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"Go" to "Just Visiting" | "Pall Mall" to "Free Parking" | "Strand" to "Jail" | "Regent St" to "Mayfair"
In this second section we continue our quest to navigate the Monopoly Board using only images held in the Crace Collection of antiquarian prints and maps held by the British Museum. By doing so we will find out whether an 1850s Londoner could have made sense of the streets and enclaves immortalised when this iconic board game first appeared in its London format in 1936. We shall wend our way from Pall Mall up to Free Parking, constituting the half-way point – but will our journey founder upon the altar of modernity? Highlights include a fond farewell to Carlton House, a fruitless search for Marylebone Station and a daring escape from Bow Street Police Station:
Pall Mall
This scene looking east down Pall Mall -with Carlton House immediately on the right and the colonnade to the opera house on the left, was published in Ackerman's Repository of the Arts magazine in 1822. It shows Pall Mall during a time of great change. Carlton House was entering its last days, but the Royal Opera Arcade (built in 1818 and still here today) was the shape of things to come – for Pall Mall was to be an integral part of George IV's vision of a new London – which was made real over a decade of great change for this locality.
Pall Mall was originally built in 1661, though a thoroughfare existed here since Saxon times – and its adoption as a roadway in 1662 made it the official route between St James' Palace and the Mall. Just a few years earlier this strip of land had been fenced off and used as a 'pelemele court' by Charles II – but this early version of croquet was often spoiled by dust blown over by carriages passing on the adjacent lane-way – so the loss of this sporting venue was largely unlamented. Almost as soon as it was paved over, this new street became known as 'Pall Mall', a name it retains to this day.
South Front of Carlton House (1819)
When the Prince Regent became King George IV in 1820 he was living at Carlton House, and this continued to operate as his principal London residence until 1826 when he moved to newly refurbished and extended Buckingham Palace. His association with Carlton House began in 1783, and within a few years the then Prince of Wales transformed the mansion along French neoclassical lines. During its lifetime Carlton House's ambition was only constricted by the size of the Prince's debts – meaning that it endured bursts of intense re-modelling sandwiched between periods of relative calm. Over time this mansion became one of the most important venues for entertainment and pleasure amongst the ruling elite. Consequently Carlton House's fall from grace in just 5 years seems drastic – but it was quite typical of George to switch the focus of his creative attention elsewhere. Once he decided upon Buckingham Palace, and appointed Nash to undertake its rebuilding, Carlton House was living on borrowed time. George IV's other great passion was the development of London along classical lines – and his desire to link Regent Street with the Mall meant that Carlton House needed to go. On March 30th 1826 The Times reported
Carlton House will be taken down at the latter end of the ensuing summer, and preparations are now being made for the temporary reception of the furniture belonging to that royal residence, till the new palace at Buckingham House is completed. On the ground opened by the removal of Carlton House, many noble edifices are to be erected, all of which are to be occupied by our first Nobility… It is also likely that a Club House, for the United Service Club, enlarged and on a much greater scale than heretobefore, will stand in this area. There is to be an opening into [St James'] Park which will be a striking improvement: from this (turning to the right) will be a noble row of architectural houses facing the canal. These will stand on a terrace, and stretch from the opening (at Waterloo Place) to the Ordnance Office… occupying the present gardens of Carlton House – now bounded by the dead wall towards the ride in the Park.
United Service Club, Pall Mall
The United Services Club was completed by 1829 (when this Thomas Hosmer Shepherd image was drawn), surviving until the late 1970s, and the building is still there today as part of the Institute of Directors. As for Carlton House – its famous front facade – reused for the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, is still a pleasing sight today.
For my final word on Carlton House, I must defer to His Majesty George IV, and a newspaper clipping from The Age March 9th 1828, demonstrating the King's emotional attachment to his old home
Adieu to Carlton House – by George IV (Allegedly)
We are informed that his Majesty, since his arrival in Town, made a pilgrimage to the ruins of his old Palace, scarcely a vestige of which now remains. On his return to St James', his spirits were much depressed, when he retired to his own apartment. The above elegy was found upon the table
The Lothians Blogspot has written a very detailed and interesting history of the rise and fall of Carlton House
Electric Company
Finding an electric company in 1850s London was, not surprisingly, a difficult task. For this I was fortunate to locate just one suitable print from the 5000+ held in the Crace Collection – to enable us to progress further
This particular scene from 1852 shows two views of the time-ball on top of a turret in the Strand; the view on the left including the Electric Telegraph Company's offices, and on the right a close-up of the time-ball on top of the turret. Clearly, electrical power was in its infancy by the 1850s. A quick trawl of the newspapers shows that the Electrical Telegraph Company spent a great deal of its early existence dealing with court cases relating to patents for its new technology. It claimed to own no less than 40 of its own patents, but I think this indicates that electrical power was being developed by a wide number of groups simultaneously. For, as early as 1838 London hosted a meeting of the Electrical Society at which Mr Crosse gave a full account of his electrical experiments. The Society itself was formed to 'for the purpose of explaining and making public the mysteries' of electricity, so we can imagine this encouraged more widespread interest and investment in this nascent technology. Thus, a Victorian landing upon Electric Company may be ignorant of what it entailed, but not unaware that electrical power was in the process of development
Thus, on August 19th 1852, The Times reported on the new electric time ball installed in the Strand (pictured above)
After a satisfactory completion of the requisite arrangements which had for some time been pending between the Electric Telegraph Company and the Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, Mr Edwin Clark [was entrusted for] the construction of the ingenious apparatus for the development of the electric telegraph system, as applied to the regulation of time on a plan for distributing and correcting mean Greenwich time in London and… throughout the UK every day at 1 o'clock
Perhaps the most important outcome of this new development was the standardisation of time throughout the UK – which would have been of massive benefit to the railways – ensuring that timetables would be accurate to a specific location, namely Greenwich mean time. For Victorian Britain, this was to be a significant shift towards modernity
One of the most frequent images found in the Crace Collection is that of the Banqueting House at Whitehall – famous for being the place where Charles I was beheaded in 1649 – when Britain entered a period of commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell (who coincidentally took up residence in Whitehall thereafter). There has been a roadway at Whitehall since the 12th century, but it most likely adopted its name from the Palace of Whitehall, which was the residence of English Kings from Henry VIII to William III. The building burned down in 1698 – apart from the before-mentioned Banqueting House which is still with us today. The above image shows Whitehall and the Horse Guards circa 1811, and we can see that at that time is was still little more than a dirt track
As is is today, Whitehall was synonymous with the heart of Government in Victorian times – housing numerous Departments of State including the Admiralty, the Horse Guards and the Treasury.
A view of the Admiralty, 1818
This view from the street of the Admiralty in Whitehall comes from Ackermann's Repository of the Arts , showing the arched entrance to the forecourt and screen wall. This three-sided building (not to be confused with the Admiralty Arch at Trafalgar Square) was constructed in 1726 to a design by Thomas Ripley, but was instantly criticised for its baroque-style which was thought out-moded by the new fashion for Palladianism. However it has endured until today, and it is thought to be the first ever purpose-built office. Thoughtfully renamed the Ripley Building, this property is now used by the Department for International Development
Unlike us, the Victorians would have also associated Whitehall with the River Thames. Its piers were important departure points for both Government and Royalty – most notably serving as the main exit route for important personages fleeing London during the Great Plague in 1665. By the 1830s Whitehall even had its own annual regatta – traditionally held in July – a contest for double scullers, offering various prizes put forward by noblemen and gentry. On July 17th 1843 The Morning Post reported
Amongst the nobility and gentry who subscribed to the regatta for men plying at Whitehall stairs, were his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Sir Robert Peel… the race was contested on Friday, with six pairs of sculls in two heats. At an early hour in the afternoon the whole of the men started… at half past six the final was held, four were afloat to race from the Duke of Buccleuch's, down round the Thames… up round Westminster Bridge, and finish at Whitehall. T Piner junior retained the lead and won by a length and a half… his father finished in third.
Northumberland Avenue
This is the first serious stumbling block on our journey around the early Victorian monopoly board, because Northumberland Avenue was not built until 1876, following the demolition of Northumberland House near Charing Cross. This image from 1826 shows Northumberland House in the background with an equestrian statue of Charles I on the right and the Golden Cross Coaching Inn on the left. However, we must recall that Northumberland Street (to the rear of the mansion) already existed in 1850 – and the House itself was a well-known landmark to the south of Trafalgar Square – meaning that most Victorians would have known where to go to locate 'Northumberland Avenue' on their Monopoly Board.
Northumberland House – James Green (1761)
Northumberland House, built in 1605 to a Jacobean style, lay on a roadway down to the busy wharfs of the Thames serving Charing Cross and Westminster. But as Northumberland Street became increasingly commercialised this mansion eventually became the last bastion of residential homes which once lined that street. After the 1820s the Duke of Northumberland came under increasing pressure to sell his mansion to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who wished to build a new, wider road down to the river. But the Duke was unwilling to leave his ancestral home and resisted all overtures – until disaster forced his hand. On August 22nd 1868 Bell's Life in London reported
Shortly before midnight on Thursday last the town residence of the Duke of Northumberland was discovered to be on fire. Five steam engines were quickly on the spot, but the flames were not extinguished until the roof of the south-west wing, used as a ball-room, was burned off, paintings, furniture, and decorations partly destroyed… with confectionery rooms underneath damaged by fire and water. Fortunately the drawing room, dining room, marble staircase, and upper suite of saloons and valuable paintings have escaped destruction. though some splendid friezes have been more of less injured… but these are insured… Workmen employed at the house are supposed to have caused the fire.
As a consequence of this carnage, the Duke of Northumberland agreed to sell his mansion for £500,000 – a colossal sum by today's standards (perhaps £50M) – paving the way for Northumberland Avenue to appear on the London map
Marylebone Station
The only station serving the parish of Marylebone in the 1850s was at King's Cross, so a Victorian would have scratched his head at the thought of another station in that area. However, such was the craze for railroads in mid-Victorian times, that no Victorian would have been entirely surprised at the thought of one springing up in the heart of Marylebone. But no such station appeared – and until the 1890s Euston, King's Cross and Paddington became the key transport hubs for that area.
A trawl of the Crace collection finds just one image of a railway in Marylebone – which is an 1837 view from beneath the Hampstead Road Bridge looking towards Euston Station, as a steam train comes into view. It looks like the rush hour that day for we can see a queue carriages and waggons on the bridge – though we also have a hot air balloon high in the sky above – so not everyone is at work. There is so much to see in this 180-year-old scene – which convinces me to go on from this setback and see what else confounds us on our journey.
Never a real London landmark – Marylebone Station
As for Marylebone Station, we must halt a while to question why that poorest relation of all London mainline stations should ever have been included in the 1936 Monopoly board game. This station only opened in 1899 as the London terminus of the Great Central Main Line, being the last major railway to open in Britain in over 100 years, linking the capital to Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester. Marylebone was always too small to compete with its rivals, poorly conceived in relation to connection with tube stations already in operation nearby – and must be considered a failed vanity-project. It never really had a heyday and was lucky to survive complete closure in the 1980s.- ironically saved by public appeal.
Bow Street
We've had a real wobble on our last two stops round our Victorian monopoly board, so its great to land back on more secure ground at Bow Street, a roadway situated just south of Covent Garden, parallel to the Strand – which has been around since the 1630s. Once a home for London's aristocrats, by the 1750s Bow Street had declined into a seedy area frequented by journalists and prostitutes (rather fittingly), as well as lodgings for actors serving theatres in Covent Garden and Drury Lane. But its decline was halted after a magistrates court was built there in 1740, and a decade later the novelist Henry Fielding established the Bow Street Runners – a kind of embryonic vigilante group – paid to catch and convict miscreants. This 1825 view by James Winston shows the old police office used by the Bow Street Runners. Even after the newly-founded Metropolitan Police built their own station at Bow Street in 1832 – the Runners continued to operate – but they disbanded in 1839 as proper policing became established.
On September 5th 1825 The Times reported upon a daring escape attempt made from the Bow Street Police Office:
Mary Anne Smith, a woman of about 25 years of age, was committed to the House of Correction, for an assault upon a watchman. Previously to her removal she was locked up in the gaol yard [which is] about 20 or 30 feet square and surrounded by a brick wall about 20 feet in height, and it was over this formidable barrier that the prisoner Smith resolved to effect her liberation. Taking advantage of the temporary absence of the gaoler she placed a wooden bench, upon which the prisoners it, upright, and using this as a ladder… thence to gain the top of the wall. From here she made her way over house and chimney-top until she entered a window at Mr Day, boot-maker in Russell Street. From the window she made a dangerous leap over an interval descending the whole depth of that building – had she missed her footing instant death would have bee the consequence. The gaoler followed close behind fell and for some time hung on for his life at the ledge of the window… The woman got to the street door where she met Mr Day – to him she confessed her purpose and he told her the best place for concealment was the cellar – but officers then arrived at the house and secured the prisoner… The poor creature stated that she had been driven to risk her life on account of two infants who depended upon her, their father having died three weeks ago.
This desperately sad story has a compassionate ending for the chief officer at Bow Street, Mr Minshull 'with a suitable admonition, humanely ordered her to be discharged. He considered the terror at the situation which her hazardous enterprise evinced, would operate to deter any future offence.' We don't know what became of Mary Anne Smith, but she went into the record books as the first person to successfully effect an escape from Bow Street police station.
Marlborough Street
Our next port of call is Marlborough Street, where we find our subject remains police-related. This Thomas Hosmer Shepherd painting from 1854 shows the front of a Police Office on the north side of Marlborough Street, with a few police officers standing by the entrance. These police certainly look pretty much how we would imagine Victorian 'Peelers' would be. Marlborough Street first made an appearance on 1704 and lies in Soho just south of Oxford Street. Perhaps its most famous building nowadays is Liberty Store which stands on the junction with Regent Street.
Marlborough Street has a Police Office from around 1800, which also served as a magistrates court. Quite often the court dealt with the very lowest section of society – committing to prison petty thieves, drunks and beggars. These cases often attracted little attention – it was only when the rich or powerful got involved, that press coverage was guaranteed. One such occasion was in 1826 when a case was brought on by the Mendacity Society, against an 80-year-old tramp. She was defended by Lord Maryborough 'with a zeal, feeling, and good sense, which would be a credit and ornament to any man'. Ellen Goodall's crime was to stand with her hand out near Hanover Square – considered as begging – and despite Maryborough's involvement she was sentenced to a fortnight in prison.
The idle rich had no respect for the police
Marlborough Street also had a long and chequered history of dealing with badly behaved aristocrats, whose lenient treatment proved a stark contrast to the often savage sentences meted out upon the poor. Young bucks enjoyed nights out on the Town, usually getting drunk, and then proceeding to beat or attack person positions in authority. It was almost a right-of-passage for young Lords to misbehave and behave antisocially on London's streets – knowing full well they would escape the consequences. For example, on June 22nd 1825 the Morning Post reported
Yesterday Lord Harborough was charged by a watchman with having violently assaulted him at Steven's Hotel in Bond Street…. striking him several times with a poker… and his fists… to wound him most severely. [He] was very noisy in the street… On the other hand, a Gentleman, who was looking out of the window at the time, deposed that no such noise had been made… the the Gentleman had been willing to come forward to answer any charge… and that he was only resisting attacks by the watchman, who outrageously rushed into the Coffee Room upon him, and then the alleged assault had been committed.
Not surprisingly the (probably paid) witness swayed the case and the Magistrate bailed Lord Harborough pending further investigation. Given that the watchman would not have had the means to proceed, we must assume that this arrogant toff went unpunished – reinforcing the ingrained injustice of our legal system at that time.
Vine Street – (Lambeth not Piccadilly)
This is a peculiar step on our journey because Vine Street is probably the most obscure location to be found on the Monopoly board – being a very tiny cul-de-sac to the rear of Piccadilly. In the days before Regent Street this was a much longer road, and it would certainly have been well-known to Victorians on account of Vine Street Police Station, founded around 1750, which grew from a watch-house into one of the busiest police stations in the world, and sat alongside a court-house which was active throughout the Victorian era. Bow Street, Marlborough Street and Vine Street share an association with law courts – and this explains why they were grouped together in the orange section of a Monopoly board.
There is no question that Vine Street was recognisable to Victorian Londoners – but they would have instantly asked: Which One? For London had a second Vine Street just south of the river in Lambeth and was the main thoroughfare towards Hungerford Bridge, which was opened in 1845. This Vine Street was engulfed by a natural disaster which occurred on January 29th 1850
The tide rose so extraordinarily high as to overflow the walls of the river and inundate the various thoroughfares along either shore. So unexpected was the high tide that no one had made any preparation to preserve their property, and the consequence was that mischief to an incalculable amount was done… The first notice the inhabitants received of this fearful visitation was shortly after three o'clock – about half an hour before high water. At that period water began to flow over the banks.. and in the space of ten minutes it became apparent that a fearful destruction of property, if not human life, was inevitable. The various wharfs along the river soon presented immense sheets of water, timber, and other articles being forced about with the strength of the tide in terrible confusion… The property destroyed in Lambeth Parish must reach many thousand pounds… The whole of Vine Street was one great expanse of water, and the only means for the residents to leave their habitations were in boats… The water travelled as far as the terminus of the South Western Railway, in York Road. In Vine Street it rushed into kitchens, and forced the furniture up to the ceilings. In one house three children nearly perished; their mother being upstairs… hearing them scream, she rushed downstairs and found the water half way to the ceiling, and the children up to their necks in water…
The great flood as seen from Lambeth Stairs (1850)
This upper Thames flood was recorded as the worst for 50 years, and helped to accelerate two major improvements – firstly the construction of embankments on either side of the Thames, which vastly improved flood defences; and secondly; the improvement in London's sewage management. Just a few weeks before this flood, MPs debated the awful problem of pollution on the Thames and how it could be alleviated. To have that dank and deadly water overspill into homes and businesses so soon afterwards must have been a catalyst for change, and began London's long road towards environmental recovery
Free Parking
Free Parking was probably a bit of a bonus in 1936 as London was already well accustomed to traffic gridlock. Today it is just a pipe-dream for London's motorists, used to Congestion Charging, Residential Parking Permits, Red Routes, and Pay-by-Phone extortion – should they ever decide to travel in by car. For the Victorians parking was never an issue, but they would have been accustomed to knowing where to find parked hansom cabs in order to travel from A to B – and these would have commonly been found outside hotels and inns, stations, shops and businesses. Above we see a view of Oxford Street in 1831 – with carriages waiting outside Stafford House – ready for hire.
Let's wait until the next segment before we catch our taxi onwards to cross the Victorian Monopoly Board, and conclude this second part by reflecting upon a difficult journey, which began at Pall Mall and had us lost for a while in Northumberland Avenue and Marylebone Station, before putting us back on surer, more familiar territory amongst the orange enclave – which last delivered us safely to 'Free Parking'.
I hope you will join me for Part 3 of our trip, which sets out from The Strand but almost inevitably will put us all in 'Jail'.
If you are interested in London history, you may like to learn about 3 Savile Row or find out how to catch a stagecoach (1819-style)
Beyond my own pages, I would recommended the following excellent London-related blogs:
- Spitalfields Life, and so much more from the Gentle Author
- Derelict London, Paul Talling's one-man recovery attempt for lost and soon-to-be-lost London
- London Historians Blog – this blog has been around since 2010 and has plenty to read


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subset: commoncrawl


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Men's Talk
Alan Bennett
Two middle-class men talking. Call them Charles and Henry.
The full text of this fiction is only available to subscribers of the London Review of Books.
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Vol. 3 No. 22/23 · 3 December 1981 » Alan Bennett » Men's Talk
pages 31-32 | 1559 words


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Modern kitchen designs can't be defined only by a particular type, color or material. They are different, unusual, with marked individuality.
The unifying elements are smooth polished surfaces, metal, glass, kitchen islands and colorful decorations of irregular shape. Popular at the moment are not the good old wooden chairs, yet the gauzy plastic ones. Often seen are brick walls, crystal chandeliers usually more suitable for a living room yet perfectly fitting into a kitchen, as well as bright stools around the counter.


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Enchanting and Modern Dubai
As one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is the most modern and progressive emirate and is currently developing at an incredible pace in both tourism and trade. Travel to Dubai makes a great destination for shopping, nightlife, sunbathing, fine dining, sports and culture. After a few days of exploring modern Dubai you can discover the enchanting beauty of the red sand deserts that surround Dubai. A stay in the wilderness offers the traveler a real adventure into the magnificent landscape of the unique sands of Arabia. A wilderness tour takes the traveler into the desert where guests can experience the traditional life of the area, dress in traditional clothes and enjoy snacks while getting henna paintings. Guests can also learn about the important role falcons have in the local area.
Discover Ancient Bagan
There are two major ancient religious sites in Southeast Asia, Bagan in Burma and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Bagan is located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River and is the home to the largest and densest concentration of ancient temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating back to the 1100s. It is one of the more extraordinary sites to visit because of its wonderful exotic architecture and valley views. Visiting Bagan is like stepping back into a turn of the century exhibition with its amazing views of scattered temples and ancient buildings placed across a vast plain where the complex can be seen through trees and bush creating an exotic view.
Sri Lankan Elephant Escape
The tropical island of Sri Lanka has been described as having the bluest skies and the brightest sun that blesses the island nation with unparallelled natural beauty. Travel to Sri Lanka offers a vacation that includes lush tropical forests and an enormous amount of biodiversity including an incredible range of frog species and Asian elephants. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a center for wild Asian elephants and was established to feed, nurse and house elephants found abandoned or displaced from their wild habitat by development. After a visit with the elephants the traveler can discover Sri Lanka's rich history including Buddhist temples, Dutch forts and Colonial buildings.


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Ever since the advent of Internet, the usage of Internet, which was initially researched and implemented by US government and few universities, has grown and expanded to World Wide Web where entire world is connected. The Internet has expanded to our homes and mobile devices in recent years to provide extra connectivity for communication and exchange of information. With this connectivity, it also allows doing just about everything online such as shopping, reading books, finding jobs, getting education, doing research, and even real time online stock trading and e-commerce. To take benefit of this great technology of Internet, our home needs to be equipped with right equipment to take full advantages. To start, we need good router or switch for home network.
Below are few routers and switches to recommend for home network based on our experience of actually using them:
- AirPort Extreme Router
- Linksys Router
- TP-Link Router


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i recent been using my variables names like this
boolean is_dead = false;
turn out its not right. right conventions is
boolean isDead = false;
for some reason i dont like the 2nd one. may be bc i been using 1st one for so long. i was wondering is there is different way of writeing variables and still be ok?


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Waterbed Hev
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|Waterbed Hev
|Studio album by
|April 22, 1997
|Hip hop
|Uptown/Universal Records
|Heavy D
DJ Battlecat
Tony Dofat
|Heavy D chronology
|Professional ratings
|Review scores
Waterbed Hev is the first solo album and sixth album overall by rapper Heavy D. The album was released on April 22, 1997 for Uptown Records and was produced by Heavy D, DJ Battle Cat and Tony Dofat. This marked Heavy D's first album without "The Boyz", DJ Eddie F and G-Wiz. Waterbed Hev made it to #9 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, going gold in the process. Four singles were released, "Waterbed Hev", "I'll Do Anything", "Keep It Coming" (US #23) and "Big Daddy" (US #18). Guests on the album include Lost Boyz, Soul for Real and Tha Dogg Pound.
Track listing[edit]
- "Big Daddy" - 4:09
- "Keep It Comin'" - 4:26
- "You Can Get It" (feat. Lost Boyz & Soul for Real) - 4:41
- "Waterbed Hev" - 4:28
- "Shake It" - 4:11
- "I'll Do Anything" - 3:52
- "Don't Be Afraid" (feat. Big Bub) - 4:14
- "Justa' Interlude" - 1:06
- "Can You Handle It" (feat. Tha Dogg Pound & McGruff) - 4:15
- "Wanna Be a Player" - 2:41
- "Get Fresh Hev" - 3:02
- "Big Daddy" (Remix) (feat. McGruff) - 3:31
- "Big Daddy (Remix)"
- "Back to Life" by Soul II Soul
- "Don't Be Afraid"
- "Gimme What You Got" by Le Pamplemousse
- "I'll Do Anything"
- "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Hall & Oates
- "Keep It Coming (Heavy D)"
- "Wanna Be a Player"
- "I Think I Love You" by The Partridge Family
- "Waterbed Hev"
- "Givin' It Up Is Givin' Up" by Patrice Rushen
- "You Can Get It"
- "Risin' to the Top" by Keni Burke
- "Go Stetsa I" by Stetsasonic


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University of Sussex Private Sector Workshops
We have finalised dates for our Private Sector Housing Workshops we will be running, aimed at giving students who will be starting to think about private sector housing for next year, the information and advice they need.
We have changed the format this year to include interactive workshops around different aspects of living in the private sector.
I will be helping to run our community workshop desk and part of this we hope will include a member of the community from different areas around Brighton to chat to students about living in their area, what's good about it and general advice about settling in to the area.
We would be very interested in having someone from the LAT to attend one or more of the workshops.
The dates and location on campus of the workshops are:
- Monday 21st November- 5.30pm- 7.30pm – Fulton 104
- Thursday 24th November- 1.30pm- 3.30pm –Fulton 104
- Monday 28th November- 5.30pm-7.30pm- Jubilee 118
- Thursday 1st December- 5.30pm-7.30pm- Jubilee 118
- Tuesday 6th December- 5.30pm-7.30pm- Futon 104
- Thursday 8th December- 1.30pm-3.30pm- Fulton 104
- Thursday 8th December- 5.30pm-7.30pm- Jubilee 115
Please can you let me know if this is something that would be possible and if so which one you will be able to attend?
Kind regards,
Lucy Walker,
Housing Officer (Information and Advice),
University of Sussex Information Centre,
91 Lewes Road,
Open Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm
We welcome your feedback, negative or positive as we work to improve the service we provide.
We are part of The Student Accommodation Code


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Welcome to The Anti-Cruelty Society's webpage just for kids! Here, you will find loads of information about pets and how to care for them, as well as games, puzzles, and activities to test your animal smarts
Animal Safety
Have you ever wondered why your cat's tail swishes around when you're petting her? Or why your dog never looks at the camera when you're trying to snap a cute pic? Pets can't talk like humans can, so they communicate with their bodies. This form of "talking" is called body language. Learning about animal body language can help you safely meet pets. Click here to learn All About Pet Safety, and then take our Bite Prevention Pledge!
Caring for Pets
Having a pet is a lot of work! In addition to your love, they need all of the same things you do to be healthy: wholesome food, fresh water, a cozy home, and doctors' visits for when they get sick or hurt. Do you think you have what it takes to be a top-notch pet owner? Click here to learn All About Pet Care, and then test your wit with our games and puzzles!
Click here to download The Anti-Cruelty Coloring Book
Click here to download The Anti-Cruelty Coloring Book (Spanish Version)
Helping Your Four-legged Friends
Don't have a pet? Don't fret! You don't have to have a pet at home to express your appreciation for your furry friends. There are tons of things you can do to show your love for animals, many from the comfort of your home. Click here for some ideas and activities to get you started, and then check out our Projects and Opportunities section of this page for more ways to get involved!
Are you an animal lover with a passion for justice and upholding the law? Do you like solving mysteries, and helping those in need? Check out our Paw and Order (coming soon) page to find clues and solve a mystery in our point-and-click-style game!
Projects and Opportunities
Do you want to help cats and dogs? Are you a crafty-type, looking to use your skills for the forces of good? Look no further! The Anti-Cruelty Society has tons of options for you!
- If you like arts and crafts, check out our DIY Donations and Crafts. Make them on your own, or get together with your friends to host a crafting party! Toys and soft beds help our pets waiting for their forever homes stay happy and comfy. When you're done, email email@example.com to schedule a drop-off appointment.
- If you are looking to earn Service Learning credit for your school or organization, check out our Service Learning page for creative ways to support The Anti-Cruelty Society's mission of creating a community of caring by helping pets and educating people.
- Attention all aspiring veterinarians! If you are a high school student who wants to work with animals in the medical field, check out our Veterinary Mentoring Program page for more info, and to apply.
- Are you between the ages 14-18? Do you have a passion for animals, improving your community, and stopping violence? Then our After School Program might be perfect for you! To apply, and for more information, check out our page for Exploring the "Link.'"
Have questions? Contact our education department for answers at email@example.com


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As I told the participants about the programme - not only a wet session in the last five minutes of the paddle, but direct from the start - as they phoned me a week before the the training session, I noticed some hesitation. Not everybody was enthusiast about the idea of a swim, two kayakers resigned. Most people however found it a challenging idea. Only a few had experimented before with rolling and rescues and swimming in cold water.
The conditions were perfect: wind SW 3-4 Bft, air temp. 10 degrees Celsius, a bit clouded, but mainly dry. After a warming up at the beach, we paddled 2o minutes against the wind before we did a rolling session and eskimo-rescues (bow rescue and paddle rescue) for those who couldn't roll. After this intermezzo we paddled with a following wind 1,5 hour out at sea before we set course to the beach of Goeree. The next part was an incident management-session - the group had to deal (2 km out of the coast) with 3 seasick and potentially hypothermic kayakers that needed support and had to be brought back to land and treated against hypothermia - 2o minutes of towing, landing at the beach and building a shelter followed. After the lunch on the way back to the starting point we looked for some vivid water above the sand, did a competition with x-rescues (stopwatch- which team does the fastest recovery ?) and finished with rolling and bracing the harbour.
Respect for the commitment of this group: everybody participated in all the wet sessions - most of them dressed in neoprene - which offers adequate protection but isn't by near as comfortable as a drysuit. It is all very well for me to talk - dressed in the high tech Kokatat drysuit!
Distance paddled: 18 km.
Webalbum with more (unsorted) pictures of this trip by me, Patrick and Willem:
|tkbn Voordeltat


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Here's the complete Islands Restaurant gluten free menu which features some delicious appetizers, burgers, sides, and desserts.
Just be sure to let the staff know that you're dining off the gluten free menu.
Enjoy and dig in!
Islands Restaurants Gluten Free Menu
- nachos
- island fries
- cheddar fries
- big wave with cheddar
- shorebird
- jr wave
- kaanapali kobb salad
- grilled veggie tacos
- grilled chicken tacos
- ice cream sundae
- jr sundae
Discover More Gluten Free Menus!
And for a listing of over 250+ gluten free restaurant menus, check out our brand new GF Restaurants + Dining Guide!


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Let me tell you why.
To understand you have to go back almost 20 years exactly when yours truly started sprouting some boobies.
At the time when I was around 12 I got to about a B cup and stopped and even though I thought lingerie was glamorous and awesome I hated wearing bras and often stuffed my more tshirt than bra training bras into pockets, I'd tuck them into the pockets in the car, in my Dad's coat pockets. Anything to berid of them.
I kind of hovered at a big B cup almost C cup until I was 13 and they started to grow.
You would think someone was shooting me up with some kind of boob growth elixer because in less than one year I went from that not quite C cup to a DDD.
Absorb that for a moment. At 13 I was 5'0, not sure how much I weighed but my band size was a 33-34.
I don't want to talk about the trauma in detail but I will say that I was often in a lot of pain and gained a lot of weight mistakenly thinking that my body would somehow catch up in proportion. But it did not.
What did happen is at 14 years old and 5'1" and a pants size of about a 10 or so. I was an FF cup. I started having some horrifying and terrifying health problems. Inch deep grooves in my shoulders, difficulty breathing if I was reclined so I was unable to sleep on my back or lean at more than about a 90 degree angle.
But the most frightening and what I remember most vividly is waking up short of breath and having chest pains. Chest pains at 14 years old at one o'clock in the morning. When I could get some breath I remember stumbling into my parents room sobbing (which naturally made it harder to breath) and off to the ER we went.
It was thought that I was having a heart attack or other cardiac emergency based on a heart murmur I had as a baby and possible heart defects that just hadn't been caught. Imagine this.
Now as it turns out after many pediatric cardiologist visits this was not what happened.
(Please if you are squeamish SKIP THIS do not complain that I didn't warn you.)
What did happen is that the connective tissue beneath my breasts on my sternum tore. And was tearing from the ever increasing weight of my breasts.
Now my parents did not have a lot of money so we had to make do with bras from Kmart because I was out growing them at a rate of one a month.
What I remember on those trips is the humiliating walk past the jrs department, and the misses department to the old lady department. I had to wear these white or beige monstrosities of bras that always garnered raised eyebrows from catty retail employees. Comment from girls in gym class.
There is more but it's pretty horrible and I don't want to talk about it.
Then, my Mom found a pediatric reconstruction plastic surgeon who saved my life.
My parents insurance had deemed a breast reduction at my tender age to be merely cosmetic and we thought I was going to have to move to England with a family I hardly knew so I could get it done. But, my amazing doctor wrote a fairly substantial paper on my case and documented my plentiful health issues, took it to a North American conference and got enough other plastic surgeons on board with the idea the surgery was necessary to in essence blackmail the insurance company into paying.
So I got a reduction.
Initially I wanted cute small boobies like my Mom has. But the plastic surgeon explained that my broad shouldered, broad hipped build would make that a bit disproportionate. So I got a big full perky C cup.
I showed my new boobs to all my friends, to my family. I talked to other young patients about the surgery and the scars. I showed and had potential breast reduction patients feel my scars.
And then when I was all healed up, I went to JCPenny with my Mom and bought the most beautiful and delicate lavender lace bra. I cried. I cried when the bra fitter (a little granny who said I had "a lovely bosom") put a black satin demi cut bra on me.
I wept when I got a paisley print bra with matching panties.
I remember being in Victoria's Secret armed with a 25$ gift certificate and some pocket change and staring at myself in the mirror, a purple bra on and vowing, vowing with all the passion a 16 year old girl can muster that I would never -ever- wear a white or beige bra ever again.
Now I am almost 32 years old. I'm a little fatter than I was then. Instead of a 36C I'm a 39-40 DD (my boobs did grow a bit in my late teens/early 20's) and to this very day, I will not wear a white or beige bra.
I might wear gigantic granny panties that cover me from the bottom of my butt cheeks up to the band of my bra, I might wear tighty whities, I might wear orthopedic inserts (which I do) and not be able to sleep unless I've got some topical analgesic on my knees but god damn it.
I mean that from the depths of my heart. I mean that for the poor 14 year old girl crying in Kmart because she had no choices. I mean that because I know how to dress my body now and don't have to wear clothes I hate. I mean that for ever ugly polyester piece of shit I had to wear.
I mean that for every time I have rocked a mile of cleavage held up by satin and lace or a torso molding there is no denying the boobies cleavage.
I mean it for the hot ass demi cut black bra I have on right now, with the little charm between the boobs.
This entry is brought to you by my casual bra shopping right now, my jiggling chocolate brown (actually the boobs are slightly lighter) cleavage that is a tad sweaty and smells quite nice, and brought to you by the letters DD.
No matter what kind of boobies you have, or that someone you love has, or that you just admire going down the street. Love them.
I love yours. Feel free to love mine. In a special tingle or just yay boobies are awesome kind of way.
And as is necessary, a picture of the boobs I love so much and suffered for.
Homo Out.


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After some use of the Arduino IDE I found it annoying that it wasn't installable. While it is useful to have a non-installing program in an environment with strict user restrictions (Like a school or at work) at home it is nice just to have Arduino automatically have registry settings for the opening of *.ino files and be in the start menu. So I created an Installer for the Arduino IDE with Inno Setup. This is downloadable from my google drive.
Regards, cyberlsb


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Originally Published: August 24, 2017 8:47 p.m.
Prescott's 4th Friday Art Walk, in its 13th year, is this Friday, Aug. 25. Conducted every month, the Art Walk showcases regional and international photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry and wearable art! Meander Prescott's streets and courtyards to discover a virtual feast for the eyes & soul. Through summer, the 4th Friday Art Walk is from 5 to 8 p.m. Additional details available at artthe4th.com or www.facebook.com/ArtThe4th?ref=hl.
Art2 (Art Squared), 120 W. Gurley St. mezzanine, Prescott, 928-499-4428. On Facebook at Art2Prescott. Sculpture, pottery, photography, paintings, jewelry, wearable art, glass, gourds, wood and more.
Art on 6th Street, 697 6th St. (6th Street Business Park), Suites 106, 108, 302 and 309. 928-830-1454. Studios open fourth Saturdays, through August. Glass, paintings, jewelry, sculpture, art wear and more.
Arts Prescott Gallery on Whiskey Row, 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-7717, www.artsprescott.com.
Bronzesmith Fine Art Gallery and Foundry, 7331 E. Second St., Prescott Valley, 928-772-2378. Foundry tours are available.
Gallery at the Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 Marina St. (entrance on Willis), 928-445-3286, www.pca-az.net.
Joseph Robertson Gallery, 110 S. Montezuma St., Suite A, Hotel St. Michael's Alley, 928-308-0254, www.joesartgallery.net, features fine art from local artists Joseph Robertson and Beth Neely, as well as others from around Arizona.
Krieger-Marcusen Gallery, 110 S. Montezuma St., Suite F, Hotel St. Michael's Alley, 928-778-4900. Clay, paintings, jewelry and wood by local artists Heath Krieger, Cathy Krieger and Richard Marcusen. Works by Steve Smith (wood) and plein air oil paintings by Bill Anton.
Gallery Beyond Words, 204 N. McCormick St., featuring fine art by Susanne Korte.
Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 N. Alarcon St., 928-776-4009, firstname.lastname@example.com. www.mountainartistsguild.org. "America the Beautiful" is scheduled through Aug. 25. Featured Artist Show: "Dynamics of Nature" through Sept. 13, featuring artists Lyn DeLano (watercolor) and Andress Brewster (clay and steel).
Mountain Spirit Gallery, 140 S. Montezuma St., 928-445-2886, msgprescott.com. Western art featuring Bill Nebeker, Susan Kliewer, Kathy Quick Anderson, Paul Wenzel, K.L. Powers and 20 other local artists.
Newman Gallery, 106-A S. Montezuma St., 928-442-9167, www.newmangallery.net.
Ortega's Galloping Goose, 162 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-0077.
Phippen Museum, 4701 Highway 89 North, 928-778-1385, www.phippenartmuseum.org. Olaf Wieghorst's West exhibition through Aug. 27, a tribute to western artists, cowboys and horses. Through Sept. 24 is the Phippen's fourth annual Hold Your Horses! Invitational Exhibition and Sale in the Marley Gallery. Upcoming is "Kids, Colts & Calves" in the James Gallery, Sept. 3 through Jan. 21.
Prescott Valley Art Guild, 3380 N. Windsong Drive, www.prescottvalleyartguild.org.
Sean Goté Gallery, 702 W. Gurley St., 928-445-2233, www.seangote.com.
Smoki Museum, 147 N. Arizona Ave., 928-445-1230, smokimuseum.org. Through Dec. 31 is the Museum's Contemporary Indian Cultures of Prescott exhibit. And on Sept. 16 is the annual Fall Navajo Rug and Indian Art Auction.
The Raven Café, 142 N. Cortez St. 928-717-0009, ravencafe.com.
'Tis Art Center and Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St. Prescott, www.tisartgallery.com. In the Mezzanine Gallery, "Sparks and Splashes" steel works by Joseph Rech and paintings by Elizabeth Bartlee through Sept. 14. In the Main Gallery, eclectic works by Prescott-area artists, through Sept. 19. Artists reception for both exhibits Aug. 25 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Van Gogh's Ear, 156 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-1080, www.vgegallery.com. Representing more than 60 local and nationally known artists, featuring contemporary works of wall art, ceramics, bronze, glass, wood, wearable art, jewelry and more.
Yavapai College Art Gallery, 1100 E. Sheldon St. 928-776-2031, www.yc.edu/artgallery. Currently showing the "ArtFaculty" exhibition through Sept. 9. Opening reception is Aug. 25 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Upcoming: "Reflections in Tea" exhibit by Michele Brody, Sept. 15 through Oct. 14.


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"Hey Yul, check it out…just got my publicity stills for the Ten C's!"
"Aw yeah, Charlton my man! I got mine too!"
"Wow! That leopard skin is epic!"
"Heck yes it is! Btw cool sheep – nice touch"
"Holy wrath face – check it."
"Hahaha! Who's your pharaoh now? Huh? Huh?"
"Hahaha! Sigh…I bet in fifty years people will have no idea how cool we were."
"Of course they will…so let it be written!"
"So let it be awesome! Hahaha…k bye"
The views expressed here are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of CatholicVote.org


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Take Pride In Waseda
President Katsuhiko Shirai
Congratulations on entering Waseda University! It is indeed a pleasure to welcome so many new students brimming with unlimited talent, energy and potential.
Now that you're members of the Waseda community, let me ask you a simple question: Why did you choose this university? Some of you may have picked Waseda because you already had specific goals mapped out. There again, some of you may have chosen Waseda because of its reputation, or because it's where you've always wanted to study. Whatever your motive, Waseda University offers you an exciting and completely different educational environment. In many ways Waseda is a microcosm of today's global society, a cosmopolitan melting-pot of people from different nations and different backgrounds. This stimulating and exciting environment will help you to refine your sensibilities to their fullest extent, to find and make your own that which stirs your innermost being-to learn more about yourself, about other people, and about your own goals in life. This is what Waseda has been doing for over a century. It's the great tradition of Waseda University.
Let me give you an example. In 1905 the Waseda University Baseball Club made its first visit to the United States. This was at the height of the Russo-Japanese War. When Shigenobu Okuma, the founder of Waseda, was asked what he thought of the planned visit, he replied, "It's a great idea! If you have any problems with the authorities, let me know and I'll see what I can do. The same goes for expenses." Shigenobu Okuma's spirit as a leader and an educator lives on today, and is reflected in almost every aspect of university life.
This Baseball Club anecdote reminds me of one of Waseda's most notable alumni, Dr. Ryusaku Tsunoda. He was a great fan of the game and founded the baseball club at Fukushima Middle School (now Fukushima Prefectural High School). In 1893 he graduated from the Literature Department of the Tokyo Technical School (now the Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences) and in 1917 went to the United States. In 1928 he established the Columbia University Center for Japanese Studies (now the Columbia University East Asia Library) and became the Director of the Japanese Collection in 1931. In 1962 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Columbia University. He was called the Father of Japanese Studies in the United States and at Columbia University he was referred to as simply "Sensei". He was also the mentor of Dr. Donald Keene, an honorary doctor of Waseda University and one of America's foremost authorities on Japanese culture. According to Dr. Tsunoda, three great "Ls" are essential in life.
The first 'L' is 'Love'. Dr. Tsunoda's idea of 'Love' is deeply related to the Buddhist concept of compassion but for us it means developing loving relationships with our families and friends, our classmates, and everyone and everything around us.
The second 'L' is 'Law'. Every society or group is founded on law and order. The same is true of university life. Not only should we abide by the school rules - that goes without saying - but over and above this we should also conduct ourselves with pride and responsibility and regulate our individual actions. We must always be the strictest judges of ourselves. As Waseda students, always remember that the eyes of the public are upon everything you do.
The third 'L' is 'Labor'. Please do your best as Waseda students. Work hard, study hard, and strive hard for self-improvement over the next four years at university. And always keep Dr. Tsunoda's three Ls in mind.
Today, you have become a part of Waseda University. Take to heart and make your own the great mission, the great guiding principles of this university. Experience them as part of your life. Think beyond only profit and loss. Take pride in being part of Waseda, and do your utmost to contribute to the building of a new twenty-first century society of which you yourselves will be leaders. I wish you all the best.
Copyright (C) 2006 Student Affairs Division, WASEDA University. All rights reserved.
First drafted 2006 April 13.


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Advantage Media specializes in website design, website development, e-commerce platforms, content management systems, flash animation, and information architecture. Advantage Media owns and operates a portfolio of generic domain names a...
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In terms of market share, Advantage Media is clearly lagging behind, losing to NetSeer in all segments.
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Advantage Media hasn't got a lead over NetSeer in any country.


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Click Here to Search the MLS!
With the dawn of the year in 2012, the San Francisco MLS has undergone a drastic change. Due to the dynamism of the real estate market new status have been added to the categories. In the past the properties revealed the status as "Active continued" when it was undergoing sale or the foreclosure procedure. The new rules and guidelines help the real estate agent to track the status of the property in an accurate manner. Because of these changes by the San Francisco MLS, transparency has increased within the real estate market.
Active continued status under the short sale category implies that the sale offer is accepted by the purchaser who is waiting for the lender to approve said loan. Apart from above, additional purchase offers are also being sought after by the seller. These new changes to the San Francisco MLS will help the real estate agent to bid for the house.
Similarly, the release clause implies that offer is accepted and the sale is accomplished. It also means that seller has no objection over the transaction. Active continued show status indicates that inspections of the seller's premises are being done by the buyers. Additional offers from other real estate agents could be accepted under the previously mentioned terms and conditions.
The San Francisco MLS also incorporated the active continued probate status that ascertains about the overbidding of the property through the confirmation of the court. These are the properties, which are under foreclosure and could be purchased through the bidding procedure.
There are different reasons, which are responsible for the changes in the San Francisco MLS listings. In the past people were not able to effectively track the status of the property and the procedure-required number of calls to the real estate agent and the sellers. The discrepancy has been reduced largely by the introducing new search status categories. Properties on the San Francisco MLS are different from one another and require extensive research on the part of the buyers to locate the properties according to the requirements and specifications.
Lastly the San Francisco MLS has added new active command categories. New active command categories provide rich sources of information to the users however, the temporary off market category needs more work from the real estate authorities. A day in market is an attribute of the property, which is up for sale. Both attributes are inversely proportional to each other because the longer a property is in the sales listing the lower price it will command. It is possible to withdraw the listing within 30 days and the status is designated as Active cancelled. These changes summarize recent developments and changes to the San Francisco MLS.


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Our Canon XL2 accessories include the compatible Canon XL2 AV Cable, Canon XL2 Battery, Canon XL2 Battery Charger, Canon XL2 DV Cable and Canon XL2 FireWire Cable for your Canon XL2.
If you need any assistance with Canon XL2 accessories please call us toll free 800-278-4002 9am-5pm CT Mon-Fri or email firstname.lastname@example.com anytime and our knowledgeable sales team will assist you in finding the Canon accessory you are looking for. All Canon XL2 accessories come with a Compatability Guarantee and Same Day Shipping.
To find accessories for other Canon cameras please see our Canon Camera Accessories page.


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Genre: Star Trek
By: http://www.startrekhorizon.com
Released: February 2016
Length: 1 hour 42 min
Star Trek - Horizon is a feature-length fan film made by a single filmmaker as a personal passion project and love letter to Enterprise, the fifth Star Trek series. Pre-production began in December of 2012 and this 3-year-long odyssey concluded on February 25th, 2016. It's been a long road, getting from there to here.
The Coalition of Planets, a young alliance of worlds led by Earth, is at war with the Romulan Empire. Desperate for a chance to gain the upper hand in the war, the Coalition forms an alliance with T'mar, a Romulan deserter, in the hopes that she can provide valuable intelligence on her former masters.


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Hey everyone,
I just built a new vivarium for my crestie (see previous post) and Im looking to add a cleanup crew. Its difficult to ship springtails or isopods due to cold temperatures but I was curious if anyone has used worms in vivs. Theyre available much more locally and would be very efficient at cycling nutrients within the tank (or so I imagine). Any tips would be great! Thanks.


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Mortgage Center
Applying online is as easy as 1-2-3.
You can apply now in as little as 20 minutes.
- Apply Now and complete the application.
- When you have completed the application, click submit and a Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Association Loan Officer will follow up to answer your questions.
Our goal is to provide the highest level of service at competitive rates. Our Loan Officers are only a phone call away if you need help. Contact us at 800-331-3225.
Rate Watch
Sign up to have rates e-mailed to you. You may choose to have rates e-mailed to you when they reach your desired rate, or on a regular basis.
Whether you are considering purchasing a new home or deciding if it is the right time to refinance, use our calculators to help you make your decision.
Home Equity
Make the equity in your home work for you. Apply for a home equity loan or line of credit. Use the money to remodel your home, consolidate debt, take a dream vacation, or buy a new car.


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If deal-hunting were a medaling sport, travelers who plan a trip to London in coming weeks would earn judges' top marks.
Hotel prices for late August and September are as much as 60% off compared with usual rates for that time, says Gabe Saglie, senior editor at Travelzoo. The four-star Millenium Bailey's Hotel, for example, has starting rates of $130 per night, a 60% discount, while four-star Meliá White House has package rates as low as $233 per night, which amounts to 55% off. Some properties are also throwing in extras like free breakfasts and room upgrades. "August is still peak travel season in London, so this is rare," he says.
So you didn't make it to London for this year's Summer Games. That doesn't mean an Olympic journey is out of the question.
Savvy travelers say Olympic host cities can be great places to visit even long after the games have passed. That's not only because they're major destinations unto themselves – perhaps you've heard of a little town called Athens? – but also because many of them maintain their Olympic ties by offering Olympic attractions of one sort or another.
Could the Summer Olympics prompt a run on smartphones and iPads?
It may sound like a stretch, but tech-industry insiders are saying that this year's games, which are expected to draw billions of viewers, could boost mobile video's status as the most important source for news, entertainment and, yes, sports since the advent of network and cable broadcasting. That's because of the unprecedented commitment by a number of media outlets to cover and carry the London showcase in a format tailor-made for all manner of laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Call them the Procrastination Games.
As the Summer Olympics kick off with Friday's opening ceremonies in London, many Americans may be regretting that they never got around to planning that trip across the Atlantic. But as it turns out, it's not too late to put together an itinerary and see the world's premier sporting event. If anything, travel pros say those who procrastinated may find themselves in a better financial position — thanks to a number of last-minute travel deals.
The odds of winning are improving at American casinos — at least when it comes to cheap hotel rooms.
Competition for gambling dollars increased thanks to both the recession and more competition as many states legalized slots and table games, says Holly Wetzel, spokeswoman for the American Gaming Association. Since 2006, 71 new major casinos opened up around the country, she says. Towns like Atlantic City and Las Vegas, once had near monopolies, but now gambling is available within a three-hour drive of most metropolitan areas. This gambling glut is a boon for bettors, says Andrew Young, editor at TravelZoo.com. "Hotels may be willing to lose a bit of money on the room rate because they know people are going to spend money in the casinos and at shows and in restaurants," he says. Average room rates in Atlantic City fell 28% to $62 this year from 2011 and dropped 6% to $99 in Las Vegas, according to Hotwire.com.
Unseasonably pleasant weather seems to be diminishing the desire by many to book a beach getaway. As a result, travel experts expect some especially good deals this month.
This winter has been dramatically warmer than last year. December was one of the warmest on record, while January was also particularly mild, according to weather tracking firm Planalytics. As SmartMoney.com reported, this has led to discounts in winter wear, but it has impacted the travel industry, too. "Warmer winter months affects pricing, especially in the northeast where you have a bulk of the non-stop flights to sunny destinations," says Gregg Mauss, who runs Expeditions-Redefined, a New York-based luxury travel firm. "When the weather is harsher, people get held up in their apartments – and that's when they start booking vacations on their computers."
Christopher Elliott, author of "Scammed" and airlines passenger advocate, tells Pay Dirt how he fell for some of the oldest tricks in the book before becoming a consumer advocate. Known primarily for his work as a journalist and campaigner for travelers, Elliott himself used to work for a travel trade publication 20 years ago. He said seeing the travel business from the inside was very "eye-opening." He also tells Pay Dirt about a valuable lesson he learned from a parrot named Scarlett.
Pay Dirt: What are the most naked scams that we don't even see as scams?
Elliott: You're being scammed right now.
Pay Dirt: I am? But you are promoting your book.
Elliott: Consumers are always being scammed. Usually, if you have to ask if it's a scam, the answer is yes. The common definition of a scam is pretty narrow: A fraudulent deal that some shady guy offers you on the street or an email from someone in Nigeria telling you you've inherited $1 million. I talk a lot in the book about contracts. Some of the most onerous are mortgage contracts where the fine print is so dense that – at the end of the first six months – your interest rate suddenly goes up. And shrink-wrap contracts: By opening the box you are agreeing to the terms of purchase. Also, beware of contracts that self-renew.
When we received a pre-CES review unit of RFA Brands' Powerbag, which contains an in-pack battery and adaptors to simultaneously charge up to four devices, our first question was, "Will this make it through airport security?" Absolutely, said a spokesman, who rattled off a list of airports he's flown through with the bag and praised the way it unzips to lie flat on an airport security scanner, negating the need to remove a computer from its specialized compartment.
Fast-forward two days. "You sure have a lot of gadgets and wires in here," says the TSA agent swabbing our bag for explosive residue. To be fair, we did, and the TSA check took maybe a minute. (Another company spokesman said our story is an aberration, and they haven't heard of other similar problems.)
"Words With Friends" addicts like Alec Baldwin and other flyers in need of an in-air Internet fix may soon be able to get faster, uninterrupted service no matter where they fly.
GoGo, an in-flight Internet provider, plans to launch new technology during the first quarter that's four times as fast as current connections. To put this in context: the current in-flight Wi-Fi connection is similar to a speed on a 3G cellphone. Virgin America's fleet will get the upgrade to the new technology – called ATG4 – first, followed later by other partner airlines including Delta, United and American Airlines. Prices will remain unchanged: Depending on the length of the flight, offerings range from $1.95 for a "quick fix" 15 minutes, up to $14.95 for a cross-country flight.
It's the night before Thanksgiving and everything has gone according to plan. Early arrival at the airport? Check. A quick read of Pay Dirt's tips on how to avoid a flightmare before and air rage after you are on the flight? Check. Seat assignment made so it doesn't get given away while browsing in duty free? Check. Non-stop, direct flights booked? Check. But even if some passengers do everything right, they can still get stuck at the airport unexpectedly for hours.
Pay Dirt polled some experts for tips on how to cope during the delays and how to such stave off airport rage.
Beware of upgrade requests. When passengers are stressed out the airline's offer of extra seat room can seem tempting. Delta Airlines is just one airline that offers an extra 50% recline than Economy, early boarding, complimentary alcoholic beverages, plus four inches extra room. It's the upper-middle class of airline travel. However, it costs $80 to $180 one-way. However, for those with a long pair of gams, George Hobica, founder of AirFareWatchdog.com, has a list of legroom upgrades for those who are willing to pay for it.
Pay Dirt examines the millions of consumer decisions Americans make every day: What to buy, how much to pay, whether to rave or complain. Lead written by Quentin Fottrell, the blog examines these interactions, providing readers with news, insight and tips on shopping, spending, customer service, and companies that do right – and wrong – by their customers. Send items, questions and comments to email@example.com or tweet @SMPayDirt.


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FINRA May Report MBS, CDO Transaction Details
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), an independent regulator for all securities firms that do business in the US, late last week proposed expanding its Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) to include all asset-backed securities (ABS). The expansion would push TRACE transparency beyond the corporate bond sector and into mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). FINRA would collect data on ABS transactions including trade prices, volume and other information. "For regulators, there is a demonstrated need for ABS market information," said chairman and CEO Richard Ketchum in a statement. "Greater disclosure around these securities directly linked to the credit crisis will allow for more effective oversight with a deeper understanding of market dynamics." FINRA indicated it would initially collect ABS transaction data and would not widely distribute such data until detailed market analysis and observation determine dissemination appropriate. FINRA filed the proposed plan as a rule change under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following approval by the SEC earlier last week that gave TRACE authority as of March 1, 2010 to report on debt issued by federal government agencies, corporations and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). Since 2002, TRACE brought transparency to the corporate bond market through the creation of a regulatory database of real-time, public dissemination of transaction and price data. It's the latest in an industry-wide push for greater transparency in the securitization market. The American Securitization Forum (ASF), a trade body representing issuers, investors and servicers in the securitization industry, in late September launched a new standardized universal code that will identify information about mortgage and other loans that are securitized. Write to Diana Golobay.


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How to create strong passwords
How do you create strong passwords?
Your first line of defense on the Web is creating the strongest password possible to protect your computer, your data and your online accounts. That may sound like common sense, but hackers have become increasingly sophisticated at password "cracking."
Here are some tips on how to create strong passwords.
- Length – make your passwords long with 8+ characters.
- Complexity – include letters, punctuation, symbols, and numbers. Use the entire keyboard, not just the letters and characters you use or see most often. The greater the variety of characters in your password, the better. However, password hacking software automatically checks for common letter-to-symbol conversions, such as changing "and" to "&" or "to" to "2."
- Variation – to keep strong passwords effective, change them often. Set an automatic reminder for yourself to change your passwords on your email, banking, and credit card websites about every three months.
- Variety – don't use the same password for everything. Hackers steal passwords on websites that have very little security, and then they use that same password and user name in more secure environments, such as banking websites. For example, if you use your banking password on a public forum which has little to no security implemented, hackers will target the forum and then try to use the login information on known banking sites.
To you, a common misspelled word which, let's say you write backwards might seem very hard to break. But cyber criminals use sophisticated tools that can rapidly decipher passwords. So in order to avoid common password pitfalls you should not have passwords that use:
- Dictionary words in any language;
- Words spelled backwards, common misspellings, and abbreviations;
- Sequences or repeated characters. Examples: 12345678, 222222, abcdefg, or adjacent letters on your keyboard (qwerty);
- Personal information. Your name, birthday, driver's license, passport number, or similar information.
How do you handle passwords securely?
Always remember, in order to protect your data against unauthorized access and misuse, your passwords must be properly constructed and effectively protected:
- Use special characters, numbers, lower/upper case; at least 8 characters long and at least 3 special characters
- Do not use personal information (name, DoB, address, phone number)
- Never share your passwords, store them in plain text or written form
- Have different passwords for your accounts and change them regularly; use a password manager to store your passwords.
- In case of suspicion that your password has leaked, CHANGE IT IMEDIATELY. In case you ignore rule #3, be sure to change the passwords on all accounts!
Keep in mind that protecting your computer and accounts with strong passwords also protects all other users who are connected to you.
Bottom line: Keep your computer, data and accounts safe with strong passwords.
About the author: Sabin S. is working in 1&1 Internet Development Romania as a Security Analyst. He is responsible with improving and implementing security requirements in our projects' SDLC, carrying out penetration tests and providing support on security issues.


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Work Step by Step
We are given the equation $\frac{7}{11}x+9=\frac{3}{11}x-14$ and the equation $\frac{7}{11}x=\frac{3}{11}x+K$ In order to find the value of K that makes both equations equivalent, we must move all constant terms in the first equation to the right side. For $\frac{7}{11}x+9=\frac{3}{11}x-14$, subtract 9 from both sides. $\frac{7}{11}x=\frac{3}{11}x-5$. Therefore, both equations will be equivalent when $K=-23$.


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Mara Stankovitch and Andy Carl introduce the Accord issue, setting out its focus on the negotiations between the Philippines government and the MNLF, the impact the 1996 peace agreement has had, and the prospects for achieving a phased transition to the greater autonomy it outlines.
Read full article
One step towards peace: The 'Final Peace Agreement' in Mindanao
For the outsider, what is most striking about the peacemaking processes in Mindanao is how they reflect the complexity of the Philippines' physical geography — an archipelago with differing concentrations of conflict and social organisation, where even the history of negotiations is disjointed and diverse. Mindanao's Muslim (or Moro) and indigenous Lumad peoples, now outnumbered by 'majority Filipinos' — the largely Christian descendants of 20th century settlers from the northern and central Philippines — are asserting rights to their traditional lands and to self-determination. The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) resorted to a war for independence in the 1970s, after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Meanwhile, a communist-led rebellion spread from the northern Philippines to Mindanao, drawing in many majority Filipinos, particularly among the rural poor, and some Lumads into the New People's Army (NPA)
This issue of Accord focuses on one strand of the peacemaking: the negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the MNLF which resulted in a political settlement signed in September 1996. The GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement was, in many ways, a milestone. All previous attempts to negotiate an end to the 24 years of civil war — in which over 120,000 people died — had failed to define a sustainable settlement. In 1976, when Libya and other members of the organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) persuaded the Filipino government and the MNLF leadership to accept regional autonomy as a compromise, a settlement seemed at hand. But the consensus reached in the 'Tripoli Agreement' unravelled in disputes over its implementation and within six months the brutal war had resumed.
Nearly 20 years later, the Tripoli Agreement remained the frame of reference for the final consensus reached between the Philippine government and the MNLF, again encouraged by the Islamic states. Both sides had overcome the antagonisms resulting from a lengthy war and the distrust arising from failures to implement previous agreements. Not only had the negotiators tackled these difficulties, but they also appeared to have become friends during the four years of talks — signalling hope that this time peace was near. On 2 September 1996, when signing the agreement, President Fidel Ramos announced 'this Peace Agreement falls squarely into our aspiration of total peace and development for all, especially the millions of poor and destitute masses in our southern regions'. MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari was also hopeful, though somewhat more cautious 'we have to warn people not to expect too much, but this is not an excuse either not to maximise our efforts'.
The Final Peace Agreement could not be expected to end all violence in Mindanao. The MNLF was only one of several groups that had taken up arms against the Philippine government. The others included the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the much smaller Abu Sayyaf and Islamic Command Council, as well as the left-wing New People's Army and Revolutionary People's Army. In these circumstances, an accord between the government and any single rebel group — however significant — was exclusive by definition and was always vulnerable to falling short of meeting the disparate aspirations not just of the other armed Moro groups but also of those of the unrepresented civil society organisations.
The Ramos administration deliberately chose to negotiate with the Moro armed organisations separately and to start with what many had seen as militarily the weaker group. The MNLF was also the government's choice of negotiating partner thanks to its status at home and abroad as an organisation which embodied Moro aspirations. It had blazed the trail by uniting various Muslim ethnic groups into an armed movement with clearly defined goals. The OIC formally recognised it as the representing the Muslims of the Philippines. By aiming for a settlement with the MNLF, the administration hoped to demonstrate to the Moro public and the OIC that their demands were being addressed.
The government clearly expected that the 1996 Agreement would help bring the other insurgent groups — particularly the MILF — into the constitutional fold. For the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it re-defined the military possibilities. Soon after September 1996, the AFP did indeed appear to concentrate its forces to attack MILF camps.
To insurgent groups and their supporters, the Agreement would serve as an indicator of how serious the government was about finding a mutually acceptable settlement and abiding by it. The government hoped that the agreement would show how popular aspirations for social justice and self-determination could be met by peaceful political struggle — without resorting to a war for secession (in the case of the MILF) or to overthrowing the government (as in the case of the armed left).
In the event, the MILF leadership remained cautious about the government's intentions behind signing the Final Agreement, but clearly felt that the administration's efforts had to be taken seriously. In mid-September 1996, shortly after the peace agreement with the MNLF was signed, the MILF announced that it too would negotiate with the government.
Like all peace processes, the government-MNLF process was distinctively creative in its design and implementation. The strategies the parties pursued in the four years of negotiations show a commendable approach to peacemaking — in their commitment to maintaining multiple channels of dialogue and communication, in their approach to institutionalising communication and negotiations, and through the use of informal networks. The Ramos government's approach to the negotiations defined as the 'Six Paths to Peace' are an example of enormous international value in rhetorical intent, if — tragically — not in practice. Yet despite a negotiating process exemplary in so many ways, the resulting settlement has appeared vulnerable from the start. The much vaunted 'consensus and consultations' were largely limited to the negotiating parties, except for a few token efforts to communicate with civil society organisations. Thus both parties found it difficult to persuade a wider public of the wisdom of the deal when its terms were finally announced.
In an attempt to defuse controversy surrounding the agreement's provisions — in particular the proposal for an MNLF-led council to oversee peace and development initiatives in 14 provinces — the administration and the MNLF leadership fanned expectations of spectacular economic development. Subsequently, it was the MNLF — without adequate financial or legal resources — who had to carry the burden of meeting these expectations.
The 1996 Agreement is a crucial step in what is clearly going to be a very long process of constructing peace in Mindanao. This issue of Accord looks at the making of that agreement, its impact so far and the prospects of achieving the phased transition to greater autonomy that it outlines. In March 1999, the outlook for a successful transition is bleak. There is widespread disappointment in Mindanao with the results of the Agreement and the new administration of President Joseph Estrada is taking a more aggressive stance to rebel groups. Amid the tensions, the responsibility for resolving conflicts at community level and promoting cross-cultural understanding has fallen disproportionately on the shoulders of civil society groups. Whether implementing this Agreement leads to peace, or is simply a detour to renewed conflict, remains to be seen, but the efforts and innovations in peacemaking in Mindanao and the lessons learned are invaluable examples to those engaged in comparable conflicts around the world.


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This isn't your typical Writer Wednesday post because tomorrow is Christmas! To celebrate the holiday season I want to help you fill up that new ereader you asked for or that you purchased for someone else. We all know that can get expensive, so here are my books that are either FREE or very low in price. Enjoy!
FREE Books:
Kiss of Death: Young Adult Paranormal Prequel Novella to the Touch of Death Series. This book is told from Alex's POV.
The only life Alex Montgomery knows is raising the dead and having zombie servants, normal stuff for an Ophi. Alex is a necromancer descended from Medusa—or at least he will be once he comes into his powers. So far his life is training to use abilities he doesn't yet possess, which gets him beaten up by zombies on more than one occasion. And his parents Victoria and Troy won't tolerate anything less than perfection from Alex. He has a lot to live up to, and they remind him of it every day. So when an innocent birthday kiss turns deadly, Alex has to work twice as hard to master his Ophi abilities. He isn't the Chosen One, but he's still a Montgomery, which means he's expected to run the Ophi school one day. With a new group of students coming to the school, Alex needs to learn fast because he's about to be sent on the biggest mission of his life.
Want to know Alex's story and what he was like before he met Jodi? Now you can. Download it FREE here.
Curse of Death: Young Adult Paranormal Prequel Short Story to the Touch of Death Series.
When Medusa is caught between the god she serves and the god she loves, there can only be one outcome.
Download it FREE here.
Samantha and Tracy have been best friends since kindergarten, but now that Tracy has gotten over her shyness and made new friends, Samantha is feeling left out. This is nothing compared to how she feels when a strange girl named Jessica tells Samantha that she's actually an imaginary friend. Tracy has outgrown Samantha, and it's time for Samantha to help another child who needs her. But will Samantha be able to move on and fulfill her duty as an imaginary friend?
Campus Crush: New Adult Contemporary Romance Novel consisting of four novellas (written under my pen name Ashelyn Drake).The co-eds of Timberland College know a little romance is good for the soul.
Follow four couples as they try to find love in the Campus Crush Series boxset, including Nothing to Tell, Romancing the R.A., Behind Closed Doors, and Rushing Into Love.
When you're looking for love, you have to be willing to break the rules.
This novel includes all four novellas in the Campus Crush series:
Nothing To Tell
Romancing the R.A.
Behind Closed Doors
Rushing Into Love
LOW-PRICED Books:
Touch of Death (Touch of Death series #1): YA paranormal
Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.
The Monster Within: YA paranormal
The moment seventeen-year-old Samantha Thompson crawls out of her grave, her second chance at life begins. She died of cancer with her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, by her side—a completely unfair shot at life. But Ethan found a way to bring her back, like he promised he would. Only Sam came back wrong.
She's now a monster that drains others' lives to survive. And after she kills, she's tortured by visions—glimpses into her victims would-have-been futures had she not killed them. Barely able to live with herself and trying to make things right, Sam ends up a pawn in a vicious game of payback within the local coven of witches.
But when the game reveals what Ethan had to do to save Sam, she must make a choice that will change all their lives forever.
Perfect For You: YA contemporary romance written as Ashelyn Drake
Seventeen-year-old Meg Flannigan isn't very self-confident, but what girl would be after her sophomore-year boyfriend dumped her by making out with another girl in front of her locker?
Now a senior, Meg catches the eye of not one, but two gorgeous guys at school. Sounds good, right? What girl wouldn't want to be in Meg's shoes? One cute boy happens to be her boyfriend, and the other? Well, he wants to be. And Meg? She's torn between Ash, the boy she's been with for nearly five months, and Noah who is pretty irresistible.
But Meg is playing with fire. Pitting two boys against one another, even if she doesn't intend to, could end badly if she isn't careful.
Into the Fire: YA paranormal romance written as Ashelyn Drake
Seventeen-year-old Cara Tillman's life is a perfectly normal one until Logan Schmidt moves to Ashlan Falls. Cara is inexplicably drawn to him, but she's not exactly complaining. Logan's like no boy she's ever met, and he brings out a side of Cara that she isn't used to. As the two get closer, everything is nearly perfect, and Cara looks forward to the future.
But Cara isn't a normal girl. She's a member of a small group of people descended from the mythical phoenix bird, and her time is running out. Rebirth is nearing, which means she'll forget her life up to this point—she'll forget Logan and everything they mean to one another.. But that may be the least of Cara's problems.
A phoenix hunter is on the loose, and he's determined to put an end to the lives of people like Cara and her family, once and for all.
But Cara isn't a normal girl. She's a member of a small group of people descended from the mythical phoenix bird, and her time is running out. Rebirth is nearing, which means she'll forget her life up to this point—she'll forget Logan and everything they mean to one another.. But that may be the least of Cara's problems.
A phoenix hunter is on the loose, and he's determined to put an end to the lives of people like Cara and her family, once and for all.
Happy Holidays!


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Sand Slides for Mac is free today
Sand Slides is the new fantastically addictive puzzle game of 2011. With simple game play rules, Sand Slides is a very unique game that is simple to pick up but will take some time to master. As known from iDevices, Sandslides is now avaiable in Mac AppStore too. It was published at 28th of February, priced £1.79 and is now free for the first time. If you don't own it for your iPhone, ipod Touch or iPad, just get SandSlides as Universal-App free for your iDevices.
The iOS-Version was downloaded more than 3 million times, making the game a number 1 game in several countries, including Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Japan, Hong Kong and Canada. It seems so easy: Just direct the coloured sand in the right direction, drawing the right way with your fingers. Double tipp to delete lines. Just manage to fill the red sand in the red container, the yellow in the yellow on and the blue in the blue one. Sand falling in the wrong container will reduce your points. If you loose all your points, you lose the game.
76 Achievements
Fantastic Music
Great Visual Effects
Infinite Particles!
Unique Game Play
Category: Mac App of the Day, Mac OS


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Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecosystem a Unique TreasurePublication: National Geographic News Date: July 14, 2003 View Article
For the past 50 million years the Pacific Plate has slowly crept over a stationary plume of magma deep in the Earth's mantle, allowing the formation of a chain of islands that today comprise the most remote, large scale coral reef ecosystem on the planet.
The region, known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, stretches 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) towards Asia from the main Hawaiian Islands and is home to a thriving marine ecosystem full of unique, or endemic, species. Many of the corals, fishes, sea birds, and mammals that are found there are found nowhere else in the world.
Related Posts
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Neonicotinoid Pesticide Linked to Decline of Birds (and Bees)
Old whooping cranes keep the young ones on course, study shows
Before dinosaurs could fly, some had flight-ready brains


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DSC/e Lecture Series: November 11th, 2015: Uzay Kaymak
DSCE (Data Science Center Eindhoven)
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (CET)
Event Details
Making your data "talk" to you:
linguistically conditioned models from data
By: prof. dr. ir. Uzay Kaymak
Eindhoven University of Technology
With the abundance of data, many people concentrate on output-related properties of models, such as the accuracy. As long as the system, which processes the data, returns outcomes that are somehow acceptable (e.g. accurate), the underlying nature of the model that the system implements is considered secondary. Indeed, the system can learn from data, adapt itself to the data and hence "make the data talk". However, natural language is an effective means for the end users to interact with the systems. Hence, there are advantages if our models from data can be conditioned on linguistic information. In this presentation, we consider models whose behavior can be understood in linguistic terms. The models typically return a set of linguistic rules or linguistic descriptions, which can be communicated to the user linguistically. This provides an additional means for the users to interact with the models learned from data.
When & Where
Grand Café 'De Zwarte Doos'
Den Dolech 2
5612AZ Eindhoven
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM (CET)
Add to my calendar
DSCE (Data Science Center Eindhoven)
The DSCE (Data Science Center Eindhoven) brings together scientists from over thirty research groups from different TU/e departments to work together on specific topics. Jointly we can tackle the most demanding scientific and societal challenges. Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific processes and systems to create value based on extracting knowledge and insights from available data.


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I can't work out if this is a dark pattern or if it's just extremely lazy copywriting.
I certainly had to think for a moment.
Are Lloyds Bank customers somewhat dimmer than the rest of the world, we wonder? In the 'Products Explained' part of their web site they have a left-hand menu with help text that reads: 'Use this menu to navigate'.
Here's the menu in context (click for a larger view):
This is one of those 'features' that sometimes appears in a redesign after a usability test. 'No-one used the left hand menu,' reports the usability analyst, 'probably because people's eyes are drawn to the colours and links in the centre of the page'.
'I know,' thinks someone from marketing, 'Let's do something to draw people's attention to the menu'.
The problem is that the more you 'draw people's attention' to parts of the page, the less usable the whole page becomes.
Thanks to John Rieger for telling me about this.
Note added
After posting this, @NeilDavidson pointed out that this design pattern has provenance:
I got this email today from a company asking me to complete a survey.
I thought that there was an interesting juxtaposition at the top of the email.
I noticed that my opinion wasn't just important to them: it was essential.
And then, just below this message, I noticed: "This is a send-only e-mail. Please do not reply to it."
So my opinion is essential, but only if it's given in the right format.
I'm not sure when no-reply emails became fashionable, but in my view, using them is the antithesis of being customer centred. What a 'no-reply' email address says is: "Our time is much more important than yours. If you want to contact us, you'll need to wade through our convoluted online form, specifically designed to keep customers like you at arm's length."
(a) The disk 500GB is nearly full.
(b) The disk 500GB is about to fail.
(c) The disk 500GB is running at turbo speed.
When I polled a group of people on Twitter, the correct answer (c) was chosen by about a third of people. Most people picked (b): "It looks like it's about to blow, Captain!"
The icon appears when you install Western Digital's drivers. It's meant to show that the disk is in turbo (high speed) mode. But there's something not right about that needle pointing to the red zone…
I think these two photos tell you all you need to know about design leadership.
I'm running some remote usability tests this week where I ask participants to share their desktop with me. I'm viewing the tests on a 30″ Apple Cinema Display and it's easy to forget the lower-spec hardware that many users still struggle with day-to-day. Here's a screenshot from one participant: you'll notice:
I'm not saying that this configuration is typcial, but it's certainly not unusual to find this when you look at the way "real" users use the web, rather than the digerati.
I think I discovered the World's smallest close box on a pop-up. If you've ever wondered how to use Fitts's Law for evil, now you know. (This is one of those times when you'll need to click the image to get a larger view).
I read that Groupon are struggling at the moment. I thought I'd visit their site and have a cursory look at the user experience.
It turns out that they won't even let you use the site without signing up — or at least, they hide the close box behind the pop-up so well that it may as well be registration only.
This kind of design mistake went out in the mid-90s.
They could also do with some help with their geolocation algorithm. They think I'm in Belfast. In fact, I'm currently in Stamford, CT.
The BBC's new iPlayer Radio app has a carousel at the bottom of the screen that you can use to scroll through the various channels.
At first when I saw it I thought it was a bit skeuomorphic: I thought the design team were trying to replicate a circular tuning dial that you might find on a physical device.
But when you use it, you realise it's actually a very clever design. This is because, when you're using it with one hand, your thumb moves in an arc. This makes the interaction very natural — even 'ergonomic'.
Like most of what the BBC do, the whole app is very well thought through. I love the way that a publicly-owned organisation like the BBC is showing its richer competitors how to do user experience design.


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A Christmas pudding is a staple of any Christmas meal, but with such a rich and boozy pudding you need a great sauce.
Here is a video of a simple and quick recipe by Iceland for making brandy sauce. All you need is sugar, water, brandy, double cream and flour.