Perfectly understandable

The Edinburgh home of former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Sir Fred Goodwin has been attacked . A police car is now guarding the entrance to Sir Fred's home, in the Grange area of the city. Three smashed ground-floor windows of the stone villa were clearly visible. In the driveway, the rear window of a dark-coloured Mercedes saloon was smashed, as well as the nearside rear passenger window. A statement was issued to Edinburgh's Evening News on Wednesday morning by a group which claimed it was behind the attack.It said: "We are angry that rich people, like him, are paying themselves a huge amount of money, and living in luxury, while ordinary people are made unemployed, destitute and homeless. This is a crime. Bank bosses should be jailed. This is just the beginning." No comment ;-)

F# Support for ASP.NET and Notes on Samples

(This article is cross-posted from http://tomasp.net/articles/aspnet-in-fsharp.aspx) As I mentioned earlier, I spent three months as an intern in Microsoft Research in Cambridge last year and I was working with Don Syme and James Margetson from the F# team. Most of the time I was working on the F# Web Toolkit, which I introduced on the blog some time ago [1], but I also worked on a few additions that are now part of the F# release. Probably the most useful addition is a new implementation of the CodeDOM provider for the F# language which makes it possible to use ASP.NET smoothly from F# (but it can be used in some other scenarios as well) together with two ASP.NET sample applications that you can explore and use as a basis for your web sites. This was actually a part of the distribution for a few months now (I of course wanted to write this article much earlier...), so you may have already noticed, but anyway, I'd still like to write down a short description of these ASP.NET samples and also a few tips for those who're interested in writing web applications in F#. F# and ASP.NET Let's start by looking at the ASP.NET examples. You can find them in the samples directory in your F# installation under the Web/ASP.NET path. The directory also contains html files with description of the projects and a guide to configuring them, but I'll describe both of these topics in this post. The distribution contains two sample projects: AspNetIntro - this project is (almost) the simples possible F# web site, so it can be used as a template for your web sites. It shows how to configure the CodeDOM provider, how to write a simple page with code-behind and how to use the App_Code directory and data-binding. PersonalWebSite - this is a more complex web site ported from the C# sample called Personal Web Site Starter Kit [2]. It demonstrates many of the standard ASP.NET 2.0 techniques including data access controls, master pages, membership and custom HTTP handlers. ASP.NET Introduction using F# To start playing with ASP.NET you'll need to open the project (I recommend copying it to your working directory first). If you're using Visual Studio, you can select File - Open - Web Site... in the menu and select the directory with your project as demonstrated at Figure 1 below. The organization of ASP.NET projects is different than organization of ordinary F# projects - in ASP.NET the project is just a directory and it contains all the files in the directory (this is also the reason why you have to open it using a different command). The Figure 2 shows how the files of the ASP.NET Introduction project are organized in the Solution Explorer: Figure 1: Open Web Site Figure 2: Solution Explorer As you can see, there are 6 files in the project. The Default.aspx.fs and Default.aspx together form one web page and the DataBinding.aspx.fs with DataBinding.aspx form the second web page. The App_Code directory contains application logic that can be used from other pages in the project and in our sample project it contains only one file (logic.fs). Finally, the web.config file contains configuration of the whole application. Before we look at the pages you may want to check the web.config file, because it needs to contain the correct reference to the CodeDOM provider implementation including a version of the current F# installation. At the time of writing this article, the latest version is 1.9.3.14, but if you're not sure what version you are using, you can just start the fsi.exe from the F# installation which prints the version number. The web.config file is an xml file and it should contain the following content (with the right version number). The samples in the distribution should contain the correct version number, but the incorrect configuration is a common issue when working with ASP.NET in F#, so it is useful to know what the configuration should look like: language="F#;f#;fs;fsharp" extension=".fs" type="Microsoft.FSharp.Compiler.CodeDom.FSharpAspNetCodeProvider, FSharp.Compiler.CodeDom, Version=1.9.3.14, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=a19089b1c74d0809"/> Now, let's look at the Default.aspx and Default.aspx.fs files that together represent a simple page. The page contains one button and one label (a control that can display some text) and when the user clicks on the button, the result of some calculation is displayed in the label (the calculation is executed on the server-side). The following code is a (slightly simplified) content of the Default.aspx file, which defines the HTML markup together with the ASP.NET controls that are on the page:
CodeFile="Default.aspx.fs" Inherits="FSharpWeb.Default" %>

US economy dip 'less than feared'

The US economy will sink at a slower pace than previously thought in 2009, thanks to a rebound in the second half of the year, the Federal Reserve says.

Recently advertised academic positions

This is the last time the recently advertised jobs round-up will be published on Psychology and Crime News. Job-seekers can register directly with Jobs.ac.uk to get updates on job opportunities in criminology and forensic psychology direct to their inbox. Other job hunting resources can be found here. Recently advertised jobs from the last 10 days: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Criminal Justice, School of Law, Kingston University (UK): Applications are invited for PhD research projects in Criminal Justice. Closing date: 4th September 2008 Research Assistant / Research Associate, UCL Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science, University College London: The successful applicant will be employed on a project with Merseyside Police on the application of data mining and other computational approaches in the analysis of crime (and other) data. Closing date: 22nd September 2008 Photo credit: Khalilshah, Creative Commons License

Hyundai Equus available in the U.S. this summer

by
Terence KeonFiled under:
Hyundai | sedan | luxury cars | Hyundai EquusFirst revealed in March for their domestic Korean market, Hyundai's latest attempt at capturing a piece of the full size luxury market, the Hyundai Equus, will soon be on its way to the U.S. in the form of 100 units this summer in order to test the waters. Hyundai is pricing the Equus at around $75,000, in the ballpark with its intended competition: BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS 460L. The Equus will be powered by the same 4.6 Liter Tau V8 that is found in Hyundai Genesis (...)

The Digital Hitchicker’s Guide to OFFF 2009

Oops & seems the exit train station is Oeiras. Google Maps, dont be evil.
Fired up and ready to OFFF ? If youre packing your stuff and looking for a way around Lisbon, look no further. Heres a snack size post with all you need to know to enjoy your time in Lisbon and find your way to the festival.
Lisbon
The city of seven hills, the Frisco of Europe, with the yellow trams and the iconic bridge, its asking you to be discovered with their hospitality and unforgettable gastronomy (try the fish).
Start at St Jorge’s Castle and go downhill to Alfamas historic district, or explore Belem and the two World Heritage buildings: Jeronimos Monastery and Belems Tower.
Photo by Pedro Moura Pinheiro
When youre done with monuments, get ready for a bit of shopping at the commercial district near Restauradores and take a ride on Santa Justa Lift to Carmo, one of the landmarks of Abrils peaceful revolution. You can then rest for a while at Brasileira or walk a bit further to see the sunset at Graça. Now ready for the nightlife, head to Bairro Alto district, where you can eat on the more traditional Fado houses or have a go at the several ethnic restaurants, getting strengths for the non-stop movida (well, until 3am at least). For those still standing, time for a few clubs at Cais do Sodré or dance until the day dawns at Lux.
If youre looking where to stay, theres plenty to choose from, with accommodation for all budgets, starting with Hotel Açores to the hostels of 2 close friends: Lisbon Calling and Albergo Odisseo (I did the website of the last one a few years ago :). You could try any of these, and even if all booked, theyll point you other good choices.
How to get there
Now that you got acquainted with Lisbon and the hangover from last night at Bairro Alto is long gone, time to OFFF.
The easiest way is by subway taking the green line all the way to the end (even if youre commuting from the blue line), reaching Cais do Sodré station.
Photo by ghostboy
Get to the street level and buy a ticket to Oeiras, on the train leaving to Cascais (PDF timetable).
Now dont you get distracted with the seaside scenery and forget to get out on time.
If youre driving there, take N6 (Avenida Marginal) and exit in Oeiras (at the right side of the beach). On the roundabout a few meters ahead turn left and then right all the way up to Fundição de Oeiras, right across the train station.
View OFFF 2009 / Oeiras.Portugal in a larger map
Hope to meet you there on Thursday.
Related Articles
OFFF 2009
OFFF Lisbon 2008, day 3
OFFF Lisbon 2008, day 2

Icon Shoes and My Cowgirl Art - The Perfect Match

Introducing the " 'Cowgirl' Cowboy-Mule " from Icon Shoes, featuring MY artwork! Slip your feet into these little gems, and you're an instant cowgirl ... I am now licensed with Icon Shoes, and I couldn't have asked for a better partnership. To have my cowgirl art featured on this company's products is a dream come true.Launched in 2009, Icon has become a fashion trendsetter in high end shoes and accessories. The company employs a permanent printing process of bonding images to high grain leather. They license the use of artwork "from up-and-coming artists, as well as masters like Monet, Van Gogh, and KIimt" to create high end women's accessories known for comfort and style. Icon shoes are collected by art and shoe lovers - even celebrities - the world over.Icon is a very "artist friendly" company, and I'm highly impressed with their knowledge and expertise. Icon also features licensed artists on its website - simply go here and click on "Deb Trotter" for a link to my Bio.The first set of Icon Shoes and accessories featuring 'Deb Trotter' artwork is launching right now, May 2009, and includes the mule pictured above - as well as this fabulous matching "Cowgirl" 3 compartment tote ... Icon will continue to introduce new "Cowgirl" products in June, July, and August 2009. Simply check the Icon website or visit my blog for future information.Before I ride off into the sunset (or the snow, which is promised later today), I'll leave you with this suggestion: If you're frustrated with all the hard work that goes into promoting yourself, like maintaining and designing your website, marketing, blogging, submitting your work to art shows and publishers - not to mention learning new techniques and consistently striving for the best work you can create - don't give up! All that commitment and persistence DOES pay off. And one day, maybe out of the blue, someone - the perfect someone - WILL notice.Count on it, pardner.Have a great weekend - This cowgirl is off to practice some new Photoshop techniques.Happy Trails!

Sandpiper's Thoughts (Kim Matthews): Abide in me

...my cup overflows....I was reading one of the lectionary readings today (hang with me, I think I can relate this back to the Psalm.) -- John 15:9-17.The verse that struck me right as I read it was verse 13:No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.I don't believe that I have ever literally been asked to lay my life down for a friend -- certainly not like Jesus did. I think, though, that we are often asked to "lay down our lives" for our friends and family. Consider "laying down your life" to mean setting down your routine. We are called to a certain life, and we lead that life. We work, we play, we raise our children, we walk the dog. It is a routine, ordinary life, but we find joy in it, and in it, we answer our calling to serve.But sometimes, we are called beyond that. We are called to lay down our lives, and maybe, sometimes, that means that we step out of our routine, setting it aside. I have a friend whose father is in the hospital. In many ways, the son has stepped out of his normal routine to be available to his parents, to care for them. His sister has left her home and come to be with her parents, setting aside her life. As pastor set aside his normal Sunday to pick up something that my friend would normally have done, relieving him to be with his parents. People go to visit, setting aside their normal schedule to be a support. As friends, I know that my husband and I would set aside whatever we needed to in order to be available to help our friend through this time.Why do we -- family and friends -- do this?Read verse 12:This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.We are called to love one another. Setting aside our lives for each other is a way that we abide in the love of Christ, and he abides in us. It is how we shine the light of God in each other's lives. It is the means by which each of us sees God.What is the result?Read verse 11:I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.It seems very strange to say that actions in times of stress like this bring joy, but I believe it to be true. Don't think of joy as happiness. Joy is something else. Joy is the knowledge of the presence of God. Being shone Christ by someone else's actions in love, brings joy. Do we remember that shining the light of Christ by showing love to someone else brings joy as well? I know that it does. It is joy to me to be a friend. I'm not at all happy by what is happening in my friends life; it makes my heart ache. But I, and all of his family and friends, would find joy in helping him. I find joy in seeing how many people are reaching out to help, if they can. It is how our joy is made complete.What does this have to do with the Psalm? When we abide in love, and when Christ abides in us; when we show the fruit of that love through our actions, by laying down our lives, we find that our cup overflows. It doesn't matter if we give or receive the love of Christ. Our cup overflows. When God dwells among us, we are blessed.