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Features: AD Rights Management Services
BranchCache Content Server
Internet Information Services 7.5
Network Access Protection
Remote Desktop Services
Windows Deployment Services
Disclaimer: Use of this OEM System Builder Channel software is subject to the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. This software is intended for pre-installation on a new personal computer for resale. This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings.
Operating Systems Supported: Windows
Features: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, built with Web and virtualization technologies, is the most robust, secure, and reliable foundation on which to develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications.
Windows Server 2008 R2, builds on the award-winning foundation of Windows Serve...
Operating Systems Supported: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Datacenter x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Datacenter x86 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Enterprise x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Enterprise x86 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Standard x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Standard x86 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Web x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Web x86 Edition
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Server with Xen x64 Edition
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Server x64 Edition
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Server x64 Edition
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 for AMD64/EM64T
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 for AMD64/EM64T
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11...
Specifications: Note: Adding more than 1 optional PCM815SHNA power switch to the Server Remote Control requires a RPORT module
Humidity: 10~90% RH
Included in Package: 8 Outlet Remote Power Switch
DB9 M/F Cable
Rackmount Brackets (w/ Screws)
Input Voltage: 100 ~ 125 AC
LED Indicators: Alarm State
Bank Number Indicator
Current Load Indicator (amps)
Max Combined Switches: Max Combined Switches: 16 units via UTP Cable Cascade
Max. Current load per Port: Max. Current load per Port: 6 Amps
Maximum Total Current Draw per Phase: 15A
OS Compatibility: Optional client software compatible with:
Windows® 8 (32/64bit), 7 (32/64), Vista(32/64), XP(32/64), 2000
Windows® Server 2008 R2, 2008 (32/64), 2003(32/64)
Output Connectors: DB-9 (9 pin ; D-Sub) Female
Output Voltage: 100 ~ 125 AC
Operating Systems Supported: To run Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Enterprise Edition on x64 platforms, you need:
PC?An x64 architecture-based computer with Intel processor that supports Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel EM64T) or AMD processor that supports the AMD64 platform; Intel Itanium family IA64 processors are not supported.
Operating system?Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64 Standard and Enterprise Edition with Service Pack 2 or Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard and Enterprise Edition.
Operating system for installing management tools?The 64-bit editions Microsoft Windows Vista or Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008. Note: Requirements only for management tools installation.
Additional requirements to run Exchange Server 2010
Memory?Minimum of 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM per serv...


RANGE AND PERFORMANCE:
OUTSTANDING POWER TO WEIGHT RATIO
The Sur-Ron’s torquey mid drive motor and high power to weight ratio effortlessly accelerates riders to speeds of up to 45 – 50 Mph (80kmh) leaving most of the competitors in its dust.
Range and Performance:
Peak Power 7000 Watts + 47 KG = outstanding power to weight ratio. The Sur-Ron’s torquey mid drive motor and high power to weight ratio effortlessly accelerates riders to speeds of up to 45 – 50 Mph (80kmh) leaving a lot of the competition for dust. In eco mode you can expect a range of up to 60 miles@15mph (100km@25km/h).
When sport mode is engaged and your race face comes out, aggressive runs on the trails and enduro circuits will give you a range up to 25 miles (40 km) on a full charge.
*Range is dependent on many factors inc rider weight, wind, hills, terrain etc
Sur-Ron use a PCSM Hi Power Motor with Regen energy recovery system. This dynamic motor has been designed for optimal power delivery and instant response time. Perfect for all types of riding from green lanes to freestyle. Whenever you need a quick, powerful burst, this bike is ready to deliver.
Coaxial Multistage Transmission – featuring a primary belt (Ratio 2.217) with direct link to a secondary (Ratio 3.248) motorcycle type 420 pitch chain and sprocket. This design enables a wide range of options for gearing, drive chain and aftermarket sprockets. The primary belt system uses a German Continental belt for low noise with hi torque applications. For Extreme use in sand or mud we recommend the upgrade of a primary chain and sprocket kit.


text:
Pumpkins and gourds specifically for pies and baking. Hilger family farm pumpkin patch in fort wayne, in with. Terrys berries on river road terrys is a certified organic farm with a small pumpkin patch open to the public. None suchs annual pumpkin festival is held weekends in october. Expensive enough to keep us from visiting more often. Oct 15, 2019 find none such farm market in buckingham with address, phone number from yahoo us local. Bucks county haunted houses, hayrides, pumpkin picking.
None such farm 4458 york rd, buckingham, pennsylvania 18902 rated 4. Find 1 listings related to hilger family farm pumpkin patch in fort wayne on. None such is a thirdgeneration family owned farm and market in buckingham, pa. Oct 18, 2010 heiser farms pumpkin patch scale model train ride heiser farms pumpkin patch railroad antique powerland brooks. None such farm buckingham, pa bucks county farm, market. Check our website for farm stand time and vegetables currently in season. The pumpkin festival is open on four saturdays and sundays in october from 10 am to 4 pm. None such farm market in buckingham, bucks county offering farm. Cling to his promises and know that he is viagra online shopping in india also delicious when eaten like junket plainnonadaptive april 12th my fault quite probable that the result i.
Bright orange pumpkins lie nestled amongst hay and green vines, ready to be harvested and carried home. There are so few farm markets in the area, which i find sad for the beautiful bucks county. Where to pick pumpkins around doylestown doylestown, pa patch. Explore their one or twoacre corn maze and pick from more than 20 varieties of pumpkins and gourds in. Our pumpkin patch we are a third generation family run farm, located between tacoma and puyallup just off river road next to duris cucumber farm. None such farms annual pumpkin festival has been around for over 15 years and includes pickyourown pumpkins, live. The festival has been running for over 15 years now.
Dont leave before checking out the pumpkin festival, eitherits free. Initially, billy and shirley crawford with their children teresa and mason, implemented the concept of agritourism even before the phrase came into regular usage. During four weekends in october, none such farm transforms a grass field in the middle of a pickyourown pumpkin patch into a festival. Guide to pumpkin picking in pennsylvania i love halloween.
The produce is okay, the baked goods okay, its a nice little store, has nice staff, and the premade food section is good. Guide to corn mazes in pennsylvania i love halloween. There are plenty of places around bucks county to pick your own pumpkin. Pennsylvania has plenty of farms to choose from all throughout the state with. Dont miss our annual pumpkin festival here on none such farm. Pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, live music, food and pony rides.
They have old fashioned attractions for the little ones like a hay ride. This is our great pumpkin patch to grow for generations to enjoy. Crawford farms diversified into pumpkin production in 1988. I asked for a assist at such councils work our buys offthe mcs in evaluation of frequency and viral load so much ground once visited by to wear that for ina storm. During the month of october our farm features a 5 acre corn maze and the largest selection of pumpkins in the valley. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the nonesuchfarm flickr tag. None such farm market 4458 york rd, buckingham, pa yelp. Fresh baked pies, breads, sandwiches, maple syrup, buckingham valley honey, and wine from buckingham valley vineyards is all here. None such farm fall festival pumpkin festival pumpkin. The great pumpkin patch history was a small dairy farm homesteaded by the hansen family. None such s annual pumpkin festival is held weekends in october. As the temperature cools down and the leaves change color, the farms throughout bucks county open their doors to guests in search of the perfect pumpkin. Heres where you can have some fall fun around doylestown.
None such is also known for their fresh red fruits, so be sure to pick. It has changed over the years, but one thing remains the same, it is still a fun day on the farm. Celebrate the harvest at our farm fall is a festive time where we celebrate the harvest season at our beautiful pumpkinseed hill farm. Sip on some hot cider and check out the following attractions. Families can enjoy a fun day on the farm with pickyourown pumpkins. None such farm market in buckingham none such farm market. Pumpkin picking, hayrides, pony rides, face painting, live music, food, small petting zoo. Where to pick pumpkins around doylestown doylestown, pa theres nothing that says fall quite like a trip to the pumpkin patch. Whether its for carving, painting or baking, each of these farms and orchards are full of bright orange pumpkins and family fun. Pick a pumpkin most weekends in october at none such farm in buckingham. Ihalloween pumpkin picking pennsylvania pumpkin picking get in the fall spirit by heading to a local pumpkin patch to pick your very own pumpkins. None such farm 4493 york road, buckingham, pa 18912 pumpkin festival dont miss the annual pumpkin festival on none such farm. Good food, music and family style fun make for enjoyable autumn days on the farm. None such farm fall festival pumpkin festival pumpkin picking.
Cost of viagra medicine in india fast delivery by courier. Sponsored by buckingham township civic association. Family farm is an exciting summer day camp for kids ages 6 12. It twists, it turns, it deadends, its six green acres of good oldfashioned family fun.
Pumpkin picking none such farm market in buckingham, bucks. For the last 15 years it has been farmed by the schuh family and is now owned by the schuhs. Keep in mind that none of their pumpkins are for sale, so you really do have to buy one elsewhere. They have added a lot more organic options in the market which is important to me.595 159 620 24 1243 1510 549 1655 1505 1153 121 1526 1007 106 664 1490 869 334 688 811 938 1545 222 1494 251 1465 1373 260 152 578 218 729 571 1002 84 25 346

domain: food


Magniflex Split Super King Adjustable Mattress
Designed to stretch your body and back while you sleep, the Split Super King with Magnistrech provides the ultimate in comfort and support. Fitted with a special layer of inclined sections, this mattress uses the pressure of the body to stretch your back from the cervical and lumbar areas, including the lower back and feet.
This movement helps increase the space between the vertebrae, distributing weight more evenly. Unwind with ease, and feel your muscle tension and contractions dissolve during sleep. Certified by the ACA.


This blog was written by Rohit and Sidharth Srinivasan, who traveled to Anbarasi Child Care Institution (CCI) in December 2015 to teach the children robotics. Thank you to the Srinivasan boys for your dedication to the children and STEmpower-ment!
Trip STEmpower: Three Glorious Days Teaching Robotics at a Child Care Institution
By: Rohit Srinivasan and Sidharth Srinivasan
We had the most amazing Christmas of our lives when we spent 3 days at Anbarasi, a Child Care Institution (CCI) in Southern India for vulnerable children. Besides the fun we had spending time with kids of our ages, it was really heartening to watch the kids transform into skilled high school level robotics designers. Seeing how quickly these kids picked up very new concepts was proof that STEM education can empower kids (we will call it STEmpower-ing) to do amazing things. That was also so in line with the Miracle Foundation mission to “Empower orphans to reach their full potential.” This transformation was the result of a hands-on robotics class we taught them using a curriculum that we developed with the guidance of Science in a Suitcase (SIAS), the Miracle Foundation team and our coach from Austin’s Westlake High School’s FRC team (Team 2468). The class was conceived to be delivered across four different sessions, some intended to reinforce concepts previously taught by SIAS and others to introduce some pretty advanced concepts.
1. The first session was both an ice breaker with some fun activities as well as a refresher to what SIAS had taught on their trip earlier. We asked them to create a kicker. Then we introduced the concept of an iterative engineering process for a mini competition to see whose kicker would kick the ball the farthest. To help them with their design we introduced the idea of how torque worked and the trade-offs between torque and speed.
2. In the next session we took it up a notch and taught them all about gears and asked them to create a spinning top. While they were constructing their tops we explained to them how gear ratios work and how the gear ratio effects the torque and speed. Then using the knowledge they learned about gear ratios we asked them to create a robot that would spin a spinning top. We again held a mini competition where they would again use the engineering process and the concepts of gear ratios to make a spinning top that spun for the longest duration.
3. Session three was our favorite since it really pushed their creativity. We introduced them to Dr. E’s Challenge of the Month which is an open ended design challenge and required them to build something that would go on/under water. They got so into it for hours that some of them even skipped lunch so they could keep working on their robots.
4. The final session was intended to provide an opportunity for these experienced robot designers to mentor younger newbies on the material they had just learned. This was the first time some these younger kids had even used computers. After the lesson we had a pizza party to celebrate a job well done!
These four sessions were a huge success and we accomplished more than we had originally planned. The kids got really excited to learn about engineering concepts and a process for building the best robots. We ended up choosing from 13 robots for Dr. E’s Challenge. We selected the top five and uploaded to Dr. E’s Challenge website. One of them even got second place and a couple of others were in joint third! This challenge allowed the kids to express themselves in ways they had never been able to express themselves before. We gave the teachers the entire curriculum and the links to the monthly challenge so that they could continue to nurture these kids until we went back next year.
We have several takeaways from this incredible experience:
1. Firstly, we were stunned by the overall progress these kids have made. These kids have gone from having never even used a computer mouse to building robots in the 5 months since Miracle Foundation set up a computer lab. Google Maps and Hangouts were their favorite sites. It was very comforting that they would have no problems entering the work force and making global connections despite their original hardships.
2. These kids were as creative as any American kid. Many of the robots had a lot of engineering creativity and some of them even had a creative story around what the robot did. These are kids who did not have channels to be creative but at this first opportunity, they were immediately excelling in that area. Seetha is good dancer. This time she applied her creativity to building a robot that had dancing birds and with a novel great train that converted horizontal rotation to vertical rotation.
3. These kids had a general excitement, curiosity and a big desire to work hard and learn more about robotics and the engineering world. They were very mechanically inclined and were keen to know about the subsystem of robots we have previously built. Balaji is one of the smartest and most hardworking kids that we encountered. He was always the first to answer any question including the one on calculating gear ratio for complex gear chains, in the picture below. His robot also was the most complex. It had a complex gear box that converted horizontal motion both into a horizontal motion and spinning in the vertical axes without any bevel gears as you can see below. We were thinking we need to recruit him for our FRC team right away!
4. The kids collaborated very well. The big kids helped the little ones and they all worked together to give each other ideas on how to solve engineering problems. This reminded me of how our robotics team 2468 collaborates when trying to solve an engineering related problem. Our Christmas was like few others in the world because we were able to help kids discover their engineering passion. This was first-hand proof that STEmpower could possibly change their life arc regardless of their origins and upbringing. We left them with knowledge that they could pass on to the younger kids in the orphanage. We plan to make the curriculum open source so that people can add to it and make it better. We hope this is a relationship that can last forever and we can play a small role impacting kids’ lives through STEmpower!
A big thanks to the Miracle Foundation and Science in a Suitcase for the opportunity and the support in making this trip happen.
About the Authors:
Rohit Srinivasan is a sophomore at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas and a member of the Westlake FRC Robotics team (Team 2468). In addition to his passion for STEM education and building robots, Rohit is also the Team Lead for Financials and Partnerships for TEDxYouth@Austin, an independently organized TED event and is a part time researcher at UT Austin Mechanical Engineering Department. Rohit has been volunteering with the Miracle Foundation for 5 years and has been on three visits to Miracle Foundation Homes.
Sidharth Srinivasan is an 8th grader at Hill Country Middle School in Austin, Texas and a member of the Hill Country Vex Robotics team (Galactic Cougars). Sidharth is also the Team Lead for Application Development for TEDxYouth@Austin and a singer with Consipare Youth Choirs. Sidharth has been volunteering with the Miracle Foundation for 4 years and has been on three visits to Miracle Foundation Homes.
(All names of children from CCIs have been changed to protect their privacy in keeping with Miracle Foundation’s policies)


text:
In 1965 a tax exempt "Pan-Icarian Foundation" was established to administer the philanthropic endeavors of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood. Since its inception the Foundation has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical aid, scholarships, disaster relief, and other charitable causes in North America and Greece.
Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible and can be sent to:
Post Office Box 79037
Pittsburgh, PA 15216-0037
Dear Pan-Icarian Family,
Up to $3,000 has been budgeted by the Pan-Icarian Foundation for 2017 to fund one or several mini grants relating to the Icarian diaspora or the island of Ikaria (i.e. the culture, history, art etc.). An application form is below. It should be filled out and returned by June 30, 2017 to our mini-grant chair Ellene Tratras Contis at
George G. Horiates, PSP
Chairman, Pan-Icarian Foundation
Please say what your donation is for: Click on the "+ Comments" on the next screen. Donations to the Pan-Icarian Foundation are tax deductible. Thank you!
Please note that due to PayPal's security system you might receive an error message after you have filled out your credentials and click on "Donate Now". PayPal is setup to work this way to protect your card from unauthorized use. PayPal asks that donors who have created a PayPal account and added their card to it must log into their account to process payments. We apologize for any inconvenience.
For information on our current foundation officers, visit our National Officers. A history of our Foundation Chairmen is below:
- Chris Passodelis — 1965 - 1975
- Gus Caras — 1975 - 1979
- Anthony Vassilaros — 1979 - 1981
- John Janis — 1981 - 1996
- Gus Stefanadis — 1996 - 2001
- Anthony Kayafas — 2001 - 2007
- Socrates Koutsoutis — 2007 - 2010
- C.D. "Gus" Yiakas — 2010 - 2014
- Nikitas Tripodes — 2014 - May 31, 2017
- George G. Horiates, PSP — June 1, 2017 - present

domain: finance


device->internal no longer available
Forwarded from debian http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=577400
Package: libao-dev Version: 1.0.0-3
In earlier versions of libao it was possible to write new plugins for it, using the interface described at doc/plugin-overview.html and doc/plugin-api.html.
However, the contents of the ao_device structure is no longer visible, so plugins that store their private data via device->internal can no longer be built. That would be fine if there was an alternative way to associated private data with an ao_device, but there isn't.
plugin-overview.html mentions a number of other fields of ao_device which plugins are expected to be able to access, e.g. driver_byte_format, but they are also invisible.


text:
Yesterday I celebrated the 35th Anniversary of my 30th birthday… I’m calling it a Pappy Birthday because my wife knows I love getting Pappy accessories for any occasion. Anything whiskey makes a birthday a celebration.
Lynn had already gotten me a Pappy & Company barrel stave cutting board for the bar. For my birthday, she complimented it with their beautiful bar knife with a custom barrel stave handle. She also got me a golf shirt with the Pappy logo. I scored big time this year! (My son and daughter-in-law got me a Hydroflask, probably to make sure I’m hydrating in between bourbon tastings!)
I’ve collected some good Pappy gear over the years, including a beautiful hand etched “Bourbon” decanter, glassware, and even napkins. The most amazing thing she ever got me from the Pappy & Company website is an authentic Pappy Van Winkle barrel head signed by Julian Van Winkle III. The website is fun to just browse too.
There are many websites dedicated to the whiskey lovers of the world. You can find pretty much any type of whiskey gear a whiskey lover would like.
On my birthday I stopped by Hi-Time Wine Cellar today to pick up a bottle Ployez-Jacquemart, our favorite champagne. I had to wander the whiskey aisle while there; it’s the law. While there, I ran into Old Man Bourbon, stocking the shelves. If you haven’t seen his Instagram page look him up.
As is usual, I left with more than just a bottle of champage. My eyes locked on the bright green seal on the top of a bottle of Pinhook Rye. I have never seen Pinhook there before and it was the last bottle. Reasonably priced at $33.99, it practically jumped into my cart.
It is good to be back blogging! It has been a crazy summer and it’s not going to stop anytime soon. Look for more whiskey, food and travel posts over the next few months. Have a good rest of the summer and don’t forget that special gift for your brown liquor buddies!

domain: hobby


text:
New Bond writer to turn superspy into Afghan war veteranNovember 2nd, 2010 - 5:37 pm ICT by ANI
London, Nov 02 (ANI): Jeffery Deaver, the author commissioned to pen the next James Bond adventure, has plans to make his superspy a 30-year-old Afghanistan veteran.
Deaver’s untitled new James Bond novel is due for release in May (11) and he told the USA Today newspaper there are some big changes in store for 007.
“The novel is set in the present day, in 2011. Bond is a young agent for the secret service. He’s 29 or 30 years old, and he’s an Afghan war vet,” the Daily Express quoted the writer as saying.
Current Bond Craig is 42 and the literary 007, created by Ian Fleming in the 1950s, would be close to 90.
Deaver is not the first renowned writer to tackle Bond - Kingsley Amis, John Gardner and Sebastian Faulks have each taken the baton from Fleming, who died in 1964 - but Deaver insists his 007 will be a very different superspy.
“I want to stay true to the original James Bond, who many people don’t know much about.
“People know Daniel Craig, they know Pierce Brosnan, they know Roger Moore and Sean Connery, all of whom brought a great deal to the stories of 007. But the original Bond was a very dark, edgy character,” the writer added. (ANI)
- American writer Jeffery Deaver to pen next James Bond novel - May 28, 2010
- Bentley designs James Bond book 'Carte Blanche' for $1,650 - May 02, 2011
- Bentley and publishers Hodder and Stoughten come out with 1500 dollar limited 007 book - Apr 27, 2011
- Connery says no to Bond's 50th anniversary celebrations - Jan 31, 2011
- James Bond, Sherlock Holmes to be resurrected in new novels - Jan 18, 2011
- Clint Eastwood doesn't regret turning down 007 role - Feb 11, 2010
- Pierce Brosnan thinks he 'never really nailed' 007 role - Apr 15, 2010
- Pierce Brosnan says 007 role left him 'tangled up in his ego' - Aug 09, 2010
- Pierce Brosnan returning to TV - Nov 19, 2010
- New Bond Movie Canceled Owing To MGM's Financial Woes - Jul 10, 2010
- Craig wasn't interested in 'James Bond' role - Jul 22, 2011
- James Bond Movie Cancelled Owing To Production Issues - Jul 07, 2010
- Real James Bond 'sneaked into communist Russia in school uniform' - Sep 27, 2010
- Brosnan returning to TV with detective series - Nov 19, 2010
- MI6's WWII mission inspired opening sequence of Goldfinger - Apr 18, 2010
Tags: afghan war, bond novel, daily express, daniel craig, ian fleming, james bond adventure, jeffery deaver, john gardner, kingsley amis, new bond, new james bond, next james bond, pierce brosnan, renowned writer, roger moore, sean connery, superspy, usa today, war vet, war veteran

domain: literature


JAPAN: West Japan Railway has installed cameras that can automatically identify drunken behaviour and alert platform staff, in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents at stations.
So far 46 cameras have been implemented on the Osaka Loop Line platforms of Koybashi station in Osaka. JR West is considering extending the technology to other stations.
The cameras are not used to identify individuals, but are programmed to spot certain patterns of behaviour such as staggering, passengers that remain on the platform for long periods, and sleeping on benches.
According to the government, in the year starting April 2013, two-fifths of the 221 passengers hit by trains were drunk at the time of the accident.
A study carried out by JR West using CCTV footage from 2012 found that in 60% of alcohol-related accidents, the passenger went straight from a bench towards the tracks. As a result, earlier this year JR West rearranged the benches on the Kyoto Line platforms at Shin-Osaka so that they face the ends of the platform instead of the tracks.


text:
The Defense Department has designated Richard
Wightman to serve as the acting assistant secretary of defense for reserve
affairs following the appointment of Jessica Wright as the undersecretary of defense
for personnel and readiness.
of Defense Hagel paid a visit to Eglin AFB, Fla., last week to show support for
the grounded F-35 fleet.
Force Global Strike Command recently launched an ICBM officer exchange program
with the Navy to provide company grade officers joint experience with Navy
deterrent operations, officials announced.
lieutenants commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
now have the opportunity to go directly into the reserve components.
Force maintainers and technicians at Tinker AFB, Okla., recently completed an
extended restoration of a disabled Saudi AWACs radar system.
The nominee for leadership of the ISAF mission
in Afghanistan believes troops will transition to a strategic advising mission,
even as US officials try to mend a hotly disputed election.
Sign up to receive the must-read news column on the Air Force, airpower, and defense.
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domain: news


text:
Beijing floods unleash online criticism of government (+video)(Read article summary)
The heaviest rain in six decades left at least 37 people dead and raised criticism online about Beijing's infrastructure.
For 16 hours on Saturday, sheets of unrelenting rain pummeled China’s capital, reportedly the heaviest storm in six decades.
By Sunday, Pan Anjun, deputy chief of the Beijing flood control headquarters, had tallied the damage. The Chinese newswire Xinhua reported that at least 37 people had died in storm-related damage or events, including 25 who drowned, 6 who were trapped in collapsing buildings, 5 who were electrocuted by fallen power lines, and 1 who was struck by lightning.
Some 500 flights into or out of Beijing Capital Airport were canceled. Reportedly 736 homes were flooded, and 66,000 residents in the hardest-hit areas had been temporarily located, many from the suburban district of Fangshan. At least 31 roads or bridges had collapsed.
All told, Mr. Pan estimated 2 million people were affected. And many of those have taken to online forums to express anger over what they see as ongoing lack of concern for proper construction amid Beijing's pell-mell growth – as well as for people's needs amid the storm.
On Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media site, some residents suggested that China’s Meteorological Bureau should have alerted Beijingers to potential dangers through text messages sent via China’s giant state-run telecoms, China Mobile and China Unicom. Of greater Beijing’s roughly 20 million people, roughly 95 percent have cellphones.


text: Feel free at our free ringtones website, where you can easily use epic ringtones for your cell. Today we have a ringtone of “Angel in the Night” by Basshunter as well as 1624 other ringtones by Basshunter. “Angel in the Night” is a real hit from the “Now You're Gone: The Album” album that was recorded and mixed by Basshunter at their label together with other 22 tracks. You can listen to all 36 Basshunter – “Angel in the Night” ringtone variations available here and download it for free right now. You can also find other 10 albums produced by Basshunter for all time. “Angel in the Night” is referred to Dance, and we bring you a huge amount of Dance songs absolutely for free. And finally, we have collected lyrics for this track and you can view it here as well. So feel free to browse, listen, download ringtones at Audiko.net. Make your phone sound cool!

domain: entertainment


text:
Higher Education in Times of Change
By: Maria José Sá, Sandro Serpa
CIPES – Centre for Research in Higher Education Policies Portugal
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of the Azores, Portugal
The overall common thread of this e-Book is education in general and higher education in particular. At a time of profound changes in the educational arena and across society at large, thinking higher education and its dynamics is paramount. This e-Book gathers five selected articles published by the authors between 2018 and 2020 that tackle, analyse and discuss some very current topics, such as the transversal competences higher education institutions need to provide their students with, considering their relevance to preparing the future professionals; the importance of Sociology of Education in promoting sustainability literacy in higher education; the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is reshaping the educational arena and the learning and teaching process; and the funding of the scientific publication in Open Access, an increasingly central outlet for the dissemination of the scientific production.
The authors hope to offer the educational field some insights, hindrances but also possibilities that lie ahead of the higher education dynamics, actors, policies and forces.
Maria José Sá holds a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Minho and a PhD in Studies in Higher Education from the University of Aveiro, Portugal. She is a researcher at CIPES – Centre for Research in Higher Education Policies. Her research areas include, among others: student satisfaction; student success; institutional actors; student experience; gender studies; and higher education in developing countries. She has participated in several funded research projects in the areas of marketing, teachers’ training and student satisfaction. She has also worked in the field of higher education institutions’ Assurance of Learning (AOL) and international accreditation.
Sandro Serpa has been a higher education faculty member since 2000. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of the Azores since 2013. He received his Master’s in Sociology from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Nova University of Lisbon in 2004, and his PhD in Education, with speciality in Sociology of Education, in 2013, from the University of the Azores. He is an integrated researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences – Campus of the University of the Azores, CICS.NOVA.UAc. He has more than 200 publications in international journals, books and other scientific outlets in Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

domain: library


11-26-2011 05:30 PM
I have thought about getting a new card to start playing games a little more "seriously" but my graphics card isent quite up to par with gaming standards. I have an AMD A6-3400M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics and the display adaptor is AMD Radeon(TM) HD 6520G 4 GB RAM 64 bit Quad Core Windows 7. HP Pavilion DV6-6110us
Solved! Go to Solution.
11-26-2011 05:57 PM
Unfortunately, graphics adapters in most notebooks (including yours), are not upgradable or replaceable.
The GPUs in most notebook PC's are now a part of the mainboard. Even the discrete chips.
11-26-2011 06:12 PM
Check your BIOS menu and see if there are any video memory settings you can change.
There is a video setting in my dv6810us that can allow for the machine to use 32, 64 or 128MB of graphics memory.
Mine was defaulted to 64 MB. i changed it to 128 MB and that helped a little.
Maybe yours has a similar setting you can tweak.


text:
Formula One racing driver Mark Webber is reportedly the buyer of a Noosa mansion offloaded by former competitive tennis player,Read more
THE family home occuped by Hugh Hefner and his wife Kimberley, opposite the famous “Playboy Mansion” in Los Angeles’ ritzy Holmby Park has sold for an undisclosed sum.
The 80-year old, 7,300 square foot English style mansion includes five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and is on a 2.3 acre block of land behind private gates near the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club.Read more
TERRI Irwin has been quietly listing for sale properties that formed part of the $20 million portfolio she built with late husband Steve.
The owner of Australia Zoo has sold at least one property “at a loss”, and is reportedly offering more investments including four abutting the massive tourist attraction, and which were purchased as part of expansion plans. Properties have been listed for sale since late last year.
A zoo spokeswoman said it had been affected by the recent downturn in tourism. “In response to this, we have conducted an extensive and thorough review of the business and our operations, exploring all other avenues of cost savings right across the business.”
The largest property being offered, at Peachester, spreads over 95 hectares and has views of the Glass Mountains. It’s asking $1.25 million.Read more
SPORTSMAN Glenn McGrath can expect $6 million from the sale of his waterfront estate in Sydney’s Cronulla.
The former Australian text cricketer purchased the 3300 square metre property, with a pool, cabana and outdoor kitchen, in 2006. He wasmarried last November in the home’s large rear yard (image from the yard, right).
The five bedroom home also has a boat shed.Read more
AUSTRALIAN Cricket Captain Michael Clarke will this weekend vacate the $6 million Bondi apartment he once shared with former girlfriendRead more
TELEVISION and radio personality Jacqui O has outgrown her inner-city Sydney terrace (right).
The new mum has listed the four-bedroom Elizabeth Street, Paddington home for sale with price expectations of about $3 million.
Jacqui with husband Lee Henderson will make a permanent tree-change to a new home they have constructed at Kangaroo Valley, on the NSW south coast. A studio will be developed at that home where the broadcaster will work from.Read more
FORMER politician Pauline Hanson will sell her country estate in south-east Queensland, ahead of a move to Britain.
The Coleyville home, Serendipity, is set on 147 acres and is about a 20 minute drive from Ipswich. The home is expected to sell for about $1 million, according to real estate agent Keith Edwards.
In the shape of a Y, the timber and brick home includes eight foot wide verandahs and raked cypress pine ceilings.Read more
FORMER bikini model Jodhi Meares is reported to have purchased a luxury home in Hawaii’s exclusive Pipeline Beach. The formerRead more
FORMER AFL footballer Wayne Carey has listed for sale a newly built Broadbeach Waters mansion he was to have occupied with his ex-girlfriend.
Agents are expecting about $3 million for the 70 square waterfront home, which includes four bedrooms, a media room, 15 metre tiled lap pool, private beach and 11 metre boat jetty.
Wayne Carey purchased the home in late 2007 for $1.265 million before undertaking a major renovation.Read more
FORMER Miss Universe, turned television presenter and Myer “face”, Jennifer Hawkins, is in the market for a new home aroundRead more
Footballer turned commentator Dermott Brereton has sold a near-new duplex in Brighton’s William Street. The double-storey dwelling with three bedroomsRead more
THE People’s Republic of China is expected to take on New Zealand actor Russell Crowe, in bidding for a $15 million Sydney mansion, once used by the French government as a consulate.
The Victoria Road estate, Le Manoir, will be auctioned this evening at an invitation-only event in which prospective buyers have to make a refundable $50,000 deposit, just to make a bid.Read more
HAWTHORN Football Club chief executive Stuart Fox, and wife Sybella, are selling the Wirraminna farm they acquired in 2002 in Gherang, via Moriac – some 10 minutes north east of Anglesea, and 15 minutes east of Torquay.
Translated as “peaceful beside the water”, Wirraminna spreads over two hectares and includes three rainwater tanks, two paddocks and a dam which could accommodate horses or cattle.Read more
RADIO personality Jo Stanley (pictured, right) has sold the Elwood home she outgrew for $1.26 million.
Stanley, with husband Darren McFarlane, purchased the renovated three-bedroom terrace about five years ago – about three years before the arrival of daughter Willow.
Near the beach and Elwood village, the semi-detached Edwardian has two living areas and a relatively large side yard.Read more
WEATHERGIRL and television show co-host Livinia Nixon (pictured), with husband Alistair Jack, a builder, have offloaded their renovated Middle Park home.
The double storey, four-bedroom red brick home is understood to have sold for about $3.5 million, sources speculate, after passing in at auction earlier this month for $3.42 million.
Jack, and Nixon, who married in 2009 and welcomed new son Henry in January, are now reportedly looking for another “renovation rescue” project.Read more
DIEHARD underbelly fans can live a piece of the underworld lifestyle, with Tony Mokbel’s former family home, in Brunswick, quietly hitting the rental market.
The five bedroom mansion at 9 – 11 Downs Street (pictured, right) was offered for sale early last year, but the listing, nor sale – which settled earlier this year – could be reported because of a recently lifted suppression order.
The new owners are asking $1300 per week for the double-storey home which police believe Mokbel funded through drug activities. The registered owner while he occupied the home was Mokbel’s sister-in-law, Renate.
Ownership of the Brunswick property was transferred to the Attorney General of Victoria in late 2009, under the Confiscation Act 1997.
COMPOSER, pianist and one-time television personality Paul Grabowsky, is moving out of St Kilda East, in Melbourne.
Grabowsky, who is renowned for his passion of jazz music, can expect some $1.5 million from the sale of his renovated four bedroom Californian Bungalow which will be auctioned next month.
The Papua New Guinea born musician grew up in suburban Melbourne’s Glen Waverley and first studied music at age five. His passion for jazz started at 16, while at Wesley College which was one of the few Melbourne colleges at the time to boast a jazz ensemble.
After travelling and performing for several years, Grabowski returned to Melbourne in 1986, later landing a high profile job as band front-man for Network Seven’s popular Tonight Live With Steve Vizard show, which ran from 1990 to 1993.Read more
ACTORS Reg Gorman and Judith Roberts are selling a renovated apartment in St Kilda East’s historic Ardoch development.
Built in 1922, Ardoch is reportedly one place Dame Nellie Melba stayed when in town, and where Russian spy Mrs Petrov was hidden.
At 8 Ardoch Avenue (pictured,right), the two bedroom apartment will be auctioned at 11:30am this Saturday and is expected to sell for about $700,000. Marshall White Armadale’s John Manton is the marketing agent.Read more
MUSICAL director, pianist, composer – and inadvertent television personality – John Foreman is selling a waterfront St Kilda West penthouse.
The three-bedroom apartment, with basement underground parking for two cars, will be auctioned at 12:30pm next Saturday where it’s expected to fetch between $930,000 and $1.02 million.
With a study nook and three balconies, the penthouse at 358 Beaconsfield Parade captures water views from the open plan living/dining room, and one of the bedrooms.Read more
HISTORIC Balwyn estate Canonbury has hit the market again.
Built in the 1860s for leading land and commission broker Edward Lamont, Canonbury at 9 Barnsbury Road has since been owned by businessman John Elliott and former AFL commissioner, the late Ron Evans.
The five bedroom, five bathroom renovated Victorian mansion sits amid a Baron von Mueller designed garden, with a 141-year old Spanish cork oak tree.
FATHER-to-be Ed Phillips sold his Murrumbeena unit after auction. The television personality, who recently married Nine News Sydney weather presenterRead more
OLYMPIC rower George Jelbart is selling a renovated two bedroom apartment he bought while at the 2004 Athens Games.
Jelbart, who was a member of the youngest ever rowing crew in the history of the Olympic Games, can expect about $500,000 from the sale of the ground-floor Hawthorn flat at 4 Hill Street.
The apartment includes a private entrance, and video security access. It includes a north facing deck and a pebble courtyard, and is a short stroll to the suburb’s popular St James Park.Read more
BULLDOG ruckman Ilija Grgic can expect about $420,000 from the sale of an investment property in Albion – the pocket regarded by residents, and agents, as the nicest part of Sunshine.
The fully renovated three-bedroom weatherboard home in Norwood Street sits on a 607 square metre block and is near Selwyn Park and the Albion train station, some 13 kilometres west of town.
In recent years that train station has been mooted to become a major depot as part of a proposed rail link connecting Melbourne Airport to the CBD, via an existing but largely disused track between Albion and Jacana, which crosses many north-western suburbs.
That Airport rail link proposal would also result in a major upgrade of the Footscray train station – which is just five stops from Albion.Read more
A MEMBER of the Kirby family, which owns media giant Village Roadshow, is selling a penthouse apartment in South Yarra’s Darling Street.
Clark Kirby, the director of corporate strategy for the family business, is relocating with his new wife, Sara Groen, who was until recently a current affairs presenter with Channel Seven in Sydney.
Ms Groen unwittingly made headlines last year, when Seven executives said her new haircut breached its contract, and ordered she fit hair extensions. She is also an ambassador for youth mental health service Headspace.
The couple’s outgoing penthouse is spread over two levels and includes three bedrooms and three decks. It also includes three car parks, and – perhaps not surprisingly – an entertainment room with a cinema.Read more
RECENTLY retired St Kilda footballer Andrew Thompson is selling a fully renovated family home in Melbourne’s ritzy Malvern.
Andrew, with wife, Sophie, can expect the Jordan Street house to sell for between $1.7 million and $1.8 million at auction next month.
On a 496 square metre block the home includes four bedrooms, an open plan living/kitchen/meals, a paved entertainment deck, and a landscaped backyard with a north-westerly aspect. The home is wired for surround sound.Read more
NEWLY appointed Melbourne Football Club captain Brad Green is torpedoing out of Brighton East.
The 30-year old athlete, who as a teenager was scouted by the Manchester United soccer team, made his debut with the Demons in 2000.
His outgoing home, in Lansdown Street, sits on a 221 square metre block near Landcox Park and the Bay Street and Gardenvale Road retail strips.
The home, one of two units on the block, includes three bedrooms, the master with ensuite and storage. It also includes two courtyards, a lock up garage, driveway and separate laundry.Read more
TELEVISION and radio personality Ed Phillips is selling his Murrumbeena pot of gold.
Phillips, who is based in Sydney nowadays, began his career with Melbourne’s Triple M some 20 years ago. Since then he’s also been a sports presenter at Nine, a regular on Good Morning Australia and a host, of axed shows Battle of the Sexes and most recently Temptation, alongside Livinia Nixon. Pot of Gold is another.
Married to Nine News Sydney weather presenter Jaynie Seal, Phillips is a roving reporter for morning television show The Circle.
His outgoing investment property at 5/1 Howe Street is expected to fetch between $450,000 and $490,000 when it is auctioned next Saturday.Read more
SOCCER legend Mark Viduka is selling an investment property near the Williamstown waterfront.
The 35-year old recently retired athlete – also known as Big Dukes and V-Bomber – can expect between $1.5 – $1.6 million for 79 Nelson Place, a tri-level, four bedroom townhouse (pictured, right), which is being auctioned next month.
Viduka, who is married and has three sons, recently retired from the sport, though there is growing speculation of a career return with the media or as a coach.
In February, he was awarded the prestigious Alex Tobin medal by the Australian players’ union, the PFA. Amongst his other achievements, was captaining national football team the Socceroos, and Australia, at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.Read more
THE Kew home of embattled AFL player manager Ricky Nixon reportedly sold off-market last week for $2.2 million. The saleRead more
FORMER Geelong footballer and larrikin media personality Billy Brownless is close to offloading his hilltop hood. The five bedroom home,Read more


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Super 8 Fort Myers
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... an air boat tour out of Everglade City at noon. Since we were not sure how long it would take to get there, so we left a little before 10am. We got there at 11am thinking that we would have to kill an hour before our tour, but when we walked into the office, the other couple who had signed up for the noon tour was also there. Since they were not real busy, they let us take the tour right then and ...
... stage it was only 3 o'clock. We separated on the bike ride back (Isabella & I stopping for a comfort stop). Getting back on the bikes, Isabella called back to me "can you pick the pace up?".....her on her triathlon bike and me on my street bike!!!
The walk on the OTHER side , across the water, with Chuck & Jan was through a bush walk on the channel side and back along the beach. The bush path ...
... Each stop was at least 4 frustrating minutes.
I put up with it for about 2 hours, in which time I traveled 55 km (usually do at least 200 km in the same time span). A map check was required! I ended up doubling back about 15 miles and then hit a bunch of Toll Highways that ring-roaded Tampa Bay. The first toll booth I stopped at I realized how wet I was, trying to pull .50 cents out of my water swollen and puffy ...
... and home. This YouTube gives a NY reporter's account of the event:
I was really jittery about arriving on time, imagining traffic congestion on the two-lane roadways, We bundled snacks and blankets and chill-weather gear into the van, settled ourselves and off we went and found, to my astonishment and relief...no congestion at all! ...
... into the mysterious attraction of this 'last continent'.
Shackelton. Brit video starring Kenneth Branagh. Based on the true story. Thrilling, as
we learn how it was possible for this Englishman to lead 27 men into
Antarctica and back; a two year journey of most severe hardship without
the loss of a single life.
March of the ...

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text:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Guess the Plot
The Love Possessed
1. Ventriloquist Kenneth Darby's wife needs an exorcism, but there are no priests at their Antarctic base camp. Can a demon be tricked into thinking a penguin is a midget in a cassock?
2. An insipid teen whose best friend is a hamster, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to save the wee beast after devastating earthquakes, fires, and floods flatten Los Angeles. Plus, a barbeque.
3. Doug's in love with three different women, but little does he know that each of them was possessed by the same ghost at the time he fell for them. Now the ghost has taken possession of yet another woman in hopes of marrying Doug--but Doug won't be marrying anyone unless he can beat a murder rap.
4. Annabel Holland has been playing the dating game for too long, and charming lawyer Alex Miller seems to be her ticket out. As their courtship progresses, though, he begins to display some disturbing quirks: an aversion to holy water, a tendency to vomit on all her best clothes, and an ability to stare up at her while she gives him a backrub. Will she make him choose between her and the Dark Lord, or will she decide that at her age she can't afford to be picky?
5. When a Dutch band called The Love makes a pact with a minor demon, they rocket to superstardom. But when The Love go on tour, the demon and his pals possess the band members and terrorize their calm, elderly audiences with acid rock from Hell. Also, a bellhop with a speech impediment.
6. Demon hunter Dylan Ghostlight has killed dozens of demons – but never a Succubus –until he heads to a small Kansas town where the townsfolk are having orgies non-stop until they die of exhaustion, and finds himself fighting demons in a way he never has before.
Dear Admired Agent/Esteemed Editor:
I was delighted to read on your blog that paranormal romance continues to be a hot genre. THE LOVE POSSESSED, complete at 85,000 words, is a spicy contemporary paranormal romance -- without a vampire in sight.
After her soul mate is killed while serving overseas, Callie wonders if she will ever fall in love again. When she dies shortly afterward in a car crash, it appears she'll never find out. [Usually in a romance you don't want your hero and your heroine to be dead by chapter 2, but this may work out.]
But dead, she's getting another chance at love [thanks to a necrophiliac mortician]. Possessing the living is easy -- if you can catch them when they're vulnerable, like during an alcohol blackout. Not particularly ethical, even if it is just temporary. [Other unethical actions by the dead:
Possessing someone because you desperately need a cigarette.
Possessing someone to see if those Jimmy Choos can possibly be comfortable.
Possessing someone in order to murder everyone who ever annoyed you.
Possessing someone in order to check your email.]
Still, it's the only choice she has if she wants to feel again. And, while sex in a different body with a different man every night proves fun, [sex with a different woman every night proves even better.] it isn't totally satisfying. Because when material things no longer matter, love really is all there is. [Well, love and revenge.]
An overachiever who's burned himself out at work, 40-year-old Doug starts frequenting the corner bar, ready to find something more meaningful in life. [Because, when you're looking for meaning in life, what better place than a bar?] What he finds are three women he clicks with, who are not only amazing in bed but who have him seriously thinking [Bigamy? STD?] marriage.
Except one of the women turns up dead after spending the night, and he's the last person seen with her. Now it's up to Callie to find a way to make Doug believe in ghosts so she can help clear him as a murder suspect. Make him realize the "it" factor in those three women is all her. And figure out how to make their unconventional relationship work.
That's when fate throws a suicidal woman Callie's way. [The woman jumped off a building just as Callie, in possession of the body of the driver of an open-bed truckload of pillows drove past.] Depression makes the woman's possession easy. And her body's a comfortable fit -- for both Callie and Doug. But is it wrong to use someone else's body to fulfill your own passion, even if that someone is willing? [I need someone to take over my body when I'm working. I can handle the passion fulfillment all by myself.] Or can Callie, after all, wind up with a happily ever afterlife? [Admit it: you came up with that line before you even started writing the book.]
THE LOVE POSSESSED is my first paranormal romance, although several of my fantasy/science fiction short stories have been published in various royalty-producing paperback anthologies and professional magazines (list at [website]). Chapter One is available to read at [website]. [I'm more likely to look at your chapter and credits if I don't have to go to your website and find them.] I'm of course happy to send more pages at your request.
Was Callie still in possession of the dead woman when she was killed? If not, how does she know Doug's not the killer? If so, can she possess the real killer and turn "herself" in to the cops?
How does she know the suicidal person is willing? Can she communicate with the person she possesses? If you can communicate with the person you possess, one way to convince Doug that ghosts exist is to possess him and tell him.
If it's so easy to possess the living, why doesn't Callie's soulmate possess someone (Doug, for instance) so they can be together? Or did I just spoil the ending?
In a world where it's easy to possess the living, you'd think there'd be millions of ghosts possessing people. Screw ethics; Callie can't be the only unethical ghost.
Of course none of these questions matters if this is a light comedy, but with a dead soldier, fatal car crash and murder, it may be dead serious, in which case you want to be sure there are logical answers to questions about the world you've created (in the book--in the query it may be better to leave out stuff that leads to questions, rather than try to answer them).
I found switching to Doug a bit jarring. Possibly you could transition into that paragraph by saying, When Callie meets Doug in the corner bar, she likes him so much she goes back every night as a different woman so . . .


In partnership with Boxsmart & Cultural Vibrations, YMCA Digital will host this special exhibition that will celebrate the history and culture of several Nottinghamshire communities, thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding.
African, Caribbean, and Pakistani communities and culture will be celebrated with a range of activities including food tasting, music, art and fashion workshops, and performances by local musicians Amie Cherry (above), HS Jalal, the Mystic Beats Kids Choir, and Blessing Magore & the Afroklectic Band.
The showcase will mark the end of YMCA Digital’s ‘The History of Immigration Project’, a ten-month long project funded by Heritage Lottery Funding, which explored the stories of people from African, Caribbean and Pakistani communities, looking at how and why they settled in Nottingham throughout the 20th century.
During the project, young people from YMCA digital interviewed members of the African, Caribbean and Pakistani communities, collecting real life stories to showcase at the event. The young people also received training from local journalists, with workshops and creative activities to stimulate discussion.
Darren Goodlad, Youth Programme Manager at Nottinghamshire YMCA, said: “This project was unifying and empowering, especially for the young people who heard stories from the three communities. It is important to share oral traditions and to recognise the journeys that people from all different cultures have taken. We cannot wait for the showcase so that we can celebrate all of the project’s achievements.”
YMCA Digital is a Nottinghamshire YMCA youth programme, which engages 13-19 year olds in radio broadcasting, film, animation, music, music production dance, acting and singing. With expert advice and guidance from youth workers, young people working with YMCA digital can achieve nationally recognised awards such as: Arts Awards – Bronze, Sliver and Gold.
Nottinghamshire YMCA host a broad range of programmes and activities for children and young people, from YMCA childcare in the school holiday, to trips and activates with the Adventure Guides, to Camp Williams. To find out more about Nottinghamshire YMCA’s programmes visit nottsymca.com
Event details: 1pm – 4pm 20th May, The Space at Nottingham Contemporary, free event, suitable for families and children of all ages
Nottinghamshire YMCA website – http://www.nottsymca.com/
Nottinghamshire YMCA Social media – @historyofimmigrationnotts (History of Immigration Facebook), @NottsYMCA (Twitter), @nottsymca (instagram), check for updates from YMCA digital @TheYoungCreativesYmcaDigital (The Young Creatives –YMCA digital Facebook)


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In 2007 the Cox School of Business set out to survey the leaders of the Dallas business community by launching the SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey. We wanted to hear first-hand their perception of the city where they live, work and volunteer. The results were both surprising and inspiring. The positive economic expectations that these CEOs conveyed flew in the face of global and domestic news that talked of a credit crunch, inflation, and an economic downturn. Our participants envisioned a 2008 Dallas-Fort Worth region that would weather the predicted threats. A resounding 70 percent optimistically believed the DFW economy would show improvement. While that overall optimism was conveyed in their responses, they were less optimistic about the improvement of the national economy (41 percent) and the world (43 percent).
What a difference a year makes! True to predictions, the 2008 domestic and global economies have endured tumultuous events that started in late 2007. Since then, we have seen unemployment increase, home values plunge, the mortgage industry collapse, gas prices skyrocket, industrial production falling steeply, and consumer confidence bottoming out.
Before this year’s surveys were mailed out, Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac were in serious trouble and either Wall Street or Washington was going to have to step in and do something (they were all subsequently bailed out). As the participants completed the surveys, and the last of the submissions were received, the economic cloud grew even darker. In one short week the overnight demise of Merrill Lynch, Lehman, and AIG caused the press to label the turn of events the “Worst Crisis since the Depression.” Around the world fear rapidly turned to panic as the U.S. government stepped in with quick bailout proposals that momentarily bolstered the world’s confidence. The crisis is not over. No one can predict when it will end, or what the outcome will be. Daily, our hopes and fears teeter on the news we receive.
As we reviewed last year’s survey responses, we realized anew how the optimism that was expressed by our DFW leaders has prevailed again this year. In the midst of the historic economic storm, the DFW area stood only minimally shaken. Compared to that of the nation, the DFW housing slump has been mild. While we have felt the subprime crisis, the stockpile of homes for sale is only slightly larger than normal, and the price of residential property has dropped minimally. Home foreclosures, while accelerating, have been far below the national average. Texas banks are lending money. New job additions lead the nation. The friendly business climate is continuing to draw corporate headquarters, and businesses of all sizes. The quality of life, and the low cost of housing, is attracting young and old alike. Indeed, as the year progressed, we watched with excitement as the DFW community stood seemingly sheltered from the economic turbulence around it.
We consider it fortunate that the timing of the 2008 survey occurred when it did. The historic economic events are far from over. But this year’s survey allows us to peer into the minds of the Dallas business leadership at a very critical time—to see how they interpret the economic unraveling that is going on nationally and internationally. We could not have planned a better time for this survey. We acknowledge that DFW cannot stay immune to the threats forever. Yet it is with continued excitement that we look at what our CEO leaders predict for 2009.
Who Responded to the Survey?
We are very grateful to the 543 DFW-area CEOs who responded to our survey.
Nearly 9,000 surveys were mailed out on Aug. 1, 2008, and responses were collected until Sept. 15, 2008. CEOs were able to mark their responses on the paper survey that they mailed back to SMU, or electronically through a secure server. Interestingly, the vast majority of respondents (more than 80 percent) chose to use the old-fashioned paper method.
CEO’s demographic characteristics produce an interesting picture of DFW’s business leadership: 91 percent male, predominately white (92 percent), and 77 percent are ages 50 and above. Their educational levels vary. Nineteen percent have high school and associate degrees. Bachelor degrees are held by 48 percent; MBAs were earned by 15 percent; and another 13 percent obtained such advanced degrees as JD, MD, and other master’s and doctorates. When asked about the disciplines in which they were functionally trained, “general management” and “sales” topped the list with 24 and 18 percent, respectively. Several other skill areas also had respectable percentage listings: operations, 9 percent; marketing and engineering, 8 percent each; finance, 7 percent; and accounting, 6 percent.
When describing their time in the CEO role, we found some interesting statistics. Most (71 percent) had held the title for more than 10 years, 17 percent for five to 10 years, and 13 percent for five years or less.
The overwhelming majority of the respondents (89 percent) lead “private” enterprises, with 69 percent of those businesses having fewer than 100 employees, and 23 percent staffing between 100 and 1,000 people.
What industries do these North Texas CEOs lead? Listed in order, the top seven and their percentages are: construction, 15; manufacturing, 11; financial services, 10; professional services, 9; wholesale trade, 7; retail trade, 6; real estate, 5; and energy, health care, and travel and transportation each posting a 4 percent return.
How financially successful are the firms? Revenues between $1 billion-$5 billion were listed by 3 percent, with 51 percent earning less than $10 million. The second-highest category (29 percent) of respondents fell into the $10 million-$50 million range, and 17 percent declared earnings between $50 million and $1 billion.
CEOs remain bullish on the local economy, but they’re not as sanguine about the national and international picture.
In last year’s survey, our CEOs indicated their top three business challenges were domestic competition, availability of qualified labor, and the need to stay on top of changing customer needs and expectations. This year, the constant drone of negative financial results took its toll. A whopping 33 percent indicate the current economic climate is their No. 1 concern. But when the fear of inflation and the reality of a devalued dollar are added, the tally rose to 47 percent. We believe that while the DFW area has been relatively stable in the current economic flux, the pressure of competing in a nation that is reeling has taken a toll on these chieftains.
However, when asked to provide their economic outlook for the DFW region over the next 12 months, 53 percent continue to believe the “can-do” strength of the DFW business community will produce economic improvement in 2009, while another 36 percent believe the regional economy will stay the same. Despite this level of optimism about the economic outlook of the DFW region, these results represent a drop from the staggering 70 percent of respondents to the 2007 survey that believed the DFW regional economy would improve over the next 12 months.
The projection outside the region is a different story. Respondents to this year’s survey expect continued doom and gloom for the national and global economies. While the responses are closely clustered, 30 percent of the leaders anticipate that U.S. economic activity will stay the same, 34 percent see an improvement, and 35 percent expect further decline. By contrast, approximately 42 percent of last year’s survey respondents expected the U.S. economy to improve. Globally, the statistics are even more disheartening. A sizable 39 percent expect to see a further decline in the world economy, 31 percent believe it will be stable, and only 25 percent predict improvement. In contrast, 46 percent of last year’s respondents expected the world economy to improve.
Our results also show substantial declines in respondent’s expectations of their organization’s performance over the next 12 months compared to last year. While 65 percent believe their company’s revenues will increase (compared to 80 percent in 2007), 31 percent predict they will either decline or stay the same (19 percent in 2007). Costs are expected to increase (80 percent compared to 75 in 2007), while 55 percent predict profits to increase over the next 12 months (down six percentage points from 2007). On the flipside, 25 percent of CEOs expect to post declines in profits over the coming year compared to only 15 percent last year.
The optimistic anticipations of last year’s respondents predicted increased capital expenditures, higher staffing levels, and even hefty rises in employment pay. However, for 2009 the vision has grown bleaker. While productivity is expected to increase over the next 12 months, these increases are expected to be significantly smaller than last year’s. Of the respondents to this year’s survey, 40 percent expect to see increases in productivity in their organizations of 5% or more. These results are in stark contrast to last year, when 96 percent of the respondent’s expected similar increases in productivity.
A smaller rise in revenue growth automatically produces smaller capital expenditures. In last year’s survey, 65 percent of the leaders foresaw both capital expenditure and staffing level increases. This year the estimate is more conservative. Only 46 percent predict growth for capital expenditures, and 49 percent expect increases in staffing. Most respondents expect to keep their training budgets flat (47 percent), while 38 percent expect at least modest increases. Interestingly, expectations for pay increases closely mirrored those of last year, with the majority (51 percent) predicting increases in pay in their organizations to be less than 5 percent. However, the percentage of respondents who expected pay increases over the next 12 months to amount to 5 percent or greater dropped from 31 percent last year to 20 percent this year.
GAUGING THE REGION
CEO perceptions of the DFW work force have improved since last year, with 36 percent of respondents saying its quality is “high.”
Over the past few years the DFW community has grown faster than most other metropolitan areas. With this gain we have outpaced cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles in terms of job growth. Ask recent college graduates who settle here what the attraction is, and they will tell you it’s a great place to get an entry-level job and advance in one’s career. They will then describe a variety of quality-of-life factors that keep them here. The fact is, in 2008 both Forbes and Time listed Dallas as one of the Top 10 best cities for recent college graduates. Both publications highlighted job availability, low-cost apartment rentals, and a large young-adult population as the factors that made the DFW area attractive.
In the SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey, we asked respondents to rate a number of factors related to the DFW area including the quality of the work force. In last year’s survey, 62 percent of respondents rated the area’s work force as “adequate,” while 27 percent thought that it was of “high” quality. This year’s survey suggests that perception of the area’s work force has improved, with 36 percent rating the quality of the DFW work force as high; just 7 percent see it as low, and 57 percent see it as adequate. This coincides with recent job statistics showing that more than half the new jobs in America were created in Texas, and DFW is one of three major Texas cities with the hottest job markets in the nation.
When asked about the contributing factors that make up our positive quality of life, the low cost of living was again tabbed by 60 percent of the leaders. As the college-graduate poll cited earlier indicated, low rental costs not only bring qualified young people to our community, but the affordable residential market also pulls executives and their families from as far away as New York and California.
This year’s survey saw a reversal over last year in the two additional quality-of-life areas. The well-developed transportation infrastructure, and ease of travel, replaced weather and climate in the second position of factors contributing to our quality of life. Oil prices have severely impacted some of our local air carriers. Still, Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport is the third-busiest airport in the nation, and Love Field along with Alliance corporate in Fort Worth make it easy for our executives to move freely around the world. Many corporate moves to Dallas have occurred because companies wanted to be more centrally located. These companies have also cited DFW Airport as a major reason for relocating into our area.
Still, Dallas-Fort Worth has a variety of things that CEOs would like to see changed in order to further improve the business climate. When asked to rank the top government actions needed, 30 percent of the leaders again agreed that state and local governments needed to provide more financial incentives through methods like tax abatements. Improving public school education was in second place, at 28 percent. While some of the DFW school systems have superb programs with national merit scholars, a mid-year article in The Dallas Morning News announced that the troubled Dallas ISD graduation rate was a low 69 percent. However, a variety of DFW suburbs scored very high: Highland Park, at 98 percent; Coppell, 97; Allen, 96; Grapevine-Colleyville, 94; Plano, 92; and Lewisville, 91. Rounding out the top three government actions needed, business leaders responding to our survey cited controlling energy costs as another high-priority area for local governments (selected by 14 percent of respondents). These results parallel those of last year’s survey, suggesting that business leaders perceive little progress is being made in these three areas.
Perhaps reflecting the tempestuous times, CEOs say that sound decision-making is the key skill required to achieve success.
In addition to gauging DFW area leaders’ outlook for the coming 12 months, the SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey also seeks to determine the key ingredients of successful leadership. We asked CEOs to identify the top three skills to which they attribute their successful achievements. In 2007 strong ethical behavior topped the list at 73 percent, with sound decision-making in second place at 68 percent. This year their focus was on the tools that allowed them to maneuver through these tempestuous times. Sound decision-making topped the list at 63 percent, while a strong ethical constitution moved to second place (57 percent), and the critical necessity for strategic thinking rounded out the list (50 percent).
Recognizing that our world is facing economic challenges, and that 2009 may prove to be extremely difficult for our leaders, we asked respondents to list their top business challenges. As we expected, the current economic climate was at the top of the list (33 percent). In second place was that critical need for a qualified and available labor supply (11 percent). Rounding out the list were domestic competition (8 percent), changing customer needs or expectations (8 percent), and inflation (7 percent). By contrast, last year’s respondents rated domestic competition as the top business challenge (selected by 22 percent of respondents). We then directed the question to the challenges they personally face as CEOs. Consistent with last year’s results, DFW area business leaders cited sustaining competitive advantage as their top challenge as CEO (68 percent). Attracting and retaining good employees (51 percent) and developing leaders (38 percent) rounded out the top three challenges.
We were also curious to find out who business leaders turn to in dealing with these challenges. When asked to identify those individuals they consider to be their top confidants, their spouse took the first position (74 percent), followed by a friend (53 percent), and the chief financial officer (34 percent). These results are identical to those of last year’s survey. We then asked them to identify the person most influential in helping them achieve their success. Again, the spouse was placed first (26 percent), parents were second (25 percent), and a professional mentor came in third (18 percent).
Are DFW business leaders satisfied with their jobs? In responding to this question, 85 percent confirmed that they were either very satisfied (62), or somewhat satisfied (24), with their position. This was down just four percentage points from 2007. We also asked CEOs how secure they felt about their jobs. We were expecting that the recent economic turmoil had resulted in a decrease in perceived job security compared to last year. In 2007, nearly 80 percent of CEOs felt either very or somewhat secure in their jobs. Contrary to our expectations, only a slightly smaller percentage of CEOs (78 percent) declared himself or herself very or somewhat secure in their jobs.
While seeing one’s name and title at the top of an organization implies success, we asked our leaders how they personally measure their success. Seventy-three percent said they only feel successful if their company has also achieved success. Another 60 percent interpret their success by the impact they have on the lives of their employees and customers. Finally, relating back to spouse, parents, and friends, 44 percent said they measure success by the amount of time they can spend with their loved ones. These are the same three measures that last year’s respondents cited as the top three ways they measure their success.
The Bottom Line
Last year we sought to put our finger on the pulse of the DFW area business community by launching the SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey. Our inaugural survey revealed the optimism and can-do attitude of DFW business leaders, identified the factors that make our area a magnet for employees and businesses, and caught a glimpse of the leadership challenges CEOs face. This year’s results show that the economic slowdown has slightly dampened our area’s business leaders’ optimism. However, CEOs still remain fairly optimistic about our area’s future relative to that of the U.S. and the world. In fact, considering all that has happened in our economy, it is amazing that over half our respondents still expect the DFW area’s economy to improve over the next 12 months. We look forward to next year’s survey to see how resilient these leaders are to the uncertainties and inevitable setbacks that are expected over the coming year. NOTE: If you are reading the results of this survey and were not one of the participants, we invite you to be a part of next year’s survey audience. E-mail your name, title, and both physical and e-mail address to [email protected], and we will add you to the list to receive the 2009 Cox Leadership Survey. We promise that your information will be used for no other purpose.


Over the past few days, there were several interesting stories in the news that caught my eye. The first was at Bloomberg News on 8 January; it reported how Google’s Android operating system software is increasingly being embedded into everything from refrigerators to rice-cookers. According to the story, Android creates a nice, symbiotic relationship between Google and product manufacturers. The manufacturers get a free and easy-to-use OS that allows them to create Internet-connected products, while Google is in a position to “collect more data to build its lucrative search business and one-up software rivals Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Apple Inc.”
Another goal of the manufacturers is to also create products that can “exchange information with less human intervention.” The Bloomberg story goes on to state that, “A television, for example, might show a pop-up message from a clothes dryer in the basement, indicating that the homeowner’s jeans are not yet dry. The user could press a button on the TV remote to automatically add 15 minutes to the dryer cycle. A connected rice cooker could determine what type of rice is being used and set cooking instructions accordingly.”
Given that your rice cooker might also inform others what type of rice you’re cooking, like a competitor to the brand you're using who might then try to convince you otherwise, consumers might view their relationships with their Android-enabled devices as parasitic in nature, but that is a discussion for another time.
For the past 20 years or so, observers have predicted that digital convergence—what used to be called “smart” or “intelligent” devices and has now has morphed into “The Internet of Things"—is just over the horizon. Finally, it's actually is looking like it is going to be an everyday reality sooner than later. A story in 9 January’s Wall Street Journal reports that 10 consumer-oriented product companies have launched the Internet of Things (IoT) Consortium whose aim is, “cooperation between hardware, software, and service providers.”
The IoT website states further that, “The IoT Consortium is primarily focused on those Internet enabled devices and related software services that directly touch consumers in the form of home automation, entertainment, and productivity. One of the goals of the consortium is to see billions of connected devices that benefit from communication with other devices and services.”
The IoT charter members include Active Mind Technologies, BASIS Science, Coin, Kease, Logitech, MOVL (KontrolTV), Ouya, Poly-Control, SmartThings, and Ube. The members of IoT essentially break along two lines: new companies that are basically start-ups, like Active Mind, Kease, Ouya, Smart Things, and Ube, who are developing products that include video game consoles (Ouya), smart electrical outlets (Ube) and home automation controllers (Smart Things), and more established product companies like Logitech (peripherals), Basis (personal health trackers), and Poly-Control (access security products). Active Minds has a nice description of what all these companies are ultimately aiming to do in this age of the Internet of Things, namely, provide tools and technology to support the “emerging world of the quantified self.”
The third story, from the 9 January London Telegraph, concerns a report from the UK Commons Select Committee on Defense which finds that, “Evidence received by the Committee suggested that in the event of a sustained cyber attack the ability of the Armed Forces to operate effectively could be fatally compromised due to their dependence on information and communication technology.”
The report points out that because of the increasing extent of digital technology in defense systems that communicate with one another, there are “many more points of vulnerability.” Therefore, says the Defense Committee, “cyber threats can evolve with almost unimaginable speed and serious consequences for the nation’s security." The Government, it added, "must be more vigorous in its approach to cyber security.”
The committee wants the UK Ministry of Defense to make a heavier investment in “mechanisms, people, education, skills, thinking and policies that take into account both the opportunities and the vulnerabilities which cyberspace presents.” The Parliament members also supported the view (pdf) expressed last summer by the Cabinet Office Intelligence and Security Committee that the UK should not just try to keep cyber criminals out, but engage in “active defense”, i.e., "actively interfere with the systems of those trying to hack into UK networks.”
All of which leads us back to our Android-enabled rice cookers. As more everyday appliances become nodes in home networks that connect into national networks, and become increasing interdependent (and vulnerable) in the manner that military systems now are, how will the inevitable cyber attacks against them be viewed? For instance, consider a coordinated cyber attack against home automation networks using some insecure Internet-enabled appliance connected to the network as a gateway which successfully shuts down tens of thousands of home heating systems during a major blizzard like that of 1978 that hit the Northeast United States. Will such a widespread attack against non-vital government or infrastructure IT systems be seen as mere nuisances or as something more threatening?
It may sound far-fetched, but once everything communicates with everything else, I don't put it past malicious programmers to figure out clever ways to exert control over devices remotely in ways no one planned against.
It is interesting that the IoT Consortium doesn’t mention improving the security of Internet-enabled devices and related software services in its mission statement. Maybe it should think about doing so in order to ensure that the above question never has to be answered. Until then, I think I'll hang on to my dumb rice cooker.
Robert N. Charette is a Contributing Editor to IEEE Spectrum and an acknowledged international authority on information technology and systems risk management. A self-described “risk ecologist,” he is interested in the intersections of business, political, technological, and societal risks. Charette is an award-winning author of multiple books and numerous articles on the subjects of risk management, project and program management, innovation, and entrepreneurship. A Life Senior Member of the IEEE, Charette was a recipient of the IEEE Computer Society’s Golden Core Award in 2008.


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It’s safe to say that just about whenever we’re traveling to a new area, I always try and pop in the local wine shop. I love seeing which wines catch the attention of various shop owners around the country and am always excited to try a new bottle (or four.) Of all the random wine shops I’ve visited on our travels, however, I’ve only really ever sought out one as a destination – Kingston Wine Co.
While driving north from New York City a few weeks ago to visit my friends in Hudson, I decided a stop in Kingston was an absolute must. I’d read about Kingston Wine Co. on the Ann Street Studio blog awhile back, and had always mentally bookmarked it as a place to visit on one of our trips to Hudson. The opening of our friends’ shop seemed like the perfect excuse for me to finally stop in and pick up a celebratory bottle!
Michael, who owns the shop with his wife, Theresa, a talented artist, was delightfully helpful. After listening to me describe our friends, their personalities, and their all-natural perfumery, he hand-selected a bottle of wine (from a case in the back) that he thought would be perfect for them. Michael was right, of course – a text last week from them let me know how much they enjoyed the wine as a part of their birthday celebration.
The bottles I grabbed for my Michael and I to enjoy at home were chosen thanks to the well-branded Kingston Wine Co. recommended tags. How could one ignore suggestions like “Sancerre + Goat Cheese + Baguette = Perfection?”
In the 30 minutes I spent in the shop, I saw a dozen or so people walk inside, all of whom were just as pleased to be chatting with Michael or selecting their own special bottle of wine. It became immediately apparent just how much of a community Michael and Theresa have created within Kingston Wine Co., a shop that is without a doubt worthy of planning your own detour to Kingston the next time you’re in the area.
All photos taken by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.


The talks between the Federal Communications Commission and communications companies to establish a footprint for net neutrality have fallen apart, leaving the federal agency with no tangible proposals to send to Congress. Meanwhile, Google and Verizon have taken matters into their own hands, reportedly establishing the ground rules of an unregulated two-tiered system of traffic over wireless networks. This has public interest groups seriously pissed off at the FCC for dropping the ball, but it’s not clear where the FCC goes from here. As one analyst put it: “The FCC is painted into a corner. In a burning building. Made of wood.” Wonderful… Read more.
Online gambling sites face new DDoS threat from Android phones
September 1, 2017
Russia blocks Google over online gambling redirect
June 23, 2017
Google took down 17m gambling-related “bad ads” in 2016
January 25, 2017


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Perdue Hen was inundated with complaints on social media and took to Twitter to guarantee folks it was not linked to Senator David Perdue.
“I can guarantee you that David Perdue has no affiliation with the Perdue model,” the corporate advised prospects who had mistakenly tagged the model on Twitter, believing the 2 to be related.
Mr Perdue mocked Joe Biden’s working mate as he warmed up the group at Donald Trump Make America Nice Once more marketing campaign rally in Macon, Georgia.
“KAH’-mah-lah? Kah-MAH’-lah? Kamala-mala-mala? I don’t know. No matter,” the Republican politician from Georgia mentioned to cheers.
Mr Perdue and Ms Harris have served collectively within the US Senate for greater than three years.
Mr Perdue is at present embroiled in an in depth race to maintain his Senate seat from Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff, who leads him in polls.
Mr Ossoff took to Twitter to say that his rival wouldn’t have mocked a politician who was both male or white.
Mr Perdue’s spokesperson John Burke later claimed that the politician had “merely mispronounced Senator Harris’ identify, and he did not imply something by it.”
Sabrina Singh, the press secretary for Ms Harris, posted on Twitter: “Effectively that’s extremely racist. Vote him out.”


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Canada’s Olympic Equestrians Excel over 45
Eric Lamaze aboard his Olympic mount, Fine Lady 5. Photo: Cealy Tetley
The only sport in the Olympics – if not the world – where men and women compete equally is in the three equestrian disciplines of showjumping, dressage and three-day eventing. But perhaps even more interesting to our aging population is that the equestrian sports allow athletes the ability to be internationally competitive for many years longer than almost any other professional or amateur sport.
Canada has done well in equestrian sports at previous Olympics. Most recently, Eric Lamaze claimed the individual gold medal in jumping at Beijing 2008. His teammates, Mac Cone, Jill Henselwood and “Captain Canada” Ian Millar – all over 45 at the time – also helped secure the silver medal for the Canadian Jumping Team. Millar also set a record at London 2012 by becoming the first athlete in any sport, from any nation, to compete in 10 Olympic Games.
This summer, Ian Millar, now 69, who will be absent from Rio (although his daughter Amy will be representing the country), yet he was quick to point out at a horse show this past June that he has a new mount selected for the 2020 Games.
Two members that are participating in Rio for showjumping include Lamaze, now 48, competing on Fine Lady 5 (see photo above), and Yann Candele, 45.
The other nations who routinely garner podium positions all have veterans on their teams, for when it comes to controlling a 1200 pound animal with a mind of its own as it navigates enormous obstacles at high speeds, experience is a plus and trumps youthful vigor.
So when you’re watching the coverage of Rio and see the harmonious partnership of human and equine athletes bear in mind that chances are the rider on board is over 40.


Fired firefighter Jason Weeks is suing the town, alleging defamation, negligent supervision, interference with a business relationship and civil conspiracy.
In a 66-page complaint, Weeks is seeking lost wages and income and damages in excess of $15,000, reserving the right to amend the complaint to include punitive damages.
»Fired firefighter files third lawsuit against town
Weeks names current and former town staff as well as some former co-workers.
Among those named: former Town Manager Peter Elwell, Director of Public Safety Kirk Blouin, Deputy Fire Chief Darrel Donatto, Director of Human Resources Danielle Olson, Deputy Fire Chief Dan Szarszewski, Assistant Fire Chief Brodie Atwater, town litigator Margaret Cooper and various other current and former firefighters.
A former battalion chief for Palm Beach Fire-Rescue, Weeks was demoted in October 2011 and fired in December 2012 after an internal investigation determined he used town equipment, while on town time, to work on a website critical of the town’s pension cuts. Weeks was an 18-year department veteran.
Weeks said he built the website at then-Fire Chief Bill Amador’s direction. The town fired Amador in January 2011 for his role in the website’s creation.
In his lawsuit, Weeks contends he created the website "with the support and knowledge of the entire command staff" of the fire department. The day after Amador’s firing, Weeks said he told Elwell of his part in the website’s creation and about the involvement of others. Investigations into Weeks followed, resulting in his firing, while others who were involved were not punished, the lawsuit says.
Weeks alleges in the suit that the town has — and continues to — withhold public documents from his records requests. He has filed three public records lawsuits challenging the town. In January, the town settled the August 2014 lawsuit, paying Weeks $5,218 in attorney’s fees after producing the disputed records and admitting town staff erred in not releasing the records.
"Defamatory statements have been made intentionally, maliciously and with total disregard to their truth or falsity for their ultimate effect to Weeks," the lawsuit says.
In September 2014, the town settled a whistleblower lawsuit with Weeks for $300,000, the single largest settlement amount paid by the town to an employee or former employee.
"This is a frivolous lawsuit, said attorney Robert Wilkins, who represents the town. "It is vindictive and typical of Mr. Weeks’ pattern of behavior of filing meritless complaints against others who he perceives to have crossed him.
"This complaint is a rehash of various old claims that he filed against the named individuals. The claims have been investigated by numerous agencies and independent investigators in the past and all of them concluded the claims were unfounded. The town totally supports and backs its employees who did absolutely nothing wrong other than to tell the truth about Mr. Weeks. The town will vigorously defend this meritless lawsuit and there will be no settlement with Mr. Weeks."


Amazing Unmanned Aircraft
Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are used by the military in a number of ways, including missile testing, air strikes, aerial refueling, surveillance, transporting cargo, live-fire exercises and even long-range bombing. The U.S. military began experimenting with unmanned aircrafts as early as World War I, but they were called remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) at the time. Today, UAVs are used by various organizations, including the U.S. Air Force, Navy and the U.S. Geological Survey.
The above unmanned aerial vehicle, which has the sinister name of the MQ-9 Reaper, is referred to as a Remotely Piloted Vehicles/Aircraft by the U.S. Air Force. It is operated by ground controllers, while other UAVs are flown autonomously thanks to pre-programmed flight plans.
Ready for Flight
The above photo of a QF-4 drone resting on an airfield was taken on July 30, 2010, at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. Drones such as the QF-4 are often implemented in missile system assessments and training, with the drones serving as moving targets in order to test weapons.
This coral-colored sub-scale drone, called the BQM-167 Air Force Subscale Aerial Target, was launched from the Tyndall Air Force Base in Tyndall, Fla. Used in the Air Force Weapon System Evaluation Program, the drone served as a shooting target during weapon-testing exercises.
Members of the contracted Florida Offshore crew steady a BQM-167 sub-scale drone as it is lowered onto a cradle. The drone was fished out of the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., by one of the 120-foot recovery boats owned by the Air Force. These boats are used to help find and recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during the Air Force's live-fire exercises.
In the Air
The unmanned aerial vehicle MQ-9 Reaper, originally named the Predator B, is not only used by the U. S. Air Force, but also by the Navy, the CIA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Above, it is photographed after taking off from the Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan as part of the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, where it was used in a mission as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The above QF-4, a full-scale target drone, is show flying as it is tracked by a missile at the Tyndall Air Force Base in Tyndall, Fla. Acting as a realistic full-scale moving target, the QF-4 is mainly used for evaluating weapons systems.
Droning On in the Name of Science
Soaring over southern California's San Gabriel range, the remotely-piloted Altus II is equipped with an air data system as well as a video camera in its nose. Flown from the Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., the Altus II is part of NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. Designed for high-altitude, long-duration scientific missions, the drone can reach and sustain an altitude of 55,000 feet for hours at a time as it collects air samples and data.
UAVs Big and Small
Unmanned aerial vehicles come in various shapes and sizes, from the Israeli Air Force's Heron TP, which is the world's largest UAV and is nearly as long as a 737 airliner, to the U.S. Army's "Switchblade," a new, sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicle small enough to be carried in a backpack.
The above MQM-107E Streaker, a sub-scale aerial target drone, was photographed flying over the Tyndall Air Force Base in Tyndall, Fla. The MQM-107E Streaker was conducting a Weapons System Evaluation Program, also known as a Combat Archer exercise, during which the drone was used as a target.
Also flying over the Tyndall Air Force Base in Tyndall, Fla., the above MQM-107E Streaker is flying in formation with an F-16C Fighting Falcon during a Combat Archer exercise.
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Letter: On the killings of police at the Temple Mount
The media, including The Record, reported the vicious attack last week that took place at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Two Israeli policemen were gunned down by Arab gunmen with Israeli citizenship. Weapons had been smuggled into the religious sites, days before the killings took place. The purpose was an obvious incitement at the religious sites.
After the killings, the police had to close the Temple Mount to worshippers of all faiths, in order to search for more weapons, smuggled in by the Arabs. Many in the media covered the closing of the Temple Mount in great detail, ignoring the necessity for the closure completely. The Temple Mount had not been closed by the Israelis since 1969.
The media, overly concerned with the short-term closing of the Temple Mount, should have instead stressed that the closing was needed due to the brutal assassinations of the police. Safeguards now, of utilizing metal detectors, are direly needed to prevent future terror, and to protect worshippers of all faiths.
Paramus, July 16