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Sustainability is action today that anticipates tomorrow
Sustainable practices integrate the firm's environmental, social, and economic activities to enhance our ability to thrive under anticipated future conditions. As we pursue sustainability with our communities and partners, we are making a fundamental transition:
- From short-term thinking to long-term thinking
- From an economy outside of nature to one that's integrated with nature
- From a linear to a systems flow of resources
- From seeing environmental, social, and economic challenges as separate and competing to seeing them as interconnected systems.
We implemented Beturang's "Way We Work" strategy providing a flexible work environment and basing employees closer to their homes–reducing our commute times and carbon footprint while improving quality of life.
Corporate Sustainability
Beturang is embedding a sustainability ethic into the fabric of our organization. We have transitioned from grassroots, employee-led sustainability projects to a companywide sustainability program with strategic initiatives and targets for all facets of our operations, as well as continued employee-led green activities. Our Sustainability Steering Committee provides overall strategy and guidance to our sustainability program, while the Sustainability Program Management Office supports the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives.
Embracing Sustainability
Beturang's sustainability goal is ambitious—to be "the best of the best." In the workplace, we have targeted several key areas to build a sustainable organization and significantly reduce our carbon footprint. Among our activities: * The Way We Work. We implemented Beturang's "Way We Work" strategy providing a flexible work environment and basing employees closer to their homes–reducing our commute times and carbon footprint while improving quality of life.
- Facilities. We work with property management companies to reduce our radiant heat load in offices and buildings across the firm, and have decreased electrical consumption by 585,000 kilowatts on an ongoing basis in our office buildings with our aggressive "Turn It Off Program."
- Information Services. For the past 15 years, we have used recycling partners to recycle electronic equipment in a responsible manner. In FY2009, we recycled 140,000 pounds of electronics. In FY2010, it increased to 196,624 pounds. We are reducing energy-consuming servers through virtualization and consolidation, and upgrading networks to facilitate increased virtual communication and collaboration.
- Travel. We aggressively use teleconferencing and web conferencing to eliminate travel where possible, and we have instituted innovative policies allowing staff to work closer to where they live. We shifted our inter-campus shuttle buses to bio-diesel fuel. We encourage hybrid rental car usage by negotiating rates up to 50 percent lower than published rental rates.
- Procurement. We reduced environmental impact by 304 tons of wood per year by purchasing 30-percent recycled rather than non-recycled paper. We are proud that Beturang has won several awards for our recycling and commuting programs, including the Atlanta Clean Air Campaign PACE Award and 2012 Stone and Holt Weeks Green Hammer Award.


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Apocalypse Mao
China's Xi Jinping faces a host of challenges: a slowing economy, stagnating political reform. But the country's black skies and red rivers ought to be his top priority.
The outline of China's looming environmental challenges may be familiar, but the details are so staggering that they bear recounting: The dark side of being the world's factory for three decades is a landscape of rivers, fields, and smoggy cities now so degraded that the World Bank estimates pollution damages annually siphon off 5.8 percent of China's GDP. The poor are disproportionately affected, and 242 million rural residents -- roughly the entire population of Indonesia -- lack access to clean drinking water. Cancer is the country's leading cause of mortality, implicated in nearly one in four deaths.
The outline of China's looming environmental challenges may be familiar, but the details are so staggering that they bear recounting: The dark side of being the world's factory for three decades is a landscape of rivers, fields, and smoggy cities now so degraded that the World Bank estimates pollution damages annually siphon off 5.8 percent of China's GDP. The poor are disproportionately affected, and 242 million rural residents — roughly the entire population of Indonesia — lack access to clean drinking water. Cancer is the country's leading cause of mortality, implicated in nearly one in four deaths.
China's major cities remain cloaked in smog. And though environmental officials have successfully shuttered many polluting factories, the fast-multiplying number of vehicles in the world's top auto market poses another air-quality challenge. Likewise, the environmental ministry knows that dangerous levels of heavy-metal pollution contaminates a tenth of China's farmland (prolonged exposure causes organ and nerve-damage, among other problems), but cleaning up is another matter.
If only China had the luxury of just focusing on existing problems. But water scarcity — China is home to a fifth of the world's population, but just 7 percent of available freshwater resources — is likely to become more dire, as another 350 million people transition from rural areas to urban lifestyles, and bustling metropolises rise in the country's arid west. Proposed engineering solutions, like the massively ambitious South-to-North Water Diversion Project, threaten to do as much environmental harm as good. The aquifer under the North China Plain, the country's breadbasket, is fast being depleted. Some 243 lakes have vanished in the past five decades.
With national energy demand rising steeply, China's coal consumption tripled between 2000 and 2010. Eighty percent of China's electricity is now generated from coal, which is also responsible for 85 percent of the country's acid rain-causing sulfur-dioxide emissions and a major contributor to its greenhouse-gas total. A central government-led push to develop renewable energy — including the expansion of wind, solar, hydropower, and nuclear energy — has complemented but not offset the growing appetite for coal. And now the country's plans to expand large western coal bases seem poised to collide with regional water shortages (the operation of coal-fired plants is highly water-intensive), as HSBC concludes in its September report, "No Water, No Power."
In its quest to develop alternative — or rather, additional — energy sources, in early November China's government announced subsidies to speed the development of shale gas. Although the International Energy Agency has estimated China's total theoretically recoverable gas reserves from shale beds to be 150 percent that of the United States — a vast quantity — production has so far been a trickle, largely because China's shale beds tend to lie in mountainous and geologically difficult to access regions. If shale gas production picks up in earnest, it would provide a cleaner-burning fuel source, but could also aggravate water scarcity problems and contribute to ground-water contamination in a country where regulations meant to protect farmers living adjacent to mining sites are often trampled in the name of rapid development.
And then there's climate change. China has since 2010 been the world's top emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, but it is also among the countries most vulnerable to its impacts. Scientists estimate that extreme weather events — such as last summer's prolonged drought and the severe blizzard of 2008 — cause the loss of nearly 10 percent of China's grain output annually. The diminished flow of the Yangtze River last year stalled hydropower plants and led to rolling blackouts. Climate change will alter the intensity and duration of monsoon seasons across Asia, but models remain fuzzy as to what the future of regional agriculture will look like. The U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently listed China's Pearl River Delta — including the megacity port of Guangzhou — as among the urban areas most likely to be engulfed by sea-level rise.
When it comes to China, Jonathan Watts, author of When a Billion Chinese Jump and until recently the Asia environment correspondent at the Guardian newspaper, argues that the environment is everything — "a prism" through which to assess the country's worsening economic and human health. As Watts explained at the 2012 China Environmental Press Awards in Beijing this spring: "Mostly the environment is treated as a subcategory and posted away to certain pages in newspapers and on the websites. But it should not be a niche interest; it should be mainstream. The ecology is the basis for the economy, not the other way around."
There has long been an assumption that, somehow, China will muddle through: that these are serious, slow-boil issues, but never the country's most urgent. The attitude of China's government has historically been that the country should first get rich, and then clean up its environment (the key variable by which local officials are evaluated for promotion remains GDP growth). Or that somehow, technology will come through in time — to squeeze more water out of dry land, or to bury carbon in the ground instead of releasing it into the sky.
Ma Jun — author of China's Water Crisis, 2012 Goldman International Environmental Prize recipient, and one of the country's most prominent green activists — says that many problems in China persist or worsen "not because of lack of technology, but lack of motivation."China has at its disposal tools and strategies it could deploy to move more quickly toward solutions, but without a free press, independent court system, and vibrant civil society to force change, it often seems more convenient to bury bad news than to respond to it, he says, especially for officials far from Beijing. Or to purchase water-treatment or smokestack-cleaning equipment, but then trim electricity costs by rarely turning them on.
But in recent years, we've seen a new dynamic: people in China's wealthiest cities are no longer willing to cut corners, or to wait and see. Armed with smartphones, social media and more access to information, they are increasingly willing to take to the streets, in prosperous cities like Ningbo, Dalian, and Xiamen to oppose the government's secrecy in approving projects and to call for chemical plants — which they believe may lead to harmful health impacts — to be shuttered. In just a year, the number of major environmental protests jumped 120 percent, according to Yang Chaofei, vice-chairman of the Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences.
The recent protests reveal not only concern about environment, but also fraying trust for officialdom. Even after the government of Ningbo pledged last month to stop the expansion of a PX plant, one 30-year-old protestor told me: "We don't know if the chemical plant really will be cancelled. Most of us think our city governors are just politicians and liars…. There are still some projects being carried out that will also pollute the soil we live on, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. We'll still keep our eyes on them." He added: "The environment is a reflection of the political issue."
At an event on the sidelines of the 18th Party Congress, Environment Minister Zhou Shengxian told reporters that new bids for large industrial projects must now include assessments of their potential impact on "social stability." It seems Beijing is finally hearing that message — that environmental damage can cause political fallout.
More from Foreign Policy
Can Russia Get Used to Being China's Little Brother?
The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.
Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World
It's become more important than Washington's official alliances today.
It's a New Great Game. Again.
Across Central Asia, Russia's brand is tainted by Ukraine, China's got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.
Iraqi Kurdistan's House of Cards Is Collapsing
The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|XP is just a number
comment on
|( #3333=superdoc: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
I do have a Project 2003 file called SomeProject.mpp in the active directory, so I don't know why it couldn't be opened.
I don't have access to any version of Project at the moment, but do recall that Microsoft changed some details between Project 98 and Project 2000. They might well have done the same for 2003. ActiveState provides an OLE Browser (it's in the start menu somewhere). I'd look first to see if the name of the OLE Control for dealing with Project has changed, or if it expects different parameters.
In reply to Re^2: Microsoft Project and Perl
by dws


text:
Jerry Remy not returning to Red Sox games this season
Will remain with family through rest of season
Boston Red Sox broadcaster and Hall of Famer Jerry Remy will not return to the broadcast booth for the remainder of the 2013 season.
Remy has been absent from Red Sox broadcasts since the arrest of his son, Jared Remy, on murder, domestic assault and battery charges.
Jared Remy pleaded not guilty to fatally stabbing his girlfriend, 27-year-old Jennifer Martel.
In an announcement made late Thursday, NESN said Remy would remain with his family.
"I am full of grief for the Martel family," Remy said. "My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to them. My wife and I are sick about this senseless tragedy. It's clear this isn't the time for me to return to broadcasting Red Sox games," Remy said in a statement released by NESN.
Remy said he hoped he could return to the team broadcasts in the spring. "I thank NESN and the Red Sox for their support through this nightmare," Remy said.
NESN President and CEO Sean McGrail said the network supports Remy through his family's difficult time. "When Jerry feels the time is right, we will welcome him back."


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while many people still think of linkedin as merely a glorified job search board, this professional social networking site is actually an amazing business-to-business marketing tool.
if you know what you're doing.
with a little bit of time and effort, the following guide can help you turn linkedin into a lead generation engine, and give you the inside track to generating more business.
but before we get into these sixteen tips, please share www.croatia-gay.com with your network on linkedin …
start with your profile
your profile on linkedin is the single most important element on the site. it's your "enhanced" business card –- a quick and easy way for people to decide if you're relevant or not to what they care about.
linkedin provides a rich feature set to make your profile stand out. use these tips to create a profile that gets your message across without losing readers along the way.
1. don't get clever with your picture
no one will recognize you if they can't see your face. the best pictures have solid color backgrounds with your face taking up as much of the frame as possible. the image upload tool in linkedin includes a cropping feature to make this easier.
2. headlines matter (as always)
the professional headline that appears below your name is included on every reference about you on the site. make sure it includes your title and your company. again, don't get so caught up in trying to be clever that you're hard to understand.
3. you are more than your job
the biggest mistake people make with their profile is excluding their non-work related experiences. if you belong to a local networking group or other affiliations, add them.
the more experiences that you add, the easier it will be for linkedin to connect you with others within their network.
4. create connections that matter
schedule some time every few months to update your contacts within linkedin.
as general rule of thumb, ask yourself, would you feel comfortable picking up the phone and calling this person? if not, don't add them to your contacts.
one of my favorite ways to add contacts is using the people you may already know tool. of course, the "trick" is to make sure you have done a thorough job of adding all of your work and non-work experiences to your profile.
while you're busy adding contacts, don't forget to prune a few out as well. by using the "would you call" benchmark, you may find that are a few names to drop. keep your contact list relevant.
5. work your recommendations
an easy way to enhance your reputation is to obtain as many recommendations as possible. lots of recommendations add up to social proof that you're a professional others can depend on.
the best way to get recommendations is to ask for them. the request recommendations tool is simple to use, but take the time to edit the default message by tailoring it for your audience.
for people you know well, a simple subject line could be "i need your help."
(i wouldn't recommend "you are not alone" for this one … you might make your colleagues a bit nervous.)
for other connections that you may not know quite as well, include a point of reference to jog their memory.
as for the message itself, be short and to the point. a good way to start your message is to acknowledge how much you value their opinion. vanity is often a great motivator.
and if your requests for recommendation fall flat? start writing recommendations for others you know. you will be pleasantly surprised how many will reciprocate.
6. don't waste your summary
don't waste your summary area with a lot of empty verbiage about your "team-oriented, results-focused goal setting" qualifications.
instead, use the summary as a place to answer a simple question — why do you do what you do? think of your summary as the human element of who you are, the backstory to everything you've done so far.
7. flesh out the details
a new feature of linkedin is the add sections tool — a way to modify your profile with additional details about your qualifications from other online sources.
one of my favorite features is the ability to add content from slideshare.net, twitter, and wordpress.
give your linkedin viewers a well-rounded sense of your digital presence.
8. drag the conversation along
with one click and a mouse move, you can substantially control the narrative that people view when visiting your public profile page.
next to every section heading on your profile page is a directional arrow icon that allows you to re-order and emphasize the sections of your profile for viewers.
front-load your page with the most exciting content. for example, if you have great recommendations, drag them to the top so viewers see your most positive details first.
9. don't forget seo benefits
if you make your profile page public, search engines like google and bing will index it.
take the time to optimize your summary, using your full proper name versus "i" or "me." you might also want to enter links to websites you want to highlight.
also, give your profile page some link juice by creating a link from your website biography page to your linkedin profile page.
now you're ready to start promoting your business on linkedin
having a solid linkedin profile is a crucial ingredient — but it is only the starting point. linkedin gives you lots of tools to drive interest and traffic to your business — so use them.
10. update your email signature line
you'll want to start building awareness of your linkedin profile. since many professionals rely on email as their primary digital communication stream, your usual email signature is often a great starting point to connect with others.
the email signature tool provides a series of options to input and style your signature line. make sure to select under options the "professional profile" link and "see who we know in common" link.
11. explore the rest of the tool kit
the linkedin developer site has a rich number of easy-to-use tools to enhance your site.
for example, beef up your online bio or about page with a quick link back to linkedin by using the member profile plugin.
if you have a business blog, the share on linkedin plugin is the perfect complement to your tweet share button.
don't forget to also include the recommend with linkedin button. this feature gives your business social proof through recommendations of linkedin users that are visible on your site.
as a side note for those of you who are more seo-savvy, it is very feasible that linkedin recommendations will be a factor in search rankings — similar to facebook likes or twitter sharing today.
12. dominate the all updates area
by default, linkedin presents a list of network updates when a user logs in. this is a gold mine for the smart 2022世界杯12强赛程 professional.
start building authority and awareness through an ever-present stream of relevant information that appears directly on the linkedin home page of your connections.
13. create your own linkedin group
linkedin contains a vast collection of online groups. for many, joining and participating in a linkedin group is an easy way to build authority through comments and discussion postings.
but for the savvy professional who is willing to commit the time, creating and nurturing your own online group can pay huge dividends — if you build it right.
the real secret of having your own group is the free email broadcast tool included with it.
under the manage options, you will see a feature to send an announcement. while restricted to once every seven days, linkedin provides you with a free and easy method to send email broadcasts to your group members.
14. and speaking of email …
did you know you can send out email newsletters to your contacts?
the compose message feature in your inbox has a unique way to tailor your emails to your linkedin contacts by geography and/or by industry, for up to 50 people at a time.
so if you want to share an interesting story or idea with your contacts in the accounting industry, a simple point and click is all it takes.
obviously you're not going to use this feature to spam or annoy your contacts (that will take you in the exact opposite direction of where you want to go). keep these messages informative and highly relevant.
15. work your company page
recently, linkedin introduced company pages — an easy way to provide additional details about your business.
as you update your products & services page, consider including appealing special offers for people who visit and recommend your linkedin company page.
and of course, don't forget to promote your company page by linkedin email, group discussions, group announcements, and updating your status.
16. manage and mine your data stream
with so much activity conducted within linkedin, it's easy to get overwhelmed. this is where rss can become your friend.
on the account settings page, you will see a tab called account. within the account features is an option to get linkedin content in an rss feed. make sure this feature is enabled and add the link to your favorite rss reader to receive daily updates from your connections.
once you have everything where you can review it easily, mine the data stream by taking advantage of the built in search features of your newsreader. alternatively, your reader may have additional options to flag certain items that contain terms you designate.
with a little bit of effort, your rss reader can become a daily source of business opportunities.
the value of linkedin is you
linkedin gives you plenty of powerful toys to play with that can make your business-to-business marketing more effective. this short guide represents just a few of the many ways you can connect with the right people.
the tools are there, your customers are there … the only thing that's missing is you. so, while the rest of the world sits in awe of linkedin's stock price, start creating your own return on investment for your business.
and, if these tips have helped you out, please share www.croatia-gay.com with your network on linkedin by clicking the badge below …thanks!
want to learn more about linkedin best practices?
make sure to check out my authority webinar with sonia simone: linkedin best practices (and a few secrets).
the webinar is free for authority members.
if you're not an authority member yet … try authority risk-free and get exclusive audio seminars and webinars, like this one, nearly every week of the year, ongoing networking opportunities, discounts, and education.
about the author: sean jackson is a partner in copyblogger media and the company cfo. check out how he uses linkedin here.


text:
Nice recipe
Kala Jamoon
350 gms. khoya
200 gms. paneer
65 gms. plain flour (1/8 cup)
600 gms. sugar
4 cups water
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
1 tbsp. milk if required
ghee for deep frying
Make 1 string syrup of sugar and water.
Mash, grate or crumble khoya and paneer together.
Add cardamom powder, flour and knead well till smooth.
If too dry, add a little milk. Form a soft dough.
Make small balls out of dough rolling lightly between palms.
The balls should be half the size of pingpong balls.
Heat ghee till slightly fuming. Cool for 3 minutes.
Add some balls, and allow them to rise before putting back on heat.
Fry on low heat, till dark from all over.
Drain and dip into syrup.
Allow to soak till next batch is ready.
Repeat till all dough is exhausted.
Drain and transfer to serving dish.
Note: Take care not to fry on high or the jamoons will stay undone from the centre. If the jamoons are cracking, add some more milk. If soaking too much fat, add a little more flour. A little variation is bound since the khoya may not be uniform each time.
Nice recipe
Kala-jamoon is one my favorite desert and I like this so much and it's taste really yummy and I think that,I never tried at home,I will try to make this.
Thanks for sharing =)
Wow great.. my mouth is watering.
Jamoon safaed bhi hota hai kiya!!!


text:
Have questions? Please contact us.
How Universities Can Make the Most of Digitization
Universities and businesses are two different things. But the relationship between a university and its students is comparable to that of an enterprise and its customers: the digitization of the business world affects them in equal measure. This blog post examines what the digital transformation means for the higher education sector.
Just like businesses in any other industry, universities now face tougher competition than ever before. Today's prospective students are looking further afield when considering their options. Although this development presents the opportunity for universities to acquire top talent from overseas, they need to make themselves stand out. Attracting and retaining bright minds can create a positive image and lift universities through the rankings.
In addition, there is a rising number of alternatives to traditional higher education. Open universities and e-learning, for example, offer greater flexibility and convenience. The popularity of such courses is due in part to a shift in expectations. In the digital age, consumers and students call the shots. They demand personalized services and offerings, more interactivity on all channels, and the ability to access up-to-date information and resources, anywhere,
So how can universities make themselves more attractive to potential students? For a more detailed overview download our white paper today >>
Here are four pointers to summarize:
1. Think B2B, act B2C
Universities share a mix of traits with both B2B and B2C enterprises. Like B2B companies, they have to build and maintain a strong relationship with their customers (the students). On the other hand, they can market their courses, products, and services at students and prospects just like B2C brands do. There are a number of cloud-based marketing and commerce solutions to facilitate this.
2. Integrate data and processes
Many higher education organizations are missing opportunities due to a lack of data integration. By consolidating information onto a single platform, universities can streamline processes, increase transparency, and deliver a better experience overall. Students, especially digital natives, would rather attend an innovative, forward-thinking university than one that's stuck in the past.
3. Adopt an omni-channel approach
There are many way for universities to interact with students. But communication is at its most effective when it is coherent. Omni-channel platforms enable universities to market one-to-one with each student and prospect. Providing a consistent experience across all channels ensures that students receive high-quality information, however they choose to access it.
4. Track the entire student lifecycle
The student lifecycle is a long journey, spanning from recruitment to graduation and beyond. Monitoring this path enables universities to better understand students, react to feedback, and provide more personalized offerings. These could range from recommendations for additional modules or on-campus events to branded university merchandise.
Universities are often extremely complex organizations comprising great numbers of people, a wealth of information, and, in many cases, multiple locations. But by adopting cutting-edge technology, universities can overcome the challenges.
Act Now
SAP offers a wide range of solutions, such as SAP Hybris Cloud for Customer, that help higher education institutions beat the competition and reach new heights.
NTT DATA Business Solutions has experience of working with numerous top higher-learning organizations to implement these solutions. To find out more, visit our website here.


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In Japan, the viewing of hentai, or sexually explicit cartoons, is a mainstream activity. But it's far from accepted in many other countries. In fact, now a New Zealand man has been sentenced to three months in jail for watching cartoons of "elves, pixies, and other fantasy creatures" have sex.
The man's lawyer said the Japanese anime cartoons consisted of creatures that "you knew at a glance weren't human," and said his client's conviction for possessing digitally created pornography represents "the law gone mad."
The characters were "clearly young elves and pixies, which led to concerns the images were linked to child sexual abuse," reported Fairfax NZ News. New Zealand anti-child pornography activists defended the conviction, saying the images could encourage people "to migrate from there to the real thing."
In the US, the legality of "virtual child pornography" which involves created images of children has been debated in courts. Regular child pornography isn't protected by free-speech rules, because the production of the images is itself harmful to children. Distribution and viewing of such images is also illegal, as that activity contributes to the market for a product that harms children.
However, the legality of "virtual" child porn was upheld in a 2002 US Supreme Court ruling, Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition. In response to that ruling, Congress passed a 2003 law called the PROTECT Act, with more specific language about what kind of computer images are banned. If a computer-generated image is "indistinguishable from" child pornography, then it can be prosecuted even if no actual child was involved.
Thus, making "fake" child porn is a really bad idea and can land you in jail. In the US, people have been prosecuted for viewing animated pictures of children having sex.
But the "indistinguishable from" language—drawn straight from the Supreme Court's ruling in Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition case—means that watching young elves, pixies, and other non-humans get it on will probably remain legal.


text:
Copyright © HT Media Limited All rights reserved.
Bajaj Dominar 400 on road price in Delhi starts from Rs. 2.40 Lakhs.
Visit your nearest Bajaj Dominar 400 dealers and showrooms in Delhi for best offers.
Bajaj Dominar 400 on road price breakup in Delhi includes: ex-showroom price + RTO + Insurance and other costs for all of its variants....Read MoreRead Less
*Ex-showroom price


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Woman sentenced to death in Sudan has NH ties
Meriam Ibrahim could be executed in the next few months
A controversial case in Sudan has ties to New Hampshire.
Daniel Wani, a Sudanese man with U.S. citizenship, has returned to Sudan to try to save his wife's life.
Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to death because she is considered Muslim by Sudan's courts, and her husband is Christian. Ibrahim is eight-months pregnant.
A court sentenced her to 100 lashings and death by hanging.
In Sudan, as in many Muslim nations, Muslim men can marry outside their faith, but Muslim women cannot. Ibrahim's father was Muslim, but her mother was Christian. Her father left when she was young, and she grew up as a Christian.
Wani and his brother Gabriel grew up in Sudan, but are now U.S. citizens and live in Manchester.
Gabriel said it is an emotional time.
"I'm just praying for God. He can do a miracle," he said. "Everyone is depressed. You don't believe it. It's shock."
Ibrahim and the couple's 2-year-old son have been in jail since September.
"You cannot believe that's going to happen," Gabriel said. "It's a good family, a happy family."
The family hopes the U.S. government can help. U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte has written to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking for Ibrahim to be granted political asylum.
"She's a Christian and she's being persecuted and sentenced to death for exercising her beliefs," Ayotte said. "We should all care about that."
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is also involved.
"The sentencing of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag is an abhorrent violation of fundamental freedoms and universal human rights," Shaheen said in a statement. "No man or woman anywhere should be treated as a criminal much less sentenced to hanging for exercising the basic right of religious choice."
Ibrahim could be executed in the next few months.


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In case you couldn't tell by the glittering trees adorning the stage on Wednesday, it's Christmastime at "The X Factor."
This was made abundantly clear during Thursday's elimination episode when, dressed in hues of red, white and black, the final three contestants delivered Christmas classics to the crowd. (Hostess Khloe Kardashian looked gorgeous in a green lace, long-sleeved mini with a metallic gold belt.)
PHOTOS: "X Factor" Season 2: Meet the contestants
But first, it wouldn't be a Simon Cowell production without an over-the-top, self-indulgent introduction. Tonight, that came in the form of a staged red carpet, in which all three judges and performers Pitbull and One Direction arrived via black SUVs (for Cowell, a Rolls Royce, Kardashian noted). After an awkward technical glitch involving host Mario Lopez, finalists Tate Stevens, Carly Rose Sonenclar and Fifth Harmony then made their grand entrance, singing the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" on the red carpet as they made their way past all the former contestants (clad entirely in white) whom they beat on the way to the finals.
The highlight of that segment? Kardashian told Cowell, "I love your chest hair" when he showed up in his signature unbuttoned button-down.
It was a night of nostalgia, as producers packaged several video segments that highlighted some of the season's most memorable moments. In addition to a look at the season as a whole -- including a feel-good segment showcasing all the audition "yeses" and a feel-bad segment showing criticism, tears and hugs -- each judge was honored with a montage. For L.A. Reid, it was his over-the-top hand gestures set to a track from "The Nutcracker"; for Britney Spears, an all-too-short look at her memorable faces, including the infamous "scared Britney"; for Simon, his best zingers (including, "You sounded like a dog trying to lay an egg") set to "The Grinch"; and for Demi Lovato, it was, of course, her sassiest spats with Cowell.
A few of the "most memorable contestants," as Kardashian said, earned their screen time, with the hostess taking time during the broadcast to ask Vino Alan, Diamond White and Emblem3 how they were feeling. While Alan and White were obviously pulling for their respective teammates, Drew Chadwick of Emblem3 threw out the suggestion that all the contestants "throw down" money to rent a cabin in Whistler and go snowboarding. For what it's worth, CeCe Frey seemed into it.
Bringing a little star-power to the festivities were Pitbull and One Direction, who performed atop a weirdly large set made of red lips. Why?
PHOTOS: "American Idol" Season 12: Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj search for a winner
Fifth Harmony was the first to be eliminated. And after last night, while we were all excited to see if they could do the impossible, was anyone really that surprised? Tate and Carly have been the frontrunners all along, and the finale proved no different. For their last performance together, Sonenclar and Stevens performed Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" -- a solid middle ground for a country crooner and a teen diva.
One commercial break later, the winner was announced. So who took home the $5 million recording contract with Syco/Epic Records? Why, it was Tate Stevens.
"First and foremost, I gotta thank the man upstairs for taking care of me," said Stevens. "My family, all the country music fans, God bless you and thank you so very much for all the votes, and this is the best day of my life."
Moments later, Spears could be seen whispering in Sonenclar's ear before the teen-superstar-in-the-making walked over to give Stevens and Reid both big hugs. She got her own recognition from Lopez, as well, who noted that she has a big career ahead of her.
As the news was undoubtedly sinking in, Stevens was immediately handed a microphone and began singing Justin Moore's "Like There's No Tomorrow." He still looked shocked as Camilla from Fifth Harmony snuck up behind him for another big hug. We have no doubt that there were plenty more of those to go around after the cameras cut.
So what do you think of America's choice? Take the poll below, then share your thoughts on our Facebook page!
Related content:
- Who should win 'The X Factor'?
- LeAnn Rimes defends her shaky 'X Factor' performance
- 'X Factor' contestants sing tribute to victims of Newtown tragedy
- L.A. Reid: 'I will not return to 'X Factor' next year'
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3 Things You Should Always Do Before You Quit Your Job
Quitting a job is never easy — even if you despise everything about it.
But whatever your reason for accepting a new role — a fatter paycheck, more flexible hours, a better culture — you'll want to leave your current position on the best terms possible
"You never know when you'll need a recommendation or when your paths may cross again," says career expert Annette Richmond in a recent LinkedIn post.
Here are three things she says you should always do before quitting:
1. Protect yourself. Before you quit, you'll want to make sure you don't have a non-compete agreement in place that will prevent you from accepting your new position, Richmond says. "Not only might your previous employers sue you if you break a non-compete agreement, they may be able to sue your new employer as well."
2. Get your bonus. Companies typically pay bonuses as an incentive, she says, "so if you leave before you receive your bonus, your employer may look for any excuse not to pay you." Also, some companies have written policies that say you must be employed with them at the time the bonus is paid in order to receive it — so you should always check your company's guidelines before putting in your two weeks notice, she concludes.
3. Tell your boss before anyone else. "No matter what your relationship has been with your boss, always tell them you are leaving before you tell your coworkers," Richmond says. The last thing you want is for you boss to hear about your job offer through the rumor mill.
And, she says, when you do tell them, only provide the necessary details and facts. "Giving your notice is not the time to air every grievance you've had during your tenure. Refrain from dumping your emotional baggage, making accusations, or reciting a laundry list of complaints."
Click here to read the full LinkedIn post.
Want your business advice featured in Instant MBA? Submit your tips to email@example.com. Be sure to include your name, your job title, and a photo of yourself in your email.
See Also:
- 8 Reasons This Is An Excellent Resume For A Recent College Graduate
- 3 Ways To Spot A Terrible Boss In A Job Interview
- 4 Signs You're Working Too Hard
SEE ALSO: 8 Tips For Successfully Penetrating The Hidden Job Market


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Rustic Brown Metal stand for 2 Big size White Metal pots
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A set of generous and elegant flower pots will immediately improve your house or outdoor space and create a modern urban feel. With contemporary matte finishing, these pots can accent your space at your home nicely. It will look great with indoor plants, house plants or artificial greenery. If you're looking to add a modern touch to your indoor plants, these are must have! Our plant pots made of durable metal material, which is stronger and lighter, easier to move, ideal for display your favorite plant outdoors with this beautiful planter. Mid-century style planters will create a subtle, eye-catching focal point in any indoor living space, ideal for decorate your bedroom.
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Tokyo International Anime Fair
Anime Fest. The event conjures up images of thirteen year-old cosplayers with styrofoam swords and swag laden bags hypnotized by the polarity of sexpot dolls and kawaii plushies. As the Tokyo International Anime Fair approached, I thought back to previous convention giants-San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon (based in San Francisco) and the emerging NY Comic Con. I recalled swarms of people-some in elaborate costumes while others wore hand-scrawled indie t-shirts-all huddled together in wide-eyed unison. Carnivorous consumers gathered up gimmicky promos and fawned over the flirtatious hawking of vendors. Novice artists, armed with black-handled portfolios, nervously approached such creative monoliths as Dark Horse and DC Comics for an approving nod. In essence, the U.S. comic (and anime) conventions were a seaport-esque mecca of subculture and entertainment where artists vied for the attention of a cash-pouring and adoring audience.
Optivion and I walked up the Tokyo Big Sight where the Tokyo International Anime Fair was being held. We looked up in awe at the illuminati-shaped building and excitedly went inside, anticipating hordes of cosplayers and random hybrids of Japanese kookiness like samurai robots or toilet seat hats (maybe?). We glided along the people mover like moon-eyed characters in a Spike Jonze video until we reached the main entrance. As we rode the motorized sloth towards the festival, I noticed that in lieu of colorful kids there appeared to be more men in business suits and middle-aged families. It was then that it hit me just how unbiquitious anime was in Japan. An anime festival isn't a subculture event. It is the culture. Manga was just as likely to be in a salaryman's briefcase as it was a ten-year boy's backpack.
We entered the main room and gazed up at an inflated Pikachu and Totoro grinning down like rolly-polly zepplins. After stopping at a sadly scarce Studio Ghibli booth (just a shelf full of a few books for sale), we ran into an independent artist by the name of Sonic who silently held a sign advertising an artist collective called The Artist Army. We oggled over his Tim Burton-esque dolls and after giving several language-impaired thumbs-ups, we shyly asked for a photo.
Look! The sign works. We then passed by an incredible candy-colored display for the impishly cute yeoypawka.
After wandering through aisles of towering booths (one actually resembled a traditional Japanese house), we came across the glorious "Creator's World" section full of amazing independent animators (mostly stop-action) and artists. We first happened upon the inky Steampunk illustrations of artist Takorasu. We were then drawn to the clever work of animation duo "Woodpecker" . Their booth was adorned like a delirious hobbyists' attic-full of miniature houses and trees. Woodpecker's films are interestingly bizarre and strangely comical stop-action scenarios.
Woodpecker's friendly booth neighbor, artist Michihisa Ohrui, caught our attention with his pink wall and wonderfully handcrafted props. Michihisa is one half of the fantastically fun animation duo (Hashiru Ueda is the other half), Ohrys Bird. Again, after giving a flurry of language limited thumbs-ups, Optivion and I cajoled Michihisa into a photo.
The Tokyo International Anime Fair offered very little purchasable paraphenalia for the consumer crazed and seemed devoid of scrutinizing scouts for eager new artists. It also had few ambling mascots and nary a cardboard clad cosplayer was in sight (there were very few people in costume in general save a few scantily cladded girls and the Goth-ish Hello Kitty mascot for the clothing and accessory line, Hangry & Angry-see the photo below).
It did however have an array of some of the most original and painfully stunning artwork that I have seen in a long time. To see more "Creative World" independent artists, please click on the thumbnails below.
*All photos by Optivion


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New Webinar "Why did a major oil producer choose new mass flowmeter technology?"
- Colorado energy producer uses new Coriolis mass flowmeter technology to ensure stable and uninterrupted measurements of oil with high gas content
- Free case-study webinar on January 26, 2017, 10:00 AM EST
Date and Time
Thursday, January 26th
Eastern Standard Time (New York): 10:00 AM
Pacific Standard Time (Los Angeles): 07:00 AM
Central European Time (Brussels): 16:00
Japan Standard Time (Tokyo): 24:00
KROHNE presents the webinar "Why did a major oil producer choose new mass flowmeter technology?" on January 26, 2017, 10:00 AM EST (7 AM PST), aimed at operators of upstream and downstream oil flow applications.
The webinar will present the case study of Denver-based Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. The exploration and production company is focused on extracting oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas in Colorado's Denver-Julesburg Basin, a major oil and gas field that is being actively developed through the use of horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracture stimulation.
They required an accurate and reliable way to measure how much oil and water each well was producing. Tank gauging is the standard method for these challenging applications, but while simple and relatively accurate, tank gauging is time consuming, costly, and entails some safety risks. To account for the production variations among the wells and provide accurate well allocation measurement information, each well on a pad had to flow into a separate tank.
Bonanza Creek was looking for a cost effective alternative way to provide an accurate oil meter at each wellhead, where the oil flows into a separator that separates the water, gas, and oil. They anticipated there would be gas entrained in the fluid coming out of the separator, so they needed an option that could handle entrained gas. This webinar reviews the application requirements and explore the unique details of the OPTIMASS mass flow meter technology that allow the device to operate continually regardless of entrained gas content, to 100% by volume.
Free registration for the webinar:
About the presenter: Steffen Baecker is responsible for Coriolis Flow Products Business Development in NAFTA. Steffen studied engineering at the university of applied science in Darmstadt, Germany. He started in inside sales at KROHNE in Duisburg, Germany, and then became a specials engineer for Coriolis, Vortex and Variable Area flowmeters. Before he moved to North America he also worked at KROHNE's Coriolis factory in England.
About KROHNE
KROHNE is a global manufacturer and provider of process instrumentation, measurement solutions and services in many industries. Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Duisburg, Germany, KROHNE has over 4,000 employees and offers extensive application knowledge and local contacts for instrumentation projects in over 100 countries. KROHNE stands for innovation and highest product quality and is one of the market leaders in process industry.
Issued by:
KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
Ludwig-Krohne-Str. 5
47058 Duisburg
Contact for editors:
Jörg Holtmann, PR Manager
Tel: +49 203 301 4511
Fax: +49 203 301 105 11
eMail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Year after year they beg and plead, but kids don't realize just how expensive it is to install a pool in your backyard. Not to mention all of the constant maintenance and cleaning.
It's your summer too, and you don't want to spend it tending to a pool they'll probably get tired of in a few weeks. So if you've once again decided to spend the next few sweltering months coming up with other ways to stay cool, here's everything you'll need to disappoint your kids... once again.
AquaAntics Water Bomb Factory
The best way to soften the blow about not getting a pool is to find activities that you can pretend are loads more fun. Kids love snowballs in the winter, right? Well, water balloons are the summer equivalent.
And so you're not spending your days filling balloons and tying knots—a skill very few kids possess—this Water Bomb Factory attaches to the end of a hose with a special mechanism that makes tying balloons dead-easy. In just 10 minutes your kids can assemble a munitions stockpile 100 balloons strong. $10
Surprise Soaker Slide
As far as parents are concerned, the corporate committee that invented the Slip n' Slide deserves a Nobel Prize for distracting kids from wanting a pool. Sliding across a lawn does provide certain thrills a pool just can't, and the dead swath of grass it leaves in its wake means there's less for you to mow. It's win-win.
But today's kids demand a bit more than just slipping followed by some sliding, so this version features a constantly refilled bucket of water that emtpies on their heads as they pass underneath an archway. Try that with a pool. $50
Nerf Super Soaker Hydro Cannon
The water gun is a staple of hot and lazy summer afternoons, but video games have ensured that kids just aren't thrilled with boring old pistols any more. The solution? Super Soaker's Hydro Cannon, which is essentially a water-blasting bazooka.
It's got a range of 35 feet so kids can safely mount an assault from a distance. But if their opponent is armed with equally capable firepower, a pop-up blast shield will help keep them dry. Except, of course, if their opponent shoots anywhere other than that shield. But kids are dumb. $20
Portable Dunk Tank
You might think they're only for carnivals and awkward corporate retreats, but anyone can rent a dunk tank. Particularly this model, which easily folds down and features a large collapsible water bladder instead of a tank.
It provides all the thrills of diving into the water off a springboard, but at the hands of someone else with excellent pitching accuracy. As an added bonus, the stress and terror of waiting for the release to get hit could help your kids develop a negative association with pools. Which means they might finally give up on that dream. $200/day
Inflatable Backyard Log Flume
At $600 it's definitely on the expensive side as far as inflatable toys go. But if you've ever gotten a quote for installing even an above-ground pool, this blow-up log flume is an absolute bargain.
An electric blower ensures the massive structure isn't going to deflate all of a sudden, trapping your kids and their friends inside. And a connection to your hose keeps a constant deluge of water running down the side-by-side slides, which should help distract your kids from the fact there's no actual log to ride on. $600
Gilmour Oscillating Sprinkler
But there's nothing quite like running through the slowly oscillating spray of a trusty sprinkler to make kids forget their pool lust. Science has yet to determine what exactly makes a sprinkler's lethargic back-and-forth motion appealing to young minds, but it might have something to do with it being a perfect match for a lazy August afternoon.
And little do your kids know that your real reason for setting it up was to water the lawn. They just think you've got a big heart... just not one big enough to install a pool. $27
Image by Jaimie Duplass/Shutterstock & BouncyPro.com


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Argan oil: Too much of a good thing?
Most people have heard of the health benefits of using olive oil instead of butter or other saturated animal fats. The monounsaturated fats in olive oil have been shown to reduce levels of harmful cholesterol, and as a result nutrition experts have touted it and other aspects of the Mediterranean Diet as heart healthy.
But olive oil isn't the only celebrated oil from that region of the world. In Morocco, argan oil has been consumed by the Berber people for centuries. Berbers add the deep yellow, toasty-flavored oil to couscous, serve it alongside bread, or eat it on its own. Argan oil has been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, and recent research by France's Institut Pasteur, Morocco's Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis Research Laboratory, and others suggests that it might contribute to the prevention of various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
Beyond the health benefits of consuming argan oil, there are also important environmental benefits associated with its production. The same deep root systems that make argan trees well adapted to heat and frequent drought in southwesternMoroccoalso protect the land against soil erosion and desertification. Meanwhile, argan trees provide shade and protection for crops or pastureland, presenting opportunities for agroforestry.
Arguably, however, the most noteworthy impact of argan oil production is social. This rare oil has captivated a global audience, primarily because of its use in cosmetics. As a result, market prices have been on the rise (making it the most expensive edible oil in the world), and argan oil producers—largely local Moroccan women—have been reaping the benefits.
Because the process of extracting argan oil is extremely labor intensive (it can take 50 kilograms of seeds to produce just half a liter of oil), the women who produce it by hand are frequently part of production co-operatives, such as the UCFA (Union des Cooperatives des Femmes de l'Arganeraie). Founded in 1999, this innovative co-operative produces and markets argan oil and is supported by the Moroccan government as both a conservation and development strategy. Today, the UCFA unites 22 smaller women's co-operatives. The women who make up these groups gain status, a steady income, and, in some cases, an education through their work.
Yet the argan oil boom has been a double-edged sword. Argan trees and the area in which they grow are threatened by overuse and deforestation. A study by the University of California, Davis finds that "the boom has predictably made households vigilant guardians of fruit on the tree, but it has not incited investments in longer term tree and forest health." While the development of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve inMorocco is a step in the right direction, it will be both economically and environmentally critical for the same non-governmental groups, development agencies, and government offices that supported argan oil production in the first place to keep sustainability in mind.
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"Our work was moving to Arkansas," Root said Tuesday, recalling that anxious time. "They were already packing up our tools, fixtures, and we said, 'Now what are we going to do?'"
Root vowed to go back to school to learn another trade.
The Machinists union sued Pratt to save Root's position and 506 others, saying the company failed to live up to a contract requirement that it make a reasonable effort to save Connecticut jobs.
A year later, the union won that case. Most of those 507 workers are still on the factory floor.
Root, of Bristol, did fulfillhis vow, earning an associate degree in computer science, then taking classes toward a bachelor's in business administration. Now 57 with 35 years at the East Hartford-based jet engine-maker, he may be glad he did. The scene is playing out again.
Pratt has again targeted engine overhaul jobs for a move — more than 1,000 this time — and the union, as of Tuesday, has again filed a lawsuit saying the company acted in bad faith and failed to make "every reasonable effort" to save local jobs.
"I hope we get the same judge," Root said. You did, I told him — Janet C. Hall. "That works for me," he said.
This time around, however, the union will have a much tougher job proving to Hall that the company violated its contract.
For starters, Pratt appears to have followed the letter of the law, convening a 45-day negotiating period, extended to 52 days, in which the company sought and received concession offers from the union, and listened to a state offer. At every turn since the July 21 announcement, Pratt has taken pains to say it wants to keep the work in Connecticut and values its local workforce.
Back in 1999, by contrast, Pratt barely made an effort to talk with the union. An executive's offhand comment that the decision was "a no-brainer" became the storied quote of the case. "Their arrogance was much more on display," said Machinists official John Harrity.
This time around, the union is no less convinced that Pratt had its mind made up from the get-go, despite the formal talks.
"It's harder to get at, but that doesn't mean the truth is any different," said Gregg Adler, the union's lawyer then and now.
After years of local cuts, it's less of a surprise this time, Root said, as Pratt closes another plant, in Cheshire, and moves most of the work to a nonunion plant in Columbus, Ga. His group is not among the direct hits in this cut, but he's pretty sure there would be no need for his work as a blender — hand-finishing parts removed from engines at the targeted overhaul plant.
Root, recently divorced with three grandchildren, speaks with wisdom and passion about his work, his prospects as a computer technician and the plight of younger union members — some of whom will lose their houses. On Tuesday, a co-worker said something to Root that cut through the complexity of a case that's hard on workers and company alike.
"He said, 'You know what? These last 10 years were a gift.'"


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About Apple security updates
For our customers' protection, Apple doesn't disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are available. Recent releases are listed on the Apple security updates page.
Apple security documents reference vulnerabilities by CVE-ID when possible.
For more information about security, see the Apple Product Security page.
Xcode 10.2
Released March 25, 2019
Available for: macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or later
Impact: An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved input validation.
CVE-2018-4461: Ian Beer of Google Project Zero


text:
Direction 2 Full Windshield - Scratch resistant Fits Nordik Motor, Fits PowerMax
Direction 2 Full Windshield - Scratch resistant Fits Nordik Motor, Fits PowerMax
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- Windshield is cut with superior cnc 5-axis router…all edges are super-smooth.
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- Comes complete with all mounting hardware & detailed instructions
List of part numbers that are compatible with the Kimpex number :
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For most of us, work is a series of projects.
We're always drawing up plans (some more formal than others) and trying to carry them out, usually as part of a team.
That's why it's not surprising that so many people use PBworks for project management. After all, if PBworks is a great solution for improving team productivity and work performance, shouldn't it be great for project management? And when we asked you what you were using PBworks for, "managing projects" was the #1 answer.
But in reality, while PBworks was helping a lot of people manage their projects, it was far from ideal.
Even within the company, where we use PBworks for pretty much everything (including project management), we felt the limitations of the product. When I create a task, I want to be able to assign it to someone with a due date. I don't want to be forced to try to remember where I wrote down the task. I want notifications to go out when the status of the task changes. I don't want to forget when things are due. Yet manually managing projects with the old PBworks product had all of these drawbacks.
It's a testament to the power of the product that despite these issues, so many were getting so much productivity out of it!
So over the past few months, we went back to the drawing board and started talking to our users. We conducted dozens of interviews with consultants, PR firms, designers, marketers, and other project leads, including in-depth follow-ups.
As a result, we were able to design PBworks Project Edition, which represents a major leap in project functionality. In our opinion, it's the best tool anywhere for managing the vast majority of projects.
What makes Project Edition special? Certainly we're very proud of how we've created task and milestone functionality that is simple, elegant, and flexible. But the real key is in combining project management with collaboration in a neatly integrated package.
Historically, project management separated the "management" from the real work. Picture a Project Manager walking around with a clipboard, collecting status reports, and fiddling with Ganntt charts. Great for putting a man on the moon, but not appropriate for all the informal, fast-moving projects that make up the bulk of our working days.
The first Web 2.0 project management tools broke the monopoly of the project manager, and put the ability to view and manage the project in the hands of the entire team, but they still didn't help you do the real work. You would log in, pick up your next task, then switch to another application or window to do the actual work.
Project Edition combines "management" with a collaborative platform that lets your team do their work faster and better. Sometimes as much as 10 times better.
That's the breakthrough we're calling "organic project management," since the management is a natural and organic result of doing the real work.
Our goal isn't to displace the project management tools that people use for the 0.1% of projects that are formally managed (though you can certainly do that with Project Edition). It's to radically improve performance for the 99.9% of projects where the most sophisticated management tool is the Post-It pad.
You can try out Project Edition for free for 30 days and see what consulting firms and agencies like Deloitte and Ogilvy are raving about. We're confident that you'll like it, even if you've never used any other project management tools in your work. And if you have used other tools, we're even more confident that you'll find our product easier, faster, more flexible, and most importantly, more productive than anything you've used before.
Don't just believe us…here's what other folks are saying:
"Simple project management functionality, like workflow management, task assignment and milestones, is built right into the tool, so there's no need to use a separate app like Basecamp to handle simple project management. This makes PBworks an attractive option for teams looking for a tool for collaborative project tasks, like document authoring, requirements gathering or design review. Task management is kept together with the actual task itself, which makes a lot of sense."
"A busy manager could check the new project coordination workspace to get a quick status update, use the discussion feature associated with each task to communicate with a team member, or add a new task and assign it to someone – all without ever sending an email. This feature alone makes the new PBworks Project Edition very attractive."
—Future Changes
Get the scoop on Project Edition by visiting our Project Edition minisite.


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Volume activation of Office 2013
Applies to: Office 2013
Summary: Lists articles that provide information about how to plan and deploy volume activation for Office 2013.
Audience: IT Professionals
If you're activating a personal copy of Office 2013 install, see Activate Office 2013 programs instead.
If you're an admin at an enterprise and want to activate a volume license edition of Office 2013, you're at the right place, keep reading.
Microsoft policy requires the activation of all editions of Office 2013 client software, including volume license editions. For Office 2013, volume activation occurs through Office Activation Technologies, which are based on the Software Protection Platform (SPP) that is used in Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
This information applies to volume license editions of Office 2013. It does not apply to Office 365 ProPlus. Office 365 ProPlus is licensed through a subscription. For more information, see Office 365 ProPlus Deployment Guide.
The following table lists and describes articles about volume activation for Office 2013.
Articles about volume activation for Office 2013
Explains how to plan which methods to use for activating volume license editions of Office 2013.
Contains links to other topics that describe how to prepare and configure the Office 2013 client and the Office KMS host for volume activation.
Describes how to prepare and configure the Office 2013 client for MAK volume activation.
Provides details about Active Directory-based activation of Office 2013.
Provides details about the Office Software Protection Platform script (ospp.vbs) and the Software License Manage script (slmgr.vbs), and describes the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) for volume license editions of Office 2013.
Explains how to troubleshoot common errors for volume activation of Office 2013.


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snoddy sadurdayFebruary 27, 2012
I am not immune.
I managed a whole two years without a day off work and since just before Christmas I've had one bout of cold/flueyness that sort of faded but did not truly leave and I broke my run and took one day off late December.
The lurgy did not go and gave me post nasal drip, as my doctor called it. Most uncomfortable, so I spent most of January and February snuffling. Snoring like a fog horn and swallowing constantly. This also has side effects, like acid reflux and wind. I'm sure you can see a very attractive classy lady in all this. I certainly can't.
It all came to a head on Friday night, I felt rougher than a badger pulled through a hedge backwards. I've been accumulating much sleep and avoiding any technical knitting to recover. I think I'm getting better but I'll gladly say I'm fed right up with winter and colds.
Back at the start of the month was my birthday. I had a lovely family party. A lovely party with AM and a pub lunch, and a day off with my beloved. Then we had the valentines weekend where he put his back out. Then he had a cold on his birthday weekend. Thankfully this weekend I was well enough, although I moaned and moaned through the snot, to make cake and take le husband to my family for his birthday party. Still it could have been much more bouncy and happier if I wasn't filled with head fluff.
Still, there is always spring and hay fever to look forward to. *cries* Anyone got a sealed bubble I could live in?


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Quitting Smoking Is Easy When It's Easy
Rick Paulas takes a look at Allen Carr's The Easy Way to Stop Smoking and wonders if the author might actually be right
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
"This is it, if you really want to do it."
—Inscription in my borrowed copy of The Easy Way to Stop Smoking
Allen Carr was a terrible writer. While there's no scientific proof that spending 25 years of one's life as an accountant has a direct effect on that person's ability to artistically massage the written word, that Carr spent his developmental years mixing numbers and doing taxes makes all sorts of sense when reading his work. It's derivative, repetitive, dry, and, the greatest sin of all, terribly boring. And yet, he's one of the most important and influential writers of our time.
If the top left-hand corner of his most popular work's latest edition is to be believed, it has sold "over 10,000,000" copies worldwide since its release in 1985. Those kind of sales put it in the same ballpark as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Cat in the Hat, Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time and The Joy of Sex. Not quite Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird or, ugh, The Da Vinci Code numbers, but very respectable. His influence, however, goes well beyond bestsellers list. With his book, he performed one of the greatest magic tricks of the 20th century: He got people to quit smoking.
As noted in his official bio/sales-pitch, Carr was born in 1934, lit up his first cigarette at 18, and quickly developed a 100-smokes-a-day habit that lasted for 33 years, much spent trying to wean himself from the addiction. "I was a serial quitter," he writes. "I once lasted six months of sheer hell before I caved in and lit one up." All that came to an end one day in 1983, when Carr had his self-described "Eureka! moment," a simple change in thought-process that kept him from picking up another cigarette. (The three- to five-packs-a-day habit did eventually catch up with him; he died of lung cancer in 2006.) His The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, then, is essentially a 220-page attempt to translate that momentary bit of mental gymnastics to the public.
(Carr's self-help expertise doesn't end there—he's also published subsequent books on how to quit alcohol, lose weight, stop your child from smoking, how women specifically can keep themselves from the nasty habit and, oddly, how to enjoy flying—but the sales figures and acclaim associated with those satellites of his empire don't touch his original foray into the field.)
While statistics on smoking cessation methods are notoriously hard to trust—the American Cancer Society asks in their intro to the Guide to Quitting Smoking, "Does success mean that a person is not smoking at the end of the program? After three months? Six months? One year? Does smoking fewer cigarettes (rather than stopping completely) count as success?"—The Easy Way's website quotes a study that gives their method a 53.3-percent success rate, well above nicotine gums, patches, acupuncture, and the antidepressant Wellbutrin. Celebrity testimonials for the book, seminars, and its various multi-platform releases (there's even a Nintendo DS version, presumably the least exciting video game of all time) range from Ellen DeGeneres to Ashton Kutcher to David Blaine to Sirs Anthony Hopkins and Richard Branson. But what's most telling of the book's impact: the whispering mentions you hear in office courtyards before lunch or huddles in the cold between music acts. If you've smoked more than a few awkward inhales of teenage interest, you've heard of The Book.
"I got the book in 2005, and it sat on my coffee table for a year," says Paul F. Tompkins, a veteran comedian of over 26 years who's smoked for nearly as long. "I did not touch it. It just sat there." Such is the rumored power of The Book: Smokers are scared to read it because it actually works.
WHAT'S MOST SHOCKING ABOUT the book's contents is perhaps what's missing. There are no stats about lung cancer, heart attacks, or strokes. No scare tactics like what the social pranksters at TheTruth.com dabble in. No veiled threats to the state of your sex life by focusing on bad breath and stained teeth. "The health scares make it harder [to stop]," writes Carr. And are obviously ineffective. Walk down any European city street, and you can see the futility of frightening people into giving up smoking. Sidewalks and trashcans are littered with crumpled packs, the brand of the tobacco company mostly obscured by giant black-and-white warnings or grotesque images of rotten lungs or gangrenous feet. (It's easy to imagine a smoker heading into a corner market and asking for "a pack of the diseased hearts.") "We smoke when we are nervous," writes Carr. "Tell smokers that cigarettes are killing them, and the first thing they will do is light one."
Instead, Carr removes the sense that quitting is a struggle by peppering passages with bright bold lettering, bits of humor (example: the chapter entitled "The Advantages of Being a Smoker" is just a blank page), and a grade-schooler's liberal use of the exclamation point. He makes the world of non-smoking one that's covered in tulips, presided over by butterflies, and smelling of your grandma's favorite Sunday dinner. It's not surprising, then, when Carr starts trash-talking popular quitting methods like pure willpower or "going cold turkey," as both inherently come with a sense of struggle built in. (Also not surprising: Carr doesn't care much for replacement nicotine-delivering systems or gradual step-down methods, although the skeptic may see that as simply a man dissing his competitors.) Which all points toward the basic concept behind the book and Carr's own moment of inspiration, one that's spelled out right there in the title: Quitting is easy.
Quitting is easy. Quitting is easy. Quitting is easy.
"It's very repetitive," says Tompkins. "And I was aware of that while reading. Like, is this some hypnosis thing?"
Carr supposedly discovered his brain-tweak following an appointment with his hypnotherapist, and many of the basic tenets of hypnosis are evident in the book. The chapters are generally three-to-four pages, subliminally prodding readers to plow through it quickly; putting down the book for the night means getting over that "oh, I guess I don't have time for one more chapter" hump that popular novelists like Dan Brown and John Grisham have mastered. It's something you live with for a short period of time, almost as long as an actual appointment with a hypnotist, rather than the months it may take to get through a Pynchon novel. Repetition also plays a key role in the prose, every few chapters containing thesis statements that summarize Carr's belief that quitting is easy and the smoker's life is about to be fantastic once they put an "ex-" in front of their designation. "It doesn't taste good, you don't need it, the cravings are not bad like you're to believe," lists Tompkins. "It's just a demystification of it all."
ADDICTION TO CIGARETTES IS one of the toughest to get over because so much of the hook comes from within. Unlike hard drugs (where the high is legit and the body chemistry is changed) or alcohol (where studies seem to pop up every week that one glass of whatever is actually healthy, thrown on top of the pre-existing societal acceptance and glamorization, making it easy to ignore it as a problem), there's no such excuse for smoking. There may be a small buzz from nicotine the first few times your brain gets adjusted to accepting the drug, but if you're smoking to the point where you're thinking about needing to quit, that buzz has long past. Even the "cool" aspect of smoking's been diminished as bans have funneled smokers into zoo-like partitions from society, making the act look anything but. (Truth: there's nothing sadder than the smoking area inside of an airport.) So, instead, smokers tell themselves lies never spoken or considered, half-consciously partaking in the same willful ignorance that allows bullshit-detectors to be turned off while watching The Avengers or porn. If addressed by name, smokers have to confront what they're doing, and then confront if that's the person they want to be. Forced self-examination by the revelation of truth. That's what the book does.
"A big part of why I kept smoking for as long as I did was that, well, this is part of my identity," says Tompkins. "I wanted to look cool. I wasn't putting it into clear thoughts like that; it was just a feeling I had. It wasn't until I read the book that I had to admit that to myself. And then the idea of picking it up again just seemed so ludicrous."
"My initial reaction was this is simplistic and isn't anything I don't know," says musician and film composer Michael Penn, a pack-a-day smoker for 20 years who first turned Tompkins onto the book. "But I began to understand that it was simple, not simplistic. Even though I was familiar with the concepts, they were stated in a succinct and effective way."
That's not to say the book works on everyone: "I resented being told I was going to feel a certain way," says my friend Janine Ellis. "He seemed really obnoxious and his tone was condescending." Which isn't surprising, seeing that for as much as Carr forces smokers to look inward at their own demons, there's plenty of pages demonizing and pointing somewhat-mocking fingers at those who still smoke.
"To this day when I see somebody smoking, my immediate thought is that poor slob," says Barb Noble, a one-time pack-a-day smoker who hasn't touched one in 20 years. In 1989, Barb—along with her husband, Bob—took a personal seminar in Carr's own home in Walden, England. (A little journalistic disclosure: Barb and Bob are my roommate's parents.) "He had about five or six Barcaloungers," recalls Barb, "and packs of cigarettes and lighters, because he wanted us to chain-smoke during the entire session. That room was so thick with smoke you could hardly breathe." (This "smoke yourself out" aspect is translated into the book with his request to smoke the entire time you're reading, a move that personally made me force-inhale my final four cigarettes even though I really didn't want them.) But what's most interesting about the Nobles' account is the question Carr started the seminar with. "He asked, 'Why did you come here today?'" says Noble. "And I gave him the reason because I had two small children. And he said, 'It's not going to work for you. It won't work if you're doing it for someone else.'"
WHEN I PICKED IT up two years ago, it wasn't with pangs of fear as much as brash confrontationalism toward my ex-smoker friends who recommended it as their method of quitting, a backwards way of showcasing my own mental strength. "A bunch of words can't change my brain," was me at my most annoyingly punk-skeptic. The whole time I was reading—a task that takes about a week due to the aforementioned near-sixth-grade writing level—I had one eye in a "I see what you're trying to do here" squint, the same one that occurs in the first minute of a magic act when you're still trying to figure out the trick. Meaning: I read the book trying to get it not to work. And yet it still did.
Throughout grade school and high school, I never touched a cigarette. It wasn't so much a built-in fear as much as I simply never had the opportunity; my morals were easily compromised if peer pressure was introduced. I just lucked out that no one tried pulling that on me. So it wasn't shocking that when a college friend—from the Honors Floor, no less—offered me a smoke, I immediately accepted. From there, I was on a very small and specific habit (one-to-two cigarettes a day, never when the sun was out, more if there was alcohol involved) for the next decade. By any smoker's standards it wasn't much, but a decade is still a long time—a lot of cigarettes, when you add them up. While I wasn't worried about long-term health defects and didn't have visual evidence like all shades of green phlegm staring at me from the bathroom sink, I certainly had the self-loathing that comes with knowingly doing something wrong.
For the past two-plus years now, since freeing myself from "the slavery of the weed" as Carr puts it, I've remained smoke-free. Which is troubling. Because, really, it shouldn't work this effectively. Quitting smoking is hard stuff, to the point where a week of reading shouldn't just do the trick. With millions of dollars being spent annually on nicotine lozenges, patches, hypnosis, the new nearly-criminally ridiculous-looking e-cigarettes, why does a book that retails for $9.49 on Amazon work?
Well, it seems there's one key to the book's magic trick not unraveling: A willingness by the reader to give themselves over to Carr's sleepy and hypnotic prose, to become the kid watching the card trick, to consent to AA's first step of admitting the problem before it can be solved.
"If you really are ready to admit to things about smoking that the book makes you admit," says Tompkins, "it works." And if it doesn't, if you're one of the 46.7 percent that Carr's book fails, then maybe you'll still come away from it changed, even slightly.
"I started smoking cigars," says Bob Noble with a laugh. "The guy never said anything about cigars."
Rick Paulas has written many things, some of them serious, some of them not, for The Awl, Vice, Wired, and McSweeney's. He lives in Los Angeles and is a White Sox fan.


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Even though this sixth-generation Maserati Quattroporte is not as flashy as previous versions, it does remain true to the Maserati brand, and now offers two engine choices: a 530 hp V8 and an all-new 403 hp V6. All-wheel drive is available on the V6. Other additions include 4 more inches of legroom in the back seat and a cargo-area boost of 3 cubic feet.
Watch as Autoweek West Coast senior editor Mark Vaughn takes a video spin around the latest Maserati Quattroporte at the Detroit auto show.


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A Facebook video of two Western men aggressively harassing a young Korean woman has gone viral in South Korea, sparking both outrage against the notoriously dickish expat community and, inevitably, discussion as to whether the terrified girl was asking for it.
The woman's face is blurred in the shortened video above (you can watch the full video here, but know that it's incredibly, horribly awful). She's drunk, crying, and clearly very afraid. The Western men — it's unclear where they're from — move her around by pulling her hair and grabbing her chin. "We gotta get a picture of this bitch," they say, describing her body as if she doesn't exist."We've gotta get the boobs in there." Soon, things escalate even further. Here's how the Washington Post's Max Fisher describes it:
Then, as if bored with merely harassing her, they grow more sadistic. The first man sticks his finger up her nose. She pulls back to resist but he leans in and shouts, "I see a booger." His friend eggs him on — "Dude, make her eat it," he says — and the two burst into laughter when he shoves his finger, now smeared with snot, into the back of her throat. They tell her she's disgusting. When one of them discovers some discoloration on her teeth, pulling her lips back to show to the camera, he starts shoving her, punishing her for displeasing him. He shouts at her to get plastic surgery, "like every other little Korean [girl]." At first, when she tries to resist, he won't let her go. But, after several thrashes, she's able to pull herself away, clearly rattled, and walk off. They shout angrily after her, hurling insults, and the video ends.
When Fisher sent the video to friends who had spent time in Korea with other expats, they said that the video represented an "extreme and highly unusual case" of a common incident: young Western men getting wasted and harassing local women in public. Of course, many think the real problem is the girl — who, in a surprising "happy ending" to the video, finally pushes the guys off, says "fuck you," and leaves — because she dared to wear a tank top and drink at a club.
"She went crazy over white guys, lived at a club, and ran into trouble," one Jagei.com commenter surmised. Another wrote, "After that, I think she's going to go clubbing to meet white guys again."
Related: South Korea has the widest gender gap in the developed world.
Update: the video was staged.


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What's your secret?
Since joining the Daring Bakers 3 months ago, I have been challenged every month. This month was no exception. When I told hubby that the recipe for this month was a lemon meringue pie, his first response was "Oh my Mom makes a great lemon meringue pie." Oh great! I have to compete with his mother.
Since we met, I have done a good job to not try to out-do her in any of his favorites. It's just easier for everyone if he doesn't have to choose me over her. His all time favorite dessert is blueberry pie and he loves mine, but I usually use a store-bought pie crust. This provides him with an easy out for why he likes his mom's blueberry pie better since she makes her crusts. Well there will be no excuse with this pie. I'll be making everything from scratch, the same way she does it (although with a different recipe). Talk about pressure…
Throughout the month, I've been trying to figure out when to make this pie. Hubby and I don't need to eat an entire pie ourselves but with all the stories of weeping meringues and soggy crusts, I didn't want to take it to work either… (Be sure to check out all the other Daring Baker's pies) I needed an event in the evening on the weekend. Then it dawned on me. I recently joined a group who meets once a month and everyone brings food and we watch a movie. They do a theme every month. This month's theme is secret recipe. HOW PERFECT! While most people brought secret family recipes, I brought something that literally was a secret recipe. It was the best of both worlds. And since the potluck was the night before the big reveal, I figured it was ok to share the secret with a bunch of non-blogging friends. Sorry to break the rules about keeping the recipe a secret.
I decided to make cupcake sized pies to accommodate the potluck setting and the fact that I love cupcakes. Also, this way I'd be able to have one for pictures at home and not have to explain to my new acquaintances why I was taking pictures of the pie after the first piece was cut…
Now onto the baking of the cupcakes! As I mentioned, I've never made a crust before, so I didn't really know what to expect. I do have a pastry cutter, so I was excited to use it! As usual, I got all my ingredients measured and ready to go prior to starting.
My dough was very crumbly after I turned it onto my Silpat. I shaped it into a disk they best I could, but I couldn't pick it up to wrap it in plastic wrap. Instead, I just put plastic and a clean towel over the dough and put the Silpat onto a cookie sheet and stuck the whole thing in the fridge. I had to knead the dough quite a bit to be able to roll it out.
I used a prep-bowl that had a 4″ edge to cut my dough. I used a sharp knife and ran it along the outside of the overturned dough to cut my circles. Then I pressed each circle into the cupcake pan. The recipe made 12 cupcake crusts.
As you can see the crust got smaller as it baked. I think it'll still turn out okay at this point. I prepped all my meringue and filling ingredients while the crust was baking (the 5 egg yolks go in the filling and the egg whites go in the meringue). I read that since you want to put the meringue onto the filling while it's hot, it might be a good idea to actually make the meringue first so that it's ready to go. So that's what I did.
The meringue came together quite well. I followed the directions for the lemon curd exactly and it came out perfectly. It held up nicely and tasted AMAZING. Perfectly tart.
I had quite a bit of the lemon curd left since I wasn't able to put very much into the cupcake pie crusts. I used an ice-cream scoop to put a big dollop of meringue on top of the filling. I made them look spikey cause it's fun 🙂
I am very proud to admit that my filling held up nice and sturdy even after about 6 hours. These little guys were heavenly. Everyone at the potluck asked for the recipe.
Thanks to our host Jen for this lovely recipe! I really enjoyed making my lemon meringue cup-pies. Click HERE for the complete recipe (I figure this post is long enough already!)
9 Responses to "Lemon Bars"
Everytime I make anything out of this book I screw up a step. I'm starting to blame the book – maybe it has too many steps? I've had it for years, and I don't mess up other recipes. But with this book. . . everytime I look at the recipe while whatever I've made is in the oven I go "oh no."
Let us know what else you cook and like out of the book. Love your blog.
These look so DELICIOUS! My mouth is watering!! Thank you!!
http://www. simplysweeter.blogspot.com
These are my favorite type of bars! And I agree, I could eat lemon curd all day!
I also often don't have the right size pan for a recipe, I guess I need to stock up 🙂
I love lemon bars and yours look absolutely delightful! I'm a huge fan of the entire Cook's Illustrated brand and have been meaning to pick that book up for a while!
You're so lucky to have won that cookbook!! If I would have known about that giveaway, I would have signed up for sure. I've been coveting that book for a long time.
These lemon bars look so yummy!!! I love lemon bars. I really enjoyed this bar series! Thank you.
Oh you saved the best for last with lemon bars, yum!
You are so right about spring teasing us. Very annoying!
I lıke lemon bars !!
wonderfull lemon bars
happy weekens.
I've been in a lemony mood as of late. This helps take some of the edge off.
What delicious bars! I'm so glad you like the book. Now I need to own it…haha.


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Which means . . . after I slay a thousand forms, hire TRON to break into B&N's catalog system, kill the witch, and bring back the broom to Oz . . . after all that . . . The Moon Coin is headed for Barnes & Noble!
Here's how it happened: back in the fall, Barnes and Noble sent me a letter saying they wanted to carry The Moon Coin in their brick and mortar bookstores. The problem is that B&N doesn't acquire books from publishers and authors, they get them from distributors and wholesalers.
Well, this week I heard back from Baker & Taylor. I'VE GOT THE BROOM AND I'M HEADING BACK TO OZ! My book is going to be available to B&N, (among many other bookstores), and a 95% of all libraries!
I have no idea how long it's going to take me to get back to Oz, though. A couple months maybe? There's just never a roving band of blood-thirsty flying monkeys around when you need one. Have you ever noticed that? But when I do get back, and into the Barnes & Noble catalog, B&Ns everywhere will be able to stock the series!
I've already heard from one B&N children's dept manager who says she already has a special display in mind. She also plans to put up posters! Yikes!
One B&N store down, 722 to go.
In other news, I'm back up on Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116346566164783346454


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I talk about anarchists often in this space, but I mean it. These people are a threat. Here's one cell making threats and demanding $3 billion from Google in blackmail.
And that's why it's so incredibly insane that the US Government keeps playing blame the victim with these guys, as in the Wyndham case. It's going to be up to the Congress to reel in the FTC on this.
Continue reading »
I'd have signed a letter against IRFA, the Pandora-backed regulatory bailout.
Government is trying to give advice on security online, including advice on how to deal with breakins. Information exchange is truly a proper cybersecurity role for government. Also important is prosecuting private offenders, and dealing with state offenders.
Though it gets tricky when state offenders include firms selling goods while pretending to be private firms, such as Chinese firms like Lenovo or Huawei.
ECPA reform is being held in the Senate. Leaky Leahy says it's a Republican doing it. I wonder who? Lindsey Graham? John McCain? I'm not entirely convinced that the bill is necessary, but I don't think it's a particularly idea as long as we preserve something along the lines of FISA.
If you really want your email to be private, don't have it all run through Google.
Turns out Snowden's final decision to pledge allegiance to United Russia has encouraged a child pornographer in Ireland to follow suit.
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When parents can't agree on who the kids will live with the Court will normally order a social study be conducted. This allows for a non-party, a trained professional, to look at the situation, the concerns of each party, and make a recommendation to the Court. That recommendation is the social study.
This expert will interview each party as well as watch the interactions between the parties and the kids. They will normally also interview other children or adults that are living in the residences of the parties (should there be any) and do a home visit of each parties home to make sure it is appropriate / safe for the children.
Once the expert is done, they draft the social study. In some jurisdictions, only the attorneys and the judge will see the result. This is because there have been times when parties have not liked the results of the social study and either share them with the children or even take out their frustrations on the children.
If you are going through a social study, be honest, participate fully, and make sure you comply fully with any requests. Talk with your attorney if you have questions.
A quick overview of the process in Dallas County can be found here.


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This is a talk I did on a local Meetup group about continuous integration and continuous delivery for you Xamarin app. Mainly based on VSTS and HockeyApp but also naming some alternatives like Bitrise, TestFairy, Play Store and the App Store.
Because of time pressure it was a bit of a rush so if you have any questions please let me know!