Management packets (36, 52, 54) are defined that are modified in the payload by each node (16, 18, 20; 24, 26, 28) along a virtual connection and are used to measure both end-to-end QoS and specific individual intermediate node performance parameters. Management packets (36, 52, 54) are implemented by defining entirely new packets or by modifying ATM OAM cells. Switches or routers for use as intermediate nodes are defined that modify the payload of the management packet (36, 52, 54) and locally measure packet delay and packet loss. An intermediate node measures and records the difference between the arrival and departure times of management packets (36, 52, 54) at that switch (31, 56) utilizing delay-stamp fields within the management packets (36, 52, 54) and either the switch internal routing header or timestamp fields (9) within the packet. At the endpoint of the virtual connection, delay-stamp fields (10) in the management packet (36, 52, 54) indicate individual node delays and the cumulative delay.
Technical Field The present invention relates to electronic communications networks and.
in particular. to performance monitoring of packet-switched data nenvorks.
and some other packet-oriented protocols are connection-oriented, utiiizing what are known in ATM as virtual path connections (VPC) and virtual channel connections (VCC) that stretch between two endpoints across transmission links connected by intermediate nodes. These intermediate nodes are devices that forward and direct the packets to their intended destination endpoint. i.e.
routers. or switches. Packet-switched data networks are capable of supporting a simultaneous mix of voice, video, and data services over either constant bit rate (CBR) or variable bit rate (VBR) connections.
For each virtual connection. an ATM network can guarantee to the customer a particular level of performance, known as a quality of service (QoS).
that is negotiated between the user and the network during connection set-up.
may carry statistically multiplexed VCCs of differing QoS classes, but the overall QoS of the VPC must satisfy the most demanding QoS of the carried VCCs.
-~ -Specified QoS parameter values may be either explicitly requested by the user or :mplicitly associated with a particular service.
An important concem is management of traffic to ensure that users receive :tneir guaranteed QoS. The assurance of a particular QoS is a fundamental part of T.he contractual agreement between the network and the users because certain applications critically depend on receiving a particular QoS from the network.
Voice transmissions, for example. are particularly sensitive to end-to-end delay.
For this reason, public telephone networks have a maximum allowable delay specification of 600 ms [Chen, Thomas M., Wairand. Jean. and Messerschmitt, David G., "Dynamic Priority Protocols for Packet Voice," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications. Vol. 7. No. 5, June 1989, pp. 632-643], with any delay greater than 15 ms generally requiring the use of echo cancellation [McDysan, David E. and Spohn. Darren L., ATM.' Theory and Application, McGraw-Hill, 1995, p. 355].
Performance management. as a function of network management, has the simultaneous responsibilities of maintaining both the QoS per virtual connection and the efficient utilization of the network. Performance management itself depends largely on the data obtained through performance monitoring, which is conducted through measurement of the QoS per VPC/VCC. Because of the use of statistical multiplexing in ATM networks, the QoS of a virtual connection may in particular be adversely affected bv the random flow of traffic on the network.
is also degraded by a number of other factors, including network congestion and transmission faults, as well as intermittent error conditions that may cause a gradual deterioration in QoS. Network providers need to be able to detect and diagnose troubles quicklv in order to minimize the effect of those troubles on network users.
Performance monitoring can be done either through out-of-service testing or in-service QoS monitoring. Out-of-service testing involves performance measurements made under controlled traffic conditions. This type of testing has a number of drawbacks. not the least of which is that service on the network must be -~-i:,terrupted. In addition. tne results received are only as accurate as the model used to create the controlled traffic conditions. It is entirely possible that the controlled conditions tested may not correctly model some of the conditions actually seen by *.: e network during senice. In addition. this method does not allow rapid detection of anv subsequent degradation of the network.
In-service QoS monitoring involves continuous performance measurements on actual user traffic. No service interruption occurs and network degradation is instantaneously detected. Continuous performance monitoring is particularly important in high-speed networks where service deterioration may quickly affect a large amount of user data. In-service QoS measurements are also useful to supplement traffic control algorithms based on assumed traffic models. such as those used in out-of-service testing, that may not accurately characterize the actual traffic.
Bellcore. Generic Requirements for Operations of Broadband Switching Systems, TA-NWTOO 1248, issue 2. Oct. 1993 ]. OAM cells are specialized versions of standard 53 -byte ATM cells. having a notmal 5-byte header with a 48-byte information field, but carrying management information within the function-specific information fields instead of user data. ATM user cells themselves cannot be used for QoS monitoring because the payload is full of user data and no header fields are available to receive the information that is needed by the performance monitoring system for caiculation and storage of cell loss and cell delay.
field contains an error detection code that is computed over the information field of the cell.
The forward monitoring procedure consists of inserting OAM performance management cells into the cell stream between blocks of user cells at one endpoint of the virtual connection. Backward reporting involves putting observed performance data into an OAM cell at a virtual connection endpoint and then sending the OAM cell backwards in the cell stream direction from which it came, in order to report the performance of that particular virtual connection to the originating endpoint.
To measure cell loss, the OAM cell contains the number of user cells sent in the preceding block (Total User Cell Number) in a 2-byte function-specific field.
cell, the difference is interpreted to be the number of lost cells.
The major disadvantage of the current network performance monitoring method for measuring cell loss is that it cannot be assured of actually determining the exact number of cells lost. This is because cells can also be misinserted into the cell stream. Therefore, for example, if the OAM cell indicates that N user cells were sent and then N-1 cells are actually received, it is not possible to be sure whether 1 cell was lost, or whether 2 cells were lost and 1 misinserted, and so on. It is also not possible, usina this method, to determine from where along the virtual connection, or from where within a cell block, the cell loss actually occurred.
In order to measure cell delay. the OAM performance management cell contains an optional 4-byte Timestamp field that is used to indicate the time that the OAM cell was inserted into the user stream. The timestamp is then compared with the arrival time of the cell at the virtual connection endpoint and the difference is inferred to be the end-to-end delay experienced by a cell along the -~-virtual connection. However, this type of timestamp is meaningful at the destination only if the clocks at the two endpoints of the virtual connection are synchronized to the same time-of-day, something which is generally not practical.
In addition, the existing method of delay measurement does not take into account the fact that end-to-end delay actually consists of two distinct types of delav: fixed propagation delay, which is that delay introduced into the connection at a predictable level by the transmission links extending between the network nodes. and random delay. Random delay is that delay which is introduced by each of the intermediate nodes themselves, and can vary widely with network traffic levels and switch buffer capacity. In general, this type of delay is primarily due to queuing delays, which tend to increase %vith increased traffic load. The existing method of performance monitoring using OAM cells is not able to track the delay that is actually experienced at each node along the virtual connection due to such factors.
An alternative way to measure cell delay is to measure round-trip cell delay via an OAM loopback cell. which is identified by OAM Cell Type = 0001 and OAM Function Type = 1000. The loopback cell is sent along the virtual connection and then returned to its originating endpoint from the destination endpoint or from a prespecified intermediate node. A timestamp allows computation of the round-trip delay back at the originating endpoint, without the need for time-of-dav clock synchronization between nodes. The one-way end-to-end delay is then estimated as half the round-trip delay. However, while the loopback cell method can measure the round-trip delays without need for clock synchronization, it gives only an estimate of the one-way cell delay. This estimate may in actuality be very inaccurate if the network congestion or characteristics have altered greatly between the two halves of the OAM cell's trip. Furthermore, this method is also not able to measure the delay occurring at individual intermediate nodes.
All of these disadvantages to current network performance monitoring methods arise generally from the fact that the intermediate nodes in the virtual connection relay the OAM cells but do not actually modify their payloads.
Although ATM switches can have the capability to remove and manipulate the header of an ATM cell, it is not normai for a switch to process the entire payload of a cell. When this does occur, it is only done through removal of the cell from its place in the cell stream, which currently prevents such a cell from being used to calculate position dependent parameters such as cell delay and cell loss. For this reason. OAM cells used in performance monitoring are solely a mechanism for measurement of performance between the two endpoints of the virtual connection.
The perforlnance monitoring capability of the network is severely limited by this lack of ability of intermediate nodes to add information into the payload of a passing data packet. What has been needed is a way to collect and utilize the information that can be provided to the performance monitoring system by the intermediate nodes.
Disclosure of Invention In one aspect of the invention. a new class of packet is defined which has a payload that is modified by each node along a virtual connection. Management packets are used to accurately measure and report the end-to-end QoS along a virtual connection, as well as to measure and report specific performance parameters at individual intermediate nodes In an ATM embodiment, management cells are implemented by defining an entirely new type of cell or by defining additional fields within existing OAM cells. The switch at each intermediate node modifies the payload of management packets and locally measures delay and packet loss. A function type field specifies the particular performance monitoring function performed by each management packet. The information field of the management packet optionally contains timestamp fields, delay-stamp fields, and packet loss count fields.
In another aspect of the invention, intermediate switches can measure the difference between the arrival time and the departure time of any packet at that switch. For an end-to-end delay accumulating management packet, a delay-stamp field is incremented by the local delay measured at each switch. When the management packet reaches the endpoint of the virtual connection, the delay-stamp field indicates the cumulative amount of time that the packet has been delayed by the nodes of the network.
In another aspect of the invention. a node-by-node delay measurement management packet allows computation and relay of instantaneous delay information by utilizing multiple delay-stamp fields to record each delay encountered on a node by-node basis. At the destination endpoint. the end-to-end delay is computed as the sum of the recorded delay-stamp fields.
Alternatively, the switch may record in one timestamp field the time that the packet arrives, and then record the time the packet leaves into another timestamp field, with the calculation of node-by-node delay made when the packet reaches the endpoint of the virtual connection.
According to a further aspect of the invention, intermediate switches can count the number of packets each discards. When a node receives an end-to-end loss accumulating management packet, it increments a packet loss count field by the number of packets discarded by the node within that virtual connection since the previous loss management packet arrived. When the end-to-end loss accumulating management packet arrives at the virtual connection endpoint, the packet loss count field reflects the total number of discarded packets in the preceding block of user packets. Node-by-node loss measurement management packets contain multiple packet loss count fields for recording the number of discarded packets counted at each node since the departure of the previous loss management packet in that virtual connection. The total packet loss is then calculated at the endpoint of the virtual connection.
Associated management packets experience the same delay and packet loss rate as the user data packets in a particular virtual connection, implemented in one embodiment of the invention by having the management packets follow the same path as the user packets through the switch.. The payloads of associated management packets are processed without the packet being removed from the data packet stream. In one embodiment, this is implemented by using the switch internal routing header. When the packets enter the switch input header processor, it uses the net -ork routing instructions for each packet to create an internal routing header that, for a delay management packet, includes the time of entry into the switch. In an alternate embodiment. the time a delay management packet arrives at the svvitch is recorded directly into a timestamp field in the packet while the previous user data packet is being sent to the switch fabric.
In the former embodiment, all the data packets are routed through the switch fabric and directed towards their intended output ports through an output header processor, which removes the internal routing header from the packets.
compares the time-of-day stamp in the internal routing header of delay management packets to the current time-of-day to calculate the delay incurred by each packet in the switch. and records the difference in the delay-stamp field of the management data packet. This occurs while the previous user data packet in the datastream is being sent to the output port so that the management data packet retains its place in the datastream. A similar procedure is followed if the timestamp field is used, with the output header processor reading the time of entry from that field.
In another aspect of the invention, packet loss counts are recorded in loss management packets. When a loss management packet is routed through the switch output header processor, the processor records into the packet loss count field the number of packets discarded by the switch within that particular virtual connection since the last loss management packet was processed. The packet loss count is recorded while the previous user data packet in the datastream is being sent to the output port, allowing the loss management data packet to retain its place in the datastream.
Non-associated management packets are extracted from the datastream and diverted to a special processor, therefore not retaining their positions relative to the user data packets in the same virtual connection. Non-associated management packets are used in one aspect of the invention by a control processor to report cumulative performance or usage measurements. The input header processor creates an internal routing header for non-associated management packets that directs the switch fabric to route the packets to the control processor for modification.
Non-associated management packets are used in another aspect of the invention to implement local measurement of packet delav and packet losses br replacing the non-associated management packet temporarily with a marker packet that holds the place of the non-associated management packet in the datastream while the control processor records the delay or packet loss count information in the payload of the management packet. The marker packet is then replaced in the datastream with the modified non-associated management packet. Local measurement of delay and packet loss is implemented in an alternate embodiment of the invention by routing all data packets through a control processor, recording delay and packet loss count information into appropriate management packets.
and performing dummy writes to user data packets.
Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of associated management packets through a switch with local observability of packet delay according to one aspect of the present invention; and Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of non-associated management packets through a switch according to another aspect of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The limitations of prior art network connection performance monitoring methods are eliminated by defining a special class of packet, a "management packet," having a payload that can be modified by each node along a virtual connection. This method can be applied to any packet-switching network. In the preferred ATM embodiment, these "management cells" can optionally be implemented as extensions of current OAM cells. Like OAM cells, management cells carry measurement data along the virtual connection in the cell information field. The major difference between management cells and prior art OAM cells is that the information field of a management cell is modified by all the network nodes along a virtual connection, not just by the virtual connection endpoints. This new capability makes it possible for the performance monitoring system to track the performance of each node along the virtual connection. rather than just the end-to-end performance of the virtual connection as a whole.
experienced by the user packets along any virtual connection. In addition, specific performance parameters measured at individual intermediate nodes are made available to the performance monitoring system. This allows in-service monitoring to be used to accurately identify the QoS actually seen by users and to detect exact causes of performance deterioration before users are seriously affected. The method of the present invention therefore offers vastly improved in-service monitoring of both end-to-end packet delay and packet loss rate.
The method requires that the router or switch at each node have specific.
unique capabilities, including local processing measurement of packets and local measurement of packet delay and packet loss. Management packets are used to accurately measure end-to-end packet delay, without the need for time-of-day clock synchronization between network connection endpoints, by measuring and reporting the packet delay at each node along a virtual connection. Likewise, management packets allow accurate measurement and reporting of both end-to-end packet loss and packet loss at each node along a virtual connection.
53-byte ATM management cell has a standard 5-byte ATM cell header 2. Within this cell header 2, the cell is identified to the network as an OAM cell by specific codes in the VCI and/or PT fields (VCI=3, VCI=4, PT=4 or PT=5). In an alternate embodimenL entirelv new VCI and PT codes are defined that uniquely identifv the cell to the network as an ATM management cell.
If existing OAM VCI and PT codes are used in the cell header 2, the management cell is instead uniquely identified as a management cell to the network by a special code in the 4-bit OAM Cell Type field 4. A 4-bit Function Type field 6 further indicates the specific performance monitoring function performed by the management cell. As in a regular OAM cell, a 10-bit EDC field contains an error detection code that is computed over the information field of the cell.
In the ATM embodiment of Fig. 1, the Function Type field 6 contains a code that describes to the network the type of performance monitoring function performed by the ATM management cell, labeling the cell as an "end-to-end delay accumulating" cell, a "node-by-node delay measurement" cell, an "end-to-end loss accumulation" cell, a "node-by-node loss measurement" cell, or as some combination of the previous types. Additional codes can be defined for the monitoring of other performance parameters. The information field of the management cell will also optionally contain a 4-byte Timestamp field 9, a Delay-stamp field 10, and a Cell Loss Count field 12, as well as other function-specific fields 14 that are used for additional delay-stamps, cell loss counts, etc., as needed.
These fields can also be used for monitoring and reporting other performance parameters.
For measurement of packet delay, a switch is required that can measure the difference between the arrival time and the deparrure time of any packet at that switch, a capability known as "local observability" of packet delay. Because most switches have at least some buffering capability, the delay incurred by a packet in the switch can be highly variable, particularly where a priority-based buffering scheme is implemented. Packet delay within a sN%itch tends to increase as network traffic increases. Existing packet switches are not currently implemented so as to have the ability to measure the delay experienced by a packet within the switch itself The management packet method utilizes measurements of the individual packet delay experienced between the input and output of each of the intermediate switches. Existing switches used with performance monitoring OAM cells have the ability to timestamp OAM cells when they enter a cell stream. In the management packet method, this activity can be replicated at each intermediate node. If the management packet is an end-to-end delay accumulating management cell, the intermediate node takes the Delay-stamp field 10. which was set to zero at the originating endpoint of the virtual connection, and increments it by the local delay measured at that switch. as illustrated in Fig. 2 for an ATM embodiment.
In Fig. 2, the Delay-stamp field 10 initially contains a delay TO from previous intermediate nodes. At node 16, the time the cell of Fig. I enters the node 16 is recorded in the Timestamp field 9. This field is then compared to the time the cell leaves the node and the Delay-stamp field 10 is incremented by the difference, T1. At node 2 18, a new time in is recorded in the Timestamp field 9, corresponding to the time the cell has entered the node 18. This field is again compared to the time the cell exits the node 18 and the difference, T2 is used to increment the value in the Delaystamp field 10. A similar procedure is followed at node 3 20, and so on, until the endpoint of the virtual connection is reached.
Alternatively, the time a packet enters each node can be incorporated into a field in the internal routing header used by that node to direct the packet to the proper output, makin-z use of a timestamp field within the packet unnecessary. The switch then examines the time of entry recorded in the routing header to calculate the delay that is ritten or incremented into the Delay-stamp field.
Follo"-ing either procedure, when the management cell of Fig. 2 finally reaches the endpoint of the virtual connection, the Delay-stamp field 10 indicates the cumulative amount of time that the cell has been variably delayed by the nodes of the network. If desired, this delay can then be added to the value of fixed propagation delay caused by the transmission links between the nodes in order to arrive at the total time that the cell has spent in the network. While this delay-stamp approach requires the new switch capability of local observability of packet delay, it has a big advantage over the OAM cell performance monitoring method in that it does not require any time-of-day synchronization between the switches in a network.
For monitoring of packet delay in more detail, a node-by-node delay measurement management packet may be used. A particular advantage of the node-by-node delay measurement management packet is that it allows the computation and relay of instantaneous delay information. This type of management packet contains multiple delay-stamp fields for recording each local delay encountered on a node-by-node basis, as illustrated in Fig. 3 for an ATM embodiment. In Fig.
3, at each node the cell is stamped in the Timestamp field 0, or in the separate internal routing header, with the time of entry into the node. This time is then compared to the time of exit from that node and the calculated delay is recorded into the cell in one of a multiple of unused Delay-stamp fields 22 This allows monitoring of the delay performance of each intermediate node at the virtual connection endpoint. If desired, the end-to-end cell delay can also be computed at the destination endpoint, being the sum of the delay-stamp fields. Alternatively, additional timestamp fields can be used for each node, allowing the switch to merely record in one timestamp field the time that the packet arrives, and then record the time the packet leaves into another timestamp field. The calculation of node-by-node and end-to-end delay can then be made when the packet has reached the endpoint of the virtual connection. A further alternative is for the cell to be a combination delay cell, allowing the s -itch to record both the accumulated and the node-by-node delays in the same packet.
Measurement of packet loss requires a switch with local observability of packet loss, allowing the switch to count the number of packets it discards per virtual connection. Packet discards occur for various reasons, such as switch buffer overflow due to excessive traffic, corrupted routing information in a cell header field or on the -irtual connection, and when packets have failed to arrive at their destination within a pre-specified time and have therefore "expired." Each switch must count the number of packets it discards within each virtual connection.
GlobeView-2000 switch [See AT&T, Globe View-2000 Broadband System Network: Network Management, 255-179-079, Issue 1.0, Release 1.3, 1995] and the Newbridge 36150 MainStreet switch [See Newbridge, 36150 MainStreet ATMnet Access Switch Technical Practices, NNP 95-1602-01-00-A, Release 3.1, Generic A 11113, 1995 ].
performance management cells, it is not required that a node know how many cells to expect in the user cell block, since each node accurately counts how many cells it discards.
For monitoring of packet loss in greater detail, node-by-node loss measurement management packets containing multiple fields to record the number of discarded packets counted at each node may be used. An illustration of this is shown in Fig. 5 for an ATM embodiment. At each node, the number of cells discarded within that virtual connection by that node since the departure of the previous loss management cell in that virtual connection is stamped at the nodes 24, 26, 28 into one of a multiple of unused Cell Loss Count fields 30. Just as for the node-by-node delay measurement management cell, the total cell loss is then calculated at the endpoint of the virtual connection. A combined loss management packet can be used to allow each node to record both accumulated and node-by-node packet loss simultaneously. Other useful information can be recorded in the node-by-node loss measurement management packeL such as the positions of individual discarded packets within a data packet block.
The methods described require in several of the embodiments that the management packets experience the same delay and packet loss rate as the user data packets in a particular virtual connection. The simplest way to implement this is to have the management packets follow the same path as the user packets through the switch. In order to accomplish this, the payloads of the management packets must be modified without removing the packets from the data packet stream. Management packets processed in this manner are "associated management packets". Shown in Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a switch with the capability of processing the payloads of associated management packets without removing them from the data packet stream. This embodiment also illustrates one of several possible implementations of local observability of packet delay.
In Fig. 6, a datastream enters the switch 31 ai input ports 32. The datastream consists of user data packets 34 interspersed with management packets 36. The user packets 34 and management packets 36 enter the switch input header processor 38, which reads the network routing instructions for each packet and uses them to create an internal routing header that is then attached to that packet. If the packet is a delay management packet, creation of the internal routing header will include stamping of the time of entry into the internai routing header by the time-of-day processor 40. While it is only necessary to stamp delay management packets with the time of entry, if it is more expedient in terms of processor design, time, etc., it is not necessary that management packets 36 be distinguished from user data packets 34 by the input header processor 38. InsteacL all incoming data packets on the input ports 32 can have a time of entry recorded in their internal routing header.
Once the internal routing header has been created, all the data packets are routed through the switch fabric 42 and directed towards their intended output ports 48. Before entering the output ports 48, the packets are routed through the output header processor 44 which removes the internal routing header from the packets. At this time, the processor 44 identifies the delay management packets 36 and uses the time-of-day stamp in the intelnal routing header to calculate the delay incurred by each packet in the switch. The time-of-day stamp in the internal routing header is compared to the current time-of-day, and the difference is written or incremented by the Delay-stamp processor 44 into the delay-stamp field of the management data packet 36, while the previous user data packet 34 in the datastream is being sent to the appropriate output port 48. In this way, the management data packet retains its place in the datastream. In an alternate embodiment, the delay-stamp processor 46 can merely record the time of exit directly into a timestamp field in the delay management packet 36, allowing the delay calculations to be made later when the packet has reached the virtual connection endpoint.
A similar procedure is used in a preferred embodiment to enter packet loss counts into loss management packets. It is not necessary that loss management packets be stamped N;-ith a time of entry to the switch by the time-of-day processor 40, but this may be done if it is more expedient to do so. When a loss management packet is routed through the output header processor 44. the processor identifies it as a loss management packet. The number of packets discarded by the switch for that particular virtual connection since the last loss management packet in that virtual connection was processed by the switch is then w-ritten or incremented into the packet loss count field of the packet. This writing can be done either as an additional function of the Delay-stamp processor 46, or by a separate processor operating in a similar manner. The packet loss count is written into the loss management data packet 36 while the previous user data packet 34 in the datastream is being sent to the appropriate output port 48, allowing the loss management data packet to retain its place in the datastream.
In an alternate embodiment, the time-of-day processor 40 writes the time a delay management packet 36 arrives at the switch directly into a timestamp field in the packet rather than into the internal routing header. In this case, the time-of-day processor 40 will function like the delay-stamp processor 46 in that the time of entry will be recorded in the payload of the delay management packet 36 while the previous user data packet 34 is being sent to the switch fabric 42. The delay-stamp processor 46 then reads the time of entry from the timestamp field of the delay management packet and uses it to calculate the delay by which the processor 46 increments the delay-stamp field in the packet.
A switch capable of modifying packets without removing them from their place in the datastream has uses beyond the performance monitoring function.
Application Layer by allowing identification of from exactly where in the datastream a cell has been lost. This information in turn can be used to request a retransmittal of that cell only, consuming fewer resources than if an entire data block had to be retransmitted. Alternatively, the same information can be used to minimize the damage caused to the data by the absence of the cell, without retransmittal, via error concealment processes.
If management packets must for some reason be extracted from the datastream and then diverted to a special processor, as shown in one embodiment in Fig. 7, they do not experience the same delay as user data packets and will not normally retain their positions relative to the user data packets in the same virtual connection. In Fig. 7. a datastream consisting of user data packets and "associated management packets" 52, interspersed with "non-associated management packets"
54, enters the switch 56 at input ports 50.
Associated management packets are those management packets that are intended to be processed in a manner that allows them to retain their place in the datastream, while non-associated management packets are management packets that are processed in such a way that they lose their position with respect to the other packets in the datastream. Non-associated management packets are used to gather cumulative information from each switch, such as the average and maximum packet delavs measured in the switch since the previous management packet. The control processor 62 accumulates a set of such performance or usage measure-ments and records this information into the arriving non-associated management packets 54. The ability to write into the payload of a non-associated type of packet is available in existing switches, such as the GTE Government Systems SPANet switch.
In the embodiment of Fig. 7, the user data packets/associated management packets 52 and some non-associated management packets 54 enter the switch input header processor 58, which reads the network routing instructions for each packet and uses them to create an internal routing header that is then attached to that packet. If the packet is a non-associated management packet 54, the internai routing header directs the switch fabric 60 to route the packet 54 to the control processor 62 for modification. Once the internai routing headers have been created by the input header processor 58, the data/associated management packets 52 are routed through the switch fabric 60 and directed through the output header processor 64 towards their intended output ports 68 This means that the non-associated management packet has lost its place in the datastream while it was being modified by the control processor 62.
It is possible to use non-associated management packets to implement performance monitoring functions such as local observability of packet delay and packet losses. This is implemented in one embodiment by having the control processor 62 replace the non-associated management packet 54 that is removed from the datastream for processing with a dummy "marker packet" that holds the place of the non-associated management packet 54 in the datastream. The control processor 62 then separately records the necessary performance monitoring information in the payload of the management packet 54. When it has finished, the control processor 62 replaces the dummy marker packet in the datastream with the appropriate nonassociated management packet 54.
Alternatively, local observability of such performance parameters as delay and packet loss can be implemented using an alternate version of the control processor. In this embodi-ment, all data packets are routed through the control processor rather than just non-associated management packets. Parameters such as delay and packet loss count information are recorded into the payloads of appropriate management packets, while dummy writes are made to the payloads of user data packets, leaving the user data unchanged. Although this embodi-iment potentially requires some unnecessary write operations, it maintains the order of all packets in the datastream, and may provide efficiencies in implementation or in other areas.
performance monitoring methods because intermediate nodes along a connection can add their own local performance data into the payload of the packets.
Management packets with delay stamping can be used to accurately measure and report both the end-to-end packet delay and the packet delay at each node along a connection, without the need for time-of-day clock synchronization between nodes.
Management packets can also accurately measure and report the packet loss at each node along a connection. minimizing the confusion created by misinserted packets.
Non-associated management packets allow collection and reporting of cumulative performance and usage information from each node along a connection. The combination of the management packets and switches described allow accurate and detailed QoS measurements along a network connection.
Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the an are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the claims which follow.
and extracting the values in said payload local performance monitoring fields after said management data packet reaches said network connection destination endpoint.
and incrementing, at said network connection intermediate node while maintaining the position of said management data packet in the packet datastream, the value in one of said payload delay-stamp fields by the difference between said time of entry and said time of exit.
3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of adding the values in all said incremented ones of said payload delay-stamp fields of said management data packet, in order to get a total accumulated delay value, when said management data packet reaches said network connection destination endpoint.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said management data packets further include a packet type field, identifying to said network connection intermediate nodes and said network connection destination endpoint that said data packet is a management data packet.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing header means of each of said management data packets contains a field identifying to said network connection intermediate nodes and said network connection destination endpoint that said data packet is a management data packet.
including in said payload local performance monitoring fields at least one payload timestamp field; and for each of said delay management packets, recording, at said network connection intermediate node while maintaining the position of said management data packet in the packet datastream, into one of said payload timestamp fields, the time of entry of said management packet into said network connection intermediate node.
7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of adding the values in all said incremented ones of said payload delay-stamp fields of said management packet, in order to get a total accumulated delay value, when said management packet reaches said network connection destination endpoint.
8. The method of claim 6, further including the step of recording, at said network connection intermediate node while maintaining the position of said management data packet in the packet datastream, said time of imminent exit in an unused one of said payload timestamp fields of said delay management packet.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of comparing each of said payload timestamp fields containing said times of entry of said delay management packet into each of said network connection intermediate nodes to the corresponding one of said timestamp fields containing said time of imminent exit from said network connection intermediate node in order to obtain a delay value for each of said network connection intermediate nodes.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein said time of entry of said management packet into said network connection intermediate node is recorded in an internal routing header created at said network connection intermediate node and attached to said management packet while in said network connection intermediate node.
11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of adding the values in all said incremented ones of said payload delay-stamp fields of said management packet, in order to get a total accumulated delay value, when said management packet reaches said network connection destination endpoint.
including in said payload local performance monitoring fields at least one payload discarded packet count field, initialized to a predetermined value; counting at each of said network connection intermediate nodes the number of said user data packets that are discarded by said network connection intermediate node between the departure of an immediately previous one of said management data packets and the departure of a current one of said management data packets; and incrementing, at said network connection intermediate node while maintaining the position of said management data packet in the packet datastream, the value in one of said payload discarded packet count fields of said current one of said management data packets by said discarded number of said user data packets.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of adding the values in all said incremented ones of said payload discarded packet count fields of said management data packet, in order to get a total accumulated discarded user packet value, when said management data packet reaches said network connection destination endpoint.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of adding the values in all said incremented ones of said payload discarded packet count fields of said management data packet, in order to get a total accumulated discarded user packet value, when said management data packet reaches said network connection destination endpoint.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of adding the values in all said incremented ones of said payload delay-stamp fields of said management data packet, in order to get a total accumulated delay value, when said management data packet reaches said network connection destination endpoint.
means for associatively recording the time of entry of said management packet into said router, wherein said means for associatively recording said time of entry records said time of entry in a payload timestamp field in the payload field of said management packet, means for detection of the imminent exit of said management packet from said router; and means for recording, at said router, a parameter into the payload field of said management packet that can be used to obtain the delay incurred by said management packet in said router.
18. The router of claim 17, further including means for recording, at said router, said time of imminent exit of said management packet from said router into the payload field of said management packet.
19. A performance-monitored switching mechanism for concurrently routing each of a plurality of data packets in a datastream, each of said data packets comprising a header and a payload, to a selected one of plural output data pathways in accordance with a destination address, said mechanism comprising, in combination: a plurality of input ports for concurrently receiving said data packets; a plurality of output data pathways; switching means connected between said input ports and said output data pathways; and means for modifying said payload of one of said data packets without said modified data packet losing its position in said datastream of said data packets, wherein said means for modifying said payload of one of said data packets further comprises, in combination: means for selecting one of said data packets in said datastream to be modified in said payload; means for writing data to said payload of said selected data packet; and means for performing dummy writes to non-selected ones of said data packets in said datastream.


I feel like I can make impact with any of those teams, whichever uniform I end up wearing.But until we everything, it's hard to know just exactly how free agents we'll try to sign or sign.And it's likely Saban won't let us know who that is until they take the field.I didn't want to turn on his TV or get e-mail from somebody saying this is what did and I http://www.washingtoncapitalsofficialonline.com/Adidas-Alexander-Alexeyev-Jersey didn't contact him first.Portland Trail Blazers: Marko Todorovic 46.
He added one block.He added one block and two steals.6 – Lopez scored 16 points Wednesday, going 7 of 11 from the field, as the Chicago Bulls fell to the Indiana Pacers 98.
Syrian President Bashar -Assad's scorched-earth authoritarian response to protests 2011 triggered a civil war that has displaced millions of people and killed more than 470.Both teams had 25 field goals but Yale was 11 of 28 behind the arc and was 4 of 16.He's far from a great player, but he's the coaches' choice as the player to lead this team touches week–and-week-out.says opening the email and seeing the attached drawing remains one of the great milestones of his life, like his wedding day or the birth of his children.
Not really, not those terms," replies Iginla Monday, asked about feeling any back-bending expectations the absence of Fleury.That did not happen early.What does it mean, !The New York Yankees ' first baseman died less than two years later, at the age of 37, from what has since become known http://www.footballbengalsofficialshop.com/Nike-Jordan-Willis-Jersey.html as Gehrig's Disease.
72-ranked English golfer hadn't been hopeful ahead of the final round, saying today was, really, I wouldn't say a write-off, but I didn't feel I was the golf tournament.Even though the Cowboys won 24, it was a pretty thorough romp over the Saints, who couldn't get their offense going until late and couldn't get their defense stabilized until it was too late, and now the once-historic run at 16 could end up with New Orleans home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, courtesy of .Yet he has no choice but to start the way he always has, the way he was taught: He thinks.And then the we picked up out of Washington , a local boy out of San , I think he had outstanding offseason and he shows good quickness, good awareness.But I'm also fascinated to see what happens next.His absence forces Tony Ugoh onto the field, which has been problematic for the team the past.
Kasim Edebali, Vontarrius Dora and rookie should extensive playing time 's place.We know that this game against Gor Mahia is the only to revive our hopes to go through the next stage.had 14 points the first 10 minutes of the game and finished with 21 overall.Look for New England to further address their need for additional pass-rushing help next month's draft.
Four minutes later, Viktor Arvidsson took a one-handed flip pass up the middle from a falling Fisher and beat Matt to pad the Preds' lead to 3.Goedert has to make a transition, certainly, but the Eagles believe he's well-equipped to come and compete for playing time and complement Ertz.Delivering the 's has become a standard Training Camp task for the rookies.It settles everything.The Eagles have a job to do this weekend, starting tonight, to improve already-strong roster and position this team for success 2018 and Authentic Alexander Alexeyev Jersey years to come.
He inked a two-year, $25 million pact with only $2 million guaranteed for 2019.Like predicting Todd Gurley was worth the first overall selection standard re-draft leagues.Everybody knew me.Nobody seems to notice.
If he thinks it's bad now wait until he gets to the , and he is playing against men every day.It did not take for to take the lead as Cahill at the far post to head home Mata's 12th-minute corner to open the scoring.Attacks the line of scrimmage one-back formations.
But there are four players out there that could potentially take them from a playoff team to a contender.These kids, a Jordan Willis Jersey lot of them are homeless, some have drug problems, some are put here by the state and some are put here by the probation department, said.Apr 30 10 AM Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich are both candidates to be moved this if the Bulls are able to manufacture a sign-and-trade.But that's a deep team, and a very good-coached team.


Are you ready to experience the healing power of bees?
Apihouse in Bratislava's Kačín offers bee therapy.
Kačín is a popular recreational locality in Bratislava that now offers the Apidomček healing powers of bees. It was built by the municipal forest company Mestské Lesy v Bratislave for €5,000.
In the bee therapy house there are four bee hives, housing about 120,000 bees. The hives fill the house with healthy bee air suitable for therapy. The house's visitors do not come in a direct contact with the bees at any point during the therapy session.
"During therapy, the visitor lies on the bee hives, which form a bed, and inhales the warm air produced by bees," said Zuzana Onufer, spokesperson of the Bratislava City Council.
The air in the house has high humidity, contains etheric oils, liquid wax particles, aerosol from flavonoids and propolis, enzymes, choline, and herbal hormones produced by bees. It is usually about 36 Celsius degrees in the house. The bee therapy cures a weak immunity system, problems with high blood pressure, allergies, asthma, eczema and in particular, diseases caused by stress.
The recommended time of relaxation is 20-30 minutes. It costs €15 per 30 minutes per person while large groups can get a discount. To schedule this therapy, contact info@ba-lesy.sk.
The municipal forest company has been breeding bees since 2015. It has two bee farms – in the garden of the gamekeeper's house in Krasňany and at Kačín (on the road towards Lamač). It was inspired to build the bee therapy house by a secondary school in Banská Bystrica.


This article is about the town in northern Syria. For the village in the northern West Bank, see Salhab.
Tal Salhab (Arabic: تل سلحب, also spelled Tal Selhab) is a town in the western center of Syria, administratively part of the Hama Governorate, located 48 kilometres (30 mi) northwest of Hama. It is situated on the southern edge of the Ghab plain and by the western bank of the Orontes River. Nearby localities include Nahr al-Bared, Asharnah and al-Suqaylabiyah to the north, Deir Shamil and Deir Mama to the south, Tremseh, Mhardeh and Halfaya to the east.
According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Tell Salhab had a population of 15,454 in the 2004 census. It is also the center of a nahiyah ("subdistrict"), part of the Al-Suqaylabiyah District, consisting of 18 localities and with a combined population of 38,783 in 2004. In the early 1960s its population was around 700. Its inhabitants are predominantly Alawites.
The town was the traditional seat of the Jnaid clan, which typically provided the leaders of the Alawite Kalbiyya confederation. In 1978 a 5,200 square metres (56,000 sq ft) sugar refinery was built in Tell Salhab at a cost of $50 million. The refinery complex boasted a sugar beet silo, a washing plant, pulp presses and dryers, and a water reservoir.
Near Tell Salhab is located Tell 'Acharneh, a large mound which is believed to be the location of the ancient city of Tunip. Archaeological excavations have been ongoing at the site.
^ لمحة موجزة عـن مدينة تــــــل سلحــــــب (in Arabic). محافظة حماة. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
^ Boulanger, Robert (1966). The Middle East, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran. Hachette. p. 452.
^ Batatu, Hanna (1999). Syria's Peasantry, the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables, and Their Politics. Princeton University Press. p. 377. ISBN 0691002541.
^ "Salhab sugar refinery nears completion". Middle East Economic Digest. 22. 1978. p. 43.
This page was last edited on 2 June 2017, at 21:17 (UTC).


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When a person is inspired to create something - a painting, a book, a piece of music, a dinner, a flower arrangement - it seems like it comes from somewhere else. An inspiration, which literally means something s/he breathed in. There's no personal gain to be made other than the necessity of somehow expressing - exhaling - whatever was inhaled. Surely, that is true art. It comes from somewhere else; a place beyond ego, a place where the singular desire is to participate in creation to express whatever that 'je ne sais quoi' is that blows through us sometimes, and which is always beautiful. The great artists, the great musicians always says that they do not know where it came from - it just seemed to work through them. "For the wind bloweth where it will; you know not whence it comes or whither it goes."
The idea that art is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration was surely brought from a mind that was bound up in the old - and happily, passing! - idea that we are here to labour like slaves. Sadly, most of us bought into that myth that somehow to succeed at anything requires great suffering and sacrifice, or that there must be a purpose in our creations. Watch children painting. A dab here, a daub there and they see with their mind's eye a work of art that we don't see without the eyes of that child. They have to kind of translate it for our slower brains - it gets lost in translation.
When a person sets out to create something from their own desire, it is quite different. It might succeed instantly if it is hyped by the general race-mind media, which says, "This is what people want." Art, music, literature has been handled this way for a relatively short time (about five decades, I think) but there seems to be a real return nowadays to wanting something that goes deeper than that veneer and is rather something new - not as in rushing to latest craze, but in the sense of a new creation. Unmade beds, pickled fish and so-called poems about joy riders and crime have had their brief day and happily are no longer our daily diet. The exposure of corruption in parliament, the shame of the greedy city-boy bankers, the whole sense of living in an unreal reality governed by egos has been blown wide open.
I think we are living in crucial times and when people speak of 'people power' it is very different from the socialist myth (which is really tyranny!) but is really about handing back individual power to people to live their own lives and to shake off the notion that we are anything less than Divine beings whose sole purpose here is to realise the beautiful creativity within us and to be.
On a lighter note! Congratulations the the brilliant 'Diversity' - who won Britain's Got Talent (why can't they be grammatically correct and call it Britain Has Talent ???) - what an utterly stunning performance! Congratulations to Susan Boyle, who sang so beautifully and what a gracious response to those who came first! And congratulations to Julian Smith, who clearly plays from 'another place'. Thank you for giving us such a variety of beauty!
Labels: Diversity, Julian Smith, people power, Susan Boyle
Shame on you, Mr. Sarkozy!
The failure to invite Her Majesty the Queen to the D-Day Commemoration is beyond belief: an insult to the only Head of State who was actually involved in the war; an insult to the veterans and their families, to those who died liberating France, and to the whole of Canada and Britain. Of all those who are participating in the events, Her Majesty is surely the one person who most wants to be there and who has the closest connection to those veterans who will be there.
What is the cause of this appalling behaviour on the part of Mr. Sarkozy? Is he so forgetful of the part Britain played in liberating his country, or does he feel a sense of inferiority and humiliation at having to be liberated? Or is he afraid that the presence of so greatly a respected figure would overshadow the adulation being heaped on Mr. Obama? Perhaps Mr. Obama himself has the same fear.
Whatever the reason, this is such a terrible insult to someone who for over 50 years has stood for the real values for which those soldiers died. Sadly the present shameful government of Britain has quite forgotten those values and prefers to run England like a police state while they cover up their own misdemeanours with ridiculous excuses and an utter failure to grasp why people are do angered by them. Small wonder that, with their minds on ways of trying to restore some faith in their own faithless behaviour and cling to power, the Prime Minister and his cabinet quite forgot that the British people have far more respect for their Queen than they have for her parliament, and we would at least have expected them to press for an invitation.
The whole thing is an insult and all those involved in its planning can enjoy being in the spotlight, basking in the reflected glory, while the Queen, with her usual quiet dignity is consigned to watching it on TV. Shame on you, Mr. Sarkozy!
Labels: D-Day, Queen Elizabeth II, Sarkozy
Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria!
Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria - 190 years old today!
Labels: birthday, Queen Victoria
Grand Duchess Elizabeth & The Imperial Family
For a clearer and updated version of this, please visit Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NA2U3K5dI8
In case the words don't appear clearly, since the images are small....
The first verse is Alix, the Tsarina singing to Alexei, her haemophiliac son; the second verse, Alix sings to her hsuband, Tsar Nicholas, after his abdication:
Close your eyes and let me paint a picture,
A landscape of a season long ago:
Starlit skies, the trees aglow with winter,
St. Petersburg beneath a veil of snow.
From high cathedral spires the bells are ringing,
Chiming through the country near and far,
A thousand voices eloquently singing,
Echoing their prayer: "God bless the Tsar....God bless the Tsar...God Bless the Tsar..."
Close your eyes and let me soothe the sadness,
The paint that brings your gentle eyes to tears.
Love prevails in spite of all this madness -
The love that we have shared through all these years.
And though the battles rage and hope is dying,
Remember who you were and who you are,
With all your heart, you'll hear my spirit sighing,
In a fervent prayer, "God bless the Tsar...."
Labels: Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Imperial Family, Nicholas and Alexandra, Tsar Nicholas II, Tsaritsa
Scandals and Power-Seekers
The appalling stories coming from the inquiry into child abuse in Ireland are utterly stomach-churning and heart-rending; and who could fail to feel for those children and all they suffered at the hands of those in positions of authority? Moreover, who could fail to be disgusted at the way in which the culprits were simply moved from one parish or school to the next, shielded by their 'badge of office' and the tacit support of those with greater authority who lacked the courage to remove them? That being the bottom line, the utter scandal of this only coming to light now (as happened in America some time ago, and will probably go one happening as more countries open their closets to let the skeletons out, and more people have the courage to speak of their horrific experiences) cannot be underestimated.
However, as someone raised as a Catholic in the late 60s and 70s - how ever far my beliefs now differ from my upbringing - I feel a need to say that, without for one second negating or denying the horror that others suffered elsewhere, my own experience of nuns (and some priests) in England was quite different. My Convent Grammar School - Notre Dame, Leeds - was a place where I felt truly valued. There was no corporal punishment in that school and there were so many opportunities of finding self-expression. The place, to me, felt hallowed in that it seemed to be built - in some way - on the idea that we could all make something of our lives, and, whether we did or didn't, it was just okay to be who we were. I was never hit or abused in any of the Catholic schools I attended and I am very grateful for the atmosphere of love and acceptance throughout my education. My mother, who attended the 'rival' Catholic convent school in Leeds - St. Mary's - in the 1930s/40s has the same feeling about her school to the extent that she went to a reunion not long ago and is still in touch with people she knew there 60 years ago.
That having been said, I am equally aware of the depths of brain-washing that goes on in any religion in which a few people claim to speak with the authority of God. On the radio, people have spoken of the reason why this abhorrent behaviour was allowed to continue in Ireland, and it is usually put down to the enforced celibacy, but I think that misses the point completely. It's not enforced celibacy that is the problem, but the fact of any enforcement at all! If someone is bullied, chances are they will either become a victim or a bully, or will learn from what has happened to them and treat other people differently. If someone is told they must suppress their own nature because some weird God despises his creation, what a mess they are in and they might act out their mess on other people. Those who step out of the pattern and treat other people differently are the real heroes in my view, and they are the trail-blazers because they don't see the need to have someone in authority telling them what is good or bad or what will get them to heaven or damn them.
It really seems to me that left, right and centre, institutions are falling to pieces. The disgust we feel about our English politicians right now...the exposure of the abuses in Churches...maybe we just don't need authority figures anymore. Maybe, if we look inside, we see that we all have the Kingdom of Heaven within. The Wizard of Oz was nothing when Dorothy eventually met him. Authority figures have lost their way. Why don't we all grow up, take responsibility for ourselves and move on?
Labels: Catholicism, child abuse, convent schools, Notre Dame, St. Mary's
Murky Week
What an incredibly murky week for British politicians! First the naming and shaming, then the excuse of, "I have done nothing wrong...the Fees Committee passed my claim..." followed by the blaming of the system, then the dangling of cheques repaying the stolen loot as though these great people were performing an act of public service and, too late, trying to appear honourable. The anger of the nation is something unprecedented in my lifetime, and probably in anyone's lifetime.
The most telling part of it all, however, isn't whether it was claim for clearing a moat, or hanging baskets, bath plugs or patio heaters and all the rest of life's luxuries, it was the sheer arrogance of those who made the claims. Some were claiming for properties they never inhabited and the whole flipping of second homes business is exactly the same as the credit culture that played out and burst on this country. What these people seemed to miss completely is the fact that most people don't live as they do. Most people, in my experience, seek to pay their bills on time and not to play with pretend 'Monopoly' money or exoect someone else to foot their bills. The so-called credit crunch, couldn't have been invented by typical northern folk of these Isles, because most of us - though living beyond our means - don't expect someone else to foot the bill.
Who created the mess that has bankrupted Britain? The answer, I am sure, is quite simple. If we have allowed ourselves to be governed by those who see us all as guilty until proved innocent - the need for constant surveillance, CCTV everywhere, the rights of tax inspectors to walk into people's home to see if they can be taxed for conservatories and panoramas and windows (which the home owners have paid for!!) - we have surely allowed ourselves to be governed by those with the mind-set of those who see themselves as above taxes and fair play but who view all the citizens of this nation as suspects, because they themselves are suspect.
The most amusing (in an ironic way) part of all of this, is that it is the so-called socialists who have claimed the greater proportion of our money and have lived like the Lords they claim to despise.
Funny that, on top of taxes, teachers and nurses have to pay each year simply to remain on the register of teachers and nurses....Hmm....does that money go to funding someone else's hanging baskets, food bills, plasma TV or cleaning bills?
I saw a recent TV series about Stalin. Much of it was set in the Kremlin, where he strutted about so proudly - far more tyrannically than any Tsar. That is the true image of socialism/communism. Nowadays, the Halls of Westminster are clearly populated by those who preach, "Do as I say, not as I do!"
Oh, and here's an amusing thing! One MP I heard on TV said, "If we get rid of the expenses, can we really expect MPs to live on £64,000 a year?" as though it is peanuts...Well...to quote the most popular socialist of the day, "Yes we can!"
Oh, please, Your Majesty, dissolve Parliament and grant us a speedy general election!
Labels: British Politics, MPs, Parliament, Stalin
The True Face of This Country - Not the Neanderthal Government!
In a week of ugly politics and the last gasps of a failing government in which the British parliament has been compelled - quite rightly! - to wash its dirty linen in public, the most repulsive image, to my mind, is that of John Prescott's impression of Gordon Brown. Regardless of physical appearance - after all, John Prescott is anything but an oil painting himself! a case of the pot calling the kettle black! - that image that was all over the newspapers shows the way in which we have allowed ourselves to be dragged into the quagmire. The yob, binge-drinking culture that is so often presented as the picture of Britain today, is epitomised in that image. If a country is led by foul-mouthed, grasping, porn-watching or lap-top-throwing thugs, who can't even agree among themselves, how can we expect anything better from the young people of this beautiful place? As several M.P.s declared themselves ashamed of their political party, those responsible for this ought to be more ashamed of the image they are presenting to the world. Do they have any idea of the traditions of this country? Do they, while they stick their fingers into every pie, interfering in education, in medicine, in grasping every penny through tax; while they steal (really) from other people's money (inheritance tax, death duty, stamp duty, VAT on everything) have any idea of the brilliance of so many young people here today? Young people who seek role models and leaders who are upright, who don't abuse their position, who have something about them which so few members of this Cabinet - or perhaps Parliament as a whole - seems to grasp at all. No, of course, they have no idea. They are far too busy trying to remain in power.
Happily, out of the quagmire, there emerged a voice which instantly resonated with the entire nation! Joanna Lumley's quiet voice and perfect diction spoke right to the heart of the matter. With little more than a glance, she quieted those ego-centric voices and took them to the cleaners because she was speaking for someone other than herself. No wonder the vast majority of people with whom I have spoken, admiring both her style and her real 'class', and still more her commitment to a worthy cause, wish she could be Prime Minister!
Now, another image - the picture on this post. Comparing the quiet dignity of Her Majesty, the Queen, to the ugly, ugly image of a thug doing an impression of a megalomaniac...Whom do we want to represent England? What are we about? Well, I think the shady goings-on in Westminster shows the depths of 'something is rotten in the state...' but the reality is way, way beyond their petty understanding. Out pops a Joanna Lamely - and, more importantly, behind her the Gurkhas who nobly committed themselves to our Queen not a government or a grasping political idea, but to all the Queen represents; or Her Majesty, herself, who has served this country for over 50 years...Those who think they have power only see it implode on themselves. Those who have their own quiet dignity are the real face of this country. They represent the beauty, the dignity, the lives of those who don't appear in newspapers but who uphold the real values of this nation. They are young and old. They are of all different skin colours and many spiritual paths. They - we - are nothing like the thug-culture of our parliament, presented so succinctly by that gross impression of Gordon Brown, made by his friend John Prescott.
Crikey!! No wonder, with so many snouts in the trough, they brought in swine flu!!
Labels: Gordon Brown, Gurkas, Joanna Lumley, John Prescott, Queen Elizabeth II
The True Face of This Country - Not the Neandertha...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Peru Trips
Enjoy Peru-sing our range of tours to the land of the Incas from guided adventures to private journeys with the option to tailor your dream holiday
Discover the many wonders of Peru including the official New World Wonder from the spectacular Inca citadel of Machu Picchu to the fortresses and temples of the Sacred Valley.
Lake Titicaca (Peru)
Puerto Maldonado and the Amazon
Peru Guide
Start planning your adventure of a lifetime with our handy resources that cover everything you need to know when visiting Peru from money, health and food, to when to go and what to see, visas required, trekking the Inca Trail and visiting Machu Picchu.
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Visiting Machu Picchu
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Inca Trail Packing List
Visiting the Amazon Rainforest
 / Peru / Best Places To Visit
Best places to visit in Peru
Updated: 12th December 2019
With the lush Amazon rainforest and snow-capped Andes Mountains, legendary Inca Trail and fabled Lost City of Machu Picchu, stunning Lake Titicaca and more, it's hard to choose what to see and do in Peru. To help you make this tricky decision, we've listed some of the best places to visit.
Peru Top 10 DestinationsPeru Machu PicchuPeru Lake TiticacaPeru The AmazonPeru The Nazca LinesPeru The Colca ValleyPeru CuscoPeru LimaPeru ArequipaPeru TrujilloPeru Mancora
10 Best Destinations in Peru
Our pick #1
Set deep in the Andes Mountains of Peru, the spectacular archaeological site of Machu Picchu is one of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World'. Known as the 'Lost City of the Incas', the local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until the American historian Hiram Bingham re-discovered the site in 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence.
Located high above the Urubamba River, the citadel was once completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population and watered by natural springs. The ruins include palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation that will take your breath away.
To experience the wonders of Machu Picchu you can hike the spectacular Inca Trail over several days or, if that's not for you, why not take the more sedate route and enjoy a scenic train and bus ride from Cusco?
South America's largest lake is located in the highlands on the border of Peru and Bolivia. Andeans believe Lake Titicaca to be the birthplace of the sun and the islands on the lake are considered sacred places by many. The isolation from the mainland means that traditional culture still prevails on Lake Titicaca's islands and the people speak the ancient Inca language of Quecha.
Visiting these islands offers a glimpse of an almost extinct traditional Andean way of life which is truly fascinating. Popular islands to visit are Taquile and also Amantani, where group tours spend a night with a local family at a homestay. This is a unique opportunity to experience island life and meet the locals - it's a great way to get to know the locals in a relaxed environment.
The other islands which are not to be missed are the man-made Uros Islands, which are made of floating totora reeds. The original idea behind the islands was that the Uros Islanders could steer away from any threat. All of the buildings on these unique islands are made of reeds and even the boats.
The lush Amazon rainforest covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America and covers a large area of Peru. Puerto Maldonado offers easy access to Peru's Amazon rainforest with jungle lodges, exceptional wildlife and indigenous cultures all within reach.
Ideally it's best to spend at least two nights in the Amazon to see as much of the wildlife as possible and really explore this unique environment. We find that guided walks and canoe trips are the best way to explore the Amazon so you can get introduced to the unique flora, fauna and culture of the region.
Staying in jungle eco lodges at night, you'll drift off to the soundtrack of distant cicadas, dove song and duetting frogs, and wake to the chorus of howler monkeys, the humming of insects and chirping of birds.
The Nazca Lines
Located in the arid Peruvian coastal plain south of Lima, the Nazca Lines are one of the most mystifying sights in all Latin America. Believed to have been etched into the desert floor between 500BC and 500AD, the Nazca Lines are among archaeology's greatest puzzles due to their nature, size, and quantity.
No one really knows who made the lines or why they did so but theories about their purpose range from a giant astronomical calendar to an extraterrestrial landing site. More recently, theorists have presented the idea of the lines belonging to a water fertility cult that once ruled Peru's southern desert.
The mystery only makes the Nazca Lines more exciting to behold and they are best appreciated from the air where their striking vision comes into true form.
The Colca Valley
The stunning Colca Valley has been called many things - 'The Lost Valley of the Incas', 'The Valley of Wonders' and 'The Valley of Fire'.
The people of the Colca Valley are renowned for their colourful attire, from hats decorated with brightly-coloured ribbons to the intricate designs on their traditional clothing. Colca Valley's biggest drawcard is the spectacular Colca Canyon, which is over twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and home to the elusive Andean Condors. The view from Condor pass and the sight of these magnificent birds with their 10 foot wing-span is incredible.
Another nearby attraction is La Calera which has the best hot springs in the country and is the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate.
Standing on the ruins of ancient Inca temples and palaces, the enchanting colonial city of Cusco is a captivating blend of traditional Andean culture, and is packed full of architectural wonders dating from the time of the Incas all the way through to the colonial era. It's more than just a stop off to acclimatise before you tackle Machu Picchu!
As well as being the gateway to Machu Picchu, Cusco has a long list of attractions from the charming Plaza de Armas and imposing Cathedral - which was built from the stones of a destroyed Incan temple - to the masterful stonework ruins of the Koricancha Inca complex. The UNESCO-listed fortress of Sacsayhuaman commands an incredible view across Cusco and is the most impressive of the historical sites dotted across the surrounding hills.
It's very easy to while away several days wandering around Cusco, aside from its historic sites, it's also a great place to shop for handicrafts, the nightlife is superb and it's got a great range of restaurants catering for all budgets.
Packed with colonial architecture, sweeping plazas and gourmet eateries, Lima is a thriving metropolis and symbol of progress in Peru. Despite being the second driest capital in the world – the first being Cairo – the city enjoys a lot of natural space, boasting a golf course right in the heart of its financial district and one of the world's largest fountain parks.
For those interested in learning about the history of Lima, it is remarkably easy to delve into the city's past at places like Aliaga House and the Monastery of San Francisco, which exhibit artifacts dating all the way back to the founding of the city in 1535. The Larco Museum also provides a wealth of information to help travellers get to grips with Lima's heritage.
In the afternoons, take a stroll along the Miraflores Boardwalk, which runs alongside the ocean before popping into a bar for a pisco sour or two!
It might not have the reputation of Cusco or the size of Lima but Arequipa is a Peruvian city that you aren't going to want to miss out on. Set against a backdrop of snow-capped, unpredictable volcanoes, the scenery in Peru's second biggest city is partly what makes it such a fantastic place to visit. The other part is made up of its gorgeous interior, not least its Plaza de Armas, the UNESCO-listed focal point of the city. Lined with colonial buildings and a magnificent cathedral, this plaza is arguably one of the most beautiful in South America.
Other places of interest within the city include the immense Santa Catalina monastery and the charismatic San Camilo market, which sells all kinds of fresh produce. If you're looking to get up close and personal with some of Peru's wildlife then make your way to Mundo Alpaca, home to dozens of llamas and alpacas.
Arriving in Trujillo is almost like stepping back in time with its prolific colonial architecture and gorgeous open plazas. While most people stay in the south of Peru in order to visit Machu Picchu, those who make it this far north are in for a treat. Enjoying a delightful climate year-round, an asset that has won it the nickname 'City of Eternal Spring', this city is the perfect place to get a taste of authentic Peruvian culture.
Like much of Peru, Trujillo is home to a number of fascinating archaeological sites, including the incredible Chan Chan, a city within a city. Filled with ceremonial rooms, burial chambers and temples, this intriguing complex dates back to around 850 AD and is the largest pre-Columbian city in South America. If you're looking for a bit sea and sand, it's an easy day trip to the nearby coastal town of Huanchaco.
Our pick #10
Mancora
Mancora is one of Peru's best kept secrets but it might not be that way forever given the irresistible appeal of its stunning beaches, buzzing nightlife and world-class surfing. With long, smooth waves, the tide in Mancora is ideal for beginners looking to try their hand at riding the waves and pros looking to sharpen their skills, making it one of the best places in South America to grab a board and hit the water.
While Mancora might not have the museums and plazas of Peru's big cities, it more than makes up for this with its culinary scene. Fresh seafood and all kinds of regional delicacies are served up with perfection in the various eateries scattered throughout the town. Eating and surfing aside, Mancora is the perfect place to kick back on the beach, watch the world go by and re-energise before your next adventure.
Browse through our recommended places to visit in Peru
Colca Canyon
Huacachina Oasis
Lares Trek
Pisco / Paracas Region
Sipan and Tucume
For more help planning your holiday to Peru check out our Travel Guide resources:
Best Time to Visit - climate and seasons in Peru
Tourist Visas - what you need to know to enter Peru
Top Travel Tips - useful info on money and health
Style of Travel - what to expect on accommodation and transport on our Peru tours
The Inca Trail - details on the hike and necessary permits
Visiting Machu Picchu - a guide to the Inca citadel and ways to get there
Inca Trail Packing List - all the essential items you'll need
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In this members-only session, your Casablanca Expert provides you with a deeper dive" into the capabilities of the Casablanca QuickPhoto 2 software, specifically Animations & Advanced Operations. This add-on software is the go-to photo editing software available now for both Bogart for Windows and Bogart Linux editors in both PAL and NTSC.
Translated QuickPhoto 2 Manual link can be downloaded here.


College has an aesthetic aura which instills an educative spirit in the seclusion of its surroundings. Class rooms are equipped with LCD projectors and other modern facilities.The college is located at a prime distance in Nagarbhavi.
Business Research Lab is a multi-use research space designed to support a wide variety of research within the domains of accounting, information systems, finance, management, marketing and operations.
A spacious dedicated and well equipped Computer lab to help the students to facilitate better learning and to update themselves with the current trends in the areas of Business, Marketing, Finance.
Well-equipped Central Library with encyclopedic collections, references and textbooks, leading newspapers, periodicals, magazines and journals of national and international repute .A spacious reading hall that's open till late evening facilitates students to choose as per their convenience. The college library hosts around 4000 books of which selection and picking are computerized in addition to the provision of CD and computer operation facilities to students.
The campus is full of rich ambience and state of art infra structure to complement teaching. It also provides very congenial, intellectually stimulating and competitive environment which is vital in shaping aspirations into reality and paves way to success.
A dedicated Auditorium with 500 capacity with all the necessary modern infrastructure facilities that facilitate Executive interaction, student activities, meetings and presentation facilities etc.
Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society was founded by the Seven Founder Life Members, who are also addressed as 'Saptarishis (Seven Saints) in 1916 with the objective of bringing education to the Kannada speaking region of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. On November 13, 1916, the KLE Society started an Anglo Vernacular School in Belgaum.
Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society was founded by the Seven Founder Life Members, who are also addressed as 'Saptarishis (Seven Saints) in 1916 with the objective of bringing education to the Kannada speaking region of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. On November 13, 1916, the KLE Society started an Anglo Vernacular School in Belgaum.


People have come to trust the team at Victory Sports Medicine & Orthopedics for two things – incredible caring and winning results.
Steve Berwind, you saved my life today. Holy cow. I've been walking around with a potentially life-threatening blood clot in my leg, and you called it! You are a gifted diagnostician. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you to Dr. Pietropaoli for fixing my shoulder and my knee. Dr. P's entire staff from the office to the nurses, PAs, NPs, and Therapists are over the top. No "assembly line medicine" here at Victory.
Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate care and an effective, personalized approach to your treatment. You'll find us friendly, warm and easy to talk to – from our helpful office staff to the top sports medicine specialist in the area. We take to heart your goals and the things that are important to you – whether it's getting back to the playing field or the basketball court, skiing, hiking, skating or golf without pain or returning safely to work. Our emphasis on personal care means you can expect an outstanding result and faster recovery.
Your injury or pain doesn't wait for a convenient time to happen. That's why we won't wait until it is convenient for us to see you. In other words, you won't ever have to wait weeks or months for an appointment. Plus, for your added convenience, we now offer early morning hours starting at 7AM and evening hours until 7PM and Saturdays from 8AM to 12PM.
Dr. Marc P. Pietropaoli has treated thousands of sprains, strains, torn muscles, torn ligaments, broken bones and has performed countless knee, shoulder and elbow surgeries. His techniques are often nonsurgical or minimally invasive, which can mean a shorter recovery period, less discomfort and even less scarring. Over the past twenty years, he has worked hard to assemble a highly experienced team of healthcare professionals who share his passion for providing outstanding patient care and customer service. Thousands of patients have come to trust the exceptional care provided by Dr. Pietropaoli and his healthcare team.
Dr. Marc P. Pietropaoli started his practice with the vision that one day it would become an integrated healthcare, sports and wellness campus. Victory Sports Medicine & Orthopedics offers orthopedic, sports medicine, rehabilitation, X-Ray, Open MRI, injury prevention, strength & conditioning, nutrition and wellness services in one convenient location. The integrated facility fosters an environment whereby our entire team of healthcare professionals are in constant communication regarding your treatment plan and progress. The benefits for you are obvious – the convenience of no longer traveling from office to office, better and more efficient communication among the healthcare professionals and faster recoveries.
We continue to invest in the latest technology and techniques to ensure that we provide you with the safest, most advanced and minimally invasive treatments for your injury. From the state of the art digital X-Ray and MRI equipment to the minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery techniques our goal is to provide shorter recovery times, less discomfort and less scaring in your recovery. Our innovative approach to healthcare has helped thousands of people return to a productive, pain-free lifestyle.


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STUDIO BRIEFING: October 4th, 2005
WOODRUFF AND VARGAS, NEW ABC CO-ANCHORS?
ABC News is likely to name Bob Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas as co-anchors of World News Tonight, TV Week reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources. The sources also said that Charles Gibson, who has been holding down the anchor's post with Vargas since April is likely to jump networks if he is passed over for the permanent post. An ABC News spokesman told TV Week that its sources were wrong. "To be clear, no decision has been made. At best your sources are ill-informed gossips. At worst, your sources know they don't know what they are talking about. We are in no rush to make this decision. When we are prepared to make an announcement, we will make one," the spokesman said.
AARON & ANDERSON ATTRACTING FEW VIEWERS
The pairing of CNN's Aaron Brown with Anderson Cooper is no instant smash. According to figures posted on the TVNewser blog, the two attracted an average of only 482,000 during the 10:00 p.m. hour on Friday, a figure that dwindled to 356,000 by 11:00 p.m. CNN/U.S. President Jonathan Klein said a day earlier that he planned to keep the two in the 10:00 hour since they had proved themselves to be a winning combination during CNN's coverage of the two devastating hurricanes that hit the Gulf region last month. ""The combination of Aaron and Anderson gives us fire and ice," Klein said Thursday. "Anderson is about visceral experience. Aaron is kind of about the cerebral analysis."
FOX DENIES GERALDO'S SHOW WILL BECOME NIGHTLY NEWSCAST
Geraldo Rivera on Monday described his upcoming half-hour nightly program as not "magazinely" and "more like a newscast." In an interview with TV Week, Rivera said that he envisions the program, which launches on 150 stations on Oct. 31, as "the beginning of a process" leading to a national newscast on Fox stations. His remarks were immediately contradicted by an unnamed Fox News executive, who told the TVNewser blog, "Contrary to what he claimed, Geraldo's show is NOT the prelude to a national newscast. The new syndicated show will be a distinct product unique to Geraldo's talents, but he will not be involved in the beginning of any national newscast on Fox." The Fox News exec acknowledged that a national newscast is indeed in the works, but, he added, "If it does get off the ground, Geraldo will have nothing to do with it -- he's a completely separate entity."
FOR MARTHA, PRISON MAY HAVE BEEN EASIER
Martha Stewart may be preparing to face another losing battle, or, more precisely, a Lost battle. NBC has decided to move her version of The Apprentice to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights, where it will air opposite ABC's Lost and CBS's new drama Criminal Minds. Stewart's show had taken a pounding from reruns of Lost during the past two weeks and is likely to be pummeled even harder by original episodes. The CBS drama has also proven to be a surprisingly strong competitor. NBC has decided to move Jerry Bruckheimer's new drama E-Ring into the 8:00 p.m. hour. It had been airing at 9:00 p.m. against Lost. Meanwhile, NBC announced that it is pulling the new drama Inconceivable from its Friday-night lineup this week after its first two episodes produced some of the worst ratings ever in the 10:00 p.m timeslot. It will be replaced this Friday by a repeat of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. However, the network said that it plans to return Inconceivable to the timeslot on Oct. 14 and that production will continue on the series.
CABLE VIEWERS ANGRY OVER SPANISH HOUSEWIVES
About 240,000 Adelphia cable-TV subscribers in Southern California were surprised Sunday when they were only able to receive the Spanish-language soundtrack of ABC's Desperate Housewives. A spokesman for the cable company said that the problem occurred after Adelphia had to move its service to a new transport system following last week's fires. "As a result, the audio channel settings were not configured properly," a spokesman for the company said. Meanwhile, the Toronto Star today (Tuesday) published the dialogue of a five-minute segment of Sunday night's episode of Housewives that was accidentally deleted because of a technical glitch on the CTV network. The Star reported that at 9:49 p.m. viewers were surprised to see final credits roll, then watch a repeat of the final scenes. The newspaper said that CTV plans to rebroadcast the episode in its entirety this Saturday at 10:00 p.m.
CBC ENDS LOCKOUT IN TIME FOR HOCKEY
Apparently prodded by the start of the National Hockey League season, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday reached a tentative agreement with the Canadian Media Guild, ending a nearly two-month lock-out of 5,500 CMG members. The agreement calls for a 12.6-percent wage hike over the life of the new labor agreement, which will run through March 31, 2009. Workers will also receive retroactive pay from the start of the lockout, plus an $800 bonus for returning to work. CBC spokesman Jason MacDonald told the Toronto Globe & Mail: "We want people coming back this week and programming returning to normal this week and things fully back to normal as soon as possible." He promised that Hockey will be on the air this weekend. "What it looks like will depend on how quickly we can get people back and all of that," he said.
NIPSEY RUSSELL DEAD AT 80
Comedian Nipsey Russell, best known for his appearances on numerous afternoon game shows in the 1970s and '80s, including To Tell the Truth, Hollywood Squares and Match Game PM, has died in New York of cancer at age 80. He also was a regular cast member on the '60s TV sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? and co-starred as the Tin Man in the 1978 musical The Wiz.
WHO NEEDS THEATERS, ANYWAY?
The major movie studios are stepping up their production of movies intended to go directly to the home video market, Home Media Retailing reported Monday. Universal Studios Home Entertainment president Craig Kornblau told the publication, "We have a $24 billion business that consumers absolutely love ... and yet there is very little content made only for this business." Many of the new features being produced for DVD release are being described as "franchises" -- essentially sequels to successful films. Last week, Universal launched "Universal DVD Originals" with Carlito's Way: Rise to Power, a sequel to 1993's Carlito's Way. On Dec. 27, the studio will release the DVD sequel American Pie: Band Camp, starring Eugene Levy. Sony plans to release Single White Female 2: The Psycho on Oct. 25 and 8MM2 on Nov. 22. New Line is planning sequels to 1994's 8 Seconds and last year's The Butterfly Effect. And Paramount Home Entertainment President Meagan Burrows told the publication that the studio is "in the process of developing a new [DVD] comedy label."
INTEL: MAYBE THERE'LL BE A BLU-RAY INSIDE, AFTER ALL
Intel, which last week threw its support to Toshiba's HD-DVD high-definition DVD system, appeared to waver today (Tuesday) after reports emerged that Paramount had switched to Sony's Blu-ray system and that Warner Bros. might do the same. Donald McDonald, head of Intel's digital home group, speaking at a news conference in Chiba, Japan, said that Intel could support Blu-ray if the system permits users to copy the content of the discs onto their home computers and portable devices. The HD-DVD camp has made such a commitment, McDonald observed. "The opportunity is for Blu-ray to unequivocally commit to having exactly the same consumer friendly features," he said.
FLIGHTPLAN REMAINS ALOFT BOX OFFICE
The Jodie Foster thriller Flightplan flew high above a slew of new arrivals at the nation's theaters over the weekend, taking first place at the box office for the second week in a row. Flightplan, which was released by Disney on 3,424 screens took in $14.8 million, averaging $4,324 per screen. But the No. 2 film, Universal's Serenity, which was released on 2,188 screens and took in $10.08 million, had a slightly higher per-screen average, $4,610. So did the No. 4 film, New Line's A History of Violence, which was released on just 1,340 screens and took in $8,1 million. It had the highest per-screen average of all films in wide release with $6,047. Meanwhile, Universal's The 40 Year-Old Virgin passed the $100-million mark in gross ticket sales after seven weeks.
The top ten films over the weekend, according to final figures compiled by Exhibitor Relations (figures in parentheses represent total gross to date):
1. Flightplan, Disney, $14,805,739, 2 Wks. ($45,912,018); 2. Serenity, Universal, $10,086,680, (New); 3. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Warner Bros., $10,033,257, 2 Wks. ($33,188,109); 4. A History of Violence, New Line, $8,103,077, 2 Wks. ($8,871,781); 5. Into The Blue, Sony, $7,057,854, (New); 6. Just Like Heaven, DreamWorks, $6,128,180, 3 Wks. ($38,424,283); 7. The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Screen Gems, $4,380,280, 4 Wks. ($68,502,023); 8. Roll Bounce, Fox Searchlight, $4,029,257, 2 Wks. ($12,677,124); 9. The Greatest Game Ever Played, Disney, $3,657,322, (New); 10. The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Universal, $3,120,045, 5 Wks. ($101,405,778).
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCHERS FIND NO SAFE SEX IN MOVIES
An Australian analysis of sex and drug use in the most profitable movies of the last 20 years listed by the Internet Movie Database indicates that only one, Pretty Woman, suggested condom use, according to the British Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Researchers from the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales examined only PG-13 and R-rated movies. The study's director, Hasantha Gunasekera of Sydney University, observed: "The study showed there were no references to important consequences of unsafe sex such as HIV transmission, spread of STDs, or unwanted pregnancy. ... The motion picture industry should be encouraged to depict safer sex practices and the real consequences of unprotected sex and illicit drug use."