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Differentiation and a Single Arm Linux Kernel
This note was inspired by our current roadmap discussions within Linaro. A view was offered that a single Arm binary kernel wasn't that important in the embedded world. This led to thinking more about our key technical objectives of consolidating and optimizing Linux on Arm. Is a long term goal of a single Arm kernel across vendors a good objective, or simply a waste of engineering effort?
The key to the success of the Arm architecture lies in the ability of Arm licensees to differentiate. Rather than a set of commodity devices, the Arm vendors together offer hundreds of available high end Cortex A-series SoCs for a wide variety of market segments, each with different price points, performance metrics and feature sets. This ability to differentiate allows Arm licensees to create value by tailoring their SoC products to exact OEM/ODM customer or market segment requirements.
At present each Arm vendor builds and maintains their own Linux tree, typically starting with the upstreamed Arm support in the mainline or stable kernel.org trees. There is no single kernel with a framework for adding interfaces for each SoC, but rather one or more kernel implementation(s) from each vendor. The result has been unintended fragmentation, and, as SoCs have become more complex, an increasing workload in maintaining each vendors software platform. Linaro was formed to consolidate and optimize Linux on Arm, helping members to share the investment required to develop and support core Linux software, thereby reducing engineering and maintenance costs for every member. Good progress is being made - examples include new support for Device Tree, work in consolidating frameworks for power management and multimedia, and ongoing work in kernel memory and buffer management.
Without taking action, the result of increasing differentiation and complexity is that new products take longer to get to market. As an example, Google choose a "reference" Arm device for each Android product delivery - everyone else then has to port their own SoC architecture post release. The result is delayed time to market, risk to software quality through rapid change to kernel code, and fragmentation of implementations. Linaro is working to improve this situation by helping to identify and upstream common non-value adding feature sets, reducing the porting load as key distributions pull generic and member specific improvements by Linaro directly from kernel.org and other projects.
However, differentiation remains a core value proposition for Arm vendors. Today, for mobile applications, Arm devices enjoy considerable low power advantages over competing architectures. This may not always be the case. If that advantage is one day largely eliminated and software fragmentation continues, customers may decide that the faster and lower cost route to market is with a commodity one size-fits-all device with external differentiation, rather than a more differentiated SoC. As hardware complexity grows, this risk increases. Ultimately the commodity architecture wins because it becomes less costly to build products on top of a high volume platform, than to deal with the software differences between "differentiated" products.
In our industry "explosive" innovation happens around "platforms" - the ISA bus and PC software led to thousands of peripherals working on a single platform; the iPhone SDK resulted in hundreds of thousands of applications built in a few short years on another single platform. Paradoxically, to make it possible for SoC vendors to innovate and differentiate, a better single platform is becoming critical. The Arm instruction set is not enough; a core and extendable hardware and software platform is required so that SoC differentiation can be achieved, without compromising time to market. In a perfect world the core of a software OS should not need extensive "porting" to every new vendors Arm SoC.
As Arm vendors and partners we need to do everything we can to foster the development of that platform, keeping in mind the key value proposition of enabling differentiation. This involves agreeing aspects of hardware and software architecture across competitors to enable the creation of an engine that drives the next wave of SoC differentiation and value-add. The ability to differentiate is key to the success of all Arm vendors - but if that differentiation is in areas that do not add value, the result is at least one of higher costs, longer time to market, and at worst, actual value destruction. In hardware terms differentiation in bit I/O ports, interrupts, timers, USB ports doesnt add value - it just makes the software task more complicated. In software terms having every vendors BSP use a differentiated scheme for achieving memory and buffer management does not add value. The same problems apply.
A common binary kernel is not in itself a required outcome, but a common platform is. Looking at the single Arm kernel as a long term objective helps us at Linaro think about where consolidation between member implementations can reduce code duplication and fragmentation in the Linux kernel, and moves us closer towards the goal of creating an improved platform for innovation for all of our members, to help them leverage the opportunity for value creation that the Arm licensing model offers. And that is a good thing.


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So, if you are game, just leave a comment with a link to a post on your blog about your goals. Don't have a blog? You can still play! Just post your goals here in the comment section. I would love to have a ton of participants, so please join in the fun!
Here are my goals from last year, with my comments on what I did:
- Use this "7th year" as the Israelites were commanded to make it a year of rest. I started off really well with this one, but slipped back into taking on projects and assignments as the year went on. I did resign from a couple of regular writing gigs, so that was good. I do not regret resigning.
- Write for fun. This was my husband's challenge to me. He wanted me to get back in touch with my love for writing. He noticed that I had gotten so publication focused that I had lost sight of the sheer joy that creating brought me. It was not lost on me that, when challenged to write for fun, I went straight to writing fiction, not nonfiction. Fiction is, above all, my first love and what feels most natural for me to write personally. I wrote several short stories in the winter and spring of last year-- something I had been wanting to challenge myself to do. It was fun, I entered a few short story contests, didn't win a single one, but did accomplish the point of getting back to just writing for fun and not publication.
- Move. Well, we did list our house, but moving didn't happen, unfortunately.
- Get a book contract. This goes back to what I said about making my writing less about publication and more about enjoying what I am doing-- and letting God take care of the rest. He is still working on me in this regard, and probably always will be to some degree. I tend to put the cart before the horse and judge my ability by my professional, measurable accomplishments. Ie, if I get a book contract or sell an article, then I must be a good writer. Instead, He is showing me that I need to write what He lays on my heart, write for the sheer pleasure of expressing and cataloguing my thoughts and experiences, and let go of any agendas I might be operating under. All of this to say that I did not land a contract this year. But I did sign with an agent I have thoroughly enjoyed working with, and have prepared a proposal that he feels very good about. I also did the ebook, which was not even a goal of mine, but which helped our family financially and was quite a blessing!
- Get published in a magazine I have never published with before. I did do this-- I sold an article to Parent Life. Hooray!
- Read through the Bible in a year, have a more consistent quiet time/Bible study. Get back involved with CBS, if possible. I got back in CBS and have enjoyed studying Acts, plus I have one more day left to complete my daily Bible reading using The Daily Message Bible. It feels good to have met this goal and to once again be making time with God a first priority in my life, instead of just talking about it!
- Resolve my kids' school issue and come to some sort of peace about it. We got the kids into a local charter school and, for now, that has afforded me a much-needed break from homeschooling and some time to concentrate on my writing. I am not sure how long the charter school will be the answer, as my heart is still for homeschooling, but for now this has been a great solution and I have enjoyed the break and the concentrated time with my youngest child while the older ones are in school.
- Begin a running/exercise program. I did start running for the first time in my whole life this year. Last year for Christmas, I got a gift certificate to the New Balance store and bought a pair of nice running shoes. I also got an Ipod to listen to while I run. Did you know that it is a proven fact that people who run together or listen to music while running will run further/longer than those who don't? I believe it! I have had a bit of trouble getting a run in now that the kids are gone and can't listen out for the baby while she naps-- which is when I used to go running. So, my running this fall has been sporadic and I have felt that loss of stamina and commitment creeping in as a result. I got some money for Christmas that I plan to use to buy a jogging stroller so I can start running with her in the stroller. Have baby, will travel!
Here are my goals for this coming year:
- Get back to running. I have signed up to attend a training program which will hopefully hold me accountable and inspire me to train more intentionally for at least a 5K. That is my goal for this year. Baby steps, right?
- Keep up with my daily Bible reading habit. I plan to read "Streams In The Desert" each morning, and also keep up with my CBS study I am going through. Additionally this year I have begun a book study with other moms. We are planning to go through a parenting/discipline book (Parenting By The Book) and a marriage book (What Every Husband Needs From His Wife) this winter/spring. While this is not a Bible study, it is a great group and I learn from this regular time of fellowship and study.
- Continue to balance my writing with fiction and nonfiction. Trust God for a contract if that is what He has for this most recent proposal my agent is shopping right now. Finish the novel I have started, if nothing else just because I have started it and would love to finish it just to say I did!
- Possibly write another ebook. Am thinking about doing a full-fledged cookbook as I often get questions about cooking/requests from blog readers for recipes. The ebook is a cost effective way to produce something like that as both an income earner for my family but also a service to the readers who want that sort of information!
- Move. We will try this again! We are doing quite a bit of work to the house in January, and looking towards listing the house again in February.
- Be a servant. Serve others in some fashion. I am not sure what that is even going to look like yet, but I know that, while ministry is good and that I do help others through writing and speaking, it is not the same as hands-on, community-based service. Still praying through what God has in this area. Something in the "least of these/cup of cold water" arena, I know. This idea was planted when I read "Quaker Summer" and has been a recurring theme as I have studied Acts, listened to sermons, etc. This began in learning to give money away-- something that has been very hard for me as we have become regular tithers and givers for the first time in our whole marriage. And I know that it also will involve giving time and resources away.
- Bake, cook, and care for our home better. This is a request of my husband. It is important, I think, to listen and respond when we hear these little "I wish" statements come from the mouths of those we love best. Curt places precious few demands on me. So if he throws something like this out there, I know it matters to him. And so, I am getting more intentional about baking and cooking-- about making it a priority instead of seeing it as a drudgery and merely "throwing something together" because I have to. This also falls into the category of keeping a home that is warm, clean, and welcoming for those I love.
Well, that about sums it up. I have enjoyed this little exercise in both reviewing what I committed to and summing up how I did, and also looking ahead to what I can change, add or delete for next year. I will probably be re-reading this post and tweaking it in the next few days.
Can't wait to hear what's on your minds and hearts as you prepare for a new year!

subset: commoncrawl


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Papule(redirected from moist papule)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical.
A solid circumscribed elevation of the skin varying from less than 0.1 to 1 centimeter in diameter.
a nodular elevation of the skin; an element of a skin rash. Papules accompany certain diseases of the skin and mucous membranes. They occur in different sizes, colors, and consistencies; in shape they may be conical, hemispheric, or flat. Inflammatory papules indicate the presence in the skin of an infiltrate, as in syphilis. An example of noninflammatory papules is the thickening of the epidermis in warts.


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Use the right approach for business application orchestration
You wouldn't drive to work in a golf cart. So why use build tools to orchestrate critical business applications when a purpose built solution can easily be integrated into your existing SDLC? In this webinar, you'll learn how you can realize the full potential of DevOps and Jobs-as-Code for fast, agile software delivery.
Topics include:
- Automating your software delivery lifecycle from end to end
- Building quality and reliability into critical business services
- Success stories from companies like PayPal and Amadeus


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LAS VEGAS – The creator of Heavy Rain thinks videogames need to grow up.
In a fiery speech at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas last week, David Cage told an audience of game developers and industry executives that it has a "Peter Pan complex." Big-budget videogames, he said, were being made for teens and kids, not adults. If games were going to be played by more grown-ups, they needed to tackle more mature themes, with mechanics that go beyond shooting and platform-jumping. If they didn't, Cage said, they'd see more of their audience move away from consoles and onto smartphones and tablets.
Cage, at least, has put his money where his mouth is – and lots of Sony's, besides. His last game Heavy Rain married colossal production values to a decidedly non-traditional genre, sort of a combination of point and click adventure and quick-time event in which you solved the mystery of your son's kidnapping. While players are divided about its merits, I found it to be a positively entrancing experience, something I'd never seen before.
Following Cage's speech, I met him at the summit for some follow-up questions about his belief that the industry is heading in the wrong direction.
Wired: Coming out of your speech, my first question is: What does it matter if the adults go and play games on smartphones and tablets versus traditional consoles? Probably a lot of people in the audience that you're speaking to are mobile developers, happy they're getting that audience.
David Cage: Good question. It matters because I think the most sophisticated experiences remain on game consoles. When you look at what's available on mobile and tablets, there are some fantastic games, but at the same time they are much more casual games. They're games where you have fun quickly and that's fine, that's great, they do a great job at that. But at the same time, there's nothing meaningful. Very few titles are really meaningful in the matter of experience. And I believe, that's my totally subjective point of view, that it would be a step forward for the industry if we could make these people play our games on consoles, because it's the most sophisticated platform, and we can create quite unique experiences for them.
Wired: It seems to me that trying to do that, trying to affect that kind of massive change on the consoles, is like trying to beat back the tide. With all the momentum that is behind the way the industry works right now, how do you actually try to reverse that? How do you attempt to get them making different types of games?
Cage: Well, it's not me who is going to change that. What I tried to explain in my presentation is that the landscape is changing very fast, and you can watch that from afar and say "I'll just keep doing things the way I do it and that's fine and I won't be affected in any way," or you can say, "Hey, there's something going on." There are more and more people wanting to interact. How can we give them appropriate content so that these people keep playing Angry Birds but also get interested in playing more complex experiences on game consoles? It's a matter of expanding the market, but it's also a matter for our industry to become mature, to create experiences that are not based on violence or platforms.
Wired: Do you think it makes sense also to encourage the developers in the indie space as well? What you're talking about – the journey vs. the challenge, games with meaning – we see a lot of that in the indie space right now.
Cage: But indie is for me the real lab where all these things can happen first, because they have less pressure – or, I would say, not the same pressure – as triple-A titles where a lot of money is put on the table and there's a lot of pressure to get this money back. So you have less creative freedom sometimes, and you prefer to give people what you know they want, rather than take the risk of something they don't expect. But at the same time, you know the famous quote from Henry Ford about the horse: If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse. No one would have said a car. This is exactly the position we're in right now: Do we give people what they expect, faster horses? Or can we imagine what they want without knowing they want it? And indie development is definitely the right place for this sort of thing to happen first.
Wired: After Heavy Rain was released, did you feel like that had made some progress in terms of getting some players, some group of consumers to gravitate towards that sort of experience?
Cage: Heavy Rain was definitely a big turning point for me, for my company and hopefully for the genre. We tried to create – it was the first time that we would see so many players coming back to us saying, I really enjoyed playing Heavy Rain, I played it with my wife, I played it with my girlfriend. I hear that pretty much every day every time I go to a conference, and it's such a pleasure to hear that. And it really means to me that this game accomplished something. And maybe it didn't correspond to the expectations of all gamers out there. There are still a lot of people who want a gun, and they want the adrenaline. They didn't get that from Heavy Rain, of course. But at the same time there are also many people out there who expect something else from their gaming experience that they found in Heavy Rain. So I think it's fair [to say] the industry can create content that is appropriate for these different audiences.
Wired: Is the controller still a barrier? If I put a PlayStation 3 controller in front of my mom, she won't know what to do, but they'll play games on the iPad.
Cage: You're absolutely right and controllers are still a major issue. We try to simplify the games but the controller itself is so impressive by itself, there are buttons all over the place and most people don't even know how to hold it. For us it sounds so obvious, we were born with a Dual Shock in our hands. But that's not the case for everyone. And it's not a matter of being dumb or being clever, it's just a matter of culture, and being used to it or not. And yeah, I definitely think that our industry needs to find answers, and there are different interesting experiments going on or products being released like Move, Kinect, so the industry is definitely aware that this is a very significant issue. But I still think we can go further, and we work at Quantic Dream towards finding different answers to that question.
Wired: So you don't want to make a Quantic Dream game for a tablet, or a lower-powered system? You want to be constantly on the bleeding edge of technology?
Cage: First of all, we love the tech. We have so much to learn from it, and we still need to understand what it takes to have a realistic character. So for this to achieve this and to learn this we want to work on high-end systems. And the best hardware right now is the PlayStation. We also have an exclusivity deal with Sony that makes us work exclusively on PlayStation systems. But that's really a choice, it's not a constraint.
Wired: At some point in the future, companies will release new videogame hardware. What do those machines need to do to help you get your games out to more people? Is is purely processing power, or is it something else?
Cage: I think processing power still matters. We do want to go further. The future I expect the most from future platforms is really emotion. But when you say this, you also need the technology supporting emotion. When you think about the first black-and-white films, some of them are absolutely amazing and they did a fantastic job – think about Metropolis, for example, which is a fantastic piece of art. At the same time, when technology evolved, when colors appeared, and when they added sound, and IMAX and 3-D and whatever we can think of, it helped the cinema industry to get to more details and more nuances and more subtleties, so you didn't need pantomimes anymore. You didn't need people to jump all around the place to understand what they meant, because the technology was there to make you understand, just looking at their eyes, how they felt. I'm still looking for this moment in games. Where we can stop making pantomimes and really work on subtlety and nuances.
Wired: What other big-budget triple-A games that have happened in the last couple of years would you point to and say this is a good example of what I'm talking about, moving forward?
Cage: [smiles silently, shrugs]
Wired: Anything at all?
Cage: Not really. I play a lot of games. I love indie games. I feel much closer to indie games in general than to most triple-A titles in general. I think the last triple-A title that I really enjoyed was Portal 2.
Wired: What happens if the industry doesn't grow up?
Cage: Nothing terrible. The world won't collapse, and we'll keep making games. And there will be some fantastic games coming. But they will be more of the same. They will be Call of Duty 200. And that's fine, I mean, I guess that this is what most people expect out there – for nothing to change. The videogame industry is really weird, because it's an industry that's highly conservative. People see the technology evolving every month, but when we talk about concepts, what people really want is for things to remain the same. So I wouldn't be surprised if nothing from what I described on stage ever happens. And that's fine. Look at comics. Comics is a very interesting example of another industry that has a very active, hardcore fanbase and they can be very successful and they can sell their IPs to Hollywood and they can make a lot of money. But at the same time, comics don't evolve much. There's some great stuff, but when you think of superheroes, that's what they keep doing. And they're very successful, and that's great. And I think this is possible with games, that we could get more of the same, but that it'll get better, and still have an intense fanbase, and still make people happy. But my personal wish is that we can in some way expand our market and reach out with more diverse content.
Wired: Comics definitely expanded, and there are all kinds of comics with all kinds of subject matter, they just never caught on in any mainstream way.
Cage: That's what I meant. But is it bad for them? No, it's not bad for them as an industry, there are still many talented people there doing great stuff and having a very active and happy fan base, so when you go to Comic-Con you can only be impressed with how active the fan base is.
Wired: And yet they're not really introducing new characters, right? All the major comic book movies that are successful are based on characters that were invented a long time ago. That can't go on forever either.
Cage: I don't know this industry that well, but yes, that's my feeling.
Wired: Having finished Heavy Rain, years later, what about it did you not like, and how are you trying to rectify that with Beyond?
Cage: I never design in reaction to something, because otherwise you keep trying to fix things, and I don't think that's the right way to move forward. Heavy Rain responded to a period of my life, things I strongly believed in, things I wanted to suggest or experiment with. I'm really happy with the overall feedback, the reception was a success. But now we turn the page and it's a new game. The game of course was not started from scratch – we tried to build based on what we learned on Heavy Rain, but at the same time it's a different experience, different people, different ideas and new concepts that we want to test and experiment.
Wired: What did you think about the Walking Dead game?
Cage: I thought it was a very interesting approach. Anybody working on storytelling has my respect. They try to do things differently. And they're really courageous and brave, and they were rewarded for that, and – congratulations, guys.
Wired: That's a small studio that's – they're not on the graphics level of Beyond, but they're edging close to it, where it draws the viewer in, it's realistic enough.
Cage: I totally agree. It's all about meaning, it's all about emotion, it's all about how can we get you sucked into the experience. You can have a different quality of graphics. Look at Pixar: They made incredibly successful movies based on characters in plastic. You forget about that, you just see characters with emotion, and you cry and laugh with them and you forget that they're just CG and plastic toys.
Wired: How important is it to collaborate with actors, like Ellen Page in Beyond?
Cage: I'm really not claiming that this is the only way to go, and again there are many examples of characters in films or in games who didn't look that realistic at all, and that you felt that you were emotionally connected with. Look at Journey, their character is not realistic at all, but is it weirder? No, it's not, it's very powerful, a very powerful character. The path I'm taking is really about working with actors and trying to create consistent representation of their emotional performance. In the past, we invented a face, and then we had one actor doing the face, and another actor doing the body, and then we put everything together and tried to create something, and it was just inconsistent, most of the time, Now, if you want to have better performances in games, I think it's an interesting direction to explore – let's work with one actress and let's try to recreate her clone in 3-D, so we have the same person, right face, right voice, right movement, everything is basically a clone of the real actress.
Wired: If you get the chance to speak to other game developers, or people in power who you feel can affect the change you want to affect, what do you tell them?
Cage: I don't see myself like I have a message to deliver to anyone – when people ask me to come and share my views, like here at DICE, I'm happy to do it. But I don't pretend that I think I'm going to make a revolution in the industry, or tell people what do to and not do. These people that have become important in the industry have always been very clever, talented and successful. So they don't need my advice.


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Central Connecticut junior Jaleen Thomas set new career-highs with 15 points and 19 rebounds and senior Kirsten Daamen added a double-double to lead the Blue Devils to a 65-54 victory over Wagner on Monday afternoon. CCSU improves to 12-12 overall and 6-7 in NEC play with the victory, Wagner is now 2-23 and 1-13 in conference.
The 19 rebounds by Thomas tie for the third highest single-game total in CCSU's Division I history and are the most by a Blue Devil since Justina Udenze pulled down 19 boards against Sacred Heart on Feb. 21, 2011.
Offensively, CCSU was led by 17 points from Daamen, 16 from sophomore Kaley Watras and 15 from Thomas.
The Blue Devils started slowly and struggled offensively in the first half. CCSU actually went to the break trailing 21-20 after a three by Wagner with six seconds left in the period.
Thomas had 13 rebounds in the first half, which helped the Blue Devils hold a 30-16 advantage on the boards. Watras led the offense in the period with eight points on 2-of-6 shooting and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
In the second half, the Blue Devil offense came to life to score 45 points and secure 31 more rebounds.
Wagner also started the second period strong and actually held a lead until Daamen hit a layup and free throw with 9:13 left to play. Daamen's three-point play gave CCSU a 44-42 lead and the Blue Devils did not trail again in the game.
Daamen scored 12 of her game-high 17 in the second half. Thomas dropped in 11 of her 15 points after the break and Watras posted eight points in each half.
As a team, CCSU connected on 19-of-26 free throws in the second half with Daamen going six-of-eight, Thomas five-of-six, Watras four-of-four and junior Lauren Arbogast three-of-four. In the game, CCSU was 26-of-36 from the free throw line.
With nine points and nine rebounds, Arbogast narrowly missed joining Daamen and Thomas with double-doubles.
Daamen finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Daamen had five offensive and five defensive rebounds, while Thomas had 11 offensive and 8 defensive.
Junior Jessica Babe (6), freshman Kayla Miller (6) and senior Jameilia Dillon (5) also contributed to CCSU's 61 rebounds.
The Blue Devils out rebounded the Seahawks 61-28 in the game, which is a margin of plus-33 on the glass for CCSU. Over two victories against Wagner this season, CCSU holds a 122 to 51 advantage in rebounding.
The victory snaps CCSU's five-game losing streak and is the Blue Devils first NEC road victory of the season.
The Blue Devils return to action on Wednesday night against LIU Brooklyn at Detrick Gym.


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Gardening Gifts, Tips & DIYs
Dig right in: browse, shop, get inspired with DIY
What's Hot in the Greenhouse
Why You Need a Miniature Garden Now!
In the Garden with Miracle-Gro®
Get spring planting tips from the ground up.
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Green Plants are nature's air purifiers.
Outdoor Living
The top gifts every spring space needs.
Seasonal Spotlight: Proven Winners®
Helpful hints, advice & more, straight from the experts.


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Green is good. From major renovation investments to basic lighting changes, club owners are finding ways to become more green. In this economic climate, going green is not only the right thing to do, but it also puts green back in your pocket.
One part of the club that most club operators don't think of when it comes to being green is the swimming pool. Pools require chemicals and vacuuming to keep them clean. One of the best labor-saving and green methods for cleaning your pool is autonomous underwater vacuum, filtration and circulation systems, otherwise known as robotic cleaners.
The most well-known and battle-tested robots are produced in the United States by an engineering research and development manufacturer called Aqua Products. As the world's largest and oldest producer of aquatic maintenance robots, Aqua Products has various lines of MAX (AquaMAX, UltraMAX, DuraMAX and JetMAX) robots that have been used at the Olympics, and in every type of commercial environment from Disney World to military bases and country clubs, swim clubs to health clubs. Although other robotic manufacturers exist, Aqua Products is the only company that's 100 percent dedicated to the production and perfection of such robotic technologies. And with almost 30 years in business, Aqua Products is the only company that offers the most comprehensive lineup of models to ensure that there is an appropriate robotic solution for every pool at every budget.
Each robot is equipped with its own built-in vacuum pump motor(s) and with internal, reusable filters that capture dirt and debris from twigs and jewelry to sand and silt. Each robot offers a variety of features ranging from remote control for spot cleaning to air sensors for zero depth entries to infrared obstacle avoidance. Next generation models (DuraMAX and JetMAX) feature DeepClean™ power washing for surface pores and corners where brushes and other cleaners can't clean. They also feature the NeverStuck™ roller system to roll over raised surface areas like VGB anti-entrapment main drains and in-floor, pop-up heads that beach other cleaners, as well as customizable debris intake ports that can be lowered for greater suction or their widths increased to accommodate large debris like palm leaves. Their JetMAX line is so innovative that it even works with virtually no wearable parts as each model utilizes the expelled filtered water to hydraulically drive them.
To operate, simply plug the MAX's ultra-efficient, low-voltage power supplies into any standard GFCI outlet and press a button. No hoses to wrestle with and prime, no poles to push or spots to miss. At the touch of a button, the robots work for you without wasting time or money. Every square inch of your pool that they cover is scrubbed, vacuumed and microfiltered clean (up to 10 times finer than sand media can filter). The clean water is immediately returned in an eruption of water that mixes together the cool, chemically rich water layer at the bottom of the pool with the warmer, chemically depleted water layer above. This helps decrease water evaporation above and decrease the use of the heater by warming the water below, all while providing the cleanest pool.
Aqua Products robots virtually eliminate labor costs. The robots' powerful circulation capabilities (upwards of 16,000 gallons per hour) also improve the accuracy of your water tests. When that benefit is coupled with those already noted, facilities often save up to 30 percent or more on their total chlorine consumption.
The Aqua Products robots microfilter out dirt and debris, limiting what enters the pool's primary filtration system. That means less backwashing of the pool's massive main filters, which potentially can help save tens of thousands of gallons of water every year. This also helps protect the environment from the introduction of this harmful chemically treated water.
The Aqua Products Commercial Cleaner Specialist team works with each customer to assess the appropriate model(s) for each facility's needs and wants, and calculates the return on a facility's investment. The time it takes to clean a pool multiplied by the hourly labor cost (including health insurance, salary, taxes, etc.) is compared to the cost of an Aqua Products robot. The bigger the pool or the more pools that a facility has, the faster the return on investment. Add in the chemical savings, and the investment in an Aqua Products robot can pay for itself in as little as two to three months.
Green really is good, especially when there's more green in your pockets. With the cleanest, healthiest and most efficient pool, you'll certainly be the envy of other facilities, and who knows what other green projects you'll be ready to tackle next.
The American manufacturer Aqua Products is the world's largest, leading and oldest manufacturer of aquatic maintenance robots. The company offers the most comprehensive model selection to ensure the appropriate solution for any pool or budget, and the most extensive innovative features for precision performance in any aquatic environment.
Aqua Products is an advertiser in the February 2010 issue of Club Industry magazine and the Feb. 16, 2010, Going Green Special Report e-newsletter.


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Our DMs are busy hatching schemes to keep you awake far beyond your bedtimes, but we need more than just DMs to make this event a success. We need you!
Because you've got a keen and discerning eye, you've no doubt noticed that the events listed on the schedule above are nothing but silly placeholders and aren't the least bit real. Placeholders make us sad. But thankfully, placeholders don't stick around for long! They're meant to be … replaced. With better stuff.
That's where you come in. We need your ideas. Whether it's a sea expedition, dungeon crawl, fortune telling, trust lecture, pop-up store, sermon, pit fight, pub crawl, dance party, craft-fest, mini-market, cyberorgy, poetry slam, or just a good ol' conclave of evil… go on, get nuts, let's hear it! All you gotta do is:
- reply to this (OOC) post with your proposed event name, server, location, and GMT time (any time is fine; the slots on the schedule are merely suggestions)
- make an IC post announcing your event
AND, if you ACT NOW - or at least before June 30th - we will feature YOUR EVENT in the next edition of The Avlissian Newsletter! That's right: over 1,000 Avlissian subscribers will drool over our lovingly crafted marketing copy describing YOUR EVENT in great detail, which practically guarantees you a terrific turnout.*
We'll periodically update the calendar with real events as people propose them. DMs will also be adding their events as well. And hey - Anniversary Weekend's just the start! We're gonna be partying ALL MONTH LONG! So stay tuned...
* This is not a legally binding offer


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This week sees the formal launch of the new and independent OpenStack Foundation to oversee the OpenStack platform for both public and private clouds. Formed with the support of over 180 companies and more than 5,600 individual members, the foundation's openly stated mission is to become "the ubiquitous" cloud computing platform of choice.
The goal of the OpenStack Foundation is to serve developers, users, and the entire IT ecosystem by providing a "set of shared resources" to grow the footprint of public and private OpenStack clouds. The foundation also says that it seeks to enable technology vendors targeting the platform and assist developers in producing the best cloud software in the industry.
"The launch of the OpenStack Foundation is not only an important milestone for our community, but a defining moment for the open cloud movement," said Jonathan Bryce, executive director of the OpenStack Foundation. "When you look at what this community has done to innovate and make cloud technologies accessible, as well as make open source synonymous with cloud computing, you understand why huge technology industry leaders and users across the world are placing their bets on OpenStack. The opportunity for OpenStack to become the open source standard for cloud computing is real."
Like the software, membership within the OpenStack Foundation is free and accessible to anyone. Members are expected to participate in the OpenStack community through technical contributions or community-building efforts.
NOTE: Rackspace has been leading and investing in community management activities, but a year ago the company announced plans to establish an independent Foundation, recognizing the community was thriving and ready for a permanent home. Rackspace has now transitioned management activities and contributed the OpenStack trademark to the new Foundation, creating even greater opportunity for diverse contributors and a vibrant ecosystem necessary for long-term success.
"Since its inception, we knew a foundation was the ultimate goal for OpenStack," said Lew Moorman, President of Rackspace. "Today, we are proud to finalize the process by donating the assets, handing over community management, and giving the OpenStack trademark to the OpenStack Foundation."
The fully elected OpenStack Technical Committee — an evolution of the Project Policy Board — will steward the technical direction of OpenStack software development and includes elected Project Technical Leads from each of the core software projects.


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Picture book author and illustrator David Shannon (Jangles, Scholastic) had an interesting take on the focus of this year's New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Fall Conference (Sept. 28-30) held at the Hyatt Regency in Arlington, Va.: Get Noticed. "I thought that was pretty funny," he said at Saturday morning's author breakfast. "That's not my problem. I was an expert on it in grade school."
But for many booksellers, tips on how to get noticed by publishers are no laughing matter – and proved a big draw. Whether it was the show's tight focus or the shift from Atlantic City to Greater Washington, attendance this year was up. According to executive director Eileen Dengler, 185 booksellers from northern Virginia to upstate New York and close to the same number of exhibitors and authors combined were at the show. The presence of a number of new faces from recently opened stores like five-month-old Ye Olde Warwick Book Shoppe in Warwick, N.Y., as well as those contemplating a permanent location, like Faye Skandalakis of the Story Nook, who has a pop-up bookstore in the babyNOIR boutique in Astoria, N.Y., added to what many attendees described as a "high energy show."
No doubt strong summer sales moving into what seems likely to be an equally good holiday selling season helped make this year's NAIBA particularly upbeat. Even before the show officially got underway, booksellers were treated to a peek under the hood at Washington's iconic bookstore Politics and Prose, with staff explaining how they do everything from selling kids' books to operating Opus, the store's Espresso Book Machine. NAIBA first-timer Stanley Hadsell, manager/buyer at Market Block Books in Troy, N.Y., who usually attends the New England regional trade show, singled out the tour as "my favorite thing." The show also drew first-time exhibitors like Patrick Nelson, who heads Mrs. Nelson's Library Services, an outgrowth of Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop in La Verne, Calif. He visited many fall regionals to reach out to independents on how to increase their library business.
A Show of Gratitude
A number of writers and award-recipients used their presentations to thank independent booksellers. At the Friday night supper, teen author A.S. King (Ask the Passengers) led the way when she said, "All the badass ninjas hang out at planet independent bookstores.... I firmly believe that books and passionate booksellers can change the world, one dreamer at a time." The thank-yous kept coming at Saturday breakfast when David Ezra Stein (Because Amelia Smiled, Candlewick) added his own praise of bookstores. "Each of you provides a place for conversation about books. To my mind, that's a priceless relationship." He went on to single out Books of Wonder in New York City. "Hanging out [there]," he said "is better than a college education."
At the Saturday morning breakfast with David Shannon, children's author Annie Barrows (Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, Chronicle) had a different message for booksellers. "Thank you," she said. "You guys are singlehandedly preserving the freedom of one of the oppressed groups – kids who want to read something funny." Rather than talk about her books, she used her time to make an impassioned speech against today's trend of parents wanting "improving" literature tied to Lexile level for their kids. "I don't want to improve children," said Barrows. "Basically, I think they're fine the way they are. I want them to walk away with the idea that a book is a good time."
Booksellers remained a primary focus of the Saturday night Awards Dinner, since every NAIBA member store was a Legacy Award winner and received a certificate. They shared the honor with Macmillan CEO John Sargent, who was recognized for his stand on e-books. Sargent was unable to attend, so Alison Lazarus, president of the Macmillan sales division, accepted on his behalf. Before reading his letter to booksellers, Lazarus called him "a dream boss and a visionary in this time of transition." But, she added, "You'll never catch me making game-changing decision on an exercise bike in my basement at 4 a.m." Then she turned to Sargent's letter, in which he struck a cautiously optimistic note: "The years in front of us will not be easy. I'm heartened by the good year you've had so far."
E-Books and the Bottom Line
Many booksellers were eager to learn more about the American Booksellers Association's recently announced relationship with Kobo – so eager that ABA CEO Oren Teicher's keynote on the partnership was standing room only. An hour later at a Best Practices session, both Kobo and author events emerged as the two main topics of concern for booksellers heading into the fall. Mark LaFramboise, chief book buyer at Politics and Prose, who led the discussion, said, "After hearing Oren talk about the Kobo I'm more enthusiastic. I'm still not completely sold on it. We make 84¢ on an e-book sale; we make a living on selling books." Having a device was key for others, like Emily Pullen, the new manager at Word in Brooklyn. "[It's] like hey, yo, we're in the scene."
Other popular educational sessions were geared toward the nuts and bolts of running a bookstore. The hotel's conference theater filled to capacity for a Publicist Tell-All with Jason Wells, executive director of publicity and marketing for Abrams Books for Young Readers; Liz Keenan, director of publicity at Plume and Hudson Street; and Lara Phan, senior manager of account marketing at Random House. Wells encouraged booksellers to ask for authors, but not always for in-store events. To mark the 5th anniversary of Animalia, author-illustrator Graeme Base will tour via Skype. To make sure that the bookseller and publisher are on the same page about the details of the event, Jenn Northington, event manager at Word, recommended sending a confirmation e-mail that states specifically what the bookstore will do and what the publisher will handle. In addition, Margot Sage-EL, co-owner of Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, N.J., suggested sending an information sheet to the author about what types of presentations work best at the store. All three publicists stressed the importance of letting them know how an event went: book sales, attendance, and any other details that contributed to the event's success.
At the panel that followed, Get Noticed by Schools, Random House children's rep Nicole Dufort, the 2012 NAIBA Sales Rep of the Year, joined Kathleen Skoog, owner of Monkey See, Monkey Do... Children's Bookstore in Clarence, N.Y., winner of a 2012 Pannell Award, and moderator Shelly Plumb, owner of Harleysville Books in Harleysville, Pa. For Skoog, who spent 20 years in sales before opening the bookstore in 2009, "it's all about building relationships." Monkey See, Monkey Do runs afterschool literacy programs in area schools and hires teachers to run school book clubs. It also holds story times in elementary schools for free.
Plumb suggested that bookstores mine their e-mail lists and use their Web sites to contact customers when they have an author to place. She began testing the concept after seeing a notice on Mrs. Nelson's Web site that they had just three slots left for their book fair season. The store sweetened the offer by posting that the first school they hear back from will get a free box of books.
As part of the discussion on booking authors, Alan Mendelsohn, director of field sales for Random House Children's Books, clarified that book sales don't cover the cost of a tour. Publishers are looking at residual sales. "Bookstores tend to adopt an author afterward," he said. "We're looking at creating a fan base."
Other strong educational sessions covered using social media, making money through partnerships, and staffing with New England Independent Booksellers Association president Annie Philbrick, owner of Bank Square Books in Mystic, Ct. As presented by NAIBA, getting noticed turns out to be smart business, rather than funny business, after all.


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Chicken in a light lemon sauce.
More tangy than sweet.
This is basically the same batter I use when I make halibut fish and chips.
The only difference is the addition of a couple of egg yolks which are optional.
A crisp, light batter similar to Tempura.
I use a vintage cast iron pot as my fryer.
Frying Tip
The oil should be hot - 375°F to 400°F
I have found the best way to get the chicken from the batter to the fryer is to use your fingers.
Don't use tongs.
Place one piece of chicken at a time in the batter and then using your finger tips, lift the chicken letting some of the excess batter drip back into the bowl.
Don't just drop the chicken into the hot oil.
Still holding the edge of the chicken with your finger tips, place one end of the chicken breast into the oil, and then slowly allow the rest of the chicken breast to slide in.
This allows the chicken to float and not sink and stick to the bottom of the fryer.
Lemon Chicken Asian Style
Green Onions
1 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
Salt and pepper
1 to 2 egg yolks (optional)
Soda Water
Lemon Sauce
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
2 to 4 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 minced garlic clove
1 teaspoon cornstarch mix with a little water.
Place Lemon juice, chicken broth, honey, ginger and garlic in small sauce pan and simmer until reduced by half. Mix cornstarch with a little broth or water and add to sauce. Cook a few minutes.
Note: I prefer the sauce to be tangy rather than sweet. The sauce can be adjusted to suit personal tastes by adding more or less honey.
Mix the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt and pepper together. Beat egg yolks (if using) and mix with soda water. Add to flour mixture. Add enough soda water to make a batter that is slightly thinner than a pancake batter. Note: I prefer a thinner, crispy, tempura style batter, for a thicker batter use less soda water.
Pound the chicken breasts out lightly.
Fry chicken breasts, one at a time. Dip chicken breast into this batter. Hold over bowl, letting excess batter drip back into bowl. Slowly add chicken breast to hot oil, and fry until golden brown, turning once or twice. Drain on paper-towels and then place cooked chicken on a rack over baking sheet and place in oven to keep warm while cooking remaining chicken. NOTE: placing on rack will prevent the batter from becoming soggy
To serve, slice chicken, drizzle with lemon sauce and finish with chopped green onion.


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You may think it's only the tenant who has a hard time paying the mortgage, but as a real estate investor or landlord, there may be times when it's hard to pay the mortgage on your end as well. Here are some things you can do to avoid facing difficulty in paying your mortgage each month. Keep […]
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Hear What Others Have To Say…
I Highly Recommend MayDay Planning
I have worked with MayDay Planning, LLC and its principal Cortez Robbs several times and have had excellent experiences with this company. The company and its members are hard working, responsive and honest in their business dealings. The company provides a great resource for home buyers, whether they are investors or individuals seeking to purchase their first home. I highly recommend MayDay Planning and strongly support their business endeavors and services.
Ari D. Linden, Esq.
Customer Service is a Key Factor
"Mayday Planning is on the fast track to becoming a POWER PLAYER in the real estate investment industry. They have put together an elite team and a fail proof system with a well thought out business plan. Their staff is knowledgeable and dedicated; customer service is a key factor in what makes this group so special.
-Kaitlin McDevitt, Realtor Coldwell Banker Preferred
The folks at Mayday Planning were Really HelpfulWhen my brother passed away, my father and I did not know what to do with his house. It needed a lot of work and was filled with stuff. We called Mayday Planning and found the answer. The folks at Mayday Planning were really helpful, not only in selling the house, but in helping us understand some things about Medicaid and insurance that were looming over us. Although it was a really emotional time, I found Cortez and the people he works with to be great at guidance and working with us to get this done. I wouldn't want to be in that position again, but if it happens I know I will be calling Cortez. James C. -- Camden, NJ
Sooner Than I Thought PossibleI just want to say that working with Cortez from Mayday Planning made selling my dad's home a much easier process than I expected. From start to finish, he worked with my needs and helped me get it done sooner than I thought possible. John D. -- Audubon, NJ
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Passion, fantasy, lust, love, art, style, delusions, dreams – life has always been a circus for world-famous 1960s movie director Guido Contini (DANIEL DAY-LEWIS) . . . only now he can't escape it in the vibrant and provocative dramatic musical, NINE.
Renowned for his brilliant moviemaking and desired by many, Guido is about to kick off production on his highly anticipated ninth picture, ITALIA, when, suddenly, the bottom drops out of both his ample creative powers and his fervid love life, as they simultaneously unravel out of control.
Surrounded by a panorama of astonishing women-his tempting mistress Carla (PENÉLOPE CRUZ), his devoted wife Luisa (MARION COTILLARD), his muse Claudia (NICOLE KIDMAN), his costume designer and confidante Lilli (JUDI DENCH), a flirty journalist from Vogue (KATE HUDSON), an instructive prostitute from his childhood (STACY FERGUSON) and his beloved Mamma (SOPHIA LOREN) – Guido searches for inspiration and possible salvation amid the free fall.
As he does, the historic Stage 5 at Cinecitta Studios in Rome is lit up by Guido's most evocative desires, memories and dreams-which transform into dynamic, expansive musical fantasies-as NINE draws ever closer to the moment when Guido must overcome his demons and call "Action!"


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A rich blend of vanilla, musk and sandalwood combined with notes of jasmine, lavender and orange.
Our candles and tarts are all hand crafted and hand poured using all natural soy wax. Soy wax offers a variety of benefits and advantages over regular paraffin wax candles. They are made from soy beans, an all natural and renewable resource. They burn cleaner, slower and longer than regular candles and have a much higher scent throw. This means longer lasting, stronger smelling candles!
Most candles on the market are made from paraffin or contain a blend of soy and paraffin. We only use all natural soy in our candles. Why? Check out the Benefits of a soy candle...
Clean Burning- Soy wax is nontoxic and burns cleaner than paraffin, with no petrol-carbon soot which can blacken walls, ceiling and furniture, contaminate ventilation ductwork in your home and add toxic carcinogens into the air you breathe.Basically, the black stuff you see billowing from the candle and covering theglass comes from the wax itself. Yuck!
Highly Scented - Soy candles hold on to scent well, creating a pure scent. Because they burn slowly, the scent is gradually and continuously released. Soy candles give off a strong scent without even being lit!
Long Burning - Soy candles burn slower and cooler than paraffin wax,creating a longer burning candle. This means a candle than can last up to twice as long as the popular paraffin brands!
Supports Our Economy - Buying soybean products creates important economic growth for the agricultural sector of the US economy. And, of course, SageBerry Candles are handcrafted and poured by us, which means your purchase helps support a local small business.
The first time you light a SageBerry Candle, don't trim your wick as it is already the ideal length. It is important to always give them a good first burn. Ideally you want the liquefied wax to have reached the inside ring of the glass jar. Typically, soy candles should burn 1 hour per inch in diameter. This is usually 3-4 hours for our signature jar candles.
Our candles are made with all cotton wicks that are designed to "mushroom". Trim your wicks after each burn, but not too short. (only trim the "carbon ball" off the end.)
If you trim your wick too short, or it has broken off at the base of your candle, your flame may be weak or may drown out. Don't fret, extinguish the flame and pour off some of the excess liquid wax into a safe container, then relight.


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The four winners of the Canada Day Brick Wall Contest held by GenealogyCanada, and sponsored by ELRS at www.elrs.biz on Canada Day are –
- Lois E.
- Phyllis C.
- Heather K.
- Jennifer L.
I would like to thank everyone who took the time to send in their brick walls, all of which were interesting and daunting. It was a pleasure to have had the chance to read them.
Reminder: Check out Canadian Week in Review every Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.


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Tuesday, October 20
How to Wow Tiger Woods
YOU'RE AT A TIGER WOODS appearance. It's one of Tiger's course design projects and he pulls out his driver to hit a few ceremonial tee shots for a crowd that includes potential investors.
Tiger, as he's apt to do, loses a couple of drives to the right. Who else wants to try? he asks.
The crowd goes silent. Some of the onlookers scan the group to see if anyone has the guts to take an impromptu golf swing in front of the world's greatest golfer. That's when you raise your hand.
"You're up," Tiger says.
You walk over, grab a driver and a ball, and tee it up. You take one practice swing. Then you pipe one right down the gut of one of Tiger's soon-to-be-designed golf holes.
Cue cheers. Cue applause.
"Wow," Tiger says. "Do that again. We got to see that again."
You oblige.
"Well done," Tiger says.
You act all casual about it. And then you wake up. Unless you're Mark Benevento Jr. of Somers Point, New Jersey. Mark is 12 years old. A seventh grader. He's also my new hero.
−The Armchair Golfer
(Source: Golf.com)
3 comments:
He's my hero, too. I would no more like to play 18 holes with Tiger Woods than I would to spar 12 rounds with Ali. I make a fool of myself often enough with trying very hard; I really don't need to myself in that position.
- Unknown said...
Somebody forgot to tell young Master Benevento he was supposed to be nervous hitting that ball.
Ain't youth grand?
- Golf Master said...
Tiger is the best bottom line
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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340 members20 Likes
425 members5 Likes
994 members27 Likes
karin ng has not received any gifts yet
Just saw your message. I'm ready and available to play!
Hi Karin
I joined Harbor Bay Tennis club, courts are always available. I dont know how guests work there, I'll check and let you know.
Hi Karin, next week when the weather is better sounds good. What time usually works good for you?
© 2020 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


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Even if the core principles of marketing do not change, the sales of prestige properties require a more targeted approach. We deal with advanced customization, sometimes strictly confidential, sometimes as a mass advertising approach, but in any case, our approach stays always targeted. It happens to properties to be considered as potentially sellable and put on market for real. These are all different cases typical to the sale of prestige or luxury properties.
You deserve special attention, because each case is different.
IN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY and with no purchase commitment, I would like to be contacted by one of your advisers.


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by Barbara Sherf
Rated this January as number one on Philadelphia Magazine's list of "Best of Philly" restaurants, the 5-year-old Blackfish in Conshohocken and its owner/chef Charles "Chip" Roman are bringing a similar New American cuisine to Chestnut Hill Friday, March 18, with Mica, named for the shiny minerals in the stone on the front of the building at 8609 Germantown Ave.
Roman, 31, of Lafayette Hill, is not resting on his laurels after receiving the number one (out of 50) spots on the "Best of Philly" restaurant list. On a recent snowy morning, he met with an architect and his new landlord to have the former ¡Cuba! Restaurant, located in the 8600 retrofitted for the new restaurant. (¡Cuba! closed its doors Jan. 10.) Roman told us that he originally planned to call it Stone House for the building on the grounds of Norwood-Fontbonne Academy in Chestnut Hill, where Roman attended Montessori school and where his two young children attend pre-school.
Blackfish, a small BYOB, was the first restaurant Roman owned and operated after graduating from Drexel University's Culinary Arts program. He coupled that program with a degree in business. Working under acclaimed chefs Marc Vetri of Vetri restaurant, among others, and Georges Perrier of Le Bec-Fin (and several others), Roman started Charles Roman Catering in 2004 before opening Blackfish three years ago.
It was quickly named "Best New Restaurant in the Suburbs" by Philadelphia Magazine. Located at 119 Fayette St. in Conshohocken, Blackfish combines Roman's passion for fresh ingredients with a seafood-centered, American cuisine with French influences.
Roman was at the new restaurant on a recent weekday morning, after dropping off his children Charlie, 4, and Caroline 3, at Norwood's Stone House, a routine he conducts five days a week. He and his wife, Amanda, also have an 8-month old daughter, Julia. "Amanda is the boss. She is the glue that keeps it all together," he said.
Roman was urged by the parents of students at Norwood to open a restaurant in Chestnut Hill. Given his Norwood education and Lafayette Hill residence, he gave it serious consideration and finally decided to pull the trigger.
"They would say Chestnut Hill needs a new restaurant, and they planted the idea in my mind," he said. He started looking for a suitable location on his own, and he also contacted Eileen Reilly, the Hill's retail recruiter. She credits him with ultimately finding a small space that suited his needs.
"It all came together very quickly and easily," said Roman as he toured the former ¡Cuba! along with architect Richard Stokes and landlord Sanjiv Jain.
"This is bittersweet," said Jain as the three pondered the idea of turning a closed fireplace into a working hearth when the new eatery opens this Friday. "Had ¡Cuba! opened at a different time, I think they would still be here today."
Stokes noted that plans are being drafted to make the front interior room reminiscent of a living room in a historic stone house, complete with a reclaimed wood floor, painted paneling on the walls and a working fireplace. The rear room has been made over to look like a kitchen with tile walls, a wood ceiling and an 8-seat chef's table. Total seating throughout the restaurant will be 42 seats.
Tina Breslow, public relations spokesperson for Roman's Blackfish Restaurant Group (more restaurants are expected in the future; Roman also had a Blackfish in Stone Harbor, NJ, but it closed last summer), said that Mica will be BYOB for approximately one month, whereupon Roman expects to have his liquor license application approved by the Pa. Liquor Control Board. Chef Jason Cichonski, formerly executive chef at Lacroix in the Rittenhouse Hotel, has been working with Roman for the past eight months to find the right location.
"We will have an initial menu and then listen to our customers and tailor it from there. We will cook for the neighborhood," said Roman. In addition to the a la carte menu, there will be 3 course prix-fixe menu for $50, a 4-course menu for $60, a 5-course menu for $70 and a 7-course tasting menu for $90.
Acerbic Philadelphia Magazine restaurant critic Craig LaBan had this to say in his three-bell (excellent) review of Blackfish: "Roman is also the first local chef I've known to list spruce bark as an ingredient … On a post-holiday whim, he acquired several leftover Christmas trees and shaved them down with vegetable peelers. After drying the wood, he used it to infuse the butter sauce for his arctic char with a light piney flavor. A bit too subtle, perhaps, for the effort. But I was nonetheless disappointed to learn it was being removed from the menu because I can't find Christmas trees anymore."
Roman, who grew up in Fishtown, credits his two grandmothers with teaching him to cook starting when he was 3 years old, and instilling in him a lifelong love of food.
"While other kids would be out playing baseball, I would be watching cooking shows on Channel 12," he admitted.
Roman, who worked for five years at Le Bec-Fin and received a scholarship from Chestnut Hill resident Georges Perrier to go to Drexel, referred to Perrier as "my hero … when I thought of where I wanted my career to go, I would think of Le Bec-Fin. Georges and I have a great relationship, and I'm so glad he's sticking it out." (Perrier had previously announced plans to close his Center City restaurant, but has since decided to stay open.)
While at Le Bec Fin. Roman was chosen to enter the "2004 Young Chef Rotisseur Competition" sponsored by the Chaine de Rotisseur Foundation. After winning the Mid-Atlantic contest, he earned second place in the national competition, opening many doors that he has proceeded to walk through.
Barbara Sherf is a frequent contributor to the Local and a lover of fine food. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Van Anda Foreclosures & Power of Sale
Buying a house from foreclosure listings can be a great way to buy a home or investment property at a huge discount! So, why don't more people take advantage of this untapped market of houses? Largely this is due to lack of understanding about the method or fear from untrue stories they may have heard about buying a foreclosure. Foreclosuresearch.ca is a fantastic resource to learn about the foreclosure market and how best to negotiate a deal that suits your unique needs.
How can I find bank owned homes in Van Anda?
I use Foreclosuresearch.ca for my foreclosure needs because it is a one stop shop so to speak for education and learning about the market and foreclosure procedure as well as lists of available properties with images and descriptions.
This saves me a lot of time and effort. I don't have to search the internet for hours looking at different Realtors websites sifting through houses in Van Anda that are definitely not foreclosures or don't fit what I am looking for.
Other options for finding foreclosed houses is to speak to your local bank to see if they are holding properties in their portfolio or to contact a local Realtor that specializes in foreclosure listings. Many Realtors will list which ever property they can get their hands on but they may not be well versed in the foreclosure purchasing process so you need to be informed before going in.
How to buy a repo house in Van Anda with bad credit.
Let me begin by saying that buying a foreclosed house in Van Anda with bad credit is possible!
First, you have the choice to buy a house for cash at a real estate auction. Then your credit doesn't play a factor at all because you are not taking out a loan. Not everyone has this kind of money lying around though so lets take into account other options.
Research federal home buying programs. After the global economic crisis the last couple of years, banks have started to ease their lending requirements again at the prompting of governments to allow homebuyers the possibility of experiencing homeownership. There are many programs readily available again to aid those with low incomes or inadequate credit to buy homes. Your local housing authority office should be able to help if you don't find what you need online.
Search for properties in Van Anda and try to find loans with low down payments. Save up money for your down payment but expect to pay a moderately higher interest rate thanks to your lower credit score. You should be able to refinance in a number of years after making on time payments to acquire a lower rate.
How to buy a foreclosed condo in Van Anda, BC.
The first step is to get pre approved for a mortgage through a bank of your choosing or scrape together enough money to buy a residential or commercial property through an auction for all cash.
Next, find condos in Van Anda, BC that you are interested in. Find a Realtor that focuses in foreclosures and will be able to help you through the method of buying.
If you have questions about the process, I would consider speaking to a real estate or foreclosure attorney before purchasing to make sure you understand the process and the complexities of investing in foreclosed properties.
Something that ought to be considered before you buy is that some foreclosure properties are not open to having a home inspection done before buying and/or the bank that owns the property may not be willing to make any repairs. This could end up costing you some money to ensure the repairs after purchasing. This is the only problem in my opinion when buying foreclosed homes.
How long does it take to buy a foreclosure in Van Anda?
This hinges on how you are buying the residence. Properties that are purchased in cash at an auction are turned over within a week or two maximum depending upon how long it takes your funds to move to the bank and the title to be completed. I have heard of properties moving within three days in most cases.
If you are investing in a property through a mortgage then the closing process takes a small amount longer. My experience has been about thirty days to closing, which is pretty normal when purchasing a property. The key is to obtain your down payment to the bank quickly and arrange monies to pay your closing costs. Any paperwork that the bank sends you should be filled out right away and sent back to speed up the process.
Are there reasons not to buy a foreclosure?
Foreclosed houses are usually sold "as is," meaning the bank is not willing to make any repairs before selling the property. This means that any repairs could fall back upon the new owner to deal with. Sometimes the repairs are small-scale and other times they are serious.
Often a foreclosed property in Van Anda BC has sat uninhabited for some time so maintenance has been neglected and will need to be looked after immediately.
Sometimes, just because the title has changed to a new owner doesn't mean that all problems have vanished. This is the significance of having a title search done before buying a property given that liens or lawsuits could be attached to the property and you could take over them without knowing it.
How to negotiate for bank owned homes.
Patience is key here! The bank is in business to make money so they will be trying to get the greatest price for the house that they can.
Dealing with banks is a mechanical process and usually handled by computer systems and not actual people. This can be irritating for you the buyer but it is what it is. Ultimately if you are persistent the bank will likely cave if they have no other offers because they know they need to transfer the property quickly.
Are Van Anda repo homes good or bad?
This all depends upon your goals and the risk level that you are willing to accept. If you agree to take on the possible repairs yourself and not count on the bank to pay for them then this is a good deal!
Remember to do your homework on foreclosures and on your property before purchasing to know exactly what you are getting involved in.
Power of Sale Introduction
There are lots of things you might unknown about the power of sale. When do you know you are faced with a power of sale or foreclosure in Van Anda, and how do you understand if it is the ideal financial investment for you? Offered below are responses to seven commonly asked questions concerning the power of sale, and how it can help you make educated purchases in British Columbia.
What is power of sale or foreclosure?
This is a term that very few daily people have actually become aware of. If you are interested in investing in genuine estate, specifically those on the foreclosure market, then you desire to be familiar with this term. A power of sale is a provision that is composed into a home mortgage which allows the loan provider to sell the home in case of default to repay the mortgage debt. It technically is the clause that allows foreclosure on a home when a financial obligation is not paid. This type of sale happens so that the lending institution, which is usually a bank, can recover losses that they sustained by the loan default.
A power of sale also refers to the power expressed or suggested in a trust contract allowing the trustee to sell the financial investment comprising the trust.
Basically, this provision in a home loan or trust enables the lending institution to sell the property without litigating to do so. It is a kind of shortcut to allow healing much easier and faster. For those wanting to acquire foreclosed home, this is much easier as the lending institution does not have to go through the courts to make the sale happen.
If you are looking to purchase a power of sale foreclosure house, there are some advantages. This consists of an expedited procedure. Generally a foreclosure through the courts can take a lot of time; whereas those that go through an agreement provision can be much quicker.
Where can you discover power of sale homes?
It is really easier than you think to find power of sale homes. In British Columbia, as in all of Canada, the usual process is to sell the home by power of sale, which differs from the majority of the United States which has the tendency to go through the courts for a foreclosure. Typically, when a home is being sold through power of sale, it really goes through a real estate agent. That makes it easy to find homes under power of sale. A realtor, or other real estate sites, will likely have listings of power of sale houses in your location.
How do you buy a bank owned farms in British Columbia?
It is a great option to purchase power for sale foreclosures in Van Anda British Columbia. The process is pretty quick and easy. The process for the sale is typically set out in the mortgage, so they may vary a little bit differently for homes depending upon the lending institution.
In British Columbia, there are two kinds of power for sale – contractual and statutory. A contractual power of sale is when the home mortgage documents have actually consisted of the power of sale stipulation. A statutory power of sale is when the power of sale clauses is not consisted of, but these are really rare.
The basic procedure includes:
Notification offered to the customer after fifteen days of default
Notice offered to anyone who has an interest in the residential or commercial property
For legal power of sales, the customer has 35 days to pay, if statutory, the debtor has 45 days
When the period ends and the default is not corrected, the loan provider can sell the residential or commercial property
The residential or commercial property can be sold by auction, private contract, or by tender. The home is normally noted with a realtor and put on the market for sale utilizing several listing service (MLS).
The ownership of the residential or commercial property will alter hands just if the residential or commercial property is sold. This is likewise not a fire sale, although it is quicker than a court procedure. The deals from the purchasers like you are carefully taken a look at, and the existing owner might request an accounting.
How do you discover power of sale listings?
One of the best ways to discover a power for sale listing in Van Anda is to make use of an outstanding MLS. These services are readily available on line and provide an extreme quantity of listings so that you can find the exact home you are searching for. A site, such as foreclosuresearch.ca, can offer you with all of the listings in British Columbia under power of sale. Websites like this one enable you to search in your location for power of sale home, in addition to the timing and expenses involved.
Are power of sale condos available for sale?Yes. There will constantly be those who can not pay for to pay their mortgage. Although this can be a disaster, the opportunities that occur with a power of sale are great. It is a terrific way to buy your home, or to become a real estate investor. Throughout Canada, there is a constant rotation of foreclosure homes that are readily available for you to pick from anytime. They do go quickly since they can be such a terrific offer!
Get more information on buying a home at this link.
When buying or selling any home, use a real estate agent for your own safety and peace of mind. Find an agent here. A lawyer would be a good idea also.


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The Curriculum Committee derives its authority from the Oxnard College Participatory Governance/Standing, Advisory and Ad-Hoc Committees Manual in 2010 by the Academic and Classified Senates, Associated Student Government, and OC Management. The Curriculum Committee is a subcommittee of the academic senate and is a participatory governance committee. The Oxnard College faculty is charged by Title 5 with the primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards to the Board of Trustees. The Curriculum Committee reports out to the academic senate.
In its role as the body that recommends new and revised curriculum to the governing board of the District, the Oxnard College Curriculum Committee provides guidance, advocacy, and oversight in the development of courses, programs, and academic policies, to ensure that the curriculum is academically sound, comprehensive, and responsive to the evolving needs of the academic, business, and social community, in the fulfillment of the college's mission. This committee directly supports Item No(s). 1, 2 and 4 under 10+1.
Members are to be appointed annually. The curriculum committee membership will consist of: Co-Chairs
- Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Learning
- Academic Senate President or designee
Voting Members:
- one voting faculty member to represent each instructional, library, and counseling department
- administrative representative
- classified senate representative
- student representative
- Articulation and Transfer Center Counselors
- one faculty representative from AFT
Ex-Officio Members:
- Registrar
- all instructional deans except the administrative representative
Members are requested to bring their meeting packets, current college catalog, and committee handbook to the meetings.
- To recommend program changes, certificate pattern changes, course changes, or deletions for approval, when necessary, by the Board of Trustees, making sure such changes meet the standards set forth by the Education Code and Title 5.
- To recommend new courses, their classification as degree, non-degree credit, or non-credit, applicability to associate degree and transfer general education patterns, general transferability, and other curricular elements as mandated by Title 5.
- To recommend all credit and non-credit programs, certificate patterns, and proficiency awards for approval by the Board of Trustees. To be recommended, all programs must meet the standards set forth by the Education Code and Title 5.
- To recommend graduation requirements and general education requirements for the A.A. and A.S. degrees for approval by the Board of Trustees.
- To ensure that the college's curriculum is current and reviewed on a regular basis.
In order to accomplish the above goals, the Curriculum Committee:
- Acts upon new course proposals, course revisions, program proposals and changes, and college and district academic policies. Course and program proposals and changes will receive two readings.
- Receives course and program proposals and revisions from departments and distributes them to the technical review subcommittee (technical review, Learning Outcomes Team, Distance Learning Subcommittee) and the articulation officer for review prior to first reading.
- Recommends revisions or clarifications as necessary at first reading.
- Approves proposals and revisions at second reading upon ascertaining that statutory, regulatory, and professional requirements are met.
- Communicates via the co-chairs with the District Technical Review Workgroup (DTRW), transmitting proposals as appropriate for review; and receives DTRW recommendations.
- Encourages the timely review and revision of courses within a five-year cycle.
- Receives, as information, proposals for new Community Services courses. Verifies that appropriate department/discipline faculty have been informed of them and agree that such courses do not conflict with the college's credit curriculum.
- Sponsors staff education and training in curriculum processes and the SLO processes.
- Receives updates on changes to Title 5.
- Updates the Curriculum Handbook as necessary but at a minimum of once every five years.
- Reviews any courses offered in the name of Oxnard College, regardless of location offered.
- Conducts an annual self-appraisal on achievements and processes.
- All college and district educational policies meet statutory and regulatory requirements and are designed for the students' best educational interest.
- All college courses are current, sound, and meet all statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Each college course is described in a course outline of record that will be maintained in the official college files and made available to each instructor.
- Ensures that suitable college courses will facilitate articulation and transfer with four-year institutions.
- Each course outline of record shall specify the unit value, scope, objectives, and content in terms of a specific body of knowledge. The course outline shall also specify types or provide examples of required reading and writing assignments, other outside of class assignments, instructional methodology, and methods of evaluation for determining whether the stated objectives have been met by students. (Title 5, Section 55002(a)(3) Course Outline of Record)
MEETINGS The Curriculum Committee meets twice a month, on the second and fourth Wednesday. Voting members are to designate proxies in their absence. If a member misses three consecutive meetings, he/she will no longer be considered a voting member.


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V.I.R.U - H.U.S.T.L.E (Chicago Artist) [Unsigned Hype]
B reports "The Truth of Chicago "V.I.R.U." performance video for H.U.S.T.L.E., a track off of the War and Peace Vol.1 LP and DVD coming soon from M.A.P. Records. myspace.com/viruthetruth"
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Member Since:
May 18, 2010
Goal Type:
NCAA Champ
Running Accomplishments:
Pre-high school: I ran a lot of local 5ks and a few half marathons. I didn't do a ton of training, but I just had fun, and I got more serious about it as high school got closer.
High school: I enjoyed running a lot, especially cross country. I originally did track to keep my in shape for cross country. I ran at Footlocker Nationals, the Adidas Dream mile, Brooks PR Invitational, world xc junior championships, and a few local 5ks.
PRs: 800: 1:56.80-State Track 2014
1600: 4:10-State Track 2014/Mile: Sea Level-Adidas Grand Prix-4:07
3200:Alititude(~4500ft): 8:57.99-State Track 2014-2 Mile:8:53 at Brooks PR Invitational
5K: New Balance Indoor Nationals(2014) - 14:24
10K:USA Junior Track Championships (2014)-31:01
15K: Blacksmith Fork Freedom Run (aided) 48:10(2013).
Half Marathon:
Utah Valley Half - 1:11:24(aided)(2012)
NCAA finishes:
Cross Country: 10th(2018);
Indoor: 3k-7th(2019) 5k-10th(2019);
Outdoor: 10k-22nd(2018), 4th(2019), 5k-7th(2019)
Long-Term Running Goals:
Make sure I have fun, not get burned out, and get faster.
School records in the 5km and 10km.
Served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from July 2015-July 2017. I gained 30 lbs. during the service and came back out of shape; however I knew that if the Lord wanted me to once again run competitively, he would bless me to return to fitness.
I graduated from Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah. I currently run for Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Favorite Blogs:
A little under 7 with the team at easy pace, and then 1.5 when I got home. I walked some of it when I got home so I'll just count it as 8. During the 1.5 I did a mile pick up, and started slow, and slowly picked it up during the run to finish with a 5:57 mile.


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Mushtaq Ahmed will help England to exploit Indian conditions: Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram has said that Mushtaq Ahmed as a spin bowling coach was good for England as it would help them exploit the conditions in the Test series.
Legendary seamer Wasim Akram feels the presence of former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as a spin bowling coach of England will boost the team and prepare them better to exploit the Indian conditions during the four-Test series starting in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
"The presence of Mushtaq Ahmed will stand England in good stead. Mushy has been with the English team for the last six years and the former Pakistan leg-spinner has built a good bowling unit," Akram said.
"He has not only been a mentor to the English spinners but has also taught the seamers the nuances of reverse spin, which will be very handy on Indian pitches.
"So Duncan Fletcher and MS Dhoni will have to chalk out a strategy to counter the reverse swing which comes into effect just after 10 or 15 overs with the SG ball," he added.
The former Pakistan skipper said England are a formidable side as they have a good bowling and batting attack.
"After a long time this England team looks a formidable lot. So any predication that India will wipe them out 4-nil is being a little overambitious. While I am not willing to predict a scoreline, England will be a difficult team to beat and the visitors have already showed their intentions in the warm-up games in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
"England have a talented middle-order with Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott being the mainstay. And a quality spinner like Graeme Swann and a hard-working seamer like James Anderson give them the balance they need on Indian wickets," Akram said.
The 46-year-old former cricketer also feels in the absence of veterans like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who retired a few months ago, the onus will be on Virat Kohli and comeback man Yuvraj Singh to steer the batting.
"In the absence of Dravid and Laxman, the onus will be on Virat Kohli. Of course, it's early to compare him to Dravid but he certainly has the talent and the ability to take on any bowling attack in the world. It will be interesting to see how Kohli copes with the pressure of getting runs in every game as Team India will be heavily relying on him," he said.
"Another batsman who can play a vital role is Yuvraj Singh. It was absolutely apt to pick Yuvraj in the Test team. He has made a good comeback after his illness and has been getting runs for India and also in Ranji Trophy.
"The double-hundred in Ranji will give him a lot of confidence. The left-hander will also be a handy bowling option for Dhoni. He can turn the ball well on Indian decks and that will give Dhoni more bowling options," he said.
On India's spin attack, Akram said: "I don't really know what combination the Indian think-tank will pick for the first Test in Ahmedabad. All spinners are experienced and are very dangerous in home conditions.
"Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha can be quite a handful and with Yuvi being the non-regular option, the Indian spin attack is quite a force," he added.
Akram also praised England's Graeme Swann, saying the spinner can pose a big threat to the Indian batsmen.
"England, of course, will be heavily relying on Swann, who has been in tremendous form. Having bagged 192 wickets in 46 Tests, the off-spinner doesn't have the 'doosra' but his variation with pace is tremendous. He will be a big threat to the Indian batsmen," Akram said.
"I firmly believe the team with the better batting will clinch the series. Both teams have the experience to handle panic situations and that will make the series more interesting. And if the warm-up games are anything to go by, England have showed the gumption of taking the fight into the Indian camp," he added.


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LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca's sales slumped by a bigger-than-expected 19 percent in the third quarter, underscoring the challenges confronting the drugmaker's new chief executive, Pascal Soriot.
Faced with patent expires on once best-selling medicines and a thin pipeline of new drugs, the former Roche executive, who joined on October 1, needs to re-focus operations and step up the hunt for acquisitions, analysts believe.
Soriot told reporters on Thursday that buying in products would be an important way of rebuilding the pipeline, adding there was also scope for the recently launched heart drug Brilinta to do "far better".
"One of the critical things we need to do in the mid-term is to bolster our pipeline and that will rely on business development activities, there is no question about it," he said.
In his first day in office, Soriot suspended the group's share buyback program, giving him increased financial flexibility as the group undergoes a strategy review that Soriot confirmed would be presented to investors at the end of January.
Soriot said innovation would remain core to operations and his priority was to "restore the company to growth and scientific leadership" at a time when some rivals are embracing increased diversification.
In the search for promising new drugs, bankers believe AstraZeneca may look at potential acquisitions ranging from small and mid-sized biotech firms to specialty pharma companies like Forest Laboratories and Shire.
In addition to generic competition, the strength of the dollar was a drag on results, although this was offset by lower spending and a one-off gain from Pfizer's purchase of rights to an over-the-counter form of stomach acid drug Nexium.
As a result, "core" earnings, which exclude certain items, were down by only 12 percent at $1.51 a share, which helped lift the shares by 0.9 percent by 0945 GMT.
Industry analysts, on average, had forecast sales in the quarter of $6.75 billion and earnings of $1.44 a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Britain's second-largest drugmaker reiterated its forecast for a fall in full-year core earnings to between $6.00 and $6.30 a share, against $7.28 in 2011.
AstraZeneca is a pure pharmaceuticals group, without the cushion of alternative revenue streams found at more diversified rivals, increasing its need to find new prescription drugs - something its labs have struggled to do in recent years.
One of its few new drug launches recently has been Brilinta. But this product sold just $24 million in the third quarter and Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said it was "one of the more disappointing new drug launches in the drug industry".
Soriot, who at one time helped market Sanofi's hugely successful rival product Plavix, agreed AstraZeneca had failed to make the most of Brilinta, despite it being the best drug of its kind on the market.
"We can do far better than we have done," he said. "We may not have shown our best game as we launched Brilinta but I still think there is time to correct course."
Loss of exclusivity on antipsychotic medicine Seroquel has been a major blow to sales and profits this year and AstraZeneca also faces more big patent losses in future, with Nexium and cholesterol fighter Crestor losing U.S. protection in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
It is not alone in struggling with a "patent cliff" in Western markets. Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis also missed quarterly sales forecasts.
In addition to patent expiries, big drugmakers have also been hit by falling drug prices in Europe, where the euro crisis has prompted governments to take exceptional measures to curb spiraling healthcare costs.
To offset this, AstraZeneca and its rivals are focused increasingly on emerging markets. The company's sales in these developing markets grew by 6 percent in constant currency terms in the quarter, with 23 percent growth in China and in Russia.
But a weak performance in Mexico hit overall emerging markets growth by more than 2 percentage points, highlighting the volatility of drug demand in some countries.
Editing by Chris Wickham and Hans-Juergen Peters


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USCIS Update
May 1, 2012
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has re-designated Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and has extended the existing TPS designation for Somalia from Sept. 18, 2012 through March 17, 2014, allowing eligible nationals of Somalia to register or re-register for TPS in accordance with the Federal Register notice.
Somali nationals with TPS who are seeking to re-register for TPS must file their application packages during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from May 1, 2012, through July 2, 2012. Somalis (or persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) in the United States who do not currently have TPS may apply under the re-designation during the six-month period that runs from May 1, 2012 through Oct. 29, 2012. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages eligible individuals to register as soon as possible.
The extension of the current Somalia TPS designation is due to the continued disruption of living conditions in the country based upon extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted the U.S. Attorney General's re-designation of Somalia for TPS on Sept. 4, 2001. The Secretary's re-designation is based on ongoing armed conflict and the worsening of the extraordinary and temporary conditions, including the effects of the recent severe drought in Somalia.
A Somali national may be eligible under the re-designation if she or he has continuously resided in the United States since May 1, 2012, and has been continuously physically present in the United States since Sept. 18, 2012.
DHS anticipates that there are approximately 250 individuals who will be eligible to re-register for TPS under the existing designation of Somalia and estimates that fewer than 1,000 additional individuals will be eligible for TPS under the re-designation.
Individuals applying for TPS for the first time must submit:
Individuals re-registering for TPS must submit:
TPS applicants who are registering for the first time and applicants re-registering for TPS may request that USCIS waive any or all fees by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a written request. Failure to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee-waiver request will result in the rejection of the TPS application.
Applicants can download free TPS forms from the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/forms or request free TPS forms by calling USCIS toll-free at 1-800-870-3676.
Additional information on TPS for Somalia, including guidance on the application process, eligibility, and where to file, is available online at www.uscis.gov/tps. Further details on this extension and re-designation of Somalia for TPS, including the application requirements and procedures, may be found in the Federal Register notice published today.
Applicants seeking information about the status of their individual cases can check My Case Status Online, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.
Source: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-01/pdf/2012-10388.pdf


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At least two unidentified aircrafts have entered the skies over Colombo and the city's air defence system has been activated. More information is not available as of this moment.
Update: One of the aircraft involved in the attack was shot down a short while ago near the Air Force Base in Katunayake. A body which is suspected to be of the pilot has been recovered.
Meanwhile a building of the Inland Revenue department in Colombo fort has been damaged. Around 25 people injured in the incident were admitted to hospital.
Update 2: Both aircraft has been shot down. Meanwhile the aircraft shot down near Katunayake has crashed inside the HSZ. It appears that the plane carried a large amount of explosives. Even the pilot himself seems to have carried several hand grenades.


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Feel Alive.
With distracting anticipation we all savour the prospect of being 'at the water.' We implicitly believe it will bring reward and satisfaction.
Yet we know not if weather or fish will be kind to us. But that the thrill of action, calm of solitude, joy of victory or indeed rare moments of nature that our Earth freely gives us may form our day, in whole or part.
Each has their reason, their thirst to quench. Still we all share one single desire; to Feel Alive.


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My self-esteem waivers daily between pageant winner and an animal wearing a cone.
— Mary Radzinski (@MaryRadzinski) April 17, 2013
The Bible really jumps the shark when Jesus invents a contraption that turns him into ultra-suave ladies man Jeezy Chrizzist
— Christian Alsis (@christianalsis) April 16, 2013
People are bashing Congress today. But I still believe in the the sanctity of our government, and its three branches: Oil, Guns, and Banks.
— Chip Chantry (@ChipChantry) April 18, 2013
Thankfully, I don't like my women like I like my music: heavy fuzz, distorted bottom, and guttural.
— Jim Grammond (@jgrammond) April 18, 2013
Looking to invest. Anyone sitting on an invention that hurts others and tells people you're dumb but makes you feel like your wang is huge?
— Tim Butterly (@timbutterly) April 18, 2013
I'm in favor of thorough background checks. Without them, I would have never seen that kid ghost in 3 Men and a Baby.
— Michael Rainey (@mikerainey82) April 18, 2013
Apparently the IRS doesnt like my tax filing status of "single, looking to mingle"
— Kevin Ryan (@KevinRyan00) April 15, 2013
So frustrated. Can't find any entry level space jobs. How can I get space experience if all the space jobs require 4 years space experience?
— Trevor Cunnion (@TrevorCunnion) April 18, 2013
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