Hacking isn't like the movies. You're not facing off against a worthy adversary in real-time, backed by your motley crew.
In fact, most security jobs are boring — and to be honest, you want them that way. Audit. Find vulnerabilities. Patch. Rinse and repeat. To keep sharp, lots of security professionals — both new and old — enter Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, or use CTF challenges to learn.
For aspiring white hats, CTF challenges are a great way to learn hacking techniques, strengthen your problem-solving skills, and gain critical hands-on practice. CTF competitions deal the right level of pressure to keep things interesting while helping you to sharpen your skills.
For the pros, CTF competitions help you assess your skill level, challenge yourself among peers, and maybe even earn some bragging rights.
Here's how CTF competitions work, and a few tips on how to prepare for your first competition.
What are capture the flag competitions?
Capture the Flag hacking competitions are exactly like the outdoor game, except over a network or online. One team of players attempt to locate and capture an opposing team's "flag" while also defending their flag. In CTF competitions, the flag is typically a snippet of code, a piece of hardware on a network, or perhaps a file. In other cases, the competition may progress through a series of questions, like a race.
They can either be single events or ongoing challenges — and typically fall into three main categories: Jeopardy, Attack-Defense, and mixed events.
This style of competition is much closer to the backyard capture the flag game than the Jeopardy style. In these types of events, teams defend a host PC while still trying to attack opposing teams' target PCs. Each team starts off with an allotted time for patching and securing the PC, trying to discover as many vulnerabilities as possible before the opponent attacking teams can strike. Teams receive points for staving off attacks from opposing teams and successfully infiltrating other teams. The team with the most points wins.
Jeopardy-style CTFs present competitors with a set of questions that reveal clues that guide them in solving complex tasks in a specific order. By revealing clues, contestants learn the right direction regarding techniques and methodologies that are needed going forward. Teams receive points for each solved task. The more difficult the task, the more points you can earn upon its successful completion.
Ongoing, online CTF competitions are most likely to be Jeopardy style. It's easier to play solo, and requires less coordination among players than an Attack and Defend competition.
As the name suggests, mixed competitions are an amalgam of Jeopardy and Attack-Defend formats. Sometimes organizers will segment the competition into events. Other times organizers might split teams to compete in concurrent events of different styles.
What's the difference between these and hackathons?
Both CTF competitions and hackathons bring together teams to use their skills in a concerted fashion with a time limit. But that's about where the comparison ends.
CTF competitions encourage teams to subvert security systems and sidestep safeguards through known- or competitor-created exploits to earn points. In other words, it's a game.
Hackathons are more of a collaborative event that allows developers and programmers to showcase their creative talents by building a working application or program within an allotted time period while following specific criteria. They can be security-related, but hackathons are a generalized term.
Unlike most technical certifications, CTF competitions are 100 percent practical. There's no multiple choice. To be successful, you've got to build up a strong knowledge base, and then draw from it. Though that sounds daunting, it's not that bad. Provided you've learned (or starting learning) white hat basics, you'll learn everything else you need from practice, practice, and more practice.
There are some great resources with challenging problem sets available for free.
Plenty of aspiring white hats start with PictoCTF. It's actually intended for middle and high schoolers. For that reason, it covers the basics very well, provides many hints, and reveals challenges as an interesting storyline. If you're an adult, you can't compete for prizes, but the lessons are still excellent.
Among the most popular wargame sites, Smash the Stack hosts several wargames to attack operating systems, networks, and applications. Most wargames are always online, but they also have regular competitions. Due to its popularity, beginners can reference plenty of write-ups on GitHub, personal blogs, or even YouTube.
Developed by a robust community of "good-looking hackers," OverTheWire has wargames for every skill level. The 34-level Bandit wargame is the perfect starting place for absolute beginners. Eventually, you can progress to the Manpage wargame. With each game on its own SSH port, even connecting to the individual games is a learning exercise.
The Google CTF comprises 23 challenges, and one "Beginners Quest." The challenges are available year-round, but the team competition aspect only runs for a weekend in the summer. Google pays out $100 for the best 21 write-ups and $500 for the 11 most creative solutions.
Note: These are merely a few popular examples of CTF challenge sites. They are by no means the only resources out there.
If even gamified learning sounds daunting, then find solace in the fact that CTF questions typically fall into five categories. You don't have to become an expert in every subject matter area, but you should have a working knowledge of each.
Binary exploitation comes down to making an application act differently than how it was intended to run. By making the application run differently, you're gaining valuable information that you'll use to alter or commandeer the target.
Common binary exploits use a technique known as memory corruption, which can enable an attacker to gain unauthorized privileges to the system that is running the application, or by hijacking the control flow of the application and injecting their commands directly into the system.
Sometimes the flag will be a string hidden inside the application code. Depending on the challenge type and level of difficulty the task, you might need to use reverse engineering.
Reverse engineering challenges require an intimate knowledge debugger and disassembler software. The goal: Take a compiled binary, rip it apart, and find out how it works.
You will want to be familiar with how the application uses control flow, loops, and conditionals so that you can figure out how to bend the program to your will, and then hopefully capture the flag.
These question types cover a wide range of different methods to exploit web-based resources. While the methods are broad, there's are tools commonly associated with web exploitation, including Nmap, Wireshark, and Metasploit.
Some of the easier flags are even accessible through your web browser through "View Page Source" or the equivalent in your browser.
And scrolls forever. Your challenge: "In this file are a bunch of hex-encoded ciphertexts. One of them has been encrypted with ECB. Detect it." And that's the intro challenge.
In other cases, you'll have to encrypt or decrypt messages. You'll need to have a good handle on programming for cryptography. If you don't, it's a lucrative skill to attain.
This type of question in a CTF environment can cover a lot of ground, but it is quite common that you'll be asked to find files or information hidden within other file types. For instance, a simple jpg or png file could be manipulated to hold information such as text, or even an executable.
By digging into these files with scripts and tools, competitors can extract data (normally encrypted) and then run it against a series of other tools as they try to decode the coveted flag. There are many useful tutorials and write-ups online that can get you started.
As you learn your trade, you'll likely find that you're strong with, or particularly enjoy, one type of problem. Once you have found your favorite type of problems to solve, then specialize. It's perfectly acceptable to go deep into one subject matter area. In fact, it's recommended.
Write-ups are a key part of CTF competitions. Teams prepare documentation (called write-ups) about the vulnerabilities they found and the processes they used to exploit the vulnerability. Judges often use write-ups to evaluate teams, like in the Google CTF. Remember that white hats have a goal in mind, to develop a fix. Write-ups help track vulnerabilities and how to fix them. For that reason, they're great learning material for beginners.
When you're first learning, write-ups are a great resource to check your solution, or even provide a little help when you're stuck.
To prepare for a CTF competition, you'll want to find and read as many write-ups as possible. They also make for good practice, even if they're way over your head. You can find past event results with questions, and you can try taking them on before you join a live tournament.
These past events are usually well documented, with solutions and problem-solving steps included on most of the write-up resources. Even if answer quality and completeness varies from author to author, you can look at multiple solutions to the same problems. You can then compare the best answers to your attempts, and then find out if you could learn any more about these types of problems by incorporating some of those techniques into your bag of tricks.
If you're brand new to hacking, then find a good course to teach you the skills. The best courses, like Keith Barker's new White Hat Hacking v10 course, start by setting up a Kali Linux practice lab, so you can get hands-on experience immediately.
When you're ready, work through the CTF challenges, review the write-ups, and maybe even enter a local competition. By competing in these competitions and following the challenges, you not only strengthen your knowledge and understanding of how the technologies work, but also how to select the appropriate responses to a particular challenge.
These skills very quickly add up and, over time, teach you valuable, real-world techniques that you could apply in your studies and working environment, allowing you to expand your Ethical Hacking toolkit.


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Home Latest News Farmville Downtown Partnership executive director to start new position in Richmond
Farmville Downtown Partnership executive director to start new position in Richmond
Ilsa Loeser May 15, 2015 May 15, 2015 Latest News
The executive director of the Farmville Downtown Partnership is stepping down Friday from her post to take a new position at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Helen Person has served as executive director of the Partnership since October of 2012 and beginning next week will be serving as a Community Revitalization Manager with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in Richmond.
"Helen energetically served Farmville Downtown Partnership for two and half years, guiding the partnership in its transition from a volunteer-based enterprise to a nationally and state accredited revitalization organization," said John D. Miller, President of the Partnership. "The organizational growth and accomplishments we have seen over the past two years have a lot to do with her knowledge and skills."
The Partnership's first Executive Director, Person brought experience as a non-profit manager, journalist and historic preservationist in her native Georgia to Farmville.
During her first year, Person led the Partnership to its status as an accredited Main Street community. Along with the Partnership's volunteers, she also supported a fundraising campaign that brought in over $50,000 in contributions, assisted with the free concerts of the summertime Main Street Music Series and helped with the first High Bridge Half-Marathon & 5K race in High Bridge State Park.
Additionally, Person oversaw the inception of Hometown Holidays and spearheaded a partnership with the Town of Farmville, Prince Edward County, and the Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce. They worked together to develop the joint "Heart of Your Adventure" marketing campaign to benefit the greater Prince Edward County and Farmville area, including downtown's Main Street District.
More recent achievements during Person's tenure included the restoration of four historic Mesker iron storefronts along Main Street, the installation of the vibrant warehouse triptych mural next to the Farmville Farmers Market and a partnership resulting in the new LOVEworks sign installed on Main Street.
"Although the Downtown Partnership is driven by volunteers, these successes would not have been possible without the coordination and diligence of Helen," said Miller.
Her successes and relationships will make leaving for her new position in Richmond bittersweet, said Person.
"Three years ago I was met here by a group of talented professionals who wanted to see their downtown become 'better.' We set to work and together have accomplished a lot," Person explained. "I cannot thank the Partnership and the people of Farmville enough for the support they have provided to make my family and me feel welcomed and part of the community."
"This new opportunity with DHCD will allow me to work with Farmville and other towns and cities all over Virginia to use economic development tools, as well as the Main Street methodology to revitalize their downtown economies," Person said. "Knowing that I'll
still have the opportunity to support Farmville is a real plus to this position."
Miller said the Board of Directors has begun the process of forming a committee to conduct a national search for the next executive director: "Helen accomplished a lot, and we're looking for another professional to continue that momentum."
Person and her family will continue to reside in Farmville.
Davenport & Company Celebrates 25 Years In Farmville's Downtown
Farmville Downtown Announces 2015 Main Street Music Lineup

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is going hard after re-election challenger Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia's record and platform in the first head-to-head televised debate before next month's runoff election.
The tone of Monday's televised debate was snappy with the former White House chief of staff questioning Garcia's budget proposal and its call for spending audits.
Emanuel says he offers specifics, while Garcia wants to study the issues.
But Garcia says Emanuel only focuses on improving downtown, not neighborhoods. Garcia is a former alderman and legislator.
The two are in an April 7 runoff after Emanuel failed to capture the majority needed to win a second term in February.
Debate topics also included crime, Chicago's red-light cameras and taxes. It was hosted by Chicago's WMAQ-TV, Telemundo and the University of Chicago.
Many issues are important. One is very clear on the outcome. Emperor Rahm vigorously defends the money grab scam of red light cameras deliberately mis-engineered with yellow intervals too short for the actual approach speeds and perception/reaction times of at least 85% of the drivers (safest method to set limits). He even sanctioned the theft of the "extra" $7.7 million collected with the 2.9 second yellows set lower than the absolute federal minimums.
Mr. Garcia will end the money grab red light camera scam immediately.
You choose whether to leave your wallets open to be pilfered by Emperor Rahm … or not.


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AJFF What to Watch in July 2021
Reality TV collides with the (former) ultra-Orthodox lifestyle on Netflix. Meanwhile, some AJFF alums join certified classics on streaming and Blu-ray. Plus the late, great Charles Grodin's arguable best film lands on Netflix and Amazon.
My Unorthodox Life (coming to Netflix)
Julia Haart is CEO of Elite World Group, a leading conglomerate of modeling agencies. She's also formerly part of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, which makes for a pretty stark juxtaposition with her current lifestyle in this buzzy new reality show. But Haart, while the anchor of the show, is not really its focus, which spends more time on the lives of her four adult kids.
The Operative (coming to Netflix)
Playing at the 2020 AJFF, this Diane Kruger headlined film dives into global espionage and global conspiracies, all centering on a Mossad agent gone rogue. Martin Freeman plays her Berlin-based former handler, Thomas, who helps her navigate a slow-burning spy thriller involving an affair with an Tehran businessman and sabotage of Iran's nuclear program.
Midnight Run (coming to Netflix and Amazon Prime)
Charles Grodin passed away in May. The Jewish-American actor was incredibly versatile, making a name for himself in films like 1972's The Heartbreak Kid, playing a shouldn't-be-but-somehow-is sympathetic Jewish husband who ditches his new bride. But arguably his best film was 1988's Midnight Run, when he co-starred with Robert De Niro as a mob accountant picked up by a bounty hunter. The film isn't slap-your-face Jewish, but Grodin's persona helped infuse Jewish humor into the role, and it's a top-notch classic regardless.
On Blu Ray
Just a few months ago, this festival darling made waves at the 2021 annual festival. Now you can own a copy when Shiva Baby hits Blu-ray this July. Originally a short film (also an AJFF alum), director Emma Seligman extended the story to feature length, with a star turn by lead actress Rachel Sennott, as a young woman anxiously juggling an accumulation of mishaps and potentially disastrous encounters at a funeral call.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
This Holocaust tragedy, centered around two 8-year-old boys (one a Jewish camp inmate, the other the son of the Nazi camp commander), is based on a novel by the same name. It drew plenty of criticism for its factual inaccuracies and arguable sympathy for the Nazi family, and it's not exactly the best Holocaust film you'll ever see. Still, the film is worth a revisit for the performances of a who's who cast featuring Asa Butterfield, Vera Farmiga, and David Thewlis.
This 2008 biopic is getting a rerelease on Blu-ray this July, which just gives us another chance to rave about Sean Penn's performance as the Jewish gay rights activist. His life was cut too short, but his mark on history has been enduring, and there's no shortage of documentaries on Harvey Milk. But Penn's portrayal remains the most gripping and a must-see. It's been out on Blu-ray for a while, but if you don't already have it in your library, use this rerelease as a reason to correct that oversight.
More to See at AJFF
Photos from AJFF


A traffic accident can add a few blinks to your credit score if you don't do business right away. Sean Dowling from Buzz60 has more.
Michael Aminov-Tobin almost forgot that an auto insurance company was monitoring his driving. He wasn't paying close attention to the speed with which he drove or how hard he hit his brakes. So he was amazed when the company offered to secure its 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo for $ 100 a month less than it had paid.
"When it came up with the price it did, I was like," Holy Crap, it's awesome! "Says Aminov-Tobin, 25, who runs a video production company from his home near Columbus , Ohio.
It has benefited from a growing trend known as insurance based on use, or UBI, in which auto insurance companies electronically controls a customer's guidance and offers discounts in return.
Such programs can be a great deal for careful drivers and low-mileage users, but they also have significant privacy concerns, experts say. Before accepting to be monitored, drivers must understand the risks and ask the right questions.
"The data is so rich," says Ting Zhu, associate professor of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University who studies the UBI. "They know exactly where you are going and when you go."
Letting people prove to be safe drivers makes car insurance prices fairer, defenders say.
Traditional auto insurance rates are based on your record driving, plus demographic factors such as age, location and marital status. While usage-based policies still consider these factors, they base part of the rate on driving behavior using telematics technology. Data is generally collected via a plug-in device for your car's diagnostic port or a smartphone app.
"Good drivers should pay less," says Robert Hunter, insurance director of the Consumer Federation of America. "How you drive, and not who you are, you should determine your rate."
Discounts can be significant for good drivers. With Nationwide's SmartRide, discounts can reach 40%, says David Arango, senior vice president of personal lines, which includes cars and homes. At Root Insurance, the startup that ensures Aminov-Tobin, the best drivers can reduce their rates by almost half, says CEO Alex Timm. In both companies, managers say, the typical savings are around 20 percent.
Even low-mileage drivers can benefit from it. Evan Makovsky, 42, from Hoboken, New Jersey, estimates he has saved $ 1,000 a year by switching to Metromile, which pays a basic monthly fee plus a rate per mile. Makovsky drives his 2009 Volkswagen Passat mostly on weekends.
But the rates are not always better with insurance based on usage. For example, if you change jobs and have a longer commute, a pay-per-mile policy could become expensive. And with the Progressive Snapshot program, which monitors your way of driving, the rates increase by about 20 percent of drivers, according to the insurer. Bad drivers won't pay more nationally, says Arango, but they may lose the initial discount.
If the price break is worthy of the privacy that you give up leaving the control of the guide depends how you see the risks.
Aminov-Tobin was not worried: "If you want the best rates, I guess you have to sacrifice a little," he says.
But the privacy expert Jen King fears that drivers can sacrifice more than they believe.
"Where you go every day you can tell people a lot of what you're interested in, where you live, who you can re-associate with," says King, director of consumer privacy for the Center for Internet and Society of the Stanford Law School.
Although the information is not sold, he says, it could be used in ways that the driver did not anticipate.
A data breach is another danger, says Zhu of Purdue Indicates the 2013 Target Violation in which cyberattackers stole personal information from millions of customers, Zhu says his research found that after the violation, drivers were more likely to abandon the car insurance based on the # 39. ; use.
However, UBI appears to be gaining ground, a JD Power study showed that 10% of insurance customers used these programs in 2018, from 8% of the previous two years. universally available, l & # 39; National Association of Insurance Commissioners estimates 7 out of 10 that automotive insurers will use monitoring technology within the next year.
Insurance policies based on usage vary. A few traces of braking, idling and acceleration; others focus on mileage. Some monitor driving for a limited time; others continue to follow. So it's important to look around and ask questions.
If you can refuse to share information without penalty.
And remember that the driving data Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communication for the Insurance Information Institute, reports only part of the insurance rate.
"The most important thing consumers can do for their car insurance is to have a good driving record," he says.
Lisa Green is a writer for NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: lgreen@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lisaccgreen.
NerdWallet is a US USA content partner that provides general news, comments and coverage from across the web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
A GasBuddy study examined the 30 largest metropolitan areas by population and concluded that these cities have the most aggressive drivers.


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ePaper!
Home / Regional / CARICOM / Barbados renews vow to Global Forum
Barbados renews vow to Global Forum
Barbados Today
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has renewed Barbados' commitment to the Global Forum as he called on participating countries to address "the wide range of tax and tax related issues" affecting small vulnerable countries.
Stuart said while a lot of work and effort had gone into helping many of the countries progress, nothing must be allowed to undermine the accomplishments or impeding progress.
He told the over 200 delegates attending the forum that a number of issues had to be addressed if developing countries were to sustain the progress they have made.
He pointed out that while Barbados once had a comparative advantage in sugar, this advantage had been "whittled away" with competition and the advantage was now in the area of financial services.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart
"We do not wish to feel that each time that we develop a competitive advantage, the playing field rules will change and place us on a path of continually having to seek new and legitimate ways of providing for our people," the Prime Minister told the opening of the 8th plenary of the Global Forum at the Hilton.
Stuart, who is chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said Barbados, like other small financial centres, was doing "all within its power" to comply with internationally agreed standards.
However, he lamented that despite "high level of compliance and cooperation" and the "plethora" of exchange of information agreements signed and implemented, some countries were "constantly" on the defensive.
"We have had to fight to defend our legitimacy and existence as international financial centres, a developmental goals and the well-being of our people," said Stuart.
"We are particularly concerned that even at this stage when the Forum is considering its third mandate, there are still some member countries – even members of this Forum – that create blacklists of other countries without regard to the implications such actions could have," he said.
The Prime Minister urged the delegates to "reflect" on the progress the Forum has made over the years, which allowed for "proper and respectful" dialogue among the interested parties.
One of the worrying issues, he said, was that some multinational financial organizations had implemented policies that use the Global Forum's ratings "in a manner that has the unintended consequences of penalizing countries that are rated partially complaint or lower".
"Unless such financial institutions communicate with both the Global Forum and the affected countries, they run the risk of making decisions without fully appreciating the peculiarities of the country, and the progress it is making to address the concerns," Stuart told the opening of the two-day seminar.
"This is even more so in cases where the Global Forum itself acknowledge the progress that the country concerned is making, and is working with that country to help it to implement the recommendations. Under such circumstances, there, a country's development goals can be compromised because of the weight given to a policy, which seems not to fully take into consideration that country's interaction with the Global Forum's processes," he added.
Stuart also called for "some mechanism" to ensure that countries that have fully committed to the Global Forum's process, and have been actively taking the steps to implement recommendations to its satisfaction, do not suffer the fate of being penalized by other agencies.
"In relation to double taxation agreements, I should like also to urge the Global Forum to encourage its members, particularly the developed countries, to take action to ratify negotiated and agreed tax treaties. It appears that in the effort to quickly implement the standard on transparency and exchange of information double taxation agreements have not been given their deserved priority."
During the 8th meeting of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of information for Tax Purposes, the 230 delegates from 88 countries and 10 international organization representatives are expected to discuss a range of issues and come up with possible solutions.
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This Christmas was such a fun one! My girls had a blast really being able to enjoy time with so much family. I wanted to do some special things and one thing I did was create this nutcracker party shirt for all the littles on my husband's side. We are starting to do a Christmas movie theme each year and went with The Nutcracker since the new movie had just come out. Time didn't allow us to actually go see the movie, but it's on our list. I created this design using the design feature for my Cricut Explore. It was really easy to create and now they have a one of a kind shirt just for them.
It had been a while since I had created a shirt using iron on vinyl. I didn't realize some of the new products that are now more easily available. I gave the Siser Easywood HTV in green a try (I found it at Michael's). It was my best experience with heat transfer vinyl yet! It went on so easy and smooth. I was impressed. I guess I'm a little behind on the new and amazing things as usual hahaha. If you want to make your own and have a Cricut cutting machine, you can find the graphic I made here. You will need to log into your account to see it. Just resize according to your needs.


NOTE for scheduling posts it appears that the default is Greenwich Mean Time, so you'll have to do a little math to figure out when you want it to post; at least, we'll know if I'm right if this pops up at 1800 EST/1700 CST/1600 MST/1500 PST this afternoon!
Update as of 1/13/2012 2219 MST: the blog is now set to MST (as the "old" ATiM was) so as long as we don't muck around with the time zone–as I was doing today–everything should be fine.
Never forget the science. . . science is our friend!
It's all the Muppets' faults. Maybe we should stop linking their videos–it might have a bad influence on us and whether or not we believe in Universal Healthcare and the ACA. . . oh, wait, too late!
Never thought about it that way!
Pat Bagley, our local editorial cartoonist. Yee-haw!
Well, that seemed to be pretty painless–and, too cool! The buttons along the top (like bold and italic) automatically show you the html code if you're editing in that window, so you don't have to remember the code. Now we'll see if it's scheduled correctly. . .
Forgot to change the scheduled time to MST, so we'll see what happens in four minutes.
Update again as of 1/13/2012 2225: you can edit the size of the images (in this case, the comics) by clicking on them and then selecting the little icon that looks like a jpg icon in the upper left hand corner of the image ("Edit image"). I just reduced the size of each of them.
There's a bit of a learning curve that we're having to go through again, but I'm thinking that this site is going to be even better than Blogger was at its best. . . thanks, Kevin, lms and Scott!


Canada has turned its northwest wind toward Minnesota and we are finally enjoying real Minnesota summer days with dewpoints in the 50's, temperatures in the upper 70's and low 80's, and that wonderful cool Northwest breeze. This weather brings a flood of memories — not of baseball in the sun, swimming, playing tennis or boating. No. It brings a flood of memories of reading, usually outdoors in the shade either on a porch or under a tree, the sounds of swimming, water-skiing and boating on the lake in the background, a lawn mower grazing with a buzz nearby, and the smell of suntan lotion laced with coconut oil. Urban noise pollution wasn't a part of my childhood, but a lake house, a library card, and lots of free time were.
Today, I'm reading a classic science fiction novel published in 1977 that reminds me of the mid-1970's rage for disaster movies — Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It's a fat paperback — my favorite kind — full of characters I can relate to in some way, caught on a planet in the path of an ancient comet. Will they all survive a direct hit? What will that hit be like? And who cares just how plausible the premise is, right?
Summer reading. Book marketers go immediately to the stereotypical beach reads: thrillers, mysteries, more thrillers, and action adventure stories set in lost worlds of the past or far future. What are your favorite summer reads? Is there really such a thing?
I have a particularly potent memory of one week in August when I was in junior high school. My family was at our lake house. I had been to the library and checked out a pile of books, among them, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in a collected works omnibus of Sherlock Holmes stories. That August week was unusual for its weather: cool, overcast, often foggy from the humidity, with especially damp chilly nights. We had built a fire in the fireplace and hunkered down inside. I read on the squishy soft sofa upholstered with pink flowers on a dark green background about 6 feet in front of the fire, engrossed in The Hound of Baskervilles. The weather outdoors with its cool enveloping mist created the perfect environment in which to read this scary story. And wild hounds could not have roused me from that sofa.
When I was ten, I discovered the romantic suspense of Mary Stewart in her novel The Moon-Spinners. It was blistering hot outdoors, too hot to sit in the sun or go boating, and after a swim, I would curl up on the rocking lounger (upholstered in dark green vinyl) on the front porch and read about the rugged landscape of Crete, the heat of the Mediterranean sun, the beautiful beach, a small inn run by a Greek family and the mystery surrounding a young Englishman named Mark. From that summer on, I was convinced that the British were the masters of mystery stories.
The year after I graduated college, my first year living in Minnesota, I picked up a book with a strange title: Watership Down by Richard Adams. It was the title that caught my eye. Once I began reading, I couldn't put that book down, and to this day I'm still amazed that a novel about rabbits could have so powerfully held me in its grasp. A friend had invited me to spend a week with her and her family at their lake cabin in the north woods and I took the book along with me. Now I associate that specific location in northern Wisconsin with reading Adams' novel.
When summer rolls around, I feel my attention as a writer and a reader circle away from anything heavy or philosophical and toward fun. And fun means mysteries primarily, although this summer I've added a science fiction disaster thriller to the mix. In addition to the Niven/Pournelle novel, so far this summer I've read The Private Patient by P. D. James, Death and the Maiden by Gerald Elias, Finding Moon by Tony Hillerman, and Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart.
What have you been reading this summer? Any recommendations?
How do you choose books to buy?
In another word, perseverance. Success and what it means has been in the back of my mind this week. Sam Shepard died as the week began, and reading about his life as a playwright, writer, and actor proved provocative to my mind. Shepard told an interviewer once that he felt most comfortable in the theater, writing for the theater. That made me ask myself where do I feel most comfortable in my creative life? How does that feeling relate to production and success? I know I am happiest when I am writing fiction.
This morning, I ran across a short essay by Hope Clark, a mystery writer who has a well-known newsletter called Funds for Writers. In this essay, Clark wrote about what the most important thing is about being a writer. Is it getting credit for writing and publishing? Or is it giving the world a great story experience?
My next thought was that maybe success could be measured in just how great the story experience was that you've created. But how does anyone know that? And could one person's great story experience be another's failed story experience? Today, for example, I finished reading a novel that has won rave reviews and that I'd heard friends and acquaintances rave about for a long time. I didn't think it was that great at all.
I don't rely solely on what my friends and acquaintances recommend when I'm looking for a great story. I read reviews, I subscribe to the NY Times Book Review newsletter, as well as reading the review sections of other papers and magazines. I have to admit that I don't pay much attention to marketing blurbs or any kind of promotional pitches. What I pay attention to are the descriptions of the novel's story, and then a little to genre. I love books, though, that blend genres or bend them. So I guess it's important to know your own taste and interests before going off to Amazon or a bricks and mortar store to buy books. I do miss bricks and mortar bookstores where I could wander around and actually see, touch, and smell the books!
In her essay, Clark describes the kind of promotional copy that will turn her off a book, and the kind of promotional copy that will spark her interest. Her ultimate point in the essay, though, is that authors need to remember their responsibility to readers, i.e. to provide them with a great story they'll be glad they paid good money for and spent their time reading. That whatever they say in their pitches and promotions, they focus on the story.
So, Mr. Churchill, I think I'd define success for a writer in this way: Committed to writing the best you can, knowing what makes your stories great, giving your readers one great story after another, and attaining the recognition of being a writer who produces great stories, i.e. the kind of stories that people want to buy and read.
What draws you to a book? How do you choose the books you buy? What was the last great story you read? Please respond in the comments section!
Thank you to Adam at Write Thoughts for nominating me for the Liebster Award! It is like a blogging chain letter of sorts that asks of the recipient a bit more than the conventional chain letter. I've responded to a similar award back in 2015 that was set up a bit differently from this one. This will be the last time I participate in this sort of thing. If any of my readers receive such a nomination and think of me for their list of nominations, please just skip me! I would like to keep this blog focused on the Perceval novels, writing issues and interests, classical music, and the occasional book or movie review.
1. What is your favorite book, or if you prefer, your favorite author? I really don't have one favorite book or author. There are certain authors whom I read faithfully because of the high quality of their prose, plotting, character development, story, and dialogue. Those writers are: P. D. James, John le Carre, Daniel Silva, Madison Smartt Bell, Virginia Woolf, Connie Willis. and Ursula Le Guin. I just added Connie Willis to this list, and if you were to ask me this question a week from now, the list might be a little different.
2. Is there a country you have always wanted to visit, if so where? England. I've been to the other countries on my list: Russia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand. I've been to Northern Ireland and traveled through London on my way to various places, but have not stayed to actually visit England. I'd also like to return to Finland.
3. What do you enjoy about blogging? When I began blogging, I was extremely nervous about putting myself out there on the internet. Who would read my posts? Would they like my ideas? Would they read my Perceval novels? The first few months were a bit nerve-wracking. It's been nearly 10 years now, and I find that I enjoy getting the ideas for posts, thinking about, exploring and researching those ideas in order to write about them, and then seeing if anyone responds. I love hearing from people so it's been especially fun when readers leave comments and a conversation has ensued.
4. What's your preferred writing space? I write at my desk in my living room. The desk faces the wall between the kitchen and the hall that leads to the front door. Behind me is the living room and its windows. I see the windows reflected in the large picture that hangs over my desk. At least as much as I can see between the multitude of colorful post-its that I've stuck to the picture with notes to myself.
5. How do you find inspiration? In life. In people.
6. What do you like to do for fun when you need a break from writing? Since I'm writing all the time even when I'm not at my desk, it's rare for me to completely separate myself from it. However, I love movies, theater, and classical music concerts, spending time with friends, and walking around the lake that's a block from where I live.
7. What started you down the road of writing? I honestly do not remember if there was one spark that got me going. I read voraciously all through elementary school, and I wrote plays and short stories starting in sixth grade. I do remember that one story in particular started in my mind when I was doing my lunchtime stint as a safety patrol kid outdoors and noticed the grill on the storm drain that ran along the curb. I've written about that here.
8. What's one story you keep recommending to others? I do not have one story or book that I recommend to others all the time. I usually recommend authors, or sometimes a book I've recently read that impressed me.
9. How do you keep yourself motivated? It can be especially tough when life keeps butting in! I think about the characters. They keep me motivated.
10. What superpower would you choose and why? So, is this a trick question? The geopolitical situation right now is in crazy flux. Russia continues to try to reassert itself as a superpower. China is rising into that status but isn't quite there yet, especially when they have some interesting issues with other countries that don't bode well for China to become a superpower. The US is definitely enjoying a decline in influence in the world, especially after last year's election. However, the US still has the economy, military and weaponry to remain a superpower. The other countries are in an increasingly stronger position to challenge that status. I live in the US, so I suppose I'd choose the US, but honestly, I've lived in Europe and almost prefer that way of life.
11. What four people would you invite to a dinner party; contemporary, historical, or fictional? Ludwig van Beethoven, J. S. Bach, John le Carre, and Queen Victoria.
I hope you all will respond, but from my perspective, it's not required at all!


I'm not a football fan. I wasn't always like that, but it's mainly because of Tom Brady. Not in the way you probably think though.
The thing is that I used to love the Patriots. There was something that just felt so good about rooting for the perpetual loser. The "underdog" if you will. You always felt like you were a little better than others because even though your team hadn't won a championship, you stuck by your team because you were loyal to them.
It's kinda like in everything else.
I'd like you to think about this for a second. What's the greatest thing to have in the world? Money? Power? Neither. I'd have you consider that the greatest thing to have is PATIENCE.
Patience is great because it helps you to enjoy the most important part of any achievement, the journey.
It's because the destination is great but not as good as the anticipation of that journey.
Now, as far as practical advice goes, I would say that being in a rush to be number one is not the way to go. I don't know how old you are, 30, 40, 50…60, it doesn't matter. You're gonna live another 40, 50, 60 years (if you don't get hit by a bus) so take your time in your career, your love life, and your health.
So enjoy the ride. Keep progressing, but don't be in a rush to be number one. Be happy with your current situation and keep progressing at your own pace.
Take it from me as a Patriots fan. It's great to be number 1 until you realize you can't be the top dog your whole life.
This entry was posted in Fulfillment and tagged Eagles, happy, patience, Patriots, Super Bowl, top dog, underdog. Bookmark the permalink.


The Pinnacle Lumpinee Hotel & Spa is located just 50 m off the Rama 4 Road, in the heart of Bangkok. It is an ideal location with easy access to many important business district such as Sathorn, Silom and Sukhumvit. The Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and the expressway leading to and from the Bangkok International Airport are just a few minutes away from the hotel.
- Showers and toilets are separate from the rooms and are situated at the end of the corridor.


With its innovative and exclusive new features Carrières du Hainaut® is meeting architects and prescribers on January 24th and 25th in London. This edition we will present the brand-new finish that has attracted the interest of the organizers of this internationally renowned exhibition.
Belgian blue limestone of Carrières du Hainaut® is a noble and natural material whose origins stretch back 345 million years. For more than 125 years by now, Carrières du Hainaut® is constantly looking for new finishes and innovative applications of the stone to follow the trends and inspire you to use this versatile material in new and innovative ways. The brand-new finish responds to the current trends and meets the expectations and needs of architects, designers ..


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Taylor Kinney Abruptly Leaves Chicago Fire: Here's What Happened
The actor will not appear in upcoming episodes of season 11.
Station 51 will have to do without Lieutenant Kelly Severide in the next few episodes of Chicago Fire. Taylor Kinneythe actor who has played him since the inception of the hit series more than a decade ago, has taken a break from work to address a personal matter.
At the moment there is no more detailed information on the reasons that removed Kinney from the production and how long the leave will last. The cast and crew were notified of her decision just hours ago, and her sudden absence will almost certainly prompt script rewrites for upcoming season 11 episodes.
Kinney is one of the franchise's most beloved faces One Chicago and appeared in all spin-offs – Chicago Med, Chicago P.D. e Chicago Justice. For the role he was nominated three times at the People's Choice Awards, winning in 2015. For fans, his seemingly momentary exit from the scene is the hardest blow since the departure of the co-star Jesse Spencer (played by Matthew Casey) at the beginning of last season. Spencer was later reunited briefly at Kinney's side in the finale of the same.
Tags: AbruptlyChicagoFirehappenedheresKinneyleavesTaylor
FAUDA 4 will be there: confirmed by co-creator Avi Isaacharoff!
Pulp Fiction in 4K UHD, the review: Tarantino's masterpiece as you've never seen it before


The Cardwell Foreshore has recently been given a $40 Million Upgrade! It is looking absolutely fantastic, after having it's official opening only on the 9th November 2013, it stretches from the Port of Hinchinbrook right around to the Coral Sea Park. With stunning views to Hinchinbrook Island along the entire walk, the Cardwell Jetty is the focal point with Jetty Plaza at its entrance with easy access to the Cardwell Visitor Centre. It also boasts childrens' playgrounds, bbq areas, shelters, an amphitheatre, gym equipment, viewing areas and also another large playground area with bbqs and picnic tables at the Coral Sea Park end. A fantastic way to spend a family day out!
Visitors will find wilderness trails, swimming holes and lookouts of the highest calibre scattered throughout the district. The Blue Spa Pool is only 15 minutes drive from Cardwell. Ask us how to get there.
At the top of Attie Creek Falls. The view is amazing.
Notable waterfalls include Wallaman Falls, Australia's highest single drop waterfall (305m), the remote but spectacular Blencoe Falls as well as the nearby, beautiful Murray Falls.
For the more sporting inclined a game of golf, tennis or bowls is on offer. For even more adventure, how about a white water rafting trip down the nearby Tully Gorge. You can even enjoy some local markets almost all year round.
The fishing enthusiast will lack no opportunity in this premier fishing region! From the novice to the expert, all will have the opportunity to go fresh water or beach fishing, prawning and crabbing.
For those who have their own boat estuary, creek, reef and island fishing is easily accessible.
There are also regular reef and estuary fishing trips available that depart from Cardwell.
Let us arrange your Skydiving adventure.


On May 4, 2017, New York City joined the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Philadelphia when the Mayor signed legislation that bans employers from inquiring about the salary history of job applicants. These laws, which have the stated aim of reducing pay inequity along racial and gender lines, could have a wide-ranging influence on the way companies do business. The New York law is set to go into effect on October 31, 2017, although there is a possibility that the law's implementation will be challenged, as the similar law has been in Philadelphia.
On April 6, the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the Philadelphia ordinance violates the freedom of speech of impacted businesses. The Chamber is also seeking injunctive relief to prevent the city from enforcing the law during the pendency of the litigation. In support of its motion for an injunction, the Chamber argued that the ordinance "violates the First Amendment by prohibiting employers from inquiring about, or relying on, an individual's wage history and thereby communicating the message that wage history is important to the job-application process." On April 18, the district court judge issued an order staying the ordinance's effective date until after ruling on the preliminary injunction. Obtaining a preliminary injunction requires, among other things, a showing by the Chamber that there is a likelihood of the action's success on the merits.
The court's ruling on the injunction motion may foretell whether challenges to the New York City bill are likely. Like the Philadelphia bill, the New York City bill imposes an absolute prohibition on inquiries about any prospective employee's wage history. In terms of a First Amendment challenge, the absolute ban on this particular category of speech is likely to lead the courts to engage in an exacting standard of review to determine the legality of the law. In order to meet such an exacting standard, bill proponents will need to demonstrate that there is no other way to achieve the goals sought by the legislation.
Regardless of potential challenges, employers should begin reviewing their employment applications and other staffing materials. Fisher Phillips will continue to monitor the laws and provide updates from our offices in New York City and Philadelphia.


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ICRA - 2015: Seattle
The 2015 ICRA was held in Seattle, WA. and it presented an opportunity to dine with some old friends.
In this photo, from left to right:
David Han joins us for the first time.
Cecile Huet, our favorite Deputy Head of Unit from the European Commission, makes a return appearance (her last appearance was IROS 2013 in Tokyo).
Mark Moll makes his return to our McDonald's pages after a 13 year hiatus! (Mysteriously, he has not aged in any visible way since 2002.) Welcome home, Mark.
Howie snaps a photo of David Han, Cecile Huet and Mark Moll, while...
It's like a distributed group photo. Seth snaps a photo of Howie.
Some saints?
No. All saints!
NSF NRI PI Meeting - 2015: Washington DC
A brief moment of indecision... Maybe we should dine at the Manchu... No. That would be crazy. McD's is the place for this lunch!
Sometimes people underestimate the risks that we take in our McDonald's adventures. Here, Howie plays through the pain, and, as usual, makes a new friend!


Welcome to Mrs. Miller's Website!
Thank you for visiting our class webpage! Please visit often to get the latest news and information on what is happening in our class.
Check back for a list of items we can always use in our classroom!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me! I am looking forward to working with you this year!


Tom Joyal dismantled, designed, and reconstructed this old church converting it to a private residence.
ChimneyPot.com is the world's largest distributor of chimney pots with over 1,300 new, antique & custom chimney pots in stock.
Links for Washington Park, Troy, New York Everything you ever wanted to know about historic preservation and restoration, from techniques to tax incentives, can be found on these comprehensive sites.
Building BC - British Columbia's Building Industry Directory Links for the Building Industry and Consumers Building BC is British Columbia's online resource center for the Building and Trades Industry.
Our favorite Ozfairs Links Antiques Collectibles USA Our favorite Ozfairs Links - antiques collectibles usa.


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You are here: Home → News → 2019 09 04 → Article 778382
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General News of Wednesday, 4 September 2019
Source: kasapafmonline.com
Ghana not immune from terrorist attacks – Akufo Addo
President Akufo Addo has stated strongly that even though Ghana currently enjoys relative peace and security, the country cannot think it is immune from terrorist attacks as has been the case in some of its fellow West African nations.
Addressing attendees of the maiden Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel under the theme, Peace Operations in the Context of Violent Extremism in Africa, President Akufo-Addo said the incidents of 2015, when agents of the so-called Islamic State succeeded in recruiting a few attendees from the country's university campuses to join the group's fighters in Lybia and Syria as well as two Germans of Ghanaian parentage who also joined the Islamic State, should inform the measures the country ought to put in place to deal with terrorist threats to its territorial integrity.
"Despite being a beacon of peace, stability and democracy in a region that is plagued by the activities of terrorists and extremist groups, Ghana must know she cannot be immune from terror attacks. She is determined however to deepen the religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence that exists between the majority Christian and the minority Muslim religious groupings in the country.
They are the hallmarks of our nation which we cherish," President Akufo Addo said. The President further indicated that last year, security agencies in Ghana had to disrupt the activities of groups purporting to raise funds for Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, which turned out to be fundraising for terror-related activities.
The Three-Point Agenda
As part of efforts aimed at dealing with the growing incidents of terrorist attacks in Africa, the President proposed a three-point agenda for the consideration of the forum, indicating that the quest to deal with terrorism cannot be limited to just military means, as vital as they are. Broader policies the President said, must be put in place to create opportunities and jobs for the youth if Ghana is to deal successful with the root causes of terrorism.
Focusing on education, the President said, "We have, as a matter of great urgency, to ensure education for all the youth of the continent. We are told that eighty-nine million young Africans of school-going age are not in school. That has to stop and stop now," President Akufo Addo said. The structural transformation of the economies of African countries, and good governance in the nation-states of Africa, the President said, are the two other urgent challenges African leaders must endeavor to meet.
Nane Annan
Wife of the late UN Secretary-General, Nane Annan, in a brief remark indicated that there is the urgent need to align the peace of the African continent to its much-needed development. The leadership, vision and actions of African leaders going forward, she added, will play a very pivotal role in guaranteeing the peace and security of the African continent.
"Your leadership, action and vision can play an important role in addressing violent extremism and building a peaceful Africa. As my late husband often said, there is much more in this world that unites us than there is that divides us," Madam Nane Annan said.
UN Special Representative
The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and head of the UN office for West Africa and Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in his goodwill message urged African countries to be one another's keeper if the fight against terrorism is to be won.
"I would like to reiterate that the nature of the threat posed by violent extremism compels us to collectively renew and redouble our efforts while remaining engaged and determined that it can and will be defeated. Success can only be achieved if we defeat both the terrorist and terrorism. This will require continued, collective action in line with the true African tradition of helping to put out the fire in the neighbors house before it reaches yours," Dr. Chambas said.
The KAPS Forum
The Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum, also known as the KAPS Forum, is a flagship initiative by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Germany and the Government of Norway. The KAPS Forum is an annual international platform that brings together top-level political leaders, diplomats and experts to dialogue and share ideas on the most critical evolving peace and security trends on the African continent.
The Forum was established in memory of H.E. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations who dedicated the best part of his life to the cause of global peace and security. KAPS Forum is also being instituted to recognize the role of former African presidents who led their respective countries to undergo major democratic reforms, as well as supporting global and regional security efforts, especially by providing peacekeepers who risk their lives in dangerous conflict theatres in order to bring peace to the world.
Anis Haffar writes: Kofi Annan reflects on Nkrumah
FEATURE: How to address food-sustainability challenges in sub-Saharan Africa
Annan's home-coming sets tone for reconciliation
RE: Kofi Annan Returns Home On Tuesday
Ghana needs Annan's advice - JJ
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Find cheap tickets with WestJet that will take you to one of the most ancient and enigmatic places in Nova Scotia. Whether it's for business purposes or to see the likes of Bras d'Or Lake, Cape Breton Highlands National Park or the nearby village of Baddeck, WestJet offers air travel from New York (John F Kennedy) to Sydney that's swift, safe and comfortable.


The latest collection of quotes we're featuring on Wealthy Gorilla, are the greatest Michael Jordan quotes of all time.6 NBA championships, 5-time Most Valuable Player, 6-time Finals Most Valuable Player, 10-time All-NBA First Team, NBA Rookie of the Year, 2-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner are just some of his amazing accomplishments.
He is an inspirational figure for many people who aspire to reach greater heights in life. May his quotes inspire within you the belief that through hard work and dedication that you can achieve your dreams.Our latest collection of motivational Michael Jordan quotes on Everyday Power Blog. Of course Jordan is known for being one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but whats even more respected amongst his peers, was his work ethic on and off the court. Following are popular Michael Jordan quotes with beautiful images for your motivation. We've compiled a list of the best Michael Jordan quotes and sayings on basketball, life, success, failure and more. Enjoy.
I know fear is an obstacle for some people, but it is an illusion to me. Failure always made me try harder the next time.
I would tell players to relax and never think about what's at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you've lost your focus.
My father used to say that it's never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said you never know what you can accomplish until you try.
For a competitive junkie like me, golf is a great solution because it smacks you in the face every time you think you've accomplished something. That to me has taken over a lot of the energy and competitiveness for basketball.
My challenge when I came back was to face the young talent, to dissect their games, and show them maybe that they needed to learn more about the game than just the money aspect.
I never feared about my skills because I put in the work. Work ethic eliminates fear. So if you put forth the work, what are you fearing? You know what you're capable of doing and what you're not.
Winners don't just learn the fundamentals, they master them. You have to monitor your fundamentals constantly because the only thing that changes will be your attention to them.
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen.
If nobody will help you, do it alone.
If you put your mind to doing whatever it is you want to do, good things can happen.
Best evaluation I can make of a player is to look in his eyes and see how scared they are.
When I will lose the sense of motivation and the sense to prove something as a basketball player, it's time for me to move away from the game.
I realize im black, but id like to be viewed as a person, and that is everybodys wish.


PSN Anesthesiologist: Dr. Luvell L. Glanton, M.D.
Dr. Luvell L. Glanton, M.D. is an Anesthesiology Specialist in Hannibal, Missouri. He graduated with honors from University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine in 2002. Having more than 16 years of diverse experiences, especially in Anesthesiology and Pain Management.
Dr. Glanton affiliates with many hospitals including Hannibal Regional Hospital, Iron County Hospital, and cooperates with other doctors and specialists in many medical groups including Hannibal Regional Healthcare System Inc, Amsol Physicians Of Georgia PC.
Pain Management covering symptoms, diagnosis, staging, treatment, prognosis, and follow-up.


Abstract : We describe a new vector-based primitive for creating smooth-shaded images, called the diffusion curve. A diffusion curve partitions the space through which it is drawn, defining different colors on either side. These colors may vary smoothly along the curve. In addition, the sharpness of the color transition from one side of the curve to the other can be controlled. Given a set of diffusion curves, the final image is constructed by solving a Poisson equation whose constraints are specified by the set of gradients across all diffusion curves. Like all vector-based primitives, diffusion curves conveniently support a variety of operations, including geometry-based editing, keyframe animation, and ready stylization. Moreover, their representation is compact and inherently resolution-independent. We describe a GPU-based implementation for rendering images defined by a set of diffusion curves in realtime. We then demonstrate an interactive drawing system for allowing artists to create artworks using diffusion curves, either by drawing the curves in a freehand style, or by tracing existing imagery. The system is simple and intuitive: we show results created by artists after just a few minutes of instruction. Furthermore, we describe a completely automatic conversion process for taking an image and turning it into a set of diffusion curves that closely approximate the original image content.


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Best DC Food Trucks and Where to Find Them
By Aparna Krishnamoorthy
Swizzler
Looking for the best food trucks in DC? Food trucks may not be as popular or trendy as they were just a few years ago, but that does not mean there isn't still delicious food to be had at the ones that have persisted. Here are nine of the tastiest mobile stops in the city currently, and what to order when you get there. Most of them roam, so it's best to check each truck's social media account for accurate locations.
Swizzler Hot Dog Truck
Best known for its corkscrew-shaped hot dogs sourced with 100-percent grass-fed beef, and a variety of unique toppings (aka the best part of a hot dog), Swizzler is a really cool local truck that gets creative with this ballpark classic. You will likely find a crowd lined up, but it's worth the wait. The sweet and spicy combo of the "Feast Mode" with caramelized onions, whipped goat cheese, candied jalapeños, and black pepper honey is a flavor bomb in a soft brioche bun. Our advice: If they are anywhere reasonably close to you, seek them out. And when you are there, treat yo'self with the combo of a dog and truffle fries.
Where is it? From Metro Center to NIH to Rosslyn, Swizzler goes everywhere.
PhoWheels
This iconic graffiti-laced truck is hard to miss and is a great stop for Vietnamese staples that have been given a modern American twist. The pork belly tacos are bomb, the banh mis are not traditional but tasty, and the chicken or beef pho is especially good on a cold day. Whether you are a fan of Vietnamese food or have never tried it before, PhoWheels has something for you.
Where is it? Get yourself a steaming cup of pho or a banh mi at Chantilly, Chevy Chase, and many spots in between.
CapMac
Sometimes you just need to indulge and get a decadent mac & cheese. But it's even more worth it at CapMac where you get unique flavors, tasty sauces, and fresh produce. Yes, you can get a salad if you really want to, but let's be real, we are in it for the cheese here. The Classic Mac (macaroni noodles topped with aged cheddar, even with more cheese, and Cheez-Its) is the most popular item for a reason -- every spoonful is a decadent, cheesy bite. The seasonal pastas (Cacio E Pepe FTW!) or the Bolognese are excellent choices as well, so look for the weekly selection of specials.
Where is it? Catch them at the curb in Franklin Square, Farragut, and other downtown DC locations.
Timber Pizza Company
Timber Pizza
You can now get Timber Pizza at its Petworth brick-and-mortar location, but find the OG mobile wood-fired pizza truck at various area farmers' markets and tons of other locations throughout the city. The self-proclaimed Neapolitan-ish style pizzas are the bubbly, blistered, and probably not quite like any others you've had before. The Green Monster with pesto, zucchini, and crispy kale is absolutely fantastic, as is the Bentley with chorizo, soppressata, and a drizzle of locally made hot honey.
Where is it? Weekly at the Ballston Farmers' Market, and the Penn Quarter Farmers' Market, but also plenty of other locations.
Arepa Zone
Per its name, Arepa Zone specializes in Venezuelan style arepas with a variety of filling choices. The Pabellon is a hearty mix of shredded beef, black beans, queso fresco, and sweet plantains and is a satisfying combination of savory and sweet. To say the arepas here are stuffed would be an understatement -- they are literally overflowing. To pile it on even further, douse yours with a hearty helping of the delicious green sauce.
Where is it? Usually around DC, but occasionally in Tysons Corner and Friendship Heights.
Courtesy of Captain Cookie and the MilkMan
Captain Cookie and the MilkMan
Who doesn't love a gooey ice cream sandwich? This dessert truck has an ice cream and cookie of the day -- pick those and watch the talented staff make your ice cream sandwich dreams come true. You'll definitely need a spoon to eat these enormous and delicious goodies. If you don't feel like a sandwich, a cookie and the organic milk is the perfect sweet snack.
Where is it? A truck that's always on the move, best is to keep an eye on its social media.
Puddin'
Your veritable stop for deeply comforting food, Puddin' delivers Cajun and Creole flavors and soul-satisfying dishes like shrimp and grits, po'boys, and, of course, bread pudding. The shrimp and crawfish etouffee is a little taste of N'awlins, the gumbo is deeply flavorful, and the fried oyster po'boy is one fantastic sandwich. Whatever your order, make sure to get the brown butter bourbon bread pudding -- rich, buttery, soaked in bourbon, and oh so delicious. The truck's motto is "divine comfort food" and we couldn't agree more.
Where is it? Weekly schedule announced on Twitter.
Himalayan Soul Foods - Momo Food Truck
Himalayan Soul Foods
This is your stop for a taste of a simple Himalayan food specialty: momos. These dumplings are freshly made and packed with pork, chicken, or vegetables, each with a distinct flavor. You may not think that a few dumplings will make a meal, but these are stuffed to capacity. Along with the accompanying hot sauce and the Nepalese potato salad, you have yourself a winner. Don't roam too far from the truck with these -- they are best eaten hot.
Where is it?Office-heavy areas like Metro Center, Union Station, and L'enfant Plaza.
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Aparna Krishnamoorthy is a freelance food and travel writer based in Washington DC. Always willing to eat biryani, pizza, fried chicken, and chocolate cake. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter for more dining and wanderlust adventures.