Four Important Points To Remember To Enjoy Goa Trip}

Four Important Points To Remember To Enjoy Goa Trip}

Four Important Points to Remember to Enjoy Goa Trip

by

Atul Kumar

Goa city has a historic status because of the several ruling reigns. From tour planning to activities selection, it is necessary to have an assistance source. Icanstay.com is a reliable source where people can find assistance in some of the most important tasks such as hotel booking. This amazing online platform delivers information about the top rated accommodation facilities and services in Goa. Let’s see how to make your tour memorable and comfortable in Goa.

Make a list of activities:

First of all, you should search things to do and activities in Goa. This should be done before you choose hotel deals in goa. It has been noticed that there are hundreds of places where tourists can go for enjoyment. Some popular names are given below.

Dudhagar Falls.

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBA-d6Och20[/youtube]

Cotigoa Wildlife Sanctuary.

Se Cathedral.

Goa Heritage.

Take advantage of these amazing places and things to do in Goa for real entertainment. All these things can be finalized after booking a luxury room in this city.

Find hotels close to beaches:

As a matter of fact, Goa is a city of beaches and there are numerous popular spots for the tourists. It would be great if you locate a hotel which is close to the top beaches in Goa. We recommend the tourists to see best hotel deals in goa in order to enjoy the beach visits. It has been noticed that following beaches are preferred by the national as well as international visitors.

Palolem beach.

Fort Aguada.

Benaulim beach.

Goa is a big city that’s why hotels should be selected according to your tour plans. If you have selected most of the beaches for this tour then hotels should be located at a suitable point.

Look for holistic healing:

There are several hotels in Goa offering massage, spa and other services. However, Goa itself is famous for the holistic healing services. There are several places and clinics where visitors come for treatments. Following points are famous in this list.

Yoga Yum.

Yoga Magic.

Ashiyana.

The Mandala.

Neo Yoga Centre.

On the other hand, it is also necessary to consider the best hotels in goa after you take appointments. It would be great to find the top dining and food spots in Goa. These things will make your health better than ever. For example, Bean Me Up is a healthy station for the vegetarians.

Enjoy the light life:

Well, you are suggested to book Goa hotels best deals and nightlife services. Tourists can visit the DJs, cafes and restaurants to spend a memorable night. It would be better to focus on the Caf Mambo where people come to enjoy Hip Hop and other tunes. You can also find a great taste of Latino Tunes in this area. Keep these points in mind whenever booking hotel deals for great enjoyment in Goa.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com

}

70 743 Exam Practice Software}

70-743 Exam Practice Software

by

Judith M. Ehlers

Question: 1

Note: This question is part of a series of questions that present the same scenario. Each question in the series contains a unique solution that might meet the stated goals. Some questions sets might have more than one correct solutions, while others might not have a correct solution.

After you answer a question in this section, you will NOT be able to return to it. As a result, these questions will not appear in the review screen.

Your network contains an Active Directory forest named contoso.com. The forest contains a member server named Server1 that runs Windows Server 2016. All domain controllers run Windows Server 2012 R2.

Contoso.com has the following configuration:

You plan to deploy an Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) farm on Server1 and to configure device registration.

You need to configure Active Directory to support the planned deployment.

Solution: You upgrade a domain controller to Windows Server 2016.

Does this meet the goal?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer: B

Explanation:

Device registration requires a forest functional level of Windows Server 2012 R2.

References:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/identity/ad-fs/deployment/configure-a-federation-server-with-device-registration-service

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/identity/ad-fs/design/ad-fs-requirements

Question: 2

Note: This question is part of a series of questions that present the same scenario. Each question in the series contains a unique solution that might meet the stated goals. Some questions sets might have more than one correct solutions, while others might not have a correct solution.

After you answer a question in this section, you will NOT be able to return to it. As a result, these questions will not appear in the review screen.

Your network contains an Active Directory forest named contoso.com. The forest contains a member server named Server1 that runs Windows Server 2016. All domain controllers run Windows Server 2012 R2.

Contoso.com has the following configuration:

You plan to deploy an Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) farm on Server1 and to configure device registration.

You need to configure Active Directory to support the planned deployment.

Solution: You raise the forest functional level to Windows Server 2012 R2.

Does this meet the goal?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer: B

Explanation:

For a Windows Server 2012 R2 AD FS server, this solution would work. However, new installations of AD FS 2016 require the Active Directory 2016 schema (minimum version 85).

References: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/identity/ad-fs/operations/configure-device-based-conditional-access-on-premises

Question: 3

Note: This question is part of a series of questions that present the same scenario. Each question in the series contains a unique solution that might meet the stated goals. Some questions sets might have more than one correct solutions, while others might not have a correct solution.

After you answer a question in this section, you will NOT be able to return to it. As a result, these questions will not appear in the review screen.

Your network contains an Active Directory forest named contoso.com. The forest contains a member server named Server1 that runs Windows Server 2016. All domain controllers run Windows Server 2012 R2.

Contoso.com has the following configuration:

You plan to deploy an Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) farm on Server1 and to configure device registration.

You need to configure Active Directory to support the planned deployment.

Solution: You run adprep.exe from the Windows Server 2016 installation media.

Does this meet the goal?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer: B

Explanation:

Device registration requires a forest functional level of Windows Server 2012 R2.

New installations of AD FS 2016 require the Active Directory 2016 schema (minimum version 85).

References:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd464018(v=ws.10).aspx

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/identity/ad-fs/operations/configure-device-based-conditional-access-on-premises

Question: 4

Note: This question is part of a series of questions that present the same scenario. Each question in the series contains a unique solution. Determine whether the solution meets the stated goals.

Your network contains an Active Directory domain named contoso.com. The domain contains a DNS server named Server1. All client computers run Windows 10.

On Server1, you have the following zone configuration.

You need to ensure that all of the client computers in the domain perform DNSSEC validation for the fabrikam.com namespace.

Solution: From Windows PowerShell on Server1, you run the Add-DnsServertrustAnchor cmdlet.

Does this meet the goal?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer: B

Explanation:

The Add-DnsServerTrustAnchor command adds a trust anchor to a DNS server. A trust anchor (or trust point) is a public cryptographic key for a signed zone. Trust anchors must be configured on every non-authoritative DNS server that will attempt to validate DNS data. Trust Anchors have no direct relation to DSSEC validation.

References:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj649932.aspx

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn593672(v=ws.11).aspx

Question: 5

Note: This question is part of a series of questions that present the same scenario. Each question in the series contains a unique solution. Determine whether the solution meets the stated goals.

Your network contains an Active Directory domain named contoso.com. The domain contains a DNS server named Server1. All client computers run Windows 10.

On Server1, you have the following zone configuration.

You need to ensure that all of the client computers in the domain perform DNSSEC validation for the fabrikam.com namespace.

Solution: From a Group Policy object (GPO) in the domain, you add a rule to the Name Resolution Policy Table (NRPT).

Does this meet the goal?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer: A

Explanation:

The NRPT stores configurations and settings that are used to deploy DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC), and also stores information related to DirectAccess, a remote access technology.

Note: The Name Resolution Policy Table (NRPT) is a new feature available in Windows Server 2008 R2. The NRPT is a table that contains rules you can configure to specify DNS settings or special behavior for names or namespaces. When performing DNS name resolution, the DNS Client service checks the NRPT before sending a DNS query. If a DNS query or response matches an entry in the NRPT, it is handled according to settings in the policy. Queries and responses that do not match an NRPT entry are processed normally.

References: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee649207(v=ws.10).aspx

Question: 6

Note: This question is part of a series of questions that present the same scenario. Each question in the series contains a unique solution. Determine whether the solution meets the stated goals.

Your network contains an Active Directory domain named contoso.com. The domain contains a DNS server named Server1. All client computers run Windows 10.

On Server1, you have the following zone configuration.

You need to ensure that all of the client computers in the domain perform DNSSEC validation for the fabrikam.com namespace.

Solution: From a Group Policy object (GPO) in the domain, you modify the Network List Manager Policies.

Does this meet the goal?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer: B

Explanation:

Network List Manager Policies are security settings that you can use to configure different aspects of how networks are listed and displayed on one computer or on many computers.

Network List Manager Policies are not related to DNSSEC.

References: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj966256(v=ws.11).aspx

Question: 7

You have a server named Server1 that runs Windows Server 2016.

You need to configure Server1 as a multitenant RAS Gateway.

What should you install on Server1?

A. the Network Controller server role

B. the Remote Access server role

C. the Data Center Bridging feature

D. the Network Policy and Access Services server role

Answer: B

Explanation:

RAS Gateway – Multitenant. You can deploy RAS Gateway as a multitenant, software-based edge gateway and router when you are using Hyper-V Network Virtualization or you have VM networks deployed with virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). With the RAS Gateway, CloudService Providers (CSPs) and Enterprises can enable datacenter and cloud network traffic routing between virtual and physical networks, including the Internet. With the RAS Gateway, your tenants can use point-so-site VPN connections to access their VM network resources in the datacenter from anywhere. You can also provide tenants with site-to-site VPN connections between their remote sites and your CSP datacenter. In addition, you can configure the RAS Gateway with BGP for dynamic routing, and you can enable Network Address Translation (NAT) to provide Internet access for VMs on VM networks.

References:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/networking/remote-access/remote-access

Question: 8

HOTSPOT

You have a server named Server1 that runs Windows Server 2016. Server1 is a Hyper-V host.

You have two network adapter cards on Server1 that are Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA)-capable.

You need to aggregate the bandwidth of the network adapter cards for a virtual machine on Server1. The solution must ensure that the virtual machine can use the RDMA capabilities of the network adapter cards.

Which commands should you run first? To answer, select the appropriate options in the answer area.

Answer:

Explanation:

A new feature of Windows Server 2016 is SET (Switch Embedded Teaming).

Create a SET team

You must create a SET team at the same time that you create the Hyper-V Virtual Switch with the New-VMSwitch Windows PowerShell command.

When you create the Hyper-V Virtual Switch, you must include the new EnableEmbeddedTeaming parameter in your command syntax.

In the following example, a Hyper-V switch named TeamedvSwitch with embedded teaming and two initial team members is created.

New-VMSwitch -Name TeamedvSwitch -NetAdapterName “NIC 1″,”NIC 2”

-EnableEmbeddedTeaming $true

References:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/mt403349.aspx

Question: 9

DRAG DROP

You have a server named Server1 that runs Windows Server 2016.

You need to deploy the first cluster node of a Network Controller cluster.

Which four cmdlets should you run in sequence? To answer, move the appropriate cmdlets from the list of cmdlets to the answer area and arrange them in the correct order.

Answer:

Explanation:

Deploy Network Controller using Windows PowerShell

Step 1: Install-WindowsFeature

Install the Network Controller server role

To install Network Controller by using Windows PowerShell, type the following commands at a Windows PowerShell prompt, and then press ENTER.

Install-WindowsFeature -Name NetworkController IncludeManagementTools

Step 2: New-NetworkControllerNodeObject

You can create a Network Controller cluster by creating a node object andthen configuring the cluster.

You need to create a node object for each computer or VM that is a member of the Network Controller cluster.

Tocreate a node object, type the following command at the Windows PowerShell command prompt, and then press ENTER. Ensure that you add values for each parameter that are appropriate for your deployment.

New-NetworkControllerNodeObject Name

-Server -FaultDomain -RestInteStep 3: Install-NetworkControllerClusterTo configure the cluster, typethe following command at the Windows PowerShell command prompt, and then press ENTER. Ensure that you add values for each parameter that are appropriate for your deployment.Install-NetworkControllerCluster Node ClusterAuthentication Step 4: Install-NetworkControllerTo configure the Network Controller application, type the following command at the Windows PowerShell command prompt, and then press ENTER. Ensure that you add values for each parameter that are appropriate for your deployment.Install-NetworkController Node ClientAuthenticationReferences: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt282165.aspx Question: 10 You have an Active Directory domain that contains several Hyper-V hosts that run Windows Server 2016.You plan to deploy network virtualization and to centrally manage Datacenter Firewall policies.Which component must you install for the planned deployment? A. the Routing role serviceB. the Canary Network Diagnostics featureC. the Network Controller server roleD. the Data Center Bridging feature Answer: C Explanation:Using Windows PowerShell, the REST API, or a management application, you can use Network Controller to manage the following physical and virtual network infrastructure:References: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn859239.aspx Test Information:Total Questions: 107Test Number: 70-743Vendor Name: MICROSOFTCert Name: MCSATest Name: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA: Windows Server 2016Official Site: http://www.examkill.co.ukFor More Details http://www.examkill.co.uk/70-743.htmlGet20% Immediate Discount on Full Training MaterialDiscount Coupon Code:3219R845096Article Source: eArticlesOnline.com }

England do enough against Ecuador; through to quarter-final

Sunday, June 25, 2006

A David Beckham free kick was the difference as England went through to the quarter-finals of the 2006 Fifa World Cup after a 1-0 win over Ecuador, Sunday.

For the neutral football fan the game was not especially attractive to look at. There were only 7 shots on target in the 90 minutes and neither team controlled the play well. The scrappy match was broken by up 37 fouls.

The game had temperatures at around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which caused several English players, including Beckham, to suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration. Beckham was sick on the pitch shortly after his goal and was substituted before the end. [1]

Ecuador had the best of the first 45 minutes. The slow tempo of the game seemed to lead to simple errors of concentration from England and favoured Ecuador’s passing play.

Ecuador had slightly more ball possession over the game and also the first chance. John Terry‘s back header to his keeper fell short but Ashley Cole slid in to deflect Carlos Tenorio‘s shot onto Paul Robinson‘s crossbar.

In the second half England put more pressure on Ecuador’s goal. However, passes into lone striker Wayne Rooney – who played 90 minutes for the first time since he recovered from injury – were often off-target.

England’s best chance to score from free play followed Wayne Rooney trickery on the left touchline. The striker evaded his marker but Frank Lampard spooned Rooney’s cut back high over the bar.

Beckham’s free kick was a trademark fast curled pass from over 30 yards which beat the opposition wall and took a small touch off the fingertips of Cristian Mora before nestling into the bottom right corner of the net. The goal meant David Beckham had broken an English record by scoring in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups, the first English player ever to score in three different World Cups.

England were scheduled to meet the winner of game 52, Portugal, in the quarter-final of the World Cup in Gelsenkirchen on July 1.

Contents

  • 1 Round of sixteen
  • 2 Formations
    • 2.1 England
    • 2.2 Ecuador
  • 3 Officials
  • 4 Related news
  • 5 Sources

Looted, possibly contaminated body parts transplanted into USA, Canadian patients

Monday, March 20, 2006

Fears of contaminated bone and skin grafts are being felt by unsuspecting patients following the revelation that funeral homes may have been looting corpses.

Janet Evans of Marion Ohio was told by her surgeon, “The bone grafts you got might have been contaminated”. She reacted with shock, “I was flabbergasted because I didn’t even know what he was talking about. I didn’t know I got a bone graft until I got this call. I just thought they put in screws and rods.”

The body of Alistair Cooke, the former host of “Masterpiece Theatre,” was supposedly looted along with more than 1,000 others, according to two law enforcement officials close to the case. The tissue taken was typically skin, bone and tendon, which was then sold for use in procedures such as dental implants and hip replacements. According to authorities, millions of dollars were made by selling the body parts to companies for use in operations done at hospitals and clinics in the United States and Canada.

A New Jersey company, Biomedical Tissue Services, has reportedly been taking body parts from funeral homes across Brooklyn, New York. According to ABC News, they set up rooms like a “surgical suite.” After they took the bones, they replaced them with PVC pipe. This was purportedly done by stealth, without approval of the deceased person or the next of kin. 1,077 bodies were involved, say prosecuters.

Investagators say a former dentist, Michael Mastromarino, is behind the operation. Biomedical was considered one of the “hottest procurement companies in the country,” raking in close to $5 million. Eventually, people became worried: “Can the donors be trusted?” A tissue processing company called LifeCell answered no, and issued a recall on all their tissue.

Cooke’s daughter, Susan Cooke Kittredge, said, “To know his bones were sold was one thing, but to see him standing truncated before me is another entirely.” Now thousands of people around the country are receiving letters warning that they should be tested for infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis. On February 23, the Brooklyn District Attorney indicted Mastromarino and three others. They are charged with 122 felony counts, including forgery and bodysnatching.

Channel Tunnel closed after smoke seen coming from train

Monday, August 21, 2006

Thirty-four people had to be evacuated this lunchtime after a fire started on a lorry, which was being transported on a freight train in the Channel Tunnel.

Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, said all services had to be suspended this afternoon due to the small blaze in which nobody was hurt.

John Keefe, a spokesman for Eurotunnel, said: “It was a freight shuttle going through with about 34 people on board, who have all been evacuated safely.

“Eurotunnel is conducting checks of the tunnel and its equipment. Once these investigations are completed, Eurotunnel will commence a progressive restart of commercial services.”

The company also said services through the Tunnel would hopefully resume later today. “Unfortunately with this being a very busy time of year, it’s going to take a few hours to clear the backlog once we’ve got started again,” said Mr Keefe.

A Eurostar spokesman said: “We are advising passengers to avoid travelling today if possible. Tickets can be exchanged for another day.”

The Channel Tunnel is a 31 mile long rail tunnel beneath the English Channel which connects Folkestone in Kent to Coquelles near Calais in northern France.

The Concept Behind The Personalized Promotional Items}

Submitted by: Kellie Purden

Personalization uses technology to customize something for an individual, a group or an organization. It provides a domain of influence and unrestricted control for the user. In the workplace, it saves time by allowing someone to disregard repetitive tasks. Personalization also allows service parts that the user doesnt need to be discarded. Personalization often offers low-cost solutions to meet the specifications of the user. Some of the examples of things that can be personalized are web pages, mobile phones, search engines and promotional items.

Yes, personalization is now used heavily in marketing; promotional merchandise is often personalized. With the birth of digital printing, personalized promotional items are made possible.

Apparel is one of the more common personalized promotional items. T-shirts, jackets, and even pants are some of the items which can be personalized. These items are usually printed with the organizations logo or name. In some cases, even the individuals name is printed on the apparel.

Clocks and watches can also be personalized promotional items. There are certain types of clocks and watches that be disassembled so that a companys name or logo can be printed on the clocks or watchs face. Even an individuals picture or name can printed on clocks and watches.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmDL_yuA6Dw[/youtube]

Caps and hats are also ordinarily used as personalized promotional items. An organizations logo or name is embroidered or printed in front of the cap or hat. Even an individuals name can be placed on the cap or hat.

Mugs and drink ware are also possible personalized promotional items. A companys logo, name and contact details can be printed on the mug or drink ware. Pictures can also be printed for a more personalized effect.

Other items that can be personalized are mouse pads; pens and other writing instruments; home and house ware items; folios, notebooks and other paper products; business and office supplies; bags, backpacks and tote bags; computer supplies; and travel and luggage supplies.

Promotional items can be a good marketing tool for the business. Planning is essential for this type of marketing. It is best to make a profile first of the target audience so that the right promotional item can be ordered. Also, one has to take into consideration the occasion when the promotional items will be distributed to the intended recipients. The size of the logo and company name should also be considered. The imprint area should be able to accommodate the logo and/or company name.

Promotional items also must be relevant to the core business. The target audience must be able to connect the promotional item with the company. High quality items even though small is much better than big promotional items but of low quality. Poor quality promotional items will convey poor quality products and services of the company. Also, promotional items should fit the budget. Prior to ordering these items, a budget must be planned and strictly adhered to.

With the onset of personalization in almost anything, more and more individuals, groups and companies are joining the bandwagon because it gives them the distinction from the others.

About the Author: Ready to learn more about

personalized promotional items

and

promotional items

? Visit PromoGear.com today for more information!

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=813860&ca=Business }

Singer Britney Spears faces hit and run charges

Saturday, September 22, 2007

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office said yesterday that pop music super-star Britney Spears was facing charges for a hit and run offence and driving without a valid drivers’ license.

Charges were filed following an accident in which police allege Spears smashed her car into another vehicle in a parking area in August of 2007.

She could face a maximum of six months in jail and US$2,000 in fines if convicted.

A group of paparazzi recorded a video Britney steering her car into another vehicle on August 6 as she tried to pull into a parking spot in a Studio City lot.

Kim Robard-Rifkin was the owner of the other car and she filed a police report three days after the accident. The 59-year-old nurse found out that it was Spears who ran into her car after watching a video on a celebrity website.

Robard-Rifkin said, “I simply want my car fixed, the same as I would fix somebody’s car if I had done that.”

Spears will be arraigned on October 10.

French journalist beaten in Tunis

Saturday, November 12, 2005

A journalist for the French Daily Libération, Christophe Boltanski, was attacked on Friday by several men in a street of Tunis, where he was reporting on the repression of human rights activists.

He was badly beaten and stabbed with a knife in the back by four unidentified assailants near his hotel in the embassy district. Boltanski was also hit in the face by pepper spray. He called for help, but the policemen on guard outside the nearby Czech Embassy did not react, according to Libération.

Boltanski filed a complaint on Saturday morning before returning to Paris. Libération and Reporters without Borders suspect this attack was a deliberate act of intimidation decided by the Tunisian regime. According to a United Press International report, Tunisian authorities arrested two men Saturday on suspicion of assaulting Boltanski.

Captain and four shipping companies face legal action over 2009 Australian oil spill

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

In light of an oil spill that occurred off the coast of southeast Queensland in 2009, a captain of a cargo ship and four companies are set to appear in court.

In March of last year, the cargo ship Pacific Adventurer, with Filipino national Bernardino Gonzales Santos at the helm, encountered bad weather, which resulted in its fuel tank being damaged by loose cargo, leading to the spillage 270,000 litres of oil into the Pacific Ocean. The oil later washed up on Sunshine Coast beaches as well as Moreton and Bribie islands and was dubbed “one of Australia’s worse environmental disasters” by the media.

Santos and four companies behind Pacific Adventurer face individual counts of discharging oil into the ocean and can be fined a maximum of AU$1.75 million in the case of the companies, while Santos faces a $350,000 fine if found guilty.

Santos is also charged with not taking reasonable action following the incident.

Richard Kendall, an executive of one of the involved companies, Swire Shipping LTD, said today that “[w]e are deeply regretful. But we will vigorously defend the charges […] We stand by Captain Santos, who is a first-class captain”.

Like Swire Shipping, China Navigation Company LTD and Bluewing Shipping LTD, who are both joint owners of Pacific Adventurer, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

However, prosecutor Peter Davis stated that “[t]he prosecution’s case is that the cause of the cargo going overboard was due to faulty lashings […] By failing to maintain the lashings, the defendants acted recklessly,” an act that prosecutors say should see the companies and captain pay.

Kennedy Center names 2007 honors recipients

Friday, September 14, 2007

The Kennedy Center announced that its 30th presentation of the Kennedy Center Honors would go to pianist Leon Fleisher, comedian Steve Martin, singer Diana Ross, director Martin Scorsese and musician Brian Wilson. The Center was opened to the public in 1971 and was envisioned as part of the National Cultural Center Act, which mandated that the independent, privately-funded institution would present a wide variety of both classical and contemporary performances, commission the creation of new artistic works, and undertake a variety of educational missions to increase awareness of the arts.

In a statement, Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman said that “with their extraordinary talent, creativity and perseverance, the five 2007 honorees have transformed the way we, as Americans, see, hear and feel the performing arts.”

Fleisher, 79, a member of the Peabody Institute‘s music faculty, is a pianist who lost use of his right hand in 1965 due to a neurological condition. He became an accomplished musician and conductor through the use of his left hand. At 67, he regained the use of his right hand. With the advent of Botox therapy, he was once more able to undertake two-hand performances in 2004, his first in four decades. “I’m very gratified by the fact that it’s an apolitical honor,” Fleisher said. “It is given by colleagues and professional people who are aware of what [an artist] has done, so it really is apolitical — and that much more of an honor.”

Martin, 62, a comedian who has written books and essays in addition to his acting and stand-up comedy career, rose to fame during his work on the American television program Saturday Night Live in the 1970’s. Schwarzman praised his work as that of a “renaissance comic whose talents wipe out the boundaries between artistic disciplines.” Martin responded to the honor saying, “I am grateful to the Kennedy Center for finally alleviating in me years of covetousness and trophy envy.”

Ross, 63, was a product of Detroit‘s Brewster-Douglass Projects when as a teeager she and friends Mary Wilson and Florence Ballardis formed The Supremes, a ground-breaking Motown act. She portrayed singer Billie Holiday in the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues, which earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award. “Diana Ross’ singular, instantly recognizable voice has spread romance and joy throughout the world,” said Schwarzman. Ross said she was “taken aback. It is a huge, huge honor and I am excited to be in this class of people.”

Scorsese, 64, is one of the most accomplished directors the United States ever produced, whose work includes Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, GoodFellas, Cape Fear, The Last Temptation of Christ and The Departed, for which he won a 2006 Academy Award for Best Director after being nominated eight times. Scorsese said, “I’m very honored to be receiving this recognition from the Kennedy Center and proud to be joining the company of the very distinguished individuals who have received this honor in years past.”

Wilson, 65, along with his brothers Dennis and Carl, formed the Beach Boys in 1961. They had a series of hits that included “Surfin’ U.S.A.” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Their 1966 album Pet Sounds is considered one of the most influential recordings in American music. “This is something so unexpected and I feel extremely fortunate to be in the company of such great artists,” said Wilson, who is currently on tour.

The Kennedy Center’s board of trustees is responsible for selecting honorees for “lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.” Previous honorees, including Elton John and Steven Spielberg, also submitted recommendations. A wide variety of people were under consideration, including Emanuel Ax, Evgeny Kissin, Renee Fleming, Laurence Fishburne, Francis Ford Coppola, Melissa Etheridge and Kenny Chesney.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will attend the center’s presentation at its opera house on December 2, 2007, which will broadcast on December 26 on CBS.