September 24, 2009 Fusion and StuffFusion and StuffArranging a larger music collection can be a pretty daunting task, especially if it spans a larger number of genres and styles. Add to this the fact that you can file many CDs under different categories, that classical music adds a whole other dimension to the problems you ... 8 Comments
Ich kann es nicht oft genug hören, das “Don´t stop believin”. Das Original ist ja schon super-hach. Und wo das schon überall druntergelegt wurde, dürfte mit “Viel” zu wenig beschrieben sein. Man erinnere sich nur an das grandioskonsequente Sopranosfinale.Die Serie Glee hat den Aufruf die Hoffnung nicht aufzugeben endgültig in die Jetztzeit zurückmusiziert und wird seitdem hin- und her gecovert.Ein neues Mitglied der Frischenzellenkur ist obiges Flash-Mob-Video-Dings von der Ohio Staatsuniversität, dass sich wohl so viele Hits abholen wird wie es früher nur Axel Schulz im Ring gelang.
I’m not sure why Wordpress doesn’t allow you to change the URL for the admin and login pages, but they don’t. It seems to me that putting define ( ‘ADMIN_PATH’, ‘/wp-admin/’ ); in wp-config would be an easy and a good fix–but for whatever reason, they don’t and we are stuck with a security hole.I will first review the methods that currently exist as workarounds to this problem that we shouldn’t have in the first place, and then will go on to detail my method which I hope is a little easier to setup and maintain. » Read more: Securing Wordpress: A passive method for preventing unauthorized requests to wp-admin and wp-login.php
UPDATE: I’ve added support for PNG alpha transparency which makes this class significantly more useful. Changelog in the class code below.I keep misplacing this class so I figured I’d post it here so that I know where it is.I wrote/assembled this class because I wasn’t happy with any of the image manipulation libraries out there. They are either way too complex with a steep learning curve or didn’t work all that great. (I didn’t see any reason to load up a class with 3,000 lines of code just to resize or rotate an image.)So here it is, a simple class that allows you to open an image, perform common operations, and save. There are no bells and whistles or anything exciting here. Just a collection of commonly used image manipulation functions: Rotate, Flip, Resize, Thumbnail (square and regular), and Crop.A lot of the class code is original but some of it has been gathered over my life as a programmer from long lost sources. If you recognize your work, leave a comment and I’d be happy to cite you! » Read more: Simple Image Manipulation in PHP (Rotate, Resize, Crop, Flip and Mirror, Thumbnails square and regular)
Jun 10 The Clubhouse Beth on June 10th, 2010 The Clubhouse at Ohana PlaceEntertainment RoomGymHome for Rest and RecreationOhana Place has all the resort-like amenities and facilities you need to take a break from the routines and stresses of everyday life. Take a refreshing swim with your kids. Unwind with a drink or two under the cool shade of palm trees. Enjoy the company of friends and neighbors while cooking up a barbecue feast.Do all these in the central amenities area of more than 6,000 square meters at Ohana Place. The biggest Hawaiian-themed amenities area that offers the most number of facilities in all of Las Pinas residential developments.Outdoor Amenities:Adult PoolKiddie PoolRock formation with water cascades and slidesChildren’s playgroundCabanas with grill pitsPocket parks and gardensBasketball courtSunbathing deckClubhouse Facilities:Fitness gymRecreation hallEntertainment RoomLounge/Open-air function room (UGF)Air-conditioned function room with kitchen (2F) Tags: Amenities, facilities The Clubhouse No comments »
Immer wieder kommt es vor, dass Abmahnungen ausgesprochen werden, bei denen nur ein Teil der beanstandeten Verhaltensweisen auch tatsächlich wettbewerbswidrig sind. Dann stellt sich für den Abgemahnten die Frage, welche Kosten für diese Abmahnung zu erstatten sind. Diese Frage hat nun der BGH beantwortet.Lesen Sie mehr zu dieser Entscheidung. Vollständigen Beitrag lesen »
Auch heute haben wir neue Literatur-Empfehlungen für Sie. Wir stellen die interessantesten Artikel, die wir bei unserer täglichen Recherche entdecken, als Empfehlungen zusammen. Die Berichte sind teilweise englischsprachig - aber der regelmäßige Blick lohnt sich auch heute bestimmt.Hier sind unsere heutigen 10 Lesetipps der Blog-Autoren. Vollständigen Beitrag lesen »
Patxi López y sus acólitos continúan con su política frentista de símbolos, esa que tanto decían deplorar desde la fría bancada de la oposición, y en esta ocasión han vuelto a recurrir al chantaje económico como medio para satisfacer su sed españolizadora. Y digo que “han vuelto” porque se tratara al menos de la segunda vez que se chantajea con dinero público después de las declaraciones de PP y PSE para incluir la obligación de celebrar partidos de la selección española en el convenio suscrito entre la Diputación Foral de Álava y el Club Deportivo Alavés.Ahora le ha tocado el turno al equipo ciclista Euskaltel-Euskadi al que desde el Gobierno Vasco del PSE ya se ha señalado como próxima victima. Leer más … »
Seizures began late Friday night with Kirby. We got this very strong-willed miniature schnauzer the day before my oldest niece was born. Eight months later, Duff came into our world.They both died together last night. I knew it was coming. They were both 14-years-old. Duff was suffering from cancer and there wasn’t anything we could do. Kirby was blind.I knew late Friday that the end was coming for Kirby. Duff was also in pain from the cancer. We gave them baby aspirin but it couldn’t cut through the suffering.I know with our state in such a mess, that losing two dogs at once doesn’t seem like a lot when people died here in the last week.But they were our friends and we were their humans. We were advised to let them go together because, although Duff probably had another week in her, it was best for her to go with her best buddy.Stephanie and I are heartbroken but we had many good years with both of them and we miss them. Mabel does too. She keeps looking for them.I knew I would lose them. I just didn’t know they would die together on the same day.We buried them on the farm late last night.And we grieve.KirbyDuffKirby And DuffThey will be missed. And our hearts are broken with the loss.
There is a loneliness and isolation that happens within people because they are willful that it is how there lives must be. Any amount of happiness must be negated by sour feelings of unworthiness, of not feeling good enough or self-sabotage.Believe me, I lived a good part of my younger years in some sort of range of any and all of these emotions. I try not to now, but I found years ago that anger is comforting and familiar. Around the time that my mother died and the couple of years to follow, I realized those emotions are useless and damaging, but it took me time. I would compartmentalize feelings into small boxes, only handling them when necessary, thinking it helped. Knowing within myself that it did not help in the least.Don’t get me wrong, I still get angry. I’ve had a case of the mads this week, some of it situational and other parts of it hidden resentments that resurfaced because I felt, and I use the word again, isolated and helpless for a variety of reasons.As I said, anger, even in it’s most righteous form, is useless for any length of time.I sat outside the little house that I live in that I might not live in much longer and began contemplating this a great deal this week. I wait on people and actions that I have no control over although I have considered taking some of that control back, or at least what I can that is reasonable and fair.For those of us in Hoots, our roads were clear and the water, although leaving cropland soggy and useless for a few days, is not a sign of clean living or smart decisions. God, Mother Nature or weather patterns made those choices for this state. Now we deal with the consequences of things, once again, we have no control over.I am in a holding pattern and have been for weeks. It seems very small in light of recent events. As a state are we waiting and the answer, in many ways is yes. Personally, we wait. As a community, we wait. Emotionally, physically and professionally, we wait. Hard work doesn’t mean results. Our world has changed since my grandparents.I have been apparently tasked with becoming patient or else. I’m being taught to have patience. My commitment issues I have talked about before at length are making me want to take old behaviors, but I guess I’m not at that point yet because I know the change is within me.As friends homes and belongings lie in ruins, this is a selfish post. A week ago, we shut down one of my best friend’s business. A place where I felt comfortable and safe. In the next two days, people I know and love homes were washed away. The streets go two ways most times. It’s sad to find out you are on one that just goes south and then you read and see that you aren’t alone.I want to help. The only thing I know that I can do right now is what I’ve been doing here as I’ve been told it is helpful.I’m giving myself a bit of time to be patient with myself, and with others, but if the trail hits a dead end, there will have to be decisions made about my long-term plans.Now with the state in such a terrible state, those plans may have to go on hold. And I don’t know if my soul can handle another delay.Patience isn’t easy.
El mes de Diciembre y las Navidades me pasaron factura con el blog; no le he dedicado el tiempo que me hubiera gustado. Aunque ya se sabía que lo iba a atender cuando pudiera, porque lo dije desde el principio, en mayo del año pasado, en el comentario que sirvió de introducción: “Me interesa lo que piensan”, no me quedo conforme con mi bajo rendimiento bloguero por muy justificado que pueda estar. Es un aliciente saber que vecinos y vecinas lean lo que escribo, me pregunten cosas, me den ideas y sus opiniones; incluso que me critiquen de forma constructiva, porque eso me hace pensar y me ayuda a mejorar. Luego queda alguno que se pasa queriendo molestar u ofender, y que no consigue su objetivo.En esas fechas, el Ayuntamiento funciona a medio gas entre los días de Navidad que cogen los empleados públicos, como ahora los llama el Estatuto Básico del Empleado Público (EBEP) para referirse al personal laboral y funcionario, junto a los días que les quedan por disfrutar del resto del año, unido a la reducción de horario, hacen que los que nos quedamos lo notemos y tengamos que hacer un esfuerzo, tanto concejales como los empleados que sí trabajan esos días.Este año empieza difícil, muy difícil, va a suponer un reto para todos; nos estamos enfrentando a una situación nueva, esta crisis no tiene que ver con las anteriores y el desempleo ha superado en poco tiempo todas las previsiones. Cada vez que se conoce un dato es para peor, los empresarios han perdido la confianza y el que tiene no gasta ni invierte, no sé si por temor o porque está esperando la ocasión para ganar más. En estos momentos tenemos que pedir un esfuerzo a todos, a los empresarios para que inviertan y sacrifiquen parte de los beneficios en mantener el empleo, a los bancos para que justifiquen sus multimillonarios beneficios y el dinero recibido del Gobierno ayudando a la economía de familias y empresas mucho más de lo que lo están haciendo, al Estado para que les exija y que junto al resto de administraciones seamos capaces de poner en marcha iniciativas conjuntas que ayuden a aliviar la situación. Las medidas que se toman no tienen efecto y aunque se hayan empleado miles de millones de euros todavía no han tenido reflejo en nuestros bolsillos. El próximo jueves están anunciada una comparecencia en el Parlamento del presidente del Gobierno de Canarias, Paulino Rivero, a petición propia para informar sobre la situación del empleo en Canarias y anunciar una serie de medidas para mejorar. Ojalá que sean efectivas, los ciudadanos y los Ayuntamientos lo necesitamos. Saludos. Tags: General // 2 Comentarios »
Are you backing up your data? Are you using an online backup?Here are some alarming statistics I found today….According to an annual survey from Backblaze conducted by Harris Interactive, 92 percent of computer users don’t do regular backups. With that in mind consider that 46 percent of people need to restore data every year! That means over 40 percent of your friends, family and co-workers will lose data permanently. That is almost HALF the people.Granted, some loses are more significant than others, but lost data is lost data. If your data means anything to you a small investment can save you a lot of work and grief.Backblaze online data backup is a great secure data storage and backup solution. It is easy to use, reliable and affordable. It is what I use for my personal files on my mac. Give it a try for free and see if you like it.
Whether you know it or not, there is a new website which tells you all the whispers behind the curtain.It’s fresh and dynamic, it has a young team of enthusiasts who search the answers and asks the questions. Among many intriguing subjects they found that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp … read more
A special session at the CGAP Annual Meeting explored the phenomenon of Greenfield banks and South-South replications in sub-Saharan Africa. A quick survey by CGAP found more than 20 greenfields in 14 countries. A panel comprised of Dr. James Mwangi (CEO of Equity Bank), John Tucker (UNCDF) and Matthias Adler (KfW) reflected on their different perspectives as replicator, donor, and public investor. Their experiences came from models in countries ranging from relatively nascent markets like Sierra Leone and Southern Sudan to more mature markets like Ghana and Uganda. Tucker and Adler explored the pros and cons of starting afresh vs. reforming an existing financial institution. The challenge of building long-term leadership and capacity was a recurring theme.On the practitioner side, Mwangi made some pointed and candid observations, reflecting on Equity’s contrasting experience in Uganda, where it acquired a credit-only MFI and converted it into a savings-led bank, and Southern Sudan, where it started a Greenfield bank with UNCDF support. In the former case, the bank has struggled to transform the institution and achieve profitability. In the latter, the bank achieved break-even in well under a year. What explained the differences? Mwangi highlighted the following:Culture: The soft factors are hard to replicate. It was difficult to instill “the Equity way” when the people who were still there in the institution had their own way already. One of Equity’s striking strengths is its brand but Equity found it hard to capitalize on this in a pre-existing player in a market new to them.Leadership and management: If key people stay on, any key adjustments can seem like personal critiques of the previous regime, especially if we’re talking about owner-managers.Capacity: In Uganda, Equity was trying to build their savings-based model on a credit-only organization. This was a very different and more demanding business model and the capacity just wasn’t there for rapid change. And adjustments can’t be accomplished in a week – and they take longer for a savings- than credit-led provider.Talent: Mwangi described having to “pay with your shirt” for key staff by buying experienced bankers; good people demanded a premium to leave an institution with an established international brand in that market and for the uncertainty of a start-up.The “business environment:” This is a euphemism for the real problem noted by the Acting CEO for Equity-Uganda – fraud. Because levels of customer fraud were so high, Equity couldn’t use one of its key success factors in Kenya: decentralization of authority and decision-making to the branches. Some of the key operational assumptions didn’t hold water. The business model needed major adjustments in the form of centralization and controls. Needless to say, this didn’t come cheap, with both one-off and ongoing expenses being higher than planned.Financial identity: Equity discovered the big advantage offered by national identity systems in Kenya which had to be worked around in Uganda with higher-cost methods like biometrics.What you promise to get the license: “The biggest challenge was expectations,” said Mwangi. Those responsible for granting the license did their homework on Equity and found that they were offering credit at 18% in Kenya. So that’s what they asked for in Uganda. While the acquired institution was profitable with an interest rate of 48%, it was pretty challenging to keep it so with an 18% interest rate and a whole lot of new costs.Legal and regulatory framework: We all know that issues like minimum capital requirements clearly affect the viability of the business model. But it’s not just the licensing requirements. Mwangi pointed out that the rules around specific products were quite different. Executive management was expected to have “four eyes” (e.g., a managing director and an executive director) for adequate controls, making it necessary to identify and prepare a second individual for this role. Tax regimes were really different . . . and unpredictable.Mwangi stressed that these challenges can and must be overcome. We can and will make many business models – including greenfielding and South-South replication — work. “Africa is rich in resources. What it needs to enhance wealth and pride is entrepreneurship, ownership, capacity and true empowerment.”
Travel high speed to haute couture. Take a first class journey aboard France’s TGV Spree – now half off! Why leave the glamour on the train? Take the TGV straight to Cannes, where you’ll hobnob with the beautiful people during its famed filmfest. Looking for a quieter part of the Cote d’Azur? Take the TGV to a different coastal town, and watch the water wave its magic.Purchase by May 19 for travel through August 19. The height of the season at a low price. And only from Rail Europe.