“Please, let us not remain barricaded in the sacristy and cultivate small, closed groups where we can pamper ourselves and be comfortable,” the pope said Feb. 7 during an audience with priests studying at Rome’s Pontifical Lombard Seminary.Pope to priests: Don’t remain ‘barricaded in the sacristy’ – Detroit Catholic
Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 7, 2022. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) ─ Priests must not shut themselves into small-knit cliques but instead open themselves to the world and make God’s love reach everyone, Pope Francis said.
“Please, let us not remain barricaded in the sacristy and cultivate small, closed groups where we can pamper ourselves and be comfortable,” the pope said Feb. 7 during an audience with priests studying at Rome’s Pontifical Lombard Seminary.
“There is a world waiting for the Gospel and the Lord wants his shepherds to be conformed to him, carrying in their hearts and on their shoulders the expectations and burdens of the flock. Open, compassionate and merciful hearts,” he said.
Established by the bishops of the northern Italian region of Lombard in 1854, the institution serves as the residence for diocesan priests — Italian and non-Italian — pursuing advanced degrees in Rome.
In his speech, the pope noted that the day marked the anniversary of the election of Pope Pius XI who was “one of the first alumni” of the pontifical seminary.
“From these roots linked to Pius XI, we may try to draw some inspiration, not to cultivate nostalgia for the past and close ourselves to the newness of the Spirit, who invites us to live today, but to trace some prophetic signs for your ministry and your mission, particularly in the service of the church and the Italian people,” he said.
The pope recalled that upon his election, Pius XI chose to deliver his first blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s rather than from inside the basilica. His example, he said, serves as a reminder for priests “to open up and to expand the horizon of the ministry to the dimensions of the world.”
Pope Francis said he knew that some of the priests, who go to confession at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, located near the seminary, tell each other afterward, “Go to that one, but not that one — he’ll make your life miserable.”
Just as the student priest seek to confess with “priests who are merciful to us,” they must also strive to show mercy to those who come to them.
“Just as we want mercy when we go to ask forgiveness for our sins and seek the most merciful, you must be merciful with everyone,” he said. “Don’t forget that God never tires of forgiving. We are the ones who tire of asking for forgiveness, but he never gets tired of forgiving.”
The pope reminded the priests of Pius XI’s first homily as pope, in which the newly elected pontiff invited Christians to ask themselves, “What can I offer the Lord?”
That question, he added, “does not revolve around you, your desire for that cathedra, that parish, that position in the curia” but instead is an invitation to open their hearts to “availability and service.”
“Often, even here in Italy, ecclesial discourse is reduced to sterile internal dialectics between those who are innovators and those who are conservatives, between those who prefer one politician and those who prefer another, and we forget the central point: to be church in order to live and spread the Gospel,” the pope said.
Finally, Pope Francis recalled his predecessor’s words in the 1931 encyclical “Quadragismo Anno” (“In the 40th year”) on the reconstruction of the social order, and particularly Pius XI’s warning of “an immense power and despotic economic dictatorship (that) is consolidated in the hands of a few.”
The pope encouraged priests to follow Pope Pius’ example and to not only “be attentive to the signs of suffering of the people” but also to “be competent and courageous in raising prophetic words in the name of the voiceless.”
“Great tasks await you,” he said. “The church is beautiful! Dream of the Italian church of tomorrow that is more faithful to the spirit of the Gospel, more free, more fraternal and joyful in bearing witness to Jesus, animated by the ardor to reach out to those who have not known the ‘God of all consolation.'”
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Follow Arocho on Twitter: @arochoju


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In our PCMark eight benchmark test, our test Computer scored the usual 2,538 without any anti-virus installed, and 2,533 with Avira operating. The larger number is much better, which indicates Avira brought on a really minor drop in performance.
In the Handbrake test, Avira caused a slowdown of about 45 seconds in the encoding performance of a 3.8GB HD video file. Generally, the test Computer can complete that job having a fresh Windows ten set up in one hour, 15 minutes, and 30 seconds. With Avira running, that time went as much as one hour, 16 minutes, and 13 seconds. Once more, very minor influence for home customers.
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text:
The Cornerstone fund group is liquidating its five funds because of a disagreement among accounting firms as to how to price certain defaulted municipal bonds, according to published reports.
The New York-based group had about $27 million in five bond and money-market funds before selling all of its holdings except those in the defaulted bonds, the reports say. Neither Deloitte & Touche nor Grant Thornton would certify the funds' 1999 financial statements because of those pricing issues. McGladrey & Pullen, which certified the firm's financials in 1998, would not reopen those financials and said it stands by its original determination, the reports say. Cornerstone sought a new accountant after McGladrey & Pullen sold its mutual fund accounting operation to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Because the pricing conflict could not be resolved, the Cornerstone fund directors decided that "the only course of action appeared to be to liquidate the funds," said Barry Barbash, according to the published reports. Barbash, a partner with Shearman & Sterling, has been hired by the funds' independent directors.

domain: economics


Catholic News Agency
November 20, 2020
By Hannah Brockhaus
The Vatican court heard Thursday the questioning of one of the defendants in an ongoing trial of two Italian priests for abuse and cover-up allegedly committed in Vatican City from 2007 to 2012.
Fr. Enrico Radice, 72, has been charged with impeding investigations into an abuse allegation against Fr. Gabriele Martinelli, 28.
The abuse is alleged to have taken place at the St. Pius X pre-seminary located in the Vatican. The abuse allegations were first made public by the media in 2017.
Radice stated at the Nov. 19 hearing that he was never told about abuse by Martinelli by anyone, accusing the alleged victim and another alleged witness of making up the story for “economic interests.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.


text:
Wanda Sykes: Being Gay Is Harder than Being Black
Comedienne Wanda Sykes sat down with Piers Morgan to talk about her career. And as it often does since she came out, the conversation turned to her sexuality.
Wanda told Morgan that it’s harder for her to be gay than it is to be black. She referenced the fact that there are organizations who are spending millions and millions of dollars to prevent her from performing in certain arenas, not because she’s black but because she’s a lesbian.
You can read Sykes’ full quote and vote on this issue over at AOL’s Black Voices. But before you head over there, let us know what you think about this topic.
Is it harder to be homosexual than it is being black. Do you think Gay rights are the new Civil rights?

domain: sociology


In the spirit of throwback, we will be looking at one of Honda’s best selling and iconic models. We are all familiar with the Honda CR-V which stands for Comfortable Runabout Vehicle (in case you didn’t know). Today, we’ll look at where it all began. In this article, we will see how the Honda CR-V has grown from strength to strength. Let’s get to business, shall we!
First Generation (1996 to 2001)
The first generation model can still be seen roaming the streets until now. It was Honda’s first take on a crossover/SUV because it was based on the Honda Civic of that same year. The first gen CR-V is available in only a 5-door variant and uses a single 2.0-litre 16v i-VTEC engine. It’s mated with a 4 speed automatic or 5 speed manual with either 4WD or FWD(4 or front-wheel drive).
Second Generation (2001 to 2006)
The second-generation model grew in size and had a more boxy design. The interior layout is very much similar to that of a minivan. It still retains the same engine as the previous model with a new 2.4 litre and a new 2.2 diesel added to the lineup. The same transmission as the old model was still retained with the addition of a new 5-speed automatic transmission which is optional. FWD is standard while 4WD is optional.
See Reported Post: Discover The 2020 Honda Jazz (Photos)
Third Generation (2007 to 2012)
The leap in quality on the third generation was so obvious. From a new platform (still based on the Civic) to new improved engines and transmission. Honda took a serious step of removing the spare wheel at the rear and placed it under. This design is now used by most of its rivals and it’s a new trend. This model of the CR-V is really popular in Nigeria and ladies fancy its design. All engines were carried over from the last generation. The transmission was restricted to a 5 speed automatic and 6-speed manual.
Fourth Generation (2012 to 2017)
The fourth-generation model is still heavily based on the third generation and its a little bit obvious. Just a new front and rear fascias and a new interior layout. The engine was an even more powerful 2.4 i-VTEC that outputs 184hp. All Wheel Drive is standard and the front-wheel-drive was optional. The transmission was carried off from the previous generation model with a new CVT gearbox available as an option.
Fifth Generation (2017 to Present)
The latest Honda CR-V truly is a 21st century model in and out. It has the latest features and its the first CR-V to feature a hybrid system. It shares so many similarities with the latest Honda Civic and uses the same engines except the 1.0 litre. The engines include the 1.5-litre turbo 4cylinder, a new 2.0 litre and 2.4 litres. The transmission available for the latest CR-V is a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). The popular Andriod Auto and Apple Carplay are now available as an optional feature. As it stands this is the best version of the CR-V in many years as it has corrected most of the flaws associated with the older model.
See Related Post: Amazing Photos Of How Honda Accord Has Changed From 1976 To 2020


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domain: artistic


Patent application title: Method and Apparatus for Interworking VPLS and Ethernet Networks
Hamid Ould Brahim (Kanata, CA)
David Allan (Ottawa, CA)
Dinesh Mohan (Kanata, CA)
NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
IPC8 Class: AH04L1256FI
Class name: Switching a message which includes an address header message transmitted using fixed length packets (e.g., atm cells) connection identifier assignment
Publication date: 2009-02-12
Patent application number: 20090041023
Patent application title: Method and Apparatus for Interworking VPLS and Ethernet Networks
Hamid Ould Brahim
Anderson Gorecki & Manaras, LLP;Attn: John C. Gorecki
Nortel Networks Limited
Origin: CARLISLE, MA US
IPC8 Class: AH04L1256FI
To allow seamless interworking between an 802.1ah service instance (ISID)
and a VPLS service instance, the AGI value used to signal the setup of
the pseudowire portion of the VPLS may carry the ISID value of an
associated 802.1ah service instance. This allows the service instance to
be identified end-to-end across the Ethernet and VPLS networks using the
same value without modifying how the MPLS network operates. The VPLS
network will use AGI/AII signaling to set up pseudowires on the MPLS
network, but instead of using an AGI value assigned by the MPLS network,
the AGI value that is assigned will be taken from the ISID value of the
Ethernet frame or from ISIDs registered by the Ethernet network. The AGI
message may be given a new type value indicating that the AGI message
carries a value that corresponds to the ISID value on an attached
Ethernet network. Alternatively, an existing AGI message type may be used
to carry the ISID value, and a second type field may be used to indicate
that the AGI contains an ISID value.
1. A method of interworking a MultiProtocol Label Switched (MPLS) network
and an Ethernet network, the method comprising the steps of:associating
an ISID value in the Ethernet network with a service instance in the
Ethernet network that is to span between the Ethernet network and the
MPLS network;communicating the ISID to an ingress node on the MPLS
network;derivation of a service identifier in the MPLS network from the
I-SID value that was associated with the service instance in the Ethernet
networkdetermination of the set of egress nodes on the MPLS network from
the MPSL service identifiersignaling, by the ingress node on the MPLS
network, the setup of at least one pseudowire for the service instance in
the MPLS network.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service identifier is an Attachment Group Identifier.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ISID value in the Ethernet network is registered by the Ethernet network at a point of attachment to the MPLS network to allow the Ethernet network to control establishment of the pseudowires in the MPLS network.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pseudowire is associated with a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) in the MPLS network.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of signaling the setup of the at least one pseudowire includes transmitting an AGI message having an AGI type value specifying that the AGI value carried in the AGI message is derived from or the same as the ISID value.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of signaling the setup of the at least one pseudowire includes transmitting an AGI message having a standard AGI message type, but which contains a type field indicating that the AGI message is an ISID encoding AGI message.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the AGI value is the same as the ISID value.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the AGI value identifies a logical group of forwarders at an egress node on the MPLS network.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of signaling further identifies an Attachment Individual Identifier (AII) that is to be used to forward packets received over the pseudowire.
10. A method of signaling establishment of a pseudowire in a MultiProtocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining identifying information associated with a Flow in an Ethernet network;deriving an AGI value from the identifying information; andusing the derived AGI value to signal the establishment of a pseudowire in the MPLS network for the service instance.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifying information is a B-Tag or B-VID from the flow in the Ethernet Network, and wherein the AGI value is derived from the B-Tag or B-VID.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifying information is an ISID value associated with a service instance in the Ethernet network, and wherein the AGI value is derived from the ISID value.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ISID value is registered by the Ethernet network at a point of attachment to the MPLS network.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the ISID value is learned from a packet received from the Ethernet network.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the Ethernet network is implemented to use a link state protocol as a control plane.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the pseudowire is established on a Label Switched Path through the MPLS network.
17. A network, comprising:an Ethernet domain implemented to enable service instances identified by ISID values to be carried on paths through the Ethernet network;a MultiProtocol Label Switch (MPLS) domain connected to the Ethernet domain at a point of attachment between the MPLS domain and the Ethernet domain, the MPLS domain being implemented to enable Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) pseudowires to be established on Label Switched Paths (LSPs) through the MPLS domain, the pseudowires being established by AGI signaling in the MPLS domain;wherein ISID values from the Ethernet domain are used during the AGI signaling in the MPLS domain to allow the ISID values to be used end-to-end across the network to identify the service instance on both the Ethernet domain and the MPLS domain.
18. The network of claim 17, wherein the ISID values are registered at the point of attachment between the MPLS domain and the Ethernet domain.
19. The network of claim 17, wherein the ISID values are learned at the point of attachment between the MPLS domain and the Ethernet domain.
20. The network of claim 17, wherein an AGI message type value used during AGI signaling has a message type indicating that the AGI message carries an ISID value from the Ethernet domain.
21. The network of claim 17, wherein an AGI message type value used during AGI signaling has a message type is a normal AGI message type value, and wherein the AGI message contains a sub-type value indicating that the AGI message carries an ISID value from the Ethernet domain.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/964,278, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERWORKING VPLS AND PBB NETWORKS filed Aug. 10, 2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application that results from the conversion of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/006,245, filed Dec. 31, 2007, which was entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERWORKING VPLS AND ETHERNET NETWORKS, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Applicants filed a petition to convert this Utility patent application to a provisional application on Apr. 15, 2008, and are thus claiming priority to the provisional application that results therefrom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for interworking Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) and Ethernet networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data communication networks may include various computers, servers, nodes, routers, switches, bridges, hubs, proxies, and other network devices coupled together and configured to pass data to one another. These devices will be referred to herein as "network elements." Data is communicated through the data communication network by passing protocol data units, such as frames, packets, cells, or segments, between the network elements by utilizing one or more communication links. A particular protocol data unit may be handled by multiple network elements and cross multiple communication links as it travels between its source and its destination over the network.
The various network elements on the communication network communicate with each other using predefined sets of rules, referred to herein as protocols. Different protocols are used to govern different aspects of the communication, such as how signals should be formed for transmission between network elements, various aspects of what the protocol data units should look like, how packets should be handled or routed through the network by the network elements, and how information associated with routing information should be exchanged between the network elements.
Ethernet is a well known networking protocol that has been defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as standard 802.1. Conventionally, Ethernet has been used to implement networks in enterprises such as businesses and campuses, and other technologies such as Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) have been used to transport network traffic over longer distances. As the Ethernet standards have evolved over time, Ethernet has become more viable as a long distance transport technology as well. Each evolution to the original 802.1 standard has been implemented as a new standard, and the various standards are continuing to evolve over time.
FIG. 1 shows several fields that have been added to the Ethernet frame format over time. As shown in FIG. 1, the original Ethernet frame format specified by IEEE 802.1 included a source address (C-SA) and a destination address (C-DA). IEEE 802.1Q added a Customer VLAN ID tag (C-Tag) and IEEE 802.1ad added a provider VLAN ID tag (S-Tag). The C-Tag contains a VLAN ID that allows the customer to specify a VLAN, while the S-Tag contains a second VLAN ID that allows the service provider to specify a VLAN on the service provider's network for the frame. When a network is implemented using 802.1ad it may be referred to as Q in Q encapsulation or Provider Bridging (PB). A domain implemented using this Ethernet standard will be referred to as a Provider Bridging (PB) domain.
The Ethernet standard has evolved to also allow for a second encapsulation process to take place as specified in IEEE 802.1ah. Specifically, an ingress network element to a service provider's network may encapsulate the original Ethernet MAC header (C-MAC) with an outer MAC header (B-MAC). The B-MAC header includes a destination address on the service provider's network (B-DA), a source address on the service provider's network (B-SA), a VLAN ID (B-VID) and a service instance tag (I-SID). A domain implemented using MAC-in-MAC encapsulation according to the 802.1ah Ethernet standard will be referred to as a Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) domain.
There are also two other Ethernet standards that have been developed or which are in the process of being developed that may be used in one or more of the domains. Specifically, IEEE 802.1Qay specifies a way for the network elements to switch traffic based on the B-DA and B-VID rather than just forwarding the traffic according to the B-DA and B-SA. The header of the frames forwarded on an Ethernet network established using this technology is not changed, but the manner in which the information is used is changed to allow forwarding to take place in a different manner. A network domain that forward traffic using this forwarding paradigm will be referred to as Provider Backbone Trunking (PBT).
PBB, PB, and the original Ethernet standard all use a spanning tree protocol to determine which links should be used to broadcast traffic on the Ethernet network and which links should be used to forward unicast traffic on the network. To overcome some of the shortcomings of using spanning trees, another Ethernet standard is in the process of being developed as IEEE 802.1aq, in which a shortest path routing protocol such as Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS) or Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is used on the control plane to establish forwarding paths through the network. Traffic on the domain may then be forwarded based on the B-DA and B-VID in a manner similar to PBT, but will follow shortest path trees rather than spanning trees in the domain. A domain implemented in this manner will be referred to herein as a Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) domain. PLSB is described in greater detail in U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/537,775, filed Oct. 2, 2006, entitled "Provider Link State Bridging," the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
When a customer frame is received at an ingress node on a PBB network, it will be encapsulated such that a provider MAC header will be added to the original MAC header. The outer MAC header that is applied by the ingress node to the provider network includes a MAC address of the destination network element (B-DA) on the provider network. Encapsulating customer frames to include a MAC header specific to the provider network allows the network elements on the provider network to forward frames using the provider addressing space rather than relying on the customer addressing space. Since presumably there will be fewer provider nodes than there are customer addresses, this allows the forwarding tables of the provider network elements to be smaller than if the customer address space were used.
Since more than one customer may be transmitting frames from an ingress node to an egress node, the destination MAC address (B-DA) does not allow the egress node to differentiate which traffic belongs to which customer. To enable the egress node to avoid having to look at the inner MAC header, the ingress node assigns a service ID (I-SID) to the frames entering the network. The I-SID is included in the B-MAC header and can be used by the egress node to identify the customer or VLAN associated with the frame and, hence, to which customer it should forward the frame. FIG. 9 graphically illustrates a tunnel on an Ethernet network carrying traffic for multiple customers/VLANs that is able to be differentiated according to the ISID.
As mentioned above, MPLS is another commonly used networking protocol. MPLS specifies a way in which a label switched path may be established through a network. When a packet is received at an MPLS Label Edge Router (LER) the LER will determine the destination LER for the packet, attach a label to the packet, and forward the packet to a first Label Switch Router (LSR) on the path to the destination LER. The LSR will strip the label from the packet, look up the label to determine the next label to be applied to the packet and the next hop for the path, and forward the packet onward to the next hop. This proceeds hop by hop across the network to cause the packet to be forwarded across the Label Switched Path (LSP) through the MPLS network.
The LSP connects a pair of nodes on the MPLS Network. Since more than one customer may need to transmit traffic between the pair of endpoints, it is desirable to allow multiple customers to share one LSP rather than creating a new LSP for each customer. In MPLS, this is accomplished through the use of Pseudowires. Pseudowires allow traffic for different VLANs to be tagged with a service label, so that traffic from multiple customers, VPNs, etc., can use a common LSP and be differentiated by the egress LER. A service that utilizes a pseudowire will be referred to as a Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS).
In addition to pseudowires, a branching mechanism was developed for MPLS that will allow a given packet that is received at a label switch router (LSR) to be duplicated and passed out of more than one forwarder. A service that utilizes this feature of an MPLS network will be referred to as a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). VPLS uses pseudowires to set up the paths through the network but allows the paths defined by the pseudowires to branch to emulate a Local Area Network (LAN). FIG. 10 graphically illustrates an MPLS LSP carrying MPLS traffic for multiple customers/VLANs that is included in multiple pseudowires.
VPLS uses the signaling protocol described in draft-ietf-12vpn-signaling-08.txt and IETF RFC 4447 to set up pseudowires. The content of each of these protocols is hereby incorporated herein by reference. RFC 4447 introduces the concept of an Attachment Group Identifier (AGI) that may be conceptualized as a VPN identifier or VLAN identifier. The AGI specifies a logical group of forwarders at the egress node, rather than a particular individual forwarder. When implemented in this manner, an attachment circuit associated with a particular VPLS or pseudowire is constructed to include the Attachment Group Identifier (AGI) that identifies the group of forwarders, and an Attachment Individual Identifier (AII) that identifies a particular forwarder within the group.
In operation, the MPLS network will establish label switched paths through the network using a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP). As part of this process, the LDP will allow the Label Edge Routers (LERs) to exchange AGI/AII pairs that will allow the network to setup the dataplane for the pseudowires. This will set up the forwarders at the nodes to cause the packets to be forward in a specified manner. When a frame arrives at the ingress LER, the ingress LER will check the signaled value of AGI/AII pairs with local information and apply a service label as well as a tunnel label. The tunnel label will be used to forward the frame along the LSP through the MPLS network, while the service label will be used by the egress node to obtain the context of the pseudowire at the egress so that the frame may be sent to the correct set of forwarders. The forwarders will then be used to forward the traffic to the correct customer/VPN as the traffic exits the MPLS network. The AGI/AII pairs are thus used in the signaling phase of establishing the VPLS service by the ingress/egress LERs to coordinate how frames should be handled at the egress to cause the frames to be forwarded to the correct customers.
Where a PBB network and VPLS network are interconnected, a particular service instance will be identified using an ISID on the PBB network and will be transmitted over a particular PW on the MPLS network and be output from a particular forwarder or set of forwarders associated with an AGI/AII on the VPLS network. The packet may then be sent to another network such as another Ethernet network or MPLS network. For example, FIGS. 2A-2D show several ways in which Ethernet and MPLS networks may be interconnected. Unfortunately the ISID values and AGI/AII values used to distinguish traffic carried on particular paths through the network are not related, which makes it more difficult to coordinate how these types of networks work together. Where multiple networks are interconnected, the coordination of which ISID and AGI/AII are associated with which VLAN may thus provide a logistical difficulty.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To allow seamless interworking between an 802.1ah service instance (ISID) and a VPLS service instance, the AGI value used to signal the setup of the pseudowire portion of the VPLS may carry the ISID value of an associated 802.1ah service instance. This allows the service instance to be identified end-to-end across the Ethernet and VPLS networks using the same value without modifying how the MPLS network operates. The VPLS network will use AGI/AII signaling to set up pseudowires on the MPLS network, but instead of using an AGI value assigned by the MPLS network, the AGI value that is assigned will be taken from the ISID value of the Ethernet frame. The ISID values may be learned by the ingress nodes from frames received from the Ethernet network. Alternatively, the ISIDs may be registered on the edge nodes to the VPLS networks and used periodically to signal the establishment of pseudowires on the MPLS network. The AGI message may be given a new type value indicating that the AGI message carries a value that corresponds to the ISID value on an attached Ethernet network. Alternatively, an existing AGI message type may be used to carry the ISID value, and a second type field may be used to indicate that the AGI contains an ISID value.
In another embodiment, the B-Tag or B-VID (B-Tag/B-VID) value used to implement VLAN service on the Ethernet network is used as the AGI value in the MPLS network. This allows network interworking to occur without requiring the networks to be interworked at the service level. The B-Tag/B-VID values may be learned or registered at the edge of the VPLS network. A new AGI message type may be defined to carry the B-Tag/B-VID on the VPLS network so that a common VLAN ID may be used across both the Ethernet and MPLS networks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Aspects of the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the following drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. The following drawings disclose various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. In the figures:
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an Ethernet frame format;
FIGS. 2A-2D are functional block diagrams of communication networks showing four example ways in which Ethernet and MPLS network domains may be connected;
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a reference view of a network including Ethernet access networks and an MPLS core network and illustrates the header format a frame of data as it traverses the network according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 4-8 are diagrams illustrating examples of how an Attachment Group Identifier message may be formatted to carry the ISID and/or B-Tag/B-VID value according to several embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate conceptually how ISID values and pseudowire service labels are used to identify traffic carried on a PBB tunnel or Label Switched Path (LSP); and
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a network element according to an embodiment of the invention.
The following detailed description sets forth numerous specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, protocols, algorithms, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.
Interworking between an Ethernet network and an MPLS network may occur at the network level, in which VLAN segments are mapped to each other, or may occur at the service level in which service instances are mapped to each other. When the networks are interworked at the network level, the VLAN segment from the Ethernet network, identified by the B-Tag or B-VID will be mapped to a Label Switched Path (LSP) in the MPLS network. When the networks are interworked at the service level, an I-SID on the Ethernet network will be mapped to a set of corresponding Pseudowires forming the VPLS portion of the overall service instance in the MPLS network. Embodiments of the invention may be used to implement either type of interworking. Specifically, where the two network domains are to be interworked at the network level, the AGI value in the MPLS network may be configured to carry the value of the B-Tag or B-VID that was used to identify the VLAN on the Ethernet network. Where the two network domains are to be interworked at the service level, the AGI value in the MPLS network may be configured to carry the value of the I-SID that was used to identify the service instance on the Ethernet network.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example network 10 in which a MPLS domain 12 is used to interconnect multiple Ethernet domains 14A and 14B. The Ethernet domains 14A, 14B may be implemented using any one of the Ethernet technologies described. For example, the Ethernet domains may be established using Provider Bridging (PB), Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB), or Provider Backbone Transport (PBT). From a control plane perspective, the Ethernet network may implement a spanning tree (PB, PBB), be manually configured by an OSS (PBT), or a link state routing protocol may be implemented as described above in connection with description of Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) networks. Thus, although a description of the invention will be provided in connection with an implementation that is implementing 802. 1ah (Mac-in-Mac or Provider Backbone Bridging), the invention may also be utilized with other standards that similarly use the I-SID to identify a service instance on the Ethernet network. Examples of several Ethernet standards that also use the I-SID include 802.1Qay which is commonly referred to as Provider Backbone Trunking (PBT) and 802.1aq which is a developing standard and is commonly referred to as Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB). Thus, the invention is not limited to an implementation that utilizes PBB alone, as it may equally apply to other Ethernet protocols that also use an I-SID to carry VLAN information with certain caveats (specifically that in the PLSB case (*,G) registration of I-SIDs in the VPLS space may in certain circumstances produce additional multicast replication and discard of PLSB (S,G) per I-SID multicast trees).
The example reference network shown in FIG. 3 is configured similar to the network configuration of FIG. 2A, in which a MPLS core network is used to interconnect between two Ethernet access networks. The invention is not limited in this manner, however, as MPLS and Ethernet networks may be connected in other configurations, for example as shown in FIGS. 2B-2D. Thus, the example shown in FIG. 3 is intended to be a representative example and is not intended to limit the scope of application of the invention. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention may be implemented wherever one or more MPLS and Ethernet networks are interconnected.
In the example network shown in FIG. 3, customer edge devices 16 connect to user provider edge network devices 18 where the customer traffic is formatted according to one of the Ethernet standards. The Ethernet frames including a payload and Customer MAC header (C-MAC) will be forwarded to a Provider Edge (PE) node 20 to be forwarded on the provider Ethernet network 14A. The Provider Edge (PE) network elements 20 are configured to implement User to Network Interface (UNI) interfaces to enable customers to connect to the network. The provider edge 20 will encapsulate the frame with a provider MAC header (B-MAC) and forward the frame over the Ethernet network 14 to its destination on the Ethernet network.
The access network also has a plurality of Switching Provider Edge (S-PE) network elements 22 configured to implement Network to Network Interface (NNI) interfaces to enable the S-PE network elements to connect to other network elements on the networks. Where the customer traffic is to be forwarded from the Ethernet network 14A to another network such as the MPLS network 12, the customer traffic will be forwarded through the Ethernet network to the S-PE network element 22. The Switching Provider Edge (S-PE) network elements 22 are provided to perform inter-domain transmission of packets for network 14 so that the customer traffic may be transferred from the Ethernet network 14 to the MPLS network 12.
The network elements on the edge of the VPLS service on the MPLS network may learn the B-Tag/B-VID or I-SID values from packets as they arrive at the network. These values may then be used to signal the establishment of pseudowires on the MPLS network as described in greater detail below to implement the VPLS services on the MPLS network. Alternatively, the B-TAG/B-VID or ISID values may be registered at the edge of the VPLS network by any of a number of possible protocol transactions, and used periodically to signal the establishment of VPLS service instances in the MPLS network. Enabling registration to be used to cause signaling of pseudowires within the VPLS network allows resilient access of the Ethernet network to VPLS, since the Ethernet network is thus able to control the establishment of pseudowires across the MPLS network. Where the networks are interworked at the service level, an individual VPLS service instance may thus be created for each I-SID, whereas if the networks are to be interworked at the network level, the VPLS service instance will be created for the B-VLAN.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example path through the network and shows several of the headers that may be applied to the frame as it passes through the network. As shown in FIG. 3, a CE network element will transmit data to a U-PE network element which will encapsulate the data into Ethernet frames to be transported over the Ethernet access network. The U-PE may encapsulate many different native services from the CE, such as TDM over Ethernet, and the invention is not limited by the particular type of native service encapsulated for transport by the U-PE.
The U-PE will forward the Ethernet frames to an ingress PE on the access network 14. The native services will not be visible to the ingress PE on aggregation network, as the UNI at the PE will only see Ethernet frames arriving. The Ethernet frames, when they arrive, will include an Ethernet header including a customer destination MAC address (C-DA), a customer source MAC Address (C-SA), and a payload. The frame may also include an S-Tag and Ether-Type specified by 802.1ad, and a C-Tag and Ethertype specified by 802.1Q. The 802.1Q tag (C-tag) enables a VLAN ID to be added to the Ethernet frame. The particular format of the frame will depend on the version of Ethernet being used by the U-PE.
When the Frame is received by the PE network element 16, it is encapsulated by the PE network element using MAC-in-MAC encapsulation using the process specified in IEEE 802.1ah (Mac-in-Mac). Specifically, the PE network element will map the customer destination MAC address C-DA to a provider destination MAC address (B-DA). The outer MAC header applied by the PE network element will thus include the provider destination MAC Address (B-DA) and the source MAC address (B-SA) which is usually set to the MAC address of the ingress PE. The PE network element determines the I-SID based on the S-tag, determines the B-DA based on the ISID and C-DA, and determines the B-Tag based on the I-SID. The ISID is generally used by the edge nodes to differentiate service instances so that multiple service instances may be carried across the provider network and differentiated without requiring the egress PE to look at the inner MAC header. This is conceptually shown in FIG. 9. As shown in this figure, a given PBB tunnel may carry multiple services, each of which is identified by a particular ISID. The PBB defines the path through the network, while the ISID allows the services carried on the tunnel to be extracted at the egress. Where the Ethernet network is implemented as a PBT domain, the network elements on the Ethernet network will use the B-DA and the B-tag (which includes the B-VID) to forward the frame across the aggregation network rather than just looking at the B-DA when forwarding the frame.
Depending on how the access network is implemented, the ingress PE may offer port-based E-line service or tagged E-line services. The PE uses port or VLAN to identify the service instance. The PE encapsulates the frame in a PBB and/or PBT trunk and forwards the frame across the access network. The ISID, in this instance, is end-to-end unique so that the ISID may be used to identify traffic associated with the E-line service. Although not shown in FIG. 3, PE pairs on opposite ends of the network will maintain primary and secondary PBT trunks through the Ethernet network 14 to provide resiliency to the connection.
When data is transmitted from the Ethernet network to the MPLS network it will be received by a Multi-Service Edge (MSE) network element 24 on the MPLS network. Within the MPLS domain, multiple label switched paths (shown as dashed lines within MPLS domain 12) may be established to enable packets to be transported across the MPLS domain 12 in the usual manner. Different ways of implementing the MPLS domain exist and the invention is not limited to the particular way in which the MPLS domain is set up.
The MSEs on the MPLS network are configured to receive traffic and put the traffic onto Label Switch Paths (LSP) through the network. The MSE network elements thus act as Label Edge Routers (LERs) to assign labels to packets according to the path the packet is to take through the MPLS network. In operation, a MSE will receive a frame from the S-PE and assign a tunnel label which allows the frame to be put on the correct LSP through the MPLS network.
Where the MSE receives a packet with a new B-Tag/B-VID or ISID, the MSE may establish a new pseudowire for the packet to allow the packet to be transmitted across a VPLS instance in the MPLS network. Alternatively, rather than have the MSE establish pseudowires as new VLAN/service instances are learned, the S-PE may register the B-Tag/B-VID or ISID at the edge of the VPLS network. Registration of the ISID by the Ethernet network allows the Ethernet network to indirectly control establishment of pseudowires through the MPLS network and hence to control establishment of VPLS instances for the VLANs and services that are carried in the Ethernet network.
The MSE also adds one or more service labels (pseudowire label) to enable traffic from multiple customers to be multiplexed across a given LSP through the network and allows the frame to be distinguished from other data that is also being carried on the same LSP. This is conceptually shown in FIG. 10, in which the LSP is the tunnel through the network and the service label identifies a service instance on the tunnel. The tunnel label will be used to forward the frame along the LSP across the MPLS network, and the service label will be used to de-multiplex the frame to identify the customer flow at the egress so that the frame may be sent to the correct group of forwarders and, hence, to the correct egress port for the customer.
When a frame is received by an egress MSE, it will be sent to one or more forwarders within the MSE to be transmitted. The forwarders are thus logical entities that specify how a particular class of packets should be forwarded on the network. The service tag (pseudowire tag) allows the egress MSE to identify a group of forwarders (AGI) and optionally an individual forwarder (AII) within the group of forwarders that should be used to handle a particular packet. The packet will then be sent to that forwarder to be transmitted from the MSE.
As described above, pseudowires are signaled using the Attachment Group Identifier, which identifies a logical set of forwarders that are associated with a particular VLAN, and also includes an identification of a particular individual forwarder that is to handle the traffic (AII). Thus, the pseudowires may be established and associated with an AGI/AII pair as described in greater detail in IETF RFC 4447. The AGI/AII is associated with a service instance on the MPLS network. Data traffic on the MPLS network will carry a service label which acts as a pseudowire identifier. The pseudowire identifier will then be used by the egress MSE to determine which group of forwarders should be used to handle the traffic. The set of egress nodes (addresses) in the MPLS network associated with a given AGI is obtained through the use of existing defined mechanisms such as an auto-discovery function, or using a signaling-based MPLS discovery function, or through provisioning.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the B-Tag/B-VID or ISID value used in the Ethernet network to identify the VLAN or service instance may be used during the AGI signaling so that the same value may be used to identify the VPLS service instance within the MPLS network as well as within the Ethernet network. For example, according to an embodiment of the invention, the B-Tag/B-VID or ISID may be transmitted as part of the AGI/AII signaling when the pseudowires are set up, so that the these values may be used within the MPLS network as well as the PBB/PBT network to identify the VLAN or service instance. This may also allow, for example, the egress MSE to identify the group of forwarders that are to handle the traffic based on the B-Tag/B-VID or ISID rather than an arbitrarily assigned AGI number.
FIGS. 4-8 illustrate several examples of how the AGI message may be formatted to carry the B-Tag/B-VID or ISID according to several embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to these several examples, but rather extends to other embodiments (other AGI types) in which a 24 bit field of the AGI is dedicated to carrying the B-Tag/B-VID or ISID. Similarly, although the ISID is currently defined as including 24 bits, should the 802.1ah standard be modified or a new standard promulgated that changes the length of the ISID the AGI may be modified to include the alternate length ISID. Likewise, the B-Tag is currently defined to include 16 bits, and includes a 12 bit VLAN ID (B-VID). If this standard is changed, the AGI described herein may be modified as well to accommodate the new length of the B-Tag/B-VID.
IETF RFC 4446 provides that the AGI should have a type value that is 8 bits long. This enables the AGI to have 256 different type values, many of which have not been defined. For example, type value 1 is defined by RFC 4446 as the route distinguisher. Type values 2 through 64 are to be assigned by the IANA using the Expert Review policy defined in IETF RFC 2434. AGI type values 65 through 127 and 255 are to be allocated using the IETF consensus policy defined in RFC 2434. Type values 128-254 are reserved for vendor-proprietary extension and are to be assigned by IANA using the first come first served policy defined in RFC 2434.
FIG. 4 illustrates one possible format of an AGI where a new AGI type 40 is used to carry the ISID, according to an embodiment of the invention. In the example shown in FIG. 4 a new AGI type 40 is defined, and is referred to as 0x03. The 0x03 example type value is merely an example type value and any of the values specified by IETF RFC 4446 may be used if assigned using the appropriate process specified by the policy for that particular value.
If a new AGI type is assigned, as shown in FIG. 4, the AGI message may be formatted to include the AGI type value (1 octet) 40 and the ISID value (3 octets) 42. Additionally, the AGI may include blank space 44 or other information to enable the AGI to have a desired length. In the illustrated example it has been assumed that the length of the AGI message will be 8 octets, and hence the remaining portion of the AGI (4 octets) has been set to 0 and unused. Optionally a length field may be included after the AGI type field 40 to enable the length of the AGI to be specified. Still alternatively the AGI type field may specify the length of the AGI. Other fields may be included as well, such as a field configured to carry the Autonomous System Number (ASN) to identify the autonomous system associated with the AGI. Thus, other fields may be implemented as well.
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which an otherwise defined AGI type 0x01 50 is used to carry the ISID. As shown in FIG. 5, the defined AGI Type 0x01 includes a second type field 52 which allows the AGI to be formatted differently to carry different types of information. In the illustrated embodiment, this field 52 may be set to 0x03 to allow the AGI message to specify that the AGI value corresponds with an ISID on an attached Ethernet network. In the illustrated embodiment the AGI includes an ASN (Autonomous System Number) (3 octets) 54 as well as the three octet ISID value 56.
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in which a new AGI type 60, such as 0x05 is used to carry the B-Tag or B-VID. In the example shown in FIG. 4 a new AGI type 60 is defined, and is referred to as 0x05. The 0x05 example type value is merely an example type value and any of the values specified by IETF RFC 4446 may be used if assigned using the appropriate process specified by the policy for that particular value.
If a new AGI type is assigned, as shown in FIG. 6, the AGI message may be formatted to include the AGI type value (1 octet) 60 and the B-Tag/B-VID value (2 octets) 42. As mentioned above, the B-Tag is a two octet value, 12 bits of which are used on the Ethernet network as the B-VLAN-ID (B-VID). Where the new AGI type is used to carry the entire B-TAG, the field 62 will be two octets in length. Where the field 62 is only used to carry the B-VID, the additional four bits of the field 62 may be set to zero or used for other purposes.
Similar to FIG. 4, the AGI message shown in FIG. 6 may include blank space 64 or other information to enable the AGI to have a standard length. In the illustrated example it has been assumed that the length of the AGI message will be 8 octets to comply with the current standard, and hence the remaining portion of the AGI (5 octets) has been set to 0 and unused. Optionally a length field may be included after the AGI type field 60 or elsewhere in the AGI message to enable the length of the AGI to be specified. Still alternatively the AGI type field may specify the length of the AGI. Other fields may be included as well, such as a field configured to carry the Autonomous System Number (ASN) to identify the autonomous system associated with the AGI. Thus, other fields may be implemented as well.
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in which an otherwise defined AGI type 0x01 70 is used to carry the B-Tag or B-VID. As shown in FIG. 7, the defined AGI Type 0x01 includes a second type field 72 which allows the AGI to be formatted differently to carry different types of information. In the illustrated embodiment, this field 72 may be set to 0x05 to allow the AGI message to specify that the AGI value corresponds with an B-Tag or B-VID on an attached Ethernet network. In the illustrated embodiment the AGI includes an ASN (Autonomous System Number) (3 octets) 74 as well as the two octet B-Tag or 12 bit B-VID value 76. The remaining portion of the AGI message may be set to zero and ignored 78, or reserved for future use.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment in which a new AGI type 0x07 80 is used to carry either the ISID or B-Tag/B-VID. As shown in FIG. 8, the new AGI type 80 has a one-octet sub-type field 82 which is used to define the encoding type. This field may be used to specify whether the Ethernet network and MPLS network are interworked at the service level and, hence, that the AGI carries ISID information from the Ethernet network, or that the Ethernet and MPLS networks are interworked at the network level and, hence, that the AGI carries the B-Tag/B-VID information.
The AGI value may include the ASN number 84. The AGI value also includes an identifier field 85 which either carries the ISID or the B-Tag/B-VID. When the sub-type field is set to a first value, to indicate that the AGI carries the B-Tag/B-VID, the identifier field 85 may include a two octet field carrying the B-Tag/B-VID and the remaining space may be set to zero and reserved for future use/ignored. Where the sub-type field is set to a second value, the identifier field 85 may carry the three octet ISID 90.
In either embodiment, the AGI may carry the ISID so that the ISID may be used to identify the group of forwarders associated with the VLAN on the MPLS network. Accordingly, the ISID may be used within the MPLS network to identify a group of forwarders such that the ISID may be used in both the Ethernet and MPLS networks to identify the VLAN. By carrying the ISID in the AGI while signaling the establishment of the pseudowire on the MPLS network, the ISID may be used end-to-end to identify the service instance in both the PBB network and in the MPLS network.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show conceptually how ISIDs relate to PBB tunnels on an Ethernet network and how PWs relate to LSPs on an MPLS network. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, a given PBB tunnel may carry traffic from multiple customers or which otherwise should be distinguishable. To do this, an ISID value is associated with each flow of data to allow traffic that is being carried on the tunnel to be demultiplexed at the end of the tunnel according to the ISID value. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, on an MPLS network, a LSP through the network may carry traffic for multiple customers. A service label associated with a pseudowire is attached to the traffic as it enters the MPLS network and before the traffic is placed on the LSP through the network. This allows the egress node to determine how the traffic should be handled at the egress from the LSP.
FIG. 11 shows an example network element that may be used to implement a MSE 24 according to an embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to this embodiment as other network device architectures may be implemented as well. The MSE includes one or more Input/Output (I/O) cards 92 configured to connect to links in the communications network. The I/O cards 92 may include physical interfaces, such as optical ports, electrical ports, wireless ports, infrared ports, or ports configured to communicate with other conventional physical media, as well as configurable logical elements capable of operating as MAC (layer 2) ports under the direction of an interface manager, described in greater detail below.
One or more forwarding engines 94 are provided in the network element to process frames received over the I/O cards 94. The forwarding engines 94 forward frames to a switch fabric 96. The switch fabric 96 enables a frame entering on a port on one or more I/O cards 92 to be output at one or more different ports in a conventional manner. A frame returning from the switch fabric 96 is received by one of the forwarding engines 94 and passed to one or more I/O cards 92. The frame may be handled by the same forwarding engine 84 on both the ingress and egress paths. Optionally, where more than one forwarding engine 84 is included in the network element, a given frame may be handled by different forwarding engines on the ingress and egress paths. The invention is not limited to any particular forwarding engine 94, or switch fabric 96, but rather may be implemented in any suitable network element configured to handle MPLS traffic on a network. One or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) 98, 100 and processors 102, 104 may be provided to implement instructions and processes on the forwarding engines 94. Optionally, a memory 106 may be included to store data and instructions for use by the forwarding engines.
In operation, when a packet is received, one or more of the ASICs 98, 100 and/or one or more of the network processors 102, 104, may read the service label to determine a group of forwarders to be used to forward the packet. This information may then be used to configure the switch fabric to cause the packet to be passed to the correct set of forwarding engines 94 upon leaving the switch fabric and to program the egress ASICs 100 and egress network processors 104 to cause the packet to be sent to the correct I/O card 92 for transmission from the MSE 24.
An interface management system 108, optionally containing one or more control cards 110 and one or more data service cards 112, may be provided to create and manage interfaces on the network element. The interface management system may interact with an MPLS module 114 to enable it to participate in establishing LSPs on the network and to allow the MSE to establish AGI/AII groups of forwarders corresponding to Pseudowires so that the MSE 24 can coordinate how traffic associated with particular service labels or B-Tag/B-VID should be handled by the data plane of the MSE. The interface management system may learn B-Tag/B-VID or ISIDs from traffic as it is received, or these values may be registered as described above. The learned/registered values may then be used to signal the establishment of pseudowires through the MPLS network.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the MPLS module includes code to enable the MSE to engage in MPLS signaling such as the AGI signaling described herein 116, label distribution 118, and the establishment of pseudowires 120. As discussed above, in operation the label distribution module will be involved with the establishment of label switched paths through the network. AGI signaling will then be used to allow AGI/AII groups of forwarders to be associated with pseudowires that are established through the network. The interface manager takes the information obtained by these modules and uses the information to configure the I/O cards 92 and/or forwarding engines 94 of the data plane so that the MSE may be configured to handle data traffic on the MPLS network.
When the functions described herein are implemented in software, the software may be implemented as a set of program instructions embodied in a tangible computer readable medium and configured to cause control logic in one or more processors to perform the methods described herein. The functions described herein may also be implemented in hardware, or in a combination of hardware and software. It will thus be apparent to a skilled artisan that all or some of the logic described herein can be embodied using discrete components, integrated circuitry such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), programmable logic used in conjunction with a programmable logic device such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or microprocessor, software embodied on a tangible computer readable medium and used to program a microprocessor, or any other device including any combination thereof.
Programmable logic can be fixed temporarily or permanently in a tangible medium such as a read-only memory chip, a computer memory, a computer disk, or other storage medium. All such embodiments are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications of the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the specification may be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.
Patent applications by David Allan, Ottawa CA
Patent applications by Dinesh Mohan, Kanata CA
Patent applications by Hamid Ould Brahim, Kanata CA
Patent applications by NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
Patent applications in class Connection identifier assignment
Patent applications in all subclasses Connection identifier assignment


text:
1-0 Manchester United: Wayne Rooney v Sunderland
Posted On Sunday, 13th May 2012
The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) will launch its 'modified' 2013 President's Cup competition on Tuesday.
Francis Anum has resigned his post as chairman of second tier club Okwahu United.
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has addressed the hardship facing the Black Stars when they host Zambia in September to advance in the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Watch all of Ghana's goals in the 2-0 win over Lesotho in the penultimate Group Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier played at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday.
Black Stars striker Abdul Majeed Waris has resumed training with Russian giants Spartak after recovering from a knee injury.
Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya has warned Ghana that they will defeat the Black Stars in Kumasi when the two sides clash for a place in the 2014 World Cup qualifying playoffs in September.

domain: news


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The Australian / Chilean dark-electronica duo Unknown Land are to release the EP Redline on the 25th.
In parallel with the reality of two musicians who live thousands of miles apart, communicating through the internet their music too has an spacious quality. The soundtrack mixes instrumentation and electronics delivering hypnotic dreamy soundscapes through which the mesmerising vocal slips in and out of focus.
The output, whilst having a dark layering running through it, also has a captivating beauty in which the listener becomes spell-bound.
A five track release (available on bandcamp) in which The Nightmare Police deliver both punchy indie-rock and emo infused contemplatives. Whilst ground that has been much trodden, nonetheless, the trio are able to offer a refreshing take providing the listener with roughly fourteen minutes of enjoyable songs that isn’t time wasted to get to know.
The closing track Where Were You is a fine display in which the trio are able to vary tempo and temper with clean and energised drum-kit surrounded by a hustling bass and guitar which is given space to deliver expressive rips and roars with vocal merging in to the overall composition.
Within the past dozen hours the Canadian swing-rock outfit From Gemini released their eponymous EP.
Tipple the speakers to upper volume to best enjoy the output as registers of upper notes and lower beams sling their hooks across the room in a luxurious soundscape of finely fingered twitching guitar notes which slip inside and out of meandering octave and delay pedals giving the music considerable direction of travel as the thumping percussion and bass threaten to break the sub-woofer through which the vocal fights for space for its own intervention – though far from sounding like an idea of disparate concepts – it all lays in narrative which has the listener entranced.
From the EP the second of the five tracks – Better Days.
Frequently featured since the middle of last year Betty Pulls A Fast One always return to the table with a new idea.
In Swing Like Summer – one is minded of the sadness of Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday from 1939. Although there is approaching an eighty year time gap – though Billie Holiday was more explicit in lyric in Swing Like Summer that same sentiment of societal deconstruction is evident in the pianoforte led ballad that lays wrapped in the ears long after the notes have faded in to silence.
The US trippy-rock band Paralon Security are due to release the LP Gravity Wave in July.
There are numerous tracks which have surfaced over the past couple of months, each bringing a new idea to the table and able to stand alone its own feet and marking an album full of individual diamonds. My preference of which – is not the newest to be revealed.
The title track Gravity Wave has a sultry hip thrusting intonation that is best heard in company with at least one partner as oiled loins intertwine to the psychedelic just under five minutes of undulating guitar and electronica. If there was ever a track that needed an extended version to satiate the induced lust – this is a prime example.

domain: entertainment


Ross Douthat, writing in the New York Times, describes an alternative approach to medical reform, and in the process has some acid comments about the legislation currently pending in Congress. A very interesting article!
Douthat's key paragraph summarizes the proposal well:
"But there’s another path, equally radical, that’s more in keeping with the traditional American approach to government, taxation and free enterprise. This approach would give up on the costly goal of insuring everyone for everything, forever. Instead, it would seek to insure Americans only against costs that exceed a certain percentage of their income, while expecting them to pay for everyday medical expenditures out of their own pockets."


UA Preview: White Team Defense
Defensive Line It doesn't get much better than the players who will come off the edge in this year's Under Armour game for the White Team. Three Florida State commitments highlight the defensive end unit. Mario Edwards (Florida State, Texas, Oklahoma), five-star defensive end from Denton-Ryan, Texas, is rated No. 2 in the country at his position. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound prospect is a...
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How To Make The Best Sourdough With Horto Chef Murray Wilson
As anyone who has ever tried it will know, sourdough is a bread with a huge helping of character. It’s true that a loaf of sourdough may require more patience to make than simply popping down to your local supermarket, but the result – a tangy, crusty, flavoursome loaf – is more than worth the effort!
In honour of ‘Bread Week’ on the Great British Bake Off, we asked Murray Wilson, our head chef at Horto, to talk through his favourite sourdough recipe… and give us a few hints and tips along the way!
Whilst sourdough in the supermarket is a lot more expensive than your average pack of Warburtons, making your own is inexpensive and incredibly rewarding. Be warned: it may take a good week before you can reap the rewards of your first sourdough loaf, but once you’ve got a starter going, you can ‘feed’ and re-use it time and time again.
Murray’s sourdough is served at the start of each meal at Horto. He made his initial starter in May and has been ‘feeding’ the same batch ever since! Making the sourdough is Murray’s first job of the day when he enters the kitchen, but for everyone at home, first we’ll need to make the starter…
- Mix the ingredients together with your hands until combined. Cover and leave at room temperature until the next day.
- Discard 100g of the mixture and replace with 200g flour and water. Mix together with your hands and repeat this process every day for 5-6 days. After this time you will notice bubbles forming in your starter; this indicates that the yeast is becoming active. At this point, you’re ready to make your sourdough!
Tip: If you make sourdough regularly (e.g. every weekend) you only need to feed the starter once per week after the first fermentation. If you make sourdough every day, feed your starter daily.
This recipe makes one 900g loaf – there’s no need to bake in a tin as the bread can be shaped on a standard baking tray.
100g homemade starter
450g strong Canadian flour
50g 100% rye flour
320g water (body temperature, approximately 37°C)
- Measure out your starter and stir into both flours, then add the water and salt.
- Mix together by hand to form a smooth dough, then transfer to a slightly greased container and leave at room temperature for 5-6 hours. At Horto we fold the dough once every 30 minutes for the best possible fermentation, but if you don’t have time, we recommend folding when possible.
- When the dough has rested, place on a floured surface and form into a loaf. Place in a bread tin or other suitable bowl, and leave in the fridge for 3-4 hours. If you’re making this a day ahead, you could leave it in the fridge overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 245°C. Place a large pan of water on the bottom shelf of the oven to increase the humidity, which is vital when making sourdough.
- Take the loaf out of the fridge, place on a baking tray and slit the skin of the dough with a blade. Don’t go too deep – just ensure that the blade runs through the surface of the dough as this breaks the gluten and ensures that the heat is evenly distributed whilst baking.
- Once you’ve put the loaf into the oven, reduce the temperature to 230°C and cook for 20 minutes.
- Reduce the temperature to 210°C for a further 15-20 minutes, then take out and leave to cool.
Murray serves his Horto sourdough with a choice of homemade butters; including Toasted Hay butter, Lincolnshire Poacher butter, and Roasted Horseradish and Beef Dripping butter. We also love our sourdough dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or you could even cut it into slices and make your own garlic bread!
Sourdough may seem like a daunting task, but with the right ingredients and a certain amount of patience, this is an enjoyable and satisfying recipe you’ll want to make over and over again.
It’s certainly one we’ll be trying at home over the weekend! Can you ‘rise’ to the challenge?
Don’t forget to follow Horto on their own social media platforms for behind-the-scenes looks of their latest dishes:

domain: hobby


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- Truly stylish cowgirl boots by Ferrini!
- Genuine leather in an exotic metallic croc print
- Metallic croc print inlays accent shaft
- Comfortable cushioned insole
- Leather outsole
- Vendor Style: 61093-10
Ferrini boots are handcrafted with superb attention to detail! These Ferrini cowgirl boots features a smooth, metallic croc print leather foot under an 8" leather shaft. Leather lining. Low block roper heel. Double stitched welt. Easy-on pull straps and updated square toe profile. Imported.

domain: design


THE ISSUE: Robert Halderman’s sentencing for trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman.
The notoriously “privacy craving” David Letterman went on very public television to proclaim that he’d gone to the very public district attorney’s office, who loudly trumpeted to all the newspapers how cleverly it had organized a sting operation on Bob Halderman for trying to reveal Letterman’s skirt-chasing (“Dave Deal Silences His Blackmailer,” March 10).
And the moral high-horse fanfare award should go to whom? In my opinion, it should go to Halderman.
Why is Letterman still on air?
Where are the women’s rights groups?
From The Post’s coverage, it would seem that the more you act like a pig, the more famous you become.
I have no affection for the coarse and immoral Letterman, but I am appalled that the man who sought to extort $2 million from him is able to accept a plea bargain providing for a mere six-month prison term, under which he is likely to be a free man within four months of incarceration.
Had the extortionist been convicted at trial, he could have been sentenced to 15 years in prison, which is a more appropriate sentence for such a crime.
One of Letterman’s attorneys said that the six-month prison term is a serious sentence that properly reflects the crime.
He could not be more mistaken.
It is a sentence that tells potential extortionists that, even in the unlikely event that they are caught, they have little to fear from our legal system.
What a disgrace.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair, Pa.


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Note: Actual cover image may differ as publishers may re-use ISBN codes for books of the same edition with different covers.
Author: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
In anticipation of the new film The Hobbit, opening in December 2012, comes a reissue of the second book in The Lord of the Rings series. Reissue. 200,000 first printing.

domain: literature


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It is President Trump’s Washington, but a popular former president is still living in it.
Barack Obama, who has kept a relatively low profile in the city, dropped by the Jelleff Club, a branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, on Thursday. He visited with approximately 50 middle school students who were participating in after-school activities.
Obama, who was dressed in a Santa hat and leather jacket, brought gifts and visited with the students and staff for half an hour.
He and former first lady Michelle Obama have made four other surprise visits to D.C. schools and community centers since leaving the White House.
Correction: An earlier version of this article said that Jelleff Club is located in Northeast Washington. It is located in Northwest Washington. The post has been updated.

domain: geography


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Ohio suicide deaths rose in 2021 after two-year decline
This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 […]
May 17, 2023Read more →
Coping with one extreme trauma is difficult enough. Dealing with a lifetime of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse can understandably assault a person’s mental well being. Summerlee Godbolt is here to share her journey, while advocating for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.


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SHOUT OUT: The Bergen County Animal Shelter has posted photos of several of the 40 German Shepherds who were rescued from a Ridgefield Park animal hospital over the weekend by investigators from the county SPCA.
Investigators found full-sized dogs and puppies jammed into tiny crates — some of them in a basement area that they said resembled a dungeon.
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CLIFFVIEW PILOT broke the news of the rescue Sunday night: Bergen County SPCA rescues 40 German Shepherds from Ridgefield Park animal hospital
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As a result, the animal shelter is following a strict screening process.
“Since these dogs have had a very difficult time, we will be screening for the most experienced homes that can offer the love, structure and patience needed for success,” the shelter says on its Facebook page.
“Anyone interested is required to complete an adoption application to start the process, which can be done in advance,” it says. “HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE AND WILL NOT BE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS.
“We ask clients to hold off on calls until they are available so we can provide more information. The shelter requires all members of the household to be present and we need meet and greets with any other dogs in the household.”
“As they become available for adoption you will be the first to know,” the shelter said. “However, you must follow our page.”
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.

domain: pet


Social activist Agnivesh on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid making statements that are out of tune with the constitutional position he holds.
Agnivesh said this in response to Modi’s criticism of the Kerala government at a public meeting in Kollam on Tuesday for implementing the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing women of menstruating age enter the Ayappa temple in Sabarimala. The prime minister had said that the conduct of the state government on the matter would “go down in history as one of the most shameful behaviour by any party and government”.
In his statement, the activist noted the “virulently partisan character” of Modi’s public comments, and said that making false statements about his opponents seemed to give the prime minister the “highest degree of pleasure”. Agnivesh said Modi’s office was not a personal trophy but a national emblem, and he appears to have no qualms in lowering its dignity.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has frequently carried out protests and called shutdowns in the state since the Supreme Court verdict. The saffron party and the state government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have accused each other of fomenting violence in the state. Vijayan has blamed the Sangh Parivar, submitting in a report that 9,489 of the 10,561 people accused of inciting violence were from its outfits.
Here is the full text of Agnivesh’s statement:
For quite some time now, the nation as a whole has watched with increasing disappointment, even dismay, the virulently partisan character of [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s stances and statements in public. Calumniating those deemed to be his opponents seems to afford him the highest degree of pleasure. This is at once puerile and sadistic. This streak came to a head in his recent visit to Kerala.
I have been participating, out of my spiritual concern and sense of duty as a citizen in a secular, democratic republic, in the spirited debates in that state in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict removing the discriminatory ban on women between 10 and 50 years of age. I am in principled solidarity with the decision of the government of Kerala to implement the order of the Supreme Court, which is the only course of action open to it.
Yet, Modi, during his visit to the state, launched a virulent attack on the [state] government, belittling his duty to abide by the rule of law. He went there, ostensibly to inaugurate a newly constructed bypass and was, in that sense, a guest of the people of Kerala. He should have shown better sensitivity to his hosts, given the godliness our culture attributes to hospitality.
Even otherwise, the Prime Minister of a country, on an official visit to a state, conducting himself as a party enthusiast and discrediting the principal opponent of his party on the mere pretext that the government led by it chose to implement the order of the Supreme Court, is the height of administrative impropriety. Modi, as an individual, is entitled to his views and party zeal, but as the Prime Minister of India, he has to rise above party politics on his official tours.
A high order of propriety goes with high offices. It is a national duty to respect it. The office of the Prime Minister is not a personal trophy, but a national emblem. Its incumbent must conduct himself, as Modi’s predecessors, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, did. Lowering the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister of India, as Modi, alas, appears to have no qualms in doing, is a disservice to the nation.
Prime Ministers come and go. India as a secular, democratic republic must endure. The essence of a republic is its republican culture, with special emphasis on personal liberty and intellectual integrity, which requires a culture of tolerance. The essence of the republican spirit was articulated by Voltaire: “I disapprove what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it.” Modi’s trigger-happy denunciation of the perfectly lawful stand taken by the Kerala government, and all who disagree with him, is contrary to this basic republican norm.
It is imperative that the people of India take note of the degradation of national sentiments and standards of public conduct involved in all this, and see the serious dangers lurking in it to all that we cherish about our country. Modi is doing this out of the desperation to cling to office; but his needs, and the ambitions of his party, cannot take precedence over national interests and constitutional norms.
I urge the Prime Minister to desist from statements, actions and reactions out of tune with the high office he holds. I am sure every right-minded Indian endorses this plea.


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Taxpayers Federation Applauds OSAP and Tuition Changes
TORONTO, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding today’s announcement that the Ontario government is restoring the Ontario Student Assistance Program to 2016-17 levels, reducing tuition by 10 per cent and requiring the availability of online opt-outs for student ancillary fees.
“Reducing tuition and providing opt-outs for fees will help students while reforming OSAP will save taxpayers millions,” said CTF Ontario Director Christine Van Geyn. “Last year’s OSAP changes were supposed to save taxpayer money, but, as the auditor general warned, the cost soared to more than $2 billion per year. By returning OSAP to 2016-17 levels, we hope to see a savings of about 50 per cent for this program.”
Because OSAP is an entitlement program, there is no limit on how much funding it receives. Every eligible student who applies receives the funding. The previous government’s changes to OSAP resulted in the cost of the program going from $1.3 billion to now over $2 billion, according to the Auditor General and today’s announcement.
“The previous government’s changes to OSAP have resulted in 98 per cent of financial aid to students being transformed into non-repayable grants rather than loans. And despite the changes, enrollment stayed stagnant” said Van Geyn. “This is not the purpose of OSAP, which is student assistance, not free tuition. It’s reasonable to expect students to pay at least part of their own way.”
Other changes included in today’s announcement are a 10 per cent reduction in tuition and a requirement that universities and colleges provide an online opt-out form for ancillary fees.
“We are pleased to see the 10 per cent cut to tuition and the new requirement that universities and colleges make it easier for students to opt-out of ancillary fees,” said Van Geyn. “This will reduce the cost of university and we are even more pleased that these savings for students will come at no cost to Ontario taxpayers.”

domain: finance


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Counsellor and Psychotherapist
£50 per 50 minutes session
Aurora Pichi is an Italian Psychologist and Psychotherapist and she offers psychotherapy sessions in Italian. If you would like to continue reading this profile in Italian please click here.
Aurora is specialised and works with an integrated approach, mainly based on Transactional Analysis with contributions from Gestalt, Psychodynamic and Cognitive models.
The flexibility of this approach helps you overcome a wide range of difficulties such as anxiety disorders, depression and relationship difficulties. She is also trained in EMDR for a more efficient treatment of psychopathologies and trauma related disorders.
Aurora believes that psychotherapy is a two way collaborative process, helping you to actively participate in your general improvement through a strong therapist-client commitment. In this way psychotherapy returns you the ability to think and define your needs to find new alternatives and move into your life with more consciousness.
After her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology at the Pontifical University of Rome, Aurora completed a 4-years accredited training in Transactional Analysis (TA) Psychotherapy at the same University. She also gained a 1st level training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy.
Once graduated, she worked for three years in the Rome district prison as part of the operational Unit for pathology of addiction.
Then she worked in two Italian NHS hospitals with children affected by Specific Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and with women in rehabilitation psycho-educational groups for eating disorders.
In the recent years she practised as Psychotherapist at the University Clinical Centre with clients with different health needs, from anxiety to personality disorders.
Aurora is a GBC member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Certified Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist of the EATA (European Association for Transactional Analysis).
In Italy she is an accredited Psychologist and Psychotherapist of the Italian professional association “Ordine degli Psicologi del Lazio”.

domain: health


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Most of us who love altered art and up-cycling like to use our cardboard boxes and packaging where we can for our art. This crafter is no different so today I'm blogging a hanger which would be a kewl gift for hanging in a guy's bedroom, a study or anywhere in the house if this is your kind of art...
I started with my roughly torn piece of carboard box with no attempt to tidy up the edges at all. Out came the DPs - Fired brick first and, when that was dry, some Walnut stain dabbed around the edges:
Some strips of tissue tape have been torn, stuck to my craft mat and then stained with Peeled paint DP which has been rubbed off before it dried. This was added to the right side of the board:
This time I decided the background should be stamped. My trusty old script stamp came out as well as this great Studio 490 set by Wendy Vecchi, which is fab!:
The DPs have been used to make block-coloured backgrounds to stamp onto as well as diluting them with water to use as watercolours (using archival ink for the stamping, of course):
The embellishments have been cut from mountboard with TH dies and then painted. The crest has had sequin waste added as well as Chit chat stickers and a resin bird. Everything has been edged with Walnut stain DI using a blending tool:
The board and all the other elements have been edged with DI too before starting the layering up process. I also added a little burlap fringe at the bottom. Lastly, the Crop A Dile was used to punch and rivet the eyelets in place so that I could add a paper wire hanger:
If you haven't tried re-cycling your cardboard do try it - it's immensely satisfying.
Have a crafty, happy weekend and thanks for stopping by.


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Why it’s time to back Senedd reform to build a stronger Wales
Mat Mathias, Electoral Reform Society Cymru
Today, after months of deliberation we see the report from the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform. It’s called Senedd Reform: Next Steps and sets out a path to improve the health of our democracy in Wales.
It includes recommendations from increasing the size of the Senedd, to a fairer way to elect members, and tangible steps to make our Parliament reflect the people it seeks to serve.
These are important and long overdue proposals that represent a vital and much-needed blueprint for strengthening democracy in Wales. Yet you could be forgiven for feeling a little cautious. Many of us have seen all this before.
The calls for a larger chamber date back far beyond this report. In 2004 the Richards Commission called for an 80-member chamber. As recently as 2017 an expert panel was formed specifically to consider Senedd reform, delivering a series of concrete recommendations, many of which appear in today’s report. Given the overwhelming support for these reforms now, after all this time, it must surely be time to act on them.
There still however remains opposition to the proposals, some of which comes from within the Senedd itself. One party refused to take part in the committee hearings altogether and another walked out after the initial recommendations had been drafted.
Those who oppose these changes will cry that we should be talking about health and education rather than elections and democracy. But by doing this they’re doing a disservice to the very voters they seek to represent. It’s not just naked electioneering, they’re playing politics with Wales future.
It is insulting to millions that these people think that voters cannot care about health, education, the economy, public transport, the pandemic, as well as a fair democracy.
The truth is that a strong and fair democracy ensures those vital public services can run at their very best.
It’s time to trust the Welsh people. It’s time to be honest about the challenges Wales faces and the steps needed to tackle them.
Our politicians know that the health of our democracy is vital and that a weak democracy will inevitably lead to poor public services and poor infrastructure.
Yet we know that come election time it’s all too easy for them to force democracy down the priority list. It’s not surprising though – why worry about the voice of the people when you can promise lots of more or less of something?
You don’t need details just a pithy headline, but we all know that when democracy is neglected, society soon follows.
These are unprecedented times for Wales. As a nation, we face a whole host of substantial challenges. To face such issues head-on we must have a Senedd that is equipped to deal with the challenges of the day.
Next year’s election must be the last with a 60 member Senedd, elected under an electoral system that is not offering maximum voter choice or guaranteeing diversity.
These reforms are vital for not only a stronger Senedd but a stronger Wales for all who live here – now it’s up to our politicians to show the leadership needed to make them happen.
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Season 8 Collage The Walking Dead Poster 61cm x 91.5cm (24" x 36")
Rick Grimes, Michonne, Daryl Dixon and Negan - Four characters you definitely don't want to mess with! For all fans of The Walking Dead, this collage poster from Season 8 features the four protagonists, poised and ready for war! With Lucille in tow, Negan looks on whilst Michonne and Rick stand back to back, weapons cocked. Daryl, of course, with his motorbike and crossbow, is looking effortlessly cool! A true homage to the his AMC show!
- Size: 61cm x 91.5cm (24" x 36")
- Stock ID: 286816-FRAME0
- View all Posters…
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