Tuesday, April 29, 2008
System Center
System Center solutions help IT pros manage the physical and virtual information technology (IT) environments across data centers, client computers, and devices. Using these integrated and automated management solutions, IT organizations can be more productive service providers to their businesses.
The Goal: Dynamic IT Management
Dynamic IT is Microsoft’s long-term strategy for providing critical technologies that enable IT and development organizations to become more strategic to their businesses. A dynamic infrastructure is Microsoft’s vision for what an agile business looks like—a business in which IT works closely with business to meet the demands of a rapidly changing and adaptable environment. Dynamic IT is Microsoft’s technology strategy for products and solutions that help businesses enhance the dynamic capability of their people, processes, and IT infrastructures.
The Role of System Center in Dynamic IT
Microsoft System Center solutions play a central role in Microsoft’s vision for helping IT organizations benefit from self-managing, dynamic systems. System Center solutions capture and aggregate knowledge about the infrastructure, policies, processes, and best practices so that IT pros can optimize IT structures to reduce costs, improve application availability, and enhance service delivery.
These integrated and automated management solutions enable IT organizations to be a more productive service providers to their businesses. Aiming to enable self-managing, dynamic systems, System Center solutions close the gap between development, operations, and IT—connecting people, processes, and tools—by evaluating dependencies and optimizing business process performance from deep inside the operating system, applications, and composite services and workflows.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Dazed and Confused - Accurate Portrayal?
A major evening plan is ruined when Pickford's parents discover that he is planning to host a keg party that night. Meanwhile, freshman Mitch is violently paddled by the seniors, most of all by O'Bannion, the nastiest and dumbest of the class. Mitch gets a ride home with Pink, who is shown to be sympathetic and offers to take Mitch riding with the others that night. Meanwhile, Tony drives around with his friends Cynthia and Mike, who is uncertain about what to do after high school. Mitch rides with Pink and Wooderson, who graduated years ago but still hangs out with high schoolers.
The three of them stop at the Emporium, a popular pool hall. Mitch is introduced to sophomore Julie, and they seem to be mutually attracted to each other. Mitch goes driving again with some of the seniors. They play mailbox baseball and pretend to steal beer, but an owner of one of the mailboxes catches them and threatens them with a gun before they escape. They return to the Emporium, where Mitch meets up with his freshmen friends. They come up with a plan to get revenge on O'Bannion and dump paint on him in front of everybody else.
A new keg party is planned at one of the Austin Moontowers, which attracts essentially the entire senior class and several of the freshmen. Mike has a confrontation with tough guy Clint while Tony meets up with Sabrina again and Cynthia exchanges phone numbers with Wooderson. Ben confronts Pink about his refusal to sign the pledge but he is still unsure, believing it violates students' privacy and lifestyles. Sabrina stands up to the bossy Darla Marks. Mike picks a fight with Clint but ends up getting beaten-up and humiliated. Mitch runs into Julie and they hit it off again, and are later shown making out. Tony offers Sabrina a ride home, and kisses her when he drops her off at her house.
As night turns to dawn, Pink, Wooderson, Don, Slater, Simone and Shavonne smoke on the school football field, which the police soon notice. The school football coach is called and tells Pink that his friends are part of a bad crowd. Pink throws the pledge at the coach and leaves with his friends to get tickets to an Aerosmith concert. Meanwhile, Mitch arrives home at sunrise but his mother decides to go easy on him. The film ends with Pink and his friends driving on a highway to Houston to buy the concert tickets.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monster Cookie Metric Century Sunday, April 27, 2008
The pre-registration fee is $14.00. Pre-registrations by mail must be postmarked by April 18. Riders pre-registering may also order a box lunch for $6.00. Short sleeve T-shirts of high-quality, 100% cotton will be available for $14.00 if ordered in advance. Shirts also may be ordered on the day of the ride at a cost of $17.00. Shirts ordered after April 14 will be mailed approximately four to six weeks after the ride.
Participants may either register online or by downloading and mailing a registration form . Packet pickup and day-of-ride registration will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 a.m. Riders' packets will be at the registration table for those who have pre-registered. Registration confirmations will not be mailed prior to the ride.
The ride will start at the mall on the north side of the State Capitol Building. From I-5, take the Market St. exit (#256). Go west 1.7 miles to Summer St. Turn left and go 0.5 mile to the Capitol Mall. Parking is available in any of the state parking lots -- the Green Lot at Summer and Union Streets, the Yellow Lot at Summer and Marion Streets, and the Red Lot at Center and Capitol Streets. In addition, on-street parking is available in the area.
The route will take riders over back roads to Champoeg State Park and back to Salem. is generally flat with a few short hills. The map and elevation profile of the route offers a preview of the ride. Snacks, fruit, refreshments, and toilet facilities will be available at a rest stop and at Champoeg State Park. The route will close at 4:00 p.m. Riders should pace themselves to ensure that they have completed the ride by that time. A sagwagon will sweep the course at the end of the day. Mechanical problems are the responsibility of each rider.
Choose clothing for all possible weather conditions. Also bring a spare tube(s), patch kit, pump, at least one water bottle and tools for on-the-road repairs. An A.N.S.I. or SNELL approved helmet is required.
The Salem Bicycle Club will donate $1.00 of each registration fee to the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Participants may also join the BTA at a special introductory rate of $15.00 when registering for the Monster Cookie.
The first Monster Cookie Metric Century was held in 1977. To learn about that inaugural ride, read Monster Cookie Nostalgia. More than 1,400 cyclists registered for the 31st annual Monster Cookie Metric Century held on April 29, 2007.
For more information, contact Mary Schmidgall.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Death Race 2000
Copyright 1978 New World Pictures
The Characters:
Frankenstein - David Carradine! Dark and brooding racer, he is believed to be a myriad of replaced limbs.
Machine Gun Joe - Sylvester Stallone! Racer with a classic gangster motif, except he stresses. A lot. Him and his ulcer say hi to a grenade.
Annie Paine - Daughter of the rebel leader who is out to capture or kill Frankenstein, she falls in love with him instead.
Myra - Joe's amazingly blonde navigator, helps him welcome the grenade.
Calamity Jane - Crazed female driver, her car looks like a steer until it runs over a land mine.
Matilda the Hun - Aryan poster girl, drives off a cliff.
Nero the Hero - Hits an explosive baby, points zero.
Junior Bruce - Hyper reporter, he won't stop campaigning for the race until Frankenstein runs him over.
Grace Parker - Heavy female reporter, she's the kind who is everybody's "dear friend."
Thomasina Paine - Leader of the resistance, Betsy Ross' daughter or something.
The President - Emperor of America who loves us all. Run down by Frankenstein.
The Plot:
David Carradine running around in a leather jumpsuit, what else could you want? Well, maybe somebody other than David Carradine in the jumpsuit, but then Stallone wouldn't have anyone to stress about.
In 2000 America has been rebuilt by one man, the President has become an emperor. With this power he created the Race. Every year violent role-playing psychopaths are placed behind the wheels of high performance killing machines and sent across the country. Their goal? Finish alive with the most points from running down as many pedestrians as possible and it's all perfectly legal. See a line of doctors and nurses on the sidewalk? Thump, thump, thump: 110 points.
Lucky for us there are rebels who believe in safe highways; led by Thomasina Paine they decide to fight back. You have to feel sorry for Nero, he makes to run over what seems to be a cute little toddler and it turns out to be a doll full of explosives. The rebels really want to get Frankenstein though, he's favored to win the race and a personal friend of the President.
Having planted Annie as Frankenstein's navigator they try to capture or kill him to no avail; he is a man on a mission. His right hand was removed, in the real thing's place is an artificial one with a grenade embedded in it. (Believe it or not, Carradine makes the "hand grenade" joke - I didn't even get a chance.) Frankenstein hates the President and his race more than anyone else and he knows the winner gets to shake hands.
Okay, the entertainment value of this movie should be obvious. People are getting churned into road mush left and right with sports reporters acting like it's the Super Bowl.
Things I Learned From This Movie:
In the future marching bands suck.
David Carradine is a little skinny to be the imposing evil guy.
Every generation has one person who speaks like Howard Cosell.
Don't try to play matador with a car.
Blondes are not dumb; they are hard of hearing.
If you love someone set them free, if they come back turn them into road kill.
Stallone hates fly fishermen.
People do not make effective speed bumps.
David Carradine can kick Sylvester Stallone's ass.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Dragon boat
For racing events, dragon boats are always rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails and are required to carry a large drum aboard. At other times the decorative regalia is usually removed, although the drum often remains aboard for training purposes.
Dragon boat races are traditionally held to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, making dragonboating the only sport to be celebrated as a national holiday. The Chinese calendar date is 5/5 which usually corresponds to a date in June.
The crew of the dragon boat
Dragon boat in Friedrichstadt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
The standard crew complement of a contemporary dragon boat is around 22, comprising 20 paddlers in pairs facing toward the bow of the boat, 1 drummer or caller at the bow facing toward the paddlers, and 1 steerer or tiller(helm) at the rear of the boat, although for races it is common to have just 18 paddlers. Dragon boats vary in length and crew size will vary accordingly, from small dragon boats with 10 paddlers, up to the massive traditional boats which have upwards of 50 paddlers, plus drummer and steerer.
The drummer and drumming
The drummer or callers may be considered the "heartbeat" of the dragon boat, and leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the timing and frequency of paddling strokes (that is, the cadence, picking up the pace, slowing the rate, etc.) The caller may issue commands to the crew through a combination of hand signals and voice calls, and also generally exhorts the crew to perform at their peak. A caller/drummer is mandatory during racing events, but if he or she is not present during training, it is typical for the steerer to direct the crew.
Good callers should be able to synchronize the drumming cadence with the strokes of the leading pair of paddlers, rather than the other way around. As a tail wind, head wind or cross wind, may affect the amount of power needed to move the boat at hull speed throughout a race, a caller should also be aware of the relative position of the dragon boat to other boats, and to the finish line, in order to correctly issue commands to the crew as to when to best surge ahead, when to hold steady and when to peak for the finish. An expert level caller will be able to gauge the power of the boat and the paddlers through the sensation of acceleration, deceleration, and inefficiencies which are transmitted through the hull (ie. they will physically feel the boat action through their feet and gluteus maximus muscles).
Traditional dragonboats with 40 to 50 paddlers are so long that the drum is positioned amidships (in the middle of the boat) so that all paddlers can hear it amidst the noise of heated competition. However, for the smaller dragon boats of 20 paddlers which are most often used in competitive sporting events, the drum is located just aft of the dragon headed prow.
Some crews may also feature a gong striker who strikes a ceremonial gong mounted aboard the dragon boat. A gong striker may sometimes be used as an alternative to a drummer.
The paddlers
The paddlers sit facing forwards, and use a specific type of paddle. The leading pair of paddlers, called "pacers," "strokes," or "timers," set the pace for the team. It is critical that all paddlers are synchronized. Each paddler should synchronize with the paddler diagonally in front of them. This ensures that the paddling pace is balanced and all energy is spent on moving the boat forward. The direction of the dragon boat is set by the helm, not the paddlers. The lead paddlers are responsible for synchronizing themselves.
There are several components to a dragon boat or outrigger stroke: 1. The "catch" at the front of the 60 degree negative angle allows the paddler to bury their blade deep in the water. 2. The "pull" stage generates the power to move the boat, most often by using the strong muscles of the back to propel the boat beyond the paddle. 3. The "release" or "return" is the final stage of the stroke. To release, the outside arm should slightly bend and the blade should release to the top of the stroke. It is important for the blade to return as vertically as possible, with the top hand staying outside the boat. Each of these components of the stroke are equally important and must be done in synchronization with the paddle across and in front. If done correctly, all paddles will be in time with the lead strokes.
If paddlers are not synchronized, each successive pair of blades hits the water a fraction of a second behind the blades in front of them. To an onshore observer, this effect resembles the movement of a many-legged caterpillar or centipede; thus, a coach may discipline a team for "caterpillaring." During a race it is difficult to stay in sync as the sounds of other drums make it confusing or unreliable to time off the drum beat.
Very experienced paddlers will feel the response of the boat and its surge or resistance through the water via the blades of their paddles, and will adjust their reach, and the catch of their blade tips, in accordance with the power required to match the acceleration of the hull through the water at any given moment.
The steerer
The steerer, known also as the coxswain, helm, steersman, sweep, or tiller, controls the dragon boat with a steering oar similar in function to a tiller which is mounted at the rear of the boat. The steerer may work with the drummer to call out commands during a race. The responses of the oar are opposite to the direction they take - if the steerer pulls the oar right, or into the boat, the boat will turn left, and if they push out, or left, the boat turns right. The steerer has the power to override the caller at any time during the race (or the coach during practise) if the safety of the crew is threatened in any way.
Taiwanese flag catchers
A Taiwanese style Flag Catching dragon boat during a Dragon Boat Festival in Portland, OR
Another dragon boat crew position which was first popularized on the island of Taiwan and which remains very popular there is the flag puller or flag catcher, who is tasked with grabbing a lane flag as the boat crosses the finish line. The first boat to pull their flag wins the race, while any boats which miss their flag are penalized. The flag catcher normally sits behind the drummer, but as the boat approachers the finish line the flag catcher moves into position onto the top of the dragon head (see photo).
In historical times before the introduction of photo finishes and digital timing, or simply where such facilities are not available, flag catching is useful for distinguishing very close finishes (presumably an odd number of judges can decide the winner where multiple flags are caught very close together). A Song Dynasty landscape painting on silk records a dragon boat festival race on an imperial lake featuring flag pulling dragon boat races.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
BG Puts the “FU” back in fun!.
BGuerin0330@gmail.com
Screaming Turtle
You fear me? So you should. All you who are vile. Would you like to know how you will die? The sacred time is near. Beware the blackness of day. Beware the man who brings the jaguar. Behold him reborn from mud and earth. For the one he takes you to will cancel the sky, and scratch out the earth. Scratch you out. And end your world. He's with us now. Day will be like night. And the man jaguar will lead you to your end.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Nutrional Facts for the Mini M&M Donut
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
1 donut
Servings
1
Calories
270
Calories from Fat
110
% Daily Value, Calories:
2,000
Total Fat
12g
18%
Saturated Fat
5g
25%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
0mg
0%
Sodium
360mg
15%
Total Carbohydrates
39g
13%
Dietary Fiber
1g
4%
Sugar
13g
Protein
4g
Vitamin A
0%
Vitamin C
0%
Calcium
0%
Iron
8%
Calories
2,000
2,500
Total Fat
Less than
65g
80g
Saturated Fat
Less than
20g
25g
Cholesterol
Less than
300mg
300mg
Sodium
Less than
2,400mg
2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate
300g
375g
Dietary Fiber
25g
30g
Calories per gram:
Fat
9
Carbohydrate
4
Protein
4
Allergy Data
Contains
Crustaceans
Eggs
Fish
Milk
Peanuts
Soy
Tree Nuts
Wheat
Crustaceans include, crab, crayfish, lobster, and shrimp. Tree Nuts include, Almonds, Brazil nuts, Cashews, Chestnuts, Filberts/Hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, Pecans, Pine nuts, Pistachios, and Walnuts
Ingredients: Enriched Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Palm Oil, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil and Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid Added to Help Protect Flavor, Sugar, Dextrose, Contains 2% Or Less Of The Following: Yeast, Salt, Maltodextrin, Whey, Soy Flour, Mono- & Diglycerides, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Soy Lecithin, Nonfat Milk, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Propylene Glycol, Annatto, Turmeric, Sodium Caseinate, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Gum Arabic, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Xanthan Gum, Agar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Egg, Mini M&M?s Candies (Milk chocolate, (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, skim milk, milk fat, lactose, soy lecithin, salt, artificial flavor), Less than 2% - corn starch, corn syrup, coloring (includes Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue1 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6), Chocolate Icing (Sugar, water, confectionary sugar, cocoa powder, high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, corn syrup, maltodextrin, dextrose, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, potassium sorbate, sodium propionate, lecithin, cornstarch, salt, vanilla extract).
Allergy sufferers should always read the product ingredient statement. Our restaurants prepare and serve other products that contain allergens.
Dunkin' Donuts has made a reasonable effort to provide nutritional and ingredient information based upon standard product formulations and following the FDA guidelines using formulation and nutrition labeling software. Variations may occur due to: seasonal conditions; regional differences; ingredient substitutions and differences in product assembly or size at the restaurant. Test products, limited time offers and regional menu variations may not be included and not all items listed may be available in all restaurants. The information on this site may vary from printed materials that may be available in our restaurants. We will update this site so please revisit for the most current information. Any customers with specific dietary concerns are advised to call our customer care line at 800-859-5339.