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January 5th, 2012 Op-ed by Ngembeni Wa Namasso, special to mongabay.com The Declaration on REDD+ expected as part of ongoing climate talks in Durban, South Africa, by the Central Africa Commission on Forests (COMIFAC) and some donor countries, was released, Wednesday, December 07, 2011. To many observers this declaration is a ritual and therefore, expected after every meeting by ‘high-level’ decision-makers on forests from that part of the World. However, closer examination would reveal evidence of donor inertia; three tendencies – the forward, the going-it-alone and the going-along; some cracks appearing in the commission, and some face-saving gestures made. Firstly, there is good news! The Congo Basin remains strongly committed to forest management; yet, it is a zone experiencing low investment in the forestry sector, insufficient flexibility in REDD+ readiness and weak integration of the forestry sector with growing pressures for land from international investors. The bad news is however that, moving towards a genuine and tangible consensus for REDD+ in the Congo Basin will require much more than intentions and declarations. Firstly, the prominence of ‘intent’ in the title of the declaration is telling. From the region’s recent history on REDD+ since Bali in 2007, through COP16 2010 Cancun, Mexico, to the grand standing of the “Summit of 3 Tropical Forest Basins of the World” held in Brazzaville, May/June 2011, rounding-off 2011 with a declaration of intent seems a bit lame. Few can see COMIFAC, led by the vigorous doyen of Central African forestry, architect of the Brazzaville summit; H.E. Henri Djombo of the Republic of Congo, settling for a declaration of ‘intent! A declaration with ‘intent’ as the highest water mark is covered by the fingerprints of donor inertia. For observers of the REDD+ process in the Congo Basin, COMIFAC countries exhibit three types of attitude vis-à-vis REDD+ readiness. Type 1 – are the forward countries with high forest/people ratio, weak road infrastructure and prospects for immediate foreign investments. Type 1 countries generally expect substantial windfalls from rapid REDD+. The republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo fall into this first category. Type 2 – are countries going-it-one, somewhat trending away from the REDD+ option as currently structured. They have a strong natural resources base, higher prospects for foreign investments. They also have a high forest/people ratio and a strongly independent, even nationalist character. Gabon and Equatorial Guinea fall in this Category. Type 3 – are countries going-along, fearing negative reciprocity if they don’t. These countries have enjoyed historic forestry leadership and have made investments in COMIFAC. Some have perhaps dwindling forests; they enjoy better road infrastructure and therefore relatively lower cost of foreign investments. Cameroon falls under this category. With shaky commitment to REDD+ Types 2 & 3 are actively espousing greater creativity and flexibility in REDD+ options. Type 1 countries on the other hand seem impatient for a faster REDD+ mechanism. These apparent cracks in the COMIFAC facade are also demonstrated by the number of State flags not appended to the declaration. Of the ten (10) members of COMIFAC, the Flags of Sao Tome & Principe, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea are not included. This casts a shadow on the traditional togetherness of ‘COMIFAC’. Of the seven whose flags are appended, Chad, though proud of its parklands is not a typical forest country. The Central Africa Republic boasts modest amounts of tropical forests. Still the bulk of Chad is non forest. Rwanda and Burundi are both countries with relatively high population densities, Montaigne woodlands and small surface areas. If the pre-Cancun/COP16, Brazzaville summit of May/June 2011 is anything to go by, it seems this declaration has been pushed by H.E. Henry Djombo, Minister of Sustainable Development, Forest Economy and the Environment of the Republic of Congo, and doyen of Central Africa Forestry Ministries. Some pundits would make light of this longevity, expecting rivalry, between the two Congos. After all, the DRC has more than 60% of the region’s forests. However, it may be precisely because of DRC’s forests and H.E. Henri Djombo’s longevity that, leadership advances by DRC’s H.E. Edouado Endundu, would clearly be overkill. With a below par Brazzaville summit on ‘3 forest Basins’, it seems quite plausible that this Durban Declaration is a success for H.E. Henry Djombo and a grace – saving act for COMIFAC. In keeping with the spirit of the declaration however, a number of concrete steps must be taken. In the coming years the COMIFAC region must explore a number of concrete sustainable forest management solutions. For decades forest governance has been talked about as if it belonged in another era, and little done to build capacity so citizen actors can be incentivized to take greater part in managing forests. With possible incentive mechanisms on the horizon the technical requirements for managing forest carbon seem clear and so are sustainable benefits from forests. It is now also clear that forests must be made more valuable standing, than converted. Investments in forests should lead directly to stronger local and national capacity to manage and market diverse products and services from natural forests without destroying them. Proxy – or less than direct strategies for managing natural forests have not succeeded. Approaches to REDD+ must become more creative and longer term. Sub national options for marketing carbon under specific national circumstances should be looked at on case by case, country-by-country bases more carefully. More of the same medicine, for all countries is clearly not working and some countries are choosing other options and going-it-alone or just going-along for reasons other than sustainable forest management. The use of donor funds to support REDD+ should be directed towards investments in keeping forests, natural by moving to a higher level of valorization of products and services from natural forests. The use of the term ‘Country’ in international forest policy communications needs to be clearly unpacked to mean not national governments or their representatives exclusively, but all the citizens in the COMIFAC countries – each according to their skills, interest and resources, and including state agents. Such distinction is now necessary as more citizens have or are acquiring needed knowledge and skills and want to become involved; to work as partners with foreign collaborators and their governments. Citizens no longer want to be ‘convened’ by Government or foreign experts as has been the status quo. Arguably, State forestry agents in COMIFAC countries are currently over-saturated with responsibilities, while sectors like national research, institutions of higher learning, nongovernmental organizations and ordinary entrepreneurs can often be without business, without funds and resources with which to support the forestry sector. Diversification of support to all these sectors is the way to go for forest and climate work in the Congo Basin. Finally, COMIFAC countries must clearly demonstrate awareness of how global demands for agricultural lands are being taken on-board in current forest and climate change mitigation work. The only way skills can be developed, focus maintained on competing land and forest uses; make citizens into actors, take-on their livelihoods concerns, their fears and interests, is to enlarge the forest and climate process and to support a truly national consensus; one that is measurable, verifiable and reportable. January 2nd, 2011 High-resolution example of deforestation and degradation in the Peruvian Amazon. Image courtesy of the Carnegie Airborne Laboratory. In 2009, researchers with the Carnegie Institution, World Wildlife Fund, Amazon Conservation Association, and the Ministry of Environment, Peru used satellite images and airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), together with field plots, to map aboveground carbon stocks and emissions at 0.1-ha resolution over 4.3 million ha of the Peruvian Amazon. To measure forest deforestation, degradation, and regrowth, the researchers collected 27 LiDAR survey areas covering a total of 514,317 ha throughout the 4.3 million ha region, at a spatial resolution of less than one meter (3 feet). Results of the research were published in September 2010 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The mongabay write-up can be found at Peru’s rainforest highway triggers surge in deforestation, according to new 3D forest mapping. More about the exercise, which is being duplicated in other forests around the world, is available at the Carnegie Airborne Laboratory’s new web site: cao.ciw.edu. December 7th, 2010 The Tropical Forest Group, a forest policy organization, has released a briefing on California’s AB 32 Regulations, as it relates to the reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) mechanism. Briefing Note on Proposed CA AB 32 Regulations An editorial by John O. Niles of the Tropical Forest Group can be found at: Can RED Hot California Heat Up A Sedated Cancun? (12/07/2010) In his concession speech after the 2010 mid-term elections, President Obama said that prospects for meaningful US climate change legislation are doubtful for years. With the US and the international community unable to take even modest steps to combat global warming, the State of California has stepped up in a big, big way. Despite record unemployment rates, deficits and unemployment, California voters trounced a measure that would have suspended AB 32, California’s landmark climate change law. California’s AB 32 cap and trade program will soon be the biggest market for compliance emission reductions outside of Europe. In the wreckage of the Copenhagen talks and the new political landscape in America, California is the most dynamic jurisdiction for climate change implementation in the world. November 28th, 2010 By Angela Dewan This post originally appeared at CIFOR’s blog as “Forest Crimes and Money Trails“ The issue of measurement, reporting and verification of carbon levels is set for the agenda at COP 16 in Cancun next month. Experts warn, however, that more attention must be given to the monitoring and reporting of REDD+ financial flows, which stand to be caught up in complex webs of corruption. There will be a lot at stake. In Copenhagen last year developed countries committed new and additional resources to forestry worth $30 billion for 2010-12, and set out to mobilise $100 billion annually from 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. If any of that money makes its way into bank accounts overseas, the money trail becomes difficult to follow. “We need to focus on prevention, because once money is put into accounts abroad, they become very difficult to trace,” said Ajit Joy, Indonesian country manager of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime. Joy was speaking at the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Bangkok, joined by other experts in a session on forest crime, organised by CIFOR and Transparency International. The panelists painted a grim picture of the current climate of corruption. CIFOR researcher Ahmad Dermawan reminded the audience that most of the countries that stood to receive financial REDD+ were among the most corrupt. “Most of these countries rate very poorly on Transparency International’s corruption perception index. Many of them are close to the bottom,” he said. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s chief commissioner, Dat’o Sri Abu Kassim, pointed to projects where local officials in Malaysia were tested for bribe taking, showing a bribe acceptance rate of 100 percent. “Every time we asked if forest had been destroyed, they would always say the forest is fine. And every time we saw it wasn’t and tried to enforce the law, they would attempt to pay a bribe,” he said. But not all the news is bad. Some progress has been made in tackling corruption, and countries like Indonesia appear to be taking the potential benefits REDD+ could bring their country very seriously. Director of CIFOR’s Forest Governance Program, Andrew Wardell, pointed to Indonesia’s appointment of Kuntoro Mangkusubroto as head of its REDD+ taskforce as a positive sign. Kuntoro earned widespread trust and respect for managing the millions of dollars that were poured into Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed more than 180,000 in Aceh and Nias. Wardell added that forest agencies alone could not effectively address many of the issues associated with forest crimes. “The scale of these problems requires the involvement of multiple agencies and actors, and the application of sectoral and intersectoral instruments to curb corruption and fraud.” Kassim of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission agrees, saying that a new “joint-venture” approach adopted by the commission to tackle corruption in the forestry sector was proving successful. “We have used a new approach, where we’ve used people on the ground as informants and undertaken undercover operations,” he said. The approach has resulted in the prosecution of a number of top forestry officials. Another sector that could be better utilised to help follow the money trail, panelists said, is the banking sector. Julie Walters from the Australian Institute of Criminology said that Indonesia banks had a legal obligation to collect information about account holders, identify “political exposes people” and report any unusual activity in their accounts. “For a small bank, it probably won’t have the skills or capacity to identify a political exposed person, someone who is in a local government or a judge,” she said. CIFOR’s Dermawan said that without an improvement in the capacity of all relevant agencies to monitor the money trail, Indonesia could stand to lose REDD+ benefits. “If Indonesia does not manage funds better, donors will go to other countries to start REDD+ projects. Anti-corruption is key to making REDD+ work.” October 13th, 2010 Conservation is traditionally associated with left-wing politics. The distinction between left and right dates back to the days of the French revolution when those supporting radical changes in society where seated on the left side of parliament. Left-wing politics tend to strive for a more egalitarian society, achieved through cooperative, mutually respectful collaboration.Right-wing politics may see social and economic hierarchies as natural or normal. Left-wing economic politics are often characterized by extensive government intervention. On the right side of politics, or at least the center-right, capitalism, private property rights, and the market economy with limited government regulation are more valued. Looking at conservation in Indonesia, I wonder where, in the political spectrum, conservation fits in best. Here conservation is seen as a government duty, and for decades the standard approaches to conservation were built on collaboration between NGOs and governments. Unfortunately there has been limited success. Many protected area in Indonesia are in a very bad shape. The majority of nature and wildlife reserves have no on the ground management. And outside protected areas, the loss of forest, freshwater and marine resources is even more rapid. Indonesia’s private sector, both its big and small-holder industries, are a major driving factor behind these losses. But they are also the biggest hope for solutions. Many companies in the timber, fibre, oil palm, and mining industries create conservation set asides which they themselves aim to manage. If this trend continues, we may soon find that the private sector plays a much bigger role in conservation than the government. This reflects the situation in North America and Europe where many conservation lands are privately owned and managed. I wonder whether this is leading to a political shift in conservation. Is the increased integration of conservation in market economies, green thinking in companies, and the commodization of environmental services (think carbon ,water etc.) shifting conservation to the right? Is this green-tinged liberalism the future of conservation? If it is, would it be a good thing? I wouldn’t mind less government meddling in conservation. Let the government govern, but leave the conservation implementation to others. Privatize national parks that the government has not been able to manage. But hold the new managers accountable. Make conservation pay for itself. In rapidly developing economies like Indonesia, with a large natural resources sector, the private sector, not the government is the main factor determining the future of conservation. September 25th, 2010 You can call me a scientific nit picker, but I am confused. For almost a decade conservationists have been trying to give a more comprehensive picture about deforestation. Rather than talking about hectares, square kilometers or acres lost, the popular measure of “football fields” is increasingly used. I guess the thinking is that Joe Public doesn’t quite get the standard scientific units of measurements. But as he sits in front on his tv to watch men run up and down grassy fields, he will have some picture of the size of a football field. Deforestation as measured by numbers of football fields , however, acts like Chinese whispers. I did a quick Google search on “deforestation”, “football field”, and “Indonesia” and found the following conflicting statements: According to the English Football Association, the length of a full-size soccer pitch must be between 90 and 120 meters and the width between 45 and 90 meters, i.e. between 0.4 and 1.08 ha. An American football pitch measures about 0.45 ha, without the end zone. Based on the above statements and the variation in the size of football fields, deforestation rates in Indonesia vary from 0.2 ha per hour at the lowest to 648 ha per hour at the highest. Or in the more usual measurements, between 1752 and 5.7 million ha per year. That’s a 3,000-fold difference! And at least one source ascribes most of that deforestation to oil palm. Deforestation rates are notoriously difficult to get hold of. They are obscured by definition of what is forest, methods of detection, and willingness of governments to report to the FAO who keep the official data. More transparency and more frequent information on deforestation is badly needed to see whether we are making any progress towards reducing it. I doubt, however, that football field estimates make things any clearer. I don’t know who started measuring deforestation in football fields lost. The obvious idea was to drive home the severity of deforestation, especially in the tropics. But I really don’t think the present confusing reporting is making things any clearer. Obviously as conservationists we are also opening ourselves up to the criticism that we can’t even get our facts right. Ultimately I believe it puts us in a weaker position to influence the forest conservation agenda. Let’s stick to the deforestation facts. And let’s stick to measures that everyone understands and that are unambiguous. Or if you do need to simplify, use something that is clear. For example, when you talk to a US audience, tell them that Indonesia is losing a forest area the size of New Hampshire every year, which will work a lot better than saying that a forest area the size of 190 king size mattresses is being lost every second. Anyway, you get the point. January 9th, 2008 Previously, we wrote “the land dictates the rules, and rural communities are the gatekeepers” [The Jakarta Post, December 2007] regarding how should the nascent forestry ecological service market develop. Essentially, this equates “avoided deforestation” best practices with best practices in natural resources management. To explain further, a successful avoided deforestation project is a subset of land use, land use change, and forestry. What this means on the ground is that land use, land use change, and forestry can primarily fund avoided deforestation projects along with possible secondary carbon financing. This removes the responsibility of the carbon markets for being the primary source of funds for these large scale transactions. Furthermore, this integrative management technique relays less on new possible developments in on the sub-national, national, and international level as current avoided deforestation management policy driven tools originating from Bali. Yet, what I have observed in my survey of project developers internationally are the following: A. Linear thinking and arrogance by participants will cause project failure. B. Inability of ex-pats to understand / participate in local culture. C. Inability of locals to bridge societal levels. D. Inability of all participants to communicate effectively. Let me explain. Linear thinking dominates the logic expressed by project developers in the market place today. We have few market participants who are willing to understand how there may be causality and correlation between local nutrition levels and clean water and deforestation. In fact, local communities if they have access to improved nutrition and cleaner water will in plain English “have more to live for” and may “express greater interest in engaging with the sustainable management of their local resources”. I have been told of two projects, both anonymous, where a policy decision coupled with protection of a threatened forest have caused either starvation or malnutrition. These projects are geographically dispersed on two continents. Next, ex-pats are often times not willing to engage local communities culturally. An anonymous source described unintentionally how little she knew about the local community she was working in when she mentioned that she hadn’t spent an evening communicating with locals on the ground in their village in an informal fashion. The key for project success is trust and confidence garnered by you the project developer through interaction with your local community. This in many cases will not occur in formal meetings since many communities simply want us as project developers to leave as soon as possible without minimal disturbance. Yet, I have also experienced local individuals’ lack of ability to bridge societal levels. Many local individuals I have spoken to always assume poverty as a rationale for not wanting to engage with their fellow citizens. If your local connection is uncomfortable talking to all members of her community, you may be in for a surprise once the project begins. It the ability of your local project developer counterpart to successfully and effectively communicate with individuals within their society that may decrease qualitatively and quantitatively decrease your risk. Finally, I have generally noticed a lack of project participants globally to effectively communicate with the individuals that they most need to communicate with. An anonymous project developer I know lost their contract because they couldn’t relate emotionally to their funder’s passion for forest protection and sustainability. These two counterparties clearly communicated regarding technical concerns about GHG and carbon accounting and project scope. Yet, the contract was lost because they didn’t communicate emotionally with their client. This specifically means that by relying too much upon a contract to define a relationship the firm missed the point. We are developing a new market and we have a tremendous amount to learn from each other – and this requires sincerity, credibility, and trust. Gabriel Thoumi is a Masters Fellow at the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan in conjunction with the Ross School of Business and the School of Natural Resources and Environment. He can be reached at email@example.com.
As Baby Boomers prepare to retire, it’s possible that more than half of the existing construction workforce will retire by 2012. What was initially a consideration kept in the back of one’s mind is now a major concern for the construction industry: Where can competent entry-level workers be found to fill the hole that will be left by retirees? One answer can be found at Moraine Park Technical College. “The College has been listening to the concerns of area employers in the construction industry,” said Jon Waldhuetter, dean of apprenticeships. “To address their needs, Moraine Park’s Building Trades/Construction Worker technical diploma program is being offered this fall when the semester starts Aug. 25.” The program is designed to provide the construction skill set that graduates and employers need. Students will attend classes five days a week for two 16-week semesters. Part-time enrollment is available for those who are unable to commit to a full-time instructional schedule. Building Trades/Construction Worker courses include Safety Applications, Building Trades Fundamentals, Framing Construction, Basic Welding, Basic AutoCAD, Exterior Finish, Interior Finish, Building Trades Mechanical Systems and others. “This program provides a very broad range of trade experience, which is key,” said Waldhuetter. “It is strong in hands-on work activities and exposes students to a wide range of trade career options. Students who complete this program will be able to transition smoothly into construction-related careers.” Even with the current slowdown in new home construction, projections by the Southeast Construction Contractors and Trades Council indicate a 43-percent growth in employment in the construction industry over the next decade. Presently only 40 to 60 percent of positions created by retirement are being filled and the job outlook for the construction industry is strong in all of the skilled trades with employment growth between 14 and 25 percent. Wage scales will remain high, ranging from $15 to $35 an hour for skilled workers, with an average annual wage of roughly $42,500. Moraine Park’s Building Trades/Construction Worker program opens the door to careers in the construction industry and continuing educational opportunities such as apprenticeship, supervision or specialized training. Registrations are currently being accepted for this fall. To register for the Building Trades/Construction Worker program or for more information, call a Moraine Park admissions specialist at 1-800-472-4554 or call Waldhuetter at 262-335-5841.
I came across this “history” of Cinco de Mayo and have added to it to share with you what I did this Saturday and the meaning behind the day! I went to United Super Mercado’s celebration. I definitely had the whitest legs there! It is kind of the same feeling as being the only redhead in a room of hundreds of people! It was an interesting thing to see the similarities and the differences in cultures. I have placed a great photo album of the day at my blog site: www.phylliswall.com You can find it on the left sidebar under, Cinco de Mayo in Plain View. The 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo) is not Mexican Independence Day. And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday. It is a big celebration day for many though. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico. So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas. Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay. They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire. His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota. Napoleon’s French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion. The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War. The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy — as European countries traditionally did. Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico’s president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns. The Mexican Army was less stylish. General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes. When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz’ superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War. Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City. It is a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862 but, you never know… For sure it took team work. It still does!!! In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces. As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America. Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That’s why Cinco de Mayo is such a party — A party that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. Friendship…loyalty…working together! So, now you know a little more about this day you have heard about. I enjoyed my time at the celebration & I hope you take time to look through all the pictures. Here are a few to tempt you!!! See what I mean? You need to see the others… www.phylliswall.com
Richard Quiroga tends to the counter. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The Radius Center, 106 Auditorium Circle, is serving food again. Let’s hope this latest restaurant lasts longer that its predecessor. Radius Cyber Cafe opened a couple of weeks ago. It’s grand opening is a breakfast buffet 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy — the yoosh — will be served. They plan on continuing the buffet every Sunday. Weekday hours are 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Owner Richard Quiroga said the cafe will open later for parties or special events. “We’ll adapt if you have special needs. That’s no problem,” Quiroga said. Menu highlights are the USDA Black Angus Burger (made on a jalapeño cheddar bun), the Fiesta Loco Salad (pico, turkey, avocado, diced eggs, corn chips, cheese and a chipotle drizzle) and kolaches. Other treats include smoothies, cookies, various Bigelow tea flavors, fresh fruit and a soup of the day. The restaurant space was formerly occupied by the Radius Cafe. When it closed, an incarnation of Southtown eatery Madhatters Tea House & Café took over in June of last year. It closed a few months ago and now Quiroga is giving the space a shot. So is Quiroga worried about opening a business in what appears to be a troubled spot? “Absolutely,” Quiroga said. “I love going to Vegas. I love rolling the dice and here we hope we win.” Quiroga acknowledges that the food alone will not “make us millionaires,” but he hopes to balance things out with catering services and event planning. — Words & photos by Benjamin Olivo Got any downtown news, event info, hearsay, tips, celebrations, complaints, boastings, updates, breaking news, memories, old photos, celebrity sightings, etc.? Want to write a guest blog? E-mail me. Follow the Downtown Blog on Twitter: twitter.com/mySA_downtown
“Footloose” with a Wookiee and a Jawa? Meh. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” with Princess Leia, Queen Amidala and other characters? Um, what? Now Darth Vader and some stormtroopers getting down to Emperor Palpatine’s Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”? Hellz yeah! ParkSleuth brings the goods. See more fun from “Star Wars” Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the ParkSleuth link and here at the official “Star Wars” site. (Spotted via reddit.)
The San Antonio Symphony opens our Classics series on September 25 & 26 with Brahms Symphony No. 1. It is also the final year in a 3-year search to hire a new music director. Our audiences will be watching all the guest conductors of the Classics series to see who will be our next musical leader. With all this scrutiny, we may finally be able to answer two key questions, “What does the conductor REALLY do?” and “What is successful conducting?” These are tough questions! For example, the New York Philharmonic just opened their season with a brand new music director–Alan Gilbert. The New York Times gave Maestro Gilbert a great review, the Los Angeles Times was mildly critical and the Washington Post review was a complete pan. Who was correct? Watch this short excerpt of Brahms Symphony No. 1 conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and featuring the Berlin Philharmonic. Sir Simon, arguably the greatest conductor of our time, seemingly violates every “rule” of conducting…he rarely beats time or cues the musicians…often his hands and arms don’t move at all…and yet he is incredibly expressive and the orchestra delivers an emotionally compelling performance. Before answering these two key questions, we have to differentiate between a conductor of a top professional orchestra like the San Antonio Symphony and a student orchestra. Many readers may have played an instrument in school. You probably needed a conductor to keep the ensemble together or to help you play the notes or rhythms correctly. A professional orchestra can do this without a conductor. We might have to turn to a new work of fiction to answer these questions. Conductor Roger Nierenberg has written a book that will be published in October (“Maestro — A Suprising Story about Leadership by Listening.” You can learn more about this great book by clicking here) I highly recommend this fascinating new work. In this novel, a struggling business leader finds wisdom and inspiration from watching the interplay between an orchestra and a conductor. He learns that the conductor’s role is quite different then it first appears and the first job of the conductor is to listen to the orchestra! (You can pre-order the book from Amazon.com by clicking here.) As the Symphony season unfolds you will have the opportunity to observe many different conducting styles. Rather than watch for technical differences, why not “watch” for emotional variations? Which performance moves you? Which inspires you and transports you to a different place? That is the real job of classical music and its leader. I think you will enjoy this music director search much more if you don’t try to analyze which conductor is “best.” All the great performances I’ve enjoyed have had a magical quality about them that could not be explained by technique. The search for those fragile and mysterious moments of deep emotion is the reason we keep coming back to the concert hall. I hope this season provides you many memorable experiences, even if you can’t explain what the conductor is doing. Facebook: San Antonio Symphony For more blogs by Jack Fishman visit: http://blog.mysanantonio.com/jackfishman/files/legacy/
By Paul Garcia, ProjectSpurs.com Though the San Antonio Spurs (22-9) are the hottest team in the league as they currently hold a 10-game win streak, their record doesn’t speak to their present state of physical health. In notching their 10th straight win on Saturday afternoon against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Spurs lost forward Tiago Splitter to a right calf strain, and guard Manu Ginobili to a strained left oblique muscle. Ginobili is back in San Antonio and is set to undergo an MRI today while Splitter will remain with the team; his game status is unknown though. The Spurs bring their 9-8 road record into Utah to face the Jazz as the Spurs make this game number seven on their Rodeo Road Trip (6-0). The Jazz are playing on the second night of a back-to-back as they fell to the Houston Rockets in Houston on Sunday evening. Read the full game preview on Project Spurs.
IRVING – The Cowboys picked a terrible time to allow their first punt return for a touchdown this season. Domenik Hixon’s 79-yard TD gave the Giants a commanding 14-point lead with 5:33 left in Sunday’s 31-24 loss to New York. Dallas special-team coach Joe DeCamillis said Monday there was plenty of blame to go around. “Just like with the (missed) field goals, it was the whole operation,” DeCamillis said. “We missed five tackles, we put the ball too far down the field, we didn’t follow the same rules we’ve been following all year. It was a big play and it probably cost us the game.” Mat McBriar’s punt traveled 59 yards to Hixon at the New York 21. Basically, McBriar outkicked the coverage. DeCamillis said he’d much rather force fair catches on punts than go for distance that gives the returner plenty of room to operate. “A great example is their guy (Giants punter Jeff Feagles),” DeCamillis said. “He had a 39-yard (net) average all day long. We fair caught it five times. You fair catch it and it’s a dead play. Thirty-nine yard net, you take it all day long. That’s something that we’ve got to make sure we get corrected as soon as possible.” DeCamillis also said a holding call against rookie Victor Butler on the Cowboys kickoff return 2 minutes earlier also contributed. After the Giants kicked a 23-yard field goal with 7:23 left, Felix Jones returned the kickoff 42 yards to the Dallas 48. But Butler’s hold erased it and gave Dallas possession at its own 18. Four plays later, McBriar punted to Hixon. “The other thing that nobody talked about, which was in my mind a bigger play than the punt, was the hold before that,” DeCamillis said. “We’re sitting at the 50-yard line right there. The punt doesn’t happen if we don’t hold the guy on the kickoff return. So if that play doesn’t happen, we’ve got a good chance of getting out of that play and backing them up rather than being where we were at.”
“I would go again with these guys,” Manu Ginobili said afterward of his teammates. The Spurs praised their opponents, and they admitted they were beaten in nearly every area. Tim Duncan looked a year closer to cashing in his Roth IRA, and Gregg Popovich looked closer to cashing in Richard Jefferson. The lottery might be next, right? That was a year ago. As it was then, after the Spurs were swept by Phoenix, another championship is an unlikely expectation today. The best the Spurs can do is what they did this season, when they put themselves in the best position to advance in the postseason. Does that make a 61-win season an achievement, or fool’s gold? Maybe both, and Popovich feels the contradiction as much as anyone. He had always preached using the regular season as a way to prepare for the playoffs, and his franchise has now gone in the opposite direction. The Spurs have won one playoff series in three years. But is it possible to take the next step without scrapping everything and dropping into the lottery? No matter what the Spurs do, they are fighting against forces that work against them. One is the draft order. Their highest pick since Duncan came last summer, with James Anderson at No. 20. Compare that to the Grizzlies. In recent years they have chosen second, third, fourth and sixth. Given that, Memphis should have a few guys who jump over the Spurs. But the Grizzlies have also had time to wait, and the contrast came three years ago. Then, while the Spurs were looking for someone who could fill a hole immediately, the Grizzlies opted for promise. The Spurs could have been the ones to draft Darrell Arthur in 2008. R.C. Buford knew him well with his Kansas connections, and he knew what Arthur showed Friday was there. How many 6-foot-9 athletic men are there who can dunk on lobs, shoot 18-footers and block shots? But even as this rare talent fell in the draft, Buford also knew Arthur was still a kid. What immediately followed likely reinforced that impression. Then, at an NBA rookie symposium meant to inform players of the dangers awaiting them, Arthur and a fellow KU teammate, Mario Chalmers, were found in a room with two women and the scent of marijuana. Both were booted out of the symposium, fined $20,000 and sent home. If that profile was part of the equation, the Spurs’ needs were more vital. They thought they had enough big men at the time. The Spurs instead wanted perimeter help, which is why they targeted Nicolas Batum first and George Hill second. Batum would have been a hit, and Hill has been a solid choice. But Arthur, taken immediately after Batum and Hill, might have become the active big man the Spurs have needed. He also would have provided this future: Arthur as the versatile, outside shooting power forward, lining up next to Tiago Splitter, the workmanlike, defending center. Still, Arthur isn’t a star, and he wouldn’t have changed the Spurs’ paradox. They are stuck between great success and great disappointment, with both the Western Conference’s best record and worst playoff outcome. It’s a circular pattern, and what comes next won’t change that. The Spurs, thanks to their remarkable season, will draft 29th. So they will do what they do. They will search for another Gary Neal, and they will try to find a way for Splitter and Anderson to improve even if a lockout limits hands-on instruction. They will live with Jefferson, because they have no other option now, and they will convince themselves they don’t have to get worse to get better. Just as they did last season.
By Jeff McDonald Tim Duncan admits it. He wanted to play. The bone bruise in his left knee he suffered at Philadelphia and reaggravated against Washington, and had caused him to miss eight of nine games, felt fine early in the Spurs’ just-completed eastern leg of the rodeo road trip. It wasn’t until Wednesday in Cleveland, the last game before the All-Star break, that coach Gregg Popovich was ready to let his 36-year-old star slip off his sport coat and slide on a uniform. “I could have (played), but honestly sitting here right now, I’m glad I waited,” Duncan said after logging nearly 26 minutes in the Spurs’ 96-95 win over Cleveland. “It’s an injury I didn’t want to recur throughout the season. All that was going to help was rest.” Duncan scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked four shots in his first action since Jan. 2, when Washington’s Martell Webster rolled into the back of his legs in a game at the AT&T Center. There was a time when being forcibly made to sit would have annoyed the Spurs’ All-Star. After 15-plus seasons under Popovich, Duncan has come to appreciate his coach’s caring touch. “I just put it all in his hands and he makes the right decision,” Duncan said. “He makes the decision that’s best for us as parts of this team. We want to be out there and helping every game. In a long season like this, the point is to be healthy at the end of the season.” After surviving his return to the court no worse for wear, Duncan is off to Houston for this weekend’s All-Star festivities. He does so toting averages of 17.2 points and 9.6 rebounds, his highest numbers since 2009-10. Duncan is also blocking 2.8 shots per game, 0.1 off a career high set in 2002-03, his second MVP season. When play resumes next week, Duncan will look to add to them knowing his knee is as healthy as it can be. “I can be defiant and be mad at Pop, but in the long run he always has my best interest in hand,” Duncan said. “This worked out probably the best possible way.” All-Star invasion: Making his 14th All-Star appearance, Duncan is part of a large silver-and-black traveling party that began to trickle into Houston on Thursday and today. Point guard Tony Parker is scheduled make his fifth appearance in Sunday’s game for the Western Conference squad, which will be coached by Popovich and his staff for the third time. Matt Bonner is slated to participate in Saturday night’s 3-point shootout, while Kawhi Leonard will play in the Rising Stars game. Parker also has some Saturday night duties, appearing determined to defend his crown in the Skills Challenge. After finishing last in his first two shots at the event, Parker surprised even himself by winning last year in Orlando. “My first two tries, I was terrible,” Parker said. “My third attempt, I was like, no pressure now. I didn’t even practice and I won it. This time, same strategy.”
Last fall we reported that hundreds of drivers in public vehicles, like school buses and police cruisers, had been nabbed running through Houston’s red-light cameras. More than 100 Houston police vehicles moving through intersections without emergency lights were cited in the first year of the cameras’ operation, according to ticket data. … The officers’ citations were among more than 520 tickets issued to local public schools, governments and the area’s transit agency since the cameras went online last fall. The tickets resulted in nearly $40,000 in fines, according to electronic records released under the Texas Public Information Act. Now state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Houston, a former Houston police officer, has authored a bill that would exempt police and other “authorized emergency vehicles” from tickets, even if they’re not speeding to an emergency call. The bill, pushed by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, will be heard today in the Texas House’s urban affairs committee, where Mayor White got several questions two weeks ago about red-light cameras. Few would argue that police and other emergency workers should get tickets for acting during emergencies, and in some situations they must drive through red-light intersections without lights and sirens. But should there be an exemption for public employees who make mistakes and run lights? There are a few hundred thousand ticketed Houstonians who might like to get a pass, too.
Texas public school students no longer would hear the terms “capitalism” or “free market” under new social studies curriculum standards the State Board of Education is developing. All references will be limited to “free enterprise” after an 8-7 board vote. Pat Hardy, R-Fort Worth, pleaded with the board not to change the style recommended by board-appointed experts who proposed “free enterprise” with “capitalist, free market” is parenthesis. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this (compromise),” Hardy said. “This board is getting too specific. Leave it as it is.” State law requires the term “free enterprise,” although college students use “capitalism” and “free market” descriptions. Teri Leo, R-Spring, urged her colleagues not to compromise “with liberal professors from academia. That’s how we end up with liberal textbooks because that’s who’s writing them,” she said. Hardy identified one of the primary sponsors of the change, as a Texas A&M professor who, she said, “is not some sort of crazy college liberal.” The board voted 7-7, so Chair Gail Lowe, R-Lampasas, broke the tie to delete “capitalist” and “free market” in all references. “We don’t have to apologize for our free enterprise system,” Lowe said.
Martin M. Shenkman Traveling with MS can be a challenge. Even without a walking aid, carrying medication that should be refrigerated through airport security checks, dealing with severe fatigue— which, in accordance with Murphy’s Law, comes at the most inconvenient times--can all be pretty tough. I have a vivid memory of the last flight with my wife, Patti, who has MS. You know the feeling when you and masses of people are waiting at the gate for your flight and it is delayed 20 minutes, and another 20 minutes, and another …? Most folks just get annoyed and buy another mocha cappuccino. But when MS fatigue hit Pattie with a vengeance, what could I do? I could make Patti a bed using my coat, sweatshirt and whatever. The only location for this poor excuse for a bed was the terminal floor. So I stood over her while she rested, trying to prevent passengers running for planes from stepping on her. A better mode of travel had to be found. On a drive one day the idea popped up: Let’s buy an RV. Just for perspective, we had about as much experience with an RV as Robin Williams did at the beginning of his comedy RV. While it was more of a joke than a serious plan, we went exploring. The main idea was that, if fatigue kicked in, we would have a bed available; if travel prevented obtaining food compliant with the Swank diet we follow, we would have our own kitchen on wheels. And there would be no more hassles looking for ice to keep Patti’s medicine cool, as we would have a fridge in tow. RV sales during the heart of the recession led to a deal we couldn’t refuse. The next thing we knew, we owned an RV. Next we had to figure out what to do with it! Reading blogs, articles and more, it has become apparent to me that people living with MS and their caregivers often find solace, meaning and a means of coping by doing something proactive to help others facing similar challenges. Heading off on our new RV journey, Patti and I wanted to make something more of our travels than just a vacation. Thus was born our private charity, RV4TheCause. As we travel, we lecture to consumers and professional advisers on estate, financial, tax and legal planning for those living with MS and other chronic illnesses. We’re assisted in this effort by a distinctive and beloved wingman, our Norfolk Terrier, Elvis, a licensed therapy dog. No one can get a group smiling like Elvis. We opted not to limit our efforts to MS, since the challenges people with MS face are similar to those faced by people with many different chronic illnesses. Most importantly, financial planning for life with a chronic illness entails many similar modifications no matter what a person’s particular situation might be, although obviously tweaks must be made for every particular illness. To date, we’ve logged in about 15,000 miles and 35+ presentations. This spring we just logged our longest trip 6,200 miles and a month of time away from home and work from New Jersey to Las Vegas. While not everyone can solve their travel difficulties buy purchasing an RV, you don’t have to give up the things you enjoy because MS has gotten in the way. There are little (and big) modifications you can make to your previous travel routines. In fact, I’m sure many of you have found creative solutions to your travel challenges. What tricks have you found to make traveling with a disability more enjoyable?
A few days from returning to Australia already. June 23rd on the way to Shanghai then Australia – India – Holland – Germany then back to NYC at the end of August. Since last post we spent - (June – August 08) Summer trip (Poland/Italy/Singapore/Australia:Adelaide Hills Football, Lochiel Park, Glenelg, Melbourne) - (November) Thanksgiving (Chattanooga) - (December) Winter Break – December 20th NYC > Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide > Shanghai China (December 31, 2008 – January 04, 2009) > NYC with the best being Ferrara Italy for a couple of weeks.
The Big Apple is bursting with events this summer full of chances to watch, learn or participate in everything from making macaroons to powering down hot dog s. Grab a cheap hotel in New York close to the action to avoid taxi fares or parking hassles – and you won’t have to delegate a designated driver! Sign up for classes being held through June 28 to add a new delicacy to your culinary skills at the French Macaron Workshop held at 6 Clinton Street in Knickerbocker. Settle in with complementary drinks and let expert pastry chefs not only show you how to whip up this almond-based delight, they let you climb right in and try it for yourself, so dress appropriately — it can get messy! From May 30-June 10 the Gotham Dance Festival will present five programs at the Joyce Theater at 175 Eighth Avenue in New York. Cutting edge choreographers will present performances that range from classical ballet to edgy contemporary productions celebrating topics that range from women in dance to the reconstruction of NYC after 911. Tickets range from $10 to $39. From May 10 – August 19, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts the Costume Institute’s new exhibition appropriately called Shaiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations. Featuring a fictional conversation between Italian designers Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, this video exhibit will highlight their unique approach to similar fashions taken by these two designers separated by time The Northside Festival in Brooklyn attracts quality independent musicians and filmmakers to show off their talent on June 14-21. This year’s festival will include a showing of the film Take This Waltz and the musical guests Questlove and Screaming Females. Celebrate the Fourth of July event along the Hudson River with the Macy’s Department Store Fireworks Extravaganza between West 24th and West 50th streets. Get ready to ooh and ah at as over 400,000 shells are launched from six floating barges. After qualifying contestants from festivals, ballparks and fairs around the country, Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest will once again take place on the nation’s birthday at One Jericho Plaza. Up to 40,000 hyped up fans appear each year to cheer on the contestants in one of the top rated shows on ESPN. Starting June 8th, the New York Aquarium at 602 Surf Avenue you can immerse yourself in an interactive 1500sf water maze! The exhibit highlights NYC’s efforts to clean up and protect their waterways. Rockefeller Park will host Philip Glass Ensemble: A Retrospective, a free concert on June 20th at 7:00 PM in honor of the composer’s 75th birthday. Featuring the youth ensemble Face the Music, the show will celebrate this popular modern composer’s amazing body of work. By popular demand, the show the Amazing Max and The Box of Incredible Things will be held over through the summer at the off-Broadway MMAC Theater at 248 W. 60th Street. This family-friendly show is a delight for all ages, offering comedy, juggling and jaw-dropping magical feats that leave audiences wanting more and more. The debut of the Greenwich Village Country Club on Bowlmor Lane will be the focus of the 28th Annual Ultimate Summertime Party on July 26, 2012. This year, the proceeds from the party will benefit the Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Save your budget so you can splurge on the summer 2012 events by checking with the budget travel experts at Hostelbookers.com to see some classy, yet inexpensive, New York City hotels complete with picture, reviews and Google maps.
By Elizabeth C. Matto With Election Day approaching, the question is being asked again: Will young people show up at the polls this November? Younger voters played a prominent role in 2008, infusing the electoral season with excitement. As students head back to the classroom and the campaign enters its last frenzied months, it is worth acknowledging the important role educators, parents and the public play in preparing and enabling the nation’s youngest voters to show up at the polls. The millennial generation, those young Americans born after 1980, is brimming with demographic promise. Still, their commitment to the voting process is questionable. As the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement reports, although 2008 marked one of the highest showings among youth, turnout rates lagged 16 percent behind voters 30 and older. Moreover, as a group, young people don’t possess the sense of civic duty that inspires older Americans and motivates their political action. Rather than castigate them, it’s the responsibility of the rest of us to connect young people to the political process. The recent finding from Harvard’s Institute of Politics that only 49 percent of young people surveyed said they “definitely” will be voting only heightens this responsibility. When looking to exercise their right to vote, college-age voters face a labyrinth of registration and Election Day regulations that vary state by state, even election by election. Questions young voters must confront include: Do I register at my home or campus address? Can I register to vote online? Do I need to update my voter registration status if I’ve moved — even if it’s just to a different residence hall? New voter ID laws enacted recently around the country bring even more confusion. For first-time or younger voters with little experience exercising the franchise, these questions can be crippling. Institutions of higher education, those with the closest relationships to large numbers of young voters, can play an important role here. Campuses can bring elections within reach of students by mounting get-out-the-vote drives, hosting debate watches and candidate visits, and maintaining campus-specific voter information websites. In addition to these outreach efforts, institutions can integrate nonpartisan civic learning opportunities into curricula as a means of teaching active citizenship. As we’ve learned here on the Rutgers campus, structured participation in registration and mobilization efforts in conjunction with coursework offers an opportunity to link the theoretical understanding of politics with its everyday realities. Not only can colleges and universities do this; it is their responsibility. As the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement observed in the report “A Crucible Moment,” one mission of institutions of higher education is to prepare students for engaged and active citizenship. Moreover, this learning ought not wait until college. Elections offer an excellent opportunity for teachers at all grade levels to bring their history lessons to life. What better way to improve understanding of the Electoral College than to simulate the electoral process in the classroom? Other evidenced-based methods of instruction, such as discussions and debates, allow students to practice being active citizens in the confines of the schoolhouse, preparing them for active citizenship. Of course, parents are also powerful agents of political socialization. One’s interest in politics, rates of news consumption and sense of preparedness for political participation are shaped in no small part by parents. These findings were recently confirmed in our research; we found that the effects of classroom discussion of the news on levels of political knowledge and efficacy were amplified when the news also was discussed in the home. To be sure, any parent who has taken a child into the voting booth has powerful anecdotal evidence of the parental role in educating future active citizens. Active citizenship isn’t genetic, it must be taught by educators and modeled by parents. Moreover, it has to be supported by the public at large. As research supported by CIRCLE has shown, states that adopt measures to ease the voting process — such as same-day registration and early voting — benefit from increased youth turnout. Will young people show up on Election Day? They will if we encourage them to do so and show them the way. Elizabeth C. Matto is an assistant research professor and director of the Youth Political Participation Program at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University.
What Forms of Religious Expression are Acceptable in the Workplace? by Guest Blogger Anita Brady There are few items of office protocol more complex than an employee or employer's expression of their religious beliefs. On the one hand, there seems little harm in an employee taping a favorite passage from the Bible or Koran to their computer or wearing a small cross or token of their beliefs. But on the other, even seemingly mundane expressions of religion have led to claims of discrimination and costly civil lawsuits. In May, Nola.com reported on a rise in claims of religious harassment, second only to sexual harassment in the number of complaints filed nationwide (http://blog.nola.com/faith/2012/05/claims_of_workplace_religious.html). The increase has been partially attributed to the growing number of Islamic immigrants and workers in the U.S., whose customary beliefs and practices are often less familiar to coworkers and employers than those of the Christian or Jewish faiths. There's a careful balance between allowing employees to practice their religion and not letting an employee's religious expression antagonize their coworkers. In 1997, the Clinton administration issued guidelines for religious expression in federal offices (http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/89280-1), a document that still serves as the basic rulebook for many companies today. It's important to recognize the specificity of every situation, responding gently and carefully to any incident that arises. In general, the following guidelines will help to dictate office policy, in most occasions. - Okay: Allow employees to practice their religion in ways that do not impede the flow of business or bother and distract others. For instance, if a Muslim employee wishes to offer prayers at certain times during the day and a small room is available where they won't bother coworkers, consider allowing them to do this. Not Okay: Expressions of religion that slow workflow or make other employees uncomfortable should be discouraged or restricted. Kneeling to offer prayers in an office with multiple people working would generally not be acceptable. - Okay: Faith-based documents like a Bible may be kept out-of-sight in an employee's desk and read during breaks from work. Not Okay: Displaying faith-based documents and excerpts in public places in an office, including bulletin boards and even personal desks that are situated in view of other workers. - Okay: Inviting a coworker to a church or religious event as a friend is acceptable. Even sharing how faith enriches one's life within normal conversation is generally allowed. Employers should note that it's better for people in positions of authority to avoid inviting employees under their chain-of-command to religious events, lest these employees feel that not attending will affect their standing at work. Not Okay: Don't continue to proselytize or encourage a coworker to attend a religious-themed or hosted event after they've denied an initial invitation. Although some religions, like Christianity, encourage believers to convert others, this should not be conducted within a secular workplace. - Okay: Decorations for major holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah are generally alright, provided that any office parties and events are all-inclusive and don't carry religious undertones. Not Okay: Overly-religious decorations (for example, a crucifix with an image of a martyred saint) can make other employees uncomfortable and should be reserved for the walls of one's own home. - Okay: Small accoutrements like a cross pendant or angel earrings are acceptable to wear to work (although incidents of people losing their job for simple expressions like this do exist). Not Okay: Blatant religious slogans or potentially divisive t-shirts and apparel that express a belief about an issue that is in any way connected to religion (for example, a pro-choice or pro-life button on a sweater). Unfortunately, the 1997 federal guidelines are simply a marker for most businesses, and laws surrounding religious discrimination are somewhat vague. The best way to avoid having problems arise in your office is to include language about religious expression in worker manuals, as well as explaining during the hiring process that all religions are welcome, but that public displays of faith should be discrete. Requiring employees to avoid all religious expression isn't feasible -- people can't simply 'shut off' a part of what they consider their identity. The answer is to welcome any and all beliefs, but ask that they be recognized with respect to coworkers who may have a different faith background or even none at all. Senior executive Anita Brady is the President of 123Print.com, a leading provider of a high variety of quality items like business cards, fancy letterhead and other materials for small businesses and solo practitioners.
A column in my local paper by Arthur White, titled “Change is in the air,” describes how he and other agents at Red Oak Realty in Berkeley and Oakland have “noticed a swell of real estate transactions that encountered multiple offers.” They list ten examples of homes that received between two and 21 offers, which naturally leads to “pushing prices up.” Meanwhile, I can point to plenty of houses around Berkeley and Oakland that are sitting unsold, or sport “price reduced” signs. How is a seller supposed to enter a market that seems to be simultaneously hot and cold — and how is a buyer supposed to place intelligent bids? For sellers, the advice White offers is the same as has been true throughout this tough market — though the message is still not penetrating to every seller: “Remember, not every listing gets into a bidding war. The difference lies in the listing price: Buyers don’t compete for overpriced properties, they compete when a property is priced in a way that is ‘too good to be true.’” I know firsthand how emotionally difficult it can be, not to mention financially worrisome, when you advertise a price for your home that seems like you’re ready to give it away. But it has been proven to work over and over again, as the years of slow-moving real estate sales have dragged on. Meanwhile, for buyers, White advises “courage and prudence” in a competitive situation. Don’t lose your head just because you imagine that the other buyers are going to outbid you by some unknown amount. Looking at average prices of comparable sales in the past few months should continue to be your guide. And if you lose out on this house, well, the market is still far from super-hot — and another one will come along. (In fact, maybe you’ll find one that’s been sitting on the market so long that the once-unrealistic seller is ready for a major price reduction.)
In a single day, December 29, 1890, an estimated 300 men, women, and children of the Miniconjou and Hunkpapa Lakota lay dead or dying near Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Reservation, having been massacred by the U.S. Army’s 7thCalvary Regiment. There they remained for three days, while a blizzard preserved them in frozen [...] Welcome a new Native American blogger familiar with American Indian history, film, and education. We have great news for all of our readers: A guest blogger will be joining us!! His name is Andrew Bentley and he’s an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina (the largest tribe east of the Mississippi.) Andrew is also a VISTA volunteer by trade. National Relief Charities is fortunate to have Andrew in our service. I’ve had [...] It’s here, the announcement of our “Rez of the Story Contest winner. Our winner was randomly selected from among contest entrants by the use of a computerized random number generator. We thank all who entered the contest and encourage everyone to read Vince’s book, which is filled with wisdom and understanding the whole world needs. [...] Happy new year and welcome to 2012! Let’s all resolve to help one another more this year. Our “Rez of the Story Contest“ ended on December 31st. We will announce the contest winner this Thursday, January 5. Check back then to see if it’s you! Elder photos from Christmas distributions. Native American children from the reservations enjoying Santa and holiday gifts. For those of you who’ve been following the blog posts of Native American journalist and author Vince Two Eagles, I have some good news: Vince’s new book is out!! This book is a compilation of Vince’s work as published in several South Dakota newspapers. In keeping with the spirit of his infamous tagline, the book is called “The [...]
Continuing the debate on the proposal from Rajesh Jain and Amit Malviya of Friends of BJP for a new Center Right Think Tank called the new India Policy Foundation. (Parts 1 & 2). The two main objectives of the Foundation are: - Research and propose new policy alternatives to address pressing national issues. - Disseminate the work of the Foundation widely, especially with a view to directly impacting the course and content of national policy. The Foundation will take up a number of activities: - Undertake research studies on existing policies of the government, both at the central and state level, with a view to examining the impact of such policies, and suggest alternative approaches where such policies are not delivering in the desired manner. - Initiate studies to propose new policies over and above what governments might have so far considered. This is expected to address the problem of short term thinking that is often prevalent in governments, at the cost of long term strategic planning. - Hold consultations, seminars, closed door sessions with policy makers, conferences on important national issues to stimulate debate and guide the policy process. Engage with formal (TV shows / appearances etc) and informal media for large scale dissemination and outreach. - Engage with and convene meetings with key policy makers (MPs / MLAs & beauracracy) and opinion leaders to shape national policy. The Foundation expects to demonstrate tangible results within the first few years of its operation. The Foundation will try and forge links with like-minded individuals and institutions globally. The Foundation will be different from existing think tanks in at least two different ways: (a) It will focus on developing policy ideas for practical real-life issues, rather than engage in mere theoretical pursuits, and (b) Engaging with policy makers and opinion leaders will be an integral part of its mandate, and it will be judged by the direct impact it will make in shaping the policy discourse in the country. This Foundation will institutionalise the process of public policy research and intervention outside of the Government machinery. It will do so by employing and engaging the best minds under one umbrella, aggregating valuable information and ideas relevant for India, initiating debates in the intelligentsia and civil society and influencing the collective conscious of legislators and bureaucrats. It will be intellectually best in class and a constructive source of inputs on all important areas of legislation and policy making. It will aim to become the fountain head of all policy research and decision making in this country. It will distinguish itself from other Think Tanks by its “result-oriented” (outcome focused) approach to policy intervention. The effectiveness of its output will be measured in a scientific manner and employee benefits will be linked to it. It will only have a guiding philosophy, and will have no pre-defined political affiliation. It will be accountable to its trustees and the country.
While Liang Court has long lost its former edge of glory over the years, it still remains as the representative Japanese mall with tenants Meidi-ya, Kinokuniya, Marutama, Saizeriya Ristorante and Tampopo holding the business together (anybody remembers Daimaru?). There is another reason to pay them a visit – Dulcet & Studio. Dulcet & Studio is a whole new lifestyle café, with a contemporary yet cosy vibes – think Muji in a restaurant form. The name ‘Dulcet’ means sweet to the taste, while ‘Studio’ is the other part of the café where customers can sign up for cooking classes. I am already quite excited as I am all of a modern Japanese café, something that is quite lacking in Singapore. The vibes are good too, and having soups served in little cups is just so wonderfully Japanese. Expect a mixture of Western meets Japanese cuisine including specialty pasta, lamb rice, beef spare rib stew, fish & chip. Lunch and dinner sets are served at a very reasonable price of below $15 and $20 respectively. All of their specialty pasta is imported from Hokkaido, which means that the noodles are more chewy and flavourful. I had the signature item – the Dulcet Special’s Seafood Black Ink Tagliolini Pasta ($14.80). It did take a little while to get used to the chewier texture. Though flavours are definitely a lot lighter than its Italian counterpart, this did not wow me. Dulcet & Studio 177 River Valley Road #01-41/42 Liang Court Singapore 179030 Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm
The press conference was to discuss the Senate Armed Service Committee's passage of a budget bill that overrides the president's and the Pentagon's wishes to slim down the Air National Guard. "In its budget proposal, the Pentagon called for a cut of 5,100 from the Air National Guard, 3,900 from active duty and 900 reservists as well as 134 aircraft. The proposal ran headlong into a political reality: The nation's governors pushed back hard against the cuts, and so did members of Congress." The bill now moves to the Senate floor, where it will be considered this summer. The big battle will come when the Senate version must be reconciled with the much-richer House version later in the year. And in a story little-noticed outside Missouri, readers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch learned just how little accountability the Missouri National Guard has, thanks to that state's expansive secrecy exemptions. The Post-Dispatch tried to get information about some National Guard troops who were sent to Joplin, Mo., in the wake of last year's devastating tornado who apparently looted the town, rather than lending assistance. The National Guard said it didn't have to answer any questions and the adjutant general refused to return phone calls. One Missouri legislator said he learned that a neo-Nazi Guard member was serving in a funeral honor guard, and when he asked about it, was denied any information. Even the Missouri lawmaker who in 1987 requested that the National Guard be exempt from the state's Sunshine Law said he now believes it was a mistake. "To be honest about it, I'd have a hard time supporting any government entity paid for by tax dollars being exempted from the open-meetings law," said former Sen. John Scott, D-St. Louis. "I think everybody should be governed by it." "This has to change. There is no reason why Missouri's guard, which serves an important state and federal purpose, should be able to hide from public accountability."
The Seven Outposts of Slow Beauty Outposts are places, spaces and experiences that help you make the transition from fast beauty (quick fixes, anti-aging, and disease) to Slow Beauty (health, wellness, and joy), a celebration of your sacred life. Neoteny is Latin for “holding youth”. It is the spirit of connecting to your inner child and being at play. For this Outpost I recommend reconnecting with a form of self-expression that you enjoyed as a child. It could be dance, writing poetry, playing an instrument. Whatever it is, do it. Open the door to your creativity. Expressing yourself boosts self-confidence and increases your ability to be creative. Earlier this year, the National Bureau of Economic Research published a paper about how learning leads to happiness and longevity. This Outpost explores nourishing things to read, beautiful things to look at, inspiring music to listen to, fun places to visit. For example, check out local free concerts in the park, a farmers market, or an art walk. On a budget; check out your home- town website and plan a stay-cation. Discover things you never knew about where you live. This Outpost is about cleanses, downtime and a good night’s sleep. An easy and inexpensive way to experience this Outpost is to daydream–the ultimate downtime. The benefits of daydreaming include a better working memory. A new study published in the journal Psychological Science, correlates daydreaming with the ability to retain and recall information in the midst of distractions. Don’t forget, daydreaming can be done anywhere. We live in a consumptive society. Instead of consuming mindlessly, consume mindfully. And that means supporting brands with ethical philosophies. Fortunately, there are now a multitude of environmentally friendly brands in clothing, accessories, beauty, and food. If you are seeking out brands that give back, we recommend signing up for Milkshake, www.getmilkshake.com/ This website focuses on brands that do good and make a difference, brands that we can support with our purchasing power. At this Outpost, transform your beauty routine into a meaningful practice through dynamic, personalized rituals. Integrate elements from ancient cultural traditions such as Ayurveda, music therapy, homeopathy, and aromatherapy. Incorporate daily foot massage into your beauty practice. Padabhyanga is an at home foot massage from the Ayurvedic tradition. This massage prevents dryness, cracks and roughness of the skin; numbness, fatigue, sciatica, and cramps. It also promotes sound sleep. A good night’s sleep allows our body the time it needs for repair and detoxification. According to the Vedic scriptures daily massage from the foot to the knee before bedtime prevents disease. SPA, Latin for “health through water” rooted in an ancient tradition of wellness, honors the mind, body, spirit connection. The spa environment encourages us to slow down, breathe and divest ourselves of our fast-paced lives. If you want to get off the grid and reconnect with yourself then get to the spa. Spa Finder is an excellent resource to locate spas in your area. Check out the section called “deals.” If you want to know about the benefits of the treatments offered at the spas, visit Spa Evidence. This site contains the medical evidence showing the benefits of spa and wellness therapies. There are many different types of meditation to suit personal preferences. Some with eyes open or eyes closed. Some techniques you practice while seated and others while walking. There is even a laughing Meditation. Some of the benefits of Meditation include stress reduction, slowing the aging process, lessening anxiety, and clarity of mind. To get started, download the modern mindfulness app. Buddhify. For more information on SlowBeauty or Shel Pink please visit SlowBeauty.com. © 2013, blog.organicspamagazine.com. All rights reserved.
Parrot introduces the Parrot PARTY a truly mobile set of Bluetooth Stereo speakers designed for cell phones, MP3 players and laptops on-the-go. The Parrot PARTY is a compact, portable audio system (620 g – only 21 ounces – and 23 cm wide), which offers a quality of sound that is unprecedented in such a small device thanks to its Class-D amplifier and two astonishing audio effects. The first Parrot audio effect – Stereo Widening that broadens the music to fill a room; and the second effect â€“ Virtual SuperBass â€“ reinforces the bass frequencies and gives them punch. Read Parrot July Newsletter to see more of the Parrot PARTY The authorities of many countries around the world are reinforcing the driving laws. Maybe you do not know that it’s forbidden to drive with a cellphone in your own country! Check this page to get info on the current regulation and fines in your country or state. Maybe it’s time for you to be equipped with a hands-free car kit ! You can now test drive the Parrot MK6000, the music hands-free kit which plays your mobile’s MP3. Get to know its double microphone with Beamforming technology for a better sound quality. Listen to the “Text-To-Speech” voice synthesis which reads and speaks the name of your contacts from your mobile phone book. Click here to try the Parrot MK6000 demo
Earlier this month, we told you about a new study showing that ALS patients reporting their health status over the Internet (using a rating scale known as the ALSFRS-R) is just as reliable as a trained nurse rating the patient’s score. Now, we’d like to share our interview with lead study author Dr. Thomas Meyer, a neurologist at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany. What role did PatientsLikeMe play in this research? And what are the study’s implications for the future of clinical trials? Find out that and more in our interview with Dr. Meyer below. 1. When did you become interested in patient-reported outcomes? In 2005, we first used tablet PCs in our outpatient department to capture patient-reported outcomes (PROs). To us neurologists, PROs play a crucial role. Many neurological conditions can be captured by means of PROs only – I am thinking of pain in neuropathies, spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS), the subjective perception of movement ability in Parkinson’s syndrome and dyspnoea (breathing difficulty) in neuromuscular conditions, including ALS. Given this fact, we neurologists have always listened to our patients a little more carefully so that we can do a good job. Therefore, the systematic capturing of PROs is a natural process to us, and we are most happy to be able to support any advancement and positive development thereof. 2. Your study showed remarkable agreement between the two ALSFRS-R reporting methods. Were you surprised that they were so similar? You are absolutely correct. Correlation here looks like a textbook example of medical statistics. We were indeed very surprised to find that the data were so unequivocal. Notwithstanding, our previous experience with the offline electronic capturing of ALSFRS-R had taught us that the data captured in a personal interview are very close to those captured in computer-based self-assessments. Then we took the next step and progressed from offline to online assessment. Other work groups had already shown good correlation between the face-to-face capturing of the score on the one hand, and data capturing over the phone on the other. That was very useful upfront information for us. Insofar, the success of our study didn’t come as a complete surprise to us. 3. How did Dr. Paul Wicks, PatientsLikeMe’s Director of Research & Development, contribute to this research project? Our great interest in the issue of PROs in ALS goes back a long time. Nevertheless, we were very much aware of the fact that PatientsLikeMe is by far the most experienced organization with regard to PROs worldwide and also the one that identifies with this topic most. So, a small group of four of us flew from Berlin to Boston to introduce our clinical trial to PatientsLikeMe and to learn from their experience. Once we had concluded the study, we flew to Boston once again to see Paul and to prepare the paper. We profited immensely from Paul’s input, and he gave the manuscript a superordinate perspective. So it is for a good reason that he is listed as co-author of this publication. Overall, this scientific research project was a collaboration between the Charité University Hospital and PatientsLikeMe. I believe it is also an important, gratifying and affirming experience for PatientsLikeMe to see that in terms of methodology the online capturing of PROs is at least equal to an interview conducted face-to-face. I can even imagine situations where the online mode of capturing PROs is actually better than a personal interview, especially where rather complicated and very private issues are addressed. This is just one of the many points we discussed vividly with Paul. 4. Do you believe online patient reporting will become an acceptable practice for clinical trials? What are the ramifications if it does? I can very well imagine that the online capturing of PROs will one day become an integral part of clinical trials. It is quite an obvious thing; however, owing to regulatory requirements, it will be quite some time before it will actually be possible to implement this. The bottom line is that clinical trials will have to be conducted for each score demonstrating equivalence between paper-based and web-based capturing. Not all of the scores have actually been evaluated for online capturing. Another critical point surely is Internet access. Having said that, it certainly also depends on the patient group and the actual medical condition under examination. I suppose that from a medical-ethical point of view it is problematic to exclude patients from a trial simply because they are unable to realize an online completion of the score. In this regard, I believe the first step to be taken must be to demonstrate equivalence between online and offline capturing of the score. Then one could give patients the option of using online assessment in the context of participating in a clinical trial and see what they would prefer to do. The benefits would be immense. This method could highly enhance the quality of the data, the efficiency of data capturing and, not least of all, it would help reduce the costs of a clinical trial. I believe that online assessment will be a matter of course in the future, but not immediately.
DARCI VANDERHOFF, Chief Information Officer How did you learn about the Phillips? I originally came to Phillips exhibitions as an art enthusiast. One of my favorite shows was Impressionists in Winter in 1998. I didn’t even mind the long lines (once I got inside). Several years later, I came to sell the Phillips on the idea of online ticketing. Then, in 2001, I applied for the IT Director position when it became available at the museum. You formerly worked as a writer, you’re a musician in a band. Do you feel you are inspired by the Phillips art? I worked at the editorial desk of the Washington office of the Wall Street Journal for a number of years, and then left to freelance in both writing and photography. I was published locally as well as in Dallas, Detroit, and other cities. I did research for Judy Woodruff’s book This is Judy Woodruff at the White House. Radcliffe College’s Arthur Schlesinger Library (a women’s archive) holds a collection of my articles and photographs. I eventually became a music critic, and at the suggestion of musician friends, I decided to attend music school myself. It was a radical idea to me, so I took to it immediately. After getting my feet wet in a local music school for a year, I enrolled at Berklee College of Music in the mid-1980s with a scholarship. I am a musician. I primarily sing but also write. My degree is in songwriting. I am one of thirteen in the local band Cleve Francis and Friends. We routinely play at The Birchmere in Alexandra, Virginia, and at local benefits. We released a CD, Storytime: Live at the Birchmere, in 2009. In addition to singing, I am the “administrator” of the group: setting rehearsal schedules, digitally recording rehearsals, distributing recordings, managing databases, etc., which is where my digital skill-set comes in handy. I am the only woman in the group. Go figure. I recently joined a smaller group doing more instrumental music across a wide spectrum of genres. Instrumentation includes keyboards, guitar, upright bass, and vocals (three of us sing). I’m having fun doing lead vocals again. Yes, I am inspired by the art at the Phillips, and even more by the artists who work here. Most of my coworkers are brilliantly creative people. Do you listen to anything as you do your artwork? My “artwork” is primarily music. I listen to a lot of music during my work commute, but I also use that time to prep for shows. The rehearsing could be considered a driving distraction, I guess, but it’s been a part of my commute for some time, so I think I balance the two well. Don’t tell anyone. Who’s your favorite artist in the collection? Do you collect other artwork – or anything? I collect a few things: I have a striped beach rock collection, mostly from Plum Island in Massachusetts where I strolled often while going to school. I have a Washington Nationals bobble-head collection that is in need of attention. I also collect art. One of my favorite acquisitions was purchased from one of the Phillips museum assistants in a staff show: a colorful photograph of multiple faucet handles from an abandoned steel mill in Pittsburgh. Clearly, I trend toward water themes. And do you have a favorite Marjorie Phillips painting? I like Nuns on the Roof, too.
By James Dacey Albert Einstein was the kind of physicist that you don’t really find anymore – making so many remarkable contributions to so many different areas of physics. But in addition to his scientific achievements, a lot is made about Einstein’s colourful personal life, not least his lifelong passion for music. Sharing this passion is particle physicist Brian Foster of the University of Oxford who has teamed up with the British musician Jack Liebeck to create a special show about Einstein. Currently touring the UK, “Einstein’s Universe” involves a special lecture, interspersed with classical music, which explores Einstein’s legacy to physics and the role music played in his life. In this exclusive video report for physicsworld.com, I caught up with the pair on the day of a recent performance at St George’s concert hall in Bristol, UK. During our interview, Foster talked about how music inspired Einstein and how it offered a form of escapism from his research. “He often said that he had more pleasure in life from playing the violin than from anything else he did,” Foster explained. The Oxford professor also described how Einstein used his fame to form friendships with some of the great musicians of his day. “He was great friends with Fritz Kreisler the violinist and [Gregor] Piatigorsky the cellist, and they played chamber music often together.” Like Einstein, Foster is another physicist with a passion for music and he also plays the violin. Part of the Einstein performance involves Foster joining Liebeck on stage for a duet. At the end of my interview I was treated to a preview of this as the pair performed an arrangement of a violin sonata by Mozart, which you can enjoy in full in this second video.
Covering over 200,000 foods and dishes, MyNetDiary’s API provides two services to integrate right into your application: FindFood ( 0.5 cents a query) and GetFoodDetails. The input format is HTTP request parameters or SOAP. Output format is JSON or XML. Food lookup results are sorted by popularity. Wall Street Journal included MyNetDiary in its comparison of digital calorie counters: MyNetDiary.com was the quickest to use because it guesses what users are searching for as they start to type. Many of the specific foods we ate (like Japanese Kani salad) were listed thanks to 300,000 contributions from the site’s community. Most of the food on our daily log was from contributors. (The other sites let users contribute as well.) We especially liked that our food diary could track things like caffeine and folate. Charts tracking eating patterns were sometimes difficult to understand and didn’t have enough detailed information. In addition to being a successful iPhone app, the exciting part for developers is its API, which has 3 pricing tiers from free to $9 a month.
Facebook is making changes to the way applications interact with personal profiles. As of Wednesday October 13, 2010, the ability to add an application such as My Band as a tab to your band members’ personal profiles has been removed. On November 3, all existing application tabs on personal profiles will be removed, and applications on Facebook will only be allowed to have tabs on band pages. Don’t worry though; ReverbNation is working hard to make this a smooth transition. We highly suggest that you create a band page, and add My Band as a tab. This will ensure you continue to have the benefits of My Band and your fans will continue to see all of your updated information. In addition we are announcing an additional, heavily requested new feature to ReverbNation: the ability to update your band page’s status through ReverbNation. Now you will be able to update your Facebook Status on both your personal pages as well as your band page, in addition to Twitter and Myspace, all at once, from one place. If you have any questions about any of these changes please visit us at support.reverbnation.com
From one perspective, Bremerton resident Dominique Lowe seemed like a responsible daughter. She told state officials she provided in-home medical care for her elderly mother, Medicaid recipient Denine Cook, from June 30, 2006 to Feb. 27, 2007. The only problem, state prosecutors said Thursday, is that her mother died May 24, 2006. And Lowe received nearly $4,600 in Medicaid compensation. The state Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday filed nine felony counts of Medicaid fraud against Lowe. Those charges include one count of first-degree theft and eight counts of making false Medicaid statements. State investigators believe Lowe was actually traveling in Michigan and Virginia during the period she supposedly was helping her mother. Lowe’s arraignment is scheduled for July 23 in Thurston County. UPDATE AT 5:30 p.m.: The state Attorney General’s Office says the theft count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Each count of making a false Medicaid statement carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $25,000 fine. So, how did state investigators learn about this case? Apparently, someone who knew Cook called the state Department of Social and Health Services and said she had passed away. That department informed state prosecutors.
Gartner, one of the top market research firms tracking the personal computer business, released numbers on Wednesday that show HP is no longer the best-selling PC manufacturer in the world. Third-quarter sales, based on Gartner’s figures, hand that crown to Lenovo, the Chinese company that bought IBM’s PC business in 2005. The Gartner report had bad news for the PC business as a whole, saying overall sales for the quarter declined across the industry. Even Apple, which has enjoyed surging sales while the rest of the personal computer industry lagged, showed a sequential decline. And iSuppli, a division of IHS, went even further, predicting that PC sales would be less this year than in the previous 12 months, something that hasn’t happened in more than a decade. While analysts agree that these are sucky times to be selling PCs, they apparently don’t have a consensus on who’s the top dog. IDC, another major research firm, says HP retains its crown, but by a slim margin. There’s a standoff this afternoon in the world of PC counting: Research firm Gartner says that for the first time ever, Lenovo (0992HK) topped Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) in Q3 personal computer sales, while IDC says that by their count, Lenovo came very close but didn’t quite surpass HP. Gartner‘s tally of Q3 sales, reported this afternoon says Q3 PC shipments fell 8.3%, year over year, to 87.5 million, representing “a continuing slowdown in consumer PC shipments” but also a clearing of inventory during a “transition” before Microsoft‘s (MSFT) release of its Windows 8 on October 26th. Gartner says Lenovo topped Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) in Q3 sales, taking 15.7% of the market, up from 13.1% a year earlier, with volume of 13.77 million units. IDC, however, says in its own report that Lenovo didn’t quite topple HP. IDC has a figure of 13.95 million units for HP, 13.82 million for Lenovo. Dell is still in 3rd place in IDC’s count, with 9.5 million units. HP took umbrage with the Gartner report, taking pains to point out that the Gartner number does not include professional workstations, of which HP sells a slew: “While there are a variety of PC share reports in the market, some don’t measure the market in its entirety. The IDC analysis includes the very important workstation segment and therefore is more comprehensive. In that IDC report, HP occupies the No. 1 position in PCs.” Still, the trajectories of HP and Lenovo would indicate it’s only a matter of time before HP loses the title. Check out the global PC sales charts from Gartner and IDC. You’ll note that, of the top PC makers in the world, only Lenovo and Asus show growth. Note that these declines happened in a quarter that normally sees a bump from back-to-school sales. That clearly didn’t materialize. What’s happening? Both companies say the rise of smartphones and tablets play a role, as people are spending money on those devices that might otherwise go to replacing a PC. There’s also the Windows factor. Microsoft is set to release a new version of its desktop operating system on Oct. 26, and it’s possible there’s a pause in the market as buyers – particularly at the corporate level – wait and watch. However, the dramatic change in Windows’ interface in this new version could mean people opt to stick with Windows 7 for a while on existing machines. This time around, a new version of Windows may not produce the usual surge in hardware sales. This is purely anecdotal, but it may be significant: Usually, before a new version of Windows is released, I hear from a lot of readers who want to know what they should do to prepare for an upgrade. This time around: Crickets. I’ve gotten very few queries about it. Jay Lee, my Technology Bytes co-host who also writes our Help Line blog and column, tells me he’s hearing the same thing – i.e., deafening silence. Our readers – who are everyday computer users, not techies or enthusiasts – simply aren’t asking about Windows 8. That could be an aberration, or it could be a demographics factor – newspaper readers are increasingly older, and thus often risk-averse. But again, this lack of curiosity is a dramatic difference from the days just before the release of Windows 7. Whatever the case, the PC business is at a turning point as the way people use personal technology is changing. The old patterns are being disrupted, as the dismal numbers show. It may not matter much who’s on top of the PC mountain right now, because it’s a business that appears to be declining in relevancy.
Brier Dudley's Blog Brier Dudley offers a critical look at technology and business issues affecting the Northwest. April 14, 2008 3:16 PM Posted by Brier Dudley Seattle-based Widgetbucks didn't make the top 20, but it was called out in a new comScore tally of online ad networks. Six months after its debut, the Mpire venture had 9.6 million unique visitors, reaching 5.1 percent of U.S. home, work and university Internet users in March, the report said. The top three U.S. ad networks were AOL's Platform A (with 170.5 million uniques reaching 90.7 percent of the audience), the Yahoo network (160.3 million, 85.3 percent) and Google (152 million, 80.9 percent). So if Google bought Mpire, it would move into second place. ... Share your thoughts! Gadgets and games \| Fun stuff I've written about lately includes Apple's iPhone, Hewlett-Packard's HDX laptop and Microsoft's Halo3. Also on the radar are new digital video boxes such as the Tivo HD and the Vudu.
I just spent a few days trying to get an overview of all the different CMS out there nowadays. I restricted my search to free OpenSource PHP CMS. Those are still hundreds, but at least that rules out some like ExpressionEngine, CushyCMS (not free) and Plone, dotCMS, Alfresco, Umbraco, Radiant (not PHP) and DokuWiki, WordPress, Serendipity (not a CMS). (I was surprised that, according to several sources, WordPress is the most popular CMS by far! Although I can see how you can include it in your definition of a CMS, I only wanted to concentrate on those which were meant to be used as one.) - I had a look at about 100 different CMS at opensourceCMS.com. (Their demo for each CMS listed there is a pretty cool feature that let’s you at least see one of the most important parts of a CMS at once: the admin interface.) Then I did a bit of research, i.e. googling what others use and like and don’t like and tried a few others which were not listed at opensourceCMS.com. A few really popular CMS failed already at that stage: Joomla!, TYPO3, CMS Made Simple, XOOPS, e107 and SilverStripe. (I.e. their admin interface failed to convince me, I haven’t had a look beyond that at that point). - In the end I ended up with 18 different CMS I installed and tested more thoroughly. - I will go into detail about 7 of them below… What makes a good CMS? In my opinion there are 4 points you have to consider: - Usability of the admin interface - Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be very important to most developers. But I think it’s so important, I wouldn’t recommend using any CMS with an amazing backend, if its admin interface is crap. - It should be easy to create all the plugins and templates you need without hacking the core. - The community should be alive, at least a few contributors to core, plugins and templates existing, the project’s history should be healthy and the code secure. - It should use resources in a responsible way, scale on large projects and caching is vital. How much can you trust my verdict on those 4 points? Well, I’m more of a front-end than a back-end developer and I haven’t used any of the listed CMS in real-life projects except one. It might well be that I will change my mind about a few aspects after having properly worked with them. But I have used a fair amount of other CMS and can compare most features. So, I’d say at this stage I can judge the usability of the admin interface 100%, extensibility 50%, sustainability 50%, performance 0%. I wouldn’t necessarily consider the quantity of features or extensions as important. As I didn’t have a certain use case in mind, I was looking for CMS in general. Obviously there is no “best” CMS, as each individual choice always depends on so many things you need to consider. But at least it’s easy to make a first rough decision on the category you need: For smaller projects you don’t need a full blown CMS and it’s more harmful to choose e.g. Drupal for a 12-page brochure website. In those cases you just need a lite CMS. The problem with WYSIWYG editors One important point in the admin interface is how editors can edit the content. There are two ways it can go wrong: - don’t provide just a WYSIWYG editor - don’t provide just an HTML or simple text editor Unfortunately those two extremes can be found quite a lot in many CMS. The problem is: If you let your editors edit the content with a WYSIWYG editor, it nearly always destroys the integrity, validity and accessibility of the code and the design of the website. On the other hand, just using HTML is obviously no use to non-technical people and just a simple text editor doesn’t leave you with enough power and flexibility over the text. The middle and in my opinion best way is using a text markup editor for e.g. Textile or Markdown. Although most clients will be reluctant to try it, make them use it for at least a week, and you’ll see that it’s easier for them than you think. If the editor includes a toolbar, the better. In case your clients are really extremely untechnical, a WYSIWYG editor is fine, as long as it excludes harmful markup, i.e. strip down its functionality (like WordPress does) or use a WYSIWYM editor (like WYMeditor). You have to balance usability with doing the right thing. It’s important that developers understand that usability is vital for clients and clients understand what harm can be done by choosing to use a full-blown WYSIWYG editor. In my opinion, a rich CMS which doesn’t provide the right tool here (as a plugin if need be), is an unprofessional choice. The CMS in the lite category which didn’t make it into the final round: pluck, Symphony, WebsiteBaker and WonderCMS. The latter nearly made it, because I think it’s a brilliant idea to write such a simple and small CMS (11 KB download), but it’s not very client-friendly. The CMS in the rich category which couldn’t make it: Kryn.cms (which has an interesting admin interface: it looks like a desktop with several windows), MODX, Textpattern (I so wanted to love it, but just can’t) and Zikula. And finally, here are the remaining seven winners: It was nearly a draw between Template CMS (which is the simplest and the smallest of these 4), Elefant (which has the most promising back-end and is the only one of these 4 which needs a database), gp\|Easy (which has the most functionalities of these 4 and an inline editor) and GetSimple. They are all very similar in functionality, but if I had to decide between them, I would choose GetSimple, mainly for its clean and most intuitive admin interface. GetSimple stores its data in XML files, so doesn’t need a database (which can be important in simple setups). It features a simple, stripped-down WYSIWYG editor. Most things I missed in the core can be extended by plugins (e.g. cache and custom fields) and it seems to be more stable than its contenders. - Download size: 0—0.5 MB - Number of extensions: 1—10 Stacey is different. You might argue it’s not even a CMS, because it hasn’t got an admin interface at all. Instead it uses text files and other assets (images, pdfs, etc) in a certain folder structure to build the website and uses Markdown to parse those text files. Stacey’s own templating language is very easy and simple, it’s build with nice and clean OOP and a proper cache is already built-in. The main negative points are the missing interface and that you cannot swap themes easily. But I found a simple solution to the missing interface problem: Combine Stacey with OneFileCMS! Despite its name, OneFileCMS is not a CMS. It’s an online file manager with a simple text editor, which consists of one single PHP file. Just copy that file into Stacey’s “./content/” folder and rename it to “index.php”. Then you can go to your Stacey-build website’s URL and append “content” (e.g. “example.com/content”) and behold, you can login and edit your Stacey files through a simple interface. Although this solution makes it much easier, it’s admittedly still not very suitable for non-technical people. One thing which some people might consider an issue: Some of concrete5′s add-ons cost money. Personally, I am fine with that. The only issue which could arise from it is that it will be impossible to support unmaintained add-ons. Its OOP back-end follows MVC principles only half-heartedly, but seems quite powerful. As this CMS is getting more popular every day, it should be on everyone’s “must try out” list. It’s daunting to write anything about Drupal. Because so many people hate it and so many people love it, and my knowledge about it only just scratched its surface. From trying to find out why so many developers don’t like Drupal, I gathered it’s mainly because it’s so popular and therefore it’s often used in cases where it shouldn’t be used. (The same goes for WordPress, by the way.) But from what I saw it’s up there among the top of the most popular CMS for a reason. I wouldn’t consider it to be the best out there, there are too many things I don’t like: The way you can switch between editing and viewing a page is against all common usability sense (the tabs involved don’t function as tabs), forms in the admin are confusing (they all look the same, no matter if they are for real content or just for meta content) and the back-end looks “historically grown”. But the concept of the different components working together looks right to me. And whenever I look up how something works, it becomes clearer to me how powerful it really is. ProcessWire looks really exciting. The concept is good, the OOP back-end well thought-through and its API takes a refreshingly different approach as it is inspired by jQuery‘s syntax. templating and editing concept is similar to Drupal’s: Templates are populated with the help of fields. And the values of those fields are used in the templates. (It also utilizes a lot of small modules.) What I don’t like about this is that it means each template is fixed and less flexible (the same goes for Drupal). And unfortunately it hasn’t got any concept of themes yet. - Download size: 1—3 MB - Number of extensions: 100—1000 REDAXO was my favourite CMS for a long time. Its module concept and editing flexibility is something I haven’t come across in any other CMS before. It might sound strange, but there are very few other CMS with which you can freely add any kind of content in any kind of order. But now concrete5 (see above) is a contender for that. The only reason why I cannot really recommend this CMS is because its documentation (and website and even inline code comments) are mostly in German. This is its biggest flaw and I think the main reason why it’s quite unknown in the CMS world. One piece of news which gives some hope: Last year a fork of REDAXO, named Sally, was born and it already looks really promising: It’s cleaner, faster and more open. But unfortunately the makers of Sally haven’t learned from their sister’s mistake: Everything is still only in German. Apart from that, they made the unprofessional choice to require PHP Short Open Tags. But they are still in pre-alpha stage, so let’s hope and check back in a few months. Wolf CMS is my personal winner. It’s a fork of Frog CMS which again is a PHP port of Radiant CMS (written in Ruby). Although it’s not as sophisticated as Drupal or concrete5 (and might even be seen as a lite CMS), it seems to be doing everything right. Its OOP MVC back-end is really clean and makes sense. The admin interface is extremely easy to use. Its core editor uses either Textile or Markdown (or PHP/HTML) with an editing toolbar. Its main strength is simply its simplicity. In my opinion there are only two things missing to make it perfect: The possibility to enter structured content (which also includes different types of content) and the possibility to store the layouts on the file system (which is also a flaw of REDAXO). What could also improve: More people should be using it! Update (30 October 2011): I updated ProcessWire’s info box to show Ohloh widgets like the rest. (As it was not on Ohloh, I just created that project there myself.) Update (7 December 2011): I corrected some information for ProcessWire.
You’ve heard about the “pink slime,” right? It’s that meat filler made from slaughterhouse scraps that is treated with ammonia. (Yum!) Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to buy 7 million pounds of it. A federal microbiologist nicknamed the filler “pink slime.” The Daily, the iPad newspaper from News Corp., has figured out which stores sell ground meat that contains pink slime. According to The Daily, these are among the stores that say they do not sell meat with pink slime: - Whole Foods - Price Chopper These are among the stores that do not sell pink slime in store-ground meat, but sell pre-packaged ground beef from suppliers that may contain pink slime: - Food Lion - Fred Meyer These are among the stores that sell store-ground meat with pink slime, according to The Daily: - Stop & Shop - Zaycon Foods School districts nationwide will be able to opt out of serving “pink slime,” after the USDA announced March 15 that beginning next fall, schools involved in the national school lunch program will have the option of avoiding the product.
Abby Wambach of the U.S. (left) battles for the ball with Jong Sun Song of North Korea during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Group C match between USA and Korea at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion on June 28, 2011 in Dresden, Germany. (Boris Streubel/Getty Images) \| Click picture for photo gallery of U.S. women’s team uniforms over the years. The new uniforms that the U.S. national team debuted in this year’s Women’s World Cup looks like a nurse’s uniform, according to critics. “They want you to know, for sure, that this is a not a man’s shirt. So the FIFA #1 ranked women’s team will go to Germany in a nurse’s uniform,” the blog From a Left Wing complained after Nike and the U.S. Soccer Federation unveiled the kit in April. “This is quite simply the ugliest women’s football jersey I have ever seen. It’s central problem is the line someone has drawn down middle of the shirt – a purely decorous gesture meant to create the impression that the USSF would like its women to play in an open necked blouse.” Nike and U.S. Soccer said: “The kit is designed specifically for the female athlete, to enhance the range of motion and create a uniquely feminine silhouette. Capped sleeves and a high neckline with v-neck piping were added to create a striking aesthetic. … The away kit features a black bodice and red piping inspired by the beautiful but deadly Black Widow spider.” Even if you don’t like the shirts, take heart in the knowledge that they’re “made entirely from recycled polyester, produced from up to eight recycled plastic bottles per jersey.” Statistician Nate Silver normally wastes his time writing about politics. But he’s finally turned his attention to something truly worthwhile: Handicapping the Oscar nominees. “By far the best predictors are the winners of other major awards, like the Golden Globes,” Silver wrote on his New York Times blog. Silver’s other three rules are slightly less obvious: Nominees whose movie also was nominated for Best Picture tend to do better; Comedies, not so much, except for supporting roles; Previous winners are at a disadvantage, while repeat nominees who haven’t won are at an advantage. “By contrast, other variables like release dates, Rotten Tomatoes scores and box office grosses (otherwise, how could ‘Avatar’ have been upset last year?) don’t seem to matter, at least not once you’ve accounted for these other factors,” Silver wrote. See more, including application of all of this to the current crop of nominees, in his post. And remember, this is all for entertainment. No gambling. For all of us who have ever wanted to kiss and bowl at the same time, the “Kiss Controller” is here. It’s as simple as it sounds. “Kiss Controller is an experimental project that allows users to control a bowling game by moving their tongues while kissing,” wrote inventor Hye Yeon Nam, a doctoral candidate at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “Unlike existing game input devices, Kiss Controller seeks to generate the emotional experience of a kinetic act while users play the game rather than control games with their body.” The technical details may be a bit more off-putting: The “bowler” attaches a magnet to his or her tongue, the partner wears a headset that positions magnetic field sensors in front of his or her mouth, and tongues meet. “As the user moves her tongue, this creates varying magnetic fields that are used to control games,” Nam wrote. In bowling: “(T)he person who has the magnet on his/her tongue controls the direction and speed of the bowling ball for 20 seconds. The goals of this game are to guide the ball so that it maintains an average position in the center of the alley and to increase the speed of the ball by moving the tongue faster while kissing.” But don’t go rushing out to buy a Kiss Controller. As Nam noted: “It has not yet been proposed in the game industry.” Personally, I can think of better applications than bowling. Here’s another way to enjoy the tale of JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater, who allegedly cursed out passengers, activated the jet’s emergency chute and slid away with two beers Monday after after a passenger refused to apologize for accidentally hitting him on the head with a bag. Three problems with the animation: It shows a Boeing 747, which JetBlue doesn’t fly (the flight used an Embraer 190, shown below); Slater reportedly activated the chute before grabbing the beer;
The Recorder reports on a new wave of lawsuits that could hit companies that are barring current and former employees from exercising stock options because of backdating probes. Seven former McAfee employees, represented by Burlingame’s Cotchett, Pitre Simon & McCarthy, claim they were cheated out of about $2 million because they couldn’t exercise their options, according to a breach of contract lawsuit filed Friday in federal district court. Some companies have fixed the blackout problem by extending the expiration dates, but not so at McAfee, according to the complaint. Initially the company promised to do that, then reneged, according to the suit. The blackout began July 27, the same day the company said it would have to restate its earnings. The Securities and Exchange Commission doesn’t require companies to impose a blackout, but many do to safeguard against insider trading allegations. One San Francisco employment lawyer reports that she has been talking with several employees in the same situation. Bet McAfee wishes its “Total Protection for Enterprise” covered such real-world threats.
Texas Station helped two local families celebrate Thanksgiving after tragedy. Watch this segment from Channel 3 to see the special Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Texas Station for the Decker and Mowery family. We have two great ways right now for those visiting Las Vegas, or for locals accommodating holiday visitors (way better than that old roll-away, right?), or for folks looking for a great gift idea, or … we’ll leave it up to you. - We extended our “Giving Thanks” Free 2-Night Stay Giveaway on our Facebook pages! Originally slated to end on November 30, we decided to extend it until December 10, and the winners will be able to book stays through February 2, 2012. Links to each of the casinos’ Facebook pages are listed below, so like, enter and share, please. - For you holiday shoppers, we have extended what was originally slated to be a 50%-Off Black Friday/Cyber Monday offer. This is now valid through December 29 for stays until February 2, 2012. It’s no secret that this is our Best Vegas Hotel Offer of 2011. Enter to win a FREE 2-NIGHT STAY on each of our “Giving Thanks” participating Facebook pages. Be sure to Like your favorite location(s) and enter by Dec. 10! Karaoke with DJ Tara King 8pm-12:30am food and drink specials Come check out the Radio Flyers from 8pm-12am Happy Hour with the Elegant Vagabonds from 4pm-8pm $2 and $3 beer and cocktails Radio Flyers 9pm-1am ‘And Back at Jacks’ on Saturdays from 9pm-1am “Nuff Said” Happy hour specials everyday 1/2 price appetizers and $2-$3 draft beer and cocktail specials 100oz draft beer specials $20 domestic and $25 Import. Station Casinos Project Pink Patrons raise $46,542 for the Southern Nevada Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure! From Left to Right: Red Rock Resort’s Executive Pastry Chef Jaret Blinn; Sunset Station Table Games Director Dan Welch; Boulder Station Table Games Director Rick Carrig; Station Casinos Director of Corporate Communications Lori Nelson, Wild Wild West Director of Operations Cris Fleisher; holding the check is Stephanie Kirby, Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation; Fiesta Henderson marketing director Malea Garfield; Palace Poker Room Manager Janet Aller; Texas Station Catering Manager LiShey Johnson and Green Valley Ranch Marketing Director Brandon Moore. Cyber Monday Vegas Super Sale isn’t over yet. USA Today Travel says “Go For It!” (stationcasinos.com/onlineexclusive) Station Casinos is giving the gift of significantly discounted hotel rooms at 10 of its fabulous properties. Savings up to 50% off room rates will be offered during the biggest hotel promotion the company has ever held: “Super Sale.” Some of the lowest hotel rates will be less than $20 and are available for both locals and out-of-town guests, making for a perfect staycation, vacation, or accommodations for visiting family this holiday season.
Wedding Preparations, Day 2 Driftwood is abundant down at the waterfront and we have put it to good use around the wedding site. Ken and Shannon built the arbor and Anna and I put together the seating tag hangers. We met with the photographer and pastor and the tent was put up this afternoon. Lights were strung together and prepped for hanging underneath the tent on Saturday. Tomorrow a lot of our friends and family members will be coming in from out of town and we'll be spending a night out in downtown Seattle.
All of these are networking tips that I didn't include in my Top 10 Networking Tips series. The first nine are good techniques, but the tenth is about the philosophy of networking: Go everywhere with the intention of having fun. People want to be around the upbeat, fun, interesting, and interested person. When you show that you enjoy being with the people you are meeting, and have fun meeting people, then you'll apply these networking tips and techniques much more easily and with less stress.
Turning Stone Resort announced Wednesday that it will host a regional championship for LPGA teaching and club professionals this Sunday through Tuesday. Called the Turning Stone Resort LPGA Northeast Section Championship, it will be played at Kaluhyat Golf Club. A pro-am on Sunday will be followed by two days of competition Monday and Tuesday. Play begins at 9 a.m. on all three days and the events are free and open to the public. The pro-am will feature 140 players on 28 teams, each led by a professional playing with four amateur partners. The championship has attracted 35 club pros, many with past experience on the LPGA and Futures tours. The winner will earn a spot in the 2010 LPGA Championship, one of four majors on the LPGA Tour, and the LPGA Teaching & Club Professional (T&CP) National Championship. The senior division champ also will advance to the latter event. The field is expected to include defending champion Sue Ginter and the last two winners of the LPGA T&CP National Championship, current title-holder Jean Bartholomew and 2008 victor Laura Shanahan-Rowe. Staff writer Chris Wagner
Syracuse, NY -- Something happened on the way to a Carrier Dome rout. The No. 4 Syracuse University men's lacrosse team, leading No. 20 Albany 10-2 at the half, was outscored 8-1 in the third quarter and had to hang on for a 15-13 victory Friday night before a Dome crowd of 4,189. The Orange (10-2) looked like a championship-caliber team in the first half and a pretender in the second, as UA's younsgters threw a scare into Syracuse.
Posted by John Bidwell Wednesday, April 18, 2012 12:45:00 PM Russell Maret. Specimens of Diverse Characters. [New York, N.Y.]: Russell Maret, 2011. Purchased on the Henry S. Morgan Fund, 2012. This bravura display of letterpress typefaces demonstrates the wit, ingenuity, and typographical prowess of Russell Maret, one of the most gifted and enterprising fine printers in New York. It is his most ambitious work to date, an impressive folio printed in several colors on handmade paper with specimens of his new proprietary typeface, Iohann Titling. Maret designed Iohann Titling and had it cast in lead by one of the last remaining typefoundries in the U.S. This is one of fifteen special copies bound in morocco and accompanied with a portfolio of progressive proofs. The book and portfolio are elegantly packaged in a clamshell box with a compartment containing actual lead type, a reminder that “type is something you can pick up and hold in your hand.”
Re: “A scream, but what’s the plan?” (editorial, 11-3). The News Tribune is as wrong as the others who criticize and dismiss Occupy Wall Street because it does not have a “plan.” That’s not the responsibility of Occupy Wall Street. We still live in a democracy, I think. To flourish and avoid stagnation, or worse, a democracy requires active participants. Active participants bring forth ideas when a necessary change is envisioned. If an idea has merit, it grows in strength among the citizens. Ideally, ideas are discussed, perhaps voted on. Occupy Wall Street is succeeding. The national conversation is slowly beginning to change from deficit spending to social justice. Now the task is on the shoulders of two other components in a democracy: elected officials and the media. This is where things begin to break down. Rather than becoming participants in this growing dialogue, all too many elected officials, whose job it is to come up with a “plan,” ignore and dismiss the social justice aspects of the growing voice of their constituents. Spending critical time on whether “In God We Trust” should be the national motto ignores the conversation. The media disengage from participating in the conversation. Rather, our citizens are too often bombarded with the latest news about weddings, divorces, court proceedings of, ultimately, inconsequential celebrities. Encourage and participate in a national, honest, civilized conversation about the consequences of social injustices.
Some time back we hosted at our Old Town store a book signing with New York Times Food Columnist, Melissa Clark, who had been making rounds to promote her then-new cookbook, “Cook This Now: 120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can’t Wait to Make.” We entertained a small crowd as attendees had the opportunity to meet the author, get her autograph, and pick her brain as she fielded questions about cooking and beyond. The book’s release, and subsequently the event, landed in mid-Fall, so it was no surprise that many of the questions and much of the advice she doled out, centered on, among other seasonal topics, brining, stuffing, or otherwise preparing turkey. Melissa Clark, I realized then, is uniquely talented. Besides being a good cook, she has a way of making some perennially nightmarish kitchen projects sound and look surprisingly manageable. Case in point: I’d been trying for a good while with limited success to concoct my own flavor-infused mayonnaise when I stumbled upon some classic Melissa Clark wisdom in the form of a recent column, “Mayonnaise: Oil, Egg, and a Drop of Magic.” We at the Spice House would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to newlyweds Dimitri and Naomi Moore. Dimi and Naomi tied the knot on August 25th at Pilsen’s Living Room Lounge, following a seven-month engagement. It is always special to play a part in a story with a happy ending, and we were honored to learn that the Moores remember our store fondly as the place they began their romantic journey together. Make way for Wells Street’s newest culinary juggernaut. Some new neighbors moved in on our block, and we couldn’t be happier about it. La Fournette, Chicago’s newest French bakery, is a welcome addition to our already food-centric Old Town neighborhood. The bakery is owned by Pierre Zimmerman, master pastry chef and two-time World Baking Cup champion of the French team in 1996 and 2008, and his family. They are fourth generation bakers, and our friends Jacquy Pfeiffer and Sebastien Canonne, of the French Pastry School, are serving as advisers in this delicious project. La Fournette opened its doors last Monday, following a weekend-long, pre-opening event that saw a lot of the shop’s signature goodies exchanged for some last-minute feedback on their many offerings. And, believe me, they are many. Last week, a kind gentleman representing the fine spiced liqueur, Bénédictine, stopped by the shop. He was looking to procure a wide variety of herbs and spices, each representing prime flavor notes in Bénédictine’s closely guarded secret recipe. Using these, he would create an aroma kit, like those used by wine tasters, to demonstrate his liqueur’s depth to costumers. With the aid of Bridget, Old Town’s manager, the gentleman was so pleased with the Spice House that he offered a bottle for us to enjoy. So the question was posed, “how best to honor such a fine gift?” With a custom cocktail, that’s how! This is how the “Spice House Sling” was born. Continue reading We are so lucky to have wonderful customers. In addition to our mainstream of home cooks, we also number a huge amount of chefs, caterers, bakeries and other food related companies among our clientele. It is a really good feeling when we see chefs in their checked pants browsing the shop, they often just really like to hang around, absorb and smell and taste. This tells us we are doing something right. Yesterday Paula Haney, owner of Hoosier Mama Pie Shop even brought us a pie! A very delicious Dutch apple pie. Continue reading Many wonderful things have happened to us over the years we have been in business, but very few have touched us as much as this event. On March 9th, we were particularly moved when a very special wedding took place. Elizabeth Theis married Landon Hall. What made this so heart warming to us, was that they met while working at The Spice House. Elizabeth had worked for us for a few years, we love her, she is a delight to her coworkers and our customers, and no one will take better care of you in the shop. Continue reading It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share the news of the death of the founder of The Spice House, my father. Our loss is magnified in that we have also lost our mentor, the man who taught my husband Tom and I our craft, his teaching has bee n an evolving process, one that we did not see coming to an end so soon. My Dad never stopped reaching out to us, pushing us to go further, look harder, re-examine our dedication to quality, to our customers, to our staff. He constantly challenged us to explore other vendors, new countries of origin, different connections, a twist in flavors, novel combinations. Yet his teachings were not just contained to the spice world, he also had some strong feelings and connections to, the inner spiritual world, and his tendencies toward philosophical teachings were perhaps the place where we struggled the hardest as his students. He believed that the spices had music in them, if you just knew how to listen. Our thoughts are that his spice work continues on through our stores, this gives us great comfort, and something to strive for. Ocassionally we end up on a really nice roll of fun PR. In the current Greek Issue of Saveur magazine, we are recommended in their section called The Pantry, as a resource for our Aleppo pepper. They use it in this really great sounding recipe, roasted lamb with rosemary. (Saveur’s photo at left) We also had a nice mention in Food and Wine magazine this month, we are included in their list of five obsessed spice importers. This is one obsession we are okay with! NBC Chicago did a piece on our cinnamon last week, running with a trace back the ingredients concept. While tasting one of Bill Kim’s fantastic desserts, a Vietnamese Cinnamon caramel ice cream, at Urban Belly, they wanted to source his ingredients. He very generously led them to our Vietnamese Cassia Cinnamon. We can not wait to go and try this, by the way. Interesting how reporters sometimes know more about where are spices are ending up than we do! Last, but not least, we have made some wonderful connections via email correspondance with some really interesting food blog posters. I really want to thank Alice and Jared Zhao, who blog under eataduckimust, for their sensational blog post about The Spice House, calling us a Chicago Landmark. Your photography is awesome, by the way. So, who does handle the PR? Continue reading A story in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune listed some bests of the Taste of Chicago. “Best vegetable: O’Brien’s Celtic corn on the cob. Whatever spices are hiding in O’Brien’s “Celtic Seasoning” shaker sure do bring out the flavor of those juicy corn kernals.” Guess who makes that blend for our neighbors in Old Town? I have wished on more than one occaison that we had a patented system for each blend we seek to create, but each seasoning seems to come with it own formulation of trial and error. We might want to create a new blend because it is the hot trend of the year, or people are doing more ethnic cooking from this country, this year, there are a whole variety of reasons we might choose from for making new blends. Rarely is it to honor the request of our landlord! “So, you guys are masters of spice, why don’t you come up with a Celtic blend that we can shake on O’Brien’s Irish corn that we grill during all of our summer festivals. We will buy it, the lable will have your name on it, and it will be a great way to drum up business.” We have a very savy landlord in Peter O’brien and he has always been good to us about giving us business. So off we went to create our Celtic seasoning. I did my diligent research, knowing already that spices do not actually grown in Ireland, the climate needs to be very tropical. Continue reading A most wonderful byproduct of answering the company email is learning how many customers of ours are doing really fun and interesting things. Recently a total stranger and I became acquainted via this email. “Hello, I wanted to let you know that a recipe i created using your King Creole Spice has been selected as one of 5 finalists at the Nueske’s Amateur Cook-off at Baconfest Chicago on April 10th. Here is the link to my Recipe. Here is the link to the Baconfest announcement http://baconfestchicago.com/2010/03/22/announcing-the-5-finalists-for-the-nueskes-amateur-cook-off-competition/ I really enjoy the quality and freshness of your spices and have featured them in other recipes on my food blog as well. I’m hopeful that the King Creole Seasoning will help my recipe shine above the competition! Have a great day. Okay, we are from Wisconsin, where it goes without saying that Nueske’s bacon is THE BEST. Also, no one loves chicken wings more than I do. I had never dreamed of putting the two together. Add King Creole seasoning, and I have to believe in this recipe. Go Brad.
Pumpkin Creep – Is It About Sex? Retailers are known to push their luck on a good thing. When a holiday like Halloween or and event like Black Friday brings customers in the door, most retailers can’t help themselves when it comes to extending the selling period. That’s why retailers like Target have opened their stores on Thanksgiving Day to get a jump on Black Friday – which is traditionally the day after Thanksgiving. The Halloween retail season began the day after Labor Day. Many food and beverage retailers have found pumpkin flavored products to resonate with consumers and to be a perfect bridge between summer and the Christmas holiday season (which used to begin immediately after Thanksgiving but now begins around Halloween). Pumpkin has the strongest connotation of fall. So across the board, from McDonald’s to Starbucks to DQ – pumpkin flavored products have rolled out in the past few weeks. All while we’re sweating up a storm in 90 degree heat across much of the US. Turns out consumer’s love of pumpkin isn’t just about the flavor, or even the season. It’s also about sex. In the 1990s, a researcher at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago found that the smell of pumpkin pie, especially combined with a whiff of lavender, proved highly arousing to men. Granted, the research also found few scents that didn’t arouse men…but pumpkin was definitely not one of them. Go to any coffee shop these days and watch who orders the pumpkin spice latte’. 90% are women (that’s an unofficial count). Same thing with chocolate flavored drinks. Sinful is how women have always described chocolate. But despite so, do you know that 99% of all women love chocolate and that they may actually prefer chocolate more to than to sex? Its wonderful taste aside, chocolate contains phenylethylamine – the same chemical that is released in your brain when you fall in love; leading to that increase in the pounding of your heart, feeling of a sudden gush of excitement. It is also believed by researchers that phenylethylamine in turn causes the brain to release mesolimbic dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain, another chemical where its presence is at peak during an orgasm. OK, enough of science class…it’s clear that pumpkin creep is not about jumping the fall season but more about the subtlety of sex in consumer decision-making. These brands know what their customers want – and it might be just a little more love.
Girl In A Coma are taking back rock in a big way. You could argue it’s not surprising that their latest album Exits & All The Rest received such glowing reviews from Rolling Stone, LA Weekly and was even included in NPR’s “Top 50 albums of 2011.” In 2006, after performing at New York’s Knitting Factory for a TV broadcast featuring obscure bands they wowed two very influential artists, Joan Jett and her long-time songwriting partner/producer, Kenny Laguna. The rest is history, after Jett signed the group to her Blackheart Records. Since the group has toured alongside Morrissey, Sia, Tegan and Sara, The Pogues and Amanda Palmer. Get a taste of their unique blend of punk, blues, rockabilly, and good old fashioned rock & roll from their track “Smart” (below). Or even better, see them tonight. Win tickets on our mobile app.
Attractive! Functional! Cheap! OMG! A breakfast nook you can pick up at a food store for $169 dollars! I love nooks like this, I grew up with a breakfast nook and it was so cozy and diner-y. I would love it for our finished basement, the perfect place for snacks and crafts and a beer between rounds of darts or foos ball. It’s not luxury, but it’s frugal and sensible as well as being cute as can be. A couple of aqua-colored vinyl cushions and I’d be right back in my 150′s ranch eating grilled velveeta® on white.
First Presbyterian Church in Albany will be hosting Rev. Gary Dorrien, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics this Saturday, October 4 at 4:00 p.m. He’ll be speaking on The Spirit of Progressive Christianity: History, Theology, and Politics as part of the Lamar Lecture Series. He’ll also be preaching at the 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services on Sunday, October 5, as well as leading adult education at 9:30 that morning. I’m very interested in attending the Saturday session in particular because I’m hoping Rev. Dorrien will address the issue noted in the title of this piece. Further, I’m still baffled by how Christianity, or perhaps just the perception of Christianity in the United States. moved from its neutral or even progressive sense when I grew up in the civil rights/antiwar era of the 1960s to a more, for lack of a better word, “fundamentalist” approach today. If I were to say, “I am a Christian” (and I am), I would feel compelled to add some sort of caveat that my beliefs are not necessarily in line with a more conservative flavor of the faith. How did that happen? How did the “progressive church” allow it to happen? I have this acquaintance who voted for George W. Bush, twice, because he’s a “Christian man”, as though Gore and Kerry were not. Kerry, in the 2004 debates spoke eloquently, I thought, about how his Catholic faith informed his desire to enter the political arena and how it informed his positions. Yet TIME magazine back in February said that The Dems Finally Get Religion. That same acquaintance is thrilled about Sarah Palin because she’s a “good Christian woman”. Yet McCain has spoken of his faith, especially in terms of his POW days; Biden discussed his Catholic faith on the morning talk shows and Obama has been very actively supporting faith-based initiatives. But the way my acquaintance (and many others) talk the Palin brand of religion is the only TRUE faith, a notion I reject categorically, and often vigorously. Sojourners, whose mission is “to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world” is offering a FREE “Vote All Your Values” 2008 voter issues guide in PDF format, which I recommend to those who think that when religion and politics converge in America, it must always have a rightward tilt.
Dell is in a mind-bogglingly large long-rumored deal to go private worth $24 billion and of note is business partner Microsoft has decided to invest in the company which has struggled for many years. The company still has strength in the data center market but the PC space is facing a major challenge from the smartphones, the iPad and other tablets. Dell tried to go upmarket with its Adamo line realizing Apple was a threat due in-part to its superior computer designs but the strategy fizzled. In the past, Dell also tried to come out with a device in the PDA space only to see the market erode as it launched because smartphones became more desirrable. It also launched a smartphone line hardly anyone knows about. The answer it seems according to the board is to go private. The question is why? If there hidden value in Dell? Perhaps the acquisitions could have been managed better? In that case, having Michael Dell at the helm - still, doesn't seem to be a solution to the problem. Moreover, at least one respected analyst I spoke with at ITEXPO last week in Miami believes much of the value in the acquired companies has been destroyed by now - making this deal questionable. This leaves us with the Microsoft connection. It seems Redmond is taking baby steps towards towards replicating Apple or what Google has done with Motorola Mobility. All of a sudden it seems software companies need more hardware. Witness yesterday's acquisition of Acme Packet by Oracle. In the end this deal only makes sense if Microsoft takes a bigger and bigger stake in Dell and tries to "re-Surface" the hardware maker with new and innovative designs.
Sometimes the lights go out in Paradise... Trip Start Jan 15, 2010 15Trip End Feb 15, 2010 Map your own trip! Show trip route Where I stayed new heaven huts I wanted to stay somewhere quiet, but not too quiet since I'm traveling alone, and the really quiet places attract the couples and families looking for a remote getaway, I like the in between, so I can try different restaurants, and take walks, get lost, great ways to spend the days I choose New Heaven Huts, a place pretty unknown, that is a on a private beach called Sai Daeng Bay. There is only one other resort on this beach. I got the coolest bungalow, up on a cliff with the most amazing view of the beach below, its really heaven. My bungalow is only 800 baht a night , and worth a lot more than that, but with its remote location, and Heaven Hut being fairly new, I got lucky.My bungalow is gorgeous, with a sunken bathroom attached, a wonderful canopy bed with a view of the ocean while your lying in bed . And of course.... A great hammock to swing on in the hot afternoons. My first night there, as I was coming up from the beach, the owner said to me, " I'm sorry , today we have no electricity,,so sorry, later we bring you a torch" I understood, this happens from time to time , and sometimes even in big cities like Saigon, it happen to my friend Sara and I one night we were there, and I'm used to staying in remote places that only have power for a few hours every day anyways, run on a generator. So a torch, usually meaning a flashlight, I have with me already, I'm a prepared backpacker! But another one would be nice too, so I accepted the offer. About an hour later, as it was starting to get dark, I noticed a man, coming up to the stairs of my bungalow, with a real torch! Like on survivor! They placed it at the bottom of my stairs so I could find my way up, and left me a small gas lantern as well, it was very romantic at my hut that night. With no lights really , I could lay in my hammock and stare at the hundreds of stars in the sky , pretty wonderful. The next day I ventured out to a remote island by boat called Koh Naamg Yuan. Its named one of the top 10 islands in the world. Its unique that its actually 3 small islands attached by sand bars. The boat landing is a long wooden dock that connects to the island thru large boulders, as I walked along the bridge I felt as if I was walking into a ride at Disneyland, ready to board my boat to take me into Pirates of the Caribbean, but this was the real thing, this was not man made at all, this was made my nature itself, amazing The beaches and water were indescribable...so turquoise blue, and so many shells, and coral covering the beaches, you hardly see this anymore on beaches, everyone always takes them, not here, its not allowed. The water was so clear, you didn't even need a snorkel, you could just walk into the water and the fish would swim all around you. I spent the whole day there, it was so hard to leave. I had taken a taxi to town, the resort next door had a few daily shuttles for 100 baht each way, but since I stayed past their last scheduled taxi, I decided to walk back , I was told it could be done :) To hire a taxi on my own is 300 baht, and a cute sun dress I saw in a shop that I passed by was also 300 baht.... so I decided to buy the dress and walk back for free :) The walk back was nice, hard at times climbing ridiculously high dips in the rough dirt road, some even too hard for a motorbike. I was planning to rent a motorbike on this trip , I have always been the passenger and not the driver, so this trip I had planned to be brave and rent one myself, on most of these islands I visit, its really the only way to get around So back to the walk home.... I took my time , had water with me, and besides I need to work off the banana shakes as well! The road took me thru a jungle, filled with large boulders, green fields, and tall palms trees, I felt like I was in Jurassic Park. After the best Tom Kha Kha soup and a Chang beer for dinner , it was off to the hammock again, only a few more days left before I start the journey back to Bangkok, I want to enjoy every last moment.
Journey to the Jungle Trip Start Jan 29, 2007 50Trip End Feb 28, 2007 Map your own trip! Show trip route Neither of us were really sure what to expect, but being picked up in a sawngthaew (covered pick up with open-air sides and benches along each side of the bed) and shoved in with 9 other people, was not really it. We vaguely remembered our trek info saying something about an "air-conditioned van". Ah well, off we go. And believe it or not, neither of us were really sure where we were going or what we would be doing. We thought there were going to be hill tribes, waterfalls, bamboo rafting, and elephant rides but we weren't sure in which order or where, exactly, we would be taken. Every once in a while we would glance at each other nervously, crammed as we were with a bunch of other people we didn't know. Nikki at one point mentioned to me that she was the oldest in the group by a long way and that was later confirmed, along with the fact that I was second oldest. She was worried about whether she could keep up! We bounced along for an hour or so in the motion-sickness-inducing truck as I attempted to keep my head near the fresh air and my eyes on the road. Our first stop was a village called Mae Wong with a fruit/veggies/meat market and a special store that caters to loads of tourists on treks. You can buy flashlights and special water carriers and western and Thai snacks. This first stop made me dubious because besides the 11 of us and our driver and 2 guides, there were 3 or 4 other truckloads of tourists -- one with a big group of Australian guys in their early 20s. You can always tell them because they travel in packs of 5 or 6 and -- besides Americans -- are the only travellers who wear baseball caps. No offense against Australians, but my experience in Europe with these groups of guys was not always pleasant. I was worried we'd be trekking with 50 or 60 other farong! But we were committed so we bought some water and misc snacks and climbed back in the cramped truck. We continued along first a paved and then a non-paved road, sliding around corners and passing all sorts of vehicles (trucks, scooters, pedal bikes, etc.), honking if one should dare move into our path. The terrain was increasingly more rural and the houses and stands along the roadside increasingly less modern. At one point we stopped at a village and dropped off two huge bags of red and green peppers. That was $40 worth of organic peppers and our guide traded them for a beer and a coke! We also stopped at another village and picked up a bunch of little styrofoam containers that turned out to be our lunch. We bumped along for a while longer, turning up a narrow steep road and decending carefully (I swear I thought we were going to tip over at one point!) into a small village comprised of bamboo huts and fences with rice paddies and soybean fields in the background. "Lunchtime!" our guide, Nat, called out. We wobbily crawled out of the back of the truck and filed along to a hand-hewn table under a bamboo awning and sat looking at our styrofoam boxes until eventually one of us (probably me) opened it up and started eating the still-warm rice with veggies. Nat and Cort (the "helper" guide) brought us some fresh pineapple and told us we could walk around the village once we finished lunch. Little puppies and scrawny dogs came and lolled about under our table, hoping for some scraps. I teased a young Israeli man that they were all congregating under his feet and they must know he was an easy mark. We laughed but he did seem to have a Dr. Doolittle-like effect on all the animals we encountered! But more on that later. After lunch we walked around the village a little. The village is a Mong village, the people descended from Chinese immigrants, and has about 10 families living in it. In the rainy season they work in the rice fields and currently they are growing soybeans. The Mong are a polygamist tribe and one man could historically have up to 10 wives -- that many and their children being needed to work the rice fields. We didn't stay long in this village, but there was a long bamboo structure up on stilts about 3 feet high with several other similar but smaller structures around it. The animals (pigs, chickens) live on the ground floor underneath and the people live in a series of rooms above. It felt a little weird to be walking around where people were living, but we didn't have long to think about it because we needed to start our hike to the first of two waterfalls we were to see on our journey. Nat led us along a well-worn path as we ascended slightly for a while, passing several groups of people returning from the falls. Nat and I chatted and he told me that he lived in Chiang Mai but was originally from the area where we were hiking and that he had worked at this job for five years. He really likes it because he gets to meet a lot of people (he said he's probably taken 3000 people to this waterfall during his employment) and gets to be outside and show people his homeland. "Much better than behind a desk," he said. I had to agree as I looked around at the lush landscape and listened to the birds! Even with lots of tourists it was still pretty cool. I asked him what the local people thought of all the tourists coming and he said he thought they liked it. In the dry season (which is now), there isn't a lot of work for the hill tribes and they are able to make money from the tourists. And there were lots of tourists at this waterfall! I worried this would be the same for our entire adventure. Many many tour groups take people on treks into the hill tribe villages and everywhere you walk in Chiang Mai there are signs for different treks you can take. These villagers lead largely insular lives and tourists can have profound negative and positive effects. Westerners introduce many cultural items and ideas from outside the tribe and that may erode tribal customs to some degree. However, because they have become so important to tourism (a huge industry in Thailand), the government has started reviewing and sometimes improving their policies toward these peoples. I definitely approached our trip with mixed feelings, so Nat's comments alleviated some of my concerns. And it was true that almost all the people we met along our journey seemed honored and proud that we were visiting them. More on that later. We climbed up a steep but short hill and directly down an equally steep section (as Nikki mentioned to me later, they don't really believe in switchbacks here) to the waterfall. It was a medium-sized fall with a large pool at the base and a couple of bamboo shacks for resting and buying snacks along the far bank. A couple of people from our group swam along with a large group of Germans and Nikki dunked her feet and looked for orchids and rested near the water. One of our group even jumped off the rock wall into the pond with Nat's watchful eye on him. Nat said the water used to be much deeper (3 meters) but they built a dam upstream and now that water is only 1 1/2 meters or so at the deepest part. After 30 minutes or so we gathered up our group and headed up some steep steps to a road where our pick up was waiting for us. Nikki was out of breath by the time we arrived at the truck -- keep in mind that only the day before her biggest ambition had been a massage because she felt so poorly! But this was only a small prelude of what was to come... But for that you'll have to wait! It's a beautiful sunny day and I've been at the net cafe for too long. I'm going to explore the inner city and will report more later. Don't forget to write a comment or send me a note if you're reading this. It's been pretty silent so I don't know if you're enjoying my ramblings or not! :)
The diversity of this two weeks hiking blew me away. This was by far the most beautiful hike I have ever done, even more beautiful than the John Muir Trail. By the end of the trek I felt I started in Costa Rica, went immediately to Alaska after two days, ended up in Nevada instantly on the ninth day, back in Alaska for days eleven and twelve and then back to Costa Rica for the last day. The Annapurna circuit starts in a lower elevation, in a tropical region flanked by lush green rice terraces and jungles. You spend two days in this tropical region, a region reminiscent of Costa Rica, in Hindu villages, waterfalls cascade down in every direction. Climbing quickly up the Marsyangdi River Valley, by day three I emerged into an alpine setting, with huge granite walls reminiscent of Yosemite. By now I had uninterupted views of Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world. Once into alpine territory, I found myself in Tibetan Buddhist villages and really had to remind myself that I was really in Nepal and no longer in Tibet. In addition to Mt. Manaslu, the weather and the trek treated me to amazing views of Annapurna II, III, and IV, Gangapurna, Niligiri, Tilicho, Dhaulagiri, and Pisang. I write this now from Pokhara where I just visited the Internation Mountain Museum. Walking around the museum I saw traditional wool spools, cooking equipment, scenes of mule drivers, and mountain villages from throughout Nepal. All these scenes at the museum I saw everyday on this trek and previously when I was in Tibet. Yet when I was trekking, I was impressed at how much more modern and organized the villages were along the trek compared to Tibet. Everywhere had electricity and solar heated showers. Lonely Planet warned that I would become sick of eating nothing but dal baat . Everywhere I ate always offered at least spaghetti, fried rice, chow mein and dumplings (momos) in addition to dal baat. One night I even fasted on a sizzling yak steak! The last week it seemed every restaurant had a bakery with fresh apple pie and chocolate croissants. I can get used to this kind of backpacking. Many guest houses were understandably rather stark. When I did stay at a couple guest houses that were bright, cheery and cozy I really couldn't believe how great they were. Especially considering that I never paid more than 60 rupees ($1) a night for any accommodation. Some of my favorites were the Pisang Guest House in Bagarchhap which had the first real hot shower that I got in a week, a clean cheery, well-lit room, and a fast, friendly and tasty restaurant. Likewise the Bob Marley Hotel in Mutkinath had a great outdoor patio overlooking the main drag, plus indoor seating with a great atmosphere serenaded by Bob Marley and Michael Franti, delicious food, and best of all, unlimited 24 hour hot showers. My favorite was the Sunrise Guest House in Marpha where the room had windows on all three sides with views of Nilgiri Mountain and apple orchards. Again, their food was tasty and most of all the young woman who ran was so friendly, always laughing and very organized. Numerous books have been written about this trek and I could continue on for hundreds of pages about what I saw, felt and did on this trek. I know most of you don't have that attention span, so I'll give you some highlights and anecdotes. From Kathmandu I caught a ride on a 'tourist' microvan called "Safe, Nice Bus" which promised A/C, comfortable seats and a non-stop ride. Hah. The Toyota minivan arrived an hour late, had no A/C, the seats were so tightly packed that my knees jammed into the steel frame of the seat and the back of person in front of me, the driver stopped constantly to solicit, pick up, and drop off new passengers, and of course the driver drove crazily like most Nepalese, slamming on the brakes and swerving all over the place. It didn't help that I was suffering the beginnings of some serious intestinal distress at this point. All in all, though, I did arrive at Besisahar in about 5 hours, so I guess I shouldn't complain. From Besisahar I walked for only 10 minutes before a Mahindra Jeep driver offered me a free ride to Khudi...on the roof! Wahoo! There's nothing like traveling on a 4WD only mountain road in Nepal when you're on the roof of a Jeep. On the fourth day, October 8, I pulled into Chame in the middle of a horse festival! Before I could cross through the city gate rider after rider came racing through it right at me. Eventually I slipped through the city gate during a lull and stood to the right along a stone wall where several tourists and many locals stood or sat, watching the races. As I stared up into town trying to determine the nature of the race and trying to snap some photos, one rider and horse came careening right towards me as the rider tried to slow his horse down. Looking through my camera and not paying too much attention and I didn't realize the danger until the horse ran smack into me and knocked me back against the wall. Everyone around me seemed pretty surprised. I couldn't believe it happened or that I came out unscathed. After the horse ramming episode I moved closer up to the start of the race and got some great photos of the racers trying to bend down and pick up white scarves laid out on the course. I couldn't ever figure out what the object of the race was, but I can tell you that horsemen in groups of about 4 or 5 would come charging down the road through town at top speed and occasionally bend down and attempt to pick up a white scarf on the ground. At the bottom of town they would turn the horse around--sometimes no easy feat--and then head back up, repeating the down hill performance. To my and the crowd's dismay, I never saw anyone successfully pick up a scarf. Aside from the horse festival I quite enjoyed Chame. After the festival ended life went immediately back to normal: women fetching water, doing laundry, soldiers with loaded, ancient, bolt-action rifles watching guys play volleyball, and tourists paying obscene prices to use the Internet. I stayed at the New Tibet Guest House next to the river and just loved the lounging on the balcony there, reading a book, overlooking the river and their flower gardens next to it. After Chame, on the recommendation of an older Canadian couple who were doing the trek for their second time, I headed off the main trail up to a sleepy Tibetan town called Ghyaru. From here I felt as thought I could summit Pisang Peak (6091 m; 20,000 ft) and be back by supper time. I also felt tranported a thousand years back in time. I relaxed at the Yak Ru Hotel in the quiet, off the highly touristy circuit, with only 4 other guests. Incredibly both the husband and wife proprieters spoke impeccable English. Trying to fein disgust at the price of the room, 120 rupees, the husband said, "I kid you not. It's in the menu." I beheld an incredible scene looking back to Ghyaru as I hiked away the next day. Barley fields patched together below the ancient Tibetan town with the snow-covered Pisang Peak in the background kept me turning around and staring back the whole morning. It was around this time that my shoes began to die. I bought the most expensive trekking shoes, Garmont, that the Mountain View REI had to offer. Don't buy these shoes. They suck. After just 5 months, the soles have almost completely detached. The rear of both soles has broken off and I worn all the way through the bottom of the shoe on the left foot. Hopefully I can get them repaired in Kathmandu. Otherwise I'm shipping them back. On day 5 in Dhikur, I encounter the first of devine bakeries and indulge in apple pie for lunch. Mmmm. Got duped into buying a cheese buger for the third time just outside of Braga on day 6. Instead I got a 'mush' burger. Arggh. Luckily a divine sizzling yak steak at Mavis's Kitchen in Manang cheered me up the next night. Speaking of Manang, I had to stay at the Gangapurna Lodge as all 16 lodgers were quite full of trekkers in Manang. The room was nice but the restaurant took two and a half hours while I sat freezing in their unheated dining room to serve dinner to just 4 tables. I wouldn't recommend it. Mavis's, on the other hand, was warm, friendly, fairly fast, and had just amazing food and deserts. After a rest day in Manang at 3500 m, where I climbed up to Ice Lake at 4600 m for acclimitization purposes, the LP recommended just a short walk to Letdar, then another night in Throng Pedi before attempting the Throng La pass at 5400 m. Feeling quite strong I skipped Letdar and headed straight for Throng Pedi which only took 5 hours walking. I'm happy to report that the next morning I had no problems heading over the pass and felt strong and energized. I think I retained quite a bit of acclimitization from Tibet. Climbing up the snow-covered Throng Pedi in the sunrise, looking back towards Gangapurna, looked divine. After crossing the pass I found myself descending into a barren, arid world that reminded me of nowhere else except Nevada. On Day 12 in Tatopani I found myself soaking in hot springs with dozens of foreigners from around the world, watching the sunset, enjoying a cold beer next to the sacred Kali Gandaki River. Later, back at the lodge, I slipped on a wet rock in front of 3 female trekkers, fell down and busted a fence. Day 13 brought me to the end, in Beni, resting my feet and sleeping.
Snowy Wonderland and sore asses Trip Start Nov 06, 2006 108Trip End Dec 10, 2010 Map your own trip! Show trip route Where I stayed Mountain View Motel The next morning (well more like afternoon) we drove up Mount Ruapehu for our first skiing experience. Anna and Simon are already pros so they went to the higher slopes while we decided to get beginners lessons. The lessons lasted two hours and in those two hours there were plenty of spills and sore asses! Not to mention that darn shed at the bottom of the ski slope that got grafittid accidentally with my skis and had Steve in stitches. Problem was he was laughing so hard he slid down the same slope and into the same shed seconds later. HA HA what goes round comes round Curry!! The best one though was Seamus who, under the instructions of our new teacher, was to head straight for him and slow down as he approached utilising his newly learned 'skills' We're heading up again in September so adios amigos until the next time....... Went back to Ohakune to get another ski lesson and graduated up to the next slope yaay. Still having a bit of trouble stopping on the steeper bits but getting there! Getting used to the skis again was a bit of a challenge and managed to take out a couple of snowboarders on the way down heh heh. But after a full day of skiing we actually weren't too bad and managed to avoid other people and only injure ourselves! Instead of going skiing again on Sunday we decided to drive up to Taupo to see the gorgeous lake and Mt Ruapehu from a distance. Breathtaking scenery but apparently the South Island is even better, just can't imagine it being much better than this :)
Along the Lewis & Clark Trail Trip Start Mar 04, 2005 253Trip End Dec 31, 2014 Map your own trip! Show trip route Where I stayed Downstream Corps of Engineers Campground - 30 amp for $14 a nite After checking in at the campground we proceeded to set up 'camp'. Ken had noticed that our big patio awning didn't look quite right. Closer inspection revealed that it had popped out about 8 inches from the side of the coach. Now, this is the big 'fancy' electric awning which doesn't have a manual override. In trying to get it back up against the coach it actually fell out and extended to it's full length. Well, three hours later, half a dozen calls (many tools-blood-much swearing-direct sunlight) to Carefree Awnings it was back up against the coach where it should be. Parts have been ordered and will be waiting for us in Arizona. Repeat after me, never a dull moment out here on the road (especially with a handicap mechanic)!! Today found us heading out in the truck for another one of our self created circle tours. This area is full of Lewis & Clark sites along with Mandan-Hidatas-Arikara sites. We had lots to see on todays tour. Lewis and Clark left St Louis on May 14, 1804 and had travelled 1,600 miles when they arrived at what is now the Knife River Indian villages. With cold weather approaching the Corps of Discovery decided to build a fort and make winter camp amongst these friendly natives. Their fort, named Fort Mandan, was set up across the river from the Knife RIver villages (they did not want to show favoritism to the Mandans over other tribes). Throughout the winter Mandan & Hidatsa people visited the fort to trade corn, beans and squash. They also shared information with the Corps of Discovery. Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian trader who was living with the Hidatsa, came to the fort to ask about being hired as an interpreter. Charbonneau brought along his Shoshone wife, Sakakawea (also commonly spelled Sacagewea). Lewis & Clark knew that Sakakawea's translations would be invaluable in their travels west. They also realized having a women along would make other tribes realize that they weren't a war party. Needless to say Charbonneau was hired. He and Sakakawea would spend most of the winter at the fort. Sakakawea's son, Jean Baptiste, who Clark nicknamed 'Pomp' was born here. 'Pomp' would make the trip west strapped to his mothers back on a cradle board (otherwise known as a heavy bulky piece of wood). On the Corps trip back east Charbonneau, Sakakawea and 'Pomp' were left at the Knife River village. As Lewis & Clark continued their trip east they noted in their journals that Fort Mandan had been partially washed away by the Missouri River and another part had burned. The sites we visited today include the Lewis & Clark Interperative center in Washburn, a reconstructed Fort Mandan, the Knife River Villages National Park and the remains of Fort Clark. All very intersting and worth the trip north...
They say newspapers are a dying industry, because the advertising revenue has dried up. Well, unless this gun show bought the only ad the paper sold that day, did they have to put it on the same page as the “Sandy Hook Elementary kids return to school” story? No they did not. Epic ad placement fail. According to Buzzfeed, The Stamford Advocate confirmed this ad is running on page A5 of today’s edition. Who exactly are they advocating for?
My fellow Americans, It’s me … SackBoy! Now that you can go pickup LittleBigPlanet in your local retailer, I can take on other matters that are important to me other than playing, creating and sharing! So I wanted to take this opportunity to bring your attention to a worthwhile cause. Well, as you know it’s election season here and it’s not all about Democrats and Republicans. There are bigger issues going on and I need YOU to get involved! Back in 2006, the International Astronomical Union declassified Pluto, our solar system’s littlest big planet, from a real planet to a dwarf planet. This is a travesty and we must stand together to bring Pluto back to the solar system as the LittleBigPlanet. So join me, SackBoy, in helping to get enough signatures to get Pluto back into the solar system! So thank you for your time! My name is SackBoy … and I approved this message!
This user hasn't shared any biographical information Submitted by Abby Sugrue In Jordan sponsoring and supporting several Iftars throughout the country in celebration of Ramadan. Iftars are the late dinner celebrations at the end of a long day of fasting and are a culturally relevant way to express gratitude to volunteers and partners and to celebrate the successes of the Mission’s projects. One [...] A great video over at Whitehouse.gov highlights the travels of Dr. Jill Biden in Kenya and her visit to a girls school helping to give young women a brighter future. The FIFA 2010 World Cup kicks off tomorrow, June 11th and USAID has created a webpage dedicated to all things soccer. Check out videos, stories and pictures from our missions and partners around the world. Find out what a vuvuzela is and what it means to communities around the world. We will also publish blog [...]
Apparently, my 500-plus stimulus e-mail alert subscribers and I aren’t the only ones gearing up for the appliance stimulus (which starts Monday, March 1, by the way). Appliance brands such as Maytag, Whirlpool, Fisher & Paykel, GE, Frigidaire, KitchenAid and Bosch know that thousands of purchases will be happening in the next couple weeks — and they’re competing to get their share. What does that mean to you? Even more savings, mostly in the form of mail-in rebates. ::begin sales pitch:: Plus, Warners’ Stellian will offer a $25 instant savings on stimulus-qualified Energy Star appliances (UMRP product excluded) to anyone — regardless of whether you score a coveted rebate or not (aka “Stellian Stimulus” – cute, huh?). We think we’re always the best choice, with our expert staff and unmatched service. Plus, our free delivery to the Twin Cities metro, free installation of freestanding appliances and free recycling all included with a $499 purchase, we only seem expensive. Warners’ Stellian built itself on one-sie, two-sie appliance replacement orders because we offer the best bottom line price. Just because we carry specialty brands doesn’t mean you can’t afford us. ::end sales pitch:: By popular demand, here’s a great example of an insane deal created to satiate the stimulus demand. This 4 cu. ft. ENERGY STAR qualified washer pays for itself in just more than six years compared to pre-2004 conventional washers, based on lifetime water and energy savings. Manufacturers’ Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $579 Our price: $549.95 -$25 “Stellian Stimulus” -$200 State rebate -$25 Exclusive Maytag mail-in rebate $299.95 for the washer only If you buy a matching dryer, you get 10% off the washer in the form of a MasterCard Prepaid Card by mail. -10% of $549=$54.99 And, there are even more savings to be had, depending on your energy company. Rochester Public Utilities offers up to $75 to its customers purchasing an Energy Star Washer, bringing the final cost to $169.96. Minnesota Power offers $40 to its customers purchasing an Energy Star washer, bringing the final cost to $204.96. So, you could end up saving $410. How’s that?
Lists: David Malitz picks his top 10 concerts of 2010 I didn’t quite match last year’s 237 concerts, but I did attend 221 shows in 2010. And, to quote Eric Cartman, about 80 percent of them were “fine, just fine.” Maybe they just all blurred together. Maybe it was too many nights watching soundalike indie bands with 3 or 4 good songs and 3 or 4 not-as-good versions of those songs. Maybe my standards are too high. I give every band I see a Pitchfork-style score and my spreadsheet is tattered with 7-point-somethings. Here are the ten that scored highest -- in D.C. or elsewhere. 1. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Gooski’s - June 23 (Pittsburgh) It was enough to finally see the greatest rock-and-roll band in the world today (statement of fact) rip through all of its best songs in perfectly precise fashion. But it was also a chance to step outside of myself for a night. I didn’t know a single person at this club, where the performance room was as big as a modest living room. You could still smoke in there, and most people were. It was disgusting. It was awesome. The bar sold 16 oz. Budweisers for $2.75. I ended the night caked in smoke, covered in sweat (mostly other people's) and with a few bruises. I'm a defender of the D.C. concert-going experience, but this show couldn't have happened here. 2. LCD Soundsystem - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Sept. 25 Sort of the opposite of the above show, this one needed to be massive. There needed to be a disco ball and confetti and glow sticks. How can a band possibly be this good? 3. Titus Andronicus - April 17 - St. Stephen’s Church In a September interview, Titus Andronicus frontman Patrick Stickles had fond memories of this show. “A lot of good vibes, which warm my heart, even now,” he said. Another sweaty mess of a show with sound bouncing off the walls. It was a freight train that couldn’t be stopped. 4. Jeff Mangum - La Passion Rogue - May 6 (New York) More than a decade in the making, the elusive Neutral Milk Hotel frontman finally makes his return to the stage at a benefit for New Zealand singer Chris Knox. Would he flake? Would he play formless noise? Would he make everyone feel uncomfortable? Nope, he played five of his most beloved songs, in fine voice and made a few hundred people very happy. 5. Sonic Youth/The Clean - Matador 21 festival at The Palms - Oct. 1-3 (Las Vegas) During an entire weekend of performances from indie rock A-listers, it was the two oldest bands that stood out. Both stuck to songs from their early years and were more punk than all of their younger labelmates. 6. Grinderman - 9:30 Club - Nov. 16 It’s possible this one show had the two most thrilling on-stage performers I saw all year: frontman Nick Cave and his scraggly sidekick Warren Ellis. 7. Blood Feathers - Black Cat - March 4 The most pleasant surprise of the year. A relentless set toggling between rockabilly-tinged stompers, Bo Diddley-inspired romps and fuzzy psych folk. It played out like a compilation of deep album cuts from a record collection lost 35 years ago. 8. Spoon - 9:30 Club - March 22 + 23 Such precision. I ended up seeing Spoon five times this year and I think we can finally strip away the “hit-or-miss” tag when it comes to their live performances. 9. Buzzcocks - Black Cat - May 11, Paul Collins Beat - Comet Ping Pong - Aug. 20 (tie) These old-timer acts made their mark 30 years ago, but played with a fierce sense of purpose lacking in most of today’s bands. 10. Hole - 9:30 Club - June 27 OK, so this obviously wasn’t the 10th best show I saw in 2010. It was the worst show I’ve seen ever. But it sure was memorable -- even if for every possible wrong reason. As an added bonus -- thanks to my review's heavy play on this site’s home page and on the front of the Style section -- every “adult” I know had read about it, giving me a go-to conversation piece at every family gathering/slightly-formal get together for the rest of the year. \| December 30, 2010; 3:00 PM ET Categories: In concert, Lists \| Tags: Blood Feathers, Buzzcocks, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Grinderman, Hole, Jeff Mangum, LCD Soundsystem, Paul Collins Beat, Sonic Youth, Spoon, The Clean, Titus Andronicus Save & Share: Previous: Be specific: Eugene Hutz talks about life in Gogol Bordello Next: In concert: Gogol Bordello at 9:30 Club Posted by: rcupps \| December 31, 2010 2:04 AM \| Report abuse Posted by: cvillehammer \| January 1, 2011 12:46 AM \| Report abuse Posted by: agl132 \| January 4, 2011 2:20 PM \| Report abuse
Mason Tailgate: Pig Snouts and Water Pong When Will Thomas made a free throw to move Mason into a tie with UNC Wilmington in the final six seconds tonight, the sold-out Patriot Dome got very, very loud. When T.J. Carter then drove the length of the floor to hit a game-winning layup at the buzzer, it got very, very quiet. It was Mason's first home loss of the season. That's my game summary; the rest of this is just about tailgating. At first glance, the parking lots outside the Pat Dome had everything you might expect from a sunny mid-afternoon basketball homecoming tailgate. There were pie-eating contests and couples lip syncing to Boyz II Men, Mr. Mason contestants wearing kilts and fraternity-sponsored DJ's sending out their love to the female thong, beer-pong tables and young men guzzling boxed Franzia wine, cheerleaders asking George Mason trivia questions and cars painted with the latest in CAA smack ("Beat the poo poo out of UNCW"). And, of course, there were the foam hands with the index and pinky fingers extended, which were given away in honor of this year's homecoming theme: Mason Rocks. I just had to beat fight off some kids to claim one of these prizes. What was missing from the tailgate? Well, the mechanical bull, for one thing. Also, I'm told that beer pong is traditionally played with beer, but maybe that's a 20th century thing. Brief back story, which I'm retelling for the benefit of my editor. After Mason turned its winter homecoming into a non-BYOB event last winter, hundreds revolted, taking their party off-campus to a mall parking lot, an event that drew hundreds and sucked much of the life out of the university's event. The Fairfax Social Club, that alumni group that in tailgates past had been responsible for beer pong games inside Ryder trucks, giant racing tricycles and remote-controlled NASCAR races, led that defection. But for the first time this winter, the university got an ABC license for homecoming, and the Fairfax Social Club came back, promising, among other things a mechanical bull. That got shelved by the university, due to risk management concerns, as did a request to bring back the giant racing tricycles, developments that made several FSC members quite sad, consumed by the feeling that their school was finding another way to diminish the fun. The FSC still erected a stand-alone basketball rim--sponsored by the all-powerful Brion's Grille--and held shooting contests yesterday, and there were still hundreds of pounds of grilled animals and thousands of fans enjoying about as nice a mid-February tailgating day as you could imagine. There were also plenty of hosannas to the new, post-Final Four George Mason, the George Mason that can sell out two consecutive home games for the first time in school history. But there were also those who missed the bucking of that mechanical bull, those who wished for a slightly different security-to-revelry ratio, those who wondered why the beer pong cups had to be filled with water and cola. One group took a sign announcing an absolute prohibition on drinking games and planted it in the middle of a beer pong table; the game was shut down in a matter of minutes, but dang if it didn't make for a nice photo-op. "This tailgate represents Mason well; it's a lot of people trying to have a good time and being held down by the man," said junior Alli Coates. "They're trying to keep it always clean and fun, but this is college, and they can't wrap their heads around that." The FSC's members framed their concerns in a slightly different manner. Now in their mid-'30s, several of the group's members have started families; others have children on the way. They no longer attend tailgates primarily for liquid-based reasons, but rather to attempt to top their previous stunts, to continue turning this Patriot homecoming into an event. "We created this from scratch, and we tried to do something bigger and bigger every year, because we don't have 40 years of history to draw upon," said Greg Brown, one of the group's leaders, who chalked up any hurt feelings to "growing pains" but was nonetheless highly disappointed about the nixed events. And yesterday's event, they said, might have been their last. "It's the Danny Glover thing--we're getting too old for this," said Mike McNutt, another FSC organizer. "It's not just showing up. We want to show up and bring it to the next level, not just have a DJ playing "I Love Rock 'N Roll,' " as the frat's DJ played "I Love Rock 'N Roll." (As for concerns that they were bringing risk to the event, "hell, we're 35 years old, if we wanted to go get drunk somewhere the last place we'd go to do it is at a college campus with cops walking all around," McNutt said. "There's a bar across the street. So who's abusing alcohol? Who's always abusing alcohol at college campuses? Not the 35-year-old alumni who've just spent two hours putting up a basketball hoop.") Anyhow, the younger generation has been busy creating its own traditions. One fraternity roasts a pig every homecoming and takes photos of its members kissing the blackened pig on the snout; another provided two of the three pie-eating winners yesterday. "I still smell pudding in my nostrils," pointed out Mike Daversa, one of those Pi Kappa Alpha guys, as he attempted to expunge the dining-hall produced cream pie from his nose. "My girlfriend called me an idiot for doing it, but she won't be complaining now that we got a free dinner out of it." Anyhow, far be it for me to tell anyone how to celebrate, but here's one view: sure, the tailgate was slightly sanitized, and we all missed the bull terribly, and there were no blow-you-out-of-the-asphalt moments, but as you walked out past the trio lip-syncing "Barbie Girl," past the pig kissers and the Tony Skinn jerseys, past former Patriots guard Tim Burns and past the Fairfax Social Club members posing for group photos by their basketball rim they had spent over an hour erecting and that they would later donate to kids, you couldn't help but think that this homecoming was a lot better than no homecoming at all. "A typical basketball game, I'm one of four people drinking outside; this is 100 times the size of a normal tailgate," said senior Will Curley, as the kilted guy walked past us. "Plus you've got a homecoming court guy in a kilt. That says a lot right there." 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Dear Media Professional, Welcome to the first edition of the “Ruger Media Update” – a new delivery mechanism to ensure that we keep you up-to-date with all of the latest and greatest news at Ruger! In this update, we are proud to announce the Ruger® SR40™ pistol, the latest extension of the SR-Series, striker-fired line of pistols. The SR40 now provides a large caliber option in one of the slimmest and most ergonomic full-sized pistol lines on the market today – joining the popular SR9 and award-winning SR9c. Built on the same high-performance glass-filled nylon frame as its predecessors, the SR40 offers all the great ergonomic features that made the SR9 and SR9c a success: a slim, narrow frame with a short trigger reach, reversible backstrap for an arched or flat configuration, and fully ambidextrous controls. The through-hardened, stainless steel slide on the SR40 is .060″ wider than that of the SR9; the added mass of the slide reduces slide velocity during cycling, reducing recoil and improving service life. The SR40 weighs 27.25 ounces (when empty) and ships with two fifteen-round, flush-fit magazines. A loading tool is also provided, although an anti-friction coating applied to the magazine body greatly reduces the force required to load the magazines to full capacity. It features a 4.1″ barrel length, fully adjustable three-dot sights, and an integral accessory rail. It offers modern safety features such as a visual and tactile loaded chamber indicator, striker blocker, trigger safety, magazine disconnect, and a frame-mounted ambidextrous manual safety. \|• Press Release\|\|• Profile Image\|\|• Alternative Image\|\|• Spec Sheet\| As always, thanks for your continued support! P.S. – Please add this address to your address book or “white list” this address in your SPAM filter to ensure that you continue to receive these updates!
We can talk at length about the newest gowns from bridal market (and we will!), but bridesmaids want to make sure their look is just as fashion forward for the walk down the aisle. Let’s take a moment to showcase one of the latest trends in bridesmaid fashion – pink! Pink has popped up in a majority of the collections we’ve seen from bridesmaid dress designers thus far. The runways have not been limited to one shade or style either. Instead, dresses have ranged from pale pinks to deep raspberries, which allow pink gowns to be seen as a year-round style rather than one limited to a single season. Below, we’ve matched the style and shade with its seasonal counterpart. Pastel: Because it’s a lighter shade of pink, this Anna Elyse Bridesmaid dress would be perfect to wear during the spring and early summer. The bow adds a touch of unique prep, and pockets are always an added bonus. Coral: Lace and coral are two of the most popular ways to make a statement in the fashion world, and this pink shade is now extending to bridesmaid dresses. Ginger by Watters will make a great addition to a garden party wedding in the summer to early fall. Peony: Darker colors are almost always more popular in the fall and winter when temperatures have dropped. As a result, with it’s deeper pink shade, we can see this cowl neck Collection 20 Watters dress paired with a late fall or winter wedding for an added pop of color. All Images in the Blog Post are Copyrighted by Robert Mitra and cannot be used without permission Our Olympics obsession has not wavered, and we have many more medal-worthy wedding details to share with you. We’ve already provided you with gold and silver wedding cakes and wedding dresses but today, it’s all about the bridesmaids! We think metallic bridesmaid dresses, like the ones shown above, would be lovely at more formal, glamorous weddings. Are you a fan of these gold and silver bridesmaid dresses? Let us know in the comments! Blue has been a popular bridesmaid dress color choice for a while – but with so many shades to choose from, how do you decide? Of course, you could have your ‘maids each pick a dress in a different shade of blue to create a pretty palette, but if you just want to pick one shade, think about your venue. Lighter blue shades look best in the warmer months, at less formal weddings in outdoor settings like the beach or garden. Darker shades are ideal in colder months (though navy looks great year-round!) for more formal weddings at country clubs or ballrooms. We’re loving all of the new bridesmaid dress options out there – so many new fabrics, necklines, and colors to choose from! While some bridal parties wear the exact same dress, we’re also noticing more and more groups of bridesmaids wearing dresses with differing necklines, or perhaps choosing their own dresses within the same color palette (we thought the three brand-new dresses above would make a pretty combination). That got us wondering about what your bridesmaids are doing. Take the poll below, and if you’re doing something completely different, let us know in the comments!
Do your kids enjoy playing with the box a present came in as much as the present itself? Make tissue paper hats and jump on the bubble wrap inside packages? Inspired by Antoinette Portis’ Not a Box, children and families explored some of the many things a box can be: a boat, a rocketship, a cave at the Westerville Public Library’s Out of the Box program. Castle or old west town bank? Or jail? We supplied a variety of boxes of different sizes, cardboard tubes, bubble wrap (great lunar landing surface), paper plates, markers, chalk, and tape. The children applied their imaginations. They explored a snow cave; created sleds, doors, a birdhouse, among other things; decorated the castle; had imaginary battles with light sabers; threw paper snowballs; built a skyscraper; opened an ice cream shop . . . take a look at this video to see some of the highlights!
Give the Drummer Some's Favorite Downloads from the MP3 Blogosphere Quite an epiphany kicks off today's haul. Ever hear of Indian sax legend Braz Gonsalves? Me neither until the excellent Indian and Pakistani Vinyl blog dropped the stunner that leads off today's Motherlode. Gonsalves turns 80 this year and just stopped playing jazz for good (though not because of age. He has renounced it due to his religious faith and now only performs gospel.) If you're a lover of Indian-jazz hybrid sounds like me—or even if you're not—here's a way to make yourself very happy in three simple steps: (1) Click the link below and devour the major delicacy, "Raga Rock," immediately. (2) Head over to the Inconstant Sol blog and download Hum Dono, possibly the greatest album in this style ever recorded. (3) Sit back and enjoy this hour-long special I produced for WFMU back in 2011: Audio / Playlist. The Braz Gonsalves 7 ~ Raga Rock (Blog: Indian and Pakistani Vinyl) Ragas to Riches "Braz Gonsalves has made an international name for himself as a great jazz saxophonist. Fondly known as “The Grandfather” of Indian jazz, Braz was born in Neura, Goa and learned music at his father’s knee. He pioneered Indo-Jazz fusion and made an original album in Calcutta in 1970 called Raga Rock. Braz was selected by the Government of India, as India’s jazz ambassador to a numerable Jazz Festivals. He participated in more international and local jazz festivals than any other Indian musician." (Description taken from a page at TargetGoa.com) [This version of "Raga Rock" has the intro and the ending faded out. A poorer quality but complete version can be heard on this video. Not shared in the download linked to above is the flip side of "Raga Rock," a number with Pam Craine singing "No Amount of Loving." You can listen to that track right here.] Various ~ The Jamaican Blues, Vol. 1 (Blog: You & Me on a Jamboree) Venerable Jamaican music blog You & Me on a Jamboree has been dishing out groovy platters since forever. Even better than its usual album offerings are the amazing home-made rarities compilations shared from time to time.* I wouldn't characterize the tracks on this collection as "blues" exactly—more like R&B, really—but whatever. What you can call them is spectacular! *Volumes 1 & 2 of You & Me's "country" reggae collections are absolute must-haves—and they're are still available! They were shared right here in Motherlode #185. Go git 'em.) Louis Killen ~ Ballads & Broadsides (Blog: Zero G Sound) Killen Me, Softly "A dynamic singer of great individuality and integrity, Louis Killer has long been regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the mid-Twentieth century British folk revival…Louis Killen's first full-length solo recording, "Ballads & Broadsides", was published in 1965. The recording sessions look place in Bill Leader's Camden Town flat, when Killen was just thirty and had been a professional musician for two years. The album is a classic; one of the first solo recordings from Killen's generation of revivalists and has been an important influence on younger singers for over four decades." (Description by Zero) Valdo Williams ~ New Advanced Jazz "Writers and musicians sometimes talk as if only major players leave the big footprints. But minor players can be key influences, too. Jackie mentions two he knew from his old Harlem neighborhood. By example Ernie Henry (...) Less known was Valdo Williams. In the late '40's, says Jackie, "He was the first guy playing kind of free concept rather than Thelonious, who I thought was always freer then everybody else, even back then. Valdo's solos were very close to what you hear Cecil Taylor playing. When he played a song like 'All The Things You Are,' a blues, or whatever, he would play the correct chords, and accompany all the soloists in the traditional way. But when his solo came, he would stretch out and play against the form. If it was a 36-bar form, he would fill up 36 bars with his chorus, but it wouldn't be based directly on the chords. He would be playing much freer, freer than anybody I'd heard at the time." Williams left New York for Montreal in the early 50's." (Down Beat, October 1990, p. 22) Les Chakachas ~ Discoteco Sudamericana (Blog: Blue Beat in My Soul) Les Check Cashers Amsterdam-born Joseph Van Het Groenewoud relocated to Belgium in his early twenties (reportedly to escape service in the Dutch army), where he played viola in a formal orchestra. In the late '50s, Groenewoud (father of Flemish pop star/actor Raymond Van Het Groenewoud), formed an exotica band Les Chakachas. In 1971, a year before Chakachas had a breakout hit with their orgasmatronic "Jungle Fever," Groenewoud—who'd taken the stage name Nico Ooms, then changed it to Nico Gomez—record tracks for all-time killer dancefloor-filler Ritual, with his new outfit, Afro Percussion Inc. Listen to my radio show Give the Drummer Some—Tuesdays, 6-7pm, and Fridays, 9 to noon—on WFMU's web stream Give the Drummer Radio. Send your email address to get on the mailing list for a weekly newsletter about the show, the stream and Mining the Audio Motherlode. Check out every installment of Mining the Audio Motherlode
Last week, we covered how network administrators can prepare their system for the onslaught of Internet usage that is inevitable when a large sporting event like the Olympics happens, and employees decide to watch these events at work. For this week, we are focusing on how to troubleshoot and plan wireless and wired systems at an event like the Olympics. Imagine that your company has been contracted to monitor and manage different networks at various locations at the Olympic games. This is exactly what happened with WildPackets during the 2008 Bejing Olympics . China Mobile was a major sponsor of the Olympic events and subsequently asked WildPackets to implement our OmniPeek network analyzer to proactively prevent wireless network outages at 14 Olympic venues, including the “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies were held. What an epic ceremony that was – check out the video here. This year, we are not involved in the wireless at London. However from past experience, we wanted to give you a quick view into how to monitor and troubleshoot the various WLAN and Wi-Fi applications running throughout huge events like the Olympic games. For this particular blog, instead of focusing on planning and designing a WLAN, which is essential for this event, let’s take a deeper look at how one manages users and ensures that they are able to stream those critical applications, like Instagram, via events’ wireless networks. Managing Users on a WLAN The precise topology of the WLAN changes as clients roam from one AP to the next. The topology can be expressed as a hierarchical tree, with the ESSs (all APs connected to the same Distribution System (DS)) at the top, then individual BSSs (individual APs and their clients), then the individual client nodes or stations (STAs). It’s deceptively difficult to do large-scale wireless right. There is a limit to the number of STAs that can connect to each AP, so more APs are needed to provide service to large numbers. However, it requires careful planning to add more APs, because there are a limited number of non-overlapping channels. If two APs on similar channels are too close to each other, their signals will cause interference with each other, and slow down the STA traffic on both APs. When you are planning to manage the users at an event like the Olympics, it differs from managing a corporate WLAN system because the primary goal is different. In a corporate environment, the WLAN exists to allow users to access the network services in a secure fashion. Business users need email, internal servers, printers, and the Internet, usually in that order. Additionally, an enterprise network is usually encrypted with a login to let insiders have access and keep outsiders out. The lowest priority is guest network access. Rogue Access Points are a Pain in Public WLAN The 2012 London Olympics has received some criticism for banning use of personal wireless hotspots. While some articles have speculated that the ban is to ensure that spectators pay to use the BT-provided Wi-Fi network, there are solid technical reasons that personal Wi-Fi shouldn’t be used in an environment with a high AP density. Personal Wi-Fi is essentially a small AP, whether it’s a dedicated device or a tethered smartphone. Adding too many APs causes interference, reduces the ability of people to connect to the WLAN, and slows down their connection once they’re online. One person could affect 100 nearby people, so even if only 1% of the total crowd has a personal hotspot, the impact could be substantial. This problem isn’t just theoretical. At the Waldo Canyon fire in late June 2012, an engineer from the Cisco TACOPS Network Emergency Response Vehicle tweeted that there were WLAN network problems because there were so many different agencies – and individuals – with their own APs. Eventually they were able to get stable network access, as he tweeted, “The WLAN is stable because we can crank the power like nobody else here can, but it shouldn’t be necessary.” We at WildPackets have seen similar problems, albeit in far less dramatic environments. At a recent trade show, we detected over 200 different APs in the vendor expo room, most with different BSSIDs. We were also guilty of adding to the problem, as we had our own AP, but even so we had difficulty getting our equipment to connect reliably, even in our booth! Ensuring Wi-Fi Applications are Running Smoothly Application performance relates to the time it takes an application to respond to a specific user request, measured from the user’s perspective, through either the network and/or the web services infrastructure. When it comes to the Olympic games, you will have plenty of people trying to access different applications, and it is the network administrators job to determine if users are satisfied, and if not, what is causing the dissatisfaction. Now it could be the application, for example, last Thursday it was stated that Twitter was down due to the Olympics, which cannot be fixed by the network engineer, but sometimes it is the network and that is a problem that you need to fix. In order to determine if it’s the application or the network, you need deep-packet inspection. With packet-based analysis, you can inspect and even visualize the conversation between a client and a poorly performing application, packet by packet, to determine what’s causing the delay – network or application. A user request followed by a quick network acknowledgement (ACK) but a delayed data response is indicative of an application issue, while delayed or even missing ACKs indicate a network issue. Often times when the responsiveness of application data is poor, the application data payloads themselves contain detailed clues as to why – for example – database error codes embedded in the data packet payload. Another quick tip on this is that network issues are shown through slow acknowledgements, TCP slow segment recovery, slow and frequent retransmissions, and low throughput. Application problems manifest themselves in slow HTTP response times (for web-based applications), slow database response times, and inefficient client errors. This can also provide you with a quick understanding that it is a network or application issue, however to unequivocally ensure that it is the network or the application, you must look at the packets. As the Olympics are in full force, it is always interesting to learn about who and what are behind the power that it takes to make these events run. Although not a lot of people are thinking about the network when they are cheering for their country, the network is one of the most essential factors at these events—keeping people up-to-date on what is happening at each event and generally connected to the world at large. Let us know if you have any other specific question about wireless at the Olympic games. We will try to cover and explain what we can!
Saturday, August 13, 2011 In the June 7 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine Dr. D.W. Dowdy discussed the challenges facing primary care physicians. Among many things he emphasized wwere th34toll that non-clinical burdens take on physians. Here is my response which I had sent to the Annals via their rapid response system ()which by the way is a great way to comment on an article appeaing in the Journal. Annals of Internal Medicine [rapid response to “Trained to avoid primary care by Dowdy DW in June 7 issue v. 154] The author’s comments regarding the “nonclinical burdens faced by every primary care provider in the country” cannot be emphasized enough. They often consume more time than the actual medical care given to patients. Worse, they have relentlessly increased as cost- control and information-gathering agencies have gained more control over doctors. And board-re-certification with its unrealistic expectations adds to the burdens of primary care physicians. Although the medical home has been proposed as an antidote to these burdens, I don’t see it as promising a solution as others do. Already most primary care offices are viewed as dumping areas for all the administrative work that other members of the health team prefer not to do. The medical home proposes to use midlevel providers to take care of the administrative work and the “routine” illness now done by generalists, freeing them up to take care of the seriously ill. But most primary care doctors use the “routine” illnesses as opportunities to cement their relationship with their patients and to learn about their social and psychological backgrounds, both of which are absolutely necessary to be good primary care doctors. Just focusing on serious illnesses is incompatible with the philosophy of primary care. Shouldn’t the specialists be the ones focusing on the more serious illnesses? The idea of generalism in medicine has never taken root in the minds of our leaders in medical education. They have not shown strong unified public support. So, American medicine remains, as it has been for over a hundred years, research-based not practice-based. As important as research is, it may be better if it were limited to designated research sites where researchers collaborate and coordinate their efforts. I say that because after looking at the journals on the shelves on my hospital library filled with esoteric reports, I wonder how much of today’s research is truly useful or just the result of publish or perish. The beneficial result may be that specialists may be doing some of what primary care doctors are doing today, assimilating some of their “non-clinical burdens”. They may also get to know their patients better. Perhaps the solution lies in how the primary care doctors of the future will be trained. They may be hybrids. Part nurse-practitioner, part traditional physician, with a customized and shortened training period; say two years of medical school and three of residency training in a community health center. Besides adding a long-needed change to the culture of medicine, this approach will get more primary care physicians into the workforce quicker with more of them available to share the total work load a large part of which is administrative. Posted by Ed Volpintesta at 9:11 PM
DIY Craft Project: Painted Pots Painting terra cotta pots is a fun way to turn an ordinary object into something extraordinary. Plants, pencils, paint brushes and pens - a pot painted by your child’s hand adds a little personality, organization and flare. Hand painted flower pots are great gift ideas for grandparents too. Terra cotta pots are readily available at your local garden center in various sizes and shapes. Acrylics work best for painted pots as terra cotta is clay, a naturally absorbent material. Acrylics are glossy and bright. If you choose a water-based poster or tempera paint, then finish the whole thing with a glossy, clear polyurethane spray to make the paint vibrant and prevent it from flaking, fading or washing away. Make a whole bunch of them and, most of all, have FUN. Here’s a good painted pot How-to from Martha Stewart on the Michael’s website too. As seen in the Young America All Seasons Design Guide
Posts Tagged ‘networking’ In my last post “Toronto Meet-Ups and Greet-Ups“, I highlighted some of the main social media and communications events in Toronto. Today, I noticed a tweet by @malcolmbastien which read “Chatting About Event Overload in Toronto” with a link back to his blog. The post features a discussion between himself and Justin Kozuch (founder of Refresh Events), emphasizing that the increasing number of meet-ups in Toronto is not generating higher quality conversations. If anything, the discussions are becoming more fragmented and the groups more obscure. Malcolm’s post got me thinking. Many of us go to a number of events for different reasons (mainly networking and knowledge accumulation), but after a while you start to realize you’ve heard it all before. I’m not knocking the events that I attend, or any of the hundreds of other ones out there—they all have a certain value to their participants. What I am saying is that as time goes on I am learning less and less new information and coming away from the events feeling less accomplished than I might have a year ago. I wonder how the Toronto community can change this current trend. How can we make the events not only relevant and topical, but beneficial and useful from a practical standpoint? Idea: What if some of the larger, more established events set up wikis where members of their community can submit problems, campaigns or current projects. Attendees and other members of the community could then put their names beside projects of interest until working groups were formed. I think something like this would allow us to use the knowledge we have accumulated and directly apply it, while still networking and continuing our education. When a group solves a problem or puts a project to bed, they could share what they learned with the rest of the community. This is obviously only one suggestion. I’ve always preferred to learn from practical experience. I’m interested in putting the question out there: how do you think we can make these events more beneficial and useful to you? How would you like to see them grow? What would inspire you to attend more of them? Would you be interested in forming working groups to work on solving projects of interest? If you’re part of the PR, tech, communications or social media community in Toronto you can pretty much fill up your entire week (and sometimes weekend) with different industry events. There are so many of them that it’s sometimes hard to keep track, and even harder to know which ones are worthwhile. As September begins, bringing with it cooler weather and an end to the summer vacation mindset, Toronto’s networking community is back in full swing. Here are some regular events to check out this fall: 1. Third Tuesday: Organized by Thornley Fallis, Third Tuesday is a long running social media event featuring discussions and presentations by industry professionals. Past guests have included Steve Rubel, Jeremy Wright, Mathew Ingram and Amber Mac. Third Tuesdays are a good venue for anyone just getting into the industry as well as self-proclaimed veterans. The networking at Third Tuesdays always adds value. I have made many great connections by simply attending and engaging in pre- and post-presentation discussions. 2. SproutUpTO (formerly Wired Wednesday TO): Sprouter‘s SproutUp events are geared towards the tech, online and geek communities. They bring together start-ups and entrepreneurs as well as some PR and communications professionals. Recent events have seen presentations by Saul Colt and Stuart MacDonald. I find the networking at these events to be really top notch and have met great people and learned something valuable every time. Cost: $10.00 (to hold your spot), plus cost of your dinner 4. GenYTO: Less formal events held at different watering holes throughout the city. These meet-ups are for young professionals working within the tech, communications and social media fields. Upcoming events and news/dialogue are streamed through their Facebook page. 5. Thirsty Thursdays: Similar to GenYTO, Thirsty Thursdays are usually held once a month, or once every couple of months at different bars in and around Toronto. This is a more intimate event, where you can count on a good mix of professional and not-so-professional topics of conversation. They’re always a lot of fun, and a good way to meet people in the industry.
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A voice from behind said “Hello !, this is my car… I maintain it myself” as I was framing the mythical Indian luxury car’s behind into my camera’s view finder. It was both the ‘No hand sign’ and ‘Power break’ anachronistic emblems on the trunk lead that drew my attention. Ambassador, an automotive dinosaur of British heritage, symbolized status within Indian society ever since…. oh.. well ever since this car was invented. “You can get our cars in any color you want as log as it’s black” said one Detroit automobile pioneer. Here, on the other side of the world, its a day and night difference, you can practically get it only in white. Nowadays politician and the rich had shifted to Japanese SUV’s and one of the last traces of colonialism on Indian roads slowly began to dwindle down.. I had never taken a ride on one. My backpacking travels and interest in rural village life don’t frequently intersect with fortune, power or with an owner of such a curvy white classic. In some places around India Ambassadors are used as tourist agency limos or even as upscale taxis. My choice are the budget tariff auto-rickshaw or government bus. Back to the voice… A. Jai Harlan Pappou proudly owns his since 1996. Actually his retired father bought it back then from it’s original owner, a hotel business man from Chennai. - “22 km/liter” he said. About 49 mpg, a very impressive performance feature for any 4 wheeler, much more for a piece of machinery skipped by evolution. Wait ! The gas tank proudly features “diesel” in curly red English letters. “How much is 1 liter of diesel fuel?” I asked. Rs. 40+, which means, compared with Rs.76 gasoline rate this mobile fossil is yet an extra 40% in efficiency. Around 70 mpg !! on a cost based scale. It does drop, but only by 5mpg, once you enjoy the comfort of the OEM A/C. So where’s the catch, you ask. It’s the beauty sleeping under he hood, a ‘Made in Japan’ Isuzu engine. The factory stock engine was made by an Indian licensee of Isuzu but in 1996, for an extra Rs. 40,000 it was replaced with an imported reconditioned Isuzu power unit manufactured in Japan. Speaking about cost, Rs.3.7 lakh (370,000 orabout $8200 in current Rupee Dollar exchange rates) was the price tag on the HM as it dropped off the assembly line in 1989. 7 years later it changed hands for Rs. 70,000. Pappou is currently working for a financing arm of a local bank while waiting for a teacher position in the public education system. His parents, sister and… any family member he mentioned were either principals or assistants. Judging by his open, respectful yet friendly approach, his patience with my curiosity, questions and his clear knowledgeable explanations I feel he’s going to be an asset to schools and a blessing for students. Oh… and I forgot his dedication for following up and maintaining relationships such as with his car! He says that even if he buys another car ever, he is not going to sell this one. The speed pickup is such that he passes most new car’s around and that is not at the cost of overheating. Knowing from my own experience of living in hot weathered cities in Israel and California, there’s no better test field for an older engine then a summer in such a city. “No waiting 10 minutes for cooling the engine” Pappou shared such a familiar scenario with me. Then, he opened the doors and let me in. He started with the bucket seats ?! Ehh….. as an Aquarius myself I noticed that these buckets can’t bear water. Quite flat although there was a curvature only it was more towards the cushy rather then the cozy. Well, some English terms have a different lives in other countries. Next came the tilt-back / sliding front seats. I was not aware but I believe these are not yet a standard feature on Indian cars. But the serious surprise was hovering above. A built-in drop-down flat screen with ceiling mounted stereo speakers. By this time I was smiling. This could only rhyme with chitichiti bangbang or my Israeli 1970′s English learning TV series ‘Scootermen’ (where the special task duo was riding a Vespa scooter with a video conference monitor installed where the glove compartment used to be). The windshield, apparently, is a sort of UV filtering, mirror-like as Pappou described, or another glass treatment I am not yet aware of, but the bottom line is that in winter time there’s no condensation on the inner side and visibility is maintained. Despite the spotless paintjob on the outside, the doorstep had a corrosive “viewfinder”, a see-through to the road beneath. “The salty rain in Chennai, the ocean…” Pappou said digging into the car’s early days. “Inside it is very quiet” he added. The tires deserve special attention. No joke. In India, whatever comes in touch with the road surface and survives deserves respect. More over the drivers who safely steer worn-out rubber (well… by western standards, a tire which grooves are no more then a mere trace of themselves). Pappou is riding on Gipsy wheels. Now don’t catch me me here please, I really tried to get this one straight. This combination of wheel and tire gives a sharp braking ability even on unpaved, gravel roads. However I bet any of you readers can’t beat the cocktail of brand names and variety of wear conditions Mr. Pappou had installed on only 4 wheels. -” so is it not a problem that there are no grooves in the tire ?” Pappou pointed at ‘Radial’ embossed on the tire wall as what makes the difference and explained that only radials can handle long rides on hot days without overeating, loosing grip or excessively wearing out. Street wise, his experience speaks for itself. How many can drive the same car for 15 years on the harsh roads and traffic of India and still have it reliable and clean looking as this one. Based on his vast knowledge I was surprised he had no idea how many cylinders or what’s the engine displacement on his motor. Well, on Indian roads size doesn’t matter so much. Actually it better be small if you want to get anywhere in the dense and mixed-up traffic. Especially if your driving a ‘space-guzzling’ 4 wheeler. We got around to wrap up our spontaneous tour. Similarly to this hybrid of old-school design and new-age technology, so was Mr. Pappou, the financier in sharp specs and corporate looks, speaking with shining eyes about his native village. There are an ancient Hindu temple, Mosque and church. He offered and promised to show me around if I gave him a 2 day notice so he can arrange to be there. Back at my room I thought: in India new and old live so complementary side by side. There’s respect to whatever sustains and proves itself over the years regardless of where it originally came from. Today, ambassadors are still produced.However the central and state government fleets have only aging Ambassadors. The current purchasing shifted to other local and foreign models. Pappou mentioned that Indian intelligence services are using them to electronically monitor street activity. You can check out more stories and photos at JPG Mag I just finished reading these two: Desi Cow – Or – how to spell “Indian street” Indian Motorcycle Diaries More about my experience in rural India and this documentary project: My India: Where every village is home – Experience !
2011 AFL finals - week one at the MCG The Coodabeens hit the airwaves for their first broadcast from the MCG for 2011 - and it was already September! And threatening skies failed to dampen their spirits...but as Billy can attest to, they certainly dampened the desk right where he was sitting when the heavens opened with 10 minutes to go! Helen Lambert Medallist from the VWFL, Daisy Pearce, joined the boys for a chat in the cold wind. Daisy was still mourning her Darebin Falcons going down to the St Albans/Vic Uni Spurs in the Grand Final, ending the 'Falcs' run of five consecutive flags. Shane Kerrison, Collingwood 1990 premiership player, joined the panel in the second hour - just as the heavens opened.
At Adobe MAX in Los Angeles today, we previewed the next major release of Adobe AIR to thousands of Adobe customers and partners. Several exciting new capabilities of the AIR runtime were demonstrated by Adobe’s CTO, Kevin Lynch, as part of the "day one" keynote. In addition, Christian Cantrell, a member of the AIR engineering team, presented a session titled “What’s Coming in AIR 2″ that provided a more detailed sneak peak of some of the upcoming features of the AIR runtime (stay tuned — we will soon be posting a recording of Christian’s talk). After shipping AIR 1.0, many of developers challenged us to open the runtime up even more by, for example, allowing communication with native processes and providing enhanced networking support. With AIR 2, our goal from the outset was to remove limitations in the runtime that prevented developers from building their applications. Some of the capabilities that are coming in AIR 2 include: - Native process API Beginning with AIR 2, developers will have access to a native process API that will enable applications to invoke and communicate with native applications on the local machine. In order to preserve the cross platform nature of the .air file format, applications that take advantage of the native process API must be deployed as native installers such as .exe and .dmg. The AIR runtime SDK will include support for generating basic native installers. - Support for detecting mass storage devices Now your AIR application can detect when a mass storage device is connected or disconnected. An AIR 2 application can listen for when a user plugs in a Flip video camera or USB Flash drive so that it can, for example, automatically synchronize files to the local system or prompt the user to upload photos to Facebook or videos to YouTube. - Improved support for accessibility Runtime dialogs such as the installer dialogs will be readable by supported screen readers such as JAWS. In addition, it will be possible to build accessible Flash-based applications in AIR leveraging the existing accessibility API’s and features available in the Flash Player and Flex SDK. - Open document API Support for opening a document will be possible from an AIR application. With this API, AIR asks the operating system what the default application is associated with the file. For example, specifying a file path to a PDF file will launch Adobe Reader or a .doc file will open Microsoft Word. - Improved performance Applications that run using AIR 2 will consume less memory and use less CPU than AIR 1.5 without recompiling the application. We will share more information about this when we launch the beta. - Local microphone access API Currently, audio must first pass through a server before it can be saved locally. Using the upcoming AIR 2 local microphone API, it will be possible to record audio locally, which can be important if your application is running in a disconnected mode. - Multi-touch & gesture support AIR 2 will include support for multi-touch (Windows 7) and gestures (Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6). - Faster, more powerful WebKit - Improved socket support It will now be possible to create local servers and lightweight P2P applications with enhancements to AIR’s socket support. In the coming weeks leading up to the beta, we will begin sharing more information including videos, articles and blog posts about some of these new capabilities. We are extremely eager to get the public beta into your hands so that we can begin incorporating your feedback. We expect to ship a beta version of Adobe AIR 2 on Adobe Labs by the end of the year. In the first half of 2010, we expect to ship the final version of AIR 2.
I’m happy to share that today, Adobe Creative Suite 5 is available for direct purchase and trial on Adobe.com, in English only. French and German will be available on 5/6, and all other European languages on 5/10. By all measures, the global launch has been a success for us, and we couldn’t be happier with all the rave reviews the CS5 products have received. tweetmeme_url = ‘http://blogs.adobe.com/rjacquez/2010/04/the_wait_is_over_adobe_creativ.html’; Now that the product is shipping and the trials are available for download, we are looking forward to what users have to say about the new features, and I’m especially looking forward to reading about the new content-aware fill feature in Adobe Photoshop CS5. Here’s some information to help you get the most out of today’s news: If you haven’t watched the CS5 Global Launch event, here’s the recording: - Click HERE to purchase and/or download a trial of Adobe Creative Suite 5. - Click HERE to watch a video of ways in which the content-aware fill in Photoshop CS5 can be used for eLearning and Technical Documentation. - Click HERE to see some Before & After images using the new content-aware fill in Photoshop CS5. - Follow @CreativeSuite on Twitter. That’s it for now. Enjoy CS5 and I’m off to get ready for the next Adobe launch, stay tuned!
Remembering Ivan the gorilla A public memorial service for Ivan, the gorilla who passed away last month at age 50, will take place 11 a.m. Sept. 8 at Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. S.E. Ivan came to Atlanta from Washington in 1994, after spending his adult life to that point in a cage in a Tacoma shopping center. Ivan’s remains will be cremated and returned to his original owners in Tacoma, in accordance with their wishes. BO EMERSON Actor’s Express’ new business leader Nan Barnett, founding member and long-time managing director of Florida Stage in south Florida, is the new executive director at Actor’s Express. The West Palm Beach troupe that was nationally recognized for producing new plays went out of business after 24 years in 2011, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Actor’s Express, which opened its 25th season in late August with “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” is recovering from setbacks of its own after an emergency fund-raising drive kept its doors from closing last year. “She is fiercely smart — and one of the great advocates for new plays in the American theater,” artistic director Freddie Ashley said in a statement of Barnett, whom he met five years ago through their involvement in the National New Play Network. “I am very excited to roll up my sleeves with her and move Actor’s Express into its next 25 years.” Actor’s Express board chairman Bruce Cohen praised Barnett as being “fiscally astute,” adding that she “understands the importance of financial stability in this ever-shifting environment of the arts.” HOWARD POUSNER
2:17 pm November 25, 2011, by AJC Opinion Moderated by Tom Sabulis The shelter at Peachtree and Pine streets near downtown has been ground zero for a battle between the Task Force for the Homeless, which runs it, and the city of Atlanta, which wants to close it. Today, a former task force chairman condemns the city’s role historically toward the shelter, as a United Way leader highlights the way forward in the fight against homelessness. Comments are closed. Discussion on Atlanta\'s economy, schools, transportation, leadership, quality of life. Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
The “American Idol” judges fell over themselves tonight. Five of the singers received standing ovations. With the theme of picking your idols, everyone was able to pick songs they knew really well. So everybody had a chance to shine. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t as excited as the judges. There weren’t any disastrous performances tonight but not really anything that would have lifted me to my feet – or at least off my couch. And a show that now should be 90 minutes with nine singers has been stretched to two hours by Fox edict. So there was a pointless “fashion” bit with Tommy Hilfiger and three medleys that showcased Heejun Han’s inability to follow basic choreography and questionable fashion choice by Skylar Laine. (I did like Hollie singing Madonna. It worked. Skylar’s southern twang was a little jarring but interesting.) I did like seeing the comfort of two old friends, Jimmy Iovine and guest mentor Stevie Nicks, who have worked together going back to the early 1970s. I think Heejun is going home. He did a passable job on Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You” but I suspect the residual bittersweet taste of Billy Joel week lingers and he’s due. The bottom three? I bet it’s Joshua, Skylar and Heejun. I know folks here want DeAndre to go home but I don’t think so. Not yet. His fans will vote for him and that divisive falsetto of his. My rankings: 1- Phillip 2- Hollie 3 – Elise 4- DeAndre 5- Jessica 6- Heejun 7- Skylar 8- Joshua 9 – Colton Colton Dixon (Lifehouse’s “Everything”) – A snoozer of a song to me but fits Colton’s earnest approach. Vocally, I find his lower register boring and unimpressive. And even his full voice is very generic to me. Grade: B-minus Skylar Laine (Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead”) – Sklyar opted for her strength: a honky-tonk rabble rouser. That’s what she excels at and she did what is a virtually note-by-note faithful rendition of this early Miranda hit. It was almost too faithful. She added nothing to the equation. Grade: B Heejun Han (Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You”) – We’re back to serious Heejun after last week’s Vote for the Worst-level “My Life.” He lacks stage presence. I feel he’s too internalized when he sings something like this. It fits his voice well but I’m not sure this will inspire votes. His enunciation is distracting, too. Plus, I can’t help but think of Elliot Yamin’s version in 2006 that is hard to beat. Grade: B (standing ovation, by the way) Hollie Cavanagh (Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel”) – She does an extremely faithful version of Carrie’s first hit. It’s sweet. Pretty dress this week, too. Couldn’t tell what shoes she was wearing. Lots of fog. Grade: B-plus/A-minus. (no standing o) DeAndre Brackensick (Eric Benet’s “Sometimes I Cry”) -I am not familiar with this song. Falsetto tends to bore me. He does it well but it isn’t my gig. Still, this was his best live performance to date. He showed confidence and some inkling of charisma. Grade: B-plus (standing o) Jessica Sanchez (Beyonce’s ‘Sweet Dreams”) – Beyonce has done a very slow ballad version of this mid-tempo hit live in concert. Jessica opted, of course, for that version. As usual, technically, she’s solid. Jessica is good at play acting but not good enough for me: I don’t really believe her. She is too young to truly express the pain in this song. “Tattoo your name across my heart,” she sings. Really? Grade: B-plus (no standing o) Phillip Phillips (Jonny Lang’s “Still Rainin’ “) – Obviously, he has sung this a thousand times. But his assuredness and natural charm carries him through a bluesy rock tune hardly anybody knows. I just like watching him as well as listening to him. Grade: A (standing o) Joshua Ledet (Mariah Carey’s version of ‘Without You,” though Harry Nilsson really owned this) – I usually enjoy watching Joshua but this was soporific. His histrionics in this case only felt histrionic. But I do appreciate that he was so into the song that he cried at the end. Grade: B-minus (standing o) Elise Testone (Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”) – Clearly, she is comfortable with this song and does a decent job. It’s hard to beat the energy and intensity of Robert Plant. She just isn’t that intense. It’s such a great song that this fact alone elevates Elise. And it’s clear why Nigel & Co. gave her the pimp spot. It was good but I simply don’t like her enough to care that much. Grade: B-plus (delayed standing o) Cover it live polls Six of the nine singers tonight had high negatives of 33% or more, with DeAndre running away with it at 66%. A lot of split decisions, especially Hollie, Colton and Joshua. % who liked it enough to vote, % who liked it but not to vote % not voting Elise 80% 17% 3% Phil 72% 19% 8% Jessica’s 58% 29% 13% Joshua 39%, 23%, 39% Colton 30%, 27%, 42% Hollie’s 25% , 42% 33% Heejun 18% 48%, 33% DeAndre 15% 20% 66% Skylar 12% 56% 32% Fleetwood Mac medley A-25% B-50% C-19% F-6% Madonna medley A-10% B-48% C-32% F-10% Michael Jackson medley A-3% B-24% C-45% F-27% Favorite medley: Fleetwood Mac 42%, MJ 25%, Madonna 33% Grade night as a whole: A-31% B-36% C- 25% F-8% By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
1:21 pm March 5, 2011, by Tim Tucker (Updated 1:45 p.m.) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Wearing a shoe with extra protection for his left big toe, forward Trey Thompkins started Georgia’s game against Alabama this afternoon at Coleman Coliseum. Thompkins had an ingrown toenail removed on Tuesday and was lifted from Wednesday’s game against LSU after aggravating the tender toe. Coach Mark Fox said on Friday that it wouldn’t be known until close to game time whether Thompkins would play against Alabama. Thompkins participated in pregame warmups today, at one point taking a brief break to allow an SEC Network cameraman to zoom in for a closeup shot of his left shoe. Also, freshman backup forward Marcus Thornton, who missed Wednesday’s game with what Fox described as a deep elbow laceration, participated in warmups. It’s going to be an interesting final weekend of the regular season for several SEC East teams. Depending on what happens in three games this weekend, Georgia could be seeded anywhere from No. 2 to No. 5 in next week’s conference tournament at the Georgia Dome. For more on this weekend’s scenarios, click here. News, notes and discussion about University of Georgia sports with AJC beat writer Chip Towers Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
Tag: debt ceiling As the calendar turns to August and the summer heat sets in, no topic is hotter than the debt ceiling. Congress has voted to increase the debt limit more than 100 times since it was first established. How did this get started? Part of the answer is in these nearly century-old posters. To raise money [...] Posted by Gregory Marose on August 1, 2011, under - World War I, - World War II, Uncategorized. Tags: Congress, debt ceiling, debt limit, Second Liberty Bond Act, war bonds, world war i, World War II Today’s guest post comes from David Coleman, associate professor at the University of Virginia and Chair of the Presidential Recordings Program at the Miller Center of Public Affairs. On April 28, W.W. Norton will publish volumes 7 and 8 in the Miller Center’s Presidential Recordings of Lyndon B. Johnson series. (The original tapes are in [...] Posted by Hilary on April 26, 2011, under - Civil Rights, - Cold War, - Presidents, - Spies and Espionage, - The 1960s. Tags: David Coleman, debt ceiling, JFK, LBJ, Miller Center, President Johnson, secret tapes, White House
Why does a typical human pregnancy last only nine months? If you compare humans to other mammals, our babies are born relatively weak and helpless. To get a human newborn as precocious as a chimpanzee newborn, we’d need to lengthen gestation by several months. It would save parents a lot of trouble if we gestated our babies longer. So why don’t we? Traditionally, textbooks have claimed it’s about a tradeoff between big brains and wide hips. Babies would gestate longer than nine months, the story goes, except for one problem: Older, bigger-headed babies wouldn’t fit through the birth canal, and the female pelvis is already as wide as it can get without making women hazardously inefficient walkers or runners. This account, called the “obstetric dilemma,” sounds very plausible, particularly if you’ve ever pushed out a baby yourself. But there is an alternative explanation: Maybe babies are born at nine months because a human mother can’t keep up with the energy demands of her fetus. Anthropologist Peter Ellison makes the case in his fascinating book, On fertile ground: A natural history of human reproduction. Babies require more food as they gestate, and by nine months their demands outstrip what their mothers’ bodies can supply. As Ellison’s colleague Herman Pontzer notes: “There is a limit to the number of calories our bodies can burn each day. During pregnancy, women approach that energetic ceiling and give birth right before they reach it. That suggests there is an energetic limit to human gestation length and fetal growth.” So we have two possible explanations. Which fits the evidence better? Holly Dunsworth was persuaded that the mainstream “obstetric dilemma” hypothesis had problems. So she joined forces with Ellison, Ponzter, and two other anthropologists–Terry Deacon and Anna Warrener–who’ve done research that cast doubt on the traditional explanation. Together, the team has weighed the evidence against obstetric dilemma hypothesis, and the results sound compelling. For instance, treadmill experiments on women by Warrener found “no correlation between wider hips and a diminished locomotor economy.” And while the obstetric dilemma hypothesis implies that human gestation is relatively short, Dunworth’s analysis suggests that opposite is true. “Controlling for mother’s body size, human gestation is a bit longer than expected compared to other primates, not shorter,” Dunsworth says in a press release. “And babies are a bit larger than expected, not smaller. Although babies behave like it, they’re not born early.” What would happen if babies gestated beyond nine months? Pontzer has plotted the energy requirements of pregnancy over time. Toward the end of the normal human pregnancy, a baby’s energy demands increase exponentially. By contrast, the mother’s ability to turn food into placenta-crossing energy is limited, and so human gestation hits a (metaphorical) brick wall by 10 months. To gestate longer than that, Dunsworth notes in her blog, “…a mother would have to burst through her normal metabolic ceiling. Instead, she gives birth and remains in a safe and possible (!) metabolic zone.” Dunsworth promises more in a new paper she has coauthored with her colleagues. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is scheduled to release it any day now, and I look forward to reading it. Meanwhile, having read Ellison’s book and Dunsworth’s blog, I find the argument about metabolic limits very persuasive. But…like most new revolutionary theories, this one presents us with new questions. If the treadmill studies of Anne Warrener are right, and women don’t pay an overall locomotor cost for wider hips, then why is childbirth so freakin’ difficult? When I think of the two babies I pushed out, I’m doubtful I would have survived either experience in the pre-modern world. And even if I hadn’t bled to death or succumbed to an infection, there’s a good chance at least one of the babies wouldn’t have gotten enough oxygen. It seems evident that labor would be safer and easier if women had larger pelvic openings. Human childbirth is a complex dance, with the baby twisting and turning to get its head through the pelvic inlet. Even then, the newborn’s skull is frequently squished on the way through. If women wouldn’t lose much locomotor efficiency by increasing the width of that inlet, why haven’t they? It seems to me there must be some tradeoff or mechanical constraint at work. Like humans, and unlike nonhuman apes, monkeys must cope with a tight fit – a relatively small birth canal and a relatively big-headed baby. For species with very large heads—like marmosets and squirrel monkeys—the price of that tight fit is very high. Only half of all births end with a live baby. So humans aren’t the only species paying a price for attempting to gestate big-headed babies, and whether or not our metabolisms could handle a 10-month pregnancy, it looks like something has prevented big-headed primates from evolving a safer, less arduous way of giving birth. If it isn’t a tradeoff concerning locomotor efficiency, what else could it be? It sounds like a fun puzzle to tackle, and perhaps the answer – when researchers solve it — will surprise us. You can read more about this research on Holly Dunsworth’s research blog, and the scholarly-minded will want to stay tuned for this paper Dunsworth HM, Warrener A, Deacon T, Ellison P, and H Pontzer. 2012. Metabolic hypothesis for human altriciality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Which should appear on the PNAS website soon. For more talk about the difficulties of childbirth – the behavioral consequences for our species, check out my blog posts: “Mothers have always needed childcare help,” and “Live birth MRIs and why we need midwives,” (in which I make a now-outdated reference to the “obstetric dilemma”) And for fascinating reading by experts in the field, check out Peter Ellison’s On Fertile Ground and Wenda Travathan’s Human Birth.
By Michael Aneiro As if the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal hasn’t caused enough headaches and long-term damage for Penn State at this point, the university now has reason to keep an eye on its credit rating, a key determinant of borrowing costs. Standard & Poor’s says it’s revised its outlook for Penn State’s double-A bond rating to negative from stable. This from S&P credit analyst Blake Cullimore: We based the outlook revision on our assessment of the financial uncertainty associated with pending litigation and related expenses regarding the Sandusky scandal. While Penn State’s current credit metrics remain consistent with the rating category, we believe that the uncertainty and potential magnitude of financial liability could lead to credit deterioration over the next two years. S&P said it expects university management to handle the current constrained state funding environment effectively, but said any positive rating action during the two-year outlook period is unlikely due to the range of challenges facing the university.
Orlando Metallers Trivium Kick Off Tour at Revolution, Discuss Latest Album, Shogun For such a relatively short existence, few bands have excited such extreme reactions in the heavy music world as the Orlando-based quartet Trivium. Formed in the earlier part of this decade while the members were still teenagers, the band’s 2003 full-length debut, Ember to Inferno, messed with the metal heterodoxy in a big way. There were elements that planted the band in the lineage of Florida death metal, but then there was that pesky melody. There was screaming, for the post-hardcore kids who were into that, but then there was all that pesky technical extreme stuff. And while this Jekyll-and-Hyde business continued on 2004's Ascendancy, fans and critics were again thrown for a loop with The Crusade, in 2006. Gone was the screaming, and in, in a big way, were epic melodies and, gasp, singing. But there were also tempo changes; dirty, nasty, distorted sections; even confusingly clean sections. Now, the band’s latest album, Shogun, shows yet another about-face. First, the foursome parted business ways with longtime producer Jason Suecof (who – six degrees of metal separation – also produced local guys Black Tide’s Light From Above). Looking for a tabula rasa, they enlisted Grammy winner Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Coheed and Cambria, Shadows Fall, Velvet Revolver, etc.), and further threw caution to the wind. The result, as evidenced by the band’s current digital singles, is the most articulate synthesis yet of Trivium’s everything-but-the-metal-kitchen-sink approach. Last night at Revolution in Ft. Lauderdale, the band kicked off its current co-headlining tour with Massachusetts metalcore act All That Remains. With the two bands flip-flopping in the final slot each night, Trivium was the penultimate act at a club show whose audience was notably thinned by hurricane fears. Still, they played as though they were headlining a sold-out arena, complete with coordinated headbanging, cranium-flattening volume, and a crazy, pulsing light show that epileptics should approach with caution – no joke. However one feels about the band, few would ever dare to call them boring. I caught up with singer Matt Heafy before the show as he lounged on his tour bus, in the midst of creating his nest of personal belongings. A yoga mat lay on one bench amid a pile of duffel and plastic grocery bags, and Heafy looked ever the part of someone who takes his craft and his health seriously. He sat carefully thanks to a disc injured while exercising, and pounded bottled water while expounding, rapid-fire, on the making of Shogun. The album comes out September 30 on Roadrunner Records. – Arielle Castillo New Times:Why are you kicking the tour off from here? Matt Heafy: I don’t know. I guess it’s convenient for us, although I don’t know about the other three bands. Do you guys all still live in Orlando? Yeah, I just drove down today. Oh, okay, so how much time did you have off before this? Between this and the press tour, less than two weeks. We did a press tour that spanned 10 days in Europe, three days in Japan, three days in Australia, a bunch of phoners.... I’d say probably 300 to 400 interviews within a month or two. So you did a tour just to talk to reporters? For real. Last year I didn’t even know press tours were real. It was two days in Amsterdam, three days in Cologne, two days in Stockholm, a bunch of phoners for all the countries around there, and then we did 60 interviews alone in Japan in two days. And three shows. Did you get to have any fun at all during all that? Uh, we tried. It was really busy. Are you a yoga guy? I need to start, uh, strengthening my core, because I have a slipped disk in my lower spine from ... being a jock. No, I’m not a jock, but I was doing leg presses and popped something, and it’s been two-and-a-half months and it’s still pretty fucked up. That’s why I sit kind of weird. Uh, I didn’t really notice.... And all the flying’s getting to me. I think we had a 36-hour travel day on the way back from Australia. But it’s all part of the thing, we don’t mind. Is the record still coming out on the 30th? Yes, as far as I know. You never know, I always say. Why, what might hold it up this time? I don’t think anything’s going to, but that’s what I always say like, a month ahead of time, you never know. Well you released that YouTube video that said September 30, so it seems kind of set. Yes, we’ve got three digital singles out – one that you can download for free, two that are on iTunes. And we’ve got a fourth coming out soon. We haven’t decided yet. We’re deciding between something really techincal and heavy, or something really epic and more melodic. How are you going to decide which direction to go in? I think it’ll just be the four band guys and the two managers will talk it out, and whichever side has more votes will win. When are you planning to get that out? A week? A couple days? Something. I’m in tour mode. Whenever I’m out of band-set-up-album mode, I’m in tour mode. What’s the difference for you, mentally? All this shit [motioning to stuff around him] is just mine. There’s like two whole suitcases underneath. How much do you really change clothes on tour? I have this very intricate system. Obviously you’ve got a pair of socks and a pair of underwear for every single day on the tour. A shirt can generally go one, two days. A pair of shorts or pants can generally go about six days. So I’ll take the number of days I’m gonna be out, add an extra two days to be safe, then divide everything according to those rules. So no laundry on the road. Um, I try not to. I can do it, but I prefer not to, because it’s a headache. You can see I’m very particular. What’s the significance of the album’s title, Shogun? I’ve always known of that word, and on our second Japanese tour, I was on a bus tour, like a tourist tour. They were talking about ancient shogun, who were the highest-ranking military people in ancient Japanese times. And I was like, Holy shit, that’s a really epic title, I want to use that for something. But I think The Crusade was just about to come out, so there was no need for a title like that. We started writing the music for this record, and we saw how epic, how captivating the music was for the four of us, and we knew we needed a title that represented the music appropriately. So I brought up the title that I’ve always had in the back of my mind, and was like, Hey guys, how about this word? It’s perfect. It’s a word that summed up this album perfectly. Did Japanese history and folklore influence anything else with this record? I see you’ve got these traditional Japanese tattoos going on.... Definitely on this record there are some Japanese historically influenced song titles, there’s also some Greek stuff, Judeo-Christian stuff. None of these are really retellings of specifically what the title is, or maybe what the song seems to be about, but they’re using these things as tools to further the lyrics even more. Like, the first song on the album is called “Kirisute Gomen,” which was an ancient samurai term which was basically, if you pissed off a samurai, he could chop off your head by law. Like, Sorry, but I have to take your head. I thought it was very pertinent. I liked it. So would you say this is in any way a concept kind of album? Conceptually, it’s got the same concepts going on, but it’s not a concept record. So there’s three “concepts” in the same sentence. It does have some similar conceptual ideas. Why did you choose not to work with Jason Suecof on this album? Including Trivium, and Capharnaum, and Roadrunner United, and every demo Trivium’s ever done, and the Sims 2 game, and all this other shit, Jason and I have worked together about 15 times. It was time for both of us to spread our wings and listen to each other’s work as fans as opposed to having to think of each other always in a work manner. That sounds like a really polished answer. It’s totally true. There are so many things we’ve done together – death metal, black metal, joke emo, Roadrunner United, Trivium. So you just said, Thanks, but no thanks? No, no, he didn’t even – Both of us knew that after the last record, it was time to start doing things differently. I’m gonna work with him on a Capharnaum record, so this way we can just be in a band together and not be work partners. We’ll have more fun in that relationship. Well, All That Remains just did their record with him – – And I can’t wait to hear that! You haven’t heard it? We don’t get advance copies! We have to wait until it comes out in the store! Is is through that connection that you met All That Remains? No, no, no, holy shit, this goes way back. The first tour that Trivium did ever was in April 2004, and we were opening up for God Forbid. And Trivium and All That Remains were flip-flopping on the opening slots. So now, a couple years later, we’re flip-flopping the headlining spots on a different tour. So do you guys just alternate from night to night? Yeah, yeah. I guess this tour has 40 dates, so it’ll be 20/20. How did you pick Nick Raskulinecz to work with on the new album? We’ve always been a big fan of his. One of my favorite records that he’s ever done is One By One by Foo Fighters. I think it’s an incredible record – not just the songs, but the energy that’s captured on the CD. So when we heard he was interested in what we were doing as a band, we were like, Holy shit, we should get in touch with this guy. So we made a phone call, and one phone call and we were like, That guy is the coolest guy in the world. So we flew him out to see us – we were doing a co-headlining arena tour with Machinehead in the UK. We flew Nick out to see us for two of the dates in London, and from there we got to hang out with him and get at ease with each other. How did you hear he was interested in your band? It’s just one of those things. I guess when a band is about to do their new record, somehow it just gets out there, and then producers get in touch. I read some quotes from you saying there was more of a thrash influence on the record. No, I think that was – I think this record draws from everything.... There’s so much stuff that is this record. I’d say that the last record had more of a traditional thrash influence. With this record, it doesn’t just draw from music anymore. It draws from everything we’ve experienced as people, culturally – like you mentioned the Japanese stuff – and Greek mythology. I think with this record we’re finally coming into our own, discovering our own sound, and it’s not traceable to just one specific genre or similarity to another band or couple bands. For some bands, that takes a long time, for some bands, it takes a couple records. I think that Shogun ties everything we’ve ever done right as Trivium, the four of us in the past, to what’s going on in the future. So what are some of the new future elements on this record? I guess that’s hard to exactly know. I guess the broad spectrum of the record, if you take a moment, like, in the clean section of the song “Shogun,” it’s the most minimal, simplified, melodic thing we’ve ever done. It’s got no drums, one guitar, one vocal track. But then we also have some of the heaviest, fastest, borderline extreme metal stuff we’ve ever done, and everything in between. I think we’ve never been as broad before. We’ve always had heaviness and melody, but now we’re taking everything to further extremes. When you talk, you sound very erudite, and I was wondering – I don’t know that word. Oh, you know, you come off as intellectual. So I was wondering, are there any writers who influence you? With this record, there’s obviously some influence of The Odyssey, by Homer, but I don’t really know him, so.... [laughs]. There’s the song “Torn Between Scilla and Charybdis.” Let me think.... “Prometheus” isn’t referenced in The Odyssey.... I’m into really geeky things like video games, anime, really epic movies like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, and all that stuff stems from ancient mythology, and that’s why I brought all that stuff up. Because everything, including religion, is influenced by ancient mythology. And it’s so amazing to see how mythology – it was known that these were stories, but they were stories to help people better their own lives. Whereas specific other things in the world have stories that say, This is exactly what happened, and you have to live exactly like this. Whereas mythology was like, These gods weren’t perfect. It sounds like when you said, “these other stories,” you were kind of dancing around the word religion. Yeah, that’s the thing, because it’s not all of them. Some really do come from their own spots, but some have really taken really specific deities or icons or imagery from other ancient mythologies and spun them into their own thing. But I’m very not anti-religious, I’m anti-extremists, religions that say, If you don’t believe in this, you’re going to die and burn in hell forever. But for me, I believe that religion is a very good thing for the people who use it as a way to better their own lives, and the things around them, instead of, If you don’t like exactly what I say, then I want you dead. So how do you feel about religion’s increasing influence in the heavy music world? I think it’s really cool; when it’s a positive thing, it’s a great thing. But if it’s ever, Hey, if you’re not into this, kick that kid’s ass. If it’s ever that, it’s bullshit. But if it’s a great thing that’s helping people clean their act up, or unify, then it’s fantastic. Back to the actual music, you’ve also said that you’ve brought more screaming back. But around the last record, you seemed kind of anti-screaming, and against other bands that were doing screaming at the time. Yep. With the last record, with all the good and bads that came out of Ascendancy – Like, we really feel that Ascendancy was ahead of its time, and Ember to Inferno. Because those records were done before all the countless other bands were doing that same sing-scream, sing-scream formula. Whereas us, we were heavily influenced by the metal bands that did it, and our screaming didn’t come from anything other than melodic death metal, or bands like Testament, Pantera, or Death, out of Florida. So when it came time for the next record, with all the goods and bads that came out of Ascendancy, we wanted to make a record that was still Trivium, but the exact opposite of that.... What do you mean by “the bads?” When that first record came out, with the first string of press, they were like, What the fuck is this? A bunch of 16-, 17-year-olds saying they want to conquer the world? But for us, it’s fantastic that we came out like that, we came out showing the world that we were not afraid, and not going to do it the way everyone else does it. And that leads up to The Crusade, and we wanted to do something completely different. If we had done the same record, our fans and our band would have gotten bored, and I don’t think we’d be around any more. I think with The Crusade we showed that, hey, we’re gonna do exactly what we want all the time. Did a lot of your fans get pissed off with that first shift in direction? Some did, but the people who were like, I’m never gonna listen to you again because of this record, then how much of a fan were you in the first place? We still play the old shit, we play it true to the original. People love it or they hate it, awesome. As long as there’s no in-between. Right. I don’t think there’s a lot of in-between in metal. For our band, we’ve never really seen the in-between. It’s always been love it or hate it, and we like that. Well with the screaming returning, why now? With this record, there’s just as much singing as on The Crusade, and just as much screaming as The Ascendancy – Wait, how can you have just as much of both? The songs are long! More words! So we’re talking about counts of actual minutes? Could be. Maybe somebody will count the words and prove me wrong. I’m sure one of our true elite fans will find out that I’m wrong. So let’s just say there’s just as much as The Crusade, and just as much as The Ascendancy. And when we were writing and playing, some of the riffs were so heavy, I tried singing over it, and it just didn’t do it. And I think it was Trav [Smith, drummer] who said, Why don’t you just scream over it? So I tried it and it worked; the music just called for it. Touring and working with Nick, and having a real monitor guy, I don’t hurt myself like I used to. Screaming, I used to fuck myself because we had no monitor guy, no monitors, I had no technique, I didn’t warm up. So I’m sure it’ll blow out every once in a while still. Did you take any screaming lessons or anything like that? No, I took some singing lessons for The Crusade. On this record, I think the only thing I had was one opera lesson, as a joke, from the guy who owns the company that runs our fan club. Did it help at all? It was actually one of the most helpful lessons I’ve ever had as far as singing. What do you do to preserve your voice on the road, now that you’re doing more screaming? You just have to take care of yourself. Like, I try to stay away from cigarette smoke as much as I can. Secondhand really fucks me up. Our bus is completely nonsmoking, and our dressing rooms. The venues, it’s not up to us... It’s all about moderation. We still party and go nuts, but for me, it’s better to do it when we don’t have a show on the day after. That stuff will just dry you up. Some people can do it every night, but I can’t. How much of the new material have you been playing? Three songs, the three that are on the Internet. Have you gotten to play them out to a big crowd yet? We played it to 30,000 people two nights in Japan, in Osaka and Tokyo. Then we had a small show in Tokyo for about 1000 people. Then we had a show in Australia for like 2000 people. And at all four shows, everyone knew those three songs, purely from the Internet. Our fans are rabid Internet people, just like we pride ourselves in being a technologically – as far as the Internet – advanced band. Our sites are updated probably five times a day, like YouTube, MySpace, our official site, our fan club site. Have you had a problem with any of the new material getting leaked yet? No, none of it’s been leaked yet. It’s three weeks till it comes out, and I’m surprised it hasn’t been leaked. The Crusade was leaked like a month and a half before it came out. Does that bother you? It sucks, but there’s really no way of fighting it any more, I guess. Movies get leaked, shit gets stolen, stuff happens. Our true fans are still going to buy the record. We’re never going to live off record sales. We live off touring and merchandise, which you can’t really – Sure, you can stream a show, but it’ll never be the same. You can’t go to school and say, Hey, I just saw this show on the Internet, isn’t that awesome? You have to go to the show, get a bloody nose, and go to school the next day with a shitty, smoke-smelling T-shirt.
Terrence McGee practiced fully all week long as he tries to return from a procedure on his back that fixed a nerve problem in his leg, but he’s far from a sure thing for Sunday’s game in Toronto. “He practiced and did a lot in practice (Friday), so we’re hoping he can make it,” said Chan Gailey after Friday’s practice. Gailey said that McGee for a second straight week would be a game time decision. In all likelihood if he is dressed for Sunday’s it’s expected he would serve in a reserve role with Leodis McKelvin getting the start at left cornerback. Tags: Terrence McGee Posted in Inside the Bills
by Yvonne Ortega Licensed Professional Counselor Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner “What can I do with my husband, Yvonne?” Renee threw her arms in the air and sighed. “He’s gained more than sixty pounds and as a result has high blood pressure and high cholesterol.” I asked if she had talked to him about his weight gain. She nodded and rolled her eyes. “All Phil says is, ‘But I’m not drinking.’” She stared at a book on my desk and twisted the shoulder strap on her purse. “I’m thankful he’s not drinking, but he might die of a heart attack and leave me and the kids alone.” “Do you understand what’s going on?” With raised eyebrows, she said, “Of course I do. He’s eating himself to an early grave.” Renee was looking at the external circumstances to understand her husband’s internal struggle. “Phil stopped drinking, but he’s switched one addiction for another.” I paused to allow her to process that information. “He hasn’t worked at the core issue. Recovery from addiction is a lifelong battle.” “But I know he’s not drinking,” Renee said as she shook her head. I nodded and said, “An addict can and will become addicted to any mind or mood-altering substance, even if it wasn’t his first drug of choice. He’s substituted food for alcohol.” “So what can I do? I have to do something before it’s too late.” Step by step, I explained she couldn’t change Phil, but he could do plenty. He could start by being honest with God and admitting he is powerless over addiction. He could attend twelve step meetings at Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous and/or Celebrate Recovery at a local church. He could find a sponsor and meet weekly with him to work the twelve steps. A counselor who specializes in addiction could also help him, and a therapeutic group led by a counselor would provide another method of assistance. “But I have to do something,” she screamed. I suggested she attend Al-Anon, not nag her husband, and read the Al-Anon literature. She could also obtain a sponsor and work the Al-Anon twelve steps. At this point, Renee screamed again, “I’m not the one with the problem. He is.” “He’s your husband, and your challenge is to find out what works and what doesn’t. Al-Anon will help you do that.” After a moment’s pause, I said God still answers prayer. She could ask God for wisdom, discernment, and strength. She shrugged, hesitated, and said, “OK, I’ll tell Phil what you said. I’ll go to Al-Anon and pray too.” After Renee left, I prayed for her, her husband, and the children. The journey would be a long one, but not an impossible one. Psalm 40:1-2: “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm” (NAS). Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega June 18, 2012 Yvonne Ortega is an eleven-year breast cancer survivor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner, Clinically Certified Domestic Violence Counselor, and bilingual speaker. She is the author of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer (Revell) and a contributing author to The Embrace of a Father(Bethany House) and Transformed (Wine Press). She has also been published in several magazines online and hard copy. Her website is http://www.yvonneortega.com/. Her blog on addiction and domestic violence is at http://www.yvonneortega.blogspot.com
Showing posts for "Homeland Security" The Republican Party kicked off a pared-down version (AP) of its national convention on Monday in Minnesota. President Bush, who had been scheduled to speak to the convention, instead traveled to Texas to be briefed on Hurricane Gustav’s management. In Ohio, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) packed supplies for hurricane victims (NYT). Both the Obama and McCain campaigns urged supporters to donate to relief efforts. DENVER–There’s no question that speeches by Democratic dignitaries, especially Barack Obama’s address Thursday night, constitute the main event here at the DNC. Yet security has become a formidable side show. The federal government devoted $50 million to bolster the security effort here and will match that in Minnesota next week. So what does $50 million buy? The AP has an itemized list, but as far as those attending the nightly proceedings are concerned, it still adds up to long lines; the queue for the security checkpoint stretched the length of two or three city blocks each of the first two evenings. Considering the airport-style security being imposed, the line moves with surprising efficiency. Police, Secret Service, and TSA officials operate metal detectors, x-rays, and conduct manual bag searches, though no one is asked to remove their shoes. “I’ll make cyber security the top priority that it should be in the 21st century. I’ll declare our cyber-infrastructure a strategic asset, and appoint a National Cyber Advisor who will report directly to me. We’ll coordinate efforts across the federal government, implement a truly national cyber-security policy, and tighten standards to secure information – from the networks that power the federal government, to the networks that you use in your personal lives.” Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) on Wednesday voted in favor of a new FISA bill (WashPost) which lifted restrictions on domestic spying and granted legal immunity to telecommunications companies that cooperated in the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) missed the vote, but has expressed support for the bill. Ahead of an expected vote this week in the Senate on expanding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) defended his decision to support recent compromise legislation. He wrote in a blog post on his campaign website that the bill “does not resolve all of the concerns that we have about President Bush’s abuse of executive power” but that a new provision in the bill “makes it clear to any president or telecommunications company that no law supersedes the authority of the FISA court.” A Senate vote on the measure is expected this week. Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) took starkly different positions (NYT) on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow detainees at Guantanamo challenge their detention in court. Obama praised the court’s decision, calling the ruling “an important step toward re-establishing our credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law, and rejecting a false choice between fighting terrorism and respecting habeas corpus.” McCain, meanwhile, said the ruling concerned him. “These are unlawful combatants; they’re not American citizens,” he said.
Minnesotans like to kill themselves. From ace reporter Erin Carlyle: Though journalists are loath to report it--extensive media coverage of suicide has been linked to copycat deaths, so there is a natural reluctance to dwell on the details--there is no doubt that Minnesota's suicide rate is on the rise. Preliminary numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health indicate that last year's suicide rate was 11 people per 100,000--the highest since 1986. While the national suicide rate climbed just 4.2 percent from 2000 to 2005 (the most recent national data available), Minnesota's rate skyrocketed 15.7 percent during that period. And it's only getting worse. In the last two years, the state suicide rate in Minnesota is 23.6 percent higher than its 2000 low. "Everyone who works in this field is extremely concerned. We're really in uncharted territory--as in the Great Depression," Dr. Dan Reidenberg says. Reidenberg cautions people against blaming the rising suicide rate directly on the economy. The truth is that plenty of people lose their jobs and don't kill themselves. In fact, when the financial crisis hit hardest last year, the state's suicide rate went up just a tick, rising 3 percent over 2007, when economic conditions were far more stable. Clearly, the financial crisis has not caused an epidemic of suicide. Today, the Strib examined the issue, yielding similar results: But in this decade, it has been climbing back up each year, hitting 11 deaths per 100,000 in 2008, a preliminary figure.Sheesh, all this talk about suicide is bumming us out. Time for some Elliot Smith. Numbers for the nation were available only up to 2006, when the national rate was 11.15 per 100,000 people. That year, the rate was 10.5 for Minnesota. Experts aren't directly linking the poor economy to the growing suicide rate, because, they say, motives are usually far more complex than job loss, foreclosure or mounting bills. Coroners, state health officials and experts don't usually analyze suicide victims' life circumstances to determine what factors were at play. *above photo by mangpages
Arm-Chair Managing in the Hours Before Ron Washington's Fired It's less than a month into the baseball season, and the Texas Rangers have already hit rock bottom. Texas is tied with the Washington Nationals for the worst record in the bigs at 7-19, and team president Nolan Ryan is scheduled to meet this weekend with a different Washington (Ron) and general manager Jon Daniels. The team looks terrible, and some serious changes need to be made. If Rusty Greer can manage Team Hardline, he sure as hell can take care of the Texas Rangers. The first one's obvious: Adios Ron Washington. Don't give us all that nonsense about how he doesn't have good team to manage, hasn't been given enough of a chance and can't control how the players perform on the field. After an awful start last year, the team rebounded to give fans a little optimism about this season. However, Texas is even worse in '08, with its worst start since the team was moved here in 1972. Players are making silly mental and defensive errors, highlighted by reliever Wes Littleton's inability to catch the ball as he tried to throw it into his own glove. Back when Washington was hired, I had a lot of questions about why he was chosen and more established managers like Lou Piniella, Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker and Joe Girardi weren't even interviewed. At the time, Oakland was searching for a manager as well, and even though Washington had been with the A's for 11 years, GM Billy Beane let him go to a division rival. The solution? As wacky as this sounds, let's bring in good ol' Rusty Greer. Sure, he doesn't have experience either, but it would be difficult to bring in a veteran manager at this point in the season. Give Greer the rest of the year to show something, and if the team is still struggling at this level, then use the offseason to find a long-term solution. Some angry fans might suggest getting rid of Daniels too, but I'd give him until the end of the year. Sure, he screwed the team by not getting a damned thing for Alfonso Soriano and giving away Chris Young, Adrian Gonzalez and John Danks. But he was able to vastly improve the team's farm system last summer by trading Mark Teixeira, Ron Mahay, Kenny Lofton and Eric Gagne for some very good prospects. And despite Edinson Volquez's great start in Cincy (3-0 with a 1.21 ERA in four starts), I still really like bringing in Josh Hamilton, who has been one of the few bright spots on the team this season, playing a great center field and hitting .293 with four homers, 21 RBI and 10 walks. But in order for Daniels to keep his job at the end of the year, he'll need to shake up the roster. Something that seemed apparent last year has become extremely obvious this season: Ian Kinsler sucks at second base. He's making mental errors on a regular basis and already has five errors in 21 starts. Kinsler needs to be moved permanently to left field, where he should be a much better defensive player. He'll need some time to adjust, but there's no time like the present. He's already having a hard time at second, so let him struggle a bit in left until he gets better. There's no reason to think Kinsler won't be able to make the switch, and really, his future isn't at second anyway because ... Michael Young should be moved back to second base eventually. It would be nice to put him back there now, but the Rangers' shortstop of the future (Elvis Andrus) isn't quite ready for the bigs. Perhaps he'll be able to take over at short next year, but until then ... German Duran should be given the rest of the season at second base. He has just one hit in nine at-bats with Texas, but he has already played three positions (RF, LF, 3B), and putting him back at his natural position with regular at-bats will give the team an idea of what he's got. And again, no time like the present to find out. Duran had a great season in 2007, hitting .300 with 22 homers, 84 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 130 games for Frisco. The Rangers also need a change at first base, where Ben Broussard is hitting .161 and Jason Botts is at .138. Broussard was a desperate offseason acquisition, and Botts hasn't been able to translate any of his success in the minors into anything in the majors. So enter Chris Davis, one of the team's top prospects. Davis, 22, had a monster season last year, hitting a combined .297 with 36 homers and 118 RBI at Class-A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. This year, the left-handed power hitter is raking for the Roughriders (.348-6-15 in 17 games). Sure, he's got some drawbacks, as he's never played above Double-A and has alarming strikeout-to-walk ratios with a 21:6 ratio this year and 150:35 ratio last year. But there's no way he can be as bad as Broussard or Botts have been, and he is the future at first base. Daniels should also put Gerald Laird on the market, take the best offer, and move on. Laird is incredibly inconsistent with the bat, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia should be called up since he's doing well in Triple-A (.291-2-13). It's time for the Salty era to begin. As for right field and designated hitter, a mix of Milton Bradley, David Murphy, Frank Catalanotto and Marlon Byrd (when he comes off the DL) will do OK for now. At the trade deadline, Bradley and Byrd should be shipped off to the highest bidder. Then it will be time for Nelson Cruz to be given one final shot to make this team. Cruz is off to another hot start at Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .339 with six homers, 20 RBI and five steals. He had great numbers there last year too (.352-15-45 in 44 games), but that translated into just a .235 average and nine home runs in 96 games in Arlington last year. So, to summarize, the outfield would consist of Kinsler in left, Hamilton in center and a platoon in right. The DH will also be a platoon with catcher occupied by Laird, till he's dealt and Salty is given the job. The infield would be Davis at first, Duran at second, Young at short and Blalock at third base. I wouldn't be opposed to also dealing Blalock this summer if Daniels can get a decent return. This may seem like shuffling deck chairs just for the sake of making a change, but I believe this will really improve the team both offensively and defensively. Moving quickly to the pitching staff, well, there's not much to work with. Kevin Millwood has been good (2.53 ERA) along with C.J. Wilson, but the rest is a mess. Maybe Vicente Padilla can play solid, and maybe he'll yield something in the trade market from a team desperate for an innings-eater. Once Kason Gabbard and Brandon McCarthy get healthy, you gotta see what they've got, but there really aren't a ton of young arms ready for a promotion. Eric Hurley is widely regarded as the Rangers' best pitching prospect, but he's off to a shaky start at Oklahoma City with a 6.93 ERA in five starts. In order to make any major progress on the pitching front, Texas needs something it has needed for a long time: a No. 1 starter. Unfortunately, most teams aren't really in the mood to deal big-time arms. However, with Johan Santana and Dan Haren finding new homes in the offseason, there are deals out there if you know where to look and are willing to pay the price. There's no fixing this season. No amount of firings and roster shuffling can turn this team into a contender. But the fan base wants to be given a reason to come out to the ballpark and give a shit. If major changes aren't made, the all-too-familiar phrase will be coming out of local sports fans' mouths after the Mavs are knocked out by the Hornets and the Stars season wraps up: "How many days left until Cowboys' training camp?"
Last week when the thruway was closed, I wanted to know when, if it had reopened? Man that was almost impossible to find out .. THEN, my son told me to check the web cams that the thruway has set up. What an idea, if you want to see if the the place is running just click on the link here ..http://www.nysthruway.gov/webcams/index.html You got to love this technology!
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Norton maintains double-digit lead on Bennet Whether you believe Rasmussen Reports polls are skewed toward Republicans or not, the firm’s latest Colorado poll shows just how dramatically voter attitudes in Colorado have shifted in the last year — and how tough the next 10 months could be for Democrats. A Rasmussen Reports poll of likely Colorado voters shows former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton with a 12-point lead over incumbent U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. That’s up from 11 points in a Rasmussen poll last month. Jane Norton (R) 49% Michael Bennet (D) 37% Some other candidate 3% Not sure 11% The automated telephone poll of 500 likely voters was conducted Jan. 13 and has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. Rasmussen has come under fire because of their ‘automated’ polls, but the firm’s track record in the last two presidential elections is solid enough that their work warrants paying attention, many argue. Looking more closely at the results, it’s clear that the mood of voters continues to favor Republicans over Democrats. Democrats are outpolled by Republicans regardless of whose name appears before the party affiliation. Other interesting tidbits: A majority of Coloradans (68%) favor full body scans at airports A majority (64%) think the underwear bomber should be tried by the military, not civilian, courts A majority (52%) rate the U.S. economy as poor. And here is what will very likely be the question we pay closest attention to in future polls: Are economic conditions getting better or worse? 27% Staying the same 9% Not sure When a majority of Americans think economic conditions are getting worse or staying the same, the icumbent party is in trouble.
Reports are surfacing that Lions special teams coordinator Danny Crossman wants out of his contract with the Detroit Lions so he can join longtime friend and former London Monarchs teammate Doug Marrone in Buffalo, who was recently hired as their new head coach. The Lions became the first team in the modern era to give up a kickoff return and punt return touchdown in the same game in back-to-back weeks in losses to the Titans and Vikings during the first month of the season and help contribute to their 1-3 start to the season. The coverage units were much better the rest of the way, allowing an average of 6.2 yards per punt return and 20.5 yards per kickoff return during the final 12 games. The return game never really found traction, though. The Lions were one of six teams denied permission to talk to Browns special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, according to ESPN. The Lions have not announced any new additions or subtractions to their coaching staff. If Crossman does indeed leave, a potential replacement could be veteran special teams coach Alan Lowry, who was recently let go by the Tennessee Titans. Lowry finished his 17th season with the franchise, the last 14 coaching special teams. He and head coach Jim Schwartz worked together when Schwartz was the defensive coordinator with the Titans. Tags: Danny Crossman Posted in Lions Insider Tim Twentyman \| 5 Comments » The Lions have confirmed the signing of all of their assistant coaches for the 2012 season. Defensive backs coach Tim Walton and receivers coach Shawn Jefferson were the last to sign on the dotted line. Walton interviewed with the Rams for their assistant defensive coordinator position last week, but ultimately decided to rejoin the Lions. The Lions announced the signing of coordinators Gunther Cunningham (defense), Scott Linehan (offense) and Danny Crossman (special teams) earlier this month. “I think we have a good group of coaches mixed with experience and younger guys, some former players, some guys that never played, but I like that dynamic and I like the consistency,” Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said after the season. “We were consistent from a preparation standpoint, from a game plan standpoint, from week-to-week.” The Lions coaching staff has remained one of the most consistent since Schwartz took over in 2009. Tags: Danny Crossman, Gunther Cunningham, Jim Schwartz, Scott Linehan, Shawn Jefferson, Tim Walton Posted in Lions Insider Tim Twentyman \| 9 Comments » Lions defensive backs coach Tim Walton, whose contract expired after the season, interviewed with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday, according to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Walton is a candidate to be the Rams’ assistant defensive coordinator for the passing game, according to the report. Walton has coached the Lions defensive backs the last three seasons. The Lions announced the re-signings of coordinators Gunther Cunningham (defense), Scott Linehan (offense) and Danny Crossman (special teams). They have extended offers to their assistant coaches, too, but have not announced any signings. The Rams recently hired former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher to be their new head coach. Gregg Williams, who was the Saints’ defensive coordinator this past season, is their new defensive coordinator and Brian Schottenheimer, who was most recently with the Jets, has been hired as their offensive coordinator. Tags: Danny Crossman, Gunther Cunningham, Scott Linehan, Tim Walton Posted in Lions Insider Tim Twentyman \| 5 Comments » Lions kicker Jason Hanson and safety John Wendling have been voted the Lions’ Yale Lary Special Teams Most Valuable Players. It’s the sixth time in Hanson’s 20-year career with the Lions he’s garnered the honor and Wendling’s first. Hanson converted 24-of-29 field goal attempts and made all 54 of his extra point attempts this season. His 66.3-yard average on kickoffs was the fifth-highest of his career. Hanson quelled any doubts about his health in training camp when he beat out Dave Rayner for the job. Hanson missed eight games in 2010 because of a torn legitimate in his kicking leg. He came back healthy and strong this season and set a number of NFL and team records this season. Hanson, 41, is the team’s all-time leading scorer (2,016) and became the sixth player in league history to connect on 400 field goals in a career. With a 50-yard field goal against the Chargers in a Week 16, Hanson became the first NFL kicker to have 50 50-yard field goals. “It’s funny, I had John Kasay, 42, during my time in Carolina and there’s two guys (Hanson and Kasay) who’ve been at it for 20 years and they are similar in a lot of ways,” said Lions special teams coach Danny Crossman. “They are great players, but more importantly they take care of their bodies. They know how to prepare, they know when to pull forward, they know when to pull back and then they’ve both been unbelievably blessed. “You look at Jason, the way he kicked the ball off this year was really, really impressive after the injuries the last couple years. We couldn’t have been happier with the season he had.” Hanson has said he’d like to return for a 21st season in 2012 if the Lions will have him back. Wendling filled a number of different roles in the special teams unit this year because of injuries. Wendling (6-1, 222) is at his best on the outside as a gunner with his unique blend of his size and speed, but had to play inside at times this season because of injuries. “John has been a highly productive player and actually we had to play him in some spots early in the season where he wasn’t as productive but he did it willingly to help the team because we were short in some other spots,” Crossman said. “But when we got rolling again and he was playing at more his natural spots he was the same productive guy he was a year ago. (He) made a lot of plays and led the team in tackles again, just like he did last year.” Since entering the NFL in 2007, Wendling has recorded 90 special teams tackles, the most in the NFL. He had 17 this season. “John is a true pro. He works his butt off, he does everything right, plays hard, plays physical, plays smart and is a natural leader,” Crossman said. The award is in honor of Yale Lary, an All-Pro defensive back who was also one of the NFL’s greatest punters. Lary collected 50 career interceptions as a safety for the Lions, but also won punting titles in 1959, ’61 and ’63. Lary played in nine Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979. Tags: Danny Crossman, Jason Hanson, John Wendling, Yale Lary Posted in Lions Insider Tim Twentyman \| 1 Comment » There were a couple changes made to the Detroit Lions coaching staff in the past couple weeks with the departure of quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton and the addition of Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman. Head Coach Jim Schwartz says he is pleased with his coaching staff, but is always looking for other opportunities that may come up. Schwartz: “It’s always a work in progress and different things may arise or something like that.” Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan will continue his role as the team’s primary quarterbacks coach – something Schwartz was particular about during the hiring process last year. Schwartz: “It was very important to me that the offensive coordinator speaks directly to the quarterbacks.” There won’t be much of a change when it comes to the quarterbacks room – Linehan was in charge of meetings last year – but it will change some things during practice. Schwartz: “(The quarterback coach) generally takes guys through the practice period, the individual period and then, also, when Scott’s talking to the first quarterback, is talking to the second and third quarterback.” Schwartz says he chose to reorganize the staff at this point instead of fill the position. As for Crossman, he is down at the Senior Bowl with the rest of the staff after having two days in Allen Park. Because of that, he hasn’t had much time at all to review Detroit’s current roster from a special teams standpoint, but is looking forward to doing that in the near future. Crossman: “We’ll spend the next couple of weeks really evaluating and seeing where we’re at and go from there.” One thing Crossman is looking to do is make changes. Even though the Lions have had some success in certain areas of their special teams, he believes a fresh start would make a positive impact. Crossman: “Sometimes something new and fresh excites guys. So we’re going to change things. I won’t go into detail of exactly what we’re going to do but it’ll look a lot of different schematically. Then it all comes down to getting good players to play hard, to play tough and play fast.” Though Crossman is looking to make schematic changes, Schwartz sees him making an impact beyond that. Schwartz: “Special teams, you need to touch every single player on the team. Head coach, special teams coach (and the) strength and conditioning coach need to touch every single player. It’s not just all scheme. There’s some more to it and I think Danny fits that really well.” Tags: Danny Crossman, Jim Schwartz Posted in DetroitLions.com Blog \| 9 Comments »
After scuffling on offense through the first quarter, the Lions have turned up the heat in the second quarter. With 7:51 left to play in the first half, the Lions lead Baltimore 14-6 on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Titus Young on third down. Earlier on the drive, Stefan Logan went down in agony after a collision in the backfield. He was taken to the sidelines but walked off under his own power. Several minutes later, he was carted off the field. Fox reports that Logan couldn’t put his foot down and officially, it is an ankle injury. Calvin Johnson continued to be a problem for the Ravens’ defense. “Jimmy Smith’s getting schooled by Megatron,” Fox analyst Brian Billick said after Smith held on to Johnson to try to keep him under wraps. The foul gave the Lions the ball at midfield. On 3rd-and-5, Stafford went down the middle to Brandon Pettigrew for a 15-yard gain and a first down. On 3rd-and-4, Stafford connected with Titus Young down the middle for the score. Stafford is 12-of-16 for 184 yards. After the Detroit’s first touchdown, Joe Flacco’s night was over for the Ravens as Tyrod Taylor came into the game, promptly engineering a three-and-out. Flacco went 7-of-12 for 79 yards. Taylor start 0-for-3.
From Ed Yong: On 7 August 1999, a lucky photographer snapped a female humpback whale frolicking off the east coast of Brazil. Two years later, on 21 September 2001, the same whale was caught on camera again, by a tourist on a whale-watching boat. But this time, she was a quarter of the world away, off the eastern coast of Madagascar. The two places where she was spotted are at least 9800 kilometres apart, making her voyage the longest of any mammal. In American terms, that means the adventurous humpback had taken a trip of about 6,000 miles. Read the rest of the post–including info about how scientists are sure they were looking at the same whale both times–at Not Exactly Rocket Science. 80beats: Lady Humpback Whales Make Friends & Meet up for Summer Reunions 80beats: Cacophony in the Oceans May Confuse Whales and Drown Out Their Songs 80beats: Tiny Tern Makes World-Record 44,000-Mile Migration 80beats: Tiny Bird Backpacks Reveal the Secrets of Songbird Migration 80beats: Migrating Marine Animals May Follow Magnetic Fields to Find Their Homes
In the future, science fiction predicts, implanted chips and screens will turn humans into cyborgs. But for a growing group of technophiles, the future is now. There’s colorblind “first cyborg” Neil Harbisson, whose head-mounted Eyeborg camera translates colors into vibrations, and professor Steve Mann, whose computerized EyeTap glasses are attached to his skull. And then there are the transhumanists who go under the knife at home or in piercing parlors to implant homemade electronic devices, such as magnets that provide the sixth sense of detecting electromagnetic fields. Reporter Ben Popper delved into the world of DIY cyborgs for an article at The Verge, even receiving his own magnetic implant:
Program Description (8 credits) What’s the right thing to do when as an employee you witness illegal actions? Whose interests should take priority in pricing and hiring decisions? What choices can you make when your supervisor tells you to ignore company policy? Employees sometimes face situations such as these that suggest a conflict between being a good employee and being a good person. We will study several approaches to ethical decision making and, through intensive writing and seminar discussions, use these approaches to clarify issues faced at work. The shared vocabulary and frameworks we develop will allow us to talk and think about ethical issues and write and share personal workplace ethical statements. Program work will also include reading several Washington State laws related to ethics and exploring issues, choice points, and the roles of moral reasoning and moral leadership at work. The program will meet on Wednesdays in conjunction with the course Thinking It Through. We will meet additionally as a program on five Saturdays to deepen our understanding of ethical issues through writing, role-playing, playing and analyzing board games as framing ethical strategies, and other hands-on activities. In addition, we will focus part of each Saturday meeting on building and strengthening strong college-level writing skills to prepare students for more advanced work. Credit will be awarded in philosophy (ethics) and ethical decision making.
House prices in Europe are falling according to Eurostat’s first house price index. House prices are widely monitored at a national level but there is shortage of comparable measures across countries. This new index partially covers this gap, but the picture it portrays is not encouraging. Indian car sales continue to slow down. This is being reported as a sign of a broader economic slowdown. But car sales is not the most representative measure of vehicle sales in India – most people drive two-wheeler vehicles. Passenger car sales growth slowed to below 3 per cent in the first half of 2012, down from over 30 per cent at the end of 2010, but it now shows signs of recovery. The story that emerges when looking at two-wheeler vehicles is quite different, though. Read more Chinese exports grew faster than expected in December, lifting hopes for a prompt recovery from the country’s slowdown. The December reading for exports is certainly good news, but there should be caution in looking at monthly export figures. Read more Labour productivity continues to fall in the UK, today’s latest ONS release shows. Output per hour dropped by 0.2% in Quarter 3, 2012, compared to the previous quarter. This means a fall of over 2% compared to the same period last year and over 3% compared to the pre-crisis period. This is a particularly striking drop considering than in the five years before the financial crisis labour productivity rose by over 12%. The reasons for this remain rather a puzzle. And a look at other European countries confirms that the UK is unusual. But it’s not unique. Most core European countries had a drop in productivity levels compared to those in the US. But their performance varied considerably during the last few years of economic crisis, as this chart highlights … Read more At the start of this year, Mario Monti, the Italian prime minister, unveiled a programme of liberalisation, which together with austerity measures were meant to put the country back on track for growth. The package triggered protests from taxi drivers, pharmacists, petrol station operators and lawyers – all professions that were included in the liberalisation plan. The measures also targeted the gas and electricity market, the insurance sector and local public services. The aims of these plans were to reduce the costs of goods and services to consumers and to foster competition among providers, with cheaper products and services making the austerity measures easier to digest. Chinese exports grew less than expected in November, fueling fears of a further economic slowdown. But exports from western inland Chinese regions have never grown so fast as in 2012, beating export growth rates of the rich industrial coastal regions. Chinese export growth declined to 2.9 per cent in November from 11.6 per cent in October. On a rolling 12-month sum exports grew at an annual rate of 7.9 per cent in November, a figure well below the more than 30 per cent growth of the late 2010 and early 2011 and marks a 28-month record low. But not all regions in China experienced the same slowdown.
Two interesting announcements this morning, both of which are worth examining: First Labelux announces instead of embracing (and chasing) hard luxury, it is exiting the segment to focus entirely on leathergoods; then Mulberry rejects the outlet model to take its bags and other products further up-market. The moves are complementary, in the context of general industry strategy. They both indicate that in the highly competitive world of leathergoods, current theory says it’s the most special, elaborate, highly worked pieces that sell. - •Contact us - •About us - •Advertise with the FT - •Terms & conditions © The Financial Times Ltd 2013 FT and 'Financial Times' are trademarks of The Financial Times Ltd.
In the current climate, it might have been expected that the Bank of England would remove any reference to a certain interbank rate from its official documents. Not so. The minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee’s July meeting, out today, featured the following references to Libor: Sterling funding market conditions had seemed to improve following the announcement earlier in the month of the creation of a Government and Bank of England Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) and the activation of the Bank’s Extended Collateral Term Repo Facility (ECTR). Sterling three-month LIBOR had fallen by around 10 basis points since those announcements and market expectations of three-month LIBOR in six months’ time had fallen by around 20 basis points. Although the controversy surrounding the investigation into the manipulation of LIBOR had so far not had a broad effect on market prices or conditions, there was a risk it might do so in future. It’s not at all obvious why the MPC continues to use Libor as its key gauge of market funding conditions. But what’s really interesting about the text above is that the MPC thinks there is a risk that the Libor scandal could raise borrowing costs, undoing much of the Bank’s good work in the process. Read more
They haven’t yet confirmed it but Labour member Gordon Prentice – a longstanding Ashcroft enemy – has revealed it on his blog. The inquiry takes place on March 18. The Electoral Commission is refusing to comment on a BBC story that the commission has found the £5.1m of Bearwood donations to be legal. Bearwood Corporate Services is owned by Lord Ashcroft. My impression is that we’ll get an announcement later today, although this isn’t guaranteed.
By Beth Rigby Pro-European Conservatives have set up a group to press the case for Britain’s place in Europe in an attempt to redress the party’s rabid euroscepticism. The Mainstream Conservatives, led by Laura Sandys, will campaign for a “Yes” vote to membership of the European Union in a future referendum and will also offer a pro-European perspective on issues spanning trade and investment, the environment and justice. A dozen MPs, including former cabinet ministers Stephen Dorrell and Caroline Spelman, have put themselves forward as spokespeople. The new group will act as a counterpoint to the Fresh Start Group, led by Andrea Leadsom, Chris Heaton-Harris and George Eustice, which is pressing for a whole raft of powers to be wrested back from Europe. Fresh Start claim to have the support of more than 100 backbenchers. “We have got to get more involved in the debate,” Ms Sandys told the Financial Times. “We have allowed the Conservative party to be seen as anti-European but there is a big cohort of pro-European backbenchers.” Laura Sandys is daughter of Duncan Sandys, a prominent pro-European Tory of the 1950s. Until now, it has been left to grandees Ken Clarke and Lord Heseltine to press the case for Europe. Some pro-Europeans have felt cowed into silence by the fear of a backlash in the Tory press and from local party activists if they appear too supportive of the EU. Those concerns were underscored last month when only 15 of 25 signatories to a pro-European letter were prepared to have their names published. Ms Sandys said Europe-friendly colleagues had felt emboldened by Mr Cameron’s Europe speech last month, in which the prime minister set out plans for a referendum but also reaffirmed his belief that it was in Britain’s self-interest to remain part of the EU. David Cameron is under pressure from all sides and faces a delicate balancing act in attempting to renegotiate an acceptable UK membership settlement with the EU “Our job is to keep the tone of [Cameron’s] speech going,” said Ms Sandys. “Ultimately we must ensure that investors see these views backing a Britain in Europe go across political parties.” Mr Cameron’s decision to offer a referendum came after months of pressure from his eurosceptic rightwing coupled with the growing popularity of the UK Independence Party. Mainstream Conservatives is the second pro-European group to set up in recent weeks: last month, Mr Clarke, Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem Treasury minister, and Lord Mandelson set up The Centre for British Influence to “fight europhobia”. Mr Cameron put his European strategy into effect when he spearheaded a cut in the EU budget for the first time in its history, teaming up with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, in the face of French resistance. Margot James, a pro-European backbencher who will speak on trade and investment for the Mainstream Conservatives, said the seven-year deal to cut the EU budget was a “good result hard won”. “Insane for EU states to be cutting budgets whilst Brussels budget climbs, PM did very well to stem the tide, power shifting away from France,” she tweeted on Friday. Here are the members: Laura Sandys Membership & Energy Margot James Trade, Inward Investment & Single Market Robert Buckland General & Justice Caroline Spelman CAP, CFP & Environment Richard Ottaway International Relations Ben Wallace Security & Justice Neil Carmichael Science, Single Market & Environment Bob Walter Security & Defence Peter Luff Defence Ben Gummer Democracy & Institutional Reform Stephen Dorrell Health Tim Yeo Environment and Energy

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