text:
"""Config flow for the Velbus platform."""
from __future__ import annotations

import velbusaio
from velbusaio.exceptions import VelbusConnectionFailed
import voluptuous as vol

from homeassistant import config_entries
from homeassistant.const import CONF_NAME, CONF_PORT
from homeassistant.core import HomeAssistant, callback
from homeassistant.util import slugify

from .const import DOMAIN

@callback
def velbus_entries(hass: HomeAssistant):
    """Return connections for Velbus domain."""
    return {
        (entry.data[CONF_PORT]) for entry in hass.config_entries.async_entries(DOMAIN)
    }

class VelbusConfigFlow(config_entries.ConfigFlow, domain=DOMAIN):
    """Handle a config flow."""

    VERSION = 1

    def __init__(self) -> None:
        """Initialize the velbus config flow."""
        self._errors: dict[str, str] = {}

    def _create_device(self, name: str, prt: str):
        """Create an entry async."""
        return self.async_create_entry(title=name, data={CONF_PORT: prt})

    async def _test_connection(self, prt):
        """Try to connect to the velbus with the port specified."""
        try:
            controller = velbusaio.controller.Velbus(prt)
            await controller.connect(True)
            await controller.stop()
        except VelbusConnectionFailed:
            self._errors[CONF_PORT] = "cannot_connect"
            return False
        return True

    def _prt_in_configuration_exists(self, prt: str) -> bool:
        """Return True if port exists in configuration."""
        if prt in velbus_entries(self.hass):
            return True
        return False

    async def async_step_user(self, user_input=None):
        """Step when user initializes a integration."""
        self._errors = {}
        if user_input is not None:
            name = slugify(user_input[CONF_NAME])
            prt = user_input[CONF_PORT]
            if not self._prt_in_configuration_exists(prt):
                if await self._test_connection(prt):
                    return self._create_device(name, prt)
            else:
                self._errors[CONF_PORT] = "already_configured"
        else:
            user_input = {}
            user_input[CONF_NAME] = ""
            user_input[CONF_PORT] = ""

        return self.async_show_form(
            step_id="user",
            data_schema=vol.Schema(
                {
                    vol.Required(CONF_NAME, default=user_input[CONF_NAME]): str,
                    vol.Required(CONF_PORT, default=user_input[CONF_PORT]): str,
                }
            ),
            errors=self._errors,
        )

    async def async_step_import(self, user_input=None):
        """Import a config entry."""
        user_input[CONF_NAME] = "Velbus Import"
        prt = user_input[CONF_PORT]
        if self._prt_in_configuration_exists(prt):
            # if the velbus import is already in the config
            # we should not proceed the import
            return self.async_abort(reason="already_configured")
        return await self.async_step_user(user_input)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


My motor starts and runs good. As soon as I try to shift into reverse neutral or forward it cuts out I don't know why? I start it let it warm up in the warm up gear position then try to pop it in reverse and it dies. Does anyone know what it might be?
Spark cut out? Im not familiar with outboard engine terms im learning as I go so I need you to dumb it down for me. lol How do I fix this problem you speak of and how would I know that that is whats wrong? Thnx!
I have the same problem with my Force 120 and I'm also new to boats. My first one in fact. Mine runs like a charm when I can get her to shift. But that doesn't always happen. Most of the times when I go from neutral to forward it starts making a weird rattle sound and then cuts out. Help please!
Spark cut out???? in an outboard? well any way try and raise the idle speed and adjust the idle mixture.


can end up. It can be put in our landfill, some types of it can be recycled (this uses large quantities of energy in transportation and production) or it can once again be returned to the soil as organic matter. This organic matter can be used to produce our own food. Cardboard will become soil in an unattended compost situation in as long as 8 months, in a well attended compost it can take as little as 2 weeks and with a worm box this particular use of our resources can be accomplished in 2 weeks with very little effort. It is best not to compost any cardboard, newspaper etc with shiny print, this contains toxic metallic inks.
exchange, information, communication, consciousness and long term solutions.


Outbrain Organic Campaigns is a tool that allows publishers to influence the content recommendations shown to users, while maintaining engagement. It allows publishers to choose specific pieces of content, set an impression or click goal, and sit back while Outbrain's personalization algorithm directs the content to places across the web that will most likely help the publisher reach its goal.
Organic Campaigns was created to help publishers deliver on their business goals, which are often measured by content impressions and/or content clicks. Publishers typically use sponsored content, traffic exchange, or exposure through impressions to help reach their goals.
My role: I worked with a product manager and lead UX for the project. Outbrain product designers work hand-in-hand with product managers and engineers to create designs from defining the product, wireframing, user testing, and hi-fidelity prototypes/mockups to launched solutions. The visual design was created with the help of our UX Style Guide, which is a collaborative shared project between Outbrain designers. (The color palette and several UI elements were created by other UX teammates).
From there, the next step was to hash out all of the details that needed to be present on each of these sections. #1 and #3 turned out to be fairly straightforward in what needed to be presented on the page.
Evolution of early wireframes for the All Campaigns page. Main design decisions revolved around which campaign details needed to be sortable - i.e. have its own column - or present at all.
Wireframe for All Campaigns page. Version 2 included streamlined table columns that allows users to sort by date, goal, and CTR.
The UX for creating a new campaign turned out to be more complex, due to the information that a user would have to provide in order to create the campaign. Users would have to choose content for the campaign, and decide where on the web and when the campaign would show. As the product manager walked me through all of the necessary campaign details, it became clear that the Create Campaign flow would need to be a wizard with multiple steps.
User Testing revealed that, while the wizard was fairly simple for folks to understand, there were smaller details within the wizard that were still hairy.
For example, the final step of campaign creation is a page that summarizes the new campaign so that users can check details before the campaign gets started.
Users did not realize that the wizard header, which shows which step you are completing, was clickable. Changing the visual design of this element made the header look more like a clickable navigational element.
The edit metadata section, which allows you to edit the campaign name, date range, and other campaign details, quickly became cluttered in the original design. It was hard to immediately discern the campaign title and there wasn't enough room for users to look at widget and section information, and so this was revised in later designs.
Product Designer @ BuzzFeed. I help design our CMS.


The Mildred H. Hutchinson Award is presented each year during MFSA's gathering at the California-Pacific Annual Conference to an individual who embodies the spirit and passion for justice that Mildred so articulately modeled for over forty years.
Known by many as the "conscience of the United Methodist Church," Mildred always witnessed prophetically to the causes closest to her heart. Whether marching with migrant farm workers, protesting the Vietnam War, or opposing investment in South Africa during the time of apartheid, her aspirations for equality in the world were surpassed only by her quest for equality in the church.
As a spirited voice in the drafting of our UMC Social Principles, she championed the advancement of women in the ministry, including their eligibility to serve as Bishops – as well as the full inclusion of gay and lesbian Christians in the life of the church.


When we get a referal from one customer to another we're very proud. However, when we get a referal from a builder who knows construction and appreciates quality work that's a GOLD STAR! The builders who refer us have their own professional reputations on the line when we do work for their clients. We genuinely appreciate their faith in us.


text:
Home EKKO is First in Ukraine with Durst Tau 330 UV Inkjet Label System
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Treofan Installs Wide Web BOBST Metallizer for Mexico Plant
EKKO is First in Ukraine with Durst Tau 330 UV Inkjet Label System
Durst, the manufacturer of advanced digital production technologies, has secured its first sale of a Durst Tau 330 in Ukraine.
EKKO, one of Ukraine's biggest label-making companies, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017, describes itself as the "oldest company" in the independent Ukraine. From five people at the start, more than 80 staff are now employed at EKKO that turns over €2million annually. The Tau 330 platform at EKKO features a 330 mm (13 in.) print width, 5 colours (CMYKW) and offers printing speeds of up to 48 linear meters/min (169 ft./min) with up to 1260 dpi print resolutions. The press features leading edge production capacity and print quality.
"Digital printing is a good investment and can complement and help flexo and screen business grow," says Volodymyr Drabyk, General Director of EKKO, the specialist producer of self-adhesive labels in reels. "Our digital business at the moment is around 5% of the total, and with this investment in the Durst Tau 330 it will be around 20-30% of our work in five years. However, it is difficult to predict accurately because of the political and economic uncertainties."
"What is sure is that we have already helped our customers grow together with Durst. As an example, a new producer of stewed vegetables and fruit products in Ukraine with a wide product range was not ready to invest in flexo plates which are necessary for flexo printing, and couldn't guarantee big volumes at the beginning as they didn't know whether it would be successful. So they started the process digitally on the Durst, entered the marked and start to grow and widen their product range with private labels without big investments, which usually are a big problem for a new producer. The Durst allows us to launch potential big products at low cost and no risk."
Crucial to EKKO's decision to invest in the system was the extremely competitive total cost of ownership. "Prices in Ukraine are dramatically different to anywhere else in Europe – at least 10% cheaper, usually much much more," said Mr Drabyk. "So pricing was an extremely important consideration. The other impressive characteristics are the quality and speed of printing, as well as equipment maintenance and after-sales service.
"I have spent many years researching the market, including spells overseas in the United States of America, and I visited several customers and also other manufacturers of digital equipment before choosing Durst. We have never looked back – it has been a fantastic investment and it is definitely helping to build our business.
"Durst and its agents LFP Industrial Solutions provide first-class consultation, service and specialist knowledge. It is a mutually beneficial business partnership."
Helmuth Munter, Segment Manager Labels and Packaging Printing for Durst, said: "EKKO has seen unprecedented growth opportunities since investing in UV inkjet digital technology. This speaks volumes, as does the fact that its customers are making specific requests for their work to be done on our systems. We're proud to be supporting with help from LFP from Poland as they grow their business using our world-class technology."
www.durst-group.com
Ekko Print and Labelling

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


While the rehearsal schedule for any given choir tends to be somewhat fluid given what events are happening, this schedule represents a "normal" week for our choirs. We always welcome new singers, and we hope you'll join us!
The boys of the choir have a separate rehearsal schedule from the men and teen singers. The full choir sings usually on 1st & 3rd Sundays, with exceptions for major church festivals and special events.
Additional rehearsals, events, and choir fun days, as announced!
Occasional additional rehearsals or events as announced!
A flexible rehearsal schedule makes the choir possible for those with busy schedules! The choir normally sings on the 2nd Sunday of each month, with exceptions for major church festivals and special events.
The Parish Choir has one rehearsal a week, Thursday nights, following the Men & Boys Choir rehearsal. The choir normally sings on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month.


text:
Lifestyle Opinion Review
'Midnights' by Taylor Swift Review
Gianna Costanzo December 7, 2022
Taylor Swift shook the nation with the release of her tenth studio album, Midnights. Midnights was released on October 21, 2022, at midnight with an extended version, Midnights (3am Edition), that was released at...
Clubs News School
The Family of Woodland
Eva Lynn December 7, 2022
Hawk Wings, a club dedicated to spreading positivity, continuously works to make Woodland a kinder community. Hawk Wings started years ago and has two advisors who contribute to the promotion of kindness. The current...


A special service at a children's home had over 200 in attendance from three nearby government run homes/reform institutions. A former Bible school graduate preached a short message and gave a brief altar call. Thirty-five children received the Holy Ghost.
A local church prayed for a stolen heard of cattle. They were found and returned. All though the owner wasn't a member of the church he was so impressed he donated $380 to the churches building fund.
In regular services, twenty received the Holy Ghost, nine were baptized in Jesus' name, and a new record attendance of 208 people was set.
During conference, eight received the Holy Ghost and eight were baptized in Jesus' name. Three leaders were ordained and two received general license upgrades.
This month was the annual Leadership Seminar and Preachers Conference. The leaders were challenged through the Word to rededicate their lives to following Jesus and refocus their eyes on the harvest field. Seeds of faith were sown and before the conference was over, some of the local city pastors were returning home at night to find people waiting to be baptized. One pastor had a lady come needing prayer for healing. She was healed, baptized in Jesus' name, and filled with the Holy Ghost.
Since the conference, reports continue to come in. One pastor had a brother who was sick with appendicitis. This pastor prayed for his brother and when examined by the doctors again, nothing could be found wrong.
Fourteen ministerial students graduated from the Bible school.
Three students were baptized after being taught on the Oneness of God and Baptism at a local high school.
Twelve received the Holy Spirit in one service at a local church.
One of the Bible school students baptized ten at one church and three at another during the Christmas break.
The Lord answered the prayer of one congregation with a larger room for services and they now have a pastor.
At General Conference, forty-four received the Holy Ghost and twenty-nine were baptized in Jesus' name including seven pastors.
Eight new churches have been added.
In three districts, a total of sixty-three received the Holy Ghost, seventy were baptized in Jesus' name and three churches were started.
A total of sixty-two were baptized in Jesus' name in two different areas of the nation.


Special for September only - we have a limited amount of free books. Contact Doreen after you register to get your copy.
Janet Rodgers is your host for this event. Halloween is one of Janet's favorite holidays so you will be in for a TREAT at her home!
He jerked his head upward and stared through the foliage.
The sun fell upon his face but he shivered nevertheless.
A seemingly-simple tinsmith, Coleman Witherspoon, cunningly schemes to turn the loyalist town of Searcyville into a patriot stronghold. The founder, Seymour Searcy, struggles to keep control of his town and is shattered when this arrogant patriot arranges to confiscate his prized historical plough for the war effort.
When Seymour's loyalist sons return from battle with the American colonists, they are disillusioned with the British cause. Angrily they declare that they never should have fought for the king. With the family torn apart, Seymour's oldest son determines that peace needs to come to their divided town and family. He realizes that only the return of his father's plough can heal the breach.
However, only a deal with the pompous and conniving patriot can make that happen.


Spanish Meatballs with Almond Sauce I do not get to make meat dishes often as I do not eat meat much. I used to be a lacto-ovo-vegetarian for over 18 years so the times that I get to eat meat or poultry, which aren�t that many, it is organic or grass feed.... Baste the meatballs with the sauce and place the pan into the oven. Continue to cook the meatballs, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes. Continue to cook the meatballs, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the meatballs and sauce to a serving bowl.
This recipe for tasty Spanish meatballs is a really easy meal to make when you�ve got everyone coming around for dinner as you can prepare everything in advance.... Put meatballs in a large saucepan and set aside. In the same skillet you fried the meatballs in, add the onions and peppers and cook until tender. Add the tomatoes and cook another 8-10 minutes or until tomatoes are the consistency you like.
I love a good meatball. And these Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce are the latest iteration of my obsession. Meatballs are such an easy thing to make a big batch of and freeze.
16/04/2018�� Spanish Meatballs, or Albondigas, are traditionally served at tapas bars in Spain. Whether you serve them for an appetizer, tapas party, or dinner main dish, these small meatballs in a flavorful tomato sauce are perfect for enjoying with a glass of Spanish red wine.


text:
The new inaugural NEMA Science Strategy is designed to provide a framework about science engagement, promotion and influence in the context of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and to ensure that it contributes to NEMA's Strategic Framework/Tā Mātou Anga Rautaki and Strategic Outcomes/Ā Mātou Whāinga Rautaki.
The Minister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan has announced that a new Emergency Management Bill will be introduced to replace the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.
The New Zealand Emergency Management Leadership Development Programme (NZ EMLDP) is NEMA's comprehensive leadership development programme for emerging leaders within New Zealand's Emergency Management (EM) community, growing capacity and resilience in New Zealand's response to emergencies and adverse events.
All three New Zealand Emergency Management Assistance Team (NZ EMAT) cohorts came together earlier this month for an opportunity to develop as professional emergency managers and build overall group capability at the inaugural NZ EMAT Camp.
The National Emergency Management Agency has released the results of the 2021 Disaster Preparedness Survey. This annual survey of 1001 New Zealanders assesses disaster preparedness and the effectiveness of our public education programme.
Results from the Regulatory Framework Review ("Trifecta") Programme Stakeholder Survey undertaken in May 2021 are now available.
New Zealand's emergency response community has been enhanced with a third cohort joining the New Zealand Emergency Management Assistance Team (EMAT).
The Introduction to CIMS video provides an overview of the Coordinated Incident Management System; the framework that agencies and organisations in Aotearoa use to manage responses to incidents and emergency events.
Emergencies happen. And the consequences are often as complex as they are critical. This three part video series is for regulators. What do you need to do after reducing risk, to be ready for, respond to, and recover from any emergency event?
The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Emergency Management was announced by the Acting Minister for Emergency Management on 25 May 2021. It is expected to meet 6 times per year. Its terms of reference set out its purpose an functions.
This post-event report focuses on the National Emergency Management Agency's response to the 5 March, 2021 Hikurangi and Kermadec Islands series of earthquakes and tsunami.
A national set of CIMS 3rd edition Role Cards has been released. The CIMS Role Cards cover key CIMS roles/functions at incident, local, regional and national response levels.
The National Emergency Management Agency has released the results of the 2020 Colmar & Brunton Disaster Preparedness Survey. This annual survey of 1001 New Zealanders assesses disaster preparedness and the effectiveness of our public education programme.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) can confirm it is one of the parties that has been charged by Worksafe in relation to the Whakaari-White Island eruption on 9 December 2019. NEMA will not comment further until the process has run its course.
Over half a million people have signed up to take part in this year's New Zealand ShakeOut, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi.
Information released by MBIE's Building System Performance team and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will help communities across New Zealand address a crucial issue – how do people living in low-lying, coastal areas evacuate in time from an impending tsunami?
The new CAP feed allows EMA messages to be distributed by other systems that only need to be connected to the internet, so EMA life safety messages can get to people who are out of network coverage.
The New Zealand Lifelines Council has released the 2020 Edition of the New Zealand Critical Lifelines Infrastructure National Vulnerability Assessment.
Lessons learned from the Canterbury earthquakes will be shared widely and preserved for the future when a collection of reports and information moves to a new digital home.
New Zealand's emergency response system has been boosted with a second cohort joining the New Zealand Emergency Management Assistance Team (EMAT).
The report on the exercise of statutory powers during the national transition period owing to the impacts of COVID-19 is now available.
Six sections of the Guide to the National CDEM Plan 2015 have been revised, and are now available on our website.
A new National Fuel Plan has been launched. The plan provides a a readiness and response framework to manage potential fuel supply disruptions.
Guidance from the New Zealand Government on the COVID-19 including health advice, travel restrictions and education-related information for students and parents can be found on the GOVT.NZ website.
Information for affected people and for people visiting the area during the holiday period.
The new National Emergency Management Agency will become operational on 1 December 2019. On this day all of the existing functions and staff of the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management will transfer into the new National Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry will cease to exist.
The system, which is administered by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) on behalf of a range of agencies, is undergoing a nationwide live test this Sunday 24 November between 6pm and 7pm. Last year six in ten New Zealanders received the alert, and that number is expected to climb further.
Just over one year ago, the Government announced Better Responses to Natural Disasters and other Emergencies in New Zealand — its response to the Technical Advisory Group's Ministerial Review recommendations. This update provides an overview of what's been achieved so far in the Emergency Management System Reform and what's on the horizon — both short-term and longer-term.
Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare says World Tsunami Awareness Day today (5 November) is a chance for all New Zealanders to learn more about the tsunami risk in our regions and the right actions to take to stay safe.
Labour weekend is a great chance to catch up on all those things you've been meaning to do around the house, from cleaning out the guttering to making an emergency plan.
The tragic earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia is a reminder for New Zealanders of the importance of knowing how to stay safe in the event of a tsunami.
Civil Defence Emergency Management authorities and media are joining forces to ensure better access to emergency information for diverse communities.
In June Civil Defence Minister Hon. Kris Faafoi launched New Zealand ShakeOut 2018, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (walk out), on 6 June at Wilford School in Wellington.
Deaf communities will have improved access to emergency information as the result of a new agreement signed today, says Civil Defence Minister Hon Kris Faafoi.
Now is a good time to think ahead about how Cyclone Gita might impact you and your household, and plan accordingly, the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is advising the public.
New Zealand's new Emergency Mobile Alert system has been well received by New Zealanders, according to an independent survey commissioned by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM).
Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi has released a report into how New Zealand responds to natural disasters and emergencies.
On 14 November 2016, Kaikōura and North Canterbury experienced a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that had wide reaching impacts on New Zealand's North and South Islands. The November 2016 Earthquake recover Story pulls together the many strands of support that government and councils have provided to help people back to a new normal.
The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) is leading the implementation of Emergency Mobile Alert, New Zealand's new nationwide emergency alert channel. A live nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert will be held on 26 November 2017 between 6pm and 7pm.
World Tsunami Awareness Day on Sunday 5 November is a chance for all of us to find out more about tsunami and how to prepare for them, Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi says.


text:
HomeAston MartinDB11ReviewsFirst Drives
2017 Aston Martin DB11 First Drive
2017 Aston Martin DB11 First Drive product 2016-08-04 23:02:02 https://www.motor1.com/reviews/87684/first-drive-2017-aston-martin-db11/ Aston Martin DB11 First Drives, luxury
Aug 04, 2016 at 7:02pm
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By: Jeff Jablansky
A grand tourer in the grandest sense.
– Colle di Val D'Elsa, Italy
Drat. I'm behind the wheel of the 2017 Aston Martin DB11 in the hills of Tuscany, an interesting location to launch the most British of luxury performance cars, and I'm lost. A missed left-hand turn beckons me toward the hamlet of Montalcino, an Etruscan-built town lined with stone drives, stunning arches, and streets just wide enough to accommodate a Fiat Punto and a couple of pedestrians. Most of the streets are one-way, and my understanding of Italian pictographic street signs is meno di niente. No matter: The DB11 makes a subtly stunning entrance, its rumbly exhaust note reverberating quietly against the centuries-old stone. Not a soul in the tucked-in city center seemed to notice the left-hand-drive DB11 with U.K. license plates sauntering by, save for an older, shirtless man who excitedly identified the Aston Martin from a hundred meters away. What gave it away, nonno?
Much of Aston Martin's future success rests upon getting this product, the DB11, right, as the company modernizes and tries to avoid becoming an ouroboros, in a constant cycle of woe and regeneration. Instead, looking ahead to partnerships with Red Bull Racing and Daimler-Benz, to name a couple, Aston Martin has to ensure that its association with performance and luxury – as well as its reputation for providing transportation for the world's greatest action hero, James Bond – remain intact as it evolves to becoming a profitable entity.
With the wholesale rethink that led to the existence of the DB11, nearly every detail about the coupe is exquisite and noteworthy.
Which brings us to the DB11, the rolling sculpture that will foment implementation of the plans. There is not a singular pièce de résistance that defines the DB11. Quite the opposite. With the wholesale rethink that led to the existence of the DB11, nearly every detail about the coupe is exquisite and noteworthy.
If you had to start with one talking point, however, it's the DB11's look and feel, from the inside out. Whereas the DB11's exterior styling has the requisite visual cues to connect it to the outgoing DB9, everything about the DB11's modern but lavish interior makes the DB9's feel analog and last-century.
To say that the DB11's interior fits around your body like a full-size glove is a cliched understatement. Its design is more of a custom-tailored, three-piece suit. The aroma is intoxicating. You slide into and settle in the cosseting front seats, which act as exclusive perches in a fully luxuriating experience. These aren't the stuffed, flat chairs of a Bentley. Attention was paid to the details and frequent touch points. Take the flat-rimmed steering wheel, for example: It's a chunky, lovely, thick-rimmed token of appreciation to grand touring. The integrated thumb spots are perfectly placed for serious, but not white-knuckle driving. Leather is everywhere. A variety of trim options for embellishments and the door trim embody each DB11 with a distinct personality. You feel rich looking at, let alone riding in, the DB11. All of the test cars were finished in brogue-stitched leather, which translates as a very in-your-face expression of shoe-focused haute couture. The style-shy ought to stick with the standard leather treatment.
You slide into and settle in the cosseting front seats, which act as exclusive perches in a fully luxuriating experience.
Graphics are crisp and clear, and an all-digital display is a futuristic touch. The navigation and infotainment system setup will feel familiar to those upgrading from recent Mercedes-Benz models, as the DB11 shares a version of the Comand software and its touch-sensitive hardware. To better mask the raid of the parts bin, the tacked-on digital screen and the touchpad are also enveloped by supple leather. It's not even a question that the DB11 is best equipped with the Bang & Olufsen sound system, although two lesser stereos are offered.
Equally as impressive as the craftsmanship and design is the biturbo 5.2-liter V12 under the hood, which is a 600-horsepower powerhouse. It's not unusual for Aston Martin to produce powerful engines, but something about that horsepower figure implies that the performance game is heating up. Rear-wheel drive is standard – all-wheel drive isn't totally out of the question for the future – as is a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. According to an engineer close to the DB11 project, 600 hp is just a starting point for future product, and a manual gearbox will someday make its way into a next-generation Aston Martin.
Sitting and admiring the DB11 without driving it is almost criminal. It's a feast for the senses when you light it up. Multiple drive modes change the DB11's temperament from inconspicuous to wild, allowing the grand tourer to loosen up a bit at a whim, and I found that Sport was the best way to express the power. The accelerator is familiarly sensitive, and you hardly hear or feel the turbos kicking in. In fact, you're probably concentrating more deeply on the loud, supposedly unfiltered/unaltered exhaust note and engine sound that fills the cabin.
Approaching a tight, uphill bend, along a hilly road, the DB11's exhaust note was a sonata of howling, burbling, and slight crackling.
All of my time with the DB11 was spent on public roads, where the Italian public received a first-hand, early impression of the coupe's capabilities. Approaching a tight, uphill bend, along a hilly road, the DB11's exhaust note was a sonata of howling, burbling, and slight crackling. I turned in with some gusto. The rear wheels kicked out a bit on the dry, newly paved asphalt. I panic for a second: The limited-slip differential was surely at work, but there was a surprising amount of wheel slip, in any case. The DB11 corrected itself at once, thanks to the light effort of the steering and the quick-reacting chassis. I could imagine myself hitting the redline in every gear, all the way up to the top speed of 200 miles per hour. Its lightweight, mostly aluminum structure felt solid and trustworthy.
Disappointments? They are few and far between. The steering is a bit light and disconnected for my taste, and the push-button transmission remains a perplexing game of "did I select that gear?" The rear seats are still honorary chairs, at best, with no room for actual adults with legs or necks to sit comfortably.
Multiple hours behind the wheel of the DB11 caused me to reflect on my own opinions of Aston Martin. If it's true that "you always remember your first," I'll forever judge an Aston based on my loan of a crimson DB9 some years ago. It was slightly terrifying to think about sharing the road with motorists who couldn't possibly appreciate how special it felt, or how heroic it made me feel. If it steered flawlessly through a corner, it was because of the relationship among man, machine, and road.
The Aston will excite you in a way that no Continental GT can, playing the part of a GT car when you want it, and a pure sports car at the press of a button.
The DB11 starts at about $212,000, but will easily exceed 300 grand if you let your imagination and the options sheet run wild. That price tag places the DB11 in rarified territory when it comes to the cadre of the finest performance cars. The price seems a little high for what's offered, but at the same time, it doesn't. I think that the AMG GT S offers almost everything the DB11 does, in terms of power and chassis, but it's not handbuilt and its interior is so cold. The Aston will excite you in a way that no Continental GT can, playing the part of a GT car when you want it, and a pure sports car at the press of a button. It will cosset you more than a McLaren 570S will. It offers a much less raucous experience than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, with over 100 hp more. Only a Ferrari California T comes close to the nexus of attributes, but the options for customization are far fewer.
The DB11 is a fitting replacement for the DB9, advancing the grand tourer and fulfilling the premise of any supercar: Everyone who sees it will still know what it is, even if they're unlikely to see another one for a long while. And they'll know it's an Aston Martin from the corner of the eye.
Photos: Jeff Jablansky / Motor1.com
Engine Biturbocharged 5.2-Liter V12
Output 600 Horsepower / 516 Pound-Feet
Speed 0-62 MPH 3.9 Seconds
Drive Type Rear-Wheel Drive
Weight 3,902 Pounds
Base Price $211,995
Gallery: 2017 Aston Martin DB11: First Drive
Armored Aston Martin DB11
Q by Aston Martin special editions
Mansory at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show
Aston Martin DB11 F1 Livery
2017 Aston Martn DB11 V8
Aston Martin DB11 Henley Royal Regatta


text:
Roosters not napping on Sharks
Fri 25 Aug 2017, 07:00 AM
Dylan Napa hasn't faced too many problems in his 99-game career but taking down the Sharks certainly has been one.
Winning has come easily for the powerhouse prop since he made his NRL debut in 2013, but for Napa and his Roosters teammates, reeling in the Sharks has been as fruitful as Captain Ahab's quest for the white whale.
Despite their success over the years the Tricolours have lost six on the trot against the defending premiers, with their last win way back in 2014.
"I can't remember a time that we've beaten the Sharks so we're definitely well aware that they're up for these games," Napa said ahead of this weekend's clash at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
"I can't remember a time we've beaten them in the last couple of years so we're keen to get down there and put in a good performance and try to beat them on their home turf."
Like most crunch games, the key to victory lies in the middle of the field where Napa and front-row partner Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will duke it out with Cronulla's middle men Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen.
Napa and his Queensland comrades found a way to blunt Fifita's impact in the last two games of this year's State of Origin series and the Maroons firebrand front-rower said it would take a collective effort to contain the Sharks star on Saturday night.
"Stopping a pack like the Sharks or any of the quality sides, it's definitely not a one-man job," he said.
"We're definitely going to have to be together there from myself to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to Isaac Liu to whoever's in the middle to be trying to stop their forward pack and their momentum.
"I wouldn't put my hand up and say I'm going to do it myself and neither would any of the other forwards at the Roosters. It's definitely a team job and we'll be doing our best to do that."
Saturday's clash will have a huge bearing on the Telstra Premiership top four with the Roosters a chance to jump into second should they win while a loss would see them fall to fourth (they can stay in third with a one-point loss).
It shapes as a late-season classic but Roosters co-captain Jake Friend said revenge for their 44-12 loss to Cronulla on the Central Coast back in July wouldn't serve as a motivating factor.
"We got dished by them earlier in the season so that wasn't one of our best days that afternoon up at the Central Coast. For us it's about getting our footy going and there's no better way than to do that against Cronulla," he said.
"Getting beaten like that always hurts, but it's not something you hold on to. You want to play well against teams that have put a good score on you."
Sharks v Roosters: Schick Preview
Code switch working wonders for Napa
Stats that matter: Round 24
Tedesco leaves his mark on future teammates
Roosters v Wests Tigers: Five key points
Masoe thanks club, fans after career-ending spinal injury
Sign up for a free NRL Account to get exclusive access
2020 NRL trial dates: Pre-season schedule locked in
What your team needs from the trials


You probably have heard of a nose job. Clinically referred to as a rhinoplasty, this is one of the most popular procedures in the entire realm of plastic surgery. A nose job is performed to change the size and/or shape of the nose, either because of aesthetic concerns or to correct damage to the nose that occurred during a previous operation or an accident.
A nose job, like any type of surgery, is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly. Before deciding to undergo a nose job, ask yourself these five questions. Of course, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help you determine whether you are a candidate for a rhinoplasty.
Being in good overall health is crucial to any potential surgical procedure, especially elective operations like plastic surgery. Certain pre-existing health conditions can magnify the risk involved in any surgery. In some cases, your plastic surgeon may require that you receive clearance from your general physician before proceeding with a surgical procedure.
Have I considered alternative treatments?
If you are pursuing a nose job for aesthetic reasons, there are non-surgical ways to improve your appearance. Changing your hair or makeup may provide the fresh look you have desired, and many plastic surgeons also can use non-invasive, non-surgical methods such as filler treatments, which are injected into the nose to temporarily alter its appearance.
Why do I want a nose job?
Ask yourself why you want surgery. It's true that a nose job or any cosmetic surgical procedure can improve your appearance. This often leads to a boost in self-confidence and, with it, a higher quality of life. It is important, however, that you are choosing to undergo the knife for you, and not to impress anyone else. Ultimately, what matters is how you feel about yourself, not what you imagine others may think.
Many insurance policies will not cover elective surgeries like a nose job. This can mean an out-of-pocket expense that you need to be aware of and make sure you are able to afford. Many plastic surgeons offer financing and payment plans, but even then, not all applicants are approved for financing. Also, be prepared to make monthly payments until your debt is paid off in full. Do an honest evaluation of your budget to see if you can afford this procedure.
Can I afford the lost time at work and/or school?
Each patient heals differently but, in general, any patient who undergoes a nose job can expect to stay home for at least a week following the procedure, while being advised to rest and avoid strenuous activity. Make sure you can miss work or school during this time, while also arranging assistance with childcare and household tasks.
Can you answer yes to all of the questions above? Then it's time to take the next step and seek the professional expertise of Preminger Plastic Surgery for a consultation. Contact our office today by calling (212) 706-1900 to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about our nose job procedures or any of our other cosmetic surgical options.


I remember playing the Smashing Pumpkins' song "Thirty-Three" exactly ten years ago today. Beyond the fact that it's just a good song, and that listening to it reminds me of a simpler time in my life, I had a very good reason for playing that song on that day: It was also the day that I turned thirty-three years old. As often as I've heard "Thirty-Three" throughout my life, I don't think that song even felt more meaningful to me than it did when I played it on my 33rd birthday, even if the numerology at play was kind of superficial.
Ten years ago today, on my 33rd birthday, I was certainly going through another set of big changes in my life. I was marking my second birthday after my father's death, I was in the middle of teaching my first creative writing class, and I was hip-deep in trying to help Mom navigate a very tumultuous world (this was less than two months after Barack Obama was sworn in as President) without her near-lifelong partner. I remember feeling at the time that I was getting my life in order, but looking back with the perspective of ten years, I can see that I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I was barely treading water back then. I'm not so sure that I'm necessarily doing all that better now.
I've tried to document the changes of these past years on here, as well as in the physical journal I've been keeping since 2000, but I still have moments where I wonder if my past and/or my present actually happened the way I remember it. It's been close to seven months since I moved here to Wisconsin to start my new teaching job, but I still wander around my apartment sometimes trying to figure out just how I got here. I remember the struggles I went through to get to this point all too vividly: The abuse I endured in my childhood, the wars I had to fight (both with others and myself) to get my head back on straight after that, all the problems I went through to get my degrees, and all the kicking and scratching it took for me to get a full-time teaching position. Sometimes, though, I start remembering the parts of Toledo that I still know like the back of my hand, and it almost feels like I'm remembering Lake Wiishkoban, Minnesota, one of the fictional towns I invented for my first novel. Living in the same part of Toledo for almost all the first forty-one years of my existence just normalized that whole area for me as the background of my entire life, and even though I know it's all still there (minus a few businesses that closed down), sometimes it's still difficult for me to recognize that fact when I can't be there to verify it with my own eyes.
I'll probably be visiting Toledo at some point this spring or summer, just to satiate my curiosity about how things are going back there, but I already know that it won't be the same for me in a lot of ways. I used to save my favourite meal — cheese pizza from J&G's Pizza Palace, the best pizzeria I've ever been to — for my birthday meal, and I didn't get to have it when I was living in Colorado at this time last year. I'll probably go back to J&G's the next time I'm in Toledo, but I know that it won't be the same for me, and not just because Mom won't physically be there with me, and it won't be my birthday. A lot can change in ten years, or even two, let alone the forty-three years since I was born in a hospital just a couple of miles away from that pizzeria, and I just know that even though I'll feel that I'm in Toledo when I go back there, it won't be the same. It never will be the same again.
When I played the Smashing Pumpkins' "Thirty-three" ten years ago today, the song was close to fourteen years old. That was a long time, but it didn't really feel so old to me. Now that song is nearly a quarter-century old, and all of us who listened to it when it first came out are nearly twenty-five years older as well. I should probably go listen to it again later today. Even if I'll never be thirty-three years old again, or nineteen like I was when Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was released, I can still remember those times in my life all too well. With all the difficulties this whole world is facing right now, maybe some time reminiscing about the past will help me find the rest and comfort I need to help me build a better future for the people around me, and for myself as well.


Dr. Arpita Patel qualified from Guy's, Kings' and St Thomas Hospital. London, U.K. in 2002, and since, she has used her training as a platform to perfect her skills in general dentistry. She has also gained a postgraduate certificate course in Restorative Dentistry at University College London Eastman's dental institute in 2010 alongside passing membership examinations of the The Royal College of Surgeons of England's Joint Dental faculties.


text:
Q: CXF REST service is returning more than 1 http code When I run my service, which is just a simple POST, I'm getting an HTTP 100 followed by a 200.
Is there any way to get it to just return an HTTP 200?
curl -D- -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d @input.json http://myserver/contxt/services/rest/service/notify

Returns:
HTTP/1.1 100 Continue

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Server: Apache-Coyote/1.1
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:20:05 GMT
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Length: 2

A: The status code 100 is not the response to the whole request. The server is telling that he has received the headers and the client should proceed sending the request body. Sending the entity with e.g. a Content-Type the server won't accept anyway would be just a waste of bandwidth.
The server should only send the status 100 if he has received the header Expect: 100-continue. cURL is sending this header "for POSTs with unknown sizes". This may be the case for big files.
You can try to explicitly overwrite this header:
curl -H "Expect:" ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This event was on Day 7 of the 12 Days of the Heart of the City Festival. Please check the website for more events!
The Festival is thrilled to partner with the DTES's AHA Media to provide social media coverage (video/photos/blog) of the Heart of the City Festival. AHA Media gives voice to our local community and provides services for individuals and organizations to share their news and special events on a broader scale through social media. Founded in 2008 by local artists April Smith, Hendrik Beune, and Al Tkatch, AHA Media previously collaborated with Fearless City Media and has an ongoing working relationship with W2Community Media Arts and various other organizations and individuals in the DTES community. The members of AHA Media describe themselves as "definitely not mainstream media". Based in Vancouver's DTES, their style is described as non-invasive and unassuming.
Say Hello to AHA Media as they visit the Festival events. They will be happy to chat with you. Stay connected to the festival with AHA's links – see photos/videos of the festival events you attended; take in a festival event you missed; or follow one festival event while you are attending another!
Follow AHA MEDIA on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Flickr!


text:
Q: Refresh input button not refreshing Hi I have two input buttons, one continues to the next page (test32_page2.php) and a refresh input which refreshes the page (test32.php)
Input continue:
<input type='submit' name="submitcart" value='Continue' onclick="f1.action='test32_page2.php'; return true;" style="visibility: <?=$submitshow?>;">
and the other input is a refresh:
<input type='submit' name="submit" value='Refresh' onclick="f1.action="test32.php"; return true;" style="visibility: <?=$refreshshow?>;">
Once the user inputs their values and presses continue they are then processed on the following page, however if they then go back to test32.php and press refresh they are then sent to the following page again (test32_page2.php) instead of reloading test32.php again. How can I make sure that when refresh input is pressed it only reloads the page not do anything else? Is this a cache/meta issue?
I've been around and around in circles on this one, partly I think because the different browsers seem to do different things.
Help much appreciated.
Thanks


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text:
Announcing the discovery of the internet
I suppose you've all been wondering where I've been. Well no, you probably haven't. But I'll tell you anyway: I've been for a walk. Nothing too strenuous. Only ninety kilometres or so.
During that walk I've seen all manner of strange sights, including houses, trees, and unchangeable flat plains that stretch for kilometres on end; and one day, shortly, I may expand on some of these details.
But by jove, it's good to be back in civilisation, with its hot and cold running television, internet delivered fresh to your door every morning, and where you can pluck your muesli bars fresh from the fridge where they've been growing, instead of suffering the dreadful privations of the bucolic lifestyle (bar bistros, tourist cafeterias and hotel rooms).
Cam, saw, conquered
As you probably know I've been regularly going to the Dan O'Connell Hotel for a bit over a year now to read and hear poems read. For all that time Cam has been their MC, and I think he's done a fantastic job; it's become my favourite Saturday afternoon and evening haunt (insert here several adjectives describing Cam's welcoming/inclusive/humble/humorous, etc style). Well, this weekend is Cam's last go at MCing the Dan poets - regularly anyway. I'd originally hoped to head to the Dan for that occasion and read out some Cam poems. Not possible this weekend, as it turns out, as the Baron and I will be going off on a walking tour of the countryside. Instead I chose to read out a few Cam poems last week, including this one that I present to you now.
He's Cam he's the man with the plan from the Dan
With the chalk and the mic and the board and the book
And he am what he am what he am what he am.
He's biff and he's bam and he's blast and he's blam
With a lower left jab and an upper right hook
'Cos you don't mess with Cam he's the man with the SLAM from the Dan.
He's the ham to our spam we're the toast he's the jam
We're the menu of meals and he's the chief cook
And if he were a rock star he would be glam
And if he were a virus we'd all be crook
'Cos he's catching is Cam the man with the plan from the Dan.
He's not Komninos Emily Mick he's the man*
He's the man with the plan and he can't be mistook
For he is and he was and will be what he am:
Applaudable. Laudable. Please show your hands
For the man with the BLOODY GET ON WITH IT look
'Cos he's Cam he's the man with the plan from the Dan
And he am what he am what he am what he am
In the meantime, why not go this weekend to hear Cam MC for one last time and some great poems from the Dan regulars? You won't regret it.
New leadership! Old Labor!
Julia Gillard has become Australia's first red-head Prime Minister after being elected unopposed by the Labor caucus.
What will this election mean for red-heads everywhere? We've certainly come a long way since the 1960s when redheads were forced to work at half pay, or the dark years of the 19th century, when redheads were forced to slave in underground uranium mines for those of the brown-headed and blonde-headed castes. Well no they didn't, but it just reinforces the prejudices red-heads have been forced to bear, doesn't it? It is impossible to speculate where to next for Gillard, but it is considered highly likely by experts that she will attempt to become the first red-head president of the solar system, after which she will exact a terrible toll on all non red-heads for the generations of suffering by her ranga brothers and sisters. Well that's probably not true either. But still!
However, several well-connected Canberra figures argue that Gillard's victory was made possible through the support of several Labor heavyweights. These include the Labor left, the Labor right, unions, and another shadowy group known as 'women'. It is not known how many of these 'women' are in politics, but we are informed that there are even influential 'women' figures in other left and right Labor factions. These contacts even go so far as to suggest that the Labor party may hope the well-connected red-head will be popular with the Australian public because she is also our first woman Prime Minister.
Other figures, however, have dismissed these charges as baseless.
Take the poll!
Will Julia Gillard send all non-rangas to toil in her underground sugar caves?online survey
Posted by TimT at 11:58 am 12 comments:
Nice paper things with words in them
I spent a great deal of my overeducated and underemployed 20s looking for intellectual science fiction to read. By which I meant, in effect, authors like Brian Aldiss or Mike Moorcock who incorporated elements of science, philosophy, and literary modernism into their books. I don't know what I'd have done if I'd discovered Robert Sheckley back then - I probably never would have got a job at all.
Anyway, I've just finished reading Sheckley's book The Journey of Joenes (it was also published under another title, Journey Beyond Tomorrow.) Try this for a description: written by Sheckley in the 1960s, it's the biography of a 21st century historical figure, Joenes, as told by several Pacific storytellers, as compiled by an anonymous editor. As you might guess it's an extremely unreliable history, an even more unreliable future and, because the future being described in the novel is in part the present, it's a very unreliable present indeed. For one thing, apparently the Soviets are still in power, in this version of the future as imagined by Sheckley. That's a pretty common mistake for science fiction writers in the 60s, though what's nice about this is that Sheckley's style, in the Journey, is virtually made of mistakes, and mistaken interpretations of previous mistakes: so it just adds to the fun.
Here's one of my favourite passages - though it's hard to select one favourite passage out of a book that's full of them:
It is sad to relate that as Joenes flew over California an automatic radar station identified his jet as an invader and fired a number of air-to-air missiles at it. This tragic incident marked the opening phase of the great war.... Joenes jet, in the meantime, had expended its entire armament.
But it had not lost the guile its planners had built into it. It switched its radio to the missile-dispatching frequency and broadcast an alarm, declaring itself under attack and naming the airborne missiles at enemy targets to be destroyed.
These tactics met with some success. A number of the older, more simple-minded missiles would not destroy a craft they considered their own. The newer, more sophisticated missiles, however, had been alerted to just such an attempt on the part of the enemy. Therefore they pressed the attack, while the older missiles fiercely defended the solitary jet.
Proverbial proverb
You've got to take the bags with the tea.
Lesson for today, if today is yesterday
Yesterday, which is today if you are living approximately 24 hours in time before the present due to some failure in the space time continuum, and is also the day before tomorrow, which is Monday. Amongst its more peculiar features, yesterday is also apparently Father's Day, which I had no idea about, until today. Consequently, my Father's Day conversation went like this:
DAD: Hello.
TIM: Hi Dad. How's the weather there?
DAD: Bright.
TIM: Okay.
Um, is mum there?
DAD: Yes.
[Long silence]
Did you want to speak to her?
TIM: Yes!
[End of Dad conversation]
People of yesterday! Don't be like Tim! Instead of having a stilted and awkward conversation with your father about the weather, raise the subject of Father's Day and have a stilted and awkward conversation about the event before turning to the subject of the weather! Let this be a lesson to all of you!
UPDATE! - Hey, it's not, or rather it wasn't, Father's Day in Australia after all. I look forward to accidentally forgetting the event when it does eventually eventuate and having a stilted and awkward conversation with my father at the time.
UPDATE UPDATE! - I suppose this means that today in America is actually not yesterday in Australia at all but is 90 or so yesterdays after the current yesterday, which makes it some time... after tomorrow. Glad we got that cleared up.
Sunday hat quote
"RAHRAHGLAHBLAHARGHGFARGING HATS!"
- Five young women in a car speeding past the Baron and me as we walked up the street, innocently wearing our hats and minding our own hatly business. Why thank you, yes, they are nice hats.
Whippersnappers!
(As the readers come in, Tim raises his walking stick to point at them. He stumbles, even though he is sitting down at the time.)
You young people may not know it, but I was once your age. Yes, even the ones that are older than me. Especially you. (And stop sniggering back there, you spry young sixty year olds. You'll get to be my age one of these days if you don't watch out.)
Ah! I've been running this blog for years and years. How long has it been now? It's coming up to a century, more or less. Well in purely numerical terms I suppose I've had this blog for five or six years, but they've been a long five or six years, and in blog terms five or six years is quite a long time, although those five or six blog years are exactly the same duration as five or six years in normal non-blog terms, but why quibble over facts?
Well! It was a different time when I was a blog whippersnapper. An exciting time to be alive. Why, we even had cars back then. And ovens. And ink-based plastic pens. And handkerchiefs. (Yes, I know we have them now, but they were more exciting back then. Handkerchiefs have caused people to contract a case of the hiccoughs on more than one occasion, let me know, you cheeky young rapscallion.) And none of this iPod this iMac that Blueberry nonsense; all of that was still to come.
Blogs were quite the thing back then, new, exciting, edgy, shiny, gleaming with possibility, and maybe just a little bit salacious. Oh, it was a long time before the mass media had begun flirting with blog technology or anything like that. I wonder when was it I actually first heard about blogs? It may have been eight years ago. Well! It's a long time.
By and by, as they say, I had got myself my own cosy little corner of blog space and had begun posting the occasional meditation or imagining on here. And continue to so to this day - and hopefully will continue to do so for many more years to come, God willing! I suppose there have been big changes in the technology since then; back then I imagine blogs were steam powered. Everything was, more or less. We'd all have to go and get bits of wood to put in the stove when we wanted to turn the computer on, for instance. In America I hear they had grown used to slightly different technology - they'd all have to use a hand crank to 'wind up' their computers.
Those were the pioneering years! We all developed our own 'lingo', just like you young people have today. I imagine you'll be familiar with some of the terms we used back in those early years of blogging. For instance, when someone wanted to comment on something you'd written, they'd 'click' on a 'link' titled something like 'leave a comment'. And if you ever wanted to make sure that what you'd written, either as a comment or a 'post' was right, you could simply choose to preview what you'd written: you just had to click on a button called 'preview'. I know this must seem quaint now, but it was exciting then. And, to me, it still seems quite exciting now.
Nowadays it seems things are quite different. There's this newfangled thing they've developed called 'twitter'. Well now that I come to look at it it doesn't seem all that newfangled at all; actually it looks quite like blogging, except you can't write quite so much. And what's all this facebook nonsense? What with the 'status updates' and the 'events' and the 'groups' and the 'causes' and the 'applications' it's left me feeling all quite confused. I never even knew I had a status, much less one that I had to keep on updating. But all you young people seem to be spending all the time on it these days! Well I spend a lot of time on it too, but it's confusing time! Can't we get back to the simpler things? Like little words printed in neat lines in a clean column right down the page, occasionally interspersed by pictures and reader comments.
And what's so fancy about facebook anyway? It seems more people are spending less time on blogs and more time on facebook than ever before. On facebook, why, your readers are only limited to your 'facebook friends'! There's no change of any old acquaintance, or even a nice new person, dropping by to your facebook page and reading your carefully-crafted status updates or facebook notes: that sort of thing only happens on blogs. Why, I even have people leaving comments for my blog on facebook! No-one ever leaves comments on my blog for my facebook, thank heavens. Call me old fashioned, but I just don't understand things any more. And somehow, even arguments or learned discussions just aren't the same on facebook: who wants to leave a long, learned comment on facebook? There's not enough room! And here's another thing: even if I did decide to start posting regular 'notes' on facebook as a supplement to my blog, I wouldn't even be able to format them with bold or italics, or decide on the format of the page: all that is taken out of my hands.
It's utter rubbish, I say!
Anyway, you young scallywags had better scatter, back to your 'facebook' and 'twitter'. I've just discovered a wonderful new invention - called the 'television'! Why, you just have to tune in to a certain 'channel' and watch a so-called 'television show' for however long you want to! It's quite marvellous, the things they come up with these days, even if it's not as good as old-fashioned blogging. Go on then! Here's a shiny penny, buy yourself a little snack, you funny young things!
Fartisan bakeries
I was watching A Current Affair and.... shut up! You don't think I do these things for pleasure, do you?
Anyway, I was watching A Current Affair and they ran one of their stories comparing items from different shops. This time it was supermarket breads compared to, well, breads from 'artisan bakeries'. The artisan bakery they chose from? None other than Bakers Delight.
Bakers Delight! How could you walk past them? (Quite simple really, put one foot in front of another...) I like to call them 'Bakers Despite', for no particular reason. But really, they're an artisan bakery, according to A Current Affair? Everytime I've shopped at Bakers Delight I've been forced to choose between a stale old piece of crust, and another piece of crust that is, well, crusty. Sometimes the crusty crusts have sugar slathered on them and currants jammed in them; those ones are all right. I have a whimsical fondness for sugar. The rest though? Horrible, terrible, awful, and worse.
You might remember the jaunty ad campaign BD ran a couple of years ago. They seemed to be so enamoured with that jolly, jazzy little tune they had their bakers bopping away to that they started playing it all the time, in all of their bakeries. It was nerve racking enough walking into that piece mid-tune; just imagine how angst-making it must have been for the poor kids who had to hear it bop-bop-bop-bop-bopping away all day.
Fawgh, Bakers Delight! They are to artisan bakeries what bubblegum is to pavements, what blisters are to feet, what cheap, unoriginal, shlocky-tabloid television journalism is to television. What sort of television show, exactly, might fit that bill? Oh yeah. Bakers Delight are the A Current Affair of the artisan baking world.
Posted by TimT at 9:16 pm 12 comments:
Linguistification
Okay -
Spick and span
Why do we do things in this way? Why is everything spick and span but never span and spick? Why can't nack nicks be shape ship, why can't we have bobs and bibs as well as bibs and bobs, and, for that matter, why can't we go slop-slap-slip and slap-slip-slop as well as slip-slop-slap? Are we scared of letting our little children use saw sees, or, if you are an American, totter teeters? Are we unnerved by the thought of bop-be or hop-hip music? What is it?
Do we think if we suddenly switch these little phrases around, everything will go out of control, that the entire world will run skelter helter, piggledy higgledy for the hills? That matter will go turvy topsy when the clocks start going tock tick instead of tick tock? Do we faintly suspect that there is something slightly perverse about crying hoo boo instead of boo hoo? Will the world really fall in on itself if a dog wakes up in the morning and decides to go wow bow?
And stop hee teeing up the back! This is a serious matter!
Summary of a book
In the past outcast, on passed, off to class, teachers, preachers, learning, yearning, burning, homicide, suicide, desolation, destitution, devastation, restitution, affirmation, confirmation, flirtation, temptation, sublimation, kiss, bliss, resolution.
Not necessarily in that order.
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
A poem about liking things
I'm not going to join the group Melbourne Poets Who Like the Australian Greens - but I'm tempted to, just so I could post this poem:
I like the Greens!
They're really nice!
Much better than scabies
Or head lice!
The oceans are rising.
It makes me fret!
If they keep rising,
My feet will get wet!
They've got Bob Brown!
But Bob Brown is sad
With a permanent frown.
Don't be sad, please Bob!
We'll make you grin!
We'll do our best
To vote you in!
Even if their economic policies are somewhat questionable.
A sensible pantoum, written on the tram
A sensible pantoum
Bilious velveteen elephants
Galloping galloping down
Into my study and drawing room
Out of the cloudy green sky,
A stampede of bestial angels
Out of the cloudy green sky
Dirtying all my fine linen,
Trumpeting sylph melodies
Dirtying all my fine linen
Making me spill all my tea,
Trumpeting sylph melodies,
Triumphantly trampling beds,
Making me drop all my tea,
On my (as mentioned) fine linen,
Springing up out of the window
On my (as mentioned) fine linen
And nesting in my apple tree,
Using their fore-hoofs for flying
And nesting in my apple tree
(All rather upsetting for me),
Using their fore-hoofs for flying,
Into my study and drawing room,
Bilious velveteen elephants.
Naughty after the fact
I've just realised that after a more or less unbroken record of not-wagging-from-school from the years 1982-1995, I've spent the next 15 years of my life wagging. Cool!
Though if I ever I go back, I'll be in biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig trouble.
Fearful apprehension of mysterious events that are also secret at an undisclosed Melbourne university!
Oh wow, Tim, something really exciting just happened... a helicopter has just landed on the uni oval... it's like something out of a Dan Brown novel! - The Baron
The sleek black helicopter silently dropped out of the clear evening skies onto the college lawn. Well the helicopter wasn't so much a sleek black as a ruddy white and blue, but it did drop down, though not so silently: it was quite noisy actually. It wasn't evening either, and the skies weren't particularly clear: it was still morning and, being autumn, there were a number of clouds in the sky. Also, it was an oval the helicopter landed on, not a lawn. And, because this was Australia, it was a university, not a college. So, all in all, it would make more sense to say that the non-sleek, un-black helicopter dropped, quite noisily, out of the partly cloudy skies at a time that was either afternoon, dawn, morning, or somewhere in between, onto the large grassy area that was used for sporting activities, at the particular Melbourne university at which this incident was observed.
One by one, armed FBI officers fanned out into the courtyard. Well, we've already established that this is Australia, and so they wouldn't be FBI officers I suppose. And there was only one of them too, but he certainly did come out one by one, and fanned out, though not, of course, into the courtyard, which was an oval, and not for very long either; after fanning out for a second or so he just stood there.
Behind the thin column, Langdon, and the famous, tall, glamorous, auburn-haired Madame Coco de Milo watched with fearful apprehension while - though I should state right here and now that the column was so thin as to be zero inches thick, which is to say, it was non-existent; Robert Langdon was sleeping peacefully in his bed on the other side of the world, and therefore not present for the occasion of this incident, or the incident of this occasion; and the Madame Coco de Milo, while she was there, had chestnut hair, not auburn, and spectacles, and she was speaking on a mobile phone, and had a different name which she had possessed since birth, and it is actually an open-question whether she was the famous Madame Coco de Milo at all (whoever the famous Madame Coco de Milo was, and also presumably is), though she was looking on with fearful apprehension, or perhaps a better way to describe it would be apprehensive fearfulness, at least - while, I say, they clutched in their hands, (or perhaps Langdon clutched in his hands, because it would be rather difficult for them to be both clutching it at once) the crumbling papers that contained the secret puzzle that would unveil the final diabolical mystery, both which were implicit in the initial ancient cipher unveiled in the depths of the subterranean vault in Degraves Street, Melbourne.
Meanwhile, in the laneway underneath the bridge leading in to university, a semi-important man with responsibility for the photocopiers in the Sociology Department, stubbed his toe...
Precious non-vanishing natural heritage
The latest research indicates that most of the Pacific's low-lying islands are growing, not shrinking. - Coral islands left high and dry, The Australian
In news that will be of concern to many people concerned with being concerned about concerning things, it seems that many endangered islands may be in danger of not being endangered.
Around the world, leaders of government and environmental groups have begun to debate the implications of this lack of an unfolding crisis, and the possible ways in which they may be able to bring the islands that are less endangered than were previously thought back to previous levels of endangerment, and perhaps even lift them to unprecedented levels of endangerment, in order to create concerns for concerned people.
"We need to protect our precious vanishing natural heritage so that it keeps on vanishing," says Amber McAmble, head of the Friends of the Worldwide Fund for Green Natural Heritage Peace (FWFGNHP). "Otherwise, our precious vanishing natural heritage will simply stay there, maybe forever."
Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd agrees: "if we don't do something now, who knows how long these precious vanishing islands will stay there? Nobody wants to visit or help a non-vanishing static island that's just, you know, sort of sitting there."
On Monday, a coalition of concerned economists will present a petition to the Prime Minister in Canberra suggesting ways in which sea levels can be made to rise. "For instance, sticking a really big heater over the Arctic Ice," says one. "That way, we can save the endangered islands from being endangered by unendangerment, and they can start sinking again."
The thriving capital city of a typical Pacific Island. This delicate natural culture may be on the brink of a catastrophic lack of catastrophe unless we do something to change it.
An allsorts post, but not involving licorice
1. I have a shirt that looks like it's inside out when it's actually inside in and outside out. Even more confusing, when my shirt that looks like it's inside out when it's inside in also looks inside out when it's inside out (or possibly outside in?) thus thoroughly confusing the matter. Thankfully, the shirt looks more inside in and outside out when it is actually inside in, but it's a pretty close call.
Apart from the fact that the person inside the inside out shirt feels like an outsider even though they are an insider, due to its inside-outness, it is otherwise a nice and comfortable shirt.
2. The teapot committed suicide last night. Well technically you might say that it fell to the floor and broke, but I feel certain that this was premeditated. You see, it was only two days prior to this that it's companion cup fell to the floor and broke into a thousand pieces, and I guess the teapot had been brooding over this horrifying event in a state of mingled disbelief and devastation.
The fact that I was fussing around just below the bench on which it stood with a bucket that had several things like broom handles sticking out of it is neither here nor there. I only wish I could have counselled the teapot out of its suicidal tendencies.
3. On Monday I made gingerbread men. They had mini M&Ms for eyes, which made them look like creepily-staring alien gingerbread men. The mini M&M eyes kept on falling out, or squashing, which made them look like creepily-staring alien undead zombie gingerbread men. The gingerbread men also had a habit of sticking to one another and fusing into one gingerbread man flesh, which made them look like creepily-staring alien undead zombie mass symbiotic entity gingerbread men, possibly possessing romantic infatuations with one another, to boot. That was cool.
Great scientific advances of our time
Recently on perfecting the design of my chicken-to-human translator, I obtained some interesting results while hanging out about some chickens I know. I would like to present several chicken-to-human translations to you for your perusal. It was either that or Nature magazine.
CHICKEN 1:
What do you take me for man? What?
Some kind of backwoods duck?
I've clucking had it up to here -
I mean, what the clucking cluck?
Shut yer pecker. Listen son.
You're just a clucking slacker.
So take your clucking grain and shove it
Up your clucking cloaca.
I don't give a clucking flap,
You chickhead. I just don't.
You're just a pecking clucking chick,
A cockadoodledont.
Cluck off, cluckhead! Cluck yourself!
Go clucking cluck your pecker!
And cluckily clucky clucky cl...
At this point, I switched off the chicken-to-human translator, realising that nothing of interest could come out of this linguistic project whatsoever, and went and did the dishes.
Retro biscuits
What do they call those little flavoured rice biscuits they have at parties these days? They are the Jatz of the 21st century. Does anyone remember Jatz? We all used to eat Jatz, whenever the occasion called for parties and a little something to eat. And then there was the time we all went crazy over Saos, and there were the imitation Jatz biscuits they came out with - Ritz. On the whole it appears if you are a person who designs savoury biscuits (what do they call them?) you probably wouldn't go too far wrong if you gave it a name that ended with Z. Jatz, Ritz, Bitz, Titz....
One of these days I would like to have a retro biscuit party where we all gather around a table and eat those little biscuits we used to eat decades ago, with a little something on them of course.
On underpants
Some people call them Y fronts. But I call them Y not fronts.
A moustache you can trust
Nice old man Brian Aldiss discussing an aspect of his latest novel, Walcot. With his fine bristly moustache I have to say he looks quite the mid-20th century demagogue. At one point he gets so excited that he actually starts waving his fist in the camera, but it's entirely characteristic that when he does so, he is actually expounding on the virtues of apology.
I may just have to order this book.
Australia mourns death of writer it never read
With the death of Randolph Stow on 29 May 2010, all of Australia is mourning the loss of a writer it never heard of and who it never read.
In an obituary published in the Sydney Morning Herald, critic Peter Craven has said, "Stow was truly one of the greatest writers who we have never read." Craven talked in detail about Stow's atmospheric writing (which he had never read) and his gift for contriving exciting plots (which he hadn't read either.) "Maybe one day," mused Craven hopefully, "I will be as little read as Stow is today." Craven's colleagues agreed.
Writers, public figures, and dignitaries have all paid tribute to Stow, who none of them have ever read, as a great and influential Australian, albeit one that few of them knew. A number of widely-circulated newspapers, including The Australian, The Age, and The West Australian, have performed a critical overview of Stow's most famous titles, while ABC's The Book Show plans to do dramatic reading from Stow's chapter headings and back-cover blurbs on the weekend.
Meanwhile, academics from universities have spoken about the lasting contribution of Stow's unread books to Australian literature. Professor John Warblung, Sydney University, is an expert on the works of Randolph Stow, having not read all of Stow's books, several times. His most recent work is the book, 'The Life and Letters of Randolph Stow', in which he concludes, 'Randolph Stow lived for 74 years and may or may not have used the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X and Z in his works. And possibly also Y.'
The nation joins tonight in mourning over the death of this widely loved, though largely unrecognised and unread, author, before going back to read the latest Dan Brown novel. Randolph Stow, whoever he was, will be sorely missed.
EXCLUSIVE READER SURVEY
In your opinion, what is the most important of Stow's unread letters?online survey
Rejected entries for Uncle Almanac's Giant Compendium of Assembled Jokeage
Q: What's the difference between a writer and a smuggler?
A: One plans plots, the other plans plots.
An American, an Australian, and an Irishman are due for execution. The executions are carried out successfully.
Q: What's brown and sticky?
A: Mud.
Q: What's the latest Irish invention?
A: The Large Hadron Collider.
[Editor's note: actually the Large Hadron Collider was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research.]
Q: What do cows eat for breakfast?
A: Grass.
Q: What's the difference between a teacher and a steam train?
A: One imparts knowledge, the other delivers you to a destination.
A librarian was sitting in the library as she had always done one day when a chicken walked in the door of the library, and up to the desk, saying, 'book, book, book, book, book.' Well, the librarian beheaded the chicken and that night her whole family had a nice roast meal.
Q: What's the difference between an eccentric person who goes about inquiring the local birds about various matters, and a politician?
A: One questions ducks, the other ducks questions.
[Editor's note: the Q needs work.]
Q: When is a door not a door?
A: When it's open.
One day Jackie Jackie...
[Editor's note: racism! Completely unacceptable. Wait for the Giant Compendium of Politically Incorrect Jokes.]
An Irishman, American, and Englishman walked into the bar and drank a moderate amount of alcohol in a responsible fashion before catching the bus home.
Knock knock.
Jackie Ja
[Editor's note: stop. right. there.]
Q: When is a door not an orange?
A: Doors are usually not oranges, most of the time.
Q: What's black and sits at the top of the stair?
A: A black... thing.
A blonde wants to get to the other side of the river. So she walks over the bridge.
Q: What's the difference between a person who designs kitchenware, and a person who draws maps on the kitchenware?
A: One person plans pots, the other plots pans.
[Editor's note: will consider it for second printing.]
Patriotic songs of the world, no. umpteen hundred and one
C: God save our marmalade!
Long live our marmalade!
Good English jam!
V: Spread it all o'er the toast
From coast to crusty coast
Proudly may all Britons boast -
Better than spam!
V: Lemon or mandarine,
Orange or tangerine,
Lime chunks that have a turquoise sheen -
Fearful apprehension of mysterious events that are...
Rejected entries for Uncle Almanac's Giant Compend...
Patriotic songs of the world, no. umpteen hundred ...


text:
La battaglia di Terranova (detta anche battaglia dell'isola di Terranova o battaglia di Candia) è un episodio bellico della seconda guerra d'indipendenza italiana. La battaglia fu combattuta tra il 22 ed il 25 maggio 1859 a Terranova, frazione di Casale Monferrato, e Candia Lomellina, fra austriaci e piemontesi.

Antefatto
A seguito della vittoria di Villata, si moltiplicarono velocemente i passaggi del Sesia da parte delle truppe sabaude, più a sud di Vercelli, verso Breme e verso Candia Lomellina.

Il 22 maggio due brigate, "Savoia" e "Granatieri" assieme a due battaglioni di bersaglieri e a delle batterie d'artiglieria partiti da Casale Monferrato e guidati da Vittorio Emanuele II, occuparono l'isolotto di Terranova, posto davanti a Porto Terraso, alla confluenza del Sesia col fiume Po.

La battaglia
Nei giorni tra il 22 ed il 23 maggio, le truppe piemontesi in loco si scontrarono con la brigata del generale Ferdinand Anton von Dondorf il quale si era posto con le sue truppe a costeggiare il fiume; lo scontro a fuoco, per quanto lungo, non portò ad alcun risultato da ambo le parti.

Il generale Sigismund von Reischach, nella notte tra il 24 ed il 25 maggio, mosse le sue truppe dal suo accampamento a Candia Lomellina per correre in soccorso a von Dondorf assieme alla brigata del generale Wilhelm von Lebzeltern, con lo scopo di dare il cambio alla brigata dell'alleato. Per minacciare i piemontesi, von Reischach diede ordine ai suoi uomini di piazzare una batteria d'artiglieria di quattro pezzi da 12 e due obici di modo da poter comodamente bombardare l'isolotto da una posizione riparata, costringendo pertanto i piemontesi, per evitare di finire massacrati sull'isola, a spostarsi a piedi e lentamente attraverso il letto fangoso del fiume, esponendoli così al fuoco degli austriaci. Gli austriaci aprirono il fuoco contro i piemontesi alle 4 del mattino, ma questi furono in grado di rispondere adeguatamente con l'artiglieria di cui disponevano, riuscendo a far cessare il fuoco nemico dopo aver distrutto alcuni pezzi dell'artiglieria austriaca.

I bersaglieri piemontesi poterono così attraversare il Sesia ma, non appena giunti sulla sponda opposta, vennero attaccati di sorpresa da un gruppo di cacciatori tirolesi che li costrinsero a ritornare sui loro passi. Il gruppo dovette quindi abbandonare l'isolotto di Terranova e procedere all'attraversamento del fiume più a nord.

Bibliografia
Victor Paul, La guerra d'Italia del 1859. Quadro storico, politico e militare, ristampa ed. Zeisciu, 2009

Guerra nel 1859
Terranova, battaglia di
Terranova, battaglia di

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It is often overlooked that hard drives which are available on the market provide temperature measurements. This temperature can be effortlessly monitored using hddtemp application by Emmanuel Varagnat.
Use the following command to install hddtemp package.
Provide hard drive device as an application argument to print its temperature.
Notice that application requires root privileges.
Add an --numeric argument to print only the temperature.
You can easily provide muliple devices.
Specify an --unit argument to use Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Switch into daemon mode and log to syslog every hour (3600 seconds).
Switch into daemon mode and listen on every interface using port 7634.
Switch into daemon mode and listen on localhost using port 7634.
I will post more information next week so stay tuned.