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Who is Amanda R Johnston MN, Saint Paul, 924 County Rd B2 W, 55113 No data available Text Adventure Games | Text RPGs: A Guide for Text-Based Rituals Text RPGs: A Guide for Text-Based Rituals By H. R. Johnston Levi Johnston 'Playgirl' Pictures ★★★ The Levi Johnston Playgirl pictures were finally \r\npublished on February 22, 2010, after months of clamoring \r\nfrom fans of the magazine. ... \r\n\r\nCheck the video for details. Is Levi Johnston Tripp's Father? With the recent announcement of Bristol and Levi's engagement announcement, complete with a family photo on the cover of USWeekly, I only have one question: "Which parent has blond hair and blue eyes?"\r\n\r\nAs the saying goes: "Mother's baby, father's maybe." "do it by monday!" from scott r johnston the shmoo - cuddly critter or the greatest threat the world has never known? levi johnston \r\n\r\nBristol Palin and Levi Johnston have reportedly called off their wedding, but not because Levi’s ex After Promoting Levi Johnston CBS Ignores His Admission of CBS Ignores His Admission of False Statements. \r\nT him. Levi Johnston apologizes to Palins for lying about them."\r\n Gears of War Cosplay with Amanda Amanda McGinnis aka LadySnip3r from New York have done Gears of War Cosplay successfully. She selected the Character Cog She looks really awesome in Cog Cosplay Irresistable Bonuses for Amanda?s Peeps :-) High school scoreboard Lebdyke 1b, 2b, RBI; R. Robinson 2b, RBI; H. Cornwell 1b, HR, RBI. WP - Najact 4 IP, 10k. LP - Mikayla Kemp. Top hitters - Coloma: Karotenuto 2 1b; Faltersack 3 1b, 3 RBIs; Najact 1b, 2b, 2 RBIs; Amanda ... WP - Kelly Johnston, LP - Kelsey ... Monday's high school roundup: Central boys volleyball sweeps New Canaan, 3-0 Amanda Quiles 6-2, 3-6, 7-5; Ailynn Suarez (D ... Shannon Stainken 6-2, 7-6; Kelly Janasek (R) def. Kate Collins 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Leigh Rubin (S) def. Olivia Beatty 6-1, 4-6, 6-2; Alyssa Morrison (R) def. Alexis Teixeira 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; doubles: Kelsey ... Mark Cole and Sheli Polash roll The Express-Times area's best weekly bowling series Women -- Lenny Alich 611, Karen Fatzinger 580, Helen Read 568, Eva Tilley 571, Joanne Kolumber 561, Amanda Sedler 533 ... Lew Sommer 718, Anthony Johnston 708-717, Ed Petrakian 717, Walt Harrington 714, Leo Mulligan 711, Bill Kerr 741-709 ... Cassadaga Valley Central School honor rolls Goodworth, Sarah Grace Hadley, Kaylee Christine Hitchcock, Jennifer Pauline Holley, Cody Marshall Johnson, Brittany Kayla Rose Johnston, Krystalyn Ash LeBarron ... Alexia Marie Ruiz, Damian R Webb, Samantha J. Young. Sixth Grade: Ben Nicholas Anderson ... Reedsburg Area High School third-quarter 2011-2012 honor roll Johnston, Thomas Sass ... McCain, Kassandra L. Roth, Jennifer R. Schoell, Hailee A. Lichte, Ali N. Lohr, Ellen M. Lill, Nicholas G. Christensen, Amanda L. Kinsman, Taylor E. Soule, Luke W. Bjorklund, Damien J. Hahn, Courtney A. Monday's area high school results St. Charles: Alvaro Lange 1-for-3, 2 RBIs; Andy Johnston 1-for-2 ... Alyxandra Hohensee 1-for-1; Amanda McNamer 1-for-1; WP: Ashley Beyer 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K; Brooke Haag 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K. Houston: Vanessa Lee 1 ... Workman leads Grayhounds Robby Johnston (C), 51-5 ... Pleasant Hill, 17; 10. Canton R-5, 10. Individual events Shot put - 1. Frances Tate (IW), 33-0; 2. Taylor Duffy (IW), 32-1 1/2; 3. Kasey Mowen (CPC), 30-11. Discus - 1. Amanda Whitcomb (WH), 111-4; 2. For the Record Kimberly R. Weina, 28, 2000 Johnston Drive, Manitowoc ... Lot 20, Manitowoc, operating while suspended on March 13, $303. Amanda L. Ruiz, 31, 1228 S. 10th St., Apt. A, Manitowoc, operating while suspended on March 9, $303. High School Report: North Kitsap softball ends Sequim's 35-game win streak Tyler Campbell, Nick Johnston (3), Jake Hudson (7), and Brett Wright, Campbell (3). W—Straight. L—Campbell. Leading hitters—NK: Fisher 3-4 (2B,3R,3RBI,R), Reece 3-4 (2B ... Wynter Anderson/Amanda Moreno 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 7-5. No data available No data available No data available No data available No data available

(Source: justanotherspoonful) (Source: justanotherspoonful) Food Historian Karen Hess in her introduction to Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery. (via fourpoundsflour) Crave Local is a guide to restaurants in the Rochester area. From April 20-29, local participating restaurants will be offering a special menu for only $20.12. ‘New Rules for Everyday Foodies’ George Mason University Economist Tyler Cowen talks to Steve Inskeep about his new book, An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules for Everyday Foodies on NPR. Michael Pollan, “Unhappy Meals” Now this is what food should look like! Pollença food market, Pollença, Mallorca. (via withenoughbutter) “Unhappy Meals,” an article by Michael Pollan published in the New York Times in 2007, chronicles the transition of America’s idea of health from eating healthy food to eating nutrients. His motto? “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Sounds simple enough, but when you start to think about the different kinds of edible substances, not necessarily food, that one can get in the supermarket, this motto becomes more and more difficult to uphold. An average American grocery store is chock full of “low” and “free” foods (i.e. low-fat, or sugar-free), with labels making seemingly outlandish health claims. In fact, the majority of supermarkets have only a small section of the store dedicated to fresh fruits and vegetables, which often is just the perimeter of the store, and the countless center aisles are devoted to processed snack foods and quick frozen meals. The old saying “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are,” is extremely applicable here. While Brillat-Savarin may have meant that literally, I believe it can be applied in a broader sense to apply not only to a single person, but to American culture as a whole. Self control isn’t exactly one of American culture’s strong suits, and we are often associated with excess and obesity. So why is it that the aisles in the grocery store are filled with “health” foods, but we keep getting bigger? It all comes back to self control. We can’t call it quits after one cookie, so we buy low-fat, sugar-free cardboard cookies that leave our mouths dry and sweet teeth (?) unsatisfied after we binge-eat half the package. And the sad thing is, the people who eat like this often honestly believe they are being “healthy” because it’s low-fat! Of course, I’m using “we” in an extremely collective sense; I’m very much aware that not everyone embodies these eating habits, but sadly many do. According to Michael Pollan, I find mind-boggling, is that the nutrition of fresh fruits and vegetables is so often overlooked, and instead the attention is directed to the pre-packaged, freeze-dried snacks in the center aisles. Maybe it’s because we live in a time that medicine is seen as the first resort, not the last. When you have a headache, you don’t have a few glasses of water and see how you feel, you take an Advil. When you have a sore throat, you don’t gargle with salt water and wait a day, you immediately go to the doctor and insist on an antibiotic. When it comes to our diets, we can’t dilly-dally with meager vegetables! We need results! Food is subsequently being treated as a medicine, with added fiber and higher levels of vitamins, and the unaltered from-the-earth fruits and vegetables are left in the dust. When I was young, I used to love to go to the Science Center. We would usually go on rainy days in the Summer when my mom was probably ready to kill my brother and me if we ran around the house, or asked to watch T.V., one more time. Like most museums, the exit was always through the gift shop. This place was awesome. Practically overflowing with everything from bouncy balls to k’nex roller coasters (remember k’nex?) and any other weird science-y thing you could imagine. I have a very vivid memory of picking up a package of “Astronaut Food,” and asking the cashier what it was; there was no way that rectangular block of foam was actually food… was it? She explained that when in space, astronauts had to eat freeze-dried meals, which gave them the same nutrients they would get when eating on earth. Is that what our future looks like? Just getting the nutrients we think we need, but in bland, freeze-dried form? I certainly hope not. Follow Pollan’s guidelines for eating, to steer us away from a future of astronaut food: 1. Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food. 2. Avoid those food products that come bearing health claims. 3. Especially avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable, c) more than five in number— or that contain high-fructose corn syrup. 4. Get out of the supermarket and shop at farmers markets instead. 5. Pay more (for quality foods), eat less. 6. Eat mostly plants, especially leaves. 7. Eat more like the French. Or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the Greeks. In other words, have a relationship with your food; don’t just treat it as fuel for the machine. 8. Cook. And if you can, plant a garden. 9. Eat like an omnivore.

- Tools for Investors - Stock News - Investing Ideas - Econ & Policy - Personal Finance - Stock Research Tuesday Morning’s Top Stories Samsung Electronics (SSNLF.PK) plans to increase global handset sales in 2012 by 15 percent to 374 millions units through smartphones, reported the Korea Economic Daily. This would give the electronics company a stronger presence against rival Nokia (NYSE:NOK), whose handset sales are estimated to drop 5 percent next year to 399 million. In other news, Samsung’s board approved the purchase of Sony’s (NYSE:SNE) stake in their $1.08 trillion ($939 million) LCD joint venture. Investing Insights: The Week Ahead on Wall Street: Low Trading Volume and Case-Shiller Home Prices. While Europe struggles with its ongoing debt crisis, American businesses and financial firms are doing business by making loans and grabbing assets owned by European banks (NYSEARCA:KBE), according to the New York Times. The activities have included mortgages on high-end hotels and office buildings in Dublin. The activities come as the European banks struggle to raise capital and decrease their balance sheets as requested by regulators. According to Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) analyst Huw van Steenis, he estimated that European financial institutions will get rid of up to $3 trillion in assets during the next 18 months. Sears Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLD) announced plans to close between 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores and take as high as $2.4 billion in charges; its fourth-quarter pretax profit is expected to drop by more than half as compared to the previous year. The gloomy news comes as the retailer reported fourth-quarter comparable sales dropped 5.2 percent for the eight weeks through December 25. The drops were seen from weaknesses in consumer electronics and apparel. With Research in Motion’s (NASDAQ:RIMM) disastrous year and recent multi-year share price lows, investors and analysts are asking the company’s board of directors to step up and steer the company’s direction. This could be done by pushing for a strategic shift, ousting co-CEOS Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, or selling the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Don’t Miss: Will Computers Read Our Minds In Five Years? Tuesday Morning Hot Stocks Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:SHLD) is trading more than 13 percent down in early trading. The company announced between 100 and 120 stores will be closing due to poor sales. “Given our performance and the difficult economic environment, especially for big-ticket items, we intend to implement a series of actions to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust our asset base, and accelerate the transformation of our business model,” said CEO Louis D’Ambrosio. Other retailers such as Target (NYSE:TGT) and Big Lots Inc. (NYSE:BIG) are trading higher, while Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) is down about .23%. Shares of MetLife Inc. (NYSE:MET) are climbing nearly 3 percent higher before the opening bell. The life insurer announced it will sell about $7.5 billion in bank deposits to General Electric’s (NYSE:GE) financial unit. Financial terms were not disclosed. Shares of General Electric Co. are trading down .49%. Don’t Miss: Apple and Google Working Together on These Wearable Computers. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) shares received a .39% boost after Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated its Buy rating and increased its price target to $114 per share. Competitors include other credit card companies such as MasterCard Inc. (NYSE:MA) and American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP). Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is trading slightly higher after Digitimes claims Apple plans on releasing television sets in the third quarter of next year. The first models are expected to feature 32-inch and 37-inch displays. Other tech giants such as Google Inc.(NASDAQ:GOOG) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ) traded lower in early trading. Investing Insights: Here’s Why Internet Travel Site Stocks are Facing Major Losses. The Wendy’s Company (NYSE:WEN) moved higher early Tuesday after the company said it will open about 100 restaurants in Japan over the next five years. In the longer term, the company may open nearly 700 restaurants in Japan. Other fast-service food companies such as McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE:MCD) and Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE:YUM) traded lower on the news. Despite 60,000 pre-orders for its Aqua hybrid car, shares of Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE:TM) are down .73 percent Tuesday morning. On a monthly basis, the automaker expects to sell 12,000 units of the Aqua hybrid. General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) are also trading nearly 1% lower. Investing Insights: Goldman Sachs Loves These 9 Tech Stocks. Tuesday’s Trending Stocks On Tuesday, the DJIA is trading higher at 12,307, the S&P 500 Index is trading at 1,266 and the Nasdaq is trading at 2,627. Here are the companies driving the market news on Wall Street today: Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD): Shares of Sears Holdings Corporation are trading lower 24% today. Sears Holdings announced plans to close 100-120 Kmart and Sears Full-line stores.. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:CALM): Shares of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. are trading higher 4.5% today. The company beat expectations, pushing the stock price upward. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. produces, cleans, grades, packs, and sells fresh shell eggs. The Company markets its products in various states in the Southwestern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Parlux Fragrances, Inc. (NASDAQ:PARL): Shares of Parlux Fragrances, Inc. are trading higher 71% today. Perfumania Holdings Inc. said it agreed to acquire Parlux Fragrances Inc. in a deal valued at $170 million.. GigaMedia Limited (NASDAQ:GIGM): Shares of GigaMedia Limited are trading higher 22% today. The company said it sold all of its ownership interest in T2CN Holding Ltd to Hornfull Limited. GigaMedia Ltd. provides online entertainment software and services to the online gaming industry, particularly the online poker and casino industry. The Company develops and licenses software for online gambling; and offers MahJong and other games online. GigaMedia Ltd. operates in Greater China, including the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Cogdell Spencer Inc. (NYSE:CSA): Shares of Cogdell Spencer Inc. are trading higher 9% today. Chicago-based medical real estate investment trust Ventas announced it has agreed to buy Charlotte based Cogdell Spencer for $4.25 a share. Cogdell Spencer Inc. owns specialty office properties for the medical profession. The Company focuses on the ownership, development, redevelopment, acquisition, and management of strategically located medical office buildings and other healthcare related facilities in the southeastern United States. Magnum Hunter Resources Corp (NYSE:MHR): Shares of Magnum Hunter Resources Corp are trading higher 16% today. The company increased its production estimates for this year and next year on higher-than-expected output from new wells. Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation explores for oil and natural gas. PokerTek, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEK): Shares of PokerTek, Inc. are trading higher 30% today. The gaming company is seeing a lift due to a Justice Department opinion that gives state power to legalize most forms of online gambling within their borders. PokerTek, Inc. has developed and markets an electronic poker table that provides a fully-automated poker-room environment. The Company markets its system to tribal casinos, commercial casinos, and card clubs. Piedmont Natural Gas Company Inc. (NYSE:PNY): Shares of Piedmont Natural Gas Company Inc. are trading higher 1% today. Investors are seeing the 3.4% dividend as very attractive for the energy company. (NYSE:BAC): Shares of Bank of America Corporation are trading lower 1% today. Reuters reported may need to sell more assets to increase capital levels, while the CEO has reiterated the bank is moving the the right direction again to get back to a stable footing. Bank of America Corporation accepts deposits and offers banking, investing, asset management, and other financial and risk-management products and services. The Company has a mortgage lending subsidiary, and an investment banking and securities brokerage subsidiary. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (NYSE:ARE): Shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. are trading higher .65% today. Investors are moving the stock higher, as they see improving real estate date and a dividend of 2.8%.. Market Recap Markets closed mixed on Wall Street today: Dow -0.02%, S&P+0.01%, Nasdaq +0.25%, Oil +1.67%, Gold -0.69%. On the commodities front, Oil (NYSE:USO) climbed to $101.34 a barrel. Precious metals were down, with Gold (NYSE:GLD) falling to $1,594.90 an ounce while Silver (NYSE:SLV) fell 1.54% to settle at $28.64. Hot Feature: Wealth Disparity Grows Between Lawmakers and their Constituents Today’s markets were mixed because: 1) Home prices. Though equities closed the day mostly flat, they started the day sharply lower on news that U.S. home prices fell more than forecast in the year ended in October, indicating that the housing market continues to be weighed down by foreclosures. The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values in 20 major U.S. cities fell 3.4 percent from October 2010 to October 2011, after decreasing 3.5 percent in the 12-months ended in September, the group said today. 2) Consumer confidence. Stocks quickly reversed their decline when the Conference Board announced its index of consumer sentiment rose to the highest level in eight months in December, with a reading well above the average during the recession that ended in June 2009. Improving sentiment might help sustain household purchases, which account for roughly 70 percent of the U.S. economy. The Conference Board’s measure of present conditions increased this month as well, as did its measure of expectations for the next six months, while the share of consumers saying they believed jobs were plentiful rose in December to its highest since January 2009 and those saying employment was hard to get decreased to the lowest since January 2009. More respondents also said they expected more jobs to become available in the next six months, and that they expect their incomes will likely increase as well. 3) Sears. Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD) on Tuesday reported a sharp drop in holiday sales compared to a year ago, and said the results will force them to close 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores. As a result, SHLD shares plunged 26 percent, dragging down other retail stocks on fear that Sears might not be alone when it comes to underwhelming holiday sales figures. J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS), Saks (NYSE:SKS), The Bon-Ton Stores (NASDAQ:BONT), and Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) all closed the day lower. BONUS: U.S. Treasuries Surged on Safe-Haven Demand to Best Performance Since 1995 After Hours Radar Stocks>>

An alleged con man accessed Waltham High School in May and stole an SAT test booklet from a safe, Waltham Public Schools Superintendent Susan Nicholson revealed this week. "We don't know why they would do it," Nicholson said, calling it a breach of school security. Nicholson made the announcement during a Sept. 12 citywide PTO meeting at Kennedy Middle School. New test booklets were quickly brought in and the test went was administered as scheduled for June 2. The man entered the school at around 2:30 p.m. (after the sign in desk is torn day for the day) as students were being released and went to the guidance office, Nicholson said. The man identified himself as an employee of ETS, the company that administers the SAT tests, Nicholson said. The man said he needed to check on something with a group of test booklets, which are kept in a safe, she said. The staffer and the man went to the safe where she photocopied his license and allowed him to see the booklets, Nicholson said. "When pressed for additional identification, he said, 'I'm all set'," Nicholson said. "No one noticed that he was able to hide [the test booklet] on his person. He did leave the guidance office, as far as we could tell, with one copy of the test booklet." Nicholson said the incident was later reported to the Waltham Police Department, which investigated it. Investigators later determined the man's licenses and phone number were fake, she said. While investigators were unable to determine the man's identity, Nicholson said ETS showed school officials a composite photo of the alleged thief they believe took the booklet. Nicholson said investigators believe the same man is responsible for a similar incident in Newton three years ago. The man was also spotted in Waltham High School on the evening of May 30, the night before the theft, Nicholson said. Investigators believe he was casing the school's security, she said. As a result of the theft, Nicholson said school officials are taking steps to tighten test and school building security. Staff in the building at night will be "more vigilant" about building visitors and have janitors ask unrecognized visitors for identification and check with the office on the reason for the visit, Nicholson said. ANNOUNCING THE THEFT School officials gave differing answers when asked why the incident was not announced until now. When asked if the matter was previously disclosed, Nicholson said she had reported it to police and the school committee and said that was public record and said she did not know whether a public notice was ever distributed about the theft. "I don't think that there was any intention to not say anything," Nicholson said. "We followed all the protocols including a police investigation." No school committee member ever mentioned it at a school committee meeting, according to a review of the meeting minutes since May. A search of the web for media reports on the theft turned up no information. Also, Nicholson told meeting attendees of the incident in words that indicated she had never announced it before. Mayor Jeanette McCarthy told Waltham Patch she learned of the incident after a constituent asked her about it. McCarthy said she later called Nicholson about it. WHSHawk 11:50 am on Friday, September 14, 2012 Hah...

Search Military Madness Archives Recent Posts - Christine Hong> U.S. versus North Korea: the Hunger Games - Military Sexual Assaults Spike Despite Efforts To Combat Epidemic - Glenn Greenwald> The major sea change in media discussions of Obama and civil liberties - Chris Hedges: Monitoring of AP Phones a “Terrifying” Step in State Assault on Press Freedom - Larry Butler> The Myth of Liberal Media Bias - Tomgram: Engelhardt, The Last Empire? - Greg Palast> Now that the SOB is dead…” Novel Idea: Asking an Afghan about Afghanistan - [Video] Glenn Greenwald> Debating Bill Maher on Muslims, Islam and US foreign policy TC Events and Actions - After Boston: Attacks on Civil Liberties> Sunday, May 19 2:00 pm - Join us for WAMM’s Annual Walk Against Weapons> Saturday, June 8th - About WAMMToday - TC Events Calendar - Actions & Action Alerts - Action Alert> Senate hearing on drone strikes is available to view & Petition: Cut Social Security & Veterans’ Benefits? Cut the Pentagon Instead! - Lawrence Lessig: We the People, and the Republic we must reclaim - MONTH of MAY BRIDGE VIGILS TO SAY “NO” TO U.S. WAR IN SYRIA - UNAC Action Alert> Political Prisoners: Lynne Stewart and Aafia Siddiqui - Action Alert: NO US WAR ON SYRIA! - Sign the Petition> Ban Weaponized Drones from the World - Coleen Rowley> Please consider signing! Petition: Investigate Betrayal of the Nobel Peace Prize - Take the Iran Pledge of Resistance> Stop the Next War Now Read by Category. FAIR - You're to Blame for Factory Deaths. Well, You and Walmart May 17, 2013 - FAIR TV: The IRS & Obama's Scandal Trifecta, Matthews Praises Reagan, Newseum Scandal May 17, 2013 - Is There Really a 'Scandal Trifecta'? May 17, 2013 - The Supreme Court Is an Ass May 16, 2013 - Matthews: Obama Needs to Break a Union Like Reagan May 15, 2013 Glenn Greenwald on Security and Liberty - Washington gets explicit: its 'war on terror' is permanent | Glenn Greenwald May 17, 2013 Glenn Greenwald - The major sea change in media discussions of Obama and civil liberties | Glenn Greenwald May 15, 2013 Glenn Greenwald - Justice Department's pursuit of AP's phone records is both extreme and dangerous | Glenn Greenwald May 14, 2013 Glenn Greenwald - Debating Bill Maher on Muslims, Islam and US foreign policy | Glenn Greenwald May 11, 2013 Glenn Greenwald - Attacks on Stephen Hawking, transparency for Manning, Obama's new lobbyist chief | Glenn Greenwald May 9, 2013 Glenn Greenwald Nation of Change - Will the 99 Percent Outbid the Billionaires Trying to Buy the LA Times? May 17, 2013 - Fracking the Suburbs: An Explosive Combination? May 17, 2013 Peter Pearsall - Abercrombie & Fitch Signs Bangladesh Safety Agreement While Other American Companies Hold Out May 17, 2013 Bryce Covert RSN Reader Supported News - Faking the News: The Benghazi Emails Scandal May 17, 2013 - 'The War On Terror' Is Permanent May 17, 2013 - The Deepening Shame of Guantanamo May 17, 2013 More RSN Fight Back! News TomDispatch – Blog - Tomgram: Andy Kroll, A Democracy of the Wealthy May 16, 2013 Andy Kroll - Tomgram: David Vine, Baseworld Profiteering May 14, 2013 David Vine - Tomgram: Nick Turse, Israel, Iran, and the Nuclear Freight Train May 12, 2013 Nick Turse OEN OpEdNews Media - Sweden, Russia, Nato, and the Military-Industrial Complex Show? May 9, 2013 - The Myth of Liberal Media Bias April 28, 2013 - Do We Give Too Much Attention to Terrorist Attacks? April 25, 2013 - Koch Brothers' Bid for Tribune Newspapers Should Be Blocked April 21, 2013 - Chained CPI: NPR "He-Said/She-Said Reporting Just Doesn't Cut It April 18, 2013 OEN OpEdNews - Catfight -- and it's US vs EU May 18, 2013 - Daschle for Obama May 18, 2013 - Reagan and Argentina's Dirty War May 18, 2013 - Sleep Loss and Suicide: New Study Shows Relationship May 17, 2013 - Barack Obama--and the Sick, Twisted Dynamic of Racism May 17, 2013 Afghanistan Afghan war Bradley Manning Civil Liberties constitutional rights Corporate Greed corporate mainstream media corporate media Corporatism/Capitalism Drones Economy Empire freedom of speech Glenn Greenwald Globalization/Empire Human Rights Immigrant Rights Iran Iraq Iraq war Israel Libya mainstream media Media Criticism Middle East militarism Military Madness national security state NATO Ndaa nonviolent action nonviolent direct action Obama Occupy Occupy Movement Occupy Wall Street Pakistan Palestine Peace and Justice peaceful protest Syria U.S. economy U.S. foreign policy Uncategorized Wikileaks Recent Comments

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IMBALANCE OF GOVERNMENTAL POWER: Rhode Island is one of the few states in the union where one branch of government is so clearly more powerful than the other two. Of course in our little bastion of political patronage, the most powerful branch by a long shot is the legislative branch. The Speaker of the House exerts far more power than the governor or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Senate President's power trails that of the Speaker only marginally. This has been accomplished over the years in part by the Speaker and the Senate President ensuring that judgeships are filled largely by their political friends – judges who will seldom rule against them in matters that might diminish their power over the executive branch. In essence, the legislative branch has "bought" the judicial branch in order to maintain its preeminent position in the government triumvirate. This "imbalance of power" is being strengthened every year by the appointment of magistrates – "junior judges" who will likely be elevated to full judges at some point. Last week the Speaker's legal counsel and a former state senator were nominated for magistrate positions. This apparent circumvention of the 1994 law that intended to ensure judges are selected based on merit instead of political patronage has resulted in the number of magistrates exploding from only two in the early '90s to 21 today. The "separation of powers" amendment to the R.I. Constitution attempted to remedy this imbalance of power among the three branches. It has met with only limited success, partly because it is hard to change old habits in the General Assembly. After all, it isn't easy to give up power. The appointment of magistrates by the legislative branch after they have been nominated by the judicial branch that is itself filled with legislative appointees, deprives the executive branch of its constitutional power to nominate judges. So much for separation of powers in R.I. CONTRASTING EDC LOANS: One is amazed at the contrast between two EDC loans that have recently made the news. One, of course, is the ill-advised $75 million loan to 38 Studios – the company that promised us 450 jobs but is now in default and has released all of its employees. Contrast that whole saga with the courting of an energy technology company, Utilidata, by General Treasurer Gina Raimondo. Utilidata was brought to R.I. with only a $500,000 EDC loan. Not only is it successful thus far, it has already added 12 positions to our workforce and plans to add 35 more jobs with average salaries of $91,000 per year. So, let's do the math. Seventy-five million dollars to 38 Studios for a promised 450 jobs that have now evaporated; that's $166,000 of taxpayer investment per job. Five hundred thousand dollars to Utilidata for a promised 47 jobs; that's $10,600 per job. Wow! What a difference! The $75 million lent to 38 Studios could have gone to 150 companies at $500,000 each and, if the Utilidata formula successfully prevailed, would have resulted in over 7,000 new jobs for R.I. It just goes to show that Governor Chafee and other opponents of the huge loan guarantee to 38 Studios were right. And it shows that Gina Raimondo, a former venture capitalist, is far more capable of recognizing a company's potential for success than the collective guesswork exercised at the EDC. She should chair the EDC instead of the governor. FISCAL COINCIDENCE: It is pure coincidence, but it is a striking one. 38 Studios declares bankruptcy, leaving Rhode Islanders to pick up the loan guarantee tab of $102 million. Coincidentally, the projected state surplus for the current fiscal year amounts to $102.7 million. So the huge ill-conceived taxpayer investment that has resulted in what appears to be a total loss wipes out the state's surplus. Just when we thought the surplus might be a harbinger of a fiscally stable future, the result of a bad loan comes along to shatter our hopes. It looks like Rhode Island just has bad juju! VALEDICTORIANS' CAREER GOALS: Forty-six area high school valedictorians featured in last Sunday's Providence Journal indicated their career goals. The distribution of aspirations among these smartest of the smart is indicative of where our country is headed. Twenty of the 46 plan to pursue careers in medicine. This clearly follows the "graying of America" as the medical needs of an older population become greater and, unfortunately, the costs become higher. Of concern, only seven want to enter the field of business; not a good sign for an economy already losing ground on the world stage. Worse, only four want to become engineers. This is ameliorated somewhat by the seven who will pursue scientific research, but the relatively small combination points to an insufficient emphasis on science and technology in our high schools. The most refreshing revelation? Only three of the 46 want to become lawyers. In a country whose problems are greatly exacerbated by the ever-increasing number of avaricious attorneys who actively promote costly litigation, this disinterest in joining a group so infested with bottom-feeders is encouraging. OLD GUN BECOMES YOUNG GUN: The national Republican Party has elevated Rhode Island Republican congressional candidate Brendon Doherty, former State Police superintendent, from one of 112 "on the radar" candidates to one of 21 "young guns," a designation that will likely mean much more support – both financial and organizational. More important, it indicates the national party believes that current Congressman David Cicilline will be one of the sitting Democratic congressmen most easily defeated in November. Cicilline's weakness stems, of course, from his involvement in Providence's financial mess and his dishonesty with voters about the city's financial health as he was leaving the mayor's position and vying for his congressional seat. It must make Doherty, the not-so-young guy who carried a gun for the State Police for so long, feel great to now be designated a "young gun." And it must make Cicilline, the culprit running away from his record in Providence, worry doubly now that more figurative guns are out to capture him.

MWAA board member expenses pricey air ticket, brings female friend along Chastised Dulles Rail board cuts back dramatically on travel Feds will monitor troubled Dulles Rail board H.R. Crawford: Jobs for friends, family 'standard procedure' at Dulles board New calls for Va. to pay $200m more for Dulles Rail Growth at regional airports depends on easy access, report shows BWI faulted for handling of $38m in contracts Airports agency must clean house or face skyrocketing tolls Mica: MWAA becoming 'poster child' of corruption Norton introduces bill to clean up airports, Dulles Rail contracts Dulles Rail board ignored warnings of nepotism Dulles Rail board member H.R. Crawford defends nepotism Scores of violations cited Feds: Corruption rife at Dulles Rail board Dulles board official resigns ahead of federal report on agency New report shows Dulles board's problems even worse MWAA insider deals FBI investigating troubled Dulles Rail board Dulles board member calls federal probe 'political witch hunt' Airports authority strikes deal to reinstate union boss to board Airports board faces tangle of legal fees Allen calls for airports director Martire to step down Airports board adopts new travel policy Airports board fires insider from $180k-a-year job MWAA board member expenses pricey air ticket, brings female friend along Sources: Airports insider contract was for five years Airports board to debate insider contract, disputed legal fees Virginia officials knew about Dulles board insider contract Virginia should take back the Dulles Toll Road A chauffeured ride to a funeral Dulles board gives own kids summer jobs Dulles board members defend one insider deal Dulles board 'funding our own destruction' Dulles board abruptly cancels insider contracts LaHood, governors, Gray send rebuke to airports board Feds, state demand changes at Dulles Rail board Fairfax chamber backs makeover for Dulles Rail board Allen, Kaine join call to reform Dulles Rail board Dulles Rail board awards contracts to 2 insiders Dulles Rail board denounced as 'dysfunctional' Airports board takes care of its own, including Jeffrey Thompson New watchdog for Dulles Rail board Dulles Rail board members spend big on exotic junkets MWAA travel far exceeds that of commissions elsewhere Former MWAA member used contacts from paid trip to win no-bid contract Airport board delays decision on ousted member Dulles board to discuss new union controversy McDonnell accused of 'power grab' against Dulles board Airports board hits turbulence -- often Dulles board pays 'change' guru $173k Airport insiders score big-buck contracts Virginia says Dulles tolls don't have to rise so much Dulles Rail board spends nearly $1m studying itself Feds found fault with MWAA Feds cite Dulles Rail board for waste, no-bid contracts Virginia gets new voice on airports board Long-time airports board member Mame Reiley resigns for health reasons Airports authority bucks Congressman, delays overhaul MWAA leaders insist Dulles rail will be done on time Airport authority gets General Assembly scrutiny Airports agency terms itself ally of toll road users

A Herndon father shot and killed his wife and two teenage boys before taking his own life, Fairfax County police said Wednesday. The preliminary investigation found that 57-year-old Albert Peterson shot each member of his family in the upper body inside their home at 13391 Point Rider Lane. The bodies were discovered by police Tuesday morning after co-workers called authorities to say their colleague had not shown up for work in two days. Killed were Albert Peterson, 52-year-old Kathie Peterson, and their two children, 16-year-old Matt, a sophomore at Westfield High School, and 13-year-old Chris, a Rachel Carson Middle School student. The Northern Virginia community was trying to come to grips with the deaths. The head of Blackbird Technologies in Herndon, where Kathie Peterson worked in procurement, said in a statement that employees there were "still trying to absorb the shock of this tragedy." "[Kathie] will be remembered as a high-energy, devoted parent who always had a smile to share," CEO Peggy Styer said. "She often told stories about her sons, their sports and community activities. She is already missed." The Petersons' church, the Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, organized a candlelight vigil for Wednesday night. "Everyone is feeling a great deal of grief over this loss," Rev. Tom Berlin said, "and is searching for answers that are not known at this time." Students, teachers and staff at Westfield High School, where the Matthew was a sophomore, held a tearful prayer circle Wednesday morning. Many of the students wore black as a tribute to the victims. During the day, classmates took photos of empty chairs and desks where Matt or Chris would normally be sitting, and put them out in social media. Matt's teammates on the wrestling team tried to cope with the loss of their cheerful teammate. "Matt was honestly the greatest kid alive... always had a smile on his face.. and the best teammate always encouraging us," wrote @eddiepark1. The Petersons, who lived on the corner of the entrance to the cul de sac, were described as the neighborhood greeters, often seen on their porch, grilling or kicking around a soccer ball. Neighbors say they last saw the Peterson family at a community picnic. Alvaro Lopes also told WNEW that Albert Peterson had been suicidal and had also been taking heart medication that may have altered his moods. 'He seemed dizzy... just different,' Lopes said. 'Hearing about what happened today made me think that could have something to do with it.' The news of the murder-suicide comes two years to the day that another Westfield student was killed in a high-profile case. Bo Rupp died Sept. 26, 2010 after he darted out in traffic and was struck by a vehicle in Centreville. Rupp, 15, was also a sophomore who wrestled, as well as played football and lacrosse. Rupp's family sued the company that makes the alcoholic beverage Four Loko, saying the death contributed to his death. smccabe@washingtonexaminer.com

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota researchers will soon get text messages from dead moose. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Friday it will conduct research aimed at better understanding the sharp decline in the state's moose population. Through a combination of GPS technology and implanted devices, researchers think they can get a quicker handle on the locations and causes of moose deaths. Researchers believe the study has value beyond the iconic giant of the north woods, because the ailments killing moose could shed light on health threats to other species, including humans. Starting later this month, wildlife resource officials plan to capture 100 adults and 50 calves in northeastern Minnesota. All of them will be fitted with $2,500 tracking collars and many will also have $900 mortality implant transmitters put in their digestive tracts. Those with the implants will be the most valuable research targets because when an animal's heart stops beating it will trigger an instant text message to researchers, who will get coordinates for finding the carcass to help them retrieve it within 24 hours. That's key because moose organs decompose quickly or the animals get ravaged by prey, meaning researchers can't get a good read on what's causing them to die. "We know the population is declining. We don't know exactly why," said Lou Cornicelli, the DNR's wildlife research manager. Alerts from the moose with only GPS collars will go out if there is inactivity for more than six hours. Cornicelli compared the technology to "life alert" necklaces some senior citizens use to summon emergency responders. "It actually sends a text message to researchers saying, 'Hey, I'm likely dead.'" Under older technology, it could take a week to 10 days to find the dead animal. Even if scavengers get to the dead moose first, the new equipment will log key vital statistics as well as ambient temperatures. Last year there were an estimated 4,200 moose in the state — about half as many as there were in a 2006 species survey. Moose can live as long as 20 years but most die much sooner. Erika Butler, a wildlife veterinarian, pointed to a troubling trend of more moose dying in what should be their prime years and in seasons that are typically more favorable to their health. The equipment and resulting data will actually feed into multiple studies. The two main studies are expected to cost a combined $1.6 million, with much of the money coming from a special trust fund devoted to environment and natural resources programs. Butler said the moose research could have human health implications. She cited prior studies of moose carcasses that alerted health officials to the existence of a strain of mosquito-borne encephalitis that could threaten horses and people. Officials said they may not be able to reverse conditions causing the moose population decline, but they hope the research will allow them to mitigate things. "You want to understand what's going on," said moose project leader Glenn DelGiudice. "You can't just try to manage by the seat of the pants."

In our rush to succeed we often find ourselves out of balance with our general well-being… and looking a bit tired as well. Both can be easily remedied with strategically timed spa visits. Here are some of the city's more interesting options. ANNE SÉMONIN SIGNATURE FACIAL THE SPA AT THE FOUR SEASONS Just in time for spring, the latest luxury offered by the Four Seasons spa is the Anne Sémonin Signature Facial, an intensive, customized treatment designed to pamper and heal according to your skin type. The Fours Seasons is the only Washington spa to provide the Anne Sémonin line. To begin, an esthetician performs an analysis of your skin to customize the ingredients just for you. The Purifying Facial for sensitive skin, for example, features a seaweed exfoliation mask that's applied and gently brushed off by hand - a European alternative to the standard method of rinsing off the mask with water. A relaxing cloud of steam follows to help open up pores, with a high frequency wand to soothe the skin and stimulate blood flow to the muscles of the face. The most memorable part of the experience lies in the aromatic ingredients - rose, geranium, lavender and sage are but a few - and the ever-changing sensation of each application on your face. Next, a customized mask is painted on; in the purifying treatment, this contains such natural ingredients as sea cabbage and sea water concentrated in trace elements, mixed with essential oils such as lavender, cypress, ylang ylang and palmarosa. To finish the purifying facial, a pure trace cream containing seaweed and macadamia nut oil is rubbed into the skin. Inside tip: From May 8th to 13th, Anne Sémonin will be at the spa along with European facialist Erwa Berkman. It's part of a new "Four Faces of the Four Seasons" program that introduces seasonally customized skin treatments. "Summer Solstice" is the first of the specialized facials. ñShweta Govindarajan Treatment: Anne Sémonin Signature Facial, 80 minutes, $150 Get there: Four Seasons Hotel Washington 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Contact: Caitrin Garrett, spa director, 202-295-2705 OLAVIE LE VIN CHARDONNAY BODY THERAPY I SPA AT THE WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL From the moment you enter the Willard InterContinental's flower-filled lobby, you sense you will be in good hands. Located in one of Washington's most historic hotels, the Willard I Spa beckons with its newest series of treatments featuring chardonnay grape seed extract (imported from the Burgundy region of France) combined with essential oils. Highly recommended is The Olavie Le Vin Chardonnay treatment line-in particular, the Chardonnay Body Therapy. Trust me: You've never had white wine quite like this. The treatment begins with a white grape seed sugar exfoliating scrub followed by a soothing coat of wine body butter. Next, you're cocooned in a warm towel soaked in Willard Chardonnay and wine is poured over the length of your body, after which you're covered in a blanket to help your skin retain the softening antioxidants of the wine therapy. Perhaps the most exhilarating element of the treatment is washing away dead skin cells in the I Spa's 12-jet shower, a truly oceanic experience. The I Spa features an extensive menu of services, so if wine therapy already feels old hat, try a soothing rose milk bath to calm and revive lifeless skin instead, or the Hot Stone Bio- Morphosis Signature Facial that combines the effects of heated stones with a seaweed matrix mask that nourishes and hydrates dry skin. Inside tip: Before running off on your next errand, savor the sensation with a little more relaxation by enjoying a refreshing plate of fruit sushi and a pot of Numi flowering tea, served in the women's lounge. ñShweta Govindarajan Treatment: Olavie Le Vin Chardonnay Body Therapy, 90 minutes, $225 Get there: 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 Contact: Movita Hernandez, spa director, 202-942-2700 ABHYANGAM MASSAGE PARMA SPA Parma Spa takes an eastern approach to health and wellness by basing its treatments on the principles of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science that uses the five elements - earth, air, fire, water and space - to restore a natural balance in the body by eliminating impurities. Parma's holistic approach offers clients a total body experience that not only awakens the five senses but also works with your unique body chemistry to create an individualized experience. I decided to try to the Abhyangam massage, a full body treatment illustrative of the spa's Ayurvedic mission. During the Abhyangam therapy, a heated mixture of oils, including some imported from India, is rhythmically kneaded into the skin to remove toxins and promote relaxation. From there, the course of the massage depends on your personal condition. To soothe tight, knotted muscles, for example, warm sand packs infused with detoxifying herbs are rubbed up and down the length of your back, arms and legs, gently easing soreness. Perhaps the highlight of the treatment comes right at the beginning: A therapeutic foot soak in an authentic copper basin sure to revive your aching arches. Inside tip: For one-stop-shopping, let Parma's team of medical doctors and specialists meet your wellness needs with both alternative and traditional medicine. Parma offers a host of dermatological procedures as well as referrals for a range of medical services, including gynecology, cardiology and oncology. ñShweta Govindarajan Treatment: Abhyangam massage, 60 minutes, $105. Get there: Parma Spa, 8212-B Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, Va, 22182. Contact: Telephone: 703-506-8401, Christina Clark, spa director. GET PERSONAL SOMA FIT There was a time when sprawling gyms were in. The busy hubbub of people coming and going after their workouts created an infectious buzz that made tramping along in a line of 30 treadmills somehow enjoyable - I still don't get what people see in those places (other than lots of other sweaty people, of course). At Soma Fit, you'll find a haven of everything not "chaingym": personable staff, personalized attention and most importantly, personal space. The hybrid fitness center and day spa is housed in a minimalist orange and warm-wood-designed 8,500-square-foot space just above Georgetown. Need a personal trainer? Check. Yoga and Pilates classes? Check. Nutrition counseling followed by a muscle-relaxing massage and facial? Check, check, check. On this day, I'm booked for a 50-minute SomaFit Body Massage with Larry ($95), and a SomaFit Signature Facial with Hiromi ($95). "Jazz, New Age or Classical?" Larry asks as I slip under a warm blanket. "Jazz," I say. On request, he spends extra time on my tight shoulders. Afterwards, I sleep walk over to my facial with Reiki-trained esthetician Hiromi, who has a way of combining signature facials with mommyisms: "Did you wear Sunscreen today," she asks (knowing I didn't). "No," I respond guiltily. She chides me: "Tsk, tsk, you should always wear sunscreen. You want to look young, don't you?" The Signature Facial itself consists of a thorough cleansing with steam, exfoliation, and a custom mask followed by a face massage. It's one of ten different facials SomaFit offers. 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- Northern New York Newspapers - Watertown Daily Times - The Journal - Daily Courier-Observer - NNY Ads - NNY Business - NNY Living - Malone Telegram MASSENA Construction on the Parker Avenue bridge wont begin for at least two more years, according to state Department of Transportation officials. Corroded beams on the 53-year-old bridge over the Grasse River forced the closure of two of its four lanes in 2009. The bridge was closed entirely for part of the summer of 2010 after a hole appeared in the deck of the structure. DOT presented five options for replacing the bridge with a two-lane span to the village board more than a year ago. The total cost of the bridge construction and traffic reconfiguration is $14.1 million to $14.5 million for all five scenarios, DOT officials said previously. About 80 percent of the project cost would come from federal funds, while the state would pick up the remaining 20 percent. At the time, DOT officials said the bridge project would be highly contingent on Congress passing additional transportation legislation in 2011. In May 2011, DOT officials said they planned to approve design plans last fall, contract plan completion in winter 2012, contract letting in spring 2013, bridge reopening to traffic in fall 2014 and completion in winter 2014. Now, it will be 2014 or later before construction begins because of a lack of funding, DOT spokesman Michael R. Flick said Monday. Design work has been limited, Mr. Flick said in an email. The bridge replacement project will need a fully funded federal transportation bill to move forward, said Scott A. Docteur, director of planning and management for DOT Region 7. The last transportation bill expired several years ago, and Congress has approved nine extensions since then. DOT has received approximately 30 percent less funding from the extensions than the last full-fledged bill, he said. Were working on it and we want to replace it, but funding is an issue, Mr. Docteur said. Mayor James F. Hidy said the village had been left in the dark about the delay. He said he was first hearing of it Monday. Im hearing this through the press. They made no effort at all to let us know whats going on. That itself is disturbing, Mr. Hidy said. Its imperative we get this structure to the front of the line and address this as soon as possible. Mr. Hidy called the bridge unsightly. If its crumbling on the outside, chances are its not doing too good on the inside, either, he said. DOT staff has monitored the bridge over the last year, according to engineer and project manager Michael K. McCullouch. Its in a holding pattern, he said. Were watching it, but its still safe. Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country. You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

From a reader: Could a married man be ordained to the permanent diaconate using the extraordinary form? Of course! A bishop can use either Use to ordain. And a deacon is a deacon is a deacon. From a reader: Could a married man be ordained to the permanent diaconate using the extraordinary form? Of course! A bishop can use either Use to ordain. And a deacon is a deacon is a deacon. A note, I think, should be made here: Summorum Pontificum did not pertain to ordinations; all other sacraments, however, are mentioned. Nevertheless, I suppose a society like the FSSP would have permission to ordain a permanent deacon in the extraordinary form. Any bishop can chose to use the older Pontifical. Ooh Father, your gonna make the SSPX real unhappy [So?] … They even say the Eastern Catholics and Orthodox have this wrong. All clerics, even deacons, have to be celibate… who knew… ;-) BTW I found a link to that article on their Latin Mass explained packet page. I was looking for Altar server training stuff and I came across this in the little note attached to the check box for deacon that said they wont send the material to permenant deacons and they gave a link to this article. It really astonishes me that they have such a problem with married clerics… While I can see no problem with priestly ordinations being carried out in the Extraordinary Form outside the FSSP/ICRSP etc. (because the ordinand will in any case be a deacon), might there not be a problem with a diaconal ordination, given that the older books presume the ordinand to be a subdeacon? Father Z, Is there a translation of the EF Rite of Ordination to the diaconate on-line? I wondered about the position of the SSPX on ordaining married men to the diaconate. Can I say that I am not surprised? Fr. Deacon Daniel You do realize that when your wife dies you may NOT re-marry. I believe the reason that, with very few exceptions, all high orders may not be married is you are esentially marrying the church. You can not have two brides. It would be unfair to your wife/children to spend more time with Church duties. On the other side of the coin it would be unfair to the Church for you to choose issues of your family over the needs of the Church. These are the reasons that I was taught why all high orders must only be for unmarried/widowed men. Even then, if there are children, it can be very difficult for a widowed man to have to choose between the Church and a problem with a child. The few exceptions have traditionally been married Anglican’s and other’s who have vaild orders and wish to enter the Roman Catholic Church and are currently married. I urge everyone interested in the married cleric discussion to read canonist Dr. Edward Peter’s blogpost:. I quote his post below. Go to his site for links and further discussion. “Brian Van Hove, SJ, and Dcn. Rex Pilger are debating in the Homiletic and Pastoral Review whether the obligation of clerical continence (1983 CIC 277) applies to married permanent deacons. Van Hove argues affirmatively, Pilger negatively. My 2005 article on this question has been cited approvingly by Van Hove, but I have not intervened in the HPR discussion because, until recently, my work had not been challenged by either side. Recently, however, Pilger attempted to refute several points that I made or accept concerning.” To the commenter above, do you honestly think that the ordained deacon that you presume to lecture doesn’t already know this? Both the comment and its TONE (note the font) are just a little unnecessary. The disrespect here sometimes is unbelievable. Arent Deacons assumed with the role of subdeacon though? I mean I have never seen a permanent deacon be addressed as during his formation subdeacon, but what I do know is there is a maronite church in St Louis, that has Married Sub Deacons, So I would assume it is there. Granted that is a different rite, but still part of the cahtolic church. Now, I do have a question. If a deacon is a deacon is a deacon, can the deacon perform his office in the Extraordinary form? I only ask because when the extraordinary form was ordinary, The permanent diaconate was somewhat in reclusion, and I have not seen/ known a permanent married deacon that participated in the extraordinary form. Maybe its just the seed isnt there yet, but I am curious. I am 29, and in a few years God willing I can enter formation myself. I am married. I would love to know if I could expect to participate at the altar in both forms though. I wonder who the pioneer will be in this regard?! :) Well, Chances are someone might beat me to it, I have 6 years before i can enter formation, and its atleast a 4 year process right now. (so ordination possibly at 39?) I would think the problem with a permanent deacon doing it, would be he is assigned to a parish, so it would all be dependent on father, if in fact the faculties allow it Matthew, Yes, I am quite aware, thank you very much, of my own obligations towards celibacy should my wife pass away. Dispensations to be remarried have been granted in the Latin Church for widower deacons with young children. This has also happened in certain Eastern Catholic Churches, although never with our married priests. There was a case with the Antiochian Orthodox where a widower priest was granted a “dispensation” (they do not use such terminology) to remarry after his wife died. His name is Father John Allen and he wrote about his experience in the book, “Widower Priest”. The imagery of espousal, while very beautiful, does not present the total picture of the apostolic life. St. Paul’s exhortation to St. Timothy assumes that some of those called to sacerdotal or diaconal ministry have an intimate familiarity with the married state and family life as fathers and husbands and that how they have raised their children is a witness in discerning their worthiness for ordained ministry in the household of faith. The Scriptures and Tradition praise both the married and the celibate states, and the recent magisterium (both conciliar and pontifical) have upheld the legitimate and praiseworthy ministry of married priests and deacons in the East. Quite frankly, I tire of uber-Latinists who seem to treat this question as if it was somehow material to the faith. Celibacy for the Kingdom of God is a discipline and a beautiful and praiseworthy calling “for those who can bear it.” The married state is as well, and both states have an eschatalogical dimension to them and priesthood and diaconate can be exercised well in both. The Church does not have a two-tiered system of clergy – the “high and mighty” celibates and the barely tolerable “married’s.” Both are fruitful in their own way and both states have been approved by the Church. In ICXC, Fr. Deacon Daniel From the Latin Canon 277: “The diocesan bishop is competent to establish more specific norms concerning this matter and to pass judgment in particular cases concerning the observance of this obligation.” A question for Canon Lawyers: Can the bishop thus dispense a cleric who entered the clerical state as a married man from perpetual continence? This is an interesting debate on this canon. I have always had the understanding that the obligation is to be observed 24 hours before rendering liturgical service, as well as during certain periods of fasting. There is also a tradition of continence for the laity prior to receiving Holy Communion and during periods of fasting. I wonder if such a thing is being advocated anywhere! Fr. Deacon Daniel If any bishop can use the older Pontifical, then why is ordination not included in Summorum Pontificum when Confirmation is? Now, I do have a question. If a deacon is a deacon is a deacon, can the deacon perform his office in the Extraordinary form? It has been done – is being done, if that answers your question. The St. Frances de Sales Parish in the archdiocese of Atlanta, served by the FSSP, has an assigned permanent deacon. xathar: Because it didn’t have to be. I think what we should hope/work/pray for is that knowledge of the EF becomes part of the normal liturgical formation of candidates for the permanent diaconate. The more who know, the more who will be able to help their bishop & pastors respond to the requests of the faithful. And I think many will be attracted to it with exposure. Members of EF communities who could assist with training should prayerfully consider contacting their diocesan Director of Deacon Formation. Thanks for the answer to my question. I hope by the time I enter formation and God willing recieve my orders to the permanent diaconate, the question will no longer have to be asked. Now wouldnt that be something, keeping up with the brick by brick thought. At that point we would have a mansion! The following comes from the SSPX’s article in opposition to married deacons. .” Canon 3 of the Council of Nicea is (from newadvent.org): The great Synod has stringently forbidden any bishop, presbyter, deacon, or any one of the clergy whatever, to have a subintroducta dwelling with him, except only a mother, or sister, or aunt, or such persons only as are beyond all suspicion. Ok, from what I can tell, a “subintroducta” is a celibate woman, or perhaps an unrelated woman, not a wife. So the council excluded clergy from living with celibate/unrelated women who were not their mothers, etc. It doesn’t say anything about an absolute prohibition against clergy being married as the SSPX seems to indicate. Is my understanding of the term subintroducta correct? Is the SSPX’s initial bit of evidence completely off the mark, or am I misunderstanding the meaning of the words? Wow. Has the SSPX, then, become a kind of reverse barometer? Anything “they” are for, “we” are against? No, the SSPX is not some sort of reverse barometer? Some things they get right, but it would be insane to trust the statements of a group of people whose fullness of communion with the the Church is questionable when those statements are obviously in opposition to what the Church allows. They’ve claimed something. Is it true or not? They also state in the same.” They, the SSPX by posting this on their website, have declared that married deacons are excommunicated. This has nothing to do with reality. It is nonsense. JM,? Well, All one has to do is read scripture, Paul tells us presbetyrs, bishops, deacons should have only been married once. No where does it say they have to be removed from the wife, the wife is dead, or anything else one could think of. So one can assume the wife very well can “come along” so to speak Granted, that in any rite bishops are celibate, priests in the east can be ordained if they are married , but must be celibate if they are ordained and not married, but if one really wanted a strong ground to stand on, its directly in scripture. Though in that thought its important to recognize why we have a celibate priesthood in the Latin Tradition. I think a permanent deacon, by its very nature of service (If I recall the word means that), would almost be better suited to be married. It gives him a unique perspective on the average faithful, who are married, and that (all due respect to the priests here), that a priest isnt always going to have. Many permanent deacons work with marriage prep and counseling, and so forth. I would think that its pretty obvious why that’s a good thing. Also , I mean no disrespect to the priests who visit here, just pointing it out as an obvious advantage for helping the faithful. I love whatever pastor has been placed in care over me, but I wont hide that I often have stronger personal relationships with the deacons who are installed at the church. Part of that is having someone to talk to, being a married man. I think the church in her wisdom, and care for the faithful sees this, and thus why we have married permanent deacons Michael, ?” This has nothing to do with the question I asked? Is the SSPX’s understanding the of the 3rd Canon of the Council of Nicea correct or not? From what I can tell, it isn’t. They are wrong. But my understanding might be correct or incorrect and I’m hoping that someone who reads this blog might more about the issue. In response to your comment above: In the case of married deacons, the SSPX isn’t exhorting anyone to do more than the Church allows. What they are doing is claiming, by the posting of the article on their website, is that what the Church allows, married deacons, is causing these men who are licitly and validly ordained to the diaconate to be excommunicated. Obviously, they are opposing the Church in the matter and making claims that are false on top of it. There is nothing wrong with doing more than the Church recommends or even advising people to do so. Going to Mass more than once a week is generally going to be a good thing. Fasting more if you are capable can be a good thing. These are both things that SSPX priests would likely recommend, and I support both of those, but their opposition to married deacons is not the same thing. How do we know that any bishop can use the old Pontifical? Has this been decreed anywhere? “How do we know that any bishop can use the old Pontifical? Has this been decreed anywhere?” yes, the through the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. As such, it is on the pope’s authority, and no other decree needs to be in place for a Bishop to perform it. Its a mass, the faithful can request their sacraments be administered in the extraordinary form. Deacons, and for that much any person recieving the sacrament(so even a priest who say wanted last rites on his death bed), constitutes a “member of the faithful”. Patrick, What you’ve written is not correct. Summorum Pontificum speaks of allowing all sacraments in the older form except for ordination. Additionally, the ability to use the older books (MIssal, Breviary, Ritual) is not extended to the Pontifical in that document. I repeat: Where, if anywhere, has permission been granted to use the older form of the Pontifical for ordination, carte blanche? [Summorum Pontificum speaks primarily about the faculties which priests have, not about what bishops can do. The issue of the Pontifical was settled a long time ago.] Perhaps one of our more scholarly folks could answer it then. I would have assumed it was all encompasing. Especially if there are groups like the FSSP who are using it. To the commenters above: Summorum Pontificum (“SP”) does not need to mention ordination, and in fact, it makes more sense that SP does not include it. The purpose of SP was to allow priests to perform the EF without permission of a bishop when requested by faithful. To include Holy Orders here was unnecessary as Holy Orders always requires a bishop and is not at the bequest of the faithful (unless the faithful are considered the priests/deacons being ordained). Thus, the bishop can choose which form he uses for the mass. If SP had included a mention of this sacrament it wouldn’t have been congruent with the purpose of the rest of the document. JM – I think you’ve got the gist of ‘subintroducta’, at least as I understand it. I did some google searches, and the assorted references I got back seem to support that understanding. N.B. – I didn’t post the links here myself, as some of the most informative were part of “relationship” glossary sites. Some of the content might well be described as base or even vulgar. Thanks YoungCatholicStl . See someone from the midwest helped us out :P YoungCatholicSTL: Then how do you account for its mention of confirmation which is the bishop’s domain, so to speak? Xathar: Yes, here’s how I see it. (Warning: About to split hairs) While I agree that it is “the bishop’s domain,” the sacrament of confirmation is still at the people’s request. And if those people requesting would like the EF, then they are entitled to it under SP. Holy Orders isn’t at the request of the person to be ordained, it is at the request of the bishop. Although, xathar, I do find your point intriguing. Fr. Z – Any thoughts? SP does say that the the usus antiquor was never juridicially abrograted. This is the most important thing to consider when examining if ordinations are allowed with the traditional rubrics. Therefore, since it was never juridicially aborgrated, and a bishop is the custodian of liturgy in his diocese, the bishop may choose to use it for ordinations. SP was particularly meant to free priests to say the TLM should they choose without having to obtain permission from his bishop. The SSPX seems to have a point here, the points they make are almost the same as the late Cardinal Stickler made in his study “The Case for Clerical Celibacy” He said that from apostolic times all clerics were required to keep perpetual abstinence, even though they might be married. The Eastern Church relaxed the discipline (but they still require sexual abstinence before liturgy). So permanent married deacons without anykind of sexual abstience imposed on them is a novelty. SP does NOT say that the entire usus antiquor was never abrogated. Rather, it’s focus is primarily on the Missal. It also gives permission for the old Breviary and Ritual. And then, with respect to the Pontifical, it states, “Ordinaries are given the right to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation using the earlier Roman Pontifical, if the good of souls would seem to require it.” This is the only line that concerns the Pontifical. Again, no mention is made of ordination. This is a glaring omission and I’m sure it is not a mistake or oversight. Furthermore, note that the use of the old rite of Confirmation is made at the bishop’s discretion, not at the request of the faithful, as an earlier commenter had stated. In conclusion, I see no provision within SP or any other document for a bishop to use the entirety of the older Pontifical at his own discretion, particularly so with respect to ordinations. Fr. Z, As I noted above, SP does speak of the Pontifical, but only with regard to Confirmation. You state above that “the issue of the Pontifical was solved long ago.” I’m not familiar with this solution. What document/event are you referring to? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to find out the truth of all this, about the deaconate,married or otherwise, N.O. or Gregorian Rite E.R. “TLM” all the speculation and all the opinions. Confusion rein on.

Republicans have plenty of problems to deal with from news from the past 24-48 hours. I’m going to center my focus around the swine flu infections because it provides an interesting related topic to most of them. Republicans have spent some of their energy the past two years denouncing any efforts to plan or prepare for a possible influenza epidemic, even though the probability of one occurring continues to mount. It’s an offshoot of their anti-science agenda and it’s left the country in a worse state than it otherwise should be in. As cases of swine flu infections continue to increase, most Americans are rightfully worried about the topic. The swine flu can obviously be transferred from swine to humans, something that isn’t terribly shocking in an of itself if you’ve paid attention to how influenze evolves. The scary question now, and in any potential influenze epidemic, is how transferable is the flu from person to person? What is the rate of infection between people? The higher that rate, the more strained our health management system becomes. Side-topic: if it were actually a health-care system, people might be less worried. One shameful aspect of this story is the actions of Maine’s Senator Susan Collins, a self-styled “moderate”. I’ve argued for a number of years now that many elected officials aren’t “moderate” in the sense that they once were or in ways that are relevant in today’s political climate. For instance, how “moderate” is it for Sen. Collins to extoll her efforts to remove a $900 million pandemic preparedness proposal from President Obama’s recovery bill? Further, how “moderate” is it for Sen. Collins to have removed any record of doing so from her website? Either she believes she did the morally right thing in preventing some “wasteful spending” from making it through the Congress or she doesn’t. Now that we have a potential epidemic on our hands, she isn’t, though she was even a few short days ago. That isn’t principled and it isn’t moderate. She was sucking up to the extremist Cons in her party until it became painfully obvious that she would be rightfully targeted by a majority of the public for doing so. What happens if the outbreak spreads and real people end up dying and the economy further suffers? How proud will Sen. Collins be of her anti-spending stance then? Another shameful aspect of this story is the lack of a Health and Human Services Secretary. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius was nominated months ago, but the extremist, obstructionist, ‘Party of No’ had placed an unwarranted hold on her nomination due to her pro-choice stance. That hold was in place until today, when the Senate suddenly moved her nomination forward and approved her. Again, a group of extremist Con Senators were doing their best to placate their extremist anti-woman base by denying Gov. Sebelius’ nomination until it looked like it would be very politically stupid to continue to do so. Sec. Sebelius didn’t gain any special skills overnight. None of her views changed. Neither did those of the Senators holding her nomination back. Sec. Sebelius won’t be running around the country forcing women to have abortions that they don’t want to have. The Con Senators were simply more interested in proving how ideologically pure they were; they were determined to show the American people that the government really doesn’t work, dammit, until a potential crisis erupted. This behavior is disgusting. Again, if Americans end up dying and if the rest of us end up suffering due to any lack of emergency preparedness that otherwise would have been in place or due to the lack of leadership of a Health Secretary, the ramifications for the extremists shouldn’t be pretty. Already a weak regional party, they will reduce Americans’ confidence in their ability to handle anything above tying their own shoes. And they’ll have only themselves to blame. Isn’t it amazing what a little crisis can do?

Nanotechnology could help fight diabetes Injectable nanogel can monitor blood-sugar levels and secrete insulin when needed. Injectable nanogel can monitor blood-sugar levels and secrete insulin when needed. Increased truck transportation in Europe and its accompanying environmental problems, particularly along the north-south route through the Alps in western Europe, has prompted the expansion of railways in that region. These railways will need to tunnel through the Alps, requiring deeper and longer tunnels than any in existence. Professor Herbert Einstein of civil and environmental engineering discussed three of these tunnels and issues of exploration and construction, mostly with regard to the difficult geologic conditions, in his Feb. 18 AAAS talk on "New Transalpine Transportation Tunnels." Einstein focused on three tunnels: the 57km Gotthard Tunnel and the 36km Loetschberg Tunnel, which are both under construction in Switzerland, and the 53km Maurienne-Ambin Tunnel between France and Italy, which is in the advanced planning stage. All three will accommodate both high-speed passenger and freight trains. "In a nutshell, the difficulties arise because these tunnels are going to be deeper than present tunnels, they will also be longer and the overburden (or pressure from rock and water above) will be greater," said Einstein. "In addition, as you go deeper into the Earth, it gets hotter, so you have temperatures in the 50 degree C. range, which makes for difficult working conditions. We'll have to cool the work area; otherwise people will die. They have the same problem in the South African mines; it's difficult but not impossible," he said. Tunnel builders will encounter a major geologic problem in areas where the geology is soil-like, rather than rock. Soil or weak rocks are unable to withstand high pressures from above; unlike solid rock, which can handle a high overburden, weak material will be prone to collapse. They will have to make special considerations for construction in these "bad zones," Einstein said. "Imagine when you were a child playing in a sandbox. If you wanted to dig a small tunnel, you couldn't because the sand would collapse. That's what could happen in one of these tunnels, if appropriate measures are not taken," he said. Einstein has developed a modeling tool that takes into consideration the factors and uncertainties involved to help managers estimate the costs and time for building the tunnels. "As you know from local large construction projects," said Einstein, referring to Boston's Big Dig, "it's very difficult to estimate what these will cost." A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on February 27, 2002.

Thread Subject: Re: AT interoperability: Wed, Aug 15 2007 9:05 AM - Return to this mailing list's archives - View all messages in this thread - Next message in thread: Gregg Vanderheiden: "Re: AT Interoperability" - Previous message in thread: Peter Korn: "Re: AT Interoperability" - Messages sorted by: Author | Thread | Date Hi Jessica, et al. You should be aware that in the functional area - there is a proposal to say that conformance to the technical provisions would mean automatic fulfillment of the FPC. There is a statement in a government FAQ and in preamble that supports this point of view at least for software aspect. Thus - if "support for AT" but not "compatibility with actual AT" is all that is required in the technical requirements - then working with actual AT would not be required anywhere. The questions therefore are: - when the AT industry agreed on the technical provisions did they understand them to say that "support for AT" (e.g. an API) was sufficient to meet the technical provision or did they understand the wording to mean that the software had to work with actual AT. That is, do they require companies to work with AT industry to make sure their products work - or could industry just build to an API and say the rest of the problem belongs to the AT companies. - this is not to say that the companies here don't work with AT companies today. The question is simply - do the new 508 regs REQUIRE that companies' products work with AT? Or do the regs only require that products have an AT interface - and it is up to AT to work with what is there? There was also a statement on the list that this was just a problem between AT and IT and it was only their concern. I believe that there is a substantial issue for people who have disabilities too. - With the "products need to work with AT" approach - products purchased would have AT and could be used by employees with disabilities. - With the "support for AT" approach - products could pass 508 if they had an AT interface even if there was not AT that worked with them. That would mean that there is no requirement that products that passed 508 would in fact be usable by employees with disabilities. So I think people with disabilities also have a concern or interest in this distinction. So I don't think it is purely an AT-IT industry concern. Since we have the final Software Call today at 1 EST before the lock down this is important. This is not a new or last minute issue. It has been brought up repeatedly but the language is now solidifying -- and there appears to be a problem with different people interpreting the same language in different ways. The current wording can be read either of the two ways discussed above. We need to at least add a note that clearly states which interpretation is intended by the language - so that we can determine if consensus exists for the language or not. And if so - does it mean "provides and interface that AT can use?" or does it mean "Works with AT that exists". PS Suggestion 1) that we say that conformance with 508 means that it works with AT. 2) that if there are no products that work with AT then the agency should purchase the product that has an API for AT as a fallback to leave best opportunity for access in the future. But to purchase a product with an API but no AT instead of a product that works with real AT should not be "ok" or what the 508 regs allow. Gregg -- ------------------------------ Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D. > -----Original Message----- > From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf > Of Jessica M. Brodey > Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 8:28 AM > To: 'TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee' > Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] AT interoperability > > Andi: > > I couldn't agree more. We worked at length with IT to > develop that proposal, and we believe it will greatly improve > interoperability in the future. > > >From our perspective, the functional performance criteria should set > >the bar > for the end results (e.g., one mode that provides access > without vision either on its own or through the use of AT). > We are not set on one phrase to convey that concept - we are > still open to conveying that message either through the old > phrasing or new language. The technical provisions should > help ensure that these end results are achieved. With that > being said, the technical standards do not set forth every > step necessary for AT and IT to work together. It is > possible to follow every provision and for AT & IT not to > work together. The FPC therefore focus on the result, the > technical standards set forth the components that MUST be > done to reach the end result, and the rest is for IT and AT > to work out together on a case-by-case basis. Is this ideal? > No - we would love to be able to point to a > standard(s) and say "if you do this, interoperability will > happen." We don't have that yet - perhaps someday soon we > will. Our goal is to ensure that we do not take a step > backward from existing regulation, and continue to require > actual compatibility for the products the federal government > purchases at least to the same degree required today. > > Jessica > -----Original Message----- > From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf > Of Andi Snow-Weaver > Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 6:18 PM > To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] AT interoperability > > > This discussion has taken a hard left turn away from the > specific AT interoperability provision to the bigger issue of > functional performance. > > I will remind everyone that the proposed AT interoperability > was developed between AT and IT vendors who are the ones that > ultimately have to solve this problem and has been agreed to > since sometime in April I think. And it is much stronger than > the vague requirement for object information to be > programmatically exposed that is in the current (2001) 508 > standard. So with just this one provision, we can improve > things over the current situation even if we keep the 2001 > wording for the functional performance criteria. > > This issue is being debated at length in the general > subcommittee and they have scheduled another call tomorrow to > continue looking for a solution. > This discussion needs to be happening on the general > subcommittee mailing list to ensure that everyone's point of > view is considered. > > Andi > > - Next message in Thread: Gregg Vanderheiden: "Re: AT Interoperability" - Previous message in Thread: Peter Korn: "Re: AT Interoperability"

. HOUSE. VIGO COUNTY COURTS. The Committee on Organization of Courts, to which was referred the bill [H. R. 17] in relation to the establishment of a Superior Court in Vigo County, reported the same back with a recommendation that the bill pass. A minority report was also submitted recommending that the bill do lie upon the table. Mr. MORGAN said, as a Representative from Vigo County, he wanted to see the minority report voted down and the majority report concurred in. Ten years ago, there was a bill passed the Legislature providing for a Criminal Court to be established in Vigo County. At that time the population of Terre Haute was about 17,000 and the County, perhaps, 35,000. Since then the population of Terre Hute has increased about 10,000, having now nearly 27,000 inhabitants. There has been a difference of opinion among the people as to whether Vigo County needs another County Court of civil jurisdiction, We all agree upon one point, that is, that the Circuit there is very much behind in its business, and it, perhaps, will never catch up until the County is given another Court of jurisdiction. Men of all parties and members of the Bar insist emphatically on the passage of a bill to establish a Superior Court in that County, and abolish the Criminal Court. In accordance with that wish this bill was drafted and submitted to various lawyers of all political parties, and was brought here thinking it was merely carrying out the wish of the people of that County. By Mr GIBSON--There is a bill on the calendar to extend to the Criminal Court now in existence, civil jurisdiction concurrent with the Vigo Circuit Court. This bill [H. R. 17] is a bill to abolish the Criminal Court and create a Superior Court. It is my desire in considering these two bills to get at the merits of the provisions. It appears to me that the bill [H. R. 80] extending to the Criminal Court of Vigo County civil jurisdiction, had all the evidences of economy in it, and I verily believe that if every Member of this House could understand these two bill, that the report of the minori ty in this case would prevail. For instance, $800 salary is paid by the State of Indiana to the Judge of the Superior Court. We are here, or ought to be, as watch-dogs of the Treasury. Now, the salary of the Judge and Prosecuting Attorney of the Criminal Court is paid by the County of Vigo. The State of Indiana does not pay $1 for running that Court. If you abolish the Criminal Court and create a Superior Court, the State of Indiana has to pay $800 for the salary of the Judge. I hope the report of the minority will prevail. By Mr. KENNER: To hitch civil jurisdiction on the Criminal Court, never ought to be done, but we propose by special action to give them civil jurisdiction. By this bill a Circuit Court is created with entire civil jurisdiction, having no criminal jurisdiction whatever, and the criminal jurisdiction is to be transferred to where it belongs and where the statute places it-in the hands of the Circuit Court. He favored the majority report. Mr. SINCLAIR, being one of the members of that Committee, said: We acted with a view of carrying out a policy, one that I think should be carried out, and that is, not to pass any laws or repeal any, without strong reasons. At the time we acted we had just two bills before us. One was to prevent, as my colleague says, the extension of the jurisdiction, and the other was for the purpose of establishing a new office or new Court and abolishing the other one. At the time we acted, we had before us a petition from some of the best lawyers in the County of Vigo, asking to extend the Criminal Court jurisdiction. Among the number was our present United States Senator. The names of Mr. Voorhees, Mr. Carleton and some sixteen Republicans were on that petition. After that, inasmuch as the people of Vigo County, two years ago, by their choice elected two men to fill the offices of that Court, respect ought to be given to the voice of the people. The gentleman from Vigo, who advocates the abolition of the Criminal Court and the establishment of a Superior Court, was elected to the place he holds here by that same people. Now, what I want to know is, do the majority of the people of Vigo County demand this? For my part, I do not favor the abolishment of a Court without strong reasons, Where there is an opportunity given to the citizens of the County to be relieved in any be other way, I think it is not the policy of the law to legislate men out of office and legislate others in. My friend across the way always mixes up politics, and sometimes talks about the Democratic party being legislated into Heaven; but that is no reason why Democratic officers of Vigo County should be legislated out of office and Republicans legislated in. I do not think that is our purpose here, and these are the reasons which actuated the minority of that Committee. Mr. MORGAN--These fact are well known: That the salary of the Judge will be $800, and that amount will be paid out of the State Treasury; but you must bear in mind also that the Prosecutor whom we abolish will not receive his salary, and there is $500 in our favor, so that will only be $300 out of the State Treasury. I want to know gentlemen, if the citizens of Vigo County need this Court In the interest of justice, I want to know if it is economy to prevent the people of that County from hav- page: 122[View Page 122] ing judgment speedily and without delay on account of $300, when other Counties in this State have Superior Courts? I have not made this a party question, but ask every one here to put aside politics and vote for the majority report. The yeas and nays were demanded by Messrs. Cauthorne and Cole, and the vote on the adoption of the minority report was--yeas, 33; nays, 54. So the minority report was rejected. The majority report was concurred in, and the bill was ordered engrossed. Mr. LINDLEY submitted a report from the majority of the Committee on the Organization of Courts on the bill [H. R. 80] in relation to civil jurisdiction of the Criminal Court of Vigo County, and recommended that it do lie on the table. Mr. GIBSON submitted a report from the minority of the same Committee, recommending the passage of the bill. The minority report was laid on the tably by--yeas, 55; nays, 30. The majority report was concurred in. Mr. GIBSON, from the Committee on Organization of Courts, submitted a report on the bill [H. R. 107] establishing a Superior Court in the County of Vanderburgh, with a recommendation that the bill pass. The report was concurred in, the bill read the second time and ordered engrossed. The bill [H. R. 66] to legalize the incorporation, etc., and ordinance for issuing bonds of the town of Chauncey, was read the third time, and passed by yeas, 83; nays, 2. The bill [H. R. 199] to amend an act prescribing who may make a will, the effect thereof, what may be devised, regulating the admission to probate, revocation and contest, etc., was read the second time. Mr. SINCLAIR--Inasmuch as the House took a recess of ten minutes to shake hands with Senator Voorhees a short time ago, I move that we take a recess of ten minutes now to shake hands with Ben Harrison, United States Senator-elect. The motion was agreed to. When the SPEAKER had commanded order-- Mr. McDowell filed a motion to reconsider the vote of yesterday on the resolution to appoint a Committee to investigate the propriety and expediency of establishing a new State Educational Institution. The bill [H. R. 141] regulating the sale of brass, iron or other worn or scrap metal by railroad officials was read the second time. Mr. KENNER said this was to remedy a wrong so prevalent at our large railroad shops. After night there are poor children running loose, picking up iron scraps, which they sell to junk dealers. You can not arrest these little children and confine them in Jail. This provision strike directly at the dealers to whom these commodities are sold. Prohibiting the sale of those articles puts an end to the stealing. The House adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 a.m.

2004 Press notices index: July to December 2004 Pre-Budget Report press notices 24/12/04 Pn114 Chancellor Orders Freeze on Terror Entity Assets 21/12/04 Pn113 IMF Report on UK Economic Performance 21/12/04 Pn112 Gilts Registration transfer to Computershare complete 20/12/04 Myners Urges All Life Mutuals To Adopt Corporate Governance Best Practice 20/12/04 Pn111 Government welcomes Myners report on the corporate governance of life mutuals 17/12/04 Pn110 Speech By Chancellor Of The Exchequer to the Council On Foreign Relations, New York 17/12/04 Pn109 Review of Myners Principles for Institutional Investment Decision Making 17/12/04 Morris Review - Interim Assessment published 13/12/04 Pn108 Publication of the Child Benefit Bill 10/12/04 Pn107 Treasury forges links with China 10/12/04 Pn106 The Bank of England´s Court of Directors 08/12/04 Pn105 Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at CAFOD´s Pope Paul VI memorial lecture 08/12/04 Pn104 Advancing Regulatory Reform in Europe 08/12/04 Pn103 Consultation for HMRC 03/12/04 Pn102 UK official holdings of international reserves 02/12/04 Pn101 Reform of Financial Regulation for Small firms Looking for Informal Capital Investment 02/12/04 Pn100 review of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 02/11/04 Pn99 Public expenditure annual outturns November 30/11/04 Pn98 Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Political Studies Association Awards Ceremony 29/11/04 Pn97 New Non-Executive Directors of the FSA 25/11/04 Pn96 Publication of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Bill 24/11/04 Pn95 CAT standards 24/11/04 Pn94 Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the BBC World Service Trust conference 24/11/04 Pn93 Regulation of investment trust companies 16/11/04 Pn92 Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for Inner City 100 reception with US Treasury Secretary John Snow 15/11/04 Pn91 Vote on Account 2005/6 15/11/04 Pn90 Winter Supplementary Estimates 2004-05 15/11/04 Pn89 Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Enterprising Britain policy summit, London 09/11/04 Pn88 Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the CBI annual conference in Birmingham 07/11/04 Pn87 Brown announces VAT boost for Band Aid 03/11/04 Pn86 UK official holdings of international reserves October 29/10/04 Pn85 Consultation on implementing EU prospectus directive 29/10/04 Pn84 Regional enterprise competition winners announced 14/10/04 Pn83 Chancellor orders asset freezing against terrorist group 05/10/04 Pn82 UK Official Holdings of International Reserves 04/10/04 Teresa Graham OBE recommends targeted and modernised support for small firms and greatly reduced bureaucracy in her independent review of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee 01/10/04 Pn81 Chancellor Calls for Actions on Oil Prices 01/10/04 Morris Review - Consultation Closes and Advisory Panel Announced September 29/09/04 Pn80 London City Bond (includes John Healey´s letter to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee) 21/09/04 Pn79 Treasury announces new tax relief for British films 10/09/04 Pn78 Flexibility the route to full Employment 09/09/04 Pn77 Consultation On Financial Support For Young Learners 08/09/04 Pn76 Manor of Northstead 05/09/04 Pn75 UK Official Holdings of International Reserves August 9/08/04 Pn74 SIS x-clear AG recognised as overseas clearing house 06/08/04 Pn73 Consultation on Modernisation of Lloyd´s Accounts 04/08/04 Pn72 UK Official Holdings of International Reserves July 2004 Spending Review press notices 22/07/04 Pn71 Non-Executive Directors: Financial Services Authority 21/07/04 Pn70 Implementing EU Financial Groups Directive 20/07/04 Pn69 Public Expenditure 2003-04: Provisional Outturn 20/07/04 Pn68 Public Expenditure Annual Outturns 16/07/04 Pn67 Computershare to be new UK gilts registrar 5/07/04 Pn66 Thalidomide payments made tax free 09/07/04 Myners Review of Mutuals - Consultation published 08/06/04 Pn65 Speech by Gordon Brown at the Joseph Rowntree Centenary Lecture, London 08/06/04 Pn64 New Vice Chair and Commissioner of the Statistics Commission appointed 07/06/04 Pn63 Speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, at the British Council Annual Lecture 05/07/04 Pn62 UK Official Holdings of International Reserves 01/07/04 Pn61 Resignation of Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury Regional Press Notices 13/12/04 Pn 14/04 John Healey Promotes Enterprise and Skills in Birmingham 04/11/04 Pn13/04 Paymaster General welcomes £500,000 grant to tackle unemployment in St Helens 21/10/04 Pn12/04 Treasury Minister Praises Hemsworth´s Role in Creating Entrepreneurs of the Future 11/08/04 Treasury minister hails success of Redhill Sure Start Centre Press Notices January to June 2004 index Joint Departmental Press Notices 29/10/04 Financial Sector Business Continuity Progress Report (this link goes to the Bank of England website where information can be found under the What's New section)

should contain the goals statement from the planning phase, as well as the structural details of the site. These are big questions, and the broad conceptual issues are too often dismissed as committees push toward starting the "real work" of designing and building a Web site. However, if you cannot confidently answer all of these questions, then no amount of design or production effort can guarantee a useful result. The site specification defines the scope of your project that is, what and how much you need to do, the budget, and the development schedule. "Scope creep" is the most prevalent cause of Web project failures. In badly planned projects, scope creep is the gradual but inexorable process by which previously unplanned "features" are added, content and features are padded to mollify each stakeholder group, major changes in content or site structure during site construction are made, and more content or interactive functionality than you originally agreed to create is stuffed in. No single overcommitment is fatal, but the slow, steady accumulation of additions and changes is often enough to blow budgets, ruin schedules, and bury what might have been an elegant original plan under megabytes of muddle. Although a page count is hardly infallible as a guide (after all, Web pages can be arbitrarily long), it serves as a constant reminder to everyone involved of the project's intended scope. If the page count goes up, make it a rule to revisit the budget implications automatically the cold realities of budgets and schedules will often cool the enthusiasm to stuff in "just one more page." A good way to keep a lid on scope creep is to treat the page count as a "zero sum game." If someone wants to add pages, it's up to them to nominate other pages to remove or to obtain a corresponding increase in the budget and schedule to account for the increased work involved. Changes and refinements can be a good thing, as long as everyone is realistic about the impact of potential changes on the budget and schedule of a project. Any substantial change to the planned content, design, or technical aspects of a site must be tightly coupled with a revision of the budget and schedule of the project. People are often reluctant to discuss budgets or deadlines frankly and will often agree to substantial changes or additions to a development plan rather than face an awkward conversation with a client or fellow team member. But this acquiescence merely postpones the inevitable damage of not dealing with scope changes rationally. The firm integration of schedule, budget, and scope is the only way to keep a Web project from becoming unhinged from the real constraints of time, money, and the ultimate quality of the result. A little bravery and honesty up front can save you much grief later. Make the plan carefully, and then stick to it.

ViewVC is a WWW interface for CVS and Subversion repositories. It allows you to browse the files and directories in a repository while showing you metadata from the repository history: log messages, modification dates, author names, revision numbers, copy history, and so on. It provides several different views of repository data to help you find the information you are looking for: A single installation of ViewVC is often used to provide access to more than one repository. In these installations, ViewVC shows a Project Root drop down box in the top right corner of every generated page to allow for quick access to any repository. By default, ViewVC will show the files and directories and revisions that currently exist in the repository. But it's also possible to browse the contents of a repository at a point in its past history by choosing a "sticky tag" (in CVS) or a "sticky revision" (in Subversion) from the forms at the top of directory and log pages. They're called sticky because once they're chosen, they stick around when you navigate to other pages, until you reset them. When they're set, directory and log pages only show revisions preceding the specified point in history. In CVS, when a tag refers to a branch or a revision on a branch, only revisions from the branch history are shown, including branch points and their preceding revisions. In CVS directory listings, ViewVC can optionally display dead files. Dead files are files which used to be in a directory but are currently deleted, or files which just don't exist in the currently selected sticky tag. Dead files cannot be shown in Subversion repositories. The only way to see a deleted file in a Subversion directory is to navigate to a sticky revision where the file previously existed. In CVS Repositories, ViewVC adds artificial tags HEAD and MAIN to tag listings and accepts them in place of revision numbers and real tag names in all URLs. MAIN acts like a branch tag pointing at the default branch, while HEAD acts like a revision tag pointing to the latest revision on the default branch. The default branch is usually just the trunk, but may be set to other branches inside individual repository files. CVS will always check out revisions from a file's default branch when no other branch is specified on the command line. More information about ViewVC is available from viewvc.org. See the links below for guides to CVS and Subversion Open Source Development with CVS CVS User's Guide Another CVS tutorial Yet another CVS tutorial (a little old, but nice) An old but very useful FAQ about CVS Open Source Development with CVS CVS User's Guide Another CVS tutorial Yet another CVS tutorial (a little old, but nice) An old but very useful FAQ about CVS Version Control with Subversion Version Control with Subversion

We have just returned from four days in our old neck of the woods visiting my wife’s relatives and celebrating Finnish Independence Day. On Dec. 6th, 1917, Finland adopted the Finnish Declaration of Independence and withdrew from Soviet Russia (very shortly after the USSR’s creation). This holiday holds special meaning for Finns, as I’m sure you can believe. Had they not declared their independence during this hectic period in Russia’s history, they could have been part of the Soviet Union until the 1990s like so many countries bordering Russia. Each morning of our visit to Eastern Finland, we were greeted by a fresh blanket of snow (on top of the other blankets of snow) and temperatures ranging from -8 to -15*C (17.5 to 5*F). The sun didn’t shine much, but other than that it was pleasant to be outside. Part of our visit was spent at my wife’s grandparents’ farm, where we took the pictures below. They provide a glimpse of the early stage of winter we are in, as well as a look at some elements of a typical old Finnish farm. Proudly flying the Finnish colors for Independence Day: The old farm mill, which is no longer in use: The smoke sauna can be seen here at the bottom left. Just beyond that is the creek which separates the farm from the neighboring property, which fills the rest of the picture: The big old barn: Hay field and woods: Bunny tracks in the yard: Berry bushes, asleep for the winter: Here are the Woodswife and Woodsboy opening part of the barn so we can peek inside: Inside that part of the barn is just some of the firewood they have stockpiled: Before we headed inside, the Woodsboy took a tractor ride with great-grandpa: Here’s an old photo showing great-grandpa when he himself was just a Woodsboy: Four generations of proud Finns, going back well beyond the first Finnish independence day (my wife is generation 5, and the Woodsboy is generation 6): The icing on the cake of a nice visit to the country was leaving with these: Hand-knit wool over-socks, made by my wife’s grandmother. I can’t have enough pairs of these. Socks like these accompany me on every winter outing, and now I have a new favorite pair. Thanks go out to the Woodswife for taking most of the pictures for this post. Fortunately, she has recently expressed interest in writing full articles about things like berry and mushroom picking, making preserves and juices, family/farm history etc., so you can expect to see them (eventually) here. Let freedom ring! Good stuff WW, digging the pics, man they’ve got some wood put back! Wow! Thanks. They certainly do have a lot of wood in the barn. Plenty more, too. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve got lots of trees, cold winters and lots of time. Beautiful spot- heat with oil? Yep, all that oil stacked in the barn. They have a large wood stove/oven in the kitchen/living room and also have a few wall-mounted electric heaters for extra heat if needed. Nice socks, I´m jealous! It’s funny how people change over the course of their lives. When I was a kid, I never thought I’d be excited about getting a pair of socks. Today, different story. Now THAT is a pile of firewood! Fascinating history and very cool that the farm has remained in the family. On the other side of my wife’s family, there has been one house after another on the same site for a few hundred years (well, in any case they found the remains of 3 to 5 old foundations in the same spot). Well, you sure did spend your time in a good way! Guess the family will not have to worry about freezing this winter. Love the socks and I am looking forward to seeing your wife’s writings… as does my Mss.! Thanks!

The fabulous Rae at Made-By-Rae and Dana from MADE are hosting the amazing Celebrate the Boy series! Check out their blogs for a complete list of other giveaways, and tons of Boy tutorials! To Enter: Leave a comment on this post with your favorite thing to sew for your little guy. (one entry per person, please) Please leave your email address in the comment, or enable email in your blogger profile.. 619 comments:1 – 200 of 619 Newer› Newest» Expecting baby boy in April and have been looking at your little shoes pattern for a few weeks now. Would love to win it! I already follow your blog, thanks! Great giveaway! I love making blankets and toys for my son. I love sewing little ties and suspenders for my guy. erinmalia gmail. I love making shirts the best! butler83atoldotcom I am a new follower! thanks! butler83ataoldotcom My favourite things would have to be long pants as he is tall and thin and I can make them to fit without them being miles to big around the waist or too short in the leg My favourite thing to sew for boys is pants. Quick and easy. Heidi These are so cute! I love making pants for boys. Not very original, but very functional! Thanks for the giveaway! iamkristen.martin(at)gmail(dot)com So far my favorite thing to sew for him as been quilts. Cause those have to get finished before he gets here. Everything else can wait! mercer.hilary@gmail.com My favorite things to sew for my little guys is shoes, but it's so hard to find high quality patterns... but yours are great! Thanks! hpickett183(at)hotmail(dot)com Those are adorable! So far I've been embellishing onesies and tshirts for my two little guys, but I'm looking forward to making more fun things for them. So cute! We will be welcoming our first little guy in May and I need cute boy things! knitnlit AT gmail DOT com My wee 2 and half year old is loving dressing up at the moment - so my favourite thing to sew a cape! He loves them. Love these shoe patterns - thanks. These are adorable. Your shoes are gorgeous! I haven't attempted shoes yet... I have to try. My current favorite things to make for boys are bibs. Thanks for the great giveaway! I love to make rompers! elyselroberts@hotmail.com Would love a chance to win. I think my favorite thing so far, since it is the only thing is making shoes/slippers! I'm just getting into sewing for my 2 little guys. how awesome are these! my little boy is still literally little, so burp cloths and bibs are the current projects of choice. amezina [at] hotmail [.] com I don't have my own little guy, but it seems like half my friends are having babies or just did! Several of them are boys and I've been trying to find the perfect gift to make for them so these would be great!! I just started sewing for my boys so everything is fun! I think blankets are the easiest, but I'm learning to do pants. I've never tried shoes, but this pattern is sure cute. jarianne13@gmail.com Love making stuff(pants, quilts) for baby grandson. Just started to walk so needs shoes, yours are so cute. dianacarofano(at)gmail(dot)com Thanks for the giveaway. i mostly make applique t's for my little boy. I love making quilts, gorgeous shoes. So far I haven't made much for my little man other than curtains for the nursery and cloth wipes... I am loving all the tutorials on how to make things for my boy though and am truly inspired! DanaLKroh@gmail.com I love making pants for muy boy! josiegresh hotmail This is such a cute bundle! I like to sew finger puppets and elastic waist pants for my son. ammieloris at hotmail dot com so far I've sewn cute warm baby boots, would love to try your pattern! Thanks! monkeyshinersbaby at yahoo Very cute! I would love a chance to win these for my grandson! Thanks! I love to make quilts or knit hats for my boys. azjocool at yahoo dot com I love making overalls for my boy. I'm currently pregnant and crocheting him a blanket. I've yet to make anything else, but I have been looking at fun crochet hats, a romper pattern from YCMT, blanket and shoe patterns. I have a busy couple months ahead of me. =) I don't have a little man of my own. But for my friends that do have a little guy, I've been making robot sheets and cute little bow ties. They seem to be a hit! Thanks! (tracyapriest@gmail.com) My favorite thing to sew for him right now is pajamas. They can be as creative as we want. I love to sew overalls and rompers for my little guys. Also quilts and toys. I would love to win this kit-- so cute! louise.sumner@gmail.com These are amazing little shoes! Thank you for the give away. Super cute slippers! My kiddo could never keep the store bought kind on. They were constantly kicked off! I love sewing little pants. They are super quick and I have the knack that I can whip them up in minutes. fred6383 at juno dot com i love sewing little toys for my guy, but these adorable little shoes would rock too! I don't have a boy yet, but I love sewing boyish pants for my girl. Robots are way cooler than flowers. I love making jammie pants, they are the super cutest, and so are your shoes! Thanks for the opportunity! aromyn@gmail.com these are darling! i love to make quilts, but at a certain point my son might have too many =) So far my favorites are sewing them boxer briefs, pants and hats. : ) Those waffle knit nutcracker booties are too cute!! I'm expecting a boy too and would love to try my hand at these. Thank you :) zabecc(at)hotmail(dot)com Ooooooh, so cute! So far I've made a few shirts for my little fella, and will be embarking on pants and (dare I say it?) SHORTS soon. I think my favorite thing that I've sewn for my boys so far has been their Halloween costumes: lucasbeth [at] gmail [dot] com Thanks for the giveaway! I like to sew pants for my little guy! beckageatgmaildotcom I love to sew stuffed animals or monsters! This is the first time I've checked out this blog and your stuff is so cute!! I love to sew pants for my sons cloth diapered behind! Hi there, my favorite thing to make for my little boys are costumes. Nothing is more fun than watching them play make-believe! I would love to win! malivance@gmail.com How cute! I love that they are reversible, too! kaysdumbmail (at) gmail (dot) com I love making toys for my boys! Thanks for the GREAT giveaway! inthegrove5 (at) gmail (dot) com I love sewing items for babies! My favorite is to make rag quilts. :) I'm now a follower of your blog and on twitter. clickshoes [@] gmail.com I love sewing t-shirts for my boys, but have been wanting to sew my baby a pair of shoes for ages... gigihandmadebaby(at)gmail(dot)com My favorite things I've sewn for my guy are appliqued onesies and felt food! patrawrd@yahoo.com Pants so easy so quick! thescofields@att.net I love making fun shirts and funky ties for my little guy! craftsinbloom@gmail.com How cute. Thanks for the give away. I am expecting a new grandson in August and need to get busy. Use to make cotton knit sleepers for my own sons. Powensctr@gmail.com I like sewing T's for boys, so they aren't boxy and too short. Thanks for the great giveaway! claudia(at)battanibambino(dot)com I don't have a favourite yet but I've been trying to find a shoe pattern that fits well :) alisha207 at hotmail dot com Right now, I like to crochet little hats for my soon to arrive baby boy. I would love to win, as I have not found anything that I am in love with to sew for him yet. hrobbins422 at yahoo dot com My kids love lounge/pajama pants, so we have LOTS! What a generous giveaway..thank you! And I am a follower of your blog now as well :) Very cool! I love making shoes. Buffy joshuasprincess@gmail.com I love making softies for my boys! I love sewing pants for my boys! That is a tough question. I think my favorite thing is to make blankets, quilting is so much fun for me and he can always use something warm and cuddly. carlieht@gmail.com How adorable! I love to sew little coloring caddies/notebook covers for my oldest boy, but would LOVE to make some of these shoes for my littlest! I love to sew stuffed animals and pants, but some lil shoes for my 16mo would be awesome. I've been too scared to try so far. Right now I am really in to making Bibs & burp clothes. I love your little shoes! Those shoes are adorable! I have a 3 year old boy and am expecting my second in June. I loved to make knit hats and baby-legs for my current son when he was younger, but really want to make more clothes and such for them both. The favorite thing I've sewn for my little guy is a patchwork quilt made from my favorite shirts of his from 0 - 12 months. :) I love to sew capes and slippers for my little guys -- Thanks for the chance to win these adorable shoes! wimseyfan(at)yahoo.com So cute! I love to make pjs! The favorite things Ive sewn for my baby boy is leggings, making cloth diapers so easy! jlj924(at)cccb(dot)edu My fave thing now is pants! Lots of them! I also love making baby shoes (although mine are not reversible). Would love to see the pattern for your shoes. jennykipawa(at)yahoo(dot)ca So far it's been blankets for snuggling up in, but I'm anxious to try some clothes... I think I'd like to try some baseball style tees! I don't have my own little one, but I have plenty of friends who are expecting and a nephew that is due in a month. These booties would be a great gift for all the new arrivals! Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite thing to make for my LO is, at this point, functional things (diapers, crib guard, etc). But we're moving into more fun things. commonthreads at me dot com I love sewing PJ's for my 9 y/o. We're hoping for another baby and I can't wait to sew for a baby again. my3djbeads at gmail dot com I'm having a little boy this spring and been having a blast making appliquéd onsies. Dinos, octopus, lions, so much fun and so quick. kcarlson1152[at]hotmail.com I love sewing upcycled baby pants! I've sacrifieced so many of my hubs tees to make those comfy stretchy britches!Thanx for the chance! i love making blankets, spit rags and have been wanting to dive into shoes!! these are sooo cute!! xo, christen thekrumms@gmail.com Little ties are my favorite sewing project for my little man. kimmyh18(at)hotmail(dot)com Haven't sewn much for my boys yet. Just starting to get into it. Would love to start making pants and shirts. isubuzz at hotmail dot com My little man is picky about textures so I make him pants. I don't know if it's my favorite but it is necessary! llonegan at yahoo dot com I would love to win! Clairebrown4@gmail.com I am due March 1st with my first boy and haven't sewn anything except burp rags and a nursing cover yet. I think these would be super cute and fun! m2agamble@gmail.com I am wanting to sew more for my grandson. So far the main thing I have done is things he can play with. I need to start making some clothing. Those shoes are so cute! I would love to give them a try! janny dot martine at gmail dot com I just started sewing boy things but love easy pants. taliastravelblog (at) gmail i recently discovered sewing baby shoes and i love it! although none of the patterns i have so far are as cute as yours. i'd love to try these out on our little one coming in may. varga . katie at gmail . com These shoes are so cute! The most recent thing I made for my little guy is one of those matchbox car play mats. Fun little project. I've also made a ball and an 'I Spy' quilt for him. I love to make my boys clothes! I was just brainstorming last night how to make a reversible baby shoe for my almost 4 month old! marknalexis06(at)gmail(dot)com Excited to find your blog! My favorite things to make for boys have been bibs and toys...that's why I'm happy to have all these new ideas from Celebrate the Boy month! Thanks for the giveaway! hilarypeterson (at) gmail (dot) com Bow ties, but I want to work on some pants. I would love to make these shoes for my sister's new baby boy. juliamarmoss(AT)gmail(DOT)com My favorite thing to make for my little boy have been pj pants, but would love to venture out more. tiffanyivers@gmail.com I love to make baby shoes! Also, I love to embroider or paint onesies. Aesprouse@gmail.com Fantastic giveaway! I haven't sewn anything for my nephew yet but my next project will be some pj's! I love making boy jammies! oh, these are too cute! I would love to be able to make some for our baby-on-the-way as well as for baby shower gifts for friends! My favorite things to sew for my sons are quilts/blankets and toys. benjamin.and.christina(at)gmail(dot)com I love to sew any dapper looking clothing item for my little guy, and these shoes would fit right in! I love these adorable shoes :) I enjoy sewing pants for lil' boys. Oh, I l-o-v-e these shoes for my little guy... thanks! Great giveaway. I have been sewing my little guy basic pants. It's time to branch out. Thanks! kristie_keely(at)yahoo(d0t)com i am not a seamstress by any means...but i am sewing my little guys baby bedding. (he's due in April!) it's actually turning out pretty cute :) mckell86@hotmail.com I can make a mean pair of pants, but I am needing to branch out. This celebrate the boy is totally helping. Those are great little slippers. Favorite thing to make for little boys (since mine is all grown up!) are baby blankets/quilts, pillow cases, and, for the Mom to be, Diaper clutches & changing mats. belinda at gelhausen dot org My favorite things to sew for my boys are blankets. melaniemcmullin(at)gmail(dot)com Those are some really cute shoes!!! My favorite thing to sew for my little boy...hats! I love hats! stertz4213(at)hotmail(dot)com I'm a new sewer and love it! My favorite thing to make, so far, are Dana's knee pad pants!! Love your stuff. I would love to make all kinds of things for my boys, but right now I am working on a quilt. How sweet! I love making blankets, bean bags, and pants for my sons. winterwrens at gmail dot com Awesome giveaway, I love sewing anything I can get my hands on for sweet little boys :) savykay at yahoo dot com I've really only sewn halloween costumes for my son, but I'm ready to try more! kurtisandiva at gmail dot com I've only sewn one thing so far for my little guy: a reversible jacket that I loved making. Thanks for the chance to win! Love the shoes patterns. Wow, what a great pattern! I've never made shoes before... this would be so fun. I love sewing pants and shorts for my little guy. laurabedkehansen@yahoo.com Great giveaway! Right now, I can't get enough of sewing pants for my little one. Inspired by boy month, I upcycled a pair of my partners pants into super cute boy pants! These shoes are so cute! I love making sock animals for my little boy. efraz53(at)yahoo(dot)com I've received these kind of shoes as gifts and thought they looked way to hard to make on my own. Perhaps I should actually try before throwing myself out of the rink. I don't know if this throws me out of the running, but I'm not much of a pink fan...at least not everyday so I like my girls to have boy accessories. Great giveaway! kristiannasharma@ yahoo.com Right now it's ties cause that's the only thing I've really found for him but oh how he would love these! Thanks for the cute giveaway. I love to sew quilts for my boys. And pants. And hopefully soft baby shoes. :) (hint, hint) Oh gosh, I don't sew much, but I certainly try. I did make all my boys (husband included) blankets for Christmas - the material was their favorite sports teams. It was way fun! :) sethdeziATgmailDOTcom I have a 6 month old baby boy that I love making stuff for! I like to make him blankets & sleep sacks right now. I would love to win your pattern kits to make him some shoes! I make a lot of toys and pajamas for my little dude. Thanks for the giveaway! I make lots of things for my baby boy, but lately, bibs are my favorite thing to make! kamyrensmiles@hotmail.com Like Dana, I'd have to say: PANTS! Now that I'm cloth diapering with the second I need some bigger butted ones! awbaas at gmail Thanks for the giveaway! I love making superhero capes and jammies for my son. nettapants[at]yahoo[dot]com I love sewing toys for my little guy, but these shoes are to die for! Adorable! emilou84037@yahoo.com Soooo cute! Thank you for the chance! I love to sew ties for my lil' guys because they love to wear them! Also comfy lounge sets. I love to make applique tie shirts for my little guy! flymelissa(at)hotmail(dot)com Such a cute and exciting giveaway! I would LOVE an excuse to start another project for my sweet boy :) If i have to pick my all time favourite project, i'd say the baby binky bunny by mmmcrafts, but i'd sew for him all day long if i could :) artandlinz@hotmail.com I've been working on a quilt for my little guy, so these shoes would be a fun and different project! nellefarewell (at) gmail (dot) com Adorable projects-my little guy loves stuffed animals so I've made a few to add to his collection. What a great giveaway! Thank you! My little boy has yet to be born so I have been making oneies, pants and diapers! I would love to win these cute little shoes and the pattern to make more! Thank you for such great ideas! LoveBunniesAndThings at gmail these are so cute, they would make a perfect baby gift j.m.blake AT gmail DOT com Blankets and bibs, but I would love to learn to sew shoes! These are so cute! I love making pants for my little guy! terrastreasures1 at gmail.com right now its all about toys...bean bags, car caddy, stuffies... those shoes are so sweet!!!! major.kimberly at gmail dot com i love sewing little ties! ranaebroadhead@gmail.com I love making blankets for my son. He has so many it's a good thing he loves them. jessica (at) homfamily (dot) com I have tried to make a pair of shoes like this for my little man but would love your cute kit. Kristen_pryor at yahoo dot com These are gorgeous, i especially love the green animals pattern. The only 'boy thing' I've made so far is a sock giraffe ( ) but hoping to get a nephew in July to make lots more boy things for. I'd make a little dressed up combo - vest, shirt, etc. :-) I love making anything Thomas the Train for my son- he loves him! These shoes are so cute and would be perfect for my other little guy! Bis4Boy@gmail.com My favorite item to sew for my boys have been flannel receiving blankets to wrap them in at the hospital, quilts and tooth monster pillows! This year I'm going to start making them clothes b/c the gals at MADE are totally inspiring me! I haven't done a ton of sewing for my little guy. I get caught up in all of the frily things to make for my friends with little girls. I would love to attempt some shoes though... Pants, pants, pants, with hats to match! I'd love to try these out, though! christina (dot) poynter (at) gmail.com my favourite thing to make for my 6 year old boy is stuffed animals/monsters. he draws the picture, we hit up michael's to purchase the felt, and then together we cut out a pattern and sew up his creations. it's such great quality time together and he ends up with a souvenir every time. I don't have a boy but I love those shoes and I have tons of friends and family who have boys and I would love to make them for gifts! My boys love the blankets I have made them. This pattern would be a great way to give some homemade goodness at baby showers, thanks for the giveaway :) darbishar(at)hotmail(dot)com I don't have a boy, but I love to sew burp cloths for baby showers. heidikittelson at gmail dot com I have only sewn one thing for guy, a romper, but I really want to make him some shoes! mcodde[at]gmail[dot]com I love sewing toys and lately Ive been working on a blanket! midgetsarah(at)hotmail(dot)com I like it when my sewing makes my boy smile. jillangel86@hotmail.com I would love these for my baby boy! These are adorable! heidicrawford at gmail dot com i like to make comfy blankets for my boys! I like making my son boxers, or soft blankies. bfcourage at yahoo dot com I love making pants for my little boys. plannedimprovisation at gmail dot com Cute! I love them. I love making toys for babies- boys or girls! orrismb at hotmail dot com. Pajama pants and bibs...super quick, super cute and ALWAYS needed! :) heidikundin[at]yahoo[dot]com these shoes are so cute! i love sewing tie onesies and shirts for my two boys! My little one's not here yet, but I've been sewing lots of bibs and burp cloths in preparation! Oh, how I love these little shoes! Baby J is coming in April and I'd love to learn how to sew these for the little guy. So far all I'm very good at sewing are burp cloths and quilts, but it is working! EJensen.LP(at)Gmail(dot)com I don't have a boy to sew for yet but I think these shoes would be awesome on my little girl and as baby gifts. love making baby shirts.. pillow cases and cot sheets.would love to learn to make these cute shoes... I love to make my baby boy pants. Sarah skubinski at mac dot com I love making shorts and pants for my little boy greenletterday(at)yahoo(dot)com I love to make quilts and little bow ties. I love those shoes!!! I can't wait to dress my little guy. It's gonna be so much fun. seristewart@gmail.com my email is thehallfamily@live.com and my favorite thing to sew for my 3 little guys are quilts :) What adorable shoes. We're expecting our third boy in June (I also have a daughter, she's the oldest) and I'd love to sew some new shoes for him. I've made some applique shirts for my kids and I'm looking at sewing more once my new craft/sewing room is done. thecardrificgirl(at)yahoo(dot)ca I love making "rocker" bibs and onesies with guitars!! SO cute with a baby faux-hawk! sarahfoss328@gmail.com so cute. i made shoes for my little girl all the time, i think her brother needs some too! i mostly sew up jammies and blankets for him now. I really love sewing blankets for my little boy, and little owl teethers. So far I think he appreciates the owl teethers the most! LauraL444 at yahoo dot com I'm a new mama and my favorite things to sew for the little guy so far are diapers! You can find the cutest fabrics to tackle this job and it's so rewarding to see my creation on his little bum. Thanks for taking part in this fantastic giveaway! I love sewing blankets for my LO. Thanks for the great giveaway! info@the-crafeteria.com I don't have a boy yet but maybe my little one due in August will be a boy! I love sewing blankets, shoes, toys, etc for my daughters! toys! Giant stuffed toys! kathleenpoling (AT) yahoo (DOT) com A little drawstring bag for all his treasures! sanguilm@frontier.com I have been making little bibs and burp-rags for my kiddo. Having a great shoe pattern would be fabulous to go along with them! Thanks, angelitaduker (at) gmail (dot) com I love making shoes for my little guy. And these are the only kind he can't kick or pull off yet! I LOVE your shop!! I love making suspenders for my boys:) But your shoes would be so fun to try too:) staci@justsewsassy.com i love sewing overalls for my boy... but i would REALLY love to sew some of theses shoes! thanks for the chance :) erinm1979 @ gmail dot com I love making toys, stuffed animals and the like, for the little guys in my life. All my boys are big now, but I've been looking for things to sew for my baby sister's first boy. These would be perfect! kristal_shepherd at hotmail dot com Blankets!! I love making bibs and blankets!! leviandsteph at yahoo dot com Blankets!! I love making bibs and blankets!! leviandsteph at yahoo dot com I don't have a little guy yet, but my grandson is due in July. I am sewing him a little quilt and would love to add some shoes too! i most enjoy sewing my little man quilts...he has two which is probably enough, but i dont see that being enough any time soon!

Now Playing Connect with Us Podcasts & RSS Feeds NPR Story Bomb Explodes Outside U.S. Embassy In Turkey Originally published on Fri February 1, 2013 1:09 pm Transcript STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep. RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: And I'm Renee Montagne. An explosion described by the State Department as a terrorist attack shook the U.S. embassy in the capital of Turkey, Ankara. The American ambassador says a Turkish security guard was killed and at least one other person was seriously wounded. Turkish investigators are exploring the possibility that it was a suicide bombing. Joining us now from Istanbul is NPR's Peter Kenyon. And Peter, what do you know? What is the latest information about this explosion? PETER KENYON, BYLINE: Well, the blast occurred, Renee, earlier in the afternoon local time at a security checkpoint just outside the embassy proper. Turkey's interior minister says it was a suicide attacker. If that is confirmed, the death toll would then rise to two, including the bomber. U.S. Ambassador Frank Ricciardone pushed his way through a swarm of police and journalists not long after the blast. He confirmed that one Turkish security guard had been killed and a woman seriously wounded, also a Turkish citizen. The State Department says it's cooperating fully with Turkish officials who launched an investigation. MONTAGNE: Peter, many U.S. diplomatic missions around the world are heavily fortified and for very good reason, because there have been these attacks. What about the embassy there in Ankara? KENYON: Yes. That is well-fortified, although unlike, for example, the U.S. consulate here in Istanbul, the embassy is on a busy main thoroughfare in Ankara. The entrance, however, is off the main street, on a side street, which has much less traffic. I was just in the embassy a week ago. The visitors entrance is a stand-alone security checkpoint that is not connected to the building itself. The blast ripped a hole in the outer wall of that checkpoint. But based on what can be seen from the outside, I think you'd have to say the security of the embassy proper was not compromised. MONTAGNE: And what are people there in Turkey saying about who or what group may have been behind this attack? KENYON: Well, it's very early, of course. But the interior minister here in Turkey is already pointing at a little-known left-wing splinter group. It's called the People's Revolutionary Front. He's offering no evidence for that so far. There have been explosions at diplomatic missions here in Turkey in the past, most dramatically in 2003. There were a series of bombs in Istanbul that year, including synagogues, a bank and the British consulate. And some 67 people died, including the British consul general that year. In this case, in addition to this left-wing group that's under suspicion, Turks are always on guard for Kurdish militant attacks. Some wonder if this isn't another effort to derail nascent peace talks underway between Turkey and the Kurds, a la the shooting of three Kurdish activists in Paris recently. There's also concerns about Syria-related violence spilling over into Turkey, and always worries that Islamist militants linked to al-Qaida or some other group might refocus on targets in Turkey at some point. Again, the investigators are just beginning to sort through the evidence, and this is speculation at this point. MONTAGNE: And quite a range of groups there, though. KENYON: Yes, there's no question about it. Turkey lives in a volatile, tense neighborhood, and although it likes to say it has zero problems with the neighbors, there's plenty of problems in the neighborhood. MONTAGNE: Well, just briefly, could this bombing have repercussions for the Turkish-U.S. relationship? KENYON: Well, there have been a few rough spots in the U.S.-Turkey ties. Turkey, for instance, imports quite a bit of oil and gas from Iran, which is under sanctions. But on the question of terrorism and on many of the major geopolitical issues, the two countries are very tight. The ambassador's statement reflected that today. He was talking about Turkish-American friendship. So unless there's some very unusual development, such as Turkish nationalists somehow showing up as suspects - and there's been no evidence of that, I should add - I think, if anything, this will bring the two countries a bit closer together. MONTAGNE: Peter, thanks very much. KENYON: You're welcome. MONTAGNE: NPR's Peter Kenyon in Istanbul, Turkey, giving us the latest on today's bombing at the U.S. embassy in the Turkish capital. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Now Playing Connect with Us Podcasts & RSS Feeds Author Interviews Gwyneth Paltrow On Tradition, Family And Duck Ragu Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't have to cook. She's a movie star. Her mother, Blythe Danner — a formidable actress herself — much preferred the stage to the kitchen. But Paltrow's father thrived there. Bruce Paltrow was producer and director, mostly of TV hits, like St. Elsewhere. he was also a father who doted on his daughter — until he died, suddenly, nine years ago when he was just 58. Now, Gwyneth Paltrow is out with a cookbook called My Father's Daughter, celebrating family and togetherness, as the subtitle puts it. Paltrow's passion for cooking began when she was a very young aspiring actress and found herself joining her father in the kitchen. "I started to learn how to cook with him," she tells Morning Edition's Renee Montagne. "And it was something that we did together. We were so often side by side in the kitchen, just quietly chopping or whisking. It's a very physical memory that I get of him when I'm in the kitchen, it's almost like I can feel him standing behind me." Paltrow explains that her father came from a big family, and meal-time was an important part of communication. "He came from a house where the family dinner was very, very important," Paltrow says. "Every night my grandfather would have the whole family at the table at 6 to eat dinner all together, and my grandmother would cook, and they would all chat and it was their family time. He didn't grow up with a lot of money, so when he could afford to go out to restaurants and take us, he was so excited, and I think that's where I got the idea that food is very special and exciting." My Father's Daughter features several recipes inspired by Bruce's kitchen experiments, including that for "Bruce's World-Famous Pancakes." Though the recipe is quite traditional — flour, buttermilk — Paltrow says that her father's version was always just a bit better than others she tried. "They are honestly the best pancakes," she laughs. "They are thin, they're tangy. They're not these giant fluffy things. I think what made them world-famous is, well, everyone loved the taste of the pancakes, but it became such a thing that he would cook for all of us and our extended family. It was almost about the experience as much as the pancakes themselves." In the cookbook, Paltrow offers some healthier alternatives to her family recipes. For example, she provides an alternative to her mother's blueberry muffin recipe that includes soy milk instead of whole milk, and vegetable oil in place of butter.When asked if her version tastes better, however, she demurs. "No, no it doesn't," she admits. " Nothing tastes as good as my mother's super-fattening, sugary, blueberry muffins. [Mine] taste pretty good. But you can't beat the butter and sugar, let's face it." Some of the recipes in My Father's Daughter feature foods that Paltrow herself does not eat — she doesn't eat red meat, for example, but she decided to include her family's brisket, as she has such fond memories of the dish from childhood. "Basically, we grew up having brisket," she says. "It's the pride of the Jewish mother, to have her version of brisket. So even though I don't eat red meat anymore, I loved brisket, and I thought, we have to include it in the book. So I started doing research and asking all the women in my family...and it seemed that the secret ingredient was rubbing it with Lipton onion soup mix. I thought, lets do it a little more homemade than that." Though the cookbook is already a bestseller, the public perception of Paltrow has not always been that of a culinary queen. In fact, she was famous for her limited macrobiotic diet around the time she won an Academy Award for Shakespeare in Love in 1998. She says that she was dieting this way as a response to her father's throat cancer diagnosis: "When he was diagnosed with cancer, it was my absolute worst nightmare. And I thought, gosh, he's got to eat healthy. So I started doing all this research into how people allegedly cure themselves through macrobiotics and very healthy diets. I was hoping he would adapt some of these principles in the hopes that it would help his health, but he was pretty resistant. I think he equated sugar and caffeine with being healthy. So by proxy, I thought, I'll get really healthy, and somehow that will make him healthier. It didn't work, but I tried." Paltrow says that every recipe in the book has a personal connection to her past, but none so poignant as that for duck ragu. The dish brings up the memory of the last great conversation she had with her father before his death. "We were in Italy," she muses. "We had gone to Italy for my 30th birthday, and my present from my dad was that we were going to have a road trip through Tuscany and Umbria, and on the first night we went to this little town called Cortona, and he wasn't feeling well. I didn't know how unwell he actually was feeling, but we took a walk up the little cobblestone streets and we went to this little trattoria and we had duck ragu, and we had this incredible night where he really opened up. We had a heart to heart. It was our last ... our last conversation in a way, because it became about doctors and all of that after that night." She continues: "If you could write your perfect last conversation with the person that you love most in the world, it would have been that night." Copyright 2011 National Public Radio. To see more, visit.

>>IMAGE. Dr. Pauline Chen on medical care. Doctor and Patient Dr. Pauline Chen on medical care. over a generation now, efforts to make health care more patient-friendly have focused on getting patients and doctors to work together to make decisions about care and treatment. Numerous research papers, conferences and advocacy organizations have been devoted to this topic of “shared decision-making,” and even politicians have clambered aboard the train, devoting several provisions in the Affordable Care Act to “preference-sensitive care.” But one thing has been missing in nearly all of these earnest efforts to encourage doctors to share the decision-making process. That is, ironically, the patient’s perspective. researchers conducted several focus groups with 48 patients from five primary care physicians in the San Francisco Bay area. First, they showed the patient participants a short video on several equally effective but very different treatment approaches for a heart ailment. Then, they asked them questions about what they did with their own doctors when faced with a choice among several treatment options that might be equally effective but could differ in lifestyle effects, cost or range of complications. Finally, the researchers asked the participants if they were comfortable asking doctors about different treatments, discussing their values and preferences or disagreeing with their doctors’ recommendations. and an associate investigator in the Department of Health Services Research at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute in California. “But patients still aren’t perceiving the relationship as a partnership.” Interestingly, most participants in this study were over 50, lived in affluent areas and had either attended or completed graduate school. “It’s hard to think that people from more disadvantaged backgrounds would find it any easier to question doctors,” Dr. Frosch said. While understanding health care issues and making themselves heard in discussions were not difficult in general for the participants in the study, the skills and confidence they had in other settings appeared to have little relevance once they were in their doctors’ offices. They could not speak as easily as they normally did. “People experience a different sense of self in the doctor-patient interaction,” Dr. Frosch observed. “The clinical context creates a reluctance to be more assertive.” Dr. Frosch and his colleagues are working on a larger study examining the extent to which patients feel constrained. And they have plans to study whether there are better ways to encourage patient engagement. Systemic changes to increase shared decision-making must be addressed as well. Care organizations and doctors’ practices must be restructured to allow more in-depth conversations; clinicians need to be reimbursed for the time required for more meaningful conversations; and health care systems must adopt rigorous quality standards that measure and value real patient engagement in decisions. “We urgently need support of shared decision-making that is more than just rhetoric,” Dr. Frosch said. “It may take a little longer to talk through decisions and disagreements; but if we empower patients to make informed choices, we will all do much better in the long run.” Do you feel you need to act differently with doctors? Join in the discussion below.

I thought carefully before writing this, but this is a post that I feel I have to write. A terrible thing happened on Saturday: a loving mother & father lost their little baby girl. Just 9 months old, she had just learnt to crawl & she died in her cot during the night. I’ve never met Jennie nor her family but I feel as if I know them; I & hundreds of people all around the world who know her through social media & from her wonderful blog are grieving for her. Like us she has boy-girl twins; they were born just a few months after ours. Hers was one of the first blogs I followed when I became a Dad, mostly because her family was similar to ours. Her twins were very premature, much earlier than Jake & Ellie, & had a terrible struggle in their first few months. They are now happy, healthy, adorable 2-year-olds. I’ve been able to learn from her, compare notes, share experiences. It was more than that though. Jennie has a rare gift in her writing: she is wonderfully expressive, & always writes straight from the heart. I couldn’t help but be moved when reading her posts, to share in her struggles, her triumphs, her joys & her sorrows. There has always been one thing that shone through more than anything else in her writing: Love. Her great love for her children; how she struggled to do all she could for them when they were in NICU for the first weeks of their lives, her joy at their coming home, her devotion to their well-being ever since. Love oozes out of every word, shines from every photo, drips off every page. Then in May last year – despite believing she was unable to conceive naturally- she gave birth to a baby girl, Matilda Mae. On Sunday afternoon I read the saddest tweet I have ever seen: “Our beautiful daughter Matilda Mae was taken from us last night to join the angels in the sky x RIP Beautiful angel daughter x We love you x” My initial reaction was one of utter disbelief. I’d not read of any health difficulties, she seemed a healthy, happy child: how could this be?! But tragically it was true. Yes, children die. Far too many. There are some wonderful representatives of the UK parent blogging community in Ghana right now trying to do something about that, a cause Jennie herself has championed. But when it’s someone you have come to know, to have shared in their life with its struggles & its triumphs, someone you feel has been a part of your life & that of your own family – it’s different. It hits home, hits hard. We grieve for her & for her husband & children. I can’t imagine what they must be going through. You feel so helpless. You just want to snap your fingers & make everything better, but you can’t. You want to do something that can make a difference, so you send inadequate words, warm thoughts, virtual hugs, positive vibes, prayers. Many of us have. She still writes; in sharing her pain & remembering her beautiful daughter in some way I hope it is helping her through this. Her tweets since have been some of the most heart-breaking things I have ever seen. “I cannot rest. I cannot make Esther and William understand and I wish someone would please tell me what I am supposed to do without MM. Am so full of milk. Just want to hold my baby and feed her. I will never forgive myself but somehow I have to make life good for the twins. No one I know understands why I would be online right now but where else is there to go? MM shared our room so we cannot go back in there. Her cot is still there with all her things. I keep expecting her to be here. Esther and William do not understand. When we tried to explain at breakfast they just asked for more shreddies. How do you tell 2.5 year olds that their baby sister is dead? We can’t remember how to be a family of 4. My breast are aching. I have to have medicine to stop my milk. I have frozen some to make a keepsake x” Yet even in such grief she is still thinking of her young twins & being a loving Mother to them: “I need to try and rest if not sleep. For Esther and William. I am so grateful for Twitter tonight. I am in a quiet dark house x…I have made lunch for everyone today and we made blue play dough to put fish in.” And still she thinks of others & not herself! “If you have just half a thought of doing something with your little one, do it today! All week I wanted to get in Matilda’s bath with her x…Please pls hold your children and kiss them all you can. Tell them you love them many times a day. You will never get a single second back”. I & many others have been very moved by this, moved to greater closeness, love & appreciation for our own children & family. Even out of her darkness shines light, light from the love of Matilda Mae, ‘star of the sea’. Although I’ve never met her & probably never will, Jennie seems to be the most loving, caring mother & just a lovely person. She doesn’t deserve this; let’s do what we can to help her & her family through this. Send her some love, say a prayer, whatever you feel moved to do. Rest in peace, Matilda Mae: may your star continue to shine. - Jennie Edspire Jennie’s twitter account - Dear Matilda Mae: The night we found you sleeping From Jennie’s blog - A star for a star A wonderful gesture of remembrance - Bliss The Matilda Mae Precious Star Fund UPDATE: I thought carefully about including this in my most viewed posts list. This was never about me or this blog, but about Jennie & Matilda Mae & family. The response to it however has been – by my standards at least – phenomenal. This is purely down to how Matilda Mae & her loving mother have touched the hearts of people all over the world and so I think it should be shown. That is just beautiful x It’s rare that a ‘news’ story affects me, you acknowledge that it’s tragic but that’s it. This however has really got to me, reading what had happened and her tweets has me in tears every time. It’s just so awful. I think the fact that she was the same age as Henry makes it really hit home. What a beautiful post. I’ve had to read it several times through my tears, xxx A really thoughtful, beautiful and moving post. I was also very upset for her and her family when I read the tweets …. utterly devastating and shocking. I’ve felt completely affected by this too, I’ve found it hard to focus on anything since hearing the news. Another family suffering intolerable torment – its just too hard to comprehend Beautifully put and you have summed up how we as a community and as parents feel x A beautiful post that brings tears to my eyes, if only we could turn back the clock Just beautiful. I too have never actually met jennie yet we chatted often. So often that i feel I know her. There are no words. It is not far. Xx A beautifully written post that sums up the way a lot if us are feeling at the moment. My thoughts have constantly been with Jennie and her family since this heartbreaking news and, like many others, I really wish we could take the pain away for them. RIP Matilda Mae xxxxx There are no words. It is not fair. My heart is with jennie, david and their family xxv I know jennie from when the twins. We’re born as they were in the nicu like my son was xx My heart goes out to Jennie. I pray she and her family find the strength that will get them through this. Life changes irrevocably after such a loss and I truly hope the love of her family and friends sees her through. You are a wonderful friend. What a very special post, I have been reading Jennie’s blog this morning and I can’t get the horror of it from my mind. The tweets are even more harrowing. Every parent’s worst nightmare. Sometimes life is so unfair – words fail me. Pingback: Bond, the Sequel: The Twin Who Loved Me | Whiskey For Aftershave This is absolutely beautifully written and so true. Jennie is being so strong and finding comfort from blogging and tweeting. I cannot comprehend what on earth Jennie and her husband are going through right now. This is a truly beautiful tribute, thank you for writing it and sharing it with us x This post is so so from the heart, and really shows the empathy that bloggers provoke in one another, in our very shared lives. I hadn’t read any of what you quoted (apart from the original blog post on which I didn’t feel strong enough to comment on till tonight). Thank you for the strength it must have taken to write this beautiful post which has moved me to tears. I hope we can all help Jennie in some way, even if it is to only show her that she is not alone. Liska xx Pingback: A Tribute | Whiskey For Aftershave Such a thoughtful post. Pingback: A Lullaby | Whiskey For Aftershave Pingback: Happy Birthday Matilda Mae | Whiskey For Aftershave

21/06/2012 | by sam | 3 comments John Cardiel Interview - Roots WL90 Published in Whitelines Magazine Issue 90, Spring ’10 Words: Chris Moran It’s fitting that this months’ roots interviewee should be the legendary skate/snow pro John Cardiel. Cardiel has had one of the longest and most respected board-riding careers ever. His attitude and vision marked him out from a super early age, joining the likes of Tony Hawk and Danny Way when he won Thrasher Magazine’s coveted ‘Skater of the Year’ contest before his twentieth birthday. As his childhood friend Toad claimed in a recent retrospective on John, “he was just instantly good on a board. He had more natural talent than he could contain.” John ‘Card’ Cardiel was born in 1973 and raised in Half Moon Bay, California, right where the giant wave Mavericks breaks. “I never really got into surfing,” he says now. “I was just into skateboarding and skimboarding or riding BMX bikes. The surfer guys were all kind of dicks, they had this attitude that was so above it all, and I never got that crazy surfer attitude. I was like ‘fuck surfing’.” Instead, John skated full time, going as far as to invent his own tricks and spending all his pent-up energy on local curbs and ramps. Then a chance meeting with the snow occurred. “My parents had gotten a job up at Grass Valley, kinda halfway between San Fransisco and Tahoe,” he says, “I was only the skater kid up there, but I met some older guys like [former Burton pro] Mike Jacobi, and they started to take me up snowboarding. It was basic, you know? I had Sorell boots and duct tape and it was just as the boards had gotten p-tex. So Mike had seen me do a backflip my first day – because from skating I was naturally there with the board – so he really flipped out on me and got me a Burton snowboard sent out. I was so stoked, and I entered some competitions and yeah, I got hooked up with Avalanche snowboards.” John quickly caught the eye of another brand – Santa Cruz – and got a reputation as one to watch. Between 1992 and 1994 his star was on the rise, and his shared part with Steve Graham in 1994′s Riders on the Storm was a revelation. In just under two minutes he showed the world two tricks that became the most fashionable things to try in the mid 90s – the late backside 180 (there was no grab, but he boned his front leg out and stalled the spin until the last moment), and an incredible backflip 360 that was one of the most talked about moves of the year (my own VHS copy went all sketchy at that point because me and my friends had paused and rewound the tape so many times). Strangely, at the time the snowboard world was mesmerized by this young kid with a baseball cap on backwards, Cardiel himself was getting disillusioned with snowboarding. In a recent documentary series on VBS.tv, he spelled it out: “Skateboarding was better. You think about it, [with snowboarding ] you’ve got to buy the boots, buy the snowboard, buy the clothes, buy the lift ticket. That’s two hundred bucks just to fucking go up to the snow. You’ve got to be semi ‘of means’ to even kick start the sport. Now you’re around all these dudes who are professional at it; like grew up in Aspen, whatever. Snowboarders. They don’t fucking know hard times. We don’t really vibe. With skateboarders, these are my people; I just fucking vibe with them.” He’s not a confrontational person, but these are harsh words. I ask him if that’s why he gave up on the pro snowboard scene? “Snowboarding came fairly easy to me, [but] I found that some of the kids that were sponsored and other people in the industry, they were taking their snowboarding like it was like a skilled thing, and that they were on top of the world or something. And I was thinking, ‘But you can’t do these tricks on a skateboard. You’re doing them on snow and it’s soft, dude’. I mean I just thought skating was difficult, you know? And it wasn’t until I started seeing people like Craig Kelly riding, or people taking lines in Alaska, that I was like, ‘OK that’s the real shit’, but as far as tricks went, I just thought you guys had nothing on skaters.” Snowboarding came fairly easy to me. As far as tricks went, I just thought you guys had nothing on skaters Cardiel was hanging out with some of the original bad boys of the sport, whose hotel-destroying and state eviction antics were documented in the early films, so I’m surprised at this. I ask him if there were any snowboarders he did like hanging with. “Oh yeah,” he says. “I mean [Mike] Ranquet was a really good snowboarder and so was Chris Roach, Monty Roach and Tucker Fransen. These guys were all good, but they were a little bit older than I was, buying beers and so on, and they were just on a different level. I wasn’t really meshed in, I would only really see them out snowboarding, so it was more like when I saw the kids coming through at some of the sponsor competitions in my age group. I just didn’t get them. Now I’m older I see that it was just that I was young and I didn’t fit in. And my thought was: ‘If the people I like – if skateboarders could tap into this – it would be over.’ They were so much more talented.” John quietly backed out of the competition scene, and then the media scene, appearing less in magazines and films, though he did turn up in the odd road movie such as 1996′s RPM made by Fall Line Films, which featured a section of John skating and snowboarding, blurring the tricks he could do on both boards. By 1996 his skate career was absorbing all his time. He literally changed skating, trying all his tricks out switch, or landing fakie, or putting late reverts on everything. And he did it all with what looked like an effortless style. Before Cardiel came around, skating had been getting super technical, with small wheels and cut down boards all the rage. After John, it looked pretty much as it does today; his influence can never be understated. I ask him whether throughout that time he ever went back to snowboarding. “Oh yeah, all the time,” he says. “I totally had my eye on the weather storms, I always had a four wheel drive car, and I always made the effort to go whenever I was home. I used to go riding with [former pro skater-turned snowboarder] Noah Salasnek, we would get up super early and go riding and get first tracks and just lap the chairlifts you know. I loved snowboarding, I loved the ride and the thrill of snowboarding, so I never gave it up.” In 2003 John was in Australia filming for the skate movie Tent City when disaster struck. As he ran alongside a van, chatting to the guys inside, he was run over by its trailer, crushing his spine. “Next thing I know, I wake up in the hospital and can’t feel my legs,” he recalled in a recent interview. “I was tripping. I was trying to move them but couldn’t do it. I was thinking that maybe I had a spinal tap or something, like maybe they did something to me that made me unable to feel my legs. But then I see Matt Rodriguez and my dad and Julien Stranger, and they’re like, “Dude, you’re fucked up.” I was like, “Oh, shit. I really can’t feel my legs. This is real.” The doctors told John he’d damaged his spinal cord so badly he’d never be able to walk again. But John didn’t believe the prognosis, and with super-human determination, he vowed to beat the paralysis. When he started to feel the odd sensation in a toe or two after six months of hospital, he knew there was hope. “Every day I’m trying,” he says. “It feels good to be able to walk to the bathroom, just to walk and stuff. It’s taken a hell of a struggle to get where I’m at. I haven’t noticed this one point, like, “I can walk now!” It’s just all part of it. Even now it’s such a struggle. I still can’t call it walking, necessarily.” I watch the X-Games and that, and the pipes have gotten so much bigger it’s just unreal. I would just love to see one run where they just busted out a big mute, a big method, and some super-styled airs. The VBS documentary shows John’s new passion – fixed gear bikes, and he races them around his home city of Sacramento, even getting air off a concrete bank at one point. I’d read in one interview that he had tried being back on a skateboard again, and I ask him if he’s thought about getting on a snowboard? “I would love to give it a try,” he says, “but the frustration of not being able to do what you know you can do – that’s pretty difficult for me. I wanna bust you know? I wanna go hard, and if I can’t I’m gonna be really hurting. You know when you see bumps and jumps out of the corner of your eye, and if you can’t go and hit them you’re like, ‘what am I doing here?’ But saying that I will probably give it a try.” I ask if he’s kept up with the snowboard scene in the interim? “Oh yeah,” says John. “I pick up the magazines, and I see what’s happening.” I wonder what he makes of the Olympics and the halfpipe scene, especially Shaun White’s recent double McTwist. “Well I watch the X-Games and that, and the pipes have gotten so much bigger it’s just unreal. I watch that shit and I’m like, ‘Wow!’ The thing that irritates me is that it’s all these flips and twists. You know, I would just love to see one run where they just busted out a big mute, a big method, and some super-styled airs. That’d be a trip.” I’m with him on that one. It’s fitting that someone who’s remembered for being one of the most stylish riders to have ever stood on a board is even today looking at snowboarding with that aesthetic eye. We could do a lot worse than listen to John Cardiel, a true living legend.

Posts Tagged ‘perogies not prorogation’ NoProRogue: Signs Signs of Democracy No Prorogue Rally: Guelph, Ontario We held grassroots rallies and marches across this great land in heartfelt protest against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s shameless premature prorogation which he effected solely to avoid government accountability to Canadian citizens. On the 23rd day of January, 2010 Canadians of all ages and political affiliations (or none) took to the streets in peaceful assembly. Coming from the earlier Waterloo Rally, I was late arriving in Downtown Guelph, but I got there in time to see the Rally transform into a March. These are some of the signs I saw on the Guelph NoProrogue march that day. The gods smiled on our just cause: it was a mild day, although winter in Canada. Canadians of all ages turned out to give voice to our concerns through peaceful assembly. Is it any wonder that a great deal of the outrage centers around the fact that the premature prorogation means that our hundreds of members of Parliament will not be at work due to the premature proragation… yet they continue to receive their paychecks courtesy of Canadian tax dollars paid by ordinary Canadians. That’s us. For most Canadians no work means no pay. So this sounds rather like a prorogation vacation to many Canadians. It took me a minute to “get” the sign (right) until the lightbulb lit and I realized it was picturing a perogie. I don’t know about you but I can always use a good laugh. Leave it to Canadians, not only are we polite, but we’ve long been world leaders in the field of humour. I rather like perogie-prorogue pun. But the point is that the Canadian tipping point was the attack on democracy. Who says Canadians don’t wrap themselves in the flag? We may be flawlessly polite, comparatively quiet and incredibly law abiding, but we love our country. It was inspiring to see all the people wearing Canadian flags in one way or another that day. And heartening to see so many hand made signs. A great deal of passion — and effort — went into this day. With government like we’ve got, we can all surely use a smile Is it any wonder that this song was running through my head while putting this collection together? So although this hasn’t got anything to do with the grassroots NoProrogue movement, or Canada as far as I can tell, this video has some of the funniest signs I’ve seen in a long time… accompanied by the Tesla song “Signs”.

By Ernest Scheyder NEW YORK (Reuters) - Chemical maker DuPont The company, which has the largest market value among U.S. chemical makers, plans to keep capital spending at around $1.8 billion in 2013 and is delaying some projects until it is clear what U.S. tax policy will be, Kullman said. The company had planned to hike spending in the new year. "We're not going to spend as much as we thought next year," she said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday. "We've looked at every program and asked, 'Can we spend less money now and delay some programs six months?'" Agriculture and nutrition projects may get more funding due to their growth potential, but there's some uncertainty in the automotive sector, where DuPont sells paints and plastics, she said. "Consumers will hold back until the fiscal cliff is resolved," said Kullman, who has run the Wilmington, Delaware-based company since 2009. "It's not about politics anymore," she said. "It's about the country. It's about reducing our debt. It's about making a viable economy long into the future." Kullman said she personally is willing to pay higher U.S. federal income taxes to help avert the fiscal cliff, a package of spending cuts and tax hikes due to take effect in January unless Washington lawmakers agree on a budget deal. Kullman's 2011 compensation package was worth $12.2 million. "We understand there has to be a balanced equation. There has to be increased revenues and there has to be decreased spending," she said. If there is only a partial deal, one that doesn't address spending and the U.S. federal debt, Kullman said it could reduce U.S. GDP growth by as much as one percentage point. "The biggest concern is not that they don't avert the cliff, but that they put forward a plan and never execute, or don't execute in a way that addresses the debt," she said. "Because otherwise you're just going to run up against that debt ceiling constantly." BUYBACK VS. DIVIDENDS Late Tuesday, DuPont announced a $1 billion stock buyback and said 2012 profit should hit the high end of its forecast. DuPont decided a buyback, rather than a one-time dividend, would be better for shareholders, Kullman said. The company pays a 32-cent quarterly dividend currently, one of the better yields available to investors. Due to the "fiscal cliff" uncertainty, Wal-Mart DuPont considered that approach, but decided against it, Kullman said. "With the uncertainty that's out there, and with the tax law changes, we believe it better serves our shareholders to reduce our share count," she said. "Many of our shareholders are tax-exempt funds, so they don't pay tax on dividends." NATURAL GAS EXPORTS Kullman said Asked if DuPont would support exports of natural gas, Kullman said, "I do think as a country we need to first and foremost make sure we have energy security ... If we have great excess reserves that we can monetize, that should be part of a consideration." DuPont shares closed up 1.4 percent at $44.30 on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. (Reporting By Ernest Scheyder; editing by John Wallace, Nick Zieminski and Tim Dobbyn)

If you're running Apache 1.3 (or an httpd based on Apache 1.3, such as OpenBSD's httpd), it's still possible to get MoinMoin working under WSGI. It will take some additional steps. These instructions assume you have root (superuser) privileges on the wiki server, and a dedicated virtual host name that you will use for your wiki (e.g. mywiki.your.domain). Before we start, you should take note of your wiki directory (something like /var/www/moin/mywiki) and your wiki user (something like www or www-data -- whatever account owns the wiki directory and its content). Install CherryPy on the wiki server. Copy moin.wsgi from the wiki/server/ subdirectory of the source tree into your wiki directory. Edit it: 1 #!/usr/bin/env python 2 # -*- coding: iso-8859-1 -*- 3 """ 4 MoinMoin - mod_wsgi driver script 5 ... 6 """ 7 8 from MoinMoin.server.server_wsgi import WsgiConfig, moinmoinApp 9 from cherrypy.wsgiserver import CherryPyWSGIServer, WSGIPathInfoDispatcher 10 11 class Config(WsgiConfig): 12 pass 13 14 config = Config() 15 16 application = moinmoinApp 17 18 def run_cherrypy(app, address='', port=8080): 19 from cherrypy import wsgiserver 20 d = WSGIPathInfoDispatcher({'/': app}) 21 server = CherryPyWSGIServer((address, port), d, 22 server_name='mywiki.your.domain') 23 try: 24 server.start() 25 except KeyboardInterrupt: 26 server.stop() 27 28 run_cherrypy(application, '0.0.0.0', 8080) Change the server_name= part and the port number, if you want. You may use any port number greater than 1023 that's not already being used by something else. (We'll be running this program as an unprivileged user, so we can't use ports under 1024.) Give it execute permissions with a chmod 755 moin.wsgi command. Arrange for the moin.wsgi program to be run as your wiki user, inside the wiki directory, according to whatever techniques you use on your system for boot scripts or the like. Start it running now. You should see it listening on port 8080 (or whatever you set in the moin.wsgi file). Edit your Apache configuration (httpd.conf or whatever filename is correct for your system): ... Alias /moin_static183/ "/usr/local/share/moin/htdocs/" ... NameVirtualHost *:80 ... <VirtualHost *:80> ServerName mywiki.your.domain ServerAdmin your@email.address RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/moin_static.../ RewriteRule ^/(.*) [P] ProxyRequests Off ProxyPassReverse / ErrorLog /var/www/logs/mywiki.your.domain-error.log CustomLog /var/www/logs/mywiki.your.domain-access.log combined </VirtualHost> Obviously, you should change the htdocs location, the port number, and the logfile locations as necessary. The moin_static183 in the Alias should be changed for each version of MoinMoin. The moin_static... part in the RewriteCond is a regular expression, so it will match every version, and doesn't need adjustment. The purpose of the rewriting code here is to allow the Alias to work for the static content URLs, and rewrite (proxy) everything else to the CherryPy service. Reload or restart your Apache so that it picks up the changes. That's basically all. Your wiki should be visible at now. Test everything and make sure it seems correct.

Hotaru no Hikari Details - Title: ホタルノヒカリ - Title (romaji): Hotaru no Hikari - Title (English): Glow of Fireflies - Genre: Romance, comedy - Broadcast network: NTV Season 1 - Episodes: 10 - Viewership rating: 13.6 (Kanto) - Broadcast period: 2007-Jul-11 to 2007-Sep-12 - Air time: Wednesday 22:00 - Theme song: Yokogao by aiko Cast - Ayase Haruka as Amemiya Hotaru - Yoshida Riko as young Hotaru (ep1) - - Matsushita Sara as Kasumi Hatsuko - Maruyama Tomomi as Goutokuji Ken - Matsunaga Hiroshi as Yamaguchi Takatoshi - Kurotani Tomoka as Miyuki Production Credits - Original writing: Hiura Satoru - Screenwriter: Mizuhashi Fumie - Producer: Hazeyama Yuko, Mikami Eriko (三上絵里子), Uchiyama Masahiro (内山雅博) - Director: Yoshino Hiroshi (ep1), Nagumo Seiichi, Shigeyama Yoshinori (茂山佳則) - Music: Kanno Yugo Episode Information Source: Video Research, Ltd. Awards - 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Jul-Sep 2007): Best Drama - 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Jul-Sep 2007): Best Actress (Ayase Haruka) - 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Jul-Sep 2007): Best Supporting Actor (Fujiki Naohito) - 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Jul-Sep 2007): Best Supporting Actress (Kuninaka Ryoko) Season 2 - Episodes: 11 - Viewership rating: 15.4 - Broadcast period: 2010-Jul-07 to 2010-Sep-15 - Air time: Wednesday 22:00 - Theme song: Kimi ga iru by Ikimono-gakari Synopsis Three years ago, the heart of Amemiya Hotaru, the 'dried up female', had settled on Takano 'Buchou', and the 'dried up female' was supposed to have grown up … However, right after that, Hotaru was posted as a project team member to far-away Hong Kong. She was cut off from 'Buchou' and devoted herself to work. Then, three years later, Hotaru returns to Japan after finishing the project. She is assigned to the First Planning Department, where 'Buchou' belongs, and immediately begins work as one of the team members. However, both the staff as well as the mood in the company have changed a great deal. Cast - Ayase Haruka as Amemiya Hotaru - Fujiki Naohito as Takano Seiichi - Itaya Yuka as Yamada Sachiko - Yasuda Ken as Futatsugi Shouji - Mukai Osamu as Seno Kazuma - Usuda Asami as Sakuragi Mika - Kimura Tae as Asada Konatsu - Ishii Momoka as Asada Chinatsu - Takahashi Tsutomu as Izaki Hosaku - Nakabeppu Aoi as Sugishita Mana - Ichikawa Tomohiro as Matsushoji Goya - Kimisawa Yuki as Takebayashi Atsushi - Ide Takuya (井出卓也) as Umeda Shota - Sato Chiaki as Tsubaki Haruno - Yanagisawa Takahiko as Mukunoki Shin - Mashita Rena as Shiina Ayumi Guests - Kamiji Yusuke as the video rental clerk (ep1) - Yazawa Shin as woman A (ep1) - Emi Kurara (映美くらら) as woman B (ep1) - Taguchi Kazumasa as the lantern maker (ep1) - Yoshida Keiko (ep1) - Kaneda Akio as the shopping district chairman (ep2) - Fukui Yuko as the chairman's wife (ep2) - Yamamoto Masaru (山本勝) as the bookstore clerk (ep2) - Hayashi Yakikuo (林家木久扇) as Kikuya Menzo (ep3) - Kozasama Satsugu (小笹将継) as the Okinawa restaurant manager (ep3) - Arifuku Masashi (有福正志) as a dermatologist (ep3) - Nozoe Yoshihiro as the truck driver (ep4) - Rokkaku Seiji as Chief Ekoda (ep5) - Osonoe Eri (小薗江愛理) as Samantha (ep6,7) - Kawano Shinya (河野真也) as a customer (ep7) - Yahata Tomoaki (八幡朋昭) as a salesclerk (ep7) - Aoki Genta (青木源太) as a reporter (ep7) - Horiuchi Keiko as Amemiya Ageha (ep8) - Yamazaki Yuta as Kimura (ep8) - Tanigawa Shoichiro (谷川昭一朗) as Rikka (ep8) - Maruyama Tomomi as Gotokoji Ken (ep9-11) - Ishizaka Koji as Takano Bontaro (ep10) - Konishi Miho as Gotokoji Ken's wife (ep11) Production Credits - Original writing: Hotaru no Hikari by Hiura Satoru - Screenwriter: Mizuhashi Fumie - Chief Producer: Hazeyama Yuko - Producer: Mikami Eriko (三上絵里子), Uchiyama Masahiro (内山雅博) - Director: Yoshino Hiroshi, Nagumo Seiichi, Ishio Jun (石尾純) - Music: Kanno Yugo Episode Ratings Source: Video Research, Ltd. Recognition - 66th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actress - Ayase Haruka - 14th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Summer 2010): Best Actress - Ayase Haruka - 14th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Summer 2010): Best Supporting Actor - Fujiki Naohito External Links

2011-08-06 46 7 [edit] Location The geohash is located directly in Berne. [edit] Participants [edit] The Expedition [edit] TheOneRing The geohash was only 5.9km from my flat, as the bird flies, so I decided that is was the perfect opportunity to get the Walk geohash. The total distance was just a bit more (6.5km). I was not expecting what I saw when I arrived at the geohash: a wonderful marker drawn on the street. Thanks the other team for that. Unfortunately they left before I arrived and we didn't met. While I waited 4pm to come, Crox arrived by bike. We haven't met each other before and it was great because of the Saturday meetup. Together we waited talking until 4 o'clock, but the other team didn't show up again. After a while we said goodbye and I walked back home. On the way it drizzled from time to time, but way too less to complain about. In contrary, it was quite convenient in the hot and humid conditions. [edit] Arches, Swissbite, Fredy, Kei, Nemeova, Rahel Our geohashing trip was planned long ago. Well, not much regarding any details, but we all made sure to keep the day free for a geohashing adventure. The day before our trip, in the evening, when the hash points were known, we got together for a phone conference to discuss and plan the details of our trip. During our phone conference, we saw that the hash of the Bern graticule fell right into the city of Bern. Now for some of us, this was way too easy to reach, leading to the (in hindsight, unfortunate - more on that later) consensus do a multihash, going to Bern in the morning, and from there head off to the hash in the graticule of Basel in an attempt to reach at/before the designated hour for meet-ups. So on 2011-08-06, all of us (well, except those fortunate ones living in Bern) took a train to Bern, meeting there at 11 o'clock. Obviously, as it always is when you plan something, this did not work out, because Nemeova and Arches were arriving later. Nemeova's excuse was that her a public transport subscription that was beyond its validity date (and because it was not her but the conductor noticing this, she was also handed a hefty fine) and the renewal took what seemed like an eternity, making her miss her train, whereas Arches was just late so that Nemeova didn’t have to travel to Bern all alone. After waiting ages for the tardy ones to arrive, we were off to buy some chalk. This was crucial, as we wanted to leave a great non-permanent mark at the hash. From Google-Maps and our local insiders, we already knew that the hash was on a road in a residential quarter, so we agreed that chalk was perfect. While shopping for chalk, a cute yellow ball with a StupidGrin™ printed on caught Nemeova's attention, which she obviously had to buy, thereby providing us with a hashscot. After our shopping spree, Swissbite, Rahel and Fredy, our local hashers, started arguing about which bus we should take to get closest to the hash, nearly leading to a breakup in its course. Flurry, Nemeova and Kei used this time to buy their bus tickets, and after the argument was over, we all boarded a bus (the same one, even) which brought us pretty close to the hash, with only about 5 minutes of walking at a slow pace left. Once we arrived, we quibbled over who’d get which color of chalk, and then started drawing a marvellous piece of art on the street. We were observed by some resident children, but they were too shy to approach us or do more than peeking at what we were doing from behind the hedge separating the road from their house. They did ask their parents what "those big guys are doing with the chalk on the road". It was quite cute, actually :-) We heard no response from the parents, though, and we continued our drawing, which was going to cause marvel and wonder later on, and neither a police patrol nor private cars could stop us (well, they caused a short break, as we had to clear the road for them, but that doesn’t count, does it?). After finishing our marker and taking the mandatory StupidGrin™ pictures, we were off for lunch in Bern. Unfortunately we couldn't wait for Crox and TheOneRing to arrive because we had to get to our second hash in France.

Posts Tagged RSA On the Heels of the RSA SecurID Recall Posted by jcasaretto in Security, Wikibon on June 13, 2011 A recently announced recall of RSA’s SecurID product is causing waves across the industry. Navigating these events and considering the implications, we review some of the aspects and analyze where the industry stands in relation to these conditions. Breaches The details on the various federal contractor breaches have continued to emerge in recent news. Anofficial recent announcement from RSA acknowledged the previously rumored link between the initial RSA incident to the Lockheed Martin intrusion. L-3 and Northrop Grumman are likely to have been attacked through the same vector. This alarming series of breaches has caught the attention of media and customers alike. Among other sources, China has been mentioned as a possible source for these attacks. Meanwhile, reports of major defense contractors replacing RSA SecurID tokens with other token technology have been seen. Conclusions from Federal, RSA hacks Posted by jcasaretto in Security on June 2, 2011 The recent eruption of reporting on federal contractor organizations and recent compromises has certainly been alarming. As a result of this there have been a number of theories and conspiracies coming forward. At the root of these theories is a commonality derived from the RSA compromise where it is believed that the cryptographic keys for SecurID may have been taken. What these events mean to the enterprise however remains to be seen. With absolute certainty, federal institutions and their affiliates will be on watch for continued attacks, and if indeed RSA related, we can be sure that they are addressing deficiencies by all technological means possible. The Dark Side of Security…by Art Coviello Posted by David Vellante in Wikibon on December 4, 2009 Could the Bad Guys Collapse the Internet? Every time I talk to Art Coviello, President of RSA, I get depressed, scared and hopeful. I received a memo today from RSA which was Art’s yearend review and 2010 look ahead. Here are some excerpts. From the Desk of Art Coviello Subject: Security in 2009 and a look ahead Emulex Helps Data Protection and Privacy Through Encryption Posted by Dennis Martin in Wikibon on November 13, 2009 Emulex’s strategic direction is to help IT shops provide additional data protection and privacy by encrypting data at the source – in the host server. There has been plenty of news about data breaches and literally millions of data records at risk, and some of the laws requiring public disclosure of data breaches. More recently, some states within the USA have passed laws requiring encryption for transmission or storage of personally identifiable information outside of a secure system. CIOs can no longer debate about whether to encrypt. Encryption is no longer an option, but a requirement. Recent Comments

THE. CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images, Tom Pennington/Getty Images, Flickr user Andy Miah THE near-total destruction of Baghdad's city zoo over the course of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was, in retrospect, a grim portent of the poor planning and disastrous mismanagement that would characterize the early years of the Iraq war. The zoo had been the largest in the Middle East before the invasion, with more than 650 animals; eight days after coalition troops arrived in the city, however, all but 35 were dead. "All the Americans would've had to do is drop off 50 men, with a few vets and a truckload of food, and they wouldn't have lost any of the animals," Lawrence Anthony, a South Africa conservationist who salvaged what was left of the zoo after the invasion, told me last year. So it's heartening to read a February 2008 cable from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, signed by embassy staffer Greg D'Elia and released by WikiLeaks over the weekend, detailing the Baghdad zoo's resurgence as "reportedly … the most popular destination for family outings in Baghdad." As of late 2007, security in the city was still dicey enough that most of the zoo's visitors came from the immediately surrounding neighborhoods. But as the worst of the brutal sectarian violence of the preceding years ebbed, some 8,000 Baghdadis were visiting each weekend, and the zookeepers could boast of some one-of-a-kind acquisitions: [T]he Baghdad Zoo staff took particular pleasure in reclaiming for the Iraqi public the exotic animals formerly possessed by Saddam Hussein and his family. Uday's pampered cheetah is now tame enough for visitors to pet. Two of Saddam's three lions gave birth last year to three cubs each; now the Zoo has nine lions on display. The Zoo also has in its possession Saddam Hussein's former stallion, Al Abor -- "the most famous horse in Iraq," according to Mousa. Saddam Hussein rode Al Abor in countless parades and public ceremonies. The best part of the cable is its account of the zoo's "highlights and lowlights": The Baghdad Zoo also featured some primitive practices, including the daily slaughter of two donkeys to feed the lions, and some modern flourishes, such as exotic fish with an image of the Iraqi flag lasered permanently into their scales. (NOTE: These fish sport the old Iraqi flag. Zoo staff could not predict whether they will employ laser surgery to amend these now-outlawed, swimming flags. END NOTE.) Then there are the alcoholic bears: To ease the trauma of the brown bears' move from Saddam Hussein's possession into the Zoo, staff reportedly plied them with copious amounts of Arak; visitors repeated rumors that the disheveled bears continue to imbibe this powerful drink. .. THE CABLES AFRICA The Libyan frogman who couldn't swim. AMERICAS The FBI pursues a team of alleged Qatari would-be 9/11 conspirators in the United States. ASIA The rift between Washington and Beijing is deeper than either government would like you to think. The United States' secret space arms race with China. EUROPE/CAUCASUS A Croatian man tries to get back at his ex-girlfriend by telling U.S. embassy officials that she's hanging out with Osama bin Laden. Making an oil and gas deal in Russia is really complicated. MIDDLE EAST What U.S. diplomats in Cairo knew about Hosni Mubarak's human rights abuses -- and the time they did something about it. Newly appointed Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman is close to Mubarak and foreign intelligence agencies, but not Mubarak's son. And a lot of people seem to think Mubarak's new deputy prime minister is a bureaucratic dinosaur. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accuses Syria and Iran of arming Iraqi militants. Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh wants his money. U.S. diplomats doubt reforms are on the way in Jordan. THE NEWS Julian Assange is a long-shot contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, and appears on 60 Minutes. He also wants to go home. More documents leak from the sex assault case against Assange in Sweden. They include a picture you really don't want to see. Did WikiLeaks hack into New York Times reporters' email accounts? WikiLeaks' release process has become so complicated that even the papers involved don't know what's a scoop anymore. Amnesty International wants Britain to pressure the U.S. government over the treatment of Pfc. Bradley Manning. THE BIG PICTURE George W. Bush administration Assistant Attorney General Jack Goldsmith thinks Assange will be prosecuted in the United States. Joe Klein on the damage WikiLeaks has wrought. Clay Shirky has a more philosophical take. New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller and Guardian Editor in Chief Alan Rusbridger talk WikiLeaks. Forty-two percent of Americans have no idea what WikiLeaks is. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images WikiLeaks seems to have rediscovered the news cycle, releasing seven cables from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo as the Egyptian government crackdown on protesters and journalists turned ugly Thursday. There's not much in them that you didn't know if you've ever read a Human Rights Watch report on Egypt, though a 2009 scene-setter for a visit by FBI Director Robert Mueller does effectively sum up the sorry state of human rights and civil liberties in Hosni Mubarak's country: Egypt's police and domestic security services continue to be dogged by persistent, credible allegations of abuse of detainees. Police brutality in Egypt against common criminals is routine and pervasive, resulting from poor training and understaff. The GOE [government of Egypt] has not yet made a serious effort to transform the police from an instrument of regime power into a public service institution, but there are indications that the government is allowing the courts increased independence to adjudicate some police brutality cases. […] The Interior Ministry uses SSIS [the State Security Investigative Services]. CHRIS KLEPONIS/AFP/Getty Images It's been a while since WikiLeaked checked in on Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's newly embattled president and a reliably interesting character in the WikiLeaks oeuvre. Most of what we've seen from Saleh in the leaked U.S. State Department cables has followed a pattern in which U.S. diplomats try to coax more counterterrorism cooperation out of the veteran strongman, while Saleh -- whose government received $155 million in military aid from the United States in 2010, twice the previous year's amount -- tries to finagle more cash and materiel out of the Americans. A newly released December 2004 State Department cable recounting a meeting between Saleh and U.S. Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski (pictured above with Saleh in a 2007 photo) is no exception. The meeting takes place a little more than a month after U.S. President George W. Bush's reelection; Saleh badly wants to meet with Bush in Washington to congratulate him personally, he tells Krajeski, and also talk about "important new developments in the region 'that can only be discussed face to face,'" according to the cable. Krajeski hems and haws a bit about this, at which point, the cable notes, "True to form, Saleh launched into a list of what he believes the U.S. owes him. 'Where is the money for the Army, and what about my spare (F-5) parts?' Saleh demanded." (The cable notes, a little acidly, that there have been reported problems with getting the Yemeni Ministry of Defense "to follow through with the necessary paperwork on parts and equipment in order to spend the 17 million USD in Yemen's [foreign military financing] account.") There's also the matter of smaller weapons, specifically the massive number of small arms being bought and sold in Yemen: Pointing out that any meetings with senior U.S. officials would quickly turn to the subject of Yemen's huge grey market in SA/LW [small arms/light weapons], insisting that he was already "cracking down" on the SA/LWs market. The conversation soon turns, inevitably, to counterterrorism, in which Saleh has been a longstanding if not unproblematic partner to the United States. Pressed on the subject of Hadi Dulqum, an arms dealer with alleged links to Al Qaeda, the cable reports [U.S. government] agrees with the Saudis, said Ambassador, adding that Dulqum's connections with AQ are too extensive for him to be simply another Yemeni arms dealer. Months later, Saleh does manage to swing a White House invite, prompting a June 2005 cable from the Sanaa embassy titled PRIORITIES FOR WASHINGTON VISIT: SALEH NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. The cable characterizes relations with Saleh's government as "frustrating and difficult," noting that "Saleh has indicated to top advisors in the past that he believes he can pull the wool over the eyes of the [U.S. government.]" On the political front, "Saleh touts Yemen as a leader in regional reform and has committed to democratization," the cable says. "Domestically, however, he has run-out of reforms he can implement at no political cost to himself." The cable proposes "a public show of support via a greater role in public fora such as the G-8" as a possible inducement to greater democratization, but it seems that half a decade later, the upheavals in Tunisia and Egypt may have done the job more effectively. KHALED FAZAA/AFP/Getty Images THE CABLES AFRICA The last days of a Guinean strongman and his allegedly drug-trafficking son -- and a curious cocaine bust bait-and-switch. Another day, another cable about alleged central-African multi-million-dollar embezzlement -- this time in Gabon. AMERICAS The Obama administration dispatches a Florida senator to urge Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon not to pursue a torture case against Bush administration officials. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency quietly evolves into an international intelligence agency. How a Brazilian who once kidnapped a U.S. ambassador managed to get into the United States. McDonald's tries to muck up a free trade agreement in El Salvador. The Jamaican government warned U.S. officials that extraditing a local drug lord would lead to trouble. ASIA/PACIFIC Britain trains a "government death squad" in Bangladesh. Did Britain try to cheat Mauritius out of an island chain? EUROPE/CAUCASUS Inside Russia's awful prisons. Shell thinks that Ireland could become a booming offshore gas supplier -- or not. MIDDLE EAST More U.S. complaints about Egypt's lackluster military. Behind the scenes of an assassination in Dubai. THE NEWS Julian Assange claims (dubiously) to have the names of CIA moles in Arab governments. Assange signs a memoir deal worth an estimated $1.7 million -- but his estranged former spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg (who spoke at a hacker conference this week) will be on bookshelves first. The FBI pays back "Operation Payback" over PayPal attack. The Cuban government is translating and publishing the Cuba-related WikiLeaked cables -- will it translate all of them? 77 percent of Americans disapprove of WikiLeaks' cable release. Did WikiLeaks dash Zimbabwe's hopes for democracy? Hackers claim to have brought down Zimbabwean government websites in retaliation for a WikiLeaks-related lawsuit against a Harare newspaper. Assange falls out with his longtime confidants at the Guardian. Bianca Jagger is somehow involved. THE BIG PICTURE Daniel Ellsberg lawyer Floyd Abrams says Assange is no Daniel Ellsberg. Salon's Glenn Greenwald goes to war with Wired over chat logs from Assange source Bradley Manning. (More here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and basically everywhere else on the Internet.) HaikuLeaks adds to the proliferating genre of WikiLeaks-related verse. (English poetry buffs: this domain is still available.) Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images On Thursday, Julian Assange told reporters that WikiLeaks would be releasing State Department cables concerning the assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in January, and he has made good on the promise with a couple of short dispatches from the U.S. embassy in Abu Dhabi. They don't offer any more insight into the still-unsolved killing, but they do paint a picture of the diplomatic conundrum the incident posed for the United Emirates and the United States.. The story was first reported 10 days later by Reuters, and as it happened, U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson was at a social event with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed when it broke, according to one of the two embassy cables, signed by Olson. An unnamed UAE media advisor, Olson reports in the Jan. 31 cable, ." The UAE was no friend of Hamas -- the emirate's discontent with Hamas patron Iran is a recurring theme in the WikiLeaks corpus -- but its government was, of course, not exactly eager to be seen as enabling an Israeli incursion on the sovereignty of an Arab state, either. The cable describes the UAE officials' reasoning, and decision:. American officials had their own decision to make about where their loyalties were -- one documented in the second cable, signed by Olson deputy Doug Greene, several weeks later. Greene reports that UAE officials requested the embassy's help in acquiring account data for credit cards, issued by a bank in Iowa, that investigators had linked to suspects in the assassination. The request was apparently turned down, and as Haaretz reports, the State Department denied at the time that any requests had been made. "By not accepting the request," Haaretz's Yossi Melman writes, "the Obama administration harmed the Dubai investigation efforts and assisted Israel instead." The U.S. government did eventually assist in the investigation, however, identifying American companies that may have been used to finance the operation. David Silverman/Getty Images). Numbers add up to more than 681, as many detainees were subjected to more than one form of IT. ICRC stressed that all the branches of the security forces used these forms of IT and. That's the backstory to a series of U.S. State Department cables the Guardian is reporting on (but hasn't released) this morning, which allege that Queen Sirikit, Bhumibol's wife, had a hand in the 2006 coup. Samak Sundaravej, who briefly served as prime minister during the chaotic post-coup years, tells U.S. diplomats that Sirikit was indirectly "responsible for the 2006 coup d'état." .... The Guardian adds that "there is no mention in the cables of any coup involvement by King Bhumibol himself," but that they do report that shortly after the coup, "Bhumibol called the leaders of the coup to his palace for a meeting the evening after Thaksin was ousted and was 'happy, smiling throughout.'" Speculation that North Korea is aiding the Burmese junta in its aspiring nuclear program have been around for years, at least since the Far Eastern Economic Review first published an investigation on the subject in November 2003. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly fretted about North Korean involvement in July 2009, and the U.N. security council accused the Hermit Kingdom of shipping centrifuge components to the Burmese junta via a series of shell companies in a report last month. These reports range from speculation to informed speculation, and the cables from the U.S. embassy in Rangoon released by WikiLeaks yesterday aren't qualitatively different, though they add a few new intriguing data points. In January 2004, an "expatriate businessman" told the embassy that he had heard rumors of a nuclear facility under construction in Magway Division along the Irawaddy River, and reported other suspicious goings-on: barges traveling up the river with building materials of a size too large for any of the industrial development projects in the area, a new airport with a landing strip so wide, the informant said, that "you could land the space shuttle on it." The following August, an informant told the embassy that "some 300 North Koreans" were in the same area, assembling missiles and building an underground facility at a secret construction site. The author of the State Department cable seems skeptical, both about the storyteller and the story ("the number of North Koreans supposedly working at this site strikes us as improbably high"), but notes that this "second-hand account of North Korean involvement with missile assembly and military construction in Magway Division generally tracks with other information Embassy Rangoon and others hve reported in various channels." North Korea has generally been suspected of helping Burma with its ballistic missile efforts, but not necessarily the actual nuclear program. So it's notable that this August 2009 cable reports a conversation with Australian Ambassador to Burma Michelle Chan, who told the U.S. embassy that her contact in the Burmese government told her the Burma-DPRK connection is not just about conventional weapons. There is a peaceful nuclear component intended to address Burma's chronic lack of electrical power generation. When Chan cited reports of a Burma-Russia agreement for development of a peaceful nuclear reactor, XXXXXXXXXXXX responded that the agreement with Russia is currently just for "software, training." The DPRK agreement is for "hardware." XXXXXXXXXXXX confirmed reports Burma's Army Chief of Staff (third highest ranking) General Thura Shwe Mann visited the DPRK last November. Asked why Thura Shwe Mann, XXXXXXXXXXXX responded, "Because he is in charge of all military activities." XXXXXXXXXXXX reportedly seemed surprised that the West might be concerned by a Burma-DPRK "peaceful" nuclear relationship. XXXXXXXXXXXX suggested that, after all, given sanctions, Burma really has "no other options" but to develop the relationship with North Korea. A couple other somewhat less conclusive cables about Burma's nuclear activities are here and here. Speculation about what exactly the Burmese junta is up to has increased since a former army major went to a Burmese pro-democracy group with a mountain of inside information on the country's nuclear agenda. Democratic Voice of Burma's thorough debriefing of the major, Sai Thein Win, is still the most authoritative account of what's going on in the isolated country. For now, most of the rest -- including these new cables -- is difficult to definitively parse one way or the other. AFP/Getty Images One of the latest WikiLeaks scoops is that Royal Dutch/Shell managed to infiltrate employees into every important Nigerian ministry, and obtain regular inside intelligence on government doings, as my colleague Beth Dickinson wrote late last night. My question is, if Shell is so capable and has Nigeria so well wired, why does it continue to be the main target of attack by local militants? This is a company that three weeks ago yet again declared force majeure to protect itself against lawsuits for non-delivery of some 125,000 barrels a day of oil because of militant attacks on its pipeline network in the country. It could take until next month to repair the Escravos-Warri pipeline, the company says. All in all, Shell produced 629,000 barrels of oil a day last year, which sounds like a lot until you consider that its facilities are capable of producing more than 1 million barrels a day. Much of that difference is accounted for by massive attacks on its installations. In 2008, Shell also had a bad year, with militants attacking and shutting down its flagship 200,000-barrel-a day Bonga oil platform. Two years before that, Shell threatened to pull out of the Niger Delta entirely after a spate of attacks on its installations resulted in numerous deaths and kidnappings. This is not meant to be snarky. But is the Nigerian government all that important in this case? Given the stakes, one does wonder if Shell is putting as much effort into infiltrating the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the group responsible for much of the mayhem. A five-year-old story by Michael Peel, the Financial Times' former Nigeria correspondent, reported that militants and others were stealing somewhere between 275,000 barrels a day and 685,000 barrels a day of oil from Shell and other pipelines, at the time worth between $1.5 billion and $4 billion a year. They were spending much of that money on weapons -- which in their business counts as reinvestment into future attacks. DAVE CLARK/AFP/Getty Images.. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images WikiLeaks hasn't posted the cables yet, but the New York Times's Scott Shane has a piece out drawing from a forthcoming batch of Yemen dispatches, focusing on the United States' relationship with the wily Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president of three decades. Nothing in it is terribly surprising if you've read much about Saleh, whose attempts to capitalize on the American government's sudden interest in his country following last year's foiled Christmas Day bomb plot, which was hatched in Yemen, are notorious enough to have inspired a Saturday Night Live skit. Still, some of the best character studies in the cables thus far have been of the United States' inconvenient allies in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union -- rulers like Saleh, Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev, and Kazakhstan's Nursultan Nazarbayev -- so the piece is definitely worth a read. The WikiLeaks cables do add some interesting details to the story of Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief, who has emerged since last year as an important player in counterterrorism efforts in Yemen. After al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula botched an assassination attempt on Nayef in August 2009, the Saudis, who share a sprawling border with Yemen, stepped up their cooperation with American intelligence agencies, and were instrumental in foiling AQAP's attempt to blow up two cargo planes over the United States last month. A May 2009 cable released earlier this week captures Nayef's growing sense of alarm even before the assassination attempt, in an account of a meeting between the prince and U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Nayef tells Holbrooke, "We have a problem called Yemen." He says that Saleh's "vision of Yemen has shrunk to Sana'a," the capital city in the north, and the Yemeni president has lost what connections he had once had with the tribes that form the de facto government of Yemen's once independent and now tenuously controlled south. The Saudis, Nayef claims, have better relations with the southern tribes, and have taken matters into their own hands, financing development projects in the tribal regions that host AQAP in an effort to win Yemeni hearts and minds. I wonder how that's working out... KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images Is China through with North Korea? That's the Guardian's. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images The latest dump of classified information stolen from the U.S. government is extraordinarily damaging to U.S. national security, but not in the way that WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, apparently intended. (If the summer leak was a gusher what does that make this latest round, a tsunami?) Assange is a garden-variety anti-American who believes that the United States is a malevolent actor which engages in all sorts of shameful secret activities that, if revealed, would discredit all aspects of American power. Prior to earlier dumps of classified material, Assange claimed that the secret files would document massive war crimes by the United States. They did not. Based on the depictions of the cables in the media (the New York Times coverage begins here, the Guardian coverage begins here, and Der Spiegel's coverage begins here, it appears the same thing is true for this latest batch. The media apparently found no instances of shameful behavior -- I am assuming that if they had done so, they would have led with those stories. Instead, the cables document that American diplomats have been doing what they are supposed to be doing: collecting information, reporting their opinions and insights back to headquarters, and trying to build international cooperation in pursuit of core American foreign-policy goals. The cables document that diplomats often relay information that would be, well, undiplomatic to say publicly. Diplomats often get foreign interlocutors to be more candid when they believe their discussions will remain confidential. Diplomats also opine on a range of topics -- the limitations of current lines of U.S. policy or the weaknesses of allies -- that would compromise an administration's effectiveness if shared with a general audience, but not because the views were dishonorable, or indicated that the United States was engaged in reprehensible behavior. Assange's damage to the United States is not in what he discovered about the past, but rather in the peril he has placed our diplomats, our friends and partners, and our policies in the future. The massive security breach has made every bilateral relationship more difficult and likely lowered the quality of diplomatic reporting. Will our interlocutors be as candid now that they have seen what happens? Ironically, Assange's attack on our diplomats has meant that our statecraft may be more dependent on cruder instruments of state power, especially brute force. (Elsewhere on FP, Dan Drezner reads the situation just as I do and notes one further likely result: an uptick in intelligence failures as the bureaucracy responds by stove piping information to prevent future espionage of this sort.) If WikiLeaks had uncovered evidence of gross misdeeds, I suppose reasonable people could debate the balance of interests the dump might have served. Outlandish claims to the contrary notwithstanding, the leaks have done nothing of the sort. Instead, they have damaged the United States and in doing so achieved no higher purpose than the damage they have done. To fervent anti-Americans, weakening the United States is an end unto itself. In wartime, we should expect enemies to seek to damage us in this way. How will President Obama respond to an enemy attack of this sort? NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images The new WikiLeaks documents show that Iran has been hunting for missile technology all over the world, seeking to buy gyroscopes, jet vanes and metals, and perhaps whole missiles from North Korea. But Iran also has experienced great difficulty building longer range missiles. Why? Some clues can be found in one of the most interesting documents just released, a briefing that Russian officials gave their American counterparts on Iran's progress, or lack of it. A summary of the Dec. 22, 2009 meeting was marked "secret" but tumbled out on Sunday in the reams of memos released by WikiLeaks and major news organizations. Fourteen Russian and 15 U.S. government officials compared notes that day about missile threats from Iran and North Korea. Judging by the summary, it was a lively back and forth, during which the Russians claimed the threat from Iran's missiles is not as great as some have predicted in the United States. The size and nature of the threat is important because it undergirds the U.S. plans for a multi-billion dollar ballistic missile defense system. The Russians were prepared to talk "seriously" with the U.S. group, the summary says. Their message was Iran is struggling to lengthen the range of missiles that could carry heavy loads, such as a one-ton nuclear warhead, that might threaten the region or beyond. The Russians said their basic conclusion is that "Iran's ballistic missile program continues to be directed toward developing combat ready missiles to address regional concerns," not targets like the United States. This was also the assessment made in May by the International Institute of Strategic Studies. In the December meeting, there was a sharp disagreement about the U.S. claim that North Korea sold to Iran a batch of 19 missiles, known as the BM-25. The transfer was first reported publicly in 2006; the BM-25 missile is supposedly based on a Soviet naval ballistic missile design, the R-27, known in the West as the SS-N-6. This missile was first developed in the 1960s and later modernized; it was in service in the Soviet Union until 1988. Iran has not tested any of the missiles it imported. The U.S. officials speculated that Iran may have purchased it to reverse-engineer the technology (although North Korea has been known to ship parts, expertise and manufacturing facilities as well as the missiles themselves.) The U.S. officials said photos of the Iranian space launch rocket, the Safir, show an engine which looks like the one on the R-27, as well as fuel tanks and welds that resemble it. The U.S. officials said they had received "direct evidence" of the missile transfer from North Korea to Iran. But the Russians strongly dismissed the BM-25 as a mirage, according to the summary. They said Iran would not have purchased an untested missile, and they doubted whether it even existed. "For Russia, the BM-25 is a mysterious missile," the summary says. "Russia does not think the BM-25 exists." They asked why North Korea would sell an untested missile; the Americans responded: for cash. Both the Russians and Americans acknowledged the limitations of Iran's older, liquid-fueled missiles, based on the Soviet Scud and its modifications, including the Shahab-1, Shahab-2 and Shahab-3. Both sides also seemed to agree that the Safir is not a military threat because of the small size of the payload. The key issue is Iran's pursuit of more modern and powerful solid-fuel missiles that could hit medium-range targets, such as those in the Middle East or Europe. Iran has been working on such a missile, called the Sajjil-2, which it has flight tested. (See my earlier post about it.) In the meeting, U.S. officials were more worried about this than the Russians, who said Iran continues to stumble with solid fuel technology. "In Russia's view, Iran appears to be having very serious problems with engine development," the summary says. U.S. officials countered that Iran has a decade of experience with short-range missiles using solid fuel, importing equipment from China, and could now extend it to larger missiles. The Russians said Iran was a long way from building intercontinental ballistic missiles that could hit the United States. "Russia said its bottom line is that Iran lacks appropriate structural materials for long-range systems, such as high quality aluminum," the summary says. ." At another point, the Russians said they think the North Koreans are working on a new, 100-ton capacity rocket engine using older technology, clustering the motors or stacking them. But Russia said the technology hasn't been actually spotted. AFP/Getty Images; from Iran's ISNA agency, the two-stage solid-fuel missile, Dec. 16, 2009: AFP/Getty Images WikiLeaked is FP’s blog dedicated to sorting through and making sense of the more than 250,000 State Department cables acquired by WikiLeaks.

Ivory Coast toxic dumping report behind secret Guardian gag From WikiLeaks Tuesday October 13, 2009 Julian Assange (WikiLeaks investigations editor) A confidential report releaed by WikiLeaks into the dumping of toxic waste along the Ivory Coast, has seen an extraordinary gag order served on the UK media. The order gags the press from reporting a parliamentry question and answer. Here's the Guardian's David Leigh in an article first published on Monday night before hitting the front page on Tuesday: -. In effect, the communication between parliament and the people has been muzzled. Here is the parliamentry question the Guardian can't tell you about (the Commons' member concerned, Paul Farrelly MP, was a former editor for the Guardian's sister newspaper the Observer): - Ivory Coast dumping mentioned, by multi-national oil and commodities trader Trafigura, is possibly the most culpable environmental disaster since thousands were killed in the Bhopal chemical spill. What this gags order aims at is preventing the mention of Trafigura and Minton in the same context. The Minton report was released by WikiLeaks on September 14, 2009. Despite this and some rock solid work by Guardian investigations editor David Leigh and other journalists on the boader Trafigura contamination, the Minton report released by WikiLeaks was not named in the UK press, nor were its contents report. Why? Because of the earlier secret 11 September 2009 media injuction against the report, as referred to by Paul Farrelly MP. To-date the UK public has been kept in the dark about the Minton report and its contents. Paul Farrelly's question is an attempt to take on the suppression issue. In the process it connected the Minton report on WikiLeaks to Trafigura, something the UK media has been secretly ordered not to do. Statements made in parliament, including those of Paul Farrelly MP, traditionally enjoy an absolute exemption from molestation by the regular judiciary. Parliament does not, insomuch as it believes itself to be an expression of the national will, subordinate itself to any other court. Knowing this, lawyers for Trafigura, Carter-Ruck, told the Guardian that the order covered reporting of Paul Farrelly MP's questions. That Carter Ruck felt this claim was makable is a bold and dangerous move towards the total privatization of censorship. Is a multi-billion pound commodities trader a truer expression of the national will than the House of Commons? The question is no longer rhetorical. The Commons' gag and the September 11 gag are not the only issues. The London Independent has removed from its site, without explanation, its September 17 investigative article on the issue "Toxic shame: Thousands injured in African city". As for other papers, no one has any idea, because it is the habit now in the UK to secretly remove articles from newspaper archives and their indexes.

Keeping your kids safer online can be complicated, but Windows Live Family Safety helps make it easier for you. Family Safety provides a website and a free program that you install on the PCs your kids use, so you can give them some independence but still keep tabs on their computer activities. Here are some of the ways Family Safety helps you keep your kids safer: Web filtering—Control the categories of websites your kids can view, or specify individual sites they may or may not access. SafeSearch is turned on for popular search sites such as Bing, Yahoo!, and Google. Activity reports—Get reports on your kids' computer use: the websites your kids have visited or tried to visit, time spent on computers, and the games and programs they've used. Time restrictions—Limit the amount of time your kids use the computer, and specify the times of day they can use it. Game restrictions—Limit the games your kids can play. Program restrictions—Limit the programs your kids can run. The different players in Family Safety and Windows make up a team that works together: The Family Safety Filter. Software you install and set up on each computer your kids use. It monitors your kids using safety settings you select. The Family Safety website. A central online location where you choose and manage all the settings for each family member and view their activity reports. You create settings on the website once and they apply to every computer you installed the Family Safety Filter on. Windows Parental Controls. A feature in Windows that's turned on when you use Family Safety. You can use Windows Parental Controls to set up more safety settings for your kids' computers. For more information on setting up Windows Parental Controls and Family Safety, watch the video about using Parental Controls. When you set up Family Safety for the first time, you'll be asked to sign in with a parent or guardian's Microsoft account. This person will be the primary parent in Family Safety, and is the only family member who can remove the family from Family Safety. Be sure to use the Microsoft account of the parent or guardian you want to be the primary parent because you won't be able to change it later. Here's how to set up the Family Safety Filter: -or- Go to the Family Safety download page, and then click Download. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install Family Safety. Enter the Microsoft account email address and password of the parent you want to be the primary parent, and then click Sign in. To set up the Family Safety Filter and to use the Family Safety website, you'll need a Microsoft account. If you don't have a Microsoft account, you can create one when you set up the Family Safety Filter. (A Microsoft account is an email address you use, along with your password, to sign in to Microsoft services such as Outlook.com, SkyDrive, and Xbox LIVE). Select the check box next to the Windows account of each family member you want to monitor on that computer, and then click Next or Save. If you want to monitor someone who doesn't have a Windows account, click Create a new Windows account, enter the person's name, and then click Create account. Each member of your family should have their own Windows account and safety settings. If everyone in your family uses the same Windows account, you'll all use the same Family Safety settings. You won't be able to get reports of which website each child's looking at. If you haven't used Family Safety before, you can skip this step. If you already use Family Safety, you'll see a screen where you need to match each Windows account to a name on the Family Safety members list. but be listed in the Family Safety members list as Ben Miller. By matching the accounts, you tell Family Safety that this is the same person. If there's a Windows account on the computer for someone who hasn't used Family Safety before, you'll see them at the bottom of the list. When you click Add (person's name), Family Safety creates a new Family Safety membership for them with their Windows account name. It's important that all of your Windows accounts have passwords. If you have an account without a password, your kids could log on to that account and bypass their Family Safety settings. If the Windows accounts you're setting up to monitor don't have passwords, click Add passwords. If you have guest accounts on your computer, you should turn them off because kids can also use them to bypass safety settings. Click Next and you'll see the Windows accounts that Family Safety is now monitoring on the computer. By setting up the Family Safety Filter, you've got a good start on protecting your kids. Going to the Family Safety website to tweak their settings gives you more control over web filtering and other settings. With the Family Safety Filter set up for the first time, your children will be monitored with Basic web filtering. This means that Family Safety only blocks adult content and anonymizer websites (websites that let kids view other websites anonymously so that Family Safety doesn't see their activity). To make it harder for your kids to see the things you don't want them to see, you can go to the Family Safety website and change their settings, starting with the web filtering level. For younger kids, we recommend setting the web filtering level to Strict so that little ones can only see websites that are child-friendly. On any computer, sign in to the Family Safety website with a parent's Microsoft account email address and password. Under the name of the child you want to adjust settings for, click Edit settings. On your child's settings page, you can see an overview of their current settings and choose what you want to adjust. Busy parents don't always have time to surf the web and check out all the websites their kids might see. To make things easier, the Family Safety team reviews thousands of websites and assigns them to categories. The web filtering level you choose for your kids determines which of these categories they can view. If you want to pick your own categories instead of using the preset levels, choose Custom. You'll see a list of all the categories, and then you can choose what's right for your kids. Under Web filtering, you can also make a list of blocked websites or allowed websites that will override the categories and filtering levels. Click Web filtering, select Turn on web filtering, and then select a web filtering level: Select Strict to block all websites that aren't child-friendly or on the Allow list (the list of websites that you've specifically allowed). Select Custom to allow and block website categories manually. To allow a website category, select its check box. To block a website category, clear its check box. Click Save. If you want your child to use the Strict filtering level so they only see child-friendly websites, but you'd like to let them see a certain website that's blocked, you can add the website to their Allow list. Or, if you want to block a website that's allowed by their web filtering level, you can add it to their Block list. Under Allow or block a website, type or paste the web address of the website that you want to allow or block. Select an option from the list, and then click Add. “The website I want to see is blocked!" After you've set up Family Safety, when your child logs on to their Windows account to use the computer, and they try to go to a website that's blocked, they'll see a page like this: If you're not available when your child is blocked from viewing a website, they can email you a request to see the blocked site. You can open the Family Safety website right from the email to approve or deny the request right away. Once you're done, let your child know if the website they wanted to see is now unblocked. On any computer, sign in to the Family Safety website with your Microsoft account email address and password. On the Family summary page, under Requests, click (number) requests. To show any comments your child added, click the arrow next to the web address. Click the arrow next to Select a response, and then click Approve for this account only, Approve for all accounts, or Deny. When you're done responding to requests, click Save. "What websites can I see?" The Family Safety Kids' Sites website is a great place for young children to start on the web. The website has links to the most popular of the more than 8,000 websites Microsoft has categorized as child-friendly. There's also a Search these sites box where kids can search only those websites that are child-friendly instead of the whole Internet. To make it easier for your kids to find child-friendly websites, you can set your web browser's home page to the Family Safety Kids' Sites website.. To monitor what your kids are doing on their computers, turn on activity reporting. The Family Safety Filter will then keep track of what your kids do and save the information on the Family Safety website for you to look at. On the Family summary page, click View activity report next to the name of the child you want to turn activity reporting on for. Select Turn on activity monitoring. After you've been using Family Safety for a while, Windows-update. For more information about how to help protect yourself and your family online, see Online safety information for parents and kids. Check out the various links on that page, and share Internet safety tips and habits with your kids.

LabTech Software has announced the release of LabTech 2011, with new features and enhancements highlighting LabTech's commitment to the channel. Features of the solution include remote desktop, monitoring, trouble ticket tracking, user information, and support and software management. New features include: SNMP discovery, detection, and collection; custom alerts; heads-up displays; a LabTech Marketplace to download updates, reports, and more; mobile updates; greater control over recurring maintenance; a new Patch Manager that brings all hotfix patches to a centralized location; the ability to Telnet from any LabTech agent to any IP address and keep the session open to make calls to it; and integration with ConnectWise PSA software. "The release of LabTech 2011 introduces many new innovations to help IT solution providers better manage and automate their businesses," said LabTech Software CEO Matt Nachtrab. "One of the most powerful features in this release is the new LabTech probe with its SNMP discovery, detection, and collection capabilities. LabTech 2011 and future releases are all about helping today's IT solution providers implement powerful, robust automation solutions using a simple, easy-to-use management interface." You can download a free trial of LabTech 2011 to test the software for yourself. To learn more, visit. Auslogics Software has released Disk Defrag 3.2, the latest version of its free disk defragmentation and optimization tool. According to the vendor, the product "uses advanced algorithms that turn the tool into a comprehensive hard drive defragmentation and optimization solution. All this makes Disk Defrag one of the most popular and trusted disk defragmenters available today." Version 3.2 offers improved defragmentation and free space consolidation algorithims, improved usability, GUI enhancements, a more detailed drive map, and enhancements to auto-defragmentation and scheduling. To learn more, visit. BeyondTrust has announced PowerBroker Desktops 5.0. New features include automatic rule generation to eliminate administrator privileges from users, updates to item-level targeting to match Microsoft Group Policy preferences, a new wizard for creating rules, a new rule to target an application for elevation rules, the ability to group rules, a library of over 100 rules, a new dashboard, and expanded wildcard use. To learn more, visit. Broadcore has added video bridging to its cloud-based telephony services. In addition to video conferencing, video bridging allows users to connect with and view multiple people simultaneously. Features of the video bridging include the ability to make voice or video calls from the same device, HD audio for all calls, access code and password requirements for video bridge calls, no need for hardware, and a scalable service in terms of meeting size and call frequency. To learn more, visit. HP has announced its first thin client featuring WES7 SP1 with RDP 7.1 to enable RemoteFX, the HP t5740e Thin Client. Through a software-based implementation, integrating Microsoft RemoteFX (RFX) technology lets the HP t5740e Thin Client deliver a "local-like" user experience for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Session Host desktop and virtual desktop infrastructure customers. Remote workers can access any type of application or screen content, including rich media and 3D applications. The t5740e Thin Client also supports local applications and a full browser. To learn more, visit. PacketMotion has announced the release of the PacketSentry Virtual Probe, which extends PacketMotion's comprehensive security solution to virtual and cloud environments. Applications monitored include databases, fileshares, web applications, and document management, among others. According to the vendor, the appliance can implement multiple controls in a single application, run as a guest VM that consumes 3-5 percent of the host's CPU, reacts to transaction patterns without the need to know specific IP addresses, and automates deployment of identity-based policy in the virtual data center. To learn more, visit. Norton by Symantec has released the 2012 beta versions of Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security, which are now available for free download. Improvements include performance enhancements and security updates, such as the ability to assess the safety and stability of an application before installation. The new betas also offer Insight 3.0, which is the latest version of Norton's reputation-based security technology, which identifies and blocks new malicious software based on the adoptions patterns of Symantec users. They also include SONAR 4.0 behavioral protection, which monitors running applications for suspicious behavior. To download the betas, visit or.

As the newest print in our home suggests, we are so happy to be back in our home sweet sunshine state! In the two months since I have posted last, we have busy little bees: a cross country move, traveling, visiting with family, and tackling our first round of many makeover sessions for Miss Shania. In the next few days, I'll give you a virtual tour of the progress we've made on our home, so stick with me, I promise I'll finally get to it! All I can say is that we are loving being home owners and loving being in Jacksonville even more. Since I'm not quite ready to take you on the tour yet, I thought I'd introduce you to the newest addition to our family and a related craft project! First things first: We rescued another dog! His name is Rigby, and he's a chihuahua/ terrier mix. He's a year and a half old and weighs in at only 13 pounds. After a short two weeks, he's already part of the family and loves his new home. Rigby gets along great with Lucy, our four year old Australian cattle dog (Rigby and Lucy. Yep, we like The Beatles. Who doesn't?). He adores and protects Everett. He's quite the mama's boy. He's house trained, potty trained, and well behaved. And I'm happy on all accounts! Here's a picture of Lucy and Rigby snuggling. They love to find sunny spots on the carpet together. I swear, this isn't posed. They're already best friends! I have to say though, our home was already very well balanced before bringing home another dog, and I'd be lying if we said we weren't skeptical. Lucky for us, he's fantastic. I can't tell you how relieved we are that he's doing so well! Although, since he is already very protective of us and his new home, he is having some issues with the heavy foot traffic in our neighborhood. He's getting better, but his occasional discontempt for dog walkers and school children is nothing compared to how he feels, and sounds, when someone comes to the door. When Lucy joins in, it's definitely a nap and bed time ruiner for poor Everett (and poor mama). The other night when the UPS man rang the doorbell after bed time AGAIN, I thought maybe I could get crafty and help our new little fella out. Here's where the new puppy related craft comes in! I decided that with all this barking, I wanted a message for our door. I wanted it to be cute and clever, but most importantly I wanted it to ward of unwelcome guests while Everett is sleeping. I also wanted it to be a subtle hint for the UPS and FedEx guys with their incredibly persistent knocking. So I came up with this: "Please don't knock or ring the doorbell. The dogs will bark and mama will bite." What do you think? Did I find a happy medium between: "beware of dog," and, "this house is protected by the good Lord and a gun?" I realize this officially makes us the least neighborly folks on the block, but heck, I don't care... I just hope it works! Just right click, save, and print away. Of course, just don't pass it off as your own and we're alllllll goooood. =) ***UPDATE*** So I feel like the worlds biggest dummy. Not everyone in my boat has multiple dogs. Here's a new printable to correct that for all of you one-dog people! Enjoy! If you have a cat that barks and wakes up your baby, I think you may have bigger problems, my friend... Thanks for sticking with me. I'm so glad to be back and we really do have so much to catch up on! Stay tuned and I'll have all kinds of home updates, how to redecorate on the cheap, and even some carpentry projects. Get excited! I'm excited! I think you and Andrew could teach Bo and I a few things...you guys are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G homemakers! Awww, Thanks Ally!!! Can't wait to see your house! It took me a minute to realize it was you, Lauren!!! I'm excited to finally reveal our hard work!

I -, Apologetics, Bible, Capitalism, Children, Christianity, Courship, Courting, Date, Dating, Economics, Emotion, Father, Fatherlessness, Feelings, Feminism, Happiness, Happy, Husband, Jesus, Love, Marriage, Marry, Men, Narcissism, Parenting, Politics, Protector, Provider, Question, Relationships, Religion, Research, Respect, Romance, Science, Self-Centeredness, Selfishness, Sex, Sex Roles, Socialism, Theology, Wife, Women [...] course I don’t accept every jot and tittle of what the man says; but I wanted to point you to this Single Christian man’s blog, and in particular this post. Enjoy at your leisure while ‘net [...] Hello, My name is Mary. I find that when I feel very frustrated with others and that they are not “living up to the standards of Christ” God gently says to me…”I don’t want to talk about them, I want to talk about you…..you and me.” He asks me if I am sinnless so that I can cast stones. With bitter tears and anquish I cried out to God saying ” Men have cheatted on me, given me diseases that are incurable, beaten me, choked me, mentally abused me, held me hostage in cars, taken my only son from me, raped me, abandoned me in the street with nothing but the clothes on my back; after they coerced me into quiting my job to help raise their daughters that i loved as my own flesh and blood. They never even said they were sorry!!! They never cared for me at all…I was just a tool.” God’s response to me was “read 1Corinthians 13. Have you truely been loving by my standards. Have you been kind? Have you had no record of wrongs….” As I read the scripture I truely began to weep, for I saw the depth of my sin against God and man. I realized the issue was never what men were or weren’t doing for me. My real problem….was in fact always me.” Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind. this is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like unto it. Love your neighbor as yourself. This sums up the Law and the prophets.” I’ve stopped asking where all of the Christian men are. I just hope that God will help me be the woman I should be. I figure when God finds me loving enough he will send me the person he has for me. I’m just not ready yet…:) many blessings to you in your walk with Christ. I think it is fine to try and steer your kids in to these fields, but there is no guarantee they are going to have that bent. Also, there is no guarantee you will have 4 kids or any kids. I think it is fine to aspire to these kinds of plans, but ultimately God will direct your life and your kids’ lives. My husband and I are both in math/technical fields. We have six children. Two show aptitude for math, two are disabled, two show aptitude in other things. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan/expect. Just an little opinion — I don’t know a woman (godly or otherwise –especially one who has never had kids) who wouldn’t be intimidated by your whole ‘plan’. It sounds like micro-managing, and not a “we’re building this together”, more of a “this is what *I* want to do, are you on board” type of thing. Hardly welcoming words to a potential wife. From reading your posts, you seem to have good, Godly intentions, but perhaps need to soften your expectations to James 4:13-15. It’s good to have a big picture idea of how you want your life to go, but realize you may need to be flexible when God changes the details. Prov. 16:9 Keep up the good posts. I read this blog pretty often. Good words. “The reason why men work is so that they are the sole or primary breadwinners – so that they have the authority to make decisions and lead in the home.” I would disagree that men have the authority to make decisions for the family BECAUSE they are the primary bread-winners. That would suggest that if a woman happens to make more money than her husband, she is therefore the head of the household. Yet a man can make less than his wife and still lead the family. Further, God has set up the family such that the man is to be the spiritual and moral leader, regardless of his paycheck. So I would say that the man is to be the spiritual head of the household per God’s design. I believe a man should also, ideally, be the primary breadwinner. However, he need not think that if he makes less money he must therefore give up control to his wife. Making money does not make one a spiritual leader. However, a man who is leading his family will also be providing for them financially. Hi Lindsey – thank you for the rather insightful reply. Mind if I ask what OT/NT scripture do you have to support what you have written ? Btw, you might want to take give the story of David & Abigail as well as the Levitical law of what the role of a husband is as well as a wife. Please feel free to reference NT as well. Allow me to suggest that if a man is the spiritual leader – then the provider is G_D no matter what where the income / provision comes from. In addition, the head/strength of Christ is the Father, the head/strength of the man is Christ, the head/strength of the woman is man, and the head/strengt of the children is the woman. It is not about power nor inferiority nor inequality but about role, function, and order. Shalom I agree that it’s about role and responsibilities, not power or inequality. I believe the Bible has given the role of the man as being the spiritual leader of the home. Thus, that is a role that God has set up, not simply a consequence of making the most money. If “money makes right,” then whoever makes the most money is the boss, whether that’s the man, the woman, or one of the kids. But that isn’t what God says about the family. God says that the woman is to submit to her husband, that husbands are to love their wives and lead their families, and that children are to obey their parents (Ephesians 5 & 6, Titus 2, etc). I see no caveat for when someone makes more money than the father. One thing from Scripture that can shed some light on this topic is the Proverbs 31 Woman. She buys a field, plants a vineyard, and sells merchandise. Yet she does all this from home while running the household and so that her husband can become a leader in the community (he sits at the gate with the elders). We aren’t told who brings more income into the family…because it doesn’t matter. The roles wouldn’t change. The point is that women can contribute to the family income, but the husband is still the leader of the home. The dollar amount that each brings in is irrelevant. It is the man’s responsibility to see that the family is provided for. Even if he currently makes less money, he should realize that if circumstances change and she can’t work, he must make ends meet because that is his duty. It just isn’t the woman’s reposibility to earn the income like it is for the man. It is the woman’s job to see to the running of the house and care for the children (especially young children). It’s not that a man can never do dishes or sweep the floors, but it isn’t his responsibility to make sure it gets done like it is the woman’s. If a woman can earn some money while still fulfilling her role, good for her. But her primary responsibility of running the house and caring for the children must come first. One thing that often causes conflict in marriages is when the woman earns an income and believes that it therefore entitles her to usurp the role of her husband as leader. Realizing that money does not confer a right to lead is the first step to avoiding that problem. It is also useful to realize that husband and wife become one when they marry, meaning that there can be no “yours” and “mine” with their possessions. Whoever makes the money, it becomes both of theirs equally. I think you have to add that you cannot marry Democrat women. It’s not enough that they are Christian. That really means nothing, since that could mean anything. As this election showed, they are incapable of thinking about their family, or the perspective of men. They overwhelmingly chose to back candidates that are statists. To marry one would be to undermine your family and everything you work for. Wait till you see tomorrow’s 10 AM post. My meanest post yet against single women, based on exit polling data and what we know about Obama’s policies. I’m intrigued. With your help, I’ll be able to alienate all my liberal friends. It works for me! I have lots more free time to play Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy and Memoir 44. Against all single women, or just those who think that their sex life is more important than the health of the nation? Just the ones that think that their sex lives are more important than the nation AND the children. You, sir, seem to have a knack for attracting the wrong type of women. Like attracts like, wouldn’t you agree? The content in this post is throuroughly disgraceful to women, and puts Christian men to shame. Thank you for emphasizing the gospel of Christ, by the way. Since there was no mention of that, I assume that that is not a criteria for you: to have a Christian woman who has been washed and restored by the good news of Jesus. I promise you, you will know a God-fearing woman by her love and obedience to the Savior who died for her. Also, God is glorified just as beautifully through dance, painting, writing, and working in a top law firm. It is not a matter of money and separation from a culture that is in desparate need of the gospel and Jesus, it is a matter of the saints’ hearts as they further God’s Kingdom via the gifts and abilities and talents that God has endowed to all His children. THAT is what those women are most likely trying to articulate. It does not matter WHAT my children pursue, as long as they seek to glorify God, and run hard after Him with all of their hearts, minds, and strengths NO MATTER what those strengths may be. Think on that. Sincerely, A Christian woman I think that for many women, happiness and ease are more important than serving God effectively. My courting practices are designed to detect women who put their own happiness and ease above serving God effectively. I detect women who are informed and who want to do what works. The others I leave behind. Your goals for your kids are wrong-headed. Simply pray and fast every day that you kids follow God’s path. Nothing more, nothing less. What if God called one of your kids to be a missionary somewhere far away, who gets no name recognition, slaves with his family serving people far away and dies there to no publicity? What if God wanted one of your children to be a prodigal? To serve as an example to his/her siblings? Only to find the true taste of grace later in life? And here is the rub … to serve as a rebuke to your “lawful” other children who haven’t tasted grace yet? Yes, my courtship process is designed to detect people who hold your view so that I can reject them. I would not sacrifice $250,000 per child so that someone who wants to float aimlessly through life can play house using my money. That’s not what marriage is for. Marriage is to serve God, not the woman’s feelings. .” This paragraph is strongly exaggerated. Women who tell you they don’t mind your daughter being a ballet dancer are simply saying that God can use all people in whatever profession they choose. They are not *denying* you anything except the right to make all the rules without their input. If you reread that paragraph through a woman’s eyes, you should see why it upsets my friends. You come across as regarding any sort of differing opinion on your decisions as denying you the right to make those decisions. You seem to want to run a dictatorship. I don’t know any woman who would go for that. It’s scary. I’ve only responded to the parts of the post that I’ve read. “Women who tell you they don’t mind your daughter being a ballet dancer are simply saying that God can use all people in whatever profession they choose. ” I think that this is a very popular view among Christian women – they are taught things like this by pastors and in Christian literature. And what I am saying is that I am not going to sacrifice half a million dollars on two kids who will be influenced by this viewpoint. My objective in courting women is to detect this view and then reject the person who holds it. And I do this because I want to serve God more, not less. Anyone who says “God can use people equally no matter what they do” is immediately disqualified as a wife and mother, in much the same way as I would disqualify someone who supported abortion or gay marriage. They are unfit for the roles of wife and mother. They aren’t serious about making the marriage count for God, but instead are thinking of escaping from obligations and feeling happy. They want the marriage to serve the woman, and not God. Watch your qualifiers, WK. I didn’t say that God can use all people *equally* regardless of their profession. I simply said that He can use them. So a child who is a ballet dancer is not automatically a waste. She might not lead as many people to Christ as Craig, but not every body can be the hands. She will be useful nonetheless. I wouldn’t recommend the profession, but it is not the worst thing in the world if your daughter wants it. The most important problem with your words is not your view of dancing, but the tone in whoch it is said. Remember, being a leader requires you to understand the views of the other person and care enough to allow them input in the decision making process. I added that to be contrary, but I do apologize for doing so. I knew I was being mean when I did it, but I thought “it’s fun to be mean to Tracy, this will teach her a lesson”. Anyway, here’s the deal. I am male. Being male means that you have a goal of making sure that your children can make their way in the world when you are gone and in the ground. I am looking for a wife who understands what men want for their children. Most Christian women are very impractical and emotional, and they do not recognize or respect this need/goal that men have. It is important for me, given the massive tax rates, government regulations on families and parenting, cost of raising a child, etc., that at least my wife thinks that my needs and values and leadership are important. Am I making sense here? You’re making a lot of sense but I need one thing to be clarified. By “It is important for me… that at least my wife thinks that my needs and values and leadership are important.” do you mean that she accept unconditionally your plans for her and her children? What exactly would you accept as evidence of her regard for you? Also, perhaps you should consider being less assertive about your plans. Like I said before, they’re not just intimidating. They’re right out scary. Instead of saying “My wife must do this, this and that and my children must do that or else…” Try being more suggestive. Say “Would it not be better for our children if they had a better income than ballet provides?” or “Why are you opposed to leading our children towards cosmology”. That’s kinder and gentler – things you need as a leader. Meh. I offer a lot. If women want to settle for less, let them. We just had an election where 67% of unmarried women voted for free birth control pills and free abortions and gay marriage. I realize most single women don’t want to be led by a man, even if they choose him. They don’t want to respect a man. That’s fine – I can just avoid marrying women who don’t want to be led. I am understanding a lot about single women from these elections. They don’t want to be led by a man, they want men to pay for their birth control pills and abortions and they want children to be raised by single mothers and gay couples. When I meet a single woman, I assume that she holds those views, even if she denies it. And I won’t believe that she doesn’t hold those views until I see the evidence of it in her record and actions. There is a two-thirds chance that a single woman thinks that it is OK to abort a child because it is the wrong sex – and that I should have to pay for it. That’s what most single women are really like. That’s what they want. That’s what they believe. And if I am going to get married, I have to make sure that I don’t marry that. I think it is interesting that almost no women hold other women accountable for these sorts of views. Instead, I am told by everyone that I need to change, and lower my standards. I am the one who has to change. I am the one who has to just go ahead and get married to make a woman who has no respect for me happy. Right. With that attitude, you’re going to drive away the good women along with the bad ones. You do know why gentleness is important, right? Wintery, I agree with much of your assessment of single women these days. However, I would like to point out a few things about good women which I hope you know, and if you don’t sit up and pay attention. While you no doubt would bring much to the marriage table (espcially financially, if I understand you correctly), there are things a women looks for (yes, good women too) besides money and Christian character and knowledge. A woman needs to feel safe with the man she marries. Safe from outsiders who would hurt her, yes. But more importantly, she needs to feel that her heart is safe, that it will be treasured and protected. She needs a man to listen to her and still love her, even if he disagrees with her. It is one of the deepest needs for a woman to feel cherished by her man. It’s like respect is to men. Men need to feel respected in order to feel love. Women need to feel safe and protected emotionally in order to feel loved. We women do have more fragile emotions and that’s a design that God planned for us. It makes us better nurturers. Not all women are slaves to their emotions, but all of us have more sensitive emotions than the average man and we need to know that our opinions, fears, and insecurities will be listened to, taken seriously, and that none of this will cause our husband to reject, belittle, or look down on us. Until that deepest need of our hearts is met, we care little for money or other assets that a man may have. Just as you would never marry a woman who had all the right attributes, but failed to respect you, no good woman will marry a man who has all the right attributes, but fails to make her feel cherished. With that in mind, consider developing (and demonstrating to potential wives) the trait of gentleness. There may be a lot of bad women, but there are also many women out there who would be thrilled to find a strong Christian man capable of leading and providing for a family. But they will fear to submit to a man whose idea of leadership is to become a mini-dictator (or who they think may tend in that direction). A real leader inspires confidence by proving himself capable to make good decisions AND by proving the ability to properly care for those who follow him. Proving the latter (with regard to marriage) includes demonstrating gentleness and the ability to protect a woman’s more fragile emotions. The thing is, a person doesn’t have to do amazing things for God with their job. They can always do amazing things in their private life. As just one example, I am pretty sure that Wintery Knight doesn’t make much money off this blog. But Wintery, if you don’t want your money spent on unproductive pursuits then just set it aside in an account separate from all marriage funds, and tell your wife and kids that they can only have it under the conditions you set. If they want poetry, fine, but they just can’t have any of your stash. Drew, I think that is a very good compromise. The thing is that there are competent Christians who need help now to achieve rally good goals, and so I don’t want to get involved in a marriage that is going to take away from being able to help with that. I think it’s hard enough for any given Christian man to find a woman who believes in Jesus, is reasonably good-looking, is sexually undefiled, and does not vote for abortion or socialism. I personally think that it is unwise to pile a bunch of extra conditions on top of all that. Regardless of what you or your potential wife want, you can’t really force a child to take your precise path. Generally, I think it’s hard enough just to make sure they get high grades, stay off drugs, don’t delve into any dumb ideas like Calvinism or socialism, etc. You can always set standards for your children and lead them to obey God, but at the end of the day, their steps are ordered by the Lord, and not their earthly father. Teaching children to obey God in all things is paramount; setting up specific paths that you’ve determined are best for them (before they’re even born! and before you know whether they have the aptitude for them) is not. Also, it’s for God to determine how best someone glorifies Him; and it’s not for us to decide that a person in one vocation is more important than a person in another. That is certainly not a godly or Scriptural perspective, and I’m not trying to be harsh, but such an idea certainly did not come from God. This is why Jesus said that the last will be first and the first will be last. If someone becomes a gardener and lives a truly holy life, sharing the Gospel, and serving others, no one is to come behind and say that their life has not been as significant as someone who is a banker or a lawyer. Many parents who decide to order every aspect of their children’s lives discover that it can often create rebellion and actually denigrate the children’s respect for them rather than grow it. Moreover, if you disparage what is a passion of your children’s (say, creative writing), it will only breed resentment. So, that’s a gentle caution. I would have to ask, What do you think a woman as such brings to the table? You’ve said that you have a lot to offer. But certainly the Lord created women with unique gifts that you as a man do not have. Is it possible that you might have something to learn from women who question your stances on certain things? Leadership is about taking the initiative, not assuming that you’re always 100% correct. I would imagine that for a thinking woman, you might easily insult her intelligence by assuming that if she doesn’t see things your way, that she must be unlearned. Just as an occasional passerby, I can guarantee that I’m very familiar with pretty much all of the subjects you mention; but that doesn’t mean that I agree with every conclusion that you draw. Clearly individuals who marry have to be compatible values-wise, but if what you want is a thinking, reflective woman, then you’ll have to be prepared for the possibility that she is not going to see it your way all the time, and not lose respect for her because of it, or feel like simply by exercising independent thought that she’s threatening your leadership. All your comment shows is how some women express their desire to not respect husbands or submit to husbands in mystical religious language. What you really mean is this “I don’t want to do what a man says no matter how much more he knows, because my emotions are more important than truth or knowledge.” What you mean by saying that “God only knows X” is that I don’t know. And because I don’t know, I shouldn’t be able to set goals or have any authority to lead. Nor should I be allowed to prefer a woman who accepts my authority to lead above one who refuses to accept my authority to lead. That’s the bottom line. It’s not that you have a better plan to produce influential children that you want to convince me of, and arguments and evidence to persuade me that your goals are more influential. It’s that you want to deny my plan and substitute NO PLAN, and then invoke God in order to establish that. You want children to do whatever they want and say that whatever they want to do is as influential and effective as what I want them to do. Because you think that I don’t know anything about what the church needs, what the university needs, and what the public square needs, and that I have no right to lead my children to be influential in those areas for the Lord’s sake. And you think that a child who focuses on creative writing (writing fiction!) will be as influential and prosperous as one who focuses on petroleum engineering or economics or experimental science. And you dress up your desire to substitute your agenda for mine in religious language by saying that your view is God’s will and mine isn’t. Regarding your comment that you know about the things that I would ask about. In my experience, people who say that have not been able to answer the most basic questions that I ask about. So we are at a stalemate. You think that you could answer me, and I think you couldn’t. The only way to find out is for me to ask you specific questions in a situation where you have to answer without looking anything up online or in your library. But I assert that that in my experience, the vast majority of Christian women I have met are reading Harry Potter and C.S. Lewis and Stephanie Meyer and not Stephen Meyer and Thomas Sowell and William Lane Craig. And I mean 99.99% of Christian women. Wintery! Your whole response caricatures her arguments. Are you being deliberately uncharitable or is something else wrong? Her point about causing children to rebel I definitely agree with. I doubt that your style would cause them all to rebel, but probably a percentage of them. So you would need to have at least one extra kid, to take into account that at least one of them is going to start smoking pot and get into ballet dancing or something. LOL! Don’t worry, if I am really trying to influence someone, I am good at getting results. Setting up boundaries has to be tough, and then when you are doing 1-to-1 mentoring, it’s soft and gentle. Sorry for the late interruption, I was just wondering, because this is what I perceive from the sentence “the vast majority of Christian women I have met are reading … C.S. Lewis …and not Stephen Meyer and Thomas Sowell and William Lane Craig.”, but do you believe that C.S. Lewis was not an effective/serious apologist/philosopher/academic? It depends which book you’re reading. A lot of his stuff like Narnia and Mere Christianity is good for teens – to get them thinking. Miracles, The Abolition of Man, and the like are good for grown-ups. Wintery, having read most of your replies on this comment thread, I keep noticing something. You are emphasizing over and over how these women won’t submit or respect you, etc., etc. I think you are also missing the other half of the picture — husbands are supposed to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it. Has it occurred to you that you may have to make some sacrifices? Or is it all about your plans for your and your kids’ future? By no means am I suggesting marrying some woman who doesn’t respect you or share your goals — but in all this you seem to de-emphasize the nature of sacrificial love. It involves more than providing for your family financially. By all means have plans, but realize God may have different, better ones than you. If a woman objects to your ‘plan’ it doesn’t mean she is being emotional and not using her brain. Jesus used all kinds of people to glorify Himself: scribes, tentmakers, fisherman, tax collectors, writers, philosophers, bakers, kings, slaves, etc. Colossians 3:17 comes to mind. I think I’d be more interested in a woman reading her BIble faithfully than reading William Lane Craig *or* CS Lewis (or any any of the others) Clearly, you are frustrated by not meeting (yet) the woman you have in mind. Be sure you are taking time to examine yourself as well — being a good Godly husband involves more than being a good provider or a good planner. You also need to be cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in your life, not just accumulating knowledge for good theological arguments. Gentleness is just as important as self-control. Good luck, and I will be praying for you. What I’ve learned is that life can mess up one’s best-laid plans. I live with a number of shattered hopes and dreams, despite much prayer. About careers: We encouraged our sons to follow study and career paths that matched their abilities and their interests, so they wouldn’t be stuck in a career they’d find they hate. One son is ADHD and non-academic, so he pursued a technical qualification. Not everyone is geared to be an academic and a professional. Since I came to know the Lord after our sons were born, and my husband is an atheist, I ended up being the moral and spiritual leader and trainer in the home. Once our sons reached their teens, they were not so receptive, so I prayed for them and trusted also that the foundations I’d sown into their lives would remain firm. I used to play Focus on the Family, apologetics and sermon/ Bible-teaching tapes in the car, so they still got some input in addition to church. They are now in their mid- to late 20s. Despite all my moral and spiritual input and prayer, one turned away from the Lord when he left home and is now an anti-theist, one is lukewarm, and one, an introvert, has what one might call a quiet faith. The spiritually tepid ADHD one blames me, rather than their atheist father, for the apostasy of his brother, saying that I “pushed him too hard” (I happen to know there was a moral issue) and uses this against me when I try to encourage him to participate in e.g. a Bible study, since he’s never even read the Bible. Therefore I continually pray for the Lord to work in my sons lives, to enable them to become the men they need to be in order to be godly husbands and fathers, and I am praying for the Lord to prepare a wife for each of them, a woman who knows and loves the Lord, who will be a good, loving wife and mother. Why do I have such “low” standards, you would say? I grew up with a manipulative, bitter and controlling mother who loved me conditionally, so my home background was toxic. My dream was to have a loving, happy family, which I’d never had, but this plan unravelled seriously when I started a family and my own long-buried issues manifested. I also learned I was not in control of my life, and (although I didn’t realise it at the time) the Lord used this situation to draw me to himself. The Lord had to deal with a lot of issues in my life after I came to know him. I also had an additional new desire, namely for my husband and sons to come to know and love the Lord wholeheartedly, but over 20 years down the line, this hasn’t happened. Let me tell you again, life does not turn out the way one would like it to. One thing I would caution on, is to watch out for a spirit of domination and control, the “lord and master” syndrome. A good leader is not a controller, but rather inspires people to follow him, which is what Jesus did. I know enough women who’ve been married to domineering men who abused them emotionally. Because the Gospel often impacts the lives of those who have been hurt, the church is full of damaged people, especially men, from toxic backgrounds who have never faced, dealt with and found healing for their deep issues (which is why one also encounters the problem of spiritual abuse by some church leaders). It takes two emotionally and psychologically whole people to build a stable, loving marriage and family. Just some food for thought… Hi Wintry Well, I don’t know where to start! Firstly I think your enthusiasm for following the Lord needs to be totally commended and I really do think that the passion and commitment you demonstrate towards Him should be and doubtless is demonstrated in every detail of your day to day life following Him in closeness and obedience, delighting in Him and submitting to His every nuance and wish, to the nth degree. I would really encourage you to do this, more and even more, as I know He will draw you closer and closer. I think this degree of closeness is even part of your calling from Him and I suggest you are not only called but also chosen. If you read John’s gospel chapters 14-17 carefully you will learn to find a deep communion with Him that is rarely found. I think you have the personality type to go really deep with God. Secondly I can tell you that out there in your future will be the woman for you. Maybe not right now, but God will bring her along in His good time and you can rest in that assurance of His love for you. She is and will be your perfect mate, partner, helpmeet and friend and the only criteria I would dare to offer would be to try to marry someone who is closer to the Lord than you are, in your view. Thirdly and slightly more controversially, don’t diss all women because you’ve chatted with a few. I don’t dismiss all men because I’ve met a few who I don’t agree with! I have been a Christian for 25 years or more, I have also got a 2.1 degree from Cambridge, England in Physics and Theoretical Physics and I have done a year in Kenya as a missionary. I could argue particle physics with you or help you run an Alpha course or debate the details of Daniel’s dreams or Paul’s prayers. I can speak in tongues or prophesy, I can calm down children or teach school physics, math or chemistry. I can get on with Americans, Chinese and Brits. I can get by in French, German and Swahili. I can listen to your dreams and then challenge you with the depths of His love for me, and incidentally also His immense love for you. I can show you the man Jesus in His brown skin, black hair and sparkling eyes, the man who wouldn’t be apparent in a crowd because there was nothing in Him to make us desire Him by His appearance. I can show you Him in His glory on the sea of ice above the four wheels within wheels and the living creatures of ox, eagle, lion and man. I can paint these for you or I can relate them to the Four Gospels and link this to your personality type. Most of this I could have done before I was married (sorry I’m not available). The only question I asked about getting married was ‘who is the name in my heart, Lord?’, and I didn’t ask that of the man who was raising the questiony And I actually saw marriage in a rather uncomplimentary way at that time, as a type of dying to self because I would no longer be independent but part of some new whole and never a single one but only a half…leading to a lack of choice over my life…as I said, a kind of death, worked out daily. In the same way as I die daily in my life in Christ, so that I no longer live but Christ lives in me, so also I die that the new We might live together in oneness, in unity. I see it now as walking together in the Lord. If we disagree, we talk and pray until we are in agreement. If one of us pushes the other into something, it generally doesn’t work. As I said, you have a gift of passion in your heart for The Lord, use that to walk His ways as closely as you can, waiting for the girl who is right for you and don’t assume anything except that it will be a fabulous adventure needing tons and tons of faith, love, mercy and grace! Enjoy the ride! Blessings Ambling Saint Every woman in my church complains that there are no Christian men in the church. I attend a small church with under 100 people. There are about twenty five of us guys who are single, and about twenty of us who have never been married. Most of us fall between the ages of 29-40. Most of us have given up asking in church….first of all it makes us look like creeps, secondly….some of these women are not models of youth themselves, and lastly….we want a woman who puts God first. None of us have seen that .” That’s it exactly.

By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) -. So far, 620 Americans have developed serious infections related to the outbreak, including 367 cases of deadly meningitis, and 39 people have died. Of the 19 U.S. states affected, Michigan has been worst hit, handling more than one third of the total cases in the outbreak. St Joseph Mercy - a 537-bed Catholic hospital located in Ypsilanti, on the doorstep of the University of Michigan - has treated 169 of the state's 223 cases of infections that can cause meningitis, including 7 people who died. At one point it was so overrun that 87 of its 537 beds, which are usually occupied by patients with cancer or heart ailments and the like, were occupied by patients with fungal meningitis and related infections. Dr Tom Chiller, the fungal disease expert at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who has been overseeing the outbreak, praised the work of the hospital in helping to limit deaths from the outbreak. "They have been incredibly creative in dealing with these complicated patients," he said. In all, almost 14,000 people seeking relief from back and joint pain received injections from moldy steroid shots made at the now-bankrupt New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts before they were recalled in late September. CDC experts initially feared death rates in the 40 to 50 percent range; instead, only about 6 percent of those infected have died, and the CDC credits the creative and dogged efforts of state and local health officials for keeping the death rates so low. The first wave of the outbreak involved the most severe cases of meningitis - an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. But starting in mid-October, patients who had been recovering from meningitis were developing potentially fatal localized infections near the site where contaminated drug was injected to treat back or neck pain. As they started seeing more cases of these local, secondary infections, the staff at St Joseph's devised a bold plan to screen all patients in their database looking for potential new infections that might have been missed in the first wave. On December 20, the CDC issued an alert to doctors incorporating some of lessons learned by the efforts of doctors at St Joseph's and other hospitals, calling for increased screening of patients who may be harboring localized infections. A BEWILDERING FUNGI Among the patients who developed secondary infections was Bonita Robbins, a 72-year-old retired nurse from Pinckney, Michigan, who received doses of the tainted drug at the Michigan Pain Specialists clinic in the nearby town of Brighton while seeking relief for lower-back pain. The first shot brought some relief, the second did little to ease her aches, and the third was contaminated. In October, Robbins went to St Joseph's with a severe headache, back pain and pain in her thighs. She spent 37 days in the hospital taking two kinds of antifungal drugs. Dr Anurag Malani, an infectious disease specialist treating Robbins, said the challenge with the outbreak was that there was no medical literature to fall back on. "No one has ever seen anything of this magnitude related to fungal infections, ever," he said. Chiller said U.S. doctors had never treated meningitis caused by Exserohilum rostratum, the environmental mold causing most of the infections. "It's just a rare, rare cause of infection." Seeing that mold in the meninges - membranes covering the brain and spinal cord - is "completely new." Initially, St Joseph's Fungal Outbreak Clinic was started in order to coordinate the care of patients after their discharge, which included overseeing the administration of a complex regime of anti-fungal drugs. It morphed into something bigger when some of its 53 patients with meningitis started returning with infections near the site in their back or neck where the contaminated drug was injected. Then came a wave of patients like Robbins, who had been ruled out for meningitis with a spinal tap, but were still complaining of pain near their injection site. GETTING THE 'BIGGER BOAT' "When it became obvious that the number of patients would be a much higher percentage than anticipated by the CDC, we expanded our clinic and started enlisting the help of several other hospitals," Vandenberg said. Many of the patients had spinal abscesses, an infection in the space between the outside covering of the spinal cord and the bones of the spine. Others developed arachnoiditis, an infection of nerves within the spinal canal. The decision to screen all patients in the hospital database who might have received tainted injections was not taken at the recommendation of the CDC. "That was our own decision," said Vandenberg, a specialist in internal medicine overseeing the screening effort. He admitted that the strategy was aggressive, but said that, especially early on, doctors feared the local infections might be precursors to meningitis, making catching them early a potentially life-saving move. Excluding patients who had already been screened and those who had injections in areas other than the spine, the hospital targeted about 500 patients for MRI scans. Most so far have had private insurance that covers the screening. For the uninsured, the hospital's Patient Financial Services department has been helping them to apply for financial support. "We did over 400 MRIs in about a 4-week period," Vandenberg said. The hospital screened so many patients, in fact, that the state of Michigan sent in an emergency mobile MRI unit to help. Vandenberg got the task of reading stacks of MRI reports, sometimes as many as 30 a day. So far, about 20 percent of the MRIs have shown up as abnormal, meaning that patients have to come back for surgery and treatment. Vandenberg makes all of those calls personally. Not all of them go smoothly. He likens the gravity of the conversation - learning you have a potentially deadly new disease that requires months of treatment with risky drugs - to telling someone they have cancer. After one especially tough call, in which a heart patient feared he would not survive the surgery he would need to clear his infection, Vandenberg cracked. "I started crying. I probably haven't cried for 15 years." SIGNS OUTBREAK IS EASING But at last, after months of onslaught, there are signs the outbreak is easing. Attendance at the hospital's daily support group has begun to taper off. And since the beginning of December, more than 50 patients with fungal infections have been discharged, while only 20 have been admitted, bringing the total number of fungus-related inpatient to 30. Vandenberg nevertheless cautions that the outbreak is still far from over. "Every single day of this screening program, we're finding one or two cases that are abnormal and need to be admitted," he said. Vandenberg gave the CDC access to the clinic's database so the agency could see how the effort turned out, and this month, the CDC issued the alert to doctors incorporating some of the results of the MRI screening program. The alert warned that some patients who got tainted injections but did not develop meningitis may still be at risk of localized infections. And it urged doctors to consider ordering an MRI for all patients who still have pain, even if the pain is similar to what sent them in for treatment in the first place. Chiller said the United States had not yet reached the end of the outbreak. "Unfortunately, with fungi, the incubation periods are so long and they can remain indolent. I'm definitely concerned that we're going to continue to see more cases." (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Jilian Mincer, Mary Milliken and David Brunnstrom)

By Maria Golovnina BARROW-IN-FURNESS, England (Reuters) - told Reuters in her modest home in Barrow-in-Furness, a shipyard town once at the heart of Britain's industrial revolution. "It's a surprise really. Quite a surprise. Big surprise." Iveson's link to Romney came to light when her inquisitive grandson-in-law began tracing back their family history by delving into archives in their home county of Lancashire. Records show. "(My brother) looks quite like him. He had dark hair like him. It's all grey now. He (Romney) looks like our Mike. Same sort of face and everything." She offers a shrug and a smile when asked about Romney's wealth and privileged status in the United States, where he is sometimes accused by critics of being out of touch with poor people. "I wish him luck and everything else," she said. ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST Romney is one of the wealthiest Americans ever to run for the White House. He has estimated his fortune at between $190 million and $250 million. But for Romney, his faith and English roots remain a sensitive issue, partly because his Mormon religion is still regarded with suspicion by some American voters. When he came to Britain in July this year, Romney did not visit the area where his family have their roots - unusual since emphasizing a European heritage is often seen as an electoral plus in U.S. politics. Barack Obama, who faces Romney in the November 6 presidential election, went down well last year when he toured an Irish village where one of his forebears once lived. Romney's campaign spokeswoman made no comment when asked how the Republican challenger felt about his English origins. In Lancashire, the county the candidate's ancestors left behind, Romney enthusiasts offered their own explanation. "He is Mormon and this is Mormon central," said Christopher Nelson, a local vicar with an interest in Romney's heritage. "Perhaps he would perceive (coming here) as highlighting his Mormonism more than highlighting his roots." His known relatives in England are genealogically so far removed that many of them were not even aware of the link until recently when the U.S. election campaign began to gather pace. Amateur genealogist Simon Nash was astonished to discover while digging into regional records that his wife Maria was Mitt Romney's fourth cousin twice removed. Poring over archival material and photos on his laptop in his home in the industrial city of Preston, Nash said it was a matter of tracing people back to a common ancestor - a fairly easy task since most records are available publicly in Britain. The quest has certainly made Nash, whose day job involves dressing in a duck outfit and posing as a mascot for a local football team, more interested in U.S. politics. "If he got in, America would be a completely different place in three years time to what it is now," he said. "I don't know if it will be for the better." Nash's wife Maria, 32, was equally astounded by his researches. "I was very much shocked ... It still feels like ... it's not quite happening to (me)," said Maria, who is Jennie Iveson's granddaughter. "It's quite an unreal feeling." Would she like to meet Romney in the White House? "I think it would be very surreal," she said with a shy giggle. "I would like to go there for a brew (cup of tea) if he ever got in there." WHERE IT ALL BEGAN The village of Dalton-in-Furness, a picturesque scattering of mediaeval cottages, is where the Romney clan began. Its men are still remembered there as hard-working carpenters. One of them was William Romney, who gained notoriety for making his own coffin and putting it on display in his workshop before he died in 1915. "I get the impression that quite a few Romneys were carpenters. It seems to be a family trait," Jim Walton, a Dalton historian, said outside a canary-yellow cottage where William Romney used to live and work. "Should Mitt Romney succeed and become the next president of the United States, he would be able to look around in pride and say: 'My great great granddad came from Dalton-in-Furness'. Well, I hope he can say that in pride." Dalton has plenty of Romney-related history. Its most famous son was George Romney, who went to London and became one of the most celebrated portrait painters of the 18th century. Two streets and a park are named after the artist, who is said to have had a secret affair with the mistress of Lord Nelson, the naval hero who defeated the French at Trafalgar. George was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's parish church - where Mitt Romney's great-great grandparents, Elizabeth and Miles, were baptized and married before converting to the Mormon faith in 1837 and moving to the United States. Their daughter Sarah's baptism record from the year before is still in the archives in Preston, with her father's vocation - joiner - scribbled in an old parish book. "It's a fascinating story that Dalton holds," said Rev. Alan Mitchell, gazing over the town's skyline from the top of a church tower - a view that has changed little since Romneys lived here. Pointing at a couple of old communion cups, he added: "The Romneys could have touched these." At the time, Lancashire was a tough, polluted and chaotic place to live, and disease and drunkenness were rife. Mormon promises of a better and more orderly life fell on fertile ground. "It was a grimy, mucky hell on earth," said Nelson, the vicar. "Why on earth you would want to stay here, if somebody tells you there is milk and honey elsewhere? It was a horrible place." FREE TICKET Early Mormon missionaries offered not only salvation but a free ticket to the United States. They also gave Miles Romney a position of authority aboard a ship called the Sheffield, making the arrangement all the more attractive for a young and ambitious man with a large family. But many other Romneys never converted and stayed behind in England, and the relatives who live here today know little about Mormonism. In his autobiography, Mitt Romney said the family left England for New Orleans and travelled by steamer up the Mississippi to Nauvoo, Illinois, where they joined other Mormons. Later they followed Mormons in a trek across the plains to Utah. "Romneys are, by nature, an adventurous breed," he wrote. The Mormon fascination with the souls of their ancestors means they have one of the world's biggest family history archives. The Mormon temple near Preston still contains records detailing the lives of British Romneys. One document, describing the state of Miles Romney's family after emigration, listed his job as a joiner and said: "In 1850 Miles had a household of ten, and a real wealth of £200." The area is still very much the heartland of British Mormonism. The Ribble, a local river, is known as the River Jordan of European Mormonism. This is where England's early Mormons were baptized. A memorial near its muddy bank commemorates those early conversions. Europe's biggest Mormon temple is nearby, its spire towering high above the misty, rain-washed hills. Neatly dressed missionaries in dark suits and ties are frequent visitors. "The missionaries that we see coming from America will have roots that originated here in England," said Bishop Michael Turner, leader of a local Mormon congregation. "It's an exciting time ... to have a candidate who is a member of the church." But for some, Romney is an unpopular figure, particularly after he suggested during his visit this year that Britain was not ready to host the Olympic Games. "I think Mitt Romney is rather careless in his choice of words sometimes," said Walton, the Dalton historian. "But there you are. Can't have everything, can you?" (Writing by Maria Golovnina; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Giles Elgood)

Now Playing Current State - Current Sports Most Active Stories Connect with Us Podcasts & RSS Feeds Middle East 4:47 pm Fri February 22, 2013 Damascus Dragged Into Syrian War With Latest Wave Of Bombings Originally published on Fri February 22, 2013 6:47 pm Transcript MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block. We're going to step back now and look at the military balance in Syria. It's one day after the capital, Damascus, was hit with the deadliest bombings since the revolt began nearly two years ago. More than 80 people were killed, over 200 were wounded. The attacks were the most sustained challenge yet to the home base of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Also, rebels have scored a string of victories in the northern part of Syria. NPR's Deborah Amos has this story on how the conflict is evolving. DEBORAH AMOS, BYLINE: As ambulances raced through Damascus, the residents of the capital felt the force of a conflict that's been fought everywhere else but downtown Damascus. And civilians are bearing the brunt of the battle as rebels and the regime dial up the brutality. Syrian state media calls car bombs terror weapons. But the Syrian army fires ballistic missiles that level apartment blocks, targeting civilians in rebel-held towns, says military analyst Jeffrey White. JEFFREY WHITE: We see a couple of launches almost every day. And these are just basic terror weapons. They have, you know, no practical military value in this war against the rebel forces. AMOS: The fighting has become more intense, says White, as heavier weapons are introduced. The new firepower for the rebels comes from sophisticated weapons seized from Syrian army bases. But recently, the more intriguing additions, says White, are portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons not found in the Syrian arsenal, Chinese and European made. These weapons have recently shown up in rebel battle videos and make a qualitative difference, says White. WHITE: It's not the silver bullet or the magic gun or whatever that's going to bring down the regime, but these weapons are ideal for the rebel forces. They're light. And it gives them additional means, let's say, to attack the regime's armor and to attack the regime's strong points. AMOS: He is convinced momentum is with the rebels, especially in the north, where he expects the besieged city of Aleppo to fall soon. But even so, says Yezid Sayigh at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, Aleppo in rebel hands is not the end of the war. The city will not become Syria's Benghazi, he says, referring to the rebel capital that launched Libya's successful revolution. Syria's rebels remain disorganized, lacking command and control. And he says the regime can continue to pound Aleppo's population with ballistic missiles and artillery. YEZID SAYIGH: So the fall of Aleppo will be significant in morale terms. But in operational military terms, what it will do, I think, is cement a very broad stalemate between those northern regions and the rest of the country held by the government. AMOS: A long-term stalemate is dangerous for Syria's neighbors. There's already a dramatic rise in refugees. This week, a battle captured on a rebel video added new tensions with neighboring Lebanon. The rebels and Syrian opposition leaders charged that members of Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese militia, crossed into Syria to fight alongside the army and is now all-in to ensure President Assad's survival. RANDA SLIM: I think all-in is an appropriate description. Hezbollah's role has evolved over the course of the conflict. AMOS: That's Randa Slim, a Middle East fellow at the New America Foundation, just back from a research trip to Lebanon. She says Hezbollah stepped up its military role after its patron, Iran, said the fall of the Assad is unacceptable. SLIM: Then we have seen Hezbollah up the ante on its involvement in Syria and now, according - again, to many credible reports, is engaged in the fighting in the ranks of the regime forces. AMOS: Many military analysts say that Bashar al-Assad can't win the war, but he's a long way from losing it. Joe Holliday at the Institute for the Study of War has been watching videos of Assad's army, often shown on Russian TV. JOSEPH HOLLIDAY: And these videos show Republican Guard troops in uniforms, all buttoned up with helmets. When you look at all these rebel gains, while they are important, it's important not to underestimate the staying power that the regime does have. AMOS: And most analysts agree that the longer the war goes on, the more fractured Syria becomes. The war is tearing the country apart. But no side seems to be tired of the fight. Deborah Amos, NPR News, Antakya. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

:50 pm Mon March 18, 2013 Study: Illness More Likely in Eastern Kentucky Coal County Than Non-Coal Counties A new health study in Eastern Kentucky has found that residents in a county where surface mining is prevalent have a higher instance of illness than residents in two control counties. West Virginia University professor Michael Hendryx analyzed information from 952 adults in Eastern Kentucky. Some of the subjects were from Floyd County, where about two-thirds of the coal mined comes from surface mines. The rest were in Rowan and Elliott counties, where there’s no coal mining but comparable socioeconomic factors. The surveys were done by a Christian group called Restoring Eden, which advocates for environmental stewardship. Hendryx controlled for factors like age, obesity and cigarette smoking. Even so, he found that people who lived in Floyd County were at significantly elevated risk for a variety of health problems, like hypertension, COPD and asthma, as well as general poor health. Previous studies have shown higher instances of air pollution in coal counties, as well as higher rates of cancer and birth defects. A lot of the air issues in these counties have been linked to silica dust, which can come from blasting away rocky overburden at mountaintop removal sites. This study only looked at health data, and can only conclude that the Floyd County residents surveyed were more likely to suffer from poor health than those surveyed from Rowan and Elliott counties. Hendryx says it’s nearly impossible to link one environmental problem with a specific health effect, but he thinks enough evidence exists to suggest policymakers should act. “The environmental contribution is not the only thing going on,” he said. “These communities have populations that are in poor health for a number of reasons. But I think there is an environmental contribution. I can’t prove it, but just based on everything I’ve seen, I believe that there is.” He says based on the precautionary principle, there’s enough evidence that links coal mining and health problems that it’s prudent and ethical to address the problem. Hendryx has conducted numerous studies on coal mining’s effect on health, and the coal industry pointed to this body of work to discredit the most recent study. Another criticism involved the inclusion of Rowan County as a control county; though it’s in Eastern Kentucky, the county is home to Morehead State University and close to Lexington. House Speaker Greg Stumbo argued that the higher education levels and per capita income in Rowan County mean that it’s not a reasonable comparison. Hendryx acknowledged the potential problem, but says it was important to choose a nearby county where there’s no coal mining, and he thinks the comparison is a fair one. - Politics - Environment

Connect with Us Now Playing Podcasts & RSS Feeds Shots - Health News 1:48 pm Wed October 31, 2012 Malaria Drug Subsidies: Good Idea Or Wrong Path? A month ago we wrote about results from an experiment in getting the most effective malaria drugs to more people who need them in Africa. The idea was to subsidize the cost of drugs, sometimes to a price point below their wholesale cost, and make them more widely available. Now the findings, presented publicly at a meeting in Washington, have been published in The Lancet. In most of the countries where the subsidies were tried, the share of the market for artemisinin-combination therapies, or ACTs, went up a lot. In Zanzibar (part of Tanzania) and Nigeria, the ACT drugs helped drive down sales of one-drug treatments. Those so-called monotherapies, which are cheaper, are a problem because they can spur drug-resistant malaria. The Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria program, or AMFm, brought more than 100 million doses of malaria drugs to clinics and pharmacies in 2011. "The programme has been highly controversial," the authors of the study acknowledge. A big worry: Middlemen would pocket the subsidies and consumers, especially the poorest ones, wouldn't benefit. Others say the program, a pilot test of the concept, hasn't been able to show it saves lives or made a dent in resistance. The aid group Oxfam blasted the approach, saying it's risky and a distraction: The Affordable Medicine Facility–malaria has shown no evidence that it has saved the lives of the most vulnerable or delayed drug resistance. Rather, this global subsidy has incentivised medicine sales without diagnosis and shown no evidence that it has served poor people. It poses a risk to public health and could skew investment away from effective solutions. Oxfam recommends that the board of the Global Fund pull the plug on it next month. But supporters of the idea, writing an accompanying editorial in The Lancet, disagree, saying a board vote against the program would be a mistake: Most importantly, it will kill a programme that, when fully implemented, rapidly met its benchmarks despite the many constraints, expectations and unrealistic timelines imposed on it. We must acknowledge that an efficient approach to subsidising antimalarial drugs has worked, making them available in the private sector where people go to buy them. 9(MDA4MTExMzYxMDEzMTU0MTU2MDdlYjM2Nw004))

Here are some of my thrift store finds from the last two weeks. Last week, my finds fell under a tidy theme, "Think Pink." This week, not so much. It's all good. My favourite find was this little owl. Not sure what my deal is with owls, but I just love 'em. I like the shape of this brass thingy. That's the technical name right? Thingy. I got this tiny green vase. And this pretty standing mirror. I was excited when I saw it from a distance. Up close, it's actually plastic. But still cute. I like the pattern on the frame. I also bought six of these melamine bowls. They were from a dollar store originally. They cost me 29 cents each. I don't really need them, but they remind me that there will be summer one day. I got matching plates as well. Have you been to the thrift store lately? Score any great deals? Yes, I went to two this morning [Savers and Plato's Closet] I found my stuff at Plato's this time. Perhaps they will be appearing this week in some new posts of mine? hint hint. We don't have those stores here. Makes me want to travel. ;) Can't wait to see your finds. :) thingy is an official name. in my home it is also referred to as 'the-you-know'. (he usually does *not* know.) ;) i also really like that mirror. Thanks for supporting me on that Chrissy! ;) You are funny - he does "not" know. I totally get that. :) Whoot! I love the owl! You always find the coolest thingies! Thanks Miss Tabetha! :) I like those bowls. I can't believe they're melamine - the palm trees really look like something painted on china. Nice haul! Visiting from The Weekly Thrift at Young Heart. Thanks Val! I'm glad you like the bowls. I felt a bit funny about including dollar store plastic in my thrift finds post. :) yes definitely a brass thingy or possibly a brassy thing! great to stop by via the linkup x "Brassy thing" is good too. ;) Thanks for visiting. Jo I love that little wooden owl. Beautiful finds and photos, the blue backdrop makes them pop! Thanks so much! :) That owl is so adorable! He makes me giggle. Great Finds! New follower stopping by from the GFC blog hop! -Sarah- Thanks! And thanks for visiting and following! :) Such great pieces again, loving your taste darling. xoxo Bex Thanks. That's very sweet of you to say. :) Your owl is too cute - looks so wise! Kate x Thanks Kate! :) Great finds! Love that cute owl. I haven't been thrifting in a couple of weeks, and I think my husband is afraid to let me go since I keep bringing back furniture... I would love to find furniture. I never see anything good! You have been lucky. :) Great finds - I'm always looking for little bottles. I put feathers in them that we find when birds have lost them - and tiny bouquets. Oh, I love tiny bouquets of wildflowers. None to pick here right now with the snow. Can't wait until spring. Serious mirror envy! Thanks for linking up! Thanks Lucy! I haven't been thrifting in a while, unfortunately. I love thrifting vicariously through you! You gotta get back out there Laurie. Just to ease my guilt. :) I also cant resist owls! Very cute So funny, huh? I CANNOT resist. :) I like owls, too. :) That mirror is great, I don't think anyone would know that it's plastic unless they got very close. Nice plates/bowls, too... Ya, summer will be here all right. All 98 humid degrees of it. Yayyyyy (not). ;) I sure didn't know. ;) I really feel for you...not. Just kidding, I hate intense heat too. Something in between would be appreciated! I can't believe that mirror is plastic! So pretty. I love the "brass thingy," too. I was counting on you to have a better description for it Heather. ;) Love the owl, it's a gorgeous shape! and the tiny green vase is just wonderful. I'm new to your blog, I'm excited to find a thrifty and vegan blog - I'm a lazy vegan with mild food intolerances so really needing the inspiration! So will be following along :) Greetings from Finland! Aniko from idleneedle.blogspot.com Thanks very much! I like that - thrifty and vegan. I hope I can provide some inspiration. ;)

2013, you’re getting your mojo on. Today, you’re making plans. So let’s get right to it. Here are your 5 Steps To Get Off The Fence in 2013. It’s time to make a plan to get happy and thriving: Step 1 – Determine Where You’re Stuck IN 2013, and the other list is called the OFF THE FENCE / HAPPINESS ACTION PLAN. So, for example, if you want to start your own business in 2013, page in a visible spot. It holds you both accountable, and keeps your eye on the prize. Step 2 – Commit to Doing the Work Know that nothing will work unless you do. My grandfather used to say, “Nobody ever drowned in their own sweat.” It was a borrowed expression, but it always stuck with me. Happiness doesn’t come without a commitment to happiness. Without work. Your happiness is a choice. You getting what you want out of life is YOUR DECISION. And the same holds true for your unhappiness. So, commit to doing the work. Whatever your goals are, commit to hustling to make them happen. Everyday I’m shufflin’… (Don’t you love quoting LMFAO?) Step 3 – Expand Your Skills Yes. Expand your skills and commit to learning something new. Often we stay stuck and on the fence because we don’t have the necessary skills and knowledge needed to move forward. So acquire that knowledge and expand your skills. This could mean taking up a new hobby, enrolling in an accounting course, volunteering, or simply giving away your expertise for free. What I mean here is, if you want to become a PAID speaker in 2013. Step 4 – Get Out There and Meet NEW People Commit to taking up a new hobby, volunteering, getting more involved in your kids’ school, or joining a networking group – for the purpose of meeting NEW people. What happens is, we often meet the people we need through the law of attraction. For example, I am thinking of finally getting off the fence and creating teleclasses and an app in 2013. I started to ask people if they know anyone who develops apps, and I put it out into the universe. Simply because I reached out to new people and asked them for help, I now have acquired more knowledge, helping me off the fence, moving me closer to my goals. If you allow yourself to be open, and join places like your local Chamber of Commerce, BNI, writing groups, or just traveling alone, or finding a mentor, I promise, you will attract the people you need who will help propel you closer to your goals. Step 5 – Make More Time for the Things You Love To Do good, quality decisions. For me, I love spending time with my girlfriends – we laugh, I mean gut-busting laughter, and it does my mind and body good. I also love spending time alone in a bookstore, perusing the aisles with a coffee. It calms me and regroups me. What is it for you? When you do what you love, you are being good to yourself. You are spoiling yourself. And spoiling yourself is your right. Feeling good allows you to make clear decisions. Do it, guilt-free. So I wish for all of you, to jump the fence in 2013. I hope you’ll join me. Are you currently on the fence, or do you have any questions or comments about fence jumping? I know the territory well. Happy Friday beautiful ladies. Other articles you might enjoy: Tags: 2013, 5 Steps To Get Off The Fence in 2013, cortisol levels, Erica Diamond, get off the fence, how to be happy, how to get moving, how to get off the fence, how to get unstuck, how to make decisions, how to make goals, how to make good decisions, i'm on the fence, inspiration, making lists, motivation, new year, new year's resolutions, self improvement More great insight Erica. I discovered your blog last year and am thoroughly enjoying it. Thank you for visiting. Sooo love this… i will write down the steps and try something different, Thankyou soo much for your wise words… Cheers Caress.. Caress, glad you enjoyed it. I wish you great happiness in 2013. Love this post! I just did a very similar one on How to Make 2013 better than 2012. Great minds! Great post as always Erica! I would love to have your thoughts on this conundrum: What if you are someone who is on multiple fences? I have a small business that is up and running and I am literally working on 4 other business ideas. They are all like children to me so I can’t imagine ditching any one of them. How can you decide what to focus on and what to put on the backburner? Thanks, I love reading your tips and tricks. Jesse, you are burning the candle at both ends, and in the end, chances are, none of the businesses will be successful. You simply won’t have the time, energy or money to give them ALL the attention they need to thrive. I would grow your most viable idea, and put all my resources into that. I can barely run one businesses, let alone multiple. Obviously I would have to hear more, but that is my answer based on your brief explanation. Happy fence jumping! But FOCUS.

One: - red: strontium and lithium salts or carbonates - yellow: sodium compounds - green: barium compounds - blue: copper compounds I love fireworks. We think they’re really cool to watch, too, Samantha! Thanks for visiting Wonderopolis today! Dear Wonderopolis, Cool wonder! I think fireworks are so pretty and I love watching them every 4th of July. I actually don’t know how fireworks are made. I think tomorrow’s wonder is about stars. XOXOXOXOXO, Paige Hi, Paige! If you’re not sure how fireworks are made, we encourage you to explore this Wonder of the Day® about them…there are many fun facts to learn! Thanks for being a GREAT Wonder Friend! Hi! The way fireworks are manufactured is amazing. Oh, and I have a cold. We’re super sorry you’ve got a cold, Rahul! Thanks for letting us know you liked this Wonder…we hope you feel better very soon! Fireworks are pretty cool. How did they do that display of fireworks? That display was really awesome, we agree, Sydney! There are special people called “pyrotechnic professionals” who are hired by cities and large events to plan, place and produce those big fireworks shows! They can even make it so the fireworks explode to the beat of music in a song! I learnd a lot about the fireworks. I learned how they make the pattens and all that. I think it is so, so cool. When it is 4th of July? I always let the fireworks off with my grandpa. We’re sure glad you learned cool new facts about fireworks by exploring this Wonder, McKenzie! The 4th of July is still a few months away, but it falls on a Wednesday this year! How fun that you and your grandpa share such a special fireworks memory! Dear Wonderopiles, Hey, I love all your articles. I liked the one with the llama that spit on the kid. XOXO, Lilly Hi, Lilly! Thank you SO MUCH for letting us know you enjoy visiting Wonderopolis and learning new things from each Wonder of the Day®! Fire works rock. One time, I almost got hit by a bottle rocket. It was close. We’re glad you didn’t get hit by that bottle rocket, Hunter! Fireworks are really awesome, but they are SUPER dangerous, too! Please be careful and always have an adult around when you are celebrating with fireworks…we care about all of our Wonder Friends and we don’t want anyone to get hurt! We really liked it. It was soooooooo interesting, wonderoplis is. We loved the video, all the bright colors, and we both like fireworks. I like to see them at Disney World! The fireworks at Disney World are GREAT, we agree, AH and KW! Thank you BOTH for checking out today’s Wonder and for sharing your comment with us! What a cool 4th of July fireworks. Me and KW loved that wonderoplis is this. I love it. We really appreciate your comment, AH and KW! Thank you for being AWESOME Wonder Friends! Wow, that video was awesome! We hope we can visit Sydney someday. How big is the city of Sydney? We have a guess for tomorrow’s wonder. Is it about Ireland or Scotland, because we think they wear plaid skirts. Have a great day and we’re excited for tomorrow’s. We’re really excited for tomorrow’s Wonder, too, Mr. Draper’s Class! You guys are GREAT guessers, so we can’t wait to see if your guess for tomorrow is correct! Thanks for hanging out in Wonderopolis with us today! cool wonder Could you do a wonder on: “Does size affect a dog’s age?” Pleaeaeaeaese Hello, Kidlego 101! We think your idea for a future Wonder about the size of a dog affecting its age is a GREAT one! We appreciate you letting us know what kind of Wonder you’d like to explore here in Wonderopolis! Fireworks are so cool! I loved today’s wonder! I wonder what the next wonder will be. Hi there, Jordan! We’re glad you think fireworks are cool and that you got to learn a little bit more about them by exploring today’s Wonder! I know how fireworks are made when they are launched by a firecracker! Thanks for sharing what you know about fireworks, Landon! We’re really happy that you stopped by this Wonder today! That video was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wondering how those cars didn’t get damaged from the fireworks on the bridge. Hi, Firebolt 101! That’s a really great question! We think the places where the fireworks were actually set off was protected from people and cars. It might just look like the fireworks are exploding over the cars. We think some more WONDERing is in order to find out for sure, though! Hi, I was wondering what the song was because I like it. I mean LIKE it. That’s a GREAT question, Matthew! We’re not sure what the name of the song in the video is, but we like it a lot, too! Thanks for hanging out in Wonderopolis with us today! Awesome. We think today’s Wonder was AWESOME, too, Eric! Thanks for letting us know you liked it! I think tomorrow’s wonder is about the Scottish and the plaid skirts are kilts. I know this cause I am Irish myself. That’s really cool, Cassidy! Thanks for sharing something about yourself with your friends in Wonderopolis today! Well, I think that they are made by people having something that you push and it makes fireworks. Hello, Ashley! Thanks for telling us how you think fireworks are made! You’re an AMAZING Wonder Friend! I wonder if tomorow wonder is hockey. I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove hockey. Hello, Husnain! Thanks for visiting Wonderopolis today! We think a future Wonder about hockey is a GREAT idea! Have you visited these past Wonders that have a little something to do with hockey yet? Wonder #109 – What Is a Zamboni®? Wonder #67 – When Were Ice Skates Invented? Happy WONDERing! I just want to ask how do they make fireworks in a lot of shapes and colors. That’s a SUPER question, Saad! The people who make fireworks know exactly which type of container shape, fuse, bursting charge and stars to use to make any shape or color fireworks they want! We really enjoy watching fireworks shows…thanks for visiting this Wonder today! I love to go and watch the fireworks on 4th of July. We do, too, Lily! We like celebrating with family and friends and watching the fireworks together! The song is “If You Believe” by Blues Saraceno if anyone was wondering. Thanks so much for sharing the name and artist of the song in the video for this Wonder, Matthew! That was super awesome of you to do! Hello! Today my wonder topic was “How are fireworks made?” Two vocabulary words that I found were aerial and barium. I found lots of new facts like China is the largest manufacturer of fireworks in the world. One fact that I thought was interesting is fireworks are made from gunpowder. I wonder who came up with the idea of fireworks. I enjoyed learning about fireworks! Hi, Team Unger 20! We think it’s AWESOME that you enjoyed learning about fireworks! We did, too! Thanks so much for stopping by this Wonder of the Day®! Hi, Wonderopolis. The video was really fun to watch. I never knew zinc was chemistry. A ductile, bluish-white metallic element: used in making Galvanized iron, brass, and other alloys, and as an element in voltaic cells. Symbol: Zn; atomic weight: 65.37; atomic number: 30; specific gravity: 7.14 at 20°C. And that magnesium. I never knew that fireworks had special shells to set them off. And I also never knew that there were so many chemicals in one little firework. How many manufacturing companies make fireworks? Thanks for helping me learn lots about fireworks. We’re glad you had fun learning about fireworks, Team McNeil 5! Thanks so much for letting us know all the FUN facts you discovered about them! That was a cool video about fireworks. Thanks for letting us know you liked this Wonder, buglover…and THANKS for hanging out in Wonderopolis today! On every Fourth of July, me and my family let fireworks off or we go to the High School to see them and they are very pretty! One year, we let off this one firework and it was the American flag and it said I’m glad to be free that was so COOL! WOW! That does sound like a really COOL firework, Katlyn! Thank you for sharing some of your family’s 4th of July fireworks traditions with us today! THIS SUMMER, I’M GOING TO MISSOURI TO GET LOTS OF FIREWORKS SO WE CAN HAVE ONE VERY NICE DAY. WONDEROPOLIS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO JULY 4TH? Thanks for sharing what you’ve got planned for the 4th of July, Jon! We’ll be stopping by Wonderopolis first of all (to start the day by celebrating learning something cool), then we will spend the day having fun with family and friends! We will probably sing, “Happy Birthday” to America, too! I really liked this Wonder of the Day. Fireworks are really cool and awesome, mainly their colors. I also like their sounds.I learned that fireworks were made in China 1,000 years ago. Whoever made fireworks is a huge genius. I learned that the fireworks are made of paper and gunpowder. I learned two new vocabulary words, zinc and aerial. I still have one question after reading this article. Has there been any accidents with fireworks? Thank you for this wonderful topic. Hi, Team Unger 3! Yes, unfortunately, there have been accidents with fireworks. Please make sure there are always adults around when any fireworks are used, OK? We care about all of our Wonder Friends and don’t want anyone to get hurt! I like how fast the boats go. That is called “time lapse” video, Claire! It’s video that’s shot over a long period of time and “sped up” to show that long period of time in a short period of time! We think it’s fun to see the boats go fast, too! Fireworks are awesome. I wish I had some. Also didn’t know that they can have gunpowder in it. NICE We think fireworks shows are awesome to watch, too, David! Thanks for letting us know a cool fact you learned about fireworks by exploring this Wonder today! This is the best. We think you’re pretty SUPER, Ahmad! Thanks for letting us know you enjoyed our fireworks Wonder! Fireworks are awesome to see. They appeal nicely. What a great comment you left for us today, Steven! Thanks for hanging out in Wonderopolis with us today and learning about fireworks! Hey, wonderopolis. I was wondering how you get a song without the lyrics in a video. Thanks. I love you, wonderopolis. Bye, Matthew Lake. Hi, Matthew! That’s a GREAT question! There are lots of ways to record music without lyrics and add the song as a background to a video project you are working on! We suggest asking a teacher or parent to help you look for some special music composition programs and video editing software for your computer. It takes a little bit of work to learn the software programs, but we know if you try your best, you can make WONDERful music for your videos! Thanks, wonderopolis. I love you this the best website ever. You’re very welcome, Matthew! We’re glad you like hanging out in Wonderopolis and learning new things with us! Let us know how your videos turn out with their AWESOME background music (created by YOU), OK? Hey, I made a video and it’s great. We think that ROCKS, Matthew! Thanks so much for letting us know your video-making progress! We knew you could do it if you tried your best! Way to go…we’re SUPER proud of you! You just made my day 9,99999 PERCENT HAPPIER. THANK YOU. That’s GREAT, Matthew! Thanks for letting us know you liked this Wonder about fireworks. We think your comment is 100% AWESOME! Hi wonderopolis, can you make a wonder about puberty and changes? Thank you, this wonder is for my cousin, thanks. Hello, Matthew! Thanks so much for suggesting a future Wonder about puberty! We appreciate hearing from our Wonder Friends (like you and your cousin) about the things they’d like to WONDER more about here in Wonderopolis! Hi wonderopolis. Thanks for being so nice, I appreciate it. Your friend, Matthew. P.S CAN U MAKE A WONDER ABOUT WHY KIDS HAVE BOYFRIENDS AND GIRLFRIENDS AND WHY THEY KISS I WANT TO SHARE THIS WITH MY CLASS PLUS OUR TEACHER SHOWS US WONDEROPOLIS EVERY DAY HER NAME IS Kelly Croy. Your friend, Matthew :) Hello there, Matthew! Thanks so much for sharing this SUPER comment with us today and for letting us know what kind of future Wonder of the Day® you’d like to visit in Wonderopolis! Please make sure you tell Ms. Croy that we said THANK YOU for introducing you and your classmates to Wonderopolis, too…we think that ROCKS! I really do love the firework, exploding in mid-air, colors everywhere, the bigger they get, the more cool it looks. The big fireworks I love the most. We sure do appreciate this AWESOME comment you left for us, Carlos! Your creative, descriptive words help us see fireworks in our mind’s eye! We’re glad you visited this Wonder, too! Have a WONDERful weekend! I like fireworks, they look cool, they pop cool, and their colors are cool. We are “oohhhhh”ing and “ahhhh”ing over your comment today, Jalen! Thanks for sharing your passion for fireworks– they are such a cool component of a big celebration! We love WONDERing about the different senses that are affected by fireworks– sight (cool colors), sound (popping) and sometimes touch (lots of clapping)! Thanks for joining us at Wonderopolis today! I really love the video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOORAY, we’re so excited to hear it, ViviAnne! We can’t wait until we see some fireworks this summer!

all-natural, appetizers, bacon, holiday menu, holiday parties, Mushroom, party menu, Recipe, stuffed mushrooms, vegetables I love mushrooms. But I don’t love most stuffed mushrooms. I have a problem with the consistency of the “classic version” (a paste), and if they aren’t right out of the oven, the consistency is even more troubling on its way toward cold. So I made a “unclassic”–not to be confused with unclassy–version of stuffed mushrooms. Un-blended, un-mushed, and un-pasty. Your taste buds won’t will be un-happy. Because I originally made this appetizer for a party, and there’s quite a bit of prep work, I made more than you would need on a normal night. If you’re only serving a few people–or just yourself–you can still do the prep but only bake what you need and store the rest in the fridge. Two days later, my leftover prepped mushrooms were still just as delicious as the first day. For serving at a party, only bake as many as will be eaten right away, then bake as needed. Note: If you use a pre-heated toaster oven, you may only need to bake them for 10 minutes…they’re done when you see sizzling juice around the mushrooms and the cheese is melted/golden. While the mushrooms are cooling, transfer them to paper towels or other material to soak up excess liquid to prevent mushiness from setting in (or juices squirting out when you take a bite!). You could also line a basket or tray with a napkin or waxed paper and serve them that way. Note for party planning: The bigger the mushrooms, the harder it is to eat in one bite, which is what you want for a finger food menu. If you or your guests don’t eat pork, make sure you use quality thyme and add any other spices if needed to boost flavor. Recipe for “Not Your Classic” Stuffed Mushrooms - Yields approximately 35 stuffed mushrooms - Prep time: 45 minutes - Bake time: 20-25 minutes Ingredients: - 3 packages (8 ounces each) mushrooms – I used the button/white variety, but cremini mushrooms work too - 2 pieces bacon, nitrate/nitrite-free - 1 tablespoon olive oil - ½ cup minced shallots (about 1 large) - 1 heaping tablespoon minced garlic (about 2 large cloves) - 1 teaspoon thyme - sea salt, to taste - freshly ground pepper, to taste - ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley - shaved/shredded parmesan cheese, enough for a pinch on top of each mushroom Directions: Fry bacon in large pan until crispy, then remove and let cool. While bacon is cooking, clean mushrooms with damp cloth. Separate mushroom stems from caps, being careful not to tear the caps. Finely chop stems. Preheat oven to 350°F. Add olive oil to bacon fat left behind from cooking and saute stems and shallots over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic, a couple pinches of salt, a few twists of pepper, and thyme, cooking for 2 more minutes. Turn off heat and stir in parsley and finely chopped bacon. Taste and add spices if necessary. Toss mushroom caps with olive oil. Use small spoon to stuff stem mixture into mushroom caps. Press curved outside of spoon down into mixture to pack in. Don’t overstuff. Top each cap with a pinch of parmesan. Bake 20-25 minutes on baking sheet. Transfer mushrooms to paper towels or cloth while cooling to soak up excess liquid.

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Information about abbreviate in the free online English dictionary and. — “abbreviate - definition of abbreviate by the Free Online”, - abbreviate ( ) tr.v. , -ated , -ating , -ates . To make shorter. See synonyms at shorten . To reduce (a word or phrase) to a shorter form intended to. — “abbreviate: Definition, Synonyms from ”, - We found 34 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word abbreviate: Click on the first link on a line below to go directly to a page where "abbreviate" is defined. General (29 matching dictionaries) abbreviate: Compact Oxford English Dictionary [home, info]. — “Definitions of abbreviate - OneLook Dictionary Search”, - 2. to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer: to abbreviate a speech. to use abbreviations. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random. — “abbreviate: meaning and definitions — ”, - Abbreviate definition, to shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting letters, substituting shorter forms, etc., so that the shortened form can represent the whole word See more. — “Abbreviate | Define Abbreviate at ”, -”, - - Meaning of abbreviate and a memory aid (called Mnemonic) to retain that meaning for long time in our memory. — “abbreviate meaning - definition of abbreviate by Mnemonic”, - Definitions of abbreviated, synonyms, antonyms, derivatives of abbreviated, ***ogical dictionary of abbreviated (English). — “abbreviated : definition of abbreviated and synonym of”, - Definition of abbreviate from Webster's New World College Dictionary. transitive verb abbreviated ab·bre·vi·at·ed, abbreviating ab·bre·vi·at·ing, ab·bre·vi·ates. — “abbreviate - Definition of abbreviate at ”, - abbreviate abridge contract cut foreshorten. Related Words. No related words found. Associated Words. No associated Settings. Please Signup/Login to create a keyword project. Hide Keywords. abbreviate. abbreviate. Suggestions. — “Wordpot - abbreviate”, - Synonyms for abbreviate. Other words for abbreviate. Different words for abbreviate. Antonyms of abbreviate. — “abbreviate - Synonyms from Roget's A-Z Thesaurus and Roget's II”, Images related images for abbreviate - within the Configuration Editor 3 Select the country database of the layout you wish to customise for example the United Kingdom address database is selected in the screenshot below 4 Creating a New Layout If you don t want to use the settings in the Default layout you can create a completely new one If you wish you can create an application specific layout - It s fair enough to abbreviate items on a list there s no rule to say you can t But simply missing off words when they add specific detail is just plain ridiculous I don t know anyone who - For this tutorial the uBp United Base Players™ staff has chosen the left alt button as the hotkey Inside the box it will abbreviate the hotkey you chose as shown in the picture below click to enlarge Next to get your microphone settings enabled so you can hear and speak In that same window from the picture above on the Left hand Sside you will see two sections - 2007年10月3日 水 22 21 - things really don t abbreviate well One interesting thing about Okayama they seem to really like the story of Momotaro there Momotaro is a Japanese fairy tale There s a lot of related statues around the city souvenir stuff signs etc Maybe it was supposed to take place in the area After the train ride walking to Okayama Castle was a nice change of pace Also - launch of a new English language publication in the PRC the international edition of The Global Times I will call it The Global Times International just so I can abbreviate it as GT I The Global Times English web page If you are not familiar with the GT in its original Chinese the paper has garnered a reputation for a somewhat fiery brand of Chinese nationalism in its - inspire other public transportation users to get funky but instead only encourages them to stare in disgust This does not appear to abbreviate the 45 minute baggy pants dance in the least 5 I am sleepy and still coughing up lung gunk so I go to bed no picture available - Mars Project It s easier to abbreviate RMP than to keep typing saying it So I am doing Red Mars Project Lilith the artbook version It s like the second to last picture in the artbook http i192 photobucket com albums z ays T 3031 jpg Hiyoko chan is doing RMP Seth but the manga version I m not sure what that looks like but it sounds like way less armor Cloaked - Additional Reserve Materials Also Listed Examples of Difficult Citations pdf How to Abbreviate Bible Books jpg Style Checklist Familiarize Yourself With This This form will be attached to your papers to instruct you about necessary - Step 7 Is English evolving - TOOBUSY 1 main Ful - http i10 photobucket com albums a140 MightilyOats Magneto88 jpg Iron Cable doesn t abbreviate Each letter is as important as the one that preceded it Maybe more - this full time Then I discovered why they abbreviate it s o b That s what you yell when you discover you ve forgotten to mind your sidearm and it s become exposed for all the world to see - appearances of the citation BI recommends this format for subsequent appearances If 4 or more authors list 1 author and abbreviate with et al Comments to Anders Erdal - Add shortcuts to dramatically increase your productivity by 40 or more FlashType gives you the ability to Add Default Templates for your documents - - Medical Dictionary and from the impressive Acronym Finder database a variety of technical scientific and slang terms that are all abbreviated DNA including the ironic expression Do Not Abbreviate GuruNet almost always picks the most relevant sources For example when you look up the term search engine it offers you news items related to search engines from - This guy didn t know how to abbreviate horse power he came up with something that sounds like Hearse Power carry dead people fast - un domain alert per avere notifiche via mail ogni qual volta qualcuno ti linka su Twitter funziona anche se si utilizzano URL abbreviate come TinyURL Snurl o altri URL shortening service Scenario 3 Il tuo Prodotto Se vendi qualcosa potresti essere interessato a vedere e verificare quello che la gente dice e pensa del tuo prodotto Aggiungi un alert per il nome del tuo - on how I feel about the matter This post became a bit shorter than usual but this time I really tried to kind of abbreviate and make my opinion on the matter clearer and more brief Mikitty is not quite convinced you re in it for just the music - It s probably the only forum left in the world where everyone calls Nintendo Australia Nintendo of Australia and abbreviate it NoAus I hate you all Most Photogenic User of the Year Bourbang is a *** machine It s no secret that I ve been having trouble picking up in Perth and no doubt the fact that I share the city with this man adds to the difficulty Blogger of the - in mode because They were different from horrible boots which Aussies passion to abbreviate every joint terms used everyday We all know how the full world got to keep their cold feet Until recently Aussie uggs or the water Nevertheless it is assumed that I am surefire you would not in the kangaroo but I assure that this Classic Tall Ugg Boots will eternally be in - Some characters are born from other ones Wiki tan is one example of that where people started asking for her to be born after the entry for the OS tan girls was made more - a room dedicated to me Never Ever The closest I will ever have will be like a boys room with pictures of all the old time greats Gehrig and Ruth and Mantle Q To save time and prevent cramping during autographs shouldn t you abbreviate your last name to St HS I feel like I ve got a pretty solid signature Well Tommy Lasorda once pointed out about all of the big - factors of METT TC in a given situation The commander can use these or techniques of his own choosing to abbreviate the process Figure 2 5 is an example of an abbreviated MDMP outline Figure 2 5 Example of an abbreviated MDMP outline - I had to abbreviate the brilliant ending planned for this day catered yums in a film studio ABOVE in order to snag a bus back to Union Station for the last train back to Milwaukee After - abbreviate where they live by putting the first letter of the city and adding town after In addition to lacking high IQs meatheads tend to stereotype things and people completely wrong I realize gnome has used some big words correctly so he obviously can t be that stupid which makes me wonder even more why he falls into the trap of stereotyping douchbaggery - TOOBUSY 2 Full - - 9 Permanent Address Information Fill out your permanent address and telephone number Do not abbreviate using periods the pound sign or commas - See if you can guess what these stars all have in common Too random NQ I ve decided to abbreviate the NQW for brevity s sake and I went to see In The Heights last night at the Richard - sports center Foodad pointed out this gem to me The town is Milford Massachusetts and apparently they didn t want to abbreviate Catholic I bet attendance will be high at these games - 11 healthvermont go - - from Mammoth To abbreviate four days the demo was great I had the chance to ride lots of great equipment with some good friends and make more friends in the process I love snowboarding Tuesday night we put on a party at Wave Rave in conjunction with Burton thanks for the booze You had to work in the industry to get in the door and if that was the case there were - Here s Bob mounting the 5d camera to our SUV Wait until you see the footage that he captured with this Next time you decide to abbreviate make sure you know what you are abbreviating I think it s suppose to be Assembly At least I hope - 06 10 Thursday January 7 2010 0 comments Link Blackrock Spire What name Full name and abbreviate Ordinary people likes BLACKROCK SPIRE of black rock tower abbreviation is BRS because two significance plays on cent superstratum is - 933ddc8cbc5951201d3e6f40a089bea0 JPG - Your guild title needs to be less than 20 characters If you have a long name such as Colourful Neopians Painting Plain Neopets it would be best to abbreviate it maybe to CNPPN <style > a link color 3163FF font weight bold a hover color ffffff font weight bold b color 00008B u color 0000FF i color 2E37FE header background url http img88 - Input screen buttons Videos related videos for abbreviate - Abbreviation of the Day- May 26th, 2010 With pretty music and picture. *.* The music is J-pop (ish); if you don't like it, turn the volume off. Picture link: I claim no content in this video except for my ideas. This was made for entertainment purposes only. \(^o^)/ - Jen and Mike's wedding - abbreviated This is a short version of the wedding for the ADD folks (you know who you are). Stay tuned for the director's cut - complete with out-takes. - Pokemon Colosseum Part 2. Gotta Poorly Abbreviate 'em All! Today our hero is joined by the unattractive side-kick/love interest conventially named..... Love interest...... - FOR is a beautiful way to abbreviate "Forward" (ORL:) A style of phone I was "interested in" in my youth... - Learning English - Lesson Thirty (Abbreviation) In this lesson we look at abbreviation and give some examples with a little help from Mr Steve! - Word of the Day- 'Abbreviate' Just a short film, not quite illustrating the word 'abbreviate'. Thanks to CAKE for use of their sublime 'Satan is my Motor'. - Wabic - Party in Ofallon Remix of Party in The USA Wabic - Beezy, Brizzle, Big Rick ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ Extra Tags: wabic party in ofallon lil wayne no ceiling mixtape drake forever eminem rap music amazing song remix miley cirus brad mike rick - 2009-05-16 2 Sick Monkeys - 'Abbreviate' Live at The Pheonix, Plymouth 16th May 2009. Peirced Up Promotions Anti-Eviction Benefit Gig. - Jeffs abbreviate machine 1 This video was uploaded from an Android phone. - Tennis Serve Abbreviated Tennis serve abbreviated with continental grip - Jonathan Goldstein reads abbreviated 'Superman' short Jonathan Goldstein reads a shortened version of his 'Superman' short story in Seattle, WA on 4-13-2009. This excerpt reading was also featured on Jonathan Goldstein's CBC/NPR radio program "WireTap." - EXCEL: Month abbreviation... Abbreviate the months. - Live Love Abbreviate episode 4 beanie! haley's birfday! ovary! - Destination signs abbreviating Colorado Springs Many signs for highways show the direction of travel as well as where the highway is bound for. But the sign that meant to say "Colorado Springs" is often spelled "Colo Spgs", which could be confusing to some people. - abbreviate.avi - Abbreviate Webster - 2009-03-13 2 Sick Monkeys - 'Abbreviate' Live at The Junction, Bristol, 13th March 2008 - Abbreviation fail My teacher was trying to abbreviate cumulative review - Live Love Abbreviate episode 1 Christmas Special! Link to Jeff Pianki: Link to Misha Productions: - Let's Play MSft8J - Part 1: The Family Jewels The title of the game, "Mario's Search for the 8 Jewels" is pretty long and hard to abbreviate, but luckily Nardrummer gave me this abbreviation, and it works well. As far as the title for this one goes, it's pretty bland - there wasn't much from this segment I could remember that gave much title fodder. Anyways, this hack is pretty cool. And as promised, here is the link to the SMW Central page where you can find it: Also, fun fact: In the file names of all four of the segments I've recorded of this so far, I thought it was "8 crystals", not "8 jewels", so the abbreviations for them are all wrong. Hooray for stupidity. - Abbreviation FAIL Nothing against the Cab Association that this cab and the others of it's kind belong to but please at least learn how to abbreviate properly!! Royal Cab Ass'n = Royal Cab Association. NOT THE ROYAL CAB ASSASIN!!! as I first thought when I saw them when I moved up to DC. LAWLZ - Chapter One - Abbreviate, Autobiography, Background, Column, Omit.avi - Live Love Abbreviate episode 5 Core Values! Animal Crackers! - Fur Elise (abbreviated version) Beethoven's "Fur Elise" abbreviated version - Rams vs Hornets - Epic Battle in Tacoma - Part III - Abbreviated This weekend's game between the Rams and the Hornets. I had to abbreviate the footage to fit it on YouTube... and will re-edit to remove lead-ins - and just football. Rams wan 34-6 and will play in next weekend's championship game. Both teams did a great job - Rams were on their game, though. More footage to come... plus the Lilly & Natalie post-game hi-light show with a post-game interview with the Rams Center and Defensive End, Spencer. (Corrected from earlier footage) - NEVER ABBREVIATE YOUR NAME - Writing, Publishing & Teaching Children to Write : How to Abbreviate Properly Abbreviate properly by using standard abbreviations and following the MLA style guide. Learn more about abbreviations withtips from a writing instructor in this free video on writing. Expert: Laura Minnigerode Contact: Bio: Laura Minnigerode is a writing instructor and former classroom teacher. Filmmaker: Todd Green - 2 sick monkeys - abbreviate 2 sick monkeys at conspiracy2.. sawyers kettering 3rd october 2009 - rp pp fixture trade fixture = association abbreviate - - more shtuffff on CH (yeh i abbreviate coz i can) WOOOO sorry the light is sh*t...i was too lazy to turn my lights on and please do tell me how to printscreen on a mac :D - yes i am a loser - Do You Abbreviate In Your Text Messages? - AT&T Valentine's Day Survey Do you abbreviate in your text messages? AT&T text messagers give their take. For more information, visit - Live Love Abbreviate episode 6 Spring Break! Mexican Boyfriend! Quickfire! - Abbreviate When I speak, I'm too lazy to say the entire word.. Therefore I only say the first letter of random words. Don't h me just because I'm c. - Rachel Maddow - followup on anti-gay marriage commercial The National Organization for Marriage calls their campaign "2 Million for Marrage". They abbreviate it 2M4M. Apart from being a bad abbreviation there's also a website -- -- which is pro-gay marriage. - Do Not Abbreviate - Hook this is my band doing a cover from blues traveler called Hook. It sounds pretty good i think but what you guys think? - Me Playing Linus and Lucy Abbreviated I recorded this around Christmas time -- I played it and then made a small error so I decided to abbreviate it; I still think it came out ok. I tried to play the part played by a bass player using the left hand side during the second solo section to try to sound like the real recording. Enjoy. - ... - Live Love Abbreviate episode 3 J-Term Edition! Shout outs to the fans! - Live Love Abbreviate episode 2 Special Apperance! Speeding Ticket! Money! 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I have not been visited by the ghosts of dead heroes, pets nor family members. The spirits apparently prefer to spend time with more interesting -- or receptive -- human beings. Therefore, adhering to this month's spooky theme has been a challenge. My husband suggested writing about our Lhasa Apso (seen here in the most mysterious and ghostly photo I could manage) because legend has it these dogs were bred to guard Tibetan temples against evil spirits. My dog does have an annoying habit of barking at the wind, but not strangers who come to the house. Perhaps I should give more credence to the possibility that he is preventing ghosts from calling on us. However, I have a difficult time viewing our happy-go-lucky Buddy as a ferocious guardian against otherworldly beings. Next, I considered writing about what terrifies me, which would be things that could harm the people I love. Fellow New Hampshire author Jodi Picoult readily admits the themes of her best-selling books center around subjects that most frighten her and her hope that by addressing them in fiction, she can prevent these horrible things from happening. I do the same. Then I gave a great deal of thought to what might frighten others and concluded the unusual thinking processes of people who enjoy writing about crime and murder might very well qualify as spine-chilling. For example, Buddy and I sometimes take early morning walks through a wooded area and I often wonder if something, or someone, other than the usual forest creatures is watching and waiting to pounce. When the hair rises on the back of my neck, I become very aware that it would be easy for someone to attack, kill me and escape. (At just 18 pounds, Buddy isn't much protection -- remember, he only barks at the wind.) What's more, there are several locations that offer excellent opportunities to conceal a corpse. Believe me, I've looked. I think that if other people knew how much time mystery writers spend thinking like this, they might find it ... well, unsettling, to say the least. I can't even engage in recreational activities, such as attempting to climb a mountain with my spouse, without thoughts of murder and mayhem. As I complained to a National Forest Service official recently in an entry on my personal blog, "Because we're mystery writers, we also know that mountain trails provide optimum opportunities for serial killers and other wackos. If we could figure out that someone hiking without ski poles to defend themselves – and no emergency button to push – easily could be dragged off into the woods and murdered, so can they." It is impossible for me to drive by an overgrown highway median, enjoy the view of a large body of water or even visit a historic fort surrounded by vegetation without thinking: "That would be a good place to hide a body." My husband and I often discuss ways to commit murder -- and not get caught. Reading the ingredients on household products can prompt musings about new opportunities to dispose of people and evidence. An intriguing news story can trigger imaginative and macabre discussions of "what if....?" Normal people might find these traits peculiar at best -- and possibly even horrifying. But I consider them just part of "getting in the spirit." How about you? 10 comments: You're right, Pat. You are scary. I find myself speculating along the same lines. My non-writer friends ask, "Why would you even think of such a thing!" when I describe some clever plan for homicide. If thoughts could manifest themselves, I suspect we'd all be dead - killed in intriguing ways, of course, with all the evidence wisely concealed. I'm so happy we all (crime fiction writers, that is) think the same way! My hubby told me once that I'm a very sick person. I said, "thank you." After 30 years of marriage, though, he's starting to think like me. Last year we visited a company that manufacturers log homes, and as soon as they showed us the kiln where they dry the logs, we looked at each other. A perfect place for a murder. I think being a writer is something of a curse, because you are always thinking like a writer. My walking partner reads a lot but she's not a writer; she's a pediatrics ICU nurse. She's patiently listened to me yammer away about writing for years. The other day, she slapped me on the arm and told me I had ruined her reading pleasure, because she was on her break at work, reading "a trashy novel" (meaning, sexy), and she realized there was no character development, which is not something she'd ever cared about before, but listening to me made her notice that and it ruined the (sexy) book for her. So now I'm in the dog house. I was just talking to a friend the other day about someone who was annoying the heck out of us and I pointed out that I knew of many ways to kill someone and hide the body. Not that I'd ever use that knowledge for anything other than my writing, but it's somehow a comfort to know I possess such power. Heh heh. Also, it's fun to know I could make anyone who annoys me into a character in my next book and kill them off that way. Heh heh. Ah yes. The head of a mystery writer is a scary place, indeed. We're all wired that way. And it's quite a lot of fun to go out to dinner with the Sisters in Crime and watch the faces of the other diners when someone says, "I need to get rid of this guy; you know, Susan's brother; how do you think I should do it?" and the discussion turns to committing the perfect murder, and then someone else says, "Oooh! Oooh! I just saw this great place to hide a body! Dump him there when you've killed him!" and before you know it, the police arrive. (On another note, it's equally entertaining to go somewhere with the romance writers and watch people squirm as the discussion turns technical. The police don't get called in, although people sure do blush a lot and sometimes they leave in a hurry, too.) Buddy looks like Zoe, my dog. I thought she was a Shih-tzu/Chihuahua mix, but maybe she's a Lhasa instead. We got her gently used, from a second owner, so no one really knows. I enjoyed your post, Pat. I'm glad to read that I'm not alone with my thoughts. For me, I think that a lot of it comes from my being the daughter, niece and sister of law enforcement officers and then myself being a retired agent. And add in mystery writing and reading... We are a sick bunch, but I bet we are the sanest because we vent all this horror with like minded friends. I've lived in my moorage for almost 17 years now and I'm always staring into the water expecting to see a body. And coming home at night??? Well, it's no wonder I live with the a constant case of the chills. A dog that barks at the wind, wow, I instantly thought of two possible paranormal stories. One would have a demon hunter moving in next door to you Pat. You are walking in the woods and you spot a great place to hide a body. Buddy starts barking and what you feel is a scary moment is in reality a time freeze--check your watch after one of these moments to see how much time has passed--because behind you a demon hunter is fighting and killing a demon and using that great place to store the demon's remains. You continue your walk believing you just had a great mystery idea. But it fades. Patg News stories about bodies being found always get me going. I can't help but come up with scenarios of how, who, when & why. If I keep contemplating it, I come up with evidence left behind & who would find it & how. Next thing I know, I have a story brewing (no pun intended there - with Halloween witchery & all). Patg - I love your thoughts on Buddy's barking at the wind. Jennie - If you think romance writers make folks blush, try being a lawyer in a paternity case some time! I've turned opposing counsel all shades just trying to explain in detail why their client's method of birth control doesn't really work. It's quite a relief to have you all publicly proclaiming you've got the sickness from this genre, too. And PatG, great story idea. Thanks!!

By Mellissa Henry, World-Track RETHYMNO — World Indoor champion Lolo Jones, who missed out at winning a place on the American World Championships team in Berlin next month, blasted to a world-leading 12.47seconds to win the women’s 100m Hurdles at the 25th Vardinoyiannia athletics meeting in Rethymno on Monday. Lolo Jones battling to keep her virginity Jones’ time improved the previous 2009 world best performance of 12.52secs, achieved by Canadian Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep. However, she just missed the 12.43secs personal best, clocked in Beijing last summer. Finishing behind the American was her fellow countrywoman Damu Cherry, who posted a year best of 12.53 with Jamaica’s Delloreen Ennis-London taking third, at 12.60. On the men’s side, Olympic champion and world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba stopped the clock at 13.17 to defeat American Dexter Faulk, who was just a step behind in 13.18. There were some fast 100m races as well with Americans, Carmelita Jeter sizzling to an impressive 10.97 to win the women’s race and Ivory Williams improving his personal best to 9.93 to take the men’s race. World champion over 200m, Allyson Felix finished second to Jeter in 11.08, with Stephanie Durst taking third in 11.14. In the men’s event, American Mark Jelks was second in 10.04 with Great Britain’s Tyrone Edgar finishing third in 10.09. Both these runners were clocking seasonal bests on the evening. Elsewhere in the sprints, Panama’s star sprinter Alonso Edward and Jamaica’s Steve Mullings featured in an exciting men’s 200m, which just went to the Panamanian. Edward ran a career and stadium best of 20.00seconds dead to edged Mullings, who also came home in a personal best of 20.01sec. Olympic 400m champion LaShawn Merritt finished third in 20.29. Edward time was also a national record Bahamian veteran Debbbie Ferguson lowered the world-leading time in the women’s 200m when winning in 22.32secs. The meeting also saw championship records from Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson and American Lashinda Demus in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles, respectively. Demus, highlighted as one of the athletes to beat at the world championships, raced home to 54.29 to win the women’s event over teammate and fellow Berlin bound Tiffany Williams (54.60) and Romania’s Angela Morosanu (55.32). Culson got back to his familiar winning form with a 48.46 victory over former Olympic and world champion Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic, who finished second in 48.96. In the second of the two races, former world champion Bershawn Jackson clocked 48.55 to finish in front of Jamaican 2004 Athens Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane (48.77). Two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor finished down the track at position number five in a disappointing 50.72. The field event competitions also offered some impressive standards. Cuban world-leader Yargelis Savigne leaped 14.80m to win the women’s triple jump competition, as she continues her march towards the gold medal in Berlin. Savigne now owns the top eight best jumps for 2009. Her fellow teammate Mabel Gay recorded 14.44m for second place with Jamaica’s 2005 world champion Trecia Smith chalking out a last round 14.26m for third. Cameroon’s Olympic champion Francoise Mbango continues to struggle for consistent form this season, as she finished sixth with 13.83m. Mitchell Watt of Australia landed a new personal best of 8.43m to take the men’s long jump, improving the 8.34m he recorded earlier this season in Madrid. Saudi Arabia’s former Asian Championships champion Hussein Taher Al-Sabee was second with 8.13m, while American Brian Johnson took third with a fourth round attempt of 8.04m. Krisztian Pars won the men’s Hammer Throw with a last round 78.81m effort, while Gerd Kanter captured the men’s Discus with a throw of 69.10m, Barbora Spotakova won the women’s Javelin with a 62.93m mark over German rival Christina Obergfoll (61.78m) and Russian Tatyana Polnova won the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.56m. Photo: Track and Field Photo Magazine - Sprint hurdler Lolo Jones looks on after competing the women’s 100m hurdles at the US trials PHOTO Randy Miyazaki One love Lolo. I am so sorry you won’t be in Berlin!!

John Zavacki asked- > Elsewhere on this list, and others, Joan has made these comments, and has > quoted quantified results. Could we have an overview of the toolset, Joan? The tools are what a manager/executive must do to turn ordinary people into highly motivated, committed, creative team players who love to come to work. These tools are based on three common human characteristics which are relevant to managing people - 1- Belief in the same good values and that their opposites are bad, but with differing standards for each value based on experience. Values are used to judge what occurs around us and reside in our Gut, our good-bad compass. Values give us much the same hopes and fears, cares and woes, and wanting to be the best at what we do. Our values dictate our responses to others - Excusing our own poor performance when others act in violation of our values, causing us to feel indebted when someone treat us better than our value standards. Our values also dictate our view of consequences, both positive and negative. 2- Over 90% of us are closer to being externally directed conformists (followers) than to being internally directed non-conformists. What we follow are the value standards implied in what we experience in the workplace. Followers waste about 60% of their productive effort in following as compared to a non-follower who does what they believe they should do in accordance with their own value standards. 3- Each of us has an innate ability to choose - how we act, what we think, what we say and how we react to others and events. This power cannot be removed by anyone although we can (as conformists have) be almost coerced into not using this power. These characteristics dictate that the only way to manage people is to lead them to use high standards for all values and to become internally directed, their natural at birth state, the way we know we must be in our private life. Leadership is communicating value standards to subordinates through what they do and do not experience. Causing these experiences to lead them to high motivation, committment, creativity, teamwork and reliance on internal vice external direction is the best management of human resouces. To do this, a boss must understand the values involved and how to communicate them in the process of a normal work day. There are 23 values of particular concern - - honesty, confidence and industriousness are "must have". - positive attitude, smiles, cheers and praise, perseverance, success and winners are the "fire in the boiler". - compassion, humility, admission of error, fairness, forthrightness, forgiveness, trust and courtesy are "does the boss care". - grit and heroism are necessary to success. - knowledge, integrity, loyalty, quality and selflessness have special applicability to managing people. The tools include specific actions by which to communicate these values individually. There are also tools and guidelines by which to reflect high standards of all values in every aspect of support which any boss must provide to juniors so that juniors can be successful - training, discipline, rewards, tools, parts and material, technical advice, planning, information, documentation, procedures, rules, coaching, peace of mind and direction. To enhance a boss's coaching abilities, information is included to prepare any person to cope with common workplace conditions (bosses, peers, comradeship, bureaucracy, change, unions, customers, priorities, competition inside, communication, committees and discrimination) and personal behaviors (personality, likes and dislikes, ego and prestige, assumptions, bad morale, bad attitudes, stress and emotionalism) including a change procedure based on how the concious brain can reprogram the sub-concious brain's behavior. For instance, giving orders is presented as one of the weakest and most destructive actions a boss can take. No one likes to take orders and too many destroys our creativity and our ability to independently think, makes us into robots who think we are just numbers. An Anti-Robot procedure for supervisors and higher bosses is given so as to respect people and lead them to commitment and creativity. The quality and standards of the support which the boss provides to people, whether it is done directly or indirectly, are the standards they will use in the performance of their work. Juniors are therefore twice customers of the boss, once for the actual tool or training or discipline and once for the standards which they reflect. This relationship is what must dictate the boss' attitude toward other team players. Besides, customers are always the best judges of whether the support is good enough, timely enough or whatever. In order to be able to find out one's leadership deficiencies as a boss, one must be a very skillful listener. Listening is, in fact, the door to any subordinate's commitment since a boss who listens and provides reasonable, timely answers and actions by way of response convinces us that we are valued members of the team. The "Don't Shoot theMessenger" procedure and guidelines provide exactly how to accomplish this aspect of respecting fellow members of the team. Getting out of the office to listen to your people is important to managing people and business and warrants specific rules and guidelines. This is one of only two ways a boss can discover what is wrong with support and thereby demonstrate real caring for people, the extent of which is how much they will care about their work and their customers. The second way to find and correct leadership deficiencies is to hold Group Meetings. They are five times more effective in changing culture than one-on-one sessions as long as they are conducted for the purpose of receiving and answering complaints, suggestions and questions. Listening is the boss' key skill herein as he/she causes juniors to participate in problem solving through applying common values. This is the primary mechanism for releasing juniors from the bondage of following to internal direction through values. There are eleven valuable culture changing orders which become very credible in front of a group such as "Act in accordance with your own values and not by what you think the boss wants - be your own person and don't waste time trying to detect my value standards or anyone else's." There are many guidelines and rules for conducting meetings and developing corrective actions which involve and don't deny people team membership and reflect high standards of respect, forthrightness and caring. This tool set is a coherent whole wherein values are the glue. If anyone want a little more understanding, I will email them the article "Leadership is a Science not an- <>

Genre: Puzzle Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Hudson Release Date: June 21, 2005 I would love to sound like your regular “in the know” gamer and cite the titling of the new Bomberman game -- simply “Bomberman” -- as the sign of a new path for the series, a release that sets a new bar for the games that follow it, a la Resident Evil 4. Bomberman for the DS is not that game. With reality backing me up just slightly this time around, I would love to tell you that this new Bomberman game is a back to basics look at the series, a game that removes the fluff surrounding the gameplay and brings fans back to a bomb-’n-run experience. But Bomberman for the DS is not that game, either. So what is it, then? The short answer: It’s just another Bomberman game. It does not compete with the likes of classics like Mega and Saturn Bomberman, yet it distances itself from series duds Bomberman 64 and Bomberman Generations. It brings new ideas to the table, such as the new touch screen-based revenge game, yet it leaves out many of the fun new modes introduced in Bomberman Online and Bomberman Jetters. It is Bomberman DS, not an evolution and definitely not a revolution, right along with every Bomberman game that has seen release within the past decade. It’s the same bomb-dropping concept, the same grid-based setting (barring Bomberman 64), the same mundane single player mode and the same sublime multiplayer experience. So, to get the negative side of Bomberman out of the way, let’s hop right into the single player portion of the game. In a word: Boring. These are the portions of every game in this series that have earned the genre title “puzzle,” although only in the most loose application. The “thinking” part (which is where the puzzle genre comes in, although that is to say little of the thousands of games in existence which require the user to “think”) is in timing the bomb explosions -- which, for the uninitiated, occur moments after the bomb is placed -- with the approach of various types of enemies. Simple enough, yes? There’s a little more to it. Each enemy type has a different raison d’etre. Some approach in specific patterns and velocities. Others float continuously through even the most solid obstacles. Still others are powerful enough to absorb strings of hits. Different approaches, often involving a hefty amount of pre-planning, are required to take down each enemy. The problems with the single player mode all tie in to the fact that there just isn’t much to do. Nothing on the basic grid is altered adequately throughout the near one hundred levels of gameplay. While more action-packed games can easily get away with ignoring diversity for the most part, Bomberman’s slow-paced nature makes the repitition far too obvious. But make no mistake: Bomberman only carries snail-like pace when the DS download play features aren’t being taken advantage of. Single player is tedious, but multiplayer gamers are anything but. The action moves with blinstering speed. The name of the game is straight-up deathmatch -- blow up every enemy bomber in your path and be the last man standing, Highlander style. While the inhibiting blocks that initially surround every combatant keep the initial moments of each match fairly tame, don’t be fooled; things are about to get crazy. Most times, it is only seconds before the literal heat is on. Hordes of items throughout each stage lend impressive item upgrades -- and, for the crafty player, downgrades -- to specific aspects of the bombermen: Bomb type (bouncy, landmine, power), bomb strength (long, longer, and even freakin’ longer), running speed, and abilities (punch, kick, throw). During eight player matches, despite the added room thanks to two full screens of action, flames undoubtedly end up hosing down the majority of the breakable obstacles on any given map in no time at all. Added bells and whistles tie up the essence of Bomberman DS neatly: Voice-activated shields and bomb-detonations add a surprising about of charm to the experience, as long as enough players are present for the fun. The manual instructs players to yell specific silly phrases like “ka-BOOM!!!” to activate voice functions, but in reality, just about any loud noise close to the microphone works like a charm. Best of all, voice modes, like Donkey Konga’s clap-sensing microphone, are protected by variable sensitivity options. My playtest: Loud blasts from those annoying party trumpet/noisemaker trinkets. If it worked for us, it can work for you, too! When they ask, tell your friends you heard of this idea on WorthPlaying.com! (Wink.) While not as exciting as gleefully screaming your personal choice for hottest young actor of the year, the DS’s native touch screen also adds a dose of gimmick-y joy. Instead of the traditional “lobbin’ carts” of ye olde Bomberman, players must gauge the frequency and length of touch screen flicks in order to propell bombs across one or both screens. While this mode is strategically lacking, as the flick speed is very shaky, it is a welcome change to the traditional revenge mode. Even after all these years, there still isn’t a better gaming moment in the world than taking out another player during revenge, being ressurrected because of it, and subsequently winning the game. Most of what makes up Bomberman DS’s multiplayer mode is nearly perfect, part by part. The problem is what’s missing. As per the How To Make A Bomberman Game Official Rule Book, this newest Bomberman must completely ignore any steps forward made by any Bomberman game prior to or after the release of the former said game. That means no submarine bomber, Chu Chu Rocket-style modes, rideable animals, online play (though, to be fair, this is because the game is releasing months before Nintendo plans to unveil the DS’s online infastructure), almost nothing. Eight player Bomberman almost graces Saturn Bomberman levels of fun (10-player widescreen mode!), but without the added extras that made that game so close to complete genre perfection (if you consider Bomberman games to be a genre unto themselves), this DS rendition is nowhere near being the classic that that game was. Every Bomberman review -- even the one I would have written for Saturn Bomberman, had I been given the chance to review it upon release -- has felt dated. The difference is, while the luster of Saturn Bomberman has only grown when compared to the titles following it, no game in the series has managed to maintain the same image, with the Dreamcast’s Bomberman Online being the strongest challenger.. Score: 6.7/10

1997 in jazz From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 1997 in jazz: Events [edit] - Award-winning documentary film, Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz, by jazz documentarist and filmmaker Julian Benedikt.[1] Album releases [edit] - Guillermo Gregorio: Ellipsis - Matthew Shipp: Strata - Steve Coleman: Genesis - Marcus Roberts: Blues for the New Millennium - ICP Orchestra: Jubilee Varia - Vandermark 5: Single Piece Flow - David Liebman: Time Immemorial - Wynton Marsalis: Blood on the Fields - Franz Koglmann: O Moon My Pin Up - Courtney Pine: Underground - Leo Smith: Golden Hearts Remembrance - Keith Tippett: Colours Fulfilled - Joe Lovano: Trio Fascination - David Liebman: The Elements - Water - Pat Metheny Group: Imaginary Day Deaths [edit] - Anne Lenner, vocalist - Arthur Prysock, singer - Bernard Anderson, trumpeter - Beverly Peer, double-bassist - Big Nick Nicholas, saxophonist and vocalist - Carson Smith, double-bassist - Charles Moffett, drummer - Chuck Andrus, double-bassist - Chuck Wayne, guitarist - Dick Marx, pianist and arranger - Dick Shearer, trombonist - Doc Cheatham, trumpeter, singer and bandleader - Duncan Swift, pianist - Eddie Jones - Eric Von Essen, bassist, pianist and composer - George Chisholm, trombonist - George Handy, arranger, composer and pianist - Horst Lippmann, - Hugh Lawson, pianist - Jimmy Witherspoon, singer - Joe Roccisano, saxophonist and arranger - Johnny "Hammond" Smith, - Johnny Coles, trumpeter - Johnny Mince, clarinetist - Lou Bennett, organist - Louis Barbarin, drummer - Mouse Randolph, trumpeter - Seldon Powell, tenor saxophonist and flautist - Shake Keane, trumpeter and poet - Stan Barker, pianist - Stéphane Grappelli, violinist - Tete Montoliu, pianist - Thelma Carpenter, singer and actress - Thurman Green, trombonist - Tommy Tedesco, guitarist - Tommy Turrentine, trumpeter - Tony Williams - Wally Rose, pianist - Zachary Breaux, guitarist External links [edit] References [edit] - ^ "Imdb entry for 1997 film "Blue Note - A Story of Modern Jazz".". Retrieved 10 May 2012. This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Fast BuddyPress Development Working with BuddyPress on top of WordPress is a super exciting thing, it adds a whole new dimension to the platform and really demonstrates huge potential. BuddyPress like other plugins expands on the core functionality WordPress offers. Although it is important as a freelancer or company to recognise that BuddyPress unlike other plugins adds functionality of epic proportions. This tutorial aims to show you how to demonstrate a proof of concept quickly and functionally without making any best practice cardinal sins. Introduction Over the course of this tutorial we will use a combination of PHP, jQuery and WordPress functions to extend BuddyPress far enough to demonstrate a concept. Working on member profiles we will without any recourse add a link that allows users to visit a member bookmarks area. The bookmarks area will be populated with a list of bookmarks a member has decided to save whilst browsing any BuddyPress enabled site. The scope of bookmarks which can be saved will only be applied to WordPress posts for now, however you may look to build on this further and apply it to other areas of a WordPress powered web site that produces a permalink. Step 1 The Essentials We will be building upon the bp-default theme today and creating our own child theme. Below is the structure you should have created. - style.css – Some additional styles for icons, buttons and lists (this will not be discussed). - sidebar.php – We will call our widget from here. - header.php – One modification required. - functions.php – Register scripts and a apply a filter. - _inc/img/ – A number of image files to be used. - _inc/js/bookmarks.js – jQuery and AJAX. - members/single/home.php – Some PHP logic to enable the template loader. - members/single/bookmarks/ajax.php – Used for our AJAX calls. - members/single/bookmarks/loop.php – Retrieval of bookmarks via member profiles. - members/single/bookmarks/remove.php – Deletion of bookmarks via my member profile. - members/single/bookmarks/save.php – Storage of bookmarks via my member profile. - members/single/bookmarks/view.php – Hacky bookmark template loader. - members/single/bookmarks/widget.php – Called into site sidebar.php. style.css – Within style.css we need a bare minimum amount of code to allow for theme selection via wp-admin. Let’s do that now. /* Theme Name: Bookmark theme Description: Child theme from bp-default with added support for member bookmarks. Version: 1.0 Author: WPTuts Author URI: Tags: buddypress Template: bp-default */ Tags: buddypress will notify BuddyPress that we are using a BP enabled theme. Template: bp-default will instruct BuddyPress that when this theme is active to inherit its functionality from the bp-default theme unless a theme file has been modified. Within sidebar.php we need to load the widget.php. locate_template(array('members/single/bookmarks/widget.php'), true); Step 2 functions.php – Register Script Let’s go ahead and register the bookmarks.js file, it will be required on every page from here on out. In functions.php add the following. function px_bookmark_scripts() if(!is_admin()) wp_enqueue_script( 'px-scripts-functions', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/_inc/js/bookmarks.js', array('jquery'), '1.0', true ); } add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts','px_bookmark_scripts'); wp_enqueue_script accepts 5 parameters. - Handle – Give your script a name. - Source – Path to your script. - Dependencies – Which scripts will your script need to function. - Version – Version number of your script. - In footer – If false your script will be loaded with wp_head. If set to true it will load with wp_footer. Browsers of our site will be able to add or remove a WordPress post to their bookmarks by clicking an anchor which reads “Add to bookmarks” or “Remove from bookmarks” located to the bottom of each post. When either anchor is clicked we will use AJAX and make a request to a PHP script. Once executed we will update the sidebar widget. Should the browser be logged in as a member of the site they can then save any “Lists of bookmarks” which are currently stored within the session and displayed in the widget. functions.php… function px_bookmark_link() global $post; if(@in_array($post->ID, $_SESSION['bookmarks'])) : $content .= 'Remove from bookmarks'; else : $content .= 'Add to bookmarks'; endif; return $content; add_filter('the_tags', 'px_bookmark_link'); This function is called at each iteration of “the loop” by utilising add_filter and the_tags as our hook. We let WordPress know that within this function we want access to items within $wp_query and consequently $post. This will allow us to retrieve the_id, the_title and the_permalink. Some logic is applied when this code executes to determine which link to show. If the user already has the item within their current session we will show a “Remove from bookmarks” anchor and vice versa. in_array() allows us to check this. in_array() will flag notices if error_reporting has that directive, we use the @ symbol to suppress these notices (hacky). Using the data returned in $post we form two anchors for adding and removing bookmarks (all data attributes important here) to be later used with our AJAX calls in bookmarks.js. For a full reference of available filters visit the codex. Step 3 Widget – Proof of Concept Now we have our link in place let’s create the widget which will appear in the sidebar at all times and will be populated or emptied on demand. The image above reflects the final states of the widget in 3 scenarios. - No bookmarks whilst being logged in or logged out. - Bookmarks currently saved in session whilst not logged in. - Bookmarks currently saved in session whilst being logged in. The next block of code is placed within widget.php and nested within HTML markup. if($_SESSION['bookmarks']) : foreach($_SESSION['bookmarks'] as $key => $value) : $keys[] = $key; $start_count = min($keys); endforeach; endif; for($i = $start_count; $i < $start_count + count($_SESSION['bookmarks']); $i++) : if($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]) : $bookmark = get_post($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]); echo ' When building this project there was a problem with session data that kept cropping up upon output. Some values were being removed but the key was persisting. Setting a $start_count later to be used when printing the session data solved this problem. The important thing to note here is how to retrieve items from $_SESSION['bookmarks'] which will be created in the next stage. At each iteration we use get_post() to query the WordPress database with the stored integer values in $_SESSION['bookmarks']. Which will return all the human readable data we need. if(is_user_logged_in()) : // Show SAVE button else : // Show "LOGIN TO SAVE" message. endif; if($_SESSION['bookmarks']) : // Show CLEAR button endif; This final piece of logic within widget.php determines which buttons and text to show alongside the widget depending on the state of the current session and also if the user is logged in or out. Step 4 Adding Bookmarks via AJAX jQuery is awesome, here we’ll use the delegate method and listen for clicks on our important anchors. We’ll check for the following items being clicked. - Anchors with a class of add-bookmark - Anchors with a class of delete-bookmark - Anchors with a class of clear-bookmarks Using hasClass we can test which item has been clicked within the delegate method and serve the desired AJAX call. Should you be building this into a larger project please consider using a pubsub pattern. var $bookmark_widget = $('#px-bookmarks'), $bookmark_form = $('#px-bookmarks form'), $bookmark_widget_list = $('#px-bookmarks .current-bookmarks'), $empty_widget = $('#px-bookmarks p'), $widget_buttons = $('#px-bookmarks .widget-buttons'), $login_notify = $('#px-bookmarks .login-notify'), // This should be changed to reflect your domain. $ajax_path = ''; First log some variables so we are not “splashing around in the DOM” too much. All DOM selectors above are located within widget.php. $(".add-bookmark, .delete-bookmark, .clear-bookmarks").delegate(this, 'click', function(e) e.preventDefault(); ); We tell jQuery to listen for click on all of the listed classes and via the callback function we will then tell it what to do. The next portions of code to be added will be placed directly after e.preventDefault(). Using preventDefault() is a smarter way of nullifying the default action when JavaScript is present. Here is some discussion surrounding preventDefault() on Stack Overflow. The next portions of code to be added will be placed directly after e.preventDefault(). var $post_id = $(this).data('post-id'), $post_name = $(this).data('post-name'), $post_href = $(this).attr('href'), $that = $(this); Once a user has clicked any of the “important anchors” we need to store the data attribute values which were attached to anchors in Step 2. This will allow us to send and retrieve the data we want. The next code can become a little verbose as we will be showing and hiding elements based on which item has been clicked, with that pre-cursor the code below is the bare minimum which will function without aesthetics in mind. However please do download the source and look to these lines. if($that.hasClass('add-bookmark')) $.ajax( url: $ajax_path + '?method=add', type: 'GET', data: 'post_id=' + $post_id, success: function(returndata) if($bookmark_widget_list.children().length === 0) // Show / hide $bookmark_widget_list.prepend(' Here we use hasClass to distinguish which item was clicked by using jQuery to search against our clicked item. Based on the outcome we setup our AJAX call a little bit differently each time. With the url and data being requested and sent each time changing slightly. Notice ?method=add appended to $ajax_path. This is the equivalent of. When adding a bookmark to the current session the only item we need to pass to our PHP code is the id of that post which was stored into the $post_id variable. When jQuery receives a successful response we then append that item to the current bookmark list within the widget area as a list item. Using $post_id, $post_name and $post_href here. When the page is refreshed the code added to widget.php in step 3 will kick in. On line 7 of the last snippet there is a small subroutine within the success method which determines if there are any list items present within the widget area. This is the previously-mentioned-slightly-verbose code which does nothing more than show and hide some DOM elements. It has been removed for readability here on Wptuts+. Moving on… if($that.hasClass('delete-bookmark')) $.ajax( url: $ajax_path + '?method=delete', type: 'GET', data: 'post_id=' + $post_id, success: function(returndata) if($bookmark_widget_list.children().length <= 1) // Show / hide $('#bookmark-'+ $post_id).remove(); } }); } Much like if($that.hasClass('add-bookmark')) here we check for items clicked that have the class of delete-bookmark. Once this subroutine has been entered the url in the AJAX call is altered slightly by sending over a different query string. Namely ?method=delete. When a successful response is returned we remove that list item from the current bookmarks stored within the widget. Applying some logic in the same fashion as the add-bookmark subroutine to determine if the item removed is going to be the final item. Based on this outcome here DOM elements are again shown or hidden. if($that.hasClass('clear-bookmarks')) $.ajax( url: $ajax_path + '?method=clear', success: function(returndata) // Show / hide $('.postmetadata .delete-bookmark').each(function(index) // Bookmark list cleared, set anchors attached to posts to default. $(this).removeClass().addClass('add-bookmark').html('Add to bookmarks'); ); } }); } The final code snippet here is used to clear all bookmarks within the widget by setting the url query string to a different method and resetting any anchors on the page to the default "Add to bookmarks" to reflect an empty $_SESSION. This is done by utilising jQuery's each method to find all occurrences of the class delete-bookmark (anchor attached to posts using add_filter) and switching it back to the default add-bookmark. Step 5 PHP Requested via AJAX Now we will create the PHP code referenced in the AJAX calls above which will be used to add, delete and clear all bookmarks from the session. Within ajax.php we will create the following 3 functions. add_bookmark() delete_bookmark() clear_bookmarks() Let's first create add_bookmark() function add_bookmark() $post_id = $_GET['post_id']; if(@!in_array($post_id, $_SESSION['bookmarks'])) : $_SESSION['bookmarks'][] = $post_id; endif; First we store the $post_id previously passed over in bookmarks.js via data: 'post_id=' + $post_id. Next we use the in_array function again to determine if this item should be added to the bookmarks session. function delete_bookmark() $post_id = $_GET['post_id']; foreach($_SESSION['bookmarks'] as $key => $value) : $keys[] = $key; endforeach; $start_count = min($keys); if(@in_array($post_id, $_SESSION['bookmarks'])) : for($i = $start_count; $i < $start_count + count($_SESSION['bookmarks']); $i++) : if($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i] === $post_id) : unset($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]); endif; endfor; endif; Within the delete_bookmark() function we again store the $post_id. Using the same technique to output our bookmarks in widget.php a $start_count is established. Next we determine if the item passed ( $post_id) exists within the bookmarks session via in_array, and unset any values that are matched. function clear_bookmark() session_start(); session_unset(); session_destroy(); Finally the clear_bookmark() function destroys all session data. We will need one more piece of code for this file to be complete. Head to the top of the file and add the following. session_start(); $method = $_GET['method']; switch($method) case "add" : add_bookmark(); break; case "delete" : delete_bookmark(); break; case "clear" : clear_bookmark(); break; We use session_start() to resume the current session. This is crucial here. Next we store the method which is sent over with url in our $.ajax calls. Based on the current value of $method we call the appropriate function. Step 6 Bookmarks on Members Profiles The files we will be dealing with for the remainder of this tutorial are listed below. - members/single/home.php – This file is a modified version of bp-default/members/single/home.php. - members/single/bookmarks/loop.php – Used to retrieve any previously saved member bookmark lists. - members/single/bookmarks/remove.php – Used to delete any saved bookmark lists. - members/single/bookmarks/save.php – Used to save any bookmark lists stored within the current session. - members/single/bookmarks/view.php – Used as a makeshift template loader. Inside home.php we will add a list item to the unordered list within the div with an id of item-nav. Using the $bp global we can quickly form the URL required. global $bp; echo ' This is one of smaller sins we make along the road to demonstrate proof of concept. However to re-iterate proof-of-concept and speedy development is the important factor here. Should we decide to expand this feature more we would look to using BuddyPress hooks. if($_GET['component'] == 'bookmarks') : locate_template(array('members/single/bookmarks/view.php'), true); Still within home.php we check against the query string which will allow us to serve custom templates. if(!$_GET['action']) : locate_template(array( 'members/single/bookmarks/loop.php'), true); elseif($_GET['action'] == 'save' && is_user_logged_in() && bp_is_home()) : locate_template(array( 'members/single/bookmarks/save.php'), true); elseif($_GET['action'] == 'remove' && is_user_logged_in() && bp_is_home()) : locate_template(array( 'members/single/bookmarks/remove.php' ), true); endif; Within view.php (our make-shift template loader) we check for 2 actions and if none has been defined we show the list of saved bookmarks. Back in step 3 some logic was added to determine which anchors to show within the widget based on the current state of $_SESSION['bookmarks'] and whether or not the user was logged in. Let's create a small table in the database which will be used to store a list of bookmarks which correspond to each member. DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `bookmarks`; CREATE TABLE `bookmarks` ( `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, `user_id` int(11) NOT NULL, `created` date NOT NULL, `post_ids` text NOT NULL, `list_name` text NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY (`id`) ) The MySQL above will create a new table with 5 fields for us to store bookmark data. Once created it's time to move into save.php. Whilst the user is accessing save.php we will present a form with a text input, here the user will be required to give a label to the list of bookmarks he or she would like to save. Once a label has been provided we will store each bookmark list as a row within the database (for later retrieval) and clear the current session. if(!$_POST['px-bookmark-list-name']) : // Present form asking to give list a name // Stage 1 elseif($_POST['px-bookmark-list-name']) : // Label supplied store to database. // Stage 2 endif; Now within stage 1 of save.php... // If form submitted but no label supplied present error. if($_POST['submit'] && !isset($_POST['px-bookmark-list-name'])) : echo ' A label is required.'; endif; // Establish the start counter if($_SESSION['bookmarks']) : foreach($_SESSION['bookmarks'] as $key => $value) : $keys[] = $key; endforeach; $start_count = min($keys); endif; // Loop over items and store in hidden form fields. for($i = $start_count; $i < $start_count + count($_SESSION['bookmarks']); $i++) : if($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i] !== NULL) : $bookmark = get_post($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]); echo ''; echo ''; echo ''; echo ''; endif; endfor; First we display an error if no label has been supplied. Next we use the same technique from widget.php and ajax.php to establish a start counter and iterate over the session data. Finally we output some form fields with the help of get_post. global $bp; foreach($_POST['px-post-id'] as $value) : $posts_to_save[] = $value; endforeach; $posts = serialize($posts_to_save); During stage 2 of save.php we gain access to the $bp global. We loop over the $_POST data and store posts to be saved as an array. This is then serialized and stored into the $posts variable. $list_name = $_POST['px-bookmark-list-name']; $query = $wpdb->insert( 'bookmarks', array( 'user_id' => $bp->loggedin_user->id, 'created' => current_time('mysql'), 'post_ids' => $posts, 'list_name' => $list_name ), array( '%d', // user_id '%s', // created '%s', // post_ids '%s' // list_name ) ); Next we store the label supplied by the user for this bookmark list into a variable and utilise WPDB to insert the row to the database. if($query) : echo ''; echo ''; session_start(); session_unset(); session_destroy(); else : echo ' List saved.'; echo ''; echo ''; endif; There was an error.'; echo ' Finally we check if the query was successful and unset session data, otherwise display an error. Step 7 Retrieving and Deleting Bookmarks Remember, in view.php when no particular action is set we will load loop.php. In this file $wpdb will be used to retrieve and output any bookmarks lists. global $bp; $displayed_user = $bp->displayed_user->id; $bookmark_lists = $wpdb->get_results( "SELECT * FROM bookmarks WHERE user_id = $displayed_user ORDER BY id DESC"); Using the $bp global the id of the profile being displayed is stored into the $displayed_user variable. Next we perform a query against the bookmarks table with the stored $displayed_user as a where condition. if($bookmark_lists) : foreach($bookmark_lists as $bookmark_list) : echo $bookmark_list->list_name; $post_ids = unserialize($bookmark_list->post_ids); foreach($post_ids as $post_id) : $bookmark = get_post($post_id); echo ''.$bookmark->post_title.''; endforeach; endforeach; endif; When results are returned they are displayed by looping over the data and outputting accordingly. Here we make use of unserialize to reverse the effects of serialize which was used to store bookmarks previously. We can make one more addition to the previous block of code. if(is_user_logged_in() && bp_is_home()) : echo 'Delete list'; endif; This will add an anchor to the title of each list which when clicked will pass a new action of remove along with the bookmark list id. Which leads us to our final stage... Deleting a bookmark list. Open up remove.php and let's finish this off. if(isset($_GET['action']) == 'remove' && isset($_GET['id'])) : $list_id = $_GET['id']; global $bp; $user_id = $bp->loggedin_user->id; $query = $wpdb->query("DELETE FROM bookmarks WHERE id = $list_id AND user_id = $user_id"); if($query) : echo ''; echo ''; else : echo ' List deleted.'; echo ''; echo ''; endif; endif; There was an error.'; echo ' First we make sure the action is set to remove and there is an id to build a small query with. Next we store some user data and run the query. Users should only be able to delete lists that belong to them, using $bp->loggedin_user->id helps us achieve this. Finally we serve a message depending on the outcome. Conclusion Over the course of this tutorial a number of techniques have been applied. Using jQuery, raw PHP, WordPress conventions and BuddyPress we have been able to illustrate a nice feature to be added to your social network site powered by WordPress and BuddyPress. Out of the box BuddyPress does not come with a bookmarks manager attached to member profiles and there isn't a plugin out there that functions exactly like this. A bookmarks manager is one example but this could be anything. The main goal of this tutorial was to illustrate how quickly and effectively you can hi-jack BuddyPress to demonstrate proof of concept. With some know-how this could be put together in an evening with little trouble at all. The time commitment is tangible and could be factored into a monthly maintenance contract. However if a client desired more features from the bookmarks manager such as a dashboard widget and more in-depth features you would be stepping into the realms of a plugin. Data has not been sanitised in this tutorial so please make sure if you are to place this into a "real world" environment, go through a little bit of validation before-hand. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and any discrepancies you may find please do leave a comment and will do my best to help you through it. Original from: Recent Comments

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The Illinois Fighting Illini will play Wake Forest in the women’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Last season, the Illini defeated the Clemson Tigers 61-50 in the women’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge. According to fightingillini.com, “Illinois head coach Matt Bollant is 3-0 against the ACC with all three meetings coming as the head coach of Green Bay.” Wake Forest had an ACC conference record of 7-9 last season. Their overall record was 20-14. Mar 2, 2012; Greensboro, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons players including guard Millesa Calicott (15) and forward Dearica Hamby (25) celebrate after beating the Miami Hurricanes 81-74 in their quarterfinal game of the 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-US PRESSWIRE This season, the Demon Deacons are led on offense by senior guard Lakevia Boykin and junior guard Chelsea Douglas. Both Boykin and Douglas are averaging double-digit points. Douglas is averaging 13.0 points per game while Boykin is averaging 11.7 points per game. As a team, the Demon Deacons are averaging 58.8 points per game. Just like the men’s basketball team experienced in their ACC/Big Ten challenge game, Wake Forest looks to be a “rebound by committee” kind of team. They have four players averaging five or more rebounds per game. These four players are senior forward Mykala Walker (5.5), sophomore forward Dearica Hamby (5.7), senior center Sandra Garcia (5.2), and senior guard Asia Williams (5.0). Expect all of these players to get after the broads for Wake Forest in this game. This will be the second meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Demon Deacons. Illinois currently leads the series 1-0. Illinois last met Wake Forest on December 2nd, 2009. The Illini overcame a 17-point second-half deficit and won 65-50. If Illinois wants to win this game, their offense will need to stay hot. They are averaging 75.2 points per game this season and are ranked 33rd in the country. The Illini will need to get big offensive output from junior guard Amber Moore (14.0 points per game), sophomore guard Ivory Crawford (15.6 points per game), and senior forward Karisma Penn (18.4 points per game). Make sure to follow me on Twitter @RickyWidmer. Check out my other writings on the Oregon Ducks blog, Autzen Zoo. Topics: Amber Moore, Basketball, Illinois Fighting Illini, Karisma Penn, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Wow! What a tough life at boot camp! Getting yelled at while eating! Good grief!!! I wish your son all the best!!!!. Take care x I wouldn't really want to be going through that sort of camp! Shouted at while eating . . . I knew Marines went through a lot, but geez! There's just something about letters that's different from an electronic message. It's more personal, and they're not stored in the cloud somewhere. I'm here as a part of Theresa's Halloween Haunting! :) I have heard about boot camp. But, Wow! That is tough. I send best wishes to your son. Many, Many years ago, I used to write letters, too bad it is a dying art, it is so personal and I always felt closer to the person when I read them. I'm hear as a part of Theresa's Halloween Haunting! oh the poor dear, Is mom allowed to send him a batch of homemade cookies?. Your poor son! I am shocked that the recruits get shouted at while eating. How you must treasure his letters! Christine, That is awesome that you still write letters. Joanna, No packages allowed! But he said he's getting lots of pudding, so he likes that. Choices, I used to write them too, which is why I guess the idea is nostalgic. Then years later, the friends or family members would give them back to me so I'd have a record, which is really a wonderful gift. The Golden Eagle, Welcome! "stored in the cloud somewhere" LOL. Kitty, how wonderful that you have those letters from the past! Boo! I came over from Theresa's Haunting Halloween post. I look forward to reading more of your blog...I am big on memoirs too! All my best wishes to your son. Praying for him. Boot camp is AWFUL! :) I am following from Theresa's Halloween Haunting. Love your blog. :) I'm following you from Theresa's haunting too. I like your blog and as a mail delivery man I lament the demise of personal letters too. My delivery bags are now filled with magazines and junk mail which nobody wants,letter writing is becoming a dying art so its good to find people keeping it alive :) I love writing letters, too! My Mom and I wrote to each other, every week of the 20 years that I lived in Maryland. I still have all of them, hers and mine, and treasure them, as they are a record of our lives, during that time. These letters from your son are priceless! I must say that boot camp doesn't sound like much fun, though. Wishing him all the best in a difficult situation!

By Alicia Lutes, Hollywood.com Staff Here we go again! One of my favorite (and by favorite I mean least-favorite) things the big ole Hollywood machine can do: sequelize and franchise everything. And since The Weinstein Company and Miramax penned a deal allowing them to do such a thing back in 2010, no movie is safe. You might've thought ""eh, we're nearly three years out from that deal: [insert favorite movie here] is probably safe."" And well, we hate to break it to you, but you might've thought wrong. Because here comes the sequel you maybe forgot you wanted (or possibly don't!): Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The acclaimed 2000 Chinese film picked up a bevy of awards (I believe the technical term is ""all of the awards, ever, jeez"") when the Ang Lee made its way into the hearts and theaters of critics everywhere. So it's no surprise that Harvey and friends would want to capitalize on that sort of success, but, ugh, do we have to? Whatever happend to leaving well enough alone? It seems as though Weinstein and Sony don't particularly care either way, as Deadline is reporting that filming is already slated to begin in May. The film, based on a series of books by the author Du Lu Wang more commonly known as the Crane-Iron Series (of which there are five), will continue to be set in Asia. As for the story? Well, the project already has a script from John Fusco and is courting director Ronny Yu to helm the production, said to be based on the series' fifth book Iron Knight, Silver Vase. It will continue to revolve around the character Yu Shu Lien (originated by Michelle Yeoh), and while it's not clear which actors will reprise roles, some are expected to do just that. ""This introduces a new generation of star-crossed lovers, and a new series of antagonists in a battle of good and evil. ... I found characters from the second and third books in the series to create a most interesting stew while being as true to the source material as I could be,"" explained Fusco. No word on if the sequel will be titled Pouncing Tiger, Visible Dragon, but there's always hope. What do you think of the sequel news? Excited or over it? Sound off in the comments below! [Photo Credit: Sony] Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialutes More: J.J. Abrams Directing Next 'Star Wars' Movie REPORT Amy Poehler and Adam Scott Reteam in Excellent Divorce Comedy 'A.C.O.D.' Joaquin Phoenix Reunites with His 'Master' Paul Thomas Anderson for 'Inherent Vice' You Might Also Like: Manti Te'O Comes Clean About Girlfriend Hoax 100 Hottest Women of the Century: PICS

WASHINGTON - Few movies jack me up like "Alien" (1979), combining the best tagline in movie history -- "In space, no one can hear you scream" -- with a classic monster in the house design for cinema's most terrifying monster. What's scarier than an alien life form that straps itself to your face, inserts its genitalia down your throat and impregnates you with offspring that hatches out of your chest? "It solves the ultimate problem of the haunted house," said movie critic Maitland McDonagh. "Why don't the people just get out of the house? In 'Alien,' there's no where to go." Ridley Scott's space shocker reinvented science fiction as much as his dystopian urban follow up "Blade Runner" (1982). Ironically, Scott abandoned the genre for the last three decades to dabble in others: the buddy flick ("Thelma and Louise"), the sword-and-sandal epic ("Gladiator"), the action war flick ("Black Hawk Down") and the gangster picture ("American Gangster"). Now 30 years later, he returns to his genre wheelhouse, and the result is well worth the wait. "Prometheus" is less a prequel about the origins of "Alien" as it is a quasi- related meditation on the origins of mankind. You won't find Ellen Ripley, the starship Nostromo or H.R. Giger's iconic alien creature (or will you?). "The alien had its run, but you can't see that guy again," Scott told USA TODAY. "He's no longer frightening. Iconic, but too familiar." Instead, we get a new team of explorers in the year 2089. Infertile archaeologist Elizabeth Shaw (Naomi Rapace, the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo") and her lover Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover an earthly clue to the origins of mankind and embark on a mission to find who or what planted it there. They board the spaceship Prometheus, led by strict mission manager Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), a smooth pilot with a Stephen Stills accordion (Idris Elba) and the multi-lingual android Dave, played brilliantly by Michael Fassbender, who looks like "Lawrence of Arabia" and talks like HAL 9000. Like the best science fiction, the conflict is sparked by mankind's overreach. As Dr. Frankenstein said, "As God as my witness, now I know what it's like to be God." Hence the name "Prometheus," which was the name of the Greek God who paid a price for trying to bring mortals up to the level of the gods. Just as these humans are trying to meet their maker, Dave the android yearns to outsmart his. This conversation unfolds between Dave and Charlie over a billiard table where Dave asks, "Why do you think your people made me?" Charlie responds, "We made you 'cause we could," to which Dave responds, "Can you imagine how disappointing it would be for you to hear the same thing?" "Prometheus" tries to answer this age old question with a commentary on faith. We see Shaw's cryogenic dreams of her Christian childhood, then we see Dave remove her crucifix necklace, only for her to later replace it. When Charlie says the discovery of alien DNA disproves her beliefs, she simply responds, "But who made them?" Dave is dumbfounded: "After all this, you still believe?" Ultimately, Scott says none of us truly knows the answer, and we choose to believe what we want to believe. We choose to make a leap of faith. All the while, he purposefully places a Christmas tree blinking in the background, moments before a "supernatural" birth. Such symbolic mise-en-scene (the placement of all elements in the frame) highlights why Scott is a respected director. The franchise has been blessed with some very talented filmmakers -- James Cameron ("Titanic") in "Aliens" (1986), David Fincher ("Fight Club") in "Alien 3" (1992) and Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Amelie) in "Alien: Resurrection" (1997). But after the abominations of "Alien vs. Predator" (2004) and "Alien vs. Predator: Requiem" (2007), it's great having the original visionary back in the director's chair. Scott knows how to create gorgeous compositions, and the carefully composed set pieces remind me of Kubrick's best futuristic designs. Dare I say "Prometheus" is the most visually stunning movie Scott has yet done? Such rich cinematic spaces become all the more impressive when they eventually become covered in blood. Scott takes his time in getting here, handling the gore eloquently. While Spielberg kept "Jaws" hidden from view for logistical reasons -- the mechanical shark simply didn't work -- Scott famously fought studio execs to keep his alien hidden from view. In "Prometheus," his approach is more like Cameron's in "Aliens," favoring special effects action over the unseen corners of darkness of "Alien." This is most successful in an awesomely grotesque "surgical chamber" scene that had me squirming in my seat, mixing claustrophobia with tokophobia (fear of childbirth) - - the exact fears that made the original "Alien" so effective. These effects-heavy choices could keep Scott from winning his Oscar yet again, but he is long overdue. His films (i.e. "Gladiator") have swept the Oscars, but he himself has never won, having been nominated for best director three times and losing to Jonathan Demme for "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991), Steven Soderbergh for "Traffic" (2000) and Ron Howard for "A Beautiful Mind" (2001). In "Prometheus," we can see the knack for storytelling that makes him one of the elites working today. He happily eats up screen time, building tension before any blood is shed, but keeping us gripped the entire way. I had that same sense of dread in my stomach that I had watching "Deliverance" (1972), as the director draws out the dread before whacking you with horror. The dread comes with a fear of the unknown, rallied by Scott's showmanship. Like DeMille or Spielberg, he has a sort of P.T. Barnum quality, building buzz like Alfred Hitchcock, who forbid moviegoers from entering the theater after the start of "Psycho" (1960) and held faux casting sessions for the role of Mrs. Bates. Scott has used online buzz and talk show appearances to create intrigue over the film's secrets, including Theron joking with Stephen Colbert that studio snipers would probably shoot her if she spilled any secrets. After all, this is a franchise built on surprises. When shooting the famous "chest bursting" scene in the original "Alien," Scott did not tell his actors it was about to happen. Suddenly, John Hurt began convulsing and blood shoot into the air. Those are real screams on the faces of the actors, and thus BRAVO voted it the #2 Scariest Movie Moment of All Time: "Prometheus" certainly has its own surprises, like a throwback "Easter egg" just before the end credits, but other unveilings could have used more attention. I wish the script had explored Theron's character more, and I didn't understand the casting of Guy Pearce as the elderly founder of the expedition. Why not just cast an old man? Instead, it looks like a young guy caked in makeup. Overall, I felt like the build up was much stronger than the payoff, with an ending that doesn't quite satisfy the reason for mankind's existence. Perhaps to leave room for another sequel? Even so, it's one hell of a ride, and you have to admire Scott's ambition as he tries to match Kubrick's "2001: A Spacey Odyssey" (1968) and Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" (2011). The epic tale had me gripped from start to finish, with enough allusions to satisfy fans of the original (i.e. Jerry Goldsmith's eerie score), and enough of a standalone journey to thrill the newbies. Scott's first sci-fi effort since "Blade Runner" is a replicant worth seeing. That is, if you can stomach it.)

Virginia News Va. launching adoption campaign Friday McDonnell to launch campaign Friday to match 1,000 foster children with adoptive families Coal ship's Va. departure blocked US appeals court blocks coal ship detained in Virginia from sailing off to Brazil GOP's Cuccinelli outlines campaign energy policy Republican Ken Cuccinelli is proposing cuts to taxes and regulations on energy to stimulate its growth in Virginia if he's elected governor this year. Private spaceship tests underway in Va, Calif A Colorado company developing a spaceship to take astronauts to the International Space Station is having its spacecraft undergo a series of landing-focused tests at NASA facilities in Virginia and California. $1M Powerball ticket sold in Christiansburg The Virginia Lottery says someone bought a $1 million Powerball ticket in Christiansburg. Appeals court in Va. hears health reform challenge Liberty University's challenge to the Obama administration's health care law is back in the hands of a federal appeals court in Virginia. Explosion in Augusta County damages truck Virginia State Police are investigating an explosion that damaged a pickup truck in the Augusta County community of Pastures, Va. Chartres Cathedral labyrinth replica planned in Va Unity of Charlottesville plans full-scale replica of Chartres Cathedral's labyrinth Heritage group appeals city's Confederate flag ban Sons of Confederate Veterans claims Va. city's limit on Confederate flag muzzles its speech . Invasive fish move into Rappahannock River Invasive northern snakehead fish move into Rappahannock River, state hopes to contain them Owner of Va. hotel settles fall lawsuit for $10.9M Owner of hotel in Norfolk, mother settle lawsuit over toddler's fall from walkway for $10.9M Dominion Resources to cut about 150 positions Dominion Resources to eliminate about 150 positions in move to reduce costs D.C. ranks as top departure city for international travel For international travel, Washington area airports are at the top of CardHub.com's list. Kings Dominion hiring for central Va. park Kings Dominion amid 'hiring blitz' as central Va. park gears up for the summer Hundreds of aftershocks since 2011 Va. quake Since powerful , Virginia-centered 2011 quake, more than 450 aftershocks have been recorded Va. man pleads to synthetic marijuana counts Virginia Beach man admits to US charges of distributing synthetic marijuana Va. man's lucky lotto streak alive with 4th win Lucky streak is alive for Virginia man with 4th scratch-off lottery win; total take tops $2M $15.4 billion roads draft heavy on Hampton Roads Hampton Roads area would see major highway projects under draft plan fattened by fresh revenue VDOT reaches deal on pothole repair claims The Virginia Department of Transportation has reached a deal to repay some motorists whose vehicles were damaged by potholes in Hampton Roads. Hi: 70 °F | Lo: 59 °F

TV Are the cables in your living room creating a jungle? Don't worry – we'll help you untangle things so that Digital Television makes sense. Just pick the category that describes your problem, and we'll guide you through it – step-by-step. Using Parental Controls Last Updated: Mon, 23 May 2011 > Related Articles Summary Parental Controls allow you to block programs by channel, rating, or time of day. Solution Create Parental Controls - Select and lock the channels, ratings, or time of day. - Turn Parental Control on for the entire system. Lock and Unlock by Title The Lock by Title function prevents NC-17 and Adult programming from displaying on the channel banner or in the onscreen guide. This function will restrict program viewing. - Press Menu to open the Settings Menu. - Press the Up or Down arrow and highlight Parental Control. - Press the Right arrow. - Enter your 4 digit PIN. - Press the Up or Down arrow and highlight Lock Titles. - Press the Right arrow. - Press the Up or Down arrow to highlight Yes or No and press Select. Unlock by Channel - In the Program Guide, press Select on the channel you want to watch. If the channel is locked, the following message will appear: Viewing is blocked due to Parental Control. - Press Select. - Press the Up or Down arrow to highlight Unlock This Channel Only. - Press Select, and enter your PIN. Result: A confirmation screen will appear stating: Lock is disabled for the channel. Locking Parental Controls When you lock Parental Controls, you activate all settings for locked channels, ratings, titles and time periods. If you have not locked any channels, ratings, titles or time periods, locking Parental Control has no effect. When Parental Control locking is turned on, programming matching your lock settings is blocked. To view locked programming requires PIN entry to turn off Parental Control for the channel or all channels. If Parental Control is set to Off/Relock, it remains off until the coble box power is turned off and on, or if there is no activity for five hours. After that, Parental Control automatically relocks. Locking Parental Control From the Settings Menu - Press the MENU button until the Settings menu displays. - Press the up or down arrow button to highlight the Parental Control preference. - Press the right arrow to move to the Option column. - Press the numbered buttons to enter the four numbers of your PIN. Result: The Option column displays. - Press the up or down arrow button to highlight the Locking option. - Press the right arrow button to move to the Setting column. - Press the up or down arrow button to highlight the On option. - Press the SELECT button. This turns on locking. - From the settings column, you may select to do one of the following: - To continue configuring the Parental Control options, press the left arrow button once to return to the options display and select the next option you wish to set. - To continue configuring other Settings, press the left arrow button twice to return to the preference display and select the next preference you wish to set. - To exit the Settings menu, press the EXIT button. Understanding TV Ratings Need More Help? Technical Support Live Chat Send An Email To Cox.com Join the Discussion Support Forums Find Your Nearest Service Center Give Us A Call 24/7 Phone Support Additional Contacts Local Information

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 Lewis-Gale NICU plans generate opposition Carilion and a state panel say a new neonatal intensive care unit is not needed. Related MedBeat blog An effort by Lewis-Gale Medical Center to add a neonatal intensive care unit faces two hurdles, including opposition from Carilion Clinic and a state government report recommending against allowing the new service. The Salem hospital, which is owned by the national for-profit company HCA Inc., is seeking approval from the Virginia health commissioner to add an NICU with eight specialty bassinets to treat babies born with complications, such as those who are premature or have low birth weight. The government report, which was completed by staff working for the Virginia Department of Health, says the $3.4 million Lewis-Gale project does not appear to be economically viable and would be a duplication of services already available at Carilion. Lewis-Gale had projected that the NICU would lose $91,290 in the first year and $60,678 in the second year. But the staff report suggests that the loss is "significantly understated." Lewis-Gale spokeswoman Nancy May said the project is not intended to be a profitmaker for the hospital system. "Over the long term, it may break even, or there might be a modest profit," she said. Instead Lewis-Gale officials have been consistent in saying they are interested in establishing an NICU to help keep mothers and babies together in the same hospital. "We want to provide the very best service for our moms and babies," May said. "The bottom line when you have a baby who needs NICU services, it is in the best interest of the mom, the baby, and the family to be able to keep that mom and baby together." Carilion did not oppose the project during a public hearing in September, but the health system's head of pediatrics, Dr. Alice Ackerman, wrote a letter Oct. 1 detailing her concerns with Lewis-Gale's proposed NICU. "The addition of NICU beds proposed in Lewis-Gale's application will increase the number of beds in an already oversupplied market during a time when both the region and nation are experiencing a decrease in birth and prematurity rates, diminishing the overall need for NICU care," Ackerman wrote. Specifically, the 60-bed NICU at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital operates at 71 percent capacity and has not exceeded 80 percent this year. The state recommends that NICUs operate at a capacity threshold of 85 percent. Ackerman said that any new services at Lewis-Gale would diminish the NICU numbers at Carilion. The health department staff report also suggests that Lewis-Gale's projections for the number of patients it would serve is "overly ambitious" and furthermore says any new admissions would "only come at the expense of existing providers." May said she couldn't comment on the capacity level at Carilion or the state's recommended threshold. While the government report recommends denying Lewis-Gale's application for an NICU, it offers an alternative suggestion that Lewis-Gale seek to establish an intermediate level nursery for babies who need extra care but do not need the specialized care of an NICU. Lewis-Gale's application for an NICU comes as the hospital made several changes as it vies for a larger slice of the maternity market in the region. In April, Lewis-Gale announced a $2.5 million renovation to its maternity wing shortly after adding three doctors who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology to the hospital staff. The next step for Lewis-Gale's application will come when the Virginia Department of Health holds a fact-finding conference in early November in Richmond to discuss the application. State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Remley then will make the final determination.

Amazon mammals Up in the trees and under the water What mammals will you find in the region? Jaguar (Panthera onca)2Revered and feared, the jaguar is the biggest cat of the American continent. Despite a wide distribution in rainforests, flooded swamp areas, grasslands, thorn scrub woodlands and dry deciduous forests, it is scattered in these places and generally decreasing in numbers outside of the Amazon rainforest, its main stronghold. The jaguar's shape and agility makes it particularly well adapted to swimming, climbing and crawling, not to mention sprinting at incredible speeds. Its strength allows it to capture a variety of species. Large-sized ungulates such as deer are preferred, but peccaries and caimans also can be part of the menu. Its jaws and teeth are so powerful, that it can literally bite through the shell of a turtle. When the Mayan and Inca civilizations ruled, the jaguar was revered as a divine creature. Aztecs even fed the hearts of sacrificed victims to them. In the Amazon, it was believed that the jaguar’s eyes have a connection to the spirit world.3 Today, things have changed. Persecution, degradation of the jaguar's habitat, and decrease in its prey are thought to have reduced the species population to less than 50,000 mature breeding individuals in the wild. While commercial hunting and trapping of jaguars for their pelts has declined drastically since the mid-1970's through public information campaigns and trade controls, the species is still a victim of ranchers, who kill it because it preys on cattle. The jaguar is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Tapir (Tapirus terrestris)4Another great swimming mammal, the tapir is found in lowland tropical and subtropical moist forests, with a preference for moist, wet or seasonally inundated areas. The combined impacts of deforestation, hunting and competition from domestic livestock have led to a reduction of its population. In addition to its swimming abilities, the tapir can reach fairly quick speeds on land. Like many tropical mammals, tapirs are mostly active at night. Adults can reach about 2 m and over 227 kg. Tapirs eat leaves, fruit, grass and aquatic plants. Deforestation is an ongoing threat in several places where the species is found. Hunting may also reduce the population even further. The tapir is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)The world's largest otter is found throughout the Amazon River Basin, where the combined impacts of habitat loss and pollution pose risks to the long-term survival of the species. The giant otter is almost 1.5 m long, with an additional metre provided by its tail. Its webbed feet, semi-flattened tail and reddish-brown, water-repellent fur make it particularly well-suited to swimming. It is found in groups of 3 to 9 individuals, foraging in tributaries (especially around oxbow lakes), and in slow-moving rivers, lakes and swamps. The giant otter feeds on fish, mammals, birds and other vertebrates. While otter fur trade has decreased, illegal hunting is still an ongoing problem. In addition, habitat loss and pollution from mining activities are a concern. Otters may also be victims of fishing nets in rivers. Giant otters are classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species5, and are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 1Da Silva et al. 2005. The Fate of the Amazonian Areas of Endemism. Conservation Biology, 19 (3), 689-694 2Cat Specialist Group 2002. Panthera onca. In: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.. Accessed 06 October 2005. 3ThinkQuest. Animals of the Amazon.. Accessed: 06/10/05 4Downer, C. & Castellanos, A. 2002. Tapirus terrestris. In: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 5Groenendijk, J., Hajek, F. & Schenck, C. 2004. Pteronura brasiliensis. In: IUCN 2004. 2004 IUCN Red. List of Threatened Species.

Now Playing Connect with Us Podcasts & RSS Feeds WWNO People Most Active Stories The Two-Way 1:35 pm Fri February 17, 2012 A Passion To Bear Witness: Why War Correspondents Take The Risk Originally published on Wed May 23, 2012 10:01 am Journalists don't talk about the danger. They don't usually recount the moments of agonizing terror that come after a bad decision to continue on down the road as the faint sound of mortar shells grows louder. For war correspondents, it is a choice, after all. No one asked the civilians caught up in the bloody mayhem if they want to be there. There is no sign-up sheet when war breaks out, or a state's army is ordered to shell civilian neighborhoods, or snipers take deadly aim. Reporting in harm's way is part of the job; to bear witness to the suffering is part of the calling; to force to the surface the meaning in the violence is the goal. You have to get close for that kind of reporting. The death of a young, gifted reporter, Anthony Shadid, has raised the question: Why take the risk? Every reporter who has ever packed a flak jacket and helmet along with a pair of running shoes knows the answer. Shadid took his share of risk, but no more than many of his colleagues. Those who work in dangerous places are devastated by the loss but understand his passion to bear witness. They have all done the same. He was often asked to account for what "outsiders" saw as a certain recklessness. He'd already had some hair-raising close calls including a gunshot wound and a kidnapping along with his New York Times colleagues in Libya. An interviewer for Mother Jones magazine put the question directly. How did Shadid determine which stories were worth risking his life? Is there a story worth dying for? "I've struggled with that question a lot," he said. "I don't think there's any story worth dying for, but I do think there are stories worth taking risks for." For Shadid, the Syrian revolt was one of those stories. Most correspondents covering the conflict do so from Lebanon. For almost 10 months the Syrian government has kept tight rein on visas, and even those allowed to enter are heavily monitored. But in recent weeks, as the government's grip on the country has loosened, many reporters have crossed illegally into Syria to bear witness to one of the bloodiest chapters in Arab uprisings. CNN's Arwa Damon made it all the way into Homs, a city under brutal siege for months. While citizen journalists have taken a lead role in supplying real-time videos of the shelling of civilian neighborhoods, Damon's presence gives an international platform and a voice to the suffering. It is no longer possible to look away. She is taking an incredible risk and I thought of her when I heard the news of Shadid's death. I wondered how she would answer this question: Is a story worth dying for? I am sure it is a question she hasn't considered. Anthony Shadid's death reminds reporters in the field that the worst can happen. I doubt it will stop any of them. Deborah Amos covers the Middle East for NPR. 9(MDAyMTc0MTg1MDEyNTUxMTQxMDRkODNiYw004))

Technote (troubleshooting) Problem(Abstract) ACN5935W The mailbox restore operation has only partially completed is reported during a individual mailbox restore attempt Symptom Restore will appear to function and when data is being moved into the mailbox the ACN5935W is reported Cause A large number of mailbox items has resulted in a MAPI overflow. Due to this, only a partial number of messages were copied to the mailbox. Diagnosing the problem The restore will show the following behavior: VSS Restore operation completed with rc = 0 Files Examined : <Number of files> Files Completed : <Number of files> Files Failed : 0 Total Bytes : <Bytes> Total LanFree Bytes : 0 Recovery being run. Please wait. This may take a while... Querying Exchange Recovery Database... Checking Active Directory entries... Recovering deleted items for mailbox '<mailbox name>'. This process may take several minutes... Restoring mailbox '<Mailbox name>' to original location... Mailbox restore failed. ACN5935W The mailbox restore operation has only partially completed. Removing Exchange Recovery Database... Total mailboxes requested for restore: 1 Total mailboxes restored: 0 ACN0151E Errors occurred while processing the request. A trace of the restore attempt can show: mapihandler.cpp (2537): Exit MAPIHandler::logoff(), hr = 0x00000000 mapihandler.cpp (1339): Exit MAPIHandler::restoreMessages(), hr = MAPI_W_PARTIAL_COMPLETION MAPIBackEnd.cpp (1800): restoreMessages failed MAPIBackEnd.cpp (1856): Exit restoreMailbox, rc = 2110 MAPIBackEnd.cpp (1558): Exit handleMessage, rc = 2110 Resolving the problem There are two possible solutions to the behavior. The first is to use the mailbox filters with the restore. The filters can limit the number of messages which are processed at one time for the restoration, but will require the full restore of the mailbox to be done in stages. For example: tdpexcc.exe restoremailbox "mailbox name" /MAILBOXFILTER=STARTDATETIME,07/01/2012 /MAILBOXFILTER=ENDDATETIME,08/01/2012 The second solution is to restore the entire database to a Recovery Database. Once the database has been restored, then use the Exchange Restore-Mailbox cmdlet to recover the database. This cmdlet will use the Exchange Management Shell to extract the entire mailbox and does not utilize the MAPI interface. Refer to the Data Protection documentation for information on a full database recovery. Related information IC81499 MS Restore-Mailbox cmdlet Product Alias/Synonym T.

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WordPress SEO Guide: Things to be Careful With WordPress is the most popular website management platform out there (something you’re surely aware of), and also quite an SEO-optimized platform right from the get-go. There are, however, some issues and things to be careful with when working with your WordPress site’s SEO. This post describes a handful of them and how not to fall into trouble. Extensive sidebar and menu links The problem is not when you link to many subpages of your blog. It’s when you link multiple times to the same sub page. For instance, you might have a certain page that has links pointing to it in the top menu, the sidebar, and then the footer, and who knows where else. This isn’t good for SEO. The problem is that every page has a certain amount of SEO juice to share. Linking to a given page just once is enough, you don’t have to do it multiple times. Linking a key-phrase every time you can Here’s the problem. If you have a sub page about “learning guitar chords,” for example, then there’s a big chance that every time you use “learning guitar chords” on your site you will link it to that sub page. Having site-wide anchor texts is not a good practice, and many SEOs advise against it. Sending your visitors over to another page every time you use a given phrase is just too aggressive and too pitchy. Instead, link to the content of your site only when it makes sense – when the visitor can benefit from additional info in that specific moment. Don’t link just for the sake of it. Duplicate content Hold on. Right now you’re probably thinking that this problems doesn’t concern you, right? It does. It concerns every WordPress blog. Let’s use our “learning guitar chords” example again. If you create a new post on the topic, put it in a category of “guitar chords” and also add a tag “guitar chords” then you end up with at least three pages of duplicate content. From now on your post can be seen at: - domain.com/your-post - domain.com/categories/guitar-chords - domain.com/tag/guitar-chords To protect against this you need to tell Google not to index some of these pages. The best way of doing this is to use some of the popular SEO plugins, like All in One SEO Pack or WordPress SEO by Yoast. SEO titles and descriptions that are too long By default, WordPress lets you set titles of your posts and pages, and then uses them as the SEO titles as well. The descriptions, however, are created from the first couple of sentences of your post’s/page’s content. This isn’t optimal for SEO. First of all, post titles are rarely SEO-optimized. When you are in the middle of crafting a title for your post you want to speak to your audience first, and then think about other things like SEO. Secondly, these titles are usually longer than what Google says is okay. When it comes to descriptions the situation is even worse because it always ends with three dots (“…”) indicating that the description is not complete, and there’s really little chance that any relevant keywords are present there. Thankfully, you can use most SEO plugins to do this job for you too (the two aforementioned ones). The best practice for this is to set your titles and descriptions by hand. Keep your titles below 70 characters, and your descriptions below 155 characters. Include relevant keywords and make the message interesting and inviting. Using too many “nofollow” links Many SEOs agree that nofollow links shouldn’t be used too extensively within a single website. The main idea behind nofollow links is that you use them to guide the link juice of your site in a certain direction … to improve some sites and disregard others. This makes sense, but only in a small range of cases. Try not to link to the same page one time with a nofollow link and then with a do-follow link (normal link). If you’ve decided to link to one page with a nofollow link then simply don’t change your mind. Nofollow links make sense when dealing with some “meta content” pages like, for example: privacy policy, terms of use, disclaimers, disclosures, and others similar. This closes the list. What other SEO practices do you know of that can work against you if not done properly? Feel free to share.

South Bend, IN (Sports Network) - A Top-25 showdown is on tap in the Big East Conference on Saturday, as the 11th-ranked Louisville Cardinals take on the 25th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion. Rick Pitino's Cardinals are in the thick of the conference race. Louisville has won three straight games, putting some distance between itself and an ugly three-game slide. The Cardinals began a two-game road trip on Wednesday with a 68-48 rout of Rutgers to move to 19-4 overall and 7-3 in league play, a half game behind both Syracuse and Marquette. Mike Brey's Irish aren't far off the mark with a 6-4 league ledger. Notre Dame dropped a 63-47 decision at league-leading Syracuse on Monday, ending a three- game win streak. The Fighting Irish are 13-2 at home this season. Louisville holds an 18-11 series advantage. These two teams split a pair of meetings a year ago, with the Cardinals getting revenge for a regular-season loss to the Irish with a 64-50 victory in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. Louisville held the Scarlet Knights to a mere 32-percent shooting effort in a 20-point win in Piscataway. Sophomore Wayne Blackshear led the way for the Cardinals off the bench with 19 points in just 14 minutes of work. Junior Russ Smith added 14 points to the cause, while senior point guard Peyton Siva finished with nine points and seven assists. The Cardinals have been solid at both ends of the floor this season and as a result, enjoy a +16.4 scoring margin. The team is shooting a solid .450 from the field and averaging 73.6 ppg. The defensive effort has been far more consistent, holding opponents to a mere 57.2 ppg and under 40 percent shooting (.396). Smith is a dynamic scorer, averaging 18.2 ppg to rank fourth in the Big East. Siva can score as well (10.6 ppg) but may be more valuable as a distributor (fourth in the conference at 6.1 apg). Chane Behanan (10.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Gorgui Dieng (8.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg) give the team balance in the frontcourt. Trailing by six points at the half, Notre Dame never allowed itself to get back into the game against Syracuse, going ice-cold in the second half, converting just 27.9 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes, including a mere 2-of-11 from behind the arc. Jerian Grant led the way in defeat with 15 points. Jack Cooley posted another double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Irish have been much more efficient at the offensive end this season, ranking ninth nationally in field-goal percentage (.487), while leading the nation in assists/turnover ratio (1.74). Cooley has been the driving force with his dominance in the paint. The 6-foot-9 senior is converting 58.4 percent of his shots and is averaging a double-double with 14.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per outing. His rebounding efforts rank fifth nationally. Grant and Eric Atkins provide perimeter scoring with 13.4 and 12.8 ppg, respectively. Both are top-tier distributors, with Grant doling out 5.9 apg and Atkins coming in at 4.8 apg.

This article was originally distributed via PRWeb. PRWeb, WorldNow and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. SOURCE: MacArthur and Company Bringing on Big Island's best- from tropical property to hosting real estate, agent Molly Harris of Live Here, Buy That - HGTV hits romantic market target. Kamuela, Hawaii (PRWEB) January 19, 2013 Another 2013 Hawaii real estate star ascends with agent Molly Harris of MacArthur & Company/Sotheby’s International Realty going before cameras January 19 shooting HGTV viewers on an 8 episode fantasy island tour of hot-listed properties matching the wish lists of "Live Here, Buy This" guests. After a 2010 stint on HGTV’s House Hunters International while living in Costa Rica, Harris was asked to showcase the best of the Big Island’s tropical properties for HGTV’s latest hit. “I’m excited to show what the Big Island of Hawaii has to offer. Above romantic beachfront properties, the real value of the alluring investments we represent has kept our clients happy and our company locally and internationally competitive for decades.” Harris returned home to Hawaii a year ago with a huge appreciation for the Big Island and the people who live there. “After running my own luxury real estate business in Costa Rica for years with the competition (Christie’s), the only company I could possibly have joined next was MacArthur & Company/Sotheby’s International Realty. While "Live Here, Buy This" will be great for all the real estate agencies in Hawaii, I’m glad to have the support of our global realty team, as well as working with strong, smart women like Dodie (MacArthur, CEO.) I’m also a HGTV junkie with a four-year old, so I can totally relate to the viewers needing to indulge fantasy options.” After screening hundreds of properties, Harris can’t wait to show how far dollars will stretch here on the Big Island over Hawaiian properties elsewhere. When choosing the hosting real estate agent and agency for this initial run of their new season’s eight episodes, "Live Here, Buy This," Rebecca Tyo of JV Productions, shared she sought out MacArthur and Company/Sotheby’s International Realty because the brand is famed for beautiful listings and top professional agents - components trusted to show and sell properties which Hawaii home seekers and viewers alike crave. Rebecca_Keliihoomalu , Senior VP, R(B), recently showcased a single room of Shangri-La for HGTV's show, "Million Dollar Rooms," highlighting again the company's commitment in partnering for success. Three out of the top ten top producers on Hawaii (H.I.S, 2012) are agents of MacArthur and Company/Sotheby's International Realty - a testament to the company's steadfast striving for dreams to come true for both clients and associates. "Live Here, Buy This" ranks often among HGTV's number one shows in the 18-49 year old bracket -- a great match for the brand reputation of Sotheby's International Realty's wider reach. With Molly’s ease sharing real estate in front of global cameras, lining up with a great fantasy-fulfilling concept, a longstanding brokerage with an abundance of listings of all types, plus guests primed to explore options “... we’re eager to show anyone can afford to live in paradise!” enthused Tyo. Harris said she’s as comfortable in her thigh-high snake boots shopping raw land and real estate in the jungle as she is slipping into heels for their firm’s most upscale clients and HGTV viewers so stay tuned to see where the show steps out with Molly for Hawaiian dreams fulfilled on "Live Here, Buy This." Click on links for more information on "Live Here, Buy This," Molly Harris, Dodie MacArthur and MacArthur & Company/Sotheby’s International Realty. Follow us on: Facebook and Pinterest and stay tuned for air dates this coming summer, 2013. MacArthur and Company Sotheby's International Realty HQ at Parker Square, 65-1279 Kawaihae Road, Suite 104, Kamuela, HI 96743 P: (808) 885-8885. For the original version on PRWeb visit:

Information contained on this page is provided by companies via press release distributed through PR Newswire, an independent third-party content provider. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. SOURCE Infiniti Infiniti gains 3 places in the luxury brand segment with 24-point improvement in the 2013 Customer Service Index FRANKLIN, Tenn., March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Infiniti today was once again recognized in the 2013 J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Index (CSI) StudySM, with significant improvements in all study measures. Infiniti scored 848 out of 1,000 possible points, a 24-point improvement over the 2012 study, bringing its overall ranking to 5th in the luxury brands segment. (Logo: ) Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Americas, said: "We are proud to see that our retailers' efforts to improve the customer experience are being recognized in the J.D. Power and Associates CSI study. To attract customers in the premium sector, delivering a truly exceptional retail service experience is just as important as our vehicles. We believe that our commitment to the Infiniti Total Ownership Experience® is driving our customer satisfaction to new heights." Since 2010, Infiniti has improved its score by 64 points, climbing 13 positions in the industry rankings. Infiniti attributes its rapid growth in satisfaction to the comprehensive mix of reward and recognition programs, brand standards, training and retailer support. Infiniti customers also take advantage of a number of other exclusive benefits and unique programs the brand has put in place to make owners a priority. As part of the Total Ownership Experience®, Infiniti drivers have access to complimentary service loan vehicles when warranty repairs are made, roadside assistance and even special financial service offerings for repeat customers. Infiniti retailers offer Infiniti Express Service, a fast and convenient service visit that includes items such as a multi-point inspection, factory scheduled maintenance and a car wash, all completed in under and hour. Customers can also use Infiniti Online Service Scheduling to book their next service appointment through any web-enabled device. Finally, Infiniti also offers an industry-leading complimentary concierge, Infiniti Personal Assistant™, for the first four years of new vehicle ownership. Putting service at the forefront, Infiniti Personal Assistant offers something unique for each customer. Drivers can speak to a live operator and ask for directions, make reservations, get weather forecasts and movie reviews, even ask for answers to general trivia questions, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week..

Aliens RPG Is Officially Dead Sega and Obsidian confirm that the project is no more. Work on Aliens: Colonial Marines continues in earnest over at Gearbox. Obsidian's Aliens RPG, however, is not so lucky. According to Giant Bomb, Obsidian has confirmed that development on the game has officially ceased. "Rumors have circled around a bit regarding the fate of the Aliens role playing game that Obsidian and SEGA had been working on," an Obsidian representative said on the developer's official forums. ." Asked for independent confirmation, Sega responded with a short statement, saying, "Sega has no plans to move forward with the Aliens RPG." They then went on to say they were very "excited and focused" on Aliens vs. Predator. Rumors initially hit back in February that the Aliens RPG had been canceled, only a day after Aliens vs. Predator had been officially announced. While Aliens: Colonial Marines was confirmed to still be in development, the Aliens RPG is 100 percent dead. Obsidian is now focusing on Fallout: New Vegas and Alpha Protocol, the latter of which is due out this fall. See Also i agree that Let them take the time and focus on whatPosted: Jun 28, 2009 12:00AM PST by cnshiying Let them take the time and focus on what they're doing instead of trying to spread themselves too thin because then (theoretically) it should make for a more polished game instead of a half-assed attempt that would only serve to taint the franchise and lingerie wholesale cause people to bitch and moan about how shitty it turned out. Whatever...Posted: Jun 27, 2009 12:00AM PST by king_mob It's hard to imagine an Aliens RPG really being a compelling game. There's not a whole lot of interction you can have with those creatures. They either kill you on sight or take you back to the hive and stuff you with one of their young. Not many options there. Colonial Marines sounds like the Aliens game fans of the movie are really waiting for. I'll definitely check it out, at least as a rental... that sucks....Posted: Jun 27, 2009 12:00AM PST by Damiannnn4 I have to say that I really enjoyed the Aliens movies. An Aliens RPG by Obsidian would have been awesome. I loved KOTOR so it really sucks to see that they won't be making an Alien RPG it could have been a very great game. lol at the Danny Glover comment. Alien is much better than Predator. @ army1Posted: Jun 27, 2009 12:00AM PST by MuleskinneR666 Whatever......predator couldn't even beat Danny Glover! lol Aliens RPG?Posted: Jun 27, 2009 12:00AM PST by Petrov_the_blind I didn't even know this game existed, sounds strange, It makes me feel awkward, like someones dad just hit on me, err, well i won't miss it but it's still a confusing idea, Still looking forward to colonial marines though, should be good GoodPosted: Jun 27, 2009 12:00AM PST by projectrunaway At least we still have Aliens vs Predators coming out next year. Wow another great game stillbornPosted: Jun 26, 2009 12:00AM PST by SuperSledge Its sad to see this kind of thing happen when there will always be another crappy, empty Call of Duty 6, Gears of War 4 etc. I mean who makes these decisions or was it a quality issue? I would have bought it and so would my like minded friends, what a shame. That's it man!Posted: Jun 26, 2009 12:00AM PST by pandasnyper723 Game over man, game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do? ....Posted: Jun 26, 2009 12:00AM PST by crusader8463 LATEPosted: Jun 26, 2009 12:00AM PST by Nephren-Ka They announced this about a month ago in OXM in the article about Aliens vs. Predator. An Alien RPG sounds pretty lame anyway. Clumsy battles + H.R. Giger's Alien = worthless. And if Mass Effect can't pull of non clumsy RPG gun battles then Alien RPG def. wouldn't have. Sorry but if Bioware can't do it then almost no one can.

PREVIEW - Share it: - Tweet So we were surprised to hear Ubisoft's Ben Mattes note his preference for Prince of Persia on Wii about a month ago, when he said in a 1UP interview, "I've spent a lot of time playing [Prince of Persia] games over the last few years, and Rival Swords for the Wii is by far my favorite." Now that we've had a chance to spend a few hours with the game, we've found controls that are in some ways better and some ways worse than what we're accustomed to from the series -- and in some ways exactly the same. The movement controls, for instance -- for things like running around, climbing, jumping, and wall running -- use the Wii's analog stick and A, B, C and Z buttons, and all that works just like it does in other versions of the game. The "better" comes with triggering context specific maneuvers. When you sneak up behind someone to perform a stealth kill, it feels fantastic to flick your wrist and perform each of the individual hits that make up that kill. Similarly, when you have to do things like stick your knife into a point on the wall to hold yourself there, it's simply more fun to flick the Wii Remote than it is to push a button.. Combat is where things start to falter. Like Zelda, you flick your wrist in any direction with the Remote to attack, and repeated flicks (along with combination movements with the Nunchuck) allow you to perform combos, throws, and all your fancy attacks. As it has been throughout the series, combat in the game is a bit clumsy, so when you combine the lack of precision in the combat engine with the downgrade in precision you get by moving the Wii Remote to trigger your attack animations, it all feels a bit loose. That noted, in our time with the game, not once did we die as a result of poor combat execution, so it doesn't seem like the change is a major flaw -- at least early in the game -- but it definitely presents a significant change. The rest of the game, of course, does not, as this is a feature-for-feature port of Two Thrones with the same graphics and same everything, simply retiled Rival Swords for Wii. And that more than anything else is the trickiest selling point for the game. Since you can now pick up the GameCube version of Two Thrones cheap and play it on Wii, Rival Swords is a very tough sell at full price. Whether this version is better than the GameCube game -- apart from the price -- is a difficult call at this point. It's close, which we had our doubts about before playing it, and at least we can say with certainty that the game is still worth playing. This isn't the kind of game you bought your Wii for, but if you missed out on Two Thrones back in 2005 and want to try it now in a way that feels new, Rival Swords seems like a decent option. It's just a question of if what was worth $50 in 2005 is still worth that now. See all Prince of Persia: Rival Swords Previews > I dunnoPosted: Apr 27, 2007 12:00AM PST by thegamerfromhell777 Hmmmm I am not sure bout this one......BTW whats with the extreme cussing below?? Fuck UbisoftPosted: Mar 12, 2007 12:00AM PST by Bullet_Math Motherfucking shit merchants. These dicks ahave been nothign but a dissapointment on the Wii and its time that there licenses were revoked. Lets see how well they do on the PSP the fucking dicks An Interesting ExperimentPosted: Mar 06, 2007 12:00AM PST by Nintendoll I think it's an interesting idea to port from an older to a next-gen, however if that's the case I dont' think it should have the same selling price as say, Legend of Zelda, Rayman, Red Steel, etc.I personally haven't played the 'Cube version so I'll probably be getting it. Used, and with my employee discount. PricePosted: Mar 05, 2007 12:00AM PST by m3ds I was actually thinking of buying this game. I had never had a chance to play it on the cube, and this looked like a good way to do it, but as this interview pointed out the price is scaring me off. I might just go pick it up cheap for gamecube. I neverPosted: Mar 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by wii_man12 played the original so I don't really care if it is a remake. But I think they just did this to see if the controls could work on wii and if they can they will probably have the next POP simultaneously released with the other versions or a built from the ground up version just for the wii. I'll tell you!Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by darrinA IT'S NOT WORTH IT! Wii owners unite! Don't buy recycled crap. Anything that is also coming to PS2/PSP = garbage. Wii want games like No More Heroes, and um, Dragon Quest Swords? Wii'll get some good games eventually. Lest we forget, Smash Bros! So who cares! sounds cool but bewarePosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by extremegamer22 Prince of Persia is an amazing game and the wii controlls will probaly make it better more difficult and interesting but Farcry vengence looked like an amazing game but made the player want to kill him self because of the peice of crap port it made and the game felt dumbed down hopefuly ubisoft does not do the same for prnce of persia just because it looks kiddy dont dumb down the games Anybody know?Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by hakengaken Anybody know if this is 16x9 and progressive scan? Just wonderin'. Looks goodPosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by im_a_wiiner! As much as I'd like to hat a port like this, I'll have to admit that it does show how games can be adapted for the Wii...maybe some better 3rd party support will follow. i'm def. getting this game. Who wants to bet....Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by smuj That when 1up reviews this game they will say the camera control is broken while they say that part of the game is great in this preview. Also who wants to bet whoever reviews the game will probably suck at it. I don't care about PoP and won't buy it but am just ranting about 1up pointless fluff previews, if it's gonna suck say it now not 2 days after the game comes out. Say it to your audience and the developers so maybe some games won't suck. 1up just like all other game sites and magazines with their shining previews then reviews that say the exact opposite are one of the biggest problems with the game industry. They get gamers all hyped up about a game saying it's so great then when they review a game after you bought it on their hype they do a 180. FUCKING UNETHICAL! as for rival swordsPosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 i think it's kinda sneaky that UBI gave a new title to an old game. some customers who aren't in the know might be fooled by this. This game should be sold at a discount price of $30. I think that would be a lot more fair. NogarPosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 I think you've got it backwards. Sony promised that the "next gen" WOULD NOT begin until the ps3 arrived on the scene. It promised better graphics than the 360 and a FULLY backwards compatible console. Nintendo, on the other hand, delivered exactly what they promised...a new way to play that would appeal to a broader audience...and sure as hell...they delivered...and then some. If it wasn't a remake of Two Thrones...Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by jaredgood1 I'd be excited. The abomination that was Warrior Within killed the franchise for me for that system generation. I don't care how good Two Thrones was (and Rival Swords might be), UBI screwed things up with WW and that generation of POP titles is done for me. I'll pop in Sands of Time and wait for a new POP. This game is exactly what wii needsPosted: Feb 16, 2007 12:00AM PST by cruzer2727 this should be awesome! i wish okami was on wii and god of war....o well.. "THE WII BITCH"Posted: Feb 07, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey I dont care that the Wii dosn't appeal to everyone. I just saying Nogar why come to this page if you hate Wii. Hey hey hey, children.Posted: Feb 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by Evilpenguin556 Now now now, lets settle this dispute. Your BOTH retarded. Sony fan- get out of your ivory tower and see that the wii simply appeals to more people with its "new way to play". Nintendo Fan- You must accept that not everyone likes the wii. Some people simply find beautiful graphics more appealing than weird controls. SpamPosted: Jan 30, 2007 12:00AM PST by sol_cross_andrew ban me ban me penis monkey cockfucker Makavelli45Posted: Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM PST by n0gar Well, even if both systems sold out, the Wii would have won by the fact that they had more systems! Let's not act like you don't know this. The Wii is not kicking the 360's butt. Also, I keep thinking that you Nintendo people used to say that you are not competing with MS or Sony, so why do you keep talking about them? Nintendo had their time and now they hate Sony ONLY because they were #1. Nintendo needs to give the people what they want, not what THEY want you to have. The WII BITCHPosted: Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey nogar your right the PS3/360 may be more "high tech" but who is beating the PS3 right now, yea thats right a little "outdated"console called the WII. The Wii BicthPosted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey nogar first off im not a faggot second off why the hell are you on this Big N page GET THE HELL OFF YOU RACIST!!!!!!!!!! Prince on the Wii:)Posted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by MOST_OF_THE_TIME This game is going to be really cool on the Wii:) I wonder how they'll utilize the Nunchuckus as well as the other controller to do all the the acrobatics:) This is going to Rock!!:) what the hell is wrong with you people....Posted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by apocalypce_3 whats wrong with the wqii. its actually pretty fun if you play but i just got a 360 cause i couldnt afford the ps3 and i got tired of waiting for the wii to come out but anyways you dont have to dis the system just becuase you dont like it. you guys are worst then children. The Wii BitchPosted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 You guys are right 1up is not the site to call someone a foggot. I will step up and be the better human being. Oh yea and Nogar dont come to a Nintendo page and talk shit bitch. ddeghughfuhsPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by xbxakadscmltr360SUX 360s suck PS3s rock I Have prove find some reviews for fight night round 3 for PS3. In the review i read it said "Visually smokes every other version of the game" i know they made this game for 360 cause its at my local video store.And 360s are just the same crap as the original. They're exactly the same no new stuff. Wiis rock compared to 360s cause they have new stuff and nintendo is supposed to be getting more games.And the game sounds fun. Ive only played demos of old ones but they were fairly fun games. LOLPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by Ridl3y Are you serious? You bring down the wii because of its graphics? I like the 360, but I have seen a ps3, my friend has one. not only were the graphics nowhere near what they hyped it up to be, infact they were terrible. but the games are retarded too. =) The Wii BitchPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey nogar you bitch ass loser what the hell is your promble the wii kicks serious ass you stupid Nintendo hater. Why come to this page if all your going to do is spit venom about it you faggot. HeyPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by n0gar I played the Wii in the store. It was ok, but got boring fast. The bullshit graphics hooked up to an HDTV revealed it's Wiikness. This system sucks. Only a woman, child, new jack or gay person would buy a Wii. Real players buy a 360 or even a PS3(overpriced). RE: Poutineman (Poutine is nasty)Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by n0gar My point for all of those Nintendo paid hype men, was that an offering like this and mostly all Wii games shows that publishers just put whatever out on the Wii because the system is a bullshit system that must have because it can only produce bullshit games. When a publisher does this, they are saying "fuck a Wii." If I were a publisher, I would put out a Wii game just to say that I did it and see what happens. I know that I would be more into systems that can allow me to do more as opposed to doing what was done last time around. Also, 1up, when are you going to put the 360 in the first slot for your platforms at the top of the page? The PS2 reign is last generation. The 360 reign is now. Let's show the world that you are not on the take. Noga...Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by zeldy14 I agree with everything else anbody but your hater ass says the wii hardware is obviously not repackaged anybody who has seen sonic or metroid on it would agree with me, and the controller beats the sh*t out of the ps3s overpriced motion controller, with no rumble n0garPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 repackaged system? The wiimote is a pretty fundamental difference. If you ask me, sony is repackaging the same old system, but with better graphics (which are inevitable in the gaming industry). YEAH EVEN SONY SHOULD RESIGNPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by RAHGAHTON@ WITH THEIR OVERPRICED PS2 YEAH RIGHT HOW FAR HAVE THEY REALLY ADVANCED WITH PS3 WELL LET ME TELL YOU IT MAKES A GOOD COMFORTABLE SEAT WHEN PLAYING YOUR WII HA HA REALLY L . O . L ITS IS THIS REALLY WHAT PS3 IS 600 WORTH IT IS NOT THATS FOR SURE. Whats up with that??Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by marksquires78 I'd rather wait a year or so for an original Prince of Persia for the Wii instead of a port from the last gen consoles. I'm sure the Wii-mote will add some thrills to the experience, but I really didn't want to see Dark Prince again in my PoP experience. That bloody depleting health crap needs to go. But it is an exciting time for the Wii it seems. Third party support is starting to come into effect and I have a feeling that this Nintendo console will have many more games to play than the old Gamecube. Woo hoo!! anyone who buys this deserves to be shotPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by Bullet_Math The GC version is dirt cheap right now and isn't a port of a GC game with less content. Ubisoft need to step their game up or stop developing for the Wii. So far we've seen nothing but crap Interested, yes, but sad tooPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by Ultima9999 I never played a 3D PoP. I hear they are all good, and really wanted to play them, but never got a chance. The jury is still out on this for me but if the controls pan out I can see myself picking this up. The sad part is that I love Ubisoft and while I am glad they are showing Wii support, I am a little concerned with the lack of original IPs for it. I mean is Ray Man really the best Ubisoft game to grace this new console? Red Steel was rank with a rushed production, buggy control, unpolished graphics and horrid AI, but at least it was something new and intriuging. PoP series sold a bunch of copies for the last gen consoles, I don't see this being a super hit. But it doesn't mean it wont be good....if they nail the controls. It seems that Ubisoft is still feeling out the Wii, but I don't know how long gamers can take these rehased ports until they abandon ship. ehh. . .remake for wii?Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by ghanja_spawnX im sure the new Wii based controls are intuitive and add a nice new layer of depth to the game. And its nice to see a game like PoP get a little attention and retooling and get a port to a great system like Wii. But considering I've already played it, I'd really rather play a new game. Especially on Wii. I rather pitty the team that worked on this one. Like I said, I'm sure the new controls are great, but they have to realize that the gaming community is an unforgiving lot and will not care how nice the controls are. It's still the same game. Surely a small percentage will get the game on that basis, as well as a new install base that never played it. But bottom line is its a game most of us already played. Most of us will pass this one over, we want Assassins Creed. gay..Posted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by Gutarman2355 oh wow..a psp port.. i thought the Wii is getting a new PoP but i guess now. Seems like a good way to revisit the Two Thrones.Posted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by Keefman -X- But I would prefer a true follow-up. On a completely unrelated note, I find that interviews with Ubisoft people usually aren't that exciting - they tend to read like the back of a game box. Just a personal observation. mehPosted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 it looks kinda cool. I've never really gotten into PoP but this could be a good rental. Bust-a-Move Bash is where it's at though. can't wait Too much POP and too late to the partyPosted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by Hexpane POP has been a sales flop since it hit the PS2/XBOX Not a bad game its just that no one cares. not sure what it is for everyone else but for me the Puffy pants persian just isnt a character I care about or want to play as. Then again the disney movie aladin was a huge hit, although I hated that as well) Vitals - Game: - Prince of Persia: Rival Swords - Platforms: - Wii, PSP - Genre: - Adventure - Publisher: - Ubisoft - Developer: - Ubisoft Montreal - ESRB Rating: - Rating Pending - Release Date: - 04/03/2007 - Also Known As: - N/A 1UP Editor Score: C+ Average Community Score: NA More Prince of Persia Games Prince of Persia ( XBOX 360 | NintendoDS | PC | PS3 ) Release Date: December 15, 2008 Prince of Persia Classic ( XBOX 360 | PS3 ) Release Date: June 13, 2007 Prince of Persia: Rival Swords ( Wii | PSP ) Release Date: April 03,

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim You've just had an auto accident. Perhaps the other driver was clearly to blame, or you were responsible. It may be a minor fender bender or a more serious accident resulting in injuries or extensive damage. Regardless of the severity of the accident or who was at fault, there are a number of basic steps you'll need to follow once the commotion subsides. This can all be a complicated and stressful process. But the more you know, the smoother the process will be and the greater your chances of obtaining a satisfactory outcome. Report the accident immediately The first step you should take is to promptly notify your insurance company or agent that you've been in an accident. Do this as soon as possible, even if you're far from home. When you call your insurance company, you'll be asked for specific information regarding the accident. The more information you have collected at the scene, the faster your claim will likely be processed and the better your insurance company can judge how to proceed. If the accident was minor, you may be tempted to avoid making a report because you don't want your insurance premiums to rise. However, consider the consequences of failing to report the accident. If you don't report it, the other driver may still report the incident separately to the police or to his or her insurance company, and you may be held liable. An unscrupulous driver might even claim that you left the scene of the accident and, since there is no record reflecting your side of the story, he or she might be able to make a case. Keep in mind that your rates probably won't increase unless you caused the accident. If you live in a no-fault state, expenses related to bodily injury, including lost wages, will be paid exclusively by each party's own insurer, unless the state's threshold for filing lawsuits is equaled or exceeded. Fill out the appropriate forms Ask your insurance agent or the company representative about the forms or documents you need to complete in order to support your claim. Your company may require a proof-of-loss form, as well as medical and auto repair bills, a copy of the police report, and other documents relating to your claim. Supply all the materials and information your insurer requests, and do it in a timely manner. Read your policy No one really wants to read an auto insurance policy filled with fine print and insurance jargon. But you'll need to be aware of the specifics of your policy in the days following an accident. Knowing what your policy covers can prevent unpleasant surprises. Ideally, though, the best time to look over your policy is before you're feeling stressed in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Keep records of your expenses and other paperwork In some cases, your insurance company will pay the hospital, car mechanic, or other service provider directly. In other cases, you are expected to pay these expenses out of your own pocket, and the company will reimburse you for covered expenses. Keep a record of all related expenses. Potential out-of-pocket costs might include medical and hospital bills, car repair bills, rental car charges, and lost wages. Since you will no doubt need receipts in order to be reimbursed, it's wise to keep copies of these and all other documents in a safe location. In fact, you may find it very useful to keep a record or journal of all your dealings relating to the accident. Understand the role of the insurance adjuster Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to your case who will be in charge of investigating and making recommendations regarding the settlement of your claim. An appraiser will likely look at and photograph the damage to your car, and you may have to contact a repair shop to get a written estimate (sometimes the adjuster does this). You may receive money right away (after satisfying your deductible) or the claim may be held up, depending on how complicated the situation is. If you feel that the settlement offer is too low, you can appeal it to the insurance company. You'll have to support your case, but you may be able to get a larger settlement. Don't forget your other insurance Finally, don't forget that other types of insurance (e.g., health, homeowners) may cover certain losses resulting from an auto accident that are not covered by your auto insurance, depending on the type of loss and other circumstances.

55. Star Power – Mr. Kind Of A Big Deal There are two types of men in the world: men who try to impress women and men who do not. Fortunately for me, Mr. Kind Of A Big Deal was the type who tried! And it worked like a charm. Just like Mr. VIP, he showed up in a suit and invited me to a hot restaurant, Monkey Bar, which is known to attract A-list celebrities. In fact, Ben Stiller was at the table next to us! He was also about the same age as Mr. VIP, 42, and super successful. But, unlike Mr. VIP, he is divorced. It was too early to tell if his age or marital status will be a good or bad thing. Right now, it is all good. We had instant chemistry. Before we even ordered, he said: “Well, if you marry me, you’ll have to live in the West Village.” “Oh, that would be no problem at all.” It is only my favorite neighborhood in Manhattan. I liked his willingness to show affection – from asking me to sit closer to him to complimenting me for being “amazing”. And I thought it was romantic that he took a cab totally out of his way to spend just five more minutes with me. I love a funny, romantic man, and when he also has the power, money, status, and good looks of Mr. Kind Of A Big Deal… Well, he could easily sweep me off my feet! I can see some of you have already raised an eyebrow to caution me to like him for the “right” reasons. If so, I’d like to say: “Jealousy is a sickness; get well soon”. Maybe these are my right reasons. What if this is the type of man I am destined to be with? You can hate me now. I see no problem in being attracted to someone like him, a person with self-discipline and smarts, because he has many of the traits that I already possess! Okay, his pockets go a little deeper, but I am a work in progress! It should not be a crime to get excited over someone who can help me co-create the “good life” I live and aspire to have. I am not going to pretend to be modest. People who know me know I have always been a diva. Should not a star be with a star? Tags: Charm, Date 1, Date 55, diva, jealousy, money, Mr. Kind Of A Big Deal, Ms. New York, power, spotlight, Star Power, status, west villageTags: Charm, Date 1, Date 55, diva, jealousy, money, Mr. Kind Of A Big Deal, Ms. New York, power, spotlight, Star Power, status, west village Are relationships easier when two people are both in the spotlight because they can understand each other? Or, are relationships easier when one partner is behind the scenes? What do you think? - Isaac - John Buckwild - CallmeMaybek

Preview: Canucks at Blackhawks An already-fierce rivalry will take on added intrigue when the Chicago Blackhawks host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night with a chance to make history. Chicago, which is the only team that has yet to lose in regulation, can extend its season-opening points streak to 16 games and tie the NHL record held by the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks (12-0-4). The Blackhawks are on the verge of matching Anaheim's mark despite playing only five (4-0-1) of their first 15 games at home. One of their three losses came in a shootout at Vancouver on Feb. 1. The Canucks had won six in a row before dropping their last two games, including a 4-3 shootout loss at home against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night. Vancouver surrendered only six goals during the six-game winning streak prior to squandering a two-goal lead in a 4-3 loss to Dallas on Saturday. The opportunity to derail Chicago could help get the Canucks back on track. "They are the unbeaten team in regular time, they are the benchmark right now," coach Alain Vigneault said. "We're going to focus on that." TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), CSN (Chicago) ABOUT THE CANUCKS (8-3-3): The tandem of Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo had been brilliant until each goaltender struggled in the last two games. Vigneault has yet to name a starter but Schneider was the first player off the ice following the morning skate - a strong indication he'll play Tuesday. One positive for Vancouver in its loss to St. Louis was scoring a pair of power-play goals in four chances following a 4-for-39 slump. Ryan Kesler had one of them and has a goal and assist in his first two games back from a shoulder injury. ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (12-0-3): Corey Crawford has not skated since Thursday so Ray Emery is expected to make his third straight start in net. Emery will put his perfect record (5-0-0) on the line against a team he has not faced in more than six years. After allowing four goals in his season debut, Emery has permitted seven in his last four games. The game-winning goal in Sunday's win over reigning Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles came courtesy of Patrick Sharp, who snapped a 10-game goalless drought with his third tally. OVERTIME 1. Chicago is tied with the 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers for the second-longest point streak to open the season. Both Anaheim and Edmonton won the Stanley Cup after their torrid starts. 2. Canucks C Henrik Sedin, who scored his first goal Sunday, has 39 points in 43 games against the Blackhawks. 3. Emery last faced Vancouver on Jan. 18, 2007, as a member of Ottawa. The Senators lost a 2-1 decision to Luongo and the Canucks. PREDICTION: Canucks 3, Blackhawks 2 Distributed by Internet Broadcasting and The Sports Xchange. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tour de Force Former UVM professor Bill Averyt gives visitors a historical POV Bill Averyt at Billings Student Center I have a confession to make. It’s likely that by admitting this, I risk destroying what little street cred I have. But what the heck, here goes: I have always wanted to be a tour guide. That’s right. One of those people who walk backward and hold an umbrella and tell you all sorts of stuff that you never knew you cared about. I can trace my ambition back to the umpteen college tours I took as a brace-faced high schooler. If I had to guess, I’d say my father and I went on at least two dozen. I loved listening to the student tour guides rattle off obscure facts about each institution: This building is where Spam was invented; this lab is where cold fusion was discovered; this cornerstone is made from rare marble that was a gift from an Indian Maharaja. Those plucky college kids seemed to know so much trivia, and that trivia made them seem smart. I too wanted to have a cache of factoids in my brain that I could sprinkle into conversation and give the appearance of being learned. Too bad there weren’t a lot of solid job opportunities in the tour-guiding field, unless I wanted to work at Colonial Williamsburg or drive a tour bus around Washington, D.C. But I’ve found that reporting is nearly the same thing, only without the walking. You absorb a lot of knowledge tidbits, pass them on to people and feel semi-smart until the next story comes along, and you promptly forget everything you learned the week before. Since moving to Vermont four years ago, the only tour I have taken is the wagon one at Shelburne Farms, three times. So when the opportunity arose to take a historic tour of the University of Vermont, and write about it, I offered myself up. The UVM historic tour, which has run for slightly more than a year, was the university’s response to a call for more interpretive history offerings from Vermont’s Department of Tourism. It’s distinct from the standard campus tours for prospective students; you’re not going to learn about the food in the dining hall, the atmosphere of the dorms or the university’s “extracurricular offerings.” Like the Queen City Ghostwalk in downtown Burlington and farm tours around the state, it’s seasonal. But, unlike the self-guided walking tours of the heritage districts of Vermont cities such as Montpelier and Barre, UVM’s historical jaunts are led by a tour guide with extensive knowledge of the university. Despite the reporting I’ve done on UVM, all I knew about the school before the historical tour was that marauding Ira Allen founded it some years back. On a recent drizzly Saturday morning, Professor Emeritus Bill Averyt changed that. Thanks to his expert tour guiding, I now know what a Syrian Arch is and where the term “Richardsonian Romanesque” came from. I know why many of the UVM buildings have multiple dates engraved in their bases and that there is an underground spring on the campus green. I know so much about UVM that I could fool someone into thinking not only that I went to school there, but that I designed the campus myself. Averyt, a former professor in the School of Business Administration, isn’t cruising around campus to earn work-study cash. The 65-year-old Fulbright Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Fellow and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Grantee says he gets a kick out of being a tour guide. It’s a hobby and a labor of love. He also leads tours at Shelburne Museum and in Key West, where he lives for most of the year. It took “many, many practices” to get the tour whittled down to a presentation that would make sense to campus visitors, Averyt says. Judging from his performance, he’s got it pretty well massaged. The tour begins at 9 a.m. at the statue of Ira Allen on the campus green. Averyt, his voice equal parts soothing and excited, explains that Allen offered the state legislature 50 acres and 4000 pounds sterling to start a college in this new settlement of Burlington. In 1791, a new institution called Universitas Viridis Montis, or University of the Green Mountains, was born. (The abbreviation UVM comes from the school’s original Latin name — better than UGM, for sure.) The 10 people taking the hour-and-a-half tour on this particular Saturday range from out-of-state parents dropping off their student children to local history buffs. Averyt, wearing khaki trousers, a plaid collared shirt and a lightweight raincoat, sets the scene by asking participants to imagine what the area looked like when the university was founded 218 years ago. Much of the site was a dense white pine forest. Between the hilltop and the lake lay two villages that had sprung up over the years, with a combined population of about 200 people. The campus doesn’t offer much to distract us from Averyt’s colorful description. At this “early” hour, few cars drive down University Place, and only a handful of students pass the group. Averyt asks us to turn our attention to the buildings that make up University Row, formerly known as High Street. Along with the campus green, these structures — Old Mill, Billings Library and the Royall Tyler Theatre most prominent among them — form a designated Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The walking tour doesn’t take us beyond the central quad, but Averyt also offers insight on some of the earliest surviving structures in Burlington. Pearl House, Pomeroy Hall, Moses Catlin-John Johnson House and others stand near the green or within pointing distance. Conspicuously absent from Averyt’s dissertation is any substantive mention of the Davis Center, the university’s newest and most controversial building. Averyt’s retention of even the most obscure details is impressive. Sure, he’s been doing the tours for a year, but this guy knows what a hammerhead beam is. He knows the environmentalist movement was pioneered by UVM alumnus George Perkins Marsh in his book Man and Nature, and that the first comedic play in the U.S., The Contrast, was written by Royall Tyler, a Vermont Supreme Court judge and university law professor. Perhaps the best trivia-quiz fodder Averyt gives us is the definition of a gnomonologist and where on campus such a person’s handiwork might be found. Hint: It tells time. I wasn’t the only one enlivened by Averyt’s encyclopedic mind. Mary Wallack, from Washington, D.C., has come to drop off her daughter, Alexis Smith, for her junior year at UVM; she decided to take the tour after reading about it on a website for parents. “This is so much more detailed than other tours,” Wallack says. Rocel Kingman, of Orono, Minn., has just moved her son, Ted, into the dorms and wants to give him time to get adjusted. The tour seemed like a good idea. “I didn’t want to hang around him. I wanted to do my own thing,” Kingman says. She declares herself impressed with the volume of information Averyt presents, especially the details about Billings Library and its namesake and patron Frederick Billings, a railroad developer and UVM alumnus for whom Billings, Mont., and Billings, N.D., were named. Kingman’s family has connections to Montana, so that part of the tour was particularly interesting, she says. Averyt’s was an impressive display of tour-guidery. By the end of an hour and a half, my brain was bursting with nuggets of info. I now know where the Bittersweet got its name, who is buried behind Ira Allen Chapel and what the Boulder Honor Society was — at least until the next story assignment prompts me to forget.

News: News Archives Getting Published in Science: First-Time Authors Share Their Stories Matthew Lamanna was a 25-year-old graduate student, eating lunch outside in Spring 2001 when his research partner, Joshua Smith, shouted from a nearby window: "It's in! We're in Science!" Lamanna shouted back: "Oh man, wow!" Their Science odyssey had begun when Smith was 29, and his head was hanging from a different window¾a Land Cruiser lost in Egypt's Bahariya Oasis, where he was collaborating with researcher Attia Yousry of the Egyptian Geological Museum. "Hey," Smith recalls saying, after spotting something in the sand, "that looks like a bone." It was a fossilized bone, in fact, from one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered. Like Lamanna and Smith, Frank Heppner¾now four years from retirement at the University of Rhode Island¾also recalls being elated when, as a 27-year-old graduate student in 1967, his first paper was accepted by Science. "Are you kiddin' me?" he jokes, when asked if the publication helped propel his career. "A grad student with a paper in Science? It was worth gold. My memory isn't that good, but I imagine I did handsprings, screams of joy, whatever we did before high-fives." First-time Science author, Cindy Van Dover, an assistant professor at the College of William & Mary, recalls watching the outline for two companion manuscripts emerge on a ship's blackboard, while she was completing field research in the Indian Ocean. "We knew we wanted to try for a Science type of manuscript¾a discovery paper," Van Dover says of her research on hydrothermal vent organisms. Her manuscript was ultimately delivered by satellite e-mail to the journal's online submission system, on 19 July 2001. It was accepted 30 working days later, on 31 August, and published online Science Express two weeks later, appearing in print on 26 October (vol. 294, issue 5543, pp. 818-823). Van Dover considered other journals, but selected Science after talking with an editor about the journal's readership (more than one million people worldwide); illustration options; and print and online article word-counts. At about 4,400 words, including some 65 references and notes, her manuscript was submitted as a research article, which can include up to 4,500 words¾rather than a report, which puts the cap at 2,500 words, or a Brevia of fewer than 1,000 words. Manuscript preparation meant a long stretch of all-nighters for Lamanna, Smith, and co-authors-supervised by veteran paleontologist Peter Dodson at the University of Pennsylvania. Because they were in Egypt, the two young scientists had a friend submit their work online, through the web submissions site, the method most preferred by Science editors, on 9 March 2001. Their paper was submitted in the category for research reports, running about 1,500 words, with 47 references and notes. One of more than 7,000 manuscripts submitted to Science each year¾with 52 percent from countries beyond the United States¾the dinosaur paper was first evaluated by R. Brooks Hanson, Deputy Managing Editor in charge of physical sciences, who had talked with Smith by phone. Like about a third of all submissions, it got a preliminary pass from a manuscript editor¾in this case, Hanson, who felt it met Science's key conditions of acceptance, by revealing "a novel concept of broad importance to the scientific community," which had never previously been disclosed to the public. "We look initially for editorial and scientific integrity," Hanson explains. "We're looking for solid research that says something new." Katrina Kelner, Deputy Managing Editor in charge of biological sciences, notes that many of the journal's finest papers have been "clever, elegant, basic biology," such as recent investigations of the structure of ribosome, the cellular protein factory. Roughly 60 percent of all published papers have historically fallen into the biological realm, she adds. "Not every paper makes it onto the front page of a major newspaper," she says. "But, they all must meet our criteria for originality, presenting a novel idea that's likely to stimulate further investigation or debate, maybe even a whole new way of thinking about an important question." After determining that the sauropod paper met this standard, Hanson routed it to a Board of Reviewing Editors, assigned to assess the potential significance, quality and interest of submissions. One of about 100 leading, active scientists on the reviewing board again gave the paper a pass, noting that it revealed crucial new information about dinosaurs and where they lived in Africa. Finally, the manuscript was assessed by anonymous peer reviewers, selected for their expertise in the field, who returned more good news. On Friday, 1 June 2001, a report on Smith's discovery appeared in Science (vol. 292, issue 5522, pp. 1704-06), placing it among the 10 percent of all submissions annually accepted for publication. "I was really surprised with how fast the thing got turned around," Smith says of his experience, adding that "it was pretty bug-free, overall." To ensure accurate news coverage, AAAS shared the research one week in advance with pre-registered journalists, but asked them to hold or "embargo" their stories until 2:00 pm Eastern Time on Thursday, 31 May. Thus, thousands of reporters worldwide had a week to understand the research and prepare their stories. Smith soon found himself wryly explaining to CNN correspondent Ann Kellan that Paralititan stromeri, the "tidal giant" he found fossilized in Egypt, was "a big boy." As soon as the Science embargo lifted, news of Smith's find rapidly spread around the world. "I was completely stunned at the level of attention we got, and indeed, are continuing to get," he says. "We made something like 175 newspapers worldwide within the first 24 hours. I dealt with 30 to 35 calls a day for the week preceding the release of the story, and much of the week after. Matt and I were getting calls from every TV station in the country, it seemed. We learned very quickly how to deal with the media." Because of the embargo system, most of the coverage was accurate, Smith says, although in hindsight, he wishes that his Egyptian collaborators had been featured more extensively in news reports. Not all Science papers generate such broad news coverage. But, the AAAS provides journalists with a lay-language summary of every forthcoming research article¾not just the most easily accessible topics. And, information is disseminated to some 3,900 journalists registered to use the AAAS science news site, EurekAlert! In keeping with the association's mission to enhance public understanding and appreciation of research, recent Science Press Packages have included, for example, a description of Marc Tatar's study of insulin-like receptors in fruit flies and their impacts on lifespan. For lay people, Tatar's research was complex, showing that flies with mutant receptors could live up to 85 percent longer. The work was covered by a half-dozen ambitious journalists, including one at The Financial Times of London, who reported on Tatar's "evidence of an ageing system that may promote long life." Cindy Van Dover was preparing for the start of Fall classes when she got word of her paper's acceptance, following a review process that she describes as "extraordinarily professional." She was unprepared for the journal's new "just-in-time" rapid publishing schedule: "Who would expect to submit a major revision on a Friday afternoon, and learn on a Sunday morning that the manuscript was accepted!" she says. "Definitely a surprise." Science Express, a new feature of Science and Science Online, permits rapid electronic publication of selected research papers and Perspectives, editor Katrina Kelner notes. Why are some papers published first on Science Express, appearing a few weeks later in print? Editors evaluate the work's importance and timeliness, Kelner says. The online venue makes it possible to publish, for example, hot papers likely to turn a long-standing theory on its head, or findings with immediate public-health impacts, such as recent articles on the hoof-and-mouth epidemic in Great Britain. When such issues exist, Kelner notes, papers can be reviewed within days, and certain papers are published within 10 days of acceptance¾though most appear about 4 to 6 weeks after getting the green light. Like Van Dover, author Marc Tatar also reports a good review experience in publishing his study: "The review process was very timely and efficient," he says. "The reviewers helped clarify some of the conceptual places that were muddy and identified places that needed strengthening." Tatar chose Science because, he says, "the paper crossed a lot of different disciplines, from aging research to insect physiology, and we wanted to reach a broad audience." He also appreciated the journal's editorially independent status within the nonprofit AAAS, founded in 1848. Science's long-standing reputation, as a journal established in 1880 by Thomas A. Edison, was the key for veteran Frank Heppner, too, who says he went with AAAS some 34 years ago for "the prestige, snob value, and career enhancement!" -- Ginger Pinholster

By Jeff BrownKnight Ridder Newspapers(KRT) All of us who own stocks or stock funds are moaning and groaning about the 3-year-old bear market. But there's another group of sufferers: fixed-income investors, many of them elderly. True, falling interest rates did push bond prices up last year. But many investors who owned bonds that matured or were called early saw their incomes plummet after they reinvested. Today, you're lucky to make 2 or 3 percent on bank savings. If you're replacing a 10-year Treasury bond that just matured, your yield is dropping from 6.3 percent to 3.7 percent. Is there a way a senior can make up the income gap? One alternative: a reverse mortgage, a way to pull money out of your home without saddling yourself with monthly payments, as you would with a home equity loan. While reverse mortgages are not suitable for everyone, low interest rates and rising home prices make them particularly attractive right now for those who can stomach the high up-front fees and compounding interest charges. A 75-year-old who owns a $150,000 home could get a reverse-mortgage loan for nearly $98,000 today, compared to $84,000 when rates were 1 percentage point higher a year ago, for example. Like, since the money is a loan rather than income. The longer you have the loan, the more interest you would owe. But federal regulations limit the total amount owed to the value of the property. If the property value falls or if the homeowner lives to be very old, interest charges or money received on the monthly payment plan can exceed the property's value. That, of course, is a risk that worries lenders. To reduce this prospect, they limit the initial loan amount, considering factors such as interest rates and the homeowner's life expectancy. (If you have a previous loan on the property, a portion of the reverse mortgage must be used to pay that off.) Hence, the older you are, the more money you can get. A 62-year-old with a $150,000 home might get $83,000, while an 85-year-old could get $113,000. In the same way, lower interest rates allow homeowners to lock in much larger loan amounts than they can get when rates are high. Once this loan amount is set, it is permanent, even if interest rates rise later. So it might pay to lock in now, while rates are low. The interest charges applied to the loan float, changing either once a month or once a year. Typically, they are based on the rate paid by one-year Treasury notes, plus a "margin" of 1.5 percent or 2.1 percent, depending on whether the borrower chooses the monthly or annual adjustment. Currently, the combined rate on monthly adjustments, chosen by most borrowers, is 2.8 percent. Although the homeowner doesn't make payments on the loan, low interest rates mean interest charges don't build up as much, so there's more money left for the homeowner or heirs after the loan is paid off. What's the downside? The biggest one is fees, which can run to thousands more than you might pay on an ordinary mortgage. These include a fee of several hundred dollars to appraise the property, a loan origination fee of up to $2,000, an insurance premium paid at closing equal to 2 percent of the property's value, a monthly insurance premium that adds 0.5 percent to the loan rate and a monthly servicing fee of up to $35. Another major drawback: Since the borrower doesn't pay interest each month, interest charges compound - you pay interest on interest. Hence, you might pay much more in interest than you would on an ordinary mortgage or home equity loan. Hence, it often makes better financial sense to sell a home, buy a cheaper one and live off the difference. Or you might do better with an ordinary mortgage or home equity loan, assuming you have the income to qualify. But a reverse mortgage can work well for an elderly homeowner who wants to stay in a home, can't borrow elsewhere, really needs the money and isn't concerned that compounding interest charges will chew away at the equity that can be left to heirs. Be sure to do plenty of shopping around. The AARP has a good brochure that can be ordered at 1-800-424-3410 or viewed at. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which backs most reverse mortgages, has materials that can be ordered at 1-800-217-6970 or viewed at. Also try the Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association at. Materials can be ordered at 1-866-264-4466.

Photographer: WFTS Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Posted: 08/06/2012 The first names of those that will be speaking at the Republican National Convention have been officially announced, and with the announcement comes some raised eyebrows. But it appears that not having your name on the list, doesn't necessarily mean you won't be speaking. In fact, Alec Poitevint, Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements, says in the next few weeks we can expect more names to be added. He says the selection of the speakers is an arduous process filled with input from hundreds from various agencies, even general public opinion is considered. Jim Davis, former Florida and United States Representative says history shows that if a name doesn't appear on the speaker list, there is a good chance they are still in the running to fill that Vice President candidate slot. Either way, one thing is for sure, the GOP knows exactly what they are doing. "This is all going to be very carefully calculated," says Davis. Davis says the Republicans have a distinct plan as they strategically roll our the names of those that will be speaking at the RNC. "I think that the Republican Party did two things today, both were wise. I think they touted out some of their best and brightest and they mixed into that some of the people that they have to ask to speak. He adds he's not just looking at the names that have been introduced, but he says just as important, if not more, is when these people will take the podium. He says the prime time speakers will be the ones to watch, the ones the Republican party really want to showcase. As for those that have yet to be named? "Many of these people that are being touted as Vice Presidential candidates are leaders in their own right. I think they will all be speaking in some way at the convention." He says people like former Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice will have a lot to bring to the table on hot-button issues like foreign policy. People like Governor Rick Scott and Senator John McCain are more formalities, he says. Those two are more like a tradition because they won't help to swing the votes in his opinion. Speakers like South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez will get the attention of the women voters as they both made history by becoming the first female governors in their respective states. While we expect to hear more announcements on those who will be slated to speak, the question still remains, who will get the nod for Vice President? Despite much conversation, Davis doesn't seem to think it will be Florida Senator Marco Rubio. He says he thinks the battleground state of Ohio will get the green light. "Today, I put my money on Rob Portman," predicts Davis. Portman, the junior state Senator from Ohio, has been really impressing people in the past couple of months, according to Davis..

Dotti Disposable Camera is the latest application from Sincerely Inc.’s developer team which is already a name that has created its mark among smartphone users with some wonderful apps like Postagram Postcards and Holiday Cards for Android and iOS. The base concept behind those previous two apps is simple, just personalize a postcard on your smartphone (with a photograph, style and message of your choice), print and sent it directly where you want it to be by postal code. Now the latest app, Dotti Disposable Camera converts your device into a classic disposable camera, complete with sound effects and animations, and allows you to fill its camera roll with almost 12 captured photos. While filling the roll with snaps, you'll be able to place its delivery order to an address as you like to get it. Every photo gets printed on 6x4 in. full quality fine paper and therefore the entire compilation gets delivered in an exceedingly solidly designed envelope to stay your snaps protected. Relying upon the target location, cargo charges and delivery time could vary. The printed picture is standard size of 15x10 cm (6x4 inches). The set of 12 pictures will cost about $ 4.99 for delivery in the United States and $ 5.99 for the rest of the world - with an expected arrival within one week. To get double prints, you will need to pay a further $3. With Dotti, you can create multiple albums. Click to photograph and observe the number of pictures remaining in the upper right corner of the screen. After the capture of each image you can choose whether to keep or discard the photo. When the film is ready, you can proceed to the registration information, address and payment. Dotti Disposable Camera has a very unique software based on it’s concept. It leverages the high quality digital cameras of the iPhone and Android to produce printed albums. The app is very easy to use for delivery and the price is cheap for anywhere. Although it has some drawbacks which should be added in future. Like Dotti does not store any of the images created through the app. Also, you can not choose different sizes of photos or send more than 12 images. Another thing to note that the application is a bit slow at the time of capturing images and do not have any options of editing, allowing only the user to enable or disable the camera flash. It would be even cooler to insert effects, cuts and changing colors in your photographs before sending the print request. Dotti Disposable Camera is available for free in the iTunes App Store and Android Market. It needs Android 2.1 or higher and iOS 4.3 or later to run. Download Dotti Disposable Camera Download Dotti Disposable Camera

aberdeennews.com/sports/aan-4b.01-03-11.fbn--vikings-lions-20110103,0,7044382.story BY LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer 3:30 AM CST, January 3, 2011 DETROIT - Brett Favre lingered on the sideline during what was likely the last game of his 20-season career, often looking like he'd rather be lounging on a couch back home in Mississippi. Now, he can. The three-time MVP quarterback was inactive with a concussion, but walked onto the field briefly as his Minnesota Vikings teammates desperately tossed laterals to each other before running out of time and hope as the Detroit Lions won 20-13 Sunday. When the game ended, the 41-year-old Favre jogged diagonally across the turf - waving once toward Detroit's sideline - with the only burst of energy he showed all afternoon and went up a ramp toward the locker room. So long, Brett. ''I would have liked to have played,'' he said. ''The wise choice was not to play. I was OK with it.'' Favre said he passed a post-concussion test a couple days before the game, but getting knocked out for what he said was 10 or 15 seconds two weeks ago when Chicago's Corey Wootton slammed his helmet to the frozen turf seemed to scare him away from risking another head injury. ''It's been a wonderful ride for me,'' he said. ''One game, one season does not define me. There will be people saying, 'It's a shame he went out that way.' The Lions (6-10), meanwhile, closed the season with a four-game winning streak, and tripled last season's win total. Shaun Hill threw for 258 yards and a touchdown, and Maurice Morris scored on a 4-yard run with 9:29 left to give the Lions a 10-point lead before the Vikings' Ryan Longwell kicked a 48-yard field goal with 1:55 left. ''We wanted to be remembered for the way we finished this season,'' second-year coach Jim Schwartz said. ''We beat three teams that were in the playoff mix, two of them on the road.'' The Vikings (6-10) ended a lost season by putting Favre on the inactive list, and with rookie Joe Webb making his second start. They opened the season with Super Bowl hopes, but week after week of team turmoil took its toll, especially on Favre. He sustained a series of injuries and wound up sitting out three of the Vikings' final four games. Adding to his misery, Favre was fined $50,000 on Tuesday for failing to cooperate with an NFL investigation into allegations of tawdry interactions with a game-day hostess when both worked for the New York Jets in 2008. After his postgame news conference Sunday, Favre didn't answer a reporter who asked for his reaction to NFL's ruling. The Vikings also fired Brad Childress during the tumultuous season, finishing with Leslie Frazier as interim coach, had a failed reunion with Randy Moss and two home game were moved because snow collapsed the Metrodome's roof and a blizzard pushed another game to a Tuesday night. Team owner Zygi Wilf wouldn't discuss Frazier's future with the team after the finale. Frazier said he planned to talk with ownership Sunday night or today. ''Nothing has been solidified,'' Frazier said. Favre walked onto the Ford Field turf about 40 minutes before kickoff, looking much like he did Dec. 13 in the same stadium where his NFL-record, 297-game starting streak ended because of a banged-up right shoulder and numb right hand in a game against the New York Giants in the first of two relocated games. He was wearing a purple knit hat, short-sleeved black shirt with a long-sleeved white shirt underneath and black warmup pants and was willing to talk to anyone who crossed his path. He later put on a baseball cap with a '4' on it, but covered all of it other than the bill - perhaps to avoid another fine from the league for wearing gear it hadn't approved. During the game, Favre sometimes stood by himself and simply looked bored as a witness to a sport he played with so much joy and success since 1992 - his first season with Green Bay after being drafted by Atlanta. Favre couldn't wait to get off the sideline for the final time. Down by a touchdown, the Vikings got the ball back with 10 seconds left and made several laterals in an attempt to score. Favre, who inched onto the field and had to be nudged back to the sideline when time ran out but the final play was still ongoing, dashed for the exit in what wasn't the way he wanted to go out. He acknowledged some will doubt he's truly done after coming back from two retirements earlier in his career, but insisted this is it. ''It's time,'' Favre said. Notes: Detroit avoided finishing alone in last for the first time in three years and put Minnesota in a last-place tie for first time since 1990. ... Lions Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson was active, but didn't play because of his injured right ankle. ... Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson had 14 carries for 31 yards, falling 2 yards short of joining Earl Campbell as only players with at least 1,300 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in their first four seasons. ... Lions RB Jahvid Best set a team rookie with 58 receptions and Brandon Pettigrew broke a franchise record for tight ends with 71 catches.

Ravens 33, Giants 14Ravens 33, Giants 14 Strategy: Offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell finally put his creative stamp on the offense, orchestrating season highs with 533 yards of total offense and 224 rushing yards. That included an option pitchout from Joe Flacco, getting Ray Rice isolated against slower linebackers to good effect, and selectively targeting suspect cornerback Corey Webster. Getting wide receiver Torrey Smith in single coverage against Webster was an effective gambit to gain separation. They used faster-developing plays. The Ravens used no-huddle 21 times and a shotgun formation 22 times out of 81 snaps. Of the Ravens' 10 longest plays, seven came out of no-huddle or shotgun looks. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees deployed his safeties as edge pass rushers to get a speed mismatch, lining up Courtney Upshaw at nose tackle to allow him to shoot gaps. Pees brought fire blitzes inside with linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Brendon Ayanbadejo to disrupt Eli Manning. Personnel: Ellerbe's return provided a boost to the defense. Ma'ake Kemoeatu started at nose tackle, but Terrence Cody played slightly better as Kemoeatu had little impact. James Ihedigbo started at strong safety with Bernard Pollard out again with damaged ribs. Ihedigbo had two quarterback hits. Chykie Brown proved capable in nickel duties, replacing Jimmy Smith. Right guard Marshal Yanda's presence upgraded the blocking, taking pressure off rookie Kelechi Osemele. Tight end Ed Dickson's return bolstered the offense. What went right: Flacco was decisive and accurate, delivering the football with confidence and timing. He was 7-for-7 throwing to Anquan Boldin, 6-for-7 targeting Rice, 5-for-11 to Smith for 88 yards and a score and 4-for-5 to tight end Dennis Pitta. Flacco's quarterback sneak went for a touchdown this time instead of a fumble. The pass blockers improved, allowing no sacks and just two quarterback hits. Terrell Suggs' torn right biceps wasn't as problematic this game. Manning was sacked three times, and the Ravens had a season-high nine quarterback hits. Rice and rookie Bernard Pierce ran roughshod, each eclipsing 100 yards. Pierce displayed his speed on a career-long 78-yard run. Justin Tucker kicked four field goals. What went wrong: Cary Williams had some coverage lapses, misplaying the ball. Ed Reed's high shoulder hit on Victor Cruz could be costly through a fine or even a suspension as the NFL regards him as a repeat offender. Upshaw and Josh Bynes were driven several yards backward on a touchdown run. Michael Oher managed to commit three penalties in one drive: a false start, holding and a personal foul. Turning point: Rice sprinted away from overmatched linebacker Michael Boley, accelerating for a 27-yard touchdown reception that staked the Ravens to a commanding 24-7 lead before halftime. X-factor: Torrey Smith's speed sets him apart, but his improved body control and hands are what allowed him to break out of a mini-slump. He had a slick one-handed sideline catch. Defenses will have to account for the former Maryland standout during the playoffs. Strategy: Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden loves to have Andy Dalton throw deep to ultra-talented wide receiver A.J. Green. Green was targeted 18 times and made 10 receptions for 116 yards, with one of those catches setting up the game-winning field goal. Green is one of the most gifted young players around, the prototypical go-to guy. Wide receivers Marvin Jones and Andrew Hawkins and big tight end Jermaine Gresham are complementary options for Dalton, who's willing to take chances and paid the consequences with two interceptions and six sacks while launching 41 passes Sunday. Cincinnati had to abandon an unproductive running game. The Bengals have a formidable defensive front, and Mike Zimmer doesn't need to call blitzes constantly. He can rely on the considerable talents of star defensive tackle Geno Atkins — one of the best young defensive linemen in the NFL — and athletic, rangy defensive ends Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap. Zimmer is regarded as somewhat unpredictable and will bring safety and cornerback blitzes on occasion. Personnel: Gritty left tackle Andrew Whitworth isn't that quick, but he has a strong hand punch and a good track record of stonewalling Terrell Suggs. Kevin Zeitler is a stout rookie guard, a powerful drive blocker. Gresham is a difficult assignment because he resembles a power forward. Atkins is a relentless combination run-stopper and pass-rusher with 13 sacks and four forced fumbles. He gave Matt Birk fits in September, and the ravens will need to build an effective game plan to prevent him from creating penetration. Linebacker Rey Maualuga has dropped 20 pounds to upgrade his mobility. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict has matured. He's operating with a serious, no-nonsense approach nowadays, and it shows in his play. What went right: Green and Dalton built a good rhythm. Jones provided a shifty change of pace downfield. The defensive line got a lot of push, shooting gaps. The secondary prevented Ben Roethlisberger from striking deep. Leon Hall read his keys to pick off Roethlisberger for an interception that he returned for a touchdown. Roethlisberger completed only half his throws for one touchdown with two interceptions, resulting in 10 points and a low 58.6 quarterback rating. What went wrong: Dalton held the football too long, resulting in some coverage sacks. He didn't always make good decisions on when to give up on a play. He was intercepted twice by Cortez Allen, who's usually an easy mark. The running game got obliterated, as "The Law Firm," BenJarvus Green-Ellis was handcuffed for 14 rushing yards on 15 carries for a 0.9 average. Dick LeBeau's run blitzes were effective. A holding penalty negated Jones' long punt return. Turning point: Josh Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to seal a 13-10 win and the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs for the Bengals. It was set up by Reggie Nelson's picking off an overthrown pass intended for Mike Wallace and Dalton's 21-yard sideline completion to Green to position Brown for the game-winner. X-factor: Dalton performed some of his best work in clutch moments. Shaky earlier in the game, Dalton completed nine of 13 passes for 107 yards in the fourth quarter with one interception. He connected with Green for five completions for 78 yards in the final quarter. twitter.com/ravensinsider

I had adventures today! First – I went to this clothing swap. You bring in some old clothes and you get to leave with new old clothes. I am, admittedly, a horrible packrat. I’m so bad at throwing things away. With clothes, I’m basically saving things for three reasons: 1. Nostalgia. The t-shirt Ian bought for me that says “Abortion Tickles” (romantic!), the my “Senior Women” tshirt from high school with the nickname on the back that no one ever really called me, etc. 2. In case Lauren has stylish kids. This is, in other words, the “in case it comes back into style” excuse, but that never actually happens. By the time a style comes back into style, it’s just slightly different enough that the genuine old stuff looks weird and ugly. Unless! You’re super-stylish. So in case Lauren’s daughters are super-stylish, or I guess Jen and Vivid Boobie’s, or whoever else wants to have daughters that they allow me to hang out with, I’m saving my furry red polyester tank top, and my pleather pants, and my black pleather-snakeskin cowboy hat. (Why all the pleather? I had frankly not noticed that before.) One thing I need save no longer, for any reason: My hot-pink tube top. Oh – I’m sorry. Is hot pink a little too much for you? Well, good thing this baby is reversible! We got us some soft pink, too, for that innocent look. In fact, the straps are even removable, in case it’s too conservative for you as-is. True story: the last time time (the only time, I swear to god, really, I promise, if it helps) I wore this shirt (“shirt”) was to the Granada with my sister and one of her douchebag boyfriends. If you’re not from Kansas, you might not realize all that saying “I wore a hot pink tube top to the Granada with my older sister” means, but trust me, it’s not good news. If it helps you to understand the situation a little better, let me add: I wore it with the pleather snakeskin cowboy hat. I took a picture of myself with the hat, too, but I just cannot bring myself to post it. Jesus christ – I’m sitting here remembering that I admitted to a student a week or two ago that I have a blog. Dear Student, PLEASE DO NOT FIND MY BLOG PLEASE. Love, Jessica’s Tube Top. Screw the shot of me ferociously sucking Nutella off the blade of a knife; screw the shot of me with a giant beet stuck in my front teeth. These two pictures are officially tied for Most Embarrassing Photo of Jessica, Ever. Why on earth do I keep putting this shit on the internet? I don’t have to do this. Why did I do this? Even as I type this I am realizing I could, theoretically, not post this. And yet. Anyway – got rid of the tube top today at the swap. Traded it in for various other things I will likely never wear, either, including some kind of wacky Brit Pop military jacket that’s two sizes too big, and a ratty Kurt Cobain sweater with a hole in it that I bought imagining I would throw it on in case I’m like, out at the beach for a picnic or a clam bake or a bonfire party or something and it starts to get chilly at night. …You know. For all of the picnics and clam bakes and bonfire beach parties that I go to all the time. Also this dress, which I can’t tell if it’s like Twiggy-cute, or 15-year-old-at-the-mall-not-cute. My face looks like this because Erwin has just jumped up onto the table and is about to rub his face against my barely-balanced camera and knock it over: I hosted two big swaps every year at home. I don’t think i’ll ever get new clothes again ever, now that i can’t get them for free. Trackback link:

Discussion Topics Dictionary Almanac Manhattan Municipal Building Manhattan Municipal Building Topic Home Discussion Discussion Ask a question about ' Manhattan Municipal Building ' Start a new discussion about ' Manhattan Municipal Building ' Answer questions from other users Full Discussion Forum Encyclopedia The Manhattan Municipal Building , at 1 Centre Street Centre Street (Manhattan) Centre Street runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Centre Street runs from Park Row and continues north to Delancey Street where it merges with Lafayette... , is a 40-story building built to accommodate increased governmental space demands after the 1898 consolidation of the city's five boroughs... . Construction began in 1907 and ended in 1914, marking the end,... in New York. William M. Kendall of the noted architectural firm McKim, Mead and White designed the building, which was the first to incorporate... station into its base. Enormously influential in the civic construction of other American cities, its application of Beaux-Arts architecture served as the prototype for the Terminal Tower... in Cleveland... , and the Wrigley Building Wrigley Building The Wrigley Building is a skyscraper located directly across Michigan Avenue from the Tribune Tower on the Magnificent Mile... in Chicago, in addition to the Seven Sisters Seven Sisters (Moscow) The "Seven Sisters" is the English name given to a group of Moscow skyscrapers designed in the Stalinist style. Muscovites call them Vysotki or Stalinskie Vysotki , " high-rises"... of Stalin-era Soviet architecture. Located at the intersection of... and Centre Street Centre Street (Manhattan) Centre Street runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Centre Street runs from Park Row and continues north to Delancey Street where it merges with Lafayette Street.... , the Municipal Building, which stands 580 feet (177 m) tall, is one of the largest governmental buildings in the world. It houses thirteen municipal agencies of New York City, and until 2009, when the Manhattan Marriage Bureau moved to another city building at 80 Centre Street, 18,000 people were married in its second floor chapel each year. There are 25 floors of work space served by 33 elevators, with an additional 15 stories in the tower. The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... in 1972. __toc__ History In the 1884 annual report of the City of New York, Mayor Franklin Edson Franklin Edson Franklin Edson was the Mayor of New York from 1883 to 1884.Edson was a grain commission merchant, first in Albany, and then in New York City. He became a business leader and the president of the New York Produce Exchange... declared that more space was badly needed for governmental functions. But he also noted that City Hall... was not expandable because its "style of architecture was such that without marring its present symmetry, it couldn't be enlarged to the required extent." The City's agencies rented space in various buildings strewn all the way from Downtown Manhattan up to Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square... , with the number of such arrangements increasing by the year. The government, desiring to cut down the amount of rent paid to private landlords, held several design competitions for a new, massive building that would be suitable to house many agencies under one roof. Mayor Abram Hewitt appointed a commission to study suitable plans and plots of land in 1888, and four competitions were held between that year and 1907. The final competition was held by the Commissioner of Bridges, who had already secured a new plot of land to be used for a new trolley Tram A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities... hub at the Manhattan base of Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River... . Twelve architectural firms entered the last competition, and the winning entry was received from William Mitchell Kendall, a young partner of McKim, Mead and White, which had been urged to enter the contest by Mayor... . McKim, Mead was at the time the largest architectural firm in the world, with a staff numbering over 100. Despite their standing in the architectural community, the Manhattan Municipal Building would be their first skyscraper Skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper... . The building was first occupied in January 1913, and the majority of the building's offices were opened to the public by 1916. At present the Municipal Building is home to thirteen public agencies, employing 2,000 staff in nearly 1 million square feet (90,000 m²) of floorspace. Architecture Various types of sculpture and relief were used in the building, but it most closely resembles classic Roman architecture Roman... ,... being the inspiration for the design of the central arch, which is large enough that automobile traffic once went through it, although in modern times the shortened... no longer continues through to the eastern side. A screen of Corinthian columns flanks the arch. The terra-cotta... was modeled on the entrance of the Palazzo Farnese the south arcade has a ceiling of white Guastavino tile Guastavino tile Guastavino tile is the "Tile Arch System" patented in the US in 1885 by Valencian architect and builder Rafael Guastavino... s. The facade of the building was restored in 1990 by Wank Adams Slavin. Pinnacle The statue of Civic Fame on top of the Municipal Building, installed in March 1913, is a gilded figure designed by Adolph A. Weinman. At 25 feet (8 m) tall, it is the second largest statue in all of Manhattan Statues and Sculptures in New York City New York City is the largest city in the United States and one of the world's major global cities. As such, it has many large monuments, statues, sculptures, and other artistic pieces spread throughout its Five Boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, and The Bronx... . Constructed from Weinman's plaster model of sheets of copper with a hollow core, it is similar in this respect to the nearby Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886... . Standing barefoot on a sphere, the figure wears a flowing dress and a crown of laurels to signify glory. In her left hand is a five-sectioned mural crown Mural crown -Usage in ancient times:In Hellenistic culture, a mural crown identified the goddess Tyche, the embodiment of the fortune of a city, familiar to Romans as Fortuna... , to represent the five boroughs Bronx The Bronx The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated... , Queens Queens Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States.... , and Staten Island Staten Island... ; the building's five cupolas also represent the five boroughs. In her right hand is a shield and a laurel branch to represent victory and triumph. Audrey Munson Audrey Munson Audrey Munson was an American artist's model and film actress, known variously as "Miss Manhattan," "the Exposition Girl," and "American Venus." She was the model or inspiration for more than 15 statues in New York City and appeared in four silent films.-Life and career:Audrey Marie Munson was... (1891–1996), who posed for the figure, was also Daniel Chester French Daniel Chester French Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:... 's model for America , which stands in front of the Alexander Hamilton... ; she was probably also Weinman's model for Day and Night from the former Pennsylvania Station Pennsylvania Station (New York City) Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also... , and more than a dozen other public sculptures in New York. Weinman also sculpted the allegorical bas-relief panels at the base of the building. Agencies New York City public agencies located in the Manhattan Municipal Building include: New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services is the branch of the municipal government of New York City that supports government recruitment, mangages government facilities and provides supplies and equipment.-External links:*...:... New York Public Service Commission New York Public Service Commission The New York Public Service Commission is a government agency that regulates the various utilities of the state of New York. The commission also oversees the cable industry.The commission consists of up to five members, led by a commissioner... Manhattan Borough President New York City Public Advocate New York City Comptroller New York City Comptroller The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York... County Clerk of New York County... New York City Office of Payroll Administration New York City Tax Commission Field offices for the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications The New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications is the city agency that "oversees the City's use of existing and emerging technologies in government operations, and its delivery of services to the public"... (DoITT), New York City Department of Buildings New York City Department of Buildings The New York City Department of Buildings is the branch of municipal government in New York City that enforces the City's building codes and zoning regulations, issues building permits, and inspects new and existing buildings.-History:... , New York State Office of the Inspector General, and New York City Department of Environmental Protection New York City Department of Environmental Protection The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is a City agency of nearly 6,000 employees that manages and conserves the City’s water supply; distributes more than one billion gallons of clean drinking water each day to nine million New Yorkers and collects wastewater through a vast... . In popular culture The Manhattan Municipal Building appeared in the 1984 film... . The Ghostbusters depart on their way to fight Gozer at 55 Central Park West 55 Central Park West The building at 55 Central Park West, also known as the Ghostbusters Building, is a 19-floor housing cooperative located in Manhattan, New York City, U.S.A. The building was built in 1929 and designed by the firm Schwartz and Gross. Both the interior and the exterior possess unique architectural... . It was also the setting for a level in the 2001 Rockstar video game Max Payne Max Payne Max Payne is a BAFTA Award–winning third-person shooter video game developed by Finnish developers Remedy Entertainment and published by Gathering of Developers in July 2001 for Microsoft Windows. Ports created later in the year for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and the GameBoy Advance were published by... . The building also makes a short appearance in the 1974 film The Taking of Pelham One Two Three where police drive down Centre St to deliver a $1 million ransom. In the 1994 film The Professional, antagonist Stansfield, played by actor Gary Oldman Gary Oldman Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award... , works for the DEA DEA DEA is the commonly used acronym for the Drug Enforcement Administration, a United States law enforcement agency.DEA or Dea may also refer to:- Organizations :* DEA , UK development education charity... at the building, in office 1402. It appeared in the popular 1990's sitcom... ; Elaine Benes... worked in the building. It appeared in the 2000 game Midnight Club Street Racing It appeared in the 2008 game Grand Theft Auto IV Grand Theft Auto IV Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system... It appeared in the 2011 game Crysis 2 Crysis 2 Crysis 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek, published by Electronic Arts and released in North America, Australia, and Europe in March 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360... in which a large portion of the building's central structure collapses See also Seven Sisters (Moscow) Seven Sisters (Moscow) The "Seven Sisters" is the English name given to a group of Moscow skyscrapers designed in the Stalinist style. Muscovites call them Vysotki or Stalinskie Vysotki , " high-rises"... — reportedly modeled after the Manhattan Municipal Building External links

Discussion Topics Dictionary Almanac Today with Des and Mel Today with Des and Mel Topic Home Discussion Discussion Ask a question about ' Today with Des and Mel ' Start a new discussion about ' Today with Des and Mel ' Answer questions from other users Full Discussion Forum Encyclopedia Today with Des and Mel hosted by Des O'Connor Des O'Connor Des O'Connor, CBE is an English comedian and singer. A former talkshow host, he was the presenter of the long-running Channel 4 gameshow Countdown for two years... and Melanie Sykes Melanie Sykes Melanie Ann Sykes is an English television presenter and model.-Career:Melanie Sykes was born to an English father, and an Anglo-Indian mother. She first came to public attention as the bikini-clad girl in the Boddingtons beer advertisements with the broad "Northern" accent in the mid-1990s... . The show featured celebrity guests, phone-in competitions and chat between the hosts. It was produced by Carlton Television Granada Productions Granada Productions was a British commercial television production and distribution company. The company took its name from the successful ITV franchise, Granada Television.... , at The London Studios The London Studios The London Studios is a television studio complex which is owned by London Weekend Television and has been home to the London Weekend ITV provider since 1972... . The show was previously produced at Teddington Studios Teddington Studios Teddington Studios is a large British television studio complex located in Teddington, South-West London, providing studio facilities for programmes airing on BBC television, ITV, and Channel 4 along with others... for the first series. Today with Des and Mel was loosely based on the format of the popular American television Television in the United States Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one... show,... . At one stage, the show was given the green light Greenlight To green-light a project is to give permission or a go ahead to move forward with a project. In the context of the movie and TV businesses, to green-light something is to formally approve its production finance, thereby allowing the project to move forward from the development phase to.... Guest Presenters Paul O'Grady Paul O'Grady... was a regular guest presenter, with ITV ITV ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK... bosses being so impressed with his performance, that they gave him his own show - The Paul O'Grady Show The Paul O'Grady Show The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4... (the show later moved... in 2006 and ended in 2009).... , Bradley Walsh and Richard Whiteley also covered for Des on occasion. Jenny Powell Jenny Powell Jenny Powell , is a British television presenter.-Early life:Powell's parents are from South Africa, she attended Woodford County High School for Girls in Woodford Green and the Italia Conti school in London.-Career:... - who contributed a regular Friday feature describing various tasks for the show that she had undertaken that week, that was dropped a while into the show's run - occasionally covered for Mel. On Monday 3 November 2008 and Wednesday 8 April 2009, both Des and Mel filled in as guest hosts on The Paul O'Grady Show whilst Paul had time off.

What a weekend! Fredericksburg is a great get-away and this wonderful experience we had was so much more enjoyable because of your special attention to detail. This amazing cottage that has your special touch, along with its indulgent pleasures, was a place we'll never forget. Thank you for making lifetime memories for our anniversary! We had a wonderful time and will recommend you to everyone to share this romantic place. We'll definitely come back! To sum up our stay in a few words...Ooh La La! Kristi and Kirby We had a wonderful time staying in your beautiful cottage. The food and complimentary wine were fantastic. The quiche was terrific. Every detail was perfect and more than we could have asked for. We will recommend your place to all of our friends and family. Corey and Sherry I just wanted to let you know that our visit totally exceeded our expectations. The Hot Tub is an outdoor room that is totally built out with walls, a door, pictures on the website do not match what loveliness and roominess we found when we visited the Hot Tub Room. The accommodations exceeded our expectation tremendously as well as the service provided by Laura. She was so lovely and so helpful giving us hints maps and expertise in where to go in the area. During our stay we opted to have a lovely Brunch instead of the full breakfast we were offered (since we sleep in) that consisted of a gorgeous Cobb Salad with Mimosa's and Shrimp Cocktail. That was aside from the first day of fresh muffins, fruit, and quiche that was already in our room. Our stay was so relaxing we were not ready to leave. Laura's attention to detail delighted us both each little surprise she left us, each bottle of wine made the trip a complete delight. Laura's decorating skills were marvelous and the beautiful French cottage could not have been more comfortable. We cannot wait to go again. Dee Brantley Galveston Ooh La La!!!! That's what guests say when they step into Ooh La La's romantic Paris Cottage! The first thing you may notice is the stunning, romantic decor centered around a beautiful tiled gas fireplace. The comfortable den is just perfect for putting your feet up, enjoying a glass of wine and catching up on everything you've been missing in today's busy world. Downstairs you will also find a kitchenette with all the conveniences and a fabulous Paris-themed bath. The center-piece of this bath is the oversized whirlpool tub for two! Slip into the hot soothing bubbles and let the cares of the world melt away. Upstairs in the romantic open loft you will find a gorgeous king size bed. Vintage European touches pull together the high-end feel of this spectacular cottage. Be sure and save time to enjoy a long soak in the screen-porched hot tub, while at the same time watching, get this, a 50" Flat Screen TV right there on the porch! Are you kidding me? A good hot tub is just the ticket after hitting the shops and sights of town, and you don't have to miss the ball game either! (Do remember you're on vacation, though. There are more important things than TV!) Outside you will enjoy the beautifully landscaped garden with fountain and your own porch with two rockers, just perfect for solving the world's problems. Make Ooh La La - Paris Cottage your little love-nest the next time you head to the Hill Country!

Product Questions - Ask Average Customer Reviews Energy Star Rated - No Features: Specifications: Approximate Dimensions: Approximate Weight Warranty Information: Need more help? Like this category? REVIEW SNAPSHOT® (based on 13 reviews) Ratings Distribution 5 Stars (6) 4 Stars (5) 3 Stars (2) 2 Stars (0) 1 Stars 100% of respondents would recommend this to a friend. Pros Cons Best Uses Most Liked Positive Review Second time around I have had no issues with this product, I believe it doesn't get better than this other than being powered by its own water instead of electricity. I have had this product once before ...Read complete review I have had no issues with this product, I believe it doesn't get better than this other than being powered by its own water instead of electricity. I have had this product once before and returned it from another store thinking I didnt need it in my new home. I was wrong and had mold issues in my basement. I looked all over for this product and most places carry the hier brand which most people rate very low and have issues. ABT carries this this higher quality dehumidifier in which I was also glad to find it on sale when I bought it. This is a well designed product for the money.. VS Most Liked Negative Review Only show in town The most important thing for me (and most) is a front intake and a top exahust. A 65 pint unit has to pull air from a large space, or multiple rooms. It is...Read complete review The most important thing for me (and most) is a front intake and a top exahust. A 65 pint unit has to pull air from a large space, or multiple rooms. It is important it pulls from the front. As for exauhst, blowing out the sides or rear could potentially blow into a wall, or onto someone that is seated near by. Exhausting upwards never creates a problem. I had a 65 pint Fedders/Maytag before this. The only other model I have seen with front intake and top exhaust. It had two digital displays, one for your humidity setting, one for the actual humidity. The GE unit only has one display that toggles. The Maytag unit also had a one hour shut off or pause feature. The GE does not. I am trying to dehumidify a finished 900sqrft basement, that gets between 50-70% humid in the summer. The Maytag's lowest setting was 35%. The Maytag was 65pt as well, and at the most humidy could bring the space's humidity level down to 35% and shut off. The GE at the most humidy time a year in the basement can only get to 39 or 40% dry when running continuously in the same space. Both are 65pt/day capacity, but the Maytag had a bit more drying power. I can live with 40-45% humidity though in the basement, so I guess the GE still does ok for my application, I would have liked it to be able to take the 900sqrft to 35% humidity though during humid months, it validates it is enough dehumidifier for the space. The downside to the Maytag/Fedders is that it broke after a year (as many others have as well). Fedders got out of this business, as has Maytag, and they are not repairing or honoring the warranty on broken units that still should be covered. The GE is the only 65 pint front in take top exhaust unit I have seen that is still on the market. If its reliability holds up it will be the best unit out there. Apparently dehumidifiers must be tough to make reliable. Almost all brands out there seem to have repair issues. If this one holds up it will be well worth the money. The GE also heats a big space, taking my 68 degree basement to 77 degrees over the entire 900sqrft. The Maytag took the basement temp up to only 74 degrees. The GE does have a larger tank capacity 21 pints vs 17 pints, less trips to the sink. It also has an indicator on the bucket that shows you how close to full you are, pretty handy. I would give it 3 1/2 stars, but the rating only allows for 3 or 4 stars.ABT had the best price, excellent customer service, and shipped it to me right away. Their return policy is also top notch, they take the risk out of buying online. I would highly recommend them. REVIEWS Reviewed by 13 customers Sort by Displaying reviews 1-10 Back to top Previous | Next » Excellent unit By Mark from Indiana About Me Homeowner Comments about GE AHM65LK Light Gray 65 Pints Energy Star Dehumidifier: I owned one and went to buy a second one but the local store no longer carried GE. WHAT A MISTAKE! I am glad I found a GE dealer through the web site and I bought my second unit. The competitor's model is sitting in the garage. I'm sticking with GE. Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Was this review helpful? Yes / No - You may also flag this review Comment on this review GE Dehumidifier (AHM65LK, 65 pt.) By Rich from De Queen, AR This model works great for my humid garage. Living in the South, humidity is a problem and it makes my garage floor condensate. GE's dehumifier works great to control the problem. It's relatively quiet and quickly takes moisture out of the air. You should get one. By korz from Chicago IL About Me Handyman, Homeowner Reviews of this GE model and ABT reputation brought me to this purchase. [...] and the product has to be THE best on the market. Quiet, adjustable fan speed, not much heat generated, and the controls are easy to operate. Get one. It's been the so quiet I almost forgot that it came. Works well By Sapphire from Scituate, MA Works well. Not too noisy (in basement). 65 pint GE Dehumidifier By Joe from Cleveland, OH I have to agree with the other reviewer. I also had a Maytag dehumidifier which worked well but only last 3 yrs. I was unable to get the product repaired. This unit is similar to the Maytag 65 pint unit but does not dry as much as the Maytag did. Mind you, it does work well but has to be set to 40% humidity for the unit to shut off automaticly. AT 35% it will run continuously. It works, and keeps the basement dry but less powerful than the Maytag. [...] Good Luck. so far so good By ole ku from tilton, nh I haven't owned it that long and I have set it up to drain into a drain. It seems to do the job and I know that consumer reports rated it high. Exactly what I was looking for!! By denise from staten island, ny I purchased this dehumidifier for my unfinished basement. This product works great at getting rid of that musty cellar smell. I put it on continous for one day and it dropped the humidity reading from 60 to 30 in 24 hrs. It works great for use in a cellar. It isn't too noisy, in fact it is quieter than the one had previously owned, but I wouldn't recommend it for an area you are actually in all the time. I would definitly recommend this to a friend. By GC from Kenosha Wi About Me Handyman, Homeowner, Professional Terrific product[...] By Carol the do-it-your-selfer from Marcellus, NY It does an excellent job removing basement dampness. Managing the water bucket is a little awkward, since even slow emptying allows water to spill over the top from a separate compartment. It also gets quite heavy, but removing it when it's not full allows water to continue collecting without the pan there to catch it. All things considered, I'd buy it again. exactly what I needed By crossword addict from Chicago, IL I have basement that sometimes leaks. I need an automatic drying machine, and I just set this one in the middle of the floor and turned it on. I could not get the plastic bypass tube on far enough that the hose fitting would lie flush against the side of the unit, so I just left the hose coupling unmounted. No problem so far; drains fine. Service and delivery comments: Delivery was the next day! Good condition.I bought this item by phone after having looked at choices on line. Customer service was very helpful, convinced me not to drive to the store for pickup but to have the product delivered. Price was less than quoted on line. Fill out the form below to request Better Price for this product. special offers, and savings opportunities at Abt.

Improving Executive Team Performance Team negotiating - A horse of a different color - Six steps to improving your team's performance One of the most important, yet underdeveloped, responsibilities of an executive team is negotiation. It is surprising how much time is actually spent persuading and influencing each other and others on major executive decisions. While the individual team members are generally highly knowledgeable about the company's technical issues, and individuals may be good intuitive negotiators, as a team they often fall short. By following the six recommendations below, an executive team can go from an average negotiation team one to a well-oiled machine. 1. Get the team trained in the fundamentals. Many of you may have learned first to negotiate in a haggling fashion -- you start high, I start low and we meet in the middle. Later, you may have been exposed to some form of a "win-win" approach. Unfortunately, individuals on a team may have totally different definitions of negotiating well. Have the team briefed on negotiation fundamentals. Having a common language will increase efficiency and effectiveness. Make sure that whatever system you utilize emphasizes interests: the needs, desires, wants and fears of the various parties. When many levels are involved, focusing on specific demands is a trap that leads to confrontation rather than collaboration. Emphasizing interests will help parties move towards mutually satisfactoryagreements. 2. Standardize preparation. Related to the training is creating a template and mindset for preparing and reviewing negotiations. Before a major negotiation, the individuals involved should present the major interests as stated above. Next, start generating creative options to meet those interests. Rather than focusing on the single right answer, brainstorm broadly to come up with solutions that meet a variety of needs. Third, think about the walk-away alternatives. If there is no agreement, what will the parties do? 3. Create clear goals and parameters. Every team member has a duty to push hard on these issues. The only way any individual or any team will be successful is if they know what the bottom line objectives are. Checking your assumptions of what success will look like in negotiation is critical. Also, the individuals heading off to a negotiation need to know the level of authority and parameters they can operate within. The biggest nightmare is when you've made an agreement that your executive team members criticize as something you weren't supposed to do. 4. Increase the learning curve. After major negotiations, spend time as a team making enhancements. For more minor situations, review on your own or with a colleague or friend. See your team members as coaches. Ask yourselves these two basic questions: a. What worked well? b. What might we have done differently? The purpose is to continually learn and get better. Negotiation provides a wonderful opportunity. Because you negotiate all the time, you have lots of real-time data to reflect upon to continually improve. But improvement doesn't happen automatically. It requires discipline, a team culture and individual mindsets for doing so. 5. Enhance the comfort level within the team. The more relaxed a team is the better it will perform. Before a major negotiation, give the negotiators a chance to kick back and rest as much as possible. Doing "dry-runs" can simulate the real thing so the negotiators will be ready for anything. Role-play your counterparts so your team will be better prepared to respond to the other side. Ask the negotiators what they need to be comfortable and confident going into a negotiation. 6. Negotiate inside out. The bottom line is that an executive team that does not negotiate well internally will run into huge problems with external negotiations. For example, if the executive team cannot agree on its growth strategy, the organization may grind to a halt or play out different individual's strategies rather than a consensus. The more your own house is in order, the better you can deal with outsiders. Conflict here is a chance to work them through to gain the hidden opportunities and values that exist. Too often executive teams avoid conflict for the sake of superficial harmony.

Zaregistrujte se, aby jste mohli dostávat AC/DC newsletter! Q&A with Simon Wright of Dio Disciples on ‘The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2,’ AC/DC Taken from Examiner.com by Simon Wright - read the full article HERE A drummer since age 13, Simon Wright grew up on legends like Cozy Powell, John Bonham and Tommy Aldridge. He had barely entered his twenties when he joined AC/DC for the rest of the ’80s, then shifted over to Dio, the massive metal band formed by the late Ronnie James Dio, who previously lent his soaring voice and pen to bands like Black Sabbath and Rainbow (and popularized the “metal horns” gesture along the way). Wright is currently a member of Dio Disciples, a celebration of the music and legacy of the eponymous frontman, who passed away from stomach cancer in 2010. Featuring distinguished Dio alumni (Craig Goldy and Scott Warren) along with Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth), Oni Logan (Lynch Mob) and Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen), the band kicks off their US tour Oct. 20 at the House of Blues Anaheim in support of the new Dio release The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2, which picks up where the original gold-selling release leaves off and includes Dio’s final studio recordings. In this exclusive interview, I spoke with the Manchester native about his introduction to Dio while touring in Italy, a surprising AC/DC reunion that happened a few years back, and his eloquent account of the man known as Ronnie James Dio. What kind of involvement did you have with the release of The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2? The main body of involvement was done by Wendy [Dio] and her office manager Dean Schachtel. It’s a retrospective of the years between 1996 through the 2000s, [representing] the albums Angry Machines, Magica, Killing the Dragon and Master of the Moon. I saw the list and I thought, that’s a pretty strong list. There’s some really great songs on there that stand the test of time, you know? What were some of your highlights of being a member of Dio? Oh, there were so many - I was in his band 13 years. Working with him in the studio was great, just being around and seeing how it works and seeing how things developed and evolved, that was really cool. He had a great sense of which direction he was going to go in. And I guess live, we did a show in Germany= - I do refer to this quite a lot, but it was such a brilliant outing. I forget the year, you must forgive me, but it was in Wacken, in Germany, a festival we headlined, and at the end they presented Ronnie with a longevity award contribution to heavy metal, and it was just incredible - 40,000 people are chanting “Dio.” He was very proud, and we all were very proud of him. Hell of a night, fantastic show. What was your personal introduction to Ronnie James Dio? I first met him in 1985 when I was in AC/DC. There was a festival called Monsters of Rock, and up until then it had only been in England. And this particular one they decided to put it on in Italy and Greece, I think. Ronnie and Dio were on the Italian show [which was held in 1987—ed.], and I got to hang out with him afterwards and we sat down and I was talking and chatting with him, and I just found him to be a real gentleman, a really smart guy. A great sense of humour, too. And I met him a couple of times after that at parties, social gatherings and stuff, and the opportunity came around at the end of ’89. I got to move on from AC/DC and actually join his band, and I was very proud of that fact. It was a great time. I read you joined AC/DC at age 20, is that right? I was actually towards the end of being 19. But yeah, I was pretty young (laughs). What was that experience like, and what was it they liked about you when they really could have picked anyone in the world at that point to be their drummer? I don’t know what they liked about me; they never said (laughs). I heard a lot of drummers auditioned for that. They didn’t say who they were in the advertisement in the paper. I don’t know; something clicked. Maybe it was my height, you know? (Laughs) I’m not the tallest guy in the world, and neither are they. I really, really, don’t know. I just went in and played to three tracks, and they weren’t there—the drum tech was doing all the auditions because I think there were so many of them, and I ended up getting the job and just took it from there. They’re such down to earth people; it was great. I’ll never forget the ride they took me on. How was your drum style implemented in AC/DC? Before I got the job, I didn’t really change much from the way that I’d been playing. I’d mainly been playing in cover bands, only doing a couple of originals like most bands start out. But I knew their songs, and it’s just so apparent that you can’t go in there and try to change them and do drum fills everywhere, because that’s not the style of the way the band was, so I was very aware of that, even though I didn’t know who the band was when I was auditioning. I just did what I did—I went in there and they saw something and I got the job, you know? It’s a mystery, but I’m glad it happened, obviously. In 1998 you played on Thunderbolt, an AC/DC tribute album. What kind of style did you bring to the session for that one? If I remember right, I think I did “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” and “Night Prowler.” [It was] no different than what I’d already do…I think it would be blasphemy to play all over those songs, because I think Phil Rudd [Wright’s predecessor in AC/DC] did such a good job, you know? He’s as solid as solid can be. I just looked at it from that point of playing: you know, just be solid and just keep it pretty straightforward, really. I don’t suppose you’d like to talk a little bit about the Flick of the Switch tour? I personally love that album, though you didn’t play on the record. It was my first tour; that was my first tour that I did with them. I just remember the first show—it was in Vancouver, a place called Saddledome. It was so low-key, apart from the part there was like 22,000 people there. That’s just the way they worked things; they kind of made it really comfortable before I played and all. And I was under a little bit of pressure there for a show—I’d never heard that kind of noise come out of people before; it was like a jet engine. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it was more comfortable than I thought it would be, because they just treated it like was a rehearsal, but with 20,000 people there. They’d give me a pat on the back and off we’d go, you know? Is it true that AC/DC always plays “The Jack” at every show? Pretty much every show that I did with them, if I remember right, yeah. It’s such a great song and you get the crowd involved with it, too. Back in the days they’d all pull out their lighters. It was a sight, and it was amazing. Great song. Is there any official reason why the ’74 Jailbreak EP was released? I’m not really sure. I wasn’t really a part of any decisions with regards to record releases. That was the record company and the original guys who were in the band. Your first album with the band was 1985’s Fly on the Wall. With all due respect to singer Brian Johnson, his voice never sounded the same again since then. Can you comment on this? I guess his voice did change a little bit. I think it’s still strong, but strong in a different kind of raspier way. I did notice that myself, but I don’t know what it is. It must be, just, this is what happens when you grow up and your voice matures, you know? That’s the only thing I can say, and I’m trying to be polite about this. But I still think his voice is strong, even today (laughs). He’s a good lad. All that screaming and shouting that he did over the years has got to be murder on the vocal cords. Justin, two and a half hours every single night, I mean, wow. You can’t knock the guy (laughs). I thought he sounded great on the last record they put out, Black Ice. From what I read, he was doing a lot of vocal training with the producer, Brendan O’Brien, and he sounded great live. Yeah. I saw him on that last tour, too. He sounded really strong. I met him at his book signing in New York; he’s a great guy. I hope he does it for 100 more years. Me, too. You’re right; he is a good guy. One of the good ones. I’ll close the book here on Acca Dacca. Do you still keep in touch with any of the members at this point? Not directly, no. They’ve got their thing to do and I kind of do mine. I did see them; I got coerced into going to see them on their Black Ice tour. Their first leg when they came through Los Angeles, they played at the Forum, and I went down and I was speaking with Mal[colm] and Angus [Young] and Cliff [Williams] and met Phil Rudd again; I’d only met him once before briefly, but that was cool. Chris Slade [Wright’s successor in AC/DC] was actually there, as well, so that was cool. Would you be open to performing with them again for a special occasion if asked? I don’t know about that. If they asked me, I probably would give it a go, yeah. That would be great; I’d give that a shot. I mean, If Phil couldn’t do it for some reason or if they asked me, I’d give it a shot. What made you decide to leave AC/DC to join Dio? I’d been in DC eight years, and I just needed to further my drumming a little bit. I’m not taking anything from AC/DC—they’re a brilliant and awesome rock and roll band, but drumming-wise it was a little bit straightforward, four on the floor, and I needed to kind of spread my drumming wings a little bit, just branch out a little bit. And luckily, I ended up being in Ronnie’s band, and he just was kind of like, go for it, try this, try that. He gave me a lot more free rein to experiment a little bit, which was what I really felt I needed, you know? I’d become a little complacent in [AC/DC], and there was absolutely no room for that. As a member of Dio, you had two separate tenures in the band, both times replacing Vinny Appice. What was it like having that unique experience? It was fantastic. The first time was a little more hectic because when I first joined Dio, the whole band was new. He had a brand new band—Rowan Robertson on guitar, Teddy Cook on bass and Jens Johansson on keyboards, and I think there was a little bit of pressure and a little bit of small worry. We sounded great, we were doing okay, but it was like a brand new band for him. The songs were still his songs, still his stuff for the new album and all, but that was the difference. When I rejoined again in ’98 after just leaving UFO—I was in UFO for three years before that, that kind of fell apart—rejoining Ronnie was like putting some old shoes on again that were really comfortable, that’s what that was like. And I went in and I knew the songs—a couple of new things I had to learn; they had created some new endings to songs and new beginnings and stuff like that, but it was just great to get back. I stayed in his band for 13 years after that. I was real happy being in Dio. What made it such an enjoyable experience for you? There was always kind of work to do. There was always thought behind what we were doing. There was always creativeness going on. Even when we were playing a set, at the end of the set at the end of the show, Ronnie would come in with ideas for different endings and stuff that we’d have to do the next night, so it was constantly changing and stuff, and there were new little pieces. It was very challenging, but at the same time it was very enjoyable, because you were kind of involved in the music constantly, you know, which I thought was really cool, I really enjoyed that part of it, you know? As well as all the camaraderie and stuff like that. All the people that have been involved with Dio were all cool people, so it was a great time. A lot has been said about the theatricality of Dio’s stage performances and videos. Did you have any favorite moments among these? Not one; I couldn’t pin down one. Ronnie was just a really great showman. We had a huge set when I first joined the band for Lock Up the Wolves. We had the bones and the 14-foot drum riser with a keyboard riser, too. That looked pretty awesome. But I think it’s just something about the way Ronnie would handle an audience that was really important—the effects were there, but he had a great way of communicating with the audience and bringing people into the show and making them feel like they’re part of it; he had a great way of doing that. That really always inspired me. He was a constant showman, you know? He was just great at it. A lot of Dio’s lyrics were all about “we.” How did they help connect with the audience? That was his specialty; that was his forefront. I’m sure other people will attest to this. If you ever met him, he brought you in. He had a way about him, and he was such a good listener, and he had this incredible memory. And I think all of these attributes that he had just brought out these amazing lyrics he would write, because he had feelings for other people. He thought about other people and their situations and stuff, and I think this was all a big combination that he would come up with songs like “The Last in Line” or “Invisible,” all these brilliant songs he’s done. He just has a way of bringing people in and making people feel a part of his songs, because his songs were so relatable—they could be about you or a group of people thinking about somebody else. It was just a great way of penmanship he had; just amazing. That’s not bad for a drummer, is it? (Laughs) It’s been more than two years since he left us. If you could take us back to 2010, when was the last time you spoke with Ronnie? (Pause) I was at the hospital. I don’t want to talk about that. That’s fine. Thanks. What do you remember the most about him, summing it all up? He was just an amazing man. I mean, he was a gentleman; he was a scholar and a poet. Everybody who’s met him is just so in awe of him. He was such a humble man as well—he really understood people’s feelings, and on top of that he was just a brilliant songwriter and an amazing voice. I can’t say enough about him, it’s just brilliant. I really miss him. What can fans expect from the U.S. Dio Disciples tour? We’re going to be playing songs off this Dio release, The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2, so we’re looking forward to playing some of those songs, and we’re going to be playing the classic stuff as well—that’s going to be your “Heaven and Hell,” “We Rock,” “Rainbow in the Dark.” There’ll be some Sab stuff in there, too, and also some Rainbow songs. We try to fit as many of Ronnie’s songs in there as we can. There are no drum solos and there are no long guitar solos, because we feel that this whole project is about Ronnie, so we just stick to his songs. So it should be a good thing, you know? It’s a celebration to keep the songs alive. By the way, are you still currently doing things with Rhino Bucket? I do things on and off. If they get stuck for a drummer, I’ll go in there. We’re really good friends, we’re good mates, so we’re always in touch with one another, especially me and George [Dolivo], the singer, because he’s a crazy Manchester United fan like me…if something comes down and they need my help, or I’ve got something going on and need their help, then it works. Any other messages to your fans and the other Dio disciples out there around the world? Come check out Dio Disciples. So far the audiences seem to like what we’re doing, and it’s just total respect for Ronnie and it’s a total celebration of his music. We’re not trying to fool anybody here, so come and check it out.

The objective is to build your endurance so that on race day you can survive the 26.2 miles of the marathon. Begin by increasing your long run by only one mile each week. Continue to build this way until your long run is up to 12 miles at a slow and even pace. This pace should be one-and-a-half to two minutes a mile slower than your 10K race pace. Finish feeling that even though you're tired, you could have gone further if you had to. If the foundation of your program is to develop a long run, what should you do during the rest of the week? The best answer to this question is to run only as much as leaves you comfortable. The main goal is to recover completely so that you are eager to begin the next long run. It is quite adequate to run only three or four days a week. None of your mid-week runs need exceed five miles. During this first phase of marathon training, if your weekly mileage starts in the range of 10 to 20 miles, and stays in this range as you push the long run up to 12 miles, that will do fine. If it grows to about 30 miles a week that will be good too, but it should not exceed this figure during the early growth period. Too much or too fast will lead to an injury. If you have trained only for 10K's you may not have worried about keeping hydrated during your runs. When you're marathon training you must drink regularly, especially since fall marathons involve training through the heat and, in many areas, humidity of summer. During your marathon there will be water at about three-mile intervals. Learn to drink at least as frequently during training. It doesn't matter how you manage the logistics, but it must be built into your training plan. Use water fountains, cache water along the route, carry money and stop at soda machines or stores, or make a deal with someone on your route. (A Maryland club uses the water cooler at a riding stable and donates a case of bathroom tissue to help support the facility.) As a last resort, carry water during your run. You can buy a waistbelt that carries plastic bottles or carry your supply by hand. It is important to eat plenty of complex carbohydrates during marathon training. Your endurance is only as good as your glycogen supply. During the adaptation to distance training your body learns to supplement glycogen by burning fats. In spite of this the body can't function on fats alone, and shortly before your glycogen is used up you'll become exhausted. The only way to avoid this is to load your muscles with glycogen throughout your training. This means eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereals. You can also reduce your rate of glycogen use by slowing your pace. You see, fats are a higher-calorie fuel than glycogen, nine calories per gram compared to four. This means it takes more oxygen to burn fats compared with carbohydrates. The way to make sure you maximize your oxygen intake is to slow down. If you run too fast you don't have time to breathe enough oxygen to use a high proportion of fats, so your body has to draw on more glycogen to compensate. For your first marathon train at a slow pace. This will pay handsome dividends in the last few miles of the long runs. It is easier to train with other runners. For mutual support run with a club or a group of friends. Hold each other back to the target pace. Don't let the weekend run become competitive. For the first-time marathoner, speed kills! Out and back training on the same route can become boring. Change the route from time to time. Another way to make things more interesting is to run point to point. You can car pool back in a car parked before the start of the run. In some areas you can run to a pre-arranged spot and ride back in public transportation. Variety can spice up your training. Expert Running Advice Local Events Near You Exclusive Deals and Discounts Join the Conversation

Time: March 12, 2011 from 7:30am to 11:30am Location: New India Market Street: Cnr Marion and South Rds City/Suburb: Darlington. Phone: 0408775969 Event Type: training, hill, climb Organised By: Patrick O'Kane Latest Activity: Mar 13, 2011 Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics) Time to re-aquaint a few with Willunga Hill ahead of Grand Slam 2. Meet at New India market 7-30, coffee in Willunga after the climb. Speed up the hill isn't important, just about getting up there. Add a Comment @ Baron, Good observation, Colin 1 person, the bike 3 people. I agree with Peter that it was all a bit surreal. I rounded the corner a little while after hit had happened and saw a rider on the floor in the recovery position and assumed it was someone climbing the hill who had a heart attack. After stopping and turning around it took me a while to recognise Baron and Colin despite having ridden behind them all morning. The injuries could have been so much worse, the response from everyone was great, warning oncoming cars, first aid, getting Colin back on his feet and home again. One of the benefits of riding in a group I suppose, you always have someone watching out for you. Colin's an experienced rider (bikes and motorbikes), conditions were perfect, and things like this can still happen. With winter on it's way just try and stay safe out there. I was just behind Colin as he went round a bend, not even 10 sec back. By the time I rounded it he was already lying under the guard-rail, bike a few meters up. It took a second or 2 to actually register what I was seeing - but not wanting to believe. Then I had to sort my own affairs out, brake sharply on the bend and get back to him without becoming a casualty myself. Anyway, he was more badly winded than anything else when I got to him, a quick check to see there were no other injuries. From what we can work out, as Colin can't remember, is that somehow the back wheel slid, bit, then kicked him over and onto his back onto the road where he then hit the guard rail post, helmet 1st. Having had time now to think about it, the injuries could have been so much more serious, Colin thank your helmet, mount it on a pedestal, whatever, it saved your bacon today!!! Thanks to Pat for taking care of Colin & bike... and to the rest of us, no matter how well you think you know a road, it can allways bite. You were like a spring chicken Clive. Colin's been checked out and is all OK. Further to the discussion with Maz re p*******s, he just phoned and had two on the way home. I'me NEVER discussing them again, EVER. Sorry that I couldn't make it - ended up doing that track try out last last with AC and quick spin with Tailwind mob this morning, now I am truly spent ! RSVP for Willunga Hill to add comments! Join Adelaide Cyclists

Men's adidas F50 Adizero TRX Leather FG Cleats $210.00$147.00 - Product Information Speed wins, and the men's adidas F50 Adizero TRX FG cleats are built to be flat-out fast. The soccer cleats are made with a Goleo calf-leather upper and feature SPRINTWEB and SPRINTFRAME stability for quick cuts and the TRAXION™ 2.0 FG outsole for acceleration on firm ground. Details - Goleo calf-leather upper for a lightweight, snug fit - SPRINTWEB for excellent stability in high-speed moves - Abrasion-resistant kicking area - miCoach compatible - The SPRINTFRAME construction uses geometrical research and TRAXION™ 2.0 stud configuration to offer the perfect balance between light weight and stability on firm ground -.3 out of 5Â by 4 reviewers. Rated 4 out of 5Â by Elite Sport Not too bad, not too good For a shoe in the Adizero series, what you expect from it is being very light. You get that. But you also get shoes that are not durable, and don't fit so well. They are nice and tight from the heel until you get to the toe box. Adidas seems to think people have really fat toes, so they always make toe boxes really big. And on top of that, the leather in the toe box stretches quite a bit. But I like how tight the rest of the shoe os, and I like the asymmetrical lacing; it makes shooting feel more raw. The leather version only comes with a comfort insole, and it is nice and soft, without adding too much weight to the cleats. February 20, 2013 Rated 4 out of 5Â by Premier Sport Awesome cleats I bought these cleats for my high school season hoping they would last my career in high school. So far these cleats havn't let me down. i have used them in two state cup games with my travel team and they worked great, i had a better touch and strike on the ball. i would suggest buying half a size to small becouse the toe cap is on the biger size and made of leather so it will stretch to your foot. the only problem with mine is that they didnt come with the comfort insole and i didnt want to pay for shipping back to adidas. April 14, 2013 Rated 5 out of 5Â by Cjmoney Great Soccer Purchase These cleats are great for control and accuracy when it is most needed on the pitch. March 6, 2013 Rated 4 out of 5Â by Will_Quiick Example: Best purchase ever January 24, 2013 1-4 of 4

Small Business1-50 employees Mid-size business50-999 employees Large Business1000+ employees 3250 Bloor Street West, 16th Floor East Tower, Toronto Ontario M8X 2X9 Payroll professionals faced with the headaches of administering third-party payments have the option of using an electronic program that simplifies the process and is now available in most Canadian jurisdictions. The program, called the Third Party Remittance Program, is a service created by ADP Canada, a provider of integrated business solutions including traditional and web-based services for payroll and human resources. The electronic program was initially introduced on a limited basis nearly 10 years ago in response to a growing realization of the burden of multiple third party remittances, said Janice MacLellan, ADP’s director of industry relations. Third party payments take a lot of effort and paperwork- Each third-party remittance, such as garnished child support payments, RRSP deductions and insurance payments, requires a significant amount of effort and paperwork from payroll. Certain remittances require multiple forms to be filled out and once that is done, a cheque must be requisitioned from a company’s finance department, creating a package of paperwork and several carriers for every employee’s paycheque that has this type of deduction. The Third Party Remittance Program streamlined this process, enabling information on remittances to be input electronically for each employee. Once the information was input for each employee, all remittances were automatically deducted and transferred to the appropriate party each payday. Electronic records of the transactions were readily available for review and the paperwork and time spent on them by payroll could be significantly reduced. First banks and insurance companies then family support agencies - When ADP Canada developed its electronic business data transfer solution, it approached other partners and the Bank of Canada signed on for Canada Savings Bond deductions. Other early partners included the Royal Bank of Canada, Standard Life, and the Ontario Family Support Office. When the latter signed on, the program began to be used more for garnishment-types of remittances in addition to voluntary deductions. MacLellan said other provincial family support agencies began more became technically able to handle the electronic remittance program. Recently, New Brunswick’s Family Support Orders Service signed on, meaning family support payments can be made and reported on electronically in most Canadian jurisdictions except Yukon and Nunavut. Advantages for all parties - The system benefits employers, employees and the beneficiaries of the remittances, said MacLellan. Companies and governments are becoming more environmentally conscious and electronic remittance of third party payments falls into line with paperwork reduction initiatives that many governments are working on. “Governments are implementing online reporting and payment solutions,” said MacLellan. “It’s a good fit for government agencies and aligns with their strategic plans to reduce paperwork.” In addition to reducing administration work for payroll, electronic third party remittance also enables a faster timeline for payments. RRSP payments are invested faster and interest costs and late payment penalties for garnishments can be reduced. But perhaps most importantly, said MacLellan, social support payments can get to the recipients faster. “There’s a positive social impact for beneficiaries of family support payments,” said MacLellan. “Kids don’t get support payments until agencies receive funds. With electronic remittance, there’s a quicker turnaround and the money is sent more quickly.” Another consideration is that benefits and conveniences such as group insurance are becoming more popular for employers to offer, which adds the potential for even more deductions that will have to be made from employee paycheques and more payments to be sent to a variety of recipients. Utilizing an electronic process for the increasing number of third-party remittances would save payroll a lot of headaches, MacLellan said. “We’re hoping to support a trend for employers to automate, reduce tasks and improve efficiency,” said MacLellan. “We want to reduce the number of manual handoffs and take advantage of the technology available.” Source: Canadian HR Reporter June 2009 Connect with Sales online Submit your request Is outsourcing right for your business? Find out how to do more with less. Small Business Guide to Outsourcing Download your FREE copy today! just click... Get your FREE customized savings quote Just think, products and services that actually fit your company's needs and save you money too.

Green screen problem: "You spend more time lighting a screen that won't exist than lighting the people that do!" - Dariusz Wolski About Me & AdvanceHDTV how did i get here? Well... The road has been long, with many, many projects and many, many people. And I would be remiss if I didn't say: very interesting! I've been able to meet such a wide range of people from heads of state to actors and musicians to people who 'make the news' - and that can vary from the criminal to the victim to heads of state and actors 'n' musicians 'n' blah blah blah! To say 'I've done it all' feels right even though it is far from the truth. It would probably be easier for me to tell you about what I haven't done or been involved in than it would be to tell what I've done. Of course I'm speaking generally from a film and video perspective. Yes, I've worked on feature films, commercials, music videos, corporate video, news, live TV, sports, Olympics, web video. I've worked on Broadway productions, my commercials air all over North America on a regular basis, got to meet some amazing people over the years. I worked in News, then Corporate video, then went on my own where I did all of the above and more. I am a Producer, DOP, videographer/cinematographer, an editor, a sound mixer/recordist, musician and audio editor, a graphics artist (okay I do some stuff in PhotoShop and Illustrator... maybe not really an 'artist' as it were...), a writer, director. I'm a lighting designer, a compositor, a grip and a props manager, line producer, production manager and lest we forget, an accountant, janitor and chief bottle washer. I am a Jack of All, but I've also had to be a Master of All. Okay, maybe Master is a strong word but suffice to say that I had to be very good at all of it. I had to do all of it so good that no one would be wiser. Am I rich? Ha! Far from it. I make a decent living, pay the bills and am still raising a family. I also still create video. I love it and hate it at the same time. I'm jaded yet love the new directions and trends. I love new gear and how it works (or the promise of how it should work... more on that later). I love how some refer to their setup and equipment as the 'only' way, when in fact there are so many ways it'll make your head spin. Let's step back for a minute... I got into this game when there was one format/standard. It was easy, everyone knew what to do and how it worked. You had one standard to worry about. Even shooting and editing were straight up (in terms of the basics). Now though, we've got so many different formats and codecs and distribution methods from web video to DVD and Blu-Ray to good old fashioned broadcast TV. This is one of the many reasons I started this blog. I want to be able to help others understand and achieve their goals in this murky, muddy universe. From what gear I like to use and how it gets used. Where you can find some 'secret' or maybe not so secret places on the web that'll help you deliver an outstanding product. So that's me in a nut-shell. Check out my gear page as well you'll find some cool (or at least useful) stuff there. Onward! Some fun facts about me and my career (ok I think they're fun!) - Played guitar live on stage with Jerry Doucette doing his big hit Mama Let Him Play - My duo played in a wrap party that was attended by Bradley Whitford and Neve Campbell, and they both really enjoyed us - Interviewed a relatively unknown singer by the name of Celine Dion - Interviewed Billy Ray Cyrus when he was at the top of his game - Worked with Captain Kirk aka William Shatner - Worked with Jason Bonham, the son of legendary drummer John Bonham - Met Sid Bernstein, the man responsible for bringing the Beatles to the US in 1964 - Attended a taping of Friends where I drooled on Jennifer Aniston (well, not really on her, but about 5 feet away... at least she smiled at me!) - Tags: cinematographer, director, film editor, film industry, lighting director, producer, video editor, video industry, videographer, writer

I shared about some of my favorite lovely things a while back, and over time have become friends with the charming designer and owner, Ruthanne of Eclectic Whatnot (I found while searching etsy one day, and bought my camera strap, in Sea Breeze.) Her straps are for dslR cameras, but she also has flouncy aprons and will do custom orders, if you'd like. Win. I'm giving away a Lemon Drop Ruffled Camera Strap Cover [$35]. If you'd like to be entered to win, please visit Eclectic Whatnot and leave a comment here telling me your favorite of all her items. I'll choose one winner at random after tomorrow (Tuesday, 11:59 pm). This giveaway is open to winners in the US and Canada. I've received no compensation or product for this post. It's something I love that I wanted to share with you. Find Eclectic Whatnot on Twitter and Facebook. Oh, and me, too. :) Congrats to winner DesireeFawn! Oh how I would love to give this to a dear friend! It's gorgeous! As a photographer, of course my favorite item is her camera strap! But the I heart Cupcakes half apron makes me melt! While lemon drop is my favorite, I also love the cupcake apron. So cute! Ohh, her camera straps are darling! So fresh and feminine, I love them! The chocolate truffle caught my eye, and so did the mint julep. I love them all! I like the Sweet Cherry Pie apron. It looks like it could make housework fun! Lovely is exactly the right word for these. Her aprons made my day. Gorgeous! I love the Pink Lady - Ruffle camera strap! I'm sorry but I simply could not pick one...The French Roast strap is my fav strap and the Cupcake apron is my fav as well. My favorites right now are the Cue the music half apron and the I heart cupcakes apron. LOVE IT ALL!!! She is amazing. Oh I wanna win this..*crosses fingers* I like the French Roast - Ruffled, dSLR Camera Strap Cover and the gobstopper! Fun! LOVE her new watermelon sorbet strap cover! And the lemon drop too :) Her poppy seed apron is LOVELY! It would totally bring back the femininity in cooking for me, instead of wallowing in the drudgery. (And the camera straps? A-DORABLE!) Thanks for offering this giveaway! I loooove this camera strap, but I also really like the sweet cherry pie apron in her store! Very cute! oh what a shame that I live in EU :( Gorgeous. I love the lemondrop strap. I LOVE the Chocolate Truffle - Ruffled, dSLR Camera Strap Cover!!! SO PRETTY!!!! :o) Gorgeous! I love the Lemon Drop camera strap....and then French Roast camera strap right after that. And Orange Blossom, too! They're all so pretty! And the Sweet Cherry Pie half apron...consider this shop officially added to my Etsy "Favorites"! :) I LOVE the poppy apron, because I don't have a dslr camera... They are gorgeous, though!! Oh boy! That sweet cherry pie apron is adorable! But the camera straps are the best - I bet a fancy camera strap would make my camera even more appealing to my one-year old! (which could spell trouble...) I like "paint the town red" I love the Sweet Cherry Pie ruffled half apron too. I would feel like a queen cooking with that apron ;) Her work is amazing! It is really hard to pick a favorite... but if I had to it would be some cherry pie. Life would just be better with some cherry pie in it :) What a great giveaway!!! Don't enter me - I have FOUR of her camera straps! I'm only here to say they are wonderful. I love the Lemon Drop and the Orange Blossom camera straps:-) gorgeous! I love the gobstopper camera stap. But they all would look great on my new camera! I love I heart cupcakes apron. It would motivate me to stay in the kitchen more. I would give the strap to a special friend. They are all gorgeous! I think I love the Chocolate Truffle strap the best. i am in love with the watermelon sorbet camera strap. in love. my next paycheck better hurry itself up. I love the pink lady strap the best! Those aprons are adorable! You and Ivy look good, love the colors you both are wearing ( : That curtain looks good too! I love the lemon drop & the french roast! SO pretty! oh! love. i like the lemon and also the french roast straps. girlie camera upgrade! I was just looking at this store yesterday! My favorite thing is the poppyseed apron! LOVES it! I was just looking at this store yesterday! My favorite thing is the poppyseed apron! LOVES it! Awesome name for a shop! I love the Lemon Drop, but the Watermelon Sorbet is very cool too. The poppy seed apron! Love. Might go with the mint julep camera strap, since hubs and I share the camera. That is really super cute and I'd love to rock it! I went to her shop and this captured my attention. Nell How fun! I love the camera straps. I've seen other blogger photographers with them doting their cameras. I am trying to get a photography business going and would love to sport one of these. Pick me please!!! from her site... gobstopper camera strap=adorable along with sweet cherry pie apron...makes me want to go bake one!! I really like the poppy seed apron and the Gobstopper strap cover. They're all so amazing though! love the watermelon sorbet ruffly strap....ooh, delicious! ;-) I love this!!! I got my first DSLR on Friday and I'm so excited! This would be the perfect kind of accessory to make it more "mine". I love the Orange Blossom one too! Even if I don't get the opportunity to win, I may have found just the place to get one!! :) The ruffley aprons are fantastic, but my favorite is definitely the lemon drop strap cover you're giving away. I love me some yellow!!! I would love, love any of her camera straps!! Thank you for doing this I love the camera straps, especially the paint the town red and gobstopper choices. Too cute! I love the Poppy Seed apron, I would love to win this for Erica my lovely roommate from Evo. I don't have a dslr but she does and was talking about how she wanted a fun camera strap. These camera straps are awesome! We purchased a new dslr camera before the holidays and it was supposed to me mine, but my husband has taken it over. I think one of these straps would help me reclaim it! The Lemon Drop would be great because the colors are still neutral. I like the french roast ruffled camera strap cover! Everyting is PRECIOUS! isn't she great? i love her straps. Oh, I love them all! I've been eyeing fancy camera straps for a long time but I haven't found the money to splurge on myself just yet. The lemon drop is my favorite followed by seabreeze and orange blossom. Too beautiful. Oh I love the Poppy Seed - Ruffled Half-Apron, but I could I wear it as a skirt? So cute! The poppy seed apron is darling. She sells gorgeous things! Bookmarking her! Oh, I love everything, she is amazing! And so are you, thank you! (If I have to pick one, then it'll be the Watermelon Sorbet Ruffled Camera Strap Cover) The sweet cherry pie apron is to die for! I'm also loving the idea of jazzing up my camera strap. Maybe it will give me the books to make my pictures look better! I love the Watermelon Sorbet camera strap- so fun and fresh for the summer!! Love the colors in the lemon drop...but if I had to pick a different one, it would be the Mint Julep. The I (heart) cupcakes apron needs to be mice. adore the i heart cupcakes apron...and the watermelon sorbet camera strap. i just inherited a great camera when my dad passed away and would love a fun strap cover for it! Those are gorgeous! I love the French Roast!! Those are gorgeous! I love the French Roast!! My camera would look so lovely in orange blossom! What a fantastic giveaway- I puffy heart love it! :) I ADORE that Chocolate Truffle camera strap! Her shop is so much fun! I love the lemon drop camera strap! Adorable! jackiecollyer at hotmail dot com All of the straps are adorable, but I also love the half aprons (sweet cherry pie is too cute). What a great shop! Besides the lemon drop, I love the watermelon sorbet strap cover. I just got my first dslr and would LOVE to dress it up! :) I love the poppyseed apron. I have an etsy mei tai in the middle floral fabric. Bri Ohhh I am in LOVE with that Chocolate truffle! But really, you can't go wrong, they are all adorable. Loving the Sweet Cherry Pie - Ruffled Half-Apron. I love the camera strap covers but I have lost my camera strap so it is hard to love a cover without a strap to put it on. I would sooo find one if I won though. I LOVE the French Roast strap... WOW! I LOVE the French Roast strap... WOW! I was JUST looking on Etsy for cute camera straps! I'm so glad you featured your beautiful strap and where I can get one. And by the way, that picture is truly one of my favorites....although I know I've said that a lot. I just wanted to say hi. Happy summer to you and yours, my friend. Oh Oh!! I LOVE all of her camera straps. My favorites are the Lemon Drop and Watermelon Sorbet. I am a photographer, and I am always looking for cute straps. I think these are some of the cutest I have ever found! Thanks for posting this! So very nice of you, blue and yellow are my favorite color combos....I'll keep my fingers crossed. I love the poppy ruffled apron as well, ahh...to have that talent! :) That is so hard! Maybe the Lemon Drop. Or the Truffle. Or even the French Roast. Cute, cute, cute. Love the watermelon sorbet strap! :) Awesome! That blue/yellow one is so cute too! I love a ruffled tote bag she had on there a couple of weeks ago. All of her stuff is so sweet! ~Jenny I just love her Cue The Music Half Apron! The colors are gorgeous! ooohhhh so pretty! I love the Seabreeze - Ruffled, dSLR Camera Strap Cover...I'm a sucker for anything turquoise! But I gotta say I think I love the lemon drop one maybe just a teensy bit better! I automatically went for the french roast camera strap- but then decided to go out of my comfort level, cause the whole ruffle thing is way out of it anyway, so think the chocolate truffle would be fun. Love the chocolate truffle camera strap. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Those ruffled camera straps are adorable! I really like the Lemon Drop one and the French Roast one! :) the sweet cherry pie apron is really cute! Thanks! Very pretty! I like the Gobstopper and Orange Blossom styles. I LOVE the 'Mint Julep', however I would actually need to get a dSLR camera first. Oh, and seeing as how I'm a horrific cook, and avoid the kitchen whenever possible, I probably won't be needing an apron any time soon ;) Do people really wear aprons?!?! Lisa, I wear an apron!!! :) I have a few, but you can see my favorite one here. Steph I have tried twice to post a comment and it doesn't seem to be working so I apologize If a few duplicates pop up in an hour. I honestly love the lemon drop strap. So fun and pretty. If I buy one for myself I'll have to add the lens cap pocket, I am constantly losing that thing! Would be super cute to tote around at BlogHer... but I'd use it on my video camera, not photo camera ;) definitely the Poppy Seed Ruffled Half-Apron. fav-o-rite. the camera strap is super adorbs too. Such great camera straps! The French Roast is one of my favs :) i love ruffles. and polka dots. and my camera. <3 I do so love that camera strap and would hold on to it in hopes of soon getting a camera fit to wear it. But if I had to say something else... that cupcake apron is adorable and would be so fun to bake in! love all the aprons! I also love this camera strap... def my favorite of all! I love the lemon drop camera strap. I know the perfect friend who would love it... Love love the sweet cherry pie ruffled apron! Would probably get the most use from the camera strap- how lovely! Hey, now you're just like Oprah giving away your favorite things! LOVE the chocolate truffle camera strap! I love the Sweet Cherry Pie apron. :) It's beautiful. I'd have a hard time choosing between the Lemon Drop camera strap, and the Watermelon Sorbet camera strap... LOVE. LOve them all but I would have to say french roast is my favorite! I like the chocolate truffle!! Ooh la la -- I love the French Roast strap cover. What a pretty little thing! Best of luck to everyone! And thanks, Steph, for this chance to win! <3 These are lovely! I love the French Toast and Chocolate Truffle camera straps! I love French Roast, but I might have to go with Rustic Charm (for the hubs)if I were to buy one! I have a Nikon D90 and I'd love to cover the strap w/ this pretty pop of lemon color. I also like the Poppy Seed apron (cheery!) and the Pink Lady camera strap (girly!). stephanie@metropolitanmama.net okay, the sweet cherry pie apron is SO cute! It reminds me of Mary Englebreit, who I LOVE! Thanks Steph! :) I love the Rustic Charm camera strap!! Love love love the gobstopper strap (I have a thing for dots). I love seeing what creative things people create! I love Etsy! I have to add myself to the Gobstopper camp...it's my kind of pattern :-) love fun camera straps! fave is honestly the lemondrop! :) I was about to go online and order one for a friend's birthday...would be so great to win one for myself! did i just miss this? let's rewind 10 minutes and say i said "the french roast is awesome! it's so versatile it can match pretty much any outfit." =) A fun camera strap would be lovely! I really do like the lemon drop...a splash of color is awesome!

I have this thing where I love to have my Christmas cards ready to send out the day after Thanksgiving. I love addressing the envelopes with a Sharpie finepoint, and I love putting them into the mailbox separated by city and state (I totally do). I'm even earlier this year- Tiny Prints again blessed me by letting me design our cards for the upcoming holidays. (See our last year's card). They also have new Flip greeting cards and Circular Ornament cards. I looked and looked until I found exactly what I wanted. Do you like what I chose? It makes my heart swell. I took the photo but my beautiful friend Mishelle Lane fancied it up for me. I am so thankful for kindness and goodness. We even put a little trademark-y logo on the back, and got address labels to match. And every time I order Tiny Prints I always use the live chat feature- I ask lots of questions- even silly stuff like, I like this card but I want it for a horizontal photo, what do you suggest... etc, and I have gotten immediate assistance every single time. Lulu says "that's me!" WIN! Tiny Prints is offering a $50 gift certificate to one reader here. Open to entries in US and Canada. Check out Tiny Prints and leave a comment here to enter. Let me know what you might get with your gift certificate- baby announcement? See a holiday card that you fall in love with (like I did?) Or any comment will do- nothing is really required to enter except be sure there is a way for me to get in contact with you if you win. Extra entries: follow me on twitter, follow @tinyprints on twitter like tiny prints on facebook Fine print: Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry. I will choose one comment at random after 11:59pm next Tuesdsay 11/16. Tiny Prints provided my cards and labels, as well as the $50 gift certificate. I happen to have another giveaway this week- $200 Modern Bird gift certificate. Enter here. I've never ordered from Tiny Prints, but I've always wanted to! I love Tiny Prints!! Great giveaway. bigcitybelly@gmail.com I'm not the only one who loves Christmas cards! Sometimes it seems like I am. I love sending them and receiving them. And these? Marvelous! Nell Definitely would get Christmas cards. We're having family photos made tomorrow! ~Ashley Oh my gosh! I LOVE tiny prints and I LOVE That photo! ccbeauchamp@gmail.com I "like" Tiny prints on FB :) I'm subscribed via reader ashleyncauble@gmail.com Oh, I would totally get a Christmas Card for our family - my new DSLR just arrived on Tuesday, so I'm super excited about this year's picture! I LOVE your card. I love holiday cards...seems like a lot of people don't send them anymore, but I always do. I like receiving them and watching my little card holder fill up too! I follow you on twitter, I'm @posielove And I follow you on Twitter. When I get on :) Last year - for the first time, I was too overwhelmed to do Christmas cards. And I would like to do them again this year....would totally use this for Christmas cards. I follow you through my google reader. And email. Which is probably redundant, but oh well... ;) Oh gosh, I love Tiny Prints. Since I'm a design student I am constantly drooling over their cards. I'd love to win so I can drool over them in person. :) I love that DwellStudio has partnered with TinyPrints, too. :) Your Christmas card is beautiful Steph! I would love to get Christmas photo cards this year. Last year we did a newsletter through Publisher and just sent them out through email to save money. Holiday Cards...any one of about 37 designs that I love. Love love love. I was so happy to help you out. I just loved that photo so much! Not as much as I love you, though. I love all of the folded holiday photo cards. I can't decide which to use but I would probably swoon if I won a gift certificate. I just ordered my birth announcements from them! I can't wait to order our christmas cards from them. They have so many cute ones that I can't decide which one I would choose. I would love Xmas cards! I follow you on twitter! I love cards so much I save every invitation and Christmas cards. Would love to order some nice Christmas cards or just some really pretty anytime cards. Love your design! I follow tiny prints on twitter! I "liked" tiny prints on FB! I had never been to their website but now I like what I see. I would love to have the "Be Blessed" card for our family! @themamazine I follow you on twitter! @themamazine definitely a christmas card....so many great ones! I love these cards! I know exactly what picture to use too!!! So exciting! I "liked" Tiny Prints on Facebook! Your card's are beautiful - I'll take 50 (though I suppose it would seem funny to send out cards with someone elses' picture on them.) Or maybe baby announcements this spring? No, definitely Christmas cards. The Be Blessed is beautiful but I suppose it would depend on what photo I chose first... jennifer @ beautifulcalling.ca I chose that exact card last year! Loved it! i'd order more Christmas cards with that $50! marycraighart@yahoo.com I follow you on twitter! marycraighart@yahoo.com I follow tinyprints on twitter! marycraighart@yahoo.com I liked tinyprints on fb! marycraighart@yahoo.com Oh, I totally want this! We used Tiny Prints for my first baby's birth announcements, and loved the quality of them! Now I'm a much better photographer (16 months of practice!), so I know the announcements for Baby #2 (Due in April) will be so much better! Now following Tiny Prints on twitter! @themamazine I subscribe to you via email and google reader. : ) I LOVE tiny prints. Definitely would save the GC for baby's first birthday party invites!! I ordered birth announcements from tinyprints once. They were so cute. I love your, my favorite part is the pic on the back. So sweet. I like fashionable flakes. I liked tiny prints on facebook. I followed you on twitter. I subscribe to you via google reader. And I now follow tiny prints on twitter. thanks! I'm following babysteph on Twitter. I'm also following Tiny Prints on twitter. Okay, now I feel uber-creeper. I like tiny prints on facebook now! @themamazine I love Tiny Prints! Christmas cards, ahoy! I follow you on Twitter! I like Tiny Prints on Facebook! I subscribe to your RSS feed! Christmas cards, for sure. Your photo is darling--wish I could get one like that of my Fab Four! I'm a feed subscriber. I hope I win! So fun! I love what you chose. Your photography is so moving! I love Tiny Prints! Thanks for the giveaway! I love Tiny Prints! I would so get Birthday Cards Made for my dear Hannah's next birthday! babblebabe0@yahoo.com Cool! I really like the Nostalgic cutout xmas cards! jaimmyers8@gmail.com I love your family photo. :) This post has been a great reminder for me to get started on my Christmas cards and I just sent an e-mail to my favorite photographer to schedule our photo shoot. The Tiny Print cards are amazing (I especially loved Beth's birth announcement) and I plan on ordering the Striking Band in Black cards as soon as I get my photos. :) I'm also subscribed via reader at jenniferciraolo-at-gmail-dot-com. And I follow you on Twitter - @sweetpearoses. :) Baby announcement all the way! I was SO overwhelmed with a colic baby the 1st time that announcements never even entered my mind. Because I could hear her. Quite. Clearly. Then a seizure for her on day 5. Here's to hoping there's less drama with baby #2! (And some serious coffee/wine reserves!) I would get holiday cards made. The only problem would be picking which design! I subscribe in Google Reader I follow you on twitter. Oh I love tiny prints! I'm trying to find a great Christmas/birth announcement that I can send out for our baby girl who's coming on December 15th! stefanielritz at gmail dot com I follow you on twitter! @StefSays stefanielritz at gmail dot com I follow tinyprints on twitter @StefSays I "like" tinyprints on facebook stefanielritz at gmail dot com I subscribe to your blog via google reader. stefanielritz at gmail dot com I would use it for Christmas cards...got some stuff to share this Christmas! Wow it looks lovely! I found out about tiny prints last year, but never got around to ordering anything, but I should this year! I like the Refined Reindeer card or the Heritage Holiday one. I Like Tiny Prints on FB :-) I would love a Tiny Prints gift certificate! We just made a huge move and it would be great to send out Christmas/Change of Address cards (something, that with such a major life change, we won't be able to afford this year!) Thank you! I already got my Christmas card so I would probably make little Valentines in February. :) I love Tiny Prints! I love what you chose, Steph! Your photos are gorgeous. And I love carefully writing out each address with a fine tip Sharpie too! I've never ordered from Tiny Prints, but I do love their cards. I think I'd choose Christmas cards. Or maybe announcements . . . you know, for sometime in the future ;) Your card is fantastic! I intend on ordering the joyful ornament holiday cards. I am all over their ornament cards! What a great idea. I follow you on Twitter! I follow Tiny Prints on Twitter! I like Tiny prints on Facebook! And I subscribe to your Feed! I am just starting to think about Christmas cards, so this is perfect timing. I really like the yuletide frames design. Your card looks great! I can't believe it's already time to think about Christmas cards! YIKES! Good thing you've reminded me...and thank God for Tiny Prints! I'm totally loving the Peaceful Woods print. Goes well with my new love of cutesy birds. THANK YOU for the entry, Stephanie! I just "liked" Tiny Prints on Facebook! Oh Steph...my heart. I have used Tiny Prints for the last two years and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE them. LOVE. Anyway, I hope, hope, hope I win this as I'd really like to use them again! :D {I'm inspired to buy a Sharpie fine-tip marker. :D) I follow you on Twitter. {vanster} I also follow Tiny Prints on Twitter. I "like" Tiny Prints on Facebook. And I follow your blog via Google Reader. :) *crosses fingers* Hope I win! :D We've never done a photo card, just sent a photo along. It would be great to give it a shot! (get it?) :) Heather And I follow you in my google reader! Thanks, Heather I would totally do Christmas cards. I usually do my own but I haven't been feeling very creative lately!! I subscribe via Google Reader I'd probably go for Christmas cards, but I *might* hold off for post-Christmas birthday invitations instead! Tiny Prints has sooooooo many cute designs. :) I would totally get my christmas cards there! So many cute options! i could spend hours playing around! I would get the Christmas cards! hanibee8@hotmail.com I liked Tiny Prints on FB! hanibee8@hotmail.com and I follow you with Reader! hanibee8@hotmail.com I LOVE the be blessed holiday card, so simple and lots of room for a great picture! What a fab giveaway! I absolutely love Tiny Prints. I would order my holiday cards with this great giveaway. I "like" Tiny Prints on FB your card is adorable! I would definitely order Christmas cards! I've been wanting to get Tiny Prints Christmas cards for a while, but haven't gotten around to it yet.... Thanks for the chance to win! I already follow you on Twitter, does that count for another entry? :-) ....AND I already follow your blog in my google reader... ...AND I've "liked" Tiny Prints on FB... ...AND, lastly, I'm now following them on Twitter. :-D Thanks again! Liked Tiny Prints on Facebook following you on google reader following tiny prints on twitter I would love to get some Christmas cards from there! I plan to send some out, but I'm still looking at designs. abbey with an e at gmail dot com I'd love to win! I've been seriously thinking about sending out cards this year. Great Christmas cards! My plan is to get ours printed early this year too. I like the Holiday words:Ivy design. ceruleanblue42@gmail.com I love the Happy Everything card. So many amazing designs to choose from! I need to order some Christmas cards. Yay for you already having yours done. I think I would pick your exact design! bekahleger at gmail dot com i'd use it for the perfect christmas cards! thanks for the opportunity to win!! i 'liked' tiny prints on facebook! Oh gosh, the photo you chose for your cards is WONDERFUL! I'd LOVE to win this little giveaway -- such wonderful cards. desireefawn@gmail.com It turned out perfect! Love it. I've used them for birth announcements but never for Christmas. I need to check them out. So far Tiny Prints is the only place I have found that has a card in the style I want. See, I want a card with 8 photos on it, in the style of the Brady Bunch, because we have six kids--three boys and three girls and it would just be so cute. But I can't afford to buy them because of how many we send out. So I really hope I win. Love your cards. too cute! I'd definitely go for Christmas cards. Maybe the blessed on (haven't picked a picture yet). kjhall at nd dot alumni dot edu I follow you on twitter. kjhall at nd dot alumni dot edu Oooh I love your cards! I'd love to get some great Christmas cards :) I already follow you on twitter :) (@meagansandberg) I followed tiny prints on twitter too :) I would get holiday/second birthday cards for my daughter. Her birthday is 3 days before christmas. christy at jinxyisms dot com those look wonderful. i'd definitely use them for a baby announcement! I'm subscribed via reader, as well. I also follow you on twitter! (lyndzilla) would love to win!!! we just got our photos taken & I love the different cards tiny prints offers! i subscribe to your blog via google reader i like tiny prints on fb I would get birth announcements for my nephew who will be here soon! I'd let his mother pick the style of course, but one day, that will be my job! ;) -Lauren We used Tiny Prints for our daughters announcements and they came out beautifully. We definitely plan to order our Christmas cards through them. This GC would come in handy! love, love, love your card and the JOY card in black is so nice as well. But so many choices, I see us spending sometime working through the different styles. I follow you on Twitter I subscribed to your blog in my reader Love Tiny Prints...I'd get Christmas cards done with our family pic:) This comment has been removed by the author. would love to use this for Christmas cards this year. i follow your blog on google reader! I love what I've seen from Tiny Prints. I hope I win! megseven AT yahoo I keep creating and saving different designs for my Christmas cards. How would I ever choose which ones to actually get if I win? You have amazing taste.... that is the same style I used last year. Loved it! Hoping to get a good picture for this year over the weekend so I can make this year's cards using Tiny Prints again. How does one choose?!? I love the checkerboard chic Christmas card. I'm always looking for a card where I can use multiple photos, since it's so rare to get one that showcases all 6 of us well. Whether I win or not, that site is bookmarked for shopping. (I wish my Christmas cards were ready. That's a great tradition you have there.) I also follow you on Twitter. :-) And now I follow Tiny Prints. With enthusiasm. i never do christmas cards because i am too disorganized. it's kind of sad. your cards are beautiful. and i love that you call ivy lulu. my mom used to call me that. and lee-lee. Oh my, I need this! We have never done Christmas cards, but I totally would with something this gorgeous! Robyn (fosterro@gmail.com) Ive never sent out christmas cards. If I ever do they would have to be from there. They have such great designs!! Isadora1224@yahoo.com oh my GOSH, i love your christmas cards! adorable. follow you @ShoutLaughLove and i got here through my reader feed Oh boy, lots of comments here already, but why not give it a shot! I spent some time today on the Tiny Print web site (before reading this) and wished I could justify spending over a $1 a card. Such beautiful things! I settled on their Joy card in black because it is exactly what I intend to feel this holiday season. No stress, just joy. Of course, winning this little contest might add to that joy a little ;) I just love Christmas card time. It makes my heart happy to send them and receive them. And sharpies? Well, don't tell anyone, but they are my secret addiction. When school sales happen, I buy buckets of them. All different colors, I'm not biased. :) I love tiny prints! I do follow you on Twitter :) I also follow you on Google reader! Love, love, love your Christmas card! Gorgeous! I could honestly be happy with almost all of the Tiny Prints cards - so hard to choose! saraingmire at gmail dot com I subscribe to your blog in a feedreader. :) saraingmire at gmail dot com I am a fan of Tiny Prints on Facebook. saraingmire at gmail dot com I subscribe via email!!! I love your card choice, as we are 1000 miles from our family I would probably do some sort of holiday card! I would get a Christmas card. I get them from Tiny Prints every year and LOVE them. Last year the matching address label was so cute...i love coordination. Super cute! theconlons@bellsouth.net I follow you on twitter. :) And tiny prints, too. :) Your cards are beautiful! I would love to order some Christmas cards. I follow you on Twitter your card turned out awesome! i'd be creating some sort of holiday card to send out, too :) pulchrabliss at hotmail dot com I would LOVE to order Christmas cards! sejacks@emory.edu I would order Christmas cards too. I love the photo you used. Your kids are so cute. I would definitely do baby announcements... my baby boy was born a week ago! ashleykirnan@gmail.com Love your card! The ornament cards are cool. I think I would choose one of those. skolacki@hotmail.com Love your card! The ornament cards are cool. I think I would choose one of those. skolacki@hotmail.com Love your card! The ornament cards are cool. I think I would choose one of those. skolacki@hotmail.com I love photo cards! Love the Happy Everything trifold and the posted wreath and so many other designs! orangetriangle2 AT yahoo Never ordered there...but I would love to try them out! your cards are gorgeous!!! i would use the win for my holiday cards :-) I LOVE that they have Thanksgiving cards! And beautiful designs too, I've been looking for them and this is the first company that I really am drawn to their designs, thank you! shannoncarman at yahoo dot com I follow Tiny Prints on twitter (@channynn). shannoncarman at yahoo dot com I follow you via twitter (@channynn). shannoncarman at yahoo dot com I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this! I would get Christmas cards too. WIsh I had a cool photo like this of my three. I would deff. use the gift card towards Christmas cards! allyssa.mylovesmylife@gmail.com I am following you on twitter [Emmersynsmom]. allyssa.mylovesmylife@gmail.com I am following Tiny Prints on twitter [Emmersynsmom]. allyssa.mylovesmylife@gmail.com I liked Tiny Prints on Facebook [Allyssa Maupin]. allyssa.mylovesmylife@gmail.com Would love to use Tiny Prints to make a holiday card this year! love the ornament idea - love, love, love it!! Misty C mistycoatsluvs2scrap@yahoo.com I would choose a holiday card like the Ornament Fun in the Studio Basics line. :) scblog at hotmail dot com I would love to be able to get some special Christmas cards with the gift certificate, thanks! I follow you on twitter - idahojill I follow @tinyprints on twitter - idahojill I like tiny prints on facebook - Idaho Jill I am a happy email subscriber! I love Tiny Prints too. I'd use the certificate to get some new address labels! I also follow @tinyprints on Twitter (@melissity). Following you on Twitter (@melissity). Fan of Tiny Prints on FB!