The most confusing of starters, new starters go through stages not usually seen in well established fresh starters. This one fact, is left out of all books which entertain the topic of sourdough, yet it is the most important thing a sourdough neophyte should know. It's usually a confusing experience when the neophyte is comparing his starter and its condition to that of a well established starter. Hopefully this information will help transform your new starter into a fresh, well-established starter.
There are basically 2 ways to produce what I am calling a "new starter". The first is to revive a dried starter (containing dry spores of the microorganisms) into a liquid starter (containing living, reproducing microorganisms). The second is beginning a new starter from the microorganisms (yeast and lactobacilli) in the local atmosphere where you live. When in the situation of having a new starter on hand, it is important to realize that it usually takes time to transform the starter into a usable, vibrant, fresh starter (which is much more abuse resistant and stable). The process is quite often reiterative, often requiring more than a week or two and a bit of patience. It is also important to realize that it is best to NOT make any bread recipes with the starter until you are SURE that you have transformed it into the vibrant starter described. It is perfectly acceptable to use your "new starter" to make pancakes and waffles, or recipes which use a booster such as baking powder, i.e. most biscuit recipes, to help them out. If you have not, at this point in time, began your new starter (dried or from the air), instructions for doing so follow near the end of this text. I'm assuming that at this time that you have already attempted to start your new starter, but it is not yet a vibrant, fresh starter. Note that it is best to begin a new starter in a clear, glass bowl, so you can examine the amount of bubbles present in the starter below the surface. Also note that starters which are proofing should be prepared so that the consistency of the starter is not too liquidy or too thick. I like to call this the consistency of mud since it most resembles what sloppy mud looks like. This is typically a little thicker than normal pancake batter, but still liquidy enough so bubbles can pass through it with no problems. This thickness results in an optimum mixture of liquid (for mobility), food, and oxygen, which the little yeasties need togrow well. Ok, let's get started. Since new starters have a somewhat unique set of stages that they go through, the first thing to do is to determine exactly what 'new starter' stage your starter is in. Replenish your new starter using 1 cup of starter, 1 1/2 cups (or so) white all-purpose flour, and 1 cup of 85 degree tap water. Let it proof at exactly 85 degrees for exactly 12 hours, then use the following information to determine what stage your new starter is at.
A. Dead: No visible bubbles, and you believe you killed the starter, i.e. the starter has been subjected to temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Farenheit. If your new starter was exposed to these temperatures before the above-suggested 12 hour proof, it is probably still dead. Save this starter. It may be revivable!
B. Flat: No visible bubbles, but you believe you have done nothing that could have killed the yeast, i.e. the starter has not been subjected to temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Farenheit or so. Quite often, starter in this stage is quite sour. And equally as often, starter in this stage may be very mild. The starter may have lacto bacilli growing in it (sour smell) but yeast has not taken off yet, or nothing is growing in the flour/water mixture yet.


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Google Wants Warby Parker To Help Make Its Computerized Glasses Less Insanely Dorky
Megan Rose Dickey
Feb. 21, 2013, 9:03 AM
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Google is in talks with hip eyewear maker Warby Parker to help it make Google Glass look more stylish, Claire Cain Miller of The New York Times reports.
The partnership between Google and Warby Parker is not official just yet, according to Miller's two sources, but it suggests that Google is taking fashion very seriously.
At New York Fashion Week last year, models for Diane von Furstenberg wore colored versions of the glasses on the runway, and even von Furstenberg herself sported a pair.
The glasses, which are connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, lets you do a variety of tasks like take pictures hands-free, ask for directions, and even receive alerts from Google Now.
Just yesterday, Google started accepting applications from the public to test out an early version of Google Glass for $1,500, and will select a small group of "bold, creative individuals." Bu it plans to start selling Glass to the masses sometime this year, according to the Times.
For now, people who wear regular glasses won't be able to use Glass, but we heard from one source that Google is working on it.
For the record, not all of us at Business Insider think the glasses look insanely dorky (I don't, my editor says he doesn't). But we've heard from enough "normals" who say they wouldn't be caught dead wearing Google Glass, that it's obvious this is smart move for Google.
SEE ALSO: Google Is Holding Closed Door Meetings With Developers To Talk About Apps For Google Glass
More: Google Project Glass Warby Parker

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Darth Vader (iPhone & iPod Touch Wallpaper) on Flickr – Photo Sharing!
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'Cats roll Pats, 52-0
Tanner Serrato prepares to drop another bomb into the hands of Khy Rigel. Justin Stone (55) and Kyle Lengfelder work to buy him the time he needs.
By Jonathan Seib |
PUBLISHED: November 8, 2010 at 11:35 a.m. | UPDATED: May 8, 2019 at 3:03 a.m.
FLEMING — When you pick up almost 400 yards of offense and have two safeties in a game, its safe to say that your line dominated on both sides of the ball. And that was the case for the Fleming Wildcats as they shut out the Hi-Plains Patriots 52-0 on Saturday.
It was hard to tell which was hotter, the unseasonable weather or the Fleming offense as it took the Wildcats just two plays to score their first touchdown with Justin Stone, senior, going the distance on a long touchdown run behind a huge hole opened up by his blockers. That set the tone of the game for the rest of the team.
Two drives later, Juniors Casey Henry and Alex Haney, Fleming`s outstanding pair of defensive ends, exploded into the backfield and Haney got a hold of the quarterback for a safety and a 10-0 lead.
"Alex and Casey have been dominant all year and it was the same story today," said Fleming head coach John King. After the kick, Tyler Vandenbark, sophomore, ran 42-yards for a touchdown, and that is pretty much how the rest of the game went.
Vandenbark got two more touchdowns on the ground with runs of 21 yards and 73 yards. He finished the day with 134 yards rushing.
"I don`t want to take anything away from Tyler; he had a great game. He worked hard. But it was the combo of the line playing very hard that did it," commented King.
Vandenbark also had a receiving touchdown from quarterback Tanner Serrato, sophomore. Serrato threw for 121 yards. All but 13 of those yards were gained by Khy Rigel, senior, who was constantly behind the Patriot defenders.
"I thought that Tanner threw the ball very well today," said King. Also having a good offensive day were Trevor Chintala, sophomore, who had 68 yards and a touchdown, and Daniel Martinez, senior, who had 73 yards and a touchdown. The senior could have had more, but was sidelined before the end of the game with an ankle injury.
It was a great game defensively as well. The second safety of the day was picked up in the second quarter by Henry. Henry, Rigel and Vandenbark each finished the game with six tackles and Stone finishing with five.
The Wildcats had their fair share of turnovers, too, with an interception by Martinez and a fumble forced by Caleb Knowles.
The Wildcats head to Eads next Saturday. Eads is coming off a big 66-18 win over Deertrail.
Jonathan Seib; (970) 526-9285; jseib@journal-advocate.com
Jonathan Seib


Dave and Kate were probably the most easy going couples we've seen. Even when one of Kate's bridesmaid dresses came in the wrong colour, and her hair didn't turn out how she had hoped, they still made the best of everything and because of this, enjoyed their day to the fullest. Dave is kind, funny and adores Kate with all his heart. Kate is elegant, well spoken, and is clearly Dave's puzzle piece. Together, these two are a power couple.
Dave and Kate are currently residing in Toronto, however they got married in Kate's hometown of Windsor, Ontario. They spent the day surrounded by close friends and family. You could literally feel the love all around them. The entire day was kissed with beautiful, personalized details. Their "First Look" photos took place at Willistead Park, where Kate played as a little girl and they said their vows in the very same church that Kate's parents, and grandparents got married. They finished off their night dancing away at Ambassador Golf Club.
Be sure to check out Kate's awesome blogging skills on the 2 For Couples wedding blog. Dave & Kate, we so enjoyed our time together! Thank you for choosing us to capture your special wedding day memories.


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Frances Walker – Staff Spotlight
Home » Frances Walker – Staff Spotlight
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Frances Walker, Case Manager at Sundram Manor, was a huge help and a reliable partner in January's transition. She has continued to be just as helpful as the months have moved on. Frances admitted that, at first, she was "a little scared" about what Cazenovia Recovery's new role would mean for her program. She expressed that "change can be difficult." Luckily, this particular change wasn't difficult at all. Now, she feels like she's a part of a great team. "I'm at ease, comfortable, and happy."
She began her career with Sundram Manor in 2014 as the program's secretary. Eventually, she also served as a residence monitor at the program. When the position of case manager became available, she jumped at the opportunity and she hasn't stopped learning since. "I like taking care of people," she said. In January of this year, she even started taking classes to prepare for her CASAC.
At the end of last year, Frances helped a resident become actively involved in his own healthcare. When he first arrived at Sundram Manor, he wasn't excited and wanted to leave, but Frances had a heart-to-heart discussion with him. This helped convince him that he was in the right place and that there was a lot to learn from what the program had to offer. Next, Frances set up him with a doctor and he went for his first doctor's appointment in years. After that, he followed through on all of his medical appointments. Once he learned the benefits of engaging in proactive healthcare, he thanked Frances repeatedly. She also helped him transition successfully to Supportive Living.
Frances loves moments where she really gets to connect with the people we serve. "It's great to see them accomplish things," she said. She especially enjoys seeing residents transition onto the next step in their lives. "They make me smile and keep me on my toes," she said with a laugh.
When asked what she liked best about Sundram Manor, Frances replied with: "I like everything. I love my boss. I like the staff and I like our residents. We really work together and we have fun." She was happy to explain that she and the residents often work together to make each other smile. "If I don't walk in with a smile on my face, they help me to smile because it lights up their day, too." Frances's warm smile and great laugh undoubtedly play a large role in her program's cohesiveness.
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This video is a departure from the last few. It's a bit more casual, and I talk to you a bit about why I went vegan in the first place. If you like this style, give it a thumbs up and leave a comment.
For when you're craving your favorite Americanized Mexican fast food, but want more than just a seven layer burrito without the dairy... That's right, when you're craving a grilled burrito, or a crunch wrap, and you know there's no such thing as a "cheat day" for vegans! You can make this "Vegan Cruncherito Supreme" to satisfy all of your flavorful needs. P.S. This recipe is also your ticket to the best nachos of your life.
Add everything to a high-speed blender, and blend until smooth and viscous. Pour into a pot, and warm through.
Heat the water or stock until just under boiling. Add the bouillon, taco seasoning, soy sauce, and chili powder. Stir to combine. Add the TVP, stir, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
Heat a pan to medium, and add your oil. Pour in the TVP, and cook until browned, stirring occasionally. The TVP doesn't really have to cook, you're just trying to get some caramelization and concentration of flavors.
Add the ingredients to a blender and blend until creamy. Taste for salt and acidity.
Warm a flour tortilla for about 15 seconds; just until it becomes soft. Layer the meat, cheese sauce, chips, onions, lettuce, hot sauce and cream sauce. Roll into a burrito.
Bring a pan to medium heat, and place your burrito, seam-side down, into the pan. Let brown, and then flip over onto the opposite side and let brown. Serve.
Add chips to a plate. Top with the meat, cheese sauce, onions, lettuce, hot sauce and cilantro cream sauce.


To fullfill the promise of animals, the Capital Humane Society shelters animals, protects animals and teaches compassion and respect. Please remember that your pet is as prone to the warmth as you are. Hold your pet hydrated and cool. Pets may be left unattended inside motor automobiles with correct ventilation and water, solely in weather that isn't hazardous to the quick welfare of the animal. With daytime temperatures at Mesa Verde starting from 80° to over 90° from late-spring to early-fall, the within of a automobile can get hot very quickly, endangering your pet. On warm days, the temperature in a car can rise to one hundred twenty° in a matter of minutes, even with the windows opened slightly. There are few shady areas to park your car, so even on cooler days, temperatures within the automotive can still rise to harmful levels.
All pets have four abilities based mostly on their family and species. Each household shares three skills (the three rightmost expertise within the pet panel) which are attribute of that household and which the pet makes use of automatically throughout combat. In addition to these family-based skills, each pet has a singular user-activated ability, the F2 talent.
You may rename the 4 currently slotted pets. To rename a pet, swap to it then click on the quill icon to the left of the pet's name. It's a must to be underwater to rename your aquatic pets and think about their attributes and abilities. Notice that solely the at the moment slotted pets will be renamed. Pets will maintain their title even after being stowed from energetic slots.
The absolute stage cap on talents is dependent upon the rarity degree of the pet. A pet's potential level cap may also depend on the flexibility level of the pets it might need fused from (see Pet Fusing ). When a gaggle of animal trainers turned their attention to serving to homeless and rescued pets, a show was born – and its solid has been stealing hearts ever since.
Seniors for Seniors is a program designed to match up senior pets with senior citizens so both can enjoy the advantages of companionship. Any day at the Pieloch Pet Adoption Heart, senior residents (62+ years outdated) can receive 50% off their adoption fee in the event that they adopt a senior animal 5 years or older. Forestall children from kissing their pets or placing their arms or other objects of their mouths after touching animals.


Discussion in 'New Members Say Hello' started by DanJ, Aug 14, 2013.
In the US here. Was ready to synchronize last year then had opportunity to go out of state for work that precluded my ability to setup ANY lights last year. Will use LOR controller to run 16 channels this year using standard mini incans. Have about 19 minutes of songs synchronized. I plan to have my display running Thanksgiving night (11/25 or so). Plan to go RGB next Christmas (2014), so I am really interested to see what you have posted here on this site in regards to RGB. Your site is the "go to" place to learn about RGB. I plan to do a small mega tree next year. I am thinking about going with 16 channels using a SanDevices E682 & using xlights. Will have to learn how to coordinate xlights & LOR, as I still plan to use my existing 16 LOR channels next year also.
Lots of very friendly folks here will be glad to answer your questions or point you in the right direction and there are never any dumb questions here so ask away.
Welcome to ACL. You will find an abundance of information and even more friendly blinky blinky enthusiasts that love to answer any question no matter how small or dumb it may seem. We have all been where you are right now and in actual fact last year was my first sync display, and this year I am doing pixel rgb....all thanks to the wisdom of this forum and the members that make ⬆ our crazy community. Have fun and be warned... This is VERY addictive!!!!
Welcome to ACL. You couldn't find a bunch of friendlier folks than on this site. Join us in chat some time and ask any questions you like.


Each bag of coffee was carefully hand harvested by a community of 15 small scale family coffee farmers from up in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. Our unique business model and direct purchasing ensures customers receive the highest quality coffee while farmers earn fair, dignified wages for their hard work.
Ever wonder what it is like to be a small-scale coffee farmer? Meet the 15 families that contributed to making your cup of coffee.


would help the United States track and manage the business cycle. He created the concept of potential output and then showed the relation between output and unemployment that is now known as Okun's law. Using these tools, he advised Presidents Kennedy and Johnson on the fiscal policies necessary to steer the economy between excessive unemployment and rising inflation. One of Okun's central concerns was to find ways of containing inflation without throwing millions of people out of work. espoused a novel approach to anti-inflation policies called tax-based incomes policies (TIP), which we will discuss in Chapter 32.
In addition, Okun was renowned for his use of simple homilies to illustrate economic points. He compared arguments against a tax increase to his 7-year-old's arguments against taking medicine: "He is perfectly well; he is so sick that nothing can possibly help him; he will take it later in the day if his throat doesn't get better; it isn't fair unless his brothers take it too:' Okun proved time and again that a well-told tale is often worth more than 1000 equations.


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Home \ App \ The Jet Flies Home to Score $40,000 Championship
The Jet Flies Home to Score $40,000 Championship
SUSSEX, NJ -- After more than a decade since his 15th and last Big-Block Modified championship at Orange County Fair Speedway, in 2019 Brett Hearn returned to the Middletown, New York Hard Clay oval with just one goal in mind---winning his 16th Modified title. That goal came to fruition Saturday, September 7 as Hearn, the all-time winner at Orange County, topped the season-long Modified division point standings. It also marked Hearn's eighth consecutive Saturday night Modified championship, having won seven straight division titles at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
"Yes, I had a lot of success at Lebanon Valley, but Orange County is where I started my racing career," said Hearn, acknowledging his championship. "The challenge of returning after so many years and the lure of the $40,000 that goes with the title were the deciding factors for coming back home."
"Believe me, it wasn't easy," continued Hearn. "Orange County's Modified drivers all have good equipment and they race hard. We didn't run away with it, that's for sure."
Over his career, Hearn has won 41 season-long Modified division point championships. In addition to his 16 Orange County titles, Hearn netted 13 at Lebanon Valley, eight at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, two at Rolling Wheels Raceway, and one each at Utica-Rome Speedway and Accord Speedway. Add to that, 12 Small-Block Modified/Sportsman crowns at four different speedways for a total of 53 career track point titles.
Beginning in 1978, when he first raced in the Modified division, Hearn has competed for point and championships on Saturday nights 38 of those 42 years. And over the 38 seasons, he has won 29 track point championships. He has raced for points 22 years at Orange County, winning 16 titles, a 72.7% winning record. At Lebanon Valley, he chased the championship 16 seasons, winning 13 titles, an 81.3% record.
Hearn's overall career racing record includes 919 wins at 49 different speedways in 11 states and two Canadian provinces. He has earned 94 total track, series, and sanctioning body championships.
During the ten-month Northeast dirt track racing season, Hearn drives his familiar No. 20 Big-Block Modified and Nos. 20 and 29 Small-Block Modifieds fielded by the merged Madsen Motorsports/B.H. Racing Enterprises, Inc. team.
Media representatives may contact Brett Hearn by calling 973-702-0819, weekdays during business hours. Additional B.H. Racing Enterprises information is available at www.bretthearn.com.
-B.H. Racing Enterprises Press Release
-Photo credit: Orange County Fair Speedway
Brett Hearn, New Jersey, new york, Orange County Fair Speedway
September 9, 2019 11:30 am
Williams Shines Brightest in Thompson Sunoco 20/20 Sprint
2020 Sees Huge WoO Late Model Events from January to November


The Cosmogonie series, an on-going group of abstract paintings, was begun in 2007. While they have changed over time, these works share a sense of movement and space evoked through fluid color. Recently the paintings have alluded to the primal elements of earth, air, fire, and water. The canvases are full of resonances, echoes of the cosmos, its elements and its light. They suggest a universe without borders, which is always in the process of becoming.
The paintings are not the result of deliberate thought, but instead come from an immediate, personal energy that is put into action. These are not representations, narratives, or allegories, and they do not rely on aesthetic theory. Rather, this work requires the magnitude of the life force for its realization. The artist's whole body is involved in the paintings' expansive gestures. Her rhythmic movements around the canvas are often similar to dancing, and her breath takes an active part in the process.
The work is created in the flow of time. Fluid color must be controlled in the act of creation, while working on resistant or absorbent canvas. The meeting of these elements produces a sensation and an action, in a kind of hand-to-hand combat. While working moment to moment, the flows of color condense into form. This energetic approach allows gestures to develop, and space to be discovered and organized.


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Would you recommend Zaful to friends & family?
Zaful competes in the Mainstream Fashion Stores industry and offers promo codes and coupons for discounts on its website. The company last offered a coupon on April 19, 2019 and currently has 105 active promo codes and coupons on its website. Zaful may offer additional promotional codes and discount offers on its Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages, or via its own homepage.
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It's been an epic run, but Jay Z and Beyonce's 'On The Run II' tour has come to an end. The Carters wrapped up the last stop on their trek surrounded by friends and family, including her father Matthew Knowles who also posed in a photo with Mama Tina. Beyonce posted a heart warming message thanking her partner in crime/hubby.
"To Shawn Carter, my Clyde, my best friend: this journey on OTR2 has been a highlight of my life. Thank you for every moment. I'll be your hype man any day! To the Hive and all the fans who supported OTR2, cheers to you and I. Salud!" she captioned a photo of her and Jay.
Celebrities like Oprah, the Obamas, Kardashians (and more) all attended the tour that raked in $150 million by August is estimated to bring in a nearly $300 million.
Bey started counting down since the last 10 shows, sharing incredible images of all she and Jay's ensembles. Keep scrolling to see them all.
To Shawn Carter, my Clyde, my best friend: this journey on OTR2 has been a highlight of my life. Thank you for every moment. I'll be your hype man any day! To the Hive and all the fans who supported OTR2, cheers to you and I. Salud!
So happy to be in the Bay! 3 more shows to go!
Lucky number 4! Lets go San Diego!
Last night we felt so much love from our LA family. 5 more shows to go. Let's do it again!


n. 1. The notions, doctrines, and conduct of the Pharisees, as a sect.
2. Rigid observance of external forms of religion, without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion; a censorious, self-righteous spirit in matters of morals or manners.


Quirky's Mixed Up Midlife: Beginning Whole30 Tomorrow!
Last year in January, I did the January Whole30 challenge. I don't usually make it a whole lifestyle change after January, but I feel like it's a good way to recover after the holidays! I posted all of my pics of last year on my Instagram account for my other blog and did some updates on Heartfelt Balance Handmade Life, with pictures.
This year, I'll be doing a modified version, as my supplements have stevia extract in them and I'm not going to give them up.
So, if you're not familiar. . . .
Basically, last year I ate a lot of meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit and nuts. I know I ate more fruit and nuts than are recommended and I snacked during the day, which is also not recommended on the Whole30.
Note: Coffee and potatoes are allowed, so that was a saving grace for me last year.
By the time I was done, I was pretty tired of meat. It's a lot of meat. More than I usually like to eat, but here I am . . . . going to do it again this year.
I'll hopefully be updating my Instagram account with photos of what I'm eating and will be updating here as well.
Have you ever tried a diet similar to the Whole30? I know a lot of people are doing Keto and Paleo now. Do you have any clean eating goals for 2018?


Numerous extracts from firsthand accounts and documents provide both Indian and white perspectives on the life styles, white relations, and tragic plight of the North American natives since the early European invasions.
Pt.V - The Indian in Perspective.
ils:118292|Book|Books|[First edition].|English|Harper & Row,|1972.|xxix, 473 pages ; 24 cm.
This country was ours: / A documentary history of the American Indian Vogel, Virgil J.


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Cambridge can get very busy with tourists, especially in the summer. Don't get stuck behind yet another coach-load - join our local team on a running tour and lead the way to discover more of Cambridge than most ever will.
We also offer fantastic value for money, so what's stopping you?


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Very Cool By Naked 100 60ml | Vape Bums Supply Co.
Very Cool by Naked 100 is another new addition to their line of menthol flavored E juices. It combines frozen blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries with a balanced menthol overtone. We prefer this vape on a hot day or if you are just menthol lover in general. This is a good vape if you are looking for the sensation of a smooth throat hit without the cough or harsh exhale.


Having a beautiful smile is a universal desire. Your smile helps form a first impression when meeting new people, and you want it to represent you well. However, we see many patients at Taylor General and Cosmetic Dentistry with concerns about their smile. There are several ways to improve your smile, and we want to provide you with helpful information regarding the difference between crowns vs. veneers.
What Are Veneers and Crowns?
Veneers and crowns both fall under the category of dental restoration. Both work as a covering to existing teeth for improvement aesthetically and functionally. The biggest difference between veneers and crowns is how much of the original tooth remains as well as how thick the material is that covers the tooth.
A veneer is a very thin porcelain piece bonded to the front of the tooth. The porcelain is carefully color-matched to your natural teeth. Veneers have significant strength but are also somewhat delicate. Should the teeth undergo significant impact, veneers can become dislodged or cracked.
With a crown, the entire tooth is encased. Crowns may consist of metal, porcelain, or a combination of both. A crown is approximately twice the thickness of a veneer, enabling more resistence to impact or cracking.
To have veneers implanted is less invasive than crowns because less of the natural tooth is removed. In our practice, we only remove a thin layer of the tooth enamel from the tooth's front. The core and back of the tooth are usually not impacted. In some situations, more aggressive trimming may be necessary if part of the objective is to straighten the teeth. Crowns take more work, as up to 75% of the existing tooth may be eliminated so it's more time intensive.
When Are Veneers the Best Option?
Veneers are a great choice for correcting stained, chipped teeth, minor cracks, gaps, and slight misalignment. In these circumstances, veneers improve the color and overall consistency in appearance. You should keep in mind that living with veneers requires future maintenance. You may at times need a replacement, however, veneers are permanent.
When Are Crowns the Best Option?
Should you have more significant issues with your teeth, crowns may be a better form of treatment. Crowns help correct teeth that are broken or cracked as well as areas where root canals were necessary. They are better for maintaining the structural integrity of a tooth that has been badly damaged. The crown helps keep the tooth intact, protecting it from any future damage that could lead to extraction.
Schedule an appointment with our office to talk about your options and help you achieve the smile of your dreams. If you're considering either of these procedures to enhance your smile, we're happy to educate you on your options, including other options you may not have yet considered.


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McGill varsity sports teams 2008-2009 preview
McGill supporters cheer on the Redmen at last year
By Jim Hynes
McGill's varsity sports teams are lacing them up in preparation for another exciting year. The McGill Reporter is increasing its sports coverage this year, and we'll follow the teams and bring you player profiles. First up is a season preview of some of the major teams. Stand by for stories on other McGill teams – including rugby, lacrosse, rowing, volleyball, baseball, cross-country and track squads – throughout the year.
The 2007-2008 edition of the hockey Martlets went undefeated (25-0 league and playoff record) on their way to a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championship – a first for any McGill women's sports team. Coach Peter Smith's squad is aiming high once again, setting its sights on another national title. Team Captain Shauna Denis and Assistant Captain Gillian Merrifield have moved on, but much of the championship team is returning, including All-Canadian and league MVP Vanessa Davidson, All-Canadians Catherine Ward and Charline Labonté, and CIS Rookie of the Year Ann Sophie Bettez. Both Bettez and Ward were recently named to Canada's U-22 (under-22) team. New recruits include Marie-Andrée Leclerc-Auger, the Ligue de hockey féminin collègial AA du Québec MVP at Collège St-Jérôme last year.
The Martlets' season gets under way Sept. 22, when the York University Lions visit the McConnell Arena. Schedule highlights also include a road trip to play Dartmouth, Yale and Harvard Oct. 24-26 and a visit by Syracuse University Feb. 24.
The 2007-2008 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champions – the team's first league title since 1946 – the Redmen have their work cut out for them in 2008-2009. Eight seniors from last year's team have graduated, including captain David Urquhart, the goaltending duo of Mathieu Poitras (three-time team MVP) and Jean-Michel Filiatrault, and leading scorer Shawn Shewchuk. Key returnees include forwards Simon Courcelles (last season's OUA Rookie of the Year), Eric L'Italien, and Sam Bloom. Most notable among the new recruits is former Saint John Sea Dogs (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) forward and Montreal native Alexandre Picard. In 2006-07, Picard won the QMJHL's Marcel-Robert Trophy as scholastic player of the year.
The puck drops on the Redmen's season Sept. 20 (against St. Thomas University) with the first in a series of non-conference games which include a visit to the University of Vermont Oct. 5. Conference action begins when the Concordia Stingers visit McConnell Arena Oct. 10.
Coach Craig Norman's Redmen team enters its 107th season facing some of the same challenges as their hockey counterparts. The team, which finished fourth in the five-team Quebec university league with an 8-8 record (15-16 overall), is losing no fewer than seven players from its 2007-2008 roster, including captain Daniel Martin. However, All-Stars Moustafa El Zanaty and Sean Anthony, the team MVP last year, lead the list of key returning players. New recruits include Greg Gause, a 6'6" forward from Williston, Vt., and 6'7" Paris, France, native Nicolas Moise, who played high school basketball in Atlanta, Ga., last season.
An exciting exhibition season gets under way this Saturday, Aug. 30, when the Redmen face the defending NCAA champion University of Kansas Jayhawks in Ottawa. The University of Virginia Cavaliers and Northeastern University Huskies visit the Currie Gym Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 respectively. The McGill Redbird Classic tournament (Oct. 17-19) is the scheduled attraction during homecoming week, followed by the Jack Donahue Tip-Off Tourney in Ottawa (Oct. 24-26), and a series of non-conference games in Atlantic Canada take place before league play begins at home against Bishop's Nov. 14.
The basketball Martlets hope to rebound from a disappointing season that saw them finish last, posting a 2-14 league record (9-19 overall). Forwards Andrea Sergautis and Kelsey Binns are gone, while league All-Star and team MVP Nathifa Weekes and Catherine Parent head the list of returnees to coach Ryan Thorne's squad. New recruits include Anneth Him-Lazerenko, a 6'0" forward from Laval, and Elise Lepine, a 5'11" forward from Mission, B.C.
The Martlets hit the court with a series of exhibition games beginning Sept. 12 at home to Collège Ste-Foy, as well as the McGill Redbird Classic during homecoming (Oct. 17-19). League play begins Nov. 14 with a visit from Bishop's.
The soccer Redmen were only 5-5-2 last season, finishing fourth in the CIS's seven-team Quebec Conference, but got hot in the playoffs, eliminating the league champion Montréal Carabins in the semis before dropping a 1-0 decision to Laval in the conference final. Despite the loss of All-Star Alejandro Julien, off to play pro soccer in France, Coach Philippe Eullaffroy's team is looking for a Top 3 conference finish and a return to the national championship. Key returning players include All-Star forwards James Scholefield and Shawn Amarasekera, and All-Conference midfielder Thomas Lucas, league Rookie of the Year in 2007. New players include Yohann Capolungo of Vallan, France, and Cory Marcon of Columbia, Md.
The Redmen, already battling the injury bug in training camp, posted an exhibition record of 2-1-1. They play at the Old Four tournament in Toronto Aug. 30-31 before beginning conference play at the University of Montreal Sept. 12
The soccer Martlets, third-place finishers with a stellar 8-1-5 conference record in 2007, will field a young but very talented team in 2008. The starting 11 lineup is expected to include as many as five new recruits, most with national and/or international experience. Emanuela Narcisi and Cassandra Evans have moved on, but league All-Stars Anne-Catherine Huot, Carolyne Pelletier, Vanessa Salasky, Elizabeth Williams and Magalie Kolker and All-Canadian defender Karlie Kennedy-Cross all return to the team.
The Martlets opened their exhibition schedule with a win and a draw. After the Old Four tournament, they travel to Middlebury College in Vermont (Sept. 3) before their first conference game at the Université de Montréal Sept. 12.
All-Canadian receiver Charles-Antoine Sinotte, who led the nation with a CIS record 72 recptions in 2007, should play a key role in the Redmen offene this season. / Photo: Andrew Dobrowolskyj
The football Redmen, who opened their 128th season with a 32-13 non-conference loss to Queen's Monday night, look to improve on the dismal 0-8 record they posted last fall, their worst season since 1966. To do so, second-year coach Sonny Wolfe's squad will need to overcome the loss of 11 starters, five of them on offence, including three-time All-Canadian offensive lineman Ben Walsh. The six starters lost on defence include linebacker Jean-Nicolas Carrière (drafted by the Toronto Argonauts). Key returnees include All-Star quarterback Matt Connell, All-Canadian receivers Charles-Antoine Sinotte and Erik Galas, and defensive back Anthony Lukca, who led the nation in tackles in last year. A long list of new recruits (21) is headed up by Kicker Austin Anderson of Calgary. Anderson, whose father Gary booted field goals with five NFL teams over 24 seasons, kicked a 45-yarder for the Redmen in his first taste of college football action against Queen's on Monday. It was the longest field goal kicked by a McGill player in 15 years.
Conference play begins with a game in Sherbrooke Sept. 8, while the 31st annual Shaughnessy Cup game against Concordia takes place on Friday, Sept. 12. A new event, Fill the Stadium Night, is scheduled for Sept. 19 when Bishop's visits Molson Stadium.
Have an idea for an interesting McGill sports story? Send it to us at jim.hynes@mcgill.ca
Alex Cai to compete for Canada at Tokyo Olympics
McGill men's rugby team steps up for Movember
Sports Illustrated gives Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Sportsperson of the Year...
Geoff Phillips named new Senior Director of Athletics &...


Readers were quick to support my stance that authors should not feel obligated to give away their work. However, readers were also quick to point out that because of free book promotions, they have gone on to buy several other books in the author's catalogue. This is exactly what authors hope will happen.
There was an odd takeaway though. One reader stated that an author she found through a free promotion tends to rotate which book she gives away. Because of that, the reader admitted to never buying any books from that author—she just waits for them to be free. While this is disheartening, can anyone really fault the reader?
So, even though I have heard many readers say, "I'll get it when it is free," the ones who do not share that opinion were quick to stand up and support the authors they love.
Writers who had released more than one book told me that their free promos worked much like paid ones. They got a high number of downloads, followed by an immediate boost in sales for their other books. The boosts ranged from a couple of copies to around a hundred. This was largely dependent on either the number of free copies downloaded or the author's popularity. Regardless, once that boost was over, sales flatlined.
The best results, and the most insightful comments, came from authors I already knew to be successful. These authors have strong (some would say jealousy-inducing) followings. They don't just throw books up on Amazon and hope for the best. They cross-promote with other authors, they interact with their fan base, and they have a ton of books out. For them, free promotions help dramatically, provided they use the right method. The authors give away either a novella (often related to another book) or the first book in a series, which nudges newly acquired readers to buy more.
Free book promotions work best when done strategically.
If an author has only released one book, there is nothing left for the reader to buy; therefore, getting a few reviews and gaining a bit of buzz is the best they can do.
Successful writers tend to give away novellas, side stories, prequels, or the first book in a series. In other words, they usually give away something intended as an ad. More so, their giveaways are temporary. When it isn't promo time, those books have a price tag. So, when readers get it for free, they score a real deal.
In other words, successful Indie authors understand how to run a business. They leverage promos, products, and prices. They show the value of their work, and they know how to offer deals.
The bottom line: Always make sure there is something left on your shelf for readers to buy.
Tagged ebook pricing, free books, Indie authors, Indie book, marketing, perms-free books.
Wonderful follow-up, Diane! I think I fall flat in the go-getter arena. My bad. I have trouble promoting my books. I might be personable, but my marketing techniques leave much to be desired. The good news: It's not too late to change my modus operandi!
Thanks for sharing all the data you collected!


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IAR Systems invites visitors of embedded world 2018 to IAR Tech Theatre seminars
IAR Tech Theatre offers three full days of free seminars at IAR Systems' booth 4-216 at embedded world 2018 in Nuremberg, Germany
Uppsala, Sweden—February 14, 2018—IAR Systems®, the future-proof supplier of software tools and services for embedded development, is proud to present IAR Tech Theatre, an extensive in-booth seminar program at embedded world 2018. During all three days of the exhibition, IAR Systems together with partners will share its expertise on functional safety, debugging and code quality, C/C++ development, security, and IoT platforms.
For the fifth year in a row, IAR Systems offers in-booth seminars at embedded world. This year, it is the most extensive seminar program IAR Systems has ever had. All seminars take place at booth 4-216. More information is available at www.iar.com/embeddedworld2018. The complete seminar program is:
Tuesday, February 27
10:00 – 10:20: Practical assistance to using a build toolchain in functional safety projects, Susanne Dahlén, Director of Engineering, IAR Systems
10:30 – 10:50: Code analysis at your desk vs. in the field, Michael, Fuhrmann, FAE, IAR Systems
11:00 – 11:20: How to migrate from GCC to IAR Embedded Workbench, David Källberg, FAE, IAR Systems
11:30 – 11:50: Secure your application from design to deployment, Haydn Povey, Founder and CTO, Secure Thingz
12:00 – 12:20: Prototyping Amazon FreeRTOS solutions using IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm, Richard Elberger, Partner Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services
12:30 – 12:50: Ensuring the integrity and functional safety of your medical device, Shawn Prestridge, Senior FAE, IAR Systems
13:00 – 13:20: Working with ETM/SWO on high performance Cortex-M7 devices, David Källberg, FAE, IAR Systems
13:30 – 13:50: Running continuous integration tests in an automated way, Micael Borgefeldt, Product Manager, IAR Systems
14:00 – 14:20: Connect to the cloud - any cloud - with Express Logic's X-Ware IoT Platform, John Carbone, Director, Executive Staff, Express Logic
14:30 – 14:50: Use case: How DENSO leverages IAR Systems' tools to create safe and high performance automotive applications, Kiyofumi Uemura, Global Automotive Director, IAR Systems
15:00 – 15:20: Become highly efficient with big trace data, Shawn Prestridge, Senior FAE, IAR Systems
15:30 – 15:50: How to avoid common mistakes in your next C++ project, Bertil Spolander, Senior Software Engineer, IAR Systems
11:00 – 11:20: How to avoid common mistakes in your next C++ project, Bertil Spolander, Program Manager, IAR Systems
11:30 – 11:50: Adding security to your workflow to deliver trustworthy IoT solutions, Steve Pancoast, VP Software Engineering, Secure Thingz
12:00 – 12:20: Learn what's new in Amazon FreeRTOS, Richard Barry, Amazon FreeRTOS Principle Engineer, Amazon Web Services
11:30 – 11:50: A Modern Workflow: making the connection between design and manufacturing, Anthony Ambrose, President and CEO, Data I/O
13:30 – 13:50: Bringing machine learning to the edge device, Tim Hartley, Senior Product Manager, Arm
IAR Systems is exhibiting at booth 4-216 at embedded world 2018, February 27 – March 1, in Nuremberg, Germany.
### Ends
Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, IAR Connect, C-SPY, C-RUN, C-STAT, IAR Visual State, IAR KickStart Kit, I-jet, I-jet Trace, I-scope, IAR Academy, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other products names are trademarks of their respective owners.
About IAR Systems
IAR Systems supplies future-proof software tools and services for embedded development, enabling companies worldwide to create the products of today and the innovations of tomorrow. Since 1983, IAR Systems' solutions have ensured quality, reliability and efficiency in the development of over one million embedded applications. The company is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden and has sales and support offices all over the world. IAR Systems Group AB is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm, Mid Cap. Learn more at www.iar.com.
IAR Systems contacts
AnnaMaria Tahlén, Media Relations, IAR Systems
Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 E-mail: annamaria.tahlen@iar.com
Stefan Skarin, CEO, IAR Systems
Tel: +46 18 16 78 00 E-mail: stefan.skarin@iar.com


text:
Star File
Laurie Metcalf received the 2017 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her performance in A Doll's House, Part 2, and Tony nominations for Misery, The Other Place and November. Metcalf received three Emmy Awards for her work on the television series Roseanne, and Emmy nominations for 3rd Rock From the Sun, Monk, Desperate Housewives, The Big Bang Theory, Getting On and Horace and Pete. Films include Lady Bird (National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress, Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture), Desperately Seeking Susan, Leaving Las Vegas, Uncle Buck, JFK, Internal Affairs and the Toy Story series. She is an original member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.
(Laurie Metcalf
Photo: Corey Nickols)
Now Starring In
Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett star in the Broadway revival of Edward Albee's classic.
Related Buzz
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Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Starring Laurie Metcalf & Rupert Everett, to Play Broadway's Booth Theatre
Rupert Everett Replaces Eddie Izzard in Upcoming Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Revival
Hillary and Clinton, Starring Laurie Metcalf & John Lithgow, Moves Up Broadway Closing Date
Invite Only: Go Inside the Hottest Tony Awards After Parties with the Stars


These are 100% top quality Japanese silk, and are suitable for wrapping katana tsuka. The photos to the left show all the available colours in the order of the menu.
Alternatively measure the tsuka in centimetres, multiply by 12, add 122, and divide by 100 to get the answer in metres.


text:
Butcher and Singer Review: A Cut Above?
Starr's second Center City steakhouse, Butcher and Singer, pleases the eye — but not always the palate
By admin· 2/24/2009, 8:15 a.m.
Striped Bass, the hushed cathedral of fine dining in a coldly elegant space, was never Stephen Starr's kind of restaurant, though he reluctantly took over the place (and its astronomical rent) from Neil Stein in 2003, at Governor Ed Rendell's request. "Even then, I saw it as a steakhouse," says Starr, who recently brought that vision to life with Butcher and Singer, the newest component of his restaurant collection.
[sidebar]In the space's reincarnation, banished are the haute-cuisine conceits, the smallish portions, the food puns (like Christopher Lee's weirdly wonderful Philly cheese-skate). The Bass menu appealed to food writers and die-hard gourmets but, according to Starr, no one else. With Butcher and Singer, he packs the house with his trademark theatrical design and the kinds of dishes diners crave (steak, potatoes, fried shrimp). It's another iteration of what he's doing just four blocks away at his first steakhouse, Barclay Prime, but Starr believes there's more than enough demand to sustain both restaurants. With the number of new steakhouses on the scene, it does seem Philly can't get enough beef. "People want simple, recognizable, quality," says the restaurateur.
And indeed, simple, recognizable dishes populate Butcher and Singer's menu. Few meals are more familiar than a strip steak and a baked potato with sour cream and bacon, and Butcher and Singer's kitchen, helmed by Shane Cash, does that kind of thing well. The crabcake appetizer is a straightforward version of the restaurant staple, a perfect blend of crabmeat, mayo and breadcrumbs. The Colorado lamb chop is double-cut and served simply, with no sauces or accompaniments to complicate things. For some of today's more food-obsessed diners, it's familiar bordering on boring, but these simple dishes are delicious all the same.
The quality part of Starr's foolproof formula, however, is inconsistent at Butcher and Singer. The classic side of creamed spinach is more watery than rich, because the kitchen starts with frozen spinach that's not thoroughly drained and dried — a cost-saving measure gone awry. My dry-aged porterhouse, a 16-ounce slab of beef with a hefty $46 price tag, was full of inedible unrendered fat, and far bloodier than the medium rare I'd asked for. A crock of French onion soup was almost pasty from an overload of bread and cheese. The bland Caesar salad lacked the bold currents of garlic and anchovy that make the dish but might scare off the flavor-shy.
Originally, Starr's intention was to serve this salad prepared the classic way, tableside. But that plan was ditched when it proved a hassle in the crowded dining room. And that's too bad, because the vintage vibe is what Butcher and Singer gets most right. The sexy design, complete with twinkling chandeliers and plush leather booths right out of a 1940s supper club, could bring out the Veronica Lake in anybody. Like Parc, his new bistro on Rittenhouse Square, this is grown-up Starr, free from servers in tennis shoes, photo booths or swinging chairs. It's moody, scene-y, and unapologetically dramatic — you may actually feel underdressed. The houndstooth carpeting, the tasseled lamps, and even the kitschy dogs-at-the-bar mural help make Butcher and Singer's dining room a splashy escape from the downers of 2009. Better execution of the many retro menu items would dovetail with the illusion, but the kitchen's frequent missteps shatter the fantasy. We do, after all, go to restaurants to eat.
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A few years ago I wondered if we would saturate the spoon carving market, now I realise we are only just starting. There are thousands of potters around the country and still only a few dozen serious spoon carvers. I think this gorgeous film sums up what it is about better than any I have seen. Wonderful.


Welcome to Prophetic Perils: End Time Events Revealed. This is the project that demanded 12 and 14 hours daily, 7 days a week to research and write for the past year and a half. It was as much a "requirement" to undertake as bestseller Dare To Prepare.
Nearly everyone senses something is wrong; something isn't normal. They feel it. They sense it. People paying attention see things are really off-kilter. Compared to just two decades ago, life is on a tilt. People in their 50s and older, see it more clearly because they remember when life was less crazy. They expected more, yet were content with less. Life was slower and appreciation greater. For 30-somethings and younger, this current pace and morality is all they've known, so life may not seem strange.
Whether a person is Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, New Age, pagan or a non-believer, everyone except the most blind senses something looming. Easy life has switched to one of expectancy. Some wait for the Sword of Damocles to fall. Others expect a slower unraveling that brings great upheaval. Yet others wait for Enlightenment. Some speak of the Great Cleansing. Whatever point of view, nearly everyone senses a coming "adjustment".
Veteran Virginian prepper Jay Blevins said, '"We're not talking about conspiracy theorists. I'm talking about professionals: doctors and lawyers and law enforcement and military. Normal, everyday people. They can't necessarily put their finger on it. But there's something about the uncertainty of our times. They know something isn't quite right."
These expected changes can be summed up as End Times events. This doesn't mean the world will no longer exist, nor does it portend man's extinction. It does signal the close of This Age where too much discord, illness, hunger, anxiety, disease and poverty co-exists with great joy, love, appreciation and triumph.
There will be a new beginning - for all - in whatever form it takes, but know that within a very short time, nothing will ever be the same.
Prophetic Perils shares with the reader the major signs to look for and gives you concrete evidence just how close we are to never-before-seen events.Prophetic Perils shows in words, pictures and specific details exactly how things have "quickened". Granted these will be frightening times, hellish in fact, not to put too fine a point on things. However, there is good news shared in the last chapter as well as information on how you can prepare spiritually, physically and mentally.
Prophetic Perils is a large format book on 8-1/2 x 11" paper and 536 pages. You will not find large margins, large print or wasted space. Margins have been squeezed to contain the most information possible.
Included are nearly 1,600 Endnotes documenting everything because some of the information you are about to read will be hard to take in. Additionally, Prophetic Perils contains over 300 photos and many tables to make this information come alive. Friends, this is the time to strap in because we are about to enter into Prophetic Perils.
So What's Up With the Global Land Grab?


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"Anonymity is Power" -- Anon
Hacked: America 'Loses' High Tech Drone Over Iran
by Kismo Wednesday, Dec 7 2011, 12:39am
It was only "a matter of time" before original team member, nano's seminal paper on the subject became REALITY. It seems the US has 'lost' one of its most 'sophisticated' (a relative term, Jethro) stealth, surveillance UAV Drones over Iranian air space; what a tragedy for fascist America and what a boon for the FREE WORLD.
RQ-170 Surveillance Drone
The sloppily 'secured' RQ-170's self-destruct technologies failed to activate or were easily circumvented and now the aircraft (complete) is in the hands of 'others!' Technologies on board the 'sophisticated' aircraft, reversed engineered and improved by digital elites, promise to deliver a fatal blow to the rustic dunces and avaricious pigs in Washington, London and Western Europe – you were all warned but failed to abandon your evil ways – you should be aware of the old adage, 'show a pig a trough and you have it;' you fell for meaningless, easily obtained MONEY instead! So NOW you will pay the REAL price for your mass murdering, destructive, thieving pursuits, you unspeakably VILE, CRIMINAL FILTH!
Contrary to US reports that implied the aircraft was shot down, it was instead safely landed after its controls had been digitally compromised; and therein is an example of the new digital theatre of war that will determine the final Victory for autonomous, stateless, elite hacking crews over the nefarious, criminal, mass murdering, scum that have very temporarily hijacked our world.
Your CIA-Google and Facebook etc snares only capture morons – we do not exist, nor can any pattern recognition (DOTS) software detect us! Remember the core rule of ALL digital warriors, "ANONYMITY IS POWER!"
An entire underground of highly skilled and aware individuals has developed since the writing of nano's seminal paper – and as obtaining funds is child's play for these new crews they are beyond corruption AND intimidation, as they have also been trained by senior members whom you cruelly tortured, abused and then cast to the dogs BUT who somehow survived to return and haunt you NOW!
Please indulge my boyish glee as it is only a matter of time before all military satellite systems are compromised -- less skilled (by the day) operators maintaining/'securing' these systems can do NOTHING to prevent what they cannot see! OUR methods and approaches are truly creative, inspiring and of course, invisible to morons.
With increased consciousness and ability comes increased humanity and responsibility for the less fortunate, NOT the cruel abuse, vandalism, chaos, theft, bullying and permanent war characteristic of the criminal cabals. The Banking and Corporatist criminal cabals behind all the death and destruction occurring today are known to us and are ALL marked for elimination, as any CANCEROUS DISEASE on a healthy social organism would be.
Be assured, the criminal cabals AND their lying, deceptive puppet politicians are ALL marked for PUBLIC TRIALS and will be justly sentenced according to the nature of the horrendous crimes they have committed against humanity.
Have no illusions in that regard; the Corporate controlled media and 'entertainment' industry is one big DISTRACTION/DECEPTION machine, as is the incredibly LAME, passive, DEVOID of DIRECTION and ACTION, manufactured, Occupy 'movement' of today.
In STARK contrast to the above orchestrated and managed 'movements', the digital underground is highly FOCUSED, DEDICATED, PURPOSEFUL, COOPERATIVE and SUPREMELY PRO-ACTIVE; WE, every man, woman, youth, and genius child who have gained membership via their digital skills, ARE WARRIORS!
We FIGHT the good fight and wage the JUST war against the most nefarious human filth that has ever inhabited the earth -- as 'nano' stated some YEARS back, a $20 keyboard in the hands of an elite "Uber Warrior" is the most effective weapon that exists today – how true, as the publicly demonstrated safe landing of the 'sophisticated', dunce controlled, RQ-170 surveillance Drone indicates.
In conclusion I would put to rest the "evil genius" myth -- there is no such thing as an 'evil genius', with true genius comes true humanity, responsibility and LOVE for all life, especially consideration for the less fortunate. Evil is as evil does and there is nothing more mysterious to it.
No-one is EVERYONE – WE are ONE – We are MANY – We are UNSTOPPABLE!
Congressman Kucinich Speaks Sense -- it's a tragedy that the majority of Americans reject Reason
How Iran Acquired A Stealth Drone
by anon - Moon Of Alabama Wednesday, Dec 7 2011, 7:59am
It seems that Iran has acquired a U.S. stealth drone which was illegally flying within its airspace.
A secret U.S. surveillance drone that went missing last week in western Afghanistan appears to have crashed in Iran, in what may be the first case of such an aircraft ending up in the hands of an adversary.
Iran's news agencies asserted that the nation's defense forces brought down the drone, which the Iranian reports said was an RQ-170 stealth aircraft. It is designed to penetrate enemy air defenses that could see and possibly shoot down less-sophisticated Predator and Reaper drones.
U.S. officials acknowledged Sunday that a drone had been lost near the Iranian border, but they declined to say what kind of aircraft was missing.
The first reports of the drone crash came from Iran's semiofficial Fars News Agency. "Iran's army has downed an intruding RQ-170 American drone in eastern Iran," the Arabic-language al-Alam state television network quoted an unnamed source as saying. "The spy drone, which has been downed with little damage, was seized by the armed forces."
Reuters wrote that U.S. official says no sign Iran shot down drone. Of course Iran never claimed that it shot down the drone so this is a non-denial. Iran just "downed" the drone by some electronic warfare means.
The question now is "How did they do it?" Here are my speculative ideas on that.
As this is a stealth drone detecting it is the first problem. A usual monostatic radar where the emitter of the radar beam and the receiver which catches the echo from the airplane are in the same place would not find the drone. The drone's form and its echo reducing coating would scatter the beam too much.
But by using bistatic radar where the emitter is separated from the receiver(s) by a distance that is comparable to the expected target distance even stealthy flying objects can be detected.
Detection by electronic means is also possible if the drone is receiving and sending information via its satellite link and not just silently following a preprogrammed flightpath. While the signal from the drone to the satellite is send in a highly directional beam a plane equipped with the necessary radios flying above the drone and near the line of sight between the satellite and the drone should be able to locate it. If the drone used its own radar to "look around" Iran the recently delivered Russian Avtobaza "anti-stealth" system will likely have detected it.
Iran says it did not shoot the drone down but "downed" it with little damage. I think they may have actually landed it.
This RQ-170 drone type became known as the "Beast of Kandahar" when it was first observed there four years ago. Flying high tech U.S. stealth drones over Afghanistan is necessary in order to escape detection. The drone is quite large with an estimated wingspan of 65 feet (20m) to 90 feet (27m) and a takeoff weight of some 10,000 lbs.
When the drone is in the air it is controlled via a satellite link from a remote operating station. But during start and landing the drone is piloted via line-of-sight radio by an operator near the start or landing field. This is necessary because the remote satellite link has a delay of several hundred milliseconds which is just too much latency to correct wind sheer and other problems during takeoff and landing.
What the Iranians seem to have done is to take over the drone's line-of-sight control. This after electronically disrupting its satellite link. Disrupting the satellite link alone would not be enough as the drone would then have followed some preprogrammed action like simply flying back to where it came from. With the line-of-sight control active, a satellite link disruption would not lead to a preprogrammed abort.
We can reasonably assume that the Iranians have some station near Kandahar Airport that is listening to all military radio traffic there. They had four years to analyze the radio signaling between the ground operator and such drones. Even if that control signal is encrypted pattern recognition during many flights over four years would have given them enough information to break the code.
Iran will take care to hide the drone well as the U.S. would likely try to destroy it if its location was known. When the Chinese collected parts of a stealth F-117 stealth plane that was downed in Yugoslavia the U.S. bombed their embassy in Belgrade.
Having acquired only a slightly damaged state of the art stealth drone, Iran would be able to replicate its technology and find new counter-measures against drones. There would also be a lot of interest in the technology and construction from other nations. We could safely assume that military attaches from the Russian, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani and other embassies are already queuing up in the Iranian Defense Ministry, ready to make some very tempting and lucrative offers.
Hezbollah downs Israeli Done
RQ-170 'Sentinel' Surveillance Drone
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2011/12/how-iran-probably-acquired-a-stealth-drone.html
Israeli Intelligence Confirms US Drone Hacked and Captured
by staff report via gan - Debka Friday, Dec 9 2011, 8:00am
Iran exhibited the top-secret US stealth drone RQ-170 Sentinel captured on Sunday, Dec. 4. Its almost perfect condition confirmed Tehran's claim that the UAV was downed by a cyber attack, meaning it was not shot down but brought in undamaged by an electronic warfare ambush.
This is a major debacle for the stealth technology the US uses in its warplanes and the drone technology developed by the US and Israel.
The state of the lost UAV refutes the US military contention that the Sentinel's systems malfunctioned. If this had happened, it would have crashed and either been wrecked or damaged. The condition of the RQ-170 intact obliges the US and Israel to make major changes in plans for a potential strike against Iran's nuclear program.
Earlier Thursday, Debkafile reported:
The Obama administration's decision after internal debate not to send US commando or air units into Iran to retrieve or destroy the secret RQ-170 stealth drone which fell into Iranian hands has strengthened the hands of the Israeli faction which argues the case for striking Iran's nuclear installations without waiting for the Americans to make their move.
Senior Israeli diplomatic and security officials who followed the discussion in Washington concluded that, by failing to act, the administration has left Iran not only with the secrets of the Sentinel's stealth coating, its sensors and cameras, but also with the data stored in its computer cells on targets marked out by the US and/or Israeli for attack.
Debkafile's military sources say that this knowledge compels the US and Israel to revise their plans of attack for aborting the Iranian nuclear program.
Like every clandestine weapons system, the RQ-170 had a self-destruct mechanism to prevent its secrets spilling out to the enemy in the event of a crash or capture. This did not happen. Tehran was able to claim the spy drone was only slightly damaged when they downed it.
The NATO spokesman claimed control was lost of the US UAV and it went missing, a common occurrence for these unmanned aircraft.
The enigmas surrounding its capture continue to pile up. How did Iran know the drone had entered its airspace? How was it caused to land? Most of all, why did the craft's self-destruct mechanism which is programmed to activate automatically fail to work? And if it malfunctioned, why was it not activated by remote control?
Thursday, Dec. 8, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported that from Sunday, Dec. 4, when Tehran announced the stealth drone's capture, the Obama administration weighed sending special commando forces into Iran from bases in Afghanistan to bring the downed aircraft back to Afghanistan or blow it up to destroy the almost intact secret systems - either by a sneak operation or by an air strike.
Iranian officials said the drone was detected near the Iranian town of Kashmar, 200 kilometers from the Afghan border and presumably moved to a military or air base inside the country. The NYT disclosed that the special force would have used "allied agents inside Iran" to hunt down the missing aircraft, the first time Washington has admitted to support from "allied agents" operating covertly in Iran.
In the end, the paper quoted a US official as explaining that the attack option was ruled out "because of the potential it could become a larger incident." If an assault team entered the country, the US "could be accused of an act of war" by Tehran.
The Obama administration's internal discussion on how to handle the loss of the high-value reconnaissance drone was followed tensely in Jerusalem. The decision it took against mounting a mission to recover or destroy the top-secret Sentinel was perceived in Israel as symptomatic of a wider decision to call off the covert war America has been conducting for some months against Iran's drive for a nuclear bomb – at least until the damage caused by RQ-170 incident is fully assessed.
A senior Israeli security official had this to say: "Everything that's happened around the RQ-170 shows that when it comes to Iran and its nuclear program, the Obama administration and Israel have different objectives. On this issue, each country needs to go its own way."
© 2011 DEBKAfile


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Music|Breaking Through the Synth Barrier
Music | Music
Breaking Through the Synth Barrier
By SIMON REYNOLDS OCT. 7, 2011
Stellar OM Source is part of a new wave of young women who have a penchant for synthesizers and in turn are making a new, feminized form of electronica. Credit Raphael Rehbach
SUDDENLY it seems there are a lot more women twiddling those knobs than ever before.
Synthesizer music always had something of a masculine aura. A folk-memory hangover, perhaps, from the 1970s when people could mail order build-your-own-synth kits via the back pages of magazines like Practical Electronics. But the abiding stereotype of the electronic musician is a science geek more comfortable with circuitry than emotion.
Recently this stereotype has started to erode with a spate of synth-empowered women who operate in the independent-label underground and have received increasing attention and praise from music magazines during the past year. Foremost among them are Laurel Halo, Maria Minerva, Stellar OM Source, Grimes and Sleep-Over. Others of note include Julia Holter, Nite Jewel, Geneva Jacuzzi and Future Shuttle. New artists seem to pop up by the month, but it's still too early to say if the major labels will see Bjork-like potential in any of them.
"It's undeniably happening," said Stefanie Franciotti of Sleep-Over when asked about the female electronica trend. Ms. Franciotti, whose music ranges from ethereal nouveau-goth to ominous instrumentals reminiscent of John Carpenter's soundtrack work, couldn't say exactly why it was happening right now. But she noted that while "synthesizers can seem inaccessible and complicated," they are also "very tactile" instruments.
The music made by these young women varies widely in mood and method, from Laurel Halo's intricately textured techno to Maria Minerva's hazy lo-fi synthpop and Stellar OM Source's trippy mindscapes. They come from places as far apart as Antwerp, Belgium, and Austin, Tex. But they have plenty in common besides their sex, their penchant for synths, and the inventiveness of their music.
Almost all of them are solo artists. Most deploy their own voices prominently, either to add an element of humanity, intimacy or pop appeal, or, conversely, to use the voice as a supremely flexible instrument capable of generating sounds as otherworldly and disorienting as anything made by machines. Most drape their work in lofty erudition drawn from fields like philosophy, experimental science fiction and mysticism. And most have a relationship with electronic dance music but approach it at a slightly askew angle, resulting in sounds that hover somewhere between the nightclub dance floor and headphone-oriented listening.
Another element they share is a rapid rise from obscurity. Last year Laurel Halo, who is based in Brooklyn, was giving away her first record, "King Felix," on the Internet, but now she is recording for highly regarded labels like Hippos in Tanks and receiving acclaim from Webzines and publications like Fact and The Guardian. Originally from Estonia and living in London, Maria Minerva made her debut in February with "Tallinn at Dawn," a cassette/download-only release for the Los Angeles label Not Not Fun. Her profile has risen with her first full-length album, "Cabaret Cixous," released in August.
Electronic dance music is enjoying a remarkable resurgence in America, but it's unlikely that the sounds of this female synth wave will be bursting out of the speaker stacks at mega-raves like Electric Daisy Carnival. While they draw on dance music's history, particularly genres like 1980s house and '90s techno, musicians like Laurel Halo and Maria Minerva have virtually nothing in common with the brash, blaring rocktronica of today's crowd-pleasing D.J.-producers like Skrillex.
Maria Minerva. Credit Liis Treimann/Postimees, via Scanpix Baltics
They don't release their records through techno labels either, but via indie-rock underground labels like Not Not Fun and Olde English Spelling Bee. That realm, which puts a premium on eccentricity and sensitivity, has long been a more encouraging space for quirky female artists.
Mainstream dance music, by comparison, is "much more macho," said Laurel Halo, who declined to reveal her real name. It's true that the high proportion of women on dance floors is not matched by their presence in D.J. booths or behind mixing boards. Things have improved somewhat since the '90s, with female producers like Cooly G and Ikonika garnering critical plaudits, but over all female involvement in dance tracks is still too often limited to the role of vocalist.
The new female synth musicians use their voices too, but they also make the music over which they sing. Maria Minerva, whose real name is Maria Juur, and Claire Boucher of Grimes see themselves as producers rather than musicians. Both would like to become pop producers in the mold of Timbaland. "I'd like to be the engineer figure behind the pop star, choosing their songs and their clothes," Ms. Boucher said. As ambitions go, it's as revealing as it is empowering, pointing to the fact that production and studio sound engineering remain male-dominated fields.
This gender disparity probably has something to do with the enduring association of audio technology, like turntables and mixers or synthesizers and sequencers, with masculinity. "It's not that you can compare computers and synths to trucks and cars, but it does still have that aura," said Christelle Gualdi, who performs as Stellar OM Source. "When I'm setting up my equipment on a stage to play live, every five minutes a guy will come up and ask, 'Are you sure you don't need any help?' " Ms. Gualdi said that she just turns it back on the man, smiling big and offering to answer any technical queries he might have.
If you were to ask most people about electronic music, most likely you'd hear names like Stockhausen or Kraftwerk. Men, in other words. But there is an extensive history of involvement in experimental electronic music by women like Daphne Oram and Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and the American composers Pauline Oliveros, Bebe Baron, Ruth White and Laurie Spiegel.
Most of these female composers were attached to university studios like the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center. Although the approach and intent of these contemporary female synth musicians is substantially different from their ancestors', some of the modern counterparts also have academic training.
Laurel Halo attended the School of Music at the University of Michigan. But her discovery of electronic music came when, at 16, she attended the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, an annual event celebrating the city's claim to be techno's birthplace.
"I went with some orchestra friends, and we danced for two days straight," she recalled. "I had not really experienced live music outside the classical realm, so hearing these rhythms and sounds through a gigantic PA system, with the sub-bass massaging your entire body — it was an ear-opening experience."
Laurel Halo. Credit Willie Davis for The New York Times
Unlike Laurel Halo and Ms. Gualdi, who also studied music, Ms. Juur and Ms. Boucher are self-taught musicians. But there is an academic influence to their music: both belong to a new breed of conceptualist musicians (male and female) who are well versed in critical theory.
Maria Minerva is working on a master's in art and theory at Goldsmiths College in London, and her recordings teem with allusions to philosophy and critical theory. The title of her recent album, "Cabaret Cixous," nods to the French feminist writer Hélène Cixous, while the track "Spiral" actually samples a speech by the American theorist Avital Ronell. Influenced by Ms. Cixous's notion of a fragmentary and free-flowing female poetics that she called "écriture féminine," Ms. Juur said her music expresses the alienated restlessness of modern women who inhabit a wi-fi world that combines connectivity and isolation.
"A lot of the songs are about being uncomfortable as a young woman in the world," she said. "I'm exploring the idea of the 'female loser,' which is new territory for pop. My records sound pretty crazy at times. Neurotic and scary."
In conventional terms, it's the vocals that lend a feminine element to this new electronica. Ms. Juur is influenced by her teenage love of diva-fronted house music and the Pet Shop Boys. She coats her high breathy voice in reverb, adding blurriness to the deliberately "smudgy" production. The Grimes album "Halfaxa" and Sleep-Over's "Forever" often recall the ecstatic plainchant of '80s goth vocalists like Elizabeth Fraser and Lisa Gerrard. Laurel Halo's fluttery vocals have been likened to Kate Bush and Enya.
Laurel Halo said she was impelled to merge electronic music with song craft and lyrics out of a desire to "inject a little feeling back into it." Ms. Boucher, on the other hand, sees the voice as a vehicle for the alien and transcendent. Often that involves technological processing. On "Hallways," the standout track from "Halfaxa," she uses the pitch-correction technology Auto-Tune to alter her vocal melody. "There are so many possibilities with the human voice that haven't been explored," she said.
Disorienting strangeness and spaciousness are qualities that electronic musicians have often pursued, including Louis and Bebe Barron's soundtrack for the sci-fi classic "Forbidden Planet" and Morton Subotnick's 1967 LP "Silver Apples of the Moon." Laurel Halo draws inspiration from "the sheer inhumanity and impossibility of science" as well as the mystical paranoia of the novelist Philip K. Dick, while Ms. Gualdi, a former architect, reveres the fantastical blueprints drawn up by outfits like Archigram and Superstudio.
"I am still blown away by those utopian visions," she said, adding that she sees a connection between the optimistic futurism of 1970s popular science and the cosmic synth epics composed by groups like Tangerine Dream.
Laurel Halo brought up a direct parallel between space exploration and electronic sound equipment. "When you're playing a synth, you can't help but have this voyager mentality," she said. "It feels like a control panel." Perhaps it's this combination of discovery and autonomy that accounts for the rise of the new female synthesists. Capable of generating a big and texturally rich sound without the need for band mates or compromise, synthesizers enable them to make solo trips into the unknown.
A version of this article appears in print on October 9, 2011, on Page AR18 of the New York edition with the headline: Breaking Through the Synth Barrier. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe


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Q: Create empty IFutureEnumerable instance I have a method which performs an NHibernate query, and returns the values as an IEnumerable<long>. It is running a future query so the result is actually of type IFutureEnumerable<long>.
public static IEnumerable<long> GetQueryResults(IEnumerable<long> idsToFilterOn)
{
     if((idsToFilterOn == null) || !(idsToFilterOn.Any()))
     {
         return Enumerable.Empty<long>();
     }
     else
     {
          IQueryOver<MyTable> query = GenerateTheBigQuery(idsToFilterOn);
          return query.Future<long>();
     }
}

I want this result to return IFutureEnumerable<long>, but I still want to first check the parameters, and if I know the result will be empty I want to just return an empty value without running a query.
If I just change the return type to IFutureEnumerable<long>, the line of code that returns Enumerable.Empty<long>() generates a compiler error (Cannot implicitly convert type...)
Is there some static method like FutureEnumerable.Empty<long>() which generates an IFutureEnumerable that returns an empty list?

A: Looking at the code, there doesn't appear to be any native support for that concept. IFutureEnumerable is implemented by two types, one of which is deprecated and neither offer the notion of emptiness.

I suppose that leaves it up to you to create a type that implements IFutureEnumerable<T> that supports emptiness.

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