Note: Recording of "Friendship" (from John McLaughlin's "Electric Guitarist").
Note: Outstanding Guitarist: Carlos Santana. Outstanding Album: "Moonflower".
Note: Carlos Santana plays for Sri Chinmoy.
Note: 53-min. segment broadcast at an unknown date on American radio KSAN.
Note: Two shows played in the same evening.
Note: * 19-min. segment broadcast at an unknown date on American TV ABC.
Note: Recording of "Latin Lady" (from Gato Barbieri's "Tropico").
Note: Tom Coster is replaced by Chris Rhyne. Chris Solberg joins the band.
Note: Recording of "Inner Secrets" (Santana's 12th album).
Note: Broadcast live on American radios WNEW (New York, NY), WMMR (Philadelphia, PA).
Note: 34-min. segment broadcast at an unknown date on American radio.
Oct: Release of "Inner Secrets"
Note: 1st show Devadip Orchestra. 2nd show Santana.
Note: 1st show Devadip Orchestra.
1st show Devadip Orchestra. 36 min.
1st show Devadip Orchestra. 34 min.
2nd show Santana. 115 min.
2nd show Santana. 88 min.
Note: 2nd show Santana 88-min. segment broadcast in Dec 1978 and 52-min. segment broadcast on Aug 23, 2005 on Dutch radio KRO. 4th show Santana.
1st show Devadip Orchestra. 33 min.
Note: 1st show Devadip Orchestra. 2nd show Santana broadcast at an unknown date on German radio.
1st show Devadip Orchestra. 35 min.
Note: Promotional show broadcast on July 14, 1978 on American TV.
Note: First CBS Crystal Globe Award for international sales of more than ten millions in Europe: Santana.
Note: Mixture of a Michael Carabello's solo album "Attitudes", a Gregg Errico project, and "Santana III" (Santana 3rd album).
?: Release of John McLaughlin's "Electric Guitarist"
?: Release of Gato Barbieri's "Tropico"
?: Release of "California Jam 2 Live!"


Subject: Delayed, incomplete or incorrect filing of Import Manifest or Import Report.
Kind reference is invited to CBEC Circular No.'s 13/2005-Customs, dated 11-03-2005 & Circular No. 44/2005-Cus., dated 24-11-2005 on the above subject.
2. In the Circular No. 13/2005-Customs, dated 11.03.2005, CBEC had categorised the amendments carried out in the IGMs as Major and Minor respectively. Further in the amending circular No. 44/2005.-Customs, dated 24-11-2005, it was provided that the need for adjudication will arise only in cases of major amendment involving fraudulent intention or substantial revenue implication. It was the view of the CBEC that the penal action is not initiated mechanically in all cases of IGM amendment and that due consideration may be given to the circumstances of amendment.
a. In order to ensure that all amendment applications are disposed off within specified time limits, it is desired that all minor amendments are approved on the same day of the submission of complete application along with all the required documents. For EDI sites, the electronic request for amendment should be made prior to approaching the officer with the documents. Further, in order to decentralise the minor amendment process, necessary changes have been carried out in the notification No. 40/2012-Customs (N.T.) dated 2.5.12 by notifying Superintendent of Customs and Central Excise or Appraiser as proper officer for Section 30 (minor amendments). Since the proper officer for purposes of Section 30 would henceforth be Superintendent rank officer or Appraiser (minor amendments), therefore, consequent changes in respect of notifying the proper officer for purposes of Section 149 have also been carried out. [Notification No.35/2017-Customs (N.T.) dated 11t April, 2017 refers].
b.  All major amendments will generally be approved within 24 hours of the submission of the complete application. Delays beyond the laid down timelines are to be necessarily escalated and brought to the notice of Additional/Joint Commissioner in charge. All major amendments shall continue to be approved by the concerned Deputy Commissioner or the Assistant Commissioner as the case may be.
c.   A combined application in the prescribed Form shall be submitted by the shipping line irrespective of the major or minor amendment(s) along with the required documents indicated against each type of amendment mentioned in the Annexure to the Application Form appended to this Circular leaving no scope for ambiguity.
d.  Since the objective is to lend certainty to the amendment process with specific timelines, therefore, accepting incomplete forms should be avoided. In case an incomplete form for amendment is accepted for reasons to be recorded, a deficiency memo should be promptly issued the same day.
e. All cases of Minor amendment should be decided administratively without recourse to adjudication or levy of penalty. Levy of Fee (Customs Documents) Regulations, 1970 allows the proper officer to permit an IGM to be amended or supplemented, on payment of prescribed fees, if he is satisfied that there is no fraudulent intention. The said regulations have also been amended vide Notification No.36/2017-Customs (N.T.) dated 11th April, 2017 to revise the fee(s) for carrying out amendments. The quantum of fee has been revised upwards so as to calibrate it to the realistic levels and also to discourage the tendency to file amendments. A flat fee of Rs. 1000/- has been provided for amendment of IGMs.
Further, no amendment fee shall be levied in respect of a Bill of Entry filed under the proviso to sub-section (3) of Section 46 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962) where the amendment is necessitated due to amendment in import manifest.
f. The request for amendment shall be filed by the person in-charge of the conveyance or any person who has been authorized to issue delivery orders in favour of an importer, on the basis of which the custodian would deliver the imported goods.
4. The responsibility of amendment in the IGM rests solely with the Shipping Line/Agent, as they file IGM with Customs under section 30 of Customs Act, 1962. It is, therefore, clarified that the fine/penalty imposed, if any, upon adjudication in such cases, shall be payable by the Shipping Line only or such other person as specified. No fine/penalty is required to be imposed on the consignee or others. No request for any amendment in the IGM from Custom Broker/Importer will be entertained.
5. While accepting requests for amendments, due precaution should be taken that requests for amendment to manifested items are accepted within the period stipulated in the Section 48 of the Customs Act, 1962.
1. (1) These regulations may be called the Levy of Fees (Customs Documents) Amendment Regulations, 2017.
(2)They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
Amendment of import manifest or export manifest including supplementation thereof.
amendment of vessel's name in a Shipping Bill.
amendment of particulars (other than vessel's name) in a Shipping Bill.
amendment of particulars in a port clearance application.
amendment of port on Outward Entry application.
amendment of Supplementation of a Short-shipment notice.
(a) amendment of prior Bill of Entry filed under the proviso to subsection (3) of sbection 46 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962).
(b) amendment of Bill of Entry other than those at (a) above.


Monday 13 - Thursday 16 May 2019.
NEW for 2019: A four-day/three-night guided trip to showcase five historic gardens of Florence.
Villa Castello - Commissioned by Cosimo I de Medici, ruler of Florence, in 1538, this garden is regarded by many as the blueprint of 16th century Italian gardens.
Villa Gamberaia - Built in the early 1600s this classic villa is noted for its magnificent formal gardens and breathtaking views over the Arno valley.
Le Balze - Designed by English ex-pat Cecil Pinsent, this hillside garden is a wonderful example of small-scale design in the Italian Renaissance tradition.
Villa Medici Fiesole - Rarely open to the public, this 'garden with a view' is one of the oldest Renaissance residences with a garden and one of the most well-preserved.
Boboli Gardens - A place of historical importance for Florence with spectacular gardens and the blueprint which inspired many European Royal gardens including Versailles near Paris.
About our guide: Currently Head Gardener at Tonbridge School, Stephen has spent many years as a lecturer in garden history at both Hadlow and Plumpton colleges. He leads garden study tours to Paris, Rome, Florence and England, giving entertaining and insightful commentary.


From hearing from my own adopted soldiers, and friends and family who've served or are still serving, I can only imagine how that soldier feels. It's got to be one of the worst things in the world — feeling forgotten, unloved.
I hope whoever that card was meant to reach got the message. But how many others are out there feeling the same way?
At the Magnolia Festival yesterday, something struck me as I explained to those who came by the booth about Soldiers' Angels and what we do — there are so many here who want to help, but have no idea where to go or how to get started. I had a large stack of cards with the Soldiers' Angels web address and our mission statement on them, and gave out every single one.
It's such a simple thing and yet it means the world to someone a thousand miles away. If you are interested, please visit www.soldiersangels.org and help us support those who are deployed throughout the world defending and protecting the freedoms we cherish.


text:
Home News Whereabouts of 'released' Hong Kong bookseller unknown, says daughter
Whereabouts of 'released' Hong Kong bookseller unknown, says daughter
Published October 27, 2017 by Katherine Cowdrey
Gui Minahi, the Hong Kong bookseller and publisher detained in China since October 2015, has been released from prison in China, the Swedish embassy has...
Gui Minahi, the Hong Kong bookseller and publisher detained in China since October 2015, has been released from prison in China, the Swedish embassy has been informed. However, according to his daughter Angela Gui, his whereabouts since his supposed release are unknown and he may have been detained again.
The Swedish Embassy was informed earlier this month by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Swedish citizen Gui Minhai was going to be released on 17th October, marking the end of a two-year detention for an alleged hit-and-run crime he tearfully confessed to on Chinese State television in January 2016 - a confession widely thought to have been made under duress. The ministry also said the bookseller would be "free to travel".
But a week on, Gui's daughter Angela has issued a statement saying she and her family had yet to hear from him while the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had told the Swedish Embassy they no longer knew where he was.
Angela Gui tweeted: "I want to emphasise that while we have been told #GuiMinhai has been released he is NOT free. #GuiMinhai has been disappeared again, likely by the Chinese government."
She explained further in her statement that the Swedish Consultate General had received a "strange" phone call from someone claiming to be her father, saying he would apply for a Swedish passport in two months but in the meantime was spending time with his "ill" mother. However, Angela Gui's grandmother is healthy and has not heard from him either, she said.
"To my knowledge my grandmother is not ill. My father is not in fact with her. It is still very unclear where he is. I am deeply concerned for his wellbeing," Angela Gui commented.
"This week I have slept with my phone on my pillow waiting for my father to call. I will continue to do so until he does."
Amid China's crackdown on dissent since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, Gui, now 53, disappeared from his holiday home in Thailand in 2015 before turning up at a detention centre in mainland China. His publishing house and bookshop had specialised in controversial books critical of China's political elite, which saw four other staff members including one British citizen temporarily vanish. According to Chinese officials, all voluntarily went to mainland China. Gui, the publishing house and bookshop's owner, is the last of his colleagues to return.
Angela Gui, who is a masters student living in the UK, previously told The Bookseller she was "disappointed" in the UK's efforts to bring home the illegally detained bookseller and dissident from China. The UK has "a responsibility" to uphold the "one nation, two systems" principle in Hong Kong, she said.
Gui Minhai
Angela Gui
Author publishes missing Hong Kong booksellers' title online
Detained bookseller's daughter to rally global book trade at Frankfurt
Daughter of missing HK bookseller makes plea for US assistance
BA calls on Hammond to intervene over Hong Kong bookseller
Missing Hong Kong bookseller shortlisted for the Prix Voltaire

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
December 16, 2010 by dandelionsalad
Wikileaks: Documents Confirm US Plans to Destabilize Venezuela by Eva Golinger
by Eva Golinger
Global Research, December 16, 2010
chavezcode.com
State Department documents published by Wikileaks evidence Washington's plans to "contain" Venezuela's influence in the region and increase efforts to provoke regime change
A substantial portion of the more than 1600 State Department documents Wikileaks has published during the past two weeks refer to the ongoing efforts of US diplomacy to isolate and counter the Venezuelan government.
Since Hugo Chavez won the presidency for the first time in 1998, Washington has engaged in numerous efforts to overthrow him, including a failed coup d'etat in April 2002, an oil industry strike that same year, worldwide media campaigns and various electoral interventions. The State Department has also used its funding agencies, USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), to channel millions of dollars annually to anti-Chavez NGOs, political parties, journalists and media organizations in Venezuela, who have been working to undermine the Chavez administration and force him from power.
When these interventionist policies have been denounced by the Chavez government and others, Washington has repeatedly denied any efforts to isolate or act against the Venezuelan head of state.
Nonetheless, the State Department cables published by Wikileaks clearly evidence that not only has Washington been actively funding anti-Chavez groups in Venezuela, but it also has engaged in serious efforts during the past few years to convince governments worldwide to assume an adversarial position against President Hugo Chavez.
"CONTENTION" PLAN AGAINST A "FORMIDABLE FOE"
In a secret document authored by current Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Craig Kelly, and sent by the US Embassy in Santiago in June 2007 to the Secretary of State, CIA and Southern Command of the Pentagon, along with a series of other US embassies in the region, Kelly proposed "six main areas of action for the US government (USG) to limit Chavez's influence" and "reassert US leadership in the region".
Kelly, who played a primary role as "mediator" during last year's coup d'etat in Honduras against President Manuel Zelaya, classifies President Hugo Chavez as an "enemy" in his report. "Know the enemy: We have to better understand how Chavez thinks and what he intends…To effectively counter the threat he represents, we need to know better his objectives and how he intends to pursue them. This requires better intelligence in all of our countries". Further on in the memo, Kelly confesses that President Chavez is a "formidable foe", but, he adds, "he certainly can be taken".
In 2006, Washington activated a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Mission Manager for Venezuela and Cuba. The mission, headed by clandestine CIA veteran Timothy Langford, is one of only four such intelligence entities of its type. The others were created to handle intelligence matters relating to Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan/Pakistan, evidencing the clear priority that Washington has placed on Venezuela as a target of increased espionage and covert operations.
Another suggestion made by Kelly in the secret cable, is a recommendation to increase US presence in the region and improve relations with Latin American military forces. "We should continue to strengthen ties to those military leaders in the region who share our concern over Chavez".
Kelly also proposed a "psychological operations" program against the Venezuelan government to exploit its vulnerabilities. "We also need to make sure that the truth about Chavez – his hollow vision, his empty promises, his dangerous international relationships, starting with Iran – gets out, always exercising careful judgment about where and how we take on Chavez directly/publicly".
Kelly recommended US officials make more visits to the region to "show the flag and explain directly to populations our view of democracy and progress". Kelly also offered details on how Washington could better exploit the differences amongst South American governments to isolate Venezuela:
"Brazil…can be a powerful counterpoint to Chavez's project…Chile offers another excellent alternative to Chavez…We should look to find other ways to give Chile the lead on important initiatives, but without making them look like they are our puppets or surrogates. Argentina is more complex, but still presents distinct characteristics that should inform our approach to countering Chavez's influence there".
PRESSURING MERCOSUR
Kelly also revealed the pressure Washington has been applying to Mercosur (Market of the South) to not accept Venezuela as a full member in the regional trade bloc. "With regard to Mercosur, we should not be timid in stating that Venezuela's membership will torpedo US interest in even considering direct negotiations with the trading bloc".
MEXICO, BOGOTA & OTHERS ASK TO "FIGHT" CHAVEZ
The cables published by Wikileaks not only reveal US hostility towards Venezuela, but also the requests made by regional leaders and politicians to work against President Chavez.
One secret document from October 2009 referring to a meeting between Mexican President Felipe Calderon and US Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair tells of how Calderon confessed he was "trying to isolate Venezuela through the Rio Group". The Mexican head of state also appealed to the US intelligence chief, "The region needs a visible US presence…the United States must be ready to engage the next Brazilian president. Brazil, he said, is key to restraining Chavez…The US needs to engage Brazil more and influence its outlook".
URIBE REQUESTS "MILITARY ACTION" AGAINST CHAVEZ
In several secret documents authored by the US Embassy in Colombia, efforts by ex President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, to convince Washington to take action against Venezuela are evidenced.
In one cable from December 2007, the US Ambassador in Colombia recounts a meeting between Uribe and a delegation of US congress members, including Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid. According to the text, Uribe "likened the threat Chavez poses to Latin America to that posed by Hitler in Europe".
And in yet another report summarizing a January 2008 meeting between Uribe and the Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, Uribe is quoted as recommending military action against Venezuela.
"The best counter to Chavez, in Uribe's view, remains action – including use of the military".
Later in that same secret cable, Uribe urged Washington to "lead a public campaign against Venezuela…to counter Chavez…"
OPPOSITION BISHOP REQUESTS US ACTION
In addition to regional politicians and US diplomats urging plans against President Chavez, one cable reveals how during a meeting between a Venezuelan Archbishop and the US Ambassador, the religious leader asked for Washington to act against his own government. At the meeting, which took place in January 2005 according to the document, Archbishop Baltazar Porras told Ambassador William Brownfield that the "US government should be more clear and public in its criticism of the Chavez administration" and that the "international community also needs to work and speak out more to contain Chavez…"
The plans and strategies revealed through these official documents confirm what other evidence has already corroborated regarding Washington's increase in aggression towards Venezuela. The US continues to fund opposition groups that act to undermine Venezuelan democracy while escalating its hostile discourse and policies against the Chavez government.
This week's Senate affirmation of Larry Palmer as Ambassador to Venezuela will only make matters worse. Palmer was rejected by the Venezuelan government after he made negative statements about the Chavez administration in August. Washington's insistence of sending Palmer appears to be an effort to provoke a rupture in diplomatic relations.
© Copyright Eva Golinger, chavezcode.com, 2010
The url address of this article is: www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=22432
John Pilger: Global Support for WikiLeaks is "Rebellion" Against U.S. Militarism, Secrecy + Clip from "The War You Don't See"
Hacktivism for Cyber Democracy by Joel S. Hirschhorn
Ten Thoughts About Julian Assange and WikiLeaks by Andy Worthington
Evo Morales: WikiLeaks Cables Reveal "Diplomacy of Empire" + Bolivia's thirst for change
Rafael Correa on WikiLeaks, the September Coup, U.S. Denial of Climate Funding, and Controversial Forest Scheme REDD
Wikileaks In Venezuela: Espionage, Propaganda And Disinformation By Eva Golinger
[DS added these links]
National Whistleblowers Center – Take Action
We Support WikiLeaks
This entry was posted in All Posts News Politics and-or Videos, Colombia, Foreign Policy, Military, Politics, Venezuela and tagged Brazil, Golinger-Eva, Hugo Chávez, Uribe-Alvaro, US Cables Leaked from WikiLeaks, USAID, WikiLeaks. Bookmark the permalink.
← Michael Hudson: Why Government is More Afraid of Debt than Depression
Up Against the Fence: Hedges, Ellsberg, Gagnon and 135 others arrested + Veterans for Peace Take Demand to White House Fence →
7 thoughts on "Wikileaks: Documents Confirm US Plans to Destabilize Venezuela by Eva Golinger"
Pingback: Peter Kornbluh: USAID is the New CIA — USAID is Clearly in the Job of Regime Change in Cuba | Dandelion Salad
Pingback: U.S.'s Post-Afghanistan Counterinsurgency War: Colombia by Rick Rozoff « Dandelion Salad
Pingback: Barack Obama: As Bad as Bush by Mike Whitney « Dandelion Salad
Pingback: Setting the Record Straight on Venezuela and Hugo Chavez by Eva Golinger « Dandelion Salad
Shaine Parker | December 18, 2010 at 6:17 PM
What is being done by the US is subversion. Now that the evidence is out in the open, is there an International Court in the world that Venezuela can bring charges against the US. If there is, there certainly needs to be one. Restitution needs to be paid, and a cease and desist order issued and enforced.
Vera Gottlieb | December 17, 2010 at 8:56 AM
When will the Americans learn to stick their noses into their own ass? Their backyard needs plenty of cleaning up, as do their morals and ethics.
Pingback: Creative-i : Wikileaks News roundup 16-17 December, 2010


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Prism.Mvvm;

namespace DotNetKit.Wpf.Printing.Demo.PrintPreviewers
{
    public sealed class ScaleSelector
        : BindableBase
    {
        double scale = 1;
        public double Scale
        {
            get { return scale; }
            set { SetProperty(ref scale, value); }
        }

        public void Zoom(int delta)
        {
            Scale *= 1 + Math.Sign(delta) * 0.1;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Solar Panels Burned Up In Bchamoun Causing Panic Among Lebanese
Shaza Wannous·
A video clip showing the burning on Friday of solar panels on the roof of a building in Bchamoun has been circulating on social media, causing panic among the Lebanese.
Many had installed electricity generation systems on solar energy in their homes, and some accepted to install it on their roofs and between their homes, and they are now dreading a similar incident.
A post shared by LDRSH™الحق🇱🇧ثورة (@ldrsh17101)
MTV mentioned that the owner of the burnt plates, Maher Minawi, is attempting to communicate with a "wasta" to help speed up the investigation.
In an interview, Minawi mentions his happiness for not agreeing with the company's technicians to install the batteries and the transformer inside the house, and for his insistence to be on the roof.
Five of the nine solar panels were burnt out, plus eight batteries, all with their connections.
As for the scene of a tablet falling off the blazing roof, it is due to the explosion of one of the batteries, according to Minawi.
When asked about the electricity situation in his house, he said: "The system has been down for more than 20 days. The transformer, batteries, and panels are disconnected. What caused the fire?"
He explained that from the first day of installing the system, as soon as the technicians left his house, the electricity was cut off.
After following up with the company, it was found that the transformer could not bear the electric current, and they asked him to send it to maintenance.
After repairing and re-installing it, the electricity "popped" the moment it was connected to the network, and it was returned to maintenance again. The transformer is still in maintenance and has not yet been reinstalled.
Minawi intends to follow up on the investigation and expose what happened. He is waiting for the civil defense report on the cause of the fire to file a lawsuit against the company.


text:
Q: QHttp in not available in Qt5 I noticed that the QHttp class is no longer available in Qt5 and I keep getting an error message which says that I need to use the QNetworkAccessManager to do this.
Is there a way to access this class in Qt5?

A: Use QNetworkAccessManager in Qt 5. You can use an event loop to wait until the reply is finished and then read the available bytes :
QString My_class::My_Method()
{

   QNetworkAccessManager manager;

   QNetworkReply *reply = manager.get(QNetworkRequest(QUrl(myURL)));

   QEventLoop loop;
   connect(reply, SIGNAL(finished()), &loop, SLOT(quit()));
   connect(reply, SIGNAL(error(QNetworkReply::NetworkError)), &loop, SLOT(quit()));
   loop.exec();

   QByteArray bts = reply->readAll();
   QString str(bts);

   delete reply;

   return str;

}

You can also do it in an asynchronous way by connecting the finished signal of the QNetworkAccessManager to a slot :
connect(&manager,SIGNAL(finished(QNetworkReply*)),this,SLOT(onFinished(QNetworkReply*)));

And read data there :
void onFinished(QNetworkReply* reply)
{

   if (reply->error() == QNetworkReply::NoError)
   {
       QByteArray bts = reply->readAll();

       ...
   }
}

A: This is a simple HTTP post (I am using Qt 5.3.2)
int Connection::postRequest(QString requestType, QUrl params){
    QString params_array = params.query();

    QNetworkRequest request(user->url);
    request.setHeader(QNetworkRequest::ContentLengthHeader, QByteArray::number(params_array.size()));
    request.setHeader(QNetworkRequest::ContentTypeHeader, "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");

    QEventLoop waitLoop;
    QNetworkAccessManager* connection = new QNetworkAccessManager(/*`this` can also be passed*/);
    QNetworkReply* reply = connection->post(request, params_array.toUtf8());
    QObject::connect(reply, SIGNAL(finished()), &waitLoop, SLOT(quit()));
    waitLoop.exec();

    int errorCode = reply->error();
    if (errorCode != 0){
        // Show Error Message
    }
    else{
        // Parse "reply"
    }

    delete reply;
    delete connection;
    return errorCode;
}

A: Assuming that you don't need to maintain a huge code base, the right way is to use new QNetworkAccessManager class instead.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
— город в Японии, находящийся в префектуре Сайтама.

Географическое положение
Город расположен на острове Хонсю в префектуре Сайтама региона Канто. С ним граничат города Асака, Тода.

Население
Население города составляет , а плотность —  чел./км².

Символика
Деревом города считается гинкго, цветком — Rhododendron indicum.

Примечания

Ссылки

 Официальный сайт

Города префектуры Сайтама

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It can be difficult to know if you are truly ready to walk away from the steady paychecks a job provides. Most people's finances would be improved by another year spent in the workforce, but you also don't want to work for so long that you don't have time to enjoy the things you want to do in retirement. Here's how to tell if you are ready to leave the working world behind.
You know how much you will get from Social Security. Take a look at how much income you can expect to receive from Social Security. You can get a personalized estimate of your future benefit payments at ssa.gov/myaccount. Take care to consider how the benefit amount changes if you sign up at various ages and whether it makes sense to coordinate payments with your spouse to maximize your benefit as a couple.
You qualify for Medicare or other affordable health insurance. If you receive health insurance through your job, you need to find another form of coverage before you retire. Many people work at least until they qualify for Medicare at age 65. If you want to retire sooner, coverage options include retiree health insurance or COBRA coverage through your former employer. Another option is coverage purchased through your state's health insurance exchange. "Often if you are working as an employee, your cost is subsidized by your employer," says Sheila Padden, a certified financial planner for Padden Financial Planning in Chicago. "A lot of people try to make it to age 65 because the cost of health care on your own is just very expensive."
You have enough cash flow to cover your monthly bills. You need to estimate how much money you will have coming in from Social Security, pensions, 4 percent annual withdrawals from your retirement savings accounts and any other retirement income you will have, and make sure it is enough to cover your monthly bills. "The first step is to add up everything that you have in terms of investments, your broker account, 401(k), IRA, all your investment accounts, and if you have a rental property, you can include that too, and most of the time multiply that by .04. Then add to that your Social Security and pension income," says Keith Amburgey, a certified financial planner for Rutherford Asset Planning in Tampa, Florida. "That's your budget. If you can live on that, then you could think about retiring now." For example, if you have $1 million saved for retirement and withdraw 4 percent of the initial amount annually, you will have $40,000 per year, and then you can add your Social Security income to that amount.
You have stress-tested your retirement finances. Successful retirement planning involves more than simply covering your monthly bills. Consider how a variety of scenarios, such as a significant decline in your investments, a nursing home stay or living until age 100, will impact your cash flow, and what you would do to cope with each situation. You also need a plan to pay for emergency costs and routine large expenses like replacing your furnace. "What is often overlooked when looking at their monthly budget is one day you are going to have to buy another vehicle or need a new roof or have a foundation issue or a $20,000 emergency cost," says Jim Oliver, a certified financial planner for Jim Oliver & Associates in San Antonio. An emergency fund to help cover these costs continues to be a necessity in retirement.
You have something else to do. It's fun to dream about walking away from a stressful job you dislike, and many new retirees certainly deserve a few weeks or months of downtime. But once you have rested up, you will need to find something else to do all day. You might want to travel, volunteer, explore new hobbies or take on a part-time job. "You need to have a plan for what your retirement will look like and what you want to do if you stop working at 65," Oliver says. "If you don't have any idea what you are going to do, how are you going to know if you have enough money to do what you want to do?"


text:
The broadcasting rights for the 2014 FIFA World Cup were sold directly by FIFA, or through licensed companies or organizations such as the European Broadcasting Union, Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana, African Union of Broadcasting, International Media Content, Inter-Sports Marketing, M-League, Dentsu, RS International Broadcasting & Sports Management and MP & Silva. Airlines companies such as Etihad Airways had in-flight live telecasts of all 64 matches.

Several territories and countries (for example, India, Italy, Algeria, Korea Republic) are grouped as they share common broadcasters, and sometimes, common geographic space.

Television

Radio

Notes

 - Alongside TeleAruba - Alongside CVM Television. - Alongside STVS. - Alongside One Caribbean Media. - Alongside ABC and ESPN. - FT only covered the tournament in the French overseas territories - Each country also received coverage of the event by a domestic broadcaster. - Nigeria did not receive coverage from Canal+. - Alongside SportsMax. Also, not covered by Univision.

References

Broadcasting rights
FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights


Initiated by the SCIRT environmental leadership group as a breakthrough challenge, the Civil Contractors' Environmental Guide (CCEG) was created to provide contractors with environmental guidance across all project stages.
The initial content was compiled by SCIRT's team of environmental advisers. This team interacted with site crews and regulatory authorities during the SCIRT programme. Over the life of SCIRT, simple and effective methods of control were adopted or developed that both helped in environmental management and met the expectations of regulators.
As SCIRT ramped down, the Canterbury branch of Civil Contractors NZ took ownership of the guide. It will continue to update the information. Environment Canterbury (ECan) will make the guide available to the industry via its website.
Industry best practices for an infrastructure construction site.
How to manage, control and minimise environmental impacts in line with the Resource Management Act, the Wildlife Act, the Fisheries Act and the New Zealand Heritage Act.


text:
Q: how to say "friends who love to quarrel" I am translating a story with a word (kenka-tomodachi) meaning "quarrel-friends" or old friends who love to fight constantly about things as their basic way of interacting.
Can anyone think of an expression or a pithy saying that might capture these friends?

A: There is the recently coined term frenemy

A person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry.

Oxford Dictionaries Online
The earliest listing on ngram is 1968.

A: There's Battling Bickersons, which was once a popular expression based on the characters of "The Bickersons", a late 1940s radio comedy in the United States. The titular characters were husband and wife and only spoke with each other to argue.
My main qualm about suggesting this is that my own reading of what I've heard of it is that the two actually didn't like each other.

A: Either the idioms of odd couple or strange bedfellows can be used to describe a particularly peculiar pair.

A peculiar alliance or combination... Although strictly speaking bedfellows are persons who share a bed, like husband and wife, the term has been used figuratively since the late 1400s... A similar term is odd couple, a pair who share either housing or a business but are very different in most ways.
The Free Dictionary by Farlex

A: Amicable bickerers is an expression I've heard which suggests good humoured verbal fencing.

A: 'Emulous' adj.
1. Eager or ambitious to equal or surpass another.
2. Characterized or prompted by a spirit of rivalry.
3. Obsolete Covetous of power or honor; envious.


On day two we went for a bit more of an explore.
We set off down the long incline path to town.
Our plan for the day was to take a look at the Roman Baths and to visit the Royal Crescent, then have a mooch around and see what we could find.
Bath was so gorgeous, with pretty historic buildings everywhere.
Despite it feeling like we were walking forever, everything was pretty close together and we found The Royal Crescent pretty straightforward to find.
We sat down on the green with some Ben's Cookie's before we started our next trek to the Bath Fashion Museum!
It was based in the beautiful Assembley Rooms, which had tons of gorgeous period features.
As well as amazing historic clothing.
After that, we headed back out into the town to carry on exploring.
And then it was time for the Roman Baths!


text: Q: Windows Vista 32 bit doesn't boot in Normal Mode. Only boots in Safe mode I own a laptop that has Windows Vista 32 bit installed in it. I have been unable to switch it on in normal mode for a day now. When I try to switch it on in the said mode, Microsoft Corporation is displayed on the screen and the bars move from left to right this is how it looks and this continues for as long as I allow it to, without making any progress. I have allowed the laptop to stay in this state for a max of 10 minutes yet, before manually shutting it down via the power button. Next when I try to switch it on, I am prompted with the options of various modes to switch it on in and I am able to successfully switch it on in Safe Mode. I can't figure what's impeding it from switching on in Normal Mode.


Research shows the brand equity of the Wyndham name is much stronger in the South Pacific. Over the last decade we have seen the introduction of numerous quality Wyndham branded properties along with the launch of Club Wyndham Asia. We believe aligning with the Club Wyndham brand and leveraging off the strength of the name in this region will add intrinsic value to your club and help with its long term growth.
In order for the club to acquire more properties and improve benefits we need to grow the club's owner base. We are confident that the modern look and feel of Club Wyndham and its strong brand equity will help us achieve better growth in the future.
The developer through its parent company in the US has paid for the brand development of Club Wyndham and will cover any abnormal costs.
Otherwise, the new branding will be used when existing stock or collateral has been used up, so there will be no additional expense to the club as a result of the rebranding.
WORLDMARK HAS ALSO REBRANDED. WHY AREN'T WE KEEPING THE SAME WORLDMARK NAME?
The brand strength of the Wyndham name is much stronger in the South Pacific than WorldMark. Over the last decade we have seen the introduction of numerous quality Wyndham branded properties along with the launch of Club Wyndham Asia. We believe aligning with the Club Wyndham brand and leveraging off the strength of the name in this region will add intrinsic value to your club and help with its long term growth.
WHO WAS CONSULTED BEFORE THIS DECISION WAS MADE?
With more than 58,000 owners we are unable to reach out to each and every owner, however the decision was made as a result of advice from branding experts after considering the ways in which club owners use their benefits. In making this decision we considered the long-term benefits to the club and its owners.
We don't have a set date for the rebrand to take place and we will announce this date shortly. New cards with the new club name will start to be issued once this date is finalised.
DO WE NEED TO SIGN NEW CONTRACTS?
There is nothing that you need to do. This is a change of name and branding only.
Aside from different looking collateral and club ownership cards, nothing changes except for what we hope will be greater opportunities in the long term as we leverage off the strength of this revitalised global brand.
DO WE GET ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL RESORTS NEW SUCH AS THOSE OWNED BY CLUB WYNDHAM US?
Privileges by Wyndham members currently have access to selected Club Wyndham US properties. At this stage this is not changing.
We are always seeking new opportunities for the club. As the club grows its ownership base its resort portfolio will continue to grow. We feel this new modern branding will assist with the club's future growth.
ARE THE CLUB RESORTS ALL BEING RENAMED AS CLUB WYNDHAM?
Some resorts will change their names yes. We will advise when this has been decided.
ARE YOU ALIGNING WITH THE DEVELOPER? ARE THE CLUB AND THE DEVELOPER THE SAME THING?
There is absolutely no change to the structure of the club. This is a change of name and branding only.
WHY DOES THE NAME STILL INCLUDE "SOUTH PACIFIC", IF YOU ARE CHANGING THE NAME?
The name identifies the region where the Club is registered and operated, where the majority of its assets are held and where the majority of its owners are from.
More questions? Contact your Owner Services team on (AU) 1300 850 160, (NZ) 0800 850 160 or (Intl.) +61 7 5512 8021.


At my 20 week ultrasound, I was told that they 'couldn't get a clear picture of the heart'. I knew that was a lie. What I could never imagine was that, in fact, our little boy only had 'half a heart' and wasn't expected to survive his time in utero, let alone his time on this earth. But survive he did.
His birth was the most wonderful time, I think more so because he was here, and even if it was only for a short time, I was going to enjoy my time with my baby. James was born in June 2015 and was taken to NICU at 10 minutes old. I held him for less than a minute before he was on his way to the biggest event of his life. He went in for open heart surgery at 30 hours old, and was away for 9 hours. It didn't go as we had hoped. He bled a lot, and developed a clot which almost claimed his short life.
5 days after surgery, our little boy was hanging onto life through an ECMO circuit. That night he lost one kidney, and we were told to say goodbye as our boy was most certainly brain dead.
After two attempts, James came of ECMO, but remained in PICU for another four months. On the day he turned 4 months old, he went for his second major open heart surgery (and 14th time with the theatre team) for what would be his make or break operation. We were told he would thrive from it, or there would be nothing else they could do. Sending him to theatre that day was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I was up at 3am the morning of the surgery, just so I could hold him while he was still alive. As he was wheeled into theatre, there were tears from us as parents, and from the nurses who loved James as their own.
Fortunately that surgery saved his life. He was out of PICU 2 days before he turned 5 months old. He went to the Edgar Stephen ward, where he was loved by new nurses, and where he grew into a little boy. He experienced new things, like having an unmonitored bath, going for a walk in the pram, and playing on the floor with his friends. We were on our way to finally being discharged when tragedy struck again. Our family caught gastro. James was sick for days. Then the phone call I had always dreaded. James was in pre-cardiac arrest, and wasn't expected to survive.
We went back to PICU, with a very weak, sick little boy. After another month stay, we were back on the ward, two days before Christmas! James continued to defy the odds, and on 25th January, left the hospital for the first time. We came home to much celebration, however it was short lived. James had a cold. On 3rd February, James went into cardiac arrest. He had another arrest in the helicopter over Mascot airport. On arrival, the team in Sydney expected James to have died.
Against everything, James survived. But the damage to his heart was significant. He was sedated and palliative care was called. James was in end stage cardiac failure. Our little boy was dying. After many discussions, we asked to take him home. We wanted him to pass away in his own bed. On the 3rd March 2016, James left Westmead for the last time.
James has now been home for 100 days. Thanks to the team at the Heart Centre, the surgeons, palliative care, our beautiful PICU staff, the fantastic nurses on the Edgar Stephen ward and our amazing medical team; this is time we were never meant to have. I can never explain how grateful I am to have the expertise and support from these people. They give and give to these special kids more than is ever asked of them. We are forever thankful that they are a part of our lives and have helped James to be with our family. Thank you for supporting this wonderful event. You are helping families like ours, take our babies home.


It was called as the "Fight of the Century", Conor McGregor fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor was making his long-awaited return to the Octagon to fight a hungry Nurmagomedov. The pre-fight press conferences could easily be described as a circus. McGregor did what McGregor does, he tried to sell the fight by taking personal jabs at Khabib's religion, family, fight record, and pretty much everything else. It was Conor's world and Khabib was just lucky to have the chance to stand in the octagon across from Conor.
Every fighter on the UFC 229 benefited from out of this world press conferences. McGregor was selling the fight and helping the pay-per-view get much needed hype. When the main event entrances began, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada already had electricity in the air. Tony Ferguson and Anthony Pettis had just gone to war in the octagon. Quite possibly the fight of year was ended when Pettis' corner threw in the towel due to a broken hand. Even though the Pettis-Ferguson fight was fantastic, the overall feeling was that the main event would be even more epic. Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor, no fight could keep up with this one. Or could it?
The main event of UFC 229 started out with animosity. No glove touch to get started. Round one was fairly even as McGregor was able to neutralize most of Nurmagomedov's take down attempts. The first round fizzled out without much action. Nurmagomedov took the round and a 1-0 lead on McGregor. The second round was when Nurmagomedov began to take over. He landed several hard shots on McGregor and began to take him down with impunity. Nurmagomedov clearly won the round and was up 2-0 on McGregor. The third round was a much closer round as much of the battle was conducted on their feet. McGregor landed several shots, but Nurmagomedov simply overwhelmed him. Nurmagomedov barely won the round and held a 3-0 lead on McGregor. The fourth round would prove to be the final frame. Nurmagomedov moved in fearlessly and was able to take McGregor down. Nurmagomedov took McGregor's back and sunk in a deep rear naked choke. McGregor tapped and Nurmagomedov retained the lightweight title via submission.
After the champion submits a contender, that is usually where the event winds down and the belt ceremony takes place. Unfortunately, months of hype and incessant insults appeared to take their toll on Nurmagomedov and his team. Nurmagomedov leapt over the top of the cage and attacked McGregor's jiu-jitsu coach. Several members of Nurmagomedov's corner entered the cage and attacked McGregor. Each of the fighters ended up without any injuries from the post-fight melee, but they were kept apart by armed security. Dana White, the UFC President, did not conduct a title belt ceremony fearing for the safety of himself, Nurmagomedov, and every individual still inside the octagon. Nurmagomedov issued an apology to everyone at the post-fight press conference, but added that his opponents should not talk about his religion, his family, or his country.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission quickly issued 10 day suspensions for both fighters as it begins a more thorough investigation. Most likely, fines will be issued and the fighters will not face any more serious penalties. The leap in to the crowd and the ability to get in to the octagon raised some serious safety questions. How is Dana White going to protect his fighters and the fans in the seats?
The ease in which members of a fighter's entourage were able to enter the cage and assault a fighter is staggering. The times this has happen in any fighting organization are minimal. A defeated fighter or winning fighter should never have to face a punch or kick from an opponent that was not officially in the octagon for a fight that night. It is not fair to either fighter to be sucker punched by an upset member of the other team. What would have happened if those jumping in to the cage decided to use some type of weapon? No one in that arena could have responded quickly enough to end the carnage before some catastrophic happened. Luckily, for McGregor enough people were in the octagon to stop him from receiving more than a few punches. Dana White must address fighter safety. Should any member of a team enter the octagon and assault a fighter, they should be banned for life or their fighter's purse reduced. An aggressive approach must be taken by White to protect those who are bringing in his viewers.
On the other hand, White must also take aggressive action and punish any fighter that leaves the octagon to fight in the crowd. Fortunately, for White, no spectator was injured. What would it look like if a spectator had taken an errant punch or kick from a world class fighter? That spectator could have suffered serious injury. Spectators go to these events to watch a fight in a confined area where there is no threat to life or limb for them. They go to UFC fights to enjoy the atmosphere, have a few drinks, and watch incredible athletes fight. No spectator goes to the fights hoping to catch a fighter in their lap as the fighter attempts to attack someone's team member. White must have a heavy-handed response to these fighters leaving the octagon. So far, White has expressed his disappointment, but has not addressed any serious repercussions for jumping in to the spectators' seats.
It is unknown how this post-fight melee will change how the UFC approaches safety for their fans and fighters. The UFC will continue to draw huge numbers. However, if events like this continue to spiral out of control, they could face serious lawsuits from fans and fighters' team members. Let's hope Dana White has a plan and can implement it before the next pay-per-view.


text:
No more images available
Details for Property Reference 6NVBP
Units Available from 120 to 800 sq ft
Common Reception Area
Car Park and Visitor Parking
A modern commercial property with some 800 sq ft (73.88m2) fully serviced offices comprising gas central heating, fitted carpets, wi-fi access availability, staff/visitors car park,.
Nene Valley Business Park is situated off the A.605 some 12 miles west of Peterborough, 10 miles west of the A.1. and 7 miles north of Junction of the A.14 and the A.45. It is within easy reach of Corby, Northampton and Huntingdon
Office 1: 510 sq ft (47.43m2 )
Office 2: 120 sq ft (11.10 m2)
Office 3: 165 sq ft (15.37m2
Outside: Tarmac car park to the side of the building.
Business Rates: The rates will be apportioned
Terms: The property is available on a Yearly basis
Service Charge: Each office will be subject to a quarterly service charge
VAT: All prices quoted are exclusive of VAT
Legal Costs: Each Party will be responsible for their own legal costs.


text:
from numpy import *

def squeeze(a):
    "squeeze(a) returns a with any ones from the shape of a removed"
    a = asarray(a)
    b = asarray(a.shape)
    return reshape (a, tuple (compress (not_equal (b, 1), b)))

def get_from_first(key,*dicts):
    """
    Returns value associated with key from the first dictionary in dicts which contains that key
    """
    for dict in dicts:
        if key in dict: return dict.get(key)
    raise KeyError, 'utils.get_from_multi(): Key %s not found' % str(key)

def demean(a,axis=0):
    """
    Returns a with mean subtracted along specified axis.
    """
    a=array(a)
    assert axis <= len(shape(a)), \
                  '\n\n ++++ CliMT.utils.demean: axis index out of range'

    if rank(a)==1: return a - average(a)

    x=[':']*rank(a)
    x[axis]='NewAxis'
    s='['+'%s,'*(rank(a)-1)+'%s]'
    sx = s % tuple(x)
    exec('a = a - average(a,axis=axis)'+sx)
    return a


Telecom and broadcasting policies must be modernised to serve public interest to ensure fairness and free from political intervention.
Moved a motion to use the LegCo Power & Privilege Ordinance to disclose HKTV license application and urge for independent investigation.
Strived to repeal the authority of CE-in-Exco to approve TV and radio broadcast licences applications.
Successfully lobbied for optic fibres to be installed in the Cross Bay Link in TKO.
Strived for more lands for data centre development in TKO.
Closely monitored the handover arrangement upon ATV ceased to broadcast.
Called for more support to RTHK and pushed for expediting new broadcasting building project for RTHK.
Urged the government to improve the Internet connection in rural areas and contacted the Telecom companies to follow up on the issue.


Para traducir este sitio al español, use Google Translate localizado en la parte de abajo.
The I-11 Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and Preliminary Section 4(f) Evaluation (Draft Tier 1 EIS) is available for public review and comment. Visit the Public Meetings and Outreach page for more information, including meeting details, Draft Tier 1 EIS document repository locations, and how to comment.
In 2015, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, formally designated Interstate 11 as a proposed transportation route in Arizona. It stated that the I-11 corridor will generally follow State Route 189 and Interstate 19 from Nogales to Tucson, Interstate 10 from Tucson to Phoenix, and US 93 from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line.
The designation doesn't include funding, but identifies I-11 as a high-priority corridor eligible for federal funding. ADOT continues to work with its federal, state and local partners to identify funding for I-11, which, if constructed, is expected to include a combination of new and existing roadways.
ADOT is currently funding and conducting the first step in a tiered environmental study to identify a potential corridor for I-11 between Nogales and Wickenburg. The Tier 1 EIS environmental review process will consider both Build Corridor Alternatives and the No-Build Alternative. For planning purposes, the Build Corridor Alternatives in the Tier 1 EIS are identified as 2,000-foot-wide corridors. However if a Build Alternative is selected, the ultimate I-11 facility would be approximately 400 feet wide.
The future I-11 facility would generally be 400 feet wide, which includes travel lanes, shoulders, median, and other possible features like frontage roads. The 2,000-foot wide study corridor for the Tier 1 EIS lays the groundwork for where I-11 would be located. If a Build Alternative is selected, future studies would be required to determine the specific alignment of I-11 within the 2,000-foot-wide corridor.
The Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), is expected to be complete in 2020. If a Build Corridor Alternative is selected, Tier 2 environmental studies would then be required to determine the alignment and specific design details, such as the width of the median, frontage roads, traffic interchange locations, and other roadway features.
Currently all but 39 miles of the 200-mile drive from Wickenburg to the Nevada state line have been upgraded to a four-lane divided highway to improve traffic flow, support the movement of freight and enhance safety through this heavily traveled area. The entire northern segment of US 93 from Kingman to the Nevada state line (mileposts 1 to 68) is now a four-lane divided highway following the completion of a $71 million project in 2010.
I-11 has been identified as a critical piece of multimodal infrastructure that would support and connect the economies of Arizona and Nevada. It also could be connected to a larger north-south transportation corridor, linking Mexico and Canada. I-11 is intended to provide a high-priority, access-controlled transportation corridor that has the potential to enhance the movement of people and freight, and facilitate regional connectivity, trade, communications and technology in an ever-evolving global marketplace.
The Purpose and Need Statement is a fundamental part of the NEPA process, providing the basis for identifying, evaluating and screening corridor alternatives. It will be one of the key components in determining and identifying a Selected Corridor Alternative for I-11. The Purpose and Need is based on key transportation-related problems and issues identified in the previous studies and through agency and public input received during the scoping process.
A copy of the Final Purpose and Need report is included on the Documents page.
The current ADOT-led Tier 1 EIS builds upon the prior I-11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study (IWCS) completed in 2014, which was a multimodal planning effort that involved ADOT, the Nevada Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Maricopa Association of Governments, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and other key stakeholders. Upon completion of the IWCS study, FHWA and ADOT continued to advance the I-11 Corridor study in Arizona for the approximate 280-mile section between Nogales and Wickenburg, as shown on the corridor study area map.
For additional information on the previous study, please visit i11study.com/WC-Study.
In December 2015, the U.S. Congress approved the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which is legislation to improve the nation's surface transportation infrastructure during a five-year period. The FAST Act formally designates I-11 throughout Arizona, reinforcing ADOT's overall concept for the I-11 Corridor that emerged from the prior IWCS study.


Keep in mind that the Disney Resort is relatively new in Shanghai, so some taxi drivers may not exactly be familiar with the directions to the resort. Always keep a photo of some sort of map showing the resort and its surroundings just in case of any confusion.
Shanghai Disneyland offers guests practically free storage lockers next to Tron, Roaring Rapids, and the Challenge Trails. While some of these lockers utilize a code to unlock, there are many other lockers that use a lock system that requires 1 RMB to use. The latter lockers are often more available at any point in the day.
Shanghai's weather is ever-changing and volatile. Because of this, it would help to study forecasts in advance as crowding and ride closures may very well be dictated by the expected weather.
Last but certainly not least, this is probably one of the most important things to remember before going. Shanghai Disneyland covers an immense landscape, so it is no surprise that there will be a lot of walking from land to land. To have a better experience, go for anything you feel comfortable walking in.
Disney parks are well-known for their foods and Shanghai's park is on exception. The park offers a plethora of asian-influenced foods that please your palettes, including many classic Disney resort snacks that are given an Asian twist. However, the portioning at some locations are not the best, so if you want more bang for your buck, I suggest heading out of the park momentarily to visit Disneytown for a hearty meal (they have many American restaurants there). Otherwise, most of the restaurants within the park provide very decent meals.
Chinese culture is drastically different from European or American culture. That probably doesn't come as a shock to you but it is important to acknowledge this fact when visiting the park. As an American-Born Chinese, who moved to China temporarily after living in California for the majority of my life, I still found some of the cultural aspects rather hard to handle. I'm sure we've all heard stories about people being very pushy and neglecting personal space, and let me tell you, Disney is no exception of this behavior. Don't take it personally as it is just part of the culture that the locals here grew up with. In my visits to Shanghai Disney I've seen two children on leashes, some children publicly urinating, and even a baby smoking. I guess what I'm trying to say is this: Remember where you are and be prepared for the unexpected, but don't it affect your experience at Disneyland.
NEVER give away your ticket to anyone in the park. Shanghai Disneyland is victim to severe attempts of scamming by shady individuals, and so it is important to never give away any personal belongings or information. Disney is currently emplacing countermeasures to combat the scammers but where there's a will there's a way.
Another popular issue at Shanghai Disneyland is the rampant breakout of individuals who decide to skip lines. Many times, this is unfortunately unavoidable, but it may be preventable if you try to block the width of the queue you are at. More often then not, these individuals will relentlessly plow right past you, but you can still put up a small fight. Keep in mind that these individuals are not limited to locals. When I was in line at the Tron attraction, a pair of European males decided to blow past everyone in line, which angered many people in line.
To get a breathtaking view of the park lit up at night, line up for the Jet Packs ride in Tomorrowland and reach the maximum height in your vessel. You spin rather fast but you can catch glimpses of the entire park, shining in all of its wonderful glory.
This ride is often plagued with devilishly long lines, most of which supersede 100 min waits. Although the queue has wonderful theming, I would only suggest going on this ride if you REALLY want to. If you aren't too inclined to go on it, then its nothing much to be missed, considering the amount of time that must be sacrificed to view this attraction.
This is another one of the plagued rides at Shanghai Disneyland. It is almost always undergoing refurbishment/repair, and when it isn't, expect at least a 100 minute wait to go on this ride. I expect them to solve this issue as well as the issues faced at Soaring Over the Horizon, but as of right now, this ride is a no-go (It's down for refurbishment anyways).
These are the tips my girlfriend and I came up with for Shanghai Disneyland. If you have some of your own you would like to add, or if you would like to comment then feel free to contact me!
Thank you. This was very helpful, especially the cultural parts.


SSENTOSA ISLAND as they say "a state of fun" is spread over 500 hectares and is Singapore's first leisure destination welcoming a growing number of local and international guests every year with pristine beaches, world class infrastructure, sea sports, and golf and retreats. The idyllic resort enchants your leisure options with a plethora of recreational choices. It provides endless activities for thrill seekers with sky line ride, a guided tour for nature lovers, beach volley ball and over 50 restaurants for sports enthusiasts and foodies. The island is also home to Sentosa Golf Club and its two acclaimed golf courses.
Together with restaurant, retail and specialty shops, placid ocean front residences, Sentosa Island is a multi sensory extravaganza for its tourists. This vibrant resort is ideal for both business and leisure.


text:
CP Rail police arrest 2 after rail yard fire
Published Sunday, March 7, 2021 9:40AM MST Last Updated Sunday, March 7, 2021 11:19AM MST
EDMONTON -- Two people were arrested at the scene of a fire at the CP rail yard in Old Strathcona Saturday night, according to officials.
Firefighters were called to the Canadian Pacific rail yard at 79 Avenue and 100 Street just after 7 p.m.
When CTV News Edmonton arrived on scene, smoke was funneling out from the abandoned building but no flames were visible.
Eight fire engines responded and crew members worked from the ladder on one.
The fire was declared under control at 7:43 p.m. and out at 8 p.m.
CP Rail police arrested two people and told CTV News Edmonton an investigation is "ongoing."
CP thanked Edmonton Fire Rescue Services for firefighters' quick work.
Firefighters were called to a blaze at the Canadian Pacific rail yard in Old Strathcona on March 6, 2021.


The Givens Grove > DIY Projects > How "NOT" To Build A Chicken Tractor.
Let's be honest here. How much fun would it be if I only showed you the things we got right and turned out perfect. Well for one, that would lead you to believe we got this "mess" all together. And two, it would make the dream of self sustainability seem unattainable. I can promise we ain't got this "mess" together. And by no means are we experts on self sustainability, far from it actually, but we are taking one step towards it at a time. Every goal and dream ever attained was done so, one step at a time. Hopefully, I can help you skip the step where you build a 7,000 lb chicken tractor. I wish I could have skipped it. But then what would I write about, right?
I would like to say I was way ahead of schedule and had the chicken tractor ready to go when the chicks became of age (around 5-6 weeks depending on your outside temperatures) to go outside. Technically…..ehh-hmm, I can't say that. The chicks were 7 weeks old, flying out of their brooder and pooping all over my mudroom, because….well, they were ready to go outside. Hello, Jessica. So I kinda flew by the seat of my pants putting this chicken tractor together. I work better under pressure. Although Chad would probably like to argue the definition of "better." One day I asked Chad to bring home nine 16 ft 2×4's after work. I had a plan in mind and was so excited I started that night.
When I say started, I mean I really wanted to finish it that night but this was a far as I got. I think I finally stopped at around 11pm. The plan was for it to be an "A" frame with a little nesting area on one end. In the beginning Chad had tried to warn me that making it out of solid 2×4's would make it quite heavy. I reassured him that I knew what I was doing. HA….if only. The next day I continued to crank it out. The nesting area began to take shape and I used an old piece of 1/2′ plywood (also weighs a blue million tons) for the roof. When your husband works in construction you have a plethora of scrap materials……everywhere. We also happened to have some old flashing that I used on the ridge of the roof to keep rain out. The chicken wire and the 2×4's were the only expenses we had. All in all I think we spent $45 dollars on this project. Once I built the door for the tractor it was ready for action. I don't know who was more excited – me, getting the chicks out of my mudroom, or the chicks getting to see grass, bugs and life for the first time! Either way…it was awesome and they loved it. I let them stay in this spot for 2 days. The chicks were still tiny and it took them a long time to work an area. I had plans for buying wheels for all four corners, the kind you put on a trailer that crank up and down. I went to a shop to price them and almost died. I am not sure what I thought they would cost, but I wasn't expecting $40 each, to the tune of $170 after tax. When you try to do projects for as close to free as possible….$170 buck-a-roonies ain't happening. So I decided to do without. We had some old push mower wheels that I decided we would just make do with. But for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to attach them. The wheels would have to wait for Chad's help.
In the meantime…it was moving day for the chicks and I decided to attempt it by myself. That was a joke. I tried for 10 minutes to move that thing and I maybe moved it 4 ft, and all I had to show for it were super sore hands. I gave up and waited for Chad to help me that evening. He never said I told you so, but I am sure it crossed his mind. He did eventually put the wheels on the the tractor, but they were seriously undersized for the monster that I had built. So for a year, I struggled every time I moved that beast. When the chickens got to be around 6 months old I started letting them free range during the day so I wouldn't have to move it as often. I maybe moved it once a month at that point. There was an old smokehouse on the property that I started remodeling into a chicken coop when the chicks were around 7 months old. I finally finished it around the time the chicks turned a year old (more to come on the remodel soon).
We have since used the chicken tractor twice in the last two years, to transition new chicks into our existing flock. In reality, it is no longer a useful piece of farm equipment and more trouble than it is worth. The purpose of a chicken tractor is to easily move your flock around an area. This was far from easy. If I had spent the money on the trailer wheels….then maybe this would have been a successful build. But even now I am still not willing to spend the money for them. I believe I am finally ready to tear the tractor down and re-purpose the materials into something else. If I had it to do over again I think I would try a similar structure, but with PVC. It would have been harder to attach the chicken wire to, but the weight would have been a thousand times lighter. Do any of you have successes with your own chicken tractor builds you can share? I would love to hear them. We are planning in the future to raise meat chickens, so there will be a day when a chicken tractor will be needed on our property again. Hopefully at that time I will be able to share how to "properly" build a chicken tractor with you.


text:
How a grocery giant puts technology at the center of innovation
By Brad Brown, Lorenzo Forina, and Johnson Sikes
In an interview, Coop Centrale CEO Massimo Bongiovanni explains IT's role in the future of retailing.
(PDF-144 KB)
Cooperative Consumers Coop, better known as Coop, was Italy's first retailer to embrace hypermarkets, in the 1980s, and then began opening even bigger superstore venues while expanding its offerings to include insurance and banking services, electricity, and prescription drugs. Throughout this expansion, Coop sought innovative ways to support its strategy with technology. Massimo Bongiovanni has strongly helped the company realize that goal as president of Coop Centrale, which manages purchasing and distribution for the retailer's cooperative network of stores, as well as the IT and services that support marketing, pricing, and other elements of Coop's commercial policies.
Earlier this year, McKinsey's Brad Brown, Lorenzo Forina, and Johnson Sikes spoke with Massimo Bongiovanni about technology's role in fostering growth and innovation.
McKinsey: How do you manage technology within Coop's networked corporate structure?
Massimo Bongiovanni: First of all, Centrale is a service company. We manage the purchasing and distribution for the network of cooperatives, as well as the information technology and services that support marketing, pricing, and other elements of Coop's commercial policies. The P&L and strategic decisions are the responsibility of the cooperatives. Since different cooperatives have different commercial policies, you can imagine the challenges involved in harmonizing the technology requirements for pricing, promotion, and other merchandising levers—all at the same time. For example, Centrale manages more than 100 price lines for a single product, as well as all promotional activities for it. That level of complexity has put a premium on developing sophisticated technology and IT tools.
McKinsey: What business imperatives drive the adoption of technology at Coop?
Massimo Bongiovanni: Traditional customer categories are now blurring across hypermarkets, discount stores, and superstores. We see the same customers shopping across all our store formats—something that did not happen in the past. So our business processes, formats, and technology need to become more customer-centric.
This has meant developing a single view of the customer across all our store formats and brands. We also need a business model that allows us to show customers new prices and products very frequently, on a weekly or even a daily basis. So as the cost of technology decreases, we are evaluating, for example, electronic labeling, which will support the rapid change of prices at the store level. It will also enable us to customize the information we provide to customers—improving the display and accessibility of products.
McKinsey: Where do you take this next?
Massimo Bongiovanni: Another stream of innovation I foresee is the adoption of multimedia technology at the point of sale, to make the shopping experience more interactive and more dynamic for customers. We imagine the new point of sale as a theater. While some areas will be more stable, others will frequently change. For example, we envision the ability to display multiple offers and events at each point of sale during the course of a single day. We also want to massively enhance our ability to do customer profiling. We could combine profiling with new technologies, such as iPhones, apps, and other mobile devices. All of this would allow us to engage in new interactions with customers at the point of sale, creating a dialogue about new products, pricing, offers, et cetera. Customers will have new reasons for coming to our stores. Of course, we need to do all this while respecting the privacy of the customer.
McKinsey: How will this change affect your IT and processes?
Massimo Bongiovanni: The underlying challenge is to execute quickly and flexibly on both the business and technology fronts. Our current commercial and management processes must be able to change things on a weekly or daily basis rather than a quarterly basis.
McKinsey: Tell us how you keep the momentum going behind this agenda.
Massimo Bongiovanni: As chief executive, I need to have a vision to inform, guide, and excite the organization. Since there is always resistance to change, we are constantly looking for ways to bring the vision to life in tangible ways. We therefore do a great deal of piloting and prototyping, which helps in several ways. We are able to quickly test new tools and ensure that they are easy for our staff and employees to use—and not just for the software engineers who designed them. We can also prove the new tools' bottom-line value by comparing the results with those at other stores or functions before we roll out the changes more broadly, reducing the risk to our customers and stakeholders. The challenge isn't really the technology itself but its application to business. Can people across the organization—and particularly our customers—use the technology? So the key is transforming technology into a business enabler.
McKinsey: Can you give us an example of how this approach works?
Massimo Bongiovanni: Eight or nine years ago, we launched the first pilot of a self-scanning checkout at selected points of sale. The real challenge wasn't the cost of the technology, but the interaction between it and the business. How user friendly was this technology in the eyes of the consumer? Was it well received? We continually asked these questions and adjusted the technology and training for our employees, as well as the messaging to our customers. Eight years ago, only 1 customer out of 100 was scanning her own purchases. Nowadays, around 50 percent of our customers use self-scanning. It was a really gradual process to get there.
McKinsey: At Coop, where does technological innovation start— at the top or at a lower level of the organization?
Massimo Bongiovanni: There is an initial phase where the approach is top down. But this really depends on the profile of the top executives. If they are innovators, innovation happens; but if they are conservative and more focused on the way things have always been done, it doesn't. The style and attitudes of top management strongly influence attitudes at all levels of the organization toward innovation.
After this initial top-down phase creates the groundwork for innovation, executives need to focus on creating a process and a path forward for the organization. Then the strategic vision has to be digested, developed, and modified by middle managers. The involvement and commitment of middle management is absolutely key in translating the strategic vision into an operational vision or a process.
McKinsey: As a CEO, how do you stay on top of technology options?
Massimo Bongiovanni: That starts with putting yourself in the shoes of the customer. You also need to be curious and open minded, always on the lookout for new ideas. There's an element of dreaming in this, too. While many dreams or wild ideas go nowhere, one that becomes reality could dramatically change the way we do business.
McKinsey: How do you build on this approach across the organization?
Massimo Bongiovanni: I encourage managers to travel and observe what others are doing, looking at our own industry and especially at other industries, both in Italy and in other countries. And this happens at both the management level and at the board level. We study restaurants, bookstores, and electronics stores—all places where consumers look not just for products but also for entertainment and emotional engagement. Of course, not everything that we observe in the United States or in the UK is easily adaptable or replicable in Italy. But trips there typically give us ideas we can test to see what may be applicable to Coop.
McKinsey: Looking forward, what role will technology play in transforming the retailing industry?
Massimo Bongiovanni: In the retail landscape, I think we are very close to a set of discontinuities where technology can play a critical role. The first area is food safety—the growing need and demand for safe and traceable food, from the farmer through production to store shelves. The solution here might be electronic labels or optical bars that can provide customers with a more complete accounting of the history of specific items.
We also need technology to deal with the saturation of our market. Most European markets already are saturated or will be soon. There's no room for growth, so companies will need to reduce costs and improve efficiency to remain competitive on prices. This involves all aspects of cost, from labor to indirect costs, and IT will be a great tool here.
Finally, there's the evolving and changing consumer behavior. Consumers are much less loyal to retailers and more selective about what they want. So technology will play a role in how we attract customers and maintain their loyalty.
This future will be very different from how we have operated in the past. We cannot—and we should not—transform stores into something out of Star Trek: Enterprise. But we need to work on an approach that is friendly to employees, actively engages our existing customers, and allows us to provide compelling experiences and offers that will draw in more customers over time.
Brad Brown is a director in McKinsey's New York office, where Johnson Sikes is a consultant; Lorenzo Forina is a principal in the Milan office.
Reshaping IT management for turbulent times
We're all marketers now
How IT is managing new demands


text:
ECAir, the national airline of the Republic of the Congo, exhibits at Planète PME in Paris
Fatima Beyina-Moussa, Directeur général d'ECAir (Equatorial Congo Airlines)[/caption] ECAir, Equatorial Congo Airlines, the national airline of the Republic of the Congo, headed by Fatima Beyina-Moussa, who is also President of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), took part in the Planète PME trade fair at Palais d'Iena in Paris on 17 and 18 June. Organised for the last 12 years by the CGPME (General Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises), Planète PME attracted thousands of visitors, including French President François Hollande and several members of the French government. Yvonne Adélaïde Mougany, Congolese Minister for SMEs and Handicrafts and head of the Congolese delegation, was able to talk in particular with Michel Sapin, French Minister of Finance and Public Accounts. During this exhibition, Yves Nanique, Chief Commercial Officer of ECAir, emphasised the importance of SMEs/SMIs for ECAir, which aims to become the leading airline in central Africa and has established a customer loyalty programme offering a number of benefits for businesses. Since August 2012, ECAir has offered direct service from Brazzaville to Paris on board its reliable aircraft, which meet international standards (B757 and B767). The airline of the Republic of Congo connects Brazzaville to 12 destinations, including two other intercontinental destinations: Dubai and Beirut. [caption id="attachment_18824" align="alignright" width="462"] Nicolas Négoce, ECAir Communication & Public Relations manager, with Didier Mavouenzela, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Crafts of Pointe Noire[/caption] To draw new passengers, ECAir is also focusing on its pan-African identity, its attractive rates and its dynamic, qualified and able personnel. In addition, the company boasts one of the best customer loyalty programmes in Africa, Mboté, with over 30,000 members. In early August, ECAir, official carrier of the All-Africa Games (4–19 September in Brazzaville), will extend its regional network with the opening of service to the destinations of Abidjan, Yaoundé, Luanda, Bangui and N'Djamena. ECAir, which has already carried close to one million passengers, will be organising the 47th General Meeting of AFRAA from 8 to 10 November in Brazzaville, under the patronage of His Excellency Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of the Congo. *APO/ECAir]]>


text:
6 or 7 Day Rafting Vacation
6 and 7 Day Grand Canyon Vacations
Select One... 2022 Grand Canyon 6 Day, 5 night2022 Grand Canyon 7 Day, 6 night2023 Grand Canyon 6 Day, 5 night2023 Grand Canyon 7 Day, 6 night
2022 Grand Canyon 6 Day, 5 night SOLDOUT
Our 2022 Season is SOLD OUT.
Please contact our office if at 801-942-6669 you wish to be placed on our waiting list. Please check back here often as cancellations do happen and create availability.
Looking to experience Grand Canyon in 2022?
Our 3 & 4-day Grand Canyon trips still have some availability in 2022! Experience a a scenic flight from Las Vegas to the rim of the Grand Canyon, an optional overnight stay at the Bar 10 ranch, a thrilling helicopter ride into the canyon, and all the majesty of Grand Canyon as you journey 100 miles down the breathtaking Colorado River.
There are occasionally spaces available for the 2021-2022 seasons for the 7-day trip. The booking calendar is live and availability does change. Check back frequently for new openings.
Please contact our office if at 801-942-6669 you wish to be placed on our waiting list.
Reservations require a $500 deposit per person. Total price including any applicable taxes and fees for ages 12+:
6-day (12+): $3,438
6-day (12+): $3,753 (with a charter flight from Las Vegas to Marble Canyon)
Note: As most guests choose the flight from Las Vegas to Marble Canyon, a $315 charge will be added to your reservation by default. However, if you wish to drive yourself to Marble Canyon this flight may be removed by calling 801-942-6669.
7-day (12+): $4,183 (includes charter flight from Las Vegas to Marble Canyon)
Mile 98 - Crystal Rapid
Before 1966, all that existed at the mouth of Crystal Creek was a minor riffle. However, during December of 1966 a monumental flash flood of rain and melted snow tore through the canyon spilling enormous amounts of sediment, rock, boulders, and other debris into the river. The flood, which wiped out 1,000 year old archaeological sites, left a monstrous rapid in its wake.
Original Runners »
The first river runners to run Crystal in the spring of 1967 had a formidable obstacle to navigate, just as the rapid today still demands no less concern. Since the flood, Crystal now contains several huge holes, many capable of capsizing boats large and small. Below the holes, a gigantic rock studded island breaks the river channel in two distinct sections. Because of the powerful holes in the upper part of the rapid, and the rocky island in the lower; Crystal must be run to the left or to the right. Both sides of the rapid involve unique sets of challenges. These challenges, along with the consequences of error, often make Crystal the most difficult to run in all of Grand Canyon.
1983 - New High Water »
In 1983, Crystal became even larger than it's normal size. Because the rapid came into existence under tightly regulated post-dam flows, it had never been subjected to flows like the unexpected high water of '83. Due to a number of factors, some within the realm of human control and others not, the canyon was flushed with over 90,000 cubic feet per second of water during the beginning of June. The reservoir behind the dam was over-filling and the integrity of the dam itself was suddenly in grave danger. Dam Operators were faced with the task of letting out as much volume as they could before water began to spill over the top of the dam. River runners would have to face the challenges of running the canyon at flows higher than anyone had seen since the late 1950s.
Dangerous High Water »
A beast began to form at mile 98 as the river rose and rose. Rapids are commonly fiercest shortly after forming. Floods and high water eventually erode the rocks in rapids, opening up channels, essentially making them more navigable. In the case of Crystal, before the post-dam flood of '83, the rapid had not yet been subjected to high water of this magnitude. As the water rose an enormous frothing hole developed in the middle of the rapid. Almost all of the current pushed with great force into the monstrosity. Because of the power of the flooding river, the hole was equally essential to miss as it was difficult to avoid. By the time the park service closed the rapid to commercial passengers, four large motorized rafts and several smaller boats had capsized.
Today's Crystal »
Most river runners will never get to see Crystal at its peak like in 1983, especially since over the decades the river has continued to move rocks around and broaden channels. Nonetheless, Crystal continues to be a significant Grand Canyon rapid, one that demands respect and appreciation from all river runners.
<< Boucher Rapid
Tuna Creek Rapids >>
Lower Grand Canyon Mile by Mile »
The lower Grand Canyon, as traveled by Western's 3 or 4 day expedition begins at Whitmore Wash (mile 188) and finishes at Lake Mead (mile 277).
Grand Canyon 6-7 Day Vacation
mile-by-mile-98-crystal-rapid


Earlier this summer, my boyfriend and I finally made the trip to Tobermory – a beautiful town along the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. We had been planning to make the visit for the past few summers, but had never been able to make the trip. This year, we finally set aside some time to spend a weekend there towards the end of June, and booked a campsite for a night at Bruce Peninsula National Park.
Tobermory is about a four hour drive from Toronto, and we hit the road around 9:00 am to get an early-ish start to our adventure. The forecast called for rain in the morning into the early afternoon, as well as cooler temperatures – so my bf was understandably wary of the drive. We actually encountered some hail along the way, so we were glad when the weather had cleared for the most part when we arrived.
PSA: Do not, I repeat, do not get the fish tacos from this restaurant, though it claims to be "Home of the Tobermory Fish Taco". I will spare your eyeballs from the photo evidence, but trust me when I say that these were the worst fish tacos we've ever eaten. The fish and chips (above) were tasty enough, and used local white fish from the area, but we learned after the fact that apparently the place to go is Shipwreck Lee's Pirate Bistro – a sketchy looking all-you-can-eat place that we were too hesitant to try.
After lunch, we headed back to the National Park to make the hike to The Grotto, Tobermory's claim to fame. Luckily, as this year is Canada's 150th, we had a Parks Canada Discovery Pass (which you can pick up at your local MEC or sign up for online), which entitled us to free parking.
The Grotto is a short and easy 30 minute hike from the parking lot, leading you to a beautiful shoreline area that you can explore. When we first made it to The Grotto, it was still quite cloudy, but shortly after the skies cleared making for a beautiful sunny day.
What makes Tobermory so breathtaking is the crystal clear, turquoise blue waters of Lake Huron. I've never seen water this colour in Ontario, and was completely blown away! We were hoping to be able to go for a dip, but the water was absolutely frigid and just too cold to swim in. I think the water here is on the cooler side anyway, but would have been more tolerable on a hotter day than we visited. Only a few brave souls dared to take the plunge – and looked like they immediately regretted the decision!
The famous Grotto is actually an awesome wave-carved cave in Georgian Bay that visitors can explore. We had so much fun climbing the rocks and checking out the area!
Unfortunately once the evening hit, the temperatures dropped so low that we no longer wanted to camp out. After having some s'mores at the campsite, we packed up our things and hit the road to return home. I'd definitely like to return to Tobermory in the future, hopefully for a longer stretch of time!
Take a trip to Flowerpot Island: We didn't have time to check out this site, but a friend of mine highly recommended taking the glass-bottom boat tour to this little island from downtown Tobermory. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful blue waters, with fewer crowds.
Visit later in the summer: A visit later in the summer would hopefully mean some warmer weather (no hail!) and being able to actually swim in the water.
Have you made the trip to Tobermory? Let me know in the comments below what your favourite things to see and do there are!


Like the existing Splashtop (see farther below), Splashtop OS is based on Linux and is designed as a fast-boot companion install for Windows, promising five-second access to the web. Yet whereas Splashtop is pre-installed in OEM arrangements, Splashtop OS is available for free download by consumers.
This new stripped-down version offers web access only, however. As with Google's Chrome OS, there are no native applications such as the traditional Splashtop's photo viewer, Skype, and other apps.
Furthering the Chrome OS comparison, Splashtop calls its version a "browser-centric OS." In addition, Splashtop OS has switched from Firefox to a browser based on Chromium, the open source project behind the Google Chrome browser found in Chrome OS.
For search, however, Splashtop OS skips over Google for Microsoft's Bing, booting "directly to a Bing-powered search box in just seconds," says the company. Splashtop also puts in a plug for Microsoft by saying, "In contrast to Google's Chrome OS, Splashtop OS is intended to complement — not replace — Windows as the primary desktop operating system."
Splashtop OS features a locked-down Linux core running a Chromium-based browser called Convenient, says the company. It pre-installs all core plug-ins, including Adobe Flash, and automatically imports settings such as region, language, time/date, Wi-Fi networks, and browser bookmarks from Windows. Bing pops up first before the browser fully loads, offering near instant searches, says the company.
The beta version is currently optimized for only a limited number of HP netbooks and notebooks. Supported netbooks include the HP Mini 110, Compaq Mini CQ10, and HP Mini 210 (pictured above). HP Pavilion notebook models include the Pavilion dm4, dv4, dv5, dv6, and dv7, says the company.
Splashtop OS will also run on other devices that already offer the traditional Splashtop, and will be officially supported in the coming weeks, says the company. Additional platforms that have not previously bundled Splasthop will be announced in the coming months.
The Linux-based Splashtop quick-boot distribution is claimed to be the industry leader, available on more than 40 million PCs from vendors including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, and Sony. Asus offers the technology under its "Express Gate" brand as an alternative fast-boot install on many of its Windows-based systems, such as its recent Eee PC 1215N notebook. HP, meanwhile, sells it as "QuickWeb" on computers such as its recently revamped Mini 210.
In September, Splashtop, Inc., which was still called DeviceVM at the time, announced a preview MeeGo version of Splashtop.
The traditional Splashtop stores a lightweight Linux environment in flash ROM, enabling PC users to instantly and securely browse the web without booting Windows, says DeviceVM. It is said to boot up a prompt within seconds, letting users either continue booting Windows or instead load a stripped-down Linux environment. The latter features the Firefox web browser, Adobe Flash, Skype, a photo viewer, and some other apps.
A Chrome OS with Windows?
Assuming Splashtop OS can be brought quickly up to speed for use on the majority of netbooks and notebooks on the market, Splashtop OS could emerge as a competitor to Chrome OS. By comparison, Chrome OS will start out, at least, as a strictly OEM OS, and is expected to launch with only a handful of netbooks.
Splashtop OS should appeal to users who want quick access to the Internet, but who also want access to native applications, and either want or don't mind Windows.
If Microsoft chooses to push the technology as a way to promote Bing, the downloadable Splashtop could reach a far greater audience. Ironically, this would also mean Microsoft would be promoting Linux — albeit a limited version of it — throughout the Windows market.
For many potential Chrome OS users, of course, the Microsoft/Bing connection will be a major turnoff. Meanwhile, despite its web-centric, browser focus, Chrome OS will likely offer a far more robust, full-fledged OS environment with related cloud services. It will also provide an open source development platform for developing web-centric Chrome OS optimized apps. Splashtop OS, meanwhile, is literally just a browser.
With the tablet revolution starting to impact the spread of netbooks, Chrome OS appears to be in flux, if not in serious trouble. Earlier this month, Google CEO Eric Schmidt revealed that the first notebooks to run the company's still-in-beta Chrome OS have been delayed for the next several months.
A New York Times story that ran last week, however, says that Google will indeed unveil Google-branded prototype netbook running Chrome OS by the end of the year.
The Times story, which interviewed Linus Upson, Google's vice president for engineering in charge of Chrome OS, also further muddied the waters by suggesting the platform could overlap with Android.
Google has previously been careful to state that Chrome OS is for netbooks, with a possible future role on some notebooks and desktops, and the search giant made it clear that tablets and other handhelds belonged to Android. This was later amended to point to a future version of Android optimized for tablets, widely speculated to be Android 3.0 "Honeycomb."
Upson, however, told the Times that Chrome OS would expand to handheld devices, tablets, and TVs. "We are starting with laptops and we will expand in both directions," he was quoted as saying.
Stated Mark Lee, CEO and co-founder of Splashtop Inc., "Through our OEM-branded instant-on products, we've already got millions of PC users hooked on Splashtop speed. With our downloadable product, we're aiming to reach the rest of the population."
Stated Jon Tinter, General Manager at Bing, "We are excited to be working with Splashtop on giving our mutual customers easy access to Bing's powerful tools that help customers make more informed decisions."
Splashtop OS (beta) is available now for free download onto Windows-based PCs. The beta has been optimized to install and run on HP Mini netbooks and Pavilion notebooks (see list above). Platforms from other PC makers that have bundled Splashtop will also be supported in the coming weeks, and support for additional Splashtop-based platforms will be made available in the coming months, says Splashtop.
Splashtop OS information and downloads may be found here.
Linux to outship Windows next year?