text:
Leave the Sikhs alone, you bastards

ignorant redneck scum:

A billboard designed to educate drivers on Interstate 78 about Sikhism, an Indian religion that Americans often confuse with Islam, has been removed after it was marred by profanity aimed at Muslims.

"Arabs go to hell," someone wrote across the billboard in black, along with "Jesus Saves," "Hell Yeah USA" and a four-letter expletive directed at "Alah." Muslims pray to Allah, which is Arabic for God.

The vandalism in Berks County came as midstate police were investigating threatening letters and e-mails sent to Muslims in the Harrisburg and York areas. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission said Friday there have been "at least seven" such messages in the past two months.

"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." -- Yoda

UPDATE: Incidents like these are why I have defended and continue to support CAIR, even though I believe that the national leadership are fools. No one else will fight for muslims in the face of increasing Islamophobia. It should be noted though that there is plenty of disagreement about CAIR within the american muslim community.

tvoh said...

See, this is why I only want Muslim or Mexican or Asian Ph.D. candidates or scientists to immigrate here. We have a sizable underclass as it is and we don't need anyone else's goofballs.

Also, our headcases have to be a little more circumspect about it. No church burnings for them, just furtive grafitti in the dark of night. Being part of a group yelling epithets at the mosque or synagogue gets you called in by the boss for a little talk and some sensitivity training.

Lest you think I'm a snob, I am a jumped up descendant of the most benighted Euro-peasantry that ever existed. I do have sympathy for my class, but I don't romanticize it.

Harry Eagar said...

'fighting FOR the Muslims' is not actually an issue.

'fighting BY the Muslims' is the problem.

Or, from your perspective, the problem is that there's no way to tell the violent, crazy Muslims from the peaceful, tolerant ones.

CAIR sure doesn't make it any easier, does it?

Anyhow, you'll excuse me while I yawn at the seriousness of somebody dissing Muslims. Like it never happens the other way.

Harry Eagar said...

This is really funny. Last week, when the disgusting and unAmerican behavior of the Muslim hacks in Minnesota was exposed, CAIR and Aziz Poonawalla were conspicuously silent.

Where was the call for the Somalis to understand that their behavior is unacceptable by American standards?

Nowhere, that's where.

Meantime, the Islamophobes predicted that next, the Muslim hacks would start refusing blind passengers because their guide dogs are 'unclean.'

Well, that didn't take long, did it?

CAIR is an antiAmerican, anti civilized group. But keep pushing. Maybe the Muslim belief that there are no limits to our tolerance is correct.

Then again, maybe not.

21st Century Kashmiri Nomad said...

Stories such as this one show the true face of popular western attitudes to Islam.

They have hated Islam in the past, they do hate Islam in the present and they will probably continue to hate Islam in the future.

Arcane said...

Since when were yankees "rednecks"?

Anyways, sort of funny, especially since many Sikhs harbor anti-Islamic attitudes.

tvoh said...

Mr. Eagar,

I have my problems with Islam, but give Aziz some credit. His post "up yours, Abu Ayyub al-Masri" is at least evidence that he is not some mindless fanatic, unlike yourself.

Unfortunately, his use of vernacular English tells me has assimilated a bit too much.

tvoh said...

21st Century Kashmiri Nomad,

And that murdered num is evidence of what precisely?

Harry Eagar said...

Objecting to racist fanatics who refuse to provide public services to blind people makes ME a mindless fanatic?

Objecting to Masri is a pretty low hurdle, by the way. I'm still waiting for Poonawalla to do two things:

1. Object to the daily indecencies that Muslims demand we accept in order to accommodate their savagery.

2. Explain how we are to understand that the statements made by, eg, the leaders of CAIR are not, somehow, reflective of, you know, the people CAIR says it speaks for. You know, Muslims.

tvoh said...

That is all fair enough. Your questions are valid. CAIR is not my favorite group. Aziz made his position clear:

"I do not hide the fact that I am pro-CAIR and that my assessment of the organization is that while there are several fools at the top at the national level, the state-level branches do essential and good work."

Is that the right position. Not as far as I'm concerned, but unless I wish to exhaustively investigate local chapters, I don't necessarily irrational.

Should Aziz answering all our kaffir questions. That would be nice, especially if he is going to scream about "our" rednecks. However, I suspect that was not the purpose for which he started this blog.

It is a heck of a burden to be called on to defend all the billion or so Moslems in this world. Do you want the burden of defending the West. Actually, I am okay with it. Just don't ask me to defend the actions of every Christian or western government. For example, Freedom of speeh and press is absolute for me and a glory of the West, and that Moslems, other than pointing out the ungentlemanly aspects of portraying their prophet with a bomb turban, riot and kill, well that is barbaric and they deserve to be called on it. When they turn around and mention the denial of that freedom and the incarceration of David Irving, I am embarassed. You want Aziz to explain things, how do you explain this?

So let me turn this around on you, Harry, you're great for the attack. Are you, or are you not defending the graffiti that Aziz finds disgusting?

Harry Eagar said...

1. I have a sawbuck that says if they ever catch the perp, it'll turn out to be a Muslim provocateur. (The careful misspelling of Allah is the tipoff.)

2. The offense is vandalism. That's all. If somebody wants to say something unpleasant about Muslims, fire away. It's still a free country, although it won't be if CAIR gets its way.

3. Irving was tried in a court of law, not in the street. Whether the law is a reasonable one or not is something that could be debated. That one approach is civilized and the other not is undebatable.

4. I have a proposal for Muslims who claim to want to live harmoniously with infidels. How about calling for a 'hate-free day'?

Start small. Build confidence, as the diplomats like to say.

Choose, say, a Friday. Friendly-to-infidels-Muslims would strenuously lobby their imams around the world to have just one Friday where no Muslim prays to have the satisfaction of murdering Jews, where no Muslim screams for the death of homosexuals. When no church is bombed for being a church, no Baha`i is hanged for believing in God.

Who knows? Muslims might even find that behaving like ordinary, decent people is fun.

Then they could build more and more, and someday maybe 21st century Muslims could become famous for becoming the first of their creed to treat their own daughters as well as infidels treat stray dogs.

tvoh said...

1. Maybe
2. The implication is you are okay with the sentiment if it is real.
3.von Stauffenberg was tried in a court of law too. Any court that tries speech is a kangaroo court.
4.All that would be desired. Do you think Moslems have no case at all? Certainly, I hardly think Palestine will be Switerland under a Palestinian administration, but they have a point about occupation. Are you surprised that the natives resist us in Iraq unless we are beating up their old enemies(Kurds vs. Sunnis)?

I think we should separate from almost all Muslims because the multi cultural agenda is foolish. Still, one should make some effort to see the other guys point.

Arcane said...

Dude, it's insane for you to go out calling for all Muslims to come out in mass protest whenever some other Muslim decides to go apeshit, and then, when they don't do what you want them to do, accuse them of supporting radicals.

When white neo-Nazis burn down churches populated by blacks, do you expect masses of white people to come out and protest the neo-Nazis? No, of course not.

What the heck is with this "Muslims must come out in mass protest whenever another Muslim goes apeshit" meme? It's nuts!

Harry Eagar said...

That was a really horrible example for two reasons:

1. Neo-Nazis didn't burn black churches.
(Most of the black churches that did burn were torched by blacks, in at least two cases by their preachers.)

2. When it was thought, incorrectly, that Nazis had burned a church in Alabama (instead, it was drunken college students), there was a storm of protest, it was the lede story in every newspaper in the country. Community sentiment was clear and unmistakable.

It is not clear that Muslim community sentiment is clearly and unmistakably disgusted by the indecent behavior of the Minneapolis drivers, is it? In fact, such evidence as has so far come out shows that Muslims think their co-religionists are in the right.

Well, at some point, Muslims are going to have to choose between their spiritual beliefs and common decency.

Should every single Muslim be required to demonstrate against every single outrage? That would keep them busy, all right. However, their imams are pretty much obliged to do so. In defense of their own conception of a Religion of Peace, and without reference to anything infidels might wish. Or so one would think.

Arcane said...

I was using neo-Nazis as an example... insert another crime then. Neo-Nazis murder people every year, so it shouldn't be hard. My point stands.

tvoh said...

Not wishing to defend Harry, indeed I am not at all eagar to do so, I doubt that the amount of murders committed by neo nazis is statisticallysignificant.

This may not be by intent. I suspect that neos realize that the murders they perpetrate will be subject to far more resources than others.

Harry Eagar said...

Even more to the point, neo-Nazis have no friends. There isn't a CANR -- Council on American-Neo-Nazi Relations -- demanding 'sensitivity training' so that Americans can learn to put up with Neo-Nazi outrages.

Arcane said...

You missed my point. Point is that it is ridiculous to call for Muslims to conduct mass protests and denunciations whenever one Muslim goes apeshit.

Should white people have come out in mass protest to the bombings conducted by Timothy McVeigh?

Harry Eagar said...

Well, could they at least stop coming out to support those Muslims who 'go apeshit'? (And, could they 'go apeshit' a little less often, maybe?)

When the Neo-nazis prepared to march in Skokie, it was front page news for months. Hundreds, maybe thousands of organizations representing just about every variety of Americans except the couple dozen Neo-nazis agitated endlessly about the march and fought among each other whether the big issue was anguish to insulted Jews or free speech.

If you'll recall, free speech won, in law and generally in the court of public opinion.

Now, compare that with reaction to the cartoons.

Muslims -- the ones who expect to be taken as participants in a world community -- might start asking themselves, 'why are we always out of step? Is there something at bottom wrong about the position we have staked out for ourselves among the unbelievers?'

If they did ask themselves that and the answer was 'No' (as I expect it might be), then that changes the terms of the collision profoundly, does it not?

Arcane said...

Well, could they at least stop coming out to support those Muslims who 'go apeshit'?

Well, you're talking about Muslims in Europe here, in particular in places like Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, and Denmark. But here in the US, which is what this entire thread is about, it's a completely different matter.

Anonymous said...

"Leave the Sikhs alone, you bastards"

This title is to laugh as it is employed against suspected "rednecks" who defaced a Sikh billboard but would never, ever be employed by the islamic supremacist Aziz against Muslims who discriminate against and kill Sikhs in Muslim countries

Harry Eagar said...

It isn't 'a completely different matter.' You have not been reading our host.

He supports CAIR's 'defense' of Muslims. This amounts, often, to defense of the indefensible -- like exiling blind people to stand in the cold because they are infidels.

That Muslims in America don't riot very often is probably more a testament to our trigger-happy policing traditions than to Muslim restraint. You don't have to make many visits to Little Green Footballs to find pictures of provocative demonstrations by Muslims in American streets -- or at Columbia University, to take one recent example. Some of them violent enough, as it is.


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text:
Sunday, May 29, 2005

Goodbye C.S.R.A.

This is a conclusion. It's also a test. Today's post is the VERY LAST from the Central Savannah River Area, USA. It also marks the beginning of a format change. In the future, each post will include three photos that are somehow related and, although I will write something or other, text will be kept to a minimum. Don't worry, I haven't got a notebook full of poems I've been waiting to spring on you. I promise the text will be relevant, at least as relevant as it ever is. Also, in the last couple days, I've received comments fleshing out the details regarding the fire at the Hampton Terrace Hotel and verifying that the window the Galt sisters scratched their names into with Emily's engagement ring (before Emily's fiancee was killed in the Civil War and she leaped to her death) still exists. This is in addition to fact-filled comments on the brick factory, brick manufacturing, and the haunted honky-tonk (the main character from 3 Faces of Eve actually danced on tables there!). Man, I love this stuff. If you have info related to anything you read here, please leave a note. In fact, if you have a CSRA story that fits with City of Dust's style (sure, just a wee bit dark), then let me know and I'll post it. Hell, if you've got a good story from somewhere ELSE lemme know. Yes, YOU can now be a part of CoD. And thanks to everyone that's commented so far. This is also a good time to mention that James Brown, "the most famous person to come out of Augusta," according to Mayor Bob Young, got his statue. Awhile back I did a bit on why the James Brown festival was cancelled last year (domestic assault) and speculated about the status of the life-size bronze statue that went with it (gathering dust in a warehouse). Well, on May 6th, 3 days after the Godfather of Soul turned 72 years old, the statue was unveiled in Augusta Common. What the hell, they already had the thing made! Actually, regardless of his personal problems, I'd say the guy deserves a statue in his hometown. James attended the ceremony, but did not perform, a change from the original event. Rev. Al Sharpton, Brown's former road manager, was also present, and offered a prayer of dedication. At least he was supposed to. Nobody I know actually attended the event! No, I don't consider golf a valid excuse. (You know who you are!) So, if anyone can offer an eyewitness account, please do. A great picture of James at the edge of The Terry during the unveiling of JB Blvd. in 1993 can be found at the Augusta Chronicle. The shot is about 1/3 of the way down the page. The next post will be dedicated to Otis Redding. Check back to find out why. Oh, and the pictures are a last look at the Woolworth's that runs between Broad and Ellis. We've seen it before. Rumor is the building is soon to be renovated. G'night.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hello, I was glad to see James Brown get his staue up at last. It is a shame that it took so long, just imagine how different it would be if James Brown were a CW singer - the scrapes with the law would just be a bit of color. But let's not get in to that. Anyway, I made the ceremony and Sharpton did give a good long dedication prayer and James did join in with the band, there were some great baby ribs laid out on top of a big barbecue barrel and everyone had a great time. Sorry to see you move on but these thing generally work out for the better, even if you return you will know the reasons. Good luck

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text:
State pension reform: 10 charts showing the winners and losers

The government’s long-awaited white paper on state pension reform has finally arrived. The simplification a flat rate state pension will bring has been welcomed, although critics have questioned whether the public will win in the long term. Here are ten charts which tell you both the good and the bad about the proposed state pension regime.

Comment & analysis


text:
Automated Transactions Specification

In brief an Automated Transaction is a "Turing complete" set of byte code instructions which will be executed
by a byte code interpreter built into its host. An AT supporting host platform automatically supports various
applications ranging from games of chance to automated crowdfunding and ensuring that "long term savings" are
not lost forever.

User Requirements

The host will require changes to support the execution of Automated Transactions. These changes required need
to include a way for a user to publish an AT as well as a way of being able to execute up to a max. number of
steps for a given AT. After step execution is complete all relevant state for the AT is required to be stored
in a newly created block (a *hash* of the state could be used provided that AT execution is mandatory).

An AT needs to have an "account" (perhaps determined via a hash of its code) so that normal host users have a
simple way to "send it funds". It also needs to be able to send funds to others (where the transactions could
need to be recorded explictly for nodes that do not support running AT to be permitted).

An AT engine needs to be built into the host that supports basic validation of AT the instructions and allows
the execution of the AT to be controlled one step at a time.

Use Case #1: Lottery

Create a "lottery" program which will pay out its balance to a "winner" automatically once per week.

To purchase a "ticket" a host user would send X to the "lottery AT account" (where some of this amount may be
needed to pay for running the AT). The "ticket" itself would be need to be determinstic yet "random" (such as
a future block hash) and may have to be determined "well after the block that its purchase occurs in".

Use Case #2: Dormant Funds Transfer

Create a program that if not notified before a certain period of time will transfer its funds to one specific
account. The notification mechanism will be via an AM transaction and the content of the AM (if not empty) is
a new address to payout to (note that AMs may not be supported in all hosts).

Use Case #3: Project Crowdfunding Agent

Create a program that will at a certain time check if it has a balance greater than or equal to a target that
was hard-coded into it. If the required balance level has been reached then all funds will be then sent to an
account hard-coded into it. If the required balance has not been met then each tx sender will be refunded the
amount they sent (tx fees may also need to be considered).

Functional Requirements

Code in an AT will be run by an AT byte code interpreter which will use a fixed amount of memory per program.
ATs that require more than a "minimal" amount of memory will have a value deduced from their balance *before*
they are executed (if the balance is too small to result in any execution then execution would not occur with
no memory allocation actually being performed). It needs to be clearly understood that an AT can be halted at
any step so there can be no "working memory" or the like in the AT interpreter itself.

Both AT code and data need to be persistent (although data doesn't need to be stored until the AT has had one
or more steps executed). Blockchain pruning could not include ATs that have a non-zero account balance. There
should probably also be the ability to set a block number for execution so any unnecessary code execution can
be avoided (perhaps this could be stored as part of the account information for the AT). It should also be an
option to include initial values for (a portion of) the data area after the code.

An AT will need to be created via its own special type of transaction which will need to include a fee amount
large enough to cover the "costs" that the size of its code and data will dictate. Execution of AT code would
be expected to be dependent upon the account balance of the AT and this balance would be reduced by each step
executed (with some or all function call steps perhaps incurring more costs than non-function call steps).

It can be expected that over time an increasing number of ATs will be created so the cost for running AT code
must be kept to an absolute minimum. This will require AT code to be deterministic, and that its instructions
must not be able to take arbitrary amounts of time. This will limit the set of API functions accessible to an
AT to only those that do not require arbitrary scans over the blockchain (i.e. they should be only applicable
to indexed information).

An AT will be able to execute transactions (via the AT API) which can include different types of transactions
such as those for using AM (where this is applicable according to the host platform).

In order to satisfy the Lottery use case the following API functions need to be available to the AT engine:

Get_Last_Time_Stamp (will return the "time stamp" of the previous block)
Get_Tx_After (given a "time stamp" return the first tx id sent to the AT after it)
Get_Tx_Type (for a given tx id return the type and subtype of the tx)
Get_Tx_Amount (for a given tx id return the amount of host funds)
Get_Tx_Time_Stamp (for a given tx id return its "time stamp")
Get_Tx_Ticket_Num (for a given tx id return a "ticket value" *)
Get_Tx_Source_Account (given a tx id this returns the account id of the funds sender)
Get_Old_Balance (get the account balance of the AT after it had been last executed)
Send_Old_To_Account (for a given account will send the AT's old balance)
Send_Funds_to_Account (for a given account will send the given amount if the balance is enough to do so)

* note that this function won't return until enough confirmations have allowed it to become available (so
the AT will effectively sleep until it is ready to continue execution)

Time stamp values need to also include the transaction # (zero when requesting a block time stamp) so that it
is as simple as possible to do looping with API commands such as Get_Tx_After (and instead are really a block
number and transaction number concatenated).

Further API functions that will be required for the Dormant Funds Transfer are as follows:

Get_Creator (will return the account/address of the AT's creator)
Get_Balance (get the current account balance of the AT)
Get_AM_Val (for a given tx id return the requested 64 bit "chunk" of AM data)
Send_All_To_Account (for a given account will send the AT's remaining balance)

Some other suggested API functions not covered by the above use cases are as follows:

Send_AM (will cause the script to send an AM tx to a given account/address)

Note that the "Automated Transactions API Specification" document will provide a formal description for every
function that an AT can be guaranteed to use.

Technical Specifications

An AT creation tx would include header information along with the byte code and would optioinally include the
amount of host funds to transfer to become the AT's initial account balance (allowing execution to start from
the same block as the creation tx occurs).

0x0001 ; AT version (16 bits)
0x0000 ; (reserved) (16 bits)
0x0001 ; code pages (16 bits) (number of 256 byte pages required)
0x0001 ; data pages (16 bits) (number of 256 byte pages required)
0x0000 ; call stack (16 bits) (number of 256 byte pages required)
0x0000 ; user stack (16 bits) (number of 256 byte pages required)

[Code - to be length prefixed]

[Initial Data - also to be length prefixed]

Although theoretically an AT could be 32MB in size an AT will have to be restricted to a much smaller maximum
amount and all data bytes will need to be zeroed prior to initial execution. Note the version number would be
incremented with each release that either extends the AT interpreter or adds newer AT APIs.

State storage would need to include all data but also all other state that is necessary to "continue" running
an AT after any step it had previously stopped at.

0x00000000 ; flags (32 bits)
0x00000000 ; pc (32 bits) program counter
0x00000000 ; cs (32 bits) call stack counter
0x00000000 ; us (32 bits) user stack counter
0x00000000 ; pce (32 bits) program counter error handler point
0x00000000 ; pcs (32 bits) program counter next starting point
0x00000000 ; sleep_until (32 bits) execution to wait until >= this block
0x0000000000000000 ; stopped at balance (64 bits)*
0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 ; pseudo register A (256 bits)
0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 ; pseudo register B (256 bits)

* if AT stops set to current balance and execution will not continue until balance is greater (then clear it)

In order to conserve space it would be recommended to use two flags to indicate a zero value for the A and B
register (saving either 32 or 64 bytes).

The "flags" would include indicate whether the program has paused (so excution will be continued after the op
that had been last executed), stopped (so execution would continue from the beginning with all the data being
kept intact) or terminated (some ideas about how to handle "termination" will need to be examined and perhaps
the "reserved" part of the code header might need to be used to set some flags for this purpose).

Data addresses are a signed 32 bit value (negative values being invalid) that are used for accessing strictly
aligned 64 bit data value. If you consider a typical raw byte dump as follows:

00000000  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
          0x00000000 (address)    ------------------------
                                  0x00000001 (address)

then each line of 16 bytes would be data for two address (i.e. 0x00000000 and 0x00000001). Addresses for code
are also 32 bit. An op code is a single byte and AT API function numbers are 16 bits. For "branch" commands a
single signed byte offset is used (so can jump to another op code up to +-127 bytes from the current pc). The
"value" type for being able to set a constant value is a signed 64 bit integer.

The following table summarises the types:

opcode   (int8_t)   0x00
offset   (int8_t)   0x00
func #   (int16_t)  0x0000
address  (int32_t)  0x00000000
value    (int64_t)  0x0000000000000000

For AT creation and state updates all values broadcast or hashed must be "little endian". The actual physical
storage is of course up to each platform.

The following are suggested op codes (the hex values are what has been used in the "at.cpp" prototype).

Op Code           Hex    Additional             Operation (and comments)
-------           ----   -----------            -------------------------------------------------------------
NOP               0x7f                          (can be used for padding if required)
SET_VAL           0x01   addr,value             @addr = value
SET_DAT           0x02   addr1,addr2            @addr1 = $addr2
CLR_DAT           0x03   addr                   @addr = 0 (to save space rather than using SET_VAL with 0)
INC_DAT           0x04   addr                   @addr += 1
DEC_DAT           0x05   addr                   @addr -= 1
ADD_DAT           0x06   addr1,addr2            @addr1 += $addr2
SUB_DAT           0x07   addr1,addr2            @addr1 -= $addr2
MUL_DAT           0x08   addr1,addr2            @addr1 *= $addr2
DIV_DAT           0x09   addr1,addr2            @addr1 /= $addr2
BOR_DAT           0x0a   addr1,addr2            @addr1 |= $addr2
AND_DAT           0x0b   addr1,addr2            @addr1 &= $addr2
XOR_DAT           0x0c   addr1,addr2            @addr1 ^= $addr2
NOT_DAT           0x0d   addr                   @addr = ~$addr (bitwise not)
SET_IND           0x0e   addr1,addr2            @addr1 = $($addr2) (fetch indirect)
SET_IDX           0x0f   addr1,addr2,addr3      @addr1 = $($addr2 + $addr3) (fetch indirect indexed)
PSH_DAT           0x10   addr                   @--ustack_top = $addr
POP_DAT           0x11   addr                   $addr = @ustack_top++
JMP_SUB           0x12   addr                   @--cstack_top = pc + 5, pc = addr
RET_SUB           0x13                          pc = @cstack_top++
IND_DAT           0x14   addr1,addr2            @($addr1) = $addr2 (store indirect)
IDX_DAT           0x15   addr1,addr2,addr3      @($addr1 + $addr2) = $addr3 (store indirect indexed)
MOD_DAT           0x16   addr1,addr2            @addr1 %= $addr2
SHL_DAT           0x17   addr1,addr2            @addr1 <<= $addr2
SHR_DAT           0x18   addr1,addr2            @addr1 >>= $addr2
JMP_ADR           0x1a   addr                   pc = addr
BZR_DAT           0x1b   addr,offset            if $addr == 0 then pc += offset
BNZ_DAT           0x1e   addr,offset            if $addr != 0 then pc += offset
BGT_DAT           0x1f   addr1,addr2,offset     if $addr1 > $addr2 then pc += offset
BLT_DAT           0x20   addr1,addr2,offset     if $addr1 < $addr2 then pc += offset
BGE_DAT           0x21   addr1,addr2,offset     if $addr1 >= $addr2 then pc += offset
BLE_DAT           0x22   addr1,addr2,offset     if $addr1 <= $addr2 then pc += offset
BEQ_DAT           0x23   addr1,addr2,offset     if $addr1 == $addr2 then pc += offset
BNE_DAT           0x24   addr1,addr2,offset     if $addr1 != $addr2 then pc += offset
SLP_DAT           0x25   addr                   sleep until $addr timestamp*
FIZ_DAT           0x26   addr                   if $addr == 0 then pc = pcs and stop
STZ_DAT           0x27   addr                   if $addr == 0 then stop
FIN_IMD           0x28                          pc = pcs and stop
STP_IMD           0x29                          stop
SLP_IMD           0x2a                          sleep until the next block
ERR_ADR           0x2b   addr                   pce = addr
SET_PCS           0x30                          pcs = pc + 1
EXT_FUN           0x32   func                   func( )
EXT_FUN_DAT       0x33   func,addr              func( $addr )
EXT_FUN_DAT_2     0x34   func,addr1,addr2       func( $addr1, $addr2 )
EXT_FUN_RET       0x35   func,addr              @addr = func( )
EXT_FUN_RET_DAT   0x36   func,addr1,addr2       @addr1 = func( $addr2 )
EXT_FUN_RET_DAT_2 0x37   func,addr1,addr2,addr3 @addr1 = func( $addr2, $addr3 )

* where timestamp is actually a 32 bit block height stored in the high order 32 bits of the address value and
if the block height is not greater than the current block height then it will instead just operate as SLP_IMD

All instructions that modify the pc will need to ensure the value it is being set to is a valid code address.

Note that there is only a "code" and "data" segment. The "stacks" (if used) are actually included at the last
part of the data segment. If using any stack operations (i.e. PSH_DAT/POP_DAT/JMP_SUB/RET_SUB) then sufficent
data storage for both variables and the stacks would need to be allocated.

The call stack preceeds the user stack (with both growing backwards). The following picture illustrates this:

| data         |
|              |
|              |
|              |
|              |
|              |
|              |
| call stack   |
|              |
|              |
| user stack   |

For the purpose of being able to create an AT and to store its state after executing steps there will need to
specially created host transactions.


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
Seattle LB Smith earns Super Bowl MVP award

Only third linebacker to win Super Bowl MVP
Seattle Seahawks' Malcolm Smith (53) was the third linebacker in NFL history to be named MVP for his performance in the Super Bowl.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Malcolm Smith always was ready to step in when the Seattle Seahawks needed him.

Now he’s only the third linebacker in NFL history to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.

Smith returned an interception of regular-season MVP Peyton Manning 69 yards for a touchdown in the first half, recovered a fumble in the second half, and was part of a dominating defensive performance by Seattle during its 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

“I woke up jumping, bouncing,” Smith said when presented with a truck amid the confetti-strewn field after the game. “It turned out great for us tonight.”

Sure did. And it was rather appropriate that a member of Seattle’s league-leading “D’’ would be the MVP of the Super Bowl, considering the way the Seahawks shut down Manning and Denver’s record-breaking offense, forcing four turnovers and holding the Broncos scoreless until the last play of the third quarter.

Smith joined Ray Lewis of Baltimore in 2001, and Chuck Howley of Dallas in 1971 as the only linebackers to be picked as the top player in a Super Bowl. Only eight of 48 Super Bowls have ended with a defensive player getting the honor; the last example was Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Dexter Jackson in 2003.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas were first-team All-Pro selections this season, and both finished among the top five vote-getters for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Safety Kam Chancellor was a second-team All-Pro choice.

That trio of defensive backs is part of a talented secondary known as the “Legion of Boom,” and guys such as Smith often get overshadowed.

But it was Smith who wound up with the victory-sealing interception at the end of Seattle’s NFC championship game victory over the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago, grabbing the football after Sherman tipped it away from receiver Michael Crabtree in the end zone.

And then, in the biggest game of all, Smith’s pick-6 made it 22-0 late in the first half Sunday, and Seattle was on its way. He grabbed a fumble in the third quarter, too, as the Seahawks made sure the Broncos never made things interesting.

In many ways, Smith is emblematic of Seattle’s success this season.

First and foremost, he plays defense, the unit that is the heart and soul of the team.

He’s relatively young, in only his third year in the league.

He was not a high draft pick, taken in the seventh round out of Southern California, where he played for current Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

Pegged mainly as a special teams guy, his speed and ability to handle both outside linebacker slots earned notice.

When Bruce Irvin was suspended for four games in May for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, it was Smith who filled in as a starter.

When Bobby Wagner was sidelined, and K.J. Wright slid over to middle linebacker, Smith got another opportunity to start. And when Wright broke his right foot, well guess who Seattle called upon? Yep, Smith, of course.

Then suddenly, on Sunday, there he was at the Super Bowl, in the right place and right time, as usual.

Mild temps, transit woes mark NJ-NY Super Bowl

Fri, 02/24/2017 - 23:31

Rural boys rally to top Junction City

Fri, 02/24/2017 - 23:24

High school scores, boxes for Feb. 24, 2017.

High school boys

Read more
Fri, 02/24/2017 - 23:21

Hayden boys hold off Trojans for 72-66 win

After trading big shots with Topeka High for most of the way, the Hayden boys came up with the crucial stops when... Read more

Fri, 02/24/2017 - 22:35

Lynn leads Seaman boys past Topeka West

Tyler Lynn went out shooting in his final regular season home game.

Read more


text:
Publication Library

Energy Saving Recommended - Key Principles for a Successful Product Labeling Scheme

Energy Saving Recommended Certification MarkThis paper outlines the Energy Saving Recommended labeling scheme in the UK. It was presented at the 4th International Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances & Lighting Conference '06 (EEDAL'06), on June 21-23, 2006, in London, UK.

In July 2000, the Energy Saving Trust established the Energy Saving Recommended product labeling scheme to direct consumers to the most energy efficient products in the market. By using the Energy Saving Recommended label across the 19 different product groups, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers can help consumers to reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions. The 96 certified manufacturers and suppliers contribute to over 1700 products, all available through a publicly accessible online database.

Where products can be differentiated by their energy efficient properties, the Scheme aims to endorse the top 20% of products in class. This aim is realized through a consistent standard revision process for each of the product groups. Between April 2005 and March 2006, nine product standard revisions were completed. The Scheme continues to expand through:

  • a thorough standard-setting and revision process that gathers industry support and commitment, calculates the energy savings derived from endorsement, details the current and projected product sales with and without endorsement, and sets clear objectives;
  • providing manufacturers and suppliers with a detailed future direction on product standards;
  • a strong working relationship with partners (e.g., the Partnership's industry sector working groups provide market perspective, Defra's Market Transformation Programme provides technical support and ensures coherency with wider Government policy; all proposals for standard revision are peer reviewed by an independent panel of experts); and
  • the legal rights afforded from the label's certification mark status allows enforcement activity.

Regular product compliance and label monitoring exercises build on the credibility of the label. The Scheme constantly looks for ways to further embed itself within the marketplace and frequent evaluation exercises confirm that both consumers and the trade recognize the label and indicate that it influences consumers purchasing decisions, leading to improvements in environmental quality.

By using an approach embracing national and international best practice, the Scheme will continue to grow in effectiveness, building on enforcement activities, invoking continual improvement and benchmarking and fostering greater links with the industry.

Authors: Tom Lock and Jennifer Hindson

Information from: Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting (EEDAL)


text:
Friday, February 17, 2012

News Update Mang Inasal, Burger King lift Jollibee sales in 2011

Despite the acquisition of major fast-food chains, Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) managed a slight growth in net income last year.
In a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, Jollibee Foods noted that its net income totaled P3.253 billion, up 1.2 percent from P3.213 billion in 2010.
System wide retail sales expanded by 17 percent to P82.17 billon, while revenues increased by 17.9 percent to P62.9 billion.
"In the Philippines, the acquisition of Mang Inasal and Burger King contributed 92 percent of the 17.8-percent sales growth while the rest of the brands grew by 8.6 percent," according to JFC.
The company said it spent P6 billion in capital investments last year, of which P4 billion went to fixed assets — new stores and supply chain facilities — and P2 billion were invested in the acquisition of new businesses.
As of end-2011, the JFC group was operating 2,001 restaurants in the country and 468 abroad.
Apart from Jollibee, Mang Inasal and Burge King, the JFC brands include Chowking, Red Ribbon, and Greenwich. Its brands overseas are Yonghe King and Hong Zhuang Yuan. — CMA/VS


text:
Sunday, December 30, 2007

Strangers Among Us

My folks finally made it over today after rescheduling visits a half a dozen times due to one thing or another (mostly thanks to colds, flus and ear infections on this end). They brought birthday and Christmas gifts for Incrediboy, and we all had a ball playing with them. We had a nice visit over brownies and coffee, and I've felt fairly warm and fuzzy ever since.

My relationship with my parents has been a great source of angst for most of my adult life. I have never felt unloved - Yet have never felt that I quite lived up to their expectations of me - it seemed that I was always an unsavory blend of irritation and disappointment for them. Looking back I'm not sure how much of this was reflected by them and how much was assumption on my part - I will fully admit I could be a pain in the a$$. But my brother was a pleaser and bordered on being an overachiever - and while not maliciously, there were plenty of times that I was compared and subtly yet blaringly notified that was found wanting.

I don't think my parents meant to hurt me in any way - and I'm not altogether sure they are even aware they did. I don't hold a grudge toward them for any of it. But much of it is hard to overcome. I have often wondered how deeply it all has affected my self-perception, which has always been erratic.

We get along fine, but are not especially close. Many people talk with their parents and/or see them several times a week. I have often gone weeks or even months without talking to my folks, and it's been a good half a year since I saw them last. Rather strange considering they live less than an hour away from us. Granted, they have both been struggling with illnesses this past year, but it has always been this way.

Many times a visit with my folks has been upsetting. I feel it disrespectful to go into details, but suffice it to say I am very sensitive to their judgment, even as a grown woman of otherwise strong fortitude and confidence. Somehow I am always a little girl of terribly fragile emotion in their presence. And while I don't take sh!t from anyone in everyday life, I have a way of allowing the tiniest remark from them destroy me for hours or even days.

But something seems to have changed in this past year. Most likely hinged upon my Dad's battle with cancer, we are all a bit closer, a bit more comfortable and a bit less guarded.

We are still not a close-knit family as most are - it's more the feeling of extended family rather than immediate. My son knows who they are and is excited at the prospect of seeing them when we do - but shies away from them if a hug is suggested.

I think it bothers them a little. It does me, too.

I often long for the closeness that nearly everyone else seems to have in their families. But my family is mine, and I love them. I will take whatever is given.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

I have had the creeps all day.

My neighbor down the road was killed today. He was stabbed in the abdomen, in his home, by some guy who just got released from prison. Apparently he knew the guy because he told the deputy his name before dying from his wounds. The perpetrator was long gone by then, and could've been anywhere. A statewide manhunt was launched.

The whole thing is particularly troublesome to me, because we moved way out here into Sticksville in order to get away from some of the dangers of city living. There's some sort of Mayberry-esque illusion to life that comes with country living - an ungrounded impression that you are somehow safer. Not that we've ever felt comfortable enough to leave our doors unlocked or anything like that - but you just kind of figure the dangers of modern life are a little more distant from you.

In many ways they probably are. But bad stuff happens everywhere.

Earlier this evening the killer was apprehended and taken into custody. But that didn't help ease the creepy feeling that someone was watching me through our windows.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Silent Night

It's been a busy day for Clew. I got up at 7:30 (which, actually, is sleeping in for me) - Hub was working most of the day so it was just Incrediboy, MBDog and me. I tried to get some chores done but it was difficult, as Incrediboy was in the mood for company and MBDog was being a general pain in the butt. I did manage to get a few loads of laundry done and get the kitchen cleaned, but weeding out toys in preparation for the new deluge in a few days has been slow going. And I never did get my morning plan of mopping and sealing the hardwood done until after Incrediboy was asleep tonight.

An immensely busy day considering I really didn't get too much done. But that's how it goes sometimes. And that's okay :).

I have a lot left to do in the next few days. Incrediboy was sick for the latter half of the week so I'm even further behind on chores than I usually am. But I also have a lot done. Presents for Incrediboy's best Christmas ever are wrapped and hiding in our bedroom closet. The infamous tow truck is in the trunk of my car, waiting to become a part of something amazing in a little boy's eyes. These, the important things, are done.

Hub turned in early after his long day and MBDog joined him. I just got out of a desperately needed shower and am sitting with a nice cozy cup of gingerbread spice tea. The TV is down low and the lights of our Christmas tree are sweetly serenading the corner of my eye. An entire corner of our family room displays Christmas cards from the friends with which we are richly blessed. Our stockings drape gracefully from the mantle, waiting patiently to be filled. Visions of sugarplums are dancing in the blue bedroom down the hall.

I should be doing some more chores instead of sitting on the couch in my fuzzy robe, drinking tea and blogging. My folks are visiting in a few days and I pretty much need to clean every room but the kitchen - and that too will surely need cleaned again by Tuesday. But just for tonight, I wanted to slow down. I wanted to pause long enough to savor the company of the holiday's quieter side. It's been a long time since I've done that.

Merry Christmas, friends.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Canine Design - for Coffeypot

Hello, blog buddies! The holiday preparations are keeping me busy and I haven't had much time to post nor to visit around much. In lieu, I am republishing an old post of mine from April 2006, in honor of my newest blogfriend, Coffeypot - an amusingly grumpy and fussy guy on the surface, but with a heart as big as the moon for dogs. I love that in a person.

Hope you're all well! Be back soon ~

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"It had been (my dog)'s job to raise me. All that time we had been having fun, going for walks, getting into trouble, being companions and friends in some great adventure. And I had spent so much time teaching him to sit, stay, lie down, roll over. But all along, he had been teaching me. It is the child that makes the man, and in this case it was a dog. All along it had been the dog doing the teaching, not me. How do you like that? And I love him for it ... and will for the rest of my life."

- Carlo De Vito

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anyone who knows me, knows I love my dog to a ridiculous degree. He is my 4 footed son. I love dogs in general, and I firmly believe that anyone who doesn’t like dogs has a serious defect in their wiring.

Dog is God spelled backwards. Have you ever noticed? Probably a random coincidence of English language – as I’m sure this wouldn’t apply in all other tongues. But that is a delightful and poignant little thing to me. Dogs are uniquely special creatures, purposefully designed to hold a precious place in the hearts and lives of mankind. And as in all blessed relationships, the rewards outweigh the annoyances so greatly that the aggravations fade into the shadows before they even brand your heart with a grudge.

Having a dog in your life will award you with the world’s sweetest gifts and most understated lessons. As touched upon in the quote above, we have as much to be taught from them as they have from us, if not moreso. Most Beautiful Dog shows us every day that joy is not only simply found but so easily attainable. He is thrilled to see us whether we’ve been gone all day or only for a few moments behind the bathroom door. He is always up for romping and playing, and is never hesitant about showing his emotions honestly. He senses when we are sad, and responds with gentle quiet sympathy. He’s unpretentious and never puts on airs. And most importantly, if we are harsh with him, he doesn’t hold it against us – he immediately apologizes with a sorrowful gaze of his dazzling amber eyes, and then works on making friends again.

I wish I could be half the good person Most Beautiful Dog is. I try to follow his examples in my interactions with others, though I usually fall short.

Our biggest problem with Most Beautiful Dog is getting him to come when we call. We have taught him to sit, lie down, roll over, even “pray” - but can we teach him to come when we call? No-o-o-o-o! He doesn't come when we call. He only comes when he thinks what we’re doing right now is more exciting than what he's doing right now.

I’d love for MBDog to come when I call him. It’s recently occurred to me that maybe he’s teaching me another lesson. I don’t always listen to my Master, either.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Creating Christmas Magic

I finished up my shopping for what I anticipate to be the best Christmas morning ever – and now in my typical, second-thought style, and in the spirit of “your kids will have more fun playing with the empty box”, I’m wondering if I should have saved what could have otherwise been a new HDTV, for example.

Incrediboy’s preschool class has a variety of toys available for the kids to enjoy during free time. Incrediboy has become particularly enamored with a tow truck that is amongst the toys. It’s blue, about a foot long, with a working hook. It’s made by Matchbox and is probably 8 or 10 years old by the looks of it.

I’ve been trying to find him one of his own since he adores it so much, but I haven’t been able to locate one anywhere. I looked in all kinds of stores, on Amazon, even on eBay. Nothing. I can only assume they don’t make them anymore.

The class talked about their wish list to Santa the other day and Miss S, their teacher, helped them write it on a list and hang up on the classroom door. Most lists had 7 or 8 items of typical fare … Spiderman stuff, Transformers, Hannah Montana, Barbie, a football, a new bike, etc. Every other page is full, though.

What was Incrediboy’s list, of only two items?

Number two item: A new box of crayons. (Easy enough)
Number one item: A tow truck just like the one in Miss S’s classroom.

Miss S informed me that she asked Incrediboy, “That’s all you want?”, to which he replied, “Yep. If I get a tow truck like that I’ll be the happiest boy in the whole world!”

I repeat, I can’t find that truck anywhere. And while I always swore I’d never fall into this kind of game, it really upsets me that I can’t get him the one thing he really wants. We’ve gotten him a lot of nice things, and I know he’ll be thrilled with life on Christmas morning. But oh how I wish I could indulge my little boy’s belief and faith in Santa Claus by giving him the one thing he wants most!

Miss S is aware of my difficulties in finding said tow truck. And God love her, she spoke to Miss M, the preschool director about it. They decided, without me even asking, that if I wanted to bring in a replacement truck - not even a fancy one! – that we could have the old tow truck for Incrediboy.

So here’s what I was thinking. I won’t wrap it, as it’s not new. But I’ll leave it by the empty cookie plate, with a note to this effect:

Dear Incrediboy,

I saw your Christmas list you wrote at school. I do not make this same tow truck in my toy shop anymore, but I talked to Miss S and we agreed that I would leave another truck for your classroom so that you can have this one for your own. Merry Christmas!

Love, Santa

I can’t wait to see his face.

I’d have loved to get him a new one. But the simple fact is, I know he won’t care. He loves that tow truck. I just hope he’ll be interested in some tiny way, in his other sparkly new Christmas gifts. :)

Monday, December 10, 2007

Moments of Holiday Angst & Pride

I still haven’t put the icicles on the tree and am considering just skipping it altogether. We haven’t put it up for several years now, and while Hub and I both agree it really adds to the tree’s personality, we have been worried that MBDog will snack on it while we’re not watching, which in turn will be a mess as it exits him – IF it exits him.

Speaking of, our gigundous tree all but blocks the front window, but there’s enough room for MBDog to squeeze in between and check out what’s happening in the front yard. Being a sporting breed, he loses his fool mind if he even thinks he might see a deer, rabbit, bird or chipmunk – springboarding off the windowsill with a coronary-inducing BOO ROO ROO, nails clattering on the hardwood and dining room chairs slamming into the table as he tears to other windows.

The other night, some bird had the audacity to sachet through our front yard, and MBDog threw his standard nervous breakdown at the window. This time, however, the tree was there and he’d worked his way underneath and into it in order to assume his patrolling position. His BOO ROO ROO was accompanied by a quick and violent twisting of my tree and a harsh tinkling and crunching of ornaments. I kneejerk-reacted with a yelp at him as I shot off the couch, and he practically took the tree down trying to scoot out of the room.

I examined my poor tree. Many of the ornaments had swung around to lay on top of their respective branches rather than hang down from them, but miraculously nothing seemed broken. Not that I've found yet, anyway. I could have sworn I heard something fragile go "crunch", though.

I did notice, however, that the internal light strand (the one that twinkles) is no longer lit.

After going through 15 light strands to find only 6 that still work, I’m this close to throwing the whole tree right out the front door.

In brighter news (pardon the pun), Incrediboy’s Christmas Concert was Friday evening. His preschool class did a play in which he and his best friend were two of the wise men. They did exceptionally well – I thought for sure some tomfoolery would be going on.

Well, maybe there was a little bit - but not too bad ;).

After their play, his class sat on the stage and prepared to sing a song as a group. "Away in a Manger". As soon as they started, my son - never one to draw attention to himself – grabbed the microphone from the hand of his teacher who sat next to him and belted out a strong rendition without the slightest bit of self-consciousness. He received an enthusiastic round of applause, and he beamed – with that look in his eye. That look that says, “Ahhh, me public!”

He may look a lot like me, but he’s Daddy through and through.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

"I've got the wholllle bed - to myself..."

I’ve been indulging myself the past few evenings. The hub is out of town on a guys’ trip, which leaves me alone with the children (human and canine) in our big ole house. Upon putting Incrediboy to bed and wrapping up my evening activities around the abode, Most Beautiful Dog and I turn in for the night.

Now while we have a strict rule that Incrediboy sleeps in his OWN room, not ours – MBDog has always shared our bed. It was much more convenient and manageable when he weighed 7 pounds rather than his current 70, but the benefits outweigh the hassles. He’s a sweet, affectionate boy that is the perfect shape to spoon yourself around when he’s curled up in a ball next to you. Now if he decides to stretch out, and make room for himself by forcefully pushing on you with his giant paws, that’s another story … But usually it’s all good.

We watch a little TV together before dozing off … I have FULL control of the remote, and MBDog doesn’t complain about what I stop on. LOL. The best part though, is that I get to sleep sideways in the bed.

I have no idea why, but I love to sleep sideways in our bed. I just LOVE it. We have a California King, so there’s plenty of room in all directions. There’s really no reason why I would even need to do such a thing. But anytime Hub’s gone overnight somewhere, I bask in the frivolity of sleeping east to west rather than north to south. So I guess I just do it because I can.

It’s awesome.

Don’t get me wrong, I love having Hub there and I miss him when he’s gone. But I just LOVE sleeping this way. It’s kind of like the time on Seinfeld, when Kramer painted out the middle line on the highway, and Elaine was gushing about how wonderful the extra-wide lane was. It’s not necessary, but it sure feels luxurious!

The bad part is getting up the next day, though. Particularly on a morning like today - where snow blankets the countryside and the temperature is in the teens – where I and my dog have achieved a perfectly comfortable snugglepile and I can feel the convection-oven-like warmth circulating under the blankets – the kind where you let your alarm clock ring way longer than you normally would because you hate to let the warm coziness escape by pulling the covers back because it’s so perfect. I’d have given just about anything to stay in bed today. All day.

Hub will be back tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to it. I miss him! But for tonight, I look forward to one last luxurious sideways snooze in a huge nest of blankets all to myself – just me and my Most Beautiful Dog.

I can’t wait.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

O Tannenbaum

Yes, I'm cheating again ... I'm reposting a piece from a few years ago. But I was thinking of it while I decorated our tree the other night, and just wanted to share these thoughts again.

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I am an eclectic decorator. While I think trees done in department-store-perfect themes and color schemes are lovely, I prefer a homey feel for my own personal tree. We deeply weave hundreds of lights from trunk to branch tips, followed by draping several strands of faceted silver beads halfway in, to catch the light and make our tree even more shimmery. And then, the ritual of the ornaments. I have several boxes of the usual colored glass globes and the satin snowball ornaments. Our tree is large and these make nice fillers. But most items are individuals, very different from one another.

I started to collect bells for my tree several years ago. Not jingle bells, but the classic belfry-bell shape. I have two cloisonné bells, one with snowflakes, the other with holly. I have several character bells – angels, Santas, snowmen – their feet serving as clappers in a hollow skirt or overcoat. Bells with verses of poetry or scripture on them. Bells that tinkle merrily as I hang them. I love to get lost in my own little carol of the bells as I decorate my tree. In later years I’ve had a hard time finding working bell ornaments. I hope they come back into fashion soon.

I have commemorative ornaments with events and calendar years on them. Ornaments displaying favorite sports teams, hobbies, and collectibles. The little racecar from Toy Story that came in a Happy Meal and we turned into a tree decoration. Ornaments from vacation spots, and as souvenirs brought back by friends. A spider made of red and green beads, sitting on a silver thread web woven god’s eye-style, because I love spiders. Miniature power tool ornaments the Hub found at Sears. The resin pet ornament I found on line that looks just like Most Beautiful Dog. A crystal Star of the East. A fancy gold cross. The fuzzy bunny sitting in the crook of a candy cane – the ornament my Mom gave me for my first tree when I went away for college. Countless others, each unique and each meaningful.

I have a whole mess of cheesy cheap junky ornaments that I think I got for 5 for $1. A white plastic reindeer with an iridescent coating on it. Fake peppermint candies made of striped plastic wrap over chunks of Styrofoam. A shiny gold painted Santa Claus boot filled with toys. A sleigh with a half busted runner. A weird looking guy – maybe a soldier, maybe a jester, I’m not sure - made of colorful wooden beads. Things like that. I bought those our first Christmas together. We were both starting over – we’d just bought a house and we were so poor!

They’re really quite ugly, this certain collection (chuckle). But I hang them each year. Why? Because they are a part of our Christmas past. Pieces of the memories we have made and traditions we have established. When I look at my tree, the decorations take me back to past seasons, and I find myself reflecting fondly on where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and how blessed we are in so many ways.

Each year we add a few more items to the collection. I just bought a new train ornament, as Incrediboy is really into trains right now. He half murdered the little flag on top of it as we made our way to the checkout, but in typical Mom fashion, I see this as part if its charm now. I want to hang it each year forevermore in its gimpy, imperfect state, a victim of busy little hands. By next year I’m thinking we’ll be making things together to hang on the tree. Awkward, chunky, messy toddler decorations. Exquisitely beautiful in their own way.

I hope that someday every square inch of our tree will be donned with symbols of love and kindredship. Old and new, silver and gold. Plastic, resin, glass, paper, Popsicle sticks, glitter. These say home to me. These say, Merry Christmas with love.


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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

"Some Big Companies Assuming Pension Returns of 9%-10%" (GIS; NAV; KRO; FE)

My, my, aren't we optimistic. Even the pollyannas at CalPERS are "only" looking for 8.5%.

Hey if you're looking at 9% returns you should dump all your free cash flow into the plan, get that tax bite down as far as you can and use the overfunded plan to "smooth" earnings à la Jack Welch.
[what are you suggesting? -ed]

From Research Recap:
If someone promised annualized returns of 9% to 10% in today’s economy you’d be right to be skeptical. So why are big companies such as General Mills, First Energy, Johnson & Johnson and Honeywell assuming such a high level of return on their pension funds? Audit Integrity’s Jim Kaplan gives his opinion in this guest post excerpted from his latest Chairman’s Corner.

The front page article in the October 16 Wall Street Journal, “Pension Funds Flee Stocks in Search of Less-Risky Bets,” was a real eye-catcher.
I can understand the motivation to reduce risk in view of the fact that Funds generally have taken on far more risk (or blame) than good judgment dictates.  The eye-catching part of the headline, however, is the disparity between risk reduction and the increased Return on Assets (ROA) assumptions that many Funds are declaring.  If they have found a low-risk, high-return alternative, I’m certain the rest of us would be eager to know about it!
The reasons this doesn’t make sense are twofold.  Pension Plans are reducing risk and, by implication, reducing their potential rate of return.  Secondly, expected returns on investments are approaching a historic low.  By what logic are companies using return assumptions as high as 10%?
The table below represents some (but not all) of the companies that, ignoring market conditions, have ROA far in excess of market averages.  Some have even had the audacity to raise their ROA in 2010.  None of the companies listed has a portfolio asset allocation that would be considered high risk/high return; most have equity exposure less than 70% of total assets and realistically should expect a long-term return lower than 7%.
What does this mean to the investor?  An unrealistic return assumption could be masking operating problems, or could be indicative of accounting games.
Raising the appearance of profitability in the short term only increases damages down the road when pension expenses increase.  I strongly suggest that stakeholders carefully assess their holdings to ensure that they are not basing their expectations on improper representation of the companies they own.

Investment in a 30-year bond, assuming no default, yields 4%.  Stocks, a far riskier asset class, bring expected returns to no more than 7%.  It is not reasonable to expect long-term return on assets to exceed a rate somewhere between 4% and 7%.  Based on quantifiable facts, corporate Pension Plans should be reducing the long-term expected ROA to reflect market conditions.  Instead, many corporations have elected to maintain or raise their return assumptions to outrageous levels.  Why?...MORE


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  • In no way dissatisfied.

    posted by mattvz on 09/11/2011
    0 0

    Involvement:Expert (understands the inner workings) - Ownership:1 week to 1 month

    This sight is great for any lower powered firearm, works great on a .22 cal rifle.
    -Strong build quality
    -Style is great
    -Different reticles are a nice feature, and the colours.
    -when calibrated is very accurate from 30-130 feet.

    -the brightness doesnt work very well, can never be used indoors due to many reflections.

    -the reticles are crosshair, dot, circle and dot, and the css looking shape.

    Great quality from dealextreme, price is ok but in total this is perfect for any low powered firearm or pellet gun.

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12 Shelby Barthold
12 Shelby Barthold
Height: 5-4
Year: JR
Hometown: San Mateo
High School: Aragon
Previous College: CMC
Position: G
Major: Psychology w/Leadership Sequence

2011-2012 (So.): Appeared in all 26 of the Athena’s 26 games…Averaged 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds in 12.2 mins per game…Scored a game high 10 points vs. Cal Tech (2/2/12)… recorded game high 2 steals vs. Alverno (12/30/11) and Cal Tech (1/7/12).

2010-2011 (Fr.): Appeared in 26 of the Athena’s 27 games … Averaged 2.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in 12.2 mins per game...Also averaged 3.0 assists in 30.0 mins per game… Recorded a game high 3 steals vs. Cal Tech (2/19/11).

High School: Was a 2010 graduate of Aragon High School located in San Mateo, California… Played 3 years varsity basketball… Senior year: All-Peninsula Athletic League First Team, San Mateo Times Athlete of the Week, Aragon High School Athlete of the Year, Aragon High School 12 Sport Athlete Award, Irvington High All-Tournament … Also lettered in Cross Country and Track and Field…2006, 2007, 2009 All-Peninsula Athletic League Cross Country and Track & Field…2010 Silver Medalist Peninsula Athletic League Triple Jump Finals…

Personal: Born in Redwood City, California…Daughter of Bill and Doretta Barthold …Has one sister…Psychology/ Leadership major... Related to royalty, ¼ Japanese and ¼ Okinawan... Before Okinawa became a part of Japan, it was its own country run by a monarchy; great, great grandparents were the King and Queen of Okinawa…. Father, Bill, swam for Indiana University… Most thrilling sports moment was getting to play against state ranked Stockdale High School in the championship game of their own tournament… CMS because the students work really hard, but they also have fun, and the chance to play basketball with a great group of girls.

Favorites: Food: Rice; TV Show: Glee, Doctor Who, Lost Girl, Once Upon a Time; Book: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman; Pro Basketball Player/Team: Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford Women’s Basketball; Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; Things outside of basketball: Photography, Baking/Cooking, Eating, Watching TV


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Unarmed robbery draws heavy police presence in Liverpool

unarmed robbery at Gulf Gas station in Liverpool

At least seven Onondaga County patrol cars and one crime scene investigative unit responded to an unarmed robbery in Liverpool Tuesday night.

Deputies responded to an unarmed robbery at the Gulf Gas and Food Mart on the corner of Bear and Buckley Roads around 9 p.m.

The suspect was taken into custody and did not get away with anything. Deputies said no one was hurt and there was no damage to the store.


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Saturday Night In SP

After our light lunch we strolled around Paulista Avenue a bit and, in true Gringo fashion, stopped in a Starbucks to re-caffeinate. Oddly enough, despite Brazil being the largest coffee producer in the world and also having a total coffee drinking culture there just simply aren’t that many coffee shops on Paulista; in other cities there are lots of places but for some reason (perhaps the cost of the rent) not here. So Starbucks it was and, for the record, they make their latte drinks here a lot sweeter than back in the US.

Dinner that night was at Tordesilhas, named for the treaty in which the Pope divided up the world solely between the Spanish and the Portuguese.

How’d that work out, by the way?

Anywho, the neat thing about this restaurant is they have food from all the regions of Brazil, from the Amazon down south, so you can taste flavors and techniques that you might not find elsewhere.

I, for one, could not resist a white wine called “Utopia”

but sadly, as has always been the case, what has been advertized as Utopia turns out to be, well, somewhat less, shall we say. But hey, it was alcoholic and cold…

We had some various appetizers, including some delicious fried manioc balls with parmesan

and some pastels that had ground beef and some that had cheese

to enliven the flavor they provided various peppers in adorable little Jars of Doom

having previously (and quite humorously as far as my Bride and Daughter were concerned) discovered that my tolerance for spice was not quite as high as I imagined it to be I wisely limited myself to leeeetle drops of the oil on the pastels; very tasty drops to be sure but also very delicately placed ones.

All washed down with some very tasty caipirinhas

Quite tasty indeed.

For the entree itself both my Bride and I decided that after 10 days of seafood and beef we sort of had a hankering for…chicken. One of the oddest, funkiest trees I have ever seen is a native Brazilian tree called the Jabuticaba. The fruit is delicious but it grows…out of the trunk. It is the strangest looking thing, and it also happened to be ‘in season’ so the menu had “chicken in Jabuticaba sauce with parsnip puree and peas”

The jabuticaba has a concentrated sweet/tart grapey flavor, it was an interesting and unique combination. The parsnip puree was wonderfully smooth and creamy and the snow peas were sweet and crisp.

For dessert I had three types of sorbets made from Amazonian fruits: acai, cupuacu and tapioca

and probably another caipirinha.

4 Responses to “Saturday Night In SP”

  1. Kathy Kinsley says:

    Oink. That looks GOOD.

    And I think I could probably handle a bit more spice. I’m quite fond of Thai Som Tam – with lots of chili peppers.

    Confounded a bunch of Thais who thought they’d catch the naive foreigner with an invite to lunch. I munched down, informed them that was QUITE delicious. They were waiting for me to burst into tears, or run off screaming. 😛 (Close, but no cigar – it was ALMOST hot enough to make my eyes water, but not quite. Cleared my sinuses up nicely, though.)

    I like habaneros too.

  2. Kathy Kinsley says:

    BTW, if you lot are still down there, stay a while. (See NE weather reports – NJ won’t get all that much mess – but they’ll get the edges.) Enjoy your tropical paradise. 🙂

  3. Mr. Bingley says:

    We’ve been back since the 14th, Kathy. Got a gallon of gas for the snowblower tonight!

    And another case of wine, just in case.

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Archive By Section - LIBERTY LIFE

Birthday party held for former superintendent

During last weekend's 50th reunion of the Bradwell Institute Class of 1962, members of the class and others held a birthday party July 21 for former Superintendent of Schools Ed Edwards.

July 31, 2012 | Staff report | LIBERTY LIFE

Odd news from around the country

More than 1,000 turtles slowly escape captivity: SUMMERVILLE - More than 1,000 turtles made a slow-speed escape from their turtle farm in northwest Georgia.

July 31, 2012 | The Associated Press | LIBERTY LIFE

Katherine Jackson back home

LOS ANGELES - Katherine Jackson is apparently back home, reuniting with Michael Jackson's children after a judge temporarily took away her guardianship because of her dayslong absence from them.

July 30, 2012 | The Associated Press | LIBERTY LIFE

Time running out to enter kids’ recycling contests

Only a few days remain before the July 31 deadline of VIP's summer recycling contest for kids.

July 30, 2012 | Sara Swida KLB director | LIBERTY LIFE

Nolan’s Batman saga ends strong

I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the senseless tragedy of the shooting at the Aurora, Colo., theater last week. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.

July 27, 2012 | Sasha McBrayer Film critic | LIBERTY LIFE

Pit-bull issue elicits strong emotions

A proposed ordinance to ban pit bulls in Hinesville was among 38 issues considered by city leaders during their recent planning workshop, but it quickly was shot down by all five council members, Mayor Jim Thomas and other city officials.

July 27, 2012 | By Randy C. Murray Staff writer | LIBERTY LIFE

Smith takes crown at Miss Ludowici pageant

Ivonna Smith reigned supreme at the 2012 Miss Ludowici Pageant, held July 14 at Long County High School.

July 24, 2012 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

Seniors of Walthourville take in Brunswick

The Seniors of Walthourville recently made a trip to Brunswick.

July 24, 2012 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

Judge rules in favor of Ogeechee Riverkeeper

An Atlanta judge previously ruled that the Ogeechee Riverkeeper organization had no right to sue the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in protest of a consent order against a textiles company accused of causing a fish kill, but Bulloch County Superior Court Judge John R. Turner disagrees.

July 24, 2012 | By Hollie Deal Bragg Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

‘Girl from Ipanema,’ turns 50

RIO DE JANEIRO - "Tall and tan and young and lovely..." You've heard of her. The Girl From Ipanema.

July 23, 2012 | The Associated Press | LIBERTY LIFE

Travels with the Courier

The Martin family took the Coastal Courier on a family vacation to the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tenn., to celebrate their dad returning from his deployment in Afghanistan.

July 23, 2012 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

There’s still time for ecofriendly summer travel

Summer is winding down, but there is time for one last trip before school starts.

July 23, 2012 | Sara Swida KLB director | LIBERTY LIFE

Walthourville’s first mayor celebrating 90th birthday

A proclamation by the city of Walthourville's mayor and council designated the month of July as Lyndol Anderson Month in recognition of her service to the city and citizens of Walthourville.

July 23, 2012 | Margie Love Columnist | LIBERTY LIFE

‘Mad Men,’ ‘American Horror Story’ lead Emmy nominations

LOS ANGELES - "Mad Men," a piercingly bleak portrait of a 1960s American anti-hero, earned a leading 17 Emmy nominations Thursday and the chance to set a new record as the most-honored drama in television history.

July 22, 2012 | By Lynn Elber The Associated Press | LIBERTY LIFE

Online lottery sales OKed in Georgia

ATLANTA - GeorgiaLotterycustomers will soon be able to buy tickets with the click of a mouse.

July 20, 2012 | Associated Press | LIBERTY LIFE

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Articles by Section - LIBERTY LIFE

Fraternity help Savannah students

The Savannah-Hinesville Detachment of Kappa Lambda Chi Military Fraternity recently presented a $500 donation to Robert Jordan, founder and advisor of Motivated Aspiring Leaders of ...

February 24, 2017 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

Make mine medium rare, please

You have no idea how excited I am about not having to drive all the way to Pooler or Savannah for a thick, juicy, succulent ...

February 22, 2017 | By Patty Leon | LIBERTY LIFE

Sorority's bowling tourney helps fight heart disease

Hinesville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority invites everyone to its annual Go Red Bowling Tournament Sunday on Fort Stewart.

February 22, 2017 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

Eleven Black Men set scholarship dinner for March 18

The Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced the details of the 23rd annual Eleven Black Men of Liberty County Scholarship Banquet, which will ...

February 22, 2017 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

Coastal Manor stages its first beauty pageant

Coastal Manor's first resident beauty pageant recently crowned Rosetta Fleming as Ms. Coastal Manor.

February 19, 2017 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

Long County honors retiree

There was a retirement party Feb. 7, celebrating Johnny Wayne Johnson's 45 years with Long County.

February 18, 2017 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

Neighbors can be like sunshine

A Chinese saying says, "A good neighbor is better than a brother far off." Neighbors enrich our lives. Even though they do not live with ...

February 14, 2017 | By Jingyue 'Jorga' Wu Columnist | LIBERTY LIFE

Flipping out over Filipino

I was pleasantly surprised the other day driving into work.

February 09, 2017 | By Patty Leon | LIBERTY LIFE

America's back roads with Gramps

My grandmother passed away at an early age, leaving Gramps alone. So, Jody, as I was called in those days became his number one buddy.

February 07, 2017 | By Joe Gillam Columnist | LIBERTY LIFE

Health fair seeks exhibitors

Project Reach God's Anointed Now Generation, a non-profit youth outreach, will host its annual Community Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 12:30 ...

February 06, 2017 | Special to the Courier | LIBERTY LIFE

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Saturday, December 01, 2007

Free speech, press battle at Quinnipiac U

The editor of The Chronicle at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut is locked in a battle with university administrators over student journalists' First Amendment rights, according to an article in Sunday's edition of The New York Times.

Jason Braff, the 20-year-old editor of The Chronicle, has said the university administration threatened to fire him after he criticized a university policy in an interview with The Waterbury Republican American in late October. Braff was quoted in the Oct. 30 article as saying the university's policy prohibiting the student newspaper from posting articles on its Web site before running them in print was “ridiculous.”

In a follow-up story on Nov. 13, The Republican-American reported that Braff "was told in a letter from Dean of Students Manuel C. Carreiro that he may 'need to reconsider' his position at the paper if he continues to speak publicly against university policy."

Lynn Bushnell, the school’s vice president for public affairs, denied that such a threat had been made, according to the Times article.

“We do not discipline students who criticize the university or its policies,” she was quoting as saying. “We do discipline students who fail to follow clearly established policies. However, student leaders, especially those in paid positions, are expected to generally be supportive of university policies. If they disagree with established policies, we expect them to go through normal administrative channels to try to change policies.”

The university has taken a number of actions to limit The Chronicle's ability to report news. In addition to the ban on Web-first publishing, administrators have enacted policies limiting access to university officials and discouraging reporters from covering student government meetings when the university president speaks.

Braff and Chronicle Managing Editor David Westerberg laid out the pattern of limitations on student press freedom in an Oct. 24 article entitled "Lahey: Student media hinders progress," and in an open letter (also signed by Managing Editor Melissa Moller) to university President John L. Lahey published in the opinion section the same day.

"It is apparent from your actions and statements that you are trying (and succeeding) to limit our outreach and access," the letter to the president said. "As a private institution, Quinnipiac is not required to adhere to the First Amendment. However, the administration's recent actions are a threat to freedom of the press on our campus."

Kudos to Braff and The Chronicle editors for reporting on and publicly criticizing the university's efforts to stifle the press. They're standing up for student journalists everywhere.

Even though Quinnipiac University is a private school there are clearly some significant First Amendment issues here. I hope to see College Media Advisers, Associated Collegiate Press, the Student Press Law Center and other groups concerned about student press freedom to enter the discussion.

Those who want to get involved can join a "Support Jay Braff and The Chronicle" group on Facebook.

If you're concerned about the university's policy preventing the paper from breaking stories online first or about its threat against Braff, you can contact Quinnipiac University President John L. Lahey at or call 203-582-8700.

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Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Cheesecake

Combining two classic desserts into one delicious cheesecake bite with a double layer of chocolate chip cookie dough and a luscious brownie topping!

Combining two classic desserts with a double layer of chocolate chip cookie dough and a luscious brownie topping!

Since we have been in Spain, my husband who never eats dessert out anymore, has been eyeing these chocolate cheesecakes they have here!  I have to avoid going into the bakeries and sweet shops here because they smell like butter and everything simply amazing!  I keep telling him to splurge and get one but he keeps declining saying “that has flour and sugar.” Seriously, can he be any cuter?!

So, for Valentine’s day I decided to combine two of his favorite desserts into one—meet the chocolate chip cookie brownie cheesecake.  Yes, that is a mouthful to say but even a better mouthful to eat!

I still can’t quite figure out our Spanish oven here, every time I bake something it turns out brown, despite baking it for way less time than normal!  So rather than burning dessert for Valentine’s Day, I went with a no-bake option and quite literally am obsessed with these scrumptious little cheesecakes!

…and because I love you all, I created a mascarpone option (my personal favorite) as well as a dairy-free option for those that need it!  The mascarpone option will be a bit more fluffy, but both are equally delicious!

These chocolate chip cookie brownie cheesecakes are naturally grain and gluten free as well as very low in added sweetners! So a healthier alternative to your traditional sugar-filled Valentine’s treats!

What are you all making for Valentine’s day?!  I think I am going to make Chicken Alfredo, as it has become our favorite meal recently to make together.  I also keep eyeing my vanilla been berry stuffed cheesecake bites from last year’s Valentine’s creation. Oh decisions decisions…

PS…be sure you are on my “Beauty” newsletter, because there is something special coming to you all for Valentine’s Day ONLY!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Cheesecake

makes 6-4 inch tarts or one large 11 inch tart |

approximately 42.5 g carbs per tart if 6 servings (keep in mind 1 4 inch tart is VERY rich)

approximately 25.5 g carbs if one large tart of 10 servings

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Crust

coconut oil for brushing pans

Creamy Brownie Filling

Dairy Free Brownie Filling

*There is no direct substitute for collagen, and you can make it without, but your dough will be a bit more oily.

  • Add the cashews and pecans to the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse several times to a flour like consistency.  Add the collagen peptides and pulse once or twice to combine.  Add the coconut oil, butter or ghee, raw honey and vanilla extract and blend until a smooth ball of dough forms.  Add the chocolate chips and use a spoon or spatula to combine them into the dough.
  • Brush 6-4 inch tart pans or one 11 inch tart pan with removable bottoms with coconut oil (you can also use one large 10 inch tart pan).
  • Divide the dough among the tart pans and use your fingers to press firmly into the bottoms and up the sides.
  • If making the mascarpone filling: add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and use a hand mixer to blend until soft peaks begins to form.
  • If making the dairy-free filling, add the honey to a small sauce pan and heat on low for several minutes, sprinkle in the gelatin and continue heating and stirring until the gelatin dissolves.  Add the coconut milk, raw cacao powder and honey mixture to a large mixing bowl and use a hand mixer to blend until soft peaks begins to form.
  • Divide the filling among the tarts and use a small spatula or butter knife to smooth out the tops.
  • Chill for 2 hours before serving.
  • Dust with cacao powder and chocolate chips.

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  1. Katie McC

    February 23rd, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Mmmmm this looks and sounds delish! I will be trying this soon. Love desserts that are Gluten Free and have a nut crust. Feels so much better on my stomach. Beautiful photography by the way!

  2. Caroline Potter

    February 23rd, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    Ah it is so yummy and always something guests love! Enjoy 🙂


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My Imagi~nation Is Rated R

Previous Entry Share Next Entry
2 More Days Till Vacation
Lita Abuse Me
I very much hope that these next few days at work go by fast and with a little trouble as possiable.I can't wait to be on my vacation.It's gonna be so nice.

But something that wasn't so nice was the fact that last night I was running and instance in WoW.On that I can't stand,Occulus.And we were on the second to last boss and everyones pc/games froze & we couldn't do jack.And then we found out that our server was down.Blizz clamied it would take a half hour to fix but that didn't happen.

But we will go back to that instance today & try to finish it before it re-sets.

Any ways....Donovan & I made some new toons on another server,one that our current guild mates are on.And so now I have a new lvl 5 troll hunter lol And at some point I will really lvl her to 80 as well :0)

But because of this server thing.I wound up staying up later than I normally do.So today im gonna be uber tired.Meh..I'll deal with it I guess.

And ai all most missed my train this morning.Luckily for me some guy decided to hold open the train doors & I made it.YaY!!!! Me :0)

Um..Err yeah...Aside from being tired/sleepy that's all I got..

Lata my peeps.

  • 1
The server is ysera.But that's just gonna be a sever that I go to from time to time or when my main server is down..

But if u want u can make a toon over at The scryers.That's my main server.I aint leaving that place now that im raiding Naxx & a few other things on a weekly basis

nah, I'm gonna stick to my server... Was just curious is all!

  • 1

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Comix Talk From Madrid Spain

Gunnerkrigg Court Vol. 2

Sorry for the lack of updates recently – last week I was working on this; this week I'm working in Madrid, Spain.  I thought I might be able to have loaded some "best of" posts for y'all but I ran out of time.  So here's what is in my mailbag right now:

And a few good links to check out today:

Also if you have signed up for a ComixTalk account this week or last, my apologies but I won't have time to review and approve until the upcoming weekend.

Xaviar Xerexes

Wandering webcomic ronin. Created Comixpedia (2002-2005) and ComixTalk (2006-2012; 2016-?). Made a lot of unfinished comics and novels.


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Software Defined – Been There, Done That. Part 4

By Zev Rubenstein, NetApp Data Protection Product Marketing Manager

Welcome Back for More SDS

In Part 1 of this series, I stated that NetApp’s storage has always been “software defined” and the simple proof is how much intelligence we have built into our OS, Data ONTAP, so that all features work seamlessly together.

In Part 2 of this series, I discussed how we extend “software-defined” with management and workflow automation by integrating with third party tools and storage. I also touched briefly on how clustered Data ONTAP takes our SDS roots to the next level by adding non-disruptive operations (NDO) and seamless scale-out.

In Part 3 of this series, I described how we implement our clustering by abstracting data access and data management, which enables the breadth of features we provide, including NDO. At the end I noted that “clustered Data ONTAP has NDO as an underlying design philosophy.” Today, I’d like to elaborate on that point, and illustrate how that aspect of NetApp storage brings innovation to IT.

Just as NetApp Integrated Data Protection works seamlessly with storage efficiency and FlexClones, my view on clustered Data ONTAP is that NDO is a characteristic that enhances and works seamlessly with the rest of the OS’ “goodness.”

NDO as an Underlying Philosophy

Load balancing by moving volumes within a cluster could have been implemented with some downtime (which is OK but not ideal) or at least a few moments (seconds, minutes) of data unavailability (pretty good, actually). By enabling seamless data movement with zero loss of access to the data, we have a much more agile infrastructure since we no longer have to plan for the downtime/inaccessibility.

As I noted in my second SDS post, the NDO characteristic for moving volumes in a data protection replication relationship (so they can both be moved during backup/replication) is an even more extreme (impressive? thoughtful?) example of this design mindset. Think of all the backup/disaster recovery (DR), reconfiguration and downtime planning eliminated by this capability. This magic is enabled by our abstraction of data access and services from the underlying pooled hardware resources.

Practical Application: Keeping the lights on vs. Innovation

In his video blog, The Evolution of IT, Matt Watts (Director, Technology and Strategy for NetApp in EMEA) sees IT activities split into three areas:

  • Commodity IT: Things that would not create more value for the business even if you spend more money on them. Essentially, “keeping the lights on.”
  • Business Value IT: Items core to the business that could add value if more resources were spent on it. Primarily, keeping up with growth.
  • New Opportunities: Investment in innovative, emerging technologies that have the potential to create the most significant value. Ideally, creating competitive differentiation.

According to Gartner, the typical IT department will spend 63% of their resources on Commodity IT, 22% on Business Value IT, and only 15% on New Opportunities. IT would ideally like to reverse that ratio – just getting the first two to total 50% would be Nirvana for most companies.

Commodity IT is an area IT wants to automate and simplify as much as possible to reduce resources spent on it. Every dollar and every minute saved here can be spent on activities that add business value. The same is true for activities in Business Value IT that are repetitive and merely growth-related.

Clustered Data ONTAP to the rescue

All of clustered Data ONTAP’s “goodness” that is NDO-enabled provides an infrastructure that is virtualized in software and is simpler to manage and automate, greatly reducing the Commodity IT load. NDO alone is a game changer: Keep in mind that planning for a downtime event (both the processes and the schedules) often is more time consuming than the actual event, and typically will impact stakeholders outside of IT as well. NDO therefore releases a lot of human resources from those activities, making them available to work on innovation.

More broadly, clustered Data ONTAP enables IT to create a flexible infrastructure with SDS-based capabilities that make a Service Level Objective-based infrastructure possible, supporting a broad range of workloads in a shared environment. IT resources can then focus on interfacing with the business units to understand their requirements, and devoting resources to activities that drive business growth and competitive differentiation.