text:
For this dish I've used Nicola potatoes which have a nice oblong shape that helps achieve a more consistent look.
Boulangère Potatoes
4 nicola potatoes
1 large red onion, sliced finely
500mls chicken stock
salt and white pepper
4 nicola potatoes
1 large red onion, sliced finely
500mls chicken stock
salt and white pepper
Prepare the vegetables:
Place a little oil and a good knob of butter in a pan over a low heat - when the butter has melted, add in the onions and slowly cook until soft and caramelised. This should take around 15 to 20 minutes.
Peel the potatoes and then slice very finely - you can use a mandolin or a food processor if you prefer. Place the slices into large bowl of cold water and then rinse to remove any excess starch. Drain and then pat the slices dry.
Assemble the dish:
I used a 22cm paella pan for this but you can use any baking dish.
Arrange the potato slices to form concentric circles in the base of the pan. Sprinkle over with a little of the cooked onions followed by freshly ground sea salt and white pepper. Cover this with another layer of potato slices and repeat the process until all the potatoes have been used.
Heat the stock until just under boiling point and then pour it carefully over the potatoes. Season with a little more salt and white pepper and finish off with dots of butter.
Bake in a preheated 170°C oven until cooked through and golden - about 45 to 60 minutes.
This can be served as an accompaniment to all roast meats.


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The head groundskeeper of the Reno Aces uses social media to recruit Gen Z into the field
The complimentary Elite level registration provides access to all education and networking opportunities
What types of equipment should be included in retrocommissioning? What are some things to be sure to look for in each building system that may have fallen out of spec?
The appropriate scope for retrocommissioning in a given building is dependent on the type, quantity, and complexity of the equipment as well as the building's usage type (e.g. school, hospital, manufacturing, laboratory, data center).
Be sure to include equipment which is energy intensive (high hours of operation and/or capacity). Consult maintenance staff for identifying "problem areas" and equipment with known operational problems.
A sampling of equipment testing should be considered for buildings with large quantities of identical equipment serving identical loads (e.g. VAV boxes in an office building).
Typically, the following types of equipment are included in retrocommissioning:
• HVAC (rooftop units, air handlers, and a sample of terminal devices)
• Central Plant (boilers, chillers, and associated pumping systems)
• Lighting Controls (occupancy sensors, daylight dimming, photocells for site lighting)
• Building Envelope (for identification of air/water leaks)
Some of the most common RCx opportunities involve adjustment of setpoints and equipment schedules, and identifying and replacing failed sensors (particularly global sensors, CO2 and relative humidity). Standards for space temperature setpoints should be re-evaluated and sensor calibrations (temperature, humidity, CO2, air/water flow) should be checked, especially for global sensors which have significant potential to have a large sphere of influence on building energy consumption.
Simultaneous heating and cooling is a tremendous waste of energy and it can manifest itself in multiple forms (e.g. adjacent VAV boxes "fighting", leaking hot water/chilled water/steam valves, VAV boxes reheating at other than minimum flow, terminal devices "fighting" with baseboard heat).
Many spaces are over-ventilated, either due to an overly conservative design or due to changes in space usage. Current ventilation requirements should be determined and adjustments to outside air damper positions should be made. Consider adding CO2 ventilation control to spaces with sporadic use which have dedicated HVAC equipment.
Secondary and tertiary pumping systems are often over-pumping, even if they have variable frequency drives (VFD's). Differential pressure settings can be overly conservative and/or the differential pressure sensor may be located in the wrong place.
Answers provided by Paul Banks, Principal, B2Q Associates, Inc.
First Steps to Retrocommissioning
Types of Equipment That Should Be Included in Retrocommissioning
Consider Whether Design is Still Sensible During Retrocommissioning

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Title: The Boys of Summer (Sumer, #1)
Author: C.J. Duggan
Release Date: December 17, 2012
Series: Summer Series
Genre: Mature YA Romance
About The Boys of Summer
It seemed only natural to nickname them the 'Onslow Boys'. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week's work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn't help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him … Toby Morrison.
Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn't relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.
How did she let her friends talk her into working?
After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed 'The Onslow Boys', who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess's summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.
All with the one boy she has never been able to forget.
It will be a summer she will always remember.
Warning: sexual references, and occasional coarse language
THE BOYS OF SUMMER (Summer, #1) is FREE until JULY 16th!
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks
An Endless Summer (Summer, #2)
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads
That One Summer (Summer, #3)
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads
Ringer (Summer #3.5)
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads
Coming Soon!
Forever Summer (Summer, #4)
About the Author
C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
For more on C.J and 'The Summer Series', visit www.cjdugganbooks.com
Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter


text:
In this 1971 PSA reminding employers to obey the federal Equal Pay Act, Batgirl refuses to defuse a bomb when she gets into a wage dispute with Batman. And here I thought crimefighting was a pro bono gig.
Incidentally, that's not Adam West under the cowl, but Dick Gautier, the actor who played Hymie the Robot on Get Smart. To be fair to Robin, he's forced by a monomaniacal billionaire to dress in Zorro lingerie day in, day out. He works hard for that money.
[Via Comic Book Resources — thanks OldWookiee!]


text:
4 Responses to "OBAMA'S TREASON: WE NOW KNOW!"
Friday, 16 November 2012 at 23:39
When obama first opened his mouth anyone with a little common sense should have know that he was a Chicago city slicker selling his snake oil to the country hicks. Now, beyond any doubt, he has proved to be exactly that and worse.
Saturday, 17 November 2012 at 10:35
Soetoro, obama, bounel, and whatever name he goes by has committed massive fraud, treason, cover up of murder, gun running to the enemies, RICO, fake birth certificate, stolen CT SSN, stolen election via rigged computers, multiple voting by his minions, intimidation and massive voter fraud. BO is not being held accountable for all his crimes. We are tired of him getting away with all the crimes he has committed. I am afraid he will never be brought to justice because people are afraid to go after him for his crimes.


text:
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
Obese Patients May Be More Prone to 'Doctor Shopping'
Stigma, judgments in office visits might prompt frequent switches, study authors say
Friday, May 31, 2013
Recurrent bad experiences with doctors -- being made to feel uncomfortable during office visits -- may be to blame for the trend, the researchers said.
"There's something going wrong in these doctor-patient relationships that make these switches so frequent for this group of people," study author Dr. Kimberly Gudzune, an assistant professor in the division of general internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a university news release.
"If they feel judged or hear offhanded comments about their weight, if the blood pressure cuff won't fit properly or they are afraid the examination table will not support their weight, it reinforces negative stereotypes obese patients encounter elsewhere," Gudzune explained. "We need to strive to create a safe, judgment-free environment where all patients can receive satisfying medical care."
The study involved more than 20,700 patients in a BlueCross BlueShield claims database. The researchers found that 23 percent of patients engaged in "doctor shopping," seeing three or more primary care physicians within a two-year span. The research team noted that overweight patients were 19 percent more likely to repeatedly change doctors, while obese patients were 37 percent more likely to do so.
The study also found that 4 percent of patients saw at least five doctors over the course of two years. Those who were overweight or obese were more likely to be among this group.
Overall, overweight and obese people who shopped around for a doctor were also 85 percent more likely than normal-weight "doctor shoppers" to require a visit to the ER. The researchers believe, however, that many of the issues experienced by the patients could have been addressed or prevented in a doctor's office.
"The real problem here is that the health of overweight and obese patients who doctor shop is being compromised," Gudzune said. "Because they do not remain with their doctors for very long, they are ending up in the emergency room, likely for things that could have been taken care of in a primary care office."
Prior studies have shown that continuity in care is linked to fewer hospitalizations, trips to the ER, greater use of preventive services and reduced health care costs, Gudzune's team noted. The researchers believe more study is needed to determine the exact cause of doctor shopping among overweight and obese patients.
Finding a physician that does not make a patient feel stigmatized or uncomfortable is key to better health care, Gudzune said. "If you are dissatisfied with your care or feel judged because of your weight, then you may be better served by finding a provider who can meet your needs," she advised.
The findings were published online this month in Obesity.
Health News Copyright (c) 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
- More Health News on:
- Obesity
- Talking With Your Doctor


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Let the IT manager who is without sin cast the first stone.
OK, we're still waiting.
Odds are, you've committed some venal sins at work -- if not mortal ones. Whether it's falling prey to gadget lust, hoarding information, avoiding necessary but onerous chores, coveting thy neighbor's budget, venting anger all over your staff, or letting ego get in the way of the job, we're all guilty of something.
[ For more IT strategy advice, see "20 more IT mistakes to avoid" and "Seven things IT should be doing (but isn't)." ]
Not surprisingly, most of our transgressions find their foundation in the classics: lust, gluttony, avarice, sloth, envy, wrath, and pride. With apologies to Dante Alighieri, here are the seven deadliest sins IT managers can commit.
(The identities of the sinners have been obscured to protect the guilty. Read and learn from their wicked ways.)
Read. Repent. Repeat. Then go forth and rectify.
IT sin No. 1: Lust for new technology
There are many kinds of lust in the IT universe -- lust for power, for position, even (gulp) the physical kind. But believe it or not, the most damaging unbridled desire in the IT workplace might just be gadget lust.
The most common expression of lust in IT is the endless pursuit of new technology for the sole purpose of having new technology, notes James J. DeLuccia, author of IT Compliance and Controls.
"IT managers mistakenly seek out the latest processors and hardware to 'keep with the times' when, in most cases, the present technology is functioning just fine," he notes.
To illustrate, DeLuccia tells the tale of a consumer-goods manufacturer in the Northeast. Things were going well -- operations were running smoothly, service-level agreements were being met, clients were happy. Nonetheless, the company's IT managers were infatuated with new technology and elected to perform a full upgrade to a new Oracle database and Xenon processors.
As with many IT endeavors undertaken in lust for the new, the first thing that happened was that the software the company used to connect to its database didn't support the new version of Oracle. Moreover, the software vendor itself was no longer in business. So, as a result of the upgrade, the company's primary service applications no longer worked.
Worse, the new hardware drew too much power, and the datacenter's electrical and UPS systems weren't up to the task. The result? Power outages. And when you're in the manufacturing business and your conveyor belts stop running, you're dead in the water.
Add to this bill all the long-term costs for hardware and maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, software licenses, energy costs, and training new Oracle DBAs.
"Now they're in a really long spending cycle for something that was completely unnecessary," adds DeLuccia. "If you're going after new technology, it has to be really practical and necessary to the business. Lusting after technology for the sake of desire is a costly sin."
IT sin No. 2: Information gluttony
Not as expensive as lust but more common is the sin of hoarding information. Too often, this unwillingness to share one's expertise is mistakenly believed to be the path to job security.
"I worked with one IT manager who really didn't like to hand out information about the network infrastructure," says Josh Stephens, head geek at SolarWinds, a network management software provider. "He was fine with letting other people handle servers and periphery switches, but he controlled the core of the network and didn't want anyone else to know how it worked. He liked being the go-to guy for this."
[ For advice on how to thrive through the downturn, see "IT survivor: 7 tips for career growth in tight times." ]
One weekend, when the manager was out of the country, the company had an outage. Nobody could bring the system back up because they didn't know how it was set up, says Stephens.
"They had to start from scratch and rebuild the core of the network. It took a day and a half when it probably should have taken an hour," Stephens says. "These people think they look smarter by knowing things nobody else knows. In my experience, you look smarter by sharing information and teaching the people around you."
Besides hoarding information, another common form of IT gluttony is the hoarding of projects, says Marcelo Schnettler, vice president of a small consulting firm in Jersey City, N.J. Some IT managers just can't say no -- which can prove disastrous over the long haul.
"Senior management either takes on these projects because they want the attention and funding that comes with trying to get all of these projects done, or they're psychologically unable to turn it down," Schnettler says.
The result: IT departments end up running at emergency maximum levels for every project, then are unable to handle a real emergency because no one's available to attend to it.
"I personally left an IT department that ran on crisis mode for three years," Schnettler says. "Everyone worked 60- to 80-hour weeks, weekends, and God forbid if you tried to take a vacation. As far as I know, it is still running that way today."
IT sin No. 3: Avarice as an action item
When an IT project fails, more often than not, it is due to a lethal combination of arrogance and greed, says Michael Krigsman, CEO of Asuret, a consultancy that specializes in reducing IT project failures.
The problem, says Krigsman, is what he calls "the devil's triangle": naive or arrogant customers who craft hopelessly unrealistic RFPs (requests for proposals); system integrators and consultants who promise to deliver what they know is impossible; and technology providers caught in the middle.
"Even when the integrators go into a project with good faith, they face a conundrum," says Krigsman. "Do they tell the customer that the RFP is doomed to fail and lose the opportunity to win that business? Or do they do what the customer asks and run the risk of failing?"
Failing causes more hassles for integrators, notes Krigsman, but it almost always means more money in their pockets as they rack up hourly surcharges fixing fundamental flaws. "That's where the greed kicks in," he says. Meanwhile, tech providers, loath to alienate the integrators that provide them with cash-paying customers, take a hands-off approach.
According to Krigsman, to overcome inherent greed, you must build incentives for success into the agreement. Consider, for example, an early completion bonus, combined with stiff penalties for projects that run late or over budget.
A side effect of greed is an unwillingness to spend what is needed to get the job done, especially with smaller organizations, says Craig Vickers, a partner at IT Now, a managed IT services provider for small and medium-size businesses.
"One client needed to set up a call center for 50 or 60 people," Vickers says. "We recommended a bonded T1 line for the phones, but they balked at the cost. When we came back a few months later, we opened up the telecom closet and found six DSL modems mounted to the wall. They'd created six different networks, and now they couldn't figure out why their printers wouldn't print. We had to rip them out and throw them away."
This often ends up costing companies more in the long run, he adds.
"A lot of companies think they're saving money, but in the end, they waste more on stuff they throw away instead of buying the things they needed in the first place," he says. "It's all because of greed."
IT sin No. 4: Slothful approaches to IT
IT professionals work hard -- that's a given. But all too often, they're unwilling to step outside their comfort zones or go the extra mile. Despite their hard work, IT managers often commit the sin of sloth by not doing the right things for the business.
"IT people have a fundamental belief that they're not doing anything wrong," says Tony Fisher, CEO of data-quality specialists DataFlux. "That's because they lack an understanding of the business at large. You end up with an environment where the IT manager sits in his office naive and happy, thinking he's doing all the right things, reading all the right journals, and executing everything according to specs that have everything to do with technology but little to do with the business."
For example, Fisher says this year's mortgage debt crisis might not have been so severe if the IT organizations in lending institutions had paid more attention to data quality and accuracy.
"A lot of the data collected from mortgage buyers was incorrect," says Fisher. "There are easy technical ways to validate this information and incorporate it into the system, but it was never done. They just took the information provided at face value. The mortgages were wrapped up in financial packages and sold to mutual funds and banks, but without any attempt to validate whether they were good financial purchases. Whether this was the fault of the business or IT is hard to say. But it's a problem technology could have solved."
The ways sloth can hurt IT departments is almost endless -- from lazy oversight of outsourcing arrangements to lackadaisical compliance auditing, inadequate data security, or bare-bones network monitoring.
"One very large broadband provider in the Northeast had implemented a very expensive network monitoring system they knew wasn't working right but did nothing about it," notes SolarWinds' Stephens. "Then one day, they had an outage affecting over a million people. They had no idea what was happening until their customers started calling them. If they'd implemented even a basic working NMS [network monitoring system], they'd have treated their customers a lot better."
Given the current economic conditions, now is an especially good time to be proactive and busy, says Dave Taylor, co-founder of Sparxent, an IT management solutions vendor.
"During an economic downturn, it becomes more important than ever for IT people's plates to be very full," he says. "If you've been putting off a big project for a while because you were reluctant to spend the hours it takes to get it done, then now is the time to tackle it. Show the company there's no hint of sloth in your IT department and you're willing to put in the long hours just to save the company money in the long haul."
IT sin No. 5. In-house envy
Fiefdoms, kingdoms, and silos have a tendency to develop over time as a company matures, says author DeLuccia. In other words, people stop sharing information and instead spend most of their time protecting their own turf and envying the status or budgets of others. The result? Duplication, lack of transparency, and culture-destroying politics that can cripple an organization, he says.
DeLuccia himself was exposed to the classic example of IT envy when he worked with a global-industrial construction equipment maker. A manager who ran a substantial part of the company's IT operations continuously complained that other divisions had better metrics and superior funding.
"It was his mantra: 'I can't do this because they have a bigger budget, and this is why our operations are failing,'" DeLuccia says.
A third-party audit revealed that the manager's group was continually missing its service-level agreements and not operating as a proper business unit. As a result, the IT manager was let go, and his team was dismantled, DeLuccia says.
"Envy was his downfall," he says. "Instead of being more proactive and saying, 'Here's what we need to do to fix these problems,' he focused all of his attention on what other people had."
SolarWinds' Stevens says similar things happen in many IT organizations, both large and small.
"IT managers are always looking to take responsibility from other IT people in the organization," he says. "The infrastructure guy wants to manage servers; the server guy wants to also be the database administrator. They continually seek more and more responsibility to the point where they're no longer working for the organization; they're just working to take each others' jobs."
IT sin No. 6: Wrath management
Call it management by intimidation. But losing one's head at high volume is no way for an IT manager to motivate his or her troops.
"I think CIO wrath is probably the most damaging of the sins," says Marcelo Schnettler. "They demoralize and often foster the growth of a 'cover your ass' mentality within an IT department that leads to finger-pointing and a lack of collaboration."
Schnettler, who served under six CIOs in six years at various companies, says almost all of them blew up in public at one time or another. Once during a large systems outage, a CIO charged into the cubicle of the person he thought was responsible and chewed him out using language that would curl a sailor's ears, he says. "When he was done, he looked over the cubicles and said, 'Now who am I going to rip a new ***hole next?'"
Inexperienced or immature IT managers throw temper tantrums when they're forced to admit that computers are not magic and that they should have listened to steadier heads when they had the chance, notes Bill Horne, a computer and networking consultant who has worked for many years in the IT and engineering departments of one of the nation's largest telcos.
"I had a manager once demand that our coders accomplish a certain task within record-breaking time," says Horne. "He didn't understand that because a unionized workforce was involved in testing the application, it could be done only if the union workers were available to do it -- during business hours, Monday through Friday.


text: Pubdate: Sun, 19 Jan 2014 Source: Union Leader (Manchester, NH) Copyright: 2014 The Union Leader Corp. Contact: http://www.unionleader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/761 Note: Out-of-state letters are seldom published. Author: Shawne K. Wickham CURRENT LAW WOULD COVER DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED BY POT Legalizing marijuana would not change how DUI laws are enforced here, according to a state police expert. That's because of a 1-year-old state law that was designed to crack down on people who drive while impaired by prescription drugs and other legal medications. RSA 265-A:2 makes it illegal to drive - or operate a boat - while "under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any controlled drug, prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, or any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person's ability to drive." That law was amended in 2012 to include the broader range of substances and took effect Jan. 1, 2013. "New Hampshire wisely chose to say you cannot drive a car impaired by any chemical substance, regardless of ... whether or not a drug is controlled," said Lt. Matthew Shapiro, commander of special services/highway safety for New Hampshire State Police. The law sets a legal limit of .08 blood-alcohol content for adults and .02 for those under 21. But there is no "per se" limit for legal or illegal drugs, according to Shapiro, "Alcohol is the only chemical compound that has a per se limit because it has a linear and very well-studied progression of impairment," he explained. For any other substance, police rely on other evidence, such as driving behavior, field sobriety tests and the arresting officer's observations. If a police officer stops a driver for erratic driving and smells pot, for instance, the officer would look for signs and symptoms of impairment, such as slurred speech, confusion, slowed thought process or staggering gait, Shapiro said. If the driver is arrested for DUI, police will call in a drug recognition expert (DRE) trained to recognize signs and symptoms of impairment from different drugs, said Shapiro, who is a DRE. That expert will then form an opinion about whether the person is impaired "and what they're likely impaired by." "Then the person would very likely be asked to submit to a blood test at that point, which is a confirmatory test." Even if the individual refuses to submit to such a test, Shapiro said, police can still charge him with DUI based on the "totality of evidence." Asked what would change if New Hampshire legalized marijuana, Shapiro said, "Nothing." That's because of the change in the DUI law to include any chemical substances, even legal ones. There are plenty of legitimate arguments against legalization, he said. But he said fears that police would not be able to arrest impaired drivers shouldn't be one of them. "There is no out on DUI," Shapiro said. "We take that very seriously." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom


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1. Implementation of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.
These programmes were conducted for the implementation of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission targeting the children of the people with a Tamil origin living in the estates and the children displaced as a result of the war that lasted for a long time. The primary objective of this programme was to create a safe childhood for the children living in these areas by ensuring their basic child rights. The activities included provision of facilities for children, establishing pleasure centers for them, holding art, music, dancing and sports events and conducting literacy classes for children who were illiterate. Financial allocations were made based on the requests received from the Divisional Secretariat Divisions.
Programmers are implemented at District S.D. and Divisional S.D. levels to raise awareness of those who were directly involved in war. Safety of children when away from home and facilities for improving knowledge and skills are provided. Children are fortunate to use the library and play indoor games and outdoor games here.
2. The UNICEF Project
The UNICEF Sri Lanka and the Department of Probation and Child Care Services has been carrying out a number of special programmes for so many years to ensure the safety of children. These programmes, which are implemented as annually submitted project proposals, aim at capacity development of the Child Rights Promotion Officers and technical aspects such as preparation of guidelines and formulation of policies. Accordingly, following activities have been completed to date:
3. South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC)
South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) is an organization that operates to create the children of the region an environment free of all forms of violence. The member countries of SAARC; Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka represents this organization. This organization, which operates as a member organization of the SAARC is governed by a Governing Board consisting of representatives from member states.
The structure of this organization has been established under two divisions. In addition to the actions of the state, a network called National Action Coordinating Group (NACG) which is a representation of both NGOs and INGOs exists.
Sri Lankan representation:
National Agency National Implementing Agency
Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Department of Probation and Child Care Services
Governing Board Member National Coordinator
Chandrani Senaratne P. Chandima Sigera
Secretary Commissioner
Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Department of Probation and Child Care Services
5th Floor 3rd Floor
Sethsiripaya Stage II Sethsiripaya Stage II
Battaramulla Battaramulla
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Chairperson - National Action Coordinating Group Co-Chairperson- National Action Coordinating Group
Champa Goonasekara Chandila Colombage
Director Manager- Child Care
Foundation for Innovative Social Development World Vision Lanka
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Email: email@example.com
Link: http://www.saievac.org
4. Social Protection of Children
Action Plan for the Social Protection of Children- 2016-2018
The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs implements this project with the funding of Save the Children. The responsibility of implementing the activities of the project has been assigned to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, Department of Probation and Child Care Services, National Child Protection Authority and to the Children's Secretariat.
Save the Children provides funds for this project under 04 main Strategy Areas in order to strengthen the children's right for protection, development and participation within the Sri Lankan society.
Specific responsibility was assigned to the Department of Probation and Child Care Services when implementing these programmes in year 2016. Under this, Rs. 35.35 million was allocated to this department for the year and the allocation was spent for the following:
Production of a video clip in order to use in national level awareness programmes which are intended to promote child protection and child rights.
It is evident that the above programmes implemented under the Action Plan for the Social Protection of Children for the protection and development of the Sri Lankan children has a significant contribution for the creation of a friendly society for the children.


text:
Crystal Mountain is a long ridgecrest running north-south, immediately northeast of the massive bulk of Mount Rainier. The largest downhill ski area in the state of Washington blankets the east face of this ridge, while the west slopes are a wilderness in Mount Rainier National Park that drops down to Highway 410.
The Crystal Mountain ski area resort complex of lifts, roads, and trails has made this crest one of the most visited major peaks in the Cascades. Every bump on the ridge has been given a name--the highest, at the south end, is called Silver King, and running north are The Throne, Silver Queen, the Summit House, Grubstake Peak, and Northway Peak. The ski area trail maps appear to inflate the summit elevations when compared with the USGS topographic map elevations; for example, Silver King is 6998 feet high on the topo map, but 7013 feet according to the ski area publications.
In winter, the High Campbell charlift (#6) takes skiers right to the top of Silver Queen, the highest point reachable without sweat. A long traverse south along the ridge and a 20 minute hike lure skiers to the summit of Silver King, where comparatively less tracked-out snow often awaits. In summer, the resort runs chairlifts to the Summit House for sightseers and mountain bikers.
Views of Mount Rainier from almost anywhere along the ridge of Crystal Mountain are dumbfoundingly awesome on clear days, but from most of the ski area "the mountain" is hidden behind you.
This page has been served 19871 times since 2004-11-01.


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PPP poll: McAuliffe up 4 on Cuccinelli
Democrat Terry McAuliffe has a 4-point lead over Republican state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginia governor's race, according to a poll out Tuesday morning.
The survey by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling has McAuliffe at 41 percent, compared with 37 percent for Cuccinelli and 7 percent for libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis. Fifteen percent said they're undecided.
McAuliffe also leads among self-described independents, 40 percent to 33 percent. Twenty percent of independents are undecided.
( PHOTOS: Terry McAuliffe's career)
The poll, shared early with POLITICO, also finds both McAuliffe and Cuccinelli with underwater favorability ratings: 32 percent of voters view Cuccinelli favorably, while 47 percent have a negative opinion of him. McAuliffe's ratings are 34 percent favorable and 36 percent unfavorable.
The candidates have been running close in polls for months. Both McAuliffe and Cuccinelli have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks, which is likely to make their favorability ratings drop even further.
( PHOTOS: Ken Cuccinelli's career)
Another factor that's likely to come up in the race is the scandal over gifts to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams. Numbers out Monday from PPP found McDonnell's approval rating had dropped 12 points in just a month, to 36 percent, and that 35 percent of the state's voters think he should resign.
Democrats are also leading the Virginia races for lieutenant governor and attorney general, the PPP poll found.
For lieutenant governor, Democratic state Sen. Ralph Northam leads GOP pastor and lawyer E.W. Jackson, 42 percent to 35 percent. For attorney general, Democratic state Sen. Mark Herring leads GOP state Sen. Mark Obenshain, 38 percent to 36 percent.
Despite all the headlines Jackson garnered when he was selected for the GOP ticket in May, most Virginia voters still don't know much about him: 57 percent said they had no opinion. Of the voters who do, Jackson's numbers are almost 2-to-1 unfavorable: 15 percent said they view him favorably, compared with 28 percent who view him unfavorably.
The poll surveyed 601 Virginia voters from July 11-14, and has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.


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Centre for Geopolitical Studies was established in 2005. During the period of its existence Centre for Geopolitical Studies successfully works in the following areas:
For effective complex defence of Latvia, the establishment of a permanent division of the National Armed Forces has started in Latgale, reported the official website of the Ministry of Defence.
On 13 January a concert "Together to the victory" was held in Lithuania, where the audience decided to support Ukraine's defence and donated 110 thousand Euros.
Alexander Lukashenko on 9 January signed a decree № 8 "On the establishment of visa-free entry and exit of foreign nationals." The document establishes visa-free entry to Belarus for a period not exceeding 5 days at the entrance through the checkpoint "National Airport Minsk" for citizens of 80 countries, - reported the press service of the President of Belarus.
Copyright: it is obligatory to indicate www.geopolitika.lt as a source in reprinting or otherwise using www.geopolitika.lt material!
© 2005-2017 Geopolitinių Studijų Centras


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News | June 2, 2010
Next Stop, Titan: Looking at the Land o' Lakes
NASA's Cassini spacecraft will be eyeing the north polar region of Saturn's moon Titan this weekend, scanning the moon's land o' lakes.
At closest approach on early morning Saturday, June 5 UTC, which is Friday afternoon, June 4 Pacific time, Cassini will glide to within about 2,000 kilometers (1,300 miles) of the Titan surface.
Cassini will make infrared scans of the north polar region, which was in darkness for the first several years of Cassini's tour around the Saturn system. The lighting has improved as northern spring has started to dawn over the area.
The visual and infrared spectrometer will be prime during closest approach, but the imaging science subsystem cameras will also be taking pictures. Among the scientific bounties, Cassini team members are hoping to get another good look at Kraken Mare, the largest lake on Titan, which covers a greater area than the Caspian Sea on Earth.
Although this latest flyby is dubbed "T69," planning changes early in the orbital tour made this the 70th targeted flyby of Titan.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. JPL manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter was designed, developed and assembled at JPL.
Jia-Rui C. Cook 818-354-0850
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.


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One of our boy's teachers encouraged them to watch the Ted talk by Sir Ken Robinson.
The video was particularly interesting to me as I was one of those people who found University incredibly boring. I found learning how to sell and how business works at my part time job much more interesting. The only flashes of interest for me were the occasional challenging project where it would capture my attention and I would throw myself into it. The rest? Repetition and memorization.
Our education system needs an overhaul. Only 9M people have seen this, hundreds of millions need to see it.
PS: On the education side, a great video on how to understand the UK here. 🙂


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So, honestly, I haven't spent a whole lot of time browsing recipes this week. I've been in the middle of my course on Food – from seed to table, and having a blast with my students! From a grocery store field trip to making butter, this week has been wonderful. But, I haven't had too much online time.
Thus, I am really looking forward to your finds today – you can help me see all the goodness I missed!
Frozen Yogurt Covered Strawberries
Source: Uploaded by user via FindingJoyInMyKitchen on Pinterest
Deep Dish Salted Cookie Pie
Source: eatliverun.com via FindingJoyInMyKitchen on Pinterest
Crockpot Chicken Quesadillas
Source: thesisterscafe.com via FindingJoyInMyKitchen on Pinterest
Buttermilk Biscuits
Source: thepearsonfamilee.blogspot.com via FindingJoyInMyKitchen on Pinterest
If you were featured, feel free to grab the button below!
Can't wait to see your finds from this week – link up your post of the recipes you found this week.
Please link up to a post containing your list of recipes to try -- do not link up individual recipes please, save those for other linkys. Be sure to leave a link back here to Finding Joy in My Kitchen.


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Auto electricity
Surface protectionTools are made of excellent steel improved composition. Several models come with additional chrome surface protection.
Ergonomic handleWith ergonomic handles and a specially designed grip, surface Unior pliers provide maximum comfort at work and high efficiency with minimum strain.
High precisionWith their perfect design and technological superiority, Unior automotive tools ensure a high precision hold in any instance of general or dedicated use.


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1. From Lisbon: Évora and Monsaraz Day Tour with Wine Tasting
Set off on your full-day tour from Lisbon and discover one of the most scenic parts of Portugal's countryside. Make your way through Alentejo with its magnificent plains filled with olive trees, vineyards, and cork oaks. Make your first stop at Évora, a Unesco World Heritage site and one of the most beautifully preserved medieval towns. Take a guided tour inside the Roman Temple, one of the best preserved Roman structures on the Iberian Peninsula. Your guide will also show you around the must-see Chapel of Bones. Take time to admire the ornate architecture of the Cathedral of Évora. Your second stop will be the graceful medieval village of Monsaraz, one of the oldest in Portugal and built within the walls of a castle. Taste one of the best wines in Portugal with the views of one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe. At the end of a full day of sightseeing, return to Lisbon. Treat yourself and your family or friends to a private experience with pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Lisbon, Cascais, or Ericeira. Alternatively, you can opt for a small-group experience and meet your guide outside one of two central hotels.


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ISSF World Cup Final
Frequency: every two year, one in Rifle/Pistol events and one in Shotgun events
Last edition: 2017 ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi (IND)
Next edition:
2019 ISSF World Cup Final in Al Ain (UAE)
2019 ISSF World Cup Final in Putian (CHN)
Number of shooting sport events: 15 events in three disciplines
Medal winners at the ISSF World Cup Final
Find out the medal winners of the ISSF World Cup Final in all its editions!
The ISSF World Cup Final
Every two years the ISSF World Cup Final is organized as a conclusion to the ISSF World Cup Series. Usually, two separated finals are organized: one in Rifle/Pistol events, one in Shotgun events.
At the end of the World Cup Series the eight shooters holding the highest qualification score in each event are qualified for the ISSF World Cup Final. A maximum of two athletes per nation can compete in each event.
Alongside these eight athletes, wild cards are granted to the title defenders and to the three medalists of the Olympic Games and of the World Championship, when these competitions are held.
How to qualify for the ISSF World Cup Final
The qualification to the ISSF World Cup Final can be obtained by gaining points throughout the ISSF World Cup Series.
Every athlete who is officially registered to compete in an ISSF World Cup by his shooting federation can qualify in one or more events.
How to gain points for the ISSF World Cup Final
At every ISSF World Cup stage two different categories of points are awarded: A points and B points.
A points are awarded depending on the final ranking of the shooter: 15 points for the 1st place, 10 points for the 2nd place, 8 points for the 3rd place, 5 points for the 4th place, 4 points for the 5th place, 3 points for the 6th place, 2 points for the 7th place and 1 point for the 8th place.
B points are awarded depending on the final score of the shooter: the closest to the Qualification World Record, the more points are gained. 15 points can be obtained by equaling the record or by setting a new one; one point is deduced for every difference-point between the record and the score.
A and B points are added together at the conclusion of the World Cup stage to obtain the ISSF World Cup Final Qualification Value. A maximum of 30 points is possible.
If a shooter obtained more than one qualification value, for example by participating in two or more different stages, only the highest one will be valid. In case of tie between two or more values, the tie will be broken according to: the higher B value, the higher score in the qualification round, the higher score in the final round, the higher qualification ranking.
Wild cards
Apart from the qualification system, all the World Cup Final title defender are automatically qualified for the following one. Also, in the years of Olympic Games and ISSF World Championship, the gold, silver and bronze medalist of these competitions are automatically qualified. In the years between, only the title defenders and the Olympic and World champions are automatically qualified.
The limit of two athletes per NOC does not apply to the title defenders and Olympic and World Championship medalists. Also, if any of these athletes own one of the top-eight qualification values, the slot will go to the shooter that follows in the ranking.
At least two athletes may represent the organizing member federation in each event. If no shooter qualifies, or if only one is qualified, the ISSF may award one or two wild cards to the team. If both cards are awarded, they should be given to one male and one female athlete, although, in exceptional cases, wild cards can be awarded so the organizing federation is represented by two men or two women.
To receive the wild cards, the organizing federation must apply to the ISSF Headquarters by nominating the athletes designated to receive the cards. Application must include athletes' names, ID numbers and the event in which they will participate.
Olympic Games
Youth Olympic Games
World Championships
World Cup
World Cup Final
Continental Championships
Official Partners


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Weymouth company helping Boston homeless in CityPak project
WEYMOUTH – A dozen employees of Hill & Partners are participating in a special program Thursday in Boston to help homeless people.
The CityPak Project will distribute 1,750 specially designed backpacks to area homeless people who receive a variety of health services at six locations throughout Boston.
The versatile backpacks are designed to meet the constantly changing needs of the homeless, who move about frequently.
The South Shore employees of the Libby Park company, which specializes in environmental branding, have contributed in many ways to the CityPak initiative, in conjunction with Boston Health Care for the Homeless.
The health services that will be offered include general health screenings and vital signs, tobacco cessation, A Healthy Me (nutrition/weight management), budgeting, Narcan education, podiatry, dermatology, eye care, dental checks and HIV testing.
The health fairs will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, St. Francis House, Woods Mullen Shelter and Jean Yawkey Place.
From 1 to 4 p.m., the Pine Street Inn will host health fairs at the men and women's shelter.
Joe Brosnan of Marshfield, senior account manager at Hill & Partners, is leading the local team.
Hill & Partners kicked off a CityPak fundraising campaign for the project with its client, High Sierra, in April, using the Travel Goods Show.
The Weymouth company is offering a donation match up to $5,000 through June 30.
Hill & Partners is also encouraging clients and vendors to contribute items to the backpacks.
These include food, socks, water bottles, gift certificates and personal-hygiene items. Other donated services include shipping and warehousing to pack the packs, other materials and delivery to the event locations.
Hill & Partners staff will also volunteer at the six sites.
The employees include CEO Michael McMahon, Amy Connery of Hanover; Lauren Delcogliano and Rick Lenz, both of Weymouth, Rachelle Kulak, Mike Riley and Mike Geary, all of Hingham , Whitney Crowley of Whitman, John Neil of Scituate, and Chris Odlum and John Grogan, both of Quincy.
CityPak was founded by Chicago businessman and philanthropist Ron Kaplan in 2012.
Sue Scheible may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow on Twitter@SueS_Ledger.


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NEW YORK, N.Y. – A New York native who built one of the world's top public relations companies has died.
Daniel J. Edelman is credited with developing many of the methods now standard in the field such as the use of celebrity endorsements.
His son Richard Edelman says he died of heart failure Tuesday at a Chicago hospital. He was 92.
The company Daniel Edelman started more than 60 years ago with two people now employs more than 4,000 in 66 offices worldwide. His son runs it.
Daniel Edelman was a Columbia University graduate. He worked as a newspaper reporter and editor before he went into public relations. He first honed his public relations skills during World War II, while analyzing German propaganda.
The Edelman firm's clients include Microsoft, Pfizer, Wal-Mart and Royal Dutch Shell.


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As an exercise, I've plotted the locations of the GISS Code 1 stations in the US, color coded them to show the ones that end early and then examined the Code 1 stations in California where there is a combination of both a strong GISS trend anomaly and station survey completion.
First, here is an interesting diagram from Hansen et al 2001 showing 1900-1999 trends based on "Unlit" stations – showing results for different USHCN versions. I presume that the interpolation here uses something like the R package akima, which I used in a plot last year. For now, don't worry too much about the differences in trends for the different USHCN versions – just notice the hot spot in southern California, as that's what we're going to look at in more detail.
Next here is a plot showing the location of all the Code 1 stations in the GISS file, color coded so that blue ends by 1990 and red goes after 2000. A couple of things to notice here – first, none of the GISS Code 1 stations in Canada or Mexico has any information after 1990. C'mon, Jim and Reto – get off your LaZee-Boys and get the data. So to the extent that post-1990 information affects the Hansen two-legged adjustment, it is all from US data.
Next here is a zoom-in showing the stations that would presumably contribute to the southern California hotspot. There are only 10 of them. Since Hansen has identified them as Code 1, I guess that we can interpret that as some kind of voucher that these stations are the crème de la crème of U.S. stations, that here we will find the distilled essence of station history at its finest, NASA's top guns.
NASA's Finest
Cuayamaca (surface survey here) is station nearest the SW California corner – let's work up from here. Cuyamaca has the temperature history shown below. I've shown the 1900-2000 trend per Hansen et al 2001 together with a trend from 1925-2000 in green. There is actually a slight decline in the 75-year period, though there is a noticeable trend in the 100-year history. (Post-2000 values are not included in this analysis because they were not available for Hansen et al 2001.) The station history notes a move in 1926 – see dashed red line. The trend for this station thus depends on what we know about Cuyamaca station in the early part of the century – do the low early 20th century values represent well-measured temperature or is some portion an artifact of station moves?
San Nicolas Island
This is an offshore location, which is in GHCN but not in USHCN. Observations, as indicated in the history below, are spotty. This seems like a peculiar selection as one of NASA's finest as the record is extremely discontinuous. Surely there are better alternatives.
This is another non-USHCN (ending in the 1980s) which is a peculiar inclusion as a Top Gun. It appears that there may have been a station discontinuity around 1940. As it is not a USHCN station, there is no station history so it's hard to tell. The available information obviously is not strong support for Hansen's hot spot, support for which must obviously be derived from other Top Guns.
Sandberg is another non-USHCN site included in the Top Guns. As shown below, it only has a short squib of a record and it's hard to see why it should be accorded Top Gun status.
Fairmont and Tejon Rancho
These two sites are near each other and shown below. One has a slight increase since the 1920s, the other a slight decrease. One has no early 20th century values, the other has lowish values along the lines of Cuyamaca, and opposed to Beaumont.
Lemon Cove
Lemon Cove has a long history again with little trend since the 1920s, but low early 20th century values generate a 1900-1999 trend.
Needles, another USHCN site, is the last Code 1 site in southern California. It has a long history and considerable visual similarity to Lemon Cove. In the late 19th century, it has quite high values, but it also looks like there is a discontinuity.
Childs AZ
Childs is one of only two Code 1 sites in Arizona (the other is Lees Ferry in the very north of Arizona.) Hansen uses distances up to 1000 km (625 miles) for weighting though the weight declines with distance. Because it is relatively isolated from other Code 1 stations, it has a very strong influence in Arizona – an area that we've discussed at some length. It has rather low values in the 1930s, a pattern opposite to Needles and Lemon Cove. One wonders at how solid this information relative to the leverage of the site.
Lee's Ferry
Lee's Ferry has a still different appearance. Values before 1940 are similar to values after 1940. The post-2000 pattern is different than Childs and one wonders whether there is a discontinuity at one site or the other.
Some Comments
While I endorse the concept of trying to find quality within the USHCN network and I think that they can be identified with objective criteria, I'm not convinced that the GISS unlit methodology has developed a very good network of Top Guns in the southwest U.S. Obviously some of the Top Guns have very spotty histories and should be disqualified on those grounds alone. Once they are excluded, we are left with a rather small population and it's relatively easy to do some QC on each site. On a quick pass, it seems unlikely that all of the sites could have been properly QCed and that the remaining differences are climatic. It seems far more likely that there are still material QC problems with the Top Guns in southwest U.S. and that 1900-1999 tend quantification (a la Hansen et al 2001) is to a considerable extent far too dependent on QC issues.
The 1900-1999 trend is extremely dependent on the pre-1920 portion of the Code 1 record and, in this case, the early part of the century is highly dependent on only a few stations, with one of the stations (Beaumont) having very inconsistent results to the others.


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Bill Kelter
Bill has harbored a passion for the margins of American politics since seeing the second Nixon-Agnew inaugural and spending afternoons on breaks from his paper route, where he learned that the most meaningful things you need to know about the American Executive Branch can be found on the back pages of our newspapers between ads for Earl Scheib and Woolworth's Semi-Annual White Sale. Retired from elective politics since the age of 19, Bill never misses an electoral season. Besides Veeps: Profiles In Insignificance, his 2008 Top Shelf collaboration with friend and artist Wayne Shellabarger, he has contributed his observations on the American Vice Presidency to Politico and Powells.com. Bill is a resident of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and a member of the Portland business community, where, unlike so many of his Vice Presidential heroes, he prefers to do his job quietly and without public fanfare.
by Bill Kelter and Wayne Shellabarger


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Sizing Guide
A chic midi length... a luxurious wool blend... the Camel Coat adds an air of elegance to any outfit. In a double breasted silhouette, this tailored jacket features a slim fit with softly sculpted lapels, open pockets with flaps, covered buttons, and buttoned cuffs that make it look polished and refined from every point of view.Wool-blendMidi LengthImported
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Kind is the speech of Christ our Lord,
Affection sounds in every word:
Lo! thou art fair, my love," he cries,
"Not the young doves have sweeter eyes."
["Sweet are thy lips, thy pleasing voice
Salutes mine ear with secret joys;
No spice so much delights the smell,
Nor milk nor honey tastes so well.]
"Thou art all fair, my bride, to me,
I will behold no spot in thee."
What mighty wonders love performs,
And puts a comeliness on worms!
Defiled and loathsome as we are,
He makes us white, and calls us fair;
Adorns us with that heav'nly dress,
His graces and his righteousness.
"My sister and my spouse," he cries,
"Bound to my heart by various ties,
Thy powerful love my heart detains
In strong delight and pleasing chains."
He calls me from the leopard's den,
From this wild world of beasts and men,
To Zion, where his glories are;
Not Lebanon is half so fair.
Nor dens of prey, nor flowery plains,
Nor earthly joys, nor earthly pains,
Shall hold my feet or force my stay,
When Christ invites my soul away.
|First Line:
|Kind is the speech of Christ our Lord
|Completeness of Christ
|Isaac Watts
|Public Domain


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Last Friday, for Central's annual springconcertDJ
Kendrick Lamar and Steve Aoki performed! The concert was held in our gym and completely sold out, so it was really packed. It was a fantastic way to end the semester, and honestly one of the most fun things I've done on campus so far! Doors were at 7, and my friends and I were lucky enough to get right up against the barricade in the front row! I went with my roommate, Shalyse, my friends, Fallyn, Ben, and Raymond, and my boyfriend, Brandon. Before Kendrick came out they had a and a band, Bad Rabbits, come out and play.
Next was Kendrick, and he was fantastic! I honestly hadn't really listened to him much until I started dating my current boyfriend a few months back, so I was surprised when I actually knew all the words to the majority of the songs he played, which definitely made the experience better. Steve Aoki came out next, however, my friends and I didn't stay the entire performance. I definitely regretted leaving after seeing pictures of Steve crowdsurfing on a blow-up mattress, people crowdsurfing on a raft, and Steve throwing cake into the crowd while playing his remix of "Pursuit of Happiness." Everyone says he killed it, and like I said, I wish I could have seen his whole performance!
Overall though, this spring concert was so amazing, and I'm so glad I got to close out my semester with my friends that way. I can't wait for next year's!


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Loungewear & NightwearLoungewear & Nightwear
Lounge & Sleepwear for Men
Tommy Hilfiger men's nightwear and loungewear are the staples of every man's wardrobe. A pair of men's pyjama bottoms and soft cotton t-shirts equate to some of the most comfortable men's sleepwear you will ever have the pleasure to experience, while tapered jogging pants are cool enough to be worn out of the house for a quintessentially, casual take on men's loungewear. Prepare to turn your relaxation level up to the max.
Our classic, American cool collection of men's nightwear includes laid-back pyjama separates, relaxed shorts, stylish sets and luxe nighties for men. Whether you're looking for a comfortable and practical men's bathrobe or the best pyjamas you'll ever wear, now is your time to sleep, lounge and relax in style. Built to embrace Tommy Hilfiger's classic, American-influenced aesthetic, our newest collection of comfortable-meets-cool men's loungewear guarantees that you'll never be caught looking anything less than your best ever again.


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Need custom shirts or looking for a Big Frog store near you? Visit
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text: Whatever you may need in electrical contracting, we've done it before. Whether you're a homemaker that needs to install a new electrical outlet or cable jack, or a manufacturing company in need of a new electric generator, Electrotech is there for you. A full-service electrical contractor based in Tallahassee, Florida, Electrotech is licensed and insured in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and can be where you need us quickly. No job is too large or small, our electricians are experienced, courteous and take pride in doing things the right way, the first time!


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Carpet Cleaner Brisbane Springfield Lakes
Carpet Cleaning Springfield Lakes, Pest Control Springfield Lakes Brisbane
Carpet Cleaning Services Springfield Lakes, Reliable Carpet Cleaner
David Pye is Brisbane's trusted and reliable carpet cleaner. We provide thorough Carpet Cleaning Springfield Lakes, and Pest Control Springfield Lakes Brisbane services to residential and commercial properties. This includes end-of lease carpet cleaning in Springfield Lakes. We have built a reputation over the last four years by delivering timely services tailored to suit the needs of each individual's situation.
Eco-Friendly Carpet Cleaning Springfield Lakes and Pest Control Springfield Lakes Brisbane Services
We only use environmentally friendly cleaning products and never compromise on quality. Our carpet cleaning equipment is of the highest quality and provides high-quality carpet and upholstery cleaning without harsh chemical solvents. David Pye uses environmentally friendly soaps and fabric whiteners to achieve polished perfection in every job. Even the most difficult and challenging jobs such as blood, urine, and red wine stains are handled with green and safe products that leave no trace on your carpet or the surrounding environment.
Full Range of Carpet Cleaning Springfield Lakes and Pest Control Springfield Lakes Brisbane Services
At David Pye Carpet Cleaner in Springfield Lakes, we believe in providing a hassle-free, problem-solving service. This includes being a single point of call for all your Carpet Cleaning Springfield Lakes and Pest Control Springfield Lakes Brisbane needs. David Pye is an experienced professional in cleaning carpets, upholstery, and mattresses, and pest control for:
*Springfield Lakes Factories
*Springfield Lakes Warehouses
*Springfield Lakes Office buildings
*Springfield Lakes Day care centres
*Springfield Lakes Doctors surgeries
*Springfield Lakes Small units
*Springfield Lakes Large Houses
We offer emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to resolve your problems quickly.
Our service is 24/7 in case of urgent and emergency cases. We understand that bookings are preferable, but we also understand the importance of a quick service in Springfield Lakes for Carpet Cleaning Springfield Lakes or Pest Control Springfield Lakes Brisbane Services. That is why we offer a come now service in Springfield Lakes.
Business Name:
Carpet Cleaner Brisbane Springfield Lakes
10 Tamatea Dr, QLDBellbird Park Queensland 4300Australia
0400 860 786
About Bellbird Park
Bellbird Park is a suburb in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Bellbird Park had a population of 6,736 people. == History == Kruger State School opened 23 January 1978 at Kruger Road at Redbank Plains, but suburb boundary changes means it is now in Bellbird Park.In the 2011 census, Bellbird Park had a population of 5,031 people.In the 2016 census Bellbird Park had a population of 6,736 people.Bellbird Park State Secondary College opened in January 2017 for an initial intake of Year 7 students and by 2022 will be offering Year 7 through to Year 12. == Heritage Study == The Ipswich City Council's expanded heritage study identified the farmhouse Langley at 83 Johnstone Street as having significant cultural heritage. It was built for pioneers Alfred and Edith Josey in 1886.
Neighborhoods in Bellbird Park, Queensland
Abermain, Allenview, Barellan Point, Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre, Bellbird Grove, Bellbird Grove Walking Tracks, Bellbird Park State Secondary College, Bethania Community Centre, Biami Yumba Park, Blackwall, Booran Neighbourhood Centre, Brush Box Park, Carpet Cleaner Brisbane, Churchill, Communify Queensland
Things to do in Bellbird Park, Queensland
Our Newest Profiles


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Several astrology blogs, including AstroDataBank, list 9:51 a.m. as the time that New York real estate billionaire Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946. However, when Trump released his birth certificate in a nod to the "birthers" who believe that President Obama was not born in the US, it revealed a 10:36 or 10:56 a.m. time of birth. The handwriting is too small for me to make out in this image. Maybe one of Astrology Mundo's eagle-eyed readers will let me know which one it is.
Assuming that 10:56 is the time of birth, Trump has a 0 degree Virgo rising. Given his prominent hair, now dyed brightly red, I would have chosen a Leo rising for Trump. But the new chart has Mars in Leo quite close to the Ascendant, so that works for me. Loaded Second House of Wealth also seems to confirm the new birthtime. Any thoughts, astrologers?


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My love for dirt started at a young age.
When I was two my parents moved from the paved environment of the Bay Area to the rural lands of Boise, Idaho. An acre of dirt made their eyes grow large, much like a kid at a candy store. Yet unfortunately too much candy can cause a bellyache. Finding the balance between raising a family, working 9 to 5, and managing a plot of dirt was tricky; Something had to give. Luckily the strong bonds that had developed (from what I assume is child birth and breast feeding) could not be broken.
They decided dirt had to go. My family moved into a less "dirt-y" environment: Suburbia.
And despite the move my family still loved dirt. Whenever there was extra money burning in our pockets we spent it on dirt. We became weekend dirt warriors. For as many weekends as possible we eagerly traipsed on dirt for family events & relaxation. The dirt around Stanley, McCall, & Cascade, Idaho became our home away from home.
Even the annual family vacations became dirt-focused. During one of my favorite vacations we explored the dirt between Boise, Idaho & deep British Columbia. There we discovered that Canadians harbor a well-kept secret; their abundance of beautiful dirt.
They call their dirt the Canadian Rockies.
As an adult I still love dirt.
For example, when I was living in Girdwood, Alaska I kept pet worms. Sometimes people would blindly say, "Your pet worms are more boring than a hibernating turtle."
My response? "I love dirt." Plain & simple.
Here are a couple of links to a few of my favorite dirt adventures:
Yum Yum Colostrum: A Volunteer Experience at Coonridge Orginic Goat Dairy
Atlanta, Idaho Bicycle Journey
Highwway 26 the Bicycle Tour from Boise, ID to Portland, OR
One of the (many) reasons I live at the Bridge Street Inn is for its bountiful, beautiful dirt. In front of the Inn there's a white picket fence not to keep in the 2 1/2 kids, control the growing herbs or fence in the dog but to keep out the pavement.
Just three blocks from the BSI are some winding dirt trails that lead to the edge of North America's western shore. It's a great opportunity to see the blooming milk thistle or listen to the birds chirp.
Cambria, California has an amazing section of dirt to explore called the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Click on the link to view photos and trail maps:


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Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Second Generation
Chapter Analysis of Second Generation
Click on a plot link to find similar books!
Plot & ThemesComposition of Book descript. of violence and chases 10%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 40%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 30%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 20% Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: - 2000+ (Present) Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book The crook is.... - stalking/killing innocents Crime Thriller - Yes Is MAIN CHARACTER an EVIL criminal? - Yes General Crime (including known murderer) - Yes Who's the criminal enemy here? - drug dealers If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker
Main CharacterGender - Female Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race - White/American
SettingUnited States - Yes The US: - Southeast The Americas (not US): - Yes The Americas: - South
Writing StyleAccounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Books with storylines, themes & endings like Second Generation
|Four Days to Veracruz by Owen West
|Hark by Ed McBain
|The Dragon Man by Garry Disher
|Good Morning, Darkness by Ruth Francisco
|Counting To Infinity by J.L. Abramo


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So-called netbooks have been all the rage in tech media lately. So much so that many believe that Apple will soon release a more compact notebook than its current 13" MacBook or MacBook Air. One analyst believes Apple will do just that in the first half of next year.
Netbooks, generally inspired by the low-cost, low-power OLPC project, usually feature small-ish, limited resolution screens, low-power Intel Atom processors, and are designed to be just enough to get basic tasks done, like e-mailing, web browsing, or text editing. The subnotebooks generally lack optical drives, have limited graphics capabilities, and many have really cramped keyboards. The main attractions to this class of computer are generally ultra-portability and low price, usually starting around $400.
Apple took an altogether different approach when it made the ultra-portable MacBook Air. It kept a relatively large 13" screen, a full-sized keyboard, and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, but made the computer impossibly thin to get the weight down to just over three pounds. Unfortunately, the price starts around $1800—definitely not for the budget-minded.
Technology Business Research, Inc. analyst Ezra Gottheil, however, thinks that due to the recent downturn in the economy, Apple will be forced to compete with these low-cost netbooks. "Apple is facing the possibility that as the economic news gets worse, they're increasingly pricing themselves out of an important market," said Gottheil in his latest research note. "Economic conditions are accelerating this."
"Because Apple kept the price of its entry-level Macs higher than that of the competition during a long period of price decreases in the industry, Apple has essentially removed itself from the product category of entry-priced PC," Gottheil said.
That statement belies the fact that Apple's strategy is working. The company has seen its share of computer sales, and notebook sales in particular, increase over the past year, not decrease. In October, Apple claimed 18 percent of the US notebook market, and one-third of the revenue. In contrast, netbooks only represented 5 percent of US notebook sales, and at $300–500 a pop, only a tiny fraction of the revenue.
That doesn't mean Apple won't release a netbook or netbook competitor. Though Steve Jobs pointedly stated in the company's last quarterly earnings call, "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk," Apple's CEO also said that the company was keeping an eye on the "nascent" netbook market. "We've got some pretty interesting ideas if it does evolve," he told analysts. There are lots of ways Apple can approach this; I'm sure that, for every Infinite Loop reader, there's an idea for how Apple should make a netbook. But Apple will only do so when it makes sense for Apple, its customers, and its bottom line. If and when it does, expect Apple to redefine the word "netbook" altogether.


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Adobe today put PowerPC users on notice: in a newly published FAQ, the company confirms that future versions of the Creative Suite will run only on Intel-based Macs. In explaining the move, Adobe cited Apple's announcement that the forthcoming release of Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) will not support the PowerPC chip set.
From the press release: "With Apple's future development focused on Intel Macs, Adobe is aligning its resources accordingly. Customers are being notified to provide fair notice of any changes regarding the operating systems and hardware supported by Adobe solutions. By announcing these changes now, Adobe customers will have time to plan their migration strategy accordingly."
According to the FAQ document, Creative Suite 4 and Creative Suite 3 will continue to run on both PowerPC and Intel machines, but Adobe will limit all future updates to the programs to fixing "critical issues."


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Navy yard shootings report urges Pentagon to look inside
WASHINGTON – Reviews triggered by the Washington Navy Yard killings last year have concluded that threats to Defense Department personnel and facilities increasingly are coming from trusted insiders, and to defeat them the Pentagon must beef up security from within.
An independent study and an internal review ordered after the September 2013 massacre and released Tuesday said the Pentagon must move beyond an outmoded approach to security that focuses on building better walls and defending the perimeter. More attention must be paid, they concluded, to defending against threats from inside the workforce.
At the same time, however, a Navy investigation also determined that the shooting might have been prevented if the company that employed former Navy reservist Aaron Alexis had told the Navy about problems it was having with him in the months before he gunned down 12 civilian workers in a Navy Yard building.
"The most effective methods to prevent targeted violence in the workplace must be employed long before someone enters an installation with a weapon," the internal review said.
According to the Navy probe, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company, The Experts, pulled Alexis' access to classified material because of concerns he was having mental health problems, but then restored it two days later and never told the Navy about it.
The broader department reviews reached similar conclusions and recommendations, including that the department cut the number of workers who hold security clearances, conduct better and routinely updated background checks, and set up a system to evaluate and handle employees who may pose a threat.
While the reviews were ordered as a result of the Navy Yard shootings, they reflect similar worries brought out by the massive intelligence leaks by former National Security Agency contract systems analyst Edward Snowden.
"Threats to our personnel and classified information increasingly lie within our installations, and come from DoD employees and contractors who are trusted insiders," said the independent review. "The Department of Defense needs to strengthen security from within, and reframe its policies and programs to counter insider threats."
Marcel Lettre, the principal defense undersecretary for intelligence, said the department is looking at phasing in a system that would do continuous evaluations of employees who hold security clearances.
And Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Pentagon will consider cutting the number of workers with active security clearances — currently about 2.5 million — by 10 percent


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Dear NHL,
Welcome back! And congratulations on making it to another season. Just two years after fiscal calamity almost killed the league, I hear you're doing pretty well. So, huzzah, National Hockey League! And please pass along my best wishes to the defending champs, who have finally returned the Stanley Cup to its spiritual home, Anaheim.
I'm writing today, however, to ask you to look beyond the excitement of this opening week. I know it's difficult to focus on trouble down the road with all the hysteria surrounding the weekend's big Thrashers/Lightning matchup, but I'm afraid you're still facing some serious challenges. Thanks to a functional but deeply imperfect revenue-sharing system, you're getting by. But you're propping up franchises that have no business surviving.
As has been noted many times before, you let salary growth far outpace revenue growth. You expanded all the way to the breaking point (if you're looking for this point on a map, it's suspiciously close to Nashville). Now, post-strike, you're sound enough to get back on the ice but didn't solve a fundamental problem. It's time to give up on Commissioner Gary Bettman's plan to spread the gospel of hockey to every hot corner of the United States and undo years of overexpansion. And I've got the plan to do it.
First, a disclosure: Though I grew up in New England, I've never been the world's biggest hockey fan. Much of the time I save by ignoring the NHL every year is spent following British soccer. I've come to love its system of promotion and relegation. The English Premiership, where teams like Manchester United and Liverpool play, is the big leagues. There are several other leagues below it. At the end of each season, the three worst Premiership teams are kicked down to the league immediately below them. The best two teams from that lower league move up; the third team gets promoted after winning a thrilling playoff series.
I love this. You're not just rooting for your own favorite club and watching what happens at the top of the league. You're also watching teams duke it out at the bottom as they fight for survival. Plus, it means that there aren't perennial basement dwellers. Team owners have to keep investing in their team if they want to stay in the spotlight (and stay where the money is). If baseball had this system, the nation would have been rid of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a long time ago.
Now, I know that every sports bar in North America has a guy with a Wayne Rooney shirt prattling on about the greatness of relegation, and how baseball would be better if the Colorado Springs Sky Sox got their shot at the top. That guy is drunk. Don't listen to him. The other major sports are doing just fine as they are. They're raking in the big TV money and nearly all of the franchises have stable roots in their respective communities. The same cannot be said for you, dear hockey. You need promotion and relegation to survive.
The first order of business: Getting down to your fighting weight. Convene a crack independent panel of hockey people and economists (say, Wayne Gretzky, Alan Greenspan, Alan Thicke, and Neal Peart) to come up with the optimal number of NHL franchises. Some sports economists suggest that a 20-team NHL would be making money hand over fist. I'll use that figure until Thicke and co. come back with their findings. But how do you ditch teams without looking like you're waving the white flag? You contract through relegation.
Tomorrow, issue a press release that says you will eliminate the five teams with the worst records at the end of the 2008-09 season. Then, don't answer media phone calls for a couple of days. After you've milked your moment in the PTI/SportsCenter/talk-radio sun, watch as teams scramble for players. This process will be grossly unfair: The wealthy teams will buy up the talent and the struggling teams will get scraps. Sure, a few teams will spend way above their ability to pay. They'll do it, though, because their very survival will be on the line.
Once the regular season begins, hockey's TV ratings will pass those of the NBA. While pro basketball's worst teams lose on purpose to secure a better position in the draft lottery, the dregs of your league will leave their blood on the ice. Picture it: "Tonight on Versus, it all comes down to one game for the Atlanta Thrashers. Beat the Colorado Avalanche or say goodbye to the NHL." I'd watch that, and I'm not even sure I get Versus.
What will happen to the teams that get booted? Some will just fold, in which case you'll need to come up with a generous severance package. (It goes without saying that you'll get sued. Hire some good lawyers.) Other owners, dismayed at dropping to the minors, will spend like crazy to try to win their way back to the NHL. In the meantime, our hypothetical demoted team will become part of the geographically diverse, well-attended network of professional hockey leagues in the United States and Canada. The Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants, for example, draw 9,000 people a game even while your Canucks draw 19,000 in the same city. There are other leagues like the WHL. Your minor-league affiliations are less formal and entrenched than baseball's—I'm sure you can work with the likes of the AHL, the CHL, and the ECHL to develop a new, tiered system.
So, five teams leave the NHL that first year. Five teams leave the second year. But in the second season, three teams are promoted from the lower division, making the 2010-11 NHL a 22-team league. Do the same the following year—cut five teams, promote three—and you've whittled the league down to 20 teams. Not only will this generate excitement in the NHL, it could be the secret recipe for spreading hockey fever to every corner of the United States. If the Bears are contending for NHL promotion, Hershey, Pa., will be going crazy. If the recently relegated Philadelphia Flyers are in town to play the Providence Bruins, the Dunkin' Donuts Center will be rockin'. This promotion and relegation drama will be happening in leagues and arenas all across the continent.
I'm sure the idea of teams from Hershey or Peoria (or Moose Jaw) cracking the NHL makes you shudder. Who's going to watch the Albany River Rats face off with the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?Well, first of all, hockey fans. Lest you forget about them. And second, everyone loves a Cinderella. If Albany has made it up from the AHL to take on the big guys, people are going to watch.Remember George Mason? If you still need a little playoff ratings boost, you could always borrow a move from reality TV and give each series winner a year of relegation immunity.
Let's be honest: You don't have massive television contracts like the NFL or the NBA. Media deals make up only 4 percent of each of franchise's revenue. Your league is almost entirely dependent on gate receipts and arena revenue. While that's a sad state of affairs, it means that if a city can draw fans, a city can support an NHL franchise. People in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, love hockey. People in the greater Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario metropolitan area love hockey. Would it really hurt to swap the Nashville Predators for, say, the Kitchener/Waterloo Killer Whales?
NHL, I know this hurts, but it's straight, cruel capitalism. Less than a decade into the plan, you'll have a robust, sustainable league. You'll have hockey in the cities that love hockey. If the Halifax Mooseheads are slugging it out with the New York Rangers for the 2012 Stanley Cup, then all the better. That will mean the Mooseheads can draw 18,000 rabid fans and have owners who've invested in building a great team.
So, there you have it, NHL. I know my plan has flaws and that it requires all sorts of things that could be resolved only in a courtroom, if at all. And I know that Nashville Predators fans will go all McSorley on you for even suggesting that they should be demoted. But that's your problem. The Blue Jackets/Wild game will be on soon and there's a Top Chef rerun I want to watch instead.
Yours truly,


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JVC launches new LCD TVs running on Genessa
JVC has expanded its LCD TV line-up with the addition of four new models that offer 1080p full HD resolution. All four models, in 37-, 42- and 47-inch screen sizes, incorporate an array of JVC technologies that combine to deliver sharp, natural images with even the most challenging program material.
JVC's expanded LCD line includes two series – in the 688 series are the 37-inch LT-37X688 and the 42-inch LT-42X688, each offering a new black cabinet. The higher performance 788 series includes the 42-inch LT-42X788 and the 47-inch LT-47X788, featuring black cabinets with silver trim and an ultra-thin bezel. The 788 series sets also provide a higher contrast ratio, faster response time and wider viewing angle.
All four models feature full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 and JVC's fifth generation D.I.S.T. (Digital Image Scaling Technology) engine that upconverts all signals to display at full 1080p. Dual HDMI v1.3 inputs allow connection of the latest generation of 1080p sources that offer 1080p outputs. Other features include nine aspect modes, four picture modes, a new universal remote with new convenience features, and a USB photo viewer.
To ensure the best possible picture, the new sets feature JVC's Genessa chip, a 32-bit CPU processor that combines all image processing, noise reduction and color management technologies together onto a single chip for more efficient communication, and thus better performance. Genessa includes JVC's Motion Adaptive Dynamic Gamma control, an algorithm that preserves tonal details and gradations in dark areas so that the image doesn't appear muddy.
Genessa also includes Digital Video Noise Reduction that reduces the graininess for both analog and digital video sources, a Block Noise Suppressor that detects and eliminates "block noise", a Mosquito Noise Suppressor that eliminates noise in low bit-rate signals without degrading the image, and a 3D Y/C comb filter with DTV Cross Color Eliminator that uses an advanced 10-bit 3D Y/C separation process to eliminate cross color and dot interference that is imbedded in older source material.
Standard definition signals are improved through new Natural Progressive IP conversion, improved scaler performance and a new PLL (phase lock loop) system that improves the performance of a composite signal.
In convenience features, the new sets offer nine video aspect modes, including a full native mode that shows the full picture with no overscan, four picture modes (standard, game, theater and dynamic) to optimize performance for different room situations and program material, and a USB photo viewer – a USB input for connection to a USB mass storage device, including JVC's Everio hard drive camcorders. Images can be zoomed and rotated, viewed individually or played as a slide show.
New with the launch of these LCD sets is a completely redesigned remote control. All four new sets come with an illuminated universal remote that includes five direct video input buttons, and can be programmed to operate many brands of set top boxes, DVD players, digital video recorders, VCRs and audio products. In addition, the remote features dual infrared transmitters so that the set receives the signal whether the remote is pointed at the TV or held vertically for a better view of the buttons.
All four sets offer a full complement of inputs – two HDMI v1.3 inputs, two component inputs, three composite inputs, three AV inputs, an S-Video input, and optical digital audio out, and a fixed audio out. For HD program reception, all four sets include a built-in ATSC tuner for receiving over-the-air digital terrestrial broadcasts and a Clear QAM tuner for receiving unscrambled digital cable signals.
The audio package in JVC's new LCD TVs is comprised of a 10-watts-per-channel amplifier, JVC's Advanced Hyper Surround for simulated surround sound and twin oblique cone speakers. Also included is JVC's Smart Sound feature, which maintains a constant volume level as content changes (such as from program material to commercial).
Prices and availability (check with local dealer):
- LT-37X688 June $1,599.95 (Approx Rs. 67,200)
- LT-42X688 June $1,999.95 (Approx Rs. 84,000)
- LT-42X788 July $2,099.95 (Approx Rs. 88,200)
- LT-47X788 July $2,699.95 (Approx Rs. 1,13,400)
Tags: JVC, LCD TV, HD, Genessa


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Think of a playing card. Got one in mind?
Although it may have felt like a free choice, think again: Most people choose one of only four cards, out of a deck of 52. For now, remember your card — we'll return to it later.
For thousands of years, magicians have amazed audiences by developing and applying intuitions about the mind. Skilled magicians can manipulate memories, control attention, and influence choices. But magicians rarely know why these principles work. Studying magic could reveal the mechanisms of the mind that enable these principles, to uncover the why rather than just the how.
Some of these principles, such as illusions and misdirection, have recently lead to interesting discoveries. For example, in one study, a magician threw a ball into the air a few times. On the third throw, however, he only pretended to throw it. Two thirds of the participants reported seeing the ball vanish in mid-air, even though it never left his hand. The participants saw something amazing — something that never actually happened.
Another example is misdirection, where the magician hides the secret by manipulating what the audience perceives or thinks. One study tracked participants' eye movements while showing them a vanishing cigarette trick. Even if participants looked directly at the secret move, they did not notice it if their attention was directed elsewhere. They looked, but did not see, thanks to the magician's misdirection.
Other principles of magic involve card tricks. Magicians can often influence people to choose a particular card from a deck, or even know which card people will choose when asked to think of one. Studying these phenomena could help us learn about the mind, as did the study of illusions and misdirection.
But before we can understand card magic, we have to understand exactly how people perceive the cards themselves. To do this, I teamed up with another researcher and magician, Alym Amlani, as well as professor Ronald Rensink at the University of British Columbia. We applied well-known techniques from vision science to measure how well people see, remember, like, and choose each of the 52 cards in a standard deck. For example, people saw cards quickly presented one after another on a computer while they searched for a target card; their accuracy indicated the card's visibility. To measure choice, we asked over a thousand people to either name or visualize a card, then recorded their selections.
Measuring these factors allowed us to test magicians' intuitions about different cards. Our results confirmed several of these intuitions. For example, magicians believe that people treat the Ace of Spades and Queen of Hearts differently from other cards. Sure enough, accuracy for detecting and remembering was highest for the Ace of Spades, and both cards were among the most liked and most often chosen. Other cards chosen frequently were Sevens and Threes, consistent with other studies on how people choose digits.
Magicians also believe they know which cards people are least likely to choose. Now consider: Which card do you think people will name the least often?
Many magicians believe the answer is a mid-valued Club, like the Six of Clubs. Others appear to share that belief; hecklers sometimes end up choosing the Six during magic tricks. In fact, during pilot testing, when asked to name a card several people smugly asserted, "The Six of Clubs!", perhaps trying to act unpredictably. But by doing so, they in fact acted more predictably. As it turned out, however, it was the black Nines that were chosen the least. Of the 1150 selections people made in our experiment, these cards were only chosen four times.
Several other common beliefs were also disproven. For example, magicians often say that when asked to name a card, women choose the Queen of Hearts more than men do. In our sample, we found the opposite: men chose the Queen of Hearts more than women did, and women chose the King of Hearts more than men did.
Other results appeared to be completely new. For example, people detected most cards equally well, except for the Six of Hearts and Diamonds, which seemed to be misreported more than any other cards. In other words, people saw red Sixes that were not there. Also, women seemed to prefer lower number cards, and men preferred higher ones. We don't know why.
A final interesting result was that the exact wording of the question seemed to influence which cards people chose. When asked to name a card, over half of the people chose one of four cards: the Ace of Spades (25%), or the Queen (14%), Ace (6%), or King (6%) of Hearts. If you're like most people, you may have chosen one of these cards when asked at the beginning of this article. (A full list of cards and their frequencies is also available.)
But when asked to visualize a card, people seemed to choose the Ace of Hearts more often. In our sample, they chose it almost twice as often when asked to visualize (11%) rather than name (6%) a card. Perhaps something about the visualization process makes people more likely to think of this particular card.
Systematic studies such as these can help form the basis of a psychology of card magic. Magicians can improve their tricks by knowing which cards people like the best or choose the most. Meanwhile, psychologists can follow up on unexpected findings to understand why people may misreport seeing red Sixes or why the wording of a question may bring different cards to mind.
And this is only the beginning. Applying these results, we can uncover the mechanisms behind the principles of card magic. If magicians can influence the audience's decisions, what factors enable this influence? Why do people still feel like they have a free choice? Answers to these questions could provide new insights into persuasion, marketing, and decision making. Ultimately, we hope to develop a science of magic, where almost any trick can be understood in terms of its underlying psychological mechanisms. Such a science can keep the secrets of magic, while revealing the secrets of the mind.
Are you a scientist who specializes in neuroscience, cognitive science, or psychology? And have you read a recent peer-reviewed paper that you would like to write about? Please send suggestions to Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist at the Boston Globe. He can be reached at garethideas AT gmail.com or Twitter @garethideas.