|Publication number||US6161148 A|
|Application number||US 08/722,366|
|Publication date||Dec 12, 2000|
|Filing date||Sep 27, 1996|
|Priority date||Sep 27, 1996|
|Also published as||DE19742804A1|
|Publication number||08722366, 722366, US 6161148 A, US 6161148A, US-A-6161148, US6161148 A, US6161148A|
|Inventors||John M. Pratt, Richard Sontag|
|Original Assignee||Kodak Limited|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (1), Non-Patent Citations (38), Referenced by (44), Classifications (7), Legal Events (14)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
Over the past few years, object oriented programming has significantly improved the way businesses use and apply applications programs. There remain however a number of issues in fully automating business. The major issues stem from the fact that most business information is in the form of paper documents. One problem associated with maintaining paper documents is that paper does not integrate well with computer systems. For example, computers can track large amounts of customer data. Computer-based data can be used to easily locate information such as customers' account profiles and shipment records, while paper-based documents bearing an original signature for example are often misplaced when most needed. Further paper documents and paper captured information are typically stored/filed separately from other data and companion documents in contrast to computer-held information and documents.
As such, document imaging is a major area of concern in business automation, particularly with regard to implementing object oriented programming concepts. Document imaging is a technology that converts paper documents/information into electronic form, where storage, retrieval and use of the document can be automated using standard computer technology. By capturing paper documents as electronic images stored by the computer, all the benefits and power of database, e-mail, network, facsimile and memory storage technology can be applied to what was once manually processed information.
On the other hand, however, object oriented programming lacks standards or protocols which transport objects or data from one application regime to another. That is, although image documents can be electronically filed using multiple index and filing methods, and then quickly searched and retrieved, and subsequently shared among multiple users, each task must be controlled and managed through a common application program.
Microsoft's Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is a set of standards for building connectable component software. As used herein, "components" are reusable self contained pieces of software that provide a stand-alone function, such as printing, facsimile transmission, etc. As such, components can be plugged into (i.e., conjoined with) other components to form a working system as desired. In distinction, an "object" is a programming entity comprising some state and a set of defined behaviors. The state is represented by data (properties) maintained by the object. The behavior is specified in terms of operations, functions or methods that the object can perform. Operations are realized by executable code. Conceptually the data and the code are inextricably bound together in the object. Objects may be "persistent", that is they may continue to exist even though they are inactive or the computer on which they exist has failed or been turned off. Thus a key distinction between objects and components is that an object is a piece of source code or a specification that can be used to build part of an application, while a component is an actual working (stand alone) software module.
OLE allows a degree of integration and interchangeability between software modules that share proprietary knowledge (data). One OLE standard is the Component Object Model (COM) specification, which provides the mechanism for connecting binary object codes of different components. The common element among all standard OLE connections is that they are glued together with COM. Restated, COM is an object-oriented specification for defining interfaces, the contact points between components. To that end, COM provides a foundation on which all OLE features are built.
OLE controls (called OCXs or ACTIVE X) are another type of OLE component standard. OCXs include properties, methods and events which enable programmers to add specific (well defined) functions to application programs. The functions enable end users to perform certain tasks on desired data. Being self contained objects, OCXs are portable and insertable into any container or applications program. A "container application" or an OLE "control container" (and generally an "object container") is any working computer program that is formed of or has defined within it OLE components and objects. For example, Microsoft products such as the Office Suite and Windows 95 are containers. In such a graphical user interface (GUI) environment, as Windows 95, a control is then essentially a special purpose window (i.e., a "child window") which sends messages or event notices to a parent window in the container program.
OLE Controls (OCXs) are in-process objects, similar to DLLs (dynamic linking libraries) that support various OLE interfaces. Unlike traditional DLLs which can call any function exported in a DLL, OCXs expose methods and properties that can only be accessed by the container of the OCX. That is, the container application serves as a central controller or common manager of the contained OCXs. The container calls on one OCX and obtains resulting data. In turn, the container passes the resulting data to another appropriate OCX for further processing by that OCX, and so forth. The different OCXs are unable to directly access each other. This limitation prevents any communication or re-use of code directly between OCXs.
The present invention relates to an improved computer system in which control objects are able to directly interact with each other to share functions and resources. The preferred method and apparatus of the present invention significantly reduce code complexities on the container level and increase useability of methods and properties located in the various controls of a container.
The computer system of the present invention comprises a plurality of self-contained objects (e.g., control objects), each specifying functions and data elements. Each object is initially defined for access and execution only through a common application program, serving as a working object container in working memory. The present invention, however, enables access to and communications directly between objects, through the use of a memory-mapped file, without engaging the common application program/container in accessing objects. The memory mapped file holds references to the objects in a manner such that a first object is able to directly access a second object through the reference to the second object in the memory-mapped file.
In the preferred embodiment, the object is an OLE control, and the application program is a container program. Communications between the controls are established through a common object model which provides a mechanism for combining the binary codes of different components forming the controls.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the memory-mapped file includes an indication of block length or memory block size of the file. Preferably the memory mapped file is formed of an array of entries for listing indications of the control objects and functional descriptors thereof. There is a different entry for each control object. Each entry is formed of a set of fields including a name field for indicating the respective control object, and other fields for indicating respective functional descriptors. The name field is used to link all controls that communicate with each other. The name field is specified in each control that communicates directly with another control by specifying the name in the special property called "DestControl".
The functional descriptors include a respective window handle for each control object. Each window handle defines screen elements of a viewing window including window size, location and style.
In the preferred embodiment, each entry in the memory mapped file includes a referencing field holding a pointer to the respective control object.
The memory-mapped file enables a control object to invoke the functions and share and update the data elements (e.g., window display) of another control object. The functions include a refresh method. When one of the control objects directly updates a data element (display window) of another control object, the former control object invokes its refresh method and the refresh method of the other control object to serialize (e.g. save data or update display) the updated data element.
Further, the memory-mapped file is provided with a globally recognizable name throughout working memory to enable read-only access by the control objects.
The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. These features are described with reference to installing and maintaining complete applications programs, but may also be used for individual components. It will be understood that the particular devices and methods embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of a computer system embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a globally shared memory file employed by the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram describing the invention method.
FIGS. 4A and 4B describe an image viewing application which implements the methods and apparatus of the present invention.
Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a computer system and corresponding programming environment in which the present invention apparatus and method are employed. Generally, the computer system is formed of one or more digital processors having coupled thereto I/O accessories such as a keyboard, mouse, monitor and printer. Each digital processor has for example processing capabilities of an Intel XX486 processing chip, or Pentium chip or the like.
In particular, a subject digital processor 18 has (a) a working memory 30 in which applications programs 13 are executed, and (b) a supporting operating system 31 for enabling I/O and other functions (which is not directly affected by the present invention). Each application program 13 is formed of or contains OLE control objects 10, some of which may be shared among (or reside in) plural containers 13. Control object 10c is illustrated by a dashed-line rectangle to indicate shared use by application programs 13a and 13b.
As further illustrated in FIG. 1B, each control object 10 is formed of and defined by (i) a set of methods (or functions and corresponding function calls) 12 and (ii) a set of properties 14 for functionally specifying the object 10. The properties 14 are represented by data elements held in read-only or write-only memory. In the preferred embodiment, the control objects 10 are OCX controls or ActiveX controls or the like. As such as, the controls are in-process objects that support various OLE interfaces 16 (FIG. 1A) such as IDispatch specified by Microsoft. The IDispatch interface 16 provides a pointer to an object 10 which is used (and contained) by the container program 13 to call desired methods or properties of the respective object. As defined by Microsoft, IDispatch presently allows only the OLE container program 13 to gain access to its objects 10 and only its objects.
As a result, unlike other in-process objects, such as dynamic link libraries (DLL) which can call any function exported in any DLL, control objects 10 expose methods and properties that initially can only be accessed by the container 13 of the control objects 10. Heretofore, this limitation prevented any communication or re-use of code between control objects 10. That is, in the prior art, in order for a user or application to use a set of related controls, each control was initiated and controlled separately through the container level. This required user code (a) to provide access to individual methods and properties in each control object, (b) to process the information, and (c) to send the information to each control object.
In the present invention, each control object 10 itself has access to IDispatch, to directly communicate with other control objects 10 and to directly call the methods 12 and properties 14 of desired control objects 10. That is, the present invention provides each control object 10 with the IDispatch pointers to the other control objects 10 to enable direct intercommunication between control objects 10. As such, the present invention enables reuse of control objects 10 (and specifically their methods 12 and properties 14) directly by other control objects 10 in the application program 13 containing the objects 10.
Referring back to FIG. 1A, this is accomplished by a memory-mapped file 55, located in working memory 30. Memory mapped file 55 is globally accessible by control objects 10, through a well-defined name in the working memory level of the computer system. Memory mapped file 55 holds an array of entries, a different entry 112 for each object 10 registered with the file to permit access to that control object 10. In each, entry there is provided a name field that is used to link all controls that communicate with each other. In each control that communicates directly with another control, the name (from the name field) of the latter is specified in the special property of the former. In the preferred embodiment, the special property is called "DestControl". Configuration details of memory mapped file 55 and its entries 112 are discussed below with reference to FIG. 2.
In the preferred embodiment, memory mapped file 55 comprises a heading 110 followed by an array of entries 112A, B, C, a different entry 112 for each control object 10 permitting access. The heading 110 is formed of a 4 byte long field labeled "Block-- Length". That field provides an indication, in long integer format, of the total length of the memory mapped file 55. Each of the entries 112 is formed of four fields Cntrl-- hWnd 20, Name-- Length 22, Cntrl-- Name 24 and Obj-Pointer 26.
Field Cntl-- hWnd 20 is preferably 4 bytes long and holds the window handle of the respective control object 10. The "window-handle" defines the physical dimensions of the control window, window style, captions, and other information relative to a parent window (i.e., the container window).
The name of the subject control object is held as a character string in Cntrl-- Name field 24. Because this field allows character strings of variable lengths, the Name-- Length field 22 provides an indication of the length of the control name. Preferably Name-- Length field 22 is 4 bytes long and holds the name length indication in long integer format. In one embodiment (further discussed in FIGS. 4A and 4B), the control names include "IMGEDIT", "IMGADMIN", "IMGTHUMB", "IMGSCAN", and "IMGANOT", for example.
Lastly, the Obj-pointer field 26 holds the IDispatch pointer to the subject control object 10. In the preferred embodiment Obj-pointer field 26 is 4 bytes long.
In sum, the memory-mapped file 55 provides the names and window handles of the controls 10 and the respective internal object pointers to the control objects 10 as exposed through the IDispatch interface 16. Use of memory mapped file 55 by control objects 10 in the preferred embodiment is then as follows and outlined in FIG. 3.
Each control object 10 (FIG. 1A) that permits direct access of its methods 12, properties 14 and window-handle, registers with the memory-mapped file 55 during the initial loading of the control 10, in an initialization process known as "InitInstance" at 61. Invoking InitInstance opens memory-mapped file 55, with a well known name, in exclusive mode, in a shared memory region 30 (at step 62 of FIG. 3). Opening the file 55 in exclusive mode ensures that, initially, the entries 112 in the file 55 are written without interruption or access by other users. Creating the file 55 in a well-known or control-recognizable name ensures that the entries 112 are read-accessible to all control objects 10 registered with the file 55, after the controls 10 are loaded. After memory mapped file 55 is opened, the subject control object 10 creates and appends to the file 55, an entry 112 for the object 10. Step 63 depicts this as registering the control entry. The newly added entry 112 contains the name, name length, window-handle and object pointer (from IDispatch) as discussed above in FIG. 2. After the new entry 112 is completed, the heading 110 of file 55 is updated to reflect the new (longer) length of the file 55 with the addition of new entry 112.
During processing of data, a method or function of a first control object 10a is invoked at step 64 in FIG. 3. The control object 10a may determine that further processing by a certain method is needed/desired next. The control object 10a looks to memory mapped file 55. Control object 10a knows how to access the file 55 because of the well known (global) name of memory mapped file 55 in working memory 30, and control object 10a knows how to read file 55 because control 10a knows the structure (field configuration) of file 55. Control 10A knows what control to communicate with by comparing the name in the special property "DestControl" with the control name stored in the memory mapped file. Looking through the memory mapped file 55 and the list of registered/available controls 10 therein, the control object 10a determines a pertinent method of another control object 10b to call based on the function of the control. Using the object pointer field 26 contents from the file entry 112 for the desired control object 10b, control object 10a directly communicates with control object 10b through IDispatch at step 65. Specifically control object 10a directly invokes the desired method of object 10b (step 66).
Alternatively or in addition, control object 10a during processing may directly update the working window (or other data element) of another control object 10b. This is accomplished by the control object 10a obtaining the window handle of control object 10b through the memory mapped file entry 112 for control object 10b. After the first control object 10a obtains the window handle of control object 10b, control object 10a transmits (paints) subject data directly into the working window of control object 10b as desired. In addition, control object 10a takes the IDispatch object pointer from the file entry 112 for object 10b in memory mapped file 55 and directly invokes (calls) the refresh method of the control object 10b. In response, control object 10b becomes aware that its refresh method is being invoked and based on that understands that its working window contents have changed. Continuing through its logic, control object 10b sees the image data and acknowledges the existence of a window and data therein provided by control object 10a (unknown to object 10b). The control object 10b serializes the changes made to its window by the first control object 10a (step 69).
Serializing may be accomplished in two forms--by saving the data change, or by simply updating the window display because the data contents have changed. At step 69 of FIG. 3 either or both of these forms of serialization are affected.
In the preferred embodiment, the refresh method is a standard OLE method built into objects 10. The refresh method instructs the control object 10 to perform a repaint of its working window, to force update of the display. The repainting of the working window makes the new data visible to the end user. Thus the control object 10a call to the refresh method of control object 10b allows control object 10b to serialize the changes made to its window in a timely fashion.
In the preferred embodiment, the memory-mapped file 55 exists as a temporary memory object and is unloaded when the container program 13 goes out of scope (i.e., the application program 13 is cancelled or closed or the like). When the container program 13 goes out of scope, a reference count on the controls 10 is set to zero. When the reference count of a control 10 is zero, the control 10 is unloaded from working memory and its entry 112 in memory mapped file 55 is deleted. The controls 10 are unloaded through a standard entry point called ExitInstance. Preferably, ExitInstance is a standard entry point called when a DLL or OLE control is unloaded.
For purposes of illustration and not limitation, FIGS. 4A and 4B further demonstrate through an image viewing application 71, the above-described method and apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 4A, Image application 71 serves as a controller of five OLE controls, namely Image Edit 73, Annotation toolbar 75, Thumbnail 76, Scan 74, and Administration 72. Using InitInstance, Image application 71 loads control objects 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 into working memory, each having respective methods and properties. Each control 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 creates and registers a respective entry 112 in the memory-mapped file 55 during InitInstance. FIG. 4B illustrates a screen shot of the image container application 71 of FIG. 4A.
By way of overview, the main working control is the Image Edit control object 73. By manipulating the properties and invoking the methods of this control object 73, an end-user is able to display and manage an image document. For example, through this control object 73, image documents are opened and created, and pages are viewed, added and removed. Viewed pages may be scrolled, scaled and rotated using various interactive tools.
The Annotation toolbar control object 75 allows customized toolbars to be built. For example, perhaps an end-user desires three different color highlighting pens on a working palette, rather than one pen with constantly changing properties. The annotation tool bar control object 75 provides an interactive interface and supporting processing to effect such a change.
The Thumbnail control 76 provides a visual interface that enables thumbnail renditions of individual document pages to be displayed as desired.
The Scan control 74 uses TWAIN drivers to communicate with industry-standard scanners to manage scanner options, control the scan process, and turn the raster image data into image document files.
The Administration control 72 operates behind the scenes (in background). The Administration control 72 provides image file support for local and redirected image files, as well as common dialog box support that is specific to images. General image file support allows users to create directories, delete directories and image files, retrieve image file attributes and manage image file attribute defaults. Users may append, insert, and replace pages in multi-page image files. Additionally, this control supports display of common dialog boxes, which provide image-specific options when selecting or printing image files.
With regard to the present invention, say for example image application 71 issues a scan and display command to scan control object 74. Scan control object 74 receives raw image data (raster data bits) from the scanner during a scanning operation. Scan control object 74 next determines what to do with the bits of data. According to the initial command, the scanned image is to be displayed, so the scan control object 74 looks at the "DestControl" property name and uses this name to search memory mapped file 55 for a display control. From the array of entries 112 in the memory mapped file 55, scan control object 74 finds the Image Edit control object 73 entry 112 created in the file 55 during InitInstance.
From that file entry 112, scan control object 74 obtains the window handle and IDispatch object pointer for the Image Edit control object 73. Using the window handle, scan control object 74 paints the scanned image data directly into the working window of Image Edit control object 73, to display the scanned image. In addition, using the IDispatch object pointer to the Image Edit control object 73, scan control object 74 directly calls the refresh method of the Image Edit object 73. In response to the refresh method call from the Scan control object 74, the Image Edit object 73 repaints the display in its working window, understanding that there is now new display data. That is, the refresh method of the Image Edit control 73 allows the control to serialize the changes in window content made by the Scan control 74.
In turn, the Image Edit control 73 looks to memory mapped file 55 to obtain the IDispatch object pointer to Administration Control 72. Image Edit Control 73 uses that pointer to directly access the methods in Administration Control 72 to save image data to disk.
It is this direct cooperation and communication between control objects 73, 74, 72, etc. to which the present invention is directed. Heretofore, the prior art systems required the image application 71 to (i) retrieve the scan image data from Scan object 74, and (ii) subsequently provide that data to Image edit control 73 for display in the desired working window and to Administration Control 72 for saving to disk. As such, the present invention provides increased efficiency and speed in accomplishing tasks/processing of data. The present invention also provides savings in memory space by refraining from loading control objects until command/runtime. Further, the present invention enables reuse of controls directly by other controls in an application container.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
For example, the memory mapped file object pointer may be any other internal object pointer to the respective control object, as long as the pointer provides a desiring object direct access to the methods and properties of the desired control object.
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|US20060259606 *||Apr 18, 2006||Nov 16, 2006||Research In Motion Limited||Method and system for executing a container managed application on a processing device|
|US20070106996 *||Nov 7, 2005||May 10, 2007||Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.||Inter-process communication mechanism|
|US20070283113 *||Jun 5, 2006||Dec 6, 2007||Microsoft Corporation||Safe Buffer|
|US20070283117 *||Jun 20, 2007||Dec 6, 2007||Microsoft Corporation||Unmanaged memory accessor|
|US20080222622 *||Mar 9, 2007||Sep 11, 2008||Microsoft Corporation||Isolating, managing and communicating with user interface elements|
|US20100223295 *||Apr 12, 2010||Sep 2, 2010||Io Informatics, Inc.||Applied Semantic Knowledgebases and Applications Thereof|
|CN102722485A *||Mar 29, 2011||Oct 10, 2012||恒生电子股份有限公司||Memory data set perception method and apparatus|
|CN102722485B||Mar 29, 2011||Sep 3, 2014||恒生电子股份有限公司||Memory data set perception method and apparatus|
|WO2005045669A1 *||Oct 27, 2004||May 19, 2005||Yahoo Inc.||Communication among browser windows|
|WO2007006120A1 *||Apr 18, 2006||Jan 18, 2007||Research In Motion Limited||Method and system for executing a container-managed application on a processing device|
|WO2007055918A2 *||Oct 26, 2006||May 18, 2007||Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.||Inter-process communication mechanism|
|WO2007055918A3 *||Oct 26, 2006||Sep 20, 2007||Hewlett Packard Development Co||Inter-process communication mechanism|
|WO2008112385A1 *||Feb 15, 2008||Sep 18, 2008||Microsoft Corporation||Isolating, managing and communicating with user interface elements|
|International Classification||G06F3/14, G06F3/048, G06F9/46, G06F9/44|
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text:
Episode 16 | Through The Eyes Of Our Remarkable Graphic Design
Isabel: Hello and welcome back to ED Going Digital, a leader in Social Media Marketing Australia. Today I am joined with one of our insanely talented Graphic Designers Tia.
Isabel: In your opinion what makes a great graphic designer?
Tia: I think it is someone who isn’t afraid to think outside the box, they challenge the design rules and are open to criticism. That way they can create their designs better.
Isabel: Is that a lot of what you have experienced in your time being a graphic designer?
Tia: Yeah, definitely when I think too inside the box, the design is always boring and I get pushed more outside and get to do things differently to what I normally do. Criticism is one of those interesting ones where you can’t take it to heart. You have to understand that they’re not hating you or the design, it’s just certain aspects of the design and you need to work around it.
Isabel: You liaise with other creative roles here at Englander Davis as well as our Project Managers how do you find the collaboration between roles?
Tia: Yeah really great I love collaborating with different areas of the business. It allows me to be more creative and think differently. At the moment I am working on thumbnails with Seth, which is not something that I am used to doing because he wants them to be like movie posters so it’s really good to have someone guide me and tell me what they want because that gives me more experience with design briefs.
Isabel: And has that been really interesting too, the collaboration there?
Tia: Definitely because you can see how other people work and it lets me see everyone elses creative side, which is really cool because then it’s not just me doing everything I get to have a little bit of everyone in the designs, which brings the business together more.
Isabel: Can you describe the creative process including the major steps you take to create your designs?
Tia: Yeah so when I start with the design I get the brief and then I research what I want to do. So if it’s for carpet cleaning I’ll look at different carpet cleaning ads and decide what I want to do. I do thumbnails, they’re really important. It gets everything in your brain, out of your head and onto paper. You pick your best thumbnails and then start designing through them. I normally play around with it on photoshop illustrator because i need to be able to visibly see it. Then I get feedback to help me finish it off.
Isabel: Who are the inspirations for your work?
Tia: I look at tattoo artists, photographers, painters. Pretty much anyone who creates different styles of art I will have a look at.
Isabel: Do you have a favourite piece that you have worked on and could you describe it to us?
Tia: My favourite piece is probably one I did for a uni assignment, it was a big A2 piece of paper that I watercoloured in a traditional tattoo style. It was based on a Black Keys song Ten Cent Pistol and it had a lady that had the quote the laws of men don’t apply when blood gets in a woman’s eye around it. That quote always stood out to me so yeah I just painted a piece off that and I really liked it.
Isabel: Wow from the quote you made a piece from a quote, that’s amazing isn’t it. It just shows the influence of quotes, music and different styles of art.
Tia: A lot of the time when I listen to music there will be a lyric that stands out to me and then I’ll think what art piece can be created from that. It’s really fun to see where art can be created from random things.
Isabel: What are some of the important considerations when designing ads not only for our clients and also for Englander Davis?
Tia: The big one is plagiarism. You need to make sure that the idea is actually yours. You need to look at the target market and how you can aim it to those people. I look at the brand and the brand’s voice. The ad should look like the business that it is for.
Isabel: How do you make sure that your designs stand out against the competition?
Tia: Always learning about new design techniques. I look out at what is popular at the moment. I’m heavily into psychology including colour theory that is super important when creating designs.
Isabel: Thank you so much for the insight into graphic design and what you do here at Englander Davis. It is definitely interesting to hear about all the elements and considerations that go into designing ads for clients and ourselves! You sure are very talented. Thank you again!
Tia: Awesome, thank you!

domain: design


text:
- Obama not worried about Ebola at upcoming African summit in D.C.
- Obama: ‘We tortured some folks’ after 9/11
- Obama administration asked whole D.C. Circuit to take on major Obamacare case
- Mark Levin: Topple GOP leadership or country will ‘unravel’
- Massachusetts to let police chief deny gun buys to those deemed unfit
- John Kerry condemns attack on Israeli soldiers, kidnapping
- U.S. starts to evacuate American Ebola patients from West Africa: Report
- Geraldo slammed as ‘dummy’ for backing Clinton’s bin Laden claim
- Israeli spokesman: No need to debate who broke the cease-fire
- 35 Palestinians killed; Israeli officer missing
EDITORIAL: The immigration trap
Republicans should think twice before adopting another amnesty
Question of the Day
The Republican National Committee’s postelection “autopsy” report issued Monday suggests that comprehensive immigration reform could improve the party’s sagging fortunes with Hispanic voters.
Readers of the conclusions of the “Growth and Opportunity Project” are looking for reasons why Republican presidential candidates lost the past two elections. The pathologists observe that George W. Bush, who championed comprehensive immigration reform, “got 44 percent of the Hispanic vote [in 2004], a modern-day record for a Republican presidential candidate.” Some exit polling from 2004 suggests that figure may be overstated, but the Democratic nominee nevertheless won a solid majority.
Over the past four decades, the Democratic nominee has never won less than 56 percent of the Hispanic vote. Even the 2008 nominee, John McCain, the most prominent Republican immigration-reform advocate, won only 31 percent, just 4 percentage points more than Mitt Romney, who took a much tougher line on immigration, garnered last year.
There’s no clear connection between the party platform on immigration and the election results. “You can support immigration reform for moral reasons, for philosophical reasons or for economic reasons,” says Republican strategist Mike McKenna. “But if you are a Republican and support it for political reasons, you are an idiot who cannot read or understand survey data.”
An electorate growing ever more dominated by minorities is the demographic reality, and Republicans must adapt. That doesn’t necessarily mean they should support putting 11 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship and eventually onto the voter rolls. If patterns hold, most of the immigrants would vote Democratic anyway, digging deeper the hole Republicans are trying to climb out of.
The GOP pathologists’ report offers alternatives. “If we want ethnic minority voters to support Republicans, we have to engage them and show our sincerity,” say the pathologists, who offer 15 recommendations to increase Hispanic support. Those range from hiring Hispanic communications directors and political directors “for key states and communities across the country” to promoting “positive policy proposals to Hispanic communities that unite voters, such as school choice.” The party could also make greater use of Hispanic elected Republican officials at all levels as surrogates and spokesmen.
They’re all sound suggestions. As for comprehensive immigration reform, the party would best follow the lead of Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and five other Republican senators, who on Tuesday urged “a step-by-step approach [rather] than trying to deal with these complex and emotional issues in one massive piece of legislation.”
These senators are concerned that the Senate will return from the Easter recess ready to force through the overstuffed immigration bill concocted behind closed doors by the “gang of eight.” Obamacare taught us the folly of passing a bill to learn what’s in it. This is doubly true for immigration.
Republicans must hold fast against the siren song of “compromise” that tries to sell amnesty as the ticket to electoral success. If it were, Senate Democrats would be the last to propose it.
The Washington Times
© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
About the Author
- Take a first look at The Washington Times' new dynamic website
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: West shouldn't pander to Putin
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- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Radar, torpedos to end Hamas tunnels?
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Gaza 'analysis' poorly veiled bigotry
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By Orrin G. Hatch
Procedural changes impede the chamber's traditional deliberative function
Get Breaking Alerts
- House GOP resurrects border bill, predicts successful Friday vote
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domain: news


Seawater FGD (Flue Gas Desulphurization)
ANDRITZ offers seawater flue gas desulphurization with low operating and maintenance cost for coastal regions.
Based on extensive experience with limestone FGD since 1995, we developed a seawater flue gas desulphurization process for use in power plants in coastal areas by taking full advantage of the cooling water circuit downstream of the condenser.
Ideal system for coastal plants
The special ANDRITZ seawater FGD technology was developed based on a cooperation between former AE&E locations in Graz and Shanghai. It can operate without additional absorbent and does not create any by-products or waste requiring further treatment or disposal. Raw flue gas is introduced into the seawater being sprayed in a spray tower and SO2/SO3 absorption is achieved at the same level as in the limestone process. By using well-proven open spray towers and no rotating components, the system achieves easier maintenance and lower pressure loss. Depending on the actual boiler load and SO2 concentration, ANDRITZ’ seawater FGD process is flexible and able to operate with different numbers of spray banks in order to optimize energy consumption. Research activities on packing absorber technology are in progress to keep our portfolio at the highest level.
The principle of our process is to make use of the natural alkalinity of seawater instead of a limestone solution to absorb the acidic substances in flue gas, such as SO2. At first the SO2 is converted into HSO3- in our spray tower. Then the HSO3- is oxidated to SO42- in our CFD-optimized aeration basin in order to raise the DO and reduce the COD value. Meanwhile, the CO2 formed by the neutralization reaction is stripped by aeration membrane and the pH value is raised as a result, thus meeting the legal requirements.
ANDRITZ is able to provide customized seawater FGD design and planning, subject to the general arrangement of the power plant.
- Outstanding for various fuels (lignite, hard coal, oil, and biomass)
- SO2 removal up to 99% or even more
- Environmentally friendly, no by-products
- Seawater as a free absorbent
- Open spray tower, no plugging or scaling, low pressure loss
- Low operating and maintenance costs
- High availability
- Options for construction materials (high-alloy carbon steel with rubber lining, concrete with PP-lining, glass fiber reinforced plastics)


text:
“What is your concept of God?” asks Carl Sagan – part 1
I recently finished a book by Carl Sagan named, “The Varieties of Scientific Experience. A Personal View of the Search for God”. This book is a compilation of speeches made by Carl Sagan and published after his death. In this book Carl Sagan talks about the concept of God, among other things and draws a distinction between two possible mental images that many people may have. These mental images are mutually exclusive according to Carl Sagan. Before I get to these concepts, let me talk about how I stumbled upon this author.
How I came across Carl Sagan’s work
Sometime this year, I watched a Ted Talk by Brian Cox, “Why we need the explorers” and Brian Cox finished the talk with a quote from Carl Sagan. The quote impressed me a lot and along with it was an image of earth called, “Pale Blue Dot”. I googled the image and made it as my desktop background. The quote and the image of earth from nearly 4 billion miles away is shown below.
The image of the Earth as a pale blue dot suspended in space gave me a great perspective of the vastness of the universe and in turn made me ponder on the greatness of the Creator of this universe. So, I became curious to know what some of the scientists who may have pondered on this topic, especially Carl Sagan had to say about the Creator.
Picking the right book
It was not easy to decide on which book to read. There were 10+ books written by Carl Sagan and many more on this subject. After much deliberating, I used the simplest criteria of picking up the most recently published book. After reading the book, all I can say is that I made the right choice. The title of the book summarizes so well what the book is all about. The varieties of scientific experience. A personal view of the search for God. In my personal view it is more of a new understanding of God through scientific experience rather than the search for God.
Blurred lines of understanding
While reading this book, there were many times when I put down the book to ponder on the subject. Which means I thought through some of the things mentioned here and had some insights of my own that gave me a deeper understanding or maybe a different understanding from what the author intended. In other words my thoughts were triggered by what the author wrote but the understanding these thoughts gave may or may not match exactly with what was written in the book. Either way, there is a new and improved understanding of God which, if I go back and re read the book, I may not find the same exact meaning. So, the lines of understanding have blurred and I am hoping in a good way.
In human history as science progressed, understanding of God also changed. I will give a few examples of that in my follow-up post on this topic and also talk about how my own understanding of God improved after reading this book.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!

domain: library


text:
It's Yumi’s OG Kimchi - 454g
Brand: It's Yumi's
It’s Yumi’s OG Kimchi (454g)
Made right here in Vancouver by our friends at It's Yumi's, it's your new favourite kimchi!
Ingredients: Napa cabbage, chilli powder, salt, garlic, sweet rice flour, green onion, onion, mushroom, gluten-free soy sauce, kelp.
Important: This product requires refrigeration. Please read about our shipping and refrigeration process here. If you’re already familiar with our process, please order the appropriate number of cold packs from here.
Disclaimer: we do our best to provide accurate information on every item (including ingredients and allergy information), but over time information and packaging may change or be updated and there may be a delay before appearing here. If in doubt or have specific concerns (like allergies) please contact us or the manufacturer as necessary.

domain: food


As an old Russian proverb has it, "He who
doesn’t risk never gets to drink champagne."
According to RIA Novosti (the Russian wire service), mobile
phone users could use their phones to cast votes in the Parliamentary elections
scheduled for 2011. According to the
report, Russia’s Central Elections Commission is working to develop a java-based
application which could be downloaded to phones and allow secure voting.
This news follows a vote last December by Estonia’s
Parliament that will allow mobile phone voting in its next
Parliamentary elections, also scheduled for 2011. Estonia allowed Internet voting in its 2007
elections and it proved secure despite worries about cyberattacks and vote
As for the U.S., some form of mobile voting is probably
inevitable. In the meantime, there’s
always American Idol.


text:
Bilbo and the dwarves.
So you're new to Middle-earth. You've never seen The Lord of the Rings
, nor read The Hobbit
, nor read any J.R.R. Tolkien book at all. You can't tell Gollum from Gandalf, and you couldn't find a horde of orcs in an orchid orchard with the help of an orchestra.
We're here to help.
If you're finally succumbing to Hobbit pressure, and are being dragged to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey because, well, half the planet has already seen the film, here's your primer to plot points, characters and places.
In The Hobbit, Tolkien describes the journey of Bilbo, Gandalf and 13 dwarves who travel to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim the dwarvish homeland and treasure stolen by the dragon Smaug. Using The Hobbit and other writings by J.R.R. Tolkien, director Peter Jackson stretched the story into three films; in film one, An Unexpected Journey, the Company's quest takes them as far as the eastern side of the Misty Mountains in Tolkien's made-up world of Middle-earth.
THE HOBBIT CHEAT SHEET:
Is The Hobbit a prequel to The Lord of the Rings?
In a way. Rather, The Lord of the Rings, published in 1954-55, was intended as the sequel to The Hobbit, which appeared in 1937. Tolkien only teased his imaginary world of Middle-earth in The Hobbit, and the dwarves and Bilbo’s quest was a modest tale. With “Rings,” Tolkien expanded his vision into serious epic.
The Hobbit is just a kids’ story, right?
The tone is more jovial and less dark than the “high fantasy” mode of The Lord of the Rings, because The Hobbit began as a bedtime tale that Tolkien told his children. That doesn’t mean the themes of bravery, sacrifice, greed, fellowship, and the nature of honor, leadership, and power, don’t come into play.
Wait, The Hobbit will be a trilogy?
Whereas the length of The Lord of the Rings (about 1,200 pages) justified its three-part movie treatment for many, at 300 pages The Hobbit hardly seems worthy of one film, let alone more. When Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. announced in July that their original two-part film would be a trilogy, industry watchers reacted strongly and the Tolkienverse shuddered. The final two installments will be subtitled The Desolation of Smaug (expected Dec. 13, 2013) and There and Back Again (July 18, 2014).
Where did the filmmakers get the extra material to stretch The Hobbit into a trilogy?
When Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings, he also wrote extensive notes about his world, and the events surrounding The Hobbit. He published these bonus plot developments in appendices at the end of The Lord of the Rings. Jackson and his screenwriters have also taken additional liberties with the material.
What’s with this 48 frames-per-second thing?
We’re used to viewing films shot at 24 frames-per-second (fps), and increasingly in 3-D. Jackson shot the entire Hobbit trilogy in 3-D at 48 fps, the first major release filmed in this format. A double frame rate is supposed to create a sharper image, but some find the visual quality too hyper-realistic and even nausea-inducing.
What, no Viggo? But there is “Figwit”
Sorry, Viggo Mortensen will not be returning as Aragorn (sniff, sniff). Neither will Arwen (Liv Tyler). But Frodo does appear, and another Rings hottie, Orlando Bloom (Legolas) will return in a later Hobbit episode. Better yet, Bret “Figwit” McKenzie is back. In Rings, the Flight of the Conchord” singer played an elf dubbed by fans “Figwit” (an acronym for “Frodo is great — who is that?!?”). Here, McKenzie plays the elvish-speaking Lindir, and speaks elvish with Elrond.
Is Gollum’s ring THE ring?
Yes, the ring that Bilbo finds in Gollum’s cave is the same “One Ring” that all of Middle-earth fusses about later. But get this bonus tidbit: When Tolkien first wrote The Hobbit, he didn’t know Gollum’s “birthday present” would take on such significance in his sequel. He had to fix future editions of The Hobbit to better match that story arc.
Gandalf the Grey (IAN MCKELLEN)
Gandalf the Grey.
The irascible wizard is back with his reassuring gravitas, a little less world-weary and god-like this time than in The Lord of the Rings since, in The Hobbit, he's not yet learned of the world-dooming Ring of Power.
Bilbo Baggins (IAN HOLM | MARTIN FREEMAN)
The reluctant and eponymous hobbit-cum-burglar is handpicked by Gandalf as the "lucky" 14th member of the Company. Bilbo is played by two different actors: Ian Holm makes an appearance as the "old" Bilbo at the film's beginning; Martin Freeman plays a Bilbo 60 years younger than Holm's and is our central plucky hero.
Thorin Oakenshield (RICHARD ARMITAGE)
The dwarves' proud and stalwart leader, and heir to the dwarvish throne, Thorin drives the quest for homeland and fortune. He also has a score to settle with the orcs and despises elves. Burdened by the past, Thorin is to The Hobbit as Aragorn/Strider (Viggo Mortensen) was to Rings.
The 12 Dwarves (VARIOUS ACTORS)
White-bearded Balin is the group's elder statesman. Fierce fighter Dwalin, Balin's younger brother, sports head tattoos and is Thorin's greatest supporter. Brothers Kili and Fili are the Company's spirited youngsters. Dori is the group's sophisticate; he's the brother of crafty Nori. Wide-eyed and meek Ori is the most junior dwarf. Half-deaf Oin is the brother to money-grubber Gloin, the father of Gimli from Rings. The final three are cousins: the mumbling Bifur, with an orc-axe lodged in his skull; the jovial Bofur; and bumbling, obese gourmand Bombur.
Saruman (CHRISTOPHER LEE)
In The Hobbit, this head of the White Council and wizard-in-chief is noble and decent, not yet turned into the dangerous character he becomes later, in Rings, when he allies himself with Sauron. Still, we don't trust him.
Radagast (SYLVESTER MCCOY)
Another wizard, Radagast the Brown prefers the company of birds and beasts to men, elves or hobbits. Jackson interprets him as a woodsy, batty Dr. Doolittle, who talks to the animals.
Frodo (ELIJAH WOOD)
The hero of The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo's nephew has a cameo in the "flash-forward" scene that frames the adventures of Bilbo.
Galadriel (CATE BLANCHETT)
Galadriel doesn't actually appear in Tolkien's Hobbit. Nonetheless, in Jackson's version, she's back as the ethereal and somewhat creepy elf queen. We find her in Rivendell to discuss what to do about the rise of the Necromancer.
Elrond (HUGO WEAVING)
Wielding a dangerously arched eyebrow, Elrond is lord of the elves and guardian of Middle-earth, residing in Rivendell, an oasis of elves and high culture amidst a wild world of orcs, trolls and other nasties.
Gollum (ANDY SERKIS)
Part phlegmy actor, part CGI magic, Gollum appears for the first time deep in his cave in the Misty Mountains, having lost his birthday present: the ring. Expect his trademark split-personality weirdness.
This is the place where Hobbits live, a peaceful bucolic land, with green valleys and small houses, or "hobbit holes," built in the hills. Bilbo lives in the village of Hobbiton, where his journey begins when Gandalf knocks his door and Thorin and his dwarves arrive to take him on their quest.
Just before arriving in Rivendell, Bilbo and the dwarves enter The Trollshaws, a patch of woods west of the Misty Mountains. Here they encounter a trio of stone trolls named Tom, Bert and William.
An Elvish outpost in Middle-earth, Rivendell is the House of Elrond, king of elves. Located at the edge of gorge in a hidden valley, and therefore hard to find. One of the most beautiful places in Middle-earth, this is the center of Elvish culture.
The Misty Mountains and Goblin Town
A goblin hide-out deep in the Misty Mountains, Goblin Town is ruled by the Great Goblin. In these tunnels and caverns, Bilbo becomes lost, then finds the One Ring and Gollum, an encounter that becomes the key of The Lord of the Rings story.
This enormous rock in the upper reaches of the River Anduin is where the eagles deposit the Company after their escape through the "back door" of the Misty Mountains.
Ethan Gilsdorf is a journalist, memoirist, critic, poet, teacher and geek, and the author of the award-winning travel memoir investigation Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms.

domain: artistic


text:
Bienvenue & Welcome – Monsieur JETON
Popular entertainment in the Golden 1920s was largely shaped by the many variety theatres that existed at the time. Very often topping the bill were the so-called gentleman jugglers. Elegantly attired, they would saunter onto variety stages to perform immaculate juggling and balancing feats with everyday objects. The most famous of them bore resonant names like Kara, Salerno or Adanos. Yet the gentleman juggler as a type would surely have long been forgotten if it were not for Jeton, a new master of the art.
The encyclopaedic 4000 Years of Juggling describes Jeton as one of the “top level newcomers to juggling in the new millennium”. In 2013, in Ohio, USA, he became the first German performer to receive the Award of Excellence from the International Jugglers’ Association (IJA) in recognition of his unique work. This award is regarded as the Oscar of the juggling world, and is presented by the IJA to jugglers who have made an outstanding contribution to shaping this art form. It is hardly surprising, then, that he is invited to perform all over the world, and in front of such illustrious spectators as Queen Margarete II of Denmark. Yet Jeton’s success can be measured not only by his prestigious references, but also by the enthusiastic response that his performances receive, and the memories that his winning personality leaves behind.
Right from the very beginning of his career as an artist, Jeton already had a very clear conception of how his act should look, a conception which he has consistently followed, turning it into reality step by step. It is a passion which expresses itself in the meticulous care and the loving attention to detail with which he combines juggling, balancing and music to form a harmonious whole.
His sophisticated ball juggling is impressive not only for the sheer dexterity, but also for the mischievous charm with which he presents it. The man-about-town nonchalantly tosses the accessories of elegant society around, fascinating audiences as he whirls a large wall mirror through the air, and amazing them with his signature balance with two billiard cues.
For the grand finale, Jeton serves up yet another highlight, humorously flipping coffee cups and saucers from the tip of his toe to the top of his head. A feat that never fails to warm the hearts of young and old alike.
His artistic ability and his likeable personality are bound to captivate every kind of audience.


Most people who go on long-distance endurance races like the TCR are somewhat obsessive compulsive types, who generally really appreciate having a structured training program and, of course, don’t mind spending many hours in the saddle. One area where our obsessive natures really come into play are with our bike setups. We spend countless hours refining our position, changing equipment, etc. It all seemed quite normal to me until recently I was having lunch with an Australian colleague who pointed out that modifying a bike which already costs several thousand dollars to most people sounds quite over the top. Fair comment. But having said that, I’m almost at the point where my new BMC Granfondo GF01 is ready for the TCR.
My biggest change is to the braking. I was out in some serious rain on some very steep roads and it scared me. I had visions of descending Mt. Stelvio at night in the rain and decided to do something about it. So I decided to get a disc front brake. Of course that meant a new fork (and dynamo hub wheel from Tristan), so not an inexpensive proposition. But what price safety? I tried to get BMC to sell me one of their disc forks for the GF01 but they declined, saying it would affect the bike’s performance and dynamics (as if I would be able to tell), so on Ollie Whalley’s recommendation I went for an Enve fork along with the Avid road disc brake. For the rear I’ve gone to some Swissstop GHP II high performance pads (which unbelievably are not sold in New Zealand!). I took it out on some serious descents yesterday and all I can say is money well spent.
I’ve been testing my Busch and Muller Luxos U dynamo light and it is without a doubt the best dynamo light for a race like the TCR. The beam has amazing throw at night and it is incredibly bright—even more so when the ‘spot’ mode is turned on. Coupled with its USB connection and cache battery, it is all one needs.
What I find amazing is that even at night when running the light it will also power by cell pone and Garmin GPS. My other dynamo lights see all the power diverted to the light so only that gets power. With the Luxos U all that happens is the intensity of the light drops. So if I need more light I just unplug my cell phone.
One annoying aspect to the light was that it’s weight caused the mount to my screw in Profile Design aero bar to move slightly, especially on bumpy roads. I solve that with a small stainless steel screw that you can see on the bottom right.
I want to run at least two USB connections to the Luxos: one for my Garmin 800 and the second for my cell phone (a waterproof Sony Xperia 800) which I play music on while riding as well as acts as a backup GPS. I also have a backup cell phone which is also my camera that I leave in my ‘gas tank’ bag on the top of the bike. I use a simple quad port replicator which is shown below. The coiled cable is for charging the camera.
To run the cables into the gas tank I cut behind the ‘Revelate Designs’ logo. I will use safety pins to hold it closed. Velcro is used to wrap the cables around the aero bars.
I wanted to run tubeless tyres for the race, but the Continental 4 Season Tyres did not work when I tried to run them tubeless so I’m back to tubes.
The new fork was further back than the previous one so I had to move my extra water bottle down lower. I made a clamp and attached it to the cable router on the bottom of the frame, and then used 2 x universal water bottle connectors (since the tube diameter was too great for only one) for the other connection. With an REI velcro strap it is held in firmly. I also found an old protective cap in my spare parts bin so it will keep the road crud from getting on the bottle.
When I fitted the new fork I raised the handlebars by about 1.5 cm and that has really helped improve the comfort in the aero position. I also had a bike fit done by Warwick at Village Cycles who made a few additional refinements to my position and gave me some inserts for my shoes.
I took the bike out for 160+ km ride with some 1750 m of climbing (from our cottage in Pohara Golden Bay home via Spooner Hill) and it worked really well. Felt more comfortable and the gear—especially the brakes—are working brilliantly. Now just need to spend some more chamois time and ride as much as possible!
The other bit of kit that I was able to test—as my ride went late into the night—was my ‘Noxgear Tracer 360’ high visibility ‘vest’. Unlike reflective vests, this has fibre-optic coloured lights that flash different colours. I feel like a Christmas Tree but it is really visible, especially on dark country roads. This photo (not me) gives an idea. Best $60 I’ve ever spent.
It runs on 3 x AAA batteries so I’m able to use my Spot GPS batteries which still have a lot of ‘oomph’ in them in spite of being too weak to run my Spot GPS. One design flaw I found with the Tracer 360 is that the battery compartment is not waterproof. Solved that by covering the door with some ‘Tenacious Tape’.


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Morocco, known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes and vibrant cities, is a popular destination for tourists from around the world. If you’re thinking what to do in Morocco in March, you’ll be in for a treat. With the winter weather starting to warm up, it’s a great time to explore the country and experience all that it has to offer.
If you’re interested in experiencing the great outdoors, consider visiting the High Atlas Mountains. This scenic region is home to a number of trekking routes and outdoor activities, such as rock climbing and horseback riding. You can also visit the stunning Aït Benhaddou kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has been used as a backdrop in several Hollywood films.
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March is considered the most demanding month to visit Morocco for a few reasons
Weather: March is the transition month between winter and spring, and temperatures can vary greatly depending on location and altitude. While some areas may still be cool and rainy, others may be warm and sunny. This can make it challenging to plan outdoor activities and know what to pack for your trip.
High Season: March is the start of the tourist season in Morocco, and many popular destinations can become crowded with visitors. This can result in long lines at popular attractions and high demand for hotel rooms and tours.
Religious Holidays: March is also the month of the Muslim holiday of Mouloud, which is celebrated throughout Morocco and can impact travel plans and activities.
Despite these challenges, many visitors still find that March is a great time to visit Morocco due to the stunning weather and the abundance of cultural events and festivities taking place throughout the country. However, it’s important to plan ahead, book accommodations in advance, and be prepared for crowds and potential weather changes during this time of year.
What to do in Fes in March
Fes, one of Morocco’s oldest and most vibrant cities, is a popular destination for tourists in March. Here are some of the top things to do in Fes during this time of year:
- Explore the Medina: The medieval old town of Fes is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys filled with vibrant markets, historic monuments, and traditional Moroccan architecture. Take a guided tour to make the most of your visit and learn about the city’s rich history and culture.
- Visit the Bou Inania Madrasa: This 14th-century Islamic school is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Moroccan architecture and is a must-visit for anyone interested in history and art.
- Enjoy a traditional Hammam: Take a break from your sightseeing and indulge in a traditional hammam experience. These public baths offer a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, and are an integral part of Moroccan culture.
- Learn about traditional Moroccan crafts: Fes is known for its traditional crafts, such as leather work, ceramics, and textiles. Visit local workshops and learn about the techniques and materials used to create these beautiful works of art.
- Explore the Royal Palace: The Royal Palace of Fes is a stunning example of traditional Moroccan architecture, and is open to visitors during select times of the year. Be sure to check with your tour guide for the latest information and availability.
- Take a day trip to the nearby countryside: Fes is surrounded by stunning countryside and mountains, so consider taking a day trip to explore this beautiful region. You can visit traditional villages, see historic monuments, and enjoy scenic views of the surrounding landscape.
These are just a few of the many things to do in Fes in March. Whether you’re interested in exploring the city’s rich history and culture, or simply relaxing and soaking up the local atmosphere, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant and charming city
What to do in Merzouga in March
Merzouga is a small desert town located in the southeastern part of Morocco, known for its stunning sand dunes and unique landscapes. Here are some of the top things to do in Merzouga in March:
- Camel Trekking: The highlight of any visit to Merzouga is a camel trek into the heart of the Sahara Desert. These unique experiences offer breathtaking views of the sand dunes and the opportunity to spend a night camping under the stars.
- Sandboarding: If you’re an adrenaline junkie, consider trying your hand at sandboarding on the dunes of the Sahara Desert.
- Explore the desert oasis: Take a guided tour of the desert oasis and learn about the unique ecosystems and wildlife that thrive in this harsh environment.
- Visit a Berber Village: Merzouga is home to several traditional Berber villages, where you can learn about the local culture and see the traditional way of life in the desert.
- Stargazing: The clear desert skies offer some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world. Consider taking a guided tour to learn about the stars and constellations visible in the night sky.
What to do in Essaouria in March
Essaouira, a coastal city located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, is a popular destination for tourists in March. Here are some of the top things to do in Essaouira during this time of year:
- Explore the ramparts: The historic ramparts of Essaouira are a must-visit for anyone interested in history and architecture. These well-preserved fortifications offer stunning views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Visit the souks: Essaouira is home to a number of vibrant souks (markets), where you can find unique artisanal crafts and souvenirs.
- Stroll the beach: The beaches of Essaouira are known for their stunning views and laid-back atmosphere. Take a walk along the shore, relax on the sand, and enjoy the sea breeze.
- Visit the Skala de la Ville: This historic fortification offers stunning views of the city and the sea, and is a great place to catch the sunset.
- Explore the fishing villages: Essaouira is surrounded by several traditional fishing villages, where you can see the local way of life and try fresh seafood.
- Visit the Essaouira Citadel: This historic fortification was built in the 18th century and is now a museum showcasing the history of the city and its cultural heritage.
- Learn about traditional Moroccan crafts: Essaouira is known for its traditional crafts, such as wood carving, pottery, and textiles. Visit local workshops and learn about the techniques and materials used to create these beautiful works of art
In conclusion, while March can be considered a demanding month to visit Morocco due to the changing weather conditions, high demand for travel and accommodations, and religious holidays, it is still a great time to visit due to the stunning weather and cultural events taking place throughout the country. To make the most of your trip, it’s important to plan ahead, book accommodations in advance, and be prepared for potential challenges such as crowds and weather changes. Regardless of the challenges, a trip to Morocco in March is an unforgettable experience, offering visitors the chance to explore the rich culture and natural beauty of this fascinating country.

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By Ram Khatry
13 June 2015
Shesh Ghale, an Australian businessman of Nepalese origin, ascended 51 positions to occupy the 99th position in the BRW Rich 200 List 2015.
He and his wife, Jamuna Gurung, gained an additional $193 million since their ranking last year when they occupied 150 and 151 positions respectively. This year, the couple are worth $528 million against $335 million last year – a quantum leap for people who arrived in Australia as international students relatively recently, in the early 1990s.
They own Melbourne Institute of Technology (mit.edu.au) where Mr Ghale is the CEO while Mrs Gurung heads the business and marketing of the private education company. The couple also own commercial properties in Melbourne CBD including of course the historic Argus Building, bought in 2010 for $10 million but renovated for $50 million. According to BRW, the couple plan to build a 200-room boutique hotel, 500 apartments and retail space overlooking the Flagstaff Gardens.
Should the steady rise of Mr Ghale and his better-half continue at the current rate, it will not be many years before Nepalese people will have their second billionaire, the first ever being noodles-king Binod Chaudhary.
However, this empire means nothing for the humble mother of the education and real estate tycoon. According to Annapurna Post, the 86-year-old still lives right where Shesh Ghale was born, grew up and attended the local school up to the fifth standard. Devikumari Ghale could not leave because of her apparent love for Nayu, an idyllic village some four hours from the headquarters of Lamjung district.
She would not leave the village for all the riches in the world – a quality seen typically in many elderly people in rural Nepal who are so loyal to their place of birth that come what may they never leave. This is why senior citizens in remote villages often live lonely lives as their children leave their native village to pursue their chosen career paths. The story of Mr Ghale’s mother is no exception. Media reports indicate she lives on her own despite the fact that she has two sons and three daughters whom she can live with. She is happy nonethelss – simply by virtue of being in Nayu!
When he was a student, expectation was for Mr Ghale to join the army, such as the British Gurkha. The area is a fertile ground for the legendary Gurkhas who epitomise gallantry and commitment. That’s the highest career residents of Nayu aimed for when the millionaire was a student at the local school. But Mr Ghale was a brilliant student right from the early days which saw him shine through eventually earning him a scholarship to go to Russia to study civil engineering.
“It was pretty tough then to raise our son. I used to work and his father used to go visit him with the expenses,” the mother of the MIT boss said.
It was the same school to which he donated Rs 5 million last October, literally a fortune by Nepalese standards. But that’s not the only money he has spent for philanthropy in Nepal. He announced Rs 1 billion worth of charity last year and pledged equal amount in the aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25. As the president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), he hit the ground zero of the catastrophe to lead teams of eager diasporic relief workers.
His philanthropy and his rising fortune means Mr Ghale’s regular appearance on the elderly mum’s television set. The entrepreneur’s mother told Annapurna Post that she felt proud and elated to see her son helping the poor and needy.
It appears the doting mum is closely watching how her son is throwing his money here and there as he goes about helping his distressed fellow-Nepalese. She would rather want him spend in the village he was born in, “It is now time to build (contribute to) the village.”
Despite all the good her son has done, Devikumari Ghale considers herself not so lucky in that she is having to live on her own, she told Post. Her husband passed away four years ago.
“I told him to leave the wealth behind and return to the village but he did not listen,” the adorable mum was quoted as saying.
She wants her son to build a blacktop road up to Ghale Gaun (not far from Nayu, Ghale Gaun is a tourist village which artistically presents the lifestyle and culture of the mountain people) and build statues of Ghale kings.
This article has been edited 14June15 9:41 am


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The debate over health care is not over. The public is not satisfied with the status quo, and reform is still necessary, especially to improve care for the poor.
In threatening to cut payments to states that are not enrolling people into Medicaid quickly enough, the administration has found a tool to punish states that have been uncooperative in implementing the president’s healthcare reform.
To win the argument over block grants for Medicaid in Congress, the GOP needs to show that states can manage the most challenging part of Medicaid — the long-term-care component.
For all the debate over whether Texas should expand Medicaid as Obamacare envisions, there has been little debate over a more important question: How should Texas reform its current Medicaid program?
The health law won’t come close to reaching “universal coverage” if the nation’s governors refuse to expand their Medicaid programs. Which is why these governors, and most especially the 30 Republicans among them, have substantial power and leverage to bend national health-care policy in their direction — if they play their strong hand correctly.
This week, TPPF released a follow-on report, co-authored by James Capretta, outlining the broader reform strategy for the Medicaid program. The report describes in some detail the provisions which should be included in federal legislation to convert Medicaid into a block grant.
Governor Rick Scott’s decision to take federal Obamacare money to expand his state’s Medicaid program was unsurprising. Amidst declining political fortunes, he was under intense pressure by local health care firms to accept the new cash.
We welcome you to join us as Brown shares her perspective on the role of the courts in seeking educational justice and advocating for continued reform.
AEI welcomes you to this Philanthropic Freedom Project event, in which Novogratz will describe her work investing in early-stage enterprises, what she has learned at the helm of Acumen, and the role entrepreneurship can play in the fight against global poverty.

domain: law


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Messages - Shameless_1
« on: February 24, 2017, 08:38:19 PM »
Congratulations Tom, Wally and Dez.
why are you congratulating me? I think you meant Seanus? would you like a scotch there Bruce?
« on: February 23, 2017, 09:36:17 PM »
Why is this forum so narrow? That last picture is only 1022px wide and still doesn't fit!
It's okish in 1900x1200 on my second monitor, it is a tad narrow on this one @ 2160x1440. I don't wanna see it in 4k. I agree it should be 1080p res standard these days.
« on: February 23, 2017, 09:33:32 PM »
Thanks for everything Phil, even though I wasn't officially in the season .
This was probably the most enjoyable race for me as I'd finally gotten used to the porsches floatiness. Managed an average time and qual 10th, got as high as 9th. Almost got caught up in some carnage on the first lap, went wide and avoided it to continue, I had a little battle with AJ who lost it into the railing and just clipped me, sending me off the track but I kept it straight to continue, passed Joe who passed me back a few laps later. I then spun to drop to 14th and by the last few laps was chasing Joe again and Robin but couldn't quite make any ground with low fuel and losing corner grip. PB was a 1:34.4
Congrats Tom for the win.
Well done Wally and Seanus.
I do hope I can get a video out of this.. waiting for the weather to settle before I feel up to spending the time making videos and fingers crossed sony vegas behaves.
« on: February 22, 2017, 01:37:40 AM »
But we also risk the other-way-around problem. If I get involved in a crash in a 20 min sprint, even if I lose 2 minutes, I know in 20 minutes there is a race I want to be in. In a 1 hour race, while you are right you might make up for a 30 seconds problem, what do you do if you are lapped and last with 40 seconds to the second last? Yes, you might gain a position or two, but only because people crash, not because of good racing.
Neither sprint or enduro will suit everyone. I tend to dislike sprints personally for 2 reasons. 1. being that it seems to create desperation and carelessness because drivers are so badly wanting to get to the front by the first corner/first lap its too often than not causing major carnage.. and 2. Trying to claw your way back in a short period of time is more than just hard work for very little gain. I make up more positions from people crashing and quitting than I do racing, this happens less in a longer race.
I'm happy to compromise, I just don't want to see 2 enduros and 8 sprint races in a season. I think it should be 50/50.
« on: February 22, 2017, 12:11:53 AM »
Also, don't make the races too short. Sprints are ok, but sometimes there is not enough time for recovery if you're caught up in a collision.I'd make the sprints 20 mins.
20mins is shorter than they currently are? most seem to be 25-28mins each I thought. I'm not that fond of too many sprints because if someone does cause an accident and you get spun off (or you have an off of any sort) it's too late to really gain enough ground and it seems to ruin too many races for people who give up and quit. If we are going to have sprints I'd like to see it equal to the number of enduros. To me an enduro should be at least 45-60mins race time anything less to me is a sprint.. The longer the race length the more chance change of position would occur with 2 pit stops & a strategy.
« on: February 21, 2017, 11:45:45 PM »
I feel that the ballast on the praga has a greater effect than it would say on a porsche gt3 car for instance.. But there is no other current system available that can both penalise a driver and slow the winners down to give others a chance. I think the ballast system is necessary, but perhaps its a matter of testing the season car(s) prior to see how ballast affects them and how much is needed. I don't think ballast is effective in a sprint race than it would be in an enduro.
« on: February 21, 2017, 07:16:48 PM »
Won't be racing tonight, sinus and body aches, can't concentrate long enough. I don't want race and end up causing an accident.
good luck guys.
I'll be on the lounge with my KFC and bucket of m&ms.
« on: February 14, 2017, 10:49:41 PM »
Another stuffy day here, had the air con on in the cockpit to keep cool. Managed a 1.33.9 in practise which surprised me.. a pb. but again couldn't match it in qual by half a second slower. Someone spun on turn 2 in lap 1 and I had nowhere to go so gave them a big enough nudge and lost a few spots, climbed my way somehow to 10th as the field sorted itself out at the start of the race, Kcender came back after a spin and tried passing me on the outside of turn 1 only for us to touch almost at the exit which I think sent him off again but looked like a racing incident. I did slow just in case but he was nowhere in sight, I dropped back to 14th I think and lack of grip, an off by the last few laps.
Race 2 I wasn't feeling it either phil.. I hung back in a daze for lap 1 and just tried to be consistent. Got a 10 second penlaty when I brain faded coming out the pits and my car darted to the left over the the solid line just past the pit wall on exit. Seanus was trying to pressure me and I tried to just keep it together, he made an awesome pass on the outside of turn 1 in the late stages of the race only to lose it on the next corner and dart off the track. I finished 10th or 11th? surprised.
can we test and consider this track for a season race ? http://assettocorsa.club/mods/tracks/circuit-de-la-sarthe-2015.html#en
It's not fun for anyone in the back 1/3rd of the grid. We generally don't get much of a choice whether to be involved or not when there's nowhere to go and you get shafted from behind because someone didn't brake, or you just have to wait until everyone clears room so you can continue.
I agree race 1 was pretty good, I just got interrupted by a lady trying to talk to me while I was in the middle of racing so my lap times were shocking for a few laps. Phil was getting impatient trying to pass me.
Race 2. THREE RESTARTS - honestly? what part of turn 1 take it easy aren't people getting? I see bradc side tap phil, seanus punt gawaterman and block the track for 1/3rd the grid.. How damn hard it is it to ease off the brakes and not rev so high until you're all around turn 1. I see one person quit the race because of it. I'm getting tired of being polite on the race track when I am constantly having my race ruined by people making stupid desperate mistakes.. general mistakes I can forgive. Where's the due care or is this a free for all? The main idea of the videos is to promote XGN and this is not promotional material.
Seanus and I had a battle side by side in some corners and it was clean until he hit a wall and spun, that was the only good thing in the race (not him spinning). But then I pull over to give Seanus room a lap or so later and get forced into a wall for doing the right thing. Won't be doing that again. Wally unfortunately tapped the wall which spun me on the 2nd to last lap at T1.
A few races at 5 will probably be more fun. Otherwise will be crash central then driving around on your own for 10+ laps.
better than half the field quitting due to a crash on the first lap because the race would be pointless with 4 laps to go.

domain: sports


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Tel: 01553 691000
Bespak is a global leader in the manufacture of specialty medical devices, developing delivery systems for the pharmaceutical industry and airway management products for critical care settings. We have an unrivalled ability to take devices safely to market.
Bespak is the name behind some of the most widely used and trusted inhalation devices in the world. Every second over 1,000 patients use one of our devices to help them breathe. And our team of over 700 colleagues ensure that we continue to manufacture around 560 million devices each year while still developing innovative and new drug delivery systems. Great locations as well as a positive, people-focused culture with charity and social activities a part of everyday life. It all contributes to creating a working environment which is friendly, supportive and nurturing.
3 jobs with Bespak
We are recruiting for a Head of Programme Management! Exciting opportunity for new projects ahead..speak with us and apply now.
As a strategic partnership manager (known as “Alliance Manager” internally) you will join a focused and growing strategic alliance management team.
Do you have validation engineering experience involving new equipment installation and experience of leading cross functional projects?

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But one of the most interesting features of Old Chester is the unusually large number of Monastic establishments which existed within its walls prior to the religious upheaval of the Sixteenth Century, commonly spoken of as the Reformation. The Monasteries of Old Chester are intimately bound up with its history, and prove beyond doubt that the citizens, for well-nigh ten centuries, were not only Christian and Catholic, but that they cherished Christianity and Catholicism in their highest and best forms; that they revered the ideal teaching of Christ; that the Counsels of the Gospel as well as its Commands were enshrined in their hearts, and constantly before their eyes in the lives of the numerous Monks, Friars, and Nuns who dwelt in the various religious houses.
It is of the Monks and Friars of Old Chester I wish to speak to you to-night and on the next three Sunday evenings. If you would rightly and fully understand the history of this ancient City you must know something of the men who contributed, in no small degree, to the making of that history. If you would rightly and fully understand the religious and social characteristics of your forefathers you must know something of the Black Monks, the Grey Friars, the White Friars, and the Black Friars. A history or description of Old Chester without the Monks would be somewhat like the play of Hamlet with the Prince of Denmark left out.


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Boynton Hall Table
Cassina 625 Boynton Hall Table
Year of Design 1908
This item is not available for purchase online. Please email or call us to place an order: email@example.com / (480)-627-5398
This table was originally conceived as a sideboard for the dining room of Boynton Hall in Rochester, New York, which Frank Lloyd Wright designed in 1908. The architect wanted to create a piece with strong horizontal and vertical lines, a common feature of his residential designs. The table, currently available in Canaletto walnut and in a range of cherrywood finishes, is produced by the carpenters of Meda, the headquarter of Cassina. An emblem of Cassina’s expertise in the art of furniture-making, this table is a timeless icon, a perfect expression of its creator’s love for poetic harmony. Finished both back and front, the table can be placed either against a wall or in the centre of the room.
PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL US TO PLACE AN ORDER.
firstname.lastname@example.org / (480)-627-5398
To view Dimensions and Finishes, please click the link below.
A portion of this purchase price supports the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’s work to inspire people to discover and embrace an architecture for better living through meaningful connections to nature, the arts, and each other. Your purchase also supports the preservation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings for future generations to enjoy.