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A friend of mine replies to every favor I ever ask with the same words.
"You've got it!"
I've tried that response. It sticks somewhere in my throat. Most days, the best I can muster is, "I'll do my best." In all honesty, that's a stretch. Here's how I usually respond.
"What is it?"
I want to know in advance what I'm going to be asked to do. It seems fair enough.
Here's what I've come to realize about my friend. She trusts me not to ask her to do anything bad. Because she is totally unselfish, the only reason she would refuse my request would be if it were immoral or illegal. Discard those disqualifiers and she is willing to do anything for me.
Unless someone has responded to you in the same way, you can't truly understand how that makes you feel.
My seemingly committed response of "I'll do my best" still leaves me with an out. It has a nice ring to it. It gives the appearance of willingness to give my all unless I'm stopped by something beyond my control. In reality, I'm leaving selfish wiggle room. If the request is something that will be inconvenient or interfere with my schedule, I still have my loophole. I still have an excuse to get me out of what appeared to be my unwavering commitment.
But, not my friend. She puts aside all selfishness and commits right up front to giving me her time and her resources. Before she ever knows what I'm going to ask her she tells me, "You've got it!"
This morning as I considered the differences between my friend and me, a realization came to light. An ill feeling began to grow in the pit of my stomach with that realization. The realization that I don't always trust others not to take advantage of me. The feeling grew more when I realized I'm more concerned about my convenience and my time than about other's needs. The feeling was nearly crippling as my realization became full blown. My lack of trust and my selfishness reaches far beyond my friends.
I respond the same way to God.
Now, I know God doesn't need to ask me for favors. I don't want to get all tied up in legalistic viewpoints. But, I do know that God asks us to do things. Not because He needs a favor, but because He wants to involve us. Because He wants relationship and fellowship. And, I know that on several occasions God has asked me this one question…
"Will you do something for Me?"
And most often my reply has been…
"What is it?"
Which actually means, "Well, it depends, God. I'll give it some consideration if it won't be too hard. I'll think about it as long as it won't get in the way of the things I was planning on doing. I'll toy with the idea if I don't think it will make me look too foolish. So throw it out there for me, God, and let me see what this idea of Yours looks like. Give me Your best sales pitch and I'll see if Your plan is worth my time." Yes, that's what I'm really saying when I ask God, "What is it?"
How about when I go a step further with my reply to God, and I tell Him…
"I'll do my best."
Another translation of that phrase may be something like this: "I'll give it a shot, God. But if it starts to get too hard I'll just have to bow out." Or maybe, "Sure, God. I'll squeeze this into my schedule and do everything I can to make it fit. But You know I'm really obligated to my job/this project/my child's ball team/my volunteer work (you fill in the blank), so I may not be able to get to it right now."
But what about answering God with,
"You've got it!"
Before He ever tells me what He's going to ask me to do, what if I tell Him, "Yes, Lord! Whatever it is, count me in! You want me involved with You? You've got it!" Here's what that looks like.
It looks like dropping our nets in the middle of doing the work we believe will provide our livelihood. (Matthew 4:18-20)
It looks like giving God our meager provisions when thousands are hungry. (Matthew 1:16-21)
It looks like bringing Him our filthy jars of stale cleaning water when all we can understand is there is a need for good wine. (John 2:1-10)
Will it make sense at the time? Probably not. Will it be worth our while? Well, ask yourself this: Is a miracle worth your while? Each response of "You've got it!" was followed by one or more miracles.
So, what keeps me from responding to God every single time with "You've got it!"? The same things that keep me from replying that way to people.
First of all, I don't always trust God.
I'm risking being thought of poorly for this admission. Believe me, it's no easier to admit in print than it was to admit to myself when I first made that disgusting realization. There are some things I just didn't trust God to take care of the way I thought they needed to be addressed. My head knows that God always does what's best. I just couldn't get that head knowledge to transition its way into my heart. Sometimes I still can't. Otherwise, I'd be more inclined to those "You've got it!" replies.
Secondly, I'm just plain selfish with my time.
The busier life gets, the less time we seem to have for ourselves. So, please God, don't ask me to do something that might take up some of that time I was planning on using for something fun. Don't get me wrong, God wants us to have a certain amount of leisure time. He wants us to enjoy life. But, how much is enough? Or, how much of my time do I spend doing things God has no intention of my doing? (That's a blog post all on it's own – and I'm working on that one!)
As the tables continue to turn on me, I have to come face-to-face with the way God responds to my requests.
God never responds out of a lack of trust.
How could He? Not trusting someone is a result of not knowing how they will react or respond. God knows everything about me. He knows the future. With no unknowns, the trust factor has to be taken out of the equation.
God never responds out of selfishness.
Again, it's an impossibility. If God had bones, there wouldn't be a selfish one in His body. God is love. Selfishness and love contradict each other, and God does not contradict Himself. He cannot.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)
God's response to us when we ask for something is always the same. If it is in His will (if it's not for something He knows will be harmful or detrimental to us in some way, or to someone else) God responds to us with "You've got it!"
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)
Let that soak in for a minute. How does that make you feel? Now, let's take that thought and put it in an even greater perspective when we consider it in concert with other promises from God.
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:9-11)
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20)
Whatever we ask, if it's in God's will. Whatever good things that are far better than anything we could receive from anyone on earth. More than anything we could possibly imagine or dream of asking for. That's how God responds to our requests. Those are the "favors" He does for us.
If I'm asked for a favor by my friend who always says, "You've got it!", I'm completely inclined to reply to her in the same way. Can I reply to God with the same reply He gives me? I pray that I can.
I've always got time for a miracle.


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A Russian singer has quit the production of The Flying Dutchman at Bayreuth following revelations that he has a Nazi-style tattoo.
Bass-baritone Yevgeny Nikitin, 38, was due to sing the role of the Dutchman in Wagner's opera on Wednesday until Aspekte, a programme broadcast by the ZDF German television station, showed images of a large tattoo of a swastika on his chest – the pictures came from old footage of Nikitin playing the drums bare-chested in a heavy metal band.
Despite claims that the tattoos were done in his youth and had no political significance for him, talks with the festival organisers led to his withdrawal. 'I was not aware of the extent of the irritation and offence these signs and symbols would cause, particularly in Bayreuth given the context of the festival's history,' wrote the singer in a statement on the festival's website. 'It was not clear to me that the symbols that I have tattooed on my chest could have any connotations or even by used by Nazis and neo-Nazis.'
Created by Wagner in 1872, the Bayreuth Festival has been centered on the composer's work. However, the composer's connections with Hitler (who attended Bayreuth several times) has given the festival a history that it is making considerable efforts to disassociate itself from.
Nikitin will be replaced by the Korean singer Samuel Youen.
Katy Wright

subset: commoncrawl


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The InfoSec Institute (infosecinstitute.com) offers a variety of training on security topics such as penetration testing and reverse engineering. After it was discovered that ISI took large portions of material from Corelan.be without credit or license, additional review was performed of available material. This included a presentation from founder/owner Jack Koziol and other contract instructors. It became clear that the Corelan incident was not a one-off, and likely not the work of a rogue contractor as ISI claimed.
According to their web page, ISI describes themselves as:
InfoSec Institute is the best source for high quality information security training. We have been training Information Security and IT Professionals since 1998 with a diverse lineup of relevant training courses. In the past 13 years, over 15,000 individuals have trusted InfoSec Institute for their professional development needs!
Given the amount of plagiarism found to date, this is disconcerting. According to a presentation given by Jack Koziol in 2010, ISI has given training to the US Air Force, National Security Agency (NSA), the US Army, GCHQ, Symantec, KPMG, Bank of America, Trustwave, JPMorgan, McAfee and more. Providing plagiarized content to US government and military is a disservice to them, and the people the material was taken from.
During the process of settling the plagiarism of Corelan.be's material, ISI was given advanced warning about the contents of this page. attrition.org assisted ISI by giving guidance on revising their policy for reviewing content. ISI has released a statement (since removed) outlining their new content creation policies.


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Published: Thursday, February 22, 2018 by
Published: Thursday, March 8, 2018 by
AAHAM Certification Exams Online Launch Site:
(this is for both professional & technical exams)
AAHAM Testing Site
Requirements for Online Testing
Author: Anonym/Thursday, February 1, 2018/Categories: Event - Education
Event date: 6/14/2018 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Export event
AAHAM PRESENTS FREE STUDY WEBINAR SERIES for all AAHAM CERTIFICATIONS
Whether you are planning on taking any of the AAHAM Certification examinations, preparing for the future, or need the education to do your job better, you want to sign up for the webinar program. Statistically, those who've participated in our webinars have a higher pass rate than those who did not.
The CRCE, CRCP, and CRIP webinars will be multiple sessions covering each section of the exam.
The CRCS and CCT will be a single session webinars covering the entire exam.
These 90 minute study sessions require a computer, high speed Internet, PowerPoint and a telephone line. The webinar includes a 60 minute presentation, a 30 minute Q&A period, and handout provided via email.
Please note, all of the webinar times will be 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM EST
Registrations must be received the WEEK before each session
Earn 3 AAHAM CEUs for EACH study session attended
Please note that you will receive your confirmation and handouts via email the MONDAY BEFORE EACH WEBINAR. The registration is for one line and one computer. The webinar format permits an unlimited amount of people to listen in from one phone. Correspondence and handouts will only be sent to the registrant.
The full webinar schedule can be found on the online and downloadable registration forms.
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So... even in Fargo, North Dakota (lat. 46'52"N, no palm trees in sight) such a system would get on average 6-7 kWh of solar radiation per day, for every square meter of panel. Even with the least efficient panel available currently, at around 10% energy conversion, this means that for a mere 10 square meter system a home would generate ~6.5 kWh per day. And I should point out that panels are now being tested with conversion efficiencies upwards of 20%.
The rub? Price, as always. And that's where your government feathers (see previous post) come in. How about this idea: we reduce defence spending by $30 billion/year and increase "black" fuel taxes by $30 billion/year and spend the $60 billion in installing state of the art solar panels in people's homes FOR FREE through a lottery system. That should come to about 2 million installations every year. Not bad for such a small bunch of feathers, eh?
For your information, the federal government already spends $600 billion on defence every year. As for the other $30 billion, we could raise this entire sum by an extra 10 cents tax at the gas pump.


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Sunday, 18 November 2012 11:43 AM EST
ROME — At dawn before lessons could start last week, high school pupils at the Nomentano Science School in a northern suburb of Rome slipped chains around the gates and blocked the doors with chairs taken from classrooms.
Between the ragged European Union flag and Italian tricolor over the entry they hung a new banner: a white sheet spray painted with the word "Occupied."
With youth unemployment more than three times the national average and Prime Minister Mario Monti's austerity policies biting into education spending, high school and university students have moved to the front of anti-government protests.
As strikes swept Europe on Wednesday, teenagers armed with makeshift riot shields painted to look like the covers of famous books led a march of thousands through Rome. The demonstration ended in violent clashes, with riot police chasing protesters down the banks of the Tiber under clouds of teargas.
In a speech this week at Milan's Bocconi University, where he was an economics professor before becoming prime minister, Monti expressed sympathy, saying young people were paying for "serious errors accumulated over the past decades."
Nomentano is one of more than a dozen schools around Rome to be seized by students in a revolt against reforms and economic crisis cuts imposed by Monti's technocrat government.
Student Nicholas Giordano, 18, pointed to gaping holes in the school's outdoor paving and its broken roofs.
"There are toilets that haven't worked for months. When it rains, in some classrooms the water comes in," Giordano said. "We want to show the government that this is unacceptable."
Students have been camping inside the school in sleeping bags since last Monday, and said their occupation would last at least through the week.
Proposals which the CGIL union says will shave 182 million euros ($232.81 million) from schools' annual budgets have become a rallying point for groups that oppose Monti from across the political spectrum, from neo-fascists to the far left.
Italy's young people are among the hardest hit by an economy that has been dipping in and out of recession since 2008. The youth unemployment rate is 35 percent.
Italy has repeatedly cut education spending in recent years, despite allocating just 4.9 percent of gross domestic product to education according the most recent OECD figures, from 2009. Of the 31 members of the group of rich countries for which it had data, only the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia spent less.
Concern increased last week when the head of the association representing local governments said planned cuts to regional spending would force schools to extend Christmas holidays.
"We do not have the money to pay to heat the classrooms," Antonio Saitta told a conference.
For those who do find work after graduation, university has not always led to skilled jobs: According to the Bank of Italy, one in four employed graduates were "overqualified" in 2011, working as waiters, farm laborers or in other jobs that do not require a degree, a rise of two percentage points from 2009.
Student anger is focused on an education reform bill going through parliament that would give schools more autonomy and allow them to accept other sources of funding than the state, which protesters believe is intended to encourage privatisation.
Professor Antonio Cocozza, a specialist in the economics of education at Italy's LUISS University, said reforms to give schools control over their curriculums were needed so schools could adjust their teaching to the needs of the market.
"There is a risk an entire generation may not find employment, or may not find an occupation that matches their studies," Cocozza said. "I agree with austerity, but we must invest at the same time, otherwise we risk not being ready for economic recovery in the future."
The occupations, which began in a seaside district of the capital before spreading from school to school, are organized by disparate student groups united by anger at austerity. They reflect disillusionment with mainstream politics across society.
"The government runs the risk of finding itself at odds with a large part of the population," said Federico Brugnola, 17, who said about a thousand of Nomentano's 1,400 students supported the occupation. "All those angry people will begin to rise up. Italy risks becoming another Greece."
In a result that could presage national elections in five months, an October vote in Sicily made the anti-political party of comedian Beppe Grillo the island's largest political force.
Among youth groups that have gained prominence is the far-right Blocco Studentesco, whose members describe themselves as modern-day fascists, venerate dictator Benito Mussolini, and want banks, utilities, telecoms and transport nationalized.
The students of Nomentano said protests would continue even after they return to classes.
"This will not stop at the end of the week. This will not stop with the elections. In two years I'll be going to university and I will continue the struggle there," Brugnola said. "We will continue to protest until things get better. This is a fight for our future."
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President – Dottie Chandler 360-770-8452
Chainsaw Carving Coordinator – George Kenney
Mailing Address Office Located at 727 Murdock street Unit #3 Sedro-Woolley Wa 98284 (Office is currently closed for the year)
Loggerodeo™ Inc
PO Box 712
Sedro-Woolley, WA
Phone: 360 770-8452
general questions, comments or concerns.
We are conveniently located off I-5. Coming from I-5, take Exit 232, Cook Rd / Sedro-Woolley.Turn East onto Cook Rd and follow it into town approximately 4 miles. Continue on Cook Rd until you reach the stoplight with the "Welcome to Sedro-Woolley" sign and the train. This is the Highway 20 / Cook Rd intersection.
Continue straight through the intersection traveling East and Cook Rd becomes Ferry street. From there you can follow the map below to locate events and activities.Parking is available in the Municipal Parking Lot on Metcalf and Warner, in the gravel area of Eastern, or other parking spaces available in town. Riverfront Park has adequate parking for the carnival and fireworks show.
General Information
The Parade is always at 11:00AM on July 4th.
T Shirt's at the loggerodeo™ office.
Visit the Riding Club website for all information regarding the Rodeo http://www.sedrowoolleyrodeo.com/


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Typical 3 Tier AppThe following diagram illustrates a sample 3-tier enterprise application. The app consists of 1) one or more Web tiers (typically scaled out and behind a load balancer) 2) one or more app servers serving application logic and 3) a high available SQL Server backend. With SQL Server 2012 and above, the recommended way to setup high availability is to configure two availability group replicas in synchronous replication mode.
Configure Protection for all TiersLeverage the following steps to replicate the above application to Azure using Azure Site Recovery and SQL AlwaysOn Availability Groups.
Configuring SQL Replica in Azure
- Create an Azure Virtual Network and configure site-to-site VPN or Express Route between the on-premises site and this network.
- Create a new SQL IaaS Virtual Machine in this network and configure it as an asynchronous availability group replica. (Note: If you require high availability for the SQL tier post failover to Azure, then configure two asynchronous replica copies in Azure)
- A replica of a Domain controller should be setup in this virtual network.
- Ensure VM extensions are enabled on this VM. (Note: This will be used to push SQL specific scripted actions during recovery)
- Configure a SQL listener for the availability group using Azure's internal load balancer (Note: Since only one ILB is supported per cloud service, configure all databases of your app to a single availability group to leverage the listener)
- Configure the app tier to use the listener to access the database tier.
Configure Web and App tier protection
- Complete pre-requisites for setting up Azure Site Recovery based on your on-premises environment.
- Use ASR replication to replicate the front end and app tier VMs to Azure.
- Configure network settings in ASR such that the app tiers and front end VMs failover to the same Azure network hosting the ILB and the SQL replica copy. (Note: The web and app tiers must failover into a different cloud service from the one in which SQL replica is deployed. ASR will automatically create a new cloud service when failing over)
Create a Recovery Plan for full App failover
Configure SQL failover scriptsWe will leverage customer script extensions and Azure Automation to configure scripted failover of SQL Availability groups: 1. Create a local file for the script to failover SQL Availability Group. The following sample script takes the path to the Availability Group on the Azure replica and fails it over to that replica instance. This script will be passed to the SQL replica VM for execution via the Custom Script Extension.
Param( [string]$SQLAvailabilityGroupPath ) import-module sqlps Switch-SqlAvailabilityGroup -Path $SQLAvailabilityGroupPath -AllowDataLoss -force2. Upload the script to a blob in an Azure storage account (In this example the blob is named "AGFailover.ps1").
$context = New-AzureStorageContext -StorageAccountName "Account" -StorageAccountKey "Key" Set-AzureStorageBlobContent -Blob "AGFailover.ps1" -Container "script-container" -File "ScriptLocalFilePath" -context $context3. Create an Azure Automation Runbook to invoke the above script on the SQL Replica VM in Azure. You can use the following sample script for the purpose. You can also look at Add Azure automation runbooks to recovery plans to understand how to create Azure automation runbooks to be used in ASR recovery plans
workflow SQLAvailabilityGroupFailover { param ( [Object]$RecoveryPlanContext ) $Cred = Get-AutomationPSCredential -name 'AzureCredential' #Connect to Azure $AzureAccount = Add-AzureAccount -Credential $Cred $AzureSubscriptionName = Get-AutomationVariable –Name 'AzureSubscriptionName' Select-AzureSubscription -SubscriptionName $AzureSubscriptionName InLineScript { #Update the script with name of your storage account, key and blob name $context = New-AzureStorageContext -StorageAccountName "Account" -StorageAccountKey "Key"; $sasuri = New-AzureStorageBlobSASToken -Container "script-container" -Blob "AGFailover.ps1" -Permission r -FullUri -Context $context; Write-output "failovertype " + $Using:RecoveryPlanContext.FailoverType; if ($Using:RecoveryPlanContext.FailoverType -eq "Test") { #Skipping TFO in this version. #We will update the script in a follow-up post with TFO support Write-output "tfo: Skipping SQL Failover"; } else { Write-output "pfo/ufo"; #Get the SQL Azure Replica VM. #Update the script to use the name of your VM and Cloud Service $VM = Get-AzureVM -Name "SQLAzureVM" -ServiceName "SQLAzureReplica"; Write-Output "Installing custom script extension" #Install the Custom Script Extension on teh SQL Replica VM Set-AzureVMExtension -ExtensionName CustomScriptExtension -VM $VM -Publisher Microsoft.Compute -Version 1.3| Update-AzureVM; Write-output "Starting AG Failover"; #Execute the SQL Failover script #Pass the SQL AG path as the argument. $AGArgs="-SQLAvailabilityGroupPath sqlserver:\sql\sqlazureVM\default\availabilitygroups\testag"; Set-AzureVMCustomScriptExtension -VM $VM -FileUri $sasuri -Run "AGFailover.ps1" -Argument $AGArgs | Update-AzureVM; Write-output "Completed AG Failover"; } } }
Create a new ASR Recovery Plan
- In the Azure Site Recovery portal, create a new Recovery Plan and add the app and web tier VMs into the recovery plan.
- Add a "pre group 1 boot" scripted step that will invoke the above Azure Automation in the Recovery Plan.
- Customize the Recovery Plan by selecting "Group1" as the Start group for app tier and "Group2" as the Start group for web tier (E.g. app tier will Start up before the web tier).
- If you have more than one VM in the web tier then you would have to add a script to create a load balancer as a post-script to Group-2
- Save the Recovery Plan.


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Slidell, John
Slidell, John slīdĕl´, slī´dəl [key], 1793–1871, American political leader and diplomat, b. New York City. He became a prominent lawyer and political figure in New Orleans and served as a Democrat in Congress (1843–45). In 1845, Slidell was appointed special U.S. envoy to Mexico to adjust the Texas boundary and to negotiate the purchase of California and New Mexico; the Mexican government, which had broken off diplomatic relations after the U.S. Congress had provided for the annexation of Texas, refused to receive him (see Mexican War). Senator from Louisiana (1853–61), he was influential in securing the nomination and election of James Buchanan to the presidency (1856) and was a power in the administration. Slidell joined the Confederate cause early in 1861. Appointed Confederate commissioner to France the same year, he figured with James M. Mason in the Trent Affair. Although cordially received in Paris, Slidell was unable to get official recognition or any material aid for the Confederacy from the French emperor, Napoleon III. After the Civil War, Slidell resided in France.
See L. M. Sears, John Slidell (1925); B. Willson, John Slidell and the Confederates in Paris (1932, repr. 1970).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies


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FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Summertime fun often includes outdoor sports, but playing hard in the heat can be dangerous, experts warn.
Athletes are particularly vulnerable to problems that arise when the body's ability to cool itself is overwhelmed, explained Tim McLane, certified athletic trainer at Georgia Regents Sports Medicine Center.
Following just a few simple heat safety rules can protect the health of athletes and prevent issues like heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, he said.
"While training and preparation are important to succeed in sports, practicing heat safety is vital in order to protect the health of all athletes," advised McLane in a news release from the Children's Hospital of Georgia. "Athletes have a reputation for being tough. But the heat is not the time to prove it."
Spotting the early symptoms of heat illness is key, he said. Among the warning signs to consider:
- Heat cramps: painful muscle spasms in the legs, arms and torso.
- Heat exhaustion: unusual fatigue, nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting and chills.
- Heat stroke: dizziness, sudden lack of coordination, irritability, confusion. Heat stroke can progress to seizures and even death.
"Call 911 immediately if you suspect an athlete has had a heat stroke," cautioned McLane. "Heat stroke is a true medical emergency and must be treated at a hospital."
However, while waiting for professional help, "you can provide some assistance by spraying the athlete's body with water, immersing it in water, or wrapping the athlete in cool, wet towels until an ambulance arrives," McLane said. "This can help quickly cool the body and possibly hold off the danger."
Although rest, stretching and drinking fluids can help heat cramps, there are other steps athletes and coaches can take to prevent these and other heat-related illnesses from developing in the first place. According to McLane, they include:
- Speaking up. If you don't feel well be sure to alert your coach right away.
- Acclimatizing. Be sure to get used to the heat gradually. In hot or humid conditions, slowly raise the intensity and duration of your workouts over 10 to 14 days.
- Dressing properly. Opt for loose-fitting, light-colored clothing to help you stay cool.
- Avoiding salt tablets. Although they may ease muscle cramps, they do not prevent heat-related illness.
- Paying attention to timing. Whenever possible, limit the amount of strenuous exercise you do during the middle of the day. Instead, do these exercises early in the morning or late in the evening when it's not as hot outside. If you are exercising at the hottest time of day, reduce the intensity of your workout and take longer breaks.
- Avoiding the sun. If possible, exercise in the shade.
- Monitor your sweat. Weigh yourself before and after a workout to determine your sweat loss. This will help you know if you are dehydrated.
Dehydration is a major risk factor for heat-related illnesses, McLane added. This can occur in as little as 30 minutes when exercising on a hot day.
"Athletes should drink fluids regularly, because thirst is not a reliable indicator of fluid needs or dehydration," cautioned McLane.
Instead of drinking water to stay hydrated, McLane recommended cool, lightly sweetened sports drinks. Unlike water, these drinks help replace sodium and other electrolytes. He added that athletes should avoid carbonated beverages and fruit juices, which can upset the stomach during exercise.
In order to prevent dehydration, athletes should also take the following precautions:
- Make sure there is unlimited access to fluids throughout practice and games.
- Two hours before exercise, drink at least 16 ounces of fluid.
- During exercise, drink at least 7 to 10 ounces of fluid every 10 to 20 minutes.
- After a workout, drink 24 ounces of fluid per pound of body weight lost through sweat.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more information on extreme heat and health.
This article: Copyright © 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


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Episode Summary
On this episode of The Gospel For Life, Josh Bales and his fellow Pastors at The Well Church continue the discussion on the sovereignty of God
About Gospel for Life
Four Treasure Valley pastors – all committed to showing that the Gospel is not just for the religious part of your life. Rather, it is for all of life. You never graduate from the Gospel. Josh Bales, Russell Herman, Phil Moran, and Jonathan Van Hoogen host The Gospel For Life every Monday through Friday at 8 AM MST.
For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com.


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Supported by
Timothy Egan
The environment, the American West and politics. More
The environment, the American West and politics. More
Timothy Egan worked for 18 years as a writer for The New York Times, first as the Pacific Northwest correspondent, then as a national enterprise reporter.
In 2006, Mr. Egan won the National Book Award for his history of people who lived through the Dust Bowl, "The Worst Hard Time." The book also became a New York Times best seller.
In 2001 he won the Pulitzer Prize as part of a team of reporters who wrote the series "How Race Is Lived in America." He has done special projects on the West and the decline of rural America, and he has followed the entire length of the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Mr. Egan is the author of five books, including "The Good Rain: Across Time and Terrain in the Pacific Northwest" and "Lasso the Wind, Away to the New West." He lives in Seattle.


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Friday, April 8
Carnival of the NBA
Matt Bernhardt of the excellent Bulls Blog has started a new feature called "The Carnival of the NBA", which highlights different NBA Blogs from around the world (well, North America, anyway). Since he (and many others) have been kind enough to feature our humble Sonics Blog, I thought it was time to return the favor.
So, without further ado (whatever the hell that means), I present to you this week's CARNIVAL OF THE NBA:
- Over at Bulls Blog, Matt asks for a moment of silence for fallen rookie Luol Deng.
- Jeff from Celtics Blog speculates on Boston's possible playoff opponents.
- Over at Knickerblogger, they're comparing the Knicks recent play to the Flat Earth Society, while my other favorite Knicks blog, Larry Fleisher's "Father Knickerbocker", features a piece on Jason Kidd's recent dissing of the Knicks.
- Keven, from Maverick Blog, cranks out the stats to show who the best defenders in the NBA are.
- Kurt runs down the week in Laker-Land at Forum Blue and Gold.
- GH claims that the T-Wolves aren't dead yet!
- Matthew bemoans the loss of Tim Duncan at the Spurs Blog, while dropping lyrics from my favorite band.
- Scott (creator of the best looking basketball blog in the world, Raptor Blog) talks about Toronto's "matador defense".
- Ron Hitley, from Hornets247, has a brand new feature on his site called "Baselines". So go check it out, already!
- David Eisenberg laments the loss of Big Shaq Diesel Daddy Dude at Crazy from the Heat.
There are probably dozens of other great NBA blogs that I missed, so if I forgot your site, feel free to hit me upside the head.
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Although Mac owners running the older Tiger operating system can use the cheapest upgrade to install the brand-new Snow Leopard, doing so is a violation of Apple Inc.'s license agreement, according to reports today on the Web.
Officially, Apple has pitched the $29 single-license Snow Leopard upgrade only to customers running Mac OS 10.5, known as Leopard. At the same time, it's told users running the older Mac OS 10.4, known as Tiger, that they should purchase the more expensive $169 "Box Set" instead. The Box Set includes the Snow Leopard upgrade, and adds the iLife '09 creativity bundle and the iWork '09 productivity suite.
But yesterday, Walt Mossberg, the technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal , said ( Tiger users could opt for the cheaper upgrade . "Apple concedes that the $29 Snow Leopard upgrade will work properly on these Tiger-equipped Macs, so you can save the extra $140," Mossberg said.
Answers to important questions are scarce, however, including whether Tiger users would be required to do a so-called "clean" upgrade that involves backing up their data, erasing the hard drive, installing Snow Leopard, then restoring their data and reinstalling all applications. (Snow Leopard's default for Leopard users is an "in-place" upgrade that retains all data, settings and applications.)
If Tiger users must conduct a clean install with the $29 upgrade, they would be in the same boat that Windows XP users will be come Oct. 22 when Microsoft Corp. launches Windows 7. The only way to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 is to do a clean install. Only users running Vista can upgrade in-place.
Others confirmed Mossberg's note that Tiger users can go the cheaper route. "Our tests confirm 10.6 DVD works for Tiger Macs too," wrote Brian Chen , a reporter for Wired.com on Twitter. "Apparently it installs even if you have Tiger."
Because of a lack of Tiger-equipped Macs, Computerworld was unable to immediately confirm Mossberg's and Chen's contentions. However, Ryan Faas, who wrote "Upgrading to Apple's Snow Leopard OS: What you need to know," noted that the possibility made perfect sense. "My assumption is that it should work simply because the DVD has to be able to boot and install onto a system that has a damaged OS, or that you want to do a clean-install on," Faas said in an e-mail.
Apple's public relations team did not reply to questions today.
One thing is relatively certain, however: Using the $29 Snow Leopard upgrade on a Mac running Mac OS X 10.4 is a violation of Apple's End User License Agreement, or EULA.
"If you have purchased an Upgrade for Mac OS X Leopard license, then subject to the terms and conditions of this License, you are granted a limited non-exclusive license to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-branded computer as long as that computer has a properly licensed copy of Mac OS X Leopard already installed on it," the EULA reads, according to TidBits' Joe Kissel, the author of Take Control of Upgrading to Snow Leopard .
Apple is selling single-license Snow Leopard upgrades for $29, and a five-license Family Pack for $49. The Box Set costs $169 for a single license and $229 for a five-license pack. Amazon.com, where Snow Leopard continues to hold down the top two spots on its software bestseller list, has reduced the price for Snow Leopard to $25 for one license, $43.99 for Family Pack. Amazon.com sells the Box Set for $149.99 and $199.99.
This story, "Reports: $29 Snow Leopard upgrade works on Tiger, too" was originally published by Computerworld.


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The Three Greatest Sesame Street Reference Books!
Michael Wermuth, Jr. – The three best Sesame Street reference books are, without a doubt, Sesame Street Unpaved, Street Gang, and Sesame Street: A Celebration – 40 Years of Life on the Street. All are good, and while some info is repeated among them, they also stand on their own, and are good companions to each other. But suppose you can only have one of the three (never mind the fact that Sesame Street Unpaved is long out-of-print, and the other two are still in stores). Which should you choose? Well, I'll talk about the differences between them, to show which one might interest you the best.
First of all, if you are interested mostly in the characters and classic moments, then Sesame Street Unpaved: Scripts, Stories, Secrets, and Songs by David Borgenicht is the best choice. That one seems to have the most focus on characters and moments. In addition to a chapter devoted to the cast, the chapter on classic moments (the longest chapter in the book, too, I might add) groups many classic moments by major Muppet characters. There are a number of additional sketches represented between character sections, most of which are animated songs from either Jim Henson or Budd Lucky, and there's a section on interactions between Muppets and kids (most of them feature Grover, but it also includes the classic where Kermit and a girl named Joey recite the alphabet). Many classic sketches are represented in script form, with several still images from the segments. Most of Guy Smiley's game shows are more-or-less represented as profiles. There are also "Do you remember?" recaps, describing (as opposed to scripting) a number of segments.
And in addition to the very long chapter on classic moments, there is also a song chapter, though a number of song lyrics appear in the classic moments chapter (and the section on "Would You Like to Buy an O?" also includes a listing of items Lefty has tried to sell, followed by a script of the "Golden An" segment). This one probably has the least amount of focus on "behind-the-scenes" facts, but there are plenty sprinkled throughout the book. There's a "Behind-the-Scenes" section, which includes biography pages on seven of the shows main performers in addition to a page listing performers and their characters. The cast section has pages on the human cast, describing the characters and their portrayers equally. Most sections on Muppet characters mention their performers (though the section on supporting Muppet characters generally only gives one mention of performers per character). Unlike the other two books, this one doesn't really mention any outside Sesame Street productions. This is also the smallest of the three books, and not just because of the long gap between this and the next two books.
Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street by Michael Davis has the most coverage of the show's pre-history, though in my opinion it focuses too much on the pre-history of the show (the pre-history probably takes up more than half the book). It also includes a lot more focus on the people who worked on the show than on the characters itself (though there is plenty of mention of the characters). Usually when somebody is mentioned the book goes on to discuss them, even if they don't have anything to do with the show. A lot of the pre-history stuff is interesting (especially the children's shows that came before Sesame Street), but would better belong in separate books. While I appreciate that the first ten years of the show get the most focus, I am disappointed that the remaining years are rushed through. So much for being about the "complete history" of the show ("The Complete Pre-History of Sesame Street" would be a more appropriate title).
Finally, there's Sesame Street: A Celebration – 40 Years of Life on the Street by Louise Gikow. It's perhaps the best for those wanting behind-the-scenes information. Almost every performer gets mentioned, as do most of the human cast, both past and present. The characters are featured throughout, but those character-specific sections are sparse. Some of the performer pages have short sections on certain characters, and there are pages representing Big Bird and Oscar, Bert and Ernie, and Elmo, and there is a section about characters who have come and gone.
Those wanting to know more about the show's animation should check this one out as well. Sesame Street Unpaved included images and lyrics from several animation and film inserts but with the exception of Jim Henson didn't really acknowledge any of the show's animators or filmmakers, and didn't provide any special facts on any non-Henson film/animation inserts. Street Gang also hardly mentions any specific animation, with the only animation/film focus being on Jim Henson's contributions and some of the stuff from the first week. But this book has a big chapter on many of the show's animation and film inserts, and discusses many of the filmmakers and animators.
Interestingly, very few individual moments get represented in all three books. There are a few that are discussed or presented in script form in all three (the adults explaining Mr. Hooper's death, Luis and Maria's wedding, "Rubber Duckie," Jim Henson's "Baker" films), but for the most part the majority of segments and episodes represented are only represented in one of the three books.
In conclusion, all three books offer a great read for different reasons. But if you had to pick one, it seems the most recent, Sesame Street: A Celebration – 40 Years of Life on the Street, is the best to choose.
In conclusion, all three books offer a great read for different reasons. But if you had to pick one, it seems the most recent, Sesame Street: A Celebration – 40 Years of Life on the Street, is the best to choose.
The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier


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Photo: Liz Flyntz/Courtesy of the artist
By Michael Katzif, NPR Music
Few bands arrive as fully formed as Beach House, which hasn't strayed far from its musical calling card since its 2006 debut: frosty, dime-store analog keyboards, Alex Scally's swoony slide guitar and the alluring vocals of Victoria Legrand. Where many bands take their fans through wild stylistic shifts or incorporate flashy arrangements, deconstructed beats or bursts of cacophony, Beach House has remained constant in tone, evolving incrementally through precise refinements.
The band's fourth album, Bloom, is unquestionably a Beach House record, and one that on the surface feels more like a continuation than the product of evolution. That is, until you go back and hear how far this band has truly come. Through its first three records, Beach House's development has followed an almost imperceptibly subtle yet linear path: The murky production has become cleaner and less hissy. The vocal lines shine brighter through the haze. The aching, dreamy melodies are more memorable.
Since the beginning, Beach House has cloaked its pop songs in gauzy nostalgia that conveys both innocence and wisdom. Amid airy synths and simple dusty machine patterns, Legrand sings romantically and darkly about the beginnings of love, about broken relationships and about trying to soothe heartache.
On Bloom, Legrand's lyrics still search for respite from sadness: "Watch it unravel / pulling everything apart / the walls are shaking from within," she sings in "Troublemaker." And yet in "Myth" and "New Year," she attempts to embrace fleeting moments of happiness before it all disappears. "What," she asks, "comes after this momentary bliss?"
Co-produced by Chris Coady — who previously played a hand in the summery sparkle of 2010's Teen Dream — Bloom's songs are just as rich and meticulously crafted, and meant to be heard as a whole. Still, highlights stand out: Designed and tested on the road, "The Hours" and "Other People" have hooks ready-made for enveloping the larger rooms and outdoor festivals the band fills these days. The record's stirring closer "Irene" (with its simple repeated chorus, "It's a strange paradise") possesses a melody that sneaks up as shimmering swaths of keyboards, cascading guitars and drums blossom into a fever dream. Beach House's devotion to beauty and a singular mood may find the band avoiding risks, but in those final moments, it's easy to imagine a sea of fans getting swept away in Beach House's charms.
Bloom will be available to stream on demand from May 7th through 15th.


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The deadline for signing up for Obamacare has been effectively extended by another day, the Obama administration said Monday.
The deadline had been Monday, Dec. 23 for people who want coverage by Jan. 1. People can now sign up through Tuesday, Dec. 24.
"Anticipating high demand and the fact that consumers may be enrolling from multiple time zones, we have taken steps to make sure that those who select a plan through tomorrow will get coverage for Jan 1," said Julie Bataille, spokeswoman with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is running the federal site, healthcare.gov.
At least one insurer was surprised by the last-minute extension. An Aetna spokeswoman said she had no knowledge of it and no additional comment.
There's been a lot of confusion surrounding the deadlines for applying for Obamacare — and with good reason. Federal and state governments, as well as insurers, keep changing the dates, mainly to accommodate those blocked from completing enrollment due to technical problems.
More than a million people have signed up for private insurance in the federal and state exchanges, President Obama said Friday. And exchanges are reporting heavy interest in recent days.
Each consumer faces two deadlines: One by which to choose a plan and another for making a payment.
Federal exchange: As of now, if you live in one of the 36 states serviced by the federal enrollment website, healthcare.gov, your best bet for getting hassle-free coverage in 2014 is to select a policy by end of the day on Tuesday and pay your first month's premium by December 31.
But procrastinators and those running into technical roadblocks might get a short reprieve.
Federal officials said recently that individuals who try to sign up, but encounter a problem with the website, can qualify for a special enrollment period and gain coverage as soon as possible. The government is also "encouraging" insurers to allow people who miss the deadline to still be eligible for coverage starting Jan. 1, even if they sign up sometime in January.
When it comes to paying for a plan selected on healthcare.gov, the insurance industry trade group said last week that folks who pay by Jan. 10 can have coverage retroactive to the start of the year. But the group stressed that coverage doesn't begin until the first payment is made. So people who wait until the 10th to pay might have to shell out for their initial medical care up front and file for reimbursement from their provider.
State exchanges: If you are applying in one of the 14 states running its own exchange, you may have a different set of deadlines.
Minnesota became the latest state to change its dates. Residents there have until Dec. 31 to pick a plan and have coverage start the next day, exchange officials said Friday. They have until Jan. 10 to pay.
Rhode Islanders also have until Dec. 31 to pick a plan and have coverage start the next day. But they have to pay their first premium by Jan. 6 and won't receive an ID card until they do.
The change was made "to make sure more Rhode Islanders are able to have health care on January 1," said Dara Chadwick, spokeswoman for the Rhode Island exchange. "There's been a lot of confusion in the messaging."
In Washington, residents who try to apply by Monday but run into problems have until Jan. 15 to pick and pay for a plan. Coverage will be retroactive to Jan. 1.
Other states have extended either the deadline to choose a plan or to pay the premium. Oregon and Maryland pushed back the deadline to pick a policy to Dec. 27, with one Maryland insurer giving applicants until Dec. 31.
Consumers in Maryland and Oregon have until Jan. 15 to pay, while California is giving residents until Jan. 6, Vermont until January and Connecticut until Jan. 10.
Regardless of where you live, you should call your insurer of choice to check its deadlines and, after you pay, check your enrollment status.
For those who miss the deadline altogether, don't worry. You can still get coverage starting Feb. 1 if you pick a plan by January 15 and pay by the end of January.
Open enrollment ends March 31. The uninsured must pick a plan by then to avoid a penalty. These procrastinators would see coverage start May 1.


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Lukewarm Stove: Red Sox Trade, Kuroda, Hughes, Myers, Wheeler, Greinke, More
No Bullets today, partly because there are few news items this morning, and partly because I'm going to The Game today (OSU/Michigan). If you don't hear from me again, it's because I was brash and decided to wear my Michigan garb to Ohio Stadium. In lieu of Bullets, please accept a tasty slice of the Lukewarm Stove …
- Christina Kahrl suggests a trade the Red Sox should consider: "Trade to get Alfonso Soriano's next two seasons and the last year that Matt Garza is under club control, sending Chicago a package of [Ryan] Kalish, [Jarrod] Saltalamacchia and minor-league prospects Alex Wilson and Matt Barnes." Well, I suppose I agree that the Red Sox should consider that one, but should the Cubs? Setting aside the fact that, after the Dioner Navarro signing, the Cubs don't really have a spot for Salty, unless they're going to trade Welington Castillo, I'm just not sure about that deal for the Cubs. On the one hand, the implication is that the Red Sox are taking on all or most of Soriano's salary, which is certainly valuable. And Barnes is a legitimately interesting prospect. But Wilson is a 26-year-old relief prospect coming off a down year at AAA, and Kalish is a fringy young outfielder whom I wouldn't take in center field over Brett Jackson. So, no, I don't think I'd be on board for that deal because I don't see a whole lot of value for the Cubs … but that doesn't mean I think the Cubs could get more for Soriano and Garza right now. Soriano's value in that deal is depressed by the Sawx taking on his contract (something I'd hope the Cubs would avoid, in favor of a better prospect return), and Garza's value is depressed by the last vision of him on the mound being one where he's grabbing for his elbow. Hopefully the Cubs won't sell low on him.
- The Yankees re-signed Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year, $15 million deal earlier this week (despite him reportedly having better offers from other teams), which does not impact the Cubs directly – obviously they weren't in on Kuroda, and his free agent value was really wonky, given his desire for a short-term deal and possibility of heading back to Japan. But the signing does have a modest impact on the Cubs' offseason efforts: namely, it reduces the Yankees' free agent pitching desires by way of a guy who was never coming to the Cubs. That is to say, had Kuroda decided to go back to Japan, the Cubs and Yanks may suddenly have been going head-to-head for a free agent pitcher or two (depending on the Yankees' backup plans). Now, that almost certainly won't happen.
- Further, if the Yanks bring back Andy Pettitte, too, as they want to do, it might make Phil Hughes expendable – while he isn't as desirable as he may have been a couple years ago, he's still an intriguing, young, upside starter in the Rick Porcello vein.
- MLBTR compares two of the Cubs' possible free agent targets: Francisco Liriano and Brandon McCarthy. The surprise is not that McCarthy is viewed more favorably (except by Tim Dierkes, who actually ranked Liriano the more attractive free agent when considering health), it's that it isn't a blowout. For me, it's McCarthy, and it isn't close. I'll take the injury risk in exchange for the much more reliably solid performance. (Assuming the contracts were similar, I mean … which I don't think they will be. So, if Liriano gets 1/$5M and McCarthy gets 2/$25M, well, then I could be more open to Liriano.)
- The Royals are open to moving uber-prospect Wil Myers for a front-line starting pitcher, but, no, I don't think Matt Garza is the guy (injury concern, one year of control, etc.). I also don't think Jeff Samardzija is the guy, but I wouldn't be totally crazy about making that swap anyway. To paraphrase Jed Hoyer: the Cubs need more Jeff Samardzija's, not fewer Jeff Samardzija's.
- After picking up Ryan Wheeler from the D-backs, the Rockies could be looking to deal Wheeler – a third base prospect in whom the Cubs reportedly had interest last year – or another third baseman (Nolan Arenado?). Seems like a lot of speculation, but it was worth a mention. So I mentioned.
- Zack Greinke is believed to be looking for a six-year deal, which, like, dude … ask for more.
But What About a Happ Extension, Suzuki Defense, Busy Day, Rucker, Replay Timing, and Other Cubs Bullets
FOLKS! The Cubs Are in "Advanced Discussions" on a Nico Hoerner Extension!!! (UPDATE: It's Happening!)


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With the next four years at stake, the only topic of conversation is the Race Card. The left plays the Race Card and then accuses the right of playing the Race Card. There are dogwhistles in the air that only white middle-aged pundits can hear and arguments over whose diverse lineup truly represents the philosophy of the future and whose is just shameless tokenism.
The media madhouse insists that a half-black man who went from the Illinois State Senate to the White House in 5 years is proof that we are a racist country and that Southern Europeans whose ancestors moved to this continent are an oppressed racial minority. Arguing with this insanity is a sure way to get called a racist. Ignoring this insanity means being charged with privilege. Privilege being the ungodly power to ignore someone else's assertion that privilege through victimization should begin and end every single discussion on every topic, up to and including the moon landing.
The Democratic Party and its media affiliates have become a party of trolls who only know how to hijack every discussion with an obsessive insistence that every issue can be boiled down to race and that the difference between the two parties is that one of them is racist and the other has good taste in fonts.
It's hard to know what the Democratic Party stands for anymore. All we know is that it is against racism. Never before has an entire election been run around a single negative issue that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual challenges facing the country. Instead we have the national spectacle of members of minority groups being pitted against each other by two parties to prove which of them is less racist.
There is no precedent for a country facing two major crises, an economic depression and a war at the same time, holding an election that is somehow about race. If we're going to make the 2012 election about race, then we might as well also make it about childhood obesity, green energy and all the other idiocies of a failed administration that can't tie its shoes without a bailout.
For the last three years, the left has responded to every criticism of their candidate, their party and their incompetence by bleating about racism, as if having a black candidate and a large share of the black vote makes them honorary minorities. And as if their bleating had anything to do with real issues like the unsustainable national debt and an economy that still can't get back on its feet.
The left imagines that it is somehow better than the lunatics of the Westboro Baptist Church who randomly show up at funerals screaming about homosexuality. It's not. Not when its members show up randomly brandishing nooses or dressing up as body parts and screaming about racism or sexism. There's no hint of responsible leadership in tactics like that. It's the behavior of a debating club loser who has memorized only one winning point and will shout it no matter what the issue is.
Everyone wants to prove that their ideology, whether it's showing up in the country with 50 cents and becoming successful by building a business or showing up in the country with 50 cents and becoming successful by getting a Ford Foundation grant to community organize the hell out of a local group, is universal and can apply to everyone regardless of skin color, gender, religion or fashion sense. And once we've done that, it still falls to us to deal with problems that depend on math, not race.
The real issue at stake here is whether the working class will end up being squeezed out by the government class. It's an issue that affects the rich, poor and middle class alike, and the Republicans are coming dangerously close to articulating it in between applause breaks. The Democrats would like to avoid this line of conservation as much as possible, because once the debate is fully underway, Americans will start assessing their individual economic stakes in the fight, instead of assuming that their economic interest is joined at the hip to their racial identity, gender or choice of bed partners.
Race is a distraction, but it's more than that. A false argument is like a mask. You can put it on, but after a while you can't take it off. The more time that the left spends immersed in the grammar of racial grievance, the less able it is to speak any other language. The Democrats aren't just cynical, they are also becoming illiterate and unable to articulate ideas that don't revolve around a great split between races, genders or two groups, one oppressed and one oppressing.
The Democratic Party's poverty of ideas is self-inflicted. Snide progressives may sneer at Rand, but what exactly are they packing besides TED talks and trendy books that exist to make their owners feel smart for not reading them? Democrats rarely talk about guiding philosophies now because they don't exist. They have no grand plan to make the country better. Even Alinsky is nothing but a blueprint for consolidating power in a spurt of postmodern multicultural Machiavellianism.
Progressives can rage and sneer, roar grievances and pose as the oppressed, but what do they actually believe in except the evil of their opposite numbers on the right? The Republican Party is no towering wall of ideas, but the Democratic Party has forgotten everything but bigotry. If it has to speak without relying on its racism props, then it mumbles something about marching together to the future, throws in something about families, children, technology, clean energy, environmental challenges and soaks up the applause of its captive audience.
Ask Obama why he should be reelected and he tells you that it's to "finish what we started." Not "he". For once the great ego who uses "I" like the letter is about to be removed from the alphabet resorts to "we", because he is already passing the blame to someone else. What is it that we started? No one knows. There's something about health care reform, the auto industry and killing Bin Laden. Not to mention holding Wall Street accountable in between Wall Street fundraisers and of course, protecting our values, whatever those are.
With the passing of time it becomes difficult to figure out what, if anything, the latest Democrat actually stands for. From JFK onward, there was no longer a legacy, just a strange disastrous mix of incompatible policies and spiraling destruction. The incoherence has only grown worse with time. Bill Clinton was the deregulating draft dodging radical who would occasionally bomb things when the mood suited him. John Kerry was the anti-military military man volunteering for duty to keep our country safe from military solutions. Obama is here to lead us into some vague future with lower tides, drones strikes and racism for everyone.
Obama is running on a program of bank bailouts and bank accountability, an end to wars while winning all the wars, including those he started, and including those he lost. He's running to cut our dependency on foreign oil by killing domestic drilling and make us all better people by confusing the hell out of us. This rigamarole wouldn't have gotten past Stage One in the Democratic Party two generations ago. It's barely passing muster now, only because no one is paying attention, and to make sure no one pays attention, the usual suspects troll everyone by dealing out some race cards.
There is no area of his governance that could survive a detailed 5-minute discussion with anyone who isn't a halfwit. All that's left is trolling the Republicans to cover up the basic weaknesses in an agenda so incoherent that even few of his own supporters would sign on to it. And this isn't new, it's just more shameless than ever.
Progressives have become intellectual illiterates, they have memorized reams of political diagrams and are experts on the sufferings of obscure people in obscure places. They pride themselves on thinking that they know all the secret sufferings of the waitress who brings them their check, but this tawdry New Age empathy does not translate into an ability to help her or to help anyone else. They are forever priding themselves on their willingness to help people and using that pride to justify their own wealth and power. They are always on the verge of helping someone, but they never get done helping themselves.
Race atones for this sin and for all sins. It answers all objections, it fills in the giant gaps in their knowledge and competence. It is a disguise that they once put on, but can no longer take off. It has become their reason for being. It is the one subject that is so simple and elemental that they can thoroughly control it. Poverty is complicated. So are jobs and wars. Race however is simple. There are bad people and there are good people. The oppressed and the oppressors. And that paradigm, that one talking point that they store up and unleash at every occasion is the sum total of their contribution to every debate under the sun.
Their race card is as big as America now. It is America. There is no longer an America for them, just a collection of race cards that they shuffle and deal and shuffle again, playing solitaire with themselves until the economy goes down. In their America it is always 1963 in Birmingham. It will always be Birmingham, 1963, even for those who have never been to Birmingham and who did not even exist on this planet in 1963.
Birmingham, 1963, is a myth to them. A story that they want to be part of. It is their version of the Warrior's Tale. The one that isn't true, but that inspires the younger members of the tribe to be like the mythical warrior. It is the story that they tell us incessantly because they don't really know they are or we are anymore. All they know is that the story makes them better than us. They don't know where they are going or where they have been, only that they are marching forward to some bright future. And that the very act of marching forward means that they are progressive and makes them into the children of the future.
And the economy? Who cares about that…
From NY to Jerusalem, Daniel Greenfield Covers the Stories Behind the News


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Each person required under law to serve in a reserve component shall, upon becoming a member, be placed in the Ready Reserve of his armed force for his prescribed term of service, unless he is transferred to the Standby Reserve under section 10146(a) of this title.
The units and members of the Army National Guard of the United States and of the Air National Guard of the United States are in the Ready Reserve of the Army and the Ready Reserve of the Air Force, respectively.
All Reserves assigned to units organized to serve as units and designated as units in the Ready Reserve are in the Ready Reserve.
(d) Under such regulations as the Secretary concerned may prescribe, any qualified member of a reserve component or any qualified retired enlisted member of a regular component may, upon his request, be placed in the Ready Reserve. However, a member of the Retired Reserve entitled to retired pay or a retired enlisted member of a regular component may not be placed in the Ready Reserve unless the Secretary concerned makes a special finding that the member's services in the Ready Reserve are indispensable. The authority of the Secretary concerned under the preceding sentence may not be delegated—
to a civilian officer or employee of the military department concerned below the level of Assistant Secretary; or
(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1661(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2973; amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title V, § 513, Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1460.)


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Representing Yourself in Supreme Court
If you are going to Supreme Court to change or vary a child support order, then you know that a judge is going to be making a decision that will significantly impact you and your family.
It's very important that you are properly prepared to present your case. These instructional videos are designed for parents who may be:
- Making an application in Supreme Court Chambers to vary or change a child support order
- Opposing an application to vary or change a child support order
Chambers is just a courtroom where evidence is provided in writing (called affidavits) rather than orally. A large part of preparing for a Chambers application is organizing and presenting the evidence that the judge or master will consider when he or she decides whether to grant the order you request in the application (called a notice of motion).
Chambers applications are intended to be brief (there are additional requirements for Chambers applications that are estimated to take more than 30 minutes). You need to be pretty much on the mark about the content of your presentation and your timing.
Presenting Your Case in Chambers
This introductory video provides a judicial perspective on how to present an effective case in family matters in Supreme Court chambers.
Putting Your Best Case Forward
This video deals with what constitues relevant factual information, and what you should and should not include to present your best case possible.
What to Expect from the Chambers Process
This video suggests that one should consider whether an application is worth the expense, and discusses some facets of what one might experience in chambers.
Changing a Child Support Order
This video presents information on what child support is, relevant circumstances which may warrant variations in child support orders, and where you can access additional information.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Family Matters
This video presents information on principles that judges follow in cases involving children, and how parents should keep in mind the best interests of their children.
What to Expect the Day of the Hearing
This video provides advice and answers procedural information which will assist you on the day of your hearing.


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Author Notes: There is not a more delicate, succulent, savory summer treat than the blossoms that arrive with young zucchini.
Zucchini blossoms are considered a delicacy in many part of the world. In Mexico, the flower is featured in sopa de flor de calabaza and quesadillas de flor de calabaza. The Greeks fill zucchini blossoms with feta, rice or meat and baked in tomato sauce. In Italy there are many different dishes that feature zucchini blossoms, but the best known is fiori di zuccca fritti, or batter-fried zucchini blossoms.
Summers in Italy, when the zucchini harvest is at its peak, there are more zucchini blossoms than one knows what to do with. Mothers and grandmothers gently fry them in their kitchens for their children and grandchildren, pizzerie and trattorie offer them as appetizers on their menus. The flower's mild zucchini flavor and creamy texture, offset by the light and crispy batter-fried exterior, is something you must experience to fully understand.
In Rome, fiori di zucca fritti has become one of the city's signature dishes. While the blossom is filled with different ingredients in different parts of Italy – ricotta or prosciutto di parma, for example – fiori di zucca fritti alla romana are filled with a single strip of mozzarella, and a thin anchovy. —DueSpaghetti
Serves: 6-8
1 of 6
2 of 6
3 of 6
4 of 6
5 of 6
6 of 60
Fried Zucchini BlossomsPrint Recipe
- For the flowers
- 12-16 zucchini blossoms
- 2 ovoline of fresh mozzarella (1 tub)
- 6-8 anchovies
- for the batter
- 1 egg
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups flour
- 2 pinches salt
- Remove the stem of the zucchini flowers. Carefully separate the petals of the golden blossoms and remove the stamen or pistils, as well.
- Wash the flowers carefully under cold water, and pat dry with a cotton cloth or paper towels.
- Cut the mozzarella into strips 1/4 inch wide. Slice the anchovies in half lengthwise.
- Carefully insert a strip of mozzarella and a halved anchovy into each flower.
- Close the blossoms around the mozzarella and anchovies and twist the ends carefully to keep the filling inside.
- Place ample vegetable oil into a deep frying pan and heat the oil over high gas.
- Prepare the batter by stirring together the water, egg and salt in shallow bowl, gradually sifting the flour into the water and mixing with a wire whisk. The batter should be moderately dense. You may add flour or water as needed until the batter reaches the consistency of your preference.
- Dip each flower into the batter, coating it completely, and place it carefully into the hot oil. Turn it gently until all sides have fried to a golden brown. Remove from oil and set on a plate covered in paper towels to absorb the extra oil If desired, sprinkle a dusting of salt over the fried zucchini flowers.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Fair Food


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Snow drought increases risk of winter fires
The lack of snow in most parts of Minnesota is creating unusually dangerous wildfire conditions. A fire Monday in Polk County burned 750 acres of forest and grassland, whipped up by high winds.
Normally at this time of year there's enough snow on the ground to keep fires from burning, according to Jean Goad from the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center.
"But right now because there's no snow, a lot of the grasses and brush that are out there have been freeze-dried, so they're very dry, and fires can burn quickly," she said.
Goad adds that wintertime firefighting presents extra hazards.
"Fighting fires in the cold is difficult: there is a danger of frostbite to firefighters, and the pumps sometimes freeze up," she said.
Currently the DNR requires people wanting to burn brush to get burning permits, which are available from local fire wardens and on the DNR's website.
The only place in the state where a permit is not necessary is Cook County, which has three inches of snow on the ground.
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To the maximum extent practicable, class I and class II substances shall be replaced by chemicals, product substitutes, or alternative manufacturing processes that reduce overall risks to human health and the environment.
The Administrator shall—
(1) in consultation and coordination with interested members of the public and the heads of relevant Federal agencies and departments, recommend Federal research programs and other activities to assist in identifying alternatives to the use of class I and class II substances as refrigerants, solvents, fire retardants, foam blowing agents, and other commercial applications and in achieving a transition to such alternatives, and, where appropriate, seek to maximize the use of Federal research facilities and resources to assist users of class I and class II substances in identifying and developing alternatives to the use of such substances as refrigerants, solvents, fire retardants, foam blowing agents, and other commercial applications;
(2) examine in consultation and coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and departments, including the General Services Administration, Federal procurement practices with respect to class I and class II substances and recommend measures to promote the transition by the Federal Government, as expeditiously as possible, to the use of safe substitutes;
(3) specify initiatives, including appropriate intergovernmental, international, and commercial information and technology transfers, to promote the development and use of safe substitutes for class I and class II substances, including alternative chemicals, product substitutes, and alternative manufacturing processes; and
(4) maintain a public clearinghouse of alternative chemicals, product substitutes, and alternative manufacturing processes that are available for products and manufacturing processes which use class I and class II substances.
Within 2 years after November 15, 1990, the Administrator shall promulgate rules under this section providing that it shall be unlawful to replace any class I or class II substance with any substitute substance which the Administrator determines may present adverse effects to human health or the environment, where the Administrator has identified an alternative to such replacement that—
(1) reduces the overall risk to human health and the environment; and
(2) is currently or potentially available.
The Administrator shall publish a list of (A) the substitutes prohibited under this subsection for specific uses and (B) the safe alternatives identified under this subsection for specific uses.
Any person may petition the Administrator to add a substance to the lists under subsection (c) of this section or to remove a substance from either of such lists. The Administrator shall grant or deny the petition within 90 days after receipt of any such petition. If the Administrator denies the petition, the Administrator shall publish an explanation of why the petition was denied. If the Administrator grants such petition the Administrator shall publish such revised list within 6 months thereafter. Any petition under this subsection shall include a showing by the petitioner that there are data on the substance adequate to support the petition. If the Administrator determines that information on the substance is not sufficient to make a determination under this subsection, the Administrator shall use any authority available to the Administrator, under any law administered by the Administrator, to acquire such information.
The Administrator shall require any person who produces a chemical substitute for a class I substance to provide the Administrator with such person's unpublished health and safety studies on such substitute and require producers to notify the Administrator not less than 90 days before new or existing chemicals are introduced into interstate commerce for significant new uses as substitutes for a class I substance. This subsection shall be subject to section 7414(c) of this title.
(July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title VI, §612, as added Pub. L. 101–549, title VI, §602(a), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2667.)


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Rebecca Gredley
(Australian Associated Press)
Australia's transport innovation sector – including driverless and electric vehicles – is set to explode in value from $211 million to more than $16 billion in less than a decade.
The government's trade and investment body said the future transport market would generate more than $16 billion in revenue by 2025.
Just two years ago the sector was generating $211.2 million.
Austrade says the transport sector is being shaped by disruptive technologies, increased urbanisation, rapid population growth and environmental concerns.
Ride-sharing service Uber has reportedly scoped out the potential for Australian cities to host its flying taxi service Uber Elevate.
There are currently 15 wirelessly connected driverless vehicle trials across the nation, including a shuttle in Adelaide and automated cars through Sydney.
Mercedes-Benz and Bosch are also trialling autonomous vehicles on roads in Melbourne.
A national approach to automated car regulation is underway and is expected to be in place next year.
Concerns over the safety of driverless vehicles reignited this year after a fatal crash involving a driverless Uber vehicle in the United States.


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NoteSuite for iPad and Mac is your all-in-one digital notebook [Review]
While there is no shortage of to-do lists or note taking apps on the App Store, it isn't always easy to jump from one app to another and still stay productive. NoteSuite features note taking, task management, PDF viewing and annotation, and Office document management all in a single app, creating one digital briefcase of sorts.
I had the chance to meet Peter Tamte of Theory.io during WWDC week in San Francisco and see a preview of NoteSuite in person. Peter's demonstration was very impressionable and left me with one particular thought: NoteSuite is entering a saturated app market, but should thrive as it does a few key things better than its competition.
Continue reading for specific thoughts and observations as I unpack the features of NoteSuite. Expand


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As part of the Beirut Fashion Week under the title "Designers & Brands", L.I.P.S Management Owner Johnny Fadlallah opened the Fashion Week for designers in addition to luxury brands, bringing the event back to Beirut and its usual glow as it is considered the fashion capital of the Middle East. Kuwaiti fashion designer Adiba Al Mahboub, a designer who specializes in wedding dresses, has a special Haute Couture and Abayas line that combines modernity and oriental spirit in design, and has presented the top 10 wedding dresses in her fashion show. This is not the first show designed in Lebanon, it has been preceded by many others, and distinguished by the luxury designed wedding dresses used in studding with precious stones and crystal. The show was presented with a variety of models from the traditional dress to the lavish royal, using fine materials such as silk, lace, tulle and organza. The show ended with the bride the queen with the crown inlaid. The Kuwaiti designer Adiba Al Mahboub chose to present her exclusive collection for weddings, especially since she is known in the Middle East as a wedding designer. She used a lot of cloth in one dress. The dress was made of several layers, which gave it the luxurious character of Marie Antoinette, organza fabric, tulle and lace. A wonderful collection for every bride dreaming of a Royal dress on her wedding day. In recognition of the efforts of the designer in her long career, Johnny Fadlallah, Owner of L.I.P.S Management, honored the Kuwaiti fashion designer Adiba Al Mahboub, for her 25 years of achievement in fashion.
The Kuwaiti designer Adiba Al Mahboub is the first Kuwaiti designer to reach the world, with a Bachelor of Marketing degree. She entered the world of fashion design at the age of 19, participated in local, Arab and international fashion shows, more than sixteen fashion shows held in Lebanon and the Gulf, Paris, Rome, Milan, New York, London, Germany, Spain and Morocco. She specialized in wedding and evening dresses and got many awards and shields. She has fashion houses in Kuwait, UAE and Oman. All of her designs are imaginatively inspired by fashion, elegance and chic.


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Happy Birthdaycityfile · 02/11/10 07:05AM
Jennifer Aniston turns 41 today (even though she celebrated the occasion last weekend with Gerard Butler). The woman who could have been a heartbeat away from becoming president, still thinks she has a chance in 2012, and whose name we cannot even type without feeling nauseous, is turning 46. Sheryl Crow is 48. Brandy is turning 31. Mr. Burt Reynolds will be blowing out 74 candles on top of his cake today. Kelly Rowland is celebrating her 29th. Actress Carey Lowell is 49. Legendary British fashion designer Mary Quant is 76. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is turning 57. The always classy Aubrey O'Day turns 26. And Twilight actor and tween hearthrob Taylor Lautner turns 18 today.


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Last night I hunched in my chair following the capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in real time on Twitter. It is a tribute to American strength that he was taken alive, and I am relieved that he will not evade American justice. Like they say, 'hanging's too good for him.' And the pattern of the suicide bomber denies the victims their day in court. Thank you to the staff of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for keeping him alive so the world can see him on trial.
Today I woke up around 5am for no reason, then couldn't focus enough to leave the house till 10. I had some family time and was grateful.
I went to Shaw's Market in Warwick which was unusually empty for a Saturday. People were really nice. Everything looks different, like it did after 9/11, when I thought about what it is to be American.
In 2001, the current president said that, "they hate us for our freedom."
But as of today, we don't know exactly who "they" are. We have enemies, but none of them so far are claiming these two young men whose own uncle called, "losers".
Strange days on familiar streets. Everyone being really nice in Shaw's market. Who we love, who we are, we see it now.


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Occidental College will pay the price for repeatedly mishandling sexual assault allegations: senior officials agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to the the 50 current and former students and faculty members who, with the help of Gloria Allred, filed a federal Title IX complaint in April.
Students and alumni alleged that the liberal arts college "fostered a hostile learning environment through decisions designed to bury the true numbers of sexual assaults on campus" (via the L.A. Times). When they asked for help, they felt "betrayed by campus administrators, and re-victimized."
Occidental spokesman Jim Tranquada said in a statement that the school can't comment "except to say that this matter has been resolved. It is a confidential matter and we intend to honor the confidentiality and privacy of those involved." Allred echoed that statement: "It is a confidential matter, and we intend to honor the confidentiality and privacy of those that are involved."
So has anything changed? According to the L.A. Times, yes:
Over the summer the college adopted a new interim sexual misconduct policy and recently hired an advocate for abuse survivors, Tranquada said. The college has also created a 24-hour telephone hotline and expanded preventive education programs for all students.
"The college continues to move ahead with its efforts to address this important issue and make Occidental a national leader in dealing with sexual misconduct," Tranquada said.
Image via Wikipedia.


text: Country Profiles Country Profiles Country Profiles // Main Details Luxembourg - Main Details Show map Legend: CBD Party CBD & CPB Party Non Party Selected country Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity or the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Biodiversity Facts Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem servicesThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. Luxembourg, despite its small size and the fact that it is a landlocked country, stands out because of its geological and landscape diversity and species richness. Moreover, 1,300 vascular plants have been recorded in Luxembourg – a figure that compares with those of much larger European countries. Although no endemic species exist in the country, national populations of Black Stork and Grey Shrike are particularly noteworthy compared to populations that exist in larger western European countries and beyond. Also noteworthy is that the population of the Greater Horseshoe Bat in southeastern Luxembourg represents the only population of high reproduction potential in all of central and western Europe. Yet most ecosystems are now at risk. At present, 7.6% of vascular plants are extinct which is a rate that is clearly higher than in the larger countries. Also alarming is the situation regarding fauna, with 54.8% of mammals, 41.5% of birds, 33% of reptiles, 71.4% of amphibians and 62% of fishes being threatened. Overall, two-thirds of species in Luxembourg are either extinct or in an unfavourable or poor state of conservation. These trends are related to the disappearance or degradation of natural habitats. Yet numbers to illustrate this phenomenon are often missing. As a matter of fact, more than 50% of habitats in Luxembourg cannot be evaluated due to a lack of information on the status of habitat conservation as defined in the EC Habitats Directive. Study of aquatic and rocky habitats is particularly deficient however some information can be drawn, notably from the landscape and habitat monitoring conducted between 1962-1999 on a sample portion of territory (representing 25% of the national territory). This study revealed that 80% of wetlands had been destroyed during this period, and that the surface occupied by dry grasslands and orchards had diminished by 34.9% and 58.5%, respectively. There is also a rarefaction in species and habitats in open areas due mainly to the disappearance of isotopes. Forest habitats and species have a more favourable conservation status than species and biotopes of open areas. Data notably show that the conservation status of Beech Grove and Oak Grove trees common throughout Luxembourg is generally favourable, with the conservation status of the alluvial forest being the only forest habitat considered poor. Ecosystem services largely benefiting the country include water quality for fishing, agriculture and drinking, soil permeability for rainwater flow, or more subjective and indirect benefits, such as the beauty of landscapes. Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. The development of Luxembourg from a predominantly rural economy to a stronghold of the European steel industry and, subsequently, a financial centre has been and still is the main driver of biodiversity loss. As a result, Luxembourg is one of the countries most affected by changes in the dynamics of animal populations. In particular, the negative impact of agriculture on the natural environment, as a result of economic evolution, has been witnessed over the last decades, and its impact on landscape connectivity is considerable. For example, the distribution of the Prickly Poppy (coquelicot argémone) was common before the introduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the 1950s, however today this species exists almost exclusively in strips the length of fields and agricultural roads. Their biotopes have even become rare. This threat appears to be even more aggravated at present. Due mainly to intensive agricultural practices, causing losses to habitat surface, rest and nesting areas, food availability, etc., a regression of 3 indicator bird species in meadow and pasture milieus has been witnessed. Rapidly increasing threats to populations of the Meadow Pipit and Yellow Wagtail are particularly worrisome. Other threats to habitats and species conservation include pollution and forest monoculture. Measures to Enhance Implementation of the Convention Implementation of the NBSAPThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. The National Plan for Nature Protection or "Plan national pour la protection de la nature (PNPN)", adopted in May 2007, covered the 2007-2011 period and contained 2 strategic objectives: to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010, particularly through the maintenance and re-establishment of a favourable conservation status for threatened species and habitats of interest at the national and Community levels; and to preserve and re-establish ecosystem services and processes at the national and landscape levels. The National Plan for Nature Protection contains 7 targets and 41 actions, 15 of which are considered high priority. Examples of actions that have been implemented include the finalization and adoption of 21 of a total of 26 action plans for species and habitats; mapping of 21 biotopes; completion of 13 of a total of 17 management plans for the Natura 2000 network and 70% of management plans of national interest. Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity TargetsThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. Some important achievements toward the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets can be reported. First of all, the network of protected areas in Luxembourg of national or Community interest comprises approximately 20% of the national territory. Forests in Luxembourg cover approximately 90,000 ha, 18,000 ha of which are currently FSC certified and 26,500 ha PEFC certified (with 10,000 ha doubly certified) which brings the total forested surface that is certified to approximately 40%. Furthermore, several programs have been carried out in favor of agricultural and indigenous biodiversity. For instance, the Foundation "Hëllef fir d'Natur" has launched a project to restore and preserve typical regional fruit varieties, through inventorying and documenting information on these indigenous fruit varieties. Moreover, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, in collaboration with partners in the private sector and an organization that reintegrates unemployed persons into the workforce, has initiated a project on the cultivation and commercialization of plants of indigenous genetic origin. This initiative has the added advantage of creating a national market for these products – a market that has long been abandoned by national nurseries. As a result of biodiversity policies, some positive trends have already been reported in various ecosystems. For instance, compensation programs for private agricultural and forest managers, offered through biodiversity agreements concluded with farmers aimed at enhancing extensive management practices in regard to more than 3,200 ha of priority agricultural surfaces, are beginning to show positive effects on biodiversity and a reduction in the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Equally, monitoring of the biochemical quality of watercourses has shown a net improvement since 1977. Luxembourg is also very much involved in the promotion of biodiversity protection, both within and outside its national boundaries. As a matter of fact, the country's contribution to development assistance in 2008, including its support for relevant NGO programmes, totalled 287.6 million euros (more than 0.95% of the GNP). Microfinancing initiatives in developing countries are encouraged and supported at conceptual and operational levels. Finally, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure launched a vast awareness-raising program in 2007 which included, among other activities, the publication of a brochure, television features, Internet webpages. Nature welcome centres, located near protected areas or sites of ecological importance, highlight the products and services provided by nature. About one hundred educational trails and information points exist in Luxembourg through the involvement of actors at all levels. Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. Mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation concerns is achieved in various sectors, notably in the field of rural development. The Programme Directeur d'Aménagement du Territoire (2003) serves as the main national planning document, focusing on coordinated action for the sustainable management of national economic growth through the implementation of sectoral plans. The sectoral plan entitled "Plan Sectoriel pour la Préservation des grands ensembles paysagers et forestiers" or simply "Plan Sectoriel Paysages" is the main instrument through which activities for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development and management are implemented at the landscape planning level. The "Plan Sectoriel Paysages" stresses alignment with general national, regional and local planning objectives as well as with the principles of the EC Habitats Directive. It also considers the concepts of the Ecosystem Approach and ecological corridors. Furthermore, the Second National Plan for Sustainable Development was adopted in November 2010, with several measures dedicated exclusively to biodiversity conservation. Finally, EIA is a legal requirement for several activities described in the amended Law on Nature Protection and Natural Resources (2004). Financial support to biodiversity conservation policies and action plans is provided at the municipal, national and Community levels, through programs such as LIFE+ and Interreg. Furthermore, the Law on Partnerships between the State and Unions of Local Communities (2005) provides a legal framework for decentralized local-level management for nature protection, as well as for co-financing measures for activities undertaken by unions in regard to nature protection. Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementationThe content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned. In terms of biodiversity monitoring, a cooperation agreement was signed in 2009 between the National Natural History Museum and the Gabriel Lippman Centre for Public Research, followed by the creation of a common research platform on biodiversity and conservation biology which assembles intellectual and material resources. The development of a national monitoring system was finalized in 2009 and operationalized in 2010. Further, a multi-year research programme entitled "Understanding Ecosystems and Biodiversity" was introduced by the National Research Fund, with research focused on biodiversity evaluation and monitoring; ecosystem functioning (including population, climate change, human/nature interaction); management and conservation (restoration ecology, sustainable management of resources, management of human biodiversity interactions, public awareness).


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Social Share Any Image Joomla Plugin is a nice Joomla plugin, which lets you share any image on your web page to be socially shared. It allows Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and email sharing only. It's very simple to use. Install it. Enable it on Plugin Manager. Refresh your frontend. You should see a tiny share bar when you hover over any image on the current web page. You can then share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or email. Highly configurable and backed with a 24x7 Customer Support package. This module is cross browser compatible and works on all the modern browsers. Bug Free and works great! Compatible with Joomla 1.5.x , 2.5.x , 3.x.x.
The Downloads Access and Extension Support is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.