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NEWS | November 14, 2013
MAVEN Seeks to Solve Another Mars Riddle
MAVEN, which stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, is slated to launch Nov. 18 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida.
The scientists and managers behind the mission gathered in a Kennedy Space Center clean room Sept. 26 to get an up-close look at the MAVEN spacecraft, and to share their enthusiasm with reporters and photographers.
"After 10 years of working on this, I can't tell you how excited I am to see this finished spacecraft ready to go," said the mission's principal investigator, Bruce Jakosky, as he stood in front of MAVEN's outstretched solar panels in the high bay of Kennedy's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility.
Jakosky, of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado at Boulder, leads the mission and has been involved in the flight since its inception. The mission is designed to search for clues into the thinning of Mars' atmosphere and the disappearance of surface water over time. Scientists theorize the sun may have had a role in the escape of gas from the planet's upper atmosphere -- a region that hasn't yet been studied.
Since 1964, NASA has flown a series of orbiters, landers and rovers to Mars, searching for chemical traces of water or signs that the planet once could harbor life. MAVEN stands apart from these because it's the first to focus exclusively on the upper reaches of the planet's atmosphere.
"Mars is a complicated system, just as complicated as the Earth in its own way," Jakosky said. "You can't hope, with a single spacecraft, to study all aspects and to learn everything there is to know about it. With MAVEN, we're exploring the single biggest unexplored piece of Mars so far."
The spacecraft will arrive at the Red Planet on Sept. 22, 2014, and slip into an elliptical orbit ranging from a low of 93 miles above the surface to a high of 3,728 miles. It also will take five "deep dips" during the course of the mission, flying as low as 77 miles in altitude and providing a cross-section of the top of the atmosphere.
MAVEN is an eight-foot cube weighing about 5,400 pounds at launch -- as much as a fully loaded sport utility vehicle. With its twin pairs of gull-wing-shaped solar panels extended, it stretches 37 feet from wingtip to wingtip.
The spacecraft is outfitted with a trio of instrument suites. The Particles and Fields Package, built by the University of California at Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, contains six individual instruments that characterize the solar wind and ionosphere of the planet. The Remote Sensing Package, built by LASP, will determine global characteristics of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer, built by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, will measure the composition and isotopes of neutrals and ions.
Assembled by Lockheed Martin in Denver, Colo., MAVEN was blasted with sound waves, shaken on a vibration table, even put through a thermal vacuum test using liquid nitrogen to simulate the cold of space and hot lamps to mimic the sun -- all to ensure it was ready for the extremes of liftoff and spaceflight. Finally, the spacecraft was loaded onto an Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft and delivered to the Florida spaceport.
MAVEN's Atlas V rocket is a reliable workhorse with a history of success for NASA missions -- including the Mars Science Laboratory mission featuring the Curiosity rover. The rocket's booster and upper-stage components arrived at the Florida spaceport not long after the spacecraft.
While the Atlas V was readied for flight in a hangar at the Atlas Space Operations Center, or ASOC, on the Air Force station, MAVEN was sent to Kennedy's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility for one last round of checkouts, tests and closeouts.
The processing team faced one significant challenge with less than two months until liftoff: a 17-day government shutdown that briefly halted prelaunch activities. But because activities had been running slightly ahead of schedule and some team members were able to quickly return to work, the shutdown did not interfere with launch plans.
"It's kind of like a hurricane," said NASA Launch Director Omar Baez. "We have hurricane plans, but we don't have a government shutdown plan. So that's a hurdle. We overcame it, we're moving forward, and we're ready to hit the beginning of the window."
MAVEN's 20-day launch window opens Nov. 18. Managers and controllers from NASA's Launch Services Program, United Launch Alliance and the U.S. Air Force, along with the spacecraft team, will report to their consoles in launch control for the countdown.
When countdown clocks tick down to zero and the Atlas V roars to life, MAVEN's mission finally will be under way, but the next big milestone comes later -- when the spacecraft is released from the rocket's upper stage.
MAVEN's caretakers on the ground will wait anxiously for the spacecraft to report it is healthy and headed to Mars.
"That's the moment when we can celebrate, when everybody gets up, shouts, and shakes hands," said Baez.
Planning the MAVEN mission has been a team effort involving several partners. NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, Md., manages the project and provided two of the science instruments for the mission. Lockheed Martin built the spacecraft and is responsible for mission operations. The University of California at Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory provided science instruments for the mission. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., provides navigation support, Deep Space Network support, and Electra telecommunications relay hardware and operations.
"The spacecraft is symbolic of the hundreds of people that have been a part of this since Day One, and all kinds of support that's needed to get us here," said David Mitchell, MAVEN project manager at Goddard.
With liftoff right around the corner, team members are eagerly anticipating the start of the mission and the promise of solving another of Mars' riddles.
"We're really excited," Mitchell said. "We're so close now. I mean, we're headed to Mars."
Anna Heiney
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center


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The Badwater Ultra marathon describes itself as "the world's toughest foot race". It is a 135-mile course starting at 282 feet below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California's Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet at Whitney Portal, the trail head to Mount Whitney. It takes place annually in mid-July, when the weather conditions are most extreme and temperatures over 120 °F, even in the shade, are not uncommon. Consequently, very few people—even among ultramarathoners—are capable of finishing this grueling race.
Originally, the run was conceived as being between the lowest and the highest points in the contiguous United States: Badwater, Death Valley (−282 ft) and Mt. Whitney's summit (14,505 ft). The two are only eighty miles apart on the map, but the land route between the two points is substantially longer, 146 miles, because of detours around lakebeds and over mountain ranges. Additionally, since the finish-line is 11 miles from the nearest trailhead, anyone who competes over the 146-mile race-distance must be capable of a total physical effort of 157 miles. Due to the two mountain ranges that must be crossed between Badwater and Whitney, the course's cumulative elevation gain exceeds 19,000 feet.
In later years, as the United States Forest Service required summit permits to climb Mt. Whitney, the official course was shortened to end at Whitney Portal. The Badwater-to-Portal course is 135 miles long, with 13,000 feet of cumulative elevation gain. Forest Service regulations do not allow competitive events in the John Muir Wilderness; however, many runners choose to continue tradition and complete the ascent to Mount Whitney's summit on their own.
The hike between Badwater and Mount Whitney (via the treacherous salt flats in Death Valley) was first made in 1969 by Stan Rodefer and Jim Burnworth of San Diego.
Al Arnold first attempted running the route in 1974 but was pulled off the course after eighteen miles with severe dehydration. After vigorous sauna-training and desert-acclimatization, he attempted the run again in 1975. This time, a knee injury aborted the run at fifty miles. In 1976, training injuries kept him from even beginning his annual attempt on the course.
In 1977 he successfully pioneered running the course, summiting Whitney eighty hours after his start at Badwater. Arnold has never returned to the course, except to receive the Badwater Hall of Fame Award.
The second Badwater-to-Whitney running was completed in 1981, by Jay Birmingham.
AdventureCORPS manages the competitive race from Badwater to Whitney Portal. The course route is specified, and the race is held annually. The field is invitation-only and limited in size. Demand to participate in the race usually far exceeds available spots. Rules have changed somewhat over the years: afternoon starts have been discontinued; the use of intravenous fluids now disqualifies a runner.
Runners who complete the course in sixty hours receive a commemorative medal; runners who complete the course in forty-eight hours receive a belt buckle. No prize money is awarded.
The record for the 146-mile race was set in 1991 by Marshall Ulrich: 33 hours and 54 minutes. Records for the current 135-mile course are 22 hours 51 minutes 29 seconds (men), set by Valmir Nunes, and 26 hours 51 minutes 33 seconds (women), set by Jamie Donaldson.
In the last few years, 70 to 80 people have competed in each race, with 20–40% failing to reach the finish line. There have been no fatalities.
In 1989, Tom Crawford and Richard Benyo completed the first double crossing (which became known as the "Death Valley 300"), running from Badwater to Mount Whitney's summit and back to Badwater again.
In 1994, Scott Weber completed the first Triple Crossing going from the Mount Whitney Summit to Badwater, then returning from Badwater to the Mount Whitney summit, then going from the Mount Whitney summit back to Badwater in 10 days. The first leg of the Triple was also done solo unassisted with Weber pushing an unmodified "baby jogger" cart with his supplies from oasis to oasis spaced from 20 to 30 miles apart. Weber completed the majority of the triple unassisted and solo being met once or twice a day by Ben on the second leg and for 100 miles of the third leg. Faced with the necessity of completing the Triple before August ended, Weber abandoned his cart at mile 390 to be fully crewed by Denise Jones. Completing this Triple and adding the Badwater race from the previous month made Weber the first runner to complete four full crossings of the Badwater-Mount Whitney summit course in a single July-August window. He remains the only runner to have done a multiple crossing with a solo unassisted section of 146 miles or greater.
In 2003, Sawyer Manuj became the first Asian-American to complete the Badwater duo.
Unassisted solo crossingsIn 1994, Scott Weber became the first runner to cross from the summit of Mount Whitney to Badwater course solo without a crew. He did so by pushing a 'baby-jogger' cart with his supplies going oasis to oasis (20-30 miles apart). Weber then continued on to complete 2 additional crossing with minimal support until being crewed full-time for the final 45 miles of this 438+ mile journey.
Unassisted "self-contained" Solo Crossings
In July 1999, Marshall Ulrich became the first and only runner to complete the 146-mile Badwater-to-Summit course without a crew or resupply, denying himself the use of artificial shade or outside aid of any kind. Starting with 225 lbs of gear and water loaded in a modified baby jogger, he pushed and pulled the cart to the Whitney trail head, then continued on to the summit with a pack. He reached Whitney's summit in seventy seven hours and forty six minutes.
In 2005, in response to the desire of local and non-elite runners to test themselves against the course, Hugh Murphy initiated the Badwater Solo Ultra 135/146. Runners attempt the course during the months of July and August and have their completion verified and published by Murphy. Runners are encouraged to include the Whitney summit as part of their transit, but credit is given for either distance. In compliance with National Park and Forest Service permitting rules, this is not a competitive race but a "solo" crossing with a support crew (as in, "not a part of the official race", which is not to be confused with Weber or Ulrich's use of "solo" to designate an unassisted crossing).
In 2007, then-19 year old Ben Eakin completed his first solo crossing, having only finished 2 marathons and 1 50K prior to doing so. Eakin completed the solo from Badwater to the summit of Mount Whitney, to become the youngest male to complete the lowest to highest course, as well as the first type-1 diabetic.
In 2005, Barbara Szeprethy, then 24, is the youngest woman to finish the course, 3 times total, in consecutive years.
Any competitor who completes both the Badwater Ultramarathon and the Furnace Creek 508 bicycle race (also held in Death Valley) during the same calendar year is awarded the Death Valley Cup.
Badwater World Cup BWWCBadwater World Cup (BWWC) consists of:
- Badwater ( race in the desert)
- Brazil 135 Ultramarathon ( race in the mountains)
- Arrowhead ( race in the snow)
- Europe 135

subset: commoncrawl


text: Can someone educate me a bit? Why are long period swells more likely to close out and be unrideable than short period swells? I can see why the size of the wave in relation to the depth and shape of the sandbar would make a wave a wave unrideable, but it's not clear to me why the period (which i understand to mean the period of time between swells) would cause a different result. Someone help out a rookie wave scientist here.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
by Susan Mikula Campbell
There's nothing like a barbecue festival to set your taste buds on alert.
This weekend, wander down to Gateway Harbor in Tonawanda and take a deep breath of sauce, spices and grilling meat - the Smokin' Eagles International Barbecue Festival is back.
Technically, the gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, but Wheatfield resident Roy "Honcho" Gregory, who organized the first Smokin' Eagles five years ago, predicts "The place will be full by 5 p.m.; the barbecue fans, they can't wait!"
Admission is free at the three-day event for those who want to come in, watch the competitions, hear the bands, purchase barbecue equipment, sauces and rubs, and get some expertly prepared barbecue to eat there or take home. Vendors will be preparing barbecue, including some of the close to 20 competitors.
Florida Skin and Bones, a husband and wife team from Florida, that has won numerous competitions, including taking the grand champion crown at Smokin' Eagles last year, will be back to defend its title and also will be vending.
"They said they wouldn't miss it," said Gregory, who will go back for seconds of one of Skin and Bones' offerings. "Their ribs are crazy good ... must be why they win so much," he said.
Locally, the World of Barbecue from Parkside Avenue in Buffalo also is coming back to compete and vend.
The open competition is on Saturday with competitors barbecuing their best chicken, ribs, brisket and pork. Gates open at 9 a.m. The awards ceremony is at 5 p.m., and there will be music, food and fun until about 11 p.m. The back yard and kids barbecue competitions are on Sunday. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 5:30 p.m.
There's also an apple pie competition on Saturday. Vendors and music will be available all three days.
Competitors are still signing up in the three categories, Gregory said, noting this year's competition will offer $4,000 in cash and prizes.
Rob Giordano of Lewiston, who owns the Barbecue Shop Inc. and co-chairs the competition with Gregory, notes that in previous competitions, top prize in the open category was a trip to the Best of the Best competition in Georgia. That competition was cancelled this year, but Smokin' Eagles is negotiating an alternative for next year, he said.
Giordano also noted the Smokin' Eagles has received its nonprofit 501(C) 3 designation from the IRS, which will let it move forward in donating proceeds from the event to charity.
For more information about the Aug. 10 to 12 barbecue festival, go to www.sebbq.com.


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NYPD teams with US lab to study airborne weapons
My Fox NY.com
The New York Police Department is teaming up with a national laboratory to study how chemical weapons could be dispersed through the air into the subway system.
Researchers will track the movement of harmless tracer gases. They'll place air sampling devices in specific areas on the street and within the subway system. The gases mimic how a chemical or biological weapon may react if released.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the study will help safeguard the city against attacks.
"The NYPD works for the best but plans for the worst when it comes to potentially catastrophic attacks such as ones employing radiological contaminants or weaponized anthrax," said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, adding that, "This field study with Brookhaven's outstanding expertise will help prepare and safeguard the city's population in the event of an actual attack."
The project with the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory was announced Wednesday. It will be funded through a $3.4 million federal grant...
Read more here:


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daggergems necesitaba un nuevo diseño de botón o icono y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 48 diseños de 16 diseñadores freelance.
Daggër Gems ( http://www.daggergems.com/ )
Daggër Gems is an iPhone game startup ( http://www.daggergems.com/ ). I am the lead designer on our first puzzle game called "No Way Out!" (including the exclamation point). This is a software implementation of a well known mechanical puzzle called "Rush Hour" by puzzle master Nob Yoshigahara. There are several other iPhone implementations of this game already available in the App Store. The aim of our implementation is to add all of the features and style that were missing from all of the others. The game is complete and ready to submit to Apple for approval, however, coming up with a clever icon has been difficult. Each of the other competing games has a similar app icon -- it's a block-sliding puzzle game, so they just cluster a few blocks together (see attached screenshots) and crop it. I want something that really pops for this game, but still gives the viewer the notion that it's a game about being blocked while trying to move from one place to another.
It's a puzzle game, so anything goes here. There is no objectionable content in the game whatsoever, so we're hoping it will appeal to all ages. I would imagine there won't be as many female players as male, but aside from that it's hard to say.
I would prefer that your submissions be 100% vector (Illustrator CS3 format preferably), but I don't want to hinder your creativity. I'm well aware that there are certain tricks that just can't be done in a pure vector manner. So, if your design needs raster elements, so be it. Just make sure to keep it big. There are two sizes that will be sent to Apple: the app icon itself is 57x57 in png format, and the icon that shows up in iTunes is 512x512 in tiff format. I'll rip the final files from your master, but just make sure that, if you have any raster elements in your master, to keep it at or above 512x512.
Re: Icon content... Like I said before about the competition: their icons all look more or less the same and none of them are very engaging. They do tell the story, but they all look kind of flat and lackluster. I really need to stand out in this fray. I need the icon to sizzle. I want people to see all 10 of us lined up like ducks in the App Store and for them to be compelled to click on my app first.
There is an old Mac icon I love by a designer I worked with a few years ago named Matthew Bice ( http://www.iheartny.com/ ). It's called "robot" and is part of his "Soda Jerks" icon collection. It's an "Iron Giant" sort of thing. Try, if you can, to draw some inspiration from that icon (screenshot attached). ... but any and all ideas are welcome!
(Please, no stock art. Original illustrations only.)


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There's a good chance by now that you've heard about the pastor who didn't like that she was charged an 18% gratuity on her bill at Applebee's. She crossed out the tip, wrote in $0, and added, "I give God 10%. Why do you get 18%?"
My first thought on reading that was that the answer is simple. Even a bad server does infinitely more for you than a nonexistent god. Also, because that's how people working their asses off get paid, and large groups are notoriously bad at basic bill addition, much less tax-and-tip math. An 18% tip is low.
The pastor, however, has managed to make things even worse. From The Smoking Gun:
The St. Louis pastor responsible for the credit card receipt heard 'round the Internet termed her snide scribblings a "lapse in my character and judgment," adding that the Applebee's employee who posted the receipt online was fired yesterday after she lodged a complaint with restaurant managers.
In a TSG interview, Alois Bell said that the online firestorm created by the receipt has left her stunned. "My heart is really broken," said the 37-year-old Bell. "I've brought embarrassment to my church and ministry."
Oh, Pastor Bell. Your poor church and ministry! This is devastating. They're going to have to look for a job in a tight economy.
No, wait, that's the server you decided should pay for complaining about your "lapse in character and judgment". You're the one who decided being a pastor gave you some sort of license to sneer at the people who serve you week after week, but you didn't want to deal with that irony pushing the story around the internet, or as you put it, being "blown out of proportion."
Yes, readers, that's right. Bell's interview tells us this wasn't some kind of one-time misunderstanding about how tipping for groups works.
The January 25 meal came after an evening service at the Truth in the World Deliverance Ministries church, said Bell, who added that five adults and five children were in the group that dined at Applebee's (a traditional post-service destination for church members).
They go there all the time. They know how this works.
Pastor Bell also says she did tip.
Despite scratching out the tip added to the bill, Bell said that she left a $6 tip in cash, adding that she subsequently discovered the 18 percent gratuity had been charged to her credit card.
An 18% tip would have been $6.29. The pastor threw a godly, entitled snit over $0.29, assuming she did leave the $6.
At least the server got an extra $6 out of it, maybe. That should tide her through her job interviewing for all of a cheap meal or so. All because Pastor Alois Bell got embarrassed later rather than sooner. Correction: The server who posted the receipt was not the server who received the tip. However, Pastor Bell reportedly also tried to have that server fired, as well as other staff at the restaurant.
It's what Jesus would have done, you know.


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Fedora Desktop and Computing
Fedora 18 was released this week and I finally got around to installing it today. To be honest, on either my laptop or desktop I have not really used Fedora much since Fedora 14. I have been incredibly happy with CentOS for over a year and a half now, and I (begrudgingly) accepted Windows 7 on my laptop.
Today's installation of Fedora 18 made me question my use of time. I switched jobs exactly 2 years ago and found myself in the precarious position of having little to no spare time. I tried my best to optimize. Giving up dual-booting in favor of virtualization (VirtualBox and KVM) helped greatly. However I could never get Fedora18 beta or RC to boot up inside KVM. But that wasn't the problem that bothered me. Re-running through the installation multiple times using the new Anaconda installer just got me tired of trying to understand a poorly thought out workflow. I kept questioning myself if I had in fact selected the correct options. I don't think I would ever install Fedora 18 on some of my more complex dual-boot setups in the past.
To be fair for a clean install on a new computer for most people the installer might be a joy, but for me it just wasn't. I'm not really complaining. I have multiple computers running some form of Linux or if I must, Windows. My existing setup works fine for me. However I just don't think Fedora's goals and my needs line up anymore.
I was reminded of this when I was reading Richard WM Jone's blog post on using Fedora 17 on a Chromebook. The first bullet point is what gives me pause:
Suspend pretty much doesn't work.
I too own a Chromebook and just like many others I have quite a few things I dislike about, but where it never fails: power management. It suspends and starts up in seconds, lets me do my browsing/work and then I can close the lid and forget about it. The last time I had this experience with a laptop was with Fedora 9. After so many years, I'm disappointed problems can still exist for power management. My desktop CentOS suspends and hibernates perfectly, so I know things can be made to work, but I just don't have the time to find out how.
Outside of work, I spend most of my time on my Android smartphone. Occasionally I monkey around with a tablet, but the Chromebook is incredibly nice for quick tasks. And then when I have the dedicated time: I will use my desktop or laptop for more major work. What do all of these devices/setups have in common? – Answer: they don't change much. As we all know, change is the heart of Fedora – the latest and greatest software. I commend the Fedora team and all the volunteers who manage to somehow keep it all together.
If ever find the time, I would love to come back to Fedora. I finally got it working in my Virtualbox and I'll write up some of my notes eventually. If you plan on installing Fedora 18, the official Fedora Installation Guide has evolved amazingly. I highly recommend reading it.


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Marco Moratti
Dragon Red Stone Triangle
Collection name: Moratti Charm
Metal: Gold or silver plated stainless steel
Material: natural stone / dragon red stone
Width: 8mm
Available in Small and Medium
Stone shape: Round
For those who are looking for a simple accessory, the Moratti Charm collection will definitely not fail you. The topnotch beads, deep ebony in color and gleaming so elegantly, go really well with the Moratti Charm that dangles mesmerizingly on the bracelet.
Delivery offered
Free returns
Two Years warranty
You are able to request a return within 31 days from the delivery date for all countries. In order for the return to be successful, the product should be in perfect condition and in its original packaging.
Please contact email@example.com before posting back the package in order to obtain a Return Authorisation number and the relevant information in order to complete the process.
During the sales period, the purchase of sale items will be final. Therefore we will be unable to process any refunds or exchanges.
Please note that the customer will have to pay for any costs that may incur when shipping the product back to Marco Moratti.
For more information, please contact customer service email@example.com
All overseas customers who wish to return or exchange a product will equally need to contact our Returns & Exchange team (email@example.com) within 31 days of the delivery date and request a Return Authorisation number. They are also kindly requested to mark the package as "returned items" on the Customs Declaration form in order to avoid any unnecessary duty fees and delays in customs.
Send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com and let's get started with your return.


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Slippery slope: Hillside house raises questions
SIZE: 3,526 fin. sq. ft
ADDRESS: Dairy Road
NEIGHBORHOOD: Rugby/Dairy Road
CURB APPEAL: 6 out of a possible 10
LISTED BY: Jane Porter Fogleman, Roy Wheeler Realty Co., 951-5103
We picked this house out of the Parade of Homes brochure a week or so ago because it was the most striking one of the bunch and because it's in town. New houses are built within the city limits from time to time, but are not often on this scale or so unusual in design.
The house, with its shingle-clapboard-glass façade, stretches almost 100 feet across the front of a steep hill on Dairy Road near the 250 Bypass. Like many houses built against a hill, the first level is compromised by the slope, the second is where the action happens, and here, the third why is there even a third? is unnecessary, apparently tacked on strictly for effect.
The lot clearly presented a landscaping dilemma. To compensate for the lack of a usable front yard, the rear of the house was heavily graded, and all the outside "activity centers" such as patio, brick walks, and so on, are positioned in an area carved out of the hill.
Holding the hill away from the house (and maybe even holding up the hill) is a huge concrete wall, which segues into a patio across the entire backside of the house. It sounds very weird, but when you're standing back there, the distance above the street and the steepness of the slope aren't so apparent.
Plantings and a little stairway leading even further up the hill in an attempt to compensate for the slope. Because we're in the middle of a drought, the effect of torrential rains on the site hasn't been tested, but I wouldn't want to be there when something like Hurricane Camille comes through. Even in the drought, the concrete in the patio has already cracked and been patched.
The peculiar site has dictated the interior design as well. From the front, the house appears to consist of three stories, but the middle level is the only one that matters. The front door opens to the first floor, and everyone coming in the day we were there did an exaggerated double-take when they found themselves standing between the two-car garage, and the laundry/utility area. That's a fine how-do-you-do! Down on that level are three good-size bedrooms and two full baths, opulent, but far from where the actual living goes on upstairs on the middle level.
To get there from the inside, you must climb a flight of stairs in the entryway. From the outside, you must wind your way up a steep concrete staircase next to the garage.
This is the level that's meant to dazzle, and it does. The long spread-across-the-face-of-the-hill design means that everything you need is here in a row: a fancy kitchen/breakfast/family room wing, a huge dining room, a living room that seems completely superfluous because of the size of the other living spaces, and a master bedroom suite that's bigger than living areas in many "regular" houses.
Even here, however– amid gleaming wood floors, the airy, open staircase from the entrance (which doesn't touch the wall, creating lots of useless space), chandeliers, and a gas fireplace you find yourself scratching your head. At the far end of the house, the master bath off the almost 15'x19' bedroom is the closest room to the house next door. When you're in the whirlpool tub under two huge windows, you're directly in your neighbor's line of sight. Surely placement of that bathroom could have been better envisioned.
More stairs lead from the dining room to what the info sheet calls the "third floor," but which is really just a large room in a sort of tower thing. Maybe this could be a playroom, to keep children away from the grown-ups, or maybe it could be a study or office. But people with even a hint of vertigo should not think of going up those stairs. Looking down on Dairy Road from that level is like being stopped at the top of a Ferris wheel. Unnerving, to say the least.
There's lots here to draw curious home shoppers: the wonderful in-town location, the quirky design, and the sheer spread of the place. However, it will take a very unusual family to want to spend nearly three quarters of a million dollars for a house with so many oddities, not to mention potential surprises if it ever rains... or snows.


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AVA, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will be offering a Prescribed Fire Workshop for landowners on Tuesday, June 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Super 8 motel meeting room, 1711 South Jefferson St. at the junction of Route 5 and 76 on the southside of Ava.
The workshop will provide an overview of how to plan and conduct a safe and effective prescribed burn on various habitat types. Prescribed burning is an effective and cost-efficient management tool, however, there are many issues and concerns to be considered. Effective planning is necessary to achieve beneficial effects as well as maintain a safe burn. This program will cover topics related to fire history, planning, weather, safety, and equipment needs.
Participants are asked to preregister at the Ava USDA office or by calling 417-683-4816 ext. 3.


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ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA, WHISTLER SECTION Outdoor club focused on mountaineering, ski touring, climbing and hiking. Trip schedule www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/sections/whistler.html. Call 604-902-1772 for details.
AWARE The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment is a non-profit, member-driven organization dedicated to preserving the environment and moving toward environmental sustainability. AWARE meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Westin Resort & Spa. For more info about AWARE: www.awarewhistler.org
BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS The In School Mentoring Program is starting at Spring Creek Elementary in February 2006. If you are a male and have one hour per week (11:30-12:30) on a Tuesday or Thursday and you want to make a difference in the life of a child, call Kim ASAP at 604-938-9299.
Career Counselling Looking for help with career direction? Call the Whistler Employment Resource Centre at 604-932-6281 ext. 11 for an appointment.
Canadian home Builders Assn The Sea to Sky Chapter of the CHBA meets every second Wednesday at El Tipos in Creekside from 12-1 p.m. Members and non-members welcome. Contact Bronwen at email@example.com.
COUNCIL OF CANADIANS The Whistler chapter invites locals to engage in discussions of Canadian sovereignty, social justice, water issues, heathcare, security issues and international trade. Contact Betty at email@example.com.
DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB The Whistler Residents Duplicate Bridge Club meets every Wednesday from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at MY Place. Play starts at 9:30 a.m. Visitors and new members are warmly welcomed. For info or partnership arrangements call Shirley at 604-932-5368 or Astrid at 604-938-9274.
ELIZABETH MANSO VISITING VOLUNTEERS A volunteer support group for the incapacitated who do not have the support, help and comfort needed. In case of confinement to home, either terminal or temporary, the group can be called upon for assistance. Call the Whistler Community Services Society at
Get bEAR Smart SOCIETy People and Bears Living in Harmony. Learn more about coexisting with bears in your backyard. Call us at 604-905-4209 or at www.bearsmart.com.
Girl guides The Girl Guides, Sparks, Brownies and Pathfinders (ages 5-15) meet weekly Sept. to May. For info contact Cherie at 604-894-5443 or Shelagh at 604-932-9675.
MATURE ACTION COMMITTEE (MAC) MACs goal is to create resident housing projects for seniors that respond to their special needs and desire to remain in Whistler, such that long term residents can mature in place. Call 604-932-6167 or
My millennium place Whistlers community centre for arts, culture and inspiration. Performance theatre, art gallery, daycare, youth centre, meditation room, meeting facilities all this and more. Visit www.MyPlaceWhistler.org or call 604-935-8410.
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It's Over, Now What?
You thought you had this relationship thing down to a science.
You've read countless books on love, listened to books on tape about love, had lengthy conversations with your friends about love, and felt pretty confident in your abilities to sustain a healthy and loving relationship. Yet another one bites the dust. Your heart is aching again, and you thought for sure, this time, you'd found "the one."
Sound familiar? We've all been there, done that, at one point or another in our lives. It all appears to be going well, then things shift, and you are no longer a couple. You are left feeling empty, and the pain is often unbearable. There are no guarantees in life or love. Now that it is officially over, what do you do next? How does one pick up the pieces, and move on?
Dating and relationship coach Toni Coleman says, "Every significant loss results in feelings of denial, anger, fear, sadness and guilt. Although these emotions are 'normal,' we need to go through a grief process in order to fully recover and move on to a healthy, new life and relationship."
To achieve this, Coleman makes the following suggestions to help you manage this process and achieve closure.
Acknowledge Your Feelings: Give them a safe and appropriate outlet for expression. Too often we minimize, cover up or just deny painful emotions.
Take Care of Yourself: During this difficult time, it is critical to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits. This can be a real challenge as appetite and sleep are disturbed by emotional pain. Preparing and attempting to eat three meals a day, adhering to your normal wake/sleep pattern and making an effort to do at least a half hour of exercise each day can be your life raft when in the middle of an emotional storm that threatens to destroy you. If necessary, seek professional counseling and/or help from your physician.
Build and Strengthen Your Social Supports: Too much alone time can foster withdrawal and increase feelings of isolation and loneliness. Reach out to friends and family for help and nurturing.
Give Yourself Time to Heal: It will seem like forever, but it isn't. Rushing the process and jumping into a new relationship too fast can be disastrous. If the wounds are still raw, you are at a higher risk for regression, relapse and failure.
Set New and Realistic Goals: This is a great time for new beginnings, which include new goals. Have you been putting off looking for a better job, buying your own home or going back to grad school? Perhaps you felt that your own goals needed to wait until you were settled with Mr. or Ms. Right. Decide on one or two new goals and write them down with an action plan for each. It suffices to say that none of this will be easy. Take it one day at a time, and remember: This too shall pass.
©2006. LaVerne is currently working as a Senior Editor and Freelance Columnist, with nationally published works to include "Love…According to L," a monthly AOL Black Voices column; and "L's Motivational Minute," a monthly motivational women's column for Soul Sistas Unite.com. She has also interviewed celebrity personalities and written for Upscale Magazine.com. You can e-mail her at: firstname.lastname@example.com with your comments.
To subscribe to New York's favorite Pan-African weekly investigative newspaper please click on "subscribe" on the homepage or call (212) 481-7745. For advertisements or to send us a news tip contact email@example.com "Speaking Truth To Empower," is our motto.
Latest comments
Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...


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Last posting
A select few posts have been published since the blogs formal ending on on January 29 2009 however, this will be the last posting at American Interests.
As written previously, the blogs content will not be deleted recognising the role it plays in the larger ecosystem of information within blogosphere and broadly, the World Wide Web.
It is hoped that the sites content will continue to serve as a useful archive of information pertaining to the interests of the United States.
Anyone finding themselves here and wanting to comment may still do so via this post or otherwise, may contact me via the email link on the profile page.
Once again, thanks to all my readers.
On a final note, if you are viewing this post on the web, be sure to have a look at the recommended "must read" list to the immediate right, it shall be kept updated.
Comments most welcome.
Otto Marasco


text:
Officials at Tyndall Air Force Base are investigating why an F-22 Raptor crashed.
The fighter jet went down at 3:32 p.m., about a quarter of a mile west of the Drone Launch Facility.
The pilot, who has not been identified, was able to bail out seconds before the crash, apparently waiting until the last minute to eject so he could send the plane into a non populated area of the base, just off Hwy. 98.
Col. David Graff, who was just installed yesterday as the new commander of the 325th Fighter Wing, told News Channel 7 the pilot was not a student. When rescue crews found him, they say he was in good shape with no obvious major injuries. However, he was taken to a hospital.
Tyndall is the Air Force home for F-22 training and will soon be home to a fully operation/combat ready fighter wing.
Col. Graff told reporters the F-22 was returning to Tyndall but could not say if the pilot had reported any problems to air traffic controllers. He also said he did not believe there were any of the oxygen problems that had plagued several F-22 pilots until apparently resolved a few months ago.
"The F-22 is a phenomenal aircraft, the best we have in the United States," said Col. Graff. "I have full confidence in its capabilities and flight worthiness."
The F-22 burst into flames when it hit the ground. Toxic material, believed to be jet fuel, was reported and a Hazmat team was called in to assist. Highway 98 from the Tyndall Bridge (Dupont Bridge) east through the base to Mexico Beach was closed for about two and a half hours before base officials sounded the all clear to let highway traffic resume.
Ironically this crash happened today on the same day as the Air Force issued it's findings on that last F-22 mishap at Tyndall back in May. That incident was apparently pilot error.


text:
Intel's chief technology officer Justin Rattner is set to give the first public demonstration of the company's PRAM (phase-change RAM) technology at this week's Intel Developer Forum (IDF) conference.
PRAMis a type of non-volatile memory being developed by Intel and several other companies. The prototype chips are seen as a replacement for flash memory and, perhaps, DRAM. Unlike DRAM, non-volatile memory like flash can store memory when a device's power is turned off, but flash memory chips write and read data more slowly than DRAM, have less capacity, and are also more expensive.
"We're thinking phase change is looking promising and we're going to go into production with that part in the second half of the year," said Rattner.
PRAM is based on chalcogenide glass, which can be altered using the heat generated by an electric current. Heat changes the physical structure of the glass to either a crystalline or amorphous state. Each of these states has a distinct electrical resistance that is used to represent the ones and zeroes needed to represent stored data in binary terms.
PRAM looks set to offer better read-write speed and durability than flash memory, which works by trapping electrons in a memory cell. Over time, electrons inevitably become trapped in these cells and can no longer be removed, rendering the memory chip useless.
"It's not clear there's actually a wear out mechanism because you're just moving this material, chalcogenide, between phase states," Rattner said. "Inherently, that's not a destructive process."
Intel and other companies are counting on PRAM to replace both NOR and NAND flash memory to generate the demand required to produce the new memory chips in volume, and drive down costs.
Flash memory is used in cell phones and other mobile devices, but can also be used in PCs. Flash is also at the heart of Intel's Robson flash memory cache technology. Robson, and similar technologies, like hybrid-disk drives, use flash to improve system performance. Robson and hybrid-disk drives try to anticipate which files will be required by a user and load them into the flash-memory cache, reducing the number of times information must be read off the hard disk.
PRAM could also be used in this way, and Intel is investigating whether the chips could take on an even bigger role. "Ultimately we have to answer the question, is phase-change memory a replacement for DRAM? It seems to have the performance characteristics," Rattner said.
Even if PRAM proves to be a practical replacement for DRAM, that's doesn't necessarily mean that PRAM will replace it completely. "Is it a new level in the hierarchy? Or will DRAM move into more of a new level of the cache hierarchy and phase change will actually be the main memory as we think of it today?" Rattner said.


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Wonderful variety
So happy with the framing of my cross-stitch. Matt-board colours and frame really sets off the work.
Never been in this shop before but I love it!
Fabulous work – all very different and beautifully presented
Excellent and well presented . Courteous and friendly staff.
The best we have seen today, don't expect to see any better (BIFB)
Fantastic display of a deafblind person's artwork. Thank you.
Wonderful to see Pro Hart collection
Fantastic quality photographic prints!. Than you!
Thank you for all your hard work in making my photos look fantastic for my exhibition. Amazing finish, excellent service, you have made the whole experience a pleasure.
"Have been coming here for 5 years to get my pictures framed, getting my 12th one done now! They look striking in my home" S.H
"What a wonderful team you have here" K.S.
"Many thanks for such a wonderful job with this tapestry. Such care and attention to detail – couldn't be more thrilled" C.M.
"Thankyou so much for your valued patience, assistance & good humour you extended to us in framing our series of certificates. We greatly appreciated it and were thrilled with the results." S.W.
"The last framing you did for us was brilliant, here's some more." L.B.
"Thankyou so much I am really happy with the botanical prints and your framing. Thankyou for all your help and for making it so easy." N.
"Beautiful work (framing) provided gracefully at short notice. The whole experience was such a pleasure. Thank you." E.& A.
"Thanks for your advice and help in framing my print which has been part of the Next Gen Exhibition at Ballarat Art Gallery" J.A.
"Really pleased with the print and frame – it's awesome thanks." Melissa
"Excellent craftsmanship in framing" J. Healy
"I always receive excellent service for my framing. Professional & friendly' Tony Lenten
Fantastic / Sensational (fine-art printing) Dean Homicki


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The Marriage of Figaro, ENO
Helen Wallace attends the opening night of Fiona Shaw's new production of Mozart's opera
It was surely Fiona Shaw's take on Figaro that drew an eager crowd to ENO last night, but the star of the show turned out to be a singer, and an understudy to boot. Elizabeth Llewellyn stepped in to Kate Valentine's shoes as the Countess and won us over with her sumptuous soprano and poised, tender portrait.
ENO can be proud of the part it has played in her ascent: she was taken on by its own Opera Works programme after being out of music for a decade, and her first major role was as Mimi in La bohème earlier this year. Her burnished, powerful but contained voice has a thrilling potential which made for a heart-stopping 'Porgi Amor' and a moving, if not flawless, 'Dove Sono'.
Of course, Figaro is an ensemble piece, not a vehicle for a prima donna. Llewellyn was well-matched by Roland Wood's pugnacious and believable Count; while a somewhat downbeat Figaro (Iain Paterson) was paired with a warm but two-dimensional Susanna (Devon Guthrie). Still, they sang with such lively freshness you forgave them their lack of complex charm. Mary Bevan and Kathryn Rudge were a feisty Barbarina and Cherubino, while Timothy Robinson relished the part of Don Basilio.
Fiona Shaw could make a drama out of directing traffic, such is her sure instinct for theatre and her literary intelligence. Aided by Jeremy Sam's witty, no-nonsense translation, the production was full of unforced comic touches, while she choreographed the relationships with great naturalness, achieving her avowed goal to make 'those relationships recognisable' to an audience today.
So far, so good, but overlaid onto this production is the idea that the Count is a Minatour in his own labyrinth or maze, a clever concept if not essential. So we have bull skulls scattered about and a set which is supposed to be a maze (but in fact looks like a series of giant white plastic folders from Rymans). One problem: the least interesting view of a maze is from the side. Cue the merry-go-round revolving stage (seemingly irresistible to theatre directors: it barely stopped turning in Rufus Norris's Don Giovanni in 2010).
There's no doubt its dizzying cycle can create the cinematic illusion of hurtling through rooms, and there were moments when it deftly served the plot. But no amount of spinning could make up for a lack of energy, crisp ensemble or tightly sprung rhythms in the pit.
Conductor: Paul Daniel
Designer: Peter McKintosh
Helen Wallace is consultant editor of BBC Music Magazine
- Article Type: | Blog |


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Notice: On April 23, 2014, Statalist moved from an email list to a forum, based at statalist.org.
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Re: st: Endogeneity and Panel Data : treatreg, ivregress or .. ? Any suggestion would be really appreciated !
John Litfiba <email@example.com>
Re: st: Endogeneity and Panel Data : treatreg, ivregress or .. ? Any suggestion would be really appreciated !
Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:02:12 +0100
Dear Cameron,
Thanks for you answer.
Let me precise thus the following
The average number of points per individual is about 70. There is no
doubt that choices of the endogenous variable whithin an individual
are correlated : some will always choose 2 particular values, some
will choose other values, etc.
The endonegous variable is not naturally ordered.
When I run treatreg as described before, without any correction for
clustering, t stats are great
Of course when I add the option vce(bootstrap cluster(id) reps(400) )
every significance vanish (maybe my instrument is not as good as
expected?)... but do I really need to correct for clustering here?
I mean, treatreg is not really designed for panel data right ?
On 14 November 2011 06:08, Cameron McIntosh <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote:
> John,
> I strongly suggest that you take a look at the following (as for clustered observations and missing data, you haven't really described the dataset enough to be able to comment -- how many time points are there?):
> Greene, W.H., & Hensher, D.A. (2010). Modeling Ordered Choices: A Primer. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
> Chesher, A., & Smolinski, K. (2012). IV models of ordered choice. Journal of Econometrics, 166(1), 33-48.
> Carrasco, R. (2001). Binary Choice With Binary Endogenous Regressors in Panel Data. Journal of Businessand Economic Statistics, 19(4), 385-394.
> Chesher, A., Rosen, A., & Smolinski, K. (February 11, 2011). An instrumental variable model of multiple discrete choice. cemmap working paper CWP06/11. The Institute for Fiscal Studies Department of Economics, UCL. http://www.ihs.ac.at/vienna/resources/Economics/Papers/20111117_Paper_Rosen.pdf
> Mullahy, J. (2001). [Estimation of Limited Dependent Variable Models with Dummy Endogenous Regressors: Simple Strategies for Empirical Practice]: Comment. Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, 19(1), 23-25.
> Altonji, J.G., & Matzkin, R.L. (2005). Cross Section And Panel Data Estimators For Nonseparable Models With Endogenous Regressors. Econometrica, 73(4), 1053-1101.http://down.cenet.org.cn/upfile/94/2005711152046101.pdf
> Dong, Y., & Lewbel, A. (April 2011). Simple Estimators for Binary Choice Models With Endogenous Regressors.http://fmwww.bc.edu/ec-p/wp604.pdf
> Lewbel, A. (March 2011). Binary Choice With Endogenous Or Mismeasured Regressors.http://www.indiana.edu/~caepr/visitors/2011/downloads/LewbelBinaryChoice.pdf
> Cam
> ----------------------------------------
>> From: firstname.lastname@example.com
>> Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:41:46 +0100
>> Subject: st: Endogeneity and Panel Data : treatreg, ivregress or .. ? Any suggestion would be really appreciated !
>> To: firstname.lastname@example.com
>> Dear Stata List,
>> Dear Mark Schaffer (I guess ;-) )
>> I have a econometric question related to endogenous variables and
>> panel data, and I believe that it can be interesting for anyone who
>> uses longitudinal data.
>> Here's the context :
>> I have a panel dataset of individuals who, at any time t, could
>> endogenously chose the value of a variable E (for endogenous). E is
>> not ordered and could take few values (in my case, 6 possible
>> choices).
>> I am particularly interested in the effect of one of these choices on
>> a fully continuous outcome variable Y.
>> That is, at any time and for any individual I would like to estimate
>> Yit=a+bXit+cZit+eit
>> where for example, Z is a binary variable that is equals to 1 if
>> individual i chooses E="the value of interest" at time t, and zero
>> otherwise. variables in X are assumed to be exogenous.
>> I believe I have a good instrument for Z, along for other control
>> demographic variables, and therefore I guess I have basically two
>> choices in order to take into account the panel nature of my dataset
>> 1) using ivregress2 with the option cluster(id) and correcting for the
>> endogenous part with (Z= instrument + age + location of birth).
>> However Z is a dummy variable... I know this should not be a problem
>> but...
>> 2) using treatreg with the option vce(bootstrap, cluster(id)
>> reps(400)) and modeling the choice of E=2 (that is Z=1) with treat(Z=
>> instrument + age + location of birth)
>> 3) I tried to use xtivreg 2 with fixed effects, but location of birth
>> is time invariant (and I believe very important in order to understand
>> Z) so it cannot be estimated.
>> Is my approach correct ? Do you have eventually other ways to tacke
>> this multiple choice endogenous problem ?
>> Moreover, in the context of panel data, do I always need to use
>> clustering on id in order to have correct standard errors ?
>> My dataset is large, but I have much more time variation than
>> clusters. About 200 000 individuals and 10 million observations for
>> the whole dataset.
>> The period where the instrument is available reduces the dataset
>> considerably : 1 million observations and about 20 000 individuals.
>> An important remark : the panel is NOT balanced. So individuals could
>> come in and out of the dataset during the 10 year period covered by my
>> dataset. Some have thus very few observations, and some have hundreds
>> of rows.
>> Many thanks in advance for your suggestions,
>> Best,
>> *
>> * For searches and help try:
>> * http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?search
>> * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
>> * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
> *
> * For searches and help try:
> * http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?search
> * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
* For searches and help try:
* http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?search
* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/


text:
From chamomile to mint to lemon balm, drying fresh herbs for aromatic teas, otherwise known as tisanes, is simple and gives you yet another reason to put your summer herb garden to use. To preserve the potency and flavor for a tisane, be sure to harvest herbs right before the plant begins to bud, and in mid-morning when nighttime's dew has evaporated. The main exception to this rule are flowers, such as chamomile, which should be harvested when the blooms are fully opened and the petals begin to push back, and lavender, whose actual buds contain all of the flavor and fragrance of the plant
Bunching method: Gather about a dozen stems in a bundle, remove any weeds or browned leaves and secure with a rubber band or twine. Hang upside-down and away from direct sunlight until dry. Herbs will take anywhere from one to three weeks to dry using this method.
Rack-drying: Arrange herbs in a single layer between two sheets of cheesecloth on a raised baking rack or window screen, making sure air can circulate throughout. Alternatively, secure herbs between sheets of cheesecloth with a large embroidery hoop and hang until dry.
Oven-drying: Place a single layer of herbs on a cookie sheet and bake on the coolest oven setting, no hotter than 170 degrees F. Stir gently every hour to ensure even drying; herbs should be dry within a few hours. Alternatively, if you have a gas oven you can dry herbs over two to three days with heat from the pilot light.
Once dry—which, depending on the method you choose, could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks—pluck the leaves from their stems and store whole. This will keep a leaf's delicate oils intact for up to one year. When you're ready to brew some tea, crumble the herbs gently with your fingertips and steep 1 1/2 teaspoons of crushed, dried herbs in eight ounces of near-boiling water for about five minutes, strain and enjoy. And don't be shy about combining herbs for your own custom blends and drying and mixing in your favorite fruits. From blueberry with lavender to lemon peel with chamomile, the pairing possibilities abound.


text:
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text:
/ Thursday, February 19, 2009 / 7 Comments / Chinese , Pasta and Noodles
Fried Glass Noodles
Well, I must admit sometimes I like to fry a big wok of noodles for the weekend. So, my family can have them the next day and I can really "sleep" in and I mean it! LOL! To be honest, I rarely have leftover food because I simply don't enjoy eating them again, but a few types of fried noodles or even fried rice is still good the next day.
Anyway, if you like dried shrimps then you can soak about 3 Tbsp of it and make sure to drain them well. (If not, those shrimps would pop all over you!) Fry them separately in a moderate heat with 2 Tbsp of Oil and mix into the noodles together with the prawns and bean sprouts. Do try my recipe:)
Fried Glass Noodles
350 g Dried Glass Noodles, soaked and drained
300 g Peeled Prawns, deveined
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped
3 Medium-Sized Leeks, sliced
4 Large Eggs, lightly beaten with a pinch of sea salt and a dash of white pepper
600 - 650 g Bean Sprouts, washed and drained
3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
3 - 4 Tbsp Peanut Oil
Sea salt to taste
In a moderate to high heat, fry the prawns with 2 Tbsp of oil in small batches. Cook until they are pink in color and slightly charred. Set aside.
Using the same oil, lower the heat and cook the garlic until they are golden in color and set aside.
Then, cook the eggs until they are set and mash them lightly with the spatula and set aside.
Turn the heat on high and add the remaining oil. Mix in the leeks and cook briefly for about 5 minutes. Then add in the glass noodles, garlic, eggs light and dark soy sauce. Give it a quick stir.
Then add in the prawns and bean sprouts. Stir quickly and season with sea salt and ground white pepper. To serve, top it with some chop scallions. Serve immediately.
Labels: Chinese, Pasta and Noodles
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7 comments:
Mmm. These look delicious. I love fried glass noodles -- and this makes such a simple, fulfilling supper.ReplyDelete
I adore mee goreng any time of the week!ReplyDelete
Hey Lo and Maya, thanks for all the comments:)ReplyDelete
Hi Angie....are glass noodles the same as vermicelli?ReplyDelete
There are bean vermicelli & rice vermicelli... we call glass noodles "tang hoon" in Hokkien, or also known as cellophane noodles. Awesome stuff, especially with seafood and black pepper sauce!ReplyDelete
I've never cooked with this type of noodles. Would happen to have another package laying around that you could take a picture of the package so I can try to find them?ReplyDelete
I just made this and it is an excellent recipe!!ReplyDelete
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This originally was published as my contribution to the RSVP MN Magazine Article: Click here to read it there
In 2003 there was a huge transformation of the entire workforce in the United States as a whole generation of women bought into the mantra of a revolution known as "Opting Out." Women were choosing to opt out of the job force to stay home and raise families and seek a balanced life. By 2013, with economics in their current state, women and men are choosing to "Lean in" to their careers and seem to be driven for success. Both movements became vastly popular, and have worked for several individuals, and that is where the problem lies.
These movements have had a huge impact on both our corporate culture and the dynamics of companies, but they have failed to last the test of time. I believe they fail because they have been focused on the individuals that make up a team or company. They fail to work on or have impact on the entire team and culture. The focus has been on the change of self rather than on the team, business or culture. While this has profound effects for individuals, the impact and benefits to business and events has been scattershot and in many instances has had a negative effect.
To go the distance and have longevity, an event or business has to pull together as a team and effect change for growth and success. They need to innovate. The key to all Innovation is that the people in charge are able to keep their vision focused on the Big Picture, instead of being sucked down into the mire and details that often leads to tunnel vision. We have two incredible examples of a company and an event here in the Twin Cities that are exemplary models of this: Target Corporation and the Minnesota State Fair.
Target was recently named as No. 10 of Fast Company's 2013 "Most Innovative Companies" and is in the caliber of such companies as Nike, Pinterest, Square and Amazon. Its attention to the trends and needs of current shoppers and the future of shopping has lead it to re-imagine its "Big Box" concept to create CityTarget, a half-size store prototype that launched in Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles.
This model focuses on a demographic that is looking for four-packs of toilet paper rather than a 36-pack, has furnishings more suitable to apartment and balcony dwelling, smaller packaged food proportions, and is more mobile friendly for research, e-commerce and speeding up checkout lines by having additional employees deployed with mobile register scanners.
Target's focus on value versus volume has proven so successful that they will add three new stores, doubling their new concept and look to take this concept globally in the future. Target's ability to continually transform and respond to the rapidly changing retail behaviors will keep its chain ahead of its competition at a time when its competition struggles to keep pace and in fact are downsizing the numbers of locations.
The Minnesota State Fair has had innovation at the core of its mission statement since 1859. An event that has continued and has thrived for 154 years has put in a lot of work to keep its offerings fresh, educational and entertaining. Each year, from attractions and food offerings, to events and displays, the Fair not only embodies and lives out its own belief of innovation, but encourages and challenges its participants and vendors to do so as well. Continual feedback and communication from attendees each year drives changes for the future.
Nowhere is this more evident than with the food vendors that innovate each year to come up with the newest flavor trends or gimmick "food on a stick" (candied bacon cannolis or deep fried pickles and chocolate anyone?). Not only does the food then become an innovation that is fresh, but the popularity of the inventive foods has driven media coverage, self fulfilling its ability to remain relevant and fresh year after year.
It is clearly evident that the companies and events that are built on a best practice that focuses on the entity or event such as innovation will far exceed and surpass any practices that focus on the individuals involved. If your team and culture can fully embrace a concept that leads to benefits for all, versus benefits to one, than it is a concept that can stand the test of time. It's time to opt out of bad practices, lean in to a team concept and employ innovation to your business.


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Video footage can help unravel an event and catch the perpetrators, but some say the presence of cameras could deter acts of violence.
Everyone has seen the video by now. The Boston bombers, dressed similarly, toting their backpacks through the crowd, one behind the other. With such a powerful visual cue, it's easy to suppose that video played a crucial role in capturing the culprits.
That's true to a certain extent, because video images led to quick identification. And then there's the knee-jerk response: Let's hang a video camera off every lamppost in every major city, at every big event. Let's capture every face in the crowd and scan continuously for suspicious action.
And yet, most experts in the field are ambivalent. Is the technology good enough? Do we sacrifice too much liberty? Will the stuff even work? In a post-Boston world, video surveillance seems to raise more questions than it answers.
For some in public service the presence of video surveillance is an undisputed good. In the U.S. Park Police, Commander of Technical Services Dave Mulholland talks about cameras as a powerful force multiplier. Considering the budgetary constraints on boots on the ground, "this is something you have to do. It provides situational awareness. It provides you the opportunity to share with all your agency partners," he said.
Since 2001, the Park Police has maintained video watch of the Lincoln Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Statue of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge, which is anchored on public land. The service employs a hybrid system of CCTV on secure networks, along with tactical, mobile cameras feeding signal via the Internet. "That has opened up the possibility for me to now share those capabilities with other agencies," Mulholland said.
These capabilities came into play during the Rally to Restore Sanity in October 2010 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. When an expected crowd of 60,000 swelled to several hundred thousand, Mulholland used video to watch for surges and possibly dangerous conditions to manage the oversized crowd.
"If something happens, we want to see it, so that we know what resources to send to the scene," he said.
Beyond crowd control, public cameras also have been used as a means of crime prevention. The Urban Institute cites Baltimore as an example, with more than 500 cameras installed in high-crime areas, mostly in a 50-block area in downtown Baltimore. Roughly four months after cameras were installed downtown in 2005, crime dropped by more than 30 incidents per month on average.
A Coordinated Medical Response
The medical response for between 150 and 200 people who sought treatment immediately following the April 15 bombings was efficient for various reasons.
The challenge is sizable. For a given moment in time, law enforcement officers and investigators may be faced with terabytes of data from every conceivable source, from department store surveillance cameras to cellphone video to digital photographs. Popular perception has it that with sufficiently powerful software, law enforcement could sift through all this data at digital speeds and successfully identify specific persons or objects. Reality, however, suggests otherwise.
"The first thing you have to do is to accept the idea that CSI is not really real," said Detective Sgt. Ret. James "Gator" Hudson, vice president of CrimeDex Services at video surveillance company 3VR. "No one does that in real life. You may have a chief of police or an emergency management person who thinks the camera is going to pick out the face of a terrorist in a crowd, but those kinds of things are almost impossible to do. So you have to set the bar at reality."
We learned this after the Boston Marathon bombing, when Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis told The Washington Post that the department's facial recognition system hadn't been able to identify the bombers, despite the fact that both had official driver's license and immigrant records in the system.
If recognizing faces is problematic, the search for objects is no easier. "We want it to identify an object left behind in a crowded environment, but as much as we would like to be able to solve that problem, differentiating a bag left behind versus an airport patron standing two feet away from their bag — the false alarm rate is too high for effective management," said Warren Brown, president of video technology provider ObjectVideo.
That's not to say that facial recognition and object identification remain the stuff of science fiction. Various software products are available today that can conduct these tasks with varying degrees of accuracy. As with all technology, though, the real usefulness often is demonstrated not by the power of the tools, but by how they are used.
A video camera system is only as good as the sum of its parts.
"When people talk about camera, they think about a camera as a single entity, but the reality is it's a network of systems, and the components on that system need to work together," said Sony's Collett. Sony has focused its efforts on image quality, which is a crucial element in any recognition algorithm. But those images still must be paired with powerful processing software, and few standards exist to make those pairings happen consistently.
More significantly, the camera and the software together don't think like a law enforcement professional. In fact they don't think at all. In order for the system to go the last mile, someone must program in the parameters. At what point, under what circumstances, will a real-time surveillance system send out an alarm?
"The software isn't artificial intelligence," Collett said. "You have to program the system to actually notify you of the conditions that you are worried about. This means that someone has to define those various conditions and define what actions need to occur by humans, and what actions need to be taken by other systems that may be integrated."
Here the burden may well fall to the emergency management community. As the professionals most closely attuned to the broad spectrum of possible risk, "they can create the set of rules and conditions in their environment," Collett said.
This begins not just with the analytics process, but also with the initial systems deployment. "It's not just about picking a camera that may look good at 10 o'clock in the morning when the sun is shining to the left," Collett said. "What about when the sun is shining straight overhead? It's not just about megapixels. People who are making the selections need to think through the environment in which the camera is going to be in use."
In return for these efforts, emergency managers may reap substantial rewards from enhanced video surveillance. A more thorough video feed to the command center, for instance, could enhance a manager's ability to monitor a situation and respond to changes.
It could also stream video to first responders' laptops as they head to the scene of an incident. "It can give them valuable insight into what they are going to be confronting once they get there," said Rob Sprecher, North American practice director for public safety and justice at Unisys.
As technology improves, it will become increasingly possible to pair this broad situational awareness with specific details — a license plate number, for example — that could cue in first responders to the possible risk factors in a situation.
To reap those rewards, emergency managers will first have to make a compelling case for having cameras on the scene, and that may not be easy.
"Emergency management ultimately reports to the citizens of the community, and there will be some citizens who are absolutely against it, some who will be for it, and some who will be for it but with limitations," Hudson said. Suppose you want to put a pan-tilt-zoom camera on a street corner. That isn't going to happen until you convince the neighbor across the way that the camera won't be looking in her window.
Civil liberty advocates have been raising objections to the vision of a public environment in which every person and every action is observed and recorded. For some, London's pervasive ring of video surveillance looks deeply Orwellian.
These fears only grow worse with the proposition that drone aircraft should be used for surveillance. Boston's police commissioner has said he wants unmanned aerial vehicles for next year's marathon.With the public already perceiving drones in primarily a military context, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for video surveillance is raising hackles.
Some see potential for compromise. The public agreed to give up some liberties when airport metal detectors proved they could curb terrorism. It's possible that successes by video surveillance could similarly sway public opinion in favor of more video.
"The debate has a lot to do with who has access to those feeds, and who is watching those watchmen," Young said. "If you lack faith in the government's credibility to watch out for your interests, the more you suspect whether this is a power that is reasonable for government to have."
Here again it may be up to the emergency management community to steer the ship.
"What are you capturing, who has access to it and what will you do with it?" Brown said. "If the only place this is being used is in the first responder community, and the only time they can access it is when they are addressing a crisis, then there are ways to manage that issue."
This story was originally published by Emergency Management magazine.


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College Planning
Now that you have an idea of what you want to do, the hard decision is where do you want to go? Will you need to attend a university, college or technical school.
Let's take a look at the difference between the types of school.
Universities offer 4 year degrees such as a Bachelor's of Science or Bachelor's of Art degree, which you can continue for a few more years to earn a Master's degree or PhD.
Examples of careers are: Teacher, Guidance Counselor/Social Worker, Engineer, or Doctor.
State Colleges offer a 2 - 4 year degree for various programs of study that lead to specific career paths.
Examples of careers are: Radiology Tech, Nursing, Computer programming/Networking, or Criminal Justice.
College Credit Certificates offer students training in courses that lead to a 2 year degree program. Great way to start if you need to get out there and work to make money in order to continue your education.
Examples are: Paramedics, Criminal Justice Tech Specialist, and
Web Development Specialist.
Technical/Trade/Vocational Schools award students certificates or diplomas for their training in a specific program of study, which allows them to enter the workforce after just a few weeks for some programs and others up to13-18 months of training.
Examples are: LPN, Dental Assistant, Cosmetology, EMT, or Culinary.
Many believe that it is best to get a 4 year degree to make more money in a specific career, but not all careers require a 4 year degree, nor do they necessarily make more money.
Be sure to look up the career on www.FloridaShines.org to see what educational requirement you will need and check to see what post-secondary institutions offer the program you want to study. Not all institutions offer the same career path.
Things to research prior to selecting your post-secondary institution.
* Is the school accredited?
* Will your college credits transfer or be accepted at other
* Will you earn a certificate, diploma, or a degree for your program
of study?
* How long will it take to complete the program?
* What is the cost of the program? (Tuition, books, other fees)
* Where is the college located?
Most out of state colleges will charge out of state fees that can be 3x's the cost of in-state fees.
How will you pay for your education?
Check out Local Scholarships at your school,usually located in the guidance office.
Do you qualify for Bright Futures?
Check your eligibility on www.Floridashines.org
Does the college you plan to attend offer scholarships?
How about ROTC programs?
Considering joining the military?
They will help pay for your education.
Would the company you work for offer tuition reimbursement?
Create a profile on www.fastweb.com
LINKS to Colleges
Local Colleges:
Daytona State College www.DaytonaStateCollege.edu
First Coast Technical College www.FCTC.edu
Santa Fe College www.SFCollege.edu
St Johns River State College www.SJRSC.edu
University of Florida www.UFL.edu
Florida State College www.FSCJ.edu
of Jacksonville
Need help finding a college/major? http://Findmycollegemajor.org
If you have questions about applying to college see
Janet Cauble, your Career Specialist, for assistant.


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Why I Fight: A common soldier's take on war
Submitted by: Victor Moss
Category: Stories
After my father passed away 20 years ago, I had the sad duty to go through and dispose of some of his possessions. Buried deep in one of his drawers were items he carried during World War II; items like maps, orders, encrypted messages, and a hand-written notebook with "Epic Words" of great people such as Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln; items that no one in my family knew about prior. Rarely did my father ever talk about his war experiences, keeping the scars of battle deep inside him. But mixed in with the other items was a short letter he wrote, somewhere on the battlefields of North Africa or Italy, a letter that stands alone amongst his papers, a letter which speaks volumes of why he risked his life by enlisting to fight World War II. Replace the words Japan and foreign powers with terrorist, and the principles still ring true today, some 60 odd years after it was first penned.
Why I Fight: A common soldier's take on war
By Norman Moskovitch
It is not for me, the common soldier, to discuss the basic or immediate causes of this present conflict. That is past history. But, as an American who has volunteered to take arms against the forces of evil, I find it necessary to attempt to understand the fundamental principles involved in this present conflict.
We cannot merely shrug the matter off by saying Japan attacked us and that is why we fight. It is not enough. Eventually, it was a choice between two principles; either submit ourselves to the will of these foreign powers, or resist and finally destroy them. If we submitted?
Well, look what happened to France. France was once a mighty and great nation, but now has been reduced to a state of semi-slavery. (Consider the context of World War II. Editor).
But we resist! Because from the souls of the millions of men who have died in the past; those pioneers, farmers, workers, industrialists, statesmen, politicians, inventors, scientists, philosophers, dreamers, martyrs, crackpots, and so on, there has been a rising, in us, a heritage. This heritage which has made our land what it is. Our land, which has been open to all men who bring peace and good will, has given, to all, the opportunity to prosper and dream and worship as the individual sees fit. A land that hasn't been polluted by class distinction, which has given anyone, no matter how obscure or humble his beginning, a chance of rising to fame and fortune and even become the leader of the nation. A land which has given a man the chance of fulfilling his innermost dreams of happiness and contentment, is a land well worth fighting and sacrificing, or, if necessary, dying for.
Our ancestors made it what it was and we make it what it is. Whether, in the eyes of God, it be right or wrong, we have it and we're stuck with it. In our minds, we believe it is right. It is ours. Therefore, we shall protect and maintain it, defend and preserve it. We will not fail!
About the author:
Victor Moss (aka "Doc")is a retired Master Sergeant who spent 14 years overseas during nine assignments in his career. Doc is active in the American Legion having held positions at the Post, District and Department levels. He is a graduate from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with a degree in Adult Education and a Master of Science in Management from Troy University.


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New Car Inventory | Kingsway Honda
New Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Honda Fit, and Honda CR-V are now available at Kingsway Honda Vancouver. Below you will find the complete line-up of our brand new models. With a wide range of vehicles available, we are confident that you will find one that fits your lifestyle. We have a great selection for you to choose from, including our fuel efficient cars the all new Honda Civic and Honda Fit. Looking for something with a little more room? We also carry best-selling classics like the Honda CR-V, Accord and Pilot. If you are on a tighter budget, you can also check out our large selection of quality used cars for sale.


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PMI necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 44 diseños de 8 diseñadores freelance.
On Call Network Pty Ltd
Our company is on-call meaning hospital administrators can call us if they require a doctor to service their wards for a shift or a defined period of time. We are also on-call for operating surgeons to call us if they require a doctor to assist them with the surgery/procedure they are performing.
We want to emphasise that we are a network of doctors wanting to assist at hospital facilities at short notice to ensure continuum of quality patient care.
Hospital Administrators
Directors of Emergency Department (often short staffed at short notice)
We require a unique design and concept of logo, business card, letterhead including email signature template. The design of the business card requires the front side to be marketing the on-call component of the business to administrators and the back side requires the marketing of the private assisting of surgeon's part of the business. Hence contact details need to be on both sides of the business card but we would like the same logo used on each side of the card for branding.
We would prefer not to have a medical cross or a telephone included in the concept. I like the idea of the logo COMBINING the use of retractive surgical instruments (such as langerback retractor and/orsurgical rakes - google image these if you are not sure what they look like) for the assisting surgeons part of the business WITH the use of an appropriate image that represents medical doctors. The instruments could be crossed behind this image for example.
There is a preference for lime green or orange but the concept can be single colour, these are just colours that are bright that we like and we want to differentiate ourselves from the blue and red often used in the health sector.
Tagline : Front side of card for on-call business "need a medical officer now?"
Tagline: Rear side of card for private surgery assisting "need an assistant now?"
Tagline for letterhead and email signature after/below business name:
"Medical Officers & Private Assistants"
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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My latest blog post from the IMA website is re-posted below!
As someone who did not catch royal wedding fever last year, I was still shocked to learn that a Wikipedia article about Kate Middleton's wedding dress was flagged for deletion. As Slate.com author Torie Bosch explains in her story, an entry about the significance of Middleton's wedding dress was deemed inappropriate by many Wikipedia users. Some believed that "this is frankly trivial, and surely isn't notable enough to be on Wikipedia," while others complained that this was "exactly the sort of thing that made me all but quit as an active user on this project."Bosch argues that the uproar around this Wikipedia entry exemplifies the gender gap of Wikipedia users. And of course, Middleton's wedding dress is a valid Wikipedia article — she is increasingly becoming an important fashion icon and her dress is adding to the history of fashion. According to a Wikimedia survey from 2011, only 9 percent of Wikipedia editors are female– 9 percent!
That's an astonishing low number. Wikipedia states that they would like to increase the percentage of female editors to 25 percent. A leader in this effort and the current Wikimedia Foundation Community Fellow, Sarah Stierch, has organized a couple of "Wikipedia edit-a-thons" where women get together and create new articles about women in history using Smithsonian records.
As I read this article, I tried to think about my relationship with Wikipedia. I have never created or edited an article, yet I use Wikipedia daily. It never occurs to me to add to this great body of knowledge. As a member of the minority on Wikipedia, I feel like it is important to get involved in this process.
Now, let me try to bring this around to art conservation and the museum profession in general.
Though it's documented that women do not contribute to Wikipedia, it's hard to know how many female art conservators are contributing – I'm guessing maybe one or two, if any. Anecdotally, I know that most art conservators are female, and that the membership of American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is greater than 3,000 so this seems like a good base to look to for contributors.
I should also point out that AIC created its own wiki site that has some good information in it, but the information in there is not easily found by search engines.
While the AIC Wiki could be useful, I'd like to suggest that art conservators start adding their knowledge directly to Wikipedia. I think we'll all agree that it is much more reliable than it used to be. Imagine if as a profession we added our knowledge to Wikipedia, how much we could help improve the readily-available information about caring for collections (and we'd be making a significant dent in the gender gap along the way)!
For a profession that is as relatively obscure as ours, and one dedicated to preserving our cultural heritage, it's important to make our knowledge as accessible as possible, and a crucial way of accomplishing this is to contribute to Wikipedia articles on conservation.
One way to do this is to start documenting discreet collections of artworks by individual artists. For example, what if we had Wikipedia articles about every Van Gogh ever painted, that included correct information about all of the pigments he used, and the different kinds of canvases or supports he painted. That would be useful and interesting for conservators and art lovers alike. Or, we could do all of the pieces by Judy Chicago, or Louise Bourgeois.
INCCA-NA has taken this idea and started the Artist Research Project. Their first artist is Tony Smith, whose 100th birthday is in September of this year. Smith is well-known for creating large-scale outdoor sculptures around the world. This project was recently mentioned in the New York Times "Arts Beat".To participate in this project, follow these seven easy steps:
- Find the Tony Smith sculpture closest to you.
- Research it.
- Document it by creating a Wikipedia article about your artwork.
- Take pictures of it.
- Upload those pictures to Flickr.
- Add those pictures to the Tony Smith Flickr group.
- Tell people what you did!
For more detailed information about the project, follow this link.
I see this as a kind of first effort, almost an experiment, to see if conservators and others that care about artwork can work together to create knowledge about a discreet collection. In the end, I think the sum of knowledge could be incredibly useful for conservators. It would be beneficial to know all of the paint systems he used, the exhibition history of the artworks, and images of what the pieces look like right now.
By contributing to Wikipedia articles on conservation, we can address both these issues at once: we can help bring attention to our discipline by coming to information seekers rather than requiring them to come to us, and, as a profession made up primarily of women (male conservators are welcome, too, of course!), we can help to address the gender gap on Wikipedia.


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Money and BanksMoney and Banking
Not only does fractional-reserve banking gives rise to monetary inflation it is also responsible for monetary deflation. Money created out of "thin air" can disappear as rapidly as it was created.
Real GDP does not measure the real strength of an economy, but reflects monetary turnover. Thus, the more money is pumped, the stronger the economy appears to be.
SubjectivismValue and Exchange
Prices are set by how much people value goods and services. And people value things based on what they think will improve their life and well-being.
Joseph Salerno discusses the Hoppean method of addressing economic controversies.
Given the Fed has never spotted a bubble in real time, why should anyone believe we aren't in one right now?
Though rent control is sold as a policy that is intended to help the poor, it has induced homelessness among the poor and lower middle classes.
Markets respond with price changes to eliminate money surpluses and money deficits.
Recessions emerge when the central bank reverses its loose monetary stance. But the seeds of recession were sown earlier by private lending practices that grew out of central-bank money creation.