text:
Tag: metaverse
The Metaverse explained for university leaders: opportunities and decisions ahead (4/4)
Who should universities watch?
The question is to what extent universities feel the need to step into the developmental space around XR technologies, and who should they be watching. Which evolutionary pathways will win out is unknown. Meta/Facebook has brand identification with the Metaverse concept in its advocacy of VR. Given the serious trust issues with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, the challenge to revenue from Apple's changing advertising policy, and TikTok's growing share of advertising revenue, the future of Meta is uncertain.
Google has innovated in the XR space for several years, not least with its long-standing, sometimes apparently covert, commitment to Google eyewear. No one should discount what happens at Google Skunkworks. Microsoft has the advantage of being the foundation for the majority of business enterprises' ecosystems and has a cross-platform strategy. Although I have to say I don't see the attraction for users to be able to integrate Team meetings into Meta's Horizon environment but Microsoft has also invested in gaming technology with its Xbox and XR hardware technology.
Apple has not made much public noise around XR technologies beyond integrating AR functionalities into its recent iPhone releases. However, its promotion of AR design tools for its platform arguably gives it an edge. Apple and its peripherals are clearly being aligned with an AR future. Technology that allows for the real world to be scanned and proximity detection linked to location services on an individual's phone also represents opportunities. Apple also encourages third-party developers to innovate around its technology base, as opposed to Meta's approach which appears to seek to absorb potential competition.
If you are looking to review institutional strategies in the light of challenges and opportunities presented by the Metaverse, please feel free to get in touch with spa@sijen.com
Opportunities in co-development
The opportunities for Universities will range from providing their learning community as a test-bed for any of the major players to purchasing XR artifacts.
It is not a binary choice but its useful for leadership to contemplate the two extremes. This could mean a corporate co-development of a high-tech laboratory on campus, or it could be a unique academic course in which an AR artifact serves as a learning resource. There are many points in between.
Think small. Technological opportunities will present themselves as access devices become smaller and cheaper. Universities would be wise to pitch their engagement at a realistic level for the present, such as AR experiences through individuals' smartphones rather than anticipating students will embrace body-integrated technologies, such as AR contact lens. It will be a stretch to get everyone into full haptic bodysuits (pun intended).
Think foundations. Universities may want to evaluate their research strategies and partnerships in the sciences and steer them toward industrial needs for developments in sensors, displays, battery life, network, and computer performance. In the social sciences and humanities, the social and cultural impact of XR is severely neglected. Leveraging some research funding for the implications of use is an opportunity. Proactively approaching the technology providers and providing them with a critical review of the impact of emerging technology is something funders should be encouraging.
Lessons Learnt. What smart institutions learned from the Second Life land grab in the 2000s is that building virtual campuses did little to advance the experience of either students or staff. The only beneficiaries were the 3D modelers and designers who learned a great deal. The more insightful money has been focussed on the immediacy of the experience rather than the grand architectural gesture. Universities who want to develop some expertise in XR should start by identifying a teaching problem, brainstorming an experiential solution, and then group-design an XR, most obviously an AR, solution, with their in-house capacity if it exists or in partnership with commercial design outfits (someone like eonreality.com perhaps). You need to tread carefully in this space and take legal advice. However, I would suggest that beyond simply adopting existing 3D visualizations using existing XR technologies, universities would be wise to seek to develop effective learning visualizations in the arts, humanities, and social sciences and license them.
Avoiding hype. If universities are set on creating a virtual presence, there are a range of options. Different platforms offer different capabilities. Decentraland allows people and organizations to buy land and build in a 3D world, with the limitation that it is limited to Windows PC. There is still Second Life of course. Platforms like Spatial.io allow creators to build immersive virtual spaces that can be accessed via a VR headset. It is important that institutional leaders keep their expectations of a Star Trek holodeck in check. These VR platforms require ongoing development in 3D graphics rendering, simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM), sensor advances and integration, raw computational power, and high-speed connectivity. Different facets of technology are developing at different rates. This makes predictions highly problematic.
Access matters. Universities also need to consider the issue of digital equality and access. Even AR technologies delivered on smartphones require a certain level of sophistication in the devices that students possess. Having reliable high-speed communications is essential for an effective immersive experience and to overcome the worst of the motion sickness associated with VR. Download storage capacity and increasingly streaming speeds will be a continuous challenge. We can expect AR glasses and VR headsets to gradually reduce in size and weight in order for them to be worn for sustained periods of time.
University leadership decisions
Where on the curve will you join? Leaders need to consider where in the adoption curve they are best positioned. I would suggest they decide on whether they want to be at the cutting edge of immersive VR pilots, seek to excel within a specific research niche in supportive technologies, or sit behind the leading edge and avoid unnecessary risk. I have recommended to my clients they should be exploring AR learning experiences in the short term.
How future-proof is your information technology policy? I would suggest they undertake an annual review of policies and student charters to ensure they are up to date and to inform internal awareness
Where is the benefit for students? Which parts of their curriculum can serve as the testing ground for emergent virtual pedagogies? What is the learning challenge that is being confronted? Is it important enough to pay for the relevant hardware to allow students to engage? What are the actual learning outcomes the effort is designed to enable?
There is a danger of FOMO (fear of missing out) and I understand that. The truth is you are not going to wake up one day and find the rest of the world is living inside Zuckerberg's Metaverse. Yes, there will be seepage between online gaming communities and commercial networking tools, but I do not believe the majority of humans will want to suspend their real-world experience in favour of full VR immersion.
The reality is that AR has been around for more than a decade in a servable form (I first integrated AR elements into learning materials in 2013), and the fact that it has been slow to spread across the discipline spectrum should tell us that we have the time to make considered decisions.
Image credit: Generated by DALL-E
Author Simon Paul AtkinsonPosted on December 2, 2022 December 2, 2022 Categories Executive, Higher Education, Strategy, Tertiary EducationTags Augmented, Extended, metaverse, Reality, VirtualLeave a comment on The Metaverse explained for university leaders: opportunities and decisions ahead (4/4)
The Metaverse explained for university leaders: challenges for universities ahead (3/4)
Press coverage of recent cryptocurrency disruptions and the significant staff reductions at Twitter and Meta is giving pause for thought amongst investors and futurists, as well as university leaders considering the future of the Metaverse.
The fact that you may feel like you cannot keep up with the news is understandable. The collapse of the cryptocurrency platform FTX, the apparent meltdown underway at Twitter and the 11-year sentence handed down to Elizabeth Holmes for the Thanos fraud do all have something in common. The digital world is sufficiently obscured from the majority of people, sometimes deliberately, and the 'trust train' may have now hit to buffers, reminiscent of the end of the dot-com boom.
So what of the metaverse? I did not mean to imply that it is a fanciful dream that will never have an impact on higher education, but I have reservations. I received some negative feedback for comparing 3D Cinema and VR technology adoption curves. I stand by my contention that such technology developments need to take more account of user expectations, as well as their user experience. Demographic patterns play a huge part in any technological innovation. The challenge for most Universities is to decide whether they are best to invest in low-tech entry materials and approaches to build a foundation for future 'metaverse' technologies or to join a narrow range of institutions that are innovating around these emergent technologies.
The obstacles for entry are less technical than they are learning design and delivery related. Clearly having sufficient finance in place is an obstacle for some, but even for those that have the cash to spend, knowing where to invest is crucial.
The technologies already exist for building VR immersive experiences, and some a free to try out (Unity.com), and the headsets and accessories are in theory available within reach of those on a medium or high income, although with the current cost of living crisis one might anticipate that Meta's sales expectations for its latest headset to fall short. But creating a test suite, a development platform to create VR immersive environments, requires a greater degree of investment.
If I was a betting man (and I am not), I would agree with those who believe that Zuckerberg is willing to sacrifice the social platforms (Facebook, Instagram), with their declining demographic, in favour of speculative investment in the future. The future for him is the Metaverse. However, there is no clear evolutionary path for the Metaverse. That includes the challenges mentioned previously, those of wearable technologies, computer power to sustain them, the privacy legislative framework, and the broader legal implications. There are billions around the world without internet access, millions without reliable broadband, and millions who do not have the disposable income, time, or inclination, to while away hours as a virtual avatar. It might be 'cool', but is it really worth the time and effort?
Legal frameworks are struggling to keep up with the rapid technological changes society faces. The European Union is possibly the most active in seeking to impose guardrails around digital technologies. Some of these are privately welcomed by the big technology companies, who lend some of their legal minds in pursuit of meaningful legislation, while other legal restrictions are resisted. Profit still comes first after all.
Esports, a growing share of the online gaming space, certainly benefits from advances in hyper-real 3D immersive technologies. A business paying to advertise inside these game spaces, whether the hoardings around a virtual pitch or track, or branding on virtual apparel, makes sense. Whether this gaming trend will fruitfully spill over into academia, I am doubtful.
What should universities do?
There are things universities should do, in my view, to ensure they are ready to react (if I'm wrong) and VR technologies become more integrated into the learning experience of a wider group of students.
They should have both a Student Charter and an Information Technology Policy that are both reviewed annually. Things move that fast. And all students and staff should be asked to reassert their commitment each year. The executive summary for both of these documents serves to enhance the digital literacy of the entire learning community.
Privacy and 'netiquette' are concepts that are intertwined in the experience of staff and students. I can use abusive language, within limits, and ALL CAPS to insult people on Twitter and face little in the way of challenge. If I was to stand in London's Leicester Square and do the same thing, say exactly the same thing hurling abuse at a passerby, it would not be too long before a couple of Police officers would turn up and move me on. Failure to comply would likely result in arrest and being charged with disturbing the peace. Imagine that scenario now within a virtual world. Who is the Police? What penalties would I face, if any? The behavioural norms we associate with the real-world fall apart in the digital sphere. That is already true today given the vile abuse faced by female academics in particular.
Is your institutional policy framework designed to cope with this scenario?
A student group, registered with your Student Union, organises a virtual event, hosted on a third-party application ( ZOOM for example) using a license owned by the controversial speaker themselves. The event requires registration but this is also done by the speaker themselves, and the event is advertised without any explicit endorsement from the student group themselves through it is heavily advertised verbally and using paper flyers around campus. During the event, some students mount a protest, disrupting the event. The event attracts huge criticism and excepts of the ZOOM meeting go viral on TikTok and Telegram, with some of the student's name and affiliations being attributed. The mainstream press seize on the event as an example of both the 'no-platform' policy position you hold and the 'woke, liberal elite' attitudes in evidence.
My advice to a recent University client was that they should run 'war games' scenarios with senior student leaders and Heads of Department around exactly these kinds of scenarios. Because the challenges institutions face are less about being overrun by technological developments than it is one of uncontrollable user scenarios.
And explore AR in the short term. That's for the final blog in this short series.
Image credit: generated using DALL-E
Author Simon Paul AtkinsonPosted on November 21, 2022 November 21, 2022 Categories Academic Practice, Higher Education, Strategy, Tertiary EducationTags AR, metaverse, strategy, VRLeave a comment on The Metaverse explained for university leaders: challenges for universities ahead (3/4)
Metaverse explained for University Leaders: What is currently possible within the Metaverse? 2/4
I am not selling anything here. That should be self-evident given that my answer to the question "what is currently possible within the Metaverse?" is, not much. I could even suggest nothing, because 'it' doesn't exist yet, certainly in the form it aspires to. What we have instead are partial experiences, glimpses into the promise of what the future holds. In part one of this four-part blog, I explored the definitions of what the Metaverse might be. We don't have it yet.
Recent press (including this from the NYT), in part the reason for the delay in issuing this second of four short articles, have highlighted how deeply unpopular the concept of an immersive working environment in the Metaverse actually may prove to be. Meta's own Horizon platform, the immersive environment that is the company's manifestation of the Metaverse, is proving unpopular even amongst its own employees. Essentially, the Metaverse still remains largely the domain of 'video games'. There is a serious risk of over-inflating the promise of a virtual reality workspace. Just as 3D films have repeated the cycle of innovation, technology breakthrough, costly implementation, partial deployment, and customer non-engagement, so it looks like the Metaverse risks repeating this trajectory.
Nonetheless, we should discuss what is currently accessible for educators. There are a range of AR and VR visualisations that aid learning. These include 3D visualisations of the human body for medical purposes, and of engineering and architectural designs that aid a deeper understanding of structure. The challenge for academics is to confront themselves with the question of whether learning gained through these 3D renditions adds enough value to warrant associated costs. If you were a medical science student before these visualisations were available, are you likely to have learned anything new from these 3D renditions? Are these 3D images necessarily enhanced by viewing them using VR headsets? It might be a 'nice to have', but does it warrant the not insignificant investment in staff training and equipment?
What is currently available in the commercial world, notably in disaster response and security contexts, are a series of hyper-real representations of real-world scenes, as opposed to fantasy worlds, in which skills can be perfected. The most obvious in the public consciousness would be flight simulators on which pilots learn to master new aircraft. Surgeons have also benefited for some years from the VR renditions of difficult procedures that can be rehearsed before opening up a patient. Touching on a humanities field, but still with a foot firmly in the technical realm, the restoration team working on the Notre Dame in Paris collaborates within a VR version of the fire-gutted cathedral, discussing and experimenting with approaches before tackling the real thing.
There is no doubt that the human brain is clever. Having a 3D visualisation of an object or a scene, displayed on a flat screen, satisfies most cognitive engagements. Is immersion in virtual reality either helpful or necessary?
Graphic design and game design students would undoubtedly benefit from practice suites to be able to design 3D models and game interactives. Saving individual students the cost of investing in the kit that is likely to be constantly upgraded as IT equipment manufacturers attempt to recoup their investments. However, unless there is a distinct visualisation requirement, asked of by current or emergent practice within the profession to which university programmes are aligned to, I would suggest there is no need to invest heavily in developing the in-house capacity to create VR experiences. It remains cheaper, not cheap, but cheaper, to employ either a third party, or your own student designers, to create experiences.
What is less certain is the role that AR will play in the Metaverse. That's for next time.
Author Simon Paul AtkinsonPosted on November 1, 2022 November 1, 2022 Categories Executive, Higher Education, Tertiary Education, Theoretical Perspectives, Thoughts, Idle and otherwiseTags AR, Augmented Reality, metaverse, Virtual Reality, VR, XR1 Comment on Metaverse explained for University Leaders: What is currently possible within the Metaverse? 2/4
Metaverse explained for University Leaders:
A simple guide to the immersive future (1/4)
University Leaders will doubtless come away from the latest round of late summer conferences with ideas about how to seize some real estate in Metaverse. With some caveats, I would suggest it is worthwhile that Universities start thinking now about how to harness the potential.
If you are looking to review institutional strategies in light of the challenges and opportunities presented by the Metaverse, please feel free to get in touch.
In four separate postings I want to outline:
What the Metaverse is and is not.
What is currently possible within the Metaverse
Where are the challenges for universities in journeying into the Metaverse
The opportunities likely to emerge over the next few years within the Metaverse.
It is not yet here. The Metaverse is conceived as a series of intertwined digital experiences, from the presentation of personalised content based on physical proximity to the fully immersive virtual reality experience. The Metaverse is not a single 'place', it is rather an experience. It is envisaged as being an experience in which you, the individual, spend time between the virtual world and your flesh-and-blood existence.
Definitions are as varied as they are numerous as the label 'Metaverse' has some commercial cachet. Existing technologies, immersive gaming and virtual worlds have adopted the label of Metaverse. Even some commercial teleconferencing companies have chosen to use the label to describe their all-walls solutions.
Whilst several technologies play a part in building the Metaverse, including headsets, graphics platforms, blockchain encryption and so on, these individual technologies do not in themselves represent the Metaverse (Gillis, 2022). They are all pieces. They are yet to come together as a complete pattern. We are some years away from sufficiently integrated experiences that would warrant the label of Metaverse. The two experiences underpinned by this array of technologies are Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), both covered by the term Extended Reality (XR). AR could be defined as overlaying elements of digital representations on top of what we experience in the real world. AR is largely synonymous with Multiple Realities (MR). VR could be defined as the creation of immersive alternate reality. Big Think has a more detailed series of definitions (see here)
Most commercial definitions of the Metaverse emphasise the connectivity between different digital experiences. They recognise already that no one wants to have to create multiple digital selves to participate in different experiences. How commercial realities will affect this aspiration is uncertain. Anyone who has signed up for multiple streaming services, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, etc, will tell you, it can be frustrating.
My working definition for Vice-Chancellors of the Metaverse is:
A series of experiences of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), grouped under the banner of extended reality (XR) facilitated by technologies (headsets, touch-sensitive haptic clothing, etc). Participation in the Metaverse allows individuals to create a digital version of themselves (digital-twin) and immerse themselves 'inside' the internet, as a representation of the digital world.
A shorter version is:
Metaverse is the intertwining of increasingly immersive digital spaces, experienced through XR technologies by you as your digital twin.
What this will look like in practice is open to question. At one extreme, a favourite film plot for the dystopia, individuals will spend most of their time 'plugged in' to a virtual 'Matrix', experiencing less and less human contact. More positive perceptions suggest a reality where working at home does not mean you cannot participate in person at a stand-up. Simply pop on the virtual reality headset and hyper-real representations of your team members appear in the space chosen for the meeting. Wearing a touch-sensitive technology suit (a haptic suit) would mean you can shake the hands of a new member and feel the pressure of their handshake. In its most utopian representation, it could be equated to the holodeck from the Star Trek franchise, a fully immersive hyper-real experience.
It is worth remembering that the concept of the Metaverse is not a new one. It has been around for at least 30 years. The term Metaverse is frequently attributed Neal Stephenson, in his 1992 cyberpunk novel Snow Crash (1992). Star Trek's own holodeck television representation began in 1988. Its conceptualisation within education was explored in 1995 when John Tiffin and Lalita Rajasingham described virtual learning experiences that were fully immersive in their work In Search of the Virtual Class (1995). An inspiring read, all the more so because it is now 26 years old.
The challenge for university leadership is to know whether to invest and get ahead of the wave, uncertain as to the regulatory frameworks that are likely to be imposed, lack of clarity about the implications for personal privacy, and doubt as to which of the big players will set the technological standards that will allow for interoperability.
The Metaverse IS coming, will be complex, untidy, multispeed, digitally divisive, and fragmented in its realisation and implementation. The Metaverse IS NOT a product or service you can buy for your students.
Next time: What is currently possible within the Metaverse
Gillis, M. (2022, August). Emerging Technologies Ushering the Life Sciences Industry into the Metaverse, according to Accenture Report [August 2022]. Newsroom Accenture. https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/emerging-technologies-ushering-the-life-sciences-industry-into-the-metaverse-according-to-accenture-report.htm
Stephenson, N. (1992). Snow crash (Reissued). Penguin Books.
Tiffin, J., & Rajasingham, L. (1995). In search of the virtual class: Education in an information society. Routledge.
Author Simon Paul AtkinsonPosted on September 16, 2022 September 16, 2022 Categories Executive, Higher Education, International, Strategy, Tertiary EducationTags leadership, metaverse, strategy1 Comment on Metaverse explained for University Leaders:
A simple guide to the immersive future (1/4)


The multi-purpose design of National Scientific screw-cap vials serve a wide range of life science laboratory needs, such as sample collection and processing, centrifugation, long-term storage plus the packaging/shipping of valuable biological reagents such as Antibodies, Proteins, and DNA & RNA Oligonucleotides, etc.
The unique 2½ turn threaded closure design ensures cap and O-ring are uniformly compressed to achieve unparalleled secure sealing. Caps, available in 5 colors plus natural, have a 3mm syringe port which is pierceable for access of hazardous materials or fraction collecting without opening. The uniform, thick walled tube construction, with reinforced support collar, allows centrifugation to 17,000xg. Manufactured from inert, LN2-grade polypropylene, sample viability is protected at extreme temperatures ranging from -195°C (LN2 vapor phase) to +121°C.


Browse profiles of Member users that have joined Over 50 Dating that are tagged with Attractive. Meeting other members who have like minded interests is an ideal way to find things to do once you are dating. Create a Totally Free Profile to Date Tonight!
Friendly, sincere, strong values and a good sense of humor.


Callamityann is so excited to finally have her green house and is so grateful for all the fairies who helped along the way!
Congratulation , a well deserved reward. Enjoy it to the fullest, sometime I wish it could hold 4 plants but 3 is good. Have fun.
Congrats on your greenhouse Mary!! I know it was a long road to get there.
Congrats on finishing the topiaries!!!
Early congrats on the Topiary trails. You will love that reward. It hard work to get it, but well worth it.
27 minutes, 49 seconds Do You Have The Eggs Factor?
16 minutes, 38 seconds Do You Have The Eggs Factor?
2 days, 9 hours This Is Nuts!


This cable set has been specially designed to service a wide range of Samsung mobile phones with Z3X-Box servicing tool.
*Due to the onrush of technology and efforts to meet every customer's demands, the supplier retains the right to change some positions in the list of cables and accessories coming together with the product. Therefore, the package content presented above is rather tentative. More details are available from our sales managers.


text:
2018년 July 2일 미분류
Harry Harris picked as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea
The United States Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to South Korea, filling a post that has been vacant since the launch of the administration.
The Senate voted unanimously in favor of retired Adm. Harry Harris on Thursday, according to a diplomatic source. The former chief of the U.S. Pacific Command is expected to take office early next month.
Harris will serve as Washington's top envoy to Seoul at a time when the allies have been seeking close coordination on a range of issues, including North Korea's nuclear weapons program and bilateral trade.
At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Harris expressed support for Trump's decision to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea while the U.S. negotiates the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
"I believe we should give exercises, major exercises, a pause to see if Kim Jong-un is in fact serious about his part of the negotiations," he said, referring to the North Korean leader. "Today, following the summit, we are in a dramatically different place."
Trump and Kim met in Singapore on June 12 and committed to the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S.
The Navy admiral was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and American father. He led the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii for three years until last month, with oversight of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea.
On foreign policy issues, he is considered a hawk, along with some of the latest additions to Trump's national security team — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Congratulations to Harry B. Harris, Jr. on his swearing in as the next U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. A lot of work ahead on maintaining our ironclad alliance with #ROK and achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization of the #DPRK, as agreed to by Chairman Kim. pic.twitter.com/ixacGezBT3
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) June 30, 2018
South Koreaunited states
South Korea unveils first images of KF-X fourth generation fighter jet design with European missiles
YG teases new YG Entertainment Headquarters

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hand Stamped "for-ev-er" Spoon Ring. If you lived through the 90's you probably know where this wonderful quote came from... The Sandlot!
These rings are handmade with actual vintage spoons. This design can be made in size 6 to 14. These rings are made with miscellaneous spoon bowls so they may vary slightly from the photo. Super cool!


The first public performance was given on 15 Dec 1832 at the Euterpe Music Society in Leipzig, conducted by Wagner's early teacher. The audience included Clara Wieck and she warned her husband-to-be, Robert Schumann (1810-1856), that "Herr Wagner has got ahead of you: a symphony of his was performed". She reported that others present likened it to Beethoven's Symphony No7. We can also hear the influence of Beethoven's other symphonies, particularly Nos 3 and 5 and also of Mozart's later symphonies. It was performed again less than a month later at the Leipzig Gewandhaus.
Wagner presented the score to Felix Mendelssohn in 1836, and it was subsequently thought to be lost. Luckily for us, the parts from a student orchestra rehearsal at the Prague Conservatory in November 1832 were discovered in a trunk. Wagner had left them behind in Dresden when fleeing, following his involvement in the abortive May revolution of 1849. At Christmas 1882, having made some revisions to the score, Wagner jointly conducted a performance with Englebert Humperdinck to celebrate his wife Cosima's birthday. In fact, Wagner had only two more months to live but, in that time, he wrote an "Essay on the Revival of Youthful Works" about this composition. In it, he included a passage that implied that Mendelssohn had tried to deliberately suppress the symphony although there is no evidence to support this view. Some cite this as an example of Wagner's anti-semitism. Others suspect Wagner's grievance was that Mendelssohn had not publically conducted the piece.
To the music itself. The first movement is in classical sonata form with a slow introductory preface. A basic motif is established with hints of the Prelude to Das Rheingold. The second movement is in A minor (the relative minor) and begins with the motif from the code of the first movement. It takes the form A + B + B + A + coda. This is followed by a scherzo and trio in traditional structure. The scherzo is characterised by a dynamic rhythm, whilst the trio features a contrasting smooth melodic line. The fourth movement repeats the sonata form of the opening movement and becomes equivocal in tonality, presaging Wagner's later compositions and his use of chromaticism.


HomeBlogTips and TricksHow to secure your website by Changing WordPress Admin Login URL?
How to secure your website by Changing WordPress Admin Login URL?
When you create a website with WordPress, I am pretty sure you always took care of things like catchy features, engaging content, awesome layout and pinch of right security plugins to immune your website from malicious spammers. However, even after all this tangible customization and intangible security, there is a threat of being hacked! Surprised? Of course, you're. Not many of us had noticed but there can be a very little flaw which might cause or result in a bizarre security breach for your website and you might not like it. All WordPress websites have the same login-URL by default, i.e. wp-login.php Well, you might think, what can somebody do if they have my login URL, but let me be very honest with you about this. If they can know your login URL, it is the matter of anticipating your password, which by luck they might strike. Ok, I agree, you have a very strong alphanumeric password with the fusion of lower and upper case letters and symbols. Yet, being in your login URL, they can down your site and I am pretty sure you're not going to like it. I didn't mean to scare you off, however, it is a very genuine threat everyone should be aware of. How to avoid such circumstances? Well, the answer is very sleek and simple. Change your login URL. Let's get started and now allow me to give you the solution for this notorious problem.
As I promised the answer is simple. All you have to do is download and activate a plugin. And that plugin is WPS Hide Login. It is a super lite plugin which enables you to change your login URL in the easiest way. It simply intercepts the page request and makes the page inaccessible. It did not rename any file in core. Also, it didn't change any rule not it add any new rule. It actually made the admin directory and wp-login.php page impassable. It is advised to remember your new credentials, you can also bookmark them.
Another facet of this plugin is that it supports the multi site without testing the sub-domains. You can set a network-wide default after activating it for a network.
This plugin is lite as it has only one option in General setting. To activate it you just have to go to the General setting and select a login URL which should not be scripted by any bot. And you're protected from all the upcoming calamities.
Now, in order to change WordPress login URL, you can also choose other plugins over WPS Hide Login. Many users prefer Rename wp-login.php plugin over WPS Hide Login. This is also a light plugin to change login URLs. One plus point of using this plugin is whenever you uninstall it, it will change your login URL to the default one. Let's go through how to activate it and use it.
How to activate and Configure Rename wp-login.php Plugin?
As this plugin is light, it is very easy to install. All you have to do is go to the plugin sections, after which you have to select New and enter search credentials as Rename wp-login. It is then followed by two simple clicks, one on Install option and second on Activate. Once you're done with the activation, you've to go through the permalink section located in the settings. Now, change your URL and you're done. Now, if someone enters your default login URL, it will show an error message. This message is a proof that you're immune from the grip of hackers.
If you face any difficulty in changing the login URL, please let me know through comments and share it to help others as well.
Sarah Clarke. Blogger. WordSuccor Ltd.


The fourth coin in the "Call of the Wild" series in 1-ounce 99.999% pure gold.
Rendered in exquisite detail by Royal Canadian Mint engravers, this coin celebrates the elk.
Features a micro-engraved maple leaf laser mark in the coin's field. In the centre of the mark, visible under magnification, is the numeral "17", denoting the coin's year of issue.
Signed by the RCM's Chief Assayer, the assay certificate on the back of the card certifies the authenticity and purity of the coin.


Violation of any of the terms below will result in the termination of your account. While CEDAR SAS prohibits such conduct and content on the service, you understand and agree that CEDAR SAS cannot be responsible for the content posted on the service and you nonetheless may be exposed to such materials. You agree to use the service at your own risk.
To use CEDAR ARCHITECT, you must first sign-up on the Site and open an free trial account, which will give you unlimited access to our service for 15 days.
Signing-up is only allowed for individuals of 18 years of age or more who have the capacity to perform legal acts, although minors who have obtained their parent's or legal representative's consent may also sign-up to CEDAR ARCHITECT. You must be a human. Accounts registered by "bots" or other automated methods are not permitted.
In order to open an account on CEDAR ARCHITECT, you must provide your Last name, first name, and a valid email address. Choose a username that has not already been used, and an associated password, which will enable you to authenticate yourself in order to access the Site and his account.
You must also provide your country of residence and local currency. You shall not sign-up under a username which may violate third parties' rights. In particular, you shall not register a username which infringes a third party's trademark, copyright, service mark or corporate name.
Your username and password are strictly personal and you must maintain their confidentiality.
Your account includes a single login that may only be used by one person, a single login shared by multiple people is not permitted.
In case you become aware that a third party has access to your account, you shall immediately modify your password and inform CEDAR ARCHITECT by email at "contact@cedar-architect.com".
You may not use CEDAR ARCHITECT for any illegal or unauthorized purpose. You must not, in the use of CEDAR ARCHITECT, violate any laws in your jurisdiction (including but not limited to copyright laws).
A valid credit card is required for paying accounts. Free trial accounts do not require a credit card number.
If you initially sign up for a monthly paying account, and you don't cancel that account within 30 days, you will be billed monthly starting on the 30th day after your account was initially created. If you cancel prior to the processing of your first invoice on the 30th day, you will not be charged.
An upgrade from the free account to any account will end your free trial. You will be billed immediately upon upgrading.
The Service is billed in advance on a monthly basis and is non-refundable. There will be no refunds or credits for partial period of service, or refunds for months or years unused with an open account. In order to treat everyone equally, no exceptions will be made. If you have unpaid bills, your subscription will be deactivated and all projects, renderings and credits related to your plan will be deleted.
Any change in account level will be immediate. In the case of an activation, the credit card that you provided will immediately be charged the new rate.
Downgrading or canceling your Service may cause the loss of Content, features, or capacity of your Account. CEDAR SAS does not accept any liability for such loss.
In the case your cancel your monthly subscription, you will lose all of your credits, projects and renderings. Your account may be reactivated later.
When subscribing to a monthly account, credits that are not used are not carried over to the next month.
You are solely responsible for properly cancelling your account. An e-mail or phone request to cancel your account is not considered cancellation. You can cancel your account at any time by clicking on the Account link in the global navigation bar at the top of the screen.
IMPORTANT: All of your Content will be immediately deleted from the Service upon cancellation. This information can not be recovered once your account is cancelled.
CEDAR SAS, in its sole discretion, has the right to suspend or terminate your account and refuse any and all current or future use of CEDAR ARCHITECT, or any other CEDAR SAS service, for any reason at any time. Such termination of CEDAR ARCHITECT will result in the deactivation or deletion of your Account or your access to your account, and the forfeiture and relinquishment of all Content in your account. CEDAR SAS reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time.
CEDAR SAS reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Service (or any part thereof) with or without notice.
Prices of all Services, including but not limited to monthly subscription plan fees to the Service, are subject to change upon 30 days notice from us. Such notice may be provided at any time by posting the changes to the CEDAR ARCHITECT Site (https://cedar-architect.com), to your project manager and by email.
CEDAR SAS shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, price change, suspension or discontinuance of the Service.
We claim no intellectual property rights over the material you provide to CEDAR ARCHITECT. Your profile and materials uploaded remain yours.
When using CEDAR ARCHITECT, you will create content (creations, drawings, sketches, models, visuals, maps, documents and other elements created by you). You are informed that the back up of such content through CEDAR ARCHITECT will make it available for CEDAR SAS.
By agreeing on using or accessing CEDAR ARCHITECT, you specifically authorize CEDAR SAS to publish your content on the Site, subject to the provisions of this clause.You may also publish your content on social networks such as Facebook, in which case the specific terms and conditions applicable to the use of such social network may apply.
By making the content available on the site or by authorizing CEDAR SAS to make the content available on the site, you grant CEDAR SAS, a worldwide, non-exclusive, fully transferable, fully sublicensable, royalty-free right and license, for the entire duration of intellectual property rights, to use, modify, make derivative works, publish, distribute, reproduce, make available and display the content on the site and in other media and networks, by any means, whether known or unknown, for advertising, promotional, marketing or public relations purposes as they relate to the site, and/or the CEDAR ARCHITECT application.
In this respect, you guarantee CEDAR SAS upon first demand against any and all claims and actions of any third party alleging to own any rights in all or part of the content and/or in the uses made by CEDAR SAS.
Consequently, your are and remain solely and exclusively responsible for the content published or displayed on the site and in particular of its compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. CEDAR SAS may not in any manner be liable for such content.
In this respect, your content is not monitored or controlled in any manner prior to any publication by CEDAR SAS, whose involvement is limited to hosting the content on the site.
CEDAR SAS and its licensors are the exclusive owners of the Elements. The Elements are protected notably by French and international laws relating to intellectual property rights (in particular copyright and trademark law).
CEDAR SAS and its licensors and providers are and remain the exclusive owners of the Elements and all authorized copies of the Elements you can make.
The structure, organization and code of the CEDAR ARCHITECT and the CEDAR ARCHITECT website are trade secrets and valuable confidential information of CEDAR SAS and its licensors and providers.
You agree not to withdraw and/or delete any copyright or other property notices on CEDAR ARCHITECT and / or the CEDAR ARCHITECT website.
If you have a Free trial account, CEDAR SAS authorizes you to use the CEDAR ARCHITECT Application only for personal non-commercial purposes, unless otherwise specifically agreed between the parties.
You understand that CEDAR SAS uses third party vendors and hosting partners to provide the necessary hardware, software, networking, storage, and related technology required to run the Service.
Verbal, physical, written or other abuse (including threats of abuse or retribution) of any CEDAR SAS customer, employee, member, or officer will result in immediate account termination.
If your bandwidth significantly exceeds the average bandwidth usage (as determined solely by CEDAR SAS) of other CEDAR ARCHITECT customers, we reserve the right to immediately disable your account or throttle your file hosting until you can reduce your bandwidth consumption.


Diaverum Italy was founded in 1994. Today, we care for more than 1550 patients per year in 31 dialysis clinics. This makes us the number two in the Italian dialysis market.
Preventive care, Hemodialysis, Alternate days dialysis, treatment of comorbidities, holiday dialysis, patients' transportation.


Let yourself be guided by the teachings of God and live a long and fulfilling Christian life. A Full-gospel church based in LaFollette, TN, Faith Way Assembly Of God is here to share with you the Gospel and the grace of God. Guided by our core beliefs and our commitment to live, love, and serve, our ministry holds various church activities that aim to promote spiritual growth among all. Join us today and together, let us celebrate our faith.
Our church is blessed to have Pastor Steve and Rhonda Bruce, Children's Ministry leaders Lukus and Whitney Alderman, and Youth Pastors Jamie and Kelsey Chapman as part of our family. Through their unswerving passion for serving and guiding our congregation, we are able to continue with our mission to reach out to the community and spread His love. We remain driven to live up to His principles, serve our brothers and sisters, and hold church activities that benefit everyone.
Here at Faith Way Assembly Of God, we believe in the power of the Gospel to heal and inspire. Participate in our praise and worship services today and immerse yourself in the comforting warmth of His love. Our doors are always open for those who seek salvation and an eternal life of righteousness. For more information about our church and our service schedules, feel free to contact us.


Delahey Community Centre is a Neighbourhood House in Delahey.
Neighbourhood Houses and Community Centres are for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Our Centre is a friendly place with low cost or no charge activities. Most activities are held during school terms.


text:
600 Melbourne Road, Spotswood VIC
Spotswood Primary School originally opened in 1910 to provide a local school for the growing community developing around the largely industrial suburb of that time. Previously children needed to walk to Yarraville or Williamstown so a local school was a welcome addition for the community at the time.
Gradually growing over the years, the school has been fortunate to maintain its large land size with well established trees creating a relaxed country style setting.
Spotswood celebrated its centenary in 2010 and the history was beautifully captured in a book 'Lessons in Community', by Helen Penrose.
Over the years several additions have been made to the school's facilities and in 2018 major renovation of the school's original red brick building commenced. This has delivered contemporary classrooms for our students and our office and administration areas are currently being remodelled. We look forward to moving in to our new space mid 2019.
© 2020 Spotswood Primary School


It's five o'clock somewhere! And you deserve a drink after a day of enjoying the beaches. There's nothing more refreshing than chilling out at one of the many beach bars in the US Virgin Islands with a cold beer. Fortunately, the islands have no shortage of fantastic beach bars where you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
What Kind of USVI Vacationer Are You?
Are you getting ready to plan a trip to the US Virgin Islands, but aren't sure what to add to your itinerary? Take our quiz to find out what kind of USVI vacationer you are and which of the following things to do in St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix best matches your liking.
While the weather in the US Virgin Islands is usually sunny and high 70's, it can't be perfectly sunny every single day. Sometimes the heavens open and sprinkle the islands with warm tropical rain. Thanks to these top rainy day activities in the US Virgin Islands, a few showers won't put a damper on your trip!


text:
Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 106F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..
Photos: Marana Air Base in 40s, 50s, 60s
Pinal Air Park north of Tucson, Ariz., began it's life as a 3.5-acre flight training base in World War II, to a contract flight school for the U.S. Air Force in the 50s to numerous quasi-government and private air services in the 60s.
Marana Air Base / Marana Air Park
Mechanics rebuilt radial engines of training planes after 650 hours of flight time in the shops of the 371st Sub-Depot of Air Servce Command at Marana Army Air Field during World War II.
The control tower at Marana Army Air Field in 1942, just after the government began construction for the base. By 1943 it was in full operation and soon became the largest pilot training center in the world.
Arizona Daily Star file
Heavy repair is done in the shops of the 371st Sub-Depot of Air Servce Command at Marana Army Air Field during World War II.
Ethel Johnson, 21, of Tucson, works in the Production Line Maintenance hanger at Marana Army Air Field during World War II. Before entering Army service, she worked at the Fox Theatre in Tucson.
Meade Powell of Tucson, a warehouse foreman, with Capt. Harold Larkin, supply officer of the 371st Sub-Depot at Marana Army Air Field taken inventory of wing sections during World War II.
Marana Air Base in transition in 1951, about the time when the U.S. Government deeded the base to Pinal County.
Single engine trainers used for flight training parked on the ground with a PBY Catalina and B-17 bomber at Marana Air Base, ca. 1950s.
Turkish airmen training at Marana Air Base in 1953 are "fascinated by the strange beauties of the desert," according the Tucson Citizen.
Tucson Citizen
Flight students from France, Norway and Belgium arrive at Marana Air Base for training in 1951.
Flight students muster at Marana Air Base in 1951.
New flight students arrive at base housing at Marana Air Base in 1951.
Housing for flight students at Marana Air Base in 1956, when the the air field was a USAF flying school run by Darr Aeronautical Technical Company.
Flight students were "pooled" after flying solo at Marana Air Base in 1956.
Dinner is served (looks like steak!) in the mess hall at Marana Air Base in 1953.
Workers rebuild T6 trainers at Maran Air Base in June, 1957.
The Marana Air Base operations officer with flight students at a North American T-6 trainer.
A U.S. Air Force T-34 trainer taxiing at Marana Air Base in 1954.
Cessna trainers at Marana Air Base in 1953.
Technicians work on a T-28 with Forest Service markings in November, 1967.
T-6 single-engine trainers and a single B-25 Mitchell bomber on the flight line at Marana Air Base in June, 1957, shortly before it was decommissioned.
For members of the Polecat squadron were the first U.S. students to use the T-34 trainer at Marana Air Base in 1954.
Beiser Aviation employees at Marana Air Base in Oct. 1959.
Flight student Lt. J.R. Todd gets instruction from J.W. Bensley at Marana Air Base in the mid-1950s, when the base was a USAF flight school.
Lt. John Zink walks away from a T28 trainer to mark the end of the U.S. Air Force flight training program at Marana Air Base in June, 1957. His alphabetical listing made him the last of the line.
Tucson Citizen 1957
Marana Air Base
Then: Working on single-engine training aircraft at Marana Air Base in 1957. Later known as Pinal Air Park and Evergreen Air Center.
Marana Air Base / Pinal Air Park
Now: Marana Aerospace Solutions, Inc. at Pinal Air Park in 2016, formerly Marana Air Base. Most of the company's aircraft work happens elsewhere. But the original concrete from WWII remains.
Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Air Base
Rickwiley
Retrotucson
Throwback: Pinal Air Park started as a WW II flight school
Lt. John Zink walks away from a T28 trainer to mark the end of the U.S. Air Force flight tra…


Despite what "experts" and "gurus" claim, no one knows the exact formula for going viral on the web. That doesn't mean you shouldn't experiment with the ingredients.
Read my guest blog post on Demand Media's blog.


I remember as a child loading into the car with my family and heading to the mountains, food packed and ready to spend the day. The peaceful tranquility I felt from the rushing sound and sweet smell of a stream nurtured my love for the outdoors. I've turned those feelings, born in that simpler time, into a career as an outdoor educator. Most all of us, especially our children, need to be able to get their hands in the mud and reconnect with our earth. And what better place to reconnect and learn than out on the trails at the Delaware Water Gap?
The famous notch by which the Delaware River makes its way through the Kittatinny Mountains along Warren County's western border is actually only a small portion of the seventy-thousand-acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA) that spans both sides of the Delaware River all the way up to New York state. But the Water Gap is by far the most memorable, and countless families return every year to find their oasis hasn't changed and still abounds with wonder. This forested area is home to glorious views, many different animals, beautiful flora and great hikes, some of which are located in and around Worthington State Forest, which shares the Water Gap neighborhood with DEWA. I consider many of the park's hiking trails family-friendly, but that doesn't mean they are easy! Worthington sits at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge line, which means most of our trails have some degree of incline. Created in such a way that they connect with each other, this gives any hiker, whether novice or experienced, the chance to choose the hike that suits their needs. Make a day in the mountains as long or short as you desire.
As I come into my third year working at Worthington, I still find myself on the trails, mind open and camera ready. Voted best campground in New Jersey in 2018, Worthington is home to boating, archery and other interpretive programs. You'll also find campers and day visitors coming to explore any number of Worthington trails located in the Delaware Water Gap.
For an enjoyable and safe hiking day, here is some advice, no matter your level of hiking experience. Before you embark upon your journey, please study and bring along a map of the area and trails you want to hike. Too many times I've talked to people who think they know the trails well enough, but they end up getting lost, or they return extremely late to a place far away from where they left the car. I've also received phone calls from people on a trail trying to explain to me where they are so I can guide them down the mountain. This is probably one of the more challenging parts of my job, as its kind of hard to find them when they don't know where they are! Maps can be printed off the internet, or you can acquire one at the Worthington office. Bring plenty of water, including enough for you, kids and pets. It's recommended to have a half-liter per hour of hiking for an adult. Bringing snacks is also a good idea, but please pack out what you bring in. No one wants to look at litter strewn about the trails.
Download and print a trail map before your trip!
Rock Cores and Douglas trails are favorites with nostalgic and beautiful views. Upon entering Douglas Trail, Laurel Falls greets the hiker with rushing water. The flow invites one to stop and take in the sound, maybe even sit for a spell. Leading up to the historic and nationally renowned Sunfish Pond, this beautiful two-mile hike is grand in all seasons. Climbing to the top, take heart in knowing you are steps away from a great overlook atop the Kittatinny Ridge line.
A friendlier trail for the family, Rock Cores is named for the remnants that were extracted from the mountain by geologists to evaluate its stability for holding the immense volume of water that would have been created by the proposed Tocks Island dam in the 1960s. Starting at the top of the Worthington State Forest driveway, just to the left, there is a short, steep grade that gives way to a meandering, easy walk. The terrain along the three-mile hike is gentle, and you may encounter numbered markers. Worthington's self-guided hike brochure will help identify various flora and fauna along the trail. If the trees could talk, they would tell of the indigenous Munsee that lived here for thousands of years; of the pioneers that followed drawn in by the wilderness; or of the challenges represented by the imposing rock cores strewn along the forest floor.
Earth samples, or cores, that were extracted by geologists lie along the trail.
Farview is an out-of-the way trail that is often overlooked. A gentler one-and-a-half mile hike can be found across from the Karamac parking lot in a tucked away spot. I often recommend this trail for hikers as a way to get to Mt. Tammany during the summer months when those Interstate Rt. 80 lots are full. It's a peaceful walk that's perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, as I have seen various birds and other animals emerge that I haven't encountered on more traveled trails. Continue to the Dunnfield parking lot where you can jump on the Dunnfield Creek trail. A scenic three-and-a-half mile trail catches up to the famous Appalachian Trail and splits up to Sunfish Pond. You'll encounter numerous cascades and creek crossings along this protected wild trout stream. Dunnfield also connects to more than twenty miles of trails within Worthington for those looking for a longer hike.
You'll be bouldering over rocks on the Red Dot.
If none of those trails call to your hiking bone, enter Mt. Tammany. Not for the faint of heart, it is noted as the most expert trail in Worthington. Although it's less than a mile and a half, this route is extremely steep and challenging. But, I believe anyone can tackle this trail, especially kids with hiking experience. On the ascent up the Red Dot trail, you'll be bouldering over rocks and working your leg muscles. Plenty of picturesque views along the way give you reason to take a drink of water, rest your legs or take some photos. The view atop Mt. Tammany is worth the sweat, giving the hiker the quintessential view overlooking the Delaware Water Gap and the river that winds through. I recommend using the Blue Dot trail back down the mountain as it is easier on the knees. Round trip, this hike is just under three miles.
Outside the state forest, in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area federal land, lies a plethora of other trails. Part of DEWA's rich history, the Copper Mines trail is popular among natives to Warren County. This trail offers great terrain and interesting points along the way, particularly the ancient gated mine entrance in plain sight. With a large parking area across from the trailhead, this eight-mile hike is beautiful in all seasons. If you want a shorter hike, take the trail to the right and make a loop to the Kaiser trail and keep to the right at the second split. This is about one and a half miles and passes stunning foundations and beautiful brooks. With the impressive mine opening for which the trail is named, this path has something for everyone.
Further north on Old Mine Road, embark into Van Campens Glen hiking area. The upper glen parking lot sits across from the trail head marked with a gate. This hike takes you around a gate, over a bridge overlooking Van Campens Glen creek for a round trip of less than two miles. From the bridge, curve to the right and up the hill with the stream to your left. Spectacular geological forms show the Earth's past, present and future with breathtaking photo opportunities. Kids of all ages can delight in skipping rocks at the base of the falls. The trail heads past the falls over a bridge and loops in and around the glen to the lower parking area. Whether from the upper or lower entrance to Van Campens, a magical waterfall awaits.
The gated copper mine entrance is a dramatic reminder of an essential part of New Jersey's history.
After wandering historic Millbrook Village, take a stroll down one of several trails around the village. Donkey's Corner is just such a trail. As an easy walk meanders next to the stream, you can imagine a donkey carrying things to and from the village. This walk will take you up to Blue Mountain Lakes Road, a 1.8-mile hike with an elevation increase of 350 feet.
If you dare to venture past Millbrook Village further up Old Mine Road, you'll find several popular trails and secluded lakes. Take your time as the road becomes a bit rough and look for the Crater Lake sign on the left side. Turn right across from the sign and drive up into the high reaches of the Water Gap. There are some small pull-offs along the road and thick forests where you can envision pioneers working the land.
The first set of trails you encounter will be at Blue Mountain Lake. There are up to six miles of trails to enjoy along an abandoned road system. It's also a great place to sunbathe, swim and fish in the summer. A fresh green Spring, or Fall colors invite one to take a stroll around the lake and be immersed in the beauty. After a simple walk at Blue Mountain Lake, you can venture up the road to Crater Lake. A left turn at the top of the hill onto the dirt road that traverses the ridge will prove to be an adventure. The beautiful glacial lake lures one to just sit and contemplate. But this is also popular spot for picnicking and swimming. I have even seen kayakers glide across the water. And a trail loops around the Crater Lake for an easy walk a little over one and a half mile.
Whatever your plans in the great outdoors, make hiking in the Delaware Water Gap part of your adventure. The Gap offers trails for all hikers from novice to expert. My love for the outdoors came at a very young age, and I encourage all adults to instill an appreciation for nature with the kids in their lives. Come with a sense of wonder, a willingness to explore, and you may find a trail blazed just for you.


Approximately 75 acres for sale in Douglas County, Kansas. The FSA 156 file shows 47.65A of cropland, and the balance would be timber and grass. This property showcases sloping pasture and wooded areas, conveniently located with frontage on N 100th Road and E 550 Road in Douglas County, Kansas. There's a natural running creek through the property, which brings a natural wildlife habitat feature to the property.


We all know that gaming laptops, as powerful as they are, can be quite pricey. And we want to ensure the best possible care for our beasts if the unexpected occurs.
"At ASUS we strive to offer the best product experience possible to all our end-users and fans. The ROG Premium Care program is one of the many efforts that we have to better our customer service and it is born out of our passion to provide superior service excellence." from George Su, Systems Group Country Manager.
Now that's service! For those curious on where to look for a service center that's near your area, you can check out this link.
Previous articleWelcome the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR and HERO Laptops made especially for FPS and MOBA Games!


Our Djibouti and Ethiopia Journey is the most enthralling new comer to our growing portfolio of African Journeys. The tour begins in one of the smallest and least known countries in Africa, a fascinating mélange of cultures, from nomadic herders to Arabian traders and influences from across the Indian Ocean. Djibouti sits on the edge of the Red Sea opposite Arabia with a bleak but strikingly beautiful landscape. This tiny nation isn't the obvious choice for a holiday destination, but for those who like their travel on the extreme side, it may well be the most exciting place in the Horn of Africa; a land where the taste of the wild is in the air, simply begging the intrepid traveller.
Then it's on to discover the lost world of the Ethiopians, an inexhaustible source of wonder for travellers - a sprawling country of ancient African civilization, colourful festivals, breath taking landscapes, diverse tribal culture and amazingly friendly people. Dating back to the very beginnings of humanoid evolution, Ethiopia is old…old, beyond imagination. It is the land of the Queen of Sheba, a place of legendary rulers, fabulous kingdoms in ancient histories. We visit the beautiful Omo Valley, which, isolated for millennia from the rest of the world, is home to an exciting mix of many small and distinctive tribal groups. Lifestyles are as varied as the tribes themselves. Lacking any material culture and artifacts common to other cultures, these tribes find unique ways in which to express their artistic impulses. In this fascinating country you will be amazed to witness how ancient historical traditions have been preserved in a remarkable manner for thousands of years. And, indeed, the ceremonies and rituals of the Orthodox Coptic Church open a window into the authentic world of the Old Testament. Step back in time and explore thousands of years of history, legend, and lore as you journey across Ethiopia to witness the Coptic Timket Festival, one of the greatest, most colourful and ancient festivals.
Return home from Addis Ababa or fly to Khartoum to join our Nile Journey through Sudan & Egypt.
ETHIOPIA IS NAMED "WORLD'S BEST TOURISM DESTINATION".
We understand that travel isn't all about a fleeting glimpse of popular mass tourist spots, or staying at luxury hotels, but is also about time, space, privacy and those special destinations and moments that turn your holiday into a truly magical experience. Travel in parts of Djibouti and Ethiopia can be challenging. In some places there are rough - hewn steps to access places such as the World Heritage churches at Lalibela. Some rough roads over long distances, high altitudes, and in the Omo Valley, dusty driving conditions. The passing landscape far outweighs these negatives. Our chosen accommodation ranges from 4 star hotels, absolutely superb lodges that everyone on the previous trip were entranced with, to some very simple and basic 'tented camps' as in the Afar region of Djibouti. The hotels mentioned in the itinerary are indicative only at this stage but will give you a good idea of the standard. It's a trip suitable for all really but what's needed is medium fitness, patience, a team spirit, a sense of adventure and flexibility to enjoy this 'stunning' tour.
Participants should note that the order of visits and activities described may be modified to accommodate changes in flight schedules, special access to museums and crafts and tribal people, the pathways chosen by our experienced and knowledgeable local guides, local road conditions and unexpected contingencies such as festivals, street processions or religious ceremonies and tribal village customs.
Arrive this afternoon in Djibouti at 14:05, complete customs and immigration and transfer to the hotel (3 star to be advised). Rest of the day at leisure.
Today we'll head to Arta Beach on the Bay of Ghoubbet for a potential thrilling whale shark encounter. Whale sharks migrate annually from their usual feeding grounds to the warm waters of the Gulf of Tadjoura to mate and give birth. Here is one of the most dependable locations in the world to swim alongside a massive whale shark, the world's largest fish. January whale shark sightings are common although not guaranteed. Then it's time to head back to the city where we spend the night.
Cross the deserts this morning to Lac Abhé, to a landscape which will last in your memories forever. The scenery is sensational: the plain is dotted with hundreds of limestone chimneys, some standing as high as 50m, belching out puffs of steam. Located 140km southwest of Djibouti City, it is often described as 'a slice of moon on the crust of earth'. Lac Abhé is both desolate and apocalyptic. Seeing this eerie moonscape is a surreal experience like little else on Earth. In the evening, when the sun sets behind the chimneys, the landscape can look almost magical. Wander amid the limestone chimneys and twisted, tortured, cork-screwing pinnacles rising sharply from the dusty plain. As the light begins to fade, you can witness a typically inflamed African sun descending as the moonscape becomes Martian. Many travellers report that it felt indeed like witnessing the apocalypse.
You'll sleep in a traditional Afar hut at Campement Touristique d'Asboley. The cluster of permanent nomad-style tents is perched on a hill with views of the spectacular and surreal desert landscape. The tents are basic but clean with shared facilities and power between 18:00-22:00 hours only. There are no options here.
After our morning exploration, return to camp for breakfast before climbing into our 4WD for the journey back towards the coast in pursuit of another unique landscape. Here lies one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in Africa: Lac Assal. Situated 155m below sea level, this crater lake is encircled by dark dormant volcanoes. The vast depression, which represents the lowest point on the continent, is an impressive sight. The aquamarine water is ringed by a huge salt field, 60m in depth. The banks of salt and gypsum surround the lake for more than 10km, and the blinding white contrasts starkly with the black lava fields around it. Drive back to Djibouti and fly to Addis Ababa in the early evening.
Welcome to Ethiopia! You have arrived at the world's third-highest capital city. We will be welcomed and assisted by our local tour guide and driver for the transfer to the Hotel.
We begin a tour of this amazing capital which will include the National Museum. The collection here is ranked among the most important in sub-Saharan Africa. The highlight is the palaeontological exhibition, the home of world-famous Lucy. Her 1974 discovery in the north western Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins forever. Time permitting, we may visit a part of the Merkato Markets; if you're a market lover, its one place you can't miss. It's considered Africa's biggest market, an open air sprawl of vendors that goes on for kilometres. It's one of those markets that weaves in all directions and you never know what you're going to stumble into or what you're going to find.
Fly today to the low-lying plains of South Omo which feels like a journey not merely through space, but also through time, as one enters the vast and thinly populated Badlands that divide the mountainous centre of Ethiopia from its counterpart in Kenya. Like much of neighbouring northern Kenya, South Omo is as close as one can come to an Africa untouched by outside influences. The culturally diverse, immaculately colourful and defiantly traditionalist agro-pastoralists who inhabit the region seem to occupy a physical and psychic landscape little different from that of their nomadic ancestors. This is Africa as it once was, or as some might still imagine it to be, and its mere existence is at once wonderful and scarcely credible.
"Our experience of visiting the Mursi and Hamer Tribes in the Omo Valley was incredibly rewarding, interesting and something we still contemplate to this day. For the adventurous who are interested in culture in Africa, this is an experience you absolutely should not miss".
After an early breakfast, we will visit the local area encountering different cultural people and their villages which include the Konso and the undulating landscape of Konso area.
The Konso are famous for their old and unique terracing and unusual engraved wooden statues of Konso grave markers. Between Konso and Jinka, we will also have brief stops to visit the different people and their villages like the Tsemay around the Weito River, the Benna at Keyafer and the Ari at Kako Village.
In the afternoon, drive to Mursi Village. The Mursi, undoubtedly the most celebrated residents of South Omo are distinctive group of pastoralists. The Mursi are best known for their unique item of decoration, lip plates. Women of Mursi wear a circular clay plate on their lower lip and the bigger a woman can wear, the greater her 'value' when she gets married.
To accomplish such a feat as wearing those large plates, the women of the tribe have their bottom lip sliced at a young age, roughly 15-16, before they are to be married. Small plates are placed in the opening to begin stretching the lip until they are able to wear larger plates. The largest plate on record ever worn by a Mursi woman was almost 24 inches in diameter. For the men, the larger the plate on the woman, the more attractive they seem.
In the cool morning, drive to Turmi en-route visiting different tribal villages including the Ari and Bena.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Hamer Village. The Hamer, display an elaborate and diverse selection of body decorations. They are also identifiable for their high cheekbones, elaborate custom of beads, cowries and leather, and thick copper necklaces.
In the morning, we will start driving to Arbaminch with brief stops to visit different villages including Erbore and Tsemay.
In the afternoon, we will have a boat cruise over Lake Chamo to see some of the biggest African crocodiles, Hippopotamus and many beautiful aquatic birds including the lovely Kingfisher and African Fish Eagle.
In the morning, drive to Addis Ababa visiting the different Rift Valley Lakes including Abaya, Zway and Langano. You will stop at Tiya, where you will see the northernmost example of a peculiar type of engraved, standing stelae which stretch across parts of southern Ethiopia. These stelae are believed to have been erected between the 12th and 14th centuries and are almost certainly grave markers. Recent excavations at Tiya have revealed the remains of young people of both sexes, aged between 18 - 30 and buried in foetal positions. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stelae field at Tiya today comprises more than 45 stones of up to 2m.
This morning, it's a long drive to Bahir Dar through spectacular scenery to the Great Blue Nile Gorge with a stop-over at different small villages like Dejen, Chancho and Goha Tsion. Small Ethiopian villages feature constructions taking you all the way back to old Ethiopia and its way of life. The picturesque villages boast a series of traditional dwellings that existed for years maintaining their historical significance. As you pass the elegant iconic traditional houses you will be flooded with smiles and greetings in over 82 dialects. Everything you see around the villages will just be the beginning of the many 'wow' moments on your Journey. Delighting you with its rich culture, history and clean atmosphere, these beautiful Ethiopian villages will stay in your memory forever.
After breakfast, we will enjoy a boat cruise over Lake Tana to visit the ancient 14th century island monasteries of Lake Tana. Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake, covering more than 3500 sq km, and its waters are the source of the Blue Nile, which flows 5223km north to the Mediterranean Sea. Lake Tana's beauty can only be truly appreciated when you travel across its azure waters, view the lush shoreline and rich birdlife. But even the lake's natural beauty plays second fiddle to its centuries-old monasteries, full of paintings and treasures. Steeped in mystery and legend, the old churches of Lake Tana form peaceful retreats for their monastic residents and visiting tourists alike. Several are beautifully decorated, none more so than Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zege Peninsula, covered from top to bottom with paintings that collectively serve as a visual encyclopaedia of Ethiopian ecclesiastical messages.
The Blue Nile meanders sluggishly out of Lake Tana, but not far out of Bahir Dar we'll drive to see the Nile in a very different mood. There is a bit of a trek here to where the river pours over the side of a sheer 42m-high chasm and explodes into a haze of mists and rainbows before continuing on its tumultuous path to Khartoum, where it joins the White Nile. The 'Nile that Smokes'. Though far smaller than its natural 400m-wide flow, the three-pronged waterfall is huge in scale and grandeur-even as its waters are reducing with the construction of an hydro-electric dam upstream.
After breakfast, drive to Gondar through the beautiful countryside scenery to arrive at Gondar around lunchtime.
After checking into our hotel and having lunch there (at own expense), we will start our tour of Gondar which will include: the Royal Enclosure, which lies at the heart of Gondar and gives the city much of its character. Surrounded by high stone walls, the enclosure covers an area of 70,000 square meters and contains six castles, a complex of connecting tunnels and raised walkways, and several smaller buildings. It's a fascinating place to explore. Then it's on to the pool of King Fasilidas, and the famous Debre Berhan Selassie church adorned with brilliant frescos; one of Ethiopia's most beautiful churches. Appealing as it is on the outside with its stone walls, arched doors and two-tiered thatch roof, it's the inner sanctuary of with its glorious frescos that really impresses.
After an early breakfast, we will drive to Simien Mountains National Park. Nothing prepares you for the spectacular scenery that awaits at the top of the massif. Massive erosion over the years has created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1500m. We are now in the heart of Africa's most underrated wildlife destination. The Ethiopian wolf is the ultimate prize, the sighting of a lifetime. There are gelada monkeys across the high northern plateau as well as other primates, while watching the extravagantly horned and sure-footed walia ibex cling to a rocky precipice is one of the great sights in nature. The birdwatching, too, ranks among the best in Africa. The entire range is a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered a rival to Colorado's Grand Canyon.
For the rest of the day you can trek around the park along well-established walking trails taking in some of the grandest vistas to explore the stunning views and wildlife.
After breakfast start driving to Axum through the beautiful scenery of the Simien Mountains, Limalimo, and the Tekeze River Gorge.
After breakfast our visit in Axum begins in the Stele Square, which consists of some 75 or more stelae of various shapes and sizes, concentrated within an area of less than 1,000 square meters The modern view of the stelae field is dominated by the stele accredited to King Ezana, the third-largest ever erected at Axum. This engraved block of solid granite, which stands some 23m high, was transported from a quarry 4km distant, most probably by elephants. No satisfactory explanation has been postulated for how such a massive block of stone was erected – one Axumite tradition has it that it was the work of the mysterious powers of the Ark of the Covenant. Then we visit the Kaleba Tombs, the 4th century Christian inscription of King Ezana, the Queen of Sheba's Palace, Archeological Museum, and Tsion Mariam Church where the original Ark of the Covenant is said to be housed.
The landscapes of this northern Tigray region seem to spring from some hard-bitten African fairy tale. The luminous light bathes scattered sharp peaks that rise into the sky out of a sandy, rolling semi desert. In the morning, we drive to Hauzien, the centre of some of the most ancient rock-hewn churches, through the stunning and historical mountains of Adwa. The 120 churches are as intriguing as the landscape is beautiful. Very different from the more famous monolithic (carved out of the ground and only left attached to the earth at the base) churches of Lalibela, the Tigrayan churches are carved from cliff faces, built into pre-existing caves or constructed high atop some high plateau.
In the morning, we drive through a landscape now carpeted in lush forests, dense patchworks of cultivation, shady coffee plantations and deep river valleys; the Western Highlands seem like an Ethiopian Arcadia, to Mekele en-route visiting some of the most ancient of the Tigray rock-hewn churches including: Wikro Cherkos, Abrha We-atsbeha, and Dugum Selassie.
After breakfast, start driving north to Lalibela through Sekota en-route we will visit Yimrhane Kirstos and different villages of the Agwe tribal people.
In the morning, we will drive to the sites where we will find the concentration of some of the remarkable rock-hewn churches of the ancient town of Lalibela. Here we stare down on the churches, hand-carved out of the rock. Each one is seamless, hewn from the red volcanic rock, and each one is different inside and out, some bright and patterned, others unadorned. Bet Giyorgis and the churches in the northwest cluster are mostly excavated from below the ground, and are surrounded by courtyards and trenches, so that they mimic normal buildings. Several of these churches are monoliths or three-quarter monoliths – free from the surrounding rock on three or four sides – a style of excavation that is unique to Ethiopia. This is a living UNESCO World Heritage site.
Today is also the start of the Timkat Festival; the Coptic church celebration of the Epiphany in the afternoon, we join the throng of white-veiled worshippers as they dance and sing around the great rock-cut churches. It is a truly remarkable spectacle and the atmosphere is one of great excitement and joy. We are privileged to view this extraordinary festival.
After a free morning where you may witness more of the Timkat Festival before taking the flight to Addis Ababa at 13:05-15:15. Transfer to hotel.
Time this morning to see the enthralling Ethnological Museum. Set within Haile Selassie's former palace, and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of the university's main campus, this one is easily one of the finest museums in Africa, showing the full sweep of Ethiopia's cultural and social history.
In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner party with traditional special buffet and local drinks to celebrate your Journey.
Please note: A deposit of AUD 600.00 is required when we confirm the departure of this Journey.


I live for my lists. I can't do much without them. So I am always shifting my lap desk and losing them on the floor.
Tonight I decided to get a couple protector sheets and tape them to the desk and keep my lists and such in order. They work pretty good too, but you have to have good quality tape.
If you find the sheets a bit tight, just trim off a little of the page's width and you are good to go. I also suggest you don't put the entire sheet in all the way, just leaving a bit out to grab when you need to write.


text:
BMW 4 Series convertible unveiled
The new BMW 4 Series convertible has been officially revealed
by Sam Naylor
The new BMW 4 Series Convertible has been revealed ahead of its public debut at the LA Motor Show in November. This new model is based on the BMW 4 Series but gets a new folding hard-top roof to turn it into a convertible.
BMW 4 Series Convertible prices will start from £35,650, which will buy you the 420d SE Convertible with a 2.0-litre diesel engine – that's £4,075 more than the coupe version. The BMW 4 Series convertible release date has also been announced as 8 March 2014.
This new model gets a three-piece folding steel hard-top, which takes 20 seconds to fold into the boot, and this can be done at up to 11mph. You get neck warmers for both front seats as an optional extra, which uses hot air to keep occupants warm, while the protection from buffeting is likely to be improved, too.
The boot in the BMW 4 Series Convertible is 370 litres with the roof up, falling to 220 litres with it down. However all models get a system that can change the folded roof in the boot to maximise space.
Engines in the BMW 4 Series Convertible will be the same as the coupe version, with three petrols and two diesels. The entry-level 420d model will get the same 2.0-litre diesel engine with 184bhp as the coupe, which gets over 60mpg. In the future there could even be a performance-oriented BMW M4 Convertible.
There will be plenty of equipment on the new BMW 4 Series convertible, just like on the coupe. All models get xenon lights (with full LED lights as an option), heated front seats and full parking sensors.
The BMW 4 Series Convertible interior features a leather steering wheel with multimedia controls and 6.5-inch display to make controlling the car's features as easy as possible. The front seats have automatic seatbelt feeders, which present the driver and passenger with the seatbelt when they sit down.
For the full BMW range visit the CarBuyer BMW reviews page.
BMW 4 Series coupe review
BMW 4 Series coupe (2013-2020)
BMW 4 Series coupe (2013-2020): owner reviews
BMW 4 Series owner reviews