text:
BUY HTML5 GAMES
Zombie Cells – Character Design (2/2)
March 7, 2012 /0 Comments/in Art, Development, Games /by Javi Sanz
Now we're going to conclude our little analysis on character design, using the case of Zombie Cells as a reference.
In the previous entry we covered the first stages of char design. That includes the broad brainstorming, pencil sketching, first approaches and absurd ravings that must be identified and rejected before you find yourself falling in love with them.
In this stage of development we chose to depart from that comic/cartoonish style, that resembled Angry Birds, and try something less raw. We wanted some extra details, but not too much. Plain style is perfect, but there's also a search for visual identity. You have to come to a balance point between simplicity on one side (works better for humorous purposes), and details, which may move you away from bold elegance but make the uniqueness of the design come into bloom.
Again some pencil work helps the designs come out more fluent. But once you have figured out the sketch, the basic design in outlines, you have to color it. Here we found a minor issue about color style, that is very illustrative. The first style makes use of gradients and works out better the volumes of the figure. But as you can see, the effect is quite gloomy, making thus the comic effect fade away. Just check out how different do they look, the exact two cells with just a different color style.
Finally we have to put all the cells together. They are not isolated beings, they must look fine as a group. Having the same visual design is something that we'll take for granted at this point, but besides this, there's also the color matching factor. When placed together they have to offer a cool group image (just like them). And assuming is a funny zombie game, we wanted them not to look too grayish or just having variants over green tones. We wanted the whole zombie palette here, to get the richest variety of tones assuming we're dealing with necrotic cells.
Enjoy the infection!
https://www.ravalmatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/zombie_concept1.jpg 512 512 Javi Sanz https://www.ravalmatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ravalmatic_logo.png Javi Sanz2012-03-07 14:53:002016-10-10 18:09:55Zombie Cells - Character Design (2/2)
Our little factory running at maximum capacity
March 3, 2012 /0 Comments/in Development, Ravalmatic /by Javi Sanz
Our customers are amazing. Even though we would do it for free, they support financially our passion and keep ordering game after game.
The Raval neighbourhood in Barcelona is becoming the epicenter of realistic make up games production. Currently, our employees are working on a new serie of games called Mega Make Over that will shatter the world.
Besides that, we are collaborating with the production of a multiplayer game for tablets and smartphones. This is a very challenging project, because it will be developed for iOS and Android platforms on any dpi resolution and possible screen size. (The Casio F 91W version is also planned … there is nothing impossible for us).
https://www.ravalmatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/busy_server.jpg 512 512 Javi Sanz https://www.ravalmatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ravalmatic_logo.png Javi Sanz2012-03-03 20:55:002016-10-10 17:47:34Our little factory running at maximum capacity
© Copyright - RAVALMATIC game studio - Sant Vicenç 21, 08001 Barcelona, Spain - Enfold Theme by Kriesi


text:
Sustaining Member Directory Member Login Contact Us
Join SAME
SAME Centennial
Discover SAME
About SAME
SAME Foundation
Shop the SAME Store
Company/Organization Membership
The Military Engineer Magazine
Grow Professionally
-Discover SAME
-About SAME
Member Login Contact Us Search
Postal Card from SAME 1920
Reflections: An Historical Look at SAME, 1978-1993
Century House
The Society of American Military Engineers grew from our nation's experiences in World War I, when more than 11,000 civilian engineers were called to duty as the United States entered "The War to End All Wars." Upon their return, many feared the collective knowledge and the cooperation between the public and private sectors that proved vital to combat success would be lost. Industry and military leaders vowed to capitalize on the technical lessons and camaraderie shared during their battlefield experiences.
SAME was formed from this vow. In 1919, Maj. Gen. William M. Black, USA, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, appointed a nine-officer board to consider the formation of an "association of engineers" that would preserve and expand upon connections formed in war and promote the advancement of engineering and its related professions across both government and civil life. Early in 1920, the first SAME Posts were founded, providing former colleagues and new associates opportunities to connect face-to-face, and establishing a network of relationships across the country in support of national security. Many notable national leaders were early members of SAME, including then-Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, Douglas MacArthur, Maj. Gen. Mason Patrick, and Charles Dawes, who in 1928 would serve simultaneously in two defining leadership positions: President of SAME and Vice President of the United States of America. (Click here to view past SAME National Presidents.)
Central to the establishment of SAME was The Military Engineer magazine, which continues today as a professional journal dedicated to promoting and advancing engineering for national security. The Military Engineer was launched under its current masthead in 1920 (after previously being published as Professional Memoirs, a Corps of Engineers publication) and immediately carried the message of the new "association of engineers" and was a vital tool in communicating with engineers across the country and helping establish the Post network, which became the bedrock of SAME.
The Military Engineer has celebrated the efforts of military engineers during some of the history's most significant armed conflicts, including two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and the Global War on Terror. It has detailed the greatest feats of modern engineering, such as the Panama Canal, the Hoover Dam and the Manhattan Project. The Military Engineer has followed the trends of military engineering from the early development of our nation's transportation infrastructure through Cold War-era construction and the birth of computer-aided design to the current era of sustainable development, infrastructure resilience and military base realignment. The magazine, in both print and online format, remains a leading source for chronicling the achievements of engineering in support of national security.
For more than 95 years, SAME members have been at the forefront of our nation's greatest engineering contributions—the development of nuclear energy, the successes of World War II, the national highway system and America's unparralled water infrastructure network, sanitation and public health engineering advancements, the projection of air and sea power, space exploration, environmental stewardship and humanitarian support to global disasters. And today, SAME members continue to support our ongoing 21st Century challenges, including the war of terror, cyber security and the effects of climate change.
SAME as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2020 has grown alongside its members. The organization now boasts a world-class program of conferences, workshops, symposiums, and professional development and networking opportunities. SAME's membership comprises some 30,000 leaders representing the uniformed services as well as numerous state, local and federal government agencies, nonprofit associations, academic institutions and private sector firms that will guide the future of the A/E/C profession and its contributions to the protection of our nation.
The home of SAME is "Century House ," located at 607 Prince St. in Old Town Alexandria, Va. Constructed around 1845, Century House was built as a Victorian town home and occupied as a private dwelling for several years. Sometime afterwards, Dr. George Klipstein assumed ownership and practiced medicine in the house until he was 85 years old. Century House actually was a full-fledged medical treatment facility, acclaimed by some to be the only hospital in existence during the early stages of the SAME purchased Century House in October 1980, relocating its headquarters from Washington, D.C.
SAME members are encouraged to stop by Century House any time they are in Old Town, visit with staff, peruse the archives, and see history come alive!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Can you decide if the photo is from Earth or Space ??
A trivia quiz called Earth or Space Photo ?. Test your knowledge about Earth or Space Photo ? with this online quiz.
This is a quiz called Earth or Space Photo ?


Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade, a wide range of soils and some drought. Prune as needed immediately after flowering.
Spiraea prunifolia, commonly called bridalwreath spirea or just bridalwreath, is an upright, clumping, deciduous shrub with arching branching. It typically grows 4-8' tall with a similar spread, often becoming somewhat open and leggy over time. It is particularly noted for its early spring bloom of double white flowers (each to 1/3" diameter) that appear in April in 3- to 6-flowered clusters (stalkless corymbs) in an often profuse bloom along the bare branching prior to the emergence of the foliage. Small, elliptic to ovate, finely-toothed, shiny dark green leaves (to 1.5" long) are soft-pubescent beneath. Foliage often develops attractive red-orange-yellow fall color. S. prunifolia 'Plena' is the long-favored bridalwreath that is regularly sold in commerce. Species plants as well as the single-flowered plant (Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora) are generally not available. It should be noted that the double-flowered plant was botanically described prior in time to the single-flowered plant, hence the double flower became the species and the single flower became a variety or form of the species.
Specific epithet means with leaves like the genus Prunus.
No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to many of the diseases and insects that attack other rose family members, including leaf spot, fire blight, powdery mildew, root rot, aphids, leaf roller and scale.
Foundations, borders, sunny woodland margins. Excellent flowering specimen/accent.


text:
<?php

namespace Rocket;

interface RocketInterface
{
    public function performOverheadTasks($interval = 1);
    public function getQueue($queueName, $maxCache = 16);
    public function getQueues();
    public function getQueueCount();
    public function getJob($jobId, $queueName = null, $maxCache = 16);
    public function getPlugin($name);
    public function getWorker($workerName, $maxCache = 16);
    public function getQueueNamebyJobId($jobId);
    public function getJobsQueueHash();
    public function getIdGenerator();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


When Carlos Beltran signed a three-year, $45 million deal in the winter of 2014, the Yankees envisioned a light, manageable role for the then 36-year-old. He'd end his days as an everyday outfielder and slide into the designated hitter spot, where he could age like delectable cheddar cheese.
And, in 2014, that plan was executed. Beltran spent 76 games at DH and 32 games in right, but things didn't go quite as general manager Brian Cashman had hoped. The 16-year veteran's TAv dropped to .260, its lowest mark since 2000, and he drove in just 49 runs in 109 games.
Immediately, the deal was declared a mess. Good Lord, the Yankees have to roster this guy for two more seasons? He's so old; his production will never return anywhere close to its All-Star levels. At least he's not out being old in right field.
Suddenly, there was 37-year-old Carlos Beltran being old in right field.
When Alex Rodriguez returned from his season-long PED suspension, the team and its fans readied themselves for a tumultuous six months. He was entering his 21st big-league season, had clubbed just 45 home runs over the past three seasons, and hadn't played 140 games in nearly a decade. With Chase Headley and his shiny new contract occupying third base, the decision was made to try A-Rod out exclusively at DH, so he could make the most of his at-bats.
Against all odds, Rodriguez returned from a four-year hiatus like only Kanye West could. He ran out of the gate like a caged dog, hitting .278 in the first half of the season with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs, and took total control of the DH spot in the lineup.
The Beltran plan was crumpled up and tossed in the wastebin. He was reinserted into right field, and although he weirdly learned how to hit again, he was awful from a defensive standpoint. The three-time Gold Glove winner posted a -15.4 FRAA, which is Baseball Prospectus' individual defensive metric that factors in things like ballparks and player handedness. 15.4 runs below average! Beltran single-handedly sunk the Yankees' defensive efficiency to the 22nd worst mark in the league. With an uptick in offensive production, but a poor glove, was the deal still a mess? Based on the team's new look, yes, it sort of was.
Now, if this were the 'Millenium Yankees,' which is some bland nickname for the early-2000s Yankees that I literally just created for the purpose of this article, this would be an entirely different story. Those teams didn't care about defense, all they cared about was dingers. In a heartbeat, they'd take Beltran's .280 TAv and 19 home runs in exchange for long, winding routes to fly balls. These aren't your older brother's Yankees, though. By locking up Headley, Gregorius and Ellsbury in the last couple of seasons, then adding Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks this winter, it's clear the Yankees are attempting to build a young, glove-happy team.
Beltran will be gone after this season, and young Aaron Judge will take his place in right, but he's still going to have to trot out to right field over 100 times this season with news that Rodriguez will continue as the team's DH in 2016. For the time being, Rodriguez is inadvertently forcing the Yankees to lean on a player with a sub-zero defensive rating in one of their corner outfield spots. It won't be a big deal one year from now, but Rodriguez may not be a big deal one year from now either. If the team is serious about contending in 2016, then this matters. It's not on Beltran, and it's not on Rodriguez, but the two of them have created a defensive issue for the Yankees.


"The spirit of the Shell Eco-marathon is really bringing people together and helping each other to solve the global energy challenge," said Shell Malaysia Ltd. Country Chairman Iain Lo during a ceremony held at the Manila Hotel's Tent City on July 29, handing over the hosting duties to the Philippines. The Shell Eco-marathon Asia has been held at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur for the past four years.
Lo recalled pioneering achievements in the regional competition's history, such as Thailand's Dhurakij Pubdit University achieving the record distance of 1,500 kilometers traveled on 1 liter of fuel with its eco-car in the first Shell Eco-marathon Asia. Most importantly, the same team broke such record for fuel efficient driving by achieving more than 2,900 kilometers per liter. "It just shows you that with dedication and hard work, innovation can bring you really stunning achievements," enthused Lo.
The handover event brought together past and present Filipino student participants to the Shell Eco-marathon Asia, as well as their respective schools' engineering faculty members, and volunteers from both Shell Philippines and Malaysia. Lo thanked the Malaysian government and the participating Asian countries and students for having made his country's hosting of the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia a success.
A glass-encased scale model of an Eco-marathon prototype car was then presented to SciP country chairman Edgar Chua to symbolize the handover, which was also received by Philippine government officials led by Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. and National Parks Development Committe executive director Juliet H. Villegas; as well as by Atty. Joey Lina, president and director of Manila Hotel, and Armi Cortes, vice president for sales and marketing of Manila Ocean Park.
The Department of Tourism and Manila Ocean Park are among the partners of SciP in hosting the Shell Eco-marathon Asia in Manila.
"We are looking forward to a three-year experience which will definitely make participants understand why it's 'more fun in the Philippines,'" said Chua, borrowing the tourism slogan coined and popularized by Tourism Secretary Jimenez.
Most importantly, the 2014 Shell Eco-marathon Asia coincides with the celebration of 100 years of the global leader in power, energy and gas technology in the Philippines. "As Shell aims to meet the world's future energy needs with a diversified energy mix and cleaner energy, Shell enjoins consumers and businesses to use energy better, to do more with less, and make energy conservation and sustainable mobility a way of life," stated Chua.
Ronald Suarez, NGO and Stakeholder Relations Manager of Pilipinas Shell, disclosed that the Shell Eco-marathon Asia in Manila will introduce a number of firsts.
"Instead of a Formula One racetrack, the race will be held for the first time in a road track and in the heart of a city," said Suarez. The next generation technology cars designed and fabricated by student teams from participating Asian countries will be road-tested around the famous Rizal Park and judged by a panel of technical experts.
The 2014 Shell Eco-marathon Asia will also feature an interactive Energy Fair and an international conference of global and local experts in energy, food and water.
During the handover, Pilipinas Shell also formally awarded to its winning teams the trophies and cash prizes they garnered at the 2013 Shell Eco-marathon Asia Off-Track Awards. The DLSU Eco-car Team Ice from De La Salle University received the Communications award, while Team Aguila from the Mapua Institute of Technology received the Technical Innovation award. The University of San Carlos's Team Lahutay II also landed second place in the Shell Student Energy Challenge, a new infographic contest about future energy visions, in partnership with the National Geographic.
The Manila handover ceremony also saw two Shell Eco-marathon model cars that were test-driven inside the venue at Manila Hotel's Tent City. The prototype eco-car made in Europe and the urban concept version made in Taiwan circled the tables, impressing attendees with their design and innovative components.


text:
package com.github.reflectoring.infiniboard.harvester.scheduling;

import com.github.reflectoring.infiniboard.harvester.source.SourceJob;
import java.util.Map;
import org.apache.commons.lang3.mutable.MutableInt;
import org.quartz.JobKey;
import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;

/** dummy job incrementing an MutableInt given by configuration, used for scheduling tests */
public class TestJob extends SourceJob {

  static final String COUNTER = "counter";

  @Override
  protected void executeInternal(ApplicationContext context, JobKey jobKey, Map configuration) {
    MutableInt counter = (MutableInt) configuration.get(COUNTER);
    counter.increment();
  }
}


text:
Cattle market reformers see resistance from big ag groups
By Chuck Abbott, April 26, 2022
A band of senators from the Midwest and northern Plains, with the best chance in years to inject transparency into the consolidated cattle market, pressed on Tuesday for a federal mandate for meatpackers to buy more cattle for cash, rather than through obscure formulas. "We need some sunlight," said Montana Sen. Jon Tester.
Brazil's Amazon beef plan will 'legalize deforestation'
For many, the overriding image of agriculture in the Amazon is one of environmental destruction. About 80 percent of deforestation in the region has been attributed to cattle ranching, tainting beef exports. But Brazil's beef industry hopes to tempt buyers back to the Amazon region, which …
Cattle reformers in Senate unite on price discovery bill
In order to increase market transparency, four senators said on Tuesday they would file legislation to require meatpackers to buy a portion of their slaughter cattle on the cash market. The bill also would create a contract library that discloses the purchase terms that packers offer for cattle, so producers might know if a fair price is being offered.
USDA hits 'pause' on cattle tracking proposal
Nine months after proposing a phase-out of metal and plastic identification ear tags, the USDA decided they can be used indefinitely on cattle that cross state borders, as well as cattle exhibited at fairs and for dairy cattle. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service wanted to make radio frequency identification tags (RFIDs) the only approved tag, on grounds they would be more useful in case of an outbreak of dangerous diseases.
Senate bill would require cash sales of some cattle
To ensure fair prices for cattle producers, the USDA would require meatpackers to buy a specified number of cattle on the spot market and through negotiated "grid" trades under a Senate bill introduced on Tuesday. The bill, similar to legislation filed in September 2020, was backed by the American Farm Bureau Federation and the U.S. Cattlemen's Association.
Cattle group proposes more transparency in market prices
By Chuck Abbott, October 20, 2020
As an antidote for the dwindling cash market, the largest U.S. cattle group circulated a plan on Tuesday for meatpackers to voluntarily buy cattle on the spot market to assure fair and open prices, with the threat of mandatory disclosure if the systems fails. The so-called 75 percent plan by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association stood as an alternative to bills in Congress to require packers to buy as many as half of their slaughter cattle for cash.
Maybe we should cut off cattle imports, says Trump
The United States "should look at the possibility of terminating" trade agreements that allow cattle imports into the country, said President Trump on Tuesday — a suggestion that would almost solely affect Canada and Mexico, partners in the USMCA. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association said …
Cattle and biofuels clamor for aid, as Schumer proposes broader plan
By Chuck Abbott, March 16, 2020
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue should tap "USDA's bank," a Depression-era agency with easy access to billions of dollars, to bail out cattle ranchers hit by sharp declines in beef prices as Covid-19 mounts, said ranch activists on Monday. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck …
Texas Panhandle community chokes on fecal dust from feedlots
Cattle outnumber people 40 to one in Deaf Smith County in the Texas Panhandle, giving the county seat of Hereford its title as the "beef capital of the world." But the area is also a hotspot of citizen complaints about manure dust storms created when fierce winds hit feedlots housing tens of thousands of animals, according to FERN's latest story, written by Chris Collins and produced in collaboration with The Texas Observer and Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.(No paywall)
Community near Kansas City wins stay against cattle farm
By Leah Douglas, July 29, 2018
Residents of Lone Jack, Missouri, won a stay last week against the planned expansion of a local cattle farm, which had applied for a permit to grow its herd from 600 to 6,999 cows. After much public debate, a state commission issued the stay on July 26.
Oklahoma wildfires kill 1,600 cattle
Cattle producers in Oklahoma lost $26 million in stock, fencing, and facilities to wildfires during April, estimated Derrell Peel, a livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University.
Montana Senator helps Chinese win $200-million sweetheart deal for cattle
By Leah Douglas, November 17, 2017
During President Donald Trump's recent trip to China, Montana's Republican Senator Steve Daines negotiated a $300 million beef cattle deal between the Montana Stockgrowers Association and the Chinese e-retailer JD.com. The deal calls for the retailer to buy $200 million of cattle between 2018 and 2020, and invest $100 million in a new feedlot and packing plant in Montana. Some ranchers are concerned that this unusual deal will favor certain ranchers over others, and further concentrate power over the American livestock sector in the hands of Chinese companies.
Important cattle grazing grass could shrink 60 percent, says study
Big bluestem grass — one of the most important forage grasses in the Midwest for cattle — is predicted to drop as much as 60 percent drop in stature and growth over the next 75 years due to climate change, according to a study published in the journal Global Change Biology.
Grassfed beef has high carbon impact, report says
Grassfed beef generally produces more carbon than it sequesters, according to a report by Oxford University's Food Climate Research Network. Proponents of grassfed beef have argued that ruminants like cows can have positive effects on rangeland if they're encouraged to move across the landscape, rather than being left to overgraze a particular area. The animals' eating habits and the pressure from their hooves can encourage deeper root growth and thus greater carbon sequestration by grasses, explains Grist.
New study tracks corn's impact county by county
A first-of-its-kind study lays out, on a county-by-county basis, the environmental impact of growing corn in the United States, offering the industry an unprecedented tool for improving sustainability along its supply chain.
Amazon confabs with ranchers over distribution deal
After buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, Amazon will meet this week with organic ranchers to discuss how the company might distribute their meat, says Reuters. One of the ranches, White Oak Pastures from Blufton, Georgia, sells $2 million annually online of frozen beef, duck and lamb, but is hopeful that teaming up with Amazon will improve its reach.
Alabama has case of mad cow disease
An 11-year-old cow, intercepted at a livestock market in Alabama, is the fifth U.S. case of mad cow disease, the brain-wasting fatal disease found generally in older cattle, said the USDA. "This finding ... should not lead to any trade issues," said USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, because it was the "atypical" type that seems to occur spontaneously.
Hot enough to kill a cow
Dairy farmers in three counties in California's Central Valley have temporary permission from local officials to bury or compost hundreds of cows that died in a June heat wave, says the Fresno Bee. Ordinarily, the dead animals would be sent to a rendering plant, but there are too many carcasses and a mechanical malfunction reduced the plant's capacity.
As hot weather deepens drought, USDA expands emergency grazing area
Drought is intensifying in the northern Plains and a quarter of North Dakota, a cattle and wheat state, suffers extreme drought, according to the weekly Drought Monitor. With hot and dry weather expected to continue, USDA vastly expanded the region where ranchers can graze livestock on Conservation Reserve land, normally out of bounds.


text:
Books by Simon Maginn
Books by Simon Nolan
Simon Maginn
Horror, psychological thrillers, comedy (as Simon Nolan)
Against punk
Punk, we are told, came about as a reaction against the bland, bloated corporate rock of the 1970's. Punk represented a violent and healthy shrugging off of the politeness and dullness of mainstream music (Stevie Wonder/Earth Wind and Fire/Marvin Gaye…), it was a great rebellion, a rising up of the masses who were being, in some ill-defined sense, oppressed by this meretricious pap, and who were terribly angry about it. (Quite why they were buying it in such numbers has yet to be fully explained.)
So the answer, of course, was noisy, amateurish music with a lot of rage in it. Music that could be produced by anyone. You didn't need anything to play punk. You didn't require any fancy musical training or high-priced skills or anything, just some mates, a shed (or garage) and guitars and amps and a drum kit and mikes and amplifiers…
OK, you needed a fair bit of kit. As much, in fact, as the muso oppressors needed to make their polite (spit) well-polished (blaaaah) music with. And you needed to know how to play chords, no fewer than three, the same three that all those poncey, sell-out mainstream bands used actually. Plus of course if you were going to actually get anywhere there would have to be someone around with some rudimentary marketing skills. You would have to have some promotional machine so that the world could know just how angry you really were about being oppressed by Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind and Fire. For the gig you would need further things: a PA (public address system), and probably a van, or at least large car, to carry all the stuff to the gig. You would have to produce some promotional flyers for the gig, which would mean having to deal with The Man at the photocopy shop. Someone to take money. If there was a bar, you would need staff to take money there as well. Still, it was as anarchic as anything (at least as far as the constraints of being a commercially operated venture would allow, of course).
Then, if you wanted to record just how angry you were about it all, you would have to operate within the constraints of a record producing entity of some kind. Even if this was your own label (financed by daddy's money, of course), this would involve owning or hiring plant and machinery plus expertise. It would, undoubtedly, all start to oppress the bejesus out of you at some point, so you would retire straight away and go back to your day job at daddy's car valeting company. Unless you made it big, in which case you would give a great many interviews to a great many angry young journalists like Julie Burchill, and then wait until it was your turn to do the butter adverts. Meanwhile the enemy, in the form of corporate media whores like Prince, would be making Sign o'the Times…
Maybe it all made sense at the time. Maybe you had to be there. Though possibly even that didn't really help much. (I was, it didn't.)
October 17, 2010 simonmaginn	earth, fire, nolan, punk, Simon, stevie, Whitehawk, wind, wonder	10 Comments
Razak and I
I had just come out of a period of what I think you could call frenzied activity: 6 novels over 7 years under 2 names. I was waiting for what came next, and it turned out that nothing, actually, came next. I had entered a career lull. But the music industry was waiting to suck me back in.
I had had an unhappy, unresolved affair with the business end of music in the 1980s. I had spent six long years getting precisely nowhere, and the scars were deep. I have always loved music: it hasn't always loved me back. We had agreed to a sort of uneasy stand off.
Razak started out in my life as a student: he wanted to learn the piano, but had no aptitude and was in a tearing hurry. So I started to play keyboards for him. We spent many nights, Razak and I, in his bedroom studio: the music was trance, synth-heavy and machine-like. The tracks were dance mixes, 10 minutes long and extremely dense. We developed something like a telepathic understanding of each other: I would play, he would record, and I would know just from the way he tapped the computer keys or used the ashtray whether or not it was right. Usually it wasn't. Raz and me were getting nowhere: the old familiar journey.
But Razak had friends, in particular a DJ who I will refrain from naming. For no particular reason, one hot afternoon we did a 'session' with him: I played keyboards, Razak played the computer, and the DJ sat in the producer's chair, occasionally relieving the monotony by losing something. Division of labour, team work.
The track worked. To my jaded ears it sounded much the same as everything else we had ever done, but the DJ suddenly started jumping up and down and saying, 'Big track! HUGE track!'. This, apparently, is a good thing. We mastered it there and then, the DJ started talking about Pete Tong and Ibiza, and before I knew what had happened I was hearing it on Radio 1. It was going to be BIG. It was, imaginatively enough, called 'That Big Track'. (Bigness, as you see, was the theme here.)
But there was more to come: a performer whose name I dimly recalled from a hit in the early 90's had heard the track and decided he would put a vocal on it. The track could now 'cross over' , and within a few months it appeared on dozens of compilations, had charted, and was played a lot even in the kinds of places I would go to. I was hearing it everywhere. I started to quite like it.
Razak and I tried several times to do the 'follow-up', but nothing we did came out right. We were a one hit wonder, and we parted company shortly after that.
But it's still out there. I heard it the other day in the gym I go to, and I still here it in pubs. It goes 'Daa daa da-da-daa, da-da-da-da, daa da da-da-da', and you may have heard it too. There is even a video, featuring three women in bikinis (daringly original: watch it here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZZa-xGIMuA).
I have never been tempted back into the music industry, and I never will. My place in history is assured: highest chart ranking = #72. My name is Simon, and I am a one hit wonder.
March 5, 2010 simonmaginn	1, Brighton, comedy, DJ, hit, Maginn, music, nolan, one, Pete, Radio, Simon, Tong, trance, Whitehawk, wonder	Leave a comment


Owning a printing company lets you make products for customers. You can screen print shirts for them, make the brochures they need for their own customers and help small business owners put together presentations to land big clients. The best way to reach those customers is with a website that provides prospective customers with all the information they need to know before they call or make an appointment. Before you site goes live, make sure that it includes all the pertinent information that will make those customers want to give you a call.
Listing your hours of operation is especially important when you give customers the option of dropping by or coming in without an appointment. Customers want to know exactly where you are there because they want to know that you can answer any of the questions they have in person. If your hours change every day, list the hours you remain open each day. You'll also want to include any breaks you take around lunch time. If you do not want customers to stop by, you can make it clear that you operate on an appointment basis only.
Some customers have more knowledge of the industry than others, which is why you want to include information on your site about some of the products that you use. If you use Graco pumps or pumps from another manufacturer to power your printing press and other tools, make note of that on your site. This lets those with more knowledge know that you only work with the top products and may make them feel more confident in choosing you for their printing needs.
Not all printing companies offer the same services as others. If you hate having customers call in to ask you about printing services that you do not offer, you should update your site to reflect the services you offer. Printing companies sometimes specialize in printing on clothing. You can list the products that you will work on as well as the fonts and colors available. Companies can also specialize in the printing of brochures and pamphlets, signs and other products. Though you may not want to list the prices that you charge, you can list a range of prices for some of those services. You can also describe any optional services you provide such as helping customers come up with designs.
Your site should also include some basic information about the materials that you offer. This is especially important if you do clothing printing. Your site can tell customers the types of shirts or hats they can select and the sizes and colors that are available in each type. If you do more traditional printing, your site can list some of the different paper products you offer and the colors that they can choose from too. Many customers will already know what they want when they come in for an appointment.
The first impression that customers get of your printing company is on the website that you offer. Providing them with more information helps them know what they want before they meet with you. Your site should include the services and materials available, the products that you use and your hours of operation.


text:
Die persischsprachige Wikipedia () ist eine Wikipedia in persischer Sprache. Sie wurde im Dezember 2003 gegründet. Am 16. Dezember 2004 erreichte sie 1.000 Artikel. Mit Stand 28. Juli 2016 hatte sie 500.000 Artikel. Damit ist sie die größte Sprachversion im Nahen Osten.

Die persischsprachige Wikipedia wird von der iranischen Regierung zensiert.

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Wikipedia-Sprachversion
Persischsprachiges Medium
Wikipedia:Artikel mit Video

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
What's Your Signature Song? Tell Us What It Means To You
By Ian Stewart
Published July 1, 2019 at 5:17 PM CDT
Updated Aug. 15
Do you have "a signature song"? A song you always sing in the shower? A song you play after a breakup? A song you play to get ready for the day? A song you keep coming back to year after year?
NPR's Weekend Edition wants to talk with you about your signature song. Please fill out the form below. We may contact you for an upcoming story.
This form was closed on July 18.
See stories by Ian Stewart


Everything. What has it been hitherto in the political order? Nothing. What does it desire? To be something.
I was looking at something, not a nothing, a person, a human.
So was the Quote from the music group "The Who."


The 18th Annual NCHN Conference is now history and we move forward with the 19th year of work for NCHN. The initial feedback from participants at the conference was that they loved Denver and had a great NCHN Conference experience. If you attended the conference and haven't already, please take a few minutes to provide input through the on-line evaluation survey you should have received late last week. The 2013 Conference Planning Committee, chaired by NCHN's new Vice President Chris Hopkins, Montana Health Network, MT will review the feedback and made appropriate adjustments to the 2013 conference agenda.
I would like to thank the Officers and Directors that served you during 2011-2012 and I look forward to working with the new Officers and Directors elected to serve in 2012-2013. NCHN has aligned its fiscal year with the annual conference, so that the directors elected this year will be the first group of leaders to serve under the new fiscal year, May 1, 2012 – April 30, 2013.
The first class of NCHN Transformer Leadership Learning Community also met face-to-face in Denver for their final year one session. It was a wonderful learning opportunity with Dr. Mary Kay Chess and each participant came away with some very positive feedback about how their peers viewed them and their leadership skills. I was grateful to have been included in the final activity for the community and appreciate the feedback I, personally received from the NCHN members about my work, including such terms as "collaborator, steadfast & dedicated, inclusive, positive, and the right information at the right time." Each member of this first Leadership Learning Community now has some input and reflection from their peers that they can use to build upon during Year II of their leadership training. The next class of Transformer Leadership Learning Community will begin with the 2012 NCHN Leadership Summit that will be held in Kansas City, MO on September 25. Please watch both this newsletter and your inbox for more details about the Summit, including registration and lodging details.
Also at the 2012 Annual Conference, a call for committee members for 2012-2013 Committees went out. If you haven't already signed up for a committee, either at the conference or through the on-line sign-up survey, you still have time. Members will be accepted through the end of this month. You can sign up today at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012NCHNCommitteeSignUps.
Again, thanks to everyone for a success 2011-2012 for NCHN and I look forward to working with the new Officers and Directors, members and partners and other NCHN supporter during 2012-2013.
According to the early Roman calendar, May was the third month. Later, the ancient Romans used january 1 for the beginning of their year, and May became the fifth month. May has always had 31 days.
Several stories are passed around to show how the month of May was named. The most widely accepted explanation is that it was named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth. Her name related to a Latin word that means increase or growth.
All who complete the evaluation before May 4th will be entered to win a complimentary registration to attend the 19th Annual NCHN Conference in New Orleans.
As of February 15, 2008 NCHN facilities can purchase Fukuda Denshi's Patient Monitoring Equipment on contract. NCHN facilities can now enjoy greater cost savings when purchasing Fukuda Denshi's patient monitoring for their ED, OR, ICU/CCU, Med-Surgery, and Step-Down care area. All backed with a 5 year warranty and free 24/7/365 technical support, as well as free clinical and Biomedical Engineering training for the life of the product.
With monitors suited for all care areas, Fukuda Denshi's patient monitoring provides flexible and reliable OR, transport, bedside, telemetry and central monitoring solutions.
The DS-7600 Series integrated central monitors provide an ideal solution for both your low and high acuity care areas. Each Central includes the needed features to monitor patient information on up to 16 hardwired or telemetered patients. The small footprint also makes it ideal for busy, crowded central nurses' stations. With up to 96 hours of full disclosure, built in 3 channel recorder and laser printer interface the DS-7600 Series provides high performance central station capability without the unwanted clutter making it an ideal central station monitor for busy central nursing stations.
Each of these transmitters are designed for patient comfort and cost effective telemetry monitoring of your Step-Down or Med-Surgery patients. When paired with Fukuda Denshi's central monitors and with as much as 5 days of monitoring on a single AA battery (3-Days on two AA batteries when SpO2 monitoring is added) these transmitters maintain superior surveillance of your less acute patients.
Whether mounted on a wall-mount or roll-stand, these monitors provide complete hardwired or telemetered monitoring solutions in care areas where a compact monitor makes more sense. Performance is not sacrificed with the smaller footprint and each monitor can easily be set up to meet a wide range of care area monitoring needs.
The DS-7300 Series OR and bedside patient monitors offer one of the most robust set of standard features to provide easy standardization of your acute care units. Whether in your ICU or CCU these monitors are easily configured to meet your demanding care areas. Adding the optional gas module also makes this an ideal OR monitor.
April 19, 2012 (On Center: Blog of the National Rural Health Resource Center) - To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, rural communities "will all hang together, or else will all hang separately." Networks and coops have historically been developed to address rural America's most persistent problems. Farm coops, for example, were formed to deal with the financial challenges of small farmers during hard economic times. Electric coops, credit unions, school districts, and various other types of cooperative arrangements have become commonplace in this country, and widely acknowledged as efficient methods of problem solving.
Rural hospitals, clinics and other stakeholders have only recently begun thinking of collaborative ways to solve their most important challenges. Health coops, such as the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, have been in existence since the late 1970s. Other networks were formed in the 1980s and 1990s, but it has been only recently that network development, partially sparked by rural health network grants funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, has gained momentum. The accepted wisdom now is that most hospitals and clinics are faced with two plausible alternatives: join a larger health system, or join or form a rural health network, governed by its members.
Join Jay Fitch, PhD, of Fitch & Associates and TriTech Product Manager, Dan Voss as they provide both a consultant's and software developer's perspectives of the EMS Changes, Challenges and Opportunities under Healthcare Reform.
This 45-minute session will provide an overview of the fourth of 12 Leading Health Indicator (LHI) topics released by the US Department of Health and Human Services. The event will also highlight one program's success preventing suicide attempts.
1) To raise awareness of the Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) and actions that can be taken to address them.
2) To examine the context in addressing each LHI topic.
3) To explore how states, communities, and organizations are addressing the LHIs using innovative and evidence-based approaches.
April 20, 2012 (Rural Health Voices) - New York Times-bestselling author T.R. Reid gave the keynote address at NRHA's 35th Annual Rural Health Conference in Denver this week.
Reid, who was a Washington Post foreign correspondent, has written books and articles and created documentaries about health care systems all over the world.
April 23, 2012 (National Rural Health Resource Center Press Release) - The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center), a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining and improving health care in rural communities, is enthusiastically announcing the launch of a new blog, today.
The new blog, entitled ON CENTER, is intended to be used as a more intimate conversation between The Center and its customers and partners, including critical access and rural hospitals, rural health clinics and federally qualified health center's (FQHC), State Offices of Rural Health, rural health networks, policy makers, researchers, and other health stakeholders.
April 18, 2012 (RAConline.org) - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced today that USDA will be investing in farm to school programs nationwide to help eligible schools improve the health and wellbeing of their students and connect with local agricultural producers. Merrigan joined students at Southern High School to announce the new program that will promote opportunities for nutrition and agriculture education while providing new economic opportunities for food producers of all kinds and communities nationwide. Students at the school displayed and highlighted their farm to school efforts with a tour of the school's greenhouse.
April 18, 2012 (Forbes) - North Kansas City is an unlikely place to launch a revolution in American health care. Yet here, amid the dilapidated grain elevators, fast food joints and vast green plains, the dream of using computers to keep you alive at a reasonable cost is battling onward. In a bunkerlike building built to withstand a direct hit by a category five tornado, 22,000 servers handle 150 million health care transactions a day, roughly one-third of the patient data for the entire U.S. Records of your blood pressure, cholesterol, lab test results, that gallbladder surgery last year—and how much you paid for it—may sit there right now. Armed guards stand watch.
This is a data center at the headquarters of Cerner, the world's largest stand-alone maker of health IT systems—and company number 1,621 on FORBES' Global 2000 list—where the blood-and-guts realities of medicine meet the sterile speed and exactitude of the computer revolution.
April 18, 2012 (The Washington Post | Business) - A yearlong experiment with competitive bidding for power wheelchairs, diabetic supplies and other personal medical equipment produced $200 million in savings for Medicare, and government officials said Wednesday they are expanding the pilot program in search of even greater dividends.
April 17, 2012 (Kaiser Health News) - At Oakhurst Medical Center, just 20 percent of kids have received all their recommended immunizations by age 2.
Adults don't fare much better at this community health center, which provides primary care to 14,000 mostly poor people in a town famous for its granite monolith and "Confederate Mount Rushmore," just east of Atlanta.
April 17, 2012 (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Human Capital Blog) - By 2020, nearly one in nine jobs in the United States will be in the health care sector, according to new research from the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York. The industry is expected to add 4.2 million jobs during that time, growing at twice the rate of the overall economy.
April 23, 2012 (Harvard Business Review | HBR Blog Network) - If you've not yet heard of telemedicine or think that it's not a great way to deliver quality health care, you may want to read this. Telemedicine, made possible by the availability of mobile networks, is revolutionizing health care. But not in the U.S.
April 17, 2012 (Kaiser Health News) - At TenderCare Clinic, a community health center here in rural central Georgia, medical assistant Jackie Davis plays a starring role.
Using a phone in a corner of a room reserved for minor surgical procedures, Davis calls parents who are late bringing in kids for immunizations, women behind on getting their annual Pap test and diabetics who have neglected their monthly checkups.
In a nearby office, health education coordinator Pamela Luke intercepts patients after they meet with doctors to advise them about nutrition, set exercise goals and put them through "diabetes school.'"
Purpose: The Roadmaps to Health Prize, part of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute that aims to show what communities can do to create healthier places to live, learn, work, and play, seeks to recognize and honor the efforts and accomplishments of United States communities working at the forefront of population health improvement.
The prize is rooted in the idea that every community is on a unique journey toward better health and that communities' stories of success are as diverse as their populations. Judges will assess each community individually, looking for tangible signs of improvement relative to current health status and available resources.
The program will host a webinar on April 24 from 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time to provide details about the Prize, including the application and selection processes. We encourage anyone having an interest in the prize to participate. Details and registration information are posted at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/373800441. Registration is required. Those not able to attend will be able to view the webinar at their convenience at http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/media-library.
Letter of intent (required) is due by May 31, 2012.


text:
Q: Browse for Folder/File dialog from a WPF app on Windows Server Core I want to be able to browse for folders and file in a WPF app that is running on Windows Server Core.
The default way, using FolderBrowserDialog shows the dialog but the main display panel, selecting folders, is not showing. I've used SHBrowseForFolder too but the same result appears.
I know that windows core by default was not going to support this feature but I figured out that Notepad application is using an open file dialog which is working fine in that OS.
Is it using any other API that I am not aware of? Or it has implemented its own open file dialog and I have to do the same?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');

$route['default_controller'] = "session";
$route['(.*)'] = "session/index/$1";
$route[''] = 'session/index';


Frustration, Frustration, Frustration sometimes you end up totally frustrated while planning a Las Vegas Bachelorette Party. We know ladies are picky and detail oriented and they needed things more perfect then male does, therefore it's hard to plan a perfect las vegas bachelorette party and not being fooled.
It's hard to trust someone to plan a perfect bachelorette party for you in Vegas because with little mistake your whole las vegas bachelorette party might be spoiled which results in money loss plus more importantly your dream party loss.
At johnny Vegas, we understand the situation and with so many things to choose from for your party, we arrange your party solely based on your choice. We have a short interesting form for you to fill out so we can give you a perfect las vegas bachelorette party idea.
So let's start filling out a super easy form and we will get back to you shortly faster then you expected.
Are you Interested in Party Supplies?
What ABSOLUTELY MUST be included in your party?


Firefox maker Mozilla has fallen foul to a security breach that exposed personal data relating to members of its Mozilla Developer Network (MDN).
In a co-authored blog post, Stormy Peters, head of Mozilla's developers unit, and Joe Stevenson, its head security honcho, wrote that a failed data sanitization process of the MDN's site database caused email addresses belonging to 76,000 users and encrypted passwords of around 4,000 users to be dumped onto a publicly viewable server.
The snafu went unnoticed for 30 days until being picked up by a web developer on July 23, according to Mozilla, which immediately removed the data dump from the server and disabled the offending process.
The company wrote that it hasn't detected any malicious activity on the server in question but encouraged users to change their login details to be on the safe side.
"The encrypted passwords were salted hashes and they by themselves cannot be used to authenticate with the MDN website today," Peters and Stevenson wrote. "Still, it is possible that some MDN users could have reused their original MDN passwords on other non-Mozilla websites or authentication systems.
"We've sent notices to the users who were affected. For those that had both email and encrypted passwords disclosed, we recommended that they change any similar passwords they may be using."
What would Mozilla's new CEO have to say about it?


Discussion in 'Google TV General Discussion' started by jframe, Aug 12, 2011.
I have been stalking Google TV for a long time, then the $99 drop on Revue was the clincher. Had it for a week and really do like it. The one thing I've not been able to find is how to "page down / up" in the channel guide in Google TV. Rather than scrolling down or up, one listing at a time, what would be nice is like on the remote to page down / up thru the listing. Lots of channels from comcast that I don't care about so going one at a time is a little bit annoying. So far if this best / worst I can come up with I'm going to be lovn'n Google TV for a long time. Anyone discovered how to page up / down in channel listing on the STB?


text:
TotalNtertainment
Music, Comedy and Theatre across the North
Interviews – Music
Everything Comedy
Interviews – Comedy
Everything Theatre
Theatre Interviews
Fuzzy Sun announce headline date for Manchester
Fuzzy Sun have announced a headline show at Manchester Academy 3 on Friday 29th November 2019. Tickets go on sale Friday 18th October at 9am
By TotalNtertainment / 15/10/2019
Fuzzy Sun have today announced that they will be headlining Manchester Academy 3 on Friday 29th November. Tickets go on sale on Friday 18th October from: gigst.rs/FSun
2019 has been quite a year for Stockport favourites Fuzzy Sun. They toured the UK on their debut headline tour, selling out venues such as London Camden Assembly and Manchester Club Academy in the process. Fuzzy Sun also supported Blossoms at their iconic hometown show at Stockport County FC's Edgeley Park in July, and also supported Two Door Cinema Club in October where they played their first string of arena shows.
The band also released their latest single "I Ain't Right" back in August. The track has quickly become a fan favourite, throwing the crowd into ecstasy every time they perform the song live. Fuzzy Sun describe the song as, "The soundtrack to a Richard Curtis movie set in studio 54 in the late 1970's, starring John travolta as he seeks to repair ties with an unrequited love."
NME included Fuzzy Sun in their "Top 100 Essential Artists for 2019" list, describing the band as having "a psychedelic element to their (Fuzzy Sun's) music, their fizzing electro-pop often twisting and turning into unexpected directions."
Comprised of frontman Kyle Ross, bassist Lewis Jobson, drummer Mitch Bancroft, Daisy Valentine on keyboards and backing vocals and Raffaele Pani rounding out the line-up on guitar, expect seductive harmonies, soul-infused rhythms and melodies reminiscent of California sun.
Friday 29th November – Manchester Academy 3
Under a Mediterranean Sky – Steve Hackett review
ARC Of LiFE Release Second single 'Just in Sight'
The Luka State and 10 Questions with
YOUMonday launched by You Me At Six
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians Release Video
Georgia announces extensive UK & European tour
Henge are on tour with their 'Cosmic Dross Experiment'
TotalNtertainment on Social Media
What's Popular Today
New on TotalNtertainment


text:
Asbury United Methodist Church > Good Reads > The Restoration Chronicles
The Restoration Chronicles
The Restoration Chronicles, written by Lynn Austin.
A colleague introduced me to the books of Lynn Austin several years ago. Ms Austin writes Christian historical fiction and has won Christy awards for a number of her novels. In the three books of The Restoration Chronicles, she brings to life the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian / Persian exile. The first story, "Return to Me," tells of the first return to Jerusalem under King Cyrus, the travels and travails of the Israelites. The second story, "Keepers of the Covenant," continues the story with the return of Ezra and the rebuilding of the Temple. The final story, "On This Foundation," tells of Nehemiah's return and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
Ms Austin's approach in these novels is to acquaint us with some of the central characters and their families and to develop their stories as they go about their parts in God's plan. Her characters are alive and believable. Her plots follow scripture closely. Her descriptions of the life and culture of the characters benefit from her graduate study in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology. The stories gave me a better understanding of what was happening in and around the events described in scripture. This, in turn, helps me understand the message that the scripture is conveying. To borrow a phrase, I'll never think about the return from the exile (or the story of Esther) the same way again.
So, yes, the fictional stories are well-founded and fact-based. But the best part is that Ms Austin is a great storyteller!
Submitted by Jim Fleming
From the Publisher:
After years of watching his children and grandchildren wander from their faith, Iddo's prayers are answered: King Cyrus is allowing God's chosen people to return to Jerusalem. Jubilant, he joyfully prepares for their departure, only to learn that his family, grown comfortable in the pagan culture of Babylon, wants to remain.
Zechariah, Iddo's oldest grandson, feels torn between his grandfather's ancient beliefs and the comfort and success his father enjoys in Babylon. But he soon begins to hear the voice of God, encouraging him to return to the land given to his forefathers.
Bringing to life the biblical books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Return to Me tells the compelling story of Iddo and Zechariah, the women who love them, and the faithful followers who struggle to rebuild their lives in obedience to the God who beckons them home.


UPDATE: The Rev. Heather Manuel, Parish of Lake of Bays (Diocese of Algoma), will be a featured presenter!
Plan to participate in a conference that promises to help your congregation's missional and financial health!
It's easy to get to from the east end of the Diocese and should not be missed!
The "generosity@mission.god" stewardship conference will take place on Saturday, November 3, 9:00am-4:00pm at St David's Anglican/Lutheran Church, Orillia.
« What are we learning about doing stewardship in small or rural congregations?
« How do we implement a successful stewardship program?


text:
LAB REVIEW: A one-two combo to KO storage costs
SAN volume virtualization is only the first step in cutting storage management costs; really knocking down costs takes virtual SAN connections and the ability to reconnect virtual volumes at will.
By Jack Fegreus
—For IT to function successfully, it must master change as a normal occurrence in an environment where change is constantly accelerating. In such an environment, IT must frequently deploy new resources, or re-purpose existing resources, such as turning an older database server into a Web server. Any such re-purposing of servers typically requires significant changes in storage, which is a highly labor-intensive task for storage administrators. To make that process significantly more cost-effective, Scalent Systems offers a new twist on virtualization software: the Scalent Virtual Operating Environment (V/OE).
Since the early days of data processing, IT has dealt with anticipated resource changes by over-provisioning—just in case. When the capital costs of such over-provisioning are combined with the operational costs associated with manually reconfiguring a SAN fabric, real potential arises to save significant sums of money by provisioning new resources "just in time" and configuring a SAN logically at will. What's more, there are equally significant ancillary benefits for data-center resiliency and business continuity when IT has the capability to readily tear down and rebuild diverse infrastructure environments.
The benefits derived from the virtualization of storage resources and operating systems are well understood. As a result, SAN-based storage virtualization and OS virtualization environments have become very sophisticated, as sites have moved to create single-resource pools. For storage, the goal is a single pool of virtual storage blocks that spans all vendors' arrays and provides a means to create easy-to-manage logical disk volumes that can raise the level of disk utilization to 80% or more. Meanwhile, for systems, the goal is a single compute space that spans all physical servers in which virtual machines run.
However, the independent development of storage and server virtualization technologies has created an IT environment characterized by distinct "silos" of technology. Even in data centers where virtualization has been aggressively implemented, storage administrators need to be involved in even the most basic server provisioning and maintenance tasks, including routine server moves, additions, and changes. Storage administrators need to schedule time to update the SAN fabric to account for any changes in either the unique worldwide name (WWN) of a Fibre Channel host bus adapter (HBA) or a Fibre Channel port (WWPN).
Worldwide names of server HBAs and ports are the links between the virtual world and the physical world of storage resources. That makes WWNs and WWPNs the bridges between virtual machines and virtual storage. That scheme, however, runs counter to the notion of simplifying IT resource management, which requires resources to be unconstrained by physical limitations such as WWNs and WWPNs.
Scalent's V/OE provides administrators with the means to provision virtual connections between systems and storage resources. In particular, V/OE creates resource pools of virtual WWNs and WWPNs for SAN HBAs and their ports, as well as resource pools of virtual media access control (MAC) addresses for LAN network interface cards (NICs). Via these logical connections, administrators can rapidly change what a server is running and how that server connects to storage and network resources. Also, an administrator does not have to physically reconfigure SAN or LAN connections or alter SAN or LAN topology. In essence, V/OE provides IT with the means to physically wire SAN and LAN architectures once, and reconfigure storage and network resources at will.
Pools of stateless server images—the OS, application software, Scalent's agent software, along with the server's virtual I/O topology—are maintained either in online repositories for easy deployment or on a server's local disk, which can be a SAN boot volume. Storing those images locally binds them to the server. Dubbed a "persona," each image can be made network bootable via a PXE Ethernet LAN connection. What's more, each persona encapsulates a fully provisioned server environment.
Using an independent Ethernet connection that supports lights-out system management, such as IPMI, iLO, or others, Scalent V/OE control software can reboot and re-purpose a target server running the Scalent agent software with a particular persona. As a result, V/OE eliminates the SAN and LAN administration overhead associated with any provisioning for server re-purposing by accounting for that provisioning when creating a persona.
Within Scalent V/OE, a network-resident system persona can be booted on any server at any time. From a practical viewpoint, however, there will be physical constraints on servers, such as internal memory and I/O bus speeds that will make certain applications fit better on different servers. To deal with those issues, most sites will create pools of servers with common attributes and assign personas to boot only on servers within certain pools.
Scalent V/OE significantly lowers the capital and operational costs associated with provisioning business continuity solutions. By making it easy to re-purpose a server, V/OE makes it possible to institute an N+1 sparing topology. Resource pools of physical or virtual servers can be created to supply a set of servers available to function as a fail-over platform for any application. For even greater efficiency, servers running non-critical applications can be automatically powered off via a lights-out management scheme and re-purposed to fill a disaster-recovery task or new business role in real-time.
OpenBench Labs first examined the operational functionality of a test Scalent V/OE deployment from the perspective of simplified administration and operations management. Included in this evaluation was the addition of a new system to the environment along with the creation of two new personas. These personas were used to test the ability to re-purpose the server to run a different application requiring different SAN connectivity.
For our tests, we used a collection of HP ProLiant DL 380-G3 servers. These servers were powered by Intel Xeon EM64T processors and included an integrated intelligent management processor for HP's integrated Lights-Out (iLO) management package along with a dedicated Ethernet port for iLO communications. We configured one of these ProLiant servers as a Scalent V/OE Controller, which runs the software that manages the physical and virtual hardware, software, and network configurations within the Scalent managed environment. In our test configuration, we also used the Scalent V/OE Controller as a repository for Linux-based personas, which all of the servers accessed via NFS.
The physical view of the Scalent-managed environment shows the physical infrastructure based on the notion of a virtual rack (vRack). In our test environment, we had five active physical servers, including the Scalent Controller, which is at the top of the vRack. Each active server has icons on the left for the active persona showing the application and OS. Icons on the right are for SAN and LAN connections. Right clicking the SAN icon gets virtual connection details. We ran the Scalent VMRack Manager in its own virtual machine on our VMware ESX server. That allowed the ESX server to appear like a blade server chassis (see inset) and the virtual machines to be displayed like Individual blades. Click here to enlarge image
The other critical piece of hardware required to create a Scalent-managed environment and deploy V/OE is a layer 2 managed Ethernet switch. In the openBench Labs test configuration, we employed two Cisco Catalyst 2950 Gigabit Ethernet switches. The Scalent Controller manages each of the switches. Through these switches, all of the management communications passes between the controller and Scalent agents running on target servers. This kind of hardware collection—Scalent controllers, managed Ethernet switches, and target servers—is referred to as a virtual Rack (vRack).
To complement the physical view, the Scalent Console provides a logical view of the environment that is connection-centric. Instead of seeing the vRack with five physical servers, an administrator sees seven virtual servers in a virtual network with LAN and SAN connections based on virtual switches and virtual WWPNs. That simplifies dealing with composite IT applications, such as Web services and complex SOA environments. Once the physical network is wired, logical, application-centric and virtual networks can be created at will. Click here to enlarge image
Scalent V/OE supports Windows Server 2003, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Sun Solaris on X86- or SPARC-based systems. Thin-client services are supported for Microsoft Terminal Services and Citrix Presentation Server (formerly Citrix MetaFrame). V/OE also provides support for operating systems virtualization through support for the VMware ESX 2.5.x or 3.0.x Server and the Xen 3.x hypervisor. In particular, for the VMware ESX Server, with Scalent's ESX management software running on the ESX server, a VMware ESX Server will appear in the Scalent console similar to a blade server chassis with full real-time details of each virtual machine running on the ESX Server, just as if it were an independent blade server.
Our assessment tests were designed to examine the ability of Scalent V/OE to simplify the administration of a Web services or SOA environment. To that end, we ran personas built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server. Virtualization was tested running VMware ESX Server. For application environments, openBench Labs ran Apache Web servers, BEA WebLogic application servers, and an Oracle database.
There are many tools that provide virtualization services for specific resources, such as the virtualization of a vendor's storage array or a particular system virtualization scheme, along with management software for those resources. There are very few tools, however, designed to help system and storage administrators bridge the gaps between silos of virtualization technology by providing centralized management for all virtualized devices.
By virtue of the fact that Scalent V/OE software virtualizes connections between systems (both physical and virtual systems) with storage and network resources (again, both physical and virtual resources) system and storage administrators get a clear understanding of the all of the relationships among the physical and logical devices from the Scalent Console, which is a Web-based GUI to the Scalent Controller. In addition, deep support for system virtualization environments, such as VMware, provides centralized support for those environments. As a result, an administrator can take control of the full V/OE from a single-pane-of-glass interface.
Using the Scalent Console, a system administrator has a number of different views of the environment that cover all aspects of IT operations. Within all of these views, administrators can access a wealth of context-sensitive help and utilize drag-and-drop techniques to create, extend, and manage the virtual environment. Dragging and dropping personas, virtual switches, and virtual WWPNs changes the reality of the operating environment. By dragging out a new icon, an administrator starts a physical server and connects it into an operating network. More importantly, the essence of the Scalent V/OE value proposition is the ability to create and manage multiple virtual environments without disturbing the physical environment. This is particularly important for sites running compound applications over multiple servers, such as Web services.
To simplify both the creation and provisioning of virtual environments, the Scalent Console provides Catalog Views of all V/OE resources. In the various Catalog Views, administrators use the left-hand panel to search for elements in the Scalent-managed environment and use the right-hand panel to configure those elements. For example, to create a new persona from a gold master template in the persona catalog, an administrator first clones the template and then assigns appropriate virtual SAN and LAN connections to the new persona to add the proper SAN and LAN connectivity.
The Catalog View of personas provides a list of all of the possible server configurations that have been defined, such as the BEA WebLogic application servers used in our openBench Labs test scenario. In addition, the persona catalog includes templates as gold masters to define new personas. Typically, these templates will include configuration information for the OS and the application software, such as our template for an Apache Web server. The only configuration data needed to activate the template as a persona can be selected from catalogs of virtual SAN and LAN connections. Click here to enlarge image
This is precisely what openBench Labs did to assess the ease of adding a new server and bootable persona into our Scalent V/OE framework. To the existing managed network, we added a new vRack into which we placed a ProLiant DL580 server running SuSE Enterprise Linux 9 and an Apache Web server.
The process of creating that persona for our server was very straightforward. After a standard local installation of the OS, the Scalent agent software and VLAN driver were installed to enhance the functionality of the server within the Scalent-managed environment. A reboot of the server made it a member of the managed network, which also made it visible in the Scalent Console. At this point, any additional application software should be loaded on the server and any vNICs and vWWPNs can be selected from a pool assigned for LAN and SAN connectivity that meet any fabric zoning constraints on resources.
However, to get the full value in terms of re-purposing persona on this server in the managed network, the server needs to be set to boot from the network, and the persona must be copied to the proper catalog on the NFS distribution server, which in our scenario was handled by the Scalent V/OE controller. Once we did that, the server could be loaded with any persona, and its persona could be loaded on any server appropriate for the persona.
For our final operational test, we installed an Oracle database for Linux on the ProLiant DL 580. Next, we created a second persona with the appropriate SAN connectivity that would be loaded from the Scalent V/OE catalog. We were able to select this new persona and reboot our test server from the Scalent Console. After the reboot, the server came up with its new application and the appropriate SAN connectivity for its new role. More importantly, all of this was done from the Scalent Console with no changes needed at either the SAN switch or the storage virtualization application for the storage array that the new persona accessed.
Working just from the Scalent Console, we re-purposed systems using an appropriate set of persona for our test V/OE environment at will. In each case, the system came up with all the appropriate SAN and LAN connectivity. As a result, we could now introduce N+1 redundancy for our test environment with one hot-spare server assigned to all of the servers within a particular resource pool. More importantly, the ease with which systems can be re-purposed makes it possible to provide system backup by shutting down non-critical systems, such as a system serving as a development test server.
After we cabled a ProLiant DL580 G3 server into the Scalent network and added Scalent's agent software and VLAN driver to SuSE Enterprise Linux 9 OS on that server, we were easily able to add that server to Scalent V/OE. In the Dashboard view of the Scalent Console, the new vRack that we created expressly for the ProLiant DL580 was visible along with the VMRack, which provides the virtual machine details for the ESX server running in our initial vRack of test systems. From Scalent Console, we could then reboot the server and change its persona (see inset). Click here to enlarge image
Using Scalent V/OE, we had virtualized our SAN connections to create a wire-once fabric to simplify data-center system management. Through its Web-based GUI, Scalent Console provided us with a single-pane-of-glass interface for numerous system administration tasks. More importantly, the console provided a unified context for both the physical and logical topologies of our IT infrastructure, as well as a better understanding of the real-time relationships between the physical and virtual IT environments.
IT will increasingly apply virtualization to increase the utilization of new and existing resources and simplify systems/storage management. By extending virtualization to the way infrastructure resources—both physical and virtual—connect, Scalent V/OE ensures virtualization schemes work as expected, are easily managed, and provide all of their cost-savings potential.
Jack Fegreus is CTO of openBench Labs (www.openbench.com). He can be reached at jack.fegreus@openbench.com.
openBench Labs Scenario
UNDER EXAMINATION
Virtualization of SAN and LAN connections for a wire-once environment
WHAT WE TESTED
Scalent Virtual Operating Environment (V/OE) software
Architecture support for X86 (Intel and AMD) and SPARC
OS support for Linux, Windows, Solaris
Virtual machine support for VMware ESX 2.5.x, 3.0.x, and Xen
Fibre Channel HBA support for Emulex and QLogic
Network persona booting via NFS (Linux, Solaris) and iSCSI (Windows)
Two Cisco Catalyst 2950 managed switches
HP ProLiant DL580 G3 Server
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9
Scalent V/OE maintains pools of stateless server images
V/OE cleanly separates the management of servers from SANs and LANs through the creation of virtual HBAs and NICs.
V/OE is not in the data path so there is no performance impact or a single point of failure.
If Scalent components fail, there is no impact on the data-center systems.


text:
#pragma once

#include <thrust/scan.h>
#include <prelude/runtime/make_cuarray.hpp>
#include <prelude/runtime/make_sequence.hpp>
#include <prelude/runtime/tags.h>
#include <thrust/iterator/retag.h>
#include <prelude/primitives/stored_sequence.h>
#include <thrust/iterator/permutation_iterator.h>

namespace copperhead {

template<typename SeqX, typename SeqI>
sp_cuarray
permute(const SeqX& x, const SeqI& i) {
    typedef typename SeqX::tag Tag;
    typedef typename SeqX::value_type T;
    typedef typename detail::stored_sequence<Tag, T>::type sequence_type;

    boost::shared_ptr<cuarray> result_ary = make_cuarray<T>(x.size());
    sequence_type result =
        make_sequence<sequence_type>(result_ary,
                                     Tag(),
                                     true);
    typedef typename sequence_type::iterator_type ElementIterator;
    typedef typename SeqI::iterator_type IndexIterator;
    thrust::permutation_iterator<ElementIterator,
                                 IndexIterator> pi(
                                     result.begin(),
                                     i.begin());
    thrust::copy(x.begin(), x.end(), pi);
    return result_ary;
}

template<typename SeqX, typename SeqI, typename SeqD>
sp_cuarray
scatter(const SeqX& x, const SeqI& i, const SeqD& d) {
    typedef typename SeqX::tag Tag;
    typedef typename SeqX::value_type T;
    typedef typename detail::stored_sequence<Tag, T>::type sequence_type;

    boost::shared_ptr<cuarray> result_ary = make_cuarray<T>(d.size());
    sequence_type result =
        make_sequence<sequence_type>(result_ary,
                                     Tag(),
                                     true);
    //Copy d to preserve value semantics
    thrust::copy(d.begin(), d.end(), result.begin());
    typedef typename sequence_type::iterator_type ElementIterator;
    typedef typename SeqI::iterator_type IndexIterator;
    thrust::permutation_iterator<ElementIterator,
                                 IndexIterator> pi(
                                     result.begin(),
                                     i.begin());
    thrust::copy(x.begin(), x.end(), pi);
    return result_ary;
}

}


Happy to support my colleagues! Sorry I cannot join you but I will be cheering you on!
May God bless you mija for the hard work you do every day to help the homeless, love you!
Mick, Thanks for serving the Lord in this way, and allowing us to have a small part in it.
Thankful for all you do, Mick!
You da man. We love you, buddy, and love the work that the Lord is doing through you!
God Bless the URM and the great people that work there!
We love how God is working through you at URM!


Continuously moving loads will benefit from these soft polyurethane wheeled castors from Elesa as their 75 Shore A moulded-on wheels coupled to ball bearing hubs give exceptionally smooth rollability coupled with excellent maneuverability and zero maintenance.
The RE.F2-N castors and wheels are suitable for tiled or cement-resin floors. With a robust pressure die cast aluminium wheel body they provide a capacity of up to 2000N – well suited to light industrial carriages, continuously moving equipment, transfer stillages and instrument mounting trollies.


Apparently, You CAN Fool Me Twice.
At 10:38 I was out and about, nearly done with my errands, when my phone rings. It was Dino with Time Warner Cable. He said would like to come to the house a little early. When I asked how early he responded '10:45'. I was not going to be home by then so I had him call my husband.
Flash forward to when I get home. Dino had already been there a few minutes, waiting for the box to finish doing it's thing. We talked about Adelphia vs. Time Warner and how he used to work for Cablevision. We talked about all sorts of cable related items. When he was ready to go I joked that I should take his picture because last time a cable guy was out he did not take care of things properly. He had promised to call first thing the next morning, and we never heard from him again. I told him I even blogged about it and saved the name, supervisor's name and number, and ticket number in my phone. I started taking out my phone as my husband ushered Dino out the door. You can read about the past ordeal here, I'll wait.
Dino, you sneaky, slippery little sucker.
Our cable box still isn't recording or pausing, so someone will have to come out again. I hope it's Dino. I'm going to tell him!


text:
Hotter Than Hell: The X-Rated KISS Photo Shoots
October 18, 2017 reprobatepress Article One comment
Shock Rock, wild parties and naked kinky photoshoots – rock 'n' roll in the 1970s.
Before the Kiss fan base became juvenile dominated in the second half of the 1970s, the band – still without hit records – were very much rock 'n' roll outlaws, albeit very ambitious ones. Their unpolished sound, basic playing skills and outrageous image actually made them more punk than many a punk act who would follow them a few years later, and the band were part of that sleazy early 1970s New York glam rock and wild sex scene as much as the New York Dolls.
The band's second album, Hotter Than Hell, is noted for the Japanese-flavoured artwork and writing that led many fans to believe, incorrectly, that the album had been recorded in that country. Less discussed were the back cover images of the band members, even though a couple – featuring guitarist/singer Paul Stanley and drummer Peter Criss – hinted at the sort of sexual antics that we all assume 1970s rock bands were getting up to all the time.
As it turns out, the photoshoot that spawned these images really was a somewhat spontaneous bacchanalian orgy. Photographer Norman Seeff seems to have encouraged wild decadence from the band and a bunch of wildly costumed, body-painted models and groupies in Los Angeles. Everybody (apart from teetotaller Gene Simmons) was drunk, and the session was more party than photoshoot, with sex and drugs rather outweighing the rock 'n' roll. Most of the photos didn't see the light of day until recently.
In August 1975, the band did another X-rated shoot, this time with photographer Fin Costello – the man behind the iconic Kiss Alive! cover – and model Megan McCracken, who lived with Kiss manager Bill Aucoin and who stepped in at the last minute. It's pretty astounding stuff, with BDSM gear, blood and nudity, and no one seems quite sure where it was intended to be published. Bizarrely, I had this as a T-shirt image as one of those juvenile Kiss fans in the late 1970s, and I don't think anyone actually realised what the photo was, thanks to the poor-quality transfer. The likelihood of a band – at least a band looking for mainstream, popular success – doing a shoot like this today are slim. Imagine the social media reaction?
By 1999, the band's days as teen idols were long over, and in keeping with their image as decadent rockers, hair metal lotharios and (in the case of Gene Simmons at least) notorious womanisers meant that a photo shoot for Playboy made perfect sense… although you suspect that this was a considerably tamer affair than the Hotter Than Hell session.
And as a bonus, here are a few images from Naked Girls Reading, when the undressed book connoisseurs took on the various Kiss autobiographies.
BUY KISS ALBUMS AND DVDS
1970s1990sbdsmFin CostelloGene SimmonsGlam RockHotter Than HellkinkKissMegan McCrackenNorman SeeffPlayboysexy
Previous Post: Review: Such Small Hands – Andrés Barba
Next Post: Devil Worship – The Rise Of Satanism
Pingback: Review: Access All Areas – Scott Ian – The Reprobate


Our church picnic has been rescheduled for September 16th from 4:00 - 6:00 PM at the Double Tree Ranch at 310 Highland Village Road in Highland Village. Join us for food, fellowship, and live music. There will also be a splash pad so bring your kids in swim suites if you'd like them to play in the water. We will provide the food - you bring the fun!