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Topic Areas of the Summer School 2019
At the Summer School 2019, renowned experts will give participants an insight into cutting edge topics of IT Law and Legal Informatics.
The summer school usually consits of four Topic Blocks, each of which will be covered over two days by a mix of lectures by a highly qualified lecturer and presentations by the participants who will put their own research up for discussion. The Summer School will be interdisciplinary in nature, aiming to provide insights both into computer science research and into the legal challenges that follow.
IT Security and Internet of Things
The use of IT systems in our digital society is unavoidable; the use of the internet forms is a core element of our personal lifestyles and, to an increasing extent, of essential infrastructures that all of us rely on.
The complexity of these systems, however, makes them (and us) vulnerable. Security loopholes through which attackers can impair their confidentiality, integrity or functionality must therefore be taken extremely seriously. In addition to personal and private data, the risk to financial assets and the identity of individuals is also great. Attacks on critical infrastructures, such as water or electricity supply, can have devastating consequences for the general population.
The key term "Internet of Things" or the in more commonly used term in Germany "Industry 4.0", describes the trend which deals with networking of communication partners to individual machines for the internet in a typical manner. Classically speaking the internet connected specific computers whereas in the future, individual machines and products will communicate automatically and directly with one another.
Accordingly, the efforts to master the associated technical and legal problems are extensive. The European NIS-Regulation and other, branch specific, legislative acts, (for example in the area of finance, the Payment Services Directive 2 of 2015) elevate the legal regulation of IT Security to a new level. Technical research tries to address both application-specific issues and the foundations of secure IT systems.
Data and the Law
Data protection belongs to the most intensively and controversially discussed legal topics of current times. With the GDPR, the EU has created a uniform legal framework, the content of which is however based on the Data Protection Regulation of 1995 which takes the traditional concepts of data protection forward. The US-American legal system, on the other hand, lacks a similar data protection system. Rather than having general regulation, the reliance in the US is on specific rules, for example for the protection of consumers - there is more emphasis on transparency than on private data protection ("data minimisation"). Japan has recently passed modern Data Protection legislation which is clearly based on the Data Protection Regulation but which sets its own priorities and seeks to achieve a compromise between the need for data protection and the use of the data. Privacy Enhancing Technologies complement legal data protection measures by providing (among others) anonymization, data aggregation and enforcement of data processing policies.
Data economy refers to the power of undertakings to manipulate large amounts of data as a corporate tool in making business decisions, increasing efficiency, and create new products among other aspects. From this it can be affirmed, that data economy is a vital tool for society.
One of the biggest challenges facing today's society is without a doubt is Artificial Intelligence and the scope of its use is enormous. In the coming years autonomous process will increasingly be replaced by autonomous systems. Our society will be changed forever by autonomous systems. As predicted by studies and surveys, humans will be progressively replaced by machines.
At the same time, classical programming will increasingly be replaced by self-learning systems—"machine learning" which has potential that could not have been imagined a few years ago. Examples such as "AlphaGo" and "DeepBlue", while limited in scope, show that machines can be better at learning than humans are/currently. Time and again, machine learning algorithms are applied to new and ever more challenging application domains.
These developments can be met with positive expectations: aspects such as the reduction of the physical burden on workers, the possibility to work more efficiently and a fall in the number of accidents through the use of autonomous vehicles, describe the hopes which can be pinned on the use of autonomous systems.
There are certain concerns which the replacement of humans by machines brings: from changes to daily work and the loss of jobs to the complete loss of self-determination are just some examples of the undesired or uncertainty- creating consequences of increasing automatisation in our world.
The key word "Legal Tech" describes technology which is significant for legal processes. The most well- known example is the Blockchain technology, which is not only the technical basis for a novel electronic currency (Bitcoin) but is also instrumental in deliberations about new forms of co-operation. Contracts could be concluded as "smart contracts" with the use of Blockchain, companies will no longer be controlled by a board of directors but by the use of an algorithm.
Businesses and legal systems are likely to be impacted by the Artificial intelligence as described above.
Legal processes and applications are changing massively under the influence of technologies mentioned above and this is calling the existing legal regulation into question. At the same time, technology has to adapt to the requirements of the legal framework. The technologies' risks and limitations have to be well understood to be able to benefit from their oppurtunities.
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Challenger: Mayor's comments about Cranbury warehouse purely political
BY Christopher Lang, Correspondent, @topherlang2
Christopher Lang
MONROE – The township mayor's objections to a not-yet proposed warehouse project in Cranbury are because he is up for reelection, his challenger said on Monday.
"In my opinion [the mayor's comments] are for the election only, so he can get the voters' support," said Councilman Charles Dipierro, after reading the mayor's statements.
Dipierro, a Republican, is challenging Mayor Gerald Tamburro, a Democrat, in November for the township's top elected post. There are also two council seats up for election.
Monroe mayor concerned about possible warehouse in Cranbury; Cranbury mayor responds
Tamburro did not respond to multiple emailed requests for comment.
"He knows what the master plan of Cranbury is, he knows what the master plan of Monroe is," Dipierro said. "You can't tell a town where it's zoned commercial 'we don't want your truck traffic.' How are you going to police or patrol the road other than putting a weight-limit sign on it and then you have to enforce it, you have to have cops there and you're going to restrict our local businesses that we have to in that area that cannot get truck traffic."
This week and in May, the township issued statements from Tamburro criticizing a potential warehouse at a 43-acre lot in Cranbury in the area of Ely Drive, Halsey Reed Road, and Hightstown Cranbury Station Road. Through, the mayor has said he's seen initial proposals, Cranbury officials maintain that no plans have been submitted or reviewed.
In Monday's statement, Tamburro said he would block the access routes trucks would use from the warehouse that connects with Monroe.
"I will not allow tractor trailers on our residential streets," Tamburro said in the statement released Monday.
The mayor has said warehouses at the 43-acre lot would negatively impact residents in both communities and increase truck traffic.
Monroe mayor threatens to block truck access in escalation of feud with Cranbury over unproposed warehouse
"I know our residents cannot stand this excessive tractor trailer traffic to and from the Cranbury warehouses on our roads," Tamburro said. "I'm sure the good people of Cranbury would be equally frustrated and angered by Mayor [James] Taylor's decision to add even more trucks to their roads. That is why I hope we can all meet and discuss a plan that works best for everyone."
Development decisions in Cranbury are decided by the planning or zoning boards.
"As the leader of our township, which is the mayor, I think this is just political decisions that he's making to get the voters' support," Dipierro said. "But real voters know that this is just political, and that's true."
Residential development has concerned many Monroe community members. Some have taken the step to directly blame the mayor, though, just like Cranbury planning or zoning board members make those decisions.
From 2000 to 2017, the township's population has increased from 27,999 to an estimated 45,332, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics. In 2010, the population was 39,132.
As a real estate broker, Dipierro could benefit from development in Monroe, but he recuses himself from legislation that he has a connection to.
However, he said that his real estate experience would benefit the community as well as living in the township for more than 50 years.
"My knowledge of real estate, land and properties help," Dipierro said. "It helps to show taxpayers that I'm capable and well-experienced to steer, to help the town go in the right direction. Right now, we're overbuilt and we're purchasing land that is non-buildable for open space."
Email: Lang@MonroeNow.com. Find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter
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Christopher Lang is a freelance correspondent for MonroeNow. Previously he was part of The Record-USA Today Network and served as an editor for a decade at NJMG.
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My Little Miss is a First Grader!
This morning I dropped my baby girl off at school for her first day of the first grade. I have been fretting over this day for weeks. I know first grade should seem anti-climactic since she has already gone through kindergarten, but kindergarten wasn't a big deal for me. It only lasted 3 hours, so it was more like dropping her off at a friend's house. This is the first grade! It is a full day--7 whole hours-- without my little BFF.
She was overflowing with excitement when I dropped her off this morning and barely noticed when I left. I was glad to see how easy it was for her, but I have been worrying all day. What if the kids are mean to her? What if her ADHD is too much for the teacher to handle? What if her Cyclic Vomiting starts up again?? Oh the joys of being an overly-attached mommy.
I'm sure Samantha is getting along just fine. She is so much better at socializing than I am, and she is insanely smart. We'll just have to see. Until then, I am counting the hours until she is done: 2 hours and 7 minutes!
Have your kids started school yet? Are they traditional or year-round?


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Tribes: Ascend Pushed Into 2012
By Andy Chalk Legacy Author September 14, 2011
It's good news and bad news for Tribes: Ascend as the closed beta begins in a few weeks but the game itself is delayed until next year.
Tribes: Ascend is sort of an anti-Syndicate, in that the developers are taking a highly-regarded game from years long past, tuning it up for modern machines and then giving it to the world as-is and as-was. This is not a "reboot" or a "re-imagining," it's just more Tribes. The pending game has made a small, die-hard niche of fans very happy and here's something that will make them even happier: Hi-Rez Studios announced today that the closed beta will begin "within the next few weeks." Applications are being taken at at the Tribes: Ascend website and the studio says that thousands of gamers from around the world will eventually be selected for the task.
For those who aren't familiar with it, Tribes: Ascend is the rebirth of the storied Tribes franchise as a free-to-play online shooter. The game was originally intended for both the PC and Xbox 360 but Hi-Rez announced in July that the 360 version had been shelved so it could focus solely on the. Players in the beta phase will have access to four multiplayer maps, two game modes, three vehicles and 12 playable classes in online battles of up to 32 players. The number of beta participants will be increased through the balance of the year.
But with the good news comes the bad: the game was expected to be out later this year but has now been pushed back to an unspecified date in the first quarter of 2012.
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CIO & Smart Grid Master
IT + Communications + Energy = New World !!!
The Advanced Smart Grid - Chapter 7 Excerpt
Integrated Energy Storage, Virtual Power Plants, and Micro-Grids
Electrical energy storage at utility scale remains both the Holy Grail for electric industry redesign and one of the most vexing energy technology challenges. Storage applications may include: peak shaving (load leveling) systems to help commercial and industrial users manage electricity costs under variable utility tariffs and to help utilities manage generating assets to minimize waste; renewable integration systems to help power producers, utilities, and end users cope with the inherent variability of wind and solar power, transforming it into firm, dispatchable power, and to better match peak wind and solar output with peak demand; power quality systems to protect commercial and industrial users from interruptions that cost an estimated $75–200 billion per year in lost time, lost commerce, and damage to equipment; and transmission and distribution support systems to help utilities reduce grid congestion, defer upgrades, and minimize waste.
Because utilities still depend on spinning reserve and other supply-side strategies to ensure reliability—and even do long-term planning on the assumption that energy storage will not be viable in the foreseeable future—adding energy storage into the system will significantly disrupt the current energy ecosystem. Implementing an advanced smart grid will help utilities to develop a vision based on the potential of affordable energy storage, where they will move from R&D to active trials of various technologies in different parts of their service territory.
The use of energy storage does not need to concern any loss of comfort or convenience, but rather to accept some minor sharing of the resource in a collective strategy to pull in a new resource that has never existed before. An advanced smart grid will enable solutions that leverage distributed energy resources, tapping into some that haven't yet been conceived. Integration with other assets, including distributed generation, demand response, electric vehicles (EVs), virtual power plants (VPPs), micro-grids, and utility-side smart grid technologies will be vital to maximizing the value of each individual new resource, but also of the collective advanced smart grid. With a network and smart grid optimization engine, all these distributed elements can be optimized and their potential realized.
Challenges in creating a utility energy storage program from a strategic perspective will include not only energy storage integration, but also designing the system and prioritizing energy storage locations. Energy storage is likely to be located where there is congestion on the grid.
The role of energy storage in a disaster recovery situation will need to be considered. Energy storage will be valuable in restoration of electricity service after a massive outage. Prioritizing distributed generation and energy storage for disaster shelters will buy utilities time, since there will be a minimal amount of power assured in those spots in the case of a prolonged outage. Co-location of distributed generation (DG) and energy storage (ES) with disaster shelters supports utility goals in a disaster recovery plan.
VPPs describe a demand-side alternative to accommodate growth in peak demand to the traditional supply-side alternative of adding a natural gas power plant, commonly referred to as a peaking unit or a peaker.
At the micro level, VPPs require technology to be refined at the scale of a single distribution feeder or neighborhood.
At the macro level, integrating a VPP system to the grid will require the ability to manage new levels of complexity in remote sensing, control, and dispatch. Integration of the complex VPP systems will require the utility control center to be able to "see" the status and availability of such distributed capacity. The complexity of system dispatch with these types of resources will require automated decision-making to signal a direct load curtailment condition to DR resources to make optimal use of these new resources and integrate into the larger system portfolio.
New control software now available in the market is designed to enable utilities to manage the numerous and complex dispatch requirements of such distributed energy resources as VPPs. Intelligent edge devices such as smart meters, smart routers, and smart inverters are now capable of communicating their operational status, calculating the ramifications of their actions on their surrounding environment, and making decisions to change their state in real time so that the network becomes self-healing and self-adapting. Autonomous, edge-based decision-making maintains safe energy flows, minimizes service disruptions, and, perhaps most importantly, helps to avoid catastrophic damage. Such a distributed network of smart devices connected to VPPs will provide them the intelligence they need to create new demand action capabilities that integrate new edge-based resources seamlessly with the advanced smart grid.
VPPs and micro-grids represent an emerging resource and application of creative bundling of multiple technologies. New concepts and thinking about how a grid works will be needed for these approaches to take hold.
For instance, while initial adopters of these solutions may have off-grid operations in mind, which we call Step 1 or "disconnect"), the actual realization of these concepts will be difficult. Step 2 could be called "independent operation," and it will borrow from our knowledge of how we operate the grid today and concepts in this book about future operational protocols. Step 3 is likely to concern the previous discussion on resource islanding, with a focus on "reconnection for reliability." Step 4, which we could call "replacement," will finally be realized as NFTE is implemented as policy. As VPPs and micro-grids mature, they will become the LANs and WANs in the Smart Grid 3.0 world, connected by an energy Internet and offering new levels of independence and interdependence that we have barely contemplated today.
• Where the early grid developers embraced access to cheap, plentiful fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas, building ever larger, more efficient coal-fired power plants, today we're challenged to avoid the carbon that results from burning fossil fuels.
• Where grid resources on the supply side expanded to meet a growing population and increasing use of electricity, today we're challenged to involve consumers to avoid peak load by making better use of existing and new types of distributed energy resources.
• Where production and distribution of electricity were central to planning and building the grid, today we also focus on our built infrastructure to use energy more efficiently and to better understand energy consumption behavior patterns.
• Using cost plus ratemaking to establish revenue targets for regulated utilities, the keystone of the twentieth-century "regulatory compact" that allowed monopoly franchises is giving way today to considerations of ecosystem impacts, decoupling, and more frequent true ups to meet the needs of society and a variety of stakeholders in a more dynamic environment.
• When information used to be scarce and expensive, utilities devised ingenious, artful methods to plan and operate the complex grid, but in today's environment of abundant, low-cost information, we are challenged to add sensors to gather ever more data, and then use data analytics to plan, operate, and manage complexity.
• Late in the twentieth century, retail competition showed faltering progress and potential, and while markets still have a prominent role to play, in the twenty-first century communities out on the edge will leverage social networking, smart mobile devices, and other lessons learned from the Internet to identify and deliver greater value.
• Finally, where automated meter reading (AMR) evolved into advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and led the charge to deliver a smart grid, in the twenty-first century we will need a more expansive definition of smart grid, based on a new smart grid architecture to incorporate edge power by design, which we call the advanced smart grid.
An excerpt from The Advanced Smart Grid: Edge Power Driving Sustainability by Andres Carvallo and John Cooper © 2011 Artech House, Inc. Reprinted with permission of the publisher. The book is available at www.ArtechHouse.com.
Posted by Andres Carvallo at 9:17 AM
Labels: Energy
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The Advanced Smart Grid: Edge Power Driving Sustainability
Book Websites
The Advanced Smart Grid - Book Website
Artech House's Book Web Page
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Andres Carvallo is an award winning engineer, speaker, author, and executive. Andres is globally recognized by the IEEE as one of the early developers of the smart grid concept and technology. Andres championed Austin Energy's industry leading smart grid program design and implementation from 2003 – 2010 and he architected the Pecan Street Project in 2009. Andres co-authored the best selling book "The Advanced Smart Grid", has received 34 industry awards since 2005, and is a popular speaker and guest lecturer. Andres is currently the EVP of Energy Solutions and Chief Strategy Officer at Proximetry. Andres has over 27 years of experience in the Energy, Telecommunications, Computer and Software industries. Andres has held since 1992 P&L responsibilities and senior executive titles while being responsible for the strategy, development, and commercialization of over 40 products at six start-ups and leading global companies like Philips Electronics, Digital Equipment, and Borland. Furthermore, Andres started his career as a product manager for Microsoft Windows in Redmond, WA.
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How to Run IT as a Business?
It all starts with my focus on the customer as the center of the lifecycle. The Lifecycle rules a discovery, planning, and maturity model process that orchestrates a framework. The framework, called RunITbiz, is made out of the 12 critical elements for Running IT as a Business. The elements are rationalized into demand and supply modules. At the core of the RunITbiz framework is a Service Oriented Architecture that leverages all legacy systems while powering new systems built on new open standards (Web Services, XML, BPEL, etc) including cutting edge Web 2.0 tools (Blogs, Wikis, AJAX, RSS, etc).
My RunITbiz Framework has two main modules. One module focuses on Managing IT Demand as a Business and the second one on Managing IT Supply as a Business. Each module has six critical elements to master. Here are the modules and critical elements:
Running IT Demand As A Business: 1. IT Governance, 2. IT Structure, 3. Portfolio Management, 4. Business Alignment, 5. Financial Management, 6. Marketing & PR
Running IT Supply As A Business: 7. Enterprise Architecture, 8. Vendor Management, 9. Process Management, 10. Project Management, 11. Service Management, 12. Quality Management
I wish you great success in your transformation. And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reply to any post in this blog or contact me.
Top 20 Geek Blogs
1) Lifehacker - http://www.lifehacker.com/ - Lifehackers' motto says it all: "Don't live to geek, geek to live." This blog offers timesavers of just about every stripe, from Firefox shortcuts to tips from the "Getting things done" faithful.
2) IT Toolbox Blogs - http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/ - IT Toolbox has a number of "in the trenches" IT pros who talk about technology and management issues. There are specialist blogs dealing with security, databases and project management, among other subjects. It's a versatile site.
3) Valleywag - http://valleywag.com/ - Bring in the noise, bring in the snark. Valleywag is for those who believe that the tech industry lives or dies by the scuttlebutt pinging around Silicon Valley. And it's amusing for those of us who prefer that the lotus-eaters of Northern California stick with the dishing and tongue-wagging, leaving the rest of us to get the real work done.
4) Kotaku - http://kotaku.com/ - Kotaku is the snarky, gamer uber-blog. It has everything from reviews and gossip to cheat tips. Just about anything you'll ever need, including which game to buy and how to play it.
5) Danger Room - http://blog.wired.com/defense/ - Wired's military and defense blog writes about some of the coolest and scariest military technologies -- not to mention scandals, debates and other military news. Lots of video and imagery are included.
6) Gizmodo - http://gizmodo.com/ - Gizmodo's got the scoop on all the latest toys and cool and wacky inventions -- from high-def TVs and coffee makers to booze belts and USB drives. You've got to love a site that publishes photos of a solar-powered bathing suit. Yeah, they also blog about serious technology news too.
7) O'Reilly Radar - http://radar.oreilly.com/ - This is where you can read Tim O'Reilly (founder of O'Reilly publishing) and others discuss networking, programming, open source, intellectual property, politics and Web 2.0, emerging technology.
8) Techdirt - http://www.techdirt.com/ - Techdirt is a newsy, "tell it like it is" blog that frequently features debates on the hot issues in the Internet and computer fields. Scandals are a specialty. Simplicity is its hallmark.
9) Groklaw - http://www.groklaw.net/ - Groklaw's raison d'etre is needling SCO in its long-running patent fights against IBM and Novell, but the discussion sometimes veers toward other issues that involve technology, intellectual property, and government regulations.
10) Hack a Day - http://www.hackaday.com/ - Want to learn how to add USB to a cheap Linux router? Create a snake robot? How about an XBox 360 laptop? Hack a Day has these basement projects and many more. This site is for the serious techie. At the same time, it's good for a laugh or a new hobby.
11) Engadget - http://www.engadget.com/ - As Coke is to Pepsi, so Engadget is to Gizmodo. It's all about gear, gossip, techish issues and the occasional rant. It's got great product photos, and the editors have access to pre- and early-release gadgetry. Also, some really funny home-made junk. But we prefer Gizmodo.
12) Feedster - www.feedster.com/feedpapers/Technology - Like drinking from the hose. This Web page brings together blog sites about technology, sports, celebrity gossip, food, personal experiences -- you name it. It also offers a blog search feature that allows you to input words or phrases, and it has a very cool RSS aggregator for news feeds. It also injects some great humor into technology news. An all-around great site.
13) Forever Geek - http://forevergeek.com - Forever Geek is a great site with a myriad blogs on diverse topics, from technology and general interest news to movie and game reviews. Definitely a geek paradise. If you want to learn about the upcoming Iron Man movie or read a review of Photoshop CS3, this is the place to go.
14) Rough Type - http://www.roughtype.com/ - Nick Carr -- of "Does IT Matter?" fame -- has a sharp-minded blog that discusses all manner of issues and trends relating to technology. Always an entertaining read, Rough Type often locks horns with companies, people, technologies and policies that rub Carr the wrong way.
15) Smorgasbord - http://www.smorgasbord.net/ - Billed as a site for gadget- and game-loving geeks, this blog also serves up articles that cross over into the political and celebrity news of the day. The combination of entertainment value and tech news make Smorgasbord a top contender.
16) The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) - http://www.tuaw.com/ - TUAW offers collection of independent bloggers -- that is independent but not undecided or uninformed. It's a good source for Apple-related news. The only reason it didn't make the top 15 was its singular topic focus.
17) Elliot Back's blog - http://elliottback.com/wp/ - A self-professed computer scientist, Elliot posts everything from his opinions on why XML sucks, to the Titanic's passenger list and reviews of movies like 300. This site is diverse and well composed, offering great tips on topics such as increasing system performance and blocking spam.
18) Ed Foster's Gripelog - http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/ - There is a new crop of blogs that highlight poor customer service for consumer electronics, bad UIs and outright rip-offs, but Ed Foster has been doing it longer than anyone else. Check out these recent topics: Defective DRM, tricky warranties on plasma TVs and bad mobile phone service.
19) Gadgetell - http://www.gadgetell.com/ - This is a great site if you want to get the latest gadget and game news along with some topical opinion pieces.
20) 4sysops - http://4sysops.com/ - This is a very useful with well-written tips and how-to's for Windows admins.
Other Smart Grid Books
Blink - Malcolm Gladwell
Building the Real-Time Enterprise - Michael Hugos
Built to Last - Jim Collins
Crossing The Chasm - Geoffrey Moore
Dealing With Darwin - Geoffrey Moore
Earth: The Sequel - Fred Krupp
Freakonomics - Steven Levitt
Good to Great - Jim Collins
Hot, Flat, and Crowded - Thomas Friedman
Information Revolution - Jim Davis
Jack - Jack Welch
Perfect Power - Robert Galvin
Player Manager - Joy Palmer
Synchronocity - Joseph Jaworski
The Tipping Point - Malcom Gladwell
The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman
Transparent IT - Jack Wilson
About Proximetry
Proximetry develops and commercializes AirSync™, a comprehensive communications network and device management software platform for the energy industry. AirSync delivers secure, scalable, closed-loop control, and policy-based management of devices to build and manage large complex networks built upon multiple vendor platforms that incorporate a vast array of communications technologies. AirSync™ provides the essential tools for energy organizations to provision and manage mission-critical devices and networks. Founded in 2005, Proximetry is privately held, headquartered in San Diego, California, and backed by Munich Venture Partners, Aeris Capital, Investec, and Rembrandt Venture Partners. For more information, please visit www.proximetry.com
Siemens on Proximetry
"The challenge to monitor, control, and manage millions of communicating grid devices from multiple vendors continues to grow dramatically as grid modernization drives usage of a few thousand devices to tens of millions," said Thierry Godart, president of Siemens Smart Grid Division North America. "Our partnership with Proximetry will allow utilities to better manage this vast proliferation of information and make strides in improving grid reliability."
Itron on Proximetry
"We believe that Cisco and Proximetry's joint work to integrate dynamic performance management across multiple network technologies is great evidence that the Connected Grid Ecosystem continues to mature positively. Our common vision of a truly open, interoperable suite of offerings that build off of each other will be a success for utilities and consumers alike. It's not more of the same," said Simon Pontin, Chief Technology Officer at Itron.
Cisco on Proximetry
"Cisco is pleased to be working with Proximetry and the AirSync solution, which complements the Connected Grid Field Area Network solution with enhanced RF management capabilities. As a key member of the Connected Grid ecosystem in the Cisco Developer Network, AirSync extends the visibility in the Field Area Network GridBlocks with unique performance management capabilities", said Jennifer Lin, Sr. Director of Product Marketing from Cisco's Connected Energy Networks BU.
Why is AirSync Better?
1) ALL other NMS/OSS products in the market use only SNMP to provide monitoring and alarms for devices, AirSync supports SNMP and it also uses a lightweight protocol (pre-CoAP) to manage devices with closed-loop control and policy-based functionality via an agent. AirSync's pre-CoAP protocol solves the disadvantages of SNMP for the Smart Grid (i.e. too chatty, non-stop polling, and no integrated firmware management).
2) All other NMS/OSS products are focused on telecom WAN management only (i.e. routers, switches in telco domain) while AirSync can manage the WAN and its elements, it also can go deeper into the FAN, LAN, and PAN (including the AMI network). Furthermore, AirSync manages all devices hanging on those networks(e.g. electric/gas/water meters, inverters, IDEs, RTUs, Programmable Logic Controllers, premise gateways, premise routers, and sensors in general). It is important to note that All other NMS/OSS products in the market do not manage smart meters and/or any sensors on the edge of a FAN, LAN, or PAN, but AirSync does.
3) All other NMS/OSS products in the market do NOT provide any firmware management capabilities or if they do it is very limited. And they DO NOT support FANs, LANs, and PANs. And they DO NOT provide closed-loop control of any edge devices from any vendor on any network using any topology. AirSync delivers all of the above.
4) AirSync has unique features to manage ALL networks with many configurable enhancements like shaping the traffic and QoS management by having an agent on the device side unlike All other NMS/OSS products in the market which depend only on SNMP and lack such an ability.
Bottom line: All other NMS/OSS products in the market deliver only classical and limited WAN NMS/OSS capabilities. AirSync delivers all that far better and it can also support FAN/LAN/PAN/device/firmware management functions and help manage deeper into all the networks. AirSync has a well-defined NBI that can be used to interface with any NMS/OSS and provide the utility with an integrated management system with the utility's preferred GUI but with all the advantages of AirSync.
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The deadliest state to work in construction
Chelsea Hernandez | Director, Producer, EDITOR
Chelsea Hernandez is a Mexican-American filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. Her work focuses on the unique perspectives of various issues and topics through the lens of ordinary people who challenge the status quo and injustices in this world. She is a fellow of Firelight Media Doc Lab, Tribeca All Access, Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) National Mediamaker Program, and NALIP Latino Media Market.
Marcy garriott | executive Producer
Independent documentary filmmaker based in Austin Texas, Marcy Garriott produced and directed award-winning film INSIDE THE CIRCLE, and produced THE LEAST OF THESE, and AN UNREAL DREAM: THE MICHAEL MORTON STORY. She is a former board member of KLRU, a former president and board member of the Austin Film Society, and a current member of the Cine Las Americas Advisory Board.
marisol Medrano | Producer
Born in Mexico City and a graduate from The University of Texas at Austin, Marisol has produced projects that closely relate to the filmmakers' cultural diversity and personal interest. She has produced various award-winning short films including Student Academy Award Winner Fatakra in 2011.
mario troncoso | co-producer
Mario Troncoso is a 9-time Emmy award-winning filmmaker, Producer and Director of the documentary series Arts In Context (PBS) and Executive Director of The Documentary Society (Doculab). With extensive agency and production company experience, Mario has worked on productions across many formats over a period of 15 years ranging from advertising to documentaries and fiction.
iliana sosa | co-producer
Iliana is a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas by Mexican immigrant parents. A former Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, she holds a MFA in film production and directing from UCLA. She is currently a Firelight Media Impact Producer fellow and recently co-directed a documentary short with Chelsea Hernandez that is part of Field of Vision and Firelight Media's "Our First 100 Days" campaign.
Erik mauck | director of photography
Erik Mauck has worked as a DP and freelance camera operator for over 10 years. He has directed and and shot 2 feature documentaries including Zombie Girl: The Movie and The Road to Livingston. Most recently, he worked as a camera operator for Hector Galan's national PBS film Children of Giant.
Sarah garrahan | editor
Sarah Garrahan is a New York-based documentary filmmaker, producer and editor from San Antonio, Texas. She holds an MFA from Duke University in the Experimental and Documentary Arts. Her work focuses on the working class, family, the everyday, and ways of knowing. She is currently an associate producer on The Infiltrators by Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera and co-editor on Chelsea Hernandez's Building the American Dream.
Gil Talmi | Composer
Gil Talmi is a world-renowned Emmy nominated composer, producer and recording artist with a passion for socially conscious projects. Blending his traditional orchestral background with eclectic world music sensibilities and tasteful analog electronics, Talmi has created a signature sound that can be heard in many award winning productions worldwide like Food Chains and Chavela.


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text:
Gymnothorax cephalospilus is een straalvinnige vissensoort uit de familie van murenen (Muraenidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 2001 door Böhlke & McCosker.

Murenen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
COVID VaccinesReturn to WorkMental Health
Health ·COVID-19 vaccines
Moderna CEO expects a 'material drop' in COVID vaccine effectiveness from Omicron variant
BYKylie Logan
November 30, 2021, 6:11 PM UTC
The CEO of pharmaceutical company Moderna says he expects a "material drop" in the effectiveness of vaccines against the new Omicron COVID variant, and that an inoculation tailored to its mutations might not be widely available for several months.
"There is no world, I think, where [the effectiveness] is the same level…we had with [the] Delta [variant]," Stéphane Bancel told the Financial Times in an interview published Tuesday. "I think it's going to be a material drop. I just don't know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I've talked to…are like, 'This is not going to be good.'"
Bancel says the new variant has particular mutations around the spike protein, which helps a virus enter a host cell. Current vaccines focus on that spike protein, and that's why the mutations could make them less effective.
The World Health Organization considers Omicron a "variant of concern," the virus evolution advisory group's COVID-19 technical lead, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, said in a public statement on Friday. Based on initial research, Rockefeller University virologist Paul Bieniasz told NPR that he and his colleagues "expect that Omicron will be significantly resistant to antibodies that are circulating in individuals who are convalescent or who have had mRNA vaccines."
However, Bienasz said his research does show that three vaccine shots, or one infection paired with two vaccine doses, can enhance immunity against Omicron.
Scientists say it's too early to tell whether Omicron is actually more infectious than other variants. Dr. Angelique Coetzee, national chair of the South African Medical Association, said on Tuesday that Omicron is not yet cause for extreme concern.
"The majority of what we are presenting to primary health care practitioners are extremely mild cases," she said.
Subscribe to Fortune Daily to get essential business stories straight to your inbox each morning.


text:
Словаччина, як незалежна держава, вперше взяла участь в Олімпійських іграх 1994 року на зимовій Олімпіаді в Ліллегаммері, і з того часу не пропустила жодної Олімпіади. До 1993 року, словацькі спортсмени виступали на Олімпійських іграх за команду Чехословаччини.

За час виступу на Олімпійських іграх словацькі спортсмени здобули 24 олімпійські медалі: 8 золотих, 10 срібних та 6 бронзових. Найбільше олімпійських медалей словацькі спортсмени завоювали у змаганнях з веслування на байдарках та каное.

Національний олімпійський комітет Словаччини був утворений 1992 року і прийнятий до Міжнародного олімпійського комітету в 1993 році.

Призери Олімпіад

Літні Олімпіади

Зимові Олімпіади

Таблиці медалей

Медалі на літніх Олімпійських іграх

Медалі на зимових Олімпійських іграх

Медалі з видів спорту

Посилання

Словаччина на Олімпійських іграх


3. Should I be embarrassed that I fall for "feminist media" without realizing it?
4. Life advice from Mindy Kaling that is actually spot-on.
5. A great example of real-time focus group from Target. Really surprised and delighted to read about Studio Connect.
6. Debunking all the buzz around the future of retail with research.
Fact: Most journeys are still overwhelmingly single-channel (83%), though this is changing.
7. AI applied to counterfeit bags — is there an industry or an area of business that will not be impacted by AI?


text:
Journey through Britain
England, Scotland & Wales
14 days from $4,571 total price from Newark
Optional Post-tour Extension: London
On this wide-ranging tour we travel from city to country and back again: from gracious Edinburgh to England's legendary Lake District, from spectacular Snowdonia to the rural Cotswolds and Roman Bath, ending in cosmopolitan London. As we see history and legend come to life on our journey, we also enjoy the region's timeless hospitality.
Journey through Britain Map
Avg. High (°F) May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Edinburgh 57 63 65 65 61 54
Llandudno (Wales) 60 63 69 67 62 56
London 63 69 73 73 67 59
Edinburgh touring, including Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House, and Royal Mile
England's pastoral Lake District
Boat ride on Lake Windermere
Wales' Bodnant Garden and unspoiled Snowdonia National Park
Shakespeare's birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon
Bath touring: Roman Baths, Assembly Room, Circus, Bath Abbey
Stonehenge visit
Cosmopolitan London
Day 1: Depart U.S. for Edinburgh, Scotland
Day 2: Arrive Edinburgh We arrive in the Scottish capital and transfer to our hotel. As guests' arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities planned during the day. Late this afternoon, we meet for a briefing about the journey ahead; tonight we gather for a welcome dinner. D
Day 3: Edinburgh Our morning tour of this stately city built on seven hills includes the 18th-century "New Town" and the medieval "Old Town," where we visit Edinburgh Castle, symbolic heart of Scotland. This afternoon is at leisure to discover Edinburgh as we wish; museums, galleries, and shops abound. Dinner tonight is on our own, and Edinburgh boasts a robust culinary scene. B
Day 4: Edinburgh This morning we encounter the Royal Mile, the historic boulevard connecting Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyrood House. We tour Holyrood, as it is called, and see where British royalty schemed and slept as we tour the State Apartments. After lunch at a local restaurant, the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration and dinner on our own. B,L
Day 5: Edinburgh/Lake District Today we're bound for the beautiful – and beloved – Lake District of northwest England, a national park and diverse landscape of lakes, rivers, ancient woodlands, and small towns and villages. On arrival we stop at Dove Cottage, where English Romantic poet William Wordsworth penned some of his most memorable lines. Late afternoon we reach our hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere. B,L,D
Day 6: Lake District Today's explorations begin with a cruise on idyllic Lake Windermere, England's largest lake at 10½ miles long. We continue to the village of Hawkshead, where we have time for lunch on our own followed by a visit to Hawkshead Grammar School, famously attended by poet William Wordsworth. Next, we visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery, showcasing the original artwork of the author who lived nearby in the early 1900s. Late afternoon we return to our hotel and dine there tonight. B,D
Day 7: Lake District/North Wales We travel through splendid Lake District scenery today en route to Wales, with its rugged natural beauty and distinct culture. Our first stop is at Bodnant Garden, the historic 80-acre National Trust property with a lovely hillside setting and ever-changing displays, from manicured lawns to flower-filled terraces. After our visit, we continue on to the seaside town of Llandudno, dubbed "Queen of the Welsh Resorts" and our home for the next two nights. We dine tonight at our hotel. B,D
Day 8: North Wales/Snowdonia National Park Wales is a land of fierce natural beauty, as we see for ourselves on this morning's visit to Snowdonia National Park, where we enjoy a scenic train ride. Then we head to the port town of Conwy for a visit to 13th-century Conwy Castle, a medieval fortress whose brute appearance symbolized English domination over the Welsh. Strategically set at the mouth of its namesake river as it empties into Menai Strait, the castle was built starting in 1283 by King Edward I of England. This UNESCO World Heritage Site ranks as one of the finest pieces of 13th century military architecture remaining in Europe, with some of the UK's best-preserved medieval chambers in store for us once we enter the castle. Mid-afternoon we return to our coastal retreat, with time at leisure before dinner together tonight. B,D
Day 9: North Wales/Stratford-upon-Avon Returning to England today, we travel to Stratford-upon-Avon, where our touring includes a visit to Anne Hathaway's Cottage & Gardens, the thatched farmhouse of Shakespeare's bride that still contains some original furnishings. We also tour Shakespeare's Birthplace, a restored 16th-century half-timbered house where the Bard is believed to have been born in 1564. Then we have time in this 800-year-old market town for lunch on our own and to explore independently before we dine together at our hotel this evening. B,D
Day 10: Stratford-upon-Avon/The Cotswolds/Bath Today we encounter the Cotswolds, England's south central region of gently rolling hills dotted with villages of honey-colored limestone, market towns, and unspoiled countryside, looking much as it did 300 years ago. We arrive in Bath mid-afternoon, with the remainder of the day and this evening at leisure. B,L
Day 11: Bath We set out on a morning tour of this storied and graceful city where the ancient Romans first "took the waters" at England's only hot springs. Today the historic Roman Baths count among the city's most popular sites, along with Bath Abbey, the 18th-century Assembly Room, The Circus, and the Royal Crescent, all of which we see on our tour. The afternoon is free to explore as we wish before we dine together at our hotel this evening. B,D
Day 12: Bath/London We leave our pastoral days behind as we travel today to London, stopping en route to see Stonehenge, the 4,500-year-old Neolithic monument that remains something of a mystery today. That the prehistoric circle of stones is a masterpiece of engineering and building is undisputed; exactly why it was created is less certain. Next, we visit Windsor Castle, home to British royalty for more than a millennium. We tour the castle, including St. George's Chapel, burial place of six of the last eight British monarchs. Then we continue on to London, arriving late afternoon. Dinner tonight is on our own in this world-class city. B
Day 13: London A panoramic city tour this morning passes such celebrated London landmarks as the infamous Tower of London, grand Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Hyde Park. Our afternoon is at leisure to explore this wondrous city as we wish; London offers an embarrassment of riches from which to choose. Tonight we celebrate our journey through Britain at a farewell dinner. B,D
Day 14: Depart for U.S. We transfer this morning to Heathrow Airport for our flights home. B
Round-trip air transportation from listed cities
12 nights' accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels
Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
$100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)
Sep 25 Aug 30
Sep 11 Aug 7*
Aug 9*
Aug 16*
Newark $4,671 $4,871 $5,371
Boston, Phil $4,871 $5,071 $5,571
Atlanta, Balt, Chi,
Detroit, Wash, DC $4,971 $5,171 $5,671
Charlotte, Dallas,
Denver, Houston,
Miami, Minneapolis,
Orlando, Tampa $5,071 $5,271 $5,771
Port (OR), San Fran,
Seattle $5,171 $5,371 $5,871
Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $576, which are subject to change until final payment has been made.
Single travelers please add $1,495 Military Tattoo departures; $1,195 all other dates. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All 2021 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.
*Includes reserved seating at an evening performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Business Class upgrade (subject to availability) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: $3,595 per person
A visa is not required for this tour.
May 2 May 23
Newark $4,571 $4,871 $5,071 $5,571
Boston, Phil $4,771 $5,071 $5,271 $5,771
Detroit, Wash, DC $4,871 $5,171 $5,371 $5,871
Seattle $5,071 $5,371 $5,571 $6,071
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel, Edinburgh / Days 2-4 / Superior First Class
Well-located near the heart of one of Europe's great walking cities, the Apex Waterloo Place Hotel offers easy access to Princes Street, as well as the lively Royal Mile, the heart of the Old Town's shopping and dining district. Hotel amenities include a restaurant and bar, gym, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and spa. Each of the air-conditioned guest rooms offers private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel, Lake District / Days 5-6 / First Class
Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel sits on the shores of expansive Lake Windermere, England's largest lake. Amenities include three restaurants, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, and a variety of wellness facilities, including a 50-foot indoor pool with vaulted ceiling, outdoor hot tub, gym, sauna, and steam room. Each guest room offers private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and phone.
The Empire Hotel, Llandudno, Wales / Days 7-8 / First Class
Now in its third generation of family ownership, the elegant Empire Hotel sits on the outer edge of the town of Llandudno, close to several restaurants and a lovely bathing beach. The hotel's amenities include two restaurants, both indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, full-service spa with sauna and steam room, laundry and dry-cleaning service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Each air-conditioned guest room has private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
The Arden Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon / Day 9 / Superior First Class
The Arden Hotel's location could not be any more ideal: it sits directly opposite the Swan Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company on the banks of the River Avon. All the shops, restaurants, and pubs in this small town are within walking distance of the redbrick Arden, and the hotel offers a restaurant and champagne bar, outdoor terrace, several comfortable common areas, laundry and dry cleaning service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Each of the hotel's 45 air-conditioned guest rooms has private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
Francis Hotel, Bath / Days 10-11 / First Class
The Francis Hotel sits in the center of the highly walkable city of Bath and occupies seven original 18th-century townhouses along historic Queen Square. Designed by architect John Wood the Elder in the early 18th century, Georgian Queen Square wraps around its namesake park and makes up the first portion of Bath's celebrated architectural sequence, which also includes the Circus and Royal Crescent just a short distance away. The sophisticated Francis offers a French restaurant, bar and lounge, afternoon tea service, laundry and dry cleaning service (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
Amba Hotel Charing Cross, London / Days 12-13, Extension / Superior First Class
Housed in a 150-year-old, Grade II-listed historical building, the Amba Hotel Charing Cross combines timeless architectural beauty with modern convenience. Less than a mile from such historic landmarks as Trafalgar Square and Big Ben, the hotel boasts a host of amenities, including a restaurant and bar, afternoon tea room, gym, dry cleaning, and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Each of the air-conditioned guest rooms includes private bath with hair dryer, complimentary soft drink mini-bar and snacks, in-room safe, coffee machine, and in-room tablet computer.
London – On Your Own
3 days/2 nights for $445 total price
Theater, art, shopping, restaurants – London has it all, in abundance. Enjoy this world capital in your own style, at your own pace.
2 nights' accommodations at Amba Hotel Charing Cross (Superior First Class)
2022 – Extension: $495 total price; Single Supplement: $345
Robin Adams
Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
Emma Allen
"Emma was terrific; funny, helpful and accommodating."
Molly Stoner
Sonia Beck
"Loved her! Sonia was delightful and delivered quality, interesting information. She made sure everyone was considered. Went out of her way to be helpful!"
Pamela Hopkins
Paul Daley
"Our tour director, Paul Daley, was terrific! He was very organized, paid attention to detail and was attentive to people's needs. He was also knowledgeable about Scotch, English, and Welsh history and was interesting to listen to. One of his best qualities was his sense of humor."
Lynn Bafaloukos
Tim Godby
"Tim is a kind, patient, and very likeable guide."
James E. White
Joe Harrower
"Joe was great. So very informative and helpful. One of the best."
David & Sally Mendelson
Jacky Paterson
"I think Jacky was the best tour director I have ever had. VERY knowledgeable! Wonderful personality."
Thelma Taylor
Marina Scott
"This was our third Odysseys Unlimited tour; all of our tour directors were great but Marina went above and beyond."
Nancy & Bill Sondervan
Michele Thompson
"The best part of our trip was how wonderful our tour director was. Everyone in the group loved her. She had this incredible combination of knowledge, personality [and] humor. She was organized, helpful and absolutely amazing."
Rosie & Bernard Ross
H.V. Morton, Jan Morris (Introduction)
In Search of England
The much-beloved, enduring account of Morton's ramblings through the English countryside in the early days of the motorcar. Morton charmingly mixes a deep appreciation of the art, culture and history of the place with his own keen observations.
The Mother Tongue, English and How it Got That Way
An indispensable guide to the language that divides us, this book is an informative linguistic history that showcases Bryson's wry wit.
Hugh Kearney
The British Isles, A History of Four Nations
The Celts, Romans, Vikings, Normans and modern immigrants all make an appearance in this Canto Classics edition of Kearney's elegant and revisionist history of not just the English but also of the Scots, Welsh and Irish.
Eyewitness Guides
Eyewitness Guide Great Britain
With 1,400 photos, maps and excellent introductory chapters, this guide offers both a general overview of Great Britain and a region-by-region look at its attractions.
Michelin Travel Publications
British Isles Map, Great Britain and Ireland
A colorful and accurate map of both Great Britain and Ireland, at a scale of 1:1,000,000.
An accordion folded, pocket-size, laminated travel map of Edinburgh at a walking scale of 1:12,000.
Eyewitness Guide London
This superb guide to London features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
Louise Nicholson
Fodor's London's 25 Best
This slim guide to London (with handy full-color maps) has everything you need to know for a short visit to the city, including recommended sightseeing, restaurants, hotels and shops.
Richard Tames
A Traveller's History of London
The story of London, from the Romans to Tony Blair, tailored to the traveler.
Christopher Hibbert
The Story of England
Beautifully illustrated with color pictures, chronological charts, royal genealogies and maps, this popular history of English politics, economics and culture from the Neo-lithic Age to the 1990s is an excellent travel companion.
Craig Taylor
Londoners, The Days and Nights of London Now As Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Have Left It, and Long for It
Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.
Tom Aiken
101 Beautiful Small Towns Britain
A lavishly illustrated and informative tour of Britain's beautiful and historic towns.
Rosemary Hill
Hill captures the enduring mystery and allure of Stonehenge in this witty meditation on the myth and meaning of the most famous prehistoric site in all Europe.
Katharine Reeve
Jane Austen in Bath, Walking Tours of the Writer's City
The city of Bath provided the inspiration and the setting for Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. This beautifully illustrated guide leads the reader through the places frequented by Austen and her fictional characters.
A Writer's House in Wales
In this extended essay, Morris uses her much-loved 18th-century house as a point of departure for a meditation on Welsh identity.
Seamanship, A Voyage Along the Wild Coasts of the British Isles
Nicolson offers an engrossing account of a coastal voyage from Cornwall, along the western coast of Ireland, out to the Faroes and to Orkney in this brief hymn to the sea.
James S. Shapiro
A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare, 1599
A dramatic tale of a pivotal year in English history, the life of the bard and the Globe Theater, resulting in Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and, most likely, Hamlet.
Paul Theroux
Kingdom by the Sea
This time, the prolific writer recounts a coastal journey around the British Isles in 1982, displaying his occasional ill temper alongside his celebrated ability to combine social history with a good old-fashioned traveler's tale.
The Wild Places
MacFarlane climbs, walks and swims by day and spends his nights sleeping on cliff-tops and in ancient meadows and wildwoods in this marvelous exploration of the nature of the British Isles.
Norman Holmes Pearson, W.H. Auden (Editor)
The Portable Romantic Poets
This is the anthology to take along on a trip to Italy's Cinque Terra, England's Lake District or any other classic haunt of the romantic poets. This selection includes works by all the masters (and even an occasional mistress).
Tim Jepson
National Geographic the British World, An Illustrated Atlas
Featuring more than 95 new National Geographic maps, photos, literary highlights and quotes, this reference book is a resplendent tribute to Britain's history.


One year ago today, on 11-11-11, my dog Maya was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. My Pirate and I were warned that she would live a maximum of two months if we pursued surgery and chemotherapy. So, we opted to let her live out her final days comfortably. I scribbled out a life list for Maya in my notebook and started knocking them out with her. And now the list is completely scratched out, and she is still here, an old lady at 13 years old. The vet is baffled and I am so grateful that I could break out into song at any moment.
Today, we enjoyed a cozy Sunday afternoon, scrubbing out the dishwasher filter, which was completely caked in dog hair, food particles, and detergent. And while we laughed and chipped away at it, chicken thighs were roasting in the oven for a delicious lunch. After we reassembled the dishwasher, I made gravy from the pan drippings. We sat down to our celebratory lunch and shared nibbles with Maya and The Assistant, who greedily gobbled them down.
This is how we made our roasted chicken thighs and gravy.
We took 12 chicken thighs and dried them thoroughly with paper towels. Then we seasoned the bottom side with salt and laid them out on an olive oil rubbed cookie sheet. We seasoned the tops of the chicken thighs with more kosher salt, pepper, and a few shakes of red cayenne pepper. We sat them on the counter for thirty or so minutes until they reached room temperature. We slid them into a 430-degree oven for 55 minutes until the skin was crunchy and brown.
We moved the chicken onto a platter and poured the oil off of the cookie sheet into the sink, being careful not to lose the good brown drippings. Added some hot water, not too much, into the cookie sheet and let it sit for a couple of minutes to soak, while we sampled some crispy chicken skin. Then scraped out the cookie sheet drippings and water into a small saucepan. Tasted the liquid. Added water and chicken stock until it tasted just right and poured in a slosh of heavy cream. Brought the saucepan mixture to a simmer and whisked in Wondra until the mixture thickened. We added three drops of lemon juice. Tasted it and served it up.