How Water-wise and Life-friendly is Your Garden?
In California and throughout the U.S. Southwest the word is out: water is becoming scarce and our gardens must adapt. We must take drought seriously; we must become water-wise.
But water-wise is only half the picture. To be productive and sustainable, our gardens must also become more life-friendly. They must provide beauty, food and places to enjoy our outdoor life. And they must become an inviting home for the plants, birds, insects and other creatures we humans have displaced.
Summer is a great time to reassess our gardens – to see what's working well and what we might improve. In short, it's a good time to plan how to make our gardens more water-wise and life-friendly. Take this questionnaire to see how you're doing. Then pledge to do at least one thing to make your garden more water-wise and life friendly this year.
This month and next we discuss hardscape – the non-living elements of the garden design. If you're just joining the 'Designing Your New California Garden' series, we suggest you start at the beginning (July 2013 - http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/07/designing-your-new-california-garden-1.html) and work forward. The monthly activities will help you design an attractive, functional, sustainable and water-wise garden.
Technically, the water management system is included in the hardscape plan. Because the 'New California Garden' emphasizes water sustainability, we considered the management of rainwater (February 2014) and irrigation water (March 2014) separately. You might want to review these posts before continuing.
'Hardscape' includes all the non-plant parts of the garden design, from walls/fences, walkways and seating areas to water features and garden art. Hardscape elements are often added to a garden over time, without an over-arching plan guiding their selection. Designing a new garden – or remaking an old one – provides an opportunity to rethink the hardscape. And that can have important implications for the overall appearance and functionality of the garden.
This month we'll just develop a rough map of hardscape features and their approximate locations in the garden. Next month we'll develop a final map and hardscape plan. Don't be surprised if it takes you several months to complete your hardscape plan. Hardscape encompasses a number of elements – and there are functional and aesthetic considerations for each. Take as long as you need to develop a plan that 'feels right'. Remember, you are designing the framework for your garden and that takes time.
This month's exercise will involve a lot of thought and research. So get out your Garden Notebook, several clean copies of your site map and a pencil to sketch in possible locations and make notations.
Homes in Western Los Angeles County tend to have small yards. Close neighbors, pets and less-than-optimal views mean that many local gardens use walls, fences, screens and hedges to keep living things in/out – or block objectionable views. Your yard may already have a perimeter wall or fence (located on/near the boundary between two properties). If so, you may need only to inspect and complete necessary repairs.
· How strong/durable will it need to be?
· How long will it need to last? Do you need a permanent fence, or just a temporary screen until shrubbery/hedge has grown to size?
· Does it need to be solid or could it allow for air circulation (for example a hedge, lattice-work or other open-work fence)?
· What municipal or county codes regulate height, setbacks and construction?
· How much do you want to spend on the project?
· What type of materials work best with your house design? Your neighborhood?
· Do you want to install it yourself or have it installed professionally?
· How much maintenance will it require? Costs?
· Do you want your fence/wall to stand out or blend into the distance? We'll discuss how you can accomplish either goal, by using color, in next month's installment.
In addition to the garden perimeter, walls/fences and hedges are useful as screens to block unsightly views. For example, a screen of shrubs might be placed to hide views of a garden shed, trash barrels or the side of a neighbor's garage.
Hedges and screens can also be used to create outdoor rooms or to guide one through the garden. As we'll learn next month, breaking a yard up into smaller 'rooms' can make even a small garden appear larger. Look at your "Physical Features Map' and 'Use Areas Map'. Are there areas that would benefit from a screen/hedge? If so, pencil them in.
Shown above are the final 'Use Area/Bubble' Map and the 'Physical Features' Maps for 112 Willow Street. The yard has a 5 ft. tall perimeter fence in the backyard – in good condition – and 2 ft. tall block walls on either side of the front yard. The homeowner is happy with these and chooses to retain them.
Because the 'Maintenance' and 'Quiet Meditation' areas are located near the front yard, the homeowners consider adding short fence/gates between the house/garage and the front walls for privacy and access. They pencil them in, with a note to think about them over the next month.
How tall? Will it need to contain long-handled garden tools? Other tall equipment like umbrellas, ladders, etc.)?
What materials should it be made of? Wood looks nice but will need painting; metal is durable (in our climate); sturdy plastic sheds are inexpensive and low maintenance.
Will it be custom-built or pre-fabricated/ready-to-assemble?
Will you build/assemble it or will you hire a professional?
The gardeners at 112 Willow St. are scaling back, replacing an old 8 x 10 ft metal shed with something smaller. They've cleaned out the old shed, but still need space for a reel mower (to cut the new lawn) long-handled garden tools (rakes/shovels, etc.), potting supplies (pots; soil), irrigation supplies, fertilizers, limited pesticides and the patio seat cushions (during the rainy season).
Placement of the storage shed(s) is easy – it belongs in the Maintenance Area. The best place appears to be along the back of the garage. This area can accommodate a shed(s) up to 10 ft long (total), as wide as 3 ft and as tall as needed. The gardeners do need to consider where the trash cans will go in the Maintenance Area. There are three (garbage, recyclables and green waste – each 2.5 ft x 2.5 ft) and they may impact how much space is available for the shed(s).
After careful consideration, the homeowners realize that the green waste and trash containers could be stored along the perimeter wall near the garden; this would be handy for daily use and for trash day. The recycle container could fit next to the new shed(s), leaving space for a 6-7 ft x 3 ft shed. The gardeners also realize that the patio seat cushions might be stored on the patio – perhaps in a low storage container that doubles as a table. They pencil in the rough location of containers and shed(s).
The storage sheds won't need to be particularly attractive; for the most part they're hidden from view. The homeowners will need to decide how much they want to spend, the size needed and whether they want a pre-fab/ready-to-assemble or not. They explore the possibilities on-line and at the local building supply stores.
In S. California we're fortunate to be able to 'live outdoors' much of the year. As the climate becomes hotter, shady outdoor living areas will become more important. We'll likely be doing even more outdoor living.
112 Willow Street is fortunate to have a screened patio with a roof and concrete floor. It's shaded in summer and protected from rain in winter. The family uses it for sitting, playing, parties and outdoor dining. They won't need to do anything to the patio.
What activities do you want to do there? Placement, construction and furnishings will be different for a routinely-used al fresco dining area vs. an area used for occasional seating.
What is the most convenient placement? This is particularly important for regularly used areas. An outdoor dining/entertaining area should be near the kitchen and living room if possible. A sauna/hot tub area might be located off the master bedroom or bath.
Will you need outdoor cooking facilities? electricity? heaters for winter? access to drinking or irrigation water?
How will you provide shade? A roof, ramada, retractable awning or a well-placed tree are all possibilities. More attractive shade options are coming on the market all the time. You can see an number of these on the internet. Remember, it's going to be hotter in the future – shade will be a must!
How flat and firm must the surface be? Dining areas and those with heavy foot travel usually require a hard, flat surface; other areas are fine with grass, crushed rock, decomposed granite or even mulch.
The new garden at 112 Willow St. has two informal seating areas: one designated the 'Shady Seating Area' under the tree and other in the 'Quiet/Meditation' area. Neither of these are high foot travel areas; mulch, a low walk-on ground cover or crushed rock could be used in these places. Both areas are already shady – that was part of the logic in locating them where they are. The homeowners will think about the type of seating appropriate for each area and explore options on-line and at local public gardens.
Planters, raised beds and containers (pots; window boxes; etc.) can make a garden more attractive and emphasize a garden's theme. They can also improve functionality. For example, planters can be used to create a level planting surface on gentle slopes or to provide better drainage. Raised beds make garden tasks easier for young gardeners or those with physical limitations.
Most California gardeners are well acquainted with planters; they are common in local gardens. Traditional planters made of brick or concrete are found in many older gardens and can still be a good idea. In more natural gardens rocks, cut stone, 'urbanite' (chunks of concrete paving) or fabricated 'stones' make natural-looking planters and raised beds. Planters – or even slightly raised, edged beds – can also provide a formal look if that is desired.
Raised beds make excellent sense in a vegetable garden. They concentrate water and nutrients, keep vegetables clean and help dissuade slugs and snails. They also make it easier to plant, weed, provide plant support and harvest the crops. Raised beds can be made to a convenient height – even allow the gardener to work from a seat or wheelchair. Raised beds are becoming popular in many parts of the country, including California. You might want to consider them for vegetables or flowers.
The garden at 112 Willow St. will have a vegetable garden with raised beds. The area is 14 ft. by 24 ft. In March we considered several layouts for the vegetable garden; the gardeners have settled on the one below.
The gardeners explore plans for raised beds on-line and learn that 3 ft. is the best width to provide easy access. There is room for four beds, each 3 ft. x 8 ft., with 2 ½ ft. walkways; there's still space for water storage container(s) at the north end of the garden as planned.
The gardeners have many choices of design and materials, ranging from fairly inexpensive, home-made models to more expensive purchased kits or custom-built raised beds. Some kits are available locally – others will have to be ordered from gardener's supply companies. To learn more, there are extensive resources on-line. Good how-to books are available at building supply stores and your local library.
Once the big hardscape elements (above) are located, the next step is planning the walkways, paths and driveways. Most S. California homes already have a driveway, so you'll likely not be changing its location. However, you may want to consider making it more permeable.
Walkways and paths are often updated when a garden is re-designed. Whether you're starting new or re-modeling an established garden, consider motor and foot traffic carefully. In most small yards, motor vehicle traffic is confined to the driveway. However families with boats or other parked vehicles – or jobs/hobbies needing vehicular access – require careful planning.
Foot traffic also requires thoughtful deliberation. Walkways in the wrong place, areas that are inaccessible and paths poorly constructed are not just annoying, they can be dangerous! Look closely at your hardscape map. What areas will receive the most foot traffic? What is the easiest route? Will you need to wheel garden equipment or trash cans from one place to another? Will you need occasional access into planted areas for garden maintenance? Do you want to direct foot traffic away from delicate plants or to a water feature or statue?
We suggest getting out in the garden and walking the possible pathways. You can even locate major hardscape areas with string to make the exercise more real. Remember, if you're converting lawn areas to something planted, you'll now need to provide access across those areas. We sometimes forget how often we walk across our lawns!
Municipal or county codes usually cover the size and construction of major walkways, such as the walkway to the front door. They may also specify requirements for other walkways and paths. Neighborhood covenants sometimes also limit the materials and colors permissible. Be sure that you – or your contractor – know and follow the regulations.
We've posted an article on 'Harvesting Rain: Permeable Paths, Patios and Driveways' (http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/harvesting-rain-permeable-paths-patios.html ). You might want to read it before you continue.
The garden at 112 Willow St. won't need much in the way of new pathways. The vegetable garden, utility area and driveway area will be covered in either mulch (vegetable garden) or crushed rock. The crushed rock is a better choice than gravel for the Utility Area and driveway. It can be compacted to provides a hard level surface for walking and rolling trash bins across. The 'New Lawn' provides access to most of the backyard and the 'Butterfly Garden' is a narrow bed that can be accessed easily.
The area leading to the 'Quiet/meditation Area' will be planted, so some sort of pathway is needed. This is will not be a highly traveled path, but the area may be damp in winter. The gardeners plan to use large (2 or 2 ½ ft) pavers to create a semi-formal path. They will visit their building or landscape supply store to see what options are available.
Arches, arbors and pergolas are sometimes employed in S. California gardens. They are not for every garden, but can be effective in certain situations. An arch can be used as an entrance to the garden or to areas that are treated as separate garden 'rooms'. Arbors and pergolas provide shade and are a good place to grow grapes, native Honeysuckles and other fragrant vines. They often include seating areas.
There are dozens of designs, plans and pictures of arbors, arches and pergolas on the internet. If interested, we suggest you start there. These are strong design elements. They may dominate the garden landscape and are often used to make a large garden seem smaller. If you have a small yard – and still want to include these elements - we suggest you keep them small, darker colored and in proper scale for the size of your yard.
Strength: is it strong enough to provide support for a mature vine?
As discussed in previous episodes, the side of the neighbor's garage is an eyesore in the 112 Willow garden. It presents a design challenge for the Quiet/Meditation area, which is narrow and fairly shady. After considering several options, the gardeners decide to grow a vine screen to block the view. They can either erect a free-standing trellis or attach one to the existing wall. Local building code specifies that fences/walls can be no taller than 6 ft. But an open lattice trellis could be taller – perhaps 7-8 ft – and nicely block the view. They pencil in a trellis that will conceal the neighbor's garage.
For more inspiration on trellises, search the internet and visit well-stocked local garden stores. Trellises can be beautiful and functional. They have come back in style for a reason – they are useful in contemporary gardens.
A mulch is simply a protective layer of materials placed over the soil, primarily to modify the effects of the local climate. Mulching is an integral part of water-wise gardening; but mulches are used for a number of other purposes including heat regulation and aesthetics.
Like all other types of hardscape, mulch should be suited to the garden conditions. These conditions certainly include the types of plants you plan to grow. But the conditions also include aesthetic and even cultural considerations. For example, many mulches are available in different colors and textures. You need to consider which is best for the look of your garden. For example, if your garden design has a Mediterranean/Italian influence, you may want to use an appropriate crushed gravel mulch – at least in part of the garden. You may even want to use mulches in areas of your garden that have no plants at all! On the other hand, a 'natural' garden with Coastal Sage Scrub plants will look best – and thrive with – a thin mulch of wood chippings.
The best advice when considering mulches is to look at various materials on-line, then go to a local building supply source and see the materials first hand. You may be able to take small samples of the materials how to see how you like them in the garden.
Water features are decorative hardscape elements that feature the sight, sound and sometimes the feel of water. Included in the category are decorative ponds and pools, waterfalls, constructed 'streams' with re-circulating water and fountains of all sizes and types. Water features are treasured in hot climates because they give the illusion of coolness. As our climate heats up, you may want to consider a small, water-wise water feature.
As with arches and pergolas, scale is important. A large, ornate fountain or massive waterfall will look out of place in a small garden. But even the tiniest garden can include a small fountain – even a miniature waterfall – to give as sense of cool. In Mother Nature's Backyard, we constructed a simple bubbler fountain from two large glazed pots. The scale is right, the pump is solar powered, and the fountain is quite water-wise (requires re-filling with 1 gallon a week during the hottest weather). People are instinctively drawn to the fountain. Birds love to drink and bath in the splash; some even fly through the water in hot weather!
In S. California, large gardening/home improvement stores carry a selection of ready-made fountains; most are ready to place, fill and plug in the pump. Most re-circulating fountains require an electrical outlet; but solar-powered pumps and fountains are available on-line. Local nurseries also stock fountains and can suggest local businesses that will create custom fountains, pools and other water features.
Garden art is very personal. Art is an important part of some gardens – in fact some gardens are built to house a treasured sculpture, mosaic or other piece of art. Other gardens have no art at all. The best gardens follow the old adage – less is more.
Included in 'garden art' are statues, other sculpture, sundials, decorative birdbaths, mosaics and decorative tiles, pebble mosaics, decorative signage or light fixtures and more. Garden art should reflect your taste; it may also reflect your cultural or family heritage. Garden art can provide just the right accent to make a garden appear authentic, alive, unique.
Garden 'art' can include artful objects from nature: an attractive boulder, interestingly shaped log or branch, shells or pebbles, other found objects. Japanese gardens are well known for their use of natural objects in gardens.
Garden art can be invaluable for difficult parts of the garden, such as areas of deep shade where nothing will grow. A light-colored statue can be just the ticket – lovely, water-wise and low maintenance.
You needn't have a specific piece in mind when you design the garden. In fact, sometimes it's best to wait and see what the garden itself requires. Leave room for a sundial or small statue if you wish. You'll ultimately come across the perfect piece for the space.


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Beast Index Cross reference
Manuscripts Encyclopedia
Latin name: Draco
Other names: Tyris
Category: Serpent
The greatest of all serpents on earth
The dragon's strength is found in its tail, not in its teeth. Its lashing tail does great harm, and the dragon kills anything it catches in its coils. The dragon is the enemy of the elephant, and hides near paths where elephants walk so that it can catch them with its tail and kill them by suffocation. It is because of the threat of the dragon that elephants give birth in the water. The dragon's venom is harmless. The dragon has a crest and a small mouth. When the dragon is drawn from its hole into the air, it stirs up the air and makes it shine. Dragons are found in India and Ethiopia.
Dragons are afraid of the peridexion tree and stay out of its shadow, which will harm them. Doves roost in the tree to be safe from the dragon.
Dragons cannot stand the sweet smell breathed out by the panther and hide in a hole when the panther roars.
Allegory/Moral
The Devil is likened to a dragon because he is the worst of all serpents. As the dragon makes the air shine, so the Devil makes himself appear as the angel of light to deceive the foolish. The crest of the dragon represents the Devil crowned with pride. As the dragon's strength is not in its teeth but in its tail, the Devil, deprived of his strength, deceives with lies. The way in which the dragon attacks elephants represents the way the Devil attacks people, lying in wait along their path to heaven, wrapping them in his coils, and suffocating them with sin.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Telluride. The name alone conjures a variety of associations, from the debaucherous (Glenn Frey's "Smuggler's Blues") to the elite (Tom Cruise is the other inevitable mention). But this isolated little town in Southwestern Colorado's craggy San Juan range has a truly wild past and a lot to offer. It's not the only mining-town-turned-ski-resort in the Rockies, but I think it's the most well-preserved, photogenic, and in touch with its history. Apparently I'm not alone, because the town core (all three blocks of it) was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964.
Located in a remote box canyon (waterfall included) at 8,750 feet, Telluride and its "down valley" population totals just over 2,000 people. I've lived in Telluride off-and-on since 2005, and there's something to be said about a place where dogs outnumber residents, and you can't leave home without running into people you know. Longtime residents burn out on the small town thing, but I still get a kick out of it after years of city living.
Today the former brothels of "Popcorn Alley" are ski shanties, but they're still painted eye-catching, Crayola-bright colors, and the old ice house is a much-loved French country restaurant. Early fall is a great time to visit because the weather is usually mild, the aspens are turning, and there's the acclaimed Telluride Film Fest, brutal Imogene Pass Run (Sept. 10) and Blues & Brews Festival (Sept. 16-18) to look forward to. The summer hordes are gone, but the deathly quiet of the October/early-November off-season hasn't begun.
According to the Telluride Historical Museum, the town was established in 1878. It was originally called Columbia, and had a reputation as a rough-and-tumble mining town following the opening of the Sheridan Mine in the mid-1870's. The mine proved to be rich in gold, silver, zinc, lead, copper, and iron, and with the 1890 arrival of the Rio Grande Southern railroad, Telluride grew into a full-fledged boomtown of 5,000. Immigrants–primarily from Scandinavia, Italy, France, Germany, Cornwall, and China–arrived in droves to seek their fortunes. Many succumbed to disease or occupational mishaps; the tombstones in the beautiful Lone Tree Cemetery on the east end of town bear homage to lots of Svens, Lars', and Giovannis.
The mining resulted in 350 miles of tunnels that run beneath the mountains at the east end of the valley; you can see remnants of mine shafts and flumes throughout the region. If paddling is your thing, you'll see gold dredges runnning on the San Miguel, San Juan, and Dolores Rivers.
Telluride's wealth attracted the attention of Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, who famously robbed the town's San Miguel National Bank in 1889 (trivia: I used to live in an upstairs apartment in that very building). But in 1893, the silver crash burst the money bubble, and almost overnight Telluride's population plummeted. By the end of World War II, only 600 people remained.
Telluride is a part of the 223-mile San Juan Scenic Highway, which connects to the historic towns of Durango, Ouray, and Silverton. There's only one paved road in and out of Telluride, and that's Hwy. 145. The only other options are two high, extremely rugged mountain passes (which require 4WD and experienced drivers). There are also a handful of ghost towns in the area. Some, like Alta (11,800 feet) make for a great, not too-strenuous hike; you'll see the trailhead four miles south on Hwy 145. There are a number of buildings still standing, and two miles up the road lie the turquoise Alta Lakes.
If you want to check out the ghost town of Tomboy, it's five miles up Imogene Pass (13,114 feet). Don't underestimate just how tough it is if you're hiking; you'll gain 2,650 feet in altitude; otherwise it's an hour's drive. The trail begins on the north end of Oak Street; hang a right onto Tomboy Road. Unless you're physically fit and acclimated to the altitude, the best way to see these ghost towns is by 4WD tour with an outfitter like Telluride Outside. Another bit of trivia: every July, the "Lunar Cup" ski race is held on a slope up on Imogene Pass, clothing optional.
Telluride is a six-and-a-half-hour drive from Denver, but it also boasts the world's second highest commercial airport (9,078 feet) with daily non-stop connections from Denver and Phoenix. It's closed in sketchy weather (if you're flight phobic, just say "hell, no"), and it's often easier and usually cheaper to fly into Montrose Regional Airport, 70 miles away. From there, take Telluride Express airport shuttle; you don't need a car in town. Go to VisitTelluride.com for all trip-planning details. For more information on the region's numerous ghost towns, click here.
Telluride is beautiful any time of year, but avoid mid-April through mid-May and October through before Thanksgiving, as those are off-season and most businesses are closed. Spring is also mud season, and that's no fun. Late spring, summer, and early fall mean gorgeous foliage, and more temperate weather, but be aware it can snow as late as early July. August is monsoon season, so expect brief, daily thunderstorms. July and winter are the most reliably sunny times; that said, Telluride averages 300 days of sunshine a year. If you want to explore either pass, you'll need to visit in summer.
The air is thin up there. Drink lots of water, and then drink some more. Go easy on the alcohol, too. Take aspirin if you're suffering altitude-related symptoms like headache or insomnia, and go easy for a couple of days until you acclimate. Wear broad-spectrum, high SPF sunblock, and reapply often on any exposed skin or under t-shirts. Wear a hat and sunglasses, as well.


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Accelerite Expands Enterprise Reach in AU & NZ with Distribution Partnership with BlueChip Infotech
Dated: May 20 2015
Accelerite partners with BlueChip Infotech, pioneers in delivering the latest IT products to a wide channel distribution base, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
BlueChip Infotech will distribute Radia, an Accelerite product that delivers unified endpoint management, including EMM / MDM, to enterprises across Australia & New Zealand.
With Radia, IT staff get a unified, highly automated solution that can manage all of their devices across multiple operating systems, thus freeing up IT staff from routine maintenance tasks, improving compliance to corporate policies, and reducing costs.
Radia unifies the management of an organisation's PCs, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems, ATMs, and kiosks through a single management interface.
Radia provides streamlined reporting of technical, strategic, and compliance information through a common dashboard.
Santa Clara, California – May 20, 2015 – Accelerite, a provider of software, mobile, and cloud solutions to some of largest enterprises in the world, and BlueChip Infotech Pte. Ltd. announced today a strategic distribution partnership to deliver Radia, a comprehensive enterprise-level endpoint management solution to organizations across Australia & New Zealand.
BlueChip has a highly successful track record in strategic implementation of the latest technology, broad access to IT channel distribution, and a market-driven, highly motivated sales organization. Enterprise customers of all sizes will now be able to leverage the power of Radia through a local partner network. With Radia organizations can empower their IT staff to effectively manage all of their devices across multiple operating systems – ranging from desktops, laptops, tablets, ATMs and POS terminals – which will result in higher levels of compliance to corporate data governance, while helping IT departments to simplify management of IT assets and reduce costs.
"Accelerite's strategic distribution partnership with BlueChip Infotech will play a key role in the company's targeted expansion into the Australian & New Zealand market. Enterprises in the region are facing new data protection regulations and this partnership will provide a world class endpoint management and mobility management solution to meet the growing compliance needs of local companies. This partnership is a continuation of our expansion plans, and we share the vision of servicing the needs of the mature market." - Eric Webster, Chief Revenue Office Accelerite
"Radia is one of those gems we manage to find where they have a massive international install base and a product the market is hot for – how to manage ALL my endpoint devices, something beyond an MDM."- Phil Lancaster, Director of Enterprise Solutions, BlueChip Infotech
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Bluechip Infotech was established in 2001, focuses on delivering the latest IT products to a wide channel base while maintaining a dedicated commitment to first class service. With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide we are able to back our commitment to service through localised support. The key to Bluechip's success is in strategic implementation of the latest technology, broad access of IT channels and markets driven, highly motivated sales team. Thus they guarantee full comprehensive understanding of products and target markets allowing them to provide cost effective solutions to partners. Bluechip Infotech has a long and successful history dealing with the SMB and Education through channel partners. The value is that they bring the Channel and Vendors together to provide solutions through cooperation. BlueChip Infotech is a continually evolving company that continues to work hard in its traditional distribution market to consolidate and improve its position, but one that is looking to develop new market and partnerships with customers and Vendors, locally and overseas to help growth and diversification For more information, please visit http://www.bluechipit.com.au/ or call 1300 727474.
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US Bishops Call for Legislative Action on 'Dreamers'
Chairman of USCCB's Committee on Migration, Bishop Joe Vásquez, of Austin Texas Writes House Members
April 27, 2018 00:31ZENIT StaffPolitics
The chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Migration, Bishop Joe Vásquez, of Austin, Texas, on April 26, 2018, announced support for H.R. 4796, the "Uniting and Securing America" (USA) Act of 2018 as it is currently written. The USA Act is a bipartisan bill that offers a path to citizenship to Dreamers and augments existing border security technology at the U.S./Mexico border.
"We are hopeful our support of the current version of the USA Act, and our continued support of the Dream Act, will encourage Congress to act now and find a humane legislative solution for Dreamers," noted Bishop Vásquez.
The bishop's letter to House members.
The USA Act would provide qualifying Dreamers – those born in the United States but with undocumented parents — with protection from deportation, as well as a path to citizenship. Additionally, the USA Act of 2018 would augment border security at the U.S./Mexico border, in part through the deployment of new technology; increase the number of immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals staff attorneys, and seek to address root causes and prevent future irregular migration from Central America.
On the need for immediate action, Bishop Vásquez stated: "Every day, my brother bishops and I witness directly the constant anxiety of Dreamer youth and their families, and that experience of urgency moves us to press Congress for an immediate and durable solution to this problem."
April 27, 2018 00:31Politics
United States: Hope and Areas for Growth in 2018 Priestly Ordinations
Cardinal Tagle: Global Week of Action


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Ford's Extended Range F-150 Lightning Has a Massive 131 kWh Battery Pack
Megha Mayuri
In a Livestream last week, Ford quietly revealed the battery capacities available on its Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup, Auto Evolution reported. To start with, the Standard Range model, with a projected 230 miles of range, will come with a 98 kWh battery pack. Meanwhile, the optional Extended Range version (300 miles targeted) will have a massive 131 kWh battery.
The Standard Range package will be the main offering on the first three of four versions: the fleet-oriented Lightning Pro, the XLT, and the Lariat. The Extended Range is optional for the XLT and Lariat, and standard on the top-end Platinum model. Ford said that the "F-150 Lighting Pro model will be available with the standard-range battery to retail customers," but it previously said that it would be available with the Extended Range option for fleet buyers.
Ford also revealed that the power fold mirrors would only be available on the Lariat and Platinum models and that the Tough Bed spray-in bed liner is not standard, but an available option on all trims. Other options we already knew about include a high-powered 9.6 kW Pro Power system for the first two trims (it's standard on Lariat and Platinum) and a 15.5-inch touchscreen with Sync 4A, available on the upper trim levels.
Ford has yet to reveal exact retail prices, but it previously said that the Standard Range Lightning Pro will start at $39,974 before any tax incentives for commercial buyers, while the Extended Range model (again only for fleet buyers) will start at $49,974. Retail prices are expected to start at $42,000 and top out at $90,000 for the Platinum model. That's a fair bit higher than the $28,000 base price for an F-150 ICE version, but then again, most folks pay considerably more than that on average.
Given the large battery sizes, Ford's prices actually seem surprisingly reasonable. By comparison, Hyundai's Kona Electric has a much smaller 64 kWh battery and starts at $34,000. We should know the exact F-150 Lightning prices soon, as Ford said in the Livestream that order banks would open in January 2022. Currently, it has 200,000 pre-orders in hand and recently cut off further reservations.
Ford's Extended Range
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Content Writer with over 2+ years of experience in crafting unique, clear, and compelling content for SAAS products and for multiple other domains and industries. Have experience in blogging, backlink articles, social media posts, and digital marketing content. Have experience in both B2B and B2C content creation. Currently resides in Bangalore.


The word capricciosa in Italian means mischievous or whimsical. The Capricciosa is featured in almost every pizzeria in Italy. Another version of this pizza is the Quattro Stagioni (Four Seasons). Both pizza feature the same ingredients. In the Quattro Stagioni the ingredients are placed in quadrants each representing a season of the year. In the Capricciosa, the ingredients and flavors are mixed with abandon reflecting the meaning of the word pizza.
STEP 1: Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees with 2 pizza stones or 2 cookie sheets, one on each rack inside the oven during pre-heat. Pre-heat for at least 30 minutes before baking.
STEP 2: Prepare red sauce recipe.
STEP 3: Take Pizza Dough out of refrigerator and let sit 10-15 min before stretching.
STEP 5: Remove basil from stem, tear into large pieces and set aside.
STEP 1: You will assemble your pizzas one at a time on your floured cutting board or pizza peel.
STEP 2: While topping with ingredients make sure to save ½ for your second pizza.
STEP 3: Place first hand stretched pizza dough on floured cutting board.
STEP 4: Pour 2-3 oz. of red sauce in the center of the dough. Using the back of a spoon spread the red sauce over the dough with your border a ½" from edge. Don't get any red sauce on your board or your pizza will stick when sliding into the oven.
STEP 5: Sprinkle ½ of the fresh mozzarella onto dough.
STEP 7: Place ½ of sliced mushrooms onto dough..
STEP 8: Break up ½ of the artichokes into bite sized pieces onto dough.
STEP 9: Sprinkle ½ of the olives onto dough.
STEP 10: Slide topped pizza from your cutting board or pizza peel onto your first pizza stone or cookie sheet. Technique: Hold your peel or cutting board near your pizza stone at a slight angle. Using your wrists shake the board back and forth until it's loose enough to slide onto your pre-heated stone.
STEP 12: Assemble second pizza and repeat. Your first pizza will be done a few minutes before your second pizza.
STEP 13: Cook each pizza 8-12 minutes or until desired crispness and golden brown.
STEP 14: Let pizzas cool 2-4 minutes.
STEP 14: Slice pizzas into desired amount of slices.
STEP 14: Garnish with torn basil leaves.
STEP 15: Enjoy your Pizza!
A Rosé or Rosato is a crisp wine offering perfect for late summer. Rosé wines have a slight red color from the skins of red grapes but not enough to be classified as a red wine. Italian Rosés are very fruity with strawberry and spicy cinnamon notes.


text:
package markdown

import (
	"crypto/md5"
	"encoding/hex"
	"fmt"
	"io/ioutil"
	"os"
	"path/filepath"
	"strings"
	"sync"

	"github.com/mholt/caddy/middleware"
)

// GenerateStatic generate static files and link index from markdowns.
// It only generates static files if it is enabled (cfg.StaticDir
// must be set).
func GenerateStatic(md Markdown, cfg *Config) error {
	generated, err := generateLinks(md, cfg)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}

	// No new file changes, return.
	if !generated {
		return nil
	}

	// If static site generation is enabled.
	if cfg.StaticDir != "" {
		if err := generateStaticHTML(md, cfg); err != nil {
			return err
		}
	}
	return nil
}

type linkGenerator struct {
	gens map[*Config]*linkGen
	sync.Mutex
}

var generator = linkGenerator{gens: make(map[*Config]*linkGen)}

// generateLinks generates links to all markdown files ordered by newest date.
// This blocks until link generation is done. When called by multiple goroutines,
// the first caller starts the generation and others only wait.
// It returns if generation is done and any error that occurred.
func generateLinks(md Markdown, cfg *Config) (bool, error) {
	generator.Lock()

	// if link generator exists for config and running, wait.
	if g, ok := generator.gens[cfg]; ok {
		if g.started() {
			g.addWaiter()
			generator.Unlock()
			g.Wait()
			// another goroutine has done the generation.
			return false, g.lastErr
		}
	}

	g := &linkGen{}
	generator.gens[cfg] = g
	generator.Unlock()

	generated := g.generateLinks(md, cfg)
	g.discardWaiters()
	return generated, g.lastErr
}

// generateStaticFiles generates static html files from markdowns.
func generateStaticHTML(md Markdown, cfg *Config) error {
	// If generated site already exists, clear it out
	_, err := os.Stat(cfg.StaticDir)
	if err == nil {
		err := os.RemoveAll(cfg.StaticDir)
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
	}

	fp := filepath.Join(md.Root, cfg.PathScope)

	return filepath.Walk(fp, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
		for _, ext := range cfg.Extensions {
			if !info.IsDir() && strings.HasSuffix(info.Name(), ext) {
				// Load the file
				body, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path)
				if err != nil {
					return err
				}

				// Get the relative path as if it were a HTTP request,
				// then prepend with "/" (like a real HTTP request)
				reqPath, err := filepath.Rel(md.Root, path)
				if err != nil {
					return err
				}
				reqPath = "/" + reqPath

				// Generate the static file
				ctx := middleware.Context{Root: md.FileSys}
				_, err = md.Process(*cfg, reqPath, body, ctx)
				if err != nil {
					return err
				}

				break // don't try other file extensions
			}
		}
		return nil
	})
}

// computeDirHash computes an hash on static directory of c.
func computeDirHash(md Markdown, c Config) (string, error) {
	dir := filepath.Join(md.Root, c.PathScope)
	if _, err := os.Stat(dir); err != nil {
		return "", err
	}

	hashString := ""
	err := filepath.Walk(dir, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
		if !info.IsDir() && c.IsValidExt(filepath.Ext(path)) {
			hashString += fmt.Sprintf("%v%v%v%v", info.ModTime(), info.Name(), info.Size(), path)
		}
		return nil
	})
	if err != nil {
		return "", err
	}

	sum := md5.Sum([]byte(hashString))
	return hex.EncodeToString(sum[:]), nil
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


SCNCAC, Children's Trust of South Carolina and Silent Tears are partnering for a press conference at the statehouse in celebration of CAC Day. Attorney General Alan Wilson, SCNCAC Executive Director Tom Knapp, Representative Mihael Pitts, and Children's Trust CEO Sue Williams will be the featured speakers as attention is focused on child maltreatment and the critical work of the Children's Advocacy Centers of South Carolina. Click on the Governor's proclamation to the right to learn more.


Modification on the class SUV - UAZ Hunter for GTA San Andreas. The car has high quality bodywork and interior. This model fits perfectly into the game.
Absolutely free to download mod UAZ Hunter for GTA San Andreas you can by clicking on the links below and install it in the game as you can using the automatic installer and without it.


Banking sector is increasingly becoming strategically focused and technologically advanced to meet up to the consumer expectations. All this while trying to defend the market share against an increasing barrage of competitors. Digitization of fundamental business processes and reassessment of the organizational structures and internal talent is being stressed upon for preparing better for the future of banking – the digital banking.
We took an exclusive interview of Saket Agarwal, Global CEO, Spice Money. Read on as he discusses the trends that will shape the banking sector in 2019, challenges Indian financial and digital payment industry face today, as well as how Spice Money uses latest technologies to deliver seamless financial services to its end customers.
1. To begin with, please give our readers a brief introduction to Spice Money.
We are a tech-enabled hyper local payments player offering cash-in & cash-out, bill payments, airtime recharge and mPoS (mobile point of sale) services.
Our target segment is the urban-rural and rural India by geography. Within that we have a range of customer segments like local government executives, professionals like teachers and doctors, local traders, retailers, agriculture workers and people receiving subsidy support from the government.
While the customer segments seem diverse, the common theme is the lack of traditional financial products and services relevant for them. This part of India is spread out with much lesser density and therefore the traditional asset heavy banking infrastructure hasn't been able to create a feasible reach and relevance.
With our asset-lite model of using the existing infrastructure coupled with technology, we seem to have been able to solve the reach problem and also the relevance problem for few products. The challenge and opportunity for us is to now solve the relevance problem for a wider range of products and services.
Spice Money has a deep presence in "Bharat" with nearly 85% of the cumulative 100,000 Customer Service Points (CSPs) in semi-urban and rural India. We have dense footprints in BIMARU states, 66% footprint in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh & Uttar Pradesh; accounting for ~65% of India's population.
2. You have been in the banking sector for long. How has the banking industry evolved during the past decade?
banking industry is beginning to incorporate different traits and practices that were once the considered the domain of fintech startups. Banks have become more comfortable with a quicker pace of innovation, leveraging data and analytics extensively and digitizing processes rather than simply turning paper into PDFs.
Banking sector is becoming both more strategically focused and technologically advanced to respond to the consumer expectations, while trying to defend market share against an increasing array of competitors. Emphasis is now being placed on making fundamental business processes 'digital' and reassessing internal talent and organizational structure for better preparation for the future of banking. This transformation shows the increasing wish to become a 'digital bank'.
The importance of innovation and development of new solutions that take advantage of advanced analytics, data, digital technologies and new age delivery platforms has never been more important. We now see organizations innovate in targeting, re-configuring delivery channels, expanding services, delivering proactive advice, integrating payments and applying blockchain technology.
3. Spice Money uses latest technologies to deliver seamless financial services to its end customers. Share your thoughts on how technology is driving financial inclusion.
The new innovative means of branch less banking through Spicemoney agents, when packed with its latest technology, identifies the need of customer mapped with pointed challenges on the basis of region, population, awareness and social blocks helps build the solutions much needed by the individuals.
While internet penetration has happened across geographical boundaries of the country, there are still areas where in major population is not able to reach bank branches or not able to get benefit of those online services of banks in the absence of understanding and awareness.
Even those who do have bank accounts still experience barriers to accessing banking opportunities. Instead of educating all, Spicemoney identify the need and appoint agents in such areas and equip them with the platform wherein the services come handy, user friendly and easy UI/UX and in such a redundant form that it becomes easy for the end customers to avail the services through agent assisted model.
4. Do you think progressive technologies like blockchain will play a major role in the future in securing digital payments and other financial transactions.
Yes, implementing blockchains as part of the infrastructure of financial institutions will be imperative.
A blockchain is a list of records linked together that act as a secure, permanent ledger of interactions between two or more parties. This will become more important as hackers become more sophisticated and financial institutions seek to rebuild the trust of consumers.
5. What technology/systems do you use to deliver a secure payment platform to your customers?
A flexible architecture for the much-needed dynamics of business spikes is being handled through hyper-converged infrastructure through Nutanix where in the secured hyper-visor of Acropolis helps make the platform stable and secure. Entire application stack resides on enterprise stack of secured Redhat environment, clubbed with Oracle DB deployed in cluster with its enterprise version packed and used for security, encryption and logical partitioning.
The WEB part of the platform is secured with WAF securing the infra for major web-based attacks and ensuring the system is secured for top 10 OWASP vulnerabilities. End to end encrypted algorithms through HSM devices make the integrations with partners more secure, safe and robust. Process driven approach on security and development is being followed as organisation is ISO 27k1 and CMMI L3.
Adoption of Akamai CDN, SSL security, Web Acceleration, DDoS and other features ensure that the platform is suited up with latest technology on the security innovations.
6. Please let us know something about Spice Money UPI.
Spice Money UPI provides UPI services to recharge wallet. Our channel can use a quick response code (QR) to scan through any payment app like PayTM, Google Tez, PhonePe etc. All agents have been given a VPA using which the amount gets credited to their Spice Money wallet directly, instantaneously. This is one of the unique solutions we are offering to our channel.
Agent can print the QR code and customers can simply scan the QR, enter amount and pay for the services (DMT, Railways, Flights, Hotel etc) they want to choose. This is easy and simple way.
The integration of this mode on Spice Money app is quite seamless and experience is wonderful. This is one of the highest used options.
Apart from this typical pay and collect based UPI, wallet recharge option is also available. Agents can use any of their available VPAs to recharge their wallet. Request is initiated through VPA which agent chooses and the agent then accepts the UPI request. Once the request is accepted (within 30 mins) the wallet of the agent is credited.
7. What are the challenges that exist in the Indian financial and digital payment industry?
Digital payments are growing rapidly in urban India driven by mobile based payment solutions like wallets and UPI. We do expect semi urban and rural India to also adopt digital payments. However, the difference is in the pace of adoption. This part of India is at a very early stage of adoption of smartphones and mobile data. Their adoption has started with social connect and entertainment (whatsapp and youtube), where they are being increasingly assisted by their peers.
While this part of India is getting prosperous and is aspirational, they fundamentally are different from the urban India in terms of literacy levels, language preferences (there are multiple regional languages in India), and exposure to transacting on their smartphones.
Financial transactions are typically in the last quadrant when it comes to adoption intent and complexity. There is lack of trust. They need assistance in getting onboarded on to digital platforms and that is the opportunity that Spice Money is going after.
As it stands today, because of lack of banking infrastructure coupled with the preference for assistance, we have millions of customers walking in to our customer service points for depositing, withdrawing ad remitting cash to the bank accounts. We have early signs of people now transacting for making bill payments, booking tickets etc. Our objective is to assist them in their journey to adopt digital payments and be their preferred partner in this journey.
8. What according to you are the five major trends that will shape the financial service market in 2019.
As global financial and tech giants revolutionize the financial services arena, banks will also experiment with new mobile applications and voice-enabled gadgets to enhance both delivery and contextual personalization. As technologies continue to evolve, the banking sector will continue to accelerate its investments in innovation and digital enhancements.
These efforts will only increase in 2019.
9. What's in your roadmap for 2019?
From basic product line of cash-in and cash-out products, we are on course to launch next level of products from savings to investment to insurance to credit. We have built phenomenal transactional data for the channel to be able to be now part of formal credit economy and in a mix of own book to leveraging partners, we shall be able to move to the next level of financial inclusion and literacy for the channel.


This stereo powerhouse is among the strongest of its kind. Built for stunning power in any weather, the weatherproof KXM thrives in a boat, ATV or UTV.
The KXM 1200-watt stereo amplifier is built for massive full range power.
KickEQ+ delivers as much as an 18dB of extra bump with a simple turn of the knob, while a powerful 24dB crossover lets you quickly tune your system to perfection.
A full range RCA output allows you to easily add another amplifier without running new signal cable to the radio.
This KXM amplifier delivers up to 600 watts per channel.


Does Malaysia 370 Help or Hurt UAV Cause?
The terrible and stunning news about a jumbo-jet airliner traveling apparently aimlessly for 5 hours is ongoing.
Contact was lost — contact being a frequent concern raised by pessimists of UAV operation.
While basic questions of where, why, what, etc. are front and center, the incident does pose at least a question of secondary importance: How does the incident impact other aviation operations, and unmanned aerial vehicle ("UAV") operations particularly?
An answer to the first part of the question is actually know-able. The tragedy of Malaysia Airlines 370 will invigorate dialogue among aviation authorities around the world about specific airline safety measures, including for example: What is being done or should be done about passengers flying with fraudulent passports? Has the time come to invest in real-time streaming data from in-flight airplanes so as to relieve investigators of almost total dependence of flight data recorders?
The second part of the question – the impact of Malaysia 370 on UAV operations – is more academic at this point. But, the answer may be at once encouraging and discouraging of UAV operations in national and international airspace.
On the one hand, it should not go unnoticed how human-centered the Malaysia 370 investigation appears to be. There seem to be more "talking heads" on television willing to defend the technology of the Malaysia B-777 than those willing to to defend human nature by ruling out air piracy or human cause. Interesting. And, not terribly surprising. The B-777 enjoys a superb reputation. Human nature, particularly after September 11, 2001, does not.
And, that is the discouraging news. The operation and purpose of UAVs like commercial airliners can be perverted. Same with a boat, a car, or a box cutter. For this reason, the Federal Aviation Administration and other authorities cannot be criticized too harsly for being concerned. However, Malaysia 370 may show that the real issue for UAV policy makers is not about privacy or the technology of UAVs, but about its human operators. Malaysia 370 may teach that a regulatory regime that focuses more on the quality and character of UAVs operators and less about important but hypothetical considerations of privacy and technology failures will optimally serve both air safety and air commerce.
Oh, and by the way, wouldn't it help to have "drones" doing the dirty, dull, and dangerous mission involved in finding Flight 370 – wherever it is on nearly a quarter of a part of the globe?
Posted in UAV and tagged Boeing 777, drone, Malaysia Airline 370, UAV, Unmanned aerial vehicle on March 15, 2014 by Timothy M. Ravich.


text:
Putting Ourselves "Out There"
I've been reflecting on the fact that several commenters now have opened themselves to the public gaze in a very courageous way: you've posted your first attempts, or your first attempts in many years, at writing a poem, here for us to see.
In the spirit of reciprocity, I wanted to post my own first poem. I wrote this 22 years ago if my calculations are correct. I still remember the rush of joy, walking through the kitchen, at having that really poetic idea burgeoning in my mind – the surprise, the glad intensity of my need to sit down RIGHT NOW and finish it. To this day, it's the only one of my poems that I can recite perfectly at a moment's notice.
I know this isn't exactly the same thing as you have all done. And to be perfectly honest it's really my second poem. My first poem, attemped when I was 6 years old, brought with its composition a similar experience, but I was so disappointed in the result that I didn't save it. (It was something about a pear tree and as I recall the rhymes were "three" and "me.")
Here's my ACTUAL first poem.
The NIGHT SKY is a black curtain – distant and dark.
It echoes the frog's song, the neighbor dog's bark.
It has tiny peep-holes to let starlight through,
but when morning comes and the day is all new
the curtain rolls back to let sunlight through,
reveal the world sparkling in gems of dew.
So there you have it. What we feel when we write a poem doesn't necessarily shine brightly for everyone else to see, but the act of writing the poem is one of the most important acts we will ever perform.
Thank you all, so much, for sharing yourselves in this way!
Poetry Courage, First Poem, Literature, Night, Poems
Poetry Survey Series Post Eight: from The Marshes of Glynn by Sydney Lanier
Report on Further Investigations of Questions About Imagination
Michael Bauman
Thank you for giving us the opportunity.
So, at an early age you knew about spondees! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) What I mean to say is, you knew about rhythms, but you
were not restricted by a rigid pattern, as so many start-up poets are, and the rhymes are not forced. You understood also how other sound effects work–"frog's song"– and how to transfer what you see into something readers (and you too) can enjoy again and again by calling up an apt word-image, e. g. "gems of dew," I think you must be a natural.
I couldn't absorb any of this until much later (about the age of 28) when as an English teacher I was assigned to teach poetry to a small group of highly motivated students in an experimental, "innovative" program. Prior to that, I had followed the easy path of using song lyrics as poems, especially the songs that these young persons were familiar with and like. But the experimental group wanted more, so I taught myself the things I had slept through in my own student days. Then I taught these things to students who picked up on them right away. Soon I knew that I was in deep water, and barely treading. But it was a learning experience for all of us, and more so for me when Susan raised her hand and said pointedly, maybe a bit sarcastically, "Mr. Salsich, if you're so smart, how come you don't write poems? "
I was trapped. Pinned to the wall in front of 22 sets of expectant eyes. What to say? Fortunately I remembered that students appreciate and expect honest answers, so I simply said, "You are right, Susan. I should write. And I will, starting tonight." I went home and, after playing with our two children, then grading papers and reviewing lesson plans, I stayed up late composing my first poem. it is called "Susan," and it starts, "There you go again striding / tall into my unprepared mind… " It felt easy and fun (I think I used as a model one of the poems we had been studying in class), and from then on I knew that it was a way to relate to others on a deep level without even talking directly to them. So I kept on trying to make those connections, somewhat in the way that Leah did in her grandmother poem (not the same style exactly, but the same impetus and result). I never showed my first poem to anyone, not even Susan. But I have been grateful to her ever since,.
Whew! Where did that come from? Anyway, thanks for providing a format, opportunity, encouragement, excuse, stimulation–whatever is working at the time–for me & others to see deeply (through words) what we knew & felt, but perhaps too briefly or too vaguely. Ever since that classroom experience with Susan, I have treasured what I later learned was Wordsworth's definition (well, maybe one of them) of poetry — "emotion recollected in tranquility."
No, no, I was just imitating unconsciously the sort of thing I had read. The only thing that really impresses me, looking back, is that a ten-year old could carry a metaphor through consistently to the end of six lines. Other than that, nothing is there to remark upon. Not that I'm bothered by that. Imitation is the least painful and most comprehensive way to learn to do anything.
I love the story about your first poem! I can see how important poetry has been to you.
Poetry is many things, really. Wordsworth was fairly bombastic about defining and limiting the scope of poetry. He had insights, but they were not universal insights, and he unfortunately expressed them as universal insights. As far as I can tell he single-handedly stripped the English-writing world of beautiful language by inveighing immoderately against "poetic diction" in an insidious essay that is now taken as gospel by 92% of poets and nearly all critics.
" . . . he single-handedly stripped the English-writing world of beautiful language by inveighing immoderately against "poetic diction" in an insidious essay that is now taken as gospel by 92% of poets and nearly all critics"
. Even though retired and spending much of my time praying for and helping my grandchildren grow, I am still attending the school of the internet and loving it. Such a blessing to have the opportunity to keep on learning! I wouldn't have agreed with you five years ago, but ever since being exposed to the Orthodox church's focus on tradition I have finally become open to the possibility that high diction does not necessarily undermine the sincerity or originality of personal expressions.
How much do I owe you – (both a question and a strong assertion)
I owe most of my learning to people I've encountered on the internet. Although our world is becoming increasingly tyrannical, the internet is a sub-world where freedom still has a chance. True, people use twitter, googleplus, Facebook, and blogging to repress free speech by emotionally bullying people with dissenting opinions, but there are always other places to go.
"…high diction does not necessarily undermine the sincerity or originality of personal expressions."
Well said. In fact, it's just the opposite, it seems to me. Low diction is in a straight-jacket. There are so few forms of expression, and all of them are used automatically. High diction, done well, is the result of intense thought and evaluation of the effect of language. It is what happens when people are sincerely and authentically (originally) presenting a personal utterance of great power. There are endless ways possibilities waiting to be discovered or created in high diction, but there are only a few ways to say something in low – those ways which have been vetted by the lowest common denominator and become automatic to most people.
Only because high diction is more demanding, you have more failures with it. No one can fail at low speech. But many fail at high diction. That may be part of the reason why people react against it. It's easier to tell students, "No, don't try that, it will turn out horrible," rather than to say to them, "I see what you are trying to do, and it's worth doing, but you aren't doing it well yet. Let's figure out why."
I see the same thing in child-rearing. If a child spills the milk, 95% of parents will say, "That's it! From now on it's back to the sippy cup with you!" instead of giving the child another cup of milk and watching over them to see what it is they are having trouble with that makes them spill.
I can see, too, why encountering the services and prayers of the Orthodox Church would help with this. Overwhelmingly, you see high diction done well. However, not all of the translations are perfect. Specifically, I loathe the impulse to use "thee" and "thou" automatically when addressing God, in the mistaken belief that these words are more respectful or poetic.


Contest Holder: Client61780 confirmed successful completion of this project.
YouTube channel & blog- father/son team chronicle the progression of their mountain biking skills as well as POV and product review.
A simple design using bright blue and green, fading maybe. Logo needs to fit into YouTube icon slot.
We like the simpleness of this. Some elements that represent "progress" would be cool to have incorporated.
Client61780 picked a winner from 65 designs by 24 designers.
This design is SOOO close to what we want. Really feeling this one. 4 tweaks to make it a 5 star. 1. remove green outer ring 2. change the upper blue ring to be a sprocket (similar to #49, 54, 55 & 60) 3. place a small gap between the top of "T" and "B". 4. reduce the size of the tread blocks on the tire to be just a little less chunky (#55, 56, 57 and 60) This is really turn out well. Thank You for your effort.
This is design is great! We love the faded color transition, choice of color, the font of the lettering. To be perfect, we would like to see a knobby tire on the bottom portion of the circle instead of a chain ring. We would also like to see two silhouetted riders maybe in the mountains' one slightly larger than the other. Great work!
Good work! Love the Silhouette rider aspect of the logo, great color choice. We would like to see more of a cloudy fade into a different shade of blue instead of a flat sharp line. Great job!
thank you for choosing my design to be a finalist. I made this logo so that it fits as an icon. I will make a different shaded color version, with the same blue. I hope you find that you think is better. thanks.
Good work! Love the color choice, we like the font of the lettering. It sorta brings out a Gopro vibe from the logo which is very cool. Some changes could be made to to make it perfect. We would like the tire to be more knobby instead of sharp on the outside, we would also like to see two silhouette riders, one bigger from the other. Great work!
Hi, Please see my initial design and let me know your thoughts.
bosbejo is selected as the contest finalist!
fastsev is selected as the contest finalist!
fastsev is selected as the contest winner!


Magento uses the object pool right inside the Mage god class.
This is the method used to collect, save, and return your objects as you see fit. This method and overall functionality utilizes the Varien_Object_Cache class.
This will save your object for future reference. It also passes back an id to fetch the object at a later time.
Both will return your object referenced with the id.
So where does Magento use the object pool? It is primarily within the import/export functionality. They use it with product and customer objects. You can find how they use the object pool in Mage_Customer_Model_Convert_Adapter_Customer and in Mage_Catalog_Model_Convert_Parser_Product . It is used in the adapters of import/export as well, but the concept is roughly the same.
Another example of the object pool in Magento that is more widely used is the eav/config singleton, which provides access to entity type and attribute models.
Thanks! I will update my article here soon with the updated information.
what is the different between object pool and registry?
In Magento's terms, the object pool holds only objects, (usually used in the import/export process), while the registry can hold anything. This includes objects, strings, booleans, arrays, etc.


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Philo On-Demand Library 2021 – The Complete Breakdown
Eric Liston
Wondering if the Philo on-demand library has any of the shows you're interested in watching? Want to learn more about the video-on-demand options that this entertainment-focused streaming service has to offer? You're in the right place. Read on to learn more now.
Before we start, we want to highlight a particularly relevant stream in these uncertain times. Sling TV is one of the best options for streaming in 2021 with a rich catalogue of 50+ live channels and 50k+ on-demand movies and episodes.
Sign up below to start watching Sling TV.
50+ channels and
50K+ movies and TV show episodes. Only $30, Cancel Anytime
How Much Content is Available On-Demand From Philo?
Philo has claimed to have more than 25,000 titles available on-demand, which means it has quite a bit more content than some competitors like fuboTV and YouTube TV.
The easiest way to find on-demand content is to search for the show you want, and then click the "Playable" tab at the bottom. Then, you can see all of the episodes that are available for your selected show.
You can also search by network to find the content you'd like to watch from channels like HGTV, BET, Discovery, Science, and more. Just search for your preferred channel and click the show you'd like to watch to see the latest episodes that are available on-demand.
What Kind of Content Can I Expect From the Philo On-Demand Library?
For the most part, you'll only be able to watch the most recent episodes of popular shows like Killing Eve. However, Philo has full past seasons of many shows, too. Fixer Upper from HGTV, for example, currently has all of season 1 through season 5 available. Philo also has some movies from partner channels like SundanceTV and AMC, such as Super 8, Spaceballs and Airplane.
You can also usually watch any show that has aired within the last 72 hours even if it's not typically available on-demand, and if you have forgotten to save it with the Philo DVR. This adds some more flexibility and ensures you can always keep up with your favorite shows.
However, it's important to note that the content available on Philo is always changing because each individual broadcast network determines which shows and movies are available.
Does Philo On-Demand Content Have Commercials?
Yes. You'll have to sit through some commercials before each piece of VOD content that you want to watch. In most cases, there will also be some commercial breaks during each show or movie that you watch.
However, these breaks usually only last a minute or two. You can also pause, fast forward, and rewind with Philo, though you usually can't fast forward through commercials.
What's On Philo?
Wondering what live TV is on Philo right now? With the Flixed TV Guide for Philo, you can browse the current shows and events airing on each channel included with this streaming service. Check it out now, and enjoy a smooth, ad-free TV guide experience.
What Apps Can I Use to Watch Philo On-Demand?
Currently, you can stream Philo content on-demand using any app that supports the service. That means you can watch Philo on-demand content on your web browser, on iOS devices, and on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. It also now has support for Android devices. To learn more about Philo device support, click here.
Want more on-demand content than Philo has to offer? Take a look at these other great streaming services.
Source: Disney+
Though it only launched in late 2019, Disney+ quickly has become one of the most popular on-demand streaming services in America.
Disney+ Pricing & Packages
You can subscribe to Disney+ for $6.99/month, or subscribe for 12 months for $69.99. You can also bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99/month. Learn more here.
Disney+ Content Library
The Disney+ content library has hundreds of movies and 7,500+ episodes of TV, including content from franchises like Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Learn more here.
Disney+ Device Support
Disney+ supports a wide variety of devices including iOS and Android, Amazon Fire devices, Chromecast, Roku and Apple TV, as well as desktop browsers and gaming systems like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Learn more here.
Disney+ Simultaneous Streams
You can watch Disney+ on up to 4 devices at once, which makes it great for larger families and households. Learn more here.
Source: ESPN+
Want some live and on-demand sports coverage? ESPN+ may be the best option for you.
ESPN+ Pricing & Packages
ESPN+ costs $4.99/month, but you can also bundle it with Hulu and Disney+ for $12.99/month. Learn more here.
ESPN+ Content Library
The ESPN+ content library consists of archived games and matches, as well as TV shows and original content like 30 for 30 sports documentaries. Learn more here.
You can watch ESPN+ on an innumerable number of devices, including web browsers, iOS and Android, Amazon Fire, Roku, Chromecast, and Apple TV. You can also watch on most smart TVs, and on gaming consoles like the PlayStation 3 and 4 and Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Learn more here.
You can stream on up to 2 devices at once with ESPN+, so you can feel free to share your account with your household. Learn more here.
Hulu has one of the largest on-demand streaming libraries out there, so it's a great option for you and your family.
Hulu Pricing & Packages
Hulu costs $5.99/month for an ad-supported subscription, or $11.99/month for an ad-free subscription. It can be bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $12.99/month. Learn more here.
Hulu Content Library
The Hulu content library is full of TV shows from top networks like FX, Fox and ABC, and also has plenty of original content like High Fidelity and The Handmaid's Tale. Learn more here.
Hulu Device Support
Hulu supports just about any device you could imagine. Popular supported platforms include modern browser and iOS/Android devices, Amazon Fire, Roku, Chromecast and Apple TV, as well as a wide variety of smart TVs and the Xbox 360/One and PlayStation 3/4 gaming consoles. Learn more here.
Hulu Simultaneous Streams
Hulu only allows you to stream on a single device at once, so it's not very easy to share your account. Learn more here.
Eric Liston is a freelance writer and tech enthusiast based in Ohio, specializing in internet security, cord-cutting, and more.


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2017 Immunology PhD and Postdoc day - June 8th - CRUK
Free registration to enter a short talk or poster. OPEN!
2017 Immunology PhD and Postdoc day - June 8th - CRUK - Read More…
'Latent' Tuberculosis? It's Not That Common, Experts Find- Lalita Ramakrishnan, Dept of Medicine, University of Cambridge
Active infections kill 4,000 people a day worldwide, more than AIDS does. But the notion that a quarter of the global population harbors silent tuberculosis is "a fundamental misunderstanding."
'Latent' Tuberculosis? It's Not That Common, Experts Find- Lalita Ramakrishnan, Dept of Medicine, University of Cambridge - Read More…
2016 EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE INVENTOR AWARD
Helen Lee (Haematology) was selected from 470 nominations by the European Patent Office to be one of the 3 finalists for SAMBA, the technology she and her group have developed. They have greatly simplified the detection of infectious diseases by nucleic acid amplification suitable for resource-poor settings.
2016 EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE INVENTOR AWARD - Read More…
Immunotherapy - Cancer cure?
The researchers genetically modified the t-cells to engineer a new targeting mechanism - chimeric antigen receptors - to target acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Immunotherapy - Cancer cure? - Read More…
King's Fellows receive prestigious Investigator Award-
Professor Ashley Moffett and Dr Francesco Colucci
King's Fellows receive prestigious Investigator Award- - Read More…
Computer-designed antibodies target toxins associated with Alzheimer's disease
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have designed antibodies that target the protein deposits in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease, and stop their production.
Computer-designed antibodies target toxins associated with Alzheimer's disease - Read More…
Huge £114million research investment announced for Cambridge- BRC
Cambridge is set to get a huge £114m from the Government to make world-first medical breakthroughs, as part of a record package of research funding announced today by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Huge £114million research investment announced for Cambridge- BRC - Read More…
60 YEARS OF THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR IMMUNOLOGY
The British Society for Immunology celebrates 60 years on Tuesday 11 October. We are proud to have supported immunology and immunologists during this time and we hope as many of you as possible are able to join us in celebrating this important milestone.
60 YEARS OF THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR IMMUNOLOGY - Read More…
Cancer Research UK - Immunology call
At Cancer Research UK we recognise that immunology has underpinned some of the most exciting discoveries in modern cancer research. We are committed to supporting cutting-edge immunology to deepen our understanding of the interactions between the immune system and tumours.
Cancer Research UK - Immunology call - Read More…
Case study on Department of Veterinary Medicine research informing WHO guidelines
Dr Caroline Trotter and her team at Cambridge's Department of Veterinary Medicine have used mathematical modelling to help ensure that World Health Organisation guidelines provide the most robust and effective approach to meningitis vaccinations in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Case study on Department of Veterinary Medicine research informing WHO guidelines - Read More…
Scientists at CITIID have success in receiving prestigious fellowships from the Wellcome Trust
Scientists at CITIID have success in receiving prestigious fellowships from the Wellcome Trust - Read More…
Call for EMI collaborative research projects with AstraZeneca/MedImmune
The Experimental Medicine Training Initiative (EMI) is an exciting scheme recently set up between University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, and Pharmaceutical Industry partners interested in developing scientific expertise in the field of experimental medicine (Clinical Trials).
Call for EMI collaborative research projects with AstraZeneca/MedImmune - Read More…
Dr Andrew McKenzie- Congratulations to our new Royal Society Fellow
Dr Andrew McKenzie FMedSci FRS Fellow Elected: 2017
Dr Andrew McKenzie- Congratulations to our new Royal Society Fellow - Read More…
Call for collaborative research proposals with GlaxoSmithKline
The University of Cambridge/ CUH/ GSK Joint Steering Committee (JSC) are pleased to announce a new call for collaborative Cambridge/GSK research proposals. This is the fourth annual call under the "Varsity" initiative which has to date funded 12 new collaborative medicine-focused projects. More information about the initiative can be found here.
Call for collaborative research proposals with GlaxoSmithKline - Read More…
GSK Discovery Partnership with Academia Fast Track Golden Triangle Challenge - call open External Call for proposals
This new Call for Proposals has a closing date of 28th October 2016. Key Questions that need to be considered before applying are: 1) Do you have a clear therapeutic hypothesis? 2) Do you have a defined drug target? 3) Do you have enabling expertise?
GSK Discovery Partnership with Academia Fast Track Golden Triangle Challenge - call open External Call for proposals - Read More…
Imagine a world without borders: an immunologist's thoughts on Brexit
Francesco Colucci shares his thoughts on Brexit
Imagine a world without borders: an immunologist's thoughts on Brexit - Read More…
New Nature Comms paper from Michelle Linterman, The Babraham Institute.
New Nature Comms paper from Michelle Linterman, The Babraham Institute. - Read More…
Marjory Stephenson Prize- Gordon Dougan FRS
Congratulations to Professor Gordon Dougan FRS, Department of Medicine, who has been awarded the 2019 Marjory Stephenson Prize
Marjory Stephenson Prize- Gordon Dougan FRS - Read More…
The importance of resting phases in B cell development- Science paper
Alison Galloway, Martin Turner & Co.. Science paper
The importance of resting phases in B cell development- Science paper - Read More…
Menna Clatworthy receives an EFIS-IL Lecture Award
Menna Clatworthy, a Group Leader in the University of Cambridge Molecular Immunity Unit based at the LMB, has won a prestigious EFIS-IL Lecture Award.
Menna Clatworthy receives an EFIS-IL Lecture Award - Read More…
The bug hunters and the microbiome
Trevor Lawley and Gordon Dougan are bug hunters, albeit not the conventional kind. The bugs they collect are invisible to the naked eye. And even though we're teeming with them, researchers are only beginning to discover how they keep us healthy – and how we could use these bugs as drugs.
The bug hunters and the microbiome - Read More…
Microbiotica, the latest spin-out from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Microbiotica, the latest spin-out from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, has received funding from Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) and IP Group to use the latest discoveries in the characterisation of our bacteria and their role in health and disease to develop bacteriotherapy - a radical way to treat disease based on using the bacteria themselves.
Microbiotica, the latest spin-out from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute - Read More…
Single-cell RNA-seq identifies a PD-1hi ILC progenitor and defines its developmental pathway
Yong Yu,	Jason C.H. Tsang,	Cui Wang,	Simon Clare,	Juexuan Wang,	Xi Chen,	Cordelia Brandt, Leanne Kane,	Lia S. Campos,	Liming Lu,	Gabrielle T. Belz,	Andrew N. J. McKenzie,	Sarah A. Teichmann,	Gordon Dougan	& Pentao Liu
Single-cell RNA-seq identifies a PD-1hi ILC progenitor and defines its developmental pathway - Read More…
New prognostic test could enable personalised treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new test that can reliably predict the future course of inflammatory bowel disease in individuals, transforming treatments for patients and paving the way for a personalised approach.
New prognostic test could enable personalised treatment of inflammatory bowel disease - Read More…
New Immunology Coordinator Started
New Immunology Coordinator Started - Read More…
Professor Arthur Kaser- Congratulations to our new Academy of Medical Sciences Fellow
46 world leading UK researchers have been elected to the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Professor Arthur Kaser- Congratulations to our new Academy of Medical Sciences Fellow - Read More…
Professor Lalita Ramakrishnan elected Fellow of The Royal Society
Lalita Ramakrishnan is the Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge and has been elected Fellow of the Royal Society (2018). She studies tuberculosis disease pathogenesis in the zebrafish. The zebrafish is genetically tractable and optically transparent enabling the manipulation and monitoring of infection in real-time. The use of the zebrafish has led to surprising discoveries about TB that have immediate clinical implications.
Professor Lalita Ramakrishnan elected Fellow of The Royal Society - Read More…
Lalita Ramakrishnan elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences .
Professor Lalita Ramakrishnan announced as one of 84 new members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
Lalita Ramakrishnan elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences . - Read More…
Andres Floto et al repurpose anticonvulsants as tuberculosis drug
Functional drug screening reveals anticonvulsants as enhancers of mTOR‐independent autophagic killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through inositol depletion
Andres Floto et al repurpose anticonvulsants as tuberculosis drug - Read More…
Sharon Peacock has been awarded a CBE
Professor Sharon Peacock has been awarded a CBE for her services to Medical Microbiology
Sharon Peacock has been awarded a CBE - Read More…
The curious relationship between diseases and immune systems
A researcher based at the Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research Unit in the UK is improving understanding of the immune system. His work on protein interactions and how they correlate with infectious disease and inflammatory conditions could soon help to control and treat diseases
The curious relationship between diseases and immune systems - Read More…
Typhoid outbreak: genetic cause of extensive drug resistance found
The results suggest that treatment options for typhoid treatment are running out and preventative strategies are needed. "We have used genetic sequencing to uncover how this particular strain of typhoid became resistant to several key antibiotics. Sporadic cases of typhoid with these levels of antimicrobial resistance have been seen before, but this is the first time we've seen an ongoing outbreak – which is concerning." Professor Gordon Dougan, a senior author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge Department of Medicine
Typhoid outbreak: genetic cause of extensive drug resistance found - Read More…
Wellcome Trust award to study link between immune system and brain disorders
A Wellcome Strategic Award of £5 million includes is granted to a consortium of seven Universities including Cambridge and two companies.
Wellcome Trust award to study link between immune system and brain disorders - Read More…


5 Minute Christmas Wreath That Anyone Can Make! 5 Minute Christmas Wreath That Anyone Can Make!
We are taking it back to my roots today. Did you guys know that long before I ever had a blog, or used a saw, or even knew Pinterest was a thing (when exactly did it become a "thing?"), I made my own wreaths? Looking back, I guess this was my first dabble into the DIY world. It all started with this Christmas wreath. It was like a giant glitter ball.
But, I still like to go back to the beginning sometimes and make a new wreath. And this year's Christmas wreath is the easiest one I think I've ever made. It literally took me 5 minutes to put it together. And, to be honest, it looks better than most of the EXPENSIVE wreaths I've seen at the stores so far this season.
Now, before we get started, I have to apologize in advance for how terribly awful these pictures are. I asked Danny (oh, Danny) to take some pictures while I made the wreath because I needed both hands to do it. Poor Danny, he just doesn't get what I'm going for and so these pictures are….well…not what I was going for. But since this is super easy, hopefully they will still work and be helpful. HOPEFULLY being the key word here.
Just for an FYI, I bought all my supplies at Hobby Lobby. I already had the grapevine wreath on hand (I keep several), but they are like $8 at Hobby Lobby which is actually really, $4.80 because who goes to Hobby Lobby without a 40% off coupon?! By the way, grapevine wreaths are AWESOOOOOOME because they are SOOOOO easy to decorate. You literally just shove everything in it and you're done. No joke. And when you are ready to change seasons, you just take it out and shove something new in it. So let's get to shoving.
So, first, I took a greenery stem and shoved it in the middle of one side of the grapevine form.
Then do the same on the bottom side.
IF (capital IF) you need to (I prefer not to unless absolutely necessary), you can secure them a little more if they aren't staying put by cutting off a piece of floral wire and "tying" them down on the back side.
I prefer not to do this so that it's easier to take apart later and reuse the form. That's just me. After it's all in place, I shaped the greenery to curve around the wreath form a little. Just play with it until it looks like you want it. PS see Danny's house shoe in the corner? He makes me laugh.
Next, do the same thing with the berries. Shove them in on top of the greenery.
Ta Da!! Two minutes down and we are practically done already!
Spread the berries out and shape them until you like how they look.
Next, attach a bow. If you want to make your own, keep reading, I will show you in a second. Just cut a piece of floral wire, slip it under a couple branches in the wreath form and twist it around the middle of the bow. Twist several times to secure it, then fold back or trim the excess wire.
The next part is optional. If you want and you have room in your wreath, you can add a decorative item like a chalkboard or jingle bells…or both! Just use some floral wire to tie the item onto a couple branches.
I made three of these one night. Two were 18″ wreath forms and one was a 24″. Here is the second small one I did. For this one, I did the exact same thing, only I used a different type of "greenery" stem. The beauty of these wreaths is you can mix and match whatever stems you like! You can also cut up your berries in smaller sizes and shove them all in separately. That's what I did here.
This is the 24″ one. It was large enough to add a little chalkboard and jingle bells.
I promised you I would also show you how to make a bow. Now, there are probably a million tutorials out there for making a bow, but this is how I did it. I used two types of ribbon.
First, I took my main ribbon and made a loop.
Fold the ribbon over on the other side and make a loop.
Now, stretch this bow back out and cut a piece of your "accent" ribbon the same length. Now do the exact same thing (make the six loops) with your accent ribbon on the top. Make sure you keep it tight.
Once you made your six loops again, tie it TIGHT around the middle with some floral wire.
Then, cut two long pieces (as long as you want your ribbon tails) of each color ribbon.
Pull tight, and fluff out your loops. Don't pull them too much or they will come undone, but fluff and spread them out a little and that's it!
For real, 5 minutes work and you've already made your neighbors jealous. Because, let's face it…that's the REAL goal here, right? Don't lie, we all do it.
Stay tuned all this week for a few fun, fast, and easy Christmas DIYs as we head full force into the season!