" and Peter Acklam for path2cell.
Platforms: Matlab
|License: Freeware
|Size: 10 KB
|Download (18): what2.m Download
This is useful function in case you want to enlist all files from a folder and it's sub-folder with given file extension list.Input argument is the folder name with complete path as a string(e.g. '/media/Nitin/SSA/FolderName').Output is a variable containing list of all files along with complete...
Platforms: Matlab
|License: Shareware
|Cost: $0.00 USD
|Size: 10 KB
|Download (18): Enlist all file names in a folder and it's subfolders Download
Giki is a flat-file, simple PHP wiki system based on Wiki! but with added features.
Platforms: PHP
|License: Freeware
|Size: 40.96 KB
|Download (22): Giki Wiki Download
This action hides the file extension of the selected files.
Platforms: Mac
|License: Freeware
|Size: 1.07 MB
|Download (16): Hide Extensions Download


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I'm excited about this giveaway hop! You can win a special prize from Flirt, and I have a digital copy of Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne for one of you to win!
Welcome to Flirt University's Back to School celebration! It's time for the Three R's, Flirt style—Reading, (W)Riting, and Romancing! In the spirit of getting to know one another on the first day of school, Flirt, Random House's New Adult imprint, has set up a New Adult blog hop so you can discover other blogs that love the hottest new romance genre.
As part of the hop, Flirt is giving away its signature "I <3 New Adult" tote (for carrying books, ereaders, and other fun things), and its signature "I <3 New Adult" mug (perfect for that morning coffee pick-me-up)! Just check out the Rafflecopter below—stop by each blog for more chances to win, and to meet awesome New Adult fans and reviewers!
Head back to Romance at Random on Tuesday, September 3 to find out if you won (we'll email winners, too!), and don't miss your first Flirt University "lecture" from one of Flirt's esteemed New Adult Author Professors! They'll be sharing their thoughts on everything New Adult!
I am excited to be part of this blog hop for a couple of reasons. First, I love reading, especially romance! It's been fun seeing the changes in the genre over the last few years, and it's exciting to see all of the new authors and new twists on traditional romance tropes. I'm also super geeked to see so many people giving romance a try, and I'm looking forward to meeting new readers and romance authors!
Click here for a list of all of the participating blogs! http://romanceatrandom.com/flirts-back-to-school-new-adult-blog-hop-and-giveaway
Now for my giveaway!
Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne
Flirt New Adult Romance
On sale October 28, 2013
The rules are clear—until they're broken. Lauren Layne puts a New Adult spin on Pygmalion, also the inspiration for Pretty Woman, and gives the classic love story its edgiest twist yet.
"Who knew that pretending you're not falling for someone would be so much more difficult than pretending that you are?"
Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she's pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn't exactly Ethan Price's type, either. He's probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund . . . or does he?
As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie's a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan's brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.
But when Stephanie steps into Ethan's privileged world, the "acting" begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating them. And Stephanie faces a question she's too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?
About Lauren Layne
Lauren Layne graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.S. in political science that she has yet to put to good use. After dabbling in an e-commerce career in Seattle and Southern California, Layne moved to New York City, where she now writes full-time. She lives with her husband and their plus-size pomeranian in a tiny Manhattan studio.
Connect with Lauren: Facebook | Twitter | Website


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NORTHBRIDGE � Harry T. Whitin is a seventh-generation descendant of textile industrialist Paul Whitin and his wife, Betsey Fletcher Whitin, but until recently, even he didn't have a sense of what the Whitins meant to Northbridge and to their namesake village of Whitinsville.
Since he began digging deeply into his family's history, he's uncovered a story he hopes will be preserved.
Mr. Whitin spoke to about 50 people Monday at a Northbridge Historical Society meeting, held at the Whitinsville Social Library, about an idea he's developed with Alternatives Unlimited Inc.'s Executive Director Dennis H. Rice for a Whitinsville industrial history museum.
The museum would be located in the 18th-century forge and lower level of the 1826 brick Whitin Mill that Alternatives restored over the past decade into an administrative, arts and housing complex.
Mr. Whitin said the museum would have relatively few "dust-gathering exhibits," featuring interactive maps and connections to walking tours, the library's history collection and related points of interest accessed through smartphones or other technology.
"The story of Whitinsville is so much more than the story of the Whitin family," Mr. Whitin said. "I think the possibility of being able to tell that in a way that is crisp, clear and understandable is really an exciting thing."
The idea for a museum was sparked more than a year ago as Mr. Whitin organized a family reunion that brought together 67 Whitin descendants from 13 states.
He realized there were misconceptions about local history that needed to be straightened out. For instance, the area's industrial focal point wasn't all about Whitin Machine Works, but also the six other � eventually competing � mills owned by various Whitin family members. Ultimately, Whitin manufacturing interests encompassed mills in towns including Douglas, Uxbridge, Grafton, Hardwick and Putnam.
Also, if plans proceed at the federal level for a Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Mr. Whitin said, "The town of Northbridge needs to have something to bring people here other than a village on a map. It needs to be part of the destination for Whitinsville."
Mr. Whitin said he's talked to representatives of the American Textile History Museum in Lowell about bringing back a Whitin machine to run in the museum. And he's talked with people at the Slater Mill Historic Site in Pawtucket, R.I., and in Hopedale, two other industrial heritage sites in the proposed national park, about collaborating.
"We've got the notion that there could be kind of a textile trail," he said, "to tell the story of the (American) Industrial Revolution in chapter format."
Mr. Whitin said he would like to have opportunities for area residents to bring in artifacts they might have that would help tell the story of early Northbridge.
He said, "The thought was, we would gather together a lot of the threads that run through this town and pull them together into the museum, and out the other side as well."
Museum organizers would have to raise about $300,000 to get it going, Mr. Whitin said. With the federal budget paralysis, the likelihood of National Park Service funding for even a portion of the project remains up in the air.
But Mr. Rice said the Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded Alternatives a facilities grant that allowed basic structural work to be done, which amounted to first steps forward.
"This community has such a rich history and so much to tell � we need to make sure that the generations below us understand," Mr. Whitin said. "It's important that we leave footprints of who we are and where we've been."
Contact Susan Spencer at email@example.com Follow her on Twitter @SusanSpencerTG


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I live in one of the Gulf countries, and I work as a receptionist in a block of furnished apartments. There is a mosque fifty meters away from me, and I can hear the adhaan and iqaamah very well, but I cannot go because my boss does not agree, and he says that someone may come to rent an apartment during the prayer time, and he says: Pray here; it is permissible. (So I pray in the reception area with a cleaner who works with me in the apartment block. Please note that this cleaner was Hindu and he became Muslim – praise be to Allah – and he and I pray in the reception room in the apartment block). And we share Jumu'ah: one time I go to Jumu'ah prayer, and the next time this worker goes, because we cannot leave the place with no one in the reception area.
Please note that I could go without my boss knowing, but I am afraid that if I go to offer the obligatory prayers in the mosque and I leave the reception area and I leave that worker there, a renter who is single may come with a woman and take her into the apartment, and the Indian worker does not understand what is going on. That happened to me once but – praise be to Allah – I prevented any evil happening, and Allah is witness to what I say.
I could leave this job, because I am not sponsored by the boss with whom I work, but I think that perhaps I am here and I could prevent problems of zina that could happen, Allah forbid.
The basic principle is that prayers should be offered in congregation in the mosque, where the call is given. It is permissible to pray in congregation in the workplace if the workers going to the mosque will lead to the work being affected. This has been discussed in the answer to question no. 74978
With regard to praying Jumu'ah, it is more important and the obligation is more emphatic; it is not permissible to miss it except within very strict guidelines, such as the risk of damage or harm, or if there is an interest to be served for the Muslims, such as dealing with emergencies in hospitals, and the like. This has been discussed in the answer to question no. 36530
Based on that, you have to go to Jumu'ah, and advise the owner of the apartments and explain that it is not permissible to stay away from Jumu'ah, and he will not be harmed by the loss of a few customers; many customers, if they find the building locked, will come back after the prayer. You should go out to Jumu'ah just before the adhaan, and go to a nearby mosque where the khutbah is not too long.
And Allah knows best.


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DEAR ANNIE: I have been married to my husband for only one month, and he already has had a brief fling with a woman from his office. This caught me completely off guard. I thought we were happy, and I am pretty sure my husband enjoys being married to me. He always says I am much more than he deserves.
I have repeatedly asked him why he would cheat on me. He says he needs more sex with different females to be satisfied. What should I do? — NEW BRIDE
DEAR NEW BRIDE: Your husband is telling you quite frankly that he needs more than one sexual partner. This means he is likely to cheat on you multiple times in the future. Unless this is your idea of a good marriage, we don't see much hope. Get checked for sexually transmitted diseases, and then see a counselor and figure out your next move.
DEAR ANNIE: I am in my mid-20s, married with children. My mother lives with us. In fact, I've never lived without her, and now I want my family to have a place of our own. Having Mom here has been good because it helps cut expenses and she watches our kids. I love her so much, and she is my best friend, but I am really ready to do everything on my own.
When I asked my mother about getting a separate place, it really hurt her. She cried because she wouldn't be with her grandchildren every day. She was so upset that I gave in and said maybe we should just get a bigger house.
Annie, I don't want a bigger house. I want a small place with just my husband and children. We thought about getting a two-family home so Mom would be close by but separate. We can't afford a brand-new house, although we are saving for one. How can I get Mom to understand? — LOST IN MOTHER'S FEELINGS
DEAR LOST: You don't need Mom to understand. You are a married woman with a family. You are entitled to have a place of your own. Mom is never going to like it, but she can get used to it. And she will still see the grandchildren as often as you permit, which we suspect will be every day. And it won't be that easy for you, either, but it's time to cut the apron strings.
Discuss this with your husband and form a united front. Then tell your mother that this is what you are going to do, you're sorry if she's upset, you love her and she is welcome to visit.


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Details are just coming in, but reports say that the MSC Melody has successfully fought off an attack by pirates off the Seychelles yesterday. The company has confirmed that on Saturday April 25th, 2009, the ship was approached in by apparent pirates a small "Zodiac" style boat at approximately 7:35 GMT. The ship… [Continue Reading]
MSC Melody Fends Off Pirate Attack
April 26, 2009 by 5 Comments


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Rating: 2.0/5 (Total votes: 6)
1. Manage notes both text and image (single image per note)
2. Two punjabi keyboards to write punjabi
- Online phonetic keyboard with suggestions (English-> punjabi)
- punjabi Keyboard layout
3. Search notes time, text wise.
4. Share to all popular social networks like facebook, whatspp, twitter Or you can email, sms to anyone in punjabi.
5. Texts are autosaved as soon as you write.
The app should help all punjabi users in punjab people in india, pakistan and punjabi native speakers all over the world .
» show all
FreewareAndroid - Free Downloads Android Market Apps, Applications, Games, APK, WiFi, Sync, GPS for Google Android OS


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Big sports day today. Three playoff games. NFL football all over the place. I've just tuned on to the Red Sox and Angels. What do you know? Afternoon baseball. Is nice to see. I'm in a good mood today. Just came back from church to find myself tweaked by Harry. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Hope you're all well and enjoying a beautiful day. Hope we'll burn up the lines in spirited chat.


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The England international was ruled out of the defeat to Norwich last Saturday with tonsillitis, before finding himself left out of the squad that was beaten by Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday, but Sir Alex Ferguson let slip that he will start as United against the top-flight's bottom club.
"Wayne is fit," Ferguson told reporters. "He had tonsillitis last week but he's been training all week, which is good."
Chris Smalling could also return after shaking off a shoulder injury to hand the United boss a major defensive boost ahead of the clash with managerless Rangers, who sacked ex-Red Devils striker Mark Hughes on Friday morning, but Jonny Evans remains a doubt while a hamstring injury will sideline keep Nani on the sidelines.
"Jonny Evans will hopefully train today but I don't know if he will be available," Ferguson added.
"Chris Smalling is available. He had a small shoulder injury but I wanted to play Phil Jones in midweek and I thought he did really well, which is good news.
"Nani isn't available yet. He's still got a problem with his hamstring."


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Mike McConnell is a fantastic talk show host -- informed and opinionated without being a blowhard or egomaniac. His departure from WLW is a huge loss for the station, both financially and from a programming standpoint. He should be a great fit at WGN, where he'll have access to a huge metro area and the funding of Randy Michaels and the Tribune Co.
Though, if the rumors are true, McConnell might not be the only huge departure from WLW in the near future. The face of Cincinnati radio is changing rapidly, and not for the better IMO.


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Title: I Own the Dawn
Author: M L Buchman
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Available in Digital:
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
Name: Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III
Name: Kee Smith
You Wouldn't Think It Could Get Worse, Until It Does…
When a special mission slowly unravels, it is up to Kee and Archie to get their team out of an impossible situation with international implications. With her weaponry knowledge and his strategic thinking, plus the explosive attraction that puts them into exact synchrony, together they might just have a fighting chance.
I don't read many military romances, and I'm not sure why. I loved the urgency and the tension; one mistake could mean injury or death for Kee or one of the members of her special ops team. Given her impulsiveness and single-minded determination to carry out a mission, that could spell trouble for her crewmates. Add in the distraction from a forbidden romance on top of that and Kee and Archie could be in for a rocky ride. Scratch that – they are guaranteed to have a nearly disastrous time!
Kee is a hard woman to like, and she actually likes it that way. She is not a character that I am used to reading. Volatile and prickly, she doesn't let anyone get close to her. She guards her past unrelentingly, and while she doesn't mind a roll in the sheets, there is no way she is going to trust her heart to some guy. That's just not happening. Too complicated, and with her life on the line with every mission, it's too distracting. That is, until she is transferred to Emily Beale's SOAR team, where she meets Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III, a guy who is everything that she is not. A graduate of West Point, from a wealthy background, Archie is also an officer and a relationship with him could spell big trouble. He could get court-martialed, and Kee wouldn't emerge unscathed should their relationship become public knowledge. Kee decides that it's just not worth it, until an unplanned vacation to Italy breaks down her best intentions to stay away from him.
While I was reading I Own the Dawn, I actually felt more comfortable with Archie. He is a character I immediately liked and could relate to. Kee, on the other hand, made me uncomfortable. She comes from the streets, and she is unbelievably tough. She is also an unapologetic killer. Trained as a sharpshooter, she rarely misses a target. I found myself uneasy in her head at times, because she has to be cool under pressure, ready to eliminate her assigned target, which is usually an enemy combatant. People die when Kee pulls the trigger of her rifle, and sometimes that didn't sit well with me. I guess I am not used to heroines in contemporary romances being capable of carrying out deadly missions or murdering gang members. I know that I am far too wimpy for the life and death confrontations that are part of Kee's life. It was difficult for me to embrace Kee's profession. There are definitely gender biases at work, here, too, which I am chagrined to admit. I don't know how I would have felt if Archie had been the sharpshooter, or if he had been the hard-ass in this story.
The relationship between Archie and Kee develops slowly, and I enjoyed the tension that boiled between them. Kee keeps him at arms length, emotionally, afraid that a long-term commitment with him would never work. Their backgrounds are too different, she believes, and so she does everything she can to keep from getting her feelings destroyed. Physical pleasure is one thing, but she just can't bring herself to trust him with her heart. Archie, on the other hand, is bewildered by the abrupt change in Kee's attitude towards him, and after avoiding the situation, he finally lays everything on the line and tells her how he feels. I have to admit that I was getting frustrated with both of them, and while I expected Kee to be unable to communicate her feelings for Archie, I was so disappointed that it took him so long to finally confront Kee about the issue of their relationship. Any longer and I think I would have hurled the book against the nearest wall. Maybe I was giving Archie too much credit.
There were a few plot points that I didn't like or find believable, the first being their vacation to Italy just a few weeks after Kee is assigned to Emily's crew. It was too convenient, and made the super secret mission they were recalled for even more over the top. I also found it unlikely that Dilya, the Uzbek orphan that Kee is caring for, would be allowed to continue living at the base or would be allowed to continue on with the crew's other super secret and super dangerous mission after the young stowaway was discovered onboard the chopper. They had just been shot at and nearly taken out of the sky. I found it hard to swallow that Emily would allow a young child to stay onboard when they were heading into even more dangerous territory, not to mention the distraction she presented to the crew.
Even though I Own The Dawn didn't always work for me, I enjoyed the story and characters enough to want to learn more about them. The Night is Mine is the first book in the series, and I haven't read it yet. It follows Emily and Mark's story, and I am assuming the next book will be about Connie Davis, a new arrival at the base. I liked her the little bit she was in the book, and I'm curious to see who she ends up with. I also found this exposure to military romance exciting, so I'm eager to explore other titles. If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments!
Grade: B-
Review copy provided by publisher


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Led Ivy League In Rebounding, Blocks
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Greg Mangano had one of the most productive seasons in recent memory for the Yale men's basketball team. Wednesday, he was rewarded for that success by being named a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection.
Mangano, a junior from Orange, Conn., led the Ivy League in rebounding (10.0 rpg.) and blocked shots (85) and was second in scoring (16.3 ppg.). He is the first Yale player to average a double-double for the season since Chris Dudley (17.6 ppg., 13.3 rpg.) in 1986-87 and the first Ivy player since Harvard's Kyle Snowden (15.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg.) in 1995-96.
Mangano was even more productive in Ivy games. He averaged 18.6 points and 10.4 rebounds, which both led the league.
Mangano was dominant on both ends of the floor. His 85 blocks were the most in a season in school history and the third most in Ivy history. In addition, his 51 blocks in league games is a new Ivy record.
Mangano, who was named Ivy League Player of the Week four times during the season, has made his mark nationally as well. He is currently 11th in the nation in blocked shots per game (3.0), 21st in rebounding and 28th in double-doubles (13).
Mangano scored 20 points or more in nine games this season, including tallying a career-high 30 in a victory at Dartmouth. He led the Bulldogs in rebounding in all but four games and grabbed a career-high 17 at Brown.
Mangano is the fourth player under the tutelage of James Jones, The Joel E, Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Men's Basketball, to earn first team All-Ivy honors. The others are Edwin Draughan (2005), Dominick Martin (2006) and Eric Flato (2007).
It was the second honor of the day for Mangano, who also earned all-district honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity


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Saw Inception this weekend and really liked it. If you want to read a little more about some different interpretations of the film, you might want to check out these links: a solid article on Chud, one at Salon, an interview with actor Dileep Rao (who played the Chemist), and, at a glance, this handy chart showing who dreamed what.
Finally, here's one of Nolan's admitted visual references: this luscious scene of Fred Astaire dancing up the walls from the 1951 film Royal Wedding, shot by spinning the room and the camera simultaneously. You can skip ahead in this clip to about the 2-minute mark if you like.
Links via Mefi and AskMe.
One more big thing:
After you see the movie, check out this short article and YouTube video.
That seems pretty definitive to me.
Thanks to Donaldson for the tip!


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Ron Ruggless
Southwest Bureau Chief, Nation's Restaurant News
Ron Ruggless covers the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. He joined Nation's Restaurant News in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles have appeared in Food & Wine and Self magazines.[email protected]); background-size: 160px 178px; } }


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Carolyn Hax: Woman tries to do right by everyone
Dear Carolyn: I have an aging father with a health condition that is likely terminal, with few treatment options.
I live far away from him and my mother, and my half siblings don't make much of an effort to see him. My parents are left with little social support and so many painful unknowns. My mother especially has completely neglected her own health in caring for him.
I've been turning myself inside out, using all my spare vacation time to see them (the only thing that seems to help their spirits), to the exclusion of visits with my husband's family and of time for my husband and me alone. My parents refuse to move closer because my dad is inordinately attached to his doctors at home. I can't move home because my husband and I both work in a field where we wouldn't find jobs elsewhere. We're recently married and our lives are just beginning.
How do I do right by my parents and give them the time with my husband and me that they so enjoy and deserve? How do I do right by my relationship and not make my life all about my parents' needs? How do I do right by myself as I increasingly feel exhausted by my father's desperate journey?
A: I'm sorry – it's a tough phase of life regardless of location and resources.
The first and most important step is to redefine "do right by." The new version has to account for the limits on your energy, flexibility, options and the number of hours in a day. You cannot fix this or make it OK. You can only be loving and present.
"Present" isn't a typo: You can be there without traveling. Call, video chat, send care packages, make photo albums, handle any chores for them that you can by phone or online, keep your half sibs and other relatives updated (what they do with the information is their business), use whatever resourcefulness you can muster. Research support groups and respite care for your mom – underscore this on your list.
Another important step is to embrace triage. Yes, your husband's family deserves your attention, too – but surely they can be patient or come to you during your family's crisis. As long as you are prepared to be just as generous with them when their needs are higher, you're right with the cosmos on this.Another key step: letting go of the idea that you bear sole responsibility for lifting your parents' spirits. They are adults, they have chosen not to move closer to you, and so they deserve some respect for their autonomy.
Think of the near future as a phase where you allot X time daily, Y monthly, to this crisis. Decide X and Y in cooperation with your husband – and interspersed with alone and couple time – to keep that crucial relationship fed. Such blunt thinking may seem odd now, but it will reward you later in pre-empted future regrets.


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Hidden Cash craze hits New York's Central Park
NEW YORK (AP) — Guided by a few clues from Twitter, Stephanie Culff hailed a cab to Central Park on Saturday and started searching for money planted there by Hidden Cash, the scavenger hunt craze that made its New York debut this weekend.
Culff arrived before the masses of cash-seekers and walked away with an envelope containing a $50 bill and a silver dollar she said was worth $23. Both, she said, will go to her dad for Father's Day.
"We were looking forward to the adventure," Culff said. "We actually didn't expect to win."
Dozens of other New Yorkers found the same prizes hidden in Central Park in Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn — all part of a movement born last week in San Francisco as a "social experiment for good."
Jason Buzi, a California real estate investor who said he is one of several people behind Hidden Cash, described the giveaways as a "fun way to give back to the community." He encouraged people who find cash to "pay it forward."
So far, he said, many have responded by spending the cash on coffee, groceries or gas for others or by helping the homeless and charitable causes.
"We see that a lot and we're happy to see that," Buzi said.
Culff started following Hidden Cash on Twitter last week when the account directed people to envelopes with $50 and $100 inside them in San Francisco and 36 cash-filled Angry Birds orbs in Hermosa Beach, California.
The account announced its foray into New York on Friday, saying: "Lots of Lady Liberties and Mr. Grants will rain in Manhattan and Brooklyn" on Saturday.
New Yorkers who found money Saturday tweeted photos of themselves with their finds.
The altruistic group also hid money Saturday in Houston and Mexico City. Another hunt is scheduled for Sunday in Chicago and they plan events in London, Paris and Madrid in the next two weeks.
Hidden Cash has inspired similar, unaffiliated cash giveaways in St. Louis, Boulder, Colorado and other cities.
"Mostly it's a way for people to get together and have a good time," Buzi said of his movement. "Sometimes you see people who, even $100 or $200 dollars makes a difference in their lives."


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PDF forms
This article is meant to guide (Arch)linux users to use pdf forms. Some of the information here is from this thread.
Reading and filling PDF forms
Evince (available in the extra repository) is a GNOME application that can read, fill, and save PDF forms. However, it seems to be unable to work with checkboxes accurately (As of 23/JL/2008).
For those of you who do not use GNOME, the only gnome-specific dependencies seem to be gnome-icon-theme, gnome-keyring, and gconf.
Inkscape is an image editing program that can be used to fill PDF forms by importing the PDF file and simply inserting text fields where you want them to be. Its not really filling the form (the fields will probably still be blank if the forms are to be read electronically), but should work well enough if you intend to print them.
Okular is a universal document viewer based on KPDF for KDE 4. The last stable release is Okular 0.10, shipped in the kdegraphics module of KDE SC 4.4.
Its development began as part of Google's Summer of Code program. The description of the project is located at KDE Developer's Corner.
Okular combines the excellent functionalities of KPDF with the versatility of supporting different kind of documents, like PDF, Postscript, DjVu, CHM, and others. The document format handlers page has a chart describing in more detail the supported formats and the features supported in each of them.
You can easily install Okular: pacman -S okular
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Naturally, Adobe's Reader (available through the AUR) will be able to read and fill PDF files.
Cabaret Stage
This freeware application claims to be able to read, fill, and save PDF forms.


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November 24, 2012 01:00 ET
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Nov. 24, 2012) - Haven Holidays launch Funstars Go Live concept for 2013. They are looking for undiscovered stars in their biggest talent hunt to date as they want to recruit 100 new artists.
Funstars Go Live is a brand new entertainment concept that is rocketing to Haven Holidays in 2013 and if you are 18 or over this could be just the opportunity you're looking for.
Haven Holidays entertain over 3 million guests and owners during a 34 week season across their 35 family holiday parks. Day time kids clubs and nightly entertainment are all included in the price of a Haven holiday and each year they introduce new elements to keep it fresh and exciting and for this they need bright new talent.
Steve Donnelly, head of entertainment said, "We're shaping a new look for our entertainment model next year with some of the most contemporary concepts in the industry today. We have assembled a talented new creative team and we are looking for 100 talented performers to turn the concepts into reality."
Steve went on to say, "A Funstar will have a number of skills including singing, dancing, acting, presenting and party dancing. A genuine smile along with a lust for life is essential. They must be well presented, outgoing, ambitious, personable, able to engage with guests and most important of all a Funstar has to be fun. For the more experienced performers we also have vacancies for Entertainment Managers."
So if you think you've got what it takes to be a Haven Funstar and you want to follow in the footsteps of Duncan from Blue who worked as an entertainer at Haven Holiday parks before moving on to be an international star, then get yourself along to one of their auditions. You do need to be 18 or over.
Audition dates and locations:
23/24 November - London, Three mills film studio in Bow
30 November- Birmingham, Hippodrome
1 December- Liverpool, Bluecoat
For more information visit Website: www.funstartalent.com
Follow on Twitter: @funstarsgolive
Notes to Editor
STEVE DONNELLY joined Haven in May this year as Head of Entertainment.
Having a long history co-ordinating, producing & directing shows and creative ventures, Steve works closely with his creative team producing show and events, supplying entertainment from concept to curtain up.
From an early age, Steve was actively involved in theatre, studio production & large scale events. Following training in performing Arts & Technical Theatre, he gained valuable experience working and experiencing work as roles such as Production Manager, Company Manager and Event Manager for cruising, theatre, concerts, corporate shows and special events. Some credits include: The Millennium Dome London, Sri Lankan Airlines, Maldives Tourist Board, NAAFI, Color Line, EES Pharmaceuticals, LBBD Arts Development Unit, Beatrix Potter & Friends on Ice, Blue Water Special Events, Richard Digence Live, BBC Big Band, Freddie Starr, Rose Royce, Des O'Connor, Bucks Fizz, The Halle Orchestra, Madeline Bell, Jim Bowen, Rose Marie in Concert, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, The Real Thing, Timmy Mallet UK Tour & The Hot Ice Show.
Gareth Howells joined Haven in October 2012. He started his career working in the UK Holiday Entertainment business as a Pontin's Bluecoat and Entertainment Manager and has performed in production shows in international hotels. He has written and produced for clients that include First Choice Holiday Villages, Thomson Family Resorts, Guinness World Records & Dreamworks. He has a passion and flair for writing & producing quirky and commercial family Entertainment concepts that are exciting both to watch and perform.
For additional information and high-res photosplease contact:Haven Holidays01442 firstname.lastname@example.com HolidaysNaomi email@example.com
See all RSS Newsfeeds


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COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - When teen girls join their high school cheerleading squad, injuries are common. But what's rare is for a team member to become hooked on painkillers following constructive surgery.
That's exactly what happened to Alice Ann Walker at age 17.
"I fell during a cheerleading stunt and tore my ACL and I had surgery and became addicted to pills after the surgery," Walker said.
The dependency, she said, progressed as she became depressed over the 'pains of life'. Her drug abuse included popping 30 to 40 pills a day, using heroin, cocaine and Methadone--its primary function is to help addicts during detoxification.
"I went to a doctor and he prescribed them to me and I abused them," she said.
Two years ago, the 34-year-old Columbus native's life hit rock bottom, the turning point to her recovery.
"I ended up getting arrested because of my drug addiction," Walker recalled. "I had a wreck and went to jail for DUI and I had pills on me."
After 90 days in jail, Walker was released and went to rehab, but was accepted in the Muscogee County Drug Court Program, started by Judge Frank Jordan.
"What we are most proud of is the fact that we have 7 babies who have been delivered drug free and the significance is a child born that has drugs in their system will have problems throughout their life," stated Jordan.
Judge Jordan handed Walker her certificate along with 16 other graduates who recently completed the 18 month program.
"I feel confident, I feel that God has a great plan for my life and I want to be of service to help others so they don't have to go through what I went through," Walker said.
The five phase program is for offenders who've pleaded guilty to at least two non-violent crimes. Participants must attend counseling sessions, drug treatment and remain drug free. Since its inception, 103 have enrolled, 75 graduated and 32 were terminated, according to the program coordinators.
The Muscogee County District Attorney's Office works in conjunction with the judges in helping to make the program is a success.
For more information about the program, contact Drug Court at 706-587-7463.
Copyright 2013 WTVM. All rights reserved.


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Tim Hudson has spent most of the season leading the San Francisco Giants to victories. This time, his teammates backed him up on a rare off night.
Michael Morse hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth inning after Hunter Pence's tying double, and the Giants rallied to beat the New York Mets 5-4 Saturday night to extend baseball's best record.
''It just tells you what kind of team we have,'' said Morse, who helped teammates tear off his jersey during a wild celebration on the infield. ''We find a way.''
Angel Pagan had three singles, two RBIs and got on base all five times against his former team. He reached leading off the ninth when catcher Anthony Recker dropped the third strike and his throw pulled Lucas Duda off first base. Mets manager Terry Collins challenged the play but lost.
Pence hit a double that scored Pagan and advanced to third on Buster Posey's deep fly to left-center. After Jenrry Mejia (4-3) intentionally walked Pablo Sandoval, Morse sent a single to deep right and was mobbed by teammates before he reached second.
San Francisco improved to 6-0 at home when Hudson starts.
''I'm as proud of this game as I have been of any of them,'' said Hudson, who allowed season highs of nine hits and three walks in five innings.
''Even though it was probably my worst game from a pitching standpoint, these kinds of games are very satisfying because these are the games that most of the time your teams lose when your starting pitcher goes out there and doesn't really have his stuff. We were able to battle and win. That's the mark of a championship club.''
It was Mejia's first blown save in seven chances. The Mets, who had a team meeting before the game, have lost five straight.
''We're not happy with what's happened but we've been in all the games,'' Collins said. ''All it takes is a base hit here or there to turn things around.''
Jeremy Affeldt (2-1) tossed one scoreless inning to help the Giants (41-21) win for the ninth time in 11 games.
Bartolo Colon gave up three runs - one earned - and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings for the Mets. The 41-year-old, who spent the past two seasons across the bay in Oakland, struck out four and walked two.
Hudson, who began the game with a majors-best 1.75 ERA, is the first pitcher in San Francisco history with an ERA below 2.00 through his first 12 starts with the team. Even with the tough outing, Hudson's ERA is 1.97.
The Mets grabbed leads of 3-0 and 4-1, but stranded 12 runners on base.
''At this level you can't give good teams more than three outs, if you do, you are going to get burned by it,'' Collins said.
The Mets ended Hudson's scoreless streak at 16 consecutive innings in the second, when Duda doubled and scored on Recker's single. In the third, Duda broke his bat hitting an RBI single off the wall in right and Recker drove in another run to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.
The Mets might have had more if not for a baserunning blunder. Ruben Tejada was tagged out between second and third after Duda stopped at third and Recker ran to second.
With the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth, Posey grounded into a double play to score San Francisco's first run. Colon then got Sandoval to fly out.
New York extended its lead to 4-1 on a wild pitch by George Kontos in the sixth, but couldn't overcome an error by third baseman David Wright in the bottom of the inning.
Wright fielded a grounder and misfired to second trying to get the lead runner with two outs. Pagan followed with a two-run single to bring the Giants within 4-3 and chase Colon.
Pence's single loaded the bases for Posey again, but Jeurys Familia struck out Posey on a sinking fastball clocked at 96 mph.
NOTES: Giants reliever Santiago Casilla, who is on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, threw 30 pitches in the bullpen. He is scheduled to throw again before Monday's game and could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Wednesday. ... The Mets optioned C Travis d'Arnaud to Triple-A Las Vegas after the game and called up C Taylor Teagarden. ... Former Giants prospect Zack Wheeler takes the mound for the Mets against San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (4-4, 5.01 ERA) in Sunday's series finale.


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Time to get back into the swing of things.
And by "back," I mean the kids went to school for two days and then we skipped Friday to take a long weekend at the beach.
I mean how much school can someone take in August?
Anyways – I was a bit concerned that all of the sun and laid back beach time was making the kids a bit lazy. When I asked them what activities they wanted to do they didn't seem to be interested in anything.
Now that they are 6 and 7 I feel that they should kind of have some interests outside of video games and Spongebob. I convinced one to take soccer and the other to take tennis.
That's enough. Then Michael announced he would like to take drums, so I agreed to that. Then they both decided they would like to play flag football. Now starting this week I am going to be one of those crazed mothers driving from practice to practice everyday.
I really wanted to enjoy this last weekend of freedom. I wanted to make it a point not to even think about the fall schedule until after the weekend.
Last night, (the last night of the summer) I fed the kids some mac and cheese from the box and plopped them in front of the television. I poured myself some wine and headed out onto the deck with a few family members, determined to have a nice night.
Maybe that's why when a bunch of old friends came over unexpectedly with vodka in hand, I was a little to quick to down the most delicious martinis I ever had.
We were all out on the deck, and people kept hearing the party and joining in. The more people who came the more shithoused Mr. Gaga and I became.
And then some lawyer or cop showed up with possibly the best party entertainment ever…a breathalyzer. It got passed around and it became almost a competition to see who could get the highest number.
It just seemed that whenever I thought I was getting a little tipsy I would blow a .12 and then everyone would boo me at the party and I would have no choice but to down another martini.
At some point well into my third or fourth martini, a girl I had met only once before asked me if I had children.
I stared at her drunkenly. "Yes…..Oh shit….I DO have children!! I totally forgot!"
I ran inside and found Michael watching tv as though it was any other night. Sam was missing. I looked at the clock.
I stumbled over to the microwave…
"That's it!" I said with authority."It is WAY past your bedtime young man!"
Michael looked at me and shrugged. He got up and went to bed, which is where I noticed that poor Sam was under his covers. He had, under the duress of having no mother, taken it upon himself to go to bed.
With the kids officially out of my hair the party continued.
I served everyone shots in votive candle holders because I couldn't find shot glasses and things got really crazy.
When we finally went to bed it was around 2.
Needless to say when the kids woke up in the morning things weren't pretty.
I could barely speak or function.
I looked at poor Sam and he was still in the clothes he had on the day before.
I desperately needed an egg and cheese sandwich so I drove myself to the nearest place I could find and squealed up on two wheels.
I came back with coffee for the kids and a breakfast sandwich for Mr. Gaga.
When we felt that we could mildly function after downing eight gallons of water and our greasy sandwiches, we went to the beach and were able to hold it together somewhat until the lunch picnic we were planning on going to got cancelled.
There was no way I could suddenly go from worst mother ever to great mother of the year and come up with a healthy lunch.
I gave the kids a few bucks and sent them to the ice cream truck for lunch.
After a while they came back and gave me change and said that they were full – and could they save their lunch for later and handed me what was left.
I have made it through the day. I am utterly exhausted but I eked out this blog post miraculously.
All I can say is as far as parenting goes….it's gotta be all uphill from here.
Happy Labor Day!
Don't judge me…..